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
Chinese scientists set world record with magnetic field 700,000 times Earth's

Xinhua) 08:54, September 29, 2025

Researchers of the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Plasma Physics (ASIPP) record experiment data in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, Sept. 28, 2025. (Xinhua/Wu Huijun)

HEFEI, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese scientists announced on Sunday that they have successfully generated a steady magnetic field of 351,000 gauss with a fully superconducting magnet, setting a new world record.

The breakthrough will significantly advance the commercialization of advanced superconducting scientific instruments, such as nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers, according to the scientists.

It also provides crucial technical support for multiple cutting-edge fields, including fusion magnet systems, space electromagnetic propulsion, superconducting induction heating, magnetic levitation, and efficient power transmission.

The magnet was developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Plasma Physics (ASIPP), located in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, in collaboration with the Hefei International Applied Superconductivity Center, the Institute of Energy of the Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, and Tsinghua University.

Earth itself is a giant magnet, generating a geomagnetic field of about 0.5 gauss. Superconducting magnets, fabricated by winding superconducting materials, can generate extremely strong magnetic fields while enabling lossless transmission of large currents.

Liu Fang, researcher with ASIPP, explained that the magnet adopts high-temperature superconducting insert-coil technology, coaxially nested with low-temperature superconducting magnets.

The team effectively overcame challenges such as stress concentration, shielding current effects and multi-field coupling effects under low-temperature, high-field conditions. These innovations significantly improved the magnet's mechanical stability and electromagnetic performance in extreme environments.

During the experiment, the magnet was energized to 35.1 tesla, stably operated for 30 minutes, and was safely demagnetized, fully verifying the reliability of the technical approach. The achieved magnetic field strength, over 700,000 times that of Earth's geomagnetic field, also surpassed the previous world record of 323,500 gauss.

Such magnets are also key components of magnetic confinement fusion devices, forming a "magnetic cage" that safely confines high-temperature plasma for sustained burning. ASIPP has long been engaged in fusion research and has recently achieved complete localization of superconducting materials, devices and systems.

As the main unit of the Chinese mission of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), the institute has taken on many procurement packages, including superconductors, correction coils and magnet feeders.

This photo taken on Sept. 28, 2025 shows the superconducting magnet developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Plasma Physics (ASIPP) in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province. (Xinhua/Wu Huijun)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Kick-off will take place in early October

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- This fall, college towns across the country will trade blank walls for bold color as the global art collective, Secret Walls , and POSCA , the vibrant paint marker brand of choice with artists and creatives throughout the world, launches a national Secret Walls X POSCA Campus Beautification Program. The creative initiative reimagines overlooked or blank spaces around college campuses, turning them into unique, vibrant canvases that inspire creativity and connection.

Secret Walls X POSCA Campus Beautification Program

The program begins in early October and travels from Texas A&M University in College Station, TX, to the University of Tennessee, University of Georgia, California State University Fullerton, and Arizona State University throughout fall 2025.

Beyond eye-catching art, the Secret Walls X POSCA Campus Beautification Program is about placemaking and educationusing creativity to shape the way students experience their environment. At each campus, Secret Walls' renowned artists will join forces with local talent to create murals that tell the community's story. Together they'll transform neutral backdrops into living works of public art that reflect the energy, culture and voices of each town. Each mural will be a story unique to its location, while leaving behind an enduring legacy for the campus and its surrounding community.

"Our mission has always been to elevate artists and transform spaces, but this program takes it to a new level," said Terry Guy, Founder of Secret Walls. "By collaborating with local talent, we're creating art with purposeart that changes the way people experience these campuses."

As the creative engine behind the program, POSCA paint markers will put the tools directly into the hands of both professional artists and students, empowering them to bring their boldest visions to life.

"Seeing students and local artists transform blank walls into beautiful works of art embodies everything POSCA stands for," said Mike Parker, President of uni Brands. "bringing to life our vision of enriching lives through creativity & connection."

POSCA has long been the paint pen of choice for artists worldwide, known for its rich pigments, versatility, and ability to work on nearly any surface. Following the Fall 2025 rollout, Secret Walls and POSCA plan to expand the Campus Beautification Program to more college campuses throughout 2026 and beyond.

More details about Secret Walls, plus specific locations and dates for the Secret Walls X POSCA Campus Beautification Program, will be available across all Secret Walls social media platforms.

Media Contacts:

Secret Walls:

Maxime Richard

Maximus Communications

[email protected]

POSCA:

Lori Jung

Hudson West PR

[email protected]

About POSCA  :

POSCA is a globally recognized brand of high-quality, water-based paint markers known for its versatility, vibrancy, and wide range of color options. POSCA is used and loved by professional artists, creative hobbyists, and amateurs alike for transforming ideas into creation and self-expression. Learn more at unibrands.co/pages/posca .

About Secret Walls:

Secret Walls is revolutionizing the art world with its exhilarating live paint battles that captivate audiences and showcase the extraordinary talent of artists from around the globe. This one-of-a-kind event brings together creativity, competition, and community in a high-energy showdown that leaves audiences awestruck. With events held worldwide, Secret Walls has become a global phenomenon, attracting established and emerging artists alike. It provides a platform for diverse talents to showcase their skills, gain recognition, and connect with a vibrant community of art enthusiasts.

Learn more at secretwalls.world .

About uni Brands Corporation:

For more than 135 years, uni Brands Corporation has been a leader in the design, development, and delivery of writing and art product solutions. Headquartered just outside of Chicago, uni continues to deliver best-in-class products that are a catalyst for creativity and connection. uni's robust and innovative portfolio includes products under the uniball, POSCA, and LAMY brands. For more information about uni and our family of brands, visit unibrands.co.

SOURCE uni Brands Corporation
Rory McIlroy has hailed his wife Erica Stoll for her class and dignity after a USA fan threw a drink over her before Europe claimed a famous Ryder Cup victory.

The Irishman was targeted with abuse throughout a chaotic day two in a fourballs match alongside Shane Lowry on Saturday at Bethpage Black.

And a video surfaced online of McIlroy consoling his wife and wiping the top of her hat with Luke Donald hitting out at American fans for crossing a line.

Rory McIlroy with his wife Erica Stoll on day three of the 2025 Ryder Cup at the Bethpage Black (Mike Egerton/PA)

It should be off-limits, but obviously it wasnt this week, McIlroy said after a 15-13 win over Keegan Bradleys side.

Erica is fine. Shes a very, very strong woman. You know, she handled everything this week with class and poise and dignity like she always has. I love her and were going to have a good time celebrating tonight.

McIlroy was the biggest target of the animosity towards the European players, with the Northern Irishman subjected to heckling and personal insults. He was followed by the police on Saturday and Sunday and said there was a lot of language that was unacceptable and abusive behaviour.

I dont think we should ever accept that in golf, McIlroy said. I think golf should be held to a higher standard than what was seen out there this week. Golf has the ability to unite people. Golf teaches you very good life lessons.

It teaches you how to play by the rules. It teaches you how to respect people. Sometimes this week we didnt see that. So no, this should not be what is acceptable in the Ryder Cup. We will be making sure to say to our fans in Ireland in 2027 that what happened here this week is not acceptable.

Rory McIlroy of Team Europe kisses the Ryder Cup trophy (Getty)

Come and support your team. I think if I was an American, I would be annoyed  I didnt hear a lot of shouts for Scottie [Scheffler] today, but I heard a lot of shouts against me. Its like, support your players. Thats the thing.

It was a rough week for all of us. But at the same time, we shut them up by our performance and how we played. I chirped back a few times because it got to me a few times, but we tried to handle everything that came our way with class and poise, and for the most part, I felt like we did that.

McIlroys teammate Justin Rose then praised McIlroys wife for her strength in supporting the grand slam winner this week in New York.

Can I just pick up on that, if you dont mind, because I actually had no idea that Erica had a beer thrown at her yesterday, so fair play to Erica, Rose added.

She didnt bring that to the team room. We didnt make that a big deal. Thats news to me. That says a lot about the strength of Erica and everybody on this team.

Rory McIlroy is soaked in champagne as Europe celebrate the Ryder Cup (Getty)

While Lowry also chimed in and revealed the extent of the abuse directed at the American throughout the week.

I was out there for two days with Erica McIlroy, and the amount of abuse that she received was astonishing and the way she was out there supporting her husband and supporting her team was unbelievable, and kudos to her for that, Lowry said, having holed the putt to retain the cup.

McIlroy also revelled in how Europe shut a lot of people up with their away victory, the fifth time a European team has managed to succeed on away soil.

Its incredible, you think about the last away Ryder Cup what people were saying, decades of American dominance, to be able to do what we've done, in Rome and here, it shut a lot of people up, McIlroy added.

Its surreal, its full of European singing, so proud to be part of this team, so proud of Luke. Its been one massive collective effort, once we won in Rome, we turned our attention to this, we have the blueprint for a home Ryder Cup. What do we have to do differently in an away one?

We did the right thing and have the right people, so proud of everyone. Its been a really tough week, Ive felt I didnt have much today, Scottie didn't have much either; we werent at our best. The golf couldve been better. But when you win the Ryder Cup, its not about you, its about the team.

I made my dreams come true at Augusta, then to do what weve done, theres not going to be, unless I repeat at some point, I dont think there will be a better year in my golfing career.
Party time: Rory McIlroy said Europe would celebrate their Ryder Cup win like there is no tomorrow (Mike Egerton/PA Wire)

An emotional Shane Lowry hailed his putt to retain the Ryder Cup for Europe as the greatest achievement of his life.

Irelands 2019 Open winner wrote his name into competition folklore as he held his nerve on the 18th green during Sundays dramatic singles finale at Bethpage Black to hole an effort and secure the half-point Europe needed to retain the trophy following an incredible fightback by the USA.

Lowry tied his match against Russell Henley, hitting back after trailing the world No3 by two with only four holes remaining and sparking wild scenes of celebration.

Europe went on to win the Ryder Cup outright on American soil for just the fifth time ever - and first since the Miracle at Medinah in 2012 - after Tyrrell Hatton secured another half-point in his match against Collin Morikawa.

An emotional Lowry said afterwards as he wiped away tears in New York: Ive been so lucky to experience amazing things in this game.

That was the hardest couple of hours of my whole life. Honestly, I just cant believe it. I cant believe that putt went in.

I stood over it going, this is it. I said to [caddie] Darren [Reynolds] walking down 18, I said Ive got a chance to do the coolest thing in my life here.

The Ryder Cup means everything to me. Ive won The Open in Ireland, its amazing, its a dream come true, but the Ryder Cup for me is everything.

To do that there today on the 18th green in front of everyone. It was so hard out there. Fair play to the US lads, we knew they were going to come out fighting.

Speaking at the post-match press conferences, Lowry said: I said to my caddie walking down 18, I said Ive got an opportunity to do the greatest thing Ive ever done today.

And I did it. Im very proud of myself.

Lowrys previous points were won alongside Rory McIlroy, with whom he halved against Sam Burns and Patrick Cantlay in Fridays fourballs before they went on to defeat Justin Thomas and Cameron Young in the Saturday fourballs.

I am extremely proud to be a part of this team, McIlroy said as he also held back tears amid the celebrations at Bethpage following a difficult few days in which he was mercilessly heckled and booed by the rowdy home crowd.

"As soon as we won in Rome we turned our attentions to doing something that was pretty impossible to do - to win in America and in New York.

"It's been an amazing week. To hear the 'Ole Ole's' here in America, to do something people thought we couldn't do, the comments after Whistling Straits (in 2021), decades of American dominance - we took a lot from that, we let it fuel us.

"We got so lucky in getting an incredible leader in Luke Donald and he shepherded us through the process and he's been amazing.

"11 of the 12 players from Rome came back. We did what we needed to do and we are going to celebrate like there is no tomorrow."
A series celebrating Dame Mary Berrys 60-year career in cooking and broadcasting is to air on BBC Two.

Mary At 90: A Lifetime Of Cooking will see the former Great British Bake Off judge joined by celebrities including gardener Alan Titchmarsh, chef Jamie Oliver and Match Of The Day presenter Gabby Logan, after Dame Mary turned 90 this year.

The six-part series will see her teach guests how to make some of her best-loved recipes, as she shares stories from her career and reflects on the way cooking has changed over the last 60 years.

Dame Mary said: I cant quite believe Ive been cooking for 60 years. Looking back through the archives and my career, the time has just flown by. Ive loved every minute of it and am still enjoying every minute of it.

This series has been such a joy to make. What a trip down memory lane to share with some very special friends, old and new, and of course the viewers.

Jamie Oliver is among the celebrities joining Dame Mary on the show (Jeff Moore/PA)

Ive included some of my all-time favourite recipes  some with a new twist and exciting new ones too, which I hope will inspire people to enjoy cooking at home.

The show, which will also feature TV presenter Alex Jones, actor Kiell Smith-Bynoe and comedian Tom Allen, will share footage from Dame Marys personal archive.

Ricky Cooper, BBC commissioning editor, said: This is a very special series. Were thrilled Mary is sharing her treasured memories from such an illustrious career.

Im sure audiences across the UK will savour them and enjoy the incredible new and updated classic recipes cooked with love with some of the nations best-known faces.

A fabulous way to celebrate the icon that is Dame Mary in this incredible milestone birthday year.

Mary At 90: A Lifetime Of Cooking is expected to air later in the autumn, and will also be available on iPlayer, with an accompanying book called Mary 90  My Very Best Recipes released on October 9.

Dame Mary has written more than 80 cookery books, becoming a UK household name for her recipes and tips, including her recipe for a Victoria sponge cake.

In 2021 she was made a dame for a lifetime of cooking, writing and baking, and in December 2024 she was announced the winner of the lifetime achievement award at the Women In Film And Television Awards.
Shabana Mahmood speaking at the Labour Party conference - Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

The Home Secretary played a clever game in front of Labour Party conference delegates this afternoon. Clearly aware that much of her partys rank and file are uncomfortable with anti-immigrant rhetoric or even talk of tougher rules on immigrants hoping to be allowed to remain in the UK, Shabana Mahmood expertly used her trump card first. She opened up with a scathing condemnation of Tommy Robinson, the far-Right poster boy who led the recent Unite The Kingdom protest march in London.

Having comfortably established her anti-racist credentials, Mahmood then felt more confident in getting to the meat of her speech: her determination to reduce immigration, both legal and illegal, including new restrictions on the granting of Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) and a doubling of the time applicants must wait to receive it.

Mahmood even addressed a problem that many have sought to avoid, but which is one that gets to the heart of Labours current challenges: the abandonment by the working classes of their traditional party. A failure to present a fairer and more robust immigration system will mean that working-class communities will turn away from us and seek solace in the empty promises of [Nigel] Farage.

In the best sound bite of the day, and one that will no doubt merit repeated use by her and other ministers, Mahmood committed her party not just to winning the next election but to fight for a greater Britain, and not a littler England.

Ageing cultural references notwithstanding, it was interesting to see the reaction of the vast majority of the hall, dominated, one would have thought, by the kind of metropolitan liberal elite who prefer not to talk about immigration. But Mahmood seemed to have a lot of friends in the audience, who looked almost relieved to be hearing a Labour Home Secretary actually offer some hope that this young administration need not, perhaps, succumb to the populist advances of Farage.

Political reality is not something very often associated with Labour conferences, after all. Earlier today the Chancellors keynote speech was interrupted by a pro-Palestinian heckler, perhaps someone who believes that the war in Gaza is more important to British voters than the state of the economy. But such acts of individual self-indulgence have been mercifully few and far between; replaced, dare I say, with a renewed sense of pragmatism born of electoral jeopardy.

Mahmoods plans may not work. She is placing an awful lot of her own personal reputation on the one in, one out returns agreement with France, despite the fact that it needs to be renewed next year (and may not be). The cynic might suggest that she ensured that her predecessor, Yvette Cooper, received the halls appreciation as the founder of that scheme anyway, just in case it doesnt turn out to be as effective as ministers hope.

But there was no doubting the determination of Mahmood to whip the immigration system into shape, and to do so with or without the support of her partys grass roots. For now, she seems to have it. She earned a great deal of credit for her determined words and fiery rhetoric today. The crunch point will come when annual immigration figures are published, and especially if there isnt a massive fall in small boat arrivals from the start of next year.

But at least for today, Labour conference trusts Mahmood with the job. Whether they will be able to go along with every tactic the Home Secretary will need to employ in order to achieve her aims is another story for another conference.
The karearea falcon has won New Zealands bird of the year competition for a second time. Photograph: Craig McKenzie/AP

New Zealands fastest bird, capable of flying 200km/h in its pursuit of prey, has been crowned bird of the year  a long-running annual competition that has previously been a lightning rod for scandal and hijinks.

The threatened karearea is New Zealands only falcon. It is small and tawny, with impressive talons and large dark eyes. Karearea are powerful aerial hunters and watch other birds, lizards or small mammals  sometimes larger than themselves  from a high vantage point before diving at high speed to snatch their prey.

The karearea is just a stunning bird, Emma Blackburn, the chair of the Karearea Falcon Trust said. Its our only remaining endemic raptor and a really important part of our ecosystem.

Related: Penguins in the pond, kiwi in the back yard: how a city brought back its birds

There are between roughly 5,000 to 8,000 karearea left, according to the Department of Conservation. They live in forests around the country and nest on the ground, typically under boulders or fallen trees. The birds are very vulnerable to predation by introduced mammals such as cats, hedgehogs and stoats who feast on their ground-dwelling eggs, Blackburn said.

Habitat loss through tree logging and the conversion of tussocked grassland into pasture has also likely reduced populations. Meanwhile, the birds sometimes fly into power lines, buildings and nets over vines and trees, Blackburn said.

The bird of the year competition  run by conservation group Forest and Bird  was scandal-free this year but New Zealanders still took to social media to plug their preferred candidates. Each of the 73 contenders had their own campaign manager.

The contest was launched 20 years ago to raise awareness about the plight of New Zealands native birds, many of which are threatened, on the brink of extinction or already extinct due to the introduction of pests, human activity and declining habitats.

New Zealands only native mammals are bats and marine species, putting the spotlight on its birds, which are beloved  and often rare.

The two-week competition attracted more than 75,000 verified votes from 123 countries. The karearea, which also won in 2012, joins last years winner, the hoiho and the kakapo as the only birds to have taken out the poll twice.

New Zealands only alpine parrot, the cheeky kea came second, while the tiny karure, a small goth black robin found only on New Zealands Chatham Island came third.

Over the years, the contest has been subject to scandal, from crowning a bat the winner in 2021, to accusations of Russian interference in 2019, and claims Australians attempted to rig the contest in favour of the shag in 2018.

In 2023, British-American comedian and talkshow host John Oliver ran a global campaign for the threatened puteketeke  a grunting, puking bird with an unusual repertoire of mating rituals. His efforts were rewarded when the puteketeke was crowned the 2023 winner.

Behind the memes and mayhem is a serious message, said Nicola Toki, Forest and Birds chief executive.

This years top 10 [birds] matches the statistics exactly  80% of them are in trouble, she said, adding climate change, habitat loss and predators are pushing species towards extinction.

People fall in love with these birds  and once they know their stories, they care, they advocate and they act.
Precautionary: Thomas Frank explains Cristian Romeros absence (Getty Images)

Tottenham will be without Cristian Romero for their trip to face Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League.

After beginning their European campaign with victory at home to Villarreal, Spurs now head to Norway to take on a side they beat on their way to Europa League glory last season.

However, they will do so without their captain, who has not travelled with the Spurs squad for Tuesday nights match.

Romero was not seen at open training earlier in the day and the centre-back has been left at home.

Frank was quizzed on the exact nature of Romeros issue, but opted instead to repeatedly say it was just precaution,

In Romeros absence, Kevin Danso is expected to start alongside Micky van de Ven in the heart of defence.

Aside from being rested against Doncaster in the Carabao Cup, Romero had otherwise played every minute for Spurs this season.

The 27-year-old has been consistently impressive since behind handed the captains armband and has played a leading role in Spurs significantly improved defensive record.

After leaking goals at an alarming rate last season, Spurs have kept four clean sheets in all competitions so far this campaign. Only Arsenal and Crystal Palace have conceded fewer goals in the Premier League.
Thomas Frank has confirmed Tottenham forward Dominic Solanke has undergone minor surgery to get to the bottom of his troublesome ankle injury.

Solanke, who last played for Spurs on August 23 against Manchester City, was absent from training again on Monday ahead of the Champions League fixture away to Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday.

England forward Solanke had returned to training earlier this month before he was pulled out last week, but Frank revealed in Norway that a final decision had been made to go down the surgery route.

The latest team news from Thomas Frank ahead of tomorrow nights @ChampionsLeague fixture against Bod/Glimt   Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) September 29, 2025

Dom has got that ankle issue thats been bothering him for a little while, so now weve decided to make a minor surgery, Spurs boss Frank told a press conference.

Its a small procedure, so that will mean he is not ready for today of course and of course Leeds (on Saturday) as well. Well have more news about a timeframe after the international break, but I dont expect it to be long.

Frank had played down concerns over Solankes fitness in Fridays press conference before a 1-1 draw at home to Wolves on Saturday night.

Solanke missed the majority of pre-season with an ankle issue, but it appeared to be fixed by the start of August after he featured in matches against Paris St Germain, Burnley and Manchester City.

However, with the 28-year-old not able to play for Tottenham during the last five weeks, Frank was asked whether the club could have opted for surgery sooner.

He said: No, I think you can look at it two ways. That is the easy answer but it is not that easy because if we knew we could have done the surgery a month ago, we probably would have done it.

For me I am always it is what it is. We deal with it now and no doubt the way we dealt with it was because we thought that was the right thing. In general no one wants surgery.

Surgery for Solanke leaves Frank light on attacking options in Bodo, with Paris St Germain loanee Randal Kolo Muani unable to train on Monday.

Frank provided a positive update on the France international, but he will be unavailable for this rematch with Bodo four months on from a Europa League semi-final victory at Aspmyra Stadion.

Mathys Tel featured in the 2-0 win in the Arctic Circle, but is not registered for Tottenhams Champions League squad, which is also the case for summer recruit Kota Takai and Yves Bissouma.



Takai and Bissouma took part in training on Monday along with Ben Davies  after a minor knee issue  but Frank revealed captain Cristian Romero has been left in England as a precaution after a bruising encounter with Wolves.

Frank added: Kolo Muani, I think now were finally on top of his dead leg, so that is also progress there and good. Cuti was just a precaution.

Danish coach Frank heaped praise on Norwegian minnows Bodo after their historic run to the Europa League semi-final was followed by qualification for the Champions League for the first time.

Asked about Spurs 2-0 win under his predecessor Ange Postecoglou, Frank admitted: How many months is that? Four months ago? With all due respect, I was not the coach.

This is a new game. This is a new situation.
Donald Trump will run Gaza with the assistance of Sir Tony Blair as part of the US presidents 20-point plan for eternal peace in the Middle East.

Mr Trump said on Monday that he would oversee a transitional government in the Strip as the head of a new body called the Board of Peace, which Sir Tony would also sit on.

He said the leaders of the Arab world had asked him to be chairman of the body.

Itd be headed by a gentleman known as President Donald J Trump of the United States. Thats what I want, this is some extra work to do, but its so important that Im willing to do it.

Outlining the plan, which would include the IDF withdrawing from Gaza as the remaining hostages are released by Hamas, Mr Trump said: Today is a historic day for peace. Lets call it eternal peace in the Middle East.

Shortly after a press conference alongside Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, in the White House ended abruptly without questions, Hamas said it had not been sent a copy of the plan.

Eight Arab and Gulf State nations including Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey backed the plan, saying in a statement they welcome the role of the American president and his sincere efforts aimed at ending the war in Gaza.

They said they affirm their readiness to engage positively and constructively with the United States and the parties toward finalising the agreement and ensuring its implementation.

Documents released by the White House detailed Mr Trumps and Sir Tonys roles. Gaza will be governed under the temporary transitional governance of a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee, responsible for delivering the day-to-day running of public services and municipalities for the people in Gaza, the plan reads.

This committee will be made up of qualified Palestinians and international experts, with oversight and supervision by a new international transitional body, the Board of Peace, which will be headed and chaired by President Donald J Trump, with other members and heads of state to be announced, including former prime minister Tony Blair.

Under the proposals, the US would also develop a temporary international stabilisation force (ISF) alongside Arab nations and other international partners to be immediately deployed in Gaza.

The ISF will train and provide support to vetted Palestinian police forces in Gaza, and will consult with Jordan and Egypt. The group will work with Israel to help secure border areas.

A map released by the White House showed the IDFs staggered withdrawal from Gaza, which would coincide with hostages being released.

A yellow line represents an initial modest withdrawal of IDF troops, which would take place within 72 hours of an agreement being reached and once all the hostages are released.

The red line shows where the ISF will be deployed once Israeli forces withdraw further.

Meanwhile, Hamas officials would be offered amnesty and possible immunity in Qatar, and civilians in Gaza would not be forced to leave the Strip, as Mr Trump had previously suggested.

However, the peace plan failed to mention the West Bank and omitted key details about the future security of Gaza.

It was also unclear if Hamas would accept its terms.

Mr Trump said if Hamas refused to accept the deal, Israel would have the full backing of the United States to finish the job.

Bibi, youd have our full backing to do what you would have to do, Mr Trump said, referring to Mr Netanyahu by his nickname.

Mr Netanyahu pledged to finish the job should Hamas not accept the plan.

Mr Trump thanked the Israeli prime minister for agreeing to the plan - Anadolu

He said: If Hamas rejects your plan, Mr President, or if they supposedly accept it and then basically do everything to counter it, then Israel will finish the job by itself.

This could be done the easy way, or it can be done the hard way, but it will be done.

If the agreement is accepted by Hamas, the terror group would have no part in running Gaza. All of its military infrastructure, including the tunnel system used to hold hostages, would be dismantled.

Members of the terror group who pledge to live peacefully would be granted amnesty once the hostages were returned and those who wished to leave Gaza would be allowed to do so.

End the misery, Starmer urges Hamas

Sir Keir Starmer welcomed the plan on Monday night and urged Hamas to end the misery by agreeing to its terms.

He said: The new US initiative to deliver an end to the war in Gaza is profoundly welcome and I am grateful for President Trumps leadership.

We strongly support his efforts to end the fighting, release the hostages and ensure the provision of urgent humanitarian assistance for the people of Gaza. This is our top priority and should happen immediately.

We call on all sides to come together and to work with the US administration to finalise this agreement and bring it into reality. Hamas should now agree to the plan and end the misery, by laying down their arms and releasing all remaining hostages.

Together with our partners, we will continue work to build consensus to put into place a permanent ceasefire. We are all committed to a collective effort to end the war in Gaza and deliver a sustainable peace, where Palestinians and Israelis can live side by side in safety and security.

Netanyahu apologises to Qatar

An earlier version of the US plan leaked over the weekend stipulated that Israel would commit not to strike Qatar again. However, this was omitted from the final version.

Just before the press conference on Monday, Mr Trump and Mr Netanyahu held a phone call with Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the prime minister of Qatar, in which Mr Netanyahu apologised for ordering a recent strike in Doha.

Not only did Mr Netanyahu say sorry for killing a Qatari officer, but he acknowledged that Israel violated Qatari sovereignty and he undertook not to do so again.

I also want to assure you that Israel has no plan to violate your sovereignty again in the future, and I have made that commitment to the president, Mr Netanyahu told his counterpart.

I want to assure you that Israel was targeting Hamas, not Qataris.

Blairs plan for the day after

Sir Tony, who has been instrumental in trying to bring about peace in Gaza, has been working on a post-war plan, known as the day after, since the conflict broke out in October 2023.

His plan was given the green light by Mr Trump earlier this month and he was given two weeks to garner support for his proposal.

Last night, Sir Tony described Mr Trumps plan as bold and intelligent, adding that it could end the war while also ensuring Israels absolute and enduring security and the release of all hostages.

He added: It offers us the best chance of ending two years of war, misery and suffering and I thank President Trump for his leadership, determination and commitment.

In particular, his willingness to chair the Board of Peace to oversee the new Gaza is a huge signal of support and confidence in the future of Gaza, of the possibility of Israelis and Palestinians finding a path to peace and of the potential for a broader regional and global alliance to counter the forces of extremism and promote peace and prosperity between nations.

Jared Kushner, Mr Trumps son-in-law, has also been instrumental in the development of a post-war plan and attended the announcement on Monday.

Mr Trump had previously suggested turning Gaza into the Riviera of the Middle East, a glitzy paradise complete with casinos and beachfront resorts.

He has also spoken about moving thousands of Palestinians out of the war-torn territory, an idea now seemingly abandoned.

Mr Trumps role as head of the Board of Peace will likely be viewed as a security guarantee, with the US locked in to the peace process and future stability of the Strip.

It is not yet clear if hardliners in Mr Netanyahus cabinet will accept the deal as it offers Hamas an exit plan.

Leaders refuse to take questions

After each leader spoke at length at the White House, Mr Trump suggested that it was not really appropriate to take questions, citing his already full agenda for the rest of the day.

Reporters had packed the room and waited for much of the afternoon for the opportunity to grill the pair on the proposals.

Mr Trump then hinted that he might change his mind, and even asked Mr Netanyahu if he would like to take a question from a friendly Israeli reporter.

But the prime minister responded: I would go by your instinct. Well have enough time for questions. Lets settle the issue first.

The pair left the room, ignoring shouted questions from reporters.

On Monday evening, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said the proposal was a historic agreement that will allow our people to heal, end the war, and chart a new future for the Middle East.

The grassroots group, which represents many of the hostages families, called on Mr Netanyahu to immediately halt the fighting in Gaza to prevent harm to their loved ones.

There is no reason to risk their lives when Israel has adopted President Trumps historic initiative, it said.

On Monday, Hamas claimed that it lost contact with two Israeli hostages after IDF troops and tanks advanced deeper into Gaza City.
US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (left) and US House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (right) speak with reporters after a meeting with Donald Trump - Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images North America

The most pressing political question in Washington right now is whether the government will shut down at 12:01am on October 1.

If it does, all non-essential operations will pause. Essential ones, like the armed forces, border enforcement and social security payments, will continue. But the Department of Silly Walks will stop until a funding bill is passed.

How could a multi-trillion dollar government simply stop so many of its activities? Because the US constitution divides budgetary authority between the legislative and executive branches, and that authority runs out on October 1. Senate Democrats are refusing to authorise the continuation of non-essential spending, including a temporary extension of the current budget, until they get some items on their wish list. Those items would add another trillion dollars to the deficit, and Republicans have refused.

Republicans dont just think more spending on social programmes is a bad idea. They think a shutdown gives them a unique opportunity to permanently end some of those programmes and fire the bureaucrats who administer them.

Even so, the White House and Congressional Republicans have still given Democrats a chance to climb down. Indeed, they have proposed a simple solution to the current impasse, one that has been used many times and, until now, has always had bipartisan support. They would pass a straightforward continuing resolution (a CR) that renews previous levels of spending (on existing programmes) for another month or two. During that time, Republicans would try to pass a series of spending authorisations for different government functions, a process ironically called regular order, but which has not actually been used for two decades.

If Congressional Democrats were willing to pass a straightforward CR, there would be no shutdown. They arent. They are demanding to sweeten the pill with some very expensive side deals and have spent weeks making those sweeteners a national issue, mostly to appeal to their increasingly Left-wing base. Republicans wont accept any of those side deals.

Those Democratic demands and the Republicans refusal have resulted in a stalemate. Republicans managed to pass a clean CR in the House, where they have a slender majority. But they cannot pass it in the Senate without some Democratic votes, since the Republicans are seven votes short of the 60-vote supermajority they need. The Senates leading Democrat, Chuck Schumer of New York, is determined to hold his caucus together and block the clean CR.

In the past, Republicans would have folded, knowing that they would be held responsible for any shutdown. This time is different for a couple of reasons.

First, the mainstream media, which blames Republicans for the sun rising in the East, has lost most of its audience and most of its power. The biggest change is not the rise of cable TV or the dominance of Fox News  it is the fragmentation of audiences thanks to the internet. More and more voters get their news from social media, where algorithms give each viewer content that confirms pre-existing views instead of challenging them.

Second, Donald Trump and his allies believe that they can use the shutdown to accomplish some major goals and that they have trapped the Democrats into giving them the chance.

Those goals are to permanently cut the federal workforce and end a series of progressive programmes. Normally, a shutdown would see government workers furloughed temporarily and put back on the job after the continuing resolution passes. They are then given back pay for all their days on furlough. All the old programmes resume, unchanged.

Trump has no intention of doing that. If there is a shutdown, he will begin implementing a permanent reduction in force of the federal bureaucracy. And the Democrats are stumbling toward giving him that opportunity. They are refusing to vote for any CR, at least for now, unless Trump agrees to load the bill with more spending. He wont.

Trumps programme has been mapped out by his key budget aide, Russ Vought (pronounced vote), who heads the Office of Management and Budget. Cabinet officials have also been working with him to identify programmes and personnel to cut. To quote an old line from (Democrat) Rahm Emanuel: You never want a serious crisis to go to waste. And what I mean by that is an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before. That is exactly what Trump, Vought and the administration intend to do.

The prospect of these cuts is chilling to Democrats, who are, at bottom, the party of government. The epicentre of that party of government are the two Democratic senators from Virginia, a purple state filled with government workers. Its hard to imagine those two senators sticking with a party line that could cost them the next election.

The question is whether these vulnerable Democrats can convince Chuck Schumer that he is pursuing a foolhardy strategy that might appeal to the partys anti-Trump, far-Left activist base but risks losing support from moderate voters, concerned about bloated, ineffective programmes and a ballooning federal deficit.

The dilemma facing Schumer and his Senate caucus is how to extricate themselves from the mess they have made for themselves. That boils down to a simple question: When will they concede to Trumps demand for a simple continuing resolution, without any add-ons, and swallow the humiliation they brought on themselves by fulminating against it for weeks?

Charles Lipson is the Peter B Ritzma professor of political science emeritus at the University of Chicago. His latest book is Free Speech 101: A Practical Guide for Students. He can be reached at charles.lipson@gmail.com
Donald Trump said something special was going to happen in Gaza even as Benjamin Netanyahu struck a cautious tone about the US presidents ceasefire plan ahead of their high-stakes talks at the White House on Monday.

The US president and the Israeli prime minister are set to meet at the White House on Monday to discuss a US-drafted 21-point proposal aimed at halting the war in Gaza and laying out its post-war governance.

Mr Trump appeared confident on the eve of the meeting, saying, we will get it done as his administration worked to close a comprehensive plan to get all the Israeli hostages released.

We have a real chance for GREATNESS IN THE MIDDLE EAST, Mr Trump wrote on social media. ALL ARE ON BOARD FOR SOMETHING SPECIAL, FIRST TIME EVER. WE WILL GET IT DONE!!! President DJT.

This came as the death toll from Israels war on Hamas topped 66,000, Gazas health ministry said on Sunday.

The rising death toll of Palestinians, mostly women and children, has led to intensifying international pressure on Israel to end its war in Gaza, especially amid its ground offensive in the north of the besieged territory.

Mr Netanyahu, however, said that a ceasefire plan had not been finalised yet. But were working with President Trumps team, actually, as we speak, and I hope we can make it a go, he added in an interview with Fox News.

Smoke billows over Gaza City following an Israeli airstrike as displaced Palestinians flee on 24 September (AP)

Mr Trump earlier said the 21-point proposal for an immediate ceasefire between Hamas and Israel would include the release of all Israeli hostages within 48 hours, the disarmament of Hamas, the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, and a steady withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.

Hamas said on Sunday that they had not received any new proposal for a ceasefire. It, however, reiterated readiness to examine any proposals it receives from its mediator brothers in a positive and responsible manner, while upholding the national rights of our people.

A Hamas official, who was not named, said they had been briefed about the plan but had yet to receive a formal offer from Egyptian and Qatari mediators.

Mr Netanyahu was likely to push for changes in the ceasefire plan, three Israeli officials said on Sunday, according to CNN, even as many of the details had been worked out in advance with the Israeli leader.

He worked on the plan in advance in close details, one official said, adding that White House was aware that Mr Netanyahu would not accept all of the outline of the plan.

The dynamics appear more serious this time, said a senior Israeli official, but it still needs to cross the final line.

Mr Netanyahu met Mr Trumps envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner in New York on Thursday, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, to discuss the plan.

Mr Trump had unveiled the ceasefire and post-war proposal to Arab states at the UN two days earlier.

Citing a senior US official, Axios reporter Barak Ravid said on Sunday that the US and Israel were very close to signing an agreement on the 21-point plan. The official added that Hamas still needed to agree, Mr Ravid said.

On Sunday, the Israeli military said in an X/Twitter post that its warplanes had bombed 140 targets across Gaza over the previous 24 hours.

The Gaza health ministry said in a statement that at least 77 people had been killed by Israeli fire in the past 24 hours. Emergency workers were unable to respond to dozens of desperate calls from trapped residents, it added.

Gazas Civil Emergency Service said late on Saturday that Israel had denied 73 requests, sent via international organisations, to let it rescue injured Palestinians in Gaza City. The Israeli military had no immediate comment.
Founder Of Nile University Exposes Misattributed Egyptian Innovations

GIZA, Egypt, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Nile University (NU), Egypt's first national, non-profit university dedicated to excellence in technology and business education, proudly announces a distinguished lecture by its Founding President, Prof. Tarek Khalil.

The lecture, titled "Stolen Legacy: The Egregious Misappropriation of the Achievements of Ancient Egyptians", will take place on Saturday, October 4, at 6:00 PM (GMT+3) at Nile University in Cairo, Egypt, and will be available for free via livestream on YouTube.

Prof. Khalil, Founder of the International Association on Management of Technology (IAMOT), will explore how historical narratives around the 'discovery' of innovation and technology have been shaped and misrepresented over time  often attributed to other societies and whitewashing Ancient Egypt's history. His lecture will highlight the groundbreaking contributions of Ancient Egypt to knowledge and innovation, far beyond what is already known, reaffirming Egypt's rightful place as a cradle of civilization.

"Egypt's rich intellectual heritage has too often been diminished or wrongly credited elsewhere," said Dr. Tarek Khalil. "This lecture seeks to challenge those misconceptions and remind us that Egypt's legacy is not only foundational to human progress but also a continuing source of inspiration for the future."

In person attendance is welcomed, and the livestream will be accessible worldwide via https://youtube.com/@nileuniversity?si=kZWQ-W1igQiPJZZV.

About Prof. Tarek Khalil

Prof. Tarek Khalil is the Founding President of Nile University and Distinguished Professor of Management of Technology. He is Professor Emeritus and former Dean of the Graduate School at the University of Miami, and Founder & Chairman of the International Association for Management of Technology (IAMOT). His career has been dedicated to advancing higher education and innovation while linking academia, industry, and government in Egypt and worldwide.

About Nile University

Nile University (NU), founded in 2006 as Egypt's first national, non-profit university, is dedicated to excellence in education, research, entrepreneurship, and innovation. NU serves as a hub for technology and business education in Egypt and the MENA region, addressing key sectors vital to economic growth while fostering applied research that connects academia, industry, and government.

Event Details:

Lecture Title: Stolen Legacy: The Egregious Misappropriation of the Achievements of Ancient Egyptians

Speaker: Prof. Tarek Khalil

Date: Saturday, October 4, 2025

Time: 6:00 PM Cairo Time (GMT+3)

Location: Nile University, Cairo, Egypt

Livestream:https://youtube.com/@nileuniversity?si=kZWQ-W1igQiPJZZV.

Contact:

Ronnie Khalil

***@gmail.com

Photo(s):

https://www.prlog.org/13101349

SOURCE Nile University
(Getty Images)

A Tui flight from Cardiff Airport to Cyprus declared an emergency and was forced to divert to Birmingham following a bird strike shortly after take-off.

The Boeing 737, flight number TOM 6754 , was bound for Paphos when the incident occurred at 4.30pm on Sunday.

Birmingham Airport was forced to suspend its operations while emergency services met the aircraft upon its arrival.

The jets pilots circled Swansea Bay at approximately 3,000 feet (900m) before climbing up to 12,000 feet (3600m) and travelling towards the West Midlands to land.

Passengers and crew were safely disembarked after the aircraft burned fuel in a series of orbits before landing at 5.30pm.

The cause is reported to be engine failure, according to the BBC.

The Boeing 737 bound for Cyprus was forced to divert to Birmingham (Getty Images)

A spokesperson for Cardiff Airport told The Independent: "We are aware of an incident involving flight TOM6754 from Cardiff to Paphos.

The safety of our passengers is our number one priority. The aircraft diverted to Birmingham Airport (BHX) and landed safely at approximately 5.30pm.

A Birmingham Airport spokesperson said: Birmingham Airport temporarily suspended operations at 5.12pm for approximately 30 minutes to accept a TUI inbound divert.

In line with normal procedures the airports Fire Service met the aircraft on arrival. The aircraft landed safely and taxied to the apron.

The Independent has contacted Tui for comment.

Flight circled before landing where it was met by emergency services (FlightRadar24)

Last month, Birmingham Airport was forced to close for 41 minutes causing delays and travel disruption with all flights suspended after an aircraft incident.

The incident is believed to have been caused by a light aircraft whose landing gear would not deploy as it tried to travel to Belfast around 1pm on Wednesday.

The Midlands airport is the UKs seventh busiest and registered a 12 per cent increase in passenger numbers in 2024 to reach 12.85 million. Experts expected a busy summer for the West Midlands hub, as easyJet joins the growing number of airlines to set up base at Birmingham.

One person suffered minor injuries after the small aircraft made an emergency landing at Birmingham Airport, according to West Midlands Police.
Zhimin Qian orchestrated a fraud in China between 2014 and 2017 that left 128,000 people out of pocket. Photograph: Shutterstock

A woman has been convicted for her role in a multibillion-pound bitcoin fraud after what is thought to have been the worlds largest cryptocurrency seizure.

Zhimin Qian, also known as Yadi Zhang, 45, orchestrated a fraud in China between 2014 and 2017 that left 128,000 people out of pocket.

She stored the proceeds in bitcoin, but UK authorities made a breakthrough in the case when they raided a Hampstead mansion in 2018 and seized devices from Qian holding 61,000 bitcoins, worth more than 5bn at current prices.

The Metropolitan police believe it is the largest single cryptocurrency seizure in the world.

Qian pleaded guilty at Southwark crown court on Monday to acquiring cryptocurrency that was criminal property and possessing it between October 2017 and April 2024.

She had fled China using a bogus St Kitts and Nevis passport in 2017 and entered the UK, where a year later she attempted to launder the money by buying property with the help of Jian Wen, 43, a Chinese takeaway worker. Wen was jailed for six years and eight months for her part in the scam in May 2024.

Qian appeared in court aided by a Mandarin interpreter. She will be sentenced at a later date.

Wen had arrived in the UK in 2007 and lived modestly in Leeds between 2011 and 2017 before working at a Chinese takeaway in south-east London. She moved in with Qian at a six-bedroom house in Hampstead Heath, north London, in September 2017.

While laundering the proceeds of the fraud, Wen drove around in a Mercedes and flew her son over from China 18 months later to attend a private school.

Qian fled after police raided the Hamsptead property, known as the Manor House, and seized a safety deposit box containing digital wallets that held vast sums in bitcoin.

Wen insisted she had no idea that the bitcoin came from the proceeds of fraud and claimed Qian had duped her. She said she helped Qian run a jewellery business which had branches in Singapore, Malaysia and China.

In January this year a judge ordered Wen to pay back more than 3m within three months or serve another seven years in jail. The recoverable amount derived from the bitcoin and two properties in Dubai.

The head of the Mets economic and cybercrime command, Will Lyne, said: This is one of the largest money-laundering cases in UK history and among the highest-value cryptocurrency cases globally. I am extremely proud of the team.

Through a meticulous investigation and unprecedented cooperation with Chinese law enforcement, we were able to obtain compelling evidence of the criminal origins of the cryptoassets Qian attempted to launder in the UK  My thoughts are with the thousands of victims defrauded in this scheme.

DS Isabella Grotto, who led the Mets investigation, said: Today marks the result of years of painstaking work. When our team located Zhimin Qian, she had been evading justice for five years, and her arrest triggered a complex investigation requiring evidence from multiple jurisdictions and the careful review of thousands of documents.

I am immensely proud of the investigation team and our partners who have worked tirelessly on this case.
Previously unseen images of Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow have emerged after going on sale at auction

Photographs of Bonnie and Clyde posing in front of a bullet-riddled traffic sign have been revealed after being sold at auction.

The collection features several photos of the notorious outlaws hugging, while Clyde poses in front of a bullet-riddled traffic sign in another.

The photos, which originally belonged to Clydes older sister, Nell May Barrow, had been held in a private collection until coming to light after their sale at RR Auction in Boston some 90 years after they were taken. The collection sold for $23,750 (15,600).

Bonnie and Clyde can be seen embracing in several images

Bonnie Elizabeth Parker and Clyde Chestnut Barrow evaded the authorities between 1932 and 1934 after being linked to a series of murders, kidnappings and robberies across America.

They became notorious for holding up banks, stores and petrol stations across the nation and attracted headlines for their shoot-outs with police and daring getaways.

A photo of a bullet-ridden car appears in the collection

They were eventually ambushed and shot dead by six law enforcement officers who had concealed themselves in bushes in Louisiana.

Their story was immortalised in the 1967 film Bonnie and Clyde, starring Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty.

Several photos of other members of the Barrow gang also appear in the collection, including images of Clydes brother Marvin Buck Barrow and his wife Blanche.

There are also images of several other Barrow gang members

An RR Auction spokesman said: This impressive photographic archive belonged to Nellie May Barrow, the beloved older sister of Clyde Barrow.

It contains nearly 600 photographs of the Barrow family, including over 40 period photos of notorious Depression-era outlaws Bonnie and Clyde.
Matthew Godley is London-based designer who appeared at Weymouth magistrates court this week

An Eton-educated interior designer made a homophobic rant while being arrested for drink driving, a court has heard.

Matthew Godley, 65, became aggressive towards police officers after he was pulled over at 3.15am on May 27 in Bridport, Dorset.

The London-based designer appeared at Weymouth magistrates court this week, which heard that Godley called PC James Arnold a queer b-----d, and then shouted Im being arrested by a f---ing homosexual.

Godley also racially abused a nearby petrol station worker, calling him a Hindu c--- several times as he was being pinned to the ground by the police officers on the station forecourt.

Magistrates heard the company director was drunk when he was pulled over by police who had noticed damage to his car.

Elizabeth Valera, prosecuting, said police were on Sea Road North in Bridport when they witnessed Godley make an about-turn.

She said: He pulls onto the petrol station forecourt, walks over to police and hands them his keys and says go on, take my car.

Godley pleaded guilty to drink driving. His breath test on May 27 recorded 58mcg in 100ml of breath, which is almost twice the limit.

Attempted to hit body-worn video

The prosecutor said Godley appeared to be angry at the body-worn camera PC Arnold had switched on.

She said: He says the defendant attempted to hit my body-worn video; he didnt want to be recorded. He grabbed at my tac [tactical] vest.

He took him to the ground to secure him there and arrested him for assaulting a police officer. Whilst on the ground, he continued to be aggressive.

The petrol station cashier, who was nothing to do with it, was outside, and he started shouting Hindu c--- at him on a number of occasions.

Whilst he was being arrested, he said, Why have you got a pierced ear, you queer b------d? Is it because youre a bender? This guys a bender, Im being arrested by a f---ing homosexual.

Intent to cause alarm or distress

Godley has run his own interior design business for more than 30 years, based in the Kensal Rise area of north-west London.

His portfolio ranges from English estates to London clubs and international apartments with jobs costing from 20,000 to 500,000.

Godley pleaded guilty to using threatening words or behaviour with intent to cause alarm or distress, racially aggravated threatening words or behaviour and assaulting a police officer.

Sentencing was adjourned until November so probation reports could be prepared. Kevin Hill, defending, said he would wait until then to put forward Godleys account and mitigation.
Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images North America

Today, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House to discuss bringing an end to the conflict in Gaza. Last week, he was giving a fiery speech at the UN General Assembly denying the accusation of genocide levelled at Israel following a UN report.

In response to an earlier Battle Lines interview with one of the reports authors, Venetia gets the other side of the argument with Dr. Eran Shamir-Borer, a former head of the International Law Department in the Israel Defense Forces and part of Israels team at the International Court of Justice defending the countrys against a genocide case there.

He is now director of the Center for Security and Democracy at the Israel Democracy Institute and shares his legal perspective on why the UN Commission of Inquirys report was wrong and Israel is not committing genocide in Gaza. Plus he discusses how Hamas operating tactics makes the Gaza war one of the most morally and legally complex in modern history.
Sebastian Kahnert/picture alliance via Getty Police car at Circus Paul Busch on Sept. 28

NEED TO KNOW

Marina B. from Mallorca fell to her death during a trapeze performance at Circus Paul Busch in Bautzen, Germany, on Saturday, Sept. 27

According to local reports, some audience members fled the circus tent amid the incident

The aerial acrobat, 27, was pronounced dead at the scene and the circus remained close the following day

A Spanish circus performer is dead after falling from a trapeze during a performance in Germany.

On Saturday, Sept. 27, Marina B. from Mallorca had the spotlight on her as she took center stage at Circus Paul Busch in Bautzen in front of over 80 people, including children, according to German newspaper Bild. She then fell around 16 feet from the trapeze during the performance.

The incident, which took place at around 5:45 p.m. local time, allegedly left audience members screaming, parents covering their childrens eyes and fleeing the tent, according to the outlet. Marina B. was pronounced dead at the scene.

The crisis response team was immediately deployed to assist both spectators and circus staff, said local police spokesperson Stefan Heiduck, per the Majorca Daily Bulletin.

Sebastian Kahnert/picture alliance via Getty Circus tent of Circus Paul Busch on Sept. 28

After being evacuated from the tent, audience members were given support helplines following the tragic incident.

The police are currently classifying the incident as a workplace accident, authorities told the Majorca Daily Bulletin. There is no evidence of third-party fault, and it is unlikely there will be, as acrobats are usually responsible for setting up their own equipment.

Marina B. was a former gymnast who began her circus career in 2018, according to the outlet. Before her untimely death, she had performed in circuses in Germany, Spain, Andorra and Poland.

A recent photo shared on Marina B.'s Instagram account showed her doing the splits while hanging from the trapeze, while another captured her juggling on a tight rope.

Ralf Huppertz, CEO of the Association of German Circus Companies (VdCU), told Bild that the circumstances of Marinas death seem unusual, as she was a well-trained artist. He added that every artist is responsible for the safety of their equipment.

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.

Sebastian Kahnert/picture alliance via Getty Police officers at Circus Paul Busch

Heiduck told the outlet that the aerial acrobat was not using a safety rope at the time of her death. "She doesn't have to. She decides for herself whether to use a safety rope. No one else was in the ring during the accident, Heiduck said, per Bild.

According to the outlet and Metro, a sign was placed outside Circus Paul Busch on Sunday informing guests that they were closed due to a bereavement.

The mayor of Bautzen, Karsten Vogt, expressed his condolences following the tragedy.

On behalf of the city, I extend my deepest sympathies to her family and loved ones. Our thoughts are with all those affected by this tragic accident, he said, per the Majorca Daily Bulletin.

Circus Paul Busch, Bautzen Police Department and the Association of German Circus Companies (VdCU) did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment on Monday, Sept. 29.



Read the original article on People
NEED TO KNOW

Police in the Philippines are investigating after a newborn baby was discovered abandoned on the side of the road on Sept. 24

The infant, a newborn baby girl, was left in a cardboard box and was discovered by a passing grandmother who alerted authorities

"Every life is precious, and the PNP will not stop until the person who abandoned this baby is identified," a local police chief said in a press release

A newborn baby girl has been found inside a cardboard box on the side of the road, sparking a police investigation as officials try to locate her parents.

On Wednesday, Sept. 24 at around 6:50 a.m. local time, a resident discovered the baby along a road in Tuguegarao City in the Philippines, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said in a statement on Facebook.

Newsflare Newborn baby girl is found in cardboard box by side of the road in the Philippines

The infant, believed to be a newborn, was taken to Tuguegarao City Peoples General Hospital, where doctors confirmed she was in good health, according to Newsflare, per the Associated Press. The outlet reported that it was a passing grandmother who had discovered the baby.

Authorities believe the baby was less than a day old, as she was found with a "clipped" umbilical cord, per Newsflare.

Newsflare Newborn baby girl is found in cardboard box by side of the road in the Philippines

A heartbreaking video showed the newborn wriggling around inside a box on a wall by the road.

May Asuncion, a social worker of the City Social Welfare and Development Office, said, "According to the examination, the baby is in stable condition, but she will remain in the hospital for up to five days to ensure she is in good health," per AP.

Newsflare Newborn baby girl is found in cardboard box by side of the road in the Philippines

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.



This rescue is a testament to the care and duty that President Marcos expects from every law enforcement officer. Every life is precious, and the PNP will not stop until the person who abandoned this baby is identified," Chief Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. said in the official statement.



Because of the quick reporting of our compatriots to the police, the babys life was saved. We encourage anyone with information to come together to bring justice and proper care to this child, a police spokesperson added.

Newsflare Newborn baby girl is taken to hospital after being found in cardboard box by side of the road in the Philippines

The investigation into the baby's abandonment is ongoing, with police asking anyone with information to come forward.

PEOPLE has attempted to contact the Tuguegarao City Peoples General Hospital and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for an update on how the baby is doing.



Read the original article on People
Alix Earle/TikTok; Eric McCandless/Disney Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy.

NEED TO KNOW

Alix Earle has taken more than a few falls in her preparation for the upcoming third episode of Dancing with the Stars season 34

In a video shared on Sept. 27, the influencer and her partner and DWTS pro Val Chmerkovskiy can be seen taking multiple dramatic falls as they rehearse a move

Earle and Chmerkovskiy will compete together again in the third episode of this season of Dancing with the Stars, which will have a special "TikTok Night" theme

Alix Earle is putting in the work behind the scenes for Dancing with the Stars.



On Sept. 27, the popular influencer posted a video to her TikTok account, providing viewers with an update on how things are going as she prepares to take the stage once again on the third episode of this season of Dancing with the Stars.



In the video, the SipMARGS founder and her partner DWTS pro Val Chmerkovskiy can be seen in the Dancing with the Stars rehearsal room, attempting what appears to be a very technical, two-person cartwheel.



In the background, Chmerkovskiy's niece Hailey Bills looks on as the pair attempts the move. Unfortunately for the pair, the move doesn't seem to go as well as they might have hoped.



The two come crashing down in slow-motion, as the song "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" by Starship plays over the clip.

Andrew Eccles/Disney (2) Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy.

The pair attempts the move again in a second clip, where Chmerkovskiy goes flying over Alix's head. In the first clip, he can be seen making sure his partner is alright before the two get up to try again.



Despite the dramatic nature of the fall, the pair didn't seem to be taking it too hard, laughing as they recovered on the floor.



Bills can be seen visibly cringing in both clips as the two dancers fall to the ground. Earle, for her part, captioned the video "HAHAHAH," showing that despite the toll of the dance moves, she remained in good spirits.



The influencer has also opened up on her TikTok about some of the more impactful physical tolls that rehearsing for the show each week has taken on her body.



On Sunday, Sept. 21, the TikTok star gave a closer look at the physical toll that dance practice has had on her in a post on social media.

"I have bruises on my collarbone, the internet personality revealed in the video on TikTok as she ran a bath for herself. My toenail came off during practice today.

Earle continued: "I thought week one was hard  the stamina, the stuff were doing, Im like, I dont even know."



On the show's season premiere, Earle and Chmerkovskiy performed a cha-cha to the Britney Spears hit Circus, complete with a whip and a ring of actual flames. Each celebrity dancer picked a song that they felt was a strong representation of their personalities.



On the second episode, the pair performed a jive to "Mambo No. 5" by Lou Bega for "One-Hit Wonders Night."



Earle and Chmerkovskiy will return to the stage on Tuesday, Sept. 30, for the show's "TikTok Night," sure to be entertaining with multiple social media stars  including Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' stars Whitney Leavitt and Jen Affleck and Dylan Efron  competing on this installment of the reality dance competition.



Eric McCandless/Disney Val Chmerkovskiy and Alix Earle.

Breakout social media star Charli D'Amelio, who competed on the 31st season of Dancing With the Stars alongside pro Mark Ballas and won, will also return for the night.



Before she took to the stage this season, D'Amelio gave Earle some advice as a fellow content creator, saying that she hopes Earle and future generations of social media-savvy DWTS contestants give their content output a little more thought, even if it's just to document the precious memories.

"I would say share as much of the journey as possible. I still will look back on the old videos of rehearsal times and all of the fun that we had and just enjoy every moment," D'Amelio advised.



"It truly is so, so, so much fun, and that is one of my favorite things that I've ever accomplished."



Read the original article on People
By Renju Jose and Christine Chen

SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australian telco Optus said on Monday it had suffered another emergency call outage in an area south of Sydney, 10 days after a broader disruption that it said had probably caused four deaths when customers were unable to get timely aid.

The Australian government called the outage an "absolutely shocking failure" and has said it will seek answers from Singapore Telecommunications, which owns the country's No. 2 carrier.

Singtel Group CEO Yuen Kuan Moon plans to meet Australia's Communications Minister Anika Wells this week, a spokesperson for the minister's office said. Optus Chairman John Arthur and CEO Stephen Rue will join Yuen in the meeting with Wells, Singtel said.

"Singtel takes this matter seriously and will extend full co-operation to the Australian government and authorities to address the Optus issue," a spokesperson said.

News of another failure of the "000" number for Optus has triggered a firestorm of criticism in Australia and deepens the reputational crisis for the carrier, which has struggled to rebuild trust after a string of high-profile failures in recent years.

Optus said on Monday that a faulty mobile phone tower site in Dapto, around 100 km (62 miles) south of Sydney, interrupted services, including emergency calls, on Sunday morning and impacted 4,500 people.

"Optus continues to investigate the cause ... the issue has been restored," a spokesperson said by email. The company said it "confirmed with police, all callers who attempted to contact emergency services are OK."

The incident comes less than two weeks after a botched network firewall upgrade triggered a deadly 13-hour outage on September 18 that disrupted emergency call services in two states and the Northern Territory and led to four deaths.

A country-wide network outage in 2023, where emergency calls were also disrupted, triggered a Senate inquiry and the ousting of Optus' then-CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin.

Optus is also facing court action over a 2022 data breach that compromised the personal data of millions of customers and was slapped with a A$100 million ($65.68 million) fine for "unconscionable" sales conduct.

"This can't happen again. This is an absolutely shocking failure from Optus," Treasurer Jim Chalmers told reporters on Monday. "Our focus as a government is getting to the bottom of what went wrong."

Chalmers said the government had instructed the Australian Communications and Media Authority, the industry watchdog, to conduct a "very thorough investigation".

Rue, the Optus CEO, has said checks suggested the first outage could have been caused by human error and admitted procedures were not followed during the outage. Optus will also conduct an independent review that is expected to be completed by year-end.

Singtel's Singapore-listed shares fell 2.5% in afternoon trading.

($1 = 1.5225 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Renju Jose and Christine Chen in Sydney; Editing by Jamie Freed and Lincoln Feast.)
NEED TO KNOW

A 5-year-old boy was allegedly beheaded by a home invader while the victims mother watched in horror

Surrounding neighbors rushed to the scene and allegedly began beating the attacker after

The intruder allegedly had no relation to the boy or his family

A 5-year-old boy was allegedly attacked by a stranger and beheaded in front of his mother in their home.

The alleged incident took place in Madhya Pradesh, a state in central India, on Friday, Sept. 26, according to local authorities, per NDTV, Kaumadi Online and News.com Australia.

A 25-year-old man named Mahesh allegedly broke into the familys house, picked up a sharp shovel that he found inside the home and then used the tool to attack the boy  who has been identified as Vikas.

The attacker allegedly severed the boys head from his body and continued to attack his torso as the victims mother watched. The mother attempted to intervene during the alleged attack and was subsequently injured, per the outlets.

gorodenkoff/Getty Police caution tape (stock image)

The moms screams reportedly drew the attention of surrounding neighbors, who rushed to the scene and allegedly began beating the attacker. The attacker died from the resulting injuries en route to the hospital, per the outlets.

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.

Superintendent of Dhar Police Mayank Awasthi called the incident extremely heartbreaking in a statement obtained by NDTV and Kaumadi Online.

Getty Madhya Pradesh, India

He also said that an initial investigation indicates that Mahesh had no relation or affiliation to the victim or his family, but was likely mentally unstable, per the outlets, which added that Maheshs parents told authorities that he had been missing for days before the attack.

PEOPLE reached out to the superintendent of Dhar Police for comment on Sunday, Sept. 28, but did not receive an immediate response.

Read the original article on People
New security initiative streamlines the travel experience for connecting customers by eliminating bag re-check on select international routes

Airline launches new process on daily service from Sydney, Australia to San Francisco, California and plans to expand to additional routes

CHICAGO, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- United today announced the launch of a new U.S. Customs and Borders Protection (CBP) initiative, the International Remote Baggage Screening (IRBS), for connecting passengers with checked bags that eliminates re-checking bags on select international routes, making the connecting experience even easier and reducing potential missed connections. The new process is currently available for United customers traveling on United's daily service from Sydney, Australia (SYD) to San Francisco, California (SFO) with a connecting flight to a final destination.

United Launches CBPs International Remote Baggage Screening on Select International Flights

Since launching the initiative, more than 160 passengers on each flight used the new process. These customers saved up to 45 minutes in their connection journey, relieving the stress of making their connecting flights to their final destinations.

Here's how the process works for connecting passengers on the Sydney to San Francisco flights:

Check bag at SYD  Travelers drop off checked bags as usual with an agent at the check-in counter in the lobby.

 Travelers drop off checked bags as usual with an agent at the check-in counter in the lobby. Arrive at SFO  Passengers connecting on a flight to another destination go to CBP for customs, immigration and agriculture inspections and then head directly to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for security screening  removing the step for these travelers to pick-up checked bags at baggage claim and re-check them to their final destinations, unless specifically referred by CBP for further inspection. As the flight is heading to the United States from Sydney, United, CBP and TSA work together to screen checked bags and once the flight arrives, the bags are loaded onto connecting flights.

 Passengers connecting on a flight to another destination go to CBP for customs, immigration and agriculture inspections and then head directly to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for security screening  removing the step for these travelers to pick-up checked bags at baggage claim and re-check them to their final destinations, unless specifically referred by CBP for further inspection. As the flight is heading to the United States from Sydney, United, CBP and TSA work together to screen checked bags and once the flight arrives, the bags are loaded onto connecting flights. Pick-up at final destination  Travelers simply pick-up their baggage at baggage claim at their final destination and head on their way.

"We're streamlining the international arrival process by eliminating extra steps for travelers to pick-up and re-check their bags on connecting flights," said Jennifer Schwierzke, United's Vice President of Customer Operations Strategy and Execution. "Together with CBP, we're testing this new process on routes between Sydney and San Francisco and plan to expand to additional international routes in the months ahead."

United is partnering with Sydney Airport, BagCheck and Brock Solutions, leading baggage solution providers, to launch this initiative, streamline the connecting experience for customers and improve the efficiency of the bag inspection process.

"It's great to see United Airlines trialing bag re-check elimination on the Sydney - San Francisco route, one of our busiest long-haul services," said Scott Charlton, Sydney Airport CEO. "It's a win for passengers  saving valuable time, making connections easier, and showing how Sydney Airport and our airline partners are working together to deliver smoother, more seamless journeys."

CBP's IRBS is the latest way United is improving the connecting experience for travelers. Earlier this summer, United launched new, personalized mobile app features for customers with connecting flights at United's U.S. hub airports. They can now access a special section of the app that includes a countdown to connecting flights, customized turn-by-turn directions to their connecting gate with estimated walk times, real-time flight status updates, tips for longer layovers and notifications if United's ConnectionSaver technology has been activated to hold the plane for them. Since launching the features, more than 3.5 million customers have used the new features, achieving a 95% success rate making their connection.

For more information, visit united.com.

About United

At United, Good Leads The Way. With U.S. hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., United operates the most comprehensive global route network among North American carriers and is now the largest airline in the world as measured by available seat miles. For more about how to join the United team, please visit www.united.com/careers and more information about the company is at www.united.com. United Airlines Holdings, Inc., the parent company of United Airlines, Inc., is traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol "UAL".

SOURCE United Airlines
Pinkybird - Getty Images

Two-thirds of Americans drink coffee every day, making it the go-to drink of choice for many. But while kicking back with a cup seems harmless enough, there are potential medication and coffee interactions to be aware of.

This is unfortunately a real thing. Some medications are not good when they are consumed with coffee or other caffeine sources, says Jamie Alan, Ph.D., an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University. Of course, there are a lot of nuances here. How much coffee you drink matters, as well as when you sip it.

While doctors say its important to be aware of potential interactions between coffee and certain medications if youre on any prescription drugs, that doesnt mean you need to give up on coffee entirely. For some drugs, caffeine-related drug interactions can be mitigated by lengthening the duration of time between caffeine consumption and medication use, says Kelly Johnson-Arbor, M.D., a toxicologist at MedStar Health.

Meet the experts: Kelly Johnson-Arbor, M.D., a toxicologist at MedStar Health; Jamie Alan, Ph.D., an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University.

Of course, medications and coffee interactions arent something that comes up a lot, making it understandable to have questions. Heres what doctors want you to keep in mind before having your next cup of coffee.



Which medications may interact with coffee?

If youre not sure if a medication youre taking may interact with coffee, its important to check in with your prescribing doctor or pharmacist. But these are some of the biggest drug categories to consider.

Antidepressants

Some antidepressant medications may interact with caffeine. Fluvoxamine (Luvox) blocks the metabolism of caffeine, resulting in higher levels of caffeine in the human body as well as the potential for prolonged caffeine-related side effects like heart palpitations and anxiety, Dr. Johnson-Arbor says.

But other antidepressants, like tricyclic antidepressants and SNRI drugs (like venlafaxine), have not been found to have significant interactions with caffeine in people, Dr. Johnson-Arbor says.

Anti-coagulants

This class of medication, which is also known as blood-thinners, is used to prevent blood clots from forming. The one to worry about is warfarin (Coumadin), Alan says. Taking a significant amount of caffeine with warfarin may increase bleeding and bruising.

But the rest of the medications in this class dont have significant interactions with coffee, Alan says.

Anti-psychotics

These medications are used to treat conditions like schizophrenia and major depressive disorder (MDD). There are two in this class that could have significant interactions with caffeine: Clozapine (Clozaril) and Olanzapine (Zyprexa), Alan says. Clozapine is very rare and is only given after a monthly blood test. Olanzapine is pretty common.

Caffeine messes with the bodys ability to break down clozapine, and this can lead to excessively high levels of the medication in the body, Dr. Johnson-Arbor says.

Bronchodilators

These medications are often used to treat symptoms of asthma and work by opening up and relaxing the airways in the lungs. Caffeine and its chemical cousin theophylline have bronchodilator activity, and theophylline was used for decades as a preferred treatment agent for asthma, Dr. Johnson-Arbor says. While caffeine causes bronchodilation, it can also cause similar side effects as other bronchodilator agents, including heart palpitations, tremors, and anxiety. 

Blood pressure medication

The caffeine in coffee acts as a stimulant and cause cause your blood pressure to rise for hours after you drink it, Dr. Johnson-Arbor says. For people who take blood pressure medications like beta-blockers or diuretics, caffeine can reduce the anti-hypertensive effect of those medications, she says.

Something else to consider, per Alan: People with high blood pressure should monitor their caffeine intake in general. 

Cholinesterase inhibitors

These medications are used to treat conditions like Alzheimers disease and dementia. This has a potential interaction with cholinesterase inhibitors that act in the brain, Alan says. The theory is that caffeine tightens the blood brain barrier, and less of the drug gets across the blood brain barrier.

She flags these three drugs as having potential issues with caffeine: rivastigmine (Exelon), galantamine (Razadyne), and donepezil (Aricept).

Pseudoephedrine

This medication is used to relieve nasal and sinus congestion.

Pseudoephedrine and caffeine are both stimulant drugs, Dr. Johnson-Arbor says. Taking these drugs simultaneously can result in an increased risk of unwanted stimulant-related side effects, including anxiety, tremors, and heart palpitations.

Some diabetes medications

Alan points out that the data is mixed on this one. But caffeine is linked with reduced insulin sensitivity and higher blood glucose levels, Dr. Johnson-Arbor says.

The effectiveness of anti-diabetic medications that work primarily by increasing insulin sensitivity, like metformin and GLP-1 agents, may be inhibited by caffeine intake, Dr. Johnson-Arbor says.

Methotrexate

The data is evolving around coffee and this medication, which is used to treat cancer and rheumatoid arthritis.

In some studies, caffeine was found to inhibit the anti-inflammatory effects of methotrexate, Dr. Johnson-Arbor says. But she points out that the data on this has been mixed.

Some osteoporosis medications

Oral bisphosphonate medications like alendronate (Fosamax), may not be absorbed well by the body when theyre taken with coffee, Dr. Johnson-Arbor says. For this reason, alendronate and other oral bisphosphonate drugs should only be taken with water and should never be taken with caffeine-containing beverages, she says.

Quinolone antibiotics

This class of antibiotics treats a wide range of bacterial infections, including some UTIs and pneumonia. (It includes medications like ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin.) Caffeine could inhibit breakdown of these antibiotics, leading to potentially increased levels and toxicity, Alan says.

Thyroid medications

Caffeine can interfere with the effectiveness of levothyroxine (Synthroid), Alan says.

That doesnt mean you have to skip your coffee, though. You can still have the coffee, but drink it one hour before or two hours after any of these medications, Alan says.

Again, if youre on a prescription medication and youre not sure if its OK to have coffee with it, check in with your healthcare provider. They should be able to provide personalized guidance.

You Might Also Like
This is a locator map for Saudi Arabia with its capital, Riyadh. (AP Photo)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  London real estate developer Dar Global said Monday that it plans to launch a Trump Plaza in the Red Sea city of Jeddah, its second collaboration with the Trump Organization, the collection of companies controlled by U.S. President Donald Trumps children.

The $1 billion project will be the second Trump-branded development in Saudi Arabia, following the launch of Trump Tower Jeddah in December last year, Dar Global said. It will include residences, serviced apartments, office space and townhouses.

Trumps company struck many real estate licensing deals overseas before he first entered the White House in 2017, including for hotels and residential towers in Canada, Dubai, Mexico, India and Turkey.

Trumps close ties to Saudi Arabias crown prince and day-to-day ruler, Mohammed bin Salman, drew heavy criticism after the 2018 killing of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi columnist for the Washington Post who had written critically about the monarchy.

The first major foreign trip of Trump's second term was to Saudi Arabia.

Dar Global is the international arm of Dar Al Arkan, a large Saudi developer. It says it has $7.5 billion worth of projects under development in the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, the United Kingdom, Spain and Saudi Arabia.
By Rebecca Cook, Joseph Ax and Andrew Hay

GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP, Michigan (Reuters) -A weekend attack on Mormon churchgoers in Michigan was a targeted act of violence, with evidence suggesting religious hatred drove an ex-Marine to crash his truck into a house of worship before unleashing a deadly storm of gunfire and arson, officials said on Monday.

Four people were killed and eight others were wounded in the rampage, which unfolded during Sunday morning services at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse in Grand Blanc Township, about 60 miles (97 km) northwest of Detroit, according to police.

The suspect, identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, from the nearby town of Burton, was shot dead in a parking lot outside the building about eight minutes after the carnage began, police said.

U.S. military records show Sanford was an Iraq War veteran who served in the Marine Corps from 2004 to 2008. Police and other officials speaking at a news conference on Monday made little else public about Sanford's background.

Township Police Chief William Renye said Sanford had been arrested in the past but did not elaborate.

"The FBI is investigating this as an act of targeted violence, and we are continuing to work to determine a motive," said Reuben Coleman, the acting special agent-in-charge of the FBI's Detroit field office.

RELIGIOUS BIAS AGAINST MORMONS

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News' "Fox and Friends" program earlier on Monday that she had recently spoken with FBI Director Kash Patel about the attack. She indicated that evidence pointed to a religious bias against the Mormon faith, formally known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

"All they know right now is this was an individual who hated people of the Mormon faith, and they are trying to understand more about this, how premeditated it was, how much planning went into it, whether he left a note," she said.

Hundreds of people were inside the meetinghouse - the Mormon faith's term for the place of worship they most often use - when the suspect rammed his pickup truck into the front doors of the building. Officials said he then sprayed the interior with a barrage of gunfire before deliberately setting the building ablaze.

Two victims were found shot to death, and two other bodies were discovered hours later in the charred ruins left of the building. Authorities had said late on Sunday they feared that additional remains might turn up.

But at Monday's news briefing, Renye said the death toll remained at four and that everyone else who was at the services had been accounted for.

The Detroit Free Press quoted a Burton City Council candidate, Kris Johns, as saying he had spoken with Sanford about a week ago, and that the suspect described members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as "the antichrist."

Johns told the newspaper that the two men did not discuss politics but that he had seen a campaign sign for President Donald Trump on the suspect's fence. An image from Google Maps also shows a Trump sign at an address listed online as the suspect's residence.

Sanford's animosity toward the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints stemmed from his breakup with a deeply religious girlfriend of the Mormon faith more than a decade ago, The New York Times reported, citing two lifelong friends and other people who knew him.

Separately on Monday, a 21-year-old man was taken into custody after driving his car through a barricade that had been set up near the gutted meetinghouse. The police chief said authorities were still investigating whether that incident was related to Sunday's attack.

SPATE OF MASS SHOOTINGS

The Michigan violence came a month after a gunman fired through the stained-glass windows of a Catholic church in Minneapolis, killing two children and wounding 17 other people.

Sunday's assault marked the 324th mass shooting in the U.S. in 2025, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which tracks shootings in which four or more people are shot or killed, not including the shooter.

Coincidentally, another 40-year-old Marine veteran who served in Iraq is a suspect in a North Carolina shooting that killed three people and wounded five others less than 14 hours before the Michigan incident.

Police in Southport, North Carolina, accused Nigel Max Edge of firing on a waterfront bar from a boat on Saturday night. Edge has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted murder, police said.

A federal lawsuit that Edge had filed against the U.S. government and others described him as a decorated Marine who suffered severe wounds in Iraq, including traumatic brain injury. The lawsuit, which was dismissed, showed Edge was previously known as Sean William DeBevoise before changing his name.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, based in Utah, follows the teachings of Jesus but also the prophecies of Joseph Smith, a 19th-century American who published the faith's earliest religious text, the Book of Mormon, in 1830.

"Places of worship are meant to be sanctuaries of peacemaking, prayer and connection," Doug Andersen, a church spokesman, said in a statement. "We pray for peace and healing for all involved."

(Reporting by Rebecca Cook in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, Joseph Ax in New York and Andrew Hay in Taos, New Mexico; Writing by Joseph Ax, Daniel Trotta and Steve Gorman; Editing by Frank McGurty, Bill Berkrot, Nick Zieminski and Stephen Coates)
Todd Blanche, the No. 2 official in the Justice Department, once assailed what he described as a calculated and "vindictive" effort by federal prosecutors driven by political animus to target a defendant who had committed no crimes.

In that instance, he was speaking for his client at the time -- Donald Trump.

In a 2023 court filing seeking to dismiss the federal case brought against Trump for his efforts to subvert his 2020 election loss, Blanche -- who was then Trump's defense attorney -- wrote of an endeavor by "biased prosecutors" who "pursued charges despite the evidence, rather than based on it," including "one prosecutor violating DOJ rules and ethical norms by forecasting the investigation in a television interview."

Is Trump's directed prosecution of Comey legal? What the Supreme Court says: ANALYSIS

He further cited reports that then-Attorney General Merrick Garland felt "boxed in" at the time to indict Trump after, Blanche said, President Joe Biden "pressured DOJ to pursue the nakedly political indictment in this case."

"These actions, which are demonstrated by, inter alia, Biden's public statements and reports from the New York Times and Washington Post based on leaks from participants in the investigation, require further inquiry and dismissal of the indictment," Blanche wrote.

On Friday in a television interview with Fox News, however, Blanche took a differing position as he defended the Justice Department's decision to seek an indictment against one of President Trump's political foes, former FBI Director James Comey.

The charges against Comey for allegedly lying to Congress in testimony in 2020, came following a rushed effort by a Trump-installed prosecutor who dismissed the recommendations of career prosecutors who had determined that Comey's conduct did not amount to a crime. Comey, who has denied the charges, said following the indictment, "I have great confidence in the federal judicial system and I am innocent, so let's have a trial."

Curtis Means/Pool/Getty Images - PHOTO: Former President Donald Trump appears in court with his attorney Todd Blanche during his trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments at Manhattan Criminal Court, April 26, 2024, in New York.

"This was a case -- again, this is not just pulled out of thin air," Blanche said told Fox News. "It was prosecuted by the Eastern District of U.S. Attorney's Office in Alexandria, Virginia, and folks may have their view from looking at the indictment and from knowing Mr. Comey, like a lot of these folks do, and might not be happy with this indictment, but as alleged, these are very serious crimes."

It is unusual for Justice Department officials to comment publicly on a criminal case before it has been fully adjudicated.

But Blanche, Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel have disregarded such norms since Comey's indictment -- which has also been publicly cheered by President Trump, who last week moved to force out the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Erik Siebert, who had resisted bringing charges against Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, sources told ABC News.

Trump then issued a social media post urging Attorney General Pam Bondi to move "now" to prosecute Comey and others.

"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 wrote.

The reports from The New York Times and Washington Post that Blanche cited in his 2023 motion described private conversations among White House officials expressing concern over the Justice Department not moving quickly enough to address what they saw as clearly criminal conduct on Trump's part, both regarding his efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his alleged possession of highly classified records after leaving the White House, before both cases were dropped following November's election due to a long-standing DOJ policy barring the prosecution of a sitting president.

Comey charge involves his role in sharing info about Hillary Clinton-related probe: Sources

In public, however, President Biden and other White House officials were mostly restrained in their public comments about Trump, saying it would be inappropriate to intrude on the DOJ's independence.

The judge overseeing Trump's election interference case, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, denied Blanche's motion to dismiss the charges, saying Blanche's interpretation was based on a "misreading" of the articles in question, and that most of the facts pointed to a Justice Department that exercised great caution in even opening a criminal investigation of a former president.

When asked in his Friday interview on Fox News whether he himself felt pressured to pursue Comey based on Trump's public comments and his overt instructions in his social media posts, Blanche said he did not.

"I don't take that as pressure," Blanche said. "When the president says that he's reading things or that he wants us to do investigations and he wants us to do our job -- the attorney general does not take that as pressure. I don't take that as pressure. I take that as a president who is working every day for the American people and every day to make sure that we're doing our jobs."
FILE - South Carolina Rep. RJ May, R-West Columbia, walks down the aisle of the House on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, in Columbia, South Carolina. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins, file)

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  Former Republican South Carolina Rep. RJ May admitted in court Monday that he sent hundreds of videos of children being sexually abused to people across the country on social media.

May pleaded guilty to what prosecutors in court papers called a five-day child pornography spree in the spring of 2024.

May, who resigned earlier this year, is accused of using the screen name joebidennnn69 to exchange 220 different files of toddlers and young children involved in sex acts on the Kik social media network, according to court documents that graphically detailed the videos.

Bear with me. This is very hard to read, U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling said as he haltingly read a brief description of each video for television reporters outside of court since cameras aren't allowed in federal courtrooms.

May, 38, pleaded guilty to five counts of distributing the videos and faces five to 20 years in prison on each charge. He will have to register as a sex offender and could be fined up to $250,000, according to his plea agreement.

The five counts represented the worst videos May shared, Stirling said.

Felony convictions bar May from voting or having a weapon

The felony convictions means the political consultant and National Rifle Association member cannot vote, hold public office, carry a gun or serve on a jury the rest of his life.

May's sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 14  the second day of the South Carolina legislature's 2026 session.

The evidence against May included logs of his laptop and cellphone use, showing he was uploading and downloading the child sexual abuse videos at the same time he was emailing work files, making phone calls, doing web searches and messaging someone on Kik asking for Bad moms. Bad dads. Bad pre teens.

May mostly spent Monday's hourlong hearing answering the judge's questions. At the end, when Judge Cameron McGowan Currie asked May if he had anything else he wanted to say, May answered, not at this time, your honor.

May changed his mind about pleading guilty after hearing

May changed his mind and decided to plead guilty just hours after a Wednesday pretrial hearing in which he acted as his own attorney.

During Wednesday's hearing, May made arguments to the judge to throw out the warrant used to search his home, laptop and mobile devices. She denied May's request just hours after prosecutors filed documents detailing May's plea on Friday.

Prosecutors showed May used his phone to upload and download videos through his cell network and home wireless network and also showed him charts explaining in stark, factual ways what was on each video May is charged with distributing.

May also tried to keep out any evidence about whether he used a fake name to travel to Colombia three times. Prosecutors said they found videos on his laptop of him allegedly having sex on the trips. A Homeland Security agent testified the women appeared to be underage and were paid. U.S. agents have not been able to locate the women.

May admitted to using the fake name Monday in court but was not asked about the videos.

May was a rising Republican political force in South Carolina

May was in his third term in the South Carolina House and was attacking fellow Republicans to go in a more conservative direction before he resigned.

We as legislators have an obligation to insure that our children have no harm done to them, May said in January 2024 on the House floor during a debate on transgender care for minors.

After his election in 2020, he helped create the Freedom Caucus. He also helped the campaigns of Republicans running against GOP House incumbents.
By Andy Sullivan and Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Congress and President Donald Trump have little time and few options remaining to reach a funding deal to avoid triggering disruptions in a range of U.S. government services and the furlough of hundreds of thousands of civil servants beginning on Wednesday.

WHAT COULD STAVE OFF A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN?

The Senate is expected to hold a second round of votes on Tuesday on competing plans to provide temporary funding for the government's fiscal year that begins on Wednesday.

But Democrats are expected again to block Republicans' legislation, as they did after its September 19 passage by the House of Representatives in a mostly partisan vote. It would provide money for federal agency programs through November 21.

And Republicans are expected to again block Democrats' bill funding the government through October 31, which has controversial new provisions helping Americans pay for their federally-backed health insurance.

Alternatively, a last-ditch effort at compromise in Congress before the midnight Tuesday deadline -- the close of the 2025 fiscal year -- could be mounted. But there were no overt signs of that happening. To succeed, the effort would have to be blessed by Trump and pass both the Senate and the House of Representatives rapidly.

However, the House is not in session and its members are scattered throughout the country until Wednesday, when a shutdown already would be rolling through government offices.

WHAT DO REPUBLICANS WANT?

Trump's Republicans control both the House of Representatives and the Senate, and they have already scored big budget wins this year. The massive legislation called the "One Big Beautiful Bill," passed in July, boosted spending for defense and immigration enforcement, rolled back spending on green energy and other Democratic priorities, while making major cuts in the Medicaid healthcare program for low-income and disabled people to help pay for tax cuts focused mainly on the wealthy.

Republicans also have broadly supported the White House's efforts to claw back money that had already been approved by Congress for foreign aid and public broadcasting, even though that undermines lawmakers' constitutional authority over spending matters.

They have said they would vote for a continuing resolution that would extend funding at current levels through November 21 to allow more time to negotiate a full-year deal.

WHAT DO DEMOCRATS WANT?

As the minority party, Democrats do not have much power. However, Republicans will need at least seven Democratic votes to pass any spending bill out of the Senate, where 60 votes are needed to advance most legislation in the 100-seat chamber.

This time, Democrats are using that leverage to push for renewing expanded healthcare subsidies for people who buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act. Their proposal would make permanent enhanced tax breaks that are otherwise due to expire at the end of the year and make them available to more middle-income households.

If those tax breaks are allowed to expire, health insurance costs will increase dramatically for many of the 24 million Americans who get their coverage through the ACA, according to the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation. The impact would be most acute in Republican-controlled states that have refused to expand the Medicaid health plan for the poor.

Democrats also want language inserted into any temporary funding bill that would prohibit Trump from unilaterally ignoring their ACA provisions or temporarily withholding funds.

They also want to roll back other restrictions on ACA coverage that were enacted in the "One Big Beautiful Bill."

Those changes would provide health coverage for seven million Americans by 2035, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, but also increase government healthcare spending by $662 billion over 10 years.

Republicans say they are open to considering a fix for the expiring tax breaks, but say the issue should be handled separately and it was unclear whether their "fix" would differ substantially from the Democrats'. Republicans have accused Democrats of trying to use the stopgap funding bill to open the gates for government healthcare subsidies for illegal immigrants.

Congressional Democrats argue that group of people living in the United States is prohibited by law from receiving such help and that their legislation would not change that.

(Reporting by Andy Sullivan and Richard Cowan; editing by Scott Malone and Alistair Bell)
Getty

NEED TO KNOW

Craig Vogt, 61, was arrested after being accused of killing two of his own pet peacocks and eating them amid a dispute with a neighbor

A criminal complaint says Vogt left a letter in his neighbors mailbox describing how he decapitated, bled and cooked the birds

Vogt allegedly told deputies he killed the peacocks out of spite and is now charged with aggravated animal cruelty, a third-degree felony

A 61-year-old Florida man has been arrested after being accused of killing and eating two of his own pet peacocks following a dispute with his neighbor.

A criminal complaint reviewed by PEOPLE says the neighbor found a letter in her mailbox describing how the birds had been decapitated, bled out and cooked in a frying pan.

Pasco County Sheriff's Office

The complaint states that Craig Vogt, of Hudson, Fla., admitted to deputies he had killed and ate the peacocks out of spite" because the neighbor kept feeding them  and allegedly said when he gets out of jail, he plans to kill his remaining birds so no one else could care for them.

Getty

Vogt is charged with aggravated cruelty to animals causing excessive pain or death, a third-degree felony under Florida law.

Court records show he appeared before a judge, was assigned a public defender and remained in custody as of Monday at the Land O' Lakes Detention Center, according to Pasco County court records.

Separately, the neighbor filed for and was granted a protective order against Vogt on Sept. 29, court records show.

Read the original article on People
Washington  Much of the federal government shut down Wednesday, October 1, after Congress failed to reach a deal to approve new funding.

Republicans had proposed extending government funding at current levels until Nov. 21 to allow for members to continue working on full-year appropriations bills. Democrats made a counteroffer to keep the government open through October, but attached health care provisions and restrictions on President Trump's ability to withhold funding, both of which are nonstarters with most Republicans.

The two sides were dug in on their positions, increasing the chances of a shutdown beginning Wednesday. Congressional leaders met with President Trump at the White House on Monday to search for a path forward, but walked away in the same position.

A government shutdown occurs when Congress fails to pass funding for some or all agencies, which can't spend money that hasn't been approved by lawmakers. There have been 14 shutdowns since 1980, with the most recent coming in 2018. That shutdown lasted 34 days.

Here's what to know about what happens during the government shutdown:

What is a government shutdown?

Tourists walk by a sign announcing that the Statue of Liberty is closed due to a government shutdown in New York on Oct. 1, 2013. / Credit: AFP PHOTO/Emmanuel Dunand

Most federal government agencies are funded annually by a dozen appropriations bills that need to be passed by Congress and signed by the president before the start of the new fiscal year on Oct. 1. These are often grouped together into one large piece of legislation known as an "omnibus" bill to speed up the process when Congress inevitably needs to pass a number of them at the last minute.

If the funding deadline passes without Congress authorizing more spending, the government must fully or partially shut down, depending on which agencies are already funded. Ahead of this year's deadline, none of the 12 appropriations bills have been enacted. Some agencies got an infusion of money in the Republican-passed "one big, beautiful bill" earlier this year, meaning certain programs and functions in some departments will remain funded in the event of a shutdown, chiefly the Defense Department and Department of Homeland Security.

Lawmakers regularly buy themselves more time to finish spending bills by passing what's known as a continuing resolution, which temporarily extends current funding levels to keep agencies functioning while they work to reach an agreement on new spending.

The Constitution says the Treasury Department cannot spend money without a law authorizing it. Under a statute known as the Antideficiency Act, agencies are required to cease operations  with certain exceptions  in the absence of funding authorized by Congress. The act, a version of which first passed in 1870, with several significant updates since, also prohibits the government from entering into financial obligations without congressional sign-off.

"Treasury cannot pay out any money if there's not a law providing for who gets the money," said Matt Glassman, a senior fellow at the Government Affairs Institute at Georgetown University. "If those annual bills expire, then there is no law appropriating money for certain functions."

What happens during a government shutdown, and who is affected?

Federal employees express their disappointment with Congress' inability to end the federal government shutdown on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013, in Houston. / Credit: Marie D. De Jesus/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images

In a shutdown, the federal government must stop all non-essential functions until funding is approved by Congress and signed into law, except for programs that are funded by other means, like fees or other legislation. Each agency determines what work is essential and what is not. Members of Congress make that determination for their own staff, as well.

"No money can come out of Treasury whether you're essential or not essential. But who can keep working and incur obligations, even when there are no appropriations  there are three exceptions," Glassman said.

Those exceptions are defined by the Antideficiency Act. They allow the government to fund operations to protect life and property, and keep officials involved in the constitutional process on the job, like the president, his staff and members of Congress.

All active-duty military members, many federal law enforcement officers and employees at federally funded hospitals are considered essential, along with air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration officers. Each agency determines which of its employees can stay on the job.

In a step that differs from previous shutdowns, the Office of Budget and Management last week told federal agencies to consider permanent mass layoffs for programs or projects that have discretionary funding that runs out on Oct. 1 or that don't have any alternative sources of funding. The reduction-in-force notices would be in addition to any furlough notices issued during a shutdown, according to a memo sent to the agencies.

"Programs that did not benefit from an infusion of mandatory appropriations will bear the brunt of a shutdown, and we must continue our planning efforts in the event Democrats decide to shut down the government," the memo said.

Whether employees are essential or not, if their pay is dependent on annual appropriations, they won't get paid during a shutdown.

Essential employees continue to work during the shutdown, but don't get paid until funding is restored to their agency. Employees in nonessential positions are typically furloughed until the government is funded again, although that could look different this time if there are widespread layoffs. Under a 2019 law, furloughed employees are guaranteed to receive back pay once the shutdown is over.

A Senate report published in 2019 found that government shutdowns in 2013, 2018 and 2019 cost taxpayers nearly $4 billion, including at least $3.7 billion in back pay to furloughed workers who were not permitted to work.

What is open and closed during a shutdown?

Entitlement programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid continue to function during a shutdown because benefit payments are funded through permanent appropriations that don't require renewal. Entitlement payments keep going out, but the working budgets of the agencies that oversee the programs require approval by Congress. That means staff could be furloughed, causing delays in enrolling new beneficiaries or other service interruptions.

"Any type of interaction you're having at a customer service level with the federal government could definitely be affected," Glassman said.

For example, travel plans could be disrupted if air traffic control and airport security, who are essential workers, do not show up to work in protest for not being paid immediately. Many national parks stayed open during the last shutdown in 2018 and 2019, but understaffing led to vandalism and cuts in visitor services. The parks largely closed during the 2013 shutdown. The U.S. Postal Service continues to operate, since it is self-funded.

A woman walks past trash piled next to a garbage bin at Ocean Beach in San Francisco on Jan. 3, 2019. / Credit: Jeff Chiu / AP

Maya MacGuineas, the president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, said the public may not notice the effects if the shutdown is short-lived.

"The truth is, most people won't really feel much of a difference," MacGuineas said. "If you've got a vacation planned to a National Park, you're going to be [upset] and disappointed. But most people will go on with their everyday lives and interact with the government the same way they do and not feel a big difference. That could get worse, the longer it lasts."

The Senate report found the 2018-2019 shutdown had widespread impacts across a variety of government functions that ceased or were curtailed during the lapse in funding. It noted that furloughs in many agencies like the SEC, Federal Trade Commission and Consumer Product Safety Commission hampered enforcement and investigations. The report said the Justice Department canceled 60,000 immigration hearings.

The effects could be even more pronounced this time around, given the possibility that the administration could use the shutdown to implement mass layoffs, furthering the president's aim of permanently reducing the federal workforce.

When was the last government shutdown?

The last government shutdown stretched from December 2018 until January 2019, when congressional funding for nine executive branch departments with roughly 800,000 employees lapsed.



The five-week partial shutdown cost the economy $11 billion, according to a Congressional Budget Office report. The CBO said most of that would be recovered once the shutdown ended, but estimated a permanent loss of about $3 billion.

Businesses across the country that relied on government customers reported a slowdown in business and some said they had to lay off employees. Tens of thousands of immigration court hearings were canceled. Government contractors struggled to feed their families and pay their bills.

Federal workers line up outside chef and activist Jose Andres' World Central Kitchen to receive free meals and goods amid a partial government shutdown in Washington on Jan. 22, 2019. / Credit: Yasin Ozturk/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

The shutdown stemmed from a standoff over Mr. Trump's demand for $5.7 billion to fund a wall along the border with Mexico. Mr. Trump had vowed to close the government if the funding wasn't included in spending legislation, but Democrats refused to give in.

Mr. Trump conceded after insisting for weeks that he would not reopen the government without money for the wall, signing a bill to reopen the government for three weeks while Congress negotiated a spending deal.

Three weeks later, Mr. Trump signed a compromise spending bill to avert another government shutdown, ultimately accepting a bill that did not meet his $5.7 billion demand for his long-promised border wall.

When was the longest government shutdown?

Before the early 1980s, the government would typically continue operating as usual even when funding bills hadn't been passed, but that changed after the attorney general issued opinions stating that it was illegal for the government to spend money without congressional approval.

Since 1980, there have been 14 shutdowns, most of which lasted just a few days.

The longest shutdown in U.S. history was the 2018-2019 lapse, which lasted 34 full days. Before that, the record was 21 days in 1995 and 1996, when President Bill Clinton held out against steep spending and tax cuts favored by Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

What to expect from Trump's news conference with FBI Director Kash Patel

Lawmakers sound off on Trump's Argentina bailout as government shutdown continues

Hamas says it has handed over all hostage remains it can recover amid destruction in Gaza
The threat of a government shutdown looms over Washington this week, as President Donald Trump was set to meet with key congressional leaders at the White House on Monday, Sept. 29, less than 48 hours before a shutdown could be triggered.

With Democrats pushing a series of health care demands, and Republicans refusing to budge, a deal had not been reached by Monday afternoon, Sept. 29. Barring a breakthrough, "essential" government services such as the military and law enforcement will keep working, but "non-essential" functions like national parks will close or cut staffing starting Wednesday, Oct. 1 at 12:01 a.m.

"If it has to shut down, it has to shut down," Trump told reporters Sept. 26.

Republicans hold a majority in the House of Representatives and a 53-47 edge in the Senate, which requires 60 votes to pass a funding bill, meaning that seven Democrats  in addition to all 53 Republicans  would need to support the legislation.

Here's what you need to know about a government shutdown.

What is a government shutdown?

Each fiscal year, Congress appropriates funds for federal agencies to operate. If Congress does not agree on appropriations or a temporary spending bill (called a continuing resolution), the affected federal agencies must effectively shut down or stop normal spending, according to the United States Office of Personnel Management (OPM). An exception is made for certain jobs or services deemed essential, which continue to operate.

When could a government shutdown happen?

The current funding for the government expires at midnight on Sept. 30, with 12:01 a.m. on Oct. 1 being the potential start of a partial government shutdown.

The U.S. Capitol is seen in Washington, D.C. on September 24, 2025 as a looming partial government shutdown is a week away if Congress fails to fund the government.

How many government shutdowns have occurred in the past?

Over the last five decades, there have been 21 federal shutdowns, many of which lasted only a day or two. One of the most recent shutdowns was also the longest, lasting 34 days between December 2018 and January 2019, during Trumps first term in office, due to a stalemate between the president and Congress over border security.

History of shutdowns: Timeline of US government shutdowns over last 50 years

What happens during a government shutdown?

During a government shutdown, all federal agencies and services that officials do not deem "essential" must stop working.

Essential services include the U.S. Postal Service, Medicare and Social Security services and air-traffic control.

"Non-essential" work, however, comes to a halt, affecting thousands of federal employees and millions of Americans. National parks closed during past shutdowns or were kept open with state help  but with fewer services like trash pickup.

Government shutdown: What's open or closed? Here are the answers

Does the military shut down during a government shutdown?

All active-duty U.S. military personnel stay on the job, but nearly half of the Department of War's 741,477 civilian employees could face furloughs, according to a contingency plan released by the department. Another part of the military that would remain on the job would be the National Nuclear Security Administration, which oversees nuclear weapons.

What happens to law enforcement during a government shutdown?

Federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, DEA and prison staff will remain operational. The Secret Service and Coast Guard will continue their duties.

What happens to national parks?

National parks, monuments and other sites will close to the public, with rangers furloughed and facilities shut down. Some states may temporarily fund park operations, as seen during the 2018-2019 shutdown.

What happens to Social Security and Medicare?

Both retirement and disability benefits proceed without interruptions. Medicare and Medicare benefits also continue, but some delays could be seen.

What happens to veterans benefits and food assistance during a shutdown?

Similar to Social Security, veterans continue to receive their benefits and medical care. Programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will also continue, though there could be minor disruptions.

Does a government shutdown impact borders and Homeland Security?

Border Patrol and immigration enforcement agents will continue working. However, local governments will not receive new aid for migrant shelters.

Transportation during a government shutdown

Airport security screeners and air traffic controllers will remain on duty, but new hires and some major infrastructure projects could face delays. Absenteeism, as seen in previous shutdowns, might impact airport operations. Each federal agency develops its own shutdown plan based on prior shutdowns and guidance from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.

About 800,000 federal employees went without pay for 35 days during the longest-ever U.S. government shutdown in 2018 and 2019, as USA TODAY previously reported.

Contributing: Reuters; Terry Moseley, Eric Lagatta, Fernando Cervantes Jr., Bart Jansen, Zac Anderson, USA TODAY

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What is a government shutdown and what happens during one?
Boise City Police Department; Ada County Sheriff Jonathan Daniel Harms; Jolene Lynn Harms

NEED TO KNOW

An Idaho couple was arrested after being accused of sending a violent, religious "manifesto" to the leaders of their former church

The document threatened public officials and civilians and implored others to "Go. Hunt. Kill."

Jonathan and Jolene Harms now face a total of 120 charges, Idaho jail records show

A couple in Idaho is facing more than 100 charges after authorities allege they published a violent, religious manifesto that included a kill list targeting dozens of judges, police officers, bankers, other citizens and their own families, according to several new reports.

Jonathan and Jolene Harms face 120 counts in total, according to the Idaho Statesman, WLTX, and KIVI. Both Jonathan, 43, and Jolene, 39, were charged with 20 counts of stalking, 20 counts of witness intimidation in a criminal case, as well as 20 counts of witness intimidation in a civil case, according to the outlets.

According to the Statesman, many of the individuals identified on the couples alleged kill list included members of their former Table Rock Church, which excommunicated the couple earlier this year after Boise Police Department investigators said in a probable cause statement that Jonathan showed escalating behavior towards other members of the church.

According to Boise police, Jonathan emailed his and Jolenes 277-page manifesto to church leaders on July 10.

WLTX reported that prosecutors alleged last week in court that the manifesto Jonathan emailed to the church threatened dozens of people and ordered others to Go. Hunt. Kill."

Don and Melinda Crawford/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Ada County Courthouse

Jonathan was arrested at the couples home two days after emailing the manifesto to the church, according to the Statesman, which reported authorities said they uncovered a substantial amount of ammunition and firearms at the couples home.

After her husbands arrest, the newspaper reported that police alleged Jolene sent threatening text messages to a police officers wife, telling her, seriously, Im going to kill your children during the investigation.

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.

Ada County Jail records reviewed by PEOPLE show both Jonathan and Jolene remain in custody.

Jolene is being held on $15 million bond, while Jonathan is being held on $30 million, records show.

Read the original article on People
CHICAGO, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- United will hold a conference call to discuss third-quarter 2025 financial results on Thursday, October 16 at 9:30 a.m. CT/10:30 a.m. ET.

A live, listen-only webcast of the conference call will be available at ir.united.com. The company will issue its third-quarter results and outlook after market close on Wednesday, October 15.

About United

At United, Good Leads The Way. With U.S. hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., United operates the most comprehensive global route network among North American carriers, and is now the largest airline in the world as measured by available seat miles. For more about how to join the United team, please visit www.united.com/careers and more information about the company is at www.united.com. United Airlines Holdings, Inc., the parent company of United Airlines, Inc., is traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol "UAL".

SOURCE United Airlines
Protesters stand outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building on September 27, 2025 in Portland, Oregon. Photo by Mathieu Lewis-Rolland/Getty Images

United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities in Oregon and Illinois saw chaotic leftist protests over the weekend, days after a deadly shooting targeting immigration agents in Dallas, Texas.

Federal officials tear-gassed, tackled and arrested suspects from screaming crowds of protesters in Portland and Broadview near Chicago, as shown in video footage captured by multiple on-the-ground reporters. The Trump administration has sounded the alarm about rising violence against immigration officials after a shooter opened fire on a Dallas facility on Wednesday, inadvertently killing at least one detainee while targeting ICE agents. (RELATED: Texas ICE Facility Shooter Identified)

President Donald Trump announced on Saturday morning that Secretary of War Pete Hegseth was sending troops to Portland to protect immigration officials from violent attacks by Antifa, a far-left protester network the president has labeled a terrorist organization. The president also authorized troops to use full force, if necessary.

At one point, a mob of Portland protesters began marching toward local police, chanting Whose streets? Our streets! and prompting them to back away in a police car, according to footage from The Post Millennial.

Other scenes from the weekend, however, did not appear so favorable for the anti-ICE crowds.

One man outside the Broadview building was seen hopping on top of a car to get away from authorities and tumbling to the ground just before four law enforcement agents piled onto him, according to journalist Ford Fischer. In Portland, officials were seen dragging arrestees into custody by the hands and feet on multiple occasions.

Eleven people were arrested in protests outside a Chicago ICE facility over the weekend, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in a Sunday X post without specifying the exact location of the facility. Federal agents took two guns from rioters and found what appears to be some sort of explosive device near the building on Saturday night, the DHS said.

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.
JAKARTA (Reuters) -The office of Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto on Monday restored access for a CNN Indonesia journalist, having earlier revoked it after she had asked the leader about a troubled free meal programme, sparking concerns about press freedom.

CNN Indonesia editor-in-chief Titin Rosmasari met with the Indonesian palace and confirmed the journalist's access had been restored, CNN Indonesia reported. The palace had apologised for the revocation and said it would not be repeated, it added.

Indonesia's main press council had on Sunday said the palace should explain its reasoning and restore the reporter's access, calling for the protection of press freedom.

Titin told Reuters earlier on Monday the reporter's credentials were revoked on Saturday night. She also told magazine Tempo that the revocation was related to the reporter's question about thousands of school children who fell sick after consuming food served in the free meal programme.

The reporter asked Prabowo on Saturday whether he had instructions for the National Nutrition Agency overseeing the programme, news footage shows.

Prabowo said he would summon the agency and said "this is a huge matter," adding there were bound to be shortcomings at the beginning of the programme and urging caution against politicisation.

Tempo reported other journalists at the event were only allowed to ask about Prabowo's international trip last week, which included a stop at the United Nations headquarters.

Nearly 6,000 children have fallen sick after consuming food as part of Prabowo's multi-billion dollar free meal programme since its January roll-out, government data shows, more than 1,000 of whom were impacted last week.

The deputy head of the agency in charge on Friday apologised for the food poisoning cases, saying there was a lack of oversight and the agency took full responsibility.

Indonesia ranks 127th out of 180 countries and territories in the 2025 the World Press Freedom Index by the Reporters Without Borders, having fallen 16 places in one year.

(Reporting by Stanley Widianto; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
Four people were killed and several others were wounded Sunday when, authorities say, a man opened fire at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, and set it ablaze in what a federal official called "an act of targeted violence."

At least two of the four victims were fatally shot, police said. Five people were wounded by gunfire and three suffered smoke inhalation, said Dr. Michael Danic, the chief of staff at Henry Ford Genesys Hospital, where the injured were treated.

Two gunshot patients were in critical condition Monday, Danic said.

Authorities are searching through the debris of the church but on Monday morning said everyone had been accounted for.

The suspect, Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, a former Marine, was killed by law enforcement.

Here is what we know about the shooting.

Follow live updates

How the attack unfolded

At 10:25 a.m. Sunday, a gunman drove a vehicle into the church, got out and opened fire with an assault rifle, township Police Chief Bill Renye said.

The first officers arrived within 30 seconds of initial reports, and law enforcement killed the shooter in the rear parking lot eight minutes after the first reports, he said.

Authorities believe the shooter was able to spark a fire that eventually enveloped the church before it was contained, Renye said.

Massive flames and smoke rise from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Mich., on Sunday. (Julie J, @Malkowski6April via X / AP)

Paula Maser was among the worshippers in the church for a Sunday service.

"We heard a big bang and it blew the doors in the church, and then everything after that was chaos," Maser told NBC affiliate WEYI of Flint, Michigan.

Maser said she and others ran outside, where she and a friend got into a car. The gunman also went outside, Maser said, and continued to fire. Three bullets struck the car Maser was in, she said, one of which grazed her friend's hand.

Janet Peera, who lives nearby, told the station that she and her family were leaving their home when they saw police vehicles and fire trucks racing toward the scene and heard gunshots.

Amid the chaos, Peera said, the family ended up in the church parking lot.

There were bodies lying on the sidewalk," she said. "There was one lying in the back of somebodys truck that had just gotten shot maybe a couple times in the leg.

Where the investigation stands

Its not clear what motivated the shooting, and officials did not disclose whether there was any known connection between the suspect and the church.

The FBI is investigating the incident as an act of targeted violence, Reuben Coleman, the acting special agent in charge of the bureau's Detroit field office, said at a news conference Sunday night.

"This act of violence has no place in our state or anywhere else in our country," Coleman said. "The FBI is committed to continue finding out the facts, circumstances and motives behind this tragedy."

More than 100 witnesses have been interviewed, Coleman said Monday, with more interviews still to be done.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is also aiding in the investigation. James Deir, special agent in charge of the ATF in Detroit, said the investigation indicates the suspect used an accelerant, believed to be gasoline, to set the blaze. He also said that suspected explosive devices were found at the site but that it is not clear whether they sparked the inferno.

Renye said the church is a total loss as a result of the fire.

Emergency crews at the church on Sunday. (David Guralnick / AP)

None of the victims had been identified as of Monday night, and officials said first responders are in recovery mode, sifting through debris for additional bodies and evidence.

What we know about the suspect

Sanford, of Burton  a city roughly 6 miles from Grand Blanc Township  had a military background.

His father, Thomas Sanford, speaking on behalf of the suspect's family, said in a statement Monday that close relatives are "completely in shock" and "have no answers" regarding a possible motive.

"We are devastated," Thomas Sanford said. "Our hearts and prayers go out to the Grand Blanc community and all those affected by this tragedy. Our son was a Christian and a loving father, son, and husband."

Sanford joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and held the titles of organizational automotive mechanic and vehicle recovery operator, according to Marine records.

Thomas Jacob Sanford. (Brantlees Journey via Facebook)

His service included a deployment from August 2007 to March 2008 under Operation Iraqi Freedom, according to the Marines.

He had become a sergeant and had his last duty assignment at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, according to the Marines. He left the military in June 2008, according to the records.

Awards for his service include the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal, the records show.

A 2007 story in the Clarkston News said Sanford graduated in 2003 from nearby Goodrich High School and was soon to be deployed to Fallujah, Iraq. Superintendent Mike Baszler of Goodrich Area Schools, which canceled instruction Monday, said he graduated from the district in 2004.
The person accused in a fatal shooting and fire Sunday at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, is a 40-year-old area man with a military background.

Thomas Jacob Sanford is from Burton, a city of nearly 30,000 people roughly 6 miles from Grand Blanc Township. Both are suburbs of Flint.

Police said the attacker rammed the church with a vehicle, got out and opened fire with an assault rifle. James Deir, special agent in charge of the Detroit Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said he also appears to have used an accelerant to start a fire.

Follow live updates here

At least four people were killed in the attack, two of whom were shot, and eight were injured.

Officers killed Sanford in a parking lot behind the church, police said.

The FBIs special agent in charge of the bureau's Detroit field office, Reuben Coleman, said Sunday night that the bureau is looking for a motive.

Thomas Jacob Sanford. (Obtained by NBC News)

The FBI is now leading the investigation and is investigating this as an act of targeted violence, he said.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, in a Monday press conference, acknowledged the desire to question what happened and to determine a motive. But she also urged people to refrain from theorizing as authorities continue to investigate.

At this juncture, speculation is unhelpful and it can be downright dangerous, Whitmer said. So just ask that people lower the temperature of rhetoric.

Sanford's family has "no answers" for his actions and are in shock, his father said in an exclusive statement to NBC News.

"We are devastated; we dont know what to think," the statement said. "Our hearts and prayers go out to the Grand Blanc community and all those affected by this tragedy."

Sanford joined the Marine Corps in 2004, according to Marine records, and held the titles of organizational automotive mechanic and vehicle recovery operator.

In 2007, he started a nearly seven-month deployment under Operation Iraqi Freedom and left the corps a few months later, the records show.

Sanford achieved the rank of sergeant and had his last duty assignment at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina before he left the Marines in June 2008, according to the records.

He was awarded the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal, the records show.

An image uploaded to Facebook in 2019 shows Thomas Jacob Sanford wearing a TRUMP 2020 shirt.

Thomas Jacob Sanford. (Brantlees Journey via Facebook)

The image was uploaded to Brantlees Journey, a page that provides updates on Sanfords son, Brantlee, and his battle with congenital hyperinsulinism, a rare condition in which the insulin cells of the pancreas produce too much insulin.

As of Sunday night there had been no motive established in the investigation, nor had there been any suggestion from authorities that Sanfords political views or his sons condition played a role in his thinking.

A 2007 article in the Clarkston News, a publication in the village of Clarkston, about 20 miles southeast of Grand Blanc Township, said Sanford graduated in 2003 from Goodrich High School, about 12 miles east of the shooting site.

Goodrich Area Schools officials did not immediately respond to a request to confirm Sanfords attendance and graduation from the high school.

At the time, according to the article, Sanford was soon to be deployed to Fallujah, Iraq.

Im looking forward to seeing the culture and the people of Iraq, Sanford is quoted as saying. Ill return with the real news of the situation.

The vehicle that was rammed into the church. "Iraq" is visible on the license plate. (Lukas Katilius / The Flint Journal via AP)

The article says a grandfather served in the Navy and an uncle served in the Marines, both in World War II. His father, Thomas Sanford, is quoted as saying: Jakes going voluntarily and plans on returning to his community when his service is over. We are very proud of him.

A voicemail message left for a phone number listed for his parents was not returned. Attempts to reach his wife were unsuccessful.

CORRECTION (Sept. 29, 2025, 12:47 p.m. ET): A previous version of this article misstated who said that the suspect used an accelerant. It was James Deir, special agent in charge of the ATFs Detroit Field Division, not Grand Blanc Township Police Chief Bill Renye.
Michigan law enforcement authorities identified 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford of Burton, Michigan as the suspect who killed four people and injured eight others when he rammed a pickup truck into a church in central Michigan and opened fire.

One of the eight injured victims is in critical condition while the seven others are in stable condition, officials said at a Sept. 28 evening news conference.

Michigan church shooting: FBI probing deadly attack as 'targeted violence'

Hundreds of people were attending the service at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, a suburb of Flint, Michigan, when authorities said the suspect drove his vehicle into the church at 10:25 a.m. A local political candidate who knocked on Sanford's door recently said Johns told him the church is "the antichrist."

Emergency services respond to a shooting and fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sept. 28, 2025 in Grand Blanc, Michigan. Police said there are multiple victims and the shooter is down.

The suspect then exited the vehicle and fired several rounds at people inside the church with an assault rifle, Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye said. Sanford used gasoline as an accelerant to light the church on fire, officials said. Sanford died after exchanging gunfire with responding officers in the church's parking lot.

Here's what we know about Sanford:

City council candidate: Sanford called Mormons 'the antichrist'

Police have not identified a motive for the shooting. And in an interview with the Detroit Free Press, Sanford's father, Thomas Sanford, apologized to the families of those who died in the shooting while refusing to speculate as to what drove the attack.

"The only thing I can say is that it was my son that did it," Sanford said. "As far as why? Irrelevant. It happened. We're dealing with it. It's been a nightmare."

However, a candidate for Burton City Council who campaigned at Sanford's door told the Free Press that Sanford went on a tirade against the church and said Mormons were "the antichrist."

The candidate, Kris Johns, said Sanford began asking him open-ended questions about Mormonism, first asking how Johns felt about the religion. And the more questions Sanford asked on the topic, the more pointed they became, Johns said. He said Sanford asked him about the Mormon bible, the role Jesus plays in the religion, the history of the LDS church and Joseph Smith Jr., the founder of Mormonism and the LDS movement.

Johns said everything Sanford asked him about Mormonism led to Sanford declaring the religion as "the antichrist."

Scenes in Michigan as police, community respond to Mormon church shooting and fire A silver truck is seen outside of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as local authorities work to contain a fire on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025.

Johns told USA TODAY he spoke with the FBI and State Police on Sept. 28.

Pressed about a motive by a reporter during a news conference the evening of Sept. 28, police said they're still looking.

"We can't come to those kinds of conclusions for some time," Lt. Kim Vetter, Michigan State Police said.

The FBI is leading the investigation. Reuben Coleman, acting special agent in charge of the FBI Detroit field office, said the incident is being investigated as an act of "targeted violence." But he did not offer any indication of what the motive for the incident might have been.

He urged the public to share any information that might be helpful, encouraging them to call 1-800-FBI TIPS or go to tips.fbi.gov.

Thomas Jacob Sanford lived in nearby town

The suspect's hometown of Burton is about eight miles north of Grand Blanc, Michigan.

The suspect also went by "Jake" to many of his acquaintances, according to records and past news reports.

At 5 p.m. on Sunday, there was a strong showing of law enforcement in front of Sanford's home, according to reporters at the scene from the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network.

A Michigan State Police helicopter circled overhead, and dozens of police vehicles had the road blocked in front of the home. A bomb squad vehicle with bulldozer tracks and an armored cab was also stationed out front, with other vehicles, including two bomb squad vans, multiple police cruisers, and an ambulance waiting at the ready.

A family emotionally reunites at the Trillium Theater located across the street from the site of a shooting and fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan.

An Iraq War veteran

The US Marine Corps confirmed that Sanford served in the corps between 2004 and 2008, where he held the rank of sergeant and worked as an Organizational Automotive Mechanic and Vehicle Recovery Operator.

Sanford was deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom for just over six months ending in early 2008. He was awarded the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.

His last assignment was to a maintenance battalion in Camp Lejeune, NC.

Sanford did stints in Japan and Iraq after graduating from Goodrich High School in 2003, according to a 2007 news article from the Clarkston News.

The newspaper described his military career at the time as "stellar." He served in Okinawa, Japan, earned honors "on the rifle range," and was a sergeant before he was sent to serve in Fallujah, Iraq, the newspaper reported. The paper said he was a wrecker driver who helped recover damaged vehicles.

In one post, Sanford's mother posted a photo of Sanford in his Marine uniform. "Thank you to our son.. service 2004-2008.. Iraq Veteran!!" she wrote.

A 2015 article from the Lake Orion Review also referenced Sanford serving in the Marines from 2004 to 2008. He also worked at a Coca-Cola facility for a period, according to the report, although it was unclear in what capacity.

Emergency personnel work at the scene of a shooting which took place at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, according to police, in Grand Blanc Township on Sept. 28, 2025.

A hunter and outdoorsman

Sanford appeared to be an avid hunter and fisherman, according to photos posted on Facebook pages of his loved ones, including his girlfriend and mother.

Photos show him in camouflage hunting gear with deer he had harvested, and fish he'd caught while ice fishing.

Son battled rare disease of hyperinsulinism

Sanford's son Brantlee was born about a decade ago with a rare condition called hyperinsulinism, where high levels of insulin increase the risk of brain complications.

Doctors could not diagnose him, and the family hit dead end after dead end.

We found out Brantlee was having problems shortly after his birth, Sanford said in a 2016 interview about their experience. It was a nightmare for us. We were slowly realizing that Brantlee wasnt a typical premature baby."

That was until one day they received a call that changed their prognosis.

Grand Blanc Township Chief of Police William Renye speaks alongside state and county officials following a shooting and a fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025.

My sister had sent me a newsletter from a childrens hospital in Texas called Cook Childrens. I emailed the writer of this article on congenital hyperinsulinism while waiting for a miracle to happen, Sanford said.

One of the doctors called the family. Together with the baby, Sanford and his wife Tella traveled to Cook Childrens Congenital Hyperinsulinism Center and Endocrine Diabetes program in Texas, one of the few centers in the country that treats the illness.

Suspect photographed in Trump t-shirt

Although Sanfords political views are unclear, Sanford is seen wearing a camouflage Trump 2020 campaign shirt in a 2019 photo from a Facebook page dedicated to his sons medical journey.

A Google Street view of a home that public records identify as Sanfords primary address shows a blue "Trump-Pence" yard sign attached to a backyard fence. The image was taken in June.

Sanford is registered to vote in Burton, Michigan, but available records do not show when he last voted. In Michigan, voters do not register by party.

This is a developing story, check back for updates.

Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.

Contributing: Andrea May Sahouri and John Wisely, Detroit Free Press

(This story has been updated to correct a typo.)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Thomas Jacob Sanford identified as Michigan church shooting suspect
Missouri has joined Texas and California in redrawing its congressional maps, as part of a redistricting push that could lead to Republicans drawing themselves as many as six extra House seats while Democrats' efforts could help them pick up five.

The redistricting gambit began with President Trump's call for Texas Republicans to find more seats. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed legislation in August to redraw the state's districts and create five GOP-friendly seats, launching the first salvo in a push that has drawn national attention. It led to California Gov. Gavin Newsom's own campaign to redraw the map to help Democrats.

Then, in Missouri, state lawmakers redrew their map earlier this month to edge out Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver from his Kansas City district. Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe, a Republican, signed the legislation on Sunday.

Challenges remain for the maps in all three states. The NAACP filed a lawsuit challenging Kehoe's authority to create the new map outside of a census year, and three other lawsuits have been filed. Civil rights groups are also suing in Texas, claiming the maps are racially biased. And in California, the state's new map must be approved by voters in a November special election before it takes effect.

Congressional maps are normally redrawn every 10 years after the U.S. Census reveals population shifts. But this rare mid-decade redistricting push was kicked off as Republicans seek to maintain  or even expand  their razor-thin majority in Congress in the 2026 midterm elections. Historically speaking, midterms are often a rebuke of the party in the White House.

Abbott then called a special session of the Legislature with redistricting on the agenda. But two weeks into the 30-day special session, Texas Democrats fled the state to deny a quorum and prevent the legislation from coming to the floor.

The Democrats ultimately returned after two weeks, and the legislation was passed, but they garnered significant national attention. Although California requires congressional maps to be approved by voters, Newsom vowed to redraw the state's districts to garner up to five seats for Democrats to counter Texas.

Amid this push, other states have also started to discuss redistricting efforts, includingIndiana and Florida, which could net Republicans several more seats.

Although both parties are trying to rig their states' congressional districts to be favorable to themselves, the outcome is far from guaranteed.

"Computers and technology do give us a lot more ability to to make predictive statements about outcomes, but we're doing it  I think it's fair to say  in a very volatile environment politically, where things that we have seen as trends are sort of being turned on their heads," said Kareem Crayton, vice president of the Washington, D.C.-based the Brennan Center for Justice.

Crayton noted several current issues that could factor heavily into voters' decisions, and called it "folly to assume that just because people showed up and voted for the current president of the United States, that people want to show up for a member of Congress, particularly  a new candidate in a district that hasn't been created before."

See maps of how Texas, California and Missouri's push could play out, based on the 2024 election results:

Texas congressional districts map

Texas has 38 congressional seats, 25 of which are currently held by Republicans. The other 13 are held by Democrats.

Texas Republicans have invested heavily in the Rio Grande Valley, once a Democratic stronghold but Mr. Trump and the GOP have made gains here in the past few years.

In 2024, two of the three Rio Grande Valley House seats voted for Mr. Trump but reelected their Democratic member of Congress. The new maps are trying to add to those gains and box out those two Democrats.

Texas Democrats have recently made gains in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and Houston's Harris County. The new maps reshape Democratic Rep. Al Green's Houston district in the rural areas, making a district that was 72% Democratic into one that is 40% Democratic. The proposed map also changes Rep. Julie Johnson's Dallas-area district from 62% to 41% Democratic. Rep. Marc Veasey's district in Dallas-Fort Worth remains a Democratic stronghold, but he would no longer live in the district.

Liberal Austin is further dissolved into neighboring districts. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, who was first elected in 1994 and whose district gave former Vice President Kamala Harris her largest margin of victory in all of Texas, announced in August that he would not seek reelection if the proposed maps are upheld by the courts, avoiding a primary with Rep. Greg Casar, also of Austin.

California congressional districts map

California has 52 House representatives, nine of whom are Republicans and 43 are Democrats.

In 2020, Republicans flipped three Democratic-held seats for the first time since 1994. They've held two of them, including Rep. David Valadao's 22nd District in the Central Valley.

Under the proposed map, Valadao's district would go from being 47% Democratic in 2024 to 49% Democratic, making him slightly more vulnerable. And GOP Rep. Darrell Issa's 48th District near San Diego would change from 42% to 52% Democratic.

In Southern California, Rep. Ken Calvert's 41st District in Riverside would be redrawn further toward Los Angeles, shifting it from a district that was 47% Democratic in 2024 to one that is 57% Democratic under the proposed maps.

In Northern California, GOP Rep. Doug LaMalfa's District 1, which includes the most northeastern part of the state, would shift further south toward Marin County and the northern part would be absorbed in the 2nd District, home to heavily Democratic Eureka and the northern Pacific coast. Rep. Kevin Kiley's district, which snakes along the California-Nevada border through Death Valley, would instead move further toward heavily Democratic Sacramento. Republican Rep. Tom McClintock's 5th District would be shifted to include the southern portions of what was Kiley's district.

Kiley, whose district would go from one that was 48% Democratic in 2024 to one that is 55% Democratic, has been an outspoken critic of redistricting, even introducing legislation in the House to ban mid-decade redistricting.

Missouri congressional districts (Choropleth map)

After Texas and California's redistricting efforts, Kehoe called a special session of Missouri's legislature to take up redistricting. Missouri currently has two Democratic representatives in Congress: Rep. Wesley Bell, who represents St. Louis and was first elected in 2025, and Cleaver, who has represented the Kansas City area since 2005.

As Missouri has trended toward Republicans over the past 20 years, Cleaver's district has been a target of the GOP, especially in the 2021 redistricting when several lawmakers pushed for what was called the "7 to 1 map" that would have redrawn the 5th Congressional District to be more Republican. Lawmakers ultimately decided against that plan. St. Louis' NPR station reported that Republicans worried that the short-term gains from carving up the district could lead to long-term problems in the neighboring suburban districts.

Nonetheless, the Missouri GOP joined the redistricting effort in 2025. Under the new map, Cleaver's district transforms from one that is 62% Democratic to one that is 41% Democratic. Cleaver says he still plans to run for reelection.

The neighboring 4th and 6th Districts both become slightly bluer, to 39% and 36% Democratic, respectively, but they are still safely Republican.

By expanding the 2nd District south and west, GOP Rep. Ann Wagner's district becomes redder, going from 46% Democratic in 2024 to 44%. While Wagner has maintained her grip on the district, Mr. Trump won by only 100 votes under the previous lines in 2020. In the 2021 redistricting, Wagner's district lost some of the Democratic-leaning St. Louis County.

Government shutdown likely, CBS News' Robert Costa says after conversation with Trump

Why crickets are as good as a thermometer

Trump plans to send troops to Portland, Oregon; governor says it is "not needed here"
Rep. Mikie Sherrill is the Democratic nominee in the New Jersey governor's race, facing Republican Jack Ciattarelli. (Victor J. Blue / Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill is launching a digital ad in which her campaign claims the Trump administration and her Republican opponent's campaign violated the law by releasing her unredacted military records.

The issue has taken over the New Jersey governor's race in recent days, with Republicans advertising on a cheating scandal that took place at the U.S. Naval Academy when Sherrill was a student and with Sherrill focusing on the release of her personal information.

"Its not just a scandal. It is illegal," a narrator says in Sherrill's ad, shared first with NBC News. "The Trump administration illegally releasing respected Navy helicopter pilot Mikie Sherrills private military records to Jack Ciattarellis campaign, records containing Mikies Social Security number, even her retired parents home address. Jacks campaign distributed her records anyway  breaking the law."

The narrator goes on to say the Ciattarelli campaign "refused to return" the records, adding: "They broke the law to attack a veteran. Just think what Jack Ciattarelli might do to you."

Chris Russell, a strategist for Ciattarellis campaign, wrote on X last week that the documents were released in response to a legitimate and perfectly legal Freedom of Information Act request, noting that the National Archives apologized for the error.

In a statement Monday night, Russell said that Sherrill's campaign ad "again tries to conflate an unfortunate clerical error by the National Archives with the very real scandal that is engulfing the Sherrill campaign. She needs to come clean and release her records now."

CBS News reported that, while it was investigating Sherrill's potential role in a cheating scandal that occurred while she attended the Naval Academy, it obtained documents from a branch of the National Archives that included her "full military file," which were released to a Ciattarelli ally.

The documents included "Sherrills Social Security number, which appears on almost every page, home addresses for her and her parents, life insurance information, Sherrills performance evaluations and the nondisclosure agreement between her and the U.S. government to safeguard classified information." Sherrill's former superiors' Social Security numbers were redacted.

Ciattarelli ally Nicholas De Gregorio told CBS that Russell had asked him to dig into Sherrill and that he submitted a FOIA request for her records. The Sherrill campaign's legal counsel has sent cease-and-desist letters to the Ciattarelli campaign, Russell and De Gregorio to stop the dissemination of her military records, and it has demanded that the National Archives preserve information relating to the release.

The Ciattarelli campaign, meanwhile, has focused on Sherrill's alleged ties to the cheating scandal, calling on her to authorize the release of her disciplinary records from the Naval Academy. CBS News and the New Jersey Globe reported that Sherrill did not walk with her 1994 graduating class, which Sherrill explained as a consequence of her not reporting who was involved in the cheating scandal.

I didnt turn in some of my classmates, so I didnt walk, but graduated and was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy, serving for nearly ten years with the highest level of distinction and honor, Sherrill said in a statement to the outlets.

Ciattarelli's campaign has also launched a digital ad about the cheating scandal, highlighting lines from the New Jersey Globe's report.

"If theres nothing to hide, why not be transparent? Voters deserve the truth. #ReleaseTheRecords," Ciattarelli wrote in an X post sharing the ad.
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -North Korea will never give up its nuclear program, the country's Vice Foreign Minister Kim Son Gyong told the United Nations General Assembly on Monday, describing it as "tantamount to demanding it to surrender sovereignty and right to existence."

It was the first time North Korea had dispatched an official from Pyongyang to address the annual gathering of world leaders for the General Assembly since the country's foreign minister traveled to New York in 2018.

"Imposition of 'denuclearization' on the DPRK is tantamount to demanding it to surrender sovereignty and right to existence and violate the Constitution," said Kim, referring to the country's formal name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. "We will never give up sovereignty, abandon the right to existence and violate the Constitution."

"Thanks to our state's enhanced physical war deterrent in direct proportion to the growing threat of aggression of the U.S. and its allies, the will of the enemy states to provoke a war is thoroughly contained and the balance of power on the Korean peninsula is ensured," he said.

U.S. President Donald Trump said last month that he wanted to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un this year. Since Trump's January inauguration, Kim has ignored Trump's repeated calls to revive the direct diplomacy he pursued during his 2017-2021 term in office, which produced no deal to halt North Korea's nuclear program.

'NEVER WALK AWAY'

However, last week Kim said there was no reason to avoid talks with the U.S. if Washington stopped insisting his country give up nuclear weapons, but he would never abandon the nuclear arsenal to end sanctions, state media reported.

"We will never give up nuclear which is our state law, national policy and sovereign power as well as the right to existence. Under any circumstances, we will never walk away from this position," the vice foreign minister told the U.N. General Assembly.

North Korea has been under U.N. Security Council sanctions since 2006, and the measures have been steadily strengthened over the years with the aim of halting Pyongyang's development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.

But Russia and China now insist that U.N. sanctions on North Korea should be eased on humanitarian grounds and in a bid to convince Pyongyang to restart negotiations.

Russia has also forged closer diplomatic and military ties with North Korea since invading Ukraine in February 2022 and Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kim have visited each other's countries. Russia is using North Korean troops to battle Ukrainian forces.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Maiya Keidan and Deepa Babington)
The state of Oregon and the city of Portland have sued the Trump administration to stop it from deploying National Guard troops to Portland.

The suit names President Donald Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Defense Department, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and the Department of Homeland Security as defendants. It asks a federal court in Portland to stop the Trump administration from deploying troops and declare the deployment unlawful.

White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said that Trump's actions were "lawful" and that they would "make Portland safer."

"President Trump is using his lawful authority to direct the National Guard to protect federal assets and personnel in Portland following months of violent riots where officers have been assaulted and doxxed by left-wing rioters," she said.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement that Trump directed Hegseth to call the Oregon National Guard into federal service for 60 days to protect Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other government personnel in the city.

"The President called forth these 200 Guardsmen to deter rampant lawlessness within Portland and to enable Federal law-enforcement officers to safely conduct their duties," Parnell said.

DHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit Sunday night.

In the suit, Oregon and Portland claim the federal government does not have grounds to call in the guard and said the city has seen "small" protests near an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in recent weeks.

When the president and I spoke yesterday, I told him in plain language that there is no insurrection or threat to public safety that necessitates military intervention in Portland or any other city in our state," Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek said in a news release Sunday. "Despite this  and all evidence to the contrary  he has chosen to disregard Oregonians safety and ability to govern ourselves. This is not necessary. And it is unlawful. And it will make Oregonians less safe."

Crime statistics provided by the Portland Police Bureaus Strategic Services Division indicate crime in the city so far this year is on par with the same period last year. The current year-to-date total of offenses tallies 37,893, while at the same time last year offenses totaled 37,859.

However, there were a 50% drop in homicides and a 4% decline in aggravated assaults. Simple assaults, however, increased by 8%.

Kotek said at a media availability event Sunday evening that Trump had taken away her control of the National Guard and that the state did not have any information about a timeline for deployment. She also said she did not have information about the number of troops set to be activated or whether they would be armed.

The plaintiffs claim that the administrations move to federalize the guard violated the 10th Amendment of the Constitution, saying police power lies with the states.

Speaking to reporters Sunday, state Attorney General Dan Rayfield, a Democrat, compared the move to the administrations efforts to deploy the National Guard to Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.

A federal judge in California ruled earlier this month that the administration illegally deployed the guard and the Marines to Los Angeles in June. U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer said the administration violated a 19th century law called the Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits using the armed forces for domestic law enforcement.

Trump said Saturday that he was directing Hegseth to provide all necessary Troops to Portland, calling the city War ravaged. He said guard members had to protect ICE facilities that he claimed were under siege from attack by Antifa and other domestic terrorists.

Trump's announcement came after he spoke negatively about Portland, claiming there was anarchy in the city.

Kotek denied such characterizations at a news conference Saturday and said she shared her assessment with Trump. She added that she had been in contact with other Democratic governors who faced similar threats from the administration, such as Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Trump has threatened to deploy the National Guard in multiple cities run by Democrat mayors, including Chicago, Baltimore and New Orleans. He authorized the deployment of National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., in August.

He also established a task force this month to mobilize troops in Memphis, Tennessee  a move that Republican Gov. Bill Lee supported.
Viva Biotech is acknowledged for its pioneering AI-driven drug discovery platforms that accelerate timelines, reduce costs, and expand therapeutic innovation in the global pharmaceutical R&D ecosystem.

SAN ANTONIO, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Frost & Sullivan is pleased to announce that Viva Biotech has been given the 2025 APAC Technology Innovation Leadership recognition in the Integrated Intelligent Drug Discovery industry for its outstanding achievements in driving transformative efficiencies in preclinical research and development. This recognition highlights Viva Biotech's consistent leadership in combining artificial intelligence with laboratory-driven validation to reshape the future of drug discovery, strengthen client partnerships, and deliver scalable innovation in a highly competitive landscape.

This recognition highlights Viva Biotechs consistent leadership in combining artificial intelligence with laboratory-driven validation to reshape the future of drug discovery, strengthen client partnerships, and deliver scalable innovation in a highly competitive landscape.

Frost & Sullivan evaluates companies through a rigorous benchmarking process across two core dimensions: strategy effectiveness and strategy execution.

Viva Biotech excelled in both, demonstrating an ability to align advanced technologies with client demand, precisely and at scale. "By integrating multimodal artificial intelligence with extensive wet lab validation, Viva Biotech has established one of the most versatile discovery platforms in the industry. Its ability to support diverse modalitiesfrom small molecules and antibodies to emerging therapies such as PROTACs, molecular glues, and RNA-targeting compoundssignificantly reduces development timelines and costs for global clients," said Priyanka Jain, senior research analyst at Frost & Sullivan.

Guided by a long-term growth strategy that emphasizes digital innovation, client partnerships, and operational efficiency, Viva Biotech has demonstrated remarkable agility in adapting to the evolving pharmaceutical research landscape. The company's investment in AI-driven modeling, structure-based drug discovery, and seamless lab-in-the-loop systems has enabled it to accelerate decision-making and support first-in-class as well as fast-follow programs for clients worldwide.

Innovation is central to Viva Biotech's approach. Its Artificial Intelligence-Driven Drug Discovery (AIDD) platform, comprising proprietary modules V-Scepter, V-Orb, and V-Mantle, addresses longstanding drug design challenges by combining predictive modeling, physics-based simulations, and generative AI. These tools are directly integrated with wet lab experimentation, allowing for rapid validation and iterative refinement of drug candidates. "We are very honored to receive this award from Frost & Sullivan," said Dr.Derek Ren, CEO of Viva Biotech (Shanghai) Ltd. "This recognition validates our vision of building a truly integrated platform that unites AI-driven drug discovery (AIDD) with structure-based drug design (SBDD). The company's AI platform is transforming the once-impossible into achievable breakthroughs. In future, we will continue accelerate the pace of AI-driven drug discovery and development and lead in a new era of scientific innovation."

Viva Biotech's unwavering commitment to client experience further enhances its global position. By offering flexible collaboration models and milestone-based agreements while ensuring full ownership of intellectual property for its partners, the company delivers clear value and fosters long-term trust. Its integrated service capabilities not only reduce project risks but also empower clients to explore emerging modalities with confidence, speed, and scientific rigor.

Frost & Sullivan commends Viva Biotech for setting a benchmark in technological innovation, strategic execution, and customer-centric growth. The company's AI-first methodology, supported by world-class expertise in structural biology and preclinical experimentation, is shaping the evolution of integrated intelligent drug discovery and enabling measurable outcomes across therapeutic areas.

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents the Technology Innovation Leadership recognition to a company that demonstrates outstanding strategy development and implementation, resulting in measurable improvements in market share, customer satisfaction, and competitive positioning. This recognition celebrates forward-looking organizations that are redefining their industries through transformative innovation and growth excellence.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Recognition

Frost & Sullivan's Best Practices Recognitions honor companies across regional and global markets that exhibit exceptional achievement and consistent excellence in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer experience, and strategic product development. Each recognition is the result of a rigorous analytical process in which Frost & Sullivan industry experts benchmark performance through comprehensive interviews, deep-dive analysis, and extensive secondary research. The goal is to identify true best-in-class organizations that are driving transformative growth and setting new industry standards.

Contact us: Start the discussion .

Contact:

Tarini Singh

E: [email protected]

About Viva Biotech

Established in 2008, Viva Biotech (01873.HK) provides one-stop services ranging from early-stage Structure-Based Drug R&D to commercial manufacturing to global biopharmaceutical innovators. We offer leading early-stage to late-phase drug discovery expertise by integrating our dedicated team of experts, cutting-edge technology platforms, and state-of-the-art equipment in X-ray crystallization, Cryo-EM, DEL, ASMS, SPR, HDX, AIDD/CADD, and much more. Our business covers all aspects of therapeutic strategies and drug modalities, including small molecules and biologics across the pharma and biotech spectrum. The experienced chemistry team, led by senior medicinal chemists and drug discovery biologists, provides services for drug design, medicinal chemistry (hit to lead and lead optimization), custom synthesis, chemical analysis and purification, kilogram scale-up, peptide synthesis and corresponding bioassays. With our subsidiary, Langhua Pharma, we offer our worldwide pharmaceutical and biotech partners a one-stop integrated CMC (Chemical, Manufacturing, and Control) service from preclinical to commercial manufacturing. Additionally, Viva embedded an equity for service (EFS) model to high potential startups to address unmet medical needs.

To learn more about Viva Biotech, please visit https://www.vivabiotech.com or contact at [email protected].

SOURCE Frost & Sullivan
Photo courtesy of PDX Mayor Keith Wilson

(The Center Square)  Several hundred Portland, Ore., residents took to the streets Sunday afternoon to protest President Donald Trump's order to deploy federal troops to the city to protect federal buildings, including the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility on the South Waterfront, where protesters have clashed with ICE agents in recent days.

Portland increased its police presence for a planned march and demonstration, which was promoted by Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek and Portland Mayor Keith Wilson, against the deployment of 200 members of the Oregon National Guard into federal service for a 60-day deployment.

As reported by The Center Square, on Saturday, Trump posted on Truth Social: At the request of Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, I am directing Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to provide all necessary Troops to protect [war-ravaged] Portland, and any of our ICE Facilities under siege from attack by Antifa, and other domestic terrorists. I am also authorizing Full Force, if necessary.

Kotek responded by saying Trump is abusing his authority by ordering troops to the city, which she said is doing just fine.

The governor had this to say on Facebook: Theres no insurrection, theres no threat to national security and theres no need for military troops. Military service members should be dedicated to real emergencies. And thats exactly what I said to the President when I asked him to stand down in our city.

Wilson emailed a statement to The Center Square.

The number of necessary troops is zero in Portland and any other American city, he wrote. Our nation has a long memory for acts of oppression, and the president will not find lawlessness or violence here unless he plans to perpetrate it. Imagine if the federal government sent hundreds of engineers, or teachers, or outreach workers to Portland, instead of a short, expensive, and fruitless show of force.

Independent journalist Brandi Kruse, host of the Seattle-based unDivided podcast, was in Portland Sunday and Monday. She told The Center Square she understands why the president has called up troops to protect the city.

The truth is always somewhere in the middle, she said. Is it a war zone? No. But is there a necessity for federal intervention? Absolutely, 100% This has been going on for more than 100 days, and it's clear that Portland police are being told to be hands off.

Kruse said Portland police have not been allowed to protect their city.

It should be the city of Portland's responsibility to remove that crowd and to restore order to the area, because it's city property outside that facility, she said. But since they won't do it, someone has to. It's either do nothing or the federal government gets involved.

On Sunday, Oregon and Portland filed a lawsuit in federal court in an effort to block the deployment of 200 National Guard troops to the Rose City.

The suit names President Donald Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and the Department of Defense, as well as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, as defendants.

The lawsuit asks a federal court to halt the administration's deployment of troops into the city.

As of midday Monday, there has been no visible evidence of National Guard troops being deployed into Portland.
Federal law enforcement agents watch demonstrators outside of an immigrant processing center in Broadview, Illinois, on Saturday. - Scott Olson/Getty Images

President Donald Trumps announcement that he will send troops to Portland, agents clashing with protesters near an immigration enforcement building in suburban Chicago, and the expected arrival of the National Guard in Memphis are the most recent examples of current and possible federal law enforcement crackdowns in US cities.

Trump said on social media Saturday he was directing the Department of Defense to provide all necessary Troops to protect War ravaged Portland. Trump said the decision was necessary to protect US Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities. His announcement was met with pushback from Oregons Democratic governor. Confirmation on Sunday of a National Guard deployment was met with a lawsuit from the state of Oregon and Portland alleging unlawful overreach by the administration.

In Chicago, federal authorities have fired pepper balls and tear gas at protesters at an ICE building in Broadview, west of Chicago. The confrontations come amid a surge of immigration enforcement that began early this month.

Illinoiss Democratic Governor, JB Pritzker, said Monday afternoon the Trump administration is preparing to deploy 100 troops to the state, citing a request from the Department of Homeland Security to the Pentagon.

Meanwhile, Republican Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has said federal authorities including immigration and drug enforcement agents are expected to arrive in Memphis starting this upcoming week.

The moves follow Trumps crime crackdown in the District of Columbia and actions in Los Angeles in response to immigration protests that turned violent with the arrival of troops.

Heres a rundown of potential and current federal law enforcement activity in Portland, Chicago and Memphis.

Portland

Oregon Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek responded to Trumps comments that he was authorizing Full Force, if necessary to handle domestic terrorists by saying he is abusing his authority by ordering troops into a city she said is doing just fine on its own.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek speaks at a news conference in Portland on Saturday after President Donald Trump said he would send troops to the city. - Claire Rush/AP

On Monday, Attorneys for Oregon filed a motion asking a federal judge for an emergency order that would temporarily block the deployment of federal troops in Portland, calling the move unlawful, according to a copy of the filing obtained by CNN.

In their request, attorneys for the state said the deployment of federal troops is part of Trumps preexisting intention to militarize streets of Portland and other sanctuary cities.

There is no insurrection. There is no threat to national security, Kotek previously told reporters.

Other government, police and business leaders said soldiers are not needed and Trump is presenting a false picture of the city.

On Sunday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a memorandum announcing 200 members of the Oregon National Guard would be called into Federal service effective immediately for a period of 60 days.

The city of Portland and the state of Oregon then filed a lawsuit alleging the Trump administration had overreached its mandate in federalizing the Oregon National Guard in response to unrest.

In the lawsuit, lawyers for the state and the city said the move breached the principles of the US Constitution and risked stoking new unrest. However, the White House said Trumps use of the National Guard was lawful after months of violent riots and would make Portland safer.

A spokesperson for the Oregon National Guard said any requests for Guard support would need to be coordinated through the governors office.

Late Saturday, a small crowd of protesters gathered on the sidewalk outside an ICE facility. One person was arrested by federal law enforcement after a brief confrontation as ICE agents cleared a path for a vehicle exiting the facility.

Recent demonstrations have focused on the area around the ICE building. Some federal agents have been injured and several protesters have been charged with assault. Some demonstrators also say they have been injured.

Chicago

Federal law enforcement agents confront demonstrators outside of an immigrant processing center in Broadview, Illinois, on Saturday. - Scott Olson/Getty Images

The Department of Defense is seeking the deployment of 100 military troops to Illinois, according to Pritzker, to protect ICE personnel and facilities.

CNN has reached out to the Pentagon seeking confirmation.

What I have been warning of is now being realized, Pritzker said at a press conference Monday afternoon. Pritzker did not have further information when asked for additional details about assets and timing.

Pritzkers comments come a day after he says dozens of federal agents were deployed on the streets of downtown Chicago.

On a beautiful weekend when families were out enjoying their day in Chicago, armed Border Patrol agents were downtown marching up and down Michigan Avenue, harassing and intimidating residents and tourists, Pritzker said.

On Friday, agents repeatedly fired chemical agents toward a crowd of over 100 protesters after some of the group attempted to block a car from driving down a street toward an ICE building. Pepper bullets and tear gas canisters went into the crowd, most of them standing away from the fence and not blocking traffic.

In previous weeks, protesters had also tried to block agents vehicles from moving in or out of a yard next to the building.

Memphis

A Memphis police officer stands on Beale Street in Memphis on September 12. - Karen Pulfer Focht/Reuters

Trump said earlier this month he was creating a task force of federal law enforcement agencies to combat crime in Memphis. The city has experienced high numbers of violent crimes such as carjackings and homicides in recent years, but both Democratic and Republican officials have noted the majority-Black city is seeing decreases this year in some crime categories.

Lee, the governor, has publicly said he would not expect more than 150 National Guard members to be sent to Memphis, though hes said the numbers arent solidified. The city said Friday there wont be tanks. The Guard troops wont be making arrests and wont be armed unless local authorities request that, Lee said Friday.

Its unclear when Guard members will arrive. Lee also said 300 Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers will be in the region.

Latinos in Memphis have expressed concern ICE agents will increase their presence in Memphis and detain people who are in the country legally.

On Saturday, dozens of people marched to a plaza in front of City Hall to protest the law enforcement surge. Speakers at a news conference said instead of federal troops and agents, Memphis needs more funding for education, crime prevention, youth services and hospitals.

Oregon officials have made similar comments.

CNNs Amanda Musa, Bill Kirkos, Whitney Wild and Priscilla Alvarez contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Washington  The Senate returns to Washington on Monday with less than two days to fund the government amid a stalemate between Democrats and Republicans on the path forward that has increased the likelihood of a government shutdown this week.

Lawmakers were away on recess last week after the House approved a GOP-led continuing resolution to keep the government funded until Nov. 21. But the measure fell short in the Senate, as Democrats pushed a counter-proposal that would keep the government funded through October, while attaching a handful of their priorities. That measure also failed to secure the necessary support for passage.

Republicans have 53 seats in the Senate, a majority. But with 60 votes needed to advance most legislation in the upper chamber, Republicans can't approve a bill to fund the government without the help of Democrats.

With few opportunities to exert influence with a GOP-controlled House, Senate and White House, Democrats have been pushing to extract a more favorable outcome in the spending fight, facing pressure from their base to push back on the Trump administration's policies. But the posture has proven complicated for the party that has repeatedly supported efforts to keep the government funded.

Democrats push for negotiations

Both parties have pushed for a stopgap measure to keep the government funded while work on full-year appropriations bills continues, but Democrats have advocated for weeks for taking the funding effort to the negotiating table, introducing a counter-proposal earlier this month that appeared to serve as an opening salvo.

While the Republican-led continuing resolution would fund the government until Nov. 21, the Democrats' proposal includes one of their key priorities  extending expiring health insurance subsidies.

The proposal, which would extend government funding until Oct. 31 and boost security funding, includes a permanent extension of enhanced tax credits for Americans who purchase health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace, which Democrats have suggested is a red line for their support. The subsidies, which were originally passed in 2021, are set to expire at the end of the year.

Also in their proposed measure to fund the government, Democrats included language to roll back Medicaid restrictions in President Trump's "big, beautiful bill" and restore funding for public broadcasters that was rescinded earlier this year.

Democratic leaders have been pushing for a meeting with Mr. Trump on government funding. And the leaders are set to meet Monday with the president, alongside Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson after the president canceled an initial meeting last week, citing the Democrats' "unserious and ridiculous" demands.

Then, the Trump administration upped the ante last week, when the White House's Office of Management and Budget sent a memo to federal agencies Wednesday telling them to consider reduction-in-force notices, or layoffs, for employees in programs, projects or activities that received discretionary funding.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday that he called Thune Friday and urged him to get the leaders together for a meeting. The next day, he said the White House told them the meeting was on for Monday afternoon.

The New York Democrat called the meeting a "first step," saying "we need a serious negotiation."



"I think they felt the heat, and they now want to sit down," Schumer said. "But the fundamental question hasn't been answered yet, and we'll see on Monday: are they serious about negotiating with us in a real way?"

But Mr. Trump said Sunday that a government shutdown is likely unless top Democrats back down from their negotiating position, telling CBS News "I just don't know how we are going to solve this issue."

The shutdown blame game

Democrats and Republicans have preempted the possible shutdown in recent days, seeking to put the blame on the other party should Congress fail to fund the government  forcing federal agencies to halt non-essential functions.

With Republicans in the majority, Democrats have argued that they should bear responsibility for keeping the government open, and should be willing to negotiate to do so. But Republicans have insisted that there's no need, since Democrats regularly support "clean" continuing resolutions to keep the government funded.

Thune told NBC that Democrats are using a seven-week funding resolution, designed to give lawmakers more time to work on the appropriations process, to "try and get a whole laundry list of things that they want," accusing them of taking "the federal government as a hostage." He added that he doesn't know "what we're supposed to be negotiating."

"This is a simple, straightforward deal to keep the government running," the South Dakota Republican said, urging that Democrats should help keep the government funded, and then have a conversation about extending the health care subsidies.

While Democrats have put the blame on Mr. Trump for a possible shutdown, Republicans have argued that any failure to fund the government will be Schumer's doing.

Schumer has faced intense pressure from his party to stand up to the Trump administration and its policies in the spending fight, after he allowed Republicans to move ahead with their spending bill during the last funding dispute.

After pledging to fight the GOP funding plan in March, Schumer changed course at the eleventh hour and delivered one of the Democratic votes necessary to propel the partisan measure to passage and prevent a shutdown. Schumer argued at the time that a shutdown risked more damage, despite intense criticism from some within his own party.

But that was before Republicans in Congress approved their "big, beautiful bill," which included restrictions to Medicaid that Democrats vehemently opposed, along with a rescissions package clawing back more than $9 billion in congressionally appropriated funds for foreign aid and public broadcasting. Now, Schumer's posture appears to be different as well.

After Charlie Kirk assassination, Utah Gov. Cox urges U.S. away from division, violence

Government shutdown likely, CBS News' Robert Costa says after conversation with Trump

Watch: Trump gives lengthy address to senior military leaders at Quantico
Courtesy of Fendi

Milan Fashion Week has officially wrapped, and with it comes a new era at Fendi. On Monday morning, the brand announced Silvia Venturini Fendis new role as honorary president of the Roman house. In her new post, she will focus on promoting and preserving the brands legacy in addition to taking on duties with Fendi Casa, the brands home line.

Following Karl Lagerfelds death and Kim Joness tenure, Venturini Fendi expanded her duties as artistic director of menswear and accessories to include womenswearbringing the full scope of the brands portfolio under a single creative director during its centennial year. Her new role will leave an opening for new talentamidst a sea of top-level changes in the industry.

Daniele Venturelli - Getty Images

Since 1992, Silvia has greatly contributed to shaping Fendis creative direction and has been pivotal to the brands international success, said Ramon Ros, CEO and chairman of Fendi, in a statement. Her vision has guided Fendi from its Roman artisanal roots into the future, culminating in the celebration of the houses 100-year anniversary. I am thrilled to see the new projects that Silvia will lead in her new position, contributing not only to Fendis legacy and values but the world of design and craftsmanship around the world.

Silvia represents the third generation of the Fendi family and has always been a guiding hand in the houses directionnow, she has an opportunity to take on a different voice. These have been truly exciting years, a journey I have walked in the name of my grandmother Adele, my mother Anna, and her sisters, said Venturini Fendi in the press release. What a wonderful journey it has been, not only creatively but also from a human perspective: first through my bond with Karl Lagerfeld, then with Kim Jones, and last but not least, with my fantastic team, which over the years has become part of my family.

No official announcement has been made yet regarding a new creative director (or directors), though the company promised the news would be revealed in due time.

You Might Also Like
Growing up in the 80s and 90s, afternoons meant racing home, dropping my backpack, and flipping on the TV for reruns. (I did my homework on the bus.) With no cable, my choices were slim: The Brady Bunch or The Addams Family. I didn't need much time to decide. The Brady kids were busy with dating crises and hairbrush meltdowns; meanwhile, the Addamses were raising pet lions and hosting seances. Guess which family won me over.

Wednesday Addams, with her headless doll "Marie Antoinette" clutched under one arm, felt far more relatable to a weird little girl like me. By the time Christina Ricci stormed across the screen in the 90s movies, delivering one-liners sharp enough to slice birthday cake, I was hooked for life. Fast forward to Jenna Ortega's Netflix turn as Wednesday, all cello solos and death stares that could make a taxidermy raven nervous, and I was smitten all over again.

So imagine my delight when I discovered a Vermont town that feels like Wednesday herself drew it in black ink (because she kind of did). Jericho, Vermont, isn't the official filming location, but its where the show takes place. The streets, shops, and trails carry just the right mix of history, gothic flair, and eccentric charm for this dark show. You half expect Wednesday to be lurking behind a maple tree, notebook in hand, jotting down another scathing critique of humanity.

Start with the Old Red Mill in Jericho Corners. Built in the 1800s, the mill looks like it's auditioning for a supporting role at Nevermore Academy. Weathered brick walls, creaking timbers, and its perch along the Browns River all give it that slightly brooding presence that Wednesday would admire. Inside, the Jericho Historical Society tends to its exhibits with the kind of devotion Wednesday might call "morbidly fascinating." The Galusha House nearby (a Federal-style brick home dating to 1790) rounds out the set, as though Morticia might glide down the staircase with a candleabra at any moment.

Yet Jericho isn't all dark corners and historic gravitas. It also has a wicked sweet side, quite literally. Snowflake Chocolates is the sort of place that disarms even the most sardonic soul. The truffle cases shine like treasure chests, filled with maple creams, buttercrunch, and fudge so rich it could make even Wednesday's scowl soften. Picture her pretending not to care, then slipping a caramel into her black frock pocket when no one's looking.

If you prefer landscapes to sweets, Jericho delivers. Libby's Look offers a panoramic view that stretches across the Green Mountains. It's the kind of dramatic overlook where you could imagine Wednesday staging a monologue about the futility of humankind while a crow circles overhead. A short hike along the Hilltop Loop rewards you with a rushing waterfall, roaring and theatrical-nature's version of a pipe organ. It feels almost too on the nose, like a set designer built it for her.

Eventually, even Wednesday would have to stop for sustenance. That's where Jericho Ale and Bean comes in: a coffeehouse-meets-pub with just the right balance of energy and ease. The place hums with the scent of fresh espresso and trays of house-baked pastries cooling on the counter, while locals linger over sandwiches or a pint of local craft beer. It's cozy without tipping into twee. You can almost see Thing scooting across the bar to snag a biscuit, which (if it happened) would only make the place more charming.

And if you're in town on market day, the Jericho Farmers Market is worth a stop. It's the oldest continuously running market in the region, full of produce, breads, crafts, and people who somehow make flannel look fashionable. Wednesday might roll her eyes at the cheerful music, but she'd definitely leave with a jar of raw honey labeled "poison" in her own handwriting.

Beyond food and views, Jericho's appeal lies in its balance. It's a town of just over 5,000 residents, but it feels bigger thanks to its layers of history and geography. The Browns River cuts through town like a silver thread, while village greens anchor clusters of homes, shops, and churches. Stately brick buildings lean against newer storefronts, creating a streetscape that feels layered rather than staged. It's not picture-perfect in a snow globe sense; there's just enough eccentricity to keep it interesting. Think of it as Vermont wearing Wednesday's smirk: half invitation, half dare.

If you also grew up feeling cozier among cobwebs than in broad daylight, Jericho might be your kind of haven. Wander its historic corners, climb to overlooks that feel plucked from a gothic sketchbook, sample chocolates rich enough to undo your best scowl, and fuel up on coffee that keeps the whole scene humming. Vermont has no shortage of postcard-perfect villages, but this one? This one feels like it stepped straight out of Wednesday's world.

Pack your boots and your best deadpan. Jericho is waiting to make your creepy, kooky Wednesday dreams come true.

Trying to make your travel dreams come true? Use our Vacation Planner to organize your next trip!
About 58 million pounds of corn dogs and other sausage-on-a-stick products are being recalled across the U.S. because pieces of wood may be embedded in the batter, with several consumers reporting injuries to date.



According to a Saturday notice published by the Agriculture Department's Food Safety and Inspection Service, the recall covers select State Fair corn dogs and Jimmy Dean "Pancakes & Sausage On a Stick" and "French Toast & Sausage On a Stick" products from Texas-based Hillshire Brands, which is a subsidiary of Tyson Foods.



The contamination problem was discovered after Hillshire received multiple consumer complaints, the service notes, five of which involved injuries. The company later determined that a "limited number" of these products included "extraneous pieces of wooden stick within the batter," Tyson said in a corresponding announcement, adding that it opted to initiate a recall "out of an abundance of caution."

State Fair Classic Corn Dogs-on-a-Stick label / Credit: FSIS / Hillshire Brands

The recalled corn dogs and sausage-on-a-stick goods were produced between March 17 and as recently as Friday, per Saturday's recall notices. Tyson, which is headquartered in Arkansas, said the issue was isolated to one facility located in Haltom City, Texas.



FSIS is worried that some of these recalled products may be in consumers' refrigerators and freezers in households across the U.S., as well as some schools and other institutions. In addition to being sold online and to retailers nationwide, the agency noted Saturday, these products were also sold to school districts and Defense Department facilities.

Jimmy Dean Pancakes and Sausage-on-a-Stick label / Credit: FSIS / Hillshire brands

Consumers in possession of the recalled items are urged to throw them away or return them to their place of purchase.

To determine which corn dogs and other sausage goods are subject to this recall, consumers should check the product's name, use-by dates and other identifying information published online by the FSIS and Tyson. The products being recalled should also have an establishment number of "EST-582" or "P-894" printed on the packaging.



It's unclear if consumers who purchased these now-recalled products will be eligible for a refund. The FSIS says consumers with questions about the recall can contact Christina Self, The Hillshire Brands Company Associate Director of Customer Care, at 888-747-7611.



Foreign object contamination is one of the top reasons for food recalls in the U.S. Beyond plastic, metal fragments, bits of bugs and more "extraneous" materials have prompted recalls by making their way into packaged goods.

A look at the booming business of Taylor Swift and her brand

Rite Aid closes all stores nationwide

2 children killed, 2 others hurt in shooting near Houston
A Texas man accused of threatening to commit a shooting at a local pride event has been arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, according to court documents obtained by CBS News.

Joshua Cole of Anson, Texas, allegedly commented on a Facebook post containing details of an upcoming gay pride event in nearby Abilene, "fk their parade" and said he wanted to "pay them back for taking out Charlie Kirk," according to an affidavit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas on Sept. 19  nine days after the conservative activist was shot and killed in Utah.

Posting under the name "Jay Dubya," Cole also allegedly wrote, "there's only like 30 of em we can send a clear message to the rest of them."

When the Abilene Police Department made a traffic stop on Cole, he admitted he runs a Facebook account under the name Jay Dubya, and that he was behind the comments, the criminal complaint alleged. He told officers that he did not believe that the gay pride event should be allowed, according to the court document, but denied that he was going to shoot parade participants.

Cole also admitted that he has a firearm. It wasn't clear whether he legally owns it.

"The threats were not conditional. The threats were specific," FBI Special Agent Samuel C. Venuti wrote in the affidavit. "The threats were also specific to a particular set of victims: people participating in the gay pride parade tomorrow. With this level of specificity, COLE's comments were not mere idle or careless talk, exaggeration, or something said in only a joking manner."

Venuti wrote that he visited Cole's former employer who told him Cole had recently quit his job and "stormed out of the facility in anger." He had worked for the employer for over a year, Venuti wrote, and was described by coworkers as a "hot head."

"We want to reassure our community that the safety of everyone at Pride has always been, and will continue to be our top priority," Abilene Pride Alliance posted on Facebook over a week after the incident. "The swift action and continued diligence of APD and federal partners reflect their commitment to protecting our city and ensuring that Pride remains a safe, inclusive and celebratory space for all."

Abilene Pride Alliance said in the post that the organization asked for help to strengthen security at Pride and received over $4,000 in donations.

"We want to reassure our community that the safety of everyone at Pride has always been, and will continue to be our top priority," the post reads. "The swift action and continued diligence of APD and federal partners reflect their commitment to protecting our city and ensuring that Pride remains a safe, inclusive and celebratory space for all."

CBS News reached out to an attorney listed for Cole. He was booked into Taylor County Jail in Abilene on Sept. 19. He was previously arrested in 2019 on a terroristic threat charge, according to jail records.

Jail records show Cole was released from Taylor County Jail on Sept. 24. The next day, the court concluded that Cole must be detained pending trial for reasons including his prior criminal history, that the weight of evidence against him is strong and that his release poses "serious danger to any person or the community."

It wasn't immediately clear whether Cole had been released prior to the decision or whether he was transferred to another facility.

After Charlie Kirk assassination, Utah Gov. Cox urges U.S. away from division, violence

Government shutdown likely, CBS News' Robert Costa says after conversation with Trump

Why crickets are as good as a thermometer
Norwegian Cruise Line guests can now get top-tier loyalty perks on its sister brands even if theyve never sailed with them  and vice versa.

The lines parent company, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., will now honor status across its three cruise brands, Norwegian, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. Members of the lines loyalty programs will receive the closest corresponding tier across all three brands on a per-cruise basis, the company said in a Sept. 29 news release.

The new policy will apply to cruises departing Oct. 15 and beyond.

We want our guests to feel rewarded whenever they choose to sail within our family of award-winning cruise brands, Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., said in the release. With the new Loyalty Status Honoring Program, our guests can experience more of what makes each brand special, while still enjoying the loyalty recognition theyve worked hard to achieve.

Look inside cruise ships-within-a-ship on Norwegian, Princess and MSC An aft-facing Owner's Suite in Norwegian Cruise Line's Haven.

You're probably already enrolled: How cruise loyalty programs make travel easier, cheaper

If guests are members of more than one of the three programs:

Norwegians Latitudes Rewards,

Oceanias Oceania Club, or

Regents Seven Seas Society,

The cruise lines will honor the program with the highest status. However, guests actual status with the line will continue to be determined by cruise activity.

A Commodore Seven Seas Society member from Regent sailing with Norwegian for the first time will be honored as an Ambassador Latitudes Rewards member for that voyage, Norwegian said on its website, as an example. After the cruise, their Latitudes Rewards status will revert to their tier based on their actual cruise history and points earned with Norwegian.

Passengers can view a chart online here detailing how loyalty benefits will be honored. Instructions on how to submit a status match request are available on Norwegians website.

The program is not the only one of its kind to launch in recent years. Royal Caribbean Group, parent company of Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Cruises, launched a similar status match program across the three brands in 2024.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Norwegian will honor cruise loyalty status across Oceania, Regent
A pair of storms will keep things stirred up along the Atlantic Coast for much of the week. While a direct hit on the United States from either storm is not in the forecast, Bermuda may not be so lucky.

Tropical Storm Imelda, forecast to become a hurricane on the morning of Sept. 30, and Hurricane Humberto, still a Category 4 hurricane, will create large surf, coastal flooding and risky rip current conditions along the Atlantic Coast from Florida into the Northeast.

Both storms could affect Bermuda over the next few days, with Imelda the more significant threat.

Here's what to know about both storms this week.

Storms of the 2025 hurricane season so far Satellite view of Tropical Storm Melissa 10:30 a.m. Oct. 22, 2025.

Imelda to stay offshore

Theres increasing confidence that Imelda will stay well offshore of the southeastern United States coast, Eric Blake, a senior hurricane specialist at the National Hurricane Center, wrote in a morning update on Monday, Sept. 29.

Imelda is moving northward at about 8 mph, being steered along the western side of a high-pressure ridge over the Atlantic, Blake wrote. But to its northeast, Hurricane Humberto, still a Category 4 hurricane with 140 mph winds, is forecast to erode the ridge by Tuesday, Sept. 30. That will cause Imelda to abruptly turn to the east-northeast and speed up.

Imelda is forecast to become a hurricane within 24 hours, and the centers forecast track indicates it could strike Bermuda on Thursday, Oct. 2, as it moves northeastward. A hurricane watch was hoisted for the island of Bermuda on the afternoon of Sept. 29.

It would be the fourth hurricane of the 2025 hurricane season. A typical season sees roughly seven hurricanes, according to Colorado State University.

Shown offshore on the morning of Sept. 29, 2025, Tropical Storm Imelda and Hurricane Humberto are expected to cause rip currents, rough seas offshore and potentially coastal flooding along portions of the Atlantic coast this week.

What US impacts are expected from Imelda and Humberto?

Both storms are forecast to create rough conditions along beaches and for small vessels offshore.

"Swells and high surf from both Humberto and Imelda are expected to produce dangerous marine conditions and rip currents along the east coast of Florida and the Georgia coast today (Sept. 29)," the hurricane center said. "These conditions are expected to spread northward along much of the east coast of the United States early this week."

The National Weather Service urged caution on Sept. 29 for inexperienced boaters and swimmers at locations along the coast.

As for rainfall, a wide swath of 1-2 inches could fall from far eastern Florida to coastal North Carolina, AccuWeather said. "There can be 2-4 inches of rain from far eastern South Carolina through southeastern portions of North Carolina. Lighter rainfall will extend inland across the Carolinas and southeastern Georgia," according to an email from AccuWeather.

Impacts by state

North Carolina: Along the North Carolina coast, the weather service has issued a coastal flood warning for potential moderate oceanside flooding into Tuesday, Sept. 30. The warning includes Hatteras and Ocracoke islands and eastern Carteret County.

"The greatest potential for impacts will be along the vulnerable portions of Highway 12 on Ocracoke and Hatteras Islands," wrote meteorologist Casey Dail in a Sept. 29 forecast from the weather service office in Morehead City, North Carolina.

"Portions of Hwy 12 may be impassable at times due to the ocean washing over dunes, especially around times of high tide," Dail said. Earlier in September, the flooding caused another home to collapse in Buxton on the Outer Banks, in an eroded area where six homes collapsed in 2024.

Coastal flood advisories have been issued along the remainder of the Outer Banks, and for portions of Pamlico, Craven, Carteret and Onslow counties. Minor coastal flooding also is possible along the sounds, the weather service said.

Tropical Storm Imelda, southeast of Melbourne, Florida, and Hurricane Humberto, right, are seen in the Atlantic on the morning of Sept. 29, 2025 in this NOAA satellite image.

Florida and Georgia: Sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph, with gusts up to 40 mph, are forecast in the coastal counties of Central Florida through early morning on Sept. 30, said the weather service office in Melbourne, Florida. At the beach in the Central Florida coast, the weather service reports rough 6 to 10 foot surf is expected on Sept. 29.

In Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia, dangerous beach and boating conditions, including rip currents, high surf, breezy winds, minor beach erosion and minor tidal flooding, are forecast through the week, the weather service said.

Hurricane watch posted in Bermuda

Imelda is forecast to approach Bermuda by the middle of the week, forecasters warned. A hurricane watch is now in effect for the island of Bermuda due to the expected onset of tropical storm conditions beginning Wednesday Oct. 1 afternoon, the hurricane center said.

"Exactly where it passes Bermuda, a tiny speck in a large blue sea, remains to be seen," said Houston-based meteorologist Matt Lanza in a Substack post Sept. 29.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

Doyle Rice and Dinah Voyles Pulver are national correspondents for USA TODAY, with decades of experience covering hurricanes, weather and climate. Reach them at drice@usatoday.com and dpulver@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tropical Storm Imelda, Hurricane Humberto to churn up coast this week
MAMARONECK, N.Y. , Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Young America Capital ("YAC"), a FINRA/SEC-registered investment bank, announced that it served as the financial advisor to Cloud Carib Limited, a leading provider of sovereign cloud and cybersecurity services, in securing a strategic growth financing facility from Partners for Growth (PFG), a Silicon Valley-based private credit firm.

This financing will support Cloud Carib's regional expansion across the Caribbean and Latin America, bolstering its sovereign cloud, cybersecurity, and managed services for governments and regulated enterprises where data sovereignty and compliance are essential.

"This transaction demonstrates how Young America Capital helps innovative technology companies access the right capital partners to accelerate growth," said Jackson Ritchie, Managing Director at Young America Capital. "Cloud Carib is building a critical platform for digital sovereignty and cybersecurity in the Caribbean and Latin America, and we are honored to support their expansion strategy."

Headquartered in The Bahamas, Cloud Carib has established itself as a trusted partner for sovereign cloud solutions across CARICOM member states and select Latin American markets. With PFG's flexible capital, the company is positioned to scale operations, accelerate product development, and strengthen its leadership in secure digital infrastructure.

"Working with Partners for Growth and executing this facility reinforces Cloud Carib's mission to empower the region with secure, sovereign cloud infrastructure," said Scott Mackenzie, CEO of Cloud Carib. "This investment is more than capital; it's a vote of confidence in The Bahamas and the Caribbean as an investable innovation economy."

Andrew Kahn, Co-Founder and CEO of Partners for Growth, added: "We are pleased to provide Cloud Carib with a flexible capital solution to support its continued expansion. The company has built a resilient platform with a reputation for excellence in cloud and managed services. We look forward to supporting its next stage of growth."

"Advising Cloud Carib on this transaction reflects Young America Capital's deep expertise in the technology sector and our growing track record in advising companies that are driving innovation in digital infrastructure and cybersecurity," added Jackson Ritchie, Managing Director at YAC.

About Young America Capital

Young America Capital is a New York-based investment bank and a FINRA/SIPC-registered broker-dealer. The firm specializes in mergers & acquisitions, growth financing, and strategic advisory for lower middle-market companies across technology, healthcare, real estate, consumer, industrials, renewables, and other sectors.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain forward-looking statements regarding anticipated benefits of the transaction. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Young America Capital does not undertake to update forward-looking statements except as required by law.

Media Contact  Young America Capital

Jackson Ritchie, Managing Director

Young America Capital

Phone: 242-565-6425

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Young America Capital
The federal government officially entered a shutdown at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday amid an impasse on Capitol Hill over competing congressional spending bills.

President Donald Trump and Republicans have cast blame for the shutdown on Democrats' health care demands, while Democrats insist Republicans need to negotiate.

The Trump administration has threatened mass layoffs of some federal workers during the shutdown.

Latest Developments





Oct 1, 12:01 AM

Federal government shutdown begins

The federal government officially entered a shutdown at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday amid an impasse on Capitol Hill over competing congressional spending bills.



A Democratic-backed spending bill that would also extend health care subsidies under the Affordable Care Act and reverse cuts to Medicaid failed in a last-ditch vote on Tuesday.



A GOP-backed stopgap bill that would have funded the government for the next seven weeks also fell short of the needed 60 votes just hours ahead of the deadline.

Andrew Caballero-reynolds/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: US-POLITICS-CONGRESS-SHUTDOWN

President Donald Trump and Republicans have cast blame for the shutdown on Democrats' health care demands, while Democrats insist Republicans need to negotiate.



As the clock ticked toward a funding lapse, White House Office of Management and Budget told federal agencies to begin preparing their plans for an "orderly shutdown."



An estimated 750,000 federal workers could be furloughed each day the federal government remains closed, according to the Congressional Budget Office. While many workers deemed essential -- such as air traffic controllers, airport security officers and some members of the military -- will remain on the job, they will not be paid until after the shutdown ends.



The Trump administration has threatened mass layoffs of some federal workers during the shutdown.

Sep 30, 9:39 PM

Schumer blames Republicans for impending shutdown, urges negotiations on health care

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer urged Republicans to come to the negotiating table after the upper chamber failed to pass a measure to avert a government shutdown that is now just hours away.



"We want to sit down and negotiate, but the Republicans can't do it in their partisan way, where they just say it's our way or the highway," Schumer said at a news conference following Senate votes Tuesday night.



Pressed on what the Democrats' strategy is to get Republicans to negotiate, Schumer said, "The strategy is the American people are demanding it and are going to demand it more and more on Oct. 1 [and] Oct. 2."

Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters - PHOTO: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks to the members of the media during a press conference, following Senate Democrats weekly policy lunch on Capitol Hill in Washington, September 30, 2025.





Schumer rehashed the failed votes on the Senate floor -- placing the blame on Republicans who "have failed to get enough votes to avoid a shutdown."



Asked if he can guarantee with 100% certainty that the GOP's short-term continuing resolution would not reach 60 votes in another round of votes, Schumer carefully responded, saying, "Look, the bottom line is, as I said, our guarantee is to the American people that we're going to fight as hard as we can for their health care, plain and simple."



He said the GOP-backed seven-week stopgap measure is "totally partisan" because "there was no input from Democrats."



Schumer stood firm on Democrats health care demands, calling for extending Affordable Care Act subsidies and reversing Medicaid cuts.



"The bottom line is, we need to stop these premiums from going up dramatically. We need to do it now, not in October, when people get the notices; not in November, when they have to decide whether to drop health care or reduce the health care they get," he said.



-ABC News' Lauren Peller

Sep 30, 9:39 PM

Thune says Republicans on the hunt for more Democrats to support short-term funding bill

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Republicans are now on the hunt for a few additional Democrats to support their "clean," short-term funding bill after three Democrats defected during a vote on the GOP-backed measure earlier Tuesday.



Sens. John Fetterman, Catherine Cortez Masto and Angus King (an independent who caucuses with Democrats) voted with Republicans on a short-term funding bill aimed at keeping the government open for seven more weeks.





Alex Wroblewski/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: Senate Majority Leader John Thune speaks during a press conference, following Senate Republican weekly policy lunch, hours before a partial government shutdown is set to take effect, on Capitol Hill in Washington, September 30, 2025.





Speaking at a press conference Tuesday night, Thune said he intends to bring that bill forward for a vote again on Wednesday -- and he said he believes more Democrats might be willing to support it.



"There are others out there, I think, who don't want to shut down the government but who are being put in a position by their leadership that should make them -- ought to make all of them -- very uncomfortable," Thune said. "So we'll see."



Republican Sen. Rand Paul voted against the Republican bill. But with the multiple Democratic defections, Thune said Republicans will continue their efforts to get enough Democrats on board to pass the short-term funding bill.



Thune said Senate Republicans need eight Democrats total to vote for the measure to ensure passage.



"We are going to have some more votes and we will see where the Democrats come down. I hope we have enough to change their minds and we can keep this government open and responsive to the American people," Thune said.



-ABC News' Allison Pecorin



Sep 30, 9:09 PM

Senate adjourns with federal government on track to shut down

The Senate adjourned for the night Tuesday -- with no remaining paths to keep the government open past 12:01 a.m. Wednesday.



The Senate is expected to vote again on Wednesday, likely on the same two measures that failed Tuesday -- a seven-week stopgap bill backed by Republicans and a Democratic-backed bill that extends Affordable Care Act subsidies.



Neither bill got the required 60 votes to pass.



-ABC News' Allison Pecorin



Sep 30, 8:35 PM

White House budget office tells federal agencies to begin carrying out plans for 'orderly shutdown'

With a government shutdown now appearing all but inevitable following two failed votes in the Senate on Tuesday, White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought is telling federal agencies they "should now execute their plans for an orderly shutdown."

Government funding is set to lapse at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday.



In a memo to the heads of federal agencies and departments, Vought cast blame on Democratic senators for the impending shutdown, writing that they are blocking a "clean" continuing resolution to fund the government.



"It is unclear how long Democrats will maintain their untenable posture, making the duration of the shutdown difficult to predict, Vought wrote. "Regardless, employees should report to work for their next regularly scheduled tour of duty to undertake orderly shutdown activities."

Vought said he would issue another memo indicating that government functions should resume once President Donald Trump signs an appropriations bill.

-ABC News' Hannah Demissie and Meghan Mistry

Sep 30, 7:31 PM

Republican funding bill fails in the Senate

The seven-week stopgap funding measure supported by Republicans was rejected by the Senate by a vote of 55-45, all but guaranteeing the government will shut down at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday.

Democrats mostly hung together to deny the 60 votes necessary to keep the government funded as they continue to say that any funding solution most include health care-related provisions. But several Democrats did cross party lines and voted in favor of the clean funding bill.



Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images - PHOTO: The U.S. Capitol is seen behind a barricade, September 30, 2025 in Washington.



Democratic Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto and John Fetterman voted for the bill, as did Sen. Angus King, an independent who caucuses with Democrats.



Sen. Rand Paul was the only Republican to vote against the bill.

-ABC News Allison Pecorin

Sep 30, 6:57 PM

Democratic funding bill fails in the Senate









The Democratic funding bill that included health care provisions failed by a vote of 47-53. It needed 60 votes to pass. All Democrats voted for it and all Republicans voted against it.



The Senate is taking up the seven-week clean House-passed funding bill that Republicans support, which also needs 60 votes to pass and is also expected to fail.



-ABC News Allison Pecorin

Sep 30, 6:56 PM

Trump says layoffs during shutdown are going to be Democrats

Trump was asked Tuesday afternoon why people in the government would be laid off during a shutdown when the federal workforce has already undergone a reduction through cuts made by the Department of Government Efficiency.



Trump reinforced that people will be laid off during the shutdown and placed blame on Democrats, again falsely claiming that Democrats want certain health care guarantees for immigrants without legal status.





Nathan Howard/Reuters - PHOTO: President Donald Trump sits in the Oval office to sign an executive order, at the White House, Sept. 30, 2025.





Well, the Democrats want to shut it down. So, when you shut it down, you have to do layoffs. So, we'd be laying off a lot of people that are going to be very affected. And the Democrats, they're going to be Democrats, Trump said.



As you know, we -- this country, no country, can afford to pay for illegal immigration, health care for everybody that comes into the country. And that's what they're insisting. And obviously, I have an obligation to not accept that -- that would affect everybody, Trump said.



-ABC News Hannah Demissie

Sep 30, 5:59 PM

Bondi pens memo to DOJ staff blaming possible shutdown on Dems

Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a memo to staff of the Justice Department Tuesday, placing blame on Democrats for any potential government shutdown that she says could result in some of DOJ's activities coming to a halt.



"Unfortunately, Democrats are blocking [the] Continuing Resolution in the U.S. Senate due to unrelated policy demands," Bondi said in the memo. "If Congressional Democrats maintain their current posture and refuse to pass a clean Continuing Resolution to keep the government funded before 12:00 a.m. On Oct. 1, 2025, federal appropriated funding will lapse."



Bondi noted the department has existing contingency plans in place in the event a shutdown occurs and informed applicable employees to be on the lookout in the event they are temporarily furloughed.



The department has previously said civil litigation activities could be curtailed or "postponed" as a result of a shutdown -- and operations such as training of employees and work in offices not involving national security, law enforcement or criminal justice system responsibilities could also be impacted.



-ABC News' Alexander Mallin

Sep 30, 5:13 PM

Trump says he's close to finalizing a deal with Harvard

Trump told reporters that his administration was close to finalizing a deal with Harvard University, which would include the university paying $500 million and operating trade schools.

Nathan Howard/Reuters - PHOTO: President Donald Trump sits in the Oval office to sign an executive order, at the White House, Sept. 30, 2025.

"This would be a giant trade school, a series of trade schools. It would be run by Harvard," he added.



Harvard and the Department of Education did not immediately have a comment.



-ABC News' Hannah Demissie

Click here to read the rest of the blog.
Members of the media try to ask questions as US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shake hands at a joint press conference at the White House on Monday. - Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

President Donald Trump emerged from talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday declaring an end to the war in Gaza was closer than ever after Netanyahu agreed to a 20-point plan laying out the parameters of a ceasefire.

The proposal, which Trump unveiled publicly for the first time, still requires sign-off from Hamas. And there are a number of provisions contained in the plan which the terror group has previously rejected.

Still, Trump appeared hopeful that after nearly two years of war, an end to the conflict  which has left tens of thousands dead and Gaza in ruins  may be at hand.

I think we are beyond very close, Trump said at the start of an appearance with Netanyahu in the White House State Dining Room. Were not quite finished. We have to get Hamas.

The plan calls for the release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas  both alive and dead  within 72 hours of Israel publicly accepting the agreement, meaning the clock is already ticking for the group to agree.

Both Trump and Netanyahu warned of sharp consequences if Hamas turns down the proposal.

I hope that were going to have a deal for peace, and if Hamas rejects the deal, which is always possible - theyre the only one left, everyone else has accepted it - but I have a feeling that were going to have a positive answer, Trump said during statements at the White House.

If Hamas rejects your plan, Mr. President, or if they supposedly accept it and then do everything to counter it, then Israel will finish the job by itself, Netanyahu said. This can be done the easy way or it can be done the hard way, but it will be done.

Trump said Israel would have his full backing to continue going after Hamas if the group rejects the deal.

Neither man took questions at the conclusion of their appearance, saying it would be better to wait until the plan was finalized and agreed to by all parties.

Tanks move inside Gaza, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, on September 22 - Maya Levin/AFP/Getty Images

While there has yet to be a response from Hamas, another Palestinian militant group, Islamic Jihad, condemned the Trump plan, warning it was a recipe for regional explosion and continued aggression against the Palestinian people.

The groups Secretary-General Ziyad al-Nakhalah said Israel was trying to achieve what it had been unable to during the war through the US plan.

The families forum, representing families of the hostages taken by Hamas in the October 7 attacks, urged the Israeli government to move forward  toward completing this agreement, saying it was now or never. The group has been openly critical of Netanyahu and have accused him of sabotage and being an obstacle to ending the war.

Trumps push for a deal

An agreement to end the nearly two-year war in Gaza would amount to a major diplomatic victory for Trump, who has openly campaigned for a Nobel Peace Prize and had grown increasingly frustrated at his inability to end the war. It could also  in the view of American officials  unlock a broader plan that would transform the Middle East, potentially opening the door to the expansion of the Abraham Accords that saw Israel normalize relations with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. The agreements were the signature foreign policy accomplishment of Trumps first term in office.

Ahead of Mondays announcement, Trump had been publicly projecting confidence an agreement was at hand, even as Netanyahu stopped short of endorsing the proposal. Were working on it, Netanyahu said over the weekend. Its not been finalized yet. White House officials described the proposal as the best plan Israel or Hamas could expect.

The Trump administrations renewed push for a ceasefire in Gaza comes as a number of Western countries recognized a Palestinian state at last weeks United Nations General Assembly.

A previous plan circulated by the administration in recent days called for the release of all 48 remaining hostages  20 of whom are believed to still be alive  in exchange for an end to the war and a phased withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. That plan, like the one released Monday, denied Hamas any future role in the governance of Gaza, instead calling for two levels of interim governance: an international body and a Palestinian committee.

The Monday plan describes the international body as being called the Board of Peace, chaired by Trump, with other members and heads of State to be announced, including Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Trump said it wasnt his decision to head up the body  Believe me, Im very busy, he said  but said that he agreed to it anyway.

The leaders of the Arab world and Israel and everybody involved asked me to do this, he said.

The last round of negotiations in late-July, which were also marked by significant optimism, fell apart when the US surprisingly withdrew from the talks, followed closely by Israel. Both countries blamed Hamas for not negotiating in good faith.

For months, Trump has grown exasperated at Netanyahus resistance to ending the war, and his expanding military operations in the Middle East, White House officials said. Once confident his personal relationship with Netanyahu would push the Israeli leader toward a resolution, Trump has wondered aloud in recent months whether he was being played by a man hes described as a friend.

A picture taken from a distance shows a damaged building in Qatar, left, in the compound housing members of Palestinian militant group Hamas's political bureau. It was targeted the previous day by an Israeli strike on September 10. - AFP/Getty Images

Those sentiments deepened when Israel launched strikes in the Qatari capital Doha to eliminate Hamas leaders earlier this month. Trump was furious at the operation, worrying it could stymie efforts to mediate an end to the war, especially days after the Trump administration had put forward a previous ceasefire proposal, people familiar with the matter said. On Monday, before Trump and Netanyahus announcement, Netanyahu expressed his deep regret in a phone call with Qatars prime minister that the strike killed a Qatari serviceman, according to the White House.

Yet Trump so far has stopped short of a public break with Netanyahu, and he has not withheld the US military or financial support for Israel that could act as leverage with his counterpart.

Trump has been openly optimistic about a ceasefire before, predicting several times that a cessation of hostilities was just a few days or a week away. But until now, his predictions have not come to fruition, and the war has continued unabated.

Netanyahus far-right allies, Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have threatened to topple the Israeli government if the war ends and the Trump proposal includes provisions they have previously said they oppose.

Before the announcement, Smotrich issued a list of non-negotiable demands, including that the Palestinian Authority (PA) have no involvement in Gaza. The Trump plan, however, says control of Gaza would return to the PA after it undertakes a program of reform.

Netanyahu was set to speak to both men on Monday evening and is expected to tell them he is skeptical Hamas will accept the proposal, allowing Israel to continue the war, an Israeli source told CNN.

Gaza City assault continues

In August, Israels security cabinet approved the takeover and occupation of Gaza City, which Netanyahu said was one of Hamas last remaining strongholds.

The massive military assault on Gazas largest urban area crushed hopes of an imminent end to the war.

Displaced Palestinians move south with their belongings on a road in the Nuseirat refugee camp area in central Gaza on September 20. - Eyad Baba/AFP/Getty Images

This month, an independent UN inquiry concluded for the first time that Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, a finding that echoes those of other genocide experts and human rights groups, but which the Israeli government has rejected.

More than 66,000 Palestinians have been killed since the beginning of the war, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, including more than 17,000 children. In the attack that ignited the war on October 7, 2023, Hamas and other militant groups killed approximately 1,200 people in Israel and kidnapped more than 250 others.

Since then, there have been only two ceasefires. The first truce came into effect in November 2023, but lasted only a week. In that time, 105 hostages were released from Gaza, in exchange for scores of Palestinian prisoners.

A second ceasefire was not struck until January 2025, shortly before Trumps return to the White House. In just over eight weeks  the first phase of the ceasefire  Hamas freed 33 hostages, with Israel releasing around 50 Palestinian prisoners for every Israeli freed.

Under the planned second stage, Israel was supposed to agree to a permanent ceasefire. But Israel resumed its offensive on March 18, shattering the ceasefire and derailing the talks, saying it did so to pressure Hamas to release the remaining hostages.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
U.S. President Donald Trump arrives on stage during a celebration n honor of the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army on June 10, 2025, in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Credit - Melissa Sue GerritsGetty Images

President Donald Trump will speak at a rare meeting of top generals called by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for Tuesday, adding a political dimension to the event at a time when he is facing criticism for making unprecedented use of the U.S. military for domestic purposes.

Hegseth summoned hundreds of generals and admirals with little notice from around the world for the gathering at the Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia, this week, causing alarm in the ranks.

It is not unusual for top military leaders to hold meetings, but experts have described the hastily-called gathering of all generals from around the world as almost unprecedented. Trump's attendance makes the event even more out of the ordinary.

Here's what we know about the meeting.

Trump is a late addition

Trump appeared to have been taken by surprise by the gathering when asked about it on Thursday by reporters in the Oval Office, when news of it first broke. But he spoke of it approvingly, nonetheless.

Let him be friendly with the generals and admirals from all over the world, Trump said of the meeting. You act like this is a bad thing. Isnt it nice that people are coming from all over the world to be with us?

Sometime between Thursday and Sunday, Trump decided that he wanted to attend the gathering.

Its really just a very nice meeting talking about how well were doing militarily, talking about being in great shape, talking about a lot of good, positive things. Its just a good message, Trump said in an interview with NBC News on Sunday.

We have some great people coming in and its just an esprit de corps. You know the expression esprit de corps? Thats all its about. Were talking about what were doing, what theyre doing, and how were doing, he said.

Trump has received criticism for politicizing the military in the past. He delivered a highly political speech in June to a crowd of uniformed soldiers at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, in which he attacked his predecessor, Joe Biden, and "radical left lunatic" politicians.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment from TIME.

'Warrior ethos'

Hegseth's announcement initially caused concern that a shake-up was forthcoming.

The former Fox News contributor has been outspoken about his intention to reshape the U.S. military by cutting costs and focusing on what he characterizes as "lethality." In previous speeches, he has expressed his desire for the military to "leave wokeness and weakness behind."

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed the meeting in a statement on Thursday, saying that Hegseth would be addressing his senior military leaders early next week, without offering additional details. The order applied to senior commanders of the one-star rank or higher, and their top advisers.

The Washington Post, which first reported the gathering, later reported that the purpose of the meeting was for the generals to hear Hegseth deliver a speech on military standards and the warrior ethos.

A backdrop of concern

The meeting comes amid concern over Trump's increasing use of the military for domestic purposes in his second term. In recent months, he has deployed troops to cities across the country, raising concerns about the stifling of dissent against his unpopular government.

Trump announced on Saturday that he had directed the Pentagon to send troops to protect Portland, Oregon, adding that he was authorizing full force, if necessary.

At the request of Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, I am directing Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to provide all necessary Troops to protect War ravaged Portland, and any of our ICE Facilities under siege from attack by Antifa, and other domestic terrorists, Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social on Saturday morning.

Read more: What It Means for Trump to Label Antifa a Major Terrorist Organization

In June, Trump deployed 2,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles to quell immigration protestsa move that was later deemed illegal by a federal judge. Then in August, he deployed the National Guard and federal agencies to Washington, D.C., and federalized the police force ostensibly to combat crime, even as crime had been falling in recent years.

Since then, Trump has threatened to deploy the military to several more Democratic-run cities in retaliation for criticism from local leaders, justifying the deployments based on his own perception of crime in those cities.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
FILE - Houthi fighters march during a rally of support for the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and against the U.S. strikes on Yemen outside Sanaa on Jan. 22, 2024. (AP Photo, File)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  A missile attack by Yemens Houthi rebels set a Dutch-flagged cargo ship ablaze in the Gulf of Aden on Monday, officials said, wounding two mariners and forcing its crew to abandon the damaged vessel.

It was the most serious attack in the Gulf of Aden, some distance from the Red Sea where the Iranian-backed Houthis sank two vessels in July.

While the rebels did not claim the assault on the Minervagracht, they had threatened to strike ships as part of their campaign over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip, particularly as Israel squeezes in on Gaza City in a new ground offensive. Meanwhile, the Mideast also remains on edge after the United Nations reimposed sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program.

The Minervagracht had been targeted on Sept. 23 in an unsuccessful attack in the Gulf of Aden, which connects to the Red Sea via the Bab el-Mandeb Strait separating East Africa from the Arabian Peninsula. On Monday, a missile launch seen by some in Yemen apparently struck the Minervagracht.

Spliethoff, the ship's owner, described the strike as inflicting substantial damage to the ship. A helicopter evacuated the ship's 19 crew members, of which two were wounded, it added.

A European naval force operating in the region, known as Operation Aspides, said early Tuesday that the Minervagracht is on fire and adrift after the crew's rescue. It identified the ship's crew as coming from the Philippines, Russia, Sri Lanka and Ukraine, with one wounded and stable and another severely wounded and airlifted to Djibouti for medical care.

The French militarys Maritime Information, Cooperation and Awareness Center identified the Houthis as carrying out the attack.

The Houthis wait hours and even days to claim their assaults and have not yet done so.

The rebels have launched missile and drone attacks on over 100 ships and on Israel in response to the war in Gaza, saying they were acting in solidarity with the Palestinians.

However, the group's past targets have had little or no connection to Israel. The U.S. Navy-overseen Joint Maritime Information Center earlier said that the Minervagracht had no Israeli affiliations.

The Houthi attack widens the area of the rebels' recent assaults, as the last recorded attack on a commercial vessel in the Gulf of Aden before the Minervagracht came in August 2024.

Their attacks over the past two years have upended shipping in the Red Sea, through which about $1 trillion of goods passed each year before the war.

The Houthis stopped their attacks during a brief ceasefire in the war. They later became the target of an intense weekslong campaign of airstrikes ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump before he declared a ceasefire had been reached with the rebels. The Houthis sank two vessels in July, killing at least four on board, with others believed to be held by the rebels. They sank two others earlier in the campaign.

___

Associated Press writer Mike Corder in The Hague, Netherlands, contributed to this report.
The YouTube app logo is seen on a smartphone in this illustration

(Reuters) -Alphabet-owned YouTube has agreed to pay $24.5 million to settle a lawsuit that U.S. President Donald Trump brought against the company over the suspension of his account following the January 2021 U.S. Capitol riots, a court filing showed on Monday.

The deal makes Google the last of the three big tech companies to resolve lawsuits Trump brought in July 2021 accusing them of unlawfully silencing conservative viewpoints.

Trump had also sued Twitter, now known as X, and Facebook owner Meta , as well as Alphabet's Google, and their chief executives in July 2021.

Meta and X agreed earlier this year to pay to settle the lawsuits.

Under the YouTube settlement, $22 million will be paid on Trump's behalf to the Trust for the National Mall, a nonprofit that the filing says is dedicated to the construction of a $200 million ballroom that Trump is building at the White House.

Work on the 90,000-square-foot (8361.27 square meters) facility is expected to be completed "long before" Trump's four-year term ends in January 2029.

The remaining amount will go to other plaintiffs in the case, including the American Conservative Union, which sponsors the Conservative Political Action Conference, and U.S. author Naomi Wolf.

YouTube did not admit wrongdoing and will not make product or policy changes under the settlement.

Trump did not lose his YouTube account in 2021 but was suspended from uploading new videos; it was restored in 2023.

In January, Meta agreed to pay about $25 million and X paid about $10 million in February to settle similar lawsuits by Trump.

Meta's settlement designated $22 million for a fund for Trump's upcoming presidential library in Miami, Florida.

(Reporting by Deborah Sophia in Bengaluru and Juby Babu in Mexico City; Editing by Tasim Zahid)
U.S. President Donald Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung talk to reporters before an Oval Office meeting at the White House on Aug. 25. (Chip SomodevillaGetty Images)

President Donald Trumps demand that Seoul hand over $350 billion in cash could devastate South Koreas financial markets and economy.

In July, Korea agreed to invest $350 billion in the U.S., in exchange for Washington setting a 15% tariff rate. But not all the details were spelled out at the time, and both sides have been in negotiations to finalize the deal, with tensions ramping up lately.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has insisted Korea abide by terms similar to what Japan accepted, including the transfer of cash soon after investment projects get U.S. approval.

But earlier this month, President Lee Jae-myung told Reuters such requirements would trigger a calamity similar to the one that eventually required an International Monetary Fund bailout.

Without a currency swap, if we were to withdraw $350 billion 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.

Thats because Korea has foreign exchange reserves of $410 billion, and its currency isnt a mainstay on global financial markets like Japans yen, meaning a sudden transfer of $350 billion in cash to the U.S. would send the won into a tailspin.

A swap line between the Bank of Korea and the Federal Reserve would provide Seoul with dollar liquidity that would help avoid jolting foreign-exchange markets.

Korea has also pointed to major differences with Japan and why the terms of Tokyos $550 billion investment pledge shouldnt be applied in the same way. For instance, Japan has more than triple Koreas currency reserves at $1.3 trillion. The yen is also a much more international currency, accounting for 17% global market share versus just 2% for the won.

But Lees warning didnt sway Trump, who said on Thursday Korea must pay the money upfront. Over the weekend, Koreas national security advisor reiterated the inability to meet U.S. demands.

Our position is not a negotiating tactic. It is objectively and realistically not a level we are able to handle, Wi Sung-lac said in an interview with Korean media. We are not able to pay $350 billion in cash.

Trumps hard-line stance on the trade deal adds further strain to bilateral ties after U.S. immigration agents raided a Hyundai plant in Georgia earlier this month and arrested hundreds of Korean workers who were helping get the factory ready for production.

Trump has since said he didnt want the raid to frighten off foreign investment in the U.S., and a State Department official expressed regret over the detention of the workers.

Still, people in Korea were outraged, especially as the raid came days after Lee met Trump at the White House and appeared to have a successful visit. For his part, Lee didnt blame Trump.

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, he told Reuters.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
For more than a century, the United States and the United Kingdom have been amongst the most influential nations in finance, working together to create the playbook for global trade and markets. Today, that partnership is entering a new phase as both countries commit to closer cooperation on digital assetsa gambit that could further entrench Washington and London at the vanguard of global finance, even as hubs like Singapore and Dubai emerge as formidable challengers.

This latest U.S.-UK tie-up comes via the recent creation of the Transatlantic Taskforce for Markets of the Future, which calls for joint recommendations on digital assets and capital markets within six months. The new body signals that the countries recognize that alignmentnot isolationis critical at a time when the likes of Singapore, Dubai and others are already seeing the financial and economic benefits of an inclusive approach to crypto regulation.

The new taskforce brings together both banks and crypto firms, underscoring how central digital assets have become to the future of markets. Stablecoins, blockchain infrastructure, and programmable digital securities are no longer fringe concepts. They are fast becoming the backbone of 21st-century financial innovation.

Why This Matters Now

The US and UK are at pivotal moments. In the US, Congress is advancing legislation to establish a stablecoin and digital asset framework. In the UK, the Financial Conduct Authority and Bank of England are designing rules under FSMA 2023, laying the groundwork for robust regimes around stablecoins and distributed ledgers.

Legislators and regulators in both countries are in rare bipartisan agreement on the benefits of crypto and blockchain. The fact that President Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent are engaging on the issue underscores their belief in how critical this technology will be. Likewise, Englands main financial regulatorsthe Financial Conduct Authority and Bank of Englandas well as Chancellor Reeves are actively creating regulatory frameworks and working groups. They have even taken the step of allowing at least six major banks to launch pilot programs for tokenized crypto deposits, while increasing collaboration with highly regulated markets like Singapore to assess the impact crypto can have on global trade.

By aligning now, both countries can set a global precedent  encouraging others to work across borders to build a more efficient, accessible, and stable financial system. This is not just about economics. It is about ensuring the next generation of payments and infrastructure are efficient, secure, and widely available.

Recent discussions about joint digital sandboxes and shared oversight show how practical cooperation can take shape. Just as the UKs Faster Payments System redefined real-time settlement, and Wall Street pioneered financial instruments that reshaped markets, a joint effort on stablecoins and digital currencies could anchor the next era of global innovation.

I write this as someone who has spent the past decade building OKX into one of the worlds largest regulated crypto exchanges, with licensed operations across the US, EU, Middle East, and Asia. From this vantage point, I see how quickly digital assets are moving from the periphery of finance into the mainstream.

History shows that financial leadership is sustained by openness to innovation. Properly regulated stablecoins and robust blockchain infrastructure are not threats to systemic stability; they are the new building blocks of trust in the digital economy. Both the US and UK already recognize this.

The opportunity is huge when it comes to stablecoins. Properly regulated, they create a bridge between traditional money and blockchain-based systems, offering trust at the core while unlocking efficiency at the edges.

In the US, proposed legislation mandates 1:1 fiat reserves. In the UK, regulators are moving toward high-quality backing requirements, though final rules remain under consultation. Stablecoins could become a reliable medium of exchange once these regimes are live. More importantly, by operating on blockchains, they can dramatically lower the cost of remittances, payroll, and B2B trade  giving companies of all sizes greater liquidity and competitiveness.

Digital ledger technology is the foundation of this transformation. Its transparency and interoperability can reduce risk in clearing and settlement, improve auditability, and give regulators better tools for oversight. Together, stablecoins and blockchain infrastructure could reinvigorate financial systems in both countries, ensuring they remain leaders in the future of global finance.

Chancellor Reeves and Treasury Secretary Bessent have laid out an aggressive 180-day sprint to identify the first areas of crypto collaboration. I, for one, look forward to the findings. If London and Washington succeed, the entire world stands to benefit.

Star Xu is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of crypto exchange OKX, and a frequent commentator on how crypto and digital finance can strengthen transparency, efficiency, and competitiveness in the global economy.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Getty; Fayette County Sheriff's Office School bus (stock image); suspect Glenroy Miller

NEED TO KNOW

A child may have saved their mothers life after slipping a note to a bus driver that read, Call 911

The bus driver alerted authorities, who then visited the childs home and found that the mother had allegedly been assaulted and was being held against her will

A suspect has since been arrested and charged

A child in Iowa may have saved their mothers life after passing a note to a school bus driver that read, Call 911.

The student passed the note to the driver just before 7:30 a.m. local time on Wednesday, Sept. 24, according to the Fayette County Sheriffs Office (FCSO), per News 13, ABC 6 and CBS 2. The driver alerted authorities, and police then went to a home in Westgate, a rural area of the county, to investigate, per News 13 and ABC 6.

Upon arriving at the home, police found that the childs mother was allegedly being held against her will by 29-year-old Glenroy Miller of the Bahamas.

Miller is accused of having assaulted the woman several times throughout the night, kicking her with enough force to break two ribs and puncture her lung, per News 13.

Fayette County Sheriff's Office Glenroy Miller

Authorities also said the mother was unable to call for help in front of the suspect, so she wrote a note on a piece of paper and gave it to her child, per News 13 and CBS 2.

The child is currently in first grade, according to a legal complaint obtained by News 13.

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.

Miller was arrested that morning, per Fayette County public arrest records.

He has been charged with armed kidnapping, willful injury, domestic abuse assault with the intent to inflict serious injuries and obstruction of emergency communications, according to public court records.

Miller is currently being held on a $1,500 bond, public arrest records show. He is also being detained through Immigration and Customs Enforcement, per News 13 and CBS 2.

Read the original article on People
KTVQ News Cody Boehm

NEED TO KNOW

On Sunday, Sept. 21, Cody Boehm was struck by a falling boulder while rock climbing with friends in Montana

He was rushed to Billings Clinic with significant injuries, including a broken collarbone and ribs, as well as a collapsed lung and a large back laceration

"Your helmet will save your life no matter what," Boehm said, per local news outlet KTVQ

An experienced rock climber is recovering in the hospital after being struck by a large rock before he even started ascending.

On Sunday, Sept. 21, Cody Boehm was talking with friends at Confluence Crag in Montana when he was hit by a rock from 50 feet above, according to local news outlets KTVQ and NBC Montana.

The microwave-sized boulder had been dislodged when one of his friends stepped on a ledge, the outlets reported.

The impact broke Boehms collarbone and seven of his ribs and collapsed his right lung, according to the outlets. He was also left with multiple fractures and a large back laceration.

"I definitely knew my right side was broke," Boehm told KTVQ. "I was feeling like I wasn't going to make it. There was a point there where I was like, this is bad."

Red Lodge Fire Rescue/Facebook Red Lodge Fire Rescue

Boehm was kept awake by a friend who applied pressure to his wounds, while another called for help. Due to the challenging terrain, the Red Lodge Fire Rescue, search and rescue teams, and the Custer Gallatin National Forest Beartooth Ranger District were all needed to safely extract Boehm from the scene of the accident.



He was significantly injured," Dr. Gordon Riha recalled of Boehms arrival at Billings Clinic, per KTVQ. "Personnel who were involved in Cody's care deserve significant praise and a lot of kudos.

They went above and beyond with their extraction from a very difficult location, and then they provided lifesaving care on the way to the hospital, he added.

Dr. Riha told KTVQ that Boehm wouldve likely sustained life-threatening injuries if he werent wearing a helmet at the time the boulder struck him.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Now that he's recovering in the hospital, Boehm is already looking forward to returning to rock climbing.

"Your helmet will save your life no matter what," Boehm said, per KTVQ. "That's what saved my life. It hit me in the head. If I didn't have my helmet on, I wouldn't be here today."

In a Facebook post about the accident, Boehm's friend TaylorRae Seal wrote, "Thank you, Lord. Love you brother!"

"Omg!! Im so glad you are ok!" added Jamie Rosin, to which Boehm replied: "Thank you, Im doing good."

Red Lodge Fire Rescue and the Custer Gallatin National Forest Beartooth Ranger District did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment on Monday, Sept. 29.

Read the original article on People
The suspect, Nigel Edge, faces murder, attempted murder and assault charges in the Saturday night shooting. (WECT)

A 40-year-old Marine veteran who pulled up to a waterfront North Carolina bar by boat fatally shot three people Saturday night, authorities say, shattering the peaceful atmosphere of a community rarely touched by violent crime.

Out-of-towners were enjoying the warm weather and music on an outdoor deck at the American Fish Company in Southport, a small and tranquil city near the mouth of the Cape Fear River, when gunshots rang out. Eight people were injured and at least one victim is now clinging for their life, Jon David, district attorney for North Carolinas Judicial District 5, said at a Sunday morning news conference.

Nigel Edge, who received a Purple Heart for his service in Iraq, was arrested Sunday and charged with three counts of first-degree murder, five counts of attempted first-degree murder and five counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, Southport Police Chief Todd Coring said Sunday. Police think Edge acted alone and said the attack was highly premeditated. CNN is working to identify whether Edge has an attorney.

Additional charges are still possible, Coring said. Edge was taken into custody when the US Coast Guard encountered his boat after the attack, according to Oak Island Police Chief Charles A. Morris II.

The shooting in a small, idyllic waterfront community adds to the growing list of bars, restaurants, shopping centers, schools and other venues in the US generally thought of as safe that have experienced gun violence. There have been at least 324 mass shootings  defined as when at least four people are shot, not including the shooter  in the US so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

Evil has come ashore in Southport, North Carolina, David said, describing the community as a place where violent crime is virtually nonexistent.

The attack is one of two mass shootings allegedly committed by Iraq War veterans over the weekend. Just a little over 12 hours after the North Carolina shooting, another Marine veteran, Thomas Jacob Sanford, drove his car into a chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan, and then opened fire, according to police. Two people were fatally shot and eight injured. Sanford, who then set a fire that grew into a large blaze, was killed at the scene.

How the shooting unfolded

Just before 9:30 p.m., a boat approached the bar and the sole person onboard opened fire, city public information officer ChyAnn Ketchum said in a news release. The shooter then fled toward the nearby Intracoastal Waterway, heading in the direction of the neighboring community of Oak Island, North Carolina.

Many of the victims of the shooting appear to have been visiting Southport on vacation, David said. The shooting unfolded at a waterfront deck, where people were just enjoying live music under the stars, he said.

The thread that connects everyone whos a victim in this case to this point just appears to be a love of having a good time and enjoying all that Southport has to offer, he said.

David said the victims may be publicly identified Monday, after their families are notified.

It was a very chaotic scene when police arrived, Coring said.

Im heartbroken by the shooting last night in Southport that tragically took three lives and injured others, North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein said in a statement. He said he and his wife pray for their families and friends. I have been in touch with state and local law enforcement, and the state will provide any support needed.

Southport is a small but strong community. May we all come together to support them as they heal from this horrific shooting, Stein said.

Suspect was known to police

The suspect is an Oak Island resident and was known to police, Morris, the police chief, said. Edge had filed several lawsuits against the town and the police department in the past years, according to Morris.

Edge was a sergeant who served in the Marines from 2003 to 2009, a United States Marines Corps spokesperson told CNN. He deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom, the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

He received a variety of awards for his service, including a Purple Heart  awarded to service members who suffer wounds in combat  and a Humanitarian Service Medal, the spokesperson said. His last assignment was in Wounded Warrior Battalion East, a North Carolina center that supports injured Marines.

Nigel Edge, pictured in this mugshot, received several awards for his service in the Marines. - City of Southport

Edge  who had changed his name from Sean DeBevoise  was featured in local news articles that discussed his service and his road to recovery from the injuries he sustained.

In the past several years, Edge had filed a string of civil lawsuits with rambling, sometimes conspiratorial claims. One lawsuit against the Department of Veteran Affairs was filed September 24, less than a week before the shooting.

Edge is set to appear in court on Monday. Hes being held without bond, according to the district attorney.

A motive has not been determined, but there is no known further credible threat to the public, the city release said.

Southport is located near the mouth of the Cape Fear River, roughly 30 miles south of Wilmington.

This story has been updated with additional information.

CNNs Dianne Gallagher contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Blog Archive: Dec 2025 (46) Nov 2025 (141) Oct 2025 (153) Sep 2025 (149) Aug 2025 (154) Jul 2025 (155) Jun 2025 (150) May 2025 (155) Apr 2025 (9) Mar 2025 (149) Feb 2025 (139) Jan 2025 (155) Dec 2024 (144) Nov 2024 (143) Oct 2024 (155) Sep 2024 (149) Aug 2024 (155) Jul 2024 (155) Jun 2024 (150) May 2024 (153) Apr 2024 (149) Mar 2024 (155) Feb 2024 (145) Jan 2024 (155) Dec 2023 (155) Nov 2023 (150) Oct 2023 (155) Sep 2023 (150) Aug 2023 (155) Jul 2023 (155) Jun 2023 (150) May 2023 (155) Apr 2023 (150) Mar 2023 (155) Feb 2023 (140) Jan 2023 (155) Dec 2022 (156) Nov 2022 (150) Oct 2022 (155) Sep 2022 (150) Aug 2022 (155) Jul 2022 (154) Jun 2022 (150) May 2022 (155) Apr 2022 (150) Mar 2022 (155) Feb 2022 (140) Jan 2022 (156) Dec 2021 (156) Nov 2021 (150) Oct 2021 (155) Sep 2021 (150) Aug 2021 (155) Jul 2021 (155) Jun 2021 (150) May 2021 (155) Apr 2021 (150) Mar 2021 (155) Feb 2021 (140) Jan 2021 (155) Dec 2020 (155) Nov 2020 (150) Oct 2020 (158) Sep 2020 (150) Aug 2020 (130) Jul 2020 (124) Jun 2020 (120) May 2020 (124) Apr 2020 (120) Mar 2020 (124) Feb 2020 (116) Jan 2020 (125) Dec 2019 (126) Nov 2019 (120) Oct 2019 (124) Sep 2019 (120) Aug 2019 (125) Jul 2019 (124) Jun 2019 (120) May 2019 (123) Apr 2019 (121) Mar 2019 (124) Feb 2019 (112) Jan 2019 (125) Dec 2018 (126) Nov 2018 (120) Oct 2018 (124) Sep 2018 (121) Aug 2018 (124) Jul 2018 (125) Jun 2018 (120) May 2018 (124) Apr 2018 (121) Mar 2018 (124) Feb 2018 (112) Jan 2018 (123) Dec 2017 (124) Nov 2017 (124) Oct 2017 (141) Sep 2017 (135) Aug 2017 (138) Jul 2017 (137) Jun 2017 (134) May 2017 (138) Apr 2017 (135) Mar 2017 (139) Feb 2017 (129) Jan 2017 (143) Dec 2016 (135) Nov 2016 (138) Oct 2016 (142) Sep 2016 (128) Aug 2016 (133) Jul 2016 (136) Jun 2016 (138) May 2016 (164) Apr 2016 (311) Mar 2016 (348) Feb 2016 (320) Jan 2016 (348) Dec 2015 (314) Nov 2015 (338) Oct 2015 (363) Sep 2015 (358) Aug 2015 (399) Jul 2015 (374) Jun 2015 (331) May 2015 (337) Apr 2015 (319) Mar 2015 (320) Feb 2015 (271) Jan 2015 (286) Dec 2014 (254) Nov 2014 (238) Oct 2014 (287) Sep 2014 (267) Aug 2014 (259) Jul 2014 (260) Jun 2014 (238) May 2014 (241) Apr 2014 (228) Mar 2014 (240) Feb 2014 (217) Jan 2014 (263) Dec 2013 (226) Nov 2013 (254) Oct 2013 (256) Sep 2013 (252) Aug 2013 (263) Jul 2013 (261) Jun 2013 (251) May 2013 (250) Apr 2013 (221) Mar 2013 (193) Feb 2013 (164) Jan 2013 (157) Dec 2012 (155) Nov 2012 (240) Oct 2012 (526) Sep 2012 (411) Aug 2012 (394) Jul 2012 (284) Jun 2012 (229) May 2012 (213) Apr 2012 (213) Mar 2012 (253) Feb 2012 (269) Jan 2012 (298) Dec 2011 (273) Nov 2011 (219) Oct 2011 (204) Sep 2011 (201) Aug 2011 (236) Jul 2011 (217) Jun 2011 (211) May 2011 (206) Apr 2011 (215) Mar 2011 (215) Feb 2011 (186) Jan 2011 (215) Dec 2010 (107) Nov 2010 (98) Oct 2010 (55)
Assata Shakur is seen in front of the Havana skyline | Illustration: Eddie Marshall | X

There are quite a few dramatic, almost folkloric, stories about Assata Shakur, the American militant and self-avowed anti-government revolutionary who escaped from prison in 1979, not long after she was convicted of murdering a New Jersey state trooper. But a relatively quiet one stands out to me.

During a walk, a police officer stopped and asked her for her papers. Her offense: She was black. It was the very sort of racist, dystopian targeting Shakur spent her life attempting to combat. Which is why it is richly ironic that this happened in Cuba, the place where she sought refuge from the racism and oppression of the U.S.

How did she reconcile this? "Look there's racism here, there's racism in the United States," she told CNN in Havana in 1998. "The difference is that the people at the top in the United States are the ones perpetuating that racist system, and the leadership here are trying to dismantle it."

It's an answer that tells you a lot, not just about Shakur, but about certain political factions that still exist today. Shakur, who died last week at age 78, lived the rest of her life inand often vocally supportedCuba, where "the system" has long been known for imprisoning political dissidents, severely curtailing civil liberties, and forging equality in the sense that people are more equally oppressed.

By Shakur's telling, she was a freedom fighter. In the early 1970s, after a stint with the Black Panthers, she joined the Black Liberation Army, an offshoot of the Panthers whose members were accused of murdering law enforcement officers, bombing buildings, and robbing banks, done in the name of forcefully taking freedom for black people from a government that denied it. She shed the name JoAnne Chesimard and exchanged it for what she would become widely known as: Assata (meaning "she who struggles" in Swahili) and Shakur (meaning "thankful one" in Arabic). Over the course of a few years, she was charged with multiple counts of robbery, kidnapping, attempted murder, and murder, all of which were dismissed or ended in an acquittal or a hung jury.

Until they didn't. In 1977, she was found guilty of murdering Trooper Werner Foerster in a shootout on the New Jersey Turnpike. Two years into her life sentence, members of the Black Liberation Army sprung her from prison. She resurfaced in 1984 in Cuba, the place she would call home for over 40 years, out of reach of U.S. extradition.

Shakur's legacy is complicated by the era in which her American activism existed. It coincided, for one, with COINTELPRO, the notorious FBI counterintelligence program that illegally surveilled and stirred the pot among political movements deemed malignant. Those unconstitutional actionsoften paired with shoddy case work by prosecutors, flimsy evidence, overcharging, unreliable witnesses, and politically motivated casesled many judges to dismiss indictments entirely. It all added fuel to why groups like the Black Liberation Army emerged in the first place. "People have constitutional rights, and you can't shuffle them around," a New York judge said while dismissing several charges against Shakur.

The activist and fugitive always maintained she didn't kill Foerster. During her trial, two physicians testified that the bullet wounds she sustained on the turnpike, one of which shattered her collarbone, could only have occurred if she had her hands and arms raised above her head, precluding her ability to fire any weapon. "You have convicted a woman who had her hands in the air," Shakur said after the guilty verdict was read.

But even if you believe her to have been wrongly convicted, the impulse among somefrom the Chicago Teachers Union and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) to politicians, pundits, and activiststo treat her as a martyr for freedom is, to put it kindly, misguided.

There are a few reasons for that.

The Black Liberation Army was, for one, not vague about its support for "armed struggle" and urban guerrilla warfare. "People have the right to free themselves from oppression by whatever means they deem possible," Shakur told NBC in 1998, when she again maintained she was innocent of murder. It's a strange sort of cognitive dissonance that effectively amounts to "I didn't do it, but if I did do it, it would have been OK."

Yet the greater cognitive dissonanceand Shakur's real legacyis grounded in the place she found sanctuary, and whose government she said was doing it right: Cuba. "I eventually became convinced that the Cuban government was completely committed to eliminating all forms of racism," she wrote in her autobiography, Assata. "There were no racist institutions, structures, or organizations, and i [sic] understood how the Cuban economic system undermined rather than fed racism"the same argument she would echo throughout her life, including in her late-'90s CNN interview.

It's a stunning claim to make, especially from an alleged radical for freedom. This is the same government that sent armed militiamen to shut down media for the offense of being opposed to Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, whom Shakur affectionately calls "Fidel" in her autobiography. It is the same government that put Christians, gays, and political dissidents in concentration camps. It is the same government that has, for decades, imprisoned people for having the audacity to criticize the state. And it is the same communist "economic system" that has tried to engineer equality such that it has resulted in hunger and widespread shortages, not just of food but of basic goods.

The argument still resonates among certain left-wing factions. "The American state brutally oppressed Assata and her Black Panther Party Comrades," the DSA said in a statement following Shakur's death. "The Cubans welcomed her and other Black Revolutionaries with asylum, and their solidarity and loyalty allowed Assata to live out her days in Havana." But the asylum grants to Shakur and those like her had little to do with any devotion to freedom. "Back then if it annoyed the United States government," a Cuban diplomat told CNN's Patrick Oppmann, "that was a good enough reason to do something."

In 2021, the island saw the largest anti-government protests in decades. Black Lives Matter (BLM) responded by blaming the U.S. government for "instigat[ing] suffering for the country's 11 million people - of which 4 million are Black and Brown" with its embargo on trade, which the group said was punishment for Cuba's "commitment to sovereignty and self-determination" in the face of adversity. "Cuba has historically demonstrated solidarity with oppressed peoples of African descentlike Assata Shakur."

The U.S. embargo is unjust, but it isn't the root of the island's problems. That summer I spoke to two black Cuban residents about the protests. "What's wrong with them?" one of them asked me about BLM. The notion that Cuban society is devoid of racism, he said, was ridiculous. So was the idea that Cubans are truly free. Our conversation took place over encrypted messaging, and a portion of it consisted of the two men deciding if they felt comfortable talking to me at all. "You have to respond in a way that doesn't screw you over," said the other man. "They're arresting people at their homes."

In other words, there is a real movement for freedom in Cubaone that comes at great personal risk. Perhaps Assata Shakur had a change of heart before her death and stood with it. Something tells me she did not.

The post Assata Shakur Stood With the Oppressors appeared first on Reason.com.
Wind gusts of 60 mph will extend from the Bahamas, through Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas into Tuesday, Sept. 30.  AccuWeather

Tropical Storm Imelda is churning off the Bahamas, forecast to strengthen into a hurricane while stirring up dangerous surf and flooding concerns along parts of the East Coast.

As of Monday morning, Sept. 29, the National Hurricane Center reported Imeldas center about 60 miles south of Great Abaco Island in the Bahamas and 295 miles southeast of Cape Canaveral, Florida. The storm was moving north at 8 mph with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph.

Forecasters say Imeldas track will stay offshore of the United States, but the system will still send large swells toward the coast.

From Florida to the Carolinas, residents can expect wind gusts between 40 and 60 mph, high surf, rip currents, and minor coastal flooding during high tides through Tuesday, Sept. 30. Water levels could rise 1 to 2 feet in some areas, while coastal regions of the Carolinas may pick up as much as 4 inches of rain.

Imelda will bring flooding, damaging winds, and dangerous rip currents to the areas shown in orange and yellow.  AccuWeather

The storm is also producing heavy rainfall in the northwestern Bahamas and eastern Cuba, where 2 to 8 inches could trigger flash flooding and mudslides.

Locations in the darker shade of green could see up to 8 inches of rainfall from Imelda through Wednesday, Oct. 1.  AccuWeather

By Tuesday, atmospheric conditions are expected to push Imelda farther out into the Atlantic, sparing the US shoreline a direct strike.

However, Bermuda may face a closer brush later in the week, and the National Hurricane Center has signaled that a Hurricane Watch could be issued for the island.

AccuWeather meteorologists note the setup is complicated by the presence of Hurricane Humberto farther east, which is influencing Imeldas path.

The interaction between the two systems, along with dry air pushing south from high pressure over the Northeast, is steering Imelda away from land.

Imeldas path and intensity remain under close watch as the Atlantic season enters its busiest stretch.

Check back to Daily Voice for updates.
Mayor Karen Bass speaks during an immigration rally on Sept. 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. (Ethan Swope / Associated Press)

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced Sunday that Los Angeles police will increase patrols around houses of worship after a deadly shooting earlier in the day during services at a Michigan church.

Five people were killed, including the shooter, and authorities say it is possible there are more.

L.A. has thousands of houses of worship, including hundreds of storefront churches, according to the USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture.

"This type of violence is reprehensible and should have no place in our country," Bass said in a statement posted on social media.

Sometime around 10:25 a.m. Sunday, 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford drove a vehicle through the front doors of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, exited the vehicle and started shooting, according to preliminary information released by local authorities.

Hundreds of congregants were inside, including many who shielded children, authorities said.

Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye said at a news conference that Sanford was shot and killed by law enforcement officers at 10:33 a.m. in the church parking lot.

Renye said 10 gunshot victims were transported to hospitals, including two who died. Seven are in stable condition while one victim remains in critical condition.

Sanford is believed to have also intentionally set the church on fire, Renye said.

After authorities entered the burned church, they found two more bodies. Renye said there may be others; authorities are aware of others not yet accounted for.

After authorities killed Sanford, law enforcement officers searched multiple nearby churches regarding bomb threats, said Lt. Kim Vetter of the Michigan State Police. Vetter declined to say whether the churches searched were all LDS or other denominations and faiths.

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.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Friday that he is putting Hungarys national interests first in rejecting a call by President Trump for all NATO allies to halt the purchase of Russian fossil fuels.

Orban, in remarks to state radio and reported by The Associated Press, said he told Trump that ending Russian oil imports would be an economic disaster for Hungary that would put the Hungarian economy on its knees.

I told the U.S. president  that if Hungary is cut off from Russian oil and natural gas, immediately, within a minute, Hungarian economic performance will drop by 4 percent, Orban said. It means the Hungarian economy would be on its knees.

Orban said he was acting in Hungarys national interest, much like Trumps America First policy.

There is no need for either of us to accept the arguments of the other. America has its arguments and interests, and Hungary does too, Orban said.

Trump on Thursday appeared to back off his pressure to get Hungary and Slovakia to stop buying Russian oil, backing Orbans argument that Budapest has fewer options in diversifying its supply.

They have one pipeline coming  because I spoke with, hes a great guy [Orban], hes a great friend of mine, but you know, thats a harder one for them, and Slovakia, too. Theyre sort of married to one pipeline, Trump said.

While the European Union has banned the import of Russian oil and is working to wean itself off Russian gas, it had earlier given Hungary and neighboring Slovakia an exemption until 2027 to import Russian oil.

Hungary and Slovakia, both landlocked nations, argue that importing Russian oil through a pipeline transiting Ukraine is more advantageous economically than putting in the work necessary to diversify energy supply routes. But others argue that Hungary and Slovakia should hook up to alternate pipelines on the continent.

Trump seemed to cut Hungary and Slovakia some slack in continuing to purchase Russian oil.

I just dont want to have people go blaming them when, you know, we spoke to them at length today and it seems like that, for them its a little bit, the president said from the Oval Office on Thursday, trailing off and turning to his pressure campaign on Turkey to stop buying Russian energy.

Turkey has a lot of options, Trump said after meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White House.

Hes a great president, a very smart man, and hes going to do whats right, Trump continued, saying he didnt explicitly tell the Turkish leader to end Russian energy imports.

If I want him to, he will. I didnt say, OK, you stop, but I believe he will stop it.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Illustration: Eddie Marshall | Imagespace | ZUMA Press | CNP | AdMedia | SIPA | Newscom

Last week, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that purports to address the recent spate of political violence. But the order is remarkably one-sided, taking the apparent position that only leftists can be violent, and it treats speech clearly protected by the First Amendment as evidence of criminal behavior.

"Heinous assassinations and other acts of political violence in the United States have dramatically increased in recent years," according to the order, titled "Countering Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence." It cites multiple recent events as examplesincluding the murder of Charlie Kirk, the foiled 2022 assassination plot against U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, and last week's shooting at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility.

"This political violence," it continues, "is a culmination of sophisticated, organized campaigns of targeted intimidation, radicalization, threats, and violence designed to silence opposing speech, limit political activity, change or direct policy outcomes, and prevent the functioning of a democratic society."

Notably, the order only lists violence against conservatives or targets favored by conservatives; it does not mention the June shooting of two Democratic Minnesota lawmakers, one of whom died. It also elides the fact that in the shooting of an ICE facility, the only victims were migrants in custody.

The order also uses padded statistics, citing "a more than 1,000 percent increase in attacks" on ICE officers "since January 21, 2025, compared to the same period last year." But that represents a starting point of very few alleged assaults last year, and the increase seems largely to be a result of minor scuffles taking place during ICE enforcement actions.

Perhaps most troubling of all, though, the executive order lists First Amendment-protected speech as evidence of criminality that requires federal intervention.

"These movements portray foundational American principles (e.g., support for law enforcement and border control) as 'fascist' to justify and encourage acts of violent revolution," the order claims. "This 'anti-fascist' lie has become the organizing rallying cry used by domestic terrorists to wage a violent assault against democratic institutions, constitutional rights, and fundamental American liberties. Common threads animating this violent conduct include anti-Americanism, anti-capitalism, and anti-Christianity; support for the overthrow of the United States Government; extremism on migration, race, and gender; and hostility towards those who hold traditional American views on family, religion, and morality."

Regardless of one's view on "anti-fascism" in its current usage, this entire paragraph is an assault on the First Amendment. Terms like extremism and hostility are amorphous and mostly exist in the eye of the beholder. "Support for the overthrow of the United States Government" gets closer to an actionable claim, but not that close: The Alien Registration Act of 1940, also known as the Smith Act, made it a crime "to knowingly or willfully advocate, abet, advise, or teach the duty, necessity, desirability, or propriety of overthrowing or destroying any government in the United States by force or violence."

But the U.S. Supreme Court later narrowed that statute to explicit calls to action, not just abstract expressions of opinion. The court further established in 1969's Brandenburg v. Ohio that the government could not criminalize incitements to violence "unless this advocacy is directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action and is likely to incite or produce such action."

That leaves the order's contention that "domestic terrorists" are characterized by "anti-Americanism, anti-capitalism, and anti-Christianity." One can oppose all of these traits, but they are unquestionably protected by the First Amendment. It is not illegal to criticize America, or capitalism, or Christianityin fact, so long as it doesn't cross over into "imminent lawless action," it's perfectly legal to criticize anything or anyone.

Most of all, the order is designed to target people Trump and his supporters don't like, lumping them all together as members of an "anti-fascist" movement. It's especially galling, given how conservatives reacted in recent years when they were on the other side.

In 2009, the Department of Homeland Security produced a report on the dangers of "rightwing extremism" and how to look out for it. "Rightwing extremism in the United States," the report noted, "may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration." It further added that among other factors, "the return of military veterans facing significant challenges reintegrating into their communities could lead to the potential emergence of terrorist groups or lone wolf extremists capable of carrying out violent attacks."

At the time, Republicans denounced the report as offensive and overly broad. The report, as Reason's Jesse Walker wrote at the time, "treated 'extremism' itself as a potential threat, while offering a definition of extremist so broad it seemed it include anyone who opposed abortion or immigration or excessive federal power."

Now that Republicans are in power, they're apparently quite comfortable wielding that exact same sort of power against their political opponents.

It's ironic that Trump's executive order inveighs against "anti-Americanism." By so openly targeting protected speech for reprisal, the order is itself quite un-American.

The post Trump's Executive Order Against 'Political Violence' Is an Un-American Attack on Free Speech appeared first on Reason.com.
For the 2025/26 school year, only one new student had enrolled, but was transferred to another Greek school. The number of students at the Greek High School in the Fener neighbourhood has dropped from 730 to 30 in just under 150 years. For the sake of the school and Christian education in Turkey Im calling on everyone to extend a helping hand, said Principal Dimitri Zotos.

Istanbul (AsiaNews)  Istanbuls historic Greek college in Istanbul, a symbol of the community's centuries-old presence in Turkey's economic and commercial capital, has recorded no new enrolments for the 2025/26 school year, with only a few dozen students attending.

Founded 571 years ago, the Greek high school (Fener Rum Lisesi in Turkish) in the Fener (, Phanar in Greek) neighbourhood, recently announced that it will not be accepting new students this academic year, putting its very future at risk.

Officially known today as the Private Phanar Greek Middle and High School, the institution is located in Istanbul's Fener neighbourhood, overlooking the Golden Horn.

Among Greeks and in the Greek Orthodox community, it is known as the "Great School of the Nation" (   , Megali tou Genous Scholi, in Greek) and was founded in 1454 as part of an agreement between Patriarch Gennadius Scholarius and Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II.

During the Ottoman period, it trained numerous high-ranking officials, chief interpreters, patriarchs, and clergy. Today, reflecting its Eastern Roman heritage, the school offers a comprehensive education in both Turkish and Greek.

The building on Sancaklar Yokusu Street stands on land that once belonged to Dimitrie Cantemir (Dmitri Kantemir), a Moldavian prince and school alumnus.

Designed by architect Konstantinos Dimadis, the current building is considered one of Istanbul's most important landmarks, thanks in part to its architectural grandeur and proximity to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and is occasionally referred to as the fifth-largest castle in Europe.

Among the most important and historic institutions linked to the patriarchate, it is suffering the consequences of a ongoing decline of the Christian population in the Middle East, from Turkey and Syria to Iraq and the Holy Land.

This decline also affects Istanbul's Greek community, impacting not only the school in the Fener (which is among the hardest hit), but all Greek minority schools.

Speaking to the newspaper Agos, school principal Dimitri Zotos stated that around 300 students are currently enrolled in Greek minority schools throughout Turkey, but only 30 attend the Fener college.

To be honest, one student did come during the enrolment period but we persuaded the family to choose another Greek school, because it's simply not viable to run a class with just one student," he explained. It's neither psychologically, pedagogically, nor educationally healthy. The family understood and agreed. If more students come in future years, our doors will always be open.

Its obvious that were facing serious demographic challenges. It would be a mistake to say otherwise," Zotos added. It is both sad and thought-provoking that the number of students in this building has dropped from 730 to 30 in 140 years. These are challenges beyond our control, and solutions must be found.

We want these institutions to survive, the principal stressed. They are valuable not only for our community, but also for the broader society we live in. Thats why Im calling on everyone to extend a helping hand.

Mr Zotos raised the issue with the country's highest authority during a meeting in November 2023 between minority schools representatives and Turkish Education Minister Yusuf Tekin, but nothing came of it.

He noted, however, that the abolition of the guest student policy, which had previously contributed to increasing enrolment in Greek schools, had led to a decline in student numbers in recent years.
In a new violent incident involving a minority, three people were killed in the country's southeastern hill region home to a large Buddhist ethnic group. Soldiers opened fire on a roadblock manned by local activists protesting the authorities failure to arrest those responsible for the rape of a girl. An adviser to the Home Affairs Ministry in Bangladeshs interim government added fuel to the fire by claiming that the violence was instigated by fascist groups.

Dhaka (AsiaNews/Agencies)  Three people were killed in violent clashes yesterday in Guimara, a village in Khagrachhari district, northern Chittagong Hill Tracts Region, in southeastern Bangladesh.

The local indigenous community, mostly ethnic Buddhist Marma, slam the military for cracking down with extreme violence against protesters demanding justice after a girl was raped.

An eighth-grade Marma student was brutally raped by three Bengali settlers," a local leader wrote in a complaint also sent to AsiaNews.

Students and residents asked the administration to deliver justice, but instead of arresting the rapists, the authorities remained silent. As a result, the indigenous hill people united and called for a broader movement, the leader added.

"During a peaceful roadblock, the demand was reiterated: arrest the rapists. Instead of bringing the criminals to justice, the administration sent in the army, which opened fire indiscriminately on unarmed protesters. There were deaths and injuries.

The young victims  Tayiching, Athwipru, and Akhrau  lived in Guimara, aged 20 to 22. After heavy clashes, security forces ended the roadblock and imposed a ban on gatherings, restoring a tense calm to the Khagrachhari district.

The Jumma Chhatra Janata, a local group promoting the protest, said the roadblock was lifted to enable treatment for the injured and the funerals of the victims; however, the protests will continue until justice is served.

Lt Gen (Retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, an adviser for home affairs to the Interim Government of Bangladesh, added fuel to the fire today by declaring that the unrest in Khagrachhari was fuelled "by India or by fascist groups.

This episode comes at a time when tensions are already running high in the country in connection with the Hindu festival of Durga Puja, with numerous reports of acts of intolerance by Islamists against minorities.

For their part, the Marma are not ready to stop their protest. Why did the army shoot my brother in the chest? Why did they fire on my sister's body? Why were our innocent children branded as 'terrorists' and arrested? they write in a statement.

There seems to be only one answer: because we spoke out against rape, because we protested. When will this endless oppression and brutality against us end? Let us all stand united," the statement reads. Through organisation and disciplined struggle, we will fight and win our rights.
Today's headlines: in Moldova, the pro-European party wins the parliamentary elections with twice as many votes as the pro-Moscow bloc. At least 40 people are dead and over 50 injured in Tamil Nadu at a rally held by Vijay, a film star who heads a local party. The UN has reintroduced sanctions against Iran, while Tehran has executed one of Israel's most important spies. In China, the world's highest bridge opened to traffic yesterday.

SINGAPORE - HONG KONG

Singapore has banned entry - despite having granted a visa - to Hong Kong democracy activist Nathan Law, who has been in exile in the United Kingdom for some time. The city-state's authorities said his presence would not be in the national interest. The former Legislative Council member said he arrived on 27 September to attend a conference.

MOLDOVA - RUSSIA - EU

With over 99.5% of the votes counted, the pro-Brussels Action and Solidarity Party led by President Maia Sandu won the parliamentary elections with 50.03% of the vote. Less than half of the votes were won by the Russia-linked Patriotic Bloc movement, which stopped at 24.26%. Turnout, the highest ever recorded for the renewal of the 101 seats of the former Soviet republic, stood at 51.9%.

INDIA

The police have opened an investigation into the incident that occurred on 27 September in Karur, in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, during a crowded rally held by Vijay, a local film star who is now the leader of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (Tvk) party. For reasons yet to be determined, a stampede broke out, causing at least 40 people, including children, to die and another 50 to be injured.

IRAN - UN - ISRAEL

The UN yesterday reinstated dozens of sanctions against Iran after France, Germany and the United Kingdom activated the snapback mechanism, reintroducing restrictions that had been suspended for almost a decade. The sanctions target 43 individuals and 78 entities listed before July 2015, when the nuclear agreement (JCPOA) was signed. The measures prohibit relations related to Tehran's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, with effects on the economy. Today, Tehran carried out the death sentence of Bahman Choubi-asl, described as one of Israel's most important spies in Iran.

CHINA

The world's highest bridge opened to traffic yesterday. The Huajiang Grand Canyon, built over three years, rises 625 m above a river and a vast gorge in the southern province of Guizhou, also home to the Beipanjiang Bridge (565 m), now the second highest. Beijing has invested in major infrastructure projects in recent decades, a period of rapid economic growth and urbanisation.

AFGHANISTAN - UNITED STATES

The Afghan Taliban released another US citizen yesterday, following a visit by US envoy Adam Boehler, who mediated the release. Amir Amiri, detained in Afghanistan since December 2024, was released through Qatari mediation and was already on his way to Doha yesterday, as confirmed anonymously by an official source in Washington.

VIETNAM

At least eight people have died and another 17 are missing after Typhoon Bualoi hit Vietnam today, damaging homes and devastating power grids due to the enormous amount of rainfall that is now heading - losing some of its power - towards Laos. Waves up to eight metres high have been recorded. One person died after being submerged by water in Hue, while another was killed by a falling tree in Thanh Hoa province.

KYRGYZSTAN - MONGOLIA

The Kyrgyz government has approved the agreement with Mongolia on the mutual recognition of driving licences, concluded on 21 July during the visit of the President of Ulan-Bator, Khurelsukh Ykhnaa. The agreement establishes the necessary procedures that will allow citizens of both countries to travel without bureaucratic complications or additional examinations.
Kalmykia, the only region with a Buddhist majority in the European part of Russia, welcomed delegations from 35 countries around the world. Putin himself sent a message praising its precious spiritual traditions. Lama Kirishov praised the spirit of sacrifice of Buddhist soldiers participating in the special military operation in Ukraine.

Moscow (AsiaNews) - The third International Buddhist Forum on the theme of The Buddhist World in the New Millennium was held in Elista, capital of the Russian republic of Kalmykia near the Urals, welcoming guests from across the Russian Federation and 35 countries around the world. The Forum opened with a spectacular musical show on Nomadic Peoples by director Andrey Boltenko, set against panoramic views of the steppe projected on large screens and performances by the best artists of Kalmykia, the only predominantly Buddhist region in the European part of Russia, following the migration of Asian peoples in the 17th century.

Thanks to innovative multimedia technologies, visitors were able to immerse themselves in the history of Kalmykia and other peoples linked to Tibetan Buddhism in various regions of Russia, as well as in the principles and symbolism of Buddhist philosophy, with the participation of impressive actors and readers, such as director and actor Evgenij Sangadziev. The less than ideal weather conditions did not spoil the opening ceremony, which was attended by thousands of participants who enthusiastically applauded the artists in their colourful costumes and spectacular choreography on a stage decorated with magical backdrops, where every detail told the exceptional story of Kalmyk and Buddhist culture.

The President of Kalmykia, Batu Khasikov, said, It is a great honour for us to organise this international forum. Our republic is famous for its hospitality, and I hope that everyone will find answers to their deepest questions by engaging with the great Buddhist philosophy that teaches us to live in harmony and peace. Khasikov recalled that Kalmykia makes an important contribution to Buddhist education in Russia, and on the occasion of the forum, a Buddhist school similar to the catechism classes of the Orthodox Church was opened, supporting Russia's authority in the international arena.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also sent a message to the participants, describing Kalmykia as one of the most important centres of Buddhism in Europe, which has managed to preserve its historic and precious spiritual traditions, together with its identity and customs, striving to develop interreligious and interethnic dialogue. According to Putin, this is more necessary than ever today, to strengthen family values and the education of young people, sharing a rich experience of the past and building new realities for our future, facing the great challenges of civilisation, philosophy and humanism of our time.

The programme offered over 50 events, including the opening of the Buddhist art exhibition Masterpieces of Kalmyk Buddhism from the Museums of St Petersburg, with the support of Buddhist institutions throughout the Russian Federation. Official delegations from China, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Cambodia, Myanmar, Korea, Belarus, Serbia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Mongolia, Brazil, Bhutan and Spain were present. The president of the Central Administration of Buddhists in Russia, Lama Sergei Kirishov (Gesha Jonten), explained that the goal of all Buddhists in the world is the enlightenment of all living creatures; everyone seeks to become a Buddha, and for this reason, one must work on one's mind and consciousness to eradicate the dark parts and negative feelings. According to him, Buddhism is professed today by three of the eight billion inhabitants of the earth (although the most authoritative statistics on world religions speak of 500 million), and countries with a predominantly Buddhist presence demonstrate greater economic growth than many others. The majority of Buddhist countries have refused to join the sanctions against Russia, and commercial and economic cooperation between the Buddhist world and Russia is constantly growing. The lama also praised the spirit of sacrifice of the Buddhist soldiers participating in the special military operation in Ukraine, helping to keep up the morale of the entire Russian army in supporting great traditional moral values.
29 September 2025 15:38 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

The criminal trial of Armenian citizens accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity continued on September 29 at the Baku Military Court, Azernews reports.

During the session, documents detailing various episodes of violence against civilians were announced. One document covered incidents from April 2 to 28, 2016, when Armenian armed forces reportedly committed numerous criminal acts in the Agdam, Tartar, Goranboy, Fuzuli, and Agjabedi regions. These included attacks on civilian populations, educational and medical institutions, and private property using large-caliber small arms, mortars, grenades, and artillery, often without military necessity. Photographs from the scenes of these incidents were also presented in court.

Further documents examined included the shelling of the village of Eskipara in the Tartar region with 122-millimeter P-4 artillery shells containing white phosphorus, the killings of Chingiz Salman oglu Gurbanov (posthumously awarded the title of National Hero of Azerbaijan) and Huseyn Zakir oglu Akbarli, as well as crimes committed in economic and other areas of the occupied territories.

The trial involves Armenian citizens accused of committing crimes including 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 serious offenses.
29 September 2025 10:20 (UTC+04:00)

Elnur Enveroglu Read more

Literature is an irreplaceable jewel of national and cultural heritage. The true creators of this priceless treasure are writers, painters, poets, publicists, and men and women of art.

Today, on Azernews, we shall speak of a great writer and public figure, a man who has earned admiration not only within Azerbaijani literature but also beyond the republics borders with his novels  Varis Yolchuyev. His creative output is distinguished by profound psychological depictions, sensitivity towards social issues, and a capacity to shed light upon human destinies. In particular, his novel The Last to Die Are Hopes has become one of his most widely read works, resonating strongly with younger readers and serving as a powerful source of motivation that has inspired many to cling to life.

Varis Yolchuyev is also the laureate of numerous literary and public awards. His novels and stories have been translated into several languages, receiving attention in the international literary world. Through his art he contributes not only to literature but also to the formation of social consciousness.

In this interview, we shall take a closer look at the authors creative universe, the role of literature in human life, and the spiritual bridges he has built with his readers.

Q: Varis Musa oghlu Yolchuyev  you are known to a wide readership through your novels and stories, and you continue to write prolifically. How did you choose this calling?

A: My life story begins in the city of Sumgait where I was born, though our family roots are in Yukhari Salahli, a village in the Gazakh region. My father was born there. It is a very small village in Azerbaijan  one might imagine that the first secular school in our country was founded in Baku, or perhaps in Ganja or Shamakhi, yet in fact it was in our village of Yukhari Salahli. Not by chance is this village also the birthplace of our classical poet Molla Panah Vagif, as well as Samad Vurghun.

You know, there is a saying: "When a person comes into the world, he is like a blank sheet of paper." I do not believe this saying. Talents such as genius, nobility, kindness, and the like are innate qualities; when a person is born, fifty per cent of them are already in his nature, and the other fifty per cent are shaped by self-development.

When I opened my eyes to the world, I saw these qualities  talent and nobility  in my parents. If I may digress: at a gathering one day, when researchers were speaking about the Second World War of 194145, they reminded me of a story about my maternal grandfather. Incidentally, my mother too is from our village. According to what is told, my great-grandfather was the director of a state farm in Gazakh. He had a large two-storey house, which during the war he turned into an orphanage for children who had lost their parents. In those difficult times, he himself moved into another rented house, yet insisted that his own home serve as a shelter for orphans. Imagine what pride it gives me to have such a humanitarian in my lineage. I believe that being raised in such a family and inheriting such a gene is part of my love for literature.

My father was a scholar of philology and also a pedagogue. He taught at a technical college, where he was a senior lecturer. Imagine: in our house, there were three thousand books, and I grew up amongst them. At first, those books were mere toys for me; later they became the source of inspiration for my pen. Here too my father played a great role in encouraging me. When I used books as cars or to build houses as a child, my father never forbade it. Perhaps other parents would have objected, but he said: "This is how a child shapes his artistic calling." He gave me the freedom to relate to books in my own way. Through that contact with books I learned letters early, before I even went to kindergarten. And finally, at the age of five I wrote my first poem, entitled The Orphan Child.

Granted, one can scarcely call it a poem, but for a child of that age to write in free verse and with such thought was not an ordinary thing.

Stories that give a green light to the future

My mother was a chief engineer at a factory. At that time, she used to bring office paper home. From those sheets, I fashioned a little book of my own, on the cover of which I had written, as a title, "The Book of Varis." On the inside front page I had marked out sections: "Novels," "Stories," "Essays," and "Novellas." To tell the truth, even I no longer know where such ideas came to me from back then...

Thus, by the time I entered university life, I had already begun writing my own secret stories. In my family, my confidante was always my mother. I shared only with her what I had written. One day, unbeknown to me, my mother took those stories and gave them to my uncle, the poet and publicist Davud Nasib, telling him to show them to our renowned writer Ismayil Shikhly. To be honest, I could not imagine how the stories I had written could possibly draw the attention of such a celebrated figure.

But one day, while I was in class at Baku State University, my uncle appeared, calling me out halfway through the lecture. When I stepped outside, he whispered into my ear: "Ismayil Shikhly is waiting for us." At that moment, the very fact that a well-known figure had summoned me gave me the stimulus I needed, and in a way, instilled in me confidence in my own creative ability. At that time, he had a flat near the Government House. When we went there, he wrote a foreword to my collection of stories, inscribing: "To our literature comes Varis." Imagine that in those daysa man who cared nothing for the opinions of relatives or acquaintanceshow deeply he had been moved by my stories...

Thus, even as a student, my stories began to be published in Ulduz magazine. Gradually, among the students, I began to be pointed out: "Thats the boy whos a writer." At that time there were no social networks, no internet. We became known through what was published in the universitys journals and newspapers.

Q: Our conversation has reached a very interesting point. You mentioned that you began with short stories, yet in contemporary literature, you also have many novelsand in those novels, you often strike a positive note. So, who has been the principal source of inspiration for your writing?

A: You see, poetry is written suddenly. A poet may glimpse a scene in nature, or witness an event, and this sparks within him a spontaneous feeling, which becomes a source of inspiration. But in prose, the wellspring of inspiration lies deeper.

When I was a child, my father directed me more towards childrens literature. But for some reason, I was drawn to books far beyond my years. For example, among the works I read avidly were The Book of Dede Qorqud, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Karlsson-on-the-Roof, Suleyman Sani Akhundovs Scary Tales, Garaja giz (A gipsy girl), and others. As I grew older, my father steered me towards books of greater depth and meaning. In this way, those books became the sources of my inspiration. Later, as I matured in literature, the celebrated Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk and the Japanese writer Haruki Murakami became inspirations for me.

As a child, however, my earliest inspiration that stirred me towards literature was Victor Hugo. In general, my admiration for Orhan Pamuk arises from many parallels between us. There are about 14 years between our ages, but we share the same birth date, and we both began in literature at the same time of life. As a boy, inspired by the works I read, I also drew pictures, many of which were published in Goyarchin (Pigeon) magazine while I was still at school. My teacher would take me by the hand and introduce me to the older pupils, calling me, in front of them, "The famous Varis." Later I learnt that Orhan Pamuk, too, had entered art by a similar path. It was precisely this similarity that drew me to him, as if by a magnetic pull.

Q: A novel that saved the life of a young woman who wanted to end her life  "The Last to Die are Hopes." The strong, positive energy of your novel helped a desperate young woman to reattach herself to life. Was this simply a coincidence, or is there some divine mystery in it?

A: A moment ago, we were speaking of inspiration and stimulus in literature. I would say that the main stimulus for a person lies in being able to hit ones target. As a child, I always wondered how Nizami Ganjavi, Fuzuli and other great poets had become so renowned. I dreamt of becoming one of them myself. I even wished that one day, when I grew up, I would become a mentor, a giver of counsel and advicein simpler terms, I enjoyed the thought of being famous.

Of course, every human being is a treasure; it is not essential to be constantly teaching someone something. Yet in general, as a writer, to create a resonance in the world is every creative persons dream. Take the Afghan novelist Khaled Hosseini. Imaginea writer who, with his novel The Kite Runner, altered peoples views across the world on the Afghan war. After his book, attitudes towards Afghans began to shift. I would call this the power of literature. Truly, literature is a mighty weapon.

The novel that saved a life

As for my own novel "The Last to Die are Hopes," published in 2008, it is now on the verge of its ninth edition. Every year, it is published and sold in runs of two or three thousand copies. I have not given the distribution rights of this particular novel to anyone, though I had done so with earlier editions.

Around 2014, at the request of a publishing house, the book was printed in Uzbekistan in 10,000 copies. It appeared both in book form and as a serial in a magazine with a circulation of 140,000...

But the real story of the young girl who wished to end her life goes like this: In Samarkand, a 16-year-old girl, tormented by her stepfather, climbed onto the roof of her house, intending to hang herself. At that moment, on the floor of the attic, her eyes fell upon the front page of the newspaper Daraqchi, where she saw, above the picture of a young man struggling with cigarette addiction, the title of my novel in Uzbek: "Umudlar intihara bulad"the Uzbek translation of "The Last to Die are Hopes."

In an instant, she loosened the rope from her neck, climbed down, and began to read the article with interest. The girl later wrote down her story herself. According to her, the newspaper had published the opening of my novel. It stated that the continuation would appear in the following weeks issue. That girl abandoned her intention to take her life and decided instead to wait for the next instalment of the novel. And thus, week by week, her anticipation grew, each issue kindling new hopes within her.

It is no coincidence that the novel itself tells the story of a woman abandoned by her wealthy lover, who, despairing, contemplates suicide. Yet in the novel she refrains, asking herself: "For what, and for whom, should I die? Who would care? And whose revenge would my death serve?" In the same way, that young Uzbek girl was moved by the same thought, and resolved to live her life differently. Some time later, through her social media account, we learnt that she had entered university and even started a small business of her own. Her revenge upon her stepfather was not death by suicide, but precisely the oppositegrowing stronger, developing herself, and finding happiness.

After such an impression, it was only natural that in 2023, in Uzbekistan, my second novel "I Believe in You" became one of the most widely read books.

Q: Varis Yolchuyev is a solitary figure, yet he counts thousands among his readers. Naturally, there are many who wish to see him in person and engage with him directly. It is no coincidence, then, that even today you are travelling to the southern region of Azerbaijan to attend the jubilee and book presentation of a lady journalist and publicist. There, too, you will have the opportunity to meet admirers of Varis. But on ordinary days, do you manage to find the time to meet your readers from time to time, and to listen to them as well?

A: After I had written my novel The Last to Die are Hopes, the largest gathering with my readers took place in 2009 in Lankaran. Imagine: in the Lankaran Drama Theatre, readers had come not only from Lankaran itself, but also from Astara, Lerik, Masalli and Yardimli districts. With my book in their hands, they filled the theatre hall to overflowing. Everyone, under the pretext of conversation, was calling out questions to me from their seats.

Suddenly, an elderly reader from Lerik addressed me in the Talysh dialect: "My son, come here and look. What is this  you are writing about love and suchlike? If you are truly a good lad, why do you not write about Garabagh?"  he asked, clutching my book tightly to his chest.

I replied: "Elder, let me ask you something  what was the last novel you read about Garabagh?" At that time, the only such book was Agil Abbass novel Dolu. There was nothing else. The elderly man fell silent, unable to answer. And I said: "Yet you have read my novel, travelled all this way from Lerik to Lankaran just to meet me..."

A novel that raised a hero

Of course, I promised him then and there that I would write a novel about Garabagh  and that very year I wrote A Handful of Earth. That novel, in 2011, was awarded the "Golden Word" prize by the Ministry of Culture, and was later adapted for the stage. But do you know what is most striking?

One day, when I visited the family of our National Hero Mubariz Ibrahimov, I saw my novel lying upon his desk. The hero of the book was called Zaur. Mubarizs father told me that his son had often said that one day he, too, would be a hero like Zaur.

Just imagine: one novel saves a life, another raises a hero...

You see, a writer must know how to give the reader what the reader seeks. And for that, the writer must first of all know his reader, must be able to grasp the social message, and only then should he step forward.

Q: And how does Azerbaijans Varis wish to be seen by the readers of the world? Have you ever considered realising the ambition of becoming a world-renowned author?

A: You have touched upon a very sensitive point, Elnur. After becoming known in Azerbaijan, once I too was seized by the appetite  I wished to become famous in the world, to make the name of Varis known on every continent.

So I wrote to 500 English-language, 500 Russian-language, and 500 Turkish-language publishers by email, telling them that I was the author of novels published in the largest print runs, and that all my books were bestsellers. I urged them to publish my works too.

But imagine  not one of those 1,500 addresses ever replied...

At that moment I realised that to go out into the world requires another skill entirely. I will admit, I was somewhat disheartened; it cast me down in spirit, and I almost lost hope. But once more, lifes miracles found me.

One day in Turkiye, a member of the wealthy "Mertler" family contacted me. It turned out that even there I had a reader of my novel The Last to Die are Hopes. Yet her story was rather complex. After a long conversation, she explained everything to me, and even invited me to her home.

It transpired that a fellow countrywoman from Azerbaijan was working as a nanny in the Mertler household. One day the baby began crying, and instead of soothing it, the nanny remained absorbed in her book. The master of the house, angered, came in to find her wholly engrossed in reading. In fury, she snatched the book from her hands, threw it to the ground, scolded her harshly, and declared her dismissed.

But here is what was remarkable: the nanny, instead of showing distress at the loss of her job, calmly agreed. As she gathered her things to leave, the master asked her: "Wait  what is this book you are reading? Are you truly not concerned about losing your work?"

At that, the nanny showed her The Last to Die are Hopes and replied: "For this book, I am willing even to lose my job."

Her answer astonished the master so greatly that not only did she not dismiss her  she took the book from her, paid 3,000 to have it translated into Turkish, and later introduced it to well-known Turkish figures such as the actor Hamdi Alkan and the head of IQ Publishing, Adem Sargul.

Unaware of any of this, one day I suddenly received a call from IQ Publishing. I thought at first it must be a reply to one of those 500 letters  at last, someone had answered! But as the conversation went on, I realised that my novel had spawned a new story of its own, and that, having been translated, it had already enchanted new readers.

Thus, I was invited to Istanbul, where I signed a contract with the publishing house and received an offer to distribute my books in Turkiye.

In general, I must say that today, to be recognised by Western readers requires a completely different talent. You may be the finest novelist, but if you cannot convey your work to the reader in the right way, all your writing may remain locked away in the chest of literature.

Later, I researched on various websites the ways of becoming known among Western readers. Imagine  to present even the most beautiful novel, one is given only a single sentence of fifty or sixty words on such platforms. That single sentence must strike such an impression that it compels the reader to take notice. That, I would say, is another talent in itself.

Q: What shortcomings do you see in contemporary Azerbaijani literature? In particular, with regard to the recognition of our literature abroad, what do you think we most need but have not yet attained?

A: Today, there are many problems in our contemporary literature, but if I were to speak of all of them, there would not be enough time. I shall simply say this: in recent times, I have observed that many of our writers are focusing too much on family, domestic life, and other small matters. For this reason, many of our works are confined within a narrow frame.

I think our writers ought to step away from purely domestic subjects and turn their gaze more towards the world. After all, those readers, too, must be given what they desire. Just as we benefit from their works, why should they remain unaware of ours?

Another urgent need, in which we have not yet fully succeeded, is the translation and distribution of our works into foreign languages at the highest level. I regret to say that some works, translated through modern tools, lose much in quality and impact. In most cases, the wear and tear in translation strips away the spirit of the work. I consider this to be one of the greatest obstacles to the spread of our literature worldwide.

Q: Dear Varis, before the interview you mentioned in conversation that you are working, by state commission, on a new historical novel. If it is not a secret, could you tell us something about it?

A: Yes, at present I am writing, on state commission, a novel about Western Azerbaijan. Before this commission reached me, I had considered several subjects. One of them concerned the expulsion of the last Azerbaijanis from Yerevan at the very start of the Garabagh conflict. This was, in itself, a perfect subject, and I had even thought to call it The Last Azerbaijani.

Another subject I had in mind was the deportations that began under Soviet rule in the 1950s. A third, one of my favourites, was the massacres committed by Dashnaks in Zangazur and Goycha in 1918, when they inflicted atrocities upon Azerbaijanis.

But in the end, setting aside all these themes, I chose one still more striking and compelling: the 167-day siege of Yerevan in 1827. For people, this is a white spot in history, and alas, very few know of it. So I thought  this shall be my subject.

In writing this novel, I have drawn upon nearly 600,000 archival sources. I have referred to materials not only from Azerbaijan, but also from Persian, Georgian, Armenian, Russian, and even English archives. Truly, as I write, I see that the novel is becoming something remarkable. For it holds up a mirror to the events of the nineteenth century, presenting them to the reader largely through historical fact, with but the slightest touch of artistic imagination.

I believe that novels of this kind are the treasures of our literature. Newspapers, journals, and periodicals perish in time, but literature and books endure, preserved in the archives as the treasury of our history.
29 September 2025 13:02 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

Azerbaijani delegation will participate in UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development (MONDIACULT 2025), to be held in Barcelona on September 29-October 1, Azernews reports.

The delegation will be headed by Azerbaijan Culture Minister Adil Karimli.

The third High-Level Ministerial Dialogue on Culture-Based Climate Action will take place in Barcelona on September 28 in the framework of MONDIACULT 2025.

The dialogue will encourage the incorporation of culture into the global climate agenda and facilitate conversations on innovative strategies for achieving a sustainable future.

Established in 1982 through UNESCO's initiative, MONDIACULT is acknowledged as the largest intergovernmental forum on cultural policies worldwide.

This year's conference seeks to strengthen the role of culture as a fundamental pillar of global development and promote its inclusion as a distinct goal within the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

Key topics for discussion will include "Cultural Rights," "Digital Technologies and Culture," "Education and Culture," "Cultural Economy," "Climate and Culture," and "Heritage, Culture, and Crisis."

The event will gather representatives from hundreds of countries, international organisations, cultural professionals, and members of civil society, providing a unique global platform for sharing ideas and experiences.
29 September 2025 13:20 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

From October 30 to November 2, Baku will become the epicenter of global dance culture as the Azerbaijan Dance Festival 2025 takes place in the Azerbaijani capital, Azernews reports.

The festival is organized by the Azerbaijan Dance Council (AzDC), led by its president, People's Artist and Vice-Rector of the Baku Choreography Academy, Tarana Muradova, in collaboration with the International Dance Company SRDS (Smooth & Rhythm Dance Style), headed by Olga Krasnyanskaya.

The dance celebration evenings will be held at JW Marriott Absheron Baku.

Speaking with Trend Life, Ilham Osmanov, co-founder of AzDC, chairman of the Argentine Tango Committee, international dance competition laureate, tango DJ, teacher, tanguero, and director of the IN-Tango School, emphasized the importance of hosting the Azerbaijan Dance Festival 2025.

"Azerbaijan is increasingly and more brightly asserting itself on the international stage  whether in the fields of art, sports, or cultural initiatives. Every time we proudly represent our country, achieve success, and strengthen its reputation in the world.

The Azerbaijan Dance Festival is an event of international significance, where tradition meets innovation, and art meets inspiration. What makes the festival truly meaningful is its global scope and mission. It serves as a platform for cultural exchange, a bridge between nations, where dance becomes a universal language of friendship. Its a space where new energy is born, talents are discovered, and connections between people and countries grow stronger. Projects like this enrich our cultural landscape, open new horizons for talents, and allow the world to discover Azerbaijan  a country where history and modernity exist in harmony," said Ilham Osmanov.

He noted that a special highlight of this year's program is the Argentine tango competition in the Pro-Am format (ProfessionalAmateur). This unique format allows an experienced professional to take the stage with an amateur, opening the doors to the world of high art and giving the amateur a taste of the real stage experience.

"Argentine tango is more than just a dance. It's a language of emotions, a story of passion and tenderness, a dialogue of hearts told through movement. Participating in such a competition is always an encounter with something alive, sincere, and deeply inspiring.

"I am confident that the Azerbaijan Dance Festival will be a source of fresh ideas, unforgettable impressions, and meaningful friendships. Let it strengthen Azerbaijan's image as a country where the traditions of the future are born, where inspiration and art go hand in hand. We can confidently say that such projects place Azerbaijan among the cultural centers where tradition and modernity meet in harmony. Our festivals prove that art has the power to unite people, regardless of language, age, or nationality," added Ilham Osmanov.

The festival will also be held as part of the official celebration of the anniversary of renowned choreographer and dancer Tarana Muradova, in whose honor a special gala evening titled Night of the Dancing Diamonds will be organized. The gala will feature a performance of contemporary ballroom choreography with elements of national dance, revealing the magic of cultural and stylistic fusion, choreographed by Tarana Muradova and world and European champion dancer and choreographer Denis Tagintsev.

AZDF 2025 is more than just a festival, it is a space for inspiration, dialogue, and unity, where dance becomes a bridge between nations.

Don't miss the biggest dance event of the year  in the heart of the Caucasus!

Media partners of the event are Azernews.Az, Trend.Az, Day.Az, and Milli.Az.
29 September 2025 16:55 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

Azerbaijan's Culture Minister Adil Karimli has delivered a speech at the Third High-Level Ministerial Dialogue of the Group of Friends on Climate Action Based on Culture held within the framework of UNESCO's MONDIACULT 2025 conference, Azernews reports.

The minister expressed his gratitude to Spain for hosting the event, and to Brazil and the United Arab Emirates for their support of the initiative.

He particularly emphasized the outcomes of COP28 and COP29, noting that COP29, held in Baku, was a significant step in strengthening the role of culture in climate action.

Adil Karimli highlighted that the Baku Financial Pledge adopted during the conference is considered a historic turning point in global climate financing.

Recalling Azerbaijan's "Culture for Climate" (C4C) initiative, Adil Karimli stated that the role of culture in combating climate change would also be discussed during Baku Climate Week.

The minister underlined that the declaration of the Year of Solidarity for a Green World by President Ilham Aliyev, the green energy zones established in the liberated Garabagh and Eastern Zangazur regions, and the international forums held within the framework of the Baku Process all demonstrate Azerbaijan's commitment to a sustainable future.

In conclusion, he stated: "Culture and the environment are inseparable. Through joint efforts, we can build a more sustainable world for future generations."
29 September 2025 10:00 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

On September 29, Baku hosted a major conference titled The Organization of Turkic States: A Regional Actor in an Era of Global Disorder with the participation of representatives from leading think tanks of member countries of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), Azernews reports.

The gathering brought together intellectuals and policy experts to discuss the OTSs role in the contemporary international system, the strategic challenges it faces, and new opportunities for cooperation among member states.

The conference is expected to serve as a key platform for exchanging ideas on strengthening the organizations position at both the regional and global levels.

Several panel sessions are scheduled to explore specific dimensions of the OTSs contribution in times of uncertainty:

Political Security: Examining the OTSs role in advancing global peace and stability during a period of geopolitical unpredictability.

Economic Connectivity: Assessing the organizations contributions to global trade, transport, and economic resilience amid financial turbulence.

Cultural and Scientific Engagement: Highlighting policies in culture, science, and parliamentary cooperation in the context of international instability.

Think tank representatives will also discuss prospects for deepening regional cooperation, broadening the OTSs influence on the global stage, and launching new initiatives that can shape the organizations future trajectory.
29 September 2025 11:42 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Speaking at the opening of the Second Baku Climate Action Week, Mukhtar Babayev, President of COP29 and the Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan for Climate Issues, outlined Azerbaijans achievements during COP29 and its ambitious roadmap for the future, Azernews reports.

Babayev stressed that Azerbaijan, once considered too small to host such a monumental event, proved the skeptics wrong under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev.

Hosting COP29 was both a moral duty and a strategic opportunity, he said. By welcoming over 70,000 participants and 80 world leaders, we organized the second-largest COP in history and showcased our region to the world.

He highlighted that COP29 was not only a logistical success but also delivered historic outcomes. Among them was the long-delayed conclusion of negotiations on carbon markets, expected to channel trillions of dollars into climate projects in developing countries. Azerbaijans banking sector alone pledged $1.2 billion to green projects, while the Asian Development Bank committed $3.5 billion to tackling glacial melt. International financial institutions pledged to provide $170 billion annually by 2030, and global asset managers controlling more than $10 trillion joined Azerbaijans initiatives.

Another milestone was the launch of the Loss and Damage Fund, now operational and ready to disburse resources this year. Perhaps most significantly, COP29 saw donor countries commit to mobilizing at least $300 billion in annual climate finance starting in 2035the largest financial target ever set within the UN climate process.

Building on this, Babayev announced that Azerbaijan, together with Berlin, is preparing the BakuBerlin Roadmap, designed to raise climate finance to $1.3 trillion annually from all sources.

These are not just numbers on paper, Babayev said. They will translate into real results through initiatives in peacebuilding, energy storage, hydrogen, digitalization, methane reduction, sustainable cities, tourism, water management, as well as programs in trade, investment, agriculture, human development, and transparency.

Babayev also underscored that Azerbaijans COP29 presidency remains active. In New York earlier this month, alongside UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Baku reminded donors of their pledges. Preparations are also underway for the 2026 World Urban Forum, which will be hosted in the Azerbaijani capital.

Expressing gratitude to all who contributed to COP29s success, Babayev emphasized that it was a true example of national solidarity: President Aliyevs vision, the efforts of ministries, businesses, civil society, and the hospitality of thousands of volunteers made this achievement possible. We proved that when a nation unites around a shared goal, it can accomplish anything.

Concluding his address, Babayev called on participants to carry forward the spirit of solidarity and ambition that defined COP29: Every action matters, every fulfilled promise brings hope, and every new partnership strengthens our chance to build a safer, greener, and more peaceful world.
29 September 2025 19:00 (UTC+04:00)

On September 29, Jeyhun Bayramov, Azerbaijans Minister of Foreign Affairs, held a telephone conversation with newly appointed Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Yermek Kosherbayev.

Minister Jeyhun Bayramov congratulated Yermek Kosherbayev on his appointment as Foreign Minister, whishing him success in his new post.

The foreign ministers hailed the level of Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan strategic partnership relations, underlining that the high-level contacts and visits between the two countries facilitate cooperation. The parties expressed their confidence that both countries would continue to make joint efforts to enhance the existing multifaceted cooperation between the two countries.

During the meeting, the sides undersocred the importance of further strengthening cooperation within regional and international organizations of which Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are members, highlighting preparations for the Summit of the Organization of Turkic States set to be held in Gabala in October this year.

Minister Yermek Kosherbayev thanked for the congratulations, and expressed his confidence that the multifaceted relations between the two countries will further develop.
29 September 2025 11:21 (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.

The Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), which delivers Azerbaijani natural gas to Europe, recorded new gas supply orders from several exit points for the period covering late September and early October, Azernews reports with reference to TAPs electronic platform. From the Kipoi exit point in Greece, orders 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!
29 September 2025 14:07 (UTC+04:00)

Full digital access to all news for 1 year

Full digital access to all news for 6 months

Full digital access to all news for 3 months

Full digital access to all news for 1 month

Find the plan that suits you best.

The Netherlands ranked 10th among destinations for Azerbaijani crude oil exports in 2025, moving up from 15th place in 2024. This reflects a notable strengthening of trade ties and the European markets continued reliance on Azerbaijani energy supplies.

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!
29 September 2025 16:18 (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.

State Statistics Committee has disclosed oil exports to Greece. The total value of 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!
In Synlait Milk Limiteds (Synlait) Notice of Annual Meeting released on 29 September 2025, Bright Dairy Holding Limited (Bright Dairy) stated that it would irrevocably cast its postal vote in favour of the North Island Sale (as defined in the Notice of Annual Meeting) and all other resolutions before the Annual Meeting.

Synlait confirms that its share registrar has received Bright Dairys postal vote and that it has been cast in favour of all resolutions before the Annual Meeting.

The Notice of Meeting, which can be viewed on Synlaits website, contains detailed information on the sale, the reasons for it, and how to vote and attend the Annual Meeting, which will be on Friday 21 November 2025.

Comments from our readers

No comments yet

Add your comment:

Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process.

Related News:

Comvita reaches agreement with lending partners

December 11th Morning Report

December 10th Morning Report

CDI APPOINTS JULIAN SMITH AS INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR

EROAD director Cameron Kinloch to step down in March 2026

RUA - Pro Rata Rights Offer

December 8th Morning Report

GEN - Dividend Reinvestment Plan Strike Price

Fletcher Building Update on Funding Facilities

December 5th Morning Report


29 September 2025 08:00 (UTC+04:00)

China successfully launched a new group of low Earth orbit satellites from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in northern Shanxi Province on Saturday, Azernews reports citing Xinhua.

The satellite group, the eleventh of its kind that will constitute an internet constellation, was launched at 8:40 p.m. (Beijing Time) aboard a modified Long March-6 carrier rocket.

The satellites entered preset orbit successfully.

Saturday's launch marked the 597th mission of the Long March carrier rockets.
Mussels Shut Down on Majority of Oregon Coast Due to Biotoxin

Published 09/28/25 at 4:45 a.m.

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff





(Yachats, Oregon)  Gathering of mussels along most of the Oregon coast was shut down this week. (Photo ODFW)

Friday, the Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced an immediate closure of mussel harvesting from the Washington border to the north jetty of the Siuslaw River near Florence. The decision follows recent testing that revealed elevated levels of Paralytic Shellfish Toxin (PST), a naturally occurring marine biotoxin known to cause Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning.

Officials are urging the public to check shellfish safety conditions before harvesting by calling the Shellfish Safety Hotline at 1-800-448-2474 or visiting the Oregon Department of Agricultures Recreational Shellfish Biotoxin Closures webpage.

Current shellfish harvesting conditions vary along the Oregon coast. Mussel harvesting is closed from the Washington border to the north jetty of the Siuslaw River at Florence, and again from Cape Blanco near Port Orford to the California border. However, the stretch from the south jetty of the Siuslaw River to Cape Blanco remains open.



Newport - Oregon Coast Beach Connection



Razor clam harvesting is closed from the Washington border to Tillamook Head due to the annual conservation closure, which is scheduled to lift on October 1. The area from Tillamook Head to Cape Blanco is open, while the southern stretch to California remains closed. Bay clams and crabs are open for recreational harvest coastwide.

The announcement comes in the wake of a significant shellfish poisoning event in May 2024, when more than 21 individuals fell ill after consuming mussels contaminated with PST. That incident, along with the detection of domoic acid in other species, prompted a widespread shutdown of recreational clamming and mussel harvesting across Oregon and parts of Washington, affecting even commercial operations for several months.



Cape Lookout - OPRD

Meanwhile, shellfish managers in Washington have released a tentative schedule for 47 razor clam digging days across four coastal beaches - Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, and Mocrocks - spanning October 6 through January 6. These openings are subject to marine toxin testing conducted by the Washington State Department of Health. Beaches will only open if two separate test samples taken seven to ten days apart confirm domoic acid levels are below the states safety threshold.

For more information call ODA's shellfish biotoxin hotline at (800) 448-2474, the ODA Food Safety Program at 503- 986-4720, or visit the ODA Recreational Shellfish Biotoxin Closures Webpage.

Contact ODFW for recreational license requirements, permits, rules, and limits. MORE PHOTOS OF THE REGION BELOW

Oregon Coast Hotels in this area - South Coast Hotels - Oregon Coast Vacation Rentals - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours







MORE PHOTOS BELOW













OREGON COAST HOTEL REVIEWS (hit refresh to see different reviews)

Two Shimmering Examples of Oregon Coast Historical Inns at Lincoln City

To get a truly historic experience, however, you have to go back a ways. Lincoln City hotel reviews



65 Sci-Fi Flick on Streaming: Parts Filmed on S. Oregon Coast - Review

3 and a half stars out of 5 - good adventure with dinos around Coos Bay, Brookings, Gold Beach



Lincoln City Openings for Sept (Including Holiday) Going for Less Than Much o...

One has openings on Labor Day Weekend ? Sept normally summer prices. Lincoln City hotel reviews, availability



Central Oregon Coast's Summerlike Sept and Oct Getting Booked Up - Some Renta...

Lincoln City's Keystone: brief rental openings in Sept, slightly more Oct. Lincoln City hotel reviews. Depoe Bay hotel reviews











Lincoln City



Yachats

More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging.....

More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining.....



Coastal Spotlight



Washington Coast / Oregon Coast Articles (stories are random: hit reload to see different articles)

Back to Oregon Coast

Contact Advertise on Oregon Coast Beach Connection

All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright  Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted
Two More Quakes Off S. Oregon Coast After Three This Week

Published 09/28/25 at 12:45 a.m.

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff





(Coos Bay, Oregon)  Two more quakes popped off near the south Oregon coast on Saturday, after three had rattled below the ocean waters off Bandon on Wednesday and Thursday.

The first was at 10:12 a.m. Saturday about 139 miles east of Coos Bay. That was a small one at magnitude 3.2, happening some six miles below the ground.

The second was a sizable magnitude 5.1 quake that was large enough initiated a bulletin there would be no tsunami alert. That one was centered about 139 miles west of Bandon, farther north than the smaller one, happening at 3:12 p.m. It too was six miles deep.

The second one had nine people so far say they felt it.

When those initial three happened on Wednesday, the US Geological Society (USGS) said it kicked in a green pager alert, which on land is often a warning that some fatalities could happen. However, this was at sea, more than 140 miles from Bandon, so it posed no risk to structures or people.



Courtesy Oregon's Adventure Coast

A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck off the Oregon coast late Wednesday night, the strongest in a series of tremors recorded near the Gorda Ridge and Blanco Fracture Zone. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the quake occurred at 11:45 p.m. on September 24, centered approximately six miles beneath the ocean floor and about 143 miles west of Bandon.

UPDATE: 3 Quakes Off S. Oregon Coast Since Midnight, No Tsunami Alert- Was enough for a 'green pager' alert, but no damage: west of Coos Bay, Bandon

The USGS sent alerts of possible aftershocks, and two smaller quakes followed within hours. A magnitude 3.0 tremor was recorded at 12:22 a.m., roughly four miles from the initial epicenter, at 147 miles west of Bandon. A third quake, also measuring 3.0, occurred at 3:05 a.m., this time 141 miles west of the coastal town. All three events originated at similar depths.



Photo Manuela Durson - Manuela Durson Fine Arts

The seismic activity was located about 150 miles from Coos Bay and 170 miles from Newport, well offshore and away from populated areas. No damage or tsunami threat was reported.

These quakes occurred within a known cluster of faults near the Gorda Ridge and Blanco Fracture Zone, a seismically active region that experiences multiple events annually. Experts emphasize that activity in this zone is not directly linked to the nearby Cascadia Subduction Zone, a much larger fault system capable of producing catastrophic earthquakes. MORE SOUTH OREGON COAST BELOW

Oregon Coast Hotels in this area - South Coast Hotels - Oregon Coast Vacation Rentals - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours







MORE PHOTOS BELOW













OREGON COAST HOTEL REVIEWS (hit refresh to see different reviews)

Nye Beach's Waves Hotel Keeps Making Waves: an Oregon Coast Classic

Less expensive than many, an innovative Newport boutique hotel. Newport lodging reviews



The Lil' Cannon Beach Cottage That Could: Whimsical Yet Historic Rental on N....

A little vaction rental called Lil Bird Cottage is antique-like but vibrant, bold. Lodging reviews, hotels, Cannon Beach lodging



N. Oregon Coast Beauty on the Beach: Seashore Inn's Latest Revelations, Specials

How to actually write its name, recent changes to the Seaside hotel. Seaside hotel reviews, Seaside lodging news



In Manzanita, Susan's Beach Cottage is Elder Oregon Coast Statesman with a Mo...

One vacation rental no one seems to know about. Manzanita hotel reviews, Oregon coast lodging news









More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging.....

More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining.....



Coastal Spotlight



Washington Coast / Oregon Coast Articles (stories are random: hit reload to see different articles)

Back to Oregon Coast

Contact Advertise on Oregon Coast Beach Connection

All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright  Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted
Democratic Sen. Cory Booker and FBI Director Kash Patel clashed during a Senate hearing, with Booker accusing Patel of making the country "weaker and less safe.""That rant of false information does not bring this country together," Patel responded. https://t.co/SoVf1ll1rm pic.twitter.com/LqCJFE4zzi  ABC News (@ABC) September 16, 2025

Now that President Trump is picking his cabinet and immediate staff to insulate him from the poor judgement of the Bureaucratic Class, while moving quickly to transition this Constitutional Republic unto a wise and sustainable direction: What is your immediate impression as to how our nation will prosper? We are headed toward a Golden Age in America's self-governed society. This will all wind up in a clustered mess since Trump is a Fascist, and thought to be the second coming of Adolf Hitler by our best journalists. This is a time where critical days lay ahead, where only wise and responsible decisions must be made to sustain US. I generally do not pay attention, but expect only the best to occur ... and that is what I always expect. 144 total vote(s) What's your Opinion?



Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) attempted to steamroll FBI Director Kash Patel during a testy Capitol Hill hearing on Tuesday, but Patel pushed right back - and Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) quickly backed Patel.Booker had the chance, as a member of the committee, to question Patel during his allotted time - and he did ask a few questions of the FBI director, although he spent the majority of his time pontificating about his assessment of Patel's job performance thus far. When he'd exhausted his own time, Grassley allowed Patel to respond - but Booker could not resist the opportunity and began to protest while he was speaking.Booker began by claiming that the FBI's mission was being compromised and agents were beingto assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, and argued that Patel was failing the agency by firing a number of agents with years of experience and seniority.Booker claimed.When the New Jersey Senator had finished, Grassley offered Patel the chance to respond, uninterrupted, and he took it.Patel began.Booker's tone grew increasingly dramatic.Booker then claimed that he followed Patel's social media posts- all while Patel attempted to continue his testimony and Grassley banged his gavel, chastising Booker for interrupting.Patel repeated.Booker insisted, pointing a finger at Patel.The crosstalk continued until Grassley once again banged the gavel, reminding Booker that he had, in fact, already had his time to talk and Patel was to be allowed to continue.Patel followed with a list of the accomplishments made by the bureau under his leadership, pointedly addressing Booker as he argued that aleader could not have made such gains.
Chenoweth has built a career researching how youth and LGBTQ+ activists can be mobilized in protest movements, focusing less on morality or safety and more on which tactics are effective.

Chenoweth leads Harvards Nonviolent Action Lab.

This USAID-funded project is hardwired into the Democrat party apparatus. They partnered with Rep. Pramila Jayapal to run a series of Resistance Labs designed to train far-left activists for confrontation and disruption.

Jayapal herself told activists she wanted them to be strike ready,even suggesting violence may be coming. She further promised to share the trainings with the rest of her Democrat congressional colleagues.

https://nataliegwinters.substack.com/p/harvards-theythem-professor-teams
Nama trial day one: Top solicitor laundered 7.2m via Isle of Man account while dishonest businessman acted in the shadows, court told

Prominent businessman paid 1,000 for every Nama advisory meeting he attended, but was greedy for millions, jurors told  while top solicitor allegedly created fraudulent invoice to move 7.2m to Isle of Man account

L-R: Ian Coulter and Frank Cushnahan, pictured outside court today, deny all charges against them

Sam McBride Mon 29 Sep 2025 at 20:30

A top Belfast solicitor engaged in laundering 9m as part of a corrupt deal for more than a billion pounds which involved a key figure from Northern Irelands business establishment, Belfast Crown Court has been told.
A famous seaside fun park will be around for at least another generation as its operator signs up until 2047, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal.
At the announcement are Home Managers Jennifer Lynch of Oakleaves Care Home, Mark Collins of Ardlough Care Home, Emma Quigley of Meadowbank Care Home and Carol Craig of Culmore Care Home

A healthcare company has announced the creation of 100 new jobs in the north-west as part of a 5m investment into the region.

Anns Care Group, which runs five locations in the north-west for people with long-term health problems, said it will be hiring in the next 12 months.

And it said it could create as many as 500 jobs in the coming years.

The latest stage of recruitment will include registered nurses, healthcare assistants, ancillary roles, social care leaders and social care workers.

The company is also nearing completion of two more units in Derry City and Strabane, which it says will provide care for residents living with enhanced dementia care needs.

The group is also set to open a childrens residential care home on the border with Donegal by the end of 2025.

It said it is also planning a step down facility in Drumahoe outside Derry for people who have left hospital but are not ready to return home.

Michael McQuade, director of Anns Care Homes, said: At Anns, were proud to be at the forefront of driving real change in healthcare across Northern Ireland.

"Over the next 12 months we will create 100 new healthcare jobs across Derry/Londonderry and the surrounding areas, with further plans to grow our workforce by up to 500 positions within the next three years.

At the announcement are Home Managers Jennifer Lynch of Oakleaves Care Home, Mark Collins of Ardlough Care Home, Emma Quigley of Meadowbank Care Home and Carol Craig of Culmore Care Home

News Catch Up - Monday 29th September

" As part of a 5m investment, Anns will open three new care home units and our childrens care division will open a new residential home.

This significant investment, both in our people and our facilities, reflects our deep-rooted commitment to the north west - not just in delivering high-quality, people-centred care, but also in creating long-term, sustainable employment across a range of healthcare roles.

The company has more than 2,500 staff in NI and the Republic of Ireland, and operates 23 care homes and five childrens homes.
Study explores distribution of soil antibiotic resistance genes in China

Xinhua) 09:11, September 29, 2025

LANZHOU, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese scientists have uncovered the distribution and dissemination mechanisms of soil antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in China, according to the Northwest Institute of Eco-environment and Resources (NIEER) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

This new study advances the understanding of ARGs in terrestrial ecosystems across China. It provides an important scientific basis for further exploring their distribution, dissemination, and public health risks, according to the institute.

Conducted by NIEER researchers, the study's findings have been published in the journal Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety.

Antibiotics have been widely and increasingly used in medicine, agriculture, and animal husbandry, ensuring the prevention and treatment of diseases and infections in humans, plants and animals.

Those uncontrolled uses of such medicines are making ARGs become a new type of environmental pollutant, posing a common public health challenge to the global community, according to Li Yuqiang, a researcher from the NIEER who led the study.

Li explained that antibiotic resistance refers to the ARGs carried by microorganisms and their corresponding drug resistance capabilities. These genes enable bacteria to survive and reproduce in the presence of antibiotics. Soil is the largest gene bank of ARGs in the natural environment, and soil ARGs are highly transferable.

"It is of significance to comprehensively understand the distribution and transmission mechanisms of ARGs both in regions with intensive human activities and in near-natural ecosystems," Duan Yulong said, an associate researcher of the NIEER.

Researchers from the NIEER conducted a large-scale, cross-regional soil survey spanning 4,300 km across the country. They collected samples at 42 intervals in six distinct terrestrial ecosystems, including forests, grasslands, deserts and other ecosystems.

They detected high diversity, comprising 18 ARG types and 129 ARG subtypes, as well as the abundance of ARGs in the topsoil across the six terrestrial ecosystems.

Only aac (6)-I ranked among the highest-risk ARGs, indicating that merely 0.78 percent of detected ARGs pose a severe pathogenic threat. While most ARGs currently present minimal direct public health risks, their high transmission potential warrants attention, the study showed.

"A thorough understanding of the sources and transmission of soil ARGs is of crucial significance for pollution prevention and control works. Moreover, systematic comparison of these differences is of importance to carry out precise source tracing and regional prevention and control of soil ARGs in different terrestrial ecosystems," Li said.

This new study established for the first time the distribution baseline of ARGs in multiple types of natural terrestrial ecosystems in China, providing an important scientific basis for a deeper understanding of the environmental sources, transmission routes, and health risks of antibiotic resistance, according to Li.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
In late 2024, Ukrainians accused Russia of using chloropicrin gas against Ukrainian soldiers. Chloropicrin is currently used to fumigate soil before crops are planted. It was frequently used by both sides during World War I. After the war, everyone agreed that it was best to ban the use of chemical weapons.

That ban generally held until the Russians resumed manufacturing chloropicrin for use against Ukrainians. Not content with that, Russia is using malware against NATO countries. The Russian cyber threat group APT 28 is distributing malware throughout NATO countries in an effort to disrupt aid for Ukraine.

These chemical attacks are nothing new. It has long been known that attacking an opponent's food supplies substantially weakens your foe. Since the 19th century, the use of chemical fertilizers, and the ability to mass-produce ammonia- and nitrogen-based fertilizers, has more than doubled food production. This has also created a potential vulnerability because there are only about 500 ammonia production facilities worldwide, all really massive.

Sabotage or aerial bombing of ammonia plants would have a direct impact on food supplies. Some nations may have secret plans to attack ammonia plants in wartime, but most military planners consider such attacks impractical. A similar mistake was made during World War II, when the committee formed to select and prioritize targets for the Allies' aerial bombing campaign of Germany ignored one key element.

After the war, the United States conducted an after-action study of the bombing campaign and discovered that an important target system had been ignored. German electrical power production was very vulnerable, and damage was difficult to repair because the massive electricity generators took months to build, and Germany had few of these in reserve.

For thousands of years, wars have often been decided by control of food supplies. Victory could be won without fighting by rapidly destroying enemy crops and key supporting equipment like flour mills or draft animals to assist with planting and harvesting. If you cripple an opponent's food supply, you deplete the supply of military manpower and food to supply an army on campaign. The most successful armies in history were usually those that paid close attention to food supplies. Russia is doing the same but is using chloropicrin against Ukrainian soldiers and, perhaps, farmers as well.
A police drama you say? Were listening. Set in Northern Ireland you say? Aye, right. Pull the other one. But here we are, back again for a third series of Blue Lights.
A body has been recovered during a major rescue operation in Dromore.

Police, fire, and ambulance crews were tasked to the River Lagan in the Banbridge Road area at around 7.30am following reports of an unresponsive male in the water.

Emergency crews raced to the scene before recovering the man from the water; he was pronounced dead at the scene.

In a statement, a PSNI spokesperson said: Police can confirm that a body has been recovered from the River Lagan in the Banbridge Road area of Dromore this morning.

A post mortem will take place in due course, however at this stage, the death is not being treated as suspicious.

A Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) Spokesperson said: The thoughts and sympathies of Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service are with the loved ones of a man who was rescued from the River Lagan, Dromore earlier this morning.

Firefighters were called to reports of a water rescue incident at 7.28am. One Fire Appliance from Lisburn Fire Station, 1 Fire Appliance from Dromore Fire Station and 1 Fire Appliance from Banbridge Fire Station attended the incident.

" Firefighters alongside other emergency services used specialist rescue equipment to rescue with man.

"Sadly, he died at the scene.

Stock Image - Police attended the incident

News Catch Up - Monday 29th September

The road has now fully reopened.
A woman in her 80s and a male pedestrian have died in separate accidents on Northern Irelands roads.

The elderly woman died after a collision in Co Antrim on Sunday afternoon.

The two vehicle crash happened in the Glarryford area.

Inspector Cherith Adair of the PSNIs Collision Investigation Unit said: Shortly after 2pm, we received a report that a collision had occurred in the Killagan Road area.

Our officers attended alongside emergency service partners, however the woman was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

"Three other people have been taken to hospital for treatment for their injuries.

The road, which was closed for a period of time as officers conducted enquiries, has now re-opened.

Separately, a man has died following a road traffic collision on the Ballygowan Road in east Belfast.

Emergency services were called to the scene where the male pedestrian was struck by a vehicle shortly after 11pm on Saturday.

Police, fire and ambulance crews all attended.

The road was closed while emergency services dealt with the incident, and investigations were carried out.

Inspector Adair added: Just after 11pm, we received a report of a pedestrian having been struck by a vehicle in the Ballygowan Road area.

Police are investigating the crashes. Stock photo

News Catch Up - Monday 29th September

Our officers attended alongside emergency service partners, however the man was sadly pronounced deceased at the scene.

Police have appealed for anyone who witnessed the collisions or who may have dashcam footage to contact them on 101.
While Belfast City Councils policy on Irish language signage has evolved over the years, the latest regulations are the most controversial.

For many years it was fairly limited, but no longer.

Initially, from 1998, any individual could apply for dual-language signage, as long as their request was accompanied by a petition signed by at least a third of registered electors on the street in question. A consultation would then be carried out, requiring at least two-thirds of residents to signal their support, before the application would go to the council for approval.

In 2012, the council considered loosening the policy, reducing the threshold of support from two-thirds to a simple majority, but this was ultimately rejected.

It wasnt until 2022 when a new policy was introduced, lowering the threshold to 15%, following a vote by the full council.

The change was supported by Sinn Fein, the SDLP, Alliance, the Green Party and People Before Profit. The DUP, UUP and PUP voted against it.

So where did the 15% figure come from? Well, in 2017 a report was published by the UN Special Rapporteur on minority issues, which concluded that public bodies cannot require majority support for a minority language.

Guidance from the Special Rapporteur noted that the threshold where it is reasonable and practical to provide such signs varies between 5% and 20% of the local population.

After this report was published, new policy proposals were developed by council officers at City Hall, in consultation with the city solicitor and director of Legal and Civic Services.

Under the new policy, a resident, a developer or a councillor could request a dual-language sign in their District Electoral Area. A survey would then be carried out to gauge support, with non-replies no longer considered as an objection. The threshold was set at 15%.

Following the survey, a report would be provided to the councils People and Communities Committee, who would have to approve the request, before going to the full council for ratification.

There are important caveats. For instance, the council has the power to reject an application, regardless of the level of support.

The council has to take into account several factors when considering an application, including the potential impact on good relations.
The 71-year-old said officers stopped the pair for no reason at all other than to gain access to our communications (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Former MP George Galloway has pledged to take legal action against the Met Police after he and his wife were stopped by counter-terrorism officers when they returned from a trip to Moscow.

The 71-year-old and his wife Putri Gayatri Pertiwi were questioned on Saturday after flying back to Gatwick from Russia via Abu Dhabi.

Mr Galloway said officers stopped the pair for no reason at all other than to gain access to our communications.

They will both appear at a press conference in Belfast on Monday afternoon, at which their solicitor Kevin Winters will give details of legal action they plan against the Met and other agencies.

They claim they were unlawfully detained and will demand the return of their phones and laptops from police.

In a ranting introduction to his Mother Of All Talk Shows internet show on Sunday, Mr Galloway said officers had questioned him about his views on Russia and China.

He said: Not a single effort was made to show cause for having detained me and her with armed officers in public in an English airport.

Addressing his viewers, he said: If they can arrest me under the terrorism Act at an English airport, what hope have you got?

Theyre too stupid to be anti-terrorism police, theyre too stupid to be in MI5 if they think they can intimidate me, not even death will intimidate me.

He said: Its come to something when a man like me, a man with the profile that I have, can be stopped by armed policemen at an English airport.

Police officers based at UK airports are routinely armed.

The Metropolitan Police did not name the couple, but said: We can confirm that on Saturday September 27, counter-terrorism officers at Gatwick Airport stopped a man in his 70s and a woman in her 40s under Schedule 3 of the Counter Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019.

Neither of them were arrested and they were allowed on their way.
The lifeboat Ruby Robinson rescued a swimmer in trouble while on an operation to tow an angling boat to safety. RNLI/Tom Bell

A lifeboat towing an angling boat with nine people onboard to safety off the Co Antrim coast had to leave for a period in order to rescue a swimmer in trouble before returning to the stricken vessel.

Sunday was a busy day for the Bangor RNLI volunteers following three separate reports of people in difficulty.

At 3.40pm, Belfast Coastguard asked Bangor RNLI to assist an angling boat that had experienced mechanical failure close to the Gobbins on the north shore near Islandmagee.

The lifeboat Ruby Robinson launched immediately with volunteers John Bell, Andrew Gedge and Gavin Mitchell onboard and made best speed to the casualty vessel.

Once at the scene the lifeboat crew observed nine fishermen onboard all wearing lifejackets, all were safe and well.

The lifeboat helm assessed the situation and a decision was made to tow the boat back to the nearest safest harbour at Bangor Marina as the vessel couldnt make any safe onward progress.

A crew member was transferred onboard the angling boat and a safe tow line was established.

En route back to Bangor, the lifeboat crew received an urgent call from Belfast Coastguard requesting them to divert to assist a sailor that was in difficulty after going for a swim.

The lifeboat relinquished the tow of the angling boat and diverted to Bangor bay where they found a swimmer struggling to re-board his boat after going for a swim. The swimmer was assisted onto his boat and the lifeboat then returned to the angling boat.

The tow was re-established and the vessel was brought to Bangor Marina where she was berthed.

Earlier on Sunday morning at 5.35am, the volunteers were asked by HM Coastguard to assist in searching for a missing person close to Helens Bay. The person was located ashore safe and well and the lifeboat was stood down and returned to Bangor station.

Speaking following Sundays operations, Bangor RNLI Helm Andrew Gedge said: Today was a busy day for the station and we are grateful to all the volunteers involved, including our shore crew team.

We are happy that everyone was safe and well in all instances and we had positive results. We would like to commend the people who raised the alarm on these shouts today as that is always the right thing to do.

We would much rather launch and find all is well than not launch at all. Should you have any concerns for your own safety or that of someone else, please call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.
How quiet group of Quakers provided a little normality for Maze Prison families during the Troubles

Religious grouping was asked to help keep republicans and loyalists onside

The Quakers' creche in the Maze prison

Allison Morris Mon 29 Sep 2025 at 07:14

A little boy playing on a rocking horse in the shadow of a security lookout tower of what was at one time the most infamous prison in Europe seems an unlikely setting for a child care facility.
Best practice policy branded anti-democratic by DUP after controversial changes

Since the rules were changed in 2022, 228 streets have been approved for dual language signage

Just one in eight Irish street signs approved in Belfast since a controversial council policy came into force were supported by 50% or more of residents of the street.
A broadcaster and historian has recalled the surreal moment Gerry Adams phoned him to ask whether a book he was writing contained any information about a plot to murder the former Sinn Fein president.

Mark Urban, former Diplomatic Editor of the BBCs flagship Newsnight programme and author, revealed that the call came after unedited proof copies of his 1992 book, Big Boys Rules: The SAS and the Secret Struggle Against the IRA, had reached certain hands in Belfast.
Politics

Alliance MP on honour of being only MP from NI nominated for Backbencher of the Year: I am more grateful than you will ever know
LATEST | I just cant understand it: Community in shock as police investigate if father killed daughter Julia (5) in murder-suicide

Detectives investigating if Krzysztof Daczkowski (50) smothered his young daughter Julia before taking his own lifeWe heard the mother screaming after she arrived home, it was an ungodly noise  neighbour

Gardai probe if father killed daughter (5) in murder-suicide in Dublin

Robin Schiller and Conor Feehan Mon 29 Sep 2025 at 12:17

Detectives probing the discovery of the bodies of a man and a child in Dublin are investigating if the man smothered his young daughter before taking his own life.
Irish police probe if father killed his daughter (5) in Dublin murder-suicide

We heard the mother screaming after she arrived home, it was an ungodly noise

Garda forensic officer at the scene in the Heathfield estate in the Cappagh area of Finglas, after the bodies of a young girl and a man were found by gardai in Dublin (Niall Carson/PA Wire)

Robin Schiller Mon 29 Sep 2025 at 07:19

Detectives probing the discovery of the bodies of a man and a child in Dublin are investigating if the man smothered his young daughter before taking his own life.
The mayor of London has hit back at politicians spreading misinformation about safety in the capital as new data showed the number of violent crimes leading to injury has fallen in every borough over the past year.

Figures from the mayors office for policing and crime, which compare the 12 months ending in August with the previous 12 months, showed there were 8,749 fewer crimes which resulted in someone being hurt  a drop of nearly 12%  across the capital over that time.

While all 32 boroughs have seen a reduction, Havering in east London recorded the largest drop, with such crimes down by 16.3%, followed by Enfield in north London where they fell by 16.1%.

Greenwich saw the smallest decrease with 4.3%, followed by Kensington and Chelsea with a drop of 4.6%.

Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan said: Weve seen a number of politicians here and across the globe talking down London and spreading misinformation about crime and safety in the capital.

The evidence is clear, our approach to tackling crime and its complex causes works. Its driving down violence right across the capital.

Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump accused Sir Sadiq of doing a terrible job, adding that crime in London is through the roof, in their long-running war of words.

Sir Sadiq continued: Violent crime with injury is down in every single London borough and that is testament to the incredible work of our brave police officers  who are arresting more than 1,000 additional suspects each month and solving crimes that involve victims at double the rate they were a year ago.

This is alongside the prevention work in our communities led by Londons violence reduction unit which has delivered over 450,000 positive opportunities and activities to divert young people away from violence and exploitation.

One death and one crime will always be one too many and thats why Im working with partners and the Government, to build on this progress and enhance our collective efforts to drive down every single crime wherever it happens in our great capital city to deliver a safer London for everyone.

According to the mayors office, overall homicides in London are at a 10-year low, with the capitals rate lower than in Paris, Brussels, Berlin, Madrid and all major US cities.

The rate of homicide was down by 17% in the 12-month period to June this year compared with the 12-month period to May 2016.

Analysis of Office for National Statistics data, recorded in the 12 months to March this year, showed Londoners are less likely to be a victim of violent crime (26.4 offences per 1,000 population) than across the rest of England and Wales (31.9 offences per 1,000 population).

Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Rachel Williams said: Violence with injury is down in every single borough  a clear sign that our approach is making a difference. Homicide is now at its lowest level in a decade, violent crime resulting in injury has fallen and firearms discharges are less than half what they were seven years ago.

Were targeting the most dangerous individuals, disrupting criminal networks, and investing in prevention to protect those most at risk.

Thats why fewer people are being hurt, fewer lives are being lost, and London is becoming a safer city.

We wont stop until every Londoner feels safe, wherever they live, work, or go to school. Were committed to listening, learning, and improving, so that our progress is not just sustained, but accelerated.

Chris Philp said London is not safer (Jonathan Brady/PA)

The Tories rejected the suggestion that London is safer.

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: Sadiq Khan seems to be the only person who thinks there is no crime problem in London.

He cherry-picks his numbers and hopes Londoners will forget the reality that knife crime is up 86% on his watch, stop and search collapsed by more than half, and London now accounts for nearly half of all knife-point robberies in England.

Under this Labour mayor, criminals know the odds are stacked in their favour.

Only one in 20 robberies is solved, fewer offenders are being jailed, and more than a thousand police officers have been cut from the Metropolitan Police, with Sir Mark Rowley warning of further losses this year.

Londoners dont feel safer because London isnt safer.

Labour are weak on crime, soft on criminals, and too scared to confront the reality on our streets. Its time for the Labour Government and Labour mayor to wake up and get a grip, or get out of the way.
The US president, left, and Israeli prime minister are scheduled to meet in the Oval Office (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

Days after his defiant speech at the United Nations rejecting demands to end the war in Gaza, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to confer with his most important supporter.

But Mondays meeting with US president Donald Trump in Washington comes at a tenuous moment.

Israel is increasingly isolated, losing support from many countries that were long its steadfast allies. At home, Mr Netanyahus governing coalition appears more fragile than ever. And the White House is showing signs of impatience.

The question now is whether Mr Trump, who has offered steadfast backing to Mr Netanyahu throughout the war, will change his tone and turn up the pressure on Israel to finally wind down the conflict.

In a post on social media on Sunday, the president said: We have a real chance for GREATNESS IN THE MIDDLE EAST. ALL ARE ON BOARD FOR SOMETHING SPECIAL, FIRST TIME EVER. WE WILL GET IT DONE!!!

Mr Trump and Mr Netanyahu are scheduled to meet in the Oval Office, and a joint press conference is expected later.

The uncertainty surrounding the meeting casts it as one of the most critical in the years-long relationship between the two leaders, Professor Eytan Gilboa, an expert on US-Israeli relations at Bar-Ilan and Reichman universities, said.

Netanyahu might have to choose between Trump and his coalition members, a number of whom want the war to continue, Prof Gilboa said.

A move by Mr Netanyahu to end the war would leave him on shaky political ground at home a year before elections.

Oded Ailam, a researcher at the Jerusalem Centre for Security and Foreign Affairs, agreed that Mr Trump was likely to demand a permanent ceasefire, leaving Mr Netanyahu with few options.

Israel prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Friday (Richard Drew/AP)

Mr Netanyahu has repeatedly vowed to continue the offensive until Hamas is destroyed.

If Mr Trump puts the pressure on, the Israeli leader would probably seek to include red lines in any deal, Mr Ailam said.

He might demand that Hamas be dismantled, the researcher said.

Mr Netanyahu might also set a condition that if the militant group resumes fighting or returns to power, the Israeli military would have the right to operate freely in Gaza, he said.

Mr Trump joined forces with Mr Netanyahu during Israels brief war with Iran in June, ordering US stealth bombers to strike three nuclear sites, and he has supported the Israeli leader during his corruption trial, describing the case as a witch hunt.

But the relationship has become more tense lately.

Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City continued on Sunday (Yousef Al Zanoun/AP)

Mr Trump was frustrated by Israels failed strike this month on Hamas officials in Qatar, a US ally in the region that had been hosting negotiations to end the war in Gaza.

Recent comments have hinted at growing impatience from Washington.

Last week, Mr Trump vowed to prevent Israel from annexing the West Bank  an idea promoted by some of Mr Netanyahus hard-line governing partners.

The international community opposes annexation, saying it would destroy hopes for a two-state solution.

On Friday, Mr Trump raised expectations for the meeting with Mr Netanyahu, telling reporters on the White House lawn that the US was very close to a deal on Gaza.

Mr Trump has made similar pronouncements in the past with nothing to show for it, and it is unclear if this time will be different.
Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shakes hands with US President Donald Trump after a news conference in the State Dining Room of the White House (Alex Brandon/AP)

US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said they have agreed to a plan to end the war in Gaza, but it is unclear whether Hamas will accept the terms.

Mr Trump on Monday laid out a 20-point plan for ending the Israel-Hamas war and establishing a post-war governance in the war-battered Palestinian territory.

Mr Trumps plan would establish a temporary governing board that would be headed by Mr Trump and include former British prime minister Tony Blair.

The plan does not require people to leave Gaza and calls for the war to end immediately if both sides accept it.

It also calls for all remaining hostages to be released within 72 hours of Israel accepting the plan.

Mr Trump said Israel would have the full backing of the US to take steps to defeat Hamas if it does not accept the proposed peace deal.

I think we are beyond very close, Mr Trump said at the start of a news conference with Mr Netanyahu where he detailed the plan. Were not quite finished. We have to get Hamas.

If Hamas rejects your plan, Mr President, or if they supposedly accept it and then do everything to counter it, then Israel will finish the job by itself, Mr Netanyahu said. This can be done the easy way or it can be done the hard way, but it will be done.

The president went on to urge Palestinian people to take responsibility for their destiny and embrace his peace proposal.

Qatars prime minister and Egypts intelligence chief presented Mr Trumps proposal to Hamas negotiators, who are now reviewing it in good faith, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The person was not authorised to comment and spoke on the condition anonymity.

While Hamas has said in the past that it would agree to step back from governing Gaza, the militant group has refused to disarm, something Mr Netanyahu has long demanded as part of any long-term truce to end the war.

Smoke and fire rises from an Israeli airstrike on the Macca Tower, a high-rise building in Gaza City (Yousef Al Zanoun/AP)

The Palestinian government in the occupied West Bank welcomed Mr Trumps plan and pledged to implement reforms called for in the plan in order to return to Gaza and potentially clear the way for the establishment of a Palestinian state.

We have affirmed our desire for a modern, democratic, and non-militarised Palestinian state, committed to pluralism and the peaceful transfer of power, the Palestinian government said in a statement.

It promised a series of reforms, including new elections, changes to its schoolbooks and ending a system that pays the families of militants involved in attacks on Israelis.

Mr Netanyahu earlier extended a formal apology to his Qatari counterpart for a recent military strike targeting Hamas officials in the Gulf emirate that infuriated Arab leaders and triggered rare criticism by the US of Israel.

Mr Netanyahu made the call to Qatars prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, as he met with Mr Trump, according to the White House.

Mr Trump described the exchange between the Israeli and Qatari leader as a heart-to-heart call.

As a first step, Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed his deep regret that Israels missile strike against Hamas targets in Qatar unintentionally killed a Qatari serviceman, the White House said in a statement. He further expressed regret that, in targeting Hamas leadership during hostage negotiations, Israel violated Qatari sovereignty and affirmed that Israel will not conduct such an attack again in the future.

The White House talks, and apology from Mr Netanyahu, come at a tenuous moment.

Israel is increasingly isolated, losing support from many countries that were long its steadfast allies.

At home, Mr Netanyahus governing coalition appears more fragile than ever. And the White House is showing signs of impatience.

The question now is whether Mr Trump, who has offered steadfast backing to Mr Netanyahu throughout the war, will change his tone and turn up the pressure on Israel to wind down the conflict.

As he welcomed Mr Netanyahu to the White House, Mr Trump responded affirmatively when asked by reporters whether he was confident a deal would be soon reached to end the fighting between Israel and Hamas.

I am. Im very confident, Mr Trump said.

 Netanyahus apology for strike that angered US ally

Israel stuck the headquarters of Hamas political leadership in Qatar on September 9 as the groups top figures gathered to consider a US proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

The strike on the territory of a US ally was a stunning escalation and risked upending talks aimed at winding down the war and freeing hostages.

No senior Hamas officials were killed in the strike.

Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shakes hands with US President Donald Trump after a news conference in the State Dining Room of the White House (Alex Brandon/AP)

The attack on an energy-rich Gulf nation hosting thousands of American troops, which has served as a key mediator between Israel and Hamas throughout the war and even before, was described by Mr Trump as out of step with Israeli and US interests.

And Mr Trump sought to move quickly to assuage his Qatari allies.

Qatar, meanwhile, condemned the strike as a flagrant violation of all international laws and norms as smoke rose over its capital, Doha.

Other key US allies in the Gulf, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, promised their support to Qatar.

The White House said Mr al Thani welcomed Mr Netanyahus assurances and emphasised Qatars readiness to continue contributing meaningfully to regional security and stability.

But even as the White House was spotlighting the apology, Israels far right national security minister newly defended the decision to carry out Israels attack.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, a key coalition partner of Mr Netanyahus, in a posting on X called the operation an important, just and ethical attack.

It is very good that it happened, he added.

 White House urges Israel and Hamas to get to a ceasefire and hostage release deal

Earlier on Monday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt urged both sides to finalise an agreement to bring an end to the nearly two-year-old war in Gaza.

US President Donald Trump listens during a news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Evan Vucci/AP)

Ultimately the president knows when you get to a good deal, both sides are going to leave a little bit unhappy, Ms Leavitt told reporters. But we need this conflict to end.

Mr Trump and Mr Netanyahu were first holding talks with aides in the Oval Office and over a private lunch. A joint press conference is expected later.

Meanwhile, Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, said Palestinian officials stood ready to work with Mr Trump and Arab countries in bringing an end to the war.

Let us not delay a single minute more in doing what is necessary for this just peace to replace the unbearable reality of today, Mr Mansour said during a Security Council meeting on the Middle East.

 Trump growing more frustrated with conflict

Mr Trump joined forces with Mr Netanyahu during Israels brief war with Iran in June, ordering US stealth bombers to strike three nuclear sites, and he has supported the Israeli leader during his corruption trial, describing the case as a witch hunt.

But the relationship has become more tense lately. Mr Trump was frustrated by Israels failed strike this month on Hamas officials in Qatar.

Last week, Mr Trump vowed to prevent Israel from annexing the West Bank  an idea promoted by some of Mr Netanyahus hard-line governing partners. The international community opposes annexation, saying it would destroy hopes for a two-state solution.

On Friday, Mr Trump raised expectations for the meeting with Mr Netanyahu, telling reporters the US was very close to a deal on Gaza.
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.
MILL RIVER  When the sale of Limestone Farm became a matter of record last week, county and area dairymen and others were not sure whether to offer the former owners congratulations or condolences.
Pittsfield city councilors are calling for a comprehensive review of how the Shannon Grant is being used  and whether longtime partner 18 Degrees is effectively reaching the youth most at risk of gun violence  as the grant approaches renewal.
The noise is deafening and the work can be lonely, but to William Smyth, who toils in the world's last commercial linen "beetling" mill, his job is unique.

"There's nothing modern about it, I'm doing the same now as they were doing 100 years and more ago," said Smyth, 59, at the mill in Northern Ireland in a village some 45 miles (70 kilometres) west of Belfast -- the last commercial beetling operation in existence.

"Nobody's come up with anything to make it any easier, there's no other way of getting the finish on that cloth," he told AFP of the traditional method which creates a silky sheen on the linen.

Managers at William Clark & Sons, founded almost 300 years ago in 1736, say the company has a bright future as interest grows in traditional beetled linen from high-class fashion designers, with an eye on sustainability.

The din comes from the giant mallet-type hammers -- the 'beetles' -- on a 150-year-old beetling machine, an antiquated relic of a once thriving Irish industry.

Dangling from a beam, around 40 beetles relentlessly pound the woven linen fed by Smyth through the machine's cast-iron engine that powers a rotating roll.

Up to 140 hours of beetling creates a fabric with a lustrous and hard-wearing finish.

The finished product has captured renewed interest in recent years from top designers such as fashion house Alexander McQueen and Northern Irish designer Amy Anderson.

The handsome riverside stone building houses three working engines and is the last commercially-run beetling mill in the world, says Andrew Wilson, a businessman who invested in the mill earlier this year.

"Beetling mills used to be dotted along rivers all over Ireland, unfortunately this is the last one left," he said.

The last-minute investment saved the mill, after it went into administration in December, and kept Smyth's endangered craft from extinction, he told AFP.

"William's skill set was about to disappear, we wanted to keep it alive," said Wilson.

Wearing protective ear-muffs, Smyth, who has worked with linen for 40 years and as a beetler for five, nimbly moves between the engines, tugging and smoothing the moving rolls of linen.

"I have to keep an eye on it when it's on the machine, make sure it doesn't slip, and watch for creases and nips," he said.

Starting at dawn, he toils alone 10 hours a day, loading and unloading the cloth from each machine.

Before the process the linen is stiffened with starch, and after beetling Smyth hauls the rolls upstairs and hangs them to dry from the roof beams for about a month.

"When that there dries out, it'll go all crispy, wrinkly. I take it back down on the machines again to take the wrinkles out of it. And that's it finished," he said.

"I enjoy seeing how the cloth changes," he said.

From its emergence in the 18th century, the linen industry flourished in Ireland, forming the backbone of the economy and driving the growth of cities such as Belfast and villages like Upperlands.

In the countryside, farmers grew the flax which was woven, bleached and dyed close to the local riverside mill where water provided power.

By the mid-19th century, Belfast was shipping linen tablecloths, shirts and handkerchiefs around the world, earning the nickname "Linenopolis".

But the industry declined in the 20th century as the labour-intensive fabric was replaced by cheaper artificial fibres.

William Clark & Sons has held onto a loyal niche customer base for beetled linen including fashionable tailors in London's Savile Row, and clients in Japan, manager Kevin Devlin said.

"It's used inside the garment at the seams and the joints, it's invisible to the wearer of the clothing but adds a lot of strength," he told AFP.

"If you're buying a high-class suit and you want the sleeve to last a long time, then beetled linen is the material of choice."

More expensive than regular linen, Devlin still sees commercial potential for growth.

"We hope that more creatives come to appreciate its finish and its heritage," he said.

That could mean an apprentice is hired to help Smyth, he added.

"We need to find the right person, with a calling for this traditional processing, and not put off by manual work for long hours and the rumble of the beetles," he said.
SPRINGFIELD  It resembles a small butterfly, but the eye-catching spotted lanternfly has just plain bad manners.

If you see a spotted lanternfly in Berkshire County: Should you kill it? This year, the spotted lanternfly has been seen for the first time Northampton and Westfield. It's already in northern Connecticut and parts of New York. Here's what you should do if you find one in Berkshire County ...

Its a creature that you can dress up but dont want as a visitor in your yard, on your car or on the exterior of your house  its a rude guest that leaves behind a sticky mess.

Chances are, you havent yet had an encounter with one if you live in the Berkshires. But its only a matter of time before it will land, settle and multiply here  possibly traveling here on a wheel well, a train car or through natural migration from either northern Connecticut or points farther east in Massachusetts, where its already established.

When it eventually lands, it threatens to do serious damage to trees and crops.

Because of its potential devastation to agriculture, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources is mapping the spotted lanternfly's movement across Massachusetts and taking an interest in research on both pesticides and the possible introduction of targeted potential predators, now being researched by the U.S. Department of Agriculture at Joint Base Cape Cod.

We're not sure what kind of an impact spotted lanternfly is going to have, but it can do significant damage to grapevine, said Jennifer Forman Orth, an environmental biologist at the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources.

HITCHING A RIDE

The spotted lanternfly has been busy winging and hitchhiking its way around Massachusetts since 2021. It was first found in Fitchburg and Shrewsbury, both in Worcester County, but interestingly not contiguous communities, meaning that it got to both by hitchhiking.

As of last week, the spotted lanternfly had been documented in 57 of Massachusetts 351 communities, as far west as Westfield.

Lycorma delicatula, as the spotted lanternfly is technically named, was first seen in 2014 in the United States in Berks County, Pa. It has now made its way to 19 states as well as Washington, D.C. Traveling northeast, it was first seen in Fairfield County, Conn., in 2019 and on Staten Island, N.Y., in 2020.

While the spotted lanternfly has done most of its migrating northeast, it's also been found as far west as Illinois and as far south as North Carolina.

THE DAMAGE

The sap sucker uses its mouth parts to feed on the phloem layer of plants.

This insect then literally leaves sticky messes behind, covering the understory in excrement, euphemistically named honeydew for its high sugar content. Honeydew is sticky and sweet and attracts yellow jackets and wasps to wherever it lands. It doesnt take long to develop sooty mold, a black-tinged substance that stresses and kills plants it lands on in the understory  the plant life that thrives in the lower levels of forests.

Of greater impact to humans, particularly farmers, vintners and brewers, the spotted lanternfly feeds on grape leaves and hop leaves, sucking the life out of those plants, as well as cucurbits  plants in the squash, cucumber, pumpkin family  and even basil. Its also been known to kill its preferred host, tree of heaven, as well as saplings of black walnut, and to stress other types of trees, such as maple and birch.

THE TROUBLE WITH TRACKING

Tracking this little critter is tough because it changes its clothes so frequently during its many-staged life cycle.

Ask Brian Walsh. He lives 7 miles away from the location of the first sighting of a spotted lanternfly in Pennsylvania.

At that time, he was in the landscaping business and was a commercial pesticide applicator. He started paying attention immediately.

In 2019, Walsh was hired by Pennsylvania State University as a horticultural educator to continue what we started to do privately, attempting to reduce the spread of the insects range.

Walsh would like to track a single spotted lanternfly from hatch through its four flightless nymphal stages and through adulthood, but hes been frustrated in his efforts.

Its as if these tiny creatures are outsmarting technology.

Every time they molt from one instar nymph to the next, they shed their exoskeleton in order to grow, he said. The tags fall off. Then to put any kind of radio trackers or anything on an adult, they're not strong flyers, so it artificially reduces how much they can actually travel.

Walsh and others have tracked the lifecycle of the insect, which starts off in a mass of 30 to 50 eggs, covered in a brown waxy substance in the fall. After overwintering, the eggs hatch in spring. A lanternfly molts four times. In its first three nymphal stages, it is black with white spots. In its fourth, it becomes red with white spots. In its adult phase, it is larger, primarily gray with red hind wings and a yellow abdomen.

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

On Sept. 18, Zach Colby, a research fellow at the Forest Insect Conservation and Management Laboratory in the Department of Environmental Conservation at the University of Massachusetts, gave The Eagle a sneak preview of what might be to come in the Berkshires: adults feeding on the trunks of tree of heaven and females fanning their wings in a courtship ritual.

Colby pointed out sooty mold on the understory. Some leaves had died. Other plants looked stressed.

You can really see how the sooty mold becomes a problem when it starts piling up on the vegetation, and then the vegetation cant photosynthesize, Colby said. You get all this poke weed dying back. Definitely ruins a picnic.

In Pennsylvania, Walsh has seen a buildup of sooty mold devastating the understory to an even greater extent.

It looks like a forest fire, but the material hasn't burned, he said.

Colby takes precautions from the sticky and persistent honeydew, often wearing a hat and long sleeves when hes in the field.

Its almost like your windshield washer jet," Colby said. "Just like a little blip, blip, blip.

In their adult stage, the males and females can be easily distinguished.

The males are probably two thirds of the size of the females, Colby said. The females look quite a bit longer and then especially when they become gravid, their abdomen will swell up and turn yellow.

Standing underneath a mature tree of heaven where spotted lanternflies were feeding, Colby noted what he saw.

Theres a ton of them," he said. "The honeydew that theyre excreting is falling over the tree and onto the vegetation underneath and causing sooty mold. Its causing an abundance of sugar-attracted insects like yellow jackets and its stressing the heck out of this tree.

He said the tree would eventually die, collapse and possibly cause damage.

AGRICULTURAL IMPACT

In its flightless nymph stage, the spotted lanternfly will feed on younger plants, said Orth.

That includes, everything from stuff we don't necessarily care about, like Asiatic bittersweet and poison ivy to things like cucurbits, she said. There is definitely a potential of seeing some negative impact at farms, but primarily at nurseries, which are actually our top agricultural commodity in Massachusetts.

Orth asks that anyone who sees one in Berkshire County report their sighting to the state at tinyurl.com/3bzubrv3.

KEEPING THEM OUT

Prior to getting into his car, Colby checked for any would-be hitchhikers in any cracks or crevices.

Ninety percent of the time, I find them in here, like this kind of lip underneath the hood. They end up flying into the glass and then they ping off down into here, he said. They really like to hide here up in the vents.

He checked under the door handles, on the roof and all flat surfaces.

Oh, there we go, he said. Theres one. So thats a male spotted lanternfly trying to take a ride under the wheel well and come with me back to Amherst.
A smaller share of Massachusetts schools made significant progress toward  or met or exceeded  their academic goals, state officials said Monday as they released what they called sobering results from the spring 2025 MCAS tests.

The results, which Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler and Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez released during an event at an Arlington middle school, showed slight improvement in English language arts scores among students in grades three to eight and no change in math scores for that cohort.

Berkshire County results echoed state trends, with slight improvement in reading grades three to eight and no change or slight decreases in math for the same grade range.

Results for 10th graders, the first class to take the standardized test knowing that voters had already scrapped it as a high school graduation requirement, were down across the board. Officials at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education said they think last fall's vote might have something to do with the slide.

In a call with reporters Monday morning, Martinez pointed out that there is not one single statewide student group that has bounced back to its pre-pandemic level of achievement in Massachusetts.

The commissioner, who took the job in July after leading Chicagos schools, noted that some states have already returned to pre-pandemic achievement levels. He added that Massachusetts still faces achievement gaps for students of color, students with disabilities and English learners.

"Look, these results are sobering, but they're not insurmountable," he said. "I am confident that we can improve and that Massachusetts can continue to be a national leader in education."

Tutwiler added, "I have long suggested that recovery from the pandemic will be a process, not an event."

In English language arts, 42 percent of students in grades three to eight met or exceeded the state's expectations, an increase of 3 percentage points compared to 2024 but still 10 percentage points below statewide results from 2019.

There was slight improvement among Berkshire County schools in English for grades three to eight. Lenox, at 62 percent meeting or exceeding standards in English, was the top performer, with Richmond (59 percent), Central Berkshire (46 percent) and Berkshire Hills (45 percent) all exceeding the state average of 42 percent.

Among city districts, Pittsfield showed slight improvement with 29 percent testing at meeting or exceeding standards  an improvement of 3 points from 2024. North Adams also improved slightly, to 21 percent from 20 percent a year ago.

Among other county districts with a large enough cohort of students to produce meaningful statistics, Lee (35 percent) Southern Berkshire Regional (37 percent) and Berkshire Arts and Technology Public Charter (38 percent) showed slight improvement, though below the state average. Hoosac Valley backslid slightly, with 20 percent of students in grades three to eight scoring at meets or exceeds in reading. Clarksburg, at 29 percent meeting or exceeding standards, held steady.

In math, statewide, 41 percent of third through eighth graders met or exceeded expectations, unchanged from 2024 but lagging 2019 results by 8 percentage points.

Berkshire Countys lone charter school, its two city districts and two of the larger regional districts bucked the trend of lower math scores.

At BART, a combined 27 percent of students grades three to eight tested at meeting or exceeding the state average of 41 percent. Thats a nine percentage point improvement over BARTs math scores for the same grade range in 2024.

Pittsfield moved up a percentage point, to 23 percent of third through eighth graders meeting or exceeding standards, and North Adams improved by three percentage points, to 23 percent.

Central Berkshire Regional moved up to 43 percent meeting or exceeding the state average, up from 39 percent in 2024. And Berkshire Hills increased by 4 points, to 36 percent.

Lenox, at 58 percent testing at meeting or exceeding standards, and Mount Greylock, at 49 percent meets or exceeds, posted the top scores.

Across the state, 55 percent of schools either made substantial progress toward, met or exceeded their own accountability targets. And while DESE officials pointed out that a majority of schools at least made serious progress in 2025, it represents a decrease from 60 percent of schools that at least made significant progress in 2024.

Of 1,590 schools that serve MCAS-tested grades and had sufficient student populations, there are 280 schools, or 18 percent, that the state has classified as "requiring assistance or intervention" for meeting at least one criterion from a list.

Lawmakers created the MCAS system in a 1993 education reform law that was aimed at improving accountability and school performance. The first tests were given in 1998, and students starting with the high school class of 2003 were required to achieve sufficient scores to graduate until voters approved a measure last November to decouple the two.

A panel assembled by Gov. Maura Healey has to make recommendations for a new statewide high school graduation standard by the end of the year and last week unveiled its first rough sketch of its thinking. Tutwiler, who co-chairs the group, said the recommendations "will include rigorous learning experiences and a mechanism to give us confidence that all students are meeting these high expectations."

The Massachusetts Teachers Association, which pushed for the elimination of MCAS passage as a graduation requirement, responded by warning against the continued use of a standardized test to assess students.

"Educators and voters have made clear that such essential skills cannot be assessed by a standardized test. We will only nurture students to be 'critical problem solvers, intentional collaborators, effective communicators, self-aware navigators, and responsible decision-makers' if we design educator-led systems of assessment and provide the necessary resources that educators, students and schools need to fulfill these goals," Max Page and Deb McCarthy, president and vice president of MTA, said.

MCAS results are sometimes accompanied by the state's corresponding school and district accountability determinations. But Monday's announcement did not include any details on schools exiting or entering "underperforming" or "chronically underperforming" status. State education officials said Martinez will evaluate each schools status in the coming weeks.

Eagle reporter Greg Sukiennik contributed to this story.
The Sea of Galilee was an integral part of Jesuss ministry. On the shores of the water, Jesus performed miracles, demonstrating he was the Son of God. He shared teachings. Some of the ideas were countercultural to the people of the day. Jesus was setting the foundation of the Gospel. What exactly happened at the Sea of Galilee? Lets dig deeper and find out how the events at this place played a key role in forever changing our world.

Where Is the Sea of Galilee Located?

The Sea of Galilee is located in the Jordan Valley in Israel. Its east of the Bay of Acre, which is now known as the Bay of Haifa. The pear-shaped lake is thirteen miles long from north to south and seven miles wide from east to west. Syria sits east of the Sea of Galilee. The water sits between mountains on the east and the west, which reach about 2,000 feet. To the north are the hills of Naphtali and Mount Hermon. To the south is present-day Israel in the southwest and Jordan in the southeast. And interestingly, despite its name, the Sea of Galilee is freshwater, not saltwater.

What Miracles Did Jesus Perform at the Sea of Galilee?

Jesus miraculously fed five thousand people at the Sea of Galilee. A crowd had gathered there with him for three days. Jesus was concerned that they had nothing to eat. His disciples found a boy with seven loaves of bread and a few fish. Jesus gave thanks for the food and broke it. Then, he told the disciples to feed the people. They were able to serve everyone and had seven baskets of bread left over.

After the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus sent the disciples ahead of him while he went up the mountain to pray. Later, he came to the sea, but by this time, the disciples boat was far from the shore. Jesus walked on the water to reach the boat. At first, the disciples were afraid and thought he was a ghost. Peter called out to Jesus. Matthew 14:28 says, "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." Jesus invited him to come, and Peter walked on the surface. He was steady until he saw the wind and became afraid. He began to sink, but Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.

Jesus also healed a deaf and mute man at the Sea of Galilee. A group of people brought the man to him and begged Jesus for healing. Jesus took the man aside and placed his fingers in the mans ears. He spit, touched the mans tongue, and cried out Ephphatha! to the heavens, which means Be opened. Then, the man was healed. He could hear and speak.

After his resurrection, Jesus appeared to the disciples by the Sea of Galilee. They were out fishing but hadnt caught anything. They didnt recognize Jesus at first. He told them to put their net in the water, and it filled with fish. John realized it was Jesus. The disciples brought their huge hauls to shore, and John 21:12 says, None of the disciples dared ask him, 'Who are you? They knew it was the Lord.

What Parables Did Jesus Teach by the Sea of Galilee?

One parable Jesus taught by the Sea of Galilee was the Parable of the Sower found in Matthew 13. The parable talks about a farmer who was sowing his seed. The seeds fell in four places: the path, rocky places, among thorns, and good soil. Jesus explains what happened to each of the seeds. The birds ate the seeds on the path. The ones in rocky places couldnt grow because the shallow soil didnt provide enough space for their roots. The plants that grew among thorns were choked out, and the seeds on the good soil grew strong.

Later in the chapter, Jesus explains the parable. He explains that the seeds on the path represent people who have heard about the kingdom but dont take it in, so their knowledge remains surface level and is easily taken away. The seed amongst the rocks represents people who initially show enthusiasm for the kingdom, but their roots dont go deep, so when hardship comes, they are easily withered. The plants growing amid thorns are people who hear about the kingdom but let worries and troubles in the world diffuse their hope. The seeds growing in good soil have a sturdy foundation, can thrive, and produce a bountiful harvest.

Jesus also tells the Parable of the Weeds in Matthew 24:30. In this story, a man plants good seed in his field, but at night enemies come to plant weeds among the crops. The workers ask the man if they should dig up the weeds, but he says no because then they will also dig up the good plants. This story represents the coexistence of good and evil in our world. In any community, there can be sincere followers of Christ and those who try to thwart them. Therefore, we must be diligent and discerning.

Next, Jesus tells the crowd at the Sea of Galilee the Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Leaven. In these stories, a tiny mustard seed represents our faith. When we plant it, the seed is small, but it will grow to be prosperous and strong. In the same way, our faith can grow as well as the belief of others. Similarly, leaven, or yeast, can represent our faith. Again, it starts small, but the Holy Spirit works slowly and silently, crafting our hearts and communities to be more in line with Christ.

A string of short parables comes next. In the Parable of the Hidden Treasure, Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to treasure buried in a field. A man finds the treasure, reburies it, and sells all he has to buy the field. This story represents the priceless value of the kingdom and how we may need to sacrifice other things to acquire it. The Parable of the Pearl of Great Value has a similar meaning. In this story, a merchant searching for pearls is compared to the kingdom of heaven. When he finds one of great value, the merchant needs to sell everything he has to obtain it.

The Parable of the Net comes next. Jesus compares the kingdom of God to a net set out to collect fish. Many types of fish fill the net and need to be sorted into good and bad. Similarly, in the end times, those who do not accept Christ will be separated from true Christians. Jesus finishes this set of parables with a story about the master of a house who has old and new treasures. This emphasizes that Christians need to be reminded of old truths as well as learn new lessons.

How Did the Sea of Galilee Shape Jesus Ministry?

Four of the apostles grew up near the Sea of Galilee. Peter, Andrew, James, and John were all fishermen. In Matthew 4:18-22, Jesus calls Simon Peter and Andrew to come and follow him, and they obey. He then finds James and John, who also join Jesus when he calls them. It was on the Sea of Galilee that Jesus called the first four disciples. The remaining apostles were also all from the town of Galilee.

The city of Galilee was the primary location for Jesus ministry. The book of Isaiah prophesies about the future Messiah. Isaiah 9:1 reads, Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan John Gills Exposition of the Bible explains that some think of the Way of the Sea as the Mediterranean sea, and of that part of the land of Israel which lay next it; but it seems rather to design the sea of Tiberias or Galilee, as Jarchi rightly interprets it. Jarchi, also known as Rashi, was a well-known scholar of the Bible. He was known for his commentary that drew both literal and nonliteral meaning from the text. Isaiah 9 predicts the birth of the coming Messiah, the historical event that forever changed the world. The town of Galilee, including its sea, had a front row seat to Jesus' miracles and teachings.

What Spiritual Lessons Can We Learn from the Sea of Galilee?

1. Be bold in our faith.

Jesus performed many miracles near the Sea of Galilee. The story where Peter walks on water shows us that we need to step out in faith and believe God can perform a miracle. Peter believed Jesus could allow him to walk on water and literally stepped out of the boat and onto the sea. When he became afraid and took his eyes off Jesus, he began to sink. When he trusted Jesus, he walked in his miracle.

Similarly, a group of people brought the deaf and mute man to Jesus. They believed he could be healed. Traveling with a man with certain challenges probably made for an even more difficult journey. Still, the people persisted. They got the man to Jesus, and he was healed.

2. Stories share the Gospel.

Jesus shared his truth through stories. He used context that was familiar to the people of the time and taught them in a way they would understand. Our own stories can share the gospel. We can tell people what God has done in our lives and show them he can work in theirs too. When we relate to people in a way they understand, it provides a clearer picture of the Gospel.

3. A strong foundation provides a strong faith.

In many of his parables, Jesus talks about growing seeds. He emphasizes how the seeds need good soil to reach their full potential. Jesus acknowledges that there will be weeds, or scoffers, who try to steer us away from our faith. Instead of growing in a space with no skeptics, we need to stand strong and flourish among them.

Our faith may start small, but it can grow to be mighty. Jesus hasnt left us alone on this earth. The Holy Spirit resides with his believers every day. We can give our tiny hope to Jesus, and he can help it grow firm and strong. In his teachings at the Sea of Galilee, Jesus doesnt promise following him will be easy, but he does promise he can take the little faith we have and grow it insurmountably to cover any hardship we have.

Photo Credit:  Getty Images/RnDmS

Jenna Brooke Carlson is an elementary dual language teacher in the Chicago suburbs. As a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Word Weavers, she enjoys spending time with other writers and perfecting her craft. Her debut novel, Falling Flat, spreads the message that healing can occur, even after tragedy. Along with writing, shes pursuing her dreams of creating a community of brave young women, who she can encourage to live out their dreams amid challenges and imperfection. Her days are busy, but shes determined she can conquer anything with a fuzzy blanket and a hot cup of tea. To find out more about Jenna, visit her website at jennabrookecarlson.com.
Investigators are analysing the online activity of Jeffrey Sanford, the former US Marine who stormed a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse in Michigan on Sunday, killing at least four and injuring eight.

Sanford rammed his vehicle into the building, opened fire on worshippers, and set the church ablaze before being shot dead in an exchange with police, according to the Associated Press.

FBI Takes Control Of Investigation

Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye confirmed to The Washington Post that warrants will be issued to search Sanford's home and mobile devices. He said the FBI has assumed control of the case, calling it 'an act of targeted violence'. Rescue workers are still combing the debris, and officials warned the death toll could rise.

Political Symbols and Online Footprints

The spotlight quickly turned to Sanford's political leanings after a large Trump flag was seen outside his home in Mundy Township.

The Daily Beast reported that the banner was clearly visible from the street, prompting speculation about ideological motives.

Newsweek, meanwhile, noted that photos circulating online appeared to show Sanford wearing a 'Trump 2020' T-shirt, while a Facebook post by his wife used hashtags such as '#bringtrumpback.'

However, public voting records do not indicate that he is registered with any political party.

Beyond political imagery, Al Jazeera reported that Sanford's social media accounts mostly contained images of hunting, fishing, and outdoor activities, portraying him as a 'country outdoorsman.'

That digital trail stands in stark contrast to the scale of violence unleashed at the church.

Family Life And Stress Signs

While most posts were benign, Sanford's wife occasionally shared messages hinting at family strains.

The Sun highlighted one where she compared talking to children to 'talking about rocks'. Though light-hearted at the time, investigators are now re-examining such posts for context.

Devices and Explosives

According to Reuters, authorities discovered three improvised explosive devices in Sanford's vehicle after the rampage, although it remains unclear if he intended to use them.

The fire inside the church, police said, was likely accelerated with gasoline or another fuel.

Investigators are now scrutinising his electronic devices, including phones and computers, in hopes of identifying whether he left behind a digital manifesto, extremist connections, or communications that may reveal a motive.

As of Monday evening, no such evidence has been publicly disclosed.

A Search For Motive

Renye told The Washington Post that speculation about Sanford's motives is premature, stressing that "we will let the evidence lead us."

The FBI is conducting a forensic analysis of his devices to determine whether online content contributed to radicalisation or emotional breakdown.

This focus on Sanford's digital trail reflects a broader trend in how mass shootings are investigated.

In past incidents, perpetrators have often left behind online posts, manifestos, or extremist links that shed light on their thought processes.

In this case, his sparse online profile leaves investigators with more questions than answers.

Human Cost And Lingering Questions

For the community, the tragedy has left deep scars. Survivors described scenes of chaos as they tried to flee the smoke and gunfire, while family members anxiously awaited confirmation about missing loved ones.

The FBI has urged patience as forensic teams sift through the charred remains of the structure.

Whether Sanford's social media history ultimately reveals signs of political radicalisation, personal turmoil, or something else entirely remains uncertain.

For now, the digital trail is one of the few avenues investigators hope will provide clarity to a community searching for answers in the aftermath of unimaginable violence.

Originally published on IBTimes UK
Two men facing fraud charges linked to a 1.1 billion (1.6 billion) property deal in Northern Ireland were motivated by greed to act dishonestly, a jury has heard.

Belfast Crown Court was told that prominent Belfast businessman Frank Cushnahan and former law firm managing partner Ian Coulter expected to be paid millions of pounds each as a success fee for the sale of the Northern Ireland property loan book held by the National Assets Management Agency (Nama).

Barrister Jonathan Kinnear KC opened the prosecutions case in the long-awaited trial on Monday afternoon.

Ian Coulter leaves Belfast Crown Court during a previous hearing (Liam McBurney/PA)

Nama was set up by the Government in 2009 during the financial crisis to offload non-performing loans acquired from troubled banks.

Cushnahan, 83, of Alexandra Gate, Holywood, Co Down, was a former adviser to Nama, while Coulter, 54, of Templepatrick Road in Ballyclare, Co Antrim, was a senior figure in the law firm Tughans.

Advertisement

The loan book was sold to a US investment fund in 2014 in a deal named Project Eagle.

Cushnahan is charged with fraud involving a failure to disclose information between April 1st and November 7th, 2013.

Cushnahan and Coulter are both charged with fraud by false representation on or around April 3rd, 2014.

Coulter is also facing four further charges of fraud, fraud by false representation, removing criminal property and transferring criminal property from Northern Ireland.

Both men deny all the charges.

Mr Kinnear told the jury: The purpose of Nama was to take over billions of property development debts held by a number of the major Irish banks.

Motivated by greed they both acted dishonestly, withholding information and providing false information to ensure that they shared in the massive profits which were available Jonathan Kinnear KC

This case relating to these two defendants relates to the sale of approximately 4 billion worth of those debts which were secured largely against property in Northern Ireland.

That 4 billion package of debts was sold for 1.1 billion.

The defendants Mr Cushnahan and Mr Coulter were heavily involved in the brokering and arrangement of that deal.

In return for their work they were to be paid millions of pounds each, we say, from a success fee of about 15 million.

The barrister added: Motivated by greed they both acted dishonestly, withholding information and providing false information to ensure that they shared in the massive profits which were available.

Mr Kinnear said Coulter had bought a company in the Isle of Man and used a fraudulent invoice to extract 7.2 million from Tughans.

He said: He did so in order to launder his ill-gotten gains by removing them from Northern Ireland into a bank account that only he had control over with the intention thereafter of paying both Mr Cushnahan and himself.

Advertisement

The jury was told Cushnahan is a well-known business figure in Northern Ireland.

The trial is taking place at Belfast Crown Court (Liam McBurney/PA)

Mr Kinnear said: He was known and indeed trusted by many prominent politicians.

As a result of his profile in 2010 he was appointed as an external member of the Nama Northern Ireland Advisory Committee (Niac).

He said Niac was set up by Nama to advise how it might deal with the property debts it owned in Northern Ireland.

The barrister said: As a member of that committee Mr Cushnahan was under a legal duty to disclose any conflict of interest that he had.

We say in breach of this legal duty Mr Cushnahan secretly worked on a deal for the whole of the Northern Ireland loan book to be sold by Nama to an American fund called Pimco.

The prosecution case is that without telling Nama he was involved with Pimco he provided assistance to Pimco in the expectation that he would receive a success fee of several million pounds.

The jury heard that shortly before the deal was due to complete, Nama found out that Cushnahan had been assisting Pimco, and the deal fell through.

Mr Kinnear continued: That wasnt the end of it.

The story, as we will see, is long. There are quite a lot of documents, but it is not particularly complicated Jonathan Kinnear KC

Instead a new buyer, another American fund called Cerberus, was found, and the deal for the sale of the Northern Ireland loan book was eventually completed for that price, about 1.1 billion.

The prosecutions case is that Mr Cushnahan continued to help from the shadows and expected to receive his cut of the 15 million success fee.

Advertisement

The barrister said that Coulter had been introduced to the sale of the Northern Ireland loan book by Cushnahan.

He said that the two defendants had worked to persuade the politicians in both Dublin and Belfast that the sale of the Northern Ireland loan book would be a positive benefit to all.

He added: They also sought out, met and encouraged and assisted potential buyers.

They did this because they expected to receive and share a very substantial success fee.

Mr Kinnear said there was nothing intrinsically wrong with the principle of a success fee being paid on the back of a transaction.

But he added: It was the way in which these two defendants went about it and the way in which Mr Cushnahan did not reveal that he was involved in the deal to the entity which was selling the deal.

Ireland Doctor prescribed highly addictive painkiller from a hospital he no longer worked at Read more

Addressing the jury Mr Kinnear said: The story, as we will see, is long. There are quite a lot of documents, but it is not particularly complicated.

Ultimately, you will need to decide if the defendants acted dishonestly.

The trial continues.
The HSE announced on Monday that the opening of a newly constructed 96-bed block at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) is imminent, as near-record patient overcrowding continues to plague the hospital.

There were 147 patients without a bed at UHL on Monday, including 54 patients on trolleys in the hospitals Emergency Department and 93 on trolleys on wards, according to official figures published by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO).

A record 150 patients were recorded on trolleys at the hospital on February 7th, 2024.

Just yards from the overcrowded Limerick ED lies the first of three proposed 96-single-bed hospital blocks, which is expected to be opened in the coming days.

We look forward to the imminent opening of the first 96-bed block at UHL, HSE Mid West confirmed today.

The ED and wards at UHL are consistently the most overcrowded in the country, with demand from a catchment of over 400,000 that includes all of Limerick and Clare, north Tipperary, and parts of North Cork and north Kerry.

Advertisement

In 2009, 24-hour Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments at Clare General Hospital, Limerick Regional Hospital, St Johns Hospital and Nenagh Hospital were reconfigured to the Limerick Regional Hospital, later renamed University Hospital Limerick.

In 2017, a new ED was opened at UHL; however, it has not been able to cope with demand.

An inquest, held last year, into the death of UHL patient Aoife Johnston, in 2022, heard from doctors that the gargantuanly overcrowded ED was like a death trap on the weekend Aoife (16) presented there with queried sepsis amidst chronic patient overcrowding and understaffing.

Ms Johnston waited over 13 hours for life-saving medication that should have been administered to her within ten to fifteen minutes of her presenting at the hospital.

In a statement on Monday afternoon, responding to the current overcrowding at UHL, HSE Mid West said: We apologise to all patients who are currently facing long waiting times for an inpatient bed.

It said UHL was experiencing record demand through the Emergency Department, with an increase of 11 per cent in attendances so far this year.

This increase, it added, is the highest increase in demand of any hospital in the country and compares to a national average increase of 4 per cent.

UHL has also had the highest ED admissions in the country this year - at 21,195 - which is 5 per cent greater than at the same point in 2024. Average daily ED attendance at UHL in 2025 has been 262, and daily presentations have exceeded 300 on 25 days.

To try to mitigate pressure on UHL, HSE Mid West said it had enhanced and expanded access to urgent care facilities as alternatives to the ED pathway.

Advertisement

However, it is also clear that pressure is mounting on alternatives to the ED, as local injury units and GP-referral medical assessment units, at Nenagh Hospital, and St Johns Hospital, Limerick are now managing approximately 1,300 patients per week.

The HSE Mid West said it recently lost access to 50 sub-acute/rehabilitation beds in the region due to a new Community Nursing Unit, located in Nenagh, having to go through a re-registration process with HIQA. It added that the 50-bed long-term residential unit should commence before the end of this year.

Further patient-overcrowding mitigation measures included the opening of two new rapid-build 16-bed wards at UHL, with planning permission sought for a third 16-bed unit.

To further improve access at UHL, additional consultants are rostered at weekends and bank holidays, and we are sincerely grateful to our healthcare teams for their tireless efforts to meet our current capacity challenges, it added.

Today, Limerick Sinn Fein TD, Maurice Quinlivan, said that an additional hospital, including a second 24-hour emergency department, was required for the region.

The UHL (University Hospital Limerick) group themselves have confirmed that at least an additional 400 beds are needed at UHL, said Deputy Quinlivan.

They have advised that 400 beds are the minimum and would not take account of any population growth in the mid west.

There simply isnt the space at UHL for this volume of additional beds. These must be provided at a different location and at a new model three hospital.

Deputy Quinlivan, along with his party colleague in Clare, Deputy Donna McGettigan, called for a Model 3 hospital to be constructed in Co Clare to take pressure off of UHL.

Advertisement

Deputy Quinlivan described the reconfiguration of emergency units to UHL as " catastrophic " and said it regularly has to suspend or cancel elective procedures.

With the onset of winter, I fear we are in for a very difficult and probably impossible winter at the hospital, he warned.

Deputy McGettigan said: The need for an additional hospital in the Mid-West region is obvious, it is my view that an additional hospital is needed and that such a hospital should be based in County Clare.
Three adults, a man and a woman in their 50s and a man in his 20s, have died after a serious incident at a residential property in Co Louth on Monday morning.

Gardai said they were alerted to the incident in Drumgowna, Tallanstown, this morning and found the three victims at the scene.

A man in his 30s has been arrested and is detained at a station in the Garda North West region under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

The scene is currently subject of an ongoing forensic examination by the Garda National Technical Bureau, gardai said in a statement on Monday evening.

The remains of the three victims have been removed from the scene to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, where post-mortem examinations will be conducted on Tuesday.

Advertisement

Gardai believe the three victims were violently attacked, The Irish Times said, and a motive for the killings, alongside the sequence of events related to the murders, was still being determined.

They added, however, that they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan told Newstalk that there is no ongoing threat to the public.

"Im conscious its a developing story and its a sensitive issue, but theres no further information I can put into the public domain at present, but what I can say and I think what the gardai have said is that theyre not looking for anyone else in respect of this criminal act and that theres no ongoing threat to the public in Co Louth, I suppose, is an important message to get out there," he said.

Sinn Fein Louth councillor Pearse McGeough said on social media that there was sad news coming out of Tallanstown this morning.

He added, I would ask people not to speculate until we know the facts.

Our thoughts are with the friends, family and the community.

The garda investigation is being conducted from an incident room at Ardee Garda Station, and a senior investigating officer has been appointed.

A family liaison officer has also been appointed to support and keep the family of the deceased informed.

Gardai have appealed to anyone with any information on the incident to contact the garda investigation team by calling Drogheda Garda Station at 041 987 4200, the Garda Confidential Phone Number on 1800 666 111 or any garda station.

Investigations are ongoing, and gardai said no further information is available at this time.
The death toll from an attack on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel in Michigan has risen to four.

Eight people were also injured after a gunman in a pickup truck smashed through the doors of the church during a service in the Grand Blanc Township and set the building on fire.

The bodies of two of the victims were found as authorities searched the debris in the church, Police Chief William Renye said. He said some people were unaccounted for, but he did not have an exact number.

Hundreds of people were inside the church when a man rammed a four-door pickup with two American flags in the truck bed through the front door and opened fire, Mr Renye told reporters. Investigators believe he deliberately set the building on fire.



Fire and law enforcement officers stand outside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan (Carlos Osorio/AP)

Mr Renye said people inside the church during the attack were shielding children and moving them to safety.

Police officers pursued the suspected gunman, who the police chief identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, from neighbouring Burton, and killed him after an exchange of gunfire.

Advertisement

Investigators were searching the suspects home, but Mr Renye did not specify a motive.

He said one of those wounded was in a critical condition with the seven others classed as stable.

James Dier of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said the gunman apparently used gas to start the fire and also had explosive devices, but it was not clear if he used them.



People are reunited at Trillium NCG Theatre with friends and family who were present during a nearby shooting and structure fire at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on McCandlish Road in Grand Blanc, Michigan (Katy Kildee/Detroit News/AP)

Michigan State Police Lt Kim Vetter said bomb threats were made at other churches in the area after officers shot and killed Sanford. No bombs were found and police were investigating the threats.

About 100 people gathered for a prayer service on Sunday evening at The River Church in Grand Blanc, a nondenominational Christian church about five miles from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

President Donald Trump said in a social media post that he was briefed on the shooting and applauded the FBI for its response. Local authorities said the FBI was sending 100 agents to Grand Blanc Township, a community of roughly 40,000 people outside Flint.

Advertisement

PRAY for the victims, and their families. THIS EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY MUST END, IMMEDIATELY! Trump wrote.

The church building, circled by a parking lot and a large lawn, is near residential areas and a Jehovahs Witness church.

The shooting occurred the morning after Russell M Nelson, the oldest president of the Utah-based faith, died at 101. The next president is expected to be Dallin H Oaks, as per church protocol.



In this image taken from video released by Julie J, @Malkowski6April, Massive flames and smoke rise from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc (Julie J, @Malkowski6April/AP)

The church is in communication with local law enforcement as the investigation continues and as we receive updates on the condition of those affected, spokesman Doug Anderson said.

Places of worship are meant to be sanctuaries of peacemaking, prayer and connection. We pray for peace and healing for all involved.

Striking nurses at nearby Henry Ford Genesys Hospital left the picket line and ran the short distance to the church to help first responders, Teamsters Local 332 president Dan Glass said.

Human lives matter more than our labor dispute, Mr Glass said.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement that her heart was breaking for the community.

Violence anywhere, especially in a place of worship, is unacceptable, she said.
Dar Global, a London-listed luxury real estate developer, plans to launch a Trump Plaza in the Saudi Red Sea city of Jeddah in a second collaboration with the Trump Organisation, following the success of Trump Tower Jeddah.

The announcement by the company said the one billion dollars (750 million) landmark development is to rise along King Abdulaziz Road in the heart of the city.





Dar Global said the project is its second collaboration in Jeddah with The Trump Organisation following the launch of Trump Tower Jeddah in December last year.

Dar Global said the project will have a Central Park-inspired green spine as an anchor, bringing Manhattan-style vibrancy to Jeddah.

Donald Trumps company struck many real estate licensing deals overseas before he entered the White House in 2017, including for hotels and residential towers in Canada, Dubai, Mexico, India and Turkey.

Advertisement

Mr Trumps close ties to Saudi Arabias crown prince and day-to-day ruler, Mohammed bin Salman, drew heavy criticism after the 2018 killing of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi columnist for the Washington Post who had written critically about the monarchy.

Dar Global is the international arm of Dar Al Arkan, a large Saudi developer.

It says it has 7.5 billion dollars worth of projects under development in the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, the United Kingdom, Spain and Saudi Arabia.

Dar Global said Trump Plaza Jeddah will transform the citys skyline into a world-class community that will include premium residences, serviced apartments, Grade-A office space, and exclusive townhouses.

Designed to redefine urban living in Saudi Arabia, the development will integrate living, working, and leisure into one seamless destination, the statement said.

This project embodies our vision of excellence by blending world-class hospitality, modern living, and dynamic business environments, Dar Globals statement quoted Eric Trump, executive vice president of The Trump Organisation, as saying.

Together with Dar Global, we are creating a destination that will set a new benchmark for prestige and innovation in the kingdom, he said.
At least four people were killed and eight wounded when an ex-marine smashed a pickup truck into a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints church in Michigan, opened fire and set the building ablaze during a crowded Sunday service and was then fatally shot by police.

The attack occurred at about 10.25am while hundreds of people were in the building in Grand Blanc Township, outside Flint.

The man got out of the vehicle with two American flags raised in the truck bed and started shooting, police chief William Renye told reporters.



Emergency crews responded to the shooting and fire at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township (David Guralnick/Detroit News via AP)

The attacker apparently used petrol to start the fire and also had explosive devices but it was not clear if he used them, James Dier of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said.

Authorities identified the gunman as Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, of the neighbouring small town of Burton.

Advertisement

The FBI was leading the investigation and considered it an act of targeted violence, Ruben Coleman, a special agent in charge for the bureau, said.

Officers responding to a 911 call were at the church within 30 seconds, Mr Renye said.



The suspect is accused of ramming a vehicle into the church before opening fire (Lukas Katilius/The Flint Journal via AP)

After the suspect left the church, two officers pursued him and engaged in gunfire, killing him about eight minutes later, the officer said.

People inside the church shielded children and moved them to safety during the attack, Mr Renye said.

Flames and smoke poured from the large church for hours before the blaze was extinguished.

Two bodies were found during a search of the debris, and Mr Renye said more victims could be found as search teams made their way though the church.

One of the wounded people was in a critical condition on Sunday evening and the seven others were stable.



Fire department personnel worked for hours to extinguish the blaze (Jose Juarez/AP)

Mr Renye said some people were unaccounted for, but he did not have an exact number.

Michigan state police lieutenant Kim Vetter said bomb threats were made at other churches in the area after officers shot and killed Mr Sanford. No bombs were found and police were investigating the threats.

Investigators were searching the suspects residence but authorities did not say what they had found or provide any additional details about him, including whether he was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, widely known as the Mormon church.

Advertisement

Mr Sanford served in the marines from June 2004 through June 2008, working as an automotive mechanic and vehicle recovery operator, according to military records obtained by The Detroit News.

He was deployed to Iraq from August 2007 through March 2008 and had the rank of sergeant, it was reported.



A vigil was held nearby after the shooting (Jose Juarez/AP)

It was the latest of many shooting attacks on houses of worship in the US over the past 20 years, including one in August that killed two children during mass at the Church of the Annunciation in Minneapolis.

It also was the second mass shooting in the US in less than 24 hours. On Saturday night, a man in a boat opened fire on a crowd in Southport, North Carolina, killing three and injuring five.

US president Donald Trump applauded the FBI for its response to the Michigan shooting in a social media post. Local authorities said the bureau was sending 100 agents to Grand Blanc Township, a community of roughly 40,000 people.

PRAY for the victims, and their families. THIS EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY MUST END, IMMEDIATELY! Mr Trump wrote.

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spokesman Doug Anderson said: The church is in communication with local law enforcement as the investigation continues and as we receive updates on the condition of those affected.

Places of worship are meant to be sanctuaries of peace-making, prayer and connection. We pray for peace and healing for all involved.
Moldovas pro-western ruling party appears to be on track to top polls in a critical parliamentary election that was overshadowed by Russian interference claims.

The race was widely viewed as a geopolitical choice between a path to the European Union or a drift back into Moscows fold.

The tense ballot pitted the governing pro-western Party of Action and Solidarity, which has held a strong parliamentary majority since 2021, against several Russia-friendly opponents but no viable pro-European partners, and it was not yet clear whether the party would secure a majority.



Igor Dodon, leader of the Russia-friendly Patriotic Electoral Bloc, called for a protest in front of the parliament building on Monday (Aurel Obreja/AP)

With about 75% of polling station reports counted, official electoral data showed the pro-EU Party of Action and Solidarity leading with 44.3% of the vote, while the pro-Russian Patriotic Electoral Bloc had 27.7%.

The Russia-friendly Alternativa Bloc stood at 8.5% and the populist Our Party  which wants balanced foreign policy between East and West  had 6.5%. The right-wing Democracy at Home party had 6%.

Advertisement

The election day was marked by a string of incidents, ranging from bomb threats at multiple polling stations abroad to cyber attacks on electoral and government infrastructure, voters photographing their ballots and some being illegally transported to polling stations.

Police also detained three people suspected of plotting to cause unrest after the vote.

The consequences of this (Russia) intervention are hard to estimate at this hour. We are waiting for the election results. We pray for patience and calm Igor Grosu, Party of Action and Solidarity

The pivotal vote will elect a new 101-seat parliament, after which Moldovas president nominates a prime minister, generally from the leading party or bloc, which can then try to form a new government. A proposed government needs parliamentary approval.

When polls closed locally at 9pm (6pm GMT) on Sunday, the central electoral commission reported that more than 1.59 million, or about 51.9% of eligible voters had cast ballots, including 264,000 Moldovans in polling stations set up abroad, which would remain open until 7pm in their respective countries. In the 2021 parliamentary election, turnout was just over 48%.

Igor Grosu, the leader of Party of Action and Solidarity, said after polls closed that Russias attempts to hijack the electoral process have been huge and that state institutions made efforts to ensure the security and integrity of the voting.

The consequences of this intervention are hard to estimate at this hour, he said.



Moldovas president Maia Sandu said her countrys future lay within the EU (Vadim Ghirda/AP)

We are waiting for the election results. We pray for patience and calm.

Moldova is landlocked between Ukraine and EU member Romania. The country of about 2.5 million people has spent recent years on a westward path and gained candidate status to the EU in 2022, shortly after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Tensions between Russia and Moldova, a Soviet republic until 1991, skyrocketed.

Advertisement

After casting her ballot on Sunday, Moldovas pro-western president Maia Sandu reiterated long-held claims that Russia massively interfered in the election, saying she voted to keep the peace and that her countrys future lay within the EU.

Days before Sundays vote, Moldovan prime minister Dorin Recean warned that Russia was spending hundreds of millions of euros as part of an alleged hybrid war to try to seize power, which he described as the final battle for our countrys future.

The alleged Russian strategies included a large-scale vote-buying operation, cyber attacks, a plan to incite mass riots around the election and a sprawling disinformation campaign online to diminish support for the pro-European ruling party and sway voters toward Moscow-friendly ones.



The vote will elect a new 101-seat parliament (Vadim Ghirda/AP)

Just before the vote, police carried out hundreds of raids, detaining scores of people allegedly trained in Serbia to cause mass riots and destabilise the country around the critical election.

Russia has repeatedly denied meddling in Moldova and dismissed the allegations last week as anti-Russian and unsubstantiated.

But on Sunday, Moldovan police said they had information about groups of people planning to cause unrest from around midnight and on Monday during a protest in Chisinau, to create disorder and destabilisation.

Igor Dodon, a former president and a member of the pro-Russian Patriotic Electoral Bloc, called for a protest in front of the parliament building on Monday, and later alleged after polls closed that the pro-western ruling party is now in panic and is considering various pretexts, excuses and scenarios that go beyond the law and democratic norms.
Days after his defiant speech at the United Nations rejecting demands to end the war in Gaza, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to confer with his most important supporter.

But Mondays meeting with US president Donald Trump in Washington comes at a tenuous moment.

Israel is increasingly isolated, losing support from many countries that were long its steadfast allies. At home, Mr Netanyahus governing coalition appears more fragile than ever. And the White House is showing signs of impatience.

The question now is whether Mr Trump, who has offered steadfast backing to Mr Netanyahu throughout the war, will change his tone and turn up the pressure on Israel to finally wind down the conflict.

Netanyahu might have to choose between Trump and his coalition members Professor Eytan Gilboa

In a post on social media on Sunday, the president said: We have a real chance for GREATNESS IN THE MIDDLE EAST. ALL ARE ON BOARD FOR SOMETHING SPECIAL, FIRST TIME EVER. WE WILL GET IT DONE!!!

Mr Trump and Mr Netanyahu are scheduled to meet in the Oval Office, and a joint press conference is expected later.

Advertisement

The uncertainty surrounding the meeting casts it as one of the most critical in the years-long relationship between the two leaders, Professor Eytan Gilboa, an expert on US-Israeli relations at Bar-Ilan and Reichman universities, said.

Netanyahu might have to choose between Trump and his coalition members, a number of whom want the war to continue, Prof Gilboa said.

A move by Mr Netanyahu to end the war would leave him on shaky political ground at home a year before elections.

Oded Ailam, a researcher at the Jerusalem Centre for Security and Foreign Affairs, agreed that Mr Trump was likely to demand a permanent ceasefire, leaving Mr Netanyahu with few options.



Israel prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Friday (Richard Drew/AP)

Mr Netanyahu has repeatedly vowed to continue the offensive until Hamas is destroyed.

If Mr Trump puts the pressure on, the Israeli leader would probably seek to include red lines in any deal, Mr Ailam said.

He might demand that Hamas be dismantled, the researcher said.

Mr Netanyahu might also set a condition that if the militant group resumes fighting or returns to power, the Israeli military would have the right to operate freely in Gaza, he said.

Mr Trump joined forces with Mr Netanyahu during Israels brief war with Iran in June, ordering US stealth bombers to strike three nuclear sites, and he has supported the Israeli leader during his corruption trial, describing the case as a witch hunt.

Advertisement

But the relationship has become more tense lately.



Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City continued on Sunday (Yousef Al Zanoun/AP)

Mr Trump was frustrated by Israels failed strike this month on Hamas officials in Qatar, a US ally in the region that had been hosting negotiations to end the war in Gaza.

Recent comments have hinted at growing impatience from Washington.

Last week, Mr Trump vowed to prevent Israel from annexing the West Bank  an idea promoted by some of Mr Netanyahus hard-line governing partners.

The international community opposes annexation, saying it would destroy hopes for a two-state solution.

On Friday, Mr Trump raised expectations for the meeting with Mr Netanyahu, telling reporters on the White House lawn that the US was very close to a deal on Gaza.

Mr Trump has made similar pronouncements in the past with nothing to show for it, and it is unclear if this time will be different.
US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said they have agreed to a plan to end the war in Gaza, but it is unclear whether Hamas will accept the terms.

Mr Trump on Monday laid out a 20-point plan for ending the Israel-Hamas war and establishing a post-war governance in the war-battered Palestinian territory.

Mr Trumps plan would establish a temporary governing board that would be headed by Mr Trump and include former British prime minister Tony Blair.



US President Donald Trump shakes the hand of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Evan Vucci/AP)

The plan does not require people to leave Gaza and calls for the war to end immediately if both sides accept it.

It also calls for all remaining hostages to be released within 72 hours of Israel accepting the plan.

Advertisement

Mr Trump said Israel would have the full backing of the US to take steps to defeat Hamas if it does not accept the proposed peace deal.

I think we are beyond very close, Mr Trump said at the start of a news conference with Mr Netanyahu where he detailed the plan. Were not quite finished. We have to get Hamas.

If Hamas rejects your plan, Mr President, or if they supposedly accept it and then do everything to counter it, then Israel will finish the job by itself, Mr Netanyahu said. This can be done the easy way or it can be done the hard way, but it will be done.

The president went on to urge Palestinian people to take responsibility for their destiny and embrace his peace proposal.

Qatars prime minister and Egypts intelligence chief presented Mr Trumps proposal to Hamas negotiators, who are now reviewing it in good faith, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The person was not authorised to comment and spoke on the condition anonymity.

While Hamas has said in the past that it would agree to step back from governing Gaza, the militant group has refused to disarm, something Mr Netanyahu has long demanded as part of any long-term truce to end the war.



Smoke and fire rises from an Israeli airstrike on the Macca Tower, a high-rise building in Gaza City (Yousef Al Zanoun/AP)

The Palestinian government in the occupied West Bank welcomed Mr Trumps plan and pledged to implement reforms called for in the plan in order to return to Gaza and potentially clear the way for the establishment of a Palestinian state.

We have affirmed our desire for a modern, democratic, and non-militarised Palestinian state, committed to pluralism and the peaceful transfer of power, the Palestinian government said in a statement.

Advertisement

It promised a series of reforms, including new elections, changes to its schoolbooks and ending a system that pays the families of militants involved in attacks on Israelis.

Mr Netanyahu earlier extended a formal apology to his Qatari counterpart for a recent military strike targeting Hamas officials in the Gulf emirate that infuriated Arab leaders and triggered rare criticism by the US of Israel.

Mr Netanyahu made the call to Qatars prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, as he met with Mr Trump, according to the White House.

Mr Trump described the exchange between the Israeli and Qatari leader as a heart-to-heart call.

As a first step, Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed his deep regret that Israels missile strike against Hamas targets in Qatar unintentionally killed a Qatari serviceman, the White House said in a statement. He further expressed regret that, in targeting Hamas leadership during hostage negotiations, Israel violated Qatari sovereignty and affirmed that Israel will not conduct such an attack again in the future.

The White House talks, and apology from Mr Netanyahu, come at a tenuous moment.

Israel is increasingly isolated, losing support from many countries that were long its steadfast allies.

At home, Mr Netanyahus governing coalition appears more fragile than ever. And the White House is showing signs of impatience.

The question now is whether Mr Trump, who has offered steadfast backing to Mr Netanyahu throughout the war, will change his tone and turn up the pressure on Israel to wind down the conflict.

Advertisement

As he welcomed Mr Netanyahu to the White House, Mr Trump responded affirmatively when asked by reporters whether he was confident a deal would be soon reached to end the fighting between Israel and Hamas.

I am. Im very confident, Mr Trump said.

 Netanyahus apology for strike that angered US ally

Israel stuck the headquarters of Hamas political leadership in Qatar on September 9 as the groups top figures gathered to consider a US proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

The strike on the territory of a US ally was a stunning escalation and risked upending talks aimed at winding down the war and freeing hostages.

No senior Hamas officials were killed in the strike.



Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shakes hands with US President Donald Trump after a news conference in the State Dining Room of the White House (Alex Brandon/AP)

The attack on an energy-rich Gulf nation hosting thousands of American troops, which has served as a key mediator between Israel and Hamas throughout the war and even before, was described by Mr Trump as out of step with Israeli and US interests.

And Mr Trump sought to move quickly to assuage his Qatari allies.

Qatar, meanwhile, condemned the strike as a flagrant violation of all international laws and norms as smoke rose over its capital, Doha.

Other key US allies in the Gulf, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, promised their support to Qatar.

The White House said Mr al Thani welcomed Mr Netanyahus assurances and emphasised Qatars readiness to continue contributing meaningfully to regional security and stability.

Advertisement

But even as the White House was spotlighting the apology, Israels far right national security minister newly defended the decision to carry out Israels attack.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, a key coalition partner of Mr Netanyahus, in a posting on X called the operation an important, just and ethical attack.

It is very good that it happened, he added.

 White House urges Israel and Hamas to get to a ceasefire and hostage release deal

Earlier on Monday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt urged both sides to finalise an agreement to bring an end to the nearly two-year-old war in Gaza.



US President Donald Trump listens during a news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Evan Vucci/AP)

Ultimately the president knows when you get to a good deal, both sides are going to leave a little bit unhappy, Ms Leavitt told reporters. But we need this conflict to end.

Mr Trump and Mr Netanyahu were first holding talks with aides in the Oval Office and over a private lunch. A joint press conference is expected later.

Meanwhile, Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, said Palestinian officials stood ready to work with Mr Trump and Arab countries in bringing an end to the war.

Let us not delay a single minute more in doing what is necessary for this just peace to replace the unbearable reality of today, Mr Mansour said during a Security Council meeting on the Middle East.

 Trump growing more frustrated with conflict

Mr Trump joined forces with Mr Netanyahu during Israels brief war with Iran in June, ordering US stealth bombers to strike three nuclear sites, and he has supported the Israeli leader during his corruption trial, describing the case as a witch hunt.

But the relationship has become more tense lately. Mr Trump was frustrated by Israels failed strike this month on Hamas officials in Qatar.

Last week, Mr Trump vowed to prevent Israel from annexing the West Bank  an idea promoted by some of Mr Netanyahus hard-line governing partners. The international community opposes annexation, saying it would destroy hopes for a two-state solution.

On Friday, Mr Trump raised expectations for the meeting with Mr Netanyahu, telling reporters the US was very close to a deal on Gaza.
by Tim Sommers

The ends dont justify the means. Right? But then what does?

Utilitarians say that, of course, the ends justify the means. If the ends cant justify the means, then nothing can. Utilitarianism is built on the twin pillars of welfarism and consequentialism.

Consequentialism is the view that the morally right thing to do is whatever has the best consequences.

Welfarism is the view that the only thing intrinsically valuable is human happiness, welfare, well-being, having their desires fulfilled, flourishing, or the like.

Utilitarianism calls whatever it is exactly that matters in terms of human good (happiness, having your preferences fulfilled and flourishing are not exactly the same thing) utility. Utility is a technical term for whatever it is that is intrinsically valuable  which has something to do with human happiness

Powerful intuitions support this combination of consequentialism and welfarism. From a consequentialist perspective, to deny the truth of utilitarianism is to be forced to defend the claim that sometimes, given the choice, we should find the worse morally superior to the better. Specifically, that we should sometimes do the thing that has worse consequences  even when we could have done something with better consequences. From the welfarist perspective, to deny utilitarianism is to be forced to defend the claim that we must, at least sometimes, intentionally do things that make everyone overall less happy when we could have done something that would have made people overall more happy.

During much of modern moral philosophy the predominant systematic theory has been some form of utilitarianism, John Rawls wrote in A Theory of Justice. One reason for this is that it has been espoused by a long line of brilliant writers who have built up a body of thought truly impressive in its scope and refinementHume and Adam Smith, Bentham and Mill, were social theorists and economists of the first rank; and the moral doctrine they worked out was framed to meet the needs of their wider interests.

However, all the classical utilitarians had in common that they used two very different kinds of argumentative strategies to bolster the view: one we might call the negative or downward approach, the other, the positive or upwards argument. I have mentioned the positive argument in an earlier column on weighing lives. One iteration of it goes like this.

(1) Everyones welfare is equally valuable.

(2) Everyones welfare is intrinsically valuable.

(3) We should always prefer more of what is intrinsically valuable to less.

(4) Therefore, we should always maximize welfare.

I will return to this argument, and weighing lives, at some point. But I actually find the negative argument for utilitarianism to be more persuasive so I thought I would go there today.

According to utilitarians, theres only one moral rule. Always do whatever maximizes utility.

A straight-forward approach, to keep it simple, would be to offer and defend one or more moral principles, other than the principle of utility. When I ask students to name moral rules, the top three answers are dont kill, dont lie, and dont steal. So, lets focus on this rule, Dont kill people. Lets take suicide and euthanasia off the table and say, Dont kill other people.

Do you believe that rule? What about self-defense? The death penalty? Killing combatants during a just war? Even if you think all wars and capital punishment are immoral, self-defense alone might suggest we amend the principle again, this time to Dont kill innocent people.

The first thing to notice is that even if that takes care of the death penalty and fellow combatants in just wars, it is not obvious that self-defense requires wrong-doing on the aggressors part. You may have the right to use lethal force to protect yourself from imminent death even if the other party is not morally culpable. Suppose you have been thrown down a well and survived, but now they are going to throw another person on top of you and that will finish you off. If you have a very large gun so that you can blast anyone they throw into many small harmless-sized pieces, are you justified in killing the deadly nonaggressor to save yourself? (Yes, in case you havent encountered this before, ethics classes often rely on surprisingly violent examples.)

The second thing to notice is that we can let innocent be a stand-in for whenever or whatever we think it is a morally unacceptable time to kill someone, otherwise it is just a dodge. And there are other exceptions.

What about killing to defend others or some very bad future harm? What about sacrificing the life of one conjoined twin to save the other? Or many less exotic forms of potentially deadly triage? Do late term abortions count as killing innocent person?

What about the trolley problem? Stripped of all the window dressing, the question is, all other things being equal, should we be willing to kill one person to save five people who would otherwise die (but not have been killed by you). If we should save the five  and most of my students think that we should  why not one to save four? Or two? Heres a possibility. What we ought to do in trolley-like problems is maximize lives saved (to the extent that lives is a plausible stand-in for welfare here). In other words, we kill or save according to what maximizes utility.

Similarly, in war, and others kinds of defense cases, in triage cases, really, in all cases, the best rule is not dont kill, followed by some qualifications and exceptions. The best rule is kill when it maximizes utility and refrain when it does not.

With the exception of the principle of utility, utilitarians say, moral rules are more like rules of thumb or shortcuts to get the right answer. In the vast majority of cases, the right thing to do is to refrain from killing anyone. But in problematic cases the answer always is: do whatever maximizes utility.

Perhaps, if we spent more time on it, a critic of utilitarianism would reply that rules like dont kill could be sufficiently fleshed out to be accurate without just being another way of saying maximizing utility. A more common approach is to confront utilitarians with counterexamples that show that maximizing utility can lead to terrible, and implausible, moral decisions.

Heres one. Suppose you check into a hospital for a routine, very safe procedure, but the doctors discover you are a donor match with five patients on the verge of death. Utilitarianism seems to license sacrificing one  namely you  by redistributing your organs, in order to save five. But that cant be right.

Sometimes utilitarians simply bite the bullet and say that our everyday intuitions about right and wrong sometimes lead us astray and the moral implications may shock us, but that does mean they are false. Rarely, in the organ transplant case, however.

A more promising approach would be to say that this example is too quick. Maybe, killing one to save five is right in some kinds of all things considered situations, but just take one feature left off here. What would happen to hospital admissions if people knew that an inadvertent donor match could cost you your life? How many people might die as a result of a general reticence to seek early medical intervention?

We havent settled anything, of course. The point is that one plausible route to utilitarianism is to see that moral rules other than the principle of utility, when properly qualified, turn out to be the principle of utility applied to a specify area, e.g. killing, but amounting to the same.

Arguing about fringe cases, like the organ donor, one, is illuminating, but probably not the best way forward. Whats missing from utilitarianism? Thats the real question.

Here are a couple of plausible candidates. Utilitarianism doesnt care about equality, in fact, it doesnt care about the distribution of happiness at all. Finally, utilitarianism leaves no space for people have the freedom to make moral choices  even including choices that are wrong. Theres no freedom without the freedom to be wrong.

(For all things utilitarian, I cannot recommend highly enough Utilitarianism.net. Accurate, clear, and put together by the leading utilitarians. Also, for accurate information on almost any topic (including this one) in philosophy see the great Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.)
Advertisement

CultureBooksRobo-debt royal commission How robo-debt turned this prize-winning author into a vengeful god Linda Morris September 29, 2025  8:00pm 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 28 View all comments

Author and journalist Rick Morton would willingly trade his newly minted Prime Ministers Literary award for a taste of justice in the long-running robo-debt scandal, the four-year saga of maladministration that is the very subject of his award-winning non-fiction work. It irks him that the federal governments National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is still investigating officials associated with the discredited welfare debt recovery scheme two years since a royal commission slammed it as unlawful, cruel and a failure of public service accountability. Rick Morton has won the Prime Ministers Prize for Non-fiction for Mean Streak. Dany Weus Id give it away in a second if people were held properly accountable. I didnt think I was a vengeful god but robo-debt turned me into a vengeful god, and so far there has not been a repercussion in sight. Some of the people responsible for robo-debt are working outside the public service and not sanctioned by legal boards as far as I know, and some who designed robo-debt are still in the public service in compliance and audit roles. How can that be?

Advertisement

Mortons Mean Streak is a forensic take-down of the architects of the infamous robo-debt scheme, the illegal debt-collecting operation which ran between July 2015 and November 2019. Under the scheme, more than 500,000 inaccurate and illegitimate Centrelink debts were raised through a method of income averaging. It ended abruptly in 2019 after the filing of a class action. Morton won the Prime Ministers Literary Award for Non-Fiction, presented by federal Arts Minister Tony Burke at the National Library in Canberra on Monday night. Michelle de Kretser, twice winner of the Miles Franklin Literary Award, won the fiction prize for Theory & Practice. De Kretser was a previous winner for Questions of Travel in 2013 and in May collected the 2025 Stella Prize. Michelle de Kretser scoops the Prime Ministers Literary Prize for a fiction work. Steven Siewert

Advertisement

In her seventh novel, which follows a young woman in the mid-1980s Melbourne working on a masters thesis about novelist Virginia Woolf, judges said de Kretser masterfully tests the limits of the novel as a form to investigate power in all its complexity. Moving between fictional, auto fictional and essayistic modes, this novel is elegant, playful and razor sharp. It plays with and tests readers assumptions about authors and narrators, lived experience and fiction, and how these assumptions are shaped by gender, ethnicity and class. Other winners, each receiving $80,000 tax-free, are: Australian history: Critical Care: Nurses on the frontline of Australias AIDS crisis by Geraldine Fela, a work examining Australias response to the AIDS crisis in the 1980s and 1990s from the perspective of health care practitioners and patients. Childrens literature: Leo and Ralph by Peter Carnavas, a book that speaks to children who are quiet, awkward, curious or outside the popular group and sometimes side-lined by confident extroverts.

Advertisement

Related Article Literature prizes Serious consequences for Australian democracy: Author uses prize speech to warn against censorship Young adult literature: The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland. The New York Times bestselling novelist, the judges said, is at the height of her powers, showcasing a truly impressive command of character and theme. Poetry: The Other Side of Daylight: New and Selected Poems by David Brooks. Judges said Brooks abundance of finely observed poems about rural life in the Blue Mountains burn with a passionate conviction for animal welfare and environmental conservation. Morton, who is the author of four non-fiction books, including the critically acclaimed bestseller, One Hundred Years of Dirt, wasnt present at the awards. He is taking a a gap year in Paris, where he is a writing a fiction work he put on hold to dig into the robo-debt scandal. He will use the prize money to sustain his overseas writing life.

Advertisement

Morton thought he was done with robo-debt when he reported the findings of the royal commission in 2023. Related Article Opinion

Liberal Party This zombie scandal will haunt the Libs, unless they eject Morrison Malcolm Knox Journalist, author and columnist I named names and some of the public servants complained to me that I was mean, and it made me realise that was the only thing that these public servants cared about, their reputation, and I wasnt prepared to let it go after that. I think the bare minimum is that when there are such vulnerable lives in their hands, and you are involved in robo-debt, even innocently, that they still lose their jobs, Morton says. Theres a lesson there as to how white-collar crime is treated. 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

NationalCBD Calm down, say Brethren, as they pay $1 to buy their members silence forever Madeleine Heffernan and Kishor Napier-Raman September 30, 2025  5:30am 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

From time to time, theres an argument about whether our old mates in the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church are running a cult. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese used the c-word to describe the group, formerly known as the Exclusive Brethren, after its members flocked to Peter Duttons election campaign. But after a recent spate of reporting, the Brethren rushed out a statement denying the description, saying: Our church meets no definition of cult. A Brethren member in a Liberal Party T-shirt puts up a poster authorised by Freedom Party candidate Morgan C. Jonas in the NSW seat of Whitlam. Cults, say the International Cultic Studies Association, make concerted efforts at influence and control. But the Brethren insists: While every religion has norms and traditions, this cant be fairly characterised as control. We-ell. A missive that crossed CBDs desk recently suggests otherwise.

Advertisement

In the lead-up to what they call fellowship meetings in December  three-day get-togethers of preaching, socialising and booze  the Brethrens leader, Bruce D. Hales, sought to impose a level of control members have never seen before. His flock has been issued a document entitled Participation Agreement to sign and without doing so, members wont be able to attend the meetings. Bruce D. Hales (left front), preaching in the United States. The PBCCs (tax-free) activities and outcomes are listed on the charities register as the promotion of Christian principles and beliefs. But this participation agreement makes it sound more like Fight Club  the first rule being that parishioners shall keep all Confidential Information confidential. Related Article CBD Exclusive Brethren launches podcast to bust a barrage of bad press Whats covered? The fact of the event, the identity of participants in the event, the date or title or subject matter of the event, all information of whatever nature and form presented or communicated during or in relation to the event, etc etc. Under this contract you cant talk about anything, really, up to and including information ... kept in the recipients memory. Now thats mind control.

Advertisement

The contract purports to protect young people and confidential commercial information but church members also wont be able to take or circulate photographs or make derogatory or disparaging comments. Even any oral contribution they themselves make will be secret. Breaches of the contract, it says, will cause the church irreparable harm for which legal remedies will be inadequate. So the church will be entitled to injunctive relief  [and] any other available rights and remedies. This from a church that routinely kicks people out, separating them from their families, businesses, livelihoods, friends and community. Men stand shoulder to shoulder to shield members of the Exclusive Order of the Plymouth Brethren from photographers after a meeting in March 1962. Staff photographer In return for their silence and compliance, the contract says, the church might pay  wait for it  $1. But only if the churchgoer asks for it. Their obligation to secrecy then lasts in perpetuity and has worldwide effect. Its designed to prevent leaks, so it must be galling for the higher-ups that the contract itself was immediately leaked. When contacted for comment, a Plymouth Brethren Christian Church spokesman urged CBD to calm down and accused Nine, the owner of this masthead, of running a campaign against it.

Advertisement

The participation agreement was a Zoom contract, not an ecclesial one, which would apply to parishioners joining special meetings online rather than in person, the spokesman insisted. We can either ask remote participants not to breach the trust that exists within the four walls of a Church meeting  or we can take no safeguards and hope for the best. Given the ongoing campaign against us, led by the not-so-independent Channel Nine newspapers, we decided that safeguarding our parishioners comes first. Not so grand The AFL grand final went off without a hitch  unless you are a Cats supporter, of course  or the one person in the 100,022-strong crowd with a little unresolved matter with police.

Advertisement

While controversial entertainer Snoop Dogg kept his lyrics relatively clean, and police say there were no major incidents among attendees, some long-time grand final spectators say security was heightened this year. Snoop Dogg performs before the AFL grand final, which had a strong police presence. Getty Images Hot on the heels of new stats detailing crime had reached its highest rate since electronic records began, MCC members reported a bigger-than-usual police presence in the normally well-behaved section of the ground, seemingly scanning the well-heeled for neer-do-wells. Victoria Police say they didnt increase numbers on Saturday compared with last years grand final, with 28 people evicted for offences such as disruptive behaviour and offensive language, while 12 penalty notices were issued. One person was arrested on outstanding warrants, though police declined to say whether that person was in the members stand, or they had been charged. But one out of a crowd of 100,000+ is either one hell of a case of bad luck or incredibly good management from the boys in blue.

Advertisement

Berejiklian gets $200,000-a-year lifetime pension as Optus woes deepen Monday brought fresh horror for Optus, which suffered a fresh Triple Zero outage just a week after a similar catastrophe was linked to three deaths. It was, however, a happier time for the telcos former boss Kelly Bayer Rosmarin, unveiled as the new chief executive at Australian Unity. Bayer Rosmarin quit the top job at Optus in 2023 after presiding over a devastating cyber-attack and major outage in successive years. Her ultimate soft landing should give the telcos current boss Stephen Rue, who has floundered through the last week, reason to rest a little easier. Gladys Berejiklian, Optus chief customer officer for enterprise and business. Louise Kennerley But no landing has been softer than that of Optus chief customer officer for enterprise and business Gladys Berejiklian, the former NSW premier who remains a very well-remunerated (and rarely seen) executive at the telco, despite failing to appeal a finding of serious corrupt conduct made against her by the states Independent Commission Against Corruption.

Advertisement

Berejiklian celebrated her 55th birthday last week. This is significant because it means shes now eligible for a generous pension scheme afforded to former state parliamentarians. Based on CBDs back-of-the envelope calculations, which take into account Berejiklians 18 years as an MP and various ministerial roles, shell be taking home about $200,000 a year for life courtesy of the NSW taxpayer. She can also pocket the cash as a lump sum payment, if she so desires. Happy birthday, Gladys! Related Article CBD Ex-Optus boss acquainted with calamity is back  but not talking to us Add on the circa $1 million shes getting from Optus, its little wonder the former premier seemed so unbothered by the tabloid paps that circled her home as the first Triple Zero scandal unfolded last week. No other politician has been felled by a corruption scandal, only to land on their feet wealthier than ever. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
Queensland Arts Minister John-Paul Langbroek will write to his federal counterpart to seek clarification about the latest tariff proposal on the states film industry, but he played down the threat and said the sector was thriving despite the ongoing trade uncertainty.

US President Donald Trump revived a threat first announced in May to impose a 100 per cent tariff on foreign-made films, which has the potential to devastate the multibillion-dollar film industry in Australia.

Many states have created tax incentives to lure the sector to their jurisdictions, including Queensland which has boosted production activity.

Langbroek said the new threat was merely a repeat of comments made earlier this year, but he confirmed he would once again write to federal counterpart Tony Burke to seek a diplomatic clarification.

The local industry continues to be very active, both since May and even as recently as last week, when we had Subversion being filmed with Chris Hemsworth, he told reporters on Tuesday morning.

The local industry is vibrant and very positive about the future  having said that, we would like some clarification.
Advertisement

Exclusive NationalQueenslandEarly childhood Solution revealed for Brisbane kindy in limbo following art demand backlash James Hall September 30, 2025  1:00am 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

A months-long bitter dispute between parents at a northside kindergarten has forced the state government to intervene and set up a makeshift centre as an emergency solution to provide education to dozens of Brisbane kids in limbo. This masthead revealed earlier this month the once-idyllic Craigslea Community Kindergarten in Chermside West had been plunged into chaos with parents refusing to send their kids after a staff exodus. Parents at the Craigslea Kindergarten had feared the final term of kindy would be compromised by the ongoing committee dispute. C&K, as the central governing body, cut funding to the affiliated kindergarten and launched a probe into claims a parent was running the management committee on his own after the heated conflict forced the previous members to quit. The investigation from C&K is ongoing. And the man at the centre of the claims, Thomas DSouza, rejected the accusations and said the committee had sufficient members.

Advertisement

But tensions continued to escalate, culminating in the committee, led by DSouza, last week asking parents to pay $2200 for their own childrens artwork to help pay alleged debts owed by the kindy  prompting widespread backlash. Related Article Exclusive

Education Staff gone, kids kept home, funding paused: Inside a northside kindys crisis The initial refusal to hand over portfolios of the kids art and photographs of kindy activities disgusted many, but devastated parents said their primary concern was the deterioration of the once-loved community centre. Multiple families who spoke to this masthead said they were uncomfortable with DSouzas management and unwilling to send their children to the centre after the committee replaced the entire staff with temporary workers. But it can be revealed Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek has offered the former staff jobs at the temporary centre set up in a vacant building within the nearby Craigslea State School for the 44 kids in need of a kindy for term four.

Advertisement

This solution keeps families in their area, keeps children together and keeps teachers in jobs, he said in a statement to this masthead. We have been working around-the-clock to transform this vacant building into a dedicated kindergarten that can rapidly stand-up and provide certainty to families. Children must come first and the deplorable decision to lock doors and withhold portfolios was disgraceful, deceitful and deeply un-Australian. DSouza told parents last week he had placed the kindy into voluntary administration owing debts of tens of thousands of dollars.

Advertisement

But Langbroek promised to provide a temporary solution and work towards restoring the former community kindergarten so services could resume at the Craigslea centre next year. Related Article Exclusive

Education Parents asked to pay $2200 for their childs artwork to clear kindys debt Its critical we continue working together to restore normalcy for the remainder of the 2025 school year, he said. Together with families, C&K Limited and Brisbane City Council, we will secure a long-term solution which will see Craigslea Kindergarten back in their usual classroom in 2026. C&K chief executive Sandra Cheeseman said the group was relieved to find a temporary solution at short notice after meeting with parents and Department of Education officials last Thursday.

Advertisement

The new temporary site will ensure C&K can provide the best possible experience for these children as they enter the final term of their kindy education, she 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.
Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime.

Save this article for later

Remove items from your saved list to add more.

You have reached your maximum number of saved items.

Two people, believed to be a mother and child, have been found dead in a sprawling home in Brisbanes west on Monday afternoon.

Loading

Queensland police confirmed officers visited the Kenmore Hills property in response to a welfare check before the tragic discovery.

A spokesman from the Queensland Police Service said investigations into the incident were ongoing on Monday evening, but there was no ongoing threat to the community.
Advertisement

NationalVictoriaCourts Death threats against judges among soaring safety incidents linked to sovereign citizens Chris Vedelago September 29, 2025  5:00pm 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

Death threats against judges and safety incidents inside Victorias courts have soared in a trend that has been linked to the so-called sovereign citizen movement. New data from the independent agency that runs Victorias court system shows judicial security threats  threats to harm or kill a judge, court staff or a member of their families  more than doubled in a year to 35 in 2024. The figure looks set to double again this year after already reaching 32 recorded incidents in the first six months of 2025. Court security incidents have soared, including death threats to members of the judiciary. Darrian Traynor These threats are often made from the dock or inside the courtroom by offenders or their families, but also include ones sent through the post, email or put on the internet. The courts and VCAT [the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal] have observed increases in concerning behaviours in recent years, said Louise Anderson, chief executive of Court Services Victoria. This includes aggression by court users towards staff and threats to judicial officers.

Advertisement

CSV declined to comment on the nature of the threats or who was responsible for making them, except to say it was a critical issue. But two sources in the judiciary, who cannot be identified publicly, pointed to the so-called sovereign citizen movement as a particular concern. The movement is based on a belief that rejects the power of the state  and judiciary  as illegitimate. Police arrested Dezi Freeman outside court in Myrtleford in 2021. Michael Howard The extremely confrontational behaviour of some sovereign citizens has led to judges and magistrates increasingly feeling unsafe, particularly after the alleged murder of two police officers by self-described sovereign citizen Dezi Freeman, the sources said. Freeman had numerous confrontations with the Victorian legal system before the Porepunkah shooting on August 26 that killed Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, 59, and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart, 35.

Advertisement

Freeman had contested a speeding fine all the way to the Supreme Court, and in a case in 2020, threatened to have a magistrate arrested after becoming angry that the matter had been repeatedly adjourned. Does this court obey the law? he asked the magistrate. Im very angry. I have no grace left for anyone involved. You must stand down. You are now in my custody. You are not free to leave. Loading The following year, Freeman was arrested outside court in Myrtleford at an anti-government protest on the same day private criminal charges filed by activists against then-premier Daniel Andrews for misprision (concealment) of treason were dismissed. Legal records show sovereign citizens have challenged the authority of the courts in matters ranging from speeding fines, home foreclosures and custody battles to serious criminal matters including sex crimes and attempted murder.

Advertisement

Id say since COVID, there has been a sharp rise in the number of people who make these arguments in court  they are disruptive, they are argumentative, they are combative, said Dr Harry Hobbs, an associate professor of law at the University of NSW who has studied interactions between the legal system and people who hold pseudolaw beliefs. I think they are more difficult to deal with than your traditional self-represented litigant because of the nature of the ideology that underpins their arguments, which is this narrative that says that they hold the true law and state actors are corrupt and wicked forces. They see the courts as a form of tyranny. In July, sitting Victorian Supreme Court judge Steven Moore took the highly unusual step of publicly flagging the safety problem in an article published by the Australian Judicial Officers Association that included the warning that the foundation stone upon which judicial wellbeing and the work of the courts rests is under threat and in need of urgent attention. An increase in threats and threatening behaviours towards judicial officers by litigants and court users is the common experience of many judicial officers, particularly those sitting in Local and Magistrates Courts, he wrote.

Advertisement

Moore cited research that almost a quarter of NSW judges had received a death threat, a rate higher than that reported in previous studies from the United States. The issue is set to be raised at an upcoming Council of Magistrates meeting, where the states more than 150 magistrates will gather to discuss issues affecting the bench. The new data comes as the number of health and safety incidents recorded inside Victorias court system  which covers the Supreme, County, Magistrates and Coroners courts as well as VCAT  soared to 607 in 2024-25, up 142 per cent in five years. About 40 per cent of incidents are classified as instances of occupational violence and aggression from court users and members of the public. The rest are workplace-type injuries and medical incidents. Nick Papas, KC, a chief magistrate from 1993 to 1996, said the publics declining respect for the courts was part of a broader growth in mistrust of institutions.

Advertisement

The reality is that theres been a noticeable change in society where authority is being perceived more negatively. Its being seen everywhere; just look at whats happening in retail, Papas said. Editor's pick Mental health What if its not social media? Part of its driven by the strong commentary in the media  extraordinary commentary  about how judges should be sacked over lenient sentences, that we should be able to vote them out. Thats a warning sign for me  where does that take us? Anderson, of Court Services Victoria, said the court agency was working with the government in response to the critical issue. CSV responds to changes in the security environment as a priority to make the courts and VCAT as safe and secure as possible for judicial officers, staff and court users. 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 NationalVictoriaCrime Never seen so many cops: City safety in spotlight after car chase in Bourke Street Mall Alexander Darling and Rachael Dexter Updated September 29, 2025  5:23pm ,first published September 29, 2025  3:10pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

The safety of Melbournes CBD is once again in the spotlight, after four teens drove an allegedly stolen car into the Bourke Street mall during a police pursuit. A female pedestrian was taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries after the chase, which began on the Eastern Freeway in Doncaster about 12.30pm on Monday, came to a dramatic end in front of lunchtime shoppers about half an hour later. Police say a pedestrian was hit on Exhibition Street as officers pursued an allegedly stolen car. Four boys have been arrested. Tony Totta Witnesses saw the teens jump from the white BMW and flee into the nearby Emporium shopping centre before they were quickly rounded up by police. Footage posted online shows the teens handcuffed on the ground, with the car sporting smashed front and rear windshields.

Advertisement

Police confirmed they arrested four teens, aged from 15 to 17, who are currently being interviewed. Officers said the car struck a woman in her 40s on Exhibition Street during the pursuit. She remains in a serious condition in the Royal Melbourne Hospital as of Monday night. More than 130 bollards were installed across the mall after James Gargasoulas killed six people and injured dozens of others driving his car down the busy pedestrian strip in early 2017. A City of Melbourne spokesman confirmed that the existing pedestrian bollards were in place during Mondays incident, but noted the vehicle is believed to have entered the mall via the tram tracks, which are not protected by the bollard system.

Advertisement

Rebecca Grace was shopping with friends when the suspects charged through the shopping centre within metres of them. One had what appeared to be a small knife, she said. The tactical response and public order response [teams were there] Ive never seen so many cops in my life. Everyone was just in shock. There was this massive bystander effect. Then I got my phone out and was able to follow what was happening prior to the arrest. [Police] didnt have a chance to do any blocking-off of streets or anything. It literally happened in front of everyone.

Advertisement

Grace was working as a paralegal on Bourke Street the day of the Gargasoulas rampage and said, just like that day eight years ago, there was a weird energy in the mall following todays incident. My friends all went home and had anxiety attacks. Its definitely shaken them up. The BMW, believed to have been stolen from the Boroondara area yesterday, was dumped a short time later on Bourke Street Mall and the four occupants fled on foot, a police statement said. They were arrested a short time later outside a shopping centre on Lonsdale Street.

Advertisement

Two 17-year-olds, a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old from the Bendigo and Yarra Ranges areas were arrested. Police have arrested four teenagers after a pursuit across Melbourne ended in Bourke Street Mall. Nine News Last weeks crime statistics update showed there were more than 33,000 motor vehicle thefts in Victoria in the year to June. That represents an increase of 42 per cent, with vehicle thefts now at their highest level since 2002. In Melbourne city, the number of crimes rose by more than 17 per cent in the same 12-month period, while the number of offences committed by children aged 10 to 17 has increased 13.7 per cent year-on-year.

Advertisement

Youth crime continues to rise in the state, with the number of offences committed by children aged 10 to 17 jumping 13.7 per cent year-on-year. Related Article Updated

Crime One incident every five minutes: Retail crisis laid bare as police vow to stymie unacceptable crime rate Premier Jacinta Allan thanked police for quickly apprehending the suspects. My thoughts are with the pedestrian who was injured as well as those who witnessed this event, she said in a statement.



This is disgraceful, dangerous behaviour. Victorians wont tolerate it and neither will we. Before todays Bourke Street incident, Allan had appeared with Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush at the National Police Remembrance Day event in the city.

Advertisement

There Bush said the increasing crime phenomenon must be turned around. We as Victoria Police must challenge ourselves to police differently so that were not just responding to crime, he said while observing National Police Remembrance Day. Standing by his side, Allan said recent bail and youth justice law changes by her government were working to reduce crime. Turning around that increase [is] going to take a lot of work, by Victoria Police, she said. If theres more work that we need to do to strengthen the laws and provide support, well do that. Its also important  to recognise the changed circumstances that were in in 2025 that werent there just a year or two or a few years ago. Its a changed environment that Victoria Police [and] teachers in our classroom are operating in.

Advertisement

So its ensuring that the programs we have for the future are tackling both the competitive measures stopping particular kids from getting into that criminal behaviour, and then looking at the programs that can support them to turn their lives around. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
Advertisement

Exclusive PoliticsFederalElectric vehicles As Chinese cars flood the market, Australia backs global crackdown on price war Paul Sakkal September 30, 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 328 View all comments

Australia has thrown its weight behind a global crackdown on oversupply of goods such as EVs and steel amid heightened alarm that Chinas manufacturing boom will threaten Western competitors and hand Beijing coercive power in key sectors. As Prime Minister Anthony Albanese prepares to meet US President Donald Trump in Washington, the Trump administration has been pressuring the EU to slap tariffs on China just as nations from Asia to South America have expressed worry about a glut of Chinese electric cars and other goods. Heavy subsidies are allowing Chinese EV makers to undercut other manufacturers. Chinas record $US1.2 trillion trade surplus is alarming nations across the world already reeling from the havoc of US tariffs, creating duelling anxieties about the behaviour of the two biggest economies before a World Trade Organisation reform summit. Theres going to be a meeting in Africa next March and Australia is very strongly pushing for reform of the WTO to make sure its fit for purpose to deal with the trade issues in the world, Trade Minister Don Farrell said, without explicitly mentioning either the US or China.

Advertisement

We think the WTO needs to focus on oversupply issues  Theres plenty of products that I think people would say theres an oversupply. Theres questions about steel, questions about electric vehicles. Related Article Climate solutions Its been a challenge: Bowen admits drivers slow to switch to EVs Beijing substantially subsidises production of EVs and solar panels in a price war aimed at undercutting other nations manufacturers. Profit margins for Chinese manufacturers have been slashed to the bone, from 8 per cent in 2017 to 4.3 per cent last year, and analysts predict many Chinese car manufacturers will fail to turn a profit this decade. Farrells support for the push to crack down on oversupply will be tested by Australian demand for cheap EVs to reduce emissions by at least 62 per cent by 2035. The Climate Change Authority estimates half of all new cars bought in the next 10 years must be electric to hit the target. Treasurer Jim Chalmers said on Monday he would proceed with caution on a road user charge for EV drivers amid fears the new tax would discourage EV uptake. Chinese brands including BYD, Chery and Changan exported about 6 million cars last year, far above other nations, prompting tariffs and restrictions from Europe, Mexico and Canada.

Advertisement

Indian authorities are probing Chinese dumping, according to Bloomberg, and Indonesia recently pledged to get on top of Chinese sellers spruiking jeans for as little as US80. Vietnam has created a glut in the textiles sector, and Farrell said overproduction was a worldwide issue not isolated to China. Farrell aired his concerns about oversupply as he tries to land a free-trade deal with the European Union  a key rival to China in the car market  and lays the groundwork for Albanese to have a successful meeting with Trump, an EV sceptic who campaigned to protect the US from the threat of Chinese automobiles. However, Farrell has also been at the forefront of negotiations with China over the past three years to restore trade ties. Lowy Institute senior fellow Richard McGregor said: Australia doesnt want to be at the forefront of anti-China trade measures, but if we prosecute the case through a regional setting with partners then that is much more preferable.

Advertisement

The big game is to make the WTO an effective organisation with teeth that can manage both China and the US. Trade Minister Don Farrell. Alex Ellinghausen Washington is unhappy that Australia isnt more publicly critical of Chinese economic practices, like overproduction, which they say is destroying industry in the US and Europe, and thus weakening like-minded countries around the world. They want us to be outspoken on their side. But that runs against our institutional interest in saving the WTO. And who seriously can be aligned with the Trump administration on trade policy anyway? McGregor said ASEAN nations were starting to collaborate to defend trade in the wake of Trumps tariffs, with Malaysia chairing a new working group aimed at upholding free-trade norms.

Advertisement

Trump has threatened to walk away from the WTO and the US has long complained that the organisation cannot hold China to account. McGregor said Australias response to concerns about the organisations clout was to reform the body rather than abandon it, and the ASEAN trade ministers Farrell met last week in Kuala Lumpur were ideal partners in the campaign. Loading Australias recently departed OECD representative, Brendan Pearson, said the WTO did not have sufficient power to clamp down on Chinas huge subsidies, and he doubted any push to strengthen protections would succeed given Chinas influential role in the organisation. Pearson said new OECD figures showed China was subsidising its key sectors at 10 times the rate of the average OECD member. The report estimates that China could control 45 per cent of global manufacturing by 2030.

Advertisement

Thats a degree of dominance that hasnt been seen for a very, very long time, he said, warning about Chinas ability to bully other nations via its control of critical sectors. China subsidises its industry at a scale no country can possibly match. While Australias last car factory closed eight years ago and there are no plans to revive that industry, Pearson said it made sense for the Albanese government to line up with allies in the EU, US and Japan on their automobile industry concerns. Pearson pointed to the financial troubles at Mount Isas copper smelter as an example of how Chinas industry subsidies could hurt Australian industry. Levelling the playing field in the auto sector would in the long run allow more EVs from European firms, which are subject to both a luxury car tax and a 5 per cent tax incurred because Australia does not have a free-trade agreement with the EU. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.
Advertisement

Updated WorldMiddle EastIsraeli-Palestinian conflict Netanyahu backs US plan to end war, under which Trump would initially govern Gaza Adam Geller , Sam Mednick and Aamer Madhani Updated September 30, 2025  9:33am ,first published September 30, 2025  5:49am 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

Washington: Gaza would be governed by a transitional apolitical committee of Palestinians and overseas experts under a peace plan agreed between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but there are questions over whether Hamas will accept the proposal. The White House on Tuesday AEST released a 20-point document that called for an immediate ceasefire, an exchange of hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, a staged Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, Hamas disarmament and a transitional government led by an international body. US President Donald Trump greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the West Wing of the White House. AP The plan, pushed by the White House, would lead to the immediate end of the war and the release of all remaining hostages within 72 hours if Hamas accepted, Trump and Netanyahu told reporters after more than two hours of meetings. Trump said they were beyond very close to an elusive peace deal, under which no Palestinians would be required to leave Gaza. But he warned Hamas that Israel would have full US support to take whatever action it deemed necessary if it rejected the offer.

Advertisement

Trump went into the White House meeting seeking to overcome Netanyahus misgivings over parts of the plan. It was not immediately clear whether Israel and the US had resolved all their differences, including over the possibility of a future Palestinian State, which Netanyahu has forcefully rejected, and any role for the Palestinian Authority in postwar governance of the enclave. Related Article Israeli-Palestinian conflict What to know about the Trump-Netanyahu Gaza peace plan The US president thanked Netanyahu for agreeing to the plan and for trusting that if we work together, we can bring an end to the death and destruction that weve seen for so many years, decades, even centuries. The Israeli PM responded: I support your plan to end the war in Gaza, which achieves our war aims. Netanyahu said the plan would see all hostages returned, Hamas military capabilities dismantled, and its political rule ended, ensuring that Gaza would never again pose a threat to Israel.

Advertisement

He went on to warn that if Hamas rejected the plan, or accepted and then tried to counter it, Israel would finish the job by itself. This can be done the easy way or it can be done the hard way, but it will be done, Netanyahu said. Smoke rises following an Israeli military strike in Gaza City last week. AP Trump urged the Palestinian people to take responsibility for their destiny and embrace his proposal. Hamas has not yet responded, however, and its absence from negotiations so far raises serious questions about the plans viability. Qatars prime minister and Egypts intelligence chief presented the proposal to Hamas negotiators, who are now reviewing it in good faith, according to a person familiar with the matter. The person was not authorised to comment and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Advertisement

While Hamas has said in the past that it would agree to step back from governing Gaza, the militant group has refused to disarm, something Netanyahu has long demanded as part of any long-term truce to end the war. Under the agreement, a temporary governing body for Gaza known as the Board of Peace would be set up, headed by Trump, and including former British prime minister Tony Blair. Palestinians and international experts would take part, and the board would create a framework and handle funding for Gazas redevelopment until the Palestinian Authority had undergone major reforms. Related Article Analysis

Israeli-Palestinian conflict Could Tony Blair run Gaza? Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles on Tuesday voiced support for the plan  on the condition that it did not involve the annexation of any territories or the forced displacement of people. We have made it really clear that we need to see a ceasefire, that we need to see an end to these hostilities. We do not want to see an annexation of these territories, and I know that forms part of this agreement as well, Marles told the ABC Melbourne on Tuesday morning.

Advertisement

Our view, ultimately, is that the only way that there will be an enduring peace in the Middle East is if there are two states. The plan, as its been articulated, keeps the door open for all of that. So thats where we see that there is hope, but what we need is for all parties to be embracing a pathway to peace here. French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed Trumps efforts to end the war and secure the release of all hostages. We call on all sides to come together and to work with the US administration to finalise this agreement and bring it into reality. Hamas should now agree to the plan and end the misery by laying down their arms and releasing all remaining hostages, Starmer said. Loading In a post on X, Macron said: I expect Israel to engage resolutely on this basis. Hamas has no choice but to immediately release all hostages and follow this plan.

Advertisement

Related Article Updated

Foreign relations Albanese gets the thumbs-up from Trump as PMs attention turns to AUKUS, Gaza The Palestinian Authority reiterated its commitment to work with the US and partners to reach a comprehensive deal that included paving way for just peace on the basis of two-state solution. Netanyahu earlier extended a formal apology to his Qatari counterpart for a recent military strike targeting Hamas officials in the Gulf emirate that infuriated Arab leaders and triggered rare criticism by the US of Israel. The Israeli PM phoned Qatars Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, as he met Trump, according to the White House. Trump described the exchange between the two leaders as a heart-to-heart call. As a first step, Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu expressed his deep regret that Israels missile strike against Hamas targets in Qatar unintentionally killed a Qatari serviceman, the White House said in a statement. He further expressed regret that, in targeting Hamas leadership during hostage negotiations, Israel violated Qatari sovereignty and affirmed that Israel will not conduct such an attack again in the future.

Advertisement

The White House talks, and apology from Netanyahu, come at a tenuous moment. Israel is increasingly isolated, losing support from many countries that were long its steadfast allies. At home, Netanyahus governing coalition appears more fragile than ever. And the White House is showing signs of impatience. It remains to be seen how Netanyahu will be able to justify to far-right members of his coalition his acceptance of the proposal after promising to press against the militant organisation until it was eliminated. The Trump plan indicates that once all hostages are returned, Hamas members who commit to peaceful co-existence and to decommission their weapons will be given amnesty. Members of Hamas who wished to leave Gaza would be provided safe passage to receiving countries. Hamas is believed to be holding 48 hostages, 20 of whom are thought by Israel to still be alive. The militant group has demanded that Israel agree to end the war and withdraw from all of Gaza as part of any permanent ceasefire.

Advertisement

Trump discussed the US plan with Arab and Islamic leaders in New York last week on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. It doesnt include the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza, which Trump appeared to endorse earlier this year. Countries including Australia, France, Canada and the United Kingdom last week formally recognised Palestine as world leaders tried to breathe new life into the two-state solution process in a push spearheaded by Macron. Israel has launched one of its biggest offensives of the war this month, with Netanyahu saying he aims to wipe out Hamas. The war, which began after Hamas-led fighters killed about 1200 people and captured 251 hostages in a 2023 attack on Israel, has left much of Gaza in ruins and caused a major humanitarian crisis. More than 66,000 Palestinians have since been killed in Israels assault, according to Gaza health authorities, which do not differentiate between combatants and civilians. AP, Reuters Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.
1. Gaza will be a deradicalised terror-free zone that does not pose a threat to its neighbours.

2. Gaza will be redeveloped for the benefit of the people of Gaza, who have suffered more than enough.

3. If both sides agree to this proposal, the war will immediately end. Israeli forces will withdraw to the agreed upon line to prepare for a hostage release. During this time, all military operations, including aerial and artillery bombardment, will be suspended, and battle lines will remain frozen until conditions are met for the complete staged withdrawal.

4. Within 72 hours of Israel publicly accepting this agreement, all hostages, alive and deceased, will be returned.

5. Once all hostages are released, Israel will release 250 life sentence prisoners plus 1700 Gazans who were detained after October 7th 2023, including all women and children detained in that context. For every Israeli hostage whose remains are released, Israel will release the remains of 15 deceased Gazans.

6. Once all hostages are returned, Hamas members who commit to peaceful co-existence and to decommission their weapons will be given amnesty. Members of Hamas who wish to leave Gaza will be provided safe passage to receiving countries.

7. Upon acceptance of this agreement, full aid will be immediately sent into the Gaza Strip. At a minimum, aid quantities will be consistent with what was included in the January 19, 2025, agreement regarding humanitarian aid, including rehabilitation of infrastructure (water, electricity, sewage), rehabilitation of hospitals and bakeries, and entry of necessary equipment to remove rubble and open roads.

8. Entry of distribution and aid in the Gaza Strip will proceed without interference from the two parties through the United Nations and its agencies, and the Red Crescent, in addition to other international institutions not associated in any manner with either party. Opening the Rafah crossing in both directions will be subject to the same mechanism implemented under the January 19, 2025 agreement.

9. Gaza will be governed under the temporary transitional governance of a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee, responsible for delivering the day-to-day running of public services and municipalities for the people in Gaza. This committee will be made up of qualified Palestinians and international experts, with oversight and supervision by a new international transitional body, the Board of Peace, which will be headed and chaired by President Donald J. Trump, with other members and heads of State to be announced, including Former Prime Minister Tony Blair. This body will set the framework and handle the funding for the redevelopment of Gaza until such time as the Palestinian Authority has completed its reform program, as outlined in various proposals, including President Trumps peace plan in 2020 and the Saudi-French proposal, and can securely and effectively take back control of Gaza. This body will call on best international standards to create modern and efficient governance that serves the people of Gaza and is conducive to attracting investment.

10. A Trump economic development plan to rebuild and energise Gaza will be created by convening a panel of experts who have helped birth some of the thriving modern miracle cities in the Middle East. Many thoughtful investment proposals and exciting development ideas have been crafted by well-meaning international groups, and will be considered to synthesise the security and governance frameworks to attract and facilitate these investments that will create jobs, opportunity, and hope for future Gaza.

11. A special economic zone will be established with preferred tariff and access rates to be negotiated with participating countries.

12. No one will be forced to leave Gaza, and those who wish to leave will be free to do so and free to return. We will encourage people to stay and offer them the opportunity to build a better Gaza.

13. Hamas and other factions agree to not have any role in the governance of Gaza, directly, indirectly, or in any form. All military, terror, and offensive infrastructure, including tunnels and weapon production facilities, will be destroyed and not rebuilt. There will be a process of demilitarisation of Gaza under the supervision of independent monitors, which will include placing weapons permanently beyond use through an agreed process of decommissioning, and supported by an internationally funded buy back and reintegration program all verified by the independent monitors. New Gaza will be fully committed to building a prosperous economy and to peaceful coexistence with their neighbours.

14. A guarantee will be provided by regional partners to ensure that Hamas, and the factions, comply with their obligations and that New Gaza poses no threat to its neighbours or its people.

15. The United States will work with Arab and international partners to develop a temporary International Stabilisation Force (ISF) to immediately deploy in Gaza. The ISF will train and provide support to vetted Palestinian police forces in Gaza, and will consult with Jordan and Egypt who have extensive experience in this field. This force will be the long-term internal security solution. The ISF will work with Israel and Egypt to help secure border areas, along with newly trained Palestinian police forces. It is critical to prevent munitions from entering Gaza and to facilitate the rapid and secure flow of goods to rebuild and revitalise Gaza. A deconfliction mechanism will be agreed upon by the parties.

16. Israel will not occupy or annex Gaza. As the ISF establishes control and stability, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) will withdraw based on standards, milestones, and timeframes linked to demilitarisation that will be agreed upon between the IDF, ISF, the guarantors, and the United States, with the objective of a secure Gaza that no longer poses a threat to Israel, Egypt, or its citizens. Practically, the IDF will progressively hand over the Gaza territory it occupies to the ISF according to an agreement they will make with the transitional authority until they are withdrawn completely from Gaza, save for a security perimeter presence that will remain until Gaza is properly secure from any resurgent terror threat.

17. In the event Hamas delays or rejects this proposal, the above, including the scaled-up aid operation, will proceed in the terror-free areas handed over from the IDF to the ISF.

18. An interfaith dialogue process will be established based on the values of tolerance and peaceful co-existence to try and change mindsets and narratives of Palestinians and Israelis by emphasising the benefits that can be derived from peace.

19. While Gaza re-development advances and when the PA reform program is faithfully carried out, the conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood, which we recognise as the aspiration of the Palestinian people.

20. The United States will establish a dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians to agree on a political horizon for peaceful and prosperous co-existence.
campus news

Tripathi takes a bow

UB President Satish K. Tripathi thanks the audience as he receives a standing ovation at the conclusion of his final State of the University address. Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki

When I was growing up in a remote village in India, I could never have envisioned my path would take me to where I stand today. The statistician in me still asks the question: What are the odds?  UB President Satish K. Tripathi

In what was his final State of the University address, President Satish K. Tripathi reminded the campus community of all they have accomplished together over the years, and because of that, UB remains strong. But this years address took on a more personal tone from Tripathi, who announced Sept. 16 that he will step down as UB president in July 2026 after 15 years at the helm, a remarkable run at a time when the average tenure for college presidents is under six years. First and foremost, I must say what a privilege it has been to be UBs president, Tripathi said. When I was growing up in a remote village in India, I could never have envisioned my path would take me to where I stand today, he said. The statistician in me still asks the question: What are the odds? Inside Slee Hall on Friday, the president spoke before nearly 600 people in attendance. He used the opportunity to thank his wife, Kamlesh, for her love and support, and gently poke fun at his two sons who were unable to travel to Fridays address and still dont know what their dad has been up to all these years. His rise to university president would not have been possible if not for his parents instilling in him a love of education, or for the teachers, mentors and colleagues who guided him throughout his journey, he said. Tripathi also thanked the UB community. The president recalled how struck he was by UBs sense of camaraderie when he first arrived on campus as provost 21 years ago. UB is a community in the best sense of the word: a dynamic environment where we exchange ideas, debate respectfully and come together in service of our mission of excellence, he said. At UB, all of our successes are shared successes, he said. Likewise, whenever we encounter challenges  and lets face it, there have been a few  we tackle them together.

Kamlesh Tripathi (in blue) smiles as the audience applauds her husband during his final State of the University speech. Photo: Douglas Levere

That spirit of solidarity made his tenure as UB president immensely rewarding and he talked with a great sense of pride as he reflected on his time leading SUNYs flagship university, which included navigating a pandemic and changing political landscapes. Tripathi spoke of how moving the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences downtown has catalyzed Buffalos life science economy and how the emergence of a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem at UB has created a generation of students who are making their mark in their respective fields. He spoke of a growing world-class faculty whose national and international honorifics have more than doubled in the past 10 years, while the number of SUNY Distinguished Professors at UB has climbed to 216. And he spoke of how hundreds of millions of dollars in research at UB continue to build upon the universitys legacy of big ideas and bold discoveries, not only in the fields of science, engineering and medicine, but in the liberal arts, law and the humanities. In the domain of artificial intelligence, our comprehensive approach to research has made UB a global powerhouse in this rapidly evolving field, the president said. With faculty across 15 departments harnessing AI for public good, we continue building on this reputation, he said. Today, our researchers are harnessing AI to develop personalized medicine, cutting-edge cybersecurity and educational tools for young learners.

Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki

The president pointed to how the academic profile and merit has been rising among UB students, while their experience at the university has been reimagined  not only with more experiential opportunities, more academic advisors and seven new academic departments, but through a dramatic modernization of its campuses. More than $2.5 billion in construction identified in the campus master plan is well under way. He spoke of partnerships forged locally, nationally and internationally. He spoke of how the universitys commitment to the environment and sustainability was called a model for our country by Kamala Harris, the first sitting U.S. vice president to visit UB. And he spoke of a historic fundraising campaign that saw 84,000 donors invest more than $1 billion to enhance every facet of the university. A goal and recurring theme of Tripathis presidency was for UB to rise among the ranks of the nations best public research universities. That happened, too. All told, our collective work has significantly elevated UBs stature as a premiere public research university, Tripathi said. Over the past 15 years, UBs institutional rankings have risen 22 spots among public universities  and 45 spots among public and private universities, he said. The audience applauded.

Jimmy Philippy (left), a masters of music student in clarinet, and Chi-Yen Huang, a PhD student in music composition, performed before the start of the event. Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki

A bittersweet final address
research news

UBs BioSCape project receives NASA award

Otto Whitehead (left), co-director of "The Spectrum of Life," films the BioSCape team conducting field work in South Africas Greater Cape Floristic Region. The documentary will premiere at the Buffalo International Film Festival Oct. 10. Photo: Courtesy of BioSCape

I look forward to the next few years as more results are published and we can start using that information to better understand and conserve our vital ecosystems around the world.  Adam Wilson, associate professor Department of Geography

BioSCape, a multinational research project co-led by UB that monitored Earths biodiversity from the air, has received a Group Achievement Award as part of the 2024-25 NASA Honor Awards. The honor is given to NASA-funded groups that contribute substantially to the agencys mission, with the BioSCape team credited for outstanding achievements in advancing the understanding of ecosystem structure, function and composition and their change over time. BioSCape was NASAs first-ever biodiversity-focused campaign, using a combination of aircraft equipped with remote-sensing technology and field work to collect data about South Africas Greater Cape Floristic Region, one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. The 283 people named on this award represent a wide range of contributions, including students who spent time in the field collecting data, engineers who built the instruments, pilots who spent weeks flying the research lines, professors who designed study components, postdocs who analyzed the observations and data scientists who processed and archived everything, says BioSCapes co-principal investigator Adam Wilson, associate professor of geography, College of Arts and Sciences. This award is a wonderful milestone that honors the dedication and persistence of everyone involved. Co-led by Erin Hestir of the University of California, Merced, and Jasper Slingsby of the University of Cape Town, the BioSCape team conducted their research throughout 2023.

UB faculty member Adam Wilson (right) and Zolani Mahola, the narrator of the documentary who is also known as the One Who Sings, stand by one of the aircraft used in the project. Photo: Courtesy of BioSCape

Two NASA aircraft and one South African aircraft flew missions over the cape to collect ultraviolet, visual, thermal and other images, which can provide insights about everything from the surface temperatures of the sea to the amount of nitrogen in a forest canopy. Meanwhile, scientists gathered additional data on the ground, such as recording bird and insect calls, and extracting environmental DNA from water samples. The team is now synthesizing its data and using it to write studies. Since the beginning of the project, the team has published more than 40 studies and scientific presentations in various journals. Their airborne data is publicly available online on the NASA website. I look forward to the next few years as more results are published and we can start using that information to better understand and conserve our vital ecosystems around the world, Wilson says. In addition, the hope is that BioSCape has laid the foundation for monitoring biodiversity from even higher up  that is, from space. Some of the tools used in the project are being employed by NASA to study other planets and stars outside our solar system. By gathering this kind of data from a plane, we learn more about how we could do the same thing from satellites, Wilson says.

Co-director Jeremy Shelton films footage for "The Spectrum of Life" during BioScape field work. Photo: Courtesy of BioScape

Documentary puts project into broader context
A quelques semaines d'une presidentielle dont l'issue semble deja ecrite, le pouvoir camerounais semble avoir choisi une nouvelle strategie de communication : le voyage dans le futur, ou peut-etre dans une realite alternative. La derniere video de campagne de Paul Biya, le president sortant de 92 ans au pouvoir depuis 43 ans, plonge l'observateur dans un etrange melange de fiction numerique et de promesses politiques.

Publiee samedi sur le compte X du chef de l'Etat, la sequence de 30 secondes, intitulee  Grandeur et esperance , utilise massivement et de maniere peu convaincante l'intelligence artificielle pour generer des images. Le ton est donne des les premieres secondes par une voix robotique, aux intonations exagerement publicitaires, qui clame :  Nous avons bati une nation libre, souveraine et unie avec des realisations palpables. 

Une realite virtuelle pour un bilan conteste

Le "palpable" prend ici une forme pour le moins virtuelle. La video enchaine des plans de synthese : des citoyens en gilet orange discutant devant une pelleteuse generee par IA, une femme et un enfant terrifies sur fond de voitures brulees, ou encore une meme femme clone, tantot agricultrice, tantot scientifique, tantot militante brandissant le drapeau.







 Nos efforts sont contraries par des epreuves multiples , admet la voix off, dans un rare moment de concession a la realite d'un pays en proie a des crises securitaires dans ses regions anglophones et a la menace de Boko Haram. Mais la solution proposee est tout aussi virtuelle : Paul Biya apparait, signant un document qui declenche comme par magie l'intervention heliportee de l'armee pour sauver les otages numeriques.

La technologie au service d'un pouvoir autoritaire

Ce recours a l'IA pour "rajeunir" l'image d'un president nonagenaire et celebrer un bilan est un paradoxe qui n'a pas echappe aux observateurs. Alors que Brenda Biya, la fille unique du president, appelait recemment sur TikTok a ne pas voter pour un pere qui  fait souffrir beaucoup de gens , ecrit le journal francais Le Figaro le regime mise sur le futurisme pour verrouiller l'avenir.







La victoire de Paul Biya, candidat a un huitieme mandat, ne fait en effet guere de doute. Son principal opposant, Maurice Kamto, a ete ecarte de la course par le Conseil constitutionnel, une institution dont l'independance est regulierement mise en cause. Des organisations comme Human Rights Watch et Amnesty International pointent depuis des annees un pouvoir autoritaire, les atteintes aux libertes fondamentales et la credibilite plus que limitee du processus electoral.







La video s'acheve sur un lion marchant dans la savane, symbole de puissance, et sur le slogan  Grandeur et Esperance , ajoute notre confrere. Un message qui, pour beaucoup de Camerounais, semble aussi eloigne de leur quotidien que les images generees par intelligence artificielle qui le portent.









Cameroon: At 92, Paul Biya Uses AI for "Lunar" Campaign and 8th Term Bid

A few weeks before a presidential election whose outcome seems preordained, the Cameroonian government has opted for a new communication strategy: a journey into the future, or perhaps an alternate reality. The latest campaign video for Paul Biya, the 92-year-old incumbent who has held power for 43 years, plunges the observer into a strange mix of digital fiction and political promises.







Posted on Saturday on the head of state's X account, the 30-second sequence, titled "Grandeur and Hope" ("Grandeur et Esperance"), heavily and unconvincingly uses artificial intelligence to generate images. The tone is set from the first seconds by a robotic voice, with exaggeratedly commercial intonations, proclaiming: "We have built a free, sovereign, and united nation with tangible achievements."

A Virtual Reality for a Contested Record

The "tangible" here takes a decidedly virtual form. The video strings together synthetic scenes: citizens in orange vests discussing in front of an AI-generated excavator, a terrified woman and child against a backdrop of burning cars, or even the same cloned woman, sometimes a farmer, sometimes a scientist, sometimes a militant waving the flag.







"Our efforts are hindered by multiple trials," admits the voiceover, in a rare moment conceding the reality of a country facing security crises in its Anglophone regions and the Boko Haram threat. But the proposed solution is just as virtual: Paul Biya appears, signing a document that magically triggers a helicopter-borne army intervention to rescue the digital hostages.

Technology in the Service of an Authoritarian Regime

This recourse to AI to "rejuvenate" the image of a nonagenarian president and celebrate a record is a paradox not lost on observers. While Brenda Biya, the president's only daughter, recently called on TikTok not to vote for a father who "makes many people suffer, including his family," the regime is betting on futurism to lock in the future.







Paul Biya's victory, running for an eighth term, is indeed in little doubt. His main opponent, Maurice Kamto, was barred from the race by the Constitutional Council, an institution whose independence is regularly questioned. Organizations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have for years pointed to an authoritarian regime, attacks on fundamental freedoms, and the highly limited credibility of the electoral process.







The video ends with a lion walking in the savannah, a symbol of power, and the slogan "Grandeur and Hope." A message that, for many Cameroonians, seems as distant from their daily lives as the AI-generated images that carry it.







Paul Biya, Cameroun, election presidentielle 2024, intelligence artificielle, IA, campagne politique, video IA, pouvoir autoritaire, Maurice Kamto, Brenda Biya, RDPC, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Conseil constitutionnel, Yaounde, politique africaine, democratie, droits de l'homme, Grandeur et Esperance







Mouahna Divine
v2rayN 7.16.5

**** Default language: **** The default language for v2rayN is in Chinese.

8.6 MB | For Windows 7, Windows 8 (64-bit, 32-bit) / Vista / XP Free

v2rayN Review - Download

TunnelBear 4.17.0.0

Free VPN application that can mask IP address, provide anonymous browsing and make it appear you're surfing from countries like the USA, UK, Canada and many other locations: With curious governments, spyware and Internet trackers omnipresent today, browsing the web with a little bit of privacy is sometimes a lot to ask for.

13.6 MB | For Windows 7, Windows 8 / Vista / XP Free

TunnelBear Review - Download

Psiphon 186.20251209044805

Anti-censorship proxy solution for Windows and Android while bypassing region restrictions and national firewalls: When it comes to censorship in many countries across the world, we're in a pretty sad state.

967 KB | For Windows 7, Windows 8 / Vista / XP Free

Psiphon Review - Download

Tor Browser 15.0.3

Web browser that protects identity, avoids censorship and provides anonymous Internet browsing while hiding true IP address: Tor Browser is the well-known dark web browser that's been developed as an open source project which makes browsing the web anonymously a reality.

25.8 MB | For Windows 7, Windows 8 / Vista / XP Free

Tor Review - Download

WireGuard 0.5.3

Advanced, but intuitive VPN connection and tunneling utility with tough security features and powerful encryption algorithms for safer Internet usage: WireGuard is a free and open-source virtual private network (VPN) software that aims to be faster, simpler, and more secure than existing VPN protocols.

80 KB | For Windows 7, Windows 8 (64-bit, 32-bit) / Vista / XP Free



CyberGhost VPN 8.4.11.14569

CyberGhost VPN is a VPN service that allows you to securely connect to the Internet and protect yourself from malicious actors.

12.21 MB | For Windows 7, Windows 8 (64-bit, 32-bit) / Vista / XP Free

CyberGhost VPN Review - Download

Tor (Expert Bundle) 15.0.3

Free Onion client that connects to and browses the visible web as well as the so-called dark web with full privacy: Tor (Expert Bundle) is a free Internet anonymizer service which will tunnel your Internet connection through random nodes on the Tor network, effectively making your connections to the outside world private.

4.8 MB | For Windows 7, Windows 8 / Vista / XP Free



SoftEther VPN 4.44.9807 RTM

Free and open source VPN server and client with LAN and remote access features with EtherPI, IPsec, L2TP and OpenVPN support: SoftEther VPN Project develops and distributes SoftEther VPN, an open-source and free cross-platform multi-protocol VPN Program, as an academic project from University of Tsukuba.

30.8 MB | For Windows 7, Windows 8 / Vista / XP Free



Advanced Onion Router 0.3.2.0

Thanks to the selfless work of the developers over at TOR, we are provided with a way to get around the horrible system of data collection in the United States and other countries.

4.13MB | For Windows 7, Windows 8 / Vista / XP Free

Advanced Onion Router Review - Download

Proxy Switcher Standard 7.5.0

Different internet connections do often require completely different proxy server settings and it's a real pain to change them manually.

4.66 MB | For Windows 7, Windows 8 (64-bit, 32-bit) / Vista / XP Shareware



Freegate Professional 7.90

Anti-censoring circumvention software app with changes your IP address and prevents government blocking and spying: **** Freegate **** is a program that allows millions of users in China, Burma, Iran, and other countries covered by censorship laws to freely access the Internet.

1.7 MB | For Windows 7, Windows 8 / Vista / XP Free

Freegate Review - Download

ProxyCap 5.42

ProxyCap is a program similar to Charles, an application which has the ability to use virtually any Windows-based program to connect through a web proxy.

4.3 MB | For Windows 7, Windows 8 / Vista / XP Shareware

ProxyCap Review - Download

Hotspot Shield 12.9.7

Secure your wi-fi connection from hackers and watch region-restricted television while hiding your actual IP address and location: Note: Hotspot Shield comes bundled with adware.

0.25 MB | For Windows 7, Windows 8 (64-bit, 32-bit) / Vista / XP Free

Hotspot Shield Review - Download

FreeProxy Internet Suite 4.10.1751

FreeProxy Internet Suite (also known as just FreeProxy) is a free proxy server which runs on your system and tunnels Internet traffic through your PC.

4.14 MB | For Windows 7, Windows 8 / Vista / XP Free

FreeProxy Internet Suite Review - Download

Avira Phantom VPN 2.44.1

A free but limited VPN solution which works with geo restrictions and provides privacy to web browsing and other online activities: Avira Phantom VPN is free anonymization software that allows its users to surf the web securely and anonymously.

5.2 MB | For Windows 7, Windows 8 (64-bit, 32-bit) / Vista / XP Free



Proxifier 4.14

Are you looking to explore the far reaches of the internet but find yourself thwarted by pesky firewalls and location restrictions?

3.52 MB | For Windows 7, Windows 8 (64-bit, 32-bit) / Vista / XP Shareware

Proxifier Review - Download

Private Internet Access 4.0.7

Highly effective software to hide your IP address and appear as if you're browsing from a different country or region from where you are, effectively skirting local censorship and protecting privacy: In terms of VPN services, this site rarely promotes the plethora of different services available.

20.5 MB | For Windows 7, Windows 8 / Vista / XP Free

Private Internet Access Review - Download

UserGate Proxy 6.5

Proxy server and firewall application which controls Internet traffic and monitors incoming and outgoing data streams: UserGate is a complex solution for sharing Internet access among employees in your company, making traffic calculations, and protecting your local network against malicious activity and software, such as hacker attacks, viruses and Trojans.

35.48 MB | For Windows 7, Windows 8 (64-bit, 32-bit) / Vista / XP Shareware



Betternet 8.6.0.1290

**** Betternet **** is a privacy-enhancing Virtual Private Network (VPN) tool which allows users to create a tunnel connection to the Internet.

10.2 MB | For Windows 7, Windows 8 / Vista / XP Free

Betternet Review - Download

ZenMate 8.4.11.14569

A Google Chrome addon which adds a layer of anonymity hiding your IP address and circumventing region restrictions and censorship: ZenMate by ZenGuard is a Chrome-based addon which provides you the ability to browse the web without censorship and to spoof which country you're browsing from.

255 KB | For Windows 7, Windows 8 (64-bit, 32-bit) / Vista / XP Free

ZenMate Review - Download

Free VPN 3.21

(Formerly) free VPN service for UK and US IP addresses: 'The Free VPN' is a free virtual private network service with UK and US IP addresses.

3.0 MB | For Windows 7, Windows 8 / Vista / XP Free

Free VPN Review - Download

X-Proxy 6.2.0.4

Updated proxy lists automatically allow you to surf anonymously with Firefox, Chrome or Internet Explorer: X-Proxy is a tool which helps you in masking your IP address while you're surfing the web and is a slow alternative to privacy VPN services.

477 KB | For Windows 7, Windows 8 / Vista / XP Free

X Proxy Review - Download

Winnow Anonymous Proxy 4.1

Anonymous Internet browsing with IP address faking location and proxy testing: Winnow Anonymous Proxy was a shareware Internet proxy giving users the free ability to surf the web anonymously by hiding and thus faking your IP address.

1 MB | For Shareware

Winnow Anonymous Proxy Review - Download

ProxMate for Chrome 4.6.7.0

ProxMate is a full featured package manager for proxies and proxy rules.

172 KB | For Windows 7, Windows 8 / Vista / XP Free



Privoxy 4.0.0.1

Free and privacy-focused web proxy that bundles advanced filters, ad-blocking and cookie management into one interface: Privoxy is a non-caching web proxy with advanced filtering capabilities for enhancing privacy, modifying web page data and HTTP headers, controlling access, and removing ads and other obnoxious Internet junk.

509 KB | For Windows 7, Windows 8 / Vista / XP Free



Vidalia Bundle 0.2.4.23

User interface front-end for using Tor software with the option to view bandwidth usage, network maps, graphs, replaced by the Tor Browser Bundle: Vidalia is a cross-platform controller GUI for Tor, built using the Qt framework.

8.9 MB | For Windows 7, Windows 8 / Vista / XP Free



ChrisPC Free Anonymous Proxy 9.24.1111

Connects to a variety of free anonymous proxies in order to skip regional restrictions and censorship: ChrisPC Free Anonymous Proxy is a freeware utility which can effectively hide your IP address by connecting through free and open proxies over the Internet.

2.87 MB | For Windows 7, Windows 8 (64-bit, 32-bit) / Vista / XP Free

ChrisPC Free Anonymous Proxy Review - Download

I2P 2.10.0

A web communication app that provides anonymous and encrypted communication online by a private network layer optimized for privacy and security: I2P is an anonymous network, exposing a simple layer that applications can use to anonymously and securely send messages to each other.

13.3 MB | For Windows 7, Windows 8 / Vista / XP Free



SafeIP 2.0.0.2602

SafeIP is a utility that allows you to hide your real IP address by replacing it with a fake IP address based on your location preferences.

2.26 MB | For Windows 7, Windows 8 (64-bit, 32-bit) / Vista / XP Free

SafeIP Review - Download

Freegate Expert Edition 7.42

Anti-censorship software helps get around government censors, spoofing your IP address and preventing snooping: Freegate Expert Edition is a handy and reliable utility designed to enable you to access webpages overseas just as quickly as your local websites.

2.2 MB | For Windows 7, Windows 8 / Vista / XP Free



Proxy Firewall 1.0.4.253

Proxy Firewall is an automatic proxy selector that will simply and easily manage proxy connections for you.

1.03 MB | For Windows 7, Windows 8 / Vista / XP / NT Free



Spotflux 4.34.9745 RTM

Browse the web anonymously with protection against malware and hackers and providing encryption against spying: Spotflux free VPN is an alternative to browsing the web with your ISP's settings.

21.3 MB | For Windows 7, Windows 8 / Vista / XP Free

Spotflux Review - Download

OkayFreedom 1.8.19.13653

Online VPN which allows access to region-restricted content and encrypted Internet: The VPN Client OkayFreedom makes access to websites that are regionally restricted accessible to you and protects your online privacy.

| For Windows 7, Windows 8 (64-bit, 32-bit) / Vista / XP Free



SecurityKISS Tunnel 0.3

SecurityKISS Tunnel is a freeware VPN client which also provides free access to services in four countries, namely the United States, Germany, France and the UK.

2.59 MB | For Windows 7, Windows 8 / Vista / XP Free

SecurityKISS Tunnel Review - Download

Proxify anonymous proxy 3.21

Proxify is a web-based anonymous proxy service which allows anyone to surf the Web privately and securely.

1 MB | For Windows 7, Windows 8 (64-bit, 32-bit) / Vista / XP Commercial



Simple DNSCrypt 0.7.1

Tool to manage and configure the dnscrypt proxy with 2-layer encryption and access to plugs to enable additional features: Simple DNSCrypt provides you with a simple tool for making sure that your DNS queries are securely encrypted.

9 MB | For Windows 7, Windows 8 (64-bit, 32-bit) / Vista / XP Free



Hola Better Internet 1.207.554

A community-powered VPN service circumventing region blocks, browsing the web from any country: Hola Unblocker is a stand-alone program which supports all browsers.

6.5 MB | For Windows 7, Windows 8 / Vista / XP Free

Hola Unblocker Review - Download

Proxy Searcher 5.1

Proxy Searcher is a simple, yet effective program at finding public proxy servers over the Internet.

5.53 MB | For Windows 7, Windows 8 / Vista / XP Free

Proxy Searcher Review - Download

Shellfire VPN 3.5

VPN software with German and US servers that provides private Internet browsing and regional restriction circumvention: Browsing the Internet certainly can present harm to users, especially to those in countries with oppressive governments.

89.8 MB | For Windows 7, Windows 8 / Vista / XP Free

Shellfire VPN Review - Download

Surf Anonymous Free 2.6.1.6

Surf Anonymous Free, the ultimate free online protection software, is designed to make your real IP address and location inaccessible, thus anonymize your web surfing, guard your security against identity theft and other crimes, and unban yourself from forums or blogs.

2.78 MB | For Windows 7, Windows 8 (64-bit, 32-bit) / Vista / XP Free



Jumpto Anonymous Browser 2.5.0

Jumpto is a free comprehensive Internet security package aimed at parents wishing to protect the privacy and anonymity of their children browsing the Internet.

1.8 MB | For Windows 7, Windows 8 (64-bit, 32-bit) / Vista / XP Free

Jumpto Anonymous Internet Browsing Review - Download

Hide IP NG 1.87

Software which attempts to hide your IP address via free proxies: If you're looking for software which is able to hide your IP address, this program (Hide IP) might be worth looking at, but don't hold your breath.

0.83 MB | For Windows 7, Windows 8 (64-bit, 32-bit) / Vista / XP Shareware

Hide IP Review - Download

PrivateTunnel VPN Client 2.8.4

Alternatives ways of using the Internet have become ever more popular after the revelation of government spying programs across the Western world.

26.1 MB | For Windows 7, Windows 8 / Vista / XP Free

PrivateTunnel VPN Client Review - Download

Olive 2.4.10

Some users don't take privacy seriously while others may actually object to governments and corporations following them.

30.5 MB | For Windows 7, Windows 8 / Vista / XP Free

Olive Review - Download

BlackBelt Privacy 15.2025.12.1

A toolset of privacy and anonymous browsing tools including Tor, WASTE, VoIP and MicroSIP: BlackBeltPrivacy is a rather complete set of tools for protecting yourself from online attacks and malicious users.

14.4 MB | For Windows 7, Windows 8 / Vista / XP Free

BlackBeltPrivacy Review - Download

Expat Shield 2.25

Access BBC iPlayer and other British content with a free UK VPN making your IP address appear UK-based: Being based in Canada, we were all really excited when we were given the chance to obtain a free VPN account so that we could watch television with a US IP address with the big brother of Expat Shield, Hotspot Shield.

266 KB | For Windows 7, Windows 8 / Vista / XP Free

Expat Shield Review - Download
By Rebecca Black, PA

A commitment for an inquiry into the care of children with scoliosis and spina bifida is hoped to bring some justice for a boy who died earlier this year.

Stephen Morrison and Gillian Sherratt welcomed the promise of the probe following a meeting with Tanaiste Simon Harris on Monday.

It comes after HSE chief executive Bernard Gloster apologised to them following the death of their son, Harvey Morrison Sherratt, for their experience of being let down by the healthcare system.

Harvey Morrison Sherratts parents, Gillian Sherratt and Stephen Morrison, during a Justice for Harvey March in Dublin city centre in August (Gareth Chaney/PA)

They said their nine-year-old son, who had scoliosis and spina bifida, waited years for spinal surgery, during which time the curve in his spine went from 75 degrees to 130 degrees.

By the time Harvey received spinal surgery last December, the curve had reached the point where it could not be fully corrected.

The curve caused his rib cage to twist around his lungs and heart, severely restricting his breathing.

Harvey died on July 29th.

His parents met with Mr Harris and Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill on Monday evening.

Speaking afterwards, Ms Sherratt said she hopes the inquiry will bring about change.

Simon Harris and Jennifer Carroll MacNeill have committed to an inquiry into spina bifida and scoliosis care at Childrens Health Ireland, she told media outside government buildings.

The terms of reference of this inquiry are to be drawn up in collaboration with parental advocacy groups, the Scoliosis Advocacy Network and the Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Paediatric Advocacy Group, and the Minister for Health and Tanaiste.

We will be having a follow-up meeting, which should occur in three weeks time, and we hope that this inquiry will be the start of bringing about real, substantial change and bring some justice for Harvey.
THIS autumn marks a landmark moment for Carlow Dental Centre and for the Irish dental profession. For the first time ever, one of Europes most prestigious postgraduate dental training programmes is being delivered outside the UK, and it is happening right here in Carlow.

Carlow Dental Centre, in association with the renowned Tipton Training, will host the 12-Month Certificate in Restorative Dentistry beginning in October 2025. The programme is already fully booked, with dentists from across Ireland securing their places on this prestigious course.

Tipton Training is widely recognised as Europes leading private dental education provider, with more than 30 years of experience and over 5,000 dentists trained. Its founder, Professor Paul Tipton, is a specialist in prosthodontics and a respected figure in the profession, holding a Fellowship from the Royal College of Surgeons of England. His name is synonymous with excellence in restorative and cosmetic dentistry, and his courses have shaped the careers of countless clinicians across the UK and beyond.

Now, thanks to a landmark partnership with Carlow Dental Centre, that same world-class education is being made available in Ireland. The significance of this cannot be overstated: for decades, Irish dentists wishing to pursue advanced training in restorative dentistry have had to travel to the UK and beyond. From October this year, they will be able to access a programme of international standing without leaving the country.

Inside Carlow Dental Centre.

The 12-Month Certificate in Restorative Dentistry is an intensive, practice-focused programme covering the essential skills of modern restorative dentistry from occlusion and treatment planning to advanced techniques with composites, veneers, and crowns. The course blends lectures, hands-on practical days, and online learning to ensure participants not only expand their theoretical knowledge but also develop clinical skills they can apply immediately in practice.

For Carlow to be chosen as the host location for such a course is a remarkable achievement. It positions the town as a centre for professional education and underscores the growing reputation of Carlow Dental Centre, which has long been recognised for its commitment to excellence in patient care and innovation in dentistry.

Demand for places on the course was immediate and overwhelming. With only 10 seats initially announced, the final cohort has expanded slightly to accommodate 12 dentists from across the country, representing practices from every corner of Ireland. This reflects not only the calibre of the course itself but also the appetite among Irish dentists for high-level professional training delivered locally.

While the dentists enrolled will undoubtedly benefit from the expertise of Professor Tipton and his team, the ultimate winners will be patients. As these clinicians bring new knowledge, skills, and confidence back into their practices, communities across Ireland will see the benefits in improved treatment outcomes, advanced restorative options, and enhanced standards of care.

This ripple effect from the lecture hall in Carlow Dental Centre to dental chairs across the country is what makes this initiative so significant. It is not just about education for dentists, but about raising the bar for dentistry in Ireland as a whole.

Carlow Dental Centre training in action.

For Carlow, the course represents more than just an educational event. It places the town firmly on the map as a hub for professional development in healthcare, attracting national attention and fostering pride in local achievement. Hosting the Tipton Training programme demonstrates that world-class opportunities need not be confined to Dublin or overseas institutions; they can thrive in regional centres too.

The arrival of Tipton Training to Carlow is a milestone for Irish dentistry and a moment of pride for the local community. It highlights what can be achieved through vision, partnership, and commitment to excellence. As the dentists embark on their year-long journey of professional growth, their success will stand as a testament not only to their own dedication but also to Carlows role in shaping the future of dentistry in Ireland. The story of this course is about celebrating a first-of-its-kind achievement: Carlow as host to one of Europes most respected dental training institutions, and Irish dentists gaining access to a level of education that will raise standards for years to come. Looking further ahead, business owners Dr William Hayfron and Dr Krisztian Sallai, together with business manager Martin Deane and Professor Paul Tipton, are planning the creation of additional courses through 2026, ensuring this momentum continues to grow.

THIS autumn marks a landmark moment for Carlow Dental Centre and for the Irish dental profession. For the first time ever, one of Europes most prestigious postgraduate dental training programmes is being delivered outside the UK, and it is happening right here in Carlow.

Carlow Dental Centre, in association with the renowned Tipton Training, will host the 12-Month Certificate in Restorative Dentistry beginning in October 2025. The programme is already fully booked, with dentists from across Ireland securing their places on this prestigious course.

Tipton Training is widely recognised as Europes leading private dental education provider, with more than 30 years of experience and over 5,000 dentists trained. Its founder, Professor Paul Tipton, is a specialist in prosthodontics and a respected figure in the profession, holding a Fellowship from the Royal College of Surgeons of England. His name is synonymous with excellence in restorative and cosmetic dentistry, and his courses have shaped the careers of countless clinicians across the UK and beyond.

Now, thanks to a landmark partnership with Carlow Dental Centre, that same world-class education is being made available in Ireland. The significance of this cannot be overstated: for decades, Irish dentists wishing to pursue advanced training in restorative dentistry have had to travel to the UK and beyond. From October this year, they will be able to access a programme of international standing without leaving the country.

The 12-Month Certificate in Restorative Dentistry is an intensive, practice-focused programme covering the essential skills of modern restorative dentistry from occlusion and treatment planning to advanced techniques with composites, veneers, and crowns. The course blends lectures, hands-on practical days, and online learning to ensure participants not only expand their theoretical knowledge but also develop clinical skills they can apply immediately in practice.

For Carlow to be chosen as the host location for such a course is a remarkable achievement. It positions the town as a centre for professional education and underscores the growing reputation of Carlow Dental Centre, which has long been recognised for its commitment to excellence in patient care and innovation in dentistry.

Demand for places on the course was immediate and overwhelming. With only 10 seats initially announced, the final cohort has expanded slightly to accommodate 12 dentists from across the country, representing practices from every corner of Ireland. This reflects not only the calibre of the course itself but also the appetite among Irish dentists for high-level professional training delivered locally.

While the dentists enrolled will undoubtedly benefit from the expertise of Professor Tipton and his team, the ultimate winners will be patients. As these clinicians bring new knowledge, skills, and confidence back into their practices, communities across Ireland will see the benefits in improved treatment outcomes, advanced restorative options, and enhanced standards of care.

This ripple effect from the lecture hall in Carlow Dental Centre to dental chairs across the country is what makes this initiative so significant. It is not just about education for dentists, but about raising the bar for dentistry in Ireland as a whole.

For Carlow, the course represents more than just an educational event. It places the town firmly on the map as a hub for professional development in healthcare, attracting national attention and fostering pride in local achievement. Hosting the Tipton Training programme demonstrates that world-class opportunities need not be confined to Dublin or overseas institutions; they can thrive in regional centres too.

The arrival of Tipton Training to Carlow is a milestone for Irish dentistry and a moment of pride for the local community. It highlights what can be achieved through vision, partnership, and commitment to excellence. As the dentists embark on their year-long journey of professional growth, their success will stand as a testament not only to their own dedication but also to Carlows role in shaping the future of dentistry in Ireland. The story of this course is about celebrating a first-of-its-kind achievement: Carlow as host to one of Europes most respected dental training institutions, and Irish dentists gaining access to a level of education that will raise standards for years to come. Looking further ahead, business owners Dr William Hayfron and Dr Krisztian Sallai, together with business manager Martin Deane and Professor Paul Tipton, are planning the creation of additional courses through 2026, ensuring this momentum continues to grow.
At first I was embarrassed. Next I was angry . Finally I was resigned to the awful fact that I couldnt find my glasses.

Its not as though it was a one and done, instead it was followed by the loss of the keys to my car and then the loss of my car in a supermarket parking lot with groceries in hand. You know the man - the one holding the keys to his car and pressing in hopes the alarm will go off and he will be united with that terrific blue Tesla momentarily,

Ultimately it was the loss of my innocence when I realized what growing old can mean to an old man who just discovered his car keys in his pants pocket. The upside being a chance to get in a number of steps on my handy dandy watch that knows and records your life moment by moment, step by step.

At work recently one of my favorite customers - they are all special in one way or another - showed me his newest toy, a pair of sunglasses that double as a movie camera. Thats correct, it is also a movie camera like that kiss cam that doomed the career of two people, not with their spouse, hugging it up then sinking to the ground when they realized they were the stars of the current motion picture, however brief that might had been.

As to found keys, those pants had deep pockets. No really down in there with all the loose change I couldnt find the other day when I had to pay a bill. It was a matter of two pennies and I struck out. Do you realize how much 98 cents can weigh you down? Luckily, I had remembered to wear a belt and clean underwear. My momma was right about that underwear!

Growing old has its perks, but the downside is like a ride on a Ferris Wheel when the operator has stepped away for lunch. Depending on what section of town you reside, there are actually some very nice young people including ones who drive an 08 Corolla and not the guys in their parents' Tesla - especially the ones in this terrific shade of blue that probably matches their blood type.

Another issue that crops up daily in my house is hearing. Speaking with my fellow workers I find that this is a similar problem in their houses as well. Is it selective hearing or problems with your hearing canal? I took an audiology exam not too long ago and found out that my hearing was very good for someone my age. That sounded like a left-handed compliment.

Does that mean that at my age I cannot hear much or I hear so much that I need to know if I can flood that pesky ear canal. Recently I had my ears cleaned out and found what appeared to be enough wax to make a candle. Okay a small candle. That was very alarming but then again it cut down on that amount of gibberish I hear in addition to the amount I get on my computer.

Where we live now life should be a no brainer. Only my brain isnt getting the message that all I have to do is show up and follow a program of daily activities that includes chair aerobics and foreign dominoes that sounds like something left over after the latest revolution. Also, there are three meals included where you select the main course, which usually features chicken. Makes you want to cluck or at the very least produce a couple of hard-boiled eggs.

Yes, I still work three days a week where I am considered a phenom to be working at my age. Actually, I am a star in the making. Other employees point me out with the phrase, Do you know how old he is?

Its all in your mind, sweetheart, except for the arthritis that makes me walk a little slower and not being able to remember where the heck I parked my fading silver Corolla, hopefully next to that awesome blue-colored Tesla!

* * *

Charles Siskin is a former Chattanoogan living un-retired in Florida with his bride, Cookie. He can be reached at charles.siskin@gmail.com
For trail runners in Chattanooga, the trails of Lookout or Signal Mountain offer rugged beauty and challenge. But for those who are looking to expand their sights to the next adventure outside of the Southeast, the Scottish Highlands hold something extraordinary: the Cape Wrath Ultra, an eight-day, 250-mile stage race often described as one of the worlds toughestand most breathtakingrunning adventures.

Launched in 2016, the Cape Wrath Ultra was the brainchild of British endurance athlete and race director Shane Ohly, whose vision was to create not just another ultra, but an expedition-style experience that combines trail running with exploration.

At a more philosophical level, I want to organize events that have adventure. I very passionately believe that you only have adventure when you have some adversity and/or jeopardy in the outcome, says Ohly.

The route begins in Fort Williamthe gateway to the Highlandsand pushes north through Scotlands most untamed wilderness, finishing at the iconic Cape Wrath lighthouse, perched on a cliff where the Atlantic crashes against the rugged coast. Along the way, runners cover roughly an average of 31 miles per day, navigating technical terrain, steep climbs, and weather that can shift from blue skies to sideways rain in an instant.

Unlike single-day ultras, the Cape Wrath Ultra is structured as an expedition. At the end of each stage/day, participants rest in tented camps set up by the event team, share meals, and recover for the next day. Camps are transported for them by race staff, allowing runners to focus on the running, the recovery, and the camaraderie that forms among an international field of competitors. Runners are required to be fully self-supported while on the course, adding to the challenge and importance of self-reliance.

The adversity and challenge make it a real fulcrum for building relationships, Ohly explained. The participants experience is so challenging that they form these incredible relationships with the people around them.

That perspective may resonate with Chattanoogas growing trail and ultra community. With a strong offering of ultra running races throughout the region, many area runners already test themselves on steep climbs, rocky ridges, and unpredictable weather. For those looking to take their trail running to a truly international stage, the Cape Wrath Ultra could be the ultimate next step.

Ohly stressed that the race is more than just a test of enduranceits also about immersion in a dramatic and challenging landscape. You start at sea-level. Youre weaving through the glens, he said. The course then has runners ascending and descending the Scottish Highlands on their way to the finish line at Scotlands most north-westerly point. The change in temperature and environment as you climb over the mountains is dramatic.

The 2026 edition of the race is already drawing applicants from around the globe, and spots are limited. While travel to Scotland is part of the adventure, Chattanooga runners might find a familiar spirit of community in the events camp culture, where the day ends with shared meals, recovery routines, and stories from the trail.

This article marks the first in a series exploring the Cape Wrath Ultra. The next article will dive into how to train for such a unique adventure, including lessons from seasoned participants and practical strategies to prepare right here in Tennessees hills.

For now, the Highlands calland for those willing to answer, Cape Wrath promises a running experience unlike any other.

Cape Wrath Ultra: Race Facts
Jarvis Jackson, 43, was convicted in Walker County Superior Court following a bench trial before Judge Christopher Arnt for two separate, violent criminal episodes - one involving the brutal assault of a longtime girlfriend and another involving a different victim and the killing of a family pet.

Jackson was sentenced to 68 years in the Department of Corrections.



The cases were prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Winston Franklin of the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorneys Office, with investigative work by Detective Robby Tate of the LaFayette Police Department.

Victim-witness advocates Donna Howell and Brittany Bruce provided critical support.First case (early 2024):Evidence showed Jackson assaulted his longtime girlfriend, doused her in rubbing alcohol and set her on fire. Temporarily blinded from her injuries, the victim staggered to a neighbors home on Feb. 3, 2024, pleading for help while suffering severe facial injuries and extensive burns. With the support of friends, family and advocates, she later detailed years of abuse and identified Jackson as her attacker. She testified at trial.Second case (Aug. 18, 2024):Just months after marrying a different woman in May 2024, Jackson woke his new wife by spitting on her and accusing her of infidelity. He then retrieved a pistol and shot her dog as it lay on its bed. Still armed, Jackson forced his wife into a vehicle, threatening to kill her and her adult son if police were called. After several hours, they returned home, where Jackson made her help clean the blood and dispose of the bedding before he fled to relatives in Alabama. The victim reported the incident to the LaFayette Police Department two days later.Jackson was found guilty of aggravated assault, three counts of aggravated battery, aggravated animal cruelty, family violence aggravated assault, kidnapping and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.District Attorney Clayton M. Fuller highlighted his tough on crime approach and thanked law enforcement. My thanks to LaFayette Chief of Police Stacey Meeks and his team for their relentless work and leadership in fighting for the public safety of our Main Streets. From Charlotte to Seattle, too many soft-on-crime prosecutors would send a defendant like this back onto the streets for 14 more arrests. Not in Northwest Georgia. We fight for victims, and we put violent criminals away until the 2090s."
Here are the new marriage licenses from the County Clerk's office

FRANK ROBERT WILLIAMSON JESSIE SUZANNE HASTY

3741 DIXIE CIR 3741 DIXIE CIR

LUPTON CITY, Tennessee 37351 LUPTON CITY, Tennessee 37351



OLIVIA PEYTON EVANS ANDER HAYNES SLOAN

1601 MITCHELL AVE UNIT D 1601 MITCHELL AVE UNIT D

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 374081252 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 374081252



ADAM MASTERSON ROBERTS ANGELA LIN

924 TOM HAILEY BLVD 924 TOM HAILEY BLVD

LA VERGNE, Tennessee 37086 LA VERGNE, Tennessee 37086



JADARIUS JABBAR THOMPSON ERIN ANDREA MASSEY

813 SNOW ST 1107 JAMES ST

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37405 MEMPHIS, Tennessee 38106



STEVEN HUNTER CANNON MADISON LEIGH BAILEY

7407 COUNTRY HILL LN 6874 GAZING LN

OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 37363 BIRCHWOOD, Tennessee 37308



DUSTIN WAYNE SHADWICK JENIFER MICHELLE ROSE

9842 LAKESIDE RD 9842 LAKESIDE RD

HARRISON, Tennessee 37341 HARRISON, Tennessee 37341



JEFFREY ALAN DEAN JOANNE TERRALYN TESSIER

8644 WADING BRANCH CT 8644 WADING BRANCH CT

OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 37363 OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 37363



KAREY LEE DILLS KEEGAN MARIE SZALAY

1348 PASSENGER ST APT 325 1348 PASSENGER ST APT 325

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37408 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37408



KATI NICOLE FRENCH BRANDI LASHAUN ABLES

312 FRIAR RD 312 FRIAR RD

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37421 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37421



WILLIAM MOLINE MARIE YVELINE BLAISE

5 MERVINE PLACE 4824 EASTWOOD DR

TRENTON, New Jersey 08609 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37416



BENJAMIN SPENCE GUFFEY MARGARET ELIZABETH RUPP

3517 SUNRISE TERRACE 3517 SUNRISE TERRACE

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37412 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37412



CHASE THOMAS CLARK MADELEINE ROSE HARRIS

1632 KIMBLE DR SW 1632 KIMBLE DR SW

MARIETTA, Georgia 30064 MARIETTA, Georgia 30064



MICHAEL BRADLEY THRASHER SASHA CELESTE DAVIS

7010 TREELINE DR 7010 TREELINE DR

HARRISON, Tennessee 373419564 HARRISON, Tennessee 373419564



CHEGRYS ANDRES PALACIOS TRINITY SIERRA SMITH

3989 CALLOW LN 3989 CALLOW LN

OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 37363 OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 37363



AALIYAH NAOMI HENDERSON AUSTIN LESTAT PIPER

7409 COUNTRY HILL LN 8266 CLIPPER DR

OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 37363 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37421



MICHAEL AARON FISHER CARMEN BAILEY CRABTREE

4738 WESLEYAN RD SW 7134 DANA MICHELLE LN

CLEVELAND, Tennessee 37311 BIRCHWOOD, Tennessee 37308



HERBERT ROY KLISCHIES ENA DANIELA SLAVIK

9830 HOMEWOOD CIR 9830 HOMEWOOD CIR

OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 37363 OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 37363



COLTON PIERCE DURHAM HEATHER LYNN ORTEGA

6647 BOTSFORD DR 6647 BOTSFORD DR

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37421 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37421



NICHOLAS CHASE PERRY SARA ELIZABETH YORK

6243 FOXBORO DR APT 203 6243 FOXBORO DR APT 203

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37421 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37421



DAVID WAYNE GROVES SHAINA GEARY GROVES

2627 HIXSON PIKE APT 253 2627 HIXSON PIKE APT 253

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37415 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37415



JASON FREDRICK BLAIR KRISTEN RENEE OKTAR

1519 SHELBY CIR UNIT A 1050 TROJAN RUN DR

HIXSON, Tennessee 37343 SODDY DAISY, Tennessee 37379



GARRETT GEORGE CARPER KYLEE ELIZABETH MCGLOIN

1935 GREENDALE DR NE 1935 GREENDALE DR NE

CLEVELAND, Tennessee 37323 CLEVELAND, Tennessee 37323



TIMOTHY GAGE BLANKS BRITTANY NOEL MAGGI

1242 BIG DOG PL 1242 BIG DOG PL

SODDY DAISY, Tennessee 37379 SODDY DAISY, Tennessee 37379



TONY CHRISTOPHER RICHARDS ROBIN DALE FINCH

107 TACOA AVE 107 TACOA AVE



CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37411 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37411

REBEKAH JOYCE TAYLOR JAMIE LYNN STEVENS

2903 POPE DR 2903 POPE DR

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 374046342 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 374046342



TRAVIS ALLEN CRAMER MARGARET WILLENE REYNOLDS

1441 MARIJON DR 1441 MARIJON DR

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37421 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37421



RANDY COATS RHYS LAWRENCE TURNER

1717 WHITE OAK RD APT A5 621 MEMORIAL DR APT 2701

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37415 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37415



MICHAEL PHILLIP MOHLER MADISON ELAINE HAMMONS

1911 HICKORY VALLEY RD 1911 HICKORY VALLEY RD

CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE 374212530 CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE 374212530



ALEXIS HOPE CLANTON MADDOX LARKIN CADE DIXON

382 WINGFOOT ST 382 WINGFOOT ST

ROCKMART, Georgia 30153 ROCKMART, Georgia 30153



CHRISTOPHER BRUCE YANCEY KIMBERLY DIANE HOWSE

7572 PASSPORT DR 7572 PASSPORT DR

OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 37363 OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 37363



KAITLYN GRACE PETTY THOMAS RUSSEL BELL

19 MARILYN CIR 19 MARILYN CIR

RINGGOLD, Georgia 30736 RINGGOLD, Georgia 30736



CHRISTOPHER JORDAN SCOTT TAYLOR ALANIS WILLIAMS

3890 FLOYD RD APT 9212 3890 FLOYD RD APT 9212

AUstell, Georgia 30106 AUstell, Georgia 30106



BRANDON LEE NICHOLS LYDIA ELAINE SHEPHERD

1422 CLEARBROOK CT 1422 CLEARBROOK CT

FORT OGLETHORPE, Georgia 30742 FORT OGLETHORPE, Georgia 30742



JAMES RUTHERFORD SEXTON AMANDA FRANCIS DEAL

89 MALLARD LN 89 MALLARD LN

LAFAYETTE, Georgia 30728 LAFAYETTE, Georgia 30728



JUSTIN SHANE VARNER ELISABETH RUTH BAIRD

20 MASON DR APT 108 20 MASON DR APT 108

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37415 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37415



NICHOLAS DEWAYNE STONE LACEY MADISON CLARK

7416 SOUTH DENT RD 7416 SOUTH DENT RD

HIXSON, Tennessee 37343 HIXSON, Tennessee 37343



JEVON GEORGE THOMAS LEANNE MERCEDES VELAZQUEZ

1910 ECOLAND DR 1910 ECOLAND DR

GRAYSON, Georgia 30017 GRAYSON, Georgia 30017



NOAH RYAN LAWRENCE GRACE CAROLINE PEARSON

225 MCDONALD RD LOT 2 225 MCDONALD RD LOT 2

TRENTON, Georgia 30752 TRENTON, Georgia 30752



AMANDA JO QUALLS JOHN WILLIAM PHILLIPS

18375 NEWBY CHAPEL RD 22409 UPPER FORT HAMPTON RD

ATHENS, AL 356136033 ELKMONT, AL 356204545



MICHAEL RAY GILLILAND KELLI LEANN GILLILAND

29 CHRISTOPHER ST 29 CHRISTOPHER ST

STEele, Alabama 35987 STEele, Alabama 35987



KRISTINA NICOLE KNOX JOSEPH DENNIS DOYLE

714 SHADY DR 714 SHADY DR

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 374122980 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 374122980



TIMOTHY DAVID SULLIVAN CAILI LYNN WATSON

62 SONGBIRD DR 62 SONGBIRD DR

ROCK SPRING, Georgia 30739 ROCK SPRING, Georgia 30739



BRANDON JEFFREY PARKER INGRAM MCKENSIE ANN MILLER

325 GREENFIELD DR 325 GREENFIELD DR

ROSSVILLE, Georgia 30741 ROSSVILLE, Georgia 30741



GUNNER LEE GARNER TAYLOR CORRINE DEMERS

726 FULTON ST APT 356 726 FULTON ST APT 356

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37402 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37402



DAVID LEE BACASTOW RUTHIE LYNN TRUJILLO

1687 KEEBLE ST 1687 KEEBLE ST

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37412 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37412



REBECCA RUTH HUTCHESON ERICKSON DANIEL ROEBUCK

362 OLIVER CIR 362 OLIVER CIR

DAYTON, Tennessee 373211783 DAYTON, Tennessee 373211783



MORGAN ALEXANDER HIU KRISTEN ELAINE LAUZIER

2952 OLD BRITAIN CIR 2952 OLD BRITAIN CIR

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37421 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37421



WESLEY HOLLAND WORTMAN MAKAYLA FAITH BROOKS

3535 MOUNTAIN CREEK RD APT 709 3535 MOUNTAIN CREEK RD APT 709

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37415 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37415



STACY ANN SOPER MACAULEY JAMES ROUETTE

1114 W JACKSON ST 1114 W JACKSON ST

TUPELO, Mississippi 388042516 TUPELO, Mississippi 388042516



ASHLEY RUTH ALLEN JUSTYN WAYNE WEBB

320 LONGHORN DR 320 LONGHORN DR

SMYRNA, Tennessee 371672756 SMYRNA, Tennessee 371672756



JAMES ANDREW JOHNSON GRACIE ALEXANDRA BILLINGS

551 BOWEN LN 551 BOWEN LN

CHICKAMAUGA, Georgia 30707 CHICKAMAUGA, Georgia 30707



TUCKER AUSTIN UNDERWOOD EMILY CAROLINE KING

106 VICKI LN 7217 RIDGESTONE DR

RINGGOLD, Georgia 30736 OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 37363



RACHAEL JOY VILLENEUVE BENJAMIN TOBY SISCO

784 MAULDETH RD 784 MAULDETH RD

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37415 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37415



SAMUEL CHRISTIAN STEWART EMILY JANE DOWTY

1518 SWOPE DR 1518 SWOPE DR

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37412 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37412



DARREN CHASE CRUTCHER JOY ELIZABETH CECIL

2914 OLD BRITAIN CIR 2914 OLD BRITAIN CIR

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 374211123 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 374211123



RICHARD KEITH WILLIAMS TAMMY LYNN HARKLEROAD

361 OLD SOUTH RD 361 OLD SOUTH RD

DUNCAN, South Carolina 29334 DUNCAN, SOUTH CAROLINA 293349266



DILLON SHANE CRISP JESSICA ELIZABETH SEAGRAVES

531 STRONG AVE 531 STRONG AVE

HIXSON, Tennessee 37343 HIXSON, TENNESSEE 373431765



ISABELLE FAITH BARBER JARED AVERY WOMACK

9449 DAYTON PIKE 9449 DAYTON PIKE

SODDY DAISY, Tennessee 373794774 SODDY DAISY, Tennessee 373794774



RACHAEL MARIE MAPLES CONNOR MACKLIN MCAFEE

10506 HUNTER TRACE DR 10506 HUNTER TRACE DR

SODDY DAISY, TN 373793579 SODDY DAISY, TN 373793579



CHRISTOPHER LANDEN REECE HAILEY NICHOLE SMITH

1110 NATURAL WAY 1110 NATURAL WAY

SODDY DAISY, Tennessee 37379 SODDY DAISY, Tennessee 37379



COLBIE MCKAYE WILSON SCOTT MICHAEL DANFORD

3538 S HWY 341 3538 S HWY 341

CHICKAMAUGA, Georgia 30707 CHICKAMAUGA, Georgia 30707



MAKENNA LOREN FLEMING GRIFFIN TYLER COLLINS

115 JENKINS RD 8 HARTFORD LN

ROSSVILLE, GEORGIA 307414072 ROSSVILLE, GEORGIA 307418437



ANDREW RAMARE' ARCHIE JENNISEA MASHAY WHITAKER

3938 WOODLAND CIR SE 518 VANDENBURG DR

CONYERS, Georgia 300133057 VILLA RICA, Georgia 301801168



BRITTANY JOY SHEFLIN RYAN JAMES O'HARA

16 VIA DE CASAS SUR APT 104 16 VIA DE CASAS SUR APT 104

BOYNTON BEACH, Florida 33426 BOYNTON BEACH, Florida 33426



JACOB JACKSON EVERETT ASHLIN NICOLE BRUMLEY

26 N PARKDALE AVE 26 N PARKDALE AVE

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37411 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37411



JUSTIN DYLAN COLE YARBER TIFFANY LAUREN CRANDALL

8926 STANDIFER GAP RD 8926 STANDIFER GAP RD

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37421 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37421



JEROME MORGAN CASSANDRA JULIETTE GLATT

1510 MULBERRY ST 3938 WEBB OAKS CT

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37410 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37416



KELSEY ERIN WILSON SEAN BRADLEY MICHAEL STARNES

6332 ALBRIGHT AVE 6332 ALBRIGHT AVE

FLOWERY BRANCH, Georgia 30542 FLOWERY BRANCH, Georgia 30542



JOHNATHON PAUL TATOM SABRINA MORGEN RADLIFF

285 COYOTE RD 285 COYOTE RD

DEFUNIAK, Florida 32433 DEFUNIAK, Florida 32433



DANIEL LEE DYER DESIREE LAURANN FRITZ

3301 DAYTON BLVD 3301 DAYTON BLVD

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37415 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37415



CHLOE ABIGAIL MASON MICHAEL JACOB BYRD

11118 LONDON LN 11118 LONDON LN

APISON, Tennessee 37302 APISON, Tennessee 37302



DTRIK TODD VIEHMANN ALYSSA MICHELE KRAUSE

4991 EASTVIEW TERR 4991 EASTVIEW TERR

APISON, Tennessee 37302 APISON, Tennessee 37302



JASON SHANE CAMPBELL BRITTANY NICOLE WHITNEY

12156 HWY 159 936 MOUNTAIN CREEK RD APT A1

KENnedy, Alabama 35574 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37405



WILLIAM HARRISON HIGHSMITH VICTORIA CECILE GARRISON

8610 TRADEWIND CIR APT 304 8610 TRADEWIND CIR APT 304

OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 37363 OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 37363



ASHLEY ELAINE BARKER RILEY HAYDEN PHILLIPS

805 CANAL ST APT 120 805 CANAL ST APT 120

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37402 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37402



CHRISTOPHER ALLEN MILLER ERINN LEVERETT BLOODWORTH

7334 BRITISH RD 7334 BRITISH RD

OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 37363 OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 37363



CATHERINE SHERRILL GOIDEL MICHAEL STEVEN CRAIG

961 SIGNAL RD 100 BRENTWOOD DR

SIGNAL MOUNTAIN, Tennessee 37377 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37415



NATHAN QUINN GALLATIN SUMMAR AMANDA HEAVIN

6926 VILLAGE LAKE CIR 6926 VILLAGE LAKE CIR

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37412 CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE 37412



JENNY JIAYI LIANG KOSIN RUAMYARTI

288 W 16TH ST 288 W 16TH ST

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37408 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37408






An issue over providing a state-funded expert may delay the planned Nov. 10 trial date for the man charged in a wreck on Frazier Avenue that killed two members of a visiting Florida family and left a third with extensive injuries.

Defense attorneys are awaiting a final answer from the state on the matter.

Randy Vega was in the courtroom of Criminal Court Judge Boyd Patterson on Wednesday afternoon on that and other motions.

The state is objecting to references to Vega as a veteran during the trial and to mentions of a lawsuit brought by the victims' family that was quickly settled. Prosecutors said it was made clear that the settlement was not an admission of guilt.

In a separate lawsuit filed against the city of Chattanooga, the surviving member of the family, Octavio Devia Paz, of Jacksonville, said last Nov. 25 he was standing at the corner of Frazier and Forest Avenue with his family when a vehicle being driven by Vega was struck from behind by a vehicle driven by Dr. Patrick McGinty.

The District Attorney's office decided not to prosecute Dr. McGinty.

The suit says the city hired Alta Planning & Design for a Frazier Avenue traffic study that recommended reducing the number of travel lanes and on-street parking spaces, but the changes were not made at the time. A number of traffic alterations on Frazier Avenue have since been made by the city.

There had been six other wrecks at the same corner prior to this one, it was stated.

The Vega vehicle then hit Mr. Paz, Ana Posso, 41, and Johnathan Paz, age one year and 11 months. The wife and son were killed on impact.

Octavio Paz said he had undergone 127 surgeries and incurred over $1.5 million in medical bills as of the filing of the complaint. He said he is unable to walk.
Chattanoogas waterfront hosts the 3 Sisters Music Festivals return for its 18th year this Friday and Saturday at Ross Landing. This event is a free festival featuring performances by top names in contemporary and traditional bluegrass. It is hosted by Fletcher Bright Realty and produced by Chattanooga Presents.Headlining this years festival on Friday is the Grammy Award-Winning band The Travelin McCourys. A 3 Sisters Festival favorite, this band features brothers Ronnie and Rob McCoury, on mandolin and banjo respectively, and are sons of bluegrass legend Del McCoury.Just a little over a week ago, the band won the International Bluegrass Music Association "Instrumental Group of the Year Award at the 2025 Bluegrass Music Awards.Preceding The Travelin McCourys performance at 9:15 p.m., will be Keller & the Keels, made up of picker and vocalist Keller Williams, with award-winning flat picker Larry Keel and his rock solid bass playing wife, Jenny Keel, at 7:55 p.m. Fireside Collective, a newgrass jam band from Asheville, NC will perform at 6:35 p.m. Opening the festival at 5:30 p.m. is the host band, The New Dismembered Tennesseans, a group of much-loved local musicians who primarily were part of the Dismembered Tennesseans, founded by Fletcher Bright and his high school buddies from McCallie School over 75 years ago. Fletcher Brights three daughters are the namesake of the festival.Saturdays music schedule will begin at noon, with a performance by Randy Steele and High Cold Wind, making their debut at the 3 Sisters Festival. Following them will be a group of fiddlers from the Berklee School of Music at 1 p.m., a 2 p.m. performance by Korean bluegrass band Country Gongbang, Big Richard, an all-female quartet that blends bluegrass, old time, country and pop with virtuosity and four-part harmony will play at 3 p.m. At 4:20 p.m., Shadowgrass, a young band with layered harmonies, electrifying musicianship and tight chemistry, will take the stage. Highlights of the evening will include performances by Kruger Brothers at 5:40 p.m. and the multi-award winning band of Michael Cleveland and Jason Carter at 7 p.m. This bluegrass-packed weekend will close out with one of 3 Sisters favorites, The Brothers Comatose, bringing their energetic blend of bluegrass at 8:40 p.m. This will be their third appearance at 3 Sisters, although the first time to include their new band member, Addie Levy.Food options from 18 local food trucks will be lined up and ready to share their love of food and the city, offering everything from corn dogs to Thai food. Local brews and spirits will also be well represented, as well as non-alcoholic drink concessions. 3 Sisters t-shirts and performers merchandise will be sold, including the option for live sweatshirt screen printing by Neat Pony.The public is invited to bring lawn chairs and blankets; however, no outside food or beverages are allowed. Wheelchair seating will be offered near the front of the stage.Visit 3sistersbluegrass.com for details on the festival and performance times.
The Chemical Invention Factory (CIF) is Europe's largest laboratory infrastructure for transfer and pre-foundation teams in green chemistry. It will make a significant contribution to further advancing the transfer of innovations from science to green applications in the field of materials chemistry. The CIF is financed with funds from TU Berlin (approx. 13 million euros) and the state of Berlin (approx. seven million euros) and is to be built on the Charlottenburg campus of TU Berlin on Marchstrae by 2027.

Green chemistry is the future because it promotes sustainable processes and materials that reduce environmental pollution and conserve resources. As one of the leading research and innovation locations in Europe, Berlin plays an important role here. Universities, start-ups and industrial partners are working together here on environmentally friendly technologies.

Dr. Ina Czyborra, Senator for Science, Health and Care of the State of Berlin, Prof. Dr. Geraldine Rauch, President of Technische Universitat Berlin, Prof. Dr. John Warner, namesake of the CIF, honorary professor at TU Berlin and founder of the twelve principles of green chemistry, and other participants gave the starting signal for the CIF on 24 September 2025 with a joint groundbreaking ceremony.

Space for twelve top-class pre-founding teams from all over the world Up to twelve teams from all over the world will develop their research results into marketable products in the CIF in order to transform chemistry into a sustainable circular economy based on renewable raw materials. They will be integrated into the Berlin innovation ecosystem greenCHEM. With 39 so-called fume cupboards for chemical laboratory work, the CIF building will be the largest of its kind in Europe for the transfer of scientific findings from green chemistry to application. The approximately 1,000 square meters of floor space will also feature state-of-the-art analytical equipment such as high-performance liquid chromatographs and gas chromatography-mass spectrometers, which all teams will be able to access together. The laboratory areas for each team, which also include meeting rooms, are secured to ensure the protection of intellectual property. On the first floor there will be a cafe, space for exchange and meeting, as well as a demolab that tests systems on the next larger scale behind a pane of glass.

Free infrastructure for pre-seed start-ups with complex topics Dr. Ina Czyborra, Senator for Science, Health and Care of the State of Berlin, explains: "With a turnover of over 200 billion euros, Germany has the third largest chemical industry in the world. To keep it that way, it is becoming increasingly important that start-ups in this sector also receive targeted support in making their innovations marketable. That is why the state of Berlin is creating new instruments and structures to facilitate the transfer of research results into application - for example with the Pre-Seed Fund, which is intended to specifically promote deep-tech start-ups, or UNITE, the newly created innovation and start-up center in the capital region. I am delighted that with the Chemical Invention Factory, Berlin now also has an infrastructure that supports spin-offs in the complex field of chemistry free of charge for two to four years. I am sure that this will further strengthen the attractiveness of our science location for national and international talent and that we will come a good deal closer to our goal of establishing Berlin as a center for green chemistry."

Research and teaching in Berlin also benefit from the CIF Prof. Dr. Geraldine Rauch, President of Technische Universitat Berlin, adds: "The chemical industry is responsible for four percent of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. Only innovations can reduce this figure and at the same time advance the transition to a chemistry that is not based on crude oil. Our university's focus on turning scientific results into social benefits and our research strength in chemistry are an incentive for us to lead the way here. The Chemical Invention Factory is based on an initiative of our UniSysCat Cluster of Excellence in Catalysis. At the same time, we are deliberately opening up the CIF to the entire Berlin University Alliance (BUA): each funded team is assigned a professor who accompanies the project as 'InnoDirector' and is available as a mentor. This person can come from any of the three Berlin universities and ensures that research and teaching in the capital also benefit from the CIF."

70 percent of the required technologies have not yet been invented Prof. Dr. John Warner, namesake of the CIF, honorary professor at TU Berlin and founder of the twelve principles of green chemistry, says: "Around 70 percent of the technologies required for the transformation of chemistry have not yet been invented. Catalysts play a central role in this, as they are used in more than 80 percent of chemical reactions in industry. This is why the opportunity for start-ups in the CIF to exchange ideas with the catalysis experts at TU Berlin is so ideal."
The Board of Partners of E. Merck KG appointed Kai Beckmann as future Chair of the Executive Board and CEO of Merck. He will take over this position on May 1, 2026, from Belen Garijo, who will continue to lead the company until the end of her tenure, ensuring a seamless transition. Kai Beckmann will become Deputy CEO effective immediately and continue in his role as CEO of Electronics until a successor is announced.

Belen Garijo will leave Merck after 15 years in the company of which she led six years as CEO of Healthcare and since 2021 as Chair of the Executive Board and CEO of Merck. Key milestones of her tenure included steering the company through the Covid-19 pandemic and increasing geopolitical volatility, driving sustainable growth  organically and through a string-of-pearls of targeted portfolio moves including SpringWorks and the divestiture of Surface Solutions, and building a skill-powered, high-performing organization. In her previous role, as CEO of the Healthcare business sector, she drove unprecedented business transformation, particularly in China, where she built a significant presence for the Healthcare business sector of Merck. Additionally, she also led the global resubmission and commercialization of the multiple sclerosis drug Mavenclad and executed three divestitures that streamlined the Healthcare portfolio and positioned the business for sustainable growth. Following the end of her tenure, Belen Garijo will remain actively involved in the healthcare ecosystem to continue serving the needs of patients, her area of expertise and passion.

I would like to thank Belen Garijo for expertly steering Merck safely through tumultuous years of transformative change and returning the company to profitable growth. She has shaped the companys evolution into a globally leading science and technology company while nurturing a High Impact Culture and making our teams future ready. Under her exceptional leadership, Merck strengthened its position across Life Science, Healthcare, and Electronics, driving innovation and delivering impact on millions of patients and customers worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to our values and vision, and a proven ability to navigate challenges with resilience, she has laid a robust foundation for Mercks continued success, said Johannes Baillou, Chairman of the Executive Board of E. Merck KG.

In Kai Beckmann we have the perfect homegrown leader, taking over the Chair of the Executive Board of Merck with extensive understanding of our global businesses as well as patient and customer needs. Beckmanns proven transformational expertise will be fundamental to deliver the next chapter of our companys growth. And his passion and vision for technology will drive much-needed impact for patients, customers and society. The longstanding collaboration and trust between Belen Garijo and Kai Beckmann will ensure a seamless transition period and continuity in our corporate management, said Johannes Baillou.

Kai Beckmann has served as a Member of the Executive Board of Merck since 2011 and assumed responsibility for the Performance Materials business sector in 2017. Under his leadership, the sector underwent a comprehensive transformation to become a pureplay Electronics business. Today, the business sector serves as a key ecosystem player enabling the global semiconductor industry. Prior to his current role, Kai Beckmann served as Chief Administration Officer on the Executive Board; his responsibilities encompassed a broad portfolio of functions including, among others, HR, IT, and Mercks headquarters and largest site in Darmstadt. Since joining Merck in 1989, Kai Beckmann has held global roles of increasing responsibility, such as Managing Director of Merck in Singapore & Malaysia as well as Chief Information Officer.
President Donald Trump (left) and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pose together at the White House in Washington on April 7, 2025. | Screenshot: YouTube/ Fox News

More than 200 Evangelical leaders are calling on President Donald Trump to defend Israel's right to exercise Judea and Samaria, commonly known internationally as the West Bank.

The letter, organized by the Washington-based Christian conservative advocacy organization Family Research Council, was delivered on Sunday.

Reports suggest that Netanyahu is planning to discuss the possibility of annexing parts of the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967, despite Trump's publicly expressed opposition to such a move.

Titled Standing with the Biblical Heart of Israel, the leaders stated that they are deeply concerned with voices  even among allies  who urge policies they believe would weaken Israel by forcing concessions at the very heart of its existence.

The letter emphasized, Restricting or discouraging Israel's right to exercise sovereignty over the biblical heartland  Judea and Samaria  will not bring peace; it will only prolong conflict and increase threats, not only to the Jewish people but also to Palestinians who genuinely desire peace.

The leaders urged President Trump, saying, Mr. President, we urge you to resist the pressure of those who, through the death of a thousand cuts, would dismantle Israel's claim to the land promised by God in Scripture and affirmed by history. America must not be a party to undermining what God has established and will continue to establish.

The letter calls on Trump to reaffirm the biblical and historical truth that Judea and Samaria are not only Israel's history, they are Israel's identity.

They stated that, Sovereignty over this land is Israel's God-given right, and for the sake of justice and lasting peace, it must be recognized.

The signatories appeal, saying, As Christians who stand firmly with the Jewish people, we ask you to continue your courageous leadership by acknowledging Israel's right to exercise sovereignty over Judea and Samaria.

The letter was signed by several pastors, ministry leaders, advocates, elected officials, and state lawmakers, including Pastor Gary Hamrick of Cornerstone Chapel in Leesburg, Virginia; Pastor Jack Hibbs of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, representing the Real Life Network; former congresswoman and current Dean of Regent University Michele Bachmann; and conservative radio host and author Eric Metaxas.

Additional signatories include Dumisani Washington, who leads the Institute for Black Solidarity with Israel; Family Research Council President Tony Perkins; and Mat Staver, chairman of the Christian conservative legal organization Liberty Counsel.

In recent comments at the United Nations General Assembly, President Trump criticized moves to recognize a Palestinian state and called for Western powers to focus on securing the release of hostages taken by Hamas on October 7, 2023, when the group killed 1,200 peoplemost of whom were civiliansin an attack on southern Israel.

Netanyahu's coalition partners have reportedly pushed for the annexation of Judea and Samaria as retaliation for recent recognitions.

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Thursday, Trump made it clear that he would not permit Israel to annex the West Bank. Ahead of his upcoming meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, Trump stated, I will not allow it. It's not going to happen.

Whether I spoke with Bibi [Netanyahu] or not  and I did  I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank. That's enough. It's time to stop now.
A Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building in suburban Grand Blanc, Michigan, and the surrounding area are engulfed in flames caused by the gunman's arson on September 28, 2025. | Screenshot: YouTube/ FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth

A gunman drove his vehicle into a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building in suburban Grand Blanc, Michigan on Sunday, before a shooting and an arson attack on worshipers during a service, killing four people and wounding nine others.

Authorities have identified the suspect as Thomas Jacob Sanford from nearby Burton, Michigan, a 40-year-old man, but have not yet released a motive.

During a press conference on Sunday afternoon, Police Chief William Renye stated that officers shot and killed the suspect after he rammed through the front doors of the Mormon church and began firing at congregants.

He then exited his vehicle, firing several rounds at individuals within the church, Renye said at a news conference. Our officers engaged the suspect and he was killed at the scene.

Authorities confirmed that at least 10 people were struck by gunfire, including the four who died, and several others remain in critical condition at local hospitals.

Investigators also believe the gunman deliberately set a fire inside the LDS church, which quickly spread, filling the area with smoke and making it too dangerous for first responders to conduct a full search.

Officials have warned that the death toll from the fire could rise once crews are able to re-enter the building and continue their investigation. We do believe that we will find additional victims once we have that scene secure, Renye said.

Renye reported that the FBI has assigned more than 100 agents to assist with witness interviews, review digital evidence, and investigate the suspects background. Search warrants are currently being prepared for the suspects residence and electronic records.

President Donald Trump released a statement on Truth Social, saying he had been briefed on the incident and called for prayer.

I have been briefed on the horrendous shooting that took place at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan. The FBI was immediately on scene, and will be leading the Federal Investigation, and providing full support to State and Local Officials, he wrote.

Without distinguishing between Christianity and Mormonism, He added, The suspect is dead, but there is still a lot to learn. This appears to be yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America. The Trump Administration will keep the Public posted, as we always do. In the meantime, PRAY for the victims, and their families. THIS EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY MUST END, IMMEDIATELY!
Photo Credit: Unsplash/ NATHAN MULLET

JP De Gance, the founder and president of Communio, a ministry dedicated to helping churches improve evangelism and outreach, believes that Charlie Kirks message has inspired many young people to engage with the Christian faith through church communities

[There has been] a lot of anecdotal feedback from churches in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and Douglas County, Colorado, reporting that theyve seen an increase [in attendance] over the last two Sundays, De Gance told The Christian Post.

He added, There's one church in Michigan that said a number of young adults who were raised in the church [but] who hadn't been there, and people hadn't seen them for years, showed back up."

Communio, which supports around 400 churches nationwide, has received reports of increased attendance from various denominations, including Anglican, non-denominational, and Catholic churches.

Some pastors have observed a rise in church attendance following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, particularly among young adults, some of whom had not attended a worship service in years prior.

De Gance explained that Kirks murder has prompted youth across the country to reevaluate their lives and seek out Christian communities.

He also believes that an increasing number of young people are becoming aware of who Kirk was and his views on marriage, family, and living for Christ.

Earlier this month, the Barna Group released data suggesting that Gen Z churchgoers attend services more frequently than their older counterparts. The data was obtained from 5,580 online interviews conducted from January through July.

The group found that among 3,579 churchgoing adults, the average attendance was 1.6 times per month, while among Gen Z, it rose to 1.9 times per month.

Barna also examined data from 132,030 U.S. adults collected from January 2000 through July 2025, revealing that monthly church attendance rates for the two youngest adult groups nearly doubled from 2020 to 2025.

However, the American Bible Societys USA 2025 report presented a different perspective, indicating that Gen Zers are significantly less engaged with church than older groups.

Based on a survey asking five questions to gauge church engagement, the report found that only 35% of adult Gen Z participants agreed or strongly agreed that In the past year, I have had opportunities to learn and grow in my faith.

In contrast, 46% of millennials, 46% of baby boomers, and 48% of Gen X respondents reported having opportunities to grow in their faith.
Home News 5 notable Texas pastors who were removed or resigned over immoral behavior

Over the past year, the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex has witnessed a wave of pastor resignations and removals, many tied to allegations of abuse, sexual misconduct or moral failures.

Since June 2024, more than a dozen pastors in North Texas alone have either resigned or been removed from their position, an alarming trend in a region with over 10,000 religious organizations and churches, and where 63% of residents identify as Christian (down from 78% in 2014).

At least one of the scandals prompted the passage of Texas Senate Bill 835, also known as Treys Law, which was signed by Gov. Greg Abbott on June 21, 2024, banning nondisclosure agreements to silence sexual abuse survivors.

Here are five of the most notable pastoral resignations or removals in Texas.
Home News Camp Mystic parents say plans to reopen in 2026 'dishonors children who were killed'

The parents of an 8-year-old girl whose remains have yet to be recovered after catastrophic flash flooding killed 25 campers and two counselors at Camp Mystic in July are opposing plans to reopen the camp next year.

The July 4 flooding, part of a broader disaster that claimed over 130 lives across central Texas, including at least 100 in Kerr County, swept through the private camp in Hunt, located about 35 miles northwest of San Antonio along the Guadalupe River.

The tragedy has raised questions about why Kerr County opted not to have warning sirens installed, which some believe could have saved lives instead of depending on phone alerts.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt Gov. Dan Patrick both confirmed that the state will ensure that warning sirens are installed along the Guadalupe River before next summer.

Questions have also been raised about whether Camp Mystics leadership was adequately prepared for such a catastrophic flood.

In a letter to the "Leadership of Camp Mustic" released Thursday, CiCi and Will Steward, speaking on behalf of themselves and other families of the victims known as the Heavens 27, expressed profound grief and anger, calling the reopening plans unthinkable while their daughter remains unrecovered.

"Our daughters and loved ones died under Camp Mystics supervision and care. One child  our child, 8-year-old Cile Steward  remains missing. Recovery teams are still out there every day, scouring the river  your backyard  risking their own safety to bring her home to us, the letter states. Yet, instead of recognizing or highlighting that effort, you have not once mentioned her name or the fact that she is still missing. Not in any formal communications with the affected families, not to the wider community, and not even to our family.

The emotional letter also sharply criticized the lack of communication from Camp Mystic in the hours after the flooding. The only acknowledgment we have ever received was your brisk phone call on the morning of July 4th, when you informed us that Cile was simply unaccounted for, the letter stated.

The Stewards contrasted that response with a Sept. 22 email from the camp stating, The heart of Camp Mystic has never stopped beating, to which the Stewards responded, Have you considered that, for many of us, Camp Mystics heart stopped beating the moment these 27 girls took their last breath?

They also called for a halt to discussions about reopening and memorials until Cile is found and the camp fully accounts for its role in the tragedy. Anything less dishonors the children who were killed while in your care  at a time when their safety was your primary responsibility, they added.

The email from Camp Mystic, which announced a memorial dedicated to the campers and counselors who lost their lives, also signaled plans to open Camp Mystic Cypress Lake, located near the former site but not directly on the Guadalupe River, by summer 2026.

While no additional details were announced, the letter said the camp was working to conform to Senate Bill 1, known as the Heavens 27 Camp Safety Act, which was passed in the aftermath of the Camp Mystic flooding.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed SB 1 into law on Sept. 5.

Championed by state Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, who chairs the Senate's Flooding and Disaster Response Committee, SB 1 mandates that when a flash flood warning is issued, campers must be immediately evacuated to higher ground, removing subjective decision-making from camp operators. It also prohibits sleeping in cabins located within 100-year flood plains.

Additionally, the bill requires all summer camps to file a multi-hazard emergency response plan with the Department of State Health Services, mandating annual emergency training for employees and evacuation drills for campers at the start of each session. Camps must also maintain operational weather alert radios and public address systems to ensure timely communication during dangerous conditions.
Home News CP event tackles 'turning tide' of trans ideology: 'Nefarious spiritual warfare'

Hundreds recently gathered at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for The Christian Post's "Unmasking Gender Ideology III: Contending for Truth Amid a Turning Tide," its third such event that gathers expert panels to discuss the harmful effects of transgender ideology.

The event, hosted last Wednesday by Coral Ridge Senior Pastor Robert J. Pacienza and the Institute for Faith and Culture, struck chords of optimism as the Trump administration pushes back against transgender ideology at the federal level through executive orders.

But panelists warned that much work remains to be done as vulnerable young people continue to be swept up in a destructive ideology that has forced its way into the major institutions of the culture.

"We're not out of the woods yet," said Christian Post opinion writer and "Generation Indoctrination" podcast host Brandon Showalter, who moderated the panels.

Opening the event, Showalter described transgender ideology's assault on humanity as "nefarious spiritual warfare" that strikes at the heart of the Gospel, God's image in man and God Himself.

'Laws are not enough'

The first panel  which discussed the deep infiltration of transgender ideology into professional associations, schools, media and prisons  included parent advocate January Littlejohn, pediatric endocrinologist Dr. Quentin Van Meter, licensed clinical social worker Pamela Garfield-Jaeger and Amie Ichikawa of Woman II Woman, a nonprofit organization devoted to serving the needs of incarcerated women.

Ichikawa, who spent half a decade in a California state prison as an inmate, has participated in each of CP's gender ideology events and said that, despite Trumps executive order in January banning men from women's federal prisons, women in state prisons are still suffering from transgender ideology seeping into the system.

"As wonderful as the executive order was, and as big of an honor it was to be able to participate in the creation of those with the help of the Independent Women's Forum, there hasn't been any improvement on any level, as a matter of fact, on the state side," she said.

Littlejohn, a fellow with the nonprofit Do No Harm, sued her daughter's Florida school district after officials helped her 13-year-old "socially transition" and use they/them pronouns. She and her story featured during President Donald Trump's address to a joint session of Congress in March.

Littlejohn emphasized that despite the inroads organizations such as Do No Harm have made in promoting legislation to restrict "horrible interventions" against minors, such as double mastectomies for 12-year-old girls, the battle is still raging.

"What I want to say is laws are not enough, and we are still contacted almost weekly by families newly waking up to this nightmare, whose children are still falling prey to the lies that they were born in the wrong body."

"What's really important to understand is that even with laws, the faucet of gender identity ideology is still free-flowing into the vast majority of our institutions, including our medical institutions," she said.

'Very perverted ideas'

Dr. Quentin Van Meter, a pediatric endocrinologist who completed his fellowship at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore from 1978 to 1980, said many of his pediatric endocrinologist colleagues disagree with the ideology but are afraid of being labeled a bigot and losing their jobs.

He also recounted his interactions with the late Dr. John Money, a New Zealand-born psychologist and sexologist whose work at Johns Hopkins helped to lay the groundwork for modern transgender ideology.

Money, who died in 2006, is notorious for his role in the case of David Reimer, a Canadian twin boy whose penis was severely injured during a botched infant circumcision and whose story was popularized in John Colapinto's 2000 book As Nature Made Him: The Boy Who Was Raised as a Girl.

Believing that gender is a social construct detached from biology, Money convinced Reimer's parents to raise David as a girl while raising his twin brother as a boy, though the experiment led to suffering for the boys, both of whom took their own lives.

Van Meter said Money, who was raised in a fundamentalist Plymouth Brethren family, was a man with "very perverted ideas" who would go out of his way to offend those around him at Johns Hopkins, especially if they were religious. He characterized Money's theories as reckless and "junk science."

"What he told us was not reality," he said of Money. "It was bizarre, heinous, criminal behavior on his part." In 1979, Johns Hopkins shuttered the Gender Identity Clinic that Money co-founded in 1966, which was the first of its kind in the United States, but reopened it in 2017 as the Center for Transgender and Gender Expansive Health.

Van Meter noted that support for transgender ideology has withered among the public and in European nations with socialized medicine, but that it remains entrenched in academia and in the transgender clinics that have proliferated during the past decade.

He soberly predicted that the effects of widespread ideology will likely linger and continue to destroy young people, but noted the courage of detransitioners in telling their stories will play a major role in pushing back. He said the federal government choking off the tax dollars to medical schools that promote it is also critical.

"The detransitioners are now finally feeling their strength to be able to stand up in the face of adversity and say, 'I'm so ashamed of what I did to myself. I'm going to tell you my story,'" he said.

"And the stories are heartbreaking, and many of you might have heard them, but it's probably the most effective way to get the tide turned back."

"It's absolutely insane that this is going on; it's not going to be over overnight. I think we've got another, probably a generation, of children who are going to be badly hurt by this."
Home News Evangelical leaders want Trump to support Israel's 'sovereignty over the biblical heartland'

Ahead of his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, over 200 Evangelical leaders are urging President Donald Trump to defend Israel's right to exercise "sovereignty over the biblical heartland" Judea and Samaria (known internationally as the West Bank).

The letter, organized by the Washington-based Christian conservative advocacy organization Family Research Council, was sent on Sunday as reports indicate that Netanyahu plans to raise the possibility of annexing parts of the West Bank, which has been occupied by Israel since 1967, despite Trump's stated opposition to such a move.

Titled "Standing with the Biblical Heart of Israel," leaders say they are "deeply concerned" with "voices  even among allies  who urge policies" that they believe "would weaken Israel by forcing concessions at the very heart of its existence."

"Restricting or discouraging Israel's right to exercise sovereignty over the biblical heartland  Judea and Samaria  will not bring peace; it will only prolong conflict and increase threats, not only to the Jewish people but also to Palestinians who genuinely desire peace," the letter reads.

"Mr. President, we urge you to resist the pressure of those who, through the 'death of a thousand cuts,' would dismantle Israel's claim to the land promised by God in Scripture and affirmed by history. America must not be a party to undermining what God has established and will continue to establish."

The meeting follows several recognitions of a Palestinian state by American allies, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and France, moves condemned by Trump. Netanyahu's coalition partners have reportedly pushed for the annexation of Judea and Samaria in retaliation for the recent recognitions.

The Evangelical letter urges Trump to "reaffirm the biblical and historical truth" that "Judea and Samaria are not only Israel's history, they are Israel's identity."

"Sovereignty over this land is Israel's God-given right, and for the sake of justice and lasting peace, it must be recognized," they wrote.

Speaking with reporters at the White House on Thursday, Trump said he would not allow Israel to annex the West Bank.

"I will not allow it. It's not going to happen," Trump said. "Whether I spoke with Bibi [Netanyahu] or not  and I did  I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank. That's enough. It's time to stop now."

Among signatories of the letter are several pastors, ministry leaders, advocates, elected officials and state lawmakers. They include Pastor Gary Hamrick of Cornerstone Chapel in Leesburg, Virginia; Pastor Jack Hibbs of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, in his capacity with the Real Life Network; former congresswoman and current Dean of Regent University Michele Bachmann; and conservative radio host and author Eric Metaxas.

Other signatories include Dumisani Washington, who leads the Institute for Black Solidarity with Israel; Family Research Council President Tony Perkins; and Mat Staver, chairman of the Christian conservative legal organization Liberty Counsel.

"As Christians who stand firmly with the Jewish people, we ask you to continue your courageous leadership by acknowledging Israel's right to exercise sovereignty over Judea and Samaria," they concluded. "Such a step would not only align with biblical truth, but it would also advance peace by grounding policy in reality rather than illusion. Mr. President, your leadership at this critical moment matters. History will remember you as the leader who chose to stand with God's covenant and with His people, Israel."

In his comments at the United Nations General Assembly last week, Trump criticized the recognitions of a Palestinian state and called for Western powers to focus on securing the release of the hostages taken by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, when it killed 1,200 people  mostly civilians  in an attack on southern Israel.

The invasion sparked an Israeli military offensive in Gaza, a Palestinian territory controlled by Hamas since 2007. The U.S. has recognized Hamas as a foreign terror organization since 1997.

"As if to encourage continued conflict, some of this body is seeking to unilaterally recognize the Palestinian state," Trump said. "The rewards would be too great for Hamas terrorists, for their atrocities."

Conservative commentator Tucker Carlson recently drew criticism when he slammed those who don't refer to the region as the West Bank, even going as far as to suggest that Judea and Samaria are essentially fictional places.

Susan Michael, president of the U.S. branch of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, who also signed Sunday's letter, previously told The Christian Post that the names Judea and Samaria have been used since biblical times and are still used today by the Israeli government.

"By contrast, 'West Bank' only describes the brief 19-year period of Jordanian occupation," she said. "It is far more accurate to call the region Judea and Samaria, the biblical heartland of Israel."

Luke Moon, the executive director of The Philos Project, a nonprofit organization that equips Christians seeking to support Israel and the Jewish people, stressed that Judea and Samaria are the names of lands roamed by key figures in the Bible.

"These are the same hills where Abraham walked, where David tended sheep, where prophets thundered the Word of God," Moon told CP. "The only people who believe Judea and Samaria to be fictional names are the ones who've never opened the Book they claim to believe in."
China's top planner seeks private firms' investment advice on 15th Five-Year Plan

09:29, September 29, 2025 By Yin Yeping ( Global Times

Robots package butyl rubber products at a workshop in Binzhou, east China's Shandong Province, Feb. 26, 2025. Binzhou City is a major hub for private enterprises. In recent years, the city has fostered the development of private economy through comprehensive and end-to-end services. (Photo: Xinhua)

China's top economic planner, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), held a symposium hosted by the agency's head Zheng Shanjie on Sunday, with private enterprises invited to submit their opinions and suggestions on expanding effective investment during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30), according to the official WeChat account of the NDRC.

The meeting reflects the government's continued high regard for the private economy, whose importance in the national economy, including in investment and employment, is self-evident, a Chinese expert said.

At Sunday's meeting, participating enterprises mentioned that in recent years, the government has continuously optimized the business environment, strongly supported private enterprises in investment and business development, and helped them gain more opportunities and stronger momentum for growth.

Participating enterprises suggested that when formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan, the government should further highlight the leading role of enterprises in innovation, optimize the layout and construction of science and technology innovation platforms, improve investment and financing mechanisms, and strengthen intellectual property protection, according to the NDRC.

The private business representatives also emphasized the need to support enterprises in seizing opportunities in the innovation and application of artificial intelligence, continuously expanding the investment space for private enterprises, and unleashing their investment potential.

At the same time, participating enterprises expressed their willingness to actively take part in the construction of major national projects. They also plan to focus on new technologies, new industries, new business formats, and new models to expand effective investment as a way to help better support high-quality economic and social development.

Zheng said at the symposium that private investment is an important indicator of economic vitality and plays a key role in stabilizing employment and the economy.

The official noted that China has a complete range of industrial sectors, a well-supported industrial system, and a solid foundation for economic development, with many advantages, strong resilience, and great potential. The long-term favorable conditions and basic positive trends remain unchanged, Zheng said.

He said that the opinions and suggestions put forward by enterprises will be carefully studied and incorporated into the formulation of the 15th Five-Year Plan.

This symposium once again reflected the government's emphasis on the private economy, which makes significant contributions to investment and employment in China's overall investment demand, Li Changan, a professor at the Academy of China Open Economy Studies at the University of International Business and Economics, told the Global Times on Sunday.

Li emphasized the private sector's importance to the 15th Five-Year Plan, citing its increasingly critical role in the overall economy.

According to the State Administration for Market Regulation, as of May 2025, China had 185 million private enterprises, accounting for 96.76 percent of all business entities, up 2.3 percent year-on-year, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

The country has ramped up efforts to boost the private economy. China's first fundamental law dedicated to promoting the private sector came into effect in May, strengthening legal protections and injecting fresh momentum into a key driver of the world's second-largest economy, the Xinhua News Agency reported. This legislation marks a milestone in the development of the sector, which contributes more than 60 percent of China's GDP.

The private sector's performance is crucial to achieving the 15th Five-Year Plan, and its role is expected to grow as development increasingly relies on innovation, Li said, noting that rapid advances in artificial intelligence and the digital economy further underscore the sector's importance.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Home News Israels hostages to return within 72 hours if Hamas accepts, Trump declares after Netanyahu meeting Deal calls for immediate end to Gaza War but Hamas' response remains unclear

Taking the podium alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump presented the outline of a plan to end the Gaza War.

Hailing a big, big day, a beautiful day, potentially one of the biggest days ever in civilization, Trump said there was a chance to achieve everlasting peace.

Shortly before the press conference, Washington released the 20-point plan, which calls for the immediate end of the war, the release of all Israeli hostages within three days, and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops as a new international body assumes governance and demilitarizes Gaza.

Netanyahu announced that he supports Trumps plan, which he said is a critical step toward ending the war in Gaza as well as peace in the Middle East.

In a key point for the Israeli public, especially his right-wing supporters, Netanyahu stressed that the 21-point plan achieves our war aims, namely, envisioning the return of all hostages within three days and outlining a process to dismantle Hamas military and governmental capabilities.

The plan will ensure that Gaza will never pose a threat to Israel again, Netanyahu said, noting it was also consistent with five principles for ending the war, which the Israeli government proposed in August.

Another crucial point for the acceptance of the deal, which the Israeli government must authorize as it involves releasing convicted terrorists in exchange for hostages, is ensuring Israels future freedom of action.

Netanyahu noted that security responsibility will remain in Israels hands, with the IDF maintaining control over a security perimeter along the entire border, including the Philadelphi Corridor.

Well remain in the security perimeter for the foreseeable future, the prime minister said.

If Hamas leaders agree to the proposal, Netanyahu continued, the first step will be a modest Israeli withdrawal, before the release of all hostages.

In the next phase, the international body, which Trump said would be called the Peace Board, will take over governance of the Gaza Strip. If it succeeds, we will have ended the war, Netanyahu said.

The entire plan allegedly hinges on the approval of Hamas. If the terrorist group rejects the plan, or supposedly accepts but then does everything to counter it, Netanyahu vowed that Israel would finish the job by itself. It will be done. We prefer the easy way, but it has to be done.  We didnt fight this fight  to have Hamas stay in Gaza and have Hamas threaten us again and again.

The prime minister also stressed that there would be no role whatsoever in Gaza for the Palestinian Authority without fundamental, enduring transformation, which he said must include ending payments to terrorists, revising school textbooks, halting media incitement, and stopping legal warfare in international forums, among other measures.

Trumps plan provides a practical and realistic plan forward for Gaza in the coming years, as the enclave will be ruled by those committed to peace with Israel, Netanyahu added.

Opening first with a somewhat lengthy statement, President Trump thanked Netanyahu, for getting in there and doing a job. We worked well together, as we have with many other countries, both of us  which is the only way this whole situation gets solved.

However, Trump also noted he and Netanyahu had a long, strong talk and said the prime minister understands, its time to end it.

The U.S. leader also said that the peace plan could go much beyond Gaza. The whole deal. Everything. Getting solved. Its called peace in the Middle East.

He noted that everyone was now on board with the plan, expressing optimism that the Hamas terror group would agree under pressure from Arab and Muslim countries.

However, Trump did not specify how Hamas would be compelled to accept the proposal if it chose to reject it.

Point 17 of the plan states that if Hamas delays or rejects this proposal, the above, including the scaled-up aid operation, will proceed in the terror-free areas handed over from the IDF to the new governing body.

According to The Jerusalem Post, Qatari officials assured Trump and Arab states that they are capable of persuading Hamas to agree to a deal that includes demilitarization.

During their meeting, Netanyahu apologized for Israels strike in Qatars capital, Doha, which targeted Hamas leaders meeting there, at the behest of Trump.

In a phone call with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed Al Thani, Netanyahu expressed his deep regret that Israel's missile strike against Hamas targets in Qatar unintentionally killed a Qatari serviceman and further expressed regret that, in targeting Hamas leadership during hostage negotiations, Israel violated Qatari sovereignty.

The White House added that Netanyahu also affirmed that Israel will not conduct such an attack again in the future.

Qatar, in turn, welcomed these assurances, emphasizing Qatar's readiness to continue contributing meaningfully to regional security and stability, which Netanyahu affirmed as well.

The Prime Minister's Office released quotes from the call. Mr. Prime Minister, I want you to know that Israel regrets that one of your citizens was killed in our strike. I want to assure you that Israel was targeting Hamas, not Qataris, Netanyahu told Al Thani.

I also want to assure you that Israel has no plan to violate your sovereignty again in the future, and I have made that commitment to the president. I know your leadership has grievances against Israel and Israel has grievances against Qatar, from support for the Muslim Brotherhood to how Israel is portrayed on Al Jazeera to support for anti-Israel sentiment on college campuses, Netanyahu added.

According to the statement, Trump praised both leaders for their willingness to take steps toward greater cooperation in the interest of peace and security for all.

Israel's Channel 12 News reported that officials also discussed the possibility of Israel paying compensation to the guards family.

It was a full apology. Netanyahu also pledged not to strike again in Qatar, an informed source told i24 News.

Qatar later announced that it had reassumed its mediating role following the phone call.

The apology was met with furious reactions from across Israel's political spectrum. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich condemned Netanyahus appeasement of Qatar, comparing it to then-UK Prime Minister Neville Chamberlains 1938 Munich Agreement with Nazi Germany, signed almost exactly 87 years ago.

Netanyahus groveling apology to a state that supports and funds terror is a disgrace, Smotrich wrote on X.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir declared that the strike on the masterminds of the October 7 massacre, in the enemy state of Qatar, was an important, just, and profoundly moral strike.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the far-left Israeli "Democrats" Party, Yair Golan, also slammed Netanyahu: What a humiliation. In order to defeat Hamas, we need to replace both Bibi and Qatar.
Home News Muslim mob forces Christians to stop holding worship services, demands permits

SURABAYA, Indonesia  A large group of Muslims recently forced a Christian church to suspend its worship service on a Sunday morning and all gatherings thereafter, following threats and demands for permits.

In Tangerang, a satellite town of Jakarta, Indonesia, at least 20 Muslims arrived at the Indonesian Bethel Church (GBI) at 9 a.m. local time on Sept. 21, an hour before the congregation was to begin worship in a shophouse of a commercial complex in Gerendeng Pulo village, Karawaci District, a video recording shows. The Muslims demanded a halt to all worship until the church obtains all relevant permits.

There should be no religious activities here, an elderly Muslim told Pastor Melky Gerung, to which a police officer interjected that mediation should take place to maintain social peace in Tangerang city.

Unlike other worship stoppages, the Muslim crowd displayed no violence, insults or loud chanting of the jihadist slogan Allahu Akbar [God is greater], the video shows.

A man later identified by the media as the local neighborhood citizens head is seen telling Pastor Melky that permission previously granted by residents was obtained through bribery, as the church had provided for some of their needs. The pastor replied that church leaders would review the case.

Officers brought the parties to the police station to discuss the conflict.

Pastor Melky told the media on Sept. 22 that when the crowd arrived, he became fearful, locked the gate and called the police. Plainclothes officers were already nearby as a similar incident had occurred the previous week when residents entered the second-floor shophouse church during worship, he said.

Church leaders on Monday met with the Karawaci Police Chief and representatives of the Interreligious Harmony Forum (Forum Kerja Sama Umat Beragama, FKUB), who cited a letter of rejection from residents of neighborhood units 02 and 05 regarding the presence of the church, according to a police statement on Facebook.

The situation is safe and conducive, the police stated.

The church has obtained permission from 20 residents and the Mosque Prosperity Council, a mosque management body, to carry out church activities at the site, a source said.

Cause unclear

The Indonesian Movement for All (Pergerakan Indonesia untuk Semua, PIS), a non-governmental organization dedicated to democracy, stated that the underlying cause of the conflict was unclear, according to a statement on its Instagram account, gerakanpis.

The church has collected signatures of around 20 residents ID cards and completed it with the permit application, it stated. The police at the scene did not take any action.

Edy Suhardono, director of the IISA Assessment and Research Centre and a lecturer at various universities, said such cases reflect a regulatory failure.

The numerous cases of bans on the construction of houses of worship and religious services are merely an implicit recognition of the current regulatory framework failure, the social psychologist told Morning Star News.

Edy stated on Kompas.com, a leading media conglomerate in Indonesia, that the 2006 Joint Decree of the Minister of Religious Affairs and the Minister of Home Affairs on religious institutions has created a harsh reality where many religious communities, particularly those from minority groups, are unable to meet their extraordinarily stringent administrative requirements, forcing them to use their homes as houses of prayer, a legally ambiguous status that makes them highly vulnerable to persecution under the pretext of lack of permits.

Such cases will continue to occur in Indonesia, an Instagram user noted in response to the PIS statement.

The ban on worship will continue  because they know they wont be jailed, account user agussianipar76 stated. At most, it will be resolved through deliberation with a 10,000 rupiah stamp and then clarify that this was just a misunderstanding.

Indonesian society in recent years has adopted a more conservative Islamic character, and churches involved in evangelistic outreach are at risk of being targeted by Islamic extremist groups, according to Open Doors.

This article was originally published at Morning Star News
Home News NYC Mayor Eric Adams ends reelection campaign; Mamdani, Cuomo react

New York City Mayor Eric Adams will not be seeking reelection, abandoning his campaign less than two months before election day.

In a video message posted to his X account on Sunday afternoon, Adams talked about how "only in America" can a man like him become mayor of a city like New York.

"It has been my honor to be your mayor and I am proud to say that we took that victory four years ago and turned it into action, making this city better for those who have been failed by government," Adams said. "I felt immense pride serving you every day, and look at what we accomplished together."

Adams touted his reported accomplishments, from the economy and housing to a drop in crime, rising test scores and the expansion of welfare program funding.

"Despite all we've achieved, I cannot continue my reelection campaign," he stated. "The constant media speculation about my future and the campaign finance board's decision to withhold millions of dollars have undermined my ability to raise the funds needed for a serious campaign."

Adams told New Yorkers that "I always put you before me" during his time in office, and warned against the rise of "extremism," "political violence" and "divisive" policies.

Adams was elected mayor as a Democrat, but ran for reelection as an independent. Last year, he was indicted on allegations of receiving $10 million in bribes and illegal campaign donations from foreign nationals in exchange for favors, allegations he denied.

Earlier this year, the Trump administration filed a motion to dismiss the charges against Adams. District Judge Dale Ho agreed to dismiss with prejudice.

In June, Zohran Mamdani, a New York state lawmaker and self-identified democratic socialist, defeated former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary for mayor.

Cuomo continued to run for mayor, and Adams' withdrawal from the race could benefit Cuomo, as both portrayed themselves as centrists, The Associated Press reports.

"I believe Mayor Adams is 100% sincere. I applaud his selflessness," Cuomo told reporters outside of a campaign event in Queens on Sunday night, according to WABC. "You know, we often wonder, is it about us, or is it about a greater calling? And I think what Mayor Adams said today speaks volumes."

"He said, 'I'm going to put my personal ambition aside for the good of the city,' because he's afraid of the result if Mr. Mamdani would have (sic) win the election, and we should all be afraid of the result," Cuomo added.

Mamdani reacted to Adams' departure from the race, telling WABC that his campaign is a "race between us and the failed politics."

In addition to Cuomo and Mamdani, Republican Curtis Sliwa is also running for mayor, though he lacks the support of many within his own party.
Home News Outgoing Oklahoma schools superintendent announces TPUSA partnership

Just days before his resignation took effect, Oklahomas top schools administrator announced a sweeping partnership with Turning Point USA to establish chapters of the conservative youth organization in every high school across the state.

In a Sept. 23 press release from the Oklahoma Department of Education, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters said TPUSA will help students in public, private and even homeschool settings establish a chapter as long as at least three students from each school are signed up.

In addition to chapter setups, TPUSA officials will help chapters with securing official school recognition, along with materials, mentorship, and assistance with working with teachers for chapter sponsorship.

Walters, whose tenure since his 2018 appointment has included successfully pushing for inclusion of Bible curriculum in public schools, said the assassination of Charlie Kirk earlier this month brought renewed focus on mobilizing young people to get involved and fight back against the radical left.

Founded by the late Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated Sept. 10 during a speaking event at Utah Valley University, TPUSA promotes conservative activism on campuses often aimed at hot-button issues like abortion and gender ideology.

We will be putting TPUSA on every high school campus in Oklahoma. Charlie Kirk inspired a generation to love America, to speak boldly, and to never shy away from debate. Our kids must get involved and active, Walters declared. We will fight back against the liberal propaganda, pushed by the radical left, and the teachers unions. Our fight starts now.

The partnership builds on a recent collaboration between the Department of Education and TPUSA to bolster civics education ahead of America's 250th birthday in 2026. The initiative, which involves TPUSA, Hillsdale College and nearly 40 other groups, is aimed at renewing patriotism, strengthening civic knowledge, and advancing a shared understanding of Americas founding principles in schools across the nation, according to a Sept. 17 announcement.

Walters' announcement came just days after he resigned from his position to become the CEO of Teacher Freedom Alliance, a nonprofit religious liberty group.

In response to Walters resignation, Attorney General Gentner Drummond criticized what he called a stream of never-ending scandal and political drama" surrounding the schools chief.

Ever since Gov. Stitt appointed Ryan Walters to serve as Secretary of Education, we have witnessed a stream of never-ending scandal and political drama. From the mishandling of pandemic relief funds that resulted in families buying Xboxes and refrigerators to the latest squabbling with board members over what was or wasnt showing on TV, the Stitt-Walters era has been an embarrassment to our state," said Drummond.

Walters made headlines last November for his plan to purchase more than 500 Bibles for use in Advanced Placement (AP) Government classrooms across the state of Oklahoma. The move marked the first purchase of Bibles specifically intended for use as an "academic and literary resource" in U.S. public schools, Walters said at the time.
Home News Trump DOJ using FACE Act to go after people, orgs. who threatened synagogue

The Trump administration is using a federal law traditionally used to prosecute people who obstruct or threaten abortion clinics to take legal action against organizations that targeted a New Jersey synagogue during a violent protest last fall.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced Monday that it is filing a civil complaint under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act against a group of defendants who threatened the Congregation Ohr Torah synagogue of West Orange during a November 2024 protest.

The incident in question happened on Nov. 13, with the lawsuit calling it a "coordinated effort to intimidate and disrupt Jewish worshipers at a religious event held at the synagogue Congregation Ohr Torah."

"The event, originally scheduled at the home of Dr. Moshe Glick, a well-respected healthcare professional, in a room designated for communal prayer and study, was relocated to the synagogue due to credible threats of violence from certain Defendants."

At the church, the complaint accuses protesters of physically assaulting worshipers and shouting antisemitic and threatening chants.

"No American should be harassed, targeted, or discriminated against for peacefully practicing their religion," said Attorney General Pamela Bondi in a statement.

"Today's lawsuit underscores this Department of Justice's commitment to defending Jewish Americans  and all Americans of faith  from those who would threaten their right to worship."

The complaint was filed with the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, and names the New Jersey chapter of the national Party for Socialism and Liberation, the New Jersey chapter of American Muslims for Palestine and other individuals who allegedly threatened or violently protested the synagogue and its members as defendants.

The FACE Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1994 in response to a reported increase in violence against abortion providers. Among other things, the law protects the right of people to freely exercise religious beliefs at houses of worship.

"The FACE Act prohibits the use of force, threats of force, or physical obstruction to intentionally injure, intimidate, or interfere with any person lawfully exercising or seeking to exercise the First Amendment right of religious freedom at a place of religious worship," stated the complaint.

"In bringing this action, the United States alleges that Defendants have committed, and are likely to continue to commit, violations of the FACE Act and that persons lawfully exercising or seeking to exercise the First Amendment right of religious freedom at a place of religious worship are being, have been, and will continue to be injured, intimidated, and/or interfered with by the Defendants' conduct."

The FACE Act has garnered criticism, with many conservative activists and Republican officials claiming that the measure unfairly targets peaceful pro-life demonstrators.

Republican Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey, the co-chair of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, stated in 2023 that he believes the FACE Act gave "harsh, mean-spirited punishments when pro-life individuals engage in acts of nonviolent civil disobedience  the staple of the human rights and civil rights movements."

"Under the FACE Act, peaceful actions like holding a sign, singing a hymn, or praying the Rosary, if conducted near an abortion mill, can result in jail sentences, massive fines and punitive damages by the party that feels it has been offended," Smith said at the time.

Proponents of the measure, among them the National Abortion Federation, believe that the FACE Act not only protects abortion facilities but also allows activists to demonstrate peacefully.

"FACE protects protesters' First Amendment right to free speech," claimed NAF in a position paper. "Clinic protesters remain free to conduct peaceful protest, including singing hymns, praying, carrying signs, walking picket lines and distributing anti-abortion materials outside of clinics."

In January, shortly after taking office, Trump pardoned several pro-life activists whom the Biden administration had prosecuted under the FACE Act.

"They should not have been prosecuted," Trump said as he signed the pardons. "Many of them are elderly people. They should not have been prosecuted. This is a great honor to sign this."
Home News Pastor extinguishes fire set by woman who left gift of vulgar threat, Bible verse before Charlie Kirk vigil

A pastor in Texas spotted and extinguished a fire set against the outer wall of a church shortly after a woman entered the building and left a gift bag ahead of a vigil for conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Inside the bag, investigators later found vulgar threats and a handwritten Bible verse, along with business cards tied to the suspect.

Police in El Paso arrested 35-year-old Marynka Zarina Marquez of Denton and charged her with arson for the Sept. 17 incident outside Beth El Bible Church.

"When police arrived, the investigation revealed that a woman had gone to the church, placed a large bag against the outside wall of the church, set it on fire, and then fled the scene," local authorities said in a news release. "Fortunately, the pastor was leaving the church when he spotted the fire and quickly put it out."

Investigators say the bag's contents include a paper plate with hateful language inscribed. Marquez is held at the El Paso County Detention Facility on a $50,000 bond.

In a statement following the arrest, Beth El Bible Church officials said they are "disheartened" by the incident.

"We believe in letting the local authorities do what they are called to do," the statement reads. "As a church, we choose to forgive. We give thanks to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, for his protection of our facilities and our lives."

The fire was set near the church's exterior wall at 6440 Montana Avenue in the evening, one day before a scheduled vigil for conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated on Sept. 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University.

The message depicted hateful language towards Kirk. Volunteers reported that Marquez rang the doorbell during a prayer meeting and stated she wanted to deliver a package for the Kirk vigil, according to KTSM.

A volunteer led her to the sanctuary near the front stage, where Marquez left a blue gift bag with the floral arrangements. The volunteer then walked her back to the entrance. Marquez retained a second bag, a brown paper one with a towel inside, and left the premises.

Roughly 30 minutes later, as the pastor was leaving the building, he spotted a fire burning near the wall and quickly extinguished it. The pastor and volunteer then noticed the brown paper bag had been left at the scene of the fire. They returned inside to examine the blue bag left earlier by Marquez.

Inside the bag were paper plates, a printed photograph and several business cards bearing the name "Zarina Marquez" and a link to the website macuca.net, which advertises an art and strategy LLC called La Macuca.

One of the plates contained handwritten messages referring to Kirk, including "C Kirk is eating p and s in Hell" on the front and "Soon you'll help him eat and drink it all" on the back.

Another plate displayed a photograph of a young girl being carried by a man, with added text reading "C is 4 coward, C is 4 Conservative, C is 4 Control." In the upper corners of the image were the logos "trtworld" and a timestamp marked "0:22."

The outside of the blue bag was marked with the words "RIP" and "PSALMS 118:6."

A witness told police the contents of the bag were a direct threat meant to intimidate the church and disrupt the Kirk vigil, which was expected to draw between 100 and 150 attendees, according to KTSM.

The investigation, led by El Paso's Special Investigations Unit and the Fire Marshal's Office, traced the business cards to a photo on La Macuca's website. The image depicted a group of individuals, and the church volunteer identified Marquez as the person in the center of the photograph.

A subsequent check of state records confirmed Marquez had a prior citation in El Paso in 2007 and a listed residential address in the area.

Police determined that the fire was intentionally set using the brown paper bag left outside the church. Officials said the act qualified as arson with intent to damage a place of worship.
Home Opinion How the sexual revolution freed men and failed women

By the time I was a teenager in the 2000s, the notion of waiting until marriage to have sex was considered outdated. Few of my peers practiced it, and the societal expectation was quite the opposite. I remember the tension I felt between what I believed and what everyone around me was doing, including some of my friends from church. Having been bullied in my early teens, I longed to fit in and be accepted. But to be a cool girl came with a cost.

In todays sexual culture, young women who arent sexually active face immense cultural pressure to engage in casual sexual activity for fear of shame, judgment, or social exclusion. Casual sex is now the norm, and young women are fixated on normal and social inclusion. As a result, many feel somewhat coerced into the post-sexual revolution paradigm that requires forfeiting ones virginity in pursuit of acceptance.

The sexual revolution promised liberation. Women were told they could claim freedom, equality, and their place in the world on their own terms. With the arrival of reliable birth control and legalized abortion, women were promised intimacy without consequence, careers without disruption, and lives free of the constraints of biology or tradition.

But half a century later, the cracks in that promise are impossible to ignore. Far from empowering women, the sexual revolution has normalized a culture where women are expected to meet mens desires while suppressing their own need for commitment, security and dignity. And when birth control fails, abortion becomes the hidden cost of keeping up the illusion that sex can be consequence-free.

How the sexual revolution changed the sexual marketplace

When the Pill first arrived in the 1960s, it was hailed as the great equalizer, finally allowing women to separate sex from motherhood. But what few anticipated was how radically it would reshape the sexual marketplace. By making casual sex seem consequence-free, it shifted expectations and pressured women to conform to a new sexual norm. Today, the pressure to engage in premarital sex is stronger than ever.

Author Louise Perry writes in The Case Against the Sexual Revolution, The pill offers this illusion of sex being a meaningless leisure activity. But just because youre taking a contraceptive pill does not mean that youre not emotionally affected by sex.[1]

What was once a deeply intimate act tied to commitment and trust has been reduced to a transactional encounter that too often leaves women feeling used, discarded and alone.

And in this new sexual economy, it is men, not women, who have benefited most. Freed from the expectation of marriage before sex, men gained access to intimacy without obligation. Women, meanwhile, bore the physical risks of contraception and abortion, along with the emotional weight of being told to embrace detachment and suppress their own longing for love and commitment.

Mounting research reveals that this liberation has been incredibly harmful. A study of nearly 500 first-year college women found that casual sex correlated with clinically significant depression.[2] Another study in 2022 showed that women are significantly more likely than men to experience regret, anxiety, depression and social stigma after casual sex.[3]

This is not liberation. As Perry observes, The evidence doesnt reveal a generation of women reveling in sexual liberation  instead, a lot of women seem to be having unpleasant, crappy sex out of a sense of obligation.

Abortion: The safety net of the revolution

If the pill rewrote the rules of sex, abortion became the safety net that made the new sexual marketplace possible. The pill resulted in so much more casual sex that the result was actually an increase in the number of abortions.

Once casual sex was normalized, society needed a way to erase its consequences to preserve the illusion that sex could be free of cost or commitment. In this way, abortion became the necessary safety net for lacking or failed birth control. The CDC reports that nearly nine in 10 abortions are sought by women in uncommitted relationships.[4]

But the so-called solution has been devastating. Countless women carry the physical and emotional scars of abortions they were told would make life better. Instead of feeling empowered, many describe feeling isolated and coerced, their grief hidden beneath a cultural script that calls abortion liberation.

Men, however, gained sexual access without responsibility. As author Louise Perry notes, Modern feminists who have only ever known a world with the Pill can easily forget that, in an era without contraception, a prohibition on sex before marriage served female, not male, interests. The absence of such boundaries has not resulted in freedom but instead has left women lonely and deeply unhappy.

Far from securing equality, the tools of the sexual revolution have entrenched inequality. Women are left to carry the weight of choice alone.

Abortion is not liberation

Since the sexual revolution, sex has been increasingly separated from reproduction. For many, pregnancy is no longer seen as a natural outcome of sex but as a disruption to freedom and identity.

Vitae Foundations decades of research confirm this reality: most women choose abortion because it feels like the only way to preserve freedom and identity.

In one study, women described abortion as the least of three evils, believing it less devastating than either adoption or parenting. Motherhood was seen as the death of self. Adoption was viewed as a double loss: the loss of self and the loss of the child. Abortion seemed the only way to erase evidence of a mistake.[5]

And so, in a culture that teaches women their worth lies in pursuing a vision of freedom where motherhood is optional, abortion feels like the only way to survive.

Modern women, now offered the same choices as men in education, careers and independence, are often unprepared for motherhood because it is no longer seen as inevitable or even desirable. With birth control and abortion readily available, many never seriously consider when or if they will have children. When an unexpected pregnancy occurs, it comes as a profound shock. For women who cannot reconcile motherhood with their identity or life plans, abortion appears to be the only option to preserve their present and protect their future.

Yet Vitaes research reveals that this so-called solution brings its own kind of death: a slow erosion of self, marked by guilt, regret and unacknowledged grief. Far from freeing women, abortion often traps them in cycles of trauma, secrecy and shame.

A new vision of liberation

If the sexual revolution taught women anything, it was this: you are on your own. Pregnancy became the womans problem, and abortion sold as the solution. But what our culture has never admitted, and what Vitae Foundations research confirms, is that this isnt liberation. It is abandonment packaged as empowerment.

Instead of reordering society around the dignity and design of womanhood, the culture increasingly demanded that women function like men: fertility-free and emotionally detached from sex.

In Feminism Against Progress, Mary Harrington summarizes the idea well when she says, By trying to make women equal through sameness, weve medicalized fertility, industrialized childcare, and treated motherhood as a handicap.[6]

In the wake of this sexual liberation, women are the ones facing the consequences. This reveals a crisis of abandonment: a culture where mothers are devalued and women are only handed choice as their key to freedom.

True liberation begins when mothers are valued and supported in our culture. It begins when women are not forced to choose from three devastating options. It begins when we treat motherhood as a noble and worthwhile endeavor.

From betrayal to renewal

The sexual revolution promised women the world: freedom, equality and control. But what it delivered was a cruel bait-and-switch. It erased the cultural safeguards that once protected women, normalized male detachment from commitment, and told women they must carry the burden of choice alone. But as the research makes clear, this isnt freedom. Its bondage.

The path forward is not easy, but it is clear. We must push for a culture in which women dont feel like casual sex is the admission price for finding love and commitment, only to be left with costly consequences.

As a young woman, I once believed the false promises of the sexual revolution, and I can say from experience that its version of liberation is empty. True freedom is not found in erasing consequences but in reclaiming dignity, commitment and life.

Motherhood is difficult, but I will never regret sacrificing my personal freedom for my daughter. For her sake, and for the sake of all daughters, we must build a culture that honors womens interests, celebrates motherhood and offers true support.

[1] Perry, L. (2022). The case against the sexual revolution: A new guide to sex in the 21st century. Polity Press

[2] Fielder, R. L., Walsh, J. L., Carey, K. B., & Carey, M. P. (2014). Sexual hookups and adverse health outcomes: a longitudinal study of first-year college women. Journal of sex research, 51(2), 131144. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2013.848255

[3] McKeen, B. E., Anderson, R. C., & Mitchell, D. A. (2022). Was it Good for You? Gender Differences in Motives and Emotional Outcomes Following Casual Sex. Sexuality & culture, 26(4), 13391359. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-022-09946-w

[4] Kortsmit, K., Nguyen, A. T., Mandel, M. G., Hollier, L. M., Ramer, S., Rodenhizer, J., Whiteman, M. K., & Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, November 24). Abortion surveillance  United States, 2021. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Surveillance Summaries, 72(9), 129. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.ss7209a1

[5] Vitae Research Institute. (n.d.). Summary of Study #1  Abortion: The Least of Three Evils. https://vitaeresearchinstitute.org/research/abortion-the-least-of-three-evils-2/

[6] Harrington, M. (2023). Feminism against progress. Regnery Publishing
Home Opinion Why following Jesus Christ means cultural war

And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit' (Acts 7:59).

Christians will come into conflict with the destructive ideologies of their time when they fulfill the Great Commission, a constant since the days of Stephens martyrdom. Following the call of Jesus Christ means being at war with errant cultural and political ideas.

Right now, Christians face persecution, torture and death in the name of Jesus all around the world. Martyrdom has been a constant bedfellow of the church since Stephen gazed into the Heaven he was about to enter and saw the glory of God with Jesus standing to His right, waiting to welcome Stephen home.

Charlie Kirk has tragically joined that long line of faithful Christians, martyred in the prime of his life while at the height of his professional and cultural impact. His loss has rocked the Western world, which is no longer accustomed to the martyrdom common under Islamic and other totalitarian political regimes. This injustice is a tipping point for Christians in the West.

Churches saw record attendance the weekend after Kirks murder, joining an ongoing return to Christian houses of worship, especially among young men. Many people across America and Western Europe are reportedly coming to faith in Jesus Christ, having returned to the gospel of their past or heard it for the first time.

The Church must be ready to meet this demand with the simple and direct Gospel. Churches should clearly communicate the unmerited grace inherent in the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ. In His death and resurrection, Jesus took on the weight of sin none of us can bear. Charlie Kirk once said, The Church is a place where you learn why you need the cross. This way of Christs cross is the only path out of our cultural morass.

Taking up the cross requires action, denying ourselves, and living for the Lord. Our nation is in a profound state of cultural war that is destroying America. The struggle between good and evil is as undeniable as it is inevitable. Following Jesus Christ always brings Christians into conflict with a secular world that will never fully accept the biblical message of grace and truth, a constant across all of church history.

In modern times, this reality is most evident in the violence of the political left, which has been captured by a death cult that is unpersuaded by reason; recent examples are simultaneously ubiquitous and brutal. The killing of Charlie Kirk and the subsequent rejoicing from many on the political left remind America that the situation is dire and unsustainable.

Christians must oppose the dangerous ideas fueling much of the lefts violence, including the mainstreaming of trans ideology. It is now clear that trans indoctrination, which contradicts the simple truth that God created humans in His image as male or female, fuels much of this violence. Denying the fundamental truth of ones sex or endorsing this confusion in others invites psychological and spiritual instability.

Parachurch organizations must stand alongside the Church, clearly stating that God created human beings in His image as male and female. Ideologically deviant ideas that have been on the extreme cultural fringes throughout all human history are now mainstream and inspiring young, confused killers to murder innocent victims.

In the most recent cases, these atrocities have been accompanied by a cheering left and the condoning silence of their politicians. In many cases, they are aimed at outspoken Christian individuals or parochial schools. Christian schools at all levels must ensure that these ideas are not taking root in their classrooms and stand faithfully on biblical truth, regardless of opposition.

As citizens of a constitutional republic, all Americans share the responsibility of participatory governance, a privilege not extended to Christians living under totalitarian regimes. Christians must engage in the political process by supporting and electing leaders who are guided by and uphold a Christian worldview as they serve their communities. The State is the God-ordained institution of justice and social order; it must wield the sword to confront evil. In our representative democracy, this cannot be achieved effectively without the involvement of the Church.

The Church did not initiate this cultural war, and until now, it has largely failed to participate, but Christians can remain silent no longer. As Daniel Horowitz recently wrote, policy, law, and culture must align to end this dangerous experiment. The Church must take the lead; no other human institution is up to this task.

There is a better way than the hate engendered by transgender beliefs, and its found in the beautiful truth of the imago Dei  each of us made uniquely in the image of God. The brokenness so inherent in the world and evident in transgender violence need not be the final chapter for our nation. There is forgiveness, hope, and reconciliation in Jesus Christ.

Stephens last words were, Lord, dont hold this sin against them. Charlie Kirks brutal slaying didnt give him a chance to utter last words, but based on his love for Jesus Christ and his willingness to talk openly and actively to those who disagreed with his ideas, he very likely would have said the same. Let us all resolve to live like Charlie Kirk.
Home Opinion Youre not a Christian unless you struggle with sin

I have a confession: after decades of being a Christian, I still struggle with sin, some of which have dogged me for a long time. In fact, the battle seems more intense in various ways than when I first became a believer.

But heres the thing: my struggle with sin is one of the ways I know Im a Christian.

Maybe that sounds wonky to you? Perhaps youre now chomping at the bit to go off on me in the comments section on the subjects of holiness, sanctification, and right living before God. But before you do, hear me out.

Non-Christians dont struggle with sin. At least, not like Christians do.

Lets step back for a moment and start at ground zero on this. The Bible is crystal clear on both our state before and after Christ when it comes to the issue of sin.

Scripture says we all arrive on planet Earth with a built-in law of failure when it comes to being righteous before God. David puts it like this in Psalm 51:5: Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. He says  contrary to what some secular philosophy and psychology teachers assert  were not clean slates and innocent when we enter this world, regarding bad behavior.

For example, I bet youd agree we arent born patient but instead are naturally impatient. And self-centered. And prone to outbursts of anger. And unforgiving. And liars. And greedy.

These bad traits arent learned (e.g., young kids don't learn to lie), but are innate to us, and not only do we not fight against them, but we also use them to serve ourselves and get what we want. As Christian apologist J. Warner Wallace said in response to a question on the subject, before Christ, I didnt worry about sin; sin was my life.

So, in a very real sense, non-Christians have no battle where sin is concerned. There is a desensitization to it and no desire to turn from it, especially if its feeding their appetite.

This isnt to say that people in general wont try to stop practicing behaviors that can boomerang back on them (e.g., alcoholism, stealing). But the remorse and attempts at change are still inwardly focused and done for their benefit alone.

Thats us before Christ.

After receiving Jesus, the Bible says we are born again (John 3:3), freed from sin as our only taskmaster (Rom. 6:22), and directed to repent and live a righteous life. Paul refers to both states when he writes: We too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest (Eph. 2:3).

While we previously swam in the waters of sin without regard to the pool we were in, now were awakened to it, realize our predicament, and want to dry off. The problem is, we still have our original nature that wants to dive back into where we were.

Thats because, as Tim Keller says, Sin is not just an action but a power.

Contrary to what some fringe groups say, we dont stop sinning when we receive Christ. Scripture says, If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us (1 John 1:8); Who can say, I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin? (Prov. 20:9); In Your sight no man living is righteous (Ps. 143:2); Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins (Ecc. 7:20); For we all stumble in many ways (James 3:2).

There is a dichotomy that exists in the believer, one that the Protestant Reformer Martin Luther described in Latin as Simul Justus et Peccator, meaning at the same time just and sinner. Paul wrote about this internal contrast and conflict in Romans 7:

For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate  So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members (Rom. 7:1523).

While some teachers have tried to say Paul was describing himself before Christ, the present tense verbs used in vv. 14-25 supports the idea that he is describing his current life as a Christian. He concludes that point by citing his frustration with his current state: Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin (Rom. 7:2425).

In his renewed mind (Rom. 12:2), he serves righteousness, but his remaining sin nature continues to serve sin (vs. 25), hence the battle that every Christian experiences.

And one way believers know theyre truly saved.

Now, make no mistake, the habitual, carefree lifestyle of sin should erode as John says: No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him (1 John 3:6). Along the way, the believer is more sensitive to sin as they grow in grace, which can seem to intensify the struggle even more.

This, again, is one way a believer knows their salvation is real. The Great Awakening preacher Jonathan Edwards wrote in his work Religious Affections that the false Christian makes a profession, continues to live in sin, and has no holy longings for righteousness, whereas the true Christian makes a profession, still struggles with sin, but has holy longings for the things of God and a desire for the eventual end of sin.

Such freedom isnt achieved in this life, as Paul said: Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect (Phil. 3:12), despite what Christian perfectionists preach. John MacArthur underscores this when he writes: All perfectionism is essentially a disastrous misunderstanding of how God works in sanctification. Sanctification is a process by which God  working in believers through the Holy Spirit  gradually moves them toward Christlikeness (2 Corinthians 3:18). That the transformation is gradual  not instantaneous, and never complete in this lifetime  is confirmed by many passages of Scripture.

That being the case, when we read Jesus saying in Matthew 5:48, Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect, we need to balance it with His other statement admitting that well always fall short and need forgiveness as shown in the Lords Prayer: Forgive us our trespasses (Matt. 6:12).

Non-Christians dont make such petitions because they dont feel the need and are dead in sin (Eph. 2:1). A man once came to a preacher and said, Pastor, I dont feel this weight of sin that you talk about. The pastor responded, If you put 400 lbs. on a corpse, would it feel it?

So, if you feel the burden of sin in your life, chances are youre not dead in sin but instead alive in Christ and sensitive to the unrighteousness that plagues us all. And thats one way you know you really belong to Him.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has indicated Canada is looking to introduce measures to attract talent impacted by the United States H-1B fee hike.



Carney made the comments while addressing reporters in the United Kingdom on September 27, after participating in the 2025 Global Progress Action Summit.

Schedule a Free Work Permit Consultation with the Cohen Immigration Law Firm



What is clear is the opportunity to attract people who previously would have got so-called H-1B visas  and I'm going to simplify one of the big cohorts is in the tech sector.

"Not as many people are going to get visas to the United States. And these are people with lots of skills, enterprising, and willing to move to work.

So, its an opportunity for Canada, and we are going to take that into account, and we are going to have a clear offering on that, Carney said.

On September 19, US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation imposing a fee of $100,000 on new H-1B visas. The move is thought to mainly impact the countrys tech industry, which heavily relies on H-1B visa holders.

This is not the first time Carney has expressed an interest in attracting tech talent from the US to Canada.

On September 22, he made similar comments during a speech before the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City, while talking about Canadas research and AI talent and noting that most of them go to the US.

"I understand you're changing your visa policy," Carney said. "Maybe we can hang on to one or two of them."

What is Canada doing to attract tech talent?

For many foreign nationals, starting with a Canadian work permit can be a strategic pathway to permanent residence (PR), as gaining skilled work experience in Canada strengthens eligibility for economic immigration programs.

In Canada, work permits fall under two general programs: the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and the International Mobility Program (IMP).

A work permit under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program requires a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). The LMIA is a document that an employer gets as proof that the hiring does not negatively impact the Canadian labour market.

The TFWP consists of several streams, including the Global Talent Stream, which was introduced to help employers in Canada fast-track the hiring of foreign tech talent. It aims to establish a two-week standard for the processing of work permit applications for these skilled foreign workers.

The International Mobility Program, on the other hand, is LMIA-exempt.

In September 2024, IRCC introduced a new work permit under the Innovation Stream, a pillar under the Tech Talent Strategy. This falls under the International Mobility Program and gives skilled foreign workers with a job offer from one of the eight employers participating in the Global Hypergrowth Project access to an LMIA-exempt work permit.

Canadas Tech Talent Strategy also included a streamlined work permit for H-1B specialty occupation visa holders in the US to apply to come to Canada. The initiative met its cap of 10,000 applications in one day after launching on July 16, 2023.

Other options for foreign workers in tech in Canada include Intra-Company Transferee work permits. This streamlines the process for multinational companies to transfer key employees (such as executives, senior managers, or those with specialized knowledge) from an overseas branch to their Canadian office.

Foreign nationals can also pursue Canadian PR directly through the Express Entry system.

To enter the Express Entry pool, one must be eligible for at least one of the three federal immigration programs managed through Express Entry:

In 2023, Canada launched category-based selection draws to help the country meet labour market needs in in-demand sectors. STEM is one of the categories listed under the category-based selection draws. This gives workers in select STEM occupations an edge through lower Comprehensive Ranking Score (CRS) cut-off scores than those for general or Canadian Experience Class draws.

However, it's worth noting the frequency of these draws. The last STEM category-based selection draw was held on April 11, 2024.

Schedule a Free Work Permit Consultation with the Cohen Immigration Law Firm


A man who defrauded a woman of thousands of pounds has been ordered to pay 185,000, with six charities to which she had pledged legacy donations receiving a share of the money.

Paul Flowers, from Swinton, Greater Manchester, pleaded guilty to 18 counts of fraud by abuse of position in July 2024 and was handed a three-year sentence in February this year.

On 24 September, a confiscation order was granted to the value of 184,862 at a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing at Manchester crown court.

Flowers, who was a former Co-operative Bank chairman, Labour councillor in Rochdale and Bradford, and Methodist minister, stole about 100,000 from Margaret Jarvis between 2016 and 2017 while she battled Alzheimers.

Jarvis had given Flowers power of attorney over her financial affairs and made him an executor of her will in 1995 because she had known him for decades.

In her will, Jarvis said she wished her nieces to receive 10,000 each while the rest would be split between six different charities  Donkey Sanctuary, Alzheimers Research UK, Wessex Cancer Trust, Guide Dogs, Hearing Dogs for the Deaf and Methodist Homes for the Aged.

In 2016, Jarvis died aged 82 in a care home in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, while Flowers continued to steal from her will even after her death.

Flowers stole a total of 70,000 in cash, spending money on holidays, home improvements and alcohol among other things.

Bank officials flagged the crime to police in 2019 and a police investigation was then launched.

Justice has been served

Catherine Price, director of fundraising at Wessex Cancer Trust, said: Although we have not yet been formally notified of any expected payment from Margaret Jarvis estate, we are pleased to hear that justice has been served and that Margarets original intentions may be honoured.

Emma Whitcombe, deputy chief executive of Alzheimers Research UK, said: We are aware of this case and that Alzheimers Research UK is one of a number of charities Margaret Jarvis included in her will.

We welcome the court ruling and hope that Margarets final wishes will now be fulfilled.

A spokesperson for Guide Dogs said: Our thoughts are with Miss Jarvis family during this time. We can confirm we are set to receive 8.3% of the residuary share of the estate and are always incredibly grateful for gifts left in wills which are essential to funding our vital work to help those with sight loss live the life they choose.

Charles Clayton, specialist prosecutor, CPS Proceeds of Crime Division, said: Paul Flowers abused the trust his friend placed in him, preying on her vulnerability. He stole a large amount ofmoney from her, depriving charities and her niece of gifts that were bequeathed to them. We are pleased to have secured a compensation order that will right that wrong.

Flowers took advantage of Margaret Jarvis illness; he knew she wouldnt realise he was stealing and even continued to steal from her after her death.

Today CPS Proceeds of Crime Division ensured that Flowers cannot continue to benefit from his ill-gotten gains and his victims final wishes for her estate will finally be fulfilled.

Detective constable Kate Riley, fraud investigations officer at Greater Manchester Police, said: Getting Flowers ill-gotten money back and into the right hands is a further layer of justice that I am pleased has happened.

He is still serving his time in prison for his crimes  exploiting a vulnerable woman for his own self-serving needs. This order means the money he took can go back to where his victim intended.

Donkey Sanctuary, Guide Dogs, Hearing Dogs for the Deaf and Methodist Homes for the Aged have all been contacted for comment.

sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector,
Mermaids appoints interim CEO

Trans youth support charity Mermaids has announced that its former chair Kathryn Downs is assuming the role of interim CEO after her predecessor Lauren Stoner left the same role on 5 September.

Stoner had led Mermaids, initially on an interim basis, since 2022 and had steered the charity through a period in which it was subject to a Charity Commission inquiry that concluded poor governance there had amounted to mismanagement.

We are deeply grateful for Laurens expertise, hard work and dedication during that challenging period, and we wish her the very best for the future, Mermaids said in a statement.

Recruitment for a new permanent CEO is well underway, the charity said, adding that trustee Hardeep Aiden had been appointed as Mermaids new chair.

Paula Puxty, currently chief finance officer at the Rochester Bridge Trust, is also joining the charity as chief operating officer from October.

PSP Association recruits CEO

Rare disease charity the PSP Association has appointed James Cusack to its chief executive role.

The organisation, which supports people affected by the neurodegenerative conditions progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and corticobasal degeneration, said Cusack would be taking up the position from December 2025.

He moves from autism research charity Autistica, where he has served five years as CEO and was previously director of science, and succeeds Rebecca Packwood who has been in post since 2021.

I feel incredibly proud to be joining such a brilliant and well-run organisation, Cusack said.

Together, I believe were in a strong position to continue delivering high-quality support today and hope through groundbreaking research and powerful campaigning tomorrow.

Police Care acting CEO appointed to substantive role

Police Care UK, which supports officers harmed during their duties, has confirmed its acting CEO Geoff Cheshire will be assuming the permanent role.

Cheshire, who served with Merseyside Police for 30 years, joined Police Care UK in February 2025 as chief operating officer before stepping up to become acting CEO. He had previously held senior posts with the British Red Cross.

His significant first-hand experience of policing, experience of senior leadership in charities and commitment to helping those exposed to harm through service is the ideal combination to support growth of the organisation, said Police Care UKs chair, Derek Ray-Hill.

Cheshire said: The charity is evolving to ensure we consistently meet the needs of those who come to us for help.

As an ex-police officer I care deeply about the health and wellbeing of all those who serve, and of those who have had to leave as a result of injury or illness caused by their work.

Arts Emergency to share chief executive duties

Arts Emergency has promoted its director of fundraising and marketing Lucy Newton to serve as co-CEO alongside founder Neil Griffiths.

The charity, which provides an alternative old boys network to help people who have not come from privileged backgrounds get a leg-up into arts careers, said Newton had spearheaded a 250% growth in annual revenue.

To share the overall leadership of our organisation and movement with such an inspiring young leader is a privilege and a natural next step as our cause continues to evolve, said Griffiths.

Newton added: Im deeply grateful to step into this role alongside Neil, whose vision has inspired Arts Emergency from day one.

This movement is beautiful, generative and a beacon of hope during trying times for the creative sector.

New chair of trustees at Solace

Domestic abuse charity Solace Womens Aid has announced Abigail Ampofo, currently the interim CEO of youth mental health charity YoungMinds, as its new chair of trustees.

Solace, which has faced the threat of industrial action this year over redundancy plans and a decision not to recognise the United Voices of the World (UVW) union, said it was delighted to welcome Ampofo.

Her depth of experience leading frontline services and advocating for those facing disadvantage will be invaluable as we continue our mission to end violence against women and girls, said Solace CEO Nahar Choudhury.

Ampofo said she was honoured to take up the new role.

Solace plays a vital role supporting women and children to rebuild their lives free from abuse, and I look forward to working alongside the board, staff, volunteers and partners to continue strengthening this essential mission, she said.

Young Womens Trust chief executive stepping down

Young Womens Trust CEO Claire Reindorp has announced she will be leaving the charity in spring 2026 after almost four years in the role.

The charity said she would remain in her role during the process of recruiting for a successor, which trustees have begun, and then take a career break.

Its been a very difficult decision to leave a charity that is so close to my heart, Reindorp said.

I have every confidence that the fantastic staff, talented young campaigners, peer researchers and ambassadors and thousands of supporters will continue the push for much needed change.

The trusts chair Emma Norris thanked Reindorp for her truly transformational impact during her time in charge.

New chair, trustees and senior leaders at Tomorrows Warriors

Jazz music education and artist development charity Tomorrows Warriors has announced a new chair and trustees alongside senior leadership appointments.

The Black-founded and Black-led organisation said Tove Okunniwa will take over as chair from Viv Broughton, who stays on as a trustee, while Gloria Fagbemiro and Jez Nelson are also joining the board.

Meanwhile Sian Lord-Baptiste has been appointed chief operating officer, following a 10-year stint as chief of organisational effectiveness at Africa-rooted girls liberation charity Purposeful.

Erin Barnes, previously Purposefuls communications lead, also joins Tomorrows Warriors as head of learning, outreach and development.

Janine Irons, Tomorrows Warriors co-Founder and CEO, said the appointments mark the beginning of an exciting new era at the charity.

With such a dynamic, visionary, and diverse team at the helm, we are poised to grow our impact, deepen our legacy, and continue breaking down barriers for the next generation of artists and leaders, she said.

CIOF takes on five trustees

The Chartered Institute of Fundraising (CIOF) has announced the appointment of five new trustees to its board, plus a young fundraiser trustee apprentice whom the board will mentor.

The new trustees are Naomi Abrahams (general manager clients and business development, Zen Fundraising), Jayne George (chief fundraising and communications officer, RNLI), Dan Knowles (CEO, Brain Tumour Research), Jonathan Levy (founder, Neurodiverse Fundraisers) and Kelly Maklowicz (director of supporter fundraising, RSPB).

Annabelle Fozard, a research officer with the Royal Ballet and Opera, takes up the apprentice role.

CIOF chief executive Katie Docherty welcomed the strong cohort and in particular Fozard and and another apprentice, Jaswant Sodhi, who joined in early 2025.

Patient support charity DEBRA appoints chair

DEBRA, which supports people affected by the genetic skin blistering condition epidermolysis bullosa (EB), has appointed a new chair of trustees.

Board member Carly Fields takes on the role from Jim Irvine, the current chair of six years.

Fields, an editor with the Journal of Commerce, has been involved with the charity since 2014, when her daughter was diagnosed with EB.

She is also a committee member at the British Association of Dermatologists and a member of the NHS Genomics Ethics, Equity and Legal Advisory Group.

It is a privilege to be able to lead DEBRA as chair of trustees, she said.

We need to make bold moves and be ambitious to secure effective drug treatments, to strengthen our community, and to be an advocate for everyone with EB.

Five new trustees for Mental Health Foundation

The Mental Health Foundation has appointed five new trustees  Sami Gichki, Dr Anna Zecharia, Ayodeji Ogunyemi, Tom Mursell, and Lizzie Lockett  to its board.

The charity said the new trustees will bring a diverse range of skills and experiences across public policy, health, inclusion, finance and communications, as well as having lived experience of mental health challenges.

We are thrilled to welcome these five exceptional individuals to our board, said Aisha Sheik-Anene, the Mental Health Foundations chair.

Their collective expertise and passion will help us deepen our impact, strengthen our governance, and ensure our work continues to be inclusive, evidence-based, and focused on prevention.

Newcastle Dog & Cat Shelter appoints chair

Newcastle Dog & Cat Shelter, established in 1896, has appointed Richard Kirk as its chair.

Kirk previousle chaired the Childrens Heart Unit Fund and is currently chair of the Tyne Rivers Trust.

He has replaced Andrea, Lady Wylie, who chaired the charity since 2022 as part of an eight-year stint on its board.

Lady Wylie said: I couldnt be more delighted to hand over the reins to Richard. With his rich experience in the charitable sector, I know the shelter is in safe hands.

sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector,
Sign up for the daily CJR newsletter.

The day I began writing this newsletter, in October 2018, Donald Trump was the president of the United States, it was the sad Monday morning after a barely processable attack on a house of worship, and the press, I wrote, needed urgently to grapple with how to report on an intensifying and obvious politics of hate. Nearly seven years later, it can sometimes feel as if time has stood stilland yet its also true that the media landscape has changed enormously since then. Ill be stepping down as the writer of this newsletter after tomorrows edition; Ill have some more personal reflections to share then. For todays newsletter, I wanted to look back on those seven years, where we were then, and where we are now.

The current news cycle contains all sorts of echoes from my early years in this space: a government shutdown appears imminent (see this from 2018), Pam Bondi is on Fox talking about James Comey (see this from 2019), Trump just gave breathtakingly irresponsible medical advice (see this from 2020; it really does a number on the lungs). In many ways, though, riffling back through editions from the first Trump presidency feels like reading dispatches from a different planet. Shortly after I started, I wrote about the debate over the medias hesitation at calling Trumps messaging racist, in a newsletter about a pre-midterms ad claiming an invasion of migrants at the southern border (which I had, to be honest, completely forgotten about); a few months later I wrotein two consecutive newsletters, to be preciseabout the debate as to whether the media should carry Trump live, given his propensity to lie. In the weeks leading up to the presidential election of 2020, I collaborated with Pete Vernon, the former writer of this newsletter, on a detailed accounting of all the pathologies that wed observed in coverage of Trump. We wrote that his first presidency had seen some very smart work, namechecking influential essays by Adam Serwer and Ta-Nehisi Coates by way of example, but also plenty of bothsidesism, credulous hopes of a new presidential tone, breathless obsession over tweets, civility policing, judgment of optics over substance, and so on. The act of bringing together our daily doses of media criticism, we wrote, painted a clear picture of an industry whose basic rhythms conspired, time and again, to downplay demagoguery, let Trump and his defenders off the hook, and drain resources and attention from crucial longer-term storylines.

Above all, the media, at the time, seemed to be grappling with how to bend its normal way of covering politics to a president who blitzed through norms on an hourly basis; in a 2019 newsletter (specifically about bothsidesism), I quoted the media critic Dan Froomkin as saying (specifically about the New York Times, but broaching a wider point), If youd asked NYT editors five years ago whether people who deny basic facts, traffic in conspiracy theories, demonize immigrants, and otherwise fight against a pluralistic society should be given equal (or more than equal) time in their news columns, they would have said no. And yet there were lines back then. According to my debut newsletter, Fox Business condemned a guest for bashing the liberal Jewish financier George Soros in a segment on the late Lou Dobbss show that subsequently reaired on the day that a gunman murdered worshippers at a synagogue in Pittsburgh; Fox News, NBC, and others eventually dropped the 2018 midterms ad, while CNN declined to air it at all. In 2020, James Bennet was ousted as editor of the Times opinion section after it published an op-ed (which, it transpired, Bennet hadnt even read in advance) in which the Republican senator Tom Cotton called for Trump to dispatch troops to quell the unrest that followed the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis; that broader moment led to a reappraisal, across the media business, as to the meaning and appropriateness of traditional notions of journalistic objectivity, as well as failures of representation within newsrooms. That summer is often remembered in isolation, but recently, Perry Bacon, of the New Republic, zoomed out to situate it in the context of two broader reckonings that, in his view, defined the seven-year period from 2014 to 2021 in media: one over race, not only post-Floyd, but via, for instance, Nikole Hannah-Joness 1619 Project for the Times; the other over coverage that downplayed the radicalism of the Republican Party, and a gradual shift to a more pro-democracy orientation.

If my seven-year stint atop this newsletter began at something like the midpoint of this period, it has since taken in a very different moment. Bacon suggested recently that the reckonings he observed are effectively now dead, giving way, respectively, to a hostile moment for Black journalists (he wrote after the Washington Post, where he worked until this year, fired Karen Attiah from its opinion section over tweets about race following the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk) and coverage of politics that has swung closer to Trumps own terms. As I wrote earlier this year, parts of the media business now seem to have recast the summer of 2020, in particular, as the storming of the journalistic firmament by Jacobins who have, thankfully, now been put back in their place. As far as political coverage goes, many journalists are currently watching Trumps nakedly authoritarian behavior without then writing up stenography about the emperors fine new clothes. (Last week, for what its worth, Froomkin pointed to signs that the Times might finally be getting real about Trump.) On the whole, though, it increasingly strikes me that the political press is adriftvisibly grappling with how to cover a president who not only blitzes norms by sending mean tweets, but was widely condemned and written off after his shameful lies about a fair election led to a violent attack on the seat of government, then ushered back into office by a near majority of voters in what, among other things, amounted to an existential challenge to the medias self-conception as an arbiter of political accountability. The killing of Kirk has intensified this sense of disorientation; the sorts of figuresor, at least, figures with the sorts of viewsthat the mainstream press might have declined to platform even in the first Trump era are now sitting for soft-focus interviews and profiles. (Not that the latter are a wholly new development when it comes to the far right, as Vernon and I observed in 2020.) Over the weekend, Hannah-Jones reckoned with all this in an essay for the Times. Espousing open and explicit bigotry, she wrote, no longer relegates one to the fringe of political discourse.

In an abstract sense, the shifting of societal consensus is an eternal challenge for the mainstream news media, which has long claimed to sit above societyparceling out marble-carved truths from on highbut is, of course, of society, or at the very least shifts violently when the ground underneath it does likewise. Far from the caricature of uncouth young journalists demanding rampant left-wing subjectivity, this reality was what the 2020 objectivity debate was actually about (at its best, anyway)and it is a reality, whether you are the type of journalist who thinks it is a good thing or not. Over time, debates that once felt very urgentShould the networks broadcast Trumps lies without live fact-checking?!can come to feel quaint, and old practices get cast off, for better or worse reasons. The impulse for media institutions not to platform lies or hateful views came from a better-faith place than many critics allowand the objection that free speech somehow demands giving particular individuals a particular, privately funded job or platform is stupid now, just as it was stupid before. And yet the basic premise herethat the mainstream media could effectively contain the worst of America by treating it as radioactivehas, at minimum, clearly not worked. If CJR stands for anything, its that the media reevaluating how it covers society can be a sign of strength.

And yet we must be clear-eyed, now, about who is moving the lines within which the media does its job. The first answer is clearly Trump, whose first-term assaults on the mediaalways worse than the minimizing gloss of hindsight allows (part of a broader pattern of Trump 1.0 amnesia among members of the press)have morphed into something very overt and very scary, as I wrote last week. Throughout my time writing this newsletter, Ive warned about threats to democracy in the US, and tried to bring perspective by covering its retreat around the world, even if such warnings were sometimes written off as hysteria. Recently, Ive noticed headlines attesting to how Trumps attacks on speech mirror the playbooks of authoritarian leaders. Id probably have praised such framing as perceptive in 2018. Now I think were past talk of mirrors; it is already happening hereor, at least, being attempted. A second answer is media corporations themselves, vastly too many of which have recently bent to Trumps will, either preemptively or at the feel of a presidential push, out of cowardice at best or rank greed at worst. This year, Ive gone back and forth on whether journalists are standing up to Trumps new, more blatant style of authoritarianism strongly enough. But its been clear throughout that many of their paymasters arent, and that this is a dire problem. Their recent behavior should shatter the peculiar American creed that consolidated megacorporations are reliable stewards of public-interest journalism, even if public media is hardly in a good place either. (When the editor of Semafor is quoting Noam Chomsky, you know times are strange.) This, too, is part of a broader pattern of capitulation. As Serwer put it last week, in The Atlantic, those with the most resources to resist Trumps abuses have often declined to do so. They are, in a word, chickenshit.

But theres a reason why I wrote or, at least, being attempted above. Part of the reason the capitulation is so dangerous, as Serwer noted, is that it has effectively multiplied Trumps attacks on constitutional government, by enhancing a false sense of inevitability and invincibility. To return to the abstract, if media types do their work against a shifting societal baseline, theyre not always very good at seeing where that line is at a given moment. The narrowness of Trumps victory in 2016 probably did lead many in the media to underappreciate the rupture he represented, or to see him as an aberration. But if thats the case, then his narrow victory in 2024 has for some reason been interpreted as grounds for a massive collective overcompensation. Even if he had a mandate to behave like a king, the law would prevent thatbut its nonetheless worth stating that he does not have a mandate to behave like a king. And refusing to be subjected can work. I wrote last Monday about ABC suspending Jimmy Kimmeland Nexstar and Sinclair preempting his show on their ABC affiliatesafter he made unhelpful comments about Kirks death; one week and some (fairly mild; were not talking about mass civil disobedience here) public pressure later, and Kimmel is back not only on ABC but, as of Friday, on the affiliates, tooand Brendan Carr, the bureaucrat whose threats were widely perceived as triggering Kimmels initial canceling, is pretending he never made the threats at all. At the broadest level, the First Amendment remains an extraordinary gift to the US press, one that many journalists around the world would die to haveand all too often die without.

Sign up for CJRs daily email

Maria Ressa, the crusading Filipino journalist who has lived through sharp authoritarian threats and become something of a global press-freedom cause celebre, likes to say that we must hold the line against such threats. It strikes me that the sort of media executives who would surely clap along to such sentiments at a charity dinner without batting an eyelid are now being confronted by what it means in practice. Sometimes, it involves uncomfortable choices. But Id ask you to ask yourselves: What is the alternative, really? Pushing back on authoritarian threats to free speech is not an affront against pluralism, even if you might imagine that half the country is okay with it. It remains an essential precondition of pluralism.

After Kirk was killed, Ezra Klein, the influential liberal columnist at the Times, wrote a piece praising the way he had practiced politics, and Coates pushed back in an essay for Vanity Fair. Klein invited Coates onto his podcast to discuss it; the episode dropped yesterday. At one point, Klein expressed a palpable disorientation as to how the lines of acceptability have shifted in US politics in recent years, noting his belief that the way Trump conducts himself should have put him on the other side of the line long ago, and how that belief clearly has no relationship to todays reality. What I see is any line that existed at all collapsing, Klein said. Im watching, like, Holocaust revisionism on the biggest right-wing podcasts. Im watching Tucker Carlson turn into what I would describe as a white nationalist and become an absolute dominant force on the rightbigger than he ever was in his smarmy libertarian phase. Klein now recognizes, he said, that I dont get to draw the line.

Klein is right that he doesnt get to draw the line. No one person does; certainly no one journalist. Even Trump doesnt, though he has pushed at it with tectonic political force. But I wholeheartedly believe that the news mediaeven in this age of right-wing podcasts, and left-wing podcasts for that matterhas a big say in where the lines lie; we are, or should be, a collective mechanism of democratic self-expression, in what is, or should be, still a democracy. If the media landscape has changed in my seven years writing this newsletter, a large part of that has been downstream of what appears to me to be a loss of self-confidence in our power to reach people, our ability to keep gates, our ability, yes, to draw lines. But those were always powers the media should have wielded diffusely, in partnership and community with people, not over their heads. And the very real pressures on those powersfrom Big Finance, and Big Tech, and AI, and so on and so onhavent eroded their potential altogether. What we reportwhat we saymatters, still.

In my essay with Vernon in 2020, we referenced the old saw that history is written by the winners, and noted that it was hard to conclude that the press were the winners of Trumps first term. This seems even more obvious in his second. But if winning isnt forever, neither is losing. I was struck by something that Coates told Klein yesterday, when Klein asked Why are we losing?, and Coates replied, Were losing because there are always moments when we lose. He was referring to the political left, not the press. But the basic logic is worth heeding. History rhymes, but it is not linear. Lines move. And our first draft has a lot to say about how it all happens.

Other Notable Stories

By Jem Bartholomew

President Trump signed an executive order on Thursday that helped clear the path for a coalition of investors to run a US version of TikTok, separate from Chinese owner ByteDance, which could be valued at around fourteen billion dollars. Potential investors include tech billionaire Larry Ellison, whose son David is the founder and chief executive of Paramount Skydance (which owns CBS), and media mogul Rupert Murdoch and his son Lachlan. The question of who runs TikTok is an increasingly important one for journalism; according to the Pew Research Center, almost half of people under thirty in the US get their news from the platform. Margaret Sullivan, executive director of the Craig Newmark Center for Journalism Ethics and Security at Columbia Journalism School, wrote for The Guardian that the deal would hand even more control over the media to the super-rich. (You can read Sullivans recent work for CJR, on journalism ethics, here.)

Kimmel drew record ratings when he returned to air on Tuesday last week, clocking 6.26 million live viewers as well as a further 21 million views on his shows YouTube channel. After Kimmel was pulled off air indefinitely by ABCs owner, Disney, on September 17 following pressure from FCC chairman Brendan Carr, the episode became a flashpoint in a national debate around free speech. A flurry of pieces made comparisons between the Trump administration and authoritarian regimes around the world, such as Vladimir Putins Russia, regarding the crackdown on acceptable speech. (We have to speak out against this bully, Kimmel said on his return. Hes gunning for our journalists too. Hes suing them, hes bullying them.) After Disney reversed its decision, last Monday, the episode was interpreted by some observers in the media as highlighting the power of public pressurefrom ordinary ABC audiences to major celebrities to trade unions across the US standing behind Kimmel.

On Thursday, one month on from the Israeli killing of five journalists in the bombing of Nasser Hospital in Gaza, AP and Reuters issued a joint statement. It again demanded explanation and accountability over the strike, saying: We remain devastated and outraged by their deaths. We again call on the government of Israel to explain the deaths of these journalists and to take every step to protect those who continue to cover this conflict. Following the statement, Reuters published an investigation documenting how the Israeli militarys narrative of the killings did not match up with the visual evidence on the ground. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) says that 235 journalists and media workers have now been killed by Israel since October 7, 2023. But CPJs regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, Sara Qudah, said that Israel has never published the results of a formal investigation or held anyone accountable for IDF killings of journalists. (ICYMI, Jon Allsop wrote for CJR on the Israeli claim that it does not target journalists as such.)

When the deputy editor of The Spectator, a British conservative magazine edited by former Conservative Party cabinet minister Michael Gove, interviewed influencer Andrew Tate and his brother in Bucharest, Romania, the subsequent piece sparked fury and disgust from four alleged survivors of sexual abuse by Tate. The four women accused the magazine of glamorizing the brothers, who are staples of the so-called manosphere, and misrepresenting the criminal charges against them. The journalist, Freddy Gray, who is a former literary editor of the American Conservative, suggested that he believed the charges were likely to melt away. The two men are charged with human trafficking and money laundering in Romania and face extradition to the UK (expected after the Romanian case concludes), where Andrew Tate faces ten charges connected to three alleged victims, including rape, actual bodily harm, human trafficking, and controlling prostitution for gain, and Tristan Tate faces eleven charges connected to one alleged victim, including rape, actual bodily harm, and human trafficking. The four women lodged a complaint to Britains independent press regulator, IPSO. How can The Spectator think its appropriate to interview these men but fail to ask them one question about the allegations against them? they said.

Back in August, after prison officials with the Kansas Department of Corrections canceled subscriptions for incarcerated people from outside parties, they raised a few eyebrows by citing dangerous contraband as the reason for the decision. Reporting from the Kansas Reflector got further details about the ban. The impetus for this policy is an increase in drug-soaked material, such as books and newspapers, being transmitted to residents through the USPS, a spokesperson told the paper. It follows the struggle by prison officials in New Jersey to combat mail sprayed with spice, a synthetic cannabinoid. Emily Bradbury, the executive director of the Kansas Press Association, said the case raises serious concerns for journalism in the state. Its in our best interest as an industry to have an engaged and informed citizenry, she said, and that includes those living in correctional facilities.

In other news, the nonprofit Salt Lake Tribune said its launching the Southern Utah Tribune, a free newspaper that will be mailed to forty thousand homes and businesses. Elsewhere, PBS North Carolina said it had laid off thirty-two employees this month, due to a budget shortfall driven by the loss of federal funds (which CJR has covered here). Meta unveiled a new AI video feature, Vibes, in which users can make videos from scratch and share them on newsfeeds. (Mashable pointed out that a name for Vibes was catching on: the infinite slop machine.) Former vice president Kamala Harris released her memoir, 107 Days, which features her account of the defeat to Trump last yearone critic says she displays an aversion to reflection.

And Mel Taub, the longtime creator of the Times Puns and Anagrams puzzle, died this month at his home in Texas, aged ninety-seven. Taub majored in English at Brooklyn College, hoping to be a comedy writer, according to his Times obituary, but when that didnt work out he went into insurance, where he worked until his retirement. He devised his puzzles over nights and weekends at the dining-room table in his familys Brooklyn apartment. Over the years he became known for his anagrams and wordplay. Some examples of his clues: Salad ingredient on the Titanic (iceberg), Companion of iff or andd (butt). Deb Amlen, lead columnist of the Times Wordplay, said that his puzzles were designed to put a smile on your face.
Hackers compromised firewall devices within the U.S. government, according to a senior federal official, amid broader warnings of cyberattacks on widely-used devices manufactured by Cisco Systems, Inc.

The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA, issued an emergency directive Thursday requiring federal agencies to address vulnerabilities and identify and mitigate potential breaches in hundreds of Cisco firewall devices active in the U.S. government. Cisco said in a security alert that the company was engaged in May 2025 with multiple government agencies to investigate attacks on the firewall devices.

Such access enables intruders to take full control of a firewall, then disable security protections and access internal systems, deploy malware and collect sensitive data, according to the cyber firm BitSight Technologies Inc.

The threat is widespread, said Chris Butera, acting deputy executive assistant director for CISAs cybersecurity division. Emergency directives apply only to federal civilian networks, but Butera urged other government agencies and private companies to follow the guidance. Neither CISA nor Cisco identified victims, and the scope and severity of the breaches werent immediately clear.

The hackers pose an especially significant risk because theyre exploiting vulnerabilities that persist through reboots and system upgrades, Butera said. The CISA directive gave federal agencies until the end of Friday to hunt for evidence of compromised devices and submit the data to the agency.

The U.K.s National Cyber Security Centre also issued an alert, saying the attackers had exploited the flaws to implant malicious code, execute computer commands and potentially steal data.

The hackers, dubbed ArcaneDoor by Cisco, have been conducting running cyber-espionage campaigns since 2024. A CISA investigation confirmed that devices in the government were breached, Butera said.

The agency believes the attacks affect critical infrastructure in the U.S., he said, but declined to name specific victims.

The cybersecurity firm Palo Alto Networks Inc. has been tracking the hackers internationally since last year and has seen the group change their methods and in recent months shift their focus toward entities in the U.S., said Sam Rubin, senior vice president of the companys Unit 42 threat intelligence and incident response team.

Rubin warned that in addition to the recently exposed espionage campaign, they expect attacks to escalate as cybercriminal groups quickly figure out how to take advantage of these vulnerabilities.

Top photo: The Cisco Systems Inc. pavilion ahead of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 20, 2025. Photographer: Stefan Wermuth/Bloomberg.

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.
Martin Shkreli must face a lawsuit by a digital art collective that owns a one-of-a-kind album by the hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, and accused the convicted former pharmaceutical executive of copying the album and playing it online without permission.

In a 32-page decision on Thursday, U.S. District Judge Pamela Chen said Shkreli must face claims he misappropriated Once Upon a Time in Shaolin from the PleasrDAO collective, which paid about $4 million for the album in 2021.

PleasrDAO is a decentralized group that buys what its members view as culturally significant materials.

The Brooklyn judge dismissed some other claims, including two she said were preempted by federal copyright law.

Shkreli paid $2 million for Shaolin in 2015, but gave it up to partially satisfy a $7.4 million forfeiture order stemming from his 2017 conviction for defrauding hedge fund investors and scheming to defraud investors in a drugmaker.

In a statement on Friday, Shkrelis lawyer Edward Paltzik called the dismissal of some claims a significant step forward in our effort to vindicate Mr. Shkreli, who we unequivocally believe engaged in absolutely zero wrongdoing.

PleasrDAO is seeking unspecified damages and profits, and for Shkreli to return Shaolin copies he may still have.

It sued Shkreli in June 2024, after he allegedly admitted in livestreams to copying Shaolin and playing it for his followers, and responded LOL i have the mp3s you moron when a PleasrDAO member posted a photo of the album on X.

Steven Cooper, a lawyer for PleasrDAO, said Chens decision lets the collective fully and aggressively pursue its case.

Different From Prince, Janet Jackson Songs

Chen said PleasrDAO plausibly alleged it employed reasonable steps to preserve the albums secrecy, including armed security guards and constant video surveillance.

She also found no serious debate that the albums value was based mainly on its secret and exclusive nature.

Chen distinguished the album from unreleased songs by Prince and Janet Jackson that other judges found were not protectible trade secrets.

The independent economic value of the album comes from plaintiffs ability to exploit its exclusivity to create an experience that its competitors cannot, rather than from a public commercial release or from traditional forms of music distribution for Princes and Jacksons songs, Chen wrote.

She said PleasrDAO has sufficiently alleged that the album is cloaked with a substantial element of secrecy' to survive Shkrelis dismissal motion.

Shkreli, 42, gained the nickname Pharma Bro when, as chief executive of Turing Pharmaceuticals in 2015, he raised the price of the life-saving antiparasitic drug Daraprim overnight to $750 per tablet from $17.50.

He was released early from his seven-year prison sentence, and banned from the pharmaceutical industry in 2022.

The case is PleasrDAO v. Shkreli, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, No. 24-04126.

(Reporting by Stempel in New York; Editing by Richard Chang)
Jaguar Land Rover Automotive Plc is set to start making cars again after securing 3.5 billion ($4.7 billion) in loan commitments as it continues to grapple with the fallout from a crippling cyberattack.

Britains largest carmaker said some sections of its production operations will resume in the coming days, as it works to get all its systems back up and running. The Range Rover maker  whose plants in the U.K., Slovakia, India and Brazil have been out of action since the start of the month  had been targeting a Wednesday restart.

Related: Jaguar Land Rover Shutdown Driving Suppliers to Cut Jobs And Reduce Hours

The move comes as JLR got a 1.5 billion loan guarantee from the UK government and sought to raise a further 2 billion from banks to shore up its finances during the shutdown. The carmaker, owned by Indias Tata Motors Ltd., is a key part of the UKs auto industry, with some small suppliers reliant on it for business. The government stepped in over the weekend to avoid a wave of collapses in the supply chain.

The resumption of some production will provide relief to these firms. Auto suppliers typically operate on thin margins and need high working capital, leaving them vulnerable in the event of prolonged disruption. The industry operates on a just-in-time basis, meaning parts are delivered for when theyre needed, rather than being ordered well in advance and stored.

As well as stopping ordering new parts, JLR also struggled to pay suppliers due to IT outages. In recent days, its been trying to clear a backlog of payments owed to these firms. The company said last week that some of its systems were back online, enabling it to work through supplier invoices, accelerate parts distribution to dealers and speed up vehicle sales and registrations.

The government said Saturday that its loan will be provided by a commercial bank and guaranteed by U.K. Export Finance. It emerged on Monday that JLR is also raising a 2 billion loan from global banks, with Citigroup Inc., Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group and Standard Chartered Bank Plc agreeing to offer the 18-month credit facility, people familiar with the matter said. The foreign currency facility will be priced at about 110 basis points over the secured overnight funding rate, or SOFR, the people said asking not to be identified because the discussions are private.

The fund raise, that was reported by the Economic Times earlier on Monday, is expected to show JLR has liquidity to tide over revenue losses from a hack that crippled its operations and sparked chaos across the countrys auto supply chain.

Under Pressure

JLR was already under pressure before the cyberattack hit. US President Donald Trumps wave of higher tariffs this year forced the company to temporarily pause shipments to its largest market. The UKs trade deal with the US alleviated some of the pain, but the 10% duty is still far higher than the 2.5% levy from before Trump took office.

The company also faced criticism for a re-branding of Jaguar, which isnt producing any new vehicles until an all-electric lineup that will target younger, luxury consumers is ready. A teaser video last year was slammed for featuring expressionless models but no cars, while the new logo was presented without its famous wildcat. JLR is also gearing up to start selling its first electric Range Rover next year.

Those challenges have taken a toll on the companys finances, though it recently achieved its goal of becoming debt free on a net basis. While it has still been a highly profitable company, JLRs profit roughly halved to 248 million in its latest quarter. Quarterly revenue dipped 9% to 6.6 billion. It ended June with 3.32 billion in cash, down from 4.61 billion a few months earlier after the US tariff hit and temporary shipment pause.

The cyberattack came as JLR prepared for new leadership. Chief Executive Officer Adrian Mardell is handing over the reins next month to Tata Motors Chief Financial Officer PB Balaji.

The fallout from the cyberattack is having a knock-on effect on Tata Group. The Indian conglomerate has lost more than $75 billion of market value this year, with a steep slump in recent weeks on the back of the JLR shutdown.

Also on Monday, Moodys Ratings cut its outlook on JLR to negative from positive, saying it reflects our expectation that the incident will have a sustained adverse impact on JLRs credit metrics, and that a full recovery may take several months.

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.
India will hold a formal Trade Monitoring Mechanism meeting with Brazil on Oct 7 as part of efforts to boost trade with Latin America, government sources said on Monday.

Indias Commerce Secretary is expected to meet Brazils Trade Secretary to discuss ways to increase bilateral trade, the sources said.

Last month, India held a virtual meeting with the MERCOSUR trading bloc to finalise a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and a feasibility study for a possible free trade agreement (FTA). India already has a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) with MERCOSUR  which comprises Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay  since 2004.

New Delhi is looking to expand its export destinations to offset the impact of slowing demand in developed economies and recently announced U.S. tariffs. Earlier this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the presidents of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay to discuss strengthening economic ties.

Latin American countries, which are keen to diversify their trade partners, see India as a key market, the sources said. They added that India is open to expanding trade with MERCOSUR, either by increasing tariff lines covered under the PTA from the current 450 to about 4,000, or negotiating a full-fledged FTA. Such an agreement could include provisions for mobility of skilled professionals and rules of origin to prevent third-country dumping and transshipment.

MERCOSUR accounts for more than 67% of South Americas total economic output. The blocs combined economy is valued at $2.94 trillion out of the continents total $4.38 trillion.

Internal discussions within MERCOSUR on expanding the PTA into an FTA are underway, the sources said, adding that a broader agreement would give Indian exporters greater access to MERCOSUR markets and open newer opportunities in Caribbean and Pacific regions that use MERCOSUR as a transshipment hub.
Those Brits just have a patience for police procedurals that weve lost stateside. There are no slick car chases or junk science montages on their crime dramas, just hardworking detectives in dogged pursuit of truth, justice and a nice cup of tea. As a result, falling down a rabbit hole of British crime drama can feel a lot like a British crime drama itself.

Redditor muertossparrow, an American, found that out the hard way. I recently watched The Killing (American version), which led me to The Fall, Broadchurch and Deadwater Fell, they told r/BritishTV. I usually watch shows while Im on the treadmill, and I have been staying on longer to keep watching, they joked. My workouts have been flying by, and I need more show recs for this week after Deadwater ending where it did tonight on episode four! I thought I had a few more days before I had to find something.

They then asked, Whats your favorite (British crime drama) show? and all kinds of brilliant and smashing suggestions followed.

Advertisement

20 Happy Valley Advertisement

19 Killing Eve

18 Shetland

17 Messiah Advertisement Advertisement

16 Death in Paradise

15 The Missing Advertisement

14 Whitechapel Advertisement

13 Waking the Dead Advertisement

12 Sherwood

11 The Fall Advertisement

10 Line of Duty Advertisement

9 C.B. Strike Advertisement

8 Dept. Q

7 Foyles War Advertisement Advertisement

6 Cracker

5 Scott & Bailey Advertisement

4 Unforgotten Advertisement

3 River Advertisement

2 Prime Suspect
The oft-told origin story for Pinky and the Brain goes as follows: While working on the beloved series Tiny Toon Adventures (a precursor to Animaniacs), animator Bruce Timm saw fellow animators Tom Minton and Eddie Fitzgerald in their shared office and drew caricatures of them. Then, Tiny Toons and later Animaniacs showrunner Tom Ruegger drew mouse ears on them.

Thus, Pinky and the Brain were born.

But thats not exactly true. I recently spoke with Minton and Fitzgerald over Zoom to get the real story, but I certainly didnt need any convincing of their influence on the lab mice characters.

Don't Miss

Minton, who inspired Brain, talks in a low monotone and his dry wit is accompanied by an ever-stonefaced expression. Meanwhile, Fitzgerald is a joyous ball of energy, often laughing through his gapped teeth. Now both retired and decades older than they were when they inspired the iconic animated mice, the resemblance is still uncanny, even if, as they wish to clarify, some legends have fallen a little far from the truth.

I know youve worked together on a number of different cartoons. When was the first time you worked together?

Tom Minton: Filmation, 1978. Though I may have met Eddie at the Hanna-Barbera training program the year before.

Eddie Fitzgerald: Oh no kidding! Yeah, thats possible.

Minton: Shortly after that training program, we all got laid off by Hanna-Barbera when they sent all their animation-assistant work to Taiwan. I got hired at Filmation, then Filmation Producer Don Christiansen decided to start the first young storyboard department  young meaning under the age of 70. Eddie and I were in that young storyboard department. Everyone there was young except for Paul Fennell.

Fitzgerald: The guy who punched me in the nose!

Minton: Yeah, he was quite a character.

Fitzgerald: I got hazed! They put me in a room with this older guy who was a distinguished animator in his day, but he was really temperamental and I got on his wrong side one day and he punched me in the nose really hard.

Minton: Eddie loved the Looney Tunes director Bob Clampett, and he mentioned Bob Clampett one too many times.

Advertisement

Fitzgerald: Paul hated Bob Clampett.

Tell me about working on Tiny Toon Adventures.

Minton: At that point, I was a writer. I came over there in February 1989, and Warner Bros. was just starting to assemble what was going to be Warner Bros. Animation. A little while later, Eddie was brought on as a director. Its funny, back then, the word on the street was that we were going to bring back Warner Bros. Animation, and some of the old guys said, No, thats not possible, but we did it.

Thanks to Steven Spielberg getting involved, the money came back to animation. For example, Warners wanted to do the music cheaply. They wanted to have a music library like Hanna-Barbera does, where you score like 20 minutes of music, and you have film editors put the same music in every episode like Scooby-Doo. But Steven said, Oh no. You put my name on something, you hire a full orchestra and you score every bit of it. He made them do that. That was wonderful. This was the beginning of a revival in animation that was driven by the success of Roger Rabbit.

So, the legend goes that Bruce Timm saw you guys together, drew caricatures of you, then Tom Ruegger drew mice ears on you and that became Pinky and the Brain. Is that right?

Advertisement

Minton: I dont think thats really correct. There was a drawing that Bruce did back in 1990 of the entire crew of Tiny Toons. Thats one of the inspirations they used. I know they also used other artists in the studio. The guy who did the final models on Animaniacs was Ken Boyer. Lynne Naylor told me that Tom Ruegger gave her a picture of me, a photograph, and said, I want you to do a caricature of this guy as a mouse.

Fitzgerald: I was one of the progenitors of the drawing of you! Just as a joke, I drew you with sort of a Betty Boop-shaped head, which you dont have, but I was just fooling around and I put a straight line for your eyebrow ridge and a serious look on your face. It was just meant to be a joke. I didnt know anything would come of it.

I remember drawing it because Tom was the funniest guy I ever met, yet he had this deadpan expression, which made the funny stuff even funnier. I was just emphasizing that, and I guess Bruce or somebody else picked up on that and made it their own.

Advertisement

Minton: Various outlets have said erroneously that Eddie and I were sharing an office and that we were both producers at Warner Bros., and thats how they got the idea to put us in there. The only time Eddie and I ever shared an office in our lives was in 1978 at Filmation when we were both storyboard artists. Thats when Tom Ruegger first saw us. He was getting his start as a writer there.

I was at Warner Bros. for Tiny Toons, but I left in 1990. I had to go to Disney. While I was gone, unbeknownst to me, they were developing Animaniacs and basing two characters on Eddie and I. No one ever told me that until I was in a recording session at Disneys with Maurice LaMarche. He said, Hey, you know theyre doing you at Warner Bros.? Theyre basing a character on you over there, and Im doing the voice. I said, Really? I didnt know that. Nobody ever told me.

I said nothing, and let it happen. There was a long tradition in animation of basing characters on people who worked there. Mr. Magoo was based, unofficially, on Leo Salkin, a storyboard artist. He looked just like Magoo, but he always said it was a coincidence. Friz Freleng was the basis for Yosemite Sam, unofficially.

Advertisement

Advertisement

I went back to Warner Bros. in 1992 as a story editor and a writer, but at that point, they had 30 episodes of Animaniacs in the can, though I did end up writing seven episodes with Pinky and the Brain, three of which were in the spin-off series. When I got back to Warners, Ruegger said to me, Were doing this thing based on you. I said, Yeah, I know. Its okay.

The funny thing was, in 2006, they released volume two of the Animaniacs DVD, and they interviewed all the writers, including Tom Ruegger. Tom gave them a two-hour interview, and he said, Yeah, we based Pinky on Eddie Fitzgerald and Brain on Tom Minton. He goes home that night. He gets a call from the head attorney at Warner Bros., and they say, Come in tomorrow and redo that interview. This time, dont say that.

So, what does that tell you? Nobody ever asked. I mean, I dont care, but I think its amusing that high-powered attorneys lose sleep over this.

Advertisement

Bruce Timms caricatures of the Tiny Toons crew. Bottom left is Minton. Fitzgerald is in the upper right with dark hair, thick glasses and laughing with gapped teeth.

So, Bruce Timms drawing youre referencing has almost 100 faces on it, and you two arent together or anything. How did they pick you two to base these characters on?

Minton: I wasnt there at the time, but the story I heard was: They had to have a story bible sent to Steven Spielberg on a Friday afternoon, and they hadnt figured out who the personalities were for these two lab mice. And its an old trick with writers, if you dont know what to do for a personality, base it on somebody you know. And they wanted to go for contrast. Who are the two most contrasting characters we know? Well, Tom and Eddie. Theres even a rough draft of that bible that mentions our names. So, they didnt come to those drawings first, they came to the personalities first and then just went with it.

They changed certain things, of course. Eddie and I are about the same height, and I dont sound like Orson Welles and Eddie doesnt sound like Ringo Starr or whatever.

Advertisement

Fitzgerald: They tested me for that. They put me in a booth and said, Heres a couple of lines and do your laugh. I didnt know what it was for, and Ive never forced a laugh, so I didnt know what they were talking about. I did my best, but it was terrible.

Advertisement

Minton: Neither of us are voice actors.

Tom, when you wrote for Brain, was there any self-consciousness or discomfort writing for a character based on yourself?

Minton: No, you get away from that. There had been a few good ones done before I got there, and when I wrote for Brain, I wrote for a mix of Orson Welles and Vincent Price. My first one was Opportunity Knocks, which is still one of my favorites. Brainstem is another one that Im proud of. It was set to Camptown Races, and Brain sings all the parts of the brain. Funny enough, that short became a teaching device in medical schools. A resident who went to Columbia University told me that.

Eddie, what was it like storyboarding or directing something with Pinky?

Advertisement

Fitzgerald: I only worked a little bit on the Pinky and the Brain spin-off, and I wrote a couple of shorts for the characters on Animaniacs, but I dont actually know if they made it into production. I thought it was a pretty interesting concept for a show, so I just went along with what was there.

I didnt think of Pinky as if it was me, exactly. I was just anxious to get to know the character and to look for animation opportunities. I always think animation is about moving a funny character in a funny way. I saw my goal in the industry as a whole to do stuff that kids could talk about at the playground the next day. I just died for that.

What are your thoughts on the voice actors who played the characters: Maurice LaMarche for the Brain and Rob Paulsen for Pinky?

Fitzgerald: Rob was great.

Advertisement

Minton: Maurice is a great guy. Hes an amazingly talented voice artist. What he did was great. Its hard to do a character thats based on another character, like Orson Welles or something, and still have it be interesting and get beyond the impression. He does that.

Were there any other traits of yours that were used for the characters?

Minton: The only thing they stole from me in terms of dialogue is Yes! Id say yes like that. With Eddie, they also brought in narf and egad.

Eddie, please explain where Narf! came from.

Fitzgerald: Well, egad and gadzooks are 17th-century Shakespearean kinds of things. I just like that kind of over-the-top baroque dialogue. As for narf, I used to say narf all the time at home because I wanted to be sure I never cursed in front of the kids. Like, I stubbed my knee on a coffee table  you want to put out every word in the book, but instead Id say Narf! because there was a kid in the room. I used to say that all the time, but I never thought to use it for animation, and it never occurred to me that anyone else would use it for anything.
The freedom of speech thing is so murky and muddy, mused David Spade on a recent Fly on the Wall podcast.

Comedians usually come out in full defense of the First Amendment, like Spades partner, Dana Carvey. Were all for freedom of speech, he insisted, although he doesnt always agree with what others have to say. The Ku Klux Klan could walk down streets and say whatever they wanted  when I was a little kid, it was like, Oh, you have to allow speech you really dont like for freedom of speech.

The Klan cant do that anymore, Spade pointed out, thanks to that murky, muddy concept called hate speech. And then who decides whats hate speech? Is it someone that you disagree with? Thats hate to me. Its not hate to you.

Don't Miss

To be clear, Spade wasnt advocating for hate speech from the Klan or anyone else. He was simply explaining that there are complicated layers to free speech. Charles Rocket got fired from Saturday Night Live for saying fuck on live television, for example. The government didnt fire Rocket, but NBC knew the FCC was about to come a-calling.

When I go on talk shows, I dont say whatever I want, Spade said. Its just so woven into your everyday. What is free speech?

Jimmy Kimmel is the latest example of the complexities, a comedian who faced pressure from the FCC, network affiliates and advertisers. Youre answering to so many people, Spade said. And if they dont agree with you  everyone has a boss, and sometimes they say, I dont like what youre saying.

Firing (or suspending) someone because of what employers deem to be inappropriate speech isnt a violation of the First Amendment, of course. But Spades point is speaking freely has consequences  for everyone, not just comedians.

Both Spade and Carvey were baffled by FCC Chair Brendan Carrs public threats about dealing with Kimmel the easy way or the hard way.

This guys on podcasts, said Spade. Im like, what? Why am I seeing this guy talk? Am I crazy? He steps in shit when he talks.

Advertisement

I wish the FCC chairman hadnt said that, Carvey said. He noted that even conservatives like Ted Cruz warned Carr to tap the brakes before turning the subject to The Dana Carvey Show. I like to bring things back to me, he admitted.

At least this example was relevant to the discussion. After Carveys 1996 sketch show came out of the gates with Bill Clinton breastfeeding puppies from his multiple teats, many pushed back on the aggressive comedy. We immediately started losing advertisers. We immediately started losing affiliates, Carvey said. And so we lasted eight episodes.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Its always a good idea to fact-check Dana Carvey, even on the subject of Dana Carvey. His show lasted even fewer episodes than he remembered  seven, not eight  and theres no record of affiliates dropping the show. But the edgy sketches did lose him advertisers. Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, not companies known for their discriminating taste, bailed out because they did not feel comfortable with the shows humor. Cancellation soon followed.

Despite Spades complicated feelings about free speech and comedy, I would go out on a limb and say, its still a great country overall, he said. Id rather be here than in other countries.

Careful, warned Carvey, that opinion is going to light up Twitter. Fuck you, man!
A Chinese state-sponsored hacker group called RedNovember has conducted a global espionage campaign targeting critical infrastructure between June 2024 and July 2025, compromising defense contractors, government agencies, and major corporations while exploiting vulnerabilities faster than organizations could deploy security patches.

The attacks included breaches of at least two US defense contractors and more than 30 Panamanian government agencies as part of a systematic targeting across the US, Europe, Asia, and South America, according to cybersecurity firm Recorded Future.

The threat group deployed the Go-based Pantegana backdoor, Cobalt Strike, and SparkRAT to maintain persistent network access after exploiting flaws in enterprise appliances, researchers said in the report.
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.
State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada

Zip Code


Keir Starmer has gone for Reform UKs jugular. Yesterday he described its plan to deport thousands of people who arrived legally in this country as racist and immoral in a BBC interview at Labours conference in Liverpool.

This broadside followed his description of Nigel Farages party as an enemy hiding in plain sight. He also called Reform divisive, and suggested that their politics and their policies will tear this country apart. In another interview, Farage was dismissed as grubby.

By the standards of democratic debate this is extreme language of the sort used by parties of the hard-Left and hard-Right throughout Europe. Even Farage was unnerved, complaining that Starmers remarks bordered on the inciteful, while adding that they smacked of total desperation.

Will the Prime Ministers new confrontational approach work? Might millions of prospective Reform voters say to themselves: My God, hes spot on. Farage really is pulling us apart. Starmer is the voice of moderation and decency. We must support Labour.

No, I dont think they will.

The reason can be found in a figure released by the Office for National Statistics on Friday. The UK population rose by 755,300 between mid-2023 and mid-2024, equivalent to the population of Leeds. According to the ONS, 98 per cent of this increase was attributable to immigration.

Now it is perfectly true that  for once!  Labour cant be blamed. The figure of 755,300 covers the 12-month period before Starmer became Prime Minister. It is a legacy of Tory irresponsibility. The Conservative Party recklessly opened the floodgates far wider than ever before in our history.

Levels of legal immigration  though not of the illegal variety  may well have declined since Labour took over, largely thanks to measures belatedly introduced by the Tories in their dying days.

But in a sense it doesnt really matter to voters whose fault it is. Most people have had enough of uncontrolled immigration of whatever variety. A YouGov poll in early August revealed that half of respondents want a moratorium on immigration, and would support mass deportations of recently arrived migrants.

Interestingly, some 47 per cent of people in that poll thought that most immigrants come to the UK illegally, though in fact the number who arrive legally is about ten times greater. As far as illegal immigration is concerned, those crossing the Channel in small boats account for less than half the overall number.

Many people dont understand, or care about, these distinctions. What they see is that immigration of all sorts is hopelessly out of control. And they wont welcome Starmers imputation that they are racist for wanting something done about it.

In a Survation poll published in Saturdays Mail, immigration was rated behind only the cost of living in peoples top priorities for the Government in the next 12 months.

Keir Starmer at the Labour party conference on Sunday. The PM has gone for Reform's jugular. Yesterday he described its plan to deport thousands of people who arrived legally in this country as racist, writes Stephen Glover

As far as illegal immigration is concerned, those crossing the Channel in small boats account for less than half the overall number, writes Stephen Glover

Labour may have inherited the problem, but people can see that its not making things any better, and in the case of boats coming across the Channel  which have become a kind of lightning rod for all immigration concerns  demonstrably worse.

That is why I believe that, outside the liberal metropolitan elites, Starmers depiction of Reform as racist, immoral and divisive will fall on deaf ears. Many will welcome Farages admittedly drastic solutions as the only ones that carry credibility.

Moreover, it will be obvious to prospective Reform voters (and many others) how insincere Sir Keir is. The man who calls Farages policies racist has himself used language that is arguably just as emotive.

In May, he suggested that, as a result of mass immigration, Britain was in danger of becoming an island of strangers. To many, this had distasteful echoes of a line in Enoch Powells notorious Rivers of Blood speech in which he described a future in which Britons found themselves made strangers in their own country.

Its true that six weeks later he said he regretted using these words, but at the time No 10 robustly defended them.

Only a few days ago, he told the Telegraph: Left-wing parties, including my own, did shy away from peoples concerns around illegal immigration. It has been too easy for people to enter the country, work in the shadow economy and remain illegally.

Quite true  and exactly what Nigel Farage might himself have said. And yet no sooner were these words out of Sir Keirs mouth than he was laying into Reform as a bunch of racists.

The Prime Minister is a political shapeshifter. In Liverpool, surrounded by the comrades, he sounds very different to how he does in London when reading out a script written for him by his demotic chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney.

Another example of Starmers insincerity is his wrapping himself in the Union flag and pronouncing himself a great British patriot. Does he really believe the British public are so easily deceived?

Its hardly a surprise that the Survation poll in todays Mail suggests that Labour is regarded as the fifth most patriotic party  behind Reform, the Tories, the Lib Dems, and even the Greens.

Even Nigel Farage was unnerved, complaining that Starmers remarks bordered on the inciteful, while adding that they smacked of total desperation, writes Stephen Glover

People intending to vote Reform or Tory, including former Labour supporters, wont be taken in by Sir Keir Starmers implausible contortions. They know where hes coming from, and dont believe that he genuinely deplores the effects of uncontrolled immigration.

Labour will be judged by what happens. Theres no reason to suppose that it will significantly reduce legal immigration, or do anything about the hundreds of thousands of recent arrivals who will soon gain the right to stay here indefinitely.

The numbers coming across the Channel seem likely to go on increasing as the Government applies a series of costly, ineffectual measures, and fails to come up with a single deterrent that might actually persuade people not to climb into small boats and undertake a hazardous journey.

The effects of high immigration that have so exasperated the public will probably only get worse: longer waits in getting GP appointments; more pressure on school places; slower NHS treatment (in England an estimated 7.4 million procedures were waiting to be carried out in July, up 34,000 on June); and, of course, a sense of weakening cultural identity.

As for housing, pressures are likely to intensify since theres mounting evidence that Labour wont meet its optimistic building targets. According to research by Savills estate agency, the Government will deliver just over half the 1.5 million new homes it has promised to build by 2029.

Shamefully, Labour never links astronomical levels of immigration to the shortage of affordable housing. If Sir Keir Starmer truly wanted to be candid, he would be open about the undeniable connection.

Were the Government to stop the boats coming across the Channel, people might be persuaded that Labour is serious about reducing numbers, and the prospects of Reform UK would be dented. But how likely is that?

Sir Keir Starmer can call Nigel Farage whatever names he wants, although by so doing he sounds like the extremists he intends to demonise, and succeeds only in coarsening political debate.

Bad mouthing Reform, and wrapping himself in the national flag, wont make a blind bit of difference unless Labour addresses the problem that is worrying more than half the nation  and theres absolutely no sign of it doing that.
Crime is soaring in London  up 31.5 per cent over the last decade. And only this month the creaking Tube network was shut for a week by strike action.

But never fear, Londons Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan has agreed to spend 66 million on woke cultural projects over the next three years.

The projects include Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month and an event called Black On The Square in Trafalgar Square. Black History Month will also form part of this expensive extravaganza, along with a series of LGBT events.

Yet this year, Khans City Hall, in conjunction with the Home Office, has found a mere 32 million in extra funding for the Metropolitan Police to pay for more officers on the beat to tackle high-harm offenders, who commit serious wrongdoing such as violent crimes and sex offences. Many police station front counters are also closing.

What strange priorities from Khan, who doubles as Londons police and crime commissioner. Only last week, he awarded himself a 5,281 pay rise to 170,282, making him officially the highest paid politician in the land.

Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan at the launch of the Holiday Hope programme in July

Union bigwig blasts Labour tinkering

Fresh embarrassment for the two women vying for the deputy Labour leadership: Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and Lucy Powell, sacked as Commons leader in the reshuffle.

Sharon Graham, general secretary of Unite, the union that has given millions to Labour, cant be bothered to endorse either. Britain needs change, not more of the same, she tweets. Workers are leaving Labour in droves and tinkering will not stem the tide.

SNP leader John Swinney was swift to condemn Keir Starmers plans for mandatory digital ID. This is the man who spent 7million on the draconian Scottish Covid vaccine passport app. The Information Commissioners Office warned of serious privacy problems with the app which were not fixed before its launch.

As for Lucy Powell, she has been given a stern rebuke from an unlikely quarter for saying in a newspaper interview that she is more alpha male than most men. The criticism came from her mother, a retired headteacher, who told her to never use the line again. Youre much nicer than that, she said.

Meanwhile, Reform MP Lee Anderson is suspicious of Starmers new zeal for digital ID. Why would the PM oppose photo ID to vote in elections in opposition and then, once in power, force digital ID on everyone? This is very sinister indeed. Never trust a politician who sounds like a Dalek.

Housing Secretary Steve Reed addresses the Labour Party conference on Sunday

Steve Reed's TV housing crisis

In a car-crash interview on GB News, Housing Secretary Steve Reed was stumped when asked how many homes have been built since Labour came to power.

I know its really low, he admitted. I know its up 29 per cent but I dont know the actual figure. I am not Wikipedia. I dont have every single statistic. Shocking.

The figure is 115,000, a worse record than the Tories, who built more than a million homes in their last five-year term. At this rate, itll take Labour 13 years to build the 1.5million homes they pledged.
When Boris Johnson swept into Downing Street in 2019, he vowed to deliver the core promise of the Vote Leave campaign and take back control of Britains borders.

The Conservative manifesto pledged an Australian-style points-based system to control immigration. In black and white, voters were told: There will be fewer low-skilled migrants and overall numbers will come down.

Six years on, everyone knows what actually happened. Instead of reducing the numbers of migrants, the last Tory government oversaw the biggest influx in British history.

Between 2022 and 2024, more than three million arrived  a population larger than Birmingham and Manchester combined. Of course, some also left  but this was, nevertheless, an immigration superhighway that betrayed the Tories mandate.

Timebomb

To combat this, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage last week vowed that, if he came to power, he would abolish Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).

This status entitles migrants who stay for just five years  and their dependents  to social housing, free NHS care, benefits and the state pension in perpetuity. Children born here whose parents are on ILR automatically gain British citizenship.

When Boris Johnson swept into Downing Street in 2019, he vowed to deliver the core promise of the Vote Leave campaign and take back control of Britains borders, writes Jack Anderton

The Centre for Policy Studies think-tank estimated that more than 800,000 migrants from recent years would apply for ILR when their five-year visas run out.

Funding their benefits over their remaining lifetime will cost a staggering 234 billion  which they originally calculated to be worth 8,200 to every UK household.

Yet instead of addressing this fiscal timebomb, the Prime Minister yesterday described the Reform plan  to ask those with ILR status to reapply for a visa and potentially deport those rejected  as racist and immoral. This insults millions of ordinary Britons deeply concerned at the scale of mass migration the country has experienced in recent years.

But the bill to taxpayers is only the start. The deeper damage is being done, day by day, to young Britons like me, who are now being forced to compete with millions of international workers for graduate and non-graduate roles alike.

Our universities already play host to some 750,000 foreign students  equivalent to the entire population of Leeds  eagerly welcomed by institutions who relish the higher fees they pay.

The proportion of international students who stay on after graduation has soared from 18 per cent in 2019 to 56 per cent in 2023, following a Tory policy that entitles non-British students to work here for at least two years after completing their courses  three years if they are PhD students.

Until the dying days of Tory rule in January 2024, these international students could even bring family members and dependants with them  and then quietly switch to a work visa before finishing their courses.

Half of non-EU students and their dependants switched to work or other visas in 2024 after three years in the UK, according to the Office for National Statistics. Yet it wasnt to become engineers, software developers or to fill other highly skilled roles.

Analysis by the University of Oxfords Migration Observatory shows around 40 per cent of people who switched directly from study visas to skilled worker visas in 2024 went into care work, using the student route as a back door into the labour market.

As yesterdays The Mail on Sunday reported, Rachel Reeves is convinced the answer to Britains economic woes is to make it even easier for young foreigners to work here

The results of all this have been entirely predictable. According to the High Fliers Research survey, just 27 per cent of final-year students had secured a job by February of this academic year  down from 33 per cent two years ago and the lowest figure since the pandemic year of 2021. On average, final-year students made a record 21 applications each this year, up from 12 in 2023.

Other factors are also at play, of course: artificial intelligence is eating into graduate roles in finance, law and media, while Rachel Reeves rise in employers National Insurance at her growth-destroying Budget last October has also discouraged hiring.

But given these alarming structural trends, and given that young people comprehensively rejected the Tories at the last election, you might have thought that Labour would be doing things differently. Youd be wrong.

As yesterdays The Mail on Sunday reported, Reeves is now convinced that the answer to Britains economic woes is to make it even easier for young foreigners to come and work in here. She believes that Brussels flagship youth mobility scheme would boost growth and reduce the need to raise taxes further. Even if she is right  and experts including the Institute For Fiscal Studies insist she is not  its clear that this controversial initiative would risk damaging the career prospects of British graduates and non-graduates alike.

Marketed here as a way for 18-to-30-year-old Britons to enjoy life in Paris or Berlin, the scheme would open our jobs market to hundreds of thousands of unemployed and cheap Europeans, many from countries where youth joblessness is in double digits.

Joke

In Spain, for example, 27 per cent of young people (who have left school and are aged under 25) are not working, according to official figures.

The maths is simple: if the number of workers rises faster than the number of jobs, wages fall. And British wages have been stagnant or falling since 2008, according to the Centre for Cities think-tank, with workers in most parts of the country no better off than they were 16 years ago.

One in four jobs advertised to graduates on Indeed pays the minimum wage or only slightly higher  and remember, the average British graduate is already 53,000 in debt by the time they begin repaying their loan, according the governments own statistics.

University of Oxfords Migration Observatory found 40 per cent of people who switched directly from study visas to skilled worker visas last year went into care work, using the student route as a back door into the labour market

Separately, Starmer plans to relax the so-called Global Talent visa, supposedly reserved for world-class innovators and elite figures in critical industries.

In practice, this scheme has become a joke. One successful applicant who came to Britain last year was Kubra Uzun, a transgender Turkish drag performer. Uzun was later found openly advertising escort services in east London: hardly the talent the scheme was designed to attract.

Failed

Yet rather than tightening standards, Labour wants to cut the Global Talent application fee  already a mere 766  to make it even easier for firms to import cheap labour. All this will do is jeopardise the future of young British workers.

Across the Atlantic, Donald Trump is going the other way. His administration has just raised the cost of Americas H-1B skilled worker visa to around $100,000 per employee, sharply encouraging U.S. firms to hire local workers rather than import staff from abroad.

Trump is putting American workers first. The Tories and Labour have done the opposite. Both are locked into a failed economic model built on mass migration and low wages. The Conservatives broke their promises and presided over record inflows: they now limp on as a zombie party awaiting electoral burial.

Labour seems intent on flooding the market with yet more workers from abroad, ensuring lower pay and fewer opportunities for young Britons.

A government serious about Britains future would act fast. Abolish ILR. Raise visa costs dramatically to make it more expensive to hire foreign workers than to train British ones. Reduce and restrict immigration.

Young Britons deserve better. They deserve a government that values their education and hard work, secures the borders  and refuses to treat them as disposable chips in a global labour market.

Jack Anderton is a political consultant for Reform UK
Half-way up Bunhill Row in the City of London you will find an airy, if slightly soulless glass-fronted building. Inside are the headquarters of the Electoral Commission.

They're nice offices, apparently. Open plan in the modern style, with 'break-out areas', 'quiet spaces' and 'meeting rooms adapted for hybrid working'.

And somewhere in these well-appointed offices sits one desk in particular. Upon which sits a computer. Inside which resides a file.

According to information obtained by the Conservative Party, it's a large file. And a rather important one. Because contained within it are the details of how the Prime Minister's most senior adviser established a covert political slush fund, tried to hide it from the public, Parliament and regulatory bodies set up to protect democracy, and used it to catapult Sir Keir Starmer into No 10.

Starmer's dwindling band of Cabinet allies and trusted officials insist there is nothing to see in this secret document, and everyone should just move on and forget about it. But others have a very different view.

They claim that, if it were published, it would lead to the immediate resignation of that senior aide, the PM's chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney. Still others believe it could result in the resignation of the Prime Minister himself.

One Labour MP I spoke to at the weekend even went so far as to say the malpractice it details may lead to 'the death of the Labour Party'.

But, at the moment, no one really knows the truth. And, if the Electoral Commission gets its way, we will never know the truth. Because it is refusing to publish it.

It is even refusing to publish a summary of the report, though it has done so in similar cases.

In 2021, the Electoral Commission fined the Labour Together think-tank run by Morgan McSweeney after identifying more than 20 breaches of election law relating to undeclared donations

And despite the fact significant new evidence has been unearthed over the past week by this newspaper, and others, of a concerted attempt to subvert rules governing the funding of candidates and political parties, the Electoral Commission is refusing even to look into it.

Today, we have printed more evidence. Of how Steve Reed, a serving Cabinet minister, openly boasted about his achievements running the shadowy lobby group Labour Together. And how millionaire Trevor Chinn, whose funding of that group went undeclared by McSweeney in a clear breach of electoral law, bragged about how 'Labour Together had played a significant role in electing the new leadership of the Labour Party'.

The evidence is contained in a minute circulated by a government adviser to, among others, Andrew Whyte, Labour's executive director of governance and legal. He joined the party in 2017 from his role as the Electoral Commission's guidance adviser and senior adviser.

Despite that, Whyte's former colleagues still refuse to let the British people know the whole sordid story. Their excuse, laughably, is that to do so may 'deter future whistleblowers'.

I've been a journalist for the best part of two decades. Before that, I was a political adviser. I've dealt with a number of whistleblowers who had a range of motivations.

Last week the watchdog turned down requests for a fresh inquiry, despite the emergence of a leaked email in which a top Labour lawyer advised Mr McSweeney to portray the episode as an 'admin error'

But they all had one thing in common. They didn't just want the whistle to blow, they wanted it to be heard. They desperately wanted whatever malpractice they were exposing to be subject to the disinfectant of public scrutiny. Every day we are presented with the spectacle of another member of the political class wringing their hands over the implosion of public trust in our structures of governance. 'Why is faith in our cherished nation's institutions collapsing?' they wail.

This. This is why.

Precisely who the hell do the people sitting in that office on Bunhill Row think they are? The Electoral Commission as established by public statute, at significant taxpayer expense, to fulfil one primary function: To maintain, in its own words, 'public confidence in the democratic process and ensure its integrity'.

And yet this morning they are saying to the public: 'Yes, we do have a major report on how your Prime Minister rose to office on the back of an illegal slush fund. Yes, we do believe serious offences were committed. But we're not going to let you know what, or who, or how, or why, or when, or where, or by whom.'

In past Parliaments, we have had major reports  even full police investigations  into the eating of cake, the purchase of No10 wallpaper, and claiming for duck houses.

But the British establishment is now trying to tell the people they will be denied transparency over illegal abuses that directly resulted in Keir Starmer being elected their Prime Minister.

What started as a scandal is now morphing into nothing less than a grotesque cover-up. The Electoral Commission must publish the McSweeney Report. Or be damned.
Heres yet another lunatic asylum case to make your blood boil. A Taliban commanders nephew given refugee status in Britain can now be joined by seven  yes seven  family members, an immigration judge has ruled.

Thats despite Judge Gaenor Bruce acknowledging that they would place a significant burden on the public purse.

None of the relatives speak English and are all currently living in Turkey. Its a case which brings together another outrageous interpretation of Surkeirs beloved European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and our current obsession with Mental Elf.

I was going to say extraordinary case, although these days rulings like this are practically par for the course.

But lets start at the beginning, with the shorthand version.

The refugee at the centre of all this  referred to only as S  arrived in the UK in 2016. Who knows how he got here. Back of a lorry, probably, since the Border Force cross-Channel ferry service for rubber dinghy migrants wasnt operating back then.

The Taliban were overthrown as rulers of Afghanistan by the Americans in 2001 before sweeping back to power 20 years later

He said he had fled Afghanistan because his Uncle, some big-shot in the Taliban, was pressuring his dad to force S to join the jihad. With the war still raging, he didnt fancy his chances so had it away on his toes.

When he shipped up in Britain he claimed to be 15, although he was age-assessed at 18. Lying about his age should have been instant grounds for deportation, but we let him stay anyway.

In 2018 he was granted Indefinite Leave To Remain, after a psychotherapist said he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. He wanted to train as an electrician but was unable to do so because of his Mental Elf ishoos.

Oh dear, how sad, never mind.

Meanwhile, back in Afghanistan, his father was facing retribution from Uncle Taliban and so the extended family  parents, three sisters, a niece and nephew  decamped to Turkey, via Iran.

The parents are housebound. Both have diabetes and the father is said to suffer from undiagnosed seizures. (If theyre undiagnosed, how does anyone know?) Two of the sisters were working illegally, washing dishes to support the rest of the family. One of them married an Afghan man she met in Turkey, but they split up after he hit her with an iron bar.

So in 2023 they decided to reunite with their runaway son in Britain, applying for entry under the right to a family life clause in the ECHR. Incredibly, they were turned down.

Naturally, they found themselves a lawyer in the UK and appealed. Upper Tribunal Judge Bruce decided that the refusal decision had been unjustifiably harsh and granted the appeal on yuman rites grounds.

Glorious Gaenor said that Ss Mental Elf was at the heart of the claim. Only by being reunited with them will he be able to recover and live a meaningful existence.

She acknowledged that he was reliant on public funds and said it was inevitable that this too would be the position of his family members once they arrive.

In addition, she said it was unlikely the family would be able to look to any other European country to facilitate family reunion.

Why not? Doesnt the ECHR apply in other European countries, only in the UK?

Well, yes it does, but none appears to interpret it so liberally as judges in Soft Touch Britain, with our thriving, taxpayer-funded yuman rites legal industry, which is reflected in the fact that Judge Bruce went out of her way to commend the familys conspicuously well-prepared brief.

Im assuming they got legal aid, since the judge herself said they were potless and would have to live off the State when they arrived.

Nor am I suggesting that Judge Bruce ruled in anything other than an impeccably impartial manner.

She is a pillar of the legal community, with a Masters Degree in Islamic Law from the School of Oriental and African Studies at London University, and a BA Hons in Islamic Studies and Middle Eastern Politics from Exeter University.

However, given that the Government announced recently that it was temporarily suspending new applications allowing refugees to bring their family members to the UK, the Home Office is appealing her ruling.

But I wouldnt hold your breath, since it would involve leaving the ECHR. Even if Surkeir wanted to (which he doesnt), his unelected, far-Left Attorney General Lord Hermer wouldnt let him.

There would be uproar in the yuman rites industry, the BBC, the Lib Dems, the Labour Party and half the Tory Party, come to that. The courts would kill it stone dead.

So we can expect the Magnificent Seven Afghan family to be reunited with their runaway son in the not too distant. No doubt once they arrive here therell be a 600 taxi ticking over at the airport to fast-track the father to the top of the NHS waiting list so that his undiagnosed seizures can be treated without further delay.

When he comes out of hospital, he and his wife can be housebound together in a council house, where the family can live happily ever after, courtesy of the mug British taxpayer. Perhaps the sisters can get a job washing dishes once their digital IDs come through.

Forgive me if I sound cynical, but someones got to do it. Labour may be making a few noises about getting tough on immigration and asylum abuses this week but, trust me, they dont really mean it.

Theyve already dismissed Nigel Farages plan to get rid of Indefinite Leave To Remain  which is at the root of this particular case  as racist.

But until Britain leaves the pernicious ECHR, and reins in the Left-wing legal establishment, this madness will continue and Reform UK will rise and rise in the polls.

It may seem unfair to single out one family who admittedly have fled a pretty miserable existence in Afghanistan. But how many countries have they travelled through to get here? And why cant they be reunited in Turkey, or Germany, or France, or one of the other signatories to the sacred European yuman rites act?

Weve done our bit already.

In case anyone hasnt noticed, this country is virtually insolvent.

We cant go on taking in all the worlds waifs and strays and putting them up at taxpayers expense, just so that Left-wing politicians can feel good about themselves.
Reading is brain food. But for young minds, it's more than that. Feasting on words sparks imagination, nurtures and builds confidence, laying the groundwork for future success.

Yet, as any parent or grandparent knows, getting children to read is harder than ever, with a deluge of digital content keeping them glued to screens, shrinking attention spans in the process.

The solution? Making reading so fun that kids actively choose it over screen time - laying the foundations for a habit that will last a lifetime.

Brimming with kid-friendly articles, puzzles and bite-sized fun facts, What on Earth! Magazine is the perfect gift for curious kids.

And while experts have long been concerned about the decline in childhood literacy, a new Open University study by Teresa Cremin - the UK's leading expert on 'reading for pleasure' - recommends What on Earth! Magazine as one solution.

She found that giving schoolchildren regular access to the magazine boosted their engagement with reading - particularly among reluctant readers.

What on Earth! Magazine is a 52-page print magazine aimed at seven to 14-year-olds that's brimming with brilliant content for curious young minds

Each issue is packed with over 50 pages of colour-filled pages featuring engaging articles and eye-catching illustrations

Drawing on youngsters' innate curiosity about the world, it covers all the topics they find fascinating - including animals, space, nature, dinosaurs, history, art and inventions

You only need to open a copy of What on Earth! Magazine to see what makes it so compelling.

Drawing on youngsters' innate curiosity about the world, it takes all the topics they find fascinating - including animals, space, nature, dinosaurs, history, art and inventions - and breaks them down into an approachable, easy-to-understand format.

Each issue is packed with over 50 pages of colour-filled pages featuring engaging articles and eye-catching illustrations.

Humour is key to What on Earth! Magazine's unique personality, so expect to find plenty of jokes and riddles in every issue, alongside interactive elements including quizzes, puzzles, games and home activities.

With so much fun on offer, why pick up a screen?

Professor Cremin's study, which worked with 500 children across 13 UK primary schools, was the first of its kind to examine how non-fiction magazines affect youngsters' reading behaviour.

She was impressed by the power of print to engage young readers.

Eye-catching illustrations are a key part of the magazine's recipe for success

Interactive features - like these fun brainteasers - make the experience of reading the magazine even more immersive

Humour is key to What on Earth! Magazine's unique personality, so expect to find plenty of jokes and riddles!

'What on Earth! Magazine provided a flexible, inclusive and engaging format that supported reluctant readers in particular by extending new pathways into reading for pleasure,' she says.

'The magazine afforded them space for autonomy, authentic interaction around issues of personal and common interest and enabled the experience of reading to be shared.'

Launched in 2022 in partnership with Encyclopaedia Britannica, What on Earth! Magazine is written by subject experts and rigorously fact-checked (unlike much of the content your kids are exposed to online).

Among its many fans are the historian and broadcaster, Dan Snow, who describes it as 'the perfect antidote to tablets and TV'.

'My kids sit down with this captivating magazine for hours (usually with me peering over their shoulders),' he adds.

Happy customers! A subscription for your children or grandchildren will give them hours of enjoyment

The magazine has been widely lauded and won PPA Children's Magazine of the Year and NMA Subscription Magazine of the Year 2024

Your kids will be soaking up facts - while having loads of fun at the same time!

And Dan isn't alone! In just three years since launch, What on Earth! Magazine has attracted more than 12,000 subscribers and won multiple awards, including PPA Children's Magazine of the Year and NMA Subscription Magazine of the Year 2024.

Buying a subscription for your children or grandchildren will give them hours of enjoyment - while providing you with the satisfaction of knowing they'll be pursuing an educational, screen-free hobby that could give them a head start at school.

Even more importantly, it could spark a love of reading that stays with them for life.

And what could be a better gift than that?
Welcome to Polished with Elise Wilson, where FEMAIL's qualified makeup artist and hair stylist answers your questions, shares advice and trials the up-and-coming beauty and skincare trends so you don't have to.

I find there are two types of people when it comes to beauty rituals.

Those who religiously slather on lotions from head to toe, and those who stop far too abruptly at the collarbone and wonder why their knees look like they're wearing leather elbow patches.

Our faces are a devoted 10-step ritual worthy of a K-beauty influencer, but our bodies are lucky to get a hurried squeeze of supermarket moisturiser once a week. Amiright?

What used to be considered a little 'extra' - body lotions packed with active ingredients, communal bathhouses in the middle of cities, high-tech facials that sound more like something out of NASA than a salon - are quickly becoming part of everyday self-care.

No longer are these things just for celebrities or the wellness-obsessed either; they're making their way into our bathroom cabinets, our weekend plans, and our clinic calendars.

I've been on a mission lately to see what all the fuss is about, because the truth is our standards have shifted - we don't just want a body cream that smells nice; we want one that smooths and firms.

We don't want a bubble bath in our tubs at home; we want the full bathhouse experience, complete with saunas and mineral pools, and when it comes to facials, the more futuristic the machine, the more intrigued we are.

So, in the spirit of investigative beauty journalism (with a healthy dose of self-indulgence), I've road-tested, researched and rounded up three things I think deserve a spot firmly on your radar.

There are two types of beauty ritualists: those who slather on lotions from head to toe (me!), and those who stop at the collarbone and wonder why their knees look neglected. Our faces get the full 10-step treatment, but our bodies often miss out

Luckily, body lotions packed with active ingredients, chic city bathhouses, and high-tech facials are fast becoming part of everyday self-care

SKINCARE BELOW THE FACE

For years we've been conditioned to think retinol, retinal and all the hard-hitting actives were for 'face-only territory.'

But as Emma Hindmarsh Conan, General Manager of Murad Australia, explained to me, we absolutely should be slathering our bodies in these youth elixirs too.

'The myth was that the body's skin can't tolerate retinoids (retinol & retinal). In truth, it's about how they're formulated and delivered.'

Thanks to encapsulation technology (translation: ingredients packaged cleverly so they're released gradually and without your skin freaking out), retinol is now making its way into body creams.

Think of it as high-performance skincare but in family-sized bottles.

For years we've been conditioned to think retinol, retinal and all the hard-hitting actives were for 'face-only territory' but I'm here to tell you to start slathering below the collarbone STAT

Murad Retinal ReSculpt Body Treatment ($120) - I know this is a splurge, but it's the gold standard if you're after something fast-acting.

The encapsulated retinal makes this a powerhouse yet surprisingly gentle - think tightening where you need it most (knees, chest, thighs), while still leaving skin baby-soft.

Versed Press Restart Advanced Retinol Body Butter ($9.37) - Budget-friendly but rich in texture, this tub is ideal for chronically dry skin. It feels indulgent, smells subtle, and leaves limbs looking more even-toned.

The myth used to be that the body's skin can't tolerate retinoids (retinol & retinal). In truth, it's about how they're formulated and delivered. Pictured: Murad Retinal ReSculpt Body Treatment ($120, left), Versed Press Restart Advanced Retinol Body Butter ($9.37 right)

Paula's Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment ($32) - If you love their facial range, this is the natural next step. Lightweight, silky and perfect if you hate that sticky body cream feel but still want your skin to look polished.

Naturium Skin-Renewing Retinol Body Lotion ($49.95) - For the sensitive types, it's gentle, formulated with barrier-supporting hydrators, and the one to start with if you're nervous about irritation.

Thanks to encapsulation technology, retinol is now making its way into body creams. Pictured: Paula's Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment ($32 left), Naturium Skin-Renewing Retinol Body Lotion ($49.95 right)

Necessaire The Body Retinol ($100) - Chic packaging aside, this lotion is a godsend for dark spots and uneven tone. It's creamy yet sinks in quickly - the kind of thing you'd happily display in your bathroom.

Replenix Retinol Smooth + Tighten Body Lotion ($94) - Prescription-strength level intensity without the drama of a script. This one means business and is perfect if you're already a retinol pro.

Think of it as high-performance skincare but in family-sized bottles. Pictured: Necessaire The Body Retinol ($100 left)

Emma's top advice is to look beyond the percentage of retinol or retinal.

'Intelligent formulation matters most: encapsulation for targeted delivery, barrier-strengthening ingredients for resilience, and a texture that encourages consistent use.'

The new bath trend

Bathing isn't exactly new - archaeologists have traced it back to 2500 BC - but it's certainly having a big (read: huge) renaissance

Bathing isn't exactly new - archaeologists have traced it back to 2500 BC - but it's certainly having a huge renaissance.

From the Romans and the Turks to South Korea's jjimjilbangs, communal soaking has always been about more than just getting clean.

Now, Australia is catching on with a new wave of modern bathhouses popping up in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and even Byron Bay.

These aren't your granddad's RSL hydro pools though. They are chic! Think minimalist interiors, warm mineral spas, infrared saunas and sound baths designed as much for Instagram as they are for wellbeing.

Now, Australia is catching on with a new wave of modern bathhouses popping up in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and even Byron Bay. Pictured: Me and a friend enjoying Navia Bathhouse in Byron

These aren't your granddad's RSL hydro pools though. They are chic! Think minimalist interiors, warm mineral spas, infrared saunas and sound baths designed as much for Instagram as they are for wellbeing

Navia is a sleek, underground bathhouse that feels part James Bond lair, part day spa

I recently tested out Navia, a sleek, underground bathhouse in Byron Bay that feels part James Bond lair, part day spa.

A full-body massage followed by hours floating in warm pools with your bestie like I did? Trust me, you'll emerge feeling like a steamed dumpling - in the best possible way.

The shift reflects how we now view wellness. It's not a once-a-year splurge, but a consistent ritual.

A bathhouse session is cheaper than a flight to Bali and delivers a reset button for your nervous system.

Facial of the month

This month's buzz-worthy facial is Secret by Cutera, now launched in Australia and New Zealand

Cutera's Secret offers three systems - PRO, DUO and RF - each tailored for different skin concerns. Pictured: Me post-treatment, a little red-faced!

Every month, I try to road-test the treatment beauty insiders are buzzing about (I know, poor me).

And right now, it's all eyes on Secret by Cutera, an advanced radiofrequency microneedling platform that has officially launched in Australia and New Zealand.

Cutera describes Secret as a 'multi-modality powerhouse' with three different systems called Secret PRO, Secret DUO, and Secret RF, with each designed for more customisation to address different skin concerns.

Without going too technical, it's essentially a way for clinics to offer resurfacing and skin remodelling options with minimal downtime.

Brent Hauser, President International at Cutera Inc., explained that 'Secret is the gold standard in advanced skin resurfacing and remodelling.'

Globally, it's already been picked up by clinics across North America, Europe and Asia.

But locally, expect to see this on treatment menus everywhere very soon.

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely my own and do not reflect those of any brands or companies mentioned. This content is not sponsored or endorsed.
Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie have been left in a 'very difficult' position over their upcoming Christmas plans, a royal author has claimed.

Journalist Phil Dampier told The Daily Mail that the sisters 'may feel it would be unfair' of them to join the King and Queen and other royals at Sandringham, if their parents, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, aren't invited.

It comes after sources claimed the Duke and Duchess of York, both 65, have been told they are not welcome at the Royal Family's Christmas celebrations amid a fresh scandal involving Jeffrey Epstein.

It's understood King Charles, 76, wants to keep Andrew and his ex-wife at arm's length after the Mail on Sunday exposed how Fergie wrote to Epstein to apologise for publicly disowning the paedophile financier.

The Yorks, who live together at Royal Lodge in Windsor despite divorcing in 1996, have also been told to make themselves 'invisible' at future royal gatherings, insiders claim.

Mr Dampier said: 'If it turns out they are not invited, or decide themselves not to go, then it makes it very difficult for Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.

'They may feel it would be unfair of them to go when their parents arent there and it simply rubs salt in their wounds.

'The King has a soft spot for both Beatrice and Eugenie and feels sorry for the situation they are in. So its a real dilemma for him and one he could do without.'

Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie have been left in a 'very difficult' position over their upcoming Christmas plans, a royal author has claimed. Pictured, the sisters with their mother, Sarah Ferguson, in London in April 2025

The royal author suggested that the Prince of Wales would also not want the sisters to be left out because of their parents, adding: 'He does have a good relationship with his cousins.'

Last year, Eugenie spent Christmas with her in-laws, Jack Brooksbank's family, while Beatrice joined other royals at Sandringham. The only other time either of the sisters has missed the Royal Family's festive gathering is in 2020 due to the Covid pandemic.

Meanwhile, Charles asked the Duchess of York to help convince Andrew to 'do the decent thing' and avoid the Christmas celebrations at the Norfolk estate last year after it emerged the Duke had become close with alleged Chinese spy Yang Tengbo.

The Yorks spent last Christmas together at Royal Lodge instead, but they were not joined by their daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.

A source close to the King told The Sunday Times: 'You can't sack someone from being your brother.

'But this year, if the duke and duchess were both to be as honourable [as last year], it would be very much for the best and the family would not be disappointed, not least to avoid the King having to make any more difficult decisions.'

It follows several charities dropping the Duchess in the wake of the Mail's expose last week, which laid bare how she cynically lied when she pledged to cut ties with Epstein.

Just weeks after publicly disowning him, she then wrote him a gushing private message calling him a 'steadfast, generous and supreme friend'  and admitting she only distanced herself from him to save her own reputation.

Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice, Prince Andrew and Queen Elizabeth II on Christmas Day 2002 in Sandringham

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 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.'

The Duchess's friends say she was 'devastated for any embarrassment' caused by the latest scandal and 'will explain herself to the wider Royal Family in due course'.

It was claimed Sarah sent the apology email to Epstein, in which she described him as a 'supreme friend', after he threatened to 'destroy' her family in a 'chilling call'.

James Henderson, the Duchess's spokesperson at the time, said the email was sent after a 'really menacing and nasty' phone call from the sex offender who had a 'Hannibal Lecter-type voice', the Telegraph reported.

Sources close to the King have told The Sunday Times that the monarch would prefer if Andrew and Fergie keep out of sight when appearing at family events by arriving and leaving through discreet entrances where possible.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment.

Earlier this month, the Yorks very much made their presence known at the Duchess of Kent's funeral at Westminster Cathedral.

King Charles has banished Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson from the Royal Family's Christmas celebrations, sources have claimed. Pictured: Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson at the Duchess of Kent's funeral on September 16

After the emotional service, Andrew was seen howling with laughter and trying to speak to Prince William, who appeared to ignore his disgraced uncle.

The Prince of Wales is understood to consider his uncle a 'risk' and 'threat' to the monarch and is said to fully support his father's stance.

Charles and William are thought to have spoken about the latest scandal during their weekend together in Scotland.

A source said the King is 'not of the mind to banish someone', but would hope the Yorks can 'find a more discreet way of attending these events'.

'In the Duke of York's case, he seems to relish the prospect of not being low-key about it,' they added.

Fergie had recently made a return to the royal fold after bouncing back from several embarrassments over the years - including being photographed having her toes sucked by US financial adviser Johnny Bryant as well as being caught in a sting offering access to her ex-husband for an alleged 500,000.

But she was invited to join the Royal Family's Christmas gatherings in 2022 and 2023, her first invitations for three decades. She also joined the family's traditional walk from Sandringham house to church alongside Andrew, Beatrice and Eugenie in 2023.

Andrew stepped down as a working royal over the scandal involving his friendship with Epstein in 2019. It followed a disastrous Newsnight interview about his relationship with Epstein and questions over his relationship with Virginia Giuffre who claimed she was sexually assaulted by the Duke three times when she was 17.

Andrew, who always denied the allegations, agreed an out-of-court settlement with Ms Giuffre, believed to be worth around 12million. Ms Giuffre, who claimed she was trafficked by Epstein, took her own life in April aged 41.

New files showing phone message logs, copies of flight logs and manifests for aircraft, as well as copies of financial ledgers belonging to Epstein were released by Congressional Democrats in the US on Friday night, naming Andrew, as well as billionaire Elon Musk, among them.

The Mail revealed last night how Princess Beatrice is said to have 'lost all hope' of becoming a working Royal thanks to the deepening scandal engulfing her parents.

Friends of Beatrice, the eldest daughter Andrew and Fergie, say she would have been keen to help ease the burden on Charles and William by carrying out more Royal engagements.

The King is said to have been impressed by her elegance and enthusiasm during recent joint appearances and is keenly aware of the need to boost the number of working Royals as he continues to be treated for an undisclosed form of cancer and the Princess of Wales recovers from her own battle with the disease.

But with his strict stance against half-in-half-out Royals working for the Firm, nothing yet has ever come of their mutual appreciation. Now aides insist nothing ever will.

The Mail on Sunday understands that courtiers have concerns about further damaging revelations that will emerge about the duke's relationship with the convicted paedophile after reports that the Epstein Files contain a cache of more than 100 emails that 'could destroy Andrew'.

A source close to her said: 'Beatrice does want to be a working Royal and she wants to do Royal events to help her uncle because she'd enjoy them and she would be good at the job.

'Charles apparently appreciates this . . . There had at one stage been a feeling that Bea could have been lined up one day. She's never put a foot wrong, don't forget  and she shouldn't be punished for the sins of her father.

'But the King's courtiers are concerned Andrew could try to 'get in via the back door' by exerting influence over her.'
You're five times more likely to contract bowel cancer if two particular factors are present, a groundbreaking new Australian research study has found.

Bowel cancer, or colorectal cancer, is currently the second deadliest and fourth most common type of newly diagnosed cancer in Australia - and it's rapidly growing in young people.

The new study uncovered that people who are found to have two particular types of polyps - the common growths found in the bowel - are at an increased risk of developing bowel cancer down the track.

Bowel cancers start off as benign polyps (non-threatening growths) on either the wall or lining of the bowel. But in the event that these benign polyps are either adenomas or serrated polyps, they have potential to develop into cancer.

In the event that someone is found to have a history of developing both adenomas and serrated polyps, they are up to five times more likely to develop advanced pre-cancerous changes, compared to those who had one type.

'Polyps are common and usually harmless, but when both types appear together -what we call synchronous lesions - the risk of serious bowel disease or cancer rises sharply,' said Dr Molla Wassie, the lead author of the study by Flinders University.

'If you've had both types of polyps, it's especially important to stay on top of your colonoscopy schedule.'

The new finding was made following the analysis of over 8,400 colonoscopy records, which Dr Wassie described as 'one of the largest studies of its kind'.

Dr Molla Wassie (pictured) was the lead author of the Flinders University and Flinders Medical Centre study that identified the increased risk of bowel cancer amongst those who had two types of benign polyps (non-threatening growths) in adenomas and serrated polyps

Worryingly, the data analysis uncovered that nearly half of all patients with serrated polyps also had adenomas, suggesting that the high-risk group for contracting bowel cancer is greater than medical experts had previously thought.

'Our findings support growing international evidence that these two types of polyps may represent separate cancer pathways that can be active at the same time - making early detection and regular monitoring even more important,' Dr Wassie said.

The findings also revealed that serrated polyps may progress to cancer faster than adenomas, reinforcing the need for tailored colonoscopy surveillance guidelines.

'Polyps become more common as we age, but the key is catching and removing them early,' Dr Wassie continued.

It's now advised that anyone over 45, or people who have a family history of bowel issues, should be talking to their GP about bowel cancer investigations and undergoing regular screenings.

The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program is also available to eligible Aussies aged 45 to 74, offering a free test that can be done at home every two years.

As the prevalence of bowel cancer particularly among younger people increases, Daily Mail also recently spoke with University of South Australia researcher Professor Michael Samuel about his project that aims to better understand the high rate of cancer recurrence.

'People who have had their bowel cancers completely removed with no trace of the disease remaining also - rather frustratingly - frequently experience a recurrence,' said Professor Samuel, who is from the university's Centre for Cancer Biology.

University of South Australia cancer researcher Professor Michael Samuel (pictured) is researching cancer recurrence biomarkers amongst those who've previously had bowel cancer

'They either get bowel cancer again, or find it has spread to other parts of the body,' the Professor told Daily Mail.

Accordingly, the biology professor's current research study is seeking to find whether there is a certain make-up of chemicals detectable in the bloodstream that is present in those who experience a recurrence following bowel cancer.

This biomarkers research could then be potentially used to detect an increased likelihood of recurrence in those who have previously had bowel cancer.

'That way, we could much more easily screen for recurrence by monitoring people's blood, instead of having to do colonoscopies on a regular basis,' Professor Samuel explained.

'It's in the relatively early stages. But we're working on trying to identify those biomarkers, and whether it is then possible to test for them through blood tests.'
Sarah Ferguson's PR guru has defended the Duchess of York after she was plunged into a fresh scandal involving her ties to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, who she called her 'supreme friend'.

Speaking to the Telegraph, James Henderson, who is now based in Dubai, said: 'We have both been loyal to each other. We have both had empathy and understanding.

'The mental impact of losing everything, and losing a reputation, is something that we could bond over. Few people lose their reputations to that extent.

'She has had battle after battle after battle. Her loyalty to me has been exceptional. And she has done so much for so many people, most of which is not written about or appreciated.'

Henderson, who is from London, previously ran PR firm Bell Pottinger, which collapsed in 2017 after being accused of inciting racial hatred during a campaign in South Africa.

Now, after the Mail on Sunday exposed how Fergie wrote to Epstein to apologise for publicly disowning him, Henderson has been thrust back into the spotlight to defend his 'loyal' friend.

The PR executive told the publication how he and the Duchess forged an unbreakable bond after both suffering dramatic public falls from grace, admitting they connected through the trauma of 'losing everything'.

Henderson claimed Fergie is always the 'most generous person in the room' and called her 'an amazing mother'.

Sarah Ferguson's PR guru (pictured left) has defended the Duchess of York (pictured right) after she was plunged into a fresh scandal involving her ties to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein , who she called her 'supreme friend'

In 2010, Henderson was drafted in to offer emergency crisis management after Sarah was caught in a News of the World sting operation, offering access to her ex-husband, Prince Andrew, in exchange for 500,000.

The Duchess's reputation was at 'rock bottom', and Henderson helped her through it so that 'when Bell Pottinger happened, her loyalty was there for me'.

Now, Sarah is in a fresh scandal and several charities quickly dropped the Duchess after it was laid bare how she cynically lied when she pledged to cut ties with Epstein.

Just weeks after publicly disowning him, she then wrote him a gushing private message calling him a 'steadfast, generous and supreme friend'  and admitting 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 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.'

The Duchess's friends say she was 'devastated for any embarrassment' caused by the latest scandal and 'will explain herself to the wider Royal Family in due course'.

It was claimed Sarah sent the apology email to Epstein, in which she described him as a 'supreme friend', after he threatened to 'destroy' her family in a 'chilling call'.

Henderson (pictured in London in 2020) previously ran PR firm Bell Pottinger

Henderson, the Duchess's spokesperson at the time, said the email was sent after a 'really menacing and nasty' phone call from the sex offender who had a 'Hannibal Lecter-type voice', the Telegraph reported.

Fergie had recently made a return to the royal fold after bouncing back from several embarrassments over the years - including being photographed having her toes sucked by US financial adviser Johnny Bryant as well as being caught in a sting offering access to her ex-husband for an alleged 500,000.

But she was invited to join the Royal Family's Christmas gatherings in 2022 and 2023, her first invitations for three decades. She also joined the family's traditional walk from Sandringham house to church alongside Andrew, Beatrice and Eugenie in 2023.

Andrew stepped down as a working royal over the scandal involving his friendship with Epstein in 2019. It followed a disastrous Newsnight interview about his relationship with Epstein and questions over his relationship with Virginia Giuffre who claimed she was sexually assaulted by the Duke three times when she was 17.

Andrew, who always denied the allegations, agreed an out-of-court settlement with Ms Giuffre, believed to be worth around 12million. Ms Giuffre, who claimed she was trafficked by Epstein, took her own life in April aged 41.

New files showing phone message logs, copies of flight logs and manifests for aircraft, as well as copies of financial ledgers belonging to Epstein were released by Congressional Democrats in the US on Friday night, naming Andrew, as well as billionaire Elon Musk, among them.
Letby, 35, is in jail after being convicted of murdering seven infants

The parents of a baby who they believe may have been targetted by Lucy Letby have recalled their chilling interaction with the serial killer  as they spoke out for the first time in a new documentary.

Letby, a former nurse at the Countess Of Chester Hospital, is currently serving 15 whole-life sentences having been convicted of murdering seven infants and attempting to murder seven others, and is Britain's worst serial killer in modern times.

Judges have refused to grant her an appeal against her conviction, meaning she will die in prison  however, a campaign to clear Letby, alleging a miscarriage of justice, has begun to gain traction

A new documentary on Channel 4, Lucy Letby: Murder Or Mistake, heard for the first time from the parents of a baby who was born in the Countess Of Chester Hospital in 2015, while Letby was on duty as a nurse.

Speaking anonymously on the show, which airs tonight, they recalled their first interaction with the nurse  and how they immediately realised her behaviour 'wasn't normal'.

The parents, who have 'never gone public' with what happened to them until now, said their baby son was born perfectly healthy, and had been 'healthy the whole way through the pregnancy', until he was suddenly taken away by staff, who said he 'needed a bit of help breathing'.

They described their excruciating worry when he wasn't returned to them 'for a couple of hours'.

It was then that they encountered Letby for the first time while they were waiting for news of their son, as she came to them to offer them a 'box'  with no update or information on their baby.

The parents of a baby who they believe was an attempted murder victim of Lucy Letby have recalled their chilling interaction with the serial killer

The mother said she immediately 'burst into tears', thinking the worst, and desperately asking Letby if her child was dead.

Chillingly, she said that Letby 'just laughed'  a reaction that has stayed with her over the years.

The mother said: 'I burst into tears. I remember saying to her, "Oh my god, is he dead".

'And she just laughed. She was laughing when she thought we thought the worst had happened.

'She said, "We just give these boxes to parents who have been really poorly".'

A doctor explained that the nursing staff couldn't work out what the issue was and eventually advised them to take their son to Liverpool Women's Hospital instead  a decision the parents credit with 'saving his life'.

Though the parents have not specified more details about their child in relation to Letby, they believe the nurse had attempted to kill him  and that the decision to remove him from Letby's care saved him.

The mother added: 'That decision is what saved him, I think, and we'll always be grateful to that doctor for that.

Speaking anonymously in a new Channel 4 documentary, which airs tonight, the couple recalled their first interaction with the nurse  and how they immediately realised her behaviour 'wasn't normal'

Letby handed them a blue box after their son was taken away from them  and merely 'laughed' when they asked if their son had died

'It was only when we saw her face in the newspaper later on, that we both recognised her straight away. The nurse that gave us the box was Lucy Letby.'

Later, when the parents opened the box, they found a wrist strap, a baby hat, a blanket and a notepad that Letby told them they could use as a diary.

'I think if something like the box had been given later on, after we'd seen him, it might have been different,' the mother said.

'But at that point in time, to come in and laugh, it was just not normal. It's just too much.'

They added that while their son was 'fine' when he was smaller, 'issues' started to emerge from the age of five.

Their son has education delay by around two years, and still can't write well. He also suffers from regular seizures, including ones that 'haven't stopped for 15 to 20 minutes'.

His mother explained: 'He'll ask us, if he has a fit, will he die. All weekend, he kept saying to me, "I wish I was normal, I wish I was normal." He just wants to be like everyone else.'

Chillingly, after seeing his parents' reactions to Letby's conviction on TV, their son asked: 'Is that the naughty nurse that tried to kill me?'

Letby is pictured being arrested at her home in Chester on July 3, 2018

Both sides of the case are explored thoroughly in the Channel 4 documentary, which hears evidence from Dr Dewi Evans, the prosecution's expert witness, who played a major role in the trial determining the guilty verdict.

It also hears from Daily Mail journalist Liz Hull, who sat through both her trials.

On the other side of the case is Letby's barrister Mark McDonald, who is planning a fresh appeal on behalf of his client.

'I have a client that says they are innocent. They have a conviction for murder,' he explained.

'Theres always a pattern in these cases, that nurse was always on duty. There are four nurses currently in prison, serving life for these type of offences.

'From the moment she was arrested, I knew how it was going to play out. I could have written the prosecution speech. It was textbook.'

McDonald is applying to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) in the hope it can be returned to the Court Of Appeal with new evidence.

In an interview this morning, Letby's barrister Mark McDonald, who appears in the documentary, said he has 26 separate experts and 1,000 pages of fresh evidence to back up his claim

In the show, McDonald speaks to neonatologists Dr Neil Acton and Dr Svilena Dimitrova to discuss the case of Baby O, who was found by the prosecution to be the first infant murdered by Letby in June 2016.

One of identical triplets, Baby O had no concerns when Letby began her shift, but a few hours later, had started to collapse and deteriorate. A few hours after that, he collapsed for a second time and tragically passed away.

However, Dr Acton and Dr Dimitrova alleged that two medical reviews did not pick up on changes that had happened overnight  which they say was an oversight.

In addition, during a resuscitation attempt, they said a consultant put a needle into the baby's diaphragm to dilate it, which caused damage and bleeding.

McDonald said: 'The two experts say, no crime was committed. If they are right, then LL did not harm this child.'

McDonald said he has 26 separate experts and 1,000 pages of fresh evidence to back up his claim that Letby is innocent.

The barrister says he has now passed on this evidence to the CCRC in the hope of getting the former neonatal nurse released.

Police are examining 4,000 babies Letby cared for between January 2012 and July 2016

Appearing on Good Morning Britain on Monday, he said: 'I was instructed a year ago this week.

'There is obviously a concern here among experts that something is seriously wrong.

'A year ago when I went to see her she had lost everything and she said no one believed her, she was a broken woman.

'Now seeing these experts saying no crime was committed she has hope.'

Since she was jailed for killing seven babies in a year-long reign of terror that shocked the nation, there has been a furious debate over whether the evidence against her was flawed, with a growing body of supporters arguing she is innocent.

Earlier this year, medical experts reviewing her convictions claimed they 'did not find any murders' amid questions over evidence used to convict the child serial killer.

Her trial at Manchester Crown Court had heard the babies were attacked between 2015 and 2016 while she worked at the Countess of Chester Hospital's neonatal unit.

According to the BBC, babies suffered potentially life-threatening incidents on almost a third of the 33 shifts Letby was on duty while training at the Trust.

In one case, from November 2012, a baby boy she was caring for collapsed and water was later discovered in his breathing tube, which experts say is highly irregular.

Dr Dewi Evans, the former lead prosecution witness at Letby's original trial, also previously told the Mail he had concerns over the deaths of at least three children and the collapses of as many as 15 more, including one potentially poisoned with insulin, all of which were not included on the original indictment.

He said he had suspicions that Letby experimented with moving babies' breathing tubes as a method of causing harm before she began injecting air into their bloodstreams, or into their tummies via their nasal feeding tubes in a bid to kill.

'One thing we can be reasonably sure of is that Lucy Letby did not turn up to work one day and decide to inject a baby with air into their bloodstream,' Dr Evans said. 'I think the modus operandi evolved over time and I think that prior to air embolus tube displacement was probably something that she did.'

Lucy Letby: Murder Or Mistake airs on Channel 4 on Monday at 9pm. Part two of the documentary follows at 10pm.
Tim suffered the stroke at his California home in 2012 during a massage

Tim Curry has shared an update on his health after suffering a stroke 13 years ago.

The legendary Rocky Horror Picture Show actor, 79, opened up about his wellbeing during a special screening in honor of the musical film's 50th anniversary.

Speaking to the audience at LA's Academy Museum, Tim said: 'I still can't walk, which is why I'm in this silly chair, and that's very limiting.

'So, I won't be singing and I won't be dancing very soon. I still have real problems with my left leg.'

Tim suffered a stroke after collapsing at his California home in 2012, leaving him partially paralyzed on one side of his body and affecting his speech.

Since the stroke, which he suffered aged 66, the legendary actor has remained largely out of the public eye and has been rarely sighted.

Sharing details about the brain attack, Tim continued: 'I was having a massage at the time and I didn't even actually notice anything, but the guy who was doing the massage said, "I'm worried about you, I want to call an ambulance."

'And he did, and I said, "That's so silly."'

Tim Curry revealed he has problems with his left leg as he shared a rare health update

The legendary actor, 79, suffered a stroke at his home 13 years ago (pictured with co-star Nell Campbell on September 26)

According to Mayo Clinic, an ischemic stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is blocked or reduced.

This prevents brain tissue from getting oxygen and nutrients. Brain cells begin to die in minutes.

Another type of stroke is a hemorrhagic stroke. It occurs when a blood vessel in the brain leaks or bursts and causes bleeding in the brain. The blood increases pressure on brain cells and damages them.

Tim is best known for his role as the brilliantly mad scientist Dr Frank N Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

He first starred in the original 1973 London production and continued to play the part on Broadway before reviving the character in the 1975 film.

Speaking on the film's lasting impact, he said as per The Hollywood Reporter: 'I'm so excited by this and very honored by the Academy to do this presentation of our movie, which has dragged on for 50 years.'

Tim enjoyed an illustrious acting career prior to the health scare having shot to fame through The Rocky Picture Show in 1975.

On the role that catapulted him to stardom, he told Los Angeles magazine that he looks at the film's success 'with a sort of bemused tolerance.'

Tim shot to fame as Dr Frank-N-Furter in the musical comedy The Rocky Horror Picture Show

He first starred in the 1973 London production before featuring in the film two years later

Tim has enjoyed an illustrious career on the stage and screen having appeared in the likes of Annie (1982), Home Alone 2 (1992), and Charlie's Angels (2000)

He continued: 'It's neither a blessing nor a curse. I was lucky to get it.'

For many years he rarely discussed the movie, fearing he would be typecast.

He previously recalled the opening night during his Broadway debut in The Rocky Horror Picture Show as 'very exciting' but found its critics to be far too harsh.

'I had to go on the Today Show the next day and they read the reviews - which were appalling,' he explained. 'That brought me down. It was very cruel.'

The reviews described his performance as 'a mixture of Joan Crawford and Burt Lancaster' and 'Mick Jagger, David Bowie and Marc Bolan all in one.'

He went on join the cast of 1990's Home Alone 2 playing the stuffy and suspicious Mr Hector.

Although he did not play a starring role, his character was one of the most iconic to come out of the sequel to the popular Christmas film.

Tim was honored with The Actors Fund Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015 at the Tony Awards Viewing Party in Los Angeles.
BRI annual Chinese character unveiled in SW China's Chongqing

Xinhua) 09:42, September 29, 2025

CHONGQING, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- The 2025 Belt and Road Initiative annual Chinese character release event was held on Sunday in Yongchuan District of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, where the character of the year -- Yong, meaning "everlasting" -- was officially announced.

Co-hosted by the China Public Relations Association and the People's Government of Yongchuan District, the event saw the character selected from a shortlist of nine contenders, which also include Kai, Lian and Wen, meaning openness, connectivity and stability, respectively.

Guo Weimin, president of the China Public Relations Association, noted that Chinese characters are key to cross-cultural communication and international outreach. The event aims to further promote Chinese culture, extend the reach and appeal of Chinese civilization, and facilitate people-to-people exchanges among Belt and Road countries.

Huang Tianshu, a professor at Tsinghua University, explained that the character Yong, resembling ripples in water, symbolizes the flow of time and the enduring nature of Chinese culture. He emphasized that Yong represents both historical continuity and a hopeful vision for lasting cooperation and friendship.

Youth representatives from countries including China, Russia, Uzbekistan, Indonesia and Laos shared their thoughts on this character.

The annual Chinese character release event has been held since 2016, with previous Chinese characters including He (Harmony), Xin (Innovation) and Gong (Together).

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Viewers were left underwhelmed after tuning into the premiere episode

Season 38 of the CBS reality competition show kicked off on September 25

Amazing Race season 38 has left fans bitterly disappointed after episode one appeared to reveal the competition only taking place in Europe.

The new series got underway on Thursday night, with host Phil Keoghan inviting former Big Brother contestants, including Taylor Hayle and Jagateshwar 'Jag' Bains, to compete on a journey around the world with their loved ones.

Viewers were immediately left underwhelmed when it seemed as though the 13 teams would only be traveling across one continent, with the race kicking off in the Netherlands.

'They will battle it out in Europe's most iconic locations,' Phil announced.

'Nothing can prepare them for an Amazing Race with more trains, self-driving, and racing on foot than ever before.'

The underwhelming setting comes after season 37 saw 14 teams of two start in Los Angeles before traveling through Hong Kong, Japan, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Bulgaria, Italy, Germany, France, and Portugal before returning to the United States and finishing in Miami.

Prior to that, season 36 was a race around the Americas and included travel through Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Barbados, and the Dominican Republic.

Disgruntled viewers were quick to complain on social media over the seemingly restricted series.

Amazing Race host Phil Keoghan inviting 13 former Big Brother stars and their loved ones to season 38

The first episode left viewers underwhelmed after it was revealed the race would be taking place across Europe

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one asked: 'This season of amazing race is only in Europe?'

'The f*** kind of Amazing Race is this? Limited entirely to Europe and former Big Brother contestants?' another vented.

Echoing a similar sentiment, a third continued: 'Ew this season of Amazing Race is only Big Brother people and only in Europe? Boooooooooo.'

'The new season of The Amazing Race looks trash. Why are they only running around Europe

'What happened to flying from LAX to China to Australia to Norway & Brazil' added another.

A fifth said: 'I LOVE the amazing race, but I still don't know how to feel about this season, another only Europe season after two full seasons of that, with an all BB cast?'

However, it seems as though Amazing Race season 38 will eventually span across two continents as the finale is reportedly set to take place in New York City.

The final leg will see the remaining contestants travel from France to the US.

Social media users complained that the new season looked 'trash' when compared to previous series

While the first 11 legs are set in Europe, the finale leg will take place in the USA

Episode one of the new season saw the contestants travel from Hoorn to Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

By the end of the installment, Vincenzo 'Enzo' Palumbo and his brother Giacomo 'Jack' Palumbo became the first two contestants to be eliminated.

Speaking to Parade after their exit, Enzo said: 'I feel I've learned that me and him are both stubborn. We're too much of the same in that aspect. We're just stubborn. He wants to do it his way. I want to do my way. And there's no middle ground, you know what I mean?

'So, I mean, it is what it is. That's my brother; we're cut from the same cloth. But I'm so happy I did it with him, though, man. I could have cried at the end there.'
As the nights draw in and the temperatures begin to tumble, many of us will be putting the summer excesses aside and focusing on our health. Autumn is a great time to pay attention to your well-being, ahead of the indulgence of the festive season.

Whether you want to work on your sleep quality, find ways to calm your mind, or support your body with supplements, here are Checklist's 10 ideas for ways to look after yourself in the coming months.

Get to the heart of the burn

For some, heartburn is an occasional nuisance; for others, it can be a regular problem which interrupts day-to-day life.

If you experience heartburn occasionally, Pyrocalm Control 20mg Gastro-Resistant Tablets are the first branded omeprazole 20mg available over the counter that provides up to 24-hour confidence in heartburn control.

Also available in Peppermint Flavour, it can be used for short-term help with the symptoms of reflux. These include heartburn and acid reflux, when the acid from the stomach travels up to the throat. It can take 2-3 days for symptoms to improve. If you suffer from heartburn regularly, speak to a doctor for advice.

Omeprazole is widely used to treat heartburn and acid reflux and is suitable for use during pregnancy* and whilst breastfeeding.

The info: Click here to find out more.

Pyrocalm Control 20mg Gastro-Resistant Tablets (omeprazole) are used in adults for the short-term treatment of reflux symptoms (e.g. heartburn, acid regurgitation, acid reflux). Always read the label. Medicines can affect the unborn baby.

*Always talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine in pregnancy.

1. eMC  Electronic Medicine Compendium. https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/search?q=omeprazole.

2. SmPC Pharmacological Properties Clause 5.1..

3. 'About omeprazole' - NHS. https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/omeprazole/about-omeprazole/

4. 'Pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility while taking omeprazole' - NHS. https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/omeprazole/pregnancy-breastfeeding-and-fertility-while-taking-omeprazole/

Tired of sleepless nights?

Sometimes sleep evades us. We all have nights when we struggle to fall asleep or wake up from a peaceful slumber and are unable to drop off again.

Occasional sleeplessness is common, and there can be many reasons behind it, such as stress, feeling unwell or falling into bad sleeping habits. Regular good quality sleep is essential for our physical, emotional and mental health day-to-day.

Following a sleep-friendly bedtime routine plus creating a calming, relaxing environment, more conducive to sleep, are both great places to start if you are looking to improve your sleep this autumn, and there is lots of advice online.

Sominex is a nighttime sleep aid to help relieve occasional sleeplessness - caused, for example, by alteration of normal routine - which starts to work within 15-30 minutes of being taken.

It contains promethazine hydrochloride, an antihistamine which has a sedative effect, and so can help if you occasionally find it difficult to drift off.

If you continue to struggle with sleeplessness, you should always seek advice from your GP or pharmacist.

The info: Click here to find out more.

Sominex is available without a prescription from pharmacies and online. Always read the label.

Personalised skincare supplements

Gone are the days of one-size-fits-all when it comes to wellness, health and beauty. From skincare to makeup and fitness regimes, we have woken up to the value of the personal approach.

Now, UK health tech company Nourished is redefining the wellness space with truly personalised nutrition gummies. Best known for their bespoke, 3D-printed stacks tailored to individual lifestyles and goals, Nourished has now expanded into beauty with the innovative Collagen+ range.

At the heart of Collagen+ is patented Ovoderm collagen, a sustainable, vegetarian-friendly complex derived from upcycled eggshells that naturally contains over 400 proteins.

Each gummy stack combines Ovoderm with a specific blend of nutrients, vitamins and superfoods that are freshly made-to-order.

The Collagen+ range includes stacks for modern beauty and wellbeing needs:

Hair, Skin & Nails

Agility

Gut

The info: Click here to shop the Collagen+ range now.

New surgery for endometriosis care

Pain of any type can have a major impact on our well-being and ability to enjoy day-to-day life. Endometriosis is the second most common gynaecological condition in the UK, affecting millions of women. It can occur at any age, including during the teenage years, and often brings a range of debilitating symptoms that significantly affect quality of life.

Cromwell Hospital is the first in the UK to carry out gynaecology operations using the da Vinci Single Port (SP) robotic-assisted surgical system. The da Vinci SP is the latest advancement in surgical technology, enabling surgeons to perform minimally invasive procedures through a single small incision, discreetly placed inside the belly button. This approach can help reduce scarring and blood loss, lower the risk of infection, and support faster recovery compared to traditional surgery. Many patients undergoing minimally invasive surgery also report experiencing less post-operative pain, though individual recovery experiences vary.

Mr Amer Raza, Consultant Gynaecologist, leads an expert multidisciplinary team treating endometriosis at Cromwell Hospital's International Centre for Endometriosis. In 2024, the team performed the highest number of surgeries for severe and complex rectovaginal endometriosis of any centre in the UK.

The info: Click here to find out more, or call 020 7244 4886 to book an appointment.

 https://www.cromwellhospital.com/newsroom/news/cromwell-hospital-becomes-the-first-uk-hospital-to-perform-gynaecology-and-hpb-operations-using-da-vinci-sp/

 https://www.cromwellhospital.com/newsroom/news/cromwell-hospital-is-number-one-in-the-uk-for-endometriosis-surgery/

Snoring keeping you and your partner awake at night?

40 per cent of adults snore regularly, affecting sleep quality and relationships. 'Sleep divorce' rates continue rising as couples seek separate arrangements. Poor sleep impacts both the snorer and the partner, causing fatigue and relationship strain. Five million UK adults sleep apart, with 71 per cent citing snoring as the reason.

The Zeus patented technology has been developed through 14 years of clinical research  and three clinical trials led by Guys & St Thomass NHS Trust. Zeus has demonstrated significant efficacy in improving sleep apnoea and snoring.   

In the Dorset NHS Trust Trial, four out of five users report getting a better night's sleep using Zeus, with 84 per cent saying they feel refreshed upon waking, and 78 per cent reporting improved daytime function.

Zeus is a revolutionary device worn unnoticed while you sleep, offering hope for thousands of snorers across the UK who are seeking a safe, effective, and clinically validated solution.

The info: Click here to find out more.

 https://www.bartshealth.nhs.uk/download/oral-appliances-for-sleep-apnoea.pdf?ver=49884

 https://www.happybeds.co.uk/blog/should-you-have-a-sleep-divorce?srsltid=AfmBOopDWt0cTqu3puJ-9XveJNrV-2w03T7zzTy3z3jyqIWOds_JcUHD

 https://www.directlinegroup.co.uk/en/news/brand-news/2025/sleeping-apart-to-stay-together-.html

 https://www.schlich.co.uk/zeus-sleeps-anti-snoring-device-makes-sleeping-easy-again/

 https://thorax.bmj.com/content/71/10/923

 https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(23)00289-4/fulltext

 https://zeussleeps.com/pages/hope-2-sleep-trial

 Two-week, double-blind randomised crossover study of 48 patients, Zeus Clinical Trial - 2024.

Join the period revolution

Are you ready to make the switch to period protection you'll forget you're wearing? Designed to fit you perfectly, so you can enjoy all the comfort and have none of the worry, Bodyform period pants provide up to 12 hours of comfort and protection with their new and improved 35% thinner gusset design.

Just pop on the period pants and go about your day, safe in the knowledge you are protected from leaks, odours, and changing products, all whilst feeling comfortable and dry!

With a range of absorbencies to help manage your period, even on your heaviest days - where you might change your pad or tampon up to 6 times a day, Bodyform period pants are ideal for all ages.

Whether it's your teen's first period and they are worried about coping with school toilets and changing period products, or your own periods have become erratic as you enter perimenopause.

You can now try Bodyform period pants for less, with a 10 per cent welcome discount on your first order, exclusive to Daily Mail Readers - with code PERIODPANTS10. And with their 'love us or your money back' guarantee, you get a risk-free, 60-day trial. What's more, spend just 30 and get FREE Tracked Delivery straight to your door in discreet packaging.

The info: Click here to explore hundreds of different styles and colours across a wide range of inclusive sizes.

 35% reduction applies only to the gusset with the ComfortFit feature vs the remaining pants that don't contain the upgrade.

 Visit Promotions Policy Terms  Bodyform for further information.

Nutritional support through the menopause

Over 15 million women in the UK and 1 billion women globally are transitioning through the menopause. This is a transition which can last for up to 15 years and can come with several side effects, including night sweats, irritability, lack of energy and hot flushes. Meet Theta Balance Blend  a new supplement designed for perimenopause and the menopause.

Theta Balance Blend combines a trio of natural ingredients: Red Clover, Dong Quai and vitamin E, which contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress. Theta Balance blend is also certified by MTick- the universal shopping symbol and certification for menopause-friendly products, providing confidence to women.

The Info: Click here to find out more and shop today.

A surgeon who cares

Jennifer Henderson Darrien is a highly experienced bariatric, upper gastrointestinal and general surgeon, who, unusually, combines meticulous and effective surgical skills with great communication and a warmth of care and approachability that's second to none.

She's rigorous in her medical practice while delivering great human understanding, empathy and support.

Miss Darrien's patient testimonials consistently reflect both her high degree of competence and high level of care, reassurance and compassion when dealing with patients, working with both NHS & privately funded-insured patients at Grosvenor Nuffield Hospital, Chester, The Pines Hospital, Manchester and with Phoenix Health.

She can investigate and treat patients for conditions such as gallstones, acid reflux, abdominal wall and groin hernias, and lumps and bumps, as well as primary bariatric surgery, revisional bariatric surgery, investigation of post-operative problems, bariatric endoscopic procedures (e.g., overstitch procedure, intragastric balloons), access to bariatric radiology services and diagnostic UGI endoscopy.

The info: Click here to find out more.

Help to feel your best

Better health isn't about quick fixes. It's about small, honest choices that build lasting results. Feel Supreme crafts premium supplements right here in the UK, using pure, natural ingredients and absolutely no fillers.

Each formula is designed to support the areas that matter most - energy, focus, balance, and long-term vitality. Their best-sellers include KSM-66 Ashwagandha, Lion's Mane Mushroom and Altai Shilajit for powerful natural energy.

Rooted in traditional wisdom, backed by science, and trusted by thousands, every product is a clean step towards feeling your best. Because wellness isn't a trend - it's a way of life. Whatever stage you're at, our supplements are here to support your journey.

The info: Click here to find out more and shop now.

Too busy to relax? A wellbeing experts go-to tools

If life feels like it's moving too fast - deadlines, family responsibilities, constant notifications, and little time for yourself - you're not alone. For many parents and professionals, stress has become the 'new normal.' But it doesn't have to be.

Best-selling wellbeing author and practitioner, Divya Chandegra, has created the Chaos to Calm Bundle - a toolkit designed for those who are always juggling everything yet rarely making time for themselves.

This transformative six-tool bundle is a limited-time offer and includes:

The Chaos to Calm eBook - simple, science-backed practices to manage stress, feel more present and reclaim your energy.

An audiobook version - perfect for listening on the go.

A seven-minute guided meditation - reset your mind and body anytime, anywhere.

Three daily reset rituals - practical routines to ground yourself in minutes.

A digital detox guide and tracker - break free from the noise and overwhelm.

Five quick tools to help overcome anxiety in real-life moments - calm nerves when you need it most.

Unlike complex self-help programs that require more time from you, this offer bundle is designed to fit seamlessly into busy lives - to help you start feeling calmer, clearer and more in control.

The info: Click here today to access your limited-time Chaos to Calm Bundle offer.

If you've enjoyed reading this article and are interested in more inspiration on everything from education and culture to business and family life, why not follow Checklist on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or sign up for the newsletter? Checklist is dedicated to providing the best free online competitions too - discover amazing new services and products when you visit the website today.
Many of us have had an unsatisfactory appointment with a doctor who didnt look up from their keyboard, interrupted us and jumped to conclusions, potentially missing key symptoms and leaving us frustrated.

Sadly, this is one of the most common complaints among patients  a YouGov survey published last week found 70 per cent of women and 52 per cent of men have felt dismissed or unheard by a GP.

The fact that more women feel dismissed is particularly striking, especially as so many GPs are women themselves.

Some people attribute this difference to medical misogyny  where doctors downplay womens health concerns, particularly those relating to periods, the menopause or chronic pain.

While this undoubtedly sometimes plays a role, I suspect that its also partly down to the fact that men often behave more assertively when they visit the doctor, so are potentially more likely to be listened to.

It may also be because men tend to wait until symptoms are more serious or severe before seeing a GP.

The survey comes as a new initiative, urging GPs to take a three strikes and rethink approach to diagnosing patients, was announced in England.

A YouGov survey published last week found 70 per cent of women and 52 per cent of men have felt dismissed or unheard by a GP (Models pictured)

The new approach is aimed at preventing avoidable deaths and is known as Jesss Rule. It requires GPs to reassess their original diagnosis and order extra checks and a second opinion if a patient has had three appointments with no clear diagnosis or if their condition worsens.

Named after Jessica Brady, a 27-year-old engineer who died from cancer in 2020, despite having had repeated GP appointments in the months leading up to her death, it follows a campaign by her grieving parents.

Ive always said that a vital part of medicine is simply listening to people. Feeling youve been understood is, in itself, therapeutic. Research shows that people who report feeling heard are more satisfied with their treatment than those who dont  even if the outcome is the same.

As a medical student I was lucky enough to train under a wise, older GP. He taught me that after asking a patient what is wrong, you should let them talk without interrupting for a full three minutes. He even kept a clock on his table and would time it, arguing that most people will tell you everything you need to know in that time. He was convinced that listening was key to a good doctor-patient relationship.

Studies have subsequently shown that this is in fact a more efficient way of conducting a medical appointment than when the doctor tries to take charge.

But as a medic I can also sympathise with the fact that many GPs operate under tremendous time pressure.

So, here are my tips for how to get your concerns across the next time you see a GP, so you dont feel brushed aside.

Knowledge never hurts

Research your symptoms and potential conditions beforehand, but present your findings thoughtfully. You might say, Ive noticed my symptoms align with [condition X]  could we explore this possibility? This shows engagement without overstepping boundaries. Do mention if youve been given informal advice by medical professionals who are friends.

Keep a record

Keep a detailed record of your symptoms, including when they started, how theyve progressed, and what triggers or relieves them. Rate your pain on a one-to-ten scale rather than using vague descriptions. For instance, saying my pain averages six out of ten but spikes to nine out of ten during flare-ups will carry more weight than saying it really hurts. This systematic approach makes your concerns harder to minimise.

Prepare key points

Focus on one primary concern per visit and structure your thoughts around three questions: What do you think might be happening? What worries you most about these symptoms? What outcome are you hoping for from this appointment? Write these points down if you get flustered under pressure.

Use objective measures

Monitor measurable symptoms at home. If blood pressure is a concern, record readings in a relaxed environment to counter any suggestions of white coat hypertension - when high readings are attributed to the understandable anxiety of being taken in a medical setting.

For recurring symptoms, keep a diary noting patterns, severity, and triggers. Real data is harder to dismiss than subjective complaints.

Be direct

Dont downplay the impact on your quality of life. If youre struggling to cope or having dark thoughts, state this clearly and directly. Dont try to be stoic  its important not to make serious conditions seem manageable when theyre not.

Create accountability

Take notes during the appointment. Ask specific questions like What warning signs should prompt me to return? and Whats your timeline for expected improvement? If a doctor seems unheeding, politely request clarification and document their responses. Consider bringing a trusted friend or family member for support and as a witness.

You can request to see someone else if you feel unheard by a doctor and should escalate concerns to the practice manager if you are not getting the respectful care you are entitled to.

Drinking just half a can of fizzy drink could be linked with developing depression. Its thought such drinks disrupt the delicate balance of the microbiome, the colony of organisms in our guts, negatively impacting mood. Advertisement

Lily's vape warning

Actress Lily James, 36, who attributes vapes to ruining her teeth

Actress Lily James, 36, recently said she believes vaping has ruined her teeth, blaming the sugar added to some vapes.

While this is true, many people dont know that sugars are also added to cigarettes to make the smoke feel less harsh when you inhale it.

That said, I suspect in years to come we will see increased dental problems linked to vaping  not so much due to added sugars but because vaping also reduces saliva production.

Saliva protects the teeth from the harmful bacteria that cause caries. It also helps neutralise acid in the mouth.

The official advice is that although vaping isnt risk-free, its nowhere near as bad for your health as traditional smoking.

If you dont smoke, you shouldnt vape  but if you smoke you should vape instead.

I was delighted by the incredible news that a team of doctors has managed to treat Huntingtons Disease for the first time. Caused by a faulty gene, Huntingtons is a type of dementia leading to progressive deterioration in movement and cognition.

The new treatment, involving neurosurgery to deliver a modified virus that then alters the DNA in the affected parts of the brain, slowed the disease by 75 per cent. This means that the decline that would be expected in one year instead takes four. The team who developed the treatment were tearful at the press conference to announce the results. It was very moving.

Dr Max prescribes...

A DOG

Babies who grow up with a pet dog are half as likely to develop childhood asthma compared to other babies.

No such benefit was found for growing up with a cat.

Dogs also lower anxiety, depression and loneliness through the release of feel-good hormones.

And they make us walk! New research shows they really are Mans Best Friend.
A woman who fled the UK to live in sunny Spain has claimed life is better than ever and she rarely misses home.

Jade, 25, first fell in love with Spain during a four-month trip travelling with her husband, Ed, in 2024.

After realising she was better suited to the Spanish way of life, the pair decided to up and leave their native country to live in Murcia, a beach city in the south east.

Having grown up in the UK, Jade said she had always been 'saddened' by the fact that she didn't love her life there, and always found herself 'looking for a way out'.

Since making the move, she said life has improved drastically, and most things, including food shops, are far cheaper than at home.

The expat now shares her journey on TikTok, posting tips and tricks about Spanish life, as well as offering advice to others considering migrating to warmer climates.

Her motivations for choosing the Mediterranean can be boiled down to three things: the cost-of-living, the weather, and 'laid-back' way of life.

She is one of a growing number of people from the UK due to rising living costs and poor weather, many recently having emigrated to Dubai, Spain, and other sunnier destinations.

Jade, 25, (right) from England, first fell in love with Spain during a four-month trip travelling with her husband, Ed, (left) in 2024

'One of the main reasons I left the UK was because the weather used to get me down every single day. I would dread August onwards until about March because I would feel so low and not like myself at all,' she said in a video.

As she explained, the sun shines 320 days of the year in Murcia, affording her lifestyle that suits her better.

As well resenting the unpredictable weather, Jade had also grown sick of the routine of her 9-5 job.

'I was constantly waiting for the weekend. Then when I'd meet friends at the weekend, we'd go to the pub or for a meal and it was so expensive,' she said.

Unable to afford the expensive UK lifestyle left her yearning for something more. 'All you do is meet your friends at the pub and you get p****d and that's not what I want to do,' she said.

Better weather and more sun also allows her to take part in a broader range of activities, particularly outdoors.

A slower pace to living also allows her to enjoy time with friends more. 'If I do now go out for a meal with friends, its not a one hour and a half reservation. I can have a table for five hours and have two drinks,' she said.

Jade and Ed first moved to Spain in June 2024 and have since been enjoying the benefits of their new life.

Jade (pictured) now enjoys a busy life filled with visits to local cities, food tours, running and swimming in the sea

'For me, it's never felt like such a good decision to make. I kind of had a thought would I get here and think, is this the right thing to do, do I have doubts, do I not have so many friends here because of the language. I had so many questions.'

'I feel so humbled and grateful to say this is where I live,' she said, telling viewers that she had since been offered help learning Spanish, and had been joining clubs in the hopes of finding friends.

Before moving to Spain, Jade had always been looking for 'a way out', and only finally felt proud of her home once she had made the move.

Since arriving, while the couple have 'faced challenges', their expectations have overall been 'exceeded'.

'We've made so many amazing friends. Every step that we take, we literally say to each other, we've made the right decision moving here.'

But there are things that she misses about home. 'I think obviously there are those moments you miss seeing those family members that don't come out or can't come out or you miss someone's birthday.'

Overall though, having spent a year living there, Jade said she doesn't regret the move and didn't miss the UK as much as she expected.

'Spain has changed more than I ever imagined. Hard, beautiful, worth it,' she said in another video.

Jade now enjoys a busy life filled with visits to local cities, food tours, running and swimming in the sea.

She even has a TikTok series called '30 activities in 30 days', where she and her boyfriend try out new ventures.
Australia's world-famous national parks often feature on tourists' to-do lists, with locations like the NT's Kakadu National Park, Daintree National Park in tropical north Queensland and the Blue Mountains in NSW among the best-known spots.

However, there's one world heritage-listed national park tucked away in NSW that has somehow managed to fly under the radar - even escaping the attention of residents.

That is, until a recent viral social media video created by Aussie travel creator Lola Hubner and shared on TikTok by Destination NSW outed the little-known nature spot.

The eight-second post, which has now been viewed over 2.6 million times, has rocketed the special and unique NSW national park onto travellers' lists of must-see Australian destinations.

The online video's accompanying caption reads: 'Seriously though, what is this place!?' The overlaid text adds: 'When a place in NSW feels like Mars'.

The destination? World heritage listed Mungo National Park in NSW.

The recent tourism post promoting the park has stunned many NSW locals, many of whom were entirely unaware of its existence in their home state.

'Lived in Sydney NSW my entire life and never heard of this place,' read one reply that received over a thousand likes.

World heritage-listed Mungo National Park in NSW was under the radar until a recent viral social media video created by Aussie travel creator Lola Hubner and Destination NSW outed the majestic destination

The Destination NSW viral video created by Lola Hubner has been viewed over 2.6 million times. The travel content creator toured the Lunettes at Mungo National Park with a Discovery Guide (right)

Mungo National Park is located just over 1000km west of Sydney, equating to a drive of over ten and a half hours. Despite being in NSW, the park is actually closer to both Melbourne and Adelaide, which are each between a six to seven hour drive away.

The signature feature of Mungo National Park is its stark but beautiful archaeological landscape, comprised of ancient dry lake basins and structural sand formations.

This stunning backdrop creates a place that looks like no other in Australia - or possibly even on earth.

The unique environment is also one that holds great cultural significance to indigenous Australian people. Known as the home of Mungo Woman and Mungo Man, this area of NSW is richly connected to Aboriginal history.

Unmissable Places to Visit

There are a number of jaw-dropping natural features within the national park.

Top of the list is the 'Walls of China', which are the colossal sand and clay formations located on the south eastern edge of the Lake Mungo lunette.

This unforgettable sight can be seen by either taking a bike ride or a car trip along the 10km trail, which takes you over the ancient Mungo lakebed to the Walls.

The colossal sand and clay formations known as the Walls of China are a must-see when visiting Mungo National Park

The unique rippling desert landscape has an otherworldly feel

Along the way you'll see where rain has washed away the soft sand and mud of the lunette, creating the striking ridges and cracks in the landscape.

Another must-do when in the area is a visit to the Red Top lookout, as well as a stroll along the Red Top boardwalk.

Located close by the Mungo Visitors Centre, the lookout offers a bird's eye view over the unique eroded ravines and rippling landscapes.

Another option to take in the landscape is to follow the 70km Mungo loop track by car - but a 4WD vehicle is recommended for the trek.

This self-guided outback tour is marked by informative signs and passes the areas renowned sites, including the Walls of China. It also swings by the Rosewood picnic area, which is the perfect spot to stop and enjoy a packed lunch.

If you prefer a more structured 4WD tour experience, a number of local operators offer an escorted outback adventure that takes in the highlights.

And keep your eyes peeled for the incredible local wildlife that inhabit the national park, like mobs of emus and giant red kangaroos.

Animal-lovers might also want to swing by the historic Zanci Pastoral Loop, which is a 10km track that's almost guaranteed to be filled with roaming animals.

Keep your eyes peeled in the national park for local wildlife inhabitants, like kangaroos

The roads within Mungo National park are unsealed, but mostly good enough for standard two-wheel-drive vehicles, meaning you won't need a 4WD for the most part.

A Piece of History

The cultural significance of the Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area to Australian Aboriginal people stems back to the archaeological discoveries of the bones of Mungo Woman and ochred skeleton of Mungo Man  the world's oldest human cremations.

These findings are important because they reveal early evidence of developing spiritual beliefs among the Aboriginal people.

These fascinating 42,000-year-old ritual burials, along with past human footprints, tell an incredible story about the long history of Australian Aboriginal people, and led to the establishment of Mungo National Park.

If you're keen to learn more while visiting, the area can be toured with a local Aboriginal ranger who will discuss the cultural history and significance of the region.

Where to Stay

A minimum of two days and one night is the recommended visit time to truly immerse yourself in the experience of Mungo National Park.

The easiest way is to stay locally, and there's a range of accommodation options to suit all price ranges. Choose from modern cabins at Mungo Lodge, budget accommodation in the historic Mungo Shearers' Quarters or even on-site campgrounds.

Mungo National Park is open year round. A minimum of two days and one night is the recommended visit time to truly immerse yourself in the experience of Mungo National Park

Other Important Need To Knows

Mungo National Park is open year round - but can sometimes close during poor weather or when there's fire danger.

Wet weather can however cause road closures and it's advisable to check if the park roads are open prior to departure by stopping in at the visitor information centres in neighbouring towns of Balranald, Wentworth or Mildura.

The roads within Mungo National park are unsealed, but good enough for standard two-wheel-drive vehicles, meaning you won't need a 4WD for the most part.

Entry fees are $8 per vehicle per day.

Like all national parks, pets are not permitted.

And be mindful that there's only limited Telstra mobile reception within the park.

It's recommended that visitors plan ahead by either printing hardcopy maps, or downloading an offline copy.

As for when to go? 'The best time of year to visit is in either autumn or spring, when it's not too hot,' according to the park's listing on the Visit NSW website.
For nearly two decades, just a passing mention of Erin Sullivan-Wagner's cancer was enough to 'quiet a room.'

At the end of 2007, the Iowa mother-of-four had noticed specks of blood dotting her toilet paper.

At first, the then 48-year-old assumed she was one of the one-in-20 Americans suffering from hemorrhoids, which most often plague middle-aged and post-menopausal women.

But over the course of a month, the blood became more frequent. And by December, she noticed it seeping through the paper and into the bowl.

Sullivan-Wagner, now 66, told the Daily Mail: 'I knew it wasn't just a hemorrhoid.'

Following a battery of tests including a colonoscopy, CT scan and MRI, Sullivan-Wagner was diagnosed with stage one anal cancer in January 2008, less than two years after the disease struck Charlie's Angels star Farrah Fawcett.

More than nine in 10 cases of anal cancer are caused by the sexually transmitted infection human papillomavirus (HPV), which can affect anyone, regardless of gender. About 40 percent of Americans currently have an HPV infection.

At the time Sullivan-Wagner and Fawcett were diagnosed, anal cancer was largely seen as a disease affecting only gay men - with research estimating that men who have sex with men are 20 times more likely to be diagnosed with the disease - and talking about the 'taboo' cancer was clouded with stigma.

Erin Sullivan-Wagner, 66, (right) was diagnosed with anal cancer in 2008 when she was 48 years old. She is pictured with her two daughters

American actress Farrah Fawcett  a 1970s TV icon best known for Charlie's Angels - revealed her anal cancer diagnosis in 2006. Fawcett died in 2009, aged 62, after the cancer spread. (pictured with her long-term partner, actor Ryan ONeal)

Your browser does not support iframes.

Sullivan-Wagner recalled her colorectal surgeon offhandedly saying, 'I used to only see this in gay men. Now I see it in women your age.'

'I really couldn't get beyond those words,' she told the Daily Mail.

'All I could think about was, how [are we] going to talk to one another about this?'

Sullivan-Wagner said that once diagnosed, it felt as if her 'voice' was taken away, and she had trouble advocating for herself.

Her surgeon was largely correct in his assessment. Anal cancer is shifting away from the LGBTQ+ community and rising fastest among American women over 50 years old.

Each year, anal cancer affects about 10,000 Americans, about 70 percent of whom are women. It kills just under 2,200, with an even split between men and women.

The overall risk of being diagnosed with the disease is about one in 500, according to the American Cancer Society, and it accounts for just 0.5 percent of all new cancer cases.

Anal cancer in the US had seen an average yearly increase of three percent from 2001 to 2015. And federal data suggests there has been a 46 percent surge between 2005 and 2018, largely among older women.

The cause of 90 percent of cases is HPV, a group of more than 200 viruses which have affected nearly everyone at one point and are currently lurking among 40 percent of Americans.

Of those, about 30 strains affect the genitals, including the vagina, cervix, penis, scrotum, rectum and anus.

HPV types 16 and 18 are most associated with anal cancer. The virus produces proteins called E6 and E7, which disrupt normal cell cycles and lead to the formation of precancerous lesions, called anal dysplasia.

Sullivan-Wagner is pictured above with her husband, Steve, and their blended family in the early 2000s. She has two daughters and he has two sons

Sullivan-Wagner told the Daily Mail after her anal cancer diagnosis, her children (pictured above with her and Steve) would ask if they could use another word rather than 'anal.' She remember thinking they felt shame around her disease

Dr Amar Rewari, chief of radiation oncology at Luminis Health and adjunct assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University, told the Daily Mail: 'HPV can remain dormant in the anal canal for years. Over time, the virus disrupts the cells natural defenses, essentially switching off key tumor suppressor genes.

'That gradual accumulation of DNA damage can eventually turn precancerous changes into cancer, which is why someone can be infected in their 20s and not develop anal cancer until much later in life.'

In Sullivan-Wagner's case, doctors estimate the HPV that caused her cancer had been lying dormant in her body for more than 20 years.

HPV also causes cervical, vaginal, penile, vulvar and oropharyngeal (throat, tongue and cheek) cancers. While the HPV vaccine can prevent about 90 percent of infections, the shot wasn't rolled out until 2006 and was only recommended for girls and women aged nine to 26.

Anal pap smears to detect dysplasia and cancer were also not as widespread at the time.

'Many people who are being diagnosed now were never vaccinated against HPV when they were younger,' Rewari said.

'Were also a little better at catching it [now], because doctors are more aware of symptoms and higher-risk patients. Things like smoking and immune suppression also add to the risk.'

Rewari said doctors are noticing that, today, women 'who werent in the window for HPV vaccination' are, in fact, showing particularly higher cancer rates.

Sullivan-Wagner recalled an immense stigma surrounding the diagnosis. At the time, her teenage children were learning in their health classes that HPV 'only happens to promiscuous people,' and said talking about the diagnosis was taboo.

She would share her diagnosis in a hushed tone, and her children frequently asked if they could use another word instead of 'anal' when they told friends.

'I remember thinking, "Wow, they feel shame about this."'

Sullivan-Wagner is one of a growing number of women in their late 40s and early 50s to be diagnosed with anal cancer. She is pictured here with her grandson

Anal cancer caused sexual difficulties for Sullivan-Wagner and made it 'impossible' for her to have penetrative sex with Steve (left)

Following her diagnosis, Sullivan-Wagner underwent 25 rounds of radiation spread across five weeks. She also received chemotherapy during the first and last week of treatment. She was declared disease-free about six months later in 2008 immediately after completing radiation and chemotherapy.

'It was a very survivable cancer,' she said.

In stage one anal cancer cases, the five-year survival rate is 85 percent, according to the American Cancer Society. If it spreads to distant organs, however, that rate dwindles to 36 percent.

While lifesaving, the radiation used to destroy the cancer led to scarring in Sullivan-Wagner's anal canal. This caused her to struggle with episodes of bowel urgency for about six months.

And because the anal canal is so close to the vagina, that scarring affected her vaginal walls, making penetrative sex with her husband, Steve, 'impossible.'

Doctors later noted her vaginal walls could close in due to the trauma cancer treatment had done to that area. Steve feared he was hurting his wife.

She has experienced vaginal atrophy as a side effect, which causes the vaginal walls to become thinner, drier and less elastic.

'The pain was urgent and severe. I couldn't hide it, my body just knew something was wrong. It was all so traumatic for me.'

Sullivan-Wagner and Steve are pictured at their wedding in 2002. The couple temporarily separated in 2016 before getting back together in 2019

She went to pelvic floor therapy to help strengthen her pelvic muscles, and the couple experimented with different positions. But the scar tissue remained a barrier.

This drove a wedge between the couple, with Sullivan-Wagner determined to make sex work while Steve 'didn't want to be the source of [her] pain.'

'It was really an all-time low,' Sullivan-Wagner said. 'We had really fallen apart.

'Who wants to be that person that can't have penetrative sex? It feels like [you're] damaged goods.'

The couple separated in 2016 before getting back together in 2019, after keeping in touch during their separation. Sullivan-Wagner wrote Steve a letter during that time explaining 'what I wish he knew' about the damage cancer treatment had caused.

Despite therapies and medications, the damage to Sullivan-Wagner's vaginal walls was permanent, and the couple will not be able to have penetrative sex again.

'It's one of those "dying wishes" for [Steve], just one more time.

'I didn't have the same devastation around it. The profound loss for me was what it did to our connection to each other in every other way.'

Sullivan-Wagner's experience with anal cancer and sexual health issues led her to start the non-profit After Cancer, which works with oncologists and cancer patients to close communication gaps about the sexual side effects of cancer treatment

Sullivan-Wagner and Steve, pictured above, have come back together after separating

The experience led her to start the non-profit After Cancer, which works with oncologists and cancer patients to close communication gaps about the sexual side effects of cancer treatment and help doctors address these issues before they become permanent.

'I mostly am teaching [doctors] how to do what should have been done when I went through it,' she said.

'You need to figure out how it's going to be successful enough that it's sustainable and this becomes just a standard in cancer care - that sexual health is addressed. I think it would make it kind of worth my trauma if it was.

'Forget even about the shame of it being anal cancer or the stigma of that, bringing up sexual health is a difficult thing to do as a new cancer patient because it feels greedy.

'I mean, you really do feel like, "Are you kidding? You're fighting for your life, and you're worried about whether or not you're going to be able to have sex afterwards?"

'I mean, it feels wrong. You feel like you'll be negatively judged.'

Sullivan-Wagner also has noticed the stigma surrounding anal cancer slowly dissipating, especially as HPV vaccines have become available to older women who have not previously had them, and screening methods for HPV have improved.

She also urges patients suffering from symptoms like rectal bleeding, itching and unusual discharge to seek medical attention immediately, as the disease is most treatable when caught early.

'Even though it just does feel like the s****iest thing ever, and I mean that with all the pun involved, it does get better. You survive that.'
She is a world-famous beauty, regularly gracing the cover of Vogue magazine and appearing on the catwalks of luxury brands including Dior and Versace.

But recent photos of supermodel Bella Hadid are worlds away from her usual high-fashion image.

The pictures, posted last month on Instagram by her mother, Dutch reality star Yolanda Hadid, show Bella weeping and distressed in what looks like a hospital bed, connected to wires, tubes and various medical machinery.

'Watching my Bella struggle in silence has cut the deepest core of hopelessness inside me,' wrote Mrs Hadid.

'The invisible disability of chronic neurological Lyme disease is hard to explain or understand for anyone.'

Bella, 28, was diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease, a condition linked to tick bites, in 2012. Her mother and her younger brother, Anwar, also both say they have the condition.

Bella has since suffered from an irregular heartbeat, mood swings, joint pain, nausea, breathing difficulties, insomnia, headaches, brain fog, anxiety and disordered eating.

The Hadids are not the first celebrities to talk about their struggle with Lyme disease.

Bella Hadid's mother Yolanda shared photos of her daughter in hospital with complications from Lyme disease

Photos of Bella showed her in hospital receiving treatment

The model was diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2012

It's a diagnosis shared by an impressive number of fellow celebrities including Justin Bieber, Justin Timberlake, Avril Lavigne, Kelly Osbourne, Amy Schumer, Ben Stiller, Shania Twain, Alec Baldwin, Debbie Gibson and Riley Keough.

Even comedian Miranda Hart, 52, has spoken about her decades-long struggle with chronic Lyme disease since the age of just 14.

But many experts say the condition may not exist at all.

In most cases, they argue, Lyme disease cannot stay active in the body for decades, despite what chronic Lyme patients claim.

In fact, research shows that patients who say they have chronic Lyme disease rarely ever test positive for the infection on blood tests.

The experts say extensive treatments offered to patients such as Bella Hadid can cost patients their life savings and put them at risk of deadly complications.

Instead, some say that patients may not have a Lyme-related disease at all.

Miranda Hart was also diagnosed with the disease in 2024, and believes she contracted it at just 14 years old

Justin TImberlake told fans on Instagram of the moment he received his official diagnosis of Lyme disease

Rather, their symptoms could be due to an undiagnosed condition, such as a severe vitamin deficiency or mental illness.

Intriguingly, some experts say there may even be patients who claim to have the condition for status reasons, given its long association with wealthy areas of the US.

'Chronic Lyme disease is not recognised or widely accepted by the medical establishment  it's still very controversial,' says Professor Hany Elsheikha, chairman of interdisciplinary parasitology at the University of Nottingham.

'It's a condition that sits in a grey area. But because people are really desperate, misinformation spreads like wildfire.'

So what is chronic Lyme  and does it actually exist?

Named after the small town in Connecticut where it was first identified in 1975, Lyme disease is spread by deer ticks infected with a bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi.

The disease is currently on the rise in the UK  with cases tripling in Britain between 2000 and 2011.

The NHS now estimates there are now up to 4,000 cases of Lyme disease each year in England and Wales.

At first, the disease usually causes a tell-tale bull's eye rash, before developing into flu-like symptoms such as a headache, fever and fatigue.

Named after the small town in Connecticut where it was first identified in 1975, Lyme disease is spread by deer ticks infected with a bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi

At first, the disease usually causes a tell-tale bull's eye rash, before developing into flu-like symptoms such as a headache, fever and fatigue

And if left untreated, the infection can also spread to the joints, heart and nervous system.

While the vast majority of patients with Lyme will recover after a course of antibiotics, lingering symptoms do occur for some  and are known as post treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS). Experts say these symptoms tend to last for weeks or months.

But chronic Lyme disease patients say their condition is due to something else  a continuing active infection with the Lyme-causing bacteria, which they say can remain within the body for decades.

As a result, they claim to need long courses of antibiotics  some more than six months  to fight off the infection, as well as a number of other invasive treatments.

Experts say a treatment increasingly popular with rich chronic Lyme patients in the US is something called plasmapheresis, which involves removing the patient's blood from their body, 'cleaning it' and replacing it.

Research shows plasmapheresis, which costs thousands of pounds per session, is not effective at treating chronic Lyme symptoms.

They say this is because there is no evidence that the condition is real to begin with.

For starters, experts say supposed symptoms of chronic Lyme disease are far too wide-ranging to be explained by any one illness.

According to Lyme Action Network  one of many political groups in the US formed to increase awareness and raise funds for the condition  chronic Lyme can include symptoms as varied as rib soreness, change in bowel function, bladder disfunction, unexplained breast pain or milk production, testicular pain, menstrual irregularity, eye floaters, early waking, problems absorbing new information, worse hangovers from alcohol and even getting lost.

Even more confusingly, people experiencing any of these symptoms don't even have to remember being bitten by a tick to consider Lyme disease as the cause, says the organisation.

'You MAY have the disease even if you never saw a rash or tick,' its website reads. 'The ticks can be tiny, and you do not feel their bite.'

And testing for the condition is another point of contention.

Chronic Lyme disease activists say that traditional tests for the disease are unreliable because they look for antibodies for the bacteria, rather than the bacteria itself.

As a result, continues the Lyme Action Network website, 'you MAY have the disease even if your Western Blot or ELISA blood tests return negative results'.

Expert in tick-borne diseases Dr Sally Cutler, professor in medical microbiology at the University of East London, used to run a diagnostic lab that tested for Lyme in the UK.

She says it was common for patients who believed they had chronic Lyme disease to push for further tests if the results came back negative.

Bella Hadid said last year that she had undergone 100 days of treatment amid a battle with the condition that stretched back nearly 15 years

Hadid regularly posts photos detailing her treatment for complications of her Lyme disease

'They would then go and shop the blood sample through other labs until someone finally gave them a positive result,' says Prof Cutler.

'A lot of these individuals have latched on to a Lyme diagnosis and are adamant that that's what they've got. Many of them will not take no as an answer.'

So, if these patients do not have chronic Lyme, what could be wrong with them?

In 2022, researchers at Johns Hopkins University in the US analysed the medical records of more than 1,200 patients who claimed to have Lyme disease but no proof of a tick bite.

They found that 84 per cent showed no signs of a Lyme infection. Nearly two-thirds, after further inspection, were found to have other medical problems.

A fifth had anxiety or depression, nearly a fifth had either fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome - two incurable and poorly understood chronic conditions - while others were found to have migraines, ostearthritis and sleep apnea.

Experts also argue that supposed chronic Lyme symptoms may be due to an undiagnosed deficiency of a vitamin, such as B12 or folate. Both issues can lead to fatigue. They can also be treated by taking daily supplements.

Its important to check for deficiencies in certain vitamins that can contribute to lingering issues, says Prof Elsheikha.

However, some experts have another intriguing - and controversial - theory about chronic Lyme disease: that some sufferers may claim to have it because it is a status symbol.

What's so unique about chronic Lyme, says Prof Cutler, is that it's become a somewhat sought-after diagnosis.

'It's something we saw when it first became publicly known about in the 1980s, when most cases originated from around the New York area in the US,' she says.

If you were a New Yorker and hadn't managed to acquire Lyme disease within your first few years of living there, she argues, then you could be seen as in the wrong socio-economic group and unable to afford to live in the more affluent outskirts of the city.

To this day, Lyme disease hotspots on the US east coast include moneyed holiday destinations such as the Hamptons, Martha's Vineyard, Cape Cod and Woodstock.

But the disease's association with these wealthy areas began to give it an almost positive stigma, says Prof Cutler.

'It was a respectable diagnosis that wasn't sexually transmitted, had treatment options and wasn't a disease of poverty and people began boasting about it,' she says.

'If anything, it became a disease of the rich and affluent.'

Surveys of those at the most risk of tick bites  mainly forestry workers  seem to back up the observation.

On average, a quarter of these workers, bitten by ticks all the time as an occupational hazard, tested positive for Lyme disease antibodies on blood tests.

But none had symptoms commonly attributed to Lyme disease, said Prof Cutler.

'Almost all of them were very healthy  without any long-term issues  yet had been exposed quite significantly to tick bites through the years,' she said.

'It showed that not everyone who gets bitten by a tick and tests positive for the bacteria will get a clinical disease. People who get Lyme, like these forestry workers, can spontaneously recover.'

Experts say they're particularly concerned about chronic Lyme disease patients seeking expensive treatments that lack scientific backing and have even been linked with serious complications.

'You end up with people  particularly in the US  who have been on course after course of antibiotics, some of which they've had by infusion,' said Prof Cutler.

'They're going into private clinics having lines put in and infusions over hours, and they end up getting other problems associated with the fact that they're having their skin broken all the time  secondary infections, inflammation and nerve damage, just because they've having all this unnecessary treatment.'

Getting rid of a tick from your own skin is crucial to avoid the risk of infection, or of contracting other diseases - including Lyme. The NHS has a four-step routine to help safely spot and remove ticks

Patients being treated for chronic Lyme have even died from infected catheters.

Experts say that patients who have failed to respond to antibiotics should consider other possible diagnoses.

'It's very unlikely that it's treatment failure,' says Prof Cutler. 'It's much more likely to be a diagnosis failure.

'Patients have to be more sceptical over whether they have Lyme disease or not.'
Wood-burning stoves can damage the lungs in a similar way to cigarette smoke, researchers have warned.

The study, presented at the European Respiratory Society Congress in Amsterdam, showed those who used wood stoves lost lung capacity more quickly than non-users  even though they tended to be wealthier, healthier and less likely to smoke.

Scientists examined data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, which tracks the health of thousands of people.

They analysed repeated lung function tests over eight years, measuring FEV1  the amount of air a person can forcefully exhale in the first second of a breath.

Low FEV1 values are linked to higher risks of respiratory disease, disability and early death.

Dr Laura Horsfall, Principal Research Fellow at University College London, who led the study, said: 'Our study suggests that high levels of particulate matter from stoves damage respiratory tissues, causing inflammation in a similar way to cigarette smoke.'

She added: 'We know wood burning at home emits harmful air pollution both indoors and outdoors including known carcinogens.

'Despite this, air pollution from this source has approximately doubled in the UK since 2009 as more people install and use wood stoves.

Wood-burning stoves can damage the lungs in a similar way to cigarette smoke, researchers have warned

Brighton & Hove City Council produced this startling advertising campaign warning of potential dangers of wood burning stoves - but was accused of scaremongering

The findings suggest that the fashion for wood-burning stoves, often marketed as environmentally friendly, could be driving a hidden health problem.

A recent University College London analysis found that the number of UK homes with wood burners increased from 9.4 per cent in 2022 to 10.3 per cent in 2024, based on Energy Performance Certificates  despite growing concern about their health harms.

In Britain, domestic solid fuel  mainly wood but also coal burned in stoves and fireplaces  now produces a fifth of the countrys most dangerous fine particle pollution, known as PM2.5.

Do YOU own a wood-burning stove? We want to hear from you! Email Jordana.Seal@dailymail.co.uk Advertisement

That is five times the amount generated by vehicle exhausts.

Annual emissions from domestic wood burning have nearly doubled in little more than a decade, rising from 3,200 tonnes in 2009 to 6,000 tonnes in 2023.

Research in poorer countries, where indoor wood smoke is widely used for cooking and heating, has already shown clear links with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer.

But this is the first large-scale study in a wealthy country to show similar effects.

One complication in studying the issue is that wood stove users are often healthier overall.

Dr Horsfall explained: 'We found that people using solid fuel had lower rates of smoking and lung disease, which can mask the true effects of solid fuel exposure.

In Britain, domestic solid fuel  mainly wood, but also coal burned in stoves and fireplaces  now produces a fifth of the country's most dangerous fine particle pollution

The pollutants - PM2.5s - are said to be worse than all of the UK's road traffic put together

'However, using repeated lung function measurements over an eight-year period, we found that lung function declined faster among solid fuel users compared to non-users, even after adjusting for socioeconomic and housing factors.'

Professor Ane Johannessen, head of the European Respiratory Society's expert group on epidemiology and environment, who was not involved in the study, said: 'In Europe, we are seeing a growing trend for using wood-burning stoves at home.

'Research in other parts of the world, where traditional wood burning is used in the home, has shown that this is harmful and causes asthma, COPD and lung cancer.

'These findings suggest that wood-burners used in European homes may have similar effects and should be considered a potential environmental risk factor when assessing respiratory health, especially in patients with unexplained lung function decline or chronic respiratory symptoms.

'New eco-design European wood-burners are generally considered cleaner and safer than more traditional wood stoves.

'But many European homes still employ older wood-burners, and even the newer stoves may not be entirely risk-free.

'People should be aware that these stoves could be harming them and their families, and doctors should be asking their patients about whether they are using stoves at home.'

Health experts warn that children, whose lungs are still developing, and older people, who may already have reduced breathing capacity, are particularly at risk.

In the US, regulators have raised similar concerns.

A review by the Environmental Protection Agency found that many wood stoves on the market were emitting more pollution than advertised, prompting lawsuits from environmental groups.

NHS figures show hospital admissions for asthma attacks and other acute breathing problems have also risen among under-50s in Britain over the past decade, with air pollution a key factor.

The new research, funded by the Wellcome Trust, is observational and has not yet been peer reviewed.

Campaigners and health experts have called for tougher action, with groups such as Mums for Lungs urging a phase-out of new stoves within the next few years and bans on non-essential burning by the 2030s.

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health has pressed for wood-burners to be phased out in urban areas to protect children, while doctors in Scotland and environmental health bodies have demanded bans on new installations in towns and cities.

Regulators are under growing pressure to follow suit, amid warnings that even modern 'eco-design' models are not risk-free.
Americans are being advised to practice caution when traveling to a Caribbean island because of an outbreak of a deadly virus.

The CDC has placed a Level 2 travel warning on Cuba after local officials raised the alarm over an outbreak of chikungunya virus, a painful viral infection that can leave victims bedridden for months.

The disease is spread by mosquitoes, with patients suffering a sudden fever and then joint pain in the hands and feet that can be so severe that sufferers are left unable to walk for months. In rare cases, the disease can be fatal.

Officials in Cuba have not revealed how many people are infected, but say that the outbreak is focused in Matanzas province, 60 miles east of Havana. There have been no deaths reported so far.

It is not clear what prompted the CDC advisory, but the alert comes just days after US health officials began investigating a possible locally acquired case of chikungunya on Long Island, New York, the first ever detected in the state.

The infection was detected in a woman who said she had not recently traveled off the island, home to more than eight million people and the celebrity-loved Hamptons.

And amid a surging outbreak of the disease in South America, with health officials at the Pan American Health Organization warning that Brazil, with 210,000 cases, is among the worst affected.

Globally, more than 317,000 cases and 135 deaths involving the virus have been detected this year, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, which tracks international figures. In 2024, there were 620,000 cases and 213 deaths.

The above shows workers spraying insecticide in Dongguan, China, amid an outbreak of the chikungunya virus in the area (file photo)

The virus is spread by the bites of mosquitoes and, in severe cases, can cause pain in joints so severe that it leaves patients bedridden for months (stock image)

Your browser does not support iframes.

People can only catch the virus from the bite of a mosquito, and cannot become infected through bodily contact or contact with the saliva of an infected person.

Symptoms emerge about three to seven days after infection, with the most common being a sudden fever. Officials say, however, that about 15 to 35 percent of patients are asymptomatic and do not develop any symptoms.

Newborns, pregnant women and adults aged 65 years and over or who have weakened immune systems are most at risk from the virus.

There is no specific treatment for chikungunya, but patients may receive fluids and painkillers to ease their symptoms. Vaccines are available, although these are normally only recommended to people before they travel to areas where the disease is present.

In its alert on Saturday, the CDC told travelers to Cuba to practice 'enhanced precautions' to avoid being bitten by a mosquito.

This included wearing insect repellent, long-sleeved shirts and pants, and having windows or doors closed to avoid infection. They also said staying in air conditioning, which causes mosquitoes to be less active because of the lower temperature, can help.

Travelers were also recommended to get vaccinated against the virus if they were traveling to the island, with the vaccine given in one dose and being 99 percent effective at preventing a symptomatic infection.

Pregnant women are being advised not to travel to the island.

The above map shows the global tally for cases of chikungunya virus. It does not include the US because the infection here has yet to be confirmed

It is illegal to travel to Cuba from the US for tourism, but about 83,000 Americans visit the island every year under the exemptions allowed.

The US allows people to travel to Cuba for any one of 12 reasons, which include 'support for the Cuban people', the most popular, family visits and educational activities.

Chikungunya was first detected in the country in 2014, when local authorities confirmed six cases of the virus.

There were 20 cases reported in the country in 2015, but all were in travelers who had recently returned to the country from abroad according to official data.

The country's mosquito-borne disease monitoring is hampered by low funding, suggesting that many cases go undiagnosed and unreported.

The US embassy in Cuba first raised the alarm over chikungunya on August 25, warning that local authorities were also detecting a rise in mosquito-spread dengue fever and oropouche virus cases.

Dengue fever causes symptoms including pain behind the eyes and muscle and joint pain. In rare cases, it can trigger severe bleeding.

Oropouche virus causes fever, headache, chills, muscle aches, joint pain, sensitivity to light, nausea and vomiting. Both viruses are rarely fatal.

The latest alert comes a month after a travel advisory over the chikungunya virus was expanded, with US travelers now warned over the virus if they visit any one of the following countries: Brazil, Colombia, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and Thailand.

The above compares chikungunya symptoms to those from Zika virus and Dengue, which are both also spread by mosquitoes

In China, the spread of the virus triggered Covid-like restrictions in August, with disinfectant sprayed in the streets and patients quarantined in the hospitals.

Reports surfaced that Chinese authorities in the city of Foshan cut electricity to some households that were not cooperating with health checks aimed at containing the chikungunya outbreak.

Chinese officials also deployed insecticide-spraying drones, 'cannibal' mosquitoes and killer fish to eliminate any insects that could be carrying the virus.

Dr Louisa Messenger, a mosquito researcher in Nevada, previously told this website: 'This outbreak in China is very concerning. It [the virus] could already be here in the US; and really it's just one plane flight away.'
High rates of autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders may be due to how humans evolved in the past, new research has suggested.

Increases in diagnoses have been increasing for decades, with one in 36 children in the UK believed to have Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Globally, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that around one in 100 children have autism.

Whilst there have been a number of factors theorised to be behind the increase in cases, with President Trump this week blaming Tylenol use during pregnancy, experts remain undecided as to whether the increase is also due to overdiagnosis or whether more children have the condition.

But now US researchers say that natural selection could have given rise to autism-associated genes, with behaviours associated with the disorder generally involving cognitive traits that are unique to humans.

Writing in the journal Molecular Biology and Evolution, experts at Stanford University discovered that the most abundant type of outer-layer brain neuronscalled L2/3 IT neuronsevolved exceptionally quickly in humans compared to other mammals.

This rapid evolution involved a marked downregulation in genes linked with autism and schizophrenia, supporting the hypothesis that lower expression of autism-linked genes in humans increases the risk of autism.

According to the researchers, this accelerated evolution saw dramatic changes in autism-associated genes, which was likely driven by natural selectiona mechanism of evolution by which a species changes over time in response to changes in the environment, or competition between organisms.

Whilst the exact cause of autism remains unclear, US researchers believe that its prevalence may be linked to human brain evolution (stock image)

Your browser does not support iframes.

However, they added that the reason as to why this change benefited humans remains unclear.

One possible reason for this is that the rapid evolution of these specific genes could have slowed down postnatal brain development, increasing the capacity for language and more complex thinking patterns.

Alexander Starr, an expert in neurodevelopmental disorders and human evolution and study lead author said: 'Our results suggest that some of the same genetic changes that make the human brain so unique also made humans more neurodiverse.'

The landmark research comes as Trump caused shockwaves last week as he claimed that taking paracetamol during pregnancy was fuelling a spiraling autism 'crisis'.

International scientists immediately dismissed his comments as 'fear-mongering', with 'no robust evidence' to support the claim.

However, others say while it remains unclear whether paracetamol causes autisma condition which makes it difficult for people to understand social cues and express themselvessomething is clearly driving the surge in cases with one in 100 now affected.

In an announcement on 22 September, Mr Trump told reporters that taking paracetamol was simply 'not good', declaring: 'All pregnant women should talk to their doctors about limiting the use of this medication while pregnant.'

He later doubled down: 'Fight like hell not to take it.'

Your browser does not support iframes.

Trump's remarks which were later echoed by Nigel Farage sparked cross-party criticism with Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch branding them 'irresponsible conspiracy-theory nonsense', while Health Secretary Wes Streeting labelled Mr Farage a 'snake oil salesman'

A handful of well-publicised studies have suggested a possible link between maternal use of paracetamol and higher rates of autism or ADHD.

But the findings are inconsistent, and experts stress that any association remains based on very limited and conflicting evidence.

The most recent, published last month by researchers at Mount Sinai in New York and Harvard's School of Public Health, urged women to take paracetamol in pregnancy only on the advice of a doctorthough the authors acknowledged the evidence was not conclusive.

They urged mothers-to-be to use paracetamol sparingly, taking only the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time.

But they stressed their results did not prove the drug directly causes autism or other neurodevelopmental disorders.

Instead, they said the association was consistent enough to warrant further investigation.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting also dismissed the remarks.

'Don't pay any attention whatsoever to what Donald Trump says about medicine,' he said.

'In fact, don't even take my word for it as a politicianlisten to British doctors, British scientists, the NHS. It's really important, at a time when there is scepticism, to follow medical science.'

In England, the number of children seeking help for suspected autism has spiralled to an all-time high in Covid's wake.

According to latest NHS figures, almost 130,000 under 18s in England were still awaiting an assessment in December 2024a six-fold increase on the 20,000 logged in December 2019.

Experts have long warned that young people are facing an 'invisible crisis', with a system that has repeatedly failed to keep pace with rising demand.

Autism is not a disease and people have it from the moment they are born, although it may not be spotted until childhood and sometimes much later.

It exists on a spectrum. Some people will be able to lead fully functioning lives with no additional help. Others may need full-time assistance.
Covid vaccines may raise the risk of certain cancers, a highly contentious study has claimed.

Korean researchers said they found evidence of an association between the jabs and a heightened risk of six types of cancer including lung, breast and prostate.

The risk appeared greatest for over-65s, they wrote in a journal owned by a respected scientific publisher.

But they did not explain exactly why the jabs may have increased this risk.

Experts today dismissed the study labelling it 'superficially alarming' and warned its conclusions were hugely overblown.

The link between Covid jabs and cancer has previously been dismissed by academics and oncologists after claims it had led to 'turbo cancers'.

Scientists have long warned that there is no credible evidence that these vaccines disrupt tumour suppressors or drive any kind of process that results in cancer.

It also comes as Reform UK last week distanced itself from Aseem Malholtra, an adviser to US health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, who suggested at its conference that Covid jabs were linked to the King and Princess of Wales's cancers.

Korean researchers said they found proof the jabs raised the risk of six types of cancer including lung, breast and prostate

Your browser does not support iframes.

The fresh study was published in the journal Biomarker Research, owned by Springer Nature which produces some of the world's most prestigious scientific journals.

It was authored by Korean medics in orthopedic surgery and critical care, who analysed the health records of more than 8.4million adults between 2021 and 2023.

Participants were categorised into two groups based on whether they had taken a Covid vaccine including a booster.

Cancer diagnosis rates were then compared against vaccination status to determine the risk of certain cancers a year after taking the jab.

They hypothesised that after a year, those who had taken at least one Covid jab had a 35 per cent increased risk of being diagnosed with thyroid cancer and 34 per cent risk of gastric cancer.

This risk rose to 53 and 68 per cent for lung and prostate cancers respectively.

Breast and colorectal cancers, meanwhile, had an increased risk of 20 and 28 per cent respectively, the medics claimed.

Writing in the journal, they said 'cDNA vaccines were associated with the increased risks of thyroid, gastric, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancers'.

A 2022 study led by academics at Imperial College London suggests almost 20million lives were saved by Covid vaccines in the first year since countries began rolling out the jabs, the majority in wealthy nations

There are no official, widely-available cDNA-based COVID vaccines on the market.

mRNA vaccines, such as those made by Pfizer and Moderna, were 'linked to the increased risks of thyroid, colorectal, lung, and breast cancers', the authors added.

'Vaccinated males were more vulnerable to gastric and lung cancers, whereas vaccinated females were more susceptible to thyroid and colorectal cancers.'

However, they didn't explain why exactly the vaccines could raise this risk.

Although it is now widely acknowledged that some Covid vaccines had significant side-effects, including some serious heart conditions, the claim that they are linked to cancer remains controversial.

Cancer Research UK says there is no good evidence of any link between the jabs and cancer.

The charity also points out that mRNA technology is being used to develop new jabs that are showing promise in actually preventing lung, ovarian and other types of cancer.

The Office for National Statistics has previously said that it does not believe tens of thousands of excess deaths in the UK in 2022-23, which were attributed to vaccine-related cancer by some commentators, were actually caused by the jab.

It also comes as Reform UK last week distanced itself from Aseem Malholtra, an adviser to US health secretary Robert Kennedy Jr, who suggested at its conference that Covid jabs were linked to the King and Princess of Wales's cancers

Responding to the study's findings, Dr Benjamin Mazer, an assistant professor of pathology at John Hopkins University, said: 'No carcinogen can induce cancer that quickly. Mutations take time to accumulate and cells take time to replicate.

'The outcome measured is not the development of cancer but the diagnosis of cancer.

'Once a cancer develops in the body, it still takes time for it to come to the attention of the patient and healthcare system.

'How could anything possibly cause a cancer to not only grow but grow large enough to be detected in a matter of days?'

He also pointed to data published earlier this year by the Official Journal of Korean Cancer Association regarding cancer cases in Korea until 2022.

Figures show no increase in cases among the six cancers flagged in the study as being affected by the vaccines.

'Since the population was widely immunized by this point and the effect supposedly occurs near-instantly, this real-world data is highly contradictory,' Dr Mazer said.

It comes as Aseem Malhotra, an advisor to US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Junior, earlier this month claimed the Covid vaccines were linked to the King's and the Princess of Wales's cancers.

Dr Mazer also pointed to data published earlier this year by the Official Journal of Korean Cancer Association regarding cancer cases in Korea until 2022

Wes Streeting, the health secretary, said that it was 'shockingly irresponsible' of Reform to allow Dr Malholtra at the conference

Speaking at Reform UK's conference, he said: 'One of Britain's most eminent oncologists Professor Angus Dalgleish said to me to share with you today that he thinks it's highly likely that the Covid vaccines have been a significant factor in the cancers in the royal family.'

In his speech in Birmingham, at an event titled 'Make Britain Healthy Again', Dr Malholtra also claimed that studies show that mRNA vaccines could alter genes.

Dr Malhotra, a cardiologist, also said taking the Covid vaccine was more likely to cause harm than the virus itself.

But his claims attracted widespread criticism, with Professor Brian Ferguson, professor of viral immunology at the University of Cambridge, arguing: 'There is no credible evidence that these vaccines disrupt tumour suppressors or drive any kind of process that results in cancer.

'It is particularly crass to try to link this pseudoscience to the unfortunate incidents of cancer in the royal family.'

Wes Streeting, the health secretary, said that it was 'shockingly irresponsible' of Reform to allow Dr Malholtra at the conference.

The party said that it 'does not endorse what he said but does believe in free speech'.

In 2023, Springer Nature was forced to apologise and retract a contentious study in one of its journals BMC Infectious Diseases, after it wrongly claimed Covid vaccines have killed up to 280,000 people across the US.

The paper, which was authored by an economist at Michigan State University, was jumped on by anti-vaxx groups across the planet.
Unschooled by Caro Giles (Little Toller 20, 242pp)

Unschooled is available now from the Mail Bookshop

For some parents, getting a child to school turns into an exhausting, emotionally draining battle.

An increasing number of British children dont attend school, and the figures have been climbing steadily since Covid.

Almost 112,000 children are now registered as being home educated, although the true number is much higher.

Like most parents, Caro Giles, a former teacher, assumed her children would have a straightforward path through education.

The reality, however, was very different and three of her four daughters are being totally or partially home educated. I sometimes wondered if an aversion to school was catching, like a cold, Giles sighs.

Her oldest, Matilda, 17, started school aged six and was removed after two years because she stopped speaking in class and became a shadow child. An attempt to get her back when she was older resulted in a complete breakdown. She was eventually diagnosed as autistic.

Third daughter, Emmie, 12, who is also autistic and has selective mutism, was so frightened of school that when Giles tried to take her she would crouch in the footwell of the car, wide-eyed with terror, like a wounded animal. Nine-year-old Tess can cope with three days a week but no more. Only second daughter Ada, 15, is at school full-time.

Giles, who is divorced from the girls father, is fully aware that many people think she must be responsible for her daughters issues. Ive been told frequently over the years that my childrens behaviour is a result of the way I parent, and that they should be able to function as most children do at school and in social situations. Parents like her, she says, are often labelled as anxious and over-controlling.

Unsuitable: Heavy emphasis on exams, doesn't work for a significant number of children

Yet being a home educator is not a life she has chosen; this is something she has been forced into. Although there are many happy moments with her children, who do online classes as well as lessons with their mother, she finds her life exhausting and lonely.

She believes that our education system, with its heavy emphasis on exams, is simply unsuitable for a significant number of children, and that a political obsession with inclusion has led to a narrow interpretation of the word that means all children have to fit into a similar model.

She would also like to see schools offer a curriculum that isnt always broken up into 45-minute chunks, as autistic and very sensitive children like hers struggle with constant change.

The real answer, says Giles, is better funding for children with special needs, and a recognition of the inconvenient truth that, for some children, conventional school just doesnt work.
FOX 5 anchor Rosanna Scotto took a nasty spill during a segment on Good Day New York in Manhattan.

The slip-up left the 67-year-old morning show host briefly flat on her face.

She had just eked out an impressive four pull-ups with celebrity personal trainer Kenny Santucci.

'There we go! Another one! 'Another! Give me two more! Last one!'' Santucci told the TV presenter during the segment on Fridays broadcast.

Somewhat exhausted, Scotto then released the bar as the trainer was still holding her legs.

She suddenly fell forward, slipping out of her shoes.

Scotto's cohost Curt Menefee and Santucci both let out a simultaneous 'oh!' before rushing the the veteran anchor's aide.

Helping her up, Menefee asked: 'You ok?'

Anchor Rosanna Scotto begins to do pull-ups during a segment on Fox 5's Good Day New York in Manhattan on Friday

Scott, seen in New York City last year, joined Fox's Manhattan affiliate in 1986 as a weekend anchor and reporter and later in 1994. She was named the host of Good Day New York in 2008

A smile from Scott made clear she was, clearing the way for laughs.

'Kenny, what kind of insurance do you have?' Menefee cracked .

'Uh, not very good,' Santucci, a former 2000s-era reality star who found fame on MTV's The Challenge, joked back.

'Are you ok?' he asked Scotto again, who - while laughing - assured the men she was fine.

'Kenny! Why didn't you tell me!' she said, as the fitness expert remarked: 'She fell right out of her shoes!'

The moment was quickly clipped and sent across social media. Many marveled at how Scotto - an anchor on the Fox affiliate for the past 30 years - took the incident in stride.

'Rosanna Scotto: the definition of the show must go on. I hope she is okay, that was face first,' one X user wrote.

'Kenny appeared on Good Day New York this morning, and well, it didnt go well for Rosanna Scotto,' a fan of Santucci's added.

The 67-year-old morning show host falls after she managed to eke out four pull-ups

Celebrity personal trainer Kenny Santucci and her Fox 5 cohost Curt Menefee rush to her aid. She was not injured

The host went on to finish the show, before returning to the airwaves Monday to host the Republican nominee for New York City mayor, Curtis Sliwa, and Democrat Zorhan Mamdani.

Scotto previously took a spill while filming a segment at Manhattan's iconic Rockefeller Center ice rink in October 2014.

Despite breaking a wrist, fracturing an elbow and needing to undergo surgery, she was back on the air just days later.

She joined Fox's Manhattan affiliate in 1986 as a weekend anchor and reporter and later in 1994. She was named the host of Good Day New York in 2008.
Donald Trump's former personal attorney caused a stir on MSNBC over the weekend after he said ex-FBI Director James Comey 'likely committed a crime' while responding to news of his indictment.

Former Trump 'fixer' Michael Cohen made the remark on The Weekend: Primetime Saturday. It left hosts Elise Jordan, Ayman Mohyeldin and Molly Jong-Fast briefly speechless.

Citing word from a journalist who for decades was a White House reporter for Playboy Magazine, Cohen explained why he believed there was more to come in the Comey case.

'I learned that Comey was actually very much involved in the Russia investigation in a very negative way. And, chances are, this DOJ has every single email, every text message, every communication,' he told Jordan, Mohyeldin, and Jong-Fast.

'I believe, likely, he will be found guilty. I believe likely he committed a crime.

'I dont know what that crime is, but there are hundreds of thousands of documents, and the government has each and every one of them.

'All they need to find is that one.'

Cohen added: 'And remember, James Comey was the head of the FBI. He was so used to punching down. Well now, we have the FBI thats going to be punching up.'

Former Trump personal attorney Michael Cohen appeared on MSNBC Saturday to offer his perspective on the two-count federal indictment facing former FBI Director James Comey

The prediction appeared to catch pundits Elise Jordan and Molly Jong-Fast briefly off-guard

Cohen, 59, was found guilty of violating campaign-finance laws in 2018 following a DOJ investigation into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia in 2016.

The probe saw charges filed against Cohen and a handful of other Trump campaign members for other crimes. Comey was fired by Trump personally as it occurred. It officially found several instances of Russian interference in the 2016 election.

The DOJ, on Friday, indicted Comey on one count of making false statements and one count of obstruction during a 2020 questioning about the probe.

'Ive been through this system,' Cohen said of the indictment, framing the DOJ as no more than an arm of the administration acting on his old boss's behalf.

'I know better than anybody what a weaponized DOJ looks like and feels like. It is insurmountable.'

Cohen cooperated with Special Counsel Robert Mueller during the DOJ's Russia investigation, paving the way for a guilty plea and three year-prison sentence for financial crimes and lying to Congress.

In a book penned during his incarceration, Cohen claimed Trump worked with Russia to win the 2016 presidential election.

Trump has publicly called Cohen a fraud and liar.

Former FBI Director James Comey indicted by the Department of Justice on one count of making false statements and one count of obstruction

He previously accused Comey of 'grandstanding' and hindering his ability to deal with Russia during the Mueller investigation.

Sources told the New York Times in 2019 Trump had become frustrated with the then-FBI boss for not stating outright that he was not one of those under investigation.

In a post to Instagram over the weekend, the former FBI boss aired his intent to fight the allegations he prepared to surrender Friday morning on the charges against him.

'Somebody that I love dearly recently said that fear is the tool of a tyrant and she's right but I'm not afraid and I hope you're not either,'

'My family and I have known for years that there are costs to standing up to Donald Trump.

'But we couldn't imagine ourselves living any other way. We will not live on our knees and you shouldn't either,' he said.

Mueller, the director of the FBI prior to Comey, concluded in his report that Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election did occur 'in sweeping and systematic fashion'.

Cohen said Comey 'likely committed a crime' following the Friday indictment, before alluding to Comey's alleged part into the DOJ probe that looked into Russian interferences into the 2016 election

In the special counsel's final report to Attorney General William Barr, he wrote that he 'did not find that the Trump campaign or anyone associated with it conspired or coordinated with Russian in its efforts to influence the 2016 US presidential election.'

Barr quoted Mueller as saying 'while this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.'

Trump has denied any collusion with Russia in the 2016 election.
The Post Office has unveiled a series of potential safeguarding plans to ensure it does not fall victim to the ever-growing list of high street stalwarts facing fiscal difficulties.

The state-owned postal, banking and retail business is proposing that its stores offer more services such as prescription collection, digital ID and business advice.

It has called on the Government to help its plans to increase money flow and has also asked if tailored tax relief can be considered.

The move comes after the Department for Business and Trade launched a Green Paper in July in the wake of the Horizon IT scandal, in which hundreds of subpostmasters were wrongfully convicted for false accounting and theft.

An extract from the announcement of the Green Paper read: 'The need to transform the culture at Post Office is clear. Alongside addressing the legacy of the scandal, we need to ensure that Post Office is fit for the future.'

In the original documents, the Government indicated it could scrap the Post Office's 11,500-branch requirement. But the postal business said it was important to maintain a strong 'nationwide coverage'.

Adding that it understood the need to 'evolve' with ever-changing consumer demands, the Post Office today urged ministers to allow it to extend enhanced banking and parcel services with services such as providing advice for small business.

It also called on the Government to 'make post offices the trusted place for essential government services, like digital ID or pharmacy prescription collection'.

FILE IMAGE: The Post Office has unveiled a series of potential safeguarding plans to ensure it does not fall victim to the ever-growing list of high street stalwarts facing fiscal difficulties

They suggested ministers 'explore tailored business rates relief', to potentially give the business discounts on its property tax payments to reflect their contribution to communities.

Neil Brocklehurst, Post Office chief executive, said: 'Post Office has been part of the everyday fabric of British life for almost 400 years. But we cannot afford to stand still.

'Digital technologies have transformed how we shop, transact and communicate.

'And like any modern retailer, we must evolve to meet customer demand and sell the products and services which will drive revenue for the postmasters and partners who operate our branch network.

'I look forward to working with our postmasters, partners, customers and government as we continue to transform this vital organisation, and I'm confident we will see a strong and vibrant Post Office network across the UK for decades to come.'

The green paper consultation will close on October 6, with ministers saying responses will be used to 'understand what customers, communities and postmasters would like to see from a modern Post Office'.

The business hopes the consultation will revolutionise its reputation in the wake of the Horizon scandal.

The Post Office was accused of having has 'blood on its hands' by campaigners earlier this year after at least 13 people were driven to suicide by the ordeal.

It saw more than 900 subpostmasters wrongfully prosecuted between 1999 and 2015 as a result of faulty information from the Horizon system.

The devastating human impact of Britain's worst miscarriage of justice was laid bare in a damning inquiry report published in July.

It found at least 59 other victims also tried or considered taking their own lives as they slumped into despair. Many more innocent people were jailed, ostracised or turned to alcohol or drugs after they were wrongly accused.

But the inquiry said the Post Office 'maintained the fiction' that the Horizon accounting system was accurate, prolonging the agony.

Around 1,000 branch managers were prosecuted, 236 went to jail, and thousands more were wrongly accused over shortfalls in their tills caused by the accounting system made by Japanese firm, Fujitsu.

The scandal was brought to life last year by the award-winning ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office.
Jaguar Land Rover has instructed workers that 'some' of its vehicle assembly lines will restart this week as it looks to bounce back from the cyber security attack that has disabled its business for a month.

The British car firm, which has been paralysed since the security breach by hackers on Sunday 31 August, says it is 'informing colleagues, retailers and suppliers that some sections of our manufacturing operations will resume in the coming days'.

The company's UK car plants in Halewood, Merseyside, and Solihull in the West Midlands - as well as its engine production site in Wolverhampton - have downed tools since 1 September, along with factories in Slovakia, Brazil and India.

The cyber attack - which is unprecedented for the automotive sector - has meant that JLR is likely to fail to produce a single model in the month of September.

A spokesperson said on Monday morning: 'As the controlled, phased restart of our operations continues, we are taking further steps towards our recovery and the return to manufacture of our world-class vehicles.

'We continue to work around the clock alongside cybersecurity specialists, the UK Government's NCSC [National Cyber Security Centre] and law enforcement to ensure our restart is done in a safe and secure manner.'

The announcement comes just days after the Government confirmed it will underwrite a 1.5billion loan guarantee to the car giant in the wake of the mass cyber attack.

The loan, from a commercial bank, will be dished out to suppliers who have faced huge uncertainty since the vehicle maker suspended production at the beginning of the month.

Jaguar Land Rover has said it will restart 'some vehicle production in the coming days' after suffering a month-long shutdown following the high-profile cyber attack on its global IT systems

The Government will give its backing to the loan through the Export Development Guarantee (EDG), a financial support mechanism aimed at helping UK companies who sell their goods overseas.

It will be paid back over five year and will help to bolster JLR's cash reserves as it pays back companies in its supply chain.

JLR's spokesperson on Monday added: 'We would like to thank everyone connected with JLR for their continued patience, understanding and support.

'We know there is much more to do but the foundational work of our recovery is firmly underway, and we will continue to provide updates as we progress.'

Business Secretary Peter Kyle announcing the loan guarantee scheme over the weekend said the cyber breach on JLR was not only an assault on an iconic British brand, but on Britain's 'world-leading automotive sector and the men and women whose livelihoods depend on it'.

He added: 'Following our decisive action, this loan guarantee will help support the supply chain and protect skilled jobs in the West Midlands, Merseyside and throughout the UK.

'We're backing our automotive sector for the long term through our modern industrial strategy and the landmark trade deals we've signed to boost exports, as part of our Plan for Change.'

Unions and politicians have warned since that small suppliers producing parts for the car giant could collapse without urgent financial support.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the loan will help to protect 'a jewel in the crown of our economy'.

The British car firm, which has been paralysed since the security breach by hackers on Sunday 31 August, says it is 'informing colleagues, retailers and suppliers that some sections of our manufacturing operations will resume in the coming days'

The cyber attack - which is unprecedented for the automotive sector - has meant that JLR is likely to fail to produce a single model in the month of September

Chancellor Rachel Reeves described JLR as `a jewel in the crown of our economy

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham meanwhile said the loan was 'an important first step and demonstrates that the Government has listened to the concerns raised in meetings with Unite over recent days'.

She added: 'This is exactly what the Government should be doing, taking action to protect jobs.

'The money provided must now be used to ensure job guarantees and to also protect skills and pay in JLR and its supply chain.'

JLR, which is owned by the Indian Tata conglomerate, has stated that it had found no evidence that any customer data had been stolen after it shut down its systems to mitigate impact of the breach.

However, on 11 September it confirmed that a review alongside cyber security experts had identified that 'some data has been affected'.

JLR, which usually makes about 1,000 cars a day, employs more than 30,000 workers in the West Midlands and on Merseyside

The company's UK car plants in Halewood, Merseyside, and Solihull in the West Midlands (pictured) - as well as its engine production site in Wolverhampton - have downed tools since 1 September, along with factories in Slovakia, Brazil and India

JLR's spokesperson on Monday said: 'We would like to thank everyone connected with JLR for their continued patience, understanding and support'

Cyber groups known as Scattered Spider and Shiny Hunters have claimed responsibility for the hack, saying they exploited an apparent glitch in the company's IT systems.

They also boasted of gaining access to customer data.

The two organisations, believed to largely comprise teenagers and young men in English-speaking nations, now describe themselves as 'one and the same' - while rebranding themselves as 'Scattered Lapsus Hunters'.

David Bailey, professor of business economics at the Birmingham Business School, told the PA news agency that the month-long pause on JLR operations is likely to significantly dent profits and comes at a challenging period for the company.

'The value of cars usually made at the sites means that around 1.7billion worth of vehicles will not have been produced, and I'd estimate that would have an initial impact of around 120 million on profits,' he said.

'Some of that might be recovered when production restarts but the longer this goes on, the more of a concern this will be.

'If reports are right that this could last until November, then that could mean around 50,000 cars not being produced.'
Future growth in Britain is partly dependent on the Government making space for leading-edge science-based industries, notably biotech and big pharma.

Yet there was scant attention to this from the podium in Liverpool. Back in London, the tectonic plates for big pharma shifted dramatically.

At GlaxoSmithKline, the rule of Emma Walmsley is coming to an end after nine years. Walmsley reshaped the troubled giant she inherited (see below). Patient investors are having to wait a long time for the payoff.

The contrast is with AstraZeneca. Since it escaped a takeover by Pfizer in 2014, it has been garlanded with success.

Its stable of immunology medicines for cancer is a sparkling success and the group came through for Britain in the pandemic. You might not know it from the reception it has received from Labour.

Chief executive Pascal Soriot received the brush off when he sought seed funds for a vaccine plant in the North West.

Pressure: President Donald Trumps tariff threats on pharma and the focus on drug pricing in the US has forced a tilt toward North America

It also is in revolt against the soaring cost of the voluntary rebate on medicines sold to the NHS. Now the second shoe has fallen.

Donald Trumps tariff threats on pharma and the focus on drug pricing in the US has forced a tilt toward North America.

Soriots hints that he has been looking at listing in New York have come to fruition. Astras decision to move to a full listing on the New York Stock Exchange, describing it as harmonising with its London listing, is a setback for the City.

It follows Soriots bold announcement that it is doubling down on the American market, where it earns around half its revenues, with 37billion of investment.

That includes R&D spending and manufacturing some of which could have come to Cambridge. No one should underestimate the significance of AZs demarche.

It is Britains largest listed company behind HSBC, with a value of 172billion. The objective of the NYSE quote is to access greater liquidity, to reshape the share register to attract more US investors and to keep Trump and politically assertive populists in the US on side.

The fear in Europe, where the Swedish Wallenberg family are cornerstone investors, is that this is a shift which could reduce the London quote to a backwater.

Notionally, AZs headquarters will remain in Britain. But Astra is on a journey of fragmentation with hubs in the UK, the US and Asia.

The warning sirens should be heard. If Energy Secretary Ed Miliband is not careful, Shell could be the next to drill deeper on Wall Street.

Healthy transition

When Emma Walmsley succeeded Andrew Witty at GlaxoSmithKline it was a mess. The group had been beset by regulatory snafus in its core American market and China, paying heavy fines.

GSKs legendary reputation for discovering vaccines was strong but the pipeline for new drug discoveries weak.

In a complex deal in 2014, the firms work on oncology went to Novartis, in a deal which bulked up GSKs vaccines exposure and bolstered consumer healthcare.

Walmsley, under pressure from activist Elliott, steadied the ship. She did the splits, selling Haleon (with a pile of debt) giving GSK capacity to double spending on R&D and make acquisitions designed to improve its exposure to oncology medicines.

She will depart as chief executive at the end of the year with 19 promising compounds in development.

Walmsley recognised that too often, CEOs steer away from a succession strategy for fear of creating rivals.

She spotted the potential of her successor Luke Miels, previously at AZ, and he came out on top in a selection process testing internal and external candidates against each other.

The FTSE 100 loses an accomplished female chief executive. But at 56, Walmsley could be back in harness before too long.

Private grief

There is much anxiety in the City about escapees from the London Stock Exchange to New York and private equity.

But there hasnt been anything yet on the scale of yesterdays record breaking 40billion public-to-private buyout of Battlefield video games creator Electronic Arts.

The acquirers are Saudi Arabias wealth fund, Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushners Affinity Partners and Silver Lake. Another top-of-the-market leap into the dark.
Rachel Reeves has said official forecasts for the British economy should be published just once a year, rather than twice, to give the Government greater flexibility on fiscal policy.

The Chancellor told Times Radio on Monday she agreed with the International Monetary Fund's suggestion that the Office for Budget Responsibility should only assess the Government's so-called fiscal rules once a year.

It comes as the OBR is expected to downgrade its key productivity forecast this week, leaving Reeves on track to break her fiscal rules and making big tax rises inevitable.

The OBR has consistently overestimated long-term growth in productivity  the amount of output per hour worked  which has remained stubbornly low despite advances in technology.

Experts says even a tiny reduction in the OBR's forecast would have a big impact on the public finances.

Reeves said: 'The IMF have said that we should move to just one major fiscal event a year, and I agree with their recommendations.

Rachel Reeves will receive fresh OBR forecasts ahead of her 26 November Budget

'And to be able to do that, we do need to change the way that the OBR do their forecasting. Two full forecasts a year make it harder to have that one fiscal event.'

The OBR provides forecasts on economic measures like GDP growth, public spending and debt before each fiscal event, and a judges whether the government is on track to meet its fiscal rules.

This includes calculating the 'headroom' the Chancellor has to adjust spending plans.

At the time of the March spring statement, Reeves had an estimated 9.9billion of headroom to meet the fiscal rules. This is low by historic standards.

The IMF says halving the number of OBR forecasts a year would give the Government greater flexibility in policy-making and reduce pressure to make rapid, often reversed, spending cuts following forecast changes.

The OBR was established in 2010 to provide markets with confidence that UK economic policy is underpinned by independent analysis.

It has been attacked by some MPs who accuse the OBR of being overly pessimistic and therefore unnecessarily hampering the capacity for Government's to make changes to fiscal policy.

However, chair of the Treasury select committee of the House of Commons Meg Hillier warned earlier this month that to blame the OBR for the UK's economic outlook 'is like a farmer blaming Met Office weather forecasts for a weak harvest'.

She wrote in the Financial Times: 'The OBR is not the architect of the government's fiscal rules; it is the Chancellor who designs the rules she will need her economic plans to meet.'
Dyson's profits fell sharply last year as a 'necessary year of transformation' was complicated by a factory fire and currency fluctuations.

The electricals and tech manufacturer achieved a pre-tax profit of 561million in 2024, down from 1.1billion the year before, as revenues fell for the first time in 22 years.

Dyson said total revenues fell from 7.1billion to 6.6billion for the year, despite the group selling more than 20million units for the first time in its history.

The British firm, which manufactures most of its goods in east and southeast Asia, blamed one-off factors including currency volatility and a factory fire in the Philippines that disrupted the supply of its beauty products.

Costs were also lifted by a redundancy programme and Dyson's move away from direct retail towards wholesale partnerships.

It also cited slower economic growth in 2024 and 'reduced consumer confidence in some key markets'.

Sir James Dyson said the group is investing in innovation

Hanno Kirner, Dyson's chief executive, said 2024 was 'a difficult but necessary year of transformation'.

He added: 'We saw sales volumes reach their highest levels but revenue down on the prior year, due to one-off issues.

'We have increased the rate of product development, investing heavily in future products and technology, notably in robotics and wet floor cleaning.'

Headquartered in Singapore since 2019, Dyson announced plans to cut a third of its UK workforce earlier this year, blaming 'increasingly fierce and competitive global markets'.

The group currently employs roughly 2,000 UK workers among over 10,000 staff globally, down from 13,000 in March 2022.

Founder Sir James Dyson said the group will continue to focus on innovation, spending 8million a week on research and development and 'investing in our engineers of the future through the Dyson Institute'.

He added: 'Our investments are yielding exciting new products every year.

'We are hugely excited about our launches in 2025 and beyond, which bring significant innovations into people's homes including new wet and dry floor cleaning technology, robotic technology and purification technology, as well as complete reinventions of our hair dryer and vacuum cleaner formats.'
An American woman on a working holiday visa says her dream move to Australia took a very bizarre twist within days of arriving - and forced her to flee her new roomates.

Marketing professional Shawntelle, 30, jetted into Brisbane Airport on August 16 for what she hoped would be the trip of a lifetime filled with fun and new friendships.

Instead, she found herself trapped in a living situation so strange she still struggles to believe it happened.

Within hours of arriving, she discovered her new housemates were about to give birth, and expected her to help with both the childbirth and the newborn's childcare.

But she also found out they were estranged from the father's five other kids, he had faced court on DV charges, and wanted her to lie about being their social worker.

'It definitely made me wonder if it was a sign if I shouldn't be here,' she told Daily Mail.

'It felt absolutely insane, and within the first two days, I was like WTF did I just sign up for?'

The ordeal began when her new flatmate picked her up from the airport, but within moments, Shawntelle realised something was off as they drove to her new home.

Shawntelle jetted into Brisbane Airport in August for what she hoped would be a trip of a lifetime

Her new flatmate made strange requests as soon as she arrived

'On the car ride to the apartment, he tells me his wife is expecting a baby in the next five days so I'm going to be living with them and a newborn baby,' she explained.

'I immediately wouldn't have booked it if I knew that. I'm not at a place in my life where I want to be around one in my home environment when I want to relax, especially with people who are essentially strangers

'And then he begins to tell me that this is going to be his sixth child, five other ones don't live with him.

'One lives with its mum and the other four he's currently going through a custody battle with and the woman doesn't want to give him any visitation rights.'

But Shawntelle says she became even more alarmed when he told her the feud with his ex was not the only matter he had before the courts.

'Later that day he proceeds to tell me that he hasn't been able to leave Australia for the last two years because his passport was taken away because an Australian woman accused him of assaulting her,' she said.

'He said it was because he didn't want to get with her, she got mad scratched herself up and called the cops.

'Alarm bells are going off in my head, I'm immediately just like, what the heck is going on?'

The ordeal began when her new flatmate kindly offered to pick her up from the airport

By day two, the situation escalated further, after the flatmate asked if she would act as a 'social worker' during his custody hearing to give him an 'American perspective'.

He and also suggested she could help his wife during childbirth and care for the baby if he was too busy.

'I don't have a background in childcare, I don't have a background in law, I don't understand why he would ask that,' she said.

'And then he asks if for whatever reason he is not available to help his wife while she's giving birth or she needs help with the baby if I could do that.

'Immediately I said no, I was like, none of this interests me - if you need me to move out and you need an au pair, that's fine,

'He was like, "No, no I don't need that", but at this point I'm just like, I need to get out.

'I don't feel safe. This is actually insane that someone would tell me these things and then expect this of me.'

Terrified Shawntelle immediately checked into a temporary Airbnb to escape the houseshare, before eventually finding a permanent place to stay.

Despite the nightmare start she says she has met kind people and has already formed new friendships

She has since shared her ordeal onTiktok, claiming the bizarre experience still isn't over and had left her feeling shaken.

'I haven't got my bond back and he has blocked me on WhatsApp too,' she said.

'I called the Residential Tenancies Authority and found out my bond was never lodged with them. It has definitely made me wonder if it was a sign I shouldn't be here.

'It was so bizarre and it was such a big change to move as is that I was second guessing everything with what was going on,' she added.

But despite the nightmare start, she says she has since met many other kind people through Facebook groups, and has already formed new friendships.

'I knew I couldn't base that situation on Australia as a whole and I've already met some amazing people and definitely want to start exploring more,' she said.

'I've loved the weather and I love getting to hear the phrases people use here and trying out new foods that have an Aussie twist to them.'
The expert brought in by Nicola Bulley's partner today claimed he can categorically prove he found her within six minutes and how the police then let down her family.

Today, for the first time, Peter Faulding has released exclusive sonar footage of the moment he believes he discovered the missing mother-of-two in the River Wyre on February 7, 2023.

And an independent expert has viewed the video and believes Peter was right when he was convinced he had located a human body just 360 seconds into his search.

The Daily Mail has decided not to publish the footage in full out of respect for Nicolas family.

Police have declined to comment on the evidence and stand by their claims that the 'target' area in the water was properly searched and was either 'nothing' or a tree branch.

But an independent expert has confirmed that having viewed the never-before-seen footage he believes Mr Faulding did find a body in the river at St Michael's on Wyre. And crucially it measures 5ft 3ins - or 161cm - approximately the same height as Nicola.

Neil McDonagh, one of the UK's leading sonar operators for search and rescue purposes, was shown the sonar data on a new episode of the Geographic Profiler Podcast, released today.

When asked if it could be a branch or simply nothing at all, Mr McDonagh declares: 'That certainly appears to be a human'.

Your browser does not support iframes.

Ms Bulley was last seen on the morning of Friday January 27 2023 when she was spotted walking her dog. Her phone was found on a bench still connected to a conference call

Peter using his side-scan sonar on the River Wyre hunting for Nicola. Today he has released the footage for the first time, claiming that it proves police should have found her sooner

Describing his professional view as he watched the sonar footage in real time he said: 'I see limbs. Am I seeing human form? I am seeing what looks like buttocks, heading to a lower back, a torso and what might be the front of the head. Something is stretched out, which look like arms.

'When I look closely I see legs in almost a semi crouch position. It would certainly appear to be human form.

'On the port side there is quite a prolonged large shadow, which is an unusual shape. That is not what you would see with natural features such as tree branches or a vegetation.

'Based on my experience that is a human form. If that matched the height of the individual then that would be a credible target for me'.

The College of Policing, who in November 2023 published a 140-page independent review into the case, stand by their report.

They insisted that the police diver searched the area Mr Faulding flagged.

They also reiterated that they then got an expert view from an unnamed 'leading government sonar specialist' who told them that they had low confidence that the images were that of a human casualty.

Mr Faulding has also shared new information of the Wyre's slow-moving and shallow water during the search, which he and other experts believe calls into question claims that Ms Bulley could have been swept away.

The mystery of Nicola's sudden disappearance became one of the highest profile missing person's investigations of recent times in Britain and as it went on it gained global attention.

It ended with the tragic discovery of her body by a dog walker three weeks later.

Her inquest concluded that her death was accidental, caused by drowning from cold water shock after falling into the River Wyre.

Coroner Dr James Adeley ruled out suicide and any criminal involvement by a third party.

Mr Faulding was approached by Mrs Bulley's partner Paul Ansell a week after she vanished.

Peter came to Lancashire free of charge - but only after police agreed to his presence. 'We did not ask for money or receive any', he said.

But he claims Lancashire Police were 'hostile' towards him and told him to 'pack up and leave' within 48 hours despite finding what he believed was Nicola's body and being arguably Britain's top rescue and forensic search specialist in water.

His personal and professional reputation was questioned by Lancashire Constabulary and the College of Policing, who reviewed their probe.

Mr Faulding claims his 55,000 high-frequency sonar device  towed beside an inflatable dinghy  was able to provide a 'crystal clear' image of the entire riverbed and located her body.

Peter told the Daily Mail today he is convinced that she entered the water 75 metres down from the bench - close to a small island in the Wyre.

He said of the bench where Nicola's phone was found: 'It could have been stage, a decoy. But the area was never treated as a crime scene so any trace evidence is gone'.

He has urged detectives to 'look again' at the case, declaring: 'Lancashire Police always suggested that Nicola fell in in front of the bench. But this is impossible due to the shallow depth right at the bottom of the bank below the bench.

'Had Nicola fallen into the river near the bench, she would have landed on a ledge of rocks at the river's edge, shallow enough to stand up on.

'I believe Nicola went in where I found her by the island.

'Given the relatively calm river conditions especially at the river's edge, Nicola Bulley's strong swimming ability, her familiarity with the area, and the absence of clear evidence for an accidental fall, I do not believe her death was simply an accidental drowning. The case deserves further scrutiny'.

A picture from the bench of the depth and clarity of water that police believe Nicola fell into

Peter's boat passes the 'island' area where he and another expert believe that a body was spotted on sonar but missed

Paul Ansell, partner of Nicola Bulley, speaks to Peter Faulding from the spot on the River Wyre where police believe his partner went missing. Paul has asked Peter to help with the search after police struggled to find her

Lancashire Police has declined to comment today, as did Nicola's family.

Mr Faulding says he was never asked to give evidence at her inquest despite his central role in the case. He and his company Specialist Group International are mentioned dozens of times in the College of Policing report.

He has spoken in detail to the Daily Mail and on an episode of the Geographic Profiler Podcast, presented by Douglas MacGregor.

Mr MacGregor is a geographic profiler and forensic intelligence consultant who helps law enforcement and search teams with complex cases.

In his podcast Mr Faulding claims:

Police missed Nicolas body and then refused to let his team dive. From my analysis I am certain the sonar return was Nicola, he says.

He made repeated offers to share his vital sonar data with police and the College of Policing, who reviewed the Lancashire Constabulary investigation but this was 'ignored;

Mr Faulding admits he was wrong to say Nicola was not in the river at the time - but insists he was repeating what the police divers had told him and not upset her family;

Police believe that Nicola died in a tragic accident and her body travelled over the River Wyre's weir towards the sea on the day she disappeared, January 27, 2023.

Today Peter Faulding has shared footage from during the search showing how shallow and slow-moving the river was, calling the theory she was swept along 'impossible'.

'My video taken on February 7 shows the river not moving. The stick did not move for 20 minutes', he said.

Douglas MacGregor, a forensic expert who works with the police and FBI in the US, has also raised questions about the accuracy of the flow-rates cited by police at the time and whether it is possible that Nicola was swept away so quickly.

Critics of Mr Faulding told the Daily Mail that his claims contradict previous statements he made at the time when he told the media 'there was no sign of Nicola' in the river.

But in response he has said he was told by police divers there was nothing there and trusted the police, but privately confided in his team that 'something was not right'.

He admits he was wrong to have said at the time that if Nicola was there, I would have found her, because he believes he did.

He scanned the river, and found a 'target' in six minutes and shared the location with detectives.

But a Lancashire Police diver failed to find her, first saying it was 'nothing' and then a tree branch.

The diver in question later told College of Policing review they were '100% sure that there was no body in that part of the water at that time'.

'It is not very often I dive in such an unobstructed body of water with such a flat bottom and with visibility,' they added.

Nicola and Paul in happier times

He had been asked by Nicola's partner Paul Ansell to help the police with the search for his partner after they failed to find her in the days after she vanished on January 27, 2023.

Mr Faulding was approached on February 5 and arrived in St Michael's on Wyre on February 6.

He is convinced he found Nicola's body 'after just six minutes' of scanning the river at 10.32am that day.

He sent the target location to police a minute later. At 1.20pm police searched and said it was 'nothing'.

At 4.30pm Peter rescanned the area. Passing closer to the target. No disturbance to ground, which you'd expect to see if properly searched, he claims.

He believes that the police diver either missed her or worse, didn't even check the right spot.

He and Neil McDonagh say the ground around the target had not been disturbed according to a later scan.

'I pushed a stick into the riverbank to mark the rough area for the police divers. At 1.21pm, after a short dive, the police diver reported there was nothing there",' Mr Faulding said.

'I was surprised at this result as a sonar anomaly cannot be created by nothing. My diving supervisor and another member of my team witnessed the dive whilst I continued upriver conducting further scans for the purpose of steering the medias attention away from the dive.

'Unconvinced by the divers findings, later that day, my team and I re-scanned the area several times and obtained more detailed images by moving the boat closer to the riverbank.

'To clarify, the image captured at 10.32am shows just the symmetrical shadows of the arms. The images captured in the afternoon, show not only the shadow but a clear image of what looks like a body laying on the right side, bent legs, bottom, outstretched arms and a head.

'Interestingly, in both the morning and afternoon scans, there appeared to be no ground disturbance around the anomaly or any movement of the shadows.

'Firstly, if there was "nothing" there would not be a shadow or a shape, its impossible. Secondly, for a thorough search to have been conducted, any find including tree branches as was later reported, would need to have been moved to ensure that there was nothing concealed beneath, leaving disturbances and drag marks on the riverbed.

'These disturbances would have been visible on the sonar scans captured in the afternoon after the police dive, yet none appeared. Additionally, if the find had been moved, the resulting shadow would have shifted would be different, but there is no difference in either scan'.

He added: 'I requested permission to dive at that location, but this was declined. I asked again to search the following morning, and that request was also declined. We did everything possible within the law and the framework of the police operation'.

Police divers searching the water on February 7 - the day Mr Faulding flagged a potential target to them. They say the area was properly searched and nothing was found

Officers in charge then refused a request for his team to check themselves - and then on February 8 he was told to pack up his equipment and leave', Mr Faulding claims.

The shape in the water picked up by Mr Faulding's sonar equipment on board his boat resembles a body in a foetal position.

Mr Faulding says he offered even to send it to Lancashire Police and the College of Policing, but they never responded.

Yet Andy Marsh, chief executive of the College of Policing, who carried out a review of Lancashire Police's handling of the case said when the report was released: 'Nothing could have been done, that we saw, that would have led to Nicola's body being found sooner.'

He added: 'The area was searched after that report and there was nothing there'.

But Mr McDonagh also suggested Mr Marsh made claims that defy the laws of physics.

'The presence of a shadow shows that something is there. It's a law of physics. Can a sonar target be nothing? It can not be a person, it must be something else. But a target in a sonar image means that something is categorically there', he said.

Mr Faulding insists that police prolonged the ordeal for Nicola's family for a full 12 days until she was discovered by a dog walker on February 19, 2023.

'No experts have ever seen the live data. There needs to be a full inquiry into why the data was never looked at and who the experts are', he said.

'You tell me why this is not a body', he said pointing to the sonar image he believes was Nicola.

'All they have looked at is a PDF image on a piece of paper that I emailed to them.

'I will go into any front of any expert and any witness in a court of law and ask how they have made a judgment on one of the high profile cases in recent history using a pdf'.

He told the Daily Mail he is speaking out now to try and help others, not cause more grief for Nicola's family.

'This podcast has been produced for Nicola, for her family and for every family who, in the midst of the most unimaginable grief, deserves the certainty that everything possible is being done to find their missing loved one and bring them home as fast as possible.'

The College of Policing declined to give a statement to the Daily Mail on claims in the podcast but pointed to their report from November 2023, which said his behaviour at the time had resulted in 'unwarranted distress and false alarm'.

According to the 140-page independent review, the site Peter said contained the 'target' was searched properly on multiple occasions.

'The diver provided their own record of this dive to the review team. The coordinates of the images that they record of that dive match exactly those of SGIs images. This diver also provided the primary dive evidence to the coroner at the inquest into Nicolas death', the College of Policing said.

'To supplement this, and to provide an independent view, the review team contacted a leading government sonar specialist for their opinion of the sonar images taken by SGI on 7 February. They provided the expert view that they had "low confidence that the images were that of a human casualty".

The 'target' in the Wyre had been properly 'eliminated' during the police search, with 'comprehensive' reasons given for why they considered it had not been recently disturbed, the CofP said.

Mr Faulding says that police are failing families with a lack of equipment and teams to search water. He claims they are waiting for bodies to 'pop up'

The police investigation became a test case for other forces on how not to handle communications with the press and public.

Unclear statements and a lack of regular information sparked a rush of conspiracy theorists and armchair detectives to head to the area to hunt for clues.

Detectives even made the extraordinary decision to reveal Nicola's private medical details - including the claim that she had developed a problem with alcohol due to the menopause.

But it emerged in her inquest that when she died there was no alcohol in her system whatsoever.

Mr Faulding has said that most major police forces now no longer have divers or specialist teams or equipment to search for missing people.

Many forces have adopted a 'pop up' approach, waiting for the bodies of missing people to surface over days and weeks rather than find them immediately.

'I want to advocate for improvements in how future missing persons cases are handled, particularly with regard to ensuring that appropriate expertise and technology are employed from the outset. I believe families deserve better', he said today.

'Over the past decade, efficiency drives, and budget cuts have led many police forces across the UK to disband their dedicated underwater search teams. Today, only eleven such units remain across the United Kingdom. In some regions, there is now no meaningful marine capability at all.'

He added: 'The events surrounding the search and the subsequent College of Policing report have had a serious impact on both my personal and professional reputation.'

He has thanked his supporters for the backing he has been given by the public and fellow professionals.

Police officer turned journalist Mark Williams Thomas told the podcast: 'Peter devotes himself to the families he is helping. He covers the costs himself and the criticism given to him is utterly unfair. He is not a TV presenter or give interviews - he was there to help the family at their request. He is devoted to them.

'He has better equipment than the police. Most forces don't do underwater search and he provides that to them.

'That criticism is unfair. Peter has put himself on the line and had gone out with his own team.,

'He was made a scapegoat. Faulding was brought in as an expert and hung out to dry when it went sideways.

'The police's reputation was preserved while his was sacrificed'.

Former Met officer Peter Bleksley said previously that it took three days until a senior investigating officer was allocated to the case.

As a result there was no preservation of the scene around the bench, he claimed.

'They clearly, at an early stage, made their minds up way too early and got it wrong', he said.

Watch the full podcast here.
It's been five weeks since Dezi Freeman allegedly slaughtered two police officers in cold blood before he vanished into the wilderness and has never been seen again.

Victoria Police have thrown everything they have at the search, including 450 personnel, elite tactical forces, the military and a record $1million bounty on his head.

But the fugitive 56-year-old sovereign citizen is still on the run, sparking an explosion of wild conspiracy theories on his current whereabouts.

He fled into the bush wilderness around Porepunkah in the Victorian High Country after gunning down detective Neal Thompson and senior constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart, and injuring a third officer on August 26.

Not a single trace has been seen of him since.

Now speculation is running riot on what might have happened to him.

LIVING WILD

Police still believe he is most likely in the immediate area as they continue their huge air and ground search for him.

His own family seem to believe he is too, with his adult son admitting he thinks he's acting out his Hollywood fantasy of living wild like his movie hero, Rambo.

In an undated social media picture, Dezi is seen balancing on a branch over a canyon

Dezi's son Koah Freeman, pictured (right) in Bright, said he thinks his father is still in the area

Koah compared his father's survival skills to Sylvester Stallone's Rambo movie character

Sylvester Stallone's 1982 First Blood blockbuster about a Vietnam veteran war hero on the run in the wilderness was Freeman's all-time favourite movie.

Koah Freeman revealed that his father easily has the bush skills to survive in the wild despite the harsh weather and treacherous rough conditions.

'I'm not sure if you have ever seen the movie Rambo, especially the first Rambo movie, it's like that, but ten times the capacity,' he told media.

'The Mount Buffalo National Park is his second home. He's been there since he was 16, just going hiking in places no man has ever stepped foot in.'

KAYAKED TO SAFETY

Freeman had previously posted a video of himself kayaking down the nearby Buckland River which runs through the property where the shooting took place.

Some believe he may have made a beeline for his kayak as soon as the shooting took place and instantly fled the area, down the river, never to be seen again.

When the Daily Mail revealed details of his video and possible escape route, police search teams immediately switched to the river, but again without any success.

Dezi embraced his outdoorsman lifestyle from a young age and is a skilled kayaker

FLED OVERSEAS

The wildest theory is that he somehow managed to make it out of the area in the confusion and chaos after the deadly ambush.

Online conspiracy theorists believe he could easily have been smuggled out of the current search zone, either immediately or even days later.

Despite hundreds of cops being rushed into the area in the wake of the shooting, traffic was driving in and out of the area unchecked by police roadblocks.

A sympathetic local could easily has hidden him in their boot or even their backseat and driven out the area to the coast.

Several other sovereign citizens in Australia have access to yachts and sea-going motor boats which could have transported him to Papua New Guinea or beyond.

One posted online that he believed Freeman now was living among mountain tribespeople in Papua New Guinea.

Another believed he may have managed to paddle in a canoe across to New Zealand.

'Dezi made plans to paddle across the Tasman (to New Zealand) on the same day as the gunfight,' they said. 'It took him two weeks to make the journey.'

Cops have attended more than 100 residences as they attempt to flush out the fugitive

Opinions are divided over whether he is still in hiding in the High Country or has fled the region

THE GREAT ESCAPE

The other theory is he managed to flee cross-country on a dirt bike through the bush, like Steve McQueen in the World War II movie The Great Escape.

Some believe he could now be interstate and anywhere in the country.

In the early days of Freeman's evasion, one local suggested he could be 'somewhere in New South Wales or on a beach in Queensland by now'.

While Freeman is said to know the Mt Buffalo region better than anyone, a tranche of pictures unearthed by Daily Mail last week showed he was also familiar with the rainforests of northern Australia.

Posting a picture of himself shirtless and canoeing in a river, a much younger, long-haired Freeman wrote, 'When I lived wild and free in the boondy'.

The collection of images did nothing to dispel his 'man of the land' enigma - he was also seen holding a deadly tiger snake, balancing on a tree branch over a gorge, and delivering a spiritual incantation while wearing a loincloth and body paint in front of a campfire.

A recently unearthed photo of Dezi Freeman shows him in tribal garb by a campfire

Police dogs have been a mainstay in the hunt for Freeman, but still there is no sign of him

DOOMSDAY BUNKER

Others suspect the survivalist may have prepared a doomsday bunker hidden in the bush near his property, stocked with enough food and water to keep him going for months.

Freeman was deeply religious who had spoken of his fears about a Satanic end of days being imminent after the death of the last Pope, and would have been prepared.

He could safely be in his underground bunker undetectable by aerial police thermal imaging for weeks, without ever once having to come up for air or supplies.

He could also be hiding out in one of the many local disused mineshafts, tunnels, or caves, some of which are only accessible by diving underwater.

Locals have stressed Freeman is also a renowned and highly-skilled diver.

HIDING AT NEARBY HOMES

Sympathisers in the large local sovereign citizen/anti-authority community are also suspected to have been hiding or supporting Freeman while he's on the run.

Bright resident Steve Mallett was questioned over his relationship with Freeman

Police appear to be following online theories on the fugitive's whereabouts

Mount Buffalo National Park remains closed to the public as the manhunt continues

Police have made high-profile raids on several key figures in the network of supporters - but have found no trace of Freeman anywhere.

ALREADY DEAD - OR SOON TO BE

Some, including his son and wife, believe he may already be dead, possibly having taken his own life soon after the shootout when the consequences of his actions became clear.

'At this stage, I think he's probably deceased,' Koah admitted. 'I haven't got any explanation for that, but at this stage, to have no trace, it's a bit unbelievable.'

Others have also spoken of the fears that Freeman will want to go out in a blaze of glory in another deadly showdown with police - again mimicking the end of Rambo.

Many High Country locals cultivated a fearsome reputation for Freeman - one even claimed he could shoot with absolute precision at a distance of 200m.

It has prompted comparisons with nineteenth-century High Country bushranger and anti-hero, Ned Kelly - who also died in a hail of police bullets.

One thing is certain: as the search for Australia's most wanted man continues, so too will the wild conspiracies.
The grieving family of a father-of-two tradie killed in a catastrophic incident is on a mission to overhaul workplace regulations in the hope that another tragedy can be avoided.

Ryan MacKinnon, 44, was loading a scissor-lift elevated work platform onto a tilt-tray truck at a West Melbourne construction site on April 29 when disaster struck.

The platform fell from the rear of the truck, knocking Mr MacKinnon to the ground.

He suffered critical head injuries and was rushed to hospital, where he lost his fight for life two days later.

He became the 15th Victorian workplace fatality in the first four months of 2025. Another 22 have lost their lives since, taking the year's toll to 37, according to WorkSafe Victoria.

Mr MacKinnon leaves behind two children  Courtney and Dylan.

Four months on, his heartbroken family still has no answers, as WorkSafe Victoria is yet to complete its investigation into his death.

"We are still in absolute shock, still hoping he will just walk in the door," his sister Natalie MacKinnon told Daily Mail.

Father-of-two tradie Ryan MacKinnon was killed in a catastrophic incident at a construction site earlier this year

WorkSafe Victoria is investigating Ryan's tragic death at a West Melbourne construction site (pictured)

'It is absolutely incomprehensible that he is never coming home. Ryan has left the biggest holes in our hearts and we talk about him every single day.'

Ms MacKinnon is now leading a push for an overhaul of workplace safety regulations to make companies more accountable for workplace deaths.

The revamped legislation will be called Ryan's Law if she gets her way.

'Im constantly thinking about how I can make changes, how I can make Ryan matter in the world without him in it,' she said.

'I cant change this situation for his children but maybe I can make a small difference in his name. He will always matter to us.

'This still feels so raw, but our mum, his children, family and friends, deserve answers.

'Ryan always fought for what was right and would not hesitate to speak up. Now I need to do that for him, however that looks.'

The Ryan's Law online petition has already attracted more than 400 signatures.

Sister Natalie MacKinnon (pictured with Ryan and his two kids Dylan and Courtney) is now leading calls for change

Ryan (right) was a devoted dad to Courtney (left) and Dylan (back)

'We want workplace safety standards to be monitored more closely, for employers to ensure the safety of their workers and monitor the condition of equipment and vehicles more regularly, with written weekly reports,' Ms MacKinnon said.

'We want workers to be sent to jobs in pairs, not alone with heavy, dangerous equipment where there is significant risk of something going wrong.

'I just want more for these workers and their families than what my brother had.

'I truly hope that our story reaches someone that has the ability to make some kind of changes with workplace laws and regulations, as we desperately need to prevent this happening.'

Ms MacKinnon described her Jimmy Barnes, and Essendon Bombers AFL loving brother as super adventurous who enjoyed camping and the great outdoors, passions that he passed onto Courtney and Dylan.

'He was intensely protective of his children and had an unwavering loyalty for his family and close friends,' she said.

In 2020, Victoria became the fourth Australian jurisdiction to criminalise workplace negligence which results in death.

Individuals can be jailed for up to 25 years and organisations fined up to $16.5million if found guilty of not providing a safe workplace for employees which result in death.

'Ryan's Law' aims to make companies accountable by increasing safety inspections and mandating comprehensive safety inductions for employees on worksites.

Proposed workplace safety reforms will be called Ryan's Law if his family get their wish

Four months on from the tragedy, Ryan's family still has no answers

The family also wants every truck and piece of machinery to be rigorously and regularly tested to ensure they meet safety standards.

'The accountability must not end with businesses,' the petition states.

'It is essential that accurate reporting and transparent investigations are carried out to provide affected families the answers they deserve.'

For Ms MacKinnon, it's not just a call for policy change but also a plea for human lives to be given the respect and protection they deserve.

'If Ryans law became a reality in the future, it would mean that others would feel confident in leaving for work each day, feel safe and secure knowing they will come home at the end of the day,' she said.

'Families and friends would know there is a law that prevents these unnecessary traumas.

'Our family is one of many living a an absolute nightmare with no answers months later.'

WorkSafe Victoria says it uses every power at its disposal to hold those responsible to account when workplace obligations aren't met.

Its comprehensive investigations are often complex and take more than 12 months to complete.

A spokesperson told Daily Mail that its investigation into Mr MacKinnon's death continues.
A disgraced restaurant owner who sexually assaulted an underage staff member bolted from the dock just moments after being told he would spend his first night behind bars.

Gunaseelan Manoharan fronted Ballarat County Court on Thursday, where he was found guilty of four counts of sexual assault against a child under 16 and one count of sexual assault involving an adult victim.

The 42-year-old, who came to Australia from India in 2014, does not hold citizenship or permanent residency and could be deported if his visa is cancelled by the federal government.

Judge John Kelly ordered the predator be remanded in custody - but before guards could escort him away, Manoharan defied orders and fled the dock.

'Mr Manoharan, can you please go back in the dock,' Judge Kelly said.

Instead, the sex offender ignored the command and made a frantic dash to embrace his wife and children as they sobbed uncontrollably in court.

Judge Kelly sat in stunned silence while lawyers on both sides looked on in disbelief as Manoharan refused to return.

He was eventually forced back into the dock and taken into custody.

Gunaseelan Manoharan (pictured) was found guilty of five sexual assault of a child under 16 charges

Manoharan ran Rooh Indian Contemporary Restaurant Bar when he sexually violated various female employees

Manoharan had run Rooh Indian Contemporary Restaurant and Bar, about 300km northwest of Melbourne, when he preyed on two female staff between March 2021 and January 2022.

Manoharan was known to be a respected local community member and businessman who ran his once-thriving restaurant at the Horsham Town Hall and Regional Art Gallery.

But behind the public glaze lurked a sinister predator.

The court heard Manoharan groped the teenage female staff member's buttocks, breasts, lips and shoulders.

The boss attempted to cover up his lewd behaviour by pretending to brush hair and lint off the scared victim's clothing.

He allegedly told the teenager he was 'tidying her uniform'.

The prosecutor said Manoharan 'well knew what he was doing' by using the guise of dirty uniforms, adding that he did this 'as a means of covering up his criminality'.

Manoharan lurched onto one victim and groped the young female staff member's buttocks, breasts, lips and shoulders

Manoharan also hugged an adult victim and kissed her neck and face without consent.

After she revealed a family tragedy, Manoharan allegedly moved in, placing his head against her neck and shoulder while hugging her and planting kisses along her collarbone and jawline.

She quit the restaurant shortly after.

The teenage victim made a statement to the court in which she shared how the sexual offending had affected her life.

'In the years following the incidents, I was forced to grow up quickly in order to cope with the lasting damage,' the victim told the court.

'I struggled with feelings of helplessness every day. I had trouble sleeping and I developed a deep distrust of men and coworkers.

'This distrust has followed me into future workplaces, making it difficult to build healthy relationships, feel safe in professional settings or trust the intentions of those around me.

'At the time, the only person who knew was my mum. Because of my age and the nature of the crime I didn't feel comfortable telling her how dirty and shamed I felt so I bottled it up inside.

'That silence left me feeling defeated, small and very alone for a very long time.'

Manoharan ran his once-thriving restaurant at the Horsham Town Hall and Regional Art Gallery

The young victim told the court how Manoharan's trial 'reopened the wounds and dragged out the pain'.

'The years of waiting have left me carrying anxiety, shame and fear on a daily basis,' she said.

'When I was 16 the police came to my school and I was taken out of class to be interviewed. This started rumours that spread throughout the school.

'I felt exposed, embarrassed and judged without anyone knowing the truth. It left me feeling isolated and deeply affected my sense of safety and trust at school.'

The victim said she needed to seek professional help to treat her trauma.

'The shame and isolation caused everlasting trauma and I've worked hard to rebuild my sense of stability and well-being,' she said.

'Instead of feeling as though I was finding peace, I have felt exposed, vulnerable and shamed as the crimes against me were happening all over again.

'It has taken so much more strength to sit through this process but it has also acted as a reminder to me just how heavy the impact of these crimes has been on my life and how they have shaped me and probably forever will.'

The restaurant where Manoharan committed his vile crimes was located at a Horsham Rural Cityoperated site, but the eatery closed in March 2023.

Manoharan will be sentenced on November 12.
GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING

Over a decade after Pennsylvania teacher Ellen Greenberg was found stabbed to death in her apartment, many are still captivated and disturbed over what led to her shocking death.

Greenberg, who was 27 at the time, died on January 26, 2011, from multiple stab wounds. Her death was initially ruled a suicide.

Greenberg's parents, Sandee and Josh, have fought for their daughter's case to be reopened, citing the likelihood that she stabbed herself in the back.

The mysterious case has loomed in Pennsylvania for decades, and will now be further explored in a Hulu docuseries set to premiere on Monday.

The nightmarish sequence of events began on a typical, snowy afternoon for the Greenberg family.

The newly engaged teacher was released early from work due to the weather and was making a fruit salad in her apartment before her death.

She was with her fiance, television producer Samuel Goldberg, that evening before he left to go to their building's gym at 4:45 pm, according to the police's initial investigation report.

When he returned to their unit about 45 minutes later, the door was locked, and he began shouting for her.

Ellen Greenberg died on January 26, 2011, from multiple stab wounds. Her fiance, Samuel Goldberg, found her body in their apartment and called 911

Inside apartment 603: Blood was pictured on the floor of her kitchen and on her clothes when her body was found

Greenberg's apartment door was locked, and her fiance couldn't get in when she died. Last February, the medical examiner signed a document that stated he no longer believed she died of suicide

A medical examiner noted around 20 stab wounds in her neck, chest, and head. A knife was embedded in her chest

Goldberg then sent his fiancee a series of texts that read, 'hello,' 'open the door,' 'what r u doin,' 'im getting pissed,' 'hello,' 'you better have an excuse,' 'what the f***,' 'ahhh,' and 'you have no idea'.

After Greenberg didn't respond, he went downstairs to ask the building security guard for help and then returned to the apartment to break down the door.

Eventually, Goldberg pushed his way into the apartment and called 911 upon discovery of the gruesome scene.

'Help! I need an ambulance immediately,' he told the dispatcher. 'I just came home, and my fiancee is on the floor, covered in blood'.

The operator then instructed him to start performing CPR, and two minutes later, he said she had a knife sticking out of her chest.

'She stabbed herself!' Goldberg then said. 'She fell on a knife'.

When emergency services arrived, Greenberg was found with multiple stab wounds and a knife embedded in her chest.

She was covered in blood with a white towel clenched in her hands, according to Detective Scott Eelman's report.

The case is explored in a new ABC/Hulu docuseries, Death in Apartment 603: What Happened to Ellen Greenberg?

Greenberg's Ugg boots were also covered in blood, and there were stains on the kitchen floor next to her.

Eelman's report noted that he didn't believe that the blood stain patterns were consistent with the position she was in when she was found.

He cited the minimal amount of bloodstains on the floor in comparison with the blood flow patterns on her face and clothes.

Assistant Medical Examiner Marlon Osbourne performed an autopsy on Greenberg's body, which details the multiple stab wounds found on her chest, abdomen, scalp, and neck.

She was also observed to have multiple bruises, and her death was declared a homicide.

However, police had treated the crime scene as a suicide, and the apartment was never secured.

Criminal investigative analyst Tom Brennan previously told Daily Mail that the case demonstrated a 'total lack of basic police work'.

He said that the day after Greenberg's death, Goldberg's uncle and cousin returned to the apartment to retrieve their electronics.

The medical examiner's office initially ruled her death a homicide before changing it to a suicide

The apartment was then professionally cleaned, and potential evidence of a homicide was erased.

Osbourne then changed his initial ruling of a homicide to a suicide, defending the decision in a deposition: 'She's the only one found in the apartment, with nothing disturbed, nothing out of place, no other way of getting in there, it doesn't lend to the fact that someone else was there to do it. So that was discounted'.

However, her parents never believed the ruling and spent years hiring professionals to investigate their daughter's death.

Forensic pathologist Cyril H. Wecht, who died last year, stated in his investigative report: 'Suicidal stab wounds can rarely be multiple. Suicides by stabbing are becoming less frequent, with simpler choices being drugs, hanging, or gunshot'.

The report concluded that in Wecht's professional opinion, 'the manner of the death of Ellen Greenberg is strongly suspicious of homicide'.

Greenberg's parents, Sandy and Joshua, didn't believe that their daughter died of suicide

Greenberg was a Pennsylvania schoolteacher and was recently engaged when she died

In 2019, her family launched a petition to reopen the case and change Greenberg's cause of death to 'homicide' or 'undetermined'.

'Ellen's death was determined to be a homicide. But the Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Officer, at the insistence of the Philadelphia Police, suspiciously reversed itself weeks later and declared Ellen's death to be a suicide,' the description on the petition read.

Greenberg's mother told Daily Mail in 2020: 'This is not something we thought, in a million years, we would ever be doing or would ever happen.

'We thought there was a very bright future. We were planning for future generations never expecting her life to end like this. It took years for us to piece this together.

'At the beginning I was sitting up at night looking at reports with a centimeter ruler trying to figure out how that really translated into how shallow or deep the incisions were on my child's body. We realized we needed to get experts to help us do this so that's what we did'.

Greenberg's parents filed a lawsuit against city officials alleging a 'conspiracy to cover up' their daughter's murder.

A medical examiner's report noted multiple stab wounds to her chest, neck, and head

Forensic pathologist Cyril H. Wecht, who died last year, conducted a review of the evidence and concluded that 'the manner of the death of Ellen Greenberg is strongly suspicious of homicide'

The case was settled in February, and Osbourne signed a document that stated he no longer believed the Pennsylvania teacher died by suicide.

'I am now aware that information exists which draws into question, for example, whether Ellen's fiance was witnessed entering the apartment before placing the 9-1-1 call on January 26, 2011; whether the door was forced open as reported; whether Ellen's body was moved by someone else inside the apartment with her at or near the time of her death; and the findings of Lindsey Emery, M.D. from her neuropathological evaluation of Ellen's cervical segment sample,' Osbourne stated as his reasoning for amending the cause of death.

Osbourne's conclusion isn't binding and can't amend the death certificate because he no longer works at the Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office.

The upcoming docuseries is set to delve further into the case and features interviews with over 20 individuals, including her friends, family members, former students, and colleagues.

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health declined to comment, and the Philadelphia Police Department directed media inquiries to the City Law Department.
Walking slowly into the Oval Office, JD Vance locked eyes with Donald Trump.

'Mr President, I'm sorry, but Charlie has passed,' the vice president said - and the room fell silent in shock.

Kirk was Vance's close friend and confidant, and one of the main inspirations behind his journey to the White House.

His assassination invoked a gut-wrenching and deeply personal response and lit a fuse under the vice-president that has given him even more drive, insiders told the Daily Mail.

In the days that followed, friends and staff watched closely as the vice-president mourned his closest political ally.

Alongside Second Lady Usha Vance, he flew to Utah to escort Kirk's coffin aboard Air Force Two to Arizona.

Vance comforted his widow Erika, and stood watch at his funeral.

Allies say the weight of the moment is impossible to ignore. 'How do you go through the day without thinking you're next on the list?' one friend of the vice-president told the Daily Mail.

Vice-President JD Vance gestures as he stands on stage during the memorial service for political activist Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium earlier this month

Vance (right) Second Lady Usha Vance (center) and Erika Kirk disembark Air Force Two while escorting Kirk's body in Phoenix, Arizona, on September 11

Kirk was firmly in Vance's inner circle of companions in politics, and was often the person the VP went to when his temper boiled over.

'I can't call my friend because he was murdered for speaking the truth,' Vance said at the funeral.

That service, though, became a rallying cry.

'The spirit on the ground was unlike anything I'd ever experienced before,' said one source close to Vance.

Senior aides say the vice-president, the president and the wider administration emerged with a new sense of purpose: a determination to honor Kirk by carrying his work forward.

The Daily Mail traveled with Vance to North Carolina on Wednesday, where the atmosphere turned even grimmer.

As his plane prepared to take off, news broke of another politically motivated attack -a gunman opening fire at an ICE facility in Dallas.

Vance's response was immediate. 'The obsessive attack on law enforcement, particularly ICE, must stop,' he wrote on social media as Air Force Two set off into the sky.

By the time the plane landed, sniper teams dotted rooftops, police convoys sealed off streets, and the vice-president was hustled into a waiting SUV.

Vance is escorted as he walks from Marine Two to board Air Force Two

Vance speaks at Concord-Padgett Regional Airport in North Carolina

His motorcade rolled first to a fundraiser at Richard Childress Racing, then on to Concord - a community still reeling from the brutal stabbing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a commuter train weeks earlier.

'She came from a war-torn country, she sought shelter in the United States of America and, because of soft on crime policies, she was murdered here, not in the war-torn country she came from,' he said.

There, flanked by police and armored vehicles, Vance delivered his most aggressive speech yet.

The vice-president thundered that the left could 'go straight to hell' for stoking violence, vowing to restore law and order and rid the streets of the 'crazy' attackers terrorizing America.

'If you want to stop political violence,' he declared, 'stop telling your supporters that everybody who disagrees with you is a Nazi.'

Insiders say the assassination has hardened Vance's resolve.

Once seen as Trump's protege, he is now positioning himself as one of the many keepers of Charlie Kirk's flame.

Kirk's friends and followers are watching, and admit to feeling comforted by Vance's response.

'At a time when our nation, party, and movement have been in shock and mourning, there's no question vice-president Vance has shown great clarity, support, and resolve to millions of Americans,' Mark Bednar, Republican strategist and former communications director to Speaker Kevin McCarthy, told the Daily Mail.

'His calls for renewed purpose, restored faith, and how we move forward honoring Charlie Kirk's legacy have been incredible.'

The new determination from the frontrunner for the 2028 Republican nomination could terrify his potential rivals.

At Kirk's funeral, Vance's voice cracked with emotion as he offered a final vow: 'I love you. We've got it from here.'
Campaigners have slammed a new NHS document which highlights the supposed benefits of marriages between cousins.

Despite evidence that the practice carries an increased risk of birth defects, it says that cousin marriage offers benefits such as stronger extended family support systems.

It even highlights how it has been legal in England since Henry VIII passed a law enabling him to marry Anne Boleyns cousin Catherine Howard.

Aisha Ali-Khan, who has bravely spoken out about the impact of her Pakistan-born parents being first cousins, said the article - first exposed by the Mail on Sunday - was harmful.

Growing up in Keighley, West Yorkshire, three of her brothers were born with serious health difficulties - tragically none lived to the age of 18 - which she believes were linked to the 'consanguineous' marriage.

'I've been campaigning to highlight the risks of first cousin marriage for years, and we've finally started to see younger members of the community start to reject the practice,' she told the Daily Mail.

'So for the NHS to say that cousin marriage is something which has been going on for centuries just undermines what those of us with lived experience have been saying.

'The health issues it leads to penalise women in particular, and I don't want other families to go through what ours did.

Aisha Ali-Khan, who has bravely spoken out about the impact of her Pakistan-born parents being first cousins, said the NHS guidance was 'wrong' and should be withdrawn

'This document is wrong, it should never have been published and it needs to be withdrawn immediately.'

Aneeta Prem MBE, founder of the Freedom Charity which campaigns against forced marriage and 'dishonour' based violence, also criticised the article.

'First cousin marriage is not just a cultural tradition  it is a safeguarding risk,' she told the Mail.

'At Freedom Charity we have seen how it is tied to dishonour abuse, where young people are pressured from childhood and given little or no real choice.

'The health evidence is clear.

'These are preventable harms that place families and the NHS under immense pressure.

'This is about protecting rights, not targeting communities.'

The document comes after an NHS trust compared cousin marriage to white women having children over the age of 34.

This graphic, from NHS material distributed to couples in Bradford, explains some of the genetic risks of having children with a close relative. Two parents with a recessive gene have an increased chance of having a child with an inherited condition

Material drawn up by health chiefs in Bradford - where a study found cousin marriage accounts for about 30 per cent of birth defects - suggested that the decision to marry a first cousin is no different to having a child later in life.

It described cousin marriages as a 'cultural practice' and likened it to white women and couples starting families later because of 'liberal values such as preferring jobs, careers, bodily fitness and individualism'.

The latest controversial document was released by NHS England's Genomics Education Programme.

It accepts that first-cousin marriage - common in the British Pakistani community - is linked to 'an increased likelihood of a child having a genetic condition or a congenital anomaly'.

But it says other factors also increase this chance, such as parental age, smoking, alcohol use and assisted reproductive technologies, 'none of which are banned in the UK'.

Additionally it says outlawing cousin marriages would 'stigmatise certain communities and cultural traditions' and instead calls for 'genetic counselling, awareness-raising initiatives and public health campaigns'.

Tory MP Richard Holden has introduced a bill which would ban first cousin marriages - however Downing Street has indicated that the Government has no plans to take this step.

An NHS England spokesman said: 'The article published on the website of the Genomics Education Programme is a summary of existing scientific research and the public policy debate.

'It is not expressing an NHS view.'
It is a town that sits on the banks of the River Mersey which has been a Labour stronghold since 1945.

But now in Bootle, even lifelong 'Red Wall' voters are fed up with Sir Keir Starmer.

In what could be an ominous sign of things to come for the floundering premier, despite his pleas for 'space', there is only one man people in this working-class town are throwing their support behind: Nigel Farage.

A megapoll has suggested Reform would get the keys for Number 10 if an election was held now, in what would be the biggest surge in British political history.

Reform's net gain of 306 seats would be easily the biggest increase for a party between two general elections.

Meanwhile, the number of seats held by Labour would plummet by more than 250 seats from its current tally.

Sir Keir yesterday admitted it would 'take time' to 'change the country'.

'I just need the space to get on and do the things that I need to do,' the premier said.

He argued he can 'pull this round' despite another poll showed the party on track for disaster.

It's a town that sits on the banks of the River Mersey which has been a Labour stronghold since 1945. But now in Bootle (pictured), even the lifelong Red Wall voters are fed up with Sir Keir Starmer

The More in Common research estimated that Reform would scoop 373 seats if an election were held now. Labour would be reduced to just 90 MPs, from nearly 400 currently.

The poll also found Labour's failures  including the recent exits of Angela Rayner and Lord Mandelson  have had more cut-through with the public than the party's successes in Government.

That shifting mood was evident in the supposed Labour safe seat of Bootle when the Daily Mail visited last week.

Pensioner John McNamara, 77, explained why people have already had enough of Labour just a year after the party's landslide victory.

'I think something has just snapped and people won't take it anymore,' he said.

He pointed to Sir Keir's disastrous decision to scrap winter fuel payments for pensioners just months after Labour's loveless landslide, before the PM made a humiliating climbdown.

'I just think Labour lost it when they scrapped the winter fuel payments. That was it really,' he said, before adding: 'I am moving more toward Reform now.

'We are just sick and tired of it all now. There are just too many foreigners here now and they don't have to pay for things we worked so hard for.

'You see it in The Strand Shopping centre, which is just behind me. Ten years ago it was full of locals. Now it's the other way around.

'We have a lot of family in Southport and the attack last year really shocked us. That lad should not have been walking around.'

Fellow pensioner Susan O'Brien said she would also be voting for Reform next time.

'It's the small boats,' she said. 'We just can't take them anymore.

Pensioner Susan O'Brien said she would also be voting for Reform next time. 'It's the small boats,' she said. 'We just can't take them anymore'

Joe Rimmer's father used to work on the docks and said he was raised to believe in the Labour Party. 'Labour just don't seem to have the answers anymore,' the 71-year-old said

Pensioner John McNamara, 77, (left) thinks Labour lost it when they scrapped winter fuel payments. While Eric Bates, 78, (right) used to be a Labour Party member, but the once staunch red said: 'I won't vote for Labour again'

'People like Nigel [Farage] because he talks their language. He talks about stopping the boats and sending people home.

'That is what we want to hear. If he turned up here now, everyone would want to speak to him.'

Eric Bates, 78, used to be a Labour Party member and activist and previously chaired a ward in Kensington.

But the once staunch red said: 'I won't vote for Labour again. And yes I am looking at Reform.'

Joe Rimmer's father used to work on the docks and said he was raised to believe in the Labour Party.

'Labour just don't seem to have the answers anymore,' the 71-year-old said.

'But the small boats problem has been too much and it's time for a change. People just won't have it anymore, and it's not racism. We just don't have the room for them.

'I think Liverpool's problems date back to the militants in the early 1980s, when they started knocking down all the old buildings. Labour is the problem now.'

Polling by Ipsos Mori has put Sir Keir's personal ratings at the lowest level of any PM since comparable records began in 1977.

Litherland mother, Jill, who did not supply her surname, said: 'Yes it's all Nigel Farage now. I get most of my news on YouTube - I follow the protests outside the hotels and all that.

In findings that will spread alarm among activists in Liverpool, More in Common research estimated that Nigel Farage's insurgents would scoop 373 seats if an election were held now

Your browser does not support iframes.

'People like Farage because he says what they want to hear. Stop the boats and send back the illegals.'

Jean Macauley, from Seaforth, said she too is 'sick of the small boats' and that most of her friends are talking about Reform now.

She said: 'But there are other things too, like all the boarded-up shops. And there has also been a collapse in dental care too - you can't see a dentist anymore.

'Everything has gone wrong.'

Schoolworker Kathleen was also shifting away from Labour, but it wasn't to Reform she was heading to.

'I am looking at Jeremy Corbyn's new party,' she said. 'I just agree with most of his policies, particularly on Palestine.'
On Wednesday, two weeks ago, the front page of one local paper featured the single, bold headline: JUST ANOTHER DAY AT THE VIC...

The sarcasm would not have been lost on readers who knew exactly what it meant.

The Vic  short for Blackpool Victoria Hospital  has been embroiled in multiple scandals in recent times and here, inside the respected local paper, were reports of not one, not two but three more in the same edition: Neglected patient died in toilet  P5; Surgeon jailed for groping colleagues P11; Hospital named in national inquiry into maternity care  P12.

Hard to imagine a more damaging news day for the Vic, coming on top of a spate of such high-profile controversies.

Among the most notorious are the two nurses now behind bars for drugging stroke victims for an easy life and a pensioner sexually assaulted on the same ward.

It means, almost unbelievably, that six medical staff at the hospital have been sent to prison for serious criminal offences in the past two years alone and the tally doesnt include the consultant who was found by a tribunal to have raped a woman at his home.

The Vic  short for Blackpool Victoria Hospital  has been embroiled in multiple scandals in recent years

Lancashire Police still havent concluded their inquiries, either.

The hospital itself is still under investigation  its called Operation Bermuda  for potential corporate failings contributing to the death, ill-treatment or neglect of patients.

So the Gazettes hard-hitting front page could not have been more unwelcome.

In the circumstances, would it be unfair to say Blackpool Victoria, despite having many dedicated staff operating in the most challenging conditions, is possibly the worst hospital in the country?

The underlying metrics, aside from the scandals, suggest it could be.

Six NHS hospitals in England are rated Inadequate by the Care Quality Commission, the lowest rating the CQC can score, and one of them is the Vic.

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (BTH), of which Blackpool Victoria is a part, is also 125th out of 134 in the new NHS performance league tables; in the bottom ten, in other words.

Just over a week ago, the front page of the Blackpool Gazette featured the single, bold headline: JUST ANOTHER DAY AT THE VIC...

What is undoubtedly true is that the affection in which the Vic used to be held has given way to anger at what has happened and trepidation among some members of the public about what might happen if they have to go there.

I would be frightened to go into that hospital, to be honest with you, resident Julie Knowles told the Daily Mail. Speaking to people, I think they are scared as well because we have now heard so many horror stories.

Her words carry extra weight because they are born of personal grief. Julies only son Jamie Pearson  a kind, gentle and talented 27-year-old, whose story was trailed in the Blackpool Gazettes front page, killed himself in a toilet after waiting 22 hours for treatment following his admission for taking an overdose of painkillers.

Up until that point, when he experienced a sudden psychosis, Jamie, a plasterer and joiner who ran his own business, had always been fit and healthy. At his inquest earlier this month, the coroner said neglect contributed to his suicide a little over a year ago.

He never needed the NHS before. The only time he did they let him down, explained devastated Julie, 59, a former medical receptionist at a Blackpool GP surgery. Everyone at the hospital kept saying: I am sorry, I am sorry, but that is not going to bring my son back.

He had everything to live for. He was always laughing and smiling. He was very well known in Blackpool and no one can believe what happened to him. Jamie has lost his life and in turn it has destroyed mine.

Julies poignant, quiet rage is shared by many others.

Jamie Pearson  a kind, gentle and talented 27-year-old, whose story was trailed in the Blackpool Gazettes front page, killed himself in a toilet after waiting 22 hours for treatment

The front page of the Gazette was posted on X, and underneath people have made their feelings known.

One comment perhaps epitomises the general mood. This is UNBELIEVABLE, it declared. The number of victims just goes on and on. That this culture could have happened in the NHS is sickening.

Sickening, yes. Surprising, not really.

The truth is that the NHS, once lauded as the envy of the world, has been beset by scandal after scandal in the past two decades. One of the common denominators which links all of these outrages was a lack of compassion among the nursing staff.

At the Vic, they bragged about sedating those under their care in WhatsApp messages with sign-offs like: ha, ha or pmsl (p*** myself laughing).'

At a hospital in Mid Staffordshire, patients were left unfed and unwashed.

While in Shrewsbury and Telford, more than 200 babies and nine mothers could have survived with better care.

Yet, in its own way, Blackpool Victoria is uniquely disturbing because criminal behaviour or systemic failings in care have affected so many different areas of the hospital.

The latter received little publicity, so lets deal with them first.

One of the reasons the hospital was rated Inadequate by the CQC was because of the way the urgent and emergency services unit, which deals with many of the common, non-life threatening problems people go to A&E for, was run.

At times, inspectors observed, the department felt chaotic and we had concerns about the lack of oversight the leadership team had of the risks.

Maternity services, where a shortage of midwives and lack of consultant availability causing delays in providing care for high-risk pregnancies, were highlighted by the watchdog and will now be part of a national inquiry into what has been described as failures in the system'.

Could any of those failures be more heartbreaking than the tragedy of Ayla Newton?

Ayla died 13 days after she was born in February 2023 because her brain was deprived of oxygen and blood flow during birth.

A delay to her caesarean delivery materially contributed to her death, an inquest heard in April.

Her parents told how repeated concerns raised by multiple midwives were ignored.

The Trust said it was truly sorry that our care fell below the standards they [her family] deserved but processes and training, the statement said, had been improved since Aylas death.

Problems have been compounded by the dire state of the books at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (BTH), which was put into the equivalent of financial special measures in February.

The deficit forecast for 2025/26 could range anywhere between 7million and 13.4million.

Amal Bose, 55, was the consultant heart surgeon in charge of the department. He was also a predator hiding in plain sight, who molested a string of younger, junior members

But neither cutbacks, budgetary restrictions or staff shortages can explain the wickedness and depravity that have also stalked the wards of Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

Amal Bose, 55, was the consultant heart surgeon in charge of the department. He was also a predator hiding in plain sight, who molested a string of younger, junior members including, on one occasion, grabbing a nurses breast as she helped him prepare for surgery.

Bose was jailed for six years last week for sexual assaults against five women between 2017 and 2022.

Aloaye Foy-Yamah was a consultant in acute medicine. He was investigated by police, though not charged, after a woman accused him of raping her at his home in 2018.

At a hearing six months ago, however, a panel of the Medical Practitioners Service tribunal, found he did rape her in what was controversially described as a one-off event in his personal life.

Mr Foy-Yamah, who maintains his innocence, avoided being struck off and was suspended for 12 months.

The General Medical Council, which regulates the register of doctors licensed to practise in the UK, said it was deeply uncomfortable with the victim-blaming narrative from the tribunal and considered the determination lacked a proper assessment of the misconduct.

The GMC has appealed the decision to merely suspend Mr Foy-Yamah to the High Court.

Mr Foy-Yamah could, in theory, eventually return to Blackpool Victoria or indeed another hospital.

And then there is the infamous stroke unit, where senior nurse Catherine Hudson, 54, and her junior colleague Charlotte Wilmot, 48, worked.

The ward is tucked away in the far corner of the hospital and is reached via a long corridor, a four-minute walk from the main entrance in the older part of the building and one of the reasons, some think, why their behaviour went undetected for so long.

It was here that the pair dispensed the sedative Zopiclone like sweets to keep patients quiet and compliant or out of spite or simply for their own amusement.

Senior nurse Catherine Hudson, 54, and her junior colleague Charlotte Wilmot, 48, dispensed the sedative Zopiclone like sweets to keep patients quiet and compliant or out of spite or simply for their own amusement

One of those who spent more than three months under the care of Hudson and Wilmot back in 2017 was David Boyle, a much-loved figure in Blackpool, who used to run the Doctor Who Exhibition on the Golden Mile.

Mr Boyle, 69, was paralysed down his right side and sometimes had to wear a restraint mitt on his left hand to prevent him pulling out his feeding tube.

But his partner Julie Whitfield found the mitt had been velcroed to the side of his bed rail like he was a handcuffed prisoner and inside his bedside cabinet was his medication: Zopiclone.

David, a highly successful businessman  he founded leading model railway manufacturer Dapol  passed away in 2019.

There seems to be more bad publicity about the hospital every week, Julie said. It inevitably brings back memories of what happened to David.

Catherine Hudson and Charlotte Wilmot were jailed for a total of more than ten years in 2023 for conspiring to drug and ill-treat defenceless patients. While Marek Grabianowski, a senior nurse, was given 14 months for conspiracy to steal drugs and perverting the course of justice.

I know the perpetrators have been brought to justice but you do wonder if there are more staff like them still there, added Julie.

Thankfully, Im in good health so I have never had cause to visit the hospital.

A series of measures to improve patient safety and care standards has now been introduced by the new Trust chief executive Maggie Oldham.

But the legacy of the past  as well as recent cases like the suicide of Jamie Pearson  continues to blight the Vic.

It was only this month that a coroner ruled that 75-year-old Valerie Kneale, who bled to death on the stroke ward on November 16, 2018, was unlawfully killed after being sexually assaulted.

Her attacker has never been caught and the police investigation remains open.

Like everyone else in my home town, I share the deep concerns about the serious cases which have come to light at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, said Chris Webb, Labour MP for Blackpool South.

Ive spoken openly and at length with the new chief executive, who I meet with regularly, and Im confident in her dedication and vision to turn things around.

The question is: would you be happy for your loved ones to be treated there?
The US Government has waded into a row over the arrest of a Scots pensioner for breaching abortion buffer zone laws.

75-year-old Rose Docherty was held and charged last week for allegedly standing within 200 metres of Glasgows Queen Elizabeth University Hospital with a sign that read: Coercion is a crime, here to talk, only if you want.

It is the second time in seven months that Ms Docherty has been detained under laws that ban the intimidation and influencing of anyone trying to access abortion services.

But the pensioner insisted that everybody has the right to engage in consensual conversation, adding that lending a listening ear should not be a criminal offence.

Echoing her stance, a State Department spokesman told The Telegraph: The arrest of Rose Docherty is another egregious example of the tyrannical suppression of free speech happening across Europe.

When 75-year-old grandmothers are being arrested for standing peacefully and offering conversation, common sense and basic civility are under attack.

The United States will always speak out against these violations of fundamental rights.

The criticism comes just six months after Donald Trumps administration sent officials to Britain to meet with pro-life activists, including Ms Docherty, amid fears about a clampdown on their freedom of expression.

US Vice President JD Vance has condemned the buffer zones

Footage of Ms Dochertys most recent arrest shows her being questioned by four police officers, searched, then led into a back of a van.

The grandmother-of-two, who has had two hip replacements, claimed she was left without a chair in a police cell for two hours.

Ms Docherty was then charged and released on bail, with conditions that not only prevent her from going into the buffer area but wider area.

She said: I held my sign with love and compassion, inviting anyone who wants to chat, to do so  and stood peacefully, not approaching anyone.

She added: Conversation is not forbidden on the streets of Glasgow. And yet, this is the second time I have been arrested for doing just that.

In February, the pensioner became the first person to be arrested for influencing women with her beliefs within an abortion buffer zone.

She was arrested under the Safe Access Zones Act, which was introduced last September, when she silently held the same sign outside the same Glasgow hospital.

Ms Dochertys arrest sparked an international backlash from leading figures like American Vice President J.D. Vance, who condemned the Scottish Buffer Zones as a sign of growing authoritarianism in the UK.

Speaking at a security conference in Munich in February, President Trumps deputy claimed that Scots who pray in their homes near abortion clinics could be prosecuted, adding across Europe, free speech, I fear, is in retreat.

First Minister John Swinney responded that Mr Vances claims were just wrong, and Green MSP Gillian Mackay, who brought the Bill forward, dismissed the comments as nonsense.

However, Mackay added that the laws could criminalise people who pray visibly from a window in their home within the zone, depending on who is passing by the window.

Scotlands public prosecution service eventually dropped its charges against Ms Docherty last month, prompting Americas State Department to welcome the sensible decision.

Speaking of the grandmothers latest arrest, Lorcan Price, legal counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom International, which sponsored Ms Dochertys case, said: Its deeply concerning that Scottish policing resources are being ploughed into arresting and prosecuting a peaceful grandmother offering to speak to people in public, rather than focusing on the problems caused by real crime in Glasgow.

This is not a case about harassment, intimidation or violent protest  this is simply a grandmother, who held a sign offering to speak to anyone who would like to engage.
An American citizen has been released by the Taliban after being imprisoned for almost a year.

Amir Amiry, 36, was released from an Afghan prison on Sunday just weeks after the US government reached a prisoner exchange deal through negotiations with Qatar and Afghanistan.

The prisoner exchange was in an effort to smooth over relations between the two countries.

The deputy spokesperson for the Taliban Foreign Ministry, Zia Ahmad Takal, did not say why Amiry was detained or where.

An official with knowledge of the release said Amiry had been in custody in Afghanistan since December 2024 and was finally on his way back to the U.S.

U.S. Special Envoy Adam Boehler told Fox News: 'Amir Amiry became a citizen by putting his life at risk fighting for our country and our troops.

'Today we repay the favor. God bless America and God bless the President.'

Officials reported that Qatari diplomats had worked closely with the US to ensure Amiry's health and wellbeing during his imprisonment.

Amir Amiry's (left) release was secured through negotiations made by the US, Qatar, and Afghanistan

Officials said that Amiry was on his way back to the US as of September 28. He was joined on the plane by Deputy Assistant to the U.S. President Sebastian Gorka (left), Qatari diplomats, and US Special Envoy for Hostage Response Adam Boehler (right)

In a statement obtained by CNN, Qatari Minister of State Mohammed Al-Khulaifi said the country: 'Remains committed to advancing mediation efforts aimed at achieving peaceful solutions to conflicts and complex international issues.'

Amiry's release was a part of Qatar's security partnership with the U.S. which has secured the freedom of four other Americans from Taliban detention this year.

The energy-rich nation also helped in releasing a British couple who were imprisoned for months.

There are reportedly at least three other Americans currently in Afghan prisons. There is hope that this release will be the first of many.

Ahmad Habibi, whose brother has been held by the Taliban since August 2022 said his family is: 'Grateful to hear that another American has been freed from unjust Taliban captivity.'

He said: 'We are grateful that senior officials at the State Department and National Security Council have repeatedly assured us that any deal they do with the Taliban will be "all or nothing" and they have explicitly assured us that they will not leave my brother behind.

'The Biden Administration did nothing for us. We have faith in President Trump.'

Negotiations for Amiry's release had concluded weeks before Afghanistan released him

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio celebrated Amiry's release, saying it marked the administrations determination to protect American nationals from wrongful detention abroad.

He wrote on X: 'Today we welcome home Amir Amiry, an American who was wrongfully detained in Afghanistan.

'I want to thank Qatar for helping secure his freedom.

'[The President] has made it clear we will not stop until every American unjustly detained abroad is back home.'

It remains unclear what the Taliban received, if anything, in exchange for freeing the American prisoner.
Jailed aristocrat Constance Marten and her lover Mark Gordon are set to cost taxpayers more than 1million in legal aid bills, figures reveal.

The wealthy heiress, 38, who was jailed for 14 years for killing her baby, has been granted legal aid for her trial and family court battle for her older children  despite having a 2.4million trust fund.

In a case which raises questions about the legal aid system, Marten has boasted behind bars that she will soon be able to access her trust fund, spending cash on whatever she wants.

She will also benefit from another fund which will mature when she turns 40.

Yet taxpayers have had to foot the bill for the couple's Old Bailey trial, retrial, family court proceedings and a forthcoming appeal.

Marten and Gordon, 51, went on the run with their newborn daughter Victoria in 2023 to prevent her from being taken into care, sparking a 1.2million manhunt across the country.

The couple's four older children had already been removed by social services to protect them from harm before they fled with Victoria. They camped in freezing cold weather, causing their baby to die from hypothermia.

Earlier this month, a judge jailed the pair for 14 years as he blasted their arrogance and 'lack of thought for anyone'.

Jailed aristocrat Constance Marten and her lover Mark Gordon are set to cost taxpayers more than 1million in legal aid bills

Figures, released under the Freedom of Information Act, show that the couple have already claimed more than 400,000 in legal aid. Lawyers are yet to put in their final court bill, which is expected to exceed 600,000.

Gordon, who has a previous conviction for raping a woman in Florida when he was 14, has already claimed 367,210 in legal aid.

This includes more than 250,500 for lawyers to represent him in the first trial, 55,459 for his civil fight for custody of his children and 56,773 for his retrial. He sacked his barristers halfway through the case.

And the bill is expected to rise as it does not include costs for the legal team hired for his sentencing hearing and forthcoming appeal, when Gordon will be represented by a leading barrister.

The Legal Aid Agency figures show that 34,000 of taxpayers' cash has been spent on Marten's battle for custody of her four other children.

But her legal team have yet to submit their bill for her first trial and retrial which ended in July.

The couple were convicted of manslaughter by gross negligence, child cruelty, perverting the course of justice and concealing the birth of a child.

The case, which lasted two years, is estimated to have cost taxpayers about 2.8million in investigation and legal costs so far.

Born into a life of wealth and privilege, Marten's father was a page to the late Queen and her grandmother was a playmate of Princess Margaret.

She grew up at Crichel House, an 18th-century, Grade I-listed manor house in Dorset.

Following the 2013 sale of the house, which had a price tag of 100million, part of the proceeds was placed in trust for Marten. But it emerged in court that prosecutors are unable to access this money.

Prosecutor Tom Little KC submitted: 'Whilst Ms Marten is the beneficiary of a trust, it is accepted that the court has no power to require the payment of any costs from that trust fund.

Gordon and Marten had gone on the run with their newborn daughter Victoria (pictured) in freezing temperatures, with the judge ruling that the tiny baby died as a result of neglect of the gravest type

Gordon, who has a previous conviction for raping a woman in Florida when he was 14, has already claimed 367,210 in legal aid

'However, at the time of her arrest she had 18,145.88 in her own Metrobank account. It is assumed that that sum is still in her account and has not been defrayed.

'If that is right, then the prosecution would invite an order that she pay that sum as a contribution to the costs of the prosecution. Such a sum represents far less than the actual prosecution costs of the two trials.'

Separately, Marten is also being sued by lawyers for failing to pay them for preliminary court hearings before she was granted legal aid.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Mark Lucraft revealed that Marten had been boasting about her wealth behind bars.

He told her: 'On finances, I note that you told the probation officer that you believe you will have access to the discretionary trust in the future and that the restrictions on access may fall away when you turn 40.

'You also mention another separate trust that you will also have access to.'
Keir Starmer was on Sunday accused of insulting millions of voters worried about Britain's borders - as he branded Reform's immigration plans 'racist'.

Amid growing Labour panic at Reform's surge in the polls, the Prime Minister ramped up his rhetoric against Nigel Farage's plan to tear up residency rules, saying it 'needs to be called out for what it is'.

Mr Farage said the claim was an 'insult' to millions who want the Government to finally get a grip on immigration.

He told the Daily Mail: 'The Prime Minister has insulted those who believe mass migration should come to an end. Starmer thinks anybody here on a time-limited visa is entitled to stay in Britain for ever. Labour do not believe in border controls - and think anyone who does is racist.'

Highlighting a series of polls suggesting his party is on course to win the next election, Mr Farage said: 'Keir Starmer has spent his entire weekend attacking Reform. This is the reason why.'

Ministers were taken aback by the PM's dramatic decision to play the race card. While senior figures backed him in public, some were privately concerned the move could backfire.

One Labour source said: 'I know he's talking about Farage and this horrible, divisive policy. But there is a danger that people with legitimate concerns hear it and just think he is calling them racist. I'm not sure that is really the best way to win people back from Reform.'

And despite the PM's angry attack, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will today trumpet plans to crack down on the system for granting migrants 'indefinite leave to remain'.

Keir Starmer was on Sunday accused of insulting millions of voters worried about Britain's borders - as he branded Reform's immigration plans 'racist'. Pictured: The PM at Labour's conference in Liverpool

Nigel Farage clapped back by pointing to polls showing Labour facing meltdown and him on track for No10

Mr Farage said the claim was an 'insult' to millions who want the Government to finally get a grip on immigration

It came as:

Sir Keir admitted the Left had 'got it wrong' on immigration for years;

Andy Burnham renewed his attack on the PM's leadership, accusing him of presiding over a 'climate of fear' in the party that was stifling 'open debate';

The PM refused to rule out raising VAT in the Budget;

Exclusive polling for the Daily Mail revealed voters see Labour as the least patriotic party, despite Sir Keir's pledge to lead a 'patriotic renewal' of Britain;

Rachel Reeves is preparing to warn youngsters they will have to take a state-sponsored job after 18 months on the dole, or lose benefits;

The PM told Labour critics of his leadership to stop 'navel-gazing' and asked rivals to 'give me space' to get a grip on the Government;

A poll predicted Reform would win an election today with a majority of 94 seats.

Sir Keir's intervention came after Reform published plans last week designed to prevent migrants claiming benefits in this country.

Under existing rules, people can claim 'indefinite leave to remain' after five years, giving them access to the benefits system.

Mr Farage has proposed tearing up the system and requiring those previously granted indefinite leave to apply for new visas with more stringent conditions.

They would no longer be able to claim benefits and those who fail to get a new visa would face deportation, even if they have lived in the country for years.

Sir Keir told the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg that the plan would 'rip this country apart', adding: 'It is one thing to say we're going to remove illegal migrants, people who have no right to be here. I'm up for that.

'It is a completely different thing to say we are going to reach in to people who are lawfully here and start removing them. They are our neighbours.'

Asked if he thought it was racist, he added: 'I do think that it is a racist policy. I do think it is immoral.'

Mr Farage said the claim was an 'insult' to millions who want the Government to finally get a grip on immigration. Pictured: Migrants preparing to attempt a Channel crossing from France yesterday

Your browser does not support iframes.

Sir Keir denied he was painting Reform's supporters as racists, saying many were just 'frustrated' with the slow pace of change.

But critics accused the PM of making a direct link between concern about immigration and racism.

Reform policy chief Zia Yusuf said: 'Labour's message to the country is clear - pay hundreds of billions for foreign nationals to live off the state for ever, or Labour will call you racist.'

Conservative MP Nick Timothy said the PM's jibe revealed his true feelings about those who complained about the impact of immigration.

Sir Keir said he wanted to accelerate the closure of asylum hotels, which are due to remain in use until 2029.

But other senior figures warned against responding to Reform by taking a tougher line on immigration.

Lucy Powell, who is favourite to be Labour's next deputy leader, said the party should 'absolutely reject the idea that all the ills of this country... are caused by migration, because they're not...We've got to absolutely reject that. They're caused by lots of other factors.'

Labour figures lined up to attack Mr Farage at yesterday's conference in Liverpool.

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said he was 'relishing taking the fight to Nigel Farage and calling out his small-minded, narrow, peculiar, weird set of policies and holding them up to the light'.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar accused Mr Farage of 'gutter politics and bile', and Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens suggested Reform could not be trusted because they 'can't even spell Caerphilly right'.

It came as Attorney General Lord Hermer suggested that criticism of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) for frustrating deportations was being fuelled by the 'far Right'.

Lord Hermer, one of Sir Keir's closest political friends, said Labour would never leave the ECHR and suggested the public were not valuing it properly because 'the populist far Right are very good at comms'.
Tens of thousands of out-of-work young people could be stripped of their benefits if they refuse to take a job, the Chancellor will announce on Monday.

Rachel Reeves will vow to abolish long-term youth unemployment by guaranteeing paid work for those aged 18 to 21 who have been on Universal Credit for 18 months without earning or learning.

Those eligible will be given support to take advantage of available opportunities but those who refuse to take an offer without a good reason could face a sanction  including losing their benefits.

The Government will subsidise the jobs available under the Youth Guarantee, meaning the scheme is likely to cost the Treasury. It is thought big retailers will be appealed to for support.

One in eight 16 to 24-year-olds are not in education, employment or training  known as NEETs.

Ms Reeves is set to outline the plan in her keynote speech to the Labour Party conference in Liverpool on Monday.

She is expected to say: I will never be satisfied while too many peoples potential is wasted, frozen out of employment, education, or training. Theres no defending it.

At the Spending Review, I pledged record investment in skills to support our young people. And so today, I can announce that with that investment we will fund a new Youth Guarantee.

Rachel Reeves will vow to abolish long-term youth unemployment by guaranteeing paid work for those aged 18 to 21 who have been on Universal Credit for 18 months without earning or learning

Every young person will be guaranteed either a place in a college, for those who want to continue their studies or an apprenticeship, to help them learn a trade vital to our plans to rebuild the country, or one-to-one support to find a job.

But more than that our guarantee will ensure that any young person out of work for 18 months will be given a paid work placement. Real work, practical experience, and new skills.

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden will also warn that young people have a duty to take opportunities offered to them.

He is set to say: A Youth Guarantee  meaning opportunity is not just for the few, but for all.

And with that opportunity comes responsibility, too  to take up the training, the apprenticeship or the work that is offered.

The proposal was welcomed by the Federation of Small Businesses, who said reprioritising spending from employment programmes which arent working to this type of scheme is exactly the way to get much-needed bang for taxpayer cash.

But Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride accused Ms Reeves of introducing contradictory policies with the National Insurance hike for employers in her October 2024 budget.

In her very first Budget, she introduced a 25billion Jobs Tax that made it more expensive for businesses to hire, especially young people, he said.

Ms Reeves is set to outline the plan in her keynote speech to the Labour Party conference in Liverpool on Monday

Thats the contradiction at the heart of Labours plan: they talk about opportunity, but their policies kill jobs. Since Labour came to power, unemployment is up. Business confidence is down.

The Chancellor will also use her speech to outline her ambition for Britons to receive something for their labour.

She is expected to say: I believe in a Britain founded on contribution  where we do our duty for each other, and where hard work is matched by fair reward.

Ms Reeves speech comes as she faces fresh pressure to scrap the two-child benefit cap.

Housing Secretary Steve Reed said: Of course we want it lifted in the end, but we have to do it at a time that we can afford it.
Labour is the least patriotic of all the main political parties, according to voters in a damning poll.

Patriotism has emerged as a recurring theme of the political party conference season, with Reform UK and the Liberal Democrats trying to position themselves out in front.

And it will be key to Labour's conference in Liverpool this week as Sir Keir Starmer tries to take the fight to Nigel Farage.

But despite the Prime Minister's promise of 'patriotic renewal', 44 per cent of voters think his party is 'not patriotic'  a worse score than the Greens. Mr Farage's party tops the list, closely followed by the Conservatives.

The exclusive survey for the Daily Mail also found that more than half of voters support people flying the Union and St George's flags.

According to the Survation poll of more than 2,000 voters, 55 per cent strongly support or somewhat support people displaying the British or English flag in public. Just 14 per cent strongly or somewhat opposed them.

An online movement called 'Operation Raise the Colours' has led to communities across the country hanging up flags.

Downing Street has previously backed the flying of the national flags, saying the Prime Minister's 'patriotism will always be an important thing to him'.

Despite Sir Keir Starmer's promise of a 'patriotic renewal', voters in the Daily Mail's exclusive survey think Labour is the least patriotic out of all the main political parties in Britain

And over the weekend, Sir Keir spoke about his desire to 'own patriotism' in the face of the Reform threat.

He told the Guardian that Labour's conference, which started yesterday, was 'a real opportunity for us to make our argument about patriotic national renewal, to own patriotism, to define it for what it is'.

But the Mail's poll found the public do not see Labour as a patriotic party.

Just 40 per cent said Labour is very or somewhat patriotic, compared to 44 per cent who said it was not very or not at all.

Reform was seen as patriotic by 60 per cent, with just 24 per cent saying it was not. The Tories were close behind on 55 per cent, and even the Liberal Democrats and Green Party scored more highly than Labour  with 47 per cent and 40 per cent, respectively.

The polling came as Sir Keir sought to define his idea of 'patriotic renewal' on the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme yesterday.

'Patriotic renewal is fixing the problems in the country that we inherited but changing the country as we do so,' the Prime Minister said, adding: 'We've got to get the economy working. We've got to get wealth creation but it needs to be everywhere across the country, and that is what I want to change.'

Last week, Sir Keir announced plans to back the 'true patriots' with a 5 billion fund to revive communities. The PM said the money, which would be used to revive high streets, parks and public spaces, would give 'power and pride back to the people who make Britain great'.

But senior Conservative Sir James Cleverly accused Labour of having 'ridiculed the identity and institutions' of the country. The shadow housing secretary said Sir Keir was 'desperately trying to recover some credibility when it comes to national pride and patriotism'.

'This is the party that mocked people who are flying the Cross of St George,' Sir James told Ms Kuenssberg.

'He is a person who himself said all immigration law is racist. This is a day late and dollar short, and nobody is buying it.

'This is a party that has ridiculed the identity and institutions and heritage of this country.'
Embattled telco Optus has apologised for a second triple-zero outage in less than a fortnight, as local executives prepare for showdown talks with the Singaporean owners.

The latest issue is linked to a mobile phone tower in Dapto in New South Wales, which affected 4500 users in the area on Sunday between 3am and 12:20pm.

A review by the Telco has included nine failed calls to triple zero, but Optus says those affected 'are OK' and the issue has been rectified.

One of those callers required an ambulance and used another phone to contact emergency services.

Another was trying to call emergency services but couldn't get through and had made accidental calls.

The incidents have alarmed both Australians and the government, including Communications Minister Anika Wells.

Ms Wells has requested discussions with representatives from parent company Singtel, who she says will be visiting Australia this week.

The failure is the third time in two weeks a major Optus outage has prevented people accessing emergency services.

Embattled telco Optus has apologised for a second triple-zero outage in less than a fortnight, as local executives prepare for showdown talks with the Singaporean owners (stock image)

A scheduled firewall upgrade in South Australia triggered a communications outage on September 18 linked to the deaths of three Australians.

Optus chief executive Stephen Rue blamed human error for that fault.

Normal calls were largely unaffected, but the outage blocked about 600 triple-0 calls from connecting to emergency services.

It affected customers in South Australia, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and NSW.
Britain's elections watchdog came under fresh pressure last night to publish its probe into claims that Keir Starmer's chief of staff hid more than 700,000 in donations.

In 2021, the Electoral Commission fined the Labour Together think-tank run by Morgan McSweeney after identifying more than 20 breaches of election law relating to undeclared donations.

Last week the watchdog turned down requests for a fresh inquiry, despite the emergence of a leaked email in which a top Labour lawyer advised Mr McSweeney to portray the episode as an 'admin error'.

Last night, the Tories urged it to publish its original report in full  pointing out that it bowed to Labour demands to release details of its inquiry into who paid for Boris Johnson's wallpaper in Downing Street.

The call came as fresh evidence emerged of the central role played by Labour Together in Sir Keir's 2020 leadership campaign.

The Parliamentary Standards Commissioner is considering whether to start a separate investigation into whether Sir Keir broke the MPs' code of conduct when he failed to declare support from Labour Together during his 2020 campaign to succeed Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader.

MPs must declare all support worth more than 1,500 in cash or in kind. A Labour source said: 'Neither Keir nor his leadership campaign accepted monetary or in-kind donations from Labour Together during the election.'

But the Tories have submitted evidence that Mr McSweeney served as Sir Keir's campaign manager while still a director of Labour Together.

The Electoral Commission fined the Labour Together think-tank run by Morgan McSweeney after identifying more than 20 breaches of election law relating to undeclared donations

Calls for the watchdog probe to be published came as fresh evidence emerged of the central role played by Labour Together in Sir Keir Starmer's 2020 leadership campaign

Mr McSweeney is pictured working at the now-Prime Minister's campaign HQ in 2020

The think-tank has boasted it 'helped rally the party membership behind Keir Starmer'.

Mr McSweeney is thought to have given access to polling data worth hundreds of thousands of pounds for his campaign.

A leaked email seen by the Daily Mail reveals the issue was discussed by the think-tank's board.

Minutes of a meeting in December 2020 record businessman Sir Trevor Chinn saying Labour Together 'played a significant role in electing the leadership of the Labour Party'.

It was attended by Steve Reed, now Housing Secretary. The minutes were copied to Andrew Whyte, a former Electoral Commission official who became Labour's 'director of governance and legal'.

Tory chairman Kevin Hollinrake said: 'From Morgan McSweeney's cover-up of a 740,000 slush fund used to install Starmer as leader, to leaked messages about donations, and now open bragging of Labour Together's shady behind-the-scenes role, the evidence of a cover-up is beyond clear.

'We will continue to call for the release of the Electoral Commission's report.'

The commission said it did 'not routinely produce detailed reports on cases, but may occasionally publish a summary when a particularly complex investigation requires more detail. No such summary was produced in this instance'.
A four-year-old boy has vanished without a trace in South Australia.

August, also known as Gus, went missing from his isolated homestead roughly 40km south of Yunta, in the state's mid-north, at about 5pm on Saturday.

He has long, curly blonde hair and was last seen wearing a grey sunhat, blue long-sleeved shirt with a Minion picture on the front, light grey pants and boots.

The search, which has included overnight infrared camera sweeps and drone inspections, is now being broadened.

Water Operations police will attend the property on Monday morning to search nearby dams and water tanks.

'Police completed an extensive ground search yesterday [Sunday] with assistance of SES volunteers and utilising trail bikes, ATVs and a drone covering a 2.5km radius search area from where Gus was last seen,' South Australia Police said in a statement.

Temperatures are expected to reach 29C in Yunta with a dry thunderstorm possible in the evening.

'It's looking to be pretty dry with some strong, gusty winds from the north,' Weatherzone meteorologist Maryam Al-Ansari said.

August, aged four, has gone missing from a property near Yunta (pictured, Yunta surrounds)

'There's also a chance of a dry thunderstorm as the sun goes down - so a thunderstorm with lightning but no rain.'

South Australia Police have not released photos of Gus as per his family's wishes.

Anyone with information that may assist police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
An Illinois man purposefully crashed into a police car that was performing a traffic stop and did not hold back when he was asked why.

Keajion Jennings drove directly into the police car as the officer was approaching the passenger side of another vehicle that he'd pulled over, according to KSDK.

Fairview Heights Police released the body camera footage of the incident from the morning of September 24 in response to 'several' demands from the public.

The video showed that the impact caused the police vehicle  with emergency lights still on  to collide with the car that the officer had pulled over just moments earlier.

The crash resulted in smoke and air bags, creating dramatic damage to all of the vehicles involved.

Jennings then approached the police officer from his car and innocently asked: 'What happened?'

To which the police officer responded: 'You tell me.'

The 28-year-old then simply informed the officer that he needed a new car. When pressed again, Jennings admitted that he had been drinking and had taken some weed pills.

He then confessed to the officer: 'I did that on purpose, sir. I'm bored.'

Keajion Jennings pulled over from the road and directly into the police car, causing it to ram into the pulled over vehicle

Jennings immediately got out of the car and approached the officer asking him what had happened

Jennings also assessed that he did have car insurance but doubted that it would cover the impact from the self-inflicted crash.

The officer instructed Jennings to sit down on the sidewalk while they waited for an ambulance and police back up to check him out and assess the damage.

He easily and obediently followed each one of the officer's orders.

After he presented the police with his ID, he calmly volunteered a final confession.

He told the police that he purposefully rammed into the car because: 'I hate cops, man.'

Jennings was then handcuffed and eventually taken into custody at St. Clair County Jail in Southern Illinois.

The dramatic crash resulted in smoke and airbags, causing noticeable damage to all vehicles involved

When asked why he'd hit the car, he informed the officer that he was bored and didn't like cops

Neither of the passengers in the original car were injured. The officer checked in on the couple before dealing with Jennings.

They had initially been pulled over because of an expired license plate sticker, which they received a warning for.

According to the Belleville News-Democrat, Jennings did more than $10,000 worth of damage to the squad car.

He is facing one count of aggravated assault, two counts of aggravated battery, and one count of criminal damage to a government supported property.

St. Clair County also filed a petition to detain Jennings leading up to his trial, arguing that he poses a real and present threat to the safety of the community.
Children as young as 11 are being asked if they are transgender, non-binary or pansexual in a study part-funded by taxpayers and Andy Burnhams office.

The #BeeWell survey is a Manchester University project to assess wellbeing in youngsters, covering topics such as mental health, eating habits and engagement with school.

However, the questionnaire distributed to secondary school pupils also asks them about their gender identity and sexuality.

The gender options offered are girl (including trans girl); boy (including trans boy); non-binary; not sure; or I describe myself in another way.

The sexual orientation options include bisexual, pansexual, lesbian or heterosexual. Pansexuals feel romantic, emotional or sexual attraction to people of all genders.

In a gender modality section, pupils are told: Some young people are transgender. Do you consider yourself to be transgender? It explains that this means someones gender is different to the one they were assigned at birth.

The questions were added to the annual survey following feedback from young people, organisers said.

It is funded by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), which represents Greater Manchester mayor Mr Burnham plus ten local councils, Manchester University and a number of charities.

Children as young as 11 are being asked if they are transgender, non-binary or pansexual in a study part-funded by taxpayers and the office of Manchester mayor Andy Burnham (pictured)

However, critics fear that it is part of the normalisation of contested gender ideology in schools.

In July, the Government updated its relationships, sex and health education guidance to say schools should not teach as fact that all people have a gender identity.

Shadow education secretary Laura Trott said: Its deeply inappropriate for children as young as 11 to be asked about their gender identity or sexuality.

Schools must not replace biological reality with contested beliefs. Gender ideology is still being pushed in schools.

Stephanie Davies-Arai, of the campaign group Transgender Trend, said: Inviting children to select the category girl (including trans girl) is blatant indoctrination of children to believe the trans-activist propaganda trans women are women.

Ms Davies-Arai warned parents to be aware that surveys given to their children at school may contain gender ideology... normalising the idea that gender identity is the reality, not biological sex.

The survey has been running since 2021, and all data is confidential and anonymised. The 30-minute online test is optional, with pupils able to skip questions.

Its director, James Robertson, said parents can opt children out, and gender identity and sexual orientation questions ensure every young person feels understood and supported.

The GMCA said #BeeWell was important for understanding the wellbeing of young people.

It comes ahead of the Government publishing its long-awaited official guidance on gender-questioning children. It was published in draft form under the Tories and went under consultation. However, it has been paused since Labour came to power.

A Department for Education spokesman said: 'It is vital that we take the time needed to carefully consider the consultation responses and all the relevant evidence on this very complex issue.

'This includes the findings of Dr Hilary Casss review, which will be central to the action we take.

'We will soon set out next steps and how we will support schools to make decisions regarding children who are questioning their gender.'

Stephanie Davies-Arai (pictured), founder of the campaign group Transgender Trend, said: Inviting children to select the category girl (including trans girl) is blatant indoctrination of children to believe the trans-activist propaganda [that] trans women are women

Police have been accused of caring more about transgender peoples feelings than the law in the wake of Aprils Supreme Court judgment on the definition of a woman.

The Daily Mail has found that some commanders formed gold groups  which are usually set up in the wake of major crimes  to consider the ruling, which prevents trans women from using female-only spaces.

One chief said she was focusing on the emotional impact on officers, a second set up a listening circle and a third held a meeting for staff like sessions held following the murder of George Floyd.

Harry Miller, of the Fair Cop free-speech campaign group, said officers who were triggered by the ruling should seek another profession.
FBI Director Kash Patel has publicly refuted President Donald Trump's claims about agents in the crowd during the January 6 Capitol riots.

The president claimed on his Truth Social page Saturday night that 274 plainclothes agents were at the scene of the riots - insinuating that they were 'acting as agitators and insurrectionists.'

But Patel clarified on Sunday that the agents were simply sent to the US Capitol to help with crowd control at the behest of Capitol Police.

'Agents were sent into a crowd control mission after the riot was declared by Metro Police - something that goes against FBI standards,' the FBI director told Fox News taking a swipe at his predecessor, former Director Christopher Wray.

'This was the failure of a corrupt leadership that lied to Congress and to the American people about what really happened,' he continued.

'Thanks to agents coming forward, we are now uncovering the truth,' Patel concluded, months after vowing to get 'definitive answers' about the bureau's role in the riots.

'We are fully committed to transparency, and justice and accountability,' he said as Trump demanded an investigation into Wray's actions.

He had written in a post on Saturday that the former FBI director 'has some major explaining to do' following a report that more than 200 agents were in the crowd during the Capitol riot.

FBI Director Kash Patel has refuted President Donald Trump's remarks about FBI agents in the crowd during the January 6 Capitol riots

Patel insisted that agents were simply sent to the insurrection to help with crowd control

'It was just revealed that the FBI had secretly placed, against all Rules, Regulations, Protocols and Standards, 274 FBI Agents into the Crowd just prior to and during the January 6th Hoax,' the president wrote, citing the report from The Blaze.

'That is different from what Director Christopher Wray stated, over and over again!'

'That's right, as it turns out, FBI Agents were at, and in the January 6th Protest, probably acting as Agitators and Insurrectionists, but certainly not as "Law Enforcement Officials,"' he claimed.

Trump then said he wanted to know the identities of each agent at the scene and what they were doing at the US Capitol that day.

'Many Great American Patriots were made to pay a very big price only for the love of their country,' the president said of those who were arrested for their role in the insurrection.

'I owe this investigation of "Dirty Cops and Crooked Politicians" to them!'

Trump also noted that 'That's two in a row, [James] Comey and Wray, who were caught LYING with our Great Country at stake' just days after Comey - Wray's predecessor - was indicted for making false statements to Congress and obstruction of justice.

'WE CAN NEVER LET THIS HAPPEN TO AMERICA AGAIN,' the president concluded.

He then doubled down on his remarks in an interview with NBC News on Sunday, when he accused Wray of 'inappropriate behavior' during his tenure as the head of the bureau and said he 'would think' the Department of Justice would investigate him.

The president claimed on his Truth Social page Saturday night that 274 plainclothes agents were at the scene of the riots

He insinuated the agents were 'acting as agitators and insurrectionists' as he hit out at former FBI Director Christopher Wray

The Blaze cited an unidentified senior congressional source in its reporting that 274 agents were at the Capitol riots.

That unidentified official told the outlet that the number of agents wasn't 'necessarily a surprise' because the bureau often 'embeds countersurveillance personnel at large events.'

But at least some of the 274 agents included in the official's numbers were downtown responding to pipe bombs placed near the Democratic National Committee and Republican National Committee headquarters the night before.

There is no indication that FBI agents were involved in the breach of the Capitol.

Discrepancies over the number of agents at the Capitol riot may also still remain, as The Blaze report notes there may have been confusion regarding 'plainclothes' and 'undercover' agents.

Adding to the confusion is former Director Wray's refusal to state whether any agents or sources were embedded in the crowd at the Stop the Steal rally.

When he was questioned by members of the House committee investigating the January 6 riots in November 2023, Wray simply said that 'the violence at the Capitol' was not 'part of some operation orchestrated by FBI sources or agents.'

Wray testified in November 2023 that 'the violence at the Capitol' was not 'part of some operation orchestrated by FBI sources or agents'

A damning report released by Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz found that the FBI had more than two dozen confidential human sources in the crowd outside the Capitol

However, a damning report released by Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz found that the FBI had more than two dozen confidential human sources in the crowd outside the Capitol - and three were assigned by the bureau to be at the protest.

Of those three, one illegally entered the Capitol building, and the other two entered the restricted area around the Capitol.

The report also noted that none of the confidential sources were authorized to enter the Capitol or break the law or 'encourage others to commit illegal acts.'

But it also claimed there was one confidential human source who was in contact with the leadership of far-right groups such as the Oath Keepers, and were aware of plans discussed by the Proud Boys to prevent Congress from certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Patel has since said that the report - entitled the FBI's Handling of its Confidential Human Sources and Intelligence Collection Efforts in the Lead Up to the Jan 6, 2021 Electoral Certification - is 'definitely a piece of the truth.'
A Texas death row inmate scheduled for execution less than 20 days from now has decided to apply for a new trial rather than a clemency plea.

Robert Roberson, 58, was convicted of murdering his two-year-old daughter, Nikki, in 2003. Prosecutors said the child died from 'shaken baby syndrome,' which means she was shaken so violently that she died.

But Roberson has maintained his innocence since he was convicted, arguing that modern scientific evidence has disproved the shaken baby diagnosis and showed his daughter actually died from chronic illness.

Shaken baby syndrome has been criticized as 'junk science' in recent years, and Roberson's lawyers are hoping to prove that their client received inadequate legal representation during his original trial and that the court did not consider Nikki's medical issues that could have led to her death.

'Mr. Roberson is actually innocent,' said Roberson's lawyer, Gretchen Sween. 'If he is executed, despite the overwhelming evidence of his innocence, Texas will commit an extreme miscarriage of justice.'

In Roberson's original trial, he was criticized for showing little emotion when he brought his daughter to the emergency room. His lawyers have said he was later diagnosed with autism and that was the reason for his lack of visible emotion.

Jacquie Benestante, executive director of the Autism Society of Texas, said she wants Roberson's diagnosis to be taken into account in a new trial in a letter she sent to state lawmakers alongside the Autism Society of America.

Dr. Natalie Montfort, an autism specialist based in Houston, said 'Robert Robersons case is the most extreme example of a persistent problem, in which misperceptions about autistic people contribute to their wrongful convictions and excessive punishments.'

Robert Roberson, 58, was convicted of murdering his two-year-old daughter, Nikki, in 2003

Roberson has maintained his innonence since he was convicted

The convicted father's execution date is scheduled for October 16. His deadline to submit an application for clemency was on Thursday, September 25, but he decided he would instead focus on his application for a new trial.

Under Texas law, a successfuly clemency plea could mean a reduction of his sentence from execution to life in prison, but it would not remove his conviction.

A new trial is especially attractive considering Roberson already applied for clemency and was denied last year, and his lawyers are convinced there is enough new evidence to prove his innocence.

In Texas, a majority of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles has to recommend clemency before the governor may grant it. Robersons application for clemency last year did not receive that majority recommendation and it was denied the day before he was set to be executed.

A remarkable bipartisan effort among Texas state lawmakers to delay Roberson's execution date ensued, and the Texas Supreme Court granted the extension.

This kicked off a political battle between members of the Texas House of Representatives pushing for a new trial and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, whose office represents the state in opposing Robersons appeals.

At the time, Paxton said those lawmakers, 'created a Constitutional crisis on behalf of a man who beat his two-year-old daughter to death.'

Roberson's lawyer, Sween, said she advised her client not to apply for clemency again because it would still be an injustice for him to spend life in prison as an innocent man.

Roberson's execution is scheduled for October 16, less than 20 days from now

'If [Roberson] is executed, despite the overwhelming evidence of his innocence, Texas will commit an extreme miscarriage of justice,' said Roberson's lawyer Gretchen Sween

'A commutation of sentence is not justice for an innocent man who was wrongfully convicted of a crime that never occurred,' she said in a public statement.

Sween added that the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles rejected the application for clemency last year without any explanation, making it impossible to know what kind of information would be persuasive or effective in a future plea.

Roberson's legal team filed his original application for a new trial in February, and they submitted an updated application in August, citing new evidence brought to them in June and claiming that the judiciary in the county where he was arrested acted unconstitutionally in his case.

The application claims that his daughter was taken off life support at the request of her grandparents, even though Roberson was the sole conservator.

It says that the staff at the hospital did so only after representatives of the Anderson County Judiciary falsely told them that the grandparents were Nikki's legal conservators. It was only after Nikki died that Roberson was arrested for capital murder.

The application also claims that then-3rd District Court Judge Jerry Calhoon was improperly involved in the case because he signed off on an order to provide Robersons legal counsel despite his son being a prosecutor in the trial.

Roberson also has an outstanding appeal at Texas' highest criminal court, the Court of Criminal Appeals, which includes expert opinions that both Nikkis shaken baby diagnosis and the autopsy ruling her death a homicide were flawed.

The appeal also highlights the courts decision last year to overturn a different shaken baby conviction of a Dallas man.

Throughout Roberson's appeals, state prosecutors have maintained that the evidence behind his conviction remains sound, and they have downplayed the importance of the shaken baby diagnosis in his trial.

If Roberson is executed, he will become the first person in the US to be put to death based on a shaken baby diagnosis.
A man has been found dead on a yacht in a ritzy Sydney suburb, days after heading out on the vessel.

NSW Police were called to perform a welfare check on a sailing boat docked near Mosman, on the Lower North Shore, at about 5.45pm on Sunday.

Police found the vessel at Little Sirius Point, Cremorne Point, and boarded to discover the body of a man believed to be aged in his 60s.

The vessel was found with its sail furled and wrapped under a blue covering, and initial enquiries suggest the man may have died by misadventure, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Investigations suggest he may have become overwhelmed by fumes from the engine and other appliances burning fuel while carrying out work on the boat.

It is understood the man boarded the boat days earlier but had not returned home, prompting loved ones to contact police.

Cremorne Point is one of the wealthiest suburbs in Australia, with median house prices exceeding $6.28million.

In 2021, 47.4 per cent of households in Cremorne Point earned $3,000 or more per week.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident and will prepare a report for the Coroner.
Tech firms could face fines if they allow cyberflashing on their platforms, the Government will announce today.

In a bid to protect women and girls, Technology Secretary Liz Kendall will force social media sites and dating apps to detect and remove unwanted sexual content.

She will make cyberflashing  where someone sends unsolicited pictures of their genitals on a digital device  a 'priority offence' under the Online Safety Act, against which companies must take proactive measures.

Figures suggest around one in three girls (32 per cent) aged 12 to 18 have received unwanted pictures of male genitals. One in 20 boys of the same age have also been affected, according to a YouGov survey.

Ms Kendall will tell the Labour Party conference in Liverpool today that 'keeping children safe online is non-negotiable'.

She will say: 'That is why my first act as Secretary of State was to force social media companies to find and remove content that promotes suicide and self-harm.

'And today I can announce I will go further. Making cyberflashing a priority offence.

'So platforms will be required - by law - to detect and remove this material. Because what is illegal offline, must be illegal online.'

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall (above) will force social media sites and dating apps to detect and remove unwanted sexual content in a bid to protect women and girls

Ministers plan to introduce the regulations this autumn.

Cyberflashing became an offence in England and Wales last year with those found guilty facing up to two years in prison.

The legislation followed that of Scotland, who brought the move forward a decade prior, as well as Northern Ireland who did the same at the end of 2023.

In March last year, Nicholas Hawkes became the first person in England and Wales to be jailed under the new law after sending an explicit image of himself to 15-year-old girl and another women. He was sentenced to 66 weeks in prison.

Cyberflashing has also been at the heart of recent debates over the Online Safety Act, which saw Nigel Farage criticised as being 'dangerous and irresponsible' for claiming he would scrap the laws.

Labour claimed last month that the Reform UK leader's plans to bin the Act would have let 90 criminals off the hook.

At the time, Home Office Minister Jess Phillips cited details of people convicted under the Act to claim that Mr Farage's pledge to scrap it would ensure 'the internet remains a Wild West'.

She referred to official figures showing that between January and December 2024, at least 90 people had been convicted  including at least 22 custodial sentences - under offences set out in the Act.

That included the conviction against Hawkes for cyberflashing. A 22-year-old man also became the first person to be charged with encouraging self-harm online.

Ms Phillips, who is Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, claimed that Mr Farage was 'risking the safety of women and girls with his dangerous and irresponsible plans' to scrap the existing legislation.

Mr Farage said that if Labour really cared about women's safety, they would tackle the immigration crisis, before admitting that no-one had yet found a solution to policing the internet.

However, he said that a future Reform government would put 'tech experts' like the party's former chairman Zia Yusuf in charge of getting the answers.
Government MPs are jumping to the defence of Anthony Albanese over his decision to address the UK Labour Party's annual conference.

The prime minister wrapped up his visit to the United Kingdom following the event, promising to defend democracy and issuing a rallying cry aimed at building support for his beleaguered counterpart, Keir Starmer.

'What I see here in UK Labour, is the same determination that I know lives in every member of Australian Labor,' he told the conference in the city of Liverpool on Sunday.

'An absolute resolve to stand together and defend democracy itself.'

Sir Keir has been struggling to keep his government together and is facing pressure in the polls from Nigel Farage's hard-right populist Reform UK party.

The federal coalition has been highly critical of the prime minister's appearance, saying he shouldn't have spoken at a political event because he was travelling on the taxpayer's dime.

Liberal senator Maria Kovacic labelled it an 'exercise in vanity'.

'This isn't a visit about things that are better for Australians,' she told Sky News on Monday.

Government MPs are jumping to the defence of Anthony Albanese over his decision to address the UK Labour Party's annual conference (above)

Former Australian prime minister Julia Gillard also attended the conference. Pictured with Mr Albanese's fiancee, Jodie Haydon

'This is a visit from one Labor Party leader to another, to go to the Labour Party conference in the UK, to actually be a special guest star.'

But senior minister Tanya Plibersek defended the prime minister, saying the opposition was being 'really childish'.

'It's been a successful visit,' she told Seven's Sunrise program.

'The prime minister also met with the UK opposition leader ... he's also met with the Spanish prime minister, the Canadian prime minister, King Charles, a range of other leaders in the UK.'

Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce said Mr Albanese should look at the flag on his VIP jet.

'It's the Australian flag, not the ALP flag,' he told Seven.

'He should reflect on who pays for that plane to go to that conference - it's not the Labor Party, it's the Australian taxpayer ... (it) doesn't stack up.'

British PM Sir Keir Starmer has been struggling to keep his government together and is facing pressure in the polls from Nigel Farage's populist Reform UK party

Mr Albanese's final stop on his way back to Australia is to the United Arab Emirates, where he'll spruik a free-trade deal signed in 2024.

Former Australian Labor prime minister Julia Gillard, who Mr Albanese called 'a Labor legend', was also at the conference.

'In government, I value the opportunities we have to work together and get results, to take action together on issues that matter to our two nations and to the wider world,' Mr Albanese said in his speech.

'From standing together with the 'coalition of the willing' to help secure peace on Ukraine's terms ... and working together to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and build something better by recognising the state of Palestine.'
A real estate agent suspended after buying the home of an elderly man with Alzheimer's for half its value has faced calls to be banned from the industry forever.

Eser Property director Rachelle Nohra was handed a 12-month licence suspension and $11,000 fine by the NSW Fair Trading Commissioner.

The western Sydney-based agent denied she took advantage of the 82-year-old retiree who was living with alcohol problems and a form of dementia.

She purchased the home for $600,000 in April 2023, a month after a neighbouring home sold for $1.1million, meaning she paid at least $500,000 under market value.

Ms Nohra sought to overrule the suspension; however, lost a review in the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal last week.

The judgement has sparked widespread backlash, with many Aussies believing Ms Nohra's punishment was too lenient.

Tenancy advocate Jordan van den Lamb, who goes by Purple Pingers, believes the penalty should have been much more severe, but isn't surprised at the decision.

'It's a slap of a wrist,' he told Daily Mail.

Aussies have expressed outrage over the punishment handed down to Rachelle Nohra

Rachelle Nohra is a director of Eser Property (pictured) in Sydney's west

'She should have never been able to work in the industry again. What she did was wrong on so many levels.

'But it's more indicative of the industry itself.'

Mr van den Lamb called on governments to intervene with tougher regulations.

'Housing has become commodified and there is nothing much authorities can do unless it becomes decommodified,' he said.

'Real estate agents will continue to misuse that trust unless the government fixes the housing crisis.

Other Aussies agreed that Ms Nohra got off lightly, taking to social media to share their disapproval.

'She shouldn't be allowed back into real estate,' one person commented.

Another added: 'She should have lost her licence at the very least. Furthermore, she should have been forced to sell the house at market value and reimburse the man the money she obtained by deception.'

Tenancy advocate Jordan van den Lamb led the backlash over the lenient sentence

A third wrote: '$11,000 fine for a $500,000 windfall. This cannot be serious.'

Others demanded Ms Nohra sell up and pay back the remaining value of the home to the man.

'How about it gets taken off her? Sold and give the money to Alzheimer's research,' one wrote.

Another added: 'This seems really unjust. How is this man going to pay for his care?'

Ms Nohra held power of attorney over the self-funded retiree, with whom she had a personal friendship, and he relied on her to manage his finances.

He agreed to sell the property on the condition he could remain there for as long as he needed, but the agent failed to secure that right.

This left him at risk of a 90-day eviction, meaning he could have been forced to find alternative accommodation within three months.

NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal senior member Lachlan Bryant said last week: 'Ms Nohra's belief that purchasing (his) property in the circumstances was the right thing to do is of serious concern.'

Rachelle Nohra tried to have the Fair Tading ruling overturned, claiming that she was still a 'fit and proper person' to work as a real estate agent

'(Her) conduct may put the real estate industry into disrepute and falls short of the community's expectations of a licence holder.'

But Mr Bryant declined to impose a higher penalty sought by Fair Trading to cancel her licence completely and ban her from working as a real estate agent for three years.

He ruled that a bigger punishment would be 'too harsh', citing that her misconduct was carried out in a personal capacity, rather than a professional one.

Eser Property's website remains online with current listings for both sale and rent and boasts having more than 1,000 happy clients.

It has taken down its social media accounts.

'Established in 2017, Eser Property has grown a reputation for honesty, excellence and results for each and every one of our clients,' its website states.

'The team at Eser Property believe communication and attention to detail is the core of success and continue to provide the community with a quality, boutique agency who treats each individual with the integrity they deserve.'

Daily Mail has contacted Ms Nohra and Eser Property for comment.
The man accused of ramming his car into a Mormon church before setting it on fire and shooting at congregants has been identified as a Trump-loving Iraq veteran who was struggling with post traumatic stress disorder.

Thomas Jacob Sanford, who commonly went by 'Jake', was shot dead in the parking lot of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan on Sunday.

The 40-year-old father-of-one killed at least four people and injured eight others during his horrifying rampage.

Authorities have since revealed they are still searching the charred wreckage of the church for bodies, and admitted there are an 'unknown number' of churchgoers who remain unaccounted for. According to CNN, that number could be as high as seven.

One family friend told journalist Ty Steele that Sanford had been battling PTSD.

'It's hard to feel sad for someone who did something so terrible, and I still feel sad. I had heard through family events that he had had PTSD,' she said.

'He would make comments occasionally and it was something that was kind of talked about. It wasn't talked about in depth... so I don't know the depth of his issues.'

Pictures taken from social media accounts of Sanford's wife and loved ones reveal they were a conservative, Christian family who were dealing with the stress of their son's devastating Congenital Hyperinsulinism diagnosis.

In one image, Sanford poses alongside his wife and son wearing a pro-Trump shirt with the message 'Make Liberals Cry Again'

The alleged shooter's silver truck, decked out with American flags, is seen rammed into the church after he opened fire with an assault rifle on hundreds of congregants, including children

A Trump sign is visible on Sanford's property, beneath an American flag, as seen in this Google Maps picture

The 40-year-old father-of-one killed at least four people and injured eight others during his horrifying rampage

In one image, Sanford poses alongside his wife and son wearing a pro-Trump shirt with the message: 'Make Liberals Cry Again.'

The shirt, which sells for $15.95 on eBay, has a cartoon style picture of Trump with his fist in the air, and reads: 'Re-elect Trump 2020.'

Sanford's loved ones, including his wife and both of his parents, also frequently shared pro-Trump messaging on their social media pages.

On Sunday, just hours before Sanford's name was released to the public, his mother had shared a lengthy post about Trump, saying she hoped he would bring in tighter rules for Congress members.

'Life isn't a FREE RIDE!! No matter what JOB you have!!' she wrote.

She also frequently posted about conservative activist Charlie Kirk's death, indicating she believed there was 'more to' the shooting.

Shortly after his death, she wrote: 'I, like many others, have been feeling a deep pain in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk's assassination.

'When things like this happen, it only emboldens the sons and daughters of God to move quicker, jump higher and speak our light into the darkest places of the world and into the hearts of young hijacked minds.

The charred wreckage of the building is still being searched

The shirt, which sells for $15.95 on eBay, has a cartoon style picture of Trump with his fist in the air, and reads: Re-elect Trump 2020

According to Facebook , Sanford has a wife and child and he served in Iraq

Police said the 40-year-old opened fire on more than a hundred people who had gathered for a service at the Church of Latter Day Saints in Grand Blanc on Sunday

'The movement of fierce and loving Christians is only emboldened because of the intent and murder of one of our own.'

Separately, she called for James Comey to 'rot in hell' after Trump revealed he had been indicted.

Sanford's wife also shared her political beliefs in 2021, writing: 'Bring back Trump. Who voted for this.'

The couple had erected a Trump sign outside of their home, according to Google Maps.

The family were all Christians who frequently addressed their faith in God.

Police have not yet revealed a suspected motive for the attack on churchgoers.

Pictures of the pickup truck Sanford used to ram the church revealed he had two American flags attached.

Sanford served in the military from June 2004 to June 2008, according to the Marine Corps.

Police and first responders remained at the scene throughout the night on Sunday, searching for churchgoers who may have been trapped inside

The shooter's truck had two American flags attached to the back

Police and law enforcement teams are seen at Sanford's home on Sunday after the shooting

He worked as an automotive mechanic and vehicle recovery operator, and from August 2007 to March 2008, he was deployed to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

During his service, he achieved the rank of sergeant and was awarded the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.

Sanford allegedly used 'an accelerant of some sort', believed to be gasoline, before he lit the church on fire. Authorities confirmed they had located explosive devices, but would not confirm whether they were used to start the blaze.

Reuben Coleman, the acting special agent in charge of the FBI Detroit field office, said the agency is now leading the investigation and considers it 'an act of targeted violence.'

Police cited extraordinary acts of heroism within the church, revealing congregants risked their lives to save youngsters.

'They were shielding the children who are also present within the church, moving them to safety,' Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye said.

Renye said the suspect rammed his vehicle through the front door of the building before opening fire with an assault rifle.

As of Sunday afternoon three improvised devices were discovered, two senior US law enforcement officials said, per NBC News.

'I will confirm that there were some suspected explosive devices that were located,' one official said. 'But as far as using them to initiate the blaze, we can't say that.'

Police and state troopers were seen at the shooter's home as they conducted the investigation

A firetruck ladder is seen over the burnt building following the fire and shooting Sunday

Grand Blanc is a suburb of Flint, located around 60 miles northwest of central Detroit

Police received a call about the shooting at 10.25am and arrived on the scene just 32 seconds later.

The assailant was killed by police eight minutes later, at 10.33am, in the parking lot of the church.

Trump took to Truth Social to condemn the 'epidemic of violence' in the US in the hours after the shooting.

'I have been briefed on the horrendous shooting that took place at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Grand Blanc, Michigan. The FBI was immediately on scene, and will be leading the Federal Investigation, and providing full support to State and Local Officials,' Trump wrote.

'The suspect is dead, but there is still a lot to learn. This appears to be yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America.

'The Trump Administration will keep the Public posted, as we always do. In the meantime, PRAY for the victims, and their families. THIS EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY MUST END, IMMEDIATELY!'
A Samoan fruit picker has pleaded guilty to raping a teenage girl and spitting in her face after another worker was wrongly accused of the horrific crime.

Agaalofa Agaalofa, 27, had initially pleaded not guilty following the horrific rape on the NSW North Coast on November 10, 2023.

Coffs Harbour District Court heard on Wednesday Agaalofa had snatched the girl from Corindi Beach, near Arrawarra, and threw her into a bush before raping her four times and spitting in her face.

Agaalofa's team had planned to argue he and the girl had some form of relationship and debate the issue of consent.

However, shortly after the victim gave her account of the brutal attack to the court - which Agaalofa heard with the assistance of a Samoan translator - the rapist changed his plea to guilty.

The update comes almost two years after Vitale Tiole, a Samoan father of four, was wrongly arrested two days after the teenager was raped.

Court documents revealed Mr Tiole had been assaulted behind bars before investigators realised he'd been falsely imprisoned.

'I am pleading with Your Honour, I have no understanding of what's happening - I don't know why I'm here,' Mr Tiole told a magistrate shortly after his arrest.

Agaalofa Agaalofa pleaded guilty to raping and spitting in the face of a teenage girl at Corindi Beach (pictured) in November 2023

Berry pickers are pictured near Arrawarra where the teen was assaulted

Crown prosecutor David Morters said on Wednesday the victim was walking on the beach shortly before 8pm when she was set upon by Agaalofa, the ABC reported.

'It was coming on dark. No-one else was around. They had never met before this night,' Mr Morters said,

Agaalofa then grabbed her, pushed her to the ground and partially removed her clothing.

The teenager had yelled for help and told Agaalofa to stop.

At one point she managed to get hold of her phone and send a partial message to people nearby, saying: 'I am being rapped (sic).'

Agaalofa had seen her using the phone and took it from her. After he was done assaulting her, he spat in the girl's face.

She managed to run away, partially clothed, and headed toward a light she could see in the distance. It turned out to be the phone lights of the people she'd contacted.

The teenager was taken to police and Coffs Harbour Hospital.

However, the hospital 'unfortunately didn't have the resources to conduct a sexual assault investigation process where various swabs and slides are collected'.

Samoan fruit picker Vitale Tiole (pictured) was wrongly arrested for the rape before DNA tests proved his innocence

'They didn't have the appropriate person there,' Mr Morters said.

Staff at the hospital did manage to collect some DNA samples - which were used to arrest Agaalofa.

More than three weeks after the attack, the teenager bought a new phone on December 5, 2023, and used the Find My iPhone app to locate her lost device.

It pinged at an accommodation for foreign farm workers in Grafton, some 50km from Corindi Beach.

She reported the information to police who attended the property and seized the phone from Agaalofa.

At the time of the sexual assault, hundreds of foreign workers - mostly part of the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme - were living at Arrawarra Beach Holiday Park.

The workers had been hired to pick fruit at a local berry farm but locals complained many were often drunk and aggressive.

Up to 400 of the PALM workers were moved on from the town after the teenager was raped.

Agaalofa will be sentenced in December.
The superintendent of Iowa's largest school district was placed on administrative leave on Saturday, one day after he was arrested by ICE agents for being in the country illegally.

The Des Moines school district board voted unanimously to place Superintended Ian Roberts, 54, on paid leave because he would be unable to perform his duties for the 30,000-student district in light of his arrest.

The board stated they would reassess Roberts's employment status for his $305,000 a year job once they received more information, and they were generally supportive of him.

After Roberts was arrested, school board chair Jackie Norris, who previously served as White House chief of staff for then-first lady Michelle Obama, asked for people to have 'radical empathy' as Roberts's case developed.

After the meeting where Roberts was placed on leave, Norris said his arrest had made for a 'jarring day,' but that officials 'do not have all the facts.'

'There is much we do not know,' she said. 'However, what we do know is that Dr. Roberts has been an integral part of our school community since he joined over two years ago.'

Republicans in the state legislature have launched an investigation into how Roberts was able to be hired in the first place.

After Roberts's arrest, more than 200 Des Moines residents swarmed the downtown Iowa area to protest.

The Des Moines school district board voted unanimously to place Superintended Ian Roberts, 54, on paid leave after his arrest by ICE

After Roberts's arrest, more than 200 Des Moines residents swarmed the downtown Iowa area to protest.

Rallying protestors chanted 'free Dr. Roberts' and 'no justice no peace' while holding signs that read 'release our superintendent,' KCCI reported.

ICE said Roberts was arrested because he was in the country illegally, did not have work authorization and had been subject to a final removal order since May of last year.

The agency also said he had a weapons possession charge dating from February 2020 that was still pending.

Agents attempted to stop Roberts while he was driving in a school-issued car before he sped away into a wooded area and abandoned the vehicle. Iowa State Patrol later found him hiding in a brush south of the abandoned car.

Police said they found a loaded gun, a fixed blade hunting knife and $3,000 cash in his car.

Roberts was held in the Woodbury County Jail in Sioux City, in northwest Iowa, about 150 miles from Des Moines.

'This suspect was arrested in possession of a loaded weapon in a vehicle provided by Des Moines Public Schools after fleeing federal law enforcement,' said ICE Enforcement Removal Operations St. Paul Field Office Director Sam Olson.

'How this illegal alien was hired without work authorization, a final order of removal, and a prior weapons charge is beyond comprehension and should alarm the parents of that school district.'

Agents attempted to stop Roberts while he was driving in a school-issued car before he sped away into a wooded area and abandoned the vehicle

Police said they found a loaded gun in Roberts's car after he was arrested

School board chair Norris said 'I want to be clear, no one here was aware of any citizenship or immigration issues that Dr. Roberts may have been facing.

'The accusations ICE had made against Dr. Roberts are very serious, and we are taking them very seriously.'

Roberts has retained a Des Moines law firm to represent him in his case.

Norris maintains that the school district did a background check on Roberts before he was hired and that no red flags had been raised. She also said that he had signed a form affirming he was a US citizen when he was hired.

A firm that was hired to do a thorough background check on Roberts when he was hired in 2023 also did not find any issues with his immigration status.

The Iowa Department of Education released a statement on Saturday saying Roberts stated he was a US citizen when he applied for an administrator license.

The department also said the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners conducted a criminal history check on Roberts before the license was issued.

They said they are now reviewing the Des Moines school district's hiring procedures, particularly its methods for ensuring applicants are authorized to work in the country.

Roberts (second from right) competed in the 2000 Olympics track and field event representing Guyana

Roberts has said he was born to immigrant parents from Guyana and spent much of his childhood in Brooklyn, New York. He competed in the 2000 Olympics track and field event representing Guyana.

He came to the US in 1999 on a student visa, and starting in September 2000, he had a brief stint as a teacher in the New York City public school system. He spent the next nine years in Baltimore public schools, where he eventually became a principal.

Since 2015, he has worked in schools in St. Louis, Missouri; Oakland, California; Erie, Pennsylvania; Kansas City, Missouri; and of course Des Moines.

Before serving as the superintendent for the Des Moines school district, Roberts was the superintended at the Millcreek Township school district in Pennsylvania.

While he was in that role, three gender discrimination lawsuits were filed against the school district, which had to pay out hundreds of thousands of dollars over the claims. One male employee said Roberts had a preference for women in higher positions.

A judge ordered the former superintendent's deportation in May 2024, which was held in absentia or without the defendant present.

A request was made to reopen the case in April 2025 but a Dallas immigration judge decided against it.
A public servant suspected of pocketing millions of dollars in bribes before he disappeared 'while putting the bins out' was living in squalid conditions in Sydney's west when he was finally arrested last week.

Ibrahim Helmy, 38, is the alleged mastermind of a $343million corruption scheme involving rigged Transport for NSW contracts and has been missing since May amid an Independent Commission Against Corruption investigation.

Helmy allegedly made unsuccessful attempts to flee overseas after a raid on the family's western Sydney home in September 2024.

He vanished seemingly without a trace in May this year, with Helmy's family telling the ICAC he took the rubbish out one Sunday evening and never came back, although they had not reported him missing.

Helmy then found himself at the centre of an intense police manhunt, and on Friday he was arrested by detectives at a red-brick apartment block in Lakemba and bundled into an unmarked car.

He was arrested on an outstanding warrant and taken to Campsie police station by cybercrime detectives.

A neighbour told the Daily Mail that Helmy was living in the top floor apartment of the red-brick complex with 'other men' at the time of his arrest.

'He [Ibrahim] lived in unit [number redacted] with other men,' the neighbour said. 'Go speak to them, they live upstairs.'

The two-bedroom, one-bathroom flat sits on the second floor of the building. Blinds were drawn and it had a number of boarded up windows.

State government official Ibrahim Helmy (pictured) - who was accused of pocketing millions in bribes before he disappeared 'while putting the bins out' - has been arrested

A neighbour told the Daily Mail that Helmy was living in the top floor apartment of this Lakemba unit block at time of his arrest last week 'with other men'

The unit was listed for rent for $520 a week.

Helmy's former girlfriend, Katya Wang, a fellow Transport for NSW (TfNSW) program governance and reporting officer who is now living with her mother in nearby Wentworthville, told the Daily Mail: 'I have nothing to say to you.'

She previously admitted Helmy gave her $6,000 in cash that he received from contractors, which she kept at home in a red envelope.

The pair began a romantic relationship in 2018, a few months after Ms Wang started working at the government agency, and it lasted more than six years until September 2024.

She left the agency in July, shortly before the ICAC Operation Wyvern public hearings began.

Ms Wang told ICAC in August that Helmy revealed his schemes to her - where he would add extra work items to invoices that were not delivered to TfNSW - while the pair were bushwalking on a first date in April 2018.

Former Transport for NSW official Katya Wang (pictured) appeared before the ICAC inquiry into kickbacks in August

Helmy lived in the mouldy apartment with 'other men' according to a neighbour

Helmy is accused of pocketing $11.5million in kickbacks  including bundles of cash, gold bullion and cryptocurrency  over 15 years from nine contractors in return for them being awarded work.

Helmy has not been charged with any criminal offences but can be held in police custody until he is formally brought before an ICAC hearing.

The inquiry was shown a message Helmy allegedly sent to Ms Wang on August 15, 2019, where he described himself as being 'addicted' to kickbacks from contractors.

'It's too much work  but I can't stop lol. I got a taste of it five years ago and I'm still addicted  Addicted to that paymeeeent lol [sic],' the message said.

She also recounted one occasion where she helped Helmy count up to $20,000 in cash kickbacks at her apartment in Parramatta.

In addition to the cash kickbacks Ms Wang allegedly pocketed from Helmy for assisting with his arrangements, the inquiry heard the pair also used a contractor's gift card to pay for hotel accommodation during a holiday in Dubbo in October 2019.

In July, Daily Mail asked Ibrahim's father, Moustafa Helmy, at his Merrylands home whether he knew his son's whereabouts. He said he was not concerned for Ibrahim's welfare and was confident he is safe.

'My son is a good man, what they are saying they have to prove,' he said. 'He is an engineer and he is a good person. The gold bullion? My daughter believes it is a good investment, better than banks.

Police seized Ibrahim Helmy's Maserati and this $500,000 2024 Bentley during the ICAC raids investigating Transport for NSW corruption scams

ICAC officers found $6,000 in cash at Katya Wang's home in a raid last year

'They took it, along with my son's Maserati when they came here and broke down my door. There were 30 of them. They were crazy. Why didn't they just knock instead of breaking the door in the night when we were sleeping?'

Mr Helmy was referring to the raid by ICAC and the NSW Crime Commission on his Merrylands home last September, when officers seized gold, platinum and silver bars, gold nuggets, bundles of cash totalling $12,317, and a Maserati.

The Crime Commission further seized $8million in cryptocurrency held in a Binance account by Mr Helmy's daughter, and $413,000 in cryptocurrency held by Ibrahim Helmy.

Ibrahim Helmy had worked at Transport for NSW in different roles as a civil engineer. He was suspended from his job at the time of the September raid, and was sacked in February this year.

Computers and storage devices were seized along with a US passport from the Merrylands home.

ICAC alleged that Helmy arranged for four colleagues to ensure businesses he had corrupt relationships with would be awarded contract work valued from $12million to $99million.

His father told the Mail he was 'not sure how long it is since (Ibrahim) left, but I haven't seen him'. But he stressed that he believed his son had been 'good at his job'.

Missing '$11.5million man' Ibrahim Helmy's father Moustafa spoke to the Daily Mail earlier this year about his son's disappearance. He was confident 'he is safe'

The two-bedroom flat had several boarded-up windows and the blinds were drawn

He said both his children, Ibrahim and his daughter, were qualified civil engineers and that he himself was a retired electrical engineer, adding that his whole family 'have nothing to hide'.

During the Daily Mail interview, Mr Helmy senior said the raid on his house last year when he, his wife and Ibrahim were in bed had 'scared us'.

He said he wasn't sure of the value of the family's items that had been seized in the raid, but that it was 'all legitimate' and nothing had been returned to them.

Ibrahim's younger brother, Mohamed Helmy, is also alleged to have profited from the scheme being investigated by ICAC's Operation Wyvern presided over by ICAC Chief Commissioner John Hatzistergos.

The inquiry continues.
Here's the uncomfortable truth for conservatives flirting with a Reform-style project in Australia: it would very likely blow up the Coalition long before it ever looked like dethroning Labor and forming government.

Reform UKs surge is real. Ipsos has Nigel Farages outfit at 34 per cent, nine points clear of UKs ruling Labour Party. Thats just one reason behind Anthony Albaneses efforts to lend the struggling UK PM Keir Starmer some glow on his recent trip to the northern hemisphere.

And UK local government elections (there are no state governments in the UK) have matched the national polling favouring the Reform party.

At the 2025 English council elections, Reform won the most seats contested, and took control of boroughs once considered safely Conservative. That momentum is now shaping Britain's national conversation, with Starmer openly framing the political fight as against Reform rather than the Conservative Party.

Australia, however, is built differently.

Our compulsory and preferential voting systems cushion us against sudden insurgent waves in the lower house. To win a seat a candidate must reach a majority after preferences are distributed.

Minor party votes dont split the votes of the majors in the same way they do in the UK, because preferences continue flowing until one party obtains 50 per cent plus one of the vote.

That makes it far harder for a new entrant to translate anger into seats, unless it can outpoll the Liberals time and time again, and attract enough preferences from across the political spectrum to cross the 50 per cent threshold.

A YouGov 'megapoll' last week found Nigel Farage's populist UK Reform party would 'make the biggest surge in British political history if an election was held now'

Compulsory voting also drags a broad, less volatile electorate to the polls, making it harder for fringe parties to succeed, unless they become more mainstream, which, almost by definition, removes the reason for their rise.

Under compulsory voting, turnout sits comfortably in the high 90 per cent range, blunting the tactical advantage of energised protest voters that Reform has exploited in the UK where voter turnout is closer to 50 per cent under voluntary voting.

Australias One Nation party regularly polls in the high single digits, yet didnt win a single House of Representatives seat at the May 2025 federal election. Its impact is mostly indirect (through preferences and Senate numbers) because the lower house barrier to entry in our system is simply too high.

Now picture a Reform Australia party fronted by a marquee conservative. Say someone like Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, or perhaps even Andrew Hastie. The immediate effect would be catastrophic for the Liberals, no doubt.

The party is already losing its metropolitan moderate flank to the teals, and further bleeding on the right would strand the Liberals in a shrinking middle without the numbers to finish first or perhaps even second on two-candidate-preferred counts in dozens of marginal seats.

The teals appear entrenched in inner-city seats (for now). A Reform-style party holds no threat to them. But an Australian Reform party would strip the Liberal Party of primary votes across outer-metro and regional seats.

Its unlikely that would register a high enough vote to take seats off Labor, but whats known as 'preference bleeding' might cost the Liberal and National parties the chance to win seats from Labor.

That same preference bleed acts as a barrier to new Reform Australia candidates winning, other than high-profile defectors who already hold seats for the Liberal and National parties.

But to be a viable alternative government they need to win a significant number of seats off Labor, given the extent of Anthony Albanese's current parliamentary majority.

Some conservatives hope that a marquee star such as Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price could lead a new right wing party

Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie - who has been unusually vocal of late - is another who those on the right would like to see in a party leadership position

The reality is building a national seat map for any new party entering Australian politics is extremely hard. Our two party system is one of the most entrenched anywhere in the world.

Under our rules, a new party needs concentrated local strength, disciplined candidates and favourable preference flows across dozens of electorates.

Britains first-past-the-post system lets momentum turn popularity into seats more suddenly. Meanwhile, Australias system forces successful candidates to assemble a majority after everyone elses supporters have had their say.

And our compulsory voting system means that the middle always turns out to vote. That is a structural barrier to entry for any party tiptoeing the right or left edge of the existing major parties.

And its before you confront the mundane realities of needing to recruit quality candidates in 151 lower house seats, funding a ground game in each of them, and negotiating preferences without poisoning your brand.

Its a tall order, which is why most minor or new parties target the Senate with its more amenable proportional voting system.

But what if a Reform style party somehow did succeed?

Political Editor Peter van Onselen says a new Reform-style party would initially hurt the right wing of politics due to the way the Australian system works. Above, struggling Opposition Leader Sussan Ley

The non-Labor pathway to government would then require an unholy alliance to form majority government: Liberals, Nationals, teals, new Reformers, perhaps even the remnants of One Nation (to pass laws in the Senate) would somehow all have to come together.

You dont need to be a pessimist to see the policy collisions: on climate change, the power of integrity bodies, industrial relations, immigration, reconciliation, tax - you name it. Herding that coalition through a budget would make Britains current turbulence look tame by way of comparison.

On most of those issues, the teals and a Reform-style party are oil and water. The Nationals and teals share a focus on local issues but not priorities. Any conservative Liberals who remain would be squeezed between both - and moderates wouldnt know what to do. Stability would be a mirage at best.

At that point many voters, especially under compulsory voting, would likely prefer Labors coherence to a fractured non-Labor amalgam. Albos dream of entrenching Labor as the natural party of government federally would fast become a reality.

For the Coalition, a Reform style party would be a spoiler in the House and a megaphone in the Senate. It would cannibalise One Nation and fragments of the Liberals, perhaps delivering Labor more lower house wins on split primaries than its current record majority.

In other words, it would give the right wing of Australian politics more voices - but less power.

The UK shows what can happen when a major party loses definition and discipline and a sharp insurgent fills the void. Our system, however, converts that same revolt into an electoral stalemate on the right rather than victory.

If you want the Coalition back in government, a Reform clone coming to Australia is likely to be a sugar hit with a long hangover. The structural incentives in Australian politics punish schisms on the centre-right and reward coherence.

Thats not a plea for unity for unitys sake, its a recognition of how our electoral rules turn protest parties into permanent spoilers.
Sky News Australia has pulled the plug on its new debate show Freya Fires Up.

Hosted by Gen Z conservative firebrand Freya Leach, the show lasted just six weeks - dogged by controversy after a guest made inflammatory anti-Muslim remarks on September 21.

Following an internal review into the show's 'editorial processes', Sky News initially downgraded Freya Fires Up from live to a pre-recorded format last week.

But the network has now taken it a step further, scrapping the program altogether - though Leach remains employed and will continue co-hosting The Late Debate.

'We have undertaken a thorough internal review, implemented its recommendations, and taken appropriate action with everyone involved in this incident,' a Sky News Australia spokesperson told Inside Mail.

From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop.

Sky News Australia has pulled the plug on its new debate show Freya Fires Up after host Freya Leach's (right) bungled interview with right-wing provocateur Ryan Williams (left)

Sky News said its editorial processes had failed to flag Williams (pictured) as a problematic guest, after he appeared on air with bacon across his shoulders to 'protect' him from Muslims

'A decision has been made to discontinue the program. Freya Leach will remain as co-host of The Late Debate.

'We took immediate action during the live broadcast to cut off the guest, our host promptly apologised, and we ensured the content was not published or republished to any of our digital platforms.'

Leach's show was scheduled to air Sunday night but was abruptly replaced by Kieran Gilbert's Sunday Agenda.

The switch was so last-minute that Foxtel's on-demand service still listed the broadcast as 'Freya Fires Up' even as the replacement aired.

A Sky News insider told Inside Mail it was a case of 'apologies not being enough' after the show 'dropped the ball' by airing a guest who 'shouldn't have been anywhere near a mainstream television studio'.

Leach has long been seen as a rising star at Sky News, with senior figures reportedly viewing her as a network 'golden girl' with a bright future.

Ironically, her meteoric rise at the network had coincided with former host Liz Storer - whom she replaced on The Late Debate - being sidelined for being considered too 'controversial'.

Her continued role on The Late Debate suggests she hasn't been held personally responsible for the scandal.

Leach has long been seen as a rising star at Sky News, with senior figures reportedly viewing her as a network 'golden girl' with a bright future

Her continued role on The Late Debate suggests she hasn't been held personally responsible for the scandal

Viewers were stunned by 22-year-old Leach's interview with right-wing Scottish influencer Ryan Williams, 33, who is known for wanting to inflict 'maximum damage on Islam'.

Williams was yanked off air within a minute after a senior producer heard him call Muslims 'terrorists' - while wearing bacon on his shoulders to 'protect' himself.

Leach, who had introduced Williams as a 'social media sensation' and conservative political strategist, swiftly apologised after the guest was cut off.

She later offered a longer apology on The Late Debate.

'He was asked specifically for his reaction to the Charlie Kirk assassination and its fallout, but instead used our platform to spread his harmful views,' Leach said.

A network insider told The Sydney Morning Herald that Sky's head of programs, Mark Calvert, was on leave at the time and had not signed off on Williams as a guest.

Reports last week suggested both Leach and the producer would retain their roles despite the controversy.

Ironically, her meteoric rise at the network had coincided with former host Liz Storer - whom she replaced on The Late Debate - being sidelined for being considered too 'controversial'

In a statement issued on September 22 - the day after the segment aired - a Sky News spokesperson said: 'We apologise unreservedly for the deeply offensive comments made by a guest during a live broadcast on Sunday evening.

'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.'

Back in August, Sky News had been promoting Leach as the network's big new star.

The show was pitched as a no-holds-barred debate panel, promising 'robust and even confrontational takes on the issues which really matter'.

It took just six weeks for Sky News to learn that even 'no holds barred' has its limits.
A conservative Oklahoma education official has declared that every high school in the state will open a Turning Point USA chapter in the wake of founder Charlie Kirk's assassination.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters announced on Tuesday the state has partnered with the conservative political organization to form high school Club America chapters at public, private and even homeschool settings.

'Charlie Kirk inspired a generation to love America, to speak boldly and to never shy away from debate,' he said in a statement.

'We will fight back against the liberal propaganda, pushed by the radical left and the teachers unions,' Walters continued. 'Our fight starts now.'

He also addressed the issue in a video message to parents, saying it is 'a battle for the future of our country' as he accused teachers unions of lying to students about American history.

The new student clubs would then engage in discussions about the founding of the country, American values and civic activity.

'We want you here,' Walters said, turning his attention to the students of the state. 'We want an open discussion. We want a back and forth on these issues.

'We want you here. We want you here whether you agree or disagree. We want to debate. We want to discuss,' he continued.

The education official then claimed that the 'radical left that wants to stop free speech is waking parents up to the importance of organizations like Turning Point USA.'

Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters declared that every high school in the state will open a Turning Point USA chapter

He said that interest in starting the club at high schools has surged since Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was shot dead earlier this month

'We've never seen anything like the engagement here in Oklahoma,' Walters said.

'I think it will be very, very quickly that we'll be able to hit that goal of getting a Turning Point in every high school in the state.'

The state official has since clarified his comments to USA Today, insisting that his assertion that every high school in the state will have a chapter was based on the level of interest he said his office has seen from students, parents and teachers in the wake of Kirk's death.

'We've already got the numbers in,' Walters said. 'I mean, it's moving like crazy. We're getting hundreds of requests a day.

'So this is, this is a done deal. It's a matter of [whether] the schools are going to comply and ensure that they are allowed to do that.'

Interest in starting Turning Point chapters across the country has also soared, with spokesman Andrew Kolvet announcing on social media that the group has received more than 120,000 inquiries since Kirk's assassination in Utah.

'Even accounting for attrition and duplicates, we are on the cusp of having a TPUSA or Club America chapter in every high school and college campus in America,' Kolvet wrote on Tuesday.

In Oklahoma, Walters said he expects all schools in the state to have chapters within the next two months.

Walters suggested he would target the accreditation of any school that fights students trying to start a Turning Point USA club

Turning Point USA requires each Club America chapter to have at least three student officers and a signed charter agreement.

Students must also take on at least one 'activism initiative' per semester, and many schools require faculty sponsors for student organizations.

New Turning Point USA chapters must also submit their signed charters ahead of the school year, which it considers as running from June through May.

The benefit of the state partnership, Walters said, is that state officials can help facilitate the creation of new chapters by connecting interested students with Turning Point USA resources to help start a club.

He said he now expects teachers unions to 'try to fight' students who want to start chapters- and when asked by a local reporter what would happen to a school that does not open a chapter, Walters said he would go after the school's accreditation.

'They would be in danger of not being a school district if they decided to reject a club that is here to promote civic engagement,' the schools official said.

'Everything would be on the table in that scenario,' he added ominously.

Interest in starting Turning Point chapters across the country has also soared following Kirk's assassination in Utah

Turning Point USA has received more than 120,000 inquiries for new chapters since Kirk's death

Still, some school officials have remained defiant.

John Croisant, who serves as Tulsa Public Schools 5th District Board Member, said Walters' call for a conservative political organization at Oklahoma schools is just a stunt and a distraction from the state's faltering public education system.

He told KGOU that Tulsa Public Schools will not be creating a chapter 'and he can't make us. Because that's not part of accreditation.'

If students want to participate in clubs and other activities at schools they can already do that and if they want to create a club, there are existing channels.

Nadine Gallagher, a middle school English teacher, also told KOCO that if the students want to start a club she's 'all for it' but said she doesn't like 'forced anything.'

Questions also remain about the legality of the government promoting a particular political organization.

The Turning Point chapters organize around conservative principles and the activism kits sent to each club promote issues including free speech, gun rights. Some are even labeled 'Make America Healthy Again.'

'I would not go so far as to say this is a flagrant violation,' Mississippi College Law Professor Franklin Rosenblatt said. 'I just think those who do it are putting their own government systems they're running at risk.'

John Croisant, who serves as Tulsa Public Schools 5th District Board Member, said the district will not comply

The Turning Point chapters organize around conservative principles. Kirk is pictured here in June 2024 at a Turning Point PAC town hall

'The fact that a state actor is saying we are going to do what we can and bend over backward to help one political affiliation does put him at risk,' the law professor said of Walters.

'Not everyone is going to be happy when they're not treated the same.'

Will Creeley, legal director of Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, also said there is a 'uniqueness' to the partnership between the state and Turning Point USA. He said it 'warrants further detail and observation' to determine whether it violates the First Amendment.

But Walters said the notion that the partnership is unconstitutional is 'laughable.'

'No one's being forced into it,' he explained. 'If the kids want to join, the kids can join. Kids aren't being told they have to join.'

The state superintendent has now received some support, with Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith posting on X that 'Indiana needs to quickly follow Oklahoma's lead and implement [Turning Point USA] chapters in every Hoosier High School.'

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier also said his office 'will take legal action against any schools or districts that are preventing TPUSA clubs from existing on campus.'

Walters is now set to serve as the CEO of Teacher Freedom Alliance, an advocacy group designed to be a conservative alternative to teachers' unions. He is pictured here with Vice President JD Vance

Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith expressed his support for Walters' plans

Yet it seems Walters has taken his support for Turning Point USA further, as his department has previously announced it is also investigating more than 70 teachers for their posts following Kirk's assassination.

'We've had a record amount of parents reach out on those indivudal posts as well, saying "Look, I don't want this person in front of my kids. I don't want this person in a classroom,"' Walters said at a recent meeting.

He claimed that some of the posts on social media show that the teachers want to 'glorify the assassination' and said they would 'love to see other people killed in the way that Charlie Kirk was.'

Additionally, Walters said he will continue to punish districts that did not observe a moment of silence for the late Turning Point USA founder earlier this month.

'I think it's absolutely disgusting that the left would refuse to take a moment of silence,' he said. 'We will again be pursuing all necessary actions and repercussions around that.'

In total, Walters has said that his office has received 224 reports of 'defamatory comments' about Kirk by school staff, 30 reports of 'not observing a moment of silence' and three reports of schools that refused to lower their flags following Kirk's assassination.

However, the Oklahoma official also recently announced he would be leaving public office to serve as the CEO of Teacher Freedom Alliance, an advocacy group designed to be a conservative alternative to teachers' unions.

'Walters fearlessly fights the woke liberal union mob,' the group said after his position was announced, adding that it 'will take the fight straight to the unions and we will not stop.'

It now remains unclear what will become of the department's investigations and partnership with Turning Point USA following Walters' departure.
A stowaway was found dead in the landing gear of an American Airlines flight that arrived in North Carolina from Europe.

Crew at Charlotte Douglas International Airport were performing routine maintenance on the plane discovered the person around nine o'clock on the morning of September 28.

The stowaway was declared dead on the scene.

Homicide detectives and crime scene officials responded and the Mecklenburg County Medical Examiner's office will perform an autopsy on the stowaway's body.

American Airlines is reportedly working closely with Charlotte law enforcement on their investigation.

There were no immediate details released by the company about who the stowaway was, how they got into the landing gear, or from which European city the flight originated.

However, American Airlines offers routes between Charlotte and many European cities including London, Rome, Paris, and Madrid.

Charlotte Airline Authorities were aware of the incident.

In a statement obtained by ABC, they said: 'We are deeply saddened by this news and will support the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department's investigation as needed.

'Airport operations continue as normal.'

A body was found in the landing gear of an American Airlines plane while a maintenance crew was working on it

The flight had arrived from Europe to the Charlotte Douglas International airport

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg police department also addressed the tragic discovery in a statement.

They said: 'Homicide Unit detectives responded to the scene to conduct an investigation, and Crime Scene Search responded to process the scene and collect physical evidence.'

Stowing away on an airliner is dangerous, but not unheard of.

Earlier this month, a 13-year-old boy reportedly snuck into the landing gear compartment of a passenger plan travelling from Kabul, Afghanistan to Delhi, India miraculously survived the 90 minute, 720-mile flight.

But most stowaways do not survive the journey.

The body was found while crews were performing routine maintenance on the aircraft

Charlotte police and homicide detectives will work closely with American Airlines to investigate the incident

At the beginning of 2025, two teenagers were found dead in the landing gear of a JetBlue flight between New York and Fort Lauderdale.

Aviation analyst John Nance said that temperatures in the landing gear compartment of the plane are unregulated and can dip as low as negative 60 degrees.

A person subjected to such extreme temperatures could suffer extensive frost bite and limb loss.

The cabin of an airliner is pressurized to provide customers with breathable oxygen at altitudes above 10,000 feet. The landing gear compartment is not, which means the lack of oxygen could cause brain death in stowaways.

Survivors were likely sustained through the flight by heat from the wheel well, loss of consciousness, and hypothermia which helped preserve their nervous system, according to Wright State University.

The official cause of death of the Charlotte stowaway has no been released, as the incident is still under investigation.
A man accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a sex worker has appeared in court nearly two years after his high-profile arrest in Sydney's east.

Paul Sargon Kelaita, 50, was in Gosford District Court on Monday for the opening of his trial expected to last seven days.

The prosecution alleges Kelaita lured a sex worker who goes by the name Kayleigh Jordan to a rental property in Killarney Vale on the Central Coast in November 2023.

Kelaita is alleged to have detained Ms Jordan, then 30, at the property for more than two hours and repeatedly sexually assaulted her.

He was arrested in Bondi, in Sydney's east, some ten days later and has remained in custody since. He was denied bail by the NSW Supreme Court late last year.

Keilata was pictured wearing maroon rugby shorts at the time of his arrest, following an hour-long foot chase through Bondi involving the dog squad and PolAir.

He was finally cornered on a rooftop and frogmarched away by police through a crowd of concerned onlookers.

The first day of the trial was reserved for the Crown's opening statement, jury selection and Ms Jordan's testimony, which was closed to the public.

Paul Kelaita (centre) has fronted court over the alleged sexual assault of a sex worker. He is pictured being arrested following a police pursuit through Bondi in November 2023

Kelaita has pleaded not guilty to 15 charges including aggravated sexual assault, kidnapping and intimidation with intent to cause fear

Kelaita is pictured being escorted by police wearing maroon rugby shorts in front of onlookers

Kelaita was largely silent apart from an outburst during an address by the prosecution, which led to a word of caution from Judge David Wilson SC.

The prosecution alleged Kelaita lured Ms Jordan to the Killarney Vale property under a false identity on the evening of Sunday November 12, 2023.

Ms Jordan had previously decided to cut ties with Kelaita as a client following an earlier encounter and was unaware he was using a false identity.

Upon arriving at the property, Kelaita allegedly forced Ms Jordan inside the granny flat and proceeded to sexually assault her.

It is further alleged Kelaita took control of Ms Jordan's car after the ordeal, leading to her jumping from the vehicle to make her escape.

Following investigations, police tracked Kelaita to the Adina Apartments in Bondi some ten days after the alleged assault.

He was arrested following a dramatic foot pursuit, in which police said he jumped from a two-storey balcony and hopped several nearby fences.

He was taken to Waverley Police Station and later charged.

Police tracked Kelaita to the Adina Apartments in Bondi, ten days after the alleged assault

He has pleaded not guilty to 15 charges, including four counts of aggravated sexual assault, two counts of sexual touching without consent, and one count of inciting another to sexually touch without consent.

He also pleaded not guilty to kidnapping with intention of committing a serious indictable offence, taking a motor vehicle without the owner's consent and inflicting actual bodily harm and six counts of intimidation with intent to cause fear.

The trial will continue on Tuesday.
Four teenagers have been arrested after an allegedly stolen SUV - driven by a gang reportedly armed with machetes - was chased by police through Melbourne's busy Bourke St mall on Monday lunchtime.

Shoppers fled in terror as the white BMW sped through the pedestrianised shopping street where six people were killed and 27 seriously injured in 2017 by a drug-crazed driver.

The SUV - with smashed windows - was surrounded by cops about 1.30pm on Monday as its occupants reportedly fled through the nearby Myer department store.

Early reports suggested the car was stolen by a group of teens armed with machetes who drove the vehicle down the shopping strip at speed, 7NEWS stated.

In a statement, Victoria Police confirmed four teenage males had been arrested following a pursuit across Melbournes eastern suburbs and CBD.

Police observed a vehicle being driven erratically on the Eastern Freeway in Doncaster about 12.30pm and chased it into the CBD where it hit a pedestrian on Exhibition Street.

'The female has been transported to hospital for observation with no life-threatening injuries,' said a police spokesman.

'The BMW, believed to have been stolen from the Boroondara area yesterday, was dumped a short time later on Bourke Street Mall and the four occupants fled on foot.

The BMW intercepted by police on Monday in the Bourke Street Mall

The incident terrified Melbourne city dwellers

'They were arrested a short time later outside a shopping centre on Lonsdale Street

'Two 17-year-olds, a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old from the Bendigo and Yarra Ranges areas are currently being interviewed.'

A witness told 3AW she earlier saw what appeared to be a white BMW with smashed windows travelling down Punt Road in South Yarra, just outside the CBD.

The incident brings back disturbing memories for Melburnians who have never fully recovered from the actions of James Gargasoulas along the same busy shopping strip.

Gargasoulas mowed down 33 pedestrians, killing six, on the packed strip in the central city on January 20, 2017 after evading police for two days.

Among the dead was three-month-old Zachary Bryant; 10-year-old Thalia Hakin; Jess Mudie, 22; Yosuke Kanno, 25; Matthew Si, 33; and Bhavita Patel, 33.

Baby Zac was being pushed in his pram by his mum when Gargasoulas ploughed into them, sending Zac 68m into the air to his death.

Police had been trying to capture him after a near-fatal stabbing attack on his brother in Windsor. Gargasoulas was jailed for life in 2019.

The BMW managed to get past bollards placed around the mall by driving along tram tracks

Police investigated the BMW in Melbourne's CBD

Bourke Street killer James Gargasoulas was jailed for life

He will be 75 before he is eligible for parole after being sentenced to a minimum of 46 years behind bars.

A Victorian coroner later blasted Victoria Police for the way it handled the arrest of Gargasoulas.

In handing down her 300-page findings, Coroner Jacqui Hawkins provided a scathing assessment of how police had mishandled Gargasoulas leading up to the atrocity.

'It is agonising that despite the escalating events of the previous days and the scores of police members actively engaged in attempting to stop him, such a violent, drug-fuelled, psychotic and delusional perpetrator was able to slip through the cracks and evade interception by police over several hours on 20 January 2017,' she said.

'Deficiencies included poor planning; a lack of assertive leadership, supervision and coordinated command and control; lack of adequate resources; inadequate communications between units across police radio channels; failure to follow up and action essential inquiries and resources, inflexible attitudes and policies; loss of objectivity; a staunch belief that negotiating with a delusional person was the best chance of bringing the incident to a conclusion; and, ultimately a reluctance to act assertively for fear of recrimination.'

More to come
President Donald Trump has flaunted the '24 karat gold' that adorns the walls of the White House that he claimed make other world leaders 'freak out' in an odd social media post on Sunday night.

The 79-year-old former real estate developer brought in his 'gold guy' to help decorate the presidential palace when he took office in January, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Now, all of the interiors feature golden details, trinkets and other decor that makes the White House shine.

Bragging about the accoutrements on his Truth Social platform, the commander-in-chief shared a silent video panning around dozens of gold wall moldings laid out on a table.

'Some of the highest quality 24 Karat Gold used in the Oval Office and Cabinet Room of the White House,' the president wrote.

'Foreign Leaders, and everyone else, "freak out" when they see the quality and beauty,' he continued.

'Best Oval Office ever in terms of success and look!!!'

President Donald Trump has flaunted the '24 karat gold' that adorns the walls of the White House on Sunday night

He shared a a silent video panning around dozens of gold wall moldings laid out on a table

The president claimed that foreign leaders 'freak out' when they see his gold decor

The post came after a woman on TikTok claimed she could purchase much of the president's decor for Home Depot for a bargain price.

The video showed her going through the aisles of the home improvement store and picking up items that matched those in the White House, which she said she could just spray paint gold.

Trump, though, has repeatedly denied that the gold decorations are common.

'People have tried to come up with a gold paint that would look like gold and they've never been able to do it,' he told Laura Ingraham in March.

'You've never been able to match gold with gold paint,' he insisted.

But many online found Trump's display to be in poor taste.

'The contrast is grotesque - imagery you couldn't script any better,' Project Liberal Executive Director Joshua Reed Eakle posted.

'A president slashes healthcare, heaps unprecedented tariffs onto working Americans and then posts gaudy videos flaunting his new gold-plated trinkets,' he wrote, adding that 'Americans will not bow to another king.'

Many X users were left aghast by the president's gaudy display, which came just hours after a mass shooting in Michigan

Another X user asked Americans to 'remember this tweet next time you buy groceries or pay your electricity bill,' while a third noted that the United States' debt is $37 trillion and accused Trump of trying to make people forget about the debt with his gold pieces.

Others pointed out the poor timing of the post, which came just hours after 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford rammed his car into a Mormon church before setting it on fire and shooting at congregants.

He killed at least four people and injured eight others during his horrifying rampage before he was shot dead in the parking lot of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan.

'Multiple mass shootings over the last 24 hours and Donald Trump is online bragging about the amount of gold in his office,' an X user wrote.

Another asked 'HOW is he posting THIS after what happened last night in NC and today in Michigan,' while a third responded to Vice President JD Vance's post saying that the 'entire administration is monitoring things' as the investigation into the Michigan shooting continues.

'Monitoring? No Trump is busy bragging about his 24kt gold,' the user scoffed.

Davis Ingle, a White House spokesman, has since fought back against the criticism.

'President Trump is selflessly making the White House more beautiful and patriotic than ever before. Anyone who criticizes these historic renovation efforts clearly suffer from a severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome,' he said.
The 'scumbag' who sliced his arm open after being convicted of murdering a mother-of-two who did not want to be in a relationship with him is already back in jail.

Paul Jason Sultana left the NSW Supreme Court in an ambulance last Friday after being found guilty of the January 2023 strangling murder of Dayna Isaac.

He was taken from the King Street courthouse in Sydney to nearby St Vincent's Hospital after slashing his left arm with what was believed to have been a razor blade.

The 35-year-old was discharged on Saturday and transferred to the maximum-security Long Bay Hospital, where Daily Mail has confirmed he remains.

Ms Isaac's father Garry English, who was in court when Sultana cut himself, said he had been informed about 'the scumbag' being returned to prison.

'It was bulls***,' Mr English said of Sultana's attention-seeking stunt. 'It was just p*** poor. I'll be honest, I don't know what to say.'

Sultana slashed his left forearm after Justice Peter Garling found him guilty of murder and sobbed loudly as paramedics took him away on a stretcher.

A Corrective Services spokeswoman said departmental staff provided an emergency medical response while an ambulance was called.

The 'scumbag' who sliced his arm open after being convicted of murdering mother-of-two Dayna Isaac is already back in jail. Ms Isaac is pictured with her father, Garry English

Paul Jason Sultana left the NSW Supreme Court in an ambulance last Friday after being found guilty of the January 2023 strangling murder of 28-year-old Dayna Isaac

Officers were being supported following the incident and Corrective Services was investigating how it took place.

Justice Garling found 28-year-old Ms Isaac's murder followed a brief relationship between the two friends.

The relationship was 'unsettled' and involved a jealous Sultana being unable to accept a relationship of the kind Ms Isaac desired.

The trial heard evidence from Sultana's mother, Janet Tsiliris, who was called by her son in the aftermath of the murder.

The killer later picked up his mother in Ms Isaac's car and took her to the victim's apartment in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith, where the murder occurred.

He repeatedly told her 'it's bad', Ms Tsiliris's police statement said.

'I walked in the front door and saw blood in the entryway near the lounge room on the floor,' Sultana's mother told investigators.

After seeing Ms Isaac with blood on her face, Ms Tsiliris ran out of the unit yelling 'I'm gone, I'm out of here.'

Sultana (above) argued an unknown third party killed Ms Isaac while he was sound asleep in her unit. Justice Peter Garling utterly rejected that scenario

He was taken from the King Street courthouse in Sydney to nearby St Vincent's Hospital after slashing his left arm with what was believed to have been a razor blade

Mr English gave evidence outlining conversations he had with Sultana, including one in which he said his daughter was not interested in pursuing a romantic relationship with her eventual killer.

'I said to him "Paul, Dayna likes you as a friend and nothing more",' Mr English said in his statement.

'He got in my face and told me that I have to tell Dayna that he was good for her.'

Mr English's Facebook cover photo is a picture of him smiling with his daughter as they travelled to her wedding to ex-husband Mikkel Isaac.

Other images show Mr English cuddling and playing with Ms Isaac's two young daughters.

Sultana argued an unknown third party killed Ms Isaac while he was sound asleep in her unit.

Justice Garling rejected that scenario, finding there was 'no evidence to support even a remote possibility, let alone a reasonable one'.

Mr English told reporters outside court the guilty verdict was a good outcome for his 'princess'.

Sultana is expected to face sentencing before the end of the year.
Australian fashion powerhouse Desordre has collapsed under millions of dollars of debt.

The expensive retailer, which was began as a pop-up store in Sydney's Darlinghurst in 2009, plunged into liquidation earlier this month.

Desordre (meaning disorder in French) had stores in Darlinghurst and Bondi Beach in Sydney, Armadale in Melbourne and Fortitude Valley in Brisbane.

It also maintained an international presence through its global online boutique.

However, ASIC records seen by the Daily Mail show that the company entered liquidation on September 4 - with the boutique suddenly turning the comments off on posts going back months.

One news report said the company owes 85 creditors - including Ralph Lauren, and Alex Perry, which is owed $729,000, as well as some 13 influencers, models and stylists, including Byron Baes star Abbey Steanes and Perth model Holly Young.

Other creditors include fashion brands, model management companies, landlords, TikTok and even rubbish removal, pest control and mowing businesses.

The fashion brand was adored by celebrities such as Dina Broadhurst who can be seen wearing the clothes in several photos on her Instagram page.

Dina Broadhurst is among the many well known faces who have worn clothes sold by Desordre

Desordre has entered liquidation (pictured, the Desordre store in Armadale)

Founder Ms Thomas told news.com.au: 'In an effort to save the business, we have actively worked with advisers to consolidate operations and reduced overheads.'

'Unfortunately, after 15 years of operations, this culminated in the appointment of liquidators.'

She added she was 'deeply disappointed' to say goodbye to her business.

Ms Thomas had launched her store more than 15 years ago with the goal of making runway fashion quickly accessible in Australia.

However, the company has struggled to keep up with global industry giants touting the same goal, like Zara.

'If you walk through a Zara store this season you will find similar trends, colours and cuts that you see off runways in Paris and Milan and that's been their whole model,' Queensland University Professor Gary Mortimer, a retail expert, said.

'Fast fashion has changed up the way consumers shop for fashion. Here in Australia we are very much around seasons  but we are now seeing changes every few weeks as to what is in stores.'

Desordre's website states it is currently 'under maintenance' and is no longer taking orders.

Alex Perry (pictured) poses with Simone Holtznagel and well known stylist Marina Didovich

One news report said the company owes 85 creditors - including Ralph Lauren, and Alex Perry , which is owed $729,000, as well as some 13 influencers, models and stylists, including Byron Baes star Abbey Steanes and Perth model Holly Young (pictured)

Desordre has not addressed its closure with its last Instagram post showcasing a unique dress on August 30.

It is unclear whether customers with pending orders will receive their items or a refund.

Insolvency firm Mackay Goodwin has been appointed as Desordre's liquidator.

Daily Mail has contacted the firm and Desordre for comment.

The news follows a difficult year for Australia's fashion industry.

Ally Fashion was forced to close 51 stores in the first quarter of 2025 before narrowly being saved from disaster.

Mosaic Brands - which owned brands including Autograph, Noni B, Katies, Millers and Rivers - collapsed late last year after it failed to find a buyer.

Jeanswest similarly had to call in the help of administrators and close all its physical stores, a move it announced in March.

Grace Hayden showing off one of the dresses designed by Alex Perry and sold at Desordre
US president Donald Trump has said a deal to end the Gaza war is within reach for 'the first time ever' as he hosts Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House today.

Trump believes the agreement is close after talks with Arab leaders last week, insisting it would free hostages, secure a ceasefire and force Hamas to disarm.

On Sunday, he hinted at a historic breakthrough on his Truth Social platform, writing: 'ALL ARE ON BOARD FOR SOMETHING SPECIAL, FIRST TIME EVER. WE WILL GET IT DONE!!!'

But Netanyahu has poured cold water on any optimism. Speaking at the UN on Friday, he pledged to 'finish the job' against Hamas and vowed to stop the creation of a Palestinian state, which has recently been recognised by several Western powers.

The Israeli leader also shows no sign of halting his army's push through Gaza City, where the United Nations says around 700,000 people have been displaced since the start of September.

This will be Netanyahu's fourth White House trip since Trump returned to power in January.

The American president has repeatedly promised he could solve the conflict in a matter of days, though he has so far failed to deliver.

Trump, usually one of Netanyahu's closest allies, has begun to show irritation.

He last week warned the Israeli premier not to annex the West Bank, despite calls from some in his cabinet, and voiced anger over an Israeli strike on Hamas members in Qatar, a key US ally.

Natan Sachs, senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, said the outcome of the meeting depends on how hard Trump is willing to push.

Israeli strikes hit a tower block in Gaza yesterday. The building sheltered hundreds of Palestinians. Trump believes he is close to securing a peace deal

'Netanyahu has a clear preference for continuing the war and defeating Hamas, but I don't think it's impossible for Trump to convince him otherwise,' Sachs told AFP. 'It would need a lot of pressure from Trump and a very clear and sustained strategy.'

The pair are due to appear together at a joint news conference at 1:15 pm Eastern time (16:15 BST) on Monday.

Trump's upbeat tone last week followed meetings with Arab and Muslim-majority leaders on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

Reports suggest a 21-point American plan is already being circulated among diplomats. It would see Hamas disarmed, hostages freed and a ceasefire agreed.

One idea being floated is for former UK prime minister Tony Blair to oversee a temporary governing body for Gaza. The proposed 'Gaza International Transitional Authority' would operate with UN and Gulf backing before eventually transferring power to a reformed Palestinian Authority.

Netanyahu flatly rejected that during his UN speech, saying the PA should have no role in Gaza. The Palestinian Authority lost control of the strip when Hamas seized power in 2007.

Speaking to Fox News on Sunday, he cast doubt that the PA could ever be reformed.

'I think that the credibility or the likelihood of a reformed Palestinian Authority that changes completely its stripes, that accepts a Jewish state, that teaches its children to embrace the coexistence and friendship with the Jewish state, rather than living their lives in order to annihilate it well, good luck,' he said.

The current war began with Hamas's bloody October 7 attack, which left 1,219 people dead in Israel, most of them civilians.

Trump and Netanyahu at the White House at the White House in April this year. Despite Trump's optimism, the Israeli leader has casted doubt on a peace deal

It was the single deadliest day in the country's history. Militants also kidnapped around 250 hostages, some of whom remain in captivity nearly two years on.

Israel's response has been devastating. According to the health ministry in Gaza, which the UN treats as credible, more than 65,549 Palestinians have been killed, the majority of them civilians.

In recent weeks, Netanyahu and his officials have ramped up attacks in Gaza.

Earlier this month, Israel Katz said the country was 'opening the gates of hell' in Gaza as the IDF blew up a tower block. It claimed it was being used by Hamas terrorists.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu, in confirming plans of a full Gaza takeover, said in August: 'We will deepen the blows to the terror infrastructure above and below ground, and disconnect the reliance of the population on Hamas.'

This month, a United Nations commission concluded that Israel's conduct in Gaza amounts to genocide, citing evidence of mass killing, the use of siege tactics that cut off food and medical aid, and 'conditions of life' deliberately imposed to bring about destruction.

The UN and WHO have also confirmed famine conditions in Gaza, with more than half a million people facing severe hunger and many going days without food.

Israel strongly rejects the allegations - its government says these claims are 'distorted and false,' arguing its military campaign is aimed not at Palestinians broadly, but at ending Hamas and defending its citizens.

Last week, at Netanyahu's address to the UN General Assembly, several diplomats and heads of state were seen walking out.
Jay Slater typed out a chilling final message to his friend as he desperately tried to reach safety in Tenerife.

The devastating last words were uncovered by the 19-year-old's mother when she logged onto her son's Snapchat account following his death on July 15 last year.

Jay, from Oswaldtwistle in Lancashire, was found lifeless after a gruelling 29-day search plagued by armchair detectives and wild conspiracies.

An inquest into the teenager's death in July concluded he died by accident after tumbling from more than 60ft into a ravine, near the mountainous village of Masca.

But in a revelation aired on Channel 4's new documentary, The Disappearance of Jay Slater, Jay's mother, Debbie Duncan, recalled her heartbreak as she read a last message on Jay's iPhone 14 after she was finally given the device in November.

The message had said, 'listen, Im not going to make it'.

Speaking on the documentary, Debbie said: 'The message was obviously just flying around and then the message sent to Brad which obviously gave Brad a fright. He messaged me straight away.'

Breaking down in tears, she added: 'That was the last message he sent... It's kind of like he knew he just weren't going to make it.'

Jay Slater had been to the NRG music festival with friends in Tenerife when he went missing in June last year. He is pictured with his mother Debbie Duncan

This is the final message Jay wrote before falling to his death. It only sent in November 2024 when Jay's parents got his phone back and logged into his account

Debbie also revealed the moment she found out her son had disappeared on the Spanish island before she called Lancashire Police to officially report him missing.

Speaking about the moment she received the tragic update, she said: 'I was at work. I got a call from Lucy. She just said "Jay's missing, he didn't come back last night". She just said "I've reported him missing to the police". My legs were just like jelly, I've just gone into panic.'

Ms Duncan can be heard telling the police in the UK that her son has gone missing in Tenerife.

'He's been located as miles and miles away from where he was staying [Los Cristianos] up a blimming mountain,' she says.

She adds: 'He rang early hours of this morning and said his phone were on 1 per cent, he was on his own, he didn't know where he were and he was in middle of the mountains.

'They found this place, knocked on the door and there's two English lads there and all they said was, "He's been here but he left this morning".'

The operator then replies: 'Oh. Bit odd that they haven't given you any details of where he's gone, isn't it?'

Overcome with emotion, Debbie can then be heard saying: 'What if they've done something to him?'

Jay's father, Warren Slater, also features on the documentary and says: 'We all tried to ring, course, but how can you get lost in Tenerife? It's boys, boys, boys and a beach. You don't look behind you... until you have to.'

Mr Slater had been partying with friends - including Bradley Geoghan and Lucy Law - at the NRG music festival in Playa de las Americas on June 16 last year and was reported missing on June 18.

After the night out, where friends said he took drugs including cocaine and ecstasy, Jay was driven to an Airbnb an hour's drive away in Masca by convicted drug dealer Ayub Qassim and his friend Steven 'Rocky' Roccas.

At just after 6am, Mr Slater sent a Snapchat to his friend Bradley showing his location near Masca. Qassim said he gave Jay a blanket and told him to sleep on the sofa, but Jay left at around 8am, saying he was going to walk to a bus stop and head back to Los Cristianos.

Unable to catch a bus, he started attempting a 14-hour walk home, calling Bradley once and speaking to Lucy twice. His final call with Lucy came at 8.50am in which he told her he was lost in the mountains, on one per cent and had cut his leg on a cactus.

Ten minutes later, Lucy reported this to the Spanish police, sparking a major manhunt which saw the world's media descend on Tenerife.

It is believed Jay had attempted a 14-hour walk home the morning after taking drugs and alcohol while partying with friends, the coroner heard. However, at some point on the walk, he plunged to his death into an isolated ravine.

A huge search was launched before his body was found in a steep and inaccessible area by a mountain rescue team near Masca on July 15.

A coroner ruled his death had been an accident. The teen is believed to have fallen from a height of 65ft to 82ft, and would have 'died instantly'.

Jay's mother is seen going through his suitcase which she has not unpacked. She smells one of his tops

She also reveals what was found in his bag which was discovered next to his body. It contained an ID, aftershave and lighters

Dr James Adeley, senior coroner for Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen, said the evidence showed there was no one else involved in the death and no evidence to suggest Jay had been threatened, assaulted, was under duress or in fear for his safety.

Jay's final moments before he went to Masca with Roccas and Qassim have been shown on new CCTV footage.

It shows that he was at the Papagayo nightclub at 11.55pm, but left the venue at 1.04am.

Eight minutes later, he is seen being refused re-entry to the club by bouncers. At 2.40am, he sends a message saying: 'Can't get in Papagayo they got marker on me.'

At 2.48am, he was then sent a Snapchat from Lucy which said: 'I've just said I'll come out and get you if you come home.'

But Jay replied a minute later saying: 'Doesn't matter it's ok. I on a mission.'

The last camera to pick him up was at Tramps nightclub at 3.07am, showing him among a big crowd of revellers.

In other harrowing footage shared, Debbie can be seen going through her late son's suitcase and the bag he was carrying when he fell to his death.

'It's been a year and I still can't bring myself to unpack his suitcase,' she says before smelling one of his tops.

'I can still smell his smell,' she adds.

A series of CCTV clips shows Jay's final moments on the night out. The final still shows him at Tramps nightclub, having been refused re-entry into Papagayo

Going through the contents of her son's manbag, she says: 'So this is the bag Jay had him when he was found. We got handed this from the Guardia Civil and it's got his things in it.

'His driving license and his bottle of aftershave. And his lighters.'

After her son's inquest, Debbie said: 'He was very loved and our hearts are broken.

'Our lives will never be the same without Jay in it.'

Delivering a 'pen portrait' of her son Jay, Ms Duncan added: 'Jay had a wonderful life full of fun and was always a joy to be around.

'He was always a popular boy and had many many friends.

'From an early age he was always the life and soul wherever he went.'

She said he secured a bricklaying apprenticeship aged 16, adding: 'He had so many plans and a bright future ahead of him.

'Not in a million years did we predict what was going to unfold.

'He loved to go to festivals and made new friends wherever he went.'

The Disappearance of Jay Slater aired yesterday at 9pm on Channel 4
He could not believe the thrift shop price tag

A savvy thrifter was disgusted with 'shock and horror' to see the price of a jacket in Vinnies during their latest shopping spree.

Mitch Churi, 29, visited his local St Vincent de Paul Society thrift shop in Caringbah, NSW, where he found a blue biker jacket for $200 last week.

The former radio host said he was 'gutted' by the price tag and despite his attempts to haggle Mr Churi was forced to leave the store empty-handed.

As a policy Vinnies stores do not engage in haggling and have a 'no wiggle room' policy for their prices.

Mr Churi conceded that the suburb he found the jacket in was propped up by 'old white money' but was still unable to comprehend the price of a second-hand jacket.

Many other Aussies have recently voiced their outrage at the increasing prices found in thrift stores across the country.

TikTok user Bekkah said thrift stores were taking advantage of 'vulnerable' people after spotting similarly ridiculous prices at her local Sydney Salvation Army

Throughout the store, many tables were priced around the $550 mark, a number of dolls cost $120 and even some drinking mugs were $75.

Mitch Churi, 29, was confronted with 'shock and horror' when he saw a jacket (pictured) which costed $200 in a NSW Vinnies store this week

Mr Churi tried to haggle with the thrift shop in Caringbah, NSW, but was told there was 'no wiggle room' as far as the price was concerned so he left empty handed

Mr Churi said he never buys anything full price but was 'gutted' to let the jacket in question go.

'I only shop things on sale and it has to be upwards of 50 per cent off, if it is 30 per cent off, I don't even bother,' he told news.com.au.

'I love to shop but in the cost of living crisis I've reverted back to Vinnies which is normally really good.

'I know the Shire is old white money, but the biker that died in that jacket wouldn't have paid $200 for it.'

On a separate occasion Mr Churi revealed he was able to score a pair of designer Gucci sunglasses for under $100.

This highlighted the inconsistency of op-shop finds and the frustration thrifters like himself have to go through in order to find a good bargain.

More Australian families than ever are turning to thrifting, according to research from financial comparison website Finder.

One third of Australians are turning to charity outlets due to cost of living pressures and one-in-five are sourcing second-hand clothes, according to the latest data.

The former radio host said he still lives with his parents because living alone was simply too expensive

Up to 20 per cent of the country are now thrifting to afford clothes while more than 30 per cent are relying on charity for other means of getting by.

The St Vincent de Paul Society caters to these people in need by offering second-hand clothing and furniture at a discounted price.

There are more than 650 Vinnies stores across the country which tailor themselves towards these needs.

A spokesperson for the Vincent de Paul Society told the publication its mission statement was to help people experiencing disadvantage in any way it can.

'These include homelessness services, domestic and family violence shelters, health services, and the work of our members in communities all over NSW by supplying food, clothes, and everyday essentials to people in need,' it said.

The society supported more than 200,000 people in NSW alone in 2024.

Amidst the cost-of-living crisis Mr Churi admitted he still lived with his parents as a means of getting by.

Mr Churi lives in Sydney where the median rent is roughly $800 per week for anyone wanting to live alone.

Buying a house in the city will on average cost someone close to $1.5 million.
The former head of MI5 has warned we may be 'already at war with Russia' as Vladimir Putin launched a brutal 12-hour bombardment of Kyiv.

Eliza Manningham-Buller said Moscow's 'extensive' deployment of cyber attacks, intelligence work, 'physical attacks' and 'sabotage' in Britain are tantamount to conflict.

The Baroness told the Lord Speaker's Corner podcast  which is produced by the House of Lords  that Putin expert Fiona Hill 'may be right in saying we're already at war with Russia'.

It came as the Met's counter-terrorism chief, Commander Dominic Murphy, issued a warning over the rise in children being recruited by Russia to commit crimes.

He said there has been a 'five-fold increase' in threats from foreign states since the 2018 poisoning of former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury.

He added that there have been 'tens' of cases of young people recruited by hostile powers.

Meanwhile in Ukraine Russia launched a 12-hour aerial strike on Kyiv which killed at least four people, including a 12-year-old girl.

It was one of the biggest strikes on the capital since the war began in February 2022.

Eliza Manningham-Buller (pictured) said Moscow's 'extensive' deployment of cyber attacks, intelligence work, 'physical attacks' and 'sabotage' in Britain are tantamount to conflict

It came as the Met's counter-terrorism chief, Commander Dominic Murphy, issued a warning over the rise in children being recruited by Russia to commit crimes. Pictured: Putin (file image)

In Ukraine Russia launched a 12-hour aerial strike on Kyiv which killed at least four people, including a 12-year-old girl. Pictured: Kyiv, on September 28

The attack was so severe that the Polish air force was scrambled and the airspace around two cities near the border with Ukraine was closed temporarily.

Putin launched nearly 600 drones and more than 40 missiles across the country. Ukraine's air force said it had detected 595 drones and 48 cruise or ballistic missiles during the attack.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky labelled the strikes as 'deliberate and targeted terror'.

He added: 'Moscow wants to continue to fight and kill and deserves only the harshest pressure in the world.'

Mr Zelensky backed Donald Trump's demand at the UN General Assembly for Europe to stop buying Russian oil, adding that 'anyone who wants peace' should support the US President's efforts.

It came as The Mail on Sunday reported that MI5 wants members of the public to train as undercover surveillance officers  with the only qualification needed being the 'ability to blend into the background'.

The role would include following terrorist suspects around Britain on foot or by car.

Applicants would first have to pass an arduous six-month training programme which one recruit described as 'physically and mentally exhausting'.
This is the terrifying moment two couples from the UK and the US cheated death when a rampaging elephant flipped their safari canoes and struck one of the women with its trunk.

They were being poled 'gondola style' through the shallow waters of the Okavango Delta, Botswana, on Saturday.

But their guides took them too close to a female elephant and her two calves, leading to the bull of the herd charging through the shallow waters and reeds in a fierce attack.

A dramatic footage shows how the guides desperately back pole to try and get away from the trumpeting bull as it closes the gap between them and uses its trunk and tusks to flip two canoes over.

The four tourists on both canoes are tipped into the crocodile-infested waters of the Delta whilst their two guides appear to abandon them and run for the safe riverbank.

The elephant at first appears to have broken off the charge, but a second video shows it returning to attack one of the female tourists.

It rams its victim painfully with its trunk from behind, missing her with both tusks, but knocks her underwater.

It is thought she only survived as the elephant lost her under the murky water and was unable to finish her off by stamping on her, and stopped trying after 10 seconds.

With his herd passing safely by the terrified tourists, the bull considers his job done and turns around and heads off after them, leaving the woman underwater.

The couple's guide took them too close to a female elephant and her two calves, leading the bull of the herd to charge through the shallow waters and reeds in a fierce attack

The four tourists on both canoes are tipped into the crocodile-infested waters of the Delta. A second video showed how it returned to attack one of the tourists

She manages to get to her knees and take desperate breaths of air before standing up as her husband wades to her and grabs her hand, and guides her to the safety of the bank.

A former South African game ranger who was shown the videos said: 'They had a very lucky escape indeed because all four could just have easily been killed by that angry bull.

'The woman was lucky not have been gored, but if it had held her down for another few seconds, it would probably have drowned her, so she can praise the Lord he didn't.

'There are thousands of these dug-out traditional Makoro canoes on the Delta, poling tourists through the reeds to view elephants, hippo, birds, buck and crocodiles.

'This bull attacked because it was protecting its young, and it seems the guides misjudged how close they could take the tourists safely and made a potentially fatal mistake.

'There could well have been the need for four body bags if Lady Luck had not favoured them. It will certainly give them a story to tell found the fire for many years to come.'

Kakwele Sinyina said: 'Yo! If the elephant did not get them, there are many crocodiles and big hippos there that could have killed them, so they had someone looking over them'.

The elephant attack happened on World Tourism Day on Saturday.

Three companies that run Makoro tourist canoes on the Delta would not comment on who ran the trip, but one receptionist said: 'It was a group made up of British and American visitors.

The two couples can be seen in distress as the beast launched its fierce attack

The couples had a lucky escape and were left in crocodile-infested waters. The woman who was attacked manages to get to her knees as her husband wades to her and grabs her hand, and guides her to safety

'There was a lot of expensive camera equipment and phones lost or damaged, but it is a blessing nobody was badly hurt, but wild animals can be very unpredictable' she said.

In July, a boatload of British tourists also got much more than they bargained for on a Delta safari when their boat skipper took their craft in too close to a female with her calf.

The 5-ton enraged female attacked whilst trumpeting her anger, and the boat's engine appears to cut out as it quickly closes the gap and uses its tusks to try and flip it.

The aluminium flat-bottomed boat is lifted up skywards, throwing tourists off their seats as it almost turns the boat over, but her tusks lose their grip on the hull and slip off.

Once the female feels the threat is over, she ends the charge and returns to her calf. There are thousands of elephants in the Delta, which helps attract two million tourists a year.

The Okavango Delta is one of Prince Harry's favourite places in the world.

He took his first serious girlfriend, Chelsey Davy who he dated from 2004 to 2011, on a 'love boat' romantic cruise there after returning from a tour of duty in Afghanistan in 2008.

Harry also took his wife, Meghan Markle a romantic break to the Delta in the early days of their relationship, and on a later birthday treat to enjoy the wildlife in the Botswana wilds

Male elephants can grow up to 13 feet tall at the shoulder and run at up to 25mph, and there are 415,000 leading to their status as endangered. They kill 500 people a year.

After seeing the video, a South African game ranger said: ''They had a very lucky escape indeed because all four could just have easily been killed by that angry bull.

An expert said the tourists could have been killed by crocodiles and hippos in the area

In July, two female tourists from the UK and New Zealand were charged and killed by a protective elephant while on a walking safari in a national park in Zambia.

The victims, whom he named as Easton Taylor, 68, from the UK and Alison Taylor, 67, from New Zealand, were attacked by a female elephant that was with a calf.

Safari guides who were with the group attempted to stop the elephant from charging at the women by firing shots at it, and wounded i,t but could not stop the attack.

It happened at the South Luangwa National Park in eastern Zambia, about 370 miles from the capital, Lusaka, and both women were pronounced dead at the scene.
A plus-size rapper has settled a lawsuit with taxi giant Lyft after one of their drivers refused to take her because of her size.

Detroit rapper Dank Demoss, whose real name is Dajua Blanding, filed a discrimination lawsuit in January after being told by a Lyft driver she was too big for his car and could 'burst his tyres'.

Blanding said in a past social media post she weighed over 500lbs, and previously shared in December that she was intending to lose weight and had lost over 40lbs.

Blanding, who filmed a video of the incident, told him 'I can fit in this car', to which he said: 'Believe me, you can't'.

The driver then apologised and suggested she order an Uber XL, a larger and more expensive vehicle, adding that he would refund her Lyft so she wouldn't be charged.

Her attorney, Zach Runyan, told local media earlier this month that the matter has now been resolved, but could not speak about further details.

Runyan, along with Blanding's other attorney Jonathan Marko, argued that the driver refusing to take her constituted discrimination because weight is a protected characteristic in Michigan.

'I knew that it was illegal, and I knew that it was wrong,' Marko told Fox 2 at the time, equating the refusal to pick Blanding up 'no different than refusing someone transportation based on their race or religion.'

Plus-size rapper Dank Demoss (pictured) has settled a lawsuit with taxi giant Lyft after one of their drivers refused to take her because of her size

Plus-sized rapper Dank Demoss has sued Lyft after claiming a driver refused to pick her up over fears she was too big to fit in his car and could 'burst his tyres'

Runyan added: 'Refusing someone transportation based on their weight is not only illegal, but dangerous... Imagine the consequences if Ms. Blanding were unable to seek shelter after the driver left her stranded. This could have ended even worse than it did.'

Though she may have settled with Lyft, the incident left her feeling scarred at the time.

'I've been in cars smaller than that,' she told Fox 2 earlier this year, adding: 'I just want them to know that it hurt my feelings.'

After Blanding shared the video to her Instagram, many jumped to the driver's defense and said she should have listened to his recommendation to order a larger XL.

'It's against the law to overload a car,' one commenter said in response. 'The driver was very polite, he explained his valid reasons, and even apologized... try seeing things from another's perspective.'

The Daily Mail has contacted Lyft for comment.
A teenage girl who got PTSD after being given a drug-laced vape by older boys at a 34,000-a-year private school has won a 145,000 payout.

Irune Pedrayes was only 14 and in her first weeks at the 34,000-a-year Buckswood School, near Hastings, East Sussex when she was supplied with vape liquid containing the stimulant mephedrone by senior boys at the school.

Miss Pedrayes, now 20, told a judge earlier this year it led to a weekend of drug use and that she spent Friday to Sunday vaping the Class B controlled substance and drinking with others on the rugby pitch at the school.

But the binge landed her in hospital after she suffered an extended 'psychotic outbreak' for which she blames the school's alleged lack of safeguarding - a claim denied by its lawyers.

Her parents were not told about the incident and the breakdown continued for weeks until she left Buckswood to return to her native Spain, where she received antipsychotic medication.

She has now won a 145,000 compensation payout from the school after Judge Geraint Webb KC found the institution 'negligent' in failing to inform her parents.

Rather than letting them know she had been taken to hospital in a 'psychotic' state, Buckswood led them to believe she had just been vaping and the hospital trip was for an unrelated infection.

Giving judgment, Judge Webb said the school's actions 'fell below the requisite standard of care'.

Irune Pedrayes, pictured outside London's High Court earlier this year, a teenage girl who got PTSD after being given a 'drug-laced vape' at a 34k-a-year school has won a 145k payout

But he went on to clear Buckswood of accusations of being soft on drug use and of having failed to look after Miss Pedrayes in respect of her additional needs as a challenging pupil.

Sitting at the High Court in London earlier this year, Judge Webb was told that she had suffered with 'psychological problems' while in Spain, where she failed a year at school before moving to the UK.

Her behaviour at Buckswood - a private boarding school for children aged 11 to 19 which calls itself a 'global school in the heart of the British countryside' and claims in promotional materials to offer a 'safe, supportive and family-like atmosphere'- was challenging, with repeated detentions.

She was 'gated' - confined to school grounds at the weekend - at the time of the drug incident.

Her barrister Meghann McTague said that, during a weekend in September 2019, Miss Pedrayes had been supplied with 'magic', a vape liquid containing the Class B drug mephedrone, which also goes under the street names 'meow-meow' or 'm-cat', by boys in upper sixth (year 13).

'The claimant spent that whole weekend - Friday, Saturday and Sunday - consuming a Class B drug that was supplied to her by older boys at the school, and drinking alcohol that was also supplied to her,' she said.

'Nobody noticed, despite attending mealtimes and at bedtime, that she was high all weekend.'

The school accepted that, due to her drug intake, Miss Pedrayes suffered a 'psychotic' incident, which led to her being taken to hospital on the Monday.

Buckswood School, pictured, is a private boarding school for children aged 11 to 19 which calls itself a 'global school in the heart of the British countryside'

She complained of visual hallucinations, sensations of deja vu, tearfulness and anxiety, but went back to the school without her parents being informed of the drug use.

After that, her behaviour continued to deteriorate, including a further incident of drug use, before she left the school in November 2019.

Back in Spain, she finally received treatment for her psychosis, but has been left with PTSD, heightened anxiety and a greater risk going forward of mental health problems.

Miss Pedrayes went on to sue, arguing that the school breached its first aid policy by not telling her parents what had happened that weekend.

She also alleged that the school did not seem to consider drug use 'very important' and that on the weekend of her binge there had been a 'total failure of supervision' of pupils on site.

School principal Kevin Samson told the judge that they had no firm evidence that the vape contained mephedrone or any other illicit drug at the time, and that a urine test did not show proof of any drug use.

He said the school had not told her parents about the incident after it happened because a subsequent urine test did not yield a positive result for drugs.

He also insisted that adequate supervision was in place for pupils, adding: 'It's not realistic to have a member of staff next to every child 24 hours a day.'

School principal Kevin Samson, pictured at the High Court, told the judge that they had no firm evidence that the vape contained mephedrone or any other illicit drug at the time

Giving judgment, Judge Webb said the school had 'acted negligently' in failing to inform her parents she had admitted taking 'some drugs' and that she had been taken to hospital to be checked after showing 'paranoid and manic symptoms'.

Instead, the school 'let the claimant's father assume' that the hospital attendance was connected with a urinary tract infection he had previously been told about.

'Whilst the school informed the claimant's parents that the claimant had been "vaping", it failed to inform the claimant's parents that the claimant had admitted taking a drug, which she identified as "magic", via a vape,' he said.

What is mephedrone? Also known by names such as bounce, bubble, M-CAT and meow meow, mephedrone is a powerful synthetic stimulant drug. A so-called 'designer drug' synthesized in a bid to avoid drug laws of the time, it was first sold online in powder form to be snorted, injected or smoked, but can be mixed with liquid and swallowed. Mephedrone creates feelings similar to other stimulants such as cocaine and ecstasy such as euphoria, alertness and extreme sensitivity to touch. But it can also cause anxiety, heart palpitations, excessive heat and bowel trouble, as well as hallucinations, insomnia and even fits. According to drugs charity FRANK, mephedrone is linked to multiple deaths every year. It is a Class B controlled drug. Advertisement

'The school failed to inform the claimant's parents that the claimant had been taken to hospital because of obvious "paranoid and manic symptoms" following the admitted use of drugs.

'The school gave the claimant's parents misleadingly incomplete information about this incident and about the injuries which the claimant had sustained as a result.

'The symptoms reported by the claimant to the school nurse and recorded in the school medical records can properly be described as more than minor; they were reports of visual disturbance, paranoid and manic symptoms.

'In their joint report the expert psychiatrists describe the taking of the "magic" over the weekend as precipitating "an episode with psychotic and manic symptoms" and this is accepted by the defendant.

'In my judgment, it is clear that the symptoms noted by the school nurse amount to a personal injury of a type which should have been reported to the claimant's parents as soon as possible under the school's first aid policy.'

By not telling her mother and father immediately what had happened, the school denied the parents the chance of taking steps to make sure she was safe, he continued.

'Apart from anything else, the claimant's parents needed to be informed of the true facts in order to be able to make a properly informed decision, in the interests of the claimant, as to what, if any, steps should be taken to mitigate the risks of any continued drug use,' he said.

'It may be the case that the school formed the view that the adverse effects of the admitted use of drugs would be short term and of no real consequence.

'However, that does not justify the failure to provide the claimant's parents with adequate and accurate information concerning the true position.

'In summary, I am satisfied that the school fell below the requisite standard of care, and was negligent, in failing to provide the information...to the claimant's parents without delay.'

But he went on to clear the school of any fault in failing to prevent the drug-taking incident happening in the first place.

He said the evidence in the case was 'not indicative of a culture of tolerance or complacency on the part of the school in relation to illicit drugs'.

'To the contrary, the documentary evidence demonstrates the significant and persistent efforts being taken by Mr Samson, personally, to tackle the issue of older students obtaining drugs and bringing them onto the school grounds,' he said.

'In my judgment, the totality of the evidence does not support the conclusion that there was any systemic failure on the part of the school to take reasonable care to prevent access to drugs and/or use of drugs by students at the school, including the claimant, between September and November 2019.

'It will never be possible, and may well be inappropriate, for a boarding school to monitor and supervise every waking hour of a student at the weekend.'

He also dismissed allegations that the school had not taken enough care for 'vulnerable' Miss Pedrayes as a pupil with additional needs, treating her instead as a naughty child.

'Members of staff devoted considerable amounts of time and effort to attempting to deal with Irune Pedrayes' poor behaviour and the underlying causes of that poor behaviour,' he said.

'I have seen no evidence to suggest that the punishments were unwarranted, inappropriate or that they were somehow contrary to the generalised guidance provided by the claimant's treating psychologist.

'It is clear from the evidence, including Mr Samson's evidence, that the school was attempting to set boundaries in relation to the claimant's behaviour and ensure that poor behaviour was not condoned and I have not seen any evidence to suggest that the school was negligent in the steps it took in this regard.'


Andy Burnham has hit out at claims he is 'disloyal' and 'completely out for myself' after revealing Labour MPs are encouraging him to challenge Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership.

The Greater Manchester Mayor blamed 'overwritten' and 'inaccurate' reporting over his apparent ambition to lead the party's fight against Reform following interviews he gave last week.

Mr Burnham also refused to guarantee he will remain in Manchester for the remainder of his mayoralty, despite insisting he doesn't miss Westminster.

His remarks come after Rachel Reeves admitted Britain's economy faces further challenges amid increasing fears of tax rises in the upcoming Budget .

The Chancellor appeared bullish as she insisted the public finances were not 'broken' but face threats posed by 'harsh global headwinds' in a speech that was briefly interrupted by a pro-Palestine activist.

Your browser does not support iframes.

The live page is closed
Dramatic video shows the moment British stag revellers were arrested on board a Spain-bound Ryanair flight after their rowdy behaviour forced the plane to divert to France.

Chaotic footage shared on social media captured the scenes on board the Alicante-bound flight on Friday which was forced to divert to Toulouse.

Upon landing officers stormed on to the plane and became embroiled in violent altercations with members of the group.

Flyer Tania Nichols, who uploaded the dramatic footage to TikTok on Sunday, told the Daily Mail that the group - who were seated opposite her - had been 'loud and unruly' and that 'even before take-off, they were moving around the cabin, swapping seats and ignoring basic safety protocols'.

She also claimed one of the men had moved seats to be closer to her friend, before trying to cuddle and kiss the passenger, but cabin crew quickly moved him back to his original seat.

As the flight took off, Nichols said they immediately began drinking duty-free booze and 'engaging in loud, inappropriate conversations all within earshot of young children seated nearby'.

Their disruptive behaviour quickly escalated, but according to the flyer, the groom himself made a clear effort to distance himself from the troublemakers and did not appear to be involved in the actions of the rest of the group.

'At one point, two members of the group appeared to be in a heated altercation. They were visibly pushing, clashing heads, and one man's shirt was torn as others attempted to separate them,' Nichols said.

'Shockingly, some of the group were seen spitting on seats and putting their feet on passengers' headrests - one woman was even kicked in the head by a member resting his legs over her seat'.

Chaotic footage shared on social media captured the scenes on board the flight which saw officers storming on to the plane

Flyer Tania Nichols said the group had been 'loud and unruly' and that 'even before take-off, they were moving around the cabin, swapping seats and ignoring basic safety protocols'

A violet struggle broke out between a flyer and two officers as they battled to restrain him, but the altercation spilled into the next row of seats as he attempted to throw himself out of the arms of the cops

Another video showed a passenger being dragged away by his ear by a cop on board the flight

Cabin crew and fellow passengers apparently attempted to calm the group and several parents requested they watched their language around the children on board.

But this did not stop the spiralling chaos. Following several more disturbances, the pilot announced an unscheduled landing in Toulouse, France.

Upon landing, French police were called on board and began removing the unruly stags.

'When it became clear that the majority of the group, excluding the stag himself, were being removed from the aircraft, tensions escalated further,' Nichols said.

In her footage, the leading cop can be seen picking up a man from his chair who follows him with his arms behind his back, before a second passenger follows on.

A third member of the group can then be spotted repeatedly telling an officer 'no' as he resisted arrest.

A violet struggle broke out between the flyer and two officers as they battled to restrain him, but the altercation spilled into the next row of seats as he attempted to throw himself out of the arms of the cops.

Shouting and swearing at the two cops holding him, he warns them: 'You're making a mistake if you're coming for me'.

As one of the officers eventually gets the passenger in an upright position, they become embroiled in a verbal altercation as his younger son stands up and tells the cops: 'He didn't start that, they started it, my dad did not start that'.

While an officer begins to attach handcuffs to the father, the son pleads for someone to help him, yelling: 'That's my dad', before being pulled out of his seat by a cop too.

As one of the officers eventually gets the passenger in an upright position, they become embroiled in a verbal altercation as his younger son stands up and tells the cops: 'He didn't start that, they started it, my dad did not start that'

Shouting into the flyer's camera, the son directs her to stop filming, before warning an officer: 'You're making a mistake if you're coming for me'

Cheering can be heard from passengers as the men were all removed from the aircraft

Shouting into Nichols' camera, he directs her to stop filming, being dragged down the aisle by the officers.

As he's guided down the aisle, another man in a tracksuit is restrained and follows his friends off the plane.

Cheering can be heard from passengers as the men were all removed from the aircraft.

'Throughout the entire ordeal, the cabin crew were absolutely outstanding - remaining calm, professional, and doing everything they could to manage the situation and reassure other passengers,' Nichols said.

'They handled an incredibly difficult situation with grace and professionalism, and they deserve to be recognised for their efforts,' she added.

A spokesperson from Ryanair said: 'This flight from London Luton to Alicante (26 September) diverted to Toulouse after a small group of passengers became disruptive onboard.

'Crew called ahead for police assistance, who met the aircraft upon landing at Toulouse Airport and offloaded these passengers before this flight continued to Alicante.

'Ryanair has a strict zero tolerance policy towards passenger misconduct and will continue to take decisive action to combat unruly passenger behaviour, ensuring that all passengers and crew travel in a respectful and stress-free environment, without unnecessary disruption.

'This is now a matter for local police.'
Swedish politicians and defence experts say the country should consider building its own nuclear weapons to deter Russia, as recent drone and airspace incidents raise security fears across Europe.

Right-wing and centre-right figures have pushed the idea into the public debate.

Jimmie Akesson, leader of the Sweden Democrats, told newspaper Goteborgs-Posten: '[Sweden] had a lot of expertise in nuclear technology a long time ago.

'But the political will wanted something different. I think everything should be on the table in this situation.'

His sentiments were echoed by Robert Dalsjo, a researcher at the Swedish Defence Research Agency. He said at a seminar: 'Now we must discuss independent nuclear weapons with a Swedish component.'

The comments come as European governments report a rise in hostile drone activity and airspace violations that officials link to Vladimir Putin.

Danish authorities closed parts of Copenhagen Airport after repeated drone sightings over its airspace last week.

Denmark has said the incidents may be part of a coordinated 'hybrid attack.' NATO and allied countries have stepped up surveillance in the Baltic region.

Earlier this month, Poland also reported multiple drones entering its airspace during an attack on Ukraine earlier this month.

NATO scrambled fighter jets, and other allies helped to intercept the unmanned craft. The Polish government described the incursion as a serious breach of NATO territory and raised alarm across the alliance.

Support for re-examining nuclear options in Sweden is not limited to one party - Alice Teodorescu Mawe, an MEP for the Christian Democrats, has suggested Sweden should consider contributing to a common European nuclear strategy.

Other European countries, including Poland and some German politicians, have also openly debated national or shared nuclear deterrents, even though many experts say rebuilding a weapons programme would be difficult and politically fraught.

Swedish armoured vehicles participating in a military exercise. Ministers and security experts have said the country should have its own nuclear weapons

Russia has launched a series of provocations across Europe in recent months. Earlier this month, Poland shot down drones that had flown into its airspace

Experts at Sweden's defence research agency warned that the technical and financial barriers are huge.

'It would be a very large industrial project,' Martin Goliath, a nuclear weapons expert at the FOA, said. '

A lot needs to be developed, not least the entire infrastructure to produce the materials needed for a nuclear weapon, which would require large investments. I think it would be almost impossible to lay down the resources.'

Goliath and other researchers note Sweden's nuclear knowledge dates from the Cold War, when the country ran secret programmes and even carried out non-nuclear test blasts in Lapland.

'It was about understanding the new weapon that had come,' Goliath said. 'But pretty soon it was that you also wanted to examine the possibilities: how could you do this in Sweden?'

Those older programmes gave Sweden research and institutional memory, but much has been dismantled.

'Of course there could be reports that you could dig up from the archives, but the people who actually worked with it, they are not still around, and probably not even alive any more,' he said.

'A lot needs to be developed, not least the entire infrastructure to produce the materials needed. You have to start from the beginning, I would think.'

Analysts also point to political and legal hurdles - Sweden is a party to non-proliferation norms and has long backed nuclear disarmament.

Public opinion has strong anti-nuclear currents, and international partners would likely resist any unilateral move.

At the same time, global trends show renewed interest in nuclear forces and a weakening of arms control agreements, which supporters of a debate say makes reconsideration necessary.

Sweden currently has civilian nuclear power plants that supply a significant share of its electricity.

Swedish troops driving infantry fighting vehicles. Other European countries, including Poland and some German politicians, have also openly debated national or shared nuclear deterrents

Vladimir Putin's recent provocations of European countries has sparked security fears across the continent

But experts say civilian capacity does not mean a quick path to weapons. Building a credible nuclear deterrent would require heavy investment, new industrial facilities, trained personnel, and years, if not decades, of work.

For now, the debate in Sweden is public and unsettled. Politicians and some defence figures say the country must discuss all options given the changed security environment.

Others urge caution, saying the costs, technical hurdles, and diplomatic fallout make a national bomb unlikely and dangerous.

Sweden once came close to building its own atomic bomb to defend itself against the Soviet Union, but abandoned the project in the late 1960s.

The country, which prides itself on peace, signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1968 as a non-nuclear state, and its safeguards agreement entered into force in 1975.

The country later adopted the Additional Protocol to allow stricter inspections.

While its Defence Research Agency retained expertise in nuclear effects, much of the infrastructure and technical capacity was dismantled, and the last plutonium remnants were shipped to the US in 2012.

Sweden has since positioned itself as a strong advocate of disarmament and non-proliferation, earning a reputation as a 'White Knight' in global arms control.

Although now a NATO member, Stockholm has not pursued nuclear weapons since abandoning its programme.
A man who was charged with murdering his British wife in Los Angeles allegedly killed her after he complained she failed to lose her baby weight.

June Bunyan, from the Isle of Arran, had travelled to the US to pursue her dream of becoming a defence attorney.

The 37-year-old was killed at her home in LA where she is understood to have started her own firm, Renteria Paralegal Services, specialising in immigration law, last year.

According to local media, she died on September 11 after she sustained 'traumatic neck injuries'.

Her husband, a 25-year-old man named Jonathan Anthony Renteria, has since been arrested in connection with her murder and is being held at the Los Angeles Police Department's Twin Towers Correctional Facility.

The accused, whose bail has been set at 2.9million ($4million), is facing one charge of murder and a second charge of breaching the California Health and Safety Code for all or either 'mutilation, disinterment, sexual contact with human remains'.

Prosecutors said that he claimed in an interview that he and June had been having an argument over her 'failure to lose weight following her pregnancy'.

They said that she started packing her bags and told him she would never let him see his daughter again.

June Bunyan (pictured) moved to the US to start her own legal firm

According to local media, he admitted to 'putting the victim in a rear-naked chokehold' before killing her.

Local reports said that June was last seen alive on September 4, and that Jonathan was seen the following day, leaving in the middle of the night with the baby.

Hours later, he was seen with garbage bags.

Prosecutors said he dropped his daughter off at his parents' home, and have accused him of dismembering his wife's remains.

Neighbours told local media that June had confessed to being in an abusive relationship.

Arielle Miller, who lived in the same building as June, said: 'He didn't want her to talk to certain people. He was verbally abusive.

'He would always comment on was her body and her weight.'

'The way that she died, the suffering she must've experienced, the fear, the violence, the pain  all of that  it's the stuff that keeps me up at night,' Miller added.

June's family is now appealing for help to bring the body of their beloved daughter, sister, niece, cousin and friend back to Scotland.

June graduated with a law degree from Aberdeen's Robert Gordon University

Her best friend Vicky Tulika has set up a GoFundMe page on their behalf, entitled Help Bring June Bunyan Home, which, as of yesterday, had reached more than 7,000.

She said it was with unimaginable heartache that she announced Ms Bunyans death, adding their lives are forever changed after the former Robert Gordon University student was tragically taken from us due to a violent crime in the United States.

Paying tribute to her friend, she wrote: June was known for her vibrant personality, infectious laugh, and deeply compassionate heart.

Exceptionally accomplished, she held multiple degrees, but her proudest achievement was earning her law degree.

Driven by courage and determination, June moved to America to sit the bar exam and pursue her dream of becoming a defence attorney. She worked tirelessly to build herself a better life.

But she said Ms Bunyans life was cut short so far from home, adding: we are now faced with the heartbreaking task of bringing her back to the UK. She can then be laid to rest with the dignity and love she deserves, surrounded by family and friends.

The page states that any money raised will cover the costs of repatriation to the UK, funeral and burial expenses, and any legal or travel costs associated with this tragedy that will help ease this burden during a time of profound grief'.
Police today revealed they are hunting for a 'white man' after a woman was gang raped in an Oxfordshire churchyard - but failed to describe the other suspects involved.

The woman, in her 30s, was attacked at St Mary's Church's churchyard in Banbury, and in the surrounding area of the market town centre on Sunday morning.

A female 'Good Samaritan' is believed to have helped the victim as she was preyed upon by the gang of men, and police are hoping she will come forward to help identify the suspects.

Thames Valley Police (TVP) Cherwell, the local force covering Banbury, has confirmed 'one of the offenders is said to be a white man'.

But the force has not revealed any descriptions of the other men - or how many were involved in the 'horrific' attack.

They say they only have one description relating to the white man and are 'working tirelessly to identify the offenders and will share more with the public as soon as we can'.

It comes after police came under fire from Banbury locals for not revealing a description of the attackers, who are still at large.

Last summer, riots across England and Northern Ireland were partly fuelled by misinformation on social media, which wrongly claimed the Southport triple murder suspect was an illegal immigrant.

In recent months, police have been inconsistent on disclosing the ethnicity of a suspect. When a car ploughed into Liverpool FC's trophy parade in May, police rushed to say a white man had been arrested.

Police have launched an urgent probe after a woman was gang raped in St Mary's Church's churchyard in Banbury

But Warwickshire Police were accused of a 'cover-up' after refusing to disclose the backgrounds of two Afghan asylum seekers who allegedly abducted and raped a 12-year-old girl. They deny the charges.

The Daily Mail revealed Warwickshire Police advised councillors and officials not to disclose the background of the suspects for fear of 'inflaming community tensions'.

It is believed they thought unrest would break out like that seen in Epping, Essex, where an Ethiopian asylum seeker staying in a hotel was charged with trying to kiss a 14-year-old schoolgirl.

Sean Woodcock, the Labour MP for Banbury, said he knows the Oxfordshire attack 'will have shocked the entire community'.

Councillor Dr Kerrie Thornhill, a Labour councillor serving Banbury Hardwick, added: 'I condemn this cruel, cowardly attack and would like to express my sympathy and solidarity with the survivor.

'Women and girls deserve to be safe and free in all spaces, 24 hours a day.'

Nearby residents said St Mary's churchyard was a hive of anti-social behaviour both before and after dark.

One single mother living in a flat overlooking the churchyard said: 'You often hear screams from there but it's difficult to know if they are being caused by people, perhaps making their way home from the nightclub around the corner, or from foxes. We do get lots of foxes in the churchyard.'

The woman said she reported a knife and bottle fight in the churchyard three weekends ago, adding: 'It was on a Saturday afternoon in broad daylight. 'Groups of men had smashed bottles and were attacking each other with them.

'You often get a group of Polish men sat there (in the church yard) drinking in the afternoon. It is not a pleasant place sometimes  I have seen kids as young as ten doing drugs in there and I've had men snorting cocaine off the lid of my wheelie bin before'

But the woman said she did not hear anything this weekend and said police had not been making door-to door enquiries in the vicinity of her flat.

'I was in all day on Sunday and the police didn't come around here', she added. 'It's really concerning to hear what has happened.'

'But I didn't hear anything on Saturday night.'

Another nearby resident agreed anti-social behaviour was rife in the churchyard and said: 'We call the police and they say there's nothing they can do. Then something like this happens.'

She said police had asked for the details of her building's owners in order to secure CCTV footage.

A third resident added: 'All sorts goes on in that church yard. I dare not walk through it at night. People use the corner of the yard as a toilet  so much so that the tree that was planted there died.'

St Mary the Virgin parish church is the only Grade I-listed building in Banbury and the footpaths running through the churchyard act as a cut through between town centre shops and Horsefair, the site of the famous Banbury Cross.

A drop-in centre for the homeless is situated next door, while the Whateley Hall Hotel opposite the church has previously housed asylum seekers but is currently functioning as a normal hotel.

Plastic sachets of the kind often used to wrap or carry drugs could be seen littering one of the two paths that cut through the churchyard this morning.

The three-star Banbury House Hotel, around half a mile from the church, is thought to currently house asylum seekers. A sign on the door said the property was currently closed, and security staff were milling around in the lobby.

A man identifying himself as a housing officer who came out to speak to the Daily Mail said he was unable to discuss the building's current function.

But the property has attracted plenty of criticism on local Facebook pages recently over its increasingly dilapidated appearance.

A woman walking her dog through the churchyard today said she would never pass through it at night. The woman, who would only give her first name, Nikki, said: 'I've never personally felt threatened here but I wouldn't chance it at night.

'There's not enough lighting through here. What has happened is just awful.'

Another resident said Banbury town centre was 'dying, like many other towns in this country'.

Councillor Chukwudi Okeke, whose Banbury Cross and Neithrop ward includes St Mary's Church, urged anybody with information about the 'terrible' incident to contact police.

The conservative district councillor added: 'The church is a beautiful building. It's a shame that anti-social behaviour is spoiling what is a lovely place.

'It's important that local community members report to the police any incidents of concern.'

The church is situated roughly half-way between the Banbury House Hotel and a former derelict office block which has been turned into accommodation for those facing an accommodation crisis.

In June, following the completion of a refurbishment project, Cherwell District Council said a minority of those being housed in the building's 36 apartments were refugees, with the remainder being those in need of emergency accommodation.

In May, three Polish men were jailed for the 'truly shocking and abhorrent' rape of a woman in an abandoned shack near Banbury train station.

Patryk Kubacz, 31, Damian Sior, 28 and Jaroslaw Szklarski, 57, all of Banbury, were jailed for a total of 41 years over the attack which took place over a 14-hour period in April 2024.

A month earlier, two men aged 40 were arrested on suspicion of the rape of a woman in the town centre. Police said at the time that officers had initially been called to White Lion Walk, a pedestrianised alley just behind St Mary's Church, over a concern for welfare incident.

TVP are searching for witnesses or anyone with information in relation to the rape.

They will be conducting house to house and CCTV enquiries as they hunt for the perpetrators.

TVP Cherwell said: 'Thames Valley Police is appealing for a specific witness as well as anyone else with information or footage in connection with a rape in Banbury.

'The victim, a woman in her thirties, was raped by a group of men at St Mary's Church's churchyard and surrounding area in the town centre in the early hours of this morning.

'One of the offenders is said to be a white man.'

Investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Mark Personius said: 'This is a horrific crime and Thames Valley Police is conducting a thorough investigation to identify the offenders.

'We are supporting the victim with specifically trained officers at this extremely difficult time.

'I am making a public appeal to a specific witness, a woman, who we believe may have tried to help the victim.

'At this stage we don't have a description of this Good Samaritan. However, if you believe you are the woman, please contact the police as you may have vital information that can help us piece together what happened.

'The town centre would have been busy on a Saturday night into the early hours of a Sunday morning. Therefore, I would also appeal to anyone else who saw or heard anything in the area between about 12am and 2.30am this morning to come forward.

'Please check any CCTV, dashcam or mobile phone footage you have from the area and if you have captured anything that you think may help us, please get in touch.

'You can contact the force by speaking to an officer at the scene, calling 101 or via a dedicated webpage for this investigation, where you can leave any footage from the area. The investigation reference number is 43250495078.

'There is a scenewatch in place at the church to enable us to carry our forensic examinations. We will also be conducting house to house and CCTV enquiries.

'I would like to thank local residents and businesses for their ongoing support while we are in the area carrying out our investigation.'

St Mary's Church said in a statement: 'Due to an incident in the churchyard last night, we currently have no access to church. It is with deep regret that we are therefore having to cancel today's parish Eucharist. Please pray for those affected by whatever happened last night.'

It later added: 'We are deeply saddened to hear of this incident and are praying for the victim. If you have any information, please share this with the police.'
A Labour MP today claimed Nigel Farage wants to send Welsh people 'back down the mines' as the Government stepped up its attacks on Reform UK.

Claire Hughes, MP for Bangor Aberconwy, made the claim as she posted a video on social media urging voters not to back Reform at next year's Welsh Senedd elections.

'If Nigel Farage had his way, you'd be back down the mines and our NHS, born here in Wales, would be sold off to the highest bidder,' she wrote on Twitter/X.

It appeared to be a reference to Mr Farage's remarks earlier this year in which he set out Reform's bid to 'reindustrialise' Wales.

He said Reform would allow coal to be mined in Wales as part of an ambition to reopen the Port Talbot steelworks.

Mr Farage insisted he was 'not forcing people down pits' to mine for coal, but added: 'If you offer people well paid jobs many will take them, even though we all accept mining is dangerous.'

At the time, Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan questioned whether 'people in Wales want to see their grandchildren going back down the pits' as she attacked the 'nonsense' policy.

In a speech at Labour's conference in Liverpool yesterday, Baroness Morgan of Ely launched a fresh assault on both Reform and Plaid Cymru.

A Labour MP has claimed Nigel Farage wants to send Welsh people 'back down the mines' as the Government stepped up its attacks on Reform UK

Claire Hughes, MP for Bangor Aberconwy, made the claim as she posted a video on social media urging voters not to back Reform at next year's Welsh Senedd elections

She warned that Wales would 'fall into chaos' if either party wins the Senedd election in May.

'Let's be brutally honest, the polls are not looking good,' the First Minister told Labour members on Sunday.

'People are angry. They're disillusioned. Our voice, the voice that's always fought for them, is getting drowned out by the carnival of charlatans and the circus of snake oil salesmen.

'Now Reform blames foreigners, Plaid blame Westminster  divisive nationalism in different forms.

'Different poison, same bottle  all with answers that sound brilliant until you ask how: They can't tell you.'

Baroness Morgan claimed Reform were 'polishing their wrecking balls' and planned to 'flog and frack everything that moves' and 'turn Wales into their testing ground for an ideology that puts profits before people'.

She said: 'Wales doesn't need fantasy politics. Mark my words, Wales will fall into chaos if either Plaid or Reform wins in May.

'What we need is experience and stability in an age of instability, and that's what Welsh Labour can offer.

'So conference, are we going to stand here and let vultures tear the heart out of all we've built?'

Welsh Labour holds a narrow lead in the Senedd and is facing a crucial by-election in Caerphilly next month following the death of Hefin David.
Labour activists will try to pressure Keir Starmer to take further political action against Israel and brand its military attack on Gaza a 'genocide' today.

They want the party's annual conference to back a full arms embargo and further sanctions against high-ranking members of Benjamin Netanyahu's government.

Protesters gathered again outside the venue in Liverpool this morning ahead of two votes, the day after more than 60 supporters of terrorist group Palestine Action were arrested.

One motion, moved by the Unison trade union, urges the conference to accept the findings of a UN commission of inquiry that determined that Israel had committed 'genocide'.

Sir Keir and his ministers have so far avoided branding the military action this way, saying it is for courts to rule on under UK law.

The second, moved by the local labour branch in Diane Abbott's Hackney North and Stoke Newington seat in London, demands the UK 'fully suspend arms trade with Israel that could be used in the conflict' and target new sanctions at 'far right ministers'.

It comes a week after Britain formally recognised a state of Palestine, alongside Canada and Australia, sparking a backlash against Sir Keir Starmer by Netanyahu.

Activists want the party conference to accept the findings of a UN commission of inquiry that determined that Israel had committed 'genocide' and back a full arms embargo and further sanctions.

One motion, moved by the Unison trade union, urges the conference to accept the findings of a UN commission of inquiry that determined that Israel had committed 'genocide' in Gaza.

Protesters gathered again outside the venue in Liverpool this morning ahead of two votes, the day after supporters of terrorist group Palestine Action were arrested (pictured).

The Board of Deputies urged ministers to ignore the motions, which are non-binding.

'On a day where serious talks are happening in Washington towards the resolution of this awful war, the highly problematic resolutions at Labour Conference are a divisive distraction,' a spokesman said.

'Continually failing to address the culpability of Hamas does nothing to move us towards peace.

'We call on the Government to disregard these motions, move beyond empty gestures, and get back to meaningful diplomacy.

'What is needed are concerted moves towards a ceasefire that gets the hostages out, aid in, removes the threat of Hamas, and Iays the ground for sustainable peace for Israelis, Palestinians and the wider Middle East.'

This morning new Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said that Israel's military action in Gaza was 'a moral obscenity ... that has seen food, water and medicine denied, and an unconscionable loss of human life' as she addressed the conference.

Police arrested 66 people aged between 21 and 83 on suspicion of showing support for a proscribed terrorism organisation during a protest outside the conference yesterday.

Around 100 people gathered near The Wheel Of Liverpool in the city centre holding signs reading: 'I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action,' protest group Defend Our Juries said.

Merseyside Police said some of the people in attendance displayed material in support of Palestine Action.

Palestine Action was banned as a terror organisation in July after the group claimed responsibility for an action in which two Voyager planes were damaged at RAF Brize Norton the previous month.
Swedish criminal gangs are enlisting teenage girls to carry out brutal killings and maim rivals in 'napalm' bomb attacks in gang-ravaged Swedish cities.

Girls as young as 15 are recruited on social media as 'child soldiers' and given cash to complete killings before spending the blood money on clothes and handbags.

The nordic nation, once considered a haven of low crime, has been gripped by extreme gang violence in recent years and has one of Europe's worst gun crime rates with frequent gangland shootings and bombings.

Children have been used by gangs to commit crimes on an unprecedented scale, with the country this month moving to reduce the age of criminal responsibility to 13.

But while many have typically been male, vulnerable and from impoverished or migrant backgrounds, mobsters are now seeking out young girls.

The attackers, known as 'Green Women', are increasingly 'young, blonde, typical' Swedish girls, and are thought to attract less suspicion when carrying out or aiding savage attacks.

They are promised quick cash, with bounties of up to 13,000 offered for a successful hit. Less risky tasks, including mixing napalm to help with assassinations can also fetch thousands.

Once signed up, the young recruits carry out gang bosses' dirty work, assassinating relatives of rival gangsters and other targets, often without ever meeting the person who is ordering the killing.

One girl, Olivia, was caught on CCTV and later handed a one-year prison sentence for aiding and abetting arson

Many are keen to demonstrate they are more ruthless than their male counterparts.

One girl, Olivia, was caught on CCTV casually delivering bags containing an explosive nicknamed 'napalm' after being hired to build and deliver a firebomb for an arson attack on a rival gang.

The 17-year-old was approached by a gang 'handler' on social media who offered her money and told her she must help with the petrol bomb attack 'today'.

She then went to buy petrol, petrol cans and further ingredients to assemble the Molotov-style firebomb, Swedish investigators said.

After combining the ingredients she handed them over to a pair of male gangsters.

She was later found to have texted her boyfriend to say the handover 'went ok'.

He texted her back a link to a news story about the resulting attack accompanied by a Swedish slang term, translating as 'wild' or 'cool'.

The teenager was handed a one-year prison sentence for aiding and abetting arson.

Lisa dos Santos, a Swedish prosecutor, told the Telegraph: 'They [the gangs] call them Green Ladies, green as in newbies, because the police initially didn't look at them in the same way as the men.

Pictured: A teenager armed with an AK-47 spraying bullets into the home of a terrified mother and her young child in a Stockholm suburb in 2023

'The police are now aware that girls are taking part but I think it's still easier for them to fly under the radar.'

Evin Cetin, a youth crime expert and lawyer, said the recruitment of young girls was a 'strategic plan' by gangs because 'the Swedish system, the police, would never think to stop a blonde Swedish girl'.

'Girls are often identified as victims ... but their participation in criminal circles is much more widespread than what we have long assumed,' Sweden's Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer said in April.

'I had a case involving a 15-year-old girl recruited to shoot someone in the head,' Stockholm prosecutor Ida Arnell said.

'She was able to choose the type of mission she wanted, in other words, to aim at the guy's door or his head. She chose the head.'

Olivia was one of 280 girls aged between 15 to 17 who were charged with murder, manslaughter or other violent offences last year.

It is unclear how many were linked to organized crime but Swedish investigators claim the numbers may be much higher as many are not prosecuted.

Children have been seen as ideal targets for gangs because until this month those under 15 would not be held criminally responsible for their actions.

The country eventually lowered the age of criminal responsibility to 13 after a surge in under-15s suspected of murder, aiding and abetting murder or attempted murder.

In the first six months of 2024, there were 93 cases, three times the same period the year before.

But the number of gang-related shootings and murders decreased as a whole in 2024 and are slowing again this year.

The increase in girls suspected of serious gang crimes caused a diplomatic row with Hungary after Sweden accused Viktor Orban of attempting to 'dismantle' the rule of law.

The nordic nation, once considered a haven of low crime and safety, has been gripped by extreme gang violence in recent years

'The Swedish government lectures us about the rule of law. Meanwhile, according to an article by Die Welt, criminal networks are exploiting Swedish children as killers, knowing the system wont convict,' the Hungarian prime minister said.

While the use of young girls by mobsters has shocked Sweden, the country has long been overrun by a 'gig economy of gang violence'.

Children travelling across the country to commit the crimes for cash is becoming 'the new normal', Erik Lindblad, head of the police's gang violence taskforce, warned last year.

He said online chat groups were advertising jobs to 'tens of thousands' of young members, inviting them to volunteer to carry out a hit.

One recent case saw police arrest a 16-year-old after a fatal triple shooting at a barber shop in the city of Uppsala in April.

Three young men, aged between 15 and 20, were shot in the head in what was believed to be a gang related murder.

One of the people who died in the attack was reportedly known to police, as he was involved in the investigation of a planned attack on a relative of local gang leader Ismail Abdo.

Abdo, whose nickname is 'The Strawberry', is a well-known figure in Uppsala's gangland.

His mother was murdered in her home in the city in 2023, which sparked a dark and violent chapter in gang violence in the country.

Earlier in April, two people were killed in a suspected gang fight in Gothenburg, while a famous hip-hop artist was shot dead in a gang battle in the city in December.

And last month, one person was shot dead with another injured in a reported gang-related shooting near a mosque in the city of Orebro.
Keir Starmer is facing a Labour backlash today over his 'pathetic' jibe at Nigel Farage's immigration plans being 'racist'.

The PM risked stirring a hornets' nest yesterday when he used the term to attack Reform's crackdown on so-called 'settled status'.

Mr Farage accused Sir Keir of panicking over catastrophic polls showing him on track for No10 - saying it was an 'insult' to millions of Brits concerned about immigration.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves doubled down on the 'racism' swipe as she toured broadcast studios at Labour's conference in Liverpool this morning.

However, London mayor Sadiq Khan has voiced concerns, admitting he would not use the 'really loaded word' about Reform.

Meanwhile, 'Blue Labour' peer Lord Glasman has branded the slur 'pathetic' and 'stupid', while the Tories also spoke out against it.

Kicking off Labour's conference in Liverpool, the PM risked inflaming public anger by using the term 'racist' to dismiss the policy of abolishing 'settled status'

Nigel Farage clapped back by pointing to polls showing Labour facing meltdown and him on track for No10

Speaking at a Labour conference fringe event, Sir Sadiq said: 'I don't call the followers of Reform racist, I don't call Nigel Farage racist...'

He said he had 'nervousness' about use of the word, adding: 'It's a really loaded word so I'm very careful when I use it. I'm nervous about people who may follow Reform thinking I am inadvertently calling them racist.'

Referencing the anti-migrant march in London earlier this month he said that while those speaking like Tommy Robinson were from the far Right, many of those marching were 'decent British people who have concerns'.

Speaking to LBC earlier, Ms Reeves suggested she agreed with Sir Keir's assessment of the Reform policy, telling the broadcaster: 'I think it is a racist policy.

'People support the Reform party for all sorts of reasons, but this policy is a racist policy.'

Pressed on how she thought people could back the policy without being racist, she said: 'You can support the Reform party and not be racist.'

Asked again whether she thought people could support the policy and not be racist, she said: 'Do people support that policy?

'I'm not sure many people do. Lots of people support the Reform party but we have to push them on their policies.'

Lord Glasman told LBC: 'This whole thing of calling Nigel Farage a racist is quite pathetic. I've seen him really try to take issue with genuine racists in his party.

'You can attack Farage on a whole range of things but calling him a 'racist' I really disapprove of that.'

Even Labour MPs have been privately voicing anxiety about Sir Keir's stance. 'There is a danger that people hear it and they think he is calling them racist,' one said.

'I don't know that he meant to get into this. But at least he had a bit of passion. We haven't seen that much, he needs to get the troops going.'

Another senior Labour source said: 'We needed some more clear dividing lines.'

Reform has proposed abolishing 'indefinite leave to remain' and making those who currently have the status to remain re-apply under far stricter rules.

Mr Farage argued that the plan would save the UK taxpayer billions of pounds.

But critics point out that migrants who have lived in the UK for decades and have British children would be affected. Reform has since suggested pensioners, Ukrainians and Hong Kongers would be exempted.

The PM ramped up his rhetoric against Mr Farage's plan in an interview with the BBC yesterday, saying it 'needs to be called out for what it is'.

Mr Farage said the claim was an 'insult' to millions who want the Government to finally get a grip on immigration.

He told the Daily Mail: 'The Prime Minister has insulted those who believe mass migration should come to an end. Starmer thinks anybody here on a time-limited visa is entitled to stay in Britain for ever. Labour do not believe in border controls - and think anyone who does is racist.'

Highlighting a series of polls suggesting his party is on course to win the next election, Mr Farage said: 'Keir Starmer has spent his entire weekend attacking Reform. This is the reason why.'

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp also accused the PM of 'smearing people as racist'.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves doubled down on the 'racism' swipe as she toured broadcast studios at Labour's conference in Liverpool this morning

'Blue Labour' peer Lord Glasman branded the slur 'pathetic' and 'stupid', while the Tories also spoke out against it

'Even yesterday, Keir Starmer was smearing people as racist who wanted to get control of our borders  that tells you a lot about the way Keir Starmer's mind works', he told Sky News.

He added: 'It's not racist, it's not racist to want to control our borders  it's not racist to want to make sure only people who are making a contribution can stay here, it's completely wrong, completely wrong, for Keir Starmer to use that smear.'

'And in the past, Keir Starmer wrote a book, or an article, when he was a human rights lawyer, when he said that all immigration law had racist overtones or undertones.'
An Eton-educated interior designer hurled racist and homophobic abuse at police while he was being arrested for drink-driving.

Matthew Godley, 65, was almost twice the drink-drive limit when officers pulled him over at a petrol forecourt in the early hours of May 27 to inspect damage to his vehicle.

But Godley, who did not wanted to be recorded on body worn video, became aggressive to officers and started hurling vile abuse at them.

During the incident, the company director called PC James Arnold a 'queer b*****d' and a 'bender' after noticing he had a pierced ear and shouted 'I'm being arrested by a f***ing homosexual'.

He then turned his anger towards a petrol station cashier, who happened to be outside at the time, and repeatedly shouted 'Hindu c***' at him as he was pinned to the ground by officers.

Godley, who owns a 415,000 cottage in the nearby village of Chedington, appeared at Weymouth magistrates where he pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer and a string of public order offences.

Magistrates heard Godley was under the influence of alcohol when he was pulled over on Sea Road North in Bridport, Dorset, at around 3.15am.

A breathalyser test revealed Godley was 58 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.

Elizabeth Valera, prosecuting, said: 'The defendant is in a motor vehicle. He does a U-turn and they see damage to his vehicle so want to speak to him.

Matthew Godley, 65, was caught drunk at the wheel when officers pulled him over at a petrol forecourt in the early hours of May 27 to inspect damage to his vehicle.

'He pulls onto the petrol station forecourt, walks over to police and hands them his keys and says 'go on take my car'.

'He is in drink at the time, he has already pleaded guilty to excess alcohol.'

The prosecutor said Godley appeared to be angry at the body-worn camera PC Arnold had switched on.

She said: 'He says the defendant 'attempted to hit my body worn video, he didn't want to be recorded. He grabbed at my tac (tactical) vest'.

'He took him to the ground to secure him there and arrested him for assaulting a police officer.

'Whilst on the ground he continued to be aggressive.

'The petrol station cashier, who was nothing to do with it, was outside and he started shouting 'Hindu c***' at him on a number of occasions.

'He continued with his behaviour towards the police officers.

'Whilst he was being arrested he said 'why have you got a pierced ear you queer b*****d? Is it because you're a bender? This guy's a bender, I'm being arrested by a f***ing homosexual'.'

Godley appeared at Weymouth magistrates where he pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer and a string of public order offences

According to his website, he attended the prestigious Inchbald School of Design in Chelsea which counts Nina Campbell and Lady Henrietta Spencer-Churchill among its alumni.

Godley's portfolio ranges from 'English estates to London clubs and international apartments' with jobs costing from 20,000 to 500,000.

Projects have included commercial venues like the private members' club The Cobden Club and the restaurant of the four-star Claremont Hotel on the Isle of Man, as well as private homes in the Cotswolds, Cornwall and abroad in places like Berlin.

His work has been featured in magazines including Country Life and Elle Decoration.

Godley pleaded guilty to all charges including using threatening words or behaviour with intent to cause alarm or distress, racially aggravated threatening words or behaviour and assaulting a police officer.

He had already pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol and driving without insurance.

Sentencing was adjourned until November so probation reports can be prepared.

Kevin Hill, defending, said he would wait until then to put forward Godley's account and mitigation.
Sarah Ferguson could face the ignominy of being stripped of her honorary freedom of the city of York, the Daily Mail can reveal today.

The City Council will consider the move before their next full council meeting takes place in November.

The Duchess of York has been humiliated over the scandal involving her ties to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, who she called her 'supreme friend'.

Three years ago her ex-husband Prince Andrew lost his freedom of the city of York after he settled his sexual assault civil case with Virginia Giuffre.

The freedom of York was granted to Andrew and Sarah Ferguson as a wedding gift in 1987, with the couple greeted by huge crowds when they visited that year.

Leader of City of York Council, Councillor Claire Douglas told the Mail today: 'A Full Council meeting of all City of York councillors next takes place in November. Consideration will be given in advance of that meeting to whether a motion to remove the Honorary Freedom title from the Duchess of York is tabled. The Honorary Freedom title conferred on the Duke of York was removed in 2022'.

While no final decision will be made on the motion for a few weeks, rather ominously for the Duchess of York, Cllr Douglas added: 'We deplore the links and continued associations with Jeffrey Epstein by those carrying the York title beyond the time the gravity of his crimes became clear'.

Sarah Ferguson could be stripped of her honorary freedom of the city of York over Epstein

Sarah, Duchess of York visiting York in 1987 after she married Andrew

Sarah Ferguson will 'play the victim' and has 'no acceptance of what she's done', a royal biographer has claimed.

The ex-wife of Prince Andrew has survived a series of scandals involving debts and deceit, but it is her relationship with Epstein that has most recently led to calls for her to finally be banished by the Royal Family.

In recent years, Fergie had made a return to the royal fold after bouncing back from several embarrassments over the years - including being photographed having her toes sucked by US financial adviser Johnny Bryant as well as being caught in a sting offering access to her ex-husband for an alleged 500,000.

The Mail on Sunday exposed how she wrote to Epstein to apologise for publicly disowning the vile billionaire.

Several charities quickly dropped the Duchess after it was laid bare how she cynically lied when she pledged to cut ties with Epstein.

Just weeks after publicly disowning him, she then wrote him a gushing private message calling him a 'steadfast, generous and supreme friend'  and admitting 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 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.'

Historian and author Andrew Lownie, who has recently written Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, said Fergie will act as 'the victim'.

He told the Express: 'I'm afraid, having studied her for so long, I don't have a great deal of sympathy for her... She will be pretending, in the way she pretended in that letter to Epstein, that she was the victim.'

The royal biographer added: 'She has no self-awareness. She has no acceptance of what she's done, the same problem as Andrew.'

Mr Lownie believes that Fergie will bounce back as she has often managed over the years and that she will be be working on a strategy 'huddled with her PR people'.

The author revealed he did not believe she would return to public life in 2010 when she was caught offering to sell access to Andrew by a News of the World reporter posing as a businessman.

It comes after sources claimed Fergie and Andrew have been told they are not welcome at the Royal Family's Christmas celebrations following the latest fallout.

It's understood King Charles, 76, wants to keep the Duke and Duchess of York, both 65, at arm's length.

Andrew and his ex-wife, who live together at Royal Lodge in Windsor despite divorcing in 1996, have also been told to make themselves 'invisible' at future royal gatherings, insiders claim.

It comes after Charles asked the Duchess of York to help convince Andrew to 'do the decent thing' and avoid the Royal Family's Christmas gathering last year after it emerged the Duke had become close with alleged Chinese spy Yang Tengbo.

The Yorks spent last Christmas together at Royal Lodge instead, but they were not joined by their daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.

A source close to the King told The Sunday Times: 'You can't sack someone from being your brother.

'But this year, if the duke and duchess were both to be as honourable [as last year], it would be very much for the best and the family would not be disappointed, not least to avoid the King having to make any more difficult decisions.'

The Duchess's friends say she was 'devastated for any embarrassment' caused by the latest Epstein scandal and 'will explain herself to the wider Royal Family in due course'.

Sources close to the King say the monarch would prefer if Andrew and Fergie keep out of sight when appearing at family events by arriving and leaving through discreet entrances where possible.

Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson with Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi during the Royal Family's Christmas walk in 2023

Earlier this month, the Yorks very much made their presence known at the Duchess of Kent's funeral at Westminster Cathedral.

After the emotional service, Andrew was seen howling with laughter and trying to speak to Prince William, who appeared to ignore his disgraced uncle.

The Prince of Wales is understood to consider his uncle a 'risk' and 'threat' to the monarch and is said to fully support his father's stance.

Charles and William are thought to have spoken about the latest scandal during their weekend together in Scotland.

A source said the King is 'not of the mind to banish someone', but would hope the Yorks can 'find a more discreet way of attending these events'.

'In the Duke of York's case, he seems to relish the prospect of not being low-key about it,' they added.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment.

Despite a series of scandals, Fergie was invited to join the Royal Family's Christmas gatherings in 2022 and 2023, her first invitations for three decades.

She also joined the family's traditional walk from Sandringham house to church alongside Andrew, Beatrice and Eugenie in 2023.
The lawyer of convicted baby killer Lucy Letby claims he now has evidence which could clear her name.

Her barrister Mark McDonald said he has 26 separate experts and 1,000 pages of fresh evidence to back up his claim.

The barrister says he has now passed on this evidence to the Criminal Cases Review Commission in a hope of getting former neonatal nurse Letby released.

Appearing on Good Morning Britain, he said: 'I was instructed a year ago this week.

'There is obviously a concern here among experts that something is seriously wrong.

'A year ago when I went to see her she had lost everything and she said no one believed her, she was a broken woman.

'Now seeing these experts saying no crime was committed she has hope.'

Since she was jailed for killing seven babies in a year-long reign of terror that shocked the nation, there has been a furious debate over whether the evidence against her was flawed, with a growing body of supporters arguing she is innocent.

Lucy Letby was immediately given 'enhanced' prisoner status when she arrived at HMP Bronzefield

Letby is pictured while being arrested at home in Chester on July 3, 2018

Earlier this year, medical experts reviewing her convictions claimed they 'did not find any murders' amid questions over evidence used to convict the child serial killer.

Letby, 35 - who is following developments from her cell at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey - is serving 15 whole-life orders after she was found guilty of murdering seven infants and attempting to murder seven others, with two attempts on one of her victims.

Her trial at Manchester Crown Court had heard the babies were attacked between 2015 and 2016 while she worked at the Countess of Chester Hospital's neonatal unit.

One method was injecting air into the bloodstream which was said to have caused an air embolism that blocked blood supply and led to sudden and unexpected collapses.

The court heard evidence from experts that Letby used various other ways to harm babies, including injecting air into the stomach, overfeeding with milk, physical assaults and poisoning with insulin. And she wrote a note saying: 'I don't deserve to live. I killed them on purpose because I'm not good enough to care for them.'

But in July, analysis conducted by a 'blue riband committee' of 14 neonatalogists -experts in care of newborn babies - was presented at a press conference in London.

Dr Shoo Lee, a retired top neonatal medical expert, co-authored a 1989 academic text on air embolisms in babies - which featured prominently in Letby's ten-month trial.

He chaired a panel of experts who compiled an 'impartial evidence-based report' and said their thoughts were with the families of the babies who died - but also claimed the prosecution misinterpreted his findings on skin discolouration.

Dr Lee told the packed press conference: 'Death or injury of all the affected infants were due either to natural causes or to errors in medical care. There were serious problems related to medical care of patients at this hospital.

In an interview, Letby's barrister Mark McDonald said he has 26 separate experts and 1,000 pages of fresh evidence to back up his claim

'There were problems related to teamwork and interdisciplinary collaboration at the Countess of Chester Neonatal Unit. In summary, ladies and gentlemen, we did not find any murders. In all cases, death or injury were due to natural causes or just bad medical care. Lucy was charged with seven murders and seven attempted murders.

'In our opinion, the medical opinion, the medical evidence doesn't support murder in any of these babies, just natural causes and bad medical care. Our full report will go to Lucy's barrister later this month and then it will be up to him and the courts to decide what next to do.'

Letby's lawyer Mr McDonald said the revelations 'demolished' the case against her, adding: 'Lucy Letby was convicted because of medical evidence presented to the jury. That, today, has been demolished.'

He claimed her conviction was 'unsafe' and should be referred back to the Court of Appeal, saying: 'She has hope, that's all I can say.'

Since being jailed, Letby has been given a cleaning job and was fast-tracked to enhanced prisoner status, which allows her to have extra cash to spend on sweets.

Her privileged status allows her a visit every week  twice as many as standard prisoners, a source said.

However, the baby killer is reportedly under 24-hour guard after inmates ruthlessly taunted her over her case's coverage in the press.

It comes amid claims Letby has become 'deluded' about winning her freedom after a campaign questioning her guilt continues to build momentum.

The Mail previously revealed detectives investigating her case had passed a file of evidence to prosecutors alleging she murdered and harmed more babies.

It's understood there are more than a dozen potential offences included in the dossier, which the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed would be examined to see whether she should be charged with more crimes.

The process is expected to take weeks and involve consultation with the most senior legal brains in the country, including Stephen Parkinson, the director of public prosecutions and Lord Richard Hermer KC, the Attorney General.

Police are examining 4,000 babies Letby cared for between January 2012 and July 2016

The news emerged after Cheshire Police confirmed it had arrested three senior executives who worked at the Countess of Chester Hospital, where Letby carried out her 13-month killing spree, on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter.

The unnamed managers were quizzed at separate police stations in Cheshire in July for several hours before being bailed pending further enquiries.

Their arrests form part of Cheshire Constabulary's parallel investigation into corporate manslaughter at the NHS Trust, but it is understood that prosecutors have not yet been asked to offer advice in connection with that second inquiry.

In December, Cheshire police confirmed the serial killer had been quizzed in prison in connection with more murders and attempted murders at both the Countess of Chester Hospital and Liverpool Women's Hospital, where she underwent two periods of training.

As part of their ongoing inquiry, codenamed Operation Hummingbird, detectives have been examining the cases of 4,000 infants she cared for during the 'footprint' of her nursing career, which dates back to January 2012, and includes two student placements she undertook at the Liverpool Trust, in 2012 and 2015.

However, the handing over of evidence to the CPS is a significant milestone in their investigation.

A spokesman for the CPS said: 'We can confirm that we have received a full file of evidence from Cheshire Constabulary asking us to consider further allegations in relation to deaths and non-fatal collapses of babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital and Liverpool Womens Hospital.

'We will now carefully consider the evidence to determine whether any further criminal charges should be brought.

'As always, we will make that decision independently, based on the evidence and in line with our legal test.'

According to an independent report, leaked to the Mail's Trial+ podcast, Letby was on duty, or had been working the shift prior, for 12 of 13 baby deaths that occurred at the Countess between April 2015 and July 2016.

In November, Dr Stephen Brearey, the senior paediatrician on the hospital's neo-natal unit, told the public inquiry investigating Letby's crimes that he believed she 'likely' murdered or attacked more babies before she killed her first victim, a premature twin boy known as Baby A, in June 2015.

He said, looking back, he now had suspicions about other deaths and collapses, which at the time staff believed were due to natural causes.

Dr Rachel Lambie, who worked as a registrar at the Countess, also told the Thirlwall Inquiry that around a fortnight before Baby A died another 'very, very unusual event' occurred on the ward. Although she didn't go into detail, the medic confirmed she has since given a statement to detectives about the incident.

The Women and Children's building, which houses the neo-natal unit, where Letby committed her crimes

During the hearings, at Liverpool Town Hall, it also emerged that babies' breathing tubes became dislodged on 40 per cent of shifts Letby worked at Liverpool Women's Hospital, between October and December 2012, and January and February 2015.

According to the BBC, babies suffered potentially life-threatening incidents on almost a third of the 33 shifts she was on duty while training at the Trust.

In one case, from November 2012, a baby boy she was caring for collapsed and water was later discovered in his breathing tube, which experts say is highly irregular.

Dr Dewi Evans, the former lead prosecution witness at Letby's original trial, also previously told the Mail he had concerns over the deaths of at least three children and the collapses of as many as 15 more, including one potentially poisoned with insulin, all of which were not included on the original indictment.

He said he had suspicions that Letby experimented with moving babies' breathing tubes as a method of causing harm before she began injecting air into their bloodstreams, or into their tummies via their nasal feeding tubes in a bid to kill.

'One thing we can be reasonably sure of is that Lucy Letby did not turn up to work one day and decide to inject a baby with air into their bloodstream,' Dr Evans said. 'I think the modus operandi evolved over time and I think that prior to air embolus tube displacement was probably something that she did.'
Embattled retailer Claire's Accessories has been saved after they agreed to sell 156 stores to the owner of WH Smith's high street shops.

The popular fashion accessories chain has been brought out of administration by Modella Capital, securing around 1,000 jobs.

However, the future of 145 stores not included in the deal remains uncertain.

Claire's Accessories, known for jewellery and accessories popular with young girls, appointed administrators for its UK and Ireland business last month after filing for bankruptcy in the US.

Administrators at Interpath said the majority of Claire's UK business and assets had been sold to Modella, securing its future on British high streets.

It comes after Modella, which recently bought WH Smith's high street chain, reached a deal with the retailer's US parent firm Ames Watson.

Natasha Harbinson, managing director at Interpath who led the sales process, said: "Following an agreement between Modella Capital and Ames Watson in the US in relation to the Claire's brand, we are pleased to confirm a sale of the majority of Claire's UK business and assets which will ensure this popular brand will continue to trade on high streets up and down the UK."

Interpath said 145 Claire's shops were not included as part of the deal, and will stay open as usual while it continues to assess options for them.

The popular fashion accessories chain has been brought out of administration by Modella Capital, securing around 1,000 jobs. Pictured: Claire's on Oxford Street, London

Modella also owns arts and crafts retailer Hobbycraft, and has invested in Paperchase and Tie Rack.

The TG Jones brand will soon replace WH Smith in stores across the country as the latter retailer moves to focus solely on its lucrative travel hub business.

Claire's has estimated assets and liabilities each between $1billion and $10billion, and 25,001 to 50,000 creditors.

The group previously declared bankruptcy in 2018 after it was unable to repay a loan, but rebounded seven months later after wiping approximately $1.9billion from its balance sheet.

The retailer has two shops on Oxford Street in London, and further branches in sites such as the Westfield and Brent Cross shopping centres and the O2 in Greenwich.

Its British arm made losses of 25million over the last three years. The most recent figures showed it made a loss of 4.7million in the year to Match 2024, representing an improvement from the 5million loss the previous year.

The group, which has nearly 300 stores across Britain, faces a looming deadline for an outstanding $480million, or 355million, loan that has to be repaid by December 2026.
A British man has been accused of raping a Norwegian tourist in an abandoned building on a Greek holiday island.

The 25-year-old, who has not yet been named, is alleged to have lured the 24-year-old woman from a crowd before sexually assaulting her.

The Norwegian tourist, who was on holiday in Rhodes with her family, went out for drinks with her sister on the night of September 24 on Orfanidou Street, a road full of bars and nightclubs on the seafront.

There, she met a group of men including the 25-year-old Briton.

He took her away from the group under the guise of wanting a conversation with her, before taking her to the abandoned building, according to local media.

After hearing movement from outside the building during the alleged attack, she managed to escape and run to the beach, before returning to her hotel to ask her help.

She picked out the alleged perpetrator in a police lineup, telling officers that one of the men 'looks like him'.

A British man has been accused of raping a Norwegian tourist in an abandoned building in Rhodes after meeting on Orfanidou Street a road full of bars and nightclubs

She said the perpetrator wore an earring and had drunk alcohol.

Cops also took items of clothing she was wearing at the time of the attack, including her underwear, to be sent for laboratory tests.

Police said the suspect is thought to have been temporarily staying in a hotel in the Fanes area of Rhodes

It comes just two months after a Belgian teenager was arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a young British tourist off Rhodes.

The 16-year-old alleged victim told police that she had been groped twice without her consent while in the sea near the Ialysos seafront.

She, with her father, complained that the 15-year-old suspect had made inappropriate contact in the water on the beach in front of their hotel.
A woman has lost all four of her limbs after she was attacked by two pit bulls while riding a bicycle.

Janelle Scott was attacked by the two vicious dogs on September 9 in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, according to a GoFundMe page set up by her family.

They said that she was riding bicycles to a friend's house with her boyfriend when the dogs knocked her off her bike.

Janelle's boyfriend was riding behind her at the time and rushed up to try to get the dogs away from her, reportedly killing one of the animals in self defense before calling for help.

The mother-of-one was rushed to hospital with 'significant and severe injuries'.

According to Janelle's mother, her right arm was nearly completely severed, and was 'only held on by tendons'.

Though doctors hoped she would only have to lose her right arm, the severity of her injuries meant she had to get all four limbs amputated.

Janelle Scott was attacked by the two vicious dogs on September 9 in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, according to a GoFundMe page set up by her family

Janelle, also known as Nellie, pictured before the horrific attack left her fighting for her life

The mother-of-one, pictured with her son, was rushed to hospital with 'significant and severe injuries' after the September 9 attack

Police told local media that the dogs may have escaped from an 'RV-style trailer' that had been broken into earlier that day.

They said: 'There is an RV-type trailer located in this area, and it is reported that the dog(s) were kept within this trailer.

'This trailer had reportedly been broken into at some point in the evening, which may have released the animals from confinement.'

Janelle's mother Cheryl, who has been by her side in hospital for weeks, told News on 6 that she hopes the dog owner 'pays the price' for what happened to her daughter.

'I just tell her I love her constantly, that I need her, that her son needs her, and we're so thankful that she is still with us,' Cheryl said.

The heartbroken mother said that after Janelle lost her right arm and one of her legs, she had been prepared to lose her second leg.

Being left-handed, she had hoped that her left arm could be saved. But tragically, the young woman awoke from surgery to find that her left arm had also been amputated.

'Every day that she has to go into surgery, it's been hard. I was wondering, "How much more can they do?"' Cheryl told Fox23.

Being left-handed, Janelle had hoped that her left arm could be saved. Tragically, the mother-of-one has now lost all of her limbs

'When she lost all of her limbs, I thought, "OK, well now her body's going to be able to heal and she's going to be able to get through this."'

Paying tribute to her daughter's resilience, Cheryl added: 'I know that she can do it because we're strong women, so I'm pretty sure that she'll come through this.

'I told her she has a purpose. I said, "Our creator wouldn't do this, so there has to be a plan we just have to find out what it is."'

Janelle's cousin Shay has set up a GoFundMe page to help pay for medical bills.

A woman has lost all four of her limbs after she was attacked by two pit bulls while riding a bicycle (stock image)

The page has so far raised more than $25,000 (18,600), with an aim of raising $28,000.

It comes just weeks after a man was arrested following a vicious animal attack that saw a teenage girl get brutally mauled by more than 10 large-breed dogs while jogging in California , leaving her nearly 'unrecognisable'.

Tracy Azpeitia, 17, was out jogging near her home in Newberry Springs on July 17 when she was surrounded and violently attacked by at least 10 dogs, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

Nearly a month later, 61-year-old Craig Arthur Simmons was arrested on suspicion of being the owner of an animal causing serious injury or death, authorities announced.
Prince William's embarrassment at standing next to Prince Andrew may have led to the future King covertly warning his uncle to stop laughing outside the Duchess of Kent's funeral, it was claimed today.

The Prince of Wales covered his mouth and appeared to say something out of the corner of his mouth to the Duke of York who abruptly stopped grinning at his nephew shortly after the coffin was carried into the state hearse.

It came amid claims Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson have already been told they are not welcome at the Royal Family's Christmas celebrations - and must make themselves 'invisible' at future royal gatherings - amid a fresh scandal involving paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

It's understood King Charles, 76, wants to keep the Duke and Duchess of York, both 65, at arm's length after the Mail on Sunday exposed how Fergie wrote to Epstein to apologise for publicly disowning the vile billionaire, calling him her 'supreme friend'.

In video from outside Westminster Cathedral, Prince William appeared to be warning Andrew his laughter at such a solemn occasion was 'not a good look', a source has claimed, adding he hid his lips to avoid anyone but Andrew knowing what he said.

In the extraordinary exchange, William looks deeply uncomfortable and appears to shut down any chat with Andrew, who licks his lips and looks awkward.

A royal insider told the Daily Mail: 'William is deliberately speaking behind his hand so you cant see what he is saying. William was clearly aware that the cameras were on them and felt uncomfortable'.

The source added: 'He [William] is pretty media savvy and would have known it might not be a good look [by Andrew] and also did not want to be seen chatting to his uncle'.

A royal source told the Daily Mail last week that William views the Duke and Duchess of York as a 'pair of chancers' and is urging his father to cut them both loose because of the Epstein scandal. But the King is less keen because he values their loyalty.

The Prince of Wales covered his mouth and appeared to say something to Andrew, which stopped him laughing

Spot the difference: Moments earlier Andrew was smiling but William looked serious and appeared aware of the optics

Prince Andrew was seen grinning after the funeral of Katharine, Duchess of Kent, at Westminster Cathedral in London

The Duke of York appeared to be visibly shunned by the Royal Family as they gathered on the steps of Westminster Cathedral after the Requiem Mass service on Tuesday, September 16.

Andrew could be seen trying to jovially engage with his nephew in conversation.

He appears to reminisce with the Prince of Wales about a previous time they spent together, telling him 'we had a lovely time didnt we then,' according to a lip reader.

But William makes no reply, simply glancing at his uncle before studiously looking forward, thin-lipped, rubbing his nose and rocking on his heels.

After a quick smirk and an awkward pause, the Duke attempts to continue the conversation. 'And spending time with us,' he adds, to which William does not respond, instead simply nodding his head in silence.

The seemingly icy encounter came amid ongoing revelations linked to the Duke's relationship with the paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, six years after the scandal saw Andrew stand down from public duties.

Celebrated historian Andrew Lownie's forensic biography of Andrew, called Entitled, also caused shockwaves within the Royal Family and made headlines around the world.

Some claims had to be removed for legal reasons, which the author said were incendiary enough to bring down the monarchy.

Charles and William are said to have differing views on how to handle Prince Andrew and his ex-wife with the Prince of Wales likely to be 'urging' his father to take the chance to cut them loose

The Duke and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, who live together at Royal Lodge in Windsor despite divorcing in 1996, have also been told to make themselves 'invisible' at future royal gatherings, insiders claim.

It comes after Charles asked the Duchess of York to help convince Andrew to 'do the decent thing' and avoid the Royal Family's Christmas gathering last year after it emerged the Duke had become close with alleged Chinese spy Yang Tengbo.

The Yorks spent last Christmas together at Royal Lodge instead, but they were not joined by their daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.

A source close to the King told The Sunday Times: 'You can't sack someone from being your brother.

'But this year, if the duke and duchess were both to be as honourable [as last year], it would be very much for the best and the family would not be disappointed, not least to avoid the King having to make any more difficult decisions.'

It follows several charities dropping the Duchess in the wake of the Daily Mail's expose last week, which laid bare how she cynically lied when she pledged to cut ties with Epstein.

King Charles has banished Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson from the Royal Family 's Christmas celebrations, sources have claimed

Just weeks after publicly disowning him, she then wrote him a gushing private message calling him a 'steadfast, generous and supreme friend'  and admitting 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 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.'

The Duchess's friends say she was 'devastated for any embarrassment' caused by the latest scandal and 'will explain herself to the wider Royal Family in due course'.

Sources close to the King have told The Sunday Times that the monarch would prefer if Andrew and Fergie keep out of sight when appearing at family events by arriving and leaving through discreet entrances where possible.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment.

Charles and William are thought to have spoken about the latest scandal during their 'father and son' weekend together in Scotland.

A source said the King is 'not of the mind to banish someone', but would hope the Yorks can 'find a more discreet way of attending these events'.

'In the Duke of York's case, he seems to relish the prospect of not being low-key about it,' they added.

Prince William and his father are said to be at odds over whether to banish them completely.

King Charles doesn't want to completely disown the Duchess of York and his brother because both are loyal to him and the Crown - unlike Harry and Meghan.

The monarch is facing huge pressure to expunge Fergie over the grovelling messages she sent to her 'supreme friend' Jeffrey Epstein.

However, for now, Charles is said to not want to cut all ties to reflect their loyalty, ensure his sister-in-law doesn't go rogue like the Sussexes and respect the wishes of his late mother the Queen.

But the more hardline Prince of Wales considers his uncle and aunt to be 'pair of chancers' and had enough of them long before the Duchess of York's latest scandal.

'His face as he stood next to Andrew at the Duchess of Kent's funeral said it all', an insider said.

'William feels even more strongly than the King that Andrew and Fergie are an embarrassment and will be urging his father to act', the source claimed.

'The optics of that pair of chancers guffawing away [at events] look terrible'.

Fergie had recently made a return to the royal fold after bouncing back from several embarrassments over the years - including being photographed having her toes sucked by US financial adviser Johnny Bryant as well as being caught in a sting offering access to her ex-husband for an alleged 500,000.

But she was invited to join the Royal Family's Christmas gatherings in 2022 and 2023, her first invitations for three decades. She also joined the family's traditional walk from Sandringham house to church alongside Andrew, Beatrice and Eugenie in 2023.

Andrew stepped down as a working royal over the scandal involving his friendship with Epstein in 2019. It followed a disastrous Newsnight interview about his relationship with Epstein and questions over his relationship with Virginia Giuffre who claimed she was sexually assaulted by the Duke three times when she was 17.

Andrew, who always denied the allegations, agreed an out-of-court settlement with Ms Giuffre, believed to be worth around 12million. Ms Giuffre, who claimed she was trafficked by Epstein, took her own life in April aged 41.

New files showing phone message logs, copies of flight logs and manifests for aircraft, as well as copies of financial ledgers belonging to Epstein were released by Congressional Democrats in the US on Friday night, naming Andrew, as well as billionaire Elon Musk, among them.

The Daily Mail revealed last night how Princess Beatrice is said to have 'lost all hope' of becoming a working Royal thanks to the deepening scandal engulfing her parents.

Friends of Beatrice, the eldest daughter Andrew and Fergie, say she would have been keen to help ease the burden on Charles and William by carrying out more Royal engagements.

The King is said to have been impressed by her elegance and enthusiasm during recent joint appearances and is keenly aware of the need to boost the number of working Royals as he continues to be treated for an undisclosed form of cancer and the Princess of Wales recovers from her own battle with the disease.

But with his strict stance against half-in-half-out Royals working for the Firm, nothing yet has ever come of their mutual appreciation. Now aides insist nothing ever will.

The Mail on Sunday understands that courtiers have concerns about further damaging revelations that will emerge about the duke's relationship with the convicted paedophile after reports that the Epstein Files contain a cache of more than 100 emails that 'could destroy Andrew'.

A source close to her said: 'Beatrice does want to be a working Royal and she wants to do Royal events to help her uncle because she'd enjoy them and she would be good at the job.

'Charles apparently appreciates this . . . There had at one stage been a feeling that Bea could have been lined up one day. She's never put a foot wrong, don't forget  and she shouldn't be punished for the sins of her father. But the King's courtiers are concerned Andrew could try to 'get in via the back door' by exerting influence over her.'
NATO may soon make it easier to shoot down Russian aircraft after a wave of drone and fighter jet provocations on its eastern flank, one of the alliance's top commanders has revealed.

Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, chairman of NATO's military committee, confirmed such a move was being considered but insisted it was too early to decide.

After a committee meeting, he said: 'Considering that these [incursions] are pretty recent events, all of them are still [under] investigation, and of course, we still need a fundamental point, which is attribution, I would say it is still premature.

'[Air defence] could be an option, depending on what will be the final assessment on what is being investigated right now. I would say that this could be one of the options but not the [only] option.'

Recent 'hybrid attacks' and Russian incursions have sparked outrage among European leaders, who have urged NATO to act more firmly.

Last week, Poland, which already brought down some of Vladimir Putin's drones, vowed it would take down any hostile objects. It said it was considering fast-tracked laws that would give the military greater freedom to act.

Latvia's president Edgars Rinkevics also said NATO must now move from 'air policing' to full 'air defence.' He told ERR, Estonia's public broadcaster: 'We currently rely only on the air policing mission. We need a shift in approach from air policing to an actual air defence mission.'

However, in a chilling warning, Russia warned that shooting down its planes would amount to a direct conflict with NATO.

When asked about the possibility of the organisation defending its airspace by downing Russian aircraft, Moscow's ambassador to France simply said: 'It would be war.'

Russia's warnings have not stopped Western leaders from toughening their language, however.

A photograph released by the Swedish armed forces shows a Russian MIG-31 fighter jet violating Estonia's airspace. NATO may soon make it easier for nations to shoot down Russiam aircraft that violate its airspace, according to a top commander

A downed Russian drone following an incursion into Poland's airspace. The NATO nation has vowed it will shoot down any hostile objects in its airspace

After Donald Trump urged NATO states to shoot down intruding aircraft, secretary-general Mark Rutte said he agreed this would be an appropriate response 'if so necessary.'

Britain, France, and Germany have since told Moscow the threats are not empty.

The UK's defence secretary John Healey said: 'Our Typhoons are fully equipped to take out Russian drones that enter Nato airspace. And we will not hesitate to act...'

Sweden, long known for its neutrality, is now considering developing its own nuclear weapons to deter against Russia's aggression towards Europe.

Jimmie Akesson, leader of the Sweden Democrats, told newspaper Goteborgs-Posten: 'I think everything should be on the table in this situation.'

Recently, there have been repeated violations of Polish, Romanian and Estonian airspace.

Airports and bases across Denmark, Lithuania, Sweden and Norway have also faced suspicious drone activity, with further sightings reported over the weekend.

The Hamburg, a German air defence frigate, was buzzed by Russian reconnaissance planes over the Baltic earlier this month, and dozens of drones believed to be Russian flew into Poland earlier this month.

Some headed directly towards the Lask air base where US F-35s are stationed, according to one senior officer.

'It was a test,' he said. '[The Russians] failed it. If they had been successful, then during the Zapad exercise we could have expected very different actions.'

A German Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon performs at NATO's security show on September 21. Several countries have grown agitated over Putin's incursions and warned that they would shoot down his aircraft if they violate their airspace

Putin's politicians have warned that there would be war if NATO shot down any of its aircraft

Additionally, three Russian MiG-31 jets also entered Estonian airspace on September 19, with local officials saying they only skirted the border.

But Lieutenant Colonel Gaetano Farina, commander of NATO's air policing mission, told Defence One the planes were intercepted inland and appeared to be heading towards Tallinn.

Meanwhile, Denmark has banned all civilian drone flights this week as it hosts two high-level summits.

'In this way, we remove the risk that enemy drones can be confused with legal drones and vice versa,' said Thomas Danielsen, Denmark's transport minister.

Germany has also deployed troops with anti-drone technology to Copenhagen and stationed the Hamburg frigate to bolster protection.

Poland, which has scrambled fighters during Russian missile and drone barrages on Ukraine, has reinforced its border with 7,000 troops.

Together with the Baltic states, it is planning a 'drone wall' of radars, sensors and air defence weapons. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen has described the move as 'the bedrock of credible defence.'

Britain's government said the UK would contribute by mass-producing drones for the region. 'Supplying them back in the thousands to help Ukraine defend itself,' the country's defence minister said.

EU defence commissioner Andrius Kubilius said the first elements of this defensive line should be in place within a year.
Do YOU have a story to tell?

A passenger jet was forced to make an emergency landing after suffering a bird strike shortly after take-off.

The Boeing 737 - operated by holiday giant TUI - was due to fly from Cardiff Airport to Cyprus but had to touch down less than an hour after taking off.

After climbing to around 3,000ft and circling Swansea Bay the plane then headed towards the West Midland to land at Birmingham Airport.

The jet was met by fire crews and emergency vehicles before passengers were able to disembark on Sunday evening.

Nobody was injured during the incident.

A Tui spokesperson said: 'To confirm, there was no engine failure. There was a bird strike after take-off and the diversion that followed was a precautionary routine procedure.'

Operations were suspended at Birmingham Airport while emergency services were scrambled.

A Birmingham Airport spokesman added: 'Birmingham Airport accepted an inbound TUI divert. In line with normal procedures the airport's Fire Service met the aircraft on arrival. The aircraft landed safely and taxied to the apron.'

The Boeing 737 flight - operated by holiday giant TUI - was due to fly from Cardiff Airport to Cyprus but had to make an emergency landing at Birmingham Airport

A spokesman or Cardiff Airport said: 'We are aware of an incident involving flight TOM6754 from Cardiff to Paphos.

'The safety of our passengers is our number one priority. The aircraft diverted to Birmingham Airport and landed safely at approximately 5.30pm.'

Last month all flights were put on hold for several hours at Birmingham Airport after an 'incident with a light aircraft' on the runway which left one person injured.

It followed an in-flight emergency on a twin-engine Beech B200 Super King Air plane was diverted to the city airport.

The plane, which was operated by Belfast-based private charter Woodgate Aviation, was met by emergency crews when it landed.

It appeared to have touched down without all its landing gears engaged.

Birmingham is the UK's seventh-largest airport in the UK and handled about 13million passengers last year, with over 130 direct routes offered by 30 airlines.
A Trans activist accused of disrupting a feminist rally at the Scottish parliament has been handed taxpayer-funded grants by a controversial SNP quango.

Tom Harlow  whose real name is Thomas Michael Moncrieff Carlin  was given thousands of pounds by Creative Scotland from a hardship fund set up for freelancers.

It emerged last week Police Scotland had launched an investigation into its handling of the September 4 event staged by gender-critical campaigners that was disrupted by trans group Cabaret Against The Hate Speech (CATHS)  of which Mr Harlow is a member.

Officers are reviewing the circumstances after the force was slated over its handling of a significant disturbance at the For Women Scotland (FWS) rally outside Holyrood, when speakers were drowned out by loud music.

Last night Scottish Tory deputy chairman Pam Gosal said taxpayers will rightly ask why this individual was in receipt of this funding.

She said: Creative Scotland has a duty to be responsible when allocating scarce resources and, given their history of funding dubious projects, its vital SNP ministers ensure they deliver value for money for the taxpayer.

Ms Gosal, who spoke at the rally on September 4, said she had been appalled by the way police had handled the counter-protest, citing legislation that gives officers legal powers to order someone playing loud music to desist.

The FWS rally was titled Women Wont Wait, with speakers calling on the Scottish Government to move faster in implementing Aprils Supreme Court ruling on gender, which decreed that sex is based on biology.

A confrontation between FWS director Susan Smith and Mr Harlow, during which the activists rainbow umbrella was allegedly damaged, was reported to police.

Tom Harlow was handed taxpayer-funded grants by a controversial SNP quango

Tom Harlow wrestles with an umbrella to block Susan Smith from For Women Scotland talking

Police Scotland said enquiries are ongoing into the vandalism of an umbrella.

A Creative Scotland spokesman said: Tom Harlow is not currently in receipt of funding.

A grant of 1,480 was made to Thomas Michael Moncrieff Carlin in 2020 through the Bridging Bursary Fund, with a further grant of 2,000 from the Hardship Fund for Creative Freelancers in 2022.

In 2023, a Glasgow museum stood by Mr Harlow, a drag performer, after receiving a backlash for plans to include him in an event celebrating LGBT+ Pride.

In 2022, Mr Harlow, 36, cancelled plans to lead a childrens storytelling event, after criticism from parents.

Last week, Scottish Police Authority board member Katharina Kasper said the handling of the protests had attracted wide-ranging criticism and that by not policing the counter-protest effectively, it was effectively infringing on the rights of the protesters to conduct their protest.

Former Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross raised an urgent question at Holyrood this month over the controlling and intimidating behaviour of the counter-protesters.

A CATHS spokesman said: As a freelancer in the creative industry, Tom was entitled to apply for this hardship fund for living expenses.
Three inmates killed themselves at a jail where guards who were meant to be on a 24-hour watch were asleep, reading or absent, a watchdog has revealed.

Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor placed HMP Pentonville in London under special measures in July due to a series of 'comprehensive failures'.

In a report published today, he linked a lack of monitoring for mentally ill prisoners to recent deaths.

'The care for some of the most vulnerable was appalling and so far in 2025 three prisoners had killed themselves,' he said.

'We found that staff did not know the name of the prisoners they were supervising, one officer was asleep, and others were reading or completely absent when they should have been caring for some very vulnerable men.

'The doors were kept shut, with staff conducting their observations through a plastic screen.'

Mr Taylor previously revealed that inmates at the Victorian jail were being let out early or late because staff had 'failed to calculate sentences accurately'.

Data showed ten prisoners had been released early 'in error' between July 2024 and June 2025.

In addition, 130 inmates  20 per cent of those eligible for release  had been held after their release date in the last six months.

It opens the prospect of criminals being able to bring compensation claims for being released too late.

Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor placed HMP Pentonville in London under special measures in July due to a series of 'comprehensive failures'

The inspection was carried out from June 30 to July 11 and the Ministry of Justice said action had already been taken to improve conditions in the prison.

Mr Taylor's report went on: 'Wings were dirty, noisy and chaotic, with a pervasive smell of cannabis and infestations of mice and cockroaches.

'Most prisoners spent more than 22 hours a day locked in poorly ventilated, overcrowded cells, with little chance of getting to work or education.

'Many of those who did have an activity space failed to turn up, and the low numbers in work after release attested to the fact that little was being done to help prepare them for employment.'

The report found there had been 454 assaults on prisoners and 260 on staff over the year - equivalent to more than two a day.

The causes of violence were said to be 'frustration, gang-based conflict and the influence of the illicit economy'.

The Category B, or medium security, jail was opened in 1842 and holds 1,200 men.

Mr Taylor described its interior as 'crumbling' and 'squalid', with an infestation of mice and cockroaches.

He found the occupational capacity had risen from 1,115 to 1,205 and, as a result, more than 60 per cent of prisoners were sharing cells that were suitable for one person.

Andrea Coomber KC, chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: 'It is no secret that large London local prisons such as Pentonville and Wandsworth face major problems  but the details in this report are appalling and represent a new low for an overcrowded and under-resourced public service that stands on the brink of collapse.

'It is a sign of how serious the systemic issues are that these prisons continue to face these intolerable challenges and ''comprehensive failures''.

'The government needs to drastically reduce the number of men in Pentonville, and provide significant investment to help leaders to run a decent and safe jail.'

The Ministry of Justice said: 'This is a deeply concerning report that further underlines the prison's crisis inherited by this Government.

'We are already taking urgent action at HMP Pentonville  detailed in our comprehensive action plan published in August  including strengthening leadership, additional training for staff and significant refurbishment of wings.

'Our work will continue at rapid pace to get standards back up to where they should be.'

It comes at a time the behaviour of prison employees is under intense scrutiny following a series of affairs between staff and prisoners.

Last week, a former prison cashier wept as she was jailed for having a sexual relationship with an inmate who had bragged about their illicit fling before a fellow convict reported them.

Yolanda Briggs, 52, from Boston, Lincolnshire, pleaded guilty to misconduct in a public office and was given an eight-month sentence at Lincoln Crown Court on Friday.

Briggs, who had worked in the prison service for 24 years, had sex with Allan Collins in the staff mess at HMP North Sea Camp men's open prison in Freiston on several occasions in 2024.

She even met up with him while he was out on day release and took him to her home for an intimate session.

The court heard that Briggs was flattered by the attention she received from the prisoner, who is four years her junior and made her 'feel wanted and alive.'

She was caught out after the prisoner bragged to fellow convicts about their affair, prosecutor Connor Stuart told the court.

However, despite her prosecution the pair have maintained their relationship and plan to be together when they are both finally freed.

The hearing, during which the defendant sobbed throughout, was told she still sent her lover money to help and support him.
A serving police officer and her husband masterminded a conspiracy to fly drugs into prisons with drones to bankroll their luxury lifestyle, it can be revealed.

Mother-of-three Clare Davenport, then a detective constable with Staffordshire Police, and her husband Peter King worked in tandem to make as much money as possible by dropping parcels of contraband into high-security prisons between 2021 and 2022.

Police identified 25 drone drops at prisons across the Midlands with parcels containing street drugs including heroin, cannabis and spice worth tens of thousands of pounds, which were ordered directly by inmates.

King, 52, pleaded guilty to smuggling drugs into prisons last month, while Davenport, 51, who told a co-conspirator she was afraid of the consequences for my police pension if I get caught, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of obtaining payment from prisoners and their families.

Today their two accomplices, right-hand man Mervyn Foster, 45, and drone pilot Kent George, 63, were found guilty of their roles in the drug-smuggling ring following a trial at Coventry Crown Court.

The trial heard the couple had million-pound houses and an impressive lifestyle, with neighbours telling the Daily Mail they lapped up a life of luxury, enjoying overseas holidays, a fleet of luxury cars and visits to fancy restaurants.

Davenport left the force in April 2023 after officers investigating the drone-smuggling ring found racist messages she had exchanged with Foster, which Staffordshire Police used to initiate gross misconduct proceedings. She retired before she could be sacked.

Following the verdicts, Judge Richard Bond revealed in court that Davenport 'relatively recently had a baby, which causes some concerns and difficulties when it comes to the sentencing exercise'.

He added: 'She has been sacked by the police simply on the basis of those text messages that she sent of a racist nature - it comes as no surprise to me that is the way she was dealt with.

'We do not want people like her serving with the police.'

Clare Davenport and her husband Peter King worked in tandem to make as much money as possible by dropping parcels of contraband into prison between 2021 and 2022

Davenport was a serving officer with Staffordshire Police for the duration of the conspiracy, only resigning when police found racist messages on her phone

She was accused by a co-conspirator of threatening to have him fitted up as a paedophile and to get his children taken away from him if he did not fly drones for them

The detective and her husband were accused by Foster of blackmailing him into taking part in their conspiracy by threatening to use their police access to have him killed or framed as a paedophile if he did not comply.

He alleged King told him he was best mates with a firearms officer and hed get shot and make it look like an accident, the trial heard.

Davenport was said to have threatened to have him fitted up as a paedophile and get his children taken away from him and he claimed she said she 'had set up loads of Muslims for the same thing'.

But a jury rejected that Foster, who was previously jailed in 2018 for smuggling drugs into prison by drone, was acting under duress, finding him guilty of two counts of conspiracy to convey banned items into prison and acquiring criminal property.

Davenport and King were married and living in their 800,000 family home near Wolverhampton while overseeing the drug-smuggling ring, although they are now understood to have separated, with Davenport dropping the surname King for her maiden name.

The drone drops began on July 12 2021, with 25 in total taking place until February 27 2022, including seven in December 2021 alone, at prisons including Category B HMP Gartree, Leicestershire, and Category C HMP Onley in Warwickshire.

Although King was said by prosecutors to be in charge, Foster was the heart of the operation, with experience flying drones into jails and his contacts among the prison population.

Prisoners placed orders via text to Foster, with payments reaching thousands of pounds then taken from their family and friends on the outside via bank transfer, including to Davenport.

The packages were then flown over the walls of the prison and dropped into the exercise yard wrapped in astroturf.

One package, recovered by a prison officer patrolling the grounds in August 2021, contained cannabis with a prison value of 15,300, heroin with a prison value of 22,400, as well as mobile phones, sim cards, tobacco, wifi dongles and chargers.

Spice, the synthetic cannabinoids infamous for reducing users to a zombie-like state, was also repeatedly flown into prisons impregnated into paper sheets.

Despite being a serving police detective, Davenport was fully aware of the operation, the trial heard.

Peter and Clare King at the time were husband and wife acting in tandem with a joint desire to make as much money as they could from their criminal activity, Fosters defence barrister Rajinder Gill said.

In one text exchange between Davenport and Foster, she even expressed concern that her police pension could be imperilled by their conspiracy.

She told Foster: Ive got pension tension. Im afraid of the consequences for my police pension if I get caught.

Police identified 25 drone drops at prisons across the Midlands with parcels containing street drugs including at HMP Gartree in Leicestershire (pictured)

Several drops were made by drone into the grounds of HMP Onley, a Category C prison near Rugby in Warwickshire

One neighbour of the couple in Cross Green, near Wolverhampton, told the Mail that Davenport was always splashing the cash and claimed she could only afford a lavish lifestyle because her Kiwi husband was making lots of money as a business entrepreneur.

The woman said: I knew Clare was a cop with Staffordshire Police and she seemed very nice but I never got to know her well because she was always busy working or off on foreign holidays.

She has a couple of kids and often the whole family would be off. I once said to her: Blimey, they must be paying you well in the police force and she said the pay was lousy and it was all down to her husband who was making lots of money as a businessman.

Clare was always smartly dressed in designer style clothes and loved going out when she wasnt working - she liked nice restaurants, not pub grub, and they were always splashing the cash.

Her lifestyle seemed luxurious and very enviable, she seemed to have it all. There were always decent cars parked up on the drive, including a flashy bronze-gold BMW.

She must be so ashamed.

Police were eventually able to close the net through a combination of phone mast data and the defendants cars being identified by automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology.

The couple were first arrested in March 2022, but it was not until the following month that Staffordshire Police initiated disciplinary proceedings for gross misconduct against Davenport.

The force was only able to initiate the misconduct probe because officers investigating the drone-smuggling conspiracy found racist messages she had exchanged with her husband and Foster.

It was also discovered King had called in sick on her behalf when she was abroad with no intention of attending work.

Giving evidence, Foster claimed he had been under duress from both Davenport and King to take part in the conspiracy.

He said: 'The first thing she said was she was going to plant my DNA at the scene of a crime, she threatened to take my kids away from me, she does a lot of grooming cases and she knows I don't like paedophiles.

'She was going to plant my DNA at the scene of a crime, she told me it wasn't the first time she had done this and she had set up loads of Muslims for the same thing. I thought she would do the same for me.

'Pete told me he was best mates with a firearms officer and he'd get me shot and make it look like an accident.'

Davenport retired from the force on April 12 2023. The chief constable of Staffordshire Police concluded on August 3 2023 that she would have been dismissed if she had not already retired. She was barred from working for the police in future.

King pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to convey banned items into prison and acquiring criminal property on August 27, Davenport pleaded guilty the following day to acquiring criminal property and George was found guilty today of two counts of conspiracy to convey banned items into prison and acquiring criminal property.

King, Foster and George were all remanded in custody, while Davenport has been granted bail ahead of sentencing.

They will be sentenced at a date to be fixed.
A Portuguese migrant who was jailed after beating up five of his girlfriends is allowed to stay in Britain, a judge has ruled.

Hamilton Jorge Da Silva Pinho, of Chorley in Lancashire, threw an electric heater and steam mop at partners as part of his long-running spree of domestic violence.

He also threatened to throw acid at one girlfriend and had a restraining order against another.

But despite being jailed for almost a year, an immigration judge allowed Pinho to stay in the country, because of the emotional effect it would have on his young child - even though they don't live together.

Now, after a Home Office appeal, Pinho faces deportation from the UK once again.

Pinho is a Portuguese national who entered the UK in 2009 with his parents, the Upper Tribunal of the Immigration and Asylum Chamber heard.

The 37-year-old visited Portugal between 2018 and 2019 - despite claiming to have little connection with family and friends there.

He was given leave to remain in the UK for five years in November 2019.

He also had a previous criminal record - in 2023 he was jailed for 20 months at Manchester Crown Court for actual bodily harm and assault by beating.

An Upper Tribunal judgement said he is the perpetrator of domestic violence against five women, including his current partner.

He has also had verbal arguments with his mother.

Hamilton Jorge Da Silva Pinho was allowed to stay in Britain because of a child who he doesn't live with. Pictured: The Upper Tribunal of the Immigration and Asylum Chamber

One victim claimed that he threw an electric heater and a steam mop at her and threatened to hit her with a weight and throw acid in her face.

Pinho is the subject of a restraining order until 2028.

He also had been prosecuted for threatening abusive words or behaviour, theft, shoplifting, battery and destroying property.

In November 2023 the Home Office issued a deportation notice against Pinho, yet this was refused as was their refusal of his human rights claim.

The decision was made at the First-tier Tribunal.

A judgement from that hearing said: 'Mr Pinho is assessed as posing a medium risk of serious harm to children based on the potential for children to witness his abusive behaviour, however there is nothing to indicate he has behaved abusively in front of children at this stage.

'The risk is greatest in any events of binge drinking in the community which could increase the risk.

'Mr Pinho can be violent to any public members when his emotional state is low and/or under the influence of alcohol.

'The risk increases when Mr Pinho is involved in conflict and unable to manage his emotions and reacting with physical violence.

'At present the risk is not imminent due to restrictions placed on Mr Pinho such as alcohol monitoring, curfew and EZ.

'Drawing all the threads together and considering all the evidence in the round, I find that, on balance and acknowledging the high threshold, it would be unduly harsh for [Mr Pinho's] child to remain in the UK without him.

'I find that the evidence demonstrates a particularly close relationship and very strong emotional bonds, and that there is strong likelihood of emotional damage to the child if [Mr Pinho] is deported to Portugal.

'I do not accept that contact via modern means of communication will be any sort of substitute for the regular in-person care and responsibility that [Mr Pinho] provides for his child.

'The likelihood of visits is remote considering the potential costs involved, and again these would not be sufficient to limit the potentially huge emotional damage to the child if they are separated from the regular care of [Mr Pinho].

'Overall, I find that, on balance, the evidence demonstrates that the long-term effect of [his] deportation on [Mr Pinho's] child would be unduly harsh.'

The Home Office appealed the decision, claiming that he 'failed to accept responsibility for all of his offending'.

They claimed that the First-tier Tribunal judge had noted that he had an 'entrenched pattern of abusive behaviour toward female partners' and there was a 'risk of serious harm to his child, ex-partner and future partners'.

He was also said to have not been honest about his family connections in Portugal.

His two-year-old child lived with his mother who is the primary carer.

The child was born two months before Pinho was sent to prison. He was released in September 2024.

Upper Tribunal Judge Helen Rimington has now accepted the Home Office appeal and said that the case needs to be re-assessed because of legal errors.

Judge Rimington concluded that: 'There was a procedural error in that the judge, exceeding his powers in considering the human rights appeal, also failed to consider the matter on the EUSS decisions.'
Lord Mandelson has left his official residence in Washington - but remains on the Foreign Office payroll despite being sacked.

The ousted US Ambassador was 'withdrawn' from his role after sickening emails between him and his 'best pal' child sex predator Jeffrey Epstein emerged.

However, he still be employed by the Foreign Office and in receipt of his six figure salary, which rivals the Prime Minister's, it is understood.

Despite being removed from his post, the Labour peer remains on the books and is thought to have received more than two weeks' pay.

Usually, diplomats who are withdrawn from their posts remain employed by the Foreign Office and are assigned a new post.

With this an unlikely scenario in Mandelson's case, there are questions about why he remains an employee.

Foreign Office sources declined to comment on 'HR matters', suggesting that there has not been a resolution in his case.

However, he is understood to have left the Ambassador's residence in Washington 24 hours after Sir Keir summarily sacked him from his role.

Lord Mandelson has left his official residence in Washington - but remains on the Foreign Office payroll

The ousted US ambassador called Jeffrey Epstein his 'best pal' in a ten-page birthday message to the convicted paedophile

Lord Mandelson's message featured photos of himself, with one of him talking to Epstein while wearing a bathrobe and another of him wearing swimming shorts

But in contrast to his sacking from Global Counsel, the firm he set up, he remains a Foreign Office employee more than two weeks on.

The corporate strategy company got rid of the New Labour architect just minutes after he was fired as Britain's ambassador to Washington.

It came after their wealthy clients 'expressed concern' about being 'tarnished by association' with the peer who defended his paedophile friend Epstein.

The downfall of Mandelson came after a series of embarrassing emails emerged in which he attempted to help his friend despite the charges against him.

It took Sir Keir several days to remove the disgraced peer from his post despite Cabinet ministers and Labour MPs expressing their disgust.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting said he was 'completely disgusted' by his behaviour.

The former ambassador is said to have refused to resign, not wanting to have been forced into the position for a third time after previous humiliations.

His formal status as ambassador was withdrawn with 'immediate effect' rather than in a personal phone call between him and Sir Keir.

A formal legal justification for his removal was reportedly drawn up in the event that he refused to 'go quietly'.

It is not clear whether this could be used in the future to remove him as an employee of the Foreign Office.

Allies claim Mandelson had admitted in his vetting interview that he continued his relationship with Epstein for many years, yet was appointed anyway.

Shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel called for ministers to explain why taxpayers were still paying Mandelson's salary.

'Keir Starner and his morally bankrupt government are up to their neck in sleaze and appalling scandals,' she said.

'Having lied to cover up the truth over Mandelson's relationship with the convicted paedophile, Epstein, it is scandalous to discover that British taxpayers are still funding Mandelson's salary.

'Starmer must explain why taxpayers are still funding Mandelson, why he has not taken swift action to remove Mandelson's ties to the British state, and when he will be honest with the public and Epstein's victims and explain why he thought Mandelson's appointment to the prestigious role as Ambassador to the United States was justified in the first place.'

Upon his appointment as ambassador, he took a leave of absence from the Lords which he has to revoke to return.

This is a formal process and he must write to Lords authorities giving three months' notice of his return to duties.

He is not believed to have made contact so far.

US President Donald Trump, who had forged a good relationship with Mandelson, did not learn of his removal until after it happened.

The Foreign Office declined to comment.
Christian Brueckner, the freed suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, has attempted to confront the German prosecutor who accused him of killing the British girl.

Brueckner, who was released from a rape sentence two weeks ago, travelled several hours to confront lawyer Hans Christian Wolters.

Wolters has long stated that he has evidence that proves Brueckner's involvement in the 2007 disappearance of Madeleine McCann during a family holiday in Praia da Luz, Portugal.

Brueckner, who denies all allegations, told Sky News outside the Public Prosecutor's Office in Braunschweig, Germany: 'The prosecutor refused to meet me, but I told his representative I wanted his help to get my life back.

'I'm being hounded by the media, and it's his fault. I want him to take responsibility.

'I was told there was nothing they could do to help. I had been convicted and released, and I wasn't their responsibility.'

Wolters told the broadcaster that he had been tipped off about the suspect's planned confrontation at his office and refused to speak with him.

Since being released from Sehnde prison, near Hanover, on September 17, where he was serving a seven-year sentence for the 2005 rape of an American pensioner in Portugal, he has been living in Neumunster, a three-hour drive from Braunschweig.

Christian Brueckner (pictured) has attempted to confront the German prosecutor who accused him of killing Madeleine McCann

The disappearance of Madeleine McCann in Portugal in 2007 has never been solved

Since then, his every move has been monitored by both German and international media.

Photographs have been published of him tucking into a burger outside a motorway McDonald's.

Chilling CCTV footage from inside a mobile phone shop in the city appeared to show him laughing as he showed off his ankle tag, which enables police to track him round the clock, and attempting to buy an untraceable phone using his German ID card.

He is said to have bragged to the shop owner, during a 90-minute conversation, that he had information that 'could bring the scandal of the century to an end'  which many have taken to refer to Madeleine, the British toddler who disappeared while on holiday with her family in Praia da Luz in 2007.

There have also been reports of him visiting a Domino's takeaway, wearing a fake beard as he asked staff for free pizza, as well as concerning accounts of women screaming when he entered a nightclub.

Though his release had been on the cards for several months, Brueckner's movements since leaving prison appear both unplanned and chaotic  something that does not instil confidence in those charged with keeping him under surveillance.

Speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail last week, a source close to his legal team said he will not stay in Neumunster, indeed, the plan is to move him to Munich, in the south of the country, at the earliest opportunity.

The move to a bigger city (Munich has 1.6 million residents, while Neumunster has just 79,000) will make Brueckner less conspicuous  and, consequently, more difficult to track.

The source says Neumunster was never the plan, rather Brueckner ended up there by default.
Britain's top elections guru has warned there seems to be no way back for Keir Starmer from his record low ratings.

Professor John Curtice gave an apocalyptic assessment of Labour's situation in a briefing at the party's annual conference.

With polls showing Reform on track for power and Sir Keir's own ratings at a record low, Sir John suggested the Angela Rayner and Lord Mandelson resignations had not had much impact. However, that was only because the problems were already so bad.

And he cautioned that even after 15 months in power voters still did not know what Sir Keir stood for or thought on key issues.

Britain's top elections guru has warned there seems to be no way back for Keir Starmer from his record low ratings

Professor John Curtice gave an apocalyptic assessment of Labour 's situation in a briefing at the party's annual conference

Asked whether there was any hope that Labour could turn it around, Sir John replied: 'The honest answer to that is no.'

He added that 'clearly, if by 2029 the economy is turned around and if by 2029 the waiting lists are way, way back down', Labour might be able to recover its position.

But he cast doubt on whether Sir Keir would be the leader to achieve such a turnaround.

Sir John said Sir Keir had positioned himself as 'the friendly local plumber' fixing issues with 'policy pipes', when voters really wanted their leaders to be 'the architect of Valhalla'.

Sir John said: 'You need to do more than change the reality, you also have to influence perception.

'And clearly, the question that is being raised about the current Labour leadership is, does it have the ability to change the mind?'

Saying people still did not know what Sir Keir stood for, Sir John - renowned for producing the exit poll on election nights - said: 'The mystery of Keir Stamer, who is he, what does he stand for, that mystery, we are maybe two thirds of the way through the novel, but we are still not sure where the body lies.'

Your browser does not support iframes.

Polling by Ipsos Mori has put Sir Keir's personal ratings at the lowest level for any PM since comparable records began in 1977

With speculation about a leadership challenge from Andy Burnham hanging over the conference, Sir John showed his audience a stark chart indicating the Greater Manchester mayor was by far the most popular politician among 2024 Labour voters.

While the PM had a net favourability rating of plus 13 per cent, Mr Burnham's stood at plus 37 per cent.

Almost half of 2024 Labour voters said they had a positive view of the former Cabinet minister.
A schizophrenic stalker called Myleene Klass a 'naughty vixen' and asked her to 'correct him' with a whip and cane, a court heard.

Peter Windsor, 61, also sent the former popstar, 47, an air pistol, Catwoman and police officer fancy dress costumes as well as letters and gifts including clothes and jewellery during a nine-month campaign of harassment.

Windsor is also accused of stalking Ms Klass's Classic FM colleague Katie Breathwick, 54, sending her a pair of binoculars, running shoes with spikes, a bottle of champagne and a stamp collection for her son, Birmingham Crown Court heard.

The items and correspondence were intercepted at Global radio's London office where the pair worked.

The air pistol - which Windsor said was a 'joke' - was intercepted by police before it reached the Ms Klass, the court heard.

Windsor from Stechford, Birmingham, who appeared in the dock in court in a grey sweatshirt, has denied two charges of stalking.

Opening the case against him on Monday, Tim Sapwell prosecuting, said Windsor had 'became obsessed' with the two presenters.

He said that they were used to getting fan mail and the occasional gift but this was 'very different' and involved a large number of letters and parcels many of which were 'bizarre' and 'demonstrated his obsessive interest'.

Mr Sapwell said there was also a 'sexual overtone too' - highlighting the Catwoman and police officer outfits sent to Ms Klass.

Mr Sapwell said Ms Breathwick first started receiving letters and parcels in March 2020 from a man who addressed himself as 'Sir Peter Windsor' having changed his name by deed poll.

'Some of these letters were addressed to her and some to her and her co presenter Myleene Klass,' he said.

Peter Windsor, 61, sent Myleene Klass an air rifle and called her a 'naughty vixen' a court heard

Windsor is also accused of stalking Ms Klass's Classic FM colleague Katie Breathwick, 54, sending her a pair of binoculars, a pair of running shoes with spikes, a bottle of champagne and a stamp collection for her son, Birmingham Crown Court.

A sketch of Windsor in court today

Mr Sapwell said the 'sheer quantity' and contents made her concerned. One letter mentioned her eyes and made her feel 'frightened and unsettled'.

In others Windsor referred to his 'physical prowess' including how fit and strong he was and the number of push ups he had achieved.

One told how he wanted to go paddling with her and Ms Klass in a lake in front of Buckingham Palace whilst drinking champagne, the jury was told.

As a result, security at Global started to intercept Ms Breathwick's mail and 'effectively screen it' while security escorted her too and from her car following her show.

Mr Sapwell said: 'He even sent her a will writing kit and you can imagine the effect that had on her'.

He said she had she had suffered a panic attack as a result of the stalking and poor health and had considered giving up her job.

Turning to Ms Klass he said the post addressed to her was of a very similar nature.

It was handled by security until August 2020 when she was told by her manager at work that they had concerns for her safety after a number of items were intercepted including a silver ring, the fancy dress outfits, secondhand shoes and a heart-shaped pendant.

Mr Sapwell said the matter was reported to police who then told her they had intercepted another parcel in November 2023 containing an air pistol and a note 'calling her a naughty vixen' and saying he wanted to be 'corrected with a whip and a cane'.

He said Ms Klass was 'very distressed' and concerned about what he might do to her or her family.

Mr Sapwell said of the letters: 'The content was obsessional and demonstrated his obsessive interest in them.'

The alleged offending, Mr Sapwell told the court, had left both women 'worried about things like just going to work'.

The court was told Windsor was arrested in September last year at his home in Birmingham.

Police found a 'number of items' including maps of London' showing where the women worked on his wall as well as a black leather glove, women's stockings and a pair of binoculars.

Mr Sapwell said Windsor initially answered no comment then he decided to answer some of the questions that were put to him.

He said he sent the items to Ms Klass as a 'joke' after seeing her in 'provocative underwear' in a newspaper. He said the gun was a joke too.

Addressing the jury, Mr Sapwell said the normal verdict would be guilty but there was 'another layer' to this case.

He said Windsor has a 'history of mental illness and a longstanding diagnosis of schizophrenia' which when medicated 'largely coped with but when it's not he doesn't'.

He said Windsor will also argue his conduct doesn't amount to stalking and that the two women were not caused alarm or distress and never asked him to stop.

He claims it was a 'publicity stunt' by Ms Klass and Ms Breathwick.

Mr Sapwell said the prosecution would argue this is not true as they had tried 'to prevent any publicity of this case at all'.

He said of Ms Klass: 'She didn't want any publicity about this. She just wanted it to stop.'

The trial, expected to last a week, continues.

Ms Klass found fame in the pop group Hear'Say, created through reality series Popstars in 2001.

They had one of the biggest-selling debut singles of all time with their 2001 hit Pure & Simple, which shifted 550,000 copies in the first week of release, becoming the first of two UK No 1s for the group.

But their success was short-lived and the group disbanded after 18 months.

Classically trained musician Ms Klass was runner-up on I'm a Celebrity four years later, with scenes of the star showering in a white bikini becoming an enduring image for the series.

The bikini was later sold at a charity auction, raising 7,500.

Ms Klass is in a long-term relationship with Simon Motson with whom she has a son, who was born in 2019.

She also has two daughters Ava, 18, and Hero, 13, with ex husband former Hear'Say bodyguard Graham Quinn.

Earlier this year she revealed she caught her then husband-to-be cheating on her with another celebrity - at her own birthday party.

Ms Klass said she walked in Mr Quinn and the woman removing each other's clothes on the balcony at her home.

Refusing to name the star, Ms Klass hinted that the person in question had built a career off a 'family brand'.

The Loose Women panellist first started going out with her Irish bodyguard in 2001 and they were together for 12 years until they announced their split in 2013.

Ms Breathwick, who is married to the creator of theBBC series Death In Paradise, Robert Thorogood, has worked at Classic FM since 2008.
Charlie Kirk's alleged killer's defense team might try to keep him off death row by claiming that he only had one intended target and did not plan to harm anyone else, according to an expert.

Tyler Robinson, 22, is accused of murdering Kirk with a single bullet that hit the father-of-two in the neck as he spoke to a crowd at Utah Valley University on September 10.

In states with the death penalty like Utah, prosecutors must prove at least one 'aggravating factor' to make a defendant eligible for execution - for example, killing multiple victims, showing extreme premeditation, or putting many people at risk.

Randolph Rice, a Maryland attorney and legal analyst who is following the case, told Fox News the defense strategy could be to prove that a 'single sniper bullet' was only met for one target, not anyone else.

'That's probably their goal right now, or at least that's what they're thinking about,' Rice said.

Robinson is due in court Monday following his first appearance on September 16 where he was seen donning an anti-suicide vest as he stonily stared at a web camera.

The Utah native, who is charged with the capital murder of the late conservative, was set to appear in person, but on Saturday the Utah County Attorney's Office said he would again appear virtually with his appointed attorney.

Rice said: 'What the defense may be able to argue is to say, this was a single sniper bullet that had a single intended target - and therefore it posed no other danger to anyone else,' Rice added.

Charlie Kirk's alleged killer's defense team plans to try and keep him off death row, according to an expert. The suspect, Tyler Robinson, 22, is set to appear in court Monday

Kirk, 31, was fatally shot in the neck at Utah Valley University on September 10. He leaves behind his wife Erika and their two young children

'And if they can prove that to a jury or they can convince a jury of that, then they won't get the aggravating murder, and therefore they won't have the death penalty on the table.'

The legal expert also believes the suspect's defense team will be cautious about how they proceed with the high-profile case that is being closely watched across the US.

'Obviously they've got the concern about defending their client, they've got concerns about the media attention, but I also think that they may have concerns about their personal safety,' he explained to the outlet.

'This certainly is a political assassination. It's something that has been in the headlines.

'There are a lot of individuals who are emotional about this. And certainly people on the left are certainly emotional about it. People on the right are certainly emotional about it.

'And so there are concerns from the defense team's perspective. About their personal safety and that's something they're going to have to consider throughout this entire trial.'

After allegedly gunning down Kirk on September 10, Robinson confessed to the killing in a message to his transgender partner, according to prosecutors.

He is alleged to have got in contact with his partner via text message, saying that he killed Kirk because he 'had enough of his hatred.'

Randolph Rice, a Maryland attorney and legal analyst who is following the case, said the defense might be able to argue Robinson should avoid being put to death by trying to prove that a 'single sniper bullet' was only met for one target, not anyone else

Pressure has mounted on prosecutors and Utah Governor Spencer Cox to get the death penalty for Robinson, especially after they've repeatedly promised to do so following his arrest.

The FBI has fast criticism for what some call a failed investigation after two suspects were taken into custody but subsequently released in the hours following the fatal shooting.

FBI Director Kash Patel even took to X to announced they had a suspect in custody, but that person was later released.

After Kirk was murdered, Robinson is said to have made a quick escape and dumped the Mauser rifle he is alleged to have used in the shooting. Robinson fled the scene and traveled some 250 miles south to his home in St. George, Utah, eluding capture for nearly two full days.

He was ultimately caught after being handed in by his father and a local minister, rather than through direct police intervention.

Several hours after the shooting, two law enforcement sources told Fox News that Robinson appeared at a wooded area where the gun was found and 'made contact' with officers guarding the area.

That brief encounter appears to have thwarted an attempt by Robinson to collect the firearm used to kill Kirk.

No further details of the 'contact' were shared and it's unclear if the officers saw Robinson, or realized how close they were to the suspect.

Unbeknownst to investigators, Robinson's parents Matthew and Amber, from Washington, Utah, were both convinced that their son was involved.

After Kirk was murdered, Robinson is said to have made a quick escape and dumped the Mauser rifle he is alleged to have used in the shooting. He then returned to recover the weapon (pictured)

When asked if she believes her husband's alleged killer should face the death penalty, Erika said she wants the government to decide what happens to Robinson

Charging documents say that his mother had seen a photo of the suspect shared by authorities and immediately thought it looked like her son.

After calling Robinson, he is said to have told her he was at home and unwell, and had been the day when Kirk was gunned down.

Still, the documents say this did nothing to quell her suspicions, and she raised her concerns with his father who agreed with her.

His father then got in touch and asked him to send him a picture of it, but Robinson never responded, the documents say.

After a phone call between the two eventually happened, Robinson laid out plans to commit suicide, his parents said they were able to convince him to meet them, the charging documents detailed.

During that discussion, Robinson is said to have implied he was the shooter and said he didn't want to go to jail so he wished instead to take his own life.

Kirk's widow Erika has previously said she forgives her husband's alleged killer.

The 36-year-old told The New York Times: '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.'

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 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,' Erika continued.
Donald Trump's new $100,000 fee on H-1B foreign visas has shattered the dreams of Indian university students hoping to make it big in the United States.

The president's latest effort to overhaul American immigration involves a massive one-time visa fee for highly skilled foreign workers.

To qualify for an H-1B visa, US employers must sponsor a foreign national for a specialty occupation that requires at least a bachelor's degree.

In 2023, nearly three-quarters, approximately 73 percent, of all H-1B workers whose applications were approved were born in India, according to the Pew Research Center.

When the White House announced the $100,000 fee last week, students at technical universities across Indian said their hearts broke.

'My dreams were shattered,' Sai Jagruthi, a 17-year-old engineering student at Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, told The New York Times.

She said her father called her to tell her the news and recalled him saying, 'It was the best option, and we are going to lose it.'

Jagruthi said it was extra devastating because she knows her father 'wants a better life for their daughters than his own. Going to the US was a ticket to that.'

Sai Jagruthi, a 17-year-old engineering student at Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University in Indian (pictured), said her dreams were shattered by the new H-1B visa fee

Donald Trump signed an executive order that imposes a $100,000 fee on all new H-1B foreign visa applications

'I will consider Germany once my studies are over here. If the US does not work out, I will try that.'

Ruthvitch Sharma, who dreamed of working for NASA, told The Times that all of his classmates in India have the same goals: 'to work with the greatest talents in the world.

At Malla Reddy University, Santosh Chavva, 21, who is about to complete his undergraduate studies with a degree in artificial intelligence, said he was hoping to attend graduate school in the US.

'But then a bomb fell. Trump announced the H-1B visa hike, which was such a shock to me,' he said. 'I felt so sad.'

Chavva's classmate, Narra Lokesh Reddy, said workers on H-1Bs in America are responsible for a lot of success and developments in their fields.

'They built a lot of unicorns and start-ups,' he said, adding that forcing Indian entrepreneurs to stay at home could 'push India to self-reliance.'

Mixed messages about the new policy caused confusion and chaos for employers, students and workers alike over the weekend.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said September 19 that the fee would be an annual cost, but the White House clarified the next day that that it was a one-time fee.

Students in India, including at Malla Reddy University (pictured), were devastated by the news. In 2023, nearly three-quarters of all H-1B workers whose applications were approved were born in India

Footage taken at San Francisco Airport showed a number of Indian passengers trying to leave an Emirates flight moments before it was due to depart for Dubai over fees they would not be able to return

The restrictions would also not impact existing H-1B holders; however, the new policy, which took effect at 12.01am ET on September 21, will charge companies every time they make a request to bring in a skilled worker from another country via the H-1B visa.

Despite the caveats, the confusion over the sudden announcement sent Indian passengers on an Asia-bound flight leaving San Francisco into a frenzy earlier this month.

Footage taken at San Francisco Airport showed a number of Indian passengers trying to leave an Emirates flight moments before it was due to depart for Dubai.

Panic-stricken travelers were worried that leaving the US would mean that they would have to pay the hefty fee if they returned after the deadline at midnight on September 21.

Passenger Masud Rana, who filmed the moment travelers tried to exit the plane, said he was delayed by over three hours due to the turmoil on board.

Typically, passengers are not allowed to leave a plane once boarding has begun; however, many could be seen leaving as the pilot addressed the 'unprecedented' situation over the loudspeaker.

The captain told passengers in the footage: 'Ladies and gentlemen, it's the captain speaking.

'Due to the current circumstances, obviously, that are unprecedented for us here at Emirates, we are aware that a number of passengers do not wish to travel with us, and that's perfectly fine.

'All we ask is that if you wish to offload yourself, you do so.'

Rana wrote on his widely circulated social media post, showing the moment when the situation was 'complete chaos.'

'President Trump signed an order affecting both new and existing H1B visa holders, creating panic among many - particularly Indian passengers - who even chose to leave the aircraft,' he wrote.
A British Airways passenger 'sexually assaulted and attacked' five people on a flight from Dubai to London.

Davide Sampson allegedly entered the aircraft drunk on March 13 before carrying out the offences 39,000 feet in the air aboard the double decker Airbus jet.

It is claimed the 21-year-old assaulted four women and one man from cabin crew, 'endangering the aircraft' in the process.

Sampson has been charged with one count of sexual assault and five of assault by beating.

He appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court today wearing a blue overshirt and white trousers, speaking only to confirm his personal details.

He is further charged with one count of endangering an aircraft, two counts of racially aggravated intentional harassment and one of using threatening or abusive words likely to cause harassment.

Sampson is also charged with failing to obey the lawful commands of a pilot, intentionally interfering with the performance of an aircraft crew member's duty and entering an aircraft while drunk.

Prosecutor Ravinder Chodha said the alleged offences happened on the jet from Dubai International to Heathrow.

Davide Sampson (pictured), 21, allegedly entered the aircraft drunk on March 13 before carrying out the offences 39,000 feet in the air aboard the double decker Airbus jet

Sampson, of Slough, Berkshire, was bailed ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing at Isleworth Crown Court on October 24.

Magistrate Nigel Shock told him: 'Your next appearance will be at Isleworth Crown Court. If you are late or do not turn up, you will be committing a separate offence.

'You must turn up on that date.'
Pro-life advocates are slamming a famous children's author after he said he'd die by assisted suicide after being diagnosed with dementia at the age of 80.

Robert Munsch, who is best known for writing The Paper Bag Princess, has been approved for Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD), Canada's official name for its assisted suicide program.

Munsch opened up about his heartbreaking struggles with his slow cognitive and physical decline, in a New York Times Magazine piece.

The forgetfulness and inability create new stories made him feel like his 'life is shrinking.' He has yet to decide exactly when to end his life - but has now been condemned by pro-life groups over the very personal decision.

Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life, criticized the author's decision, calling it 'heartbreaking' in a statement to the Daily Mail.

'His childrens book Love You Forever illustrates the kind of care and unconditional love that should be extended to a person in their last days,' she said.

'True compassion means walking with people through their pain, not abandoning them to a premature death.

Robert Munsch, pictured in 2010, has been condemned by pro-life groups for choosing to die by assisted suicide after a dementia diagnosis

Carol Tobias, president of National Right To Life, criticized the author's decision, calling it 'heartbreaking'

Munsch is best known for his children's book The Paper Bag Princess

'Every life has inherent value, no matter the circumstances, and our society should be investing in excellent palliative care and support systemsnot in policies that treat vulnerable people as if their lives are disposable,' Tobias said.

Canadas top pro-life organization also condemned Munsch's planned death by lethal injection, adding his choice should 'wake us up.'

'The fact that he was actually approved shows just how ridiculous and reckless Canadas approval process has become,' the organization wrote on X.

'What kind of message does that send to seniors, to families, to the vulnerable?

'Choosing assisted death for cognitive decline sends a dangerous message.'

Canada legalized medically assisted suicide in June 2016 with specific eligibility criteria such as being over 18, having an irreversible incurable illness, and voluntary request. They revised the law in 2021, making the eligibility broader.

It has been controversial. People with disabilities and those with chronic illnesses have been offered MAiD, even when content with their quality of life.

Those with mental illnesses can now also opt for assisted suicide.

Munsch was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and grew up in a family of nine kids, according to his website.

'I am a storyteller. I write books for kids, I talk to kids, and I listen to kids,' his site reads.

The Daily Mail reached out to Robert Munsch for comment.
Los Angeles's iconic Hollywood district has seen tourism numbers fall off a cliff, sparking fears for the future of the beleaguered City of Angels.

Visit California revealed tourist numbers slumped by 10 percent this summer, compared to the same period of 2024.

And businesses on Hollywood boulevard said customer numbers had plunged by up to 50 percent, raising the prospect of the neighborhood that is a byword for movies and showbusiness entering into a terminal decline.

Multiple problems have been blamed for the downturn, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Vast swathes of LA were decimated by wildfires in January.

While Hollywood survived unscathed, the city has struggled to shake-off the perception that it is still filled with smoking ruins.

Riots against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in June saw dystopian images of left-wing agitators torching self-driving cars beamed across the world.

Those riots were confined to Downtown LA, a few miles from Hollywood. But the damage to the entire city's reputation was severe.

President Trump's tariffs and threats to make Canada the 51st US state have also had a huge impact, with Canuck visitors particularly important to the local economy.

Salim Osman, who works for exotic car rental company Ride Like A Star, said last year business was booming, but 2025 is a different story.

'It used to be shoulder to shoulder out here,' he said. 'It's a lot harder for people to come here, or they're afraid of what's going on here, so they just don't come.'

Souvenir shop owners said they were forced to raise prices because of tariffs and a decline in sales.

'Los Angeles is California's primary international gateway; the impacts are felt statewide,' Adam Burke, president of Los Angeles Tourism, told the newspaper.

Hollywood Boulevard is pictured in 2016. But there are now fears for the iconic district's future after a sharp drop in visitor numbers

A vagrant sleeps on the streets of Hollywood in January 2023 as a construction worker walks by. Los Angeles has suffered a series of reputational hits in recent months

'Looking ahead, long-term recovery will depend on global economic conditions and how the US is perceived abroad.'

In particular, Trump's attacks on Canada 's economy and threats to make it the 51st state have infuriated Canadians, causing huge swaths of them to cancel their US vacations.

Visitors from Canada to Los Angles fell around 30 percent in June and July, according to the report.

'We've hurt our Canadian Friends with actions that the administration has taken. It's understandable,' Palm Springs Mayor Ron deHarte said.

'We don't know how long they won't want to travel to the States, but we're hopeful that it is short-term.'

Cynthia Guidry, the director of the Long Beach Airport, told the newspaper that reduced airline schedules and rising costs have impacted traffic and she is trying to find ways to improve business before the Olympics.

'We're focused on attracting new service, growing non-aeronautical revenue and managing expenses to stay resilient,' she said.

Elsewhere in California, things are similarly grim. Yosemite National Park reported a decrease of 50 percent in bookings ahead of Memorial Day weekend.

Los Angeles's Altadena neighborhood is pictured in February after it was destroyed by wildfires. While Hollywood survived unscathed, the blazes put tourists off visiting LA

A self-driving car is torched during anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) riots in June. These happened in Downtown LA, but gave a grim impression to prospective tourists considering visiting the city

Homeless Angelinos sprawl across the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame. Visitor numbers have slumped by 10 percent this summer, with no signs of a recovery

Dennis Speigel, president of consulting firm International Theme Park Services, said this year has been difficult due to fewer international visitors and more people looking to save money.

'People in the locales where the parks are stayed in their areas,' he told the LA Times, adding more people are spending less on travel because 'the general economy, the media, the tariffs, the confusion and the uncertainty that came with that.'

The latest tourism industry numbers from Los Angeles show it could be on the same collision course as dying Las Vegas.

Sin City has struggled throughout 2025 amid skyrocketing prices, falling rates of hotel stays and a lack of tourists to the Nevada party hub.

August recorded 4.56million passengers - an almost 6 percent drop compared to the same month last year, figures from Harry Reid International Airport shows.
PM hopes it will increase competition in the country

A middle-eastern 'hypermarket' has been invited into Australia to compete with two of the nation's biggest retailers.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese invited LuLu Group to bring its supermarkets Down Under as part of his free trade agreement with the United Arab Emirates.

LuLu Hypermarkets will take on Coles and Woolworths as its main competitors should chairman Yusuff Ali choose to take up Mr Albanese's offer.

The 'hypermarket' chain is one of the most dominant in the Middle East with more than 250 outlets operating across the Gulf states and elsewhere.

With this free trade agreement Australia and the UAE are set to remove tariffs from a majority of exports between the two nations.

The UAE has also promised to increase its investments into Australia stemming from its massive sovereign wealth fund.

Mr Albanese hopes that any investment from LuLu Hypermarkets specifically might reduce prices across all Australian supermarkets amidst the cost-of-living crisis.

Critics have often complained that power is too concentrated in the hands of just two players in the sector being Coles and Woolworths.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese invited LuLu Group to bring its supermarkets down under

Mr Albanese hoped the UAE 'hypermarket' could increase competition in Australia

LuLu Hypermarket has more than 250 outlets operating across the Gulf states and elsewhere

Mr Albanese welcomed the interest from Mr Ali in bringing his hypermarkets to Australia.

'One of the great things about the [LuLu Group] chairman's company, there are 300 supermarkets just like this one, I have encouraged him to come to Australia as well,' Mr Albanese said.

'We need more competition in the Australian supermarket sector, and we have had a little discussion about that.

'This company is big enough to have direct relations with [Australian] producers, whether they be mango producers, the orange producers, the meat producers that the chairman met in Mudgee that are still providing Halal-certified meat into this market.'

Previously the Coalition proposed introducing break-up powers that could be used to force Coles and Woolworths to sell-off parts of their business.

These would only have been brought forth if the pair were found to have been behaving uncompetitively.

The Greens had agreed with this idea in principle.

However, Mr Albanese fobbed off the proposal when he insisted that Australia was not 'the old Soviet Union' which would have forcibly broken up the supermarkets.

Coles and Woolworths mostly have a duopoly in Australian supermarkets

The consumer watchdog has blasted the supermarkets for not doing more to keep prices down

The Coalition previously introduced a proposal to break up Coles and Woolworths which Mr Albanese shot down

Mr Albanese instead sought ways to increase competition between the rivals as opposed to forcing them to split into smaller companies.

During Labor's last term smaller chains had complained that Coles and Woolworths were handicapping competition.

This was done by the two major supermarkets purchasing land which prevented smaller chains from opening new stores, they claimed.

A March review found there was 'limited incentive' for Coles and Woolworths to compete on price because of their market dominance.

Although this review did not conclude recent price rises had been excessive.

Despite this Mr Albanese committed to investigating the 'excessive pricing regime' which would be policed by a competition watchdog shortly after the review was made public.

The idea behind this investigation was to curb supermarkets who were found to be price gouging.
The rules on police facial recognition cameras will be updated to make sure it is clear when the controversial technology can be deployed, the police minister said.

Sarah Jones backed use of facial recognition cameras and implied they are set for huge expansion.

She told Labour Party conference the technology will be very important in the future and suggested it could one day be rolled out across the country.

But she admitted there isnt really much of a structure around use of the camera systems, which critics say are discriminatory and an Orwellian invasion of privacy.

The cameras can give police live intelligence about passers-by, matching their faces with records of wanted suspects on the Police National Computer.

We need to put some parameters around what we can use facial recognition for, Ms Jones told a fringe meeting at the conference in Liverpool.

There has been some advice on how we use it. But we need to go further to make sure its clear when it should be used and when it shouldnt be used, to put some structure around it.

Police minister Sarah Jones said facial recognition cameras may one day be 'rolled out across the country' and - ahead of any such expansion - rules on their use must be reviewed

Because there isnt really much of a structure around what its used for at the moment.

We need to look at whether thats enough and whether we need to do more.

Were going to consult on what that should look like, so we can assure the public that its being used in the right way.

The Home Office will launch a new consultation later this year, she revealed.

The minister said police facial recognition pilots in her constituency  Croydon West, in south London  had been very successful in catching very serious criminals including rapists who had been on the run.

Ms Jones went on: We just need to make sure it's clear what it's going to be used for going forward.

A Metropolitan Police vehicle equipped with live facial recognition cameras

If we are going to use it more, if we do want to roll it out across the country, what are the parameters?

Lets make sure people understand that it's a conversation we need to have, because people have raised it as an issue, both parliamentarians and the public, and they want to understand how this is going to be used.

Previous problems with the camera technology mis-identifying ethnic minorities with dark skin have been largely addressed, the minister said.

The Met came to Croydon and explained how the technology has changed over time. It is now incredibly accurate, she said.

The only time there had been an inaccurate identification was when there was one with an identical twin.

The minister declined to speculate on whether the new consultation would only look broadly at when facial recognition cameras should be deployed, or at more detailed issues such as the cameras capabilities.

It comes as similar live recognition technology is being rolled out by local authorities, including Hammersmith and Fulham in west London, and by supermarkets.
China, Japan, ROK sign 2026-2030 environmental cooperation action plan

Xinhua) 09:46, September 29, 2025

JINAN, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) have adopted a new joint action plan on environmental cooperation for the 2026-2030 period, an official said on Sunday.

The plan outlines a series of cooperative activities focused on eight priority areas, laying a solid foundation for trilateral environmental collaboration over the next five years, said China's Minister of Ecology and Environment Huang Runqiu at the 26th Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting among China, Japan and the ROK held in Yantai, east China's Shandong Province.

The environmental authorities of the three countries have strengthened practical cooperation to jointly address regional and global environmental challenges, Huang said, noting that they have implemented three phases of such plans, achieving substantial results in air pollution control, sandstorm prevention, and chemical environmental management.

Huang added that enhancing environmental cooperation, advancing regional green development and improving people's environmental well-being align with the shared interests of the three countries and that China is willing to work with the other two countries to elevate trilateral environmental collaboration to a higher level.

The annual environment ministers' meeting has been hosted by the three countries in rotation since 1999.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
A vigilante allegedly killed a pedophile pastor who he had no connection to after hunting him down using the public sex offender registry.

Varun Suresh, 29, is accused of stabbing David Brimmer, 71, to death at the pedophile's home in Fermont, California on the morning of September 18.

The vigilante is said to have pretended to be an accountant looking for new clients to confirm his victims identity before launching the attack.

Neighbors said they saw Suresh chase Brimmer down the street demanding the pedophile 'repent'.

Brimmer was convicted of molesting young boys while he was a pastor in 1995 and served nine years in prison.

When cops arrived, Suresh allegedly said hed wanted to kill a pedophile for years because 'they hurt children,' and 'deserve to die,' according to court documents.

He also told them that what he had done was 'honestly really fun,' according to documents seen by KTVU.

Police say earlier that morning, Suresh had taken screenshots of multiple sex offenders on his phone that he had obtained from the online registry that Megan's Law enforces in the state of California.

Varun Suresh allegedly traced 71-year-old David Brimmer, a registered sex offender, to his home in Fremont, California, and stabbed him to death

The register include names, photos, addresses, and the offense of predators.

Officers said they responded the 911 call from the neighbor in minutes to find the sex offender unresponsive, suffering from severe stab wounds.

Police began life-saving measures, but Brimmer died at the scene. Suresh was found outside and was arrested.

A knife was also recovered.

Suresh allegedly told police officers: 'It is not your duty to decide whether Heaven will accept them, it's your duty to send them to the gates,' which is believed to have been said about the crime.

According to authorities, Suresh was armed with a knife and posed as an accountant knocking on doors looking for new clients.

To appear authentic, the alleged murderer carried a bag, a notebook, and a cup of coffee.

The authorities added that he approached the door, and Brimmer answered after chatting with him. He shook his hand and asked for his name to confirm his identity.

Brimmer told him who he was, to which Suresh allegedly said to police, 'I knew I had the right guy,' and 'that's when we both knew it was on,' reports KTVU.

The 29-year-old targeted Brimmer by using a public sex offender registry that Megan's Law enforces in the state of California

On September 18, around noon, the Fremont Police Department received an emergency call from a bystander who saw the violent altercation between the two

Suresh found Brimmer's past charges of his conviction in 1995 when he committed lewd and lascivious acts with a child while he was a pastor

Suresh then allegedly forced his way into Brimmer's home.

Brimmer ran down the street, being chased by Suresh, who was carrying the blade, according to officials.

Brimmer ran into an open garage of a neighbor's house, pounded on the door until they answered, and asked them to call the police. Reportedly, Suresh followed and made his way into the home as well.

Suresh allegedly caught the pedophile in the neighbor's kitchen, where he stabbed him in the neck and told authorities that he said to Brimmer, 'It's over, you have to repent.'

Brimmer ran out of the house and passed out on the lawn, where Suresh then stabbed him several more times in the throat.

Suresh told investigators: 'I just wanted to make sure it was done.'

According to the court documents, Suresh stated that he wasn't planning to get away with the crime and would have called the police himself.

The outlet found that Suresh told investigators he 'didn't feel sad at all' and was 'not sorry' for his actions.

Suresh was charged with murder, armed individual causing great bodily injury, and residential burglary, according to the Fremont police press release.

Suresh was also arrested in 2021 for making a false bomb threat, criminal threats and burglary for leaving a suspicious bag at Hyatt Place.

He believed that the CEO of Hyatt Hotels was a pedophile and wanted to kill him, according to the outlet.
Firebrand Majorie Taylor Greene has hit back at Sen. Ted Cruz after he claimed she is worried about being killed by Jewish people.

'Why do crazy people keep thinking 'the Jews' are trying to kill them?' Cruz wrote on X Sunday evening.

His statement was in response to a cryptic Saturday evening social media post from Greene containing references to the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, suicide and unnamed foreign nations.

'I am not suicidal and one of the happiest healthiest people you will meet,' the Georgia Republican's post began. 'I have full faith in God and Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. As a sinner, I am only saved through His grace and mercy.'

'With that said, if something happens to me, I ask you all to find out which foreign government or powerful people would take heinous actions to stop the information from coming out. Not only about this issue, but because of the truth that I have been speaking. The People understand what I'm saying.'

The message was a clarification of an earlier post Greene made supporting an effort to release additional documents on Epstein. This gambit has earned the Georgia lawmaker scorn from her colleagues, who have largely sided with President Donald Trump, who called it a 'Democrat hoax.'

Greene did not mention anything regarding 'the Jews,' Jewish people or Israel. It was her reference to an unspecified 'foreign government or powerful people' that likely caught the attention of Cruz, an ardent supporter of Israel.

'Instead of fighting for women and girls who were raped when they were 14, Ted Cruz, who wasnt even born here, chose to smear me with lies,' Greene told the Daily Mail in a statement. 'Canadian-born Ted Cruz had the gall to falsely accuse me of attacking Jewish people. That charge is disgusting and utterly false.'

'Why do crazy people keep thinking 'the Jews' are trying to kill them?' Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, wrote in response to a X post made by Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene

Greene's post had references to her being happy and not being suicidal, and her support for the release of additional documents on the late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein

'Countless Americans in the comments, not bots, have told Ted that hes lying. Shame on him for calling real people bots instead of hearing their concerns,' MTG continued. 'These are the majority of Americans who are fed up with foreign influence over our politics.'

Cruz's retaliation, misquoting Greene and claiming she is 'crazy' and concerned that 'the Jews' will try and 'kill' her, ignited a firestorm online.

'When did MTG or anyone else say 'The Jews'?' writer Zaid Jilani asked the senator in response. 'Ted, you're obsessed.'

'When you put something in quotes you have to be quoting something. Otherwise youre fabricating,' Jilani continued in another post.

Right-wing pundit Elijah Schaffer similarly responded to Cruz: 'She never mentioned Jews, but you just told on yourself here.'

When asked for clarification over his original post about 'the Jews,' Cruz's office denied that the senator incorrectly quoted Greene.

The senator eventually responded to the mounting criticism over his statement.

'To all the bots saying she never mentioned the Jews, it says 'find out which foreign government or powerful people would take heinous actions,' Cruz said.

'She's talking about Belgians? Argentinians? As she said 'the People understand.' Yes we do. And no, Israel didn't murder Charlie.'

A bipartisan petition is underway in Congress to release additional Department of Justice files on the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Trump and his allies in Republican congressional leadership have been working to stop the effort

MTG speaks at an event with survivors of Epstein's abuse

Cruz's reference to Charlie Kirk appears to have been in reference to unsubstantiated theories that the Turning Point USA co-founder's assassination had been linked to the Israeli government - a conspiracy that Greene never mentioned in her posts.

The Georgia lawmaker is one of just four Republicans who have signed a petition to force a vote on releasing documents on Epstein held by Trump's Department of Justice.

Reps. Thomas Massie, Ky., Lauren Boebert, Colo., and Nancy Mace, S.C., are the only other Republican signatories.

The petition is expected to get a vote on the floor sometime in October, though Republican Speaker Mike Johnson has slammed the effort as unnecessary and counterproductive.

Johnson and GOP leadership do not want the petition to succeed, and neither does Trump.
WhatsApp founder Jan Koum has accused a renowned interior designer of ripping off millions from him while renovating his luxury homes in Malibu and St. Barts and two superyachts.

In explosive court documents filed in federal court in Manhattan, the billionaire tech entrepreneur claims French designer Remi Tessier 'brazenly exploited' their 10-year working relationship by supplying fake luxury goods and inflating prices on items by 10 to 20 percent, as part of a 'pattern of predation'.

Koum, 48, accuses Tessier of charging him eye-watering markups for upscale home furnishings and goods, including 19,550 ($22,800) for a luxury chair which would have cost 12,400 ($14,500) - an 81 percent hike.

He claims he was also charged 1,731 ($2,027.67) for an 84-piece set of glassware that was actually worth 1,079.84 ($1,264.98).

Tessier also allegedly supplied cheap or knock-off versions of items, such as a set of pashmina carpets for 642,000 ($751,000) which turned out to be 'fakes' made of 'cheap synthetic materials' that were worth half the price.

Koum accuses the Paris-based designer to the ultra-rich of keeping him in the dark during the process and turning their decade-long relationship into a 'brazen, sprawling fraud.'

He says he also plans to bring a criminal fraud case against Tessier in France.

The court documents seek 'evidence for use in a foreign preceding' to find information from the American merchants involved.

Whatsapp founder Jan Koum (left) has accused French interior designer Remi Tessier (right) of doctoring invoices and ripping him off on luxury items while working on his mansions and superyachts

The filing names Tessier and his company Dernier Etage SARL, describing a giant betrayal by the designer, a friend of famed art dealer Larry Gagosian who helped design galleries for him in Paris and Switzerland.

Daily Mail has reached out to Tessier for comment.

A glowing profile of Tessier in a German magazine from 2015 describes the 'extraordinary career of a man whose loyalty, craftsmanship, vision, and determination took him to where he never imagined he would be.'

From his studio in Paris, where he employs 15 people, Tessier renovates the homes and yachts of some of the wealthiest people in the world including billionaires and winners of the America's Cup yacht race.

In the article, Tessier is quoted as saying it is 'very important to demonstrate your integrity, and in the end, relationships are more important than the money or the business'.

Koum, who sold WhatsApp to Facebook for $19billion in 2014, hired Tessier to design one of his homes in California in 2015.

Over the next decade, Tessier would work as the lead designer on at least eight more of Koum's properties, including his two adjoining properties in Malibu worth $100million and $87million each, an $80million compound in Atherton, as well as homes in Manhattan and St. Barts.

Tessier also worked on Koum's two superyachts: the 328ft-long $220million superyacht Moonrise 1 and its 331ft sister ship, Moonrise 2, worth $330million.

Koum hired Tessier to design one of his homes in California in 2015, before using him on his other properties in Malibu (pictured)

Tessier worked as the lead designer Koum's homes, including his two adjoining properties in Malibu worth $100million and $87million each (pictured)

Contracts included as part of the court papers indicate that Tessier the contract for the work on the Malibu home alone was 1.4million ($1.64million).

For the work on Moonrise, the contract was 3million ($3.5million).

The documents state: 'From the outset, however, and unbeknownst to Koum, Tessier treated Koum not as a client but as a target.

'Tessier cultivated his image of discretion, exclusivity, and sophistication to gain Koum's trust while deliberately constructing a closed system that gave Tessier unilateral control over design and procurement with zero oversight.

'.Unbeknownst to Koum, Tessier's entire system was designed to enable him to steal, over and over again'.

Tessier insisted on being Koum's 'exclusive' design consultant with control over all sourcing and selection of furniture, fixtures and equipment, meaning Koum had no direct access to the merchants or their invoices.

But in 2024, after Koum's outside accounting firm conducted an audit, suspicions began to be raised about Tessier's billing.

Initially, the designer only handed over the invoices he had given to Koum, then claimed he was having computer issues and may not even be able to provide the documents.

Koum began an investigation of his own and discovered that his relationship with Tessier had been 'riddled with deception', it is alleged.

Moonrise 1 Tessier also worked on Koum's two superyachts, including the Moonrise 1, a the 328ft-long $220million vessel

Interior of Moonrise 1

He also worked on its 331ft sister ship, Moonrise 2, worth $330million

'Tessier had engaged in a brazen, sprawling, and secretive fraud against Koum, and potentially other clients as well', the paperwork states.

'Although the evidence available to Koum is limited by Tessier's secrecy and subsequent obstruction, what Koum has been able to obtain to date reveals that Tessier systematically abused his position to surreptitiously enrich himself at Koum's expense, employing numerous schemes to defraud Koum at every turn'.

Tessier would artificially inflate the prices of what he actually paid to purchase items, or got substantial trade discounts that he didn't pass on, the court documents state.

That meant he charged far above the agreed upon 10-20 markup, which came in addition to a flat fee Tessier charged.

The documents state that a luxury chair cost Tessier 10,786.50 ($12,637.73) after getting a 15 percent trade discount.

That meant he should have charged 12,404.48 ($14,533.15) after a 15 percent markup.

Instead Tessier charged 19,550 ($22,902.24), an 81 percent markup.

Another way Tessier allegedly ripped Koum off was providing poorer quality goods than he claimed.

Koum included copies of invoices which he claims shows Tessier doctored the figures

The documents show a side-by-side comparison with a 'doctored' invoice, with misspellings

In early 2025 as part of the renovation of one of Koum's superyachts, Tessier ordered more than a dozen hand-knotted pashmina carpets for 642,032 ($752,110.96).

But shipping records show they were from a 'lesser-known Italian manufacturer' and the invoice was 'doctored' to make it look like they were from a French company.

Laboratory testing showed that the carpets Tessier ordered were 'fakes, made of cheap synthetic materials that were hand-loomed or hand-tufted', it is claimed.

'Many carpets were made of viscosea highly flammable materialusing inferior construction methods that are less environmentally friendly, less durable, wear down more quickly, and lack the quality and longevity of authentic hand-knotted pashmina'.

According to Koum's court filing, the true value of the carpets was half of what he paid.

Other examples in the documents include a set of 16 steak knives with luxury Palisander wood handles which Tessier billed at 66 each ($77.29) or 1,056 ($1,236.61).

But actually they were made of a synthetic material called ABS and cost less than 35 ($40.99) each.

Two supposedly 'custom' sofas which were billed at 42,900 ($50,237.40) each were not actually unique and were worth just 20,580 ($24,102.31) each, Koum claims.

In his filing, Koum points to a set of 16 steak knives with luxury Palisander wood handles which Tessier charged for a total of $1,236.61, but the knives were made of a synthetic material called ABS and cost less than $41 each, Koum claims.

The court documents included exhibits of textile samples of pashmina carpets that Koum sent for testing to verify their authenticity

The results show that the purchased items turned out to be 'fakes' made of 'cheap synthetic materials' that were worth half the price, the documents claim

The paperwork states that as Koum pressed Tessier to explain himself, Tessier turned to 'more desperate' forms of concealment.

He produced what he claimed were the underlying merchant invoices for a handful of transactions.

But Koum alleges that the invoices were doctored because he was able to obtain the real version directly from the merchant.

One invoice showed that Tessier got a 56 percent discount but was edited to make it seem like he only got a 10 percent discount, it is alleged.

Tessier allegedly tried to dissuade merchants from cooperating with Koum's investigation and changed his company name, selling the assets to a newly-formed entity in Monaco.

The paperwork states that Koum plans to bring a criminal case in France for Tessier's 'gross misconduct'.

He has made 'significant progress' toward this including hiring French lawyers who are preparing a criminal complaint for fraud, breach of trust and embezzlement.

But Koum claims he is not alone and states that 'Tessier has bilked, cheated, and defrauded other high-net-worth individuals to the tune of tens of millions of dollars.

Tessier, who is based in Paris, renovates the homes and yachts of some of the wealthiest people in the world including billionaires and winners of the America's Cup yacht race. He is pictured with wife Carole in 2019

The documents state: 'On information and belief, at least two other former clients previously terminated their relationships with Tessier due to Tessier's fraudulent conduct'.

Tessier's conduct is said to be an 'open secret' among designers and merchants in the luxury design world.

The filing states that any money Koum gets from his case will be donated to a charity in France.

He is seeking evidence from one gallery from which Tessier allegedly demanded a $600,000 kickback in connection with a transaction.

Koum also wants information from merchants who sold Tessier tens of thousands of dollars worth of furniture.
A student at a British university plunged to her death in front of friends after slipping in a huge puddle on Ireland's famous Cliffs of Moher, an inquest has been told.

Roxan Bastaens, 20, a Belgian national studying at the University of Edinburgh, had travelled to the west of Ireland for a hiking trip in May last year, just weeks before her 21st birthday.

Clare Coroner's Court in Kilrush heard that she and three friends, two French students and Italian-born Giulia Bracchi, had arrived in Doolin the night before to stay over before tackling the cliff walk.

Ms Bracchi gave evidence describing how the group set off that morning in calm weather with proper hiking boots.

'The trail was protected at the beginning, but later on it got slippery and there was no barrier,' she told the hearing.

She added: 'We all had hiking boots on. It was not difficult. There were hundreds of people on the cliffs. The impression was that the trail was safe.'

According to her account, Bastaens was holding her camera and keeping an eye on her footing when she moved to avoid a pool of water.

'She had her camera in her hand and was looking at her steps as she walked around a big puddle,' Ms Bracchi said. 'She fell forward and she started tumbling down and I tried to catch her, but I couldn't. It all happened so fast.'

She went on: 'I looked down and I saw her hit off the cliffs twice and then she then went out of sight.' A short time later, she spotted her friend's body lying face down in the water below.

Bastaens shocking death occured at Ireland's Cliffs of Moher just weeks before her 21st birthday last year

County coroner Isobel O'Dea returned a verdict of accidental death. She told the family: 'Unfortunately, we have a number of deaths at the Cliffs of Moher each year and this was an absolute accident.'

Toxicology results showed no alcohol or drugs in Bastaens' system. A postmortem concluded she died instantly from multiple injuries caused by the fall. Ms O'Dea said her passing 'would have been instantaneous and she wouldn't have suffered.'

The court also heard that large parts of the walking route were shut down by the Clare Local Development Company in August last year and remain closed because of safety concerns.

In recent years, there have been multiple deaths at the Cliffs of Moher, which attracts around 1.5million people each year.

Experts have said 'serious construction work' has to be done for the site to be deemed safe. Concerns have also been raised that the trail is too close to the edge of the cliff.

Last year, in July, a 12-year-old boy fell over the edge and died instantly after slipping into a puddle. In 2019, a man in his 20s fell from the landmark after it was claimed he was taking a selfie.
Democratic lawmaker, afraid of getting targeted, are double-checking their disclosures and freaking out over their finances after President Donald Trump's nemesis, former FBI Director James Comey, was indicted.

As longtime opponents of President Donald Trump get embroiled in investigations under his administration, some Democrats worry they may have illegally filed their financial forms, potentially opening them up to prosecution.

Comey was indicted on charges of making false statements to Congress and obstruction of a congressional proceeding for comments he made under oath in 2020, just before their statute of limitations expired.

Comey has denied the allegations and is expected to turn himself in for an arraignment hearing on October 9.

Other Trump foes like Sen. Adam Schiff, New York Attorney General Letitia James, the president's former National Security Advisor John Bolton and ex-Georgia district attorney Fani Willis, just to name a few, are all under federal investigation.

The probes have sparked fears among rank-and-file Democrats on Capitol Hill that, if they unlawfully submitted tax or financial documents, in addition to other illegal activity, they too could face federal prosecution from Trump's administration.

'Many are ... going through mortgages, tax returns, etc.,' one anonymous senior House Democrat told Axios of conversations among worried liberal lawmakers.

'I've explored liability insurance,' another unnamed Democratic lawmaker said. 'And so have other members [in case] they come after us legally.'

Democrats are worried they could fear prosecution under Trump's administration

One anonymous House Democrat warned that it would be prudent for high-profile liberals, such as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., to re-check their taxes and finances for any potentially unlawful or improper disclosures

Trump has said for years he is the victim of lawfare - politically-inspired legal prosecution - particularly from the Biden administration, whose FBI raided Trump's Mar-a-Lago home in 2022 and opened up several cases against the president, many of which were historical firsts.

Vice President JD Vance noted over the weekend on Fox News Sunday how more indictments will be forthcoming over the course of Trump's second term.

'Well, there's certainly gonna be more indictments coming over the next three and a half years of the Trump administration, but we're always going to let the law drive this stuff, and the facts of the case, and not political motivations,' Vance said Sunday.

'Which frankly makes us so much different from the Biden administration, where they indicted not just the president of the United States but so many people who were engaged in policymaking,' he continued.

Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif., told Axios he 'absolutely' believes some members of Congress are going to be 'targets for this retribution purge.'

He admitted 'more prominent targets' would be 'wise' to review their personal finances for any potential problems.

Others were worried that the Republican administration could bring trumped-up charges against them even without any unlawful activity.

'Obviously, I think there is a worry that ... this administration is going to dive into your stuff and kind of trump up some bogus charge just because you were critical of the president,' Rep. Gil Cisneros, D-Calif., told the outlet.

Former FBI Director James Comey was indicted last week on charges he made false statements to Congress in 2020. The case has struck fear into the hearts of some lawmakers who are afraid of retribution

Both Huffman and Cisneros stated they don't have any financial disclosure issues to worry about.

The president even urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to explore complaints against Comey, James and Schiff in a Truth Social post last week.

'They're all guilty as hell, but nothing is going to be done,' the president wrote.

Already, the Justice Department is investigating Rep. LaMonica McIver, D-N.J., for allegedly assaulting an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer during a scuffle at a Newark detention facility. She has denied the charges.

Rep. Joe Morelle, D-N.Y., told Axios he 'did a big push ... to educate members on liability issues, and many purchased professional liability insurance.'
SIR Tony Blair's 300million Gaza peace plan is revealed today showing his administration gets a 'war room', elite bodyguards and a police force to oversee the Strip.

The former PM's proposal, obtained by the Mail, would mark his most significant intervention in the Middle East since sending British troops to war with Iraq.

Sir Tony has reportedly put himself forward to be chairman of the Gaza International Transitional Authority (GITA), a body proposed by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change.

The administration would rule initially from nearby El-Arish in Egypt and have 'policy hubs' in Amman and Cairo, scaling up to be fully operational within the Strip by year three.

In his role, Sir Tony would lead Gaza's international diplomacy on the world stage, co-ordinate security with Israel, Egypt and the US, and serve as 'the escalation point' on sensitive decisions.

Under the blueprint, GITAs chairman commands a 'Strategic Secretariat' of 25 aides anchoring a crisis 'war room' for rapid analysis, co-ordination and messaging.

Sir Tony Blair has proposed a 300million Gaza peace plan

Sir Tony visiting the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza as International Middle East envoy

Security would be provided by a new Executive Protection Unit (EPU) tasked with 'close protection' for Sir Tony, fellow leaders and visiting VIPs.

Staffed by 'elite personnel from Arab and international contributors' it is trained for 'rapid extraction' and 'incident response readiness' and would escort foreign envoys.

The EPU must be 'politically balanced to reflect neutrality, professionalism and legitimacy'.

It would work in conjunction with a Palestinian Civil Police force and an International Stabilisation Force (ISF), all co-ordinated through a Joint Security Coordination Centre (JSCC).

Police would be 'nationally recruited' and 'professionally vetted' and be tasked with maintaining public order, investigating crimes and protecting civilians within Gaza.

Meanwhile the ISF - a multinational force - would guard borders, stop weapons smuggling, deter militant resurgence with targeted counter terror raids, and protect reconstruction projects.

It is hoped the force might provide the relevant security guarantees that satisfy Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu that he could withdraw the IDF - a key sticking point in peace talks.

It would be Sir Tony's biggest intervention in the Middle East since sending British troops into Iraq

A UN body declared famine in Gaza City earlier this year with the Strip ravaged by war

Sir Tony would also have a 'strategic secretariat' underneath him - a 'high capacity team' of up to 25 people who anchor a strategic 'war room' for 'rapid analysis, co-ordination, and messaging'.

They would serve ' as the Chairmans platform for diplomacy, donor relations, and political situational awareness.'

GITA would have an annual budget of 67million in its first year, rising to 99million in year two and 122million by the third year. It brings the total spend to nearly 300million before the massive costs of rebuilding the territory are taken into account.

Donald Trump is reportedly sold on the proposal and it is reflected in his administration's 21-point Gaza peace plan and it has the backing of some key Arab states while Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has not ruled it out.

But Britain's historic role administering the region last Century combined with Sir Tony's invasion of Iraq and long-standing backing of Israel mean it will be harder to persuade Palestinians.

The Palestinian Authority, which exercises civil control over parts of the West Bank, also wants to oversee the Strip itself despite being unpopular with Gazans.

Mustafa Barghouti, general secretary of the Palestinian National Initiative, told the Washington Post: 'Weve been under British colonialism already.

'He has a negative reputation here. If you mention Tony Blair, the first thing people mention is the Iraq War.'

Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, wants to control Gaza

Sir Tony with former Israeli President Shimon Peres in 2014.

GITA's top leadership would have up to 10 members including the chair who are nominated by contributing states with the process co-ordinated by the UN.

Its board must include at least one qualified Palestinian representative, a senior UN official, and leading international figures with executive and financial expertise.

The proposal insists there must be a 'strong representation of Muslim members to ensure regional legitimacy and cultural credibility'.

GITA will work in close co-ordination with the Palestinian Authority (PA), the government that exercises civil control over parts of the West Bank.

It states their decisions should be 'aligned' and 'consistent with the eventual unifying of all the Palestinian territory under the PA'.

The Tony Blair Institute for Global Change was contacted for comment.
Donald Trump has indicated that Ukraine can conduct long-range strikes into Russia, according to America's envoy to Ukraine.

Volodymyr Zelensky has long asked the US to provide long-range missiles capable of hitting Russian soil as a way to take the fight directly to Putin, specifically asking to be sold Tomahawk missiles, which are capable of hitting targets more than 1,500 miles away.

In an interview with Fox on Sunday, Keith Kellogg, America's special envoy to Ukraine, said Trump has indicated that Kyiv should now be able to conduct long-range strikes on Russia.

'I think reading what he (Trump) has said, and reading what Vice President Vance has said...the answer is yes. Use the ability to hit deep. There are no such things as sanctuaries,' Kellogg told Fox News later on Sunday.

Earlier, Vice President JD Vance told the broadcaster that Trump would make the final call on whether to allow a deal that would give both European allies and Ukraine permission to purchase Tomahawks.

Following the Fox interviews, Russia said today that it would carefully analyse whether any American Tomahawk missiles that might be supplied to Ukraine were fired using targeting data supplied by the United States.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously said that Western countries will make themselves direct parties to the war if they supply targeting and intelligence to enable Ukraine to fire missiles deep inside Russia.

Asked about Vance's comments, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia was analysing them carefully.

File image showing the USS Barry (DDG 52) launching a Tomahawk cruise missile

'The question, as before, is this: who can launch these missiles...? Can only Ukrainians launch them, or do American soldiers have to do that?' he said.

'Who is determining the targeting of these missiles? The American side or the Ukrainians themselves?' Peskov added, saying 'a very in-depth analysis' was required.

In any case, he said, Tomahawks would not be a game-changer.

'Even if this happens, there's no panacea that can change the situation on the front for the Kyiv regime right now. There's no magic weapon. And whether it's Tomahawks or other missiles, they won't be able to change the dynamic,' Peskov said.

It comes as Putin today called up 135,000 men for routine military service, the country's biggest autumn conscription drive since 2016.

Russia calls up men aged between 18 and 30 for compulsory military service each spring and autumn.

Conscripts are expected to serve for a year at a military base inside Russia, not to fight in Ukraine, although there have been reports of conscripted men being sent to the front line.

Russia's annual conscription campaigns are unrelated to mobilisation, in which Russian men are drafted to fight during wartime.

Fire breaks out after the Russian aerial and drone attacks on Zaporizhzhia in the Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine on September 28, 2025

But conscripts who have completed military training are more likely to be called up to fight in the future.

In a decree issued Monday, Putin ordered 'the conscription of 135,000 citizens of the Russian Federation from October 1 to December 31, 2025'.

This is the biggest autumn conscription drive since 2016, and, combined with the 160,000 called up in the spring, means 2025 is set to be the largest total call-up since that year too.

Russia typically calls up more men in the spring, when most people graduate from school or college.

Since launching his full-scale military assault on Ukraine in February 2022, Putin has put Russia on a war footing, boosting military spending to levels unseen since the Soviet era and expanding the size of the army.

Putin has increased the annual conscription drive by an average of about five percent each year since 2022.

In September 2024 he ordered the expansion of the military to 1.5 million active soldiers - one of the largest in the world.
Israel has eliminated the Hamas commander who led the killing and kidnapping from the 'shelter of death' during the October 7 attacks.

Hassan Mahmoud Hassan Hussein orchestrated the massacre of 16 Israelis from a roadside bomb shelter, where partygoers fled after terrorists descended on the Nova music festival.

The commander, who served in Hamas's Bureij Battalion, also oversaw the kidnapping of four hostages, including Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who later died in Gaza.

Hussein was killed in a recent airstrike in the Gaza Strip, the IDF announced. Muhammad Abu Attawi, the other Hamas commander who helped carry out the roadside murders was killed in an Israeli strike in October 2024.

Hamas gunmen found the bunker and launched an assault, throwing grenades and firing at partygoers as they sought shelter.

The deaths came despite the heroic efforts of those hiding inside, with one brave British-Israeli throwing back seven grenades before the eighth exploded in his hand.

Aner Elyakim Shapira, 22, threw the grenades out, one after the other, as he helped to save the lives of seven others.

Hamas gunmen then entered the shelter before killing 16 of the 27 people hiding inside, taking four hostage.

Hamas gunmen found the bunker and launched an assault, throwing grenades and firing at partygoers as they sought shelter

Hassan Mahmoud Hassan Hussein (pictured left) orchestrated the massacre of 16 Israelis from a roadside bomb shelter

Those who survived hid under the bodies of the dead for hours until they were rescued.

Shocking footage of the attack, mostly filmed by one of the Hamas terrorists, showed heavily armed gunmen dragging the survivors out from the bunker and throwing them into the back of a pickup truck before driving them to Gaza.

The terrorists are heard referring to the captives as 'dogs', with one grabbing a hostage by the head and shouting: 'I want to take a selfie with you'.

A blurred version of the horrifying footage was released at the family's request last year in a bid to push for a hostage deal.

The clip opens briefly with dashcam footage showing several gunmen at the entrance to the shelter as smoke billows from the doorway, likely from grenades being thrown inside the concrete building opposite the entrance to Kibbutz Re'im.

It then cuts to mobile phone footage recorded by one of the Hamas gunmen as the male hostages are forced into the back of the truck.

Israeli-American Goldberg-Polin, 23, is seen after being seriously injured, his right hand having been completely severed in the attack.

He climbs into the truck amid shouts from the Hamas terrorists, cradling his injured arm. His bare legs are seen covered in blood.

Hamas last week released images of Alon Ohel, the last remaining hostage kidnapped from the bunker. 'You can see clearly that Alon is now blind in one eye,' his mother Idit Ohel said.

Hamas took four people hostage after kidnapping them from the bunker. Hersh Goldberg-Polin later died in Gaza

Hamas gunmen stormed the bunker on October 7 and murdered 16 people who were sheltering inside

Or Levy and Eliya Cohen, who have both been released from captivity, were also taken hostage.

In the footage Levy can be seen being pushed into the truck along with Goldberg-Polin. He is seen in a blue t-shirt, also covered in blood, lying on the bed of the truck.

One of the Hamas terrorists is heard saying: 'Here are the dogs.'

A rocket launcher is also in the vehicle, one of the many weapons used by the Hamas terrorists to wreak death and destruction in southern Israel on October 7.

Like Goldberg-Polin, Levy also sought refuge inside the shelter alongside his wife Einav. The pair had arrived at the Nova festival at 6.20am that day, only for Hamas's attack to begin nine minutes later.

They hid inside the 'death shelter', but Einav, 32, was killed in the assault, and Levy was taken to Gaza covered in the blood of his wife who had been shot dead moments earlier.

The edited clip released by their families shows that Goldberg-Polin and Levy were joined by a third hostage - Cohen, who is also seen in the back of the truck.

Cohen had also come to the festival with his partner, Ziv Abud, as well as her nephew and the nephew's girlfriend. All four took refuge inside the shelter, but Ziv's nephew and his girlfriend were murdered.

Miraculously, Ziv survived the attack, hiding under bodies of those who were slain.

British-Israeli Shapira helped save the lives of seven others before tragically dying after an eight grenade was lobbed at him

One Hamas gunman is seen grabbing Goldberg-Polin by the hair, showing his face to the camera, as another works to bandage his wounded arm.

'I want to take a selfie with you,' one gunman is heard telling the hostage.

Former hostage Cohen said he 'celebrated' following the death of Hussein.

'This is the terrorist who was responsible for my kidnapping. They informed me about the elimination in the morning. We celebrated.'

The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza after the attacks on October 7, 2023, where around 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage.

Since then at least 66,055 people have been killed in attacks in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.


Angela Rayner may have resigned in disgrace from the Cabinet  but her spirit is stalking this conference.

Panicking party bosses had hastily pulped this years glossy brochure for the Liverpool jamboree, as it had featured a lengthy contribution from the former Deputy Prime Minister.

As readers will remember, Rayner was ousted earlier this month amid a storm of controversy over her failure to pay 40,000 stamp duty on the purchase of a luxury seaside second home.

The 45-year-old, who was Housing Secretary as well as the Deputy Labour Leader, had claimed to HMRC that the 800,000 flat in Hove was her principal residence. The Prime Ministers ethics adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus, later found she had breached the ministerial code.

Like Stalins propagandists, who airbrushed enemies of the Soviet people from photos with the Dear Leader, Labour apparatchiks had tried to purge La Rayner from party literature, which had been printed before her dismissal.

Despite their best efforts, however, I have managed to track down one of the banned guides to the four-day event.

Here are the photograph and text you were never meant to see.

Under the headline, Welcome to conference, Rayner had prematurely boasted: It is an honour to welcome you as your Deputy Leader and Deputy Prime Minister.

Over two pages, she tacitly acknowledges the disappointments of Labours first year in office: No one can wave a magic wand and bring change overnight.

And in the most exquisite irony of all for a woman so curtly defenestrated by the party, she waxes lyrical about unity, promising: This week, we will show how Labour is working together to bring national renewal.

Labour's official conference guide features a beaming Angela Rayner urging party members to have a 'brilliant' time in Liverpool... despite her having quit weeks ago

Very few copies of this brochure have survived, and the ones that have are sure to become collectors items. Some enterprising party activists are even rumoured to be planning to auction them on eBay.

In the end, this weeks conference brochure had to be published online. Its sixth and seventh pages  which had featured Rayner  now show listings for events organised by Labour Together, a centre-Left think-tank.

But even that has caused fresh embarrassment. Labour Together is, of course, mired in controversy after Keir Starmer and his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney failed to declare 740,000 of undeclared donations during his 2020 leadership bid.

The Parliamentary Standards Commissioner is considering whether to mount an investigation into the allegation that the PM, that self-styled bastion of probity and moral rectitude, broke the MPs code of conduct when he failed to declare the lavish support from this shady outfit.

In a sign of the chaotic last-minute changes to the conference brochure, the published timetable, which is now on the 11th page  still incorrectly shows page number 13.

It also promises a speech from the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, despite the fact that the contest to replace Ms Rayner is ongoing.

One senior Labour MP is mortified that the printed guide is still circulating.

Ange is very popular, but her talk of Labour values will be played back at us over the tax issues. Im also not sure in hindsight that replacing Angela Rayner with a guide which underlines the influence of Labour Together is going to do us much good, either.

And though Rayner may have stayed away from Liverpool this week, when she was given a name-check by her successor as Housing Secretary Steve Reed, it generated the biggest cheer and round of applause so far.

The flame-haired firebrand remains a powerful presence.
A mother was mauled to death by her pet rottweiler as it fought her Pomeranian over McDonald's chicken nuggets.

Michelle Hempstead, 34, was feeding the pair at her flat on July 29, 2024 when the larger dog, Trigg, caught her upper left arm and an artery, while snapping at the smaller dog, Pom, a hearing in Chelmsford was told on Monday.

Essex senior coroner Lincoln Brookes said Pom 'had a go at Trigg' during the attack in Southend, Essex and Trigg 'did go to bite him or snap at him, and this is a big dog with big jaws'.

He said he accepted Pom and Trigg were 'quite well behaved' and Trigg was 'an otherwise gentle giant'.

Bystanders rushed to give Ms Hempstead first aid after hearing her screams. She was then taken to hospital but died the next day at the Royal London Hospital following traumatic blood loss which led to multiple organ failure.

Her then partner, Samuel West, told the hearing that Ms Hempstead had bought McDonald's food and 'had her box of, I think, 20 nuggets'.

'She liked to throw them up in the air and the little one, Pom, was going for the big one, not aggressively but he used to growl and snap when he wanted to get the nugget first,' he said.

He said that as Pom went to get a nugget 'Trigg's done this thing where he chomps his mouth'.

Michelle Hempstead, pictured, was mauled to death by her pet rottweiler as it fought her Pomeranian over McDonald's chicken nuggets

'It looked like to me it wasn't a grab,' said Mr West. 'He just went to do a chomping thing and caught her under the arm.'

He described it as an 'absolute freak accident'.

Mr West said Trigg 'didn't have a bad bone in his body', never showed his teeth and would sleep on Ms Hempstead's bed.

He said Ms Hempstead, who worked at Premier Inn, had previously fed Trigg food from her mouth.

Mr West added that Pom 'sometimes used to think he was in charge of the big dog'.

In comments captured on a police bodycam and described to the inquest, Mr West said Ms Hempstead 'threw the nugget up in the air - she was just caught in the crossfire'.

Essex senior coroner Lincoln Brookes, recording a conclusion of accidental death, said: 'Michelle Hempstead died of the consequences of traumatic blood loss following a single bite from her large dog in her home which severed an artery.

'The bite was not malicious and occurred when she was caught during a brief fight between her two dogs over food.'

Michelle pictured, centre, with her friends Joanna and Liah before the tragedy

He continued: 'The double tragedy about this is that she (Ms Hempstead) and the rest of her family suffered a terrible bereavement only a few weeks beforehand, of the death of her daughter.

'She was still reeling from that.'

Police previously said two dogs were seized from the address, the victim was their sole owner and both dogs had been 'disclaimed for destruction'.

According to guidance from the Metropolitan Police, dogs can be euthanised if they are disclaimed by the owner, which happened in this case as Ms Hempstead was the sole owner.

Neighbours described how Ms Hempstead had clambered over the railing of her balcony to escape, before collapsing near a play area.

Last year it emerged that Ms Hempstead's daughter died just weeks earlier on June 4.

In an online appeal to help pay for her funeral and support her children, Ms Hempstead's friend Liah Smith said it was the second time that tragedy had struck the family.

Recalling the horrific scene, a neighbour said: 'I was at home with my partner when we heard screaming.

She managed to escape and climbed over the balcony rail of her ground floor flat in Retort Close, pictured

'He went to help and I called an ambulance. By the time we had got down to her, she had run across to near the play area and had collapsed.

'She was unconscious and had a really nasty wound to the top of her arm. It was evidently a dog bite.

'I think she had climbed out over her balcony. I came out to help. She had run screaming and made it against a wall.'

The neighbour added Ms Hempstead had a partner and was devoted to her dogs.

'She was quite friendly. We had had a puppy last year and she would stop us to see how he was getting on,' she said.

'I was not aware of any problems with her dogs. There was a boy aged around 14 or 15 who would come to her flat to walk the big dog.

'We saw both dogs being taken out early in the morning and they were both walking happily on a lead.'

A post-mortem examination found the axillary artery - the main artery in the arm - had been severed, causing severe blood loss and multiple organ failure.

Liah Smith, Michelle's friend of ten years, paid tribute to her as 'fun no matter the situation'.

Ms Smith said in a GoFundMe set up in her memory: 'Michelle's first born and only daughter (whose name I won't disclose to respect the family's privacy) slipped away from us on June 4 and was laid to rest peacefully on July 2.

'This passing was an awfully tragic time for Michelle and her family to endure. For something so harrowing to go through, they have not been able to reach a place of peace, and within the space of five weeks the family have had to deal with the shocking passing of Michelle too. Our hearts are broken.'

Paying tribute to her 'fun, bubbly and 'selfless' friend who was 'made of steel, just an incredibly strong woman who everyone adored', Ms Smith added: 'She always went above and beyond for people.

'Whether it was stray cars or rough sleepers, Michelle would always get them water, always do something and always recognise people.

'Even if all she had on her was 2 for the bus, she would have given it away. Her attitude was so carefree and she as such a fun person, no matter the situation and even when times were tough.

'She was such a positive person. She was so bubbly all the time to the point where you think 'You can't be like that all day.'

Describing the loss of her friend, who had two jobs to give her kids 'what they needed', she added: 'It was too much. There was panic and we had no idea what was going to happen.

'It is so hard. I can't imagine how hard it was for her. I can't imagine her headspace and I cannot stop thinking about how she must have felt at the time.'
A boozed-up lout who forced a plane to turn back after he proposed to an air stewardess and verbally abused passengers has been jailed.

Matthew Taylor, 30, took cocaine in the car and downed six pints in Leeds Airport's departure lounge before his Jet 2 flight to Alicante on August 18.

But when he boarded the flight, the father-of-two started behaving erratically and asked senior stewardess Brooke Crossley to marry him as he stumbled onto the plane.

He then gave her a 'high five' after the failed proposal before making his way down the aircraft to his seat.

During take off, cabin crew were alerted to Taylor refusing to sit down and arguing with other passengers

He then became aggressive and intimidating towards Jet 2 staff despite being warned.

Taylor pleaded guilty to being drunk when he boarded the Alicante-bound flight, which was packed with families and holidaymakers, and was jailed for 10 months.

Leeds Crown Court heard how Taylor, of Doncaster, South Yorkshire, was among 148 people on board which contained elderly passengers and children.

'He was already intoxicated,' said prosecutor Corey Boothe.

Matthew Taylor told his probation he had a 200 a week cocaine habit and had taken the drug and been drinking alcohol on way to the airport. He said he consumed six pints in the departure lounge right before the flight.

30-year-old Matthew Taylor arriving at at Leeds Crown Court this morning where he has been jailed for 10 months after his drunken behaviour caused at Jet 2 flight to turn around 8 minutes after take off

As cabin crew tried to calm him down, Taylor became aggressive and said: 'You can't tell me what to do you can't tell me what to f**king do.'

Miss Crossley who was shaken by the ordeal, alerted the captain eight minutes into the flight.

One passenger who tried intervening after seeing the cabin crew distressed was also assaulted by Taylor.

At the time Taylor was 'unfazed' about the plane turning around and called female staff 'little b****es' followed by 'get ready for World War III when police arrive'.

Mr Boothe said Taylor's behaviour could have resulted in a 'risk of catastrophic consequences' and a flight attendant of nine years' experience had 'never seen anything like it.'

Mitigating, Daisey Wrigley, said Taylor is 'remorseful, ashamed and full of regret'.

The court heard how Taylor had a 200-a-week cocaine habit and had taken the drug and been drinking alcohol on the car journey to the airport.

The captain made the call to return to Leeds-Bradford Airport after declaring a 'Level 2 incident'.

Judge Penelope Belcher viewed several videos taken by multiple passengers of the 50-minute long altercation.

The court heard evidence of how the airline had to provide a second flight and crew for the Alicante flight, which was delayed by 2hours 24 minutes.

Judge Belcher jailed Taylor for ten months and ordered him to pay a 187 surcharge.

Taylor's actions, cost Jet 2 'thousands of pounds'.
The City of Vancouver has been exposed for spending more than $30,000 of taxpayer cash to rename a street.

MLA Dallas Brodie slammed the city in a recent X post, leaking documents that show Vancouver paid $33,500 to rename Trutch Street.

The new name is sxmkymasm Street (sh-MUS-kwee-uhm-AWH-sum), which translates to Musqueamview Street in English.

Trutch Street was named after British Columbia's first governor general Joseph Trutch, a British colonizer who took swathes of land from First Nations people.

The previous city council voted on the rebrand in July 2021 after a request from the Musqueam Nation. It was followed through in June 2025.

Mayor Ken Sim green-lighted the project to 'address a historic injustice and take another step forward on the path towards reconciliation.'

'We recognize and honor the Musqueam people and their longstanding connection to this land,' he wrote on X.

Brodie shamed the city for wasting hard working taxpayer dollars on the name change.

The revealed documents showed the cost breakdown that went into the rename: $10,000 on reimbursement for expenses completed, $6,000 on meetings, $7,500 on collaborative work, and another $10,000 on the event. The various costs amount to a total of $33,500.

The City of Vancouver was exposed for spending over $30,000 on the rename of Trutch Street

MLA Dallas Brodie, she revealed documents that show the City of Vancouver paid $33,500 for rebrand

Brodie posted this document on X, it shows the cost breakdown of the street's rename

Brodie wrote on X: 'Residents had no say and nobody except woke, white consultants can read the new name, but who cares? Thats the price of progress!'

In a follow-up post, the Canadian politician shared two letter exchanges between her and the city.

The City of Vancouver said her access to the records were 'subject of a privacy breach' on the 'basis of harm to government relations and interests of an Indigenous people.'

The city's letter requested 'the secure destruction' of the records as she was 'unauthorized' to possess the information.

Brodie fired back in her letter response: 'I am deeply troubled by the City's attempts to conceal the costs of the Trutch Street renaming on the grounds that doing so would somehow "harm" indigenous rights.

'Is it actually the City's position that the costs of indigenous ceremonies must be kept secret from the taxpayers of Vancouver?'

She added that destroying the two documents would be 'pointless', and urged Vancouver to show greater respect to its taxpayers.

The Canadian politician posted this letter from the City of Vancouver, which declared 'the secure destruction' of the leaked document

Brodie's response to the city's letter, advocating for 'greater respect' for taxpayers

Ken Sim is the current mayor for the City of Vancouver who green-lighted the street name change

'I told them to pound sand,' she wrote on X. 'If you pay the taxes, you should know where they go.'

The City of Vancouver is located within the shared territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, according to the Museum of Vancouver.

The City shared why they stood by the decision to change the street name in a press statement from June.

'Renaming Trutch Street is an important act of reconciliation that acknowledges our painful past and moves us toward a more inclusive future,' the statement said.

'The City worked closely with Musqueam to ensure this work was done with respect, collaboration, and care.'

Musqueam Chief Wayne Sparrow added: 'Renaming Trutch Street to sxmkymasm Street is a major milestone for our community and another way that Musqueam is reclaiming our language and asserting our long history on these lands.'

In a statement to the Daily Mail, the City of Vancouver said: 'The City deeply regrets the inadvertent disclosure of records and offers our sincerest apologies to xmkym [Musqueam].

'We have taken steps to ensure this does not happen again and will work toward regaining trust through future collaboration.'

Brodie's backlash comes after the British Columbia Conservative Party kicked her from its caucus back in March.

MLA Brodie was removed from the BC Conservative Party by its leader John Rustad after she refused his request to remove a post on X in which she stated, factually, that the number of confirmed burials at the former residential school site in Kamloops is zero.
A remarkable cache of photos of Bonnie and Clyde have emerged more than 90 years after the notorious outlaws' crime spree.

The murderous couple evaded the authorities for two years having been linked to a number of bank robberies, kidnappings and murders across America.

Their luck finally ran out when they were ambushed and shot dead by six law enforcement officers who had concealed themselves in bushes in Louisiana.

In the rarely-seen photos, Bonnie and Clyde are seen embracing on several occasions.

Clyde is also seen posing in front of a bullet-riddled traffic sign.

There are also numerous photos of other Barrow gang members including his brother Marvin 'Buck' Barrow and his wife Blanche.

The extensive archive of nearly 600 images, including 40 of Bonnie and Clyde, originally belonged to Nell May Barrow, Clyde's older sister.

A remarkable cache of photos of Bonnie and Clyde have emerged more than 90 years after the notorious outlaws' crime spree. Above: The couple embracing

The murderous couple evaded the authorities for two years having been linked to a number of bank robberies, kidnappings and murders across America

They later entered a private collection and have now come to light with their sale at RR Auction, of Boston, US, which made 15,600 ($23,750).

An RR Auction spokesperson said: 'This impressive photographic archive belonged to Nellie May Barrow, the beloved older sister of Clyde Barrow.

'It contains nearly 600 photographs of the Barrow family, including over 40 period photos of notorious Depression-era outlaws Bonnie and Clyde.'

The Barrow Gang, headed up by Bonnie and Clyde, were active in Great Depression America between 1932 and 1934.

They became notorious for robbing banks, stores and petrol stations across the nation, gaining headlines for evading the authorities in shoot-outs and making daring getaways.

The gang is believed to have killed at least nine police officers and committed several other murders.

A car with its windscreen peppered with bullets features in the trove of photos. The couple were killed by police

Clyde poses in front of a bullet-riddled traffic sign in one of the images in the trove

Bonnie and Clyde pose separately in front of their car

The hapless criminal couple pictured in more images taken during their crime spree

The Barrow Gang, headed up by Bonnie and Clyde, were active in Great Depression America between 1932 and 1934

Clyde (left) thought to be with fellow outlaw and bank robber Henry Methvin

Two gang members pose with rifles in another photo from the album

By May 1934, Clyde Barrow had 16 warrants outstanding against him for multiple counts of robbery, auto theft, theft, escape, assault, and murder in four states.

The authorities finally caught up with them in rural Louisiana in 1934.

They were ambushed by officers who fired 107 rounds of bullets in less than two minutes at their Ford V8 Sedan.

Bonnie was 23 when she was killed, whilst Clyde was two years older.

The couple had stopped to greet the father of one of their gang members. Unbeknown to them, it was a trap.

The couple were not given an opportunity to surrender. Clyde died instantly, with the first shot taking off the top of his head.

Bonnie was only wounded and began screaming. Texas Ranger Frank Hamer fired two more shots into the defenceless woman at close range.

Their story was told in the acclaimed 1967 film Bonnie and Clyde starring Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway.
Flight trackers have spotted a fleet of US air tankers crossing the Atlantic just as Donald Trump prepares to meet with generals and admirals on Tuesday.

Around a dozen KC-135R/T Stratotankers were making the journey on Sunday night, with several en route to RAF Mildenhall - a major Air Force base in England, open-source intelligence (OSINT) accounts reported on X.

The presence of air tankers can indicate that the US or Nato is addressing an urgent military requirement for fighter jet refueling capacity.

The deployment carries ominous weight, according to three Defense Department sources - two former, one current - who spoke to the Daily Mail on condition of anonymity.

The last time the US moved tankers in comparable numbers was five days before American warplanes struck Iran's nuclear facilities. Trump is meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday.

The movement of the Stratotankers comes as Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth are preparing to hold a shadowy meeting of the nation's top military leaders at Quantico, Virginia, on Tuesday.

The unprecedented meeting, first reported by the Washington Post last week, has raised alarm. Hundreds of generals and admirals, including those in active conflict zones, have been summoned from around the world - with no details of what will be discussed at the summit.

Behnam Taleblu, senior director of the Iran program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, tells the Daily Mail, while 'correlation is not causation', he can't help but think of the last time there was a mass tanker deployment by the United States.

Open-source intelligence (OSINT) X accounts reported that 'roughly a dozen' US Air Force KC-135R/T Stratotankers were flying making the journey on Sunday night, with several en route to RAF Mildenhall - a major USAF base in England

Trump greets Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu as he arrives at the West Wing of the White House in Washington, DC, on Monday

'Soon after that something went boom in the Middle East. Critically, in Operation Midnight Hammer, the Trump administration executed a decoy or deception effort to mask the flight of the B-2 bombers to Iran,' Taleblu said, emphasizing that he is the only US president in two decades to deploy over military force against Iranian nuclear facilities.

'Big military movements on his watch are something to keep an eye on,' Taleblu added.

A former State Department diplomacy consultant tells the Daily Mail one explanation could be the US responding to Russian aerial and drone probes in the Baltic Sea, especially against Denmark, just days after they had to close their largest airport.

'Denmark's inability to defend its own airspace underscores White House concerns that it is unable to protect and defend its far larger and distant Greenland territory from increasing Chinese & Russian joint air and naval patrols in the emerging Arctic theater of strategic competition,' said John Sitilides, national security senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute.

The ongoing US military movements may also be linked to Exercise Cobra Warrior 25-2, a large-scale Nato training event running from September 12 to October 2 over the North Sea.

This biannual operation could explain the visible surge in aerial activity as allied forces train for integrated military operations.

Ultimately, the timing of the deployments are raising eyebrows, aligning with Hegseth's unexpected meeting in Quantico with top military officials in northern Virginia tomorrow.

A source close to Hegseth says that even the generals and admirals involved in the meeting still do not know the agenda details, entering the meeting blind just a day before they are expected to have their roundtable discussions.

An F-35A Lightning II receives fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 28th Expeditionary Aerial Refueling Squadron, at an undisclosed location (USAF file photo)

The former Pentagon official assessed it 'could be anything from a pushup contest to a meeting on national security.'

Trump announced Sunday that he will attend the quickly organized global summit of the nation's top military commanders.

This decision sets the stage for a rare and potentially consequential interaction between the president and senior US military leadership, even though Trump framed it as a 'nice meeting' with a 'good message.'
A Sudanese immigrant was today cleared of raping a university student within months of arriving in the UK.

Samir Muhammad, 21, was found not guilty of raping the young woman he met at the Cameo nightclub in Bournemouth, Dorset, nearly four years ago.

He had been accused of dragging the girl out of the venue and taking her back to a friend's flat nearby on December 5 2021.

Bournemouth Crown Court heard Muhammad had arrived in the UK in early 2021 after fleeing Sudan when he was aged 16 because it was not safe for him there. His immigration status was not revealed in court.

The first year student claimed Muhammad, whose first language is Zaghawa, raped her twice and held her in the flat for two hours.

She said she was only allowed to leave after she turned on her mobile phone and her worried friends found her location on Snapchat.

Muhammad denied two counts of rape and he was cleared today.

The trial heard the young woman had one drink in the club and felt 'out of it' when Muhammad dragged her outside at 3.20am.

Samir Muhammad, 21, was today cleared of raping a university student within months of arriving in the UK

She told the court he forced her to undress, pinned her down and raped her despite her asking him to stop.

She claimed he then refused to let her leave and stopped her answering calls from her worried friends.

The student said she borrowed his charger and was then able to share her location with them on Snapchat and they said they were coming to get her. The court heard she left at 5.50am.

But Muhammad claimed the girl had asked him if she could go back to the flat in Sandringham House to charge her phone.

Muhammad said: 'I said, can I get your number and she said my phone is dead, can I come with you to charge my phone? I said it was not my flat and I will ask my friend. He said okay.

'She took her clothes off, she was hugging me. I'm happy, she was happy as well. I didn't force her.

'After, I was tired, she said "are you sure you're tired?" and we started sex again.'

Muhammad also denied preventing her from leaving or using her phone.

He told the court: 'I told her two or three times to stay. She insisted she wanted to go. I did ask her to stay because it was dark, I just wanted [her] to be safe, I said stay until the morning.

'I said I would walk with her to meet her friend. She said "you can go now". She gave my hand a kiss and said see you later. Afterwards I sent her a message on Snapchat, I said "have you met your friends?"'

The court heard the woman saw the message but did not reply.

Muhammad said he put his number in her phone because 'she was talking to be together, we were happy together and to meet her again'.

The jury returned not guilty verdicts after less than three hours of deliberations.
The Michigan shooter who killed four churchgoers is said to have called Mormons 'the anti-Christ' just days before carrying out the attack.

Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, of Burton, rammed his pickup truck into the Grand Blanc Township church on Sunday morning before opening fire and setting it ablaze.

The former Marine was shot dead by police in the church's parking lot after killing four and injuring eight.

Nearly a week before the horrific tragedy, Kris Johns, a resident running for city council, said he had a conversation with Sanford that quickly took a dark turn.

The city council candidate, who was canvasing the neighborhood at the time, said the topic change to religion made him want to end the conversation.

'He was extremely nice at first. He even talked about his child who had a serious medical concern,' Johns told journalist Dave Bondy.

'But when the conversation turned to religion, I just wanted to get off the door and away from him,' he added.

Johns said Sanford told him he previously lived in Utah - a state with close ties to Mormonism - where he had a brief relationship with a Mormon woman.

Thomas Jacob Sanford, the man who opened fire at a Mormon church in Michigan, had a chilling conversation with a local about a week before the attack

Kris Johns, a resident running for city council, said he spoke to Sanford while canvasing the neighborhood. During their conversation, he said the Marine veteran said he believed 'Mormons are the anti-Christ'

Johns, who spoke to Detroit Free Press about the conversation with Sanford, who shared his struggles with drug addiction after his time in the service.

The 44-year-old said 'it was one thing after another,' as Stanford went on to ask him if he believed in God.

Johns, a Christian who is a member of the Solid Rock Community Church in Burton, replied 'yes' to Sandford, adding: 'From there, the conversation takes a very sharp turn.'

He was then asked by Sanford about the Mormon bible, the role Jesus plays in the religion, the history of the LDS church, and more, Johns said.

'I just didn't know what the next question was going to be,' he added.

'Theres certain things you dont forget. This is not a forgettable guy.

'It was very much standard anti-LDS talking points that you would find on YouTube, TikTok, Facebook,' Johns said of Burton.

As he went on to speak of the religion, Sanford told Johns that he had his tattoos removed so he could take part in church ceremonies.

Several inkings were seen on his arm in Facebook photos of Sanford, including barbed wire imagery and what appears to be a dreamcatcher.

Sanford told Johns that he had his tattoos removed so he could take part in church ceremonies. Several tattoos were seen on his arm in Facebook photos

Despite the intense conversation, Johns said he didn't feel unsafe.

'It wasnt anything I thought I needed to call police about. You hear all kinds of views these days. Nothing about it suggested he was going to hurt anyone.'

It wasn't until news broke of the mass shooting and fire that Johns realized the same man he spoke to was responsible for the carnage.

At least four people were killed and eight were left wounded on Sunday. Authorities said they would be searching the building ruins for more victims.

The surviving victims' ages ranged from six to 78, Dr Michael Danic, chief of staff at Henry Ford Genesys Hospital, told NBC News.

Five of them were treated for gunshot wounds and three others were treated for smoke inhalation. The child was stabilized and released, according to the doctor.

The attack occurred about 10.25am while hundreds of people were in the building in Grand Blanc Township, outside Flint.

The man got out of the pick-up with two American flags raised in the truck bed and started shooting, Police Chief William Renye told reporters.

The attacker apparently used gas to start the fire and also had explosive devices but it wasnt clear if he used them, said James Dier, of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

One family friend told journalist Ty Steele that Sanford had been battling PTSD.

At least four people were killed and eight were left wounded on Sunday. Authorities said they would be searching the building ruins for more victims. (Pictured: The charred church on Monday)

The shooter's mother Brenda Walters-Sanford shared the above message two days before the massacre in Michigan

His mother, Brenda Walters-Sanford (bottom right), posted a chilling message on her Facebook just two days before the incident about people who lack accountability

'It's hard to feel sad for someone who did something so terrible, and I still feel sad. I had heard through family events that he had had PTSD,' she said.

'He would make comments occasionally and it was something that was kind of talked about. It wasn't talked about in depth... so I don't know the depth of his issues.'

Sanford's loved ones, including his wife and both of his parents, also frequently shared pro-Trump messaging on their social media pages.

His mother, Brenda Walters-Sanford, posted a chilling message on her Facebook just two days before the incident about people who lack accountability.

'Talking to someone who constantly avoids accountability is not a real conversation - its a battle. Its a cycle of deflection, projection, twisting, and playing the victim..,' the post read.

'When I try to express how your actions have hurt me, you dont listen with the intention of understanding; you listen with the intention of defending yourself. Thats not communication - thats self-preservation of your ego.'

The text appears to have been shared by several Facebook users, suggesting it's a viral chain. It is unclear if Walters-Sanford was directing it at her son or someone else she knew.

It continued: 'I dont owe my peace to someone who only wants to win an argument, not to understand my heart. My energy is not a prize for someone committed to misunderstanding me. At some point, you have to value yourself enough to stop begging someone to hear you.'

His mother's Facebook post might have been a 'trigger' for Sanford, who suffered from PTSD, Carole Liberman, a forensic psychologist, told the Daily Mail (Pictured: An undated image of Stanford in active duty)

The lengthy post by his mother might have been a 'trigger' for Sanford, Carole Lieberman, a forensic psychiatrist with over 20 years studying criminals, told the Daily Mail.

'If in reference to her son. Really mean. Very hurtful kinds of posts. That couldve been a trigger,' Liberman said.

'Very personal. Very intimate. Saying how much he hurt her. Basically I hate my son. Dysfunctional childhood. Sometimes its more from the mother [than] from the father.

'Put together its a dysfunctional childhood. [He] Had PTSD from the military, so we know he was particularly vulnerable.'

Sanford served in the Marines from June 2004 to June 2008, working as an automotive mechanic and vehicle recovery operator, according to military records obtained by The Detroit News.

He was deployed to Iraq from August 2007 through March 2008 and had the rank of sergeant.

Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit FBI field office Reuben Coleman said during a press conference Monday afternoon that they are 'continuing to work to determine a motive.'

They are currently calling the investigation and 'act of violence,' he said.

Authorities are looking into the improvised explosive devices that were uncovered at the scene, ATF special agent in charge James Deir said.
In her elegant black pantsuit and red jacket, name tag pinned to her lapel, Chantal Thomas looks every inch the real estate professional in her TikTok videos.

So, it's vaguely alarming when she looks at the camera and snaps on a pair of blue latex gloves.

The extra protection is for 'when you have to send in your dog poop for a sample,' she says, as she holds a bulging green plastic bag of animal excrement up to the camera.

Ripping it open, she plops a piece of feces into a small plastic tube to be sealed up and shipped to a laboratory in Tennessee.

'Be sure you're picking up after your pets,' she warns. 'Or else Poo Prints will be there to show us who the villain is!'

Welcome to the brave new world of property management, where officials seeking to eliminate rogue dog waste in their complexes are using the services of Poo Prints, a canine genetics lab, to test samples and track down offenders.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Texas-based Thomas, 35, laughed at the response to the clip she posted to TikTok in June.

'People went crazy for it,' she said. 'It really divided people down the middle. Half thought it was horrific. Half thought it was genius.'

Property manager Chantal Thomas demonstrates the Poo Prints process. She said: 'Be sure you're picking up after your pets. Or else Poo Prints will be there to show us who the villain is!'

Welcome to the brave new world of property management where officials seeking to eliminate rogue dog waste in their complexes are using the services of Poo Prints

Based in Knoxville, Tennessee, Poo Prints bills itself as the only DNA pet waste management company in the world and operates across all 50 states and seven countries.

The process is simple. Dog owners who live in or frequent one of the 8,000 apartment complexes, dog runs, campgrounds and gated communities in which Poo Prints operates must agree to provide a swab taken from their dog's mouth, so that the pet's DNA can be recorded on Poo Prints' database.

If a dog owner fails to clear up after their pet, the offending pile can be scooped up by management and a sample sent to the Knoxville lab. Within two weeks, Poo Prints will tell you which dog did the deed.

Poo Prints claims that the chance of collaring the wrong pup is one in 24 sextillion - although if the sample has been contaminated and features the DNA of more than one dog, they will inform the sender that no match is available. It happens in around nine percent of the 46,000 samples they process annually.

At first glance it's a process that many struggle to take seriously. J Retinger, CEO of BioPet Labs, Poo Print's parent company, admitted: 'For years, when I told people what I did for a living, I'd get a lot of laughs.

'People didn't believe it existed, and they thought I was a pooper scooper. They'd call me a week later and say, 'Hey, it was great to meet you at that party. Can you come clean our yard?'

In fact, Retinger runs a company with 35 employees and an annual turnover of $7million  70 percent of which comes from Poo Prints.

Retinger said: 'I was on a plane this week. Had to go to Utah, and I was talking to the lady next to me, and she asked, "What do you do?" And I said, "Well, you won't believe it but let me tell you." And she said, "Oh my gosh, my daughter's apartment uses your program." That makes my day.'

Founded in 2008, BioPet also offers pet DNA registries, proof of parentage for breeders and GotBit Kit, a court recognised service allowing the victims of dog bites to identify their canine attacker.

There are currently 1.2million dogs on the database which, Retinger said, is growing by 125,000 animals each year.

Retinger is evangelical about his work. He said: 'There's 89 million dogs in the US. If every one of those pet owners can be responsible then, in the end, we've won.'

He insists his team shares his enthusiasm.

'They love dealing with dog s***,' he said. 'You know, it's kind of our cause. We have an amazing group that understands the passion behind our project.

If a dog owner fails to clear up after their pet the offending pile can be scooped up by management and a sample sent to Poo Print's Knoxville lab.

J Retinger is the CEO of BioPet. With 35 employees and an annual turnover of $7million, 70 percent of the business's revenue comes from Poo Prints

The system obviously works better in enclosed communities, rather than on city streets, but Retinger sees the need everywhere.

New York City, for instance, can fine pet owners $250 for failing to clean up after their dog, but the Department of Sanitation rarely issues citations: in 2024, only 13 were handed down.

According to Retinger, in the US, Chicago most requires their help; internationally, it's Paris.

'My camera roll and text messages are full of more dirty sidewalks [there] than landmarks and tourist attractions,' he said.

Pamela Webb, 59, is president of a homeowners' association in the Florida Panhandle town of Freeport, 30 miles west of Panama City. She fought tooth and nail to get the owners of the 359 units to agree to welcome Poo Prints.

In January this year she began swabbing the 170 dogs registered on the property, with a $100 fee for each pet.

Now she and her husband patrol the common lands, scooping poop and sending it off for testing.

'I'm half crazy, I think,' she laughed, when describing her routine. 'There was supposed to be a committee of us doing this, but really it's just me and my husband.'

On a recent dog walk, she recalled, she found one pile and her husband noticed another fresh set.

'I said to him, are you sure that isn't our dog just now? And he was adamant that it wasn't our dog, so we scooped it and sent it off for testing. Sure enough, two weeks later the results came back saying it was our dog. At least it proves its accuracy!'

Webb paid the fees associated with the test, but the fine was waived as she had cleaned up after her own dog.

Offenders, however, will pay both the costs of the test and the fine: a total of $240.

So far, Webb has sent off 24 samples and 17 have come back with a positive match.

'It's rewarding because this neighborhood has cleaned up tremendously,' she said. 'Before, any given day it would be 10 to 20 piles of poop. You couldn't walk without stepping in it.'

But not everyone is convinced it's a good approach. When Webb secured board approval for her complex 10 dog-owning residents promptly moved out.

The system works better in enclosed communities rather than on city streets

According to BioPet CEO J Retinger in America it's Chicago which most requires their help; internationally, it's Paris

Others have taken to social media to condemn the whole idea of this genetic sleuthing as positively Orwellian.

'How is this real?!' asked Cincinnati-based Meredith Bentz, whose sister's building introduced the system in 2022.

When the managers of one Baltimore complex, Scarlett Place, tried to bring Poo Prints to their building in 2010, the community board meeting erupted in angry recriminations.

'At this point, I'm like, it's just poo-posterous,' said one resident, Richard Hopp. He told ABCNews.com: 'It's like living in a Seinfeld episode.' The management backed down.

Retinger knows that some see his company like Big Brother. But he is unrepentant.

'Rules are rules, right? It may seem over-the-top, but if people followed the rules it wouldn't be needed. And we're talking about dogs. There is no privacy. There is no violation here - we are not cloning them.'

Back in Texas, building manager Thomas was equally unfazed. She said residents of the 263-unit property in Houston had to agree to the terms or find somewhere else to live.

'I like people to be accountable for their actions,' she said. 'Most of our residents are very appreciative of us going the extra mile.

'Some say it's excessive, but they're usually the ones leaving the mess.'
Carol Vorderman on Monday told Labour that Sir Keir Starmer 'will never be voted in as Prime Minister again' as she urged the party to change leader in order to retain power.

Speaking at Labour's conference in Liverpool, the ex-Countdown star said she felt 'very let down' by the party's first year in office in a fiery attack on the Government.

Appearing at a fringe event, the 64-year-old lashed out at Sir Keir's administration over freebies, winter fuel cuts and an ongoing donations row.

The outspoken broadcaster also said it was a 'disgrace' that the now-resigned Lord Mandelson had been appointed by the PM as Britain's ambassador to the US.

She went on to shower praise on Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, amid feverish speculation he is plotting a leadership challenge against Sir Keir.

It came as a YouGov poll of Labour members, on behalf of Sky News, found Mr Burnham would beat Sir Keir by two to one if they went head-to-head in a contest.

But, later on Monday, Mr Burnham appeared to be in full retreat as he said Sir Keir was the right person to be PM when he spoke at a separate fringe event.

He offered his backing to Sir Keir despite having previously fuelled claims he was poised to rival the premier.

In other developments on Monday:

Carol Vorderman told Labour that Sir Keir Starmer 'will never be voted in as Prime Minister again' as she urged the party to change leader in order to retain power

Speaking at Labour's conference in Liverpool, the ex-Countdown starl ashed out at Sir Keir's administration over freebies, winter fuel cuts and an ongoing donations row

The outspoken broadcaster went on to shower praise on Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, amid feverish speculation he is plotting a leadership challenge against Sir Keir

Prior to the last general election, Vorderman was a frequent critic of the previous Tory government and spearheaded a 'tactical voting' campaign to help oust the Conservatives.

She left her weekly show on BBC Radio Wales in 2023 after breaking BBC guidelines with vocal attacks against the then-Tory government on social media.

In her appearance at Labour's conference, Vorderman branded the Tories 'scum' and 'the most corrupted party that we could ever have'.

But she suggested Labour had been similarly rocked by 'sleaze' rows that dogged the Tories, since Sir Keir entered Downing Street.

'This is my prediction: Keir Starmer will never be voted in as Prime Minister again,' Vorderman told the event.

'It will have to be a change of leader if you want another Labour government, or he'll lose.'

The Welsh presenter said her message to the Government was to 'get your PR (public relations) better', in comments that drew applause from the audience.

She added that, while she didn't have a problem 'in principle' with Labour introducing means-testing for winter fuel payments, the now-reversed cuts had been too severe.

'I'm coming up to pensionable age. I don't have a problem because I would not need that,' she said of the handout, which is worth up to 300 per household.

'So I didn't have a problem with means-testing it in principle, but it was the level.

'Who on earth thought that was a good idea to go from 12 million pensioners receiving it to 1.5 million? Who thought that was a good idea? It's nuts.'

Vorderman went on to criticise Labour over 'freebiegate', which saw top ministers - including Sir Keir - accept lavish gifts from party donor Lord Alli.

She also referred to a row over undeclared donations to campaign group Labour Together when it was led by the PM's now chief of staff Morgan McSweeney.

'I thought the Tories were scum, I thought they were the most corrupted party that we could ever have,' Vorderman added.

'And I wanted Labour to come in and for there to be none of these stories. But we've had minister after minister; the Mandelson thing, it was a disgrace.'

The slump in both Labour's poll ratings and Sir Keir's approval among voters has fuelled speculation about his leadership and a potential challenge by Mr Burnham.

'I love Andy Burnham,' Vorderman said of the Greater Manchester mayor, also quipping that she could one day stand to be an MP but 'only if Andy asked me'.

Mr Burnham appeared to be in full retreat as he said Sir Keir was the right person to be PM when he spoke at a separate event

But - despite leaving the door open for a future leadership bid - Mr Burnham seemed to be backing away on Monday following a backlash against his posturing.

Asked at a conference fringe event if he thought Sir Keir was the right man to be Labour leader and PM, Mr Burnham replied: 'Yes.'

He had earlier insisted 'you would have to wrench' him out of the North West to return to Westminster.

'There's no ability for me to launch,' Mr Burnham said, as he sought to address claims he was being 'disloyal' and 'completely out for myself'.

Mr Burnham hit back at criticism of his recent headline-grabbing proposals for changes to tax and spending.

'I reject entirely this idea that I'm sort of hopeless and I've no idea about how to make it add up,' he said.

'I'm doing it every day in Greater Manchester. No-one ever says Greater Manchester is run in a financially imprudent way.'

It came after ministers appeared to liken his economic agenda, which includes a call for some 40billion earmarked for housing to be spent exclusively on council homes, to the policies of former Tory PM Liz Truss.

In a broadcast round ahead of her conference speech in Liverpool, Chancellor Rachel Reeves suggested Mr Burnham was at risk of echoing the former Tory premier, whose mini-budget panicked the markets and sent the pound tumbling.

'If he's saying anybody that says you can just borrow more, I do think that risks going the way of Liz Truss,' the Chancellor told LBC.

Mr Burnham, a former New Labour minister and ex-MP for Leigh, insisted his proposals had been misreported.

He had pitched the policies, which include reform of land value taxation and council tax, in a series of interviews with national media during which he refused to rule out a tilt at Sir Keir's job.

Speaking on Monday, he sought to address 'the sense I'm completely out for myself, disloyal', citing behind-the-scenes work he says he has been doing to help progress the Government's Hillsborough legislation.

'It sticks in my throat somewhat for people who have just arrived on the scene to be throwing some of the comments at me that they have done,' he said.

'I did everything that I possibly could (have) to make this conference a success.'

He said he had instead been seeking to provoke a wider debate within Labour about the party's direction ahead of local elections next May, as the Government faces a sustained lag behind Reform UK in the polls.

The YouGov poll of 704 Labour members for Sky News, taken a week ago, found that 62 per cent would back Mr Burnham while 29 per cent would back Sir Keir.

It also revealed that around a third of Labour members no longer think that Sir Keir is a good PM and would rather he did not fight the next general election.

Some 37 per cent said Sir Keir should not take Labour into the next election, while 53 per cent said he should and 10 per cent didn't know.

Your browser does not support iframes.

Polling by Ipsos Mori has put Sir Keir's personal ratings at the lowest level for any PM since comparable records began in 1977

Britain's top elections guru had earlier on Monday warned there seems to be no way back for Sir Keir from his record low ratings.

Professor John Curtice gave an apocalyptic assessment of Labour's situation in a briefing in Liverpool.

With polls showing Reform on track for power and Sir Keir's own ratings at a record low, Sir John suggested the Angela Rayner and Lord Mandelson resignations had not had much impact.

However, that was only because the problems were already so bad.

And he cautioned that even after 15 months in power voters still did not know what Sir Keir stood for or thought on key issues.

Asked whether there was any hope that Labour could turn it around, Sir John replied: 'The honest answer to that is no.'

He added that 'clearly, if by 2029 the economy is turned around and if by 2029 the waiting lists are way, way back down', Labour might be able to recover its position.

But he cast doubt on whether Sir Keir would be the leader to achieve such a turnaround.

Sir John said Sir Keir had positioned himself as 'the friendly local plumber' fixing issues with 'policy pipes', when voters really wanted their leaders to be 'the architect of Valhalla'.

Sir John said: 'You need to do more than change the reality, you also have to influence perception.

'And clearly, the question that is being raised about the current Labour leadership is, does it have the ability to change the mind?'

Saying people still did not know what Sir Keir stood for, Sir John - renowned for producing the exit poll on election nights - said: 'The mystery of Keir Stamer, who is he, what does he stand for, that mystery, we are maybe two thirds of the way through the novel, but we are still not sure where the body lies.'
A Chinese 'Bitcoin queen' today pleaded guilty to laundering cryptocurrency from a 5billion investment fraud with the help of her takeaway worker assistant.

Zhimin Qian, also known as Yadi Zhang, admitted charges of possessing and transferring criminal property on the first day of her trial at Southwark Crown Court.

The 47-year-old, wearing glasses, a brown cardigan and an animal print top, was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing, which will take place at a later date.

Between 2014 and 2017, Qian orchestrated a large-scale fraud in China that stole from 128,000 victims before moving their funds into Bitcoin.

She then fled China using false documents and entered the UK, where in September 2018 she attempted to launder the proceeds via purchasing property, with the assistance of an assailant, Jian Wen.

She first came to police attention in 2018, when police seized 61,000 Bitcoin worth 5.1billion from Wen's 5million mansion in Hampstead, which she moved into within weeks of arriving in the UK as a takeaway worker with just 5,000 to her name.

Zhimin Qian, also known as Yadi Zhang, appeared at Southwark Crown Court to admit charges of possessing and transferring criminal property on the first day of her trial

The Met did not realise the devices they had seized contained Bitcoin until 2021, by which point Qian at vanished. It is thought to be the largest law enforcement Bitcoin seizure ever.

She was not charged until April 2024 after she was arrested in York.

Qian emerged for relative obscurity to run a Chinese company called Tianjin Lantian Gerui Electronic Technology, launched in March 2014.

The firm sold investment products with promised returns of up to 300 per cent. In reality, she was simply funnelling her investors' money into Bitcoin for her own enrichment.

Will Lyne, The Met's Head of Economic and Cybercrime Command, said officers were able to gather evidence with the assistance of police in China.

'We were able to obtain compelling evidence of the criminal origins of the cryptoassets Qian attempted to launder in the UK,' he said.

'My thoughts are with the thousands of victims defrauded in this scheme, and I hope today's outcome acknowledges the harm Qian inflicted and reinforces the Met's unwavering commitment to justice.'

Qian's assistant Jian Wen (pictured) was convicted of money laundering

Wen was living in a basement room under a Chinese takeaway in Abbey Wood, south-east London. But within weeks, she moved into this fabulous six-bedroom house in Hampstead Heath, paying 17,000 a month in rent in September 2017

Wen was convicted of money laundering and jailed for six years in 2014.

Commenting today, Detective Sargent Isabella Grotto, who led the Met's investigation, said: 'Today marks the result of years of painstaking work.

'When our team located Zhimin Qian, she had been evading justice for five years, and her arrest triggered a complex investigation requiring evidence from multiple jurisdictions and the careful review of thousands of documents.

'I am immensely proud of the investigation team and our partners who have worked tirelessly on this case.

'Today's plea reflects years of hard work across both the UK and China.

'We are grateful for the support of the National Crime Agency and the Crown Prosecution Service, and to Chinese law enforcement teams in Tianjin and Beijing with whom we have collaborated throughout.'
Andy Burnham appeared to be in full retreat today as he said Sir Keir Starmer was the right person to be Prime Minister.

The Greater Manchester mayor offered his backing to Sir Keir despite having previously fuelled speculation he was poised to mount a Labour leadership challenge.

In the days prior to Labour's conference in Liverpool this week, Mr Burnham had suggested unhappy MPs were privately urging him to challenge the PM.

He then issued a fresh outburst against Sir Keir's leadership in a fiery speech at a conference fringe event on Sunday night.

But - despite leaving the door open for a future leadership bid - Mr Burnham seemed to be backing away on Monday following a backlash against his posturing.

Asked at a conference fringe event if he thought Sir Keir was the right man to be Labour leader and PM, Mr Burnham replied: 'Yes.'

He had earlier insisted 'you would have to wrench' him out of the North West to return to Westminster.

'There's no ability for me to launch,' Mr Burnham said, as he sought to address claims he was being 'disloyal' and 'completely out for myself'.

Andy Burnham appeared to be in full retreat as he said Sir Keir Starmer was the best person to be Prime Minister

The Greater Manchester mayor offered his backing to Sir Keir despite having previously fuelled speculation he was poised to mount a Labour leadership challenge

Professor John Curtice gave an apocalyptic assessment of Labour 's situation in a briefing at the party's annual conference

Mr Burnham hit back at criticism of his recent headline-grabbing proposals for changes to tax and spending.

'I reject entirely this idea that I'm sort of hopeless and I've no idea about how to make it add up,' he said.

'I'm doing it every day in Greater Manchester. No-one ever says Greater Manchester is run in a financially imprudent way.'

It came after ministers appeared to liken his economic agenda, which includes a call for some 40billion earmarked for housing to be spent exclusively on council homes, to the policies of former Tory PM Liz Truss.

In a broadcast round ahead of her conference speech in Liverpool, Chancellor Rachel Reeves suggested Mr Burnham was at risk of echoing the former Tory premier, whose mini-budget panicked the markets and sent the pound tumbling.

'If he's saying anybody that says you can just borrow more, I do think that risks going the way of Liz Truss,' the Chancellor told LBC.

Mr Burnham, a former New Labour minister and ex-MP for Leigh, insisted his proposals had been misreported.

He had pitched the policies, which include reform of land value taxation and council tax, in a series of interviews with national media during which he refused to rule out a tilt at Sir Keir Starmer's job.

Speaking on Monday, he sought to address 'the sense I'm completely out for myself, disloyal', citing behind-the-scenes work he says he has been doing to help progress the Government's Hillsborough legislation.

'It sticks in my throat somewhat for people who have just arrived on the scene to be throwing some of the comments at me that they have done,' he said.

'I did everything that I possibly could (have) to make this conference a success.'

He said he had instead been seeking to provoke a wider debate within Labour about the party's direction ahead of local elections next May, as the Government faces a sustained lag behind Reform UK in the polls.

Britain's top elections guru had earlier warned there seems to be no way back for Sir Keir from his record low ratings.

Professor John Curtice gave an apocalyptic assessment of Labour's situation in a briefing in Liverpool.

With polls showing Reform on track for power and Sir Keir's own ratings at a record low, Sir John suggested the Angela Rayner and Lord Mandelson resignations had not had much impact.

However, that was only because the problems were already so bad.

And he cautioned that even after 15 months in power voters still did not know what Sir Keir stood for or thought on key issues.

Asked whether there was any hope that Labour could turn it around, Sir John replied: 'The honest answer to that is no.'

He added that 'clearly, if by 2029 the economy is turned around and if by 2029 the waiting lists are way, way back down', Labour might be able to recover its position.

But he cast doubt on whether Sir Keir would be the leader to achieve such a turnaround.

Sir John said Sir Keir had positioned himself as 'the friendly local plumber' fixing issues with 'policy pipes', when voters really wanted their leaders to be 'the architect of Valhalla'.

Sir John said: 'You need to do more than change the reality, you also have to influence perception.

'And clearly, the question that is being raised about the current Labour leadership is, does it have the ability to change the mind?'

Saying people still did not know what Sir Keir stood for, Sir John - renowned for producing the exit poll on election nights - said: 'The mystery of Keir Stamer, who is he, what does he stand for, that mystery, we are maybe two thirds of the way through the novel, but we are still not sure where the body lies.'

Your browser does not support iframes.

Polling by Ipsos Mori has put Sir Keir's personal ratings at the lowest level for any PM since comparable records began in 1977

With speculation about a leadership challenge from Mr Burnham hanging over the conference, Sir John showed his audience a stark chart indicating the Greater Manchester mayor was by far the most popular politician among 2024 Labour voters.

While the PM had a net favourability rating of plus 13 per cent, Mr Burnham's stood at plus 37 per cent.

Almost half of 2024 Labour voters said they had a positive view of the former Cabinet minister.
Charlie Kirk's alleged assassin Tyler Robinson appeared in court on Monday but hid his face during the hearing.

Robinson, 22, and his newly appointed legal counsel asked to have his waiver hearing postponed and did not enter a plea.

Utahs court system gives people accused of crimes an option to waive their legal right to a preliminary hearing and instead schedule an arraignment where they can enter a plea.

The alleged assassin was not present in court as his attorney, prominent Utah defense attorney Kathryn Nester, and state prosecutors discussed the case.

Officials said earlier that Robinson would appear via video but he was not seen on Monday.

His attorney Nester told Utah Fourth District Judge Tony Graf in Provo that she did not intend to waive a preliminary hearing, where prosecutors must demonstrate to a judge that there is sufficient evidence to support the charges.

Nester said the defense will need time to examine the evidence, which prosecutors called 'voluminous,' and suggested it may be months before the hearing can take place.

Prosecutors have charged Robinson with aggravated murder and plan to seek the death penalty.

Tyler Robinson, 24, appeared in court on Monday but was not seen. He is pictured during his first court appearance earlier this month

Charlie Kirk, 31, was shot dead at Utah Valley University on September 10

The alleged assassin was not present in court as his lawyers and state prosecutors discussed the case

The hearing in Provo was open to the public, just a few miles from the Utah Valley University campus in Orem where many students are still processing trauma from the September 10 shooting and the day-and-a-half search for the suspect.

Robinson's next hearing is on October 30 and he is expected to appear in person.

Authorities arrested Robinson when he showed up with his parents at his hometown sheriffs office in southwest Utah, more than a three-hour drive from the site of the shooting, to turn himself in.

Prosecutors have since revealed incriminating text messages and DNA evidence that they say connect Robinson to the killing.

A note that Robinson had left for his romantic partner before the shooting said he had the opportunity to kill one of the nations leading conservative voices, 'and Im going to take it,' Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray told reporters before the first hearing. Gray also said that Robinson wrote in a text about Kirk to his partner: 'I had enough of his hatred.'

Robinson has been jailed at the Utah County jail in Spanish Fork since his arrest.

The assassination of Kirk, a close ally of President Donald Trump who worked to steer young voters toward conservatism, has galvanized Republicans who have vowed to carry on Kirks mission of moving American politics further right.

Trump has declared Kirk a 'martyr' for freedom and threatened to crack down on what he called the 'radical left.'

Prominent Utah defense attorney Kathryn Nester will represent Robinson

Prosecutors have charged Robinson with aggravated murder and plan to seek the death penalty

Kirk, who was 31 when he was killed, is survived by his wife Erika, with whom he had a three-year-old daughter and a son, 16 months, seen here

Kirks political organization, Arizona-based Turning Point USA, brought young, evangelical Christians into politics through his podcast, social media and campus events.

Many prominent Republicans are filling in at the upcoming campus events Kirk planned to attend, including Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and Sen. Mike Lee at Utah State University on Tuesday.
Marchers who took to the streets in the Unite the Kingdom rally have been dubbed the heirs to skinheads and Paki-bashers by Shabana Mahmood.

The Home Secretary, who was born in Birmingham to parents of Pakistani descent, told Labour party conference that in some demonstrators view she has no place in Britain.

She opened her keynote speech with an analysis of the rally which saw 150,000 people take to the streets in central London on September 13.

While not everyone chanted racist slogans, some did, clear that in their view of this country, I have no place, said the Home Secretary.

It would be easy to dismiss this as nothing but an angry minority - heirs to the skinheads and Paki-bashers of old.

And make no mistake, some were.

But to dismiss what happened that day would be to ignore something bigger, something broader, that is happening across this country.

Ms Mahmood said some Britons were being driven towards more extreme views because they feel the country is spinning out of control.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said a frustration among some members of the public that Britain was 'spinning out of control' risked pushing them towards more extreme views

Traditional patriotism, in some cases, is turning into something more like ethno-nationalism, which struggles to accept that someone who looks like me, and has a faith like mine, can truly be English or British, she said.

We have to understand why so many people feel this country is not working for them.

Because the truth is, across this country, people feel like things are spinning out of control.

Thousands of Tommy Robinson supporters converged in central London for the rally calling on Downing Street to put a stop to immigration in the Unite the Kingdom protest earlier this month

And without control, we simply do not have the conditions in which our country can be open, tolerant and generous.

She told the conference in Liverpool that she would have to be a tough Home Secretary and warned delegates: In solving this crisis, you may not always like what I do.

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood

When people see small boats arriving on our shores, they see a country that has lost control.

When they hear of widespread illegal working, undercutting British workers, they feel the system is rigged.

And when they see crime unchecked on unsafe streets, they feel fearful.

Ms Mahmood said working class communities will turn away from Labour and seek solace in the false promises of Nigel Farage if the Government fails to act on concerns over immigration.

They will turn towards something smaller, something narrower, something less welcoming, and the division within this country will grow.

So the challenge we now face is this, not just to win the next election but to keep the country together and to fight for our belief in a greater Britain, not a littler England.

It came after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described a policy set out by Mr Farages Reform party as racist.

Reform has suggested that foreign nationals already in Britain with indefinite leave to remain could have their status withdrawn.

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy also described Reforms plan as racist in his conference speech today.

But a source close to Ms Mahmood said she had a more moderate view.

She does not think that Farage is racist, the source said.

Hes a cynic and hes happy to appeal to people who are racist.

She thinks its a deeply damaging, unpleasant policy.
The freed suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann has given his first full interview since being released from jail - but refused to discuss the missing British toddler.

In a bizarre sit-down conversation conducted in a field, Christian Brueckner said he does 'not feel free' because he is wearing an ankle tag and is 'followed around by police 24/7'.

It comes just hours after the German native attempted to confront the prosecutor who accused him of killing Maddie.

Brueckner travelled hundreds of miles to challenge lawyer Hans Christian Wolters, who has long stated he has evidence which proves Brueckner's involvement in the toddler's 2007 disappearance.

After being released from a rape sentence two weeks ago, Brueckner, who has denied all allegations relating to Maddie, claimed he wanted to see the prosecutor 'take responsibility' for what he believes has led to him being 'hounded by the media'.

Now, speaking in an interview with Sky News, Brueckner explained how he wants Wolters to stop the 'witch hunt against me and give me my life back'.

The suspect said Wolters refused to meet him, adding that he was told he was no longer 'their responsibility' because he had been convicted and released.

And when pressed by the interviewer if he killed Maddie, Brueckner replied: 'My defence lawyers have told me to say nothing on this topic and unfortunately I have to abide by that.'

In a bizarre interview conducted from a field, Christian Brueckner said he does 'not feel free'

The German native could be seen wearing an ankle tag, which he says has police monitoring him '24/7'

Brueckner, who has not been arrested, charged or questioned by German officials about Maddie's disapperance, has also refused to speak with Scotland Yard and Portuguese police in their investigations on the case.

Since being released from Sehnde prison, near Hanover, on September 17, where he was serving a seven-year sentence for the 2005 rape of an American pensioner in Portugal, Brueckner has been living in Neumunster.

After he walked out of the prison, his every move has been monitored by both German and international media.

Photographs have been published of him tucking into a burger outside a motorway McDonald's.

Chilling CCTV footage from inside a mobile phone shop in the city appeared to show him laughing as he showed off his ankle tag, which enables police to track him round the clock, and attempting to buy an untraceable phone using his German ID card.

He is said to have bragged to the shop owner, during a 90-minute conversation, that he had information that 'could bring the scandal of the century to an end'  which many have taken to refer to Maddie, who disappeared while on holiday with her family in Praia da Luz in 2007.

The disappearance of Madeleine McCann in Portugal in 2007 has never been solved

There have also been reports of him visiting a Domino's takeaway, wearing a fake beard as he asked staff for free pizza, as well as concerning accounts of women screaming when he entered a nightclub.

Though his release had been on the cards for several months, Brueckner's movements since leaving prison appear both unplanned and chaotic  something that does not instill confidence in those charged with keeping him under surveillance.

Speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail last week, a source close to his legal team said he will not stay in Neumunster. Indeed, the plan is to move him to Munich - in the south of the country - at the earliest opportunity.

The move to a bigger city will make Brueckner less conspicuous  and, consequently, more difficult to track.

The source says Neumunster was never the plan, rather Brueckner ended up there by default.
Labour party members defied Keir Starmer and told him to recognise the brutal Israeli invasion of Gaza as a 'genocide' today, with a pleas for tougher measures to bring about a ceasefire.

The Unison trade union pushed through an emergency motion at the party's annual conference supporting a UN commission of inquiry that determined that Israel had committed 'genocide'.

It also called on the government to 'ban trade with illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank' and apply 'comprehensive sanctions', including a full arms embargo, on Israel.

It came as protesters gathered again outside the venue in Liverpool this morning ahead of two votes, the day after more than 60 supporters of terrorist group Palestine Action were arrested.

Moving the symbolic motion, Unison general secretary Christina McAnea said: 'This is genocide.

'But if we wait for this to be confirmed by a court, it will be too late, because it's already happening as we sit here.'

Sir Keir and his ministers have so far avoided branding the military action this way, saying it is for courts to rule on under UK law.

It comes a week after Britain formally recognised a state of Palestine, alongside Canada and Australia, sparking a backlash against Sir Keir Starmer by Netanyahu.

Activists want the party conference to accept the findings of a UN commission of inquiry that determined that Israel had committed 'genocide' and back a full arms embargo and further sanctions.

One motion, moved by the Unison trade union, urges the conference to accept the findings of a UN commission of inquiry that determined that Israel had committed 'genocide' in Gaza.

An emergency motion with the same title, Peace in the Middle East, moved by Hackney North and Stoke Newington Constituency Labour Party (CLP), failed.

That motion called on the Government to 'fully suspend arms trade with Israel that could be used in the conflict', reflecting the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's decision last year to suspend about 30 licences for items used in the current conflict in Gaza which go to the Israel Defence Forces.

It also called on the Government to continue its efforts to 'do everything in its power to secure an immediate ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli military forces from Gaza, and the unrestricted provision of humanitarian assistance'.

Activists in Liverpool voted for the motion in a show of hands and it passed.

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said the 'rules-based order' which he believes in means that courts must rule if a genocide is taking place, not politicians.

He continued: 'That means that it must be for the ICJ with their judges and judiciary, and for the ICC, to determine the issue of genocide in relation to the convention, it is not for politicians like me to do that,' he said.

'But it is for the public to look at what they see and come to their own judgments about what they see.'

He added that last year he had decided that he 'did see a clear risk that Israel was breaching international humanitarian law'.

The Board of Deputies had urged ministers to ignore the motions, which are non-binding.

'On a day where serious talks are happening in Washington towards the resolution of this awful war, the highly problematic resolutions at Labour Conference are a divisive distraction,' a spokesman said.

'Continually failing to address the culpability of Hamas does nothing to move us towards peace.

'We call on the Government to disregard these motions, move beyond empty gestures, and get back to meaningful diplomacy.

Protesters gathered again outside the venue in Liverpool this morning ahead of two votes, the day after supporters of terrorist group Palestine Action were arrested (pictured).

'What is needed are concerted moves towards a ceasefire that gets the hostages out, aid in, removes the threat of Hamas, and Iays the ground for sustainable peace for Israelis, Palestinians and the wider Middle East.'

This morning new Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said that Israel's military action in Gaza was 'a moral obscenity ... that has seen food, water and medicine denied, and an unconscionable loss of human life' as she addressed the conference.

Police arrested 66 people aged between 21 and 83 on suspicion of showing support for a proscribed terrorism organisation during a protest outside the conference yesterday.

Around 100 people gathered near The Wheel Of Liverpool in the city centre holding signs reading: 'I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action,' protest group Defend Our Juries said.

Merseyside Police said some of the people in attendance displayed material in support of Palestine Action.

Palestine Action was banned as a terror organisation in July after the group claimed responsibility for an action in which two Voyager planes were damaged at RAF Brize Norton the previous month.
Andrew Tate will face no criminal charges over allegations made by four women who are suing him in a High Court civil case.

The women have accused the former professional kickboxer of sexual violence, including grabbing one by the throat on several occasions in 2015, assaulting her with a belt and pointing a gun at her face.

Mr Tate's barristers told an earlier court hearing that there was 'total denial of wrongdoing'.

On Monday the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said the legal test to bring criminal charges had not been met.

A spokesman said: 'We undertook a further review of a case file in relation to allegations of assault and rape between 2013 and 2015.

'Following careful consideration of the evidence provided by Hertfordshire Constabulary, we concluded that our legal test for prosecution was not met, and that no further action should be taken.

'We have informed all parties of our decision and offered to meet with the complainants to explain our reasoning in more detail.'

Andrew Tate will face no criminal charges over allegations made by four women who are suing him in a High Court civil case

Mr Tate's UK solicitor Andrew Ford welcomed the decision.

He said: 'Despite much external pressure the evidence speaks for itself in this case and the Crown Prosecution Service have rightly confirmed the evidence is inadequate to provide any realistic prospect of conviction.

'The reason the CPS made this decision will become obvious when the evidence is played out during the civil proceedings.

'We are glad that this is yet another example of a potential criminal case against Andrew Tate falling by the wayside.'
The Southport attack would have been 'severely worse' if the doors to the dance studio were locked, a yoga teacher has told the public inquiry.

Leanne Lucas, who was injured during the attack, was due to give evidence at the Southport Inquiry on Monday, but Liverpool Town Hall heard she was 'not fit'.

A summary of her evidence was read from her statement instead, in which she said more people would have died as Axel Rudakubana would have gained access anyway and potentially blocked the exit.

Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, Bebe King, six, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, were killed by Rudakubana, referred to in the inquiry as AR, when he entered the Taylor Swift-themed dance class at The Hart Space studio on July 29 last year.

In her statement, Ms Lucas said locking the doors to the studio, on the first floor of a building used by other businesses, would have been a breach of fire safety regulations.

Counsel to the inquiry Nicholas Moss KC told the hearing: 'She states that the police had stated that if the door was locked the outcomes would have been severely worse.

'AR would still have found a way in or would have waited in the car park.

'If the door was locked, Ms Lucas would have gone to the door, opened it and have been the first to have been attacked and AR would have gained access to the room regardless and potentially blocked the exit at the door such that more would have died and she would not have been able to call for help and alert others for assistance.'

Yoga teacher Leanne Lucas has told a public inquiry the Southport attack would have been 'severely worse' if the doors to the dance studio were locked

(L-R) Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, were all murdered in the atrocity on July 29, 2024

Ms Lucas, who has to deal with a torrent of online abuse since appearing at the inquiry earlier this month, said she had met all the guidelines required when organising the workshop.

She said: 'This was all irrelevant when faced with an unforeseen life or death situation, a situation that should have been under control and prevented by multiple organisations and services that keep the general public safe.

'Those organisations and services have let me down.'

Mr Moss said: 'Ms Lucas's reflection is that if she believed the event carried a risk of an attack she would not have delivered the workshop.

'If she had foreseen it as even a possibility, she states, she would never have exposed herself or others to the risk and simply would not have run the event.

'She states she has not held an event since and has not in fact worked since.'

Earlier on Monday, Jennifer Scholes, who owned the lease on The Hart Space studio, was asked questions about policies for locking doors in the building.

Axel Rudakubana is pictured here outside The Hart Space dance studio last year before he murdered three little girls

Ms Scholes, who ran pregnancy and baby classes from the venue as well as hiring it out to others, said: 'The Hart Space had been open for nearly five years. We had never had an intruder or an unwanted visitor.

'I don't think anybody would ever have imagined that something so awful would have happened.'

Ms Scholes was in tears when she was asked about Ms Lucas, and said: 'I think Leanne is a wonderful human being, an amazing teacher. I have had no problems with her conduct.

'She was trustworthy, she was always there on time and I could just tell she genuinely loved her job and the children.'

She confirmed that on the day of the attack she arrived at the scene in Hart Street and Ms Lucas, who was 'slumped' at the side of a van, told her the 'kids were being stabbed'.

The inquiry was adjourned until Tuesday.
They were recently transformed into the streets of New York for the forthcoming Spider Man film.

But the streets of Glasgow have now been transported back in time to the late 19th century for the filming of a Victorian thriller.

Jack of Spades, directed by Joel Coen, has already used locations across Scotland including Paisley, Edinburgh and Culross in Fife.

Yesterday, horse drawn carriages and extras wearing period costume packed into Glasgow city centre to shoot scenes for the Gothic mystery film.

The films leading actor, English star Josh OConnor  who is best known for his role in the TV drama The Durrells  was spotted on set as the cameras started rolling.

The movie also features American actress Frances McDormand, whose film credits include Fargo, Primal Fear and Mississippi Burning, as well as Band of Brothers, Forsyte Saga and Homeland actor Damian Lewis.

A release date for Jack of Spades is yet to be announced.

Actors in period costume on the set of Jack of Spades in Glasgow

A horse drawn carriage was one of the props brought onto the streets of Glasgow

Period-style signs were put up to transform the streets of Glasgow into a Victorian townscape

Lead actor Josh OConnor, best known for his role in the TV drama The Durrells, was seen on set yesterday.

Back in 2021, Joel Coen released The Tragedy of Macbeth as his first solo project.

At the time, his brother and longtime collaborator, Ethan decided to take a break from filmmaking.
A drink and drug-fuelled driver left a town centre looking like a war zone after crashing into several cars and people at 80 miles per hour.

John Boyle injured four adults and a child and smashed up the vehicles during a wrecking spree when he was driving at four times the speed limit.

A sheriff told Boyle it was a miracle no-one had been killed and remanded him in custody after he admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Boyle, 33, had taken cocaine and staggered drunk from a pub before causing carnage in the centre of Milnathort, Kinross-shire, in the early evening of November 2, 2022.

Sheriff Simon Collins viewed photographs of the shocking trail of destruction left by Boyle and told him: How everyone walked away from that is entirely beyond me.

I would have thought that was a miracle. The photographs I have seen are like a war zone - the damage you have done. The culpability would appear to be very much at the high end.

It is a very serious matter and you will be remanded in custody for reports. I will defer sentence and you will be disqualified from driving on an interim basis.

Fiscal depute Laurelle Johnstone told Perth Sheriff Court that Boyle had two previous driving convictions, including a 12-month ban imposed in 2010.

She said the bar manager at The Muir Inn, in Kinross, saw Boyle and his cousin drunk at the bar at 5.30pm - around 45 minutes before he was seen speeding through Milnathort.

The aftermatch of the destruction that Boyle caused while driving at 80mph drunk and on drugs in Perthshire

John Boyle

He was seen travelling well in excess of the 20mph speed limit in South Street, she said. The speed has since been calculated as being around 80mph.

Jonathan Gardner was driving a VW Up when he tried to take evasive action to avoid being struck by Boyle, but there was a collision and he sustained whiplash injuries and bruising.

The prosecutor said Patrick Byrne was driving ahead of Boyle when the sozzled driver rammed into the rear end of his car at high speed. Mr Byrnes Mitsubishi ASX rolled onto its roof and he sustained soft tissue injuries.

Boyle then smashed head-on into David Mackenzie-Mills Honda Jazz - shunting it backwards at speed and causing it to smash into a parked VW Sharan. It also ricocheted into a Vauxhall Crossland driven by Ann Gardner.

Mr Mackenzie-Mills sustained a fractured sternum, while Ms Gardner suffered a bloody nose, soft tissue injuries and shock. A nine-year-old girl had to be taken to hospital with a fractured clavicle.

The court was told: The accuseds vehicle then collided with a bollard and chain fence, which was thrown through the rear window of witness Robertsons Mazda 3.

That witness was not injured.

Ms Johnstone continued: Numerous members of the public assisted with the care of the drivers, including a doctor. They found the accused and his cousin unconscious and smelling of alcohol.

Boyle, who sustained a broken ankle, two fractured vertebrae and soft tissue injuries, gave a roadside breath test which showed he was three times over the limit.

When he was quizzed at the scene about who had been driving his BMW Boyle said: Yous, yous were driving.

Ms Johnstone told the court that all of the vehicles, apart from the Mazda 3, were extensively damaged. It was understood they were all written off. The road was completely closed for around six hours.

Solicitor David Holmes, defending, said that his client, who works in water industry construction, finds it difficult to look back at November 2022.

He added: He also suffered injuries, but thats his own fault.

What could have happened as a result of his driving is something he has to reflect upon. He has a good work record and is a family man. At the time of the incident he had taken cocaine and thats the explanation for his driving. He had taken alcohol also.

Yes, its a miracle that took place. He entirely accepts his driving was in the category of dangerous driving. He understands he requires to be punished.

It is most fortunate the injuries to the other persons were as described, albeit unpleasant and legally in the category of severe injuries. He has not taken any cocaine since.
A WOMAN who embezzled nearly 10,000 from her elderly father-in-law and blew the money on video games, cigarettes and takeaway meals has dodged jail.

Natasha Hunter spent four years stealing cash from vulnerable Alexander Hunter, 79.

Perth Sheriff Court heard how the 40-year-old flashed the cash after being given Power of Attorney over the pensioner.

Suspicions were first raised after the victim started being chased for non-payments of bills.

Another family member began to investigate and Fiscal depute Katie Stewart told the court bank statements showed multiple transactions to the accuseds account while a number of payments to food delivery company Just Eat also came to light.

Ms Stewart said: She was married to his son. He noticed the accused would spend money on gifts they could not afford. These included computer games, mobile phones and other items.

Natasha Hunter spent four years stealing cash from her elderly father-in-law

She said the couple were both unemployed. The fiscal depute added: He described how the accused would flash the cash but did nothing in relation to ascertaining where the money was coming from. Hunter, formerly of Perth, was originally charged with syphoning off 30,000. She pled guilty to embezzling a reduced amount of 9,750 between 2018 and 2022.

Lynsey Barber, defending, said his client wasnt living the high life, but added: She accepts the behaviour perpetrated by her was criminal.

Sheriff Peter Anderson ordered her to repay 500 in compensation and to carry out 180 hours unpaid work. He also imposed a five-month curfew.

He said: I cant order you to repay 9,750 as there is no way you can afford to do that.

You are over the custody threshold but Im prepared to accept it would achieve very little. Prison is not the answer in your case.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent leaked a sensitive text message related to national security during last week's United Nations General Assembly.

In the text, sent last Tuesday by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, she warned Bessent that Argentina was selling soybeans to China despite a US trade deal requiring Buenos Aires to cut ties with Beijing.

The soybean trade is critical to midwestern farmers, a key voting bloc in Donald Trump's base as the MAGA movement looks ahead to the 2026 midterm elections.

Beijing, which traditionally snapped up at least a quarter of all soybeans grown in the US, is in effect boycotting them in retaliation for Trump's tariffs.

The text says: 'Finally - just a heads up. I'm getting more intel, but this is highly unfortunate. We bailed out Argentina yesterday (Bessent) and in return, the Argentine's removed their export tariffs on grains, reducing their price, and sold a bunch of soybeans to China, at a time when we would normally be selling to China.

'Soy prices dropping further because of it. This gives China more leverage on us'.

Rollins then posted the X account of Ben Scholl, a grain trader in Iowa, whose post she was sharing with Bessent.

The Agriculture Secretary followed up the quoted message, telling Bessent: 'On a plane but scott I can call you when I land.'

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent checks a text message regarding Argentina relations with the U.S. during the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 23

The text appears to be from Brooke Rollins and is in a group chat with one other person as well as Bessent. The message says: 'Finally - just a heads up. I'm getting more intel, but this is highly unfortunate. We bailed out Argentina yesterday (Bessent) and in return, the Argentine's removed their export tariffs on grains, reducing their price, and sold a bunch of soybeans to China, at a time when we would normally be selling to China. Soy prices dropping further because of it. This gives China more leverage on us ... Ben Scholl (@rottoscholl) on X ... On a plane but scott I can call you when I land'

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles listen as President Donald Trump speaks at a rally at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, Thursday, July 3, 2025

The image of Bessent's text from Rollins has been all over Argentinian media in recent days. It was taken by an Associated Press photographer.

It comes after Trump met last week with Argentina's president Javier Milei to offer him a $20billion financial lifeline amid a weakening currency and dwindling cash reserves.

However, the US spending package was contingent on Buenos Aires axing a currency swap line with China worth $18 billion.

Washington believes the agreement between China and Argentina's central banks  allowing the states to loan money to each other  represents a strategic risk as it increases reliance on the yuan instead of the US dollar.

But just days before Milei's meeting with Trump, Argentina temporarily suspended its export taxes on soybeans triggering a flood of orders from China.

As a result, prices for the crop plunged and put further pressure on midwestern farmers.

Since the 1990s, American farmers have relied on Chinas demand for protein-rich soybeans for oil and animal feed, making it their biggest market.

While China relies on domestic crops for steamed beans and tofu, it needs far more soybeans for oil extraction and animal feed.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent appears in the Oval Office of the White House on September 25

In 2024, China produced 20 million metric tons of soybeans, while importing more than 105 million metric tons.

American farmers have come to count on China as their biggest customer, and this has given the Chinese leverage.

China turned to Brazil when Trump launched his first trade war in 2018. Last year, Brazilian beans accounted for more than 70 percent of China's imports, while the US share was down to 21 percent, World Bank data shows.

Argentina and other South American countries are also selling more to China, which has diversified to boost food security.

Not only does this hurt American farmers, but it presents an increasing geopolitical risk as it increases China's influence over US neighbors in South America.
SCOTTISH Labour is to ramp up its fundraising for the Holyrood election after burning through millions and relying on the UK party to stay solvent.

Deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie launched the Thistle Network for wealthy donors at the partys conference in Liverpool with a cry of give us your money.

The scheme offers increased levels of access to party events based on price.

Silver membership costs 1,000 a year and includes the Annual Winter Gala dinner, while the 3,500 Gold membership also includes a pass to the annual conference.

The top-tier Platinum membership costs 8,000 a year and includes an all-access conference pass and a VIP reception at the winter gala.

A Thistle Network booklet produced by the party says each of the three tiers offers unique opportunities to connect with our work in Scotland.

Next to a picture of leader Anas Sarwar, it states: The Thistle Network will be central to delivering a Scottish Labour government. It will be vital to ensuring Scottish Labour continues to grow in strength and influence ahead of the next election.

SNP MSP George Adam MSP said: Jackie Baillie and the Labour Party have serious questions to answer about what wealthy donors will expect in return for their cash.

Scottish Green MSP Maggie Chapman said: When corporate donors are giving large sums to political parties, it is never good news.

They arent giving money to be nice: its to get something in return.

We need a strong and transparent democracy, not a political system that money can buy.

Anas Sarwar's party is trying to attract wealthy donors

Jackie Baillie launched Scottish Labour's 'Thistle Network' in a bid to attract donors

Launching the scheme at Scots Night at the UK conference on Monday, Dame Jackie said: The Thistle Network is about you being able to contribute financially to our campaign.

Campaigns need money to run and we need your help to do that.

Im telling you, come May, I will be proud that Anas Sarwar is Scotlands next First Minister.

So give us your money. Come help us.

The cash drive follows Scottish Labour splurging money on securing votes.

Last year it spent three times as much as the SNP in the general election - more than 2.7million to the Nationalists 780,000 - and won 37 seats to the SNPs nine.

Scottish Labour also spent almost 96,000 winning the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse byelection for Holyrood in June, or 11.20 per vote, compared to the SNPs 80,000.

However the latest Scottish Labour accounts show the party would have sunk deep into the red without financial support from London HQ.

Scottish Labour ended 2024 with a surplus of 349,767, but only after receiving a national party contribution of 777,445. It also received 231,605 from UK Labour in 2023.

Scottish Labour said any suggestion of cash-for-access was inaccurate and ridiculous.

A spokeswoman said: All donations are declared in accordance with Parliamentary and Electoral Commission rules. Scottish Labour is working to put an end to decades of SNP decline and build a better future for every Scot.
A survivor of the Michigan church shooting has revealed heartbreaking new details about how the massacre began  and how the congregation's kindness turned deadly.

Paul Kirby, a worshiper at the church in Grand Blanc Township, said parishioners heard a 'loud boom coming from the back of the chapel' as chaos erupted around 10.30am Sunday.

He and others rushed to check on Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, after he rammed his pickup truck into the building, believing it was a traffic accident.

But as they approached the vehicle, Sanford pulled out a rifle and opened fire in an attack that killed four and injured eight more.

'Several of us men decided to get up and go outside to look at what happened, just in case somebody ran off the road and hit the building,' Kirby told CBS Mornings.

'We didn't think anything bad was going to happen,' he added.

As shots rang out, Kirby sprinted back inside to find his family, but while running for his life a piece of shrapnel impaled his left leg and he saw a bullet hit a glass door just a foot away from him.

'It was just so unexpected. Once I saw the gun and start hearing him start shooting it, it was just a lot of fear,' he continued.

Paul Kirby, a survivor from the horrific Mormon church shooting in Michigan on Sunday morning, said he and other men ran outside to help the shooter, thinking he was a car crash victim at first

After hearing a 'loud boom,' Kirby and others went to help the man, but that's when he pointed a gun at them and started shooting. (Pictured: Sanford's pickup truck after it slammed into the now burnt down church)

Once he reached his wife and two children, the worshiper ran out of the building with them and others and loaded as many as he could into the family's car.

While he did so, Kirby recalled seeing two people lying on the ground, he told The New York Times.

'I was afraid they were going to start shooting cars as we were leaving,' he said, adding that it was 'the scaredest [sic] I've ever been.'

Tony Deck, another concerned resident that was thrown off by all the sirens he heard racing past his house, drove to the scene to bring bottles of water he had in his car.

But when he arrived, Deck, 56, was stunned to see the walls of the church burning down and tarps on the ground that appeared to be covering bodies, he told the Times.

Debbie Horkey, another local who lives near the Mormon church, said all she heard that morning was a women 'just yelling for help.'

A woman who got separated from her husband inside the church said the scene so was terrifying she thought she wasn't going to make it out alive.

'I thought, "If I have to die, it's OK",' Kristin Juarez, 54, said. 'I feel good about where I am. And then I heard my husband's voice, and he was calling for me.'

Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, of Burton, rammed his pickup truck into the Grand Blanc Township church before opening fire and burning the building down.

Several people who were at the scene during the deadly shooting and fire console each other after the chaos unfolded

The surviving victims' ages ranged from six to 78. Five of them were treated for gunshot wounds and three others were treated for smoke inhalation

Her husband, John Juarez, reunited with her after he helped other carry a wounded person outside.

When he got back inside, he saw another injured person, Mr Juarez described.

'I didn't know what I could do for him. I couldn't get him out on my own.'

Investigators are still searching for the killer's motive.

But earlier today, Kris Johns, a resident running for city council, said he had a dark conversation with Sanford while canvasing the neighborhood just days before the attack.

During their interaction, Johns, 44, said the shooter called Mormons 'the anti-Christ.'

The city council candidate said the topic change to religion made him want to end the conversation.

'He was extremely nice at first. He even talked about his child who had a serious medical concern,' Johns told journalist Dave Bondy.

'But when the conversation turned to religion, I just wanted to get off the door and away from him,' he added.

At the time, Sanford lived in Utah - a state with close ties to Mormonism - and was in a relationship with a woman who was involved in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Johns claimed.

The surviving victims' ages ranged from six to 78, Dr. Michael Danic, chief of staff at Henry Ford Genesys Hospital, told NBC News.

Five of them were treated for gunshot wounds and three others were treated for smoke inhalation. The child was stabilized and released, according to the doctor.

The attack occurred about 10.25am while hundreds of people were in the building in Grand Blanc Township, outside Flint.

The man got out of the pick-up with two American flags raised in the truck bed and started shooting, Police Chief William Renye told reporters.

The attacker apparently used gas to start the fire and also had explosive devices but it wasn't clear if he used them, said James Dier, of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit FBI field office Reuben Coleman said during a press conference Monday afternoon that they are 'continuing to work to determine a motive.'

They are currently calling the investigation and 'act of violence,' he said.

Authorities are looking into the improvised explosive devices that were uncovered at the scene, Deir said.
Donald Trump declared 'potentially one of the great days ever in civilisation' yesterday as he announced he would rule Gaza as part of his plan for eternal peace in the Middle East.

The US President pledged not only an 'immediate end to the war' in the Strip but 'the whole deal' to stop conflict that has ravaged the entire region for 'thousands of years'.

And he said Sir Tony Blair would work alongside him on a board to oversee the process if Hamas accept his 20-point peace plan.

Mr Trump declared at a press conference at the White House it was a 'big day, a beautiful day' as he quashed rumours that the former British PM would oversee control of the territory.

He said a 'board of peace' would be 'headed by a gentleman known as President Donald J Trump of the United States', insisting this was 'not at my request' but said it's 'what I want' as 'it's so important that I'm willing to do it'.

He said the board would have leaders from other countries, including Sir Tony, who he described as 'a very good man'.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer backed President Trump, saying the peace plan was 'profoundly welcome' and called on Hamas to agree to the terms.

Donald Trump on Monday thanked Benjamin Netanyahu for 'agreeing to a peace plan' in Gaza

Netanyahu shakes hands with Trump after a news conference in the State Dining Room of the White House -- September 29, 2025

'We strongly support his efforts to end the fighting, release the hostages and ensure the provision of urgent humanitarian assistance for the people of Gaza,' the premier said. 'This is our top priority and should happen immediately.'

'We call on all sides to come together and to work with the US Administration to finalise this agreement and bring it into reality. Hamas should now agree to the plan and end the misery, by laying down their arms and releasing all remaining hostages.'

The plan, which the MAGA leader has circulated to Arab leaders, was released after Mr Trump met the Israeli PM in Washington.

The two leaders arrived at the press conference late, after discussing the terms of the deal, which has yet to be finalized with Netanyahu, Arab leaders, and Hamas.

'Let's call it eternal peace in the Middle East,' Trump said triumphantly. 'This is far more than anybody expected, but the level of support that I have had from the nations in the Middle East and neighbors of Israel has been incredible.'

Your browser does not support iframes.

Mr Trump said Netanyahu had given his backing to the peace deal, which calls for an immediate ceasefire, followed by disarmament of Hamas and Israeli withdrawal.

He heaped praise on Netanyahu standing beside him for 'agreeing to the plan' telling him: 'This will be your crowning achievement.'

And he lauded a team involving his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, for their work on the Gaza peace deal as Mr Trump declared: 'I don't think anybody else could have done it or even come close.'

The American leader also labelled Netanyahu a 'warrior' and said that Israel was 'lucky to have him'.

'I understand and respect his position on many things, but what he's doing today is so good for Israel,' he adds.

'I notice that, they have large crowds gathering in Israel all the time and they have my name up, they like me for whatever reason.'

After marshalling support across Arab and Muslim nations in recent days, before getting Mr Netanyahu onside, he said Hamas are 'the only one left' to accept.

The terror group will be given 72 hours to agree and release all 48 hostages - both the 20 living and the 28 bodies.

But if they do not, Mr Trump warned them 'Israel would have the absolute right and actually our full backing to finish the job of destroying the threat of Hamas.'

He said approval from all sides was 'beyond very close'.

Netanyahu said 'this can be done the easy way or it can be done the hard way, but it will be done' as he vowed Israel would 'finish the job by itself' if Hamas rejected the deal.

'We prefer the easy way. But it has to be done,' he said.

'All these goals must be achieved because we didn't fight this horrible fight, sacrifice the finest of our young men to have Hamas stay in Gaza and threaten us again and again with these horrific massacres.'

Trump again promoted the Abraham Accords signed in his first term, but indicated he wanted to see more Middle Eastern nations involved in the deal.

'Who knows, maybe even Iran could get in,' Trump said, prompting Netanyahu to swivel and give Trump a skeptical look.

Netanyahu, who appeared to be visibly struggling with a cold, coughed after President Trump lightly proposed that he 'take a question or two from a friendly Israli reporter.'

But Netanyahu declined, opting to wait until the deal was signed by all parties.

'We'll have enough time for questions, let's settle the issue first,' he said.

American officials stood up and applauded as the two leaders shook hands and ended the press conference.

The plan states that on agreement by both sides, 'the war will immediately end' with Israeli withdrawals timed to release of the last hostages held by Hamas. During that initial period, there would be a ceasefire.

Existing 'battle lines' would be frozen in place and Hamas would lay down its arms with the terror group's offensive weaponry being destroyed.

While 'full aid' would be immediately sent to the Gaza Strip.

Key points include the deployment of a 'temporary international stabilisation force' and creation of a transitional authority headed by Trump.

Smoke rises over destroyed residential buildings following the Israeli attacks in Gaza City -- September 29, 2025

The US President declared at a press conference it was a 'big day, a beautiful day' and 'potentially one of the greatest days ever in civilisation

The deal would demand Hamas militants fully disarm and be excluded from future roles in the government. However, those who agreed to 'peaceful co-existence' would be given amnesty.

Following Israeli withdrawal, the borders would be opened to aid and investment.

In a crucial change from Mr Trump's earlier apparent goals, Palestinians will not be forced to leave and instead, the document said, 'we will encourage people to stay and offer them the opportunity to build a better Gaza.'

In concerning signs, senior Hamas official Muhammed Mardawi said the peace plan 'leans toward the Israeli perspective' and 'is close to what Netanyahu insists on in order to continue the war'.

Hamas has yet to receive the peace plan. Palestinians have not been consulted, either, on the plans for a 'Board of Peace' to rule Gaza.

President Trump had promised 'something special' ahead of the crunch meeting with his old friend Mr Netanyahu at the White House.

The US President told reporters he was 'very confident' they could make a deal as the two leaders met on the steps in Washington DC.

Their demeanour was businesslike and once inside, a trilateral call with the Qatari PM was organised where Mr Netanyahu 'expressed his deep regret' for the strike on Hamas in Doha.

The apology was a key condition for Qatar resuming negotiations between the terror group and Israel and pointed to the pressure being applied to Mr Netanyahu in Washington.

Mr Netanyahu will now have to cajole his cabinet into agreeing the peace deal.

Sir Tony Blair's 300million Gaza peace deal was revealed on Monday and showed his administration gets a 'war room', elite bodyguards and a police force to oversee the Strip.

The former PM's proposal, obtained by the Mail, would mark his most significant intervention in the Middle East since sending British troops to war with Iraq.

Sir Tony has reportedly put himself forward to be chairman of the Gaza International Transitional Authority (GITA), a body proposed by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change.

The administration would rule initially from nearby El-Arish in Egypt and have 'policy hubs' in Amman and Cairo, scaling up to be fully operational within the Strip by year three.

In his role, Sir Tony would lead Gaza's international diplomacy on the world stage, co-ordinate security with Israel, Egypt and the US, and serve as 'the escalation point' on sensitive decisions.

Under the blueprint, GITAs chairman commands a 'Strategic Secretariat' of 25 aides anchoring a crisis 'war room' for rapid analysis, co-ordination and messaging.

Former UK Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair (pictured) would be part of a 'new international transitional body' to run Gaza on a temporary basis

A UN body declared famine in Gaza City earlier this year with the Strip ravaged by war

Security would be provided by a new Executive Protection Unit (EPU) tasked with 'close protection' for Sir Tony, fellow leaders and visiting VIPs.

Staffed by 'elite personnel from Arab and international contributors' it is trained for 'rapid extraction' and 'incident response readiness' and would escort foreign envoys.

The EPU must be 'politically balanced to reflect neutrality, professionalism and legitimacy'.

It would work in conjunction with a Palestinian Civil Police force and an International Stabilisation Force (ISF), all co-ordinated through a Joint Security Coordination Centre (JSCC).

Police would be 'nationally recruited' and 'professionally vetted' and be tasked with maintaining public order, investigating crimes and protecting civilians within Gaza.

Meanwhile the ISF - a multinational force - would guard borders, stop weapons smuggling, deter militant resurgence with targeted counter terror raids, and protect reconstruction projects.

The US president had met key Arab leaders at the United Nations last week and said Sunday on social media that 'ALL ARE ON BOARD FOR SOMETHING SPECIAL, FIRST TIME EVER.'

Netanyahu has recently given little reason for optimism, vowing in a defiant UN speech Friday to 'finish the job' against Hamas and rejecting Palestinian statehood - recently recognized by several Western nations.

Normally a staunch ally of Netanyahu, the US president has shown increasing signs of frustration ahead of the Israeli premier's fourth White House visit since Trump's return to power.

Trump was infuriated by Israel's recent strike on Hamas members in key US ally Qatar.

And he warned Netanyahu last week against annexing the Israeli-occupied West Bank, as some of Netanyahu's cabinet members have urged, a move that would seriously complicate the route to Palestinian statehood.

Netanyahu's coalition government is propped up by the far-right ministers who oppose a peace deal.
Anyone suffering a crisis can call the suicide prevention line on 988

Fans have expressed concern for Theo Von after the comedian suggested he was suicidal following a disastrous Netflix special show.

Video from the 45-year-old's performance in New York City on Saturday shows him apologizing to the crowd, saying: 'I'm having a long month, I'm trying not to take my own life.'

It is unclear whether Von was being serious or joking, but he has openly discussed his battle with his mental health and substance abuse on his hugely successful podcast.

Reports online said that many fans left before the show ended because Von would restart the show, forget his lines, and 'simply wasn't funny.'

A Reddit thread titled 'Theo Von just BOMBED' described how one-third of the crowd walked out of the theater.

It comes after Von criticized the Trump administration for using him in a promotional deportation video without his consent.

The Louisiana native hosts his show, This Past Weekend, which has featured guests such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Joe Rogan, and President Donald Trump.

Recently Von had an issue with the administration when they used him in a promotional deportation video

Another commenter on Reddit added: 'It was a surreal tour de force of racism, antisemitism, and gross incompetence. Never seen anything like it.'

'He kept repeating himself over and over to get a good take for the recording. And more than twice he totally forgot the boot and had to ask people backstage for help.'

Another user posted to Reddit: 'There were multiple times where he would walk off stage to talk to someone or be in the middle of a story and forget where he was and restart.'

It comes after Von hit back after being included in a Department of Homeland Security video promoting the Trump Administration's deportation efforts.

The short video, posted on DHS' X account earlier this month, featured Von saying, 'Heard you got deported dude, bye.'

Von disapproved of DHS posting the video of him without his permission.

The comedian said: 'Yooo DHS I didn't approve to be used in this. I know you know my address, so send a check. And please take this down and please keep me out of your 'banger' deportation videos.'

'When it comes to immigration, my thoughts and heart are a lot more nuanced than this video allows. Bye!'

The comedian said he was struggling with suicidal thoughts after his disastrous Netflix special taping caused rows of fans to walk out early

The clip taken by the government of Von was originally recorded when a fan told the comedian that her friend had been deported, and she wanted him to record a message for them.

Meanwhile, concerned supporters also noted how Charlie Kirk's assassination visibly shook Von earlier this month.

He posted an almost 18-minute video titled Thinking About Charlie Kirk, describing how he felt about the situation and said, 'This made me scared.'

The comedian has also gone on podcasts and opened up about how he has struggled with addiction and how he started using drugs when he was 13 years old.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Theo Von's management for comment.
Kimberly Guilfoyle wore a statement outfit, dazzling in an all-white pant suit, as she was sworn as ambassador to Greece.

Friends and family from the D.C. area and Florida were there to see her at the under-radar event, including Guilfoyle's son who held the Bible during the ceremony.

A source told the Daily Mail: 'She was very excited to be the first female ambassador to Greece. Everyone was laughing and joking with her. She was very personable and was in great spirits. She even joked about brushing up on her Greek dancing skills.'

Many state department staff affiliated with Greece were also in attendance, like Gray Harker, who used to work for Senator Ted Cruz.

Michael Kratsios, who served as the 13th director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy was also in attendance.

Jennifer Wicks, the director of the office of presidential appointments, swore her in today.

As for where she goes next, Guilfoyle's next move is where most vacation, but a source close to the new ambassador says she is ready to start working.

Kimberly Guilfoyle with friends and family including her son Ronan Villencey (to her immediate right)

The Senate voted Thursday to confirm the former Fox News host and exfiance of Donald Trump Jr. as President Donald Trump's Ambassador to Greece. Today, she was sworn-in at the State Department

Sources tell Daily Mail that Kimberly Guilfoyle was sworn in today at the State Department  showing up in an all white pantsuit and pumps  her son holding the Bible she used to be sworn in

As for where she goes next, Guilfoyle's next move is where most vacation, but a source close to the new ambassador says she is ready to start working

The Senate voted Thursday to confirm the former Fox News host and exfiance of Donald Trump Jr. as President Donald Trump's Ambassador to Greece.

After returning from August recess, Republicans in Congress made it a priority to get confirmation votes on the schedule, including for Guilfoyle, Capitol Hill insiders tell the Daily Mail.

It was part of a massive package, which also included confirmations for 47 other Trump nominees across government agencies after Democrats blocked more nominees than ever before in efforts to oppose Trump and the GOPdominated Congress.

The Senate voted 5147 in support of the package that confirmed Guilfoyle, 56.

The next steps will be Guilfoyle's swearingin and then her big move to Athens where she will officially assume her role at the U.S. Embassy.

Guilfoyle is expected to arrive in Greece and move into the official Ambassador's residence before the end of October.

She is succeeding Ambassador George Tsunis.

'I am profoundly grateful to President Donald J. Trump and the United States Senate for their trust and confidence in me. It is the honor of my life to serve as the first female Ambassador of the United States to the Hellenic Republic,' Guilfoyle said in a statement to the Daily Mail.

Guilfoyle is expected to arrive in Greece and move into the official Ambassador's residence before the end of October. She is succeeding Ambassador George Tsunis

Guilfoyle's hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee was held July 9 alongside four other nominees

She continued: 'Greece is the birthplace of democracy, liberty, and the rule of law  the very ideals that inspired our American Founders and continue to make America the greatest nation on Earth.'

Guilfoyle's hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee was held July 9 alongside four other nominees.

All 12 Republicans on the Senate Foreign Relations panel voted to advance Guilfoyle's nomination for a full floor vote. One Democrat, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, voted in her favor.

Also on Guilfoyle's bench of support was her son, Ronan Villencey, 18, and her younger brother, Anthony 'Tony' Guilfoyle Jr., 53.

Donny III sat in the front row beside Ronan and stayed after the hearing to take photos with Guilfoyle.

For much of his formative years, Guilfoyle dated and was engaged to Donny's father.

After her hearing, Guilfoyle's confirmation by the full Senate was delayed two months as Democrats stonewalled the process for dozens of nominees until after the August recess

Palm Beach insiders have told the Daily Mail that Guilfoyle maintains a relationship with her ex's five children.

After her hearing, Guilfoyle's confirmation by the full Senate was delayed two months as Democrats stonewalled the process for dozens of nominees until after the August recess.

President Trump announced in December his intention to nominate his son's exgirlfriend and a key 2024 campaign surrogate to be ambassador to Greece in his second term.

Her nomination came just a few months after news broke of the president's eldest son's new relationship with Anderson.

Still, Don Jr. posted to X at the time his congratulations to his exfiancee on her nomination.

Guilfoyle, before her relationship with Don Jr., was married for five years to Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom while he was mayor of San Francisco.

She also spent 12 years at Fox News where for seven of those years she was cohost of the evening panel show The Five.

Even though she signed a longterm contract extension in mid2017, Guilfoyle abruptly left the network a year later and began working for the proTrump America First super PAC.

During the short confirmation hearing on July 9, Guilfoyle faced just a handful of questions from senators related to Greece's relationship with the U.S., Israel, Cyprus and the rise in tensions with Turkey

President Trump announced in December his intention to nominate his son's exgirlfriend and a key 2024 campaign surrogate to be ambassador to Greece in his second term

She also spent 12 years at Fox News where for seven of those years she was cohost of the evening panel show The Five

During the short confirmation hearing on July 9, Guilfoyle faced just a handful of questions from senators related to Greece's relationship with the U.S., Israel, Cyprus and the rise in tensions with Turkey.
The father of the Michigan shooter who murdered four Mormon churchgoers has spoken out 'in shock' over his son's horrific actions.

Thomas Sanford - the father of 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford - issued the family's first words since his son rammed his pickup truck into the Grand Blanc Township church on Sunday morning before opening fire and setting it ablaze.

'He was an ex-Marine and we are completely in shock over this; we have no answers,' Sanford said.

'We are asking for privacy as we grieve our loss and those of the others,' he added, telling NBC News he knew his son as a loving husband and father.

The former Marine was shot dead by police in the church's parking lot after killing four and injuring eight.

Authorities warned the death toll could continue to rise as they carry out search efforts through the building ruins for more victims.

The surviving victims' ages ranged from six to 78, said Dr Michael Danic, chief of staff at Henry Ford Genesys Hospital, to NBC News.

Five of them were treated for gunshot wounds and three others were treated for smoke inhalation. The child was stabilized and released, according to the doctor.

Thomas Sanford (pictured bottom left), the father of the Michigan shooter who murdered four Mormon churchgoers, has spoken out 'in shock' over his son's horrific actions

Sanford - the father of 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford - issued the family's first words since his son rammed his pickup truck into the Grand Blanc Township church on Sunday morning before opening fire and setting it ablaze

The attack unfolded 10.25am while hundreds of people were in the building in Grand Blanc Township, outside Flint.

The man got out of the pick-up with two American flags raised in the truck bed and started shooting, Police Chief William Renye told reporters.

The attacker used gasoline to start the fire and also had explosive devices in his truck, but it wasn't clear if he used them, said James Dier, of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

One family friend told journalist Ty Steele that Sanford had been battling PTSD.

'It's hard to feel sad for someone who did something so terrible, and I still feel sad. I had heard through family events that he had had PTSD,' she said.

'He would make comments occasionally and it was something that was kind of talked about. It wasn't talked about in depth... so I don't know the depth of his issues.'

Sanford's loved ones, including his wife and both of his parents, also frequently shared pro-Trump messaging on their social media pages.

His mother, Brenda Walters-Sanford, posted a chilling message on her Facebook just two days before the incident about people who lack accountability.

Thomas Jacob Sanford, the man who opened fire at a Mormon church in Michigan, had a chilling conversation with a local about a week before the attack

Kris Johns, a resident running for city council, said he spoke to Sanford while canvasing the neighborhood. During their conversation, he said the Marine veteran said he believed 'Mormons are the anti-Christ'

'Talking to someone who constantly avoids accountability is not a real conversation - it's a battle. It's a cycle of deflection, projection, twisting, and playing the victim..,' the post read.

'When I try to express how your actions have hurt me, you don't listen with the intention of understanding; you listen with the intention of defending yourself. That's not communication - that's self-preservation of your ego.'

The text appears to have been shared by several Facebook users, suggesting it's a viral chain. It is unclear if Walters-Sanford was directing it at her son or someone else she knew.

It continued: 'I don't owe my peace to someone who only wants to win an argument, not to understand my heart. My energy is not a prize for someone committed to misunderstanding me. At some point, you have to value yourself enough to stop begging someone to hear you.'

The lengthy post by his mother might have been a 'trigger' for Sanford, Carole Lieberman, a forensic psychiatrist with over 20 years studying criminals, told the Daily Mail.

'If in reference to her son. Really mean. Very hurtful kinds of posts. That could've been a trigger,' Liberman said.

'Very personal. Very intimate. Saying how much he hurt her. Basically I hate my son. Dysfunctional childhood. Sometimes it's more from the mother [than] from the father.

'Put together it's a dysfunctional childhood. [He] Had PTSD from the military, so we know he was particularly vulnerable.'

Sanford told Johns that he had his tattoos removed so he could take part in church ceremonies. Several tattoos were seen on his arm in Facebook photo

The shooter's mother Brenda Walters-Sanford shared the above message two days before the massacre in Michigan

Sanford served in the Marines from June 2004 to June 2008, working as an automotive mechanic and vehicle recovery operator, according to military records obtained by The Detroit News.

He was deployed to Iraq from August 2007 through March 2008 and had the rank of sergeant.

Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit FBI field office Reuben Coleman said during a press conference Monday afternoon that they are 'continuing to work to determine a motive.'

They are currently calling the investigation and 'act of violence,' he said.

Authorities are looking into the improvised explosive devices that were uncovered at the scene, ATF special agent in charge James Deir said.
Benjamin Netanyahu's son has furiously hit back at Tucker Carlson, suggesting that he is being secretly funded by the Qatari government.

Yair Netanyahu was responding to a recent Carlson video titled 'It's time for Bibi to go' in which the conservative commentator claimed that Israel's Prime Minister was telling Arab leaders in the Middle East that he had control over Trump.

'Bibi [Benjamin Netanyahu] is running around the Middle East and telling people, I control the United States, I control Donald Trump,' Carlson told viewers.

Yair Netanyahu hit back hard, writing on X that Carlson was 'Qatar's b****'.

'Tucker just say (sic) any bs propaganda lie, without any source or proof, and expect everyone to believe him, despite him being obsessed about Israel, Jews and Netanyahu for two years and being super bias,' Yair said.

'My dad isnt running around the Middle East saying that s***. He cant go anywhere in the Middle East these days, and the Middle East Muslim Arab leaders are his biggest enemies!'

Yair then posted a series of images showing Carlson meeting with Arab leaders and re-posted other tweets which accused the ex-Fox host of taking money from Middle Eastern countries.

The furious clash between the Netanyahu heir and one of America's leading conservative voices came as Donald Trump and Netanyahu announced a peace agreement for Gaza at the White House on Monday.

US political commentator Tucker Carlson speaks during the public memorial service for right-wing activist Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on September 21, 2025

US President Donald Trump (R) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) participate in a joint press conference in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 29 September 2025

Yair Netanyahu (L) and Sara Netanyahu listen to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speech at The 80th session of The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on September 26, 2025 in New York City

Carlson has been accused of taking money from Middle Eastern nations such as Qatar and Iran, especially as he has elevated his criticism of Israel in recent months.

The former Fox News star also raised eyebrows after conducting a friendly interview with Qatari leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in March of 2025.

Yair Netayahu also noted that there is no way that his father has been 'running around' the Middle East, as Prime Minister Netanyahu does not have the best relationships with many other nations in the region.

Benjamin Netanyahu was also designated as a war criminal by the International Criminal Court ahead of his visit to the United Nations last week, which led to thousands of protestors calling for his arrest in New York last week.

Netanyahu also took an unusual route to fly to New York, one mapped to avoid crossing into the airspace of adversarial nations that would seek to arrest him for his alleged war crimes.

The Prime Minister's route avoided crossing over France and Spain, and took him over Italy and Greece.

The detour added an additional 372 miles to the trip.
The city of Philadelphia will soon raise the Chinese Communist Party flag in front of city hall in a controversial display of celebration of the establishment of the regime.

The decision sparked swift backlash and letters to Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker to axe the move.

On September 30, the Office of Immigrant Affairs intends to hoist the flag in an event sponsored by the Pennsylvania United Chinese Coalition.

The organization is seeking to improve the CCP's reputation within America as part of a cultural exchange.

John Moolenaar, the Chairman of the House Select Committee on the CCP, led the outrage as he released an open letter to Parker this week urging her to reconsider the ceremony.

'Raising the national flag of another country on U.S. soil through an official act is a powerful symbol,' the letter read.

'A flag raising is used to show respect for a nation that can inspire unity and pride between our two peoples; but it can also be inadvertently used to misrepresent support for another nation's actions and values.

'The Five-Star Red Flag, embodying the totalitarian government led by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), represents a regime that is persecuting spiritual people of all faiths, including the genocide of Uyghur Muslims.

On September 30, the Office of Immigrant Affairs intends to hoist the flag in an event sponsored by the Pennsylvania United Chinese Coalition

The Mayor of Philadelphia has faced demands she reconsider the ceremony due to the actions of the CCP under Xi Jinping

'It is a government that actively subsidizes the precursor chemicals used to manufacture fentanyl, which has killed or harmed millions of Americans. It is a Communist Party-State that is diametrically opposed to American values and working to undermine our interests worldwide.'

The committee letter also noted China is often an adversary of America and warned the government of Philadelphia is being 'exploited as a tool for CCP propaganda.'

'To cancel the PRC flag-raising ceremony will not only demonstrate that the local government in the United States stands for U.S. values and national interests, but that it stands in support for the people of China who face the regime's ruthless oppression and transnational repression.'

Philadelphia has a Chinese 'sister city' in Tianjin, established in 1979. It is one of the first known 'sister city' relationships within the United States and China.

Government officials maintain the flag raising ceremony will be a demonstration of support for the buzzing Chinese community in Philadelphia.

It will mark the third time the flag has been flown - the first taking place in 2017 and then again two years later.

A Fox News opinion piece described the move as 'a disgrace then and a disgrace now.'

'All city residents should reject the leadership of Philadelphia's campaign to betray our founding principles to virtue signal tolerance and diversity  a demonstration of weakness that China is only too happy to exploit.

President Donald Trump and Xi Jinping have had a testy relationship over the years, worsened recently by Trump's imposition of sky-high tariffs on Chinese goods

'Communist China has emerged under President Xi Jinping as the polar opposite of everything Philadelphia has traditionally represented.

'The CCP is increasingly recognized as the single greatest national security threat to the United States in the 21st century.'

President Donald Trump and Xi Jinping have had a testy relationship over the years, worsened recently by Trump's imposition of sky-high tariffs on Chinese goods.

But the pair are due to meet at a regional summit taking place at the end of October in South Korea, and Trump will visit China in the 'early part of next year,' following a lengthy phone call between the two on Friday.

Trump said 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 Russia's war in Ukraine could end if European countries put higher tariffs on China. Trump didn't say if he planned to raise tariffs on Beijing over its purchase of Moscow's 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.
A second suspect has been arrested over the gruesome killing of a young girl who was fatally shot inside her Texas home when masked gunmen fired a hail of bullets at her family in a broad-daylight shooting.

Maryann Marble, four, was inside her San Antonio-area home with her parents and her older siblings on May 8, 2024 at around 7.30pm when two gunman pulled up to the house in a stolen gray Infiniti Q50 and opened fire with high-powered rifles.

Shocking surveillance footage captured the moment two men ran down a residential street with their rifles drawn in the moments before police say they fired 20 to 25 shots into the home.

'The front door had so many bullet holes that it looked like Swiss cheese,' Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar told Fox San Antonio at the time.

Maryann was struck in the head and was pronounced dead at the scene, while her parents, ages 25 and 27, and her two siblings, ages seven and eight, were critically injured.

'This is a case we'll never forget,' the sheriff said Friday, as he announced the charges against 20-year-old Bryan Salazar.

'Five members of a family were all shot and Maryann unfortunately lost her life almost instantly after being shot in the head.'

Deputies have been working diligently ever since to find the perpetrators, the sheriff said, and the first arrest came in October 2024, when investigators charged 19-year-old Isaiah Perales in connection with the shooting.

Maryann Marble, four, was shot in the head inside her San Antonio-area home on May 8, 2024

The Bexar County Sheriff's Office has since arrested Bryan Salazar, 20, and Isaiah Perales, 19, in connection with the shooting

Shocking surveillance footage showed the two men running down a residential street with their rifles drawn in the moments before police say they fired 20 to 25 shots into the home

Perales had been booked in jail on separate auto crimes, but arrest records obtained by KENS 5 show investigators reviewed phone calls involving inmates who referred to Perales and Salazar by their nicknames ('Zay' and 'Trapz,' respectively).

In these calls, the inmates allegedly discussed who the intended target was in the shooting that led to Maryann's death.

One person allegedly said at the time it was 'whoever killed Trapz's older brother,' according to the arrest records.

Police now believe Perales and Salazar were seeking retaliation for the shooting death of 20-year-old Xavier Perez - a relative of Salazar's - two weeks prior.

Investigators say the pair stole the Infiniti Q50 used in the drive by within days of Perez's murder and began planning out their attack, though it remains unclear what role Marble's family may have had in Perez's murder.

'This was a calculated act,' Sheriff Salazar said. 'They stole the car, they conducted surveillance and then carried out the shooting.'

Digital evidence ultimately gave police reason to believe that in the hours after the shooting, the suspects may have discarded evidence at Calaveras Lake, where dive teams recovered a Draco-style AK-47 days after Perales' arrest.

Ballistics testing later confirmed the rifle was the same one used in the attack.

Salazar denied any involvement in the crime as he was perp walked on Friday

Shortly after Perales was arrested, dive teams recovered a Draco-style AK-57 rifle from the bottom of Calaveras Lake

Maryann's loved ones celebrated the arrest of a second suspect this week

In the months since, the sheriff's office said it received a number of tips and reviewed cell phone data that eventually led deputies to Salazar.

According to the sheriff, surveillance footage showed both Salazar and Perales scoping out the family home in the days before the shooting.

Cell tower records also showed that both suspect's phones were near the scene of the shooting that night, turned off briefly during the barrage of gunfire and later pinged again near Calaveras Lake - where the rifle was found.

Salazar is now facing eight counts of aggravated assault-mass shooting, two counts of injury to a child in relation to Maryann's siblings injuries and one capital murder charge.

The Bexar County Sheriff's Office also noted that the suspect was previously arrested and charged with tampering with evidence back when Perales was first taken into custody.

He is also facing drug and firearms offenses.

Following the arrest on Friday, Maryann's mother took to Facebook to celebrate.

'They got him baby girl!!!!!! They got him!!!!!!!' she wrote, sharing a photo of her young daughter. 'I knew this day would come I just didn't know when but it's here!!!!!!'

'Today's an amazing day!!!! My angel is going to get her justice soon!!!!'

Following Salazar's arrest on Friday, Maryann's mother took to Facebook to celebrate that her daughter would finally get justice

The grieving mother then went on to call Salazar a 'pos' and said she hopes he and Perales 'rot a slow death in hell.'

But as Salazar was perp walked on Friday, the suspect maintained his innocence.

'Bro, I'm as innocent as can be, bruh,' he told reporters, according to KSAT. 'Hopefully they catch the right people 'cause it ain't me.'

Sheriff Salazar, though, denied that his team took the wrong guy into custody.

'This case is almost 400 pages of just evidence after evidence,' the sheriff said of the case against Salazar. 'My investigators did an awesome job of piecing it all together.'

He noted that Salazar was 'not a very cooperative young man' in the investigation.

'If we have things our way, he's going to spend the rest of his life behind bars, at the very least,' the sheriff said.

Yet the investigation into the shooting is still ongoing, as a third man, Ashton Garcia, remains a person of interest in the case and the sheriff's office continues to seek tips from the public.

'This is a big case,' Sheriff Salazar explained. 'My investigators have done an outstanding job following leads, but there's always more information out there.

'If anybody knows something, we're asking them to come forward.'
Donald Trump said he will be imposing a 100 per cent tariff on any movie made outside of the United States, including Australia

The US President did not specify when or how the tariff could be enacted, but if he follows through with the latest threat, it would mark the first time Trump has imposed a levy on a service rather than a raw good.

The move follows his recent declaration of a 100 per cent tariff on all pharmaceuticals entering the US from next week.

Australia exported $2.2 billion worth of pharmaceutical products to America last year - around 40 per cent of its total drug exports.

Trump has repeatedly complained that pharmaceutical companies sell medicines more cheaply abroad, particularly under schemes like Australia's Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

Now, the film industry is in Trump's sights. Recent US blockbusters filmed in Australia include The Fall Guy starring Ryan Gosling, The Mongoose with Liam Neeson, and Apex featuring Charlize Theron.

Several new studios and sound stages are also being built or planned across the Gold Coast, Coffs Harbour, Byron Bay and Melbourne.

Australia has become a magnet for foreign productions thanks to generous government incentives, including a 30 per cent location offset and a 30 per cent rebate on post-production, digital and visual effects work.

In 202324 alone, foreign film and television projects generated $768 million in screen expenditure in Australia.

Donald Trump said he will be imposing a 100 per cent tariff on any movie made outside of the United States, set to impact Australia

In his Truth Social post, Trump claimed US moviemaking was being 'stolen' by overseas competitors.

'Our movie making business has been stolen from the United States of America, by other Countries, just like stealing 'candy from a baby,'' he wrote.

He went on to criticise Gavin Newsom, California's governor, as 'weak and incompetent', adding that the state has been heavily impacted.

'Therefore, in order to solve this long time, never ending problem, I will be imposing a 100% Tariff on any and all movies that are made outside of the United States. Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! President DJT'.

The president initially threatened a 100 per cent tariff on foreign-produced films in May this year but offered very little details.

Trump said the movie industry was 'DYING a very fast death'.

'WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!'

The vice chairman of United Talent Agency, one of the largest firms in Hollywood, told CNN at the time that Trump's move would virtually halt movie production worldwide: 'It has the ability to bring the movie business to a standstill  which is the last thing Hollywood needs after dual strikes and a content recession.'

Arts minister Tony Burke said the Australian government was monitoring the situation closely.

'Nobody should be under any doubt that we will be standing up unequivocally for the rights of the Australian screen industry.'

Queensland University of Technology media scholar Amanda Lotz told the ABC said the Australian industry has long been reliant on foreign productions.

'The industry may be reliant on productions that are being funded by Hollywood studios because there's just not enough money to sustain an industry on Australian made and circulated goods.'

The president has long voiced concern about movie production moving overseas.

Shortly before he took office, he announced that he had tapped actors Mel Gibson, Jon Voight and Sylvester Stallone to serve as 'special ambassadors' to Hollywood to bring it 'BACK-BIGGER, BETTER, AND STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE!'
Rachel Reeves's plan to 'abolish' youth unemployment will not include tens of thousands signed off sick with anxiety or other mental health problems, it emerged yesterday.

Under the Chancellor's 'youth guarantee', 18 to 21-year-olds who have been on Universal Credit for 18 months without earning or learning will be offered paid work.

If they refuse without a good reason, they will be stripped of their benefits, Ms Reeves said.

But thousands of youngsters on sickness benefits will not be included in the scheme, the Treasury confirmed.

It means young people signed off work with anxiety or depression will not be forced to try one of the government-backed jobs.

Last night the Tories warned that the scheme risked 'incentivising' those who 'game the system'.

Shadow work and pensions spokesman Helen Whately told the Daily Mail: 'Rachel Reeves's so-called youth jobs guarantee is already unravelling.

'By excluding young people on sickness benefits, it risks trapping many on welfare and even incentivising those who game the system.

Rachel Reeves's plan to 'abolish' youth unemployment will not include tens of thousands signed off sick with anxiety or other mental health problems, it emerged yesterday. Pictured: The Chancellor during her keynote speech at the Labour Party Conference on Monday

'Worse still, Labour's 25billion jobs tax and Unemployment Rights Bill makes it harder for businesses to hire and for young people to get on.'

Ms Whately added: 'If Labour were serious about welfare reform, the Prime Minister would accept Kemi Badenoch's offer to help him come up with a savings plan to get the benefits bill under control.'

Almost a million 16 to 24-year-olds  equivalent to one in eight  are not in education, employment or training, known as NEETs.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said that, of those, around 100,000 are out of paid work and have been receiving Universal Credit for at least a year.

Another quarter of a million young people have been on the benefit for at least a year and are not working, yet are exempt from requirements to look for a job  usually because of health conditions or caring responsibilities.

Imran Tahir, senior research economist at IFS, said: 'The key test for this policy will be whether it helps young people move into sustained jobs, rather than simply providing temporary placements.

'And for that to happen, the precise design of the policy  and its ability to encourage employers to sign up to offer these placements  will be critical.'

Yesterday Ms Reeves also spoke of her desire to secure the 'maximum' economic and cultural benefits from a youth mobility scheme with Europe, raising fears of an influx of young adults from the Continent.

Under the Chancellor's 'youth guarantee', 18 to 21-year-olds who have been on Universal Credit for 18 months without earning or learning will be offered paid work. Pictured: The Chancellor during her keynote speech at the conference on Monday, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer

Having started the year saying it had no plans for such a move, the Government is looking at introducing a 'backpackers and baristas' exchange-style scheme to allow tens of thousands of young Europeans to work, travel or study in the UK.

However, the Daily Mail understands it will not be a 'one in, one out' arrangement  meaning many more Europeans could come to Britain than vice versa.

Ministers had been opposed to the idea amid fears it could add to net migration, but positive public polling encouraged them to go further.

There has also been little resistance from opposition parties to the idea, while the EU has made it a cornerstone of negotiations for Sir Keir Starmer's big plan for a 'reset' of post-Brexit relations.

Yesterday Ms Reeves said she did not want young people to 'miss out on the chance to enrich their lives through travel, experiencing other cultures, working and studying abroad'.

'Those opportunities cannot, and must not, be the sole preserve of the wealthy and the fortunate,' she said in her speech to the Labour Party conference in Liverpool.

'I can tell you today that we are working with the European Union to secure for young people in Britain the maximum economic and cultural opportunities available through an ambitious agreement on youth mobility.'
The search for a boy who disappeared into the bush on his family's sheep station three days ago has ramped up.

August, also known as Gus, was last seen playing in sand near the homestead, roughly 40km south of Yunta in South Australia's mid-north, at about 5pm on Saturday.

His family hopes the clothes he was last seen wearing, a grey broad-brimmed hat, blue long-sleeved shirt with a Minion picture from the movie Despicable Me on the front, light grey pants, and boots, will help protect him from the elements.

Superintendent Mark Syrus, officer in charge of the Yorke and Mid North region, said recent weather would have been 'uncomfortable' for Gus.

"He was dressed well for sun conditions and we are hoping that served him well over those cold nights as well," he said.

Police have thrown everything at the search for the young boy, including specialist divers to check water tanks and dams, infrared cameras, dogs, ATVs, and drones.

Locals and volunteers have also joined the search on motorbikes.

However, the sheer size of the 6,000-hectare sheep grazing property has left searchers stumped.

August, nicknamed Gus, went missing from a property (pictured) south of Yunta on Saturday

Police divers have searched dams on the property (pictured) but Gus wasn't known to gravitate to water

'As you can see, it's pretty low-lying, undulating countryside,' Supt Syrus said.

'There's some bluebush, which you would anticipate would be pretty easy to see, but as you can see from the enormity of the property here, it's expansive.

'That's why we've put as many resources as we possibly can into finding young Gus.

'This poor lad just four years old and very close to the family so they're devastated.'

Weatherzone senior meteorologist Brett Dutschke told Daily Mail conditions are expected to cool in the coming days.

'Today it'll be a bit windy. It's pretty cool right now, about 14C, and there's a fairly chilly wind,' he said on Tuesday morning.

'It'll warm up to 22C and tomorrow won't be quite as windy but the morning will be chilly at about 5C or 6C near sunrise.'

Mr Dutschke added the most important thing for Gus is to stay out of the wind, possibly by copying the sheep.

Superintendent Mark Syrus (pictured) said Gus' family is 'devastated' by his disappearance

'That wind will make it feel even colder than the minimum temperature,' he said.

'There's a lot of saltbush in the area that can give shelter. Hopefully he curls up in that, just like sheep do.'

Roughly 3,000 sheep roam the property, which is also full of goats, kangaroos and wallabies.

Australia is also in the midst of snake season with Eastern Brown Snakes known to inhabit the area.

Most dams on the property are dried up and Gus was not known to gravitate towards them.

South Australia Police have not released photos of Gus as per his family's wishes.

Police do not believe Gus has been taken by anyone as the 'only people who would travel on this road are station owners'.

Supt Syrus said it was 'unusual' for Gus to wander as he 'normally stays within the confines of the area'.

August, aged four, was last seen playing in sand near the property homestead (pictured, Yunta surrounds)

'But, who knows what goes through a four-year-old's mind?' he said.

'We understand he's a pretty quiet sort of lad but he is, as you know, a country lad and he's pretty adventurous as well.

'But him moving out of the area is a little bit unusual.'

Anyone with information that may assist police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Rachel Reeves yesterday put Britain on red alert for tax rises amid mounting speculation she is plotting a VAT raid on the middle classes.

In an extraordinary U-turn, the Chancellor ditched her pledge not to raise taxes again, saying 'the world has changed'.

The Prime Minister's Chief Secretary Darren Jones refused to rule out increasing VAT in the Budget, despite a manifesto commitment to keep it at the same level.

And Whitehall sources told the Daily Mail that the Treasury was examining options for adding VAT to services that are currently exempt  with private healthcare and financial services said to be in the firing line.

Putting VAT on private healthcare could raise 2billion for the Treasury, but would hit up to eight million middle-class families.

The Treasury is also looking at options to cut the threshold at which small businesses have to register for VAT, despite pressure from the sector to raise the limit to boost growth.

One source said: 'Raising the headline VAT rate is going to be very difficult after all the promises that have been made. But there are ways of broadening the VAT base that could raise significant sums. We have already seen that with VAT on private school fees  you could now see it with private medical insurance and some of the other items that are exempt.'

It came as:

Keir Starmer prepared to issue another tax warning today, when he will use his keynote party conference speech to say that rebuilding Britain 'requires decisions that are not cost-free or easy';

Ms Reeves signalled a hike in betting taxes to fund the lifting of the two-child benefit cap, saying there was 'a case for gambling firms to pay more';

Labour divisions opened up over the Prime Minister's controversial decision to attack Nigel Farage's immigration policies as 'racist';

Andy Burnham flip-flopped over whether he wants to lead Labour after Ms Reeves savaged his 'dangerously wrong' plans for more spending and borrowing;

Labour activists defied Sir Keir to pass a motion condemning Israel's actions in Gaza as 'genocide';

Ms Reeves called for a new 'youth mobility' deal with Brussels to be 'maximised', as Mr Burnham suggested Britain would rejoin the EU in his lifetime;

The Treasury said a new back-to-work scheme for unemployed youngsters would not apply to tens of thousands who complain of anxiety and other mild mental health conditions;

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood branded the Unite the Kingdom marchers as the 'heirs to skinheads'.

Rachel Reeves, pictured with Sir Keir Starmer, yesterday put Britain on red alert for tax rises amid mounting speculation she is plotting a VAT raid on the middle classes

In November last year, Ms Reeves tried to calm business anger over her 40billion Budget 'tax bomb' by telling the Confederation of British Industry that it was a one-off and she would not be 'not coming back with more borrowing or more taxes'.

But asked to repeat the pledge yesterday, she told the BBC: 'I think everyone can see the world has changed in the last year and we are not immune to that.'

And in her conference speech in Liverpool, Ms Reeves dropped further heavy hints that she is planning further tax rises this autumn, before urging Britons to 'have faith' that she would be able to turn the economy round.

Ms Reeves said: 'In the months ahead we will face further tests, with the choices to come made all the harder by harsh global headwinds and the long-term damage done to our economy, which is becoming ever clearer.'

The comments will fuel fears that the Chancellor is preparing for another round of massive tax hikes to fill an estimated 30 billion black hole in the public finances.

Your browser does not support iframes.

Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride said: 'Under Labour, nothing is safe  not your job, savings, or pension. Rachel Reeves says she won't risk the public finances, but she's already doing that  with more borrowing, higher spending, and more taxes.

'Labour has raised taxes by 40 billion per year, including a 25 billion tax on jobs, and now won't rule out coming back for more.'

In last year's manifesto, Labour pledged not to raise VAT, income tax or National Insurance as part of a 'tax lock' pledge designed to protect 'working people'.

But in recent days both the PM and Chancellor have refused to rule out increasing VAT, saying only that Labour 'stands by' the manifesto.

Mr Jones suggested the 'tax lock' commitments may not survive the Budget, adding: 'The Budget is not until November 26, so we're not going to say at party conference today what the Budget is. We'll tell the country that in Parliament in the normal way.

'The manifesto stands today because decisions haven't been taken yet.'

Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock has called for VAT to be levied on private medical insurance for the first time, saying it could provide 'vital funding' for public services.

But the move would hit millions of people who have taken out private medical insurance because of concerns about the state of the NHS.

The Treasury declined to comment.
Children suffered 'grievous harm' from those who should have been caring for them in the pandemic, the Covid-19 Inquiry was told.

Others became more exposed to violent pornography online or spent most of the day gaming instead of learning.

The impact of the lockdowns that resulted in school closures disrupted the 'very fabric of childhood', the latest module of the inquiry heard on its opening day.

Chairman Baroness Heather Hallett said Covid-19's impact on children and young people was 'severe and, for many, long-lasting' because they missed educational opportunities, social interaction and for the most at-risk they lost protection from abuse.

Counsel to the inquiry Clair Dobbin KC claimed the closure of schools 'starkly highlighted' their importance as the agency that knows children and families best.

Evidence will be produced to show a decline in the number of children referred to social services during school closures.

Ms Dobbin added: 'The reality is there were children who suffered grievous harm at the hands of their carers during the pandemic.

'The carers of those children bear responsibility for the violence and neglect inflicted on children, and these children stand as the starkest examples of what adults are capable of doing to children behind closed doors.'

Chairman Baroness Heather Hallett said Covid-19's impact on children and young people was 'severe and, for many, long-lasting' because they missed educational opportunities, social interaction and for the most at-risk they lost protection from abuse

The inquiry in London heard reference to evidence the Department for Education in England had not begun planning for school closures until after March 16, 2020, a detail described by Ms Dobbin as 'a cause for alarm'.

The evidence of then-education secretary Sir Gavin Williamson is said to describe a 'discombobulating 24-hour sea change' from keeping schools open on March 16 to talking about closing them on March 17, and a decision the next day to shut them.

Referring to differences in Sir Gavin's and then-prime minister Boris Johnson's evidence, she called it 'significant there should be dispute about whether planning for so seismic an event existed'.

Ms Dobbin said schools are the 'early warning system' when it comes to safeguarding.

Looking at time spent on the internet, Ms Dobbin said evidence from the National Crime Agency made the point 'school closures and furlough caused more children and child sexual abuse offenders to be online' and that increased time children spent online was identified 'as a threat'.

She quoted one young person as saying: 'People would answer the remote lesson call in bed and would have the camera off and would be posting on their Instagram stories, literally watching The Only Way Is Essex.'

Teachers, parents and educational psychologists in an impact film shown at the start of yesterday's proceedings spoke about the 'significant' effect on learning and the impact on the mental health of young people.

Steve Broach KC, on behalf of organisations including Save the Children, claimed the interests of children and young people were 'routinely overlooked or deprioritised'. This part of the inquiry is expected to last four weeks.
King Charles has shared his fears over the harmful impact social media is having on young people and the difficulties combating it, a cleric has said.

The monarch, 76, discussed the issue with Church of Scotland Minister Reverend Tommy MacNeil at Balmoral Castle following a Sunday service at nearby Crathie Kirk.

He outlined his concerns about the risks that online platforms can pose to young people during the 40-minute discussion at the royal residence.

He was very concerned about the negative impact social media was having on young people in so many ways, Reverend MacNeil said.

He really understood the problems and the difficulties involved in combating them.

King Charles was clearly very concerned about the whole issue and negative influences on young people from social media.

It is almost impossible to police social media, so we need to find ways to combat that.

King Charles has shared his fears over the harmful impact social media is having on young people and the difficulties combating it, a cleric has said

The monarch, 76, discussed the issue with Church of Scotland Minister Reverend Tommy MacNeil at Balmoral Castle following a Sunday service at nearby Crathie Kirk

Charles has previously spoken about how platforms online can harm childrens mental health.

During a speech at the Princes Trust Invest in Futures event in 2019, he said it makes young people feel inadequate because they often compare themselves to other people they see on social media.

Charles and Reverend MacNeil also spoke about the work The Shed Project does in helping youngsters in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis.

We spoke for 40 minutes and the King was clearly well briefed about The Shed and what we are doing, the cleric, whose normal congregation is at Martins Memorial Church, added.

He was very engaged and 100 per cent appreciative of the work we are doing. Young people today and growing up in a different world to their parents.

The stuff they are accessing on their phones is frightening.

Reverend MacNeil and his wife Donna were invited to Balmoral after he provided a sermon in front of the King and Queen Camilla at Crathie Kirk.

Of his experience with Charles, he said: It was a great honour and he is a wonderful, clearly caring person.

I think Crathie Kirk must be the most prayed church in the Church of Scotland so that helped me overcome my nervousness.

In April, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex called for stronger protections for children from the dangers of social media, saying enough is not being done.

Prince Harry and Meghan unveiled a memorial in New York City which is dedicated to the memory of children whose families believe harmful material online contributed to their deaths.

We want to make sure that things are changed so that... no more kids are lost to social media, Prince Harry told BBC Breakfast in New York.

Life is better off social media, he added, saying that he was grateful that his children were still too young to be online.

The easiest thing to say is to keep your kids away from social media, Prince Harry said at an Archewell Foundation event in New York.

The sad reality is the kids who aren't on social media normally get bullied at school because they can't be part of the same conversation as everybody else.

The royal said tech firms were getting away with it by arguing they didn't need to disclose information to UK families because of privacy considerations.

You are telling a parent, you are telling a dad and a mum that they can't have the details of what their kid was up to on social media because of the privacy of their kid. It's wrong, he said.

Prince William has also championed social media protection through two major initiatives: the Stop, Speak, Support campaign to combat cyberbullying and a social media boycott to protest online abuse in British sports.

He has publicly criticised social media companies for not adequately addressing issues like fake news and hate speech, advocating for them to prioritise user safety and implement better systems for reporting abuse.

New online safety rules, which came into effect in July, require platforms to take action to stop children seeing illegal and harmful material.
If you're searching for a European getaway to celebrate Oktoberfest, but don't have the cash to fly overseas, you may find what you're looking for closer to home in a small Washington mountain town.

Just outside of Seattle lies Bavarian-themed oasis Leavenworth nicknamed 'Mini Munich' that has attracted droves of tourists.

The small city, with just under 3,000 residents, transformed into a tourist hotspot after the logging and sawmill industries declined.

Settlers came to the town for work in the late 19th century, and since Leavenworth was situated on the new railroad, it was the perfect industry hub.

But at the turn of the century, the railroad was rerouted, and Leavenworth became a dying mountain town.

In 1960, Seattle locals Bob Rodgers and Ted Price opened a German-style restaurant in the area named the Squirrel Tree.

They expanded the theme to local businesses, and eventually, Leavenworth became the hotspot it is today, attracting around 3 million visitors a year.

The city launched Leavenworth Improvement for Everyone, LIFE, to revitalize the area by encouraging local businesses to commit to the unique theme.

Leavenworth, a city outside of Seattle, Washington, has transformed into a tourist hub after a period of decline

The city hosts an annual Oktoberfest festival every year, which attracts droves of tourists. Oktoberfest revelers are seen in Leavenworth above

Leavenworth has a consistent Bavarian theme, earning the nickname 'Mini Munich'

'Born out of economic desperation, Project LIFE was a beacon of hope,' Mayor Carl Florea said in a letter to the community.

'Our predecessors understood that without a new economic engine, the community would wither away. And so, Leavenworth embarked on a journey of transformation'.

Several flagship festivals have only added to the promotion of Leavenworth, like the city's annual Oktoberfest, which runs for the first three weekends in October.

Leavenworth's downtown features three different stages where performers showcase Bavarian classics, cover songs, and even polka dancing.

Locals and tourists can also enjoy the city's sprawling street fair and a pop-up carnival that includes a Ferris wheel and carousel.

In November, Leavenworth transforms again into a Village of Lights for its Christmastown festival.

The event runs from Thanksgiving until Christmas Eve, and the outdoor lights stay on until February.

Festivities run throughout the Christmas season, which include performances by the Sugarplums and the Jewel Tones.

 Slide me  The town saw growth in the late 19th century due to the logging and sawmill industry, but it became a ghost town after the railroad rerouted

After two Seattle residents opened up a German-themed restaurant, the town fully embraced the theme, eventually becoming a tourism hotspot

Leavenworth becomes a city of lights during the winter and decorates downtown for its Christmastown festival

Leavenworth celebrates the end of the Christmas season on January 6 with the traditional Epiphany celebration, also known as Dreikonigstag in German and Dia de los Reyes, or Three Kings Day, in Spanish.

The city hosts fire dancers, artisan ice carvers, and fireworks for the Winter Karneval throughout January.

In February, Leavenworth celebrates Valentine's Day with the Love from Leavenworth festival.

To close out the festival season, Maifest is held on weekends in May for the start of spring.

Locals are required to keep the experience going, as residents must adhere to the regulations of the Design Review Board.

The city deemed the Bavarian-Alpine architectural style as the dominant design for buildings in Leavenworth.

As the city has grown in popularity, town officials and locals have had to reckon with the downsides of tourists crowding into the small space.

Jenny Bourgeois, a local farmer, told the Seattle Times that Oktoberfest, 'just seemed like a kind of giant frat party'.

 Slide me  Project LIFE, Leavenworth Improvement for Everyone, launched in the 1960s to help the town thrive after the railroad was rerouted

The project worked and now around 3 million tourists visit the tiny town of just under 3,000 people every year

As Leavenworth becomes more popular, residents have been forced to grapple with the consequences of a higher cost of living and congestion

People dressed in traditional German clothes carry large alpenhorns during the Maifest celebration in Leavenworth in 2024

The town's Christmas lights have caused an influx of traffic, which has been a headache for some residents.

Popularity has also driven up the cost of living, with home values increasing by 73 percent from 2010 to 2020, according to Leavenworth's Housing Needs Assessment.

'We are no longer a town in decline; instead, we attract millions of visitors and potential residents,' Mayor Florea said.

'This popularity has brought unintended consequences. Not only are we seeing the cost of living in our area rise at an exponential rate and small businesses struggling to survive, but our sense of community is eroding'.

As the festival season approaches 'Mini Munich,' locals are once again forced to grapple with maintaining the city's golden-ticket bit while recognizing that Leavenworth is still a real town.
A renowned beauty, famous courtesan, and lover of British naval hero Lord Horatio Nelson, Lady Emma Hamilton was one of the biggest celebrities of her day.

Now, more than 200 years after she died in debt and destitution at the age of 49, scientists believe they have rediscovered Lady Hamilton's lost remains.

Bones, uncovered in an 'English section' of the Calais North Cemetery following a decade-long search, have been tentatively identified as belonging to Emma Hamilton.

A digital reconstruction based on the recovered skull offers the first true glimpse of the face that captivated Lord Nelson and so many of London's wealthy elites.

The identification was made by Dr Philippe Charlier, a forensic anthropology expert who has studied the remains of Richard the Lionheart and King Louis IX of France.

Dr Charlier and his assistants were asked to make a reconstruction based on the skull after being told only that it belonged to a white European woman in her 40s.

The result is an image of a pretty woman with high cheekbones, a strong chin, and a 'slightly protruding jaw'.

Although the experts cannot be certain that this really is Lady Hamilton, a digital reconstruction based on the skull bears a striking resemblance to her many portraits.

Scientists have created a digital reconstruction of Lady Emma Hamilton, the lover of Admiral Horatio Nelson, based on newly uncovered remains

Lady Hamilton, born Amy Lyon, was the daughter of a Cheshire blacksmith who rose to the highest reaches of society thanks to her good looks and quick wit.

At the age of 16, she was taken as a mistress by the wealthy aristocrat Sir Harry Fetherstonhaugh, the MP for Portsmouth.

When Sir Harry eventually grew bored with the young Lady Hamilton, then 26, he sent her to his widowed uncle, Sir William Hamilton, 60, the British envoy to Naples, whom she would soon marry.

However, in 1793, while Sir Hamilton was still stationed in Naples, the newlyweds were introduced to a young and recently-married naval captain named Horatio Nelson.

Nelson was instantly smitten with Lady Hamilton and the two began an affair in 1799, which would last the rest of Nelson's life.

The relationship was scandalously open, with Lady Hamilton giving birth to Nelson's daughter, Horatia, in 1801, and Nelson often living with both Lady Hamilton and her husband.

However, after the deaths of both her husband in 1803 and Nelson in 1805, Lady Hamilton was left without any source of income and soon became destitute.

After her release from debtor's prison, Lady Hamilton fled to Calais, where she reportedly became an alcoholic and died in 1815.

Lady Hamilton, pictured here in 1782, was born the daughter of a Cheshire blacksmith, but rapidly rose through the ranks of English society, eventually having a daughter with Lord Nelson. However, after Nelson's death, Lady Hamilton quickly became destitute

Her remains were initially buried in the churchyard of St Pierre's in Calais, but her body was moved and lost at some point during the 20th century.

However, after enlisting the help of municipal gravediggers, Calais town councillor Dominique Darre finally found a skull and skeleton that matched Lady Hamilton in another graveyard.

Dr Charlier has examined the remains and believes that there is a very strong chance that the bones truly do belong to Lady Hamilton.

Using radiocarbon dating, Dr Charlier found that the remains belonged to a woman aged between 45 and 55 who died in about 1815.

The researchers also found forensic evidence that matches the scant facts we have about Lady Hamilton's death.

Dr Charlier told The Guardian: 'Traces on the mouth and teeth suggest alcohol abuse, though the rest of the body appears to have been in a healthy state.

'There were no traces of conditions and diseases like rickets, common in the general population at the time.'

The condition of the bones has made DNA identification impossible at this time, but a digital reconstruction of the skull is a near-perfect match for Lady Hamilton's likeness.

Lady Hamilton met the young Horatio Nelson in 1791, shortly after Nelson married his wife, Frances Nelson. In 1801, Lady Hamilton gave birth to Nelson's daughter, Horatia

The painter George Romney saw Lady Hamilton as his muse and had her sit for portraits over 100 times between April 1782 and March 1786 alone.

Although the researchers avoid referencing the dozens of portraits which capture Lady Hamilton's likeness, they were struck by the likeness to their reconstruction.

The remains, which were exhumed in 2021, have now been moved to a new tomb at the Calais Notre Dame church, where Lady Hamilton's funeral was believed to have been held.

Mr Darre, who has led the search for Lady Hamilton for over a decade, says: 'We have done this as memorial and homage to a woman who was forgotten but who is part of the history of Calais and part of our common history.'
These days, most smartphones are kitted out with facial recognition technology, multiple cameras and wireless charging systems.

But back in the 90s we were much more easily impressed, with handsets causing a stir if they had a camera at all.

Now, it seems these socalled 'dumbphones' are having a resurgence  fuelled by Prime Minister Keir Starmer's plans to introduce mandatory digital ID cards for every UK citizen.

Following the announcement of the socalled 'BritCard'  a digital ID card that will include your name, date of birth, and a photo as well as information on your nationality and residency status  several Brits have vowed to revert to retro devices.

Taking to X, one user said: 'Cant make me have digital ID if i have a Nokia 3210.'

Another wrote: 'There's only one way to deal with digital ID. Everybody revert back to the Nokia 6210.'

And one joked: 'Looks like Nokia 402's are back on the menu boys!'

The news come shortly after more than 2.5 million people signed a petition against plans for new digital ID cards, which called it a 'step towards mass surveillance and digital control'.

Digital ID cards could be mandatory for every worker in the UK by 2029, under Labour's latest plan. However, critics have blasted the policy as 'dystopian'

As resistance to the implementation of digital ID grows, many social media users have claimed they will switch to a 'brick phone' to avoid having to download the ID app

On X, one commenter boasted that they had already 'ordered a dumb phone' with no apps or WiFi in preparation for the introduction of digital ID

The idea to switch to a socalled 'dumb phone' comes from the fact that the digital ID is expected to be downloadable from a government app.

The ID will be securely stored on the smartphone itself, just like how contactless payment cards and data on the NHS App are stored today.

Social media users have therefore leapt to the conclusion that they can avoid downloading a digital ID by switching to a phone that can't run the government app.

One commenter wrote: 'This is why I opted for an old school flip phone instead of a 'smart' phone. Can't put apps on it, therefore no tracking apps. No digital I.D.'

'No Palantir digital ID for me. I'd rather get a flip phone,' added another.

While another suggested that it was 'time to buy that dumb phone'.

One social media user on X even boasted that they had already ordered a dumb phone with no apps, WiFi, and only limited internet access in preparation for the introduction of digital ID.

However, for those planning to ditch their smartphones and dodge the digital ID, it was Nokia's legendary 'brick phones' that stood out as the obvious choice.

For those looking to ditch their smartphones, Nokia's legendary brick phones (pictured) stood out as the obvious device of choice

One commenter joked that everybody should 'revert back to the Nokia 6210' in order to avoid being able to download the digital ID

Another commenter joked that the Nokia 402, first released in 1998, would be making a comeback as Brits tried to dodge digital ID

Your browser does not support iframes.

What is the point of digital ID cards? The card could be used to prove someone is who they say they are, and that they have the right to be in Britain. Currently, when people start a new job in the UK, they are asked to provide proof of identity in the form of a passport or driver's licence  but these are more easily forged than a digital ID, according to the government. Labour is interested in the programme to crack down on illegal working. This would theoretically reduce the attraction of Britain to small boat migrants and other illegal immigrants. It would also make it harder for foreigners coming to Britain legally who fail to leave and carry on working. Digital ID could also have other uses, such as proving the right to rent a property. Advertisement

Throughout the 1990s, Nokia released a series of extremely popular mobile phones which, despite being basic by modern standards, were relatively advanced for the time.

In addition to being famously nearindestructible, these were the first phones to feature an internal antenna, texting functions, custom ringtones, and preinstalled games like Snake.

So, as privacykeen commenters began to look for a smartphone alternative, many joked that these classic designs might make a comeback.

'There's only one way to deal with digital ID. Everybody revert back to the Nokia 6210,' one commenter wrote.

Another social media user added: 'Can't make me have a digital ID if I have a Nokia 3210.'

One commenter joked: 'Looks like Nokia 402s are back on the menu boys!'

While another mused: 'Think I might ditch my smartphones and get an old Nokia flip phone.'

Unfortunately, these plans rest on a misunderstanding of how the new digital ID system is intended to work.

Unfortunately, these claims rest on a misunderstanding about what digital ID is. No one will be required to carry their digital ID with them at all times, so choosing to use a smartphone or a dumb phone will not change anything

The only time UK residents will be required to use a digital ID is while proving their right to work. Residents are already legally required to present ID when starting a new job, and not having a smartphone will not remove the obligation to prove the right to work

Under the plans, UK residents won't be required to carry a phone with a digital ID downloaded with them at all times.

Nor will the police be able to demand to see your digital ID, just as the police cannot currently demand that you produce identification beyond asking for your name and address.

The only time that a digital ID will be legally required is to check that you have the right to work in the UK, something that employers are already legally required to do.

Digital ID will not change when and where UK residents are required to present ID; the only difference is that employers would need to check the digital ID rather than other valid documents.

That means changing to a dumbphone won't change when you need to carry an ID or remove the obligation to present a digital ID when starting a new job.

For people who don't have a smartphone or can't use one, the government says that it is planning to make the new system 'inclusive'.

The government says that it will 'Ensure there are alternative routes to obtain the digital ID for those who cannot use a smartphone, or need extra assistance.'

However, the technical details of this plan are still under consultation, so it is not yet clear what alternatives will be available.
After a stressful day at work, many people enjoy indulging in a large glass of their favourite wine.

Now, if you have a cat or dog, your pet can join in on the plonkfuelled relaxation.

Muttley's Estate, a company based in Aotearoa, New Zealand, has unveiled a range of petfriendly wines.

Instead of alcohol, the wines  including Chapawgne, Purrno Noir, and Sauvignon Bark  contain catnip.

This common herb is effective in relaxing cats as well as dogs, according to Muttley's Estate.

'Just like in cats, some dogs may experience a calming effect when exposed to catnip,' the company explains on its website.

'This can be useful in situations where a dog is experiencing anxiety or stress, such as during thunderstorms or fireworks.'

At $12.99 NZD (5.60) for 150ml, the petfriendly wine certainly isn't cheap  so, would you treat your pet to a bottle?

After a stressful day at work, many people enjoy indulging in a large glass of their favourite wine. Now, if you have a cat or dog, your pet can join in on the plonkfuelled relaxation (stock image)

To create its wines, Muttley's Estate grows its own catnip, before combining the herb with water and preservatives.

'Crafted from the finest catnip harvested under the New Zealand sun, our catnip wine is a sensory masterpiece designed to enchant and captivate,' it explains on its website.

'Each sip unveils a symphony of flavours, a delicate dance of herbs and botanicals that evoke the essence of our land.'

Rather than being a fun novelty, Muttley's Estate claims the petfriendly wine has several health benefits for cats and dogs.

For cats, this includes stress reduction, mood enhancement, appetite stimulation, and natural insect repellent.

'Catnip contains a compound called nepetalactone, which can trigger a response in cats, leading to euphoria or relaxation,' the company explains.

'This can help reduce stress and anxiety in cats, especially in situations like moving to a new home or visiting the veterinarian.'

Meanwhile, dogs may experience a calming effect, as well as deep relaxation, appetite stimulation, and digestive aid.

Pet owners can choose between seven varieties, each priced at $12.99 NZD (5.60) for 150ml (three servings). The wine names have all been given at petthemed twist  including Pawt, Cabarknet, Prosecatt, and Meowse

Pet owners can choose between seven varieties, each priced at $12.99 NZD (5.60) for 150ml (three servings).

The wine names have all been given a petthemed twist  including Pawt, Cabarknet, Prosecatt, and Meowse.

Several impressed buyers have left reviews of the wines on the website.

'Am loving the Sauvignon Bark, my dog gets very anxious and associates wind and rain now to thunderstorms etc,' one customer wrote.

'So, I use this when I know bad weather is coming and it definitely relaxes her.'

Another joked: 'Who says wine is just for humans? Highly recommend for the fancy fur babies out there!'
NASA will put an entire 'village' on the moon by 2035, according to the US space agency's boss.

Sean Duffy, NASA administrator, has revealed plans to build a sustainable and permanent outpost on the lunar surface within the next decade.

Mr Duffy appeared on a panel at the International Aeronautical Congress (IAC) in Sydney alongside the heads of other international space agencies.

During the panel, he said: 'We are going to have sustained human life on the moon.

'Not just an outpost, but a village.'

As early as February next year, NASA will launch the Artemis II mission and send four astronauts on the first lunar trip in over 50 years.

While Artemis II will not land on the moon's surface, NASA's ultimate goal is to establish a long-term base on the moon.

That base will likely be nuclear-powered, capable of housing astronauts on a permanent basis, and built out of the materials found on the lunar surface.

Asked what success would look like for NASA in a decade, Mr Duffy said: 'We are going to have sustained human life on the moon.' This comes as the space agency prepares for its first missions to the lunar surface since the end of the Apollo programme

Acting NASA director Sean Duffy (pictured) has said the space agency will build a 'village' on the moon by 2035

This year, the theme of the IAC conference was 'Sustainable Space: Resilient Earth', which Mr Duffy took to mean how NASA could sustain life in space.

While the heads of the European, Canadian, and Japanese space agencies talked up how their satellites were helping climate research, NASA focused exclusively on space exploration.

In addition to revealing his plans for the moon, Mr Duffy also made bold claims about the US's ambitions for Mars.

Asked what success looks like for NASA in a decade, Mr Duffy said that the agency would have 'made leaps and bounds on our mission to get to Mars.'

He also predicted that the US would be 'on the cusp of putting human boots on Mars.'

However, NASA's more immediate goal is to put humans back on the moon for the first time since the Apollo missions concluded in 1972.

During the Artemis II mission next February, astronauts will test the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft that will eventually carry humans to the moon.

Over 10 days, the crew will travel 5,700 miles (9,200 km) past the moon, testing the onboard systems and gathering data on their bodies' reactions, before returning to Earth.

Sean Duffy, NASA administrator, has revealed plans to build a sustainable and permanent outpost on the lunar surface within the next decade (AI image)

As early as February 2026, NASA will launch the Artemis II mission and send four astronauts on a mission to orbit the moon. Their goal is to test the equipment and systems that will be used in a lunar landing scheduled for mid-2027

NASA's Artemis Mission Timeline Artemis I Uncrewed lunar flight test

Launched November, 2022 Artemis II Crewed Lunar Flyby

Launch planned for April, 2026 Artemis III Crewed Surface Landing

Launch planned for mid-2027 Artemis IV Building First Lunar Space Station

Launch targeting September 2028 Advertisement

But the big test for NASA will come in mid-2027 with the launch of Artemis III, which plans to land two astronauts at a site near the moon's south pole.

Unlike the Apollo missions, which spent up to 22 hours on the lunar surface, Artemis III will require astronauts to live on the moon for around seven days.

The data they collect on the geology and conditions around the South Pole will all be used to prepare for the ultimate goal of constructing a permanent base on the moon.

Although the technical details are still unclear, what that lunar base might look like is starting to take shape.

In August, Mr Duffy launched a directive, calling for the US to become the first nation to put a nuclear reactor on the moon.

Following that, NASA has now issued a Request For Information (RFI), asking companies to register their interest in building the reactor.

Dubbed the Fission Surface Power System, NASA says this reactor will need to weigh less than 15 tonnes and be capable of producing 100kWe of power.

That is enough energy to power a lunar base through the 14-day lunar nights, during which solar panels will be ineffective.

This comes after NASA issued a directive calling for the USA to become the first nation to deploy a nuclear reactor on the moon to support a permanent lunar settlement. Pictured: A NASA rendering of a potential lunar nuclear reactor design

Any reactor that proves itself useful on the moon will also be valuable for future Martian exploration missions, where the extreme distances require humans to stay on the surface for long periods.

NASA has also begun to research the materials which could be used to create the structure of the base.

In a recent experiment, astronauts on the ISS practised cement mixing techniques to see how well they worked in conditions outside of Earth's gravity.

In a statement, NASA officials said one option for building the moon base could be 'using the microgravity environment to mix lunar soil with other materials to make cement and build habitable structures on the moon.'

If that proves viable, the base could be 3D printed by machines sent to the moon on rockets, using only the lunar soil and water found at the South Pole site.

Despite fears that President Donald Trump would lose interest in missions to the moon, under Mr Duffy, NASA has taken an increasingly bold stance on lunar exploration.

In a recent statement, Mr Duffy said that NASA would 'win the second space race' against China through the Artemis programme.

Dr Duffy said: 'We're going back to the Moon, and this time, when we plant our flag, we stay.'
An ICE agent who was filmed brutally slamming a woman to the ground in front of her children has been 'relieved' of his duties, according to an official.

Now-viral footage of the male officer showed him throwing her to the hard ground as he repeatedly told her 'adios'.

The woman was heard pleading with the plain-clothes official at the New York City customs and immigration offices after her husband was detained and whisked away by ICE agents just moments earlier.

Karma: The ICE agent who was seen body slamming a woman onto the floor has been 'relieved' of his duties, according to an official

Her young daughter cried as her mother was violently forced to the floor and witnesses rushed to surround her.

Now, days after the vicious moment took the Internet by storm, it has been confirmed that the unnamed officer has been 'relieved' of his duties, Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security, told People.

'The officers conduct in this video is unacceptable and beneath the men and women of ICE,' McLaughlin added.

It is unclear if the agent is still employed with the agency or not. The Daily Mail reached out to McLaughlin for clarification.

Just before things got physical, the woman was heard pleading with the ICE agent in Spanish, saying: 'Please take me too,' CBS reported.

Shocking: The woman is seen on the ground with complete terror in her face after she was thrown by the agent

WATCH: Illegal alien desperately holds onto to his wife and kids as they resist his arrest by masked ICE agents outside immigration courts in NYC



Agents are able to wrestle him away and escort him down the stairs to a processing center on another floor pic.twitter.com/KyNz7eYQ5a  Elaad Eliahu (@elaadeliahu) September 25, 2025

'They are going to kill him. They pulled my hair. You guys don't care about anything,' she added.

She reached for the officer's arm and in response he shoved her with both hands into the wall and slammed her onto the ground.

He can be heard saying 'adios, adios' as he slammed her away from him.

Court security then arrived to remove the weeping woman.

According to New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, who was just one of many to condemn the video online, she placed in an ambulance and taken to the hospital following the altercation. Her injuries and condition are unknown.

Tearful: The woman's young daughter watched in tears as her mom was pushed to the floor

Pleading: The woman pleaded with ICE after her husband was ripped away from her by masked agents

Lander acknowledged the fatal shooting on ICE agents in Texas on Wednesday which left one immigrant dead and two more injured, but said he must condemn all 'political violence'.

'Lets be clear: every day, masked ICE agents are acting violently against our neighbors, illegally abducting them, holding them in cruel and inhumane conditions. Treating them as less-than-human, and not deserving due process.

'We want ICE out of New York City. And we wont stop showing up until they stop abducting our neighbors.'

New York Congressman Dan Goldman was also in the building at the time, and posted on X that the family had come to his office following the exchange which he called an 'egregious act of excessive force'.

He said: 'This is unacceptable conduct from this ICE agent.

'Secretary Noem must take appropriate disciplinary action and implement measures to prevent this from happening again.'

According to Lander, the woman's husband had been taken into custody 'seconds earlier' by immigration agents who were masked and had not identified themselves.

They also reportedly declined to present a warrant or give lawful grounds for his arrest.

Condemned: According to New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, who was just one of many to condemn the video online, the woman was placed in an ambulance and taken to the hospital

In the video of his arrest, the man held onto his wife and children as the masked agents grabbed him outside of New York City immigration courts.

The agents pulled him away from his crying family and shoved him down the hallway to the processing center on another floor.

Lander said that the woman is a mother to two children. According to The New York Times, she and her family had arrived in the United States from Ecuador last year.

He said: 'He was ripped out of her arms right in front of the family.'
Ticketless train travel is set to be launched for the first time in the UK as part of a digital trial.

Rail passengers in Yorkshire have been invited to take part in the scheme which will remove the need for them to buy tickets.

Travellers can sign up for digital rail ticket trials on East Midlands Railway and Northern trains.

People travelling on Northern services between Leeds and Harrogate will be able to download an app from today which will track their journey and charge them the lowest possible fare at the end of the day.

For ticket inspections and to go through ticket barriers, a unique bar code will appear.

The Department for Transport said it was 'bringing ticketing into the 21st century'.

Rail minister Lord Peter Hendy said: 'These trials are modernising fares and ticketing, making it simpler and easier for people to choose rail.

'As part of our Plan for Change, we're delivering straightforward, stress-free train travel across the north, supporting passengers and boosting economic growth, jobs and homes.'

People travelling on Northern services between Leeds and Harrogate will be able to download an app from today. Pictured: A Northern train in the Leeds area

The trial will also be rolled out on Northern trains between Sheffield and Doncaster on October 27 and the operator's Sheffield to Barnsley services on November 24.

The scheme has begun this month - and rail passengers travelling between Leicester, Derby and Nottingham have already been able to take part, with Northern Trains now set to join in.

The Government said the initial pilot of the scheme in the East Midlands had been successful.

Alex Hornby, customer and commercial manager at Northern, said: 'We're proud to be at the forefront of simplifying rail travel for our customers in the North.

'These trials mark a significant step forward in making train journeys simpler, smarter and more flexible whether for work, leisure or everyday journeys.'

Passengers will be given 15 worth of free travel for taking part.

Northern passengers are already moving to modern ticketing, with January figures showing Northern hit a monthly average of almost 78 per cent usage of mobile tickets and reached a single-day high of 89 per cent.

In June last year, Northern reported the growing preference for mobile tickets amongst its passengers had led to a reduction of 2.3 million orange 'magstripe' tickets across the previous 12 months.

This technology replaces the need for paper tickets or more commonly used mobile tickets using QR codes bought online or in-app ahead of your journey, the GOV.UK website explains.

Without the need to plan and book journeys in advance, the app tracks your journey and determines which trains you took, detecting when you've left the rail network.

Up to 4,000 passengers can take part in these trials by simply signing up via the relevant train operator's website, taking advantage of simpler and more flexible train travel, and a guarantee of the best value fare on the day.

This technology has already been tested widely in Switzerland, Denmark and Scotland, however this marks the first time these trials are being brought to England's rail network.
Known for its cobbled streets, turquoise waters and bustling art scene, it's no wonder this picture-postcard town was voted the nation's happiest holiday location.

Nestled on the rugged Cornwall coastline, St Ives has been a paradise for families, surfers and artists for over a century.

And now, a survey of 12,000 UK travellers has ranked St Ives the UK's 'happiest place', followed by Keswick in the Lake District and Whitby, on the North Yorkshire coast.

Each year, St Ives welcomes around 540,000 day trippers and 220,000 staying visitors, with many coming to experience one of the five beaches.

Once a fishing village, the opening of the St Erth to St Ives railway line, which has become a tourist attraction in its own right, brought a new generation of Victorian seaside holidaymakers to the town.

Author Virginia Woolf is said to have been inspired by her time in St Ives to write her novel, To the Lighthouse, through her childhood summers spent at the family home, Talland House, and the iconic Godrevy Lighthouse she viewed from there.

The train journey to St Ives has also been crowned one of the most scenic in Britain, featuring spectacular views of the golden sands of Hayle Towans and Carbis Bay.

St Ives is known for its unique glowing light caused by the reflection of sunlight off the golden granite sand and white seashells, bathing the town in a soft, warm glow.

Nestled on the rugged Cornwall coastline, St Ives has been a paradise for families, surfers and artists for over a century. And now, a survey of 12,000 UK travellers has ranked St Ives the UK's 'happiest place'

The train journey to St Ives has been crowned one of the most scenic in Britain, featuring spectacular views of the golden sands of Hayle Towans and Carbis Bay

The town is also famed for its world-renowned artistic heritage, which is celebrated through galleries like the Tate St Ives and the Barbara Hepworth Museum, showcasing both local and international art.

Just a short boat trip away is Seal Island, the largest of a group of tiny islands called The Carracks, which is home to a colony of Atlantic grey seals.

As well as the seals, the islands are home to anglerfish, dogfish, sea anemones and a century-old shipwreck which is a popular diving site.

There's also a chance of seeing basking sharks, dolphins or porpoises; and every couple of years there's a humpback whale sighting around St Ives.

For hikers, there is no shortage of scenic, coastal walks including the South West Coast Path along the cliffs.

For those seeking a challenging hike, the 12-mile coast-to-coast pilgrimage to St Michael's Mount in Marazion offers stunning 360-degree hilltop views in all seasons.

West Cornwall's foodie scene is also thriving in St Ives. Beachside restaurant Porthminster Beach Cafe specialises in sensational seafood alongside sublime views.

The Sloop Inn on the harbour is one of the oldest inns in Cornwall and dates from 1312. It's a favourite with fishermen, artists - and tourists.

For hikers, there is no shortage of scenic, coastal walks including the South West Coast Path along the cliffs (pictured)

The slower pace of life appeals to many tourists escaping the hustle and bustle of the city in favour of the Cornish coast.

The town has a strong community feel rooted in its historic fishing harbour and artistic heritage with plenty of independent shops, galleries and bars.

Overall, in the survey by holidaycottages.co.uk, Cornwall was voted the UK's happiest region for a staycation, followed by Devon and Cumbria.

The data comes as part of the company's 2025 Happiest Places campaign which takes a closer look at the activities and destinations that bring UK staycationers the most joy.

Sarah Pring, Digital PR Manager at holidaycottages.co.uk, said: 'Joy and happiness can be found in so many areas of life - whether that's getting active in some of the UK's most scenic locations, sharing a laugh with family over fish and chips on the beach, or seeing the wonder of wildlife through the eyes of your children.

'Although everyone's happy place is different, we wanted to explore some of the shared moments of happiness experienced across the UK, in the hope of inspiring more travellers to discover their own.'

With its breathtaking scenery and endless activities, St Ives could be the perfect solution to fighting off the autumn blues.
The last thing a passenger wants during a flight is to feel cramped next to a stranger, no matter the length of the journey.

Fortunately, a new scheme has been launched by a major airline which could see travellers be given the opportunity to keep the seat next to them empty.

Virgin Australia has introduced 'Neighbour-Free seating' on select short-haul international and domestic flights.

In a dream move for introverts or those who simply want a little more space in a tiny plane, passengers can now reserve the seat beside them.

Using the airlines app, economy passengers can save the spot at 'an accessible price point' of 14 ($30).

But that doesn't necessarily mean the seat will definitely be empty.

The holidaymaker will be notified if their bid is successful two hours before the flight is due to take off.

If the seat ends up reserved by someone else, the passenger will be refunded their bid.

Virgin Australia has introduced 'Neighbour-Free seating' on select short-haul international and domestic flights

The new product comes after a consumer survey in 2023 by Velocity Frequent Flyer found 42 per cent of Virgin Australia passengers would be open to paying for the middle seat to remain empty on international flights longer than three hours.

Meanwhile, 35 per cent admitted they would do the same on a domestic flight that lasted more than three hours.

Virgin Australia Executive, Libby Minogue explained how the airline wanted to give customers more space 'without the price tag'.

She said: 'Our priority is to give Virgin Australia guests even more value and choice when they choose to fly with us.

'Neighbour-Free Seating is a clever add-on for Economy travellers who want the certainty of extra space without the price tag.'

The airline boss revealed the move was based on the wants of passengers.

Libby added: 'We actively listen to guest feedback, and this initiative is a direct response to what our customers have told us they want.

'It is a step forward in enhancing the onboard experience and a game changer for those who want more comfort and space during their flight.'

In a dream move for introverts or those who simply want a little more space in a tiny plane, passengers can now reserve the seat beside them (stock)

Other airlines offer similar options, including Air France which has 'Empty Seat - My Extra Space'.

With this scheme, passengers can book up to three seats next to them for 'greater comfort, space, and privacy'.

It comes as a Ryanair flight was diverted after a passenger reportedly 'ate his passport' and another attempted to flush one down the toilet.

The plane recently jetted off from Milan to London Stansted but quickly turned to chaos.
Tourists heading to one Italian city may be charged a fee for each day they bring their dog along with them.

South Tyrol, which is a province located in northeast Italy, draws visitors in with its mountainous landscapes and historic sites.

However, a new draft law could be brought in next year, aimed at tourists with pooches.

The proposed rule would see visitors cough up 1.50 (1.31) each day, per pet, according to Italian publication Ansa.

Locals won't be exempt, however, and could be charged around 100 (87.28) a year for owning a dog.

The area previously had a dog tax in place but this was scrapped 16 years ago.

In the meantime, genetic testing has been used in the last couple of years instead to help catch owners who didn't clean up after their dogs.

This involved a compulsory dog DNA registration which reportedly cost from 37.

South Tyrol, which is a province located in northeast Italy , draws visitors in with its mountainous landscapes and historic sites

However, a new draft law could be brought in next year, aimed at tourists with pooches (stock)

However, not many people followed the rule and it was hard to implement - according to the New York Times, only 12,000 of 30,000 dog owners registered.

Those who did log their pooches on the database will reportedly be exempt from the tax for two years.

Dog owners who don't clean up their pet's waste from streets could face fines of between 200 and 600 (174 and 523), in a bid to keep the area tidy.

However, the new proposed rule has been hit with backlash from animal rights group Italian Association for the Defense of Animals and the Environment (AIDDA).

The group called the move 'pure madness'.

'This tax is pure madness and contrasts with what happens in the rest of Italy, where no taxes are paid on pet ownership,' they told Ansa.

The group even went on to urge people to 'immediate boycott it' and pushed authorities to 'backtrack' on the plans.

Another organisation, the Italian National Animal Protection Agency, also slammed the proposals.

The proposed rule would see visitors cough up 1.50 (1.31) each day, per pet, according to Italian publication Ansa

According to the Independent, the group's president Carla Rocchi said: 'After the resounding and costly failure of the absurd dog DNA project, instead of focusing on civic education, targeted checks, and citizen awareness, we're once again choosing the easy way out: taxing animals and their owners.'

'This measure not only penalises families and tourists who choose to travel with their dogs, but also sends a profoundly flawed message: turning animals into taxpayers' cash machines.'

She felt it could push people to abandon their dogs or discourage 'responsible travel'.

Meanwhile, provincial councillor Luis Walcher defended the proposed rule.

He said: 'This is a fair measure because it concerns dog owners exclusively. Otherwise, sidewalk cleaning would be the responsibility of the entire community, when it must be said that the only filth on our city streets is dog waste.'
A Canadian man living in the UK revealed how he narrowly avoided arrest whilst visiting London - all due to a difference in how Brits and Canadians number floors in buildings.

Nick Toredes, who moved to London with his partner, Anthony, in 2022, shared his story in a viral video posted to Instagram, sparking debate over cultural and linguistic differences between the two nations.

In the video, posted to his account @nicktoteda on September 10, the content creator sat on the floor of his bedroom as he recounted his brush with the law.

Visibly perplexed, Toteda said: 'British people... I just nearly went to jail for breaking and entering because of your lingo.'

He explained he had booked an Airbnb in a block of London flats, and after picking up the keys, messaged the host to ask which apartment was his.

The host helpfully assisted Toteda and told him would be able to find the flat on 'the first floor to the right.'

Having interpreted 'first floor' in the Canadian and American sense - the ground level - Torteda went ahead and tried unlocking the door on that floor.

However he soon discovered the key didn't fit the lock.

Nick Toredes, who moved to London in 2022, revealed how he narrowly avoided arrest whilst visiting London - all due to a difference in how Brits and Canadians number floors in buildings (stock image)

When he contacted the host, they advised him to try all three locks on the door and 'really pull' the handle due to the age of the building.

As Toteda followed the instructions, the door was suddenly opened by a bewildered resident on the other side.

The content creator said: 'She's like, "Pardon me? Can I help you? Why are you doing that to my door?"'

Caught off guard by the unexpected encounter, he explained he was trying to enter his Airbnb, to which the women pointed out that he was at her home and not a rental.

As he showed her the messages and instructions from the host, it became clear that he had misinterpreted the first floor for being the ground floor.

In the UK, the first floor refers to the level above the ground floor.

After successfully locating and entering the correct flat, he had asked his host why they hadn't just said 'second floor,' to which they clarified the 'first floor' means the first above ground level.

The blogger said: 'Apparently British people say ground floor and then one. Every other country I've been to, it's been one, two, three, like counting levels to a house. I'm lucky she's not pressing charges because I could not survive in jail to be honest.'

While hundreds of viewers found Toteda's situation amusing, others were less sympathetic

While hundreds of viewers found Toteda's situation amusing, others were less sympathetic.

One person wrote, 'It isnt just a British thing. Its literally everywhere in the world apart from the States!' while another said, 'We say ground floor cos it's on the ground and no steps are needed. It's the norm dude.'

A third commented: 'Is it me or is ground floor extremely normal globally. Like every country Ive been. Even hotels in the USA from my experience'

A fourth chimed: 'You didn't nearly "go to jail". You annoyed a woman by trying to enter her ground floor flat when you were staying on the first floor. The police were not called. You were not facing arrest at any time.'

One person, who resonated with Toteda's mix-up, said: 'I think it's all of Europe, same in France. I made the same mistake.'
From Barafundle Bay to Glamorgan, there are plenty of beautiful spots to explore in Wales that attract hordes of crowds.

But there is one gorgeous Welsh village that locals don't want tourists to discover, and for good reason.

Stackpole village, in Pembrokeshire, is home to just 200 residents and is a medieval settlement dating back to 1735.

The area has an interesting history - it was moved and rebuilt to make room for Stackpole Estate, which was once home to a grand Georgian mansion that was later destroyed and is now a National Trust site.

Now, after seeing Barafundle Bay named as the UK's most-loved beach, the nearby Stackpole village wants to remain out of the limelight and avoid attracting hordes of social media tourists.

Residents are trying to avoid converting homes to holiday lets and a consensus of the local community being put first maintained throughout the village.

A beloved 16th-century watering hole, the Stackpole Inn, has kept its history and original features instead of expanding the business to suit the needs of added visitors.

Cultural heritage preservation is a big effort for the local area, and traditional celebrations including the Lantern Festival are kept as a local community affair.

From Barafundle Bay (pictured) to Glamorgan, there are plenty of beautiful spots to explore in Wales that attract hordes of crowds

But there is one gorgeous Welsh village that locals don't want tourists to discover, and for good reasons. Pictured: Visitors at Barafundle Bay

The ritual dates back to the 11th century and though not consistently prominent, this year was celebrated by a lantern parade organised by National Trust Cymru.

At the time, Rhian Sula, a General Manager for Pembrokeshire told Journee: Its great to be able to host an event that gets people to come together at Stackpole after the depths of winter and really connect with the landscape and our cultural heritage.

Elsewhere in the village, 800-year-old St James Church boasts medieval stonework and other impressive features.

However, wardens reportedly don't organise activities that could draw in too much attention from tourists.

Instead of being overwhelmed by the millions of annual visitors to Pembrokeshire, Stackpole hopes to preserve its community through more sustainable tourism.

Visitors can stay at The Stackpole Inn all year round, and Pembroke has plenty of other accommodation close by.

Stackpole Quay is a short drive away and has free parking that is only a 20-minute walk from Barafundle Bay, along picturesque cliffs.

The route is reportedly to help manage the number of tourists in the area.

Stackpole village, in Pembrokeshire, is home to just 200 residents and is a medieval settlement dating back to 1735

It's understandable why locals don't want too many visitors to discover Stackpole, as a pretty Cotswolds village made headlines earlier this month for the influx of 'TikTok tourists'.

Recently, Bourton-on-the-Water has seen a rise in day-trippers and holidaymakers all wanting to capture the beautiful area for themselves to post on social media.

With the increase in 'hit-and-run tourists', so named by Cotswold district councillor Jon Wareing, there has also been a wave of litter and reportedly even poor behaviour directed towards residents.

He fumed to BBC News: 'This kind of visitor tends to have little real interest in the heritage, culture or natural environment they are exploiting for clicks.'
It is thought the scorpion had found its way into Madrid holidaymaker's suitcase

Holidaymakers heading to Spain have been warned to keep a watchful eye on their luggage whilst unpacking.

The caution comes after a woman who had been staying in a hotel in Alcorcon, Madrid, was bitten by a rogue scorpion that had found its way until her suitcase.

It is believed the insect, which is now suspected to be dead, had escaped from her luggage whilst she unpacked.

The scorpion, which was was eventually captured by the police, caused the woman to have an allergic reaction after biting her, resulting in a critical trip to the hospital for treatment.

Taking to X, local police announced: 'Call from a hotel in the city reporting that a guest had been stung by a scorpion.

'The result was positive, and we took the woman to the hospital to assess whether any treatment is necessary. It is suspected that the animal may have previously been in the luggage.'

Police noted that the incident, which occurred on 26 September, was 'unusual' as scorpions are generally not native to urban Spain, though the most common species found in the south is the Spanish Yellow Scorpion.

While the insect was taken away for analysis, the woman was assessed by health workers at the emergency department for appropriate treatment.

Holidaymakers heading to Spain have been warned to keep a watchful eye on their luggage whilst unpacking after a woman staying in a hotel in Alcorcon, Madrid, was bitten by a rogue scorpion (pictured)

Police explained that 'it is suspected that the poisonous animal could have previously been introduced into the client's own luggage,' since it is rare for this type of species to appear in metropolitan areas.

The woman's nationality has not yet been disclosed, nor the country from which she had travelled to from Spain.

However, police are advising travellers to double-check their luggage as a matter of routine as other creepy crawlies, including spiders, have been known to find their way into suitcases.

If holidaymakers discover they have been stung or bitten by a scorpion, they could experience a range of symptoms that depend on the species, including intense pain, inflammation, fever, sweating, vomiting or even difficulty breathing.

Though species in Europe usually do not inject fatal venom, it is crucial to seek immediate medical attention after a sting, as this can ensure any potential complications are treated accordingly.

It comes after a mother was left fighting for her life after plummeting down hotel stairs and hitting her head - when an infection from mosquito bites made her faint.

Emma Hickey and her partner Stephen Brougham took their two children to Costa Adeje, Tenerife, Spain, on June 13th for a sun-soaked 12-day getaway.

But just 10 days into the trip, the mother-of-two woke up with a 'really bad case' of mosquito bites so went to hospital and was prescribed injections.

Police explained that 'it is suspected that the poisonous animal could have previously been introduced into the client's own luggage,' since it is rare for this type of species to appear in metropolitan areas (stock image)

Despite feeling unwell for the next few days the 42-year-old carer 'soldiered through the holiday' for the sake of her family.

But as they walked down the hotel staircase on their way to a pharmacy on June 23, Ms Hickey complained of feeling dizzy before suddenly collapsing and falling head-first onto a concrete step.

Mr Brougham, 44, says it was 'horrific' to watch his partner convulsing on the concrete steps after passing out and she was immediately rushed to hospital.

A hospital CT scan revealed she had a brain bleed and neck fractures so she was put in an induced coma.
A man stayed in the 'cheapest Airbnb in the world'  which costs just 1.75 per night.

Nacho Barrueco pre-booked the property ahead of his trip to Bangkok, Thailand.

He said he was hooked because of the price.

When he arrived, the owner of the Airbnb showed him round. At first, Nacho's thoughts about the lodgings were far from glowing.

Rubbish bags beside the hut-like dwelling and a wobbly ladder leading up to the room weren't encouraging indicators.

However, Nacho, 26, remained and was delighted with his quarters after he climbed the 'dangerous' ladder to reach them.

The ex-teacher turned travel influencer shared a video of his experience on his Instagram account @nachobarrueco_, saying: 'I just had to do it.

'I'm going to sleep in the cheapest place in the world.'

Nacho stayed in the 'cheapest Airbnb in the world'  which costs just 1.75 per night

The hut-like dwelling and a wobbly ladder leading up to the room weren't encouraging indicators

Despite the unconventional method of reaching his new Airbnb, Nacho remarked: 'Well, well, well, wonderful. Private room, mosquito net, fan, lots of scent.'

There were notices dotted about the room warning against treading on particular sections of the floor as they would collapse through the planks.

Apart from a possible fall, the quarters themselves were quite pleasant, though Nacho did observe the potential harm that accompanied the room.

He then visited the outside kitchen and 'gym', a simple squat stand next to a sack trolley and a single dumbbell.

He said: 'We've done enough crazy things for today, I think.'

Nacho, who comes from Madrid, Spain, shared the clip on social media where it racked up hundreds of comments.

He told What's The Jam: 'The price varied depending on the room, in total I paid 3.50 (4) for two nights, which is equivalent to 1.75 (2) per night.

He added: 'I was quite struck by the modest nature of the neighbourhood and the accommodations on offer.'

Nacho, who comes from Madrid, Spain, shared the clip on social media where it racked up hundreds of comments

Fans were quick to take to the comments to share their thoughts on Nacho's stay.

One commended the Airbnb host, stating: 'The fact they printed your name and laminated it is incredible, not even in the best hotels do that!'

Locals were equally taken aback by the room rate, with those residing in Nacho's home city of Madrid preparing themselves for 170 per night stays.

One remarked: 'In Madrid, they charge you 200 a night.'
Italy made headlines this summer after videos went viral of crowds packed into hotspots across the country.

But for those wanting to experience the dreamy destination without the crowds, Italy's 'secret season' is about to commence.

Between November and March, the busy streets clear and the popular sights suddenly become a lot more accessible.

After the rush of summer, the country comes into its own in the more off-season months, and visitors can get a taste of a more intimate and authentic Italy, Travel + Leisure reports.

As for accommodation, travellers will be able to enjoy luxurious hotels at a much cheaper price than during the summer.

With less people around, there is a better chance of receiving a more personal and attentive service, too.

Venice's iconic canals should be less crowded, meaning visitors can take a peaceful trip through the city.

Meanwhile, previously rammed towns like Positano and Amalfi might have more breathing room.

Between November and March, the busy streets in Italy clear and the popular sights suddenly become a lot more accessible (stock)

After the rush of summer, the country comes into its own in the more off-season months, and visitors can get a taste of a more intimate and authentic Italy

Elsewhere, it may be easier to take in the Colosseum in Rome, or take a snap of the Trevi Fountain.

The art galleries in Florence, which house world-famous pieces, should be less packed from November to February, too.

Meanwhile, food becomes a lot more personal and authentic.

Hosts and chefs have more time to interact with customers when hordes of tourists aren't flocking in to be fed.

Recipes are more likely to be shared as well as the hidden techniques behind local dishes.

The weather between November and March in Italy varies, though it is generally warmer than the UK.

Visitors this summer have been experienced heaving crowds in some of Italy's most popular spots.

Regina Simmons, 38, headed on a ten-hour flight from Las Vegas to Positano, Italy in June and felt her holiday turned into 'complete chaos'.

Visitors this summer have been experienced heaving crowds in some of Italy's most popular spots. Pictured: A street in Positano, Italy

The mother-of-two expected to see 'calm' streets and great views that had been plastered all over social media.

However, the American and her family were left disappointed when they arrived to the Italian popular destination.

Regina, her husband Dan Simmons, 46, and their two teenage daughters were 'overwhelmed' by the vast amount of tourists. The family stayed at a hotel in Sorrento and visited Positano for a day trip.

'It was just bananas... We were overwhelmed by the amount of people. We had to look for a restaurant to hide in and make a game plan,' Regina said.
Budget airline Wizz Air last year launched an 'all you can fly' deal for just 426 a year - with customers able to jump on unlimited flights.

The subscription service, priced at 499 (426), allows passengers to fly as far as the Maldives for a flat fare of 9 per journey.

Last week, the airline celebrated a year since the scheme was launched - and Wizz Air said it had been 'overwhelmed by the extremely positive response' for the concept.

Through the scheme, you only are able to book flights between three days (72 hours) and three hours before departure.

You can use the All You Can Fly membership to book flights at any time of year - provided you follow the restrictions.

Since its launch in September 2024, the deal has been subject to much debate.

Dubbed a 'phenomenal success' by bosses at the airline, some 21,000 people have stumped up 499 each to join the scheme, which allows them to jump on any flight to Wizz's nearly 200 destinations across Europe and beyond, The Times reported.

Some are fans of the concept, citing its great value for money - however, others have said there are many restrictions and catches to the deal.

Budget airline Wizz Air last year launched an 'all you can fly' deal for just 426 a year - with customers able to jump on unlimited flights

One snag is that it is for last-minute trips only, and bookings must be made within 72 hours of the flight taking off. Passengers must also pay an additional fee of 9 every time they book a trip and the deal is valid for one person only.

Also, flights do not include 'trolley bags' to be stored in the overhead lockers and crucially it depends whether there are any seats left on the aircraft at the time of booking.

Another catch is that, while 426 a year sounds like a great deal, Wizz Air flights are cheap anyway. This means customers could need to book up three to five flights a year before making their money back.

But plenty of customers have made it worth their while.

The airline says that one traveller has used it to take 167 flights in a single year  one almost every other day.

Additionally, Kareem Osman, a 38-year-old call centre manager from Streatham, south London, says he has taken 88 trips since signing up to the deal a year ago  all for a total cost of 1,166, once booking fees and other add-ons such as baggage are included.

'That's 13.26 a flight,' he told The Times. 'It costs me more to get my train from Streatham to Gatwick airport.'

Last week, the airline celebrated a year since the scheme was launched - and Wizz Air said it had been 'overwhelmed by the extremely positive response' for the concept

'It sold out first in the UK and continues to generate huge interest across Europe and beyond,' said Yvonne Moynihan, head of Wizz Air UK. 'What this proves is that demand for affordable travel is stronger than ever.

Wizz's load factor  the proportion of seats taken on any given flight  runs at about 90 per cent, depending on the time of year. So many argue the 'all you can fly' scheme is a neat way to top up sales for the roughly 10 per cent of seats that never get sold.

Critics of the scheme, however, have said that the fact other airlines such as Ryanair and EasyJet have not created similar schemes points to the fact the trend has not spread.

Some customers, however, have said they will definitely be signing up for the scheme as it gives them the opportunity to travel whenever they like for a small cost.
When it comes to packing for a trip, there are few better versed in what to bring - and what to leave at home - than flight attendants.

Peta, a flight attendant of 25 years who has travelled the globe for work, has revealed the one item she won't travel without.

Through her job as a flight attendant for the Australian airline, Qantas, Peta said she often goes outside of 'typical' tourist destinations.

Her recent designations includes Iran, Pakistan, and Mongolia, so she needs to be prepared for any situation, she told 9Travel.

Because of this, Peta never leaves the country without a medical kit packed in her suitcase.

She claims this medical kit has saved her multiple times, such as the time she got an infected tooth and was nowhere near a doctor.

'I won't travel without, at least a general antibiotic,' she said.

On another trip, she said she was stung on the face by a wasp in a remote part of Uganda.

A flight attendant of 25 years who has travelled the globe for work, has revealed the one item she won't travel without (file photo)

'The whole side of my face blew out,' she said, adding that it started spreading to the back of her head.

She was a day's travel away from a pharmacy and relied on the antihistamine to curb the reaction.

Peta added that she also includes an antibiotic in case she gets bad stomach problems or catches a bug.

In most cases, antibiotics require a prescription and cannot be bought over the counter.

Peta said she chats with her doctor before heading overseas to stock up her kit with what she'll need.

'You have to self-diagnose and self-administer,' she said, adding that knowing how to use the medication is paramount.

'You just have to be careful, as some countries have higher restrictions on over-the-counter medications, so you may possibly not be able to bring them into some places.'

Peta also stocks her kit with a Betadine antiseptic, a sore throat spray, painkillers, cold and flu tablets, and bandages.
Two burglars bump into each other on the street in Riyadh, Saudi Arabias capital city.

They shake hands, and one man notices that, all the way around the wrist of his friends right arm, there is an ugly row of stitches.

He says, I see you won your appeal, then?

You have to wonder how many times that gag like that has been repeated at the Riyadh comedy festival, which started last Friday. Anyone who dares try it is likely to be met by muted, awkward laughter... but nothing like the resounding silence that has greeted the announcement of the line-up for the event.

British stand-up comedians including Jimmy Carr and Jack Whitehall, both regulars on TV panel shows, will be appearing, alongside dozens of names from the US. One US comedian, Tim Dillon, bragged he is being paid $375,000 (278,000) for his appearance, and claimed some of his rivals were pocketing up to $1.6million (1.16million).

Among the most famous of the State-side stand-ups are six-time Emmy winner Louis CK, plus Dave Chapelle and Kevin Hart. Other Brits on the roster include Omid Djalili and Jimeoin.

Its fair to say few of those appearing are renowned for their right-on politics. Carr was forced to issue an apology after using a tax avoidance scheme to shelter more than 3million from the Inland Revenue in 2012. Louis CK has been accused of sexual misconduct by at least five women, who claim he exposed himself to them.

Chapelle is notorious for his gleeful mockery of transgender rights and Hart was blackmailed after he was filmed having drug-fuelled sex with a porn actress in Las Vegas while his wife was pregnant with their first child.

They can hardly be accused of hypocrisy in going to Riyadh, where both income tax and womens rights are non-existent. For some of those comedians, you might think Saudi Arabia is their natural environment.

British stand-up comedians including Jimmy Carr will be appearing alongside dozens of names from the US at the Riyadh comedy festival

But the comedy scene as a whole, especially in the UK, is rife with virtue-signallers. Tune in to The News Quiz on Radio 4 or any topical sketch show and youll be carpet-bombed with Left-wing sloganeering dressed up as jokes.

Saudi Arabia has one of the worst records for human rights in the world. You might expect fellow comics  especially ones who didnt even get an invitation they could ostentatiously turn down  to be loudly denouncing the festival.

Those who do attend could be shocked by restrictions on what they can say. The pressure group Freedom House said: Saudi Arabias absolute monarchy restricts almost all political rights and civil liberties. Reporters Without Borders ranks the nations record on freedom of speech at 162nd out of 180 countries.

Any references to religion or politics would be very ill-advised  one blogger named Raif Badawi was sentenced to 1,000 lashes and served 10 years in prison for insulting Islam through electronic channels and setting up an opposition website. He was released in 2022 but is still forbidden to leave the country and join his family abroad.

Torture in prison is commonplace. But Badawis punishment was light compared to the mass executions. In March 2022 Saudi authorities killed 81 men in a single day, and last year 330 people were executed.

Notoriously, the Saudi government sanctioned the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. The writer, who had fled the country a year earlier, entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to collect documents and was assassinated in the building. His body was dismembered.

A CIA investigation found the Saudi ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the murder himself.

How can a comedian tell jokes in a country where satire is potentially punishable by death? And how can anyone whose livelihood depends on free speech justify performing at the Crown Princes command?

Quite easily, if you believe Tim Dillon. I am doing this, he said, because theyre paying me a large sum of money  enough money to look the other way.

A lot of people are doing it. They [the Saudis] bought comedy. So what? Listen, whats your problem? Well, they have slaves and they kill everyone... Hey, get over it. Do I have issues with some of the policies towards women, towards the gays? Well, of course I do... But I believe in my own financial well-being and I always have.

Promotional poster for Jack Whitehall's appearance at the festival in Saudi Arabia

Those self-serving weasel words went almost without notice this month. Yet comedians who are apparently in tacit support of the Riyadh charade would doubtless be united in condemnation if any entertainer dared play a gig in Tel Aviv. Some have even directed their self-righteous anger at audience members for failing to join in criticism of Israel.

During a performance last year at the Soho Theatre, comic Paul Currie brandished a Palestinian flag and then turned on a man who refused to join in a standing ovation. The man claimed later: He immediately said, Get out of my show. Audience members were shouting Get out and Free Palestine.

The man and his companion left: We did not feel safe to continue. We were not that far away from the exit door, we were keeping our heads down. We felt threatened and marginalised.

Yet Jewish humour has been a mainstay of stand-up routines since the music hall days, on both sides of the Atlantic. Comedians from Sid Caesar to Mel Brooks, Groucho Marx to Joan Rivers made a career of it. In 1978, Time magazine estimated 80 per cent of Americas top comics were Jewish.

US comedian Tim Dillon bragged he is being paid $375,000 (278,000) for his appearance, and claimed some of his rivals were pocketing up to $1.6million

Motormouth gag merchant Jackie Mason, who died in 2021, was adored for his Jewish jokes, and was never afraid to laugh about the endless Arab-Israeli crises. In 1991, when Israel came under bombardment during the Gulf War, he quipped the missiles were the reason he loved eating out in Tel Aviv  Nobody paid the check in a restaurant for nine weeks. They just sat there, waiting for the sirens, so they could run.

This was Masons take on allegations of corruption against Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu: Everyone wants Bibi to give the West Bank back to the Palestinians. Sure, he wants to give it back but he cant... its in his wifes name.

Imagine the outrage among right-on comedians if a stand-up dared do material like that in Britain today.

There is no Arab equivalent of Jackie Mason. Just try to think of one Saudi stand-up. Chances are high that you cant. And thats hardly surprising, because live comedy shows didnt start happening in the kingdom until 2009. The first gig in Riyadh was headlined by 24-year-old Fahad Albutairi, who had been making a name for himself in the States.

Fahad filmed his act and posted it on YouTube, under the banner La Yekthar, which, roughly translated, means stick a sock in it. Aptly, the most popular part of the show featured heckling from a chain-smoking alligator sock-puppet.

If you want this channel to be a success, the puppet taunted him, get some hot chicks. Even without the hot chicks, Fahad has nearly a million followers.

As they fill their pockets with Saudi petro-dollars, Jimmy Carr and company would be well advised to stick to sock-puppets.
Eva Longoria: Searching for Spain (BBC2)

Rating:

There cannot be a single restaurant or tourist hotspot in Europe that hasn't been visited by a famous actor or TV presenter with a camera crew in tow. At least, that's how it sometimes feels.

The form is always the same. They perhaps go to a market, or visit a traditional local business and try their hand at weaving or barrel making, but inevitably they end up in a restaurant.

The latest of these shows is Eva Longoria: Searching For Spain, in which the Desperate Housewives star visits the country from which, 11 generations ago, one of her ancestors set sail for the New World.

As TV tourists go, Eva is perfectly competent and gets on with everybody she meets. It helps that she speaks very good Spanish, despite learning only ten years ago.

But there is a limit to the number of times you can watch somebody sitting down for a meal and making approving noises.

She began her tour in Barcelona, where food writer Matt Goulding introduced her to vermouth, which is apparently as much of a tradition in the city as wine o'clock in the English home counties.

In Eva Longoria: Searching For Spain (pictured), the Desperate Housewives star visits the country from which, 11 generations ago, one of her ancestors set sail for the New World

As TV tourists go, Eva (pictured on the programme) is perfectly competent and gets on with everybody she meets. It helps that she speaks very good Spanish, despite learning only ten years ago

But there is a limit to the number of times you can watch somebody sitting down for a meal and making approving noises

Frankie speaking Banned In The 80s (BBC2) featured an intriguing theory from Frankie Goes To Hollywood's Holly Johnson about a 1984 BBC ban on their single Relax: 'As the BBC are a sort of government situation, I'm sure they did it to improve the balance of payments. 'The record did really well abroad.' An idea there for Rachel Reeves. Advertisement

'Oh!' said Eva, taking her drink. 'It has an olive inside.'

Doesn't miss much, does she?

For lunch, they had veal and pork meatballs with squid. 'Wow!' said Eva.

She then joined the son of writer Manuel Vazquez Montalban, who invented the food-loving detective Pepe Carvalho. Inspector Montalbano, Andrea Camilleri's own food-loving Italian detective, was named in the author's honour.

Eva and her host shared pan con tomate, a local snack of stale bread with tomato and lots of garlic. 'Wow!' said Eva. 'Wow!'

The show then struck a serious note: a reminder of the consequences of political division. She went to visit her host's mother  inevitably to have something to eat  and discovered that the old lady had once spent five months in prison. Her crime? To have protested as a student against General Franco, the country's former dictator.

But easily the most interesting part of her journey, and certainly the most colourful, was a trip to cava country. In the village of Sant Sadurni d'Anoia, she watched a bizarre but lively festival which celebrates the insect that devastated the area's red wine business in the late 1880s.

Some of the revellers were dressed as giant yellow phylloxera, the guilty pests. With crops ruined, local growers instead planted a grape that was resistant to phylloxera  and created a booming cava trade. Ninety per cent of Spanish cava is produced in the region.

By this time, perhaps Eva was conscious that she was saying 'Wow!' just a little too often. Over a meal with a local producer, she tasted their best cava. 'Oh my God!' she said.
New Netflix drama House of Guinness has had its future revealed, just days after its release and shooting to the top of the streaming service's charts.

The series hit the top of the Top 10 most-viewed programmes in the UK after its debut last week, following a star-studded red-carpet launch in London.

While it's yet to be announced, a new series is said to soon to be in the works, with the streaming giant waiting on responses from viewers and critics on the initial episodes to see whether it would continue to perform well for series two.

The Sun reports that the series, which stars the likes of James Norton, Anthony Boyle and Louis Partridge, will be returning for more 'as soon as next year'.

A TV insider told the publication: 'Not only have viewers been binging the series, it's also achieved the unusual feat of winning over most telly critics too.

'Which is no wonder given the huge budget the show had, along with a stellar cast and, of course, the fact that it comes from the pen of Peaky Blinder creator Steven Knight.'

New Netflix drama House of Guinness has had its future revealed, just days after its release

The series, which tells the story of the Guinness family, hit the top of the Top 10 most-viewed programmes in the UK after its debut last week

Daily Mail have contacted Netflix for comment.

House of Guinness tells the true story of the Irish family behind the Guinness brewery, which was first opened in the 18th century.

Much of the action follows the growth of the business in the 1860s, when the stout was made available for consumption around the world.

The hotly-anticipated series, created by Peaky Blinders mastermind Steven Knight, opened with the death of their formidable patriarch, brewing mogul Sir Benjamin Guinness, leaving his heirs - Arthur, Edward, Anne and Ben - to shoulder the weight of legacy, family rivalries and personal demons - all against the backdrop of an Ireland poised on the brink of revolution.

The saga follows the siblings as they attempt to cement their family's name while navigating political turmoil, complex relationships and the looming threat of retribution.

Along the way, they encounter both allies and enemies, including James Norton's compelling fixer, Sean Rafferty, a performance many reviewers have singled out for praise.

The series divided critics, and while many described the show as 'rip roaring' and 'thrilling', others felt it was 'exhausting' with 'not much substance'.

The Independent's Katie Rosseinksy delivered a two-star review, calling the series 'exhausting, try-hard and far too dark.'

A new series is said to soon to be in the works, with the streaming giant waiting on responses from viewers and critics before working on series two

The hotly-anticipated series was created by Peaky Blinders mastermind Steven Knight

In her review, Rosseinksy described how 'the words 'water', 'malted barley', 'hops' and 'yeast' - 'they're the four component parts of beer, don't you know?' - shoot onto the screen in huge letters as an anachronistically pounding beat plays in the background.

Variety's Aramide Tinubu echoed this sense of overindulgence, writing that 'while House of Guinness is solid, it lacks the sharpness of Knight's previous works.

'Despite the stunning cinematography, punchy music and slick stylization, by Episode 5, it becomes tedious and repetitive, droning on and on to extend itself into eight episodes.'

Furious backlash erupted across Irish critics just a day after it launched - with one real-life family member claiming bosses at the streaming giant 'got it all wrong'.

The show has accompanied its period drama setting with a modern soundtrack, including Irish punk band Fontaines D.C and controversial Irish rappers Kneecap, whose Glastonbury performance was not streamed live by the BBC after one of the members was charged with a terror offence.

Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, has denied the charge and it has since been thrown out following a technical error in the way the charge was brought.

Even one of the family's descendants, writer Molly Guinness, said she felt a 'righteous' fury while watching the show and was left in disbelief at how bosses had chosen to portray her late ancestors.

The Irish Times' Ed Power was unsparing in his verdict, lamenting what he described as the show's 'many negatives.'

The series divided critics, and while many described the show as 'rip roaring' and 'thrilling', others felt it was 'exhausting' with 'not much substance'

Furious backlash erupted across Irish critics just a day after the series launched last Thursday

'One problem with House of Guinness is the at best rudimentary understanding of Ireland's experiences of colonialism of Steven Knight, the drama's creator,' he wrote.

'He pitches the struggle for independence as a battle between different kinds of Irish people At no point in an eight-part series unfolding in a post-Act of Union Ireland do we encounter a single person with a British accent - which Americans might call burying the lede.'

Writers in the Irish Star said James Norton's accent as Irishman Sean Rafferty was more similar to 'Darby O'Gill' than 1800s Dublin.

They said: 'Five episodes in, there's one thing that keeps pulling me away from the action - James Norton's accent.

'While he's not the only English actor in the series, his accent is the most jarring.

'As an Irish person whose job involves watching TV and movies, some attempts at Irish accents haunt my dreams - and not in a good way.'

Despite growing backlash, it has received mainly positive reviews, such as four stars from The Daily Mail's Roland White, who called it a 'fast-moving opener' with 'simmering family tensions'.

Jack Seale of The Guardian awarded it a full five stars, saying it had 'smarts, heart and serious sex appeal' and 'Knight has never made a better show than this'.

House of Guinness is available to stream on Netflix now.
New Netflix series House of Guinness has certainly made waves since its release last week.

Telling the story of the Irish family behind the world's favourite stout, it is set in 19th century Dublin just after the death of patriarch Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness.

Some critics in Ireland have taken aim at the standard of the actors' Irish accents, although reviews of the show have generally been favourable.

But how accurately does the show - written by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight - portray the lives of the members of the Guinness family and the increasing dominance of their company?

From the sexuality of eldest son Arthur to the origins of the famous harp symbol, there is much in the show that has left fans pondering the real history.

Below, the Daily Mail separates fact from fiction.

House Of Guinness chronicles the extraordinary success of the family behind the famous Irish brewery. Above: Louis Partridge as Edward Guinness

Were there really protests at the funeral of Benjamin Lee Guinness?

The first episode opens on the day of the funeral of patriarch Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness.

There is shown to be immense public unrest, with bottles of Guinness being thrown against the doors of the brewery and an effigy of the businessman being burned by protesters.

Crowds outside the brewery gates are held back by troops as the cortege makes its way past.

They are angry at the late magnate's support for British rule in Ireland.

But there is no evidence that there were any protests on the day of the actual funeral, which took place on May 27, 1868.

In reality, the funeral was a typically mournful affair and more than 1,000 people lined the streets to give Sir Benjamin a send-off

The first episode opens on the day of the funeral of patriarch Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness

There is shown to be immense public unrest, with bottles of Guinness being thrown against the doors of the brewery and an effigy of the businessman being burned by protesters

An effigy flies above protesters in the depiction in House of Guinness

Was Arthur Guinness really gay?

The show depicts Arthur Guinness - who is played by Anthony Boyle - as having several male lovers.

One of them is the godson of four-time prime minister William Gladstone.

His marriage is shown to be a sexless transactional one; an arrangement to shield his homosexuality.

Meanwhile his wife, Lady Olivia Hedges-White (Danielle Galligan), has a liaison with James Norton's character Sean Rafferty.

Arthur is even shown to have been set up by his uncle, who wants him to get caught in the act at a gay orgy.

Arthur Guinness, who is portrayed by Anthony Boyle in the show, is depicted as a gay man

Sir Arthur Guinness did not have any children with his wife but the pair were close

It is true that Arthur and his wife had no children.

But there is no evidence to support the notion that the businessman was gay. And Arthur and his wife are known to have been a happy couple.

But in depicting Knight's version of Arthur, Boyle, 31, said he drew inspiration from the life of poet and writer Oscar Wilde.

'I looked a lot at Oscar Wilde, particularly because of the threat of someone finding out about your sexuality at that time and you could have resulted in 20 years of hard labour, which is essentially a death sentence, which is what Oscar Wilde was sentenced to,' said Boyle.

'And reading a lot of his work, like the Ballad Of Reading Gaol.'

Was family fixer Sean Rafferty real?

Sean Rafferty, the brash family fixer played by James Norton, is a total invention.

Norton's Catholic character, who is very prominent in the storyline, does though tap into the real religious and social divisions in Ireland at the time.

Historian Alexander Larman Larman told the Daily Mail: The fact that the James Norton character who is fictitious is given that degree of prominence, I think there was a panic that the actual story of the Guinnesses isn't that interesting.'

Sean Rafferty, the brash family fixer played by James Norton, is a total invention

Did Benjamin Guinness cut his second son out of his will?

House of Guinness depicts the moment that Sir Benjamin's will is read out.

The patriarch has left all his fortune to eldest son Arthur and youngest son Edward.

The middle son, also called Benjamin (played by Fionn O'Shea), is cut out for being a drunkard.

In reality, the younger Benjamin was left 20,000 by his father.

Was there really an assassination attempt on Arthur Guinness?

The final scenes of the show's last episode show the lead-up to a gunman opening fire at Arthur Guinness as he speaks at a political rally.

The drama ends on the dramatic cliffhanger of the gun - wielded by Seamus O'Hara's fictional Fenian character Patrick Cochrane - firing.

It's not much of a spoiler to reveal that the real Arthur was not assassinated.

In fact, Arthur lived until 1915, when he died at home in Dublin aged 74.

Mr Larman said: 'The scene is trying to create a suspenseful set piece out of nothing.

'You know he's not going to be assassinated because they want a second series and he didn't die in real life.

The final scenes of the show's last episode show the lead-up to a gunman opening fire at Arthur Guinness as he speaks at a political rally

The drama ends on the dramatic cliffhanger of the gun - wielded by Seamus O'Hara's fictional character Patrick Cochrane - firing

Did the Guinness family really implement social housing for the poor?

Edward Guinness, played by Louis Partridge, is shown creating a pension scheme for his workers in the show.

Whilst it is unknown if the real workers had a pension scheme, Edward was very generous with them.

He funded the construction of workers' housing in Dublin and London at a cost of 500,000.

For his generosity towards the disadvantaged, he was rewarded with a peerage.

His sister Anne (played by Emily Fairn) is known to have committed herself to improving the lives of the poor in Dublin, even though she only inherited a small amount.

Norton told the PA news agency: 'I hadn't realised how influential the Guinness family was on Dublin's architecture, or the extent of their welfare and philanthropic efforts, like the pensions and support they provided, which are portrayed in the show.

'They were also pioneers as a brand, becoming one of the first multinational drinks companies and dominating North America as the biggest beer brand of their time.

'It was both eye-opening and an incredibly thrilling journey to delve into all of that.'

Did Edward really come up with the famous harp symbol?

Although Edward was the driving genius behind the rise of the Guinness brand, he did not invent the harp logo.

The Irish heraldic symbol, which dates back to at least the 15th century, did not appear on a bottle of Guinness until 1862; when Sir Benjamin was still alive and Edward was only 15.

It is not known whose idea it was to use the harp as the company's motif.

The entrance to the Guinness brewery in Dublin. The harp symbol first appeared in 1862

Were the Guinness family really in league with the Fenian Brotherhood?

House of Guinness depicts the shenanigans of Byron Hedges, a cousin of Arthur and Edward, as he leads the firm's foray across the Atlantic.

He is seen promising that 15 per cent of every Guinness bottle sold in North America will secretly fund the armed struggle of the Fenian Brotherhood.

In reality, Hedges is an invention, and so is the story of an agreement between the Guinness family and the Fenian Brotherhood.

In reality, Jack Gleeson's character is another invention.
EastEnders actress Lacey Turney has teased that fans can expect some 'old school' style episodes of the BBC soap in the run up to her big exit.

Lacey, 37, who first appeared on the series in 2004, will wave goodbye to her character Stacey Slater next week.

Stacey will head off to Brazil for a fresh start after being invited to go and live with her brother Sean, played by Robert Kazinsky.

But the departure, prompted by the death of Stacey's husband Martin Fowler as part of the 40th anniversary celebrations, will be anything but smooth sailing.

The mother-of-three will receive a big shock during her farewell party at The Vic, when her former flame Max Branning, played by Jake Wood, returns to the Square.

Stacey will be left reconsidering her big move as Jake's return makes her reconsider whether she wants to wave goodbye to Walford.

Lacey Turney teased that fans can expect some 'old school' style episodes of EastEnders in the run up to her big exit after two decades on the BBC One soap

Lacey teased to Digital Spy: 'She never expected to see him back in Walford, and she knows full well that whenever he's around, there's trouble!

'Max has always had this hold over Stacey that she has no control over. I don't know what it is about those two, but they're always drawn together.

'The week is typical old-school EastEnders, full of Slater drama'.

Despite the second thoughts, Stacey will decide to catch her flight and move away, after telling Max she wants nothing to do with him anymore.

Stacey will be left reeling when she sees Max kissing her cousin Zoe (Michelle Ryan) - not knowing the duo had already hooked up earlier this year.

But given the Slaters are known for their feisty showdowns, it could spell trouble between the cousins.

It comes after Lacey discussed her 'never-ending guilt' before making the bombshell decision to quit the soap opera.

The actress, 37, first joined the soap back in 2004 and has been part of the Slater family's main storylines ever since

Lacey's character Stacey's departure was prompted by the death of her husband Martin Fowler as part of the 40th anniversary celebrations

She is stepping back to focus on her family life with her husband Matt Kay and their three kids - daughters Dusty, five, and Gipsy, four months, and son Trilby, four.

'The older they get, the more you realise how quickly the little years pass. It's bonkers, so I take it day by day, week by week,' she told OK! Magazine.

'You feel guilty leaving them, but also guilty for not earning, it's just never-ending.

'But we've got to stop judging and start supporting each other.'

Lacey said she is looking forward to taking a break, admitting she has never had one before, as she hopes to focus on her family and other work commitments.

She also hit back at the judgement that is often placed on parents and said she wants to put an end to the opinion that people have to be 'rich' to be good parents.

'You don't need to have the most expensive formula or toys or pram,' she said.

'I overheard a couple saving up to have a baby, that shouldn't be the case.

'Parenting isn't about money, it's about love, time, and doing your best.'

EastEnders airs on Mondays-Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One.
She made her glitzy entrance into the Big Brother house in a shimmering cowboy hat on Sunday night, spilling the beans on how she'd been engaged five times.

Now, one of PR guru Caroline 'Monkey' Monk's exes has been revealed - as a famous TV star who even used to have his own self-titled show.

Caroline, 56, used to date TV and radio star Matthew Wright, who hosted Channel 5 topical debate show The Wright Stuff from 2000 to 2018.

The pair dated each other back in 2003, and were photographed together on many occasions at star-studded events.

Matthew, who is now a regular guest on ITV's This Morning, split with Caroline after three years - and his since been married to wife Amelia since 2010.

In 2005, while out with Matthew, 60, in London's Primrose Hill, Caroline was the victim of a 'happy slapping' attack - a crime phenomenon where gangs attacked random victims and filmed it on mobile phones.

Big Brother star Caroline 'Monkey' Monk's ex has been revealed - as a famous TV star who even used to have his own self-titled show

Caroline used to date TV and radio star Matthew Wright, who hosted Channel 5 topical debate show The Wright Stuff (pictured together in 2005)

At the time, Caroline was suffering from hair loss after breast cancer treatment, and was knocked to the ground by a gang of teens filming her.

Caroline, who at the time had a column in Closer magazine, admitted she was left in tears after the attack, which was also witnessed by her mother.

Matthew said at the time: 'When people go around torturing and abusing people with cancer, it makes you wonder what kind of world we live in.'

Speaking about her love life on ITV's Big Brother over the weekend, Caroline revealed: 'I've tried to live with men and I just can't, there's something wrong with them.'

She joked that all five of her engagements have ended in such disaster that she sold the rings she was given by her former flames.

During her long-standing career in PR, the Big Brother contestant has worked alongside the likes of Kylie Minogue, Dionne Warwick and The Who.

She has also previously appeared on ITV talkshow Lorraine.

Speaking about being on Big Brother before entering the house, Caroline said: 'What I'm looking forward to is getting out of this world at the moment.

Matthew, who is now a regular guest on ITV 's This Morning, split with Caroline after three years after they started dating in 2003 - the pair are pictured here in 2005

PR guru Caroline has also previously appeared on ITV talk show Lorraine

'Just getting off social media, getting away from my phone. I've had my phone since 1994. That's a long time.

'And I watch too much TV and theres too much noise going on, so it'll be nice to just pretend that the world is beautiful.

'I think I'll bring quite a complex amount of things to the Big Brother house.

'One, I like to joke around, and I like to do practical jokes and stuff like that.

'Two, I'm very sensitive and caring. And I probably cry a lot. I don't think I'll be the mum of the house because I'm too naughty.'

Caroline faced eviction alongside two of her fellow housemates just moments after entering the house in the dramatic launch show on Sunday night.

AJ Odudu and Will Best announced the surprise not long after welcoming viewers ot the launch of the third series of the show on ITV.

After all the housemates entered, the presenters opened the public vote to award decide which housemate would be given the 'evil eye'.

Emily, Sam and Caroline received the three evil eyes and were sent away from the main group to wait in the 'exit room', before Big Brother revealed only two of them will return.

The big reveal will be made in tonight's episode of the show.

Big Brother continues on ITV2 and is available to stream on ITVX.
Amanda Holden has revealed the secrets behind her bikini body  'unintentional fasting' and no limits on alcohol.

The Britain's Got Talent judge, 54, admitted to the Daily Mail that staying in shape isn't 'easy', but credited her childhood gymnastics training and hectic lifestyle for keeping her trim by default.

In an exclusive interview, Amanda explained that despite sharing glamorous bikini shots on Instagram this summer, she's been indulging in a daily drink with co-star Alan Carr, 49, during filming of their show Amanda and Alan's Greek Job in Corfu.

As well as living by her phrase, 'if you can't tone it, tan it,' Amanda says her busy schedule, which starts at 5am preparing for Heart Radio's Breakfast Show and ends with dinner at home with her family, means she 'accidentally fasts'.

Maintaining a 'balanced' lifestyle, by not restricting herself from an 'Aperol on a Tuesday' or a 'cheese sandwich at 10pm', is how Amanda says she stays healthy, not to mention through sessions on her Peloton and her secret weapon, spray tans.

She said: 'I did gymnastics for years, it was what I wanted to do more than anything, I didn't finish it until I was 15, so I think my body has always retained some sort of a figure.

Amanda Holden has revealed the secrets behind her bikini body  'unintentional fasting' and no limits on alcohol

The Britain's Got Talent judge admitted to the Daily Mail that staying in shape isn't 'easy', but credited her childhood gymnastics training and hectic lifestyle for keeping her trim by default

Amanda explained that despite sharing bikini shots on Instagram this summer, she's been indulging in a daily drink with Alan Carr during filming of Amanda and Alan's Greek Job

'I don't find it easy. I hate it when you read about women who have got into their hot pants two weeks after giving birth, it's not what people want to hear.

'I haven't been on my Peloton since July 18 when I went to Corfu and I have drunk everyday. In the summer, that's what I do, I let it all go and then I get it back in time for Britain's Got Talent, and everything else in the lead up to Christmas.

'I will get back on the Peloton, drink at the weekends but I don't stop myself from living. If you can't tone it, tan it, that's what I say.

'Accidentally I do the 16 hour fasting thing because I have my tea at six or even earlier sometimes with the girls when everyone's at home and I won't have my breakfast until 9am when I'm on Heart. Then I realise I have fasted. I am busy, I never stop and I eat loads.'

She continued: 'It's about trying to stay happy and balanced.

'I have said this before but with lockdown and all that nonsense there were so many rules and conditions put upon us, there is in life anyway, and you have to allow yourself to do what you want within your own life and that's how I stay happy. I

'If it's a Tuesday and I want an Aperol then I will. Or if I want a cheese sandwich at 10pm at night, I will.

'I am not strict on myself but I am healthy by default because I'm a vegetarian. I have two coffees a day and I have them before 9am. I drink water all day long, by 1pm I have drunk the amount you're supposed to drink but I am up at 5am.'

Maintaining a 'balanced' lifestyle, by not restricting herself from an 'Aperol on a Tuesday' or a 'cheese sandwich at 10pm', is how Amanda says she stays happy and healthy

Amanda admits she's far from strict but being a vegetarian with an active lifestyle means she's 'healthy by default'

Amanda, who shares daughters Lexie, 19, and Hollie, 13, with husband Chris Hughes, is taking on a new role as host of BBC quiz show, Celebrity Inner Circle.

Described as a mix of The Traitors and The Weakest Link, the series pits celebrities and members of the public against each other in general knowledge challenges, all while keeping the cash prize they started with a closely guarded secret.

The final sees two players face a choice, share their winnings or attempt a daring double bluff to claim the entire prize fund for themselves.

And Amanda roped in her closest celebrity friends to take part, revealing who she trusts most in the world of showbiz.

When asked who is in her inner circle, Amanda replied: 'I have been friends with Sarah Parish and Angela Griffin, Angela isn't in the show, but definitely Angela, Tamzin Outhwaite, Lucy Gaskell, the girls from Cutting It basically and then my friend Jen, who I went to drama school with and now lives in Los Angeles, she is an actress and a mother mainly now.

'Those girls have been around for 25 years. I do have my team, Nathan, and Christian, none of them are straight, it's the gays and the girls apart from my husband, who is my best friend. There's Alan Carr, too.

'I have been friends with these people for years and these are people I can trust and would talk to and drop everything to help them.'

Amanda says that while she has celebrity friends, she has also grown close to mothers she met at the school gates.

She adds that none of them care about her TV profile, which she's grateful for, as she sees herself as a 'vulnerable' parent facing the same stresses as any working mother.

Amanda is taking on a new role as host of BBC quiz show, Celebrity Inner Circle, which will air ahead of Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday nights

The presenter admits she's nervous about the project, as she's keen for it to succeed, especially since she hosts the show solo, without a male co-star

She said: 'I am a very perceptive and strong, opinionated woman. I am very much a girls' girl so if I ever work in anything new or go anywhere new I will always champion people in the job.

'New friendships, I have made some new friends over the past few years but not really. There are people I definitely have dinner with and they are great company but I still have my core people.

'All my school mums have become new friends and they have been like a rock for me.

'I am always working and they have Hollie's back if I have forgotten something like her PE kit or late pickup, they have been at the school gates since Hollie was four, we have now changed schools actually, but those women are in my life now.

'I don't think they give a s*** about who I am, which is the best thing about it, I don't want them to care.

'I feel like a normal, vulnerable, working, chaotic, stressed out mum, they all look much more put together than me. They are a group of women I have really locked out on.'

Amanda has added to her workload this year by fronting a new show, Celebrity Inner Circle, which will air on the BBC ahead of Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday nights.

The presenter admits she's nervous about the project, as she's keen for it to succeed, especially since she hosts the show solo, without a male co-star.

Amanda, who shot all 32 episodes of the show in Glasgow earlier this year, reveals the one standout outfit she loved wearing, by a designer we all know

She said: 'I do feel nervous because it's been a long process and I have been there through every part of it.

'They asked me to do it before it went to pilot. I did that in a church hall with a load of execs all seeing if this would work.

'There were so many people at the BBC in turn all coming to make sure every single component works. I was in my trainers running around, questioning and talking and because of that process it feels like it's more me and less quiz show host.

'It feels authentic and I care about it, which is why I want it to work. It means a lot to everyone and to me.'

Amanda, who shot all 32 episodes of the show in Glasgow earlier this year, reveals the one standout outfit she loved wearing, by a designer we all know.

She said: 'It was a huge wardrobe but I wore a couple of things I had worn on other shows, like a few years ago. That's what you call sustainable fashion.

'There was a really lovely, leather Victoria Beckham dress. I also had a lot of dresses in my wardrobe which I've never worn on Heart that I bought myself which I wear.'

But it wasn't just the fashion for Amanda, who said she actually picked up some new facts through her presenting of the show, adding: 'I learned that slugs have got teeth.

'Bananas are berries, strawberries are part of the rose family, my takeaway wasn't what colours are in the Croatian flag, it was slugs have got teeth and I've told everyone.'
ABBA's Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) is thumping away, though its still only 11.45, and the joint is filling up. The decor, like the music, feels rooted in the Seventies and Eighties, which is reassuringly familiar for a codger like me, since that is the era when I came of age.

Not that anyone else in here tonight was around back then. The average age of those I talk to is 23, all of them enjoying exactly the same sort of night on the town that once appealed to their parents  or their grandparents.

You can chronicle the modern social/celebrity history of London through its nightspots, as they rise and fall with the fashion tide. Once the in-crowd might have flocked to the West End to party at Annabels (think Charles and Diana) or Tramp (Andrew and Fergie). The William and Harry generation leaned more towards the 151 Club or Mahiki in the Sloane zones of Kensington and Chelsea, or popped over the river to the Ministry of Sound near Waterloo.

These days, the vibe has shifted from West to the edgier East and North, to places like Clerkenwell and Camden.

Yet through it all, down in suburban South London, one nightclub has kept on going regardless. Infernos has never really fallen out of fashion  because it was never in fashion in the first place.

One of the adjectives most commonly used to describe it is cheesy, in an affectionate way. Like Aesops fable of the tortoise versus the hare, this place  with its cruise ship ambiance and shag-pile carpet  cheerfully plods along safe in the knowledge that every Friday and Saturday up to 1,500 people will suddenly decide theyd quite like a drink and a dance and, well, theres always Infernos in Clapham.

And some of those people, it turns out, are rather famous. Earlier this month, there was huge excitement that Lola Tung was in town. Miss Tung is the star of the smash hit Amazon Prime TV series, The Summer I Turned Pretty, which producers are now going to turn into a movie.

Edgy this place is not, writes Robert Hardman (here on his night out). That, again, is part of the charm. One of the staff tells me the overall aim is to be neither retro nor hip but feelgood

And where was Miss Tung at the very moment le tout Hollywood was talking about her? New York? Cannes? Beverly Hills? Actually, she was to be found down in Clapham, bopping to bygone hits here at Infernos.

A gobsmacked clubgoer had spotted her on the dancefloor and Miss Tung cheerfully posed for a selfie. As one of the staff tells me: She had to queue with everyone else. You check your ego at the door here.

Another A-lister who has been known to swap the red carpet for a night on the booze-soaked carpet of Infernos is Margot Robbie. The star of Barbie (for which, as a producer, she received an Oscar nomination) was recently listed by Forbes magazine as the highest-paid actress in the world. So what would draw her to this converted cinema on Clapham High Street?

Everyone is wasted and so sweaty. Everyone looks a mess, she told an interviewer, explaining that until recently she and her Surrey-born husband lived just round the corner. By the time I make it to Infernos, I look so revolting no ones going to look twice.

No one strikes me as particularly wasted or sweaty when I arrive, but the night is young. The core clientele seems to be twenty-something worker bees, plus a few students from the better-off end of the spectrum.

Some Infernos-goers are rather famous. Earlier this month, there was huge excitement that The Summer I turned Pretty's Lola Tung was there. Another A-lister who has swapped the red carpet for a night on the booze-soaked carpet of Infernos is Margot Robbie

This place is not madly West End expensive but its not cheap either. Entry is 13 (12 if you arrive before midnight). Drinks start at 6.60 for a beer, 7.95 for a small vodka and tonic, 12.90 for a margarita, and 25 for a round of five shots.

Not being entirely au fait with the current club scene, Ive enlisted my nephew Tom, 23, and a gang of his friends to give me some insights. In return, I have splashed out 50 on a VIP booth for them, which gets us our own table above the main dancefloor (you even get a velvet rope) where things can get pricier.

The waitress service here includes Grey Goose vodka, 195 a bottle, with mixers thrown in. It makes the champagne (95 a bottle) seem a bargain.

Outside, theres a queue stretching down the high street, though it moves along briskly enough. Whats the appeal? I know its cheesy, says Andrew, 23, a trainee accountant, but I quite like the cheese. At some clubs you pay for a particular night with a particular DJ. Here its always retro, even if its a bit repetitive. Its not taking itself too seriously. Indeed not, given that its own website pokes fun at the carpets that have become part of the Infernos brand. While other clubs wouldnt dream of covering their floors in the stuff (not least for practical reasons when it comes to spilled drinks), this place has pointedly stuck to the same swirly pattern its always had.

We are talking above the din of Cindy Laupers Girls Just Want To Have Fun, which I recall was in the charts when I was in my pre-university gap year.

Not being entirely au fait with the current club scene, Ive enlisted my nephew Tom, 23, and his friends to give me insights. In return, I have splashed out 50 on a VIP booth for them

Edgy this place is not. That, again, is part of the charm. One of the staff tells me the overall aim is to be neither retro nor hip but feelgood, adding: We want hands in the air. So that means upbeat sounds from across the ages.

It might feel more cheap and cheerful than some places. But it feels safe, says Izzy, 22, another trainee accountant. Its not creepy. In some clubs you might get sleazy men throwing money around, then hitting on you. This one is well-organised.

The queue system works, its easy to get drinks, and the loos, while not a thing of beauty, are in a decent state. The staff are certainly on the ball, mingling nonchalantly in pink gilets but ready to pounce at the first sign of trouble  as they do when a man strips off his shirt. Its hardly a breach of the peace but a couple of pink-vested heavies bundle him off in seconds.

At around 1am, I wander upstairs where there is another dancefloor (featured in the 2011 film, The Inbetweeners) and signs to the Smoking Area. I am somewhat astonished such a thing still exists. There, I meet Phoebe and her trans friend, Cameron, both up from rural Surrey for a night on the tiles in their little black dresses and both echoing the fact this is a place where a girl can feel comfortable.

As a trans person, I find this place non-threatening. Its chilled, says Cameron. Theres no trouble. She does have one complaint, though: It feels a bit young. How old is she? Im 24. In which case I should probably be hurled into the street, though everyone is too polite to say so.

It is all so Eighties my young posse demand I take a turn on one of the two podiums. I expect to be roundly booed by the dancefloor below but I even get a few cheers

Back in our VIP booth, my nephews gang point out an actual celebrity. Freddie Browne, a star of reality show, Made In Chelsea, is here as an ambassador for Infernos.

When most of these people left home earlier tonight, they hadnt actually planned to come here but theyve ended up here anyway, says Mr Browne. And celebrities like the fact its a club where you come not to be noticed. We had the entire cast of a Netflix show in the other night and no one bothered them.

By now, ABBA has come back round again (Voulez-Vous) and a sudden blast of dry ice heralds a balloon drop. It is all so Eighties that my young posse demand I take a turn on one of the two podiums. I expect to be roundly booed by the dancefloor below but, aside from the baffled looks, I even get a few cheers (whether theyre ironic or sympathetic is hard to tell).

But then, Infernos is now comfortably middle-aged itself, as are its owners. Indeed, this year marks its 40th birthday as a nightclub. Built as the Majestic Cinema in 1914, it survived two world wars before being converted into a recording studio in the 1960s.

The Sex Pistols and Brian Eno were among those through the door in those days before it became a nightclub called Cinatras in 1985. In 2003 it was bought by Mint Group, a fledgling bar and club business set up by a couple of young ex-public school entrepreneurs, Olly Bengough and Alex Rutherford, who are still in charge 22 years later.

As I leave (with a rammed dancefloor jumping around to Taylor Swifts Shake It Off), I ask one more trio of clubbers what has brought them here.

I dont really know, says charity worker Louise, 28. Its a place where you just end up. But you know youll be back again soon enough. And so will those incognito celebrities.

It reminds me of the time Hollywood legend Harrison Ford took his family on a canal holiday in North Wales in 2004. No one bothered him because no one imagined that the bloke steering a barge down the Llangollen Canal could possibly be Harrison Ford.

Remember that the next time you see Taylor Swift on the dancefloor at Infernos.
Matthew McConaughey spent nearly a decade keeping some distance from his mother Kay because she was leaking sensitive details about him to news reporters.

The Academy Award-winning actor, 55, and his mother, 93, spoke with People about the complicated dynamic in play after Matthew came to the realization that his mother was violating his trust with the leaks.

The Dazed and Confused alum said that he didnt completely sever the relationship, but took a much more guarded approach when sharing information with his mother.

'We had about an eight-year period where I had to have short conversations with her on our Sunday phone calls,' the Dallas Buyers Club star said, 'because she was sharing a lot of that information.'

The True Detective star said he didnt need to investigate much to suss out where the leaks were coming from.

'Id tell her something on Sunday between son and mom, and Tuesday Id read about it in the news or see it in the local paper,' McConaughey told the magazine.

Matthew McConaughey, 55, spent nearly a decade keeping distance from his mother Kay, 93, because she was leaking sensitive details about him to news reporters. Pictured in Toronto earlier this month

The Academy Award-winning actor was pictured in London on Sunday

Kay, who plays the mother of McConaughey's character Kevin McKay in his new AppleTV+ thriller The Lost Bus, told the outlet of the tumultuous time: 'We were on a hiatus.'

McConaughey - who is father to three children with wife Camila Alves, 42- Levi, 17, Vida, 15, and Livingston, 12 - had a different way of putting it to the publication.

'We had some boring conversations on Sunday,' he said. 'I wouldn't tell you s***.'

Matthew said that the tipping point came after Kay let reporters into his childhood home, and he watched footage of it days later on television.

Kay said: 'I took people through the house and said, "Well, this is where Matthew slept" - Someone called him and said, "Are you watching what your mama's doing?"'

Kay added, 'I was so proud that I was just telling the world.'

Matthew said he was irritated by the breach of privacy displayed by his mother, although that she had an amusing comeback when he broached the uncomfortable topic with her.

Matthew said , 'I call her, she answers the phone. I go, "Mom, what'd you do?" She says, "What?" I said, "Don't tell me, 'What?'"

Matthew McConaughey, his mom Kay and son Levi were pictured in Toronto earlier this month

The A-lister posed between his wife and mom at the 2014 Oscars, where he won Best Actor for Dallas Buyers Club, defeating a field that included Christian Bale and Leonardo DiCaprio

He added: 'I could hear the same show I was watching that she's taking the camera through the house in the background - she goes, "Oh, that. I didn't think you'd find out."'

McConaughey said that eventually he reached a point in his career where his relationship with his mother was more important to him than any awkward publicity she might open him up to.

'I got stable enough with my own position and fame that I was like, "You know what? My mom can say whatever the hell she wants,"' McConaughey said. 'Let's take the lasso off and just go for it, Mom.'

Matthew said his mother has been more mindful and respectful of his privacy in the ensuing years since their hiatus.

'We go to red carpets and she said, "Any rules?"' he said. 'I was like "No rules at all. Tell all the raunchiest things you want." And she did and it was fine.'

He added, 'It's much more fun now.'
A Channel Seven reporter has allegedly been stood down over mental health concerns, just days after she instigated a class-action lawsuit against the network.

According to The Australian, the senior on-air reporter was placed on enforced leave from the Melbourne newsroom.

Seven allegedly claimed she exhibited concerning behaviour, such as parking in the wrong staff spot during a weekend shift, questioning colleagues about their experiences at the network during work hours, and rummaging through the chief of staff's desk drawers.

She also joked 'Everyone thinks I'm crazy' after advocating for higher wages during a union meeting.

The reporter has now allegedly been banned from returning to work until she passes a mental health assessment with a Seven-appointed psychiatrist.

Seven has defended its decision and told the publication that they suspended the journalist as they were 'concerned about her welfare'.

A Channel Seven reporter has allegedly been fired over mental health concerns, just days after she instigated a class-action lawsuit against the network

The reporter informed her fellow staff in an email last week: 'I've got three little kids at home and I'm still battling with [Seven News boss] Ray Kuka over his demands to make me endure a medical assessment.

'I'd really urge you to sign on to the Adero expressions of interest page  so that we can have strength in numbers.

'Be prepared for (management) to go through your emails and listen to your conversations. Opt for WhatsApp and Signal over text messages or work emails.'

It comes as employment litigation firm Adero Law is investigating a class action over two major claims against Seven West Media, which owns the Seven Network.

As part of its analysis, the law firm has spoken to more than 20 current and former Seven staff and requested several personnel files.

Caitlin McIvor, a senior associate at Adero, told the Australian Financial Review her team is preparing the potential suit against the media giant, though it is yet to be filed.

Her clients have accused Seven of underpaying staff, misclassifying roles, denying paid breaks, and failing to compensate overtime hours.

The first claim under investigation will focus on allegations that Seven paid some of its experienced journalists and producers a 'Level Five' salary, just one rung above cadet or entry-level journalists.

The senior, female on-air reporter was placed on enforced leave from the Melbourne newsroom

The base rate for a Level Five employee was between $55,100 and $65,500, plus extra loading if the person works enough hours  as agreed on in the enterprise bargaining agreement (EBA) settled in 2022.

There was also a 'personal margin' included in the salary but some staff alleged this was slashed as the base salary was increased, which negated any pay rise.

Some staff have alleged their extra pay was absorbed by Seven as part of an ongoing effort to cut costs, as it faces ongoing advertising revenue losses.

A spokeswoman for Seven West said the company rejected the accusations.

'Seven West Media is confident it is paying its news and current affairs employees appropriately and in line with the enterprise agreement and legislative obligations,' she said.

Secondly, Adero is investigating whether a recent Federal Court ruling on backpay could affect Seven employees.

Last month, in an unrelated case, the Federal Court ruled employers must keep detailed timesheets for salaried staff, which include overtime.

The decision saw Coles' backpay estimates jump from $31million to $250million, while Woolworths' increased from $486million to $1.2billion.

If the law firm successfully proves Seven violated the 2022 EBA, it could result in a massive backpay bill. About 1,200 employees were party to the document.
An Australian influencer is facing backlash online over her wild spending habits.

TikTok star Sam Todd, 30, who recently documented her lavish trip to Disneyland Japan, posts weekly videos of her new designer handbags, jewellery and Pop Mart collectibles.

Todd, who has 269.5k followers, also claims her purchases could be legitimately written off as 'business expenses'.

She has lost several followers who have grown tired of her 'out of touch overconsumption' while many believe she is a bad influence on her younger followers.

'Maybe Im too close-minded, but her constant need and desire to buy things (that are quite frankly useless) is concerning,' said a Reddit user on a post about the influencer earlier this month.

'I actually would consider myself an extremely open-minded person, I accept all kinda of hobbies and collecting and whatnot - to each their own.

TikTok star Sam Todd, 30, who is known for her luxury lifestyle, is facing backlash online from followers over her tax-deductible spending

'But there is a weird vibe about the fact that shes able to spend this much money, as well as promote to other people to buy so much useless garbage.'

Another Reddit user on the same thread added, 'I had to block her for this reason.

'It was warping my own sense of whats normal consumption.

'Every video was a new trinket obsession or a must have accessory. Her content used to be fun, but it just lacks balance and is very out of touch.'

Todd's recent posts include a shopping video in which she splurged on jewellery from luxury fashion brand Swarovski, as well as travel clips around Japan.

Daily Mail has approached Todd for comment.

An Australian Taxation Office spokesperson explained to The Daily Telegraph the details behind tax perks available to social media stars.

'Influencers who earn an accessible income from content creation are entitled to claim deductions for expenses,' the spokesperson said.

TikTok star Sam Todd, 30, who recently documented a lavish trip to Disneyland Japan , attracted criticism after previously revealing she 'hardly paid full price for anything'

Todd, who has 269.5k followers, also revealed her purchases could be legitimately written off as 'business expenses'

Todd's recent posts include a shopping video in which she splurged on jewellery from luxury fashion brand Swarovski, as well as travel clips around Japan

They continued: 'Where you spent the money yourself and did not get reimbursed, the expense directly relates to the income you earned and is not private in nature, and you have a record to prove it.'

However, the spokesperson explained that influencers also faced restrictions on their tax deductions.

'If the expense was incurred for both income earning and private purposes, you can only claim a deduction for the proportion that relates to the income earning activity,' the ATO spokesperson said.

'This is determined on a case-by-case basis, including how you use the item for which the expense was incurred.'

Last year, Todd boasted about 'rarely [paying] full price for anything' in one of her popular videos.

At the time, she was promoting an online fashion accessory business and flaunting a $600 second-hand Jacquemus bag that she had received for free as part of the promotion.

When asked by a follower whether her purchases were tax-deductible business purchases because they were the basis of her content, Todd confirmed that they were.
Melissa Leong has revealed she was sexually abused while working in the hospitality industry 15 years ago.

The MasterChef Australia star made the revelation during an interview with The Age's Sunday Life ahead of the release of her memoir Guts, which documents the 43-year-old's time in the kitchen over the years.

In the book, she shares that she was invited to speak at an International Women's Day event about being a woman of colour on the screen when she was moved by a speech presented by fellow panellist Anna Coutts-Trotter, who bravely spoke about being sexually abused.

That moment proved to be a turning point for Melissa.

'I identified with [her story] far too much,' she confessed.

'I was so ashamed that I just pretended it didnt happen, so I didnt keep proof  I just wanted it to all go away,' she said, adding that she didn't identify herself as a victim of sexual assault at the time.

Melissa Leong (pictured) has opened up about the sexual abuse she experienced while working in the culinary industry

The chef and food writer, who rose to fame as judge on MasterChef Australia, sat down in an interview with The Age ahead of the release of her memoir

Reflecting on the lack of conversations around consent during that period, she added: 'I let my boundaries be flagrantly crossed, and then I took that blame onto myself for such a long time.'

Melissa's decision to candidly speak about her painful past comes amid what many are calling a reckoning within Australia's hospitality industry, where women who have been employed by some of Australia's greatest food establishments are opening up about their own stories of abuse and harassment.

Last year, a hospitality boss said his company had 'messed up' after explosive allegations were made about rape, drug use and sex competitions among staff in his ritzy venues.

Swillhouse, which owns six high-profile venues across Sydney, including Le Foote restaurant in The Rocks and CBD whisky bar the Baxter Inn, was rocked by allegations made by staff, which first came to light in August 2024.

Former Swillhouse CEO and founder Anton Forte, who was not personally accused of any wrongdoing, posted a lengthy video on the hospitality group's Instagram account addressing the claims.

An investigation by The Sydney Morning Herald reported claims from five female former staff who alleged the company failed to support them after they reported allegations of sexual abuse and harassment by male employees.

During his video apology, Mr Forte said he began his hospitality group to 'create something magical in the city we loved'.

Former Swillhouse CEO and founder Anton Forte (pictured), who was not personally accused of any wrongdoing, posted a lengthy video on the hospitality group's Instagram account addressing the claims

'We wanted to create a culture of openness, generosity and respect but along the way we messed up,' he said.

'It's heartbreaking to know that people were unsupported, unheard and let down.

'I'm deeply sorry for that.'

Mr Forte said the allegations against Swillhouse were 'far-reaching' and 'reflect a period of time where our business wasn't as sophisticated as it is now'.

However, Mr Forte said, 'we don't take them lightly and we respect people's experiences and their need to share their stories publicly'.

'We've heard you, we are listening and we are accountable,' he said.

Anton eventually stepped down from his role as CEO following the controversy and was replaced by Lisa Hobbs.

If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit their website. In an emergency, call 000.
Bruce Springsteen had nothing but good things to say about Jeremy Allen White at a screening of Deliver Me From Nowhere at the New York Film Festival.

The Boss took the stage following the showing of the biopic that details his struggle with depression while crafting his acclaimed 1982 acoustic album Nebraska.

Springsteen, 76, publicly praised the award-winning star of The Bear for 'playing a much better looking version of me.'

He went on to say: 'I spent my life on the road, moving around the world as kind of a musical ambassador for America, you know  trying to measure the distance between American reality, where weve often fallen short of our ideals.

'But for a lot of folks out there, she continues to be a land of hope and dreams, not of fear or divisiveness or government censorship or hatred.'

The legendary rocker then performed a moving version of Land Of Hope And Dreams to a standing ovation, according to Deadline.

Bruce Springsteen reunited Sunday night with Jeremy Allen White who plays him in the biopic Deliver Me From Nowhere at a special screening of the film at the NY Film Festival

Springsteen, 76, publicly praised the award-winning star of The Bear for 'playing a much better looking version of me'

The movie is directed by Scott Cooper and also features Succession star Jeremy Strong as Springsteens longtime manager and co-producer Jon Landau.

Springsteen told TIME on Thursday he felt the film's director Scott Cooper - who penned the biopic based on Warren Zanes' book - had a daunting task in depicting his battle with depression on the silver screen.

The film 'could have gone in a lot of different directions' in terms of his depression battles, he shared.

Springsteen said he had thought of taking his own life in 1982 after his album Nebraska was released, though his manager Landau intervened and suggested he get 'professional help.'

The advice 'was and has been a total life changer,' Springsteen told TIME.

Following the screening, the legendary rocker delighted the audience with a performance of Land Of Hope And Dreams, leading to a standing ovation

White - the award-winning star of The Bear - portrays Springsteen as he grapples with depression while crafting his 1982 acoustic album Nebraska

The movie is directed by Scott Cooper and also features Succession star Jeremy Strong (pictured with White) as Springsteens longtime manager and co-producer Jon Landau

The Boss was also joined on the red carpet by longtime friend and E Street bandmember Steve Van Zandt

Van Zandt, who played Silvio Dante on HBO's The Sopranos, posed for photos with his wife Maureen and actor Johnny Cannizzaro, who plays him in the movie

Director Cooper told the outlet of the timing of the motion picture: 'This narrow time frame reveals deeper truths about Bruces lifelong struggles with identity and creative honesty.'

In the chat with TIME, Springsteen explained why he's never strayed too far from his New Jersey beginnings.

'What I worked very hard on was not running, but on standing, on making your life choices, and then standing with and for them,' he said. 'Thats been my theme since that record.'

Stephen Graham, Paul Walter Hauser, Gaby Hoffmann, Marc Maron and Johnny Cannizzaro round out an impressive ensemble cast.

Deliver Me From Nowhere arrives in theaters October 24.
The invitation was a pristine white T-shirt printed with his portrait, the dress code was black tie and the show was as fitting a tribute as he would have wished.

In a spectacle staged with impeccable attention to detail, the only thing amiss was that Giorgio Armani himself was not on hand to see it.

The A-list from film to fashion to music turned out in force in Milan on Sunday evening to honour the late Italian designer, who died on September 4, aged 91, three weeks before Milan Fashion Week commenced.

The collection  the last one created by the late designer  also marked the 50th anniversary of his signature label.

Making a rare appearance was Richard Gere, 76, with his wife Alejandra Silva. The actor was famously clothed by Armani for the 1980 film, American Gigolo.

His co-star Lauren Hutton, now 81, and who the designer called his original muse, was also in attendance, wearing a white trouser suit.

Giorgio Armani's stunning final collection walked the Milan Fashion Week runway in honour of the icon on Sunday evening

The fashion icon died on September 4, aged 91, three weeks before Milan Fashion Week commenced (pictured 2008)

They were joined at the Brera Art Gallery by actress and longtime Armani ambassador Cate Blanchett, 56, who wore a bold gold and black striped jacket.

While actress Glenn Close, 78, in a loose black trouser suit, and White Lotus star, Leslie Bibb, 51, in a strapless black evening gown.

Also in attendance was American Vogues former editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, who wore a white skirt and matching long-line jacket, actress Marisa Berenson, director Spike Lee, actors James Norton and Samuel L. Jackson and the Italian pop star Alexia.

As darkness fell, the courtyard was illuminated by the light of hundreds of candles. Pianist Ludovico Einaudi gave a haunting performance of Nuvole Bianche, while models walked slowly in pairs, as has always been the Armani way.

The collection featured a raft of classic looks  including Nehru collared jackets, harem pants and soft, deconstructed suits  that became so influential over the past half-century.

The show concluded with an evening-wear section replete with the understated glamour that saw Armani rule the red carpet for decades.

Sequin gowns came in rich jewel colours, while menswear was similarly rich in tone, and included velvet tuxedos.

A titan of the fashion industry, Mr Armani left behind an empire worth an estimated 8.75 billion. A true pioneer, he also left a legacy that is as unmatched.

The collection  the last one created by the late designer  also marked the 50th anniversary of his signature label

The collection featured a raft of classic looks  including Nehru collared jackets, harem pants and soft, deconstructed suits  that became so influential over the past half-century

Making a rare appearance was Richard Gere , 76, with his wife Alejandra Silva. The actor was famously clothed by Armani for the 1980 film, American Gigolo

His co-star Lauren Hutton (R) and who the designer called his original muse, was also in attendance, wearing a white trouser suit (Pictured wih Glenn Close, left)

They were joined at the Brera Art Gallery by actress and longtime Armani ambassador Cate Blanchett, 56, who wore a bold gold and black striped jacket.

Mr Armani passed away peacefully at his home just weeks ahead of a planned 50th anniversary celebration.

In a statement, the fashion house announced his death 'with infinite sorrow'.

A spokesperson for the company added: 'Today, with deep emotion, we feel the void left by the one who founded and nurtured this family with vision, passion, and dedication.'

Armani had been CEO and creative director up until his death and said in his last interview last weekend: 'My greatest weakness is that I am in control of everything.'

The fashion icon, who also dressed celebrities including Julia Roberts, George Clooney and Lady Gaga, was famous for his relaxed tailoring

The self-confessed workaholic, was involved in every aspect of shows and had previously revealed how his biggest regret in life was 'spending too many hours working and not enough time with friends and family'.

A titan of the fashion industry, Mr Armani left behind an empire worth an estimated 8.75 billion. A true pioneer, he also left a legacy that is as unmatched (pictured 2021)

He said in January that 'taking a step back in the near future [was] inevitable' but he would 'continue as long as my health and energy permits'.

In October last year, Armani said he planned to retire within 'two to three years'.

He said in an interview published in Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper that he has restless nights in which he dreams of a future in which 'I no longer have to be the one who says 'Yes' or 'No'.'

The Italian icon was credited with inventing red-carpet fashion, but also moved into a younger and less expensive range through Emporio Armani, and opened luxury hotels.
Claudia Karvan has confirmed that her romance with Dave Galafassi, the ex-husband of Muriel's Wedding star Toni Collette, is still going strong.

The Bump star, 53, took to social media last week to document a recent romantic trip to Italy she shared with the 48-year-old musician.

Claudia, who first debuted her relationship with Dave back in December 2023, gushed over her beau in the post, calling him 'the best travel partner ever'.

A gallery of photos showed the couple hiking around the Dolomite Mountains and sampling the country's famed dessert treat - gelato.

Claudia also included an image of herself clowning around with her partner, in which she can be seen performing a handstand while Dave held her feet.

Another picture showed the pair posing on a walking trail.

Claudia Karvan has confirmed her romance with Dave Galafassi, the ex-husband of Muriel's Wedding star Toni Collette, is still going strong. The Bump star, 53, took to social media last week to document a recent romantic trip to Italy she shared with the 48-year-old musician

Claudia, who was first debuted her relationship with Dave back in December 2023, gushed over her beau in the post, calling him 'the best travel partner ever'

'Grazie Italy. Thank you gelato, thank you majestic Dolomites,' she said in the post.

She also weighed in on the war in Gaza in her caption, adding: 'Thank you Italians for all the Palestinian flags I saw hanging out your windows, (we dont see this in Sydney).

'And thanks mostly to Dave for being the best travel partner ever.'

The couple's followers were quick to comment on the loved-up post.

'Oh my gawd, so perfect. Your smile(s) say it all,' commented one, while another added, 'Could there be a more joyful looking holiday!!'

'Yay, you both look sooooo happy living that Italia lyf! posted another user.

Dave, who was a drummer in an indie rock band when he met Toni, confirmed his split from the Golden Globe winner in December 2022 when he was pictured passionately kissing Egan at Manly Beach in Sydney.

Daily Mail Australia contacted Toni's management about the photos, and hours later, she announced the couple had split in a joint statement released on her newly reactivated Instagram account.

Claudia also included an image of herself clowning around with her partner, in which she can be seen performing a handstand while Dave held her feet

'It is with grace and gratitude that we announce we are divorcing,' the pair wrote.

'We're united in our decision and part with continuing respect and care for each other.

'Our kids are of paramount importance to us and we will continue to thrive as a family, albeit a different shape. We're thankful for the space and love you grant us as we evolve and move through this transition peacefully. Big thanks.'

The pair met in 2002 at the launch of David's band's debut album Metal Detector in Sydney, and their second encounter came just a few days later at a house party.

They were married with Buddhist rituals on her property at Berry on the NSW south coast, less than a year after they met, in January 2003.

Dave and Claudia made headlines in December 2023 when they were spotted packing on the PDA during a surfing date at Bondi Beach.

Photos showed the pair, both dressed in wetsuits, exchanging kisses in the waves as they floated around on their surfboards.

An onlooker told Woman's Day magazine they arrived at the beach and left together, adding: 'They just seemed really happy together and weren't bothered by anyone seeing them.'

'Grazie Italy. Thank you gelato, thank you majestic Dolomitis,' she said in the post

Claudia's last known romance was with ex-partner Jeremy Sparks, who she dated for 22 years before splitting in 2017.

The former couple co-parent daughter Audrey, 23, and son Albee, 19.

Dave meanwhile shares daughter Sage, 17, and son Arlo, 14, with ex Toni.

Toni and Claudia have plenty in common.

Aside from their strikingly similar looks and their shared hometown of Sydney, the actresses have both enjoyed successful careers in cinema, television and the stage.

Toni is best known for her roles in Muriel's Wedding, Hereditary, Little Miss Sunshine and About A Boy.

Claudia is meanwhile most recognised for her roles in The Secret Life of Us, Love My Way, Bump and Daybreakers.
Kieran Culkin and wife Jazz Charton appeared to confirm that they are expecting their third child while attending the opening night of Waiting For Godot in NYC on Sunday.

The 42-year-old Succession actor was joined by Charton at the event and flashed a cheerful smile as he rested his hand on her stomach.

The couple - who tied the knot over a decade earlier in 2013 - are already parents to daughter Kinsey, six, and son Wilder, four.

The big news comes after Culkin revealed the promise that his wife made to him after winning his first Oscar earlier this year in March.

While accepting the award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in A Real Pain (2024), the actor said that Charton would give him another kid if he won the award.

Daily Mail has reached out to Culkin's representatives for comment.

Kieran Culkin, 42, and wife Jazz Charton, 37, appeared to confirm that they are expecting their third child while attending the opening night of Waiting For Godot in NYC on Sunday

'About a year ago, I was on a stage like this and I very stupidly, publicly said that I want a third kid from her because she said if I won the award she would give me the kid,' he explained at the time.

The star jokingly told the crowd, 'Turns out she said that because she didn't think I was gonna win.

'She goes, "Oh God, I did say that. I guess I owe you a third kid." And I turned to her and I said, "Really, I want four."'

Culkin revealed that his wife had then told him in response, 'I will give you four when you win an Oscar.'

The actor then humorously remined Charton of her promise and also pointed out he has 'not brought it up once until just now.'

'But I just have this to say to you Jazz, love of my life, ye of little faith. No pressure, I love you, I'm really sorry I did this again and let's get cracking on those kids. What do you say?'

The camera panned to his wife in the audience as she laughed at his speech and the reminder.

But it was not the first time that Culkin had expressed his wishes to continue to grow his family.

The Succession actor was joined by Charton at the event and flashed a cheerful smile as he rested his hand on her stomach

Jazz showed off her growing bump in a beige dress

The big news comes after Culkin revealed the promise that his wife made to him after winning his first Oscar earlier this year in March; Seen at the Oscars

Last year in January, Culkin gave an emotional speech as he won an Emmy for Best Actor in a Drama Series for his performance in Succession.

At one point, he sent gratitude to his wife while accepting the award.

'Thank you for sharing your life with me and for giving me two amazing kids. Kinsey Sioux and Wilder Wolf, I love you so much.'

The Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World actor then added, 'And Jazz - I want more. You said maybe, if I win. I love you so much.'

As the couple walked the red carpet during opening night of Waiting For Godot, the star was seen resting his hand on his wife's growing baby bump.

She donned a fitted, tan-colored dress that fell down past her knees and also slipped into open-toed shoes.

Her brunette locks were parted in the middle and effortlessly flowed down past her shoulders in light waves.

Culkin kept it casual wearing a pair of black trousers as well as a gray-striped sweater and brown shoes.

Culkin and Charton - who is from London - first crossed paths at a bar in New York City in 2012.

During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the actor recalled their first meeting and expressed, 'I said, "I'm Kieran. You have an English accent. What's your name?"

Culkin revealed that his wife had told him, 'I will give you four when you win an Oscar'; seen at 2024 Emmys in LA

The couple - who tied the knot over a decade earlier in 2013 - are already parents to daughter Kinsey, six, and son Wilder, four; Culkin seen with his kids

'She said, "Jazz." I said, "J-A-Z-Z, like the music?" And she said, "Yeah." And I said, "Well, that's f***ing stupid."'

The following year, the lovebirds tied the knot in Iowa while enjoying a road trip together.

The pair welcomed their first child - a daughter named Kinsey - to the world in September 2019. And two years later, their son Wilder was born.

During an appearance on Variety's Actors On Actors series late last year, Culkin opened up about fatherhood - and the one thing he is not a fan of.

At one point, Colman Domingo questioned, 'What do you like about being a father?' and the star replied with, 'Absolutely everything except dinner time. I love everything else.'

When it comes to raising a family, he continued, 'It feels like nothing else matters.

'I'm a dad now, and my only role in life is that. That's real life. All this is lovely, but I'm just trying to get home.'
Pip Edwards has arrived back in Australia after spending time with her rumoured new beau Dylan Hales in New York.

The fashion designer looked somewhat downcast as she touched down solo at Sydney Airport on Sunday.

Pip looked trendy as ever in a boxy black blazer paired with matching black slacks.

Layered over a white T-shirt, the 45-year-old's power suit ensemble was finished off with a pair of black Puma sneakers.

The Ksubi creative director attempted to go incognito in blackout sunnies, while donning a pair of headphones around her neck.

She threw her hair in a messy bun for the travel day, with a few locks hanging across her cheekbones as she made her way through the airport.

Pip Edwards has arrived back in Australia after spending time with her rumoured new beau Dylan Hales in New York

The fashion designer looked somewhat downcast as she touched down solo at Sydney Airport on Sunday

Pip certainly didn't pack light for the New York trip, for she was seen carting around three large suitcases and a Burberry tote bag, which retails for around $1,300.

The fashion mogul set tongues wagging last week when she was spotted linking arms with a hunky bar tycoon Dylan in the Big Apple.

The pair were captured getting close in a photo posted to Instagram by Pip's DJ friend Milly Gattegno.

Both Pip and Dylan re-shared the photo to their Instagram Stories.

In the image, the pair had their backs to the camera as they walked down the street, with Pip reaching out to link her arm with Dylan.

The bar owner flaunted his tattoos and muscular physique in a white tank top as he carried a young child on his shoulders.

Meanwhile, Pip showed off her figure in a pair of tight black bike shorts and a backless white top.

Dylan and his Sydney mate Ronnie Flynn are the co-owners of some of the hottest venues in New York City.

Pip certainly didn't pack light for the New York trip, for she was seen carting around three large suitcases and a Burberry tote bag, which retails for around $1,300

The fashion mogul set tongues wagging last week when she was spotted linking arms with a hunky bar tycoon Dylan in the Big Apple. (Pictured: Pip Edwards and Dylan Hales)

Dylan and Pip are pictured at the the Galore Magazine Cover Release Dinner earlier this month

The duo first opened The Flower Shop in East Village and later a venue called Little Ways in Broadway.

They also own Loosie's, beneath the Moxy Hotel in the Lower East Side, and Silver Lining Lounge, a sleek late-night jazz bar in Bowery.

Daily Mail has reached out to Pip and Dylan for comment.

It comes after Daily Mail revealed in early March that Pip had parted ways with her ex-boyfriend Joshua Clapp.

Their romance generated much chatter throughout Sydney's eastern suburbs as Joshua is the ex-partner of Pip's best friend Leah Simmons, the famous personal trainer behind workout program KI.

Joshua, who runs construction firm Steel + Stitch which designs some of Sydney's trendiest hospitality venues, shares a teenage son named Ryder with Leah.
The Block stars Dan Reilly and Dani Wales have suffered a gut-wrenching loss after a painting dedicated to their late daughter was stolen from a Melbourne gallery on Sunday.

The reality TV couple tragically lost their child, Billie, in December last year when she was just ten days old.

Painter Kerry Armstrong created the artwork, valued at a reported $23,000, which was intended to raise funds for a neonatal care unit at the Women's Hospital.

Channel Nine reported the heartless robbery on Sunday and shared CCTV footage of thieves removing six paintings from the walls of Armstrong's gallery in Cheltenham.

At one point, a thief can be seen stealing Billie's painting, titled 'I Am Love,' and tossing it onto the back of a truck.

An incredibly kind person did something that they didn't have to do to honour our daughter because of the impact it had on her,' an emotional Dani told Nine News.

The Block stars Dan Reilly and Dani Wales have suffered a gut-wrenching loss after a painting dedicated to their daughter was stolen from a Melbourne gallery on Sunday. Pictured: Dani posing with artwork, which was intended to raise funds for a neonatal care unit

The reality TV couple tragically lost their child, Billie, in December last year at just ten days old. Pictured: Dani and Dan during their emotional interview with Nine News on Sunday

Its just heartless, Kerry put her everything into this artwork for Billie and us,' added Dan.

Armstrong is now offering a reward for Billie's painting.

Dani and Dan informed their followers about the heist, in which $80,000 worth of painting were stolen, on Sunday.

'This piece was extra special as 100% of its sale was to be donated to the NICU (Newborn Intensive Care Unit),' the pair wrote in the shared Instagram post.

'While the works are insured and the donation will still proceed, it doesnt compensate for the loss of the artwork itself and the profound meaning it holds for us.'

Posting that the news of the loss was 'unthinkable', Dani added: 'I honestly have no words.

'It was meant to find a home with someone who truly loved it instead, who knows where it will end up now.

She added, 'A reward is being offered by Kerry Armstrong for information leading to the recovery of the work, so if you happen to spot this piece online or anywhere out in the world, please reach out to the police straight away.'

Channel Nine reported the heartless robbery on Sunday and shared CCTV footage of thieves removing six paintings from the walls of Armstrong's gallery in Cheltenham. Pictured: A thief can be seen steals Billie's painting, titled 'I Am Love'

Dani and Dan shared an update with followers on Sunday, in the wake of the heist, in which $80,000 worth of artwork was stolen. (Both pictured)

Dani included a photo of herself posing beside the painting.

The post received many messages of support from the couple's followers

'Such a beautiful painting, and cause, I really hope you find it,' commented one, while another added, 'This is so very upsetting and disappointing- praying this precious artwork is found.'

A third follower added, 'So, so sorry.'

Dan and Danni first revealed the artwork dedicated to their daughter in April.

Sale of the painting was intended to raise funds for Billie's Besties Fund, a pool of money that supports neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) families via the Women's Hospital.

Since December, the couple have already raised over $35,000 for NICU support as a tribute to Billie.

Speaking of the artwork, the artist revealed she began the piece after reading about Dan and Dani's heartbreaking experience.

'The emotions I felt and empathy towards them came through in the most beautiful, ethereal way onto the linen and I was compelled to write an accompanying verse which is forever captured with my handwriting on the back of the piece,' Armstrong said.

The couple said that the donation will still go ahead and that the stolen artwork is insured - with the artist offering a reward for its return.

The Block alum took to Instagram in December to share the devastating news that their daughter Billie Vera Reilly passed away at just 10 days old.

They posted a photograph of themselves with their arms around one another as they stood by their daughter's cot in hospital.

In a heartbreaking tribute, Dani shared her 'insurmountable' grief and said she and Dan both feel 'honoured' to be Billie's parents.

They wrote: 'Billie Vera Reilly 8/12/24 - 18/12/24. It is with insurmountable grief that we share the news that our daughter Billie, has passed on from this life and into the next at just 10 days young.

'In Billie's short time in this world, she taught us an intensity of both love and pain we never knew possible. She taught us what really matters.

'Billie was so wanted, so loved and she made us parents and what an honour it is to be her mummy and daddy. She will always be our daughter.

'It's clear to us that Billie was far too good for this world but if we know anything for sure, it's that Billie's legacy will make an impact greater than all of us.

'Thank you @mrskevinsphotos for capturing such beautiful family photos for us and also for @heartfelt_ausnz for capturing many of Billie's firsts.'

Dan has since taken on a role as foreman on The Block and they also host the Dan vs Dani series, critiquing each team's Room Reveals every week. Pictured: The couple tied the knot in 2018 in an intimate ceremony on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula

Dani went on to encourage people to make a donation in Billie's honour to The Royal Women's Hospital via their in memoriam fundraising page.

She wrote: 'We want to make special mention of 'Billie's Besties' at @theroyalwomens - the nurses, doctors & staff in NICU are some of the most incredible people to walk this earth and we'll be forever grateful for the care and love they gave our girl, and us.

'If you're in a position to, you can make a donation in Billie's honour to The Royal Women's Hospital via the link (linked in bio).'

Dan and Dani had announced they were expecting their first child together in a post shared to Instagram in July.

The couple first hit national attention when they appeared on the 2012 series of The Block.

The pair, who were dating at the time, took out second place honours and a profit of $448,000.

The pair returned in 2013 for The Block All Stars series, walking away with third place and a profit of $220,000.

Dan has since taken on a role as a foreman on the show and they also host the Dan vs Dani series, critiquing each team's Room Reveals every week.

The couple tied the knot in 2018 in an intimate ceremony on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula.
VIctoria Beckham sent Spice Girls fans into a tizz on Sunday night as she admitted she was 'tempted' by a reunion on the final night of Oasis' reunion tour.

The band, also comprising Geri Horner, Mel C, Emma Bunton and Mel B, have long-been the subject of reunion rumours with fans frequently yearning for a return.

Among a slew of snaps on her Instagram from the Wembley gig, Victoria shared a video panning around the sold-out venue with 'Tempting....' written over the top alongside tags of her bandmates' Instagram handles.

Fans soon flooded X with excitement, with users penning: 'Fans took to Twitter to pen: 'Victoria Beckham teasing something about the Spice Girls. Hmmmm...

'DID VICTORIA BECKHAM JUST HIT A SPICE GIRLS TOUR ?!? ON HER IG STORY ?!? OMGGG... victoria beckham posting about how tempting watching oasis perform is and tagging all the girls you guys, we have never been this back i am on the floor.'

VIctoria Beckham sent Spice Girls fans into a tizz on Sunday night as she admitted she was 'tempted' by a reunion on the final night of Oasis' reunion tour

The group reunited at Victoria's 50th birthday party last year (L-R Geri Horner, Mel C, Victoria, Emma Bunton and Mel B)

David belted out the band's 1996 hit Champagne Supernova alongside the video in which she tagged her bandmates

She was joined at the gig by husband David, daughter Harper, 14, her sons Romeo, 23, and Cruz, 20, and Cruz's girlfriend, Jackie Apostel, 30. Notably absent was their estranged son Brooklyn, 26, who is currently locked in a feud with the family.

As well as her hints at a Spice Girls return, Victoria posed up a storm with Harper - who has recently joined Instagram with a private account.

She ensured the rest of her brood in attendance also appeared on her stories, as she also posed with Cruz and Romeo and shared an image of Cruz and Jackie kissing.

Adding to their crew was Victoria's long-time friend and hair stylist Ken Paves as well as David's pal Dave Gardner, who belted out hits with David.

Harper appeared to be annoyed at her brother Cruz and dad as they headed home in a car while they both sang 1994's Supersonic.

As with many audience members, Victoria gave a nod to Oasis' trademark looks - however shunned the widespread bucket hat look in favour of a parka.

Prior to the concert, she also showed off David's buff body as he tried to choose what to wear. Unlike his wife, he succumbed to the bucket hat style.

In April, it was claimed the group are reportedly set to reunite to mark their 30th anniversary as they have been secretly planning an upcoming world tour.

She posed happily with her son Romeo, 23, in their box

The Spice Girls are pictured in 1996 at the very start of their soar to fame

As well as her hints at a Spice Girls return, Victoria posed up a storm with Harper - who has recently joined Instagram with a private account

She shared a sweet snap of Jackie and Cruz from the crowd

David and his best pal Dave Gardner wore complementary looks

Prior to the concert, she also showed off David's buff body as he tried to choose what to wear. Unlike his wife, he succumbed to the bucket hat style

Geri, Emma, Mel B and Mel C were said to have met in Miami to discuss the finer details, yet Victoria is '90 per cent out of the running', with the foursome pushing ahead with plans without her for now.

It was alleged at the time that Geri and band manager and guru Simon Fuller are reportedly in touch again which has moved things along after years of hints from various members that they would get back together.

A source said: 'There have been rumours swirling for months, but Geri has always been too busy and had other things on, preventing her from saying yes.

'Nothing is yet confirmed but Geri and Simon are back in touch with a myriad of exciting ideas.'

Victoria has often been named as the stopper on reunion plans - saying in 2019: 'I'm not going on tour. The girls aren't going on tour'.

However she conceded she did not know what the future may hold, saying: 'It's a positive thing. You know, there's so much bad stuff going on, and the Spice Girls were about fun and celebrating individuality...

Harper appeared to be annoyed at her brother Cruz and dad as they headed home in a car while they both sang 1994's Supersonic

She posed with her good pal Ken Paves

She proudly shared more videos of Cruz and Jackie getting up close

Fans took to X to highlight the excitement over her mysterious story

In 2019, Victoria chose not to join the group for a reunion gig (pictured)

'I think there's so much that the brand can do, and it's such a positive message for young kids. What does that look like in the future? It's not me in a cat-suit'.

Since forming in 1994, the Spice Girls sold over 100m records - making them the best-selling girlband of all time.

Despite being at the height of their stratospheric fame, having released the movie Spice World in 1997 and sold out the Spiceworld tour in 1998, Geri announced she was leaving , leading to the band's hiatus in 2000.

Since the hiatus, they reunited for a performance at the 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony and for two concert tours: The Return of the Spice Girls Tour from 2007 to 2008 as a five-piece and the Spice World  2019 UK Tour.

The reunion tours went ahead without Victoria as she has since pursued her work as a fashion designer, following success in her solo ventures in the early 2000s.
Alan Davies has shared a rare insight into how he met his wife Katie Maskell in a candid chat.

The actor-comedian, 59, has been married to the writer, 47, since 2007 after the pair met backstage at QI two years earlier.

Now, Alan has opened up about that meeting and ow he plucked up the courage to ask Katie out after spotting her in the audience.

Alan revealed that Katie was working for a literary agency because one of their clients was on the QI panel for filming that day - and he later asked for her number in the green room bar.

'She didnt have her glasses on and that worked in my favour,' he joked.

Elsewhere in the chat, Alan opened up about his traumatic childhood after revealing he was abused by his father earlier this month.

Alan Davies has shared a rare insight into how he met his wife Katie Maskell in a candid chat on Thursday

The actor-comedian, 59, has been married to the writer, 47, since 2007 after the pair met backstage at QI two years earlier (Seen in 2010)

Speaking to The Times about the home he shares with Katie and their two children, daughter Eve and son Bobby, Alan revealed he wanted it to be a very different environment for his kids than his childhood home had been for him.

'My father was abusive and my brother didnt believe it when I brought it up in a raging tantrum aged 15, we don't have any contact now,' he said.

He went on to say that he eventually got clarity on what happened to him as a child, as he discussed how it impacted his relationship with Katie.

'I think Katie would have sent me packing a few years ago [if he didn't understand how his childhood impacted him as an insult], honestly, because I wasnt easy to be with,' he said.

Earlier this month, Alan revealed said his own brother 'stopped speaking' to him after he had his father arrested for abuse.

Discussing his traumatic childhood in an interview, the comedian admitted his family would have 'preferred he didnt say anything at all' as he detailed his fractured relationship with his siblings.

Alan was sexually abused by his father between the ages of eight to 13, following the death of his mother from leukaemia when he was six years old.

During his rise to fame he found himself struggling with alcohol and anger as a result of his childhood, but it was only after a therapist helped him come to terms with what had happened that he went to the police eight years ago.

Alan revealed that Katie was working for a literary agency because one of their clients was on the QI panel for filming that day - and he later asked for her number in the green room bar (Seen in 2005)

He has since discussed the abuse and how his childhood led him down a troublesome path in his memoir, Just Ignore Him, which was released in 2020.

Alan told The Telegraph: 'If the abuse occurred within a family, as it usually does, the instinct to withhold feels right, because families dont usually support the victim.'

He continued: 'My older brother stopped speaking to me after I had dad arrested. He stopped sending birthday cards to my kids. I still have some contact with my sister, I see her son.

'They would have still preferred I didnt say anything at all. But this is bigger than my family. You cant not shine a light on it, just because you find it "a bit awkward."'

Alan finally reported his father, who is still alive, in 2017, but was told that he wouldn't be able to stand trial as he was in his eighties, had dementia and was in a care home.

During an appearance on Lorraine in 2021, he told guest host Cat Deeley that 'secrets and shame are terrible things to carry for a child' while discussing his memoir Just Ignore Him, in which the abuse was detailed.

Alan admitted that he had taken a 'long time' to find a way to discuss the 'difficult' aspects of his childhood, telling Cat that he wasn't able to share his story on stage in his stand-up comedy routines.

The Jonathan Creek star told how he's had friends share their own experiences of childhood abuse after reading his words, with Alan feeling that this aspect was one of the most 'important' things to come from him penning the memoir.

He explained: 'It took me a long time to kind of find a forum as it were to talk about the more difficult things in my childhood, I havent been able to do it in stand-up comedy, Ive done it in this book.

'Several people, people I know, one or two quite well known people, theyve come to me and theyve said "I've read your book and a similar thing happened to me" or "similar things happened to me" and then we've had a conversation about it as normal as talking about having a cup of tea.'

He continued: 'I feel like thats the most important thing to come from the book, what I hoped would come from the book was that other people would find someone to speak to. Because secrets and shame are terrible things to carry for a child.

'But also, you start carrying them as a child and then you carry them your whole life and they taint everything you do. They taint your whole life experience, all your relationships, everything.'

When asked if writing the book helps in anyway, he responded: 'It does because recurring thoughts and recurring memories are just there every day.

'It took me a couple of years to write this and it felt like kind of extracting something and made something worthwhile, I did the best words that I could.'

Alan's difficult childhood was made worse by the fact that that he had lost his mum to when he was just six years old, with the physical, emotional and sexual abuse at the hands of his father following.
Sir Paul McCartney paid tribute to the late John Lennon by performing Beatles hit Help for the first time in almost four decades amid his US tour in California on Friday.

The music icon, 83, who wrote the track alongside Lennon in 1965, included a whole host of the band's songs in his setlist, with Help featuring for the first time since way back in 1990.

McCartney took to the stage for a one-off show at the Santa Barbara Bowl in Palm Desert ahead of the North American leg of his Got Back tour kicking off on Monday.

The Beatles legend also performed a string of the other band's hits including Hey Jude, Let It Be and Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

Lennon was tragically shot dead at the age of 40 by fan Mark Chapman outside his home in New York City in 1980.

He had left the Beatles in 1969 and in 1970 the split hit headlines when McCartney announced publicly that he was no longer working with the group.

Sir Paul McCartney paid tribute to the late John Lennon by performing Beatles hit Help for the first time in almost four decades amid his US tour in California on Friday (Pictured in February)

The icon, who wrote the track alongside Lennon in 1965, sang Help for the first time since way back in 1990 (L-R Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, John Lennon and George Harrison 1963)

The late musician would go on to become embroiled in legal battles over the band's back catalogue which caused tension between him, his wife and former song-writing partner.

Back in 2022 McCartney projected documentary footage of his late bandmate as he took to stage at Spokane Arena, Washington.

He projected footage of the late Lennon behind him and 'duetted' with his bandmate for a touching rendition of I've Got A Feeling.

A touching photograph of the incredible moment showed he performed on stage as Lennon sang and played the guitar on a huge screen behind him.

The footage was taken from Peter Jackson's Disney+ documentary The Beatles: Get Back, which aired in November 2021 and followed the making of the band's 1970 album Let It Be.

McCartney told the crowds: 'Peter Jackson said, "I can pull John's voice out if you'd like me to".'

Earlier this year the cast for Sam Mendes' upcoming Beatles biopics have been announced, with four huge names set to take on the roles of the Fab Four.

At CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas, Sony confirmed the cast for the four Beatles projects following a sea of speculation, with all four films set to be released in April 2028.

McCartney took to the stage for a one-off show at the Santa Barbara Bowl in Palm Desert ahead of the North American leg of his Got Back tour kicking off on Monday (pictured 2024)

Back in 2022 McCartney projected documentary footage of his late bandmate as he took to stage at Spokane Arena, Washington

Gladiator II hunk Paul Mescal will play McCartney, Harris Dickinson will play Lennon, Barry Keoghan will star as Ringo Starr and Joseph Quinn will play George Harrison in the films about The Fab Four.

Paul McCartney's US tour setlist Help! Coming Up Got To Get You Into My Life Let Me Roll It Getting Better Let 'Em In My Valentine Nineteen Hundred And Eighty-Five I've Just Seen A Face Love Me Do Dance Tonight Blackbird Now And Then Lady Madonna Jet Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da Get Back Let It Be Live and Let Die Hey Jude Encore: I've Got a Feeling Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise) Helter Skelter Golden Slumbers Carry That Weight The End Advertisement

Mendes, 59, appeared at the Caesar's Palace event, revealing that all four films  called The Beatles: A Four-Film Cinematic Event  will come out in the same month, as he introduced his four leading stars to the stage.

Each of the movies will focus on one of the members of the band. According to the director, Sony's film boss Tom Rothman dubbed the films 'the first binge-able theatrical experience'.

'We're not just making one film about the Beatles  we're making four,' Mendes announced. 'Perhaps this is a chance to understand them a little more deeply.'

'The Beatles changed my understanding of music,' Mendes added. 'I've been trying to make a movie about them for years.'

'I'm honored to be telling the story of the greatest rock band of all time, and excited to challenge the notion of what constitutes a trip to the movies,' the filmmaker shared back in 2024, as per People.

Speaking at Cinemacon, Sam said that he felt the story of The Beatles were 'too big for one film,' and he didn't want to turn it into a television series.

Sam went on to share that the four films will be released 'in proximity' with each other.

'Frankly, we need big cinematic events to get people out of the house,' the Skyfall frontman added.

'There had to be a way to tell the epic story for a new generation,' he told the audience, adding: 'I can assure you there is still plenty left to explore and I think we found a way to do that.'

While onstage, the actors recited lyrics from Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and concluded with a coordinated bow reminiscent of the Beatles.

It marks the first time ever that The Beatles and their Apple Corps. company have granted full life story and music rights for a scripted film.

The movies are being made by Sony Pictures and Sam's Neal Street Productions company.

Mendes explained that he pitched the idea of making four films about the group last year and wowed Sony executives Rothman and Elizabeth Gabler with his plans.

The Skyfall filmmaker told Deadline earlier this year: 'We went out to Los Angeles just before Christmas to pitch the project, and it's fair to say we were met with universal enthusiasm.'

'The reason Sony stood out from competing offers was down to Tom and Elizabeth's passion for the idea, and commitment to propelling these films theatrically in an innovative and exciting way.'

The cast for Sam Mendes' upcoming Beatles biopics was confirmed. The four movies will star Paul Mescal (2nd L) as Paul McCartney, Harris Dickinson (L) as John Lennon, Barry Keoghan (2nd R) as Ringo Starr, and Joseph Quinn (R) as George Harrison

The life of the iconic band (pictured in 1963) is set to be told in four biopics, which will all be released in April 2028, in what's been dubbed 'the first binge-able theatrical experience

Sam previously won the Academy Award for Best Director for his work on 1999's American Beauty, and also received praise for his Bond film Skyfall in 2012, and war epic 1917 seven years later.

Barry has risen to huge stardom in the last few years with roles in Saltburn and The Banshees of Inisherin.

Paul soared to fame in BBC series Normal People and has gone on to be a household name, landing the leading role in Ridley Scott's Gladiator II last year.

Dickinson charmed audiences with his role as Nicole Kidman's young lover in Babygirl.

Meanwhile Quinn catapulted into fame following his role as Eddie Munson in the fourth season of Stranger Things.

The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960, comprising Lennon, McCartney, Harrison and Starr.

They are regarded as the most influential band of all time and were integral to the development of 1960s counterculture and the recognition of popular music as an art form.

The Beatles' last commercial gig took place at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California.
AFL WAG Dee Salmin has fired back at a vile online comment about her relationship with Collingwood captain Darcy Moore.

The 29-year-old Triple J presenter attended the Brownlow Medal count with Moore last week, where the couple drew attention for their serious expressions on the red carpet.

After Salmin shared a photo of herself with her footy star partner at the exclusive Melbourne event, one troll left a crude remark: 'They look like they do a Welcome to Country before f***ing.'

Salmin wasted no time in serving up a tongue-in-cheek reply.

'Thanks, but it's actually an Acknowledgment of Country,' she quipped.

Her witty comeback quickly drew praise from fans in the comments.

AFL WAG Dee Salmin (right) has fired back at a vile online comment about her relationship with Collingwood captain Darcy Moore (right). The Triple J presenter attended the Brownlow Medal count with Moore last week, where they drew attention for their serious expressions

'My woke King and Queen. Love youse!' one person wrote.

'Hahahah get 'em girl,' a second added.

The Collingwood key defender attended the AFL's night of nights with his Triple J radio star partner last Monday, who turned heads in a couture dress, featuring intricate beading, shimmering sequins and textured floral embellishments.

They turned heads at the Brownlow Medal count in Melbourne on Monday night  but not just for their outfits.

The pair shared a series of highly stylised photos to Instagram ahead of the event, both pulling very serious expressions that left fans wondering if they would crack a smile at all.

Moore looked dapper in a sharp black Oscar Hunt suit with satin lapels, which he paired with a simple black turtleneck and polished leather shoes for a sleek, understated look.

Meanwhile, Dee revealed she was channelling a 'sea witch' in a dramatic strapless white gown with a keyhole cut-out under the bust.

Wearing her blonde hair slicked back into a severe bun, Salmin accentuated the sculptural drama of the dress with minimal accessories and glowing, bronzed makeup.

After Salmin shared a photo of herself with her footy star partner at the exclusive Melbourne event, one troll left a crude remark. Salmin wasted no time in serving up a tongue-in-cheek reply

Salmin has developed a reputation for speaking out about her very 'woke' views. In July last year, she gave an incredibly woke explanation for the fact she doesn't want to live with the premiership-winning Collingwood skipper

The statuesque couple struck several high-fashion poses in front of peach curtains, with one snap showing the radio star staring up at her towering boyfriend as he returned her intense gaze.

Salmin has developed a reputation for speaking out about her very 'woke' views.

In July last year, she gave an incredibly woke explanation for the fact she doesn't want to live with the premiership-winning Collingwood skipper.

Salmin hosts Triple J radio's The Sunday Hook Up sex education program, and she went into detail about their romance on another ABC show, Ladies, We Need To Talk... Back.

'I don't live with my partner at the moment and we have such different, independent, busy lives,' she said.

'We get to have so much of what we had when we were still single in our relationship. But I wonder how much you can actually upkeep that when you do end up living together.

'So much of it is hetero-dynamic learnt behaviours you might fall into.'

To clarify, it appears she was using those five key words to indicate she and Moore don't conform to the heterosexual gender stereotype of women taking on the bulk of housework and domestic duties when they live with a partner.

'I'm going to be doing it for as long as possible,' Salmin said.

'I also said to my partner we are going to have separate bedrooms [if/when they live together]. I just think it's so important. I think it's something you really need to make sure that you're taking care of and working on... your partner can't be everything.'
Wuthering Heights director Emerald Fennell has claimed that the literary classic is 'full of S&M' after her new film's raunchy first trailer was branded 'erotic softcore porn'.

Starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, this racy new version of Emily Bronte's iconic novel is set to hit cinemas next Valentine's Day.

Those expecting a faithful adaptation of the beloved work may be in for a rude awakening as Emerald's upcoming film is said to lean into the 'stylised depravity' she has become known for after directing the 2023 hit Saltburn.

This was echoed after test screenings last month, with some attendees appalled by the film's jaw-dropping opening scene, which features a public hanging that sees the condemned man 'ejaculate mid-execution'.

And now Emerald, 39, has appeared to respond to the raised eyebrows saying there 'was a reason' the novel shocked people when it was published back in 1847.

Speaking recently at the Bronte Women's Writing Festival, The Telegraph reports she said of the book: 'It cracked me open. I wanted to make something that made me feel like I felt when I first read it, which means that it's an emotional response to something.

Wuthering Heights director Emerald Fennell has claimed that the literary classic is 'full of S&M' after her new film's raunchy first trailer was branded 'erotic softcore porn'

Starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, this racy new version of Emily Bronte's iconic novel is set to hit cinemas next Valentine's Day

'It's, like, primal, sexual. There's an enormous amount of sado-masochism in this book. There's a reason people were deeply shocked by it [when it was published].

'It's completely singular. It's so sexy. It's so horrible. It's so devastating.'

The first trailer was released earlier this month. It sparked a social media frenzy, with fans branding the film 'erotic softcore porn.'

No stranger to making headlines with her racy works, the trailer shows Margot's turn as the restricted Catherine Earnshaw, who finds herself intertwined with the mysterious servant Heathcliff.

Having seen the trailer for themselves, some fans seemed to agree as they took to X to brand the film 'erotic softcore porn.'

Posts on X included: 'Is Wuthering Heights about BDSM and fingering a fish? First in my generation to see a scene like that;

'Listen, I'm no puritan and I'm into horror, it takes a f**k ton to purely shock me, so it's not the hypersexuality that makes me side-eye this, it's the fact that we are completely changing the tone & theme of the novel? Why? Couldn't she make an original feature film?;

'Genuinely feeling haunted by the erotic retelling of Wuthering Heights and I don't even like the book;

Emerald, 39, has appeared to respond to the raised eyebrows saying there 'was a reason' the novel shocked people when it was published back in 1847

The film is said to feature 'intimate, clinical and purposefully discomforting' masturbation scenes and a BDSM-inspired sex scene involving horse reins

This was echoed after test screenings last month, with some attendees appalled by the film's jaw-dropping opening scene

'The gothic is erotic by definition, contrary to the people beamoning ''they're making wuthering heights porn!'' there's sexual tension between Cathy and Heathcliff in the book, which doesn't really debase their bigger than life, spiritual bond and then heathcliff's sadism;

'I don't care if it's accurate to the source material it just looks sexy and fun;

'THEY PUT BDSM IN WUTHERING HEIGHTS?!?!?!?;

'Knowing Emerald Fennell's movies this adaptation will be chaotic, twisted and very provocative with many juicy scenes;

'I'm seated for the insane cinematography, and for Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi's chemistry;

'I don't even mean to be pretentious but I did not read Wuthering Heights at the ripe age of 16 for it to be turned into a soft porn movie;

'Just saw the teaser for #WutheringHeights and it is way worse than I expected... is it me or is it giving soft porn vibes??? SMH;

'#WutheringHeightsMovie is the 50 Shades Of Grey we never got.'

Wuthering Heights had already received a mixed reaction at its first test screening in Dallas last month, with World Of Reel reporting the audience's reaction to an early version of the film.

The feature opens with a public hanging that sees the condemned man 'ejaculate mid-execution'.

His agony sends the crowd into an 'orgiastic frenzy' and a nun reportedly fondles 'the corpse's visible erection'.

The film is also said to feature 'intimate, clinical and purposefully discomforting' masturbation scenes and a BDSM-inspired sex scene involving horse reins.

The camera is also said to linger on 'suggestive' imagery including 'egg yolks running through fingers' and 'dough being kneaded with quiet aggression'.

The publication went on to report that Margot and Jacob both deliver 'committed performances' and have 'great chemistry'.

The teaser also gave viewers their first look at Owen Cooper as a young Heathcliff, in his first major role after his Emmy-nominated turn in Netflix's Adolescence.

Emerald has made a name for herself as the director of Promising Young Woman and the black comedy Saltburn which saw Barry Keoghan's titular anti-hero engage in a viral scene where he drank the dirty bathwater of his eccentric classmate.

Along with her directing and writing career, Emerald has also acted, notably playing Queen Camilla in the third and fourth series of The Crown.

It's also been announced that Charli XCX will soundtrack the film, with the hitmaker sharing the news on X as she posted the trailer on Wednesday.

Charli wrote: 'new original songs by me for Emerald Fennell's 'Wuthering Heights' starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi. in theatres february 14th. happy early valentines <3.'

Earlier this year, casting director Kharmel Cochrane defended her choices for the film following complaints that Margot was too old to play the role of Catherine Earnshaw.

Some fans also questioning star Jacob's ethnicity, as Heathcliff is perceived to have a Romany or Gypsy background.

Speaking at the Sands Film Festival in Scotland, Kharmel said there was 'no need to be accurate' as the source material is 'just a book'.

She continued: 'There's definitely going to be some English Lit fans that are not going to be happy. Wait until you see the set design, because that is even more shocking. And there may or may not be a dog collar in it.'

Wuthering Heights was published by Emily Bronte in 1847 under the pseudonym Ellis Bell, one year before her death.

It follows the story of an orphan, Heathcliff, who is taken in by the Earnshaw family, and he later grows close to their daughter and his foster sister, Cathy.

The first known adaptation was from A. V. Bramble in 1920, with Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon's 1939 version being nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Emerald said recently: 'There's an enormous amount of sado-masochism in this book. There's a reason people were deeply shocked by it [when it was published]'

Born in 1818 in West Yorkshire, Emily was the fifth of six children, and spent most of her short life in the moorland village of Haworth, where her Irish father Patrick was curate.

But life dealt Emily a series of terrible blows as she lost her mother when she was three, then two older sisters when she was seven.

Following her trauma, the novelist retreated into a fantasy world, writing stories and poetry with her siblings.

The writer poured her suffering and passion into Wuthering Heights, a wrenching love story as raw as the Yorkshire Moors on which it's set.
Marco Pierre White's son Luciano's Surrey restaurant has shut down after he has been plagued with bad reviews and criticism of his 'aggressive' nature.

The nepo-baby, 31, whose brother Marco Jr has suffered a slew of legal issues, opened his Italian restaurant, Lucianos, in Woking in early 2022, but the establishment failed, and was formally dissolved on 5 September with just 31.94 in the bank.

When the troubled chef's latest restaurant collapsed, Luciano's owed 100k to HM Revenue and Customs, while Companies House documents show he also owes more than 150k to 26 creditors.

Luciano had already opened two restaurants - one in Dorchester, Dorset, which opened in 2020 before folding, and another in Exeter which opened in 2021 and went under in May. He has been hit with repeated criticism by online reviewers.

Away from his three restaurants, Luciano runs the Rudloe Arms, a hotel and restaurant in Wiltshire near Bath, renovated and opened by his father.

Marco Pierre White's son Luciano's Surrey restaurant has shut down after his eateries had been plagued with bad reviews and criticism of his 'aggressive' nature (Marco and Luciano pictured in 2020)

The nepo-baby, 31, whose brother Marco Jr has suffered a slew of legal issues, opened the Italian restaurant Lucianos in Woking in early 2022 (pictured)

It was revealed in May, Luciano, whose father was the youngest Briton to be awarded three Michelin stars aged just 33, was accused of being rude, arrogant and 'bordering on aggressive' in reviews of the restaurant his father helped him launch.

Marco's eldest son faced claims of giving 'terrible customer service' as well as making strict demands on what his guests eat at the Rudloe Arms venue.

He has also been accused of occasionally giving a fake name to bemused customers at the restaurant which was refurbished by Marco ahead of its 2012 opening.

Luciano has been running Rudloe Arms, a hotel and restaurant in Wiltshire near Bath in recent years - amid the collapse of three restaurants he set up post-pandemic.

A continuing spate of negative feedback on consumer review website TripAdvisor comes as questions are posed over the future of his registered businesses.

Luciano declined to comment - and staff at his flagship Rudloe Arms insisted to the Daily Mail he was 'away on a trip' and there would be no response to the criticisms made against him nor questions about his firm's finances.

Luciano also had a run-in with bailiffs last year after one of his restaurant businesses collapsed - owing investors 300,000.

Away from his three restaurants, Luciano runs the Rudloe Arms (pictured), a hotel and restaurant in Wiltshire near Bath, renovated and opened by his father

Far from just his eldest child being in trouble, Marco Pierre White's namesake son and Big Brother star Marco Pierre White Jr (pictured in 2016) has suffered a slew of legal woes

Far from just his eldest child being in trouble, Marco Pierre White's namesake son and Big Brother star Marco Pierre White Jr has suffered a slew of legal woes.

Earlier this month, the troubled son of the chef was remanded in custody as he awaits his sentencing for stealing 1,500 worth of Jellycat toys.

The 30-year-old is facing jail after he admitted carrying out a number a burglaries in a crime spree across west London.

He broke into an Italian Deli store in Kensington called La Piccola, stealing a laptop, a tablet, an iPod and a till tray on June 12. Then three days later he smashed his way into Venusrox, a store in Notting Hill, and stole two natural rock crystal formations.

On July 21, he broke into another store on Barnes High Street to steal 1,500 worth of Jellycat toys. He also admitted taking two green fluorite crystal lamp towers from Dale Rogers Ammonite on Pimlico Road on June 19.

He disputes, however, causing an alleged 43,000 worth of damage to the store by wrecking 'four mounted crystals' and the front door.

Wearing a prison issue grey tracksuit, Marco Jr appeared in court earlier this month via videolink from HMP Wandsworth.

Marco Pierre White Sr. and Luciano are pictured in the 90s
Idris Elba made a rare appearance with his daughter Isan at the New York Film Festival premiere of A House Of Dynamite.

The actor and rapper, 53, was among the stars of the American political thriller who attended the premiere at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center in NYC on Sunday.

Often joined on the red carpet by his wife Sabrina, Idris this time brought his daughter Isan, 23, along for the evening.

Idris shares daughter Isan with his ex-wife, make-up artist Hanne 'Kim' Nrgaard while he also has two sons, Riaze Foster, 32, and Winston, 11, from other relationships.

The Luther star looked dapper for the premiere in a black suit and tie as he was joined by Isan.

Meanwhile Isan oozed glamour in a one-shouldered black shimmery sheer ruched dress, featuring a choker detail.

Idris Elba made a rare appearance with his daughter Isan at the New York Film Festival premiere of A House Of Dynamite on Sunday

The actor and rapper, 53, was among the stars of the American political thriller who attended the premiere at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center in NYC on Sunday

Idris's series A House Of Dynamite left critics in awe with its 'horrifically gripping and unsettling' nuclear war scenes that were dubbed 'more terrifying than most horror films'.

The American political thriller premiered at the Venice International Film Festival on September 2 and will land on Netflix on October 24.

The movie was directed by Kathryn Bigelow and written by Noah Oppenheim.

Joining Idris in the cast are Rebecca Ferguson, Gabriel Basso, Jared Harris, Tracy Letts, Anthony Ramos and Moses Ingram.

The plot follows how the US president tries to deal with an incoming missile attack - and doesn't pull any punches.

'When a single, unattributed missile is launched at the United States, a race begins to determine who is responsible and how to respond,' the streaming site's synopsis reads.

Those who have been lucky to watch A House Of Dynamite have raved about the new film.

In 2023, Idris's daughter Isan revealed she wants to follow in her father's footsteps during an interview with Tatler magazine.

Often joined on the red carpet by his wife Sabrina, Idris this time brought his daughter Isan, 23, along for the evening

The Luther star looked dapper for the premiere in a black suit and tie as he was joined by Isan.

Meanwhile Isan oozed glamour in a one-shouldered black shimmery sheer ruched dress, featuring a choker detail

She admitted she wants to be a producer after 'growing up on film sets' thanks to her actor dad.

Speaking to Tatler, Isan explained: 'I want to be a producer. I grew up on film sets and I've been around that my entire life so it was kind of a no-brainer.

'When I was much younger I thought I wanted to be a veterinarian, but once I realised what my parents did  and you know, they are my idols  I realised I want to be in the film industry,'

She was also asked how she felt about her father being voted 'Sexiest Man Alive' by People Magazine in 2018.

She jokingly replied: 'It is [cringe]. I try to ignore it. Sometimes I wake up from nightmares in cold sweats thinking about that.'

Isan then shared some advice her father gave her: 'He's always taught me to make sure you acknowledge everybody you're around because you never know who you're going to meet. They could be your next best friend!'

Idris revealed at the time that Isan didn't speak to him for three weeks after she failed to land a role in one of his films.

The actor admitted that producer Will Packer had to break the news she didn't get the part in his upcoming film Beast, where she would have played The Wire star's daughter as the family are terrorised by a lion.

Speaking on iHeart Radio's morning show The Breakfast Club, Idris admitted that despite their real-life connection, the chemistry between himself and Isan 'wasn't right' for the film.

Idris explained: 'The relationship in the film and the relationship between my daughter was, the chemistry wasn't right for the film. Weirdly enough.'

He added that Isan 'didn't talk to him for about three weeks' when she got the call from Will confirming she hadn't got the part.

Will himself also shared insight into the moment he had to call Isan and break the news, adding: #I called and talked to her, 'cause I've known her for a very long time ... I'm like ''Uncle Will.''

'He [Idris] auditioned with her, he was very tough on her, he said, ''Listen, at the end of the day we're going to make the best decision for the movie. I trust you, Will, trust the director,'' and she was very good, very close.'

Luckily Idris later clarified that Isan took it well in the end, and she even accompanied him to the film's premiere .

'She was very gracious about it and we got through that you know and I'm really proud of her to go through that, not get the role, but still come to the premiere,' he added.
Iain Lee has admitted that he was 'incredibly obnoxious' while in the throes of his drug addiction as he recalled his breakdown and 'chaotic past' in a candid new interview.

The broadcaster and stand-up comedian, 52, has always been open about his long-term battle with drug addition.

Iain was previously sober for 13 years until he relapsed in 2017 after appearing on I'm A Celebrity.. Get Me Out Of Here. He is now currently nearly five years sober.

He has also spoken openly about his battles with depression, revealing in May 2018 that he was sexually abused as a child.

Despite his TV success with The 11 O'Clock Show, in a new interview with The Guardian he told how he was 'never proud' of his work and 'f***ed up his career' due to his addiction.

He said: 'I'm making peace with my past. I was never very proud of my TV career. I thought it was s**t.'

Iain Lee has admitted that he was 'incredibly obnoxious' while in the throes of his drug addiction as he recalled his breakdown and 'chaotic past' in a candid new interview

Despite his TV success with The 11 O'Clock Show, in a new interview with The Guardian he told how he was 'never proud' of his work and 'f***ed up his career' due to his addiction

'If anyone was f***ing up my career, it was me. I was taking loads and loads of drugs and becoming incredibly unreliable and obnoxious to work with an a**hole.'

He added that he 'didn't know what he was doing' for much of his TV career and 'so I took cocaine and it gave me this false bravado. It looked like arrogance but it came from absolute terror.'

He added that he still finds it hard to take any kind of compliment about his career as it is 'so ingrained that I'm not very good, that I'm a terrible human being'.

Back in 2020 Iain marked 30 days 'clean' after admitting to suffering a drugs relapse the month before following more than two years of sobriety.

The TV personality took to Twitter at the time to reveal he was back on the wagon after he revealed on his show, The Late Night Alternative, he had taken drugs recently.

Discussing the experience, Iain told listeners it 'wasn't his drug of choice', and made him feel a 'little bit buzzy', before giving him a headache and making him vomit.

He wrote on Twitter (now X): '30 days clean and sober.'

Many of Iain's followers were full of praise as they wished him well in the comments section, including one social media user who wrote: 'Congratulations, man. Keep fighting the good fight.'

While another person said: 'That's brilliant Iain.'

He said: 'I was taking loads and loads of drugs and becoming incredibly unreliable and obnoxious to work with an a**hole.' (pictured on TalkRadio which he has now left)'

Back in 2020 Iain marked 30 days 'clean' after admitting to suffering a drugs relapse the month before following more than two years of sobriety

Iain spoke about his long-term battle with drug addition during his call-in show the month before, after breaking his sobriety for the first time in two and a half years.

He told listeners: 'So here's the thing, I took drugs. After two and a half years clean, I took drugs. This is awful. It isn't awful, but I feel awful.

'Last weekend, not the weekend just gone, last weekend, I took some drugs. It wasn't my drug of choice and it didn't really do a lot, it gave me a terrible headache, it got me a little bit buzzy and it made me puke.'

Iain was previously sober for 13 years until he relapsed in 2017 after appearing on I'm A Celebrity.. Get Me Out Of Here.

He explained that at the time he didn't reach out to his sponsor for Narcotics Anonymous because he believed he had the situation under control.

Iain said: 'After that it was like 'I'm going to buy some cocaine. Part of me was like no, no no. 'It wasn't ok. It was horrendous... The first 30, 60 minutes were awesome, because cocaine did what cocaine is supposed to do.

'It made me feel powerful, it made me feel very, very sexy, it made me feel strong and confident. But then, you know, 12, 13, 14 hours later when I was still sat at the computer looking at pornography and I was barely able to speak or move, that's what cocaine does to me.'

He said: 'I am ashamed but I need to turn that shame into humility. It was horrendous, and I'm really sorry.'

'A relapse doesn't happen on the day, it happens three months, six months before, and I should have been more honest about how I was feeling.'

He has spoken openly about his battle with depression, revealing in May 2018 that he was sexually abused as a child, which he believed was a trigger.

He said the abuse caused him to consider suicide, after grappling with the ordeal since the age of eight.

In November 2018 Iain revealed coming off anti-depressants had left him feeling suicidal in a heartbreaking tweet.

The presenter was inundated with support from followers after he admitted he was in a 'f*****g dark' place and pledged support to others going though the harrowing experience.

He wrote: 'Coming off anti-depressants. Sweet lord. It's hard. Harder than coming off a coke binge. Much harder. More emotional. Longer. Drawn out. So f*****g dark.

'Was in pieces last night. Suicidal. Luckily I have a good mate to talk me off the edge. But people need to know how tough these drugs are to come off. Torture. Absolute hell.

'Please find the strength and focus to find the way out of your darkness. There is light. There really is.'

He was praised a month later for keeping a suicidal man talking on the line for 30 minutes during a show while police and paramedics rushed to his aid.

For confidential support call the Samaritans in the UK on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or click here for details.

For confidential support for adults who suffered any type of abuse in childhood call NAPAC on 0808 801 0331, free from landlines and mobiles, or click here for details.
The Beckham clan enjoyed a family night out on Saturday - yet a glaring absence remained in the form of their estranged son Brooklyn.

Victoria, 51, and David, 50, attended the final night of Oasis's UK tour alongside Romeo, 23, Cruz, 20, and Harper, 14, and heavily documented the night out.

A duo of hilarious videos showed David hugging and serenading Harper before the teen - who recently joined Instagram - was left rolling her eyes while sandwiched between her dad and Cruz belting out Oasis tracks on the drive home.

The happy family laughed, sang, hugged and posed with each other and friends, while David also met Oasis band member Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs and The Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft backstage at the show.

The slew of images shared across the family's respective Instagram accounts, including a video of David hugging and serenading Harper, showed the fun-filled night but also highlighted Brooklyn's departure from the famously close set.

Harper Beckham, 14, was left cringing over her dad David and brother Cruz's singing after an Oasis gig on Saturday night

David and Harper, who share a famously close bond, cosied up while David sang

The trip comes after Victoria reportedly declared 'enough is enough' amid her bitter feud with Brooklyn, after months of heartache (pictured with David and Brooklyn in 2019)

Harper appeared to be annoyed at her brother Cruz and dad as they headed home in a car while they both sang 1994's Supersonic into her ears.

The teen, whose Instagram bio lists her as 'Your favourite blonde', was also seen being bear hugged by her dad as he sang to her from the stalls.

Victoria was also posing with the youngest of their clan, as the trendy duo cosied up for a sweet snap with a glimpse of the stage in the background.

As with many audience members, Victoria gave a nod to Oasis's trademark looks - however shunned the widespread bucket hat look in favour of a parka.

Prior to the concert, she also showed off David's buff body as he tried to choose what to wear. Unlike his wife, he succumbed to the bucket hat style.

Romeo posed happily with his mum in the stalls, while Cruz was seen cosying up to his 30-year-old girlfriend Jackie Apostel in a number of Victoria's snaps.

The trip comes after Victoria reportedly declared 'enough is enough' amid her bitter feud with Brooklyn, after months of heartache.

David and Harper have long shared a sweet bond, which has been documented online

David belted out the band's 1996 hit Champagne Supernova alongside the video in which she tagged her bandmates

Harper posed with her mum while showing off her trendy style

Harper appeared to be annoyed at her brother Cruz and dad as they headed home in a car while they both sang 1994's Supersonic

The happy family laughed, sang, hugged and posed with each other and friends, while David also met Oasis band member Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs

David also met The Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft backstage at the show

The couple are locked in a feud with their eldest son Brooklyn, 26, and his heiress wife Nicola Peltz, 30, amid claims he has become increasingly estranged from the family after failing to attend any of his father's 50th birthday celebrations in May.

But now, as she prepares for the release of her Netflix documentary, Victoria is said to have drawn a line in the sand and can no longer 'keep fighting the same fight'.

According to a source, the fashion designer found filming her new show 'liberating' and it made her realise not only how much she was loved, but also convinced her that she and Brooklyn would eventually reunite.

Following reports that her eldest son would be featuring in the show - Victoria appeared to extend an olive branch to her son with the inclusion of a blink and you'll miss it flashback snap of him as a baby in the series' first trailer.

Victoria posed with her long-time friend Ken Paves

She shared a sweet snap of Jackie and Cruz from the crowd

'It was very much a roller coaster of emotions because of the big thing that's still affecting her, her fractured relationship with Brooklyn.

'But it also made her realise that she can't keep raking over the heartbreak of this situation with him, enough is enough, now,' a source said.

The source went on to tell The Mirror: 'She knows he will, one day, come back to her, but it's just not the right time, that's how she's looking at it now, this project has made her realise how blessed she is to have her family around her and supporting her.

'She found it very emotional but liberating at the same time,' the source tells us. 'It made her realise how much she is loved, how her family have supported her and got her through the ups and downs.

'She still hopes she and Brooklyn will sort things out, of course she does, but at the same time, she can't keep fighting the same fight'.

The Daily Mail have contacted Victoria's representatives for comment.
Cruz Beckham has hinted that he is officially launching his music career on 14 October.

The youngest son of the Beckham clan has been in a studio working on an album and shared a picture to his Instagram showing a stack of invitations baring the date 14.10.25.

Above the date, the invitations read: 'Cruz D Beckham officially invites you, one night only.'

Cruz, 20, has reportedly signed with the top music management company C3, who worked with the US indie group The Strokes.

His 30-year-old music producer girlfriend, Jackie Apostle, has been helping out in the studio.

The picture showing the invitations on his Instagram story was followed by a snap of a guitar with a winking-face emoji - leading fans to believe his event was music related.

Cruz Beckham has hinted that he is officially launching his music career on 14 October shared a picture to his Instagram showing a stack of invitations baring the date

Jackie Apostel, 30, is the music producer girlfriend of Cruz and she shared a slew of Instagram pictures of him in a studio with his bandmembers

Jackie has been in the recording studio helping her boyfriend, Cruz, as a music producer and shared an Instagram of him in the studio with a caption that hinted a project was coming

Jackie has been in the studio helping Cruz and Victoria Beckham shared a picture of the couple over the weekend at the Oasis Reunion gig in Wembley

It's a big step for the aspiring musician after he and his brothers have been relentless mocked online for being 'nepo-babies' with many poking fun whenever they start a new career path.

Brooklyn, 26, has become somewhat of an internet meme for his many career attempts at cooking, photography and Formula-E driving.

Cruz himself weighed in on the joke about his older brother in June after he uploaded a video of himself playing the guitar.

While the post quickly garnered more than 15,000 likes on TikTok, it also attracted a series of comments from trolls - with Cruz quick to hit back.

One commented: 'Are you going to stick with this job or going to become a race car driver next or something?'

To which Cruz - seemingly throwing shade at his brother Brooklyn's many career paths - responded: 'Wrong brother mate'.
Love Island star Molly Smith displayed her unbelievably ripped abs in a slew on bikini snaps on Monday.

Taking to Instagram, the fitness fanatic and Love Island All Stars winner, 31, showed off the results of her hard work in the gym.

Relaxing on a sun lounger in a mystery location, Molly was seen wearing a butter yellow two-piece featuring white lace lining and baby blue bows.

The skimpy bikini showed off Molly's incredibly toned physique and six pack - which she credits to her Move With Molly gym plans.

Taking to her Instagram Story, Molly shared a different bikini snap as she gave fans insight into how she achieves her physique.

'I always get asked, how do you stay in shape all year round? The truth is @mwmplan,' she wrote.

Love Island star Molly Smith displayed her unbelievably ripped abs in a slew on bikini snaps on Instagram on Monday

Relaxing on a sun lounger in a mystery location, Molly was seen wearing a butter yellow two-piece featuring white lace lining and baby blue bows

'Even when my schedule is all over the place or I'm travelling, my programs fit around any lifestyle.

'Whether it's a full gym session or a quiet one at home, moving my body is always a priority!'

It comes after Molly and her fiance, Tom Clare, shared their wedding plans this week.

The smitten couple got engaged during their vacation to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, earlier this month.

Now, they shared their plans to tie the knot abroad, revealing they may return to Cape Town, South Africa, for their nuptials - because that is where their love story began - on the 2024 series of ITV2's Love Island: All Stars, which they won.

Molly who took part in the 2020 series of Love Island, told the new issue of Closer: 'Tom and I met in Cape Town - we were on the winter All Stars show.

She continued: 'We were thinking about it as a wedding venue to take us back to where it all started.'

However, if Tom, 26, who starred in the 2023 series of Love Island, and Molly do not say 'I do' in the South African capital, it may be in another country.

The skimpy bikini showed off Molly's incredibly toned physique and six pack - which she credits to her Move With Molly gym plans

Taking to her Instagram Story, Molly shared a different bikini snap as she gave fans insight into how she achieves her physique

Molly added: 'We definitely want to get married abroad, but we're not sure yet - we need to do a lot more digging.

The reality TV star also shared that her best friend got married abroad this year, and she and Tom just 'loved the whole vibe'.

On Molly's season of Love Island, she was in the Mallorca, Spain-based villa with the likes of Paige Turley, 28, Sophie Piper, 26, Jess Gale, 26, Eve Gale, 26, Siannise Fudge, 31, Demi Jones, 27, and Shaughna Phillips, 31.

And her cast members on Love Island: All Stars included Georgia Harrison, 30, Georgia Steel, 27, Liberty Poole, 26, Demi Jones, Kaz Kamwi, 30, and Hannah Elizabeth, 35.

And Molly - who is also good friends with Gabby Allen, 33, who won the 2025 series of Love Island: All Stars - would love her girls to be her bridesmaids.

During the interview, Molly also revealed that Tom has already planned out his stag do and sorted the whole itinerary.

Meanwhile, Molly hinted that she will be having a 'wild' hen do as all of her girl friends are 'good vibes' and fun to be around.

Molly recently showed off her engagement ring as she posed with Tom in a series of sweet Instagram snaps from their romantic trip to Dubai.

Sharing a glimpse into their lavish holiday, where Tom proposed, the couple looked happier than ever as they soaked up the sun at the beach.
He is used to gracing the silver screen.

Yet Willem Dafoe, 70, has turned his hand elsewhere - having taken over a London pub last week, much to the shock of fans of the megastar.

In a nod to his collaboration with Laphroaig Whisky, the Nosferatu star took over the The Barley Mow pub in Mayfair, to rename the free house The Barley Dafoe.

The dashing star brought the A-list touch to the swanky area as he posed in front of his 'own' pub while raising a glass.

Willem showed off his rugged style while gracing the pub as he sported a thick beard while rocking a chic polo neck to kick back with his whisky.

Willem Dafoe, 70, has turned his hand elsewhere - having taken over a London pub last week, much to the shock of fans of the megastar

In a nod to his collaboration with Laphroaig Whisky, the Nosferatu star took over the The Barley Mow pub in Mayfair, to rename the free house The Barley Dafoe

The opening of his pub comes after he made a short film with Laphroaig, titled The Taste and aiming to celebrate those who dare to stand apart.

The film was made by legendary music video pioneer Tim Pope, who worked previously with David Bowie, Iggy Pop and The Cure.

In the short, Willem speaks to the camera, saying: 'The first time I ever travelled overseas, I went to Scotland...

'I was a kid, and the first thing I thought when my feet touched down on the ground was, something feels familiar here...

'I feel at home. The land spoke to me, and it must be genetic because my grandmother was from Glasgow...

The Taste depicts that sort of familiarity thats found when exploring Laphroaig. Its the flavours and how they come together'.

His work with the brand includes the creation of a limited-edition whisky. Willem has worked with Laphroaigs Senior Blender, Sarah Dowling, to create a special release - currently maturing, set to launch in 2026.

The opening of his pub comes after he made a short film with Laphroaig, titled The Taste and aiming to celebrate those who dare to stand apart

Willem showed off his rugged style while gracing the pub as he sported a thick beard while rocking a chic polo neck to kick back with his whisky

Sarah said: 'When we tried to imagine Laphroaig as a human being, we immediately thought of Willem Dafoe...

'He is the very embodiment of our bold and distinctive spirit. It has been beyond exciting for me and the team to be a part of The Taste, and to get inside the hidden corners of Willems brilliant mind...

'I wasnt expecting there to be so many synergies between his approach to craft and character as an actor, to my own as a whisky maker. I cant wait for the world to see what we have been creating together.

The A-lister showed his passion for the brand
Matthew McConaughey went wild as he showcased his kooky dance moves while he partied with wife Camila Alves in the VIP section at Oasis' London gig on Sunday.

The 55-year-old Oscar winner - who shares three children with the Brazilian-American model - appeared to be having the time of his life as he danced the night away at Wembley Stadium.

For the outing, Matthew looked classically handsome in a grey flat cap and a brown jacket.

He seemed happier than ever as he danced with his wife Camila who was dressed in a chic black shirt.

Matthew recently revealed the one bedroom secret that has kept his 13-year marriage with Camila alive.

The couple tied the knot back in 2012 and are parents to Levi, 17, Vida, 15, and Livingston, 12.

Matthew McConaughey went wild as he showcased his kooky dance moves while he partied with wife Camila Alves in the VIP section at London's Oasis gig on Sunday

The 55-year-old Oscar winner - who shares three children with the Brazilian-American model - appeared to be having the time of his life as he danced the night away at Wembley Stadium

In his latest book, Matthew wrote: 'The best thing you can / do for your / marriage. One way to surely / get ahead, / is get rid of that / king-size mattress, / and sleep in a / queen-size bed.'

The Interstellar actor further reflected on the importance of down-sizing the mattress during an interview with the Fox News Digital.

'We have kids and we go to our friend's house and he has one of these double king-size beds put together and all the kids sleep in the bed,' he expressed.

'The wife's on one side with her side table, and the husband's on the other side, and it's great when you got all three kids, but all of a sudden the kids get too big. They're out of the bed.'

Matthew then explained waking up one day to see how far his wife was from him in their bed.

'Then you go to bed at night, like you want to snuggle up and "Well, we've got to cover you up. Come about 12 feet and I'll come 12 feet."'

The star remembered thinking 'this d**n king-size bed is not good for the marriage, man. Get rid of that son of a b****.

'So we got a queen size where we're shoulder to shoulder. I'm telling you, it's good for your marriage.'

For the outing, Matthew looked classically handsome in a grey flat cap and a brown jacket

He seemed happier than ever as he danced with his wife Camila who was dressed in a chic black shirt

Matthew first crossed paths with Alves while at a nightclub in West Hollywood in 2006 - and the pair sparked up a romance soon after.

Five years later, he popped the big question to the model on Christmas Day and gave insight into the sweet moment during a past interview with People.

'It was the last gift to be opened, and I wrapped it in seven different boxes so Camila would have to keep unwrapping,' he said of the engagement ring.

'She got the ring. I took a knee and asked her to marry me and take my name. After a bit, she conceded...thankfully.'

Matthew and Alves said 'I do' the following year in June 2012 during a romantic ceremony in Austin, Texas.

Other celebrity guests were in attendance on the big day such as Reese Witherspoon and Woody Harrelson.

While previously talking to People, the star credited his three children he shares with Alves for bettering him as an actor.

'Having children, I know, has made me a better artist and a better actor. Kids see things for the first time all the time.'

The Dallas Buyers Club star added, 'Their questions are innocent. I've become a better storyteller because I have kids.'

Matthew also talked about his secret to his longtime marriage to Alves while appearing on the Australian talk show Today Extra in 2021.

'Don't make a straight line crooked,' the True Detective actor said. 'If things are going well, keep catching green lights.'

Matthew recently revealed the one bedroom secret that has kept his 13-year marriage with Camila alive.

The couple tied the knot back in 2012 and are parents to Levi, 17, Vida, 15, and Livingston, 12 (pictured above)

He then added, 'If they're not, deal with them soon so they don't bubble up and get you later.'

Matthew and his wife have appeared at star-studded events together as well as on the glitzy red carpet.

Earlier this year in April, the couple made a rare appearance with all three of their children at the 2025 Mack, Jack and Matthew Gala in Austin.

The actor has been keeping busy and recently published his new book Poems & Prayers on September 16.

It is 'an inspiring, faith-filled, and often hilarious collection of personal poetry and prayers about navigating the rodeo of life and chasing down the original dream, belief,' per an official synopsis.

Matthew is no stranger to writing and released his best-selling memoir Greenlights in 2020.

When it came to his most recent book, the star told Texas Standard, 'I found myself in a world now where I'm looking around at facts and evidence and going like, "Oh man, I'm not seeing so many reasons to believe,"' referencing to his faith.

'And so, I said, well, look, you're writing poems, writing prayers. Those are ideals. Those are pursuits that are not necessarily in reality, but you can get reality from them.'

He added, 'So I said "Well, let's lean into that." And I looked down and found a bunch of poems and prayers from my past and wrote a bunch a new ones. And that's what I've got in this book. And hopefully it's worth sharing.'
Keanu Reeves sparked concern among fans as he arrived at the theater ahead of his opening night performance of Waiting for Godot on Sunday.

The Matrix star, 61, arrived at the Hudson Theatre in Midtown Manhattan with girlfriend Alexandra Grant, 52, but all eyes turned to the star's disheveled appearance and 'skinny' frame as he prepared for his Broadway debut.

Reeves, who recently denied rumors he had wed his longtime partner, was later branded 'stiff' on stage by New York Post's Johnny Oleksinski - as it was claimed he 'struggled' through the performance as Estragon.

After a video emerged of Reeves - clad in a crumpled suit with battered shoes - arriving at the theater, fans flocked to the comment section.

One fan wrote: 'He looks so skinny. It is worrisome. Since the last years, he gets scaringly [sic] thin, hope, he is not ill. He used to look so stunning during John Wick. What happened?

'He is losing significant weight and looks unhappy and skinny, than you stick your head in the sand. Of course, he still looks good. I did not say that he does not look good, but compared to 2019 and even 3 years ago, he is sooo thin and frail that people are worried.'

Others wrote: 'Keanu I love you, but you need a new look.

Keanu Reeves, 61, sparked concern among fans as he arrived at the theater ahead of his opening night performance of Waiting for Godot on Sunday

The Matrix star, 61, arrived at the Hudson Theatre in Midtown Manhattan with girlfriend Alexandra Grant, 52, but all eyes turned to the star's disheveled appearance and 'skinny' frame as he prepared for his Broadway debut.

'I get the whole humbleness but come on bro shower get a haircut and get a fresh suit and shoes.

'Exactly, Keanu wears dark jacket with gray striped pants and casual shoes, its shows he doesnt care.

'He could of washed his hair and a nice haircut.'

'I kind of agree with you. Hes so gorgeous. A great haircut and a stubble would look amazing on him.'

'Gosh he could hv made a little tiny effort on his appearance..just a nip of an effort

Others praised the star, saying: 'He is my favorite actor of all time. Such a cool Person :)

'Keanu looks handsome. His wife look beautiful.'

The star appeared influenced by his on-stage alter-ego - playing tramp Estragon on stage.

The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Reeves for comment and has yet to hear back.

The 61-year-old Matrix alum officially made his Broadway debut as the hapless Estragon in director Jamie Lloyd's revival of the 1952 Samuel Beckett surrealist tragicomedy, which runs through January 4, 2026 (pictured September 13)

The Matrix star posed with girlfriend Alexandra Grant, 52, ahead of his Broadway debut

One fan wrote: 'He looks so skinny. It is worrisome. Since the last years, he gets scaringly [sic] thin, hope, he is not ill. He used to look so stunning during John Wick . What happened?'

Others praised the handsome star for his Broadway debut

In the New York Post review, the performance landed a meager two star rating with criticism levelled at Reeves, with the review reading: 'He doesnt imbue any of Gogos lines with meaning  only speed and breathiness.

'Theyre just memorized words that are read with the investment of stating ones Social Security number. The actor relies on a vacant stare thats money when hes playing an assassin on the big screen. Not so much in live theater.'

The Guardian critic Adrian Horton gave the production three stars, and praised Reeves's chemistry with his Bill & Ted co-star Alex Winter, 60.

'Luckily, theres Bill & Ted to save the day. The reunion of Winter and Reeves provides a shiny, pleasing lacquer of nostalgia over the proceedings, their comedic chemistry still unmatched and irreproducible. The two longtime friends lend lines such as together again at last  a jolt of delight, with a couple extra-textual treats to boot.'

Speed star Reeves officially made his Broadway debut as the hapless Estragon in director Jamie Lloyd's revival of the 1952 Samuel Beckett surrealist tragicomedy, which runs through January 4, 2026.

The International Emmy-winning producer originally met Alexandra at a dinner party in 2009 before contributing poetry to two of her books, Ode to Happiness in 2011 and Shadows in 2016.

Following rumors they secretly wed, the grantLOVE project founder posted a PDA snap of the couple captioned: 'This is a real photo. Not an engagement photo or an AI wedding announcement... simply a kiss! I'm sharing it here to say thank you to everyone for the congratulations on our wedding.

'Except we didn't get married. Good news is much needed these days, but it's still fake news, so be careful out there! So, here's a bit of real happiness!'

Following rumors they secretly wed, the grantLOVE project founder posted a PDA snap of the couple captioned: 'We didn't get married. Good news is much needed these days, but it's still fake news, so be careful out there! So, here's a bit of real happiness!'

Last Monday, Reeves's publicist told E! News: 'It is not true. They are not married'

He joined his Bill & Ted co-star Alex Winter ahead of their performance

In honor of the Beirut-born Canadian's birthday on September 2, Alexandra shared a snap of his heart-shaped cake captioned: 'I am so grateful for your love and partnership'

And last Monday, Reeves's publicist told E! News: 'It is not true. They are not married.'

Reeves was previously with Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron and Oscar-winning screenwriter Sofia Coppola - as well as the late David Lynch's assistant Jennifer Syme, who died in a 2001 car accident after welcoming their stillborn daughter in 1999.

Waiting for Godot reunited the Dogstar vocalist-bass player with his former Bill & Ted trilogy castmate, Alex Winter, who portrays the heady Vladimir.
Jennifer Connelly put on a leggy display as she stepped out in a black zipped Louis Vuitton mini dress during Paris Fashion Week on Monday.

The Top Gun legend, 54 - who is an ambassador for the French brand - displayed her edgy sense of fashion adding a black leather jacket and matching boots.

The American actress turned heads in her stylish ensemble, tying her dark locks into a high-ponytail braid.

Last year, Jennifer made her debut as Daniela Dessen on Apple TV+ sci-fi series Dark Matter, where she stars as an artist and loving wife of protagonist Jason, played by Joel Edgerton.

The successful show was renewed in August 2024 for a second season, and production kicked off in February of this year.

Jennifer Connelly, 54, put on a leggy display as she stepped out in a black zipped Louis Vuitton mini dress during Paris Fashion Week on Monday

The Top Gun legend displayed her edgy sense of fashion adding a black leather jacket and matching quirky boots

The American actress appeared to be perfectly blending in to the Fashion Week spirit, turning heads in her stylish ensemble

The premise of the series follows, per IMDB, 'A man who is abducted into an alternate version of his life.'

'Amid the mind-bending landscape of lives he could've lived, he embarks on a harrowing journey to get back to his true family and save them from a most terrifying foe: himself.'

Jennifer said during a candid interview on The View last year: 'It is so many things. It's a big adventure, big worldbuilding and all of that stuff.

'But, I love the marriage story at the center of it, maybe because I have been married for 21 years and that's a journey.

'At the center of that show, you have this couple and a man who is thinking about paths not taken and choices he might have made, and how they impacted his life.'

'Like, is he happy? Would he have loved to have done something else? And he kind of navigates those very domestic questions in a very extraordinary way in the sci-fi world. So, I love the way that those two things are kind of brought together...'

While talking to Screen Rant in May 2024, she further opened up about the show and stated: 'I think that it's a portrait of a marriage...'

'And it explores this couple and this man, who is having some doubts and some regrets and insecurities about his work.

Last year, Jennifer made her debut as Daniela Dessen on Apple TV+ sci-fi series Dark Matter, where she stars as an artist and loving wife of protagonist Jason, played by Joel Edgerton (pictured together on the show)

'He's sifting through these domestic issues in this really spectacular landscape of these alternate realities. I thought that was a really smart use of that kind of story, that kind of device, if you will, of an alternate reality show,' she added.

Jennifer is mother to three children: son Kai, 26, whom she shares with ex David Dugan as well as son Stellan, 20, and daughter Agnes, 13 - whom she welcomed with husband Paul Bettany.
Michelle Collins, Lisa Riley, and Vicky Myers were among the glamorous arrivals for the 2025 Inside Soap Awards red carpet at the One Ninetyfour in London on Monday.

EastEnders actress Michelle, 63, who is known for her character Cindy Beale, looked chic in a a black flared two-piece suit which layered over a lace vest.

Emmerdale's Lisa Riley, 49, who shot to fame for her role as Mandy Dingle, stunned in a plunging navy maxi dress which featured a sequin floral design.

Meanwhile Coronation Street's award-winning Vicky Myers looked incredible in a floor length blue cape dress as she showcased her two awards on the red carpet.

Vicky, who plays DS Lisa Swain on the soap, took home the Best Actress gong and Best Partnership for her work alongside Alison King (Carla Connor).

Elsewhere Natalie Ann Jamieson, 37, who plays Amy Wyatt in Emmerdale, put on a leggy display in a black mini dress adorned with silver gemstones.

EastEnders' Michelle Collins was among the glamorous arrivals for the 2025 Inside Soap Awards red carpet at the One Ninetyfour in London on Monday

EastEnders actress Michelle, 63, who is known for her character Cindy Beale, looked chic in a a black flared two-piece suit which layered over a lace vest

Emmerdale's Lisa Riley, 49, who shot to fame for her role as Mandy Dingle, stunned in a plunging navy maxi dress which featured a sequin floral design

Meanwhile Coronation Street's award-winning Vicky Myers looked incredible in a floor length blue cape dress as she showcased her two awards on the red carpet

EastEnders' Aaliyah James, who plays Avani Nandra-Hart, cut as a casual display in beige trousers, bronw shirt and platform Dr Martens

Putting on leggy display, Sonya Nisa stepped out in a pin striped short co-ord which she layered over a purple waist coat and white shirt

Casualty's Elinor Lawless looked incredible as she stepped out in a black mini dress and towering nude stilettos

Hollyoaks's Anya Lawrence looked worlds away from her character Vicky Grant as she flaunted her assets in a plunging black mini dress.

Beth Cordingly cut an elegant display in a white floral, floor-length gown as she arrived to celebrate her character, Ruby Miligan on Emmerdale.

Adding a pop of colour to the carpet, Gemma Bissix, known for her role as Clare Bates in EastEnders, stepped out in a yellow silk dress and brown boots.

Strictly's Stefan Dennis looked classically handsome in a black two-piece suit layered over a blue shirt.

He looked proud on the red carpet as he displayed two gongs for Outstanding Achievement for Neighbours and Best Daytime Star.

Coronation Street's Cait Fitton looked sensational in a beige sleeveless mini dress which she paired with lace tights and a matching dress jacket.

Heather Peace, who plays Eve Unwin in EastEnders, cut a casual figure in flared black trousers, a black vest and white trainers.

Coronation Street's Sally Carman-Duttine stunned as she stepped out in a long-sleeved, floor-length silk gown.

Inside Soap Awards Winners BEST SOAP Coronation Street BEST ACTRESS Vicky Myers (Lisa Swain, Coronation Street) BEST ACTOR Steve McFadden (Phil Mitchell, EastEnders) BEST COMIC PERFORMANCE Jack P Shepherd (David Platt, Coronation Street) BEST VILLAIN Navin Chowdhry (Nish Panesar, EastEnders) BEST YOUNG PERFORMER Amelia Flanagan (April Windsor, Emmerdale) BEST NEWCOMER Laura Doddington (Nicola Mitchell, EastEnders) BEST EXIT James Bye (Martin Fowler, EastEnders) BEST FAMILY The Dingles (Emmerdale) BEST STORYLINE Mason's death & Abi's PTSD (Coronation Street) BEST SHOWSTOPPER The limo crash disaster (Emmerdale) BEST DAYTIME STAR Stefan Dennis (Paul Robinson, Neighbours) BEST DRAMA STAR Michael Stevenson (Iain Dean, Casualty) SOAP SUPERSTAR Heather Peace (Eve Panesar-Unwin, EastEnders) OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT (TEAM) Neighbours OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT (SOLO) Nick Pickard (Tony Hutchinson, Hollyoaks) BEST PARTNERSHIP Alison King & Vicky Myers (Carla Connor & Lisa Swain, Coronation Street) Advertisement

Elsewhere Natalie Ann Jamieson, 37, who plays Amy Wyatt in Emmerdale, put on a leggy display in a black mini dress adorned with silver gemstones

Hollyoaks's Anya Lawrence looked worlds away from her character Vicky Grant as she flaunted her assets in a plunging black mini dress

Beth Cordingly cut an elegant display in a white floral, floor-length gown as she arrived to celebrate her character, Ruby Miligan on Emmerdale

Adding a pop of colour to the carpet, Gemma Bissix, known for her role as Clare Bates in EastEnders, stepped out in a yellow silk dress and brown boots

Strictly's Stefan Dennis looked classically handsome in a black two-piece suit layered over a blue shirt

Stefan was supported by his Strictly professional partner Dianne Buswell as he won two gongs for Outstanding Achievement for Neighbours and Best Daytime Star

Coronation Street's Cait Fitton looked sensational in a beige sleeveless mini dress which she paired with lace tights and a matching dress jacke

Heather Peace, who plays Eve Unwin in EastEnders, cut a casual figure in flared black trousers, a black vest and white trainers

Coronation Street's Sally Carman-Duttine stunned as she stepped out in a long-sleeved, floor-length silk gown

Waterloo Road's Tillie Amartey and Liam Scholes looked elated at the awards as they playfully stood back to back to pose for the cameras

Coronation Street has scooped the Best Soap award for the second year running at the Inside Soap Awards.

The prize ceremony will take place on Monday evening in London after voting closed earlier in the day - and it will see the iconic Best Exit Award return after a six-year absence.

Coronation Street was the big winner of the night, taking home the coveted Best Soap award, along with Best Storyline, Best Actress, Best Partnership and Best Comic Performance.

Best Storyline went to Mason Radcliffe's death after being stabbed to death by his own brothers and Abi Webster's PTSD - after witnessing the attack triggers her to have flashbacks to her own son's death.

'It's been an incredible year of drama, and the results in our Best Soap category were the closest they've ever been,' said Inside Soap editor Sarah Ellis.

'Corrie's win tops off a stellar year for the soap, and is no doubt helped by the huge popularity of Best Partnership winners Alison King and Vicky Myers, aka fan favourites Swarla.'

The Best Family trophy was won by Emmerdale's Dingle clan for a whopping fifth time  more than any other family in the history of the Inside Soap Awards  while teenager Amelia Flanagan was named Best Young Performer for the fourth time.

Emmerdale also picked up the Best Showstopper accolade  a trophy awarded to a showcase stunt or episode  for the much-lauded limo crash disaster, which saw the soap submerge the vehicle in an icy lake, killing three beloved characters as the catastrophe unfolded.

Meanwhile, EastEnders' Steve McFadden was crowned Best Actor for his powerful performance as Phil Mitchell, and Laura Doddington picked up the Best Newcomer award for her portrayal of wicked Nicola Mitchell.

Ex-EastEnders star Navin Chowdhry was named Best Villain for the second year in a row, while his former co-star James Bye won Best Exit following his character Martin Fowler's heartbreaking death in the show's 40th anniversary live episode.

Inside Soap readers named Casualty actor Michael Stevenson Best Drama Star for his portrayal of heroic paramedic Iain Dean, while Neighbours' Stefan Dennis foxtrotted his way straight from Strictly Come Dancing rehearsals to pick up Best Daytime Star for his performance as villain Paul Robinson.

The ceremony awarded two prestigious Outstanding Achievement trophies this year; one to the entire cast and crew of Neighbours for delivering an incredible year of drama ahead of the show coming to an end this December; and a solo award for Nick Pickard, who's racked up an impressive 30 years as iconic Hollyoaks character Tony Hutchinson.

Finally, the readers named EastEnders' Heather Peace their Soap Superstar of 2025, for her 'courageous and inspiring' portrayal of Eve Panesar-Unwin, calling her 'a Northern powerhouse' and 'an icon who has always fought for others.'

'All of the soaps have shone brightly in 2025,' editor Sara. 'The fact that this year's trophies are so evenly spread just goes to show what a strong year the whole genre is having.

It really bodes well for the future of our soaps, especially as we gear up for the big Coronation Street and Emmerdale crossover at the start of 2026. There's never been a more exciting time to be a soap fan!'

More than 90,000 soap fans vote each year in the Inside Soap Awards, and they remain  after three decades  the only accolades of their kind to be awarded based solely on the votes of viewers.

Voting opened in July for 15 different awards, with over 80,000 Inside Soap readers casting their votes and helping select the Top Four nominees in the world of soap this year.

Previously speaking on the upcoming award ceremony, the editor said: 'The Inside Soap Awards remain the only trophies of their kind to be voted for entirely by the real experts  the soap viewing public,' said Inside Soap magazine editor Sarah Ellis. '

'Over 90,000 soap fans vote each and every year; and in addition to our list of nominees, our Soap Superstar category allows readers to put forward their own suggestions of who they feel deserves to be honoured.

'The past 12 months have been an epic time in soap, and I can't wait to see who the readers of Inside Soap have decided to crown their favourites this year.'

2025 also sees the return of the Best Exit category, paying tribute to those characters who've either met tragic ends, or moved on to pastures new this year.

'Sadly, we've had to say goodbye to some truly beloved soap characters over the past 12 months,' Sarah said.

'Who didn't cry their eyes out at Martin's shock death during EastEnders' live episode?

'And we're still not over poor Craig's tragic demise in Corrie, or the loss of Leyla and Amy in the devastating Emmerdale limo crash. But it's up to the fans which exit will get their vote.'
Abby Lee Miller was trolled over her 'insane' use of FaceTune in a shock video this week.

The Dance Moms star, 60, was filmed using a walker on a plane to Iowa, en-route to a Q&A event in the city, but all eyes swiftly focused on the radiant filter the star had used on her face.

Miller, who has publicly battled cancer, smiled as she addressed fans with the airbrushed filter over her visage - with amused fans declaring 'we know what you look like!'

One fan wrote: 'Obsessed with Abby Lee Miller using the face app like we werent gonna notice.

Others penned: 'miss abby, the face is tuning.

'Abby girl I love you, but this Facetune is insane.

Abby Lee Miller was trolled over her 'insane' use of FaceTune in a shock video this week

The Dance Moms star, 60, was filmed using a walker on a plane to Iowa , en-route to a Q&A event in the city, but all eyes swiftly focused on the radiant filter the star had used on her face - seen R on September 15

'abby we know what you look like its okay truly.

'Abby we know what you look like. Youve been on tv for over a decade.

'That filter is fighting for her life.

'yassified for anonymity.

'yall i thought she put like the snapchat picture filter on her face.'

Miller remains in a wheelchair after being diagnosed with Burkitt Lymphoma in 2018.

Last year she bravely opened up about the terrifying moment she nearly died after contracting sepsis from a UTI.

The star was left screaming in excruciating pain when her catheter dislodged just days after she wrapped her Abby Lee Spills the Tea tour in the UK in July 2024.

Miller, who has publicly battled cancer , smiled as she addressed fans with the airbrushed filter over her visage - with amused fans declaring 'we know what you look like!'

Others penned: 'miss abby, the face is tuning'

Abby rose to fame on Lifetime's Dance Moms (pictured with young dancers on Dance Moms)

In June it emerged Miller was suing Cedars-Sinai Marina Hospital and two surgeons for medical malpractice, professional negligence, and medical battery. She is seeking damages in the amount of at least $1.4 million; Pictured in 2022

It was one of many health battles that Miller, who was sentenced to one year and one day in prison after being convicted of fraud in May 2017, has faced in recent years.

One week after being released in May 2018, she was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma and subsequently underwent life-saving surgery to remove a tumor from her spine.

Although she is now cancer-free, she was temporarily paralyzed from the neck down and has been confined to a motorized wheelchair for the past six years.

When asked by the Daily Mail why she feels she has bounced back from multiple ailments, she choked back tears and said: I think that I have a lot to do, and I hope when it is my time to go, it will matter that I was.'

I have a lot more choreography. I have a lot more kids to teach. I have a lot more social awareness about being in a chair.'

Abby rose to fame on Lifetimes long-running reality show Dance Moms, which followed an elite youth dance troupe at the Abby Lee Dance Company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which made stars out of Jojo Siwa and Maddie Ziegler.
Amy Poehler looked every bit the proud mom on her latest outing.

The 54-year-old comedian - whose ex husband Will Arnett is currently dating a supermodel - was joined by her rarely-seen 15-year-old son Abel out in LA on Sunday.

Abel towered over his famous mother who is listed as 5feet2 on the errand trip.

Not seen on the outing was Amy's other son and brother to Abel, 17-year-old Archie, as they hit popular boutique Kitson.

The host of popular podcast Good Hang With Amy Poehler looked chic in a pink blouse, baggy blue jeans, and grey and white Nike sneakers.

She completed the look with a blue shacket and accessorized with aviator shades and a brown leather bag.

Amy Poehler was joined by her rarely-seen 15-year-old son Abel out in LA on Sunday as he towered over his famous mother who is listed as 5feet2 on the errand trip

Her blonde locks were tied back as she showcased her natural looks by going make-up free.

Abel donned a white long sleeve top with grey jeans.

Amy shares her two sons with actor Will Arnett as they were married from 2003 to 2016.

The pair first met in the 1990s when he saw Poehler perform with her improv group in New York City.

Their friendship turned romantic when they were re-introduced by mutual friends years later in 2000.

They went on to work on a number of projects together and welcomed their sons Archie and Abel.

Eventually, Poehler and Arnett split in early September 2012  four years before they finalized their divorce  but they continued to amicably co-parent their kids.

Poehler and Arnett have refrained from publicly airing out the details of their breakup, though they have been candid about its emotional difficulties.

The host of popular podcast Good Hang With Amy Poehler looked chic in a pink blouse, baggy blue jeans , and grey and white Nike sneakers

Amy shares her two sons with actor Will Arnett as they were married from 2003 to 2016 (the former couple are seen in New York back in April 2012)

Arnett described the split as 'brutal, brutal, brutal,' sharing: 'I was driving to the set one day and I pulled over to the side of the road and cried for an hour,' to The Guardian.

In her memoir Yes, Please, published in 2014, Poehler wrote: 'I don't want to talk about my divorce because it is too sad and too personal.'

The Parks And Recreation star noted that she prefers to maintain a degree of privacy, explaining that 'I also don't like people knowing my s**t.'

A few weeks after their divorce was finalized, Will, then 48, was linked to interior designer Elizabeth Law, then 30, whom he was involved with until at least March 2019 when they were glimpsed passionately kissing out in Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, Will is in a new relationship after reportedly splitting from his long-time girlfriend Alessandra Brawn.

People reports the comedian, 55, quietly called it quits from long-time girlfriend Brawn late last year, and is now dating supermodel Carolyn Murphy, 51.

Arnett shares five-year-old son Denny with Brawn, and a source told the publication the former couple 'remain committed co-parents' to their boy.

A source told The Sun that Arnett and Brawn called it quits earlier this year.

Will is now reportedly dating model Carolyn Murphy after splitting from his long-time girlfriend Alessandra Brawn following five years together

Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for Arnett, Murphy, as well as Brawn via Instagram for comment but did not immediately hear back.

It's not entirely clear when the alleged romance began, but the Arrested Development star and Murphy looked suspiciously like a couple during a visit to Sean Hayes' West End show Good Night Oscar last month.

In a photo posted by Hayes, Arnett wrapped an arm around Murphy's shoulders as she rested a hand upon his chest during a group photo.

'Another recent surprise visit from one of the greats. Love you, Willie,' Hayes captioned the post.

Murphy's presence raised a few eyebrows, with one sensing they may be more than just friends: 'Are Carolyn and Will an item?! If so.' a fan commented with two fire emojis.

Murphy is a supermodel and advocate for the environment

Arnett and Alessandra, pictured last year, reportedly split within the past year

'And with the beautiful Carolyn Murphy!' another wrote of Murphy.

The model, who is also an environmental advocate, was previously married to Jake Schroeder from 1999 to 2002 and has daughter Dylan Blue, born 2000, with him.

Arnett began dating Brawn, who works in the fashion industry, in 2019, welcoming their son Denny the following year.

Although they have largely kept their relationship out of the public eye, they did pose together at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in 2024.
READ MORE: Hartnett reveals REAL reason why he fled LA nearly 20 years ago

Josh Hartnett was rushed to a Canadian hospital last week after a vehicle he was riding in was hit by a police officer in St. Johns Canada.

The Pearl Harbor star, 47, had been a passenger in an SUV which a Royal Newfoundland Constabulary vehicle made contact with at around Thursday at 1 a.m. local time, the CBC reported.

The St. Paul, Minnesota-born actor, who shares four children with wife Tamsin Egerton, 36, had been returning home after production on a Netflix series that has not been assigned a title publicly.

A 59-year-old man whose name was not publicly released was driving the vehicle that the Lucky Number Slevin actor was in, the CBC reported.

A police officer 'as a precaution' was hospitalized, Royal Newfoundland Constabulary communications officer Cst. James Cadigan said in a report, according to the CBC.

The Daily Mail has reached out to a rep for the actor, and Egerton via Instagram, for further updates on the actor's condition in the wake of the crash.

Actor Josh Hartnett, 47, was rushed to a Canadian hospital last week after a vehicle he was riding in was hit by a law officer in St. Johns Canada. Pictured last year in NYC

Hartnett was seen in Manhattan on July 24, 2024

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary said that Hartnett, his driver and the officer had been seen by medical professionals for minor injuries.

Both of the vehicles involved in the incident had been 'significantly damaged' as result of the collision, the CBC reported.

Officials are seeking witnesses and video in connection with the incident, and urge the public to contact them with information.

The incident took place at the corner of New Cove Road and Elizabeth Avenue.

The Black Hawk Down actor is working on a show tentatively titled 'untitled Netflix Newfoundland series' on iMDb.

The production on the streamer also features Mackenzie Davis, Darrin Baker, Charlie Heaton, Tanchay Redvers, Joshua Close, Rohan Campbell, Ruby Stokes, Kaleb Horn, Willow Kean and Natasha Henstridge.

A logline describes the storyline: 'When a mysterious sea creature terrorizes a remote town, a fisherman must fight to protect his family, his community, and his way of life.'

In recent years, Hartnett has appeared in multiple high-profile projects, including the TV shows The Bear and Black Mirror; and the films Oppenheimer, Trap and Fight or Flight.

Officials are seeking witnesses and video in connection with the incident, which took place at the corner of New Cove Road and Elizabeth Avenue

Hartnett snapped a selfie with his costars on the series earlier this year

Hartnett and wife Tamsin Egerton, 36, were pictured at a premiere July 2024 in London

The streaming service this past summer posted a cast photo featuring the actor.

The actor is three years removed from his wedding to longtime partner Tamsin Egerton, 36.

After a 10-year courtship, the pair exchanged vows in a secret ceremony at London's Marylebone Town Hall in 2022.

A friend of the couple told The Sun that the tandem 'wanted to make it official in a low-key affair, with their close family and friends.'
A tech giant is sending a clear message  employees must learn to use artificial intelligence or lose their job.

Accenture, a consulting and tech services firm that helps companies, said it will lay off staff that don't know how to use AI.

It's the latest company to completely revamp its hiring strategies as computers begin to spit out work that looks like a human's.

The company's CEO, Julie Sweet, told investors on Thursday that as AI becomes 'a part of everything we do.'

It's spent $865million in the past three months to retrain the 550,000-person workforce, including on severance packages for employees that didn't make the cut.

The company said the investment will save $1billion. That has allowed Accenture to hire 37,000 more AI and data professionals.

'Our early investment in AI is really paying off,' Sweet told CNBC. 'AI is critical to the future.'

Last week, Morgan Stanley said 'agentic' AI models will help companies slash nearly $1trillion from their budgets.

Julie Sweet, Accenture's CEO, said the company is retraining employees with AI, and cutting those that don't keep up

The massive cost savings being forecast will come from reduced headcount and the automation of repetitive or information-heavy tasks.

Overall, companies will spend less on salaries and get work done faster, Morgan Stanley predicts.

So far this year, employers have announced 800,000 job cuts across the economy  the most since the 2020 pandemic. Many of the job cuts have focused on middle-income jobs, a huge change from the job cuts from the past 30 years.

A few major CEOs have already said they're implementing the potential job-slashing tech.

'As we roll out more Generative AI and agents, it should change the way our work is done,' Amazon's top boss, Andy Jassy, said.

'It's hard to know exactly where this nets out over time, but in the next few years, we expect that this will reduce our total corporate workforce.'

Jim Farley, the CEO of Ford Motors, said 'literally half of all white collar workers,' should expect to lose their jobs.

Even Glassdoor, the online job reporting website, slashed 1,300 workers from its ranks as it turned to robots.

America has seen an explosion in job cuts this year, with AI helping contribute to the exit of middle managers

Several companies have announced office-clearing layoffs, with over 800,000 people losing their job this year

Job experts are raising red flags about how the AI shift is reshaping the entry-level job market  and what that means for recent graduates.

The first positions to be automated have largely been junior roles, traditionally filled by high school and college grads just starting out in the workforce.

That trend is creating what some are calling a 'diamond-shaped' employment structure  one where companies employ fewer executives and entry-level employees, while mid-career professionals enjoy expanded roles.

'AI is dissolving the bottom rung of the corporate ladder, especially in economies and industries where information work dominates,' Igancio Palomera, the CEO of Bondex, a Web3 professional platform, previously told the Daily Mail.

'The first casualties are disproportionately early-career professionals and operational generalists.'

Still, the race to implement the technology is on.

Investors have pushed Wall Street indexes to record highs, largely because of optimism about the technology.

Those peaks have made some analysts squeemish. Most AI startups are raising eye-watering sums of cash, but have never been able to generate a profit.
Taipei Confucius Temple holds annual ceremony marking Confucius' birth

Xinhua) 09:50, September 29, 2025

TAIPEI, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of people gathered at the Taipei Confucius Temple on Sunday for an annual ceremony commemorating the birth of Confucius, the renowned Chinese philosopher born 2,576 years ago.

The ceremony began at around 6 a.m. and lasted about an hour and a half, comprising 37 steps.

Deputy Mayor of Taipei Chang Wen-te served as the principal presentation officer, and Kung Tsui-chang, a direct 79th-generation descendant of Confucius, served as the consecration officer.

The attendants at the service, known as "deacons," included respected local elders and students from Taipei Minglun High School and Taipei Municipal Lishan High School. Students from Taipei Municipal Chongqing Junior High School performed traditional music at the ceremony, while students from Taipei Municipal Dalong Elementary School presented a ritual dance.

A resident surnamed Wang took several photos of his daughter, who was performing in the ceremonial music ensemble. "This is her first time performing at the ceremony, and she has practiced repeatedly," he said. "As long as she enjoys it, we will support her all the way."

There are more than 40 Confucius temples in Taiwan, including one built in 1666 in Tainan. On Sunday, ceremonies marking Confucius' birth were held across the island.

"I'm very happy to have the chance to witness the grand ceremony in person," said an audience member surnamed Hsu, who traveled from Taoyuan to Taipei for the ceremony.

Hsu added that he appreciates how every step of the ritual was meticulously designed, showcasing the beauty of traditional Chinese culture. "Such cultural customs should be passed down from generation to generation."

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Chick-fil-A is diving into the beverage game with its first-ever drinks-focused cafe.

Named Daybright, the location will be operated byChick-fil-A subsidiary Red Wagon, and is set to open later this fall in the Greater Atlanta area.

The menu will spotlight specialty coffees, smoothies, cold-pressed juices, and light food  but none of Chick-fil-A's traditional offerings.

The move comes three months after McDonald's closed the last of its five CosMc's locations, a short-lived, drinks-only concept designed to test bold flavors and new technologies.

McDonald's said CosMc's served as a 'launchpad for learning' but ultimately cost more than it earned.

'The main goal of the CosMc's test was to create a launchpad for learning for the McDonald's System  and the insights we've gathered have given us a whole new way to get closer to our fans,' McDonald's said weeks before the shuttering.

CosMc's  named after a retro McDonald's alien  mascot  opened its first store in 2023 and was heavily drive-thru focused.

Fans saw it as a potential Starbucks rival, serving coffee and snacks similar to McCafe, and some hoped it might even offer items only available abroad.

Chick-fil-A is opening its first beverage-focused concept called Daybright later this fall

The first Daybright location will be in the Greater Atlanta area

McDonald's closed its five remaining CosMc's restaurants for good just 18 months after launching

McDonald's president and CEO Chris Kempczinski described it as a 'small-format concept with all the DNA of McDonald's, but its own unique personality.'

The first Illinois location drew long lines, and the Dallas store, which opened in March 2024, even offered a beach protein frappe exclusive to that city.

At one point, McDonald's planned to roll out 10 CosMc's nationwide by the end of 2024.

But the momentum didn't last. By January 2025, McDonald's was closing multiple locations and ultimately ending the concept.

Meanwhile, Taco Bell's beverage concept, Live Mas Cafe, has been thriving following a successful run in California

McDonald's did not reveal how much money CosMc's restaurants made this year, and beverages inspired by the failed spin-off are being tested in select US locations.

Unlike McDonald's, Taco Bell's beverage concept Live Mas Cafe has been growing after a success store run in California.

Featuring a 30-drink menu, CMO Taylor Montgomery called it 'the future of Taco Bell beverages' during Live Mas LIVE. If all goes to plan, Taco Bell will open around 30 more locations in Southern California and Texas by year's end.

Meanwhile, Chick-fil-A's just rolled out its fall menu , which included new Pretzel Cheddar Club Sandwiches aimed at keeping pace with competitors.

McDonald's continues to lean on value offerings like its Extra Value Meals, which are priced 15 percent lower than purchasing items separately.
Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi and Kenya Navy Commander Major General Paul Owuor Otieno on Monday held talks here which covered a wide range of issues relating to maritime cooperation. Maj Gen Otieno is on an official visit to India from September 28 to October 2, with the objective of further strengthening maritime cooperation and bilateral ties, the defence ministry said.

On Monday, the Kenya Navy commander was received by Admiral Tripathi at South Block lawns, where he was accorded a ceremonial guard of honour. Discussions during the meeting covered a wide range of issues relating to maritime cooperation, including operational, training, and hydrographic engagements, the conduct of multilateral exercise AIKEYME, and consolidation of the partnership under the IndiaKenya BAHARI Maritime Vision, the ministry said in a statement.

Maj Gen Otieno also paid homage to the fallen soldiers by laying a wreath at the National War Memorial. He is scheduled to visit the Information Fusion Centre for the Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) at Gurugram, as well as training establishments of the Indian Navys Southern Naval Command in Kochi, with a view to enhancing training cooperation, the ministry said.

The Kenya Navy remains a valued maritime partner in the Indian Ocean Region, with active participation in multilateral exercise AIKEYME, the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), the Goa Maritime Conclave, and the Djibouti Code of Conduct  Jeddah Amendment (DCoC-JA), it said. The visit of Maj Gen Otieno represents an important milestone in IndiaKenya naval relations, reinforcing shared interests and a common commitment to security in the Indian Ocean Region, the ministry said. Highlighting the ongoing partnership, ships of the Indian Navys First Training Squadron -- INS Tir, INS Sujata, INS Shardul, and ICGS Sarathi  recently made a port call at Mombasa, Kenya, as part of their long-range training deployment to the South West Indian Ocean.

The visit included a series of professional and social interactions, further deepening bilateral maritime engagement.
The Hindu community on Sunday began the main Durga Puja festival across Bangladesh with officials deploying over two lakh personnel throughout the country to ensure security amid minor incidents of obstructions.

Sounds of drums, ululation, conch shells and temple bells filled Dhakeshwari National Temple in Dhaka as worshippers rallied to welcome the Goddess Durga, witnesses said as the first day of the festival began with the unveiling of the face of the deity on the day of Maha Shashthi.

We expect the Puja this year to be celebrated in festivity. We are happy with the Government for its assistance and the security arrangements, Bangladesh Puja Celebration Council President Basudev Dhar said. He added the number of puja mandaps across the country increased this year compared to the last year. So far, the council received minor incidents of obstructions from 11 places, Dhar said, adding, the authorities quickly intervened and arrested the culprits.

The organisers said the puja this year was being celebrated at 33,350 mandaps or makeshift decorated pandals. According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), Home Adviser retired lieutenant general M Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said that around two lakh Para Police Ansars and 430 platoons comprising over 15,000 para military Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) were engaged for the puja security.

The security forces would work alongside more than 70,000 policemen to maintain law and order during the festival, he said on Sunday.

Chowdhury, however, said rumours or misinformation over the puja spread by accomplices of the ousted fascist regime of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina could create confusions and urged the media to offset any such misinformation.

The media has more power than us to counter rumours and misinformation, he said.

A police headquarters statement, meanwhile, said the police force was committed to maintain law and order and uphold the tradition of interfaith harmony in Bangladesh.

Earlier on September 16, Bangladeshs Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus had visited the Dhakeswari National Temple to witness preparations for the Durga Puja.

We are all members of one family. The entire nation is one family. Within a family, there may be differences of opinion or variations in behaviour, but the family bond is an unbreakable entity...Our goal is to stand united as one unbreakable family as a nation, he told the devotees at the temple, one of the shakti peeths.

Soon after assuming power in August last year, Yunus visited the Dhakeswari Temple, where he vowed to develop all Bangladeshis as one family. But, in recent months, minorities were excluded from meetings of his national unity commission.

Two months ago, the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council said religious minorities were facing escalating violence and systemic exclusion. It cited reports of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom and Bangladeshi rights groups.

The Council said the minority communities faced 2,442 incidents of communal violence in 330 days from August 4, 2024, when the political unrest reached its peak, toppling then prime minister Sheikh Hasinas Government.

It said the incidents included murders, rapes, vandalism of places of worship, forced evictions, and attacks on small communities.

India has been expressing concerns over attacks on minorities, especially Hindus, in the country.
Nepals newly-appointed Prime Minister Sushila Karki on Monday said her interim Government is committed to holding the general elections on the scheduled time.

Karki, 73, became Prime Minister on September 12, ending days of political uncertainty after the ouster of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli following violent protests by a youth-led Gen Z group against his government over corruption and a ban on social media. In a message on the occasion of Bada Dashain, Karki on Monday assured that the elections for the House of Representatives will be held on time, according to the Himalayan Times newspaper. Bada Dashain, also known as Vijaya Dashami, is one of Nepals most widely-celebrated Hindu festivals.

Extending her greetings on the occasion, Prime Minister Karki wished peace, happiness, and prosperity to all Nepali brothers and sisters at home and abroad.

In his message, President Ramchandra Paudel appealed for holding the elections on the scheduled date.

Paudel called on citizens to maintain calm and support the continuity of both the Government and parliament.

Let the scheduled election be held on time, and let everyone remain calm and extend the necessary support and cooperation to ensure the continuity of a parliament and Government chosen by the people, to resolve all types of problems facing the nation, to achieve quick relief from the current situation, and to work for the welfare of the entire nation. May Goddess Durga provide strength for this, the president said.

President Paudel also wished for peace, stability, good governance, and prosperity for the country.

On September 23, Prime Minister Karki met President Paudel to discuss matters relating to the timely conduct of the general elections. Soon after the meeting, Paudel issued an ordinance related to an amendment to the voter registration act, paving the way for the names of new voters to be registered ahead of the March 2026 general election.

President Paudel dissolved the House of Representatives at Karkis recommendation and announced March 5 as the date for conducting fresh elections.

At present, Nepal has 1,81,68,000 eligible voters for the upcoming parliamentary elections.
The recent news that British-made drones will create some sort of drone wall to protect Nato countries in Europe begs the question about escalation in the current conflict with Russia from a semi-proxy Ukraine war to a much larger theatre of war.

Hybrid Warfare

The new low-cost drones, developed in collaboration with Ukraine, are part of a new strategy to supposedly deter Russian jet and drone incursions into Nato airspace.

Recently there have been threatening incursions into Polish, Estonian, Danish, Norwegian, Romanian, Latvian, Lithuanian and Swedish airspace, prompting European leaders to sound the alarm.

Drone Wall

Codenamed Project Octopus, interceptor drones built in the UK will now be deployed in the frontline as a possible deterrence against the dangerous and reckless invasions by Russian aggression.

Will this action be enough to counteract Vladimir Putins reckless behaviour, or could things escalate even further? There are major risks, not only in escalation but in preserving civilian life.

Defending against hostile drones requires choices that carefully balance effectiveness, civilian safety and the risk of escalation. Each tool in the modern counter-UAS toolkit carries a distinct profile when judged by civilian impact, technical feasibility and how controllable it is in practice.

Electronic Warfare

Alternatives to the simple deployment of drones should include Electronic warfare (EW) which offers reversible, non-kinetic disruption of adversary links and navigation. Because EW works by contesting the electromagnetic spectrum rather than destroying hardware, its civilian footprint can be relatively low when narrowly applied; the main danger is unintended interference with nearby commercial or emergency communications if safeguards and coordination are lacking. Technically, EW is a mature and widely used approach: many armed forces routinely deploy jamming, spoofing and signal denial in contested environments. Its controllability is high in the sense that effects are generally temporary and can be tuned or withdrawn, but that very adjustment depends on accurate targeting and disciplined rules of employment to avoid spill-over into civilian systems.

High-power lasers now being trialled, like Britains Dragonfire, as a viable option are attractive because they can physically disable small unmanned aircraft at short to medium ranges without producing explosive debris. Risks remain if strikes occur over populated zones or near aviation routes.

The technical feasibility of laser systems has improved significantly, but practical deployment requires reliable tracking, power and eye-safety measures; they perform best as site-defence tools rather than wide-area solutions. Handling is good at the tactical level. Operators can choose when and where to engage, but the technologys dependence on line-of-sight and environmental conditions constrains predictable performance.

Non-nuclear EMP Weapons

Non-nuclear electromagnetic options, conceptually distinct from conventional EW, are often proposed as a way to neutralise electronics without kinetic force. In reality, these approaches face practical and ethical limits. Their civilian impact can be large if they affect nearby infrastructure or networked devices; even a local electromagnetic effect can cascade across communications, transport and medical systems.

Technically, achieving selective, reliable, theatre-scale electromagnetic disabling remains difficult and power-intensive; shielding and redundancy blunt effectiveness and raise the prospect of an expensive countermeasure spiral.

Weighing these options, most analysts and practitioners suggest a layered approach: invest heavily in detection and attribution, employ EW, lasers and interceptors where they can be used safely and legally, and prioritise hardening to reduce systemic vulnerability.

Non-nuclear electromagnetic measures could be deployed, but because of their lower selectivity, higher potential for civilian cascading harm and limited control capacity, they are generally a last resort.

The best defence is not a single silver bullet, but a multi-tiered combination of precise, proportionate defeat mechanisms backed by robust protections for the civilian systems that modern life depends on.

Much of this of course depends on how far events escalate, and to what level of escalation a correct response would be validated.

Vladimir Putin smells blood, but he may essentially be underestimating the level of force that is available to counteract his aggressive YOLO actions.
Dalhousie students may have experienced an atypical start to the fall semester this year due to the labour disruption, but that didnt impact one of the most popular events of the term for business students. Management Career Services annual Business Networking Night, presented by EY, drew a record number of attendees this year, including many first-year students who had not even attended class yet. Nearly 600 students and employer partners came out to network at the event held in the McInnes Room, excited by the opportunity to meet employers and discuss potential future job opportunities. We are always thrilled to provide the opportunity for business students and employer partners to meet face to face at this signature event, says Robert Wooden, director of Management Career Services. The fact that it keeps getting bigger every year shows the value of professional networking, whether a student is in their first year, final year, or anywhere in between. We also see a broader range of industries represented each year."

Robert Wooden.

One of those excited students was Victoria Nguyen, a second-year student from Vietnam in the Bachelor of Commerce Co-op program. Before attending it, I prepared a lot but still felt quite nervous. Fortunately, once I joined, I was able to talk to and learn from many people. As someone who was not very familiar with the working environment in Canada, this event gave me a much clearer understanding of how things operate, as well as the strengths of companies in the area. I learned a great deal to help me prepare for my upcoming co-op, and I am extremely grateful for it. As someone who was not very familiar with the working environment in Canada, this event gave me a much clearer understanding of how things operate There were also many repeat student attendees, including second-year Commerce Co-op student Charlie McInnes. In first year, I attended the event and didnt really know what to expect. This year, having met so many like-minded business students through the previous academic year, networking with employers and other new students came easily. The idea of approaching new people and employers was something I was not only comfortable with, but excited to do. This years event was attended by 119 employer partners from 41 organizations. There were also more sponsors than ever before, one of those being Irving Oil, who sent a recent Commerce Co-op alum as one of their company representatives. Attending Business Networking Night as a representative of Irving Oil was a meaningful full-circle experience, says Shafiul Hassan Rafi, a junior investigator in Environment, Health, Safety & Compliance at the company. As a recent graduate, it was incredibly rewarding to engage with students who are now walking the same halls I did not long ago. The event provided a great platform to share my journey from co-op to full-time employment and to highlight the diverse opportunities available at Irving Oil. It was a proud moment to give back to the Dal community and support the next generation of business leaders.

Management Dean Mike Smit

Shafiul was just one of many Dal alum attending the event, providing an extra layer of empathy and knowledge in their interactions with current students like second-year Commerce Co-op student Angel Gabriel. It was refreshing to get out of my comfort zone. There I was, in the middle of LinkedIn in person. I learned so much information, especially from Dal alumni, says Angel. Fellow Accounting students who are now pursuing their CPA designation shared their journey of how they got into where they are now. After attending the event, I not only made connections with the employers but also current fellow students in the same program as me. For second-year Bachelor of Management student Yug Savani, the event offered a welcoming environment. I cannot get enough of how excited the first years and my peers from second year were to talk to their favourite companies about a co-op or an internship. I loved how friendly the environment of the whole event was, and how alumni from different companies were happy to share their journey from Dal to their respective companies, says Yug.
Dalhousies College of Pharmacy is changing the way it welcomes new students, helping future pharmacists provide culturally responsive care.

For the past few decades, new students were welcomed into the college during a white coat ceremony where everyone was given a coat to wear for their labs. The tradition began in medical schools and was adopted by pharmacy programs because pharmacists also wear white coats.

The white coat ceremony has been the norm at most pharmacy schools across North America, but no longer at Dal.

Students entering Dals pharmacy program will now get to mark the moment by receiving a cherry tree saplings, which they are expected to nurture during their schooling.

The white coat has negative implications and puts the pharmacist on a different level than the patient

Dr. Kyle Wilby, director of the College of Pharmacy, says cherry trees were chosen because they are native to Nova Scotia, have medicinal properties, and are used in traditional medicine.

It's creating a new tradition that allows pharmacy students to understand the roots of the profession, with something that is more specific to us than a white coat, he says. We are drawing on the medicinal properties of the world around us.

Students will also mark the end of their education with another tradition such as planting the trees in a forest to symbolize the growth that occurred during their years on campus, says Dr. Wilby.



Dr. Kyle Wilby delivers remarks at the College of Pharmacy welcome ceremony.

Pharmacy students will still receive white coats during their education that they can wear in labs, but it wont be celebrated at a ceremony.

Reason for the change



Dr. Wilby says for pharmacists to be on equal footing with patients and to provide better patient-informed care, there have to be some systemic changes.

The white coat has negative implications and puts the pharmacist on a different level than the patient. People have had negative experiences of discrimination and harm, and it might be a reminder.

He says the tradition was initially created to celebrate entry to the profession, but in modern day it feels out of date.

We received positive feedback by many partners in practice, including people who work with pediatrics, mental health and 2SLGBTQ+ communities who dont wear white coats at all, he says.

Theres even a condition called white coat hypertension  when people get their blood pressure measured, the coat stressed them out because they were in this clinical setting.

He says the goal is to create an environment within the university and health-care settings where all people feel welcome and can receive the highest quality of health care possible.

Response from students and pharmacy partners



Dr. Wilby says they took away the white coat portion of the welcome ceremony last year but didnt fully explain why in advance, so there was some disappointment among students who wanted to experience that tradition.

This year, he is excited about the cherry trees and to explain why its important not to put the focus on the coat.

Rose Dipchand (BSc93, Pharm97), senior director, Pharmacy & Professional Affairs at Pharmasave East, applauds Dr. Wilbys decision. She says the white coat can bring up a wall between the patient and pharmacist, and there are cultures with generations of trauma and distrust of medical or health authorities.

Some people say we worked hard for a white coat. No, I didnt work hard for the white coat. I worked hard for the privilege and honour to become a pharmacist and help people, she says.

I didnt work hard for the white coat. I worked hard for the privilege and honour to become a pharmacist and help people.

Dipchand says the white coat is seen as a sign of professionalism, but putting on the garment doesnt mean youre automatically ready to take on that responsibility.

We need to find our professional identity, which changes over time, she says. It shouldnt be tied to the white coat.

She says no one wants to dampen the experience of incoming students who are excited to wear the white coat, but instead were showing them other choices. They can still wear a white coat, but they can also decide to wear colourful scrubs or other clothing and be equally professional.

Inspiration from other universities



Dr. Christine Landry, director of the Undergraduate Doctor of Pharmacy at University of Ottawa, says Dr. Wilby and Dalhousie have led the way to make the change at other institutions.

The universitys pharmacy program was already considering making this change, and Dr. Wilbys experience and guidance helped them plan for it. Now, both the pharmacy and medical schools at uOttawa will move away from the white coat ceremony.

They will be offering students items  a stethoscope for medical students, mortar and pestle for pharmacists and a compass for graduate students  to be more representative of their professions, which is how Dr. Wilby got the idea for the cherry trees.

Dr. Landry says its important to move forward, and just because something has been done for years, doesnt mean it shouldnt be questioned and changed.



Students attending their welcome ceremony.

She explained that the decision was done in talks with different community partners, including indigenous members, to support reconciliation and ensure that pharmacists provide culturally safe care.

It was the main question at our orientation from our students, Why arent we getting our white coat? and we explained you will still receive one but we arent celebrating it. We are celebrating you entering the profession.

Dr. Wilby is thankful to the many community partners, university leaders and students who collaborated with him to make this change.

Change can be hard, but the more we create new traditions, the better we can educate, Dr. Wilby says. It's exciting to listen to our community members and patients to facilitate change that can not only break down barriers but can start something new. I am proud. Even though this was hard for me to do in my first year as director, Im glad we did this.
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.
Over 500 people joined the Mid Ulster March Against Genocide from Magherafelt to Moyola Precision Engineering in Castledawson, protesting the 'government's funding of F-35 part factories complicit in genocide'.

The march, marking the anniversary of the second year of the genocide, was organised by the Mid Ulster Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (Mid Ulster IPSC) and Derry IPSC.

The march brought Castledawson roundabout, one of the main arteries of the road system, to a halt, creating a substantial queue of cars , before proceeding to march to the gates of the factory.

"While the roundabout was brought to a halt for a short period of time, we feel this was a necessary escalation with genocide parts being manufactured on our doorstep and our taxpayer money funding them. The UN has ruled that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza and Moyola Precision Engineering is complicit in creating parts for the very same warplanes carrying out the genocide, with our government giving them millions in funding," a spokesperson for the Mid Ulster IPSC said.

"Earlier this month, InvestNI and Moyola PE exhibited at the Defences and Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition in London, the World's largest arms fair, ActNow revealed. This was while a worldwide Freedom Flotilla attempted to break the siege of Gaza, and bring aid to the very people being bombed by those arms."



Speakers at the end of the march outside the gates of Moyola PE included Saoirse ONeill and Padraig Mac Niocaill from the Mid Ulster IPSC, Dermot Kelly of the Armagh IPSC, Irish Language activist Cassie Ni Chathain, Becca Bor from Jews for Palestine Ireland, and Eamonn McCann and Goretti Horgan from the Raytheon 9.

Demands of the march include:  An end to Invest NI funding for Moyola and other complicit factories across the North.  An end to our taxpayer subsidies for companies feeding the war machine.

 That our MLAs, MPs, and local councillors publicly back this call and use their platforms to demand that Moyola withdraw from the F-35 programme.

 A nationwide suspension of all involvement in the F-35 programme.  That our government ensures safe passage for the Freedom Flotilla. "While Lough Neagh is a toxic bright green, our tap water runs mouldy, and our water, sewage and health services crippled, our government has given millions to factories complicit in genocide like Moyola Precision Engineering, and our local council has given thousands more in rates relief. Following pressure, Moyola Precision Engineering has attempted to hide references to F-35 part manufacture from its website. The pressure will not ease up until they fully stop production of F-35 parts. We do not want parts for warplanes bombing children made in Mid Ulster, " Padraig Mac Niocaill said.
Health care professionals in the North have highlight need for life-changing stroke treatment at the NI Stroke Professionals Conference.

Hosted by the Stroke Association, the annual conference, which took place on Thursday, September 25, comprised more than 150 stroke professionals who came together "to share insights on improving treatments for stroke patients".

The specialist doctors, nurses, neurorehabilitation therapists and other specialists in stroke care from across the North met at the Crowne Plaza in Belfast.

The conference was supported by the NI Multidisciplinary Association of Stroke Teams (NIMAST), a charitable organisation which brings together professionals from health and social care, the voluntary sector, education and research with an interest in stroke care.

At the conference, the stroke community highlighted the importance of making progress to delivering evidence based stroke care and emphasised the urgent need for a 24/7 thrombectomy service in the North.

Thrombectomy was described as "a game-changing treatment which removes the blood clot after someone has a stroke".

The conference heard "Thrombectomy is one of the most effective treatments in modern medicine both in terms of patient outcomes and cost effectiveness.

"1.9 million brain cells are lost every minute after a stroke, making it a very time sensitive procedure.

"The quicker someone has a thrombectomy, the better chance they have of making a good recovery as it can save brain function, reduce disability, and ultimately change the lives of stroke survivors.

"Yet around 100 patients each year in Northern Ireland are missing out on this treatment as it currently available only available between 8am and 6pm. Anyone admitted to hospital outside these hours has to wait until the following morning  which can make a huge difference to the long-term impact of their stroke".

This is why the Stroke Association NI is supporting national stroke leaders and campaigning to improve access to thrombectomy to help more stroke survivors make a good recovery.

Clodagh Dunlop MBE, from Magherafelt in County Derry had a brain stem stroke in 2015 which initially left her with locked-in syndrome. She was completely paralysed and she was only able to communicate by using her eyes.

She said: I had a thrombectomy which saved my life, but as my stroke was out of hours, I now live with significant physical disabilities due to thrombectomy only being available 8am-6pm in Northern Ireland. Timely intervention with thrombectomy saves lives and prevents disabilities.

Professor Deb Lowe, Medical Director of the Stroke Association, and consultant stroke physician in Liverpool, gave a talk at the conference and highlighted the importance of thrombectomy access.

She said: When I visit Northern Ireland and meet with the healthcare professionals, I am always so impressed by their ambition to improve stroke care.

Thrombectomy is a hugely powerful treatment yet so many stroke survivors keep missing out on it. The clear message from the conference is that the Executive needs to support stroke clinicians with the funding and leadership to make a thrombectomy service available 24/7. Rapid progress is being made across the rest of the UK and Ireland so Northern Ireland cannot be left behind," said Professor Lowe.

Alasdair OHara, Northern Ireland Director at the Stroke Association, said: It is great to see the stroke community come together in Belfast to share learning that will help improve stroke services across NI.

"It's been heartening to see the dedication of stroke professionals to improving services against the backdrop of significant financial pressures impacting the delivery of Northern Ireland's Stroke Action Plan.

Dr Patricia Gordon, Chair of NIMAST, said: It is a wonderful opportunity for learning, collaboration and listening to the patients' prospective. It is a privilege to be part of a community of such dedicated and hardworking professionals, and this conference demonstrates the amazing work that is being delivered every day.

The Stroke Association supports stroke survivors and their families by phone, at home, and in the community. Find out more at http://stroke.org.uk/northern-ireland
The Bounce Arts Festival arrives in Derry this weekend (October 24 2025), showcasing the vibrant creativity of disabled, d/Deaf, and neurodivergent artists. This years theme, Not Just, challenges stereotypes and celebrates the multifaceted identities of disabled individuals across theatre, visual arts, dance, film, and spoken word.

Organized by the University of Atypical, Bounce is Northern Irelands only disability-led arts festival. The festival continues to provide a platform for disabled, d/Deaf, and neurodivergent artists to showcase their work and engage with audiences. The 2025 festival features 26 events across Belfast and Derry/Londonderry, with over 60 artists participating.

The festival kicks off with the Not Just BS (Breakfast Symposium) on Thursday, October 2 from 10:30am  12:3 pm at The Playhouse.

Edel Murphy, CEO and Artistic Director of University of Atypical explained: Audiences will hear unique, progressive and forward-thinking perspectives and hopefully feel empowered, informed and enlightened by who and what disability is.

This dynamic networking and panel event features performances and discussions on disability representation and intersectionality. This will include music by Colm Herron, who released his debut album Bottles in the Rain in 2023, a talk by neurodivergent artist Alan Burns and spoken word by Abby Oliveira, supported by the D/deaf and Disabled Artists Support Fund.

There will be a panel discussion hosted by Mel Bradley with artists and curators, including Alan Burns, Soso Ni Cheallaigh, Dave Duggan, Justine Scoltock, Edel Murphy and Catherine Hemelryk.

While all the artists identify as d/Deaf disabled or deaf, they are all very diverse in their backgrounds and experiences. This is an opportunity to create a discussion, learn and influence each other on our own diversity within the sector. This is a place to come and feel part of a community of people who are all linked by a passion for the arts, skill, talent and professionalism - and that they all identify as disabled or neurodivergent, Edel added.

Other Festival Events in Derry:-

Re-collections by Justine Scoltock - 24 October | The Playhouse - An exhibition exploring how overlapping identities shape experiences, through a series of mixed media pieces.

(W)right Now - Thursday, 2 October | 2:003:00 pm | The Playhouse - A writing workshop led by acclaimed Derry-based writer Dave Duggan.

Still Not Your Pity Party! - Thursday, 2 October | 8:0010:00 pm | The Playhouse - A high-energy cabaret featuring queer, d/Deaf, and disabled performers challenging pity narratives with pride and humour.

Mind the Time - Friday, 3 October | 12:001:00 pm | The Nerve Centre - A film screening showcasing the unique talent of award-winning Stage Beyond Theatre Company.

Dreaming Disability Futures - Saturday, 4 October | Noon  4pm | The Void Arts Centre - A workshop led by writer Alex Cregan, exploring the politics of disability and justice.

We Shall Not March to the Beat of the Same Drum - Saturday, 4 October | 7:009:00 pm | Centre for Contemporary Art - A live performance by visual and performance artist Rebecca Strain, drawing on cultural negotiation themes.

READ NEXT: Award-winning play on womens hostel closure comes to Derry

This festival has been funded by: the Arts Council of Northern Ireland along with Belfast City Council, Derry City and Strabane District Council, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, National Lottery Communities Fund, Department for Communities, Arts Council of Northern Ireland Commissioning Programme supported by the National Lottery, Cultural Bridge, Belfast Harbour Community Awards, Community Foundation for Northern Ireland through The Ultach Fund, Esme Mitchell Trust and Blueprint through Arts and Business NI.

Tickets and the full programme are available at www.universityofatypical.org/bounce.
In Indias dynamic digital landscape of 2025, two messaging apps stand out for their unique strengths: Arattai, a homegrown creation from Zoho Corporation, and WhatsApp, the global titan owned by Meta. With Arattai topping Indias App Store and WhatsApp connecting over 3 billion users worldwide, including 500 million in India, both apps offer compelling ways to stay in touch. Rather than pitting them against each other, this feature story explores their features side by side  messaging, privacy, calling, and more  to help users understand what each brings to the table and which might best suit their needs.

Survey

 Thank you for completing the survey!

Also read: WhatsApp alternative Arattai is number 1 on App Store: What is it and how it works

The Apps: Arattai and WhatsApp

Arattai, launched in January 2021 by Zoho Corporation, is a Made-in-India messaging and VoIP app named after the Tamil word for casual chat. Designed with Indias Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) initiative in mind, it prioritizes accessibility, regional relevance, and digital sovereignty. Backed by endorsements from Indian leaders like Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Arattai is tailored for users on low-end devices and slower networks, with a focus on local languages and India-based data storage.

WhatsApp, acquired by Meta in 2014, is a global leader in instant messaging, known for its reliability, end-to-end encryption, and vast feature set. A staple for personal and business communication, its deeply embedded in Indias digital culture, serving urban professionals and rural communities alike with its universal appeal.

Feature Comparison: Arattai and WhatsApp

Messaging and language support

Arattai is designed with Indias linguistic diversity in mind, offering text and voice messaging with strong support for regional languages like Tamil, Telugu, and others. Its lightweight design, requiring minimal storage and data, ensures smooth performance on low-end smartphones and 2G/3G networks, making it ideal for rural users or those with budget devices.

WhatsApp delivers a polished messaging experience, supporting text and voice messages across a wide range of global languages, including major Indian ones. Features like read receipts and typing indicators enhance usability, though its focus is more universal than region-specific.

Privacy and security

Privacy is a key consideration. WhatsApp provides end-to-end encryption for all communications  texts, calls, and media  ensuring no third party, including Meta, can access user data. This makes it a trusted choice for security-conscious users, though its Meta ownership raises concerns about data sharing within its ad-driven ecosystem.

Arattai offers end-to-end encryption for voice and video calls but not for text messages, which may concern privacy-focused users. However, its India-based servers align with digital sovereignty goals, and Zohos no-data-monetization policy ensures user data isnt used for ads.

Voice and video calling

Arattai provides high-definition voice and video calls, optimized for low-bandwidth networks, making it reliable in areas with weak connectivity. Its conference call feature supports group interactions, and call encryption adds a layer of security.

WhatsApp also offers high-quality voice and video calls, with group calls supporting up to eight participants. Its global infrastructure ensures consistent performance, even for international calls, backed by end-to-end encryption.

Group chats and channels

Arattai supports group chats with up to 1,000 members, fostering community engagement, particularly for local creators and businesses. Its broadcast channels enable one-way communication for announcements or content sharing.

Also read: What is Zoho: Indian alternative to Google Docs, Sheets, and more

WhatsApp allows slightly larger groups (1,024 members) with advanced management tools like admin controls and pinned messages. Its channels are widely used by businesses and communities, thanks to its massive user base.

File sharing and stories

Arattai supports file sharing up to 1 GB, including photos, videos, and documents, with a stories feature for temporary updates. Its media sharing performs well even on slower networks.

WhatsApp allows file sharing up to 2 GB and features a highly polished status function, widely adopted for sharing updates. Its media compression and sharing capabilities are seamless and user-friendly.

Productivity and Self-Storage

Arattais Pocket feature is a standout productivity tool, offering a dedicated self-chat space where users can store photos, videos, notes, reminders, and other files. This provides a convenient way to organize personal content, such as to-do lists or saved media, without cluttering other chats. Unlike WhatsApps earlier workaround where users created a group, added a contact, then removed them to create a solo chat, Arattais Pocket is a purpose-built feature for self-storage and organization.

WhatsApp introduced its own Chat with Yourself feature a few years ago, allowing users to send messages, media, notes, and reminders to themselves in a dedicated chat. This features mirror each other in functionality, offering a streamlined way to save links, photos, or tasks, with the added benefit of end-to-end encryption for all content. Its integration into WhatsApps polished interface makes it highly intuitive.

Arattais business features are straightforward, focusing on channels and content-sharing, suitable for small-scale engagement or local creators. There is also a dedicated section for meetings where you can schedule meetings and invite colleagues similar to Microsoft Teams.

WhatsApps dedicated Business platform is robust, offering payments, catalogs, and integrations with Metas ecosystem, making it a good choice for businesses of all sizes. One place where it is lacking is that there is no options to set or take meetings which Arrattai has integrated.

Accessibility and performance

Arattais lightweight design is a major strength, requiring minimal resources and performing well on low-end devices and slow networks, a boon for rural or resource-constrained users.

WhatsApp, while compatible across devices, is heavier due to its feature-rich nature, which can strain older devices or slower connections.

Ads and user experience

Arattai is completely ad-free, aligning with Zohos user-first philosophy and offering a clean, distraction-free experience.

WhatsApp, tied to Metas ecosystem, may integrate with its ad network, potentially introducing targeted ads or data-driven features, which some users find intrusive.

Who wins?

Rather than crowning a single winner, the choice between Arattai and WhatsApp hinges on user priorities:

Privacy and Security : WhatsApps end-to-end encryption across all communications makes it ideal for users prioritizing security. Arattais India-based servers and no-data-monetization policy appeal to those valuing local data control, despite its text encryption gap.

: WhatsApps end-to-end encryption across all communications makes it ideal for users prioritizing security. Arattais India-based servers and no-data-monetization policy appeal to those valuing local data control, despite its text encryption gap. Regional Accessibility : Arattai is a standout for users in rural India or with low-end devices, thanks to its lightweight design and regional language support. WhatsApp, while versatile, is better suited for users with modern devices and faster networks.

: Arattai is a standout for users in rural India or with low-end devices, thanks to its lightweight design and regional language support. WhatsApp, while versatile, is better suited for users with modern devices and faster networks. Business and Global Use : WhatsApps robust Business platform, with payments, catalogs, and Meta integrations, is ideal for businesses of all sizes seeking scalability and global reach. However, it lacks meeting scheduling options. Arattais simpler business features, like channels and content-sharing, cater to local creators and small-scale engagement, with its dedicated meeting scheduling section (similar to Microsoft Teams) offering an edge for organizing professional meetings.

: WhatsApps robust Business platform, with payments, catalogs, and Meta integrations, is ideal for businesses of all sizes seeking scalability and global reach. However, it lacks meeting scheduling options. Arattais simpler business features, like channels and content-sharing, cater to local creators and small-scale engagement, with its dedicated meeting scheduling section (similar to Microsoft Teams) offering an edge for organizing professional meetings. Cultural Fit: Arattais Swadeshi ethos and focus on Indian languages resonate with users seeking a culturally relevant app. WhatsApps universal design is less tailored but widely adopted.

Arattai and WhatsApp each bring distinct strengths to Indias messaging landscape. WhatsApp excels with its comprehensive encryption, polished features, and global dominance, making it ideal for business users, urban professionals, and those needing reliable international communication. Arattai stands out as a lightweight, ad-free, India-centric option, perfect for users prioritizing accessibility, regional languages, and digital sovereignty.

As Indias digital ecosystem grows, Arattais rise signals a demand for homegrown solutions, while WhatsApps global presence ensures its enduring relevance. The choice is yours: a local gem or a global giant  or perhaps both.

Also read: Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw switches to Zoho as part of swadeshi initiative: What is it
Sinn Fein TD for Louth, Ruairi O Murchu, has expressed his shock at the news of the deaths of three people in Mid Louth this morning.

Gardai have launched an investigation after three people  two males and one female (all adults)  were found dead at a house in Annaghminnan in the Killanny, Louth Village area in Co Louth.

It is believed the three deceased are members of the same family.

Deputy O Murchu said that the whole community is "utterly shocked" by the news that three members of the same family were violently killed during an incident around 10amt this morning.



Teachta O Murchu said: My first thoughts, and those of everyone else, are with the loved ones of this family who have been violently killed in their home.



This is a truly shocking and appalling incident which has absolutely stunned the whole community all over County Louth.



The fact that three members of one family seem to have died in dreadful and violent circumstances on a Monday morning in a quiet and rural area of Mid Louth is appalling.



I would appeal for anyone with information to go to the Gardai immediately, and ask that people do not speculate on this incident online or on social media.

The scene has been preserved for technical examination and the Offices of the Coroner and the State Pathologist have been notified.

A male, aged in his 30s, has been arrested and is currently detained at a station in the Garda North West Region under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

A garda spokesman said investigations are ongoing.
People in Louth are being urged to vote local in the Community Housing Awards, run by the Irish Council for Social Housing (ICSH). The programme is designed to reward innovation and sustainability in public housing in urban and rural areas across the country.

31 nominees from around Ireland have made the shortlist for eight individual categories that span all aspects of effective Community Housing projects and each nominee is also eligible for the Public Choice Award. In Louth, the selected nominee is Coulter Close, Dundalk - Housing with Supports - Tuath.

The Irish Council for Social Housing (ICSH) is the national representative federation for approved housing bodies (AHBs) in Ireland. CEO Donal McManus explains why the Public Choice award is a valuable part of the programme: We are lucky to work with amazing people who create homes around Ireland every day and make a lasting positive impact.

"The Public Choice award is an opportunity for these communities to get behind local teams and show their pride in their neighbourhoods.

"The ICSH works hard to support our members in approved housing bodies around the country and their contribution is more vital than ever as they build lasting relationships with local authorities, the Land Development Agency and above all, people who need homes. Our biennial awards offer an opportunity to have their achievements recognised by the industry and the public and were really looking forward to the ceremony.

Approved housing bodies, local authorities and the Land Development Agency have been working hard in recent years to increase delivery of secure and affordable social and cost rental homes in response to a pressing need for housing across the state and towards the goal of ensuring that 20% of our homes are social and cost rental.

AHBs alone provided 4,385 new social homes and a remarkable 1,213 cost rental homes in 2024, 41% of total social housing and 56% of total cost rental delivery.

IPB Insurance is sponsoring the awards and its Chief Executive John Kearns, says As the mutual insurer for our local authority members, state agencies, and housing bodies, these awards are a perfect fit. They celebrate and promote social, affordable, sustainable, and accessible community housing for all.

"We congratulate ICSH for their leadership in recognising the outstanding contributions of the stakeholders tasked with providing housing. These awards are a showcase of excellence and innovation in Irelands social and affordable housing sector, highlighting projects and individuals committed to sustainability, community, and addressing housing needs.

"They also shine a light on the collaborative efforts of individuals, state agencies, approved housing bodies, and local authorities in building a better Ireland.

Members of the public can vote for their chosen Public Choice award nominee here. Voting will close on 13th October at 23.59pm.

The winner will be announced as part of the overall awards ceremony, at the ICSH National Housing Conference which will be held at the Slieve Russell Hotel in Cavan on Wednesday, October 15 2025.
A community has been shocked to its core after two bodies were discovered in a house in Co Dublin, according to a local councillor.

Gardai discovered the bodies of a young girl and a man in a property in the Heathfield estate in the Cappagh area of Finglas on Saturday.

Ballymun-Finglas councillor Conor Reddy sent his condolences to the loved ones of those involved.

He said: Its so tragic for the community. The neighbourhood is shocked to its core. My condolences to the family and loved ones.

An investigation is under way into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the man and the female child.

On Sunday, a large gardai presence was seen outside the property within the housing estate, including plain-clothed detectives and forensic officers.

One officer was spotted carrying large bolt cutters into the house on Sunday morning, as various bags were removed by forensics.

A gardai spokesperson said: The coroner has been notified and the services of the Office of the State Pathologist have been requested.

Post-mortem examinations will be arranged in due course.

The results of these examinations will assist gardai in determining the course of the investigation.
China proposes cyber cooperation plan at Sino-Africa internet forum

Xinhua) 09:54, September 29, 2025

XIAMEN, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- The China-Africa Internet Development and Cooperation Forum opened on Sunday in Xiamen City, east China's Fujian Province, with China unveiling an action plan to build a shared cyberspace community and launching a network for Chinese internet companies operating in Africa.

The initiative, titled "Plan of Actions on Jointly Building a China-Africa Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace (2025-2026)," was announced during the forum's opening. China also pledged to continue hosting training programs on cybersecurity and the digital economy.

The event featured sub-forums focused on bridging the digital divide, artificial intelligence development and governance, cybersecurity and data governance, and media cooperation and people-to-people exchanges. Some 400 representatives from governments, universities, think tanks and news media across China and 32 African countries attended the forum.

African participants praised the initiative, describing the forum as aligned with Africa's digital transformation needs. They expressed the hope to deepen cooperation with China in the digital economy, cybersecurity, data protection, AI governance and media exchanges.

The forum was co-hosted by the Cyberspace Administration of China and the Fujian provincial government.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
A new ban has been introduced in Ireland prohibiting the sale of vapes, cigarettes and tobacco products.

The new ban has officially come into effect from Monday September 29, 2025.

This new measure is not a wide scale ban on tobacco and nicotine products but rather affects people trying to purchase cigarettes, vapes and tobacco from self-service and vending machines.

Read next: ALERT: HSE warn beauty treatment can increase skin cancer chances by 75%

These vending machines are predominantly found inside pubs and nightclubs.

The Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill stated that his ban is targeted at reducing the access to these products for people under the age of 18.

It is a part of the government aim to reduce smoking prevalence in Ireland to under 5%.

She explained that: Sometimes children have been able to access these harmful products, this is unacceptable, and this ban will ensure that this can no longer happen. This is another significant milestone in implementing our national tobacco control policy.

Carroll MacNeill continued: The ban aligns with our broader public health strategy to reduce and prevent tobacco and nicotine use in society and ultimately save lives.

The latest figures from the Central Statistics Office have shown that about 18% of the Irish population still smoke.

The figures come after it was reported that the HSE Tobacco Free Ireland Programme has turned away people who vape but want to quit.

The programme which was created in 2016 as part of the Healthy Ireland in the Health Services Implementation Plan, aiming to reducing the number of people who smoke.

On the refusals, the head of the HSEs Tobacco Free Ireland Programme, Martina Blake said: We do not have capacity to deliver stop vaping care and are not resourced to do so.

These new rules come as the government has been imposing stricter restrictions on the use and selling of nicotine products such as vapes.

The Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Act 2023 introduced a range of measures including a ban on the sale of nicotine vapes to under-18s.

This ban also banned the advertising of vape products in cinemas, in or within 200 metres of a school, on public transport and in taxis.

The new measures are a part of the government's plan to ban single use vapes as approved by the Cabinet with draft laws by then Minister of Health Stephen Donnelly, however the proposed laws have not yet been brought to the Oireachtas.
Country

United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe
Justice minister Jim OCallaghan has said he does not want to issue operational diktats to the Garda Commissioner, after a Cork TD asked him to intervene on the issue of city garda stations being amalgamated.

In the Dail, Sinn Feins Donnchadh O Laoghaire asked the minister to prevent the mergers.

The minister will be aware that, in April, there was a lot of concern in the Cork city area about the amalgamation of units across four garda stations into two units  in Carrigaline and Douglas, and Bishopstown and Ballincollig, said Mr O Laoghaire.

I know the minister is going to tell me it is the Garda Commissioner who decides where garda resources go, but I know he was briefed on this when he visited Cork in April."

Not ideal

Does he at least agree that it is not an ideal situation to see two different garda stations being served by the same unit, and that it would be a good use of additional resources to ensure every station  including those in Carrigaline, Ballincollig, Bishopstown, and Douglas  has a unit of their own, ensuring those big areas of population, busy areas with young populations, have a full-time unit monitoring crime in the area?

Subsequently, and after many years of campaigning on behalf of the people of Cork  I am glad to see for the first time in a long time a decent allocation of gardai in Cork, he said.

Some 20 gardai were allocated to Cork city in the most recent graduation of trainees.

Great work

Mr OCallaghan said he was in Cork before the summer, and had seen the great work that is done by members of An Garda Siochana in the Cork area.

I am aware of the issue in respect of units. I hope the deputy will forgive me if I do not throw myself into the middle of it. It is an operational matter for the Garda Commissioner, he said.

The last thing I want to do, as minister for justice, is to start issuing operational diktats to a commissioner. He is the expert on how to run An Garda Siochana, said Mr OCallaghan.

I set the policy, but it is up to him and senior management to dictate what happens in respect of whether units are available to each area or not.
A man who has spent 40 years tending to the graves of the only two victims of the Air India disaster who were left unclaimed has been honoured by an Indian cultural group in Cork.

All 329 passengers and crew on board Air India flight 182 were killed on June 23, 1985, when a bomb exploded on board the aircraft as it cruised some 190km off the south-west coast of Ireland on route from Montreal to Delhi.

The flight was brought down off the coast of Cork. It remains the worst aviation disaster in Irish and Canadian history.

Most of the dead were of Indian descent.

Annu Alexandra, who was originally from Kerala in India, and her daughter Rena were among the victims.

The bodies of her husband and her son were never recovered.

Finbarr Archer, who is the official driver to the Lord Mayor of Cork, was working for an undertaker at the time of the terrorist attack.

Tasked with documenting details of the 132 bodies which were recovered, he realised there was nobody left to claim the bodies of Annu and Rena.

Single grave

The mother and daughter were subsequently buried together in a single grave in St Michaels Cemetery in Blackrock in Cork city.

Along with tending to their grave, Mr Archer organises an annual commemorative ceremony at the cemetery to coincide with the anniversary of the Air India disaster.

On Saturday, Cork Sarbojonin Durgotsab presented its first-ever Shamrock Lotus Award to Mr Archer, citing his extraordinary compassion, humanity, and service to society.

This award recognises his decades-long devotion in caring for the grave of an Indian mother and daughter lost in the Air India Flight 182 tragedy, reflecting unwavering dedication, compassion, and humanity that inspire our entire Indian community.

His actions embody the spirit of selfless service, community bonding, and the profound impact one individual can have in honouring others.

May this award, uniting the shamrock of Ireland and the lotus of India, forever remind us that kindness knows no borders and remembrance has no end, the close-knit group added.

Ceremony

On June 23 last, some 60 relatives of the victims were among those who attended a ceremony in Ahakista, West Cork, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Air India plane crash.

A remembrance ceremony takes places annually in the village of Ahakista, which is the nearest point on land to the crash site.

Following the ceremony, family members laid wreaths at a monument which bears the names of all those who died in the tragedy.

The plane crash led to the biggest search and recovery operation ever mounted by the State.
The school transport system has been described by one Cork TD as being both spectacularly haphazard and mercilessly rigid, with children being left behind and parents forced to take time off work to take their child to school.

Cork North Central Labour TD Eoghan Kenny is one of a number of deputies to have raised the issue, citing an example in Mallow where 46 pupils have been signed up for a bus  yet none has been sanctioned.

Coming into our office consistently over this summer have been surging complaints about the school transport system. That is not a new phenomenon, said Mr Kenney.

He pointed out that pupils in Mayfield and Knocknaheeny have secured special education places but have no transport, describing this as a barrier to education.

Cork East Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide referenced several families he represents, including two whose parents have no access to a car.

Unreliable

These children will now have to take the unreliable public bus home at 6.15pm, which will be particularly punitive during winter, he said.

Mr Quaide said another family was allocated a route that is too far from their home to be a feasible option.

Yet, a school bus on a route that has not been offered to them passes directly by their home. The system is both spectacularly haphazard and mercilessly rigid, he said.

Party colleague Padraig Rice said the school transport issue has become an annual fiasco.

He cited an example of one child with additional needs that has been back in school for over a month without the transport they were approved for in June, with their parents alternating taking time off work.

Dreads

Fianna Fails Padraig OSullivan said school transport season the one time of the year he dreads, saying the issue of school transport for students with special needs is particularly acute in Cork at the moment.

When the cost of a ticket was initially reduced to 50, it was done during the cost-of-living crisis. The knock-on consequence is that it has created higher demand for seats, and we have not been able to meet the demand.

If we do not have the resources to accommodate all those people, we need to put a value on those tickets. I have anecdotal information about situations where people avail of the ticket because it is so cheap and then do not use it.

Absolute farce

Cork South West Independent Ireland TD Michael Collins said that up to 30 children in Ballinadee have been left without any school transport.

These families were told at the start of the school year that a bus would be provided. Days before school began, they were informed that there would be no bus and they would have to make their own arrangements. It is an absolute farce.

Minister of state Michael Moynihan acknowledged the challenges in Cork and elsewhere, saying the department and Bus Eireann were working to resolve them  including through pilot schemes and expanded taxi services where necessary. He added a government review of removing the cut-off age of 70 for bus drivers is underway, and that efforts continue to recruit more drivers.
Cork City Councils North East ward has decided on the locations for 800,000 worth of footpath renewal works in 14 areas.

The citys footpaths are a critical part of our urban infrastructure, said Green Party councillor Oliver Moran.

Unfortunately, maintenance has been overlooked for a long time.

Thats why this year, Cork City Council agreed to take a 4m loan to enable a step-change in footpath maintenance across the city.

The 4m funding was part of an overall 20m loan to be used for footpath repair and city-centre revitalisation.

The first 4m of the loan was drawn down this year for footpath renewal. It has been divided equally between the five local electoral areas, leaving each with 800,000 to divide between footpaths.

The balance of the loan, 16m, is to be drawn down when funding becomes available to service it, the council previously explained.

The locations chosen by the ward councillors last week are Ard na Laoi; Belgrave Ave, Wellington Rd; Glenthorn and Glen Heights, Ballyvolane; Meelick, Meadow, Ashgrove, and Clonard, Ballyvolane; Mervue, Ballyvolane; St Brendans School, Glen Ave; Murmount Ave and Murmount Circle; Silverheights; Silversprings Court; Sli Gartan and Inis Eoghin; Upper Tivoli Estate; Glenville St; Eastcliffe Rd; Brook Inn and Grandons entrance.

Labour councillor John Maher said he was delighted to support budgets that deliver for communities, adding: Thank you to residents who continue to highlight the need for these upgrades  your voice makes the difference.

Independent Irelands Noel OFlynn said: We will have 800,000 allocated to us next year to fix all the footpaths around Ballyvolane, Glanmire, Montenotte, Mayfield, Blackpool, Mount Farran and more.

It wont be enough to get everything done but its a start.

Ill be bringing this up as meetings to increase our budget for this in the following years to get all of the footpaths repaired on the northside of Cork.

Both councillors have shared maps and drawings on Facebook of the areas to be included in the works, to give an indication of what the works will look like.

New executive chef at The Montenotte

The Montenotte has announced the appointment of Martin Lovell as executive chef.

After training in Limerick and Dublin, Mr Lovell spent eight years in New Yorks high-end restaurant scene working at restaurants such as Cafe Un Deux Trois before returning home to head up premier Irish venues such as Castlemartyr Resort and Kilshane House, cooking for high-profile guests.

He went on to open Prime 74 in Tipperary, earning Best Restaurant in Tipperary at the 2023 Irish Restaurant Awards and multiple Munster accolades for casual dining.

General manager Juan Tudela said they were thrilled to welcome Mr Lovell: His proven skill for creating memorable, high-quality dining experiences using fresh, local ingredients, combined with his imaginative flair, makes him the perfect fit for our culinary vision at The Montenotte.

Mr Lovell said: It is an honour to join The Montenotte at such an exciting stage in its journey. My goal is simple: to let Irelands finest ingredients shine, blending traditional techniques with modern presentation and flavours. I look forward to working with our talented teams.

CDP celebrates 35th year

Mayfield CDP was established in 1990 on the initiative of Canon Donal Linehan. The initial committee was drawn from people from local agencies and activists in the local area.

Mayfield CDP was established in response to unmet needs in areas such as adult education and information provision along with high levels of unemployment, poverty, housing issues and low literacy rates.

Since its inception, the CDP has grown, evolved and adapted to the needs of the community and available funding streams.

Initially, a project leader was recruited along with a part-time administrator. There was an emphasis on recruitment and training of volunteers in order to develop responses to needs identified such as information provision, literacy, housing, and adult education.

This expansion of the project required additional accommodation. In December 2001, a bungalow at 328 Old Youghal Rd went on the market and Mayfield CDP has been located here since then.

Mayfield CDP aim to respond to local needs by the provision of support, training and developmental opportunities to individuals and groups in the community. Working with people in a non-discriminatory way and encouraging everyone to reach their full potential, Mayfield CDP is a safe, open, friendly and accessible environment. They are marking their 35th anniversary this year, and last week held a special anniversary celebration.

Volunteering information

On Thursday, October 23, from 1pm-4pm, Ciara Murray, Placement Officer with the Cork Volunteer Centre, will be in attendance at Mayfield Library.

Locals are invited to come along for an informal chat on volunteering possibilities for individuals and groups.

Mayfield CALP courses

New courses are to be held in the Mayfield CDP Community Resource Centre, 328 Old Youghal Rd.

The courses are funded by Cork ETB and Cork City Partnership CLG.

Information Technology level 4 QQI starts on Friday, October 3, 9.30am to 1pm for 12 Friday mornings. This course is an introduction to Word, Spreadsheets, database, internet and email, and a nationally recognised certificate will be awarded on completion.

The opening of Mayfield CDP's current premises in 2002.

A short Personal Development course will start on Wednesday, October 1, from 10am to 12.30pm for eight Wednesday mornings. This course is a great experience where you can explore personal development topics, communication skills, stress management and much more.

An introduction to Mindfulness will start on Thursday, October 2, for four Thursday mornings from 10am to 12.30pm. Basic Photography will start on Monday, October 13, for six Monday mornings, 10.30am to 12 noon, while a flower arranging workshop will be on Monday, October 20, from 10.30am to 1pm.

If you are interested in any of these courses contact Mayfield CALP on 021 4508562 or email mayfieldcalp1@outlook.com.
Carrigaline residents have joined the campaign to urge European Commissioner for Justice and Democracy Michael McGrath to turn off social media recommender systems.

Campaigners from Uplift, Irish Council for Civil Liberties and Hope and Courage Collective spoke to residents in Carrigaline, who expressed concerns about the algorithm that pushes dangerous content into their social media feeds.

In his role as EU Commissioner, Cork man Mr McGrath will be responsible for the forthcoming EU Democracy Shield.

The EU Democracy Shield aims to counter foreign information manipulation and interference, preserve fairness and integrity of elections, support independent media and journalists, as well as protect civil society.

Campaigners say the EU Democracy Shield must turn off the recommender algorithm by default so users see content from people they have chosen to follow.

A new Ireland Thinks Poll, jointly commissioned by Hope and Courage Collective, Irish Council for Civil Liberties and Uplift, shows that people in Cork are more concerned than the Irish average about the harms caused by social media recommender systems.

Among the key findings in the poll include that 80% in Cork worry about content that scares or harms children being pushed into their social media feeds, compared to 74% nationally.

82% in Cork are concerned about lies, propaganda or conspiracy content being pushed into their or other peoples social media feeds, compared to 79% nationally.

Meanwhile, 69% in Cork want social media recommender algorithms switched off so they only see posts from accounts they choose, compared to 68% nationally.

Siobhan ODonoghue, director of Uplift, said that the people of Cork see the damage that recommender systems are doing to young people and whole communities.

Turning them off by default is a common sense step that would make the online world safer for all of us."

Edel McGinley director of Hope and Courage Collective added:

"We hear every day from people who feel worn down by the way online platforms push lies, hatred and harmful content into their lives.

"These systems take advantage of peoples fears and make divisions worse.

People in Cork are clear that they want change. Commissioner McGrath now has an opportunity to put their voices at the centre of Europes response to keeping us safe online.
Cork stands on the cusp of monumental change, but investment in key infrastructure projects is needed to ensure the region can meet its full potential, the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) has said, ahead of Budget 2026, as the Munster Technological University president appeals for funding for student accommodation.

The CIF, the representative body of Irelands construction sector, has called for an expansionary and investment-focused Budget 2026 to address capacity constraints in infrastructure, housing, skills, and sustainability in Cork.

A CIF spokesperson told The Echo: Irelands ability to respond to demographic growth, climate targets, and economic competitiveness depends on a construction sector that is adequately resourced and enabled.

There is a need to rapidly accelerate infrastructure investment in Cork to take account of infrastructure deficiencies, improve economic competitiveness, achieve climate targets, and improve quality of life.

They named five key projects in Cork as essential for the regions development, the first being the Cork Luas light rail.

The spokesperson said: A transformative, 18km line from Ballincollig to Mahon Point will be vital for connecting new housing zones and supporting the regeneration of the docklands, which has capacity for 20,000 new homes.

Secondly, they said that Midleton rail twin tracking was essential: A 29.5m upgrade to triple service frequency and support growth in East Cork, with completion expected in 2026.

Also important was the Northern Ring Road or, alternatively, Cork City Northern Transport Project: A long-awaited transport corridor to serve the planned growth of over 2,000 homes on Corks northside, now facing a delay that could stretch delivery into the 2040s, if funding is not allocated, was also urgent.

Their fourth key project was the N25 Carrigtwohill-to-Midleton and R626 Upgrade Scheme. The spokesperson said: The N25 Carrigtwohill-to-Midleton road is not fit for purpose currently, with safety concerns due to old junction designs. In excess of 5,000 proposed new homes are affected by the lack of sustainable travel and development plans for the N25 and Great Island Connectivity Scheme.

Finally, they said that utility connections should be a priority: House builders in Cork continue to face delays securing ESB and Uisce Eireann connections, undermining housing progress and planning approvals. This misalignment risks stalling delivery of homes in areas where houses are planned, but utility readiness remains uncertain.

In addition to the above, we require investment in rail, Bus Connects, the events centre, the development of the city docklands, educational infrastructure, an elective hospital, flood defences, and investment in developing offshore renewables. The success of these initiatives and projects is of local and national importance. A strong southern economy will support a strong national economy.

"Cork stands on the cusp of monumental change. The policy framework established in the National Planning Framework has established the structures for substantial population growth in the region, putting Cork in the position of economic counterbalance to Dublin. Business-as-usual will not achieve these aims. It is essential that funding follows policy to ensure the delivery of key infrastructure and enablers to match Corks ambition in achieving its potential as an international city of scale.

"Corks economic and social development depends on an enabled, innovative, and well-resourced construction sector. CIF urges government to respond decisively in Budget 2026 by unlocking the sectors full capacity to deliver housing, infrastructure, and climate resilience for the years ahead.

A Cork County Council spokesperson told The Echo that housing, roads, active travel, and regeneration should be the key areas for investment.

Given the prioritisation of housing delivery and the need for enabling of infrastructure to be delivered to support this, Cork County Councils expectation is that the budget will reflect the national priorities in this regard. Cork County Council has seen very positive urban and town regeneration and will welcome continued focus in these areas, bearing in mind that that there are 172 towns and villages in County Cork.

The spokesperson added: There are several critical projects that, if enabled, will enhance the county for its citizens. There are new settlements where placemaking has been identified as a critical focus and Cork County Council would welcome, and look forward to, continued investment to support these communities.

"The council welcomes the significant roads budget that was allocated last year that allowed 702km of road improvements in the county, including work on the M28. Given we have several critical transport routes to deliver, we are hopeful of continued budgetary support and investment in to critical infrastructure, in both road improvements and the provision of new infrastructure, including active travel initiatives.
The delivery of housing at scale has long been a government priority, with Cork city integral to this increase, given its space for expansion compared to Dublin.

A huge ramping-up of housing developments has been called for by every political party, and by representative groups and unions for sectors including education and health. All sectors are impacted by the lack of accommodation, which can make it harder to secure staff.

As well as increased supply, more action is also needed by the Government in the upcoming budget to ensure Corks large population of renters is secure, says housing charity Threshold.

Thresholds southern regional services manager, Edel Conlon, who oversees operations in Cork, told The Echo: Addressing the needs of private renters is crucial to creating a fair and equitable housing system, where everyone has access to safe, affordable, and stable housing.

Renters continue to face serious challenges, such as high rents, low HAP rates, insecure tenancies, energy poverty, and difficulty sourcing suitable accommodation.

In their pre-budget submission, Threshold outlined the essential and urgent measures that are needed to ease the financial strain on renters and ensure access to good-quality housing.

Ms Conlon said: Such measures should inform the Governments comprehensive, long-term plan for the housing sector, particularly in addressing issues of housing affordability and insecurity.

A dedicated homelessness prevention budget is needed if we are going to succeed in reducing and ending homelessness. Ongoing investment in, and scaling up of, social cost-rental housing projects is essential.

Those in need of a secure home require a fairer and more balanced housing system. This is about more than just housing: It is about building a society where everyone has the opportunity to flourish.

Student housing has also been a topic of conversation, with University College Cork student union president, Alex Angland, recently addressing the joint committee on further and higher education, research, innovation, and science, asking the Government to build more publicly owned student housing, as Cork has the lowest portion of it out of the five Irish cities.

Maggie Cusack, president of Munster Technological University (MTU), recently addressed the same committee on the need to allow MTU to build its own accommodation.

Ms Cusack said: Since there have been no opportunities for Cork Institute of Technology, Institute of Technology Tralee, or MTU to build student accommodation, at MTU we do not have any of our own accommodation.

As a consequence, many of our students travel to campus each day and are missing out on a quality student experience and the full benefits of campus life and peer learning. There are societal and economic knock-on effects of commuting, too, such as congestion in our communities and the undermining of our climate action targets.

She said that they welcome the commitments to develop a multi-annual plan to deliver student accommodation, including through state-financed, purpose-built student accommodation on public or private lands, and to enable technological universities to borrow funds to provide for on-campus student accommodation.

Ms Cusack said: At MTU, we have completed our demand analysis and identified land for on-campus student accommodation in Kerry and in Cork (on our Bishopstown campus). We have gone as far as we can, since we require derogated authority from the HEA to proceed to planning permission.
Cork TDs are encouraging members of the public to attend a protest on housing next month following the publication of the latest homelessness figures.

The figures, published on Friday, revealed that the number of people who are homeless in Cork rose by 24% over the past year, with a record 16,353 adults and more than 5,100 children homeless nationwide at the end of August.

Sinn Fein Cork South Central TD, Donnchadh O Laoghaire, said the figures published by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage represented another day of shame for the government.

New records are being broken every month, said Mr O Laoghaire.

The real number might even be bigger because these figures dont even include the people who are homeless in different ways.

The numbers have significantly increased here in Cork [and] it does not have to be this way.

The policies that the government are pursuing are bringing us in the wrong direction, he added. It is simply not good enough, this is a disgrace  it is a stain on our society.

It is vitally important that the people of Cork make a statement and I urge everyone to come out to the [Raise the Roof] rally next Saturday.

Sinn Fein Cork North Central TD, Thomas Gould, said that the figures are horrendous.

I have people coming to me every week who are at risk of becoming homeless.

How many children must become homeless before they [the government] admit theyre wrong and accept that their policy doesnt work.

The figures speak for themselves, horrendous is the only way to describe it, he added.

I encourage everyone to come to the Raise the Roof rally on housing  seeing these figures shows the need to get people out on the streets more than ever.

The Raise the Roof rally will be held on the Grand Parade on October 4 from 2.30pm.
Back in the 1950s, life was simpler for consumers, especially for those living in rural Ireland.

There wasnt much of a variety of goods or stores to choose from. When you needed something, you simply went to the local shop, paid whatever price was on the item, and took it home.

Most people only went to the shop anyway when they had to. Money was tight so consumers restricted themselves to buying the essentials.

Shopping centres were unheard of so there wasnt much competition either, unless you travelled to the big stores in the city and that journey was often too much trouble.

Except for December 8, often referred to as farmers day, when country folk headed to the big smoke for what was the traditional Christmas shopping day. Its also the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, and as Catholics were required to go to Mass that day, many treated it as a holiday and a chance to stock up on presents.

Advertising was limited in those days, so there was little temptation to spend money unnecessarily. It mainly consisted of notices in shop windows, except for the Cork Examiner whose front page was often almost entirely devoted to advertising.

In 1958, they advertised a pure mohair coat in the newest and most attractive styles and colours for 16-16-0 at Grants, Corks Real Value Store.

You could always have the correct time with a watch, readers were told, from G.P.Holst, Watchmaker and Jeweller, 29 Marlboro Street, Cork, for a fine range of watches, clocks and jewellery.

If you needed transport, you might have been interested in an ad for Car Hire, self-drive or chauffeur driven from Crosss Garage Limited, South Mall, Cork.

One ad in particular caught my eye: If you are RUPTURED you need not suffer. You need not despair. Many thousands have discovered the blessed relief that the Beasley appliance can bring. Fitted with an easily adjustable AIR CUSHION, the Beasley gives you real comfort with safety. Let Beasleys help you as only Beasleys can. T.R.LESTER LTD. - THE CHEMISTS, CORK.

In the 1980s, The Golden Pages came along and that was full of ads for goods and services and, as the jingle went, you could let your fingers do the walking.

Also known as The Yellow Pages, this was basically a telephone directory of businesses organised by category rather than alphabetically, in which advertising was sold. There is still an online version of it.

Every household had one of these things and it was the go-to book when you needed anything. It served us well until the advent of the internet. Everything changed after that.

Now, Google tells us all we need to know and allows us to get whatever we want without leaving the comfort of the chair... or the Beasleys air cushion.

Prior to the arrival of the internet, we knew exactly what we were getting and where it was coming from. Thats not the case any more though because were being bombarded with ads online, and its not easy to figure out whats real or fake or whether its made in the next village or a Chinese sweat shop.

Influencers are flooding social media too, and bringing a modern form of advertising to our screens. According to the BBC, there is no set definition for what an influencer is, but essentially it is someone who uses social media to literally influence others.

They promote products, services or a certain lifestyle to their followers, who pay close attention to their recommendations and use them to inform their purchasing decisions. With TikTok, Instagram and YouTube being used daily by millions of people, influencers have a huge audience.

Young people trust those they see in their feed every day, which gives an influencer the power to affect their purchasing decisions. Thats a lot of power - and responsibility!

Many social media influencers present as experts within their respective areas, like health and beauty, wellness, fitness, fashion or whatever, and they review products using their authority, expertise, or relationships with followers to influence what they buy.

According to Buzz/Voice, and I have no idea who or what they are, the top 20 influencers with the most famous accounts for 2025 are Khaby Lame, Addison Rae, MrBeast, Ninja, Charli DAmelio, Zayn Malik, Julia OMara, Blair Eadie, Yara Shahidi, Amanda Cerny, Kayla Itsines, Autumn Calabre, Cassey Ho, and Marques Brownlee.

By the way, you probably realise there arent 20 there and thats because I lost interest halfway through.

I didnt recognise a single one of them. Thats understandable given that Im in my late sixties and we move in different circles. Im not their target audience, but they do wield a lot of influence with impressionable youngsters.

In this digital age, humans are drawn to visuals, and influencers excel at creating content through photos, videos, and behind-the-scenes glimpses.

They strive to create the perfect image to make an impact because people remember 80% of what they see, but only 20% of what they read, making visual content a powerful tool.

But how do we know if they are genuine or if it is just sales patter? And who regulates influencers, and what happens if they advertise products that have an adverse effect on someones health? Or if their message sends a consumer down the road of buying fake or substandard goods?

After all, influencers are in the marketing business to make money. They portray themselves as experts and often give the impression they live the perfect life in a perfect world. We all know there is no such thing, so how much of what they do is simply a performance for their followers?

Somebody said influencers share only the best parts of their lives, creating a polished, idealized version of reality. Thats why, youd never find them photographed on a Beasleys Air Cushion for a rupture.
There are about 50,000 people living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Ireland - Crohns and ulcerative colitis are the most common.

To mark World Stoma Day this Saturday, October 4, the charity Crohns and Colitis Ireland will host an online event, Breaking Barriers: Real Talk On Living With A Stoma.

The talk will run from 12pm to 1pm, featuring contributions from health psychologist, Aideen Stack, who will offer tips and advice on maintaining emotional wellbeing, and Eileen Lim Joon, a clinical nurse specialist with Coloplast who will focus on the practicalities of living with a stoma. A guide has also bene produced offering advice to people.

Terri Brannigan, who was diagnosed with Crohns disease at the age of 15, will talk about her experience of living with a stoma.

Registration is now open at www.crohnscolitis.ie/members/events

The term IBD refers to a number of chronic conditions, with Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis the most common. With both, the immune system doesnt work properly and the body starts attacking itself, causing ulcers, swelling and inflammation of the gut. In Crohns, inflammation can occur anywhere along the digestive tract, while, in ulcerative colitis, it affects the large bowel or colon.

A significant number of people with IBD will require a stoma, at least temporarily after surgery - a physical opening from the body to allow waste to exit, which is created following a surgical procedure known as an ostomy.

Most common symptoms of IBD are urgent and frequent bowel motions, sometimes with blood, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, reduced appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps, eye inflammation, and painful joints and skin rashes.

While IBD is a life-long unpredictable condition, and there is currently no cure, early diagnosis and treatment can help to stabilise the disease and provide for a normal quality of life.

For Aideen Stack, living with a stoma is not just a physical journey, its an emotional one.

When it comes to a stoma, there are the visible changes to a persons body, but we cannot underestimate the psychological and mental impact too.

From worries about how to manage a stoma bag, to changes in body image, to intimacy concerns, we wonder what the future will look like. Acknowledging and taking care of ones mental health when living with a stoma is so important for wellbeing.

This seminar promises a safe space for open and honest conversations about what it means to have a stoma, and therell be lots of tips and advice to support peoples mental health through this life change.

Cork native Victoria Spillane, Chief Operations Officer with Crohns and Colitis Ireland, says World Stoma Day is an opportunity to show that people with a stoma can live life to the maximum:

Life is fragile. So, its really important for all of us to be able to live it to the full, she said.

Yes, having a stoma means a new normal, but it can be an even better normal than before. Whether its at the pool in a two-piece swimsuit, or sporting a crop top at the gym, or wearing a sleek dress at a wedding, we should refuse to let how others may see us define our journey. World Stoma Day is a chance for us to amplify real voices and real stories and show the world who we are. Our webinar, Breaking Barriers, is about challenging stigma, and showing that life with a stoma can be full, fearless, and unapologetically authentic.

Top 7 Things to Know About Stomas

The word stoma comes from the Greek word, opening, and is where surgery takes place to create an opening from the gastrointestinal or urinary tracts to allow waste to exit the body into an ostomy bag. Its often recommended to reduce symptoms when inflammation or damage to the bowel is severe, and can be life-saving, significantly improve quality of life, and restore independence.

A stoma looks like a little piece of the bowel that protrudes from the abdomen that is pink/red in colour, and is warm and moist, similar to the lining inside the mouth. It can be temporary or permanent.

It can be located at the end of the small intestine or the ileum, known as an ileostomy, or from the large intestine or colon, known as a colostomy, or from the urinary tract, known as a urostomy.

A person will be advised on how to look after their stoma and ensure proper skin care by specialist nurses in the hospital they are attending. They will be provided with equipment, such as adhesive paste, adhesive remover spray, a seal, and an ostomy bag. An ileostomy bag will need to be emptied four to seven times a day, while a colostomy bag will need to be emptied one to three times a day. These are designed to be secure, discreet and odour-proof.

With an ileostomy, as the large intestine is no longer being used, digestion time is quicker and so, to prevent blockages, a person may need to lean towards meals that slow the gut down and avoid high-fibre foods such as nuts, seeds, fruit and vegetable skins, and raw vegetables. For a person with a colostomy, it would be important to avoid constipation and exclude foods that may cause bloating such as eggs, beans, certain vegetables or fruit.

For people with a stoma, its a good idea to choose and prepare good food, set out a regular time to eat and not to rush food, but to chew it well. Hydration is important but its advisable not to eat and drink large volumes at the same time, and to avoid over-consumption of caffeine and alcohol.

Life can resume as before with a stoma, with some adjustments. A person should be able to get back to school, college or work, and participate in sport, including swimming, running and yoga, as normal. Its a good idea to start slowly and use support garments if needed. People can continue to go on holidays, taking care not to get dehydrated, sunburned, or constipated. Eating unusual foods can cause stomach upset or diarrhoea, so packing some familiar food to start with is advisable.
A border poll ruled out until 2030, and the death of a man and child in Dublin made the front pages of Monday's papers.

The Irish Times leads with an EU report which shows Ireland's nature is in a very poor state.

The Irish Examiner leads with Taoiseach Micheal Martin ruling out a border poll until at least 2030.

The Irish Independent leads with the death of a father and daughter, as gardai probe if it was a murder-suicide.

The Irish Daily Mail also lead with the Taoiseach ruling out a border poll for another five years.

The Herald leads with the suspected murder-suicide in Dublin, as gardai fear the girl was smothered before her father took his own life.

Both the Irish Daily Mirror and the Irish Daily Star lead with the suspected murder-suicide, as the screams of the murder discovering their bodies make the front pages.
David Raleigh

Margaret Griffin (70) was one of the 147 languishing on chairs and trolleys at the overcrowded corridors of the emergency department (ED) and wards at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) on Monday.

Its like a war zone, said the Moyross native, as she and her daughter ventured out from inside the trolley trenches for a quick breath of fresh air.

The near-record level of overcrowding at the hospital was creating chaos for patients and staff.

Trolleys with patients hooked up to intravenous lines, sick bowls and urine bottles, lay cheek to jowl along the emergency department and its waiting zones.

At times, staff had to squeeze past their colleagues who were trying to treat patients in the overcrowded corridors. A notice on the floor of the emergency department zones read: Do Not Obstruct Door Movement Area.

Staff, including consultants, doctors, nurses, healthcare assistants, and porters weaved in and out of trolleys backed up in the corridors.

Trolley after trolley was added to the seemingly never-ending trolley chaos. When one patient on a trolley as moved out, another two were added, and so on.

There were 54 patients at the emergency department waiting for a bed, and a further 93 on trolleys on wards, according to figures published by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) on Monday.

Medical staff looked pressured in what is by normal circumstances a pressure zone, but, Ms Griffin said nobody should have to work in overcrowded spaces.

Im here since ten oclock this morning, she said, six hours later, at 4pm.

She may be one of the lucky ones however, some have waited days.

I saw a doctor after an hour and got an X-ray, blood taken, and a heart trace, and I haven't seen anyone since.

I think its my heart. Im just waiting, she said.

The conditions are chaotic, she offered.

Its a war-zone. The trolleys are double parked.

The waiting area is full, the departments inside are full and then you go into the (ED) which is full, its ridiculous.

Her main issue is a lack of privacy, as trolleys with patients and loved ones are almost attached to one another in the cramped conditions.

When the doctor examined me, there was another patient there, there is no privacy there.

The HSE Mid West said a 96-bed block, constructed on the site of the hospital, was imminent and apologised for delays for patients.

It said a number of measures had been implemented to try to deal with ongoing patient overcrowding at UHL which is said were due to record levels of patient attendances.
By Margaret Davis and Rebecca Black, PA

George Galloway has accused police of stopping him at Gatwick Airport as a pretext for a fishing expedition on his phone and laptop.

The 71-year-old and his wife Putri Gayatri Pertiwi are threatening legal action after they were stopped on Saturday after flying to the UK from Moscow via Dubai.

Former MP Mr Galloway said the questions he was asked by investigators were generic musings that he claims were an excuse to seize and analyse the couples devices.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, he said, This was no interview. None of the questions was specific in any way.

No specific question at all was asked of me beyond generic musings that I now believe were merely a pretext for ... the seizing of our devices to go on a fishing expedition George Galloway

I fully expected to be asked about something Id done, I was not. I expected to be asked about something Id said, I was not. Something Id written, I was not.

No specific question at all was asked of me beyond generic musings that I now believe were merely a pretext for  the seizing of our devices to go on a fishing expedition.

Mr Galloway said Britain has fallen into a vortex in which freedom of speech, freedom of expression, is increasingly threatened and told journalists: Ive never been more angry.

The couple claim the stop breached their human rights and are threatening legal action against various agencies.

Ms Pertiwi said she had not slept or eaten since the ordeal, which she described as being thrown into a black hole.

She said police asked her about a Palestinian flag design painted on her index fingernail.

At the press conference in Belfast, solicitor Kevin Winters said the Galloways were subjected to a frightening interrogation procedure conducted by armed police officers who proceeded to ask them questions which at times ranged from the sublime to the outright ridiculous, including queries about China, Gaza and Russia.

He went on: On any analysis of such questioning, there was nothing put to them which could be remotely described as evidence of hostile activity.

We can state with confidence that none of the questions posed had anything to do with terrorism.

Mr Winters criticised the draconian law used to stop the Galloways, under which staying silent can count against you.

The stop was a contrived, politically-motivated investigation undertaken with the aim of humiliating, undermining and ultimately embarrassing Mr and Mrs Galloway, he told journalists.

He claimed there was no lawful basis to stop them and called the stop a barely concealed ruse to get their phones and their IT equipment.

Mr Winters said: Today we are issuing pre-action protocol correspondence against the relevant agencies engaged in the operation which was overseen by Counter Terrorism Policing South East.

It remains unclear who exactly was ultimately responsible for overall decision-making but that will emerge shortly in the course of this legal action.

It is claimed one interviewer said he was connected to the security service and Mr Winters said the legal team is considering applying to the Investigatory Powers tribunal to find out if MI5 or MI6 were involved.

Mr Winters added: Detaining George Galloway in a bid to try and silence him because of robustly-expressed political views which are in many ways uncomfortable to those in authority will simply fail.

If nothing else, itll only serve to redouble his efforts. He fully expects that those who planned Saturdays actions ought to rue the day that they did so.

The Metropolitan Police did not name the couple but said: We can confirm that on Saturday September 27, counter-terrorism officers at Gatwick Airport stopped a man in his 70s and a woman in her 40s under schedule three of the Counter Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019.

Neither of them were arrested and they were allowed on their way.
By Jonathan McCambridge, PA

Two men facing fraud charges linked to a 1.1 billion (1.6 billion) property deal in Northern Ireland were motivated by greed to act dishonestly, a jury has heard.

Belfast Crown Court was told that prominent Belfast businessman Frank Cushnahan and former law firm managing partner Ian Coulter expected to be paid millions of pounds each as a success fee for the sale of the Northern Ireland property loan book held by the National Assets Management Agency (Nama).

Barrister Jonathan Kinnear KC opened the prosecutions case in the long-awaited trial on Monday afternoon.

Ian Coulter leaves Belfast Crown Court during a previous hearing (Liam McBurney/PA)

Nama was set up by the Government in 2009 during the financial crisis to offload non-performing loans acquired from troubled banks.

Cushnahan, 83, of Alexandra Gate, Holywood, Co Down, was a former adviser to Nama, while Coulter, 54, of Templepatrick Road in Ballyclare, Co Antrim, was a senior figure in the law firm Tughans.

The loan book was sold to a US investment fund in 2014 in a deal named Project Eagle.

Cushnahan is charged with fraud involving a failure to disclose information between April 1st and November 7th, 2013.

Cushnahan and Coulter are both charged with fraud by false representation on or around April 3rd, 2014.

Coulter is also facing four further charges of fraud, fraud by false representation, removing criminal property and transferring criminal property from Northern Ireland.

Both men deny all the charges.

Mr Kinnear told the jury: The purpose of Nama was to take over billions of property development debts held by a number of the major Irish banks.

Motivated by greed they both acted dishonestly, withholding information and providing false information to ensure that they shared in the massive profits which were available Jonathan Kinnear KC

This case relating to these two defendants relates to the sale of approximately 4 billion worth of those debts which were secured largely against property in Northern Ireland.

That 4 billion package of debts was sold for 1.1 billion.

The defendants Mr Cushnahan and Mr Coulter were heavily involved in the brokering and arrangement of that deal.

In return for their work they were to be paid millions of pounds each, we say, from a success fee of about 15 million.

The barrister added: Motivated by greed they both acted dishonestly, withholding information and providing false information to ensure that they shared in the massive profits which were available.

Mr Kinnear said Coulter had bought a company in the Isle of Man and used a fraudulent invoice to extract 7.2 million from Tughans.

He said: He did so in order to launder his ill-gotten gains by removing them from Northern Ireland into a bank account that only he had control over with the intention thereafter of paying both Mr Cushnahan and himself.

The jury was told Cushnahan is a well-known business figure in Northern Ireland.

The trial is taking place at Belfast Crown Court (Liam McBurney/PA)

Mr Kinnear said: He was known and indeed trusted by many prominent politicians.

As a result of his profile in 2010 he was appointed as an external member of the Nama Northern Ireland Advisory Committee (Niac).

He said Niac was set up by Nama to advise how it might deal with the property debts it owned in Northern Ireland.

The barrister said: As a member of that committee Mr Cushnahan was under a legal duty to disclose any conflict of interest that he had.

We say in breach of this legal duty Mr Cushnahan secretly worked on a deal for the whole of the Northern Ireland loan book to be sold by Nama to an American fund called Pimco.

The prosecution case is that without telling Nama he was involved with Pimco he provided assistance to Pimco in the expectation that he would receive a success fee of several million pounds.

The jury heard that shortly before the deal was due to complete, Nama found out that Cushnahan had been assisting Pimco, and the deal fell through.

Mr Kinnear continued: That wasnt the end of it.

The story, as we will see, is long. There are quite a lot of documents, but it is not particularly complicated Jonathan Kinnear KC

Instead a new buyer, another American fund called Cerberus, was found, and the deal for the sale of the Northern Ireland loan book was eventually completed for that price, about 1.1 billion.

The prosecutions case is that Mr Cushnahan continued to help from the shadows and expected to receive his cut of the 15 million success fee.

The barrister said that Coulter had been introduced to the sale of the Northern Ireland loan book by Cushnahan.

He said that the two defendants had worked to persuade the politicians in both Dublin and Belfast that the sale of the Northern Ireland loan book would be a positive benefit to all.

He added: They also sought out, met and encouraged and assisted potential buyers.

They did this because they expected to receive and share a very substantial success fee.

Mr Kinnear said there was nothing intrinsically wrong with the principle of a success fee being paid on the back of a transaction.

But he added: It was the way in which these two defendants went about it and the way in which Mr Cushnahan did not reveal that he was involved in the deal to the entity which was selling the deal.

Addressing the jury Mr Kinnear said: The story, as we will see, is long. There are quite a lot of documents, but it is not particularly complicated.

Ultimately, you will need to decide if the defendants acted dishonestly.

The trial continues.
(Photo: REUTERS / Alessandro Bianchi)Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the U.S. arrives for a meeting at the Synod Hall at the Vatican, March 9, 2013. Roman Catholic cardinals will enter a conclave to elect a successor to Pope Benedict on March 12, the Vatican said on Friday, with no clear favourite emerging so far to take charge of the troubled Church.

A congregation of New York City nuns has publicly criticized Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who is in charge of them, for likening assassinated conservative activist Charlie Kirk to St. Paul the Apostle.

The Sisters of Charity of New York condemned Kirk's recent killing but also insisted he was no "modern-day St. Paul" as Dolan, head of the Archdiocese of New York, said during a Sept. 19 appearance on the TV program "Fox & Friends," NBC News reported.

"What Cardinal Dolan may not have known is that many of Mr. Kirk's words were marked by racist, homophobic, transphobic, and anti-immigrant rhetoric, by violent pro-gun advocacy, and by the promotion of Christian nationalism," the sisters wrote in their statement.

"These prejudicial words do not reflect the qualities of a saint. To compare Mr. Kirk to St. Paul risks confusing the true witness of the Gospel and giving undue sanction to words and actions that hurt the very people Jesus calls us to love."

The Sisters of Charity are a prominent U.S. congregation of nuns founded more than 200 years ago by Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American-born Catholic saint.

The nun's statement noted that a week earlier Dolan had helped celebrate the 50th anniversary of her canonization.

On Sept. 10, Kirk, an established conservative political activist, was assassinated while addressing an audience on the campus of Utah Valley University (UVU) in Orem, Utah, in the United States.

In their statement, the nuns said, "For generations, the Sisters of Charity of New York have cared for immigrant families arriving with nothing but hope.

"While our direct service has changed, our commitment to those families endures. They deserve true examples of discipleship, not false prophets.

"In this moment, we reaffirm our mission: to walk with all people who are poor and marginalized, to welcome immigrants and refugees, to defend the dignity of LGBTQ persons, and to labor for peace in a world saturated with violence.

"These are the marks of authentic discipleship. These are the qualities of saints."

Kirk was the founder of Turning Point USA and built a massive following with "The Charlie Kirk Show", taking his conservative message to college campuses.

NBC News reported his message resonated with students "who felt culturally isolated" and appreciated Kirk's willingness to take contrary positions on topics like transgender rights and affirmative action.

Kirk's murder shocked the United States and according to NBC ratcheted up fears about the spread of political violence that has, in recent months, targeted both Democrats and Republicans.

"The 31-year-old conservative activist was eulogized by President Donald Trump and other figures at a memorial Sunday in Arizona that had some of the hallmarks of an evangelical worship service."

At the service, there were frequent references to Kirk's Christian faith as well as prayers and songs.

His widow, Erika Kirk, in a speech said she forgave her husband's accused killer.

After Dolan's TV appearance, other Catholic critics accused the cardinal of glossing over Kirk's controversial comments about Black people, gay people and others, including the late Pope Francis.

"Any reflection on the legacy of Kirk cannot gloss over the pain and suffering that Kirk inflicted on innumerable people through his harsh, divisive and combative rhetoric," John Grosso wrote in the National Catholic Reporter.
Sony has been marking the 30th anniversary of PlayStation by selling you stuff, like PS5 consoles and accessories styled after the PS1. The company has something else lined up to mark the occasion: a photography book showcasing "never-before-seen prototypes, concept sketches and design models that shaped hardware development" from the early days through to the current PS5 era.

PlayStation: The First 30 Years is a 400-page hardback book printed on heavyweight matt art stock. You better hope your coffee table is sturdy, since this book is a chonkster. It weighs in at 5kg (11lbs).

Sony worked with publisher Read-Only Memory on PlayStation: The First 30 Years. The collaborators have offered a peek at what's inside the book. It's shaping up to be a fascinating glimpse at some of the designs Sony tried for its hardware over the last few decades.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For instance, the original PlayStation could have looked much different, more directly exemplifying designer Teiyu Goto's "vision of simple squares and circles coming to life." (For what it's worth, Engadget deputy editor Nathan Ingraham said this design looked like a proton pack):

An early concept design for the original PlayStation. (Sony/Read-Only Memory)

Some of the controller concepts are pretty out there too. Some don't look all that comfortable to hold or use for extended gaming sessions. This one  which appears to be for the PS3 at the earliest, given the inclusion of the PS button  is truly bonkers. Thank goodness Goto landed on the SNES-style design with grips that has proven so successful (and comfortable) over the years:

A PlayStation controller concept. (Sony/Read-Only Memory)

The book isn't entirely limited to hardware concepts, as it features photos of Sony's design labs. The tome seems like a very cool item for PlayStation fans and those who love gaming history to have, but there might be an element of sticker shock.

The book is available via Read-Only Memory's website for $182. A deluxe edition with exposed binding, a foil-stamped clamshell presentation box and a photographic print signed by Goto and photographer Benedict Redgrove will run you $467. The fancier edition has a limited run of 1994 copies. Coincidentally, that's the year the PS1 debuted in Japan. Both editions of the book will ship in spring 2026.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Meanwhile, Sony has teamed up with Reebok for a collection of 30th anniversary sneakers styled after  you guessed it  the PS1. The kicks will be available in October and the three designs are linked to the PS1's launch regions. They include the InstaPump Fury 94 for Japan, Pump Omni Zone II for the US and Workout Plus for the UK.
Have you played around with the new iOS 26 yet? Here's how to download it on your iPhone if you haven't yet  once you do, you'll notice several new changes, including a clear design called Liquid Glass. The translucent look can be found within apps as well as your lock and home screens. (You can't turn it off, but you can reduce the transparency to make it less clear.) The overhaul is one of several big changes that come with iOS, macOS, iPadOS, watchOS and the rest of Apple's software suite  the new operating system updates for those gadgets are also available to download now.

You'll also see multiple useful additions in the Phone and Messages apps. For instance, the ability to weed out spam texts or unknown senders and an option to hold your spot on a phone call when you've been waiting for a representative to pick up. And for fun, you can now create polls in group texts. Other new improvements coming include a confirmed AirPods live translation feature, and a new bouncy animation on the passcode screen and in the Control Center.

If you're planning to upgrade your phone this year, take a look at all the new models Apple unveiled during its iPhone 17 event, from the iPhone 17 lineup (check out our review of the iPhone 17) to the all-new ultra-thin iPhone Air (take a look at our hands-on review). If you missed the keynote, you can catch up on everything Apple announced here or rewatch the full iPhone 17 launch. The company rounded out its announcements with three new Apple Watch models, as well as the brand-new AirPods Pro 3.

Advertisement Advertisement

Most newer iPhone models are eligible to download iOS 26. We've rounded up a full list of new features you'll have to check out. If you're waiting to update your phone until iOS 26.1 becomes available, note that the beta version is available now so it shouldn't be too long before it's released to the public.

What is iOS 26 and should I download iOS 18.7 first?

Instead of releasing iOS 19, Apple skipped its naming convention ahead to iOS 26. The company has decided to line up its iOS version numbers with a year-based system, similar to car model years. So while iOS and its sibling operating systems were released in 2025, they're all designated "26" to reflect the year ahead.

Apple also released iOS 18.7 alongside iOS 26 to address security issues  great news if you don't have a phone that's eligible to run the latest OS. If you're wondering which one to download first, it's really up to you. Do you want to wait for Apple to quash any bugs in iOS 26 or do you want access to all the new features everyone's talking about now?

It's official, we're moving to iOS 26. (Apple)

What is Liquid Glass design?

Let's be honest. Out of everything announced at WWDC this year, the new Liquid Glass design was the star of the show. The iPhone's home and lock screens have looked pretty much the same year after year  the last exciting thing (in my opinion) was the option to add your own aesthetic to your home screen by customizing your apps and widgets. So seeing the home and lock screens' new facelift is refreshing.

Advertisement Advertisement

So what exactly is Liquid Glass? Apple calls it a "new translucent material" since, well, the apps and widgets are clear. However, the screen can still adapt to dark and light modes, depending on surroundings. You'll also notice buttons with a new floating design in several apps, like Phone and Maps. They're designed to be less distracting than the current buttons, but are still easy to see.

While the design overhaul has proven to be controversial since its announcement, some  including Engadget's Devindra Hardawar  like the new direction, even if it's somewhat reminiscent of Microsoft's translucent Windows Vista Aero designs from nearly twenty years ago.

That said, while it was in beta mode, Apple incorporated some user feedback into the design, dialing back the transparency in at least some places. And while it will continue to evolve, Apple users won't be able to escape it: The company says Liquid Glass was designed to make all of its platforms more cohesive.

Here's a look at how the translucent aesthetic looks with the new macOS Tahoe 26 on your desktop.

How to turn iOS 26 Liquid Glass settings off

If you find you don't like the new clear look after downloading iOS 26, you can change a couple Accessibility settings, though you can't completely turn off Liquid Glass. For starters, you can reduce the liquid look by going to Settings > Accessibility > Motion > toggle on Reduce Motion.

Advertisement Advertisement

You can make your drop-down menus more opaque instead of translucent by going to Settings >Accessibility > Display & Text Size > toggle on Reduce Transparency.

You can also change your clear apps back to the way they were. Just press and hold any app on your screen and select Edit Home Screen. From here, tap Edit (top left) and Customize. You can swap out to Default, Dark or Tinted.

What are the new and notable features of iOS 26?

iOS 26 has a laundry list of new features. Among the most worthwhile:

Phone app redesign: You can now scroll through contacts, recent calls and voicemail messages all on one screen. It also comes with a new feature called Hold Assist that'll notify you when an agent comes to the phone so you can avoid the elevator music and continue on with other tasks.

Advertisement Advertisement

Live Translation in Phone, FaceTime and Messages: iOS 26 brings the ability to have a conversation via phone call, FaceTime or text message with someone who speaks another language. Live Translation uses Apple Intelligence and it will translate your conversation in real time, which results in some stop-and-go interactions in the examples Apple shared during its presentation.

Polls in group chats: Tired of sorting through what seems like hundreds of messages in your group chat? You and your friends can now create polls in group messages to decide things like which brunch spot you're eating at or whose car you're taking on a road trip.

Filtering unknown senders in Messages: If you haven't received spam texts about unpaid tolls or other citations, you're lucky. For those of us who have, those annoying messages will soon be filtered away in a separate folder.

Visual Intelligence: Similar to a reverse Google image search, this new feature will allow you to search for anything that's on your iPhone screen. For instance, if you spot a pair of shoes someone is wearing in an Instagram photo, you can screenshot it and use Visual Intelligence to find those shoes (or similar ones) online.

Advertisement Advertisement

Photos tabs are back: For anyone who's been frustrated with last year's changes to the Photos app, you'll be happy to know that your tabs are back. Library and Collections have their own separate spaces so you don't have to scroll to infinity to find what you're looking for.

Camera app updates: Navigating the Camera app should be simpler in iOS 26, as all the buttons and menus are in convenient spots  less swiping, more photo taking. Plus, there's a new feature that tells you if your lens needs to be cleaned.

FaceTime "Communication Safety" feature: A newer addition to iOS 26 appears to be the FaceTime "Communication Safety" feature that pauses communications if and when nudity is detected. The feature appears to be a child safety feature that uses on-device detection, thus obviating any cloud-based privacy issues.

New lock screen options: The iPhone lock screen is more customizable in iOS 26, with a cooler clock, 3D wallpaper effects, more widgets and better focus mode options.

Advertisement Advertisement

New alarm setting: You'll no longer be stuck with the 9-minute snooze setting in your alarms. Instead, you now have the option to change your snooze time from one to 15 minutes.

Screenshots look different: You'll notice several new features when you take a screenshot, including "highlight to search," the option to search your image on Google and ChatGPT is there for any questions you have about the image.

Preview on iOS 26: There's a new app called Preview that lets you scan documents, fill out PDF forms, as well as highlight, underline or strike through text in a PDF file. You can also remove backgrounds from images in this app.

Apple's Hold Assist will be nifty for those pesky services that put you on hold for 10 or more minutes. (Apple)

New changes with iPadOS 26

Your iPad isn't getting left behind when it comes to big updates. Here's what to look for.

Advertisement Advertisement

Multitasking and real windowing: When you download the newest update, you'll be able to have multiple apps running on your screen at the same time. Once you open an app, it'll appear on your screen as normal but you'll be able to resize and move it across your screen to make room for other apps. This feature is optional so you can turn it off if you don't like it.

Visual update: Along with the other new OSes, iPadOS 26 also has the Liquid Glass aesthetic. This new look appears on the lock and home screens, as well as the drop-down menus.

New menu bar: When you swipe down on your screen, the new menu bar will appear with options like File, Edit, Windows and more. There's also a search option if you're looking for something specific.

There's more beyond that, so be sure to check out our first impressions of iPadOS 26.

What about AirPods?

AirPods are also getting updated with iOS 26. Here are some of the more notable functions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Enhanced audio recording: Apple calls this "studio-quality" audio recording, and with it, you'll notice more clarity while in noisy environments.

Camera remote control: Using this, you can take a photo or start and stop video recording with just one press on your AirPods. When taking photos, you'll get a three-second countdown before your iPhone or iPad snaps the picture.

Live translation feature: Live translation is available on AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 with ANC when paired with iPhones running iOS 26. Apple says that when someone speaks to you in a different language, you can use your AirPods to translate what theyre saying.

Heart rate monitoring: Apple introduced new AirPods Pro 3 earbuds this month, which include heart rate monitoring. It will work with Apple's Health app and other fitness apps that track heart rates.

Siri is in a holding pattern. Apple has previously specified that its smarter voice assistant  first promised at WWDC 2024  is delayed until some point "in the coming year," so you shouldn't expect any major changes right now. But there are reports that Apple is aiming to give Siri a bigger brain transplant by basing it on third-party artificial intelligence models like OpenAI's ChatGPT or Anthropic's Claude, which could make 2026 a pivotal year. The company is also reportedly working on a "stripped-down" AI chatbot to rival ChatGPT.

Which iPhones will be able to upgrade to iOS 26?

A few iPhone models that run the current version of iOS  iPhone XR, XS and XS Max  aren't compatible with the latest upgrade. But any iPhones from 2019 or later will be eligible for iOS 26:

Advertisement Advertisement

iPhone SE (second generation or later)

iPhone 11

iPhone 11 Pro

iPhone 11 Pro Max

iPhone 12

iPhone 12 mini

iPhone 12 Pro

iPhone 12 Pro Max

iPhone 13

iPhone 13 mini

iPhone 13 Pro

iPhone 13 Pro Max

iPhone 14

iPhone 14 Plus

iPhone 14 Pro

iPhone 14 Pro Max

iPhone 15

iPhone 15 Plus

iPhone 15 Pro

iPhone 15 Pro Max

iPhone 16

iPhone 16 Plus

iPhone 16 Pro

iPhone 16 Pro Max

iPhone 16e

iPhone 17

iPhone Air

iPhone 17 Pro

iPhone 17 Pro Max

When can you download iOS 26?

iOS 26 has officially been released to the public for free as of September 15, 2025.

If you're more interested in the new Apple Intelligence features, here's everything Apple revealed for iOS, macOS and more during WWDC. Also, check out how iOS 26 screenshots could be an intriguing preview of Apple's delayed Siri rework.

Update, September 19: Added details about making Liquid Glass less clear.

Update, September 18: Added info about Engadget's iPhone 17 review.

Update, September 17: Added details and link about the new iPhone Air.

Update, September 16: Added details about modifying Liquid Glass settings, and new info about the Preview app.

Update, September 15: Noted iOS 26 is officially available for download.

Update, September 12: Noted iOS 26 is coming to eligible iPhones in just a few days, timing TBD.

Update, September 11: Added the products Apple released at its Tuesday event and noted when iOS 26 will be available to download.

Update, September 9: Noted the iPhone event is starting soon.

Update, September 8: Noted the iPhone 17 event is tomorrow.

Update, September 4: Added details about how screenshots are different in iOS 26.

Update, September 3: Noted Apple is expected to release iOS 18.7 alongside iOS 26.

Update, September 2: Added more new features coming with iOS 26.

Update, August 29: Added new section about Siri and a link to what's new with the iOS 26 Camera app.

Update, August 27: Added the official iPhone 17 event date, as well as the potential iOS 26 release.

Update, August 25: Added a rumor about new AirPods Pro having heart rate monitoring.

Update, August 22: Noted that Apple has officially stopped signing iOS 18.6.

Update, August 20: Noted that iOS 26 public beta 4 and iOS 18.6.2 are now available to download.

Update, August 18: Added details about a potential iOS 18.6 update.

Update, August 15: Added to link to what to expect at the Apple iPhone event and details about what's available in the iOS 26 screenshots editor.

Update, August 13: Added new AirPods detail spotted in the iOS 26 beta.

Update, August 11: Noted that iOS 26 developer beta has hit beta 6.

Update, August 8: Added new features coming with iPadOS 26 and AirPods.

Update, August 6: Noted the release of iOS 26 beta 5 and the new bouncy feature on passcode screen and Control Center.

Update, August 4: Noted that Apple is reportedly working on a ChatGPT rival.

Update, August 1: Added quote from Tim Cook about iOS 26.

Update, July 31: Noted that iOS 18.6 is now available.

Update, July 24: Noted the iOS 26 public beta is now available.

Update, July 3: Noted new FaceTime feature found in the developer beta.

Update, June 30: Noted ongoing iOS 18 releases, and reports that Apple is considering additional external LLMs for Siri.

Update, June 25: Noted changes added in iOS 26 beta 2.
King Charles has reportedly made up his mind that Prince Harry will never return as a working royal, insiders have revealed.

As per RadarOnline, the 76-year-old monarch is said to have made it clear in a recent meeting with Harry, which occurred at Clarence House after the king's return from Balmoral. They first met in 19 months and spent less than an hour together.

One palace source revealed the king's stance. "Charles is resolute  Harry will not be reinstated as a working royal. The king feels his son represents the very opposite of the values he wants the crown to embody. Harry attracts constant controversy, and the monarchy cannot afford that."

Another reported the same sentiment. "The notion of a part-time role has been ruled out entirely. The king has made his position crystal clear."

Prince Harry, 41, and his wife, Meghan Markle, left royal life in 2020 before moving to California.

According to FoxNews, their Netflix and Spotify productions, together with Harry's book Spare, have fueled continuing conflicts with Buckingham Palace.

As RadarOnline reports, King Charles has secretly ruled out any return to royal duties for Prince Harry, with palace insiders saying that the 76-year-old monarch believes his youngest son embodies values that contradict everything he stands for.

Royal experts note that the stance is consistent with Queen Elizabeth II's policy, which holds that royals either serve fully or not at all.

One commentator explained, "Being a working royal means total commitment. The king is convinced that letting Harry dip in and out would weaken the monarchy as a whole."

Even with the tough line, sources emphasized Charles' separation of family and obligation. As one aide put it, "Charles still values his bond with Harry as a father, but when it comes to royal duties, it simply can't happen. The monarchy has to come before personal emotions."

According to AOL, Harry's friends had wished his father's earlier-in-the-year cancer diagnosis could lead to reconciliation. Insiders, however, report that the moment has been lost.

Another said to RadarOnline, "The king made it plain  there's no return. Harry and Meghan chose their path when they stepped away, and while they can keep living in America, there will be no half-measures or return to royal duties."
Actress Zoey Deutch and comedian Jimmy Tatro are officially engaged after three years together.

The 30-year-old "Set It Up star" shared the exciting news on Instagram this past Sunday, revealing that the proposal happened three months ago.

"Three months engaged to the love of my life," Deutch wrote, alongside a sweet photo of her looking up at Tatro while showing off her engagement ring, PageSix reported.

The proposal took place on a beach, where Tatro, 33, got down on one knee. Deutch wore a bright yellow halter dress, while Tatro kept it casual in a white button-down shirt and rolled-up pants.

The setup included cozy pillows on the sand and drinks for the two to celebrate.

Deutch also posted several other photos from the special day, including one where Tatro hugs her from behind and kisses her cheek.

The couple made their relationship public on Valentine's Day in 2021. Over the years, they've shared glimpses of their lives together through birthday tributes and travel snapshots, including trips to Antarctica, Ireland, and Colorado.

Congratulations to Zoey Deutch and Jimmy Tatro on their engagement.  pic.twitter.com/5pCE9FXFHC  Glitter Magazine (@glittermagazine) September 28, 2025

Jimmy Tatro Calls Zoey Deutch His 'Favorite Person' Ahead of Engagement

In a 2022 podcast interview, Deutch described their relationship, saying, "I would be so bored if I was dating someone who agreed with me on everything... I am currently with someone who is my actual polar opposite."

The two have often joked about their differences, but it's clear they've built a strong connection.

Tatro has also shown his affection publicly. In November 2022, he called Deutch his "favorite person" in an Instagram post.

The engagement comes after a steady three-year relationship filled with shared adventures and moments of humor.

Their friends and fellow celebrities were quick to celebrate in the comments. According to US Magazine, Vanessa Hudgens wrote, "Sooo happy for yooooou," while Sarah Hyland added, "YESSSSS"

While no wedding date has been announced yet, fans are thrilled to see the couple take this next step.

Deutch, who has starred in hits like "Set It Up" and "Not Okay," and Tatro, known for "American Vandal," continue to balance their busy careers while supporting one another.
Tensions within the royal family have flared again after Prince Harry claimed that unnamed palace insiders are trying to sabotage his efforts to rebuild a relationship with his father, King Charles III.

According to a report by The Sunday Times, Buckingham Palace is said to be "saddened and perplexed" by Harry's recent public statement. Senior aides had reportedly been working quietly to improve the strained relationship between father and son.

This new fallout comes after The Sun reported that Harry's brief meeting with King Charles on September 10 felt "formal" and left the Duke of Sussex feeling like "an official visitor" instead of family.

The 54-minute meeting at Clarence House marked the first in-person conversation between the two since February 2024.

Prince Harry, however, pushed back strongly. A spokesperson for the Duke told sources, "The quotes attributed to him are pure invention fed, one can only assume, by sources intent on sabotaging any reconciliation between father and son."

The spokesperson also confirmed that Harry brought a framed photo to the meeting as a gift, but clarified, "The image did not contain the Duke and Duchess," correcting earlier reports that it was a family portrait, BBC said.

Prince Harry sabotaged everything when he allowed his wife & Meredith PR people to write this arrogant nonsense in the Guardian.







Everything else is fodder. pic.twitter.com/ATik2xGqHQ  The British Prince (@freedom_007__) September 28, 2025

Palace Insiders Disappointed by Timing of Harry's Remarks

Sources close to King Charles expressed disappointment, saying that while the King remains open to improving their relationship, any reconciliation must be handled privately.

One palace insider told sources, "Friends of the King are saddened by the tone and timing of the Duke's remarks."

Despite spending four days in the UK earlier this month, Harry's visit did not include a meeting with his brother, Prince William. The relationship between the brothers remains strained.

According to Page Six, palace aides have reiterated King Charles' firm stance that Harry cannot return as a "part-time royal."

As one source explained, "There cannot be 'half-in, half-out' members of the working royal family," a position first made clear by the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Harry and Meghan Markle stepped down from their senior royal roles in 2020 and now live in California with their two children, Archie and Lilibet.
1

La estimulacion magnetica cerebral abre una nueva via contra la demencia: el 76% de los pacientes se estabiliza
Agricultural market leader Cefetra has joined forces with solar energy specialist Noble Green Energy in the latest phase of its drive to help farmers cut costs, reduce emissions and adopt more sustainable practices.

The partnership aims to help the farming community reduce their Scope 2 and Scope 3 emissions  identified as the next big challenge in agricultural decarbonisation.

The initiative is being promoted through Cefetra Ecosystem Services, which provides landowners with financial incentives to cut their carbon footprint while supplying customers with grains and oilseeds carrying Science Based Targets initiative-eligible Scope 3 reductions.

As part of the collaboration, participating farmers will receive free on-farm energy audits to highlight saving opportunities and provide tailored advice on improving efficiency.

Those investing in solar will also benefit from free five-year operations and maintenance agreements, typically worth between five and 10 per cent of system value.

Cefetra is encouraging farmers to generate their own clean power, cutting Scope 2 emissions while easing financial pressures by reducing reliance on grid electricity.

Jason Hayward-Jones, Cefetra sustainability specialist, said: As subsidiaries of two trusted agri-food groups with more than 100 years of experience, Noble Green Energy and Cefetra Ecosystem Services share a vision for a lower-carbon future.

Together, we are combining regenerative practices and renewable energy solutions to deliver real-world impact on the farm and across the entire supply chain.

"If you are a grower focused on soil health or a farm business looking to reduce input costs and boost resilience, we can help you take control of your energy use and turn it into a powerful asset for your regenerative farming journey.

Noble Green Energy, part of Noble Foods Group, has more than 10 years experience delivering large-scale solar projects for agriculture and commercial sectors, providing a full service from feasibility and design through to installation and maintenance.

James Foggo, sales manager at Noble Green Energy, said: We are delighted to work with the Cefetra Ecosystem Services team as when farmers invest in solar, they not only reduce their own footprint they contribute to a broader movement of stakeholders across the supply chain, from field to food.

At a time when costs need to be managed, solar allows farmers to cut electricity bills and secure long-term savings, increase on-farm energy independence and support net-zero and biodiversity goals while receiving a return on investment usually within four years.

Launched in 2023, Cefetra Ecosystem Services was the first initiative to set high standards for climate-positive supply chains and reward growers for adopting sustainable practices. Participants in the first phase have already received payments.

Working with agronomy firm Soil Capital, the scheme provides farmers with toolkits, data-based action plans and financial returns, while customers benefit from reliable sustainability credentials to support their ESG goals.

With a national team of grain buyers, regional offices across England and Scotland, and an annual turnover of over 1.5bn, Cefetra is well positioned to scale the impact of this initiative.

Farmers and landowners interested in exploring the benefits of solar are encouraged to contact their Cefetra Ecosystem Services representative for details of the new partnership with Noble Green Energy.
Farmers in Wales have been warned to stay on high alert after two cases of bluetongue virus were confirmed in cattle herds in Powys and Monmouthshire.

The cases were detected on farms near Presteigne and Chepstow, with restrictions placed on both holdings while investigations and surveillance continue.

These new detections bring the total number of cases this vector season to 80, the vast majority of which  78  have been in England.

Bluetongue (BTV-3) is a notifiable exotic disease that affects ruminants such as sheep and cattle. It is spread mainly by biting midges, which are most active from April to November.

Gerwyn Williams, chair of the FUW Animal Health and Welfare Committee, described the confirmation of the virus in Wales as disappointing.

He warned that although there is no treatment, vaccines are available and farmers are strongly advised to discuss vaccination options with their vet.

He stressed the importance of early recognition. Knowing what to look for is essential. Animals infected with bluetongue become lethargic and develop crusting and erosions around their nostrils.

"There may also be drooling and swelling around the head and hooves. Both cattle and sheep may show an increase in abortions, foetal deformities and still births.

Williams urged farmers to be mindful when sourcing livestock, highlighting that while the virus is mainly spread by midges, it can also be transmitted through infected semen, embryos and the movement of animals.

He also reassured the public that bluetongue poses no risk to people. It is important to note that the virus does not affect people, or the safety of meat and dairy products, he said.

Animal health experts emphasise that vaccination still has a key role in protecting livestock from bluetongue, as outbreaks not only cause severe losses but also trigger long-lasting restrictions on animal movements and trade.

Bluetongue is a notifiable animal disease. If you suspect it you must report it immediately by calling the Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301.

In Wales, contact 0300 303 8268. In Scotland, contact your local Field Services Office. Failure to do so is an offence.
Scottish farmers have warned that Britains food supply is 'at serious risk' after the UK government scrapped a key visa route for skilled overseas farm workers.

The controversial change, introduced on 22 July 2025, removed Skilled Worker code 5111 from the Temporary Shortage Occupation List.

The decision means dairy, pig, poultry and horticultural producers can no longer recruit skilled staff from abroad to fill critical vacancies.

In Dumfries & Galloway alone, more than 25 dairy farms rely on overseas workers from countries such as the Philippines to keep operations running.

Farmers say the loss of access to those staff will hit food production, drive up consumer prices and increase reliance on imports.

Rory Christie, who runs the Dourie Farming Company near Port William with his brother Gregor, is among those raising the alarm. He also chairs the Milk Suppliers Association, SAOS and the Association of Dairy Producer Organisations.

Our family has employed local people for over 70 years, and we will always look to local labour first, he said. However, the reality is that with rural depopulation there are insufficient skilled or indeed unskilled local people to fill the gap.

"This isnt about uncontrolled migration  its about targeted, skilled people filling essential roles to keep food on our tables. The government is naive if it thinks its decision wont have a huge negative effect on food security and food prices.

Christie added: Farming isnt bypassing local workers. Were filling unavoidable gaps. Without access to overseas skills, the entire food supply chain  from farm to processor to retailer  is at risk.

His family business operates a 1,200-cow dairy herd and a 200-sow pig unit, relying on both local and international staff to supply food seven days a week.

NFU Scotland and the Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers have joined Christie in calling for an immigration policy that supports skilled, willing workers across agriculture and food processing.

Recruitment specialist Andy Backhouse of CAS Recruitment is also lobbying for change nationwide, warning that rising salary thresholds, combined with the removal of Skilled Worker code 5111, are already choking recruitment despite farmers sustained efforts to hire and train locally.

The Migration Advisory Committee itself has previously acknowledged that domestic supply is insufficient to meet demand in key sectors with sustained vacancy pressures and that employers have undertaken significant efforts to recruit locally and upskill, but persistent shortages remain.

The sector is urging ministers to take two immediate steps. First, they want Skilled Worker code 5111 to be reinstated for key farm roles, returning those jobs to the shortage list and placing them on the immigration salary list.

Second, they are calling for clarity ahead of the upcoming Migration Advisory Committee review, so that farm businesses can plan, invest and retain staff with confidence.

Farming leaders warn that without action the UK risks undermining its food security and leaving the supply chain dangerously exposed.
No one before and after him has done tragedy better than Dilip Kumar. His was a face meant to convey pain. And he did it all heroically. He smiled at grief, letting his eyes convey a sea of suffering. There was a poetic cadence to his frames. Here was a Titan, fighting against gods, standing tall against everything life threw at him. Weathering it all stoically. And in the end, when he shattered, we all broke down with him. His loss became ours. We were left in a state of catharsis as the end credits faded away. A world ended and yet all was right. The end symbolised another beginning. It's said people actually wept openly in cinema halls watching him die. Their sobs weren't for an actor. The tears were personal.









From the very beginning of his career, traces of this gift were evident. In Mela (1948), he played Mohan, a young man whose romance with Manju (Nargis) ends in heartbreak when social pressures and misunderstandings lead to her tragic death. A year later, Andaz (1949) placed him in a triangle with Nargis and Raj Kapoor. His character, Dilip, loves Nargiss Neena but loses her to another man, culminating in jealousy, bitterness and unfulfilled love.





In Jogan (1950), he was the atheist Mohan, fatally drawn to a woman (Nargis) who has renounced the world for spiritual devotion. The impossibility of their love gave the story its tragic core. That same year in Babul, he played a postmaster torn between his affections for Bela (Nargis) and Usha (Munawar Sultana). Love, sacrifice and duty lead to heartache all around.

The early 50s sealed his image as a brooding tragedian. Deedar (1951) became emblematic: Dilip played Shyamu, blinded as a child, who regains his sight only to discover that his childhood sweetheart (Nargis again) now belongs to another man. The anguish of lost love was palpable. In Sangdil (1952), based on Jane Eyre, he was Shankar, a man haunted by secrets and tormented romance, his happiness thwarted by fate. Daag (1952) showed him as Shankar once more, this time a man spiralling into alcoholism after losing love, yet still capable of moments of tenderness, especially towards his mother. Footpath (1953) shifted the terrain. Dilip played Noshu, a journalist lured into black-marketing, only to be consumed by guilt and remorse. And in Amar (1954), his role took a darker shade. Amar, a respected lawyer, gives in to a moment of weakness that ruins a womans life, leaving him devastated by guilt and moral collapse.









Then came Devdas (1955), perhaps his definitive tragic role. As Devdas Mukherjee, the man who cannot unite with his childhood love Paro (Suchitra Sen) and instead drinks himself to death, Dilip Kumar gave Indian cinema its most iconic image of despair. His collapse at Paros doorstep still lingers in the collective memory.









Even epics could not shield him from tragedy. In Mughal-e-Azam (1960), he embodied Prince Salim, who defied his father Emperor Akbar for his love, Anarkali (Madhubala). When that love is doomed by politics and power, Salims grief reverberates across the lavish historical canvas. In Gunga Jumna (1961), he played Gunga, a villager who turns into a dacoit, clashing fatally with his own brother Jumna (played by his real-life brother Nasir Khan). His death scene in the climax brought Shakespearean gravitas to Indian cinema.













Even decades later, he showed the same intensity. In Mashaal (1984), Dilip Kumar played Vinod Kumar, a principled journalist whose descent into crime comes after personal tragedy. The desperate scene where his wife dies as he begs for help, Are bhai, koi hai?, is one of the most gut-wrenching moments ever filmed.
Muhammad Yusuf Khan, better known to the world as Dilip Kumar, is more than a name in the annals of Indian cinema. He is a benchmark. Even decades after his heyday, his influence pervades acting, storytelling, performance style, and what it means to portray human complexity on screen. This article analyses the main reasons why many critics, peers, and viewers consider him the greatest and most influential actor in Indian cinema. Well explore his innovation in acting, his versatility, his cultural and aesthetic impact, and the enduring legacy he left behind.





Pioneering Realism and Method Acting in Indian Cinema

Dilip Kumar is widely regarded as Indian cinemas first method actor, introducing naturalism, emotional depth, and psychological realism at a time when theatricality dominated. His subtle pauses, underplayed emotions, and reliance on real-life observation marked a revolutionary shift in Hindi cinema.





Versatility Across Genres, Roles, and Emotions

Known as the Tragedy King for unforgettable roles in films like Devdas, he was equally brilliant in comedy (Ram Aur Shyam), romance (Andaz), and social dramas (Naya Daur). His adaptability proved that he was far more than a tragic hero, he was an actor who could redefine himself.







Command Over Dialogue, Nuance and Expressive Subtlety

Dilip Kumars genius lay in the unsaid. His nuanced delivery, mastery of tone, and ability to speak volumes through silence distinguished him from contemporaries. He embodied characters so fully that audiences saw not an actor, but a lived human being.





Cultural Impact and Influence on Subsequent Generations of Actors

Actors from Amitabh Bachchan to Shah Rukh Khan have acknowledged his influence. Films like Gunga Jumna became training grounds for later stars, especially in portraying intensity, rural realism, and conflicted morality.

Awards, Recognition and Leadership in the Golden Era

With eight Filmfare Best Actor wins, the Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, his career was showered with honours that recognised not just popularity but unparalleled craft.





Moral Character, Cultural Context, and Persona

Dilip Kumar was admired not only for his craft but for his humility, secular outlook, and integrity. He consciously avoided propaganda films, insisting cinema should tell stories that let audiences reflect, rather than preach.

Longevity, Consistency and Peak Influence

From the 1940s to the 1990s, his relevance never waned. He reinvented himself across eras and styles, sustaining excellence across five decades.

Iconic Roles and Enduring Films

Mughal-e-Azam, Devdas, Naya Daur, Ram Aur Shyam, Gunga Jumna, these films are not just classics but textbooks in performance. They continue to inspire actors and filmmakers, decades after their release.





Global and Historical Perspective

Dilip Kumars contribution can be compared to global legends like Marlon Brando or Laurence Olivier. He elevated screen acting in India the way they did in the West, setting new benchmarks for truthfulness and emotional authenticity.

Career Timeline: The Journey of a Legend

Heres a quick look at the milestones that defined Dilip Kumars remarkable career:

1944  Debut: Appeared in Jwar Bhata, marking the quiet beginning of a colossal career.

1947  Breakthrough: Jugnu gave him recognition, starring opposite Noor Jehan.

1949  Stardom: Andaz, alongside Raj Kapoor and Nargis, established him as a top star.

1950s  The Tragedy King: Films like Devdas (1955) and Daag (1952) cemented his reputation for emotionally intense roles.

1957  Social Dramas: Naya Daur highlighted his ability to embody the common man, resonating deeply with Indias post-independence audiences.

1961  Personal Masterpiece: Gunga Jumna, a film he produced and starred in, remains one of his most admired works.

1967  Reinvention: With Ram Aur Shyam, he embraced comedy and dual roles, showing remarkable range.

1970s  Selective Choices: Though films slowed, he remained relevant with character-driven parts in Sagina and Bairaag.

1980s  Resurgence: Transitioned to powerful elder statesman roles in Shakti (1982) opposite Amitabh Bachchan, and Karma (1986).

1990s  Farewell: Saudagar pitted him against an old colleague Rajkumar and together the veterans showed the world what great acting was all.abouy. His last film, Qila, marked the end of an extraordinary on-screen journey.

Post-Career Recognition: Received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award (1998), Padma Vibhushan (2015), and international honours, sealing his place in cultural history.

Dilip Kumar and the Trinity: Standing Apart from Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand

In the celebrated trinity of 1950s Hindi cinema  Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand, and Dilip Kumar  each carved out a distinct identity. Raj Kapoor was the great showman, embodying Chaplinesque optimism and the social dreamer of post-Independence India. Dev Anand, with his breezy charm and urbane sophistication, became the face of romance and style. Dilip Kumar, however, stood apart by bringing gravitas and psychological realism. His characters carried inner conflict and human fragility in a way that neither Kapoors idealism nor Anands flamboyance attempted. This depth, coupled with versatility, is why Kumar is often considered the actors actor, the craftsman among stars.





10 Filmfare Awards: A Testament to Peerless Excellence

Winning eight Filmfare Best Actor trophies was not just a statistic in Dilip Kumars career  it was a reflection of his enduring dominance and the industrys recognition of his artistry. His first win came for Daag (1952), a performance marked by its aching vulnerability. He followed it up with career-defining roles that showcased his range: the doomed romantic in Devdas (1955), the determined villager fighting industrialisation in Naya Daur (1957), and the twin personas of Ram Aur Shyam (1967), where his comic timing sparkled as brightly as his intensity. Later, he won for Leader (1964) and Kohinoor (1960), films that proved he could balance lighter, musical storytelling with gravitas. Even in the 1980s, with Shakti (1982), he reasserted his greatness, holding his own opposite Amitabh Bachchan in one of Hindi cinemas most powerful father-son dramas.

He was later awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award and then a Special Award for his contributions to Indian cinema.

These victories, spanning three decades and multiple genres, werent just awards  they were milestones that mapped his evolution and confirmed that Dilip Kumar wasnt merely admired, he was peerlessly respected by critics, contemporaries, and audiences alike.

Dilip Kumar was the greatest ever









Dilip Kumar is remembered as the greatest and most influential actor in Indian cinema because he changed the grammar of acting, inspired generations, and left behind performances that continue to resonate. His career timeline is a mirror to Indian cinemas own evolutionfrom the early years of independence to the modern era. More than a star, he was a craftsman who proved that truth, sincerity, and empathy could make cinema timeless.































Also Read: Filmfare Flashback: Looking Back at Dilip Kumar and Nutans Wins for Devdas and Seema




















What began as a special birthday announcement for Emraan Hashmi is now on the fast track to production. The team, led by director Nitin Kakkar and writer Bilal Siddiqui, has started its first shooting schedule in Bangkok. The makers shared a photo of the clapboard with the name of the film written along with, 'Mahurat shot. They captioned the post, "Tera Mera Rishta Purana bro @emraanhashmi  #ShootBegins #StayTuned #Awarapan2 #VisheshFilms #NitinKakkar #AwarapanFans #Awarapan #Fans #VisheshBhatt #emraanhashmi"



Take a look: The unwavering passion of Emraan Hashmi's fans has been heard. For nearly two decades, they've kept the legacy of the cult classic Awarapan alive, celebrating its iconic music and the unforgettable character of Shivam. And now adding to the excitement, producer Vishesh Bhatt and Emraan Hashmi have announced that the highly anticipated sequel, Awarapan 2, has officially gone on floors.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vishesh Films (@visheshfilms)

Produced by Vishesh Bhatt under the legendary Vishesh Films banner, Awarapan 2 promises to deliver the next chapter in Shivam's journey of love and redemption. Fans can expect the same grit, raw emotion, intense action, and blockbuster music that made the original a timeless classic.





This magical partnership between Emraan Hashmi and Vishesh Films has given us hit films like Jannat, Murder, Raaz, and Gangster. Awarapan 2 is set to hit theatres on April 3, 2026 .

Meanwhile, Emraan will also be seen in the film HAQ with Yami Gautam Dhar. The film takes inspiration from the landmark Shah Bano case that sparked a nationwide debate in the 1980s.

The teaser opens with glimpses of a love story but quickly shifts gears into tense courtroom exchanges. Yami plays a Muslim woman abandoned by her husband, who chooses to fight back for her rights and her childrens future. Standing across from her is Emraan, essaying the role of a sharp, celebrated lawyer, and the clash between the two drives the films emotional core.





It will be released on November 7.



Also Read: Emraan Hashmi And Disha Patani Begin Month-Long Schedule For Awarapan 2 In Bangkok


Priyanka Chopra arrived in Mumbai recently ahead of a Bvlgari event scheduled for

October 1.

Before arriving, she shared her excitement on Instagram, writing, Dubai to Mumbai, finally. At Mumbai airport, she opted for a comfortable yet stylish look in a lavender MSGM co-ord set paired with a white crop top, white sneakers, a beige tote, and tinted sunglasses. According to our sources, she is expected to attend two events in the city, one in the morning and another in the evening.

The event

on October 1

is another occasion where Priyanka, who serves as Bvlgaris global brand ambassador, will represent the luxury brand. She has maintained a long-standing association with Bvlgari, attending several international events and campaigns over the years, and is often seen wearing the brands jewellery and watches for both public appearances and private engagements.

On the professional front, Priyanka is currently shooting for SS Rajamouli's upcoming action-adventure, SSMB29, starring Mahesh Babu. She recently completed filming the second season of the web series Citadel and will next appear in the Hollywood action drama The Bluff.

Also Read: PHOTOS: Priyanka Chopra Jonas New York Clicks With Ishaan Khatter and More
Kantara Chapter 1 team presents Lord Shiva idol to Jr NTR during the film's pre-release event

Rishab Sir, a rare breed of actor-director

Rukmini Vasanth, Jr NTR, Rishab Shetty and wife Pragathi during Kantara Chapter 1 pre-release event

When the makers of Kantara Chapter 1 announced that Jr NTR would be the chief guest for the films pre-release event in Hyderabad on Sunday, it came as no surprise. In fact, given the camaraderie Jr NTR and Rishab Shetty share, it was expected that the former will grace the event. Starting from how Rishab received and welcomed Jr NTR to how they rubbed shoulders on stage, their Public Display of Affection (PDA) was evident throughout.Jr NTRs speech was filled with nostalgia! He recalls childhood memories of how his grandmother narrated him bedtime stories of Guliga and Panjurli  the demi-gods worshipped in the Tulu Nadu region of Karnataka. I became speechless when my childhood stories are being narrated on screen, he exults, describing Rishab Shetty as, a rare breed of actor-director. Jr NTR also expressed thanks to Rishab for escorting his family and getting through the darshan of Udipi Krishna temple. It was my mothers dream to go to the temple and I want to express gratitude to Rishab Sir for fulfilling her dream. Jr NTR also lauded the efforts that Kantara Chapter 1 team has put into it, exuding confidence that the film will strike a chord with the audiences.Rishab Shettys speech was one of the surprise packages of the evening as he spoke in Kannada. The actor-director expressed gratitude to the audiences for showering the film unit with love and support. Written and directed by Rishab Shetty, Kantara Chapter 1 is a prequel to the 2022 blockbuster Kantara. The story delves deeper into the origins of the mythological tradition and ancestral conflict introduced in the first instalment. Rukmini Vasanth will be seen as the leading lady in the film, which is slated for a wide release on October 2, 2025.
Actor-turned-politician Vijays request to return to Karur following the devastating stampede at his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) rally has met with caution from the state government. Officials have advised him to postpone his planned visit to hospitals and families of the deceased, citing the sensitive situation in the district.



The tragedy occurred on Saturday night in Velusamypuram during TVKs regular Saturday outreach programme. What was meant to be a campaign event ended in heartbreak, as 41 people, including eight children, lost their lives in a stampede. More than 100 were injured in the chaos. The Tamil Nadu government has announced 10 lakh as relief to each victims family, while Vijay has pledged an additional 20 lakh to the families of those who died and 2 lakh to those injured.





Political Tempers Flare After Stampede



The disaster has ignited a fierce political storm. Chief Minister M K Stalin has appointed retired Justice Aruna Jagadeesan to lead a one-person fact-finding inquiry. Stressing that blame should not be cast prematurely, Stalin noted that accountability will be determined after the report.



Still, rival camps have wasted little time in trading accusations. Critics have faulted TVK for failing to anticipate the scale of the crowd, reportedly double what was originally approved by police. Delays in Vijays arrival and poor venue arrangements have also come under the scanner. Police officials maintain that organisers ignored repeated advice to shift the rally to a safer location.



TVK, however, has accused the ruling DMK of denying them a proper venue and failing to provide adequate police support. The party has even moved the Madras High Court, demanding either a CBI or Special Investigation Team probe, arguing that an inquiry overseen by state police would not inspire confidence.





Opposition and Ruling Party in War of Words



The political fallout is widening. AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami criticised both the DMK government and Vijay, claiming stronger security arrangements could have averted the tragedy. DMK MP Kanimozhi, in a sharp response, remarked that her party cadres did not run away when the crisis unfolded a pointed jab at TVKs leadership.



Even as political parties clash, Vijays supporters remain vocal in defending him. They argue that his decision to personally meet the bereaved shows responsibility, not negligence. Yet the governments advisory makes clear that his immediate presence could inflame tensions further in an already charged atmosphere.



For now, Vijays visit to Karur stands deferred. His supporters and critics alike will be watching closely when he finally makes the journey, a moment that could prove decisive in shaping both his political image and the trajectory of Tamil Nadus already heated political landscape.







Also Read: Tragedy at Vijays Karur Rally: 39 Killed in Stampede, Relief Announced By CM




Prabhas's The Raja Saab trailer

Prabhass vintage avatar

Prabhas in The Raja Saab

Maruthi eccentric reply

The shooting of Prabhas-starrer The Raja Saab is progressing briskly. And on the other hand, fans have been eagerly waiting for the trailer to be out on Monday evening. Meanwhile, the films director Maruthi shared an exciting development regarding the horror comedy. He took to social media and shared that he had completed shooting for an introduction song for The Raja Saab. Finished Intro song shoot #TheRajasaab Just a word I love u darlingggggggggggggg, posted Maruthi. The news has certainly got the Prabhas fans going as the excitement builds up for Prabhass intro song.Prabhass introduction songs have a special place in the fans hearts! Films like Bujjigadu, Ek Niranjan and Rebel have interesting songs that elevates Prabhas valour in the films. During The Raja Saabs teaser launch in June, director Maruthi hinted at bringing back Prabhass typical old charm with the film. And shooting an introduction indicates a step in that direction. A source close to the film unit reveals, Its been many years since Prabhas had a mass and a groovy introduction song. Playing larger-than-life roles in his recent films couldnt empower the actor to do so. But the intro song in The Raja Saab satiates fans' hunger to see him in a vintage avatar.Replying to Maruthis post on social media, a fan asked the director to let Prabhas free from The Raja Saab so that he can commence shooting for director Sandeep Reddy Vangas action entertainer Spirit. Free him ASAP so that He Can join SPIRIT, wrote a fan. Surprisingly, the filmmaker replied to the post (in Telugu) stating that Prabhas knows well when to join films shooting and the kind of look to sport. He further added that its not the filmmaker or you (who posted) are the ones to decide but its Prabhas who is putting in his heart and soul will decide what and when to do. Well, the filmmakers reply has been receiving a lot of love and is going viral on social media.
HONG KONG, Sept 29, 2025 - (ACN Newswire) - Tianli International Holdings Limited ("Tianli International") and Shenzhen Yidatong Group recently held a formal signing ceremony in Hong Kong to launch their strategic partnership. The agreement, signed at 3:00 PM on September 25th, marks the official start of a high-end international school project in the heart of Laos's National Administrative Center.This collaboration represents far more than a commercial alliance. It is a key milestone in Tianli International's dual strategic priorities - "Education AI" and "China International Education Going Global" - and a concrete step in response to China's Belt and Road Education Initiative and the national blueprint China Education Modernization 2035, which calls for "a new era of educational openness."Under the agreement, the partners will jointly develop a world-class international education complex featuring two flagship schools:Premier British Boarding School, offering a complete UK curriculum and authentic boarding traditions to nurture the next generation of global leaders from Laos and neighboring countries.Lida Chinese International School, centered on China's national curriculum, this school will provide both general and academic Chinese tracks, establish a direct pathway to China's top universities, and promote two-way student exchange programs.The signing ceremony drew congratulations from the China Association for Non-Government Education, which praised the project as a pioneering example of Chinese private education expanding abroad. Guests and witnesses attended from China, Laos, France, Malaysia, Gambia, and other countries.Dr. Luo Shi, Chairman and President of Tianli International, stated that the partnership is both a pivotal milestone in the group's global strategy and a major advance in its "Education AI + China International Education Going Global" initiative. Looking ahead, the two partners plan to explore innovations in smart-campus infrastructure and AI-driven teaching, delivering high-quality, diversified education options to Southeast Asia and the wider world.Media ContactCompany: Tianli Education (HK ) LimitedContact Person: Dr. Brown FengZhaoEmail: zhaofeng@tianlieducation.comWebsite: https://www.tianlieducation.com/en/about/index.htmlSource: Tianli Education (HK) LimitedCopyright 2025 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.

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.
The AI-first engineering platform reports a 100% surge in enterprise adoption, enabling OEMs to future-proof engineering with AI-driven, human-led workflows.

Customers this year include Renault, Leonardo, GE Vernova U.S., Hanwha Ocean, Sumitomo Wiring Systems, SPAL Automotive, Kautex, and Multi-Wing.

Neural Concept, the leading AI-first engineering environment for product development, today reported significant acceleration in customer growth and platform adoption so far in 2025. Following strong demand, the company is scaling its teams across Europe, North America and Asia.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250926074655/en/

Neural Concept's Design Lab: a native co-pilot experience where engineers and designers collaborate, bringing real-time physics into the design environment.

Enterprise adoption of Neural Concept's platform has doubled since January 2025, supported by a 40% increase in upsells as clients expanded from bespoke applications to company-wide use. Customers who have scaled their use of Neural Concept this year include Renault, Leonardo, GE Vernova U.S., Hanwha Ocean, Sumitomo Wiring Systems, SPAL Automotive, Kautex, Multi-Wing and more.

Annual recurring revenue (ARR) growth now significantly outpaces burn rate, placing the Company among the most capital-efficient performers in its sector. To meet ongoing demand, operations are scaling in Switzerland, France, Germany, North America, Japan, South Korea, and India.

Embedding AI at the Core: Development in Days, Not Months

Nearly half of Neural Concept's customers are in automotive, where it has established market leadership, while rapidly acquiring clients in aerospace, defense, consumer electronics, and semiconductors, industries where innovation, performance, and sustainable design are critical.

"Engineering Intelligence is at a turning point-this technology is now powerful enough to deliver game-changing impact for customers at scale," said Dr Pierre Baque, CEO and co-founder of Neural Concept. "Industrial companies embracing this shift reach unprecedented performance levels in a fraction of the time-to-market. We help OEMs deploy AI-native workflows across design and simulation teams with a scalable toolbox and adaptable environment, enabling AI integration across the full product lifecycle without years-long integration or custom R&D."

The platform's impact is visible in high-performance engineering outcomes, boosting speed, accuracy, and accelerating innovation.

General Motors developed an AI-powered crash safety model using Neural Concept that brings rapid risk prediction into the design process, enabling faster design iteration, greater collaboration and ultimately, safer vehicles.

MAHLE announced a radically new bionic blower for automotive air conditioning systems by embedding Neural Concept's AI into their existing systems, achieving 15% more efficiency and 4 dB less noise ideal for EV platforms.

Strengthening Leadership and Expertise

Neural Concept has made strategic hires and formed an expert advisory board. Tom Becker, former Covariant GM, has joined the Company as SVP of Global Revenue, bringing his experience in AI robotics transformation and enterprise go-to-market strategy at Alteryx and KNIME.

The company's advisory board now includes:

Brett Chouinard Former Chief Product and Strategy Officer and Chief Technology Officer at Altair.

Former Chief Product and Strategy Officer and Chief Technology Officer at Altair. Francois Fleuret LLM Research Scientist at Meta and Professor of Computer Science at the University of Geneva.

LLM Research Scientist at Meta and Professor of Computer Science at the University of Geneva. Jean-Paul Roux Former Senior Vice President at EXA Corporation and VP of Sales at Dassault Systemes.

Former Senior Vice President at EXA Corporation and VP of Sales at Dassault Systemes. Florent Perrichon Chairman of Neural Concept, Business Angel in Deep Tech and CEO of Laurent Ferrier.

VC-Backed Growth: Powering Enterprise Super Engineers

Following its Series B in 2024 led by Forestay Capital and supported by D. E. Shaw Ventures Neural Concept continues strong commercial traction, efficient growth, and an expanding strategic customer base.

"Neural Concept's adoption growth shows both market demand and the team's disciplined execution," said Deborah Pittet, Partner at Forestay Capital. "They're scaling with customer needs to achieve acceleration without over-extension. By embedding AI natively into engineering workflows, Neural Concept empowers global OEMs to own their AI transformation, making this growth sustainable and industry-defining."

"We're excited to partner with Neural Concept as they scale their engineering intelligence platform globally," said Jazmin Medina, Investment Partner at D. E. Shaw Ventures. "By integrating AI seamlessly across hardware, software, and simulation, they're tackling one of the most persistent challenges in product development reducing time-to-market while maintaining quality and performance. In doing so, we believe they're delivering the kind of world-class solutions that can transform how industries innovate."

"Our platform isn't a bolt-on, it's a build-with," concludes Dr Baque. "We collaborate with engineering teams to cut design and development time from months to days, enabling faster innovation. More than a tool, we're creating the engineering intelligence layer for the world's most advanced companies. Our focus remains empowering engineers to lead the AI transformation of their industries, with full control over designing the future."

About Neural Concept

Founded in 2018, Neural Concept provides the leading AI-first engineering platform for product development. By embedding AI natively into design and simulation workflows, Neural Concept empowers engineering teams to compress development cycles from months to days, improve product performance across efficiency, safety, and sustainability, and scale AI adoption without costly, years-long integration.

The company partners with more than 70% of the world's largest OEMs and 40% of the top 100 tier-1 suppliers across automotive, aerospace, defense, consumer electronics, and semiconductors. Neural Concept was spun out of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) and is backed by global investors, including Forestay Capital and D. E. Shaw Ventures.

For more information, visit www.neuralconcept.com.

Watch Neural Concept's Design Lab for Engineering Intelligence in action LINK

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250926074655/en/

Contacts:

Media contact

ThoughtLDR for Neural Concept

neuralconcept@thoughtldr.com

+44 (0)7553600128
VANCOUVER,BC / ACCESS Newswire / September 29, 2025 / BioNxt Solutions Inc. ("BioNxt" or the "Company") (CSE:BNXT)(OTCQB:BNXTF)(FSE:BXT), a bioscience company specializing in innovative drug delivery technologies, is pleased to provide an update on its proprietary Cladribine sublingual thin-film drug reformulation program (BNT23001), a next-generation delivery platform designed to improve bioavailability, patient adherence, and therapeutic outcomes in the treatment of neurological disorders, primarily multiple sclerosis (MS).

Cladribine Sublingual Thin-Film Program: Manufacturing and Development Milestones

BioNxt has successfully completed key technology transfers to its European contract development and manufacturing organization ("CDMO"), including both the process transfer and the analytical method transfer. These achievements represent critical steps toward ensuring reproducibility, scalability, and regulatory compliance in the production of the Company's pharmaceutical-grade sublingual thin-film dosage forms.

In parallel, BioNxt confirms that the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) for Cladribine has been ordered and is currently in transit to the CDMO for use in the manufacturing of a pilot batch. This batch will be used to produce clinical-grade thin film products, advancing the program toward its next preclinical and clinical phases.

The Company is now preparing for the optimization and validation of analytical methods, together with the final refinement of product and process parameters at its CDMO partner. These activities will enable the production of sublingual thin-film samples for a large-animal (pig) bioavailability study, scheduled to begin in October 2025. Pigs are widely recognized as a translationally relevant model for human gastrointestinal absorption, and this study is specifically designed to confirm and strengthen the highly promising bioavailability results demonstrated in earlier animal studies. A successful outcome will provide robust, clinically translatable evidence of the formulation's performance, establishing the final preclinical validation step and dosage optimization prior to human evaluation.

Building on this foundation, BioNxt plans to manufacture a pilot batch for a first-in-human clinical pilot study, targeted for Q1 2026. This milestone trial would represent a major inflection point in the clinical development of BioNxt's Cladribine sublingual reformulation.

Clinical and Market Impact

BioNxt's Cladribine sublingual thin-film program, BNT23001, represents a novel approach to oral drug delivery in neurological disease, with the potential to improve patient outcomes through enhanced pharmacokinetics and ease of administration. The program also complements BioNxt's growing portfolio of proprietary sublingual thin-film technologies targeting high-value pharmaceutical markets.

"With both our development program and global patent strategy advancing on schedule, BioNxt is steadily building the foundation for clinical translation and commercial success," said Hugh Rogers, CEO of BioNxt. "Cladribine represents a powerful therapeutic option with untapped potential, and our sublingual thin-film reformulation may unlock significant advantages in terms of bioavailability, patient adherence, and market accessibility. The progress we are reporting today reinforces our conviction in the program's importance as a core pillar of BioNxt's commercialization pipeline."

Next Steps

Completion of analytical optimization and validation at the European CDMO;

Final process and product optimization, followed by clinical sample production;

Initiation of a large-animal bioavailability study in October 2025, expected to be the final preclinical study before human trials;

Preparation for the manufacture of clinical samples for the first-in-human clinical study in Q1 2026; and

Ongoing patent nationalizations and accelerated US patent review under Track One.

About BioNxt Solutions Inc.

BioNxt Solutions Inc. is a bioscience innovator focused on next-generation drug delivery platforms, diagnostic screening systems, and active pharmaceutical ingredient development. Its proprietary platforms include sublingual thin films, transdermal patches, oral tablets, and a new targeted chemotherapy platform designed to deliver cancer drugs directly to tumors while reducing side effects.

With research and development operations in North America and Europe, BioNxt is advancing regulatory approvals and commercialization efforts, primarily focused on European markets. BioNxt is committed to improving healthcare by delivering precise, patient-centric solutions that enhance treatment outcomes worldwide.

BioNxt is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange: BNXT, OTC Markets: BNXTF and trades in Germany under WKN: A3D1K3. To learn more about BioNxt, please visit www.bionxt.com.

Investor Relations & Media Contact

Hugh Rogers, Co-Founder, CEO and Director

Email: investor.relations@bionxt.com

Phone: +1 604.250.6162

Web: www.bionxt.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bionxt-solutions

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bionxt

Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking information"). Such information may include, but is not limited to, statements regarding: the anticipated grant, scope, and timing of European, Eurasian, and other international patent rights; the Company's plans for additional national filings; the development, clinical evaluation, regulatory approval, and commercialization of the Company's Cladribine sublingual thin-film (BNT23001) for multiple sclerosis; the strategic importance of intellectual property protection; the timing, cost, and outcome of preclinical and clinical studies; and the potential application of BioNxt's sublingual thin-film drug delivery platform across additional therapeutic areas.

Forward-looking information is based on management's current expectations, assumptions, estimates, and projections as of the date of this press release. Such statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control, that could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: outcomes of patent examination and prosecution processes; changes in regulatory requirements or legal frameworks; the results, timing, and costs of preclinical and clinical studies; scalability and reproducibility of manufacturing processes; the availability of strategic partnerships and funding; and broader economic, financial, or geopolitical factors.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Although the Company believes the expectations and assumptions underlying such information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Except as required under applicable securities laws, BioNxt undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

SOURCE: BioNxt Solutions Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/healthcare-and-pharmaceutical/bionxt-reports-sublingual-cladribine-multiple-sclerosis-drug-mileston-1079171
Ryu, a veteran entrepreneur and startup advisor, to focus on software and AI

Battery Ventures, a global, technology-focused investment firm, announced that longtime entrepreneur and tech operator Marcus Ryu has been named a general partner.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250929195338/en/

Marcus Ryu has been named a general partner at Battery Ventures.

Ryu co-founded insurance technology leader Guidewire Software in 2001 and served as its CEO through its IPO in 2012 until 2019. Guidewire today has annual revenues of more than $1.2 billion and a market capitalization of nearly $20 billion, as of this month. Since joining Battery in 2022, Ryu has focused on investing in vertical enterprise-application and AI companies, as well as financial and insurance technology.

"Co-founding and leading my company for almost two decades was the defining experience of my career. It is deeply rewarding for me to advise and learn from entrepreneurs in today's startup environment, which is much more supportive of founders than mine was but is also more competitive on every dimension," said Ryu. "It is a privilege to join the general partnership at Battery, whose combination of fundamental market analysis and founder-first values makes it the ideal professional home for me in this era."

Ryu's investments at Battery include AI-powered, video-security company Coram AI; hyperexponential, a U.K.-based firm providing an AI-powered pricing and underwriting platform for insurers and re-insurers; Descartes Underwriting, a provider of parametric insurance for natural catastrophe and emerging risks; and Fairmatic, a provider of AI-powered insurance for vehicle fleets.

Previously, Ryu served on the boards of technology companies MuleSoft, Opower, Clearwater Analytics, Cornerstone OnDemand and Procore Technologies, as well as serving as Guidewire's chairman. He holds an A.B. from Princeton University with highest honors and has a B.Phil. in philosophy from New College, Oxford University, which he attended as a Marshall Scholar.

"Very few investors have traversed the entire journey from founder to IPO to public-company CEO, which affords Marcus a unique combination of commercial instincts and founder empathy," said Battery General Partner Neeraj Agrawal. "Founders gravitate to him because he understands the intellectual and emotional demands of building a start-up into a hugely successful enterprise. Battery was fortunate to be an investor in Guidewire and see Marcus' skills in action first-hand, and now we're extremely enthusiastic to promote him to general partner. He is sure to be an inspiring influence on the next generation of entrepreneurs backed by Battery."

* A full list of Battery's investments and exits can be found here

About Battery Ventures

Battery partners with exceptional founders and management teams developing category-defining businesses in markets including software and services, enterprise infrastructure and AI, healthcare IT and industrial technology and life-science tools. Founded in 1983, the firm backs companies at all stages, ranging from seed and early to growth and buyout, and invests globally from offices in Boston, San Francisco, Menlo Park, New York, London, and Tel Aviv. Follow the firm on X @BatteryVentures, visit our website at www.battery.com and find a full list of Battery's portfolio companies here.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250929195338/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact:

Rebecca Buckman

Marketing Partner

Battery Ventures

becky@battery.com
New smart commuter shuttle launches at Babcock's Devonport facility in Plymouth to support its workforce and help to ease road congestion

LONDON and PLYMOUTH, United Kingdom, Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Defence company, Babcock International Group (Babcock), has partnered with Zeelo, the category-leading Transportation-as-a-Service (TaaS) provider, to launch a new, sustainable commuter shuttle network designed to enhance workforce access at its Devonport site with the aim of reducing local traffic congestion.

This innovative initiative-known as MoveSmart-will initially serve high-density commuter corridors including Plymouth, Ivybridge, and Saltash, operating from 05:00 to 17:00 and available through a dedicated Zeelo mobile app. The scalable service has been designed with flexibility in mind and can be dynamically adapted to meet evolving demand and shift patterns across the site.

"By providing a sustainable transport shuttle service, we're ensuring our colleagues have a more efficient way to travel to and from site, so they can carry out their essential work supporting UK defence," said John Gane, Babcock's Devonport Managing Director.

"It will also benefit the wider community with the aim of taking more cars off local roads. Alongside our support to Team Plymouth, these investments demonstrate the defence dividend in action - making a positive, lasting impact for both our employees and the city."

Since its founding in the UK in 2016, Zeelo has developed partnerships with the leading employers in the UK, providing sustainable and impactful commuting services for companies such as Amazon, Tesco and Fidelity International. The MoveSmart program, powered by Zeelo, delivers a fully managed, data-driven solution that includes:

Live tracking, reservations, and rider support through Zeelo's platform

through Zeelo's platform AI-powered routing , dynamically optimized for ridership and cost

, dynamically optimized for ridership and cost Flexible vehicle deployment (16-50 seaters) tailored to Babcock's demand clusters

(16-50 seaters) tailored to Babcock's demand clusters 24/7 customer and driver support , with proactive issue resolution

, with proactive issue resolution Carbon-neutral service with full emissions offset and future EV transition planning



The service is structured to integrate seamlessly with internal transport systems and provides detailed usage and performance reporting, enabling Babcock to maximise the shuttle service's full potential. All technology, customer service, and vehicle operations are managed by Zeelo to minimize internal workload and liability.

With 11% of the Plymouth population employed by Babcock, and over 240 apprentices onboarded this year, the service plays a vital role in enhancing job accessibility and delivering long-term workforce resilience. The programme directly supports Babcock's commitment to employee satisfaction, operational efficiency, and environmental stewardship-while also contributing to sustainable growth in line with the Team Plymouth vision.

"This is a modern transport model designed for complex workforces," said Sam Ryan, Co-Founder and CEO of Zeelo. "Babcock and Zeelo are setting the standard for employer-led commuting solutions that put people first-driving sustainability, performance, and recruitment outcomes."

Zeelo continues to expand its operations globally across the UK, Ireland and United States, and recently announced its Series B funding to continue its growth, powering 7 million rides in the last year alone.

About Babcock

Babcock is a FTSE 100 international defence company, operating in the UK, Australasia, Canada, France, and South Africa with exports to additional markets. It delivers complex support and product solutions to enhance its customers' defence capabilities and critical assets. Babcock is driven by its purpose: to create a safe and secure world, together. Learn more at www.babcockinternational.com.

About Zeelo

Zeelo is a category-leading Transportation-as-a-Service (TaaS) provider delivering mission-critical mobility solutions for employees and students across the US and UK & Ireland. Focused on corporations and schools, Zeelo enables safe, reliable, and sustainable transportation through its proprietary, asset-light technology platform.

Leveraging a network of 650+ vetted third-party operator partners and access to over 10,000 vehicles, Zeelo offers fully managed, end-to-end shuttle services that reduce transportation costs, improve employee retention and access, and enhance daily commutes. Its AI-powered virtual transportation management system optimizes routes, streamlines operations, and delivers a seamless rider experience.

Zeelo's solutions minimize single-occupancy vehicle usage and actively support the electrification of shuttle fleets, driving measurable environmental impact while empowering communities through improved access to work and education. Learn more at www.zeelo.co .

Enquires

Zeelo - press@zeelo.co

Babcock - ?? Devonport.communications@babcockinternational.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/21fd29dd-8a22-4ec7-8ff2-9a6acc8b5f9f
Three innovations in data automation: Agentic Rule Builder, AI-Native Data prep and T+0 Assurance Controls

As regulatory deadlines accelerate and data volumes explode, Duco is arming financial institutions with smarter, faster and easier ways to automate. Today Duco introduces AI-powered rules that anyone can build, automated ingestion for any file format, and real time assurance for T+1 settlement readiness in the UK/EU.

Agentic Rule Builder

Duco's new Agentic Rule Builder is the next step in no-code automation. The company's Natural Rule Language (NRL) already allowed non-coders to create rules in plain English ('if X is true then set Y'). But as data and processes grow more complex, even no-code systems require training and become harder to manage.

The Agentic Rule Builder addresses this by letting users describe actions and outcomes the way they would to a colleague. Using a plain English prompt, they can generate and refine NRL rules, edit specific sections, and apply consistent changes across multiple rules.

The tool's agents map a plan for the rule, build and validate it, and render it in the interface for human validation and full transparency. Early client testing suggests it can cut rule-creation time by half and speed up automation by 60-75%, speeding time to market.

Enhanced AI-Native Data Prep

Building on AIDP Adaptive Intelligent Document Processing (which intelligently extracts information from PDFs, images, Word files and emails) this new form of processing learns from content and context, increasing resiliency. Traditional parsing doesn't take context into account.

Duco has enhanced AI-Native data prep by extending flexible ingestion, enabling low training extraction for faster set up and incorporating Agentic rule builder into the solution. This enables clients to automate more, increase straight through processing, and achieve greater accuracy than with traditional OCR/IDP tools or LLMs alone. All integrated in the Duco platform, eliminating the need for multiple tools in clients' tech stacks.

"AI-powered automation is moving beyond task support to shape how businesses operate," said Justin Hingorani, Managing Director, AI and Data Prep. "This evolution is not just about speed or efficiency. It is about empowering organisations to respond to client needs and market challenges with agility and confidence. Intelligent automation and industry know-how turn complex post-trade processes into simple, transparent workflows. OCR and IDP were built for static formats. They break the moment data shifts. Our AI-native approach adapts in real time, making it the only sustainable path forward."

T+0 Assurance Controls for Settlement Evolution

To meet the challenges of T+1 settlement, Duco is launching the only truly cloud-native, AI-native, no code T+0 assurance controls for clients in the UK and Europe. These controls, developed for the North America move to T+1 settlement in 2024, enable clients to move to intra-day, T+0 reconciliations and exception management.

Evidence from last year's transition shows increasing headcount in some cases by as much as 18% doesn't have a significant impact on fail rates. And with a more than 80% reduction in operational post-trade processing times, manual work even as the exception will be untenable. Intra-day reconciliation and exception management will have to become the norm. T+1 requires firms to improve automation capabilities that will support a T+0 operating model.

"The move to T+1 settlement is one of the most significant operational shifts our industry has faced in decades," said Steve Walsh, Managing Director, Reconciliation. "We're using critical lessons from North America to ensure the transition in Europe does not require additional headcount. Instead by cutting reconciliation time, firms also create a scalable, future-proof operating model for post-trade processing."

James Maxfield, Chief Product Officer at Duco, said: "We are moving into an era where automation is not just faster or easier, but smarter and adaptive. Today, our AI agents support rule creation and reconciliation. Soon, they'll help with anomaly detection, exception management and orchestration of entire processes always with human oversight where clients need it. This is how firms can build resilience, cut complexity and stay ahead of compressed regulatory deadlines."

About Duco

Duco is empowering financial services firms to break the bad data cycle that has held the industry back for decades.

We do this with a combination of proprietary technique, innovative cloud computing, no-code and artificial intelligence technology, and deep subject matter expertise.

Our AI-powered operational data automation platform gives firms the ability to unlock full end-to-end reconciliation and automation of their data, regardless of source, format or structure.

By partnering with the industry's leading firms, we are helping to rethink operating models, increase efficiency, strengthen governance and regulatory compliance, reduce risk, streamline processes and build the workforce of the future.

Over 10,000 users across 30+ countries process billions of data records every week using the platform.

Duco is headquartered in London, with offices in New York, Wroclaw, Antwerp and Singapore. Customers include global banks, investment managers, exchanges and insurance firms, such as CIBC, ING and Man Group. For more information go to www.du.co.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250929875030/en/

Contacts:

Greg Noble

greg.noble@cognitomedia.com

Senior Account Executive, Cognito Media

+447983268447
JAKARTA, Indonesia, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Bel Group, a global leader in branded cheese and healthy snacking, has deepened its bond with consumers across Southeast Asia, with The Laughing Cow earning multiple distinguished awards in 2025 that celebrate both trust and innovation. The accolades highlight the brand's growing influence among families and its excellence in quality and consumer engagement across the region.

The recognitions include Parents' Choice Awards 2025 (Malaysia) - Best Cheese Brand for Families; BabyTalk + MamaPapa Readers' Choice Awards 2025 (Malaysia) - Best Cheese Wedges for Kids; Asia Excellence Awards 2025 - Best Digital Marketing Campaign for The Laughing Cow South East Asia and Asia Excellence Awards 2025 - Best Food & Grocery Brand of the Year (Dairy Products) for The Laughing Cow Creamy Cheese Triangles, South East Asia.

With consumer-voted awards in Malaysia and regional industry recognition across Southeast Asia, The Laughing Cow continues to reinforce its role as a trusted household brand, combining its rich legacy with modern relevance. "These awards not only reflect the trust and love families have for The Laughing Cow, but also the dedication of our teams across the region," said Alamjit Singh Sekhon, General Manager, Bel South East Asia. "Guided by Bel's global philosophy of providing accessible, nutritious, and enjoyable food 'for all, for good,' we are inspired to keep innovating and growing with purpose in Southeast Asia."

The Laughing Cow has always upheld a commitment to both nutrition and local values. With a century-long legacy of bringing nutritious, enjoyable products to families globally, Bel Group maintains rigorous quality and safety standards. Two portions of The Laughing Cow Creamy Cheese Triangles provide the same amount of calcium as one glass of milk (170 ml) (Source: HealthHub Singapore). The brand in Southeast Asia only uses high-quality dairy ingredients, with no vegetable oil, no added preservatives, and no artificial colours, making it a protein- and calcium-rich snack that is both nutritious and accessible for children and families.

Bel's iconic portfolio includes The Laughing Cow Creamy Cheese Triangles, Belcube, Cheez Dippers, and other popular Bel brands such as Babybel and Kiri. These products are available at leading supermarkets, hypermarkets, stores, as well as popular e-commerce platforms, along with your neighbourhood mom-and-pop stores in Southeast Asia.



As Bel continues its journey in Southeast Asia, its vision remains clear: to shape the future of healthy snacking while making food joyful, inclusive, and sustainable for all, for good.

About Bel

The Bel Group stands as one of the global leaders in branded cheese and healthy snacking. With a diverse portfolio, including The Laughing Cow, Kiri, Babybel, Boursin, Nurishh, Pom'Potes, GoGo squeeZ, and other local brands, they achieved 3.6 billion in sales in 2023. Committed to providing healthier and more responsible food for all, the group boasts 10,902 employees across 30 production sites, distributing its products to nearly 120 countries.

The Laughing Cow Cheese has a rich legacy spanning over a century, promoting happiness and laughter among children and families with its nutritious range of cheese products, adding a daily dose of joy.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2784301/The_Laughing_Cow_Bel_Group.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2579785/Bel_Group_Logo.jpg

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/the-laughing-cow-wins-big-bel-group-strengthens-regional-presence-with-multiple-awards-across-southeast-asia-302569398.html
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 29, 2025) - BP Silver Corp. (TSXV: BPAG) (formerly Farstarcap Investment Corp.) ("BP Silver" or the "Company") announces that its common shares will commence trading today on the TSX Venture Exchange at market open, September 29, 2025, under the symbol "BPAG".

Tim Shearcroft, CEO of BP Silver, commented: "This first day of trading marks an exciting milestone for BP Silver and the beginning of a new chapter for our Company. With $2.5 million raised through a September private placement, we are well-positioned to advance our flagship Cosuno Project in Bolivia. A Phase 1 drill program is set to begin in October 2025, focusing on the most promising targets identified to date. This milestone reflects the commitment of our team and lays the foundation to deliver long-term value for our shareholders while responsibly unlocking the full potential of the Cosuno property."

On September 25, 2025, BP Silver announced the completion of its qualifying transaction ("Qualifying Transaction") with BP Exploration Corp., establishing the Company as a Tier 2 Mining issuer focused on advancing the Cosuno silver property in Bolivia. For additional information on the Qualifying Transaction, please see the Company's news releases dated March 14, 2025, August 21, 2025, and September 25, 2025.

About BP Silver Corp.

BP Silver Corp. is a Canadian exploration company focused on advancing high-grade silver projects in Bolivia. The Company's flagship asset, the Cosuno Project, is strategically located in the prolific Bolivian silver belt, a region with a rich mining history and significant untapped discovery potential. With a strong technical team and a disciplined exploration strategy, BP Silver is positioned to unlock value for its shareholders through the discovery and development of world-class silver deposits.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information:

Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they are not guarantees of future performance. The Company 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 the Company's control. Such factors include, among other things: future prices and the supply of silver and other precious and other metals; future demand for silver and other valuable metals; inability to raise the money necessary to incur the expenditures required to retain and advance the property; environmental liabilities (known and unknown); general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; results of exploration programs; risks of the mineral exploration industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals; and failure to obtain necessary regulatory or shareholder approvals. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

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. THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE HAS IN NO WAY PASSED UPON THE MERITS OF THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND HAS NEITHER APPROVED NOR DISAPPROVED THE CONTENTS OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/268291

SOURCE: BP Silver Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 29, 2025) - TNR Gold Corp. (TSXV: TNR) ("TNR", "TNR Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that McEwen Mining Inc. ("McEwen Mining") has provided an update on the Los Azules copper, gold and silver project in San Juan, Argentina. TNR holds a 0.4% net smelter returns royalty ("NSR Royalty") (of which 0.04% of the 0.4% NSR Royalty is held on behalf of a shareholder) on the Los Azules Copper Project. The Los Azules project is held by McEwen Copper Inc. ("McEwen Copper"), a subsidiary of McEwen Mining.

A news release issued by McEwen Mining on August 7, 2025, stated:

"McEwen Copper - Los Azules Project, Argentina (46.4% ownership and 1.25% NSR)

Projects Update

Invested $15.6 million in Q2, advancing towards publishing a Feasibility Study in late Q3 2025.

Feasibility Study progressing Cost estimates and hydrogeological modelling being completed to current market conditions. Engineering focusing on reducing upfront capital through layout and infrastructure optimization. Q3 2025 priorities: finalizing geotechnical inputs, completing the optimized mine schedule, life-of-mine production profile, capital and operating cost estimates, and the heap leach design.

Submitted RIGI application to secure significant tax and regulatory benefits Application submitted on February 11, 2025. On July 11, 2025, a revised application was submitted.



Exploration & Development

Completed geotechnical, hydrogeological, and condemnation drilling for the Feasibility Study.



Finalizing updated resource model.



Exploration has generated three other nearby copper targets which will be drilled in late fall of 2025."

A news release issued by McEwen Mining on September 24, 2025, stated:

"The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, and McEwen Copper Inc., a subsidiary of McEwen Inc. , have signed a collaboration agreement to support aligning the Los Azules copper project with IFC's environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards for potential future debt and equity financing, an important milestone in McEwen Copper's broader financing strategy for the project.

Situated in Argentina's San Juan province, Los Azules is one of the world's largest undeveloped copper deposits. The project has secured Environmental Impact Declaration (EIA) approval, and its feasibility study is slated for completion by October 2025. McEwen Copper has also applied for Argentina's Large Investment Incentive Regime (RIGI). Upon completion of final engineering and securing financing, Los Azules is positioned to begin construction, underscoring the company's dedication to sustainable mining practices that drive economic growth, job creation, and social development in San Juan and beyond.

The agreement emphasizes integrating IFC's Performance Standards on Environmental and Social Sustainability into Los Azules' development. This initiative is intended to de-risk the project, align it with the criteria required for international investors, and support Argentina's mining sector by promoting greater transparency, reduced carbon emissions, and community benefits.

'We are pleased to be collaborating with McEwen Copper on the Los Azules project, to help it align with IFC Performance Standards and lay the ground for international project financing," stated Manuela Adl, IFC's Senior Country Manager for Argentina. 'Through this project, IFC also seeks to encourage greater investment in Argentina's mining sector and support its sustainable development. The World Bank Group is supporting Argentina to unlock its mining and metals industry potential in a sustainable way, maximize positive impacts for the country, create jobs, and support local economic development, including FX revenues.'

'This IFC collaboration is a game-changer for Los Azules-it will help us align with top-tier sustainability standards while paving the way for IFC as a potential lead lender and equity partner, driving value for shareholders and Argentina alike,' commented Rob McEwen, Chairman of McEwen Inc.

'We're excited to collaborate with IFC experts to embed IFC's Performance Standards into our design and operations. This proactive ESG integration, paired with a solid financing framework, bolsters Los Azules' path to success and elevates its appeal to global investors,' added Michael Meding, VP & General Manager of McEwen Copper.

About IFC

IFC - a member of the World Bank Group - is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. Operating in over 100 countries, IFC leverages capital, expertise, and influence to foster markets and opportunities in developing nations. In fiscal year 2025, IFC committed a record $71.7 billion to private companies and financial institutions, mobilizing private capital for poverty reduction on a livable planet.

About McEwen Inc.

McEwen Inc. is a gold and silver producer with operations in the Americas: Nevada (USA), Canada, Mexico, and Argentina. In addition, the company holds 46.4% of McEwen Copper, developer of the advanced-stage Los Azules copper project. Los Azules aims to be Argentina's first regenerative copper mine, targeting carbon neutrality by 2038. A June 2023 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) estimates a $2.7 billion after-tax NPV (8%) at $3.75/lb Cu, a 27-year mine life, and copper resources of 10.9 billion lbs at 0.40% Cu Indicated plus 26.7 billion lbs at 0.31% Cu Inferred.

About McEwen Copper

McEwen Copper Inc. owns 100% of the Los Azules copper project in San Juan, Argentina, and the Elder Creek copper-gold project in Nevada, USA. Ranked among the top 10 undeveloped copper deposits globally by Mining Intelligence (2022), Los Azules is being designed to be distinctly different from conventional copper mines by consuming significantly less water, emitting much lower carbon, and operating on 100% renewable electricity."

For further details, visit the McEwen Mining website.

The McEwen Mining press releases appear to be reviewed and verified by a Qualified Person (as that term is defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects) and the procedures, methodology and key assumptions disclosed therein are those adopted and consistently applied in the mining industry, but no Qualified Person engaged by TNR has done sufficient work to analyze, interpret, classify or verify McEwen Mining's information to determine the current mineral resource or other information referred to in its press releases. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned in placing any reliance on the disclosures therein.

Kirill Klip stated, "We are pleased that McEwen Copper has reached this major milestone after it secured an environmental permit for the construction and operation of the Los Azules copper project. Our Company has repaid our investment loan in full, and we believe that the recent market prices of our shares do not properly reflect the underlying value of TNR's assets. Our transformation from a project generation junior mining company into a cashflow-generating royalty company may bring the necessary catalyst for improved market valuation of our assets. The potential admission to the Regime of Incentives for Investment (RIGI) could move the Los Azules copper project development closer to a construction decision."

Significant developments on the advancement of the Los Azules project towards the feasibility stage have led to increased Rio Tinto and Stellantis holdings in McEwen Copper, strategic partners of this large copper, gold and silver project. In 2023, Stellantis invested an aggregate ARS $72 billion. An additional US $100 million in total was invested by Rio Tinto's Venture Nuton in McEwen Copper. TNR Gold's vision is aligned with the leaders of innovation among automakers like Stellantis, whose aim is to decarbonize mobility, and mining industry leaders such as Rob McEwen, whose vision is 'to build a mine for the future, based on regenerative principles that can achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2038'.

Together with Nuton, McEwen Copper is exploring new technologies that save energy, water, time and capital, advancing Los Azules towards the goal of leading environmental performance. The involvement of Rio Tinto, with its innovative technology, may also accelerate realizing the potential of the Los Azules project.

The green energy rEVolution relies on the supply of critical metals like copper. Delivering 'green copper' to Argentina and the world will contribute to the clean energy transition and electrification of transportation and energy industries.

The new president of Argentina has introduced important government policies aimed at supporting business and unlocking the country's economic potential. Mining in Argentina is being recognized by the government as an integral part of its economic development plan, providing jobs and enriching local communities.

The Los Azules Project preliminary economic assessment (PEA) results highlight the potential to create a robust leach project while reducing the environmental footprint, and greater environmental and social stewardship sets the project apart from other potential mine developments.

It's also encouraging to see an updated independent mineral resource estimate that has increased the resource estimate significantly. Infill drilling during the 2023-24 season upgraded the resource categories, validated the geological model and confirmed the high-grade zone. Resource drilling for the Los Azules feasibility study is now complete, and the study appears to be on track for delivery in 2025.

Los Azules was ranked in the top ten largest undeveloped copper deposits in the world by Mining Intelligence (2022). TNR Gold does not have to contribute any capital for the development of the Los Azules Project. The essence of our business model is to have industry leaders like McEwen Mining as operators on the projects that will potentially generate royalty cashflows to contribute significant value for our shareholders."

ABOUT TNR GOLD CORP.

TNR Gold Corp. is working to become the green energy metals royalty and gold company.

Our business model provides a unique entry point in the creation of supply chains for critical materials like energy metals that are powering the energy rEVolution, and the gold industry that is providing a hedge for this stage of the economic cycle.

Our portfolio provides a unique combination of assets with exposure to multiple aspects of the mining cycle: the power of blue-sky discovery and important partnerships with industry leaders as operators on the projects that will potentially generate royalty cashflows to contribute significant value for our shareholders.

Over the past twenty-nine years, TNR, through its lead generator business model, has been successful in generating high-quality global exploration projects. With the Company's expertise, resources and industry network, the potential of the Mariana Lithium Project and Los Azules Copper Project in Argentina, among many others, have been recognized.

TNR holds a 1.5% NSR royalty on the Mariana Lithium Project in Argentina, of which 0.15% of such NSR royalty is held on behalf of a shareholder of the Company. Ganfeng Lithium's subsidiary, Litio Minera Argentina ("LMA"), has the right to repurchase 1.0% of the NSR royalty on the Mariana Project, of which 0.9% is the Company's NSR royalty interest. The Company would receive CAN$900,000, and its shareholder would receive CAN$100,000 on the repurchase by LMA, resulting in TNR holding a 0.45% NSR royalty and its shareholder holding a 0.05% NSR royalty.

The Mariana Lithium Project is 100% owned by Ganfeng Lithium. The Mariana Lithium Project has been approved by the Argentina provincial government of Salta for an environmental impact report. Ganfeng officially inaugurated Mariana Lithium's start of production at a 20,000 tons-per-annum lithium chloride plant on February 12, 2025.

TNR Gold also holds a 0.4% NSR royalty on the Los Azules Copper Project, of which 0.04% of the 0.4% NSR royalty is held on behalf of a shareholder of the Company. The Los Azules Copper Project is being developed by McEwen Mining.

TNR also holds a 7% NPR on the Batidero I and II properties of the Josemaria Project that is being developed by the joint-venture between Lundin Mining and BHP.

TNR provides significant exposure to gold through its 90% holding in the Shotgun Gold porphyry project in Alaska. The project is located in Southwestern Alaska near the Donlin Gold project, which is being developed by Novagold Resources. The Company's strategy with the Shotgun Gold Project is to attract a joint venture partnership with a major gold mining company. The Company is actively introducing the project to interested parties.

At its core, TNR provides a wide scope of exposure to gold, copper, silver and lithium through its holdings in Alaska (the Shotgun Gold porphyry project) and royalty holdings in Argentina (the Mariana Lithium project, the Los Azules Copper Project and the Batidero I & II properties of the Josemaria Project), and is committed to the continued generation of in-demand projects, while diversifying its markets and building shareholder value.

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

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Except for statements of historical fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "will", "could" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "could" occur, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Specifically, forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements made in relation to: TNR's corporate objectives and future potential transactions being considered by the Special Committee and the Board, and the benefit that TNR's shareholders may derive from same; TNR's future receipt of cash flows from its royalty holdings and the subsequent contribution of significant value to its shareholders; the possible growth of TNR's value; future revenue and increased valuations of TNR's royalty holdings caused by potential strategic alliances with major mining companies and investment institutions; the use of potential future cash flows to fund a normal course issuer bid; the potential spin-out of the Shotgun Gold Project; future investment of substantial capital in the development of the Shotgun Gold Project by a potential partner of TNR; the future potential of the the Kuskokwim Gold Belt in southwestern Alaska; the possible benefits that may accrue to the Los Azules copper project if McEwen Copper's application for admission to the Regime of Incentives for Investment is successful; the potential acceleration of the Los Azules project's potential due to Rio Tinto's involvement in the project; and the potential benefits caused by delivering 'green copper' to Argentina and the world. Such forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions and subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those discussed in the sections entitled "Risks" and "Forward-Looking Statements" in the Company's interim and annual Management's Discussion and Analysis which are available under the Company's SEDAR+ profile on www.sedarplus.ca. While management believes that the assumptions made and reflected in this news release are reasonable, should one or more of the risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking information. In particular, there can be no assurance that: TNR will enter into one or more strategic transactions, partnership or a spin-out, or be able to complete any further royalty acquisitions or sales of royalty interests, or portions thereof; debt or equity financings will be available to TNR; or that TNR will be able to achieve any of its corporate objectives. TNR relies on the confirmation of its ownership for mining claims from the appropriate government agencies when paying rental payments for such mining claims requested by these agencies. There could be a risk in the future of the changing internal policies of such government agencies or risk related to the third parties, in future, challenging the ownership of such mining claims. Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements included herein are not guarantees of future performance, and such forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied on.

In formulating the forward-looking statements contained herein, management has assumed that business and economic conditions affecting TNR, and its royalty partners, McEwen Mining Inc., Ganfeng Lithium and Lundin Mining will continue substantially in the ordinary course, including without limitation with respect to general industry conditions, general levels of economic activity and regulations. These assumptions, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect.

Forward-looking information herein and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking information are based on estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking information should circumstances or management's estimates or opinions change.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/268287

SOURCE: TNR Gold Corp.
Firm Welcomes Nicole Watson and Promotes Brent Easley and Laine Arnold to Partner

NASHVILLE, TN / ACCESS Newswire / September 29, 2025 / BHA Strategy, Tennessee's leading public affairs firm, announced the expansion of its leadership team with the addition of Nicole Watson as Partner and the promotions of Brent Easley and Laine Arnold to Partner. Watson, based in Nashville and Chattanooga, brings over 20 years of government relations and public affairs experience. Easley, former legislative director for Gov. Bill Lee, and Arnold, former communications director and senior advisor to Gov. Lee, have been key to BHA's growth across Tennessee.

Nicole Watson, Partner



Watson most recently served as Public Policy & Regulatory Partner at Holland & Knight LLP, advising clients on state and local public affairs and navigating complex legislative and regulatory issues. A graduate of Regent University School of Law and recognized as one of Chattanooga's "20 Under 40," Watson has built her career on strategic counsel and results-driven leadership. At BHA, she will lead the firm's multi-state government affairs efforts, expanding its reach and delivering results for clients nationwide.

"Nicole, Brent, and Laine are among the most respected professionals in Tennessee public affairs," said Blake Harris, CEO of BHA Strategy. "Their leadership will strengthen our services across the state and support the growth of our multi-state practice. We are thrilled to welcome Nicole and recognize Brent and Laine through their promotions."

"I am excited to join BHA Strategy and lead our multi-state government affairs practice," said Watson. "BHA has an outstanding reputation for results, and I look forward to working with this talented team to serve clients and expand our reach."

Watson's addition, along with Easley and Arnold's promotion, continues BHA Strategy's momentum following regional expansions and its growing partnership with BGR Group in Washington, D.C. "BGR's partnership with BHA grows stronger every day as we work together to deliver results across Tennessee and in D.C.," said Loren Monroe, Principal at BGR Group. "Nicole, Brent, and Laine bring expertise that strengthens our multi-state capabilities and ability to guide clients where public policy, politics, and risk converge."

###

About BHA Strategy ( BHA Strategy ):

Based in Nashville, BHA Strategy is a full-service, strategic consulting firm providing expertise in government affairs, public relations, and corporate intelligence. With deep roots in political campaigns and public service, BHA's team applies winning campaign strategies and senior advisor expertise to the biggest challenges facing startups, corporations, and causes. BHA retains a political skill set that includes public opinion research, digital marketing, and media production/placement. The firm's core focus is multi-state government affairs, strategic communication, and reputation management.

About BGR Group ( www.bgrdc.com ):

Founded in 1991, BGR Group is a premier government affairs and PR firm with offices in D.C., London, Austin, Phoenix, and Atlanta. BGR specializes in three key areas: bipartisan government affairs, strategic communications, and business advisory services. BGR brings together accomplished policy experts, public opinion influencers, and issue advocates from across the political spectrum.

SOURCE: BHA Strategy

Related Images

Brent Easley, Partner



Laine Arnold, Partner



View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/bha-strategy-expands-leadership-team-with-three-new-partners-1078489
TotalEnergies (Paris:TTE) (LSE:TTE) (NYSE:TTE) has signed an agreement with insurance vehicles and accounts managed by KKR, a leading global investment firm, for the sale of 50% of a 1.4 GW solar portfolio in North America. This transaction which aligns with TotalEnergies' renewables business model values the portfolio at an enterprise value of $1.25 billion. Thanks to these transactions and the bank refinancing currently being finalized, TotalEnergies will receive a total of $950 million at closing.

The transaction covers six utility-scale solar assets with a combined capacity of 1.3 GW, and 41 distributed generation assets totalling 140 MW, primarily situated in the United States. The electricity production of these projects has either been sold to third parties or will be commercialized by TotalEnergies.

TotalEnergies will keep a 50% stake in the assets and continue to operate them after the closing of this transaction, which is subject to customary conditions.

"We are pleased to enter into this new strategic partnership with KKR in North America, a key deregulated electricity market to expand our integrated business model", said Stephane Michel, President of Gas, Renewables Power at TotalEnergies. "Aligned with our strategy, this transaction unlocks value from newly commissioned assets and further strengthens the profitability of our Integrated Power business."

"TotalEnergies is a renewable energy industry leader globally, and we are thrilled to establish this joint venture with the TotalEnergies team to support their renewables business", said Cecilio Velasco, Managing Director, KKR. "We have long been investors in renewables through our infrastructure platform, having committed more than $23 billion to date in energy transition investments. TotalEnergies' North American solar portfolio is a great fit for us, representing high-quality renewable energy assets with long term contracts."

TotalEnergies' Integrated Power Business Model

TotalEnergies is building a competitive portfolio that combines renewables (solar, onshore wind, offshore wind) and flexible assets (CCGT, storage) to deliver clean firm power to its customers. To achieve the 12% profitability target it sets for its Integrated Power business, TotalEnergies divests up to 50% of its renewable assets once they reach commercial operation date (COD) and are derisked, allowing the Company to maximize asset value and manage risks.

TotalEnergies and electricity

TotalEnergies is building a competitive portfolio that combines renewables (solar, onshore wind, offshore wind) and flexible assets (CCGT, storage) to deliver clean firm power to its customers.

As of the end of June 2025, TotalEnergies has more than 30 GW of installed gross renewable electricity generation capacity and aims to reach 35 GW by the end of 2025, and more than 100 TWh of net electricity production by 2030.

About TotalEnergies

TotalEnergies is a global integrated energy company that produces and markets energies: oil and biofuels, natural gas, biogas and low-carbon hydrogen, renewables and electricity. Our more than 100,000 employees are committed to provide as many people as possible with energy that is more reliable, more affordable and more sustainable. Active in about 120 countries, TotalEnergies places sustainability at the heart of its strategy, its projects and its operations.

@TotalEnergiesTotalEnergiesTotalEnergiesTotalEnergies

Cautionary Note

The terms "TotalEnergies", "TotalEnergies company" or "Company" in this document are used to designate TotalEnergies SE and the consolidated entities that are directly or indirectly controlled by TotalEnergies SE. Likewise, the words "we", "us" and "our" may also be used to refer to these entities or to their employees. The entities in which TotalEnergies SE directly or indirectly owns a shareholding are separate legal entities. This document may contain forward-looking information and statements that are based on a number of economic data and assumptions made in a given economic, competitive and regulatory environment. They may prove to be inaccurate in the future and are subject to a number of risk factors. Neither TotalEnergies SE nor any of its subsidiaries assumes any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information or statement, objectives or trends contained in this document whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Information concerning risk factors, that may affect TotalEnergies' financial results or activities is provided in the most recent Universal Registration Document, the French-language version of which is filed by TotalEnergies SE with the French securities regulator Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF), and in the Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250929781976/en/

Contacts:

TotalEnergies Contacts

Media Relations:+33 (0)1 47 44 46 99l presse@totalenergies.com l @TotalEnergiesPR

Investor Relations: +33 (0)1 47 44 46 46 l ir@totalenergies.com
3DHISTECH Digital Pathology Products Distributed by Epredia Also Receive Top Honors

The Ecosystem for Pathology Diagnostics with AI Assistance (EMPAIA), an international organization that advances the use of validated AI solutions in clinical practice, has announced that Epredia, a global leader in precision cancer diagnostics, has won three categories in the 2025 International Scanner Benchmark (ISB) for Epredia's E1000 Dx Digital Pathology Solution. The ISB recognizes excellence in quality, throughput, and design of digital slide scanning technology for pathology.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250924120596/en/

Epredia's E1000 Dx Digital Pathology Solution Wins 2025 International Scanner Benchmark Awards from the Ecosystem for Pathology Diagnostics with AI Assistance (EMPAIA)

The E1000 Dx consists of a high-speed, automated, whole-slide imaging digital scanner with medical grade viewer and advanced image management and viewer software that creates high-resolution digital images of up to 1,500 tissue samples daily. The E1000 Dx is designed to maximize laboratory throughput and efficiency with technology advancements in sample detection and quality control procedures, which has the potential to make diagnostics more efficient and accurate.

EMPAIA supports regulatory, legal, technical, and organizational pathways to the adoption of validated and certified AI solutions. Through the ISB, EMPAIA seeks to identify the pathology industry's top image-based diagnostics technologies, which provide detailed digital images that are critical inputs for potential future AI-powered diagnostics.

Epredia's E1000 Dx won the 2025 ISB in the categories of Quality for digital images at 20x magnification, and Quality and High Throughput for digital images at 40x magnification, the highest level of magnification tested. The honors were based on a comprehensive and objective scanner evaluation, performed on samples from a variety of laboratories across Europe and reviewed by a panel of pathologists. Winners were awarded at the 37th European Congress of Pathology in Vienna, Austria, in September.

Epredia's E1000 Dx builds on technology originally developed by 3DHISTECH, a leading pathology and diagnostics company and close commercial partner of Epredia. 3DHISTECH also received top honors in the ISB for its Pannoramic 480 Dx digital slide scanner, in the categories of High Throughput for digital images at 20x magnification and Technical capabilities, as well as being recognized with the prestigious Innovator 2025 Award. Epredia is a distributor of the full 3DHISTECH digital pathology portfolio including the Pannoramic 480 Dx.

Steven Lynum, President of Epredia, said, "Digital pathology is the future of cancer diagnostics. As pathology laboratories face greater pressure to speed up processes and reduce costs, we are deeply honored that EMPAIA has recognized the E1000 Dx as a leader in both high throughput and quality. AI holds tremendous potential to enhance the way conditions like cancer are diagnosed and ultimately treated, but AI is only as powerful as the images available to analyze. We look forward to Epredia and 3DHISTECH solutions helping laboratories maximize their digital pathology investment today as well as the potential of this technology to support AI-powered diagnostics in the future."

About Epredia

Epredia is a global leader in the anatomical pathology field, providing comprehensive solutions for precision cancer diagnostics and tissue diagnostics. Powered by key brands, including Erie Scientific, Menzel-Glaser, Microm, Shandon, and Richard-Allan Scientific, Epredia's portfolio includes microscope slides, instruments and consumables. Epredia was established following the acquisition of Thermo Fisher Scientific's Anatomical Pathology business by PHC Holdings Corporation (TSE 6523) in 2019. Epredia has operations in major sites in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China with a total of around 1,200 employees. Epredia is committed to achieving its mission to improve lives by enhancing cancer diagnostics for patients around the world. For further information on Epredia and its products, please visit www.epredia.com.

About PHC Holdings Corporation (PHC Group)

PHC Holdings Corporation (TSE 6523) is a global healthcare company with a mission of contributing to the health of society through healthcare solutions that have a positive impact and improve the lives of people. Its subsidiaries (referred to collectively as PHC Group) include PHC Corporation, Epredia, Ascensia Diabetes Care, LSI Medience Corporation, Wemex and Mediford. Together, these companies develop, manufacture, sell and service solutions across diabetes management, healthcare solutions, life sciences and diagnostics. PHC Group's consolidated net sales in FY2024 were JPY 361.6 billion with global distribution of products and services in more than 125 countries.

www.phchd.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250924120596/en/

Contacts:

Contact for media inquiries:

Julia Cottrill

PHC Group Corporate Communications

julia.cottrill@phchd.com
Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 29, 2025) - Nevada Organic Phosphate Inc. (CSE: NOP) ("NOP" or the "Company"), a B.C. based leader in organic sedimentary phosphate exploration, is pleased to inform the investment community and all stakeholders that RAK Consultants Canada Inc. ("RAK") is continuing its issuer sponsored research coverage of Nevada Organic Phosphate with an update report, dated September 25, 2025. RAK is known for focusing their research reports on sustainable resource management, stakeholder engagement, and regulatory preparedness, as well as highlighting compelling junior mining investment ideas.

The research report is now on NOP's website (available here) and is particularly important for investors as it confirms the Company's comprehensive roadmap for integrating ESG principles & sustainability into its strategic planning and operations.

The report aligns with the Company's mission to operate responsibly while maximizing shareholder value. It provides an overview and insights into NOP's sustainability program development, board-level responsibility and disclosure, as well as capital market strategies tailored for success, ensuring that the Company remains competitive, compliant, and forward-thinking in a rapidly evolving industry landscape.

Nevada Organic Phosphate Inc.

NOP is a junior exploration company with an organic sedimentary raw rock phosphate bed, 6.6 kilometres long, in northeast Nevada. Additional applications extend the potential strike of rock phosphate to over 30 kilometres. This is believed to be the only known large-scale organic sedimentary phosphate project in North America. It is situated close to the main highway to Montello/Elko, Nevada, and near the rail head to California.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulations services providers have reviewed or accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release may contain forward-looking statements and information ("FLSI") within the meaning

of applicable securities laws. FLSI may include expectations, anticipations, beliefs, opinions, plans, intentions, estimates, forecasts, projections, guidance or other similar statements and information that are not historical facts. All statements which are not historical statements are considered FLSI. All FLSI is based on assumptions, which may prove inaccurate, and subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including without limitation those risks and uncertainties identified in the Company's public securities filings, which may cause actual events or results to differ materially from those indicated or implied in FLSI. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance or value on FLSI. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in any FLSI in this news release are reasonable at the present time, it can give no assurance that such FLSI will prove to be correct. Any FLSI in this news release is made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligations to publicly update or revise any FLSI, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable securities laws. Any FLSI in this news release is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/268394

SOURCE: Nevada Organic Phosphate Inc.
Forrest City, Arkansas--(Newsfile Corp. - September 29, 2025) - A new scholarship opportunity has been established to support undergraduate students pursuing careers in medicine and healthcare fields. The Dr. Sudesh Banaji Scholarship represents a commitment to advancing medical education and fostering the next generation of healthcare professionals across the United States.





To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8530/268219_a38e79bd5480387a_001full.jpg

Dr. Sudesh Banaji, an internal medicine specialist with over three decades of clinical experience, has launched this initiative to recognize and support dedicated students who demonstrate exceptional commitment to healthcare excellence. The scholarship program addresses the growing need for qualified medical professionals while honoring students who show genuine dedication to improving patient outcomes.

"This scholarship reflects my belief in supporting students who possess both academic excellence and genuine compassion for patient care," states Dr. Sudesh Banaji. "Through this program, we aim to identify and nurture future healthcare leaders who will make meaningful contributions to medical practice."

The scholarship welcomes applications from current undergraduate students enrolled at accredited colleges and universities throughout the United States. Eligible candidates must demonstrate their intention to pursue careers in medicine or related healthcare fields while showcasing academic dedication and passion for healthcare improvement.

A central component of the application process requires students to submit an original essay addressing a specific prompt about defining moments in their medical career decision-making process. The essay requirement allows Dr. Sudesh Banaji and the selection committee to evaluate candidates' understanding of compassionate care and their vision for future medical practice.

The essay prompt challenges applicants to describe experiences that shaped their medical career aspirations while explaining how these experiences influenced their understanding of compassionate care. Students must also outline their plans for applying this understanding in their future medical careers. Essays must contain between 750 and 1,000 words and be submitted in PDF or Word document format.

Dr. Sudesh Banaji brings extensive credentials to this educational initiative. His medical career spans more than 30 years across India and the United States, encompassing clinical care, teaching, and healthcare leadership. As co-owner of a successful private practice in Arkansas, Dr. Sudesh Banaji continues advancing internal medicine while mentoring emerging healthcare professionals.

His expertise in diagnostics, chronic disease management, and patient-centered care provides valuable perspective for evaluating scholarship candidates. Dr. Sudesh Banaji's global medical experience offers unique insight into the qualities necessary for successful healthcare careers.

The scholarship program maintains a straightforward application process designed to identify students with genuine commitment to healthcare excellence. Selection criteria emphasize academic dedication, demonstrated passion for healthcare, and clear vision for improving patient outcomes. These requirements align with Dr. Sudesh Banaji's philosophy of supporting students who combine academic achievement with genuine compassion for patient care.

The one-time award of $1,000 provides meaningful financial support for educational expenses while recognizing exceptional student achievement. This investment in medical education demonstrates ongoing commitment to healthcare advancement and professional development.

Applications for the Dr. Sudesh Banaji Scholarship must be submitted by April 15, 2026. The scholarship recipient will be announced on May 15, 2026, providing students adequate time for application preparation and review processes.

The scholarship program operates on a national scale, welcoming applications from students at accredited institutions across all states. This broad eligibility reflects the nationwide scope of healthcare workforce needs and the universal importance of medical education support.

Students interested in applying can access detailed information and application materials through the scholarship website. The comprehensive application guidelines provide clear instructions for essay submission and eligibility verification.

This scholarship initiative represents Dr. Sudesh Banaji's continued dedication to medical education and healthcare advancement. By supporting promising students early in their academic careers, the program contributes to long-term improvements in healthcare quality and accessibility.

The establishment of this scholarship program demonstrates ongoing commitment to educational excellence and professional development within healthcare fields. Through this initiative, deserving students receive recognition and financial support for their educational pursuits while contributing to the future of American healthcare.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/268219

SOURCE: GYT
Newburyport, Massachusetts--(Newsfile Corp. - September 29, 2025) - The Dr. Guy Navarra Scholarship for Future Doctors is now accepting applications from undergraduate students across the United States who are pursuing a career in the medical field. Created under the guidance of Dr. Guy Navarra, a distinguished physician with more than 25 years of experience in internal medicine, geriatrics, and obesity medicine, the scholarship recognizes and supports students with a clear vision for making meaningful contributions to the future of healthcare.





To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8530/268221_5dfb904d547fab4a_001full.jpg

The scholarship seeks to identify students who demonstrate academic commitment, a passion for medicine, and a strong desire to address the challenges facing modern healthcare systems. To be considered, applicants must be enrolled as undergraduate students at accredited U.S. colleges or universities and must intend to pursue careers in fields such as pre-med, biology, health sciences, or related tracks.

A central component of the application process is a written essay, in which students respond to the following prompt:

"What inspires your journey into medicine, and how do you envision making a meaningful impact on the healthcare system of tomorrow?"

Essays will be evaluated based on originality, clarity of purpose, depth of insight, and alignment with the principles that have guided Dr. Guy Navarra throughout his professional career.

Commitment to the Next Generation of Medical Professionals

With a career rooted in clinical practice, healthcare leadership, and medical research, Dr. Guy Navarra has long been dedicated to improving patient outcomes and advancing the practice of medicine. As a hospital chief, medical director, and national healthcare innovator, he has seen firsthand the importance of preparing the next generation of physicians to meet the evolving needs of patients and communities.

By establishing this scholarship, Dr. Guy Navarra provides undergraduate students with an opportunity to receive recognition for their aspirations and to take a significant step toward future medical careers. The award encourages students to combine academic excellence with compassion, critical thinking, and a commitment to improving healthcare delivery.

Application Details and Deadline

The Dr. Guy Navarra Scholarship for Future Doctors accepts applications until April 15, 2026, with the scholarship winner announced on May 15, 2026. The selection committee will review applications carefully, ensuring that recipients reflect the values of academic dedication, service, and forward-thinking leadership in healthcare.

Undergraduate students meeting the criteria are encouraged to submit applications through the official scholarship website: https://drguynavarrascholarship.com/.

About Dr. Guy Navarra

Dr. Guy Navarra is a board-certified physician with extensive experience in internal medicine, geriatrics, and obesity medicine. Over the course of his career, he has served in numerous leadership roles, including Chief of Medicine at Anna Jaques Hospital and Medical Director at Seacoast Medical Associates. In addition to clinical leadership, he co-founded MetTrimMD, a national medical weight-loss network, and continues to guide healthcare organizations toward value-based care models.

His background in medicine spans three continents, with education and training in Madrid, Yale, and Harvard. Fluent in English, Spanish, and French, Dr. Guy Navarra brings a global perspective to healthcare innovation, emphasizing patient-centered and preventive approaches to medicine.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/268221

SOURCE: GYT
Tucson, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - September 29, 2025) - Alaska Silver Corp. (TSXV: WAM) (the "Company," "Alaska Silver" or "WAM") announces that further to its press release dated September 12, 2025, it now intends to proceed with the previously announced Offering in Canada pursuant to the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption contained in Part A of National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions rather than by way of prospectus supplement to its previously filed base shelf prospectus. The Company has filed an Offering Document which is available on SEDAR+ and on the Company's website.

The offering price and certain terms of the securities to be offered will be determined in the context of the market at the time of pricing. The closing of the Offering is subject to market and other customary conditions, including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") and the SEC's review process. There can be no assurance as to whether or when the Offering may be completed or, if it is completed, as to the size or terms of the Offering.

Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. ("Cantor") is acting as the lead book-running manager for the Offering. Cantor Fitzgerald Canada Corporation will act as an agent for the sale of any Company securities in the Offering in Canada.

A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the SEC but has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. The Offering will be made in the U.S. only by means of a prospectus forming a part of the registration statement. A copy of the preliminary prospectus related to the Offering may be obtained from Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., 110 East 59th Street, New York, NY 10022, or via email at prospectus@cantor.com or telephone at 212-938-5000. In addition, a copy of the prospectus relating to the Offering may be obtained via the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy any of the Company's securities, nor shall such securities be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale of any of the Company's securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offers, solicitations or sales would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction.

About Alaska Silver

Alaska Silver is one of the pioneers of North America's next major silver and critical minerals district at the Illinois Creek Project, a prolific 8-km mineral corridor hosting two stand-alone deposits with a new Warm Springs discovery zone in between (the "IC project"). The claims of the IC project cover a 100% owned land package of 73,535 acres (115 square miles or 29,758 hectares), located approximately 38 kilometers from the region's marine highway, the Yukon River.

"Kit Marrs"

Or visit our website at: www.alaskasilver.com

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

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. "Forward-looking information" includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future. Generally, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connation thereof. This forward-looking information relates to, among other things: the completion of the Offering; the intended use of proceeds from the Offering; and the receipt of all necessary approvals for the completion of the Offering, including the approval of the TSXV and the SEC.

Such forward-looking information is based on numerous assumptions, including among others, that the Company will complete Offering in the timeframe and on the terms as anticipated by management, that the Company will be able to utilize the proceeds of the Offering in the manner intended, and that the Company will receive all necessary approvals for the completion of the Offering, including the approval of the TSXV and the SEC. Although the assumptions made by the Company in providing forward-looking information is considered reasonable by management at the time, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information.

Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's plans or expectations include risks relating to the failure to complete the Offering in the timeframe and on the terms as anticipated by management, market conditions, metal prices, and risks relating to the Company not receiving all necessary approvals for the completion of the Offering, including the approval of the TSXV and the SEC. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information or implied by forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information or financial outlook that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Any forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. We seek safe harbor.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/268400

SOURCE: Alaska Silver Corp.
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES

OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

Saguenay, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - September 29, 2025) - First Phosphate Corp. (CSE: PHOS) (OTCQX: FRSPF) (FSE: KD0) ("First Phosphate" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Integrity Capital Group Inc. ("Integrity") to act as lead agent and bookrunner in connection with a "best efforts" private placement (the "Offering") for the sale of up to 25,000,000 units of the Company (each, a "Unit") at a price of C$0.60 per Unit (the "Offering Price") for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $15,000,000.

Each Unit will consist of one common share in the capital of the Company (a "Unit Share") and one common share purchase warrant of the Company (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one common share in the capital of the Company (a "Warrant Share") at a price per Warrant Share of C$0.90 for a period of 36 months from the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined). The Company shall make best efforts to obtain the necessary approvals to list the Warrant Shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE"); however, there can be no assurances that it will be successful in obtaining such a listing.

Subject to compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and in accordance with National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions ("NI 45-106"), the Units will be offered for sale to purchasers resident in all jurisdictions of Canada, pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of NI 45-106, as amended by Coordinated Blanket Order 45-935 - Exemptions from Certain Conditions of the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption (the "Listed Issuer Financing Exemption"), and may be offered in the United States and offshore jurisdictions on a private placement basis where the Offering can lawfully be made in accordance with applicable laws. The Unit Shares, Warrants and the Warrant Shares, if exercised, will not be subject to a hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities legislation if sold to purchasers resident in Canada.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering to complete the feasibility study and permitting for the Company's flagship Begin-Lamarche Property, for downstream infrastructure development and acquisitions, and for general corporate purposes. The Offering is scheduled to close on October 10, 2025 or such other date or dates as the Company and Integrity may determine (the "Closing Date").

There is an offering document related to this offering that can be accessed under the issuer's profile at www.sedarplus.ca and at www.firstphosphate.com. Prospective investors should read this offering document before making an investment decision.

In consideration for their services, the Company has agreed to pay Integrity an aggregate cash commission equal to 8% of gross proceeds of the Offering (subject to reduction to 2.0% on certain president's list purchases), and to issue that number of non-transferable broker warrants of the Company to Integrity (the "Broker Warrants") equal to 8.0% of the number of Units sold under the Offering (subject to reduction to 2.0% on certain president's list purchases). Each Broker Warrant is exercisable to acquire one Common Share at a price of $0.90 per share for a period of 36 months following the Closing Date. The Broker Warrants and Company common shares that will be issuable upon the exercise thereof (if any) will be issued pursuant to available exemptions under NI 45-106 other than the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption and, accordingly, will be subject to a hold period expiring four months and one day following the closing date of the Offering.

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. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About First Phosphate Corp.

First Phosphate (CSE: PHOS) (OTCQB: FRSPF) (FSE: KD0) is a mineral development company dedicated to producing high-purity phosphate for the LFP battery industry. The Company is committed to sustainable extraction and purification with a low anticipated carbon footprint. Its vertically integrated model connects phosphate mining directly into the supply chains of North American battery producers. First Phosphate's flagship project, the Begin-Lamarche Property in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec, contains rare igneous anorthosite rock that yields high-purity phosphate with minimal impurities.

Follow First Phosphate:

X: https://x.com/FirstPhosphate

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-phosphate

-30-

Forward-Looking Information and Cautionary Statements

This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking information". Any statement that discusses predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information relating to, among other things, the completion of the Offering, the anticipated closing date(s) of the Offering, the listing of the Warrants, the intended use of proceeds of the Offering, approval of the CSE and the filing of the Offering Document. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, development and exploration successes, and continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. These statements are based on a number of assumptions including, among other things, assumptions regarding general business and economic conditions; that the Company and other parties will be able to satisfy stock exchange and other regulatory requirements in a timely manner; that CSE approval will be granted in a timely manner subject only to standard conditions and that all conditions precedent to the completion of the Offering will be satisfied in a timely manner. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking information contained in this press release. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. All forward-looking information contained in this release is qualified by these cautionary statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/268402

SOURCE: First Phosphate Corp.


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Crude oil prices sank heavily on Monday in the wake of oversupply concerns due to Iraq's fresh oil exports from Kurdistan to Turkey as well as OPEC+ cartel's plans for increasing output.



WTI Crude Oil for November delivery was last seen trading down by $2.50 (or 3.80%) at $63.22 per barrel.



After nearly a two-and-a-half-year deadlock over technical as well as legal issues, Iraq has resumed crude oil exports from the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region to Turkey after a recent interim agreement. Eight oil companies that signed the deal and the Kurdish authorities are reportedly meeting in the next 30 days to arrive at a mechanism for clearing the outstanding $1 billion Kurdistan owes to some firms.



Iraq's oil minister stated that the agreement between Iraq's federal government, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and foreign oil producers operating in the region will allow 180,000 to 190,000 barrels per day of crude to flow to Turkey's Ceyhan port.



This restart, apparently pushed by the US, is expected to bring around 230,000 bpd of crude to international markets.



Meanwhile, the OPEC+ member nations are meeting on Sunday, when they are likely to approve another increase to their crude output. The alliance has been pumping almost 500,000 bpd less than its targets, somewhat diminishing the market concerns of a supply glut.



Last week, Ukraine conducted drone attacks targeting Russian energy infrastructures, triggering Russia to curb oil exports, which led to a sharp increase in crude prices.



On Sunday, Russia launched around 600 drones and nearly 50 missiles across Ukraine. Calling the strikes 'vile,' Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has asked the US to provide them with long-range missiles.



In the US, Trump is meeting top Democratic and Republican leaders today to discuss means for extending government funding. In the absence of an agreement, a partial shutdown would begin from October 1 in the US, crippling almost all major essential services to the citizens.



Economic uncertainty continues to prevail, with Trump last week adding another round of tariffs targeting pharmaceutical imports, furniture and trucks. These levies are set to take effect from Wednesday.



This comes in a scenario where the validity of 'reciprocal tariffs' is set to be decided by the US Supreme Court in the coming months.



While a smooth global trade scenario increases the demand for oil and energy and supports crude oil prices on the upside, lingering trade uncertainty flips the outcome to the opposite side.



Copyright(c) 2025 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

 2025 AFX News
Avolta AG / Key word(s): Miscellaneous

Avolta and King Power Announce Loyalty Program Partnership: Push Past Traditional Industry Conventions



29.09.2025 / 21:22 CET/CEST





Avolta (SIX: AVOL), leading global travel retail and F&B player and King Power, Thailand's largest travel retail group, today announced a landmark loyalty partnership launching on November 1, bringing together two industry leaders in a shared mission to put travelers first and explore together the 'power of possibilities'.

The Club Avolta X Power Pass partnership will see members of both programs enjoy seamless reciprocal recognition, extending loyalty privileges beyond traditional boundaries, unlocking benefits and exclusive experiences across both networks. Power Pass members who join Club Avolta will automatically unlock premium benefits across Avolta's global network. Club Avolta members who enroll in the Power Pass loyalty program will receive access to King Power's exclusive duty-free privileges. In addition, all Club Avolta members will be entitled to a range of offers across the King Power ecosystem, including participating hotels, tourist attractions and curated travel experiences - enhancing their journey throughout Thailand.

Rewriting the rules for customer centricity through loyalty, the collaboration creates mutual value by extending loyalty privileges beyond traditional boundaries. The market-first move spans across the footprint of both companies, including airports, downtown duty-free stores, motorways and cruises amongst others.



Xavier Rossinyol, Chief Executive Officer at Avolta said: "As announced today at the annual global Tax Free World Association gathering, our loyalty program partnership with King Power is a bold step forward in our mission to push past traditional boundaries. We're showing that even two industry leaders can join forces to improve the traveler's journey together. This partnership is a clear demonstration of our loyalty strategy - expanding choice, challenging convention, and placing travelers firmly at the heart of everything we do."



Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, Executive Chairman, King Power Group said: "This landmark partnership with Avolta represents a defining moment for travel retail, uniting two industry leaders in our shared mission to put travelers first. Together, we are creating a truly borderless loyalty experience that mirrors how people travel today-seamlessly across airports, downtown stores, and beyond. The 'power of possibilities' becomes reality as we offer millions of loyalty members unprecedented access to exclusive benefits across our combined global footprint. This collaboration sets a new industry benchmark, placing the traveler experience at the core of our mission whilst delivering exceptional value for all our stakeholders."



Club Avolta is the world's first global loyalty program spanning duty-free, duty-paid, and F&B that has redefined how travelers engage with retail, dining, and convenience services across the globe. This collaboration with King Power signals Avolta's open approach to future partnerships with other retailers and operators who share the vision of traveler-first loyalty. Together, Avolta and King Power are demonstrating that loyalty can transcend competition and deliver meaningful value to travelers worldwide.

About King Power:



King Power is Thailand's leading travel retail group, recognized globally for its world-class duty free and specialty stores. Established in 1989 and headquartered in Bangkok, the company operates an extensive network of duty-free outlets at major airports, downtown locations, and tourist destinations across the country. The Group has also expanded its footprint internationally, including in China, and diversified into hotels, shopping malls, and travel services. With a strong focus on premium products, exceptional service, and uniquely Thai hospitality, King Power has become an iconic brand for millions of international travelers. Beyond retail, King Power actively supports Thailand's tourism industry through investments in sports, cultural initiatives, and community development projects that promote sustainable growth and social impact.

For images click here .

For further information:



CONTACT



Rebecca McClellan Cathy Jongens Global Head

Investor Relations Director Corporate

Communications Phone: +44 7543 800 405 Phone: +31 6 28 19 88 28 rebecca.mcclellan@avolta.net cathy.jongens@avolta.net

End of Media Release


Philadelphia, Pennsylvania--(Newsfile Corp. - September 29, 2025) - Dr. Zachary Solomon, a distinguished cardiothoracic surgeon and healthcare innovation advocate, has announced the launch of the Dr. Zachary Solomon Scholarship for Medical Students. This new educational initiative provides financial support to undergraduate students nationwide who demonstrate a commitment to advancing healthcare through clinical practice, medical technology, or research.





To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8530/268220_2f7be1fd04a42aa0_001full.jpg

The scholarship program reflects Dr. Zachary Solomon's dedication to nurturing the next generation of healthcare professionals and his belief in the transformative power of medical innovation. Open to undergraduate students across the United States, the program seeks to identify and support individuals who share a vision for improving patient care and advancing medical science.

"Medicine continues to evolve through the contributions of passionate individuals who are committed to making a difference in patient care," said Dr. Zachary Solomon. "This scholarship represents an investment in students who will shape the future of healthcare and drive the innovations that will benefit patients for generations to come."

To be eligible for the Dr. Zachary Solomon Scholarship, applicants must be currently enrolled in an accredited undergraduate program with a clear intent to pursue a career in medicine. Candidates must demonstrate a genuine interest in advancing healthcare, whether through clinical practice, medical technology development, or research initiatives.

The scholarship application process requires students to submit an original 1,000-word essay responding to the prompt: "Medicine is a field shaped by innovation and the evolving needs of patients. Discuss a recent medical advancement that has inspired you, and explain how you see yourself contributing to the future of healthcare." This essay component allows applicants to showcase their understanding of medical progress and articulate their vision for contributing to the field.

Dr. Zachary Solomon brings extensive experience in cardiovascular surgery and medical innovation to this educational initiative. He earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from George Washington University School of Medicine and completed his general surgery residency at Memorial University Medical Center in Savannah, Georgia. Dr. Solomon further specialized through an adult cardiac surgery fellowship at Tufts Medical Center, where he developed expertise in complex procedures including heart failure surgery and transplantation.

Beyond his surgical practice, Dr. Zachary Solomon has made significant contributions to medical research, particularly in the area of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. His research has been published in leading medical journals, and he continues to collaborate on projects that bridge clinical care and medical technology. Dr. Zachary Solomon's involvement in developing medical devices and surgical tools demonstrates his commitment to improving patient outcomes through innovation.

The scholarship program aligns with Dr. Zachary Solomon's broader mission to support healthcare advancement and medical education. His leadership in medical research and patient care positions him as a forward-thinking advocate for the next generation of healthcare professionals.

The Dr. Zachary Solomon Scholarship for Medical Students offers a one-time award to support undergraduate students in their educational journey toward medical careers. The application period has now closed, and the scholarship recipient will be announced on October 15, 2025.

This new scholarship program represents Dr. Zachary Solomon's commitment to investing in the future of healthcare by supporting students who demonstrate both academic excellence and a genuine passion for medical innovation. The initiative seeks to identify individuals who will contribute meaningfully to healthcare advancement and patient care in their future medical careers.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/268220

SOURCE: GYT
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 29, 2025) - Powermax Minerals Inc. (CSE: PMAX) ("Powermax" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has agreed to acquire a 100% interest in the Ogden Bear Lodge REE Project in Crook County, Wyoming (the "Property") from 1357508 BC LTD. ("1357508") via the purchase from 1357508 of all of the shares of its formerly wholly-owned subsidiary, Goldenears Exploration Corp., pursuant to the terms of a share purchase agreement dated September 23, 2025 ("Purchase Agreement"). The consideration to be paid by the Company under the Purchase Agreement consists of 250,000 common shares of Powermax.

The Property is comprised of 22 federal unpatented lode mining claims totalling 184 hectares. The Property is strategically located in the Bear Lodge Mining District, located in Crook County in northeast Wyoming, an active mining region since the discovery of gold in 1875 near Warren Peak. Exploration activity in the district has historically targeted gold, rare earth elements (REEs), barium, copper, lead, zinc, manganese, niobium, tantalum, thorium, fluorine, and phosphate1.





Figure 1: Property Location Map of the Ogden Bear Lodge REE Project



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11633/268413_a4248751f4b529bb_001full.jpg

Most notably within the Bear Lodge Mining District is the Bear Lodge Critical Rare Earth Project owned by Rare Element Resources Ltd. (the "RER Bear Lodge Project"). Rare Element Resources Ltd. has recently received a non-binding letter of interest from the Export-Import Bank of the United States for debt financing for the RER Bear Lodge Project for up to USD$553 million2, which funds would support the permitting, engineering design, and construction of the RER Bear Lodge Project.

The Property shares its western border with the RER Bear Lodge Project.





Figure 2: Property Location Map Showing Active Mining Claims



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11633/268413_a4248751f4b529bb_002full.jpg

"We are excited about the acquisition of the Odgen Bear Lodge REE Project in Crook County, Wyoming, which adds to our expanding portfolio of assets," stated Mr. Paul Gorman, CEO of Powermax Minerals Inc. "The active mine development of the RER Bear Lodge Project directly to the west of the Property indicates that we are in the right neighbourhood being in the shadow of a potential mine. Our technical team's expertise presents a strong opportunity to unlock value from this Property."

The Company will provide further updates as the permitting process advances and as exploration activities commence on the claims.

The closing of the acquisition is expected to take place on or about October 8, 2025, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals, including approval by the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE).

Afzaal Pirzada BSc., P.GEO., a Director to the Company, is the Qualified Person (as such term is defined in National Instrument 43-101), who has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical disclosure contained in this news release.

About Powermax Minerals Inc.

Powermax Minerals Inc. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on advancing rare earth element projects. The Company holds an option to acquire the Cameron REE Property, located in British Columbia, and the Atikokan REE Property, located in Ontario.

For more information, investors should review the Company's filings that are available at www.sedarplus.ca.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for the statements of historical fact, this news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation that is based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. "Forward-looking information" in this news release includes: statements involving our expectations, strategy and expected benefits of acquiring the Property; the expected plans for the RER Bear Lodge Project located near the Property and its expected benefits; anticipated closing of the acquisition and receipt of CSE approvals; and our expectation to provide further updates as the permitting process advances and as exploration activities commence on the claims located on the Property. The forward-looking information in this news release reflects the current expectations, assumptions and/or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. The Company has also assumed that no significant events occur outside of the Company's normal course of business. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking information are reasonable, forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such information due to the inherent uncertainty therein. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information unless required by applicable law.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in CSE Policies) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

1 https://main.wsgs.wyo.gov/mineral-resources/metals/mining-districts/bear-lodge-mountains

2 https://www.rareelementresources.com/rare-element-resources-announces-exim-letter-of-interest-for-bear-lodge-project-funding/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/268413

SOURCE: Powermax Minerals Inc.
Bonita Springs, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - September 29, 2025) - Discovery Senior Living ("Discovery", the "Company") and its affiliates, one of the most trusted and largest privately held senior living operators, has been named a 2025 Memory Care Innovation Award winner in the Senior Housing & Senior Living category by WTWH Healthcare. The award celebrates people in organizations pushing the boundaries of cognitive care delivery and improving outcomes for individuals living with memory-related disorders.

Discovery Senior Living Leader Recognized Class of 2025 Memory Care Innovation Award

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11618/268430_image1.jpg

Discovery Senior Living received the recognition for its enterprise-wide commitment to raising the standard of memory care, most notably through the design and national deployment of SHINE Memory Care, one of the first memory care programs certified by the Alzheimer's Association. Today, SHINE, and its base philosophies, is embedded in more than 200 communities across the United States, delivering evidence-informed routines, staff training, and family engagement strategies that enable consistent, person-centered dementia care at scale.

The company's work is championed by Dawn Platt, Vice President of Memory Care & Cognitive Health, who was nominated and accepted the award given her leadership and on behalf of Discovery Senior Living's extensive clinical, training, and operations teams. Platt hands-on leadership helped in the development and creation of SHINE and standardized care practices, Recently Dawn was pivotal in launching and hosting the "Disappearing Mind" podcast, a 100+ episode resource featuring researchers, physicians, caregivers, and families sharing real-world solutions and hope for those navigating dementia.

"The Memory Care Innovation Award winners exemplify what it means to push the field forward," said Tim Mullaney, Vice President and editorial director of WTWH Healthcare. "Each honoree has demonstrated not only a profound commitment to improving quality of life for those living with memory-related conditions, but also a forward-looking vision for how care can evolve. Their work inspires hope and sets a higher standard for excellence."

Enterprise-Wide Leadership and Advocacy

Discovery Senior Living's memory care platform integrates training, behavioral analysis, and family support across its multi-brand portfolio. Company leaders and clinical experts regularly work side by side with community teams, helping caregivers interpret and respond to the nonverbal communication and behaviors often expressed by residents with dementia.

In addition to clinical innovation, the company plays a critical advocacy role in shaping public policy around aging and dementia. Discovery Senior Living leaders, including Platt, engage with state and national lawmakers to inform better decisions on behalf of people living with dementia and their families, ensuring that care standards, funding, and regulatory frameworks evolve alongside scientific and clinical advancements.

"This recognition reflects the depth and dedication of an extraordinary team," said Richard Hutchinson, CEO, Discovery Senior Living. "Dawn's work transforms theory into daily practice. Through her vision and leadership in the creation of SHINE and embedding evidence-informed routines, training, and family engagement into every community, she's helped our teams deliver reliable, person-centered outcomes at scale and that consistency is changing lives."

WTWH Healthcare will feature the Memory Care Innovation Awards Class of 2025 in upcoming publications. Honorees are also invited to WTWH Healthcare's BUILD & BRAIN Conference, taking place November 6-7, 2025, in Dallas, Texas. For more information about the program and to view the complete class of 2025 honorees, please visit innovation.memorycarebusiness.com.

About Discovery Senior Living

Discovery Senior Living is the largest privately held operator in U.S. with a growing portfolio approaching 47,000 units across ~420 communities and 40 states. The Company, and its 20,000-plus team members, is a recognized industry leader for performance, innovation and customized lifestyle experiences. Discovery's family of companies includes Discovery Management Group, Integral Senior Living, Provincial Senior Living, Morada Senior Living, Summerhouse Senior Living, Seaton Senior Living, TerraBella Senior Living, LakeHouse Senior Living, Arvum Senior Living, Discovery Development Group, Discovery Design Concepts, STAT Marketing, and Discovery At Home. Led by its award-winning management team, Discovery has been developing, building, marketing, and managing diverse senior-living communities across the United States for three decades. For the fourth consecutive year, Discovery Senior Living was again certified a Great Place To Work May 2025 - May 2026.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/268430

SOURCE: Discovery Senior Living
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 29, 2025) - Allied Critical Metals Inc. (CSE: ACM) (OTCQB: ACMIF) (FSE: 0VJ0) ("Allied" or the "Company"), which is focused on its 100% owned past producing Borralha and Vila Verde tungsten projects in northern Portugal, is pleased to report assay results from two additional Reverse Circulation (RC) drill holes - Bo_RC_21 and Bo_RC_26 - from its ongoing 5,000-metre campaign at the 100%-owned Borralha Tungsten Project in northern Portugal.

These latest results continue to demonstrate the scale and continuity of mineralization at the Santa Helena Breccia (SHB), with intercepts that support both lateral expansion and model refinement.

Highlights:

Bo_RC_21: This drill hole is a west step-out at the North edge of the St. Helena Breccia that confirms continuity of the recently discovered north-dipping lode outside the current MRE envelope, upgrading this area to a large coherent mineralized "in section" corridor with more than 100 m width.

42.0m at 0.19% WO3 (from 256.0 m to 298.0 m), including: 24.0m at 0.28% WO 3 (from 256.0 m to 280.0 m) 18.0m at 0.34% WO 3 (from 256.0 m to 274.0 m) 8.0m at 0.40% WO 3 (from 266.0 m to 274.0 m) 4.0m at 0.62% WO 3 (from 266.0 m to 270.0 m)

WO3 (from 256.0 m to 298.0 m), including:

Bo_RC_26: This drill hole is an infill hole targeting the north-central zone, enhancing confidence in the resource model and suggesting western expansion potential.

26.0m at 0.24% WO3 (from 140.0 m to 166.0 m), including: 12.0m at 0.38% WO 3 (from 140.0 m to 152.0 m) 2.0m at 2.02% WO 3 (from 140.0 m to 142.0 m)

WO3 (from 140.0 m to 166.0 m), including:

Drill Program Progress

To date, 3,721 metres of RC drilling have been completed out of the planned 5,728 metres, with multiple assay results already confirming thick mineralized zones and consistent grade distribution. The current campaign is designed to support:

The expansion of the Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE), expected in Q4 2025.

The development of a robust Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA).

The delineation of potential higher-grade corridors for future mine planning.

Roy Bonnell, CEO and Director of ACM, commented: "With each new intercept, we are seeing our understanding of Borralha evolve and strengthen. Bo_RC_21 confirms mineralization well beyond the current model, while Bo_RC_26 tightens the block model in a key zone. Together, these results support both immediate growth and long-term confidence in Borralha's development potential."

Table 1 - Drill Hole Collar Locations

ID Coordinates (WGS84) Az.() Dip .() PFD (m) DEPTH (m) Status Bo_RC_14/25 585445 4611405 109 80 250 264.00 Press Released Bo_RC_15/25 585347 4611368 109 70 300 255.00 Press Released Bo_RC_16/25 585406 4611329 105 60 240 251.00 Assay ongoing Bo_RC_17/25 585426 4611294 109 75 250 255.00 Press Released Bo_RC_18/25 585461 4611431 109 75 300 241.00 Assay ongoing Bo_RC_19/25 585470 4611493 109 82 350 248.00 Assay ongoing Bo_RC_20/25 585541 4611519 109 70 350 237.00 Assay ongoing Bo_RC_21/25 585481 4611557 109 85 400 370.00 Current Press Release Bo_RC_22/25 585484 4611552 109 70 360 375.00 Press Released Bo_RC_23/25 585514 4611588 109 80 - 45.00 Cancelled Bo_RC_24/25 585514 4611588 0 90 - 42.00 Cancelled Bo_RC_25/25 585434 4611406 0 90 300 291.00 Assay ongoing Bo_RC_26/25 585586 4611449 289 60 400 278.00 Current Press Release Bo_RC_27/25 585464 4611513 0 90 350 251.00 Assay ongoing Bo_RC_28/25 585576 4611567 290 80 400 318.00 Assay ongoing Bo_RC_29/25 585449 4611386 109 87 300 - Drilling ongoing Bo_RC_30/25 585443 4611429 0 90 320 - Drilling ongoing

Table 2 - Current Campaign Interval Highlights Update

New ID From (m) To (m) DH length (m) [1] True Width Factor [1] True Width (m) [1] WO3 (%) Bo_RC_14/25 52.0 64.0 12.0 tbd [2] - 4.27 inc. 52.0 58.0 6.0 " - 8.39 Bo_RC_15/25 164.0 166.0 2.0 0.88 1.8 0.97 Bo_RC_17/25 52.0 152.0 100.0 0.90 89.9 0.21 inc. 92.0 124.0 32.0 0.90 28.8 0.33 inc. 106.0 120.0 14.0 0.90 12.6 0.52 inc. 110.0 116.0 6.0 0.90 5.4 0.74 Bo_RC_21/25 256.0 298.0 42.0 tbd [2] unknown 0.19 inc. 256.0 280.0 24.0 " unknown 0.28 inc. 256.0 274.0 18.0 " unknown 0.34 inc. 266.0 274.0 8.0 " unknown 0.40 inc. 266.0 270.0 4.0 " unknown 0.62 Bo_RC_22/25 284.0 348.0 64.0 tbd [2] unknown 0.12 inc. 316.0 332.0 16.0 " unknown 0.21 Bo_RC_26/25 140.0 166.0 26.0 0.39 10.2 0.24 inc. 140.0 152.0 12.0 0.40 4.7 0.38 inc. 140.0 142.0 2.0 0.40 0.8 2.02

Notes: [1] Reported intervals are downhole lengths. Estimated true widths were calculated from hole orientation and the interpreted geometry of the mineralized corridors. Estimates may vary locally where geometry changes. Where intervals fall outside the resource block-model domains, true widths are not estimated and only downhole lengths are reported. [2] True widths are unknown, to be defined after further MRE update.



Figure 1 - Drill collar plan showing planned holes for the ongoing 5,728 m RC campaign at the Borralha Project. The red outline delineates the main mineralized breccia zone

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11632/268354_73bff5a8941de85b_001full.jpg







Figure 2 - Geological Cross-Section for hole Bo_RC_21/25.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11632/268354_alliedcritical2.jpg

Strategic Context

These results follow recently reported ultra-high-grade and extensive tungsten intercepts, including 12.0 m @ 4.27% WO3 (Bo_RC_14/25), and 100.0 m @ 0.21% WO3 (Bo_RC_17/25), confirming a significant system within the Santa Helena Breccia. Allied is working systematically to define both bulk-mineable zones and higher-grade corridors that can support future underground or hybrid extraction scenarios.

Next Steps

Drilling is ongoing, with further results expected in the coming weeks. Step-out holes are targeting both western and northern extensions of SHB, while infill drilling is refining the core resource model. Results will continue to inform the MRE and subsequent economic studies.

In light of the recent new discovery of the very high grade corridor at the west dip of the central area of the Breccia, the Company has adapted the current campaign towards confirming, and potentially expanding upon the recent very high grade intercepts.

Sampling, QA/QC and Analytical Notes

Drilling was completed using reverse-circulation (RC). All sample bags were pre-labelled with a unique internal sequence number used consistently for the assay sample and corresponding reject. Sampling was conducted on 2.0 m intervals for analytics. For each 2.0 m interval, two 1.0 m reject samples were also collected as representative splits. Splitting was performed at the rig via a rotary splitter integral to the RC cyclone.

Sampling followed pre-prepared sample lists that recorded downhole metreage, sequence, and the placement of Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) and field duplicates. CRMs were inserted at a rate of 1 in 20 samples (5%) and field duplicates at 1 in 20 samples (5%), arranged so that every 10th sample alternated between a CRM and a duplicate.

Analytical and reject samples were boxed at the drill site and transported by company personnel to the project core/logging facility. Analytical samples were stored on labelled pallets pending direct shipment to ALS's preparation laboratory in Seville, Spain. Pulps and rejects were subsequently stored securely in the project logging room.

At ALS Seville, samples were crushed to 70% passing 2 mm, riffle-split to ~250 g, and pulverized using hardened steel to 85% passing 75 m. Pulps were shipped to ALS Loughrea (Ireland) for analysis. The primary analytical method was ME-MS81 (lithium borate fusion with ICP-MS finish). Base metals were also reported using ME-4ACD81 (four-acid digestion with ICP-MS finish). Over-limit tungsten results were re-assayed using W-XRF15b (lithium borate fusion with XRF). Analytical results were delivered directly by ALS to the Company via secure electronic transfer.

Primary disclosure remains the reported grade and interval length (and true width where known).

To the best of the Company's knowledge, no drilling, sampling, recovery, or other factors have been identified that would materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data referenced herein.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Vitor Arezes, BSc, MIMMM (QMR) (Membership N. 703197, Vice-President Exploration of Allied Critical Metals, who is a Qualified Person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Arezes is not independent of Allied Critical Metals Inc. as he is an officer of the Company.

About the Borralha Tungsten Project

Allied's Borralha Tungsten Project is one of the largest and most historically significant past-producing tungsten operations in Western Europe. Located in northern Portugal, Borralha was once the second-largest tungsten mine in the country and supplied strategic materials to European and Allied industries during the 20th century, including both World Wars and the Cold War period.

Today, the project is undergoing a modern revitalization based on a combination of scale, grade, metallurgy, and jurisdictional strength. Mineralization is dominated by coarse-grained wolframite, which is highly desirable in global markets due to its favorable processing characteristics and higher recoveries compared to scheelite-bearing deposits.

Borralha benefits from existing infrastructure, shallow mineralization, and a simple processing route, making it one of the most advanced tungsten development projects in the European Union. These attributes are particularly important in the context of the EU Critical Raw Materials Act (2024/1252) and NATO strategic autonomy initiatives, both of which explicitly identify tungsten as a defense-critical raw material subject to severe supply risk.

With the EU currently dependent on over 80% of its tungsten imports from China, Borralha represents a rare and strategic opportunity to develop a secure, domestic, and NATO-aligned supply source. As Allied continues to advance drilling, resource expansion, and economic studies, Borralha is poised to play a central role in reshaping Europe's tungsten landscape-supporting both decarbonization technologies and defense-industrial resilience.

Understanding Tungsten

To understand tungsten, it is critical to understand the difference between wolframite tungsten mineralization and scheelite tungsten mineralization. Scheelite often reports higher grades but is typically more costly and complex to process, requiring flotation methods with higher capital and operating expenditures and lower recoveries.i In contrast, wolframite can be processed more efficiently using gravity and magnetic separation, resulting in lower costs and higher recoveries, making lower grades economically viable in wolframite deposits. For example, a lower grade wolframite deposit can be more attractive than a slightly higher grade scheelite deposit.ii

It is also important to recognize that China, Russia, and North Korea control approximately 87% of the world's tungsten supply, using cheap labor and minimal environmental standards in authoritarian regimes.iii As a result, production costs and grades in these countries are not comparable to Western projects, which operate under higher labor, ESG, and energy cost structures. Evaluating projects outside these regions provides a realistic benchmark for what grades and intercepts are economically viable while supporting secure, NATO-aligned supply chains.

For Allied, this context is significant. Allied's operations in secure jurisdictions align with Western critical mineral needs, avoiding geopolitical risks associated with China and Russia while positioning the Company to benefit from growing tungsten demand across defense, aerospace, and electrification sectors. Allied's wolframite tungsten mineralization and secure location position it as a strategic and responsible tungsten exploration company, well placed to take advantage of a rising-demand market. iv

About Allied Critical Metals Inc.

Allied Critical Metals Inc. (CSE: ACM) (OTCQB: ACMIF) (FSE:0VJ0) is a Canadian-based mining company focused on the expansion and revitalization of its 100% owned past producing Borralha Tungsten Project and the Vila Verde Tungsten Project in northern Portugal with advantageous wolframite tungsten mineralization. Tungsten has been designated a critical metal by the United States and other western countries, as they are aggressively seeking friendly sources of this unique metal. Currently, China, Russia and North Korea represent approximately 86% of the total global supply and reserves. Tungsten is used in a variety of industries such as defense, automotive, manufacturing, electronics, and energy.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"Roy Bonnell"

Roy Bonnell

CEO and Director

Please visit our website at www.alliedcritical.com.

Also visit us at:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/allied-critical-metals-inc

X: https://x.com/@alliedcritical/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alliedcriticalmetals/

The Canadian Stock Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking statements", including with respect to the use of proceeds. Wherever possible, words such as "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "potential for" and similar expressions have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations of the Company's management for future growth, results of operations, performance and business prospects and opportunities and involve significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, without limitation, those listed in the Company's Listing Statement and other filings made by the Company with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities (which may be viewed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca ). Examples of forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the proposed timeline and use of proceeds for exploration and development of the Company's mineral projects as described in the Company's Listing Statement, news releases, and corporate presentations. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results, performance or achievements may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. These factors should be considered carefully, and prospective investors should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements and reference should also be made to the Company's Listing Statement dated April 23, 2025 and news release dated May 16, 2025, and the documents incorporated by reference therein, filed under its SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca for a description of additional risk factors. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to revise forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law.

iInternational Tungsten Industry Association (ITIA). (2023). Tungsten: Global industry, markets & outlook. Retrieved from https://www.itia.info

ii International Tungsten Industry Association (ITIA). (2023). Tungsten: Global industry, markets & outlook. Retrieved from https://www.itia.info

iii International Tungsten Industry Association (ITIA). (2023). Tungsten: Global industry, markets & outlook. Retrieved from https://www.itia.info

iv International Tungsten Industry Association (ITIA). (2023). Tungsten: Global industry, markets & outlook. Retrieved from https://www.itia.info

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/268354

SOURCE: Allied Critical Metals Inc.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - September 29, 2025) - Paul Andreola, Founder of Smallcap Discoveries, and his team, joined Tim McKenzie, Vice President of Business Development, Markette Ventures, TMX Group, to close the market to celebrate the 2025 Annual SmallCap Discoveries Conference at the Parq Casino in Vancouver.





Cannot view this video? Visit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0E4oekRlBCI

Today's market close celebrates the Annual SmallCap Discoveries Conference, an event focused on strengthening Canada's microcap ecosystem. Investors from around the world have come together with a curated group of Canadian companies to foster meaningful connections, improve access to capital, and build long-term support for businesses that often operate outside the spotlight. This initiative is part of a broader effort to create a healthier environment for capital formation, innovation and entrepreneurship. At its heart, it is about community, bringing issuers, investors, and stakeholders together to share ideas, opportunities, and support for the future of Canada's public markets.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/268451

SOURCE: Toronto Stock Exchange
Optimized cash management results in 8.3% reduction in operating cash outflow compared to the same period in 2024

Cash runway extended to late Q4 2025 following post-closing financing

Manufacturing process transfer to Catalent, Inc., on track

Protocol for the dose-ranging study submitted to the ANSM in mid-August

Regulatory News:

GenSight Biologics (Euronext: SIGHT, ISIN: FR0013183985, PEA-PME eligible), a biopharma company focused on developing and commercializing innovative gene therapies for retinal neurodegenerative diseases and central nervous system disorders, today reported its interim financial results for the first half of 2025.

The 2025 half-year financial statements were subject to a limited review by the Company's statutory auditors and approved by the Board of Directors on September 26, 2025. The full interim financial report is available on the Company's website in the Investors section.

"We have rigorously maintained financial discipline in the first half of 2025, achieving an 8% reduction in cash outflow compared to the prior year period through optimized cash management. The 3.7 million financing we completed last week has extended our cash runway, providing us with sufficient funds until the expected decision of the ANSM with regard to the French Early Access Program," noted Jan Eryk Umiastowski, Chief Financial Officer of GenSight Biologics. "While the funds raised position us well for the coming months, we may consider additional capital before year-end, should the evaluation of the dose-ranging study requested by the French authorities extend into the end of Q4 2025."

2025 Half-Year Financial Results (IFRS)

In million euros H1 2024 H1 2025 Revenues 1.1 (0.2) Other income 0.6 0.3 Operating income 1.7 0.1 Research and development expenses (6.3) (4.3) Sales, medical and marketing expenses (0.3) (0.2) General and administrative expenses (2.6) (2.3) Operating profit (loss) (7.4) (6.8) Financial income (loss) 1.6 (0.2) Net income (loss) (5.8) (7.0) EPS (in per share) (0.07) (0.05) Net cash flows from operating activities (7.3) (2.5) Net cash flows from investment activities 0.0 0.0 Net cash flows from financing activities 12.1 0.3 Net cash flows +4.8 (2.2) Cash and cash equivalents at closing 6.9 0.3

Operating income decreased to 0.04 million from 1.7 million over the period. In the first half of 2025, income mainly reflects the Research Tax Credit (CIR), partly offset by the accounting impact of discounting potential rebate obligations linked to ATUs (GS010/LUMEVOQ, 2019-2022). These obligations were re-estimated in June 2024, following a revised timeline for the final reimbursement negotiations, which impacted revenue. There was no change in the estimate during the first half of 2025.

The Company has collected the research tax credit (Credit d'Impot Recherche), amounting to 0.3 million in the first half of 2025, compared to 0.6 million in the first half of 2024. As of June 30, 2025, the Research Tax Credit (CIR), is lower compared with the same period last year, as eligible expenses are reduced. The Company is expecting to collect an additional 0.2 million in early October 2025.

The main spending was related to preparation of the dose-ranging study requested by the ANSM in the context of assessment of the French Early Access program. The protocol was submitted to the ASNM in mid-August 2025 and is being reviewed under a clear regulatory timeline.

Research and development expenses decreased by 31.8%, or 2.0 million, and amounted to 4.3 million in the first half of 2025 compared to 6.3 million a year earlier. This decrease was essentially driven by a sharp reduction in R&D spending, achieved by focussing mainly on the technology transfer of GS010 manufacturing to our new manufacturing partner, Catalent, Inc., and on essential costs related to preparation of the dose-ranging study.

Sales, medical and marketing expenses decreased by 12.8% in H1 2025 and amounted to 0.2 million in the first half of 2025 compared to 0.3 million a year earlier, reflecting disciplined cost management.

General and administrative expenses fell by 10% in H1 2025, amounting 2.3 million compared to 2.6 million a year earlier, reflecting disciplined cost management. Personnel costs increased following the hiring of a CFO in September 2024, a function that had been outsourced in H1 2024, while professional fees decreased by 38.1%, highlighting the company's effective monitoring of spending.

Operating loss decreased by 8.3%, or 0.6 million, in the first half of 2025, amounting to (6.8) million compared to (7.4) million over the same period in 2024. This decrease reflects trends in operating income; R&D expenses; sales, medical and marketing expenses; and G&A expenses as discussed above, partially offset by the reduction in the research tax credit.

Financial income in the first half of 2025 amounted to (0.2) million compared to 1.6 million over the same period in 2024. In 2024, the financial income is essentially explained by the renegotiation of our financial obligations and the change in derivative financial instrument fair value.

Net loss for the first half of 2025 increased to (7.0) million compared to (5.8) million in the first half of 2024. The loss per share (based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding over the period) amounted to (0.05) and (0.07) for the first half of 2025 and 2024, respectively.

Net cash flows from operating activities in the first half of 2025 and in 2024 were (2.5) million and (7.3) million, respectively. The sharp decrease in 2025 is driven mainly by the decrease in operating expenses. The decrease in income also contributed.

Net cash flows from investment activities amounted to 0.0 million in the first half of 2025 and in 2024, driven mainly by the activity of the Company's liquidity contract.

Net cash flows from financing activities amounted to 0.3 million in the first half of 2025, compared to 12.1 million in the same period of 2025. This reflects capital increases of 0.8 million in 2025 versus 9.3 million in 2024, in line with the company's financing needs and the timing of fundraising activities.

Cash and cash equivalents amounted to 0.3 million as of June 30, 2025, compared to 2.1 million twelve months earlier.

Other Financial Updates

Cash runway

By the end of September 2025, the Company anticipates having cash on hand amounting to a minimum of 3.0 million, taking into account:

The financing completed on July 1 and July 18, 2025, which raised approximately 4.5 million gross

The financing secured on September 25, 2025, totaling 3.7 million through equity with 100% warrant coverage from existing investors; the delivery of shares and payments are scheduled for September 30, 2025

The September Heights Capital Scheduled Installment Payment paid in cash for 0.7 million

Based on current operations, plans, and assumptions, the September funding is expected to extend the Company's operational runway into late Q4 2025. If the French Early Access Program launches as expected, the resulting revenue would further extend the cash runway to the end of May 2026. However, should the regulatory decision for the requested dose-ranging study be delayed until the end of Q4 2025, the Company may require additional financing before year-end.

In June 2025, the Company reached an agreement with the ANSM (the French medicines agency) to expeditiously consider the French Early Access Program following approval of a dose-ranging study. The study protocol was submitted in August 2025, with the regulatory decision expected by the Company between October and November 2025, based on well-defined regulatory timelines. In case of a positive decision, this should enable the launch of revenue-generating programs by year-end.

The Company is actively pursuing opportunities to out-license GS010 in markets outside the USA and Europe, while exploring paid Early Access Programs worldwide. These EAPs and out-license opportunities will allow non-dilutive revenue to be generated, which will partially self-fund subsequent development phases and reduce reliance on equity financing.

Management's Plans and Financing Strategy

Revenue-Driven Runway Extension:

If the ANSM provides a green light to open the French Early Access Program in Q4 2025, it isexpected to generate enough revenue to extend operations until end of May of 2026. This will significantly improve the company's liquidity position and provide additional time to secure long-term funding. In the event of an opening in late 2025 or prolonged assessment, the company may require additional financing before the end of the year.

Medium-term Funding Strategy (Beyond May 2026):

The Company has strategically sequenced its operational milestones to create multiple value inflection points and diversified funding opportunities:

Non-dilutive Sources:

Early Access Program (EAP) reimbursements worldwide

Licensing and partnership agreements, with enhanced attractiveness as manufacturing and early market access capabilities are demonstrated

Dilutive Sources:

Additional equity raises, timed to align with operational milestones that reduce execution risk

Strategic partnerships or merger and acquisition opportunities

This phased approach ensures that each operational success enhances the Company's ability to secure funding for subsequent development phases while progressively reducing dependence on equity markets through revenue generation.

Going Concern Assessment

Key Assumptions

Based on current operations and plans, the Board has prepared the financial statements on a going concern basis based on the following critical assumptions:

Anticipated opening of the French Early Access program in Q4 2025, generating revenue to help extend operations to end of May 2026. The company may need small complementary financing before the end of the year, should the expected authorization of the requested dose ranging study extend until the end of Q4 2025.

Securing additional long-term funding (both non-dilutive and dilutive) before mid-2026 to sustain operations through Phase III clinical development and regulatory submission phases

The respect of payment agreements with suppliers

The settlement of Height's redemption installments (0.7M per quarter) in shares rather than cash, which the company is entitled to enforce, provided that the company's share price remains above the contractual floor limit

Material Uncertainty

While the Company believes in its ability to raise additional funds or realize M&A opportunities, no assurance can be given that these objectives will be achieved or that sufficient funds will be secured at acceptable terms. Failure to secure adequate funding could require the Company to severely modify its operating plans, impair its ability to realize its assets and pay its liabilities in the normal course of business, or be forced to enter into insolvency proceedings or cease its operations in whole or in part. Therefore, substantial doubt exists regarding the Company's ability to continue as a going concern.

About GenSight Biologics

GenSight Biologics S.A. is a clinical-stage biopharma company focused on developing and commercializing innovative gene therapies for retinal neurodegenerative diseases and central nervous system disorders. GenSight Biologics' pipeline leverages two core technology platforms, the Mitochondrial Targeting Sequence (MTS) and optogenetics, to help preserve or restore vision in patients suffering from blinding retinal diseases. GenSight Biologics' lead product candidate, GS010 (lenadogene nolparvovec) is in Phase III in Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON), a rare mitochondrial disease that leads to irreversible blindness in teens and young adults. GS010 is currently in clinical development, has not to date been granted marketing authorization in France or any other jurisdiction, and is therefore not available commercially. Using its gene therapy-based approach, GenSight Biologics' product candidates are designed to be administered in a single treatment to each eye by intravitreal injection to offer patients a sustainable functional visual recovery.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the completion expected proceeds and anticipated use of proceeds of the Fundraising; the anticipated cash runway of the Company; and future expectations, plans and prospects of the Company. Words such as "anticipates," "believes," "expects," "intends," "projects," and "future" or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to the inherent uncertainties in predicting future results and conditions and no assurance can be given that the proposed securities offering discussed above will be consummated on the terms described or at all. Completion of the proposed Fundraising and the terms thereof are subject to numerous factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including, without limitation, market conditions, failure of customary closing conditions and the risk factors and other matters set forth in the filings the Company makes with the AMF from time to time. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250929800692/en/

Contacts:

GenSight Biologics

Chief Financial Officer

Jan Eryk Umiastowski

jeumiastowski@gensight-biologics.com
THUNDER BAY, ON / ACCESS Newswire / September 29, 2025 / Clean Air Metals Inc. ("Clean Air Metals" or the "Company") (TSXV:AIR)(FRA:CKU)(OTCQB:CLRMF) announces that it has filed its unaudited consolidated interim financial statements and management's discussion and analysis for the six-month period ended July 31, 2025, available for viewing on www.sedarplus.ca.

Financial Highlights

Total assets as at July 31, 2025 of $36,946,848

Total cash as at July 31, 2025 of $2,479,746

Working capital deficiency as at July 31, 2025 of $1,017,202

Shareholder's equity as at July 31, 2025 of $33,337,146

During the six months ended July 31, 2025, the Company incurred $620,396 in cost for exploration activities at the TBN project. Key activities of the Company's management team this quarter focused on development of exploration targets at the Escape Deposit down plunge and subsequently the kick-off of a drill program to test the first target. Assays of this maiden hole is expected to be available in the middle of fiscal Q3. Work also commenced on the Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for Thunder Bay North using select consultants. The study will outline a toll-milling case with a mine-plan that is focused on higher margin material in the Current and Escape deposits. Expected completion of the study is within fiscal Q3.

Financial Summary

For the three months ended For the six months ended July 31, 2025 July 31, 2024 July 31, 2025 July 31, 2024 Operating Expenses $ 400,205 $ 1,437,180 $ 752,774 $ 2,300,444 Net Loss and Comprehensive Loss (365,892 ) (1,425,964 ) (589,533 ) (2,289,228 ) Loss per share - Basic and Diluted $ (0.00 ) $ (0.01 ) $ (0.00 ) $ (0.01 ) July 31, 2025 January 31, 2025 Total Assets $ 36,946,848 $ 37,908,937 Total Liabilities 3,609,702 4,017,254 Total Shareholders' Equity $ 33,337,146 $ 33,891,683

Full details of the financial reports and operating results for the six month period ended July 31, 2025 are described in the Company's unaudited consolidated interim financial statements with accompanying notes and related Management's Discussion and Analysis, available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

About Clean Air Metals

Clean Air Metals is a development and exploration company advancing its flagship, 100% owned Thunder Bay North Critical Minerals ("TBN") project, 40 km northeast of Thunder Bay, Ontario. The TBN project, accessible by road and next to established infrastructure, hosts two (2) deposits - the Current and Escape deposits, only 2.5 km apart. Together, the deposits host a 13.8 Mt indicated mineral resource containing 2.4M Pt eq. oz (Technical Report on the Thunder Bay North Project, Ontario Canada, NI43-101, SLR Consulting Canada Ltd, June 19, 2023) with significant potential for expansion down-plunge.

One of the rare primary platinum resources outside of South Africa, the TBN project is in a stable and mining-friendly jurisdiction and benefits from longstanding relationships with local First Nations. With its proven technical team, Clean Air Metals is committed to growing the resources at the TBN project and creating long-term value for shareholders.

Social Engagement

Clean Air Metals Inc. acknowledges that the Thunder Bay North Critical Minerals Project is located within the area encompassed by the Robinson-Superior Treaty of 1850 and includes the territories of the Fort William First Nation,?Red Rock Indian Band, Biinjitiwabik Zaaging Anishinabek and Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek. Clean Air Metals also acknowledges the contributions of the Metis Nation of Ontario, Region 2 and the Red Sky Metis Independent Nation to the rich history of our area.?

The Company appreciates the opportunity to work in these territories and remains committed to the recognition and respect of those who have lived, travelled, and gathered on the lands since time immemorial. Clean Air Metals is committed to stewarding Indigenous heritage and remains committed to building, fostering and encouraging a respectful relationship with First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples based upon principles of mutual trust, respect, reciprocity and collaboration in the spirit of reconciliation.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"Mike Garbutt"

Mike Garbutt, CEO of Clean Air Metals Inc.

Connect with us on X/ Facebook/ Instagram.

Visit www.cleanairmetals.ca for more information or contact:

Mia Boiridy

Director of Communications and Investor Relations

250-575-3305

mboiridy@cleanairmetals.ca

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

Cautionary Note

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." Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof, and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections.

SOURCE: Clean Air Metals, Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/clean-air-metals-files-interim-financial-statements-for-the-six-months-ended-july-1079650
Sudbury, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - September 29, 2025) - Transition Metals Corp. (TSXV: XTM) ("Transition" or the "Corporation") is pleased to announce it has upsized its non-brokered critical mineral flow through private placement financing ("CFT Offering") originally announced on September 22, 2025. Demand for the CFT Offering has allowed the Company to increase the placement to a total of $743,133 in gross consisting of 9,908,439 Critical Flow Through Shares (the "CFT Shares") at a price of $0.075 per CFT Share.

A finder's fee may be paid in connection with a portion of the financing to finders, as determined by mutual agreement between the Corporation and the finders and subject to regulatory approval. The finders' fee will consist of 6% cash for CFT Shares sold to investors introduced by such finders and an additional 6% non-transferable share purchase warrants equal to 6% for CFT Shares sold to investors introduced by such finders (the "Compensation Warrants"). The Compensation Warrants will permit the finder to purchase one common share in the capital of the Company for 18 months from closing at a price of $0.12.

Proceeds from the CFT Shares issued in connection with the CFT Offering will be used to explore and advance critical minerals properties in Ontario (Saturday Night PGM) and Yukon (Pike Warden Au-Ag-Cu). The securities issued in connection with the CFT Offering, including any common shares issued upon exercise of the Compensation Warrants, will be subject to a four-month restricted resale period and applicable securities legislation hold periods outside of Canada from the closing date. Completion of the CFT Offering will be subject to all necessary approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. There can be no assurance that the CFT Offering will be completed as proposed or at all.

Certain officers and directors of the Company may participate in the private placement, which constitutes a "related party transaction" for purposes of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). Such participation is exempt from the valuation and minority approval requirements of MI 61-101 by virtue of the fact that the Company is not listed on a specified market set out in section 5.5(b) of MI 61-101 and the value of CFT Shares subscribed for by such officers and directors is less than $2,500,000 in accordance with the requirements of section 5.7(b) of MI 61-101.

About Transition Metals Corp

Transition Metals Corp (TSXV: XTM) is a Canadian-based, multi-commodity explorer. The award-winning team of geoscientists has extensive exploration experience which actively develops and tests new ideas for discovering mineralization in places that others have not looked, often allowing the company to acquire properties inexpensively.

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Information

Except for statements of historical fact contained herein, the information in this news release constitutes "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities law. Such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "plans", "proposes", "estimates", "intends", "expects", "believes", "may", "will" and include without limitation, statements regarding estimated capital and operating costs, expected production timeline, benefits of updated development plans, foreign exchange assumptions and regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate; actual results and future events could differ materially from such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, among others, metal prices, competition, risks inherent in the mining industry, and regulatory risks. Most of these factors are outside the control of the Company. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities statutes or regulation, the Company expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly forward- looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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

THIS PRESS RELEASE, PROVIDED PURSUANT TO APPLICABLE CANADIAN REQUIREMENTS, IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES, AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN. THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO U.S. PERSONS ABSENT REGISTRATION OR APPLICABLE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/268463

SOURCE: Transition Metals Corp.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - German AI startup Black Forest Labs is in talks to raise $200 million to $300 million in new funding, which could increase its valuation to roughly $4 billion. The specifics are subject to change and are not final. Established in 2024 by a group that contributed to the development of the AI image generator Stable Diffusion, the business has rapidly become one of Europe's most promising AI firms, competing with Mistral AI of France. Black Forest has already inked significant agreements with major U.S. tech companies, such as a partnership with Adobe on AI image-generation tools and a deal with Meta Platforms reportedly valued at over $100 million. Vibes, a new video feature in Meta's Meta AI app that uses Black Forest's technology, was just released. In 2024, the company raised $31 million in a seed round led by Andreessen Horowitz. This was followed by discussions about a larger round that would have valued the company at more than $1 billion. The new fundraising would represent one of the sector's fastest valuation increases if it were successful. The momentum coincides with a surge in artificial intelligence investments worldwide. In the first half of 2025, investors invested $115 billion in AI startups, up from $145 billion for the entire year prior, according to PitchBook. With Google's Veo, OpenAI's Sora, Black Forest's Flux, and now Meta's new Midjourney partnership fighting for supremacy, the funding push highlights how fiercely competitive AI image and video generation is becoming. A multibillion-dollar valuation for Black Forest Labs would solidify its position as a growing European alternative to the AI behemoths of Silicon Valley. 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.
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS / ACCESS Newswire / September 29, 2025 / CYBERA, a global leader in scam prevention and mule account intelligence, announced today that it has been accepted by rigorous peer-review to present its latest research paper, "Send to Which Account? Evaluation of an LLM-Based Scambaiting System," at the APWG eCrime 2025 Conference in San Diego this November.

APWG Symposium on Electronic Crime Research



Scammers are increasingly using generative AI (GenAI) technologies to produce highly convincing phishing content at scale, driving financial fraud and eroding public trust. CYBERA's research demonstrates a novel, proactive approach: engaging scammers directly through conversational honeypots powered by large language models (LLMs) to extract actionable threat intelligence.

Over a five-month deployment, CYBERA's system initiated over 2,600 conversations with real scammers, generating more than 18,700 messages. The system achieved an Information Disclosure Rate (IDR) of 32%, successfully capturing sensitive financial details such as mule bank accounts and cryptocurrency wallets. This intelligence is critical for banks, payment processors, and law enforcement seeking to freeze funds and protect consumers before losses occur.

"At CYBERA, we believe that AI should not only protect people from scams but actively disrupt the criminal infrastructure that enables fraud," said CYBERA CEO Patrick Peterson. "Our LLM-based scambaiting system represents a new frontier in proactive fraud defense - one where we can gather intelligence at scale and share it with financial institutions to stop scams before victims lose money."

The research team included Hossein Siadati (CYBERA), Haadi Jafarian (University of Colorado Denver), and Sima Jafaikhah (UNCW). Their work not only demonstrates the potential of AI-driven engagement to improve fraud prevention but also identifies operational challenges, including the need to improve initial scammer engagement rates, providing guidance for the next generation of automated defenses.

"The collaborations of industrial labs and academic research centers are a hallmark of research presented at APWG eCrime symposia," said APWG Secretary General and eCrime symposium founder Peter Cassidy. "Again, in this groundbreaking work by Siadati, Jafarian and Jafaikhah, we see the powerful research insights that proceed from cross-sector collaborations. All of us on this side of the cybercrime frontier are enriched by them."

The APWG eCrime conference, held this year from Nov. 4-7, at the Loews Coronado Bay Resort, is a premier global event that brings together researchers, financial institutions, law enforcement, and security practitioners to address the global cybercrime problem. The peer-reviewed, publishing conference (proceedings published by IEEE since 2008) celebrates its 20th anniversary edition in November.

About CYBERA

CYBERA is a global mule intelligence and fraud prevention company helping banks, payment providers, and regulators protect customers from scams. By combining ethical scambaiting, AI-powered intelligence gathering, and real-time data sharing, CYBERA enables institutions to block fraudulent transactions, freeze mule accounts, and reduce the financial and emotional impact of scams worldwide.

About APWG

The APWG (Anti-Phishing Working Group) is an international coalition of counter-cybercrime responders, forensic investigators, law enforcement agencies, technology companies, financial services firms, retailers and brand holders, university researchers, NGOs and multilateral treaty organizations. Its directors, managers and research fellows advise national and sub-national governments as well as the United Nations (Office on Drugs and Crime) as recognized experts (under the Doha Declaration of 2010 and Salvador Declaration of 2015) as well as multilateral treaty bodies and industry organizations. APWG forges globally recognized conventions in data exchange and curates applied research, industrial policy and public awareness messaging programs at work around the world.

Media Contact

Claudio Staub

CRO, Co-Founder

claudio.staub@cybera.io

+1 650 822 6065

APWG: press@apwg.org

SOURCE: ANTI-PHISHING WORKING GROUP

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/computers-technology-and-internet/cybera-selected-to-present-groundbreaking-ai-scambaiting-research-1079618
A widely shared press release claimed that US President Donald Trump has been permanently barred from the Nobel Peace Prize, citing his controversial comments in his UN speech and his decision to rename the US Department of Defense as the Department of War. However, is this true?

A widely shared post falsely claimed that US President Donald Trump had been permanently disqualified from future awards by the Nobel Prize committee. Reuters File

A viral rumour has been making the rounds online claiming that US President Donald Trump has been permanently barred from ever winning a Nobel Peace Prize.

The buzz started after an image circulated that looked like a genuine Associated Press release, dated September 25, 2025, making it seem official.

But the truth is very different. Trump remains fully eligible for the prestigious award, which he has publicly been seeking for months.

Heres the full story behind the hoax and what really matters.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

What did the viral post say?

A widely shared post falsely claimed that Donald Trump had been permanently disqualified from future awards by the Nobel Prize committee.

According to the supposed press release, the reasons were his controversial comments in his UN speech on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025, and his decision to rename the US Department of Defense as the Department of War.

The fake announcement even included contact details for a mysterious Hans Zeemer at swisstimes.org and carried the dramatic headline, NPC BARRS TRUMP ACCOLADE.

The text read: STOCKHOLM (AP)  In an unprecedented move that has world leaders praising the prestigious organization, the Nobel Prize committee announced today that Donald J Trump is permanently disqualified from future awards after his controversial comments in his UN speech on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025 as well as his decision to rename the US Department of Defense as the Department of War, which the committee deemed a grave breach of historical gravitas and semantic decorum.

WOMP-WOMP!



The #NobelPrize committee announces that Donald Trump has been PERMANENTLY DISQUALIFIED from all future awards due to his renaming US Defense Dept "Department of War." pic.twitter.com/eRETH6sk8n  Lance A Schart  (@LanceASchart) September 26, 2025

It went on to say: The committees terse statement, issued under embargo until now, asserted that the integrity of the Nobel tradition cannot coexist with a willful rebranding of global defense institutions into instruments of infringement, and added that even past laurels remain untouched  but moving forward, no Prizes shall be awarded. The decision, the committee said, is final.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Despite the clear red flags in the post, many netizens shared it with excitement, seemingly accepting it as real.

Trump has now been permanently disqualified from future Nobel Awards. Let the ranting begin.  pic.twitter.com/785KViz4NS  DonaldFrump (@torontobaddy) September 26, 2025

Whats this

Donald Trump has now been permanently disqualified from future Nobel Awards?

Let the MAGA meltdown begin in

321 pic.twitter.com/L1GPeI7WE1  Political Cat Daddy (@PoliticalCatTN) September 27, 2025

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Fact-check on Trumps disqualification

The supposed AP press release circulating online, claiming Trump was permanently disqualified, is entirely false.

Though it mimicked the style of a legitimate AP wire, several details immediately gave it away.

First, the real AP alerts avoid editorialised language and wouldnt include random contact emails like Hans Zeemer at a suspicious domain such as swisstimes.org.

More importantly, the Nobel Prize committee does not work in that manner. Nominations for the Nobel Prizes are submitted by eligible nominators, and winners are selected by the specific Nobel bodies, for example, the Norwegian Nobel Committee handles the Peace Prize, while the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences oversees Physics and Chemistry.

An employee of the Norwegian Nobel Institute holds a replica of a Nobel Peace Medal in the Institute in Oslo, Norway. Reuters

The Peace Prize process is highly confidential, and the committees rarely comment on specific nominees until the official announcement is made. None of the committees have the authority or practice of enforcing permanent disqualifications.

Notably, no credible news outlet reported or confirmed the claim, making it clear that the viral post is purely a fabrication.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Also read: It's Nobel Week: How are winners selected?

Can Trump win a Nobel?

Experts say its highly unlikely that Donald Trump will ever receive the Nobel Peace Prize, despite his repeated efforts to position himself as a contender.

He has no chance to get the Peace Prize at all, said Asle Sveen, a historian of the award, citing Trump's support for Israel in the war in Gaza and his attempts at rapprochement with Russian President Vladimir Putin, among the reasons.

Alfred Nobels will, the awards foundation, says the award should go to the person who has done the most or best to advance fellowship among nations. This years winners will be announced on October 10.

That is something Trump is not doing, according to Nina Graeger, director of the Peace Research Institute Oslo.

He has withdrawn the US from the World Health Organisation and from the Paris Accord on climate, he has initiated a trade war on old friends and allies, she told Reuters. That is not exactly what we think about when we think about a peaceful president or someone who really is interested in promoting peace.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Experts say its highly unlikely that US President Donald Trump will ever receive the Nobel Peace Prize, despite his repeated efforts to position himself as a contender. File image/ Reuters

Trump, however, has actively lobbied for the prize himself. During a recent UN General Assembly address, he claimed he deserved the award for ending seven wars, including conflicts between India and Pakistan.

We are forging peace agreements, and we are stopping wars. So we stopped wars between India and Pakistan, Thailand and Cambodia, he said. Think of India and Pakistan. Think of that. And you know how I stopped that  with trade. They want to trade. And I have great respect for both leaders. But when you take a look at all of these wars that weve stopped.

Yet Nobel experts caution that such lobbying often backfires.

Asle Toje, deputy leader of the current Norwegian Nobel Committee, explained, These types of influence campaigns have a rather more negative effect than a positive one. Because we talk about it on the committee. Some candidates push for it really hard, and we do not like it.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

He emphasised that the committee operates in a closed, deliberative environment where outside influence is unwelcome.

Joergen Watne Frydnes, the committees current leader, added that public attention doesnt affect the decision-making process.

All politicians want to win the Nobel Peace Prize, he told Reuters. We hope the ideals underpinned by the Nobel Peace Prize are something that all political leaders should strive for  We notice the attention, both in the United States and around the world, but outside from that, we work just the same way as we always do.

In short, while Trump continues to push his case, experts say his record, policies, and the very act of lobbying for the award make his chances of ever winning highly improbable.

With input from agencies
Pakistan receives first batch of flood relief supplies from China

Xinhua) 09:56, September 29, 2025

ISLAMABAD, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- The first batch of emergency flood relief supplies donated by the Chinese government arrived in Pakistan on Sunday, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

Two Chinese relief flights carrying 300 tents and 9,000 blankets landed in Pakistan's eastern Rawalpindi district, reflecting China's enduring solidarity with Pakistan in times of difficulty, said the NDMA.

Speaking on the occasion, Pakistan's Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan & SAFRON, Amir Muqam expressed deep gratitude to the government and people of China for their prompt support, saying that the assistance will bring much needed relief to thousands of flood-affected families.

Since June of this year, heavy rains have caused floods and other disasters across Pakistan, resulting in hundreds of casualties and extensive damage to infrastructure, houses, and crops, he said, adding that the donated supplies from China will play a significant role in the relief efforts.

Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong said that the assistance provided by China vividly embodies the spirit of a community with a shared future, standing together through thick and thin.

He said that under the leadership of the Pakistani government and with the support of all sectors of society, the people in the disaster-stricken areas will be able to overcome the impact of the floods and rebuild their homes.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
New York Mayor Eric Adams was in a four-way race against ex-New York governor Andrew Cuomo, leftist Zohran Mamdani, and Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa. Adams made the announcement on social media on Sunday after months of speculation about his political future. But will this move hurt or help Mamdanis chances?

New York Mayor Eric Adams has dropped out of his re-election bid.

Adams was up against ex-New York governor Andrew Cuomo, leftist Zohran Mamdani, and Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa. Adams made the announcement on social media on Sunday. The development comes after months of speculation about Adams political future.

The development comes with around a month left to go in the election, which is slated to be held on 4th November. But why did Adams drop out? And will this move hurt or help the 33-year-old Mamdani, who would be New Yorks youngest mayor in history if elected?

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Lets take a closer look.

Why did Adams drop out?

Its been an honour to be your mayor, Adams said in the nine-minute clip uploaded on social media. The clip, set to Frank Sinatras My Way, showed Adams walking down the stairs holding a large photo of his late mother.

He touted several achievements during his time in office, including a reduction in crime, affordable housing, and an economic recovery in Americas largest city.

And yet, despite all that we have achieved, I cannot continue my re-election campaign, he continued. Adams said he is unable to raise enough funds to conduct a serious campaign and blamed the campaign finance board for being unable to do so.

Despite all weve achieved, I cannot continue my re-election campaign. The constant media speculation about my future and the campaign finance boards decision to withhold millions of pounds have undermined my ability to raise the funds needed for a serious campaign, Adams said. I hope you will see, despite the headlines and innuendo, I always put you before me.

Adams has been embroiled in controversy and scandal since he took office in 2022. Allegations of corruption against Adams and his inner circle led to a federal case against him for allegedly soliciting and accepting gifts from well-to-do contributors, including the Turkish government.

Eric Adams has been embroiled in controversy and scandal since he took office in 2022. Reuters

There were also reports that the Trump administration was eyeing the post of Ambassador to Saudi Arabia  which Adams denied.

Democrats accused Adams of kissing Trumps ring. They also targeted him with a torrent of criticism after he decided to run as Independent. Adams was running in single digits  behind Mamdani and Cuomo. Sliwa, another controversial figure, is also running in single digits.

However, Adams name will remain on the ballot as the final date to withdraw the candidacy has passed. He will also serve out his four-year term, which ends this year.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Will this move help or hurt Mamdani?

Adams, who had positioned himself as a staunch advocate for Israel and business interests, would have likely drawn away votes from Cuomo  thus elevating Mamdani to the prestigious post of Mayor of New York City.

Many in the establishment prefer Cuomo vastly over the self-described Democratic socialist Mamdani, who has little political experience. They have been left alarmed and shaken by Mamdanis leftist views  imposing rent control and making groceries and utilities affordable  when it comes to business and society.

High-profile Democratic leaders such as House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have not endorsed Mamdani. Business owners and the donor class had also been urging either Cuomo or Adams to drop out of the race in order to stop Mamdanis ascent.

However, until now, neither man had agreed to do so. I am in this race. And I am the only one who can beat Mamdani," a defiant Adams previously said.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Many in the Democratic establishment vastly prefer Andrew Cuomo over the self-described Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani. Reuters

Recent polls show that Mamdani has support from just under half the electorate (43 to 46 per cent), while Cuomo is a distant second (24 per cent to 28 per cent, Sliwa in third (10 per cent to 15 per cent), and Adams was in fourth with 7 per cent to 9 per cent support.

Even giving Cuomo every single Adams voter isnt enough for him to close the gap meaningfully with Mamdani. When it comes to a one-on-one matchup, Mamdani holds a lead over Cuomo of between four and 10 points  depending on the poll in question. In fact, one poll released last week showed Mamdani ahead of Cuomo by over 20 per cent.

Experts say Adams exit likely comes too late in the race.

If it had happened a few weeks or a few months ago, it would have represented a real sea change. It would have been a real shot in the arm for Andrew Cuomos effort to beat Mamdani, Evan Roth Smith, a founding partner at Slingshot Strategies, told Bloomberg. The move doesnt represent as much of a reordering of the race as it could have if it had happened earlierIts too little too late to really make this a whole new ballgame.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Mamdani caused an earthquake in Democratic politics by handily beating Cuomo in the Democratic primary. His campaign, which relied on social media videos to connect with everyday New Yorkers and an assortment of volunteers, beat the well-organised Democratic machine in New

York as well as the Cuomo political dynasty.

Interestingly, Adams did not endorse Cuomo  the former governor of New York for over a decade who resigned in 2021 amid sexual harassment allegations  on his way out.

However, his remarks were widely viewed as a veiled dig at Mamdani.

Too often, insidious forces use local government to advance divisive agendas with little regard for how it hurts everyday New Yorkers, Adams said. Major change is welcome and necessary, but beware of those who claim the answer [is] to destroy the very system we built.

That is not change, that is chaos. Instead, I urge New Yorkers to choose leaders not by what they promise, but by what they have delivered.

US President Donald Trump was among those who had called on Adams and Sliwa to exit the race. Trump on Sunday said he believes the move will likely help Cuomo. I think that gives Cuomo a much better chance, the president said in a phone interview. I do welcome it.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Polls show Zohran Mamdani is far ahead of Andrew Cuomo in the race for mayor of New York Citya. Reuters

Trump previously claimed Mamdani was a communist and said he might have to take over New York City if he wins. If people would get together and have one candidate, theyd have, I think, a pretty good chance, Trump said. The Trump administration has threatened to withhold federal funds from New York if Mamdani is elected mayor.

Cuomo on X called on voters to reject extremist forces.

We face destructive extremist forces that would devastate our city through incompetence or ignorance, but it is not too late to stop them, Cuomo wrote on social media. He also praised Adams for putting the well-being of New York City ahead of personal ambition.

Mamdani, after the news of Adams exit from the race, hit back at Cuomo.

New York deserves better than trading in one disgraced, corrupt politician for another. On 4th November, we are going to turn the page on the politics of big money and small ideas and deliver a government every New Yorker can be proud of, Mamdani said. He also took aim at Trump

and the Republicans.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Trump and his billionaire donors might be able to determine Adams and Cuomos actions. But they wont decide this election, Mamdani said.

With inputs from agencies
The 22-year-old suspect in the killing of Charlie Kirk, Tyler Robinson, will be presented in court for his waiver appearance. On September 16, he was charged with seven counts. Meanwhile, the inauguration of the Delhi BJPs new office building on DDU Marg is likely to be held today in the national capital. According to reports, preparations are underway for the inaugural function

It is set to be a busy Monday with several events lined up for the day.

Firstly, the suspect in the shooting of right-wing politician Charlie Kirk, Tyler Robinson, will appear in court today for his waiver appearance. Meanwhile, the inauguration of the Delhi BJPs new office building in the national capital is likely to take place today.

The member nations of the UN Security Council will meet to debate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The foreign ministers of France, Germany, and Poland are scheduled to meet.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Trial hearing for Tyler Robinson

Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old suspect in the shooting of right-wing political commentator Charlie Kirk, is set to appear in court again for his waiver appearance today.

Earlier, on September 16, he was charged with seven counts while appearing before the Utah 4th District Court Judge, Tony Graf. This marked the beginning of a potentially long pre-trial proceedings, followed by a trial in which prosecutors pursued the death penalty for Robinson.

22-year-old Tyler Robinson is suspected of killing Trump supporter Charlie Kirk. File image/AP

The waiver of appearance permits a defendant to skip being physically present for specific procedural hearings. Crucially, this waiver cannot be used to enter a plea.

Delhi BJPs new office likely to be inaugurated

The inauguration of the Delhi BJPs new office building on DDU Marg is likely to be held today. According to reports, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the partys national president JP Nadda are likely to be present.

According to a top party source, preparations are underway for the inaugural function. Invitation for the new party offices inauguration has been sent to the Prime Ministers Office and he is likely to attend, though a final confirmation is awaited, he said.

The construction work for the new building was already completed, and the last-minute touches too were given along with the necessary statutory permissions like occupancy certificate, fire safety, among others, sources said.

UNSC meeting on Israeli-Palestinian conflict

The United Nations Security Council will hold a meeting focusing on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This meeting takes place during the annual UN General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Week, making it particularly significant. World leaders are already in New York, often leading to high-level participation and increased diplomatic pressure on the conflict.

Some of the issues worth a dialogue include the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and a political pathway. Given the recent severity of the conflict and the devastating situation in Gaza, the urgent need for a permanent ceasefire and unhindered access to humanitarian aid will dominate the discussion. Members will likely express strong concern over continued Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank and the rising level of violence in that territory.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

French, German, Polish foreign ministers to meet

The foreign ministers of France, Germany and Poland will be meeting today under the Weimar Triangle framework. French Foreign Minister M Jean-Noel Barrot, Germanys Johann David Wadephul, and Polands Radoslaw Sikorski will meet in Warsaw.

The meeting aims to highlight trilateral cooperation within the Weimar Triangle framework. It has seen a resurgence in activity in 2025, with meetings focused on addressing Russias aggression in Ukraine and strengthening European security. The Weimar Triangle was established in 1991 to promote cooperation between Poland, Germany, and France.

With inputs from agencies
On September 29, 1954, European nations came together to create Cern, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, marking a new era for the field of particle physics. The facility, which serves as a hub for scientists worldwide, also houses the Large Hadron Collider, the worlds largest machine. It was also the day in 1829, Scotland Yard, the headquarters of the newly created Metropolitan Police, was established in London

On September 29, 1954, a groundbreaking chapter opened in the field of particle physics with the founding of Cern, the European Organization for Nuclear Research.

Since then, Cern has grown into the worlds largest research laboratory, bringing together more than half of all active particle physicists. Today, it serves as a hub for collaboration, with experts from around the globe working on over 120 research projects.

On the same day, back in 1829, London saw the establishment of the Metropolitan Police Service, famously known as Scotland Yard. It introduced a new, centrally organised, and professional approach to policing, setting the standard for modern law enforcement.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

If youre a history enthusiast keen on exploring significant moments from the past, Firstpost Explainers ongoing series, History Today, is your go-to guide to uncover key events and milestones.

Heres a look at what happened on this day around the world.

Cern was established

On September 29, 1954, Cern, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, was officially founded in Switzerland.

The organisation was set up by 12 European nations, including Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Yugoslavia, with the aim of boosting collaboration in nuclear research.

Interestingly, Cern originally took its name from the French title Conseil europeen pour la recherche nucleaire. Even though its focus later shifted more towards particle physics, the short name Cern was retained.

Cerns mission has always been clear: to push the boundaries of particle physics through world-class research and advanced accelerator facilities, helping scientists unlock the mysteries of the universes fundamental building blocks.

Also read: Force of nature: Scientists discover 'brand new' type of particle at CERN

Over the decades, it has grown into the largest and most influential particle physics laboratory in the world, drawing thousands of researchers from across the globe.

One of its most iconic achievements is the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), a 27-kilometre underground ring straddling the Franco-Swiss border near Geneva. The LHC has played a central role in groundbreaking discoveries, most famously the confirmation of the Higgs boson in 2012.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

A general view of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) experiment is seen during a media visit to the Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in the French village of Saint-Genis-Pouilly, near Geneva in Switzerland. File image/Reuters

But Cerns impact goes far beyond physics. It was here in the late 1980s that Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web to make information sharing easier among scientists. It went on to transform the way the entire world communicates and shares knowledge.

Scotland Yard was created

On September 29, 1829, Scotland Yard came into being as the headquarters of the newly created Metropolitan Police in London.

The force was established by then-Home Secretary Sir Robert Peel to bring order and organisation to policing in the fast-growing British capital. Its name, Scotland Yard, came from the location of its original office on Great Scotland Yard, a street in Westminster.

The Metropolitan Police became the worlds first modern and professional police service. At the beginning, it had 895 constables, 88 sergeants, and 20 inspectors, all tasked with keeping the peace and preventing crime in London. The work was tough and the pay was meagre as constables reportedly earned just a single pound per week, while working seven days without much rest.

The force was established by then-Home Secretary Sir Robert Peel to bring order and organisation to policing in the fast-growing British capital. Its name, Scotland Yard, came from the location of its original office on Great Scotland Yard, a street in Westminster.

By 1842, Scotland Yard introduced its first plainclothes officers to gather intelligence and catch criminals more effectively. However, the idea of these undercover spies did not sit well with the public at first. Over time, though, the force gained credibility, especially after setting up its Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in 1878.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Over the years, Scotland Yard has built a reputation for its extensive records on known criminals across the UK. It also manages a special branch dedicated to protecting dignitaries, royalty, and visiting leaders, and serves as a key link between British law enforcement and Interpol.

While its jurisdiction technically covers only metropolitan London, Scotland Yards expertise is often called upon by police forces elsewhere in the country, particularly in solving complex or high-profile cases.

With input from agencies
Larry Ellison, 81, a titan of Silicon Valley, is said to have US President Donald Trumps ear behind the scenes. He and his son David, a Hollywood producer, are also poised to take over a number of media platforms including TikTok that could influence what millions of people watch in the United States and around the world

Larry Ellison and his son David could soon be among the most powerful men in America.

Not just for his wealth alone, though the Oracle chairman did recently briefly displace Elon Musk as the worlds richest man, but because Ellison, 81, a titan of Silicon Valley, has US President Donald Trumps ear.

He and his son David, a Hollywood producer, are also poised to take over a number of media platforms that could influence what millions of people watch in the United States and around the world.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Lets take a closer look.

Relationship with Trump

To examine Ellisons place in America, one must analyse his relationship with Trump. Ironically, Ellison in the 1990s used to be a huge backer of Bill Clinton. He even joked about amending the US Constitution to get Bill Clinton a third term in office.

However, like much of Silicon Valley, Ellisons positions have undergone a massive change over the past decade. In 2016, Ellison backed Marco Rubio, spending hundreds of millions of dollars on his failed campaign. He did not support either Clinton or Trump in 2016.

It was in 2020 that Ellison hosted his first fundraiser for Trump  though he was at pains to point out that he did not attend. Ellison also joined the committee to revive Americas economy during the Covid-19 pandemic.

It was during Trumps first term that Ellison joined the conversation about buying TikTok with Walmart as a partner. I think Oracle is a great company and I think its owner is a tremendous guy, a tremendous person, Trump said at the time. However, that deal ultimately fell through.

Ellison in 2020 even reportedly joined a call with US Senator Lindsey Graham and Fox News host Sean Hannity about contesting the results and Trumps defeat to Biden. Ellison, though he has not publicly donated to Trump or publicly endorsed him during the 2024 election, was part of the

Stargate project the president announced after his return to the White House.

US President Donald Trump speaks next to Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman after delivering remarks on AI infrastructure, at the Roosevelt room at White House. Reuters

In the case of Larry, its well beyond technology, hes sort of CEO of everything, Trump said at the time. The president also described him as an amazing man and an amazing person. Since then, Ellison has been a frequent Trump guest at the White House.

While Ellisons role within the Trump administration remains known to few, he is reportedly involved with political decisions, bringing in talent and playing a key part behind the scenes. So much so that many in Trumps inner circle now refer to Ellison as the shadow president.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

A media power player

But thats not all Ellison is doing. The mega-billionaire is also planning to reshape the United States media ecosystem. Part of this is by being part of the group that is planning to acquire TikTok  which makes sense given that Oracle already handles its US operations.

Oracle, under the deal, will likely retrain TikToks recommendation algorithm, known as the secret sauce, for US users  giving him control over what millions of people see, hear, and watch every day.

This has real-world implications too. Many in the United States blame TikTok for growing anti-Israeli sentiment, particularly among young people, over videos and images of the war that have been beamed around the world.

However, thats just a piece of the puzzle. Ellison and his son David are attempting to build a media empire to rival the Murdochs at their peak. David, a Hollywood producer, owns Skydance  the production company that produces the popular Mission Impossible movies helmed by Tom Cruise, among a slew of other projects  and last month bought the iconic media firm Paramount.

The bid, which was made in January 2024, came to fruition after much controversy. This came after Trump had slammed CBS News, the iconic news network owned by Paramount, over an interview it did with Kamala Harris during the 2024 polls.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

David Ellison, CEO and founder of Skydance Productions, arrives with his wife Sandra at the premiere of The Guilt Trip in Los Angeles. Reuters

Trump had accused the news network of deceptively editing the interview to favour Democrats. Paramount in July settled the case with Trump for $16 million. Many viewed this settlement as an outright bribe and an attempt to curry favour with the US president as the deal, which needed government approval, hung in the balance.

Indeed, comedian Stephen Colbert even claimed that this was a big, fat bribe on his late-night comedy show on CBS. Days later, Colberts show was cancelled by the network  which Paramount insisted had nothing to do with the deal. Again, many raised questions whether the network had been pressured by the Trump administration to cancel the comedian, who has been a fierce critic of Trump.

In the meantime, Skydance wrote to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)  which regulates broadcasting in the US and is led by Trump loyalist Brendan Carr  promising a comprehensive review of CBS as well as installing a representative to investigate claims of bias or other concerns at the news firm.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

It also said it would do away with the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices, which have been a target of the Trump administration. Interestingly, the FCC just days later approved the merger. But Ellison and his progeny arent about to stop. There are now reports that the father and son could make a bid for Warner Brothers-Discovery  which owns CNN as well as HBO. This would make Skydance and Paramount one of the worlds biggest media conglomerates.

What do critics say?

However, politicians and media groups are pushing back.

Senator Elizabeth Warren has demanded that any future Paramount-Warner Brothers merger be denied, claiming it would be a dangerous concentration of power.

Democrats in the House are already investigating the Skydance-Paramount merger. In the Senate, Warren is said to be working with Senators Bernie Sanders and Ron Wyden to do so.

Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. Reuters

The Ellison duo taking over both CBS and CNN, as well as controlling a major social media network like TikTok, would be dangerous for democracy. And given their closeness to the Trump regime, that seems to be the point, the media watch group Fair has said.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Robert Weissman of Public Citizen has claimed that any such proposed merger should plainly be struck down on antitrust grounds  both on ideology and harm to the consumer.

However, with Trump in office for another three years, it appears there is little the Democrats can do.

With inputs from agencies
India may have hit the energy jackpot. It has discovered the presence of natural gas in the Andaman Sea, with Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri noting that initial testing indicated 87 per cent methane. This is a crucial milestone in Indias exploration efforts and could help in the countrys goal of self-reliance in energy security

Oil India Ltd has discovered the presence of natural gas at the Sri Vijayapuram 2 well drilled 17 km from the shoreline on the east coast of the Andaman islands. Representational image/Reuters

India has just opened a new chapter in energy production, which could present an ocean of opportunities. India has confirmed the presence of natural gas in the Andaman basin, marking a milestone in the countrys deepwater exploration ambitions. Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced the discovery on Friday, calling it an ocean of energy opportunities.

But why is this such a big deal? What could the presence of this natural gas mean for the country?

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

We explore and get you the answers.

What has India discovered in the Andamans?

Last Friday, Oil India Limited (OIL), a Maharatna company under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas reported the occurrence of natural gas in its second exploratory well drilled in the Andaman Shallow Offshore Block.

In a statement, OIL said occurrence of natural gas was reported in the second exploratory well Vijayapuram-2 drilled in the Offshore Andaman Block AN-OSHP-2018/1, which the company had won under the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP).

The gas reserve was found in the Sri Vijayapuram-2 well, located about 17 km from the Andaman coastline at a water depth of 295 metres and drilled to a target depth of 2,650 metres.

According to Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, initial production testing of the well in the range of 2212  2250 metres has established the presence of natural gas with intermittent flaring. The gas samples were brought by ship to Kakinada, were tested and found to be 87 per cent methane.

An ocean of energy opportunities opens up in the Andaman Sea!

Very happy to report the occurrence of natural gas in Sri Vijayapuram 2 well at a distance of 9.20 NM (17 km) from the shoreline on the east coast of the Andaman Islands at a water depth of 295 meters and target depth pic.twitter.com/4VDeGtt8bt  Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) September 26, 2025

Why is this discovery significant?

The discovery by OIL is significant for a number of reasons. Union Minister Puri has long touted Andaman as holding a Guyana-scale oil field and this discovery may prove the same.

The size of the gas pool and its commercial viability will be verified in the coming months, Puri noted in a message on X, but stressed that the discovery validates Indias long-held belief that the Andaman basin is rich in natural gas, in line with discoveries in Myanmar and Indonesia along the same geological belt.

Additionally, the discovery of this natural gas also is a huge boost to Prime Minister Narendra Modis Independence Day announcement of the National Deep Water Exploration Mission. Earlier, on August 15, the prime minister announced this mission with the aim of exploring oil and gas reserves in the sea.

Terming it a Samudra Manthan, he said the initiative will be executed in Mission Mode, highlighting Indias push for energy self-reliance.

The discovery of methane would also help Indias green pivot. Representational image/Reuters

And undoubtedly, this discovery will help reduce Indias dependence on imported natural gas, which has been steadily rising over the years. In the 202324 financial year, approximately 44 per cent of Indias natural gas consumption was met through imports, primarily in the form of liquefied natural gas (LNG) Argus Media.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Prateek Pandey, Head of APAC Oil and Gas Research told CNBC that the discovery would help double Indias current production, making it a priority for the government.

The discovery of methane would also help Indias green pivot. In the last few years, the country has been trying to achieve its green goals and the discovery of methane will help towards that. This is because methane burns more cleanly than coal and oil. Hence, a switch to methane could help reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

Puri also added that the discovery will help Indias ability to partner with global deepwater exploration leaders like Petrobras, BP India, Shell, and ExxonMobil. This occurrence of natural gas will help us take forward our exploration ambitions and is a significant milestone in our journey through Amrit Kaal, he said.

Developing methane infrastructure can create jobs in extraction, transport, and distribution. It can reduce import dependency if domestic reserves are utilised efficiently, improving energy security.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

The discovery of natural gas in the Andamans could help reduce Indias dependence on imports of oil and other energy items. Representational image/Reuters

What comes next?

In the immediate aftermath of the discovery of the natural gas, shares of Oil India rose over three per cent. Business Standard reported that the companys stock rose as much as 3.11 per cent during the day to Rs 423 per share, the biggest intraday rise since September 25 this year.

Experts, however, have said that it will take time before full-scale commercial exploitation. Further isotope studies and higher-up prospect tests are needed to estimate the size and economic viability, officials were quoted as saying.

With inputs from agencies
As attendees of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Michigan reel from the shooting and arson during Sunday service, authorities are trying to determine the motive behind the attack that saw four dead and eight injured. Officials have identified the suspect to be Thomas Jacob Sanford, a 40-year-old veteran from the US Marines, who also served in the Iraq war

Thomas Jacob Sanford has been identified as the suspect behind the Michigan church shooting. Image Courtesy: Facebook

A Sunday service turned into horror after a gunman targeted a Mormon church in Americans Michigan, ramming his vehicle into the structure before opening fire on congregants and setting the building on fire, killing four people and injuring at least eight others.

The gunman, identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, was later killed by the police in the parking lot, with Grand Blanc Police Chief William Reyne saying the suspect was neutralised by the authorities eight minutes after the first emergency call was received.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Following the attack, US President Donald Trump called the events horrendous and urging prayers for the victims and their families. This appears to be yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America, he posted on Truth Social.

But who was Thomas Jacob Sanford, the man behind the attack? And how did the shooting unfold?

How did the horror unfold at the Mormon church?

On Sunday, hundreds of people, including women and children, had collected at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, for their usual service.

However, around 10.25 am, a man smashed his pickup truck through the front doors of the church, later emerging with an assault rifle and began firing on worshippers. The attacker later unleashed further havoc when he intentionally set a fire that turned into a massive blaze.

As the suspect fled the church, he exchanged gunfire with two officers and was killed.

Massive flames and smoke rise from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, about 50 miles north of Detroit as a gunman went on a rampage during Sunday service. Image Courtesy: Julie J @Malkowski6April/AP

Eyewitnesses, who were present at the church at the time of the incident, recount the horror they experienced when the attacker went on a rampage. A Sunday school teacher, identified as Paula, told ABC affiliate station WXYZ in Detroit, We heard a big bang and the doors blew.

My church is gone. I joined the church 38 years ago in that building and now its gone, Paula said. Its devastating to know that Ive lost friends and to see somebody would do this to our church.

A security analyst noted that the attacker appeared to use a multiple tactics designed to increase chaos and create a fatal funnel, as per a report in The Fortune.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Donell Harvin, a homeland security and public health emergency expert at Georgetown University, told CNN on Sunday that the attacker may have conducted pre-operational surveillance and come up with a plan that maximises fatalities and damage. This looks like a relatively new type of what we call hybrid threat where not only youre vehicle-ramming to maybe get some chaos but youre also shooting into a crowd  and may have, it seems, potentially started the fire, he added.

A vehicle that was rammed into the building is surrounded by smoke as a firefighter works on the scene at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan. Lukas Katilius/The Flint Journal/AP

Who was Thomas Jacob Sanford, the attacker behind the tragedy?

The man suspected of opening fire and unleashing horror at the Mormon church in Michigan was later identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, a 40-year-old veteran of the Iraq War.

Forty-year-old Sanford of Burton, Michigan, according to service records, graduated from a nearby high school in 2004. He served in the Marines from 2004 to 2008, and was deployed to Iraq from 2007 to 2008.

Ryan Lopez, a former high school classmate, told New York Times that he regularly saw Sanford around. He was happy to see me, he just seemed normal, Lopez said to New York Times. Sanford was an avid hunter of geese, turkey and deer and had seemed like a typical country kid while growing up. After high school, both men joined the Marines, where Sanford did motor transport work.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Emergency responders work the scene outside The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints following a shooting and fire in Grand Blanc, Michigan. (Lukas Katilius/The Flint Journal/AP

According to social media accounts, Sanford was married with a child. According to a GoFundMe page from 2015, the family was in need of donations to help pay for the medical care of Sanfords son who was born with a rare genetic disorder. The son suffers from a congenital disease known as Congenital Hyperinsulinism, which requires lengthy hospital stay and several surgeries to remove portions of the pancreas.

Sanfords records show that during his service, he received the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and National Defense Service Medal.

Sanfords last posting was in the 2nd Maintenance Battalion of Combat Logistics Regiment 25 at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Authorities are trying to ascertain the motive behind Sanfords attack on the church in Michigan. Investigators are conducting a search of the suspects property and examining his cell-phone records as they work to establish a motive.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

While officials try to determine more about Sanfords background, his political views remain unclear. In a 2019 page, he is seen wearing a Trump 2020 campaign shirt. Moreover, a Google Street view of a home that public records identify as Sanfords primary address shows a blue Trump-Pence yard sign attached to a backyard fence.

What next?

The attack on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Michigan has resulted in an outpouring of grief.

Mormon church leaders called the incident a tragic act of violence and urged members to cooperate with investigators. A tragic act of violence occurred today at a chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan. During Sunday worship services a gunman opened fire, and early reports indicate that multiple individuals were injured. We ask for cooperation with local authorities as details become available.

Women present at the scene of a shooting and structure fire at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on McCandlish Road in Grand Blanc, Michigan, console each other. Katy Kildee/Detroit News/AP

US President Donald Trump also condemned the attack. I have been briefed on the horrendous shooting that took place at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Grand Blanc, Michigan. The FBI was immediately on scene, and will be leading the federal investigation, and providing full support to state and local officials. The suspect is dead, but there is still a lot to learn. This appears to be yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America. The Trump Administration will keep the public posted, as we always do. In the meantime, pray for the victims, and their families. This epidemic of violence in our country must end, immediately.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Meanwhile, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced plans to create a task force to protect places of worship in the wake of the shooting.

Notably, the shooting at the Mormon church in Michigan is the 324th mass shooting in the US this year. It came just hours after another gunman opened fire at a waterfront bar in Southport, North Carolina, killing three and injuring at least eight.

With inputs from agencies
The US is on the brink of a government shutdown as President Donald Trump and Democrats clash over healthcare, federal workforce cuts, and funding priorities. With a September 30 deadline looming, hundreds of thousands of federal jobs are at risk, and essential services could be disrupted nationwide unless a last-minute deal is reached

Labour union members hold placards on the day of a rally in support of federal workers during a rush hour protest outside the L'Enfant Plaza Metro Station in Washington, DC, US, March 24, 2025. File Image/Reuters

The United States is once again on the edge of a government shutdown as a deeply divided Congress struggles to reach a funding agreement ahead of the September 30, 2025, deadline.

If no resolution is reached by midnight, large portions of the federal government will be forced to suspend operations, leaving hundreds of thousands of federal workers without pay and disrupting essential services relied on by millions of Americans.

This confrontation has quickly become about much more than budget numbers.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

The battle pits US President Donald Trump, who is pressing forward with sweeping reforms to the federal workforce and an aggressive political agenda, against Democratic leaders in Congress, who are pushing back against cuts to healthcare and other domestic programmes.

With both sides refusing to compromise, the outcome could have major consequences.

Why is the US facing a shutdown?

The governments fiscal year begins on October 1, which means Congress must approve a funding bill by the end of September to avoid a lapse in appropriations.

As of now, both chambers remain deadlocked.

The Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed a funding measure last week with only one Democrat voting in favour, but the Senate rejected competing stopgap bills, leaving the government without a clear path forward.

Earlier this week, Trump cancelled a scheduled meeting with top Democratic lawmakers, dismissing ongoing talks as pointless.

He accused Democratic leaders of making demands that he described as unserious, signalling that he was unwilling to compromise on their proposed conditions for keeping the government open.

The move angered Democrats, who have accused the White House and congressional Republicans of deliberately driving the government toward a shutdown.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries publicly criticised Trump for abandoning negotiations. At a press conference, Jeffries declared, Democrats will not be intimidated, in response to administration threats to fire federal workers if a shutdown occurs.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Republican leaders, meanwhile, have placed the blame squarely on Democrats.

House Speaker Mike Johnson told CNN, Chuck Schumer came back with a long laundry list of partisan demands that dont fit into this process, and hes going to try to shut the government down. The president wants to talk with him about that and say, Please dont do that.

Schumer countered by saying that if Trump approaches negotiations seriously, a shutdown can be avoided.

Speaking to NBC, Schumer said, If the president at this meeting is going to rant, and just yell at Democrats, and talk about all his alleged grievances, and say this, that, and the other thing, we wont get anything done. But my hope is itll be a serious negotiation.

What are the key issues behind the standoff?

At the heart of the current impasse are starkly different priorities between the two parties.

Democrats are demanding:

Continuation of Affordable Care Act subsidies that help lower health insurance costs for millions of Americans.

Reversal of Medicaid cuts implemented under Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Restoration of funding for public media, which was reduced under the administrations budget rescission.

Republicans have rejected these demands, framing them as unrelated to the task of keeping the government running.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune called the proposals completely unhinged and unreasonable and unserious, while Democrats argue that failing to act will result in major hardship for American families.

Schumer highlighted this point on X, stating, Whats unserious is ignoring the 93% spike for health insurance coming to Americans on November 1.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

This dispute has been building for months.

In March, Schumer angered his partys base by lending Democratic votes to pass a short-term, Republican-written funding bill without securing any concessions.

Many Democrats now view this fight as their opportunity to force policy changes before the new fiscal year begins.

How this will affect US federal workers?

Adding to the urgency of the negotiations is the Trump administrations sweeping plan to dramatically shrink the federal workforce, the most extensive such effort since World War II.

According to a July report by Senate Democrats, more than 100,000 federal workers are set to formally resign on Tuesday as part of a deferred resignation programme.

Under this programme, employees are placed on administrative leave for up to eight months while continuing to receive their full salaries and benefits before officially leaving government service.

The total cost of this buyout is estimated at $14.8 billion. While administration officials argue that the one-time expense will ultimately save $28 billion annually, critics say it will undermine the ability of federal agencies to carry out essential functions.

A White House spokesperson defended the programme, saying there was no additional cost to the government because the employees would have been paid regardless.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

They added, In fact, this is the largest and most effective workforce reduction plan in history.

Beyond the deferred resignation initiative, thousands of other federal employees have been fired outright under reduction-in-force orders.

When combined with natural attrition and early retirement programmes, the total reduction is projected to reach 275,000 employees this year  the largest single-year decline in civilian federal employment since the 1940s.

In an escalation, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a memo last week directing agencies to prepare for permanent layoffs in the event of a shutdown.

Unlike typical furloughs, which are temporary, these reductions would permanently eliminate positions in programmes whose funding expires and are deemed not consistent with the presidents priorities.

This development has heightened anxiety among federal workers. Jeffries, speaking at a press event, directly addressed Russell Vought, head of the OMB, saying, Get lost.

He claimed that Democrats would not be intimidated by threats of mass firings tied to the shutdown.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

How have unions reacted?

Federal labour unions have strongly opposed these measures, arguing that they circumvent congressional oversight and harm the public.

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and other unions have filed a lawsuit against the deferred resignation programme.

The suit contends that the buyout violates statutory requirements by allowing mass departures that cripple government agencies, while also relying on the threat of forced firings to push employees into resigning.

Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO, issued a sharp rebuke, stating, They are not pawns for the presidents political games. She highlighted that federal workers have already suffered immensely under the administrations earlier workforce cuts this year.

Meanwhile, many employees participating in the programme have chosen to remain anonymous out of fear that speaking publicly could jeopardise future job prospects. They are entering a labour market already under strain.

In August, the unemployment rate rose to 4.3 per cent, its highest level since 2021, while only 22,000 new jobs were added. Analysts have partially attributed this slowdown to disruptions caused by tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

How would a shutdown affect services?

If the deadline passes without a deal, the impact will be immediate and far-reaching.

Hundreds of thousands of federal employees will either be furloughed or required to work without pay.

Critical services such as Social Security payments, military operations, immigration enforcement, and air traffic control will continue, but with reduced staffing and potential delays.

National parks, Smithsonian museums, and other public sites may close entirely.

Food safety inspections and immigration hearings could be postponed, creating backlogs.

Postal services will continue uninterrupted, as they are funded separately.

Previous shutdowns have shown how disruptive these closures can be. The 34-day shutdown in 2018, also under Trumps first presidency, sidelined approximately 800,000 federal workers, making it the longest shutdown in modern US history.

The economic impact could also be severe. While short-term disruptions might not immediately appear in broader economic data, a prolonged shutdown risks slowing growth, rattling financial markets, and undermining public confidence in government institutions.

What next for Trump vs Democrats?

This funding showdown comes amid a series of high-profile moves by Trump that have expanded executive authority and intensified partisan divisions.

In recent weeks:

Trump deployed federal troops to Portland, Oregon, claiming the city was a war zone amid scattered protests.

He intervened in the US Justice Department, leading to charges being filed against former FBI Director James Comey by a newly appointed prosecutor.

He announced plans to challenge birthright citizenship at the Supreme Court, a constitutional right that has been settled law for generations.

He backed controversial claims about vaccines promoted by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, while attacking scientific institutions and public health agencies.

These actions have alarmed critics, who view them as part of a broader effort by Trump to centralise power.

The budget fight has therefore taken on added significance, becoming a key test of whether Democrats can use their limited leverage  primarily the Senate filibuster, which requires 60 votes for most legislation  to constrain the presidents agenda.

Government shutdowns are historically risky for both presidents and lawmakers. Voters tend to punish those seen as responsible for the disruption, especially when essential services are affected.

The 2018 shutdown, for example, damaged public perceptions of Washingtons ability to govern effectively.

However, Trump appears less concerned with these potential repercussions. With most Republicans unified behind him, he has shown little inclination to compromise.

Democrats, on the other hand, face internal pressure to resist what they see as harmful cuts to healthcare and other vital programmes.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Trump is scheduled to meet with Schumer, Jeffries, and Republican leaders, but expectations for a breakthrough are low. Reports suggest the meeting may serve more to outline positions than to find common ground.

As the deadline approaches, both sides are calculating the political costs.

Also Watch:

With inputs from agencies
A deadly stampede broke out at actor-turned-politician Vijays campaign rally on Saturday, tragically killing at least 40 and injuring hundreds in Tamil Nadus Karur on Saturday. Among the dead were at least 10 children and fans, mostly in their 20s and 30s, who had gathered to catch a glimpse of the superstar. The catastrophe has left families in shock and disbelief

A badge with picture of Vijay, actor and politician, lies amid footwears and other belongings left by attendees at the site of a stampede incident during an election campaign rally held by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam party, in Karur district of Tamil Nadu, India, September 28, 2025. Reuters

What started as a massive show of support for actor-turned-politician Vijay in Karur, Tamil Nadu, ended in unimaginable tragedy. On Saturday, a stampede at his campaign rally left at least 40 people dead and hundreds more injured.

The disaster unfolded as the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leaders stage vehicle arrived late in the evening. In the scorching heat, the crowd surged forward in excitement to meet their superstar. In the rush, people collapsed, some fainted, and many were crushed in the crush of bodies, and the moments of celebration turned into scenes of chaos and horror.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Among the dead were at least 10 children, a young couple who had been just days away from their wedding, and many other supporters, mostly in their 20s and 30s, who had gathered in hope.

Here are some of their heartbreaking stories.

A 2-year-old becomes the youngest victim

Among the lives lost in the Karur stampede was its youngest victim, a two-year-old boy, Dhuru Vishnu.

His family said the toddler had clung to his aunt, crying as she left for the rally. So we took him along, she recalled. But what was meant to be a day of excitement turned tragic.

As soon as Vijay came, they cut off the electricity supply. People could not hear him, so everyone tried to move closer to the bus. We cannot blame Vijay for the incident. It was our mistake. We should not have taken a child there, Vishnus father said, urging others never to bring children into such crowded gatherings.

Another heart-wrenching visual showed a father crying while carrying the lifeless body of his son, purportedly killed in the stampede. The video has gone viral on social media.

Relatives of a victim mourn in front of

Local resident S Sabesan told the AP that Vijay, whose party TVK is gearing up for its Tamil Nadu Assembly poll debut next year, was scheduled to address the crowd around noon but arrived more than six hours late. By then, the roads had overflowed with people.

A lot of barricades and ropes were placed around the venue, Sabesan explained, but the crowd became so large that nobody could control it.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Reports later confirmed that nearly 27,000 people had gathered at a venue meant to hold just 10,000, according to NDTV.

Also read: Triple the crowd, half the security: Cops reveal lapses behind Vijay's Karur rally deaths

A couple just weeks from wedding

Among the many who lost their lives were Gokulasri and Akash, both in their early 20s and set to be married next month. The young couple had gone to the rally full of excitement, but they never returned home. We told them not to go, but they didnt listen, Gokulasris mother told The Indian Express.

The evening turned chaotic as the massive crowd grew restless in the heat. Vijay was forced to stop his speech midway when party workers raised the alarm that people were fainting and collapsing. Witnesses said the actor-politician immediately called for police help, threw water bottles into the crowd, and urged people to clear a path for ambulances.

An ambulance carrying victims makes its way through the crowd following a stampede that broke out during a political rally in the Karur district, in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, on September 27, 2025. AFP

But as he prepared to leave, the situation worsened. R Rajendaran, a lawyer from Karur who saw the chaos unfold, told AP: When he decided to leave and his vehicle started moving, commotion broke out as hundreds of his fans and supporters chased his vehicle. That is what led to the stampede.

For Sounder, a local tailor, the tragedy struck close to home. His elder brother was among those who collapsed. He was moved to a nearby street where women brought water. Many more people were rushing to get a sip of water in that intense heat and rush, Sounder recalled.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Relatives of the victims mourn in front of

The desperation spilled into nearby homes.

Anupama, a homemaker living near the venue, said her house became a makeshift shelter. People entered the house, breaking the grilled door; we were struggling to breathe even inside. People occupied our terraces and even sunshades. A part of it broke. We gave them water, some collapsed women were brought in, and we gave them sugar and water to revive them. Some were in bad shape, she said.

At one point, about 15 people climbed onto a tree branch outside her house to escape the crush. The branch snapped under the weight, killing at least five and sending new waves of panic through the already distressed crowd.

A young mothers life cut short

Among those who died in the Karur stampede was 22-year-old Brinda, a textile mill worker from Aravakurichi. She had left her two-year-old daughter with relatives so she could attend the rally with friends.

Her sister recounted the desperate hours that followed. My sister left her child with me and said she was going to attend the rally. We called her around 4 pm, but she did not pick up. We kept trying, but there was no response. Her phone was switched off after 10 pm. This morning, her husband sent her photograph to the organisers, and we came to know she has died, she told NDTV.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

People stand next to the pile of footwears left by people who participated in an election campaign rally held by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam party, at the site of a stampede incident, in

At the Karur Medical College mortuary, the grief was overwhelming. Brindas little daughter sat quietly, sipping mango juice as devastated women from the family wept around her. Her husband, Sudan, has been bedridden for the past two months after an accident, leaving the familys future even more uncertain.

Actor-politician Vijay expressed his condolences, saying he was overwhelmed by grief. He announced a compensation of Rs 20 lakh for the families of those who died and Rs 2 lakh for the injured. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi also promised support for the victims families.

This amount is, of course, not significant in the face of such a loss. Still, at this moment, it is my duty as one who belongs to your family to stand by you, my dear ones, with a heavy heart. Likewise, I pray to God that all our loved ones who are injured and undergoing treatment recover swiftly and return home, Vijay said in a post on X.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

But for Brindas loved ones, no amount of money could replace her. Her sister, questioning why basic arrangements were missing at such a massive public event.

If you organise a meeting, ensure there is space, ensure there is food and water for people. Just announcing compensation doesnt fix anything. I dont want money, I want my sisters life back. Can they give her life back? she asked.

Also read: Hathras tragedy: Why do stampedes happen? How to stay safe?

CM MK Stalin on Sunday visited the injured at a hospital in Karur and met the families of the stampede victims.

The tears shed by the families of those who lost their lives throughout the night, and the pain caused by their grief-filled cries, have not left my heart, he said in a post on X. The state government has called for a judicial inquiry headed by a retired High Court judge.

On Monday, Union Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Dr L Murugan also visited the stampede site.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

#WATCH | Karur, Tamil Nadu | Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Union Minister Dr L Murugan reach the spot where a stampede occurred on 27th September, during a public event of TVK (Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam) chief and actor Vijay.



40 people have lost their lives in pic.twitter.com/KL6HUloD81  ANI (@ANI) September 29, 2025

Other victims

According to The Hindu report, citing police sources, the victims have been identified as follows.

M. Thamaraikannan (25) of Baganatham in Dindigul district

A. Hemalatha (28) of Vishwanathapuri in Karur district

A. Sailakshna (8) of Vishwanathapuri in Karur district

A. Saijeeva (4) of Vishwanathapuri in Karur district

D. Suganya (33), Karur

I. Dhanushkumar (24) of Sengal village in Karur district

M. Vadivazhagan (54) of Pasupathipalayam in Karur district

M. Revathi (52) of Erode district

S. Chandra (40) of Emur in Karur district

P. Ramesh (32) of Kodangipatti in Karur district

R. Sanojvarshan (13) of Thanthoni village in Karur district

M. Ravikrishnan (32) of LNS village in Karur district

S. Priyadarshini (35) of Emur village in Karur district

S. Tharanika (14) of Emur village in Karur district

P. Palaniammal (11) of Velusamypuram in Karur district

P. Kokila (14) of Velusamypuram in Karur district

S. Maheswari (45) of Arukampalayam in Karur district

M. Ajita (21) of Aravakurichi in Karur district

K. Malathi (36) of Rayanur North in Karur district

M. Sumathi (50), Karur

B. Manikandan (33) of Vellakoil in Tiruppur district

D. Satish Kumar (34) of Kodumudi in Erode district

S. Krithikyadav (7), Karur

M. Anand (26) of Sukkampatti in Salem district

B. Sankar Ganesh (45) of Gujiliamparai in Dindigul district

S. Vijayarani (42) of Thazhaipatti in Karur district

P. Fathima Banu (29) of Oddanchathram in Dindigul district

G. Kishore (17) of Karur

S. Jaya (55) of Vengamedu in Karur district

K. Arukani (60) of Emur village in Karur district

S. Jayanthi (43) of Velayuthampalayam in Karur district

S. Kokilasri (27) of Uppidamangalam in Karur district

K. Srinath (15) of Mettur in Salem district

K. Mohan (19) of Jambai in Erode district

P. Prithik (10) of Emur village in Karur district

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

With input from agencies
Donald Trump shared an AI-generated video about medbed, a supposed futuristic technology that conspiracy theorists claim can cure every disease. The US president deleted the video soon. However, it sparked curiosity all over the internet. Heres what we know about this cure-all bed

Medbed conspiracy theory: Some argue that Big Pharma and global elites already use the technology but keep them from the public to preserve profits. Image for representation. Pixabay

Donald Trump found himself in the spotlight once again after posting an AI-generated video about something called medbed, a supposed futuristic technology that conspiracy theorists claim can cure every disease.

On Saturday, the US presidents Truth Social account shared the clip, which looked like a news broadcast and appeared to endorse the bizarre claims. By Sunday morning, the video had quietly disappeared from his feed.

Even though the post was deleted, it left plenty of chatter online, reviving questions about what medbeds really are and why theyve become such a talking point. Heres what we know.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Trumps post about medbeds

A strange video Donald Trump promising futuristic medbeds made the rounds online before quickly being deleted.

The clip was styled to look like a Fox News broadcast hosted by his daughter-in-law Lara Trump, though no such show has ever aired.

In the AI-generated segment, Lara was seen declaring: Breaking. Now, President Donald J. Trump has announced a historic new health care system. The launch of Americas first med bed hospitals, and a national medbed card for every citizen.

The video then cuts to a fabricated version of Trump himself. Every American will soon receive their own medbed card. With it, youll have guaranteed access to our new hospitals, led by the top doctors in the nation. Equipped with the most advanced technology in the world, these facilities are safe, modern and designed to restore every citizen to full health and strength. This is the beginning of a new era in American healthcare.

To heighten the drama, Lara Trumps AI-double adds that only a limited number of these medbed cards would be released in the first phase.

As of Monday, there was no statement from the White House or the presidents social media channels indicating to Trumps followers that the video and the claims it contained were fake.

However, as per The Independent, the video has several giveaways, including its low resolution, Trumps unnatural voice, and even the wrong font on the supposed Fox News chyron.

 THE MED BED MYSTERY: DJTS 42-SECOND SIGNAL 



President Donald J. Trumps official Truth Social account drops a 42-second video:



MEDBED HOSPITALS: THE NEW ERA IN HEALTHCARE



Posted: Sept 27th, 2025 @ 10:19 PM EST

Removed: Hours later. Gone.

Let that sink in. A 42-second pic.twitter.com/Ch12FXVrdd  ALPHAWARRIOR (@xAlphaWarriorx) September 28, 2025

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

What is the medbed conspiracy theory?

The medbed conspiracy theory centres on the idea that governments and militaries are secretly hoarding futuristic healing machines. According to believers, these devices can cure deadly diseases, reverse ageing, and even regrow lost limbs.

Some say the devices work through futuristic methods such as ions, terahertz light waves, artificial intelligence, and quantum energy, with a few even insisting the machines have alien origins. Others argue that Big Pharma and global elites already use them but keep them from the public to preserve profits.

Also read: US shutdown looms over Trump as Democrats, Republican spar over healthcare spending

According to a 2023 Rolling Stone report, companies are already capitalising on the hype. Some sell costly medbed cards or memberships, while others market pricey equipment.

For instance, IonicCare claims its product can reduce stress and improve health in four minutes. Tesla BioHealing, meanwhile, sells machines for up to $11,000 (Rs 9.17 lakh).

But in 2023, the US Food and Drug Administration warned the company for failing to prove its devices medical claims. Tesla BioHealing has since changed its website to clarify that the machines are not meant to treat diseases, but rather to support optimum health and wellness.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Also read: Trump administration touts leucovorin as exciting therapy for autism. What does science say?

Where did the medbed theory come from?

The medbed conspiracy theory emerged in right-wing communities years ago. It gained popularity in QAnon forums. Then Facebook groups have also played a big role in spreading the claims.

McGill Universitys Office for Science and Society reported that many groups charge hundreds of dollars in membership fees before providing supposed information on where to access medbed.

In some cases, believers even build their own versions and sell them to others in the community. One theory even argues that John F Kennedy Jr, who died in 1999, is alive thanks to these hidden machines.

Despite the buzz, experts say there is no scientific basis for medbed, labelling them as pure pseudoscience. As one disinformation analyst told the BBC: Its really hard to define something that doesnt exist."

With input from agencies
After months of secret negotiations, the Taliban has released US citizen Amir Amiry, who had been held in Afghanistan since December 2024. His release, brokered by Qatar, comes amid growing tensions between Washington and Kabul and marks the fifth American freed this year

Amir Amiry, who had been detained in Afghanistan since December 2024, poses for a picture alongside Adam Boehler, the US special envoy for hostage response, Sebastian Gorka, the deputy assistant to the US president and senior director for counterterrorism, and a Qatari diplomat, on a plane from Kabul Afghanistan, September 28, 2025. File Image/Qatari Diplomat via Reuters

The Taliban government of Afghanistan has released American citizen Amir Amiry after months of intense negotiations involving the United States and Qatar.

His release marks the latest development in a series of diplomatic efforts that have gradually led to the freedom of several foreign nationals held in Afghanistan since the Taliban retook control of the country four years ago.

Amirys return to freedom comes at a time of heightened tensions between Washington and Kabul, driven by US President Donald Trumps recent call to regain control of Bagram Air Base and ongoing concerns about US citizens still held by the Taliban.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

It also has put a spotlight on the critical role Qatar continues to play as a mediator in disputes across the region.

How the release of Amir Amiry was secured

Amir Amiry, 36, had been in Taliban custody since December 2024. The process to secure his release began earlier this year and involved numerous discussions between US representatives, Qatari mediators, and Taliban officials.

These efforts culminated on Sunday, when Amiry was handed over to Qatari representatives and transported to Doha. From there, he is travelled back to the United States, according to US media citing sources familiar with the matter.

The US does not currently operate an embassy in Afghanistan, having closed its diplomatic mission following the Talibans takeover of Kabul in August 2021.

As a result, all American engagement with the Taliban is carried out indirectly, with Qatar acting as a crucial intermediary.

Adam Boehler, the Trump administrations special envoy for hostage affairs, travelled to Kabul to meet with Taliban officials in recent weeks, including Afghanistans foreign minister, Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi.

According to a statement by Taliban deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat, during these meetings, Muttaqi said that the Afghan government aims to address the detention of foreign nationals through diplomatic means rather than political leverage.

Amir Amiry, who had been detained in Afghanistan since December 2024, poses for a picture alongside Adam Boehler, the US special envoy for hostage response, Sebastian Gorka, the deputy assistant to the US president and senior director for counterterrorism, Qatari diplomats and others before boarding a plane in Kabul Afghanistan, September 28, 2025. File Image/Qatari Diplomat via Reuters

Fitrat stated that Amirys release showed that the Taliban government does not view issues concerning foreign nationals from a political perspective and reiterated that diplomacy provides pathways for resolving such matters.

The exact circumstances surrounding Amirys presence in Afghanistan and the reasons for his detention remain unclear.

Officials have not provided details about his activities in the country, and there is no public record explaining why he was initially taken into custody.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

How Qatar played a pivotal diplomatic role

Qatars involvement was instrumental in bringing about Amirys release. Over the past several years, Doha has emerged as a key mediator in a range of international conflicts, leveraging its diplomatic relationships to broker negotiations between parties that have no direct channels of communication.

In this case, Qatari officials facilitated meetings between US representatives and Taliban leadership, allowing discussions to move forward when other avenues were unavailable.

Qatari Minister of State Mohammed Al-Khulaifi highlighted his countrys broader commitment to peace and negotiation in a statement issued by Qatars foreign ministry, saying that Qatar remains committed to advancing mediation efforts aimed at achieving peaceful solutions to conflicts and complex international issues.

The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, publicly thanked Qatar for its role, highlighting the partnership between Washington and Doha in efforts to bring home Americans detained abroad.

We express our sincere gratitude to Qatar, whose strong partnership and tireless diplomatic efforts were vital to securing his release, Rubio stated on X.

He added, While this marks an important step forward, additional Americans remain unjustly detained in Afghanistan. President Trump will not rest until all our captive citizens are back home.

Beyond Afghanistan, Qatar is currently involved in high-profile mediation efforts related to the war in Gaza, negotiations to secure the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, tensions between Russia and Ukraine, political disputes in Venezuela, and ongoing conflicts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Previous releases and ongoing detentions

Amirys release is part of a broader series of successful negotiations this year that have seen several US citizens freed from Taliban custody.

Earlier this year, in January, businessman Ryan Corbett and another American, William McKenty, were released shortly after Trumps second term began.

In March, two more Americans were freed: George Glezmann, who had been detained for over two years while on a cultural trip, and Faye Hall, who was taken into custody for operating a drone without authorisation.

In mid-September, the Taliban also released a British couple who had been held since February, demonstrating that Qatars mediation efforts extended beyond American citizens.

Despite these developments, at least three Americans remain in Taliban custody.

Among the detainees is Mahmood Habibi, who was detained on August 10, 2022. His case has become a focal point for families of detainees, who continue to push for comprehensive agreements that secure the release of all captives.

Ahmad Habibi, Mahmoods brother, released a statement expressing cautious optimism following Amirys release.

We are grateful that senior officials at the State Department and National Security Council have repeatedly assured us that any deal they do with the Taliban will be all or nothing and they have explicitly assured us that they will not leave my brother behind, he said.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

He added, All Americans should be happy for that. But my brother is also an American and he has been held by the Taliban since August 10, 2022, without any acknowledgment or ability to speak with his wife. The Biden Administration did nothing for us. We have faith in President Trump.

Additionally, US officials have indicated that there is a fourth case involving Paul Overby, another American who is believed to be deceased.

However, this has not been conclusively confirmed.

How US-Taliban relations are faring

The timing of Amirys release coincides with a period of escalating rhetoric between Trump and the Taliban leadership.

Earlier this month, Trump announced that his administration was actively working to reestablish US control over Bagram Air Base, a facility that was central to American military operations in Afghanistan for nearly two decades following the September 11, 2001, attacks.

The 2020 agreement between the United States and the Taliban, signed during Trumps first term, outlined the complete withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan and did not include provisions for retaining Bagram or any other military installation.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

In August 2021, US forces withdrew from the country, and the Taliban subsequently took control of Bagram along with other strategic locations.

Since returning to office, Trump has made regaining control of Bagram a priority, even warning that bad things would happen if the Taliban refused to cooperate.

Military analysts and officials have cautioned that reoccupying the base would require a significant commitment of resources, potentially involving the deployment of over 10,000 troops as well as advanced air defence systems to protect the facility.

Taliban leaders have firmly rejected the idea, framing it as a violation of Afghan sovereignty. The refusal has added tension to ongoing negotiations, even as both sides have engaged in dialogue over the release of detainees.

How Taliban-led Afghanistan is dealing with diplomatic challenges

The Taliban government has been seeking to emerge from the international isolation it has faced since taking power.

Their leadership has repeatedly pointed out a desire for foreign investment and economic partnerships to rebuild Afghanistans struggling economy, which has been severely impacted by years of conflict, sanctions, and the withdrawal of foreign aid.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Despite these overtures, progress has been limited. Most countries have refrained from recognising the Taliban as Afghanistans legitimate government, and international organizations have been cautious in their engagement.

Russia is currently the only nation to have formally recognised the Taliban government.

Last week, Taliban representatives were denied entry to the United Nations General Assembly.

Qatar, which maintains relations with the Taliban, has consistently urged the Afghan leadership to address international concerns, particularly regarding human rights and the treatment of women.

Doha has pressed for improvements in womens education and access to employment, but these issues remain contentious and have hindered Afghanistans reintegration into the global community.

With inputs from agencies
The United States is discussing whether or not to give Ukraine its Tomahawk cruise missiles. This comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations. But what do we know about the missile? Could it change the course of the war?

The Tomahawk cruise missile was first inducted into service in 1983. Its first operational use during conflict was during Operation Desert Storm in 1991. Image courtesy: rtx.com

Will the United States be giving Ukraine Tomahawk missiles?

According to US Vice President JD Vance the subject is currently under discussion within the Trump Administration. This comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations.

The development comes in the backdrop of Trump seemingly growing increasingly frustrated with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump had come into office allowing to end the Ukraine war within 24 hours.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Trump recently has done an about-turn on the Ukraine war, claiming Kyiv could get all of its territory back from Russia.

But what do we know about Tomahawk missiles? Will the US send them to Ukraine? And could this change during the course of the war?

Lets take a closer look.

What we know about Tomahawk missiles

Origins

The missile was first developed by General Dynamics and later Raytheon. Its origins date back to the Cold War when America wanted to create a long-range missile which could deliver either conventional or nuclear payloads.

It was first inducted into service in 1983. Its first operational use during conflict was during Operation Desert Storm in 1991. It has since been used in a number of US conflicts including Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Infinite Reach in Sudan and Afghanistan, Operation Odyssey Dawn in Libya and Operation Inherent Resolve in Syria.

However, navigation issues during Operation Iraqi Freedom resulted in the missiles guidance system being reworked.

The specs

The missile is 6.25 metres long with the booster and 5.55 metres long without it. It has a launch diameter of 0.52 metres and a launch weight of 1,315 kilos. Each missile can carry a payload of 454 kilos. It has a range of 1,250 to 2,500 kilometres  depending on the variant.

It is used by the United States and the United Kingdoms Royal Navy. Propelled by a turbofan, it is designed to fly at an extremely low altitude (30 to 50 metres to avoid radar and at a subsonic speed of 880 kilometres per hour  making it extremely hard to defend against).

It is piloted by several advanced missile guidance systems including Inertial Navigation System (INS), Terrain Contour Matching (TERCOM), Global Positioning System (GPS) and Digital Scene-Matching Area Correlation (DSMAC). It is said to have an accuracy of under 10 metres.

The missile is used by the United States Navy and the United Kingdoms Royal Navy. Reuters

The missile itself can be launched from a variety of platforms including by ship, from submarines, and via ground launchers. While it can carry both nuclear and conventional payloads, it is only used for the latter. It can be equipped with both unitary high-explosive payloads and cluster munitions.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

The missile has been fired over 2,350 times including in 2024 when the US and UK Navies targeted the Houthi rebels in Yemen. It has become the favoured weapon of the US Defence Department for striking high-value or heavily defended land targets. Each Tomahawk missile costs approximately $2.4 million  depending on the variant.

Latest version and variants

The latest version of the missile is known as the Block V series.

This is an upgrade from the Block IV Tactical Tomahawk (TACTOM) which the US Navy began upgrading in 2020. That missile came with a data link that allowed it to change targets mid-flight. That missile could also hang in the air for hours and change direction instantly on command.

The Tomahawk has three variants:

Block V: A modernised TACTOM with upgraded navigation and communication

Block Va: Which can hit moving targets at sea

Block Vb: Equipped with a joint multi-effects warhead that can hit more varied land targets

The Block V Tomahawk missiles come equipped with a NAV/COMMs upgrade that maintains the capability for in-flight target updates and improved navigation. The Tomahawk Block V series is set to remain in service till 2035.

Could this change the course of the war?

It depends.

Ukraine has long been seeking such long-range weapons from its allies in order to hit back at Russia. In fact, Trumps predecessor Joe Biden refused to give Ukraine the Tomahawk missiles at the end of his term. Kyiv possessing such a weapon would allow it to target Moscow itself  which Russia would see as a dangerous escalation.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Trump thus far has been insistent on Ukraine only being given defensive weapons. However, Trump recently has agreed to sell weapons to Nato and European nations, which can then pass these on to Ukraine.

Serhii Kuzan, chairman of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Centre, told The Telegraph, The logic is simple and understandable. If Russia has long-range cruise missiles, then Ukraine must have similar capabilities to strike targets at the same depths, he said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is greeted by US President Donald Trump (left) upon arrival at the White House West Wing in Washington, DC. AFP

Kuzan, who is a former adviser to Ukraines defence ministry, added: If anyone says that this is impossible, let me remind you, quite recently we were denied tanks and the supply of F-16s took a long time to agree. Our goal remains unchanged: all available types of weapons must be delivered to Ukraine as soon as possible.

Experts say at the very least, it could bring Putin to the bargaining table.

Sending even a single Tomahawk to Ukraine would scare the shit out of the Russians more than almost anything else we could do, a senior congressional aide told the New York Post.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Vance said on Fox News Sunday that Trump would make the final determination on whether to allow the deal.

Were certainly looking at a number of requests from the Europeans," Vance said. Keith Kellogg, the US special envoy to Ukraine, said Trump has indicated that Kyiv should now be able to conduct long-range strikes on Russia.

I think reading what he (Trump) has said, and reading what Vice President Vance has said the answer is yes. Use the ability to hit deep. There are no such things as sanctuaries, Kellogg said during an interview with Fox News later on Sunday.

Kremlin responds

Russia said on Monday that it would carefully analyse whether any US Tomahawk missiles that might be supplied to Ukraine were fired using targeting data supplied by the United States.

Russia said on Monday that it would carefully analyse whether any US Tomahawk missiles that might be supplied to Ukraine were fired using targeting data supplied by the United States. Reuters

Asked about Vances comments, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia was analysing them carefully.

The question, as before, is this: who can launch these missiles? Can only Ukrainians launch them, or do American soldiers have to do that? he said.

Who is determining the targeting of these missiles? The American side or the Ukrainians themselves? Peskov added, saying a very in-depth analysis was required.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously said that Western countries will make themselves direct parties to the war if they supply targeting and intelligence to enable Ukraine to fire missiles deep inside Russia.

With inputs from agencies
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on Monday confirmed that trade negotiations with the US are still underway, but emphasised that India is also simultaneously engaging with several other countries

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on Monday confirmed that trade negotiations with the US are still underway, but emphasised that India is also simultaneously engaging with several other countries.

Speaking at the valedictory session of the UP International Trade Show, Goyal highlighted ongoing discussions with the European Union, New Zealand, Oman, Peru, and Chile.

Our trade talks with the US are ongoing. We are also in discussions with the EU, New Zealand, Oman, Peru and Chile. Ministers from Qatar and Bahrain had recently visited and expressed interest in entering into a Free Trade Agreement with India. The Terms of Reference with Eurasia have been finalised. This reflects the interest many countries, including developed nations, have in India, said Goyal.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Last week, the minister led an official delegation to New York for trade talks with the United States. Following the meetings, both countries agreed to continue negotiations aimed at reaching an early conclusion of a mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement.

The discussions were constructive and covered various aspects of the proposed deal. During the visit, the minister held key meetings with United States Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer and US Ambassador-designate to India Sergio Gor.

These talks were particularly significant in the context of recent US-imposed tariffs: a 25 per cent reciprocal tariff plus an additional 25 per cent penalty on Indian goods entering the US market due to Indias purchase of Russian crude oil, resulting in a total 50 per cent additional import duty on Indian products.

Earlier this year, in February, the leaders of both nations instructed officials to negotiate the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), with plans to conclude the first phase by fall 2025 (October-November).

So far, five rounds of negotiations have taken place. The agreement aims to more than double bilateral trade to USD 500 billion by 2030, up from the current USD 191 billion.

The US remained Indias largest trading partner for the fourth consecutive year in 2024-25, with bilateral trade valued at USD 131.84 billion (USD 86.5 billion exports).

The US accounts for about 18 per cent of Indias total goods exports, 6.22 per cent in imports, and 10.73 per cent in the countrys total merchandise trade.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Goyal also informed that the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) between India and the four European nations bloc, EFTA (European Free Trade Association) will come into force from October 1. It was signed on March 10, 2024.

Under the pact, India has received an investment commitment of USD 100 billion in 15 years from the grouping while allowing several products, such as Swiss watches, chocolates, and cut and polished diamonds, at lower or zero duties.

This pact will benefit Indian traders, he said adding these agreements reflect increasing interest of the developed world towards India.

Further, the commerce minister called for buying Made in India goods to promote domestic manufacturing.

With inputs from agencies
The India Tourism Data Compendium 2025, released by the Ministry of Tourism, reveals where Indians loved to fly in 2024 and the reasons that filled their suitcases with purpose, from leisure getaways to diaspora visits and beyond

Published by the Ministry of Tourism, the India Tourism Data Compendium 2025 is more than just numbers  its a snapshot of Indias wanderlust in motion. Think of it as a travel diary of millions, showing where passports were stamped most often and why.

And the verdict for 2024? When Indians packed their bags and boarded flights, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) once again stole the crown as the favourite playground abroad.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

The West Asian country was followed by Saudi Arabia, the United States, Thailand, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Qatar, Canada, Kuwait and Oman. Together, these top ten countries accounted for around 71.1 per cent of all departures from India. In other words, nearly three quarters of outbound Indian air travellers in 2024 chose one of these ten destinations.

The dominance of the UAE at the top is no surprise: its geographic proximity, strong business and social ties with India, well-developed tourism infrastructure and familiarity make it a preferred choice.

Saudi Arabia, in second place, benefits not only from pilgrimage ties but also increasing leisure and business flows.

The United States also commands a large share, driven by longer-term travel, family visits, education links and tourism.

Southeast Asian nations like Thailand and Singapore capture the interest of Indians seeking shorter, more affordable overseas breaks, while familiar English-speaking destinations like the UK, Canada and Qatar occupy a steady share for a variety of travel purposes.

The fact that about 71.1 per cent of all foreign departures fall into just these ten destinations highlights how concentrated Indian international air travel is: beyond these key markets, the remainder is dispersed among many more countries, each capturing a small slice of the total outbound flow.

Why Indians travel: motivations and travel purposes

While destination patterns offer one view, understanding why Indians travel abroad is equally revealing. The 2025 Compendium notes that leisure and recreational purposes accounted for 42.5 per cent of all departuresmaking it the single largest reason Indians take to the skies.

Whether beach holidays, city breaks, adventure tourism or resort vacations, nearly half of outbound travellers are motivated by leisure.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Closely behind leisure is travel linked to the Indian diaspora, which comprised 34.6 per cent of departures. This category includes visits to family and relatives, social visits and homeland ties. This large share highlights the strength of Indian diaspora networks around the world and the prevalence of cross-border family connections. Many Indians living abroad have family back in India. Likewise, many Indian travellers abroad have relatives in foreign countries, making visiting the diaspora a compelling motive.

Business and professional travel formed the third major group, with 14.9 per cent of total departures. This includes trade, corporate meetings, conferences, official travel and other work-related purposes. Though smaller than the leisure and diaspora categories, professional travel remains a significant and stable driver of outbound mobility, often associated with higher spending per traveller.

A much smaller share of travel is attributed to pilgrimage (3.9 per cent), education (2.4 per cent) and other purposes (1.4 per cent).

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Pilgrimage travel generally refers to those going to religious or spiritual sites, often linked to trips to West Asiaespecially Saudi Arabia and other Islamic pilgrimage centres. Educational travel, while growing, still forms only a small fraction of overall departures; many Indian students abroad travel on longer term visas rather than short-term departure schedules, which may lead to under-representation in a departure-based statistic.

The residual other purposes category includes a mixture of health, transit, official duties not captured under business or miscellaneous motives.

Patterns emerging from destinations and travel purposes

When one juxtaposes where Indians fly with why they fly, several patterns emerge.

The UAEs dominance is likely bolstered by both leisure and diaspora travel  combining holiday potential with family visits.

Countries like the US, Canada and the UK also draw strongly for diaspora and family reasons, as many Indians have settled or have close family ties there.

Meanwhile, Southeast Asia (Thailand, Singapore) is more prominent for leisure tourism because of shorter flight times, lower cost and attractive holiday packages.

Saudi Arabias high ranking has a dual nature: pilgrimage (especially to Mecca and Medina) is a traditional motivator and business or labour travel to the Gulf is also significant. But because the pilgrimage share in the total is modest (3.9 per cent), Saudi Arabias overall position must also reflect diaspora, business and leisure flows.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Some Indian workers in Saudi Arabia, or those visiting Indian expatriates there, may contribute to that volume.

The concentration in a handful of destinations suggests that Indian travellers prefer familiarity, ease of access (direct flights, visa facilities) and strong people-to-people ties when choosing international destinations.

Moreover, since leisure comprises the largest share of motivation, convenience, cost and familiarity tend to shape the choice of destination. Many travellers will prefer destinations with good tourism infrastructure, favourable currency exchange and established Indian tourism circuits.

The modest shares for pilgrimage, education and other categories also reflect the maturity of those segments in short-term departures. Pilgrimage, especially to the Gulf, remains a niche in outbound travel, constrained by visa, flight schedules and religious calendars.

Education travel often involves long-term student visas rather than short outbound journeys, so it is likely undercounted in departure-based statistics.

The other category, being very small, shows that most Indian travellers are well represented by the three major reasons: leisure, diaspora visits and business.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

It is also interesting that business and professional travel still accounts for nearly 15 per cent of departures, signifying that corporate and trade linkages remain robust.

Business travellers often have different destination mixes compared with leisure travellersthey may favour major financial or business hubs like the US, UK, Singapore, or the UAE, even if those destinations are not top picks for vacationers.

Thus, business travel helps reinforce the popularity of such global hubs in Indias outbound mix.

The Indian love for travel

Together, the statistics above reflect that Indians are flying out largely to holiday, visit family abroad, or conduct work and that their destinations tend to cluster around countries with strong Indian ties, favourable connectivity, and established tourism or migration links.
India should mandate that 70 per cent of the work on defence purchases be carried out domestically, allowing sufficient time for the private sector to absorb and integrate indigenisation technologies

Five Sepecat Jaguar aircraft of the Indian Air Force in an arrowhead formation fly over the Yehlanka Airforce Base. File image/AFP

Decades of ignoring self-reliance have left the Indian Air Force in a tailspin. It is trapped in a vortex of capability gaps and procurement delays. Indias defence planners find themselves caught between the crushing weight of immediate operational needs and the distant promise of indigenous solutions.

This predicament is not newas per several commentators, Indias weapon procurement has long been influenced by the foreign arms lobby. Grand promises of self-sufficiency have repeatedly collided with the harsh realities of technological complexity, foreign influence and fiscal constraints.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

The Lost Promise of Indigenous Aviation

The story of Indias aviation ambitions is a tale of what could have been. The big what if is best told through the HF-24 Marut, a fighter that promised to make India the first Asian nation (not including Russia), to develop an indigenous jet fighter. In 1956, development of what was to be a Mach 2 multirole fighter began with German aeronautical engineer Kurt Tank in command. The project represented a high-reaching jump for Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) with new design, staff manufacturing and budgets.

Yet the Maruts promise crumbled under the weight of underpowered engines and insufficient funding. The untold story of espionage and foreign pressure and lack of domestic resolve crushing an aircraft of great promise. India oddly abandoned the Marut and fell back on acquiring faster Soviet fighters.

The Maruts engine woes presaged an even more devastating failurethe Kaveri engine programme. Initiated in 1986 to power future Indian fighters, the Kaveri has consumed four decades and $300 million. Compare this pittance to international standards: the P&W engine for the F-35 cost $6.7 billion, while Frances M88 for the Rafale required $1.6 billion.

Indias miserly investment has yielded predictable resultsan engine that cannot meet the 81-90 kN thrust requirements for the LCA Tejas and remains relegated to future unmanned applications.

The Mathematics of Military Necessity

The cost of the new 110 Rafalesestimated at $24 billiondwarfs the entire Kaveri programmes budget by a factor of 60 in constant dollars. This stark comparison illuminates a fundamental truth: indigenous development requires sustained, massive investment that India has consistently failed to provide. While the nation debates the merits of foreign procurement, its adversaries have not stood still.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

The IAFs long-quoted target of 42 squadrons was framed in a very different era, before the Chinese Air Force grew into the continents largest and Pakistan positioned itself to induct advanced platforms such as Chinas J-35 stealth. China may, however, hesitate to provide the fighters given Pakistans twin recent pivots to the US and Saudi Arabia.

Yet India has repeatedly missed the buswhether through decades spent buying foreign Jaguars, MiGs, and Mirages while shamefully underfunding domestic programmes. The IAF currently operates just 31 squadrons, falling to 29 with the retirement of the MiG-21. This represents the forces lowest strength in six decades. The IAF faces off against 2,000 Chinese frontline fighters and Pakistans fleet of around 400.

The Drone Revolution and Future

Add to this the standoff unmanned revolution in military affairs; India needs to also seriously consider the future of the fighter aircraft in her mix.

Modern warfare increasingly revolves around unmanned systems that serve both tactical and strategic roles. Tactically, drones provide surveillance, real-time intelligence, and precision strikes while keeping operators safely distant from hostile territory. They can maintain continuous observation for hours or days, fundamentally altering battlefield awareness and the decision-making cycle.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Strategically, drones in Ukraine, Russia and elsewhere are now beyond mere tactical operational art capable of enabling decisive warfare. Heavy drones carrying larger payloads can suppress air defences, isolate enemy formations, and provide the persistent airpower for mobile ground forces. Air littoralcontested airspace up to 1,000 feetis a manoeuvre domain where drones can expose gaps in enemy defences and create new axes of offence. So India needs to judiciously commit to Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs) and fighter jets.

Aircraft Engines: The Heart of the Matter

While the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft project with French cooperation is serious, and firms like L&T and BEL have lined up, its timeline is at least 15 years away. Even with Safrans collaboration and full tech transfer, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA)s first flight is not expected until 2030 or beyond. In a threat environment where Pakistan may field fifth-generation fighters within two years and Chinas capabilities continue expanding, this is an unsustainable timeline.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

The question of whether Safran will share critical technology remains beyond visual rangemetaphorically speaking. The threat perception envelope makes imports inevitable by the time India achieves true engine independence.

The IAFs Scramble for the Here and Now

Thus the IAF finds itself in a real scramble for immediate capabilitiesalmost a mayday situation. India is in the frustrating corner where it may have to return to a project it abandoned: the Russian Su-57. Having spent $300 million on that programme before withdrawing in 2018 due to performance concerns. India may now find itself compelled to reconsider Russian offers for joint production.

The Su-57s stealth capabilities remain questionable, reportedly limited to a frontal 60-degree arc compared to true fifth-generation standards. Yet, Russia needs this deal more than India does, providing leverage for better terms and genuine tech transfer.

HAL on Trial and GEs Engine Bottleneck

The mega order for HAL for 97 Tejas Mark-1A fighter jets, in a deal likely valued at $7 billion, raises the total order book to 220 fighters. This, though, brings a real capability constraint for developing the 5th generation AMCA fighter. HAL lacks realistic design manpower and manufacturing capability.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

The public sector behemoth has no room for excuses and must be held accountable.

The engine delivery saga illustrates a broader challenge: managing complex global supply chains and maintaining quality standards across international partnerships are fiendishly difficult.

A Different India and French Obligations

This is a different India from previous Rafale negotiations. The French in previous orders provided near-zero indigenous content. With the blank cheque, India should mandate that 70 per cent of the work on defence purchases be carried out domestically, allowing sufficient time for the private sector to absorb and integrate indigenisation technologies. This must go beyond Dassault Aviation plans to establish MRO facilities. India needs the core technology leveraging private sector capabilities alongside the public Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and HAL.

Clear Skies Await

Indian defence planners have no choice but to scrambleaccepting the reality that immediate capability gaps cannot wait for perfect indigenous solutions. But if they can acquire necessary foreign platforms while simultaneously building domestic capacityclear blue skies await. The key lies in treating imports not as capitulation but as strategic bridges to eventual self-reliance.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

The path forward requires accepting uncomfortable truths: sovereignty comes at a cost, delay is no longer an option when adversaries are accelerating, and indigenous development must be funded at international standards rather than in homoeopathic doses. Only then can the IAF break free from its current tailspin and become masters of the air.

The writer is a senior journalist with expertise in defence. Views expressed are personal and do not necessarily reflect those of Firstpost.
The toll in the shooting and arson at a church in the US state of Michigan has risen to four dead and eight wounded. The suspected attacker was shot dead at the scene in a confrontation with the police.

Emergency crews respond to a shooting and fire at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, on September 28, 2025. (Photo: David Guralnick/Detroit News via AP)

The toll in Sundays attack at a church in the American state of Michigan has risen to four dead and eight injured, according to officials.

A man on Sunday morning rammed a vehicle into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan. He then opened fire at worshippers and set the building on fire. He was killed in a confrontation with the police.

Visuals from the site showed the church engulfed in flames. By the press time, officials had not cleared the scene and there was a possibility that more bodies could be found inside the church. Officials also said that they were not sure how many people remained unaccounted at the moment.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Officials identified the attacker as Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, of nearby Burton, who had served in the Marine Corps and had deployed to Iraq. They did not assign any motive to his actions.

The attack at the Michigan church has come at a time when political violence and hate crimes are on the rise in the United States. Critics have said that President Donald Trumps patronage of far-right and White supremacist groups have fuelled the wave of violence plaguing the country.

Church completely burnt down from fire

Officials said that the church has been completely burnt down from the fire caused by an accelerant and possibly bombs

The church is a total loss due to the fire, said Grand Blanc Township police chief William Renye, as per The New York Times.

A federal investigator said the fire appeared to have been set with an accelerant of some sort, possibly gasoline, and that three rudimentary explosive devices had been found at the scene, as per The Times.

Of the four dead, at least two died from gunshot wounds, said Renye.

Of the eight people injured in the attack, one was critical as of Sunday evening and the rest were stable, said Renye.

As for three rudimentary bombs found at the site, James Deir of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), said the attacker might have planned to ignite a fire with the devices but noted that it was unclear if another, similar device was used to start the fire at the church.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Damage to a residential building caused by Israeli attacks in June, pictured in Tehran, Iran, July 17, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS/ FIle Photo

Iran has carried out the execution of a man accused of being one of the most important spies for Israel in Iran in what marks the 10th such execution since the 12-day war in June involving Israel and the United States, according to the judiciarys news outlet Mizan.

On Monday, Mizan reported that Bahman Choobiasl was hanged over meetings with officials from the Israeli spy agency Mossad. According to the report, Choobiasl had been involved in sensitive telecommunications projects.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

The main goal of Mossad in attracting the defendants cooperation was to obtain the database of governmental institutions and create a breach in Iranian data centres, along with which it also pursued other secondary goals, including investigating the route of importing electronic equipment, Mizan reported.

Irans Supreme Court rejected Choobiasls appeal and confirmed his death sentence on charges of corruption on earth.

Choobiasl is the second person to be executed this month after Babak Shahbazi, who was also found guilty of spying for Israel. Activists have disputed this claim, saying Shahbazi was tortured into a false confession after writing to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy offering to fight in Kyiv.

Caught in a long-standing covert conflict with Israel, and following a full-scale confrontation this June, Iran has executed a growing number of individuals accused of aiding Mossads activities. Since the June conflict, Iran has put to death ten people for espionage.

The June offensive saw Israel carry out twelve days of air attacks, including strikes on Iranian generals, nuclear scientists and civilian areas. Iran retaliated with missile and drone barrages, while the United States conducted extensive strikes on Iranian nuclear sites on behalf of Israel. Amnesty International reported that Israeli actions killed at least 1,100 people.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Surge in executions follows Junes 12-day conflict with Israel

In the wake of the war and protests over economic hardship, womens rights and calls for regime change, Iran has increased death sentences. The Oslo-based Iran Human Rights and the Washington DC-based Abdorrahman Boroumand Centre for Human Rights in Iran estimate that over 1,000 people have been executed in 2025, although actual numbers may be higher as Tehran does not publicly report all executions.

Meanwhile, Iranians face deepening economic pressure and the possibility of renewed war with Israel. For the first time in a decade, Iran is subject to United Nations sanctions again, after European signatories to the 2015 nuclear deal invoked the snapback mechanism to reactivate them despite opposition from Russia and China. The sanctions were reinstated on Sunday.
President Xi Jinping chaired a politburo meeting on Monday that finalized dates for the plenum and reviewed a draft of the new economic and social blueprint covering 2026 to 2030.

The Communist Party of China (CPC) has announced that it will hold its fourth plenary session from October 20 to 23 in Beijing, a meeting expected to set the direction for the countrys next five-year development plan. The gathering comes at a crucial time as China looks to balance domestic priorities with growing global challenges, particularly its competition with the United States.

The Politburo, chaired by President Xi Jinping, met on Monday to review a draft of the 15th five-year plan, which will cover 2026 to 2030. According to state media reports, the document will undergo further revisions before being formally endorsed at the plenum next month. Once approved, the plan will be submitted to the annual legislative session in March for final adoption.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Five-year plans have long served as blueprints for Chinas economic and social agenda. With the 14th plan now in its final year, the next phase is expected to focus heavily on technological innovation, sustainable development and strengthening domestic resilience. Party leaders have repeatedly underscored the importance of new quality productive forces to push forward industrial modernization while preparing for uncertainties in the external environment.

The Central Committees plenum will bring together more than 370 members, including senior policymakers, government officials, and military representatives. The session is also expected to see changes in the committees composition, as several members have been recently investigated or removed over corruption allegations. At least eight officials have already been implicated, adding a layer of political sensitivity to the meeting.

The timing of the plenum is notable, as it comes shortly before Xi Jinpings planned attendance at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea, where he is expected to meet US President Donald Trump. Against this backdrop, the CPC is likely to stress internal strength, unity, and long-term planning to navigate both domestic reforms and global challenges.
A Chinese court has sentenced 11 people to death for their involvement in a Myanmar-based crime syndicate accused of running online scams and illegal gambling worth over $1.4 billion. The group, led by members of the Ming family, operated from Kokkang in Myanmar

A Chinese court has sentenced 11 people to death for their roles in a Myanmar-based crime syndicate accused of running online scams and illegal gambling worth more than $1.4 billion, the Associated Press reported.

The Wenzhou Intermediate Peoples Court said those sentenced included members of the Ming family, described as central figures in the group operating from Kokkang in Myanmar.

They were named as Ming Guoping, Ming Zhenzhen, and Zhou Weichang, along with eight others.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Suspended sentences and prison terms

Five additional defendants received death sentences suspended for two years, which are usually reduced to life imprisonment. Another 12 were sentenced to prison terms ranging from five to 24 years.

Chinese authorities had issued arrest warrants for the Ming family in November 2023 on charges of fraud, murder, and illegal detention. The court said the syndicates operations caused the deaths of 10 workers and injuries to two others who tried to escape.

Forced labour and online scams

The court statement added that the group forced trafficked workers to carry out online scams, including romance-related investment fraud, as part of a larger network spanning Southeast Asia.

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime estimates that scam centres in Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia form a global industry worth about $40 billion annually.

Chinese police have been working with neighbouring countries to tackle the issue. In February, joint efforts by China, Myanmar, and Thailand led to the release of more than 7,000 workers, most of them Chinese citizens, from scam centres along the Thai-Myanmar border.
China is reshaping its space sector with a lean manufacturing pull system inspired by the car industry. The approach seeks to mass-produce rockets and satellites with speed, quality and flexibility, supported by AI-driven assembly lines and a national digital supply chain platform.

China aims to transform rocket and satellite production with a lean final assembly pull system inspired by the automotive industry. (Representative Image, Credit: Reuters)

As the global race for space dominance intensifies, China is introducing a new manufacturing model that aims to make rockets and satellites as efficiently produced as cars, a shift that could redefine industrial space production.

The countrys state-owned enterprises are introducing a new philosophy called the final assembly pull system, an approach rooted in lean manufacturing principles drawn from the automotive industry. The reform aims to deliver space systems not only at speed but also with consistent quality, lower costs and greater adaptability.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

With forecasts suggesting that orbital launches could reach 170,000 tonnes of payload annually by 2045, researchers argue that whichever nation can master scalable space manufacturing will hold a decisive advantage.

From push to pull: A manufacturing revolution

Traditionally, aerospace production has been driven by a push model where components are manufactured based on forecasts, often leading to mismatches and costly delays. The pull model turns this approach on its head by ensuring that parts are only supplied when demanded by the next stage of production. Toyota pioneered this approach through its mid-20th-century Toyota Production System, using tools such as kanban cards to minimise waste and increase efficiency.

Chinas aerospace industry is now applying the same just-in-time logic to rockets and satellites. From raw materials to complex subsystems, each step in the supply chain is activated only when signalled by the stage downstream. The result is a tightly synchronised network where rocket engines, solar panels and circuit boards are built in line with launch schedules.

However, the reform also restructures the organisation of Chinas space sector. What was once a relatively flat system, where suppliers had greater autonomy, is being reshaped into a pyramid-style hierarchy.

It represents a systemic and disruptive transformation of existing manufacturing models, noted Wang Guoqing, chief information officer of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), in a July paper published in the Journal of Mechanical Engineering.

For decades, rockets and satellites were hand-crafted one by one, each a bespoke piece of engineering. But growing demand for satellite constellations, reusable rockets and long-term lunar missions has outpaced that artisanal model. Wang and his colleagues said the global space race has shifted from can we build it experiments to a focus on reliable parallel production of multiple models.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

They described today as a mass customisation era where high-frequency launches and vast satellite constellations demand scalable, repeatable and flexible manufacturing.

Chinas networked model

SpaceX has already demonstrated the value of industrialised production through Starlink, which has placed over 7,000 satellites in orbit. While the United States has seen one company dominate this shift, Wangs team highlighted that China is following a more networked model, combining state-owned enterprises, private firms and research institutions into a coordinated national ecosystem.

Mega-constellations such as Guowang, Qianfan and Hongtu-3 are accelerating the pressure to industrialise satellite and rocket factories capable of producing thousands of units.

According to Wangs paper, a central manufacturing integrator is now being tasked with controlling the production process. This body manages scheduling, contracts, quality and supplier coordination. China is also introducing modular and reconfigurable systems such as pulsed assembly lines, which move products in steady cycles to reduce downtime. AI-driven flexible assembly centres can be reconfigured to build multiple types of rockets on the same line.

One of the most significant innovations is the creation of a collaborative digital platform connecting factories, laboratories and suppliers across China. Using cloud systems, IoT, AI and digital twin technologies, it provides real-time visibility of bottlenecks, sends alerts on missing parts and enables secure data sharing across different networks. The researchers called this the digital pull board, describing it as a live dashboard of the countrys aerospace supply chain.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

The reforms are being introduced as Chinas launch cadence picks up. Even so, the United States continues to lead, recording 158 launches in 2024, most of them by SpaceX, compared with Chinas 68.
Amidst the brewing tensions in Europe, Danish authorities reported that they had detected multiple drones at several military sites overnight.

A mobile radar installation on the resund coast. Airspace surveillance is being strengthened ahead of two summits, Danish armed forces said. X

Amidst the brewing tensions in Europe, Danish authorities reported that they had detected multiple drones at several military sites overnight. In light of this, the authorities have also announced a ban on all civilian use of the unmanned aircraft for this week. What is concerning is that the incidents are occurring at a time when Copenhagen is preparing to host two European summits.

On Sunday, the Danish defence ministry said that it had observed drones at several of its armed forces locations on Saturday night. However, they did not share further details on the matter. Meanwhile, the countrys transport ministry announced that all civilian use of drones would be banned to ensure security while Denmark hosts an EU summit and a meeting of the European Political Community, which is a wider gathering of leaders from across the continent.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

The ministry maintained that the move would remove the risk that enemy drones can be confused with legal drones and vice versa, and it said any violation of the ban could result in a fine or two years imprisonment.

There has been a spate of drone incursions in Denmark, Poland and Romania in recent weeks, as well as the infiltration of a Russian jet into Estonian airspace. The infiltrations are rocking Europe at a time when Russia continues to bombard Ukraine.

The escalating tension

On Sunday, a German air defence frigate, FSG Hamburg, arrived in Copenhagen to contribute to strengthening Denmarks airspace surveillance during the summits, Danish armed forces said. It is pertient to note that the frigate is part of Natos Baltic Sentry mission, which the alliance said this weekend it intended to strengthen.

In light of this, a Nato spokesperson said there would be even more enhanced vigilance in the Baltic Sea region, including Denmark. Baltic Sentry  deployments of Nato frigates, aircraft and drones to protect infrastructure  was launched in January after a series of incidents in which power cables, telecoms links and gas pipelines on the Baltic Sea floor were damaged.

Amid the recent incursions, NATO has also launched  Eastern Sentry earlier this month to bolster the defence of Europes eastern flank in response to Russian drone incursions of Polish airspace. Amid the chaos, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had spoken to Norways prime minister, Jonas Gahr Stre, about the increasing incidents with Russian drones over Europe, adding: The unity of Europeans will definitely provide an answer to this threat.

In the recent provocative move, Russia launched hundreds of drones and missiles at Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities overnight in a 12-hour bombardment, killing at least four people. Meanwhile, Russia has denied deliberate targeting of Nato countries with drones.

The Kremlin accused Denmarks prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, of unfounded allegations last week after she said authorities were still investigating who was behind a drone incursion that shut Copenhagen airport for several hours, but could not rule out Russia.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Every threat to Natos air, land and sea space will be dealt with a resolute and proportionate response," the chair of Natos military committee, Adm Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, said in a statement on Saturday.

Asked whether Natos air policing mission in the Baltic could be upgraded to air defence, Cavo Dragone stressed that the origin of the drones was still being investigated, but this could be an option, depending on what the final assessment.

With inputs from agencies.
Nigeria is poised to host the continents first local insulin production facility, even as its aviation regulators move to certify Chinas C919 jet for domestic use  twin developments that underscore the growing depth and strategic scope of China-Nigeria cooperation.

China is significantly expanding its presence in Africa, with Nigeria taking center stage as a key partner in both healthcare and aviation.

The West African nation is poised to host the continents first local insulin production facility, even as its aviation regulators move to certify Chinas C919 jet for domestic use  twin developments that underscore the growing depth and strategic scope of China-Nigeria cooperation.

According to a China Daily report, the insulin initiative, unveiled by Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria Yu Dunhai in Abuja, is poised to lower treatment costs for diabetes, expand access to life-saving medication, and position Nigeria as a pharmaceutical hub for West Africa.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Speaking at a reception marking the 76th anniversary of the founding of the Peoples Republic of China, Yu described the project as a game-changer in regional healthcare.

Chinese companies are in talks with Nigeria to build Africas first local insulin production facility, potentially ending Nigerias reliance on imported insulin and positioning Nigeria as a hub for African medical biotechnology, China Daily quoted as saying.

The effort is backed by a memorandum of understanding signed between Nigerias National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA) and Shanghai Haiqi Industrial Company Limited.

Nigerias Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, hailed the agreement as a landmark moment in the countrys scientific and healthcare journey.

This cooperation will ensure a stable supply of insulin in Nigeria, promote pharmaceutical manufacturing through technology transfer and local production, create jobs, and contribute to economic growth, Nnaji told China Daily.

Mustapha Abdullahi, Director-General of NBRDA, emphasised the significance of moving from import dependency to local capacity.

Insulin is normally imported in various types, but today we are moving toward a standard local production system, China Daily quoted him as saying.

This initiative addresses not just Nigerias needs, but also that of other African countries," he added.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

The collaboration also reflects the broader, evolving scope of China-Nigeria relations.

At the same event, Nigerias Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin  represented by Senator Babangida Hussaini  described the partnership as comprehensive and strategic, highlighting existing Chinese investments in roads, railways, power, and industrial infrastructure.

Beyond infrastructure, Jibrin noted growing people-to-people ties, including a rise in Nigerian students in China and increased cultural exchange.

Meanwhile, cooperation is also taking off in the skies.

Nigerias civil aviation authority is currently evaluating the certification of Chinas COMAC C919 jet, a narrow-body aircraft designed to compete with Boeing and Airbus, for use by Nigerian carriers.

Civil Aviation Authority Director General Chris Ona Najomo told Reuters that talks with COMAC have included aircraft maintenance, training support, and dry lease options.

We are exploring the certification process for the C919 to operate on domestic routes, Najomo said, noting that the aircrafts entry into Nigerias aviation market could offer cost-effective alternatives for local airlines amid growing demand.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

The simultaneous strides in healthcare and aviation underscore Chinas increasing footprint in Nigeria  and Africa at large  as the two nations deepen a multifaceted partnership that spans infrastructure, technology, medicine, and mobility.

With inputs from agencies
A highly educated Chinese man has abandoned wealth and privilege to embrace homelessness, living on just $14 a month while seeking meaning through simplicity and human connection.

Zhao spent his early years in Shanghai before moving to New Zealand. (Representative Image, Credit: Pexel)

A 32-year-old Chinese man has left behind a life of privilege to live as a homeless individual, surviving on just $14 a month, reported the South China Morning Post. Zhao Dians extraordinary decision reflects a personal quest to redefine success and explore what fulfilment truly means in todays world.

Zhao spent his early years in Shanghai before moving to New Zealand at the age of 10. Over the years, he carved out an impressive academic path, earning two bachelors degrees and three masters degrees in finance while living in cities like Sydney, New York, Beijing and Paris. Despite this relentless academic pursuit, Zhao felt immense pressure from his parents to succeed. For him, education was both an achievement and a burden.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Reflecting on his childhood, Zhao recalls a strained relationship with his parents. His father enforced strict discipline, even punishing him for being left-handed, while his mother struggled to understand his emotional struggles. My prestigious education felt like a shackle, Zhao said, reported the outlet.

Finding joy in simplicity

After years living abroad, Zhao battled deep loneliness, finding comfort mostly in the company of fellow Chinese expatriates. While in Paris, he worked in the kitchen of a Chinese restaurant, discovering unexpected joy in simple tasks.

Washing dishes could bring happiness, so why wait for an ideal job? he said.

In 2023, Zhao returned to China. He began with temporary roles as a waiter at a local beer festival and in a hotel before making a life-altering decision to live on the streets of Dali, Yunnan, last year.

Zhao now wakes at 7am and retires by 9pm, with occasional showers at hostels. He sustains himself by eating at free vegetarian restaurants and using hotel facilities for laundry. Living modestly on just $14 a month, he survives on personal savings of around $350. His wardrobe consists of second-hand clothing, and he carries an e-reader to dedicate time to reading, travelling and meaningful projects.

Among these projects, Zhao organises book clubs and shares psychological counselling videos online.

Zhao has cut ties with his parents, who still live in New Zealand, though he expresses a longing for close relationships. Over his life, he has been in nine romantic relationships and has a 10-year-old daughter from a previous relationship in New York, with whom he maintains online contact.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
After US President Donald Trump hikes the H1B visa fee, China will be launching new visa programme this week to boost foreign investment and attract tech talent

Chinas new visa programme aimed at attracting foreign tech talent kicks off this week, a move seen boosting Beijings fortunes in its geopolitical rivalry with Washington as a new US visa policy prompts would-be applicants to scramble for alternatives.

While China has no shortage of skilled local engineers, the programme is part of an effort by Beijing to portray itself as a country welcoming foreign investment and talent, as rising trade tensions due to US tariffs cloud the countrys economic outlook.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

China has taken a series of measures to boost foreign investment and travel, opening more sectors to overseas investors and offering visa waivers for citizens from most European countries, Japan and South Korea among others.

The symbolism is powerful: while the US raises barriers, China is lowering them, said Iowa-based immigration attorney Matt Mauntel-Medici, referring to Chinas new visa category, called the K visa, which launches on Wednesday.

Exquisite Timing

The K visa, announced in August, targets young foreign science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) graduates and promises to allow entry, residence and employment without a job offer, which could appeal to foreign workers looking for alternatives to US job opportunities.

Earlier this month, the Trump administration said it would ask companies to pay $100,000 per year for H-1B worker visas, widely used by tech companies to hire skilled foreign workers.

The US has definitely shot itself in the foot on H-1Bs, and the timing is exquisite for Chinas K visa, said Michael Feller, chief strategist at Geopolitical Strategy.

Other countries including South Korea, Germany and New Zealand are also loosening visa rules to attract skilled migrants.

Immigration experts say the main attraction of the K visa is no requirement of a sponsoring employer, which has been regarded as one of the biggest hurdles for those seeking H-1B visas.

The H-1B visa requires employer sponsorship and is subject to a lottery system, with only 85,000 slots available annually. The new $100,000 fee could further deter first-time applicants.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Its an appealing alternative for Indian STEM professionals seeking flexible, streamlined visa options, said Bikash Kali Das, an Indian student at Sichuan University.

India was by far the largest beneficiary of H-1B visas last year, accounting for 71% of approved beneficiaries.

Language barriers and unanswered questions

Despite its promise, the K visa faces hurdles. Chinese government guidelines mention vague age, educational background and work experience requirements.

There are also no details on financial incentives, employment facilitation, permanent residency, or family sponsorship. Unlike the U.S., China does not offer citizenship to foreigners except in rare cases.

Chinas State Council did not respond to a request for comment asking for more details on the logistics and underlying strategy of the K visa.

Language is another barrier: most Chinese tech firms operate in Mandarin, limiting opportunities for non-Chinese speakers.

Political tensions between Delhi and Beijing could also become a factor that could limit the number of Indian K visa applicants China is willing to accept, experts said.

China will need to ensure Indian citizens feel welcome and can do meaningful work without Mandarin, said Feller.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

K Visa: An alternative for whom?

Chinas talent recruitment has traditionally focused on China-born scientists abroad and overseas Chinese.

Recent efforts include home-purchase subsidies and signing bonuses of up to 5 million yuan ($702,200). These have drawn back US-based Chinese STEM talent, especially amid Washingtons growing scrutiny on ties to China.

The recruitment effort targeting Indian tech talent in China is growing but remains moderate compared to the more intensive, well-established, and well-funded initiatives aimed at repatriating Chinese STEM talent, said Sichuan Universitys Das.

A Chinese STEM graduate who recently got a job offer from a Silicon Valley-based tech company was also sceptical about the K visas prospects.

Asian countries like China dont rely on immigration and local Chinese governments have many ways to attract domestic talent, he said, declining to be named for privacy reasons.

The US has over 51 million immigrants  15 per cent of its population  compared to just 1 million foreigners in China, less than 1 per cent of its population.

While China is unlikely to significantly alter its immigration policy to allow in millions of foreign workers, analysts say the K visa could still boost Beijings fortunes in its geopolitical rivalry with Washington.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

If China can attract even a sliver of global tech talent, it will be more competitive in cutting-edge technology, Feller said.
The apology was delivered during a phone call between Netanyahu and Al Thani, made from the White House, where Netanyahu is being hosted by US President Donald Trump, according to a report

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday formally apologised to Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani for an Israeli airstrike in Doha on September 9 that killed a Qatari security guard and several low-ranking Hamas members.

According to Israels Channel 12 report, the apology was delivered during a phone call between Netanyahu and Al Thani, made from the White House, where Netanyahu is being hosted by US President Donald Trump. Trump was reportedly also on the call.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

A foreign diplomat familiar with the conversation confirmed to The Times of Israel that Netanyahu expressed regret for the incident, specifically apologising for the violation of Qatari sovereignty.

The Channel 12 report also noted that Israel may offer financial compensation to the family of the Qatari guard killed in the strike.

According to CNN, citing an Israeli source, Netanyahu did not, however, say he was sorry for targeting Hamas.

Meanwhile, Axios reported that the apology call was a key Qatari condition for resuming its mediation with Hamas over a deal to end the war in Gaza and free the remaining hostages.

Confirming the development, White House said Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed regret for an Israeli attack in Doha to Qatars leader in a three-way call with President Trump.

The White House said Netanyahu also expressed regret for Israel violating Qatari sovereignty and affirmed that Israel will not conduct such an attack again in the future.

The leaders discussed a proposal for ending the war in Gaza, prospects for a more secure Middle East, and the need for greater understanding between their countries, Reuters quoted the White House as saying.

The apology from Netanyahu is seen as a crucial step in efforts to finalise a deal to end the war in Gaza and secure the release of all remaining hostages, according to the Channel 12 report.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Qatar had suspended its mediation role with Hamas following the Israeli airstrike in Doha, which targeted  but failed to eliminate  senior Hamas leaders. The strike also killed a Qatari security guard, further straining diplomatic channels.

Channel 12 further claimed that Qatar has privately signaled to the United States that it could persuade Hamas to accept the demilitarisation of Gaza  an element viewed as essential by Israel for any long-term resolution.

The outlet also reported that President Trump, in a separate call with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani prior to Netanyahus White House visit, emphasised the importance of Arab and Muslim nations publicly backing the proposed ceasefire deal.

Trump reportedly told the emir that despite recent revisions aligning the plan more closely with Israeli positions, he expects public endorsements from the eight Arab and Muslim leaders he met with last week.

With inputs from agencies
India and Bhutan have agreed to launch two cross-border railway projects connecting Banarhat to Samtse and Kokrajhar to Gelephu, marking the first rail links between the two countries.

India announces mega infra project in Bhutan, to invest Rs 4,033 cr in first cross-border railway lines. Image: X

In a significant development, India and Bhutan have agreed to launch two cross-border railway projects connecting Banarhat to Samtse and Kokrajhar to Gelephu, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced on Monday (Sept 29).

The new rail lines will link West Bengals Banarhat and Assams Kokrajhar to key Bhutanese cities. This will be the first set of rail connectivity projects with Bhutan. The memorandum of understanding for this connectivity was actually signed during the visit of the Prime Minister to Bhutan last year, Misri said at a press briefing.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

#WATCH | Delhi | Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri says, "There is a major new initiative between India and Bhutan on the establishment of rail connectivity between our two countries... India and Bhutan share a relationship of exceptional trust, mutual respect and understanding. pic.twitter.com/fbP1dR6K4m  ANI (@ANI) September 29, 2025

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed later in New Delhi during the visit of Bhutans Foreign Secretary. This will mark the first-ever cross-border railway projects between India and Bhutan.

India and Bhutan share a relationship of exceptional trust, mutual respect and understanding. This relationship is rooted in cultural and civilizational ties, extensive people-to-people relations, and our shared developmental and security interests, Misri added.

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the projects will connect two important Bhutanese cities. One is Gelephu, which is being developed as a mindfulness city. And secondly, Samtse, which is an industrial city, he explained. Samtse will be linked to Banarhat and Gelephu to Kokrajhar.

The two projects will take off from the Indian railway network at Kokrajhar and Banarhat. The envisaged investment at this stage is about Rs 4,033 crore, covering a total length of roughly 90 km, Vaishnaw added.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

The minister highlighted that India is Bhutans largest trading partner, and seamless rail connectivity will help grow Bhutans economy while providing its people better access to the global network.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a nod to his radio broadcast as he wrote the foreword to the Indian edition of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Melonis autobiography

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is welcomed by Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni upon arrival at the Borgo Egnazia resort for the G7 Summit hosted by Italy in Apulia region. File image/AFP

Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a nod to his radio broadcast as he wrote the foreword to the Indian edition of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Melonis autobiography. In the book, which is scheduled to be launched soon, the prime minister described the autobiography as Melonis  Mann Ki Baat.

In the foreword of the book, Modi also wrote that it has been a great honour for him to have written the foreword and that he was doing so with respect, admiration and friendship for Meloni. PM Modi went on to state that he considers him a patriot and outstanding contemporary leader.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

While introducing the book titled I am Giorgia  My Roots, My Principles (Rupa Publications), Modi recalled how in the past 11 years he has interacted with several world leaders with different life journeys and how their journeys contributed to their personal stories and spoke to something larger.

Prime Minister Melonis life and leadership remind us of these timeless truths It will be well received (in India) as a refreshing story of an outstanding contemporary political leader and a patriot Her belief in defending ones cultural heritage, while engaging with the world on equal terms, mirrors our own values, Modi wrote in the book.

Modi in all praises for Meloni

The prime minister mainly heaped praises for Meloni and noted more than once how her inspiring and historic journey resonated deeply with Indians  and how it was sure to resonate with Indian readers as well. It is pertinent to note that the original version of the autobiography was released back in 2021, when Meloni was the leader of the opposition.

She eventually went on to become the countrys first woman prime minister a year later. Interestingly, back in June 2025, the books US edition was launched with a brief foreword from Donald Trump Jr, the US Presidents eldest son. In the foreword, Trump jr alluded twice to Melonis working class background and called the memoir an unfiltered story of the patriotic tidal wave that Meloni would ride.

In his introduction, PM Modi applauded Meloni for defending motherhood, national identity and tradition, and wrote about how India and Italy were bound by much more than treaties and trade.

We are bound by shared civilizational instincts like the defence of heritage, the strength of community and the celebration of womanhood as a guiding force. Our nations are joined in spirit by a respect for tradition and an embrace of modernity. This is the bedrock of my own personal friendship with Prime Minister Meloni, the prime minister wrote.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday met Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand in New York to discuss strengthening diplomatic relations between the two countries

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday met Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand in New York to discuss strengthening diplomatic relations between the two countries.

A good meeting with FM @AnitaAnandMP of Canada this morning in New York.



The appointment of High Commissioners is welcome as we rebuild ties. Discussed further steps in that regard today.



Look forward to welcoming FM Anand in India.



  #UNGA80 pic.twitter.com/74hYE1Bju5  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 29, 2025

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Taking to X, Jaishankar wrote, A good meeting with FM @AnitaAnandMP of Canada this morning in New York.

Jaishankar described the meeting as positive and welcomed the recent appointment of High Commissioners as an important step in rebuilding ties.

The appointment of High Commissioners is welcome as we rebuild ties. Discussed further steps in that regard today, he added, referring to the recent decision by both countries to reinstate top diplomatic posts after months of tensions.

He also expressed hope to host Foreign Minister Anand in India in the near future.

India-Canada relations hit a low point in 2023 after the then Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged possible Indian government involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani separatist. The accusations triggered a major diplomatic crisis, leading both countries to expel diplomats in retaliation.

Following Trudeaus claims, India recalled its high commissioner along with five other diplomats, prompting Canada to expel an equal number of Indian diplomats in response.

With inputs from agencies
Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina said on Monday he was dissolving the government following youth-led protests over water and power cuts in which the United Nations says at least 22 people have been killed and more than 100 injured

A protester throws back a tear gas canister lobbed by Malagasy riot police during a demonstration denouncing frequent power outages and water shortages, near the University of Antananarivo, Madagascar on Monday. Reuters

Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina said on Monday he was dissolving the government following youth-led protests over water and power cuts in which the United Nations says at least 22 people have been killed and more than 100 injured.

Inspired by the so-called Gen Z protests in Kenya and Nepal, the three days of demonstrations are the largest the Indian Ocean island has seen in years, and the most serious challenge Rajoelina has faced since his re-election in 2023.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

We acknowledge and apologise if members of the government have not carried out the tasks assigned to them, Rajoelina said in speech on state broadcaster Televiziona Malagasy (TVM).

The president said he wanted to create space for dialogue with young people, and promised measures to support businesses affected by looting.

I understand the anger, the sadness, and the difficulties caused by power cuts and water supply problems. I heard the call, I felt the suffering, I understood the impact on daily life, he said.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said the casualties include protesters and bystanders killed by members of the security forces, but also others killed in subsequent widespread violence and looting by individuals and gangs not associated with the protesters.

Madagascars ministry of foreign affairs rejected the casualty figures reported by the UN, saying the data did not come from competent national authorities and are based on rumors or misinformation.

On Monday protesters gathered at a university where they waved placards and sang the national anthem before attempting to march towards the city centre, footage from 2424.MG news channel showed.

Police fired teargas to disperse the crowd, after authorities declared a dusk-to-dawn curfew last week.

The protesters have adapted a flag used in Nepal where protesters forced the prime minister to resign this month and have also used similar online organisation tactics as protests in Kenya last year that culminated in the government scrapping proposed tax legislation.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Rajoelina first came to power in a 2009 coup. He stepped down in 2014 but became president again after winning the 2018 election, and secured a third term in a December 2023 poll that his challengers said was marred by irregularities.
As pro-European President Maia Sandu has beaten pro-Russia forces in election, Moldova has maintained its European tilt amid concerns on the continent that it could become Russian satellite state. But economic woes and Europe-Russia tension mean her challenges are far from over.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu arrives for a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace in Paris on May 19, 2022. (Photo: Ludovic Marin/AFP)

In an election that became a referendum about Moldovas future, voters on Sunday backed President Maia Sandus pro-European vision, refusing to tilt their country towards Russia. The election was anxiously watched by Europe, which has looked concerned over Russias expanding influence on its eastern borders.

In Sundays parliamentary election, Sandus PAS party secured a victory, retaining its majority. With 99 per cent of ballots counted, the pro-European Union (EU) party has won 50.1 per cent of the vote compared to 24.2 per cent vote of the pro-Russia BEP bloc. The PAS is projected to win 55 of 101 parliamentary seats.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

With such a mandate, voters chose Sandus vision for Moldova thats tied with the EU. She has sought to complete talks to join the bloc by 2028 and envisioned the country as a liberal, Western democracy. On the other hand, the BEP sought to declare permanent neutrality  its critics see it as a euphemism for what they describe as Russian overlordship.

This comes amid allegations that Russian President Vladimir Putin is following an imperial agenda. Several European countries have been concerned about Belaruss policies and proximity with Russia, dubbing the country as a satellite state of Moscow. Russia and Belarus have dismissed such allegations that have grown since Russian forces invaded Ukraine in 2022.

A defeat of the pro-EU PAS would have been seen as growing sphere influence of Russia in Europe at a time when the EU is trying to reposition itself also against the backdrop of US President Donald Trumps policies, many of which make a break from the past.

Indrani Talukdar, a scholar of Russian and Eurasian affairs at Chintan Research Foundation (CRF), tells Firstpost that Moldova was at the risk of drifting towards Russia, and becoming its satellite state, much like Belarus.

This would have helped Russia in strengthening its control over what it considers its sphere of influence in former Soviet republics in eastern Europe and Central Asia, says Talukdar.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

The election was held amid charged atmosphere, with charges of interference flying thick and fast. Moldova, a former Soviet republic, has no Nato military protection or EU economic protection, but has many Russia loyalists. Russia has occupied a part of the country, Transnistria, since 1990. But Sandu could hold on to her electoral constituency.

Europe vs Russia in Moldovas most important election

Sandus victory is also being seen as a win for the EU and Nato. The argument has been that had pro-Russia BEP won in Moldova, Putin would have expanded his network of satellites states to the gates of EU and Nato. Putin detractors have been alleging that the Russian president has been using Belarus as a staging ground to attack Ukraine since 2022.

Moldova is wedged between Ukraine and Romania  Romania is a member of EU and Nato. It has historically had close ties with Russia but has begun moving away lately over fears that it could also face an invasion like Ukraine. The economic prospects of EU membership have also drawn people in a country where a third of the population is seen as poor.

Ahead of the Sundays vote, Sandu had said that Russia had poured in hundreds of millions of dollars to interfere in favour of BEP and other allies. Several Europe-based news outlets ran reports claiming that the Moldovan election was marred by unprecedented Russian interference through vote buying, disinformation campaign, and coercion.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Videos critical of Sandu were doing rounds on social media. Moldova also reported cyberattacks on critical infrastructure. Bomb threats were received at voting stations. Amid all these high political dramas and regional tensions, Sandu secured popular mandate for her pro-EU vision.

However, the intense fight that Sandu put up for her reelection last year and in this years parliamentary election, and the narrow majority in favour of the EU membership 50.46 per cent in the referendum, showed that Moldova remains divided and she has work cut out for her.

Moldova faces Russias challenge from within

Lately, Europe-Russia relations have worsened, with EU members accusing Russia of shadow warfare against the countries on the continent, accusing it of posing a challenge from within. Moldova election also showed that there is a strong pro-Russia sentiment inside the country.

While Russian fighter planes and drones allegedly breached Nato members airspaces, political interference and cyberattacks intensified in Moldova. At the same time, pro-Russia forces gained ground across Europe.

However, Moldova is not the only country where pro-Russian parties have become powerful, notes Talukdar, the Russian and European affairs scholar at CRF.

Highlighting cases of Germany, the United Kingdom, and France, Talukdar says that even as European leaders have found a military response to Russian aggression, they have struggled to tackle pro-Russia parties domestically that hollow their response to the war in Ukraine and Russian aggression against Europe.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

In many ways, these growing pro-Russian sentiments have contributed to the EUs and Natos hesitant response toward Ukraine and Russia. A unified front against Russia is lacking as some mainstream European leaders most notably in Hungary openly support Russia, thereby undermining European solidarity, including within the EU itself, Talukdar tells Firstpost.

Talukdar says the end-result is that mainstream European leaders are struggling to formulate a coherent response to the Russian challenge beyond countering its military aggression.

To her European supporters, Sandu has stopped Russias march in Moldova. But this does not indicate that the pro-Russian sentiments in Moldova would die out. This could be a big challenge for Sandu and her allies in the EU to address in months or years to come. The pro-Russia sentiments or anti-Europe sentiments in Moldova also gets its fodder from the economic woes Sandu has not been able to address completely during her presidency.
UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves has warned that Nigel Farages Reform UK party poses the single greatest threat to working people, as she and Prime Minister Keir Starmer criticised the partys policies targeting migrants and challenging Britains social and economic stability.

UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves has called Nigel Farage and his Reform UK party the single greatest threat to working people in Britain. Speaking at Labours annual conference in Liverpool on Monday, she warned that the party could weaken Britains international ties, undermine the National Health Service, and threaten economic stability.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has also highlighted the challenge posed by Farage, saying on Sunday that his government is fighting for the soul of Britain.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

The remarks came after Reform UK announced plans to end the right of migrants to apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR), ban non-UK citizens from claiming benefits, and require UK citizenship applicants to renounce other citizenships.

Populist surge in Britain

Reform UK has gained significant support, tapping into voter frustration with mainstream parties, a trend seen across Europe in countries like Romania, Germany, and France. Recent polls suggest the party could win more than a third of the national vote if elections were held now.

British Muslim scholar Usaama al Azami, a former Oxford lecturer now teaching in Qatar, expressed concern about the partys rise. I am following the rise of Reform with considerable concern, particularly since my family lives in the UK, he told TRT World. He criticised Labour for pandering to Reform and Conservatives for working with Farage. Azami also noted that Farage has used migrants and Muslims as scapegoats for economic problems.

Reforms policies could affect hundreds of thousands of people, though EU citizens with settled status are exempt from the proposed benefits ban and ILR restrictions. Indefinite leave to remain allows legal migrants to live in the UK without repeatedly renewing visas.

Starmer condemns Reform policies

Prime Minister Starmer told the BBC, Well, I do think that it is a racist policy. I do think it is immoral. It needs to be called out for what it is. However, he stopped short of criticising voters who support Reform UK.
In her second trip to China in less than a month, North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui met Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Monday, as Beijing and Pyongyang continue to deepen high-level diplomatic engagement amid shifting regional dynamics

North Korea's Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui departs for China from Pyongyang, North Korea, in this picture released on September 28, 2025 by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency. KCNA via Reuters

In her second trip to China in less than a month, North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui met Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Monday, as Beijing and Pyongyang continue to deepen high-level diplomatic engagement amid shifting regional dynamics.

Premier Li welcomed Choe in Beijing on the third day of her four-day visit and expressed Chinas commitment to expanding exchanges and interactions at all levels, according to a statement from Chinas Foreign Ministry.

The meeting follows Choes earlier talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday, where the two sides reportedly reached a complete consensus on key international and regional issues.

Li emphasised Beijings readiness to strengthen strategic communication and coordination with North Korea to safeguard mutual interests and advance what he described as the nations traditional friendship rooted in shared ideological and geopolitical goals.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Choe, in turn, voiced North Koreas strong support for Chinas leadership, including President Xi Jinpings global initiatives and Beijings positions on Taiwan, Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong.

According to state-run Xinhua News Agency, she reaffirmed her countrys firm stance on deepening ties with China and said Pyongyang is eager to expand high-level exchanges, diplomatic communication, and multilateral cooperation.

Her latest trip follows her earlier visit on September 3, when she accompanied North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to Beijing to attend Chinas military parade. That visit also included a long-anticipated meeting between Kim and Xi  their first in over six years  signaling a rewarming of ties after a period of strain, partly due to Pyongyangs growing military closeness with Russia.

During her talks with Wang Yi, Choe described the September military parade as a showcase of Chinas historic achievements and comprehensive national power.

She reiterated North Koreas intention to proactively strengthen bilateral relations in line with the direction set by the Kim-Xi summit, asserting that their friendship would remain unshaken regardless of changes in international situations.

Wang echoed this sentiment, calling the Kim-Xi meeting a blueprint for elevating bilateral relations and reaffirming Chinas unwavering stance on maintaining and advancing its relationship with North Korea. He added that Choes visit offered a timely opportunity to reinforce those goals.

This weeks meetings have also fueled speculation about whether President Xi might attend North Koreas upcoming military parade on October 10, marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers Party of Korea  a potential reciprocal gesture to Kims visit earlier this month.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Choes latest visit also marks her first solo trip to China as foreign minister, a role she assumed in June 2022, and her first one-on-one meeting with her Chinese counterpart since taking office  underscoring the renewed momentum in China-North Korea ties.

With inputs from agencies
The Pentagon has asked US missile manufacturers to significantly ramp up production of 12 critical weapon systems amid growing concerns over a potential future conflict with China, according to a report

The Pentagon building is seen in Arlington, Virginia, US, on October 9, 2020. Reuters File

The Pentagon has asked US missile manufacturers to significantly ramp up production of 12 critical weapon systems amid growing concerns over a potential future conflict with China, according to The Wall Street Journal report, citing sources familiar with the matter.

The call to double or even quadruple the production at a breakneck schedule came citing concerns over the low ammunition stockpiles the US for a potential future conflict with China.

According to the report, the Pentagons push to rapidly scale up missile production has involved a series of high-level meetings between senior defence officials and top executives from major US defence contractors.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Deputy Defence Secretary Steve Feinberg is leading the initiative through the newly formed Munitions Acceleration Council. He is reportedly holding weekly calls with industry leaders to monitor and drive progress on an expedited production schedule, added the report.

The Pentagon is seeking a 2.5-fold increase in the output of key missile systems over the next 6, 18, and 24 months.

The systems targeted for ramped-up production include Patriot interceptors, Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles (LRASM), Standard Missile-6 (SM-6), Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM), and Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM).

Notably, the Department of Defence aims to produce nearly 2,000 Patriot missiles annually  roughly four times the current production rate. To support this goal, Lockheed Martin was awarded a contract worth nearly $10 billion in September to manufacture PAC-3 missiles for fiscal years 2024 through 2026.

A report released earlier this year by defence analytics firm Govini raised serious concerns about the United States ability to sustain a prolonged conflict with China, citing deep reliance on Chinese supply chains for critical defense systems.

The report revealed that in 2024, Chinese companies made up 9.3% of Tier 1 suppliers across nine key US defence sectors, including aviation, maritime, nuclear, missile defense, and space technology.

The dependence was especially pronounced in missile defence, where 11.1% of top-tier suppliers were Chinese, and in the nuclear sector, where the figure stood at 7.8%.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Govinis analysis found that Chinese firms are supplying nearly 10% of essential components for major US defence programmes, including those related to missile defense systems, nuclear capabilities, and space assets.

The report emphasises growing concerns in Washington over the risks posed by this supply chain vulnerability, particularly in the event of a conflict with China.

With inputs from agencies
After US President Donald Trump and Secretary General Mark Rutte said they will shoot down Russian aircraft breaching Nato members airspace, Kremlin has slammed the move as irresponsible and reckless and said Russia would respond to any such shootdown.

The Kremlin has slammed US President Donald Trump and Nato chief Mark Rutte's pledge to shoot down Russian aircraft breaching alliance members airspaces as irresponsible and reckless.

As Nato members Poland, Estonia, and Romania have reported Russian aerial incursions in recent weeks, tensions are running high between the bloc and the alliance. Rutte has said member-states would shoot down any intruding Russian aircraft if they would pose a threat. Trump has supported such shootdowns.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has said that Russia will respond like a sovereign country if any aircraft is downed in home airspace. But neither Rutte nor Trump said anything about shooting down Russian planes in Russian home airspace. Their statement was about Russian aircraft breaching allies airspaces.

How do you think well react? We are a sovereign country. How should we react? said Peskov when asked about Rutte and Trumps stand.

In the most serious airspace violation, Poland said it shot down Russian drones as at least 19 drones entered its airspace on the intervening night of September 9.

Russia warns of dangerous consequences

Dubbing Rutte and Trumps statements as reckless and irresponsible, Peskov said actions out of such statements could have dangerous consequences.

Peskov said, Statements about shooting down Russian planes are, at the very least, reckless, irresponsible, and, of course, dangerous in their consequences.

Peskov further said, Its very irresponsible because accusations against Russia that its military aircraft violated someones airspace and intruded into someones skies are groundless. No convincing evidence has been presented.

Separately, Alexei Meshkov, the Russian ambassador to France, has warned that Nato shooting down a Russian aircraft would mean war.

What is Natos stand on shooting down Russian aircraft?

Last week, Rutte said that Natos response to Russian incursions would be based on the principle of escalation ladder.

In an interview with CNNs Christiane Amanpour, Rutte said that as the first step, Nato fighter planes would be scrambled and, if intruding Russian aircraft would not pose a threat, they would be escorted out of the airspace. But he further said that instructions to shoot down intruding aircraft would be clear if they would pose any threat.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Our military, our military commanders, our fighter jets, pilots, they can do what is necessary to keep our people safe. If it is, if there is no direct threats, they will escort these planes out of allied airspace. If there is a direct threat, they might ultimately do the ultimate thing, said Rutte.
Nathan Law claimed he had a proper visa but was not told why he was turned away

Nathan Law, a prominent pro-democracy activist who fled Chinas sweeping crackdown on Hong Kong, was denied entry to Singapore despite arriving in the Southeast Asian city-state with a valid visa.

Law, a former lawmaker who left Hong Kong in 2020, stated he was detained and subsequently deported to the United States after landing on a Saturday to attend a closed-door, invitation-only event. Law, who is currently wanted by Hong Kong authorities under the territorys controversial national security law, said he was held at the border for four hours before being informed he had been refused entry.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Living in exile in the United Kingdom, Law was given no explicit reason for the denial and was deported to San Francisco after about fourteen hours in Singapore.

I was granted a visa, so I was legitimately expecting an entry. I think the decision to deny entry was political, although I am unsure whether external forces, such as the PRC, are involved, directly or indirectly, Law told Al Jazeera, referring to the acronym of Chinas official name, the Peoples Republic of China. The Financial Times first reported the news.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Singapores Ministry of Home Affairs told the South China Morning Post that Law had been denied entry when he arrived at Changi Airport from San Francisco on Saturday and was returned to the US city the next day.

Laws entry into and presence in the country would not be in Singapores national interests. A visa holder is still subject to further checks at the point of entry into the country, the spokesman said.

Law, a co-founder of Demosisto, a pro-democracy activist group, was a leading pro-democracy campaigner until the 2020 security law effectively wiped out political opposition. Since his departure, Law has remained a vocal advocate for political rights and a persistent critic of Beijing.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Hong Kong authorities issued an arrest warrant for Law and seven other activists in 2023, citing provisions allowing prosecution for acts carried out overseas.

What is the significance of the national security law in Hong Kong?

Once known for its vibrant civil society, Hong Kong has dramatically curtailed dissent under the security law, which followed mass anti-government protests.

Since 2020, authorities have eliminated opposition parties, shut down critical media, and effectively outlawed public commemorations of politically sensitive events.

Beijing and the Hong Kong government have consistently defended the crackdown as a necessary and proportionate response to anti-government protests and other national security threats.
Venezuela is bracing for a possible US strike as tensions with Washington escalate. The Trump administration has deployed warships and targeted Venezuelan boats, while Caracas arms militias in anticipation of conflict.

Venezuela is bracing for a possible US military strike as tensions with Washington mount. In recent weeks, the Trump administration has dispatched warships to the Caribbean and blown up three Venezuelan boats it accused of smuggling drugs.

The White House has also signalled its interest in removing President Nicolas Maduro from power. According to NBC News, the US is preparing options to strike drug targets inside Venezuela. Meanwhile, Caracas is arming civilian militias, fuelling fears of open conflict.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Washington brands Maduro a cartel boss

The military build-up has been matched by sharp rhetoric. Washington brands Maduro a cartel boss and a fugitive of American justice. Some officials concede the ultimate goal may be regime change. Maduro, accused of torture and grave human rights abuses, was declared the loser of the 2024 election by independent monitors but refused to step down. Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has even said she would welcome US military help to oust him.

Warnings of chaos

Diplomats and business leaders warn that ousting Maduro could unleash chaos, with Venezuelas military, Colombian guerrillas, and paramilitary gangs all competing for control of the countrys vast oil, gold, and mineral wealth. You kill Maduro, you turn Venezuela into Haiti, one businessman warned.

Echoes of past US wars

Talk of US-backed regime change stirs memories of Iraq and Afghanistan. Venezuelas vice president argued that Americans do not want war in the Caribbean. Yet Trump campaigned on deportations, drug crackdowns, and winning over Hispanic voters who strongly oppose socialist governments like those in Venezuela and Cuba.

Our hemisphere

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been forthright: Were not going to have a cartel, operating or masquerading as a government, operating in our own hemisphere. This focus on our hemisphere shows how the Trump administration sees Venezuela  not as a far-off crisis like Ukraine or Iraq, but as a direct challenge within Americas sphere of influence.

A wider Latin American push

The Venezuela stand-off is part of a broader Trump strategy in Latin America. Washington has threatened to seize the Panama Canal, bomb Mexican drug labs, intervened in Brazil on behalf of Jair Bolsonaro, and offered a $20 billion loan to support Argentinas President Javier Milei.
Adding to the security and logistical crisis of the gathering, US President Donald Trump has said that he will attend the event at Quantico that will host around 800 generals and admirals. War Secretary Pete Hegseth will deliver a speech at the event.

US President Donald Trump has said that he will attend the gathering of around 800 top generals and admirals at Quantico, Virginia, on Tuesday.

Trumps attendance is bound to add to the security and logistical crisis that such a large gathering at such a short notice would lead to. He has not said he would deliver an address as well. Instead, he has described the unprecedented gathering as business as usual.

Its really just a very nice meeting talking about how well were doing militarily, talking about being in great shape, talking about a lot of good, positive things. Its just a good message. We have some great people coming in and its just an esprit de corps. You know the expression esprit de corps? Thats all its about. Were talking about what were doing, what theyre doing, and how were doing, Trump told NBC News.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Last week, The Washington Post reported that War Secretary Pete Hegseth had called a meeting of all general-ranking officers around 800 in number at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, without any agenda. The meeting at such a short notice led to a logistical and security crisis as thousands of persons, officers would be travelling with their staff, would need to be provided lodging and security.

It later emerged that Hegseth would deliver a speech at the gathering about the so-called warrior ethos that he has been pushing for in the military.

The Post later reported, citing a planning document dated Saturday, that Trump had confirmed his participation to the Pentagon.

Trumps attendance will significantly change the security posture of Hegseths speech, the newspaper reported.

Is another purge on the cards?

In the garb of inculcating so called warrior ethos in the military, Hegseth and Trump have fired some of the top military officers, such as General Charles CQ Brown Jr as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Lisa Franchetti as the Chief of Naval Operations, General James Slife as Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and Lieutenant General Jeffrey Kruse as the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) chief, and Rear Admiral Milton Jamie Sands III as the Navy Seals chief.

Trump has long wished to remake the US military in his image and use it as he deems fit  irrespective of the constitution or the law. In his second term, Trump has broken all precedents to deploy military domestically against US citizens. There are concerns that Trump and Hegseth are purging the military to fill senior ranks with their loyalists who would do their bidding at all costs.

Separately, Hegseth has said that he wants to fire a minimum of 20 per cent four-star generals and reduce 10 per cent of all general and flag staff positions.

In May 2025, Hegseth ordered a 20% reduction in four-star generals and admirals and a 10% cut in all general and flag officers across the military, citing the need to eliminate unnecessary bureaucratic layers.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
US President Donald Trump on Monday said he is very confident that peace in Gaza can be achieved swiftly, as he welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House.

President Donald Trump greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the West Wing of the White House, on Monday, in Washington. AP

US President Donald Trump on Monday said he is very confident that peace in Gaza can be achieved swiftly, as he welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House.

The remark came as the two leaders shook hands at the West Wing portico, ahead of a scheduled meeting in the Oval Office.

Both Trump and Netanyahu gave a thumbs-up gesture to photographers before stepping inside.

Im very confident we can get peace in Gaza quickly, CNN quoted Trump as telling reporters, signaling optimism about ending the ongoing conflict and securing the release of hostages still held in the region.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Netanyahu, standing beside him and smiling, did not respond when asked directly whether he supported Trumps approach or believed such a deal was possible.

Meanwhile, ahead of the meeting with Netanyahu, Trump spoke with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.

A Qatari adviser also visited the White House ahead of a crucial meeting, according to a CNN report, citing two sources familiar with the matter.

The visit comes as Qatar continues to play a pivotal role in mediating a potential ceasefire in Gaza.

However, those efforts were recently strained following an Israeli strike that reportedly targeted Hamas leadership figures in Qatar, complicating diplomatic efforts.

According to CNN, the meeting with the Qatari adviser may signal a renewed push by the Trump administration to advance its 21-point plan aimed at ending the war in Gaza, which is approaching its two-year mark.

The engagement is also seen as part of broader efforts to keep pressure on Netanyahu to support a negotiated resolution.

Despite ongoing challenges, the White House has expressed cautious optimism that a deal remains within reach.

Gaza ceasefire proposal

Trumps latest Gaza ceasefire proposal calls for an immediate halt to hostilities, a phased Israeli military withdrawal, and the release of hostages within 48 hours, according to reports from The Times of Israel and Axios.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

As part of the proposed deal, Israel would subsequently release more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners  including several serving life sentences  in exchange.

Typically a strong supporter of Prime Minister Netanyahu, Trump has shown growing frustration ahead of Netanyahus fourth White House visit since Trump returned to office.

That tension was heightened by Israels recent airstrike targeting Hamas operatives in Qatar  a key US ally mediating ceasefire efforts  which reportedly infuriated the US president.

Adding to the strain, Trump last week issued a warning to Netanyahu against annexing parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, a move being pushed by hardline members of Netanyahus ruling coalition, which is heavily supported by far-right ministers opposed to a peace settlement.

Despite Trumps optimism, the path to a final agreement remains fraught.

Key sticking points persist, including disagreements between Israel and Arab states over the wording of the plan  particularly regarding the potential deployment of an international force in Gaza and the future role of the Palestinian Authority, based in Ramallah.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Netanyahu, in a Sunday interview with Fox News, cast doubt on any scenario involving the Palestinian Authority overseeing post-war Gaza.

The likelihood of a reformed Palestinian Authority that changes completely its stripes, that accepts a Jewish state well, good luck, he said.

With inputs from agencies
The 21-point proposal calls for Hamas to disarm, the creation of an international security force, and a Trump development plan to rebuild the devastated enclave. However, Israel may resist certain aspects of the plan

Displaced Palestinians, fleeing northern Gaza due to an Israeli military operation, move southward along a destroyed area after Israeli forces ordered residents of Gaza City to evacuate to the south, in the central Gaza Strip, September 23, 2025. Reuters

The Trump administrations 21-point plan to end the Gaza war would start with an immediate stop to all military actions, freezing all battle lines, and securing the release of the 20 living hostages and the remains of over two dozen presumed dead within 48 hours.

According to a copy of the plan, which was confirmed by officials from two briefed governments, all of Hamass offensive weaponry would be destroyed.

Militants who commit to peaceful co-existence would be offered amnesty, and safe passage to other countries would be provided for those Hamas members choosing to leave.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Neither Israel nor Hamas has agreed to the just over three-page proposal, which US officials shared with regional and allied governments at the United Nations last week. President Donald Trump is scheduled to urge Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept it when they meet on Monday at the White House. A senior Israeli official, as quoted by the Washington Post said their leadership still needed to review the plan, and regional officials noted Hamas has not yet received a copy.

It remains unclear whether the elements outlining governance, security, rehabilitation, and development in Gaza have begun or how quickly they could be implemented. Trump, who vowed during his campaign to end the war, told reporters on Friday, I think we have maybe a deal on Gaza. Were very close.  I think its a deal that will get the hostages back. Its going to be a deal that will end the war.

Whats fuzzy in the 21-point plan?

The proposal is short on details regarding the sequence of its 21 points after the initial ceasefire, hostage release, and aid increase.

While it says no Gazans would be forced to leave and that anyone who leaves can return, the plan does not explain where they will go during a Trump economic development plan to rebuild and energise the area. Nothing is finalised  these are broad strokes, said a regional official, one of several who spoke anonymously to the Washington Post. There are still things that need to be ironed out.

The plan specifies that Israel will release 250 life-sentence prisoners plus 1,700 Gazans detained after October 7 once all hostages are released. For every Israeli remains returned, Israel will release the remains of 15 dead Gazans.

The plan also promises that full aid will be immediately sent into the Gaza Strip upon acceptance, including rehabilitation of infrastructure, hospitals, and bakeries. Aid distribution will proceed without interference from the two parties through the United Nations and its agencies.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

The proposal outlines a temporary transitional governance of qualified Palestinians and international experts to run public services, supported and supervised by a new international body. The US will also establish a temporary International Stabilisation Force to oversee security while a Palestinian force is trained. The Israeli military will progressively hand over the Gaza territory they occupy, eventually withdrawing completely, save for a perimetre presence.

The current plan incorporates an earlier one but adds new elements, including an Israeli promise not to occupy or annex Gaza and to launch no further attacks on Qatar. Despite this, a senior Israeli official told the Washington Post that other Arab leaders were privately fine with Israel killing Hamas leaders, provided it wasnt on their territory.

The most debated parts of the plan are the final two points, which are clearly written to win over the 150-plus countries that support a Palestinian state and the Arab governments that demand the peace deal at least mention an eventual state.

The plan promises that once the suggested development and political changes are finished, conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian Statehood. This carefully worded statement recognises that a Palestinian state is what the Palestinian people want.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

The document adds that the US will start talks between Israel and the Palestinians to agree on a long-term political goal for them to live together peacefully and successfully.
US President Donal Trump previously stated that he intended for his Monday meeting with Netanyahu to conclude the details of a proposed Gaza peace plan

Israel and the US are reportedly very close to reaching an agreement on President Donald Trumps proposed plan to end the war in Gaza. The news comes from a reporter from the American news website, Axios, who posted on X on Sunday, citing a senior US official.

The breakthrough follows discussions between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US officials, including special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

Reporter Barak Ravids post indicated that the official stressed the plan cannot proceed without the consent of Hamas.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

A senior U.S. official said that following the talks between Witkoff and Kushner and Netanyahu, the U.S. & Israel are very close to an agreement on Trumps plan to end the war in Gaza. Hamas still needs to agree, the official added https://t.co/dypklAzht9  Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) September 29, 2025

Earlier on Sunday, Trump expressed his hope of finalising a Gaza peace proposal during his Monday meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.

All on board for something special

Netanyahu is set to hold an important meeting with Trump at the White House on Mondaytheir fourth meeting since Trump took office. This comes after the US president presented his 21-point plan to end the Israel-Hamas war to other regional leaders in New York last week.

We have a real chance for greatness in the Middle East, Trump said on his Truth Social account on Sunday. All are on board for something special, first time ever. We will get it done.

Reports from The Washington Post and The Times of Israel have shed light on the key elements of the proposed peace plan. Under the proposal, Hamas would release all 48 hostages (both living and dead) within 48 hours. In return, Israel would halt military operations and gradually withdraw its troops. Israel would also agree to release Palestinian prisoners and permit a substantial increase in humanitarian aid into Gaza.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

For its part, Hamas would disarm and be removed from governing the Palestinian territory. This would be followed by the establishment of a transitional administration and a plan to deradicalise local schools and mosques.

However, the details remain uncertain, as Israeli officials have refused to confirm or deny the reports points.

Context of ongoing war

These peace talks are unfolding as Israel escalates its offensive on Gaza City, the territorys effective capital, with the goal of destroying Hamass remaining military strongholds.

The Israeli military has already caused the displacement of 700,000 of the citys 1 million residents, destroying high-rise buildings (which Israel claims housed Hamas equipment) and tunnels used by Hamas fighters.

The war, which will be two years old next week, has led to a significant humanitarian crisis. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, approximately 66,000 Palestinians have been killed. The population has been repeatedly displaced and is facing dire living and health conditions, alongside a critical food shortage, with a UN-backed body declaring a famine in parts of the strip a month ago.
Days after Russian leader Vladimir Putin said he would be open to extending the New START arms control treaty with the United States, the Kremlin has changed the tone and said British and French arsenals must be part of any deal.

A Yars intercontinental ballistic missile is launched during a test from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in the Northern Arkhangelsk region, Russia. (Representative Image, Credit: Reuters)

Talks on reducing strategic nuclear weapons must first be conducted between Russia and the US, but the arsenals of Britain and France will ultimately have to be included in negotiations, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying on Sunday.

Peskovs remarks come amid a Kremlin proposal to the US this month to voluntarily maintain for a year the limits on deployed strategic nuclear weapons set out in their New START arms control treaty once it expires next year if the US does the same.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Putins proposal sounded pretty good, but the issue was up to US President Donald Trump. The US president has said he wants to open denuclearisation talks with Russia and China.

Naturally, we have to start talks at the bilateral level. New START is after all a bilateral document, Peskov told TASS.

But in the long term, you cannot remain abstract with these arsenals. All the more so that these arsenals are a component of the overall problem of global European security and strategic stability.

New START was signed by then-presidents Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev in 2010, came into force a year later and was extended in 2021 for five more years after US President Joe Biden took office.

In 2023, Putin suspended Russias participation, but Moscow said it would continue to observe the warhead limits. Putin this month made his offer to maintain the treatys limits as Ukraine tries to convince Trump to impose harsher sanctions on Russia over its February 2022 invasion of its smaller neighbour.

Russia and the US have by far the biggest nuclear arsenals in the world. New START caps the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads at 1,550 and the number of delivery vehicles missiles, submarines and bomber planes at 700 on each side.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

France and Britain, which were never a party to New START or its precursor treaties, have much smaller arsenals numbering between 250 and 300 warheads each.

(This is an agency story. Except for the headline, the story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.)
Amid declining popularity, the Mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, announced on Sunday that he is ending his re-election bid. Adams announcement came just over a month before the election day in the city.

Amid declining popularity, the Mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, announced on Sunday that he is ending his re-election bid. Adams announcement came just over a month before the election day in the city. The NYC mayor delivered the news in a video message on social media with My Way playing in the background.

Adams, who was trailing in the polls, was elected as a Democrat. However, he was running for re-election as an independent candidate after he was indicted on federal corruption charges, which were then dropped by US President Donald Trumps administration in exchange for his cooperation on immigration raids in the city.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

In the video statement, sitting beside the photograph of his late mother, Adams said that it had been impossible for him to mount a winning campaign, blaming constant media speculation about my future and the citys campaign finance boards decision to withhold millions of dollars in matching funds over suspicious donations.

Only in America. Only in New York.

Thank you for making my story a reality. pic.twitter.com/efHuyBnITJ  Eric Adams (@ericadamsfornyc) September 28, 2025

Adams admits to losing the trust of New Yorkers

In his address, the NYC mayor also admitted that he had lost the trust of some New Yorkers after being charged with corruption. However, he maintained that the allegations against him were unjust. I was wrongfully charged because I fought for this city, and if I had to do it again, I would fight for New York again, Adams said.

The mayor will now serve the remainder of his term in office, which will end on New Years Eve this year. Apart from this, his name will still remain on the ballot for the November elections, since the deadline to opt out of the list has passed.

Adams withdrawal now narrows the field to lead the countrys largest city, in a three-way contest between Democratic nominee, Zohran Mamdani; the former governor, Andrew Cuomo; and the Republican candidate, Curtis Sliwa.

Adamss competitors react

Three weeks ago, the NYC mayor insisted that he would continue to stay in the race amid reports that he had been offered an ambassadorship by the Trump administration if he would drop out. The White House was dangling the carrot in front of Adams to make it easier for Cuomo to defeat the democratic socialist frontrunner, Mamdani. The mayor was scathing about the former governor.

 Andrew Cuomo is a snake and a liar, Adams told reporters at that time. Andrew has had a career of pushing Black candidates out of races. Both competitors went on to react to Adamss exit. Without mentioning Mamdani by name, Cuomo said: We face destructive extremist forces that would devastate our city through incompetence or ignorance, but it is not too late to stop them.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Meanwhile, Mamdani, who defeated Cuomo to win the Democratic nomination earlier this year, responded to the mayors withdrawal with a social media video of his own, in which he criticised Adams for failing to make good on his promises, and pledged to beat Cuomo again.

To Andrew Cuomo: You got your wish. You wanted Trump and your billionaire friends to help you clear the field, Mamdani said. But dont forget, you wanted me as your opponent in the primary, too. And we beat you by 13 points. Looking forward to doing it again on November fourth. Meanwhile, Sliwa, the Republican nominee, said last week that he had turned down multiple offers of millions of dollars to end his own campaign.
State authorities in Oregon on Sunday sued to halt the deployment of US troops to the northwestern city of Portland, a day after President Donald Trump ordered the move

ICE agents charge towards protesters during a protest against the U.S. President Donald Trump administration's immigration policies, outside an ICE detention facility in Portland, Oregon, U.S., September 1, 2025. File Image- Reuters

State authorities in Oregon on Sunday sued to halt the deployment of US troops to the northwestern city of Portland, a day after President Donald Trump ordered the move.

The deployment would follow similar moves by the Republican president to mobilize troops against the wishes of local Democratic leadership in Los Angeles and Washington DC.

Trump says the deployments are necessary to crack down on crime and protests against his contentious and wideranging mass deportation drive.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

The suit filed by Oregon and Portland authorities on Sunday accused Trump of overreach, saying the move was motivated by his desire to normalize the use of military troops for ordinary domestic law enforcement activity, particularly in jurisdictions run by his political opponents.

Since returning to power in January, Trump has delivered on campaign promises to go after undocumented migrants in a drive that lawyers and NGOs say has led to frequent violations of peoples rights.

In recent weeks, the Republican has also vowed to take on violence he alleges is being carried out by an alleged left-wing domestic terrorist network  moves his critics say are designed to silence dissent.

In its suit, Oregon authorities said there was no need for a National Guard deployment to Portland as  contrary to Trumps claims  the protests there against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have been small-scale and peaceful.

The suit said the protests typically involve less than 30 people and have not required arrests since mid-June.

But (Trumps) heavyhanded deployment of troops threatens to escalate tensions and stokes new unrest, the suit said.

Protesters in Portland and other cities have intermittently blocked entrances to ICE facilities in recent weeks, prompting some clashes as agents try to clear the area.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Earlier, responding to Trumps Saturday announcement, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek said she had been given no details or timeframe regarding the troop deployment.

There is no insurrection, there is no threat to national security, and there is no need for military troops in our own major city, she told reporters.

Portland Mayor Keith Wilson called the deployment unwanted, unneeded and un-American.

Officials in Portland are wary of a repeat of summer 2020, during Trumps first term, when the city saw a surge of violent clashes amid racial justice protests following the police killing of unarmed Black man George Floyd.

Trump first deployed troops in Los Angeles in June, overriding the states Democratic governor and prompting an ongoing legal dispute over the limits of presidential authority.

That was followed by a surge of troops and federal agents to the US capital, and threats to go into other major cities, including Chicago.
Trump is set to meet the top four congressional leaders on Monday at the White House in a last-minute effort to prevent a government shutdown. Federal funding is set to expire early Wednesday unless the parties reach an agreement.

The move comes in the backdrop of the US Congress attempting to pass a bill that makes Donald Trumps 2017 tax cuts permanent. Reuters

President Donald Trump will meet the top four congressional leaders on Monday at the White House in a crucial effort to prevent a government shutdown. Federal funding is set to expire at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday unless an agreement is reached.

The meeting will bring together House and Senate Democratic leaders Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer, both of New York, alongside their Republican counterparts, House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana and Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

A standoff over priorities

The talks highlight a power struggle: Republicans, controlling the White House and Congress, seek to assert authority, while Democrats aim to secure influence over health care policy, including extending key Obamacare subsidies. Six months ago, Democrats accepted a GOP-written funding bill, but they insist any new deal must include their input.

Although Republicans hold both chambers, Democrats retain leverage in the Senate, where 60 votes are needed to pass a bill and the GOP has only 53 seats.

Positions from both sides

Senator Schumer told NBCs Meet the Press that serious negotiations are essential to avoid a shutdown. We need the meeting, he said. Its a first step, but only a first step. We need a serious negotiation. Now, if the president at this meeting is going to rant and just yell at Democrats we wont get anything done.

Senator Thune responded that Republicans will not negotiate on a short-term funding measure but are open to compromise on a longer-term bill. What the Democrats have done here is take the federal government as a hostage  and by extension, the American people  to try and get a whole laundry list of things they want, he said.

Impact of a shutdown

If no deal is reached, a government shutdown could begin in less than 48 hours. Senators return Monday evening with no clear plan, while the House remains out of session.

A shutdown would halt pay for millions of federal workers, including military personnel, who would also be furloughed. White House efforts to maintain pay for the military during a shutdown have so far failed. All federal employees would receive back pay once the shutdown ends.
In a feat of modern engineering, China officially opened the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge on Sunday, claiming the title of the worlds highest bridge from deck to ground. The structure soars an astounding 625 metres (2,050 feet) above the Beipan River gorge in Guizhou province.

The bridges inauguration marks an improvement in regional connectivity, immediately slashing a previous two-hour detour down to a mere two minutes for travellers in the rugged mountainous region.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

The worlds highest bridge from ground level, the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge, opened to traffic today in Chinas southern Guizhou province, cutting travel time across the canyon from 70 minutes to just a few.



Hell NO!pic.twitter.com/ZUx7xNRVHP  Volcaholic  (@volcaholic1) September 28, 2025

The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge, which was constructed in just over three years, secures two major world records. Firstly, it is the worlds highest bridge: Its 625-meter clearance surpasses the previous record holder, the Duge Bridge (565 m), which is located upstream on the same river. Secondly, it is the largest-span mountain bridge. The total length of 2,890 metres and its massive central span of 1,420 metres make it the largest-span bridge ever built in a mountainous terrain.

The structure is a key component of the new LiuzhiAnlong Expressway. As Zhang Yin, head of the provincial transport department, told AFP, the bridges opening offers enormous improvements to regional transportation conditions and [injects] new impetus into regional economic and social development.

The new landmark cements Guizhous reputation as the worlds bridge museum. The hilly province is already home to thousands of bridges, including nearly half of the worlds 100 highest crossings, according to the Chinese state news agency Xinhua.

Beyond its crucial function as a transport link, the Huajiang Bridge is expected to become a major tourism draw. The design includes visitor-focused features such as a 207-metre sightseeing elevator, viewing platforms, and sky cafes, offering stunning, vertiginous views over the deep canyon below.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Separately, the worlds tallest bridge, measured by the height of its physical structure, remains the Millau Viaduct in France at 343 metres.
Europe has quietly halved illegal immigration through external deals and deterrence, offering lessons for Donald Trump but also raising rights concerns

President Donald Trump has long positioned himself as the global champion of hardline anti-immigration politics. From deploying federal troops in US cities to threatening mass deportations, his approach has relied heavily on spectacle and highly visible shows of force.

Rights groups have often questioned the legality of his measures, while critics have derided them as authoritarian or unconstitutional. Yet across the Atlantic, Europe has managed to dramatically reduce illegal migration with far less fanfare.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

In the first eight months of 2025, irregular border crossings into the European Union dropped by 52 per cent compared with the same period in 2023, according to The Economist.

The contrast between Trumps style and Europes methods reveals important lessons about how to address migration in effective and sustainable ways, while also highlighting the moral costs of harsh deterrence.

Trumps spectacle versus Europes quiet calculations

Trumps approach to immigration has always been highly visible and deeply polarising. His most recent deployment of federal troops to Portland, Oregon, to protect immigration agents symbolised the performative dimension of his enforcement drive, The Hill.

Much of his energy has gone into shutting down legal pathways, such as suspending refugee programmes, targeting parole authority and attempting to block birthright citizenship. These actions have prompted strong pushback from rights organisations and even the courts.

For instance, his order seeking to strip citizenship from children born in the US to parents on visas was halted by a federal judge as blatantly unconstitutional.

By contrast, the European Union has managed its migration problem without resorting to dramatic domestic displays.

Instead, the bloc has quietly pursued deterrence through external partnerships and enforcement networks that extend far beyond its own borders. Rather than relying on spectacle, Europe has built a system designed to reduce crossings before migrants even reach its territory.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

While the outcomes may look similarfewer illegal entriesEuropes methods have been more strategic, less theatrical and far more effective in raw numerical terms.

Europes numbers tell a different story

The drop in irregular migration into Europe is striking.

In 2023, some 231,000 people crossed into the EU illegally. By 2025, that number had fallen to 112,000 over the same eight-month period, representing a decline of more than half, The Economist said.

Crucially, these reductions have occurred despite the fact that the pressures driving migration have not disappeared. Afghanistan remains repressive, Sudan is still wracked by conflict and poverty continues to push people out of Egypt and Bangladesh.

The decline, then, is not due to an easing of global crises but to a recalibration of European policy.

While Trump insists that migration is an unstoppable tide, the European example demonstrates that carefully designed deterrence can significantly reduce numbers even in the face of worsening push factors. This stands as a direct challenge to Trumps narrative that the crisis is beyond control without extreme domestic crackdowns.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

The invisible wall of externalisation

At the core of Europes strategy is the construction of what has been described as a big, invisible wall. Instead of focussing exclusively on fortifying its own borders, the EU has signed deals with transit countries such as Tunisia, Egypt and Mauritania.

In exchange for billions in aid and investment, these governments intercept and block migrants before they can advance to European shores.

The results have been immediate. After a 1 billion deal with Tunisia in 2023, crossings along the central Mediterranean route dropped by 58 per cent. Similarly, an agreement with Mauritania slashed migration flows along the western African route by 52 per cent in 2025.

The strategy is reinforced by technology, as Frontex, the EUs border agency, now uses drones to monitor waters off North Africa and direct local authorities to intercept boats.

For Trump, who has long touted the virtues of a physical wall at the southern border, Europes invisible wall offers an alternative vision.

By extending enforcement beyond its immediate territory, Europe has achieved a level of deterrence that a wall alone cannot provide.

The lesson is that the true front line of border security often lies thousands of miles away.

Human costs and criticism

Yet Europes success has not come without controversy.

Rights groups accuse the EU of outsourcing brutality to authoritarian or unstable governments. Libyas coastguard, supported with European funding and training, has been accused of acting like a militia, detaining migrants under appalling conditions, with reports of abuse, rape and even enslavement.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Tunisia has allegedly abandoned thousands of migrants in desert borderlands, while Mauritania has pushed people back into volatile regions of Mali and Senegal.

Trumps record has faced similar criticism.

By dismantling lawful entry pathways, including the CBP One app that allowed migrants to schedule asylum appointments, he has been accused of forcing people into the hands of cartels and smugglers.

Just as Europe risks compounding suffering by outsourcing enforcement, Trump risks fuelling irregular migration by eliminating legal options. In both cases, deterrence has been achieved partly at the expense of human rights.

Parallels between Europe and Trump

Despite the differences in strategy, there are undeniable parallels between Europes recent success and Trumps own approach. Both have overseen sharp reductions in illegal migration during their respective periods of enforcement.

Trumps second term has seen illegal entries into the US decline significantly, the result of tightened enforcement and a dismantling of programmes that allowed lawful entry. Europes reduction mirrors this trend but is rooted in international agreements and surveillance rather than domestic crackdowns.

This comparison teaches a central lesson.

Trump has often cast his domestic fight as singular and unprecedented, yet Europe has achieved comparableindeed superiorresults through a less visible but more comprehensive strategy.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

If Trump were to look beyond the rhetoric of toughness, he would see in Europes example a model of deterrence that is both innovative and adaptable.

Risks of dependency

Europes model is not without its risks.

By outsourcing border control to foreign governments, the EU has created dependencies that may undermine its sovereignty.

For the United States, a similar strategy could prove double-edged.

Outsourcing enforcement to Mexico or Central American nations might reduce short-term pressure at the southern border, but it could also leave Washington beholden to governments willing to weaponise migration for political or economic gain.

Trumps instinct for unilateral action contrasts sharply with Europes reliance on partnerships, but the latter approach highlights both the promise and the peril of externalised deterrence.

Quiet success, loud lessons

Europes 52 percent reduction in irregular migration demonstrates that deterrence need not rely on spectacle. By quietly constructing an invisible wall through international agreements, aid and technological surveillance, the EU has reshaped migration flows with remarkable speed.

Trumps highly visible deployments and headline-grabbing executive orders have not delivered comparable results.

The lesson for Trump is clear.

Results matter more than rhetoric, and sustainable enforcement requires strategy, not just theatre. At the same time, Europes experience warns of the human cost of harsh deterrence and the risks of overreliance on fragile foreign partners.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

For the United States, the challenge is to find a balance: to deter irregular migration effectively without dismantling lawful pathways or outsourcing abuse.

As Trump continues his campaign against illegal immigration, he may find that the most valuable lessons come not from building taller walls or staging dramatic troop deployments, but from the quiet, if controversial, policies of his trans-Atlantic allies.
Samsung launched the Galaxy A17 5G smartphone recently as the successor to the Galaxy A16 5G last month. This retains the display, camera and battery, but replaces the Dimensity 6300 with the companys own Exynos 1330 SoC. The price has also increased a bit since this now starts from 6GB + 128GB model, but you get a charger in the box. Is this a good phone under the Rs. 20,000 segment? Let us dive into the review to find out.

Box Contents

Samsung Galaxy A17 5G 6GB RAM, 128GB storage version in Blue colour

USB Type-C to C Cable

25W Type-C adapter

SIM ejector tool

Quick Start Guide and Warranty information

Display, Hardware and Design

The Galaxy A17 5G comes with a 6.7-inch Full HD+ Infinity-U Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 10802340 pixels at about 384PPI. The display looks bright, thanks to 1000 nits peak brightness, It offers good color reproduction and the sunlight legibility is good as well. Since it has an AMOLED panel, it offers true blacks. The screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection that you dont see in the phones in the price range.

It has a 90Hz refresh rate screen that offers a fluid user experience with smoother animations, scrolling and gaming. Similar to the other Samsung phones, there is an Eye comfort shield that limit blue light emitted by the screen. There is also dark mode, which looks great on the AMOLED screen. You can choose from Vivid or Natural screen modes based on your preference, or set the white balance manually.

The phone doesnt have DC dimming or low brightness anti-flicker mode that is present in some AMOLED screen phones in the price range. I didnt notice any screen flicker issues in low brightness on the phone. It doesnt have notification LED, but there is Always on display.

On the top, there is an 13-megapixel camera in the notch, same as the predecessor. The earpiece is present on the top edge, but it doesnt double up as a secondary speaker. There is a small chin below the screen.

Coming to the button placements, the power button that houses the fingerprint scanner and the volume rockers are present on the right side. The hybrid dual SIM slot is present on the left. The primary microphone, USB Type-C port and the loudspeaker grill are on the bottom. The secondary microphone is on the top.

The sides have a plastic frame with a matte finish, so it doesnt attract fingerprints easily, and the grip is also good since the phone has a sharp frame.

On the back, there is a triple camera module inside the camera deco, along with a flash next to it. The phone is just 7.5mm thick, making it 0.4mm thinner than the A16, and weighs 192 grams, the same as the predecessor.

The back uses a Glass Fiber reinforced polymer, which looks and feels premium, but it is prone to fingerprints and smudges with day-to-day use, so it is recommended to use a case, which is not included in the box.

In addition to the Blue colour variant that we have, the phone also comes in Black and Grey colours. The phone has IP54 ratings for dust and splash resistance.

Camera

50MP rear camera with f/1.8 aperture, OIS

5MP ultra-wide angle camera with f/2.2 aperture

2MP macro sensor with f/2.4 aperture

13MP front camera with f/2.0 aperture

You can choose 50MP option from the aspect ratio settings on the top. It also has scene optimizer, Pro mode, Pro video, Night, Macro, Panorama, Food, Super Slow-mo, Slow motion, Hyperlapse and single take. There is also a wide-angle option for the front camera.

Coming to the image quality, daylight shots are good, and the camera captures a good amount of detail, creates well exposed photos with good dynamic range and detailing, and dynamic range can further be improved enabling HDR mode from the settings, which automatically turns on HDR when needed. Even though the phone has a 50-megapixel sensor, the final output has 12-megapixel resolution. Autofocus speeds are fast and accurate. Ultra-wide shots from the 5MP camera are avearge.

Macro shots from the main camera is good, but the dedicated macro camera mode is not useful since the resolution is low. Portrait shots are good, thanks to Samsungs algorithm in detecting the edges. Low-light performance is decent, but you cant expect much, it can be improved further with Night mode that offers more details, but you need to keep your hand steady, since it takes two to three seconds to process.

The 13-megapixel front camera is decent in most cases. Software blur has good edge detection in portrait shots.

Check out some camera samples.

It can record videos at maximum 1080p resolution at 30 fps from front, main rear and ultra-wide camera, even though the processor is capable of recording 4K videos. The normal stabilization works with both ultra-wide and main camera, but only the main camera has OIS.

Software, UI and Apps

Coming to the software, the phone runs on Android 15, and it got September 2025 update recently. On the top of Android 15, it has the Samsung One UI 7, which brings several new features. Similar to the other latest Samsung devices, the company has confirmed 6 OS updates and 6 years of security updates for the A17 5G, same as the A16. The company has already confirmed that Android 16-based One UI 8 update, which should roll out soon.

Unlike the AI features in the flagship S series phones, the A17 5G only gets has generative wallpapers. The Device maintenance option lets you manage your devices battery life, storage, RAM usage, and security all in one place. Out of 128GB (UFS 2.2) storage in our unit, 103.8GB is free. Out of 6GB LPDDR4x RAM, about 5.4GB is usable and 2.2GB is free when default apps are running in the background. There is also a RAM Plus feature, which uses the internal memory of the phone to expand the RAM by an extra 6GB, in addition to the existing 6GB of RAM. This is enabled automatically, but it can be disabled.

Apart from the usual set of utility apps and Google Apps, the smartphone comes with Netflix, Truecaller, Snapchat, PhonePe, DailyHunt, Spotify and Microsoft apps such as Microsoft 365, OneDrive, Outlook and LinkedIn. You get the option to install apps when you are setting up the phone, which you can choose not to. It also has Samsung Wallet via NFC. The phone doesnt have ads, but shows notifications of new Samsung products occasionally.

Fingerprint sensor and Face unlock

Even though the phone an AMOLED screen, it still has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. You can add up to 3 fingerprints, and adding fingerprint is easy. It has support for Face recognition, which doesnt work well if the lighting is poor in the room, if you are hats, or use heavy makeup. Both these are protected by Knox security.

Music Player and Multimedia

YouTube Music is the default music player. It has equalizer, Dolby Atmos, UHQ upscaler, and Adapt that can be enabled from the settings. All these improve the audio when listening through earphones, and Dolby Atmos also works with speakers. It doesnt have FM Radio support. That said, audio through earphones is good. Loudspeaker output from the stereo speakers is decent since the bottom speaker is dominant.

The phone comes with Widevine L1 support out-of-the-box so that you can enjoy HD content on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hotstar and other streaming apps. There is no HDR playback support for YouTube or Netflix.

Dual SIM and Connectivity

It has support for 5G SA and NSA with support for N1, N3, N5, N7, N8, N26, N28, N66, N40, N41, N77, and N78 bands in India. Other connectivity options include, Wi-Fi 802.11 ac (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Bluetooth v5.3 and GPS with GLONASS. It has support for USB OTG and NFC that works with supported payment apps. It has 4G connectivity and has Voice-over-LTE (VoLTE) and Wi-Fi Calling or Vo-Wi-Fi support for Reliance Jio, Airtel and more, and also has support for LTE-A or Carrier Aggregation.

The Galaxy A17 5Gs head SAR is at 0.64W/Kg which is slightly more than the A16 5G, and is well under the limit in India which is 1.6 W/kg (over 1 g).

Performance and Benchmarks

The Galaxy A17 5G is powered by the tried and tested Exynos 1330 5nm SoC, compared to Dimensity 6300 in the A16. This has 4 x 2.4GHz Cortex-A78 Performance CPUs and 4 x 2GHz Cortex-A55 Efficiency CPUs. I didnt face any performance issues with normal use, but this might not be the best for gaming.

In 3D Mark wild life stress test, it scored 99.4% which is good, and the temperature shot up from 37 to 39 degrees. That said, check out some synthetic benchmark scores below.

Battery life

The Galaxy A17 5G has a 5000mAh battery, same as the predecessor. I got about 4 hours of screen on time mostly on Wi-Fi and occasionally on 5G with 1 day of use in 90Hz refresh rate. It should last for a day easily, for average use, and less than that for heavy use.

Samsung also offers a 25W PPS charger in the box. With the official fast charger, it takes about 1 and half hours to reach 100%, and 0 to 50% took about 45 minutes.

Conclusion

The Samsung Galaxy A17 5G presents a compelling, yet specific, value proposition in the competitive sub-Rs. 20,000 segment. Its primary strengths lie in the vibrant 90Hz Super AMOLED display protected by Gorilla Glass Victus, and a capable 50MP main camera with OIS that delivers good daylight photos. However, the phones most significant advantage is Samsungs unparalleled software commitment: an incredible promise of 6 OS updates and 6 years of security patches, a feature unheard of in this price range. The inclusion of a 25W charger in the box is another welcome addition.

On the other hand, it makes clear compromises. The Exynos 1330 processor provides smooth day-to-day performance but falls short for serious gaming. Furthermore, the battery life is merely average, the lack of stereo speakers is a noticeable omission for multimedia consumption, and the Infinity-U notch feels dated compared to the punch-hole designs common in this segment.

Ultimately, if your priority is a reliable device with an excellent display and the peace of mind that comes with long-term software support from a trusted brand, the A17 5G is a strong contender. However, if you are a power user seeking the best performance, or if features like stereo speakers and all-day heavy usage are more important, the competition offers more powerful specifications for a similar price. The Galaxy A17 5G is a purchase for those who value software longevity and a quality viewing experience over raw performance.

Pricing and availability

The Samsung Galaxy A17 5G is priced at Rs. 18,999 for the 6GB + 128GB model, the 8GB + 128GB model costs Rs. Rs 20,499 and the top-end 8GB + 256GB costs Rs. 23,499.

It is available from Amazon, Flipkart and Samsung India online store as well as offline stores.

Pros

90Hz AMOLED display is good

Good camera in daylight, OIS

Smooth performance

Promise of 6 OS updates and 6 years of security updates

25W charger in the box

Cons

Infinity-U display without HDR support

Battery life could be better

No stereo speakers
State-owned telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has marked its 25th anniversary with the launch of Indias first indigenous 4G (5G-ready) network, inaugurated by Honble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

National Rollout of Swadeshi 4G

BSNL announced that nearly 98,000 indigenous 4G towers have been commissioned across the country, connecting both remote villages and major cities. The initiative is fully powered by Indian technology:

Core Network: Developed by C-DOT

Radio Access Network (RAN): Built by Tejas Networks

Integration: Managed by TCS

This development ends decades of dependence on foreign telecom vendors. Built within 22 months, the Swadeshi 4G stack demonstrates Indias resilience, innovation, and supply-chain independence. With this achievement, India joins a select group of five nations capable of deploying a fully homegrown 4G network.

Features of the Indigenous 4G Stack

End-to-end Indian ecosystem: Core (C-DOT), RAN (Tejas), and domestic integration.

Cloud-native design: Software-first architecture, enabling scalability and rapid upgrades.

5G readiness: Infrastructure designed for seamless migration to 5G without major hardware replacements.

Benefits and National Impact

Strategic autonomy: Strengthens digital sovereignty and national security by reducing reliance on foreign systems.

Employment growth: Indigenous production is generating jobs and building a skilled domestic workforce.

Export potential: Several countries have expressed interest in Indias indigenous 4G stack.

Expanding reach: Over 92,000 sites are now live, providing connectivity to 22 million people, including 2 million first-time internet users.

High efficiency: The network manages 4 petabytes of data traffic daily with reliability and security.

Financial turnaround: BSNL has posted consecutive profitable quarters for the first time in 17 years, signaling renewed confidence in indigenous telecom solutions.

Empowering Citizens

BSNLs rollout is expected to significantly benefit underserved areas:

Education: Enables online learning in rural regions.

Agriculture: Farmers can check crop prices and weather conditions digitally.

Healthcare: Telemedicine and remote consultations become more accessible.

Defense: Improves secure communication for armed forces.

Indias 5G Deployment

Indias 5G rollout is among the fastest globally:

Launch date: October 1, 2022.

Coverage: 2,00,000 sites installed in 700 districts within 8 months.

Nationwide presence: Services expanded to all 28 states and 8 Union Territories.

Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs): 4.86 lakh installed by June 30, 2025.

5G Use Cases

Agriculture: Precision farming through IoT and AI.

Healthcare: Real-time diagnostics and telemedicine.

Education: AR/VR-enabled classrooms.

Industry 4.0: Automation and robotics in smart factories.

Smart Cities: Intelligent transport and energy systems.

Transport: Connected vehicles and road safety improvements.

Media: Enhanced streaming and immersive gaming.

Stepping Toward 6G

Indias progress in 4G and 5G lays the foundation for the Bharat 6G Mission, with global deployment expected by 2030.

Key Government Initiatives

Bharat 6G Alliance: Collaboration between industry, academia, and research bodies.

100 5G/6G labs: Set up to foster innovation and skill-building.

Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF): 275.88 crore approved for 104 projects by July 2025.

International cooperation: MoUs signed with global 6G alliances.

Innovation hubs: IIIT Bangalore leading research in O-RAN Massive MIMO and Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces.

Global Context

ITU (2024): 5.5 billion people68% of the worlds populationare online.

Indias role: Accounted for over half of global 5G coverage growth, now reaching 80% of its population.

GSMA Index (2025): Indias 5G data traffic tripled in 2024, representing 36% of total mobile traffic (up from 15% in 2023).

Conclusion

BSNLs Swadeshi 4G (5G-ready) Network marks a pivotal step in Indias digital transformation. By combining homegrown technology with rapid deployment, the initiative has expanded connectivity, created employment, and strengthened domestic telecom capabilities.

Alongside the ongoing 5G rollout and the Bharat 6G Vision, India is positioning itself as a global leader in next-generation telecommunications. These developments pave the way toward Viksit Bharat 2047, ensuring India builds a self-reliant digital ecosystem while enabling global collaboration in advanced telecom technologies.
Sony India has announced the WH-1000XM6 wireless noise cancelling headphones, the latest edition of its 1000X series, first introduced in May this year. The headphones combine advanced noise cancellation, high-resolution audio, and ergonomic design for a precise listening experience.

The WH-1000XM6 features a wider vegan leather headband with an asymmetrical design for easy left/right identification, stretchable earpads for comfort and noise blocking, tactile buttons and a touch panel for controls, a durable folding mechanism, and a magnetic carrying case.

Sony has also emphasized sustainability, using 100% paper packaging made from bamboo, sugarcane fibers, and recycled materials. The headphones are part of Sonys For The Music platform, which emphasizes authentic audio experiences and support for creators.

Key Features: WH-1000XM6

HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN3 with twelve microphones for real-time optimization

Processor speeds seven times faster than WH-1000XM5

Adaptive NC Optimiser adjusts to external noise and air pressure

Auto Ambient Sound mode balances music and surroundings

Supports High-Resolution Audio and High-Resolution Audio Wireless via LDAC

DSEE Extreme with Edge-AI upscales compressed music in real time

Scene-based Listening automatically adjusts music and noise cancellation based on activity, environment, and location

Six-microphone AI beamforming system ensures call clarity

Quick Access with Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube Music

LE Audio and Auracast for ultra-low latency and broadcast access

Multi-Point and Auto Switch for seamless device transitions

USB-C charging supports listening while charging; three minutes of charging provides up to three hours of playback

The headphones were developed with input from Sterling Sound, Battery Studios, and Coast Mastering, refining every note for studio-level accuracy. The driver unit, high-rigidity carbon fiber composite dome, and specialized voice coil deliver clear vocals, precise instruments, and detailed sound.

The HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN3 also features look-ahead noise shaping, and the WH-1000XM6 supports 360 Reality Audio Upmix for Cinema, with all settings adjustable via the Sony | Sound Connect app.

Quick specifications

Pricing and Availability

The Sony WH-1000XM6 is available in Black, Platinum Silver, and Midnight Blue at Rs. 39,990, across Sony Centers, select Croma and Reliance outlets, ShopatSC.com, and Amazon.in.
Police monitoring drone situation in Finland in cooperation with other authorities

Police of Finland

26.9.2025 9.00

The police are actively maintaining situational awareness regarding potential hybrid influence operations targeting Finland. Several possible drone sightings have also been reported in Finland. The majority of these sightings are explained by drone hobbyists or air traffic activities.

In recent days, there have been reports from Europe about drone flights observed in areas such as airports. Several potential drone sightings have also been reported to the police in Finland in recent days. These sightings are typically reported to the police in dozens each month. Generally, reported sightings are related to drone flights near critical infrastructure or in restricted or no-fly zones.

The majority of reported sightings to the police can be explained drone pilotin as a hobby or air traffic. It is particularly challenging to distinguish between a drone and an aircraft, especially from the ground and at night. Additionally, flying a drone does not require a specific notification.

Finland is well-prepared for various forms of hybrid influence

The police actively maintain situational awareness regarding potential hybrid influence operations targeting Finland and investigate reported exceptional drone sightingsthose cases where a suspected sighting is related to drone flights in a prohibited or restricted area. If necessary, the police will use investigative measures. To date, there have been no confirmed cases of a state actor being involved in drone flights in Finland; however, this possibility has not been entirely ruled out in all cases. The police continue to request citizens to report unusual drone flights and appreciate their active participation in this matter.

In all security-related activities in Finland, inter-agency cooperation plays a crucial role, and the same applies to activities related to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). "The police are engaging in extensive cooperation with various authorities in maintaining situational awareness and in preparations for countermeasures against unmanned aerial systems, as well as in developing capabilities," states Assistant Police Commissioner Vesa Pihajoki.

"In maintaining the situational picture related to hybrid influence and preparing for potential hostile actions, international cooperation is also being conducted, particularly with other Nordic countries and with Europol member states," says National Police Commissioner Ilkka Koskimaki.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Lithuanian defense delegation visits Pennsylvania Guard drone facility

By Sgt. 1st Class Zane Craig September 25, 2025

FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. -- A delegation of more than 20 Lithuanian defense, diplomatic and business officials visited the Unmanned Aircraft Systems, or UAS, facility Sept. 23, as part of a five-day mission in the United States.

Loreta Maskolioviene, Lithuania's vice-minister of national defense, led the delegation, which was received by U.S. Army Maj. Gen. John R. Pippy, Pennsylvania's adjutant general, and other Pennsylvania National Guard leaders.

"I think Fort Indiantown Gap, with our UAS and counter-UAS facilities, will be a premier training location for the East Coast, and then we will learn how to tie that in with our allies and partners, with NATO, and specifically with Lithuania," Pippy said.

The delegation viewed presentations explaining the mission of the Fort Indiantown Gap Training Center and the 166th Regiment - Regional Training Institute UAS training program, a demonstration of a non-kinetic drone obstacle course and a live, kinetic hunter-killer drone demonstration, highlighting the current capabilities and ongoing innovation supporting U.S. and allied integration.

"Our three main lines of effort here now are our 3D printing and fabrication lab, the first-person view or FPV drones and UAS lethality training," said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Reed, Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations Facility commander.

The Pennsylvania National Guard's 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team recently deployed to Germany, where its mission involved training Ukrainian forces. The Ukrainian forces then trained the Pennsylvania Guard members on their rapidly evolving use of drone warfare.

According to Pippy, this experience is fundamental to the rapidly increasing UAS capabilities at Fort Indiantown Gap and in the Pennsylvania National Guard, and formed the basis of the demonstrations viewed by the delegation.

Pippy concluded the tour by looking forward to increased cooperation and training leading to an ever-strengthening partnership and interoperability among our allies.

The Pennsylvania National Guard has partnered with the country of Lithuania since 1993 as part of the Department of War National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program.

The State Partnership Program executes joint security cooperation engagements with the Republic of Lithuania in support of U.S. European Command objectives and the Department of State initiatives facilitating unity of effort to sustain the enduring relationship, build capacity, improve interoperability and deter potential adversaries, furthering the defense of Lithuania's sovereign borders, Euro-Atlantic security and the homeland.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






National Guard exceeds fiscal year 2025 recruiting goals

By Master Sgt. Zach Sheely September 25, 2025

WASHINGTON -- Amid a historic surge in military recruiting, the National Guard exceeded its fiscal year 2025 goals, reflecting a broader trend of robust enlistment across the U.S. military.

Since November 2024, the War Department has achieved its strongest recruiting performance in 30 years, with fiscal year-to-date accessions as of the end of August reaching 106% of active-duty targets.

The Army National Guard and the Air National Guard have combined to enlist almost 50,000 new members this fiscal year as of this month, bringing total National Guard end strength to over 433,000, surpassing each component's goals and marking one of the most successful recruiting years in over a decade.

"Young Americans are eager to serve," said Air Force Gen. Steve Nordhaus, National Guard Bureau chief. "Today's recruits are seeking long-term value, and the National Guard delivers through career training and hands-on, practical experience in more than 200 career specialties.

"The guard provides a path to service that offers balance with civilian careers and allows our Soldiers and airmen to live locally and serve globally," he said. "We're not just preparing new recruits to serve; we're preparing them to lead and succeed."

Nordhaus emphasized the guard's value, providing 20% of the joint force at 4% of the DOW budget, and its core missions  defending the homeland, supporting the fight, building partnerships and supporting warfighters and their families  which demand wide-ranging skill sets. He noted that the National Guard aligns with the Interim National Defense Strategy Guidance, which prioritizes homeland defense, deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region and burden sharing with allies and partners.

"The guard is central to President [Donald J.] Trump's vision of peace through strength and Secretary [Pete] Hegseth's focus on restoring the warrior ethos, rebuilding the military and reestablishing deterrence," Nordhaus said. "Recruits are proving they're energized to contribute to that."

In March, the Army National Guard launched a new marketing campaign to attract young people to part-time service. The campaign, "Uncommon is Calling," highlights the dual lives of guardsmen, who balance civilian careers with essential roles during emergencies and national crises. It emphasizes the unique opportunities for personal and professional growth available within the guard.

Striking the civilian-military balance is exactly what attracted Army Spc. Bruno DaSilva, who is assigned to the 1060th Transportation Company of the Massachusetts National Guard.

"Outside of the National Guard, I have my own company  I'm in the insurance business," DaSilva said. "In the National Guard, I can serve my country and run my business at the same time."

The Army National Guard has focused most of these marketing ads online and on digital streaming services, with some spots airing on traditional television.

Army Col. Timothy Smith, chief of the Army National Guard's Strength Maintenance Division, said the campaign has helped deliver new awareness of the opportunities of serving in the Army National Guard.

"The branding refresh of 'Uncommon is Calling' brings a fresh perspective to the unique dual mission of the Army National Guard," he said. "The campaign highlights the most uncommon, exciting and meaningful part-time job out there: serving in the Army National Guard."

Army Pvt. Ethan Walling enlisted in the Virginia National Guard this summer to serve as a motor transport operator. He said serving in the guard fulfills a lifelong dream.

"It has always been my dream to be in the military," Walling said. "Since I was 7 years old, I would play with my miniature Army men, and I would always tell my mom that I was going to join one day. After talking with a National Guard recruiter and hearing that I could receive federal and state benefits, I knew that the guard was my calling."

Walling said the guard has given him "purpose, pride and opportunity," and he is excited to see how the journey shapes his future.

"The National Guard has been nothing short of a family since the beginning, and I believe I have finally found the perfect balance between serving my country, supporting my community and pursuing my personal goals," he said.

In addition to the marketing campaign, Smith also credits the recruiters in every state, three territories and Washington  collectively known as "the 54."

"Our recruiters' dedication across the 54 drives this success," he said. "Their hard work is the bedrock of our readiness. The organization has made recruiting and end strength priorities because if you can't fill your end strength, you can't be ready; they're tied together. Our readiness starts with our recruiters."

The Army National Guard has surpassed 328,000 Soldiers in end strength  the total number of authorized service members needed to meet mission requirements. Smith highlighted the Army's Future Soldier Preparatory Course as another initiative that has also helped the Army National Guard attract potential Soldiers.

Through the course, the Army provides focused academic and fitness instruction for those who have the desire to work hard to achieve Army standards. The program is a bridge to basic training and, ultimately, assignment to a unit. To date, nearly 7,000 Army National Guard recruits have successfully entered basic training through the future Soldier course.

In March, Nordhaus and Senior Enlisted Advisor John Raines visited the future Soldier course at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, to meet with National Guard cadres and trainees.

"We're a team of teams," Raines told a group of trainees who had completed the program. "And we need every committed American who wants to serve, even if they aren't meeting the standards when they make that decision. This program helps them reach their potential and ensures we have high-quality Soldiers in our formations, because the standards won't change."

Raines also praised the Army National Guard's Recruit Sustainment Program, established in the mid-2000s to reduce attrition and prepare recruits for basic combat training and follow-on advanced individual training. Army National Guard recruiting and retention battalions operate sustainment program sites in every state, territory and Washington.

"Everybody has a place in the National Guard," he said. "We will find you a place where you can serve your community, your state, your territory or district and our nation."

The Air National Guard also beat its fiscal year recruiting goals and is on track to surpass 105,000 airmen by the end of the fiscal year. Air Force Col. Daniel Curtin, Air National Guard Recruiting and Retention director, said recent Air National Guard recruiting success is driven by numerous indicators.

"It's a lot of things," Curtin said. "We've had 19 consecutive months of year-over-year increases in new accessions. The recruiting environment is strong  and we have worked diligently to establish a culture of excellence and opportunity that appeals to potential recruits. The results are evident."

Curtin explained that the Air National Guard is working to centralize recruiting efforts within each state, territory and Washington. Previously, Air National Guard recruiting operational alignment varied. Some operated under a wing, or a force support squadron, while others worked under a state's joint forces headquarters. Now, Air National Guard recruiting headquarters will operate as separate flights or squadrons, dedicated solely to recruiting and retention.

"The biggest thing we are trying to do is create a structure where you have a single officer that is responsible for the recruiting force in that state or territory," Curtin said. "It is a formally appointed commander responsible for recruiting. That's probably the most important thing that we're driving out of this, because that allows us to do a lot of other things."

Curtin added that he believes that the most important initiative in FY25 was the strategic investment in personnel and infrastructure, specifically the funding of 150 temporary recruiting support positions and 210 temporary unit manning document positions.

"These roles have been critical in enhancing recruiting operations, including production activities, marketing, medical support, training, and administrative efficiency. By bolstering the recruiting command structure and providing targeted resources, the [Air National Guard] has created a robust framework that directly supports its historic accession achievements."

Nordhaus said he is excited about this year's recruiting numbers and emphasized that the National Guard needs to maintain this momentum.

"The source of our strength is the fearsome deterrence of our warfighter talent  the men and women of the National Guard," he said. "While we exceeded our goals with historic levels of recruiting this year, we cannot take our foot off the accelerator. We must continue recruiting the next generation of elite warghters while retaining our most skilled and talented Soldiers and airmen."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Minister Anand meets with Commissioner-General of UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in Near East

Global Affairs Canada

Readout

September 25, 2025 - New York City, New York - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), on the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York City, New York.

Minister Anand emphasized UNRWA's critical role in providing life-saving humanitarian assistance and essential services to Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank and throughout the region, including Lebanon, Jordan and Syria.

The Minister and Commissioner-General Lazzarini discussed the worsening conditions in Gaza, emphasizing the catastrophic humanitarian toll and the death of 370 UNRWA staff. Minister Anand expressed her deep appreciation to those who continue to provide services to Palestinians. Canada welcomes the progress UNRWA is making on its reforms, through implementation of the Colonna recommendations. Canada expects UNRWA to meet its obligations and uphold the UN's value of neutrality; this is an essential component of UNRWA's mandate.

Minister Anand reiterated that Canada continues to urge for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the release of Israeli hostages, the protection of civilians and scaled-up flows of life-saving assistance for Palestinians. The Commissioner-General and the Minister agreed on the urgent need for the international community to intensify efforts to achieve sustainable peace and security in the region.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Speech by President Antonio Costa at the 80th United Nations General Assembly

European Council / Council of the European Union

European Council

Speech

25 September 2025 23:30

The world faces a crucial choice. Do we want a rules-based international order, that upholds multilateralism and the United Nations Charter? Or a chaotic world based on unilateralism, violence, and disruption?

The European Union knows where it stands. We are a project of peace, of reconciliation, of social justice. We are  and will remain  a steadfast defender of multilateralism, of the rules-based international order, and of the United Nations Charter.

The alternative to the international rules-based international order is a chaotic and violent world. As seen in Sudan, an underreported and devastating conflict with destruction of huge proportions. As seen in Gaza. As seen in Ukraine.

In Gaza. Where we witness an unimaginable suffering. Children starving. Families shattered. A humanitarian catastrophe that shocks the world's conscience. The use of starvation as a weapon of war is immoral. One that defies words.

The European Union condemns terrorism in all its forms. The horrific attacks by Hamas cannot be forgotten. We stand with Israel's right to security. Every country, every people, have the right to live in security. The hostages must be released immediately.

The Palestinian people have also the same right to security and to live in a viable state. A negotiated two-State solution is the only path to peace. Security for both peoples. Dignity for both peoples. This is the solution we seek.

The European Union has been an indispensable partner in the region. We are the largest provider of humanitarian aid to Palestinians. European funding has kept hospitals, schools, and institutions running. We have been, over the years, the largest supporter of the Palestinian Authority. Supporting them in their reform agenda and in their efforts to ensure effective control of all the territory of Palestine.

The European Union fully assumes its responsibilities. But we, alone, cannot stop this humanitarian catastrophe. Peace in the Middle East requires a collective response. We need everyone to assume their responsibilities. We must act together and demand:

The unconditional release of all hostages.

An immediate ceasefire.

Full and unimpeded humanitarian access.

An end to illegal settlements.

A renewed, credible commitment to a two-State solution.

This was the strong message from the Two-State Conference hosted on Monday by France and Saudi Arabia, to which the European Union is fully committed.

In Ukraine. A sovereign nation was brutally attacked by a permanent member of the Security Council  in clear violation of the United Nations Charter. A clear violation of sovereignty, territorial integrity, the respect of internationally recognized borders, and the right to choose its own destiny. Principles that bind all the members of the United Nations.

This aggression threatens not only Ukraine. It threatens every nation in this Assembly. If we accept Russia's invasion of Ukraine, no country will ever be safe. There is only one root cause to this war - Russia's refusal to accept Ukraine's right to choose its own destiny. For over three years, this war has claimed innocent lives, destroyed cities, and fuelled global insecurity. Our collective security is tied to Ukraine's resilience.

The European Union stands firm in supporting Ukraine. In their fight for a just and lasting peace. In their efforts to bring an end to the killing, and Russia to the negotiation table. In their future reconstruction. In providing security guarantees to prevent future attacks. In their path to full membership in the European Union.

We will continue to apply pressure on Russia to end this war. We call for meaningful negotiations, an immediate ceasefire, and a just and lasting peace. This is not Ukraine's fight alone. It is a fight for the principles we all hold dear.

The European Union is determined to build a world based on the fundamental values that we share with the United Nations: peace, human rights and sustainable development.

Human rights are the foundation for global peace and stability.

Social protection, decent work, gender equality and the fight against poverty are not optional. They are the guarantees of human dignity. Of social stability. Of lasting peace among nations.

The European Union defends freedom, democracy and human rights. Values that today are being threatened by disinformation and the misuse of digital technologies.

We need global standards, transparency, and mechanisms for accountability that are as dynamic as the technologies we are dealing with. In order to ensure that digital technologies empower citizens - not autocrats, or new tech oligarchs.

The European Union stands for a human-centred approach to artificial intelligence. We are at the forefront of the first comprehensive regulatory framework for responsible artificial intelligence. And we call for an equivalent level of ambition at the international level. By drawing on our fundamental values: dignity, democracy, and the rule of law.

Climate change is not 'fake news'. It is a scientifically proven reality that affects our present and will affect our future. The destruction and deaths caused by fires, floods and hurricanes are not inventions. They are very much a reality.

Furthermore, investing in decarbonisation is key to each country's energy sovereignty, to innovation, and to the competitiveness of our economies. The European Union is therefore fully committed to the Paris Agreement, with its commitments to reduce emissions by 55% by 2030 and to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.

We will continue to actively promote the protection of our oceans, which are our planet's lungs and lifeline. We welcome the ratification of the UN High Seas Treaty, to safeguard the biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction.

Sustainable development also means building alliances, not dependencies. We are at the forefront in the fight against climate change. Through the Global Gateway programme, the European Union is mobilising 300 billion by 2027 in sustainability and connectivity investments throughout the world. This will make a decisive contribution to achieving the sustainable development goals.

Furthermore, the European Union, together with its member states, provides 42% of global development aid. We are the leading donors to the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the UN Development Programme. We are taking the lead in global solidarity, and will continue to do so, even in these times when the UN system is facing major financial constraints.

Finally, we need to make progress on reforming the international financial architecture for debt management. We must ensure that it is fairer, more inclusive, and geared towards tackling today's challenges. It must also help us to close the gap in development financing along the path set by the 'Seville Commitment'.

The European Union is a global partner. The European Union and its member states are staunch political supporters and the largest collective donors to the United Nations, as the pillar of the multilateral system. We are working closely with other regional partners. That is why we are building stronger trade and industrial partnerships across the globe.

We are advancing deals with Mercosur, Mexico, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand. Not just to boost trade, but to increase global predictability and resilience. A trade and investment agenda based on fairness, sustainability, digital innovation, labour rights, and climate alignment. Because trade deals - not tariffs - deliver real benefits for all countries, companies, and citizens.

In a multipolar and fragmented world, we are building a powerful global network of partnerships. With Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, the United States and Canada, the Arab world, Asia, and the Pacific, as well as with our European neighbours.

In today's multipolar world, there is no Global South or Global North. Both are plural. The European Union will continue to work with all partners in a spirit of global solidarity and meaningful partnership. Because multipolarity needs an effective multilateralist system.

A rules-based international order under the United Nations Charter. This commitment stems from our own history. Europe rebuilt itself from the ashes of World War Two through peace, through reconciliation, and through integration. We know these principles work - because they worked for us.

At a time when international cooperation is being tested, the value of reliable partnerships has never been greater. The European Union is a reliable and predictable partner, and stands firmly with the United Nations. We will defend its principles. Support the reforms of the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres. Work to make the United Nations more inclusive, more representative, and more effective. With the UN80 reform initiative and the implementation of the Pact for the Future.

At a time when multilateralism is under threat, let me leave you with one simple promise:

You can count on the European Union.

Count on us to stand for peace.

For multilateralism.

For justice.

For human dignity.

For sustainability.

The time has come to choose, clearly:

Peace over war.

Law over force.

Accountability over impunity.

Solidarity over division.

Sustainability over crisis.

Justice over inequality.

The European Union has no doubts about where we stand and you cannot have any doubt about where we are.

Thank you very much.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Speech by President Antonio Costa at the UN Security Council on Artificial Intelligence and International Peace and Security

European Council / Council of the European Union

European Council

Speech

25 September 2025 22:00

I commend the South Korean presidency to organize this very important debate.

Artificial Intelligence is a powerful enhancer of human potential, for better or for worse. On the one hand, it offers solutions to some of humanity's oldest challenges. Incurable diseases, climate-driven instability, poverty and inequalities, humanitarian aid delivery with smart logistics, and new possibilities for cross-cultural communication.

But Artificial Intelligence is also being used to undermine trust in institutions, spread disinformation, and enable cyberattacks. Most dangerous, the development of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems threatens to remove human accountability from decisions of life and death.

The risks are real: miscalculation, escalation, and proliferation. We must act before the tipping points become irreversible. That is why global efforts are needed to address these challenges.

I call for good governance and regulation before it is too late.

Last year's Political Declaration on the Responsible Military Use of Artificial Intelligence was signed by all the European Union Member States. Hosted by South Korea and the Netherlands, important work is also being done by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs.

The international community must act fast. We need global standards, transparency, and mechanisms for accountability that are as dynamic as the technologies we seek to govern.

Excellencies, the European Union stands for a human-centered approach to Artificial Intelligence. Grounded in our core values: dignity, democracy, and the rule of law. Through the European Union Artificial Intelligence Act, we are building the world's first comprehensive regulatory framework for reliable Artificial Intelligence. We call for the same ambition at the international level.

Peace and security are human responsibilities, and they must remain so in the Artificial Intelligence era.

Thank you very much.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






EDA, NATO enable real-world testing of unmanned systems

European Defence Agency

25 September 2025

The European Defence Agency (EDA), NATO and the Portuguese Navy co-organised the 15th Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping using Maritime Unmanned Systems (REPMUS), the world's largest event for testing unmanned maritime systems, held off the coast of Portugal.

Running from 1 to 26 September in the waters south of Lisbon, the Portuguese-led exercise brought together 24 nations and tested some 300 uncrewed platforms across sea, air, and land domains.

It also marked the first time NATO's military exercise 'Dynamic Messenger' was linked with REPMUS, combining operational training with experimental testing.

REPMUS/Dynamic Messenger 25 gave both militaries and industry the chance to trial robotics and artificial intelligence in real-world scenarios, including electronic jamming and dummy underwater mines.

"This was an opportunity to experiment on unmanned vehicles across all domains and in a real environment," said Captain Nuno Palmeiro Ribeiro, Director of the Portuguese Navy Operational Experimentation Centre (CEOM). "What's special about this zone is that we can do experimentation that is not possible elsewhere."

Swarms, standards

Scenarios included Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) in coastal zones, electronic warfare in GPS-denied environments, and amphibious landings supported by robotic scouts and logistics drones. One highlight saw multiple uncrewed aerial vehicles performing 'swarm' operations, demonstrating the ability to operate autonomously in coordinated missions.

EDA, the EU agency tasked with strengthening defence cooperation among Member States, hosted seminars to highlight the importance of interoperability and ensuring allied and partner nations' systems can work together. "Unmanned underwater vessels have different batteries, different chargers. We need to develop standards to improve interoperability and even interchangeability," said Juergen Scraback, Head of EDA's Maritime Domain Unit.

EDA is also establishing best practices. To address the lack of common regulations and safety procedures, the Agency is leading the Safety and Regulations for European Unmanned Maritime Systems (SARUMS) which provides a safety framework and guidance for design, operations, and legal compliance.

EDA has also supported a project to develop a swarm of biomimetic underwater vehicles for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (SABUVIS). EDA's leadership in such projects emphasises its aim to accelerate Europe's use of tested, mission-ready autonomous technologies in NATO and EU operations.

Several start-ups supported by NATO's Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) used the event to test technologies for communications resilience, protecting undersea infrastructure and improving mine countermeasures. The Faculty of Engineering at the University of Porto and NATO's Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation were also contributors.

Undersea warfare

The addition this year of Dynamic Messenger, led by NATO's Allied Command Transformation and Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM), added a more operational dimension. While REPMUS focused on experimentation and integration, Dynamic Messenger provided a live operational framework, showing how new technologies can be deployed with NATO fleets.

More than 2,000 participants from 22 NATO nations took part, alongside observers from 13 other countries including Australia, Brazil, and South Korea. Ships from Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 also joined, highlighting the alliance's focus on maritime readiness.

Unmanned systems are not intended to replace crewed forces, but to support them, taking on tasks such as high-risk reconnaissance or supply runs in contested environments.

With EDA now firmly embedded as a co-organiser in REPMUS, officials expect the annual event to continue serving not only as NATO's largest unmanned systems exercise, but also as a platform for closer EU-NATO cooperation in defence technology.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






G20 Foreign Ministers' meeting: Remarks by High Representative/Vice-President Kaja Kallas

European External Action Service (EEAS)

25.09.2025

EEAS Press Team

Dear Minister Lamola,

Excellencies, Ambassadors,

I want to first thank South Africa for convening the meeting today. And with such an important focus on "peace and sustainable economic development".

As the United Nations marks its 80th anniversary, it is clear that reinvigorating multilateral platforms like the G20 is crucial. In a period where we see more conflicts and territorial violations than we have seen since the Second World War, we need a UN system that functions.

But instead we see cracks in the walls and stumbling blocks. That is why the European Union is here in New York City to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to effective multilateralism and the rules-based international order, with the United Nations at its core.

Bold reform through the UN80 initiative and the implementation of the Pact for the Future, is essential. This is not simply papering over the cracks. This will help us work more effectively as an international community across the humanitarian, development and peace nexus.

An effective United Nations is also crucial to address ongoing crises in the world today from the Middle East - Gaza - to Africa - Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Great Lakes, and Rwanda. Respect for the UN Charter and international law is the only route to deliver peace and security.

Economic development is not sustainable without peace.

And Russia's war against Ukraine and the conflict in Gaza remain primary drivers of global instability.

During its war on Ukraine, Russia has sabotaged global food supply chains, accelerated ecological disasters, and spread disinformation, including at the highest levels in international fora like this. These actions also systematically destabilise international systems. These actions starkly contradict the G20 South African Presidency's commitment to sustainable development as a unifying priority.

So long as there are no signs that Russia's goal of subjugating Ukraine has changed, I ask you to help build international pressure on Russia to stop killing and engage in meaningful negotiations.

There is no bigger champion of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine than us. The EU is also the largest humanitarian donor and a constant supporter of the Palestinian Authority and the two-state solution. The European Union is for peace.

That is why we are also leading supporters of international peacekeeping efforts across the globe. The EU's Member States are leading contributors to the UN peacekeeping budget. We put our money where our mouth is.

We also have 21 of our own active Common Security and Defence Policy missions and operations deployed in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus, Africa and in the Middle East.

At the same time, we also use our tools to address the root causes and drivers of vulnerability and conflict. Quoting Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, "a more secure world begins by investing at least as much in fighting poverty as we do in fighting wars".

To conclude, the G20 remains an important forum to coordinate responses to global crises. Despite our differences, the G20's efforts, including under South Africa's Presidency, have noble goals to support social inclusion, economic progress, and stability to nurture peace.

It is essential that we make it work. And you can count on the EU as a predictable and credible partner here.

Thank you.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Tsahkna meets with Rubio: NATO Allies are firmly committed to collective defense

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

25.09.2025 | 20:41

On September 24, during the UN High-Level Week, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss primarily European and U.S. cooperation in pressuring Russia toward peace, as well as the security of NATO allies.

"Europe and the U.S. must continue joint efforts to reduce the economic means essential for Russia to sustain its aggression," Tsahkna said during the traditional transatlantic dinner meeting with Secretary Rubio. "Estonia is working to ensure that the European Union swiftly adopts a strong 19th sanctions package and moves forward with imposing tariffs and utilizing Russia's frozen assets."

"It is also crucial to ensure that Ukraine has the military resources to resist Russian aggression and protect its population from Russia's aerial terror," Tsahkna added, emphasizing the importance of NATO's initiative to rapidly deliver essential military equipment to Ukraine (Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List, PURL).

Tsahkna also thanked Rubio for the U.S. support following last Friday's brazen violation of Estonian airspace by three Russian fighter jets. "NATO has clearly expressed unity and unwavering commitment to collective defense," Tsahkna stated.

Additionally, Foreign Ministers Tsahkna and Rubio discussed security-related topics at a high-level maritime security meeting co-hosted by Estonia, the U.S., Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and other global partners.

"Ensuring maritime security is a topic that unites countries from all over the world," Tsahkna said at the meeting attended by representatives from 35 countries, where he focused his remarks on countering threats from shadow fleets. "International cooperation to deter shadow fleets is key to protecting critical underwater infrastructure, ensuring freedom of navigation, and preventing potential environmental disasters."

While in New York, Minister Tsahkna also met with U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Keith Kellogg, opened an event for the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC), which Estonia currently chairs, and delivered a lecture at Columbia University on Estonian and European security.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Press Briefing by IDF Spokesperson BG Effie Defrin-September 25, 2025

Israel Defense Forces

25.09.25

September 25, 2025

IDF

IDF troops under the Southern Command continue operating in the Gaza Strip, with a focus on Gaza City. We are intensifying pressure on the Hamas terrorist organization and advancing according to a structured and systematic plan to achieve the war's objectives.

Today we laid to rest two of our soldiers who fell in combat during the holiday: MAJ Shahar Netanal Bozaglo, company commander of Battalion 77, 7th Brigade; and SSGT Chalachew Shimon Demalash, soldier of Battalion 932, Nahal Brigade.

We embrace the bereaved families and share in their deep grief. At this time, five divisions are engaged in the Gaza Strip.

Three of them are striking terror targets in Gaza City and tightening their hold in a manner that is precise and thorough. Last night, troops from the 401st Brigade Combat Team conducted a raid and dismantled a central Hamas combat compound, manned and armed, where numerous weapons and an underground passages were uncovered.

Following verified intelligence, we can confirm that in the Shati area, IDF troops eliminated a terrorist who served as a commander in the Hamas Nukhba unit. He was a brutal murderer who participated in the infiltration of the bomb shelter in Nahal Oz. We will continue until every participant in the October 7th massacre is found and held accountable.

As part of the second phase of Operation Gideon's Chariots, we have struck more than 2,000 terror targets across the Strip. As the Chief of the General Staff emphasized during his visit to Gaza yesterday, IDF forces are conducting ground operations with the full range of IDF capabilities at their disposal.

The Israeli Air Force is supporting these efforts, striking approximately 200 terror targets per day with fighter jets, UAVs, and helicoptersoften in close proximity to our troops and on an unprecedented scale. Alongside the expansion of ground operations, we continue to advance humanitarian efforts and facilitate the evacuation of civilians from Gaza City for their safety.

To date, about 700,000 residents have evacuated to the humanitarian area in the southern Strip. The IDF also continues to operate across additional arenas. In recent hours, dozens of aircraft carried out a wide-scale strike on military targets in the Sana'a area of Yemen. We struck the command-and-control headquarters of the Houthi General Staff, along with military complexes and intelligence facilities.

We will continue to act in response to the Houthi regime's attacks on Israeli civilians. Yesterday, a UAV launched by the Houthis struck the city of Eilat and wounded civilians. Since the beginning of the war, we have intercepted more than 98% of UAVs launched from Yemen toward Israel. Our readiness remains high. I emphasize: the city of Eilat is safe and routine is maintained there. However, no defense is absolute.

I call on the public to strictly follow the precise instructions of the Home Front Command. These are life-saving measures and must not be neglected. Forty-eight hostages remain in Hamas' tunnels.

On the eve of the holiday, the Chief of the General Staff met with families who have endured this cruel reality for 720 days. He reiterated our unwavering commitment to bringing their loved ones home.

The hostages are always at the forefront of our thoughts and at the heart of every operation we conduct.

The IDF will continue to act with strength and responsibility until the war's objectives are achieved: the return of the hostages and the dismantling of Hamas' regime.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






MFA Dir-Gen Bar Tal addresses international media

Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Israel said yes to the Italian government's proposal to unload the aid at the port of Cyprus and then to transfer it to Gaza. The flotilla rejected the Italian proposal, proving that their real purpose is provocation and serving Hamas.

Type: Press Releases

Topic: Foreign Policy, Terrorism

Secondary topic: Swords of Iron

Publish Date: 25.09.2025

Israel has repeatedly offered options to unload the aid. It called on the vessels to dock at the Ashkelon Marina and unload the aid there, from where it would be transferred promptly in a coordinated manner to the Gaza Strip.

Israel also offered to unload any aid the flotilla might have at any port in a nearby country outside Israel, from which it can be transferred peacefully to Gaza.

Despite these offers, the flotilla's organizers have consistently refused, making clear that their goal is provocation and serving Hamas rather than the genuine delivery of humanitarian aid.

Israel reaffirms that no vessel will be permitted to enter an active combat zone or breach the lawful naval blockade.

One question remains: if this is really about the aid and not about provocation, then why did the flotilla refuse the Italian government's proposal? The answer is clear: it was never about the aid  it was always about provocation.

The Government of Israel remains prepared to engage in any constructive arrangement that enables the legal and secure transfer of aid to Gaza.

Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Eden Bar Tal today (Thursday, 25 September 2025) addressed the international media at the MFA in Jerusalem regarding the Gaza flotilla.

Dir-Gen Bar Tal: "Israel said yes to the Italian government's proposal to unload the aid at the port of Cyprus and then to transfer it to Gaza. The flotilla rejected the Italian proposal, proving that their real purpose is provocation and serving Hamas."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Prime Minister's Office Announcement

Israel - Prime Minister's Office

Type: Media Statements

Government: The 37th Government

Publish Date: 25.09.2025

The Prime Minister's Office, today:

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the attack in Yemen from the Wing of Zion plane while en route to Washington, and received regular updates from the Defense Minister, IDF Chief-of-Staff and his Military Secretary afterward.

The attack focused on Houthi command centers and war materiel depots in Sanaa.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Foreign Minister IWAYA's attendance to the Ministerial Meeting in Support of United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)

Ministry of Foregn Affairs of Japan

September 25, 2025

During his visit to New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly, Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, attended the Ministerial Meeting in support of UNRWA on September 26 (on 25 local time). The overview of the meeting is as follows:

The meeting was co-chaired by Jordan, Spain and Brazil with the aim of supporting UNRWA, and was attended by H.E. Mr. Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, H.E. Ms. Baerbock, President of the United Nations General Assembly, and Mr. Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of UNRWA, as well as ministers and representatives of various countries and organizations. Participants delivered statements on the support for UNRWA. Minister IWAYA stated that Japan has been supporting UNRWA, playing an indispensable role in supporting Palestine refugees, for more than 70 years, and that Japan encourages UNRWA's current efforts to improve its governance. Minister IWAYA also stated that the current catastrophic situation in Gaza, including the outbreak of famine, is utterly unacceptable, and Japan has been strongly urging Israel to end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza immediately to ensure the environment enabling humanitarian assistance in a sustainable manner. Furthermore, Minister IWAYA delivered that, in close collaboration with the international community, Japan is determined to make utmost efforts to support Palestine refugees through assisting UNRWA's activities.

(Reference) Attachment

Statement by Foreign Minister IWAYA (PDF)

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






US Deputy Secretary of State Mr. Christopher Landau announced that, following Washington's recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over its Sahara, the US government has decided to encourage American investment in the Southern Provinces of the Kingdom.

Morocco Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Thursday 25 September 2025

"The United States has recognized Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara, and as part of the Trump administration's global initiatives to promote economic and commercial diplomacy, we are pleased to announce that we will encourage American companies wishing to invest in this region of Morocco," Landau said in a statement to the press following a meeting on Wednesday in New York with Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates Mr. Nasser Bourita.

The US official also said he discussed with Bourita the excellent and long-standing ties between the Kingdom of Morocco and the United States of America, emphasizing the US administration's willingness to work together with Morocco to "promote prosperity, peace, and stability in the region."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Falcon Peak highlights need to counter UAS threat

U.S. Northern Command

News | Sept. 25, 2025

By Kelley Stewart

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Unmanned aerial systems have transformed warfare much like the invention of gunpowder and tanks.

This fact was driven home when U.S. forces were attacked in a series of UAS strikes in Iraq and Syria in October 2023 leading to more than 20 service members being injured.

To get after the UAS problem in the homeland, the North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command held Falcon Peak 25.2 at the Eglin Test and Training Complex Sept. 3-18. The focus of the counter-small UAS experiment was on detecting, identifying, tracking, and mitigating UAS incursions at military installations, as well as gauging low-collateral defeat options within the United States.

Soldiers from the 10th Special Forces Group played the adversary, flying aggressor UAS profiles representative of an actual threat. About 16 Department of War and industry partners tried to counter the threats through sensing and mitigation platforms, allowing for real-time feedback so leaders can assess new and emerging C-sUAS technologies and advocate for the best resources to defeat those threats.

USNORTHCOM demonstrated the capabilities of its new C-sUAS fly-away kit Sept. 17-18 on Eglin's Santa Rosa Island range to interagency leaders, allies and partners. The kit, produced by Anduril, will provide the combatant command with a rapid-response capability to defeat a UAS threat and includes a suite of sensors, effectors and software for homeland defense and deployment missions.

During the demonstrations, an aggressor UAS flew over the range while the fly-away kit's mobile sentry detected and tracked it before Anvil, a low-collateral defeat drone, was launched to intercept the UAS, knocking it out of the sky.

Protecting the mission, facilities, and people at Eglin is a priority for Brig. Gen. Mark Massaro, 96th Test Wing commander.

"My motto is be prepared and be ready. Eglin is a power projection platform developing, testing and evaluating capabilities for the warfighter, and my job is to protect this platform," Massaro said. "It's important to exercise the authorities already in place for installation commanders to protect infrastructure, people and mission while fielding capabilities that can detect, deter and defeat small UAS threats."

The then Department of Defense named USNORTHCOM as the department's lead synchronizer in Homeland C-sUAS response in the contiguous United States and Alaska in

November 2024. USNORTHCOM hosted its first C-sUAS experimentation - Falcon Peak 25.1 - in October 2024 at Fort Carson, Colorado.

Gen. Gregory Guillot, NORAD and USNORTHCOM commander, told guests the UAS events of 2023 and 2024 spurred a collaboration between USNORTHCOM, interagency partners and industry to get after the problem set of drone incursions over U.S. military installations and critical infrastructure. Through the successes of the inaugural Falcon Peak and the steady advance toward combating such incursions, the general said USNORTHCOM is committed to the C-sUAS mission as the DoW's lead synchronizer.

"As I told the Senate Armed Services Committee earlier this year, NORTHCOM will play a critical role in an enduring whole-of-government effort to protect people, infrastructure, aircraft, and facilities from malign small UAS incursions," he said. "This effort will require investment in robust and evolving mitigation technologies suitable for use in the United States aligned with interagency and industry partners and policy and statutory changes that balance safety, privacy, and defensive requirements."

As small-UAS technology continues to develop, countermeasures will also need to evolve. Falcon Peak provides the incubator needed to test, evaluate, succeed, fail, make recommendations, and capture data to ensure commanders have the tools required to defend the homeland from the UAS threat.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






New Zealand among five nations uniting for Exercise Bersama Lima

New Zealand Defence Force

Ships, fighter jets and cyber teams are converging in Southeast Asia this month as five nations come together for Exercise Bersama Lima 25, a major training activity under the long-standing Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA).

25 September, 2025

More than 130 New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel are taking part, alongside personnel from Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and the United Kingdom.

The Royal New Zealand Navy's HMNZS Aotearoa is among the participating assets, which include a UK Carrier Strike Group and Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning II fighter jets.

Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Singleton is leading the New Zealand detachment.

"Bersama Lima is about building trust and teamwork with our regional partners," he said.

"It's a chance to strengthen relationships while sharpening the skills we need for future operations."

Lieutenant Colonel Singleton said the aim was to enhance the NZDF's ability to plan and conduct joint operations as part of a larger Task Force.

Over the course of the exercise, personnel will engage in diverse challenges including cyber defence, humanitarian aid and disaster relief, and anti-submarine warfare, building the skills needed to respond together in today's complex security environment.

Speaking at the opening of the exercise, Commander of the Armed Forces of Malaysia, General Tan Sri Hj Mohd Nizam bin Hj Jaffar, said Bersama Lima reflected the shared commitment of all five nations.

"This exercise deepens our collective commitment to regional security in the spirit of camaraderie," he said.

"It sharpens our ability to act as one and fosters a greater understanding of one another."

Established in 1971, the FPDA remains Southeast Asia's only multilateral defence arrangement. More than five decades later, it continues to foster cooperation, security and enduring partnerships between its five member nations.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Government turns the sod on ground-breaking Defence housing plan

New Zealand Defence Force

The start of the Linton Homes for Families project has been marked with a sod turning ceremony by Associate Minister of Defence Chris Penk this week.

25 September, 2025

On 23 September Mr Penk, along with Vice Chief of Defence Force Rear Admiral Mathew Williams, Head of Defence Estate and Infrastructure Mark Brunton and Deputy Chief of Army Brigadier Hamish Gibbons, turned the soil on the future site for new homes for military personnel and families.

Mr Penk said the Linton project is part of the largest and most ambitious Defence housing initiative since the 1980s.

"The Government intends to invest up to $600 million into the Homes for Families programme through the Defence Capability Plan," he said.

"Construction has begun on eight new homes at Linton Military Camp, alongside five homes in Bulls for personnel at Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Base Ohakea.

"These new builds will include modern two- and three-bedroom homes, replacing outdated 1940s- and 50s-era housing that no longer meet the needs of today's military families or supports their wellbeing.

"Work is also underway on 10 brand-new, three-bedroom homes at Burnham Military Camp in Canterbury.

"In Auckland's Bayswater, 61 new homes are being built by Ngati Whatua Orakei's property development arm, which will be leased by Defence for personnel from the Devonport Naval Base."

He said the government was committed to delivering 50 new homes at Waiouru Military Camp, with details to be announced later this year.

"This is just the beginning. The Defence Force is preparing to go to market around the end of 2025 for additional new housing at Linton, Ohakea, Burnham and Trentham Military Camp.

"Defence families often relocate throughout New Zealand to ensure personnel are where they're needed most, and it's important we support them on this journey with homes that offer a secure family life. They deserve warm, modern homes to return to when off duty.

He said too many homes across the camps and bases no longer meet the standards expected for service personnel.

"Some were built as far back as the 1930s and remain run-down, poorly laid out and poorly insulated because of decades of underinvestment, making them unsuitable for modern family living." The work will also support communities by creating skilled construction jobs around the camps and bases.

"That means new opportunities for workers and businesses, more money flowing into local communities

and a boost to national economic growth."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






OIC Secretary-General: The OIC IPHRC Emergency Meeting Sends a Unified Message, Strengthens the Legal and Diplomatic Positions of Member States, and Demonstrates Solidarity with the State of Qatar

Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

25-09-2025

H.E. Ambassador Samir Bakr Diab, Assistant Secretary-General for Palestine and Al-Quds Affairs, delivered a statement on behalf of the Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), H.E. Mr. Hissein Brahim Taha, at the opening session of the emergency meeting of the OIC Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC). The meeting was convened to discuss the human rights and humanitarian implications of the Israeli attack on the State of Qatar. It took place at the OIC General Secretariat headquarters in Jeddah on Thursday, 25 September 2025.

In his remarks, the Secretary-General welcomed the appointment of Dr. Hadi bin Ali Al-Yami as the IPHRC Executive Director, expressing his full support and the OIC's commitment to cooperate with him in fulfilling his human rights mandate.

The Secretary-General noted that the OIC highly values the IPHRC's meaningful contributions in promoting and protecting human rights in accordance with international human rights law, independently, impartially, and objectively. He added that the emergency meeting was timely and important, as it allowed Member States to send a unified message, strengthen their legal and diplomatic positions, and show solidarity with the people and government of the State of Qatar against this aggression, which constitutes a blatant violation of international law, including the UN Charter, and norms, and the foundational principles governing peaceful relations between states.

He stressed that this attack on an OIC Member State, which actively participates in mediation and peace efforts, sets a dangerous precedent and poses a serious threat to international peace and security.

The Secretary-General called on the IPHRC to coordinate with international human rights mechanisms to raise awareness and inform relevant bodies about the human rights and humanitarian impact of the Israeli attack on Qatar, and of Israel's ongoing violations across the region. He urged the adoption of unified messages and coordinated legal and diplomatic pressure.

On a related note, the Secretary-General reaffirmed the OIC's strong condemnation of Israel's ongoing violations and crimes in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories, including collective punishment, starvation, forced displacement, and attacks on civilian infrastructure. He renewed the call on the UN Security Council to take decisive action to enforce an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire, ensure the unhindered entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza, support the efforts of UNRWA, and hold Israel accountable for its violations.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Joint Statement: Fourth Quadripartite Meeting of Foreign Ministers of China, Iran, Pakistan, and Russia, New York, 25 September 2025

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Upon the invitation of the Russian Federation, the fourth quadripartite Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the People's Republic of China, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and the Russian Federation, on Afghanistan was held on 25 September 2025 on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

During the meeting, the four sides discussed the situation in Afghanistan and agreed on the following points:

1- The four sides reiterated their support for Afghanistan as an independent, united, and peaceful state, free from terrorism, war, and narcotics.

2- The four sides supported effective regional initiatives aimed at uplifting Afghanistan's economy and emphasized the importance of continued economic engagement with Afghanistan to alleviate the dire situation of the Afghan people. They expressed willingness to expand economic and trade cooperation and regional connectivity with Afghanistan that will contribute to the active integration of Afghanistan into the regional economic cooperation.

3- The four sides recognized the importance of appropriate adjustment of the 1988 sanction regime in accordance with the realities on the ground in order to contribute to peace and stability in Afghanistan. They emphasized the need to avoid politicization and double standards, in particular on travel ban exemptions requests for designated Taliban individuals that remains crucial for promoting comprehensive approach on Afghanistan.

4- The four sides emphasized the importance of continued humanitarian support to Afghanistan and called on the international community to intensify provision of emergency humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people. They also underscored the importance of delinking humanitarian support to the people of Afghanistan from any political considerations.

5- The four sides expressed deep concern over the security situation related to terrorism in Afghanistan noting that terrorist groups such as ISIL, Al-Qaida, the Eastern Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Jaish ul-Adl, Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and other similar groups in the region including Majeed Brigade, as well as others, based in Afghanistan, continue to pose a serious threat to regional and global security. They emphasized that strengthening peace and stability in Afghanistan and countering the threats of terrorism, radicalism, and drug crime emanating from its territory are in line with their common interests in the region.

The four sides urged the Afghan authorities to take effective, concrete and verifiable actions in fulfilling the international obligations and commitments made by Afghanistan to fight terrorism, and dismantle, and eliminate all terrorist groups, and to prevent recruitment, fundraising and their access to weapons, as well as their collaboration with foreign terrorist fighters. The four sides further urged the Afghan authorities to dismantle any terrorist training camps or any other terrorist infrastructure on their soil.



The four sides called for strengthening counter-terrorism cooperation at both bilateral and multilateral levels. Afghanistan should be supported in taking comprehensive measures to fight terrorism, dismantle, and eliminate all terrorist groups equally and non-discriminatory and prevent the use of Afghan territory against its neighbors, the region, and beyond.



6- The four sides commended Afghan authorities' efforts to reduce the cultivation of traditional opium. They called for comprehensive measures to combat narcotics, particularly in light of the significant rise in the production of synthetic drugs, including methamphetamine jointly fighting against and dismantling transnational organized criminal groups involved in the trafficking of opiates, and cutting off trade and transit corridors of narcotics within and beyond the region and stressed the importance of the international assistance to promote agricultural development and alternative crops on the way to building a society free of drug abuse.



7- The four sides urged Afghan authorities to create conditions that facilitate the return of Afghan refugees to their homeland, prevent further migration, and take serious measures to ensure returnees' livelihoods and reintegration into political and social processes to achieve a lasting solution.

The four sides expressed appreciation for the regional countries, especially the Islamic Republic of Iran and Pakistan, for hosting millions of Afghan refugees. They urged the international community and donors to provide, adequate, predictable, regular, and sustainable financial support and other necessary assistance, in line with the principle of international responsibility and burden sharing, for time-bound and well resources repatriation of refugees back to Afghanistan, as well as to countries hosting Afghan refugees, particularly the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.



8- The four sides emphasized the importance of building an inclusive and broad-based governance system in Afghanistan that reflects the interests and aspirations of all segments of Afghan society.



9- The four sides emphasized the importance of the rights and needs of the entire population of the country including all ethnic and religious groups. They also stressed that women and girls' access to education, and economic opportunities, including access to work, participation in public life, freedom of movement, justice and basic services, will contribute to peace, stability and prosperity in the country.



10- The four sides pointed out that NATO members should bear the primary responsibility for the current plight in Afghanistan. They should create opportunities for Afghanistan's economic recovery and future development and prosperity, immediately lift unilateral sanctions against Afghanistan, and return Afghanistan's overseas assets for the benefit of the Afghan people.



The four sides emphasized that the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Afghanistan should be respected, firmly opposed the reestablishment of military bases in and around Afghanistan by the countries responsible for the current situation, which is not conducive to regional peace and security.



11- The four sides supported all diplomatic efforts that are conducive to the political settlement of the Afghan issue and supported the international community, especially the United Nations. They emphasized the significant role of regional frameworks such as the Moscow Format, the Foreign Ministers' Meeting of Afghanistan's Neighboring Countries, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, to play a positive role in achieving a political solution.



In this context they welcomed the recent joint meeting of the Special Representatives of China, Iran, Pakistan, and Russia on Afghanistan, held on 12 September 2025 in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, an encouraged the continuation of these quadrilateral consultations.

Islamabad

September 27,2025

293/2025

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Deputy Prime Minister Radosaw Sikorski visits New York

Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Republic of Poland

25.09.2025

The Security Council emergency session on Estonia, a meeting of G20 foreign ministers, and a series of bilateral talks were on the agenda as Deputy Prime Minister Radosaw Sikorski visited New York. On 22-25 September, Poland's top diplomat took part in the high-level week opening the 80th UN General Assembly session.

The deputy prime minister participated in the UN Security Council session convened after Russia's incursion into Estonian airspace. In his address, Radosaw Sikorski called on the Security Council to stand in solidarity with all the nations threatened by Kremlin's provocations and stressed that all countries have an inalienable right to self-defence, which Poland will exercise if needed.

The chief of Polish diplomacy met with his counterparts from Australia, France, Japan, Germany, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, and the United Kingdom to discuss the security situation in Europe and the Indo-Pacific. He also attended the Transatlantic Dinner hosted by US Secretary of State, along with other NATO and EU partners.

The deputy prime minister was among the participants of an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers (FAC) and a meeting of G20 foreign ministers with other UN members. The visit's programme also included approximately 20 bilateral meetings with representatives of other countries and UN senior officials.

During diplomatic talks, Poland's chief diplomat underlined the need to further support Ukraine. As he pointed out, it is necessary to develop a joint vision of an international order based on respect for all countries' rights, in response to the Russian threat. He raised the issue of the "shadow fleet" which allows Russia to circumvent sanctions. The deputy prime minister also highlighted the necessity to uphold multilateralism and the principles of the UN Charter. He emphasised that the UN needs reform, outlining our expectations of the initiative proposed by the UN Secretary-General (the UN80).

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






MFA statement on entry ban for Irina Vlah

Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Republic of Poland

25.09.2025

Irina Vlah, a Moldovan politician who assists the Russian Federation in interfering in the preparations for the parliamentary elections in the Republic of Moldova, will be banned from entering the territory of the Republic of Poland at the request of the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The decision was made taking into account the activity of Ms Vlah, which is contrary to the interests of the Republic of Poland, aimed at maintaining stability in the region.

The Russian Federation is interfering in political processes in an unprecedented and extra-legal way, including, above all, in the preparations for the parliamentary elections in the Republic of Moldova, scheduled for 28 September. We note with concern the involvement of some Moldovan politicians, including Irina Vlah, in this type of activity.

The decision of the Polish authorities, alongside similar steps towards Irina Vlah taken by our partners: Canada (on 28 August) and Lithuania (on 16 September), are aimed at supporting a fair and transparent course of democratic processes in the Republic of Moldova.

The ban on entering the territory of the Republic of Poland against Irina Vlah has been set for five years.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






China launches first China-Europe freight train via the Baltic Sea

Ecns.cn) 10:01, September 29, 2025

China-Europe freight train X8469 is ready for departure at Xi'an International Port Station on Sept. 26, 2025. (Photo: China News Service/Liu Panli)

China-Europe freight train X8469, loaded with auto parts, daily consumer goods, and other cargo, departed from Xi'an International Port Station on Friday, heading west to Hamburg, Germany. This marked the successful launch of the first China-Europe freight train using a rail-sea intermodal route across the Baltic Sea.

China-Europe freight train X8469 is ready for departure at Xi'an International Port Station on Sept. 26, 2025. (Photo: China News Service/Liu Panli)

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Poland Reopens Belarus Border As China Moves To Protect Trade Routes

By Merhat Sharipzhan and RFE/RL's Belarus Service September 25, 2025

Poland has reopened its border with Belarus after a nearly two-week closure tied to the Zapad-2025 joint military exercises held by Russia and Belarus, with Beijing playing a quiet but crucial role in the decision.

Within the first few minutes of September 25, passenger vehicles resumed crossing at Terespol-Brest and trucks at Kukuryki-Kazlovichy, while freight rail reopened via Kuznica Bialostocka-Hrodna, Siemianowka-Svislach, and Terespol-Brest. The move followed an order by Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski that was announced by Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

The border was closed since 12 September with the aim of countering security risks and migration pressure.

Since 2021, Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia have accused Belarus of weaponizing migration by luring people from the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia with tourist visas and pushing them toward EU borders.

Warsaw has labeled this a hybrid operation by Aleksdandr Lukashenko's regime in Belarus, backed by Moscow, to destabilize the EU. The strategy created a humanitarian crisis, with migrants trapped for weeks in border forests and dozens confirmed dead from exposure.

Data show irregular crossing attempts fell in early September, spiked during the Zapad drills to 687, and eased to 663 last week. Between September 20 and 23, 282 attempts were registered.

China's Trade Route To The EU

China's involvement in reopening the border is key. On September 16, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski met with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, in Warsaw. Sikorski said Poland hoped Beijing would again help restrain "Belarusian provocations," recalling how a 2024 meeting between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Polish President Andrzej Duda coincided with a temporary drop in crossings.

Analysts say China's priority is not political alignment but protecting trade flows. The Poland-Belarus frontier is a main artery of the Belt and Road Initiative, carrying goods from China to the EU. Disruption threatens delivery schedules and undermines Beijing's claim that Eurasian rail is a reliable alternative to sea routes.

"China wants to avoid blame and keep goods moving," Temur Umarov, a Carnegie Endowment fellow researcher, told RFE/RL. "Its focus is economic stability and showing that Belt and Road works."

Whether Beijing's behind-the-scenes diplomacy has worked will be tested soon: Only a sustained decline in migration numbers will confirm whether Minsk has eased pressure on the border under Chinese influence.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/poland-belarus-border-reopening- china-trade-routes/33540943.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






Bratislava hosts CEDC + WB Defence Ministers Meeting on regional defence cooperation

Ministry of Defence of The Slovak Republic

25.09.2025

A Slovak Ministry of Defence (SVK MOD) delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Robert Kalinak gave a warm welcome to the Central European Defence Cooperation (CEDC) and Western Balkans (WB) Defence Ministers and Senior Officials as they met for the CEDC + WB Defence Ministers Meeting at Bratislava Castle on 22-23 September 2025.

Held within the walls of the historic Bratislava Castle, the discussions on regional defence cooperation saw the Defence Ministers and Senior Officials address the breadth and depth of today's security challenges, efforts to facilitate the WB countries' integration into the Euro-Atlantic structures, and opportunities for deeper collaboration with respect to the nations' defence industrial bases.

Bratislava played host to the CEDC + WB Defence Ministerial Meeting 2025 as Slovakia holds the rotating CEDC Presidency throughout this year before handing over to Slovenia on 1 January 2026.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Albares calls for building on current political momentum to achieve two-State solution

Spain - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

PRESS RELEASE 113

The Minister advocates for "decisive action" to achieve the "just and comprehensive peace" that Israelis and Palestinians seek

Thursday, September 25, 2025

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, Jose Manuel Albares, during his speech at the Global Alliance for the Two-State Solution, yesterday called for building on the current political momentum to achieve the goal of a State of Palestine living side by side in peace and security with Israel, and expressed his confidence in "taking decisive measures" to achieve this goal.

Albares, who said he was proud to have been at the forefront of this initiative from the beginning, pledged to continue playing a central role in the Global Alliance, and insisted that "the only way to a just and comprehensive peace is the implementation of the two-State solution".

The Spanish Minister urged the international community to fulfil its moral and political responsibilities by understanding that "we are here to seize the opportunity to achieve the dream longed for by both Palestinians and Israelis: to live in peace, side by side, with security and in a stable region".

In this regard, he called for translating today's declarations into measures that create the conditions that guarantee a dignified life for Palestinians and safeguard the two-State solution, "the only credible and viable path to a lasting peace", he said.

Albares' intervention came after Felipe VI addressed the UN General Assembly from the speakers' rostrum and after a bilateral meeting with the Ukrainian President, Volodimir Zelensky, in which he accompanied the President of the Government, Pedro Sanchez.

EU-CELAC

He also attended the EU-CELAC ministerial meeting, which is the last high-level political meeting to advance preparations for the next EU-CELAC Summit, scheduled for 9 and 10 November in Santa Marta (Colombia).

Also noteworthy was the Minister's participation in the Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism, co-chaired by Spain and Iraq, where Albares expressed his condolences to all victims of terrorism after recalling Spain's commitment, which can be seen, among other examples, through the United Nations office in Madrid.

In parallel to these events, the Minister took advantage of his presence in New York to participate in the economic forum "Spain, Latin America and the United States in the Global Economy", organised by the Spain-US Chamber of Commerce, where he highlighted the strengths of the Spanish economy and Spain's position as defined in the Foreign Action Strategy.

-NON OFFICIAL TRANSLATION-

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau at the Panel "The Global Refugee and Asylum System: What Went Wrong and How to Fix It"

US Department of State

Remarks

Christopher Landau, Deputy Secretary of State

Palace Hotel

New York City, New York

September 25, 2025

DEPUTY SECRETARY LANDAU: Thank you, Spencer. Is this working? Yeah. Welcome, everyone. Thank you very much for joining us for this event. I have to say I think this is a very important topic.

Migration, I think, is going to be one of the defining topics of the 21st century, whether we like it or not. It was, in some ways, a defining topic of the 20th century as well. There were massive population shifts in the 20th century. And the United Nations actually played a role in that, usually in creating international mechanisms to assist migratory flows, to help nations create asylum and refugee systems.

I mean, let's not forget this organization arose from the ashes of World War II, and one of the lessons of World War II is that countries felt that they had dropped the ball in not giving protection to people who were stranded in Nazi Germany and in the Axis powers, and who were persecuted. So many countries around the world - including my own country, the United States - established a legal framework in the late 1940s, around the same time this organization was created, to create a refugee or an asylum program under our domestic law.

We also, of course, have a completely separate and quite complicated, reticulated system of immigration laws. So, I think one of the points that I wanted to start with is that we're talking really about two distinct issues that often get conflated. One is immigration. Each sovereign country can set its own procedures for immigration, and immigration - immigrants can be welcomed for many reasons - economic, you might want to improve a technology sector, you might need labor in your country. That really varies country to country.

Again, asylum status was always meant to be a much smaller subset of that. And I can speak to our domestic law - again, every country was going to have its own domestic laws. And I should say, by the way, we haven't coordinated this on this panel, so we might have different views on this. And so I am speaking here for the United States, for myself. And I think one of the great things here is that we have a chance to have a conversation and talk about these things.

But in our law, in order to qualify for refugee status or asylum status, you need to have a well-founded fear of persecution on the basis of certain enumerated statutory characteristics - in a sense, responded to the problem we saw in World War II - the basis of religion, race, political opinion. But it was not generally meant to be something to supplant the migration laws, right? Economic privation is not a basis for asylum.

That might be a basis for migration, but this was meant to be, in a sense, a separate asterisk to the asylum laws, that basically when there are some people who are really at such risk, imminent risk, of harm on the basis of these narrow, defined, protected categories, we will allow them into our country outside the scope of our migration laws, kind of as any port in a storm, right. If they were not allowed immediately to get out of their country, they face almost certain injury or death, right. And so we have those laws.

Again, that is a very noble concept, and I think the UN promoted international standards for refugees, has continued to do that. So, I think the UN has been instrumental in setting up these kinds of refugee or asylum systems all around the world, and in facilitating migration to some extent.

I think now in the year 2025 - we're a quarter of the way through the 21st century - we take a step back and we see that there are massive migratory flows taking place, and a lot of times massive amounts of people are claiming asylum. In our system at least, when these claims get adjudicated, 90-plus percent of people are found not to be eligible for asylum. And we all know this kind of abuse is happening, frankly. And people who are economic migrants are coming in, in our country, saying that they are - that they should be given asylum. Our problem is when you have hundreds of thousands of people who arrive all at once and claim this, that really requires an individualized adjudication.

So now, we are in a sense saying, okay, well, please, you take a number and we will be back for your individualized interview in six years. And in the meantime, people can live in our country legally. They can start - they might get married. They can work. And so in a sense the migration - the asylum system has become a huge loophole in our migration laws. And we just have to be realistic about this, right? And I think the UN has a responsibility - just as it was instrumental, I think, in encouraging countries to adopt these kind of laws, I think we have to be realistic that these laws are now being abused. And we have to just acknowledge that.

I think the first step in dealing with any pathology is to acknowledge you have a problem. I think this is, again, not just a United States problem. We're seeing this all over the world. That is not to say, frankly, that there are not real asylum seekers. But I think, frankly, if you have hundreds of thousands of fake asylum seekers, what happens to the real asylum seekers? They get lost in the midst of a massive bureaucratic process.

So, I think it behooves those who really are concerned about the plight of the real asylum seekers in the world to have an international order that accepts the fact that we should discourage people from abusing this process. And saying that you are - saying that the process is susceptible to abuse is not being xenophobic, it is not being a mean or bad person. It is just saying this is not the purpose for which this limited exception was created. And I think - I hope very much, the United States hopes, that this is part of the international agenda or else basically the asylum system will serve as a mechanism to make mass illegal migration legal. And that won't last for long. What you're going to see is you're going to see countries saying, okay, we're not going to have an asylum system at all.

So, for those of us who believe that asylum can play, as it was initially intended, a valuable role, I think this should be a top international priority to recognize the need to revisit the asylum system in the 21st century.

I think in our view there are five critical principles that the United States would like to put on the table that we see as kind of the basis of, hopefully, an emerging consensus.

First, that every nation ultimately has the right to control its own borders. That's what it means to be a sovereign nation, to say: We get to decide who comes in and under what circumstances and for how long they get to come in. That is an - the quintessential element of sovereignty.

Second, there is no right to immigrate or to receive asylum or refugee status in the country of an individual's choice. I mean, sometimes we see people who leave one country and traverse maybe a dozen countries to get to another country, right? And that defies the image of any port, any safe harbor in a storm, right? I mean, that makes it look like it's no longer trying to avoid imminent injury or death, it makes it look like it's just a substitute for migration. Hey, I want to go to live in this country. And so again, I think that is not - the basis of asylum, again, is to give someone shelter from immediate injury or death on the basis of certain kinds of characteristics - not, again, to just facilitate mass migration.

Third, refugee status is temporary, not permanent. We should reject the presumption that recognition of being a refugee is just another form of migration. Again, if the idea is it's any port in a storm, then when the storm is over the presumption should be, okay, we've given you the shelter in a storm, but now the understanding is you should go back to your country. Again, for us these are kind of common sense principles, and I think are valuable to prevent the people who are asylum seekers from being subject to abuse and, frankly, from abusing the system.

I was meeting the other day with an ambassador in Washington. We were talking about some of the abuse of the asylum system, and he was laughing. And he told me he was in an Uber the other day and there was a guy from his country there driving the Uber. He says, "What are you doing here?" And the guy says, "I have asylum here." And this guy, meanwhile, had actually flown back to his country to visit his family, and this is a country from which he sought asylum. Frankly, I didn't even know that was possible to return to the country from which you're seeking asylum, go on a holiday, and then come back to the United States.

I mean, we just have to be realistic. Like, these things are happening. And especially I know there's those of you in this room who are big believers in an asylum system. But if you want to have an asylum system, please do not feel that you need to defend the abuses of the system. Please try to find common ground among all of us on ways that the asylum system can actually fulfill the purpose for which it is meant to serve and does not become a fig leaf in a sense for just ordinary economic migration.

I will just wrap up now, but I think it's important, again, to emphasize that ultimately sovereign states and not transnational bodies must be making the determination whether the conditions in a country of origin permit return. And finally, every country - and this is, I think, just a basic of international law - must agree to accept expeditiously the return of its nationals.

So in concluding, let me just say I read an article the other day that Greece enacted a new law - again, this is an issue all over the world; it's not just in our country - that said asylum seekers whose claim is rejected in the judicial system of Greece, or whatever special asylum system they have, have to return within 14 days. And then I saw statements condemning that as illegal. I thought, well, what was the purpose of having an asylum hearing if the person loses and it says you're not entitled to rejection? Of course the person should have to go home. I mean, if the person is allowed to stay in Greece even if their asylum - as an asylum seeker even if their asylum claim is rejected, then was the whole thing just a farce? I mean, we have to have certain understandings that, yes, you come because you are - presumably you have a well-founded fear of persecution on these grounds. You explain what it is. There is a prompt adjudication, and then you abide by the results of that adjudication.

But really, I am very grateful to our co-panelists for being in this forum to discuss their perspectives on migration and asylum, which I think are going to vary among all of us. But really, I think as the beginning of a serious international conversation that I think we have to recognize that the asylum system around the world has been subject to abuse if in fact we want to save the asylum system itself.

Thank you very much.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Co-Chairs' Statement following the Ministerial Meeting on Coordinating Efforts for De-Escalation in Sudan

News story

Co-Chairs Statement from the African Union, the European Union, France, Germany and the United Kingdom following the Ministerial Meeting on Coordinating Efforts for De-Escalation in Sudan.

From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Published 25 September 2025

Co-Chairs statement:

"Building on the Sudan conferences in Paris (15 April 2024) and London (15 April 2025), we, the representatives of the African Union and the European Union and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of France, Germany and the United Kingdom, convened in New York the ministers and representatives of Canada, Chad, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, IGAD, Kenya, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the League of Arab States, Libya, Norway, Qatar, South Sudan, Switzerland, Turkiye, Uganda, the United Arab Emirates, the United Nations and the United States, in order to address the situation in Sudan and coordinate our efforts towards de-escalation and the protection of civilians in Sudan.

"Recognizing that Sudan is the most devastating humanitarian and displacement crisis in the world, with over two thirds of its population, 30 million people, in need of assistance, 24 million people facing acute food insecurity and needs rising;

"Considering that the ongoing conflict has a devastating impact on civilians, especially women and children and that the suffering they have endured for two and a half years now is intolerable and constitutes a major threat to the very future of Sudan and the entire region:

"We urge the warring parties to resume direct negotiations to achieve a permanent ceasefire and we stand ready to take further action to support its conclusion and implementation. "We express support to an agreement on the protection of critical infrastructure, in response to the facilitation led by the European Union, and call on the warring parties to take all necessary measures to ensure the protection of civilians. "We welcome the joint statement, issued on 12 September by the Quad, regarding ending the conflict in Sudan and express support to the African Union and IGAD's efforts to coordinate international and bilateral efforts to press all Sudanese parties towards a ceasefire, humanitarian action and political dialogue, while working with partners such as the European Union, the League of Arab States, and the United Nations. "We strongly condemn the military involvement of foreign state and non-state actors in the conflict; we urge them to refrain from fueling the conflict, notably through the provision of military equipment and financial support, and to comply with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1556 (2004). "We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Sudan, at a time when it is seriously threatened. We strongly reject the establishment of parallel governing structures, as well as all actions that jeopardize the democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people. The Sudanese people should decide on their political future through a genuinely inclusive, transparent and credible Sudanese-led and Sudanese-owned transition process, to restore legitimate civilian rule. "We strongly condemn the violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law perpetrated by the warring parties and call on them to respect their obligations and commitments under the Jeddah Declaration. "We reiterate our support for the work of the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan and for the International Criminal Court to hold all perpetrators of international crimes and atrocities accountable. "We strongly call on the warring parties to implement a humanitarian pause in El-Fasher, as proposed by the United Nations, and to comply with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2736 (2024). "We welcome the extension of the Adre border-crossing point until December 2025. We exhort the warring parties to allow and facilitate full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access, via all necessary cross-border and cross-line routes, to the entire Sudanese territory regardless of a ceasefire, including by authorizing the indefinite opening of the Adre border-crossing point and by authorizing the sustained humanitarian international presence of the United Nations and other organizations in all parts of Darfur and the Kordofans. "We pledge to continue our financial and diplomatic contribution to the humanitarian response in support of civilian populations inside Sudan and refugees in neighboring countries. We furthermore commend the exceptional support from refugee-hosting countries and local communities, and the action of humanitarian workers, including local responders."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Haiti demands a new international force and reparations from France

25 September 2025 - "This is the face of Haiti today: a country at war, a modern-day Guernica, a human tragedy." From the podium of the UN General Assembly, Haiti's transitional leader delivered a stark plea to the international community.

At the heart of his speech was the urgency of breaking free from spiralling violence, alongside a call to close what he described as two centuries of historical injustice.

Laurent Saint-Cyr painted a bleak picture: murders, gang rapes, famine and more than a million people displaced.

"It is a war between criminals who want to impose violence as the social order and an unarmed population struggling to preserve human dignity," he said.

Armed gangs now control much of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and continue to spread terror nationwide.

Support mission stretched thin

For the past 15 months, a Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) - authorized by the Security Council but reliant on voluntary contributions - has tried to restore stability.

Of the 2,500 police officers initially pledged, fewer than 1,000 have been deployed. While the force secured Haiti's main airport and reopened some roads, it has not halted Port-au-Prince's slide into near anarchy.

"Their bravery was not enough to contain the crisis," Mr. Saint-Cyr told the UN General Assembly.

Push for a new 'suppression force'

With the MSS mandate due to expire in early October, Haiti - backed by the United States and Panama - is urging the creation of a 5,500-strong Gang Suppression Force.

Washington wants the new mission mandated under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, allowing the use of force against threats to peace.

The proposal includes a new UN Support Office in Haiti and a clear mandate: to neutralise gangs, secure key infrastructure and restore minimum institutional stability.

"Haiti wants peace. Haiti is waiting for peace. Haiti has the right to peace," Mr. Saint-Cyr declared, warning against a security vacuum if the current mission ends. A vote is reportedly expected in the coming days.

Political transition unfinished

Security alone, however, will not resolve Haiti's turmoil. Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July 2021, the country has been without an elected government. Successive interim administrations have failed to re-establish order.

The transitional council, formed in 2024 after a compromise brokered by the Caribbean Community of nations (CARICOM), is tasked with organising elections.

Saint-Cyr said that more than 85 per cent of polling stations have been identified and $65 million secured. "The Haitian people must be able to choose their leaders," he said, calling free and credible elections essential to ending the provisional state.

The 'ransom' of independence

The Haitian leader also pressed for reparations from France, recalling the 1825 ordinance that forced Haiti to pay 150 million gold francs in exchange for recognition of independence - a "ransom" that drained its economy until 1947, he told delegates.

"Our voice is raised to demand reparations, not in a spirit of revenge, but with a concern for justice and truth," he said. France's National Assembly acknowledged the injustice in June, and Haiti has since set up a National Committee for Reparations and Restitution.

"France now has the opportunity to write a new page in its history with Haiti," Mr. Saint-Cyr insisted, echoing wider UN debates on colonial reparations.

Beyond historical reflections, the Haitian leader said urgent was needed to curb gang power. "Every day that passes, benefits the gangs that are suffocating Haiti," he warned. "If the Security Council does not act quickly, the country risks sinking further into chaos."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Yemen calls for 'firm international action' to counter global threat posed by Houthis

25 September 2025 - Yemen's President Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi on Thursday urged the international community to move beyond statements, to "firm international action" against Houthi separatists, saying the crisis provoked by the militants' international aggression now threatens regional and global security.

Since 2014, Yemen has been engulfed in conflict between the internationally recognised government and Houthi militants (formally known as the Ansar Allah movement). A fragile truce brokered in 2022 has helped reduce the fighting but violations are ongoing.

Millions have been displaced across the country - already one of the poorest in the Middle East - while public services and infrastructure have collapsed.

Humanitarian workers have also been targeted by the Houthis - who control large swathes of the country including the capital - with dozens of UN staff detained by the group and agency offices raided.

"The Houthi militias are no longer a rebel group in a remote area," President Al-Alimi told the General Assembly's annual debate.

International terror group

"Rather, they are [an] international terrorist organization armed to the teeth with an advanced Iranian arsenal, including ballistic missiles and drones, booby-trapped boats and sea mines, and missiles and other qualitative weapons that are internationally banned."

Mr. Al-Alimi - who heads Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council - said that after more than a decade of war, Yemenis are living through "one of the greatest humanitarian crises" while also facing "security threats that transcend our borders and spread to the region and the entire world."

He accused the Houthis of using "hunger as a weapon, religion as a tool and maritime passages as a means of blackmail," warning that the Red Sea and international shipping lanes risk becoming permanent prey to terrorism.

He dismissed years of international containment efforts as ineffective.

"The policy of conflict management by offering more incentives has only brought more disaster and destruction," he said.

He said the UN has been "unable to protect its own staff, who were kidnaped in Sanaa, unable to protect the oil installations and the commercial ships."

Call for effective action

The Yemeni leader called for an "effective international coalition to restore security, stability and a coalition that would rebuild the institutions of the State and would liberate the country from the clutches of the militias and all forms of terrorist groups."

Yemen's crisis is a test of international credibility, he stressed.

"What we ask from you are not new statements, but international action - firm international action - to support the legitimate government as a trusted partner on the ground."

He reaffirmed Yemen's support for the Palestinian cause, welcomed growing international recognition of a Palestinian State, and expressed gratitude to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for their sustained support for his country.

"Yemen and Gaza...are the moral testing ground of this [United Nations]. They are the place where we can definitely confirm that the might of right is still able to confront the right of might."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Abbas rejects Hamas attack, urges world to recognise Palestinian statehood

25 September 2025 - Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine, addressed the UN General Assembly on Thursday, declaring that his people were enduring a "war of genocide, destruction, starvation and displacement" at the hands of Israel's military in Gaza.

Speaking via video, he said more than 220,000 Palestinians had been killed or injured over nearly two years of fighting - most of them women, children and the elderly, while two million people were facing starvation under blockade.

More than 80 per cent of Gaza's homes, schools, hospitals, churches, mosques and infrastructure had been destroyed, he added.

"What Israel is carrying out is not merely an aggression, it is a war crime and a crime against humanity," Mr. Abbas said, describing it as "one of the most horrific chapters of humanitarian tragedy in the 20th and 21st centuries."

He also highlighted escalating settler violence and settlement expansion in the West Bank, including the "Greater Israel" strategy to expand Israeli territory, which he said threatened to "divide the West Bank", "isolate occupied Jerusalem", and "undermine the two-State solution."

Religious sites across Jerusalem, Hebron and Gaza had not been spared, he noted, citing attacks on mosques, churches and cemeteries.

Condemnation of 7 October

Mr. Abbas condemned the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack on Israeli civilians, saying those actions "do not represent the Palestinian people, nor their just struggle for freedom and independence."

He stressed that Gaza was an integral part of the Palestinian state and that the Palestinian Authority was prepared to take full responsibility for governance and security there, based on "one state, one law and one legal security force."

"We do not want an armed state," he told world leaders, outlining a vision of a "modern and democratic" Palestine based on rule of law, peaceful transition of power, and respect for human rights, youth and women's empowerment.

Turning to the international community, President Abbas lamented that more than 1,000 UN resolutions on Palestine remained unimplemented, despite Palestinian leaders embracing peace agreements and recognizing Israel since the Oslo Accords in 1993.

Israel, he said, had "systematically" undermined those accords while Palestinians adhered to their commitments, including rejecting violence and restructuring national institutions.

He welcomed the outcomes of a high-level conference in New York earlier this week, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, and expressed gratitude to the growing number of countries recognizing Palestine, urging others to follow suit and support full UN membership.

He said Palestine is ready to work with the United States, Saudi Arabia, France, the United Nations and all partners to implement the peace plan adopted this week, adding that "peace cannot be achieved if justice is not achieved, and there can be no justice if Palestine is not freed."

Palestinians will never abandon their homeland or their rights, he said.

"No matter how long the suffering lasts, it will not break our will to live and survive," Mr. Abbas said. "The dawn of freedom will emerge, and the flag of Palestine will fly high in our skies as a symbol of dignity and steadfastness."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Post-war Somalia proves multilateralism can make the world a better place, says President

25 September 2025 - In his address to the General Assembly, the President of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud outlined global challenges and shared the progress his country has made in the fight against terrorism, promoting inclusive governance and economic development.

Somalia's story is one of "real national effort supported by truly committed international partners," he said, referring to the country's transition from all-out civil conflict beginning in 2012.

"In fact, Somalia is evidence that multilateralism and global solidarity can make the world a better, safer and progressive place."

He affirmed that as a current member of the Security Council, his nation is working with other international partners to find solutions for peace in the Middle East, Africa and Europe.

Mr. Mohamud called for an "immediate and lasting ceasefire, unhindered humanitarian access, and renewed commitment towards the two-State solution," on the issue of Palestine.

'Pockets of international terrorism'

Back home, Somalia is battling the "last remaining pockets of international terrorism while building a strong and sustainable national security architecture," he said.

Recalling that Somalia was once Africa's first democracy, he declared that the country is preparing now for its first full national elections in 57 years. More than 30 independent political associations have already registered their participation.

'Taking responsibility' for economic development

"In Somalia, we are taking responsibility for our own economic development by building on the success of our recent reform-based debt relief," Mr. Mohamud said, pointing to Somalia's efforts to mitigate the cost of public service investment.

He affirmed Somalia's commitment to benefit from its strategic location and natural resources through trade and said that to support that ambition, the country has joined the East Africa Community, is ratifying policies aligned with the African Continental Free Trade Area and continues the process of joining the World Trade Organization (WTO).

To combat the adverse impact of climate change, Mr. Mohamud announced the establishment of Somalia's National Climate Fund to channel sustainable finance to communities transparently, along with efforts to restore degraded lands and strengthen water security.

He called on international institutions and capital markets to facilitate "accessible, affordable, predictable, and just" financing for Somalia's sustainable growth and climate change mitigation.

"Nations on the frontlines like Somalia cannot be left to face this crisis alone unsupported by the dominant global financial architecture which is not fit for purpose in this age of great challenge."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Gaza City suffering escalates as Israeli strikes inflict more heavy casualties

25 September 2025 - While the Israeli military's assault on Gaza City ramps up, conditions in the south of the war-torn enclave are so cramped that displaced and starving Gazans are sleeping on rubble-strewn open ground, UN aid teams said on Thursday.

"Intensified strikes on Gaza City, including on tents, residential buildings, infrastructure continue to inflict heavy casualties," the UN aid coordination agency, OCHA, said.

In an update, the UN agency also noted that several health facilities have shut in Gaza City in the north of the enclave this month along with community kitchens, which have also closed as the Israeli military operation continues.

The development followed an urgent warning about the catastrophic impact of the war on Gaza's children - "killed while sleeping, playing, queuing for food and water, seeking medical care" - from the UN's top aid official, Tom Fletcher.

"They've been bombed, maimed, starved, burned alive, buried in the rubble of their homes, separated from their parentsscraping through the rubble for food, enduring amputations without anaesthetic," he said, at a scheduled event on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

To address this crisis, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) provisional measures that require Israel to facilitate urgently assistance throughout Gaza must be implemented, insisted Mr. Fletcher, while also highlighting the Israeli children killed or taken hostage during Hamas-led terror attacks on 7 October 2023.

Other key UN updates from Gaza:

Among many reported attacks in the last week, on 19 September, a four-year-old boy and a five-year-old girl were killed and others injured when their tent was hit in Al Mawasi, Khan Younis, OCHA said.

Amid ongoing famine across the Strip, a two-kilogramme bundle of bread now costs more than $9, compared with 30 cents at UN-supported bakeries in early 2025.

In the week to 23 September, out of 94 attempts to coordinate aid missions planned movements with Israeli authorities across the Gaza Strip, only 35 went ahead.

No aid has been collected in northern Gaza since the Zikim crossing was closed on 12 September. This has forced aid partners who provide cooked meals to bring supplies from the south despite heavy congestion on Al Rashid Road and continuing security concerns.

This week in northern Gaza, there has been a reduction of about 50,000 daily meals compared with 109,000 meals last weekend , after some community kitchens closed as the military offensive escalates in Gaza City.

, after some community kitchens closed as the military offensive escalates in Gaza City. In southern Gaza, families shelter " squeezed into makeshift tents along the beach " or are packed into overcrowded schools. Others have to sleep out in the open and amid rubble, while basic services are 'beyond capacity'.

" or are packed into overcrowded schools. Others have to sleep out in the open and amid rubble, while basic services are 'beyond capacity'. Fighting between Palestinian armed groups and Israeli forces has also been reported in Gaza City in addition to rocket fire by Palestinian armed groups into Israel on 21 September .

. Israeli strikes on residential buildings and tents sheltering internally displaced people and people seeking aid have been reported once again, with reports of controlled detonations.

In a 48-hour period between 19 and 20 September, at least 51 Palestinians were killed in 18 recorded attacks on residential buildings in Gaza City ; almost all of those killed were civilians, according to the UN human rights office.

; almost all of those killed were civilians, according to the UN human rights office. "Additional waves of displacement" particularly from Gaza City, have been caused by new evacuation orders by Israel, its ongoing military ground operations and bombardment, OCHA stressed.

The key Allenby Bridge crossing point for aid relief from Jordan via the occupied West Bank remains closed after a Jordanian truck driver shot and killed two Israeli soldiers.

In August, about a quarter of relief items entering Gaza through the UN 2720 mechanism came via Jordan, including food, tents, and other urgently needed supplies.

Latest data from the Gaza authorities indicates that in the week to 24 September, 357 Palestinians were killed and 1,463 were injured. Since 7 October 2023, more than 65,400 people have been killed in Gaza and 167,160 have been injured, the health ministry reports.

The number of casualties among those trying to access aid supplies has increased, with 2,531 fatalities and more than 18,531 reportedly injured since 27 May 2025, OCHA noted.

In addition, as of 19 September, 440 malnutrition-related deaths including 147 children have been documented, since October 2023.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti

UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Occupied Palestinian Territory

Intensified strikes imperil civilians and life-saving services in Gaza city

OCHA reports that intensified strikes on Gaza city continue to cause heavy casualties and displacements, with attacks over the past week hitting tents, residential buildings and infrastructure. This is threatening the continued operation of life-saving services, including ambulances, health facilities, nutrition treatment support and community kitchens.

Although people continue to flee the Israeli offensive in Gaza city, hundreds of thousands still remain there, at a time when the humanitarian community's ability to support them is eroding.

Today, all attempts by the UN to coordinate its staff and partners' access to, or within, the north were denied by Israeli authorities, except for a single mission that had to be canceled by the organizers. This prevented the implementation of planned missions as critical as water trucking. Over the past week, even missions that were approved by Israeli authorities often took hours to complete, with teams compelled to wait on dangerous or congested roads. Following the closure of Zikim crossing on 12 September, the denial rate of humanitarian movements to northern Gaza rose to 40 per cent by 22 September, compared with 18 per cent over the previous 11 days.

OCHA stresses that civilians in Gaza city and the north require sustained humanitarian support at scale, which in turn requires continued access and reliable safety guarantees for aid workers.

In the south, humanitarian teams continue to collect supplies from Kerem Shalom crossing. Yesterday and today, they were able to bring food, health supplies and fuel closer to where they are desperately needed in southern Gaza. Teams also carried out field assessments to further inform humanitarian planning.

Meanwhile, the UN continues to receive reports of people being killed or injured while seeking food or aid. According to the UN Human Rights Office, between 17 and 22 September, 21 fatalities were reported in this context, including near three militarized supply sites and along the Morag route south of Khan Younis. Since 27 May, at least 2,340 people have been killed while seeking food or aid - just over half near militarized supply sites and the rest along convoy routes.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

UN Relief Chief fast-tracks funds for Ebola response

The Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, yesterday allocated US$2.5 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund to support the Government-led response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Kasai province.

The funds will go towards scaling up the response in Bulape area to contain the outbreak and prevent its spread to neighbouring provinces. They will support infection and prevention control, vaccination, strengthened surveillance measures and logistics.

The outbreak is occurring in a remote area with limited infrastructure. The local health system is overwhelmed and lacks sufficient capacity for timely diagnosis, isolation and treatment.

Health partners are currently providing active support to national authorities across key response pillars, including case management, surveillance and laboratory capacity, community engagement and vaccination activities.

As of 22 September, the Ministry of Health has reported a cumulative total of 58 cases. Of particular concern are five confirmed cases reported among health workers.

More than 1,000 contacts have been identified and are currently under active follow-up.

Haiti

Cholera takes toll on displaced and host communities

OCHA reports that cholera continues to affect displaced and host communities in Haiti.

During the second week of September, the World Health Organization/Pan American Health Organization (WHO/PAHO) reported 30 suspected cases of cholera across more than a dozen communes in five departments, bringing the total number of cases to more than 3,100 this year. Most of these new cases were in the West department, including several in displacement sites. Two active transmission hotspots were identified: Saint-Raphael in the North department, and Saint-Michel in the Artibonite department.

Three quarters of the cases were treated in nine health facilities supported by WHO/PAHO, with one death recorded. Humanitarian partners - including WHO/PAHO and Medecins Sans Frontieres - are supporting health authorities in Haiti with treatment, community awareness-raising, and water, sanitation and hygiene assistance.

The recent visit of Emergency Relief Coordinator Fletcher to Haiti underscored the immense challenges facing the health sector, where less than a third of health facilities with inpatient capacity remain fully operational. The system is struggling to cope with recurring cholera cases, rising malnutrition and increasing violence.

OCHA warns that communities have limited access to clean water, sanitation conditions are poor at displacement sites, and insecurity has constrained access to affected areas.

Armed violence continues to take a toll on civilians across the country. On 20 September, armed attacks in the commune of L'Estere, in the Artibonite department, displaced more than 6,000 people, according to the International Organization for Migration - with most seeking safety in the municipalities of Desdunes and L'Estere.

With just three months left in the year, the 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for Haiti is 13 per cent funded - with only $118 million received of the $908 million required - severely constraining humanitarians' ability to respond at the necessary scale. Additional support is urgently needed to save lives*.

*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Haiti with urgent support.

Posted on 25 September 2025

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Statement by UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini at the Ministerial Meeting on UNRWA during High-Level Week at the 80th UNGA

UNRWA

25 Sep 2025

NEW YORK - [as delivered]

Madam President,

Excellencies,

I am deeply grateful to Jordan, Spain and Brazil for hosting this ministerial meeting on UNRWA.

For nearly two years, we have witnessed an appalling disregard for life and international law in the occupied Palestinian territory.

Today, we are confronted with the stark consequences of prolonged inaction and impunity:

A famine - which is the result of replacing a principled humanitarian operation with mercenaries who weaponize food assistance;

A looming military occupation in Gaza;

Emboldened settlers and creeping annexation in the occupied West Bank;

And a multilateral system in peril.

History will forever ask our predecessors why they failed to prevent the genocides perpetrated under their watch.

With the warnings issued by the International Court of Justice last year, and the publication of the Commission of Inquiry report last week, this question must now be asked of us.

Against overwhelming odds, UNRWA continues to stand by Palestinians - providing life-saving humanitarian assistance; engaging the minds of traumatized children through learning and play; preserving family records and collective identity; and bearing witness to countless violations and indignities.

For enabling Palestinians to remain in the occupied territory - and build the best possible lives under a brutal occupation - we have been attacked relentlessly, in flagrant violation of United Nations privileges and immunities.

The attacks seek to dismantle the Agency to end the refugee status of Palestinians and further undermine prospects for a two-state solution.

The impact of these attacks has been devastating.

At least 370 of our colleagues have been killed in Gaza, where most of our premises, including schools and health clinics, have been destroyed.

Earlier this year, Israeli legislation facilitated the removal of UNRWA international staff from Gaza and the West Bank, and the closure of our schools in occupied East Jerusalem.

The Agency's supplies - enough to sustain the entire population of Gaza for three months - have been blocked from entering since March.

UNRWA has also been the subject of a fierce and well-funded disinformation campaign, spearheaded by the Government of Israel.

The campaign has targeted lawmakers in donor countries to tarnish the Agency's reputation, and to strangle both political support and funding for its vital work.

Similar campaigns are now being deployed to silence other UN entities, international NGOs and public officials; to justify assassinating journalists; and to deny the reality of famine and other international crimes.

Excellencies,

The reputational attack on UNRWA has worsened an already grim financial situation.

The loss of two major donors - including the Agency's largest contributor - has sparked a severe deficit and cashflow crisis, jeopardizing the viability of UNRWA's operations across programmes and fields.

The steady implementation of austerity and cost control measures amounting to 150 million USD in 2025, together with strict cashflow management, has allowed the Agency to pay staff salaries until now.

However, the shortfall between the last quarter of this year and the first quarter of next year exceeds 200 million USD.

Unlike in previous years, the projected income in the first quarter of 2026 is far too low to absorb any deficit from 2025.

In the absence of a significant influx of new funding, the delivery of critical services to millions of Palestine Refugees across the region will be compromised before the end of the year.

Excellencies,

The war in Gaza is re-shaping the multilateral system in profound ways.

Defending international law and the rules-based order is an active choice that each Member State must make.

I urge you to demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the unconditional release of hostages.

Push back against the weaponization of humanitarian assistance and insist on the unrestricted deployment of the United Nations' humanitarian operation - including UNRWA's expertise and unparalleled aid distribution network.

This is the only way to reverse famine, stabilize a volatile situation, and support implementation of the New York Declaration.

I also implore you to safeguard UNRWA's mandate within a time-bound political process, and to finance the provision of essential services until that process is complete.

Thank you.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Secretary-General's remarks to meeting of G20 Foreign Ministers [as delivered]

United Nations Secretary-General

New York

25 September 2025

I thank the Government of South Africa for bringing us together - and for your focus on the interconnections between peace and sustainable economic development.

We know when violence erupts, capital flees, services collapse, and poverty deepens.

When development falters, social contracts fray, institutions weaken, and instability follows.

And climate change intensifies the pressure at every turn.

Heat, drought, floods, and storms are stress tests on fragile states - and a drag on growth everywhere.

Climate shocks fuel hunger, inflame tensions, and force displacement.

Unsustainable debt is trapping nations and mortgaging their future.

Meanwhile, we just released a report that found global military spending soared to 2.7 trillion US dollars last year - nearly 13 times all official development aid.

By comparison, the UN's regular budget - 750 times smaller - is a rounding error.

At the same time, only one in five SDG targets is on track - and the financing gap is growing.

We must choose a different path.

The Financing for Development Conference in Sevilla delivered a clear message:

We need financial justice.

That means an overhaul of the international financial architecture - to make it fairer and fit for today's realities;

It means supporting countries in debt distress, helping them recover while preventing future crises;

Tripling the lending capacity of Multilateral Development Banks and expanding their role in de-risking private investment;

And enhancing the participation of developing countries in global institutions and decision-making processes.

And we must go further.

The Pact for the Future, adopted last year, is our blueprint for a more inclusive, accountable and effective multilateral system.

Excellencies,

Under South Africa's Presidency, the G20 has set a clear compass: Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability.

Together, your countries represent two-thirds of humanity and over four-fifths of the world economy.

Your choices send signals to markets, institutions, and governments everywhere.

At this pivotal moment, I see four immediate priorities.

First, rebuilding trust in international cooperation.

As we mark the United Nations' 80th year, we must recommit to the Charter's obligations - restraint, the peaceful settlement of disputes, and the protection of civilians.

Emerging technologies in warfare must remain under meaningful human control.

And rules must be shaped by all - especially developing countries and affected communities.

Second, investing in prevention and peacemaking.

Diplomacy, mediation, and inclusive governance remain our strongest tools - but they require resources and political will.

By supporting mediators, empowering local peacebuilders, and fostering inclusive processes, we can address the root causes of conflict - before violence takes hold.

Third, confronting the climate crisis.

Integrating climate risk into peace and development strategies prevents shocks from becoming breakdowns.

Regional cooperation - on water, food, early warning - lowers tension and curbs displacement.

Climate adaptation creates jobs and brings stability, protecting populations.

And fourth, making finance deliver for peace and prosperity.

From prevention to climate action, progress depends on access to affordable, timely, and long-term financing and the reduction of the cost of capital.

When borrowing costs fall and fiscal space widens, governments can invest in development and resilience - and prevent crises.

That makes us all safer.

Excellencies,

Peace is not a dividend of development.

It is its foundation - and highest-return investment.

Financial justice is not an aspiration.

It is a requirement for global stability.

Let us work together to reaffirm peace as the surest path to sustainable economic development;

And multilateralism the anchor of a safer, fairer future for all.

Thank you.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Secretary-General's remarks at the Ministerial Meeting in Support of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) [as delivered]

United Nations Secretary-General

I thank Brazil, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and Spain for co-chairing this gathering.

And I thank all of you for your support for UNRWA.

Generations of Palestine refugees have counted on UNRWA for education, health care, and other essential services.

Before October 2023, it provided schooling for half a million girls and boys across the region.

Today, it delivers emergency food and cash assistance for 2.6 million people.



Its primary clinics handle 10.5 million visits per year.

But UNRWA's full impact goes far deeper.

UNRWA is a force for stability in the most unstable region of the world.

Its operational presence contributes to the Palestinian Authority's governance in the West Bank.

To Lebanon's efforts to fulfil requirements for a ceasefire in refugee camps.

To Syria's efforts to navigate a path to lasting peace.

And to Jordan's role in building regional stability.

UNRWA's mandate and operations are integral to a large majority of the actions outlined in the New York Declaration endorsed by the General Assembly earlier this month.

Despite all of this, UNRWA is being forced to operate under extreme and rising pressure.

In Gaza, our staff are being killed. Our premises destroyed.

And everywhere, UNRWA faces budget shortfalls - and a firehose of disinformation.

Earlier this year, I commissioned a strategic assessment of the impact and exercise of UNRWA's mandate under current circumstances.

The report, shared with the General Assembly in July, reached three core conclusions:

First, UNRWA has made invaluable contributions to development, human rights, humanitarian action, and peace and security, including for Israel.

Second, UNRWA is under such severe constraints that the status quo is untenable.

Third, Member States must take immediate action. The conditions under which the Agency works are deteriorating every day.

Excellencies,

UNRWA is vital to any prospects for peace and stability in the region.

I urge you to do all you can to support its work.

How?

First, by standing in solidarity. By providing political support. By countering the distortions that threaten one of the only lifelines many Palestine refugees have left.

And second, by ensuring that UNRWA has the resources to carry out its mandate.

It must be funded urgently. Fully. And predictably.

UNRWA was always meant to be a humanitarian stopgap until a political solution could be found.

This General Assembly began this week on a strong note with unprecedented global support for a two-State solution.



But we know the realities on the ground are bleaker than ever.

We will not relent in working for peace.

But until a political solution is achieved, UNRWA remains crucial in helping us steer toward achieving the best possible outcome and avoiding the worst.

Finally, allow me to say a special word about our UNRWA staff in Gaza.

I cannot begin to express the depth of my admiration, respect and gratitude.

More than 370 of our dear colleagues have been killed.

Every single one has endured unimaginable loss.

Homes and communities destroyed.

Entire families wiped from existence.

Yet, somehow, in the face of this relentless horror, they persevere.

They keep going - often without sleep, often without food - driven by a profound sense of duty and compassion.

They keep serving the people of Gaza with courage and selflessness that inspires the world.

We will never forget their heroism.

Excellencies,

I appeal to you today to provide the funding and political support UNRWA needs to help build peace and stability - for Palestinians, for Israel and for the region.

Thank you.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Secretary-General's remarks at High-level Multi-Stakeholder Informal Meeting to Launch the Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence Governance [as delivered]

United Nations Secretary-General

One year ago, we celebrated the adoption of the Global Digital Compact - the first universal agreement on AI governance.

Today, we lay the cornerstones of a global AI ecosystem that can keep pace with the fastest-moving technology in human history.

A system that rests on three fundamental pillars - policy, science and capacity.

The first pillar, policy.

Today, we launch the Global Dialogue on AI Governance at the United Nations - the world's principal venue for collective focus on this transformative technology.

In just twelve months, we have moved from principles to practice.

That is multilateralism at its best - agile, inclusive, and anchored in shared responsibility.

I commend the leadership of the Permanent Representatives of Costa Rica and Spain - as co-facilitators - and the spirit of compromise among Member States, which matches the ambition enshrined in the Global Digital Compact.

Excellencies, dear friends,

The question is no longer whether AI will transform our world - it already is.

The question is whether we will govern this transformation together - or let it govern us.

The goals of the Global Dialogue are clear:

To help build safe, secure and trustworthy AI systems - grounded in international law, human rights and effective oversight;

To promote interoperability between governance regimes - aligning rules, reducing barriers and boosting economic cooperation;

And to encourage open innovation - including open-source tools and shared resources - accessible to all.

The United Nations offers a uniquely universal platform for such global cooperation.

For the first time, every country will have a seat at the table of AI.

This Global Dialogue will take into account AI's implications in all its dimensions - social and economic, ethical and technical, cultural and linguistic.

It will complement existing efforts around the world - including at the OECD, the G7, and regional organizations - and provide an inclusive, stable home for AI governance coordination efforts.

In short, this is about creating a space where governments, industry and civil society can advance common solutions together.

Where innovation can thrive - guided by shared standards and common purpose.

Dear friends,

In an era of rapid disruption, policy dialogue must also be well-informed.

And so, the second pillar of an effective global AI system is science.

The creation, within the United Nations, of the International Independent Scientific Panel on AI, represents another milestone - putting science at the centre of our efforts.

Today, we are launching an open call for candidates - from all regions and disciplines - for the International Independent Scientific Panel on AI.

This group of 40 experts will provide independent insights into the opportunities, risks and impacts associated with AI.

The Panel will be the world's early-warning system and evidence engine - helping us separate signal from noise, and foresight from fear.

Their independent assessments will inform the Global Dialogue and beyond - helping the international community anticipate emerging challenges;

Make informed decisions about how to govern this unprecedented technology;

And level the information playing field for policymakers worldwide.

Excellencies,

The third AI cooperation pillar is capacity.

I recently submitted a report on financing options for AI capacity building.

The report sets out practical pathways to narrow the AI divide - in computing power, data, research, education, training and safety standards.

It proposes innovative and blended approaches - from philanthropic capital to concessional instruments, from computing credits to shared regional centres of excellence and fellowships.

Building on that, I will soon begin consultations with Member States, potential funders and partners on the establishment of a Global Fund for AI Capacity Development.

Excellencies, dear friends,

These three pillars of policy, science and capacity are crucial to providing clarity; building trust; reducing inequalities - and accelerating progress for all.

The trajectory of Artificial Intelligence will depend on our readiness to listen, to adapt, and to cooperate - across borders and disciplines.

And that work starts here, with all of you.

Your engagement gives me confidence that these initiatives will move forward - with urgency, purpose and integrity.

As we do so, let us keep asking hard questions; seek common ground; be guided by evidence;

And build a future of AI by humanity with humanity 

and for humanity.

Thank you.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star Returns to Seattle after 308 days

United States Coast Guard

Press Release | Sept. 25, 2025

SEATTLE -- After 308 days away from its Seattle home port, the 49-year-old U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star (WAGB 10) and crew returned home Tuesday.

Upon completing Operation Deep Freeze (ODF) 2025, Polar Star returned directly to Mare Island Dry Dock in Vallejo, Calif., to complete the final year of a five-year Service Life Extension Program (SLEP).

Polar Star's SLEP completion comes at a time when the Polar Regions are becoming more consequential, and the demand for U.S. Coast Guard presence, leadership, and vigilance continues to grow.

The maintenance work completed over the past five years recapitalized integral systems, including propulsion, communication, and machinery control systems. These efforts are designed to extend the cutter's service life as the Coast Guard begins construction of its first Polar Security Cutter. Until PSCs becomes operational, Polar Star will remain the only U.S. icebreaker capable of completing the annual breakout of McMurdo Sound, Antarctica in support of the U.S. Antarctic program (USAP).

"Much has been asked of this ship over the past five decades," said Capt. Jeff Rasnake, Polar Star's commanding officer. "The completion of this extensive five-year maintenance and recapitalization project is a major milestone in enabling Polar Star's operations into the future."

Polar Star's SLEP has been completed in five phases to maintain its operational capability to complete annual polar deployments. Phase Five, the last phase in its SLEP, began March 30, 2024, focusing on these projects:

Gyro repeater recapitalization to ensure that these critical pieces of navigation equipment are updated to modern standards, enabling safe navigation of the cutter.

Ancillary pumps and motors recapitalization through the replacement of critical main propulsion and auxiliary systems with modern supportable units.

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems refurbishments; multiple zones were refurbished with ventilation trunks, fans, and heaters to improve air circulation and maintain a comfortable living environment for the ship's crew during extended deployments.



The completion of Polar Star's five-year SLEP underscores the importance of the annual ODF mission, the U.S. military support mission for the USAP, which facilitates the transport of personnel, equipment and supplies required to maintain the U.S.'s strategic presence in Antarctica. Having participated in a majority of these missions since they began in the 1950s, the U.S. Coast Guard will continue to support the U.S.'s continued presence on the Antarctic continent as part of the Joint Task Force - Support Forces Antarctica.

Work completed in Phase Five took 175 days and represented an additional $12.7 million investment in the U.S. Polar capability. While at Mare Island, Polar Star received support from both Coast Guard Base Seattle and Base Charleston's Naval Engineering Departments to perform a center section overhaul on one of Polar Star's nine main diesel engines. In parallel with this work, members from the Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore completed vital work on the ship's sanitary systems.

Additional major work completed includes removing the centerline shaft for servicing and inspection, exchanging all three propellers, and renewing both forward and aft main deck surfaces.

"This is a tremendous ship, and it is in better shape today than it was ten years ago," said Rasnake. "That's a testament to the unrelenting efforts of the crew, the enduring support of our mission partners, and the renewed enthusiasm and investment in our nation's polar icebreaking capabilities."

Commissioned in 1976, Polar Star is 399 feet, weighing 13,500 tons with a 34-foot draft. Despite reaching nearly 50 years of age, Polar Star remains the world's most powerful non-nuclear icebreaker with the ability to produce up to 75,000 shaft horsepower.

###

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






U.S. Africa Command and Zambia CIV-MIL Partnership Brings Mobile Laboratories to Southern Africa: A Game Changer for Infectious Disease Outbreak Response

In a significant boost to regional health security, three state-of-the-art mobile biological threat detection laboratories are arriving in Zambia and poised to modernize infectious disease outbreak response across nine southern African nationsZambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, and Tanzania.

By U.S. Africa Command Public Affairs , United States Africa Command LUSAKA, Zambia Sep 26, 2025

In a significant boost to regional health security, three state-of-the-art mobile biological threat detection laboratories are arriving in Zambia and poised to modernize infectious disease outbreak response across nine southern African nationsZambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, and Tanzania.

This vital initiative, a collaborative effort between Zambia's National Public Health Institute under the Ministry of Health, U.S. Africa Command's Office of the Command Surgeon, and the U.S. Embassy in Zambia, is set to dramatically shorten response times and improve the overall capacity to combat potentially devastating outbreaks including, but not limited to viral hemorrhagic fevers such as Ebola, Lassa and Lujo viruses as well as deadly zoonotic infections such as Anthrax, Brucellosis and Avian influenza. The delivery represents a strategic approach to global health security that emphasizes burden sharing and equipping partner nations to quickly and effectively respond to regional health crises with minimal U.S. involvement.

At the end of August, the U.S. and Zambian delegations visited Buchen, Germany, to inspect and receive the mobile labs developed by DST Innovation and Protection. Afterward, the group traveled to the Friedrich-Loffler Institute (FLI) in Greifswald, Germany, a leading institution in animal disease prevention, diagnosis, and control, to explore future collaboration opportunities. Subsequently, the labs were shipped to Zambia and are expected to arrive by the end of September.

"This initiative is about building capacity and is a testament to the importance of multinational partnerships, in this case between the United States, Zambia and Germany. The work we've done over the past several years is a game changer," said Col. Michael Cohen, AFRICOM's Command Surgeon. "By investing in the health security of our partners, we not only help them protect their populations and economies, but we also help stop outbreaks before they hit borders or travel to the United States."

"The ability to rapidly identify and confirm infectious diseases in a safe manner is paramount in preventing widespread outbreaks," explained Permanent Secretary Dr Kennedy Lishimpi, of the Zambian Ministry of Health. "Previously, we were often playing catch-up, reacting to an outbreak instead of proactively managing it. These advanced mobile labs represent a critical shift in our strategy."

The Director General of Zambia's National Public Health Institute, Professor Roma Chilengi, actively engaged in the exchange and highlighted the country's broad commitment to enhancing public health resilience and ensuring the well-being of its citizens.

The partnership further contributes to the safety of U.S. Forces operating and training in Africa, ensuring they remain healthy. At least one of the labs will also be used during multi-nation training exercises, providing for the continued readiness of U.S. and African forces and medical personnel.

Proven and durable, the mobile labs have been extensively used by the European Union since 2014's West Africa Ebola virus outbreak. These self-contained labs are designed for rapid deployment in austere environments, can be fully operational within two hours, are equipped with 20,000 critical items for identifying, treating, and reporting infectious diseases, and are designed for self-sufficiency for up to three weeks. Importantly, this capability significantly reduces the time required to obtain critical diagnostic results - with a turnaround time of just one to two days.

For years, African countries have grappled with the challenges of rapidly identifying and containing infectious diseases. Diagnosis often involves lengthy journeys to centralized labs and long waits for results, sometimes stretching 10 to 12 days. Delays proved detrimental during outbreaks like the 2014 Ebola virus crisis in Liberia, hindering initial containment measures and contributing to the spread of the virus, explained Maj. John Saindon, Force Health Security for the Office of the Command Surgeon, who deployed to the country at the time. The United States, he said, ultimately committed nearly 3,500 military personnel to counter the outbreak.

This multinational initiative not only focuses on human health, but also extends to animals and agriculture, taking on a One Health approach to outbreak prevention and mitigation. Animal outbreaks often pose a dual threat: spreading to humans and triggering crisis.

Zambia, like many nations in the region, is concerned about zoonotic diseases that can spread from animals to humans. For example, the country has experienced outbreaks of anthrax in hippos, a situation that poses a significant threat to individuals who may risk eating infectious hippo meat due to food insecurity, thus contracting anthrax. Also, bordering countries to Zambia have experienced recent Ebola virus outbreaks, most recently Uganda (2024) and Democratic Republic of Congo (2025).

The Command Surgeon's efforts directly support AFRICOM's Strategy, Engagement and Program Directorate and AFRICOM's broader Campaign Plan, specifically addressing national security objectives and crisis response. The two directorates, along with the U.S. Embassy in Zambia, worked with the nation on the collaborative program.

"We are pleased to partner with the Zambia National Public Health Institute on this project towards increasing Zambia's capacity to tackle critical threats to global health security," said Lt. Col. Matthew Yan, Defense Attache for the U.S. Embassy in Zambia. "The delivery of these mobile infectious disease testing laboratories is a testament to the U.S. government's continued support to the Zambian government in the health space. USAFRICOM's work directly supports comprehensive efforts for health security alongside our inter-agency partners, like the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, who have built a robust cooperative relationship with ZNPHI."

In addition to AFRICOM's delivery of the mobile biological threat detection laboratories to southern Africa, the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force Africa's (SETAF-AF) Surgeon Cell and Angolan Military Health Division medics also conducted a military-to-military exchange at Hospital Military Principal, in Luanda, Angola, Sept. 22-25. The medical professionals shared best practices for infection control, epidemiology and trauma surgery techniques, focused on building U.S. and Angolan forces' readiness and enabling Angola to lead regional health security initiatives. Ultimately, the engagement prepares SETAF-AF's medical forces to respond to real-world crises, align with AFRICOM priorities and increase the unit's knowledge about the U.S. Embassy's Disaster Response Initiative.

AFRICOM is one of seven U.S. geographic combatant commands, responsible for military engagement across 53 African countries. Working with partners and allies, the command counters malign actors and transnational threats, responds to crises, strengthens African security forces, and supports U.S. government efforts in Africa to advance U.S. national interests and promote regional security, stability, and prosperity.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Multinational planners inject experimentation and innovation into African Lion 2026

By Maj. Joe Legros September 26, 2025

TUNIS, Tunisia -- Military planners from U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), Forze armate italiane [Italian Armed Forces] and Tunisian Armed Forces convened from Sept. 14-19, 2025, to initiate planning for African Lion 2026 (AL26), scheduled to take place in April across multiple African locations.

The initial planning event marked the beginning of a multinational effort to shape AFRICOM's largest annual joint exercise on the continent. This year's focus centers on the strategic value of training in Africa, particularly in fostering innovation, experimentation and strengthening joint force capacity to tackle modern battlefield challenges.

"African Lion represents a cornerstone of our shared commitment with Tunisia and our partners and allies such as our Italian counterparts," said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Corbett Baxter, exercise director for AL26, SETAF-AF. "It is an opportunity to maintain regional security while building readiness and innovating to make our armed forces better prepared to meet the challenges of tomorrow together."

Artificial intelligence (AI) was a hot topic at the planning event.

Lead planners challenged attendees to explore innovative applications across the broad menu of exercise events. Participants actively worked towards scenarios which incorporate predictive logistics, autonomous ground sensing, forensic analysis and AI-decision support systems. Along with air to ground integration, these efforts aim to validate evolving capabilities while maintaining ethical and operational standards.

Ground sensing is a new feature to AL26, providing an opportunity for U.S. and Tunisian forces to experiment with emerging technological capabilities.

"The Tunisians expressed interest in the employment of ground sensors with their Border Response Unit to detect and respond to threats along the border,'" said U.S. Marine 1st Lt. Justin Bandstra, exercise planner for the 2nd Ground Sensor Platoon, 2nd Intelligence Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group. "This interest grew significantly when we discussed employing ground sensors and scouting tactics in coordination with Tunisia's Brigade Special Forces in a passive and active defensive capacity."

Unattended ground sensors come in multiple varieties such as magnetic, infrared and seismic, depending on the need. They provide a mobile defense in-depth capability that can be emplaced, repositioned or recovered in a short time while also providing long-term lifespans.

In addition, the exercise will feature defensive cyber field training, aeromedical evacuation, air rigging and air drops, a rule of law workshop, as well as joint public affairs and civil affairs integration.

Planning efforts focused on integrating emerging technologies into explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), counter-improvised explosive devices (C-IED), and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) scenarios, reinforcing the exercise's role as a testbed for future capabilities.

A standout feature includes C-130 dirt landing certification  an opportunity rarely available in Europe  offering mission-critical training in austere environments.

"AL26 Tunisia presents the opportunity to land at a real dirt landing strip, offering mission critical training and certifications for our C-130 crews," said U.S. Air Force Capt. Brendan Towlson, airlift planning representative, 37th Airlift Squadron, 86th Airlift Wing, U.S. Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa. "Being based in Europe makes it very difficult to find dirt landing zones, so Africa opens up more possibilities for us."

Tunisian, Italian and American planners also collaborated on scenarios for special operations forces, reflecting a deepening commitment to shared security responsibilities and long-term multinational cooperation.

U.S. partnership with Tunisia extends over 228 years dating back to 1797, when Tunisia was among the first countries to formalize diplomatic relations with the newly forged U.S. In 2015, Tunisia became one of only three countries on the continent of Africa to be recognized as a major non-NATO ally of the U.S.

"Our partnership is based on shared security and stability goals," said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Basim Younis, office of security cooperation chief, U.S. Embassy Tunis. "This trust and mutual respect are reflective of our shared vision to enhance joint readiness."

As planning continues for AL26, SETAF-AF and its partners remain focused on delivering a high-impact exercise that prepares forces for tomorrow's challenges while reinforcing today's alliances.

About SETAF-AF

U.S. Army Southern European Task Force (SETAF-AF) prepares Army forces, executes crisis response, enables strategic competition and strengthens partners to achieve U.S. Army Europe and Africa and U.S. Africa Command campaign objectives.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Statement on protection of journalists in Gaza

Global Affairs Canada

Statement

September 26, 2025 - New York City, New York - Global Affairs Canada

The governments of Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Qatar, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom issued the following statement:

"On September 24, during the High-Level Week of the United Nations General Assembly, France, along with Reporters Without Borders, organized an event dedicated to the situation of journalists in Gaza. At the end of this event, this statement was endorsed by 21 countries:

"We met together with representatives of civil society to discuss the protection of journalists in Gaza and access to information.

"We pay tribute to the journalists killed and injured in Gaza while carrying out their work.

"We reaffirm our commitment to the safety of journalists and media professionals in Gaza and demand that their protection be ensured, in accordance with international humanitarian law. We call on the Israeli authorities to allow journalists who wish to leave the Gaza Strip to do so and to authorize access for independent foreign media to Gaza.

"We recall our commitment to the principles of press freedom and freedom of expression. Safe access to information is essential for journalists and media professionals to be able to do their work. A free and pluralistic press is necessary for the functioning of democracy."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






W.Va., Qatar Military Leaders Elevate Partnerships; NATO interoperability, global burden sharing, aviation platforms discussed

U.S. Central Command

News | Sept. 26, 2025

By Staff Sgt. Zoe Morris Joint Force Headquarters - West Virginia National Guard

West Virginia National Guard (WVNG) Adjutant General James "Jim" Seward traveled to Doha, Qatar, this week to meet with Qatar Armed Forces (QAF) counterparts as part of a series of key leader engagements meant to reinforce and elevate the relationships built between the militaries since their National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program (SPP) pairing was formalized in 2018.

"Qatar has been an anchor of U.S. friendship and presence in the region," Seward said. "West Virginia is honored to champion bilateral and multilateral priority efforts for our two nations as we share a common interest in prevailing against complex regional security challenges and increasing interoperability on a global stage."

While the talks marked the first visit to Qatar for Seward, who was appointed WVNG Adjutant General in February of 2025, he previously hosted Qatar National Service Academy (NSA) military leaders in May at Joint Forces Headquarters and Camp Dawson, West Virginia.

During that visit, the WVNG provided Brig. Gen. Salem Al Hababi, NSA Commander, with a full-spectrum capabilities brief, training area tour and planning sessions for future joint training endeavors. Leadership of the NSA returned the hospitality Sep. 16, 2025, with an NSA tour and capabilities demonstrations.

At the invitation of Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) Commander, Maj. Gen. (Pilot) Mohammed Al Dosari, Seward and staff, including Assistant Adjutant General - Air, Brig. Gen. David "DC" Cochran, visited Al Udeid Air Base for talks on desired 2026 C-130 Hercules and C-17 Globemaster aircraft training engagements in West Virginia. Cochran was given a base tour of QEAF F-15QA Ababil fighter aircraft facilities the following day.

"Al Udeid Air Base is a vital part of our state and national partnership and bilateral military cooperation," said Seward. "The United States has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Qatar here at Al Udeid for many years and continues to stand firm alongside them."

U.S. Airmen with the WVANG's 167th Airlift Wing deployed to Al Udeid also welcomed a visit from Seward and Cochran, who praised the resilience and strength of the small contingent.

"It's rewarding, hearing the dialogue about the work that you've been putting in over here," Cochran said while addressing his Airmen. "The emphasis on mil-to-mil relationships that we've been developing over the last five years, it's showing up big time. You're part of that, every day."

The key leader engagements also included several discussions on future bilateral priorities, including continuing WVNG support in building capabilities enhancing Qatar's NATO interoperability and navigation of NATOs Operational Capabilities Concept (OCC) program.

Earlier this year QAF elements concluded the OCC program's second NATO Evaluation Level., Participating units included a Qatar Emiri Land Force mechanized infantry company and a Qatar Military Police Force company. WVNG leaders also visited the Qatar Multidimensional Warfare Training Center (MDIWTC), a NATO-certified Partnership Training and Education Center (PTEC), and the Qatar Military Police Force headquarters, where a WVNG contingent was also conducting a Subject Matter Expert Exchange focused on MP integration of communication, movement and equipment needed for counterterrorism operations.

"We are grateful for Qatar's continued support for and hosting of U.S. forces, particularly our West Virginia National Guard, both long-term at Al Udeid and for training and planning trips as part of our National Guard State Partnership Program," said Seward.

"While the travel across the globe isn't always smooth, the personal relationships we build and opportunities for cultural, social and economic partnerships make every mile worth it," he said. "Qatari hospitality is second to none."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Opening remarks by High Representative Kaja Kallas at the High-Level Meeting on Women, Peace and Security in the margins of the UN General Assembly

European External Action Service (EEAS)

26.09.2025

New York

Strategic Communications

Excellencies,

Dear friends,

Let me first start by thanking the Kingdom of Morocco for its leadership in advancing the Women, Peace and Security agenda.

And let me also join with you in celebrating the extension of your National Action Plan on UN Security Council Resolution 1325.

You will not find a more enthusiastic champion of your work to advance the Women, Peace and Security agenda than the European Union.

That is why Europe and Morocco can work together as we do. We recently teamed up in Casablanca to discuss how to empower women working in counter-terrorism. We share the same goal of ensuring women are present in security sector reform as decision-makers. And not just as beneficiaries. It was important to bring together police, prosecutors, intelligence, and civil society to better understand what are the obstacles.

I would also like to recognise the leadership of the co-organisers of today's event:

Guatemala through justice reforms to address violence against women;

Ghana for their impressive record in contributing women peacekeepers;

The Philippines for putting women in peace and security in your country's peace-building framework and education system;

And France through the country's feminist foreign policy and advocacy in the Security Council.

The European Union's goal is to ensure that women are fully involved in defence and security policy at every stage. This is part of the security and defence pacts we have with eight countries, for example.

One of the main reasons is because women face a whole set of different challenges in conflict.

In war women have suffered devastating consequences of Russia's war of aggression. They have given birth with the sounds of air raid sirens ringing in their ears. They have been victims of conflict-related sexual violence.

Women's organisations are often the first responders. That is why it is EU policy to strengthen them. And we do this all over the world, last year with almost 28 million euro for women's rights organisations in fragile and conflict settings.

Another reason is because women are leaders not just victims. In Ukraine, for example, women serve in the armed forces, they deliver humanitarian aid, they support displaced families, and they are key voices in civil society. Women must therefore be sitting at the table when peace is discussed. We need women's perspectives to guide transitional justice, reconciliation, and reconstruction. Without this, there will be no lasting peace.

Dear friends,

Let me finish as I started by thanking Morocco for organising this event, for bringing us together around this important topic. And thank you to the co-sponsors and everyone else for the commitment I see around the table.

I think all of us agree that this agenda needs advancing. It needs better integrating in the Security Council debates.

At a period when there are more international conflicts ongoing since the Second World War, we must not let the work on women in peace and security fall through the cracks.

On the contrary. Our focus on advancing the role of women in peace and security should be laser sharp.

And let me add one personal note. Whenever I am in these kind of events, what I see around the table are women discussing women's issues.

The problem is, when we talk about the victims, the majority, the huge majority, and I've been to a lot of events here, and I can tell it's not majority women.

When we talk about peace and security, or women in conflicts, then it is women who are discussing this whether it's in the parliament, whether it's everywhere else. But these are sisters, wives, daughters of men.

So as long as the men don't take this topic seriously enough, we don't see change.

Like our colleague from Mali said, the wars are started by men.

Definitely we need more women in politics, but we also need more men to engage in the worries that women have.

Thank you.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Prime Minister Orpo highlights need for drone wall and calls for solidarity in the interest of security in meeting with Defence Commissioner Kubilius

Finnish Government

Government Communications Department

26.9.2025

Press release



Prime Minister Petteri Orpo met for discussions with European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius in Helsinki on Friday 26 September. Prime Minister Orpo and Defence Commissioner Kubilius discussed the plans to develop a drone wall and efforts to strengthen the EU's common defence more broadly.

"I highlighted Finland's views on our priorities for developing the drone wall. We were both in agreement that the drone wall should be built soon," said Prime Minister Orpo.

"We are moving at a good pace - the planning is already underway, and the Defence Commissioner's visit to Finland sends a concrete message that our vision and expertise are needed. The EU heads of state and government will continue their discussions next week at the informal European Council, and I intend to keep this topic high on the agenda there, too," Prime Minister Orpo said.

In his talks with Defence Commissioner Kubilius, Prime Minister Orpo stressed the need for solidarity in the interest of security.

"By this I mean that we in Finland, together with the Baltic States and Poland, are defending all of Europe from here at its eastern border. It is here that we most need solidarity in the interest of security. I believe this is also understood elsewhere in Europe," said Prime Minister Orpo.

In her annual State of the Union Address on 10 September, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen highlighted the need to set up a drone wall at the Union's eastern border as part of the Eastern Flank Watch initiative.

While in Helsinki, Commissioner Andrius Kubilius also met with Minister of Defence Antti Hakkanen.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Launch of the Emergency Coalition for the Financial Sustainability of the Palestinian Authority

Government of Norway

Press release | Date: 26/09/2025

'Norway is increasing its support to Palestine through an international crisis package. We are doing this to support the Palestinian government, which is in a critical financial situation. A solution to the conflict requires strong, functioning Palestinian institutions. During today's meeting of the International Donor Group for Palestine (AHLC), we emphasized that we do not simply support a state on paper - we support a functioning state for the Palestinian people, said Minister of Foreign Affairs,' Espen Barth Eide.

Together with Saudi Arabia, Spain and France, Norway has through the Emergency Coalition for the Financial Sustainability of the Palestinian Authority mobilized several other countries to increase their support to the Palestinian government. Norway's contribution to the crisis package is NOK 40 million (approximately USD 4 million). This is in addition to NOK 200 million (approximately 20 million) in budget support to the Palestinian government that was transferred earlier this year.

Minister Eide chaired today's meeting of the International Donor Group for Palestine (AHLC). The meeting took place at the UN in New York. Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa participated digitally from Ramallah. In addition, ministers from several of the largest donor countries participated, including the EU High Representative Kaja Kallas. The topic of the meeting was how the international community can support the Palestinian government.

'Today's meeting of the AHLC donor group expressed strong support for the two-state solution. There was broad agreement on the need to protect the state institutions that Palestine has built up over decades and to which Norway and other donors have contributed politically and financially,' said Mr Eide.

For four months, Israel has withheld tax revenues that it collects on behalf of the Palestinian government. These revenues constitute more than sixty percent of the revenues that the government needs to pay salaries to public employees. The revenues are necessary to run hospitals, schools, the judiciary and the police.

'If the institutions and the entire social structure that have been built up over thirty years collapse, they will be very demanding and expensive to rebuild. It will also lead to even more people losing both basic services and hope for the future. It will be a serious step backwards for Palestine,' said Mr Eide.

Belgium, Denmark, France, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom are also contributing to the crisis package. Norway is in contact with several other countries to mobilize additional support.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Speech by Maria Malmer Stenergard at UNGA80

Government Offices of Sweden

Speech by Maria Malmer Stenergard

Published 26 September 2025

Speech by Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard at the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly. 25 September 2025, New York.

Check against delivery.

Madam/Mister President, Your Excellencies,

Eighty years ago, nations came together. It was a bold act of faith. Faith in multilateralism, the rule of law and the shared responsibility to save future generations from the devastation of war.

But as we gather here, the world and our organisation, the United Nations, are facing the risk of failing.

Leaders of several nations are choosing conflict over cooperation. Around the world, we are witnessing grave violations of the rules and principles that we have all agreed to.

For too many, peace is fragile, justice abstract and dignity denied. There is so much wasted potential.

The UN was founded to curb aggression and the arbitrary exercise of power by the strong against the weak. That vision remains as valid today as it was then.

Madam/Mister President,

It is not only the UN that turns 80 this year. It happens to be 80 years since Astrid Lindgren published her first book about the strongest girl in the world: Pippi Longstocking, a strong-willed girl who believed everything was possible.

Pippi has inspired generations of children, especially girls, to believe that strength and independence are not confined by expectation or tradition.

"I have never tried that before, so I should definitely be able to do it." Although not a direct quote, it captures the spirit of Pippi.

Let's use the coincidence of anniversaries as a reminder that even in the face of unprecedented challenges, we must approach the impossible with boldness and resolve.

Madam/Mister President,

Sweden is a committed defender of international humanitarian law - principles that safeguard human dignity even in the darkest of times, and they must be upheld without exception.

We cannot be deterred by a few states' disregard for our Charter. This is our time to act, and to defend these fundamental rules and principles, for us and for future generations.

We need an efficient UN that defends the right of every state, big or small, to uphold its sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence.

We need a strong UN that helps Member States deliver on their commitments: to respect, protect and promote the human rights of every individual.

We need a focused UN. The UN must remain true to its core: securing peace, advancing human rights, driving sustainable development and providing humanitarian relief.

Madam/Mister President,

As a steadfast partner and major donor to the United Nations, Sweden remains committed to addressing global development challenges and to humanitarian efforts to provide protection and life-saving assistance.

Sweden is also a strong supporter of UN peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts. We actively take part in the Peacebuilding Commission, we chair the Liberia Configuration and we have contributed substantially to the Peacebuilding Fund since its creation.

The Security Council must evolve to better reflect today's global realities. Sweden supports a balanced expansion of the Security Council, by adding permanent and non-permanent seats, including African countries.

We need to act together based on our shared principles and common goals. These include our commitments under the Pact for the Future adopted last year.

Looking ahead, we will seek a candidate for the next UN Secretary-General who leads the way and builds on important reform initiatives.

And let me be clear: Sweden's choice is always merit-based. But isn't it strange that for 80 years, no woman has been elected - especially if the selection is based on merit?

Madam/Mister President,

In a world in which armed conflicts are multiplying, we must not allow injustice to go unpunished. Accountability is critical to uphold our international rules-based order.

The integrity, independence and impartiality of our international legal system, including the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, must be protected.

When I think of accountability, I think of little Angelina.

You have probably seen the picture of her, celebrating her birthday next to a giant teddy bear. She never got to celebrate her third birthday. She was born during Russia's war, and she died from a Russian missile.

Little Angelina and her mother were killed in one of Russia's deadliest attacks on Ukraine in Kyiv, in August this year. The only one saved from the rubble was the giant teddy bear.

Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine is a blatant violation of the very foundation of this organisation. A permanent member of the Security Council has brutally invaded another UN Member State. This cannot be tolerated.

Holding Russia accountable is essential for all of us  to deter further aggression and to preserve the global order.

From the very outset, Ukraine has sought a just and lasting peace, based on international law including the UN Charter. Sweden remains unwavering in its support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Madam/Mister President,

On October 7, 2023, Hamas carried out the worst mass murder of Jews since the Holocaust. Men, women and children were brutally murdered and kidnapped by Hamas terrorists.

When the music faded at the Nova Festival, so did the lives of young, peace-loving people. They were raped, killed and taken hostage. It was truly a painful reminder of how dark the world can be.

The hostages are being held in appalling conditions by Hamas. More pressure must be put on Hamas to immediately release them, and Hamas must never have a place in the future governance of Palestine.

The war in Gaza has led to suffering beyond imagination. We are reminded daily of the painful desperation inside Gaza. The offensive against Gaza City is worsening an already catastrophic situation. Parts of Gaza are now officially in the grips of famine. This cannot go on.

Israel has a right to defend itself. But that right must be exercised in accordance with international law, and the way the Israeli Government is waging the war is unacceptable. The UN and other humanitarian actors must be allowed to work safely in all parts of Gaza.

Humanitarian space must be protected, and aid should never be politicised. Increased pressure on the Israeli Government to change its course and meet its obligations according to international law is urgently needed.

Sweden welcomes international efforts for a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It is in the interest of all states to not only bring this war to an end, but to ensure a sustainable two-state solution. For a better future for all, both Israelis and Palestinians.

Madam/Mister President,

The situation in Sudan is deeply alarming - it is the largest humanitarian crisis in the world, and not given enough attention. Full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access, an immediate ceasefire and negotiations ensuring a return to civilian rule are urgently required.

Conflicts all over the world are wasting human potential. Every conflict tears families apart, disrupts education and silences voices.

The cost is immeasurable.

Madam/Mister President,

Authoritarian regimes challenge democracy, rule of law and gender equality. Sadly, resistance against women's and girls' rights is on the rise.

Sweden is honoured to serve as President of the UN Women Executive Board this year.

Gender equality is too often framed as a women's issue, which is a profound misunderstanding. Equality is not only a value we should aspire to, it is a driver of progress.

Strengthening women and girls is not only the right thing to do, but also the smart thing to do.

Because we know that where women prosper, societies prosper. Equal access to education, work and resources transforms communities.

Economically empowered women invest more in their families, leading to better health, education and overall quality of life for future generations.

Societies that include women in peacebuilding are more likely to enjoy sustainable peace.

We must stand firm against those who seek to roll back freedoms. We must push back the pushback.

Everyone has the right to live safely and freely, regardless of gender, religion or beliefs, skin colour, or whom they love. Sweden will always defend the equal rights and dignity of every human being.

Madam/Mister President,

The crises of our time - armed conflicts, climate change, extreme poverty - demand urgent collective action.

But public aid alone is not enough. To achieve our goals, we need to mobilise finance from every source, not least private capital. We must use synergies between development cooperation and trade to meet growing needs and lay the foundation for economic growth and entrepreneurship.

The green and digital transition brings great opportunities in terms of jobs, growth and solutions to mitigate climate change and achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Emerging technologies, such as AI, hold immense promise in addressing some of our most pressing common challenges. The global community must support innovation, while addressing risks.

Madam/Mister President,

"The UN was not created to take mankind to heaven, but to save humanity from hell." These words of the second Secretary-General of the United Nations, Dag Hammarskjold, remain just as valid today.

These are difficult times. But times have been difficult before. Let us not surrender to despair. Most nations continue to stand by the fundamental principles agreed upon 80 years ago.

We should not let this anniversary become a celebration of the past alone. Let's see this as a call to action. Let's embrace the spirit of Pippi Longstocking and carry on with fearlessness and conviction.

Together we must act, for ourselves and for future generations. Let them inherit a better, freer and fairer world than the one we found.

For my son Christian and my daughter Kajsa. For all our sons and daughters who deserve to grow up in a world where their paths are not limited by their gender, tradition or violence.

We must not let potential go to waste. We must not let them down.

Thank you.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Prime Minister's Office Announcement

Israel - Prime Minister's Office

Type: Media Statements

Government: The 37th Government

Publish Date: 26.09.2025

The Prime Minister's Office, today:

In an unprecedented action, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a live broadcast from the UN building in New York, has announced that the IDF took control of the telephones of Gaza residents and Hamas members, and that his speech is now being broadcast live via the telephones.

The Prime Minister has appealed to the residents of Gaza and made it clear that the war could end immediately upon the return of the hostages, the disarming of Hamas and the demilitarization of the Strip.

Prime Minister Netanyahu stressed that whoever does so will live while those who do not will be hunted.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Signing of a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of an artillery ammunition production facility in Latvia

Republic of Latvia - Ministry of Defence

09/26/2025 - 11:46

Capabilities

Information prepared by Public relations section of the Ministry of Economics

On Thursday, September 25, a memorandum was signed in Hamburg, Germany, on the construction of an artillery ammunition factory in Latvia. The memorandum was signed by Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina, Minister of Economics Viktors Valainis, Ingrida Kirse, member of the board of State Defence Corporation LLC, and the investor, Rheinmetall AG, a leading German defence industry company.

A joint venture is planned to be established for the construction of the production facility. The project is expected to attract more than EUR 200 million in investments, and exports from the facility could exceed EUR 3 billion over ten years. Construction of the production facility is scheduled to begin in spring 2026, with production starting a year later. On Tuesday, September 23, the project was also supported by the government, which reviewed the informative report "On the Establishment of an Artillery Production Facility in Latvia."

"Latvia consistently invests in its defence and partnerships with allies. Cooperation with Rheinmetall provides an opportunity to attract hundreds of millions of euros in investments, create new jobs, and give Latvian companies access to state-of-the-art technologies. This strengthens not only our economy, but also national security and NATO's collective defense. I am convinced that investments in our country's defence are also investments in the security and future of our citizens," says Evika Silina, Prime Minister of the Republic of Latvia.

"This agreement confirms that Latvia is purposefully developing the defence industry as an important part of the national economy. We are talking about new investment volumes, high added value jobs and technologies that will benefit our entire economy. Latvian companies will have the opportunity to participate in international supply chains and be part of the modern European defence ecosystem," emphasizes Minister of Economics Viktors Valainis.

"The establishment of a production facility in Latvia is an internationally significant project entrusted to the State Defence Corporation. The implementation of this project will provide Latvia with a unique opportunity to acquire knowledge and gain experience in ammunition production from our partners, companies with many years of experience in the field of military production, and will also promote technology transfer," said Minister of Defence Andris Spruds.

Ingrida Kirse, member of the board of the State Defence Corporation LLC: "We take the utmost responsibility for the task entrusted to us - to jointly build an artillery ammunition production facility in Latvia. I am convinced that all the prerequisites are in place, as the project combines several essential components. Namely, the State Defense Corporation's task of ensuring the needs of the National Armed Forces and the goal of developing Latvia's defence industry by creating production capacity, as well as Rheinmetall's many years of experience in the industry and accumulated know-how, as well as its high standards and international recognition. This synergy is the basis for a strong partnership to develop the industry and strengthen the security of Latvia and the region."

The planned project is a logical continuation of the work of the State Defence Corporation. The corporation has just begun to implement its first major defense industry project - ROLLO, or the creation of a modular powder charge assembly plant for artillery ammunition.

The artillery ammunition production plant project will strengthen the industrial base and innovation capabilities. It will also bring economic benefits in the form of new jobs and broader export opportunities. It will also promote Latvia's closer integration into the EU defence industry.

The memorandum of understanding was signed at a time when a large Latvian business delegation led by Prime Minister E. Silina and Minister of Economics Viktors Valainis is visiting Germany. More than 180 representatives of companies and organizations from various sectors are participating in the trade mission in Hamburg and Rostock.

This visit confirms that the economic and security ties between Latvia and Germany are becoming increasingly closer, bringing together science, business and the military industry in a single cooperation platform.

The trade mission will continue in Rostock on September 25 and 26, where the delegation will meet with companies from various sectors and participate in the Latvian-German Business Day, which will bring together more than 250 participants and focus on the development of the energy, digitalization, infrastructure, and defence industry development.

This spring, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the Defence Industry and Innovation Support Strategy for 2025-2036. Within the framework of this strategy, the Ministry of Economics (EM), the Ministry of Defence, State Defence Corporation LLC and the Latvian Investment and Development Agency have begun close cooperation in the development of defence industry projects. The EM has already allocated more than EUR 200 million in its programs to support the defence industry - for business incubation, research and development, product introduction into production, and large investment projects.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Mr. Massad Boulos, Senior Advisor for Africa to the President of the United States, reaffirmed, on Friday, Washington's support for Morocco's sovereignty over its Sahara and the Moroccan Autonomy Plan as "the only basis for a just and lasting resolution" to the regional conflict.

Morocco Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Friday 26 September 2025

In a message published on the X platform following a meeting in New York with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Mr. Nasser Bourita, the American Advisor said that he discussed during the meeting the efforts to accelerate a political process for a definitive resolution to the artificial conflict over the Moroccan Sahara.

Mr. Boulos also pointed out that they also discussed the means of strengthening the "strategic partnership" and "alliance" between Rabat and Washington, as U.S. firms "pursue opportunities throughout all of Morocco," including the Sahara.

The Senior Advisor to President Trump also welcomed the strong partnership between the Kingdom of Morocco and the United States of America.

In the wake of the United States' recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over its Sahara, the U.S. government announced this week that it is encouraging American investment in the Kingdom's Southern Provinces.

"The United States has recognized Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara, and as part of the Trump administration's global initiatives to promote economic and commercial diplomacy, we are pleased to announce that we will encourage American companies wishing to invest in this region of Morocco," U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, Christopher Landau, said.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






NATO Secretary General visits New York during UNGA, addresses West Point cadets

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

24 Sep. 2025 - 25 Sep. 2025

Last updated: 26 Sep. 2025

On Wednesday (24 September), NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte travelled to New York as the United Nations hosted its 80th General Assembly, engaging with political leaders and senior officials.

During the two-day visit, Mr Rutte attended a Transatlantic Dinner hosted by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand, Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Takeshi Iwaya, the President of the UN General Assembly Annalena Baerbock, and US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz.

The Secretary General wrapped up his visit to the US with an address to cadets at the United States Military Academy West Point on Thursday (25 September 2025). He emphasised the value of NATO and the transatlantic bond that underpins it, highlighting how the Alliance continues to adapt to face evolving security challenges. He commended the cadets for their service and encouraged them as they hone their skills as future leaders, saying "you are the bright promise of a new generation."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






The first dedicated dialogue on defence industrial cooperation and capabilities launched between NATO and the Republic of Korea

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

26 Sep. 2025

On Friday (26 September 2025), NATO Assistant Secretary General for Defence Industry, Innovation and Armaments, Ms Tarja Jaakkola, opened the first staff-to-staff dialogue on defence industrial cooperation and capabilities between NATO and the Republic of Korea. Ms Jaakkola and representatives of the Defence Acquisition Program Administration of the Republic of Korea discussed recent developments in the areas of defence industrial production and defence capabilities.

"While continuing to modernise NATO's deterrence and defence, and expanding our defence industrial capacity, we aim to continue to enhance our partnership with the Republic of Korea, one of our valued Indo-Pacific partners. We seek to strengthen mutually beneficial partnerships in the areas of Defence Industrial Cooperation and Capabilities," said Ms Jaakkola.

The dialogue follows the statement by the NATO Secretary General and the four Indo-Pacific partners, Australia, Japan, the Republic of Korea and New Zealand, during the NATO Summit in The Hague. It set out how NATO and its Indo-Pacific partners will continue to learn from one another on key topics, including the security of supply chains, development, production and procurement processes.

During the dialogue, NATO staff and representatives from Republic of Korea explored potential collaboration on projects with interested Allies and partners, including in the space and land domains, munitions, and Research and Development.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






UN expert calls on Mali to remain in the International Criminal Court

Press releases

Special Procedures

26 September 2025

GENEVA --A UN expert today urged Mali to reconsider its plan to withdraw from the Rome Statute, the founding treaty of the International Criminal Court (ICC), warning of serious consequences.

"Withdrawing from the ICC would be a betrayal of victims of gross human rights violations and abuses as well as serious violations of international humanitarian law committed in Mali," said Eduardo Gonzalez, the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Mali.

Gonzalez warned that such a move would embolden those who have committed and continue to commit atrocities, leading them to believe that they have impunity. In his report to the Human Rights Council in March 2025, the expert noted that according to Malian officials, security conditions hindered investigations and prosecutions, or considered them inconvenient and harmful to the morale of the troops. The expert concluded that Mali's inability or unwillingness to conduct genuine investigations and prosecutions was precisely why the ICC remained crucial in Mali. He recommended that the ICC continue its investigation into serious crimes committed in Mali since 2012.

In a joint statement dated 22 September 2025 and signed by Mali's Transitional President, General Assimi Goita, on behalf of the three members of the Confederation of Sahel States, Mali announced its immediate withdrawal from the Rome Statute of the ICC. The statement accused the ICC of being "an example of selective justice", adding that "the ICC has proven itself incapable of handling and prosecuting proven war crimes, crimes against humanity, crimes of genocide, and crimes of aggression".

The expert noted that while the 22 September statement refers to an immediate withdrawal, it does not have any legal effect and does not protect those who have committed atrocities in Mali.

Mali signed the Rome Statute on 17 July 1998 and ratified it on 16 August 2000. On 18 July 2012, Malian authorities referred the situation in Mali to the ICC with respect to alleged crimes committed "since the month of January 2012" with no end date specified.

According to article 127 of the Rome Statute, a State's withdrawal from the Rome Statute only takes effect one year after the official notification to the UN Secretary-General. The ICC retains jurisdiction regarding alleged crimes that occurred in the territory of a State, or were committed by its nationals while it was a Party to the Rome Statute. As a consequence, the ICC may exercise its jurisdiction regarding crimes that occurred on the territory of Mali, or were committed by nationals of Mali, even after the country's withdrawal becomes effective as long as the investigation or prosecution relate to the crimes committed during the time Mali was a State Party. Mali also has a duty to cooperate with the Court for the duration of this investigation and any subsequent proceedings.

To date, the ICC has convicted two individuals regarding the situation in Mali. Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi was convicted in 2016 of a war crime consisting in intentionally directing attacks against religious and historic buildings in Timbuktu in June and July 2012, and for which he was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment. Al Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz was convicted in 2024 for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Timbuktu, northern Mali, between 2 April 2012 and 29 January 2013, and for which he was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment. At that time, the area was controlled by the violent extremist groups Ansar Dine and Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb. The ICC awarded reparations to victims in both cases. In the Al Mahdi case, the Trust Fund for Victims of the ICC delivered reparations to individuals and to the city of Timbuktu as a collective beneficiary. However, in the Al Hassan case, if Mali were to withdraw from the Court, the reparations process would not begin, with dire consequences for the victims.

On 21 June 2024, the ICC made public an arrest warrant against Iyad Ag Ghaly for war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in northern Mali between January 2012 and January 2013, while he was the leader of Ansar Dine. The arrest warrant was initially issued under seal on 18 July 2017. In a statement dated 25 March 2019, the ICC Prosecutor at the time stressed that her office remained seized of the situation in Mali, and would continue to closely follow the events in central Mali and in other parts of the country.

"Mali's intended withdrawal from the ICC would signal the authorities' unwillingness to fight impunity and ensure justice. It would be a betrayal of Malian victims, " Gonzalez said.

Eduardo Gonzalez, Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Mali. 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






UN Human Rights Office updates database of businesses involved in Israeli settlements in occupied West Bank

Press releases

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

26 September 2025

GENEVA -- The UN Human Rights Office today issued an update to its database of businesses involved in certain activities in illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, listing a total of 158 business enterprises from 11 countries.

The report was mandated by the UN Human Rights Council, and today's release updates the database that was first issued in 2020, then updated in 2023. It identifies businesses involved in specific activities listed by the Council resolution, including: supplying equipment and materials that facilitate the construction and maintenance of illegal settlements, demolition of houses and property of Palestinians, surveillance activities, the use of natural resources for business purposes, and the pollution and dumping of waste in Palestinian villages.

The UN Human Rights Office had received submissions concerning 596 businesses following a public call for input in 2024. With the resources made available, the Office reviewed 215 of these enterprises for this update, including all 97 that were listed in its 2023 update.

A total of 68 new companies were added to the list published in 2023, while seven of those listed in 2023 were removed as they were no longer involved in any of the activities concerned, taking the total number to 158 businesses in the current update.

The companies covered by the 2025 update focus primarily on business activities related to construction, real estate, mining and quarrying. The Office continues to review the allegations concerning the businesses whose assessment could not be completed in time for the present report.

All screened businesses were informed that the Office had received allegations about their potential involvement, and all of them were invited to provide relevant information. The Office applied an established, globally applicable methodology based on the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights to assess the responses and information received. Based on this methodology, the Office found reasonable grounds to conclude that 158 of the 215 companies reviewed were involved in listed activities.

The report calls on companies to "take appropriate action to address the adverse human rights impacts" of their activities. "Where business enterprises identify that they have caused or contributed to adverse human rights impacts, they should provide for or cooperate in remediation through appropriate processes," the report says.

"This report underscores the due diligence responsibility of businesses working in contexts of conflict to ensure their activities do not contribute to human rights abuses," UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk said. "The methodology we used to produce this report is also an important tool to assess adverse impacts of business activities on human rights in other parts of the world," he added.

The report also highlights the role of the State to "act with diligence to ensure that business enterprises operating in conflict-affected areas are not involved in or otherwise materially contributing to serious human rights violations or abuses".

Most of the concerned companies listed in the latest update are based in Israel, while others are based in Canada, China, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

"States must take appropriate steps to ensure, through judicial, administrative, legislative or other appropriate means, that when business-related human rights abuses occur within their territory and/or subject to their jurisdiction, those affected have access to effective remedies, consistent with international law," it adds.

The full list of companies, both those involved in the particular settlement-related activities concerned and those previously listed entities that have ceased their involvement in such activities, can be found annexed to the report.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






South Sudan: Turk alarmed by deteriorating human rights situation amid rising violence and political tensions

Press releases

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

26 September 2025

GENEVA -- UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk on Friday expressed alarm at the fast-deteriorating human rights situation in South Sudan, following credible reports that almost 2,000 civilians have been killed this year alone as political tensions and hostilities have escalated.

At least 1,854 were killed, 1,693 injured, 423 abducted and 169 subjected to sexual violence in conflict from January to September, according to information documented by the UN Human Rights Office. This represents a 59 per cent increase in the total number of victims documented compared to the same period last year. The actual figures are likely higher, as security constraints and heightened access restrictions in conflict-affected areas have hindered full verification of incidents of violence.

The first quarter of the year recorded the highest number of civilian victims in any three-month period since 2020, as documented by the Human Rights Division of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). Notably, the second quarter saw a sharp escalation in victims attributed to conventional parties to the armed conflict and other armed groups, rising from 144 to 438 compared to the same period last year.

"With fears of a collapse of the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement and a return to widespread violence intensifying, I deeply worry for the plight of civilians in South Sudan," said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk.

"I urge the parties to the Revitalized Peace Agreement and the international community, including regional bodies, to do everything in their power to pull South Sudan from the brink; to ensure the hard-won agreement holds and is fully implemented."

Civilian casualties are increasing as armed clashes between the parties to the armed conflict intensify, compounded by ongoing extrajudicial killings. The South Sudanese army has carried out military operations, including indiscriminate airstrikes in populated areas in the Upper Nile, Jonglei, Unity, Central Equatoria and Warrap states since March, resulting in civilian casualties, the displacement of the civilian population, and the destruction of medical facilities, schools, and homes.

Communal violence has also intensified, exacting a deadly toll on civilians with a 33 per cent year-on-year increase, particularly due to a rise in intra-communal attacks and counterattacks between armed elements from ethnic Dinka sub-clans in Warrap State; as well as retaliatory violence between ethnic Murle armed elements from the Greater Pibor Administrative Area and Dinka Bor and Lou Nuer armed elements from greater Jonglei State.

The UN Human Rights Office has also documented continued extrajudicial killings by the security forces. At least 45 individuals were killed in circumstances amounting to arbitrary deprivation of life, among them two boys. Most of the killings took place in Warrap State and Lakes State, in a context marked by inter-communal violence, suggesting that the South Sudanese authorities are using extrajudicial killing in their own response to inter-communal violence.

"Men, women and children have been killed, injured and displaced, and homes, schools, health centres and other infrastructure destroyed, with devastating consequences on civilians. This is unconscionable and must stop," said Turk.

"I implore the South Sudanese military and all other armed actors to ensure protection of civilians and to uphold all their obligations under international humanitarian law."

On 22 September, court proceedings involving First Vice President Riek Machar and other senior Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition members commenced in the capital Juba. They face charges of murder, treason, crimes against humanity and other offences related to the attack on a South Sudan People's Defence Force base in the northeastern town of Nasir in March this year.

"It is imperative that the ongoing judicial proceedings against First Vice President Riek Machar and his co-accused fully comply with international human rights standards," said the UN Human Rights Chief, urging the Government of South Sudan to ensure that the due process and fair trial rights of all the defendants are respected, and that the judiciary can operate free from political interference.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Afghans Fear Losing 'Last Hope' As Taliban Shuts Down Internet

By RFE/RL's Radio Azadi September 26, 2025

Maryam has worked as an online interpreter since the Taliban banned women from most jobs in Afghanistan.

But her livelihood is under threat after the hard-line Islamist group last week shut down access to fiber-optic Internet in large swaths of the country.

The move has left government offices, homes, and private businesses in around half of Afghanistan -- including major cities -- without WiFi access.

"We have faced many problems due to the Internet shutdown," Maryam, who lives in the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif, told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi, using a pseudonym for fear of retribution. "I'm the breadwinner of my family."

The Taliban said the Internet shutdowns that started on September 15 are intended to prevent "immorality," with the group previously voicing concern over pornography and online intimacy between men and women.

But critics said the decision is part of a wider crackdown on individual freedoms and the free flow of information. Since seizing power in 2021, the Taliban has severely restricted the rights of Afghans, especially women, and violently cracked down on dissent.

Elizabeth Stickney, a U.S. State Department spokesperson, told Radio Azadi that the Taliban's restrictions on fiber-optic Internet were "very concerning," saying it will negatively affect the lives of ordinary Afghans and the country's economy.

The move comes as the Taliban has started to enforce an October 2024 ban on depictions of living things -- people and animals. The ban includes the "production and watching of videos and photos of living things on computers and mobile phones."

There are fears that the broadband blackouts could further cut off Afghanistan, which has become an international pariah under Taliban rule, from the rest of the world.

The Internet shutdowns have not yet affected Kabul, the Afghan capital, and it is unclear if the restrictions will be enforced nationwide. Mobile Internet is still functioning in most areas, although it is more expensive and less reliable.

A Lifeline For Women

The Internet has been a lifeline for Afghan women, many of whom lost their right to work and study following a Taliban ban in 2022.

Among them is Soraya, who has worked remotely from Kabul for a foreign organization.

"As an Afghan woman, life is already very difficult for us," she told Radio Azadi, using a pseudonym. "The only way we can earn an income and support ourselves and our families under these conditions is through online work."

But the Internet shutdowns, Soraya said, have made "life more difficult for us, and I'm afraid that I will lose this last hope and my job."

Afghan women and teenage girls have turned to virtual learning amid the Taliban's ban on education.

Sporadic power and Internet outages were already undercutting the reach of online schools and universities. But not being able to access the Internet ends the chance to study for some.

"After I was cut off from school, WiFi Internet was a way for me to find myself again," said Nazifa, who was in the ninth grade when she was banned from studying.

"But when the WiFi was disconnected, I lost all hope," she added, also using a pseudonym. "I had passed the exams and worked very hard."

No Religious Basis

The Taliban has used Islamic Shari'a law to justify its extremist policies. But Islamic scholars say there is no religious grounds for the group's decision to shut down the Internet.

Fazl al-Hadi Wazin, a member of the Qatar-based International Union of Muslim Scholars, said the Taliban can restrict access to websites with pornographic and violent content. But completely cutting off the Internet is not the solution, he said.

"Cutting and banning the Internet has no religious basis whatsoever," Wazin, an Afghan scholar, told Radio Azadi. "If something is likely to be misused, this does not mean that it should be banned."

Shutting down the Internet, Wazin said, means "depriving the nation of a very important tool that is essential for progress and advancement."

The broadband blackouts are likely to exacerbate the economic strife in Afghanistan, where poverty is rising, hunger is widespread, and unemployment is high.

Mohammad, a resident of the southern city of Kandahar, owns a private company. Since the Internet shutdown, he has been unable to communicate with customers and suppliers.

"Currently our work has completely stopped," he told Radio Azadi. "In the 21st century, the world is connected by the Internet, and the lack of Internet increases our [economic] problems."

Meanwhile, media watchdogs have condemned the Internet ban as an attempt to stop the free flow of information.

"Banning broadband Internet is an unprecedented escalation of censorship that will undermine journalists' work and the public's right to information," said Beh Lih Yi, the Asia program coordinator for the Committee to Protect Journalists, a global press freedom watchdog.

"The Taliban should end their cycle of repression and unconditionally restore Internet access, which is an essential tool for news gathering."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-taliban- internet-women/33538742.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






EU Eyes 'Drone Wall' Amid Concerns Over Russian Airspace Violations

By Merhat Sharipzhan September 26, 2025

Several European Union defense ministers are urgently holding talks on a "drone wall" after Russian drones allegedly violated Polish and Romanian airspace this month, and unauthorized drone incursions forced intermittent shutdowns at Danish and Norwegian airports.

The September 26 video conference -- convened by EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius and involving several states on NATO's eastern flank, as well as Denmark and Ukraine -- aims to coordinate sensors, jammers and rapid-response rules so that small, cheap unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can be detected and neutralized before they threaten European civil aviation or critical bases.

The ministers are expected to look at the infrastructure and funding needed for a coordinated and effective defense system against drones after a number of high-profile incidents involving UAVs in recent weeks.

On September 9-10, about 20 Russian drones reportedly crossed into Polish airspace during strikes on Ukraine, prompting airport closures and NATO aircraft scrambles.

Days later, Romania reported a similar incursion near the Danube delta.

On September 22, drones forced hours-long closures at Copenhagen Airport and also briefly shut Oslo's main aviation hub. More sightings later disrupted airports in the Danish cities of Aalborg and Billund and appeared near military sites.

Eyewitnesses described UAVs with green blinking lights and authorities called the activity "hybrid" in nature, saying it appeared coordinated, though they have not officially named a perpetrator.

Western officials, however, believe Moscow is behind the pattern, describing it as a form of "gray-zone" or hybrid warfare. By deploying cheap drones to harass airports and airbases, Russia can impose costly defensive responses, unsettle civilians, and probe defense vulnerabilities -- all without triggering open conflict.

Danish and regional media reported that a Russian Ropucha-class landing ship, the Aleksandr Shabalin, was filmed by helicopter loitering roughly 12 kilometers off the Danish island of Langeland during the wave of Scandinavian drone sightings. The ship reportedly had its transponder off.

Officials have not publicly tied the vessel to the incursions, but the timing and proximity have sharpened suspicion that some launches could be sea-based.

Russia has denied any involvement.

Experts say that Europe's civil-military airspace is a vulnerable underbelly.

Consumer-grade or custom UAVs can be flown from land or sea just outside protected zones, briefly dipping into airport approach corridors or skimming over bases to create outsized disruption: diversions, delays, and security scares, even without explosives.

With reporting by The Guardian, AP, Reuters, ABC, Newsweek, Interfax, Ekstra Bladet, and Euronews

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/drone-wall-uav-denmark-norway-poland- romania-russia-ukraine-hybrid-war/33541567.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 the ministerial meeting of the regional quartet on Afghanistan

26 September 2025 01:51

1576-26-09-2025

On September 25, on the sidelines of the high-level week of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York, the regional quartet - comprising Russia, China, Iran, and Pakistan -held its fourth meeting to address Afghan affairs. The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

The participants reviewed the current situation in Afghanistan and underscored their aspiration for the country to emerge as an independent, peaceful state - free from terrorism, war, and drugs. They emphasised the pressing need for enhanced constructive and pragmatic engagement by the international community with Kabul to foster the consolidation of Afghan statehood and reinforce regional and global stability.

A joint statement was adopted following the quadrilateral meeting.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Rearmament without strengthening the welfare state is the wrong path

Republic of Slovenia - Government Communication Office

26. 9. 2025

Slovenia has been a NATO member for more than two decades, yet debates about defense spending and the role of the Alliance remain lively. On the occasion of Civil Defense Day, the guest of the GOVSI podcast was Dr. Jelena Juvan, Head of the Defense Studies Department at the Faculty of Social Sciences.



She emphasized that NATO is more than just the military, since membership benefits the entire country: "In NATO, the whole state is involved, and membership is not only beneficial for the armed forces, but for all of us," she noted. According to her, security is the fundamental precondition for the normal functioning of society - just as health is for the individual.

Dr. Juvan stressed that rearmament should be understood more broadly: "Rearmament is only one aspect of strengthening resilience. Merely investing in weapons without strengthening the welfare state - which is the foundation of the European Union and all who live here - is the wrong path."

In the conversation, she also warned about contemporary security threats, from cyberattacks to disinformation campaigns, and underlined the importance of civil defense and citizens' self-protection. As she put it, Slovenia lives in a kind of "security bubble," which may be dangerous in itself: "We take security for granted - until we lose it."

The conversation was hosted by Petra Bezjak Cirman.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Launch of the Emergency Coalition for the Financial Sustainability of the Palestinian Authority

Spain - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

PRESS STATEMENT 095

Friday, September 26, 2025

Today, Belgium, Denmark, France, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom announced the launch of the Emergency Coalition for the Financial Sustainability of the Palestinian Authority.

This coalition was established in response to the urgent and unprecedented financial crisis confronting the Palestinian Authority (PA). Its immediate purpose is to stabilize the PA's finances and preserve its ability to govern, provide essential services, and maintain security, all of which are indispensable to regional stability and to preserving the two-State solution.

The coalition has attracted a large and diverse group of supporting countries and partners from across regions, many of which have already made significant financial contributions and pledged sustained support. Our collective engagement demonstrates the broad international consensus on the need to prevent the collapse of the Palestinian Authority and to uphold the foundations of peace

Short-term aid alone is not sufficient. The coalition will therefore promote a sustainable, predictable, and coordinated approach, working with international financial institutions and key partners to mobilize resources, support ongoing governance and economic reforms, and ensure full transparency and accountability.

The Ministers demand that Israel immediately release all Palestinian clearance revenues and cease any measures that obstruct or weaken the Palestinian Authority or risk its collapse. They stressed that such actions threaten not only Palestinian livelihoods and institutional stability but also regional and international peace and security.

The coalition is open and inclusive and invites all states and international organizations to join this collective effort. Strengthening the Palestinian Authority's financial foundations is, the Ministers affirmed, an investment in peace, stability, and security for Palestinians, Israelis, and the wider region.

With this initiative, the coalition reaffirms our commitment to safeguarding the viability of the two-State solution and to advancing a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Deputy Secretary Landau's Meeting with Uzbekistan Foreign Minister Saidov

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

September 26, 2025

The below is attributable to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott:

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau met with Uzbekistan Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week. The United States applauds Uzbekistan for its cooperation in facilitating the removal of illegal migrants from the United States and looks forward to working with Uzbekistan to expand economic and commercial ties that will benefit both countries. The United States remains proud of its strategic partnership with Uzbekistan and supports Uzbekistan's continued regional integration and development, including through the C5+1 diplomatic platform, which represents the United States "plus" the five Central Asian countries (the C5 - Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan).

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Deputy Secretary Landau's Meeting with Kyrgyz Republic Foreign Minister Kulubaev

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

September 26, 2025

The below is attributable to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott:

Deputy Secretary of State Landau met today with Kyrgyz Republic Foreign Minister Kulubaev on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week. The two leaders discussed prospects for deepening economic cooperation and exploring commercial opportunities in the critical minerals sector. Deputy Secretary Landau also reaffirmed the need for countries to support U.S. efforts to reach a peaceful resolution to the Russia-Ukraine war.

Both sides agreed to advance bilateral and regional economic cooperation through the B5+1 Business Forum and commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the C5+1 diplomatic platform this year, which represents the United States "plus" the five Central Asian countries (the C5 - Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan).

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Deputy Secretary Landau's Meeting with Uruguayan Foreign Minister Lubetkin

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

September 26, 2025

The below is attributable to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott:

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau met today with Uruguayan Minister of Foreign Affairs Mario Lubetkin in New York on the margins of the 80th United Nations High Level Week. The two leaders discussed opportunities to advance mutually beneficial trade interests and cooperate on efforts to promote democracy throughout the hemisphere.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Deputy Secretary Landau's Meeting with Nigerian Foreign Minister Tuggar

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

September 26, 2025

The below is attributable to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott:

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau met Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar today in New York City on the margins of the UN General Assembly. The meeting highlighted the United States' commitment to a strong and enduring partnership with Nigeria.

Deputy Secretary Landau and Foreign Minister Tuggar discussed several key areas of mutual interest including strengthening bilateral economic cooperation, addressing illegal immigration, enhancing security, and promoting religious freedom.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Deputy Secretary Landau's Meeting with Foreign Minister Schialer

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

September 26, 2025

The below is attributable to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott:

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau met today with Peruvian Foreign Minister Elmer Schialer on the margins of the 80th United Nations High-Level Week in New York. Their discussion highlighted opportunities to deepen cooperation between the United States and Peru, expand economic opportunities for U.S. industries, and strengthen the growing security partnership between the two countries.

The Deputy Secretary commended Peru's cooperation in regional efforts to end illegal immigration and emphasized the importance of advancing joint initiatives to disrupt criminal and terrorist networks, combat money laundering, and shield elections and political processes from illicit financing. He recognized Peru's leadership in promoting economic opportunities and underscored the United States' desire to increase investment in Peru's critical minerals and infrastructure sectors.

Deputy Secretary Landau reaffirmed the United States' commitment to working closely with Peru to build a more secure and prosperous hemisphere.



NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Deputy Secretary Landau's Meeting with Salvadoran Foreign Minister Hill

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

September 26, 2025

The below is attributable to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott:

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau met yesterday with Salvadoran Foreign Minister Alexandra Hill at the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York. They reaffirmed our shared commitment to promote economic prosperity for our citizens and continued support of mutual priorities in our region, including returning stability to Haiti.

Deputy Secretary Landau thanked Foreign Minister Hill for the Salvadoran government's support of medical evacuations in Haiti and advancing our shared interests of restoring order and preventing a complete collapse of Haiti's institutions through the Standing Group of Partners. The Deputy Secretary also highlighted strategic investment opportunities for advancing U.S. commercial interests in El Salvador. The United States reaffirmed its commitment to our strong partnership with El Salvador.





NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Deputy Secretary Landau's Meeting with Argentine Foreign Minister Werthein

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

September 26, 2025

The below is attributable to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott:

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau met yesterday with Argentina's Minister of Foreign Affairs Gerardo Werthein in New York on the margins of the 80th United Nations High-Level Week. Building on President Trump's productive meeting with President Milei, the two leaders discussed opportunities to deepen the U.S.-Argentina partnership. Deputy Secretary Landau thanked Argentina for its regional leadership in ending illegal immigration and combating criminal and terrorist organizations. They discussed the importance of using trusted vendors and systems to strengthen Argentina's information and communications networks.

The Deputy Secretary underscored Argentina's role as an important U.S. ally in Latin America and reaffirmed the United States' friendship with the Argentine people.









NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Deputy Secretary Landau's Meeting with Mongolian Foreign Minister Battsetseg

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

September 26, 2025

The below is attributable to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott:

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau met with Mongolian Foreign Minister Batmunkh Battsetseg on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York yesterday. The two leaders reaffirmed their countries' mutual interests and shared democratic values that underpin the U.S.-Mongolia Strategic Third Neighbor Partnership. They also discussed opportunities to expand economic ties between the United States and Mongolia.









NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Deputy Secretary Landau's Meeting with Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Sommerfeld

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

September 26, 2025

The below is attributable to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott:

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau met on September 25 with Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld in New York on the margins of the 80th United Nations High-Level Week. Building on Secretary Rubio's September 4 visit to Ecuador, they reaffirmed the strong U.S.-Ecuador partnership and emphasized their shared commitment to advancing regional security and combating transnational organized crime, ending illegal immigration, and promoting economic prosperity.

The Deputy Secretary recognized Ecuador as a leader in our region and commended its efforts to host and integrate third-country nationals. The Deputy Secretary underscored the importance of enhancing information sharing, strengthening the government and judicial response to organized crime and law enforcement collaboration, and supporting regional initiatives to disrupt criminal and narco-terrorist networks.

Deputy Secretary Landau reaffirmed the United States' dedication to working alongside Ecuador to build a safer and more secure hemisphere.









NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Deputy Secretary Landau's Meeting with Honduran Foreign Minister Bu

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

September 26, 2025

The below is attributable to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott:

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau met on September 24 with Honduran Minister of Foreign Affairs Javier Bu in New York on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations High-Level Week. The Deputy Secretary and the Foreign Minister discussed our strong cooperation on security and efforts to end illegal immigration. The Deputy Secretary thanked the Foreign Minister for Honduras' cooperation on our bilateral extradition treaty and highlighted the recent extradition of Marvin Martinez Guardado to Honduras to stand trial for murder.



NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Deputy Secretary Landau's Meeting with Paraguayan Foreign Minister Ramirez

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

September 26, 2025

The below is attributable to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott:

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau met on September 24 with Paraguayan Minister of Foreign Affairs Ruben Ramirez in New York on the margins of the 80th United Nations High Level Week. The Deputy Secretary and the Foreign Minister recognized the broadening strategic partnership between the United States and Paraguay, underscoring the latter's significant economic potential for expanded partnerships in energy, mining, and technology. Deputy Secretary Landau thanked Paraguay for its regional leadership in addressing illegal immigration, combating criminal and terrorist organizations, and rolling out a 5G network with trusted vendors.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Deputy Secretary Landau's Meeting with Singaporean Foreign Minister Balakrishnan

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

September 26, 2025

The following is attributable to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott:

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau met on September 24 with Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan. The two leaders reaffirmed the strength and stability of the U.S.-Singapore strategic partnership and discussed cooperation on defense and security topics, as well as collaboration on energy, technology, and commercial issues. They both noted that economic cooperation and strengthened bilateral security ties benefits Americans, Singaporeans, and others across the region.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






We must all keep alive the principles of multilateralism: UK Statement at the G20 Foreign Ministers' meeting.

Speech

Statement by The Rt Hon Yvette Cooper, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, at the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting.

From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and The Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP

Published 26 September 2025

Location: United Nations, New York

Delivered on: 25 September 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

Earlier today, Foreign Minister Lamola and I hosted a session on the upcoming Global Fund replenishment, and we will continue to support that.

I see the Russian Representative is leaving his seat because he does not want to hear the response to his illegal war of aggression towards Ukraine.

Let us be clear, it is an unprovoked war of aggression that is not just a disgraceful assault on Ukraine's security and resilience, it is an assault on the UN Charter's fundamental principles and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and no amount of false fantasy world distortions, misinformation and propaganda from the Russian representative about the causes of the war will convince anyone.

And I say to the Russian Federation, your actions are clear for all to see, attacking not just the courageous country of Ukraine, but the UN Charter's fundamental principles.

It will not succeed the United Kingdom, alongside countries across the world will continue to stand in solidarity with Ukraine.

Can I thank South Africa for your work to pursue peace and to make those the fundamental principles behind your G20 presidency.

We will continue to support you on the replenishment of the Global Fund, which we seek to achieve in time for the November G20 Summit, because as a result of that work, children are no longer growing up as orphans.

Millions of parents no longer face early bereavement, because 70 million lives have been saved from HIV, TB and Malaria.

We will continue to support reform of the international financial system, including calling for greater voice and representation for low income and vulnerable countries in the World Bank and IMF.

But crucially, too, we will support and the whole of the G20 should support peace where it is so desperately needed, in Sudan and in Gaza.

This week, the UK has made the historic decision to recognize the state of Palestine, to keep alive a two-state solution, but it must be a spur, not a substitute for much-needed ceasefire, a release of the hostages and desperately needed humanitarian aid.

The United Nations came together around peace, the G20 comes together around multilateral institutions to support prosperity, to support security, and to support that collaboration across the globe.

We support those principles, and we must keep all of them alive.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Gaza: Four more hospitals shut amid ongoing Israeli offensive

26 September 2025 - The escalating Israeli military offensive in Gaza City continues to overwhelm medical professionals there, with four more hospitals forced to shut down this month alone in the north of the war-torn enclave, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday.

"This brings the total functioning hospitals in Gaza to only 14the situation at the remaining eight hospitals and one field hospital in the city is critical," said WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic.

The development comes as Israeli forces continue to push into Gaza City with the declared aim of dislodging Hamas fighters believed to be based there. At the same time, repeated Israel Defense Forces evacuation orders have been issued to communities in Gaza City, uprooting hundreds of thousands of people and affecting hundreds of health facilities.

"Even if hospitals are not asked to evacuate, there is a lack of access, there is violence just nearby and that can put them out of service," Mr. Jasarevic told journalists in Geneva.

City's key healthcare role

Gaza City forms the backbone of the Gaza Strip's health system since almost half of all hospitals and field hospitals in the enclave are based there.

"Hospitals in the south are overwhelmed and can't absorb more," WHO warned in a statement on Friday which noted that the enclave's remaining hospitals include eight in Gaza city, three in Deir al Balah and three in Khan Younis. None is functioning at full capacity, the UN health agency stressed.

The situation at Gaza City's eight remaining hospitals and one field hospital is "critical", with medical teams "overwhelmed by the influx of casualties resulting from strikes", in addition to having to treat non-trauma patients.

The four north Gaza hospitals put out of service since 1 September are Al Rantisi Children's Hospital, the Ophthalmic Hospital, the St. John Eye Hospital and Hamad Hospital for Rehabilitation and Prosthetics.

WHO describes Hamad Hospital as one of the three main specialized rehabilitation facilities in the Gaza Strip. It had been serving 250 outpatients with rehabilitation services, in addition to providing medical care for people injured while seeking aid in north Gaza at its trauma stabilization point, with about 200 patients served daily.

Devastating attacks

Al Rantisi Hospital sustained severe damage from a direct strike on 16 September while 80 patients were inside the facility. It is the only specialized paediatric hospital left in the Gaza Strip. No fatalities were reported in the attack but there was significant damage to rooftop water tanks, communication systems and medical equipment.

Half of the patients fled, while some 40 others remain inside, including four children in the intensive care unit and eight newborns, according to WHO. Most of its medical equipment was transferred to Al Helou, As Sahaba and Patient Friendly hospitals, all in Gaza City.

In addition to the latest hospital closures, the situation is "critical" at Gaza City's remaining eight hospitals and one field hospital. They are all "overwhelmed by the influx of casualties resulting from strikes", low on supplies and forced to treat patients on the floor.

Highlighting critical shortages in blood units, blood bags and transfusion sets "services could shut down within days, without urgent replenishment", WHO insisted.

According to the UN health agency, all but one of the dozen reported attacks on healthcare between 7 and 17 September have been in Gaza City, with Khan Younis the 12th.

Medicines needed without delay

"More violence only means more injured people. It means more casualties, more deaths and it means less access," Mr. Jasarevic said. "People in Gaza are suffering from multiple displacements; there are shortages of medical supplies, there are issues of access both for humanitarians, for health workers, also for patients."

The WHO spokesperson reiterated the health agency's call for the urgent evacuation of the thousands of seriously ill patients in need of specialized care.

"Over 15,000 peopleneed to be evacuated for medical reasons and evacuations are really going very, very slowly," he said. "Again, we can only appeal for a ceasefire, appeal for unhindered access so we can try to support what's left of the health system in Gaza with the medical supplies, with the emergency medical teams and with everything else."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






World News in Brief: New declaration on NCDs and mental health, Khartoum shelter crisis, WFP lifeline in Ukraine, South Sudan rights update

26 September 2025 - World leaders have thrown their weight behind the first-ever United Nations global political declaration tackling noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health together.

The text, negotiated over five months, will go before the General Assembly for approval in just a few weeks' time.

It was adopted at a high-level meeting at UN Headquarters late on Thursday, where heads of State, government leaders and health ministers stressed the urgency of coordinated action.

NCDs such as heart and lung disease, cancer and diabetes are the world's biggest killers.

Over 40 million premature deaths annually

They claimed 43 million lives in 2021, including 18 million people under 70. Mental health conditions affect more than a billion people worldwide.

The declaration sets specific targets for 2030: 150 million fewer tobacco users, 150 million more people with hypertension under control, and 150 million with access to mental health care.

It also broadens focus to include oral health, childhood cancer, kidney and liver disease, and rare conditions, while tackling environmental risks such as air pollution, unsafe cooking fuels and hazardous chemicals.

Strengthened measures address e-cigarettes, junk food marketing to children and the elimination of trans fats. Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic are also built in, along with recognition of digital harms linked to social media, excessive screen time and misinformation.

People living with NCDs and mental health conditions must be at the heart of our response, said the World Health Organization (WHO).

Sudan: Khartoum returnees face a shelter crisis, warns IOM

The ongoing war between rival militaries in Sudan has left vast areas devastated and people returning to their homes without adequate shelter and only limited access to water and food.

Plea for more support

In an appeal for international support, the UN migration agency, IOM, said that two in every three people going back to the capital now live in shelters in need of urgent repair.

The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), meanwhile, reported that the war has uprooted more than five million children. Many youngsters face acute hunger and disease outbreaks, while millions still live in conflict-affected areas.

To help, the UN agency is providing life-saving support for health, nutrition, education and protection.

UN humanitarians in Darfur said that civilians in El Fasher, the besieged state capital, continue to endure relentless attacks, acute hunger and cholera.

UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric added on Friday that civilians face daily threats from shelling, air strikes and drone attacks, with fierce clashes reported in north-eastern districts of North Darfur in recent weeks.

Clashes have displaced millions and left half the population of Sudan acutely food insecure - nearly 25 million people. Famine has also been officially declared in North Darfur and South Kordofan.

Ukraine: WFP food boxes provide lifeline for frontline communities

Despite the ongoing full-scale Russian invasion in Ukraine, UN aid teams and their partners are still managing to support frontline communities, the World Food Programme (WFP) said on Friday.

The UN agency reported delivering more than a quarter of a million food boxes across eight frontline regions in Ukraine last month.

The boxes "continue to be a lifeline for people" on the frontline, WFP said.

It thanked the EU and Norway for supporting the aid operation which distributes basic foodstuffs in places where markets are closed or food prices are very high.

Partnership for the homeless

In a related development, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, announced a $5 million partnership with Saudi Arabia to support vulnerable Ukrainians forced to leave their homes because of the war.

The agreement was signed on the margins of the High-Level Week of the General Assembly in New York and follows the kingdom's $10 million donation for Ukraine in 2024.

The UN refugee agency said Saudi Arabia's support would ensure that families are protected against harsh winter weather conditions in Ukraine as temperatures drop.

UN raises alarm over South Sudan's worsening human rights crisis

On Friday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk voiced deep concern over the rapidly worsening human rights situation in South Sudan, citing that nearly 2,000 civilians have been killed this year amid rising political tensions and violence.

According to his office, OHCHR, at least 1,854 have been killed, 1,693 injured, 423 abducted, and 169 subjected to sexual violence in civil conflict from January to September.

The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) reports that the first quarter of the year saw the highest civilian casualties in a three-month period since 2020, with the second quarter showing a sharp rise in victims from 144 to 438 compared to last year, driven by conventional conflict parties and other armed groups.

Communal violence has also surged, with a 33 per cent rise in incidents, particularly due to intra-communal clashes among Dinka sub-clans in Warrap State and retaliatory attacks involving Murle, Dinka Bor, and Lou Nuer armed groups.

"Men, women and children have been killed, injured and displaced, and homes, schools, health centres and other infrastructure destroyed, with devastating consequences on civilians. This is unconscionable and must stop," said Mr. Turk.

UN urges fair trial

Court proceedings got underway on Monday in the capital Juba, in the trial of First Vice President Riek Machar and other senior members of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition.

They face charges of murder, treason, crimes against humanity, and other related offences related to a deadly attack earlier this year on a national army base, in which over 250 soldiers were allegedly killed by forces loyal to Mr. Machar.

"It is imperative that the ongoing judicial proceedings against First Vice President Riek Machar and his co-accused fully comply with international human rights standards," said the UN rights chief.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Netanyahu hails Israel's 'stunning comeback' after 7 October attacks, vows to 'finish the job'

26 September 2025 - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the UN General Assembly on Friday that Israel had rebounded from "its darkest day" to deliver "one of the most stunning military comebacks in history," declaring that his country will not rest until Hamas is eliminated and hostages are freed.

"Last year, I stood at this podium and I showed this map. It shows the curse of Iran's terror axis," he said.

"This axis threatens the peace of the entire world. It threatened the stability of our region and the very existence of my country, Israel."

Recalling the Hamas-led attacks on 7 October 2023, when militants stormed into Israel committing "acts of unspeakable savagery," Mr. Netanyahu accused Iran and its allies across the region of tightening "a noose of death around our throats."

But the past year had transformed the balance of power, he added.

Enemy axis 'crippled'

"We've hammered the Houthis, including yesterday. We crushed the bulk of Hamas's terror machine. We crippled Hezbollah, taking out most of its leaders and much of its weapons arsenaland most importantly, we devastated Iran's atomic weapons and ballistic missiles programmes."

He described Israel's 12-day war with Iran as a turning point, stating: "[US] President [Donald] Trump and I promised to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. And we delivered on that promise."

Mr. Netanyahu cautioned that vigilance was essential, and "we must not allow Iran to rebuild its military nuclear capacities," he said, urging that UN sanctions against the country be reinstated.

Turning again to Gaza, Prime Minister Netanyahu pledged to eradicate Hamas's remaining forces. "The final remnants of Hamas are holed up in Gaza City. They vow to repeat the atrocities of 7 October again and again. That is why Israel must finish the job."

Address to hostages

He said his words were being broadcast live into Gaza and spoke to hostages held there: "This is Prime Minister Netanyahu speaking to you live from the United Nations. We have not forgotten you. Not even for a second We will not rest until we bring all of you home."

Mr. Netanyahu said the decision by leaders of France, Britain, Australia, Canada and other countries in recent days to recognise a Palestinian State was "a mark of shame" that rewarded "the most savage terrorists on earth."

He insisted that Israel "will not allow you to shove a terrorist state down our throats", adding that he does not stand alone: "My opposition to a Palestinian state is not simply my policies, or my Government's policy. It's the policy of the State and people of the State of Israel," he said.

"The rise of Israel did not mean that the attempts to destroy us would end", he added.

"It meant that we could fight back against those attempts. And that is exactly what Israel has done since 7 October."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Prime Minister of Barbados calls for defence of rules-based world order

26 September 2025 - Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados on Friday told world leaders the survival of small States and global peace depends on preserving a rules-based international system.

She warned that truth, trust and fairness were fraying under the weight of war, inequality and climate crisis.

"Countries of different sizes, capacities and cultures can only survive in the world in which we live if we maintain a rules-based system," Ms. Mottley said in her address to the UN General Assembly.

"The law of the jungle does not guarantee any of us a future or a liveable planet."

She said the "crisis of truth" is undermining institutions that once promoted order and prosperity, eroding trust between citizens and governments, and turning news, science and law into a tawdry spectacle.

"When we lose shared truth, our countries and our global society lose their center of gravity," she warned.

Conflicts and crisis

Turning to the proliferation of warfare, Prime Minister Mottley reiterated the need for peace in Ukraine but also pressed governments not to ignore suffering elsewhere.

"The world must not ignore the horror in Sudan and...it must not ignore the horror in Gaza," she said. She called for the release of hostages, while denouncing disproportionate attacks on Palestinians.

She underlined the need for urgent humanitarian funding, saying $66 million was needed for Gaza's children and $200 million for Sudan over the next three months - largely for food, water and health needs.

Climate change

On climate change, Ms. Mottley urged leaders to act with honesty and urgency.

She welcomed international court opinions affirming states' obligations to curb emissions and proposed a binding global framework on methane to slow temperature rise.

"The fossil fuel industry is not the enemy - it is the emissions," she said, urging political will to unlock $1.3 trillion annually by 2035 to finance the green transition.

The Barbadian leader criticized the chronic underfunding of climate finance and the "grossly under-capitalised" Loss and Damage Fund.

Ms. Mottley also tied the climate and development agenda back to the central question of global governance. She warned that debates risk becoming "performative exercises" unless backed by resources and a functioning system rooted in fairness.

"If we are to be protected by a rules-based system, then we must step up to the plate and provide the funds to bridge the gap to deliver the results that we desire," she said.

Ms. Mottley also touched on UN reform, insisting the Security Council must reflect today's multipolar world.

"You cannot ask us really to show up for family photos and votes when you need them and then exclude us from the family's decision making. As if you are the grown-ups and we are the children."

A Palestinian girl's message

Prime Minister Mottley ended with the image of a young Palestinian girl aged six or seven walking through the rubble in Gaza with hollow eyes and her sister on her shoulders.

"It was clear she was in great pain, yet she recognised it was she who would have to carry the burden of taking them to safety," she said.

Calling the scene "the ultimate picture of hope and resilience," Ms. Mottley urged leaders to draw strength from it.

"If a six-year-old can push past the physical and emotional pain and still find hope that there is a better moment ahead of her, then we, with much more and with an obligation to many more, must summon that same will. The world needs it now more than ever."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Sudan, Ukraine

UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Occupied Palestinian Territory

More people killed and displaced in Gaza as Israeli military operations intensify

OCHA says that Israeli forces have stepped up their operations in the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours, with devastating consequences for civilians. On average, this meant an air strike every eight or nine minutes. Teams on the ground also report shelling, helicopter and quadcopter fire, as well as gunfire towards people waiting for aid. Dozens of people have reportedly been killed and over 200 others injured, according to the Ministry of Health.

People continue to flee, mainly from Gaza city to southern Gaza, where conditions are dire. Yesterday, teams monitoring the movement of people inside the Strip counted about 16,500 displacements from northern Gaza southwards. Aid workers remain stationed along displacement routes, offering psychosocial first aid, referring people to specialized services when needed, and educating new arrivals on the dangers of explosive ordnance.

Still, hundreds of thousands of people remain in Gaza city amid extreme insecurity. They are heavily reliant on humanitarian assistance as more critical services there have been forced to close or move.

Meanwhile, humanitarian teams across the Gaza Strip continue to face access denials and heavy impediments - preventing them from providing support at the scale needed.

Yesterday, out of 15 movements that the UN tried to coordinate with Israeli authorities to support people in different parts of Gaza, only seven were fully facilitated. Five attempts were denied; another one was approved but impeded on the ground; and two others had to be cancelled by the organizers.

Teams were able to collect fuel, medical items and other supplies from Kerem Shalom crossing, among other missions, but were prevented from trucking water in the north and were not allowed to access other crossings, including to collect food.

OCHA stresses the need for Israeli authorities to fully facilitate humanitarian operations, including unimpeded movement into and across the Gaza Strip. It also reminds Israel, Hamas and any armed group that aid workers and their vehicles must not be attacked or denied critical access on the ground.

In the West Bank, Allenby bridge reopened today for passengers, but not for cargo. This is the only direct crossing between Jordan and the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The reopening is a positive development for Palestinians who depend on that single crossing to go abroad. It is also good news for patients in Gaza set to be medically evacuated and for international aid workers on rotation, as both groups largely depend on that route.

At the same time, the continued closure of Allenby for imports and exports, including humanitarian cargo, is a significant concern. About 35 per cent of the supplies monitored by the UN 2720 mechanism that have been cleared and are ready to ship to Gaza - are in Jordan. They include food, tents and other commodities essential for people's survival.

The UN is engaging with relevant stakeholders to urgently address these concerns, warning that the continued closure of this border crossing without viable alternatives would further undermine the humanitarian response in Gaza.

Meanwhile, OCHA reports that the number of Palestinians in the West Bank who have been displaced since 7 October 2023 due to attacks by Israeli settlers and access restrictions has now surpassed 3,000. Half of them are children, mostly from Bedouin and herding communities. This is according to an OCHA report issued yesterday. During this same period, OCHA has documented over 3,000 attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians that led to casualties or property damage. These are the highest figures ever recorded by OCHA, whose records on this matter go back to 2006.

OCHA says that while humanitarian partners are providing a range of services to displaced people and those otherwise affected by violence across the West Bank, it is essential to see an end to the violence that generates those humanitarian needs to begin with - and for that, what is needed is protection, accountability, and respect for international humanitarian law.

Sudan

UN Relief Chief voices concern over worsening humanitarian crisis in El Fasher

The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, met Sudan's Transitional Prime Minister Dr. Kamil Idris on Wednesday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. They discussed more visibility for Sudan and the worsening situation in El Fasher, the besieged state capital of North Darfur, with Mr. Fletcher also noting the UN's ongoing efforts to move pre-positioned aid supplies into the area. The meeting also focused on expanding humanitarian access and UN presence, as well as ensuring that more life-saving aid gets everywhere it is needed.

Yesterday, Fletcher spoke with General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo of the Rapid Support Forces to discuss grave concerns over the humanitarian crisis in El Fasher. He stressed the urgent need to protect civilians, halt the fighting and ensure safe humanitarian access. In a social media post, Fletcher underscored that millions of people are depending on action - and highlighted the need to scale up across Sudan, including in the Darfur and Kordofan regions.

OCHA reports that civilians in El Fasher continue to endure relentless attacks, acute hunger and cholera. They face daily threats from shelling, air strikes and drone attacks, with fierce clashes reported in north-eastern districts of the state capital in recent weeks.

UNICEF said that on Wednesday, the main building within the agency's office compound in El Fasher came under repeated attack, with shelling killing at least seven people who had been sheltering in the compound and injuring others. While UNICEF has not been able to occupy the compound since March 2024, it remains protected under UN privileges and immunities. Just days earlier, armed individuals entered the compound and took control of communications equipment and several UNICEF vehicles.

People continue to flee the heightened insecurity in El Fasher. On Tuesday and Wednesday alone, more than 1,600 people were displaced from the city, according to the International Organization for Migration.

OCHA says that hundreds of thousands of people who fled El Fasher are now living in dire conditions in Tawila, also in North Darfur. The UN and its partners are on the ground providing support*, but US$120 million is urgently required to meet people's immediate needs in that area. The World Food Programme has been scaling up assistance in Tawila, reaching some 450,000 people there last month with life-saving food and nutrition aid.

Elsewhere in Sudan, aid organizations are doing everything possible to support people in need. This week, the Humanitarian Coordinator, Denise Brown, concluded a two-day visit to the capital Khartoum alongside UN agencies and partners. She met Government officials, communities and front-line workers to discuss urgent humanitarian priorities. OCHA says joint efforts are underway to assist people's recovery and help communities in Khartoum rebuild. UNICEF said yesterday that two generators are on their way to Khartoum to restore safe water in cholera hotspots.

*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Sudan with urgent support.

Ukraine

UN and partners scale up assistance ahead of winter

OCHA says that the UN and its humanitarian partners continue to deliver aid across Ukraine.

In the first half of 2025, they provided at least one form of humanitarian assistance to 2.4 million people throughout the country. This represents about 40 per cent of the people whom aid organizations aimed to reach in the prioritized Humanitarian Response Plan.

While the UN is grateful for generous donor support, the sharp increase in attacks in recent months has triggered additional needs and new displacement, putting further pressure on an already stretched response - particularly ahead of winter.

Authorities and partners on the ground have reported multiple attacks impacting energy infrastructure in the regions of Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Sumy and Vinnytsa.

In Chernihiv, an attack last night left parts of the city and the surrounding areas without electricity, at a time when night-time temperatures are already dropping to about 5 degrees Celsius.

The UN and its partners continue to scale up assistance ahead of the winter under the 2025-2026 Winter Response Plan. Launched in July, this plan seeks $280 million and is currently 40 per cent funded.

Posted on 26 September 2025

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Exercising at scale: What we're learning

Published Sept. 26, 2025

Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) -- Last month, the Department of the Air Force concluded its Department-Level Exercise series, a month-long series of exercises conducted across the Western Pacific, including Resolute Force Pacific, Resolute Space, Mobility Guardian 2025, Emerald Warrior and Bamboo Eagle 25-3.

The purpose? DAF has been investing in its readiness and training with more sophisticated operational exercises, changes to enhance the rapid deployment of forces, and the regular exercise of mission command. The vision for the DLE series was to demonstrate the DAF's preparedness for complex, large scale military operations. The DLE is a series of nested, phased exercises that were conducted in July and August 2025, which involved multiple commands and areas of operation and exercised Airmen and Guardians' abilities to conduct sustained, complex military operations involving large numbers of forces in scenarios where air and space superiority, power projection, and global mobility are contested.

On the third day of the 2025 Air, Space and Cyber Conference, Gen. Kevin Schneider, Pacific Air Forces commander; Gen. Adrian L. Spain, commander of Air Combat Command; Gen. John D. Lamontagne, commander of Air Mobility Command; and Lt. Gen. David N. Miller Jr., commander of Space Operations Command, came together to share what they have learned from "Exercising at Scale," with retired Air Force Gen. Jacqueline D. Van Ovost, former commander of U.S. Transportation Command, serving as the moderator.

This panel brought together four of the most forward leaning commanders, leaders who are shaping how we train, integrate, and fight across domains.

The group of leaders kicked off the panel discussing why the DLE was developed. Schneider talked about how the U.S. Air Force is "highly successful" at doing all-day, all-year-round operations, both in combat and other activities. He then talked about tactical-level combat exercises that hone tactical skill sets, and finally how command post exercises at the operational level are usually conducted without fielded forces.

"The ability to pull all three of those things together, higher headquarters exercises all the way down to the lowest Airmen in the field, to have a command and control and communications all the way through those echelons of command to focus on operational-level campaigning over a longer duration," was the value of conducting the DLE said Schneider, while also highlighting the significance of stress-testing logistics and sustainment through the protracted nature of the month-long exercise series. "It was a big lift  but it was highly successful, and I believe well worth the investment from the United States Air Force and the Department of the Air Force to continue to pursue things like this."

Lamontagne talked about the opportunity to operate at speed, scale, and range of possible contingencies.

"Four hundred aircraft, 15,000 Airmen, 50 different locations; it takes a lot of work to make that happen," Lamontagne said. "That range - it's one thing to do that within the continental United States and another thing entirely to do that around the world. I would submit our United States Air Force is the only air force on the planet that can project forces at that speed, at that scale, and that range."

Spain highlighted what training provides to the force.

"One of the reasons we're the world's greatest Air Force is because we train hard," Spain said. "We challenge ourselves in training and we're not training just to look good and we're not training to make ourselves feel better. We're training to learn lessons." The ACC commander continued, talking about intentionally pushing both Airmen and weapon systems in training scenarios. "The lessons we're going to garner from it are going to help us propel our combat capabilities even farther and faster."

Spain also highlighted the importance of the allies and partners in the DLE.

"These exercises are an opportunity for us to train with our allies and partners in ways that we often don't get to [train]," Spain said. "So, while we're getting better, it's really about the joint and coalition team getting better."

As the leaders discussed lessons learned, Miller talked about the Space Force taking advantage of the large-scale effort to continue developing its capabilities.

"What the Joint Force needs from the Space Force as a decisive [capability] is really two things; deliver that space-enabled combat edge" in a contested environment, said Miller, "while simultaneously protecting our joint force, including ourselves, from space-enabled attack.  The lessons learned directly apply to the threats we are facing today, and more importantly underscore the investments we have made and are making  to allow us to not just keep pace but outpace potential adversaries."

The PACAF and AMC commanders talked about the lessons learned in integrating their command-and-control structures, and about making sure authorities are delegated to the appropriate level to enable mission command.

"The exercises allowed us to put a really hot and effective spotlight on those places on which we can improve," Schneider said. "People, pipes, and processes [are what we need] when it comes to command and control. Where do the people need to be? Where do the command-and-control nodes need to be?  What are the pipes or pathways  that we need to be able to communicate with each other?"

The PACAF commander continued to expand on what he meant by processes.

"When it comes to force generation under [my commander of Air Force Forces] hat, really being able push decision making as far downhill as I can, and the risk decisions that go along with that, the people who are in the best position to make those determinations - where airplanes need to go, when they need to launch, where the fuel or munitions need to go - is not necessarily me  but an air expeditionary wing commander at the front edge of the fight. [That person] is dealing with the force protection issues, knows where their stuff is, and knows how to move their disaggregated force around hubs and spokes to reaggregate quickly."

The ACC commander underlined the value of conducting this type of realistic, integrated exercises.

"We can do it, and we did it," Spain said. "The ability to continue to do this kind of exercise is the most important lesson as a force provider. We have to continue to provide this venue and bring these events together in ways that stress our force for large-scale employment in ways that we haven't done in a very long time. The sets and reps required to get proficient in this only come with doing it."

Miller stated it's okay to expect the most out of people.

"Our Guardians and the Airmen that are in our formations - we have never taken that much capability in personnel out of operational formations to support the tactical level across so many different locations before," Miller said. "They performed superbly. The second piece is [the exercise] really validated the necessity of our new [space] force generation model, where we carve out time dedicated to specific training, tactics development, integration, and ultimately training and exercising evolutions that we need. It dialed in our approach."

Lamontagne identified the many players that made up the "big team" of the full exercise, including active duty, Air National Guard, Reserve forces, airlift, air refueling, aeromedical evacuation, maintenance and load crews, and civil reserve air fleet partners. He identified the critical development of the US relationship with its allies and partners in this type of exercise.

"With our allies and partners, we had a great opportunity to interfly with them, not just providing gas and fuel for them to extend across the vast ranges of the Pacific, but also interflying within and across formations. So, their airplanes within our air refueling formations, as well as in our airlift formations at pretty good depth, a great opportunity for us to get better and stronger together," Lamontagne said. He shared that it's the United States' responsibility to share our capabilities with our allies, but that it is actually a mutual relationship. "We are also on the receiving end of some of their capabilities. Our Canadian allies have some really robust [aeromedical evacuation] capabilities that actually surpass ours in some areas."

The generals wrapped up the discussion by talking about what lies ahead for future force development, and how they are providing feedback to the entire enterprise from lessons learned this summer.

"We have to show up, full up, as ready fighting units that can snap into existing [command and control] structures," Schneider said. He talked about the need for C2 systems to be built from inception to be releasable to allies and partners, and to have the flexibility to shift authorities as needed in a contested environment.

"We [the Department of the Air Force and industry] have to ensure that integrated by design is not a buzz word and it's not a catch phrase, and we're actually executing it," said Spain, explaining that should a contingency need to be addressed in the near term, the current force needs to be able to operate with what it has, and that new technology development must be backwards compatible to work with current systems.

"The path we're on is the right path," Lamontagne said. "We're moving out right now." The AMC commander talked about prepositioning equipment throughout the Pacific theater to be there for contingencies, but to also be used in everyday operations. He also talked about building connectivity through beyond-line-of-sight secure communications and tactical datalinks wired into not just the front of the aircraft, but into the back to support the Joint Force.

Miller ended the panel discussion by talking about the level of complexity and scale of the challenge the United States military is facing.

"We are going to have to expect more and more from the tactical-level units of action, executing mission command, using mission type orders, and they need to have the wherewithal and capability to do it," said the SpOC commander.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






CTF-66 showcases RAS capabilities with partners in Portugal-led unmanned systems demonstration during REPMUS/Dynamic Messenger 2025

US Navy

26 September 2025

From Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Cameron C. Edy

Commander, Task Force (CTF) 66 conducted a live robotic and autonomous systems (RAS) demonstration with Allies and partners during the experimentation exercise Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping with Maritime Unmanned Systems (REPMUS) / Dynamic Messenger 2025, in Troia, Portugal, Sept. 25, 2025.

Nations that participated in the live RAS demonstration include Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and United States.

"We continue to advance our robotic and autonomous systems through ongoing testing and combined training with partners and their unmanned systems," said Adm. Stuart B. Munsch, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa (NAVEUR/NAVAF). "We deeply appreciate our Ally, Portugal, for their leadership in maritime experimentation and unmanned systems. Our collective capability is only getting stronger."

Taking place near the Portuguese Navy's Operational Experimentation Centre (CEOM), the live RAS demonstration deployed two groups of unmanned surface vessels (USVs) simulating a swarming attack, with CTF-66 deploying three Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Crafts (GARC) in response to disrupt the attacking USVs and protect critical infrastructure from harm.

This routine demonstration tests and validates U.S. and partner robotic and autonomous systems' ability to protect critical infrastructure, and enhances interoperability within the NATO's allied and partner nations in employing unmanned systems to execute national tasking.

"CTF-66 is focused on adaptation, which enables a warfighting edge and warfighting advantage," said Rear Adm. Michael S. Mattis, commander, CTF-66. "Sharpening that warfighting edge is pushing the capabilities and limits of our RAS with Allies and partners, and that's exactly what we're doing during REPMUS/Dynamic Messenger 2025."

REPMUS 2025 is a Portuguese-led experimentation exercise that focuses on maritime unmanned systems experimentation, capability development and interoperability, highlighting NATO's ability to trial and integrate uncrewed systems into the operational environment.

REPMUS 2025 is combined with exercise Dynamic Messenger (DYMS), an operational experimentation exercise led by NATO's Allied Maritime Command to promote adaptation of capabilities, support agile modernization of Allied Maritime forces, and gain operational advantage across the Alliance.

REPMUS / Dynamic Messenger 2025 integrates unmanned systems into NATO's standing Naval Forces, resulting in both national maritime capability development and an exponential growth in RAS capability across the Alliance. The exercise also supports NATO's broader Digital Transformation goals by improving information sharing, data management, and the integration of advanced technologies into command structures.

Established in 2024 to deploy and employ RAS with Navy, joint, and NATO partners, CTF-66 utilizes RAS in conjunction with conventional manned platforms and spaced-based capabilities to expand Maritime Domain Awareness, develop defense measures against adversarial use of RAS, innovate asymmetric fighting, and in the future, deliver lethal effects, if necessary.

Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners to advance U.S. national interests, security and stability in Europe and Africa, and freedom of navigation in and around the Mediterranean.

For over 80 years, NAVEUR/NAVAF has forged strategic relationships with Allies and partners, leveraging a foundation of shared values to preserve security and stability. Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR/NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command areas of responsibility.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






QA-17, 27 September 2025, Statement of the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oncu Keceli, in Response to a Question Regarding the Activities of the Vessel "Ramform Hyperion" to the South of the Island of Cyprus

Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Turkish Cypriots, as co-owners of the Island of Cyprus, also have equal rights over the maritime areas around the Island. The Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus, which represents only the Greek Cypriot people, has no authority to take any unilateral steps around the Island on behalf of the Turkish Cypriots.

In this regard, we support the views expressed in the statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), concerning the unauthorized activities conducted by the Norwegian flagged vessel "Ramform Hyperion" in the continental shelf to the south of the Island, over which the Turkish Cypriots have equal rights, and we fully support the justified reaction of the TRNC authorities.

Taking this opportunity, we call on third parties to encourage dialogue and cooperation, instead of supporting the intransigent attitude of the Greek Cypriot Administration.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General - on Yemen

United Nations Secretary-General

New York

27 September 2025

Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General

The Secretary-General condemns the continuing military escalation between Israel and the Houthis. On 24 September, the Houthis struck Eilat with a drone, reportedly resulting in 20 people injured, and, on 25 September, Israel conducted airstrikes on Sana'a, which reportedly killed at least nine people, including children, and injured over a hundred and fifty others.

He reminds all parties of their obligations to ensure that civilians are respected and protected at all times, in accordance with international law.

The Secretary-General remains deeply troubled about the risk of further escalation in the region and continues to urge all to exercise utmost restraint.

****

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






The Palestinian question: The United Nations' arduous test

League of Arab States

Date: 28/09/2025

The United Nations marked the 80th anniversary of its establishment following the end of the Second World War, a conflict that wrought unprecedented devastation and claimed millions of lives. It was this cataclysm that impelled the founding states to pledge to spare future generations from the scourge of war and to build a world rooted in security, peace, and cooperation in the face of grave challenges.

Yet, over the decades, wars and crises have persisted in various regions, raising questions about the credibility of the United Nations and its capacity to fulfil its mandateparticularly with respect to the Security Council, entrusted with maintaining international peace and security and empowered under Chapter VII to adopt binding resolutions.

Criticism directed at the United Nations concerning the limits of its role in realising the objectives enshrined in its Charter in some measure diminishes its achievements. Nevertheless, in a shifting international landscape moving towards multipolarity, the United Nations remains both a symbol of international legitimacy and of international and humanitarian law, as well as an ideal forum for multilateral cooperation across economic, social, human rights, environmental, cultural, and humanitarian domainsdespite the rise of powerful blocs and competing global actors. In a world beset by turbulence, conflict, and hegemonic ambitions, the United Nations' existence remains preferable to its absence.

During the general discussions of the high-level meetings of the 80th sessionattended by heads of state and governmentrenewed calls resounded for reform of the United Nations. Chief among these were demands for an expansion of the Security Council and for addressing the veto power, which has long obstructed the Council's ability to take necessary action in defense of peace and stability.

The Council's inability to halt the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip since October 2023 epitomises this structural imbalance in the international system. Despite the intolerable deterioration of humanitarian conditions to catastrophic levels, the devastation of livelihoods, the targeting of hospitals, schools, and media institutions, the relentless bombardment, killing, and intimidation, and the forced displacement of thousands of Palestinians into the unknown in a profound and humiliating Nakba, the Security Council has remained incapacitated and inert.

The Palestinian questionforcefully present on the agenda of this session and repeatedly affirmed in its political and moral weightposes a profound test for the United Nations. It requires the implementation of resolutions of international legitimacy and support for initiatives aimed at ending the war on Gaza and curbing settlement expansion in the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem. This must be pursued through genuine international engagement to advance a sustainable settlement of this just cause, in line with the vision of the two-state solution that commands overwhelming global support, thereby enabling the Palestinian people to live in dignity within a cohesive state endowed with freedom, sovereignty, and independence.

Ambassador Ahmed Rashid Khattabi,

Assistant Secretary-General - Head of the Media and Communications Sector

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






PH to UN Security Council: Take lead in regulating AI's military use

Philippine News Agency

By Darryl John Esguerra

September 28, 2025, 2:02 pm

MANILA -- The Philippines has urged the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to take the lead in regulating the military use of artificial intelligence (AI), warning that the unchecked development of autonomous and AI-enhanced weapons could trigger new global security threats.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro issued the call during the UNSC high-level debate on AI in New York, stressing that AI is no longer just a technological issue but a matter of international peace and stability.

The Philippines was part of the core group behind the 2024 UN General Assembly resolution on "Artificial Intelligence in the Military Domain," which flagged the risks of an AI-driven arms race, accidental escalation and proliferation to non-state actors.

Lazaro said the rapid militarization of AI could "lower the threshold for conflict and escalate tensions," particularly if autonomous capabilities spread without accountability.

She underscored that AI-assisted weapons must never operate beyond human authority.

"We should never leave life-and-death decisions solely to machines," Lazaro said, invoking the outcome of the Manila Meeting on Autonomous Weapons Systems hosted by the Philippines in 2023.

"International governance must be in step with AI as it develops in leaps and bounds," she said.

Lazaro pushed the Council to anchor any AI defense norms in international humanitarian law and human rights law.

"If AI is to be integrated in implementing peacekeeping mandates, there should be strong oversight to ensure that this tool only serves to protect and not to harm," she said.

The country's top diplomat also warned that AI misuse -- from deepfake propaganda and algorithmic disinformation to automated targeting -- can "destabilize democracies, undermine institutions and intensify conflict."

To prevent escalation and miscalculation, Lazaro called for transparency among armed states and for "responsible private sector behavior" consistent with UN principles on human dignity.

While pushing for safeguards, she said the UNSC itself could benefit from "harnessing AI" in threat assessment, sanctions monitoring and counterterrorism, provided strict limits are in place.

"The Philippines looks to the UN Security Council to assert its leadership in harnessing AI as a force for good and a powerful driver of peace and security," Lazaro said. (PNA)

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Aghan's Taliban Rulers Release US Citizen From Custody After Trump Envoy's Visit

By RFE/RL September 28, 2025

Afghanistan's rulers released a US citizen from custody following a visit by Washington's hostage envoy, the US government and Taliban said on September 28, as the ostracized Taliban rulers continue efforts to improve relations with the West.

Amir Amiri, held in Afghanistan since December 2024, was released with help of Qatari government mediation and is on his way to Doha, an official source was quoted by Reuters as saying on September 28.

The release comes a week after US President Donald Trump told the Taliban he was seeking the return of the Bagram military base outside Kabul to the United States and threatened "bad things" would happen to Afghanistan if it were not handed over.

Amiri's release -- the fifth of a US citizen this year -- was carried out as US envoy Adam Boehler visited Kabul for talks with the Taliban rulers.

"I want to thank Qatar for helping secure his freedom," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote on X. "POTUS [Trump] has made it clear we will not stop until every American unjustly detained abroad is back home."

A week ago, the Taliban released an elderly British couple after nearly eight months. Peter Reynolds, 80, and Barbie, 76, arrived in Britain on September 20 on a flight from Doha, where they had stayed for medical examinations after their release.

Since the fall of the Western-backed Afghan government in August 2021, Qatar has often handled US interests in the country in dealings with the de-facto Taliban rulers.

CBS news reported Qatar began negotiating for Amiri's release in March. The report, citing sources, said Qatari diplomats monitored Amiri's health and maintained close communication with US officials during his detention.

A Taliban Foreign Ministry spokesman confirmed the identity of the man as Amir Amiri but did not provide details of his detention.

Little is known of Amiri's situation. AFP quoted an unnamed official as saying the man was 36 years old.

"The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan released an American citizen named Amir Amiri from prison today," the Afghan Foreign Ministry wrote on X.

"The Afghan government does not view the issues of citizens from a political angle and makes it clear that ways can be found to resolve issues through diplomacy," the statement added.

On September 19, Trump said the United States is attempting to get the Bagram base 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.

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 Taliban rulers rejected the presence of foreign troops in the country.

However, the Taliban government, ruling a country hit by natural disasters, unrest, poverty, and terrorist attacks, has attempted to improve ties with the global community, especially the United States.

As of now, Russia is the only country to establish diplomatic relations, as other nations have demanded improvements in the Taliban rights records, especially toward woman.

With reporting by Reuters, CBS, AFP, and The Independent

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghan-taliban -prisoner-release-amiri-boehler/33543291.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






Welcoming the Release of Amir Amiry in Afghanistan

US Department of State

Press Statement

Marco Rubio, Secretary of State

September 28, 2025

Today, thanks to President Trump's leadership and commitment to the American people, the United States welcomes home U.S. citizen Amir Amiry who was wrongfully detained in Afghanistan. We express our sincere gratitude to Qatar, whose strong partnership and tireless diplomatic efforts were vital to securing his release.

This homecoming reflects this Administration's determination, reinforced by the President's recent Executive Order, to protect U.S. nationals from wrongful detention abroad. While this marks an important step forward, additional Americans remain unjustly detained in Afghanistan. President Trump will not rest until all our captive citizens are back home. This release today is a significant step by the administration in Kabul to effect that goal.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Moldova's Pro-EU Election Result A Win For Brussels As Much As Chisinau

By Rikard Jozwiak September 29, 2025

Summary

Moldovan President Maia Sandu's pro-European PAS party won a decisive victory in parliamentary elections despite Kremlin-backed disinformation efforts.

The election was seen as a pivotal choice between Brussels and Moscow, with the EU openly supporting PAS through funding and sanctions on pro-Russian politicians.

The win strengthens Moldova's EU membership prospects, potentially accelerating negotiations ahead of the 2029 European elections.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu's Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) looks set to come out on top of crucial elections despite what appears to have been a concerted disinformation campaign from the Kremlin. But the real winner may be Brussels.

PAS, a pro-Western party in one of Europe's poorest nations, faced a stiff challenge from its biggest rival, the Patriotic Electoral Bloc, an alliance of pro-Russian parties led by the former Moldovan President Igor Dodon.

The result -- PAS is predicted to have taken at least 54 of parliament's 101 seats -- is stunning given that many polls had the two fractions neck-to-neck with the Kremlin putting considerable effort into trying to tip the balance in its favor.

With Moldova crammed between Ukraine and NATO and European Union member Romania, Brussels was on edge for weeks leading up to the September 28 vote.

A pro-Russia win would have put a major wedge into its eastern flank at a time Moscow appears emboldened to test the West's resolve while grinding out gains on battlefields in Ukraine.

It appears it can now breathe a sigh of relief that Moldova will remain outside of the Kremlin's reach, at least for the meantime.

"Moldova's pro-European victory is a lesson for all Europe on how to defend against Russian interference," according to Siegfried Muresan, a European member of parliament and vice president of the European People's Party.

"Moldova remains firmly anchored on the pro-European path. Good news for the people of Moldova! Good news for Europe!"

The result is a political hattrick for Sandu, with the parliamentary election win coming less than a year after she was returned to the presidential palace and a referendum on EU membership that was won by a whisker.

The stakes were indeed monumental in an election that very much was seen as a choice between Brussels and Moscow. And neither side made any secrets about who they were backing.

In the run-up, Russia claimed NATO was preparing to "occupy" Moldova, though it gave no evidence and has repeatedly accused the government in Chisinau of "anti-Russian hysteria."

Sandu, and others, accused the Kremlin of "pouring hundreds of millions of euros" into the country to spread disinformation.

In recent weeks, Moldovan authorities followed up these allegations by carrying out police raids throughout the country aimed at what they called "preparation of mass riots and destabilization, which were coordinated from the Russian Federation through criminal elements."

Two pro-Russian parties -- the Heart of Moldova and Moldova Mare (Greater Moldova) -- were also barred from participating in this weekend's vote after allegations of voter bribery, illegal party financing, and money laundering -- the final decision on Greater Moldova was made on September 28, hours after the vote began.

The European Union, normally strictly neutral about elections in member states and candidate countries, made little effort of hiding its allegiances for PAS with a European Commission spokesperson noting that Russia was "deeply interfering in the electoral process."

But it didn't stop there.

Numerous European leaders showed up in Chisinau in recent times with obligatory photo-ops with Sandu, sanctions on pro-Russian politicians have been imposed and enlarged in the last couple of years, and a 1.9 billion euro ($2.23 billion) growth plan for the next three years was unveiled in early 2025 to finance infrastructure and energy projects in the country.

Perhaps the coup de grace was delivered just three days before the vote when Greece allowed for the extradition of the oligarch Vlad Plahotniuc.

The image of the lead suspect in a long-running investigation into the disappearance of some $1 billion from banks back in 2014 arriving in handcuffs in Chisinau was just the tonic that Sandu, who has built her entire career on fighting graft, needed.

The fact is that the EU simply could not afford to lose this vote.

Since the Georgian Dream clung to power in a parliamentary election in Georgia last fall, Tbilisi has slipped away from talks about bloc membership, even if the country still nominally is a candidate.

And with no end in sight for the war in Ukraine and the momentum on the battlefield still favoring Russia, Moldova remains the only country in the club's eastern neighborhood that has a viable chance of becoming a member.

The goal of achieving that this decade remains after the election.

Chisinau and Brussels are ready to open negotiations on all 33 enlargement chapters. It can go fast as the EU is keen to add at least a few more members both from the Western Balkans and the east before the next European election in 2029.

So far, nothing has moved as Moldova and Ukraine are coupled in the process and Hungary is blocking Kyiv's EU path due to minority rights issues.

It could well be that Moldova now moves ahead without Ukraine, potentially even later this year.

The PAS win is a Ukrainian win as well.

An important hub for the war-torn country, Kyiv could ill-afford having another hostile neighbor, this time to its west.

Now, it could well be that Moldova is the locomotive that pulls Ukraine with it into the EU.

That is what EU officials had in mind when both countries were given the green light to join the bloc three years ago. The pro-European victory at least ensures that the possibility still is real.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/moldova-eu-election-result- win-brussels-chisinau/33543650.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 - 28 September 2025 - Day 1313

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, there have been 109 combat clashes since the beginning of this day.

Zagarbniki made one rocket strike and 58 aviation strikes, applied 50 rockets, dropped 108 controlled air bombs. In addition, the Russians have engaged 2706 kamikaze drones and carried out 3391 shelling positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements.

In the North Slobozhansky and Kursky directions, Ukrainian soldiers repelled six Russian assault actions since the beginning of the day, another fight is ongoing.

The Russian enemy also launched four air strikes, while dropping eight controlled air bombs, carried out 130 shells, seven of which were from jet systems of salvage fire.

In the South Slobozhansky direction, the Russian enemy has attacked the positions of Ukrainian defenders four times in the areas of the settlements of Vovchansk, Ambarne and Kamyanka, so far three clashes are continuing.

In the Kupyansk direction, Russian units carried out three assault actions, trying to break through the positions of Ukrainian defenders in the areas of the settlements of Kupyansk and Zagrizove, one confrontation is still ongoing.

In the Lyman direction since the beginning of the day Russian zagarbniki four times attacked the positions of Ukrainians in the areas of the settlements of Torske, Derylove, Shandrigolove and in the direction of the settlement of Stavka.

In the sivers komu direction, the Russian enemy eight times tried to break through near fedorivka, grigorivka, serebryanka and towards yampol and dronivka.

In the Kramators komu direction one combat was recorded, the Russian enemy's units tried to advance towards the Predtecinyo.

In the Toretsky direction Russians seven times attacked the positions of Defense Forces. Efforts of the attack of the Russian occupiers concentrated in the areas of scherbinivka, stepanivka, ples iivka, poltavka, oleksandro-kalinovogo and rusynogo yar. The two clashes are still ongoing.

Since the beginning of the day in the Pokrovsky direction, Russian units 41 times tried to break through Ukrainian defense in the areas of settlements Volodymyrivka, Chervony Lyman, Nikanorivka, Lisivka, Zvirove, Kotline, Udaachne, Molodetske, Novoekonomichne, Philia and in the direction of Mirnograd, Rodinsky, Balagan. In six locations, the fighting does not stop.

Defense forces deter enemy attacks, the Russian enemy suffers significant losses - today 152 Russian invaders have been defecated in this direction, 96 of which are irrevocable. Ukrainian defenders destroyed three units of automotive equipment and 32 unmanned aircraft. Also significantly damaged three artillery systems, two tanks, six cars. In addition to this, Ukrainian defenders have struck eight coverings of personnel.

In the Novopavlovsky direction, Ukrainian units stopped 10 Russian attacks on the positions of Ukrainian troops in the area of settlements Ternove, Piddubne, Maliyivka, Novomikolaivka, Verbove and in the direction of Andriyivka-Klevtsove settlement, three more combat clashes are ongoing so far.

In the Gulyajpils komu direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled two Russian attacks in the area of Poltavka. The Russian enemy's aviation struck the Zaliznychnomu and Novoselivka.

In the Orihiv direction the Russian opponent did not carry out offensive actions.

In the pridniprovsk direction, the Russian opponent made two unsuccessful attempts of offense, suffered losses. At the same time, the Russian enemy launched an aviation strike on the settlement of Olgivka.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that last night, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out a massive strike with long-range high-precision weapons, sea-based weapons, and unmanned aerial vehicles against Ukrainian defence industry facilities as well as the infrastructure of military airfields.

The objectives of the strike were achieved. All the designated targets were hit.

Units of the Sever Group of Forces defeated formations of one mechanised brigade and one motorised infantry brigade, two assault regiments and one air assault regiment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Pisarevka, Varachino, Kondratovka, Ivolzhanskoye, Stepnoye, and Alekseyevka in Sumy region.

In Kharkov direction, Russian troops hit units of one motorised infantry brigade, one heavy mechanised brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and the border guard detachment of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine near Vilcha, Bologovka, Sinelnikovo, and Volchansk in Kharkov region.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine losses were up to 175 troops, one armoured fighting vehicle, 13 motor vehicles, one 152-mm D-20 gun, one electronic warfare station, and four ammunition depots.

Units of the Zapad Group of Forces improved their tactical situation on the front line. Russian troops are mopping suburban areas up in Kirovsk (Donetsk People's Republic).

Russian troops inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of six mechanised brigades and two assault brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, one territorial defence brigade, and one National Guard brigade close to Peschanoye, Moskovka, Novosergeyevka, Petrovka (Kharkov region), Volchy Yar, Novoselovka, Yampol, and Krasny Liman (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 230 troops, one tank, three armoured fighting vehicles, 18 motor vehicles, seven electronic warfare stations, and nine ammunition depots.

Units of the Yug Group of Forces improved their situation on the front line and continued to destroy the enemy blocked south of the Kleban-Byk Reservoir in the Donetsk People's Republic.

Russian troops inflicted fire damage on formations of three mechanised brigades, one airmobile brigade, one mountain assault brigade, and assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, one territorial defence brigade, and one National Guard brigade close to Ivanopolye, Berestok, Seversk, Slavyansk, Alekseyevo-Druzhkovka, Kleban-Byk, and Konstantinovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy lost up to 260 servicemen, a tank, 12 vehicles and three field artillery pieces. A radio-electronic warfare station, three ammunition and fuel depots were destroyed.

Units of the Tsentr Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. Russian troops defeated manpower and hardware of four mechanised brigades, one airmobile brigade, one assault brigade, one airborne brigade, two air assault brigades, three assault regiments of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, two marine brigades, one territorial defence brigade, and two National Guard brigades in close to Krasnoarmeysk, Dimitrov, Torskoye, Priyut, Grishino, Belitskoye, Rodinskoye, Zolotoy Kolodez (Donetsk People's

Republic), Filiya and Novopavlovka (Dnepropetrovsk region).

The enemy losses were more than 505 troops, one tank, three pickup trucks, and one 122-mm D-30 howitzer.

Units of the Vostok Group of Forces continued to advance deep into enemy defences. Servicemen defeated formations of four mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and one territorial defence brigade near Chervonoye, Novogrigorovka, Poltavka (Zaporozhye region), Stepovoye and Verbovoye (Dnepropetrovsk region).

The Armed Forces of Ukraine losses were more than 305 troops, one tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, 10 motor vehicles, and one electronic warfare station.

Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces defeated manpower and hardware of one air assault brigade, one mountain assault brigade, and one infantry brigade, two coastal defence brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and one territorial defence brigade close to Belogorye, Stepovoye (Zaporozhye region), Nikolayevka, Antonovka, and Lvovo (Kherson region).

The enemy losses were up to 55 Ukrainian servicemen, two armoured fighting vehicles, nine motor vehicles , one unmanned boat, seven electronic warfare stations, and two ammunition depots.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces inflicted fire damage on a traction substations used to transport weapons and military hardware by rail to combat zones in Donbass, assembly and storage sites for unmanned boats and long-range unmanned aerial vehicles, and their launch areas as well as temporary deployment areas of the AFU and foreign mercenaries in 147 areas.

Air defence systems shot down six guided aerial bombs, six projectiles of U.S.-made HIMARS multiple-launch rocket systems and Czech-made Vampire systems as well as 230 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.

In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, the enemy has lost: 667 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 87,130 unmanned aerial vehicles, 631 anti-aircraft missile systems, 25,273 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,592 MLRS combat vehicles, 30,010 field artillery guns and mortars, 42,797 support military vehicles.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Secretary Noem Issues Statement of Support to Create a Secretary of the United States Coast Guard

Release Date: September 25, 2025

WASHINGTON -- Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem publicly endorsed a letter delivered by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth supporting the creation of a Secretary of the United States Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard's broad and specialized mission gives it duties as both a federal law enforcement agency and a branch of the U.S. military. The Coast Guard has lacked a civilian Service Secretary to lead its force, direct policy, and set strategic goals. As part of a full-scale effort to revitalize the Coast Guard, Secretary Noem is requesting Congress to create a Secretary of the Coast Guard.

"The Coast Guard is the tip of the spear in the fight to protect our Homeland," said Secretary Noem. "Every day, they are taking down drug smugglers, going toe-to-toe with our adversaries in the Arctic and the Pacific, and saving lives. Having a Secretary of the Coast Guard will be essential for President Trump's mandate to rebuild the Service into the finest maritime fighting force in the world. I emphatically endorse and support Secretary Hegseth's recommendation and look forward to working with him, President Trump, and Congress to make this a reality."

The other five branches in the Armed Service are led by civilian Service Secretaries, who direct policy, represent the Service to Congress and other branches of government, and carry out the President's agenda.

Having a service secretary will better equip the Coast Guard to conduct its already successful joint operations with other branches of the armed forces. Under Title 14, Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachments (LEDETs) provide powerful law enforcement authority and capability against Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Transnational Criminal Organizations, to include vessels engaged in illicit drug and human trafficking. LEDETs are the Coast Guard's interdiction boarding experts that expand the Service's law enforcement capability to naval and partner nation assets who lack organic authority. Recent examples of this coordination include LEDETs embarked on the USS Cole and USS Minneapolis-St. Paul, on the USS Sampson, on the USS Gravely, and numerous others.

"We recognize and deeply value the Department of Homeland Security's stewardship of the Coast Guard's multi-mission character and its unique homeland security capabilities," said Secretary Hegseth in his letter to Secretary Noem. "The Department of War believes that the establishment of a Secretary of the Coast Guard can complement and reinforce these strengths while ensuring that, in times of peace or war, the Service is postured to support the full spectrum of national security operations."

###

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






First Meeting of the U.S.-Mexico Security Implementation Group Launches Mission Firewall: United Against Arms Trafficking Initiative

US Department of State

Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

September 27, 2025

On Friday, September 26, 2025, representatives from six United States government agencies and their Mexican government counterparts convened the inaugural meeting of the U.S.-Mexico Security Implementation Group. This implementation group was announced during Secretary Rubio's recent trip to Mexico to ensure effective security cooperation, which is based on the principles of reciprocity, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as mutual trust. The Security Implementation Group will meet regularly to coordinate actions by the U.S. and Mexico to dismantle the narcoterrorists, end the fentanyl crisis, strengthen border security, combat illicit finance, prevent fuel theft, and increase investigations and prosecutions to halt the flow of drugs and illicit firearms that fuel narcoterrorism.

Hosted in McAllen, Texas, the meeting also marked the launch of an ambitious bilateral effort to combat illicit firearms trafficking through an unprecedented level of collaboration between both nations. Discussions culminated in the announcement of the "Mission Firewall: United Against Firearms Trafficking Initiative." This initiative will disrupt illicit weapons trafficking across the U.S.-Mexico border. Key objectives include facilitating Mexico's expansion of the use of eTrace and ballistic imaging technology to all 32 Mexican states, advancing information-sharing platforms, and increasing bilateral investigations and prosecutions. The U.S. will increase inspections and coordination with Mexico to stop the southbound flow of firearms.

During the meeting, the United States and Mexico drove action on strengthening information sharing between the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, and their Mexican government counterparts. At Mexico's request, the United States has created a first-of-its-kind secure platform to allow information sharing regarding suspicious air shipments and packages to identify and interdict illicit drugs, chemical precursors, firearms, and illicit fuels. Both nations will expand security cooperation to build capacity to target and destroy cartels and to significantly improve security benchmarks. The Group also announced the formation of a bilateral working group to combat cross-border illicit finance and cooperate on civil asset forfeiture - key measures to disrupt transnational criminal organizations by cutting off their funding at several sources.

Through the leadership and close collaboration of President Trump and President Sheinbaum, the United States and Mexico are embarking on a new chapter of security cooperation based on mutual security interests, reaffirming their shared vision for a safer and more prosperous region.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Addressing world challenges at the United Nations General Assembly

Media release

Thursday 25 September 2025

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

The Hon Anthony Albanese MP

Prime Minister of Australia

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has concluded his first visit to the United Nations (UN) General Assembly. During the 80th session he engaged with world leaders and reaffirmed Australia's commitment to working with partners to address global challenges.

The Prime Minister delivered Australia's National Statement to the General Assembly, outlining Australia's strong support for the UN and the multilateral system.

At UN Headquarters, the Prime Minister hosted an event attended by world leaders on protecting children in the digital age and showcased Australia's landmark social media minimum age laws.

The Prime Minister also shared Australia's 2035 emissions reduction target at the UN Secretary-General's Special High-Level Event on Climate Action.

Showcasing Australia as an attractive investment location, the Prime Minister met with senior US business leaders to highlight how the Future Made in Australia agenda will capture the opportunities of the global net zero transformation.

The Prime Minister also joined other partners in announcing Australia's recognition of the State of Palestine, and addressed the Two-State Solution Conference, hosted by France and Saudi Arabia.

Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

"This visit was focussed on taking forward Australian's national and economic interests at home.

"I am pleased to have had the opportunity to engage with world leaders on the issues we face as an international community, and advocate for Australia's interests.

"It was important to highlight global issues at the United Nations that matter to everyday Australians, including the protection of young people online and the global transition to net-zero.

"I was also proud to bring Australia to the world stage and showcase our Future Made in Australia agenda.

"Global challenges require global action, and it's only together we can solve the problems we face as an international community."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Thunder and lightning in the Top End skies

By Flight Lieutenant Kayla Walliss

26 September 2025

F-35A Lightning II aircraft from 3 and 75 Squadrons took to the Northern Territory skies for Exercise Arnhem Thunder last month.

Held at RAAF Bases Tindal and Darwin, the Air Force collective training and offensive counter air activity involved live weapons drops at the Delamere Air Weapons Range.

3 Squadron Detachment Commander Squadron Leader Grant Burr said Arnhem Thunder was a regular exercise for Air Combat Group, generating proficiency in the use of live ordnance against advanced surface and air threats.

"This year, 3 Squadron has deployed to RAAF Base Tindal to work alongside 75 Squadron to rehearse 5th generation tactics and deliver the majority of air-surface weapon variants able to be carried by the F-35A," Squadron Leader Burr said.

"Operating out of the Northern Territory provides an environment to rehearse dispersed operations and operate armed aircraft in challenging physical conditions.

"The massive size of the Northern Territory airspace provides our aircraft with freedom of movement and is the ideal training venue for realistic live weapons employment against a credible adversary."

Although 3 and 75 Squadrons routinely work together, Squadron Leader Burr said Arnhem Thunder was another opportunity to extend the integration and teamwork between two of Australia's premier fighter squadrons.

Surveillance and Control Training Unit - operating from RAAF Base Williamtown - and 2 Squadron provided domestic and tactical control of the airspace during the exercise.

Operating an E-7A Wedgetail out of RAAF Base Darwin, 2 Squadron Detachment Commander Steven Walsh said Arnhem Thunder provided his team with excellent force generation opportunities, including live flying and control events for mission crew.

"During this exercise we have graduated six new E-7A air battle managers, including four United States Air Force [USAF] members and two electronic support measures operators, which also included one USAF member," Squadron Leader Walsh said.

"Deploying to, and operating from, remote locations provides 2 Squadron personnel an opportunity to test all facets of our day-to-day operations when away from our home base.

"It allows us to validate procedures as a deployed capability, constantly learning lessons and applying them to future iterations, thereby ensuring we are ready to deploy and operate at a moment's notice."

Squadron Leader Burr said training activities such as Arnhem Thunder were vital to the Air Force, as they directly contributed to the ADF's ability to maintain its preparedness requirements.

"To meet the challenges of our strategic environment, operating from our northern bases improves our ability to project force from northern Australia," Squadron Leader Burr said.

"We would like to thank the local Katherine and Darwin community for their continued and unwavering support as we execute our purpose of defending Australia and its national interests."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Army's new armour makes waves at sea

By Eamon McCaughan

26 September 2025

A trial conducted with HMAS Adelaide this month has demonstrated Navy's ability to move some of Army's newest and heaviest land combat platforms.

It was the first time Army's next-generation M1A2 Abrams tanks, combat engineering vehicles and Block II Boxer combat reconnaissance vehicles embarked in a Royal Australian Navy ship to test their sea transportability, marking a significant milestone in the development of Australia's littoral capability.

The trial paves the way for the vehicles to achieve their operational capability, ensuring they are ready for deployment.

Project Director Fundamental Inputs to Capability Colonel Ben Shepherd, of Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG), said the milestone was critical in ensuring Army's land combat systems were adaptable to Australia's strategic environment.

"Testing their integration and mobility with the Navy's [landing helicopter docks] LHDs demonstrates that we can move these vehicles rapidly and safely into areas where our forces are needed most," Colonel Shepherd said.

The ability to transport armour by sea directly onto land allows Army to support amphibious missions, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, and regional security tasks with greater speed and flexibility.

With its shallow draft, Adelaide is purpose-built to operate in ports and coastal waters inaccessible to larger vessels, making it an ideal platform for amphibious operations.

Director Land Combat Vehicle Program - Army Colonel David Hughes said it was important for Army's combined-arms land system to be amphibious-capable and able to project into the littoral region.

"Land combat vehicles have proven critical to support regional security and protect our soldiers," Colonel Hughes said.

"This activity proves that Army's newest armoured vehicles are truly part of the integrated joint force, thanks to the hard work and training by the soldiers of the 3rd Brigade, and the excellent support by Navy and CASG.

"This complements the amphibious activities by Army's armoured force elements on Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025. This ensures that, wherever Australia's interests are, Army can be there with the right capability at the right time."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Trilateral mortars on target

By Major Diana Jennings

26 September 2025

In a landmark first, Australian Army soldiers joined their Japanese and United States counterparts in a combined mortar live-fire on Japanese soil, demonstrating the growing strength of trilateral defence cooperation during Exercise Orient Shield.

Soldiers fired from different positions onto the same target by day and night, working as an integrated force.

Australian Lieutenant Chethiya Galhenage, who led the forward observation post, said the complex fire mission highlighted the benefits of combined training with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) and the US Army.

"Collaborating with the JGSDF and US Army on illumination fire missions made it clear that even with different tactics and communication, we can coordinate and succeed," Lieutenant Galhenage said.

The weather on day one tested the soldiers' fortitude, with heavy rain washing out the live-fire and forcing the platoons to bed down and attempt to stay dry.

But clear skies boosted morale on day two, and the Australian platoon from 1st Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, fired 315 high-explosive mortar rounds on target in under 24 hours.

Australian Mortar Platoon Sergeant Bryce Querruel said his soldiers relished the live-fire, but the highlight was hands-on integration training.

"The training day with the Japan Middle Army was awesome - to be able to see how the Japanese use different pieces of equipment to achieve the same effect on the ground," Sergeant Querruel said.

"We were also lucky enough to observe the US Army 60mm mortar range, and were able to join them on the line to support their fire mission.

"It was really good to see how they employ the 60mm versus 81mm in different environments to support infantry troops, and it's a great experience for the guys to get that exposure."

Missouri National Guard Staff Sergeant Jonathan Burken said that with limited opportunities to live-fire their 60mm mortars, his soldiers learned a lot from watching the Australian mortar platoon.

"We live-fire twice a year, which is not very much, so it's nice to be able to watch a proficient active duty unit," Staff Sergeant Burken said.

"Specifically, to see how they prepare and lay in their base plate, and how they communicate while executing live-fire; there's little things like that we can learn from the Aussies to tidy up our act a little bit."

Coordinating trilateral fire missions onto a single target in unpredictable weather, Staff Sergeant Burken admitted the exercise was a challenge, but one that proved rewarding and effective.

"It is the maximum growth in the shortest amount of time - it is stressful but worthwhile, and it's definitely a cool experience," he said.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Television interview - ABC Insiders

Transcript

Sunday 28 September 2025

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

The Hon Anthony Albanese MP

Prime Minister of Australia

DAVID SPEERS, HOST: Prime Minister, welcome.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good to be with you, David.

SPEERS: How was lunch with the King?

PRIME MINISTER: It was splendid. He is someone who is very interested in Australia, interested in the affairs of the world, and it's always a pleasure to talk with His Majesty. I've got to develop a relationship with him over recent years, and he was a very gracious host. I regarded it as a great personal honour to receive the invitation to Balmoral Castle. A personal honour, but really an honour for Australia as well.

SPEERS: There is all sorts of protocols around what you can and can't say, but can you give us any insight into what you discussed?

PRIME MINISTER: We discussed the full range of issues. We discussed events in Australia, but also the context of the uncertainty that's there in the world.

SPEERS: Donald Trump?

PRIME MINISTER: Well I don't go into any of the specifics, but we discussed world affairs, his views. He's always interested in what's happening in Australia and what our views are of the Australian Government. And we also had a rather wonderful lunch as well. So it was just a very good catch up and a great honour to be there. Balmoral Castle is quite a special place.

SPEERS: The last Prime Minister who went there to Balmoral was Paul Keating back in 93 and during that visit he told the Queen that his plan was to have a referendum on a republic, ditch the monarchy. I assume nothing like that came up today?

PRIME MINISTER: No, and I think I've made it clear that I wanted to hold one referendum while I was Prime Minister, and we did that.

SPEERS: And that's it?

PRIME MINISTER: We did that.

SPEERS: So one referendum the entire time you're Prime Minister?

PRIME MINISTER: We did that, and I think, we're concentrating on cost of living and on making a real, practical difference to people's lives. We -

SPEERS: Nonetheless, does it strike you as strange at all, that you as the Prime Minister of Australia, have come here the other side of the world, we're in Scotland, to visit the King of Australia?

PRIME MINISTER: Well of course, he is fully aware that I support an Australian as our Head of State, but I also respect the decisions which have been made and our system of government, and I think that's important. If you look at the way that I conduct myself, I always support the institutions which are there. I think that's important as Australia's Prime Minister.

SPEERS: What role does the Monarchy play in today's Australia? What does it bring to us?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, I certainly think that Sam Mostyn is doing a fantastic job, Her Excellency, as Australia's Governor General, as the representative in Australia. Representing Australia to other countries in our region, but also around Australia as well. She's someone who is very active.

SPEERS: Sure, but what about the Royal Family?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, the Royal Family, I think, are given a great deal of respect. Their Majesties, when they visited Australia recently, King Charles and Queen Camilla, were very well received. They work hard, they're interested in our place in the world. They're very interested in the Commonwealth. And CHOGM was held, of course, in the Pacific, in our region last year, and I think they are respected.

SPEERS: So you're nearing the end of what's been a jam packed week and a bit.

PRIME MINISTER: It's been pretty busy.

SPEERS: You had recognising Palestinian statehood, reviving a bid for Australia to win a seat on the UN Security Council, we've been meeting and drawing closer, I think, to the UK and Canada and France -

PRIME MINISTER: Investor Roundtable in New York.

SPEERS: All of these things. I'm just wondering, are you trying to, do you see a greater or broader role for Australia on the international stage, beyond the sort of regional focus that I think was dominant in your first term?

PRIME MINISTER: Australia punches above our weight, that's very clear to me when I have the honour of representing Australia in international forums. I think we primarily have to concentrate on our region in the Pacific, with ASEAN, I think that is where our focus should be. But we have three pillars, essentially, to our international affairs - our alliance with the United States, our regional engagement, but the third as well is our support for multilateralism, of which we have a proud history. And part of that is that in today's world, the land war in Europe with the Russian invasion of Ukraine has made a difference to the price of goods on supermarket shelves in Australia because of energy crisis that arose in part out of that.

SPEERS: It all flows through.

PRIME MINISTER: And that's why we can't afford to be isolationists. That's why we have to be concerned about the state of the world.

SPEERS: I guess what I'm getting at is, given the uncertainty too around Trump's America, are you seeking to draw closer to like-minded countries, the UK and Canada in particular?

PRIME MINISTER: In itself, of course, the UK, historically we have such an important relationship. Canada, under Prime Minister Carney, I got to know him quite well in a short period of time. We have very similar economies, so I think we can learn off each other. Issues like critical minerals have been discussed in recent days with the UK and with Canada, as well as of course the defence and security relationship with the UK is very important indeed. And support for free and fair trade in the region as well. We're currently the chair of the CPTPP, and we will have the APEC Summit in the next month.

SPEERS: Do you feel though, that with these like-minded countries, you need to be standing up for the rule of law on behalf of middle powers, democracies who do believe in the rule of law?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, the United Nations address was a real opportunity for us to put Australia's philosophical position, if you like, about our place in the world and the way that we want the world to operate, and the rule of law is important that there be guardrails. And the fact that the Russian invasion of Ukraine is perhaps a very acute example of where the international rule of law, if it's allowed to just occur, a more powerful nation attacking a sovereign nation in the way that that occurred. Australia has an interest in upholding international norms and rules.

SPEERS: You attended a conference in London yesterday of progressive leaders, and you also expressed concern about the rise of populist organisations like Nigel Farage's Reform Party here in the UK. Why do you think Reform is so popular right now here?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, I think the world is very much turbulent at the moment, and it is the case that sometimes people look for easy answers that their lot in life is difficult because of people who aren't like them. And the politics of grievance, of course, are always easy. It's easier to tear things down than it is to build them up. The job of social democrats is to build things, to create, to appeal to optimism and hope, which is a powerful force. But sometimes fear can be also a force that gets support.

SPEERS: Are some of these concerns, particularly migration, are they legitimate?

PRIME MINISTER: Oh look, people's concerns always have to be considered and respected. You've got to go to where people are and the way that they are thinking, you can't just dismiss that. You have to respond to that and indeed try to anticipate that in some ways. So I think that that's important. That was part of the discussion yesterday, was very much philosophical, if you like, about the way that the world can move forward in a more united way.

SPEERS: Nigel Farage, you seemed to suggest yesterday, that you wouldn't be prepared to meet. Is that right? Is that the best approach to someone you disagree with?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, I met yesterday with the Leader of the Labour Party and the Leader of the Opposition.

SPEERS: Of the Conservative Party.

PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, that's right.

SPEERS: But would you meet Nigel Farage?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, I haven't been invited to meet Nigel Farage, and you know, I'm aware of his views. We would have very different views. Were he ever to be in a position, I respect people's positions, and I engage with them. But I think, yesterday I was pleased to meet Kemi Badenoch, the Leader of the Conservative Party, and a range of her Shadow Ministers, her Chief of Staff. We had a very constructive meeting.

SPEERS: What about the speech that Donald Trump gave to the United Nations? You were there, you were sitting in the audience listening along. It was a rather extraordinary speech, and he did talk a lot about migration as well. He suggested that uncontrolled migration is sending Western countries to hell. What do you think about the way he's approaching this issue? Does he also concern you?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, it's not my job to give a critique of other leaders. My job is to govern in Australia's national interest, and part of what we've done is to be strong on borders without being weak on humanity. That's the approach -

SPEERS: But if Nigel Farage concerns you, doesn't Donald Trump?

PRIME MINISTER: I don't run, do a running commentary, on leaders of other nations. I respect the positions that they have. The truth is that around the world people want, including in Australia, people want borders to be controlled. They want control over their migration system. That's a way that you build support for migration as well. It's why my government has been concerned about that. It's why we've continued Operation Sovereign Borders. It's why no one who has arrived by boat or attempted to arrive by boat since I've been Prime Minister has been permitted to stay in Australia.



SPEERS: You said just a moment ago that Australia does need to stand up for the rule of law. Again with Donald Trump, what about the way the Justice Department in the United States is now being used to go after his political enemies, the former FBI Director James Comey, the latest example of this, and the President has said there will be others, were his words. Is there a point at which a line is crossed, and countries like Australia need to speak up about this?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, what we don't need to do is to interfere in the domestic politics of another nation. What we need to do is to stand up for our own values in the way that we govern Australia. And we do that, we speak out about what our values are, and we govern Australia accordingly.

SPEERS: That means no criticism of this sort of behaviour?

PRIME MINISTER: What it means is that we respect the fact that elected governments are allowed to govern their own nations. And I'm not going to run a running commentary on US domestic politics, because my priority is governing Australia in the interests of Australians.

SPEERS: You'll meet Donald Trump in a few weeks, you've secured that meeting at the White House. I'm just wondering about how, Prime Minister, you'll approach this. Some leaders have gone in with a big offering or a gesture. Sir Keir Starmer had the letter of invitation from the King for a state visit, Qatar famously offered to donate a 747 jet. Do you feel like you need to make some sort of offering to Donald Trump?

PRIME MINISTER: No, I feel like I need to treat him with the respect that the President of the United States deserves, and I expect that to be returned. And certainly the indications are, we've had five either phone conversations or greetings in person now, and they've all been warm, constructive, positive and optimistic. And I think it is in both Australia's interests and the interests of the United States that we continue to have a good relationship, and I'm sure that we will.

SPEERS: I guess Australia is offering access to critical minerals here. Can you explain what exactly is on the table here? Is it special access to the stockpile that you've promised to build? Special access to the US over others, like China?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, we'll have those negotiations with President Trump in person, with respect, David, rather than on Insiders.

SPEERS: It is Australia's resources -

PRIME MINISTER: But obviously Australia has everything that is in demand, almost the entire periodic table. And whether you're looking at lithium with the reserves that we have, or cobalt or copper or vanadium, we have great resources. We also have the capacity to value add as well. And we went to the election saying that we would have a critical minerals reserve, and that that would be a way in which we ensured that markets couldn't be manipulated in the way that nickel, for example, has been manipulated, the market there, to alter prices and therefore to reinforce dominance, in that case of China, in that market.

SPEERS: And is the US being offered something others aren't being offered by Australia?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, we'll have those discussion with the United States.

SPEERS: And you also talked critical minerals with the British PM yesterday.

PRIME MINISTER: Absolutely.

SPEERS: You referenced some sort of defence, or obviously they have a defence component to them. Could critical minerals become a third pillar of AUKUS here in some way?

PRIME MINISTER: What they could become, certainly as a part of Pillar Two, by definition, because a range of the equipment, what's required for defence of all of our three nations will be critical minerals will play a role in that.

SPEERS: And would that be your preference to frame this as an AUKUS initiative to mine and process those critical minerals?

PRIME MINISTER: No, this is a bit different, but there's a connection, obviously, with defence, but there's also civil use as well of critical minerals and rare earths. We have an abundance, and one of the things that we want to do is to make sure that we don't just dig things up, our resources, export them, watch someone else value add and then import them back at greater prices. What we have an opportunity to do, in part because of clean energy, because of the space that we have, is to have our resources dug up, yes, but value adding in Australia. A reserve that makes sure that we can play a role in international markets as well, to stop manipulation, particularly by state enterprises, and that is something that we are very consciously doing. Learning from some of the errors, perhaps, of the past. I mean, there's not a solar panel in the world that doesn't have intellectual property in it that was developed in Australia. We weren't good at commercialising the opportunities. So what we're talking about here is not giving anything to anyone, even our friends. What we are talking about is making sure that we maximise the return to Australia of that, but that we also make sure that we play a role in those international markets.

SPEERS: Final one, you're off to the UK Labour Party Conference tomorrow where you'll be giving an address. Are you attending as Prime Minister, as Labor leader, or a little bit both?

PRIME MINISTER: Well I'm always, everyone is a part of their title. And Sir Keir Starmer, of course, has invited me to come to the UK. One of the things I'll be doing tomorrow as well is to meet further with John Healey and with other people in the administration as well. The UK relationship is really important. Every Minister in the UK Government will be in Liverpool tomorrow. I'll be there too, and I'll be meeting and engaging with them. Helping to promote what we've done in the past week, which is to support the social media ban, of course, we had an important event there. The investor meeting that we had in New York, the engagement we've had with the private sector here and in the United States as well, before we head to the UAE, where I'll be the next day, on Monday, talking as well there. The Free Trade Agreement that we've established with the UAE opens up the Middle East market for Australia. Everything that we do in international forums is about helping domestically, create jobs, boost our economy, strengthen it, and to make a difference to the people that we want to represent, the Australian people.

SPEERS: The trip's not done yet, is it Prime Minister.

PRIME MINISTER: Not yet.

SPEERS: We thank you for joining us.

PRIME MINISTER: It's been a busy time.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Television interview - Sky News Sunday Agenda

Transcript

Sunday 28 September 2025

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

The Hon Anthony Albanese MP

Prime Minister of Australia

KIERAN GILBERT, HOST: The Prime Minister has been given a royal audience by King Charles at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. The meeting came a day after Anthony Albanese spoke with the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer. Political editor, Andrew Clennell spoke to me from Scotland.

ANDREW CLENNELL, HOST: Kieran, here I am outside Balmoral Castle, where Anthony Albanese has driven for miles through the rolling green hills of Scotland for an audience with the King. I spoke to the Prime Minister a short time ago after what has been a very busy trip so far.

Prime Minister, thanks so much for your time.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good to be with you, Andrew.

CLENNELL: How is the King and how does he react to you being a Republican?

PRIME MINISTER: His Majesty was delightful, as he always is. He's warm and engaging. It was very good of him to honour Australia with the invitation to come here to Balmoral Castle for a one on one meeting, but also for a very nice lunch.

CLENNELL: It's been reported he had some influence on Donald Trump and his visit here, including on Ukraine. And I guess he mentioned AUKUS publicly too. Did he discuss any of that with you?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, protocol requires that those discussions remain private. I respect that protocol. But His Majesty is, as you will see from his public comments, someone who is interested in Australia. He's interested in the state of the world and the future of the world, including for younger generations. He's someone who I take a great deal of benefit from his insights into issues and it's always good to have these one on one discussions with him.

CLENNELL: Briefly though, he kind of did you a favour with the AUKUS comment with Trump, didn't he? Or did Australia a favour, should I say?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, he's someone who's conscious about Australia's interests and he's someone who is very aware of what is happening in Australia. He takes a great interest. I have conversations with him on the phone as well as the one-on-one meetings that we've had since I've been Prime Minister and every one of them has been worthwhile.

CLENNELL: Speaking of one on one conversations, tell us about your brief meeting with Donald Trump. How did it work? Did all the leaders meet him for the photograph or was it independent of that that you met up?

PRIME MINISTER: Oh, not all. I think others did, though. So it was an opportunity to engage with him briefly to talk about the October 20th meeting that we will have, but also to engage personally on some one-on-one issues as well. So, it was a good discussion, it was very warm.

CLENNELL: Do you like Donald Trump from what you've seen so far in your phone calls?

PRIME MINISTER: I do. They've been very warm, the conversations that we've had. And he was very generous in the comments that he made when we discussed after my re-election. I look forward to sitting down with him.

CLENNELL: At that summit in London, you and the other leaders were rallying against what you called 'far-right populism'. But isn't that sort of right populism what got Donald Trump to power? Is there a danger in talking like this ahead of your meeting?

PRIME MINISTER: No. We put forward and I put forward Australia's national interest and our views on politics. But I'm always very respectful of leaders who I deal with and I'm respectful of President Trump. Both as a person who has risen, won two elections, came back after not being successful in 2020 to be elected, re elected President of the United States. The relationship between Australia and the United States is a very important one.

CLENNELL: Why, in your view, has it taken this long to get the meeting?

PRIME MINISTER: Oh look, these things, I think the media have been more focused on that than others. We have had warm discussions, we've got the lowest tariff of any country - no country's done better than Australia has. And so we've been engaged, and not surprisingly, of course, the President, because of what was happening in Iran at that time, left the G7 when a meeting was scheduled. That was perfectly understandable.

CLENNELL: But you have such different views on, and values, as you put it, on a lot of issues. I must admit, if I were you, I would go to the White House with some trepidation. Do you hold any fears in terms of this meeting?

PRIME MINISTER: No, not at all. The discussions we've had have been very positive and constructive and Australia and the United States are great friends. We pull our weight and we - it's not a relationship of unequals. The United States is obviously the largest economy in the world, the most powerful country in the world, but Australia, always, we punch way above our weight and we engage. The United States has a trade surplus with Australia. We have warm people to people relations. I've had a number of discussions with people in the Administration, including in New York. I didn't just talk with President Trump, I talked with a range of other people as well.

CLENNELL: Who? Marco Rubio?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, Scott Bessent and I had a very good discussion there.

CLENNELL: Keir Starmer talked up action on climate change and is very much on the same page as you on it, with one outlier, and that's he put nuclear in the mix. Do you think we'll never see nuclear power in Australia?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, it doesn't stack up economically. See if you can find someone who's investing in it. No one's been able to do that, which is why the Coalition went to an election saying that taxpayers would have to do it because the private sector, it just doesn't add up for what is necessary to for the immediate needs. Our coal-fired power stations, 24 out of 28 announced their closure under the former government and nothing was done to step up and to fill that gap. What is needed and what can be done is renewables backed by storage and backed by gas.

CLENNELL: Now you're going better than most of the so-called progressive leaders around the world, there's no doubt about that, politically. Do you think illegal migration and the fact you've got a handle on that is a key to that? Because that's what really seems to be, you know, a massive political issue in other countries.

PRIME MINISTER: I'll leave the commentating to the commentators. But we have a strong position on these issues, as I said we would prior to our election in 2022. I think you can be strong on borders without being weak on humanity and that's what drives my government.

CLENNELL: Now Sussan Ley's made some comments at home about you attending the British Labour Conference. I guess the Progress Action Summit was from Labour Together. Can you understand if some Australians view the amount of travel you've ended up doing this year as excessive? Or what do you make of those comments she's made about them being basically political events?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, I think that says more, she can explain her own position, but what I do is work very hard representing Australia. You've been with me, Andrew. Do you think we've been sitting around during this time? And you know, I've had journalists who tell me how tired they are. Well, just try to keep up, because I work each and every day for Australia. And in the UK, I got an invitation from Prime Minister Keir Starmer, yesterday I was able to meet with the Prime Ministers of Spain, Iceland, Canada, the UK, as well as with Kemi Badenoch, the Leader of the Conservatives in the UK as well, because it's been a bipartisan position, at least from the UK's perspective. I'm not sure what Sussan Ley's comment means for that, but we have an important economic relationship with our Free Trade Agreement. And in Liverpool I'll be having discussions with Ministers, not just with Prime Minister Starmer about AUKUS. And about that progress, taking the opportunity to sit down with government ministers.

CLENNELL: Just finally, Donald Trump's forced different ownership for TikTok in America. Is that something you've at all looked at or considered or could be something that you considered down the track?

PRIME MINISTER: We haven't given consideration that. What we have done is take the security advice, which is that TikTok isn't on government phones.

CLENNELL: Prime Minister, thanks so much for your time.

PRIME MINISTER: Thanks very much, Andrew.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Strengthening ties with the UK

Media release

Monday 29 September 2025

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

The Hon Anthony Albanese MP

Prime Minister of Australia

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has concluded his official visit to the United Kingdom.

In London, the Prime Minister met with Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Sir Keir Starmer, to discuss defence and security cooperation, climate and energy transition, and trade and investment opportunities.

The Prime Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to the AUKUS partnership, which will expand security, create thousands of jobs in each nation and deliver significant industry and workforce benefits for all partners.

Leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation on critical minerals and critical technologies, particularly across the defence sector.

Prime Minister Albanese joined Prime Minister Starmer, Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada and Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir of Iceland at the Global Progress Action Summit. He had bilateral meetings with the Prime Ministers of Spain and Canada while at the Summit.

The Prime Minister had an audience with His Majesty King Charles III at Balmoral Castle.

The Prime Minister spoke at the UK Labour Party Conference at the invitation of Prime Minister Starmer.

The Prime Minister will now travel home to Australia, stopping off in Abu Dhabi where he will meet with President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, and discuss the historic commencement of the landmark Australia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.

Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

"Our focus always when representing Australia overseas is how it can benefit Australians at home.

"As old friends, the UK and Australia are working together to realise new opportunities for Australians and the British people on both sides of the world.

"It is always a pleasure to meet with Prime Minister Starmer and reaffirm the strength of the Australia-United Kingdom relationship, including through the AUKUS partnership with the United States.

"It was an honour to be received by His Majesty The King at Balmoral Castle."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Meeting with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko

Talks were held between Vladimir Putin and President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko in the Kremlin.

September 26, 2025

17:30

The Kremlin, Moscow

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Lukashenko,

Thank you once again for accepting the invitation and coming to Moscow to participate in the events marking the 80th anniversary of Russia's nuclear industry. This is, in many ways, a celebration we share, first and foremost because it marks 80 years since the establishment of the nuclear industry in the USSR

President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko: Where we have stood together.

Vladimir Putin: We stood together at that time. Second, today, the Republic of Belarus has become our reliable partner in the nuclear energy sector, with its first nuclear power plant now operational. Beyond that, Belarus has created a nuclear industry, producing specialists who are even working with Rosatom on the construction of nuclear facilities in third countries. This progress is, of course, very encouraging.

As you mentioned yesterday, about 40 percent of electricity in Belarus is now generated by its nuclear power plant. In doing so, we created a competitor for Gazprom, which had previously been the supplier of primary energy source for Belarus. While Belarus continues to buy [from Gazprom], its needs have, of course, significantly decreased.

Overall, our economic relations are very strong. Remarkably, our trade turnover exceeds US$50 billion, and it continues to grow, from last year into the first half of this year. In terms of accumulated investment, at US$4.5 billion, Russia remains the leading trade and economic partner for Belarus. Broadly speaking, we are actively cooperating across nearly all sectors.

The same applies to security matters and the security of the Union State. As we agreed, everything in this area is progressing smoothly and naturally.

I want to express my gratitude for your responsible and constructive approach to all aspects of our cooperation.

It is a great pleasure to see you. Welcome!

Alexander Lukashenko: You said I came to the forum, but I simply couldn't resist.

You are absolutely right. We have done a great deal together to develop the nuclear industry, and our paths have never truly diverged. Thanks to your support, the nuclear power plant was built. Moreover, you kept your promise by teaching us how to build nuclear power plants ourselves.

Today, we are collaborating with Rosatom to construct nuclear power plants in other countries. That is the only area we have not yet fully explored. However, if the need arises, we are ready to consider projects such as welding reactors, structure, or any other necessary components. For now, there's no such need. Rosatom handles these tasks at its facilities in Russia.

Our construction workers are good - their Russians customers are very pleased with their work. In fact, a significant number of our construction workers are currently working in Russia, as several governors have recently confirmed publicly. We plan to apply the competencies we acquired while building the nuclear power plant to our future joint projects that benefit both Belarus and Russia.

As I mentioned yesterday - and, if you agree, we can discuss this further today - one potential project is to expand the existing nuclear power plant or construct a new one, possibly in eastern Belarus. This would help provide electricity to the eastern regions liberated by Russia (the Kherson and the Zaporozhye regions, the Lugansk and Donetsk republics), a measure that may be necessary given the situation with the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant.

But I should note that we had our concerns: Belarus has never experienced an electricity shortage. So, we were concerned: if we build a power plant, what's next?

Vladimir Putin: Your economy is growing.

Alexander Lukashenko: Our economy is growing. We are seeing more and more electric vehicles, which require charging infrastructure - an area where we have already developed and now export charging stations to Russia. Most importantly, we have been running successful experiments on replacing household gas with electricity. It works well.

Vladimir Putin: You know, artificial intelligence, data centres

Alexander Lukashenko: You mentioned that yesterday.

Vladimir Putin: This is a perfect opportunity to advance those industries.

Alexander Lukashenko: Yes, a major new consumer is emerging.

Vladimir Putin: And a very powerful one, at that.

Alexander Lukashenko: We have our gas-fired power plants, which we keep on standby - what we call 'in cold mode.' Their energy has been used for things like powering mining operations. We have foreign clients paying for that power, which brings money into the budget. Since these plants are running, we are importing the necessary gas volumes from Gazprom and will naturally continue doing so. I think, Gazprom is not losing anything here. Everyone needs natural gas today, so, we will keep our efforts going in this area.

The fact is, Rosatom has already drawn up a few different scenarios for expanding our nuclear capacity further. I'd rather not get into the financial specifics publicly just yet. We have several options on the table, and I will share the details with you. Once a decision is made - if we see a clear need in western Russia and the liberated regions - we can get started straight away on a new power unit or even a new power plant. The Government will run the numbers.

Vladimir Putin: Financing should not be an issue. If you have a consumer ready to buy the electricity at your price, it should not be a problem at all.

Alexander Lukashenko: That is the main thing. There are just a couple of issues we need to settle by the end of the year. Or even one issue that pertains to our bilateral relations. And, what is there to hide? I would like to discuss a number of regional problems with you - as you know, we have our share of them.

You know, people say we meet often, but it feels like it's been a while, and a whole pile of issues has stacked up. We will work through them today and make the necessary decisions.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you very much.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Minister Anand meets with Qatar's Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs

Global Affairs Canada

Readout

September 25, 2025 - New York City, New York - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Qatar's Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, on the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York City, New York.

The ministers highlighted the positive and growing bilateral relations between Canada and Qatar and noted their shared desire to grow the economic partnership through enhanced trade and investment.

The ministers discussed the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza. Minister Anand reiterated Canada's strong condemnation of the strikes conducted by the Israel Defense Forces in Qatar, a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The ministers underscored the need for co-ordinated international action to support peace, security and the dignity of Israelis and Palestinians.

The ministers agreed that there is no sustainable peace without a two-state solution and that there can be no two-state solution without an independent, viable and sovereign Palestinian state living side by side with the State of Israel in peace and security.

The ministers underscored Palestinians' right to self-determination and how Canada's recent recognition of the State of Palestine is a necessary step on the path toward a two-state solution.

Minister Anand thanked Qatar for its leadership role alongside the United States and Egypt in efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of Israeli hostages and scaled-up flows of life-saving assistance for Palestinian civilians. The ministers agreed on the urgent need to intensify efforts to achieve sustainable peace and security in the region.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Minister Anand meets with Haiti's Minister of Foreign Affairs

Global Affairs Canada

Readout

September 25, 2025 - New York City, New York - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with Jean-Victor Harvel Jean-Baptiste, Haiti's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Religious Affairs, during the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week in New York. Minister Anand reaffirmed Canada's steadfast support for Haiti and its people as the country continues to face political, security and humanitarian challenges.

During the meeting, Minister Anand discussed Canada's new funding of $60 million to support multilateral efforts aimed at stabilizing Haiti. This includes $40 million for the Multinational Security Support mission (or its successor mission), conditional on the passing of the Haiti resolution currently under consideration by the UN Security Council. The funding also includes $20 million for a Regional Maritime Security Initiative to bolster capacity to address the growing threat of transnational organized crime in Haiti and the Caribbean region.

Minister Anand and Minister Jean-Baptiste discussed ways to ensure that Canada's support complements Haiti-led efforts to improve security, strengthen institutions, work towards free and fair elections and address humanitarian needs. They also emphasized the importance of multilateral collaboration and of addressing the root causes of insecurity, including impunity, to advance stability and security in the region.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Prime Minister Carney meets with Prime Minister of Jamaica and Chair of the Caribbean Community Andrew Holness

Prime Minister of Canada - Mark Carney

September 25, 2025

Ottawa, Ontario

Yesterday, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, met with the Prime Minister of Jamaica and Chair of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Andrew Holness, on the margins of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), in New York City, United States of America.

Prime Minister Carney and Prime Minister Holness discussed building stronger ties between Canada and Jamaica in trade, security, and commerce, including through the Canada-CARICOM Strategic Partnership.

The leaders expressed their concern on the crisis in Haiti, underlined the need for long-term security and stability, and agreed that expanded international support is urgently required. Prime Minister Carney shared Canada's funding of $60 million to support Haiti and maritime security, as announced the day before at UNGA.

The prime ministers will remain in contact.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Reintroduction of the Military Justice System Modernization Act

National Defence

Backgrounder

September 26, 2025 - Ottawa - National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

Today, the Honourable David J. McGuinty, the Minister of National Defence, introduced An Act to amend the National Defence Act and other Acts (Military Justice System Modernization Act). The legislation was originally proposed as Bill C-66 but was terminated with the prorogation of Parliament in January 2025. The Military Justice System Modernization Act addresses key recommendations made by former Supreme Court Justices Louise Arbour and Morris J. Fish. This legislative proposal continues the constant evolution and modernization of the Military Justice System to meet the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) needs to maintain discipline, efficiency and morale.

The proposed legislation is grouped into four key areas:

1. The removal of the CAF's investigative and prosecutorial jurisdiction over Criminal Code sexual offences committed in Canada.

This proposed change addresses Recommendation 5 of the Honourable Louise Arbour's Report of the Independent External Comprehensive Review of the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces (IECR), which states that, "Criminal Code sexual offences should be removed from the jurisdiction of the CAF. They should be prosecuted exclusively in civilian criminal courts in all cases. Where the offence takes place in Canada, it should be investigated by civilian police forces at the earliest opportunity."

The proposed legislation provides exclusive jurisdiction to civilian authorities to investigate and prosecute sexual offences in Canada.

Recommendation #5 is the only recommendation from IECR exclusively implemented through legislation. Progress to implement all 48 IECR recommendations is either complete or underway with oversight provided by the External Monitor, Madame Jocelyne Therrien, who has provided regular progress reports.

2. This proposed legislation also addresses eight recommendations (2, 7, 8, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16) from the Report of the Third Independent Review Authority to the Minister of National Defence of the National Defence Act by former Supreme Court Justice Morris J. Fish. These amendments seek to, among other things:

Revise the appointment process of the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal, to be retitled the Provost Marshal General, the Director of Military Prosecutions and the Director of Defence Counsel Services;

Broaden the eligibility criteria for military judge appointments to include non-commissioned members;

Affirm the Judge Advocate General's commitment to the respect for the independence of military justice authorities in the exercise of its superintendence of the administration of military justice;

Expand the class of persons who may make an interference complaint and provide that a member of the military police or person performing policing duties or functions under the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal's supervision must make such a complaint in certain circumstances; and

Rename the title of the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal to the Provost Marshal General to align with the titles of other senior designations in the CAF, such as the Surgeon General, the Chaplain General, and the Judge Advocate General.

These legislative amendments continue the modernization of the military justice system to allow it to remain effective, accountable, and aligned with the operational needs of the CAF.

3. The proposed amendments also seek to exclude military judges from the summary hearing system, and expand access to Victim Liaison Officers, under the Declaration of Victims Rights, to individuals acting on behalf of a victim

4. Amendments to the National Defence Act are also proposed to align provisions related to sex offender information and publication bans with the amendments made to the Criminal Code in An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Sex Offender Information Registration Act and the International Transfer of Offenders Act. These proposed changes are essential to ensure the military justice system remains constitutional and aligned with the Criminal Code and the civilian criminal justice system.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Minister Anand meets with New Zealand's Minister of Foreign Affairs

Global Affairs Canada

Readout

September 26, 2025 - New York City, New York - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with Winston Peters, New Zealand's Minister of Foreign Affairs, at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, New York.

The ministers discussed opportunities for deepening the Canada-New Zealand partnership and increasing the close and long-standing cooperation between the two countries on common security, defence, trade and foreign policy objectives.

They agreed on the importance of trade diversification, supply chain resilience and the need for deeper economic cooperation to contribute to a safe and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.

Minister Anand reaffirmed Canada's commitment to the Pacific Islands Forum and to contributing to regional priorities on climate change, sustainable development and security.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Minister Anand meets with Republic of Korea's Minister of Foreign Affairs

Global Affairs Canada

Readout

September 26, 2025 - New York City, New York - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, met yesterday with Cho Hyun, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, New York.

As strategic partners in the Indo-Pacific region, the ministers discussed deepening cooperation between Canada and the Republic of Korea on global issues as well as advancing bilateral trade, investment, innovation and defence sector cooperation.

Minister Anand highlighted Canada's ongoing commitment to growing the trade relationship through the Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement. This agreement is key to the economic diversification objectives of both Canada and the Republic of Korea.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Minister Anand meets with Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary General

Global Affairs Canada

Readout

September 26, 2025 - New York City, New York - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary General, on the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York City, New York.

Minister Anand and Secretary General Rutte discussed threats and challenges facing NATO. Minister Anand highlighted Canada's continuing solidarity with its Allies in countering Russia's reckless and provocative incursions into NATO airspace.

Minister Anand emphasized Canada's commitment to contributing to NATO and NORAD's awareness of the threat environment across the Arctic region, including in the North American Arctic.

The Minister and the Secretary General also highlighted an agreement between Canada and NATO on the co-location of the NATO Liaison Office with the Canadian Permanent Mission to the UN in New York. The temporary arrangement was finalized on September 24 and serves as a pathway to a more permanent one.

In an increasingly unstable and unpredictable world, Canada is making the critical investments needed to keep Canadians safe, help protect its Allies, and strengthen its role on the world stage.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Minister McGuinty introduces legislation to modernize the military justice system

National Defence

News release

September 26, 2025 - Ottawa, Ontario - National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

Today, the Minister of National Defence, the Honourable David J. McGuinty, introduced An Act to amend the National Defence Act and other Acts (Military Justice System Modernization Act). The legislation was originally proposed as Bill C-66 but was terminated with the prorogation of Parliament in January 2025.

The series of targeted measures are designed to modernize and enhance the military justice system. These proposed amendments respond directly to key recommendations made in independent and external reviews conducted by former Supreme Court Justices Louise Arbour and Morris J. Fish, reinforcing the Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) continued commitment of a fair, transparent and trusted system of military justice.

To address Recommendation 5 from the Honourable Louise Arbour's Independent External Comprehensive Review, the proposed legislation would definitively remove the Canadian Armed Forces' (CAF) jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute Criminal Code sexual offences committed in Canada. The proposed legislation would provide exclusive jurisdiction to civilian authorities to investigate and prosecute such offences committed in Canada.

These amendments also address recommendations made by the Honourable Morris J. Fish in his Independent Review, by modifying the process for the appointment of three key military justice authorities: the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal, the Director of Military Prosecutions, and the Director of Defence Counsel Services. By making these positions Governor-in-Council appointments, they would be insulated from real or perceived influence from the chain of command.

This legislation also proposes expanding the eligibility criteria for military judges to include non-commissioned members, fostering greater diversity and representation for the pool of potential candidates. As the military justice system continues to serve the CAF, efforts to enhance and modernize it are key to advancing meaningful and lasting institutional reform.

Quotes

"Canada's military justice system must reflect the values of fairness, accountability, and respect that Canadians expect. With this legislation, we are delivering on recommendations made by former Supreme Court of Canada Justices Arbour and Fish and taking decisive steps to strengthen trust in the Canadian Armed Forces. These reforms will help ensure that every member serves in a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment, one that upholds the highest standards of integrity, reinforces operational effectiveness, and honours the commitment of those who wear the uniform in service to Canada." The Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence

"This legislation marks a meaningful step toward advancing the culture of respect and accountability across the Defence Team. Maintaining trust in our institution demands transparency, and a sustained commitment to meaningful reform. The modernization of the military justice system is central to this effort, and we are reinforcing confidence in our ability to evolve and strengthen the systems that support our people and reflect the principles of justice and respect." Stefanie Beck, Deputy Minister of National Defence

"By continuing to modernize the military justice system through this important legislation, we are reinforcing the principles of fairness and accountability that are essential to maintaining the discipline, efficiency and morale of the Canadian Armed Forces. These reforms will enable our operational effectiveness and support a respectful culture that will ensure our institution continues to earn the trust of CAF members and the Canadians we serve." General Jennie Carignan, Chief of the Defence Staff

"The Military Justice System is vital to maintaining discipline, efficiency, and morale within the Canadian Armed Forces, which are foundational to the Canadian Armed Forces' operational effectiveness. This legislation continues the modernization of the military justice system to ensure it remains responsive, fair, and aligned with Canadian legal values and the evolving needs of military service." Brigadier-General Rob Holman, Judge Advocate General

Quick facts

The proposed legislation seeks to amend the National Defence Act to, among other things: Implement recommendations (2, 7, 8, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16) from the Third Independent Review of the National Defence Act report, by former Supreme Court Justice Morris J. Fish. Remove the CAF's investigative and prosecutorial jurisdiction over Criminal Code sexual offences committed in Canada, thereby addressing Recommendation 5 from former Supreme Court Justice Arbour's Independent External Comprehensive Review of the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces. Exclude military judges from the summary hearing system, and expand access to Victim Liaison Officers, under the Declaration of Victims Rights, to individuals acting on behalf of a victim. Amend the National Defence Act to ensure sex offender information and publication ban provisions align with the amendments made to the Criminal Code in An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Sex Offender Information Registration Act and the International Transfer of Offenders Act. These amendments are necessary to ensure the military justice system remains constitutional and aligned with the Criminal Code and the civilian criminal justice system.



NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Prime Minister Carney meets with Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sanchez

Prime Minister of Canada - Mark Carney

September 26, 2025

London, United Kingdom

Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, met with the Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sanchez, on the margins of the Global Progress Action Summit in London.

Prime Minister Carney and Prime Minister Sanchez discussed shared priorities, including expanding trade and commercial ties.

The prime ministers underlined the importance of continuing bilateral collaboration as Canada deepens its engagement with the European Union on defence and security, including through NATO.

The two leaders also addressed pressing geopolitical challenges. They reaffirmed their steadfast support for Ukraine in the face of Russia's war of aggression and discussed the situation in the Middle East, highlighting their recognition of the State of Palestine. Prime Minister Carney emphasised the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, the protection of civilians, and the rapid scale-up of humanitarian relief.

Prime Minister Carney and Prime Minister Sanchez agreed to remain in close contact.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Prime Minister Carney meets with Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese

Prime Minister of Canada - Mark Carney

September 26, 2025

London, United Kingdom

Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, met with the Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, on the margins of the Global Progress Action Summit in London.

Prime Minister Carney and Prime Minister Albanese discussed opportunities to deepen economic and trade cooperation through the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and noted openness to future expansion of the CPTPP.

The prime ministers affirmed their shared commitment to increasing defence cooperation, building on their recent technology partnership for the Over-the-Horizon Radar in the Arctic.

As global leaders in the critical minerals sector, the prime ministers emphasised the importance of advancing the partnership between Canada and Australia through initiatives such as the G7 Critical Minerals Action Plan.

They also discussed innovative solutions to fast-track affordable housing construction in their respective countries.

Prime Minister Carney and Prime Minister Albanese agreed to remain in close contact.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Prime Minister Carney meets with Prime Minister of Iceland Kristrun Frostadottir

Prime Minister of Canada - Mark Carney

September 26, 2025

London, United Kingdom

Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, met with the Prime Minister of Iceland, Kristrun Frostadottir, on the margins of the Global Progress Action Summit in London.

Prime Minister Carney and Prime Minister Frostadottir noted the strong relationship between Canada and Iceland. Canada is home to the largest Icelandic community outside Iceland.

The prime ministers underscored the importance of transatlantic unity and shared security across the Arctic. Building on the momentum from their meeting at the NATO Summit this past June, the leaders discussed opportunities to deepen security and economic co-operation. To that end, Prime Minister Carney emphasised Canada's commitment to working with Allies and partners, including through the Arctic Council, to advance Arctic security.

The two leaders reaffirmed their enduring support for Ukraine in the face of Russia's ongoing war of aggression and agreed on the imperative of establishing a just and lasting peace.

Prime Minister Carney and Prime Minister Frostadottir agreed to remain in close contact.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Regular Press Conference of the Ministry of National Defense on September 25, 2025

Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China

Source Ministry of National Defense

EditorHuang Panyue

2025-09-28 09:42:22

Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, Spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense (MND) at the Office for International Military Cooperation of the Central Military Commission (CMC).

(The following English text is for reference. In case of any divergence of interpretation, the Chinese text shall prevail.)

Zhang Xiaogang: Friends from the media, good afternoon. Welcome to this month's regular press conference of the Ministry of National Defense (MND). I have a piece of news to announce at the top.

PLANS Qi Jiguang and PLANS Yimengshan will conduct midshipmen ocean-going training at the end of September. During the mission, the two ships will hold open day activities in Hong Kong. The task force will visit Cambodia, Thailand and Singapore, and interact with navies of the visited countries to learn from each other. The training will strengthen friendship and mutual trust, and deepen pragmatic cooperation.

Journalist: It's reported that carrier-based aircraft successfully conducted catapult-assisted takeoff and recovery aboard PLANS Fujian. Some analysts believe that this signifies that PLANS Fujian will soon be commissioned. Do you have any comment on this?

Zhang Xiaogang: Recently, J-15T, J-35 and KJ-600 carrier-based aircraft conducted catapult-assisted takeoff and recovery training aboard PLANS Fujian. The success showed that PLANS Fujian, the electromagnetic catapult-equipped aircraft carrier, has the ability to launch and recover aircraft, paving the way for the integration of multiple types of carrier-based aircraft into the carrier fleet. This is a milestone in our development of aircraft carriers. The trials and training of PLANS Fujian are well underway in accordance with our plan. I believe the much-anticipated moment is drawing near.

Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense (MND) of the People's Republic of China (PRC), answers questions at a regular press conference on the afternoon of September 25, 2025. (mod.gov.cn)

Journalist: It is reported that the 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum was successfully held in Beijing recently and has attracted high attention from both domestic and foreign media. Could you please provide more details?

Zhang Xiaogang: The 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum was successfully held from September 17 to 19. General Zhang Youxia, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, attended and addressed the welcome dinner. Admiral Dong Jun, Minister of National Defense, attended the opening ceremony of the forum and made a keynote speech. The forum was warmly received and well spoken of both at home and abroad. The appeal and influence of this year's forum have been further enhanced. There are three highlights.

First, the forum carried more profound historical significance and showed a clearer vision for the future. 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, of the founding of the United Nations, and of the restoration of Taiwan. In particular, President Xi Jinping formally proposed the Global Governance Initiative. Participants at the forum, focusing on addressing global challenges and resolving pressing issues, contributed ideas and suggestions to improving the global governance system, and pooled positive forces to promote global governance through constructive approaches and measures.

Second, the composition of participants was diverse and balanced, making the "Xiangshan Spirit" more appealing. Adhering to the concept of "equality, openness, inclusiveness and mutual learning", over 1,800 attendees, including official representatives, experts, scholars and observers from more than 100 countries, regions and international organizations gathered together, engaging in candid exchanges regardless of the size of their respective nations. We did not stick to fixed positions, but sought common ground; we were not confrontational rivals, but sincere interlocutors who listened to each other. Many netizens commented that this could only be seen in China, and such intense yet harmonious discussions were particularly precious.

Third, the dialogues and exchanges were extensive and in-depth, with China's propositions attracting significant attention. The topics of the forum were set to provide strategic guidance and address realistic issues, so that participants could engage in meaningful discussions and achieve real results. Additionally, for the first time, the forum organized high-end interviews, hosted a briefing on China's Armed Forces in UN Peacekeeping Operations, and arranged participants to visit an exhibition of innovations and achievements in national defense science and technology. Attendees felt that a stronger Chinese military means greater assurance for world peace.

A just journey with many companions gets far. The Chinese military is willing to work with all parties to further strengthen strategic communication, deepen military mutual trust, and carry out higher-level security cooperation, so as to provide strong support for global governance and jointly build a community with a shared future for humanity.

Journalist: According to reports, the bilingual documentary "Blue Helmets, No Borders" has recently been released, attracting attention and praise from both Chinese and foreign netizens. What's your comment on this?

Zhang Xiaogang: The Chinese military fights for peace and safeguards peace, and has become a key force in UN peacekeeping operations (UNPKOs). Over the past 35 years, the Chinese blue helmets have dedicated their youth and passion to the lofty cause of safeguarding world peace, traveling thousands of miles, working in extremely dangerous places, and igniting the light of hope. With professionalism, resilience, dedication and sacrifice, they have demonstrated the responsibility of a major country, and won extensive recognition from the international community.

The Chinese military will continue to expand its participation in UNPKOs with greater input and dedication. We will deepen our cooperation with all parties in technology, training, equipment and personnel, optimize the composition and capabilities of Chinese Peacekeeping Standby Force, and incorporate new-domain and new-quality forces for situational awareness, high-tech EOD and counter-UAV operations into UNPKOs, so as to contribute more Chinese strength and serve the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

Journalist: Taiwan's military authorities submitted a budget proposal of over 1 trillion new Taiwan dollars, and planned to once again serve as a dumb cash machine by procuring more weapons. However, a U.S. official recently revealed that U.S. President Donald Trump did not approve 400 million-dollar military aid to Taiwan this summer. Could you please comment on this?

Zhang Xiaogang: The DPP authorities is called "dumb cash machine" every time it buys weapons from external forces. Spending more money on arms procurement will not bring security, but only squeeze out social and livelihood spending and push Taiwan to the brink of war. We hope the U.S. side will abide by the one-China principle and stipulations of the three China-US joint communiques, exercise extra caution in handling the Taiwan question, truly deliver on its promise of not supporting "Taiwan independence", and refrain from disrupting peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

Journalist: 2025 PLA Air Force Aviation Open Day was held in Changchun City last week. The event featured the first-ever static display of J-20 fighter jets and an 8K ultra-HD video of air-to-air combat with new quality capabilities of the people's air force. The number of participants reached a record high. Could you please provide more details?

Zhang Xiaogang: The 11th PLA Air Force Aviation Open Day was recently held in Changchun City, Jilin Province. Nearly one million people participated on-site. They learned about the history of the people's air force and its achievements in the strategic transformation towards "integrating air and space capabilities and coordinating offensive and defensive operations", and experienced first-hand what the people's air force looks like in the new era. The event featured major national assets such as H-6H, YU-20A, J-20 and KJ-500 aircraft. 41 fighters of 16 types, including those from the PLAAF Bayi, Red Eagle and Sky Wing aerobatic teams, presented impressive performances. Over 100 types of active-service aircraft, ground equipment and decommissioned classic assets were displayed, illustrating the development trajectory of PLAAF equipment. The thematic exhibition demonstrated cutting-edge technologies, reflecting the development trend of unmanned and intelligent operations in the future. Hero astronauts, exemplary service members and outstanding pilots were invited to share their stories. Military band tours and pop-up performances created a lively atmosphere. This event served as both an aviation carnival for the public and an inspiring lecture for national defense education, igniting people's passion for air and space exploration as well as their patriotism and affection for the people's military.

Journalist: The Philippines sent over 10 public vessels to intrude into territorial waters of China's Huangyan Dao on September 16. The China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels took regulatory measures in accordance with law and dispelled these Philippine ships. When the CCG used water cannons, the Philippine crews waved white flags. What's your comment?

Zhang Xiaogang: Huangyan Dao is China's inherent territory. The unlawful intrusion of Philippine vessels into China's territorial waters of Huangyan Dao seriously violated China's sovereignty, rights and interests, and severely undermined peace and stability in the South China Sea. The China Coast Guard took firm countermeasures to drive away the intruding ships, which were legitimate, lawful, professional and restrained.

Huangyan Dao is beyond the limits of the Philippine territory, which has long been defined by a series of international treaties. The Philippine side has repeatedly conducted provocative actions that infringed upon China's sovereignty, and created tensions in the South China Sea. It is a real troublemaker and a saboteur to peace. We warn the Philippine side to immediately stop any provocative acts before it's too late. The Chinese side will continue to take resolute measures to safeguard our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

Journalist: I have two questions. The first one is that it's reported that interactions between the Chinese and U.S. sides increased recently, with a video call between two defense leaders as well as a meeting between the Chinese Defense Minister and a delegation of US House lawmakers. Do you have any comment on this? The second question is that Taiwan established the world's first research center named after Shinzo Abe. Lai Ching-te said that we had Abe's foresight to thank for the peace we were enjoying in Taiwan. What's your take on this?

Zhang Xiaogang: On your first question, at his recent phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump, President Xi Jinping emphasized that China and the U.S. are fully capable of helping each other succeed and prospering together for the good of the two countries and the whole world. China is positive about and open to developing its military relations with the U.S.. We always deal with the U.S. side based on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation. We hope the U.S. side will work with us in the same direction to build a military-to-military relationship featuring equality, mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and greater stability.

On your second question, we all know that during its colonial rule over Taiwan of more than 50 years, Japan committed countless atrocities, inflicting great suffering upon Taiwan compatriots. We celebrated the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and of the restoration of Taiwan this year. Lai Ching-te tries to curry favor with Japan, who once colonized Taiwan. His words and actions are disdained by the people.

Journalist: China's V-Day parade featured DF-61, DF-5C and DF-31BJ land-based intercontinental missiles, Ju Lang-3 submarine-launched intercontinental missiles and Jing Lei-1 air-launched long-range missiles. This was the first time for China to display its nuclear triad capabilities. Will there be any changes in China's nuclear policy?

Zhang Xiaogang: China's nuclear policy is very stable, consistent and predictable. We pursue a nuclear strategy of self-defense and follow a nuclear policy of no first use of nuclear weapons. We pledge not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states or nuclear-weapon-free zones. We always maintain our nuclear capabilities at the minimum level required for national security, and do not engage in arms race in any form. China's nuclear weapons are for defense and self-defense, for national strategic security, and for global peace and stability.

Journalist: The American Institute in Taiwan claimed that documents such as the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation "did not determine Taiwan's ultimate political status", and a U.S. State Department spokesperson echoed this comment. In addition, the head of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council peddled the narrative of the so-called mainland's forcible takeover of Taiwan during his visit to the U.S.. What is your comment on this?

Zhang Xiaogang: The false remarks of the U.S. side misrepresent the fact and mislead the public. China is strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposed to this. The restoration of Taiwan to China is an integral part of the outcomes of WWII victory and the post-war international order. The 1943 Cairo Declaration clearly stipulates that all the territories Japan has stolen from the Chinese, such as Taiwan, shall be restored to China. The Potsdam Proclamation issued in 1945 reiterates that the terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out. In the same year, Japan signed the Japanese Instrument of Surrender, pledging to carry out the provisions of the Potsdam Proclamation in good faith. These instruments with legal effect under international law have all clearly affirmed China's sovereignty over Taiwan.

As a signatory to the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, the U.S. is fully aware of the historical and legal fact that Taiwan is part of China. Yet, it blatantly rehashes the false narrative that "Taiwan's status is undetermined", and smears China's legitimate actions to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, in order to mislead international public opinion. Such acts gravely violate international law and the basic norms governing international relations, and send a seriously wrong signal to separatist forces for "Taiwan independence".

Separatist activities seeking "Taiwan independence" pose the most serious threat to the post-war international order and the greatest damage to peace in the region. We urge the U.S. side to abide by the one-China principle and stipulations of the three China-U.S. joint communiques, stop manipulating the Taiwan question, and stop aiding and abetting "Taiwan independence" in any form. We warn the DPP authorities that "Taiwan independence" leads nowhere and reunification is unstoppable. We will never allow any separatist schemes to succeed, and are ready to thwart any external interference at any time and to safeguard national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.

Journalist: September 19 local time marks the 10th anniversary of Japan's Security Laws. On the same day, Japan's second-largest opposition party the Japan Innovation Party proposed constitutional amendments, calling for deleting the terms that ban Japan from maintaining armed forces and renaming Self-Defense Forces as National Defense Forces. What's your comment on this?

Zhang Xiaogang: Given its history of militarist aggression, Japan's military and security moves are closely watched by its Asian neighbors and the international community. We hope the Japanese side will genuinely take lessons from history, commit itself to the path of peaceful development, and earn the trust from its Asian neighbors and the international community through concrete actions.

Journalist: I have two questions. Firstly, It is reported that at the 6th China-Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC) States Defense Forum, the Chinese side said that it will strengthen defense and security cooperation with LAC countries. What measures will China take to deliver on the consensus reached at the forum? Secondly, We have noted the recent 49th Joint Working Group Meeting on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) between China and ASEAN countries in Singapore, which advanced consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC). At the same time, the PLA Southern Theater Command pointed out that the Philippines' recent joint patrols with countries such as Australia and Canada undermined regional stability. How does China balance its multilateral diplomatic efforts on the COC consultation with resolute countermeasures against unilateral actions by certain country? Does this signify a "dual-track approach" in China's South China Sea policy?

Zhang Xiaogang: On your first question, the 6th China-Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC) States Defense Forum was recently held in Beijing. Defense Minister Admiral Dong Jun attended the forum and delivered a keynote speech. As a Chinese saying goes, "No mountain or ocean can distance people who have shared aspirations." Guided by the consensus reached by leaders of both sides and with a focus on the Peace Program, China is willing to work with LAC countries to pursue peace and development, uphold equality and mutual benefits, promote openness and inclusiveness, plan for the future, and take real actions. Together, we will build a flexible and pragmatic China-LAC defense relationship featuring strong mutual trust, greater resilience and closer interactions, set a good example of South-South security cooperation, and make greater contributions to building a China-LAC community with a shared future.

On your second question, China's position on the South China Sea issue is consistent and clear. There is a greater consensus and synergy for peace and development in the region. However, in contrast to this positive trend, certain regional country keeps conducting provocative activities and soliciting foreign support to make waves, while some outside nations deliberately instigate instability and fuel tensions. China stands ready to work with regional countries to deliver on the DOC, accelerate consultations on the COC, and uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea. Meanwhile, we will take firm actions to defend our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

Journalist: The U.S. and Japan conducted Resolute Dragon, a large-scale joint exercise, from September 11 to 25. As part of the exercise, the U.S. Forces Japan showcased its Typhon intermediate-range missile system to the media for the first time, and said that they would test the application of this system across different scenarios during the exercise. Some analysts said that this move was targeted at China. May I have your comments?

Zhang Xiaogang: The Typhon intermediate-range missile system is an offensive weapon. The U.S. and Japan insisted on deploying the system to Japan under the guise of joint exercises. Such behavior harmed the legitimate security interests of other countries, fueled risks of arms race and military confrontation in the region, and posed a serious threat to regional security and stability. We strongly deplore and oppose this. We urge the U.S. and Japan to take seriously the concerns of countries in the region, correct their wrong actions, and remove the Typhon system as soon as possible.

As we celebrated the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War this year, it's more important for Japan to take lessons from history. Only a country that has the courage for self-reflection can earn the respect of the world. We urge the Japanese side to exercise utmost caution in its words and deeds in the military and security areas, refrain from serving as an accomplice to wrongdoing, and avoid actions that betray the trust of its Asian neighbors and disrupt regional peace and stability.

Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense (MND) of the People's Republic of China (PRC), answers questions at a regular press conference on the afternoon of September 25, 2025. (mod.gov.cn)

Journalist: It's reported that videos of China's V-day parade were aired 24/7 on many media outlets and we-media accounts in Taiwan, with online views exceeding 5 million. Many Taiwan compatriots praised the development achievements of the motherland and its strong military capabilities. A recent poll also showed a growing "pro-mainland" sentiment among the youth in Taiwan. What is your take on this?

Zhang Xiaogang: Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. Compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait all belong to the Chinese nation and are members of one and the same family. The 14-year arduous history of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression witnessed compatriots from both sides of the Strait fighting side by side to resist foreign aggression and recover Taiwan. This great victory belongs to all the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation. The purpose of China's grand 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.

The future of Taiwan and the security and well-being of Taiwan compatriots depend on national reunification. We hope our Taiwan compatriots will understand the situation and follow the overwhelming trend of the times. They are hoped to join hands with their compatriots from the Chinese mainland, to promote the great spirit of the Chinese nation and the spirit of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, strengthen the national confidence of being a Chinese with integrity, resolutely oppose separatist activities for "Taiwan independence" and external interference, and create a bright future of national rejuvenation.

Zhang Xiaogang: If there are no more questions, this concludes today's press conference. Thank you!

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun's Regular Press Conference on September 25, 2025

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: September 25, 2025 19:51

At the invitation of Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and Foreign Minister of the DPRK Choe Son Hui will visit China from September 27 to 30.

CCTV: At the general debate of the 80th UNGA session that opened this week, leaders of most countries in their speeches supported the UN's central role, but we also heard some cacophony coming from certain countries. What's China's comment?

Guo Jiakun: As the most universal, representative and authoritative international inter-governmental organization in the world, the UN has played an irreplaceable role in upholding world peace and security, and advancing socioeconomic development over the past 80 years. At the general debate of the 80th UNGA session, the vast majority of countries spoke up for defending multilateralism and supporting the role of the UN, which represents the world's prevailing consensus and shared aspiration.

The world lacks order not because the UN is outdated, but exactly because the purposes and principles of the UN Charter are being breached and distorted. The major crises and challenges that have emerged in recent years keep reminding us that to address the issues of today, the role of the UN must be strengthened, not undermined, and its stature must be upheld, not replaced. For the UN to play its role, the key lies in solidarity and cooperation among all member states, major countries in particular, who should put the common interest of the international community first, observe the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, make objective and just judgements based on international law and basic norms governing international relations and play a positive and constructive role.

As a founding member of the UN and permanent member of the UN Security Council, China fully participates in the UN's work in various fields, undertakes international obligations willingly and firmly defends multilateralism. Earlier this month, President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Governance Initiative (GGI), and elaborated on the principles, method and path to follow for the reform and improvement of global governance. The core tenets of the GGI are consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. The initiative reaffirms the need for safeguarding the international system with the UN as its core. It is a vote of confidence in the UN and in multilateralism.

As we mark the 80th anniversary of the UN, China stands ready to continue working with all parties to stay committed to the founding mission of the UN, revitalize the organization's authority and vitality under new circumstances and make it an important platform for countries to enhance dialogue and cooperation, coordinate joint actions and respond to global challenges.

CCTV: On September 24, New York time, President Xi Jinping delivered video remarks at the United Nations Climate Summit and announced China's new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Could you share more details on that?

Guo Jiakun: President Xi Jinping delivered video remarks at the United Nations Climate Summit. He called on all parties to firm up confidence, live up to responsibilities, and deepen cooperation, and announced China's new NDCs, which shows China's commitment to multilateralism and support to the UN. This is the first time that China put forward an absolute emissions reduction target, which covers economy-wide emissions from all greenhouse gases.

China's resolve and action to tackle climate change is rock-solid. China is a top country in terms of the will, effort and effectiveness of honoring our emission reduction pledge. China will continue to follow the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity and implement the NDCs with utmost efforts. As President Xi Jinping stressed, meeting these targets requires both painstaking efforts by China itself and a supportive and open international environment. China stands ready to work with all parties to jointly promote international cooperation on climate response, work for the full and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement, and assist the global green and low-carbon transition.

Reuters: Lin Chia-lung is in New York having events on the sidelines of the general debate of the UN General Assembly. What's China's comment?

Guo Jiakun: We noted relevant media reports. By letting Lin Chia-lung visit New York during the UNGA session, the U.S. provides a public stage for the provocation of "Taiwan independence" separatists, which amounts to gross interference in China's internal affairs and serious violation of the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques. It sends a gravely wrong signal to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces. China strongly deplores and firmly opposes it.

The DPP authorities sent Lin Chia-lung to New York during the UNGA session to interact with so-called "diplomatic allies" and certain U.S. politicians, and make opportunist attempts wherever possible with a political scheme light as day to solicit foreign support for "Taiwan independence," including from the U.S. We would like to make it clear to the DPP authorities and those bent on separatism that no good will come of their unjust cause and any provocation aimed at "Taiwan independence" will inevitably backfire.

Our message to the very few countries still maintaining so-called "diplomatic ties" with Taiwan: do not be manipulated and used again and again by "Taiwan independence" forces. It is time to see that the one-China principle is where the arc of history bends and public opinion trends. Tying themselves to the "Taiwan independence" bandwagon will not get them anywhere.

There is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, and the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. The abiding commitment of the international community to the one-China principle is unshakable. Nothing will stop China from complete reunification.

AFP: The ROK said today that the DPRK possesses up to two tonnes of highly enriched uranium, enough to build a large number of nuclear weapons. As the DPRK's neighbor, what's China's comment?

Guo Jiakun: To keep the Korean Peninsula peaceful and stable and promote the political settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue is in the interest of all parties. We hope relevant parties will face squarely the root cause and crux of the issue, stick to the goal of political settlement, and make an effort to deescalate the situation and uphold regional peace.

AFP: The celebrated Chinese architect Yu Kongjian lost his life yesterday in a plane crash in Brazil. What's China's comment?

Guo Jiakun: We extend deep condolences over the passing of Professor Yu Kongjian. Our heart goes out to his family. China's Embassy in Brazil will continue to assist in handling relevant matters.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Deputy Secretary Landau's Meeting with Chinese Executive Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

September 25, 2025

The below is attributable to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott:

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau met with Executive Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu today on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Deputy Secretary Landau emphasized the need for constructive communication that leads to progress on a range of bilateral issues. Deputy Secretary Landau advocated for concrete action by China to halt the flow of fentanyl and its precursors into the United States and stressed the need for continued cooperation on the return of Chinese citizens who do not have a right to remain in the United States. The Deputy Secretary and Executive Vice Foreign Minister Ma also discussed a range of regional and global matters, including threats to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, the Russia-Ukraine war, and Haiti.



NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Ding Xuexiang and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak Co-chair the 22nd Meeting of the China-Russia Energy Cooperation Committee

Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China

Updated: September 26, 2025 23:00

On September 26, 2025, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council Ding Xuexiang and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak co-chaired the 22nd meeting of the China-Russia Energy Cooperation Committee in Beijing.

Ding Xuexiang stated that energy cooperation is a model of equal, mutually beneficial and practical cooperation between China and Russia. In recent years, President Xi Jinping has had multiple meetings and conversations with President Vladimir Putin, engaged in in-depth strategic communication, and guided the continuous consolidation and development of the comprehensive energy partnership between China and Russia, bringing tangible benefits to the people of both countries. China is ready to work with Russia to further implement the important common understandings reached between the two heads of state, elevate energy cooperation to a higher level, and make greater contributions to ensuring the energy security and sustainable development of both countries and the world at large.

Ding Xuexiang put forward three suggestions on deepening practical cooperation between China and Russia in various fields of energy. First, deepen the integration of interests, steadily advance the construction and operation of key projects, and consolidate major achievements in energy cooperation. Second, leverage complementary advantages, tap into the potential for cooperation in areas such as renewable energy, hydrogen energy and energy storage, and promote energy transition and development. Third, strengthen coordination and collaboration, jointly practice true multilateralism, and advance the implementation of the Global Governance Initiative in the energy sector.

Alexander Novak said that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, Russia-China energy cooperation has yielded fruitful results. The Russian side is willing to make joint efforts with the Chinese side to give full play to the guiding and coordinating role of the Russia-China Energy Cooperation Committee, expand energy cooperation between the two countries, advance the implementation of established projects, and better support the high-level development of Russia-China relations.

During the meeting, the two sides reviewed the cooperation in areas such as oil, natural gas, coal, electricity, renewable energy and nuclear energy, had an in-depth exchange of views on future cooperation, and reached broad consensus.

After the meeting, Ding Xuexiang and Alexander Novak jointly signed the meeting minutes.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu Meets with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau

Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China

Updated: September 26, 2025 14:05

On September 25, 2025 local time, Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu met with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau in New York. The two sides had a candid, in-depth, and constructive exchange of views on China-U.S. relations and international and regional issues of common interest and concern.

Ma Zhaoxu elaborated on China's principled position and pointed out that China and the United States should adhere to mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, deliver on the important common understandings reached between the two heads of state, and promote the stable, sound, and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations. Ma Zhaoxu emphasized that the Taiwan question is entirely China's internal affair and concerns China's core interests. China urged the U.S. side to earnestly adhere to the one-China policy, honor its political commitments, and take concrete actions to safeguard peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

The two sides agreed to maintain communication and dialogue, effectively manage differences, and expand mutually beneficial cooperation.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun's Regular Press Conference on September 26, 2025

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: September 26, 2025 20:00

CCTV: We noted that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on the sidelines of the UNGA that the United Nations are under assault as never before. Poverty and hunger are the two top issues on the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. To end them is the shared goal of the international community. He called on all parties to renew the foundations of international cooperation, deliver for people everywhere, and rise to this moment with solidarity and courage. At the general debate, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and other leaders also called for cooperation against hunger and poverty. What's China's comment?

Guo Jiakun: To eradicate poverty and hunger is high on the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and is the shared goal of the international community.

As a responsible major developing country, China cares about both the speed and the actual results when it comes to poverty alleviation. China has lifted 800 million people out of poverty and realized the poverty reduction goal of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 10 years ahead of schedule, accounting for over 70 percent of the world's total. China is committed to reducing poverty both on a human level and a global level. Keeping in mind the pressing difficulties and problems that concern people's livelihood in developing countries, China has helped many countries explore a path of poverty relief and sustainable development tailored to their national conditions. We have put forward and acted on the Global Development Initiative, continued to upgrade the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, and supported over 20 international organizations, including the United Nations Development Programme, in carrying out over 180 programs in more than 60 countries, which have benefited over 30 million people. That is a strong boost to global poverty relief.

The rights to subsistence and development are the human rights of primary importance. China's eradication of absolute poverty is the largest human rights program and the most effective human rights practice. China will continue to serve the global good with a strong sense of responsibility, take solid actions to advance the global development cause, and work with other parties to make poverty and hunger a thing of the past and translate the vision of common development into a reality.

Reuters: U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order enabling TikTok's continued operations in the U.S. Vice President JD Vance said the company had been valued at US$14 billion. Is the Foreign Ministry able to confirm that and give us any more information on the deal?

Guo Jiakun: Following 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. Let me reiterate that 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.

Telesur: The United States deployed warships and troops in the Caribbean Sea under the pretext of combating drug trafficking, raising concerns about regional peace and threatening Venezuela's sovereignty. Now Venezuelan fishing vessels are being attacked. What is the Chinese government's stance on this subject?

Guo Jiakun: China opposes the threat or use of force in international relations, opposes moves that undermine peace and stability in Latin America and the Caribbean, and opposes external interference in Venezuela's domestic affairs under any pretext.

The U.S. unilateral and excessive enforcement operations against other countries' vessels in so-called "international waters" violate international law and relevant personnel's right to life and other basic human rights. They pose a threat to the freedom and security of navigation in relevant waters, and can potentially undermine other countries' freedom of the high seas enjoyed in accordance with the law. China supports the effort of combating cross-border crimes through stronger international cooperation, and calls on the U.S. to engage in normal law enforcement and judicial cooperation through bilateral and multilateral legal frameworks.

Global Times: On the sidelines of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly and high-level events this week, foreign ministers of China, Russia, Pakistan and Iran held an informal meeting on Afghanistan and released a joint statement. It's mentioned in the statement that the four sides emphasized that the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Afghanistan should be respected, and firmly opposed the reestablishment of military bases in and around Afghanistan by the countries responsible for the current situation, which is not conducive to regional peace and stability. Some media reports say that it's a response to Trump's remarks of regaining Bagram Air Base. What's China's comment?

Guo Jiakun: On September 25, foreign ministers of China, Russia, Pakistan and Iran held an informal meeting on Afghanistan on the sidelines of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York. Ambassador Yue Xiaoyong, Special Envoy for Afghan Affairs of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, attended the meeting in person. The meeting issued a joint statement, emphasizing that the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Afghanistan should be respected, and reiterating firm opposition to the reestablishment of military bases in and around Afghanistan by the countries responsible for the current situation. The statement fully shows that Afghanistan's neighboring countries respect the country's sovereignty, independence and national dignity and that the international community share a common will of rendering Afghanistan assistance and keeping the country stable. As a close neighbor of Afghanistan and a responsible country, China stands ready to continue working with the international community to provide assistance to Afghanistan and play a constructive role for the country's peace and reconstruction.

Kyodo News: It's reported that former Japanese Prime Minister and Liberal Democratic Party's supreme adviser Taro Aso met on September 25 with Taiwan's "Legislative Speaker." He said that "Taiwan is a country that shares fundamental values with Japan." What's China's comment?

Guo Jiakun: This is not the first time that certain Japanese politician has made provocations on the Taiwan question. The behavior constitutes serious violation of the one-China principle and the guiding principles of the four political documents between China and Japan and gross interference in China's internal affairs. We strongly deplore and oppose it and have protested to Japan through diplomatic channels. There is but one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. This is the real status quo across the Taiwan Strait. The Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation explicitly stated that all the territories Japan had stolen from the Chinese, such as Taiwan and the Penghu Islands, shall be restored to China. That is an important component of the post-war international order.

Taiwan is a province of China and has never been a country. The Taiwan question bears on China's core interests and the political foundation of China-Japan ties and basic trust between the two countries. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. It is also the 80th anniversary of the restoration of Taiwan. Japan bears historical responsibilities to the Chinese people on the Taiwan question and should act all the more prudently. We urge Japan to abide by the principles and spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan, properly handle Taiwan-related issues, act on its commitment of "fully understanding and respecting" the fact that "Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the People's Republic of China," and stop official interactions with Taiwan under whatever pretext. Japan must not make any provocation or take any dangerous move on the Taiwan question, and should not underestimate the firm resolve, will and ability of the Chinese people to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Polish Press Agency: Polish Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski said in a recent interview with Foreign Affairs magazine that "China is the only country that could force the end" of Russia's war against Ukraine. However, China "is not willing to do that," because "the war suits China just fine" in terms of, as he puts it, "making money from selling dual-use and other stuff to Russia." We know that China's position on the so-called Ukrainian crisis has been consistent and clear, so I'd like to ask what is China's comment on Sikorski's words and whether the Chinese side is going to put any pressure on Russia to stop the invasion, if China really wants to see the end of this war.

Guo Jiakun: China is neither the one that created the Ukraine crisis nor a party to it. Nevertheless, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a responsible major country, we have held an objective and just position, and worked actively to promote talks for peace. Our effort has been widely recognized by the international community and we believe Poland is also fully aware of it.

It is not China, but someone else who do not want the conflict to end and has been stoking the flames and profiteering from it. Scapegoating China does not solve any issue. The root cause of the Ukraine crisis lies in regional security tensions that have built up over the years in Europe. Only by accommodating the legitimate security concerns of all parties and creating a balanced, effective, and sustainable European security architecture through dialogue and negotiation, can the issue be properly addressed. We support Europe in playing a greater positive role in the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.

RIA Novosti: Palestine has applied for full membership in BRICS, but has not yet received a response, Palestinian Ambassador to Russia told RIA Novosti. What's the Ministry's comment? Does China support Palestine in joining the BRICS?

Guo Jiakun: BRICS is an important platform for cooperation among emerging markets and developing countries and source of strong impetus for multipolarity and greater democracy in international relations. The platform is widely recognized by Global South countries. We welcome more like-minded partners to join BRICS cooperation and jointly work for a more just and equitable international order.

AFP: The United Nations Security Council will vote today on a resolution to delay the reimposition of UN sanctions on Iran. This resolution has been put forward by China and Russia, but frankly, this is unlikely to pass. That means that UN sanctions on Iran actually will be reimposed from tomorrow. What is China's comment?

Guo Jiakun: China is committed to the settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue through political and diplomatic means and is opposed to the threat of force, sanctions and pressuring. To trigger the UN Security Council "snapback" mechanism is not a constructive move and will not help rebuild trust and bridge differences. The pressing priority now is to step up diplomatic effort and avoid escalation. China will continue to promote talks for peace and play a constructive role for a solution that accommodates the legitimate concerns of all parties.

China News Service: On September 23, Thailand's new Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul attended the reception held by China's Embassy to Thailand celebrating the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. The Prime Minister in his speech spoke highly of China's outstanding development achievements and the important role that China has played for world peace, stability and prosperity. He stressed that Thailand and China are as close as one family and he welcomed Chinese companies to invest in Thailand and Chinese tourists to visit his country. What's China's comment?

Guo Jiakun: Earlier this week, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul attended and addressed the reception held by China's Embassy in Bangkok to celebrate the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. It shows the high importance that the new government of Thailand attaches to relations with China. His speech drew warm response.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of China-Thailand diplomatic relations and "the Golden Jubilee of China-Thailand Friendship." Under the strategic guidance of leaders of the two countries, the China-Thailand comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership has further deepened, and the family-like relationship as well as a China-Thailand community with a shared future are more deeply rooted in the hearts of our two peoples.

Financial Times: Can China provide any more information on China's view and understanding of the TikTok deal and the structure of the deal?

Guo Jiakun: I have just answered this question.

Telesur: The Climate Summit was convened at the UN to prepare for COP 30 in Brazil in November. Xi Jinping participated via video and announced that China has made major commitments to fighting global warming and curbing greenhouse gas emissions. What are the government's expectations for this climate conference in Brazil?

Guo Jiakun: In his video remarks to the United Nations Climate Summit, President Xi Jinping announced China's new NDCs, which shows China's support to the UN, commitment to multilateralism and determination to advance climate actions. It provides strong political impetus for the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Belem (COP 30).

Global climate governance is facing increasing uncertainties at the moment. As President Xi Jinping noted, the international community should stay focused on the right direction, remain unwavering in confidence, unremitting in actions and unrelenting in intensity, with a view to providing more positive energy to the cooperation on global climate governance.

China hopes that COP 30 in November will boost confidence in global climate governance, enhance international cooperation on climate change, and galvanize stronger action. To promote the full and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement, we stand ready to work with other parties to practice true multilateralism, uphold the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, and make the conference a success.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






China's Premier Li calls for solidarity, peace and shared economic prosperity in UN address

26 September 2025 - Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Friday marked the UN's 80th anniversary with a call for world leaders to defend multilateralism, reject "Cold War" thinking and step up cooperation in the face of global turmoil.

"Solidarity lifts everyone up, while division drags all down," Mr. Li told the General Assembly, warning that unilateralism and protectionism were undermining the international order built over decades.

Humanity, he said, "has once again come to a crossroads."

Premier Li recalled the defeat of fascism and the founding of the UN eight decades ago, saying the lessons of history demanded renewed commitment to peace, fairness and justice.

"When might dictates right, the world risks division and regression," he said, urging that all countries, "big or small, be treated as equals."

China, Mr. Li stressed, was committed to being a "staunch defender of world peace and security."

He highlighted Beijing's contributions to UN peacekeeping - the second-largest budgetary contributor and the largest troop contributor among Security Council permanent members - and its role in promoting political solutions to conflicts including Ukraine and the Israel-Palestine crisis.

On the global economy, the Chinese leader said sluggish growth was being worsened by "tariff hikes and erection of walls and barriers." He pointed to his country's steady expansion and role as a driver of global development, contributing about 30 percent of economic growth in recent years, and noted the country had lowered tariffs - while remaining the world's second-largest importer for 16 consecutive years.

Reject 'civilizational superiority'

China would continue to pursue "high-quality belt and road cooperation" with over 150 countries, he said, while opening its economy wider to the world.

Mr. Li also urged deeper exchanges between societies and warned against "civilizational superiority or ideology-based circles," which he said bred confrontation.

Turning to global challenges, Mr. Li called for stronger collective action on climate change and emerging technologies.

He said China had built the world's largest renewable energy system and was advancing low-carbon development. He also urged swift progress on international rules for artificial intelligence, reiterating Beijing's call for a "world AI cooperation organization."

As part of its UN engagement, Premier Li announced that China would present lunar soil samples scooped up by its latest robotic explorer from the far side of the moon - the first ever collected - to the United Nations.

He also said China would partner with the UN to establish a China-UN Global South-South Development Facility, with $10 million in initial funding, and a global centre for sustainable development in Shanghai in cooperation with the UN Development Program (UNDP).

"We should adhere to the principles of people-centered development, technology for good, and equitable benefits," Mr. Li said.

Concluding his address, Mr. Li reaffirmed China's support for reforms to make the UN "more efficient and representative."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Treasury Targets Arms Trafficking Network and Financial Facilitators for DPRK Weapons Programs

U.S. Department of the Treasury

September 25, 2025

WASHINGTON -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is sanctioning five individuals and one entity for their role in generating illicit revenue for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) government's weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic missile programs, including by selling weapons to the Burmese military regime.

"North Korea's unlawful weapons programs are a direct threat to America and our allies. At Treasury, we will continue to dismantle the financial networks that sustain them" said Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John K. Hurley.

This targeted action focuses on overseas representatives of DPRK government agencies who are key to the regime's ability to finance its unlawful WMD and ballistic missile programs: the Korea Mining Development Trading Corporation (KOMID) and the Reconnaissance General Bureau (RGB), both of which are designated by the United Nations and OFAC. KOMID, also known as "221 General Bureau," serves as the DPRK's primary arms dealer and is the principal exporter of goods, including critical equipment for ballistic missiles and conventional weapons. The RGB orchestrates military and intelligence operations for the DPRK regime. Both KOMID and the RGB maintain offices and representatives in numerous countries around the world, setting up front companies to disguise foreign currency earnings, which are then illicitly funneled back to Pyongyang.

Today's designation also includes a key network facilitating weapons deals between KOMID and the Burmese military regime. Since the Burmese military's February 1, 2021 coup that overthrew the country's democratically elected government, the military regime has relied on indiscriminate aerial and artillery attacks during its military operations against resistance groups. Consequently, military airstrikes affecting infrastructureincluding schools, religious sites, and hospitalshave led to many civilian deaths. Today's action disrupts these weapons sales to Burma, cutting off an important funding stream for the DPRK regime.

BURMESE ARMS PROCUREMENT NETWORK

Royal Shune Lei Company Limited (Royal Shune Lei) is a Burmese arms procurement company that first brokered a weapons deal with KOMID for the Burmese military in 2022. In order to facilitate additional sales for KOMID, since late 2023, Royal Shune Lei employee Kyaw Thu Myo Myint and CEO Tin Myo Aung traveled to China to have multiple business meetings with KOMID representatives. Royal Shune Lei employees also traveled to Beijing to secure visas for a Burmese delegation to visit the DPRK. Kim Yong Ju, the deputy KOMID representative in Beijing, worked with other KOMID representatives, Tin Myo Aung, and Kyaw Thu Myo Myint, to coordinate the sales of two types of aerial bomb guidance kits, in addition to bombs and airborne monitoring equipment, for the Burmese Air Force via Royal Shune Lei. KOMID supplied samples of the aerial bomb guidance kits to Royal Shune Lei for testing and in order to finalize Royal Shune Lei's order of weapons and related equipment. Aung Ko Ko Oo is a director of Royal Shune Lei.

Royal Shune Lei and Kyaw Thu Myo Myint are being designated pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13551 for having attempted to, directly or indirectly, provide training, advice, or other services or assistance, or engage in financial transactions, related to the manufacture, maintenance, or use of any arms or related materiel to be imported, exported, or reexported to, into, or from North Korea, or following their importation, exportation, or reexportation to, into, or from North Korea. Royal Shune Lei and Kyaw Thu Myo Myint are also being designated pursuant to E.O. 14014 for operating in the defense sector of the Burmese economy. Royal Shune Lei was also designated by Canada and the United Kingdom in October 2024 and by the European Union in December 2023.

Tin Myo Aung and Aung Ko Ko Oo are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13551 for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Royal Shune Lei, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 13551, and pursuant to E.O. 14014 for being or having been leaders or officials of Royal Shune Lei, an entity whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14014 as a result of activities related to the leader's or official's tenure.

Kim Yong Juis being designated pursuant to E.O. 13687 for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, KOMID, an entity whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 13687.

DPRK RECONNAISSANCE GENERAL BUREAU REPRESENTATIVE

Nam Chol Ung is an intelligence officer and representative of U.S.-designated DPRK Reconnaissance General Bureau (RGB) who hasbeen engaged in multiple overseas revenue generation schemes on behalf of the DPRK government since at least 2013. NamChol Unghas built a sprawling network consisting of multiple companies and restaurants in Laos and Thailand, including a resort, and he uses his businesses to launder foreign currency earnings for the regime. This includes import-export companies that are involved in smuggling DPRK-made tobacco products to Southeast Asian countries. Nam Chol Unghas also forged trade contracts for importing goods into the DPRK, including for OFAC-designated Korea Sobaeksu United Corporation.

Nam Chol Ung is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13551 for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the RGB, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 13551.

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. Non-U.S. persons are also prohibited from causing or conspiring to cause U.S. persons to wittingly or unwittingly violate U.S. sanctions, as well as engaging in conduct that evades U.S. sanctions.

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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigration of the Arab Republic of Egypt Badr Abdelatty

25 September 2025 22:57

1569-25-09-2025

On September 24, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigration of the Arab Republic of Egypt Badr Abdelatty on the sidelines of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

The discussion addressed key issues pertinent to the further strengthening of traditionally friendly Russian-Egyptian relations. Particular attention was devoted to preparations for the inaugural Russia-Arab Summit in Moscow on October 15 this year, as well as the second ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, scheduled for November 18-19 this year in Cairo.

A substantive exchange of views occurred on pressing Middle Eastern matters, with emphasis on the dramatic developments in the zone of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The ministers also examined the challenges of achieving lasting settlements in Lebanon, Syria, Sudan, and Libya. Both parties reaffirmed the importance of continued active foreign policy coordination between Moscow and Cairo at the United Nations and other international platforms.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Germany - AIM-120D-3 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles

NEWS | Sept. 25, 2025

Media/Public Contact: T_Outreach_PM@state.gov

Transmittal No. 25-81

WASHINGTON, September 25, 2025 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Germany of AIM-120D-3 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles and related equipment for an estimated cost of $1.23 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress.

The Government of Germany has requested to buy up to four hundred (400) AIM-120D-3 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM); up to twelve (12) AIM-120D-3 AMRAAM guidance sections, including precise positioning provided by either Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module or M-Code; and one (1) AIM-120 AMRAAM Integrated Test Vehicle. The following non-Major Defense Equipment items will also be included: AMRAAM telemetry kits, control sections, containers, and support equipment; ADU-891 Adaptor Group Test sets; KGV-135A encryption devices; spare parts, consumables and accessories, and repair and return support; weapons system support and software; classified and unclassified software delivery and support; classified and unclassified publications and technical documentation; personnel training and training equipment; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is $1.23 billion.

This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a NATO Ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe.

The proposed sale will improve Germany's capability to meet current and future threats by providing increased air-to-air capability for the German F-35 program and supporting German and shared NATO planning, training, and operational requirements. Germany will have no difficulty absorbing these articles into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The principal contractor will be RTX Corporation, located in Arlington, VA. 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 by 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 Germany.

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






Transcript of Weekly Media Briefing by the Official Spokesperson (September 26, 2025)

India - Ministry of External Affairs

September 26, 2025

Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Let's begin our conversation.

Sidhant Sibal, WION: Hi sir, Sidhant from WION. Sir, we saw comment by the NATO SG regarding the Prime Minister being on phone call with the Russian President and talking about what's the strategy. We have seen increasingly such comments  but particularly regarding the NATO Chief's comments. Any response by the Indian side?

Shailendra Wangu, News18 India: Sir Shailendra Wangu, News18 India. Americi Rashtrapati Donald Trump ne ek naya order nikala hai 100% tariff pharma companies pe. Toh isse Indian companies pe kitna asar padega aur kya is mudde ko Bharat ne America ke sath uthaya hai?

[Approximate Translation: Question in Hindi] Sir, Shailendra Wangu, News18 India. The U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a new order imposing a 100% tariff on pharmaceutical companies. How much impact will this have on Indian companies, and has India raised this issue with the United States?

Pranay Upadhyay, Aaj Tak, India Today: Sir Pranay Upadhyay, Aaj Tak, India Today se. Turkey ke Rashtrapati Erdogan ne Sanyukt Rashtra Sangh ke andar ek bayan diya hai jisme unhone kaha hai ki Kashmir mudde ko jo hai UN ke resolution ke tahat suljhaya jana chahiye aur is mamle pe Turkey apna samarthan deta hai. Is par apki tippani to dijiyega hi lekin sath hi batayega ki kya North Cyprus ko lekar Bharat ki niti hai aur Bharat is mamle ko kya UN mein uthane ja raha hai?

[Approximate Translation: Question in Hindi] Sir, Pranay Upadhyay from Aaj Tak, India Today. The President of Turkey, Erdogan, has made a statement at the United Nations saying that the Kashmir issue should be resolved as per UN resolutions and that Turkey supports this position. We'd like your comment on this. Also, could you clarify what India's policy is regarding North Cyprus, and whether India intends to raise this matter at the UN?

Ravindra Singh Robin, Independent Journalist: Ravindra Singh Robin, Independent Journalist. Sir, you have seen that as Harjeet Kaur was recently deported from US, as US was saying she was not possessing the required document to live there. So, how does India view this increase in deportation from USA as well as many visa fraud cases been popped up in many states in India. So, what steps MEA has been taking?

And my second question is that why did MEA issue an advisory to travel to Iran?

Unidentified Speaker: How many Indians have been recently deported by the US authorities? Is there a flight which landed in Punjab recently?

Megha Sharma, NewsX: Good Afternoon, Sir. My question is about the US administration making a statement of reclaiming the Bagram Air Base. There is also a meeting that has been held between President Trump and Asim Munir and Shahbaz Sharif. Do you see a potential involvement of Pakistan in aiding America in this initiative and what is your response? What is India's response?

Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: So, one by one. First to Sidhant's question. We have seen statement by NATO Secretary General Mr. Mark Rutte regarding a purported phone conversation between Prime Minister of India and President Vladimir Putin of Russia. This statement let me clarify is factually incorrect, and entirely baseless. At no point has Prime Minister Modi spoken with President Putin in the manner suggested. No such conversation has taken place. We expect the leadership of an important and esteemed institution like NATO to excise greater responsibility and accuracy in public statements. Speculative or careless remarks that misrepresent the Prime Minister's engagement or suggest conversations that never occurred are unacceptable.

As previously stated, India's energy imports are meant to ensure predictable and affordable energy cost to the Indian consumer. Therefore, India will continue taking all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security.

Shailendra, aapka sawal. Shayad kal ek notice aaya tha social media post pe, hum logo ne dekha hai ki naye tariff ki baat ho rahi hai pharma pe aur bhi anya kuch padarth pe. Is report ko hum logo ne dekha hai, aur hamare yahan jo mantralay jo vibhag isse sambandhit hai wo is mamle pe nazar rakhe hain aur us pe dekh rahe hain ki kya us par asar padta hai. Vishesh Jankari ke liye to main kahunga ki jo sambandhit mantralay hain yahan par unse baat chit karenge to jyada aapko Jankari mil sakti hai.

[Approximate Translation: Answer in Hindi] Shailendra, regarding your questionyes, we saw the notice that came out yesterday on social media posts mentioning new tariffs on pharmaceuticals and some other products. We have taken note of this report, and the ministries and departments concerned here are closely monitoring the matter to assess what impact it may have. For specific details, I would suggest that you speak directly with the concerned ministries, as they will be able to provide you with more comprehensive information.

Pranay, Kashmir ke mudde pe hum logo ka bayan saf hai, hamara kya position raha hai pichle gat salon mein, gat dhashkon mein usse aap sabhi log bhali bhathi wakif hain. Jahan tak north Cyprus ki aapne baat kahi, main aapka dhyaan akarshit karna chaunga jo videsh Mantri ki meeting hui Cyprus ke foreign minister se. Us pe yeh baat chit hui. Aur main waha par aapka dhyaan me akarshit karna chaunga ki videsh mantri ne is baat par baat chit ki aur yeh kaha gaya ki hum us baat ka samarthan karte hain ki ek comprehensive or lasting settlement ho Cyprus ke mudde pe in accordance with the agreed UN framework and relevant UNSC resolutions.

[Approximate Translation: Answer in Hindi] Pranay, on the issue of Kashmir, our position is very clear. You are all aware of what our stand has been over the past several years and decades. As for your point on North Cyprus, I would like to draw your attention to the meeting between our External Affairs Minister and the Foreign Minister of Cyprus. This matter was discussed, and the External Affairs Minister conveyed that we support a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the Cyprus issue in accordance with the agreed UN framework and relevant UNSC resolutions.

Ravinder, coming to your question. First, the number of deportations that have happened from the United States. In the last several months, since January 2025, so far we have had 2,417 Indian nationals deported or repatriated from the United States. In the case of Ms. Harjeet Kaur, she also returned recently.

You are well aware of our position on migration. We want to promote legal pathways of migration. At the same time, India stands against illegal migration. Whenever there is a person who does not possess a legal status in any country, and he or she is referred to us with documents, if there are claims that he or she is an Indian national, we do the background check, we confirm the nationality, and then we are in a position to take them back. And this is what has been happening with deportations from the United States.

As far as visa fraud cases and other such matters are concerned, as I told you, we want to promote legal migration from India. At the same time, we want to see how best we can clamp down or curb illegal migration because that undermines our efforts to promote legal migration. Several ministries of Government of India have been working very closely with state governments to crack down on agents, on people who are promoting illegal migration, visa fraud that you mentioned. We are at the same time raising awareness about legal migration. We have also been issuing regular advisories for our nationals to stay away from the kind of employment opportunities that are being offered in Southeast Asia that you saw, or the advisory that we recently issued on Iran and several such movements that have taken place recently.

As I told you, we also are promoting that more and more people should look at e-migrate portal because that is comprehensive in nature. It will give you what are the steps to be taken for legal migration, which are the agencies which have been recruited, which have been certified by government of India and what are the do's and don'ts involved, what you have to do when you reach your destination, what sort of help can the Indian missions abroad give you, so on and so forth. So, all these details are there on e-migrate portal and I will request you to have a look.

The Protectorate of Immigrants, as you know, it has offices all across India. The Ministry of External Affairs works through them along with the State Governments to see how best we can promote legal migration and how best we can clamp down on illegal migration.

On the question of Iran, you would have seen our advisory as well. We just want to tell you that in recent months, we have seen that several Indian nationals on landing in Iran, they have been kidnapped by criminal gangs. Now, between Iran and India, we have a visa-free regime. But this visa-free regime is only valid for tourism purposes. There are agents, who in connivance with several others, have been luring our nationals to go to Iran for employment purposes. The visa-free entry is not meant for employment purposes. And, also giving them a pretext that through Iran you will be sent across to third countries for employment opportunities. So, we have issued an advisory so that people are aware of these facts, and what has been happening, and so that they can stay away from all these people who are promoting illegal migration. Recently, as I told you, several cases of kidnapping of Indian nationals have been reported, once they landed in Tehran.

Megha, on your question regarding Bagram Air Base. Yes, we have seen those reports, but I don't have any comments to offer on this particular matter, as I said last time as well. On the meeting between United States and some other countries that you referred, it is a question that you must take to them. But as far as India is concerned, we closely follow all developments that have an impact on our interests.

Huma Siddiqui: Sir, I am Huma Siddiqui from Strat News Global. I have two questions. Number one, External Affairs Minister had a meeting with the SICA member countries, what was the outcome, if you can share those details?

And my second question is  is India looking at importing crude from Iran and Venezuela? Because this was apparently discussed during talks when the commerce team met with their counterparts there.

Brahm Prakash Dubey Zee News: Sir, main Brahm Prakash Dubey, Zee News se.. Mera sawal ye hai ki abhi haal hi mein Pakistan aur Saudi Arabia ke beech jis tarah se ek samjhauta hua hai, usko lekar Bharat kis najariye se dekhta hai kyunki usme saaf kaha gaya hai ki dono deshon mein se kisi bhi desh par agar koi bahari dikat aati hai to dono ka samuhik dikat samjhi jayegi. Thank you.

[Approximate Translation: Question in Hindi] Sir, I'm Brahm Prakash Dubey from Zee News. My question is regarding the recent agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. How does India view this development, especially since it clearly states that if either of the two countries faces any external challenge, it will be considered a collective challenge for both? Thank you.

Niraj Kumar, News18 India: Sir, Niraj hoon News18 India se. New York mein Mohammad Yunus ne bataya ki Bharat aur Bangladesh ke beech tanav ki kya vajah hai. Usme ek vajah Sheikh Hasina ka Bharat mein hona bhi unhone mana aur chatra andolan ko Bharat pasand nahi karta hai, waha jo ho rahe hain. Toh in vajaho ko batai. Kaise dekh raha hai Videsh mantralay?

[Approximate Translation: Question in Hindi] Sir, this is Niraj from News18 India. In New York, Mohammad Yunus spoke about the reasons for tension between India and Bangladesh. He mentioned that one reason is Sheikh Hasina being in India, and another is that India does not favor the student protests taking place there. How does the Ministry of External Affairs view this?

Uma Shankar Singh, Independent Journalist: Uma Shankar Singh, Independent Journalist. Mera sawal Russia mein fase Bhartiyon ko lekar hai. Jo Bhartiya vapas laut gaye, kya uske baad kuch aur Bhartiyon ka waha pata chala hai? Aur agar ha, to kya unki vapasi ki jo prakriya hai wo kahan tak pahunchi hai?

[Approximate Translation: Question in Hindi] Uma Shankar Singh, Independent Journalist. My question is regarding the Indians stranded in Russia. After those who have already returned, has it come to light that there are more Indians still there? And if so, how far has the process of bringing them back progressed?

Keshav Padmanabhan, ThePrint: Thank you, Sir. Keshav Padmanabhan, from ThePrint. My first question is that the chief adviser of Bangladesh Muhammad Yunus the other day was saying that when it comes to SAARC, there's only one country that is preventing the activities of the block. I've heard your statements before from this platform with regards to SAARC. But with this continuously coming up from Bangladesh, does the government of India have any clear statement on you know, what it wants to do with this organization?

And if you would permit me, a second question is in addition to the tariffs that Donald Trump announced last night. He has announced it on kitchen  some specific furniture, which is about 50%. India's largest export, about 1.1 billion dollars of furniture goes to the US every year. It is about 50%. So, is this on top of the additional 50% tariffs? Is there any understanding with the Government of India with regards to this? Thank you.

Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: First, Huma, your question. We did have a meeting with SICA Foreign Ministers. This was held on 25th September. External Affairs Minister had a meeting with SICA Foreign Ministers. As you know, SICA is an important partner for us as far as South-South cooperation is concerned and the ambit of Global South solidarity is concerned. Both SICA and India are working together to advance collaboration, cooperation in the fields of digital transformation, renewable energy, food, health security and climate action.

As far as crude from Iran and Venezuela, I don't have any information in that regard.

Brahm, Pakistan aur Saudi Arabia ke beech mein jo sandhi hui hai, abhi defense pact hua hai. Uske bare mein hum logon ne ek vyakatv jari kiya tha. Aur pichle bar presser mein is baat par hum logon ne baat chit bhi ki thi. Humne ye kaha tha ki Bharat aur Saudi Arab ke beech mein ek samrik sajhedari hai jo ki pichle kuch saloon mein majboot hua hai, aur hamara ye umed hai ki hamari jo strategic partnership hai ya samrik sajhedari hai, ye apsi hito aur samvedanshilta ko dhyan mein rakhega.

[Approximate Translation: Answer in Hindi] Brahm, regarding the agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabiaspecifically the recent defense pactwe had already issued a statement. And in the last press briefing as well we discussed this matter. We had said that India and Saudi Arabia share a strategic partnership, which has strengthened over the past few years. It is our expectation that this strategic partnership will continue to take into account mutual interests and sensitivities.

Niraj former jo Pradhan Mantri hain Sheikh Hasina unke bare mein hum logon ne is manch se kai bar aapko bataya hai ki hamara kya position hai. Toh usse zyada mere pas aur kuch kehne ka nahi hai. Main chahunga ki aap hamare jo position pehle jo humne kaha hai, us par dhyan kendrit kare.

[Approximate Translation: Answer in Hindi] Niraj, regarding former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, we have already stated our position from this platform several times. I don't have anything further to add beyond that. I would urge you to focus on the position we have articulated earlier.

Uma, your question. Aapka sawal Russia mein jo Bharatiya nagrik waha ke rusi sena mein hai unke bare mein hai. Dekhiye hal hi ke dinon mein hum logo ko pata chala ki kuch aur Bharatiya nagrik rusi sena mein unhone join kar liya hai. Yah baat hum logon ko unke parivar jan ke marfat se pata chala hai. Is baat ko hum logon ne dono taraf Russia mein unka jo yahan par dutavas hai aur Moscow mein jo unka sarkar hai dono ke sath hum logon ne fir se uthaya hai aur bahut majbuti se uthaya hai ki jald se jald jo hamare nagrik hain unko waha se riha kara jaye. kariban kariban 27 log hain jo abhi jiski hum baat kar rahe hain. 27 log jo Bharatiya nagrik abhi rusi sena mein kuch hal hi ke dinon mein bharti hue the aur unko hum log waha se nikalne ki koshish kar rahe hain.

Sath hi sath main aapko dhyan dena chahunga ki hum logon ne kai ek dafa pehle bhi ek advisory issue kiya tha ki log is prakar ka pralobhan de ke waha par bulaya jata hai usse bache. toh ek bar fir aapke madhyam se aur aap sabhi logo ke madhyam se ye main kehna chahunga ki, hamare jo waha ja ke rusi sena mein ja ke bharti hone ke baad jo khatra hai, jo jaan ka khatra hai is par log dhyan den. Aur usse jo waha pralobhan diya jata hai, jo jis prakar ka employment opportunities ki baat ki jati hai usse log bache.

[Approximate Translation: Answer in Hindi] Uma, your question is about Indian nationals who are in the Russian armed forces. Recently, we learned that some additional Indian citizens have been recruited into the Russian military  this information came to us through their family members. We have taken up the matter vigorously with our mission in Russia and with the authorities in Moscow, urging that our nationals be released and brought back at the earliest. There are roughly 27 Indians involved who were recently enrolled in the Russian forces, and we are working to get them out.

At the same time, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that we have previously issued advisories warning people to avoid such enticements that lead them there. Once again, through you and your platforms, I want to stress that people should be aware of the dangers involved in joining the Russian armed forces and should avoid the kinds of temptations or employment opportunities that are being offered there.

Keshav, see, India's position is very clear on connectivity. We want to promote regional connectivity and collaboration. As far as SAARC is concerned, we made our position very clear. There is one particular country which is responsible for holding progress in SAARC. And you know which country is that country.

On tariff issues, the latest tariff announcements, concerned departments of Government of India are looking into it, and hopefully we will have a greater understanding on this particular matter. But at the same time, let me also tell you that as you are aware, India and the United States, they are involved in a bilateral trade agreement over the last few months. These ongoing discussions naturally cover all areas of interest to us. And if you want any more specific details on this, as to how this tariff is going to play out, I would say that you will have to get in touch with Department of Commerce and the other relevant Government of India agencies.

Kallol Bhattacherjee, The Hindu: Kallol Bhattacherjee, from The Hindu, Sir. President Trump has met the leadership of Pakistan and also General Munir, do you have a comment on that?

Jessica Taneja, DD India: This is Jessica Taneja, from DD India. In Bangladesh, the Chhatra Shibir which is affiliated to the Jamaat-e-Islami party has won a decisive victory in the Dhaka University student elections. Any comment on that?

Sanjay, ITV News: Sanjay from ITV News. There are news reports that the British Prime Minister is likely to take a trip to India in the first week of October. Could you tell us some more details about the agenda and the objective of the trip?

And also, the British victims of the Air India crash have been making a strong allegation that they are not being given any update about the investigation or what is happening with this whole thing. So, would you like to offer any comment on that? Thank you.

Krishna Mohan Sharma, Bharat Express: Sir, Krishna Mohan Sharma, Bharat Express se. Abhi Turkiye ka ek bayan aaya hai ki jo Jammu aur Kashmir mein jo cheez ho rahi hain khas karke jo kal parso mein jo waha pe durghatna hui, ki isko UNGA ke resolution ke hisab se isko solve kiya jaye aur ek tarike se wo Madhyasta karne ki bhi baat kar rahe hain sir.

[Approximate Translation: Question in Hindi] Sir, I'm Krishna Mohan Sharma from Bharat Express. Recently there has been a statement from Turkey about what is happening in Jammu and Kashmir  especially the incident that took place the day before yesterday  should be resolved in accordance with UNGA resolutions, and they are also talking about mediating in this matter, sir.

Sudhi Ranjan Sen, Bloomberg: Thank you, Sudhi Ranjan from Bloomberg, Sir. We saw the External Affairs Minister meeting his American counterpart recently. Can you give us an understanding whether H1B visas were raised? Is there an assurance from the United States?

And also, is India now trying to include the H1B visa issue in the trade talks? Therefore, including services as well?

Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Okay, so let us get over these first. So, Kalol, first on your meetings that you talked about between the US President and other dignitaries. We have taken note of those meetings.

Jessica, I have no comments to offer on the university level elections that have recently been held in Bangladesh. On the parliamentary elections scheduled to be held in February of next year, we have repeatedly underlined our expectation of a smooth and peaceful democratic transition through free, fair, credible and inclusive elections in the country, in Bangladesh that is.

Sanjay, on the visit of the UK Prime Minister, we will update you as and when we have more details. These visits are announced at the appropriate time.

On Air India victims, I understand the investigation is going on. For more details, you will have to get in touch with the concerned GoI authorities. As far as I am concerned, I will try to get you some update on that.

Krishna Mohan ji, Kashmir ke mudde pe hamara ravaiya hamara paksh bada saaf hai. Usme koi badlav nahi aaya hai. Jahan tak Madhyasthatha ki baat hai waha bhi teesre kisi bhi paksh ki dwipakshiya muddo pe  Bharat aur Pakistan ke beech mein dwipakshiya jo mudde hain  usme koi jagah nahi hai teesre paksh ka.

[Approximate Translation: Answer in Hindi] Krishna Mohan ji, our stance on the Kashmir issue is very clear and has not changed. As far as mediation is concerned, there is no scope for any third party in the bilateral matters between India and Pakistan.

Sudhi, the External Affairs Minister had a meeting with Secretary of State Mark Rubio in New York. This was on 22nd of September. In the meeting, External Affairs Minister and Secretary of State were joined by Commerce and Industry Minister from our side and USTR from the American side. We also had several officials participating in that meeting. The focus of the discussion was on trade and tariffs. Other aspects of bilateral relationship were also discussed.

With regard to H-1B, let me tell you. You are aware that Ministry and our Embassy in Washington DC have been in active touch with the US administration. You would have seen after those changes were announced, subsequent to that, clarifications and FAQs were issued by the US side as to how it is going to play out. This is still an evolving situation, and we remain engaged at various levels.

Since you asked the question of H-1B, let me also tell you that we have also seen notice by the Department of Homeland Security regarding the proposed rulemaking, some of the new changes they want. Understand that stakeholders from the industries and others have been given a month to comment on it. As far as we are concerned, we have stated this earlier as well, skilled talent mobility and exchanges between India and the United States, they have contributed significantly to innovation, wealth creation, economic growth, competitiveness, productivity in the two economies. We want to remain engaged with all concerned, including the industry and we also hope that these factors that I just talked about will receive due consideration.

Shivam Patel, Reuters News: This is Shivam Patel, from Reuters News. Sir, a couple of weeks ago, you talked about the lifting of some economic restrictions by China after the Chinese Foreign Minister's visit to India. I just wanted to follow up whether any sort of rare earth licenses or anything has developed on the rare earth front. And, also on the tunnel boring machines that were stuck in China for a while. Thank you.

Ajay Banerjee, Tribune: Good afternoon, I am Ajay Banerjee with the Tribune. I intend to ask you about  yesterday, Russian Deputy Prime Minister called on Prime Minister Modi. Can you share, because you have issued a press release about the talks that happened. Can you share, if we have flagged to the Russians during the meeting yesterday, or in the previous meetings we had  the Russian media has been reporting about additional military equipment being sourced from Russia?

Yeshi Seli, Business India: This is Yeshi Seli from Business India. President Trump had said that India is one of the primary funders of the war on Ukraine because it is buying oil from Russia. Any comments on that?

And also President Erdogan had rigged up the Kashmir issue in UN. Do you have any comments?

Manish Chand, India Writes Network: Manish Chand, India Writes Network. As of now, what is the status of the Quad Summit? Will India be hosting it or is there a plan for another Quad country to host it?

And secondly, Malaysia will be hosting the ASEAN Summit towards the end of the month. Who will represent India? Will the Prime Minister be going? Thank you.

Nayanima Basu, Independent Journalist: Sir, this is Nayanima Basu, independent journalist. I wanted to understand from you, the EU has also said that while we want to upgrade ties with India, India's purchase of Russian oil remains an obstacle, and they have kind of tied it up with the progress in the India-U.S. FTA. So, can you share some comments on that please? Thank you.

Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Shivam, first coming to your question. Our specific concerns on restrictive measures on trade and roadblocks to economic cooperation have been taken up with the Chinese side during various high-level exchanges, and we have been informing you of those. When our leaders met in Tianjin, they underlined the need to proceed from a political and strategic direction to address economic issues. Both sides have also agreed to explore and resume dialogue mechanism and exchanges to enhance cooperation while addressing each other's concerns.

Ajay, your question regarding the visit of Deputy Prime Minister from Russia. Well, this visit happened yesterday. The Deputy Prime Minister of Russia is here along with a delegation to participate in the World Food Programme. On that occasion, he met with our Prime Minister where we discussed cooperation between the two countries, specifically in the fields of fertilizer, food processing, agriculture. There is a lot that we can do between the two countries. As far as defense cooperation is concerned, this is something which is ongoing between the two countries.

Yeshi on Kashmir, I have already answered, you know our position.

Manish, on the status of Quad. We see it as a valuable forum for discussion on shared interests in a number of areas. As far as leaders' level summit is concerned or is to be scheduled, these happen through diplomatic consultations or will happen through diplomatic consultations among the four partners.

Nayanima, your question regarding Russian oil. On Russian oil and energy sourcing, we have articulated our position very well, what is our broad approach to it. On the EU comments on Russian oil, let me also tell you and would like to attract your attention to some of the comments that have been made by several leaders, including President Trump; that EU and NATO and G7 countries should also look at halting energy imports from Russia. I mean, there cannot be any double standard in the matter.

With that, ladies and gentlemen, we come to the close of this press briefing. Thank you.

New Delhi

September 26, 2025

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






INDIAN NAVY'S FIRST TRAINING SQUADRON MAKES PORT CALL AT MOMBASA, KENYA

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

Posted On: 26 SEP 2025 4:07PM by PIB Delhi

The ships of the Indian Navy's First Training Squadron (1TS) - INS Tir, INS Sujata, INS Shardul and ICGS Sarathi made a port call at Mombasa, Kenya on 25 Sep 2025. The Squadron received a warm welcome from the Kenya Navy, along with the Defence Advisor and the Acting High Commissioner of India.

The ships are currently on a long-range training deployment to the South West Indian Ocean Region, having earlier visited Seychelles, Mauritius, La Reunion, and Mozambique.

During the port call, personnel from both navies will engage in a wide range of professional and social interactions, including joint training activities, Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX), and Passage Exercise (PASSEX). The visit will also feature a joint yoga session, a combined performance by the Indian and Kenya Navy Bands, and community outreach activities in Mombasa.

The visit of 1TS aims to further strengthen the maritime partnership and collaborative efforts between the two navies, emphasising the spirit of MAHASAGAR - Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions.

_________________

VM/SPS 200/25

(Release ID: 2171728)

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






NODAL TECHNOLOGY CENTRE SYMPOSIUM - 2025

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

HELD AT BASE REPAIR DEPOT, PALAM

Posted On: 26 SEP 2025 4:10PM by PIB Delhi

Base Repair Depot, Palam organised the Nodal Technology Centre (NTC) Symposium-2025 with the theme of 'Indigenisation through Reverse Engineering Adopting Black Box Concept' on 23 September 2025 at New Delhi. The event was organised as part of Maintenance Command's initiative towards self-reliance and excellence in technological advancements. Air Commodore Harsh Bahl, Air Officer Commanding, Base Repair Depot, Palam was the chief guest of the event. Air Commodore L Shriram, Air Commodore (Radar), Air HQ along with distinguished participants from the academia and industry, graced the occasion. Eminent academicians from IIT Delhi, IIT Mandi and NSUT along with industrial representatives delivered deep insights on the technologies that can be indigenised in the nations march towards 'Atmanirbharta'. The 'NTC Compendium- 2025', documenting milestones of the Depot's indigenisation efforts was released by the Chief Guest in the presence of the Guest of Honour.

An exhibition was also organised as part of the symposium, providing a platform for industrial partners to showcase their technological capabilities and to engage with users for identifying future indigenisation requirements. The symposium served to reinforce the Indian Air Force's commitment towards self-reliance in critical technologies through synergy with academia and industry thereby contributing to national defence preparedness.

***

IN/PC/CV

(Release ID: 2171730)

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's meeting with Minister of External Affairs of the Republic of India Subrahmanyam Jaishankar

26 September 2025 22:15

1598-26-09-2025

On September 26, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a meeting with Minister of External Affairs of the Republic of India Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on the sidelines of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

The heads of diplomatic affairs deliberated on pivotal issues concerning bilateral collaboration, including preparations for the forthcoming Russia-India summit, slated for the end of the year. The ministers also scrutinised pressing topics on the international and regional agenda, notably the situation surrounding Ukraine and developments in the zone of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

The parties concurred in their commitment to further fortify their specially privileged strategic partnership and to augment cooperation within multilateral platforms, particularly in the G20, BRICS, and the SCO.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






China-Cambodia cultural show held in Phnom Penh to celebrate upcoming mid-autumn festival

Xinhua) 10:03, September 29, 2025

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- A 2025 China-Cambodia mid-autumn festival friendship gala was held in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Sunday evening, attracting hundreds of revelers.

Speaking at the event, Cambodian Information Ministry's Secretary of State Kem Gunawadh said the bright moon in the mid-autumn transcended national boundaries, connecting all those who yearn for beauty and cherish family reunions.

"For the Cambodian people, this full moon carries a special sentiment. It reflects the long-standing friendship and enduring ties between China and Cambodia," he said.

Gunawadh said China has been Cambodia's most loyal and reliable partner.

"The profound friendship between our two countries is like the bright moon, unwaveringly illuminating our shared path forward regardless of rainstorms," he said.

He said that whenever Cambodia faced difficulties, China always spared no effort in providing assistance, particularly in infrastructure and economic development and cultural protection, among others.

"China's support has been pervasive, making an indelible contribution to Cambodia's prosperity and stability," Gunawadh said. "This spirit of mutual support and assistance is a concrete manifestation of our shared vision of building a community with a shared future."

The official said the full moon during the mid-autumn festival symbolizes harmony and happiness.

"I hope that the friendship between China and Cambodia will be as bright as the full moon," he said. "Let us work together to deepen cooperation in all areas, so the tree of China-Cambodia friendship will bear even more abundant fruits and bring greater benefits to the peoples of both countries."

The mid-autumn festival is one of the four most important festivals in China and on the occasion, moon-cakes are regarded as an indispensable delicacy.

During the two-hour event, artists from the arts schools of both countries jointly presented a variety of traditional songs and dances, and each of the performances drew hearty rounds of applause from the audience.

One of the spectators, Pok Sovan, who is an official from Cambodia's Ministry of Tourism, said she felt happy to join the event, saying that it would make Cambodia-China relations become closer.

"This event is vital to help further promote the tourism sector and cultural exchange between Cambodia and China," she told Xinhua.

"I would love to see broader people-to-people exchanges between Chinese and Cambodia people, so they can enhance mutual learning on culture, civilization, and tourism, among others," Sovan said.

Teav Sopheap, another official from Cambodia's Ministry of Tourism, said that during the moon festival, Cambodian people of Chinese descent worship the moon with moon cakes and hold joyful family gatherings.

"Personally, I like this festival because it is an occasion to consume mooncakes with our family members in a friendly atmosphere," he told Xinhua.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Imprisoned Iranian Activist Rashidi Dies Amid Allegations Of Medical Neglect

By RFE/RL's Radio Farda September 26, 2025

Iranian activist Somayeh Rashidi, labeled as a political prisoner by multiple groups, has died 10 days after suffering seizures in a prison south of Tehran, leading cellmates and rights organizations to accuse authorities of failing to provide necessary care for the woman.

Mizan, the Iranian judiciary news agency, on September 25 claimed that Rashidi, 42, had a history of seizures and that she fell ill on September 15. The news outlet said the woman was first treated by Qarchak Prison medical staff and then transported to Mofateh Hospital in the city of Varamin.

However, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) cited hospital doctors as saying the main reason for Rashidi's deterioration was a delay in providing her with medical care.

"Prison authorities didn't take her condition seriously despite repeated visits to the health center and even accused her of indulging in drug abuse," HRANA, an organization consisting of Iranian activists, said in a statement.

Norway-based rights group Hengaw said that "instead of providing appropriate care, prison doctors accused her of 'malingering' and prescribed only sedatives and psychiatric medication. The neglect worsened her condition, leading to seizures and eventual coma."

Hengaw cited sources as saying Rashidi's family has been pressured to declare her death the result of "a hospital error," although it didn't provide details.

The Iran Human Rights group, also based in Norway, in December 2024 published a report titled Qarchak Prison: Hell for Women and Children. It called for the closing of the prison following Rashidi's death.

One of Rashidi's cellmates told RFE/RL's Radio Farda she "had epilepsy, had constant seizures, and suffered from severe headaches, and that every time she went to the prison doctor, she was told she was malnourished and was sent back to the ward."

Another cellmate, who also did not want to be identified, said Rashidi "was not in a good condition and did not have a lawyer to follow up. She had been issued bail, but her family was not able to afford it."

"Somayeh was transferred to the Forensic Medical Examiner's Office on last weekbut she deteriorated on the way. Instead of being taken to the hospital, she was taken back to the ward, where she had a severe seizure and fell...She was then taken to the hospital."

Rashidi was arrested on April 24, 2025, while writing protest slogans in Tehran's Javadiyeh neighborhood, according to Hengaw. Security forces beat her during the arrest and charged her with "propaganda against the state," it added.

Mizan said authorities accuse Rashidi of having contacts with the banned Mujahedin-e Khalq organization and of posting videos online of acts of sabotage.

Iranian authorities are particularly sensitive to reports of the deaths of women under detention since the case of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old who died in September 2022 while held by Tehran's morality police for an alleged violation of the law on wearing a head cover.

That incident spurred major street protests -- and a brutal crackdown -- and led to the establishment of the Women, Life, Freedom movement in the country.

Journalist Elaheh Mohammadi wrote on social media that Rashidi, like herself, was detained in relation to work with the movement.

Iranian prison authorities often resist sending political prisoners to hospitals for treatment until the last minute, and only in dire circumstances.

With reporting by Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-rights- activist-rashidi-dies-prison/33541076.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






Iran's nuclear escalation is a threat to international peace and security: UK Explanation of Vote at the UN Security Council

Speech

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Iran.

From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Dame Barbara Woodward DCMG OBE

Published 26 September 2025

Location: United Nations, New York

Delivered on: 26 September 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

The United Kingdom voted against the draft resolution.

First, as this Council knows, Iran is defying the global non-proliferation regime. Iran's nuclear escalation, as detailed in over 60 IAEA reports over the past six years, is a threat to international peace and security.

Iran's actions mean that the IAEA is unable to confirm that Iran's nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful. Among the steps Iran has taken is the accumulation of a High Enriched Uranium stockpile which lacks any credible civilian justification and is unprecedented for a state without a nuclear weapons programme.

Second, we have engaged tirelessly in diplomatic efforts to resolve concerns and bring Iran back into compliance with its commitments under the JCPoA.

We regret that Iran has continued to block progress in recent months. This includes failing to resume full cooperation with the IAEA and giving no clarity on when inspections to all nuclear sites can resume.

The IAEA has also not had access to the High Enriched Uranium stockpile for over three months, nor has Iran provided the reports required by the IAEA on the status of the stockpile.

It is also clear from the Supreme Leader's public remarks this week that Iran is not willing to consider direct negotiations with the US.

As a result, this Council does not have the necessary assurance that there is a clear path to a swift diplomatic solution.

Third, in its vote last week, this Council fulfilled the necessary steps of the snapback process set out in resolution 2231.

Therefore, UN sanctions targeting Iranian proliferation will be re-imposed this weekend. All Member States are obliged to fully comply with these sanctions, as required by the UN Charter.

The United Kingdom remains committed to pursuing a diplomatic solution that ensures Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon, while maintaining Iran's right to a civil nuclear programme in line with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Our commitment to diplomacy remains steadfast and is not exhausted. We stand ready to continue discussions with Iran on a diplomatic solution to address international concerns about its nuclear programme. In turn, this could allow for the lifting of sanctions in the future.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






UN Security Council blocks China-Russia resolution on Iran sanctions

26 September 2025 - A resolution to extend sanctions relief to Iran under a 2015 nuclear deal failed to pass in the UN Security Council on Friday.

China and Russia tabled the draft which received four votes in favour, nine against and two abstentions.

The text sought to extend the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) for six months until next April, as well as Council resolution 2231(2015) that endorsed it. It also encouraged continued engagement between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Sanctions 'snapback'

The rejection means that sanctions that were lifted under the deal will be re-imposed starting on Saturday evening.

The development comes a month after three European countries that signed the agreement - France, Germany and the United Kingdom - notified the Council about what they described as Iran's "significant non-performance" and violations, thus triggering the so-called "snapback mechanism".

China's representative deeply regretted that the resolution was not adopted and called for upholding regional peace and stability.

"A breakdown in the Iranian nuclear issue could trigger a new regional security crisis which runs counter to common interests of the international community," he said.

Ambassador Barbara Woodward explained why the UK voted no, saying "as this Council knows, Iran is defying the global non-proliferation regime". Furthermore, its nuclear escalation has been detailed in over 60 IAEA reports over the past six years.

"Iran's actions mean that the IAEA is unable to confirm that Iran's nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful," she said.

"Among the steps Iran has taken is the accumulation of a High Enriched Uranium stockpile which lacks any credible civilian justification and is unprecedented for a State without a nuclear weapons programme."

United States Deputy Representative Dorothy Shea was pleased that the Council rejected what she called "this last-ditch effort by the Russian Federation and China", calling the text "a hollow effort to relieve Iran of any accountability for its continued significant non-performance of its nuclear commitments."

Russia's Deputy Permanent Representative Dmitry Polyanskiy addressed nations who refused to support the draft.

"Now, there certainly are no longer any illusions," he said. "These countries have definitively demonstrated that all of their assurances about their focus on arriving at a diplomatic resolution to the Iranian nuclear programme issue for all of these years, were mere noise."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Security Council Fails to Adopt Resolution Extending Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on Iran's Nuclear Programme

Meetings Coverage

Security Council

10006th Meeting (PM)

SC/16181

26 September 2025

The Security Council today failed to adopt a resolution that would have extended United Nations sanctions relief under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, following the decision by France, Germany and the United Kingdom to trigger the reimposition of sanctions  the so-called "snapback" mechanism  citing Iran's significant non-performance of its commitments under the Plan.

The draft resolution was rejected by a recorded vote of 9 against (Denmark, France, Greece, Panama, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Somalia, United Kingdom, United States) to 4 in favour (Algeria, China, Pakistan, Russian Federation), with 2 abstentions (Guyana, Republic of Korea).

If adopted, the resolution would have decided to technically extend for 6 months, till 18 April 2026, the 10-year term after the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) Adoption Day, indicated in resolution 2231 (2015) and its Annexes, with a possibility for a further extension. Further, it would have encouraged the continuation of the engagement between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and urged all initial participants of the JCPOA to immediately resume negotiations on the matters related to the resolution 2231 (2015) and the JCPOA.

Speaking before the vote, the representative of the Russian Federation voiced regret that the United States and its European colleagues did not choose the path of diplomacy instead of "clumsy blackmail", which only leads to escalation in the region. When the notification was issued, the United Kingdom, France and Germany assured everyone that they were prepared to abandon their escalatory policy if Iran complied with the conditions they had set out. These included three points: the resumption of communication with IAEA, disclosure regarding enriched uranium stockpiles and constructive engagement on the broader situation.

Despite these circumstances, Iran has demonstrated strategic wisdom and flexibility, making serious progress on the issues at hand. On 9 September in Cairo, Iran and IAEA signed an agreement covering all nuclear facilities in the country  including those attacked by Israel and the United States in June 2025. Furthermore, Tehran, despite Washington, D.C.'s, active aggression, has demonstrated its readiness to resume dialogue with the United States. He urged all members to vote in favour and demonstrate "a depoliticized approach and commitment to diplomacy".

Text Would Afford More Time for Diplomatic Efforts, Political Solution

Describing resolution 2231 (2015) as "the fruit of diplomatic efforts and the victory of multilateralism", China's delegate stressed that today, the Iranian nuclear issue "stands at a critical juncture", with the E3 [France, Germany, United Kingdom] pushing to activate the snapback mechanism and Iran warning it "will take countermeasures if the sanctions were to be restored". "The current situation is precarious, almost on the brink of collapse," he warned, noting that Iran recently reached an agreement with IAEA on resuming cooperation, demonstrated its sincerity in its engagement with the E3 and has "repeatedly sent positive signals of its readiness to resume talks with the U.S.". Therefore, Beijing and Moscow tabled a draft resolution for a six-month technical extension to resolution 2231 (2015). Stressing that the resolution "is not about picking sides between Iran and the E3", he said it "aims to get more time for diplomatic efforts and create conditions for a political solution".

For his part, France's delegate outlined efforts undertaken over the past eight days to reach a diplomatic solution and avoid the reimposition of sanctions, including talks with IAEA's Director and Iran's President. However, he voiced regret over Iran's attitude of refusal and lack of agreement to engage in concrete and specific gestures, including the resumption of cooperation with IAEA and lack of transparency on the location of 450 kilograms of enriched uranium, adding: "This was a minimal demand." Also noting Tehran's proposal of "intermediate options" instead of acceding to the demand of the resumption of negotiations with the United States, he said  unless substantive negotiations are agreed on  France opposes the text.

Speaking after the vote, China's representative expressed deep regret that the resolution was not adopted, recalling that Beijing has consistently emphasized that dialogue and negotiation are the only viable means to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue. "The current situation has reached a critical juncture," he stated, urging all parties to remain calm, exercise restraint, and uphold regional peace and stability.

He called on the United States to demonstrate political will by responding positively to Iran's proposal to resume talks and to commit unequivocally to refraining from further military strikes against Iran. He further underscored the need to uphold the spirit and principles of the JCPOA, and to pursue a holistic approach to nuclear non-proliferation and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

The representative of the Russian Federation added that virtually everything Western colleagues called for is enshrined in the text. Since the Council did not adopt the text, the resolution in question will cease to be in effect on 18 October, the day that the Agreement is set to expire, he said, stressing: "There has been no snapback and there will be no snapback."

Diplomatic Efforts Towards Finding Negotiated Solution Still Possible

Deploring the fact that the Council was unable to adopt the text, Algeria's delegate said it "missed yet another opportunity to encourage dialogue and to help diplomatic efforts to bear fruit". He warned that any substitution to a peaceful solution to the Iranian nuclear issue can result in serious repercussions in the Middle East region. Noting recent practical arrangements between Iran and IAEA reached in early September, he said that "diplomatic efforts geared towards finding a negotiated solution are still possible".

Picking up that thread, the representative of Pakistan noted his delegation's vote in favour of the draft and stressed that "buying more time would be a critically important prerequisite to move forward". To that end, "the only logical step would be a technical extension of [Council] resolution 2231 (2015)". Voicing support for JCPOA, he said that coercive measures would not resolve outstanding issues but complicate them further and that sanctions would only hurt ordinary Iranians.

Numerous countries that voted against the draft rejected those concerns. Among them was the United Kingdom's representative, who stated that "Iran is defying the global non-proliferation regime" and its actions mean that "IAEA is not able to confirm that Iran's nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful". Her country, she said, engaged tirelessly in diplomatic efforts to resolve concerns and bring Iran back into compliance with its commitments under the JCPOA. Regrettably, Iran has continued to block progress in recent months. Therefore, last week the Council fulfilled the necessary steps of the snapback process set out in resolution 2231 (2015) and UN sanctions will be reimposed this weekend. "All Member States are obliged to comply fully with these sanctions as required by the UN Charter," she stressed, adding that her country remains "committed to pursuing a diplomatic solution that ensures Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon while maintaining Tehran's right to a civil nuclear programme".

Also affirming her country's support for the reimposition of pre-2015 United Nations sanctions on Iran, the representative of the United States underlined that these measures, set to enter into effect on the evening of 27 September, are not arbitrary, but specifically designed to address the threat posed by Iran's nuclear, missile and conventional arms programmes, as well as its support for terrorism.

Text Intended to Relieve Iran of Accountability for Ongoing Non-Performance

She underlined that "the snapback mechanism" does not preclude the eventual removal of these measures through diplomacy. However, at this stage, there is no basis for changing course, given Iran's failure to address the concerns raised by the E3. Welcoming the Council's rejection of the draft put forward by China and the Russian Federation, she described it as "a hollow text intended to relieve Iran of accountability for its continued, significant non-performance".

Denmark's representative voiced regret that despite hope for a breakthrough, intensive diplomatic efforts did not bear fruit. Necessary steps were not taken to extend the provisions of Council resolution 2231 (2015), not unconditionally, she said, adding: "It is also problematic that it did not call for a return to full cooperation with the IAEA." Adopting the text would prolong a fundamentally untenable situation, she said, noting that her delegation therefore voted against the text.

Sierra Leone's delegate welcomed reports that Iran and the IAEA have signed an agreement aimed at resuming cooperation, describing it as "a significant strand of the ongoing negotiations, a step toward rebuilding trust". However, the resolution "does not offer tangible outcomes, specifically concrete and timebound steps that restore access, lower enrichment levels and rebuild continuity of knowledge". Therefore, Sierra Leone cannot agree to the text as it stands.

The representative of Slovenia voiced concern over the scope and transparency of Iran's nuclear programme, especially the stockpile of highly enriched uranium. He "called out Iran's unacceptable disregard for its non-proliferation obligations" and equally unacceptable attack on Iran's nuclear facilities. Slovenia did not support the resolution because such an extension  if it is to provide space for diplomacy  should come with precisely defined conditions to be met. "We call on all sides to engage in diplomacy even after the sanctions," he stated.

Citing non-proliferation as "one of the basic pillars of international security", Greece's delegate underscored that its continued universality is in the interests of all States. Relatedly, Panama's delegate appealed to Iran to commit to cooperation with IAEA by resuming its obligations and commitments that guarantee access, transparency and effective supervision, thereby restoring confidence in the peaceful character of the programme.

Recognizing the urgency of addressing the Iranian nuclear issue, the representative of Guyana explained that her delegation had abstained in the vote. She cautioned that "a technical extension may not be enough to make progress", stressing the need for a more comprehensive approach, involving all participants, to foster a lasting diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue.

Similarly, the representative of the Republic of Korea, Council President for the month, spoke in his national capacity to note that his delegation abstained in the vote and to express support for a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue.

Iran Will Never Respond to Threats or Pressure

Rounding out the discussion, Iran's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, described the resolution as "a genuine endeavour to keep the door for diplomacy and dialogue open" and recalled that his country has been a party to the Non-Proliferation Treaty since 1970 and pursued its rights to peaceful nuclear energy "with all transparency and readiness to address every question in good faith". Today's situation, he said, is "the direct consequence" of the United States' withdrawal from the JCPOA and the E3's failure to take any effective action to uphold their commitments. "The United States has betrayed diplomacy, but it is the E3 which have buried it," he stated, adding that his country "rejects weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons" as these are "contrary to Islamic teachings" and "to our defence doctrine".

Despite attacks on its nuclear facilities and assassinations of scientists, Iran signed a memorandum with IAEA. He accused the United States and the E3 of blocking diplomacy and invoking the "so-called snapback mechanism," which Iran views as "legally void, politically reckless and procedurally flawed". He declared any effort to revive sanctions under resolution 2231 (2015) as "null and void", noting that nuclear-related restrictions expire on 18 October.

"If agreements can be broken at will, no nation can trust international commitments," he warned. "If unlawful measures are enforced by power instead of law, the Security Council risks losing credibility." By blocking diplomacy, the United States and E3 "have actively and intensely paved the way for dangerous escalation". He concluded: "The only solution is dialogue  the JCPOA proves this," and stressed, "Iran will never respond to threats or pressure."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Republic of Iraq Fuad Hussein

25 September 2025 23:01

1570-25-09-2025

On September 25, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Iraq Fuad Hussein on the sidelines of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

The ministers discussed pressing matters of traditionally friendly Russian-Iraqi relations, and reiterated their mutual commitment to deepening the political dialogue and expanding mutually beneficial cooperation in trade and the economy, as well as the humanitarian and other areas.

They reviewed the schedule of upcoming contacts placing special emphasis on the participation of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Al-Sudani in the first Russia-Arab Summit in Moscow on October 15.

The foreign ministers exchanged views on pressing international and regional issues focusing, in particular, on the Gaza crisis. They stressed the critical importance of immediately ceasing fire, releasing detainees, and providing humanitarian aid to everyone in need, as well as stepping up international efforts towards achieving a lasting and comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on a universally recognised international legal basis.

When discussing the Syrian issue, both sides emphasised the importance of supporting the Syrian government in its efforts to overcome the transitional period challenges in the interests of durable stabilisation and post-conflict rebuilding in that country.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






PM Netanyahu meets with President of Paraguay Santiago Pena in New York

Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs

PM Netanyahu thanked President Pena for his unwavering support of Israel and his firm stance against antisemitism and against terror.

Type: Press Releases

Topic: Foreign Policy

Publish Date: 25.09.2025

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with President of Paraguay Santiago Pena in New York

The Prime Minister and President Pena discussed the expansion of cooperation between Israel and Paraguay in a variety of fields  security, technology, energy, and more.

Prime Minister Netanyahu thanked President Pena for his unwavering support of Israel and his firm stance against antisemitism and against terror, which was expressed also in Paraguay's designations of the IRGC, Hezbollah and Hamas as terror organizations.

The Prime Minister expressed his appreciation for Paraguay's staunch opposition to anti-Israeli bias at the United Nations, the International Criminal Court and other international bodies.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






PM Netanyahu meets with President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic

Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs

PM Netanyahu expressed his gratitude to President Vucic for his unwavering support of Israel's efforts to free all of the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza,

Type: Press Releases

Topic: Foreign Policy

Publish Date: 25.09.2025

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with the President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic in New York

During the meeting, the Prime Minister discussed with President Vucic the ways to extend the cooperation between Israel and Serbia, particularly in the fields of security and trade.

Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed his gratitude to President Vucic for his unwavering support of Israel's efforts to free all of the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, including Alon Ohel, who holds Serbian citizenship.

The Prime Minister shared with the President of Serbia the details of his conversation with Alon's parents, following the dissemination by Hamas of a video that shows their son in the terror organization's brutal captivity.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






PM Netanyahu meets with Argentine President Javier Milei in New York

Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs

PM Netanyahu expressed his deep appreciation for President Milei who has stood steadfast against the systematic bias directed at Israel at the UN and in other international forums.

Type: Press Releases

Topic: Foreign Policy

Publish Date: 25.09.2025

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met in New York with Argentine President Javier Milei.

Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed his deep appreciation for President Milei, a true friend of the State of Israel and the Jewish People, who has stood steadfast against the systematic bias directed at Israel at the UN and in other international forums.

The two leaders discussed ways to expand bilateral cooperation on economic matters and in other areas.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






PM Netanyahu's Speech at the United Nations General Assembly

Israel - Prime Minister's Office

Type: Events and Speeches

Government: The 37th Government

Publish Date: 26.09.2025

"Mr. President,

The families of our dear hostages languishing in the dungeons of Gaza,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Last year, I stood at this podium, and I showed this map. It shows the curse of Iran's terror axis.

This axis threatened the peace of the entire world. It threatened the stability of our region and the very existence of my country Israel.

Iran was rapidly developing a massive nuclear weapons program and a massive ballistic missile program. These were meant not only to destroy Israel, they were meant also to threaten the United States and blackmail nations everywhere.

From Gaza, Yahya Sinwar dispatched waves of Hamas terrorists. They stormed into Israel on October 7th and committed acts of unspeakable savagery.

From Lebanon, Hassan Nasrallah had launched thousands of missiles and rockets at our cities, terrorizing our citizens.

In Syria, the murderous dictator Assad hosted Iran's forces, tightening a noose of death around our throats.

In Yemen, the Houthis launched ballistic missiles at Israel, while choking global trade at the mouth of the Red Sea.

So what's happened over the past year?

We've hammered the Houthis, including yesterday.

We crushed the bulk of Hamas's terror machine.

We crippled Hezbollah, taking out most of its leaders and much of its weapons

arsenal. Remember those beepers, the pagers? We paged Hezbollah. And believe me, they got the message  and thousands of terrorists dropped to the ground.

We destroyed Assad's armaments in Syria.

We deterred Iran's Shiite militias in Iraq.

And most importantly, and above everything else that I could say to you or that we did in this past year, in this past decade: We devastated Iran's atomic weapons and ballistic missile programs.

Here's where things stand today.

Half the Houthi leadership in Yemen  gone. Yahya Sinwar in Gaza  gone. Hasan Nasrallah in Lebanon  gone. The Assad regime in Syria  gone.

Those militias in Iraq? Well, they're still deterred. And their leaders, if they attack Israel, will also be gone.

And for Iran's top military commanders and its top atomic bomb scientists - well, they're gone too.

Israel's 12-day war with Iran, which I renamed Operation Rising Lion  that's from the Bible  this 12-day war will go down in the annals of military history.

Our daring pilots neutralized Iran's missile defenses and took control of the skies over Tehran. And you saw this, Israeli fighter pilots and American B2 pilots bombed Iran's nuclear enrichment sites.

I want to thank President Trump for his bold and decisive action.

President Trump and I promised to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. And we delivered on that promise. We removed an existential threat to Israel, and a mortal threat to the civilized world. We lifted a dark cloud that could have claimed millions and millions of lives.

But, Ladies and Gentlemen, we must remain vigilant. We must remain absolutely clear-minded and vigilant. We must not allow Iran to rebuild its military nuclear capacities. Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium, these stockpiles must be eliminated.

And tomorrow, UN Security Council sanctions on Iran must be snapped back.

Thanks to the resolve of our people, the courage of our soldiers, and the bold decisions we took, Israel rebounded from its darkest day to deliver one of the most stunning military comebacks in history.

But we're not done yet. The final remnants of Hamas are holed up in Gaza City. They vow to repeat the atrocities of October 7th again and again and again, no matter how diminished their forces.

That is why Israel must finish the job, and that is why we want to do so as fast as possible.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Much of the world no longer remembers October 7th. But we remember, Israel remembers October 7th.

On that day I'll tell you, you can remember October 7th too. You see this large pin here? It's a QR code. What I ask you to do is hold up your phones, zoom in, and you too will see why we fight, and why we must win. It's all in here.

On October 7th, Hamas carried out the worst attack on Jews since the Holocaust. They slaughtered 1,200 innocent people, including over 40 Americans, and foreign nationals from dozens of countries represented here.

They beheaded men. They raped women. They burned babies, alive. They burned babies alive in front of their parents. What monsters.

These monsters took more than 250 people hostage. Those included Holocaust survivors, grandmothers, grandmothers and their grandchildren. Who takes hostage grandmothers and grandchildren? Hamas does.

So far, we've brought home 207 of these hostages. But 48 still remain in the dungeons of Gaza. 20 of them are alive  starved, tortured, deprived of any daylight, deprived of humanity.

These are the names of the 20 living hostages:

Matan Angrest

Gali and Ziv Berman - Brothers

Elkana Bohbot

Rom Braslavski

Nimrod Cohen

Ariel and David Cunio - another pair of brothers

Guy Gilboa Dalal

Evyatar David. You saw the picture of Evyatar David. Emaciated, forced to dig his own grave.

Maxim Herkin

Eitan Horn

Segev Kalfon

Bar Kuperstein

Omri Miran

Eitan Mor

Yosef-Haim Ohana

Alon Ohel

Avinatan Or

and Matan Zangauker

Now, Ladies and Gentlemen, I want to do something I've never done before  I want to speak from this forum directly to those hostages through loudspeakers.

I've surrounded Gaza with massive loud-speakers connected to this microphone

in the hope that our dear hostages will hear my message.

I will say it first in Hebrew, and then in English.

[Hebrew]

Our brave heroes, this is Prime Minister Netanyahu, speaking to you live from the United Nations.

We have not forgotten you. Not even for a second.

The people of Israel are with you. We will not falter, and we will not rest, until we bring all of you home.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Thanks to special efforts by Israeli intelligence, my words are now also being carried, they're streamed live to the cellphones of Gazans.

So to the remaining Hamas leaders, and to the jailors of our hostages, I now say:

Lay down your arms! Let my people go! Free the hostages! All of them. The whole 48. Free the hostages now!

If you do, you will live. If you don't, Israel will hunt you down.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

If Hamas agrees to our demands, the war could end right now.

Gaza would be demilitarized, Israel would retain overriding security control, and a peaceful civilian authority would be established by Gazans and others committed to peace with Israel.

Of course, you understand that the war in Gaza has affected every Israeli. But I am sure there are people in New York, London, Melbourne and elsewhere who are probably thinking - what does all of this have to do with me?

The answer is EVERYTHING.

Because our enemies are your enemies.

Let's do something else, another first at the UN. Let's do a pop quiz. Raise your hand if you know the answer.

Here's the first question. Who shouts "Death to America"?

Is it A) Iran, B) Hamas, C) Hezbollah, D) the Houthis or E) All of the above?

All of the above. Correct. All of the above.

Second question. Who has murdered Americans and Europeans in cold blood. Is it A) Al Qaeda, B) Hamas, C) Hezbollah, D) Iran or E) All of the above?

Correct again, all of the above.

So here's the point I want to make: Our enemies hate all of us with equal venom. They want to drag the modern world back to the past, to a dark age of violence, fanaticism, and terror.

I think many of you are already feeling in your own societies the radical Islamist surge. I'm sure you do.

You know deep down that Israel is fighting your fight.

I want to tell you a secret. Behind closed doors, many of the leaders who publicly condemn us, privately thank us. They tell me how much they value Israel's superb intelligence services that have prevented time and again terrorist attacks in their capitals, time and again saving countless lives.

General George Keegan, former head of US air force intelligence, once said:

"If the United States had to gather on its own the intelligence that Israel gives us,

we would have to establish five CIAs."

Five CIAs.

This past June, when Israel struck Iran's nuclear facilities, German Chancellor Merz admitted the truth. He said, "Israel is doing the dirty work for all of us."

President Trump understands better than any other leader that Israel and America face a common threat.

He showed the world that when Iran and its proxies murder Americans, take Americans hostage, shout "Death to America", burn American flags and try to assassinate the President of the United States - not once, but twice  he showed them there is a price to pay for all that.

Regrettably, many leaders who are represented in this hall, they send a very different message. Sure, in the days immediately following October 7th, many of them supported Israel. But that support quickly evaporated when Israel did what any self-respecting nation would do in the wake of such a savage attack.

We fought back.

Just imagine, just sit back for a second and imagine, an attack against America proportionate to the attack against Israel on October 7th. Imagine a regime, a terror regime dispatching thousands of terrorists to invade the United States.

They massacre 40,000 Americans. They take 10,000 Americans hostage. What do you think America would do?

Do you think America would leave that regime standing? You don't think that. No way. Not a chance!

The United States would wipe out that terror regime and ensure that such savagery would never threaten America again.

This is precisely what Israel is doing in Gaza. We're wiping out the terror regime of Hamas and ensuring that its savagery will never threaten Israel again. That's what we're doing. That's what any self-respecting government would do.

Yet, and it's a yet that I'm sorry to say here, yet over time, many world leaders buckled. They buckled under the pressure of a biased media, radical Islamist constituencies, and antisemitic mobs.

There's a familiar saying: When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Well, for many countries here, when the going got tough, you caved!

And here's the shameful result of that collapse. For much of the past two years, Israel has had to fight a seven-front war against barbarism with many of your nations opposing us. Astoundingly, as we fight the terrorists who murdered many of your citizens, you are fighting us. You condemn us. You embargo us. And you wage political and legal warfare, it's called lawfare, against us.

I say to the representatives of those nations: This is not an indictment of Israel. It's an indictment of you!

It's an indictment of weak-kneed leaders who appease evil, rather than support a nation whose brave soldiers guard you from the barbarians at the gate  they're already penetrating the gate.

When will you learn? You can't appease your way out of Jihad, and you won't escape the Islamist storm by sacrificing Israel. To overcome that storm, you have to stand with Israel. But that's not what you're doing.

As the prophets of Israel foretold in the Bible, you've turned good into evil  and evil into good.

I want to drill down on this.

Take the false charge of genocide. Israel is accused of deliberately targeting civilians.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the opposite is true.

The head of urban warfare studies, Col. John Spencer, he's perhaps the world's greatest expert on urban warfare, and he says: "Israel is applying more measures to minimize civilian casualties than any military in history."

And because we're doing that, the ratio of non-combatant to combatant casualties is less than 2 to 1 in Gaza. That's an astoundingly low ratio, lower than NATO's wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, especially when you consider that Gaza is one of the most densely populated urban areas on earth.

It has hundreds of miles of terror tunnels underground, and it has countless terror towers above ground, and thousands of terrorists embedded in these tunnels and in these towers in civilian areas.

If you want to see what measures Israel takes to avoid civilian casualties in this war, just look at what we're doing now in Gaza City, the last Hamas stronghold, one of the two last strongholds.

For three weeks, Israel dropped millions of leaflets, sent millions of text messages and made countless phone calls urging civilians to leave Gaza city before our military moves in.

At the same time, Hamas implants itself in mosques, schools, hospitals, apartment buildings and tries to force these civilians not to leave, to stay in harm's way. It often threatens them at gunpoint if they try to do so.

For Israel, every civilian casualty is a tragedy; for Hamas, it's a strategy.

Hamas uses civilians as human shields and as props in its sick propaganda war against Israel. A propoganda war that the western media buys hook, line and sinker.

Despite Hamas's threats, close to 700,000 Gazans, almost three quarters of a million, have already heeded our calls and moved to safe zones.

Now, I want to ask you a simple question. A simple logical question. Would a country committing genocide plead with the civilian population it is supposedly targeting, to get out of harm's way? Would we tell them get out if we're trying to commit genocide? We're trying to get them out. And Hamas is trying to keep them in.

This charge is so baseless, the comparison to genocide, wholesale slaughter of populations. Did the Nazis ask the Jews to leave, kindly leave, go out? Did others? Do you want me to name all the genocidal leaders of history. Just go one by one. Did anyone do this? Did they say "get out so we can come in"?

Of course not. The truth has been turned on its head.

Hamas, a genocidal terrorist organization whose charter calls for the murder of all Jews on the planet, this genocidal organization is given a pass. It's barely mentioned.

While Israel, which does everything it can to get civilians out of harm's way  Israel is put in the dock.

What a joke!

Want to hear another one? Israel is accused of deliberately starving the people of Gaza, when Israel is deliberately feeding the people of Gaza.

Since the beginning of the war, Israel has let into Gaza more than 2,000,000 tons of food and aid. That's one ton of aid for every man, woman and child in Gaza; nearly 3,000 calories per person, per day.

Some starvation policy!

If there are Gazans who don't have enough food, it's because Hamas is stealing it. Hamas steals it, hoards it and sells it at exorbitant prices to fund its war machine.

Last month, even the UN, not exactly a supporter of Israel. You're supposed to laugh, by the way. Last month, even the UN admitted that Hamas and other armed groups looted 85% of the trucks. That's why you have deprivation.

Those who peddle the blood libels of genocide and starvation against Israel

are no better than those who peddled blood libels against the Jews in the Middle Ages, when they falsely accused us of poisoning wells, spreading plague and using the blood of children to bake Passover Matzas.

Antisemitism dies hard. In fact, it doesn't die at all. It just keeps coming back with its libelous lies, refurbished, regurgitated, over and over again.

And I want to tell you something else. These antisemitic lies have consequences.

In recent months, Jews have been assaulted in Canada, Australia, Britain, France, the Netherlands and elsewhere.

Here in America, an elderly Holocaust survivor was burned to death in Colorado. And a beautiful young couple from the Israeli Embassy in Washington was brutally gunned down right in front of the Holocaust Museum there.

Thankfully, President Trump's administration is forcefully fighting the scourge of antisemitism. And every government here should follow its lead.

But instead, many do the opposite. They actually reward the worst antisemites on earth.

This week, the leaders of France, Britain, Australia, Canada and other countries unconditionally recognized a Palestinian state. They did so after the horrors committed by Hamas on October 7th  horrors praised on that day by nearly 90% of the Palestinian population.

Let me say that again. Nearly 90% of Palestinians supported the attack on October 7th. Not supported it  they celebrated. They danced on the rooftops, they threw candies. That's both in Gaza and in Judea and Samaria  the West Bank, as you call it.

And it's just the way they celebrated another horror  9/11. They danced on the rooftops, they cheered, they threw candy.

You know what message the leaders who recognized a Palestinian state this week sent to the Palestinians?

It's a very clear message. Murdering Jews pays off.



Well, I have a message to these leaders:

When the most savage terrorists on earth are effusively praising your decision,

you didn't do something right, you did something wrong.

Horribly wrong.

Your disgraceful decision will encourage terrorism against Jews, and against innocent people everywhere.

It will be a mark of shame on all of you.

But, but, but, wait a minute, Mr. Prime Minister, they tell me. Wait a minute. We believe in a two-state solution, where the Jewish state of Israel will live side by side in peace with a Palestinian state.

There's only one problem with that. The Palestinians - they don't believe in this solution. They never have.

They don't want a state next to Israel. They want a Palestinian state instead of Israel.

That's why every time they were offered a Palestinian state but were required to end the conflict with Israel and recognize the Jewish state, every time over the decades, they turned it down.

That is why every time they were given territory  they used it to attack us.

In fact they effectively had a Palestinian state  in Gaza.

What did they do with that state? Peace? Co-existence?

No, they attacked us time and time again, totally unprovoked, they fired rockets into our cities, they murdered our children, they turned Gaza into a terror base from which they committed the October 7 massacre.

Here's the uncomfortable truth: The persistent Palestinian rejection of a Jewish state in any boundary is what has driven this conflict for over a century. It is still driving it.

It's not the absence of a Palestinian state, it's the presence of a Jewish state.

And I find it amazing, amazing, that the foreign chancelleries and the ministries and all those who pontificate about this, and the leaders, how can they not see this basic truth when it is repeated again and again and again ad nauseum?

And I want to say something else.

This rejection of a Jewish state not only applies to Hamas.

It also applies to the so-called moderate Palestinian Authority.

You should know that the Palestinian Authority pays terrorists to slay Jews.

The more Jews the terrorists slay, the more the Palestinian Authority pays.

The Palestinian Authority names its government buildings, its public squares, its schools after the mass murderers of Jews, which they glorify as martyrs.

They pay and glorify not just the killers of Jews but also killers of Christians.

Christians like Taylor Force - an American veteran, who was brutally murdered in Israel by Palestinian terrorists.

"But, but, but," Again, but that I hear from the Western Leaders. They tell me the PA promised us it will reform. And I know this time, Prime minister, it will be different."

Yeah, right.

We've heard these promises for decades.

They always promise.

They never deliver.

The Palestinian Authority is corrupt to the core.

They haven't held elections in 20 years.

They use the same textbooks as Hamas. Exactly the same textbooks.

They teach their children to hate Jews and destroy the Jewish state.

And Christians don't fare much better.

When Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, was under Israeli control, 80 percent of its residents were Christians.

But since the PA took control, that number has dwindled to under 20 percent.

These are the people you want to give a state to?

What you're doing is giving the ultimate reward to intolerant fanatics who perpetrated and supported the October 7th massacre.

Giving the Palestinians a state one mile from Jerusalem after October 7th is like giving Al-Qaeda a state one mile from New York City after September 11th.

This is sheer madness. It's insane, and we won't do it.

So here's another message for these Western leaders: Israel will not allow you to shove a terror state down our throats.

We will not commit national suicide because you don't have the guts to face down a hostile media and antisemitic mobs demanding Israel's blood.

I want you to grasp something else that is also distorted in the media. I say this not only in my name or the name of my government but on behalf of all the people of Israel.

Last year, there was a vote in the Knesset, our parliament, whether or not to oppose the imposition of a Palestinian state.

You want to guess what the results were?

Out of the 120 members of our parliament, 99 voted against. And only 9 supported. That's over 90%. It's not a fringe group, it's not the prime minister who is extreme or is held hostage by extreme parties to his right.

So my opposition to a Palestinian state is not simply my policy or my government's policy.

It is the policy of the state and people of the State of Israel.

Western leaders may have buckled under pressure.

I guarantee you one thing, Israel won't.

Israel's victories over the Iranian terror axis have opened up possibilities for peace that were unthinkable two years ago.

Take Syria.

For decades, the very idea of peace between Israel and Syria seemed unimaginable.

No more.

Today we have begun serious negotiations with the new Syrian government.

I believe an agreement can be reached that respects Syria's sovereignty and protects both Israel's security and the security of the minorities in the region, including the Druze minorities.

From the founding of Israel, Jews and Druze have been brothers in arms. We have fought together, bled together, we built our lives together.

When I was a young commander in Israel's special forces, my own life was saved by the invaluable advice given to me by a great friend, Salem Shufi, a heroic Druze IDF veteran.

That's why I could not sit idly by, nor could Israel sit idly by, while the Druze were being slaughtered by Jihadists. And I instructed our forces to stop the massacre. Which they promptly did.

Peace between Israel and Lebanon is possible as well.

I call on the Lebanese government to also begin direct negotiations with Israel.

I commend it for its declared aim to disarm Hezbollah.

But we need more than words.

If Lebanon takes genuine and sustained action to disarm Hezbollah,

I am sure we can achieve a sustainable peace. Of course, until that happens, we will take whatever action we need to defend ourselves and to maintain the conditions of the ceasefire that was established in Lebanon.

Our goal is not merely to monitor Hezbollah's actions, but to prevent them from violating the ceasefire and attacking us at any time. I'm sure that if the Lebanese government persists in its goal of disarming Hezbollah, peace will come very speedily and very readily.

Victory over Hezbollah has made peace possible with our two Arab neighbors in the North.

Victory over Hamas will make peace possible with nations throughout the Arab and Muslim world.

Our victory would lead to a dramatic expansion of the historic Abraham Accords, which President Trump brokered between Arab leaders and myself five years ago.

I took note, as I'm sure you did too, of the encouraging words spoken here by the President of Indonesia.

This is the country with the world's largest Muslim population of all nations.

It's also is a sign of what could come.

Forward looking Arab and Muslim leaders know that cooperating with Israel will provide them with ground-breaking Israeli technologies including in medicine and science, agriculture and water, defense and AI and so many other fields.

I believe that in the coming years, the Middle East will look dramatically different.

Many of those who wage war on Israel today will be gone tomorrow.

Brave peacemakers will take their place.

Nowhere will this be more true than in Iran.

The long-suffering Iranian people will regain their freedom.

They will Make Iran Great Again!

And our two ancient peoples, the people of Israel and the people of Iran, will restore a friendship that will benefit the entire world.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The horrors that happened on one dark day, October 7th, those horrors happened countless times during the centuries of my people's exile among the nations.

Jewish blood was cheap.

Jews were killed with impunity.

We had to beg others to defend us.

The rise of Israel did not mean that the attempts to destroy us would end.

It meant that we could fight back against those attempts.

That is exactly what Israel has done since October 7th.

Our sons and daughters fought like lions.

Our brave soldiers donned their uniforms and rushed into battle.

They were armed with the dreams of the 100 generations of Jews who came before them.

The dream of living as a free people in the Land of Israel, our beloved homeland for more than 3000 years.

The dreams of living in our own independent state.

The dream of having an army to defend ourselves.

And the dream of being a light unto the nations  a beacon of progress, ingenuity and innovation for the benefit of all humanity.

On October 7th, the enemies of Israel tried to extinguish that light.

Two years later, the resolve of Israel, and the strength of Israel burn brighter than ever.

With God's help, that strength and that resolve will lead us to a speedy victory and to a brilliant future of prosperity and peace".

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the G4 Countries on UN Security Council Reform

Ministry of Foregn Affairs of Japan

September 25, 2025

On September 25, commencing at 4:38 p.m. local time (on 26, 5:38 a.m. JST) for approximately 60 minutes, Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, during his visit to New York, U.S., hosted as its chair, the Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the G4 countries (Japan, Brazil, Germany and India) on United Nations Security Council Reform. The overview of the meeting is as follows:

Minister IWAYA shared views on the latest situation on Security Council reform and discussed future direction of work with the Foreign Ministers of Brazil, Germany and India. Minister IWAYA highlighted the importance of close cooperation among the G4 to achieve concrete progress turning the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the UN, given that the international community faces serious geopolitical challenges and international order becomes increasingly unstable. Minister IWAYA also reiterated the firm resolve to continue collaboration within the G4 in the Intergovernmental Negotiation (IGN) on Security Council Reform, and further facilitate consultations with relevant countries, in order for the G4 to lead international discussions on this agenda. The G4 Ministers concurred on close cooperation toward realizing Security Council reform, including the development of a consolidated model at the earliest, which may lead to text-based negotiations and concrete progress, and agreed to aim for concrete results during the current session by leveraging the momentum gained at last year's Summit of the Future, while working with relevant countries including current permanent members and African countries. Furthermore, the G4 Ministers reaffirmed their mutual support for each other's candidacies as new permanent members of a reformed Security Council.

(Reference1) Participants

Japan : Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs (Chair)

Brazil : Mr. Mauro VIEIRA, Minister of Foreign Affairs

Germany : Dr. Johann David WADEPHUL, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs

India : Dr. Subrahmanyam JAISHANKAR

(Reference2) Attached

G4 Ministerial Joint Statement (PDF)

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Japan-Cambodia Foreign Ministers' Meeting

Ministry of Foregn Affairs of Japan

September 25, 2025

On September 25, at 9:20 a.m. local time (10:20 p.m. JST), for approximately 30 minutes, Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, who is visiting New York, U.S. to attend the UN General Assembly Meeting, held a bilateral meeting with H.E. Mr. Prak Sokhonn, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia. The overview of the meeting is as follows:



At the outset, Minister Iwaya expressed his heartfelt condolences to the victims from the military clashes between Cambodia and Thailand. He expressed his hope that both countries will continue to observe the ceasefire agreement and the tension will be eased peacefully through dialogue, and stated that Japan will continue to make efforts to promote de-escalation of the situation. They also exchanged their views on cooperation in the economic field and reaffirmed their continued commitment to advancing cooperation that contributes to the promotion of private investment and industrial development, such as "Economic Co-Creation Package", the development of Sihanoukville Port, the development of the digital field under the "Co-Creation for Common Agenda Initiative", and the development of core telecommunications networks including 5G. Furthermore, both ministers concurred to continue to cooperate on a range of regional issues, including the East China Sea and the South China Sea, and their policies toward North Korea including on the nuclear and missile issues as well as the abductions issue.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Japan-Mexico Foreign Ministers' Conversation

Ministry of Foregn Affairs of Japan

September 26, 2025

On September 26, commencing at 11:10 a.m. local time (On 27, 0:10 a.m. JST), for approximately 10 minutes, Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, who is visiting New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly, held a conversation with H.E. Mr. Juan Ramon De LA FUENTE RAMIREZ, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the United Mexican States. The overview of the conversation is as follows:

Minister IWAYA stated that it is necessary to strengthen relations between Japan and Mexico which are historically friendly nations and global strategic partners. Secretary De la Fuente expressed his desire to work together for strengthening bilateral relations. Minister IWAYA and Secretary De la Fuente agreed on especially importance of strengthening economic relations of both countries, under Strengthening of the Economic Partnership (Japan-Mexico EPA) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Japan-Thailand Foreign Ministers' Meeting

Ministry of Foregn Affairs of Japan

September 26, 2025

On September 26, commencing at 9:55 a.m. local time (10:55 p.m. Japan Time) for approximately 30 minutes, Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, who is visiting the United States of America to attend the United Nations General Assembly, held a meeting with H.E. Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand. The overview is as follows.

At the outset, Minister Iwaya extended his congratulations to Minister Sihasak on his appointment as Foreign Minister. He also expressed his heartfelt condolences to the victims of the military clash between Thailand and Cambodia. He expressed his hope that both countries will continue to observe the ceasefire agreement and that tensions will be eased peacefully through dialogue. He also stated that Japan will continue to make efforts to promote de-escalation of the situation. Minister Iwaya also stated that, looking ahead to the 140th anniversary of Japan-Thailand diplomatic relations in 2027, as "Comprehensive Strategic Partner", he expressed his intention to further deepen the relationship between the two countries, including in the economic field. He also conveyed Japan's continued strong support for Thailand's OECD accession process, noting that Japan will support the holding of the second AI workshop for Southeast Asian countries organized by the OECD, following its first event which was successfully held in Bangkok. Furthermore, the two foreign ministers exchanged views on bilateral economic and people-to-people exchanges and concurred on continuing close cooperation.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Japan-Costa Rica Foreign Ministers' Meeting

Ministry of Foregn Affairs of Japan

September 26, 2025

On September 26 at 9:06 a.m. local time (10:06 p.m. JST), for approximately 25 minutes, Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan during his visit to New York to attend the United Nation General Assembly, held a foreign ministers' meeting with H.E. Dr. Arnoldo ANDRE Tinoco, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship of the Republic of Costa Rica. The overview of the meeting is as follows.



Minister Iwaya expressed his pleasure at meeting again, following their previous meeting in April, which coincided with the 90th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. He stated that Costa Rica is an important partner in sharing values and principles and in jointly addressing various challenges in regional and international arenas, and that he wished to discuss cooperation in the international arena.

In response, Foreign Minister Andre reiterated to celebrate the 90th anniversary of diplomatic relations and expressed his desire to take this occasion to further strengthen bilateral ties. Minister Iwaya welcomed the progress of Costa Rica's CPTPP accession negotiation process, which was decided last November. Both countries have agreed to continue working together to facilitate Costa Rica's early accession to the CPTPP. Furthermore, Minister Iwaya stated that Costa Rica plays an important role in promoting AI governance and Human Security, and that he wished to continue close cooperation. In addition, the two foreign ministers exchanged views on the situation in East Asia, such as their policies toward North Korea, including on the nuclear and missile issues as well as the abductions issue. They also addressed cooperation between Japan and SICA (Central American Integration System). The ministers confirmed their commitment to collaborate in addressing various issues in the international community.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Deputy Secretary Landau's Meeting with Kazakhstan Deputy Prime Minister-Foreign Minister Nurtleu

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

September 26, 2025

The below is attributable to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott:

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau met with Kazakhstan Deputy Prime Minister-Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu on September 24 in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly High-Level week. Deputy Secretary Landau discussed increasing opportunities for bilateral trade and investment between the United States and Kazakhstan in the fields of critical minerals and emerging technologies. The United States looks forward to the next round of its Enhanced Strategic Partnership Dialogue, continued cooperation with Kazakhstan in addressing illegal migration, expanding commercial ties, and commemorating ten years of enhanced engagement through the C5+1 diplomatic platform this year, which represents the United States "plus" the five Central Asian countries (the C5 - Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan).

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Libya's territorial integrity and sovereignty 'are non-negotiable'

25 September 2025 - The President of Libya's Presidential Council upheld the principle of national sovereignty, unity and stability in his speech to the UN General Assembly on Thursday.

The North African country has been split between two competing administrations for more than a decade, following the overthrow of former leader Muammar Gaddaffi in 2011.

Last month, the UN proposed a roadmap that would last from 12-18 months leading to general elections and a new unified Government.

UN support critical

"I stand before you today representing the will of a people that is still holding on to hope, still believing in its ability to build a stable and prosperous future," said Mohamed Younis Al-Menfi of the internationally recognized Government of National Unity (GNU).

"Libya is not a zone for fighting. It's not an arena to settle scores or a place to which crises can be exported. It is a nation rich in natural resources, a cohesive society, with young people that have tremendous potential" who "are the backbone to build a modern State."

He stressed that "at this critical juncture, we look to the United Nations to play an effective and complementary role as it supports us to overcome this crisis towards stability and democracy.

Past failures, broken trust

Mr. Al-Menfi insisted that despite challenges and threats, the Libyan people firmly believe that they can overcome any obstacles.

"But let me be honest with you," he continued. "In Libya, multiple models and traditional mechanisms have been exhausted. They have not matched the complexity of the social and political situation. They've adversely affected the trust of Libyans in the proposed solutions."

He warned that "any solution that does not restore the national ownership of the political track, any solution that is not derived from the free will of the Libyan people, would be destined to fail, as we've seen in the past."

A new approach

In this regard, Mr. Al-Menfi presented what he called "a clear political vision based on four pillars."

The first calls for "fully restoring national sovereignty and rejecting all forms of foreign interference, no matter what form it might take and no matter the justifications."

Libya's sovereign institutions - particularly its security, defense and financial institutions - must be united "according to professional mechanisms, without polarization and without setting quotas."

The final pillar concerns ending the current transitional period based on a new constitution, "through free and fair elections, allowing Libyans to freely choose who would rule them, without tutelage, without any position from external actors."

Mr. Al-Menfi said that despite the challenges, the authorities were able to maintain the highest level of stability and prevent a relapse into violence.

"We stress that the blood of the Libyan people is a red line," he said. "The territorial integrity, sovereignty and social cohesion of Libya are non-negotiable."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Meeting with Acting President of Myanmar Min Aung Hlaing

Vladimir Putin held a meeting with Acting President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Min Aung Hlaing.

September 25, 2025

22:10

The Kremlin, Moscow

Taking part in the conversation on the Russian side were Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Maxim Oreshkin, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office - Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov, Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev, Governor of the Central Bank Elvira Nabiullina, Director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation Dmitry Shugayev, Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko, Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin, Deputy Minister of Economic Development Vladimir Ilyichev, and Director General of the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom Alexei Likhachev.

Earlier that day, Vladimir Putin, Min Aung Hlaing and other leaders attended a meeting of the Global Atomic Forum.

* * *

Beginning of Russia-Myanmar talks

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr President, friends,

We are delighted to see you and to welcome you to Moscow.

Our relations have been developing for many decades. We established diplomatic relations more than 70 years ago.

During your visit in March, we signed a package of documents, and our two governments are hard at work to implement our agreements.

Today, we have an opportunity to compare notes and to review our progress in all these spheres.

We are delighted to see you. Welcome.

Acting President of Myanmar Min Aung Hlaing (retranslated): Mr President,

I would like to begin by thanking you for taking the time to meet with me despite your packed schedule. I am also grateful to you for inviting me to take part in the Global Atomic Week.

I have recently visited Moscow and attended a parade marking the 80th anniversary of Victory.

Our countries established diplomatic relations 77 years ago.

The Embassy of Myanmar has been built in Moscow to promote closer relations between our countries. We have also opened consulates general in St Petersburg and Novosibirsk. I would like to inform you about our plans to open a consulate general of Myanmar in Vladivostok in the near future.

Russia is a big country. If we look east and west, we will see that you have a vast territory, which is why we are opening Myanmar's consulates general to promote cooperation between our countries.

I would like to thank you once again for your warm welcome and for receiving me in the Kremlin.

Vladimir Putin: We are delighted to welcome you.

<>

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Pakistan's Prime Minister warns of regional tensions, calls for ceasefire in Gaza

26 September 2025 - Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif told the United Nations General Assembly on Friday that the world faces "testing times" marked by conflict, terrorism, and climate change, while urging urgent action for peace in South Asia, the Middle East and beyond.

"Our world is more complex today than ever before," Mr. Sharif said, citing intensifying conflicts, violations of international law, and a climate crisis that "threatens our very survival."

Multilateralism, he argued, was "no more an option - it is need of the hour."

Prime Minister Sharif said that his country faced "unprovoked aggression" by India earlier this year.

Pakistan's armed forces had repelled the attack with "stunning professionalism, bravery and acumen," shooting down several Indian aircraft, he added. He praised US President Donald Trump for helping secure a ceasefire.

Dialogue with India

At the same time, Mr. Sharif also offered dialogue.

"Pakistan stands ready for a composite, comprehensive and result-oriented dialogue with India on all outstanding issues," he said, warning that disputes over Kashmir and water resources remained volatile.

India's alleged abeyance of the Indus Water Treaty, he added, "represents an act of war."

Mr. Sharif pledged support for Kashmiris, saying Pakistan would "ardently defend" their rights and reiterated calls for a UN-supervised plebiscite.

"One day soon, inshallah [God willing], India's tyranny in Kashmir will come to a grinding halt. They will gain its fundamental right to self-determination through an impartial plebiscite under the auspices of the United Nations," he said.

Call for ceasefire in Gaza

On the Middle East, the Pakistani leader condemned what he called Israel's "genocidal onslaught" in Gaza, describing the plight of Palestinian children as "one of the most heart-wrenching tragedies of our times."

He called for an immediate ceasefire and reaffirmed Pakistan's backing for an independent Palestinian state within pre-1967 borders, with Jerusalem as its capital.

"Palestine can no longer remain under Israeli shackles. It must be liberated," he declared.

The Pakistani leader also addressed broader global issues, including Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, where he voiced support for a peaceful resolution in line with the UN Charter.

On terrorism, he recalled Pakistan's sacrifices, saying the country had lost 90,000 lives and $150 billion to extremist violence over two decades.

Mr. Sharif further described climate change as an existential challenge, pointing to recent catastrophic floods that displaced millions and caused tens of billions in losses. Despite being responsible for "less than one per cent of global emissions."

Pakistan was bearing a disproportionate burden, he said, calling it "not fairness, not equality, not justice."

Closing his address, Mr. Sharif vowed Pakistan would continue to stand for "peace, justice and development" through multilateral cooperation.

"Let this 80th anniversary not simply commemorate history," he said. "Let us make history and chart a future for the next eight years, with these United Nations as enduring hope for look for global good."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






On night 26/27 September 2025, Security Forces conducted an *intelligence based operation in Lakki Marwat District*, on reported presence of khwarij belonging to Indian Proxy, Fitna al Khwarij.

Inter Services Public Relations Pakistan

Rawalpindi - September 27, 2025

No PR-302/2025-ISPR

On night 26/27 September 2025, Security Forces conducted an *intelligence based operation in Lakki Marwat District*, on reported presence of khwarij belonging to Indian Proxy, Fitna al Khwarij.

During the conduct of operation, own troops effectively engaged the khwarij location and resultantly, *seventeen Indian sponsored khwarij were sent to hell*.

Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the killed khwarij, who remained *actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against the Security Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies as well as killing of innocent civilians.*

Sanitization operation is being conducted to eliminate any other Indian sponsored kharji found in the area, as the Security Forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of Indian Sponsored Terrorism from the country.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Outcome of Korea-Iran Foreign Ministers' Meeting (September 25)

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea

Date: 2025-09-26

1. Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun had a meeting with Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Seyyed Abbas Araghchi on Thursday, September 25, local time, on the occasion of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.



2. This meeting was held following the agreement reached during the telephone conversation between the two Ministers on September 19. The two Ministers assessed that Korea and Iran have maintained their cooperative relations for over 60 years, and agreed to continue working together to further develop bilateral ties.



3. Minister Cho suggested that the two countries expand the foundation for future cooperation by promoting bilateral cooperation in possible areas such as culture, academia, and people-to-people exchanges. He added that exploring cooperation in the fields of K-Culture and K-Food, which have recently gained popularity in Iran, would also be a good way forward.



4. In addition, the two Ministers exchanged views on the issue concerning the reinstatement of UN Security Council sanctions on Iran. Minister Cho emphasized the importance of reaching a peaceful and diplomatic settlement through dialogue and negotiation, and expressed his hope that the parties concerned would continue their efforts to this end.



NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Outcome of Korea-Australia Foreign Ministers' Meeting (September 25)

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea

Date: 2025-09-26

1. Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun had a meeting with Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong on the morning of Thursday, September 25, local time, on the occasion of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly. The two ministers exchanged views on bilateral relations and regional developments.



2. Minister Cho noted that high-level exchanges have been actively taking place since the launch of the new Korean administration. He highlighted that this first meeting between the two foreign ministers, following their phone call on August 4, demonstrates the close strategic communication between the two countries. He looked forward to further advancing bilateral cooperation across a wide range of areas, including defense and the defense industry.



3. Minister Wong congratulated Minister Cho on his inauguration and emphasized that Korea is one of Australia's most important partners. She expressed her hope that, amid the growing uncertainty in the international landscape, the two like-minded countries would deepen cooperation and strengthen strategic communication on regional issues.



4. Minister Cho explained the Korean government's efforts to reduce tensions and build peace on the Korean Peninsula and asked for Australia's continued support in this regard. The two ministers exchanged views on regional developments and agreed to step up bilateral coordination to promote peace and stability in the region.



5. In addition, the two ministers agreed to continue working together toward the success of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in October.





NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's meeting with Foreign Minister of South Korea Cho Hyun

26 September 2025 20:39

1594-26-09-2025

On September 26, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea Cho Hyun on the sidelines of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

In the context of the developments on the Korean Peninsula, the Russian side noted the provocative nature of the United States and its Asian allies'military activities aimed against the DPRK, as well as their policy of increasing sanctions and military pressure on Pyongyang. Special emphasis was placed on inevitable return to a mutually respectful dialogue based on the current realities on the peninsula in the interest of building a reliable mechanism for ensuring long-term peace and stability in Northeast Asia.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Deputy Secretary Landau's Meeting with Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Cho

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

September 26, 2025

The below is attributable to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott:

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau met today with Republic of Korea (ROK) Foreign Minister Cho Hyun on the sidelines of United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week in New York City. The Deputy Secretary and Foreign Minister Cho reaffirmed the enduring spirit of the U.S.-ROK Alliance and both sides' resolve to advance a future-focused agenda. The two also recognized the success of the September 22 U.S.-Japan-ROK trilateral meeting, and efforts to advance peace, security, and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and the broader Indo-Pacific, including the two countries' commitment to the complete denuclearization of the DPRK.

The Deputy Secretary underscored the valuable role that Korean investment plays in supporting American reindustrialization and enhancing our collective prosperity, including the investments announced on the sidelines of the August 25 U.S.-ROK Presidential summit. Both sides welcomed plans to convene a bilateral working group aimed at facilitating travel to and investment in America. They emphasized the need for meaningful outcomes to close out the ROK's successful APEC host year, including at APEC Economic Leaders' Week in Gyeongju.



NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Meeting with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi

Vladimir Putin received Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi in the Kremlin.

September 25, 2025

23:35

The Kremlin, Moscow

Director General of the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom Alexei Likhachev and Chief of Cabinet at the IAEA Jacek Andrzej Bylica also took part in the meeting.

Earlier that day, the President of Russia, the IAEA chief, Rosatom's Director General and heads of several foreign delegations addressed the Global Atomic Forum.

* * *

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Director General, I am delighted to see you. Once again, welcome to Moscow. Thank you for coming here to take part in Rosatom events. In fact, this has already become a traditional event for us. It focuses on developing and promoting nuclear energy in Russia and around the world.

Since 1957, Russia stood at the roots of creating the agency. All these years, we have been proactive in terms of our engagement with the agency in an effort to do everything possible to enable it to deliver on all the global and very responsible and important tasks that it has on its agenda. Cooperation has been established in basically all the areas, including the development of the Russian energy sector, as well as our participation in projects abroad, outside the Russian Federation, and many other matters, first of all matters of nuclear safety and security across the world.

I would like to thank you for the constructive cooperation, and on my part, I would like to assure you that we will do everything we can in order to support your work.

Thank you very much.

Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency Rafael Grossi: Thank you very much, Mr President,

It is really a great pleasure to be back in Moscow again to continue our conversation.

As you say, this time, with this very important event, which comes at a very important moment for nuclear energy worldwide, Russia, through Rosatom, is playing a leading role in many countries and in many others who are very interested. And we could see it today at the meeting that you presided - countries from Asia, countries from Africa. It's a very important moment. So, the presence of the agency is important to sustain these projects and help them come to fruition in a good way.

Like you say, there are many other aspects: nuclear safety, nuclear security, non-proliferation, that, of course, are indispensable for me as head of the IAEA to discuss with Russia. So, I really look forward to our conversation tonight.

<>

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Meeting with Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed

Vladimir Putin met with Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed in the Kremlin.

September 25, 2025

20:55

The Kremlin, Moscow

At the beginning of the meeting, in the presence of the heads of state, Director General of Rosatom Alexei Likhachev and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia Gedion Timotheos exchanged the earlier signed Action Plan between the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom and the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation on the development of a nuclear power plant project in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

On the Russian side, the talks were attended by Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak; Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Maxim Oreshkin; Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office - Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov; Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov; Minister of Healthcare Mikhail Murashko; Minister of Finance Anton Siluanov; Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina; Director of the Federal Service for Military Technical Cooperation Dmitry Shugayev; Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko; Deputy Minister of Economic Development Vladimir Ilyichev; and Director General of the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom Alexei Likhachev.

Earlier that day, Vladimir Putin, Abiy Ahmed, and other leaders took part in a meeting of the Global Atomic Forum.

* * *

The beginning of Russian-Ethiopian talks

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Prime Minister, friends, let me once again warmly welcome you to Moscow. We are genuinely pleased to see you.

Ethiopia is our long-standing reliable partner in Africa. If I am not mistaken, diplomatic relations between our countries were established in 1898.

Our relations are making steady progress, and trade is growing. The intergovernmental commission is working effectively. We have good cooperation in humanitarian areas, above all, training specialists.

Mr Prime Minister, we remain in constant contact, and we are genuinely pleased to see your representative delegation. Earlier this year, our delegation visited Ethiopia. I am aware that you had an in-person meeting with its head, and I would like to thank you for that.

Overall, our relations are gaining momentum across all areas, and we are very pleased that things are going that way.

Once again, welcome. We are very pleased to see you.

Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed: Mr President, I would like to thank you for the invitation and a warm welcome extended to me and my delegation.

It has been almost a year since we met last time in Kazan for the BRICS summit. I sincerely hope that our next meeting will be in Addis Ababa. That would be very historic.

As you have said, we do have very strong bilateral relationship, where we share a common history, religion, also lots of policies. So, enhancing this historical background to make better the future is very important. From our end, we want to reinforce our mutual respect in all forms of cooperation. We also want to align strategically and share priorities. We also want to engage our partners in the development of diplomacy.

As you have said, we do have a very good relationship. I'm sure this visit will also strengthen this relationship and bring it to the next level. Thank you very much, Mr President.

<>

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Global Atomic Forum

Vladimir Putin addressed the Global Atomic Forum taking place at the Atom Museum at VDNKh, Moscow.

September 25, 2025

18:50

Moscow

The forum is being held as part of World Atomic Week, which marks the 80th anniversary of Russia's nuclear industry and is themed "From a New Technological Paradigm to a New Worldview."

Also attending the meeting were President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, Acting President of Myanmar Min Aung Hlaing, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed, Vice President of Iran Mohammad Eslami, Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Jamshid Khodjayev and Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi, as well as the heads of relevant ministries from major partner countries and international organisations. The meeting was moderated by Alexei Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom State Corporation.

Before the event, the leaders toured the museum exhibits.

* * *

Address to the Global Atomic Forum

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Ladies and gentlemen, colleagues,

We are gathered here for the Global Atomic Forum. I am delighted to welcome the heads of state and leaders of international organisations, and I look forward to substantive discussions on a range of issues concerning the present and future of the nuclear industry.

This kind of dialogue is especially important at a time when a growing number of countries and large companies view peaceful nuclear energy as a vital resource for long-term, accelerated development. Public attitudes are also steadily evolving, with nuclear energy increasingly recognised as an environmentally friendly technology that offers enormous opportunities.

Clearly, there are fundamental reasons for this paradigm shift. These are not limited to the reliable solutions that underpin the creation of advanced nuclear power units. Another critical factor is the emergence of a fundamentally new technological paradigm, the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence, and the consequent need for significant energy resources to process colossal amounts of data.

Indeed, electricity consumption by data centres is set to more than triple in the current decade alone. In this regard, I would note that Russia is already deploying such modular data processing systems at its nuclear power plants, as they are best placed to provide a uniform, constant power supply.

The demand for green technology which minimises the impact on the environment and climate is another significant factor behind the surge of interest in nuclear energy. To reiterate, nuclear power plants are the key source of clean low-carbon energy. They surpass other energy sources in terms of cost, environmental performance, and the ability to provide stable generating capacity.

According to the IAEA forecasts, by mid-21st century, the total capacity of all nuclear power plants worldwide may increase by over 2.5 times to nearly 1,000 GW. Notably, the growth in demand for peaceful nuclear energy will be largely driven by the Global South and the Global East that are in the process of strengthening their technological and industrial potential.

We fully support the push for developing and using peaceful nuclear energy towards this end. We take pride in knowing that Russia is the only country around the world to possess expertise across the entire nuclear power technology chain. Thanks to their safety and resilience to external factors, nuclear power plants built to Russian designs are the most sought-after internationally.

In addition, we are developing small-scale land-based and floating nuclear power plant projects. Just now, the head of Rosatom told us about this [during a tour of the ATOM Museum exhibition]. Very soon, we will start their serial production.

Our principled approach ensures Russia's leadership. First, we strictly honour our contractual obligations. I want to emphasise this. We fulfill all our obligations entirely regardless of political circumstances.

Second, we reject "technological colonialism" and do not make our partners dependent on Russian technical solutions. On the contrary, we help them establish their own sovereign national nuclear industries, including personnel training and the creation of competence centres. We enlist local companies, assist in the operation of power units, and ensure the supply of nuclear fuel and waste management.

More than that, we share our experience and knowledge in building other advanced industries of the 21st century, such as nuclear medicine, digital systems, electric transport, and innovative materials. As a result, we help our partners make a genuine development leap, bring their economies to a whole new level of efficiency, and ultimately improve quality of life.

All of this represents an important public and social dimension of our work, a visible confirmation of the fact that equal access to technology, including in the sphere of peaceful nuclear energy, can ensure dynamic yet fair and sustainable global development.

Colleagues,

We view peaceful nuclear technologies as the foundation for extensive international cooperation and for fostering closer ties among nations. Russia is keen on establishing stable, long-term conditions for projects within the nuclear sphere.

Foremost, the absolute priority for our country is ensuring nuclear safety and the physical protection of nuclear facilities and installations, regardless of their location.

Therefore, it is imperative to further enhance safety and reliability requirements at every stage of the nuclear cycle, including uranium extraction, reactor operation, and the management of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste. Furthermore, regulation in this sphere must be carefully calibrated to maintain a balanced approach between the development of peaceful nuclear energy and the strengthening of the nuclear non-proliferation regime.

Moreover, it is evident that the construction of nuclear power plants requires significant funding, which necessitates a balanced distribution of risks and benefits among the key participants in such projects - states, investors, and consumers. I consider it essential to develop modern financing models for the construction of nuclear power plants and to involve international financial institutions and development banks in these undertakings.

In this context, I would add that earlier this year, the New Development Bank established by the BRICS countries confirmed its readiness to finance nuclear projects, while at the end of last year, on Russia's initiative, a BRICS coordination mechanism - the Nuclear Energy Platform - was established.

A crucial issue is the long-term resource provision for nuclear power plants. To utilise peaceful nuclear energy sustainably, fundamentally new and more efficient technologies are required, and Russia is already engaged in developing such solutions.

Just before this session began, my colleagues and I were exchanging views informally before entering this hall. In this connection, I would also like to note that, according to OECD estimates, all uranium resources under an optimistic scenario will be fully depleted by 2090. This amounts to approximately eight million tonnes. However, in practice, this could occur as early as the 2060s. That is, this could happen very quickly - right before our eyes.

Given that a quarter of uranium reserves are found in deposits where uranium is a by-product, by 2030 - here I come to what I believe Russia can truly be proud of - we plan to launch in the Tomsk Region the world's first nuclear power system with a closed fuel cycle. What does this mean? It is, in the full sense of the word, a revolutionary development made possible by our scientists and engineers. What does it mean in practice? It means that almost the entire volume - 95 percent of spent nuclear fuel - will be reused in reactors more than once. This mechanism will, in the long term, make it possible to virtually eliminate the problem of radioactive waste accumulation and, which is also extremely important, essentially remove the issue of uranium supply.

I should note that the full range of advanced materials for the closed fuel cycle will be tested at the International Research Centre now being established in the Ulyanovsk Region. We invite scientists from different countries to cooperate in developing technologies that, without exaggeration, open a new era in nuclear energy.

Friends,

Our meeting - the Global Nuclear Forum - is timed to coincide with two landmark dates: the 80th anniversary of the national nuclear industry, and Nuclear Industry Worker Day, which is marked in our country on September 28.

Let me remind you - my colleagues and I have just discussed this, but I want to say it once again for a wider audience - the first decision in the Soviet Union on the development of nuclear energy was taken on September 28, 1942, during the Great Patriotic War, when the outcome of perhaps the most dramatic phase of that war - the Battle of Stalingrad - was still unknown. The battle was still on, yet the State Defence Committee decided to launch the work on uranium, and the work got going.

I would like to sincerely congratulate Russia's nuclear industry workers, scientists, and former employees on the industry's anniversary and the upcoming professional holiday. Without a doubt, I extend my congratulations to the forum's guests - specialists from former Soviet republics - who are united by the traditions of the great Soviet Ministry of Medium Machine- Building. These traditions must certainly be continued.

I wish you new, great successes for the benefit of the people of our countries and, without exaggeration, all humanity.

Thank you for your attention.

nship. I'm sure this visit will also strengthen this relationship and bring it to the next level. Thank you very much, Mr President.

<>

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Press release on Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin's participation in the ministerial-level meeting of the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission

25 September 2025 20:25

1567-25-09-2025

On September 25, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin took part in the ministerial meeting of the UN Peacebuilding Commission on the sidelines of the High-Level Week at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly.

In his remarks Sergey Vershinin emphasised that each conflict has its unique root causes, and it is impossible to achieve a truly sustainable settlement without eliminating them. The main responsibility for the search for political and diplomatic ways out of crises and post-conflict rehabilitation lies with the involved states themselves. The international peacebuilding assistance should be based on the countries' request, given the unconditional respect for their sovereignty and independence, as well as the principles of the UN Charter.









NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's participation in a G20 ministerial meeting

25 September 2025 20:16

1565-25-09-2025

On September 25, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov took part in the G20 ministerial meeting in New York.

The event, held on the sidelines of the High-Level Week of the 80th UN General Assembly session, was dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the UN and Victory in World War II, as well as the 65th anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples.

During substantive discussions involving UN member states and international organisations, particular attention was paid to the interconnection between peace and security in the context of strengthening interaction between the G20 and the UN.

The prevailing view voiced by the World Majority countries, in particular BRICS and the SCO members, emphasised the importance of reinvigorating the coordinating role of the UN and the primacy of international law based on its Charter.

In his remarks, Sergey Lavrov outlined fundamental approaches concerning the emergence of a multipolar world grounded in the architecture of indivisible security, an open global economic system, and a mutually respectful dialogue.

He also highlighted the prospects for creating independent mechanisms to ensure the fair functioning of cross-border markets and supply chains in line with the outcomes of the 2024 Kazan Summit and other BRICS agreements, as well as the SCO and the EAEU instruments.











NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Statement by Sergey Lavrov at the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting on the sidelines of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly, New York, September 25, 2025

25 September 2025 19:52

1564-25-09-2025

Mr Chairman,

I express my gratitude for this initiative, which is becoming a tradition - to conduct G20 ministerial meetings on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

Our meeting is taking place in the year of two landmark anniversaries. Eighty years ago - with my country playing a pivotal role - German Nazism and Japanese militarism were defeated, with the People's Republic of China making a particularly significant contribution to overcoming the latter. This Victory enabled the establishment of the United Nations, whose founding fathers charged it with the mission to "save succeeding generations from the scourge of war" and "promote social progress." Reliance on the principles enshrined in the UN Charter in their entirety, comprehensiveness, and interrelationship guarantees peaceful, progressive development of all States without exception - both large and small.

Refusal to adhere to the principles of the Charter reveals neo-colonial ambitions, fuelling global instability and multiplying regional conflicts. For decades, numerous crises in Africa - many inherited from colonial times, when borders were drawn literally with a ruler and without regard for ethno-religious factors - have remained unresolved. Another glaring example is the crisis in Ukraine, provoked by the West, which NATO and the EU have transformed into a direct war against my country, actively participating in it. The escalation in the Middle East also fits this pattern. The unprecedented and horrific humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza has already claimed 65,000 lives. Some UN staff working in the region cite estimates suggesting casualties may be ten times higher. None of Israel's neighbours can feel secure. We witness this daily.

In turn, unilateral economic sanctions - grossly violating the UN Charter - tariff wars, outright blackmail of international trade participants, and brazen breaches of WTO rules not only strike at the most vulnerable and unprotected groups of population but also pose a serious threat to the global economy through, inter alia, market fragmentation and supply chain disruptions.

This December we will mark the 65th anniversary of the UN General Assembly's adoption of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. Clearly, genuine democratisation of the world order and global economic relations would serve humanity's interests. The steadily increasing role and importance of such multilateral global governance structures as BRICS and the SCO signify the formation of a multipolar world and exemplify equitable diplomacy.

Even before its expansion, BRICS nations' share of global GDP by purchasing power parity was twice that of the G7. At the BRICS Summit in Kazan in October 2024, specific proposals were put forward to establish new settlement infrastructure and independent exchange and investment mechanisms. Work has commenced on establishing the SCO development bank. These initiatives should enhance economic cooperation among the Global Majority nations, shielding them from unfair competition.

I would like to emphasise the vast potential of the G20. Its composition reflects contemporary geopolitical realities, encompassing both dynamic emerging centres of growth and influence, including BRICS states, and G7 countries. We urge the swift implementation of prior G20 agreements to amplify the roles of Global South and East nations in the IMF and World Bank, proportionate to their actual weight in global economy and finance. Revitalising the WTO as multilateral trade's sole recognised regulator remains equally vital.

We maintain that the G20 must - as originally intended - focus on economic issues, avoiding entanglement in military and political agendas to the detriment of the prerogatives of the United Nations and its Security Council.

Mr Chairman,

South Africa's G20 motto - "Ubuntu" - means "I am because we are". In other words, it speaks of interconnectedness between the peoples. We hope that the upcoming G20 Summit in Johannesburg in November will send a powerful signal in line with this unifying philosophy and will become an important milestone in addressing numerous present-day challenges.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Press release on Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin's meetings with UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Envoy for Digital and Emerging Technologies Amandeep Singh Gill and International Telecommunications Union Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin

25 September 2025 09:49

1554-25-09-2025

On September 23, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin held meetings on the sidelines of the High-Level Week, which is taking place at the UN's Headquarters in New York as part of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly, with Under-Secretary-General and Special Envoy for Digital and Emerging Technologies Amandeep Singh Gill (India) and International Telecommunications Union Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin (United States).

During these meetings, participants exchanged views on various topics dealing with using information and communications technologies (ICT), including artificial intelligence (AI), and affirmed that the United Nations and its agencies must play a key role in regulating ICT.

These conversations highlighted the major contribution by the Russian Federation to developing and promoting multilateral initiatives in this domain, mentioning as the most recent example the adoption by the UN General Assembly of a resolution on the modalities for the establishment and functioning of the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence and the Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence Governance. The parties also emphasised their commitment to ensuring that Russian experts work with various specialised platforms within the United Nations.

During these conversations, participants agreed to continue working together in a constructive manner for carrying out the resolutions of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) and stressed the importance of extending the WSIS process for bridging the digital divide.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Meeting with elected heads of regions

The President held a videoconference meeting with the heads of 21 regions of the Russian Federation who were elected during the single voting day on September 14, 2025.

September 26, 2025

18:15

The Kremlin, Moscow

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, colleagues,

We have gathered so that I can congratulate you on your election victories, but also to discuss what lies ahead in the near future. The fact that you have received convincing support as a result of these elections, both through direct voting and election via regional legislative assemblies, is evident.

The election campaigns took place under competitive conditions across all regions - and with high turnout - victories were secured either by incumbent leaders or acting heads. That is, our citizens and voters assess candidates by their concrete deeds and results, which is undoubtedly a sound, responsible approach and an indicator of the maturity of our electoral culture and civil society as a whole.

It is clear that people are counting on the continuation of the country's strategic development course, that it will bring further positive changes to their regions, hometowns, and villages.

Naturally, it is very important to justify this trust by structuring your daily work in line with stated plans and public expectations, acting with full dedication. I am confident that you are guided precisely by such principles.

In total, over 5,000 election campaigns at various levels concluded on the single voting day. They took place across 81 regions - practically nationwide - with regions employing diverse approaches to maximise voter convenience. I refer both to remote formats and the organisation of multi-day voting.

I believe this experience, which takes into account regional specificities, should continue to be applied moving forward.

Colleagues,

Undoubtedly, each region has its own distinct features and, in some respects, unique immediate tasks.

Yet this very diversity is one of our country's greatest strengths. Here, the coordination and consolidation of different regions' capabilities and efforts are paramount, as is formulating regional socioeconomic programmes in close alignment with achieving our national objectives.

Our common key objective is the strengthening of the sovereignty and security of the state. In this regard, the efforts that the regions undertake to support the defence industry and their active, substantive assistance to our servicemen on the frontlines, to the veterans of the special military operation and their families are of utmost importance - these tasks unquestionably remain among our priorities. I expect this work to continue.

At the same time, I underscore that we possess all necessary capabilities and resources to address strategic development objectives for the country, to achieve positive changes both in the economy and the social sphere.

This year, we have commenced the implementation of new national projects. Their effectiveness largely depends on how work is organised locally. I have no doubt that these matters remain under your constant supervision, and I request that the pace of fulfilling assigned tasks not be reduced.

Through close cooperation between federal and regional authorities, we must create conditions for long-term economic growth and technological leadership, while naturally adhering - as I have stated repeatedly - to the principles and requirements of macroeconomic policy. Ultimately, this means improving the quality of life and well-being of our citizens, of Russian families. Here, I reiterate, every region's contribution is essential, alongside that of the Government.

I emphasise: substantial resources are being allocated towards implementing national projects. And of course, people must see tangible, concrete results where they live.

This means, first and foremost, further modernisation of schools, kindergartens, hospitals, outpatient clinics, road construction, public transport development, and improvement of living conditions. Overall, creating comfortable, favourable environments for living, working, self-fulfilment, and leisure. Not just in regional capitals, but also in small towns and rural areas.

All this serves to unlock human potential, the potential of regions as a whole, and ultimately strengthens our country, ensuring its sustainable, confident development.

And of course, we must do everything necessary to preserve regions' historical and cultural heritage, their distinct identity, so that people feel continuity between eras, genuinely share the values that have always mattered to our society, and understand just how much we can - and must - take pride in.

Colleagues,

The scale of the tasks before us, and the challenges our country currently faces, impose new and higher demands on the governance system and on those working in positions of authority. Let me reiterate: what matters here are not only professional competencies but also personal qualities - the readiness to work, first and foremost, for the benefit of Russia, to serve its interests.

I expect that this will be your guidance in your personnel policies and that you will actively involve veterans of the special military operation in management teams. I speak about this constantly - in particular, graduates of the Time of Heroes federal programme and its regional equivalents.

Two individuals from this programme - Maria Kostyuk and Yevgeny Pervyshov - have, following the recent elections, become heads of regions.

I am convinced that the dedication to the Motherland demonstrated by our servicemen, by those tempered in combat, and their unwavering principles must serve as benchmarks for all those who are today part of government authorities and decision-making systems.

I want to particularly emphasise: we must always listen carefully to the people, remain in constant contact with them, meet with them, hear them out, and understand their needs. For, as we have said many times - and I stress this again - it is the assessment of our citizens that is the primary measure of the effectiveness of our work.

Colleagues,

I wish you successful and productive efforts in achieving the results the people expect of you. We understand the historical stages Russia is going through. And, of course, the outcome of the vote reflects - perhaps above all - the readiness and desire of the people to support Russia, to stand by their country, to stand by those whose actions have an impact on the state of the economy and the social sphere. But this desire is not aimed at elevating any individual with his or her ambitions; rather, it is directed at making the country stronger. The realisation of these aspirations depends on you, and I very much hope that, mindful of this imperative, you will work for the good of Russia as a whole - and for the benefit of those who came out, voted for you, and expect results not only in broad terms but in their specific region, town, or village. Frankly, I too am counting on this quality in your - in our joint - work.

Now, I would ask some colleagues to share their thoughts.

<>

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Meeting with Chairperson of the Central Election Commission Ella Pamfilova

Last night, Vladimir Putin held a meeting with Chairperson of the Central Election Commission Ella Pamfilova in the Kremlin to discuss the results of the single voting day in 2025.

September 26, 2025

09:00

The Kremlin, Moscow

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Have you finished the work?

Chairperson of the Central Election Commission Ella Pamfilova: Yes, and I can tell you that the election campaign proceeded surprisingly calmly judging by peacetime criteria, that is, without traditional obstacles.

As for holding elections in emergency conditions, we have learned to do it. It is the Ukrainians who do not have what it takes to hold elections, even though nobody is bombing their civilian facilities or attacking civilians, which is precisely what they are doing to our civilian facilities and civilians. Nevertheless, we do not look for a pretext to put off elections but continue to improve our democratic institutions.

I would like to say that the system has accumulated substantial experience over the past few years, becoming extremely stable and yet very dynamic. Therefore, we have taken all possible security measures in light of the developments in our border regions. In other words, we have kept the system completely open and transparent while giving more attention to security measures.

With this aim in view, we have prepared alternative, emergency premises, just in case. Incidentally, we had to evacuate three polling stations in the Belgorod Region and to conduct elections at alternative premises in the Bryansk Region.

There have been false terrorist attacks, with hoax calls about mines planted at a number of polling stations in Sevastopol. We handled these situations well, thanks to proper organisation.

Overall, I am pleased to tell you that we have not received a single complaint that merits discussion at the Central Election Commission. The turnout was quite high for regional elections, five percent higher than at similar elections in 2022. In a word, 46 percent is a relatively high turnout.

It was for the first time that You know, this election campaign largely differs from the previous ones. There are several major differences. As we promised, we have launched our digital platform, which is similar to the Vybory state automated system, a long-time system that has worked very well for 30 years. Our digital platform worked perfectly well and absolutely flawlessly without a "safety net." We take pride in this, because it is based on the domestic software and domestic technology and equipment. But the most important element of the system is that it is completely isolated from the internet and hence safely protected from DDoS attacks.

One more thing I would like to say, or rather to boast about, if I may, concerns our community, the commission and the people.

Vladimir Putin: Of course, go ahead.

Ella Pamfilova: VCIOM has conducted research and surveys on the election results. I must say, the polling results are remarkable. Then again, perhaps we should not be surprised - we deserved it. The level of trust in the elections and in the quality of the organisational procedure is growing. It is especially heartening to see that trust in the electoral process and the system is increasing among young people, specifically the 18-24 age group. This is highly gratifying. It means that our outreach to young people has achieved a positive result; the effort was not in vain.

Another significant difference this year concerns remote electronic voting. Despite the connectivity disruptions caused by UAV attacks, we received a record number of applications. Remote electronic voting was offered in 24 regions, resulting in more than 1.7 million applications and a total voter turnout reaching 90.5 percent.

This demonstrates that, despite temporary communication issues, the system performed to its full potential. We provided everything as required, including additional Wi-Fi points, which operated perfectly without failure. I regard this high level of engagement as proof of the system's popularity and evidence of growing public trust and confidence.

However, the most important development this year was the wave of special military operation veterans who campaigned and did so quite successfully. These statistics are new and have not been mentioned elsewhere. Of the 1,663 such candidates who ran, 1,035 were elected. Very few lost their races. A small number withdrew from the campaign, but almost none were rejected by the voters - the percentage of those who were is minimal.

In terms of party affiliation, the United Russia party elected 882; the Communist Party, 23; the Liberal Democratic Party and A Just Russia - For Truth each elected 20; New People, six; the Party of Pensioners, three; the Tatarstan - New Age republican public movement elected two; the Party of Growth and the Civic Platform each elected one; 77 individuals were elected as self-nominated candidates.

This trend was strengthened after you outlined this important guideline, calling for a new wave of political leaders. We are doing everything necessary to support this, with special attention given to special military operation veterans. With your permission, I would now like to mention several legal incidents we have encountered in this regard - it is probably necessary to amend the law. I will now elaborate on this.

Vladimir Putin: Ok.

Ella Pamfilova: Despite what looks like a turbulent period, we continue to develop and advance. As you know, 36 of our regions are defined as difficult to access and remote. The situation is very difficult when we need to reach polar stations and the like. In this connection, the state is doing everything necessary to reach every voter, including reindeer breeders, the staff of polar stations and sailors. One ballot paper cast there is approximately 400 times more expensive than the average for Russia.

We are looking for ways and methods to make voting more comfortable, convenient and accessible, as well as safer. We are working simultaneously on two methods, which were used in a pilot mode. I can provide photographs of ballot papers and other documents delivered by drones and unmanned boats. We have tested this method in Sakhalin and Veliky Novgorod.

Another method we are using involves cooperation with Bureau 1440 to introduce remote electronic voting with the use of satellite communications in regions without internet access. We will launch a pilot project with the Bureau soon, which will resolve many problems and make voting more accessible.

Mr President, I need to say a few words about the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). I raised the issue last time as well.

Why do we need them? Really, why do we continue to pay our contribution to their budget? They do not protect our rights at all. They do not protect the rights of journalists or any other rights, including voting rights. I would describe their operations as travesty, like the farce that is being played out in Moldova.

Anyway, as a member state of that organisation, we had the right to send our representatives as full-fledged observers to monitor these elections. But the authorities have not allowed a single observer from Russia to enter the country, and OSCE ODIHR has not lifted a finger to help. This is not the first time. What do we need that organisation for?

But even when our observers take part in monitoring elections in some countries The OSCE is a completely closed and undemocratic organisation. It turns out that their conclusions, which have been imposed on them by their handlers, if I may say so, depend on the degree of a country's obedience and completely differ from the conclusions of observers, including Russian ones.

But dissenting opinions are not registered in any way. Therefore, we legitimise their conclusions with our presence. I would like to ask you and the Foreign Ministry to consider this matter once again. I think that organisation has completely discredited itself.

Vladimir Putin: Very well. We will certainly seek the advice of the Foreign Ministry and deputies from both chambers. We will discuss this matter and consider it.

You are right: the situation does appear somewhat absurd when we provide every opportunity, yet nothing happens in return. Well, never mind them. We shall consider what steps to take.

I would like to thank you and all your colleagues who, despite very difficult circumstances, are nonetheless carrying out extensive election campaigns across the country. In some places, this is challenging from an organisational point of view; in others, it is even dangerous. Yet, everyone continues to fulfil their duties and responsibilities.

But above all, of course, we must thank the voters, who, despite everything, still come out and cast their ballots for one party or another. People understand how important this has always been for Russia, and in the present situation it is doubly, even triply important, for our political stability, for the resilience of our political system, and domestic political life.

This forms the very foundation upon which we can succeed in all areas: military, security and economic - you name it. A huge thank you to the people who, despite the difficulties, did their duty. It may sound like a simple, almost banal statement, but in today's circumstances it is of exceptional importance.

We will now discuss in greater detail the changes you have proposed, because the electoral system is a living organism. Naturally, in the course of our work, certain issues inevitably arise that require particular attention. And, as you rightly observed from the outset, the renowned principle remains clear: those who want to act, act; those who do not, find excuses and reasons for inaction.

We are truly committed to strengthening our political system, and despite all the difficulties, we are achieving this, thanks, in no small measure, to your efforts and those of your team.

Thank you very much. I congratulate you on this.

<>

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Meeting with Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan

Vladimir Putin held a meeting with Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan at the Kremlin.

September 26, 2025

00:40

The Kremlin, Moscow

Taking part in the meeting on the Russian side were Deputy Prime Minister, Russian Co-Chair of the bilateral Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation Alexei Overchuk, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office - Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov, Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov, Deputy Foreign Minister Dmitry Lyubinsky, Chief Executive Officer - Chairman of the Management Board of Russian Railways Oleg Belozerov, and Director General of the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom Alexei Likhachev.

On September 25, the President of Russia, the Prime Minister of Armenia and heads of several other foreign delegations took part in the Global Atomic Forum, which was held at the Atom Museum at VDNKh in Moscow.

* * *

Beginning of Russian-Armenian talks

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Pashinyan, friends, good evening. We are delighted to see you.

Thank you for accepting our invitation to attend our international event dedicated to the development of the nuclear energy sector. It is quite natural, of course, since there is  and has been for quite a while  a nuclear plant in Armenia, and, as you yourself mentioned at the forum, it provides 30 percent of the country's electricity generation. It is a considerable share, after all: 30 percent, or a third of Armenia's total energy are provided by the nuclear power plant.

Rosatom is currently working on extending the lifespan of this plant, so your presence at the forum makes perfect sense.

On a broader note, our bilateral relations continue to advance steadily and progressively. Our trade is nearly US$11 billion - I think, it represents 34 percent of your Republic's foreign trade; trade between Armenia and Russia stands at US$11.7 billion, according to our statistics. This is a record figure for 2024.

We have been promoting closer ties across numerous other areas. We always have topics to discuss despite the fact that we had a meeting not so long ago, but we are nevertheless happy to welcome you to Moscow.

Welcome once again.

Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan: Mr Putin, thank you very much for the invitation to take part in the World Atomic Week forum. Today, we have learned a great deal about nuclear technologies, and we are grateful for sharing all these insights.

Naturally, the role of nuclear energy is growing constantly, and it is now globally recognised as an eco-friendly energy source. Indeed, nuclear energy is very important for our country as well.

You were spot on when you noted our close work with the Russian Federation, particularly our joint efforts to extend the operational life of the Armenian nuclear power plant until 2036.

We are also exploring projects involving small nuclear modules, which are well-suited for Armenia. On this matter, we maintain a very active dialogue with the Russian Federation and have highly effective cooperation with the Rosatom Corporation.

More broadly, our bilateral relations are indeed advancing steadily. You mentioned our mutual trade. While there has been a slight decline this year due to global circumstances, I believe it is essential that we persist in our efforts to ensure that our trade continues to expand at the same pace as in 2023 and 2024.

Undeniably, we have a very broad bilateral agenda with so many things to discuss.

Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you.

< >

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's participation in BRICS foreign ministers' meeting

26 September 2025 23:55

1599-26-09-2025



Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov participated in the meeting of BRICS foreign ministers, convened on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly High-level Week. As per established practice, the meeting was organised by the Indian side as the forthcoming chair of the group.

The ministers had a substantive exchange of views on a broad range of pressing international issues, including the agenda of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly. They deliberated on matters related to the maintenance of peace and security, reforming the global governance system to enhance the representation of developing countries therein, and promoting sustainable development. The participants reaffirmed their commitment to bolstering coordination within BRICS across international platforms, grounded in the group's commitment to multilateral principles and the goal of shaping a more equitable world order centred on the United Nations and anchored in international law.

Sergey Lavrov underscored the significance of jointly implementing practical initiatives launched during the Russian and Brazilian chairmanships, including the establishment of a new investment platform, the BRICS cross-border payment initiative, depository and clearing infrastructure, a reinsurance mechanism, and a BRICS grain exchange.

A joint communique was adopted following the meeting.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's meeting with Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Ralph Goncalves

26 September 2025 20:42

1595-26-09-2025

On September 26, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Ralph Goncalves on the sidelines of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

The ministers had a candid and constructive exchange of views on key international issues, including the current situation in Latin America, as well as ways to develop bilateral cooperation in the political, trade, economic, cultural, and humanitarian spheres, and aspects of interaction within the UN and its specialised agencies.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand Sihasak Phuangketkeow

26 September 2025 19:33

1590-26-09-2025

On September 26, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand Sihasak Phuangketkeow on the sidelines of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

During the conversation the parties discussed the prospects for developing Russian-Thai cooperation in priority areas, including the advancement of political dialogue, promotion of trade and economic ties and humanitarian exchanges, as well as coordination of efforts at international platforms. The ministers also exchanged views on the current issues on the global and regional agendas.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's meeting with Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council of the Republic of Yemen Rashad Al-Alimi

26 September 2025 18:58

1589-26-09-2025

On September 26, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council of the Republic of Yemen Rashad Al-Alimi on the sidelines of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

The participants discussed a number of pressing matters of the traditionally friendly Russian-Yemeni relations and emphasised their commitment to maintaining regular political dialogue and continuing close coordination at the UN and other international platforms.

Significant emphasis was placed on the military and political developments in Yemen and adjacent regions, as well as in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone. The Russian side reiterated its principled position in favour of a comprehensive political resolution of the Yemeni crisis by way of promptly launching a broad-based nationwide dialogue under the UN's auspices in order to develop mutually acceptable compromise solutions to existing issues and to bring the positions of the opposing sides closer.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Jordan Ayman Safadi

26 September 2025 18:21

1587-26-09-2025

On September 26, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Ayman Safadi on the sidelines of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

The foreign ministers held an in-depth exchange of insights on key Middle Eastern issues with a focus on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and Syria.

They confirmed the importance of stepping up international efforts to promote an early ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, to release hostages and detainees, to provide humanitarian access, and, more broadly, to re-launch the peace process in accordance with the widely known resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council and the General Assembly.

Priority goals on the path to continued expansion of traditionally friendly Russian-Jordanian relations were discussed as well. These include strengthening the trust-based political dialogue, increasing the volume of mutual trade, and maintaining positive dynamics of practical cooperation in other important areas.



NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin's remarks at the inaugural session of the Global Dialogue on AI Governance, New York, September 25, 2025

26 September 2025 03:31

1579-26-09-2025

Colleagues,

We welcome the decision to establish UN organisations on artificial intelligence: Global Dialogue on AI Governance and Independent International Scientific Panel on AI. We are grateful to Costa Rica and Spain for their good-faith work as coordinators of the talks on aligning the modalities of these formats and for taking into consideration our proposals.

The Russian side will continue to assist the constructive and substantive operation of the just established platforms. Right now, we see the job of selecting experts to the Scientific Panel as a priority. Including in it representatives of as many countries as possible will make it possible to assure a high-quality research support for the Global Dialogue.

Interaction within the Global Dialogue and the Scientific Panel is in line with a policy we share with developing countries, one for consolidating the central role of the United Nations in considering the AI agenda. We are confident that the upcoming discussions will contribute to the emergence of a fair international system for regulating this technology based on respect for sovereignty; ensure that developers comply with national laws; and make it possible to pool our efforts as we address the task of creating trusted AI systems, that is, systems resistant to information security threats.

We will have to identify the main areas of focus in the context of efforts to make the most of AI for socioeconomic development of states, particularly those in the Global South and East. The reference is primarily to providing access to technologies, surmounting unilateral trade barriers and restrictions, and working out personnel training measures.

Another important area of focus is developing fair technical standards and requirements on AI within the framework of specialised organisations, such as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). In this connection, we support the decision to hold the Global Dialogue not only in New York but also in Geneva on the sidelines of the AI for Good annual conference held under the ITU aegis.

Thank you for your time.





NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres

26 September 2025 03:25

1578-26-09-2025

On September 25, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held talks with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the sidelines of the High-level Week of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Key issues pertaining to the reform of the World Organisation were examined within the framework of the Secretary-General's UN80 initiative. Sergey Lavrov stressed that any transformation must be carefully calibrated, preserving the institutional foundations of the UN and ensuring a clear division of labour among its principal bodies, all while remaining firmly under the oversight of Member States and commanding their broadest possible support.

A substantive discussion took place on the most pressing international challenges, including the situation surrounding Ukraine and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone. The Minister underscored the imperative for the UN Secretariat's leadership and staff to maintain impartiality and disengagement from any external actors in line with Article 100 of the UN Charter.

Both sides reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to further strengthening constructive cooperation between Russia and the UN. The Russian side emphasised its committal to the central coordinating role of the World Organisation in global affairs, as well as to the principles of the UN Charter in their entirety, indivisibility, and interconnectedness.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Sudan Monday Semaya Kumba

26 September 2025 02:05

1577-26-09-2025

On September 25, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had a meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Sudan Monday Semaya Kumba on the sidelines of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

The two ministers engaged in a substantive exchange of views on a range of pressing bilateral issues. Key areas for further development of Russia-South Sudan collaboration were discussed, including deepening political dialogue and strengthening cooperation within the UN and other multilateral frameworks.

The ministers addressed regional matters, with particular emphasis on the situation in South Sudan. They also reaffirmed the importance of exploring peaceful solutions to the internal conflict, restoring stability in the Republic of South Sudan, and supporting the efforts of the South Sudanese government and regional stakeholders.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's meeting with OSCE Secretary General Feridun Sinirlioglu

26 September 2025 00:54

1574-26-09-2025

On September 25, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had a meeting with OSCE Secretary General Feridun Sinirlioglu (Turkiye) on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly High-level Week.

The parties discussed the current state of affairs within the Organisation which remains mired in profound crisis due to attempts by a number of countries to subordinate its work solely to the Ukrainian agenda and Russophobic narratives.

The parties exchanged views on prospects for rectifying the situation grounded in the foundational OSCE principle of consensus-based decision-making.



NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's meeting with high representatives of the Pacific Small Island Developing States

26 September 2025 00:15

1572-26-09-2025

On September 25, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov convened the 12th meeting with high representatives of the Pacific Small Island Developing States on the sidelines of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Participants deliberated upon the prospects for augmenting practical collaboration in energy, fisheries, agriculture, tourism, and education.

The parties exchanged views on pressing international issues, including the situation in the Asia-Pacific Region and globally. They reaffirmed their commitment to intensifying collaboration across a wide range of issues of mutual interest.







NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Laros 2025 joint Russian-Lao military exercise is ended in Lao People's Democratic Republic

28 September 2025 05:53

The final stage of the Laros 2025 joint Russian-Lao military exercise was held at the Commadam training ground in the Lao People's Democratic Republic. In the course of practical actions, military personnel of the two countries practiced the liberation of a settlement and hostages held by conditional terrorists.

Special forces groups from Russia and Laos landed in the jungle. Having covered 30 kilometers over rough terrain, the units reached the rear of the imaginary enemy, where combat swimmers forced a water barrier.

Fire support for the joint actions of the units was provided by armoured personnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles, sniper pairs as well as units of AGS-17 automatic grenade launchers and ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft guns located at commanding heights. Crews of portable anti-aircraft missile systems provided cover from air attacks. During the main stage, unmanned aerial vehicle teams and the latest Russian-made robotic systems were also involved.

Laros 2025 joint Russian-Lao military exercise was held in the Lao People's Democratic Republic on September 15. The event was timed to coincide with the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and Laos and the 50th anniversary of the proclamation of the Lao People's Democratic Republic. The Russian Federation was represented at the exercise by units of the Eastern Military District.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Syrian Arab Republic Asaad al-Shaibani

25 September 2025 17:41

1557-25-09-2025

On September 25, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Syrian Arab Republic Asaad al-Shaibani in New York, on the sidelines of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly.

The discussion focused on practical steps to develop many-faceted bilateral cooperation, building on the outcomes of recent high-level official delegation exchanges. The ministers also reviewed the schedule of forthcoming engagements, including in the context of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's participation in the inaugural Russian-Arab Summit, to be held in Moscow in October 2025.

The Russian side reaffirmed its firm commitment to supporting Syria's unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. It was stressed that internal challenges should be resolved by the Syrians themselves - without harmful external interference - through an inclusive national dialogue that reflects the interests of all communities within Syria's multi-religious society. The parties underscored the importance of consolidating international efforts to create favourable conditions for lasting stabilisation in the Syrian Arab Republic and to support its post-conflict recovery.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






CENTCOM Urges Nations to Repatriate Displaced and Detained People from Syria

U.S. Central Command

Press Release | Sept. 26, 2025

USCENTCOM

September 26, 2025

Release Number 20250926-01

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TAMPA, Fla. -- During a United Nations conference Sept. 26 on camps and places of detention in northeast Syria, the commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) called on countries to repatriate their citizens.

Adm. Brad Cooper delivered remarks at the High-Level Conference on the Repatriation of Persons from Al-Hol, Surrounding Camps and Places of Detention, held at the United Nations headquarters in New York City. He encouraged expediting the return of detainees and displaced persons to their home countries and announced plans to establish a new joint coordination process.

"Earlier this month, I visited al-Hol in person and saw first-hand the need to accelerate repatriations." Cooper told conference attendees. "There has been progress for sure, and I look forward to supercharging this effort together with all of you."

At their peak in 2019, displaced persons camps at al-Hol and al-Roj housed 70,000 people. Today, the number has fallen below 30,000. Repatriation reduces opportunity for extremist influence, especially among vulnerable women and children.

Cooper announced CENTCOM is establishing a special Joint Repatriation Cell in northeast Syria to coordinate the return of displaced or detained persons to their home countries. He also lauded Iraq's government, which returned home 80% of its population at al-Hol, for leading repatriation efforts by example.

"Repatriating vulnerable populations before they are radicalized is not just compassionit is a decisive blow against ISIS's ability to regenerate," said Cooper. "Today, I join you all in calling on every nation with detained or displaced personnel in Syria to return your citizens."

Cooper traveled to Syria in early September and visited the displaced persons camp at al-Hol. He also met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus during another trip that marked the first time a CENTCOM commander visited Syria's capital. Cooper thanked President al-Sharaa for his support in countering ISIS in Syria, and both leaders committed to meeting in the future.

During the United Nations conference, Cooper urged countries to redouble their efforts to safeguard the vulnerable and deny ISIS the opportunity to rise again.

"The United States will continue supporting the coalition and all nations committed to bringing their citizens home," he said. "Together, we can ensure the defeat of terror endures as a legacy of peace and stability."

-30-

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






UN warns time running out for families with terrorist ties stranded in Syria camps

26 September 2025 - Six years after the defeat of ISIL, also known as Daesh, tens of thousands of people with alleged or actual ties to the terrorist group remain detained in camps in northeast Syria in dire conditions that continue to worsen.

This urgent humanitarian and security situation threatens stability in the region and beyond, but the political transition underway in Syria could provide an opportunity to step up repatriations.

The issue was the subject of a high-level international conference organized by the Government of Iraq with technical support from the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), held on the sidelines of the General Assembly debate on Friday.

Mainly women and children

Currently, more than 30,000 people, including suspected foreign terrorist fighters and their family members, are being held at the notorious Al-Hol camp and other surrounding sites.

Most are women and it is estimated that 60 per cent of the overall population in these facilities is under 18, and mainly under the age of 12.

Foreign nationals number some 8,500 people from over 62 countries.

Iraq leads the way

At its height, ISIL controlled large areas across Syria and Iraq, committing widespread atrocities including mass executions, rape and forced recruitment, in its drive to establish an Islamist caliphate.

Many of the detainees are from these two countries, and Iraq has taken a leading role in repatriating its nationals, with more than 17,000 returned through an integrated security, legal and humanitarian operation.

"Our aim is to re-integrate them into their communities and their places of origin," said President Abdul Latif Rashid.

"We cooperate with international organizations to achieve this objective. Our aim is to ensure them a safe future and a dignified life in their country."

Potential 'incubators of radicalization'

Back in Syria, conditions in the camps "are dire and very alarming", said UN Acting Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism, Alexandre Zouev.

Residents not only "face prolonged detention without legal basis and without due process", but "women and girls have experienced or are at risk of sexual violence" while children lack bare essentials and access to formal education.

"With Daesh attacks and assorted humanitarian actors limiting services, the camps threaten to turn into incubators of terrorist radicalization and future recruitment," he warned.

'Window' for action

The UN believes that the fall of the Assad regime in Syria last December and other developments in the country have provided "a window for decisive action" on the issue.

'Whilst the situation in northeast Syria grows more complex with increasing volatility, Daesh attacks and limited humanitarian access, Member States have new avenues now to engage directly with different stakeholders and to advance solutions," said Guy Ryder, Under-Secretary-General for Policy.

"But that window can quickly narrow, and inaction would carry serious consequences for regional stability and for international peace and security."

Issue of Syrian returnees

Mr. Ryder spoke on behalf of the Secretary-General whose Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, also highlighted an agreement signed in March between the new authorities in Damascus and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the de facto authorities in the northeast.

It "emphasized the need for full integration of all civil and military institutions in northeastern Syria into the administration of the Syrian State" and calls for ensuring "the return of all displaced Syrians to their towns and villages and securing the protection by the Syrian State."

Repatriation just 'the first step'

The UN officials underlined the Organization's commitment to supporting countries in their repatriation efforts, calling for renewed urgency and momentum.

Iraq has also offered to share its expertise, with President Rashid urging the international community to "turn the page on this inhumane chapter" and empty the camps by the end of the year.

However, as Mr. Zouev pointed out, "repatriation is only the first step on the long journey to break the cycle of violence".

He explained that it "must be complemented by accountability as well as rehabilitation and reintegration support tailored to the diverse needs of different returnees", and fostering trust in communities receiving them.

"In this regard, it is absolutely crucial not to lose sight of the imperative of justice for victims and survivors of terrorism," he added.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Separatist activities seeking "Taiwan independence" pose the most serious threat to post-war international order: Defense Spokesperson

Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China

Source China Military Online

EditorLiu Sen

2025-09-25 20:39:43



BEIJING, Sept. 25 -- "Separatist activities seeking 'Taiwan independence' pose the most serious threat to the post-war international order and the greatest damage to peace in the region," said Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, at a regular press conference on Thursday.

The American Institute in Taiwan claimed that documents such as the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation "did not determine Taiwan's ultimate political status", and a U.S. State Department spokesperson echoed this comment. In addition, the head of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council peddled the narrative of the so-called mainland's forcible takeover of Taiwan during his visit to the U.S..

When being asked to share comment on this, the spokesperson first pointed out that the false remarks of the U.S. side misrepresent the fact and mislead the public and China is strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposed to this. The restoration of Taiwan to China is an integral part of the outcomes of WWII victory and the post-war international order. The 1943 Cairo Declaration clearly stipulates that all the territories stolen by Japanfrom China, such as Taiwan, shall be restored to China. The Potsdam Proclamation issued in 1945 reiterates that the terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out. In the same year, Japan signed the Japanese Instrument of Surrender, pledging to carry out the provisions of the Potsdam Proclamation in good faith. These instruments with legal effect under international law have all clearly affirmed China's sovereignty over Taiwan.

The spokesperson then emphasized that as a signatory to the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, the U.S. is fully aware of the historical and legal fact that Taiwan is a part of China. Yet, it blatantly rehashes the false narrative that "Taiwan's status is undetermined", and smears China's legitimate actions to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, in order to mislead international public opinion. Such acts gravely violate international law and the basic norms governing international relations, and send a seriously wrong signal to the separatist forces for "Taiwan independence".

"Separatist activities seeking 'Taiwan independence' pose the most serious threat to the post-war international order and the greatest damage to peace in the region," said the spokesperson, adding that "we urge the U.S. side to abide by the one-China principle and stipulations of the three China-U.S. joint communiques, stop manipulating the Taiwan question, and stop aiding and abetting 'Taiwan independence' in any form."

"We warn the DPP authorities that 'Taiwan independence' leads nowhere and reunification is unstoppable. We will never allow any separatist schemes to succeed, and are ready to thwart any external interference at any time and to safeguard national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity," stressed the spokesperson.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2025/09/26

PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

Date

6 a.m. Sep. 25 (Thu.) to 6 a.m. Sep. 26 (Fri.) (UTC+8)

PLA activities

11 sorties of PLA aircraft , 7 PLAN ships and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 9 out of 11 sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's northern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities.

1140926_PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan [Open a new window]

1140926_PLA air activities in the vicinity of Taiwan [Open a new window]

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2025/09/27

PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

Date

6 a.m. Sep. 26 (Fri.) to 6 a.m. Sep. 27 (Sat.) (UTC+8)

PLA activities

19 sorties of PLA aircraft, 7 PLAN ships, and 2 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 15 out of 19 sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's northern, central and southwestern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities.

1140927_PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan_1 [Open a new window]

1140927_PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan_2 [Open a new window]

1140927_PLA air activities in the vicinity of Taiwan [Open a new window]

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Foreign Ministry statement on retaliatory personal sanctions against representatives of the UK political establishment and expert community

26 September 2025 15:00

1585-26-09-2025

London is clinging to the belief that it can inflict a strategic damage on Russia with the help of the Kiev regime it controls. Hoping to extend the life span of the Ukraine project, which is suffering one defeat after another, they have resorted to the tried and tested mind control methods in the past few days, namely launched another round of anti-Russia spy paranoia, spreading myths of the alleged military threat to Europe, and ostentatiously announced the adoption of new economic sanctions, regardless of the fact that these sanctions will hit the British economy the hardest.

London continues to finance cynical anti-Russia campaigns even though this is accelerating the decline of its socioeconomic and, consequently, internal political situation. The British government's efforts to honour its basic social commitments look more and more like trying to rob the Peter to pay Paul - both when it comes to curbing illegal migration and street crime, or encouraging economic growth.

In response to London's continued confrontational course, a decision has been made to add a number of British representatives from the UK political establishment and expert community to Russia's "stop list."

This list includes individuals advocating for illegal unilateral sanctions and engaged in London's subversive activities towards Russia, including the fabrication of anti-Russia materials and the spreading of disinformation about our country.

The following is a list of British nationals, as well as third-country nationals collaborating with destructive British analytical and consulting agencies, who are now barred from entering the Russian Federation:

1. James Byrne, Co-founder and CEO, British research institute Open Source Centre;

2. Anna Deibel-Jung, Deputy Director, Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation (OTSI) within the Department for Business and Trade;

3. David Michael Doogan, Member of the House of Commons from the Scottish National Party.

4. Max Petrokofsky, Head, Sectoral Sanctions (Trade), the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office;

5. Kinga Redlowska, Head, Centre for Finance and Security (CFS Europe); member of the Maritime Sanctions Taskforce, Royal United Services Institute;

6. Emma Elizabeth Reynolds, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, member of the House of Commons from the Labour Party;

7. Gonsalo Saiz Erasquin, Research Fellow, Centre for Finance and Security; member of the Maritime Sanctions Taskforce, Royal United Services Institute.

The list also includes several representatives of the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) within HM Treasury.

We would like to point out again that Britain's efforts to discredit and isolate Russia, including in the context of the special military operation, will inevitably meet with a firm and strong response.

The Russian "stop list" will be subject to further expansion owing to Britain's persistent destructive policy aimed at escalating tensions in Europe and the rest of the world.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






The United Kingdom does not stand up for one nation's rights, whilst ignoring others. But acts resolutely, with the UN Charter as our compass: UK National Statement at the UN General Assembly

Speech

Statement by The Rt Hon David Lammy, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice and Deputy Prime Minister, at the UN General Assembly General Debate of the 80th Session

From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and The Rt Hon David Lammy MP

Published 26 September 2025

Location: United Nations, New York

Delivered on: 25 September 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

Your Excellencies, colleagues, and friends,

"Having witnessed the United Nations' work throughout his life, His Majesty The King has asked me to offer a personal message of his congratulations to the U.N. on its eightieth anniversary. The U.N. is a powerful testament to our collective determination for a better world.

The King recalls that, on the eve of the first U.N. General Assembly, His Majesty's grandfather, King George VI, told the delegates gathered in London: "in the long course of our history, no more important meeting has ever taken place within its boundaries."

Millions of people across the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and the wider international community share the view that the UN's founding principles and the work of its Organisations remain essential, particularly as the world must face new and pressing challenges.

Let us reaffirm these principles as the United Nations responds to today's realities and evolves for tomorrow's challenges."

My friends, today I echo His Majesty's sentiments.

And I join him in celebrating the remarkable institution's proud 80 years.

As we reaffirm our historic commitment to the United Nations.

We must face the challenges of the present.

A present in which we, in the United Kingdom, do not stand up for one nation's rights, whilst ignoring others.

But act resolutely, with the Charter as our compass.

This is why I want to address directly the Israeli-Palestinian tragedy.

What is happening in Gaza is indefensible.

It is inhumane.

It is utterly unjustifiable.

And it must end now.

The people of Palestine, whose state we proudly recognised this week, and the people of Israel, deserve better.

Better than the horrific acts by Hamas on October 7th that left children without their parents, and parents without their children.

Better than the torment of families waiting desperately for the return of their loved ones from the most barbaric captivity.

Better than the fanatical rule by Hamas, a vile, pitiless terrorist organisation that must have no future in Gaza.

Better than Israel's denial of life-saving humanitarian aid and the catastrophic famine that it has caused.

As Israel escalates its military operations and displaces Palestinian families, again and again and again.

There can be no answer to these horrors but concerted diplomatic action.

To keep the hope of peace alive as we work with leaders from across the region and beyond.

In support of the US's efforts to build a consensus around a durable plan for peace.

We commend the momentum achieved by the United States, Arab and Muslim States.

Annexation must be prevented, a process for peace advanced and this terrible, terrible war ended.

There can be no answer except for the hostages out, now.

Aid in, now.

And a ceasefire, now.

And I vow to you that we will not rest until this day has come.

And there are two states living side by side in peace and security.

Friends, we stand with Palestine because we believe in the values of the UN Charter.

In equal rights, self-determination, and the dignity of all peoples.

We stand with Ukraine because we must defend the core values of the UN Charter.

Sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the respect for international law.

And because the world will suffer if aggression is allowed to pay.

We must all strive for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, which maintains the integrity of our UN Charter and sees Ukraine emerge from Russia's brutal war as a sovereign, secure, and independent nation.

President Zelenskyy has shown his commitment to that peace at every turn, while President Putin savagely rains down ever more missiles and drones on the Ukrainian people.

Our message to Ukraine is clear:

We will stand with you today, tomorrow, and one hundred years from now.

We also stand with the people of Sudan, because we never forget the values of the UN Charter.

Of human rights and the pursuit of peace, for all men and women.

This is a conflict waged against Sudan's civilian population.

Millions displaced, more facing famine.

As I speak, the long-besieged city of El Fasher is falling.

Its people facing unspeakable atrocities.

The people of El Fasher, and all across Sudan, need the international community to come together.

To make renewed efforts to achieve peace.

And allow aid to reach those who desperately need it now.

We do all this with our Charter as our guide in the name of the equal rights of men and women and nations large and small.

The United Nations and its reform are vital.

Because we need our United Nations more than ever to confront these tragedies and to face our historic opportunity.

As we are living through a moment of revelation.

A new technological frontier is coming into view.

We are entering a bracing new era of promise, power and potential.

You know my friends, to live through the Industrial Revolution was to see the first iron bridges that mankind had made, the first railways, the first smokestacks.

And to live today through the technological revolution, as we are, it is to witness the coming of the internet, the spread of smartphones, and now, the dawn of super-powerful AI.

This is a lightning strike of change.

A technological revolution which our leading scientists think could only be compared to the Industrial Revolution, compressed into a decade.

This is a moment of truth, for us, our institutions, and our ability to work together, and I believe we must act.

I see promise on this technological frontier.

AI is the most powerful new lever we have to advance the Charter's vision of social progress and better standards of life.

This is why it is at the very heart of my own country's growth plan.

I believe that by embracing artificial intelligence, we can all build better businesses, we can better fight crime.

Look for example at dirty money.

By spotting fraud in real time, we can crack down on illicit finance, a fight we will lead at a UK-hosted summit next year.

And AI is not hypothetically making lives better; it is already saving them.

At Imperial College, a new AI stethoscope detects major heart conditions in seconds, in our National Health Service, AI mammogram trials double the speed of diagnosis, and AI research tools are unlocking new drug combos to fight cancer.

On the horizon, the promise of fusion power, powering limitless servers through quantum computing, enabling ever stronger AI, could unleash ever more advanced biotech.

This is the defining opportunity of our generation.

And we must run towards it, with hope.

I believe in this promise.

I believe in our UN values.

Which is why this promise must now be shared.

We are witnessing a truly historic surge in investment in AI.

This investment promises outstanding productivity gains, and with it, growth of historic proportions.

Yet while this promise may well be diffuse, for now it remains concentrated.

But there is not just possibility on the technological frontier, there are profound challenges as well.

As AI is being used to consolidate repression, fuel disinformation, empower criminals.

Across the internet, authoritarian states, notably Russia, are manipulating large-scale language models so that chatbots answer in the voice of their propaganda across the world.

Organised crime is using AI to supercharge their scams, deceiving victims on an unprecedented scale.

This is the truth.

AI can empower freedom, or it can entrench repression.

AI can empower truth, or it can entrench lies.

AI can empower law, or it can empower crime.

Only by cooperation together can we set artificial intelligence on the right millennia-defining course.

So my question is this.

How can we most effectively share the glittering prizes of this new era across our global community?

Well this is how.

We must invest, invest, invest.

We must partner, partner, partner.

Because without a concerted effort, we risk a world of ever deeper inequality, where the benefits of this technology fail to reach those who need it the most.

That revolution in health care, that revolution in education, that revolution in opportunity, this we must share.

This is the world we face.

And we take it and its challenges as it is.

But never lose sight of the world as it could be.

This is why our approach to foreign policy is one of progressive realism, patiently advancing progress through pragmatism and persistence.

I see this in the United Nations as it approaches the technological frontier.

I salute the Secretary-General for championing the Global Digital Compact, which embodies both progress and realism.

And this is why I commend the new Independent International Scientific Panel on AI, which will provide evidence-based assessments to all.

And I welcome the new Global Dialogue on AI Governance.

It is in this spirit of progressive realism that the UK champions AI as a bridge builder across the Atlantic, across the Commonwealth, and across continents.

Seeking everywhere to share its extraordinary potential.

This is why we invest so heavily in the AI Security Institute with more dedicated researchers than anywhere else in the world.

And this is why we launched OpenBind and its gigantic dataset.

And this is why we champion AI for Development.

Working with ten African partners, creating AI ecosystems that empower thousands of communities to meet the Sustainable Development Goals.

And this drives our Digital Access programmes, which seeks to narrow the technological divide for millions.

I have seen this happening with my own eyes.

I have been so moved to see in Africa, the continent of my ancestors, the young entrepreneurs using artificial intelligence to launch and scale so many businesses that I know will astonish the world.

Like the UK-funded start-up, Vinsighte, supported by our Assistive Technologies Programme, which is using its AI-powered app to help thousands of blind Nigerian students read, learn and live more independently.

This is the promise of tech.

The promise of growth.

The promise of a better world.

A better tomorrow turns on one pivotal question.

Can we seize the potential in the technological revolution?

Can we commit to forging AI as a force for freedom, prosperity, and human dignity?

I believe we can, together.

And together, we must.

Thank you very much indeed.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






PM meeting with Prime Minister Albanese of Australia: 26 September 2025

Press release

This afternoon the Prime Minister hosted the Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese in 10 Downing Street.

From: Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street and The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP

Published 26 September 2025

This afternoon the Prime Minister hosted the Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese in 10 Downing Street.

The Prime Minister said it was good to see the Australian Prime Minister at the Global Progressive Action Conference earlier in the day, which showcased the common values and ties that our two countries shared.

The Prime Minister added that the UK-Australia economic partnership was strong, and we enjoyed close cooperation on trade.

Both leaders agreed to take this relationship into the future by exploring further opportunities to harness Australia's critical mineral reserves in areas like defence and technology, which would create jobs and deliver investments for the benefit of working people in both countries.

The leaders reiterated their commitment to AUKUS, which was an integral part of our shared security. They also reaffirmed their support for Ukraine, including through ongoing work led by the Prime Minister to bring together allies in the Coalition of the Willing.

After the UK and Australia took the historic step to recognise the State of Palestine this week, the Prime Minister said now we needed to find a way forward to end the fighting, free the hostages and deliver a long-term peace for Palestinians and Israelis alike.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Ukraine and France share a common vision for Europe's future: Taras Kachka

Ukraine Government

Department of Information and Public Communications of the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, posted 25 September 2025 22:14

Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Taras Kachka spoke at the IV France-Ukraine Forum in Paris. The discussion also featured the Minister Delegate for Europe at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Benjamin Haddad, while the moderator was the Director of the French Institute of International Relations, Thomas Gomart.

The forum served as a platform for dialogue among government officials, parliamentarians, and leading independent experts on the key challenges facing Ukraine, France, and Europe. This year's topics included Ukraine's EU accession process, cooperation with NATO, security, resilience, and recovery.

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasised that relations between Ukraine and France are built on shared values and a vision for Europe's future.

"Ukrainian society has made a final choice in favour of European values and way of life. It is these values, in particular commitment to democracy and the rule of law, that give us the strength to resist russian aggression and at the same time make Ukraine a reliable partner and an important part of the European continent," Taras Kachka stressed.

He highlighted France's role in ensuring support for Ukraine - from sanction decisions to providing financial assistance, as well as in consolidating unity among EU member states. "The European Union is Ukraine's main financial and political partner, but behind this stands a consolidated position of all member states. We highly value the leadership of individual countries, particularly France, which helps shape common support for Ukraine within the EU by promoting sanction decisions, financial and technical assistance. It is this unity that allows us to maintain the pace of reforms, strengthen the economy, and bring closer our membership in the EU," the Deputy Prime Minister noted.

He called for intensifying pressure on russia, in particular through expanding sanction packages and limiting the aggressor's opportunities to finance the war.

The Deputy Prime Minister also emphasised the significant role of French business in Ukraine. According to him, despite the war, French companies are one of the largest foreign employers in Ukraine, providing jobs to over 30,000 Ukrainians. This, as Taras Kachka said, demonstrates trust in Ukraine and creates a basis for new projects in the areas of reconstruction and development.

"We seek to develop such cooperation, expand the presence of European investors, and integrate the Ukrainian economy into the EU Single Market. This strengthens Ukraine's economic resilience and builds our common European future."

Background

The forum was organised by the New Europe Center in partnership with the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI), with support from the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and the International Renaissance Foundation.



NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Update 316 - IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine

International Atomic Energy Agency

25 September 2025

Vienna, Austria

96/2025



A drone was downed and detonated approximately 800 metres from the perimeter of Ukraine's South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant overnight, in the latest close call underlining constant dangers to nuclear safety during the military conflict, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said after receiving information about the incident from the IAEA team at the site.

The team was informed by the plant that 22 unmanned aerial vehicles were observed late last night and early this morning within its monitoring zone, some coming as close as half a kilometre from the site. South Ukraine is one of the country's three operational nuclear power plants (NPPs), its three reactors currently generating electricity at full capacity.

From their accommodation near the plant, IAEA team members heard gunfire and explosions around 01:00 am local time and today they visited the location where one of the drones had come down, observing a crater measuring four square metres at the surface and with a depth of around one metre.

Nearby metal structures had been hit by shrapnel and the windows of vehicles close to the impact area were shattered, the team reported. A 150 kilovolt (kV) regional power line was also damaged, the plant said, though it was not connected to the NPP and there was no direct impact on nuclear safety and security. There were also no reports of casualties.

"Once again drones are flying far too close to nuclear power plants, putting nuclear safety at risk. Fortunately, last night's incident did not result in any damage to the South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant itself. Next time we may not be so lucky. I continue to urge both sides to show maximum military restraint around all important nuclear facilities," Director General Grossi said.

Occurring only some 30 hours after Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) suffered its tenth complete loss of offsite power (LOOP) during the conflict, the latest drone incident made it clear that the nuclear safety and security situation remains extremely fragile while the conflict continues.

"For more than three and a half years, the IAEA has been doing everything in its power to help prevent a nuclear accident during this devastating war. We will only be able to say that our mission was successful if the war ends without a serious nuclear accident. Our indispensable work is far from finished," Director General Grossi said.

The ZNPP has now been without external power for more than 48 hours, making it the longest of the plant's ten complete LOOP events. It is currently relying on emergency diesel generators for the electricity it needs to cool its six shutdown reactors and other essential nuclear safety and security functions.

For more than four months, the ZNPP had been dependent on a single power line for offsite power, compared with ten lines before the conflict. This sole remaining power line was damaged around 1.5 kilometers from the ZNPP due to military activities and disconnected at 4:56 pm on Tuesday, according to information from the plant. The IAEA team based at the ZNPP has not yet been able to visit the damaged line due to the military situation.

The ZNPP also said it has the necessary spare parts and personnel to repair the line once the military situation permits. Ukraine has informed the Agency that it is also prepared to repair damages to a backup power line, when the military situation permits.

Immediately after Tuesday's disconnection of the 750 kV line, the site's 18 available emergency diesel generators started operating. As during previous such events, the ZNPP gradually reduced the number to only those needed to generate essential power for the site - currently seven - to help save diesel fuel. The ZNPP has previously informed the IAEA that it has fuel reserves for almost 20 days operation of its emergency diesel generators. The plant regularly receives supplies of diesel fuel to maintain its inventory.

Radiation monitoring stations positioned on as well as outside the ZNPP site showed that all radiation levels remained normal. In addition, the IAEA team today carried out independent monitoring within the site perimeter, which confirmed these results.

The Agency has continued with equipment deliveries under the other components of its comprehensive programme of assistance to Ukraine.

Recently, the Central Geophysical Observatory of the Hydrometeorological Centre and the hydrometeorological organizations of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine received equipment to enhance their analytical capacity, while the Khmelnytskyy NPP received thermal protective suits to strengthen its fire-fighting capabilities.

The Chornobyl site received office furniture to help ensure better working conditions for staff and the State Enterprise USIE Izotop - involved in the management of radioactive material intended for medical, industrial and other purposes - received vehicles for the transport of radioactive sources.

These deliveries - supported with funding from Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Republic of Korea and Sweden - brought the number of deliveries since the start of the armed conflict to 157, totalling approximately 20 million Euros worth of equipment and other supplies.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Zelenskyy Says Trump 'Supports' Ukraine's Retaliatory Strikes On Russian Energy

By RFE/RL September 25, 2025

Summary

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy says US President Trump agreed that Ukraine could carry retaliatory attacks on Russia's energy and military infrastructure.

Kyiv intensifies its attacks on the Russian refining operations, which appear to be causing fuel shortages and price increases.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says US President Donald Trump told him Kyiv could respond to Russia's attacks on its energy infrastructure with tit-for-tat strikes, as Ukraine continues to pound Russian refining operations.

"If they attack our energy, President Trump supports that we can answer on energy," Zelenskyy said in an interview with Axios released on September 25.

He added that Trump had also green-lit retaliatory strikes on Russia's military factories. However, he suggested they might be harder to reach due to the high level of defense of such facilities.

Zelenskyy's comments came a couple days after he talked with Trump on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 23.

The meeting was followed by Trump's sudden rhetorical shift in which he said Ukraine could restore control over its borders with "time, patience, and the financial support of Europe and, in particular, NATO."

"[Russian President Vladimir] Putin and Russia are in BIG economic trouble," Trump wrote on his Truth Social page, suggesting the country's money problems were one of the main reasons for his newly voiced confidence in Ukraine's capabilities.

The Kremlin denied the claim on September 24, though it admitted that "yes, Russia is experiencing certain tensions and problem areas in various sectors of the economy."

As Zelenskyy said he told Trump Ukraine has drones that can reach deep into Russian territory, Kyiv has continued to attack Russian oil refining infrastructure, critical to its war efforts.

The day after the US and Ukrainian leaders met in New York, the Salavat petrochemical complex, one of Russia's largest, which is located in the Bashkortostan region, was attacked by Ukrainian drones.

Salavat, located about 1,500 kilometers from the front lines in Ukraine, produces 150 types of products, including automotive gasoline, diesel fuel, fuel oil, bitumen, and polyethylene.

Amid the wave of attacks by Ukraine, which were also reported on Russian oil distribution facilities in the Bryansk and Samara regions, Russia has seen growing shortages of some fuel grades due to reduced refining capacity.

RFE/RL's Crimea.Realities reported that gas stations in Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014, were almost completely out of fuel supplies.

In the interview, Zelenskyy further said he asked Trump for additional weapons systems he thinks would pose "additional pressure on Putin to sit and speak."

Volodymyr Fesenko, a Ukrainian political scientist, told Current Time he sees the sale of offensive US weapons to Ukraine as a strong alternative to possible European and US sanctions on Russia.

"It won't be free of charge... But it's a tool that could put pressure on Putin," Fesenko added.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia- us-zelenskyy-trump-drone-attacks/33540655.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 actions and false accusations will not deter our steadfast commitment to Ukraine: UK statement to the OSCE

Speech

Ambassador Holland reiterates that Russia's intensifying attacks in Ukraine show it is not serious about peace. The UK and our Allies will continue to support Ukraine in line with international law.

From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Neil Holland

Published 25 September 2025

Location: Vienna

Delivered on: 24 September 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Russia's unprovoked, premeditated and barbaric attack against Ukraine continues. In breach of the UN Charter and international law. And in contravention of every principle of the Helsinki Final Act.

Each week we have condemned Russia's intensifying missile and drone strikes, which have caused further civilian casualties and destruction of critical infrastructure. Attacks which caused significant damage to the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers, as well as the British Council and EU delegation buildings. Repeated attacks on residential flats and homes as children sleep in their beds. Attacks which are not only illegal and escalatory, but which are inhumane.

Russia claims to want peace in Ukraine. Yet its escalating attacks remain inconsistent with its words. And its actions remain inconsistent with its commitment under the Helsinki Final Act's fifth principle on the "Peaceful settlement of disputes". We absolutely support President Trump and President Zelenskyy's efforts to secure a just and lasting peace. Yet only one party to the conflict - Ukraine - has shown it is the party of peace. Meanwhile, Russia continues to be the blocker, terrorise Ukraine and its people, and act irresponsibly.

Last week, Russia claimed to be at de facto war with NATO, for our support to Ukraine. Yet if you look at the evidence, NATO is standing by its defensive posture whereas Russia is acting provocatively and dangerously. Let me repeat. NATO is a defensive alliance. Its purpose is to protect.

At the same time, Ukraine's security is our security. And lest anyone forget - Russia is the aggressor here; Ukraine the innocent victim. That is why we support Ukraine. As Russia stalls and delays on serious peace talks whilst intensifying attacks against Ukraine and playing fast and loose with European security, we will not stand idly by. We will continue to step up our support to Ukraine to ensure that it has the tools it needs to defend itself and remains resilient.

Russia's actions and false accusations will not deter or distract us from our steadfast commitment to Ukraine. This is in line with the UN Charter, the Helsinki Final Act and the Code of Conduct. Once again, we urge Russia to end its illegal war and return to full compliance with its international commitments.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Without support from his enablers, President Putin would realise peace is his best option in Ukraine: UK statement to the OSCE

Speech

Ambassador Holland explains that support from Iran, DPRK and - most decisively - China, are an important factor delaying President Putin's realisation that he needs to get serious about peace in Ukraine.

From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Neil Holland

Published 25 September 2025

Location: Vienna

Delivered on: 25 September 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Many of us in this room have repeatedly called for Russia to end its illegal and unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Regrettably there continues to be no evidence that President Putin has any interest in a negotiated peace short of Ukrainian capitulation. The reason is clear: President Putin refuses to accept Ukraine's sovereignty and its very existence as a country and a nation.

Kremlin talking points aim to convince us all that a Russian victory is inevitable. But they are wrong. Russia's economy and demography are in long-term decline, and the war - and our response to it - is only hastening this. Eventually President Putin will need to get serious about striking a deal.

Who knows how many lives could have been spared and how much destruction could have been avoided if President Putin had concluded far earlier that peace was his best option. But an important factor in why he didn't was the external support he's received: from DPRK, from Iran and, most decisively, from China.

In desperation to sustain its Military Industrial Complex and its brutal and unjustified attacks on Ukrainian cities, Russia has turned to Iran for drones and ballistic missiles, and to DPRK for ammunition, artillery, and combat troops. In return Russia provides military, economic, and diplomatic support to them both, undermining the global sanctions regimes it is obliged to uphold, and contributing to greater instability in the Middle East and Indo-Pacific. Such reckless behaviour has not only turned the Ukraine war into a global one but further emboldened the regimes in Tehran and Pyongyang.

Russia has benefitted from Iranian drones and missiles, and from using DPRK troops to take heavy casualties on the frontlines. But it is China who remains Russia's decisive enabler.

While China claims to support upholding the territorial integrity of all nations, after three and a half years it has failed to condemn Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine. Beijing's decision to back Moscow politically, diplomatically and economically gives President Putin the confidence he needs to bombard Ukrainian civilians, spread instability and undermine efforts to end the war. It is precisely this backing that has emboldened Russia to increase the risks of "spillover", which China's Deputy Permanent Representative said we needed to contain when speaking at the UN earlier this week.

China is the single largest exporter of Common High Priority goods to Russia, comprising over 85% in the first half of 2025. Credible open-source evidence details the scale of support that Chinese companies are providing to their Russian counterparts in the production of lethal equipment, directly violating China's own export controls. Ukrainian military intelligence has said that the Garpiya one-way attack drone - which is entirely reliant on Chinese components - is being deployed at a rate of roughly 500 a month to attack Ukraine.

China's support to Russia's war machine is decisive. Through the dependency that Moscow has developed with its senior partner, it is undermining European security and spreading instability in this region and beyond.

Madam Chair, in Beijing, while President Putin pondered immortality, his war in Ukraine continued to hasten the deaths of Russians and Ukrainians alike. Without the support of his enablers, President Putin could not continue his murderous campaign in Ukraine and would come to the realisation far sooner that peace is his best option.

Thank you.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Andrii Sybiha held a meeting with Sovereign Order of Malta Grand Chancellor Riccardo Paterno di Montecupo

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

25 September 2025 23:56

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha: "In New York, I had a meeting with Sovereign Order of Malta Grand Chancellor Riccardo Paterno di Montecupo. I thanked the Order for its vital humanitarian mission in Ukraine and steadfast commitment to addressing the consequences of Russia's war. We highly value the recent visit of Grand Hospitaller Josef D. Blotz to Ukraine as a strong expression of solidarity with our people. We greatly appreciate the Order's consistent support on international platforms, advocacy for enhanced humanitarian aid and protection of civilians. Ukraine remains committed to strengthening cooperation with the Order for the benefit of our people."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Address of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha at the UN Security Council meeting on Artificial Intelligence

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

25 September 2025 22:49

Address of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha at the UNSC High-Level Open Debate "Artificial Intelligence and International Peace and Security: Addressing the Complexities, Multifaceted Impacts, and Responsible Use", New York (USA)

Mr. President,

I thank the Republic of Korea for organising this debate. And I am grateful to the Secretary-General and other briefers for their remarks. We recognize both the potential of artificial intelligence and its risks. Probably we in Ukraine experience them more than anyone else. For us, they are literally a matter of life and death.

Artificial Intelligence has changed the nature of war. Its use on the battlefield is rapidly expanding. This technology can help a country defend itself, like it helps us in Ukraine. But it can also be used by an aggressor to kill and destroy, like it is being used by Russia.

Ukraine uses these technologies to develop advanced equipment, including air defense, to improve resilience against Russian electronic warfare, and enhance our capacity to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure. Recently, we have also started testing artificial intelligence in humanitarian demining.

At the same time, Russia has been using these technologies to inflict death and destruction. Moscow also widely uses them as tools for propaganda and undermining trust in democratic institutions in Ukraine and throughout the world.

The development of artificial intelligence marks a new era for the world. From education and the economy to war and peacethis technology will transform the way we do things. But as with any technology, it is not about capabilities, but rather about the intent of those who use it.

In the past, the international community has found ways to counter proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. International legal mechanisms, treaties, and regimes.

But while weapons of mass destruction are difficult to acquire, transfer, and develop, artificial intelligence has no physical borders. Controlling its proliferation among rogue actors is extremely challenging. For example, Russia may share with North Korea or Iran its experience of using this technology on the battlefield in Ukraine. This will immediately elevate security risks for both the Korean Peninsula and the Indo-Pacific, as well as for the Middle East. And this is probably already happening.

We call for a coordinated action to counter threats of criminal regimes sharing defense technology based on artificial intelligence. Free nations must be quicker and more effective. Ukraine stands ready to share its valuable experience and know-how with its allies.

Mr. President,

I will quote what Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said yesterday at the General Assembly hall. I quote, "We are now living through the most destructive arms race in human history  because this time, it includes artificial intelligence. And if there are no real security guarantees - except friends and weapons, and if the world can't respond even to old threats, and if there's no strong platform for international security - will there be any place-left on Earth that's still safe for people?

We need global rules - now - for how AI can be used in weapons. This is just as urgent as preventing the spread of nuclear weapons", end of quote.

At the international level, Ukraine supported a number of important initiatives aimed at strengthening artificial intelligence governance, including relevant UN General Assembly resolutions and political declarations.

We commend the Republic of Korea and other international partners for fostering cooperation in this domain, including within the REAIM process.

Ukraine calls upon all peace-loving states to ensure democratic control over emerging technologies, while holding accountable those who weaponize them to commit crimes.

And last but not least, I want to assure you that my remarks were not written by artificial intelligence.

Thank you, Mr. President.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Andrii Sybiha called on for countering the use of AI by aggressive regimes at the UN Security Council meeting on artificial intelligence

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

25 September 2025 22:36

On Wednesday, September 25, at the UN headquarters in New York, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha, took part in a high-level open debates of the UN Security Council on "Artificial Intelligence and International Peace and Security: Addressing the Complexities, Multifaceted Impacts, and Responsible Use".

During his speech, the Minister for Foreign Affairs stated that Ukraine recognizes the potential of artificial intelligence and feels its risks more than anyone else.

"Artificial intelligence has changed the nature of war. Its use on the battlefield is rapidly expanding. This technology can help a country defend itself, as it helps us in Ukraine. But it could also be used by an aggressor for the purpose killing and destruction, as Russia is doing," the minister said.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs quoted yesterday's speech by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the General Assembly hall:

"I quote: "We are currently experiencing the most destructive arms race in human history - because this time it involves artificial intelligence. And if there are no real security guarantees - except for friends and weapons, and if the world cannot respond effectively even to old threats, and if there is no reliable platform for international security - will there be at least one place on Earth that is truly safe for people?".

According to Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine uses the benefits provided by these technologies to enable the development of advanced weapon systems, improving resilience against electronic warfare, and enhancing our capacity to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure. Recently, we have also started testing AI in demining.

"At the same time, Russia uses these technologies to cause death and destruction. Moscow also widely uses them as tools of propaganda and to undermine trust in democratic institutions in Ukraine and around the world," the minister noted.

The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed his conviction that, as with any technology, it is not about its capabilities, but about the intentions of those who use it.

"But while weapons of mass destruction are difficult to acquire, transfer, and develop, AI has no physical boundaries. Controlling its spread is extremely difficult. For example, Russia could share its experience of using this technology on the battlefield in Ukraine with North Korea or Iran. This would increase security risks not only for the Korean peninsula, but also for the Indo-Pacific region and the Middle East. And this is probably already happening," he stated.

Andrii Sybiha called on partners to take coordinated action to counter threats posed by the exchange of AI-based defense technologies between aggressive regimes. He stated that Ukraine is ready to share its valuable experience and know-how with allies and partners.

"Ukraine calls upon all states to consolidate efforts to ensure meaningful human control over these technologies, while holding accountable those who weaponize emerging technologies to commit crimes. In closing, Mr. President, Ukraine stands ready to continue taking active part in new global initiatives aimed at developing and promoting principles for the responsible use of military AI across the UN system, including within the Security Council," the minister noted.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Andrii Sybiha held a meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada Anita Anand

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

25 September 2025 22:25

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha: "Productive and meaningful meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada Anita Anand in New York.

Ukraine-Canada cooperation remains strong, and I thanked Canada for its support.

We focused on strengthening Ukraine's defense capabilities, synchronizing sanctions on Russia's energy sector, and other steps to increase pressure on Moscow.

I once again commended Canada's leadership in the Group of Seven and the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children. We coordinated further steps in these and other formats".

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Ukraine and Papua New Guinea have established diplomatic relations

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

25 September 2025 21:01

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha: "At the UNGA-80 Ukraine and Papua New Guinea formally established diplomatic relations. I was pleased to sign the relevant Joint Communique with my counterpart Justin W Tkatchenko. For us, this is not just a symbolic gesture, but an important step that opens new opportunities for cooperation. I am grateful for Papua New Guinea's clear and principled support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. We are committed to expanding cooperation in critical areas including global food security, digital technologies, and humanitarian initiatives. Strengthening these ties will contribute to international solidarity, peace, and respect for international law."



NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Andrii Sybiha held a meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lebanon Youssef Raggi

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

25 September 2025 20:12

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha: "Pleased to have a friendly first meeting with my Lebanese colleague Youssef Raggi in New York. I informed about the frontline situation and recent diplomatic contacts aimed at achieving a just peace. We agreed to enhance our cooperation to realise the significant potential of Ukraine-Lebanon relations. We focused on further political dialogue, economic and trade cooperation, as well as cooperation within the international organizations."





NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Andrii Sybiha held a meeting with Secretary for Relations with States of the Holy See Mons. Paul R. Gallagher

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

25 September 2025 19:41

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha: "Pleased to meet Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher in New York. We highly appreciate the Holy Father's constant spiritual support for Ukraine and the Vatican's humanitarian assistance, including care for Ukrainian children. Ukraine is grateful for Cardinal Matteo Zuppi's mission and values the Holy See's engagement in the release of our prisoners of war and deported children. We continue to hope for His Holiness's apostolic visit to Ukraine, which would provide the critically needed spiritual support to millions of believers during the trying time of the full-scale war. Together with the Holy See, we will continue working to alleviate human suffering and advance the cause of peace. I also reiterated our invitation for Archbishop Gallagher to visit Ukraine are a convenient time."





NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Andrii Sybiha held a meeting with OSCE Secretary General Feridun H. Sinirlioglu

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

25 September 2025 19:13

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha: "At the UN headquarters, I met with OSCE Secretary General Feridun H. Sinirlioglu to discuss steps to develop our cooperation and ongoing diplomatic activities to stop Russia's war. I informed the Secretary General about the battlefield situation and emphasized that Russia is the primary obstacle to peace, as it continues to escalate its terror against Ukraine by launching relentless attacks on our cities, deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure and keeping innocent civilians hostage. I also drew attention to the forceful deportation of Ukrainian children by Russia and urgent need to mobilize all possible efforts to bring them back home. Comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine in line with the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act is the cornerstone for the future security architecture in the OSCE area."





NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Andrii Sybiha held a meeting in New York with Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines Theresa P. Lazaro

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

25 September 2025 17:38

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha: "I had a productive meeting with Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines Theresa P. Lazaro in New York. Grateful to the Philippines for its unwavering support for Ukrainian sovereignty, territorial integrity, and commitment to peace.

We are interested in deepening political, economic, and security cooperation for our shared future. We agreed to hold political consultations until the end of this year.

We noted the importance of Ukraine establishing its embassy in Manila. Ukraine is also ready to cooperate with the Philippines in the area of modern defense.

I congratulated the Philippines on its Presidency in ASEAN next year and reaffirmed Ukraine's interest in taking active part in its events and activities as ASEAN observer state and develop trade. We also coordinated our cooperation within international organizations".





NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Effective army supply: MoD, AOZ, and DOT discuss steps toward decentralizing procurement

Ministry of Defence of Ukraine

25 September, 2025, 9:54 AM EEST

Representatives of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and its subordinate bodies - the State Operator for Non-Lethal Acquisition (DOT) and the Defence Procurement Agency (DPA) - reviewed pressing issues in defense procurement, with decentralization as the main priority.

The discussion took place during a round table initiated by the Ministry of Defence and the NGO 'Foundation for Support of Reforms in Ukraine'. The event was also attended by representatives of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the 'Defence Procurement Reform Project.'

The discussion brought together the top graduates of the 'Project 100' program - military procurement personnel who, over three stages of training, demonstrated strong results, mastered the legislative framework, and established effective procurement systems in their units.

Colonel Oleksandr Osadchyi, Acting Director of the Procurement Department at the Ministry of Defence, thanked the 'Project 100' graduates for their conscientious service. He also outlined the main areas of the Department's activities, which include improving procedures for requirements planning, introducing modern digital tools, and strengthening transparency and accountability in procurement processes.

Andrii Sozanskyi, who heads the State Operator for Non-Lethal Acquisition (DOT), provided an overview of its organizational structure and key achievements.

Halyna Litosh, Head of DOT-Chain Implementation, presented the IT system's functionality and shared interim results of the DOT-Chain Defence project - a new module operating as a weapons marketplace for the military, where they can independently order UAVs. She also reported on expanding the range of products to be procured through this module.

The participants additionally addressed the matter of joining military units into framework agreements managed by the DPA.

Reference information: 'Project 100' is an educational and consulting program designed to strengthen the procurement capacity of units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The program was launched in April 2024. Since then, more than 200 military procurement personnel from different units of the Defence Forces have completed the course. In September 2025, over 70 additional participants began their training.

The project is funded with support from the 'Foundation for Support of Reforms in Ukraine' and the Special Defence Advisor, financed by the UK government.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






DOT-Chain Defence: fixed-wing drones now available for order by the military

Ministry of Defence of Ukraine

25 September, 2025, 11:36 AM EEST

Fixed-wing drones are now available on the DOT-Chain Defence marketplace and can be ordered by military units.

"Most of the models are reconnaissance drones. They are designed for long-duration flights and capable of performing a broad spectrum of missions. The range comprises 12 models produced by 8 Ukrainian companies," said Denys Shmyhal, Minister of Defence of Ukraine.

The Defence Procurement Agency (DPA) of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine has contracted these manufacturers to deliver drones both from existing stock and through pre-orders.

"Acting on the Ministry of Defence's assignment, the DPA is further expanding the product range and enhancing cooperation with manufacturers. "In the near future, plans include scaling up the system and expanding the range of available products: other types of drones, including ground robotic systems, electronic warfare (EW) and signals/electronic intelligence (SIGINT/ELINT) capabilities, as well as drone-deployed munitions," noted the Minister of Defence of Ukraine.

DOT-Chain Defence is a weapons marketplace for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, enabling the military to independently select the equipment they require and receive it promptly. Through DOT-Chain Defence, the military can already order FPV drones and bomber drones.

From order to the front line, delivery takes a couple of weeks  and in the fastest cases, just five days.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Yurii Myronenko: Ukraine has become a forefront of high-tech defence solutions and autonomous systems

Ministry of Defence of Ukraine

25 September, 2025, 5:19 PM EEST

Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine Yurii Myronenko delivered a speech at the European Defence Innovation Forum 2025, highlighting Ukraine's pivotal role in shaping the continent's defence-industrial future. In his address, he emphasised that in the context of full-scale war, innovation has become essential for survival.

"Ukraine has become a forefront of game-changing solutions: high-tech defence systems and autonomous technologies. The nature of warfare in Ukraine is constantly evolving  and it is our ability to adapt faster than the enemy that defines our advantage," said Yurii Myronenko.

He underscored that Ukraine has evolved from a consumer of defence products into a partner indispensable to European security.

The Deputy Minister outlined successful initiatives, including 'Build with Ukraine' and 'Build in Ukraine', which establish a new model of cooperation. These programmes enable European partners to gain access to technologies proven in real combat conditions, while allowing Ukraine to attract critical resources for scaling up production. Yurii Myronenko noted that Dutch investments in Ukrainian technologies, including interceptor drones, contribute to saving lives and strengthening Ukraine's resilience.

The Deputy Minister emphasised that European investments in Ukrainian technologies represent a contribution to collective security. He thanked international partners for their support and confidence in Ukraine.

The event was also attended by Ruben Brekelmans, Minister of Defence of the Netherlands. The forum brought together representatives of ministries, defence agencies, associations, regional business development agencies, as well as defence companies, investment funds, and startups from the Netherlands and other EU member states.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






We Are Returning Home with an Important Shift in President Trump's Signals on Support for Ukraine - Volodymyr Zelenskyy During a Meeting with the Ukrainian Community in the United States

President of Ukraine

25 September 2025 - 16:01

At the Ukrainian Institute of America, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska met with representatives of the Ukrainian community in the United States.

The meeting, in line with the institute's tradition, began with a moment of silence in memory of all those who have been killed as a result of Russian aggression while defending Ukraine and its independence.

"I want to thank you for this tradition. We have no right to forget all those people who sacrificed themselves, who undoubtedly sacrificed the most precious thing - their lives - so that Ukraine would not simply live, but endure and prevail," said Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The President stressed how important it is to make Ukraine's voice heard and to keep Ukraine in focus even thousands of kilometers away.

"I thank you for the fact that Ukraine is heard - we see and hear it. We see respect for Ukraine, we see flags on the streets of the United States of America and other countries. But above all, on the streets of the country that is crucial for us today in its strategic assistance to endure in this war and to win the war for Ukraine's independence," the Head of State emphasized.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that during this visit to the United States, the Ukrainian team held 34 events, including important talks with U.S. President Donald Trump.

"Undoubtedly, the shift in his signals regarding support for Ukraine is important. And we spoke about many things. First and foremost, this is political support for Ukraine, strategic support for Ukraine - what will be in the future. But equally important is the tactical support - what is needed now, to endure. It is important that we are returning home with this," the President of Ukraine said.

He spoke about joint efforts with U.S. and European partners to strengthen sanctions against Russia, including secondary sanctions.

"We support the proposals of the United States of America to maximize the blocking of the use of the Russian Federation's energy resources by other, third countries," the Head of State noted.

The President also shared details of advancing cooperation with the United States under various agreements, including on minerals, drones, and arms procurement.

Additionally, Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented Metropolitan Borys (Gudziak) with the Order of Merit, I class.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Volodymyr Zelenskyy Met with Representatives of Leading American Companies in New York

President of Ukraine

25 September 2025 - 15:04

In New York, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with representatives of leading American companies, including the presidents and CEOs of Bank of America, Amazon, Chemours, Citi, CRH, Fairfax, Fluence Energy, GE Vernova, Hogan Lovells, Jacobs, JPMorgan Chase, Lazard, Logistics Plus, Marsh McLennan, Parsons, TechMet, Velta, VEON, and Westinghouse.

Several of the companies represented at the meeting have a long history of collaboration with Ukraine, providing equipment and technology as well as making investments.

The Head of State thanked the United States for its support of Ukraine. The President emphasized that the head of Russia does not want to end the war, which makes it crucial to remain strong to compel him to the negotiating table.

"Being strong means, first and foremost, having a strong economy and a favorable business climate. We are very grateful for your investments and for American business. We are proud to have so many American companies present in our country," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The President noted that the United States-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund has already been launched under the minerals agreement between Ukraine and the United States, with initial contributions amounting to USD 150 million. There is clarity on which projects will move forward. This offers a solid foundation to strengthen investment cooperation.

The Head of State highlighted Ukraine's strong partnership with the International Monetary Fund and ongoing reforms on the path toward European Union membership.

One of the main focuses of the meeting was preparations for winter amid intensified Russian attacks. Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that strengthening air defense is a top priority, and Ukraine received positive signals from the U.S. President and his administration during the September 23 meeting. Our state also has robust drone production and over 300 technology companies.

"I believe this represents a new direction for our business and economy in the future. Around 30 major companies are willing to become partners. And I think this year we will open exports of our new technologies only to countries we can rely on - that is, not to enemies or those closely linked with them," the Head of State said.

According to the President, Ukraine will establish export platforms in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East, and has already received a corresponding proposal from one country in Africa.

The meeting also included detailed discussions on all potential for greater American investment in Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that preparations are underway for Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko's visit to the United States for more focused talks with businesses, institutions, and companies.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Volodymyr Zelenskyy Discussed Areas of Support for Ukraine With Representatives of the American Jewish Committee

President of Ukraine

25 September 2025 - 14:33

At Ukraine's Permanent Mission to the UN, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with representatives of the American Jewish Committee.

"Thank you for your support and for your voices speaking up in the United States. This is extremely important. I am grateful for bipartisan support and for the backing of President Trump," the Head of State said.

The President also wished those present a happy Rosh Hashanah and hoped that this year would bring peace.

The meeting focused on continued support for Ukraine and defending Ukrainian interests at the federal level and in the U.S. Congress.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that bipartisan and bicameral support is crucial for Ukraine, particularly regarding strengthening defense capabilities, sanctions policy, and investment activity.

Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, the American Jewish Committee has focused its efforts on assisting Ukrainians forced to flee their homes, running information campaigns to counter Russian propaganda, and advancing Ukraine's integration with Euro-Atlantic institutions.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






The President Held a Meeting With a Bipartisan, Bicameral Delegation of the U.S. Congress

President of Ukraine

25 September 2025 - 13:54

At Ukraine's Permanent Mission to the UN, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with a bipartisan delegation of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives: Chris Coons, Mark Kelly, Richard Blumenthal, Joe Wilson, Gregory Meeks, and Young Kim.

"We are deeply grateful for bipartisan support through all these years. We are thankful to the American people and to the President. Yesterday we had a good conversation," the Head of State noted.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared that at his meeting with the U.S. President, the focus was on strengthening Ukraine and on how to end the war.

"All of us will have questions, but above all, I think we want to hear how we can help - with financing, with weapons, with intelligence," Chris Coons said at the start of the meeting.

The Head of State briefed the delegation on the situation at the front and the weapons Ukraine needs for its defense. The top priority remains air defense and a reliable shield over Ukraine.

The President also noted that this year Ukraine will introduce a UN resolution condemning the abduction and deportation of children. Volodymyr Zelenskyy added that our country counts on U.S. support for this endeavor.

"Senator Graham and I introduced legislation that designates Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism if it does not return the abducted children," Richard Blumenthal said.

The meeting also addressed the importance of strengthening sanctions against Russia, using frozen assets, and further developing cooperation with the United States, particularly in the context of a minerals agreement.

"This is an area I pay a lot of attention to. And in our House Foreign Affairs Committee last week, we secured additional support, including expanding partnerships on mineral security. I think this, again, will be an excellent way for our countries to truly provide this support," Young Kim stressed.

Members of the delegation emphasized that this meeting once again demonstrates the steadfast bipartisan, bicameral support of the United States for Ukraine.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Minister Anand meets with Ukraine's foreign minister at United Nations General Assembly

Global Affairs Canada

Readout

September 26, 2025 - New York City, New York - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, met yesterday with Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs, to discuss Canada's continued support for Ukraine in the face of Russia's ongoing war of aggression.

Minister Anand reaffirmed Canada's role as co-chair, alongside Ukraine, of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children and commended Ukraine's leadership in advancing the human dimension of the war. The ministers discussed next steps to sustain global momentum and coordination to ensure the safe return, rehabilitation and reintegration of Ukrainian children.

The ministers reviewed efforts to intensify economic pressure on Russia, including freezing Russian assets and the coordination of enhanced sanctions. Minister Anand reaffirmed Canada's commitment to contribute meaningfully to the Coalition of the Willing and explore opportunities for further collaboration.

Throughout the discussion, Minister Anand emphasized the vital role of collaboration in obtaining tangible results. She reinforced Canada's commitment to working with Ukraine and its partners to put an end to Russia's aggression and support recovery.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






United Kingdom increases contribution to Ukraine Energy Support Fund to EUR 150.6 mn

Ukraine Government

Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, posted 26 September 2025 17:07

The United Kingdom is contributing an additional EUR 48.7 million to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund, raising its total contribution to EUR 150.6 million.

The grant funds from this tranche will enable a range of measures to strengthen Ukraine's energy resilience, including the repair of critical energy networks, protection of key energy assets, and support for renewable and decentralized energy solutions.

"The support of our partners is particularly significant as we approach the new heating season. As part of our winter preparations, we are conducting scheduled repairs at energy facilities, installing additional generating capacities, preparing electricity transmission and heating systems for peak loads, and building reserves of backup equipment. We thank the United Kingdom for its latest contribution to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund, which will allow us to implement these tasks and strengthen the country's energy security overall," emphasized Ukraine's Energy Minister Svitlana Grynchuk.

"I am fully aware that the UK's support is steadfast and stronger than ever because we understand the long-term threat to security and stability that russian aggression poses not only to Ukraine but to the whole of Europe and to all of us here in the United Kingdom," said UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper during her recent visit to Kyiv.

"We warmly welcome the UK's new contribution as vital support for Ukraine's resilience and a powerful message of commitment, highlighting the UK's priority in strengthening energy security. It enhances the Fund's role and expands its capacity to ensure rapid response alongside comprehensive modernization of Ukraine's energy system. We are proud to stand together with Ukraine and the United Kingdom," stressed Artur Lorkowski, Director of the Energy Community Secretariat.

Since its launch in April 2022, the Ukraine Energy Support Fund has mobilized over EUR 1.25 billion from more than 33 donors. Contracts have been concluded with 60 energy companies across 21 regions of Ukraine.

The Energy Community Secretariat, which coordinates the Fund's operations, urges donors to follow the UK's example and increase their contributions, as the current funding gap between available resources and priority needs exceeds EUR 600 million.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova's comment on the Ukrainian crisis

26 September 2025 14:57

1584-26-09-2025

The neo-Nazi Kiev regime continues to carry out terrorist attacks against innocent civilians and civilian facilities.

On September 15-24, over 170 Russian civilians have been injured in shelling attacks and drone strikes; 27 of them, including a child, have died, and there are eight minors among the 159 wounded. The following are facts about the Ukrainian armed forces' crimes.

Belgorod Region. On September 19, a woman was injured in a Ukrainian drone strike on an apartment house in Gruzskoye. On the same day, drones attacked a lorry and a civilian car in the suburbs of Otradovka and Krasnaya Yaruga, killing one civilian and wounding two. On September 20, one person was seriously wounded in the explosion of a drone in Krasnaya Yaruga. On September 21, a woman was killed in the shelling of Shebekino, and two people were killed and 11 wounded in the villages of Rakitnoye, Proletarsky, Saltykovo, Varvarovka and Novoleninskoye. On September 22, a girl aged 8 and a boy aged 12 were wounded in a drone attack on a car in Severny. On September 22 and 23, one person was killed and at least 13 people were wounded in shelling and drone attacks on Belgorod.

Bryansk Region. On September 23, Ukrainian FPV drones attacked Suzemka, wounding a civilian.

Donetsk People's Republic. On September 19-22, 13 people, including a 3-year-old girl, were wounded in drone attacks on Gorlovka.

Zaporozhye Region. On September 19, two people were wounded in a drone attack on a refuelling station in Energodar. On September 21, two civilians were killed and 14 people, including a baby born in 2024, were wounded in a massive artillery shelling of an apartment house and the private residential sector of Vasilyevka. On September 22, Ukrainian drones again attacked Energodar, wounding one civilian. On September 23, the Ukrainian armed forces targeted the critical infrastructure of the Zaporozhskaya Nuclear Power Plant, damaging the last Dneprovskaya external high-voltage power line that transmitted electricity to the plant. The Zaporozhskaya NPP has been switched to reserve generators.

Kherson Region. On September 20, three elderly civilians were injured in a drone attack on a car in Novaya Zburyevka. On September 21-22, five people were wounded in Ukrainian shelling attacks. On September 23, the Ukrainian neo-Nazis attacked the local district hospital and an ambulance in Novaya Zburyevka, wounding three local residents who were in the ambulance.

Kursk Region. On September 19, one person was killed and seven were wounded in targeted Ukrainian drone attacks on Amon, Dubovitsa and Kalinovka, an area near Khomutovka and the Yanko-Makeyevo route. On September 21, an 18-year-old girl riding a moped was seriously wounded in a drone attack in Krupets. On September 22, a Ukrainian drone attacked a private house in Peschanoye, wounding a 68-year-old woman. On September 23, two elderly people were wounded in a drone strike on a civilian vehicle in the homestead Zvyagin.

Lugansk People's Republic. On September 20, a Ukrainian drone targeted an apartment house in Rubezhnoye, wounding a 12-year-old girl. On September 21, a Ukrainian drone attacked a refuelling station in Pervomaisk, killing two civilians.

Samara Region. On September 20, four civilians were killed and one was wounded in drone attacks on civilian facilities.

Saratov Region. On September 20, Ukrainian drones damaged two apartment houses in Saratov, wounding a woman.

Republic of Crimea. On September 21, Ukrainian terrorists launched drones armed with high-explosive bombs against a resort area and a school in the town of Foros, killing three and wounding 16 people, including a 12-month-old child. During the terrorist attack, children were celebrating a birthday party. A video of children frightened by the sound of drones hitting the building's walls is available online. The school's assembly hall has been ruined and its library damaged.

The Krasnodar Territory. On September 24, the Ukrainian armed forces used unmanned surface vessels (USV) and FPV drones in a deliberate attack on the centre of Novorossisk, killing two civilians, including one child, and wounding 11, including two children. Another three persons were treated on outpatient basis. Seven residential houses, a hotel, the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) office, and 20 automobiles were damaged. On the same day, Ukrainian drones attacked the city of Tuapse, leaving two victims, including a minor.

According to a CPC statement, the Consortium includes major energy companies from Russia, the United States, and Kazakhstan, as well as a number of West European countries, and is currently an active conduit for interaction with Western companies.

The CPC's main production objective is pipeline transportation of oil that international consortiums produce at Kazakhstan's three main fields: Tengiz, Kashagan, and Karachaganak. In 2024, the amount of oil pumped through the Tengiz-Novorossisk pipeline approached 63 million tonnes, with foreign consignors, the biggest of which are Tengizchevroil, ExxonMobil, KazMunaiGas, Eni, and Shell, accounting for 74 percent of that volume.

The CPC plays an important role in ensuring global energy security and implementing economic interests of participating countries, something that is unanimously recognised by all CPC shareholders and the leaders of member countries.

Having committed a terrorist attack on the CPC, the Kiev regime demonstrated that it actually ignores third-country efforts, including efforts undertaken by countries represented at the CPC, to overcome the crisis in interstate relations by peaceful means. The Kiev regime also demonstrates disdain for the state leaders who are personally involved in fine-tuning the peaceful dialogue.

Let us stress once again that the attack on the CPC is a signal to the EU leadership that should not be surprised seeing the Kiev regime increasingly hone its terrorist skills in assaults on their airfields, oil bases, and gas pipelines.

Russian courts continue passing sentences on Ukrainian neo-Nazis.

For crimes against civilians and Russian servicemen in the Kursk Region, long prison terms have been awarded to the following AFU POWs: Viktor Manita (16.5 years); Yevgeny Golubnichy, Vladislav Gorkun, Artyom Demchenko, Maxim Surma, Oleg Pasenko, Nikolay Samsonov, Andrey Shevchuk, Alexander Simonchuk, Vladislav Reika, Sergey Shepotko, and Nikolay Koval (16 years each); Dmitry Karanfilov, Dmitry Kovalenko, and Vladimir Koval (15 years each); Roman Frizpaliy, Arkady Miroshnik, and Denis Denisenko (14 years each).

Roman Boiko, commander of an air reconnaissance and drone adjustment platoon of the 44th Detached Mechanised Brigade, who gave illegal orders, in 2024, to drop grenades and self-made explosive devices on civilian cars in order to prevent civilians from leaving the city of Sudzha or being evacuated from there, has got a life sentence. As a result of war crimes committed by him and his subordinates, two civilians died and six received injuries.

A deserved punishment for shooting and killing civilians in Mariupol in March 2022 has found Azov militants Nikolay Gurtovsky and Bogdan Belinov, who have been sentenced to 22 and 23 years imprisonment, respectively.

US mercenary Andrus Michael James Danganan has been sentenced to a 14-year prison term in absentia.

The Kiev regime continues demanding money to sustain the ongoing conflict.

On September 17, during a joint press conference in Kiev with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, President Zelensky stated that a year of war costs Ukraine $120 billion. According to him, only $60 billion - equivalent to 27.2 percent of GDP - is included in the draft budget for 2026, while the remaining $60 billion will still need to be "sourced."

IMF experts added fuel to the fire, reporting - according to Bloomberg - that Kiev is allegedly underestimating its external financing needs over the next two years by $10-20 billion. The Bankovaya administration reportedly took these "recommendations" into account. At a Verkhovna Rada session, Ukrainian Finance Minister Sergey Marchenko estimated that the budget will require over $45 billion in international financial assistance next year. Additionally, at an informal meeting of heads of relevant EU agencies in Copenhagen on September 20, he effectively urged Brussels to allocate around 100 billion to Kiev for the period 2028-2034.

The Kiev elite, mired in corruption and accustomed to dependency, shamelessly seeks to shift the burden of the costs of the war "until the last Ukrainian" onto its European allies, cynically disregarding the growing social and economic problems in their countries.

Despite a failed attempt to assume control of national anti-corruption institutions and the West's harsh reaction to this, the Zelensky regime remains determined to subordinate these structures to its authority. Bankovaya Street appears to be following a familiar strategy: hunting for the alleged "Russian trace" among employees of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO). Criminal cases are being fabricated against investigators who have come closest to exposing major corruption, accusing them of "criminal" ties to Russia, "treason," and "espionage."

As part of this witch-hunt campaign, fugitive Verkhovna Rada deputy Fyodor Khristenko was detained and extradited to Ukraine. There is no doubt that the necessary testimony will be beaten out of him for a further purge, with the help of the Security Service of Ukraine, of the ranks of obstinate anti-corruption fighters who threaten the regime.

In fact, the NABU, SAPO, and some public organisations funded by Western grants remain the last few political institutions beyond Vladimir Zelensky's direct control. He apparently views them as potential tools that could be used by his opponents to overthrow the regime. Mass youth protests in support of the NABU and SAPO across the country in July demonstrated that such fears are not unfounded.

On September 19, the BBC Ukrainian Service, citing the State Migration Service of Ukraine, reported that the country's population has fallen to 28.7 million people, nearly half of what it was at the moment of the declaration of independence in 1991, when the former Ukrainian SSR had around 52 million inhabitants. This decline shows no signs of slowing. Moreover, the outflow of Ukrainians abroad has accelerated amid worsening conditions in the country and stricter mobilisation measures. Since the lifting of the travel ban for 18- to 22-year-olds on August 26, increasing numbers of young professionals, university and school students have been leaving for permanent residence in Europe. Ukrainian media reports that roughly 600,000 young men have already resigned from their jobs and are preparing to emigrate, with little intention of returning voluntarily.

It looks like concerns over a potential shortage of "cannon fodder" for the Ukrainian Armed Forces are causing serious unease at Bankovaya Street. It cannot be ruled out that behind the scenes Vladimir Zelensky is asking his Western handlers to help Kiev bring back potential recruits who have settled in Europe and other overseas locations. Discussions on this issue have reportedly taken place in several EU countries, but no decisions have yet been made.

In this context, we have taken note of media reports about Canada tightening the rules for Ukrainian citizens applying for residence permits. Ukrainian male seekers of a better life are now required to provide proof of military service. Moreover, Ukrainians already living in Canada have begun receiving notifications from local authorities, requiring them to confirm, within seven days, that they have no intention of evading military service.

On September 16, the EU Council unveiled plans to end the programme offering temporary protection to Ukrainian refugees, framing it as a move to ensure their "sustainable return to their homeland." The message, particularly for Ukrainians of mobilisation age, is clear: they must regularise their status by securing standard EU residence permits based on work, self-employment, education, or family circumstances. Those who fail to do so will lose their temporary protection and be required to leave the EU.

In short, Kiev's loyal allies have begun openly assisting the Zelensky regime in its ruthless mobilisation campaign, effectively continuing the war "to the last Ukrainian."

On September 14, Linguistic Ombudsman Yelena Ivanovskaya made a revealing statement in a local media interview, asserting that Kiev remains a Russian-speaking city - a fact she framed as a "serious problem." However, the most telling part came when Ivanovskaya admitted that her own daughter runs social media accounts in Russian because, otherwise, no one in their Russian-speaking circle would read her posts. This is nothing short of "zrada zradnaya [treacherous betrayal]." In damage-control mode, Ivanovskaya swiftly tried to justify this "misstep" by blaming young people for "lacking critical thinking" and resisting adult guidance. She further accused Russian bloggers of being "very well versed in developmental psychology," claiming they therefore "deftly hook" Ukrainian children.

On September 19, Ivanovskaya's spokesman, Igor Spiridonov, echoed his boss by declaring that the Russian animated series Masha and the Bear, along with Russian-speaking performers, constitute a threat to Ukraine's national security. He claimed that Ukrainian citizens have allegedly been anticipating a ban on Russian content for some time.

The irony is striking. At the end of August, the Ukrainian public organisation Detector Media published a study showing that the majority of the ten most popular children's YouTube channels were Russian-language, with the cartoon series Masha and the Bear dominating all popularity ratings. One might recommend that Mr Spiridonov listen to the voice of the people.

The Russian language also appears to be a source of fear for Lvov deputies and bloggers. They have sounded the alarm over the city's alleged rapid Russification, which they blame on immigrants from the eastern regions - often perceived by local Nazis as "Untermenschen," or "second-rate Ukrainians."

As a proposed solution, City Council deputies plan to develop programmes that "strengthen the standing of the state language" by introducing new restrictions and continuing the persecution of citizens who speak the "wrong" language. In a revealing example, Lvov blogger and self-styled defender of the state language, Yekaterina Lutsyshyn, boasted that her children consider Russian-speaking peers to be enemies, referring to them as "second-rate."

In modern Ukraine, such Nazi views are a source of pride, not shame - as would be the case in any healthy society.

Language-related scandals have long become an everyday reality in a country which has elevated to the level of state policy efforts to demonise the Russian language - a mother tongue for millions of people. Dazed by all this anti-Russian propaganda and with so much exposure to what the Nazi-leaning opinion leaders have been telling them, people have been harassing their compatriots for using what they now view as a wrong language during their commutes, in the services sector, as well as in other public spaces.

All this demonstrates that people in Ukraine have unwillingly become part of an inhuman social experiment with those in power seeking to alter their linguistic identity by preventing them from using their mother tongue, pitching people within the same country against one another and using the language to identify friends and foes, and set them apart. However, it turned out that this forced Ukrainisation with its bans, fines and renaming of various sites failed to make people forget the Russian language. On the contrary, it made it even more popular among young people. What a paradox.

The Vladimir Zelensky regime views culture as a separate battlefield against Russia. This is why it has been seeking to cancel everything Russian not only in Ukraine, but also beyond its borders by professing hypocritical accusations against our country of trying to erase the Ukrainian identity and destroy national memory at its core. It accused Russia of destroying over 2,000 cultural institutions, cultural heritage sites, pillaging museums, etc.

At the same time, Ukrainian officials have been targeting Russian artists with sanctions. In August 2024, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andrey Yermak, said that Russian artists and cultural figures had to be prevented from "making money in the civilised world or continuing to promote Russian culture in Europe and in the West."

The fact that the Government of Ukraine designated culture as one of its key priorities in the September 10 programme of action was not a coincidence. This document stresses that culture has emerged as a key tool for resisting and preserving the Ukrainian national identity, reinforcing social cohesion, restoring trust and strengthening national security. The document goes on to affirm that Ukraine is facing what it refers to as a cultural genocide on Russia's behalf.

Kiev wants to achieve the desired outcome by constantly coordinating its positions with its Western partners regarding Russia as an aggressor state, i.e., by cancelling our country's culture altogether, while promoting initiatives to "de-colonise and de-imperialise" Ukraine's cultural landscape and heritage and elevate the Ukrainian language.

The lack of financial resources and manpower could prevent them from delivering on this far-reaching agenda. However, Tatyana Berezhnaya, who was reappointed as minister of culture in July, persists in her efforts. She is committed to attracting external resources for the activities she oversees. To achieve this aim, she came up with an idea of convening what can be described as a cultural Rammstein-format meeting. Once again, Kiev will beg its sponsors to through more cash its way. This time, it will use these funds for exterminating something that cannot be either conquered or defeated - the great Russian culture which commands the prestige and respect it deserves around the world. This goes beyond good and evil. Paranoia has become a trademark for those in power in Kiev.

All these facts confirm that the goals to de-Nazify and de-militarise Ukraine remain relevant, along with efforts to eliminate threats coming from its territory. Make no mistakes, these objectives will be achieved.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Moscow Mechanism Report to address treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war by the Russian Federation: Joint statement to the OSCE, September 2025

Speech

UK and 40 other countries condemn Russia's treatment of Prisoners of War, including widespread and systematic torture and ill treatment of POWs

From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Ms Monique de Ruijter, Permanent Representative of the Netherlands to the OSCE

Published 26 September 2025

Location: Vienna

Delivered on: 25 September 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

Chair,

I am delivering this statement on behalf of 41 participating States: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and my own country, the Netherlands.

Being gravely concerned about violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law following Russia's full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine, including with regard to ill-treatment of Ukrainian Prisoners of War (POWs), our delegations invoked the Moscow Mechanism on 24 July 2025.

We requested that ODIHR inquire of Ukraine whether it would invite a Mission of experts to establish the facts and circumstances surrounding possible contraventions of relevant OSCE commitments; violations and abuses of human rights; and violations of international humanitarian law, including possible cases of war crimes and crimes against humanity, related to the treatment of Ukrainian POWs by the Russian Federation.

We also requested that the Mission of experts would consolidate, and analyze this information, including to determine if there is a pattern of widespread and systematic torture, ill-treatment and execution of Ukrainian POWs and soldiers hors de combat and/or at detention facilities by the Russian Federation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and in Russia.

Finally, we requested that the Mission of experts would offer recommendations on relevant accountability mechanisms.

We are very grateful to the Moscow Mechanism experts, Prof. Dr. Veronika Bilkova, Professor Herve Ascensio, and Professor Mark Klamberg, for producing such a thorough and professional report. It is clear that the Mission's findings confirmed our serious concerns.

The report states that the Russian Federation systematically denies combatant status to members of the Ukrainian armed forces, and those hors de combat POW-protection, designating them instead as - and I quote - "persons detained for countering the special military operation." End of quote. The same designation is used for detained Ukrainian civilians. This blurs the line between POWs and civilian detainees, subjected to different legal regimes under international humanitarian law, and opens the door for criminal prosecution of POWs for mere participation in hostilities.

Further, the Mission documented a high number of arbitrary killings and executions attributable to the Russian Federation, occurring both on the battlefield and in detention. The report states that these executions often follow upon surrender, that public statements by Russian officials encourage summary executions and foster impunity, and that the arbitrary killings in detention demonstrate a widespread and systematic pattern.

The Mission states that Ukrainian POWs detained by the Russian Federation are subjected to widespread and systematic torture and ill-treatment. These abuses occur throughout the entire captivity process - upon capture, at intake into detention facilities, throughout internment and to coerce confessions. The available evidence suggests that torture and ill-treatment of Ukrainian POWs is a pervasive practice, directed or tolerated by the central authorities of the Russian Federation.

Worryingly, the experts concluded that conditions of detention frequently fall below international standards, with overcrowding; unsanitary facilities; inadequate food, water, shelter and medical care; exposure to contagious diseases, and forced labour under unsafe conditions or frequent transfers between facilities. POWs are routinely denied fair trial guarantees, with coerced confessions, denial of effective legal representation, unfair proceedings, and propaganda-driven "sham trials".

Furthermore, the Mission identified irregularities in the release and repatriation of POWs. The Russian Federation initially failed to prioritize seriously sick or wounded POWs, as required under Geneva Convention III, and it has neglected to establish mixed medical commissions for their release. POW transfers frequently occur under unsafe, inhumane conditions, sometimes resulting in injury or death, including during air or ground transport. A particularly egregious case is the Olenivka penal colony, where systematic violations occurred, including overcrowding, torture, inadequate food and medical care, and forced labour.

Chair,

The Mission has stated its conclusions clearly: - and I quote: "the Russian Federation has engaged in widespread and systematic violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law in its treatment of Ukrainian POWs, including arbitrary killings, torture, ill-treatment, denial of fair trial rights, and unsafe detention and transfer conditions. These violations may constitute war crimes and, in some cases, arguably, crimes against humanity". End of quote.

We are deeply alarmed by the Mission's conclusions and we echo the urgent need for accountability, reparations, and continued international monitoring to ensure respect for the rights of Ukrainian POWs and respect for international law.

Chair,

OSCE participating States have committed that they will in all circumstances respect and ensure respect for international humanitarian law, and that they will ensure that armed forces personnel vested with command authority exercise it in accordance with relevant international law. Moreover, the OSCE participating States have committed that individuals are to be held personally accountable for war crimes and acts in violation of international humanitarian law.

To the Russian Federation, we underscore the recommendation from the report to respect and ensure respect for its obligations under international humanitarian law, and under Geneva Convention III in particular; and to respect and ensure to all individuals within its territory and subject to its jurisdiction the rights recognized in the ICCPR and international human rights law instruments. We call upon the Russian Federation to comply with this recommendation.

We, the invoking states, take note of the Mission's recommendation to other states and the international community and encourage all other participating States to do the same.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Moscow Mechanism report on Russian mistreatment of Ukrainian Prisoners of War: UK statement to the OSCE

Speech

UK calls on Russia to cease mistreatment of POWs, including torture and summary executions.

From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and UK Delegation to the OSCE

Published 26 September 2025

Location: Vienna

Delivered on: 25 September 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)



Thank you, Chair. I deliver this statement in a national capacity, in addition to the joint statement delivered by the Ambassador of the Netherlands.

Today's discussion rightly centres on mistreatment of Prisoners of War. Together with evidence from earlier Moscow Mechanism reports it shows just how widespread, systematic and deliberate Russia's policy to dehumanise Ukrainians has become. Before addressing the report proper however, I wish to reiterate the UK's earlier calls for an immediate end to the forcible transfer and deportation of Ukrainian children and for an immediate end to Russia's practice of arbitrarily detaining Ukrainian civilians. I also take the opportunity to mention the three OSCE civilian staff members unlawfully detained for more than three years now. Once again, the UK calls for the immediate and unconditional release by Russia of our colleagues.

Thank you to all three experts for this independent report on the treatment of Ukrainian Prisoners of War by Russia.

Your report establishes how Russia systematically denies Ukrainian soldiers and foreign volunteers to the Ukrainian Armed Forces status as Prisoners of War and how this denial constitutes a direct violation of International Humanitarian Law. You also describe the human cost of Russian policy. Ukrainian soldiers are deprived of essential legal protections, exposed to arbitrary prosecution (including for lawful acts of war) and the line between combatants and civilians is blurred, leaving both groups vulnerable to abuse and without recourse.

You document torture and inhuman treatment of Ukrainian Prisoners of War at every stage of captivity. Methods include severe beatings, electric shocks, mock executions, sexual violence, forced nudity and psychological humiliation. Moreover, you find that Ukrainian Prisoners of War have been arbitrarily killed and executed. Overall you find that Russian violations may "constitute war crimes and, in some cases, arguably, crimes against humanity".

Since 1975, the OSCE has operated on the basis of shared principles and commitments regarding human rights and fundamental freedoms. Russia's mistreatment of Ukrainian Prisoners of War is of direct and urgent concern to all OSCE participating States. The UK will continue to use all available toolswithin this organisation and the broader international systemto hold Russia to account.

And, in the light of your objective and expert report, the United Kingdom echoes your calls for Russia to halt these violations, to recognise and protect Prisoner of War status, to end torture and executions and to allow international monitoring.

Thank you, Chair.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Comment by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine on Russia's misuse of the IAEA for propaganda and the whitewashing of "Rosatom's" crimes

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

26 September 2025 15:23

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine condemns the so-called "celebrations" organized by the Russian Federation on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of its nuclear industry as nothing more than a sham political spectacle, designed to manipulate the information space and to whitewash Russia's crimes in the sphere of nuclear and radiation safety.

Against the background of Russia's ongoing illegal occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), such "festivities" are especially cynical and deeply offensive.

Of particular concern is Russia's exploitation of the visit of the IAEA Director General to the Russian Federation in connection with this event. Moscow has deliberately instrumentalized the Agency's leadership for its propaganda purposes.

Ukraine views the IAEA exclusively as a mechanism to prevent nuclear risks and insists that the Agency uphold the principles of objectivity, impartiality, and independence without exception.

The State Corporation "Rosatom," which staged the "celebrations," is an inseparable part of Russia's military-industrial machine and a direct tool of occupation of Ukrainian nuclear facilities, above all the Zaporizhzhia NPP.

The criminal interference of Russian occupiers in the functioning of the seized plant poses a direct and immediate threat to nuclear safety in Ukraine, across Europe, and beyond. This constitutes not only a flagrant violation of the IAEA's core principles but also a gross breach of fundamental norms of international humanitarian law.

These so-called "festivities" involving the IAEA Director General took place at the very moment when the human rights organization Truth Hounds released its investigation "Seizing Power", which documents Rosatom's role in managing the occupied ZNPP site and in systematic torture, abuse, and persecution of civilians, including plant employees.

Ukraine demands that Rosatom immediately end any interference in the ZNPP's operations, release all unlawfully detained personnel, and stop exerting pressure on staff, in full compliance with Principle 3 of the IAEA's "Seven Indispensable Pillars."

Ukraine values the IAEA's technical presence at Ukrainian nuclear sites, including the ZNPP, and will continue to engage constructively with the Agency strictly within its mandate.

At the same time, we categorically reject any attempts to legitimize Russia's illegal occupation of Ukrainian facilities through contacts between international institutions and Russian entities.

Ukraine calls on international partners to deliver a stronger, united response to Rosatom's malign activities: to isolate the corporation from international nuclear platforms, terminate joint projects, halt new contracts, block the transfer of technologies and dual-use goods, impose sweeping sanctions on Rosatom, its subsidiaries, and leadership, and restrict imports that fuel its operations.

The only path to mitigating risks is the full restoration of the Zaporizhzhia NPP to Ukraine's sovereign control, the release of all unlawfully detained Ukrainian citizens, and the complete termination of Rosatom's involvement in Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Comment of the MFA on the OSCE experts' report on Russian crimes against Ukrainian POWs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

26 September 2025 11:24

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine welcomes the publication by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) of the Report on Possible Violations and Abuses of International Humanitarian and Human Rights Law, War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity, Related to the Treatment of Ukrainian POWs by the Russian Federation.

The report prepared by the independent mission of experts of the OSCE Moscow Mechanism is a comprehensive international document dedicated to the issue of systematic crimes committed by the aggressor state against Ukrainian POWs.

The refusal of the Russian Federation to cooperate with the OSCE independent expert mission is another evidence of its responsibility for these crimes.

In the report, the mission established that the Russian Federation's treatment of Ukrainian POWs is following:

is widespread and systematic in nature, accompanied by consistent and deliberate actions directed against the defenders of Ukraine;

may constitute the war crime of "ill-treatment of prisoners of war" and the crime against humanity of "imprisonment or other severe deprivation of physical liberty in violation of fundamental rules of international law."

The Mission also documented numerous gross violations of international humanitarian law and human rights:

massive and systematic use of torture, cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, including sexual violence;

arbitrary killings and executions of Ukrainian POWs, including upon the surrender;

deliberate denial of adequate food, medical care, and basic conditions of detention, resulting in deaths in detention facilities;

use of POWs for propaganda, physical and psychological coercion to cooperate, and so-called "trials" in violation of the Geneva Convention III (GCIII).

The findings of the Report could be used within the framework of national and international mechanisms for bringing war criminals of the aggressor state to justice.

Ukraine urges the international community to actively disseminate and use the Mission's findings, as well as to further consolidate efforts to end the Russian Federation's criminal practices against Ukrainian POWs and to secure their exchange on all-for-all principle.

All those who ordered, organized, and carried out war crimes and crimes against humanity must be held accountable.

Ukraine also calls on the international community to increase sanctions pressure on the Russian Federation in order to ensure justice.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Andrii Sybiha Calls on G20 Foreign Ministers to Stand by the UN Charter

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

26 September 2025 00:15

On Thursday, September 25, Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha took part in the Second Meeting of G20 Foreign Ministers, held under the chairmanship of the Republic of South Africa.

In his address, Andrii Sybiha informed the participants about the escalation of the war unleashed by Russia and the risks that Moscow's aggression against Ukraine poses to the world.

"This meeting is taking place against the backdrop of a global crisis - a crisis of security, international law, and justice. If we do not resolve this crisis now, it will only deepen. Everyone in this room will face its consequences, because if we allow international law, security, and justice to be destroyed in Ukraine, no one will be safe anywhere in the world," the Minister noted.

The Foreign Minister emphasized that the involvement of Iran, North Korea, and Russia's support for these regimes threaten stability in the Middle East and Asia. According to him, Russian mercenaries in Africa are looting natural resources, dragging people into war, and bringing destabilization and chaos.

"Worst of all, regimes around the world are watching Russia's actions. If Moscow gets away with everything, others might as well. They can violate international law, seize other people's lands by force, and not face a strong global response. This scenario may look attractive to potential aggressors in other parts of the world. Smaller and less protected countries are especially at risk," he stressed.

Andrii Sybiha underlined that Ukraine respects the UN Charter and seeks to end the war this year, but Russia shows no signs of being ready for a ceasefire, genuine negotiations, or peace. The Minister added that Putin is doing everything possible to prolong the war, escalating terror against Ukrainians and dragging other countries into the conflict.

"If we all take a principled stance of rejecting aggression and war, Moscow will surely hear the voice of the international community. We are not asking you to choose between Ukraine and Russia. We are asking you to stand by the UN Charter. Your position is critically important for achieving peace and has a special impact on Russia," the diplomat remarked.

The Foreign Minister informed his colleagues that Ukraine sees evidence of third states helping Russia circumvent sanctions and will respond resolutely together with its partners. He stated that only joint pressure will force Russia into dialogue and diplomacy.

Andrii Sybiha expressed deep gratitude to South Africa's G20 chairmanship for supporting peace efforts and to South Africa's Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola for his principled stance.

The Minister also thanked all countries that sincerely support a just peace, the UN Charter, and Ukraine's territorial integrity  even when that support is quiet and not public.

"We see and value your principled position. We hope that the issue of a just peace will remain at the center of attention during future G20 events. And we will be very glad to see President Zelenskyy and Ukraine represented at them," he said.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Ministry of Defence and 'Sternenko Community' Charitable Foundation sign Memorandum to support Defence Forces

Ministry of Defence of Ukraine

26 September, 2025, 10:14 AM EEST

The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and the 'Sternenko Community' Charitable Foundation have agreed to cooperate in supporting the Defence Forces of Ukraine.

The Memorandum seeks to consolidate efforts to reinforce Ukraine's defense capabilities, repel armed aggression, and expand cooperation with government authorities and international organizations.

The document was signed by Lieutenant General Ivan Havryliuk, First Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine, and Oleksandr Skarlat, Executive Director of the 'Sternenko Community' Charitable Foundation.

"One of the Ministry of Defence's important tasks is to foster greater transparency in its relations with society. We should more actively involve the proactive Ukrainian community in addressing the current challenges. Together, we can achieve more. These are new opportunities for joint projects designed to promote stronger unity within Ukrainian society and reinforce the resilience of the state," emphasized Lieutenant General Ivan Havryliuk.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Denys Shmyhal and Belgian Minister of Defence discuss defence industry cooperation and Ukraine's defence priorities

Ministry of Defence of Ukraine

26 September, 2025, 12:33 PM EEST

The Minister of Defence of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal, held talks with the Minister of Defence of Belgium, Theo Francken.

The discussion centred on sustaining support for Ukraine and further strengthening bilateral cooperation. In particular, the parties discussed the prospects for joint projects in the defence industry and the establishment of joint ventures.

"We already have agreements that will enable the localisation of ammunition production in Ukraine. At the same time, we stand ready to advance the 'Build with Ukraine' initiative and to launch Ukrainian production facilities in Belgium," stated Denys Shmyhal.

He also outlined Ukraine's defence priorities, with the top priority being the strengthening of air defence systems to protect against russian attacks.

"We discussed in detail the ways of financing Ukraine's defence. The use of frozen russian assets could provide additional resources," emphasised the Minister of Defence of Ukraine.

The Minister of Defence of Ukraine further stressed the need to expand production capacity in Europe. He added that Ukraine, for its part, stands ready to contribute to strengthening security across the European continent.

Denys Shmyhal expressed gratitude to Belgium for its steadfast and strong support.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Anna Gvozdiar: Ministry of Defence and USUBC expand defense partnership

Ministry of Defence of Ukraine

26 September, 2025, 8:08 PM EEST

Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine Anna Gvozdiar held a meeting in Kyiv with Irina Paliashvili, President and CEO of U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC). The parties discussed new forms of cooperation and prospects for engaging U.S. defense companies on projects in Ukraine.

The key topic of the talks was coordination for the DFNC3 defense forum in Kyiv, along with the prospect of holding additional events with leading U.S. defense companiesmembers of USUBCduring the AUSA 2025 exhibition, scheduled to take place in Washington this October.

"The Ukrainian defense industry is open to a new level of partnership with global companies. We see significant potential to deepen cooperation with U.S. defense manufacturers willing to invest in joint projects and help integrate Ukraine into the global defense market," said Anna Gvozdiar.

The talks confirmed mutual interest in expanding defense-industrial cooperation to bolster Ukraine's defense and enhance the integration of Ukrainian enterprises into global markets.

USUBC is a business association that brings together over 240 leading international and Ukrainian companies across multiple sectors, including more than 50 defense and dual-use technology manufacturers.

Since 1995, the organization has actively supported the development of economic and investment partnerships between the United States and Ukraine.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Putin Lies to the Leaders Who Still Talk to Him When He Says That the Occupying Forces Are Achieving Some Kind of Their Goals - Address by the President

President of Ukraine

26 September 2025 - 20:41

I wish you good health, fellow Ukrainians!

Today has been packed with military matters. I received reports from the Commander-in-Chief and the Chief of the General Staff. I also spoke with the Minister of Defense of Ukraine. I thank everyone. I thank all our warriors, primarily in the Dobropillia, Pokrovsk, and Kupyansk areas. It's extremely important that you are delivering results and defeating the occupiers. In just our Dobropillia counteroffensive operation, Russian overall losses have already exceeded 3,000, most of them irrecoverable. This was the area where the Russians aimed to achieve one of the major breakthroughs on the front, but our forces are neutralizing them. And that is important. Putin lies to the leaders who still talk to him when he says that the occupying forces are achieving some kind of their goals. For years now, they have been forced to come up with new and new reasons why the deadlines set for them keep being pushed back. And it is telling that despite everything the world says to Russia, they still respond only with new attempts at assaults and new strikes on Ukrainian cities and our infrastructure. They are truly sick with war - and whether they can be cured is an open question. The only thing that can force this Russian virus of war to stop is strength: strong decisions and strong assistance.

We discussed this in New York with many of our close partners, and, of course, we discussed it with President Trump. President Trump is very well informed about the situation on the front, what the Russians are doing, and how they are trying to deceive everyone. We are discussing with the U.S. specific measures that can stop this war. The solutions exist. It is crucial that the agreements we have reached be implemented. These past few days, the Russians continued to inflict heavy strikes on our cities: Chernihiv, Kharkiv and the region, Odesa and Dnipro regions. They constantly strike the Donetsk region. Kherson is under severe artillery fire and bombing. Russians must be held accountable for all of this. Without a doubt. Today, there were also reports on deep strikes carried out by our forces. Efficiency, drone production and missile production - we will increase output volumes.

I held a Staff meeting, including on contracts in our army: I instructed to expand the contract component. There were also reports from Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service and the Defense Intelligence on Russian weapons production, their industry in general, and the fuel sector. We outlined new tasks. Now is the time when the world sees that Russia has entered a stage where the war will bring more and more problems for the Russian system itself, the Russian economy, and Russian society. The critical point is not to ease pressure on Russia for this war. Sanctions, restrictions on trade with Russia, restrictions on the schemes they exploit and profit from - all of this will work. We expect the approval of the 19th EU sanctions package. We expect steps from the United States. We value President Trump's stance toward those in Europe who still buy Russian oil and continue a policy of dependence on Russian schemes. We hope Hungary listens to a key NATO ally and respects the President of the United States - right now, no one in Europe sees such respect from Hungary. America is ready to fill the European market with energy resources so that no one will even need to look in Russia's direction. The Middle East is ready to work with Europe. Every nation in Europe can become stronger - without Russia.

There was also a report from our military on, frankly, very unusual events along the Ukraine-Hungary border. Our forces spotted drones, and those were reconnaissance drones. I instructed the military to conduct a full check, and if such drones appear again, to respond appropriately for the defense of our state. Ukrainians are currently the best in Europe at defending against any drones. We are ready to share our experience with other nations that need reliable protection against drone threats. Negotiations are underway with dozens of countries in Europe and the Middle East, and we have proposed a strong deal to the United States - one of the most promising. We now see constant incidents with Russian drones in Denmark, Norway, and the Baltic states. According to intelligence, Russia may be using tankers to launch these and similar drones - as platforms for launch and control of drones. And it is not easy to prevent, but it is possible. And this must be learned, it must be built into the relevant capacity.

Today I spoke with the Prime Minister of Denmark, and one of the topics was exchanging details on drones and all these incidents - which are obviously not accidental. Russia is trying to reshape Europe to suit itself - in line with its own vision of life. And that vision is one no European would ever embrace - except, of course, those whom Russia has corrupted. Therefore, counteraction is necessary. Joint action is necessary. Collective defense is possible. I thank everyone who is helping us! I thank everyone who knows that life must prevail!

Glory to Ukraine!

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Mette Frederiksen Discussed the Situation with Drones Spotted over Denmark

President of Ukraine

26 September 2025 - 17:54

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a phone call with Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen.

The leaders discussed preparations for the European Political Community Summit, scheduled to take place in Denmark next week, and coordinated meetings with partners.

They paid particular attention to the situation with drones that have been spotted in Danish airspace three times this week. The Head of State shared details provided by Ukrainian intelligence.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Mette Frederiksen share the understanding that, in light of these incidents, Ukraine and Denmark must coordinate even more closely and increase defense production, as all challenges are best overcome through cooperation.

The Head of State expressed gratitude for Denmark's decision to allocate USD 150 million under the Danish model for drone production in Ukraine.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Russia Kills 4, Including Child, In 'Vile' Air Attack On Ukraine, Zelenskyy Says

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service September 28, 2025

Summary

Russia launched a massive air attack on Ukraine, using nearly 500 drones and over 40 missiles, killing four people, including a 12-year-old girl in Kyiv.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy condemned the strikes as targeted terror and called for tougher global pressure on Moscow.

Civilian infrastructure, including homes, factories, a kindergarten, and a medical facility, were damaged in the attacks.

Russia launched hundreds of drones and several dozens missiles early on September 28 in a massive air attack on Ukraine, killing at least four people including a 12-year-old girl in Kyiv and inflicting damage to civilian infrastructure.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the attack, which comes after the Kremlin warned NATO about taking action over alleged incursions of its airspace, "vile," saying it showed Moscow wants to pursue war, not peace.

"Savage strikes, a deliberate, targeted terror against ordinary cities - nearly 500 attack drones and over 40 missiles, including Kinzhal missiles," Zelenskyy said in a social media post.

"Moscow wants to keep fighting and killing, and it deserves the toughest pressure from the world. The Kremlin benefits from continuing this war and terror as long as it earns revenue from energy and operates a shadow fleet," he added.

Zelenskyy said some 500 drones and 40 missiles were fired at several regions, hitting targets such as an industrial bakery, a tire factory, houses, and apartment buildings.

The 12-year-old girl was one of four killed in the capital, while dozens of others were injured, he added.

Lyudmyla, a neighbor of the girl killed in the attack, told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service that the family had just returned from abroad for the beginning of the school year when their apartment was struck.

"They had such a cheerful little girl -- she did sports, studied English... This is just shocking," Lyudmyla added.

"The Russians have restarted the child death counter," Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv City Administration, said in a post on Telegram.

Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said a medical facility and a kindergarten were also struck. He added that a fire had also broken out at a gas station due to falling debris.

The attack on Ukraine on September 28 also injured dozens in the country's major southern city of Zaporizhzhya. At least three of them are children, regional Governor Ivan Fedorov said.

"Forty-one apartment buildings, 22 houses, and several nonresidential structures were damaged as a result of the enemy attacks," Fedorov added.

Russia's Defense Ministry claimed it had carried out the attack to target Ukraine's military infrastructure. Russian officials have repeatedly denied targeting civilian sites, despite mounting evidence to the contrary.

Dim Prospects For Peace

The strikes come at a time when prospects for peace seem as distant as ever and Russia's full-scale invasion nears to continue into its fourth winter.

A US effort to broker a peace deal has brought little progress. The positions of Ukraine and Russia remain far apart, and US President Donald Trump has so far not succeeded in organizing a trilateral summit or a face-to-face meeting between Russian and Ukrainian presidents.

Meanwhile, international concerns continue to grow that the conflict could spread deeper into Europe after Russian drones landed on Polish soil and Russian fighter aircraft reportedly entered Estonian airspace.

Zelenskyy, in a speech at the United Nations General Assembly this week in New York City, warned the world is in "the most destructive arms race in human history" and urged the international community to act against Russia.

Trump told the UNGA that he believed Ukraine could win back all territory lost to Russia, an apparent shift from his repeated calls for Kyiv to make concessions to end the war sparked by President Vladimir Putin's February 2022 invasion of its neighbor.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-kills-4-young- girl-air-attack-ukraine/33543074.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 Especially Important That the Sanctions Strike Painfully at Russia's Energy Trade and the Entire Infrastructure of Russia's Tanker Fleet - Address by the President

President of Ukraine

28 September 2025 - 20:16

I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians!

All day today, recovery efforts have been underway after the Russian strike - in Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv, Kyiv region, and other regions of our country. The majority of the hits were on ordinary residential buildings and civilian facilities. More than 80 people were injured. Sadly, 4 people were killed, including one child. My condolences to their families and loved ones. In Kyiv, among the affected facilities was the Strazhesko Institute - the Institute of Cardiology - one of the leading medical institutions in our country and across our region in Europe. Two people were killed there, and one of the buildings suffered significant damage. Restoration must be carried out as quickly as possible, and the Government should provide assistance. In total, only in Kyiv, 32 locations sustained damage. The Russian strike on Zaporizhzhia was extremely brutal. Fortunately, there were no fatalities, but in the Zaporizhzhia region alone nearly 40 people were injured last night. All of them are receiving the necessary assistance. I want to thank everyone involved in the rescue operations - all our State Emergency Service workers, EMS, doctors, nurses, police officers, and the municipal services. There were also Russian strikes on energy facilities. Unfortunately, this has already become a traditional Russian tactic - Russia is once again trying to hit Ukraine with a blackout this year. In fact, during these weeks, while the UN General Assembly was taking place, Russia literally used every day, every hour to strike Ukraine. Extremely treacherous strikes. And this is what defines Russia - what they do, not what they say or send out as signals around the world. They have spurned all genuine peace proposals and deserve truly tough pressure. This week, we expect decisions from Europe on such pressure - at the very least, there should be a new sanctions package, the 19th package. It is especially important that sanctions hit painfully at Russia's energy trade and the entire infrastructure of Russia's tanker fleet. Moreover, intelligence now indicates that the Russians are using tankers to launch and operate drones against European countries. This is yet more evidence why the Baltic Sea and other seas must be closed to Russian tankers - at the very least to the shadow fleet.

We also count on strong steps from the United States. We discussed with President Trump what could truly push Russia to change its position and stop the war. The world has tools that can work in a genuinely peace-making way.

Today, I spoke with the President of Finland and thanked him for his support. We coordinated contacts with our partners, particularly with the United States. It is important that we steadily move toward finalizing security guarantees - those measures that can both help bring this war to an end and deter Russia from any further aggression. I also spoke with the Prime Minister of Norway. We discussed today's Russian strike - more than 500 drones, about 350 of them "shaheds," and 48 missiles, including two air-launched ballistic missiles. That is why air defense invariably remains the top priority for Ukraine. I thank partners who are helping. Norway is among them, and it is one of our strongest partners. Thank you, Jonas!

Today, I also spoke with Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary General. We discussed, among other things, our PURL initiative. The initiative is working, providing very active assistance - it is precisely the mechanism that allows us to purchase American weapons with funding from our NATO partners. These include items such as missiles for Patriots and missiles for HIMARS. There are already six countries contributing to PURL: the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany, and Canada. Another six have declared their readiness to join: Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Luxembourg, Belgium, and Iceland. I thank them all! This is what truly helps. This week, we will work with our European friends to implement the agreements on air defense as quickly as possible. Russia will definitely be held accountable for everything it does. Thank you to everyone around the world who is helping Ukraine - our people, our state, and our independence.

Glory to Ukraine!

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






EU Membership Is an Integral Element of Security Guarantees for Ukraine - Ihor Zhovkva

President of Ukraine

28 September 2025 - 10:56

Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Ihor Zhovkva met with the chairs of the European and Foreign Affairs Committees of the parliaments of Denmark, Ireland, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Finland, and Sweden, led by Vice-President of the European Parliament Esteban Pons.

The main topic of discussion was Ukraine's further progress toward membership in the European Union. The parties coordinated their positions to ensure the prompt opening of the first negotiating cluster, as the screening process will be completed by the end of September.

"Membership in the European Union is an integral element of security guarantees for Ukraine. This is the position of the President of Ukraine, and it is shared by European leaders. It is also part of the broader process of restoring sustainable and just peace in Ukraine. That is why our country must receive a clear membership perspective, defined within a timeframe," emphasized the Deputy Head of the Presidential Office.

The parties also agreed that Ukraine's accession to the EU would be mutually beneficial, both from a security and economic standpoint.

Ihor Zhovkva separately thanked the countries that have already contributed to the PURL initiative and urged for expanded assistance within this framework.

In addition, he expressed gratitude for the readiness to provide loans for Ukraine's defense needs under the SAFE instrument, as well as for investments in the development of Ukraine's defense production.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Intensifying threat looms large as UN highlights the world's growing nuclear arsenals

26 September 2025 - The UN Secretary General on Friday warned a high-level meeting in New York focused on ridding the world of nuclear weapons that the threat is only "accelerating and evolving".

26 September marks the International Day which highlights the ongoing scourge of the nuclear arms race - an opportunity for the international community to reaffirm its commitment to nuclear disarmament.

Pledges to disarm, however, have yet to be honoured.

"Nuclear weapons continue to menace our world," said the UN's Chef de Cabinet Courtenay Rattray, delivering a statement on behalf of UN chief Antonio Guterres: "And despite decades of promises, the threat is accelerating and evolving."

Reminding the room of the devastation caused by the atomic bombing of Japan in 1945 by the US, he invoked the hibakusha, the survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki catastrophes 80 years ago, who have "turned their suffering into a call for peace."

'Sleepwalking' into proliferation

He warned, however, that we are "sleepwalking" into a more complex, unpredictable and even more dangerous nuclear arms race.

"New technologies and new domains of conflict have erased the margin for error," said Mr. Rattray, referring to cyberspace and outer space, and technologies like hypersonic missiles and deep-sea drones which multiply the risks of escalation and miscalculation.

"This is not just a crisis of weapons. It is a crisis of memory, responsibility, and courage."

New independent panel

To counter emerging threats, Mr. Rattray announced the formation of an independent scientific panel by the UN to assess the effects of nuclear war and ensure that the "collective response to nuclear risk is grounded in rigorous scientific evidence.

Pointing to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), an international legally binding agreement which aims to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, he said that there exist no "right" conditions for disarmament and that it "will never happen if we keep waiting."

"Disarmament is not the reward for peace - it is the foundation of peace," he stressed.

Countries 'must honour their commitments'

Mr. Rattray asserted that nuclear states must return to dialogue, implement confidence-building measures and ensure nuclear warfare remains in human hands - not artificial intelligence-driven systems.

Addressing the plenary, he added that "State parties must also honour their commitments under the NPT."

Further, he called on all states to ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, which prohibits nuclear testing, and urged the US and Russia to negotiate and reduce their nuclear arsenals.

"These steps alone will not build a world without nuclear weapons. But without them, we surrender our future to fear - and silence the promise of peace."

Potential of nuclear technology to 'serve humanity'

General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock warned of the "complex" dangers nuclear weapons pose, including the risk of them falling into terrorists' hands or the rise of AI on the battlefield.

She stressed that treaties aren't enough - unless states live up to them - and urged a "no first use" policy, as well as shifting resources from the arms race to climate action.

Ms. Baerbock encouraged the international community to think of how nuclear technology can "serve humanity constructively and safely," such as in cancer treatment and environmental monitoring.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






EXOSENS SECURES MAJOR CONTRACT WITH THE SPANISH ARMY FOR 17 000 ADVANCED NIGHT VISION MONOCULARS

PRESS RELEASE

MERIGNAC, FRANCE  SEPTEMBER, 29th 2025

Exosens announces that the Spanish Ministry of Defense, has signed a supply contract of 17 000 night vision monoculars to its recent acquisition NVLS, using Exosens 16 mm 4G intensifier tubes, to be delivered from 2025 to 2028.

NVLS contributes to European sovereignty by reinforcing its industrial capacity as a key Spanish supplier for night vision equipment for dismounted soldiers.

Exosens continue to fully benefit from growing demand in night vision as the strategic supplier to NATO member states and allies of both image intensifier tubes and night vision equipments.





Exosens strengthens its position as a key supplier to Spanish Forces for night vision image intensifier based equipment

Exosens, announces the signature of new contract from Spanish Army for 17 000 monoculars. This contract is the first very large acquisition of the Spanish Armed Forces in recent years to modernize its night vision capabilities within the national context of increasing its defense budget up to 2% GDP.

The Spanish Army had already confirmed its confidence in Exosens through a multi-year contract signed in 2019 with NVLS (Night Vision Lasers Spain) for AN/PVS14 monoculars, then more recently with the delivery of 16mm 4G tubes for 50FOV binoculars for the Spanish Navy and Army.

The Spanish Army has selected the unique wide field of view (50) monocular of NVLS that combines compacity and lightweight drastically improving image size by 60% compared to conventional 40 monoculars. This technological feature ensures enhanced visibility and optimum situation awareness in all conditions by night.

This contract closes the loop for an overall coverage of 16mm 4G image intensifiers in 50 wide FoV monocular and binocular devices within the Spanish Armed Forces, being the first country in the world that adopts universally these modern, high-performance devices.

Exosens: Technology enhancing military performance

Developed by NVLS, the unique optical design with a wide field of view of 40 to 50 offers an increase of more than 60% in the viewing area, with exceptional image quality, all without increasing the weight or dimensions of the device. The optical design is based on hybrid material technology and aspherical lens technology.

Engineered for peak performance in modern night time operations, the 4G P45 white phosphor intensifier tubes deliver exceptional results across diverse field conditions. Boasting extended bandwidth for superior image clarity, rapid auto-gating for swift adjustments, and minimal halo effects around light sources, these image intensifier tubes enhance operational effectiveness. Their high Figure Of Merit (FOM) and heightened sensitivity extend operational range, significantly improving situational awareness for dismounted soldiers and military vehicle drivers alike.

Jorge de la Torre, CEO of NVLS, expressed his satisfaction: We are delighted that the Spanish Army has once again chosen Exosens technology based on NVLS equipment and Photonis image intensifier tubes. This order confirms not only the quality and innovation of our technologies, but also our commitment to provide the best night vision solutions to European Armed Forces.

ABOUT EXOSENS:

Exosens is a hightech company, with more than 85 years of experience in the innovation, development, manufacturing and sale of highend electrooptical technologies in the field of amplification, detection and imaging. Today, it offers its customers detection components and solutions such as travelling wave tubes, advanced cameras, neutron & gamma detectors, instrument detectors and light intensifier tubes. This allows Exosens to respond to complex issues in extremely demanding environments by offering tailormade solutions to its customers. Thanks to its sustained investments, Exosens is internationally recognized as a major innovator in optoelectronics, with production and R&D carried out on 12 sites, in Europe and North America and with over 1,800 employees.

Exosens is listed on compartment A of the regulated market of Euronext Paris Ticker: EXENS  ISIN: FR001400Q9V2. Exosens is a member of Euronext Tech Leaders segment and is also included in several indices, including the SBF 120, CAC All-Tradable, CAC Mid 60, FTSE Total Cap and MSCI France Small Cap..

For more information: exosens.com

Media relation:

Brunswick Group  exosens@brunswickgroup.com

Laetitia Quignon, + 33 6 83 17 89 13

Nicolas Buffenoir, + 33 6 31 89 36 78

Forward-looking statements

Certain information included in this press release are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs, expectations and assumptions, including, without limitation, assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which Exosens operates, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the forward-looking statements included in this press release. These risks include those described in chapter 3 of Exosens registration document approved by the French Autorite des marches financiers under number I.24-0010 on 22 May 2024.

Attachment




LIMASSOL, Cyprus, Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- JustMarkets , a trusted global broker with more than 12 years of industry expertise, is strengthening its presence across the Middle East and North Africa. Serving clients in over 160+ countries, JustMarkets continues to deliver innovative trading solutions that empower traders with tools, insights, conditions, and services tailored to regional needs.

Commitment to Client-Centric Trading

For over a decade, JustMarkets has built its reputation by focusing on transparency, reliability, and accessibility. The company provides a platform where clients can fully focus on performance and trade confidently, supported by competitive conditions, valuable educational materials, services and 24/7 multilingual service.

Swap-Free Islamic Accounts

Understanding the importance of Shariah-compliant finance in MENA, JustMarkets offers Islamic Accounts, fully swap-free and aligned with Islamic principles. These accounts allow Muslim traders to access global markets without overnight interest charges, ensuring fair and transparent conditions for any type of trading strategy.

High Leverage and Tight Spreads

One of the key advantages JustMarkets brings to the region is its flexible leverage up to 1:3000 which enables traders to control a bigger position than initial deposit. Combined with tight spreads, traders can execute strategies across forex, commodities, indices, and stocks with flexibility and efficiency, maximizing their opportunities in volatile markets.

Recognized Industry Excellence

Over the years, JustMarkets has earned multiple industry awards for its innovative approach, customer service, and trading conditions. These awards reinforce the brokers dedication to setting high standards and building trust with its global client base and partners.

Global Reach and Services

With access to MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and JustMarkets Mobile Trading app, clients can trade using advanced charting tools, automated strategies, and a wide selection of diversified instruments. Additionally, 24/7 multilingual support ensures traders across MENA can communicate in their preferred language, making the trading journey seamless.

Traders in the Middle East and North Africa seeking transparency, powerful tools, and conditions built for growth can join JustMarkets today. With localized solutions and global expertise, the company remains committed to helping traders realize their financial potential.

Register now with JustMarkets and experience tailored trading solutions designed for MENA.

Contact Details:

Kardo Dlir Farhan

Regional Marketing Manager

kardo.farhan@justmarkets.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6fb74386-8a1b-4856-80f1-74e7a8851640
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: 26th 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



50,250 269.5 268.5



Ordinary shares



Sales



42,500 269.5 268.5

(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: 29th 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.
MIAMI, Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TrustStrategy, an AI-driven quant investment platform, has released the highly anticipated upgrade to its platform with advanced high frequency trading models and real-time analytics to help investors navigate the complex digital asset markets.





With institutional and retail investors looking for data-driven tools to interpret the shifting quant crypto price signals, TrustStrategys update uses proprietary algorithms and machine learning to deliver faster execution, better portfolio optimization, and more transparency across multiple strategies.

Meeting the Rising Demand for AI-Powered Quant Strategies

With over 9 million registered users across more than 100 countries, TrustStrategy has spent over seven years refining the platform to cater to the diverse needs of investors. The latest update combines machine learning with algorithmic trading frameworks to capture opportunities in milliseconds  a vital advantage in todays financial landscape where price differences can close in seconds.

TrustStrategys AI engine processes millions of data points daily, scanning across exchanges like Binance, OKX, Coinbase, and Gate to identify trading opportunities. The new high frequency trading feature now gives investors access to technology previously reserved for large hedge funds and institutional investors.

Markets are moving faster than ever, and one wrong move can cost you a fortune. By embedding AI and high-frequency trading into its quantitative strategies, the platform enables investors to respond to market changes dynamically. Their goal is to democratize access to institutional-grade tools in a secure and transparent environment.

Product Updates: New Quant Plans and Free Trial

As part of this update, TrustStrategy has added new features to its quant plan portfolio with strategies tailored to different risk appetites and investment goals. Plans include Spot-Futures Basis, Neutral Grid Profits, Cross-Chain Arbitrage, and AI Volatility Capture.

New features include:

AI Price Gap Scanner to find micro-level inefficiencies in real time.

to find micro-level inefficiencies in real time. Liquidity-Weighted Alpha models to balance returns with market depth.

to balance returns with market depth. Multi-DEX Arbitrage solutions that use decentralized exchange liquidity.



New users can try these strategies risk-free with a $100 trial credit and test the platform without any commitment. The trial allows users to see how the algorithms interpret quant crypto price data and execute trades automatically. This helps investors make informed decisions and get familiar with advanced quant strategies.

Transparency and User-Centric Design

TrustStrategy puts security and the user first by implementing multi-layered protocols, third-party audits, and transparent fee structures. With no hidden fees applied, users have full visibility of costs before they use the platform.

Additionally, the company offers 24/7 global support and multilingual assistance to cater to its rapidly growing user base. With transparency as a core principle, TrustStrategy also has a referral and bounty program, rewarding verified user engagement and content creation across platforms like YouTube, Medium, and Reddit.

Looking forward, TrustStrategy aims to expand its predictive analytics capabilities to better anticipate market movements, enhance cross-chain interoperability, and refine strategies that deliver adaptable solutions in volatile environments.

Their mission is to bridge the gap between advanced quant tools and everyday investors. By combining technology, security, and education, they are building a platform that meets todays needs and prepares for tomorrows financial landscape. Try it today with the $100 trial plan .

About TrustStrategy

TrustStrategy is an AI-powered investment platform that transforms raw market data into quantifiable investment strategies. Using advanced machine learning, big data analytics, and proprietary algorithms, the platform provides investors with transparent, secure, and automated solutions to diversify their portfolios and manage risk. With over 9 million registered users and operations in over 100 countries, TrustStrategy continues to innovate by combining cutting-edge technology with a user-friendly design.

Media Contact:

Contact Person: LUIZ ALBERTO

Email: info@truststrategy.com

Location: 801 S Miami Ave, Miami, FL 33130, USA

Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation to buy or sell any investment, nor is it investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. Cryptocurrency trading involves risk, and you can lose money. Please do your own due diligence and consult with a financial advisor before investing or trading in cryptocurrencies and securities.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c38d5c08-0b5e-4f4f-bc47-8b001519c9ff
Dublin, Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Norway Existing & Upcoming Data Center Portfolio" database has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Oslo and Grimstad lead the upcoming data center development in Norway, accounting for over 50% of the total planned power capacity.

Green Mountain is the largest data center operator in the region, followed by Polar DC and Stack Infrastructure.

Most of the existing rack capacity is focused around Oslo. Existing data center capacity in Norway is around 300+ MW at full build. New developments by players like NSCALE, AQ Compute, and WS Computing AS are expanding the market footprint.

This database product covers the Norway data center market portfolio analysis, which provides the following information on colocation data centers:

Detailed Analysis of 30 existing data centers

Detailed Analysis of 14 upcoming data centers

Locations covered: Alvdal, Asker, Gaupne, Gismarvik, Halden, Honefoss, Jorpeland, Kalberg, Kjetsa, Maloy, Oslo, Ovrebo, Rjukan, Skien, Stavanger, Telemark, Trondheim, Undheim.

Existing white-floor space (square feet)

Upcoming white-floor space (square feet)

Current IT load capacity (2025)

Future capacity additions (2025-2029)

Retail Colocation Pricing Quarter Rack (1/4) Half Rack Cabinets (1/2) Full Rack Cabinet (42U/45U/47U/etc.)

Wholesale colocation (per kW) pricing

The data points covered in the database across each facility are mentioned below:

Existing Data Centers (30 Facilities)

Market Snapshot

Location (Region/Country/City)

Facility Address

Operator/Owner Name

Data Center Name i.e., (DC3 or Hobol Data Center)

Core & Shell Area (White-Floor Area)

Core & Shell Power Capacity (IT Load Capacity)

Rack Capacity

Year of Operations

Design Standards (Tier I - IV)

Power/Cooling Redundancy

Upcoming Data Centers (14 Facilities)

Investment Snapshot

Location (Region/Country/City)

Investor Name

Area (White-Floor Area)

Power Capacity (IT Load Capacity)

Investment ($ Million)

Electrical Infrastructure Investment ($ Million)

Mechanical Infrastructure Investment ($ Million)

General Construction Services Investment ($ Million)

Announcement Year

Project Status (Opened/Under Construction/Announced & Planned)

Active or Expected Year of Opening

The major operators/investors covered in this Norway data center market database include:

AQ Compute (Aquila Capital)

Basefarm (Orange)

Blix Solutions AS

BlueFjords

Bulk Infrastructure

Google

Green Mountain

GreenScale

ITsjefen

Keysource + Namsos Datasenter (NDS)

Lefdal Mine Datacenter

NSCALE

Nscale & Aker

Polar DC

STACK Infrastructure

STORESPEED

Telenor

Hafslund & HitecVision

Telia Carrier

TerraHost

Vesper Infrastructure (Terakraft AS)

WS Computing AS (Skanska - Contractor)

Key Topics Covered:

About the Database

Scope & Assumptions

Definitions

Snapshot: Existing & Upcoming Data Center Facility

Existing Data Center Database

Upcoming Data Center Facility

Existing vs. Upcoming Capacity (Infographics)

Colocation Pricing

Target Audience

Data center Real Estate Investment Trusts (REIT)

Data center Construction Contractors

Data center Infrastructure Providers

New Entrants

Consultants/Consultancies/Advisory Firms

Corporate and Governments Agencies

For more information about this database visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/f9jx87

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.
AS Ekspress Grupp clarifies in connection with the article published today in the Latvian portal nra.lv that the Group's Latvian subsidiary AS Delfi indeed had a plan to reduce share capital, but this decision was cancelled on September 19, 2025. This was part of regular group financial structure planning related to the sale of the stake in SIA Altero. The share capital reduction was cancelled and will not take place, as the group decided to use an alternative financial solution. These decisions have no impact on the company's daily operations or financial position.

The share capital reduction plan has no connection with the business dispute with SIA Ekis & Co-Positioning and Consulting. This company has entered into an agreement with Delfi to manage advertising sales for the news portal LA.lv. Delfi has justified concerns regarding the content of invoices presented for advertising sales and has requested verification of calculation methods. This is a business dispute that will be resolved through negotiations or legal channels. This dispute has no material impact on the financial position or operations of AS Delfi or AS Ekspress Grupp.

AS Delfi is an important part of the Baltic region's largest media group. The company's revenue in 2024 was 5.5 million euros with a profit of 594,281 euros. The company fulfills all its contractual obligations, including state-funded media projects.

Mari-Liis Ruutsalu

Chairman of the Management Board

+372 512 2591

mariliis.ryytsalu@egrupp.ee

AS Ekspress Grupp is the leading Baltic media group whose key activities include web media content production, and publishing of newspapers, magazines and books. The Group also operates an electronic ticket sales platform and ticket sales offices in Latvia and Estonia, offers digital outdoor screen service in Estonia and Latvia. In addition, the Group companies organize conferences, trainings and events mainly in Estonia and Lithuania but also in Latvia. Ekspress Grupp launched its operations in 1989 and employs about 1000 people.
HONG KONG, Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GPTBots, a leading enterprise AI agent platform, today announced a strategic partnership with Tellvoice Technology Ltd., Thailand's premier speech recognition company. This collaboration integrates Tellvoice's advanced Thai voice recognition capabilities into the GPTBots platform, enabling Thai businesses to build highly accurate, naturally conversational AI voice agents.





Combining AI Innovation with Local Expertise

This partnership merges GPTBots' no-code AI development platform with Tellvoice's decade of expertise in Thai speech recognition. The integration goes beyond basic speech-to-text functionality, leveraging GPTBots' Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and Multi-Agent technologies to create AI voice agents that understand context, process complex queries, and execute sophisticated tasks autonomously.

In practical applications, such as multi-party customer service calls or complex business inquiries, these AI agents can:

Accurately interpret Thai language nuances and dialects

Access comprehensive knowledge bases and business systems

Deliver precise, contextually relevant responses and solutions



Driving Digital Transformation Across Southeast Asia

"We believe cutting-edge AI technology should serve diverse local markets effectively," said Chris Lo, Founder and CEO of GPTBots. "This partnership with Tellvoice represents a crucial step in our global expansion strategy. We're not simply entering the Thai marketwe're empowering local innovators to drive digital transformation across Thailand and Southeast Asia. Our mission is to eliminate language barriers and enable every Thai business to build world-class AI applications effortlessly."

Transforming Key Industries with Practical Solutions

The partnership will initially focus on delivering tailored solutions across several critical industries in Thailand and Southeast Asia:

Financial Services: High-precision Thai voice bots will manage complex banking inquiries and enhance transaction security through advanced voice biometric authentication.

Tourism & Hospitality: AI assistants fluent in Thai will provide seamless booking services and local information to international visitors, reinforcing Thailand's position as a premier global destination.

Retail & E-commerce: Intelligent voice shopping assistants and automated customer service systems will operate 24/7, significantly boosting customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.

This collaboration marks a new era in Thailand's digital evolution, equipping businesses with powerful AI voice tools to drive innovation and competitive advantage.

About GPTBots

GPTBots is an enterprise AI agent platform that empowers businesses to build, manage, and deploy sophisticated AI agents without coding expertise. By integrating Large Language Models (LLMs), Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) technology, and an extensive plugin ecosystem, GPTBots helps companies automate complex workflows and enhance customer engagement across multiple channels.

About Tellvoice Technology

Tellvoice Technology Company Limited is Thailand's leading speech technology company with over a decade of research and development expertise. The company specializes in commercializing Thai continuous speech recognition research, offering innovative platforms including SimplyVoice for natural user interaction and VoiceNavi for advanced voice command and control systems.

Media Contact:

Ida

Marketing Specialist

marketing@gptbots.ai

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c51041f9-8937-4107-8ee3-2c1a80e00aa6




SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gofaizen & Sherle has completed its first year of operations in El Salvador, delivering measurable results for fintech and crypto businesses entering the countrys regulated digital asset market.

In just 12 months, the firm has guided clients through the licensing process to secure 6 Digital Asset Service Provider (DASP) licenses, representing about 10% of all approved DASPs in El Salvador. With the regulators acceptance rate at only 16%, these approvals highlight the firms effectiveness in navigating one of the regions most selective frameworks.

Alongside this, Gofaizen & Sherle supported companies in obtaining approximately 40 Bitcoin Service Provider (BTC) licenses, expanding the scope of businesses operating legally in the country. Its client portfolio already includes leading international crypto exchanges now active in El Salvador.

Felix Canisalez V., Head of El Salvador Office at Gofaizen & Sherle, commented:

We are proud to be part of El Salvadors growing fintech and crypto ecosystem. We are happy to assist European businesses and clients from around the world entering the Salvadoran market. As regulation in the EU becomes stricter, LATAM  and El Salvador in particular  is emerging as a hub for crypto and fintech projects that want to operate under clear frameworks, stay compliant, and expand across regions.

Local expertise in El Salvador

The companys achievements are backed by its team of 8 professionals based in El Salvador, who combine international legal expertise with a strong understanding of the local market. Their work has been instrumental in delivering large-scale projects and supporting the growth of the countrys digital asset ecosystem.

Gofaizen & Sherle specializes in helping businesses navigate complex legal environments across jurisdictions. By bridging the gap between new technologies and evolving financial regulations, the firm ensures clients can focus on innovation while minimizing compliance risks.

About Gofaizen & Sherle

Gofaizen & Sherle is an international FinTech law firm headquartered in Europe with physical representations in Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Czech Republic, Canada, Dubai, Hong Kong, El Salvador and many others.

The firm provides full-stack legal and business support for fintech and crypto companies worldwide  from company incorporation and licensing to compliance, legal consulting, and business infrastructure setup. Its client portfolio includes hundreds of firms, including crypto exchanges, EMIs, investment funds, and financial service providers. Gofaizen & Sherles services are designed to simplify legal complexity and ensure the effective implementation of business strategies.

Contact:

Gofaizen & Sherle Support Team

info@gofaizen-sherle.com

Disclaimer: This content is provided by Gofaizen & Sherle. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice.Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an "as-is" basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e5946450-ab09-430a-b998-efb37c7620d0
CARLISLE, Pa., Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Organic Remedies, a leading medical marijuana organization, proudly announced today that it has raised $11,000 for Speranza Animal Rescue during its month-long Dog Days of Summer campaign in August. Speranza Animal Rescue, a non-profit and 100% volunteer-run organization, is dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating abused and neglected animals, with the ultimate goal of finding them loving forever homes.

Located on a sprawling 17.5-acre farm in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, Speranza Animal Rescue provides a nurturing environment for animals in need, including pit bulls, other bully breeds, and farm animals that may have been destined for slaughter or euthanasia. The rescue center offers these animals a second chance at life, providing them with proper nutrition, shelter, exercise, and top-notch veterinary care, including long-term medications when necessary.

Speranza Animal Rescue's commitment to saving the most vulnerable animals aligns closely with Organic Remedies' values. The medical marijuana organization, known for its dedication to patient care, raised funds for Speranza through cash donations from patients and by donating a portion of the proceeds from select product purchases.

Eric Hauser, Organic Remedies President, expressed his pride in the dispensary teams for their exceptional efforts in supporting Speranza Animal Rescue. "We are extremely proud of our dispensary teams who went above and beyond to generate funds to support Speranza," said Hauser. "Speranza's mission to help abused and neglected animals is near and dear to our hearts, and we are honored to help this amazing organization. Our sincere thanks go out to our loyal patients for their tremendous generosity during our Dog Days of Summer campaign."

Mikki Clark, Events Coordinator, Speranza Animal Rescue, expressed gratitude for the partnership with Organic Remedies. "We are so thankful for our partnership with Organic Remedies," said Clark. "Their efforts to raise funds for our organization have been tremendous, and we are extremely grateful for their support. The funds raised will go a long way in helping us care for the precious animals at Speranza. We operate entirely on the help of volunteers and donations, and Organic Remedies' contribution will help provide food, shelter, and medical supplies to our four-legged residents."

The check presentation took place September 26, 2025, at Organic Remedies dispensary in Enola, Pennsylvania. The event marked the culmination of Organic Remedies' successful fundraising campaign and highlighted the organization's commitment to making a positive impact in the community.

Organic Remedies and Speranza Animal Rescue extended their heartfelt appreciation to those who contributed to the fundraising effort.

About Organic Remedies

Based in Carlisle, PA., Organic Remedies cultivates, manufactures, and dispenses safe, effective medical marijuana products for certified PA patients. OR is advancing medical marijuana therapies through genetics, collaborative research, and superior patient care. Specially trained pharmacists and patient care consultants deliver a clinical approach for the utilization of medical marijuana that is patient-focused, collaborative and outcomes based. Dispensaries are located in Bethel Park, Chambersburg, Enola, Paoli, N. Pittsburgh (Ross Township), and York.

About Speranza Animal Rescue:

Speranza Animal Rescue is a non-profit, 100% volunteer-run rescue, rehabilitation center, and sanctuary located in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. The organization is dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating abused and neglected animals, with a focus on pit bulls, other bully breeds, and farm animals. Speranza's mission is to provide these animals with a safe and loving environment, as well as the necessary medical care, until they find their forever homes.

CONTACT:

Janice Spurlock

Dir., Marketing and Communications

717-819-3895

J.Spurlock@OrganicRemediesPA.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/84316576-0510-4b51-a0e6-8a90ca4a24c1
Photo exhibition opens in Singapore to mark 35th anniversary of China-Singapore diplomatic ties

Xinhua) 10:06, September 29, 2025

SINGAPORE, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- A photo exhibition themed "Close Neighbors Progress Together" celebrating the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Singapore opened Sunday at the China Cultural Center in Singapore, with a China-Singapore media forum held on the same day.

Jointly organized by Xinhua News Agency Asia-Pacific Regional Bureau, China Photo Service Co., Ltd., and the Singapore China Friendship Association, the exhibition features 71 news photographs that capture major events and precious moments in the political, economic, cultural, and other spheres of bilateral cooperation over the past 35 years.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Singapore Cao Zhongming said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China-Singapore relations have progressed from initiation and deepening to upgrading and leapfrogging, forming an all-round, high-quality and forward-looking partnership.

Mu Liguo, assistant honorary secretary of the Singapore China Friendship Association, expressed the hope for more practical cooperation between the two countries in areas such as youth exchanges, education, science and technology, as well as economy and trade.

Former Singaporean Minister of State Chan Soo Sen said that the exhibition demonstrates the enduring friendship between the two nations and the rapid progress of cooperation in various fields over the past 35 years. He voiced confidence in the future of mutually beneficial and forward-looking collaboration.

During the media forum, media representatives from both countries discussed how the media can further contribute to the advancement of bilateral relations.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Transaction marks Athenes second block reinsurance transaction and eighth transaction with Japanese insurers since entering the market five years ago

Athene crosses $19 billion of reinsurance transaction volume with Japanese cedants, driven by balance sheet strength, growth capital and alignment with Apollo

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa, Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Athene, the leading retirement services company and subsidiary of Apollo Global Management, Inc. (NYSE: APO), has announced that it intends to enter a block reinsurance transaction with Sony Life Insurance Co. Ltd. (Sony Life), a top-rated Japanese insurer. As part of this transaction, Athene will reinsure an in-force block of U.S. dollar denominated whole life insurance policies and will enter into an agreement with leading reinsurer Swiss Re to retrocede all mortality risk associated with the block.

Japanese insurers are increasingly turning to more tailored solutions and flexible capital to enhance their financial strength and advance policyholders goals, said Katie Daly, EVP and Global Head of M&A, Reinsurance and Pensions at Athene. Our retirement and capital expertise put us in a strong position to address needs unique to the Japan market.

Apollo and Athenes growing presence in Japan is a direct result of our differentiated models ability to bring in capital to support Japanese policyholders, said Yasuo Kashiwagi, Head of Japan at Apollo. The combination of balance sheet strength and world-class asset management capabilities fits well with deeper shifts underway in Japan and enables us to provide safe yield solutions to Japanese retirees and savers in an aligned way.

This transaction marks Athenes eighth reinsurance transaction across seven cedents, and second block reinsurance transaction with Japanese insurers since entering the market five years ago. This brings the total transaction volume of Athenes reinsurance transactions with Japanese cedants to approximately $19 billion. Athenes robust balance sheet, strong capital profile, and alignment with Apollo help to make it a partner of choice to the Japanese retirement market.

About Athene

Athene is the leading retirement services company with over $400 billion of total assets as of June 30, 2025, and operations in the United States, Bermuda, Canada, and Japan. Athene is focused on providing financial security to individuals by offering an attractive suite of retirement income and savings products and also serves as a solutions provider to corporations. For more information, please visit www.athene.com.

Contact

Alyssa Castelli

Director, External Relations

+1 646 768 7304

alyssa.castelli@athene.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains, and certain oral statements made by Athene's representatives from time to time may contain, forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results, events and developments to differ materially from those set forth in, or implied by, such statements. These statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of Athene's management and the management of Athene's subsidiaries. Generally, forward-looking statements include actions, events, results, strategies and expectations and are often identifiable by use of the words believes, expects, intends, anticipates, plans, seeks, estimates, projects, may, will, could, might, should, or continues or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements within this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding future growth prospects and financial performance. Although Athene management believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to be correct. For a discussion of other risks and uncertainties related to Athenes forward-looking statements, see its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, which can be found at the SECs website www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements described herein are qualified by these cautionary statements and there can be no assurance that the actual results, events or developments referenced herein will occur or be realized. Athene does not undertake any obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes to future operating results.
Helsinki, Finland, Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Last week, during its 2025 event, Nordic Business Forum unveiled the dates, theme, and first speakers for its 2026 conference, set to take place on September 1617, 2026, at Messukeskus in Helsinki, Finland. The announcement generated massive interest: over 5,000 tickets were sold in the first 24 hours, showing strong anticipation for Nordic Business Forum 2026.

Event Theme: The Human Edge

In 2026, Nordic Business Forum will explore The Human Edgea timely theme centered on the unique human strengths that drive performance, decision making, and connection in an increasingly digital world.

The event is expected to gather over 7,500 business leaders from around the world, offering a two-day program of actionable insights, personal leadership development, and future-focused strategies.

Headline Speakers Announced

The first confirmed speakers for Nordic Business Forum 2026 include globally recognized leaders, authors, and thinkers:

Oprah Winfrey  Global media leader

 Global media leader Steven Bartlett  Entrepreneur, investor, and host of The Diary of a CEO podcast

 Entrepreneur, investor, and host of The Diary of a CEO podcast Angela Duckworth  Psychologist, author of Grit, and professor at the University of Pennsylvania

 Psychologist, author of Grit, and professor at the University of Pennsylvania Paul Polman  Co-author of Net Positive and former CEO of Unilever

 Co-author of Net Positive and former CEO of Unilever Patty McCord  Former Netflix Chief Talent Officer and author

 Former Netflix Chief Talent Officer and author Rahaf Harfoush  Digital anthropologist, professor, and author

 Digital anthropologist, professor, and author Michael Beckley  Political scientist and Director of the Asia Program at the Foreign Policy Research Institute

 Political scientist and Director of the Asia Program at the Foreign Policy Research Institute Kjell A. Nordstrom  Economist, author, and business strategist

More speakers will be announced once confirmed.

Quote from Nordic Business Forum Leadership:

Even in a world increasingly driven by technology, its still human strengths that make the difference, says Priit Liiv, CEO of Nordic Business Forum. Focus under pressure, deep trust, and the courage to lead; these are the traits that will define leadership in the years ahead. With The Human Edge, we want to explore how leaders can collaborate with technology in ways that amplifynot replaceour humanity.

Media Accreditation:

A limited number of media passes are available, granting access to the full conference experience, including catering, a media working space, and potential interviews with speakers and event guests. Media representatives can apply for in-person or online accreditation here .

About Nordic Business Forum:

Nordic Business Forum is Europes leading organizer of business and leadership conferences. The company empowers leaders to change the world by delivering world-class content and encouraging global networks. Through its annual flagship event in Helsinki and other regional forums, the organization connects ambitious professionals with transformative ideas, people, and perspectives.

Attachments
Surfshark, a cybersecurity company and a leading VPN provider, has launched a dedicated IP feature for its browser extension, available on Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Edge. This addition allows users to route only browser traffic through a dedicated IP.

According to Justas Pukys, Senior Product Manager at Surfshark, the company constantly looks for opportunities to improve the user experience and provide innovative solutions across the industry.

We always seek to provide innovative solutions and ensure users have a smooth experience when using our services. By including the dedicated IP in the extension, we not only provide a new platform for the dedicated IP feature but also allow Surfshark users to route only their browsers traffic, explained Pukys.

A dedicated IP is well known for reducing human verification requests (CAPTCHA). When multiple users share the same IP address, websites often send verification requests, such as Select images with traffic lights. Dedicated IP minimizes this issue by assigning a static address, making traffic appear more consistent to websites. Also, as only one user generates traffic through the IP, it may lead to more stable connections.

Additionally, dedicated IP simplifies access to remote networks by eliminating the unpredictability of changing addresses associated with shared VPN servers. This provides unrestricted service access, allowing users to access apps and websites that block shared IPs or don't work when IP changes frequently.

A dedicated IP provides a consistent IP address for each browsing session, making it ideal for securely accessing private servers or corporate remote access systems. Unlike a standard VPN connection, which provides a shared IP address that changes with each session and is used by multiple users, a dedicated IP offers exclusive use, said Pukys.

Currently Surfshark offers 20 dedicated IP locations: Australia  Sydney; Brazil  Sao Paulo; Canada  Toronto; France  Paris; Germany  Frankfurt am Main; Hong Kong  Hong Kong; Italy  Milan; Japan  Tokyo; the Netherlands  Amsterdam; Poland  Warsaw; Singapore  Singapore; South Africa  Johannesburg; Turkey  Istanbul; United Kingdom  London; United States  Dallas, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, and San Jose.

The dedicated IP feature is available on Android, Windows, iOS, and macOS and supports all major protocols, including WireGuard, for maximum speed. Since it has now been included in the extension, all users can access it on Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Edge browsers.

ABOUT SURFSHARK

Surfshark is a cybersecurity company offering products including an audited VPN, certified antivirus, data leak warning system, private search engine, and tool for generating an online identity. Recognized as a leading VPN by CNET and TechRadar, Surfshark has also been featured on the FT1000: Europe's Fastest Growing Companies ranking. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Surfshark has offices in Lithuania and Poland. For information on Surfshark's operations and highlights, read our Annual Wrap-up . For more research projects, visit our Research Hub .

Attachment
Dublin, Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Microfluidics for Biomedical Innovation 2026 Shenzhen (Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, China - Jan 23rd - Jan 24th, 2026)" conference has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Shenzhen is a world-class hub of technology development and innovation and is referred to as the Silicon Valley of China. This conference brings together academics and industry participants from around the world to engage with participants from across China, across Asia/Pacific and around the world.

Emphasis placed on technology developments in Microfluidics and Lab-on-a-Chip platforms and the associated ecosystem that they are creating in terms of rapid diagnostics at the point-of-care, smart materials & wearables as well as micro-physiological systems (MPS, Organs-on-Chips). This conference is held co-located and concurrently with the Extracellular Vesicles 2026 Shenzhen with interspersed sessions for maximal scientific cross-pollination and networking opportunities -- All attendees receive full access to all presentations and all networking events.

The conference features exhibitors showcasing companies from around the world engaging with the participants -- the commercial program of this conference is fully-integrated with the scientific program.

The conference features scientific presentations, company technology spotlight presentations, exhibits, meals and networking events designed to foster collaboration and business development.

Agenda:

3D-Printing, Biofabrication and Bioprinting using Microfluidics

Droplet Microfluidics, Digital Microfluidics, Centrifugal Microfluidics

Lab-on-a-Chip and Microfluidics for Point-of-Care Diagnostic Testing and Global Health Applications

Microfluidic/LOAC Device Manufacturing: Technologies and Companies Showcase Microfluidics and Lab-on-a-Chip: Life Science Research Applications

New Entrants from Around the World Expand the Market Opportunities for Microfluidics and Lab-on-a-Chip

Smart Materials & Wearables Drive Technology Development

Speakers

Amy Shen , Professor and Provost, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) -- Plenary Keynote Speaker

, Professor and Provost, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) -- Plenary Keynote Speaker Hsueh-Chia Chang , Bayer Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame

, Bayer Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame Martyn Boutelle , Professor of Biomedical Sensors Engineering, Imperial College London

, Professor of Biomedical Sensors Engineering, Imperial College London Valerie Taly , CNRS Research Director, Cordeliers Research Center, President/CSO, Co-Founder METHYS Dx

, CNRS Research Director, Cordeliers Research Center, President/CSO, Co-Founder METHYS Dx Yoon-Kyoung Cho , Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering; Dean, College of Information and Biotechnology UNIST (Ulsan National Institute of Science & Technology)

, Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering; Dean, College of Information and Biotechnology UNIST (Ulsan National Institute of Science & Technology) Chenzhong Li , XQ Deng Presidential Chair Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Chinese University of Hong Kong [Shenzhen] - Conference Co-Chair

, XQ Deng Presidential Chair Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Chinese University of Hong Kong [Shenzhen] - Conference Co-Chair Jie Chen , Founding Dean of the School of Biomedical Engineering at Fudan University

, Founding Dean of the School of Biomedical Engineering at Fudan University Qian Luo , Professor, Institute of Scientific Instrumentation, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

, Professor, Institute of Scientific Instrumentation, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Xueji Zhang , National Chair Professor, Vice Chairman of Shenzhen University - Conference Co-Chair

, National Chair Professor, Vice Chairman of Shenzhen University - Conference Co-Chair Chwee Teck Lim , NUSS Chair Professor, National University of Singapore

, NUSS Chair Professor, National University of Singapore Lorena Dieguez , Leader of the Medical Devices Research Group, INL- International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory

, Leader of the Medical Devices Research Group, INL- International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory Tingrui Pan , Yangtze River Chair Professor, University of Science and Technology of China -- Conference Senior Chairperson

, Yangtze River Chair Professor, University of Science and Technology of China -- Conference Senior Chairperson Yong Zhang, Chair Professor & Head, Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK)

For more information about this conference visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/pdsnvu

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.
MONACO, Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Costamare Bulkers Holdings Limited (Costamare Bulkers or the Company) (NYSE: CMDB) announced today that it has signed a Strategic Cooperation Agreement (the Agreement) with Cargill International S.A. (Cargill).

Under the Agreement, the Company has agreed to:

Transfer to Cargill the majority of its trading book comprising of chartered-in vessels, cargo transportation commitments as well as derivative positions;

Charter to Cargill four Supramax vessels for a period of four to six months;

Enter into a bunkering services agreement with Seascale Energy (a joint venture between Cargill and Hafnia), covering the owned and operating fleet;

Enter into an agreement in respect of decarbonisation and vessel efficiency strategies and implementing decarbonisation projects;

Explore opportunities to jointly invest in dry bulk assets and other dry-bulk business ventures, as well as other potential business opportunities in the dry bulk sector.

Mr. Gregory Zikos, Chief Executive Officer of Costamare Bulkers Holdings Limited, commented:

We are pleased to announce the Agreement with Cargill, a first class and well-respected partner in the dry bulk sector and we look forward to pursuing further cooperation and co-investment opportunities.

The Agreement allows us to reduce our exposure in the volatile trading business and generate more stable and predictable earnings, while at the same time maintaining our operating platform under CBI as an integral part of our business model.

Mr. Jan Dieleman, President, Cargill Ocean Transportation, commented:

This partnership allows Cargill to better serve its customers as it continues to help us grow our current fleet. We look forward to building a strategic partnership with Costamare and continue to grow together.

For additional information, please refer to the Companys report on Form 6-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 29, 2025.

About Costamare Bulkers Holdings Limited

Costamare Bulkers Holdings Limited is an international owner and operator of dry bulk vessels. Costamare Bulkers owned dry bulk fleet consists of 37 vessels with a total carrying capacity of approximately 3,103,000 dwt (including six vessels that we have agreed to sell). Costamare Bulkers also owns a dry bulk operating platform (CBI) which charters in/out dry bulk vessels, enters into contracts of affreightment and forward freight agreements and may also utilize hedging solutions. Costamare Bulkers common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CMDB.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as believe, intend, anticipate, estimate, project, forecast, plan, potential, may, should, could, expect and similar expressions. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. These statements are not historical facts but instead represent only the Companys beliefs regarding future results, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Companys control. It is possible that actual results may differ, possibly materially, from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements. For a discussion of some of the risks and important factors that could affect future results, see the discussion in the Companys Registration Statement on Form 20-F (File No. 001-42581).

Company Contacts:

Gregory Zikos  Chief Executive Officer

Dimitris Pagratis - Chief Financial Officer

Konstantinos Tsakalidis - Business Development

Costamare Bulkers Holdings Limited, Monaco

Tel: (+377) 92 00 1745

Email: ir@costamarebulkers.com
TORONTO, Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Odyssey Resources Limited (Odyssey or the Company) (NEX: ODX.H) today announced that, in case of disruption due to the ongoing Canada Post labour strike, the management information circular (the Circular), form of proxy and related meeting materials (collectively, the Meeting Materials) for the Companys upcoming annual general and special meeting of shareholders, to be held on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. (Toronto time) (the Meeting), may be viewed on the Companys SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca and are also available electronically on the Companys website at www.odysseyresources.com.

The Company delivered the completed Meeting Materials to the appropriate parties on September 17, 2025, for mailing to registered and unregistered shareholders prior to the Meeting. However, due to the recent and ongoing Canada Post labour strike, it is possible that the Meeting Materials may not be delivered to shareholders prior to the Meeting. Shareholders will still be able to vote their shares, either directly or by proxy, or indirectly via their intermediary.

Shareholders who have not received their Meeting Materials are urged to contact the Company. The Company will deliver, by email, a copy of the Meeting Materials to any shareholder who requests a copy thereof without charge. Please direct such requests to Mark Pereira, Corporate Secretary at (416) 365-5172 or info@odysseyresources.com.

Registered Shareholders

Registered shareholders may return a completed, dated and signed proxy to TSX Trust Company, Suite 301 - 100 Adelaide Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 4H1, by fax to 416.595.9593 or over the Internet at www.voteproxyonline.com, as described in the instructions printed on the proxy. To be valid, all proxies must be submitted prior to 10:00 a.m. on October 17, 2025 (or no less than 48 hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, before the time of the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof).

Registered shareholders who wish to request a proxy for the Meeting may contact TSX Trust Company at 1-866- 600-5869 or by email at tsxtis@tmx.com.

Beneficial Shareholders

Beneficial shareholders who hold their shares through a broker or other intermediary should contact such broker or other intermediary to request a voting instruction form or form of proxy.

The Companys financial statements and related management discussion and analysis are available on the Companys SEDAR+ profile and the Companys website as noted below.

About Odyssey Resources Limited

Additional information about the Company is available on the Companys website (www.odysseyresources.com) and on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

For further information, please contact:

Matthew Goodman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Telephone: 416-350-3314

Email: info@odysseyresources.com

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information may be identified by statements including words such as: anticipate, intend, plan, budget, believe, project, estimate, expect, scheduled, forecast, strategy, future, likely, may, to be, could,, would, should, will and similar references to future periods or the negative or comparable terminology, as well as terms usually used in the future and the conditional. Statements including forward-looking information may include, without limitation, statements regarding the Meeting and other statements that are not material facts. Forward-looking information is based on assumptions that may prove to be incorrect, such as assumptions about the ongoing Canada Post labour strike. The Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable in the circumstances. However, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. By its nature, forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties, changes in circumstances and other factors that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of the Companys control which may cause actual results to differ materially from any future or potential results expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking information include, among others, risks beyond the Companys control which could have a material adverse effect on the Companys ability to conduct the Meeting as contemplated. The reader is cautioned to consider such factors, uncertainties and potential events carefully and not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Other than as specifically required by applicable Canadian law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, or otherwise.

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.
Select units of Cosentyx to be made available at 55% discount off list price on direct-to-patient (DTP) platform beginning November 1, 2025





DTP offering to expand to other appropriate products; exploring additional direct-to-employer model to increase access and affordability for cash-paying patients in the US

Basel, September 29, 2025  Today, Novartis announced plans to launch a direct-to-patient (DTP) platform in the US which will come into effect on November 1, 2025, offering cash-paying patients prescribed Cosentyx (secukinumab) the option to purchase it at a 55% discount off the list price. Cosentyx, Novartis top selling product in the US, is a biologic that is FDA-approved for the treatment of multiple immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, including psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurativa and psoriatic arthritis. It has been studied clinically for more than 17 years and has been used to treat more than 1.8 million patients globally since its launch in 2015.

Breakthrough innovation is what drives us at Novartis, in scientific research, medicine development, and in the ways in which we deliver our innovation to patients. In the US, we have long recognized that we need new ways to reach patients more directly by removing barriers in the system, said Victor Bulto, President, US for Novartis. The launch of this new platform is a first step as we continue to work toward solutions to provide our net prices more directly to patients and make the healthcare system work better for Americans.

Through the DTP platform, Novartis will offer Cosentyx to American patients at a price that reflects the average savings that insurers and pharmacy benefit managers receive. The Cosentyx DTP platform serves as proof-of-concept for a direct-selling model for specialty medicines and ideally would work alongside insurance to help improve patient affordability. In the US, the company intends to offer a DTP option for additional medicines in its portfolio as appropriate and is exploring a direct-to-business model, selling Cosentyx, and potentially additional medicines, to large employers as another way to increase access and affordability.

Patient Assistance

Novartis offers multiple programs to help patients access Cosentyx, with the new DTP platform presenting an additional option. Eligible US Cosentyx patients with commercial insurance may pay as little as $0 for their prescription through one such program. Additionally, eligible commercially insured patients can receive help to investigate their insurance coverage. If they are in the process of appealing an initial denial of coverage, commercially insured patients may also be eligible to receive Cosentyx at no cost for up to two years.

For patients who cannot afford the cost of their Novartis medication, are uninsured or have government insurance, and meet income guidelines and other eligibility criteria, the Novartis Patient Assistance Foundation, Inc. (NPAF), an independent, 501(c)(3) non-profit entity, provides Cosentyx at no cost.

About Cosentyx (secukinumab)

Cosentyx is a fully human biologic that directly inhibits interleukin-17A, an important cytokine involved in the inflammation underlying multiple immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. It is approved for use in adults with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), moderate to severe plaque psoriasis (PsO), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA), and hidradenitis suppurativa (HS)1-3, as well as in pediatric patients with PsO, enthesitis-related arthritis (ERA), and juvenile psoriatic arthritis (JPsA)4.5.Cosentyx is supported by robust evidence and 10 years of real-world data demonstrating its long-term safety and sustained efficacy6-11. Since its launch in 2015, it has been used to treat more than 1.8 million patients worldwide and is now approved in over 100 countries6.

Disclaimer

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by words such as potential, can, will, plan, may, could, would, expect, anticipate, look forward, believe, committed, investigational, pipeline, launch, or similar terms, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential marketing approvals, new indications or labeling for the investigational or approved products described in this press release, or regarding potential future revenues from such products. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations regarding future events, and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee that the investigational or approved products described in this press release will be submitted or approved for sale or for any additional indications or labeling in any market, or at any particular time. Nor can there be any guarantee that such products will be commercially successful in the future. In particular, our expectations regarding such products could be affected by, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including clinical trial results and additional analysis of existing clinical data; regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; global trends toward health care cost containment, including government, payor and general public pricing and reimbursement pressures and requirements for increased pricing transparency; our ability to obtain or maintain proprietary intellectual property protection; the particular prescribing preferences of physicians and patients; general political, economic and business conditions, including the effects of and efforts to mitigate pandemic diseases; safety, quality, data integrity or manufacturing issues; potential or actual data security and data privacy breaches, or disruptions of our information technology systems, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AGs current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Novartis

Novartis is an innovative medicines company. Every day, we work to reimagine medicine to improve and extend peoples lives so that patients, healthcare professionals and societies are empowered in the face of serious disease. Our medicines reach nearly 300 million people worldwide.

Reimagine medicine with us: Visit us at https://www.novartis.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X/Twitter and Instagram.

References

# # #
DealGround uses AI to convert CRE property data into deal intelligence





PALM SPRINGS, Calif., Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DealGround today launched its AI-native commercial real estate platform at ICSC Palm Springs, one of the industry's largest gatherings of CRE dealmakers. Previously available only in a beta release, DealGround is showcasing how purpose-built AI can streamline operations and accelerate deal discovery for both independent brokers and teams.

A flood of untapped intelligence

Commercial real estate brokers receive hundreds of property marketing emails every day and have no efficient way of organizing, quickly accessing, or searching them. The data inside those brochures is incredibly valuablecap rates, lease terms, rent rollsbut it's completely useless when trapped in individual PDFs scattered across emails and folders. When the data exists somewhere in your files but takes hours to find, opportunities slip away.

Conceived by someone who lived the pain

After 30 years as a broker, I know the grind of chasing information buried in PDFs, emails, Dropbox folders  and for some veteran brokers, even filing cabinets, said DealGround co-founder Chris Rodriguez . My 'aha moment' came when I first witnessed the power of AI. It hit me that we now have the technology to unlock that data and automate these broken workflows. I realized we could build the solution I'd always wanted, allowing brokers to focus on the important stuff: doing deals and making money.

The third wave of CRE transformation unleashed by AI

Commercial real estate represents one of the largest asset classes in the US, with more than $500 billion in transaction value annually, yet workflows remain surprisingly manual.

The first wave of CRE transformation focused on digitization, giving birth to listing platforms that digitized classified ads, explained DealGround CEO & co-founder Dan Mosher . The second wave brought single-purpose tools that tackled individual parts of the job: Marketing, Research, and Comps. DealGround is leading the third wave, using AI automation to deliver true deal intelligence. We're building the app that will function as a brokers private system of record that keeps data perpetually current: a searchable property database enhanced by rich data sources like transaction and ownership data from First American Data & Analytics , laid out on a dynamic map and designed to reveal opportunities that brokers might otherwise miss.

Customer validation during beta period

DealGround has a different take on property data, one that I have not seen anywhere else, said Pat Toomey, Executive Director from IPA / Marcus & Millichap. The way the platform breaks down lease terms and surfaces insights is innovative. I have yet to see a system that pulls lease data in this fashion and allows me to track it. And it's getting better every day.



I have been searching for a data bank for a long time, and I finally found a solution with DealGround, said Alex Provost, Managing Principal of True Equity Group. Ive added over 1,000 OMs, and the platform's value compounds over time. DealGround is an irreplaceable tool that provides an edge and enables us to acquire assets nationwide as if they were in our backyard.



The biggest advantage Ive found with DealGround is the ability to see the deal visually, said Tyler Hicks, Senior Associate, Franklin Street. Instead of digging through spreadsheets, folders, and emails, everything is clearly laid out in one place, making it easier to identify key drivers and make faster, more informed decisions.



Early customers include independent brokers and teams from Colliers, Marcus & Millichap, Lee & Associates, Pegasus, Northmarq, Franklin Street, and True Equity Group.

Key features available

DealGround customers get access to every feature in DealGrounds Intelligence Command Center, including:

AI-Powered Document Processing transforms brochures, OMs, rent rolls, and marketing materials into structured, searchable property data.

transforms brochures, OMs, rent rolls, and marketing materials into structured, searchable property data. Universal & Bulk Capture ingests documents automatically from marketing emails or web pages via the Quick Capture button. Every OM is instantly cataloged and organized once it is uploaded. Brokers can also connect their Dropbox and Box shared folders instantly for bulk extraction of data.

ingests documents automatically from marketing emails or web pages via the Quick Capture button. Every OM is instantly cataloged and organized once it is uploaded. Brokers can also connect their Dropbox and Box shared folders instantly for bulk extraction of data. Smart Search & Interactive Mapping lets you search and filter by asset type, tenant, location, current NOI, lease term remaining, cap rates, ownership information, and more with results displayed on a dynamic map.

lets you search and filter by asset type, tenant, location, current NOI, lease term remaining, cap rates, ownership information, and more with results displayed on a dynamic map. Private Deal Database is a secure way to build and maintain a time-stamped archive of historical deal materials and proprietary sources.

is a secure way to build and maintain a time-stamped archive of historical deal materials and proprietary sources. Prospecting through List Views lets brokers create and manage saved lists to track property characteristics and deal statuses in an easy-to-use grid view, helping them to manage opportunities more efficiently. Brokers can manage, sort, customize, and export each list.

lets brokers create and manage saved lists to track property characteristics and deal statuses in an easy-to-use grid view, helping them to manage opportunities more efficiently. Brokers can manage, sort, customize, and export each list. Collaboration Tools enable brokers to aggregate property data that every team member can view, keeping teams aligned and knowledge sharing. Brokers can share notes and target lists with internal team members and clients.

Experience DealGround

Get a live demo of the DealGround Intelligence Command Center from our team by emailing info@dealground.com or signing up for free at www.dealground.com . You can meet our team at ICSC Palm Springs, Booth #1510, September 2930th.

About DealGround

DealGround aims to be the Intelligence Command Center for commercial real estate brokers. The platform transforms the flood of brochures and PDFs into structured, searchable data, displayed on a map-based interface. Brokers can quickly surface critical data, track opportunities, and accelerate deal discovery, while AI automates the tedious manual work of organizing unstructured property information. DealGround serves leading brokerage teams that want to streamline their workflows and focus on the work that generates more deals.

Media Contact

Name: Dan Mosher

Title: CEO & Co-Founder

Email: info@dealground.com

Phone: (415) 937-1935





Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b6876943-28b2-4d2a-8608-a5108a4284fd

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/dd5b8e9f-a2c9-4f92-baf3-e402eca53223
MIAMI, Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH), a leading global cruise company operating Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, today announced the launch of its new Loyalty Status Honoring Program, enabling guests to have their loyalty status honored across all three cruise brands.

Beginning with sailings departing Oct. 15, 2025, members of Latitudes Rewards, Oceania Club, and the Seven Seas Society will be able to have their loyalty tier honored at the closest corresponding tier across all three brands on a per-cruise basis. With 34 ships sailing to more than 700 destinations worldwide, the NCLH Loyalty Status Honoring Program empowers guests to discover new ways of traveling, whether its enjoying exciting sailings aboard Norwegian Cruise Line, indulging in The Finest Cuisine at Sea with Oceania Cruises, or experiencing unrivaled, all-inclusive cruising with Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

We want our guests to feel rewarded whenever they choose to sail within our family of award-winning cruise brands, said Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. With the new Loyalty Status Honoring Program, our guests can experience more of what makes each brand special, while still enjoying the loyalty recognition theyve worked hard to achieve.

NCLHs Loyalty Status Honoring Program underscores the companys Charting the Course strategy by encouraging brand exploration, strengthening guest loyalty and elevating the overall guest experience. By honoring loyalty across its portfolio, the company is deepening its connection with guests while opening the door to new ways of experiencing its award-winning brands.

NCLH Loyalty Status Honoring Program Highlights:

Recognition Across Cruise Brands : Members of Latitudes Rewards, Oceania Club, and Seven Seas Society will now see their loyalty status honored across all three cruise lines, making it easier than ever to explore all brands while enjoying recognition.

: Members of Latitudes Rewards, Oceania Club, and Seven Seas Society will now see their loyalty status honored across all three cruise lines, making it easier than ever to explore all brands while enjoying recognition. Elevated Guest Experience : Guests can sail confidently knowing their loyalty is valued no matter which brand they choose, enhancing every voyage with the perks theyve earned.

: Guests can sail confidently knowing their loyalty is valued no matter which brand they choose, enhancing every voyage with the perks theyve earned. More Ways to Explore : With 34 ships sailing to more than 700 destinations, the program unlocks a broader range of vacation styles, itineraries, and experiences across the companys portfolio.

: With 34 ships sailing to more than 700 destinations, the program unlocks a broader range of vacation styles, itineraries, and experiences across the companys portfolio. Commitment to Loyalty: This program underscores the companys dedication to rewarding its most loyal guests while encouraging them to discover the unique offerings of each brand.

The program opens for requests beginning today, Sept. 29, 2025, with the first eligible sailings starting Oct. 15, 2025. To learn more about the NCLH Loyalty Status Honoring Program, including Terms and Conditions, eligibility and benefit details, guests can visit the loyalty program pages of: Norwegian Cruise Line ; Oceania Cruises ; Regent Seven Seas Cruises .

About Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH) is a leading global cruise company which operates Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. With a combined fleet of 34 ships and more than 71,000 Berths, NCLH offers itineraries to approximately 700 destinations worldwide. NCLH expects to add 13 additional ships across its three brands through 2036, which will add over 38,400 Berths to its fleet. To learn more, visit www.nclhltd.com.

Media Contact

Sarah Inmon

nclhmedia@nclcorp.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e3e05ca0-2b0d-4950-ab48-fc126e2f017c
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES.

DENVER, Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Intermap Technologies Corporation (TSX: IMP; OTCQB: ITMSF) ("Intermap" or the "Company"), a global leader in 3D geospatial products and intelligence solutions, announced today that it has closed its previously announced and upsized "bought deal" public offering of 9,584,100 Class A common shares in the capital of the Company (the "Common Shares") at a price of $3.00 per Common Share for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of $28,752,300, including the full exercise of the over-allotment option granted to the Underwriters (as defined herein) (the "Offering").

The Offering was underwritten by a syndicate of underwriters led by Stifel Nicolaus Canada Inc., and included Canaccord Genuity Corp. and Beacon Securities Limited (collectively, the "Underwriters").

The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering for working capital and general corporate purposes, as more particularly described in the Prospectus Supplement (as defined herein). The Offering remains subject to the final approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX").

Patrick A. Blott, Intermap's Chairman and CEO, said, The success of this Offering reflects investment from long-term, growth-oriented institutions that recognize the critical value our customers place on Intermaps proprietary GEOINT data products. We are pleased with the strong demand, resulting in over-subscription and upsizing of the Offering. A stronger balance sheet matches our objective to increasingly embed exquisite mission-critical GEOINT in our customer workflows.

The Offering was completed by way of a prospectus supplement (the "Prospectus Supplement") to the short form base shelf prospectus of the Company dated September 15, 2025 (the "Base Shelf Prospectus"), which supplement was filed on September 24, 2025. The Base Shelf Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement can be found on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and contain important detailed information about the Offering.

In connection with the Offering, the Company paid the Underwriters an aggregate cash commission of $1,725,138 and issued the Underwriters an aggregate of 575,046 compensation warrants (the "Broker Warrants"). Each Broker Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share at USD$2.1758, at any time until September 29, 2027.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the Common Shares, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful, including in the United States of America. Such securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for account or benefit of, U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration requirements is available.

Intermap Reader Advisory

Certain information provided in this news release, including references to the intended use and anticipated benefits of the net proceeds of the Offering in connection therewith, constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including in particular the Companys intentions for using the net proceeds of the Offering and the Company's ability to obtain the final approval of the TSX. The words "intends", "should", "will" or "may" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information requires Intermap to make assumptions about future actions, events or circumstances that may not materialize or that may prove to be inaccurate. Although Intermap believes that these statements are based on information and assumptions which are current, reasonable and complete, these statements are necessarily subject to a variety of known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Intermap's forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties pertaining to, among other things, cash available to fund operations, availability of capital, revenue fluctuations, nature of government contracts, economic conditions, loss of key customers, retention and availability of executive talent, competing technologies, common share price volatility, loss of proprietary information, software functionality, internet and system infrastructure functionality, information technology security, breakdown of strategic alliances, and international and political considerations, as well as those risks and uncertainties discussed Intermap's Annual Information Form and other securities filings. While the Company makes these forward-looking statements in good faith, should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary significantly from those expected. Accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits that the Company will derive therefrom. All subsequent forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, attributable to Intermap or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the forward-looking statements made herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities law.

About Intermap Technologies

Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Intermap (TSX: IMP; OTCQB: ITMSF) is a global leader in geospatial intelligence solutions, focusing on the creation and analysis of 3D terrain data to produce high-resolution thematic models. Through scientific analysis of geospatial information and patented sensors and processing technology, the Company provisions diverse, complementary, multi-source datasets to enable customers to seamlessly integrate geospatial intelligence into their workflows. Intermap's 3D elevation data and software analytic capabilities enable global geospatial analysis through artificial intelligence and machine learning, providing customers with critical information to understand their terrain environment. By leveraging its proprietary archive of the world's largest collection of multi-sensor global elevation data, the Company's collection and processing capabilities provide multi-source 3D datasets and analytics at mission speed, enabling governments and companies to build and integrate geospatial foundation data with actionable insights. Applications for Intermap's products and solutions include defense, aviation and UAV flight planning, flood and wildfire insurance, disaster mitigation, base mapping, environmental and renewable energy planning, telecommunications, engineering, critical infrastructure monitoring, hydrology, land management, oil and gas and transportation.

For more information, please visit www.intermap.com or contact:

Jennifer Bakken

Executive Vice President and CFO

CFO@intermap.com

+1 (303) 708-0955

Sean Peasgood

Investor Relations

Sean@SophicCapital.com

+1 (647) 260-9266
The Slovak authorities have on 29 September 2025 given notice, that FirstFarms farm in Plavecky Stvrtok, Slovakia is declared free from foot and mouth disease. 36 test animals have been on the farm for 3 weeks and have now tested negative, and it is possible for FirstFarms to begin minor renovation work and to complete the dairy.

FirstFarms expects the first animals to be back on the farm in the beginning of December 2025, after which milking of the animals in Plavecky Stvrtok will take place. FirstFarms also expects that by the end of the year, 1,800 animals will be milked in Plavecky Stvrtok, and that the company have reestablished the full herd in the second half of 2026.

"The employees have been fighting for a long time to get to where we are today, and we can see that the work in the recent months has paid off in terms of the farm now being declared free of infection. It is a huge job that has been done by all employees in Slovakia, who can now look forward to new animals on the farm"  says Co-CEO and COO Sren Bredvig.

Best regards,

FirstFarms A/S

For further information

Please visit our website www.firstfarms.com or contact Co-CEO Michael Hyldgaard on phone +45 75 86 87 87.

About FirstFarms :

FirstFarms is a Danish stock exchange listed company. We operate FirstFarms with responsibility for the surrounding communities, and we deliver highest quality which is primarily sold locally. We act on new opportunities, that create value for our investors and for the surroundings. Every day, we work on creating a more sustainable company.

Attachment
NEW YORK, Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bernstein Liebhard LLP:

Do you, or did you, own shares of KinderCare Learning Companies, Inc. (NYSE: KLC)?





Did you purchase your shares in, or traceable to, the Companys October 2024 IPO?





Did you lose money in your investment in KinderCare Learning Companies, Inc.?





Do you want to discuss your rights?

Bernstein Liebhard LLP, a nationally acclaimed investor rights law firm, reminds KinderCare Learning Companies, Inc. (KinderCare or the Company) (NYSE: KLC) investors of an upcoming deadline involving a securities fraud class action lawsuit commenced against the Company.

If you purchased or acquired KinderCare common stock, and/or would like to discuss your legal rights and options please visit KinderCare Learning Companies, Inc. Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact Investor Relations Manager Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or pallocco@bernlieb.com.

A lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon on behalf of investors (the Class) who purchased or acquired the common stock of KinderCare in or traceable to the Companys October 2024 initial public offering, alleging violations of the Securities Act of 1933 against the Company and certain of its senior officers.

According to the lawsuit, Defendants made misrepresentations concerning the child care offered by the Company.

If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff for the Class, you must file papers by October 14, 2025 . A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on other class members behalf in directing the litigation. Your ability to share in any recovery doesnt require that you serve as lead plaintiff. If you choose to take no action, you may remain an absent class member.

All representation is on a contingency fee basis. Shareholders pay no fees or expenses.

Since 1993, Bernstein Liebhard LLP has recovered over $3.5 billion for its clients. In addition to representing individual investors, the Firm has been retained by some of the largest public and private pension funds in the country to monitor their assets and pursue litigation on their behalf. As a result of its success litigating hundreds of class actions, the Firm has been named to The National Law Journals Plaintiffs Hot List thirteen times and listed in The Legal 500 for sixteen consecutive years.

ATTORNEY ADVERTISING.  2025 Bernstein Liebhard LLP. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Bernstein Liebhard LLP, 10 East 40th Street, New York, New York 10016, (212) 779-1414. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

Contact Information:

Peter Allocco

Investor Relations Manager

Bernstein Liebhard LLP

https://www.bernlieb.com

(212) 951-2030

pallocco@bernlieb.com
New York, NY, Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- South Street Securities Holdings, Inc. (South Street Securities Holdings) today announced the appointment of Jason Schuit as President of South Street Securities LLC (South Street Securities) and Donald Webbe as President of Matrix Applications LLC (Matrix Applications), effective immediately. Mr. Schuit and Mr. Webbe have been members of the team since its inception and individually bring more than three decades of experience in finance and capital markets to their roles.

South Street Securities is a FICC Tier 1 member and a member of several major regulatory agencies, including FINRA, SIPC, OCC and NFA. The company operates from its New York headquarters and specializes in the following services: Repo dealer financing US Treasuries, Agency MBS, TBA Mortgage Origination Hedging, Equity Finance and Algorithmic Trade Execution.

As President, Mr. Schuit will oversee the companys various trading and execution businesses, continuing to drive growth and innovation as a trusted, mid-sized full-service broker-dealer. He previously served as Co-Chief Investment Officer of South Street Securities.

Having helped build South Street Securities from the ground up, I am honored to step into the role of President, said Jason Schuit. The firms ongoing success is a testament to the talent and dedication of our team and I look forward to working alongside them as we continue to evolve and deliver value to our clients.

Based in New York City, Matrix Applications is financial technology service bureau that offers a suite of collateral management, margining and clearing systems, in addition to back-office services, for institutional fixed income trading and equities securities lending.

As President, Mr. Webbe will oversee the companys technology infrastructure, system support, operations and software development. He previously served as Chief Operating Officer of Matrix Applications.

It is a privilege to step into the role of President of Matrix Applications, a company I have been proud to help grow since the beginning, shared Donald Webbe. Our teams commitment to innovation and operational excellence has been the core of what we do. I look forward to leading the team into its next chapter as we continue to deliver trusted solutions to the financial markets.

Commenting on the appointment, James Tabacchi, Chief Executive Officer of South Street Securities Holdings, said Jason and Donald have been integral to the foundation, expansion and long-term success of our family of companies. Their vision, leadership and deep knowledge of the markets have always been a driving force and will further strengthen our ability to serve clients with excellence while continuing to expand our capabilities in this next phase of growth.

About Jason Schuit

Jason Schuit is a seasoned industry veteran with a career spanning over three decades in finance and capital markets. In 1999, Mr. Schuit co-founded Capital Markets Engineering & Trading, and then in 2004, South Street Securities, where he led the formation, infrastructure development and trading of the broker-dealer. As President of South Street Securities, Mr. Schuit oversees the companys various trading and execution businesses, driving growth and innovation as one of the premier mid-sized full-service broker-dealers. His previous role at the company was Co-Chief Investment Officer. In 2018, Mr. Schuit was pivotal in the relaunch and recapitalization of AmeriVet Securities, Inc. ("AmeriVet Securities"), a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned (SDVO) broker-dealer, and serves as the Lead Director of the Board of Directors.

Mr. Schuit's career began at Citibank's Management Associate Training Program in 1992, where he developed expertise in fixed income trading. He later joined Citicorp Securities Finance Desk in 1995 as Vice President and Senior Matched Book Trader, responsible for finance, futures and arbitrage trading within the Capital Markets Group. In 2006, Mr. Schuit joined Cantor Fitzgerald as Managing Director of Finance, where he co-managed the Repo Finance Desk before rejoining South Street Securities in 2011.

Mr. Schuit holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Public Accounting from Hofstra University and is registered with FINRA Series 3, 7, 24 and 63.

About Donald Webbe

Mr. Webbe joined South Street Securities Holdings in June 2001 as the Head of Operations. He is currently President of Matrix Applications and oversees the technology infrastructure, system support, operations and software development. Mr. Webbe is also the Chief Operating Officer of South Street Securities, responsible for the companys Operations and Technology departments. In addition, Mr. Webbe serves as a Board Member of AmeriVet Securities.

Prior to joining South Street Securities Holdings, Mr. Webbe worked at Citigroup from 1986 until 2001. As a Vice President at Citigroup, he was responsible for a range of middle and back-office functions. His role included oversight of finance, funding, futures and emerging markets operations for both domestic and international settlement. He was integral to several highly sophisticated securitization projects and had extensive interaction with foreign exchange and derivatives operations.

Mr. Webbe is FINRA Series 7, 27 and 63 registered.

About South Street Securities Holdings, Inc.

South Street Securities Holdings, Inc. operates through its wholly owned subsidiaries. Affiliates include South Street Securities LLC, a FINRA and SIPC member who holds a FICC Tier 1 membership and is focused on repo dealer financing US Treasuries, Agency MBS, TBA Mortgage Origination Hedging, Equity Finance and Algorithmic Trade Execution, Matrix Applications LLC, a technology and back-office services company, AmeriVet Securities, Inc., a FINRA and SIPC member who operates an SEC registered Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned broker-dealer, GX2 Systems LLC, a fintech software development company that engineers electronic trading solutions for the fixed income and futures markets.

South Street Securities LLC

South Street Securities LLC is a leading independent provider of specialized financing, servicing capital markets institutional asset managers (including traditional and hedge fund managers), real estate investment trusts ("REITs"), tri-party investors, mortgage lenders, midsize and middle market securities broker-dealers, and corporate and government issuers. South Street Securities is a FICC Tier 1 member and a member of several major regulatory agencies, including FINRA, SIPC, OCC and NFA. The company operates from its New York headquarters and specializes in the following services: Repo dealer financing US Treasuries, Agency MBS, TBA Mortgage Origination Hedging, Equity Finance and Algorithmic Trade Execution.

About Matrix Applications LLC

Matrix Applications LLC is a New York-based fintech service bureau that offers a suite of collateral management, margining and clearing systems for institutional fixed income trading and equities securities lending. Comprised of a team of capital markets and systems professionals, Matrix Applications delivers financial technology solutions to institutional firms of all sizes. Since 2000, the company works hands-on with clients to identify an optimal mix of services to best fit their needs, from systems to back-office operations assistance. With in-house and offshore developers, Matrix Applications provides clients with the right technology at the right price while leveraging extensive technical experience and a deep network to deliver bespoke managed services.

Attachments
Ottawa, Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global cough assist devices market size was valued at USD 275.99 million in 2024 and is predicted to hit around USD 547.99 million by 2034, rising at a 7.24% CAGR, a study published by Towards Healthcare a sister firm of Precedence Research.

Ongoing technological breakthroughs and the growing cases of spinal cord injury or neuromuscular disorders are fueling the market expansion.

The Complete Study is Now Available for Immediate Access | Download the Sample Pages of this Report @ https://www.towardshealthcare.com/download-sample/5459

Key Takeaways

North America was dominant in the market in 2024.

Asia-Pacific is expected to grow rapidly during 2025-2034 in the cough assist devices market.

By product type, the automatic cough assist device segment led the market in 2024 and is expected to sustain its dominance in the coming years.

By choice of delivery, the mouthpiece segment dominated the market in 2024 and is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR in the studied years.

By end-use, the hospitals segment registered dominance in the cough assist devices market in 2024.

By end-use, the home care settings segment is expected to witness rapid expansion during 2025-2034.

What are the Cough Assist Devices?

These devices are also termed as mechanical insufflator-exsufflators (MI-E), which are non-invasive in nature, used to emulate a natural cough to clear mucus and secretions from the airways. In 2025, the cough assist devices market is expanding due to the growing use of these devices in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), muscular dystrophy, and spinal cord injuries, impairing the natural ability to cough.

Currently, the market is emphasizing improvements in patient comfort and clinical outcomes through features, especially adjustable pressure settings, multiple interface options (masks, mouthpieces, tracheostomy adapters), optimized digital controls, and integration with therapy management systems for more customized and efficient care.

Report Scope:

Metric Details Market Size in 2024 USD 275.99 Million Projected Market Size in 2034 USD 547.99 Million CAGR (2025 - 2034) 7.24 % Leading Region North America Market Segmentation By Product Type, By Choice of Delivery, By End-Use and By Region Top Key Players Dima Italia Srl, Genotronics, Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc., Intersurgical, Inc., McKesson Corporation, Oxycare Medical Group, Percussionaire Corp., Philips Respironics, US Med-Equip, Ventec Life Systems, Wave Healthcare

You can place an order or ask any questions, please feel free to contact us at sales@towardshealthcare.com

What are the Key Drivers in the Cough Assist Devices Market?

Around the globe, the growing population is possessing a huge burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, and severe asthma, as well as other conditions, like muscular dystrophy, myasthenia gravis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and spinal cord injuries are highly demanding for cough assist devices. Alongside, the digital world is focusing on the preference and requirement for healthcare services and devices in at-home settings, resulting in greater demand for portable and user-friendly cough assist devices.

What are the Major Drifts in the Cough Assist Devices Market?

Nowadays, the digital solution development is transforming diverse devices used in respiratory conditions, with the emergence of AI and other technologies.

In August 2025, Apreo Health, a clinical-stage medical device company, raised $130M to advance the BREATHE Airway Scaffold device.

In August 2025, Apreo Health raised $130 million to fund a pivotal trial and early commercialization of a device for treating severe emphysema.

In August 2024, Salcit Technologies, an India-based respiratory healthcare company, partnered with the Google Research team to leverage how Googles Health Acoustic Representations (HeAR) can foster the capabilities of Salcits bioacoustic AI technology, Swaasa.



What is the Emerging Challenge in the Market?

These sophisticated devices are expensive, which creates a barrier to their availability in less affluent areas. The global cough assist devices market is further facing limitations in the higher need for professional guidance from respiratory therapists to operate the device's settings and align their breathing patterns for efficient application and comfort.

Regional Analysis

How did North America Dominate the Market in 2024?

North Americas cough assist devices market captured a major share in 2024. North Americas rising geriatric population is highly prone to various respiratory disorders, and neuromuscular issues are impacting the broader range of demand for these advanced devices. Additionally, this region is encouraging the revolution of more compact, lightweight, and user-friendly devices that are feasible to use in home care settings.

For instance,

In May 2025, ABM Respiratory Care, an innovator in respiratory therapy solutions, collaborated with Delve Health, a trailblazer in decentralized clinical trial technology, to examine the impact of its BiWaze Clear System in patients living with bronchiectasis.



Why did the Asia Pacific Grow Notably in the Market in 2024?

During 2025-2034, the Asia Pacific is predicted to register rapid growth in the cough assist devices market. Asia Pacifics expanding urbanization and pollution levels are boosting the generation of instances of respiratory concerns. This further fueled demand for supportive devices, including cough assist devices. Whereas, ASAPs governments are emphasizing the enhancement of healthcare access and infrastructure, which helps in the adoption of advanced respiratory devices and accelerates the availability of these products.

For instance,

In October 2024, AGAPE ATP Corporation (ATPC) partnered with FORMEDIC Technologies Sdn. Bhd. to launch LEGA, an electronic chest percussion device evolved for respiratory care.



Become a valued research partner with us - https://www.towardshealthcare.com/schedule-meeting

Segmental Insights

By product type analysis

What Made the Automatic Cough Assist Device Segment Dominant in the Market in 2024?

The automatic cough assist device segment held the largest revenue share of the cough assist devices market. The segment is driven by the ongoing decentralization of healthcare and the raised adoption of homecare models are developing a demand for portable, lightweight, and easy-to-operate cough assist devices. Advanced devices, like the Siva Health device is a medical-grade wearable systems which is applying AI for consistent, long-term cough monitoring in clinical settings, offering objective data for trials and patient management. The emergence of Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) technology is allowing seamless, remote data sharing among patients and caregivers, which ultimately enhances care quality and workflow efficiency.

By choice of delivery analysis

How did the Mouthpiece Segment Lead the Market in 2024?

In 2024, the mouthpiece segment registered dominance and will expand rapidly in the cough assist devices market. Nowadays, the worldwide patients and caregivers are looking for convenient and comfortable, non-invasive treatment choices for chronic concerns, making devices with a mouthpiece or mask delivery widely adaptable. Alongside, transforming hardware, including specialized mouthpiece interfaces and ventilator software, is used to omit disconnection alarms and escalate application in long-term ventilation is propelling the overall market expansion. Although mouthpiece ventilation facilitates higher practicality and possibly reduces morbidities than tracheostomy ventilation.

By end-use analysis

How did the Hospitals Segment Dominate the Market in 2024?

The hospitals segment captured the dominant share of the cough assist devices market in 2024. The well-developed hospitals comprise the resources and specialized professionals that are essential to perform and maintain advanced equipment, particularly cough assist machines, further enabling them to deliver optimal patient care. Besides this, an emerging trend of the integrated non-invasive ventilation support, likewise cough assist devices, is being adopted into respiratory therapy programs within hospitals, eventually in pediatric neurology and geriatric care units.

Whereas the home care settings segment is anticipated to expand at a rapid CAGR. A rise in demand for portable, affordable, smaller, lightweight, and battery-powered devices is boosting the transformations in home care settings. However, the globe is pushing advances in AI integration and digital connectivity, which are providing features, such as Cough-Trak for user-initiated therapy, remote monitoring capabilities, and automated AI-powered cough tracking. This further expands the development of user-friendly, tailored, and efficient approaches for patients used in muscular dystrophy and neuromuscular diseases.

Get the latest insights on life science industry segmentation with our Annual Membership: https://www.towardshealthcare.com/get-an-annual-membership

What are the Recent Developments in the Cough Assist Devices Market?

In January 2025, ActiGraph, the global player in wearable digital health technology for clinical research and drug development, and Hyfe Inc., unveiled their new digital health solution for the detection of coughs employing the ActiGraph LEAP wearable.

In December 2024, ZQuiet launched the ZQuiet Advance, an anti-snoring mouthpiece featuring a customizable fit with moldable trays, adjustable settings with four levels of jaw advancement, and a slim, lightweight design.

In December 2024, electronRx, a leading digital medicine and biomarker company, launched purpleDx, a cardiopulmonary assessment app to build medical device standards, at CES 2025 from 7-10 Jan in Las Vegas, USA.

In June 2024, React Health launched IntelliPAP, an auto-adjusting PEEP option for the V*Home, V+Pro, V+C, and VC+Pro ventilators.

Cough Assist Devices Market Key Players List

Dima Italia Srl

Genotronics

Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc.

Intersurgical, Inc.

McKesson Corporation

Oxycare Medical Group

Percussionaire Corp.

Philips Respironics

US Med-Equip

Ventec Life Systems

Wave Healthcare



Browse More Insights of Towards Healthcare:

Segments Covered in The Report

By Product Type

Automatic Cough Assist Device

Manual Cough Assist Device

By Choice of Delivery

Mouthpiece

Face Mask

Adapter



By End-Use

Home Care Settings

Hospitals

Others



By Region

North America U.S. Canada

Asia Pacific China Japan India South Korea Thailand

Europe Germany UK France Italy Spain Sweden Denmark Norway

Latin America Brazil Mexico Argentina

Middle East and Africa (MEA) South Africa UAE Saudi Arabia Kuwait





Immediate Delivery Available | Buy This Premium Research @ https://www.towardshealthcare.com/price/5459

Access our exclusive, data-rich dashboard dedicated to the healthcare market - built specifically for decision-makers, strategists, and industry leaders. The dashboard features comprehensive statistical data, segment-wise market breakdowns, regional performance shares, detailed company profiles, annual updates, and much more. From market sizing to competitive intelligence, this powerful tool is one-stop solution to your gateway.

Access the Dashboard: https://www.towardshealthcare.com/access-dashboard

About Us

Towards Healthcare is a leading global provider of technological solutions, clinical research services, and advanced analytics, with a strong emphasis on life science research. Dedicated to advancing innovation in the life sciences sector, we build strategic partnerships that generate actionable insights and transformative breakthroughs. As a global strategy consulting firm, we empower life science leaders to gain a competitive edge, drive research excellence, and accelerate sustainable growth.

You can place an order or ask any questions, please feel free to contact us at sales@towardshealthcare.com

Europe Region: +44 778 256 0738

North America Region: +1 8044 4193 44

APAC Region: +91 9356 9282 04

Web: https://www.towardshealthcare.com

Our Trusted Data Partners

Precedence Research | Statifacts | Towards Packaging | Towards Automotive | Towards Food and Beverages | Towards Chemical and Materials | Towards Consumer Goods | Towards Dental | Towards EV Solutions | Nova One Advisor | Healthcare Webwire | Packaging Webwire | Automotive Webwire

Find us on social platforms: LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Medium | Pinterest
DANBURY, Conn., Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ethan Allen recently opened a new Design Center in Colorado Springs, located in the University Village Shopping Center. This stunning, just-completed space includes both a gallery showroom and workspaces for designers and their clients. The new Design Center marks the brands fourth location in Colorado, joining Ethan Allen Design Centers in Johnstown, Centennial, and Superior.





In addition to offering custom options for Ethan Allens handcrafted furniture, 75% of which is manufactured in North America, and suggesting accents like lighting and rugs, Ethan Allen designers offer full-service interior design at no additional charge. Tailoring the service to each clients needs, designers can offer guidance on space planning and color, create 3D room previews, design custom window treatments, and recommend custom artwork, custom linens, and more. The service also includes both at-home and virtual appointments.

We are pleased to return to Colorado Springs and be part of this vibrant and growing community, stated Farooq Kathwari, Ethan Allens Chairman, President and CEO. Building on our reputation for handcrafted quality, our unique blend of personal service combined with technology, and our vision of classic design from a modern perspective, we look forward to re-establishing Ethan Allen as Colorado Springss interior design destination.

The new Design Center is located at 5310 North Nevada Avenue. Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. To contact the Design Center, call 719.872.1259 or email coloradosprings@ethanallen.com.

ABOUT ETHAN ALLEN

Ethan Allen (NYSE:ETD), named America's #1 Premium Furniture Retailer by Newsweek, is a leading interior design destination combining state-of-the-art technology with personal service. Ethan Allen Design Centers, which represent a mix of company-operated and independent licensee locations, offer complimentary interior design service and sell a full range of home furnishings, including custom furniture and artisan-crafted accents for every room in the home. Vertically integrated from product design through logistics, the company manufactures about 75% of its custom-crafted products in its North American manufacturing facilities and has been recognized for product quality and craftsmanship since 1932. Learn more at www.ethanallen.com and follow Ethan Allen on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

CONTACT:

Catherine Plaisted

Senior Vice President, Marketing

catherine.plaisted@ethanallen.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ce323c20-a7ac-4b96-8084-dcb61f1bee87
COLLINGWOOD, Ontario, Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, the Ontario Home Builders Association (OHBA) is excited to launch a refreshed brand, alongside their new website.

Over the course of the past two years, we have done a lot of work to ensure that members feel confident in the work we are doing. Weve learned lessons along the way and have changed how we approach our work, says Scott Andison, CEO of OHBA.

Andison continues During Dave Depenciers term as Chair, we restructured our association  increased staff, modernized the tools at our disposal and brought OHBA into the present. Under Mike Memmes leadership, we have transitioned how we do business, how we advocate for our members and laid out a clear plan moving forward. As we elect our new Chair, Christina Giannone, we are ready to grow our association, our platform and the work we do for our members.

You can find OHBAs new website here at www.ohba.ca

About OHBA:

Founded in 1962, the Ontario Home Builders Association (OHBA) is the voice of the residential construction industry in Ontario. It represents over 4,000 member companies in the home building, land development, professional renovation and professional services sectors through 28 local chapter associations across the province. OHBA advocates on behalf of its members to key stakeholders, provides member benefits and training, and promotes innovation and professionalism within the residential construction industry.

Since 2007, OHBA members have built more than 700,000 homes in more than 500 Ontario communities. The residential construction industry employs more than 500,000 people across the province, and contributes more than $66.6 billion dollars to Ontarios economy.

Contact:
Montreal, Canada and Zurich, Switzerland, Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hitachi Energy, the worlds leading electrification company, today announced an additional $270 million CAD ($195 million USD) investment to expand its large power transformer manufacturing facility near Montreal, Canada. This major investment, which builds on an ongoing expansion announced in 2024, will nearly triple the sites annual production capacity, reinforcing Canadas role as a beacon of clean-energy manufacturing for the world.

This effort is part of Hitachi Energys $9 billion USD global investment program, the largest in the industry to expand manufacturing capacity, R&D, and engineering. This latest expansion will create approximately 500 new jobs and bring significant benefits to the local economy. With more than half of the value of goods sold from Varennes typically sourced locally, the investment will spur further economic development in the region.

Transformers are a critical component of the energy value chain, enabling efficient transmission and distribution of electricity. They support applications such as large-scale transmission systems, data center operations, grid interconnections, integration of renewable energy, and the electrification of transportation, all of which are essential to the decarbonization of energy systems. In Canada, large power transformers are also vital in supporting energy-intensive industries such as mining, aluminum production, and steel manufacturing, which are foundational to the national economy.

The Varennes expansion is a significant step in Hitachi Energys global plan to increase transformer production capacity to meet growing mid- and long-term customer needs in the energy transition.

With this expansion, Varennes will continue to play a leading role in strengthening the regions power grid. Our team is proud to be at the forefront of delivering sustainable, reliable, and resilient energy infrastructure for decades to come, says Bruno Melles, Managing Director of Business Unit Transformers, Hitachi Energy.

This investment will allow us to significantly increase our ability to meet the fast-growing demand for large power transformers, reactors, and HVDC technology, which are critical to achieving key energy transition goals, added Carla Vicente, Country Managing Director, Hitachi Energy in Canada.

The Varennes facility is one of the largest manufacturers of HVDC transformers in the world and is also CSA N299-certified for nuclear quality assurance. These capabilities position the site to address unprecedented demand for transformers driven by the expansion of nuclear power generation, increased interconnection between jurisdictions, the refurbishment of existing infrastructure, and surging electricity demand from data centers and continued growth in renewable sources.

Hitachi Energy Canada plays a strategic role in Quebecs energy development. It is the only company in North America that produces transformers of this magnitude. Drawing on a strong pool of Quebec expertise, it stands as one of the pillars of our energy security and will continue to be a leader in the green economy. We are proud to support its expansion project in Varennes, which will mark a new stage in its growth while creating many high-quality, well-paying jobs here in Quebec, said Christine Frechette, Minister of Economy, Innovation and Energy.

Clean, reliable energy is at the center of our governments plan to position Canada as an energy superpower. Investing in our domestic advanced manufacturing and research capabilities, like Hitachi Energy Canada, will strengthen Canadas energy sovereignty and create the jobs and expertise necessary to fortify our grid needs that will power Canadian prosperity and economic resiliency, said the Honorable Melanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions.

Canada is competing and winning in the race to build the strongest clean economy. By supporting Hitachi Energys expansion in Quebec, we are shoring up our domestic manufacturing capacity, securing the supply of critical grid technologies, and creating hundreds of good-paying jobs. Projects like this are proof that Canada has the people, expertise, and the ambition to be a true energy superpower, delivering reliable electricity to Canadians and clean power solutions to the world," said the Honorable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources.

The project will significantly improve production flow. Planned improvements include a state-of-the-art assembly line and the addition of two flexible core and winding feeding lines, ensuring greater production continuity. The factory fully integrates Hitachi Energys TrafoStar transformer technology platform, which harmonizes transformer design, manufacturing processes, and quality control measures across all power transformer factories worldwide.

As the worlds leading electrification company and the largest transformer manufacturer, Hitachi Energy is advancing grid modernization with industry-leading solutions and a commitment to achieving carbon-neutral operations by 2030.

About Hitachi Energy

Hitachi Energy is a global technology leader in electrification, powering a sustainable energy future with innovative power grid technologies with digital at the core. Over three billion people depend on our technologies to power their daily lives. With over a century in pioneering mission-critical technologies like high-voltage, transformers, automation, and power electronics, we are addressing the most urgent energy challenge of our time  balancing soaring electricity demand, while decarbonizing the power system. With an unparalleled installed base in over 140 countries, we co-create and build long-term partnerships across the utility, industry, transportation, data centers, and infrastructure sectors. Headquartered in Switzerland, we employ over 50,000 people in 60 countries and generate revenues of around $16 billion USD.

https://www.hitachienergy.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/hitachienergy

https://twitter.com/HitachiEnergy

About Hitachi, Ltd.

Through its Social Innovation Business (SIB) that brings together IT, OT (Operational Technology) and products, Hitachi contributes to a harmonized society where the environment, wellbeing, and economic growth are in balance. Hitachi operates globally in four sectors  Digital Systems & Services, Energy, Mobility, and Connective Industries  and the Strategic SIB Business Unit for new growth businesses. With Lumada at its core, Hitachi generates value from integrating data, technology and domain knowledge to solve customer and social challenges. Revenues for FY2024 (ended March 31, 2025) totaled 9,783.3 billion yen, with 618 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 280,000 employees worldwide. Visit us at

www.hitachi.com

Attachment
Minneapolis, MN, Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Millions of Americans heading into open enrollment season for ACA Marketplace health coverage will face various changes, under a combination of a new federal rule and the recently enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Together, these policy updates will reshape how some consumers access and pay for health insurance.

The changes come at a time of continued uncertainty over whether enhanced premium subsidies will be extended beyond 2025. These enhancements have been in place since 2021 and resulted in more than 40% of 2025 enrollees paying premiums of no more than $10 a month. According to healthinsurance.org policy analysts, the result is a mix of opportunities and challenges that consumers will need to navigate.

Marketplace open enrollment runs from Nov. 1-Jan. 15 in most states, but consumers should check their state exchanges deadlines.

Out-of-pocket limits reach record high

Beginning in 2026, a new federal rule increases the maximum annual out-of-pocket limit for ACA-compliant plans to $10,600 for individual coverage.

This is a bigger-than-usual year-over-year increase, said Louise Norris, a health policy analyst with healthinsurance.org. While many enrollees wont hit the maximum, those with significant medical spending could be exposed to hundreds of dollars in additional out-of-pocket costs.

HSA eligibility expands

Some of the changes present new opportunities. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act allows people enrolled in bronze or catastrophic Marketplace plans to contribute to health savings accounts (HSAs) starting in 2026. HSAs allow individuals to save pre-tax dollars for medical expenses and are considered one of the most flexible tax-advantaged accounts available.

For some enrollees, expanded HSA availability could be a real win, Norris said. It gives people a way to set aside funds for both short-term and long-term healthcare expenses.

Subsidy repayment risk grows

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act also removes the repayment cap for excess advance premium tax credits (APTC)  subsidies that lower monthly premiums for most Marketplace enrollees. Starting with the 2026 plan year, if a households actual income is higher than what was projected at enrollment, there will be no cap on the amount of excess subsidies the policyholder must repay at tax time.

This change creates a new layer of financial risk, Norris noted. Households that underestimate their income could end up owing thousands of dollars. Consumers should take extra care with income estimates and promptly update them with the Marketplace if circumstances change.

Subsidy access tightens for new immigrants

Another provision of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act affects lawfully present recent immigrants with household incomes below the federal poverty level (FPL). Beginning in 2026, they will no longer be eligible for premium subsidies during their first five years in the United States. In prior years, Marketplace rules allowed these consumers to qualify for subsidies since Medicaid is not available to most lawfully present immigrants until theyve been in the U.S. for five years.

This rollback could leave some recent immigrants without affordable options, at least for their first five years in the country, Norris said. Its a notable shift from the approach that had been in place.

Preparing for the future

Taken together, these changes highlight the importance of careful decision making as the Marketplace open enrollment approaches. The uncertainty about subsidy enhancements adds another layer of complexity.

Consumers should not panic, but they do need to prepare, Norris advised. Check income projections carefully, compare all plan choices, and consider whether HSAs are a good fit for your situation. Being proactive will help minimize financial surprises.

For ongoing updates and consumer-friendly guidance about Marketplace coverage and health reform, visit healthinsurance.org.

Healthinsurance.org provides online resources for consumers about individual and family health insurance. Healthinsurance.org, owned by HealthInsurance.org, LLC, has been providing consumer information about health insurance and health reform for over 25 years
Singapore, Singapore , Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GEMtrust DAO, the decentralized governance framework pioneering GEM DiCom  the first digitally native commodity transparently associated with investment-grade gemstones  is set to showcase at Token2049 in Singapore, one of the most influential gatherings in the global Web3 ecosystem.

At Token2049, GEMtrust DAO will present its mission of redefining digital asset value through rarity and transparency, engaging directly with industry leaders, investors, and innovators. The DAOs presence is designed to combine education, application , and ecosystem-building. GEMtrust DAO will also host open discussions with funds, exchanges, infrastructure providers, and ecosystem partners seeking to explore collaborations around GEM DiCom (Gemstone as Digital Commodity) and decentralized commodity models.

Token2049 is the perfect stage to present not just our product, but our philosophy: that the financial system needs an asset rooted in stability, safety, and scarcity - with low volatility, a proven history of preserving wealth, and a value that grows naturally over time, said Gordan Kljajic, Co-Founder of GEMtrust DAO. We are here to build bridges with partners who believe in decentralization, transparency, and real-world anchoring of digital value.

By participating in Token2049, GEMtrust DAO reinforces its commitment to transparency-first infrastructure, decentralized governance, and the creation of digital assets that move beyond speculative hype. Visitors to the booth will have the opportunity to engage with the GEMtrust DAOs representatives, explore GEM DiComs framework, and discuss long-term strategies for sustainable digital wealth preservation.

Join GEMtrust DAO at Booth MB4 87 Level 4 during Token2049 to connect directly with our team, explore partnership opportunities, and take part in shaping the future of digital commodities. Schedule your meeting in advance via office@gemdicom.com

For more information about GEMtrust DAO and GEM DiCom, visit: https://gemdicom.com/dicom

About GEMtrust DAO

GEMtrust DAO bridges the timeless qualities of investment-grade colored gemstones with the digital economy through the GEM DiCom (GEM Digital Commodity). GEMtrust DAO makes these tangible assets - with enduring value of gemstones and their historic track record of wealth preservation, as well as independence from traditional financial markets - accessible in digital form, enabling them to serve as a reliable foundation for innovation in finance. GEM DiCom is designed for long-term, value-oriented applications. By unlocking the inherent strengths of gemstones, it provides new opportunities for building financial products and services that are rooted in real assets.

Media Contact:

press@gemdicom.com




Washington, D.C., Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sara Schuttloffel

srschuttloffel@impact-net.org

(202) 383-4848

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ironworkers: The Best Kept Secret in Mass Timber Construction

Union Ironworkers bring steel expertise to timber, making them the best, safest, most efficient choice for mass timber.

Washington, D.C.  September 29, 2025  When most people think of ironworkers, they think of steelcranes, rigging, and iconic skyscrapers. Mass timber is not the first thing that comes to mind. But that perception is changing fast.

The International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers (Iron Workers) in partnership with its labor management arm Ironworker Management Progressive Action Cooperative Trust (IMPACT), is proving that ironworkers are not only part of the mass timber conversation, but they are the best equipped trade to erect these projects.

From landmark projects like the Walmart Headquarters in Arkansas, the largest mass timber building completed to date in the country, erected by Iron Workers signatory contractor Foust Fab & Erectors, to countless hybrid timber-and-steel structures across the United States and Canada, ironworkers are quietly setting the standard for mass timber erection. Ironworkers have proven that their structural steel expertise, efficiency, and safety culture make them the #1 choice for this growing market.

Mass timber growth aligns with structural steel; the material is different, but the work is the same, said Eric Dean, general president of the Iron Workers. Ironworkers already know how to rig, hoist, bolt, and connect structural members. They have been doing this for generations. Whether its steel or timber, no one does it safer or more efficiently.

Swinging structural members is nothing new to ironworkers, said Iron Workers Mass Timber Consultant Tom Baun of 3 Tree Consulting Inc. A glulam beam must be rigged, hoisted, and connected just like structural steel members.

Why Ironworkers Are the No.1 Choice for Mass Timber:

Transferable Skills: Ironworkers have been erecting structures for generations. The skill set and expertise required to erect a mass timber structure is the same. More than any other trade, ironworkers have been specializing in structural erection for centuries. When it comes to mass timber projects, instead of steel, they work with CLT, GLT, Glulam, MPP, and any other Mass Timber products that are offered. The skills required to erect a structure remain the same.

Ironworkers have been erecting structures for generations. The skill set and expertise required to erect a mass timber structure is the same. More than any other trade, ironworkers have been specializing in structural erection for centuries. When it comes to mass timber projects, instead of steel, they work with CLT, GLT, Glulam, MPP, and any other Mass Timber products that are offered. The skills required to erect a structure remain the same. Proven Track Record: Union ironworkers erected Walmarts sustainable HQ campus and many other large-scale projects demonstrating their leadership in mass timber at scale.

Union ironworkers erected Walmarts sustainable HQ campus and many other large-scale projects demonstrating their leadership in mass timber at scale. Specialized Training: Through a partnership with WoodWorks , Iron Workers created a nationally validated and third-party verified, mass timber curriculum. Iron Workers locals are already using more than 35 mockups designed and supplied by FOUST Fab & Erectors, which now offers a wide range of hybrid mockups, to train a new generation of ironworkers, getting them an early start on mass timber from their apprenticeship programs.

Through a partnership with , Iron Workers created a nationally validated and third-party verified, mass timber curriculum. Iron Workers locals are already using more than 35 mockups designed and supplied by which now offers a wide range of hybrid mockups, to train a new generation of ironworkers, getting them an early start on mass timber from their apprenticeship programs. Hybrid Advantage: Since most modern projects combine timber and steel, ironworkers dual expertise makes them essential for the future of construction.

Our mass timber training is in partnership with WoodWorks, and therefore, third-party validated, said Iron Workers Executive Director of Apprenticeship and Training James Owens. The National Training Fund has established an extensive mass timber training program to train the trainers and ironworkers. We have integrated and implemented mass timber training into our already robust training and safety of over 30 Iron Workers registered apprenticeship programs across the United States and Canada. We are leading the construction industry in mass timber training.

In addition to the comprehensive mass timber training, Iron Workers labor-management arm, IMPACT has launched a new Mass Timber Estimating Course, equipping Iron Workers signatory contractors to bid competitively and win projects.

Mass timber may be a different material, but it demands the same precision, planning, and structural know-how weve built our name on, said Coby Foust, fourth generation ironworker and president of FOUST Fab & Erectors whose ironworker workforce erected the Walmart HQ. As ironworkers, our experience gives us a powerful edge in delivering mass timber at the highest level.

With demand for sustainable building materials on the rise, ironworkers are ready to deliver the next generation of mass timber projects across the United States and Canadasafely, efficiently, with expertise developers and contractors have grown to trust.

For all media inquiries, please contact Sara Schuttloffel at sschuttloffel@impact-net.org or (202) 383-4848.

###

The International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers (IW) represents over 130,000 members throughout the United States and Canada.
HACKENSACK, N.J., Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Paperclip Inc., a leading provider of content management and data security solutions for the financial services industries, is proud to announce its sponsorship of the Americas Credit Union Operations & Member Experience Council and Technology Council Conference.

As a recognized innovator in secure data management and digital transformation technologies, Paperclip is excited to connect with credit union and wealth management professionals to help them solve challenges and streamline operations.

Were excited to be a part of this years Americas Credit Union Operations and Technology conference and to contribute to meaningful conversations that are shaping the future of the financial industry, said Suzy Tuck, Senior VP of Sales at Paperclip. We are committed to helping Wealth Management organizations modernize their operations while staying ahead of emerging compliance and security challenges.

At the event, Paperclip will showcase its solutions designed for the financial services industry, including:

Mojo Data Transformation

Data Transformation Virtual Client Folder Content Management

Content Management Internet eXpress Electronic Document Exchange

Electronic Document Exchange SAFE Encryption-in-Use

Encryption-in-Use C-mail Encrypted Email

Encrypted Email SIGN Secure e-Signature

Attendees are invited to visit the Paperclip booth (#308) to learn how advanced technologies can simplify data management and drive operational efficiency while meeting compliance requirements and reducing risk. You can also read about Paperclips solutions to address operational and security challenges for credit unions on our website.

The Americas Credit Union Operations Management Operations & Member Experience Council and Technology Council Conference 2025 will be held September 29  Oct. 1 at JW Marriott at Desert Ridge Resort in Phoenix, AZ. For the complete event schedule, visit here. To schedule a meeting with Paperclip during the conference, please reach out to stuck@paperclip.com or visit www.paperclip.com.

About Paperclip, Inc.

Paperclip is a software technology partner that creates data security and operational efficiencies for some of the largest globally recognized brands worldwide.

With over three decades of customer-centric innovation, Paperclip is a proven strategic partner that continues to revolutionize data security, content supply chain, and document management. Paperclip solutions securely process, transcribe, store, and secure our clients most sensitive content, such as PII, PHI, NPI, and corporate IP.

Paperclip enables enterprises to harness the power of their data without ever sacrificing security. As a trusted leader, Paperclip continues to innovate, adapt and excel within a rapidly changing digital world. Learn more at www. paperclip .com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Megan Brandow

Paperclip, Inc.

MBrandow@paperclip.com

585.727.0983
SHENZHEN, China, Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In June 2025, Vijim Technology today announced that Frost & Sullivan has ranked its flagship brand Ulanzi No. 1 worldwide by sales volume in photography accessories for 2024, according to a study completed in June 2025.This accolade marks a milestone for Chinese innovation in the global photography accessories market and affirms Vijim Technologys long-term strategy and user co-creation model in a highly competitive category.





Vijim earned this recognition by doubling down on value creation, R&D-driven innovation, and brand buildingpillars that now support its multi-brand strategy and long-term global expansion.





From Trading Price for Volume to Process-Driven, Product-Led Growth: Competing on Value, Not Price

Early on, Vijim chased growth through thin margins and subsidy-backed promotions, which produced short-term gains but were ultimately unsustainable. The company pivoted to profitable growth and operational discipline, building a robust process-driven management system. Key initiatives included:Establishing a dedicated Process Management Department and fully implementing the IPD (Integrated Product Development) system;

Embedding waste reduction as a cultural principle across functions.

By 2024, Vijim sustained rapid iteration while saving approximately RMB 20 million in annual costs.. The company can roll out compatible accessories within 12 weeks of new photography device launchesearning it a reputation with distributors as one of the fastest-responding brands in the category.





Turning User Co-Creation into Repeatable Innovation: If process excellence is Vijim Technologys internal strength, its external strength lies in its user-centered operating model. The company has put in place a closed feedback loop for user co-creation, anchored in three pillars:

Dedicated user research: A specialized team continuously mines social and e-commerce feedback to distill actionable insights.

Structured product retrospectives: Annual reviews of the Top 10 Successful/Failed Products institutionalize learning and prevent repeated mistakes.





Taken together, these practices are far from isolatedthey form the backbone of Vijims user-centered design (UCD) co-creation model. The model provides a clearer roadmap for product decisions and has helped the brand scale with fewer false starts, contributing to a durable competitive edge. Notable outcomes include:

This approach has led to several standout innovations:

Claw Quick-Release System, co-developed over a year with creators on Bilibili, which meaningfully reduces solo-creator gear-switch time and helped establish a new quick-release subcategory;

Gear Tree, co-created with professional filmmakers, offering a modular mounting solution tailored to small studio workflows.



Globalization Meets Localization: Multi-Brand, Multi-Language Operations





Vijim Technology moved early on international expansionwell ahead of many peers that were still treating overseas sales as basic export business. Instead of a one-size-fits-all push, the company built multi-platform, multi-language presences and set up localized teams in priority markets to deepen engagement and improve operating efficiency.

Today, Vijim runs social media channels in more than a dozen languagesincluding Japanese, Russian, and Arabicwith audiences ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of followers.

Product planning is tuned to real local demand. For example, in Africa, Vijim prioritizes professional lighting solutions rather than a livestreaming-accessory-only mix.

The companys multi-brand strategy continues to evolve:

Ulanzi serves independent content creators with user-driven innovation; FALCAM focuses on original design and patent-driven differentiation, addressing a broader range of professional users.





About Vijim Technology

Headquartered in Shenzhen, Shenzhen Vijim Technology Co., Ltd. is the parent company of Ulanzi and FALCAM, With a decade of development, the company specializes in R&D, design and sales of photography accessories, and delivers end-to-end solutions for creators at every skill level and across diverse use cases..

In June 2025, Frost & Sullivan ranked Ulanzi No. 1 worldwide by sales volume in photography accessories for 2024. As a privately held company, Vijim Technology does not publicly disclose financial information.

Source note: Based on Frost & Sullivan research on the global photography-accessories market; rankings calculated from 2024 global sales volumes across all channels. The study was completed in June 2025.

Contact: Jocelyn Liao, PR@ulanzi.cn
EDF announces the success of its green hybrid bond issue for a nominal amount of 1.25 billion euros

EDF (BBB positive S&P / Baa1 stable Moodys / BBB+ stable Fitch) successfully priced a new issuance of green perpetual subordinated notes (the New Notes) of 1.25 billion bond, at an initial 4.375% coupon until 2031 with a 5.5-year first call date at EDFs discretion.

This transaction enables EDF to finance its strategy and objective to contribute to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. An amount equal to the net proceeds of the New Notes will be used to finance and/or refinance investments as defined in EDFs Green Financing Framework (1) and aligned with the European taxonomy in relation to the lifetime extension of the existing nuclear reactors in France. As a reminder, the carbon intensity of nuclear power plants in France is 4gCO/kWh (2).

It is expected that the rating agencies will assign the New Notes a rating of B+/Ba1/ /BBB- (S&P/ Moodys/Fitch) and an equity content of 50%.

Settlement and delivery will take place on 6 October 2025, the date on which the New Notes are expected to be admitted to trading on the regulated market of Euronext Paris.

EDF is an active issuer of debt and other types of securities. EDF regularly assesses its financing requirements and monitors national and international financial markets for opportunities to conduct additional issuances of senior debt, hybrids and/or other types of securities.

Claude Laruelle, Group Senior Executive Vice President in charge of the Performance, Impact, Investment and Finance of EDF, said "this transaction demonstrates the confidence of the market in EDFs strategy to promote energy sovereignty and energy transition".

About EDF

The EDF Group is a key player in the energy transition, as an integrated energy operator engaged in all aspects of the energy business: power generation, distribution, trading, energy sales and energy services. The Group is a world leader in low-carbon energy, with an output of 520TWh 94% decarbonised and a carbon intensity of 30gCO2/kWh in 2024, a diverse generation mix based mainly on nuclear and renewable energy (including hydropower). It is also investing in new technologies to support the energy transition. EDFs raison detre is to build a net zero energy future with electricity and innovative solutions and services, to help save the planet and drive well-being and economic development. The Group supplies energy and services to approximately 41.5 million customers(1) and generated consolidated sales of 118.7 billion in 2024.

(1) The customer portfolio consists of electricity, gas and recurring service contracts

(1) The Framework is available in the Sustainable Finance section of EDF's website

(2) Life Cycle Analysis Report

Attachment
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Members of the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) - the nations largest statewide coalition of public water agencies - have elected Ernesto Ernie Avila, P.E., to a two-year term as president and Carol Lee Gonzales-Brady as vice president. Their terms will begin Jan. 1, 2026.



Avila, who currently serves as ACWAs vice president, has served on the Contra Costa Board of Directors since 2016 and has been the board president since 2022. Avila is a nationally recognized engineer, honored by the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Multi-State Salinity Coalition for his leadership and contributions to the water profession. He brings more than 42 years of professional experience in planning, environmental compliance, regulation, design and construction of water, wastewater, and recycled water works and municipal facilities. He has previously served as director of engineering at Contra Costa Water District and as general manager of the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District.

Avila will succeed Cathy Green as ACWA president. Green, a member of the Orange County Water District Board of Directors, has led ACWA since 2024.

Replacing Avila as vice president, Gonzales-Brady has served on the Rancho California Water District Board of Directors since 2017, including two terms as board president. Her professional experience spans federally regulated industries such as water and electric utilities. She is also on the Southern California Water Coalition Board of Trustees and Urban Water Institute Board of Directors.

ACWA is the largest statewide coalition of public water agencies in the U.S with approximately 470 public water agency members in California. The president and vice president are elected by the membership to lead the association and its 37-member Board of Directors.

ACWA is a statewide association of public agencies whose approximately 470 members are responsible for about 90% of the water delivered in California. For more information, visit www.acwa.com.

Contacts:

Heather Engel, ACWA Director of Communications | heathere@acwa.com | (916) 669-2387

Jennifer Allen, CCWD Director of Public Affairs | jallen@ccwater.com | (925) 297-9739

Kimy Wall, Rancho Water Public Affairs Manager | wallk@ranchowater.com |951-401-9587

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c398979d-3db1-4812-97ee-bfd404b39b70

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/653f2c1f-b02c-400b-9d90-839809f90b92
IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Syntiant Corp., the recognized leader in ultra-low-power edge AI deployment, today announced it has received the High Tech Award for Deal of the Year from Octane, Southern Californias premier organization dedicated to driving innovation.

The award recognizes a standout financial transaction that has made a significant impact on the business landscape. Syntiants recent acquisition of Knowles Corporations (NYSE: KN) Consumer MEMS Microphone (CMM) business was honored for its bold strategy, enabling it to expand its technology and market presence by acquiring a key division from a larger corporation.

Key highlights of the deal include:

Offers a complete, integrated end-to-end solution that combines sensors, processors and machine learning models.

Aligns directly with the growing trend of AI-enabled microphones in consumer and industrial applications.

Provides immediate entry into the multi-billion-dollar MEMS microphone market.

Gains a highly skilled team along with proven technology, multinational operations and a strong customer base.

Octanes recognition reflects the dedication and expertise of our team at Syntiant as we integrate Knowles sensors and microphones into our edge AI platform, said Kurt Busch, CEO of Syntiant. We are now delivering a full, turnkey solution that simplifies product development, accelerates time-to-market, and enables scalable, secure and customizable applications for consumer electronics, smart home devices, automotive and industrial use cases.

This latest award builds on Syntiants history of recognition by Octane, including the 2021 High Tech Award for Best Technology Company Leadership Team and the 2019 High Tech Award for Outstanding Emerging Technology Company.

About Syntiant

Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Irvine, Calif., Syntiant is Making Edge AI a Reality by delivering highly efficient processor, sensor, and software solutions. With more than 100 million purpose-built silicon and ML models deployed, along with billions of MEMS microphones and sensors, Syntiants technology is powering edge AI applications for speech, audio, sensor and vision processing worldwide. From earbuds to automobiles, the companys turnkey solutions enable advanced edge AI capabilities across diverse consumer and industrial use cases. More information on the company can be found by visiting www.syntiant.com or by following Syntiant on X @Syntiantcorp or LinkedIn .

About Octane

Octane accelerates innovation by connecting entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders across Southern California. Now in its 32nd year, the High Tech Awards celebrate individuals and companies who make Orange County a hub for technology and medical technology innovation. For more information, visit octane.org.

Media Contacts:

George Medici/Natalie Mu

PondelWilkinson

gmedici@pondel.com/nmu@pondel.com

310.279.5980
Chicago, Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global security service edge market was valued at US$ 2.9 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach US$ 24.6 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 26.8% during the forecast period 20252033.

The rising demand for Security Service Edge (SSE) solutions is not just a trend but a strategic turning point in cybersecurity. Organizations increasingly view external expertise as a permanent necessity rather than a temporary fix. The staggering financial impact of cyber incidentsaveraging US$14,500 for phishing attacks and US$18,750 for denial-of-service incidentshighlights why businesses are opting for trusted providers with proven response capabilities. A landmark 2025 survey, which included input from 713 IT and cybersecurity leaders, highlights an undeniable trend. A commanding 79% of organizations now plan to implement a Security Service Edge (SSE) platform within the next 24 months. A figure representing a significant acceleration from the 69% of organizations that held similar 24-month implementation goals back in 2024. The urgency is palpable, with nearly half of these organizations, specifically 45%, moving to adopt SSE within the next year, underscoring its pivotal role in modern security strategies.

Download Sample Pages: https://www.astuteanalytica.com/request-sample/security-service-edge-market

The rapid adoption is directly tied to broader strategic initiatives. In 2025, 62% of organizations now classify a comprehensive Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) strategy as a key corporate initiative. An important increase from the 59% who viewed SASE with the same strategic importance in 2024. For the majority, SSE is the logical and practical entry point into this modern security framework. Indeed, 59% of organizations confirm they begin their SASE journey with the foundational implementation of an SSE platform, solidifying its position as the cornerstone of contemporary network security.

Key Findings in Security Service Edge Market

Market Forecast (2033) US$ 24.6 billion CAGR 26.8% Largest Region (2024) North America (39.22%) By Component Bicycles (61%) By Enterprise Size Large Enterprises (68%) By End Users BFSI (32%) Top Drivers Massive adoption of cloud services and prevalent remote work models.

Increasingly sophisticated cyber threats demanding Zero Trust security frameworks.

Strict regulatory mandates for data protection and privacy compliance. Top Trends Convergence of SSE and SD-WAN into single-vendor SASE solutions.

Integration of AI and machine learning for proactive threat detection.

Growing preference for cloud-native platforms over legacy on-premises hardware. Top Challenges Potential for latency and performance issues in routing traffic.

Complexity of integration with existing legacy IT infrastructure.

Shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals to manage advanced solutions.

Cloud-Native Architectures Dominate as Enterprises Abandon Legacy Hardware Security Models

The architectural preferences within the Security service edge market have clearly crystallized around cloud-native solutions. In 2025, a decisive 70% of organizations now favor SSE solutions that are built on public cloud architectures, prizing their inherent scalability and flexibility. This preference marks a steady climb from 65% in 2024. Furthermore, a significant majority of organizations, 61%, are now expressing a clear preference for a single-vendor SASE solution that effectively unifies both SSE and SD-WAN components into one manageable platform, signaling a move away from fragmented, multi-vendor approaches.

The financial data corroborates this seismic shift away from traditional hardware in the Security service edge market. In 2024, the cloud-based deployment segment already accounted for a majority 56.49% of the SSE market. Looking ahead, revenue from cloud- and software-delivered network security controls is projected to see a robust 20% increase in 2025. In stark contrast, revenue from legacy hardware-based security appliances is expected to decline by 2% during the same period. The most telling statistic is that virtual and SaaS-based network security solutions captured an overwhelming 78% of all new spending in 2025, leaving little doubt about the future direction of enterprise security investment.

Zero Trust Principles Emerge as the Unwavering Foundational Driver for Security Service Edge (SSE) Market

The philosophy of Zero Trust, which mandates verification for every access request, has become the primary catalyst for SSE adoption. In 2025, 46% of organizations identified Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) as the critical starting point for their SSE adoption journey. A notable increase from the 44% of organizations that prioritized ZTNA as their initial entry point into the framework in 2024. Underscoring its importance, SSE platforms are now considered the single most critical technology for successfully implementing a Zero Trust framework, according to 34% of survey respondents in 2025.

Consequently, legacy technologies are being rapidly phased out in the Security service edge market. In 2024, a significant 66% of organizations expressed a strong desire to replace their antiquated VPN concentrators with modern SSE and ZTNA capabilities. By 2025, those intentions solidified into action, with 62% of those organizations confirming they now have active plans in place to eliminate their legacy VPNs entirely. Confidence in older security models has eroded completely, with confidence in monitoring employee access under these old models scoring a low 5.3 out of 10 in 2025, while confidence in tracking third-party user access scored an even lower 4.9 out of 10.

Strategic Prioritization of Core SSE Components Defines Modern Implementation Roadmaps

Within the broader framework, organizations are demonstrating clear priorities when deploying core components of the Security service edge market. Following ZTNA, the Secure Web Gateway (SWG) stands as the second most prioritized component, with 30% of organizations choosing it as their implementation starting point in 2025. The Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) is the initial focus for a further 24% of organizations in the same year. These figures reveal a methodical, phased approach to building a comprehensive security edge based on immediate needs.

A wider view of broader SASE technology adoption in 2025 provides additional context on component integration. The data shows SWG technology is currently being adopted by 48% of organizations, making it a highly prevalent security control. Firewall-as-a-Service (FWaaS) is being actively implemented by 43% of organizations as they move security functions to the cloud. The adoption rate for CASB technology specifically stands at 38%, while Data Loss Prevention (DLP) technology is being adopted by 34% of organizations as part of their comprehensive SASE and SSE strategies.

A Consolidated Trio of Leaders Solidifies Dominance in a Maturing Market

The competitive landscape of the Security service edge market is maturing rapidly, with a distinct group of leaders cementing their positions. An analysis of the Gartner Magic Quadrant for SSE in both 2024 and 2025 reveals remarkable consistency at the top. Three vendorsZscaler, Netskope, and Palo Alto Networkswere consistently placed in the coveted "Leaders" quadrant across both years. The total number of vendors recognized in the 2025 Gartner Magic Quadrant for SSE was 9, a slight consolidation from the 10 vendors that were recognized in the 2024 report.

The differentiation among these leaders is a key focus in the Security service edge (SSE) market. For 2025, Gartner ranked Netskope as number 1 for its "completeness of vision" for the third consecutive year, highlighting its strategic foresight. In the same 2025 report, Zscaler ascended to the number 1 position for its "ability to execute," demonstrating market-leading delivery. Zscaler also significantly improved its position on the vision axis, moving from the number 3 spot in 2024 to number 2 in 2025. Market consolidation is a powerful force, with the top 6 SASE vendors, including the SSE leaders, accounting for a massive 72% of the total market revenue in late 2024.

Strategic Investments and Acquisitions Fuel Unprecedented Innovation Across the Ecosystem

The vibrancy of the Security service edge market is fueled by a dynamic investment landscape. During the first quarter of 2025 alone, 75 startups operating in related technology fields collectively raised over $2 billion in funding. In that same quarter, 6 technology companies successfully raised at least $100 million each in their funding rounds. High-profile examples from 2024 and 2025 include AI security startup Anterior securing a $20 million Series A investment and OpenRouter, a platform connecting AI applications, raising $40 million in its Series A round.

Large-scale investments and strategic acquisitions further highlight the market's momentum. In August 2025, First Due, a public safety technology company reliant on secure access, secured a massive $355 million growth investment. Similarly, GenAI tax research platform Blue J raised $122 million in a Series D funding round in August 2025. Mergers and acquisitions are also shaping the competitive field. In a key strategic move in early 2024, SSE leader Zscaler acquired microsegmentation provider Airgap Networks to directly enhance its platform's Zero Trust capabilities.

Managed SSE Services Experience Surging Demand Amidst Growing Security Complexity

As SSE platforms grow in sophistication, a thriving ecosystem of Managed Service Providers (MSPs) has emerged in the Security service edge market. For 2025, revenue for MSPs is projected to grow by at least 12%, a surge driven primarily by relentless demand for advanced cybersecurity and cloud services. The managed services market in the United Kingdom alone is projected to reach a volume of 1.67 billion by 2029. This growth is also powered by the explosion of connected devices, with the number of Internet of Things (IoT) devices expected to grow from 13.2 billion currently to over 34.7 billion by 2028.

Enterprise budget planning reflects this trend toward outsourced expertise. In 2024, 43% of organizations reported plans to increase their security budgets, with a significant portion of that increase earmarked for managed services. While that figure adjusted slightly from 2024, where 47% of organizations planned budget increases, another key statistic emerged. A notable 46% of companies anticipate their security spending to remain flat in 2025, a factor that significantly increases the appeal of efficient and expert managed services. Reflecting this, the services segment held the single largest share of the 2025 Security service edge market components.

Sustained Innovation and Intellectual Property Filings Signal a Robust Future

The long-term health and innovative capacity of the tech sector supporting the Security service edge market can be quantified through patent data. In fiscal year 2024, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued a total of 326,921 patents across all industries. For the period ending November 30, 2024, the number of granted U.S. patents grew to an impressive 368,597. Semiconductor technology, a critical underpinning of cloud infrastructure, was the leading field for patents granted in 2024, with a total of 67,118. Artificial Intelligence-related patent grants also soared, reaching 54,022 in 2024.

Leading technology companies are driving this wave of innovation. Samsung, a major global innovator and component supplier, led all companies with 10,084 granted U.S. patents in 2024. As of October 2024, the USPTO had published at least 147,164 patent filings for the fiscal year, with Samsung again emerging as the top filer with 6,660 published patent applications during that period. A healthy and active patent landscape provides a strong foundation for the continued evolution of features and capabilities across the broader technology ecosystem.

Customize the Data Scope to Match Your Objectives: https://www.astuteanalytica.com/ask-for-customization/security-service-edge-market

User Experience and Hybrid Work Models Redefine Modern Security Imperatives

The demand boom in the Security service edge market is inextricably linked to modern work dynamics. A 2024 survey of 631 cybersecurity professionals found that an overwhelming 94% of their organizations were operating as primarily hybrid or fully remote. A separate 2025 report confirmed this, with 71% of organizations identifying as having a hybrid work model. Data from 2024 revealed that consistent hybrid work arrangements were in place at 76% of organizations, while fully remote work environments had surged by an astounding 80% compared to the previous year, and fully in-office work declined by 50%. This distributed workforce relies on cloud services, with 45.2% of EU enterprises using them, primarily for email hosting (82.7%) and file storage (68.0%).

In this new paradigm, security cannot compromise productivity, making user experience paramount. By 2025, an overwhelming 93% of IT leaders considered Digital Experience Monitoring (DEM) to be a crucial component of their SSE solution. Among those leaders, 33% rate DEM as "very important," showing a dramatic increase in perceived importance from 2024. The 2024 SSE Adoption Report showed that simplified IT management (18%) and improved user experience at the edge (21%) were already highly valued benefits. With technical limitations like the maximum of 6 concurrent SSE connections per domain on HTTP/1.1, performance monitoring is critical. Leaders like Netskope, through its Kadiska acquisition, and Zscaler, by unifying its consoles, are heavily investing in DEM, proving that seamless user experience is a non-negotiable success factor in the modern Security service edge market.

Global Security Service Edge Market Major Players:

Broadcom

Barracuda Networks, Inc.

Cato Networks

Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.

Cisco

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP

McAfee, LLC

Open Systems

Palo Alto Networks

Versa Networks, Inc.

VMware, Inc

Other Prominent Players

Key Market Segmentation:

By Component

Solution

Services

By Organization Size

Large Organization

SME's

By End User

BFSI

IT & Telecom

Retail & E-commerce

Healthcare

Government

Manufacturing

Energy & Utilities

Others

By Region

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Middle East & Africa (MEA)

South America

Want Clarity on Report Coverage? Schedule a Quick Demo Call: https://www.astuteanalytica.com/report-walkthrough/security-service-edge-market

About Astute Analytica

Astute Analytica is a global market research and advisory firm providing data-driven insights across industries such as technology, healthcare, chemicals, semiconductors, FMCG, and more. We publish multiple reports daily, equipping businesses with the intelligence they need to navigate market trends, emerging opportunities, competitive landscapes, and technological advancements.

With a team of experienced business analysts, economists, and industry experts, we deliver accurate, in-depth, and actionable research tailored to meet the strategic needs of our clients. At Astute Analytica, our clients come first, and we are committed to delivering cost-effective, high-value research solutions that drive success in an evolving marketplace.

Contact Us:

Astute Analytica

Phone: +1-888 429 6757 (US Toll Free); +91-0120- 4483891 (Rest of the World)

For Sales Enquiries: sales@astuteanalytica.com

Website: https://www.astuteanalytica.com/

Follow us on: LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube
NEW YORK, Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Equity Group Inc., an investor relations and corporate communications consultancy established in 1974, shares commentary on the proposed pivot to semi-annual reporting.

President Trump recently revisited the idea that U.S. public companies should be allowed to report financial results semi-annually instead of quarterly, a proposal he first introduced in 2018. Just yesterday, SEC Chair Paul Atkins announced that he was fast-tracking the Presidents proposal to provide companies with the option of reporting twice a year.

Experts have differing views on the ramifications of such a shift  The Equity Group argues that it would offer an opportunity for companies to set themselves apart, enhance their communications, and embrace new channels for investor engagement.

Devin Sullivan, Managing Director at The Equity Group, commented, Timely data is oxygen for investors. A regulation change like this should actually encourage companies to enhance and be more creative with their public communications in order to maintain visibility, lower their cost of capital by making sure accurate and up-to-date information is fully digested by the market, and stay ahead of rumors introduced by competitors or short sellers. Companies could also maintain good relations with retail investors by crafting new forms of communications that engender a spirit of respect for this increasingly important shareholder base.

Click here to read the blog post.

About The Equity Group

Founded in 1974, The Equity Group is an investor relations and corporate communications firm headquartered in New York City. The firm builds investment stories for public and going-public micro, small and mid-cap companies, introduces them to potential investors and sell-side analysts, and develops best practices investor communications and engagement programs supported by trusted, expert advisory and customized market intelligence. www.theequitygroup.com

Contact:

Devin Sullivan

Managing Director

The Equity Group Inc.

(212) 836-9608

DSullivan@theequitygroup.com
ORDOS, China, Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- From October 12 to 14, the 2025 Ordos Annual Conference on Media Convergence Development will be held in Ordos, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

The conference aims to exchange practical achievements in media convergence, analyze the challenges faced in its development, and propose strategies to advance it further.

Under the theme "Systematic Reform of Mainstream Media in the Digital Intelligence Era," the conference will bring together representatives from government agencies, media organizations, enterprises, industry associations, and research institutions in the "Warm City" of Ordos. Guided by the philosophy of "content + technology + inspiration + aesthetics," the event will use "convergence" as a bridge to build consensus on development, courageously shoulder cultural missions, and seize new opportunities amid changes. It aims to accelerate the deep integration of artificial intelligence and media in the mobile internet era, promote the intelligent transformation of the media industry, inject strong momentum into the high-quality systematic reform of mainstream media, provide solid support for media convergence development, and achieve new leaps in the reach and influence of media.

Visitors to this warm city in Inner Mongolia will find themselves immersed in a vibrant atmosphere: the cheerful echoes of the "Farmers' Harvest Festival" still resonate across the fields and pastures, major projects are yielding promising results for the industrial economy, and the cultural and tourism sectors are fully prepared, eagerly awaiting the upcoming of the 2025 Ordos Annual Conference on Media Convergence Development.

Key projects are demonstrating strong momentum. The Zhuozheng methanol-acetic acid project, with a total investment of 59 billion yuan (approximately $8.27 billion), is progressing steadily. The Baofeng coal-to-olefins project, the world's largest single-site plant of its kind, has commenced operations. Longi's high-efficiency photovoltaic module project, boasting an annual capacity of 5GW, was completed and reached full production in just 13 months from groundbreaking. Additionally, the "National Uranium No. 1" demonstration project by the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) in Ordos has produced its first batch of uranium. These leading projects are creating an "archipelago effect," laying a solid foundation for Ordos' ambitious goal of building four world-class industries.

In the first half of this year, Ordos reported a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 290.07 billion yuan (approximately $40.68 billion). Calculated at constant prices, this represents a year-on-year growth of 6.0%, surpassing the national average growth rate of 5.3%.

A detailed breakdown reveals a robust economic structure: the added value of the primary industry reached 1.82 billion yuan (approximately $255.3 million), a year-on-year increase of 6.2%, indicating a more stable foundation for agricultural and pastoral development; the secondary industry's added value hit 204.9 billion yuan (approximately $28.74 billion), growing by 7.4% year-on-year, demonstrating the sustained strong momentum of the industrial sector; and the tertiary industry's added value was 83.34 billion yuan (approximately $11.69 billion), up 3.4% year-on-year, highlighting the resilience of the service sector.

Behind this set of data lies not only the improvement and efficiency gains within individual industries, but also the underlying logic of structural optimization and coordinated development.

In 2025, Ordos launched 50 newly planned major projects, forming a comprehensive development blueprint valued at 1.3 trillion yuan (approximately $185.71 billion). These initiatives span key sectors including energy and industrial upgrading, transportation and infrastructure, ecological conservation, cultural tourism, as well as people's livelihood improvement and urban renewal -- demonstrating the city's holistic approach to transformation and upgrading, or what is known as the "Ordos Path."

By treating the "major project planning initiative" as a strategic framework, Ordos continuously refines its industrial layout. This approach enables the city not only to set clear objectives and advance steadily toward them, but also to adapt dynamically to evolving circumstances, explore innovative pathways, and seize emerging opportunities. The city is reinforcing its traditional advantageous industries, strengthening distinctive sectors, expanding strategic emerging industries, and cultivating future-oriented ones. Simultaneously, it is advancing ecological, foundational, and social welfare projects in a coordinated manner, promoting the iterative evolution of a modern industrial system characterized by diversified development and multi-tiered support -- replacing fragmented growth patterns with an integrated, chain-based development model.

As of July, a total of 428 major projects across the city have resumed construction and production, with completed investments reaching 95.62 billion yuan (approximately $136.60 billion), achieving an investment completion rate of 53.3%. Across construction sites marked by towering cranes, workshops resonating with machinery, and interconnected power grids, one can clearly sense the sustained momentum of a stable and growing industrial economy, the steady recovery of fixed asset investment, the revitalized dynamism of the consumer market, and the continuous rise in residents' incomes.

"Ordos, the 'Warm City', stands ready, brimming with confidence in its rapid progress, to welcome the 2025 Ordos Annual Conference on Media Convergence Development!"

Source: Organizing Committee of the 2025 Ordos Annual Conference on Media Convergence Development
TORONTO, Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NexGold Mining Corp. (TSXV: NEXG; OTCQX: NXGCF) (NexGold or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced financing for a 2.9% net smelter returns royalty (the Royalty) with Appian Capital Advisory Limited (Appian) in relation to the Companys 100% owned Goldboro Gold Project (the Project). Under the terms of the financing transaction, the Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Goldboro Gold Mine Inc. (GGM), received cash consideration of US$24 million. This transaction secures for the Company a less dilutive source of financing, and helps advance the Project through project development activities towards project financing and a construction decision while maintaining the robust economics of the Project.

The Company used a portion of the proceeds from the Royalty to retire the existing US$12 million credit facility held by Nebari and exercised its buyback on the 0.6% net smelter return royalty also held by Nebari. Post this transaction, the Company does not hold any material debt with third parties.

Royalty Details

Royalty - The Royalty is on all minerals produced from the Project up until 1,250,000 ounces of gold or gold equivalent is achieved, and thereafter only on gold, for the life of the Project.

Buyback  GGM will have a right at its sole discretion to repurchase a portion of the Royalty (effectively bringing the Royalty down to 1.0% of net smelter returns), for US$29M within the third anniversary of the closing date and for US$30.5M thereafter until the fourth anniversary of the closing date.

Minimum Payments  Prior to commercial production being achieved at the Project, certain minimum payments will be implemented if construction of the Companys Goliath Gold Complex project in Ontario (the  Goliath Project ) is also started or started in advance of the Project. No minimum payments are payable if the Goliath Project does not begin construction prior to the Project achieving commercial production.

) is also started or started in advance of the Project. No minimum payments are payable if the Goliath Project does not begin construction prior to the Project achieving commercial production. Participation Right  For a period of three years from the transaction closing date, Appian has a right to negotiate its participation for up to 50% of any project financing with respect to the construction of the Project. In addition, during this three-year period, if GGM wishes to solicit offers for a stream or grant an additional royalty interest on the Project, Appian will have the first right to offer to purchase the stream or additional royalty interest, which offer may be accepted or denied by GGM.

Corporate Awareness and Marketing Agreement

NexGold also announces that the corporate awareness and marketing agreement previously entered into with Quantum Ventures Inc (see news release dated April 10, 2025) has expired without being renewed by the Company.

About NexGold Mining Corp.

NexGold Mining Corp. is a gold-focused company with assets in Canada and Alaska. NexGolds Goliath Gold Complex (which includes the Goliath, Goldlund and Miller deposits) is located in Northwestern Ontario and its Goldboro Gold Project is located in Nova Scotia. NexGold also owns several other projects throughout Canada, including the Weebigee-Sandy Lake Gold Project JV, and grassroots gold exploration property Gold Rock. In addition, NexGold holds a 100% interest in the high-grade Niblack copper-gold-zinc-silver VMS project, located adjacent to tidewater in southeast Alaska. NexGold is committed to inclusive, informed and meaningful dialogue with regional communities and Indigenous Nations throughout the life of all our Projects and on all aspects, including creating sustainable economic opportunities, providing safe workplaces, enhancing of social value, and promoting community wellbeing.

Further details about NexGold, including the Prefeasibility Study for the Goliath Gold Complex and a Feasibility Study for the Goldboro Gold Project, are available under the Companys issuer profile on www.sedarplus.ca and on NexGolds website at www.nexgold.com .

Contact:

Kevin Bullock

President & CEO

(647) 388-1842

kbullock@nexgold.com Orin Baranowsky

Chief Financial Officer

(647) 697-2625

obaranowsky@nexgold.com

About Appian Capital Advisory

Appian Capital Advisory Ltd is the investment advisor to long-term value-focused private capital funds that invest in companies in metals, mining, and adjacent industries.

Appian is a leading investment advisor with global experience across South America, North America, Australia and Africa and a successful track record of supporting companies in metals, mining, and adjacent industries to achieve their development targets, with a global operating portfolio overseeing approximately 6,000 employees.

Appian has a global team of 100 experienced investment professionals, combining financial and technical expertise, with presences in London, Abu Dhabi, New York, Dubai, Belo Horizonte, Sao Paulo, Beijing, Hong Kong, Toronto, Lima and Perth. For more information, please visit www.appiancapitaladvisory.com, or find us on LinkedIn, Instagram or Twitter/X.

Contact:

Andrew Todd

Head of Communications

+44 7990416759

atodd@appiancapitaladvisory.com

+44 (0)20 7004 0951 / info@appiancapitaladvisory.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This release includes certain statements that may be deemed to be forward-looking information or forward-looking statements pursuant to applicable laws, including, but not limited to, use of the proceeds and the Companys development activities. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that management of the Company expect, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as expects, anticipates, believes, plans, projects, intends, "estimates, envisages, "potential, "possible, strategy, goals, objectives, or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions. Actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. NexGold disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, save and except as may be required by applicable securities laws.

Since forward-looking information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to, the satisfaction of the conditions subsequent in the royalty agreement, including but not limited to an obligation of the Company to raise C$20M through subordinate debt and/or equity within 180 days from the date hereof failing which the Company would be in default of the Royalty and Appian would be able to enforce its remedies thereunder, including its security; the anticipated use of proceeds from the transaction; exploration and production for precious metals; delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures; the uncertainty of resource estimates; health, safety and environmental risks; worldwide demand for gold and base metals; gold price and other commodity price and exchange rate fluctuations; environmental risks; competition; incorrect assessment of the value of acquisitions; ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources; and changes in legislation, including but not limited to tax laws, royalties and environmental regulations.

Actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking information and, accordingly, no assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking information will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits may be derived therefrom and accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking information.

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. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.
Last call to register for a free online spot to follow the conference live

VILNIUS, Lithuania, September 29, 2025  The open internet as we know it is rapidly changing, stress speakers of the foremost web scraping conference OxyCon . The free-to-register virtual event, held on 1st October, will tackle a seismic shift redefining the digital world  the increasing fragmentation of the web and changing rules of access to information.

OxyCon is an annual virtual event for business and tech leaders and data professionals. This years edition will focus on the AI-driven era of web scraping and how this revolution changes the whole structure of the internet.

The death of an empty search box

One of the most profound digital shifts is the move away from traditional search engines. Rytis Ulys, Head of Data, Analytics, and AI at Oxylabs and speaker at OxyCon, notes that the traditional empty search box, which has defined internet navigation for two decades, is becoming obsolete.

According to Rytis, what we're now seeing is only the early stages  ChatGPT, Claude, and other AI assistants are becoming people's first stop for many queries instead of Google. This will accelerate dramatically as AI gets integrated directly into browsers, operating systems, and websites themselves.

This will lead to a more seamless and hands-free online experience, where your voice or natural language commands can manage everything from your schedule to your smart home devices. The economic implications are huge - if AI systems become the primary gateway to information, the ad-supported model that funds much of the current web gets disrupted. We'll likely see new monetization models emerge around AI-mediated interactions,  says Rytis Ulys.

At OxyCon, Rytis will show how to build a price comparison tool without writing a single line of code by using AI tools like Cursor and Oxylabs AI Studio . The attendees will have a chance to discuss with Rytis how such tools will enable non-technical talent to achieve even more in the near future.

Building the walls in the open web

Meanwhile, while AI is changing how we find information, the web itself is changing what information is available. According to Aleksandras Sulzenko, Product Owner at Oxylabs, one of the major changes of the web will be caused by emerging anti-scraping measures. As many websites are now trying to prevent AI companies from training LLMs on their data, their measures are making the internet closed off and fragmented.

To combat scraping, a lot of websites will hide their content behind a login wall, while others will try to sell their data in combination with strict anti-bot measures. Either way, the web is going to be harder to access for humans and bots alike,  says Aleksandras.

More insights on the AI-driven web transformation await on 1st October at OxyCon. The conference is organized annually by a leading web intelligence provider, Oxylabs . Full agenda and registration for the event are available here.

About Oxylabs

Established in 2015, Oxylabs is a web intelligence platform and premium proxy provider, enabling companies of all sizes to utilise the power of big data. Constant innovation, an extensive patent portfolio, and a focus on ethics have allowed Oxylabs to become a global leader in the web intelligence collection industry and forge close ties with dozens of Fortune Global 500 companies. Oxylabs was named Europe's fastest-growing web intelligence acquisition company in the Financial Times FT 1000 list for several consecutive years. For more information, please visit: https://oxylabs.io/
Bethesda, MD, Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SANS Institute, in partnership with the Government of Jamaica, the Organization of American States (OAS), and the Government of Canada, has launched a new initiative to prepare the next generation of Jamaican cybersecurity professionals. The Jamaican Cyber Youth Empowerment Academy officially launches with a full-day, in-person orientation in Kingston on September 29, bringing together selected participants to launch their skills development journey. Participants will be formally introduced to the program, receive a detailed overview of expectations, and begin hands-on skills training led by two SANS Instructors.

The program is designed to advance digital workforce readiness by providing young adults with access to world-class technical cybersecurity training, career-focused professional development, and internationally recognized certification to prepare them for future job opportunities. It will allow participants to join a growing network of cyber professionals across the Americas. Through this effort, SANS will deliver two fundamental skills training courses at no cost to participants:

SEC275: Computers, Technology and Security Training and the GFACT certification

AIS247: AI Security Essentials for Business Leaders

"This initiative reflects our deep commitment to developing cybersecurity talent across the globe," said Max Shuftan, Director of Mission Programs and Partnerships at SANS Institute. Jamaica has an opportunity to lead the Caribbean in building regional cyber capacity and expanding opportunities for Jamaican youth, and were proud to work with OAS, the Government of Jamaica, and Global Affairs Canada to support that goal by empowering youth with the training and industry credentials to launch meaningful careers.

The program targets Jamaican residents between the ages of 18 and 25 who possess a basic understanding of IT concepts, including networks or operating systems. In addition to technical coursework, participants will receive technical mentorship from a Certified SANS Instructor and take part in sessions focused on career readiness, helping to bridge the gap between training and employment in cybersecurity and adjacent fields.

From the OAS we develop talent recruitment programs across the different member states. This initiative in Jamaica is key to responding to the growing demand for cybersecurity professionals, identifying and training talent from an early age. Each newly trained professional is a key piece to protect critical infrastructure and, ultimately, the digital lives of our citizens, said Guillermo Moncayo, Executive Secretary in charge of the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (CICTE) of the OAS.

Find more details about the event here.
Iasi, Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Iasi, Iasi September 29, 2025 - -

BrandMentions announced the launch of its Advanced Competitive Intelligence Platform, which combines sentiment analysis with automated competitor benchmarking to provide brand performance comparisons across social media, news, and web conversations. For more information visit: https://brandmentions.com/social-media-tracker/

The new Competitive Intelligence Platform enables businesses to monitor multiple competitors simultaneously while tracking sentiment, emotion, and conversation volume for each brand mentioned in the same discussions. This approach provides established companies with granular insights into competitive positioning, market perception, and share of voice across digital conversations.

"Most competitive analysis tools focus on basic metrics like mention volume or reach, but miss the emotional context that influences consumer behavior," said Razvan Gavrilas, Founder of BrandMentions. "Our approach analyzes sentiment and emotions at the entity level to provide businesses with intelligence about what people are saying about competitors and how they feel about each brand."

The platform's core innovation lies in its ability to analyze competitive sentiment within shared conversations. When social media posts or articles mention multiple brands, the system assigns separate sentiment scores and emotion labels to each company, providing accurate competitive context that traditional monitoring tools miss.

For example, in discussions comparing software solutions, BrandMentions can identify that Brand A receives positive sentiment for user experience while Brand B faces negative sentiment for pricing, even when mentioned in the same conversation. This granular analysis enables strategic teams to identify specific competitive advantages and vulnerabilities.

The company reports greater than 94 percent accuracy in assigning comparative sentiment across mixed datasets of social media, online news, and web sources. According to BrandMentions, this enables businesses to base strategic decisions on competitive intelligence data.

The Competitive Intelligence Platform serves BrandMentions' core client base of more than 10,000 established businesses through comprehensive service tiers designed for professional strategic analysis. The system provides automated competitive reports, real-time benchmarking dashboards, and emotion-driven competitive alerts that identify shifts in market perception.

Marketing agencies report improvements in competitive analysis capabilities, with sentiment providing insights for professional strategic planning. "The competitive sentiment analysis reveals positioning opportunities that we had not identified with previous monitoring approaches," said Mark Traphagen, VP of Product Marketing at Stone Temple. "We can now show clients how their brand sentiment compares to competitors in specific conversation contexts."

The platform integrates with BrandMentions' proprietary crawling technology, which monitors conversations across social media, news websites, blogs, forums, and the broader web. This comprehensive coverage ensures that competitive analysis includes all relevant digital conversations rather than just social media platforms.

The Competitive Intelligence Platform addresses multiple business functions that require competitive context. Brand managers can benchmark sentiment performance against competitors, while product teams can identify competitive advantages and areas for improvement to inform development priorities.

Communications teams use the platform to monitor competitive narrative shifts and identify opportunities for thought leadership positioning. Marketing strategists leverage the emotion-driven competitive analysis to refine messaging and identify market gaps where competitors face consistent negative sentiment.

The system's ten-year historical data archive enables long-term competitive trend analysis, allowing businesses to track sentiment shifts and competitive positioning changes over extended periods. This historical perspective provides strategic context that helps predict competitive dynamics and market evolution.

BrandMentions provides these competitive intelligence capabilities through professional monthly service plans, offering established mid-market companies access to strategic analysis tools. The platform's approach combines analytical capabilities with operational flexibility for growing businesses.

The platform's approach challenges traditional competitive intelligence models by combining the depth of enterprise-grade analysis with the accessibility and flexibility that growing businesses require. Professional service tiers reflect the comprehensive analytical capabilities while maintaining the operational flexibility that established businesses need for strategic planning.

The company has served more than 10,000 businesses since its 2015 founding while maintaining its status as a bootstrapped and independent organization. The new Competitive Intelligence Platform builds on the company's existing mention discovery and proprietary technology capabilities.

Building on BrandMentions' reputation for sentiment analysis and emotion detection, the Competitive Intelligence Platform represents a significant advancement in professional competitive monitoring. The system provides established businesses with the strategic intelligence required for data-driven competitive positioning and market analysis.

With Advanced Competitive Intelligence now available across all service tiers, BrandMentions reinforces its position as the most comprehensive social media monitoring solution for established businesses seeking precise competitive analysis and strategic market intelligence. To learn more visit: https://brandmentions.com

About BrandMentions

Founded in 2015, BrandMentions is a social listening and brand monitoring platform serving more than 10,000 established businesses worldwide. The platform monitors social media, news, blogs, forums, and the web, combining proprietary crawling technology with advanced sentiment and emotion analysis. BrandMentions delivers precise, real-time brand intelligence through professional service plans. The company is headquartered in Iasi, Romania, and remains bootstrapped and independent.

###

For more information about BrandMentions, contact the company here:



BrandMentions

Razvan Gavrilas

+1 315 675 4166

razvan.gavrilas@brandmentions.com

Bld. Chimiei nr.2, Iasi, Romania
NEW YORK, Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stuart Piltch announces the launch of The Stuart Piltch Fund for Veterans, a scholarship initiative designed to support United States military veterans transitioning into high-demand technology sectors. This comprehensive program provides financial assistance to veterans pursuing educational opportunities in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and entrepreneurship fields.

The Stuart Piltch Fund for Veterans addresses the growing demand for skilled technology professionals while recognizing the valuable leadership experience and technical aptitude that military veterans bring to civilian careers. Stuart Piltch established this fund to create pathways for veterans seeking to advance their education and contribute to America's technological innovation landscape.

"Military veterans possess exceptional problem-solving abilities and leadership skills that translate directly to success in technology fields," said Stuart Piltch. "This scholarship program connects veteran students with educational resources needed to build meaningful careers in rapidly evolving industries."

The scholarship program targets veterans enrolled in or planning to pursue degree programs and certification courses across multiple technology disciplines. Eligible applicants must demonstrate military service credentials and show genuine interest in technology innovation and industry advancement. The application process requires submission of a comprehensive essay addressing specific prompts related to career goals and technological interests.

Stuart Piltch designed the fund with accessibility in mind, making the scholarship available to veterans nationwide without geographical restrictions. This approach ensures that qualified candidates from all states can participate in the program regardless of their current location or chosen educational institution.

The application deadline for The Stuart Piltch Fund for Veterans is November 15, 2025, with the scholarship recipient announcement scheduled for December 15, 2025. The selection process evaluates candidates based on military service verification, academic enrollment plans, demonstrated technology interest, and essay quality.

Undergraduate students currently enrolled in qualifying programs or those planning to begin their studies represent the primary target demographic for this initiative. The fund particularly encourages applications from veterans interested in cybersecurity programs, given the critical importance of digital security in modern business and government operations.

Stuart Piltch recognizes that artificial intelligence and machine learning represent transformative technologies reshaping multiple industries. Veterans with analytical backgrounds and systematic thinking approaches often excel in these technical fields, making them ideal candidates for advanced education in these areas.

Entrepreneurship represents another focus area for The Stuart Piltch Fund for Veterans, acknowledging that many veterans successfully transition from military service to business leadership roles. The fund supports veterans seeking education that combines technical knowledge with business acumen necessary for launching innovative companies.

The scholarship application process requires comprehensive documentation including military service verification, academic enrollment confirmation or plans, and a detailed essay response. Stuart Piltch emphasizes that the essay component allows applicants to demonstrate their passion for technology and articulate their career advancement goals.

Beyond financial assistance, The Stuart Piltch Fund for Veterans represents Stuart Piltch's commitment to supporting veteran communities and contributing to American technological competitiveness. The program connects veteran education with industry needs, creating beneficial outcomes for both scholarship recipients and the broader technology sector.

Veterans interested in applying for The Stuart Piltch Fund for Veterans can access complete application materials and detailed eligibility requirements through the official program website. The application portal provides comprehensive guidance for prospective applicants throughout the submission process.

Contact Information:

Spokesperson: Stuart Piltch

Organization: The Stuart Piltch Fund for Veterans

Website: https://stuartpiltchfund.com/

Email: apply@stuartpiltchfund.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e972d5d7-250e-4ee4-b706-96b6ede7d669
Pittsburgh, PA, Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pittsburgh SEO Magician, a leader in the digital marketing & SEO industry, has announced its latest achievement as a Semrush Agency Partner. This partnership marks a significant milestone for the company, renowned for its innovative strategies in advertising, marketing, and website design. By aligning with Semrush, Pittsburgh SEO Magician is poised to offer even more robust solutions to its clients, ensuring they achieve top rankings on Googles search engine.





Pittsburgh SEO Magician Semrush Agency Partner

The Semrush Agency Partner status is a testament to Pittsburgh SEO Magicians commitment to excellence and its dedication to staying at the forefront of digital marketing trends. This partnership provides the company with exclusive access to advanced tools and resources, enabling it to deliver unparalleled results for businesses seeking to enhance their online presence.

In addition to becoming a Semrush Agency Partner, Pittsburgh SEO Magician has also received the prestigious Semrush Academy Certification. This certification underscores the companys expertise and proficiency in utilizing cutting-edge digital marketing strategies, including SEO, PPC, and social marketing. The certification process involved rigorous training and assessment, ensuring that the team at Pittsburgh SEO Magician is equipped with the latest knowledge and skills to drive business growth.

"Achieving the Semrush Agency Partner status and receiving the Academy Certification is a significant accomplishment for our team," said Nathan Argenta, Owner and Chief Marketing Strategist of Pittsburgh SEO Magician. "These achievements reflect our unwavering commitment to providing our clients with the best possible digital marketing solutions. We are excited to leverage these new resources to help businesses grow and succeed in the digital landscape." The owner, Nathan Argenta, also added the recent certificate to his LinkedIn profile here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanargenta/

With these new credentials, Pittsburgh SEO Magician is set to enhance its service offerings, providing clients with comprehensive digital marketing strategies that are both innovative and effective. The companys award-winning approach combines SEO, PPC, web design, and social marketing to deliver results that exceed expectations.

Pittsburgh SEO Magician invites businesses to explore the benefits of its enhanced services and to take advantage of a free consultation. By partnering with a certified and recognized leader in digital marketing, businesses can expect to achieve greater visibility, increased traffic, and improved search engine rankings. Visit their Semrush Agency partners page to learn more about the company: https://agencies.semrush.com/pittsburgh-seo-magician/

About Pittsburgh SEO Magician



We are an award-winning Pittsburgh SEO company dedicated to helping our clients reach the top of Google's search engine ranking. We utilize cutting edge digital marketing strategies, such as SEO, PPC, Web Design, Social Marketing, etc. to deliver unparalleled results. Contact us today for a free consultation!

Press inquiries

Pittsburgh SEO Magician

https://www.pittsburghseomagician.com

Nathan Argenta

nathan@pittsburghseomagician.com

(412) 397-9002

Pittsburgh, PA 15203
CLEVELAND, Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Dr. Omar Massoud Scholarship for Future Doctors officially opens applications for undergraduate students aspiring to become physicians. Designed to support the next generation of medical professionals, this scholarship provides a meaningful opportunity for students pursuing academic paths in pre-med, biology, health sciences, and other related fields to advance their educational journey.

The scholarship reflects the vision and commitment of Dr. Omar Massoud, a distinguished physician-scientist with over three decades of clinical, academic, and research experience. Known for his contributions to liver disease research and medical education, Dr. Omar Massoud currently serves as Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Director of Clinical Liver Research. His extensive career blends clinical excellence with academic leadership, creating lasting impacts on both patient care and medical innovation.

Scholarship Details and Eligibility

Undergraduate students enrolled at accredited universities or colleges are eligible to apply for the Dr. Omar Massoud Scholarship for Future Doctors if they are pursuing academic tracks aligned with becoming a physician. Applicants must demonstrate:

Strong academic achievement

Dedication to patient care

Clear future goals within the medical profession



As part of the application process, students must submit a well-written essay of 8001,000 words addressing the prompt:

Describe how your personal experiences have influenced your decision to pursue a career in medicine. How do you envision using your medical education to improve healthcare outcomes in your community or globally?

Each applicant may submit only one essay in PDF or Word document format. Essays must be original and plagiarism-free to be considered for review.

Application Deadline and Announcement

Applications for the Dr. Omar Massoud Scholarship for Future Doctors close on April 15, 2026. The scholarship committee will announce the winner on May 15, 2026 through the official scholarship website https://dromarmassoudscholarship.com/.

The selected student will be recognized for their academic dedication, personal vision for healthcare improvement, and alignment with the scholarships mission to encourage future physicians to create meaningful change in their communities and beyond.

Vision Behind the Scholarship

The launch of this scholarship stems from Dr. Omar Massouds belief in nurturing the next generation of medical professionals. His decades-long career in clinical medicine and research demonstrates a dedication not only to advancing medical knowledge but also to supporting students who wish to dedicate their lives to patient care and medical innovation.

By offering this scholarship, Dr. Omar Massoud hopes to provide students with both recognition and financial support as they pursue careers that will improve healthcare systems worldwide.

How to Apply

Students meeting the eligibility criteria can learn more about the application process, essay requirements, and important deadlines by visiting the official website at https://dromarmassoudscholarship.com/.

Contact Information

Spokesperson: Dr. Omar Massoud

Organization: Dr. Omar Massoud Scholarship for Future Doctors

Website: https://dromarmassoudscholarship.com/

Email: apply@dromarmassoudscholarship.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0905f948-7564-4eed-bbae-625e90bb4a18
Payerne, Switzerland, Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sanitherme, a family-owned company led by Arben Dalipi and specializing in heating, sanitation, and renovation, has announced it has surpassed 60 five-star Google reviews. With an average rating of 4.7/5, this recognition reinforces its role as a trusted local partner for individuals, property managers, and businesses across Broye-Vully, the canton of Vaud, and nearby urban areas such as Lausanne, Fribourg, and Geneva.





Sanitherme, a local Swiss company specializing in heating, plumbing installations and renovation.

Structured Services from Emergency to Planned Projects

Since its inception, Sanitherme has built its reputation on two key pillars:

Enhanced responsiveness for emergencies: heating system breakdowns, leaks, and rapid plumbing interventions in the region.

heating system breakdowns, leaks, and rapid plumbing interventions in the region. Methodical support for planned projects: boiler replacement, heat pump installation, and full bathroom renovations.

The company relies on optimized scheduling, on-site checklists, and detailed quotes to ensure controlled timelines and reliable installationseven for complex projects like integrating heat pumps into older homes.

Customer Satisfaction Driving Recognition

"These Google reviews are the best proof of the trust our clients place in us," said Arben Dalipi, founder and director of Sanitherme. "Whether it's an urgent repair or a renovation project, our commitment remains the same: to provide proximity, clarity, and reliability."

"Each request is managed by a single point of contact, from initial inquiry to project handover," added Mr. Dalipi. "This continuity ensures quality and peace of mind for our clients."

Sanitherme Services  FAQ Q: Do you provide emergency heating repairs in Payerne or the canton of Vaud? A: Yes. Sanitherme operates a priority line and a seasonal on-call service for heating and plumbing, making it one of the most responsive companies in Western Switzerland. Q: Can I replace an oil boiler with a heat pump in the canton of Vaud? A: Yes. Sanitherme offers full support: assessment, sizing, quote, technical documentation, and coordination with trades. Q: Do you perform complete bathroom renovations in Payerne and Broye-Vully? A: Yes. The company handles the project end-to-end: dismantling, planning, contractor coordination, and final delivery. Q: Do you only operate in Payerne? A: No. Sanitherme serves the Broye-Vully region, the entire canton of Vaud, and major cities like Lausanne, Fribourg, and Geneva throughout French-speaking Switzerland. About Sanitherme

Sanitherme is a family-owned company based in Payerne, operating in Broye-Vully, the canton of Vaud, and Western Switzerland. Specializing in heating, sanitation, and renovation, the company provides emergency services, maintenance, and turnkey project solutions. Founded and managed by Arben Dalipi, Sanitherme is built on a foundation of quality, proximity, and reliability.





Arben Dalipi, Founder of Sanitherme Suisse, one of the best plumbing and heating companies in the Canton of Vaud

About Sanitherme - Arben Dalipi



Sanitherme est une entreprise specialisee dans les solutions de chauffage, plomberie et sanitaire, offrant des services professionnels de qualite pour les particuliers et entreprises.

Press inquiries

Sanitherme - Arben Dalipi

https://sanitherme.ch/

Arben Dalipi

arben.dalipi@sanitherme.com

Chemin de la Coulaz 2

1530 Payerne

A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.youtube.com/embed/pPohEsMapXk
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Indiaspora, a leading nonprofit organization, is delighted to co-host this years Philanthropy Summit with the India Philanthropy Alliance (IPA). The Summit will bring together visionary philanthropists, foundation leaders, and nonprofit changemakers dedicated to India-focused initiatives. We are honored to host this gathering at the Indian Consulate in San Francisco, on October 2nd, Gandhi Jayantia date that resonates deeply with our shared commitment to service and positive social impact.

This event is essential for anyone engaged in India-focused philanthropic space. India's philanthropic landscape has reached a critical inflection point. With billions of dollars in charitable giving at stake, donors and nonprofit leaders are increasingly focused on strategic allocationensuring resources reach the most effective organizations and initiatives to create transformational impact across the country. This summit emerges from an urgent need to bridge the gap between conventional philanthropy and cutting-edge innovation, bringing together diverse voices to explore whether data-driven insights and human-centered storytelling can coexist to revolutionize giving in India.

Our mission is to mobilize the global diaspora to be a force for good. This year's Philanthropy Summit convenes visionary development sector leaders, innovative organizations, and strategic philanthropists united in their commitment to building equitable ecosystems where communities can flourish. Indiaspora is deeply committed to bringing together a community that is driven by purpose to tackle the biggest challenges of our times. Through dynamic knowledge exchange and strategic partnership development, we're enabling constructive dialog that will help build and scale solutions across India, the United States and beyond.- Shoba Viswanathan, EVP & Chief Community Engagement Officer, Indiaspora and Board Member, India Philanthropy Alliance.

We are proud to announce an exceptional lineup of distinguished speakers whose combined expertise spans decades of transformative philanthropic leadership across India and beyond. Among our featured speakers are Desh Deshpande, President & Chairman of the Deshpande Foundation, Yamini Mishra, Country Director, MacArthur Foundation, and The Honorable Raja Krishnamoorthi, United States Congressman from Illinois. Some of the sessions include topics such as Opportunities & Threats to American Philanthropy to India and Silicon Valley and Philanthropy. Please join Manu Chopra, Founder & CEO of Karya, Nagma Mulla, CEO of EdelGive and many other distinguished leaders for this special event. The full speaker lineup is available here. Indiaspora and IPA would like to thank our host, the Indian Consulate General, Dr. K. Srikar Reddy for his tremendous support.

India Philanthropy Alliance is a coalition of nonprofit, philanthropic, and charitable organizations dedicated to mobilizing people and fostering development and alleviating poverty in India. It aims to double the funds flowing from the U.S. to India-focused humanitarian efforts, encourage sharing of best practices, and foster a culture of trust and transparency among donors and stakeholders. IPAs goal is to create a paradigm shift in how philanthropy benefitting India is viewed and conducted.

For more information and to request an invitation, please visit: https://indiaspora.org/events/indiaspora-ipa-philanthropy-summit-2025/

About Indiaspora: Indiaspora ( www.indiaspora.org ) is a nonprofit community of powerful global Indian leaders from diverse backgrounds and professions who are committed to inspiring the diaspora to be a force for positive impact by providing a platform to collaborate, engage, and catalyze social change.
Charlotte, Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CHARLOTTE, NC September 29, 2025 - -

Ornate Home, a California-based West Coast furniture retailer, has established its first East Coast presence with a new furniture store showroom and distribution center in Charlotte, North Carolina, marking a strategic expansion into America's furniture capital. The facility enables same-day delivery throughout the Charlotte metro area and significantly faster shipping across the entire Eastern seaboard from Miami to New York.

The Charlotte location represents a calculated move into a region that produces four times the national average in furniture manufacturing, with over 850 manufacturers calling North Carolina home. The state has attracted $55 billion in new furniture industry investment since 2021 and created more than 62,000 jobs in the sector, establishing itself as the epicenter of American furniture production.

"Expanding into North Carolina is more than a milestoneit's a statement," said Mehmet Uncuoglu, CEO of Ornate Home. "This region is the core of America's furniture industry. By being here, we can offer customers faster service, better prices, and a stronger emphasis on Made in USA furniturewhile continuing our promise of quality, speed, and affordability."

The New Furniture Store Showroom features curated collections spanning multiple categories, including sofas, sectionals, sleeper sofas, loveseats, bedroom sets, dining collections, and mattresses. The expansion enables the company to showcase its extensive Made in USA collections while providing East Coast customers with immediate access to inventory previously available only through West Coast distribution.

Ornate Home offers flexible financing options through partnerships with Synchrony, Affirm, Snap, and Progressive, providing customers with up to 60 months of zero percent APR financing. These financing partnerships, combined with the company's price match guarantee, position Ornate Home competitively in the expanding East Coast market.

Charlotte's robust economic indicators support the expansion timing, with the city welcoming over 45,000 new residents in the past year, maintaining unemployment in the low 4 percent range, and experiencing strong household income growth. The city has earned recognition as the Queen of Retail in the Carolinas, making it an ideal location for furniture retail expansion.

The Charlotte distribution center enhances logistics capabilities for the entire Eastern United States, reducing delivery times from weeks to days for many customers. Same-day delivery service is now available throughout the Charlotte metropolitan area, while customers from Atlanta to Washington, D.C. benefit from significantly reduced shipping times.

The expansion follows similar moves by major competitors, including SBA Home and Corsicana, reflecting broader industry recognition of the East Coast's strategic importance for furniture distribution and retail operations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_wcHZyW-s4

Ornate Homes operates as a Home Furniture Store specializing in living room, bedroom, kitchen and dining, and home office furniture. The company maintains showroom locations in Santa Ana, California, and Charlotte, North Carolina, serving customers nationwide through its integrated online and physical retail presence.

###

For more information about OrnateHome.com INC., contact the company here:



Ornate Home

Mehmet UNCUOGLU

(323) 842 8804

mehmet@vavenza.com

8620 Monroe Rd, Charlotte, NC 28212
SAN DIEGO, Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The law firm of Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP announces that purchasers or acquirers of Snap Inc. (NYSE: SNAP) securities between April 29, 2025 and August 5, 2025, both dates inclusive (the Class Period), have until Monday, October 20, 2025 to seek appointment as lead plaintiff of the Snap class action lawsuit. Captioned Abdul-Hameed v. Snap Inc., No. 25-cv-07844 (C.D. Cal.), the Snap class action lawsuit charges Snap as well as certain of Snaps top executives with violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

If you suffered substantial losses and wish to serve as lead plaintiff of the Snap class action lawsuit, please provide your information here:

https://www.rgrdlaw.com/cases-snap-class-action-lawsuit-snap.html

You can also contact attorneys J.C. Sanchez or Jennifer N. Caringal of Robbins Geller by calling 800/449-4900 or via e-mail at info@rgrdlaw.com.

CASE ALLEGATIONS: Snap operates as a technology company.

The Snap class action lawsuit alleges that defendants created the false impression that they possessed reliable information pertaining to Snaps expected advertising revenue and anticipated growth while emphasizing potential macroeconomic instability. In truth, according to the complaint, Snaps optimistic reports of advertising growth and earnings potential fell short of reality as they relied far too heavily on Snaps ability to execute on its potential and Snap was already experiencing the ramifications of a significant execution error when defendants claimed a lack of visibility due to macroeconomic conditions.

The Snap class action lawsuit further alleges that on August 5, 2025, defendants released disappointing second quarter fiscal year 2025 results, disclosing that advertising revenue decelerated significantly in the quarter, in part, due to Snap having shipped a change that caused some campaigns to clear the auction at substantially reduced prices. On this news, the price of Snap stock fell more than 17%, according to the complaint.

THE LEAD PLAINTIFF PROCESS: The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 permits any investor who purchased or acquired Snap securities during the Class Period to seek appointment as lead plaintiff in the Snap class action lawsuit. A lead plaintiff is generally the movant with the greatest financial interest in the relief sought by the putative class who is also typical and adequate of the putative class. A lead plaintiff acts on behalf of all other class members in directing the Snap class action lawsuit. The lead plaintiff can select a law firm of its choice to litigate the Snap class action lawsuit. An investors ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff of the Snap class action lawsuit.

ABOUT ROBBINS GELLER: Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP is one of the worlds leading law firms representing investors in securities fraud and shareholder litigation. Our Firm has been ranked #1 in the ISS Securities Class Action Services rankings for four out of the last five years for securing the most monetary relief for investors. In 2024, we recovered over $2.5 billion for investors in securities-related class action cases  more than the next five law firms combined, according to ISS. With 200 lawyers in 10 offices, Robbins Geller is one of the largest plaintiffs firms in the world, and the Firms attorneys have obtained many of the largest securities class action recoveries in history, including the largest ever  $7.2 billion  in In re Enron Corp. Sec. Litig. Please visit the following page for more information:

https://www.rgrdlaw.com/services-litigation-securities-fraud.html

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices.

Contact:

Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP

J.C. Sanchez, Jennifer N. Caringal

655 W. Broadway, Suite 1900, San Diego, CA 92101

800-449-4900

info@rgrdlaw.com
Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. Litigation Partner Brandon Walker Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses In Lockheed Martin (LMT) To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options

If you are a long-term stockholder in Lockheed Martin between January 23, 2024 and July 21, 2025 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Bragar Eagel & Squire partner Brandon Walker or Marion Passmore directly at (212) 355-4648.

NEW YORK, Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

Whats Happening:

Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C., a nationally recognized shareholder rights law firm, is investigating potential claims against Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) on behalf of long-term stockholders following a class action complaint that was filed against Lockheed Martin on July 28, 2025 a Class Period from January 23, 2024 and July 21, 2025. Our investigation concerns whether the board of directors of Lockheed Martin have breached their fiduciary duties to the company.



Details:

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 Company's 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 Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

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 Company's 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 Company's 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 Company's 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 Company's 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 Company's share price fell $49.79 or 10.8%, to close at $410.74 on July 22, 2025, on unusually heavy trading volume.



Next Steps:

If you are a long-term stockholder of Lockheed Martin, have information, would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Brandon Walker or Marion Passmore by email at investigations@bespc.com, by telephone at (212) 355-4648, or by filling out this contact form. There is no cost or obligation to you.



About Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C.:

Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. is a nationally recognized law firm with offices in New York, South Carolina, and California. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in commercial, securities, derivative, and other complex litigation in state and federal courts across the country. For more information about the firm, please visit www.bespc.com . Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, X, and Facebook, and keep up with other news by following Brandon Walker, Esq. on LinkedIn and X.

Contact Information:
Beijing, China, Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered video remarks to the United Nations Climate Summit held in New York on Wednesday local time.



Noting that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, a pivotal year for countries to submit their new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), and global climate governance is entering a key stage, he made the following three proposals.



First, Xi said it is important to firm up confidence. "Green and low-carbon transition is the trend of the time. While some country is acting against it, the international community should stay focused on the right direction, remain unwavering in confidence, unremitting in actions and unrelenting in intensity, and push for formulation and delivery on NDCs, with a view to providing more positive energy to the cooperation on global climate governance," he said.



Second, Xi called for living up to responsibilities. "Fairness and equity should be upheld and the right to development of developing countries fully respected," he said. The global green transition should serve to narrow rather than widen the North-South gap. Countries need to honor the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, whereby developed countries should take the lead in fulfilling emission reduction obligations and provide more financial and technological support to developing countries, he added.



Third, Xi stressed the importance of deepening cooperation, adding that international coordination in green technologies and industries should be strengthened to address the shortfall in green production capacity and ensure free flow of quality green products globally, so that the benefits of green development can reach all corners of the world.



Xi announced China's new NDCs as follows: China will, by 2035, reduce economy-wide net greenhouse gas emissions by 7 percent to 10 percent from peak levels, striving to do better; increase the share of non-fossil fuels in total energy consumption to over 30 percent; expand the installed capacity of wind and solar power to over six times the 2020 levels, striving to bring the total to 3,600 gigawatts; scale up the total forest stock volume to over 24 billion cubic meters; make new energy vehicles the mainstream in the sales of new vehicles; expand the National Carbon Emissions Trading Market to cover major high-emission sectors; and basically establish a climate adaptive society.



Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Thursday that Xi's remarks embody China's commitment to multilateralism and support to the UN. And this is the first time that China put forward an absolute emissions reduction target, which covers economy-wide emissions from all greenhouse gases.



Ma Jun, director of the Institution of Public and Environmental Affairs, told the Global Times on Thursday that China's new NDCs are expected to lead the building of consensus and inject motivation into the global climate response at a time when climate governance faces great challenges due to the stampeding pace in emission cuts and divisions in how the issue is recognized.



The latest pledge suggested a more ambitious goal of a continuous fast pace in emission cuts, Ma added.



China's total installed renewable power capacity reached about 1.41 billion kilowatts at the end of 2024, per official data - smashing the previous goal of reaching capacity of 1,200 gigawatts for wind and solar power by 2030, six years ahead of schedule.



Based on the current speed of tech growth and installation, "we are confident we will fulfill and even over-deliver the 3,600 gigawatts target by 2035," Ma said.



Ma explained that to meet the goal, China will need to make sweeping adjustments to its economic structure, its energy consumption, and particularly its logistics and manufacturing sectors; meanwhile geopolitical uncertainties are casting a shadow on China's endeavors.



China upholds the principle that "a promise made must be kept" and its climate pledges are not a simple matter, but require great domestic efforts and international cooperation, Ma said.



The Climate Summit was convened by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres alongside President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, host of the COP30 conference which will kick off in November in the Amazonian city of Belem.



Guterres said, "Now, we need new plans for 2035 that go much further, and much faster," delivering dramatic emissions cuts aligned with 1.5 degrees Celsius, covering all emissions and sectors, and accelerating a just energy transition globally. He stressed that "COP30 in Brazil must conclude with a credible global response plan to get us on track."



The vast majority of the world's nations gathered at the climate summit to make their emission cut pledges over the next decade. The New York Times noted that "geopolitical heavyweights including China, Russia, Japan and Germany were there The world's poorest countries, including Chad and the Central African Republic, were there. Venezuela, Syria, Iran  there, too. The US was not."



Analysts said that humanity is at a juncture when some countries lack sufficient resources to cope with climate change, while others lack the motivation to put effort in, and even withdrawing from the collective mechanism.



Ana Toni, CEO of COP30 Climate Change Conference, told the Global Times that what is "really wonderful about China, it's a commitment to the system," which gives the entire world a lot of security, when some other countries are less committed to the international system.



China is doing its best, reducing the prices of green technologies and helping other countries absorb them... So let us try to work togetherso that we can accelerate the action, Toni added.



When asked whether she was afraid that the Paris Agreement will not be sustained due to elections, wars and other disruptions to implementation, Toni said that "rather than changing by catastrophe, we prefer to change by choice, and our choice is working together under the Paris Agreement to move together on that implementation. We understand that working together is the only way out."



Despite first mentioning China as the biggest greenhouse gas emitter, the New York Times acknowledged that the country's globally dominant solar and wind power industries are also the engine of not just its own transition away from fossil fuels, but the world's, citing numerous studies.



The Guardian reported Wednesday that China is responsible for around a third of all global emissions but has also become the world's leading clean energy superpower.



Ma said that while global climate governance is seeing "fragmentation" and climate topics have been marginalized in the international agenda, China's pledges showcase the country's resolve to take responsibility and could inject much-needed confidence and impetus into joint efforts to respond to such a global and profound challenge.



Given China's research and industrial advantages in green transition, China's pledges are not only a bugle call for action amid climate change, but also an opportunity shared by all countries for green, quality growth. For others, particularly Western countries with green transition capabilities, it is a choice between cooperation and geopolitical bias, in the face of a challenge of a scale beyond the capacity of any single country, the expert said.



Source: Global Times:

Company: Global Times

Contact Person: Anna Li

Email: editor@globaltimes.com.cn

Website: https://globaltimes.cn

City: Beijing





Disclaimer: This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies (including product offerings, regulatory plans and business plans) and may change without notice. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements.
TORONTO, Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wallbridge Mining Company Limited (TSX: WM, OTCQB:WLBMF) (Wallbridge or the Company) announced today the results for the first six holes from the second phase of drilling (Phase 2) at its 100% owned Martiniere gold project (Martiniere). These results further confirm the geologic continuity of the Dragonfly fault system as a series of sub-parallel mineralized structures, several of which host multiple high-grade gold intercepts ranging from 0.5 to over 5 metres in down-hole length.

HIGHLIGHTS*

MR-25-128-W1 5.99 g/t Au over 4.7 m including 42.70 g/t Au over 0.5 m MR-25-129B 6.13 g/t Au over 3.4 m 13.24 g/t Au over 2.0 m MR-25-130A 4.30 g/t Au over 3.6 m including 11.30 g/t Au over 0.5 m 11.12 g/t Au over 2.0 m including 19.70 g/t Au over 1.0 m 2.57 g/t Au over 3.3 m including 7.66 g/t Au over 0.6 m MR-25-131 6.79 g/t Au over 1.0 m 14.58 g/t Au over 3.3 m including 45.40 g/t Au over 0.9 m * True widths are estimated to be 60-90% of the reported core length intervals.





These latest drilling results continue to demonstrate the potential for a more extensive mineralized gold system at Martiniere than is currently outlined in the existing mineral resource estimate, commented Brian W. Penny, CEO. Phase 2 drilling, building on the success of Phase 1 completed in May, has been strategically focused on testing down-dip extensions of known gold zones. Current exploration is concentrated on the Dragonfly and Horsefly areas, where results to date suggest significant potential to expand the mineralized footprint and support future resource growth at Martiniere, continued Mr. Penny.

Martiniere 2025 Drilling Program

The second phase of the 2025 Martiniere diamond drilling program began in mid-July (see Wallbridge news release dated July 17, 2025). This release reports results from the first six Phase 2 holes. Including Phase 1 drilling results (see June 2, 2025 and July 2, 2025 news releases) and the results presented in this news release, the Company has completed 22 holes and 2 hole extensions totaling 10,840 metres. Encouraged by continued positive results along the Bug Lake corridor, the Company has expanded the program beyond its original 10,00015,000 metre plan, with drilling scheduled to continue into mid-October before winter demobilization.

Five of the Phase 2 holes reported here tested a 400-metre westerly strike projection of the Dragonfly zone toward the Bug Lake North and Horsefly zones. Drilling was completed along three northsouth section lines spaced 150 metres apart, with hole depths extending to approximately 600 to 850 metres below surface. These holes were drilled to follow on strong results from Phase 1 holes MR-25-111, MR-25-112, MR-25-121, and MR-25-123. A table of summarized gold assay intervals and links to supporting maps and cross-sections are provided below.

MR-25-129 B (Section B-B), collared 250 metres east of the Bug Lake North underground resource and 150 metres down-dip of Phase 1 hole MR-25-121, intersected multiple mineralized structures with intercepts that included 6.13 g/t Au over 3.4 metres, 2.31 g/t Au over 5.5 metres and 13.24 g/t Au over 2.0 metres.

(Section B-B), collared 250 metres east of the Bug Lake North underground resource and 150 metres down-dip of Phase 1 hole MR-25-121, intersected multiple mineralized structures with intercepts that included 6.13 g/t Au over 3.4 metres, 2.31 g/t Au over 5.5 metres and 13.24 g/t Au over 2.0 metres. MR-25-130 A (Section C-C), 150 metres east of Section B-B and 150 metres down-dip of Phase 1 hole MR-25-123, returned three discrete gold-bearing structures with intercepts of 4.30 g/t Au over 3.6 metres, 11.12 g/t Au over 2.0 metres and 2.57 g/t Au over 3.3 metres.

(Section C-C), 150 metres east of Section B-B and 150 metres down-dip of Phase 1 hole MR-25-123, returned three discrete gold-bearing structures with intercepts of 4.30 g/t Au over 3.6 metres, 11.12 g/t Au over 2.0 metres and 2.57 g/t Au over 3.3 metres. MR-25-128 and wedge MR-25-128W1, along with MR-25-131 (Section D-D), tested a 250 metre down-dip projection of mineralization intercepted in Phase 1 hole MR-25-111. Results included multiple gold-bearing structures, highlighted by intercepts of 5.99 g/t Au over 4.7 metres and 14.58 g/t Au over 3.3 metres.



The sixth Phase 2 drill hole, MR-25-127, drilled to test a potential down-dip extension of gold mineralization along the Martiniere North zone, did not return significant gold grades above 1 g/t Au. However, the hole intersected three shear deformation zones characterized by moderate to strong silicification and pyritic sulfide mineralization over widths of 5 to 6 meters down-hole. These alteration and mineralization styles are the key structural controls known to host gold at Martiniere, and their presence in MR-25-127 may be used as prospective vectors for follow-up drilling in the future.

The Phase 2 drilling campaign at Martiniere remains ongoing at the time of this news release. Assay results are pending for an additional 10 holes totaling 4,850 meters, and the Company plans to drill another 4 to 5 holes to complete the program. By the end of Phase 2 in October, Wallbridge expects to have completed approximately 18,000 meters of drilling at Martiniere during 2025.

To date, exploration drilling along the Bug Lake deformation corridor has intercepted significant gold mineralization across an area measuring approximately 2,000 by 800 metres and to a vertical depth of 800 metres from surface. Mineralization along the BL corridor remains open in both directions along strike and down dip. Importantly, deeper intercepts from historic drilling  including 6.4 metres grading 4.32 g/t Au in BLD-16-01 and 1.0 metre grading 6.18 g/t Au in MDE-17-289  demonstrate that the Martiniere system remains open at depth to at least 850 metres below surface. Gold mineralization at Martiniere is hosted within mafic volcanics and younger felsic porphyry dykes, occurring along discrete shear and breccia zones associated with pyritic silica flooding, quartz-carbonate veining, and silica-sericite alteration.

For more information, please refer to the links below for a drill hole location map representative long-section and cross sections, and assay summaries of complete drill holes,.

Martiniere Gold Project: 2025 Phase 2 Drill Hole Location Map Plan View

Martiniere Gold Project: 2025 Phase 2 Longitudinal Section A-A

Martiniere Gold Project: 2025 Phase 2 Cross Section B-B

Martiniere Gold Project: 2025 Phase 2 Cross Section C-C

Martiniere Gold Project: 2025 Phase 2 Cross Section D-D

Martiniere Gold Project: Phase 2 2025 Drill Assay Summary and Drill Hole Location Information





Martiniere Project 2025 Phase 2 Drill Assay Highlights1 From3 To3 Length3, 4 Au Drill Hole VG*2 (m) (m) (m) (g/t) MARTINIERE NORTH MR-25-127 No Intervals > 1.00 g/t Au DRAGONFLY MR-25-128 178.0 179.0 1.0 1.07 MR-25-128 Wedge1



430.4 432.7 2.3 2.14 Including 430.4 431.2 0.8 1.40 431.2 432.7 1.5 2.54 * 463.0 467.7 4.7 5.99 Including * 463.0 463.5 0.5 3.74 463.5 467.2 3.7 1.33 * 467.2 467.7 0.5 42.70 526.9 528.4 1.5 1.85 545.5 546.5 1.0 1.53 592.8 594.1 1.4 2.32 MR-25-129B 328.7 332.0 3.4 6.13 Including 328.7 329.4 0.8 9.99 329.4 331.0 1.6 1.15 331.0 332.0 1.0 11.20 431.0 432.5 1.5 3.49 Including 431.0 432.0 1.0 0.45 432.0 432.5 0.5 9.57 451.0 452.0 1.0 7.85 481.0 482.5 1.5 2.54 Including 481.0 482.0 1.0 0.55 482.0 482.5 0.5 6.51 495.0 496.5 1.5 13.60 514.5 520.0 5.5 2.31 Including 514.5 516.0 1.5 1.67 516.0 520.0 4.0 2.55 542.5 544.0 1.5 3.91 550.5 552.0 1.5 3.16 570.0 571.1 1.1 3.38 604.0 606.0 2.0 13.24 Including 604.0 605.0 1.0 19.30 605.0 606.0 1.0 7.18 666.8 668.0 1.2 1.38 683.2 684.0 0.9 1.89 690.0 692.0 2.0 1.24 MR-25-129B (contd) 698.0 699.3 1.3 1.24 708.0 709.0 1.0 2.52 729.0 734.0 5.0 1.22 747.8 750.0 2.2 1.73 MR-25-130A 352.3 355.9 3.6 4.30 Including 352.3 354.0 1.7 3.48 354.0 354.5 0.5 11.30 354.5 355.9 1.4 2.80 482.0 484.0 2.0 11.12 Including 482.0 483.0 1.0 2.54 483.0 484.0 1.0 19.70 521.8 525.1 3.3 2.57 Including 521.8 522.4 0.6 7.66 522.4 525.1 2.7 1.44 MR-25-131 247.7 250.2 2.5 1.04 462.5 466.0 3.5 1.02 476.0 477.0 1.0 6.79 483.0 485.5 2.5 1.86 491.0 492.0 1.0 1.05 509.9 510.4 0.5 5.77 513.0 513.5 0.5 4.61 528.4 530.0 1.6 1.21 532.8 535.0 2.3 2.81 547.1 550.4 3.3 14.58 Including 547.1 548.0 0.9 45.40 548.0 549.8 1.8 2.12 549.8 550.4 0.6 5.75 Notes 1 Assay highlights have been selected based on a combination of criteria, including observable mineralization and/or having a Metal Factor > 5 gm*m (MF = Au g/t * Interval length). 2 Asterisk * denotes visible gold (VG) observed in drill core. 3 Reported drill hole depths and interval lengths have been rounded to the nearest 0.1 metres. As a result, interval lengths may vary slightly from differences calculated directly from drill hole depths reported here. 4 True widths are estimated to be 60-90% of the reported core length intervals.



The Martiniere project is a key component of the Companys 830 square kilometre Detour-Fenelon Trend property package. Martiniere is located in Northern Abitibi, Quebec, 30 kilometres west of the Companys flagship Fenelon gold project and 50 kilometres east of Canadas largest gold mine, Agnico Eagles Detour Lake gold mine.





Wallbridge Mining Detour  Fenelon Gold Trend Properties

Quality Assurance / Quality Control

Wallbridge maintains a Quality Assurance/Quality Control ("QA/QC") program for all its exploration projects using industry best practices. Key elements of the QA/QC program include verifiable chain of custody for samples, regular insertion of blanks and certified reference materials, and completion of secondary check analyses performed at a separate independent accredited laboratory. Drill core is halved, sampled, and shipped in sealed bags to Activation Laboratories Ltd. (ActLabs) in Val dOr, Quebec, where samples are routinely analysed via fire assay with atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) finish methods. For greater precision and accuracy, samples assaying 10 g/t Au or greater are re-distributed to other ActLabs facilities where they are re-assayed via metallic screen fire assay or fire assay/gravimetric finish, depending on the amount of sample material remaining available. Samples containing visible gold are routinely submitted directly for analysis by metallic screen fire assay method. Activation Laboratories Ltd. operates under a Quality Management System that conforms to the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025.

Qualified Person

The Qualified Person responsible for the technical content of this news release is Mr. Mark A. Petersen M.Sc., P.Geo. (OGQ AS-10796; PGO 3069), Senior Exploration Consultant for Wallbridge.

About Wallbridge Mining

Wallbridge is focused on creating value through the exploration and sustainable development of gold projects in Quebecs Abitibi region while respecting the environment and communities where it operates. The Company holds a contiguous mineral property position totaling 830 km2 that extends approximately 97 km along the Detour-Fenelon gold trend. The property is host to the Companys flagship PEA stage Fenelon Gold Project, and its earlier exploration stage Martiniere Gold Project, as well as numerous other gold exploration targets.

For further information please visit the Companys website at https://wallbridgemining.com/ or contact:

Wallbridge Mining Company Limited

Brian Penny, CPA, CMA

Chief Executive Officer

Email: bpenny@wallbridgemining.com

M: +1 416 716 8346 Tania Barreto, CPIR

Director, Investor Relations

Email: tbarreto@wallbridgemining.com

M: +1 416 289 3012



Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

The information in this document may contain forward-looking statements or information (collectively, FLI) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. FLI is based on expectations, estimates, projections and interpretations as at the date of this document.

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are FLI that involve various risks, assumptions, estimates and uncertainties. Generally, FLI can be identified by the use of statements that include, but are not limited to, words such as seeks, believes, anticipates, plans, continues, budget, scheduled, estimates, expects, forecasts, intends, projects, predicts, proposes, "potential", targets and variations of such words and phrases, or by statements that certain actions, events or results may, will, could, would, should or might, be taken, occur or be achieved.

FLI in this document may include, but is not limited to: statements regarding current and future exploration and drilling results; the results of the preliminary economic assessment (PEA); the Companys ability to convert inferred resources into measured and indicated resources; environmental matters; stakeholder engagement and relationships; parameters and methods used to estimate the mineral resource estimates (MREs") at Fenelon and Martiniere (collectively the Deposits); the prospects, if any, of the Deposits;; and the significance of historic exploration activities and results.

FLI is designed to help you understand managements current views of its near- and longer-term prospects, and it may not be appropriate for other purposes. FLI by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such FLI. Although the FLI contained in this document is based upon what management believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders and prospective purchasers of securities of the Company that actual results will be consistent with such FLI, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, and neither the Company nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any such FLI. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake, and assumes no obligation, to update or revise any such FLI contained in this document to reflect new events or circumstances. Unless otherwise noted, this document has been prepared based on information available as of the date of this document. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on the FLI, or information contained herein.

Furthermore, should one or more of the risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in FLI.

Assumptions upon which FLI is based, without limitation, include: the results of exploration activities, the Companys financial position and general economic conditions; the ability of exploration activities to accurately predict mineralization; the accuracy of geological modelling; the ability of the Company to complete further exploration activities; the legitimacy of title and property interests in the Deposits; the accuracy of key assumptions, parameters or methods used to estimate the MREs and in the PEA; the ability of the Company to obtain required approvals; geological, mining and exploration technical problems; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; the evolution of the global economic climate; metal prices; foreign exchange rates; environmental expectations; community and non-governmental actions; and, the Companys ability to secure required funding. Risks and uncertainties about Wallbridge's business are discussed in the disclosure materials filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada, which are available at www.sedarplus.ca.

Cautionary Notes to United States Investors

Wallbridge prepares its disclosure in accordance with NI 43-101 which differs from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Terms relating to mineral properties, mineralization and estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources and economic studies used herein are defined in accordance with NI 43-101 under the guidelines set out in CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, adopted by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Council on May 19, 2014, as amended. NI 43-101 differs significantly from the disclosure requirements of the SEC generally applicable to US companies. As such, the information presented herein concerning mineral properties, mineralization and estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements under the U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ee2053b8-4d87-4d03-a467-61dfe7cf1be0
SAULT STE. MARIE, Ontario, Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The United Steelworkers union (USW) is responding to todays announcement that the federal government will provide a $400 million loan through the Large Enterprise Tariff Loan facility and the Ontario governments additional $100 million in financial support to Algoma Steel. While the union welcomes the extension of liquidity to support Algoma in the short term, it stresses the need for public investments to come with transparent commitments to protect jobs and the public interest, support communities, and a clear plan to diversify Algomas product capability mix for the long-term.

This support matters to our members and their families and protects jobs in the short-term in Sault Ste. Marie, said Marty Warren, USW National Director. But workers and the public deserve transparency about the terms of this deal. These are public dollars, and the terms and conditions must be made public, not left behind closed doors.

The USW laments that the package does not include specified investment commitments for product diversification  such as in structural steel and rail capacity  that will be essential to meet Canadian steel demand as governments commit to using Canadian steel in infrastructure, housing, and defence projects. In order to safeguard the future of steelmaking capacity in Sault Ste. Marie along with job security, investments in expanding the product capability of Algoma are of the utmost importance. The federal government has already made funds available to Canadian steel producers through the Strategic Response Fund. The next step is using those funds to expand Algomas product mix to ensure the long term viability of steel production and steelworker jobs in Sault Ste. Marie.

This announcement is a step forward, but workers continue to face too much uncertainty, said Kevon Stewart, USW Director for Ontario and Atlantic Canada. Steelworkers in Sault Ste. Marie are already bracing for layoffs in the coming months due to Algomas transition to an EAF. Training, reskilling, and diversification funding are essential to keep good jobs in this community. Our union will not accept public money being handed over in the background, without employment guarantees for workers and the community and ensuring respect of the collective agreement. We need productive investments to ensure the maintenance of good steelworker jobs in Sault Ste Marie.

The union reaffirmed that Canadas steelworkers have led the call for decisive government action since the U.S. imposed punishing 50% tariffs on Canadian steel, effectively shutting Canada out of its largest export market. The USW continues to press for a comprehensive industrial strategy  including Buy Canadian procurement, diversification investments, strict import controls and worker transition supports  to ensure Canada can supply its own needs and never again be left vulnerable to foreign governments trade wars.

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.
NEW YORK, Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential breaches of fiduciary duties by the directors and officers of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE: EW).

SO WHAT: If you currently own shares of Edwards stock, please visit the firms website at https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=29704 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 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
Not for dissemination in the United States of America

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aja Health and Wellness Inc. ("Aja" or the "Company") (TSXV:Aja) announces that it is getting closer to filing its annual audited financial statements for the financial year ending December 31, 2024, including the related managements discussion and analysis and certifications from the CEO and CFO (the "Annual Filings"), the Company's unaudited interim financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2025, the management's discussion and analysis for the same period and management certifications of the interim filings (the "March Interims"), and the Company's unaudited interim financial statements for the three months ended June 30, 2025, the management's discussion and analysis for the same period and management certifications of the interim filings (the "June Interims" and together with the March Interims, the "Interim Filings").

On August 1, 2025, the Alberta Securities Commission issued a Failure-to-File Cease Trade Order (the "FFCTO") because the Company was unable to file the Annual Filings and March Interims in time to meet the April 30, 2025 and May 30, 2025 deadlines, respectively. Following the issuance of the FFCTO, the Company was unable to file the June Interims in time to meet the August 29, 2025 deadline.

Aja previously announced that the delay in filing the Annual Filings was due to the determination that the previously announced reverse takeover transaction, which closed on September 17, 2024, will be characterized as a series of acquisitions for accounting purposes. This characterization requires a valuation of the purchase price allocation to complete the audited financial statements for the financial year ending December 31, 2024. Due to the complexity of the transaction structure, the valuator requires additional time to complete its comprehensive review and finalize the purchase price allocation. The Company expects the valuation to be finalized on or before October 10, 2025. Following receipt of the valuation, the auditors will continue working with the Company to complete the audited financial statements for the financial year ending December 31, 2024. The Company is working to complete the Annual Filings as soon as possible and expects the Annual Filings to be filed on or before October 31, 2025.

Aja is working to complete the Interim Filings as soon as possible and expects the Interim Filings to be filed on or before October 31, 2025.

The Company anticipates that the FFCTO will remain in place until such time as the Annual Filings and the Interim Filings are filed.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Sanjeev Parsad"

Sanjeev Parsad

President, CEO and Director

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. When used in this address, 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. 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, readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date of publication of this information and the Company undertakes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change. Furthermore, the Company undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of the Company, its securities, or its financial or operating results (as applicable). All forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

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.

For further information, contact:

Sanjeev Parsad, President and CEO

Phone: (604) 678.9115

Fax: (604) 678.9279

E-mail: sparsad@ajahw.com

Web: www.ajahw.com
Newlox Gold Ventures Corp. , ("Newlox" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that further to its press release of July 22, 29 and 31, 2025, it has closed the final tranche of the private placement which was oversubscribed by $793,219.88. An aggregate of 8,884,284, units ("Units") at a price of $0.07 per Unit for gross proceeds of $621,899.8 (the "Offering") was issued on September 26, 2025.

Each Unit consists of one common share ("Share") in the capital of the Company and one common share purchase warrant ("Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire one common share of the Company (each a "Warrant Share") at a price of $0.12 per Warrant Share at any time until September 26, 2028.

Pursuant to the Offering, Newlox paid two (2) arm's length third parties a finders' fee consisting of an aggregate cash commission of $16,520 and 472,000 non-transferable broker warrants (the "Broker Warrants"). Each Broker Warrant entitles the holders thereof to purchase one unit of the Company (each a "Compensation Unit") at the price of $0.07 per Compensation Unit at any time until September 26, 2028.

Each Compensation Unit is comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company and one common share purchase warrant (each a "Compensation Unit Warrant"). Each Compensation Unit Warrant shall entitle the holder thereof to purchase one common share in the capital of the Company (each a "Compensation Warrant Share") at a price of $0.12 per Compensation Warrant Share at any time until September 26, 2028.

The proceeds from the Offering will be allocated for the continued milling operations in Costa Rica and general working capital.

All securities issued pursuant to the Offering are subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day.

About Newlox Gold Ventures Corp.

Newlox Gold Ventures Corp. is an emerging precious metals producer dedicated to the recovery of gold and silver from artisanal and small-scale mining operations across Latin America. The Company leverages technology to recover precious metals while remediating historical mine waste and contributing to local economic development.

On Behalf of the Board, Newlox Gold Ventures Corp.

Newlox Gold Ventures Corp.

Website: www.newloxgold.com

Telephone: 647.848.5843

Email: info@newloxgold.com

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

Forward-Looking Information

The information in this news release includes certain information and statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward- looking information. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, the completion of the work programs currently underway and the results of these programs. These statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, achievements, or performance may vary materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward-looking statements. The material risk factors that could cause actual results to differ include the risk that work undertaken by the Company may have unintended effects, the risk of delays in completing work, and the risk that the Company may not be able to raise sufficient funds and Force Majeure. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward-looking information will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise. Neither Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release).


LONDON, September 29, 2025 - Orosur Mining Inc. ("Orosur" or "the Company") (TSX-V:OMI)(AIM:OMI) announces its audited results for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2025. All dollar figures are stated in thousands of US$ unless otherwise noted. The audited financial statements of the Company for the year ended May 31, 2025; the related management's discussion and analysis ("MD&A"); and Forms 52-109FV1 will be filed today and be available for review on the SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.ca. The financial statements and the MD&A are also available on the Company's website atwww.orosur.ca.

A link to the PDF version of the financial statements is available here:

http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/1016B_1-2025-9-27.pdf

A link to the PDF version of the MD&A is available here:

http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/1016B_2-2025-9-27.pdf

HIGHLIGHTS

Highlights for the year ended May 31, 2025 include:

Operational

In Colombia, on November 27, 2024, the Company completed the acquisition of Minera Monte Aguila S.A.S. ("Monte Aguila") as a result of which the Company now has 100% ownership of the Company's flagship Anza Gold Project. The Company also re-took operatorship of the Anza Gold Project, commencing a drilling program at the Pepas prospect in late November 2024 which is still continuing and has produced some exceptional results, all of which have been announced by the Company since that date.

While exploration continues across several prospects at Anza, the Company feels that the nature of the gold mineralisation thus far defined at Pepas, could, if proven, underpin a range of development options. Consequently, the Company has begun examining the potential for nearer term production at Pepas, initially through an in-fill drilling programme, followed by a Mineral Resource Estimate and an evaluation of the economics for production at Pepas. Thereafter the Company will return to wider exploration drilling, including at APTA.

In the meantime, earlier stage exploration continues at the El Cedro prospect, which lies to the south of the same integrated licence that hosts Pepas, Pepas North and APTA and is roughly 4km south of the APTA base camp.

Work on El Cedro began some years ago before Orosur's tenure, when Anglo American undertook reconnaissance mapping and sampling, identifying a highly prospective gold/copper porphyry system. Large soil samples have been taken at roughly 25m intervals, along ridges and spurs for ease of access and to ensure soils were residual. Samples were sent to both Medellin and Canada for assay. Early assay results have been returned and show highly anomalous results over large areas along the eastern flank, with substantial areas of over 0.3 g/t Au in soils, and some samples in excess of 1 g/t Au and 0.5% Cu. A wider area is being sampled to more accurately define the background levels, however these early results are considered by Orosur to be highly encouraging.

In Argentina, on February 17, 2025, the Company announced the successful completion of the first phase of the two-phase exploration joint venture over the El Pantano Project in Santa Cruz province, Argentina. This milestone marks a significant step forward in the Company's strategic development of the Project. Having invested US$1m over three years, the Company has now earned a direct 51% interest in the Argentine company, Deseado Dorado S.A.S ("Deseado"), that owns the exploration licences that make up the Project. The Company can now move to the second phase of the JV, that could see it move to 100% ownership of Deseado upon investment of an additional US$2m over two years. Upon such an outcome, the original vendors would then retain a residual 2% NSR royalty, 1% of which the Company could repurchase at its election for US$1m.

Post period end, a geo-physical campaign comprising IP was shot over one of the more prospective parts of the Project area. The data was then interpreted to provide the preferred locations for drilling which will take place later this year subject to finance.

In Nigeria, the Company will consider how to best deal with the project given the continuing subdued lithium market.

In Uruguay, in accordance with the Creditors' Agreement, the Company's wholly owned subsidiary, Loryser has sold all of its assets. It has paid for the settlements with all of its former employees; it has finalised the reclamation and remediation works on the tailings dam and has successfully concluded a one-year post-closure control phase. It has then distributed all remaining proceeds, via a Court approved paying agent, to Loryser's trade creditors and paid any remaining unclaimed amounts into the Court, in accordance with the Creditors' Agreement. Given that Loryser has fulfilled all of its obligations under the Creditors' Agreement, the Company has extinguished the carrying amounts due to commercial suppliers and borrowings on its Statement of Financial Position.

Financial and Corporate

The audited consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis under the historical cost method except for items measured at fair value, and assets and liabilities related to discontinued operations, which are measured at the lower of cost or recoverable amount. This accounting treatment has been applied to the activities in Uruguay and Chile.

At the Company's AGM, held on December 12, 2024, all resolutions put to shareholders were duly passed.

On September 30, 2024, the Company announced that it had raised the sum of 835,000 ($1,096) (before expenses) through a placing of 30,035,971 new common shares of no par value ("Placing Share") at a price of 2.78 pence per Placing Share, together with a grant of one unlisted warrant to purchase one additional common share exercisable at US$0.0494 (approximately 3.697p) for every two Placing Shares subscribed for. As part of the raise, the Company also issued 3,003,597 brokers warrants ("Broker Warrants"). Each Broker Warrant can be exercised for one common share at an exercisable price of $0.03715 for a period of 5 years from the date of issuance.

On December 19, 2024, the Company announced that it had raised the sum of 1,250,000 ($1,566) (before expenses) through a placing of 18,939,394 new common shares of no par value ("Placing Share") at a price of 6.6 pence per Placing Share. As part of the raise, the Company also issued 1,893,939 brokers warrants ("Broker Warrants"). Each Broker Warrant can be exercised for one common share at an exercisable price of $0.0832 for a period of 5 years from the date of issuance.

On March 27, 2025, the Company announced the closing of an oversubscribed private placement (the "Private Placement") which raised aggregate gross proceeds of C$6,000,000 ($4,193), including the full exercise of the broker's option for gross proceeds of C$1,000,000 ($699). Under the Private Placement, the Company sold an aggregate of 35,294,117 units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of C$0.17 per Unit. Each Unit consisted of one common share of the Company (each, a "Unit Share") and one half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each whole Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one common share of the Company (each, a "Warrant Share") at a price of C$0.25 at any time on or before March 27, 2027. As part of the raise, the Company also issued 1,893,705 brokers warrants ("Broker Warrants"). Each Broker Warrant can be exercised for one common share at an exercisable price of CAD$0.17 for a period of 2 years from the date of issuance.

On September 18, 2025, subsequent to the year end, the Company announced an upsized brokered private placement (the "Placing") to raise gross proceeds of up to C$20,000,000 ($14,388) including the full exercise of the broker's option for gross proceeds of C$2,000,000 ($1.438), through the issue of up to 58,823,530 common shares at a price of C$0.34 per common share. No warrants have been issued in connection with the Placing. The Placing is expected to close on or about October 2, 2025.

On May 31, 2025, the Company had a cash balance of $4,877 (May 31, 2024 - $1,328). As at the date of this MD&A the Company had a cash balance of $4,188.

Outlook and Strategy

Given the recent acquisition by the Company of MMA, through which the Company has retaken 100% of its flagship project at Anza; the spectacular results at Pepas; and the encouraging results at the Company's El Pantano Project in Argentina, the Company will focus its investment principally in these areas.

In Colombia, within the Anza Project, the Company is aiming for a Mineral Resource Estimate by December this year at Pepas, to be followed by an economic assessment of potential near term production at Pepas. Thereafter the Company will return to wider exploration drilling, including at APTA. Further exploration will continue around the El Cedro prospect which could host a porphyry system with a view to potential drilling next year.

In Argentina, the Company aims to carry out a drilling program, later this year, to follow up on targets established by all of the Company's previous exploration work at its El Pantano Project.

Consolidated Statements of Financial Position (Expressed in thousands of United States dollars) As at May 31, 2025 $ As at May 31, 2024 $ ASSETS Current assets Cash 4,877 1,328 Restricted cash 12 12 Accounts receivable and other assets 434 279 Assets held for sale in Uruguay 20 226 Total current assets 5,343 1,845 Non-currentassets Property and equipment 288 202 Exploration and evaluation assets 3,858 3,343 Total assets 9,489 5,390 LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Current liabilities Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 623 446 Liability of Chile discontinued operation - 2,376 Warrant liability 1,706 - Liabilities held for sale in Uruguay 529 11,208 Total current liabilities 2,858 14,029 Total liabilities 2,858 14,029 Deficit Share capital 74,675 69,529 Share-based payments reserve 10,931 10,538 Warrants 436 302 Currency translation reserve (2,159) (1,808) Accumulated Deficit (77,258) (87,194) Total equity attributable to owners of the parent 6,625 (8,633) Non-controlling interest 6 (6) Total equity 6,631 (8,639) Total liabilities and equity 9,489 5,390

Consolidated Statements of Loss and Comprehensive Loss (Expressed in thousands of United States dollars) (Except common shares and per share amounts) Year Ended May 31, 2025 $ Year Ended May 31, 2024 $

Corporate and administrative expenses (2,615) (2,030) Exploration and evaluation expenses (246) (105) Impairment of exploration and evaluation assets (596) (1,841) Share-based compensation (407) - Other income 54 40 Net finance cost (15) (17) Gain on fair value of warrants 683 - Foreign exchange gain 227 172 Net loss for the year for continuing operations (2,915) (3,781) Income from discontinued operations 12,851 403 Net income (loss) for the year 9,936 (3,378) Other comprehensive (loss) income: Item which may be subsequently reclassified to profit or loss: Cumulative translation adjustment (351) 917 Total comprehensive income (loss) for the year 9,585 (2,461) Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share for - continuing operations (0.00) (0.00) - discontinued operations 0.05 (0.00) Weighted average number of common shares outstanding 247,469 192,212

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Expressed in thousands of United States dollars) Year Ended May 31, 2024 $ Year Ended May 31, 2024 $ Operating activities Net income (loss) for the year for continued and discontinued operations 9,936 (3,378) Adjustments for Depreciation 22 17 Share-based compensation 407 - Impairment of exploration and evaluation assets 596 1,841 Reversed royalty provision in Chile (2,376) - Extinguished liabilities and borrowings in Uruguay (10,677) - Gain on fair value of warrants (683) - Accretion of asset retirement obligation - (19) Foreign exchange and other (92) 153 Changes in non-cash working capital items: Accounts receivable and other assets (18) 803 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (41) (1,160) Net cash used in operating activities (2,926) (1,743) Investing activities Purchase of property and equipment - (79)

Exploration and evaluation expenditures (967) (1,056) Net cash used in investing activities (967) (1,135) Financing activities Proceeds from issue of common shares, net of shares issuance cost 6,130 486 Proceeds from exercise of options 14 153 Proceeds from exercise of warrants 1,161 3 Net cash provided by financing activities 7,305 489 Net change in cash 3,412 (2,389) Net change in cash classified within assets discontinued operations 137 (31) Cash, beginning of year 1,328 3,748 Cash end of year 4,877 1,328 Operating activities - continuing operations (2,790) (1,773) - discontinued operations (136) 30 Investing activities - continuing operations (967) (1,135) Financing activities - continuing operations 7,306 488 - discontinued operations 1 1 Supplemental information Interest paid (received) - - Income taxes paid (recovered) - - Non cash investing and financing activities - -

For further information, visitwww.orosur.ca, follow on X @orosurm or please contact:

Orosur Mining Inc

Louis Castro, Chairman,

Brad George, CEO

info@orosur.ca

Tel: +1 (778) 373-0100

SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP - Nomad & Broker

Jeff Keating / Jen Clarke / Devik Mehta

Tel: +44 (0) 20 3 470 0470

Turner Pope Investments (TPI) Ltd - Joint Broker

Andy Thacker/James Pope

Tel: +44 (0)20 3657 0050

Flagstaff Communications

Tim Thompson

Mark Edwards

Fergus Mellon

orosur@flagstaffcomms.com

Tel: +44 (0)207 129 1474

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014 ('MAR') which has been incorporated into UK law by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. Upon the publication of this announcement via Regulatory Information Service ('RIS'), this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.

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.

About Orosur Mining Inc.

Orosur Mining Inc. (TSXV: OMI; AIM: OMI) is a minerals explorer and developer currently operating in Colombia, Argentina and Nigeria.

Qualified Persons Statement

The information in this news release was compiled, reviewed, verified and approved by Mr. Brad George, BSc Hons (Geology and Geophysics), MBA, Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (MAIG), CEO of Orosur Mining Inc. and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

Orosur Mining Inc. staff follow standard operating and quality assurance procedures to ensure that sampling techniques and sample results meet international reporting standards. Drill core is split in half over widths that vary between 0.3m and 2m, depending upon the geological domain. One half is kept on site in the Minera Anza core storage facility, with the other sent for assay.

Industry standard QAQC protocols are put in place with approximately 10% of total submitted samples being blanks, repeats or Certified Reference Materials (CRMs). Samples for holes PEP-001 to PEP-011 were sent to the Medellin preparation facility of ALS Colombia Ltd, and then to the ISO 9001 certified ALS Chemex laboratory in Lima, Peru.

Samples from PEP-012 onwards are sent to Medellin laboratory of Actlabs for preparation and assay.

30 gram nominal weight samples are then subject to fire assay and AAS analysis for gold with gravimetric re-finish for overlimit assays of >5 g/t. ICP-MS Ultra-Trace level multi-element four-acid digest analyses may also undertaken for such elements as silver, copper, lead and zinc, etc.

Gold intersections are reported using a lower cut-off of 0.3g/t Au over 3m.Intersections are quoted as downhole thicknesses. True thicknesses are unknown.

Forward Looking Statements

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this news release constitute "forward looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including but not limited to the "safe harbour" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are based on expectations estimates and projections as of the date of this news release.

Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the continuing focus on the Pepas prospect, the exploration plans in Colombia and the funding of those plans, and other events or conditions that may occur in the future. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, those described in the Section "Risks Factors" of the Company's MD&A for the year ended May 31, 2025. The Company's continuance as a going concern is dependent upon its ability to obtain adequate financing, to reach profitable levels of operations and to reach a satisfactory closure of the Creditors Agreement in Uruguay. These material uncertainties may cast significant doubt upon the Company's ability to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business and accordingly the appropriateness of the use of accounting principles applicable to a going concern. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events and such forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law.

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: Orosur Mining Inc

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
VANCOUVER, Sept. 29, 2025 - A.I.S. Resources Ltd. (TSXV: AIS, OTC- PINK: AISSF) ("AIS" or the "Company") announces the Company has closed the first tranche of its non-brokered private placement of 2,700,000 shares ("Shares") at a price of $0.03 per share for gross proceeds of $81,000 (the "Private Placement").

Proceeds of the private placement will be used for audit fees and general office expenses. There are no proposed payments to non-arm's length parties of the Company, and to persons conducting Investor Relations activities. No finders fees are payable. Closing of the Private Placement is subject to final acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange. All securities issued in connection with the Private Placement will be subject to a four-month hold period from the closing date under applicable Canadian securities laws.

About A.I.S. Resources Limited

A.I.S. Resources Limited is a publicly traded company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company focuses on natural resource opportunities, aiming to unlock value by acquiring early-stage projects and providing the necessary technical and financial support to develop them. AIS is guided by a seasoned team of engineers, geologists, and finance professionals with a proven track record of success in capital markets.

On Behalf of A.I.S. Resources Limited

Martyn Element

Chairman

Corporate Contact

For further information, please contact:

Martyn Element, Chairman of the Board

T: +1-604-220-6266

E: melement@aisresources.com

Website: www.aisresources.com

ADVISORY: This press release contains forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligations 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. 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.
TORONTO, Sept. 29, 2025 - Lithium Ionic Corp. (TSXV: LTH; OTCQB: LTHCF; FSE: H3N) ("Lithium Ionic" or the "Company") reports that is has closed the first tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement financing of 18,350,141 units (the "Units") at $0.70 per Unit for gross proceeds of $12,845,098 (the "First Tranche") announced on September 22, 2025 and September 25, 2025. The Company is announcing a final upsize of the private placement which shall now be comprised of up to 26,080,141 Units at $0.70 per Unit for gross proceeds of up to $18,256,099 (the "Upsized Offering"). The books are closed on the Upsized Offering and Lithium Ionic expects to close the final tranche of the Upsized Offering on or about October 3, 2025.

Each Unit is 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 shall 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 date of issuance.

The Upsized Offering was 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.

The Company plans to use the aggregate net proceeds of the for development of its Brazilian properties and general corporate purposes.

The securities being issued pursuant to the Upsized Offering are subject to a four-month hold period under applicable securities laws. The Upsized Offering 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").

Certain insiders of the Company are expected to acquire 912,179 Units in the Upsized Offering. Any participation by insiders in the Upsized Offering will constitute a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61 101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company expects such participation will be exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 as neither the fair market value of the Units subscribed for by the insiders, nor the consideration for the Units paid by such insiders, is expected to exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization.

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 Upsized Offering, the use of proceeds of the Upsized 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.
Arianne Phosphate (the "Company" or "Arianne") (TSXV: DAN) (OTCQX: DRRSF) (FRANKFURT: JE9N), a development-stage phosphate mining company, advancing the Lac a Paul project in Quebec's Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region, announces election results of its 2025 annual general meeting ("AGM"), representing its fiscal year ended December 31, 2024.

All the resolutions that were presented at the AGM were approved by the shareholders. These resolutions include the nomination of the directors and the auditors as well as the renewal of the Company's stock option plan.

Arianne is pleased to announce that the Company shareholders have elected Messrs. Dominique Bouchard, Jeffrey Beck, James Cowley, Marco Gagnon, Siva Pillay, Steven Pinney, and Claude Lafleur as directors of the Company during the AGM held on September26, 2025.

Arianne would like to sincerely thank Raef Sully for his valuable contributions and commitment during his time on our Board of Directors, as he did not seek reelection. His insight and dedication have been greatly appreciated, and we are pleased that Raef will continue to share his expertise with Arianne in consulting capacity. We look forward to his continued involvement and guidance as we advance our projects.

About Arianne Phosphate:

Arianne Phosphate ("Arianne Phosphate Inc.") (www.arianne-inc.com) is developing the Lac a Paul phosphate deposits located approximately 200 km north of the Saguenay/Lac St. Jean area of Quebec, Canada. These deposits will produce a high-quality igneous apatite concentrate grading 39% P 2 O 5 with little or no contaminants (Feasibility Study released in 2013). The Company has 213,714,811 shares outstanding.

Qualified Person

Raphael Gaudreault, eng., Qualified Person by Regulation 43-101, has approved the technical disclosure in this release. Mr. Gaudreault is also the Company's Chief Operating Officer.

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.

Follow Arianne on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ariannephosphate

Twitter: http://twitter.com/arianne_dan

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/ArianneResources

Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/arianneresources

Resource Investing News: http://resourceinvestingnews.com/?s=Arianne

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities regulations in Canada and the United States (collectively, "forward-looking information"). Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, anticipated quality and production of the apatite concentrate at the Lac a Paul project. Often, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects, "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes", or the negatives thereof or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to be known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: volatile stock price; risks related to changes in commodity prices; sources and cost of power facilities; the estimation of initial and sustaining capital requirements; the estimation of labor and operating costs; the general global markets and economic conditions; the risk associated with exploration, development and operations of mineral deposits; the estimation of mineral reserves and resources; the risks associated with uninsurable risks arising during the course of exploration, development and production; risks associated with currency fluctuations; environmental risks; competition faced in securing experienced personnel; access to adequate infrastructure to support mining, processing, development and exploration activities; the risks associated with changes in the mining regulatory regime governing the Company; completion of the environmental assessment process; risks related to regulatory and permitting delays; risks related to potential conflicts of interest; the reliance on key personnel; financing, capitalization and liquidity risks including the risk that the financing necessary to fund continued exploration and development activities at Lac a Paul project may not be available on satisfactory terms, or at all; the risk of potential dilution through the issue of common shares; the risk of litigation. Forward-looking information is based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable at the time such statements are made, including but not limited to, continued exploration activities, no material adverse change in commodity prices, exploration and development plans proceeding in accordance with plans and such plans achieving their stated expected outcomes, receipt of required regulatory approval, and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is made as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake to update such forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

SOURCE Arianne Phosphate Inc







Contact Information:



Technical: Raphael Gaudreault, Tel. : 418-590-1318, raphael.gaudreault@arianne-inc.com; Info: Brian Ostroff, Tel. : 514-908-4202, brian.ostroff@arianne-inc.com


Toronto, September 29, 2025 - Lode Gold Resources Inc. (TSXV: LOD) (OTCQB: LODFF) ("Lode Gold") is pleased to report that it has completed Internal Scoping Study for a pivot to evaluate a 100% underground bulk mining scenario at its Fremont gold project in California, USA.

EAS Advisors in New York and Red Cloud Securities have been retained to seek a Joint Venture (JV) partner for investment and to evaluate the potential for a gold pour (pilot plant/test mining) in early 2028 with a full ramp up by 2030.

The evaluation will take 36 months and the Final Investment Decision (FID) will be in 2028.

There are plans to optimize the Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) completed in 2023 and possibly a scale up from 4,000 to 6,000 tonnes per day (tpd), pending rock mechanics analysis and engineering studies. At 4,000 tpd, the PEA cited gold production of 136,000 Oz gold per year. The 2023 PEA was based 1 M oz Measured and Indicated (M&I) and 2 M oz Inferred.

Evaluation to be conducted include:

A mine plan that will only use 20% of the 3,351 acres of 100% owned patented land (surface + mineral rights); thereby minimizing footprint and disturbance

No open pit, 100% underground with crushing to be done underground

Elimination of the use of cyanide. The oxides at surface (0-60m) will not be processed on site

Utilization of a portable mill, estimated to be 300-500 tpd initially for the Phase 1 - Pilot Plant/Test Mining for the first 3 years

Rehabilitation of part of the 23km of underground workings for Phase 1 operations

Access to be from the hanging wall with metamorphic rocks, instead of the footwall with friable sedimentary rocks

The Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE), updated recently, separated two mineralization domains (veins and stockwork) in order to enable the evaluation to pivot the project to full underground mining. The PEA is based on 2,000 tpd open pit (oxides + sulphides) and 4,000 tpd underground (sulphides). The strategy pivot to 100% underground mining eliminated the use of CN, minimizing disturbance and footprint and is based on the key findings in the 2025 MRE (filed April 2025)

Half of the gold is in the stockwork outside of the veins (completely unmined)

Average true width's taking into account both veins and stockwork: 53 m for 1 g/t cut-off and 17 m for 3 g/t cut-off

Jonathan Hill, Director and Technical Committee Chair, "This internal scoping study underpins a strategy to re-engineer and restart a past producing high grade gold mine at Fremont. This provides a significantly important near - term production base supporting the United States government's stated aim of supporting domestic gold production. "

About EAS Advisors LLC

EAS Advisors LLC is a private New York-based boutique corporate advisory firm specializing in Natural Resources and Commodities. More information can be accessed here https://easadvisors.com

About Red Cloud Securities

Red Cloud is a mining investment bank that has raised over C$3.9 billion for mining clients since January 2020. Its business extends across Canada, U.S. and Europe, consisting of over 300 institutional accounts, 1,500 retail brokers, 150 private equity groups and 250 strategic mining investors. More information about Red Cloud can be accessed here: https://redcloudsecurities.com



About Lode Gold

Lode Gold is an exploration and development company with projects in highly prospective and safe mining jurisdictions in Canada and the United States. In Canada, its Golden Culvert and WIN projects in Yukon, covering 99.5 square kilometres across a 27-kilometre strike length, are situated in a district-scale, high-grade gold mineralized trend within the southern portion of the Tombstone gold belt. A total of four RIRGS targets have been confirmed on the property. A National Instrument 43-101 technical report has been completed in May, 2024.

In New Brunswick, Lode Gold has created one of the largest land packages with its Acadian Gold JV Co., consisting of an area that spans 445 square kilometres (about half the area of San Antonio, Texas) and a 44-kilometre strike. McIntyre Brook covers 111 square kilometers and a 17-kilometre strike in the emerging Appalachian/Iapetus gold belt; it is hosted by orogenic rocks of similar age and structure as New Found Gold's Queensway project. Riley Brook is a 335-square-kilometre package covering a 26-kilometre strike of Wapske formation with its numerous felsic units. An NI 43-101 technical report has been completed in August, 2024.

In the United States, the Company is focused on its advanced exploration and development asset, the Fremont Mine in Mariposa, California. It has a recent 2025 NI 43-101 report and compliant MRE that can be accessed here https://lode-gold.com/project/fremont-gold-usa

Fremont was previously mined during the Gold Rush until gold mining prohibition in WWII, when its mining license was suspended. Only 8% of the resource identified in the 2025 MRE has been extracted. This asset has exploration upside and is open at depth (three step-out holes at 1,300 m hit structure and were mineralized) and on strike. This is a brownfield project with over 43,000 m drilled, 23 km of underground workings and 14 adits. The project has excellent infrastructure and is close to electricity, water, roads, railhead and port.

Recently, the Company completed an internal scoping study, with a strategic pivot to 100% underground mining. Previously, in March 2023, the Company completed an NI 43-101 Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") with an open pit and underground combination mine. The NI 43-101 technical reports are available on the Company's profile on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and the Company's website (www.lode-gold.com)

ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY

Wendy T. Chan

CEO & Director

Information Contact:

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

This news release includes "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements included in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements including, without limitation, statements with respect to the use of proceeds, advancement and completion of resource calculation, feasibility studies, and exploration plans and targets. Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "potential", "target", "budget" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof.

Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management based on the business and markets in which the Company operates, are inherently subject to significant operational, economic, and competitive uncertainties, risks and contingencies. These include assumptions regarding, among other things: the status of community relations and the security situation on site; general business and economic conditions; the availability of additional exploration and mineral project financing; the supply and demand for, inventories of, and the level and volatility of the prices of metals; relationships with strategic partners; the timing and receipt of governmental permits and approvals; the timing and receipt of community and landowner approvals; changes in regulations; political factors; the accuracy of the Company's interpretation of drill results; the geology, grade and continuity of the Company's mineral deposits; the availability of equipment, skilled labour and services needed for the exploration and development of mineral properties; and currency fluctuations.

There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and actual results, and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include a deterioration of security on site or actions by the local community that inhibits access and/or the ability to productively work on site, actual exploration results, interpretation of metallurgical characteristics of the mineralization, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, uninsured risks, regulatory changes, delays or inability to receive required approvals, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators, including those described under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's most recently filed MD&A. The Company does not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/268350
Tinka Resources Ltd. (TSXV: TK) (OTCQB: TKRFF) ("Tinka" or the "Company") announces that, further to the Company's news release dated September 8, 2025, and September 10, 2025, the Company has received approval from TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") for the consolidation (the "Consolidation") of its common shares (the "Shares") on the basis of five (5) pre-Consolidation Shares for every one (1) post-Consolidation Share.

The Company's name and trading symbol will remain unchanged following the Consolidation and the Shares will begin trading on a post-Consolidation basis on October 1, 2025, under a new CUSIP: 887522803 and new ISIN: CA8875228030.

As of the date of this news release, the Company currently has 408,696,885 Shares issued and outstanding, and immediately following the Consolidation, the Company is expected to have approximately 81,739,377 Shares issued. Following the closing of the Company's non-brokered private placement (the "Offering"), which was also announced by the Company on September 8, 2025, and on September 10, 2025, the Company is expected to have approximately 132,648,468 Shares issued and outstanding. Management believes the Consolidation will help improve marketability of the Company's Shares and attract new shareholders to the Company's register.

No fractional Shares will be issued as a result of the Consolidation. Any fractional shares resulting from the Consolidation will be rounded up or down to the nearest whole Share. The Company's outstanding incentive stock options, warrants, and any other convertible securities will be adjusted on a 5:1 basis and their respective exercise prices will be increased on a 5:1 basis to reflect the Consolidation.

Letters of transmittal with respect to the Consolidation will be mailed to all registered shareholders of the Company. All registered shareholders will be required to send their respective certificates representing the pre-Consolidation Shares along with a properly executed letter of transmittal to the Company's transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company of Canada (the "Transfer Agent"), in accordance with the instructions provided in the letter of transmittal. All shareholders who submit a duly completed letter of transmittal along with their respective pre-Consolidation Share certificate(s) to the Transfer Agent will receive a post-Consolidation Share certificate or direct registration system (DRS) statement representing the post-Consolidation Shares. No action is required by beneficial shareholders of the Company to receive post-Consolidation Shares in connection with the Consolidation. Beneficial shareholders who hold their pre-Consolidation Shares through intermediaries (e.g., a broker, bank, trust company investment dealer or other financial institution) and who have questions regarding how their pre-Consolidation Shares will be processed in connection with the Consolidation should contact their intermediaries.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. 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 the securities laws of any state of the United States and may not be offered or sold within the United States (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 pursuant to an exemption from such registration requirements.

About Tinka Resources Limited

Tinka is an exploration and development company with its flagship property being the 100%-owned Ayawilca zinc-silver-tin project in central Peru, and is also exploring the nearby Silvia copper-gold project. Mineral Resources at Ayawilca include the Zinc Zone which has an estimated Indicated Mineral Resource of 28.3 Mt grading 5.8% zinc, 16.4 g/t silver, 0.2% lead and 91 g/t indium, and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 31.2 Mt grading 4.2% zinc, 14.5 g/t silver, 0.2% lead and 45 g/t indium. The Tin Zone at Ayawilca has an estimated Indicated Mineral Resource of 1.4 million tonnes grading 0.72% tin and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 12.7 Mt grading 0.76% tin. The Company filed a NI 43-101 technical report on an updated PEA for the Ayawilca Project on April 15, 2024 (link to NI 43-101 report here). Dr. Graham Carman, Tinka's President and CEO, has reviewed, verified and approved the technical contents of this release. Dr. Carman is a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, and is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

Forward-Looking Statements: Certain information in this news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively "forward-looking statements"). All statements, other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the completion of the Consolidation and the Offering. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs and expectations of Tinka as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to Tinka's management. Such statements reflect the current risks, uncertainties and assumptions related to certain factors including, without limitations: timing and successful completion of the Consolidation and Offering; the expected benefits of the Consolidation; timing of planned work programs and results varying from expectations; delay in obtaining results; changes in equity markets; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future; equipment failure, unexpected geological conditions; imprecision in resource estimates or metal recoveries; success of future development initiatives; competition and operating performance; environmental and safety risks; timing of geological reports; the preliminary nature of the Ayawilca Project PEA and the Company's ability to realize the results of the Ayawilca Project PEA; the political environment in which the Company operates continuing to support the development and operation of mining projects; risks related to negative publicity with respect to the Company or the mining industry in general; delays in obtaining or failure to obtain necessary permits and approvals from local authorities; community agreements and relations; and, other development and operating risks. Should any one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein. Although Tinka believes that assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. Except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Tinka disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

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

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION OR DISSEMINATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES.


Toronto, September 29, 2025 - Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. (TSX: IVN) (OTCQX: IVPAF) announces that the company has closed the private placement offering with Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), as previously announced on September 17, 2025.

In accordance with the offering, Ivanhoe Mines has issued 57,516,666 common shares to QIA at a price of C$12.00 per share. Pursuant to the investor rights agreement between the company and Zijin Mining Group Co. Ltd., Zijin has exercised its right to acquire 8,004,800 common shares of Ivanhoe Mines at the same issue price as QIA to maintain its pro rata equity interest of approximately 12.2% in the company, resulting in additional proceeds to Ivanhoe Mines of approximately US$70 million. CITIC Metal Africa Investments Limited has waived its right to acquire additional shares in Ivanhoe Mines, pursuant to its investor rights agreement.

About Ivanhoe Mines

Ivanhoe Mines is a Canadian mining company focused on advancing its three principal projects in Southern Africa; the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex in the DRC, the ultra-high-grade Kipushi zinc-copper-germanium-silver mine, also in the DRC; and the tier-one Platreef platinum-palladium-nickel-rhodium-gold-copper Mine in South Africa, which is set to start production in Q4 2025.

Ivanhoe Mines is exploring for copper in its highly prospective, 54-100% owned exploration licences in the Western Forelands, covering an area over six times larger than the adjacent Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex, including the high- grade discoveries in the Makoko District. Ivanhoe is also exploring for new sedimentary copper discoveries in new horizons including Angola, Kazakhstan, and Zambia.

Follow Robert Friedland (@robert_ivanhoe) and Ivanhoe Mines (@IvanhoeMines_) on X.

About Qatar Investment Authority

Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) is the sovereign wealth fund of the State of Qatar. QIA was founded in 2005 to invest and manage the state reserve funds. QIA is among the largest and most active sovereign wealth funds globally. QIA invests across a wide range of asset classes and regions, as well as in partnership with leading institutions around the world, to build a global and diversified investment portfolio with a long-term perspective that can deliver sustainable returns and contribute to the prosperity of the State of Qatar.

Media Contact: media@qia.qa

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/268339
Nevada Organic Phosphate Inc. (CSE: NOP) ("NOP" or the "Company"), a B.C. based leader in organic sedimentary phosphate exploration, is pleased to inform the investment community and all stakeholders that RAK Consultants Canada Inc. ("RAK") is continuing its issuer sponsored research coverage of Nevada Organic Phosphate with an update report, dated September 25, 2025. RAK is known for focusing their research reports on sustainable resource management, stakeholder engagement, and regulatory preparedness, as well as highlighting compelling junior mining investment ideas.

The research report is now on NOP's website (available here) and is particularly important for investors as it confirms the Company's comprehensive roadmap for integrating ESG principles & sustainability into its strategic planning and operations.

The report aligns with the Company's mission to operate responsibly while maximizing shareholder value. It provides an overview and insights into NOP's sustainability program development, board-level responsibility and disclosure, as well as capital market strategies tailored for success, ensuring that the Company remains competitive, compliant, and forward-thinking in a rapidly evolving industry landscape.

Nevada Organic Phosphate Inc.

NOP is a junior exploration company with an organic sedimentary raw rock phosphate bed, 6.6 kilometres long, in northeast Nevada. Additional applications extend the potential strike of rock phosphate to over 30 kilometres. This is believed to be the only known large-scale organic sedimentary phosphate project in North America. It is situated close to the main highway to Montello/Elko, Nevada, and near the rail head to California.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulations services providers have reviewed or accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release may contain forward-looking statements and information ("FLSI") within the meaning

of applicable securities laws. FLSI may include expectations, anticipations, beliefs, opinions, plans, intentions, estimates, forecasts, projections, guidance or other similar statements and information that are not historical facts. All statements which are not historical statements are considered FLSI. All FLSI is based on assumptions, which may prove inaccurate, and subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including without limitation those risks and uncertainties identified in the Company's public securities filings, which may cause actual events or results to differ materially from those indicated or implied in FLSI. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance or value on FLSI. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in any FLSI in this news release are reasonable at the present time, it can give no assurance that such FLSI will prove to be correct. Any FLSI in this news release is made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligations to publicly update or revise any FLSI, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable securities laws. Any FLSI in this news release is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement.


/NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. NOT AN OFFER OF SECURITIES FOR SALE IN THE UNITED STATES/

Astra Exploration Inc. ("Astra" or the "Company") (TSXV: ASTR) (OTCQB: ATEPF) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Cormark Securities Inc. ("Cormark"), on behalf of itself and on behalf of a syndicate investment dealers, (collectively, the "Underwriters") pursuant to which the Underwriters have agreed to purchase, on a bought deal private placement basis, 8,065,000 shares of the Company (the "Shares") at a price of C$0.62 per Share (the "Issue Price") for aggregate gross proceeds of C$5,000,300 (the "Offering").

The Company has granted the Underwriters an option, exercisable in whole or in part, at any time prior to Closing Date (as defined below), to purchaser an additional 3,226,000 Shares at the Issue Price for additional gross proceeds of up to C$2,000,120.

The Company intends to use net proceeds from the Offering for exploration expenditures on the La Manchuria project and for general working capital purposes as described in the Offering Document (as defined below).

The Company is conducting a listed issuer financing pursuant to Section Part 5A.2 of National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions, as amended by Coordinated Blanket Order 45-935 - Exemptions from Certain Conditions of the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption (the "Listed Issuer Financing Exemption"). to purchasers in Canada (other than the province of Quebec). The Underwriters will also be entitled to offer the Shares for sale in the United States pursuant to available exemptions from the registration requirements of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and in certain other jurisdictions outside of Canada and the United States provided it is understood that no prospectus filing or comparable obligation, ongoing reporting requirement or requisite regulatory or governmental approval arises in such other jurisdictions. The Shares issued pursuant to the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption will not be subject to a hold period in Canada.

The securities described herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or available exemptions from such registration requirements. This news release does not constitute an offer to acquire securities in any jurisdiction.

There is an offering document (the "Offering Document") related to the Offering that can be accessed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca and the Company's website at astra-exploration.com. Prospective investors of Shares issued under the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption should read the Offering Document before making an investment decision.

The Offering is expected to close on or about October 8, 2025, or on such other date as may be agreed to by the Company and the Underwriters, subject to compliance with applicable securities laws (the "Closing Date"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the closing of the Offering must occur no later than the 45th day following the date of this news release.

The Company has agreed to pay to the Underwriters a cash commission equal to 6% of the gross proceeds of the Offering, subject to a reduction to 3% for orders on a president's list.

The completion of the Offering is subject to customary conditions, including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals, inclusive of the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

About the Company

Astra Exploration Inc. is a precious metals exploration company based out of Vancouver, BC that is actively building a portfolio of high-quality projects in some of the most important mining jurisdictions in Latin America.

The La Manchuria gold-silver project in Santa Cruz, Argentina, over which Astra has an option to acquire 90% interest, is a high-grade gold and silver low sulphidation epithermal (LSE) deposit located in the prolific Deseado Massif which hosts multiple world-class LSE precious metals deposits including Cerro Vanguardia and Cerro Negro, Santa Cruz, Argentina.

The 100% owned Pampa Paciencia gold and silver project in northern Chile is located in the Paleocene mineral province in proximity to such major operating mines as Spence and Sierra Gorda. The project shares several important geological similarities to other Paleocene LSE gold-silver deposits including Faride and El Penon.

The 100% owned Cerro Bayo project in northern Chile is located in the Maricunga belt approximately 20 km from the Refugio Mine. The project hosts a high sulphidation epithermal (HSE) +/- porphyry gold system with similarities to the Salares Norte deposit to the north in the same belt. The Maricunga belt is one of the most endowed regions in the world for gold and copper deposits.

The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Information :

This news release may contain certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When or if used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target, "plan", "forecast", "may", "schedule" and similar words or expressions identify forward- looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to the Company's business activities; the use of proceeds of the Offering, closing of the Offering and required approvals to complete the Offering. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, without limitation: development of the industry in which the Company operates; risks associated with the conduct of the Company's business activities; risks relating to reliance on the Company's management team and outside contractors; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; laws and regulations governing the industry in which the Company operates; operating or technical difficulties; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; litigation risk; and other risk factors disclosed in the Company's public disclosure documents available on the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.com. Readers are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.

SOURCE Astra Exploration Inc.
Grosjean not ruling out F1 comeback after Haas test

Romain Grosjean admits his Mugello outing with Haas reminded him he still has what it takes to race in Formula 1.

Romain Grosjean, Mugello 2025

 Haas

The 39-year-old Frenchman drove a 2023-spec Haas in wet conditions on Friday - his first time in an F1 cockpit since his fiery 2020 Bahrain accident.

It was a really nice day despite the weather, Grosjean smiled to L'Equipe. "We relived a bit what we experienced in 2016 - Ayao (Komatsu) was talking to me on the radio, I had my chief mechanic with me.

They made me do some qualifying laps in the afternoon and a test start.

He admitted the first laps were tricky. On the first lap I was a bit like an Indian in the city, Grosjean smiled again. Plus it was wet! I didn't have to put the gas on full throttle once on that first lap.

The emotion peaked when Grosjean returned to the garage. When I came into the pits and all the mechanics formed a guard of honour, I wasn't expecting that. Luckily I still had my helmet on because, to be honest, I shed a few tears.

On the new ground effect cars, he marvelled: "Even in the rain, the aerodynamics are amazing. There are corners where you think you won't go flat out. And then yes.

On the other hand, they are huge. Sometimes I thought I was going to lick the kerb and boom, I drove over it.

When asked if the test rekindled thoughts of an F1 return, Grosjean paused. Experiencing this day showed me that I hadn't lost and that I still knew how to do it, he said.

Yes, I could see myself coming back. But for that to happen, it would require specific conditions - a team that wanted me. You never know what life is made of.

(GMM)
Schumacher turns to Indycar as F1 hopes fade

Mick Schumacher will test an Indycar for the first time next month, as his chances of returning to Formula 1 continue to fade.

Mick Schumacher, Azerbaijan GP 2022

 Haas

After losing out on a Cadillac seat for 2026 - the team opting for Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez - Schumacher has accepted an invitation from Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing to test at Indianapolis on October 13.

I am very much looking forward to driving my first Indycar test, the 26-year-old said. "It's no secret that I'm a big fan of single-seater racing, so this first Indycar test will be an experience to treasure.

I'm really looking forward to driving a car where I can see my wheels.

Team co-owner Bobby Rahal commented: "I've followed Mick's career as well as that of his father, so the thought of seeing him in one of our race cars is very exciting.

Obviously he has a great deal of talent and it should give him a good baseline to start from.

Schumacher's career has stalled since Haas dropped him at the end of 2022. He served as Mercedes reserve before switching full-time to Alpine's WEC program, where he has scored multiple podiums.

German outlets say Indycar could now offer Schumacher the platform to relaunch his single-seater career. It's a chance for Mick to show what he can do in a tough series, noted SID news agency.

DPA added that the Indy test raises hopes of a future start at the Indy 500 .

Auto Motor und Sport agreed the move is about visibility: In endurance racing, it's difficult to attract attention. To regain some of the focus of the premier class, Schumacher has put out feelers toward Indycar.

Schumacher would join a list of ex-F1 drivers - including Romain Grosjean and Fernando Alonso - who have tried their hand in the American style of open-wheeler racing.

Max Verstappen, meanwhile, ruled out following the same path. Le Mans, yes, but I'm not interested in the Triple Crown, the Dutchman said.

I enjoy watching Indycar, but I don't need to drive it myself.

(GMM)
These are the best offers from our affiliate partners. We may get a commission from qualifying sales.
The One UI 8 rollout continues with phones from 2024 and 2023. This is happening ahead of schedule, but right now it appears that only devices in Korea are getting the new OS version.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 and Z Flip5 (both from 2023) are joining their 2024 Z siblings in Android 16. This is a limited release for now, though, and only devices in Korea that are running the beta version are seeing the stable update (F946NKSU5FYI8). For them, its a relatively small update of just around 420MB.



Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5, Z Flip5 and the Galaxy S23 series are now getting the One UI 8 update

The Samsung Galaxy S23, S23+, S23 Ultra and S23 FE are also getting in on the action. If you are updating from One UI 7, its a hefty 3.2GB update, but if you are running the beta, then its a smaller 470MB download. This also includes the September 1 security patch. The S24 FE got its stable update a few days ago, by the way. Again, this is hitting phones in Korea first, though it seems that phones in Vietnam are seeing it too.

Were also seeing reports that the Samsung Galaxy A55 and A35 are being updated  again, starting with the Korean version. The A55 update (A556SKSU6CYI6) is a 1.9GB download. As for the newer models, the A36 and A56 received stable One UI 8 a few days ago.



The Galaxy A55 and A35 are getting updated to One UI 8 as well

Keep in mind that this is ahead of schedule  according to Samsung Brazil, the rollout for the Z Flip5 and Z Fold5, the S23 series and the A55 was supposed to start on October 2. So, if you are not seeing the One UI 8 update notification today, try again in a few days.

Besides Samsung phones, One UI 8 is coming to tablets too. The Tab S11 series runs it out of the box, the Galaxy Tab S10+ becomes the first slate to get it as an update.

Source 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Former senator Mary Camacho Torres said a bid for Congress is being heavily weighed, though she hasnt firmed up an official campaign announcement, yet.

Torres on Monday said a recent online post stating she would be running for Guams lone delegate to Congress in 2026 was surprising, but nonetheless encouraging.

I have been asked by many to return to public service, and its been humbling, she said. I do feel that we do need a strong voice in Washington, and at this point, Im not ruling out anything.

Torres said when the time comes for campaign announcements, Ill do that directly to the people, from my own voice.

The former Republican senator served four terms in the Guam Legislature but opted not to seek reelection in 2022.

She served as the executive and deputy executive manager of the Guam International Airport Authority, deputy general manager of the Guam Visitors Bureau, and general manager of the Port Authority of Guam.

If Torres does firm up a 2026 run for Congress, shell square off in the Republican primary with Del. James Moylan.

Two-term incumbent Moylan is so far the only confirmed congressional candidate for 2026.

In 2020, Moylan became the first Republican in nearly 30 years to win the race for Guams nonvoting delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Democrat Sen. Chris Barnett, meanwhile, has said hes keeping his options open for the 2026 election, with supporters pushing him at the delegates seat, or Adelup, or as much as reelection to the Guam Legislature.

Both Moylan and Torres were among the top-five vote getters when they last faced off on a ballot, in the 2020 General Election for the Guam Legislature.

Moylan was the second-highest vote-getter, with 17,228 votes.

Torres was the fifth-highest, getting 14,892.

Barnett, a radio personality and reporter turned two-term senator, was the second-highest vote getter during the 2024 legislative race. He got 17,967 votes.

Torres on Monday said, Ive never really left service, its just one of those things that, it just feels right to me.

Public service, its just something Im comfortable with, and Im always excited to help and always wanting to help, she said.

Torres said shes spent the last two years dealing with family matters, giving her a chance to get her bearings in life.

She said public service, has been my life, and my dedication to the island.
Monthly water bills will go up by a few dollars, from about $2.92 to $5.71 a month, for most residential customers starting on Oct.1.

For commercial customers using 23,000 gallons a month, water bills will go up by about $60.31 a month.

All these were from the Public Utilities Commissions approval of an 8.2% hike to non-lifeline water rates last week.

Theres no action yet on a bigger overhaul to water and sewer rates, which could see bills going down by around $10 for some and up $20 for others.

Members of the PUC voted unanimously last Thursday to approve the Guam Waterworks Authoritys 8.2% rate increase.

The PUC also approved a 3.55% legislative surcharge applied to customer bills.

GWA already has the green light for a series of annual increases through fiscal year 2029, as part of a five-year financial plan the PUC approved last year.

But the increases are still subject to a true up, or review prior to taking effect each year.

Paying more

This latest 8.2% hike is slightly less than a 10.75% increase GWA was eyeing in the early part of 2025.

For the typical residential customer with 3/4 inch water line, billing will go:

From $82.90 to $85.82 for customers using 3,000 gallons per month

From $90.72 to $93.64 for customers using 5,000 gallons per month

From $124.38 to $130.09 for customers using 7,000 gallons per month

Most customers use between 3,000 and 7,000 gallons per month, according to GWA.

Commercial customers will see the same rate increases.

A commercial customer using 23,000 gallons a month with a 3/4 inch water line will see rates go from $728.35 to $788.66, based on a billing chart provided by the PUC.

GWA and PUC consultant Georgetown Consulting group had agreed to the slightly lower Oct. 1 rate increase, following negotiations, according to PUC Administrative Law Judge Fred Horecky.

The increase was just and reasonable, Horecky told PUC commissioners last Thursday.

GWAs approved five-year plan calls for non-lifeline water rates to go up by another 23.25% by fiscal year 2029.

That increase will be broken up into three 7.75% rate hikes each year.

Figures are still subject to an annual review with the PUC, and could change later.

Rate increases are intended to fund about $900 million in upgrades for water and sewer systems on Guam that GWA will start between now and fiscal year 2029.

Big rate changes later

An overhaul of water and sewer charges, previously eyed for Oct. 1, wont be weighed until later.

PUCs Horecky said there were still some complicated issues that needed to be worked out, and GWA and consultant Georgetown had agreed to hold off on the matter.

GWA General Manager Miguel Bordallo told the PUC that the authority has a meeting with Georgetown this week.

The waterworks authority wants to take customers off the flat $35.84 sewer surcharge they currently get, and move them to paying based on how much wastewater they actually put into the sewer.

GWA has asked to bill residents $4.75 for every 1,000 gallons of wastewater they produce.

Billing impacts

There are also other changes proposed for the rate overhaul, like dropping the base monthly water surcharge to $12 for 90% of residential customers with 3/4 inch water lines, and hiking rates for customers with bigger lines.

That will result in savings for customers who use less water, but increased bills for those who use more.

GWA estimates from earlier this year had customers who use the least saving around $10 per month, and those who use more getting around a $20 monthly increase.

Those changes are still subject to PUC review and approval.

Bordallo on Thursday said any changes will be revenue neutral, meaning they wont result in increased revenues for GWA.

Sewer costs are currently subsidized by drinking water rates, a practice GWA wants to move away from.
Over 200m passenger train trips expected during holiday

10:32, September 29, 2025 By LUO WANGSHU ( Chinadaily.com.cn

More than 219 million passenger train trips are expected during the National Day and Mid-Autumn holiday travel rush, with the busiest day forecast for Wednesday, according to the China State Railway Group, the national railway operator.

The railway rush, which will begin on Monday and end on Oct 10, is expected to see 13,000 passenger train trips every day.

With this year's holidays combined into an eight-day break, travel demand is high for tourism, family visits, and student trips, the company said on Sunday.

Long-distance travel will peak at the start and end of the holiday, while medium- and short-distance trips are busier in the middle. Popular cities include Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou in Guangdong province.

As of Sunday, more than 90 million tickets had already been sold through the official train ticket booking system 12306 platform. Rail authorities are adding capacity with new high-speed lines, night trains, and extra sleeper services.

Tourism trains are also running, offering family trips, study tours, heritage tours, and wellness journeys. Branded services such as the "Panda Express" and "New Oriental Express" link scenic spots, cultural sites, and local cuisine. International trains to Laos, Mongolia, Russia, and Vietnam provide convenient cross-border travel.

To cater to the increasing passenger demand, stations have added extra staff members, security lanes, and volunteers, and festive cultural activities will be held at select stations and onboard trains.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
The Republican-led majority has forced through a budget that immediately strips $40 million from government revenues in fiscal year 2026 and guarantees another $80 million loss in fiscal year 2027.

That is $120 million taken away from the resources we use to pay for health care, education, and public safety in just two years.

This budget makes clear where Republican priorities lie.

Ninety percent of small businesses already pay a reduced rate or no BPT at all, but instead of protecting services for families, Republicans delivered an $80 million gift to the largest corporations over the next 12 months.

They chose their contributors over their constituents.

And while government services will likely suffer, business groups themselves have admitted these tax cuts will not result in lower prices for consumers.

The damage doesnt stop there.

By eliminating recurring revenue, this budget risks triggering a negative credit action. That means every new school, every hospital upgrade, and every infrastructure project Guam needs could cost more to finance.

At the very moment we must strengthen our future, Republicans have made it more expensive.

Even worse, this budget ignores the real world we live in. An impending federal government shutdown threatens to halt the funding of many programs operating on Guam, even as federal cuts are already hitting vital agencies like Guam EPA and FEMAagencies that protect our environment, safeguard our water, and provide disaster response our families depend on.

Washington is leaving us with more responsibility to protect our people, but Republican budgeting has now left us with fewer resources to do it.

Thats why my administration has directed all government agencies to prepare for these federal risks.

Agencies are assessing and projecting potential impacts of a shutdown where possible, submitting cogency plans to keep critical services running, and seeking technical guidance from our federal partners as it becomes available.

We will be readybut we should not have been made more vulnerable by this bad budget.

And lets be honest about how we got here.

The Republican majority deliberately waited until the day before our local government would be forced to shut down to act. They left no time for compromise, forcing senators into a false choice between a bad budget or no budget at all.

When Republicans were in the minority, they claimed the government was broken. Now under their leadership, they have passed a budget designed to prove themselves rightat the expense of the people they were elected to serve.

My administration will do everything possible to limit the harm caused by this bad law and to protect the services our people rely on. But it wont be easy.

Guam deserves stability, responsibility, and a future built on sound planningnot a government that puts contributors first and constituents last.
The 38th Guam Legislature has spoken. By overriding the governors veto, we ended the chapter of one-party dominance and reaffirmed the principle that this island belongs to its people, not to the whims of one office.

The era of tyranny is over: democracy once again prevails in the halls of the Guam Congress Building.

But make no mistake. This victory is not the finish line; it is the starting gun.

The override was not about political gamesmanship; it was about accountability.

It was about protecting the integrity of this institution and standing up for the voices of our people who, for far too long, have been drowned out by the heavy hand of the executive branch.

Now the real work begins. As budget chair, I have already made it clear to my colleagues: oversight can no longer be an afterthought.

Each oversight chair must begin holding regular hearings with their respective agencies. And each agency, working alongside their oversight chairperson, must prepare to draft its own key performance indicators, KPIs.

Budgets will no longer be dictated by political rhetoric or favors. This year, funding will be earned based on results, not just plans.

The road ahead will be hard. Our people are tired of scandals, shadows, and the arrogance that has lingered too long over Adelup. That cloud cannot simply be wished away. It must be confronted through the courts, through investigations, and through the hearings this Legislature will hold.

Only then, can we restore what has been lost: the publics trust in their government.

This moment demands more than politics. It demands vision. It demands courage. It demands humility. The people of Guam deserve leaders who put aside personal ambition, who work beyond party lines, and who dedicate themselves fully to the welfare of our island. That is what the Republican majority intends to do.

Moving forward, we must reject the failed mantra of my way or the highway. That style of leadership belongs in the past. No leader, whether governor, or legislator, has the right to put ego before the people. Instead, we must humble ourselves, respect the roles of our co-equal branches, and work together with our elected attorney general, our mayors, our federal partners, and our communities to build a government that truly serves.

The override was a victory for democracy, but it is only the first step.

The Republican majority will lead responsibly as we enter the next fiscal year. We will insist that every agency be held to measurable standards, every dollar be justified, and every action be guided by the principle of service over politics. This is how we will transform our government into one that is transparent, accountable, and worthy of the peoples trust.

I believe the future of Guam can be brighter than its past. I believe our island can emerge from this period of turmoil stronger, cleaner, and more united than ever before. And I believe that if we stay committed to accountability, humility, and service, then one day soon we will look back on this override not simply as the end of an era, but as the beginning of a new one.

The era of tyranny is behind us. The era of results, transparency, and service begins now.
This morning, I heard the Trump administration is demanding Afghanistan give Bagram Airbase back to the United States.

The news is a few days old. I put down the fact that I just heard it to the large volume of newsworthy events this week. Back to that in a moment, but first, Bagram.

Bagram Airbase was built by the Soviet Union but used by the U.S. for 20 years when we occupied Afghanistan after kicking out the Taliban following 9/11. Of course, the Taliban is back in charge now, because Trump signed an agreement with them in his first term for U.S. troops to leave, which Biden gladly implemented.

The Taliban has no intention of allowing U.S. troops back in. At least, not without a fight. They flat out refused Trumps demand, so Trump did what he always does. Issue threats: If Afghanistan doesnt give Bagram Airbase back to those that built it, the United States of America, BAD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN!!!

Never mind that the U.S. didnt build it. What exactly is Trump threatening here?

We still dont recognize the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan. We have extensive sanctions on them already. That leaves military action. The last time we invaded Afghanistan, we got stuck for 20 years without destroying the Taliban.

As Trump likes to say, he doesnt have the cards.

Oh, and this time Afghans who dont like the Taliban know that if they help us, theyll be left behind when we leave. Even those who made it here as refugees are being sent back, courtesy Trumps immigration policy. So good luck getting collaborators on the ground.

Lets set Afghanistan aside. As I said, its been a busy week, and not just in foreign policy, but Ill stick to that here.

In the last week, Trump delivered a speech at the United Nations in which he insulted literally every other country on earth (Your countries are going to hell), reversed his position on whether Ukraine could win the war with Russia, issued contradictory statements on the Middle East, and announced a deal over TikTok with China, his supposed number one adversary.

One thing is for sure. Trumps foreign policy has been full of activity and energy this week. That is one definition of a whirling dervish.

Another definition, the original meaning, refers to a sect of mystics who chant rhythmically and spin around very fast while dancing, trying to get closer to God. That spinning produces a hypnotic, trance-like effect for viewers and performers alike.

Watching Trumps diplomatic spinning, I think the original meaning fits, too. He certainly produces a hypnotic, trance-like state in his viewers. His supporters seem convinced his every move is evidence of sublime brilliance, while his opponents are too confused to respond.

I wonder, though, if he isnt hypnotizing himself the most.

Trumps claim for his foreign policy is that he is, as the saying goes, crazy like a fox. By appearing crazy and keeping everyone in suspense over his next move, he thinks he can get his way with them. This fits an approach to foreign policymaking known as the madman theory. The trouble is what Trump is doing isnt how it works.

The madman theory applies when the other side knows what you want but isnt convinced youll go to any lengths to get it. Then, acting like a madman who is willing to burn the house downthink risking nuclear warmight get the other side to give in.

For this to work, though, the other side needs to be convinced of two things. First, that you will do something crazy if you dont get what you want. And second, that you wont do something crazy if you do get what you want.

Its not always easy to convince someone of both those ideas. If they think youre crazy, they might wonder if youll really stop after getting what you want. If they think you will stop, they might wonder if you really are crazy enough to take the risks you are threatening.

The problem with Trumps whirling about is, no one is sure what he wants. In fact, no one is even sure if he knows what he wants. And that is not a smart way to play the madman!

The madman theory only works if the other side knows that if they give you the thing you say you want, it will appease you, and you wont come back for more.

Back to Bagram. The one consistent element in Trumps foreign policy until now has been his refusal to get himself involved in more foreign military commitments. He has wanted to wind down our wars and our overseas alliances.

Given these goals, it makes no sense for him to even want Bagram. Suddenly demanding it when he has no cards to play suggests he has spun himself into a trance. The whirling dervish has finally hypnotized himself.




Haiti - FLASH : Back home, Laurent Saint-Cyr said he was satisfied





On Sunday, September 28, 2025, Laurent Saint-Cyr, President pro tempore and Coordinator of the Transitional Council, returned home after participating in the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.



A delegation including members of the Transitional Council, Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime, members of the Government, the Secretary General of the National Palace, Ms. Marie Elisabeth Regine Joseph Haddad, the Secretary General of the Council of Ministers, Odilien Charles, the Director General of the National Police, Andre Jonas Vladimir Paraison, accompanied by members of the High Staff of the Police, General Jean Jonas, accompanied by several members of the High Staff of the Haitian Armed Forces (FAd'H), as well as numerous national figures, welcomed him on the tarmac of Toussaint Louverture International Airport.



By participating in the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York, the President of the CPT embodied the voice of the Haitian people before the international community with dignity, firmness, and patriotism. Through his clear and determined speech https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45856-haiti-flash-haiti-is-a-country-at-war-declared-saint-cyr-at-the-un-video-of-the-speech.html , he highlighted the Nation's major concerns: the fight against insecurity, the urgent response to the humanitarian crisis, and the Transitional Government's irreversible commitment to ensuring, as soon as possible, the holding of free, inclusive, and credible elections.



This historic intervention demonstrated Haiti's firm resolve to defend its vital interests, preserve its sovereignty, and strengthen its place within the United Nations. It also marked a new stage in the national recovery process, where unity, responsibility, and determination guide the actions of legitimate authorities.



During a press conference held in the airport's diplomatic lounge, Laurent Saint-Cyr provided an update on his trip. He expressed his satisfaction after participating in the largest global forum bringing together heads of state. He took the opportunity to thank and mobilize all of Haiti's friendly countries for their support in the face of the serious crisis ravaging Haiti's society.



Laurent Saint-Cyr held several bilateral meetings with representatives of other countries and institutions, such as Kenyan President William Ruto, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and Organization of American States (OAS) Secretary-General Albert Ramdin, to name a few.



He expressed hope that the next President to attend the UN General Assembly will not address security issues in Haiti, but rather trade with other countries.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45856-haiti-flash-haiti-is-a-country-at-war-declared-saint-cyr-at-the-un-video-of-the-speech.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45847-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45835-haiti-un-usa-kenya-and-haiti-call-for-a-new-international-force.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45777-haiti-flash-haiti-s-fate-in-the-hands-of-xi-and-putin.html



SL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Economy : Dominican exports to Haiti on the rise





Exports to Haiti totaled US$775.8 million between January and August 2025: US$531 million for domestic shipments; US$184 million for shipments via free zones; US$30.1 million for temporary shipments; and US$30.7 million for re-exports.



These figures reflect statistics from the Directorate General of Customs (DGA), which indicate that shipments to Haiti represented an absolute increase of US$182.27 million compared to 2024.



Information from the Dominican Republic Export and Investment Center (ProDominicana) indicates that a total of 1,633 Dominican products were shipped to Haiti through 1,024 exporters from 20 provinces.



The main exported products include: knitted T-shirts and undershirts (8.5%), cotton fabrics (7.1%), iron or steel bars (6.3%), Portland cement (6.2%), soybean oil (4.7%), wheat flour (4.1%), iron bars (4.0%), ketchup and other tomato sauces (2.2%), and bakery products (2.08%).



TB/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





Amended Budget : All Details

The Government has published in the Official Journal the Decree amending the amended budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, amounting to 317 billion gourdes.https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45850-haiti-flash-six-days-before-the-end-of-the-2024-2025-financial-year-the-government-adopts-an-exceptional-amending-budget.html Download the Decree and budget details (PDF in French, 97 pages) : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/DecretModifBudget2024-2025.pdf



New University Campus

The project to build a new public university campus in the Grand South region is progressing https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45537-haiti-flash-towards-the-establishment-of-a-ueh-university-campus-in-the-grand-sud.html Several plots of land have been proposed; it is now up to the DGI's central management to survey the land, a prerequisite for securing funding from donors. At this stage, the overall cost and duration of the project have not yet been determined.



Psychosocial Support for Displaced Girls

On Friday, September 26, at the Hotel Hirondelle in Les Cayes, the UNESCO Haiti Office, in partnership with the Ministry of National Education, launched the project "Psychosocial Support for Girls Displaced by Violence from Armed Groups". This initiative responds to the urgent need to support young girls forced to flee their homes due to insecurity. Deprived of their education and facing trauma, they need appropriate support to rebuild their futures.



Award-winning documentary on Haiti and gangs (Video)

On Saturday, September 27, 2025, France 24 senior reporters Catherine Norris-Trent and Romeo Langlois won the 2025 DIG Award, one of the most prestigious awards in investigative journalism, for their report "Haiti : In Port-au-Prince, the capital besieged by gangs." The DIG (Italian acronym for Documentaries, Investigations, Journalism) recognizes the best published reports and investigations each year. Their 52-minute documentary also won the Best Reporting Award at the 30th Lauriers de l'Audiovisuel Awards ceremony, held in Paris on February 24, 2025.



Watch the documentary :







PNH South-East : Towards the start of the school year

Friday, September 26, 2025, as the reopening of schools approaches, the Director The South-East Departmental Police Department held a meeting with the heads of the districts and municipalities of the department, as well as the heads of the said Directorate's services. The objective was to harmonize actions and ensure that all conditions are met for a smooth return to school (October 1st).



France-Haiti : Cooperation between Chambers of Trades

The Embassy of Haiti in France was pleased to welcome Ms. Elisabeth Auffray, Regional Director of External Relations and Partnerships for the Chamber of Trades and Crafts of Ile-de-France. Discussions focused in particular on the establishment of a partnership between the said Chamber and the Chamber of Trades and Crafts of Haiti. The Mission welcomes the first meeting to establish contact between the two Chambers of Trades and Crafts, which took place on Thursday, September 25, 2025.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















For the first time, Microsoft itself has directly confirmed what had previously been leaked: Windows 10 users in Europe will continue to receive security updates even after the official end of support  free of charge.

Continue after ad

In a recent article in the German Microsoft Newsroom, the company confirms the discussion previously initiated by media reports about extended security support. It states that Microsoft will provide an "Extended Security Update (ESU)" program for private customers from 15 October 2025 at no additional cost , but only for one year, i.e. until 13 October 2026. The prerequisite for this is a Microsoft account and residence in the European Economic Area (EEA). The updates only contain security updates; new functions or product improvements are no longer planned. Microsoft continues to recommend switching to Windows 11 or new devices in the long term.

Windows 10 itself will point out the new option. Microsoft writes: "A setup wizard will be available via notifications and in the settings". Windows 10 has already signalled the end of support lately with notifications in the notification area (Systray) and full-screen messages before logging in after a restart.

The move is likely to be particularly important for private users who have not yet switched to Windows 11 and shows that Microsoft is responding to ongoing criticism and regulatory pressure in Europe.

(nb)

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 research, conducted by the Turku PET Centre and published in the Journal of Neuroscience , used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine how the brain responds to social aggression.

A study from the University of Turku has found that experiencing bullying activates the brains emotional and stress regulation systems in both adolescents and adults.

Participants aged 11 to 14, along with adults, watched short videos recorded from a first-person perspective. The videos showed either bullying or positive social interaction in a school setting.

When participants viewed scenes of bullying directed at them, researchers observed widespread activation in brain regions associated with emotional processing, stress regulation, sensory perception, and bodily awareness.

Professor Lauri Nummenmaa from the Turku PET Centre said the responses were consistent across age groups. The brain reactions to bullying were similar in adults and adolescents. But in younger participants, the activation was stronger and more linked to physical sensations. This suggests that bullying is perceived as a more intense bodily threat during adolescence, he said.

The study also found differences based on prior experience. Adolescents who reported being bullied at school showed heightened activity in areas responsible for emotional regulation when watching the bullying clips. Among adults, those who had experienced bullying during their school years showed somewhat weaker responses, which the researchers said may indicate long-term neural adaptation or desensitisation.

Birgitta Paranko, doctoral researcher at the PET Centre, said the findings demonstrate that bullying is not just a social experience. It causes immediate and measurable changes in the central nervous system. The brain responds to bullying in a way that resembles physical threats, she said.

Professor Christina Salmivalli from the University of Turkus INVEST research centre said that even single incidents of bullying can lead to stress responses in the brain. Bullying can have serious and lasting mental health consequences. These results underline the need for early intervention. Preventing bullying is not only a social priority but a neurological one, she said.

The study was supported by the Eino Jutikkala Fund, Hospital District of Southwest Finland, Olvi Foundation, Brain Foundation, Paulo Foundation, Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation, and the European Research Council.

HT
I soon realised that integration into Finnish society was almost impossible without strong skills in the language. There were no accessible sources of information in English or other widely spoken languages. Building on this challenge, which I had first faced myself, I created Finlands first English-language newspaper, SixDegrees.

I founded Helsinki Times in 2007, at a time when Finland was a very different country. I had arrived more than a decade earlier and begun working as a doctor, in a period when the country had very few expatriates or immigrants.

SixDegrees was a free, printed publication, distributed at more than 500 locations across Finland and for a time in Tallinn as well. I believed strongly that integration is a two-way process. Most Finns already spoke English well, so I designed the paper as a shared platform. It introduced foreign residents to Finnish society, while also presenting Finns with the diverse individuals who had made Finland their home.

One of our most popular features was a monthly portrait column, which profiled interesting expatriates and advocates of multiculturalism. This Column was the gateway for introducing many talented expats and immigrants to the public, many of them going on to becoming well known in the country.

We also introduced Finns to ethnic foods and shops, and expats to the Finnish culture, building bridges of understanding on both sides. Some columns proved so successful that we published books based on them. Finnish After Dark, for example, presented the language through a human lens, teaching phrases with humour and context.

The response to SixDegrees was overwhelmingly positive. Experts, newcomers, and international Finns alike expressed appreciation. Yet many asked us for more news content. The monthly rhythm of the paper was not well suited to timely reporting, which led me to establish Helsinki Times.

Starting Helsinki Times required a personal leap of faith and significant persuasion of investors. We began with a small core of writers and freelancers, many of whom were new to journalism but eager for a chance. It is gratifying to see that several went on to become professional journalists and editors in other outlets.

Keeping an independent media alive was a constant challenge. For a time, the daily online edition combined with a weekly print version worked well. But the financial crisis in Europe and Finland reduced advertising revenues. At the same time, the decline of print media arrived faster than expected. After more than a decade, we closed the print edition and focused fully on online publishing.

We received no institutional or financial support from Finnish authorities or society. At the same time, we had to compete with YLE, which operated with taxpayers money. Balancing journalistic integrity with the financial realities of advertising was perhaps the hardest task. Advertisers are sensitive to controversy, and many withdraw support quickly when content challenges dominant narrative or addresses sensitive issues. Maintaining independence while staying viable was a constant struggle.

Change is rarely easy. But as a Finnish proverb says, the graveyard is full of irreplaceable people. Each of us grows attached to our roles and finds it difficult to imagine passing them on. Yet time moves forward, and torches must be handed to others.

I began contributing to Finnish society as a doctor, later expanded into writing and filmmaking, and then became a publisher and editor. I am proud of being the first immigrant in Finlands history who wrote a book in Finnish. The book Gondwanas Children then went on to win the prestigious Finlandia Junior prize, which was being awarded for the first time.

When a journalist once asked why I had made so many changes in my career, I replied, half in jest, I am ticking boxes on my bucket list. Only later did I realise that the offhand remark contained the truth.

The list still has boxes to be marked. With Helsinki Times now acquired by an international media company, I can step down as publisher and editor-in-chief. The paper enters a new chapter under new leadership. I wish them success and hope that the publication continues to serve Finlands international community.

As for me, I will contribute to Helsinki Times from time to time, but I now turn to a new pursuit. My next focus is my medical start-up that I believe has the potential to transform the way doctors and nurses work each day. It is another box on the list, another path to walk, and one that may in time contribute to the betterment of healthcare and those who depend on it.

Alexis Kouros
A working group has been established to draft the proposal. The ministries of transport and communications and education and culture confirmed the move in a joint statement . The initiative follows a change in EU legislation that allows member states to introduce such levies. Similar mechanisms are already in place in 17 EU countries, including Denmark and Norway.

The Finnish government has launched preparations to impose a financial obligation on streaming platforms. The funds will be channelled to domestic film and television production.

The working group is expected to present its proposal by the end of June 2026. The government aims to submit draft legislation in 2026.

Mari-Leena Talvitie, minister of science and culture, said in the announcement that the levy would bring much-needed additional revenue to the sector.

These funds are necessary to realise domestic stories and strengthen our audiovisual industry, Talvitie stated.

Streaming services affected by the new tax have not yet been named. The proposed mechanism would target providers operating in the Finnish market, regardless of their country of origin.

The move comes as the film sector faces a prolonged funding crisis. The original 2025 budget framework included 7.8 million in cuts to arts and culture subsidies. Most of these reductions affected film-related funding channels, particularly the Finnish Film Foundation.

Following criticism, the government adjusted the proposed cuts. The draft budget presented to Parliament last week reduced the figure to approximately 5.5 million. Despite the revision, sector representatives remain concerned.

Lasse Saarinen, director of the Finnish Film Foundation, told STT in early September that the new levy would not solve the sectors immediate problems. He said any funding flow resulting from the tax would not reach production companies before 2028.

Organisations representing creative professionals also reacted. Luovat ry, which represents individuals and businesses in the creative industries, said the cuts still represent a significant blow to audiovisual production. It warned that the reductions would harm international competitiveness and employment within the sector.

The group said the proposed streaming levy could help in the longer term but would not fill the immediate funding gap caused by recent budget cuts.

Audiovisual sector organisations have long called for structural funding reform. Industry bodies argue that the current system is vulnerable to short-term political decisions. They have also expressed concern over the increasing reliance on non-Finnish platforms to distribute local content.

The governments working group will consider various models already in use across Europe. In Denmark, for example, streaming services contribute a percentage of their local turnover to a cultural fund. Norway operates a similar system.

The Finnish model has not yet been specified. The groups mandate includes preparing a full legislative framework, impact assessment, and an implementation timetable. Any final decision will be subject to parliamentary approval.

HT
Helsinki Region Transport (HSL) confirmed the return of normal service after the infrastructure overhaul was completed on schedule. The line had been partially closed since early May , with Puotila station acting as the eastern terminus during the work.

Metro trains are running again to Vuosaari and Rastila following the completion of major repair works to the Vuosaari metro bridge and both stations.

The restoration work focused on the structural condition of the Vuosaari metro bridge and station facility upgrades at Vuosaari and Rastila.

At Vuosaari station, the upgrades included new escalators, improved lighting on the platform, and an updated heating system to prevent freezing during winter. The overhaul aimed to extend the service life of the station and improve safety for passengers.

Rastila station received new LED lighting to reduce energy consumption. Other updates included the installation of new surveillance cameras, upgraded loudspeakers for station announcements, and anti-pigeon spikes installed on level surfaces.

Mikko Haapanen, who oversaw the project, said that the work proceeded according to plan. The goal was to minimise disruption while ensuring long-term safety and reliability, he said in a statement released by HSL.

During the renovation period, passengers travelling to and from Vuosaari were required to use temporary bus connections or walk to the nearest functioning metro station. Some residents expressed frustration about the extended closure, but others welcomed the improvements once services resumed.

Photographs from Monday morning showed a steady flow of passengers entering Vuosaari station again. Commuters were seen using the new escalators and waiting for westbound trains on the platform.

The restoration project is part of a wider programme by the City of Helsinki and HSL to modernise ageing parts of the metro network. No further major disruptions are currently planned along the Vuosaari branch.

Metro trains will now resume regular operation between Vuosaari and the rest of the line with no changes to frequency or timetable.

HT
Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment figures show a sharp rise in unemployment among practical nurses. The vacancy rate dropped from 8 percent in early 2023 to 2 percent in recent months. Unemployment among practical nurses rose from 5 to over 7 percent in the same period.

Finlands long-standing shortage of nurses has reversed into a surplus, the national broadcaster Yle reports. The change follows widespread financial constraints across welfare regions and restructuring in the social and healthcare sector.

Liisa Larja, senior specialist at the ministry, said that demand pressures had eased. The labour availability problem has temporarily disappeared, she said.

Welfare regions across Finland have scaled back recruitment and launched redundancy talks due to financial strain. The reduced number of available positions has led to rising competition among healthcare workers.

In Central Ostrobothnias welfare region Soite, demand has collapsed. Markku Hamalainen, director of human resources, said to Yle that more than 2,100 applicants responded to just over 100 job openings this year. The change has been rapid, he said.

Hamalainen ruled out any short-term plans to recruit nurses from abroad. He warned, however, that the current labour surplus will not last. Finlands ageing population is expected to increase care needs in the coming decade, while large numbers of nurses will retire.

We must not become complacent, he said.

A similar view was shared in Ostrobothnia, where foreign recruitment has been suspended. Juha Suikkanen, head of HR for the region, told Yle that international hiring had previously proved slow and difficult. He said that local healthcare services now have access to enough staff, including international students already based in the area.

Even with current surpluses, national estimates suggest Finland will need 31,000 more practical nurses by 2040.

HT
According to Stoltenberg, the military alliance reached a critical point during and after the 2018 Brussels summit. Trump believed other NATO members had promised to raise defence spending to 2 percent of GDP. When progress stalled by January 2019, Stoltenberg says the situation became unstable.

Jens Stoltenberg has revealed that Donald Trump was prepared to withdraw the United States from NATO in early 2019. The former secretary-general makes the claim in his new memoir Pa min vakt ("Under my command" in English), published this week in Norway.

We saw clear signs that Trump was preparing to act on his threat, he writes.

The White House reportedly drafted two versions of the presidents February 2019 State of the Union address. One included a declaration of US withdrawal. The other committed to defending only those countries meeting NATOs spending target.

With the future of the alliance in question, Stoltenberg flew to Washington. He avoided direct confrontation, instead choosing to reach the president through his preferred news channel.

I agreed to a Fox News interview because I knew I was really speaking to one viewer, Stoltenberg writes.

In the interview, he credited Trump with pressuring allies to increase spending.

Minutes later, Trump responded on Twitter: NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg just stated that because of me, NATO has collected much more money from members than ever before. He called it burden sharing and unity.

Trump made no threats in the State of the Union speech. NATO survived the moment.

Behind the scenes, Stoltenberg and other NATO leaders worked to construct messages the president would accept. During the 2018 summit, Mark Rutte, then Dutch prime minister and now NATOs current head, played a key role.

Rutte stood up in the tense session and told Trump that $33 billion had been added to NATO defence budgets in the previous year, citing the US presidents leadership.

Trump responded positively. Stoltenberg then received a handwritten note from Trump that read, If you can say NATO members have significantly increased spending thanks to me, we can reach agreement.

Stoltenberg agreed. He repeated that message at the press conference.

Yet by early 2019, Trumps dissatisfaction returned. Stoltenberg again acted through Fox News to reassure the president and prevent a US exit. The strategy worked a second time.

Trump needed to be brought in, not isolated, Stoltenberg writes.

He acknowledges that echoing Trumps messaging may have provided political ammunition against domestic critics. Still, he justifies the decision.

If thats the price for keeping NATO together, so be it, he writes.

Stoltenberg also recounts moments of high tension during Finland and Swedens NATO accession process. He describes two incidents where Sauli Niinisto, then Finnish president, confronted both Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Ulf Kristersson in closed meetings.

In June 2022, during a summit in Madrid, Erdogan blocked membership over accusations that Sweden harboured Kurdish militants. After hours of stalling, Niinisto lost patience.

What do you actually want? he asked Erdogan.

The outburst nearly broke the talks, but Stoltenberg persuaded participants to stay. He stayed behind alone with Erdogan and shared a light snack. The Turkish president then reminded Stoltenberg of a personal invitation to visit Istanbul.

I had spoken to my wife about it beforehand, Stoltenberg writes. We agreed to go.

A compromise was reached. Erdogan accepted language distancing NATO from Kurdish groups. One by one, leaders approved the statement. Erdogan was last.

Okay, he said.

The breakthrough did not end the delays. Ratification still had to pass Turkeys parliament. Erdogan used the opportunity to demand further concessions.

Stoltenberg says it became clear that Turkey's main objections concerned Sweden. Finland received quiet signals that it could be approved first.

When Kristersson replaced Magdalena Andersson as Swedish prime minister, the situation escalated. At a February 2023 meeting with Niinisto and Stoltenberg, Kristersson objected to Finland moving ahead alone.

This is bad, really bad, he said in English.

Niinisto remained firm.

Finland is not going first. Finland has to go first, he told Kristersson.

Sweden argued the move would harm bilateral cooperation. Stoltenberg disagreed.

Finlands membership will strengthen Swedens security, he said.

Finland joined NATO on 4 April 2023. Sweden followed nearly a year later.

Stoltenberg also revisits a discussion with Niinisto in early 2021. At the time, there was little public talk of NATO membership in Finland.

Referring to Finlands long border with Russia, Niinisto said, Its a challenge, but better to have it than not.

The process accelerated in December 2021 after Vladimir Putin demanded NATO halt further expansion. Finland and Sweden viewed that as a direct threat.

Sanna Marin, then Finnish prime minister, quickly changed her stance after Russia invaded Ukraine.

Its no longer about if we join, but when, she told Stoltenberg.

He suggests that Finland acted decisively, while Sweden hesitated.

Finland led, Sweden followed, he writes.

During his tenure, Stoltenberg says NATO transformed from an alliance seen as outdated to one that regained purpose in a changing world.

Countries are no longer disarming. Tensions and wars have returned. NATO is now better prepared than in decades, he writes.

HT
NW China's Xinjiang cultivates thriving textile and garment industry

People's Daily Online) 10:59, September 29, 2025

Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has harnessed its abundant natural resources and strategic location in the Belt and Road Initiative to develop the textile and garment industry. The region has transformed from a "cotton warehouse" into a major textile hub through the development of four comprehensive industrial bases.

Xinjiang has adopted a strategy emphasizing high-end, intelligent, green, and cluster-based development to advance the sector. In 2024, the industrial added value of textile and garment enterprises above a designated size increased by 1.67 times that of 2020, while the local cotton processing rate rose by 10 percentage points to 42 percent compared to 2020.

A view of a spinning workshop in the textile industrial park in Yining county, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (People's Daily Online/Chang Sha)

The textile and garment industry has become a key driver of high-quality employment and higher incomes for residents of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang.

At a company in Kashgar, Xinjiang, over 420 pieces of advanced automated denim processing equipment run at high speed. Over 500 workers are engaged in cutting, sewing, and pressing, working against the clock to fulfill an export order of over 100,000 garments. To boost capacity and product diversity, the company introduced a complete denim processing line this year, including washing, drying, and pleating systems, enabling it to produce more than 200,000 pairs of jeans each month for markets across Central and South Asia.

"Kashgar has both vertical integration capabilities, from cotton fields to finished garments, and unique geographical advantages, making it fully qualified to serve as a benchmark for the denim industry in western China," said Xie Qing, executive vice president of the China National Garment Association, during a research visit.

Xinjiang now boasts a complete industrial chain covering cotton, chemical fibers, spinning, weaving, dyeing and printing, apparel, home textiles, and industrial textiles. The region ranks first nationwide in cotton production, while its output of cotton yarn, viscose fiber, and cotton fabric ranks among the top five in the country. The China Cotton and Cotton Yarn Trading Center has also officially begun operations.

According to data from Tianyancha.com, a database query platform, Xinjiang currently has more than 400 textile and garment-related enterprises, with registration records indicating that 62.7 percent of them were established within the past five to 10 years.

"I can work at the factory right from home and earn 3,500 yuan ($492.12) per month. Life is getting better and better," said Ayitonghan Maimaiti, an employee at a garment company in Akto county, Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang.

As a key investment project in Akto town, the company has benefited from a supportive policy package including three years of free rent and equipment subsidies.

"At first, we had only about 20 workers and 50 old sewing machines. Now, with policy support, we have replaced them with new, much more efficient equipment," said Li Yan, the company's head. An automatic cutting bed introduced last year has increased the company's daily output to more than 1,200 pieces.

In the company's workshop, 320 female workers of the Kirgiz ethnic group were busy producing a new batch of trousers. Li said that these skilled women have become the backbone of the company. In the first half of this year, the company received orders for 1 million garments, including up to 400,000 pairs of trousers, with products exported to Japan, Europe, the Middle East, and other regions.

The Kashgar prefecture has extended and strengthened the textile and garment industry chain, promoting growth in cotton seed processing, high-end grey fabric production, dyeing, and printing. Seven relevant industrial parks in Kashgar have created around 70,000 jobs, with local residents accounting for 82 percent of employees.

According to Gao Huabin, deputy director of the Industry and Information Technology Department of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the complete industrial chain of the cotton textile and garment sector has preliminarily achieved the goal of creating about 1 million jobs, effectively facilitating the interaction, exchange, and integration of various ethnic groups.

"The garment sector needs more supporting industries. Initially, Xinjiang's garment sector focused mainly on contract manufacturing, but now many local brands are gaining market share," said Zhang Lijie, a professor at the School of Economics and Management of Xinjiang University.

Xinjiang Tangjin Textile Co., Ltd., with over 4,200 employees, has put 7,500 sock machines into operation, producing approximately 2.5 million pairs of mid-to-high-end cotton socks daily. Its products are exported to 22 countries. In 2024, the company achieved an output value of 350 million yuan and a sales revenue of 360 million yuan.

By the end of 2024, southern Xinjiang's spinning capacity accounted for 75 percent of the region's total, while looms made up more than 64 percent.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
US President Donald Trump will host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday for high-stakes talks aimed at sealing an elusive Gaza peace agreement.

Trump says a deal to end the nearly two-year war, free hostages held by Hamas and disarm the Palestinian militants is effectively done following talks with Arab and Muslim leaders last week.

"ALL ARE ON BOARD FOR SOMETHING SPECIAL, FIRST TIME EVER," he posted on Truth Social on Sunday. "WE WILL GET IT DONE!!!"

Trump's plan, according to The Times of Israel and US news site Axios, calls for an immediate ceasefire, a phased Israeli withdrawal and the release of hostages within 48 hours.

Israel would then free more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, including several serving life terms.

Netanyahu however has given little reason for optimism, vowing in a defiant UN speech Friday to "finish the job" against Hamas and rejecting Palestinian statehood -- recently recognized by several Western nations.

Netanyahu also appears reluctant to halt Israel's military offensive in Gaza City, which has displaced hundreds of thousands.

It is Netanyahu's fourth White House visit since Trump returned to power in January.

Normally a staunch ally of Netanyahu, Trump has shown signs of frustration.

He warned Netanyahu last week against annexing the Israeli-occupied West Bank, as some of Netanyahu's cabinet members have urged, and also opposed Israel's recent strike on Hamas members in key US ally Qatar.

Israeli strikes continued across Gaza, killing at least four people in Khan Yunis, according to the Hamas-run territory's civil defense agency.

Families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza urged Trump to uphold his Gaza proposal.

"We respectfully ask you to stand firm against any attempts to sabotage the deal you have brought forth," the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in an open letter to Trump.

"Our families have waited too long for any interference to derail this progress."

The outcome may hinge on how far Trump pushes Netanyahu, said Natan Sachs, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute.

"Netanyahu has a clear preference for continuing the war and defeating Hamas, but I don't think it's impossible for Trump to convince him otherwise," said Sachs.

"It would need a lot of pressure from Trump and a very clear and sustained strategy."

The pair are scheduled to hold a joint news conference at 1:15 pm (1715 GMT).

Trump sounded increasingly optimistic last week about the prospects of a deal after meeting Arab and Muslim-majority leaders on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

Under the US proposals, former British prime minister Tony Blair was floated in some media reports as a possible leader of a transitional authority for Gaza.

The body, known as the "Gaza International Transitional Authority", would operate with the support of the UN and Gulf nations before eventually handing control to a reformed Palestinian Authority (PA).

Netanyahu, during his UN speech, dismissed the idea of the Ramallah-based PA having a role in governing Gaza, which it did until Hamas seized power in 2007.

He expressed deep skepticism on Sunday that the PA could be reformed.

"I think that the credibility or the likelihood of... a reformed Palestinian Authority that changes completely its stripes, that accepts a Jewish state, that teaches its children to embrace the coexistence and friendship with the Jewish state, rather than living their lives in order to annihilate it... well, good luck," he told Fox News.

In Gaza, people expressed a mix of hope, exhaustion and distrust ahead of the White House meeting.

"I don't expect anything from Trump, because Trump supports Netanyahu in destroying the Gaza Strip and displacing people to carry out the Riviera project," said Mohammed Abu Rabee, 34, referring to Trump's earlier proposal to turn the Palestinian territory into the "Riviera of the Middle East".

Others voiced cautious optimism.

"We hope Trump's plan succeeds. We want the war and the killing to stop... the army has destroyed everything in Gaza; Gaza is unliveable," said Hossam Abd Rab, 55.

The Gaza war was triggered by Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack that killed 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally from Israeli official figures.

Israel's offensive has killed 66,055 Palestinians, also mostly civilians, according to health ministry figures in the Hamas-run territory that the United Nations considers reliable.

Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties in accessing many areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify the tolls and details provided by the civil defense agency or the Israeli military.
Feature: Fiji holds 1st drone show to celebrate 50th anniversary of formal ties with China

Xinhua) 13:51, September 29, 2025

SUVA, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- A sudden downpour swept through Suva, the capital of Fiji, on Saturday night. However, the torrential rain did not dampen the enthusiasm and anticipation of the crowd gathered at Albert Park.

People flocked from all directions, with some traveling four to five hours from Nadi and Lautoka, all to witness a marvelous moment -- the first-ever drone show in Fiji, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Sino-Fijian diplomatic relations and the 76th Anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Although the performance was delayed several times due to the heavy rain, the crowd remained steadfast. At 10 p.m. local time, 600 Chinese drones pierced through the rain and lit up the night sky with perfect precision. The crowd erupted in awe and cheers.

The night sky became a vast canvas, with lights depicting heartfelt messages. When the words "Nihao BULA!" shone clearly in the rainy sky, Albert Park became heated, with people shouting, "Happy 50 years of Fiji-China relationship!" This moment resonated deeply with the friendship between the two nations.

As the image of China's giant panda appeared, adorably holding Fiji's most iconic traditional drink kava, the cultural fusion found its vivid expression.

Following this, the impressive silhouette of Fijian rugby players graced the sky, paying tribute to the passion and vitality of the land. Each transformation of the patterns elicited waves of applause from the audience.

Fiji's Acting Prime Minister Biman Prasad said this stunning drone show showcased the shared cultural heritage of the two countries, paying high tribute to the Chinese community in Fiji and thanking them for their significant contributions to Fiji's socio-economic development and cultural diversity.

Chinese Ambassador to Fiji Zhou Jian noted that China and Fiji have witnessed magnificent leaps in their respective developmental paths, and the future of China-Fiji relations needs to be co-written by the people of both nations.

"Seeing the drone formations from my homeland soaring in the Fijian night sky fills me with pride and joy," said Yinghua, a Chinese-Fijian.

"Spectacular! Awsome!" were the words frequently heard among the Fijian audience.

Agnes Chand, a Fijian doctor, described the event as "a brilliant display of creativity," a perfect blend of technology and art that "made us feel the friendship and respect coming from China."

The rain soaked people's clothes, but it brought hearts closer together. This drone show in the rain is destined to become a shining page in the chapter of Fiji-China friendship.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
IRIS, a global leader in digital F&B ordering, guest directory, and concierge solutions, is delighted to announce that Darren Panto has re-joined IRIS as Senior Account Manager within its Commercial Team, where he will be responsible for driving sales and strengthening relationships with key accounts, including leading management companies and hotel groups.

Darren brings with him over 20 years of experience in the hospitality and technology sector, having built a career in hotel operations and innovative digital solutions. He began in tour operating, contracting with hoteliers and hospitality companies worldwide, before moving into guest-facing hotel technology with IRIS, where he spent 10 years as Enterprise Sales Director focusing on hotel groups across EMEA.

He then joined American software company ALICE (now part of Actabl), helping Europe's leading hotels deliver exceptional service and streamline operations with their housekeeping solution. More recently, he served as Sales Director UK&I at Mews, a hospitality and payments platform, where he broadened his expertise across PMS, POS, and payments before returning to IRIS.

On his return, Darren said:

"It has been exciting to watch the progress made in recent years by IRIS from the outside, and I am so happy to be back. As Senior Account Manager for North America, I look forward to working with management companies to help their hotels achieve measurable benefits through IRIS.

With digital F&B ordering and guest directories fast becoming a common expectation and industry standard, having an experienced and trusted partner like IRIS is invaluable. I'm excited to help our accounts succeed and drive adoption across the region."

Graham Rushin, VP of Sales & Marketing at IRIS, added:

"We're thrilled to welcome Darren back to the team. His wealth of experience, deep understanding of hotel operations, and proven track record in hospitality technology make him a tremendous asset. As we continue to expand our presence across North America, Darren's expertise and passion will play a pivotal role in driving growth and strengthening our partnerships with leading hotel groups."

IRIS provides innovative, mobile-first solutions to over 2000 hotels globally, empowering hoteliers to streamline operations, enhance guest satisfaction, and unlock new revenue opportunities across F&B, in-room services, and digital guest engagement.
Dubai, UAE. - Future Hospitality Summit  FHS World is showcasing Albanias wide and diverse range of hospitality investment opportunities with a dedicated pavilion highlighting the countrys fast-growing tourism sector, sustainable vision and plans to become a year-round, multi-sector tourism destination.

The Albania Pavilion, presented by the Territorial Development Agency, will promote the countrys ambitious hospitality initiatives and Albanias vision as one of Europes most rapidly growing business and leisure travel destinations, driven by the National Tourism Strategy 2025-2030.

In the first half of 2025, 4.76 million foreign visitors travelled to Albania  up 5% on 2024  with overnight stays reaching 3 million, an increase of almost a third. Albania welcomed 11.7 million international tourists in 2024, and visitor spending is predicted to reach US$6.8 billion by 2034, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.

The Albania Pavilion is one of several dedicated Country Pavilions at FHS World 2025, including Italy, The Maldives and Philippines.

Our Country Pavilions are rather like a mini expo, shining the spotlight on specific destinations and presenting investors with a wealth of opportunities with a high ROI. With more than 40 percent of FHS World delegates actively seeking new projects, we have dedicated substantial space to these unique pavilions for 2025. It will be all eyes on Albania as the country debuts at FHS World, and we look forward to showcasing its exciting range of investment offerings. Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of the Bench, organiser of FHS World

Albanias tourism growth is built on three pillars: authenticity, sustainability and diversification. Already renowned for its stunning coastline and dramatic landscapes, Albania is expanding into cultural, eco, adventure, and agrotourism to become a year-round destination. The cruise sector is making waves too, with record arrivals in 2024-2025.

Albania presents investment opportunities across luxury resorts, marinas, coastal infrastructure, and a growing range of tourism sectors, with investors benefiting from lower VAT on hospitality services, 10-year exemptions from profit and property tax, and exemption from infrastructure tax. State land is also available for strategic projects. This, combined with Albanias young, multilingual skilled workforce and strong focus on sustainability, the country one of the regions most competitive emerging markets.

With an expanding infrastructure, a focus on eco-friendly practices and sustainability policies in line with EU standards, Albania is shifting from seasonal, low-cost tourism to a high-value, all-season economy, ensuring balanced growth that benefits visitors, investors, and local communities alike. We are proud to seize the opportunity to get in front of investors who want to be part of Albanias future and cant wait to unveil our offerings at FHS World this October. Mr.Blendi Gonxhja, Minister of Culture, Tourism and Sports

Under its tourism strategy, Albanias accommodation capacity is set to grow 8% annually, with overnight stays rising 13%. Recently opened flagship projects include the US$41 million, 500 room Gran Melia Durres and the US$51 million MGallery Palase. Key upcoming developments include the US2.4 billiion Durres Yachts & Marina by Eagle Hills and the planned US41.6 billion Sazan Island project.

Vlora International Airport will open in 2026, along with the Hyatt Regency & Residences Tirana, InterContinental Tirana by IHG, and Radisson Individuals Borsh.

Visit futurehospitality.com/world/country-pavilions for more details, and Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) | Homepage for all things FHS World.

About The Bench

The Bench has built a legacy as a global curator of opportunity, designing transformative forums and summits that empower the hospitality and travel industries to connect, innovate, and thrive. With over two decades of expertise, The Bench creates platforms that go beyond transactions to inspire collaboration and drive meaningful change.

Each event brings together government leaders, tourism ministries, global travel associations, leading hospitality brands, hotel owners and investors, airlines, destination developers, and more. From flagship gatherings like FHS World (formerly AHIC) and FHS Saudi Arabia, to FHS Africa (formerly AHIF) and AviaDev, The Bench creates events where ideas spark, relationships deepen, and investments take flight.

The Bench thrives on fostering dynamic and forward-looking dialogues, uniting industry pioneers to address challenges, seize opportunities, and co-create the future. Each event is crafted to deliver more than just connections - it's about transforming ideas into action and building a better tomorrow.

Discover more at thebench.com.

About FHS Saudi Arabia

Dates: 20-22 April 2026

Location: Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Sponsors: Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah, Riyadh and Al Khozama Investment as Host Sponsors; Taiba Investments as Founding Partner; Amsa Hospitality, Jabal Omar Development Company, Radisson Hotel Group and Red Sea Group as Strategic Partners; BWH Hotels, ClubMed, IHG, Italia Hospitality, Story Hospitality, The Ascott Limited as Headline Sponsors; Accor, Aleph Hospitality, IHCL, JT + Partners, Knight Frank, Legacy Hotels Holding, Minor Hotels, Quo, Serb Holding Co., Sommet Education, STR and The First Group Hospitality as Sponsors; DAR Engineering, Echelonet Concierge, Melia Hotels International, Rove Hotels, Shaza Hotels, Sophos and WhiteWater as Exhibitors.

Anne Bleeker

In2 Consulting

+971 56 603 0886

The Bench
UN Tourism celebrated World Tourism Day 2025 in the historic city of Melaka, Malaysia, under the theme Tourism and Sustainable Transformation. This global Day of Recognition for the sector and its vital importance marked a pivotal moment in advancing tourism as a catalyst for positive change, resilience, and sustainable development worldwide.

The celebrations, hosted with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture of Malaysia, brought together global leaders, policymakers, industry experts, and local communities to share innovative ideas and chart a sustainable future for the tourism sector. The celebrations aligned with the 7th edition of the World Tourism Conference (WTC), showcasing Malaysias rich cultural heritage, breathtaking landscapes, and commitment to sustainable tourism.

A Global Call for Sustainable Action

This years theme, Tourism and Sustainable Transformation, underscored tourisms potential to drive social progress, economic growth, and environmental stewardship. The event highlighted the need for good governance, strategic planning, and inclusive policies to ensure tourism benefits all while preserving cultural and natural heritage. Malaysias Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, H.E. Dato Sri Tiong King Sing, welcomed participants from around the world to Melaka at the opening of World Tourism Day 2025 and the 7th World Tourism Conference.

In his official message, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized, Tourism is a powerful driver of transformation. It creates jobs, fuels local economies, and builds bridges across cultures. Yet, it must be sustainable to protect the very places and communities it celebrates. Lets harness tourism as a force for resilience, sustainability, and shared progress.

UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili added, World Tourism Day 2025 in Melaka has shown the world that tourism can be a force for good when guided by sustainability and inclusivity. By working together, we can transform tourism into a tool for empowerment, cultural preservation, and environmental protection.

By working together, we can transform tourism into a tool for empowerment, cultural preservation, and environmental protection

Highlights of World Tourism Day 2025

Affirming this commitment, the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, The Right Honourable Dato' Sri Haji Fadillah bin Yusof, on behalf of the Prime Minister of Malaysia, today officiated the opening of World Tourism Day 2025 and the 7th World Tourism Conference in Melaka.

Highlighting tourisms role as a unifying force, the Deputy Prime Minister stressed that growth must be inclusive and resilient, underpinned by sustainability, innovation, and global cooperation. He outlined Malaysias initiatives  from expanding high-value tourism segments and digital nomad hubs, to investments in sustainable aviation fuel and community-led ecotourism  as examples of balancing economic progress with social and environmental responsibility. He also announced that Malaysia will join the UN Tourism International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO) with a pilot project in Mersing, Johor.

The celebrations in Melaka featured a series of activities, including high-level panel discussions and cultural showcases focused on sustainable tourism practices and innovative strategies geared towards the resilience of the tourism industry. The focus was placed on building sustainable transformation through:

Investing in Education and Skills : Programmes to empower women, youth, and marginalized communities through tourism-related training and employment opportunities.

: Programmes to empower women, youth, and marginalized communities through tourism-related training and employment opportunities. Accelerating innovation and digital transformation : Identifying tourism game-changers, including entrepreneurs, innovators and start-ups and supporting them to transform ideas into action and scale-up. Investing in digital education and closing the digital gap through empowering rural communities, youth and post-conflict societies.

: Identifying tourism game-changers, including entrepreneurs, innovators and start-ups and supporting them to transform ideas into action and scale-up. Investing in digital education and closing the digital gap through empowering rural communities, youth and post-conflict societies. Supporting Local Economies : Promoting micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises to ensure tourism benefits reach local communities.

: Promoting micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises to ensure tourism benefits reach local communities. Cultural Exchange: Showcasing Malaysias vibrant heritage through performances, culinary experiences, and exhibitions, reinforcing tourisms role in preserving traditions.

World Tourism Conference 2025: A Framework for Collaboration

Held in the framework of World Tourism Day, the 7th edition of the World Tourism Conference (WTC) in Melaka served as a platform for fostering stronger bonds and innovative ideas for the global tourism industry.

The conference brought together stakeholders to discuss strategies for sustainable tourism development, focusing on resilience, inclusivity, and environmental stewardship. Key sessions explored topics such as digital transformation in tourism, community-based tourism models, and climate-neutral travel solutions, aligning with the theme Tourism and Sustainable Transformation.

Looking Ahead

To conclude the official celebrations, Malaysia handed over the hosting of World Tourism Day to El Salvador. World Tourism Day 2026, will be held around the theme of Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to redesign tourism and address the role of tourism in embracing digital transformation and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI).
Gorgeous Smiling Hotels GmbH and Aspire GmbH are joining forces, consolidating their hotel operations and setting the stage for ambitious future growth. Their first deal as Gorgeous Smiling Hotels will be with the addition of Great2Stay Hotels, which is a hotel management company based in Augsburg. This move will create one of the largest operators in the DACH region portfolios of the year. The joint umbrella brand for all activities will be Gorgeous Smiling Hotels.

Following the expansion, the GSH-portfolio now comprises 85 hotels with a total of 7,276 rooms  an increase of 47 hotels and 3,038 rooms. With its first location in Italy and further projects across European markets, the group continues to pursue its international growth strategy. The merger strengthens organisational efficiency, unifies brand presence and strengthens competitiveness in one of Europes most dynamic hospitality markets.

The integration of these new companies marks a milestone in the history of Gorgeous Smiling Hotels. With this scale, we are strategically broadening our presence in attractive markets, creating a forward-looking structure, and sharpening our position within the competitive landscape. Our goal is to establish a solid foundation for long-term growth. Heiko Grote

This new structure opens an exciting chapter of expansion and professionalization. We are committed to sustainable growth, international expansion, and a clear strategic focus. This provides the basis for firmly establishing Gorgeous Smiling Hotels GmbH and Aspire GmbH as an independent operator group while continuously strengthening our market position. Andreas Erben

Further details on the newly integrated hotels will be announced at a later stage. The companies will make their first joint appearance at EXPO Real in Munich (Hall A1, Booth 042).

About Gorgeous Smiling Hotels

As the umbrella company, GSH coordinates development, yield management, purchasing and sales, and marketing of the operating companies, as well as all legal matters under one roof. Franchise partners of the GSH group include global players such as InterContinental Hotels Group, Hilton, and Wyndham, whose brands are successfully adapted for the European market. The portfolio currently comprises around 37 hotels, ranging from midscale hotels and serviced apartments to upscale properties. The group is expanding particularly strongly in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands  with further European expansion already planned. www.gsh-hotels.com
Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) announces that the Park Hyatt brands commitment to personalized luxury is reflected not only in its philosophy to provide service at the highest standard, but also in the brands thoughtful approach to entering desirable locations across the globe.

In 2025, Hyatt commemorates the 45th anniversary of Park Hyattan iconic brand that has helped redefine luxury hospitality since the debut of Park Hyatt Chicago in 1980. The first global Park Hyatt marketing campaign in over five years, Luxury is Personal, showcases the brands articulation of intuitive service and intentional enrichment. Through a subtle symphony of refined details, each Park Hyatt stay experience is composed to enrich the way our guests stay with us. From scent, to space, to service, the campaign captures the quiet resonance and seamless sensory harmony that occurs when each detail is orchestrated with care and attuned to the individual.

The Park Hyatt brands recent and continued remarkable growth across Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific, and Americas regions promises to expand the brands enduring dedication to refined design principles, gracious service, and culinary excellence resonant to each destination. As the brand continues to evolve alongside the expectations of todays discerning global travelers, these strategic openings will create new opportunities for exploration with Park Hyatt hotels serving as havens where understated luxury and exceptional service create a deeply personal experience.

The newest and upcoming openings of Park Hyatt hotels in iconic destinations include:

EAME Park Hyatt Marrakech (opened July 1, 2024): Park Hyatt Marrakech stands apart from other luxury hotels in the market through a distinctly modern and stylish take on Arab-Berber heritage. The hotels 130 residentially inspired guestrooms and suites are among the most spacious in Marrakech, and promise privacy and tranquility, with Moroccan touches throughout. Park Hyatt London River Thames (opened October 8, 2024): Marking the debut of the Park Hyatt brand in the United Kingdom, Park Hyatt London River Thames is located in the South West London district of Nine Elms, boasting unparalleled views of Londons skyline. The hotel offers 203 guestrooms, in a prime location that allows guests to fulfill their diverse desires for culture, exploration and creativity  just a short walk from Battersea Power Station. Park Hyatt Johannesburg (opened July 1, 2025 ): Set within the vibrant Rosebank district, celebrated for its cultural richness and urban vitality  with 31 elegantly appointed guestrooms and suites, Park Hyatt Johannesburg offers a refined, residential-style experience where thoughtful design, immersive art, and warm hospitality come together in perfect balance. Park Hyatt Taormina (expected to open in 2027): A cliffside retreat on Sicilys eastern coast, this property will offer sweeping views of the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna, luxurious suites with private terraces, and a serene blend of modern elegance and timeless Italian charm. Just steps from Taorminas historic center, guests will be able to unwind with locally inspired cuisine, a world-class spa and access to the regions rich cultural and natural beauty.

ASPAC Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur (opened August 7, 2025): With 252 guestrooms and suites located between levels 75 and 114 of the iconic Merdeka 118  the tallest skyscraper in Asia Pacific, the hotel provides discerning travelers a refined home in the sky with unparalleled views of the Malaysian capitals skyline. Park Hyatt Tokyo (expected to resume operations in December 2025): An elegant oasis of space and calm, Park Hyatt Tokyo hotel is the ideal luxury destination in Tokyo where guests can enjoy a 360-degree view of the bustling city and Mount Fuji. Following a comprehensive property-wide refinement since May 2024, the hotel will unveil newly designed guestrooms and suites, restored public spaces, event venues and enhanced dining destinations, including Girandole by Alain Ducasse in collaboration with Ducasse Paris Group founded by the celebrated Michelin-starred chef and entrepreneur, Alain Ducasse. Park Hyatt Phu Quoc (expected to open Q2, 2026) : Nestled on the islands southwest tip, this property will seamlessly harmonize traditional Vietnamese architecture with pristine nature. Park Hyatt Phu Quoc will allow guests to indulge in the exquisite convergence of contemporary art and timeless craftsmanship, creating unforgettable moments for all ages on the pearl island.

Americas Park Hyatt Los Cabos at Cabo del Sol (expected to open late 2025): A luxurious coastal sanctuary spread across two miles of the Baja California Sur coastline in the exclusive Cabos de Sol community will boast 163 uniquely designed guestrooms and suites, a 59,000-square-foot wellness complex  one of the regions largest  including a yoga studio, lap pool and personalized wellness treatments rooted in the destination. Park Hyatt Cancun (expected to open in 2026): Will offer beachfront access, immersive and rare culinary, bar and lounge experiences, and world-renowned architecture and design. Park Hyatt Mexico City (expected to open in 2026): Will feature 155 luxury guestrooms and 23 branded residences located on the upscale Campos Eliseos Street in the heart of the Polanco neighborhood, overlooking Mexico Citys iconic Chapultepec Park. Park Hyatt Vancouver (expected to open in 2026): Now operating as Hyatt Vancouver Downtown Alberni until a multi-million-dollar redesign, Park Hyatt Vancouver will rise high above the skyline in the tallest building in Vancouver. The hotel will also offer 119 beautifully outfitted guestrooms, serene wellness amenities, and a dining experience that promises to redefine elevated hospitality in one of Canadas most captivating destinations.



Reinforcing the Park Hyatt brands belief that luxury experiences are created through the subtly refined and thoughtful details that encompass a stay, the brand is unveiling a new global campaign, Luxury is Personal. Inspired by the idea that a symphony is built from distinct elements working seamlessly together, the campaign illustrates how every aspect of the Park Hyatt experiencefrom design, to art, cuisine, service, and moreis thoughtfully composed to enrich the way guests feel, move, and stay.

The Park Hyatt campaign, Luxury is Personal, celebrates luxury not just as a grand performance, but as an intimate convergence of refined details that resonate long after the stay. This lasting vision for the brand to create spaces of personal luxury in the worlds most sought-after places is further emphasized through the many exciting properties weve introduced and look forward to welcoming to the brand soon, said Katie Johnson, Vice President & Global Brand Leader, Luxury, Hyatt. As we celebrate 45 years of Park Hyatt hotels, we are extremely proud of the personal touch we bring to servicing our guests and members and cant wait to breathe new life into the brand as we head into our next chapter.

Hyatts Luxury hotel portfolio has grown at a remarkable 146 percent since 2017, inviting guests to experience a curated assortment of brands that span cultural immersion, transformational wellbeing, residential modern elegance, and more. With brands like Park Hyatt which combines service with refined understated luxury, the culturally rich and environmentally conscious Alila, and the compilation of independent, one-of-a-kind luxury hotels in The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, Hyatts Luxury portfolio continues to see strong, sustained demand from guests and owners alike.

To learn more information, please visit www.hyatt.com.

The term Hyatt is used in this release for convenience to refer to Hyatt Hotels Corporation and/or one or more of its affiliates.
Christopher Garland wasselected as the 2025 Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) Paragon Award recipient for his significant contribution in guiding industry professionals in financial reporting for hotel companies through leadership roles with the association. Garland is an active participant in the Global Finance Committee (GFC), the group behind the recently-released 12th revision of the Uniform System of Accounts for the Lodging Industry. Garland will be recognized at the upcoming HFTP Annual Convention on October 22 at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Fla.

I am truly honored to receive the Paragon award from HFTP , said Garland. Following in the footsteps of hospitality legends is humbling and I am grateful for this recognition.

Garland started his four-decade career as a night auditor at a Howard Johnson Motor Hotel and subsequently over the course of those years, he specialized in the luxury hotel field, working in four countries on two continents. In 2016 he retired from his role as the SVP of Operations and Finance for Four Seasons Hotel Ltd. He followed up with his own consulting companies, first was Mission Hospitality Solutions LLC, working closely with Auberge Resorts Collection, and later C. Garland Consulting. He is an expert at operations finance with a focus on management and development of resources, policy and procedure adherence, and compliance of the Uniform System of Accounts for the Lodging Industry (USALI).

Throughout his career, Garland continually volunteered to share his field expertise in support of applying best practices within the broader hotel industry. As a member of the AHLA Financial Management Committee he participated in the development of the 11th Revised edition of the USALI. And now as a member of the GFC, he serves on its Communications subcommittee which oversees the 12th revised editions educational and promotional activities. Garland also served as chair of the HFTP Hospitality Finance Advisory Council (20152020) and as a director on the HFTP Global Board (20142017). He was also treasurer and CFO of 1907 Foundation International, Inc. and 1907 Foundation Canada from 20192024 and is a former chair of the cabinet for the Centennial College School of Hospitality Impact Campaign.

Established in 1999, the prestigious HFTP Paragon Award recognizes individuals each year who have made a significant and lasting contribution to both HFTP and the hospitality industry. Paragon Award nominees can be HFTP members; representatives of industry-related associations, societies or trade publications; leaders from hospitality businesses, educational institutions and other related disciplines. A panel of industry experts selects the award recipients who are traditionally recognized at HFTP's Annual Convention.

Previous Paragon Award winners include: Alice Banks, CHAE (1999); Henry "Buddy" Weeks, CHAE (1999); Frank Santos, CHAE, CHA (2000); Katherine Cavanagh, CHAE (2001); Raymond Schmidgall, PH.D., CPA, CHAE (2002); Frank Wolfe, CAE (2002); Len Bartello, CPA, CHAE, CHTP (2003); John J. Cahill, CHA, CHTP (2004); Wendy Zurstadt, CPA, CHAE, CHTP (2005); Richard Braa, CHAE (2006); Robert Patasnick, CPA (2007); George Glazer (2008); Agnes DeFranco, Ed.D., CHAE (2009); Stephen LeBruto, CPA, CHAE, Ed.D. (2009); and Steve Doherty, CHAE, CHTP (2010); Frank Agnello Jr., CMA, CHAE (2011); Howard Field, FBHA, FCA (2012); Joseph McInerney, CHA (2013); Evelyn Adams (2014); Ralph R. Miller, CPA, CA, CBV, CHA, CHAE (2015); Raman (R. P.) Rama B. Com, CHA Emeritus, CHTP, CHAE (2016); Kris S. Shoemaker, CMA, CGFO, CHAE, CHTP, CPFIM (2016); Mary Gerdts (2017); Anna McFarland, CPA, CFE, CHAE, CHTP (2018); Thomas Smith, CHAE (2019); Ian Millar, CHTP (2020); Tanya Venegas, MBA, MHM, CHIA (2021); Sanjay Nadkarni, Ph.D. (2021); Daniel Conti, Jr., CHAE+ (2022); Geneva Rinehart (2023); and Robert Mandelbaum (2024).

The HFTP Annual Convention is October 2224, 2025 at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Fla. USA. Register to attend. For more information about HFTP events, contact the HFTP Meetings & Special Events Department at [email protected], +1 (512) 249-5333. For more information on the Paragon Award, contact the HFTP Communications Department at [email protected] or +1 (512) 249-5333.

About HFTP

Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP), established in 1952, is a hospitality nonprofit association headquartered in Austin, Texas USA with an offices in the EU. HFTP is recognized as a group supporting the finance and technology segments of the hospitality industry with an international network of members and stakeholders. HFTP offers expert networks, educational resources, career development programs, research, leadership opportunities and conferences and events. HFTP produces international events throughout the year, including the world's largest hospitality technology tradeshow and conference brand: HITEC. In addition, it oversees the publication of the Uniform System of Accounts for the Lodging Industry (USALI), Hotel Online and Hospitality Upgrade Magazine. For more information about HFTP, visit www.hftp.org.

Eliza Selig

Chief Marketing Officer

+1 512 220 4026

HFTP
Theres no better word to describe Kona Village  nestled in Kahuwai Bay along the western coast of the island of Hawaii  than as a paradise. Considered a sacred spot by the first Polynesian settlers who have called it home in centuries-old village of Kaupulehu, Kona Village Resort was first established in 1965 and run by a husband and wife team who welcomed guests for decades with a charming ohana (family) spirit.

The resort was the progenitor of todays now-globalized barefoot luxury trend, finding new guests over the decades as an if-you-know-you-know place where friends and family wouldnt be encumbered by all the noise of modern life  phones, televisions, radios, clocks or the assault on our minds by the 24-hour news cycle. Built in reverence to Polynesian culture and kicking off the hale thatched-roof design trend thats commonplace amongst resorts dotting the Pacific, Kona Village has always been a secret hidden in plain sight amongst all the other Hawaiian vacation destinations.

That all changed on March 11, 2011 when an earthquake off the coast of Japan rippled across the Pacific and transformed into a devasting tsunami that swept away this quaint, little corner of the world. It seemed like the end, but hospitality finds a way

Interior design to reflect a contemporary aesthetic that tips toward minimalism but still with strong nods to the regions heritage Source: Hotel Mogel Consulting Limited

The Rosewood Rebirth

Following nearly a decade of planning and reconstruction under the stewardship of real estate collective Kennedy Wilson as well as a cultural committee composed of lineal descendants of the original village, the hotel officially reopened its doors on July 1, 2023, as the 150-key Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort.

During this time, painstaking measures were taken to thematically design the premises in reverence of the fierce oceans, magmatic volcanism and lush flora that have shaped the Hawaiian archipelago, while also forging ahead as a wholly sustainable, LEED-certified resort by using natural or reclaimed materials and setting up a renewable microgrid based off 9,000 solar panels over a 2-acre plot. Furthermore, the 81-acre resort premises maintain 22 anchialine ponds (those with subterranean connections to the ocean) as well as 21 archeological sites, in addition to new onsite cultural center.

Together, this is one of the purest examples of hospitalitys resiliency to endure and surpass hardship then come out even more astounding as a result. Its the only Hawaiian property to earn three keys for Michelins hotel guide.

Not only does the redesigned Kona Village honor its past, but its boldly moving forward with design evolutions like that of Asaya Spa which honors the lava outcrop and petroglyph fields its built upon with darker woods and blackened accents to contrast the lush greenscapes in all directions.

Prior to our present occupation, one of your two authors here, Larry, ran a hospitality and tourism marketing agency that proudly called Kona Village a client some two decades ago. And so, just as hospitality finds a way to stand the test of time, life has brought us full circle back to Kona Village, in this instance by granting us the opportunity to sit down with Daniel Scott, Regional Vice President and Managing Director of Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort for an interview on what gives this property so much soul.

Lets start with your career to date.

Ive been with Rosewood Hotels & Resorts for two decades, and during that time, Ive had the opportunity to work at some of the most iconic properties in the portfolio. Prior to joining the amazing team at Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort, my tenure with the brand took me to Las Ventanas al Paraiso, A Rosewood Resort, Rosewood Sand Hill, and most recently, Rosewood Mayakoba. During this time, I also served as a Regional Vice President, overseeing The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel, Rosewood Washington, D.C., and Rosewoods Caribbean collection. Over the course of my career, Ive gained a deep understanding of luxury hospitality and the importance of creating long-term emotional connections and lasting relationships with guests while positively impacting the local community.

One of the most rewarding experiences of my career was cofounding Centro Educativo Kiin Beh in 2017. This bilingual school was established to provide quality education for the children of Rosewood Mayakoba employees and families in the local community. Today, it serves over 500 students and stands as a reflection of my belief that hospitality extends beyond exceptional service. Its about keeping the culture of the destination at the forefront and creating a lasting, positive impact on the people and places we are part of.

Can you describe the restoration process and the transition to Rosewood?

Kona Village has always been an icon in its own right, and after it was shuttered in 2011 due to the tsunami, there was a collective commitment to bringing it back in a way that honored its legacy. The restoration was a seven-year redevelopment process led by owner Kennedy Wilson, in close partnership with Kamehameha Schools and a Cultural Leadership Committee comprised of local lineal descendants, cultural advisors and community leaders of Kaupulehu.

Every aspect of the resorts revival was guided by a responsibility to preserve the lands history and natural beauty. Our goal was to retain the essence of what made the original Kona Village so beloved, while introducing modern sustainability initiatives and fostering a sense of unaffected luxury with an authentic connection to the people and land of Hawaii.

The ultraluxury hotel category has become incredibly competitive over the past decade. What are the hallmarks that distinguish the Rosewood brand, and how are these reflected at Kona Village?

At Rosewood, we have always believed that true luxury is deeply personal and connected to the essence of a place. Our guiding philosophy, A Sense of Place, ensures that each of our properties is an authentic reflection of its destination.

At Kona Village, this is woven into every aspect of the experience, from the architecture and design to the cultural programming and sustainability efforts. The resort was designed by Greg Warner of Walker Warner Architects and the interiors were created by NICOLEHOLLIS, both of whom deeply understood the need to honor the lands heritage while creating something that felt both modern and timeless. For sustainability, the resort is powered by solar energy from our own solar power microgrid, have three buildings that are LEED Gold certified and have committed to a zero-waste initiative.

Beyond that, our connection to Hawaiian culture runs deep. We work closely with a Cultural Leadership Committee and have a dedicated onsite cultural center to ensure that guests not only experience luxury but also gain a meaningful understanding of the traditions and stories that make this land so special. We aim to deliver a sense of unaffected luxury with an authentic connection to the people and land of Hawaii, grounded in service that is personal, not pretentious. Its this simplicity  executed to perfection  that allows guests to feel truly cared for, present in the moment, and embraced by the spirit of aloha.

Multigenerational travel is a global megatrend that Rosewood has excelled at meeting. With Kona Village having earned recognition from Conde Nast as one of the top ultraluxury family resorts in the world, what do families really want from a luxury resort? What amenities, services, and room configurations are available to address this type of travel?

Families today want more than just beautiful accommodations; they are looking for immersive, meaningful experiences that bring them together while also allowing each family member to create their own special moments. At Kona Village, weve designed the resort to meet these needs in multiple ways.

Our accommodations include 150 guest hale and kauhale, ranging from one to four bedrooms, providing families with ample space to stay together while also having privacy when needed. For larger groups or multigenerational travelers, our signature kauhale accommodations  the Ocean Front Four-Bedroom Maheawalu Kauhale, Ocean Front Accessible Four-Bedroom Kumukea Kauhale and Ohana Pool Four-Bedroom Kauhale  set a new benchmark for luxury family travel in Hawaii. These expansive, residence-style retreats offer between 6,500 to 8,500 square feet of indoor and outdoor space, private pools, dedicated butler service, and thoughtfully designed communal areas, allowing families to gather while still providing moments of personal retreat.

Beyond the accommodations, Kona Village offers unforgettable experiences that bring generations together and deepen each guests connection to Hawaii. Families can sail the waters of Kahuwai Bay aboard our traditional canoe, enjoy intimate Celestial Dinners under the stars, and explore the islands rich landscape through curated off-property excursions  from local farmers markets to black-sand beaches and lava caves. At the heart of it all is the Kauluola Cultural Center, offering hula and ukulele lessons, as well as tours of ancient petroglyphs.

Questions and Answers From This Article

How has Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort, balanced heritage preservation with modern luxury in its rebirth?

Kona Villages revival after the 2011 tsunami is a model of culturally sensitive luxury development. The restoration was guided by local lineal descendants and a cultural leadership committee to honor the regions heritage, with LEED-certified design, renewable energy infrastructure, and architecture inspired by native traditions. This reflects a broader industry trend where the most successful luxury resorts create meaningful experiences by deeply integrating local history, sustainability, and design authenticity.

What makes Kona Village a leading example of multigenerational travel in luxury hospitality?

Kona Village stands out by offering spacious residential-style accommodationsup to four-bedroom kauhalewith private pools and butler service, ideal for families traveling together. The resort blends collective experiences like cultural workshops and ocean excursions with tailored offerings for kids (through the Keiki Club) and parents (via the Asaya Spa). This reflects the rising demand for multigenerational travel, where resorts must cater to both connection and individual needs within the same stay.

Why is unaffected luxury considered the future of high-end hospitality, and how is Kona Village embodying this?

Unaffected luxury prioritizes genuine care, emotional connection, and effortless service over formality or extravagance. At Kona Village, this is achieved through a serene atmosphere, culturally respectful programming, and intuitive service that focuses on guest well-being and joy. This approach is resonating across the luxury sector as discerning travelers increasingly seek simplicity, authenticity, and moments of personal meaning in their hotel experiences.

Adam Mogelonsky

Hotel Mogel Consulting Limited

View source
Organized by EHL Hospitality Business School and the Harvard Data Science Initiative, the second iteration of the Vine to Mind conference took place on EHLs iconic Lausanne campus in June 2025. Discussions centered on the role that data science plays in the wine industry. Drawing participants from over 20 countries, the conference featured presentations rooted in academics, data science and in-the-vineyards insights. The conference put forward a clear and informed message: the evolution of the wine industry now depends as much on advances in data science as on traditional expertise in viticulture, winemaking, and business.

Bridging the Wine Data Literacy Gap

We hate uncertainty

Every story has a protagonist and this one belonged to preeminent data scientist Dr. Xiao-Li Meng of Harvard University who started by answering the main question: Were here today to bridge the data literacy gap among wine producers. The myriad variables from grape to glass (weather, tasting environment, etc.) mean that one misstep can ruin the wine. As a statistics professor Dr. Meng offered: computer science has its own language, so you need to know the basics. We need to educate the broad wine enterprise. Attempting to allay AI-related anxiety, the way to prevent an AI takeover is to become smarter, Dr. Meng said before passing the microphone to Cathy Huyghes, CEO of Enolytics, a wine analytics firm.

I didnt go into wine to work on spreadsheets all day

Seemingly incompatible, data analytics and artificial intelligence are coming for the wine world. Wine people arent data people, right? Yet, some in the staunchly traditional industry, where being close to the land has always been a source of pride, are embracing tech. Wine producers could use data pertaining to past weather patterns to prepare their harvest, she cited as an example. Every winery has data but usually it remains siloed or, in extreme cases, written down on paper and stored haphazardly. There are other impediments (unwillingness to share data, challenges in integrating AI into existing systems, antiquated inventory/payment systems, data anxiety, resource constraints, etc.) and cracking the nut of data literacy is our next challenge, Huyghes said. The conversation then shifted to the importance of probability in wine making.

Dont just throw data at a problem

Getting ready for my presentation, Hamil Hamutcu recounted, I realized data and AI can have huge benefits for the wine industry. As a co-founder of Elements, a data skills assessment platform, Hamutcu realizes that data is everywhere and that some level of understanding of probability (e.g., Will it rain in the coming days or weeks?) will help wineries make better decisions. He warned, however, that there is too much data, most of which is irrelevant or worse. This is feeding AI and generating bad conclusions and erroneous or even dangerous decisions. Wine has been around since 7000 B.C and computers since the 1950s, not to mention the advent of generative AI in 2022, so it is not surprising that tech uptake it slow.

Data Analytics in the Vineyards

 Image  Adobe Stock

Use hindsight to inform foresight

Faced with a sudden heatwave in September 2022, Napa winemakers needed to move fast. Temperatures were soaring to above 100F (38C) but Kia Behnia had seen it coming. He didnt have a crystal ball but rather 25 years of weather data, so he started irrigating his parcel. In the end, he lost a mere 3% of his grapes and the quality of the 2022 vintage was on par with that of the previous year. For him, AI is like another now-ubiquitous technology: The winemaker remains in charge but, like GPS, our technology can guide the winemaker to make better decisions. His firm, simply called Scout, specializes in providing timely data about its 2 million vines under management. It provides KPIs, inventory data, maps, photos, virus testing, metrics and other data to help grape growers. Its basically a Farmers Almanac for the 21st century, Behnia summarized.

According to Behnia, a self-described technologist cum vintner, data can help in two main areas. First, it can aid in yield forecasting, where a miscalculation by 20-30% can be crippling for a winery. Data science can investigate the multiple possibilities then its projections can help people make business decisions, Behnia said. Data can inform decision-making by providing professionals with better forecasting/estimates on weather, berry weight, cluster counts and other variables. However, pixels are not as good as the naked eye, he cautioned. The second is plant health. Predicting diseases, such as red blotch virus, can help winemakers avoid having to rip out vines.

They dont want to dilute their artistry with AI

It is one thing to use technology to aid in mundane tasks such as office work, forecasting the weather or even pruning vinesbut blending? This was the main assertion put forth by Dr. Jing Cao, Professor of Statistics at Southern Methodist University. Blending is the work of a vintner, an artist of sorts. He or she must decide how to mix and match different wines to get the perfect blend and perpetuate the vineyards reputation for quality.

Wine is a conservative industry

For Jamie Ritchie, Senior Vice President and Worldwide Chairman of Sothebys Wine, there are many reasons why wine people are reluctant to turn to data to improve work flows. First off, he says, If data is in silos then how do you get access to it?. For him, wine is a conservative industry that is resistant to change. He pointed to other issues contributing to the slow uptake of tech solutions such as a lack of human resources. In the ensuing presentation, a practical solution to these issues was proposed.

Post-modern wine making

In the session entitled AI Technologies for the Wine Industry, three professionals spoke to the opportunities and challenges of AI in the wine industry. Dr. Miguel Parades drew on his experience managing the wine operations of Albertsons, one of North Americas largest grocery store chains, and as an AI Fund Fellow to outline the history of AI and point out a simple truth that could be helpful for small wineries. You dont need to have a data center in your wine cellar. You can pay for data-related services, Paredes said. This intelligence as a service could be a practical solution for winemakers seeking to benefit from AI without making onerous investments.

Build a bridge to all sides

Albert Strever, Senior lecturer of Viticulture and Oenology at Stellenbosch University, brought a South African perspective to the discussions. The goal he espoused was to gain wisdom from the data and connect research, industry and teaching. He noted, however, that data integration and democratization were challenges and that it was essential to affirm the role of the human in all scenarios.

Fine wine meets the algorithm

Such was the title of Pauline Vicards presentation, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Areni Global, a think tank focused on fine wines, who introduced a consumer perspective to the debate. She touched on the importance of typicity (the extent to which a wine reflects its grape varietal and terroir), underscoring the importance of a wine being local, faithful and authentic. She went on to mention Tastry, an app that matches the flavor profile of a wine with consumer preferences. Developing an app that could suggest whether a new wine will find a market is an idea she left for conference participants to ponder.

Over the course of the three-day event, participants in the Vine to Mind conference enjoyed exciting presentations about where data and AI are intersecting and a peek into the future of technology in the wine industry. Interesting discussions took place during the evening wine tastings and the countless courses of the gala dinner at EHL. After a short nights sleep, conference-goers were whisked off to visit several terraced vineyards in the Valais canton. This fruitful collaboration between EHL and Harvard Data Science Initiative was the perfect showcase for both academic excellence and the unique vines of western Switzerland. In 2026, the Vine to Mind conference shifts to a different wine region: Napa Valley in California.

View source
As the umbrella company, GSH coordinates development, yield management, purchasing and sales, and marketing of the operating companies, as well as all legal matters under one roof. Franchise partners of the GSH group include global players such as InterContinental Hotels Group, Hilton, and Wyndham, whose brands are successfully adapted for the European market. The portfolio currently comprises around 37 hotels, ranging from midscale hotels and serviced apartments to upscale properties. The group is expanding particularly strongly in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands  with further European expansion already planned.
Making Sense of Hotel Real Estate: Who Owns What, and Why It Matters - Image Credit Unsplash

Imagine stepping into a glass-fronted lobby in Dubai. The air is scented with jasmine, soft music plays in the background, and the view stretches across an infinity pool that seems to spill into the desert. To you, this is a luxury escape. To investors, it is a carefully designed asset. That same property may carry a global brand name, be managed by a specialist operator, and be owned by an international investment group. What feels seamless to the guest is often a layered partnership of brands, managers, and investors working behind the scenes.

The scale of hotel real estate today

Hospitality is more than a place to stay; it is one of the worlds most powerful real estate sectors. In 2024, global hotel investment volume reached $57.3 billion, marking a 7% increase from 2023. This growth highlights how hotels function not just as travel destinations but also as financial assets. For investors, they represent opportunities for long-term value and prestige. For travelers, they create the cultural landmarks that define cities, coastlines, and entire regions.

Who owns what: understanding the players

Behind every hotel brand you recognize stands a complex network of owners, investors, and managers, each shaping the guest experience in their own way.

Hotel brands vs property owners

When travelers see names like Four Seasons, Hilton, or Hyatt, it feels natural to assume the company owns the property. In reality, ownership is often separate. The brand offers global recognition, marketing reach, and operating expertise. But the building itself may belong to an investor, a development company, or even a sovereign wealth fund. This separation allows each party to focus on what they do best: brands on guest experience, and owners on financial growth.

Investors, REITs, and private equity

Institutional investors play a major role in shaping hotel markets. Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) allow everyday investors to share in the value of luxury resorts or city hotels without buying the entire property. Private equity firms often buy portfolios of hotels, refresh them with design upgrades, and resell at higher values. These players bring scale, capital, and efficiency, fueling the expansion of hospitality across continents.

Local entrepreneurs and family businesses

At the same time, ownership is not only about billion-dollar deals. Across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, family-run hotels remain the soul of hospitality. A boutique villa in Tuscany, a ryokan in Kyoto, or a lakeside lodge in Colorado often reflects generations of care and identity. These owners may not have the reach of global investors, but they offer something equally valuable: authenticity and a deep cultural connection.

Why ownership structure matters for guests and investors

The way a hotel is owned changes more than the balance sheet. It shapes how the property feels, how it is run, and how it evolves. For guests, ownership often determines the level of reinvestment in design, technology, and service. For investors, the structure influences returns, risks, and long-term value. A luxury resort backed by a global investment fund may prioritize rapid growth and expansion. A family-owned heritage hotel may focus on preserving tradition, even if profit margins are slimmer. Both models have value; one drives scale, the other builds legacy.

Global examples of hotel ownership in action

From island resorts to city icons and heritage estates, ownership stories reveal how hotels become symbols of culture and investment.

Luxury resorts in the Maldives

In the Maldives, luxury resort projects are one of the most common types of foreign investment, and many resorts are owned (or at least co-owned) by international hotel chains.

Some resorts in the Maldives offer villa ownership programs to private investors, blending real estate and hospitality models.

The U.S. investment climate report notes that tourism-related FDI (foreign direct investment) in the Maldives often targets hotel franchising and resort operations.

Iconic city hotels in New York

The Plaza Hotel, as of its latest ownership update, is owned by Katara Hospitality, a Qatari firm.

Over its lifetime, The Plaza has passed through multiple ownerships, including ownership by Donald Trump, El Ad Properties, and Sahara India Pariwar, reflecting its changing financial and strategic value.

In 1975, The Plaza was sold to Western International Hotels (later Westin) for $25 million, marking one early major change in its ownership structure.

Heritage properties in Europe

Heritage Hotels of Europe is a federation representing many castle hotels, manor houses, palaces, and historic properties across the continent.

Some of these properties remain rooted in local stewardship, while others are now managed by hotel groups that blend preservation with modern service.

The collection includes castles, palaces, and country houses repurposed as hotels, offering guests heritage experiences across multiple European countries.

University-linked hotels for training

A new generation of leaders must understand not only how to manage service but also how ownership shapes hotels as financial and cultural assets. Some hospitality schools even run training hotels, where students see firsthand how real estate decisions affect branding and guest experience. For readers curious about this intersection of investment and hospitality, this guide about hotel real estate explains the models shaping tomorrows industry.

The ripple effects: culture, economics, and prestige

Ownership choices dont just affect the hotel itself; they can redefine how entire regions are seen and experienced.

Shaping destinations

Hotel ownership is more than a financial arrangement; it defines the character of a destination. When investors back large-scale resorts, they create new travel magnets that can transform entire regions. Think of Dubais Palm Jumeirah, where hotels are not just places to stay but landmarks that shape the citys identity.

Driving economies

Hotels are engines of employment and trade. Ownership decisions, whether by global funds or local families, determine how much money stays within a community. A family-run lodge may source food locally and hire neighbors, while a corporate-owned hotel might bring global supply chains. Both models support economies, but in very different ways.

Building prestige and influence

For investors, owning a hotel is often about more than profit. It is about prestige, status, and influence. A flagship property in Paris or Hong Kong signals cultural relevance as much as financial success. Ownership becomes part of a personal or corporate brand, elevating reputation in both lifestyle and business circles.

Rising leaders in hospitality: preparing for the future of hotel real estate

Tomorrows hospitality leaders need to see beyond service and understand how ownership drives the industry forward.

A new generation of leaders

Tomorrows hotel leaders need more than an understanding of service; they must also grasp the complexities of ownership. Real estate, finance, branding, and guest experience are all interwoven. Professionals who can see the bigger picture are the ones who will guide the industry forward.

Where learning meets ownership

Institutions like Glion bridge this gap by blending hospitality management with real estate insight. Students are trained not only to run luxury hotels but also to understand the mechanics behind property investment, ownership models, and global market shifts. This holistic approach prepares them to step confidently into boardrooms as well as lobbies.

Ownership as a vision for tomorrows hospitality

Behind every hotel you admire, whether a beachfront resort in Bali or a city icon in London, stands an intricate story of ownership. These stories matter because they influence not just where we stay, but how we experience the world. As hospitality grows more global, transparent, and competitive, understanding ownership will be as vital as appreciating design or service.
Brandt Niehaus, President of Huff, Niehaus & Associates, Inc. - Image Credit Hotel Brokers International

Huff, Niehaus & Associates, Inc. is proud to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2025, marking five decades of service to the hospitality real estate industry.

The company was founded in 1975 as Dial-Huff & Associates, Inc., specializing in the sale of hotels and motels. In 1994, the firm was acquired by Brandt Niehaus and rebranded Huff, Niehaus & Associates, Inc. Since then, the business has grown into a full-service real estate firm providing a comprehensive range of services for hotel owners and lenders, including brokerage, Brokers Opinions of Value, expert witness testimony, and consulting.

Over the years, Huff, Niehaus & Associates has built a strong reputation for professionalism, integrity, and deep market expertise. Its long history of success reflects both a commitment to client service and the ability to adapt to changing market conditions. As it enters its sixth decade, Huff, Niehaus & Associates remains dedicated to delivering the highest standard of service to its hospitality clients while continuing to build on the foundation established in 1975.

Brandt Niehaus, President of Huff, Niehaus & Associates, Inc., is based in Louisville, Kentucky, and holds broker licenses in Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Ohio, and Tennessee. He is a three-time recipient of Broker of the Year (2018, 2017, 2014) and has earned Top Regional Broker recognition 13 times. Learn more at huffniehaus.com.

Hotel Brokers International (HBI), established in 1959, is the hospitality industrys most experienced network of hotel real estate brokers. With more than 11,000 hotel transactions completed, HBI brokers are recognized leaders in the field. The organization also created the Certified Hotel Broker (CHB) Program, the only professional designation for hotel brokers. In addition to brokerage, HBI offers affiliate membership opportunities for professionals in franchising, lending, appraisals, and investment services. More information is available at hbihotels.com.

For more information contact:

H. Brandt Niehaus CHB, CCIM

Huff, Niehaus & Associates, Inc.

Louisville, Kentucky

502.254.7787

hotels@huffniehaus.com

Glenda J. Webb, Executive Director

Hotel Brokers International

Kansas City, Missouri

816.505.4315

gwebb@hbihotels.com
Park Hyatt Toronto - Image Credit Hyatt



Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced the expansion of its Park Hyatt brand with recent and upcoming openings in several global locations, including Johannesburg, Kuala Lumpur, Los Cabos, and Tokyo.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has outlined its expansion plans for the Park Hyatt brand, marking significant growth with the addition of new properties in various regions. The expansion includes recent openings and future projects in key cities across Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific, and the Americas.

In the Europe, Africa, and Middle East (EAME) region, Park Hyatt Marrakech opened on July 1, 2024, featuring 130 guestrooms and suites. The Park Hyatt London, situated on the River Thames, opened on October 8, 2024, introducing the brand to the United Kingdom with 203 guestrooms. Park Hyatt Johannesburg followed, opening on July 1, 2025, with 31 guestrooms and suites. Additionally, Park Hyatt Taormina is expected to open in 2027, offering views of the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna.

In the Asia Pacific region, Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur commenced operations on August 7, 2025, with 252 guestrooms and suites situated within the Merdeka 118 skyscraper. Park Hyatt Tokyo is set to resume operations in December 2025 following a comprehensive refurbishment. The Park Hyatt Phu Quoc is anticipated to open in the second quarter of 2026.

In the Americas, Park Hyatt Los Cabos at Cabo del Sol is expected to open in late 2025, featuring 163 guestrooms and a wellness complex. Park Hyatt Cancun and Park Hyatt Mexico City are both scheduled to open in 2026, with the latter offering 155 guestrooms and 23 residences. Park Hyatt Vancouver is also expected to open in 2026, following a redesign of the current Hyatt Vancouver Downtown Alberni.

These developments are part of Hyatt's broader strategy to expand the Park Hyatt brand in desirable locations worldwide.
Till Klauss - Image Credit Four Seasons Hotels



Four Seasons Hotel Amman has appointed Till Klauss as the new General Manager of its 192-room property in Amman, Jordan.

Four Seasons Hotel Amman has announced the appointment of Till Klauss as General Manager. Klauss will oversee operations at the 192-room hotel located in the capital city of Jordan. His role will involve managing the hotel's services and ensuring operational efficiency.

Klauss, originally from Munich, Germany, has been with Four Seasons for over 20 years. His career with the company began with an internship at Four Seasons Hotel George V in Paris. He officially joined the company in 2005 as Assistant Chief Steward at Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire. Over the years, Klauss has held various leadership roles in food and beverage operations, including positions in Damascus, Prague, Toronto, Punta Mita, Alexandria, and Cairo.

This appointment marks Klauss's first role as General Manager. His previous experience includes serving as Hotel Manager at Four Seasons Hotel Alexandria and Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza. Klauss's career has taken him to 12 countries, reflecting his extensive experience in international hospitality management.
These hotels are among the lowest-priced properties for travelers in Abu Dhabi. Currently, the lowest price for a hotel in Abu Dhabi is $67. The cheapest hotel is Premier Inn Abu Dhabi Capital Centre priced at $67. Price data was last updated on December 11, 2025.
These hotels are among the lowest-priced properties for travelers in Mecca. Currently, the lowest price for a hotel in Mecca is $10. The cheapest hotel is Dar Raies priced at $10. Price data was last updated on December 11, 2025.
What is the best way for guests to get from Vancouver Coal Harbour Airport to Coast Coal Harbour Vancouver Hotel By Apa?

Getting from Vancouver Coal Harbour Airport to Coast Coal Harbour Vancouver Hotel By Apa can be as easy as renting a car at the airports rental desk for, on average, $27/day in Vancouver. Luckily, Coast Coal Harbour Vancouver Hotel By Apa has parking on site for guests who choose this method of transportation. Rideshare apps and taxis remain a very common solution for Coast Coal Harbour Vancouver Hotel By Apa guests. This is often the most cost-effective method of transportation when visiting Vancouver.
What is the best way for guests to get from Jeddah King Abdulaziz Intl Airport to Ekono Hotel?

For the most freedom while visiting Jeddah, consider renting a car for about $84/day and parking it at Ekono Hotel where they offer parking spaces to hotel guests. One of the more popular options today is to take a taxi or ridesharing service directly from Jeddah King Abdulaziz Intl Airport to the hotel. This option is often cost effective, but guests must keep a lookout for peak time rates.
These hotels are among the lowest-priced properties for travelers in Jeddah. Currently, the lowest price for a hotel in Jeddah is $31. The cheapest hotel is Al Farhan Suites Al Hamra-Jeddah priced at $31. Price data was last updated on December 11, 2025.
These hotels are among the lowest-priced properties for travelers in Hurghada. Currently, the lowest price for a hotel in Hurghada is $17. The cheapest hotel is Golden Rose Hotel priced at $17. Price data was last updated on December 9, 2025.
What is the best way for guests to get from Vienna Intl Airport to Leonardo Hotel Vienna Hauptbahnhof?

Leonardo Hotel Vienna Hauptbahnhof has parking for hotel guests so for most visitors spending time in Vienna, renting a car for around $25/day may be the best option. This will give you the ability to get to and from Vienna Intl Airport, and also give you the flexibility to get around the area. One of the more popular options today is to take a taxi or ridesharing service directly from Vienna Intl Airport to the hotel. This option is often cost effective, but guests must keep a lookout for peak time rates.
What is the best way for guests to get from Melbourne Airport to Mantra Melbourne Airport?

Mantra Melbourne Airport has parking for hotel guests so for most visitors spending time in Melbourne, renting a car for around $28/day may be the best option. This will give you the ability to get to and from Melbourne Airport, and also give you the flexibility to get around the area. Many Mantra Melbourne Airport guests take the airport shuttle from Melbourne Airport back to the hotel because renting a car is not necessary for their stay in Melbourne. Rideshare apps and taxis remain a very common solution for Mantra Melbourne Airport guests. This is often the most cost-effective method of transportation when visiting Melbourne.
These hotels are among the lowest-priced properties for travelers in Doha. Currently, the lowest price for a hotel in Doha is $36. The cheapest hotel is Sovereign Hotel - Marriage Certificate Required priced at $36. Price data was last updated on December 11, 2025.
These hotels are among the lowest-priced properties for travelers in Osaka. Currently, the lowest price for a hotel in Osaka is $16. The cheapest hotel is Hotel Diamond priced at $16. Price data was last updated on December 9, 2025.
These hotels are among the lowest-priced properties for travelers in Riyadh. Currently, the lowest price for a hotel in Riyadh is $37. The cheapest hotel is Reef Al Malaz Hotel International priced at $37. Price data was last updated on December 11, 2025.
TikTok Ownership Change Has Creators Worried About The Future

TikTok has become the stage where musicians, creators, influencers and activists could break through overnight. A great hook or a clever video could reach millions in hours. But now, with a TikTok ownership change looming, that sense of limitless opportunity is being replaced by uncertainty.

TikTok Ownership Change Has Creators Worried About The Future

As TikTok faces a likely ownership change in the United States, many are expressing growing concerns about how this shift could affect content moderation, algorithmic visibility and creative freedom.

These concerns are not abstract. They speak to real anxieties about censorship, political influence, and personal economic security.

Ownership Changes Shape Platform Culture

As we learned after Elon Musks acquisition of Twitter (now X) ownership changes can shape a platforms culture and policies.

According President Trump, TikToks U.S. operations will soon be taken over by a group of American investors. Chinas ByteDance will retain 20%. But the new owners reportedly include key investors Larry Elsons Oracle, private equity firm Silver Lake and United Arab Emirates investment fund MGX. Others include Dell CEO Michael Dell and media moguls Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch.

All the new owners are Trump supporters and have varying ties to conservative causes.

For creators, this raises important questions.

Decisions about what gets promoted, what gets flagged, and what is considered appropriate can change subtly but significantly when new leadership takes over. Creators worry that political or ideological interests could shape the platforms recommendation systems and moderation practices in ways that affect what kinds of content thrive.

Censorship Concerns Are Growing

TikTok has long faced criticism for inconsistent moderation and lack of transparency. Musicians and creators have experienced shadow bans, unexplained takedowns, or sudden drops in reach. Activists, LGBTQ+ communities, and users discussing political or social issues have often said that their content seems to face more scrutiny.

These problems existed long before this ownership change. But under new conservative-aligned leadership, many fear these issues could intensify or become more ideologically driven. Even if official content policies do not change dramatically, internal interpretation and enforcement of those policies could shift, affecting which voices are amplified or suppressed.

Algorithmic Bias Is a Subtle Form of Control

One of the most powerful aspects of TikTok is its algorithm. It decides what content reaches the coveted For You feed and who goes viral. This gives the company extraordinary influence over public conversation and cultural trends.

A recent study found evidence that political biases in TikToks content distribution already skewed right. During the 2024 U.S. election, researchers observed that Republican-leaning content was more likely to be shown to conservative users than Democratic content was to liberal users.

This kind of subtle algorithmic tilt matters, especially if new owners have clear political interests.

Economic Risk For Creators When Visibility Disappears

Creators worry less about outright censorship and more about becoming invisible. A small change in algorithmic weighting can quietly bury entire genres of content, often without explanation or recourse.

For many creators, TikTok is not just a creative outlet but a critical part of their business.

Musicians rely on viral moments to drive streaming numbers as well as free and affordable marketing. Influencers use the platform to reach new audiences and secure brand partnerships.

When algorithm changes or moderation shifts reduce visibility, the impact is immediate and financial. The 2024 dispute between TikTok and Universal Music Group highlighted this vulnerability. When UMG pulled its catalog, countless artists suddenly lost a key promotional channel. If ownership priorities shift and moderation culture changes, similar disruptions could happen again, affecting thousands of livelihoods.

Creators Are Seeking Clarity and Backup Plans

These concerns have led many to rethink their platform strategies. Many are diversifying their online presence, using YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, SubStack newsletters, or their own websites to build more stable audience connections.

The underlying desire is clear: all creators want stability, fairness, and clarity about how their work is treated on the platform. They also want to reduce their dependence on a single company that could change direction at any time.

A Cultural Turning Point

TikToks ownership change is more than a corporate deal. Its a moment that could redefine one of the internets most influential cultural spaces.

TikTok became a creative powerhouse because it felt open, exacting and unpredictable. If creators lose trust in that, they will migrate elsewhere, taking their communities with them.

This is why the conversation happening among musicians, activists, and influencers right now matters. They are not just worried about TikTok ownership. They are concerned about that the creative ecosystem they helped build will remain vibrant, diverse, and fair.

Bruce Houghton is Founder & Editor of Hypebot, Senior Advisor at Bandsintown, a Berklee College Of Music professor and founder of Skyline Artists.

Share on:
Allendale Pines plans to offer a storage center for residents to curb outdoor clutter.

Allendale Pines Plans Storage Building for Resident Use

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  As part of its expansion, Allendale Pines plans to offer a storage center for residents to curb outdoor clutter.



Last week, the Zoning Board of Appeals continued a request to amend the mobile home community's 2022 site plan to include an over 3,000 square foot storage building. The applicants requested a continuance to October 15 for renotification.



"This is a great project and a great property for the fact that we've, as time has gone by, we've continually been able to provide attainable housing and more uses within the property itself here," Brent White of White Engineering explained on behalf of owner Eagle Allendale LLC.



A few years ago, the park obtained a special permit to add more than 20 units north of existing homes, referred to as Allendale Pines North.



The homes will start as low as $179,900. Residents will pay owner Teton Management Corp. a lot fee of $550, which will include water and sewer, and be responsible for electricity and gas.



The expansion is located at 395 Cheshire Road, bordering the Ashuwillticook Trail, and will include 22 manufactured homes. The project cost is $1.4 million and is not too far from the current mobile home community at 245 Cheshire Road.



There was a discrepancy between the written application for 21 new homes and the site plan with 22 homes.



White reminded ZBA members that there was concern about a neighbor operating a tree service out of their property, who was blocking access with logs. The abutter and Eagle Allendale reportedly reached an agreement that would allow the person to store logs in an alternative location on the park property.



"Essentially, a 16,000 square foot area here on Eagle Allendale property would be allowed. We would allow the abutter to store logs, or any of this equipment, for his business on our property. And that, that was the basis for the grant of the special permit in November of 2022," White reported.
More than 600 people participated in this year's Buddy Walk at Craneville Elementary to celebrate and recognize people with Down syndrome.

Berkshire Buddy Walk Draws Hundreds to Dalton

DALTON, Mass.  There was a penny raffle to support the Berkshire Arc Down Syndrome Family Group in the fields at Craneville Elementary School, but the Buddy Walk of the Berkshires Saturday morning was not about raising money.

And it never has been.

For the 19th year, the families who lift up their loved ones with Down Syndrome and one another on a daily basis welcomed the support of the wider community.

More than 600 participants registered to participate in the walk from the school down to Main Street (Route 8) and back through the neighborhoods many of the participants call home.

"I've been involved with this event from the beginning and, in some way, I believe I've been to all but last year when I got the date wrong," state Sen. Paul Mark told the crowd before the walk began. "What a great event, what a great example of the amazing supportive community that Dalton and the Berkshires is.

"And it's just great year after year to see people gathering, offering support for families and letting everybody know that this is a welcoming community and a place you want to raise a family and a place you want to be."

The National Down Syndrome Society lists more than 100 Buddy Walks nationwide plus two international events, in Japan and Trinidad and Tobago.

The Buddy Walk of the Berkshires is one of three in the Bay State, along with walks in Westfield on Oct. 4 and Wakefield on Oct. 12.

The goal of the Buddy Walk is to educate about, advocate for and celebrate the Down syndrome community.

After carrying the event's banner through the streets of Dalton and hearing the well wishes of the motorists stopped for the walk and residents who waved from their porches, the families and allies returned to Craneville for lunch, face-painting, lawn games and that penny raffle, which featured scores of prizes donated by families and businesses throughout the county.

Planning already is under way for next fall's 20th edition of the Buddy Walk.
Adams Fire District Details Proposal for Appointed Officials

ADAMS, Mass.  A proposed changeup in the Adams Fire District's positions aims to increase efficiency and accountability.

On Wednesday, an information session was held regarding the Prudential Committee's recommendation to change the clerk/treasurer, chief engineer, and assistant engineers from elected to appointed positions.

They also discussed changes to the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant, which would support the hiring of two full-time firefighters for the next three years.

Early next year, district voters will be asked to decide if the three positions should continue to be elected positions or be appointed by the Prudential Committee. It would be a two-stage process that would have to pass at the district election and meeting.

The committee has been recommending appointment rather than election for several years. This year's district meeting approved the change to appointed but the measures narrowly failed in the election.

"These changes are aimed at enhancing efficiency, accountability, and expertise in the district," Chair Thomas Satko explained.

The state Department of Revenue recommends appointing key financial positions to ensure they are qualified, and fire chiefs find it hard to put training requirements on elected officials. Currently, district voters elect officials every three years, though candidates arent required to have specific experience or knowledge about municipal operations.

With this change, the administrative department would be reclassified from four positions to three: clerk/treasurer, assistant clerk/treasurer, and administrative assistant.

"And responsibilities of the bookkeeper would be absorbed over the three remaining positions to make checks and balances," Satko said.

"So duties will be shifted between positions, but the workload will still be the same.

This would not impact the budget, and compensation for each position would remain as voted at the FY26 annual meeting. Appointed officials would be selected based on expertise, require a medical exam and drug and CORI (criminal background) check, and report directly to the Prudential Committee.

If this passes, current officials will finish their terms and be replaced by a committee appointment based on qualifications and experience.

Satko cautioned that if they continue to elect officers, the district may face challenges in everyday operations.

The Fire Department has five fire engineers, three lieutenants, 19 members, and five apprentices. Chief John Pansecchi reported that the department is aging and that calls have increased, combined with the department's decreasing membership.

As of Sept. 22, there have been 312 calls in 2025.

He pointed to changes in fire service and professional qualifications, and fire code over the years, including a 240-hour certification program in Springfield that is difficult for Northern Berkshire volunteers to attend.

He said it was important to make these changes.

"Every job in this country has changed, the world has changed, and we're pretty much still operating in the same manner that we were, I would say in 1986 when I started," Pansecchi said.

If this district members reject the questions, and officers are re-elected, the proposed changes can't be revisited until 2029.

At the annual meeting in May, district voters did approve hiring two full-time firefighters through a SAFER grant with a 100 percent federal reimbursement.

"Since then, we found out that it's not going to be 100 percent reimbursable," Satko reported.

The federal share is now 75 percent in the first and second year, 25 percent for the district, and 35 percent in the third year, 65 percent for the district. This needs to be approved by voters at a special meeting on Oct. 22.

This would require $40,000 from the district in fiscal year 2026, which would need to come from free cash.

"Of course, this is if we received a SAFER grant, too," Satko added. "We've applied for it in the past and haven't received it. We're hoping this year that we get it."

SAFER Grants, distributed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, help fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations increase or maintain the number of trained, front-line firefighters available in their communities.

The Fire Department expects to know if it is awarded the grant by the end of September, and would have 180 days to hire the first firefighter.
BMC Earns Blue Distinction Center Designation for Quality in Knee and Hip Replacement Surgeries

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts has selected Berkshire Medical Center as a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement, part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program.

Blue Distinction Centers are nationally designated healthcare facilities shown to deliver improved patient safety and better health outcomes, based on objective measures that were developed by Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies with input from the medical community.

Knee and hip replacement procedures are among the fastest growing medical treatments in the U.S., according to studies published in the June 2014 Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Hospitals designated as Blue Distinction Centers for Knee and Hip Replacement demonstrate expertise in total knee and total hip replacement surgeries, resulting in fewer patient complications and hospital readmissions. Designated hospitals must also maintain national accreditation.

"Berkshire Medical Center, in partnership with our exceptional surgeons at Berkshire Orthopaedic Associates, is proud to be recognized by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts for meeting the rigorous selection criteria for knee and hip replacements set by the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program," said James Lederer, MD, Berkshire Health Systems Chief Medical Officer/Chief Quality Officer. "We are fortunate to have an outstanding orthopaedic team serving our community and dedicated to returning their hip and knee replacement patients to their active lifestyles."

Since 2006, the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program has helped patients find quality providers for their specialty care needs in the areas of bariatric surgery, cardiac care, complex and rare cancers, knee and hip replacements, maternity care, spine surgery, and transplants, while encouraging healthcare professionals to improve the care they deliver.

For more information about the program and for a complete listing of the designated facilities, visit www.bcbs.com/bluedistinction.
Ghost Tour 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 Saturday, Oct. 4.

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.
On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

South Korea welcomed more than 2,700 tourists from a Chinese cruise liner in Incheon on Monday, marking the launch of a visa-free entry scheme to revive its tourism industry and attract more visitors after years of Covid pandemic-related decline.

As part of the pilot programme due to run through until next June, groups of three or more tourists from mainland China will be able to stay without a visa for 15 days.

The scheme comes ahead of China's National Day holidays from 1-8 October as well as a run of South Korean holidays around the same time.

The first beneficiaries of the scheme arrived on the MS Dream cruise from Tianjin, with 2,189 passengers and 563 crew members on board to dock at the Incheon port, 30km west of Seoul, early on Monday.

The vessel will return to China after a one-day stop, completing a five-day voyage.

Tourists waved and took photos as photographers from local and international media gathered to capture the moment. Residents also arrived to welcome the tourists while tour operators guided dozens of buses lined up to ferry the visitors into the city.

File. A large crowd of tourists walks through Bukchon Hanok village in Seoul ( Reuters )

South Korean companies are seeking to benefit from the increased demand. Shilla Duty Free is conducting a Chinese cruise tour and food delivery app Baedal Minjok is introducing payment options in Alipay and WeChat Pay.

"The ship was packed maybe because the no-visa policy has just begun and the cruise line is celebrating its second anniversary," Zhewei, 67, who travelled with seven former schoolmates told Yonhap.

"I've visited Korea five or six times, but this is my first time coming by cruise, so I'm excited."

Another tourist, Xu Dawei, 38, said he decided to book the trip on the cruise after seeing an advertisement tied to the visa waiver. "This is my first time in Korea, and I hope we can make some good memories," Mr Xu, travelling with his wife and young daughter, said.

The programme, first announced in March, follows China's decision last November to offer visa exemptions to South Koreans for up to 30 days.

The last time South Korea offered mainland Chinese similar visa-free entry was from December 2017 to March 2018, coinciding with the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

The new administration of president Lee Jae Myung is hoping to further improve ties with China during an expected visit by Chinese president Xi Jinping in late October to an Asia-Pacific summit in South Korea.

Additional reporting by agencies.
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

Elon Musk's X will appeal an Indian court order allowing more than two million police officers nationwide to issue arbitrary takedown requests via a secretive online portal.

The social media company said on Monday that it was deeply concerned by the Karnataka High Court's ruling that quashed its challenge to New Delhi's content removal mechanism.

The platform, reportedly used by over 24 million people in India, said it would appeal the order "to defend free expression". The Sahyog enables officers to order content removal based solely on allegations of illegality, without judicial review or due process for the speakers, and threatens platforms with criminal liability for non-compliance," X said, referring to the online portal.

A Karnataka High Court judge last week ruled that the American companys challenge against the federal home ministrys Sahyog portal was "without merit".

While fellow tech giants Google, Amazon and Meta joined Sahyog after it was launched, X declined.

The companys lawsuit, filed in March, challenged the Narendra Modi governments interpretation of the Information Technology Act.

It alleged the government was using a parallel mechanism for removing online posts that bypassed the legal process outlined in the law.

The platform said Indian authorities misused this law to impose arbitrary censorship.

The social media company also argued on Monday that "this new regime has no basis in the law, circumvents Section 69A of the IT Act, violates Supreme Court rulings and infringes Indian citizens constitutional rights to freedom of speech and expression.

The mechanism using the home ministry portal contradicted a 2015 ruling by the Supreme Court which established that content could be blocked only via a proper judicial process defined under section 69A of the IT Act, it further said.

The government contended that another section of the law  79(3)(b)  mandated platforms to remove content when directed by a court or by an official notification within 36 hours. Social media companies could be held accountable for refusing to comply.

X challenged this interpretation, arguing in the lawsuit that this section didnt give power to the government to independently block content.

The tech platform had locked horns with the Indian government previously as well, equating its mechanisms for content removal with censorship.

The Modi government previously claimed its new system was intended to tackle a proliferation of unlawful content and ensured accountability online.

Mr Musk, a self-described free-speech absolutist, has clashed with authorities in many countries over compliance and content takedown demands, but the company's Indian lawsuit targeted the entire basis for tightened internet regulation in the world's most populous nation.

The Modi government has ramped up its efforts to police the internet since 2023, allowing many more officials to file takedown orders and submit them directly to platforms through the portal launched last October.
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

Vietnam was lashed by fierce winds and torrential rain on Monday as Typhoon Bualoi barrelled into the countrys central coast, killing at least eight people, forcing mass evacuations, shutting airports and leaving hundreds of thousands without power.

At least 17 people, mostly fishermen, were missing after huge waves hit two fishing boats off Quang Tri province. Another fishing boat lost contact during the storm, the government's disaster management agency said.

The storm had killed at least 20 people in the Philippines before lashing northern Vietnam with flash floods and landslides.

Bualoi, the second major cyclone to strike Asia in a week after Super Typhoon Ragasa, made landfall in Ha Tinh province in the early hours, bringing winds of up to 133kmph and waves as high as eight metres, the national weather agency said.

Forecasters warned that while the typhoon would weaken as it pushed inland over Ha Tinh and neighbouring Nghe An, the slow-moving system risked prolonging heavy rainfall across mountainous areas.

Authorities in Vietnam moved quickly to prepare. State media reported that the coastal city of Da Nang had relocated more than 210,000 people, while the neighbouring city of Hue evacuated 32,000 residents from low-lying zones.

Fishing boats were ordered back to shore across central and northern provinces, and the Civil Aviation Authority suspended operations at four airports, including Danang International.

By Monday, more than 347,000 families had lost power, local outlets said, as gusts ripped corrugated iron from rooftops and toppled concrete pillars.

"I stayed awake the whole night fearing the door would be pulled off by strong winds," Ho Van Quynh from Nghe An province told Reuters.

His neighbours said they spent the night trying to protect their homes as the power to their apartment building went out.

"I've witnessed many storms, and this is one of the strongest," said Nguyen Tuan Vinh, 45.

In Hue, streets were left submerged, a teenager was electrocuted during the downpour, and at least one person was reported missing after being swept away in floodwaters.

In Quang Tri province, one fishing boat sank and another ran aground while seeking shelter. Nine crew members were rescued and efforts were underway to reach two others still stranded at sea.

Photographs from the region showed people hauling fishing boats away from beaches and streets littered with broken trees as families waded through knee-deep water.

A woman removes a broken tree in the aftermath of Bualoi in Quang Tri, Vietnam ( AP )

Authorities warned that Bualoi could linger over central Vietnam for days, raising the likelihood of severe flooding.

The storm is likely to move slowly, bringing longer periods of wind and rain and raising risks of damage and landslides, Dr Hoang Phuc Lam of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting said.

Forecasts said there could be more downpours through 1 October.

The impact follows Bualois destructive passage through the Philippines late last week. At least 20 people were killed there, mostly from drownings and falling trees, officials said. The typhoon knocked out power in several towns and cities and forced 23,000 families into evacuation centres.

The back-to-back storms of Ragasa and Bualoi have underscored the vulnerability of coastal Asia to increasingly severe cyclones. Scientists warn that climate change is fuelling stronger, wetter storms by warming the oceans, which in turn drives more intense winds and rainfall.

In Vietnam, where typhoons regularly batter central provinces, authorities have stepped up disaster drills, but the scale of this weeks evacuations highlights the continuing risks to infrastructure and communities.

Bualoi has already compounded disruption across the region. In China, where Ragasa forced millions from their homes days earlier, supply chains are still recovering from factory shutdowns and shipping delays. Analysts say the latest typhoon will further strain food and fuel logistics in Southeast Asia.

By Monday afternoon, Bualois winds had eased to around 117kmph as the system tracked northwest, but forecasters stressed that the danger was far from over. The storms slow pace could prolong rainfall across northern Vietnam, with rivers already swollen and the ground saturated.

As the clean-up began in areas hit first, Vietnams government warned residents in flood-prone districts to remain on alert.

In Ha Tinh, where Bualoi first made landfall, families secured belongings in upper floors of their homes as water levels rose, while volunteers and soldiers worked to reinforce riverbanks and clear fallen debris.

The storms arrival marks one of the fiercest typhoon weeks in recent memory for Asia, leaving trails of destruction from the Philippines to Taiwan, southern China and now Vietnam.
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

Detectives have released further details after a woman was raped by gang of men in a churchyard.

The woman, in her 30s, was attacked outside St Marys Church in Banbury, Oxfordshire, in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Thames Valley Police have revealed one of the offenders is a white man, however, it has not been revealed how many men were involved in the assault.

A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: We only have a description that one of the men was white. We are working tirelessly to try to identify the offenders and will share more with the public as soon as we can, as we have done already.

Police have also described a female good Samaritan who tried to help the victim and stop the attack. Officers are hoping the woman will come forward to help identify the suspects.

The force is urging anyone who was in the town centre between midnight and 2.30am on Sunday to check CCTV, dashcam or mobile phone footage for anything that might help the investigation.

Detective Sergeant Mark Personius described the incident as a horrific crime and appealed directly to the woman who witnessed it.

He said:  At this stage we dont have a description of this Good Samaritan. However, if you believe you are the woman, please contact the police as you may have vital information that can help us piece together what happened.

The town centre would have been busy on a Saturday night into the early hours of a Sunday morning. Therefore, I would also appeal to anyone else who saw or heard anything in the area between about 12am and 2.30am this morning to come forward.

Please check any CCTV, dashcam or mobile phone footage you have from the area and if you have captured anything that you think may help us, please get in touch.

Anyone with information can contact the force by speaking to an officer at the scene, calling 101 or via a dedicated webpage for this investigation , where you can leave any footage from the area.

The investigation reference number is 43250495078.
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

Its a bright, clear midweek morning with hardly a cloud in the sky.

On the M5 motorway, motorists in cars, vans and lorries are immersed in the rolling Devon countryside that surrounds them as they make up the fast flow of traffic, while blissfully unaware of what hangs over them.

Not far away, perched 160ft above sea level on the remote edge of the Blackdown Hills, a specially trained police officer is monitoring passing vehicles, not with the naked eye, but with a 30,000 hi-tech drone.

open image in gallery PC Tim Brooks sits inside a police van monitoring footage being captured by a drone above the M5 in Devon ( Alex Ross/The Independent )

Piloted using a handheld remote control pad, big enough to make a gaming aficionado envious, PC Carl Thomas has positioned the four-propeller-powered drone 107 metres above the motorway, capturing footage of the traffic going north.

The camera is so good that the former firearms officer can read number plates from as far as 2km away.

We are the eye in the sky, says his colleague and fellow pilot, PC Tim Brooks, with a smile.

The pair are one of three drone teams within Devon and Cornwall Police, the first force in the country to set up a dedicated unit, and are called upon to assist with all kinds of incident: from missing persons to police chases, and even animal rescues.

But today, on the first Wednesday of autumn, they are teaming up with officers on the ground to tackle organised criminal gangs who have been targeting farms to steal equipment including machinery, tractors and quad bikes.

open image in gallery The drone takes off from a remote clearing not far from the M5 motorway ( Alex Ross/The Independent )

It is a serious issue in Devon and Cornwall, where the combined cost of claims from rural crime shot up by 60 per cent to 1.6m in 2024 from the year before, according to NFU Mutual data shared with The Independent.

Force intelligence suggests that some offenders are taking the stolen goods to ports to ship abroad, transporting them on motorways in open-top livestock lorries to avoid detection by roadside units.

Some make their way to Eastern Europe, where the sanctions from the Ukraine war have created a thriving black market in these machines.

While motorists drive along, they will have no idea were looking down on the M5 with a birds eye view, checking the tops of high-sided vehicles that are maybe carrying stolen plant machinery, says PC Brooks. When we pick up something below that looks suspicious, the ground units will find the vehicle and pull it over for further inspection.

open image in gallery The drone is piloted using a large remote control pad ( Alex Ross/The Independent )

The two police officers operate from an unmarked van, parked in a clearing, that is kitted up inside with three large screens, each one showing a different angle of view from the drone overhead.

Is that OK? PC Brooks asks the motorway police units, as the drone is positioned to view northbound traffic, with live footage shared for all officers to see.

Ok, good, lets go, the officer down below responds.

Devon and Cornwall Police proudly state that they have pioneered the use of drones in policing, having started using the technology in 2015. Their drone team even has a dedicated social media page on which it shares footage of its successes.

But its a tool that is required. Operating within a force that has to monitor vast areas of countryside, while faced with the same financial constraints as other police forces across the country, the drone teams part in policing is becoming ever important, particularly considering the fact that rural crime cost farms in the UK 44m last year, according to NFU Mutual.

Agricultural vehicle theft made up 7m of the loss, including 2.7m worth of quad bikes and all-terrain vehicles and 1.5m worth of tractors.

open image in gallery The drones can provide vehicle number plates from as far as 2km away ( Alex Ross/The Independent )

And with four dedicated officers and a sergeant on the forces rural affairs team, bosses say the use of drones is key to stopping the movement of the stolen items out of the county, and even the country.

Unfortunately we are are seeing organised criminal gangs come into our force area, and they are targeting isolated geographic locations, stealing portable assets such as trailers, quad bikes and even tractors, says PC Clarke Orchard, leader of the rural affairs team, who is stationed at the weighbridge near Tiverton during the operation.

Invariably [the stolen goods] will be shipped out to Eastern Europe. Weve got the unfortunate invasion of Ukraine, and, with the sanctions imposed over there, theres an obvious demand for machinery and I would suggest that theft may continue to rise.

The assets are very expensive. This theft is low risk, high reward for organised criminal gangs sourcing this equipment. Its being discreetly hidden in things like containers, so its difficult for us to see. Thats why days like this with the drones team are so important.

open image in gallery At a weighbridge facility near Tiverton, officers coordinating with the drone team pull vehicles over for checks ( Alex Ross/The Independent )

At the weighbridge, PC Orchard has assembled a team of police officers, as well as officials from the local councils trading standards department and the Environment Agency, for the days action, named Operation Ragwort.

As the morning progresses, a 4x4 towing a trailer carrying livestock is pulled in. Officers make sure that the trailer is not stolen, while the welfare of the sheep is checked along with their passports.

And as with any crime operation, unrelated offences are picked up.

A rental van carrying computer units bought from schools comes up above the 3.5 tonne limit for driving on the motorway, while at a nearby roadside check on the A373, a motorist is found to be driving in a car without an MOT.

Asked if his team is winning the battle against rural crime, PC Orchard says: Id like to think were trying our best, as proven by today.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

The war in Ukraine is driving a wave of organised crime gang operations in rural parts of Britain, with stolen farm machinery being sent to eastern Europe for lucrative rewards, a police officer has warned.

Following Russias invasion of Ukraine three years ago, police say a black market has opened up for equipment in the region, which has seen production plummet and sanctions imposed on Moscow.

Agricultural machinery producers John Deere and Lely also stopped sending goods to Russia shortly after the war began.

The shortage in supplies has led some gangs of criminals to target rural regions of the UK, such as Devon and Cornwall, which saw the cost of rural crime rise last year.

We are seeing organised criminal gangs come into our force area and they are targeting isolated geographic locations, stealing portable assets such as trailers, quad bikes and even tractors, said PC Clarke Orchard, the head of Devon and Cornwall Polices rural affairs team.

Invariably that [stolen goods] will be shipped out to eastern Europe. Weve got the unfortunate invasion of Ukraine and, with the sanctions imposed over there, theres an obvious demand for machinery and I would suggest that theft may continue to rise.

open image in gallery PC Clarke Orchard says the war in Ukraine is a factor in the number of farm thefts in Devon and Cornwall ( Alex Ross/The Independent )

Rural crime cost farmers 44.1m last year, according to figures published by NFU Mutual.

And although the cost of claims for agricultural vehicle theft fell by more than a third to 7m last year, the cost of tractor thefts rose 17 per cent to 1.5m. The cost of trailer thefts also increased, up 15 per cent to 1.3m.

Known as portable assets, PC Orchard said the theft of equipment such as quad bikes from isolated farms was a low-risk offence for the gangs. The goods, he said, could be driven to ports while hidden in shipping containers.

It [thefts] has such lucrative rewards that its palatable to organise criminal gangs, said the police officer, who last week ran a rural crime operation with partnering agencies that partly focused on stolen machinery being trafficked up motorways.

But its not just in Devon and Cornwall where the link is being made between thefts and the war in Ukraine.

open image in gallery Farmers in Ukraine face a severe shortage of machinery caused by the invasion by Russia ( AP )

In February, Alex Brewer, Lib Dem MP for North East Hampshire, said day in, day out farmers in his rural constituency were facing theft, fly-tipping and hare coursing on their land.

She claimed there were 22 active organised crime gangs across the country targeting rural areas that could take stolen goods across international borders.

Farming equipment is frequently traced to eastern Europe and Africa, he told the debate on rural crime.

Hannah Binns, NFU Mutuals rural affairs specialist, said progress had been made in tackling rural crime thanks to the close working of police, manufacturers, farmers and insurers in a National Rural Crime Unit.

But she said: Rural crime goes beyond simply disrupting those who feed our nation, with farmers and their families living in fear of being targeted in their home and workspace.

This is all the more concerning with the increasingly organised crime hitting the countryside in recent years, with criminal gangs scouting out the countryside and often hitting communities over a short period.

open image in gallery Areas such as Devon and Cornwall saw the cost of rural crime rise last year ( PA )

Earlier this year, the Home Office announced a crackdown on rural crime, with a specialist team called the National Rural Crime Unit given a share of 800,000 to target crime groups going after farm equipment.

A spokesperson told The Independent: We are also strengthening the law to tackle the theft and resale of high-value agricultural equipment, and introducing new powers to allow police to enter and search premises where stolen items have been electronically tracked by GPS.

In Devon and Cornwall, the police and crime commissioner, Alison Hernandez, said she was aware of the concern over the link made between farm thefts and the war in Ukraine.

In response, officers in her region were using SmartWater on equipment, which is recognised internationally and means stolen machinery can be recovered and returned.

I can reassure people that the National Crime Agency is working with regional organised crime units and local police forces to tackle the problem of farm machinery theft, she said.
Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

The aftermath of Hurricane Humberto could bring strong rains and winds to Britain this week, as it crosses over the Atlantic and heads closer to the UK.

The storm, which strengthened into a category 4 hurricane over the weekend, has mostly bypassed the US and is currently over the southwest Atlantic. The Met Office said it was monitoring it closely.

The weather agency has also issued a yellow weather warning for Scotland from Wednesday evening to Friday morning, as it forecasts persistent, heavy rain.

open image in gallery Watery scenes in Oban, Scotland, last month after the arrival of Storm Floris ( Reuters )

A separate weather warning was in place this morning as heavy fog covered parts of the East and South East of England. The yellow warning was issued on Monday morning after fog fell on Sunday night.

This weeks weather is shaped by a classic northwest-southeast split. While high pressure keeps the South East settled with light winds and chilly nights, the North West is seeing a series of frontal systems bringing heavy rain and strong winds, the Met Office said.

Hurricane Humberto developed into a category 5 hurricane on Saturday before easing back down to category 4 on Sunday. Tropical Storm Imelda also formed in the Atlantic Ocean on Sunday, heading northward over the Bahamas, causing tropical storm conditions. It is expected to bring dangerous surf on the southeast coast of the US in the coming days.

Local weather reports say both weather events could eventually be a threat to Bermuda as they continue to track towards the islands.

open image in gallery The Met Office is watching Hurricane Humberto closely as it travels across the Atlantic ( NOAA )

The Met Office added: The situation becomes more complex later in the week as tropical cyclones Humberto and Imelda currently over the southwest Atlantic influence our weather, increasing the risk of a deep low developing near the UK.

If this materialises, we could see some very strong winds as well as further heavy rainfall Friday into Saturday, but at this time the development and track of this system remains uncertain. Were monitoring this closely.

In Scotland, rainfall is expected to be persistent across areas of Central, Tayside & Fife, Highlands & Eilean Siar, and Strathclyde, with strong spells of wind from Thursday night.

open image in gallery A yellow weather warning is in place for several parts of Scotland ( The Met Office )

The Met Office said the heaviest rain will be over the hills and mountains, with as much as 200-250mm of rain likely to build up over a few mountains by early Friday. The warning is in place from 5pm Wednesday to 6am Friday.

Some communities may be cut off by flooded roads, and possible power cuts, and flooding and damage to homes and businesses could occur. The Met Office warned that there may be fast-flowing and deep floodwater, which poses a danger to life.

Check if your property could be at risk of flooding. If so, consider preparing a flood plan and an emergency flood kit, the service said.

Be prepared for weather warnings to change quickly: when a weather warning is issued, the Met Office recommends staying up to date with the weather forecast in your area.

open image in gallery A yellow weather warning was in place this morning as fog covered parts of the East and South East ( PA Wire )

This mornings dense fog brought the visibility down to 50 metres in some areas across East Anglia.

The Met Office warned of traffic delays and slower travel times in the areas affected by the fog, which included Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Thurrock, East Sussex, Greater London, Kent, Medway, Surrey, and West Sussex.

Here is the weather forecast in the UK for the coming week, according to the Met Office.

Today

Fog in the South East will gradually clear this morning. A fine day follows with plenty of sunshine, although hazy at times. Cloudier in the North West with outbreaks of rain in western Scotland and brisk winds.

Tonight

Staying cloudy and windy in Northern Ireland and western Scotland with further patchy rain and drizzle. Dry in the South with clear spells. Turning chilly with a few fog patches.

Tuesday

Dry for many with sunny spells. However, cloudier skies will persist across the North West with drizzly outbreaks and brisk winds. Cloud also thickening in the far west of England and Wales.

Outlook for Wednesday to Friday

Rain will turn heavy across the North West through midweek with strong winds, especially on Friday. Staying drier in the South but increasingly cloudy. Temperatures around average.
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 Tui flight from Cardiff Airport to Cyprus declared an emergency and was forced to divert to Birmingham following a bird strike shortly after take-off.

The Boeing 737, flight number TOM 6754 , was bound for Paphos when the incident occurred at 4.30pm on Sunday.

Birmingham Airport was forced to suspend its operations while emergency services met the aircraft upon its arrival.

The jets pilots circled Swansea Bay at approximately 3,000 feet (900m) before climbing up to 12,000 feet (3600m) and travelling towards the West Midlands to land.

Passengers and crew were safely disembarked after the aircraft burned fuel in a series of orbits before landing at 5.30pm.

The cause is reported to be engine failure, according to the BBC.

open image in gallery The Boeing 737 bound for Cyprus was forced to divert to Birmingham ( Getty Images )

A spokesperson for Cardiff Airport told The Independent: "We are aware of an incident involving flight TOM6754 from Cardiff to Paphos.

The safety of our passengers is our number one priority. The aircraft diverted to Birmingham Airport (BHX) and landed safely at approximately 5.30pm.

A Birmingham Airport spokesperson said: Birmingham Airport temporarily suspended operations at 5.12pm for approximately 30 minutes to accept a TUI inbound divert.

In line with normal procedures the airports Fire Service met the aircraft on arrival. The aircraft landed safely and taxied to the apron.

The Independent has contacted Tui for comment.

open image in gallery Flight circled before landing where it was met by emergency services ( FlightRadar24 )

Last month, Birmingham Airport was forced to close for 41 minutes causing delays and travel disruption with all flights suspended after an aircraft incident.

The incident is believed to have been caused by a light aircraft whose landing gear would not deploy as it tried to travel to Belfast around 1pm on Wednesday.

The Midlands airport is the UKs seventh busiest and registered a 12 per cent increase in passenger numbers in 2024 to reach 12.85 million. Experts expected a busy summer for the West Midlands hub, as easyJet joins the growing number of airlines to set up base at Birmingham.

One person suffered minor injuries after the small aircraft made an emergency landing at Birmingham Airport, according to West Midlands Police.
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

Britain might already be at war with Russia, a former MI5 chief has warned, pointing to the rising number of cyber attacks as well as sabotage and covert operations on UK soil.

Eliza Manningham-Buller, who was head of the security service between 2002 and 2007, said Moscow could be waging a different kind of conflict against the West, echoing comments from foreign policy expert Fiona Hill.

The warning comes as concern over hybrid warfare tactics  a combination of cyber war operations, disinformation and targeted violence  grows in Westminster.

Baroness Manningham-Buller told the Lord Speakers Corner podcast: Fiona Hill may be right in saying were already at war with Russia. Its a different sort of war, but the hostility, the cyber attacks, the physical attacks, intelligence work is extensive.

The former security service chief, who worked in MI5 for more than three decades, recalled meeting Russian president Vladimir Putin in 2005 at a time when the UK was attempting to bring Moscow into the fold of international cooperation.

open image in gallery A fire last year at an East London warehouse storing supplies for Ukraine was ordered by the Kremlin-linked Wagner group ( London Fire Brigade )

Speaking with Lord McFall of Alcluith, the lord speaker, she said: We all hoped that the past history of Russia wouldnt prevail, and that at the end of the Soviet Union, we would have a potential partner. And that was one of the reasons why Putin was with us for the G8 [summit] in 2005. I met him when he came back to London.

But actually, we were wrong in that, because Russia is extremely hostile to the West ... I didnt anticipate that within a year hed be ordering the murder on London streets of [Alexander] Litvinenko.

open image in gallery Eliza Manningham-Buller was head of the security service between 2002 and 2007 ( Reuters )

In 2006, Russian defector Alexander Litvinenko, a former agent for the KGB and its post-Soviet successor agency, the FSB, became violently ill in London after drinking tea laced with radioactive polonium-210. He died three weeks later.

A British inquiry found that Russian agents had killed Litvinenko, probably with Putins approval, but the Kremlin denied any involvement.

Baroness Manningham-Buller said Moscows actions since it launched its war against Ukraine in 2022 have highlighted how the Kremlin had already committed to a period of prolonged hostility against the West, citing examples of sabotage, intelligence collection, attacking people in Britain.

open image in gallery Putin was welcomed to London when Britain was trying to foster ties with Moscow ( PA )

She also described Ms Hill, who is a biographer of the Russian president, co-author of Sir Keir Starmers 2025 strategic defence review and a former adviser to US president Donald Trump, as someone who probably knows more about Putin than anybody else.

Speaking to The Guardian in the summer, Ms Hill warned that the UK is already at war with Russia. Were in pretty big trouble, she said, describing Britains geopolitical situation as stuck between the rock of Putins Russia and the hard place of Mr Trumps increasingly unreliable US.
Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

The public have been banned from entering a 150-acre no-go zone around the new home of the Prince and Princess of Wales - to the annoyance of one dog walker, who labelled the move a kick in the teeth.

The measures mean anyone caught within the area around the eight-bedroom Forest Lodge would face arrest for committing criminal trespass.

The 2.3-mile long boundary within the 4,800-acre Windsor Great Park has been agreed with Thames Valley Police and the Royal Household, and is now written in legislation signed off by Home Office minister Dan Jarvis.

Over the weekend, fencing around the 2.3-mile perimeter exclusion zone was reportedly being put up, while a car park and gate accessed via Cranbourne Gate, near Forest Lodge, was closed for good.

Other access points shut reportedly include Sandpit Gate, Woodend Gate and the South Forest.

open image in gallery William and Kate are moving with their family to Forest Lodge in the Great Windsor Park this year ( Alan Hunt/CC BY-SA 2.0 )

The retraction of public access, which came into place on Sunday, comes ahead of William and Kate, both aged 43, moving into their new forever home, with children George, 12, Charlotte, 10, and Louis, seven.

As reported earlier this month, the family is leaving their four-bedroom Adelaide Cottage, also in Windsor, in a bid for a fresh start within the Grade II-listed lodge, nestled in one corner of Windsor Great Park, near the villages of Winkside and Woodside.

However, there has been some unhappiness from users of the Crown-owned Great Windsor Park over the creation of a no-go zone around the new royal residence.

open image in gallery William and Kate hope to make a fresh start in their new home

A woman, from nearby Winkfield, told The Sun: Many of us have been walking our dogs here for 20 years so to be told we cant any more is a kick in the teeth.

People had previously been able to pay 110 a year to use the now closed-off car park and gate to access the park.

We pay annually towards the upkeep of a park but we are no longer going to be allowed to use part of it, the woman added. Now Ill need to get in my car to drive further afield to take my dog for a walk.

Others, however, have spoken of their understanding of the need for security for the family.

open image in gallery The royals new home is close to Eton and Ascot, and sits within the 4,800-acre Great Windsor Park ( The Independent )

Councillor Lynne Jones, who is an independent representing the Old Windsor Residents Association on Windsor and Maidenhead council, told The Independent the area impacted was only a very small part of Great Windsor Park.

The park is private land and we are fortunate the public is allowed access to it, she said. Its wonderfully kept and a real asset for people living in a wide geographic area around.

This [no-go zone] may mean people coming to the park have to use a different way in. Remember, the park is part of the Crown estate and they [the Royal family] will utilise as they can, were lucky we have access to it.

open image in gallery The exclusion zone covers around 150 acres ( Legislation.gov.uk )

The designated exclusion zone around Forest Lodge was set up under section 128 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005.

The Act reads: By designating the Forest Lodge site, the legislation makes it a criminal offence for a person to enter this site as a trespasser. This provides the police with powers of arrest for trespassers to the site where no other apparent offence has been committed, acting as a deterrent for incursions.

The legislation, which did not require a public consultation, means anyone caught trespassing can be dealt with under a criminal offence, as opposed to a civil matter. Clear signage for the public would be put up, it continued.

The Act assessed that there would be no, or no significant impact on businesses, charities or voluntary bodies. Members of the park who use the closed-off car park have been sent a letter, allowing them to cancel their membership, The Times reported.

In August, a Kensington Palace spokesperson said: The Wales family will move house later this year. The Palace has today been contacted for comment on the restricted area.
Sign up to our free Brexit newsletter for our analysis of the continuing impact of Brexit on the UK Sign up to our free newsletter for the latest analysis on Brexit's impact Sign up to our free newsletter for the latest analysis on Brexit's impact Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

Sir Keir Starmer has vowed Labour will never surrender Britain to Reform UK as he came out fighting to defend his governments record and attack Nigel Farages fake patriotism.

In an impassioned 54-minute speech at the Labour conference in Liverpool on Tuesday the prime minister pledged to defend British flags from the far right after a summer in which they became the focus of culture wars.

And he outlined his vision for the country based on a true patriotic agenda that rejects Nigel Farages claim that Britain is broken.

open image in gallery Keir Starmer said Nigel Farage doesnt believe in Britain ( PA )

The speech was also marked with some important developments, including:

A move to drop Tony Blairs target of 50 per cent of school leavers going to university

A warning to Labour members that he will be willing to make tough choices to deal with immigration and the economy

Plans for an online hospital for England, offering patients consultations with specialist doctors from their homes to cut waiting lists

The prime minister backing Donald Trumps plan for peace in Gaza

Sir Keir went into the conference with his party trailing Reform in the polls ahead of crunch elections in Scotland, Wales and English counties next year, and with many delegates and Labour MPs discussing whether he was the right leader.

However, Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor who arrived vaunting his prospects as a potential leadership replacement, left the conference minutes before Sir Keir spoke.

But with an enthused audience in the conference hall, the main focus of the prime ministers attack was the Reform UK leader, with Sir Keir claiming Mr Farage doesn't like Britain.

He insisted that Labour is the patriotic party and used his address to set out his vision for a land of dignity and respect.

He warned that the politics of Mr Farage and Reform, which he said would threaten the livelihoods of thousands of legal migrants, was racist and said anyone who argues that people who have lived here for generations should now be deported is an enemy of national renewal.

He said the politics of grievance  a term he has used repeatedly to attack Mr Farage  was the biggest threat we face because it attacks who we are.

Taking on the claim that the hard right is the only patriotic party, Sir Keir fumed: When was the last time you heard Nigel Farage say anything positive about Britains future?

He cant. He doesnt like Britain, doesnt believe in Britain, wants you to doubt it as much as he does.

And so he resorts to grievance. They all do it. They want to turn this country, this proud, self-reliant country, into a competition of victims.

open image in gallery Reform UK leader Nigel Farage reacts to Keir Starmers speech ( PA )

Urging people to fly their nations flags, he said he would fight with every breath I have for the tolerant, decent, respectful Britain I know.

But he cautioned that if those same flags are painted alongside graffiti telling a Chinese takeaway owner to go home, thats not pride  thats racism.

The prime minister acknowledged that people needed to feel change in their lives and, in a particularly emotional part of the speech, listed the achievements in 15 months of government  including improvements on workers rights, renters reform, extra money for the NHS, and coveted trade deals  to loud cheers.

He acknowledged deep-rooted problems in British society, tracing them back through Brexit to the financial crisis of 2008 and said a new model of economic growth, spread around the country and lifting living standards, was needed, as he promised to boost growth and protect jobs.

Just hours before Sir Keirs speech, official figures showed the UK economy grew by just 0.3 per cent between April and June, marking a steep fall from 0.7 per cent in the first three months of the year.

Sir Keir said achieving growth was the defining mission of his government, adding: Growth is the pound in your pocket, it is more money for trips, meals out, the little things that bring joy to our lives, the peace of mind that comes from economic security.

But it is also the antidote to division  thats the most important aspect of national renewal.

open image in gallery Andy Burnham left the Labour Party conference early ( PA )

While many Labour MPs who have been critics were absent, those present gushed about the prime ministers speech.

Labour MP Siobhain McDonagh told The Independent: When you are prime minister, you always have critics, that goes with the job, but he has addressed the issue of what hes for and what his government is for. Now hes just got to get on and do it, hasnt he?

Labour MP Luke Akehurst said: I think the tone of the inclusive patriotism versus Farage was really important. And Labour member Bill Frost, from Birkenhead, said: Its the best conference piece Ive ever seen in my life. It was inspired.

But former shadow chancellor John McDonnell said the speech was full-blown rhetorical flourish but extremely policy light, exemplified by denunciation of child poverty but sadly no announcement on scrapping the two-child limit.

Responding to the attack on him, Mr Farage claimed Sir Keir is unfit to be the prime minister of our country.

Meanwhile, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said: The prime minister could have used his speech to own up to the mistakes hes made on the economy, admit the country was living beyond its means, and set out a plan to avoid further punishing tax hikes this autumn, but he did not.
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

Labour is taking the fight to Trumpian critics of diversity and equality, with the tech secretary vowing to smash the glass ceilings holding women and people of colour in the tech industry back.

With Reform UK threatening to sack diversity officers in councils across the country, Liz Kendall is taking the fight to Nigel Farage and ramping up the governments efforts to boost representation.

On current trends, it would take 283 years for women to make up an equal share of the tech workforce, according to the BCS Chartered Institute for IT.

Meanwhile 92 per cent of start-up investment from wealthy individuals went to all-white teams, according to the British Business Bank Investing in Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurs.

open image in gallery Liz Kendall is taking the fight to Reform and backing a diversity scheme for women in tech ( PA )

The government believes the British economy would receive a 250bn boost if women started and scaled companies at the same rate as men.

Ms Kendall on Monday will say a more inclusive economy is better for people and better for growth.

We will tear down the barriers to success so more women, more people of colour and more people from working-class backgrounds can bring their talent and ambition to this exciting sector, she will tell Labours conference in Liverpool.

The intervention is a direct rebuke to the politics of Mr Farage and Reform, who have railed against the equality agenda and vowed to scrap government funding for diversity schemes.

Lincolnshires Reform mayor Dame Andrea Jenkyns was humiliated when she vowed to sack all of the authoritys diversity officers before it emerged the council does not employ any.

As part of Reforms war on woke, it has vowed a Trump-style Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) to audit government spending and crack down on waste, including diversity schemes.

open image in gallery Nigel Farage has vowed to scrap diversity spending ( PA Wire )

Ms Kendall will also promise a Womens Tech Taskforce, with industry experts to support female employees in tech.

Britains future shouldnt just be shaped by the Tech Bros in Silicon Valley but our Tech Sisters here in the UK, she will say.

The panel will include BT Group chief executive Allison Kirkby and Stemettes boss Anne-Marie Imafidon.

The partys decision to directly back a diversity initiative comes as Labour increasingly seeks to take the fight to Mr Farages insurgent party, which has been comfortably leading in the polls since April.

Sir Keir Starmer on Sunday attacked Mr Farages recently announced immigration plan as racist and said the battle between Labour and Reform is a fight about who we are as a country, it goes to the soul of our future.

Supporting Ms Kendalls plan, Ms Kirkby said: Talent is everywhere, but opportunity isnt  and initiatives like this matter, for all of us.

And Ms Imafidon added: Having powerful conversations at one of the highest levels of government means we can finally tackle the structural barriers that still prevent talented people from thriving in tech.
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

Labour turned its fire on Reform on the first day of its annual conference  branding the party's policies racist and warning Nigel Farage as prime minister would create a cultural wasteland in Britain.

Sir Keir Starmer accused Mr Farage of peddling an immoral policy after the Reform UK leader pledged to scrap settled status for all non-EU migrants, a move which would threaten with deportation those who have been granted indefinite leave to remain.

In an explosive interview with the BBC as the Labour event got underway in Liverpool, the prime minister  whose party trails Reform in the polls  said the policy to abolish indefinite leave to remain needs to be called out for what it is, adding: I do think that it is a racist policy. I do think it is immoral.

Culture secretary Lisa Nandy doubled down on Sir Keirs remarks, warning Reform is trying to redefine what it means to be British in a narrow way and would destroy Britains cultural landscape.

In an exclusive interview with The Independent, she claimed Mr Farages assaults on so-called woke culture, plans to use an Elon Musk-style Doge to slash spending, and narrow, nationalistic view of what it means to be British would threaten arts and culture up and down the country.

open image in gallery Culture, media and sport secretary Lisa Nandy spoke exclusively to The Independent ( PA )

Agreeing with Sir Keirs description of the policy, she raised the example of her father, the Indian academic Dipak Nandy, who came to the UK as an immigrant and helped a Labour government draft the Race Relations Act.

The strongly worded interventions came as Labour started a four-day campaign to respond to the threat of a Reform government with a series of announcements, designed to show the party is getting tough on major issues such as immigration, and to show that an embattled Sir Keir still has a plan.

Home secretary Shabana Mahmood is set to unveil a crackdown on the right of migrants who are waiting for the permanent right to remain to claim benefits, while the technology secretary Liz Kendall wants to bring better diversity of race and gender into the tech sector.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves will announce a jobs guarantee for young people, in a bid to drive down unemployment.

Speaking to The Independent at the Liverpool Philharmonic close to the conference, Ms Nandy warned the cultural landscape of the UK would be at risk if Mr Farage won power.

She said: I think that Reform has the potential to turn this country into a cultural wasteland, building on the legacy of the Tories, where they erase culture and creativity from classrooms and communities.

open image in gallery Starmer has sounded the alarm on Reform ( PA )

What you see in Reform is a group of people who are attacking and running down some of the things in this country that we are best at, that we're brilliant at, that we're proud of, and that helps to shape and define what it means to be British.

Reform sees the BBC, but also arts, culture, creativity, museums, galleries ... all of these things have become weapons in their culture war.

She said the party was trying to break apart Britain. These are the shared spaces where we come together as a nation and we celebrate who we are in all of our complexity and diversity.

They're trying to turn these things into weapons that break us apart.

Ms Nandy has insisted culture is not an add-on for the UK but essential for the things that matter  social wellbeing, education, health and attracting investment.

open image in gallery Nigel Farage will turn the UK into a cultural wasteland, Nandy warned ( PA )

Sir Keir has ramped up his attacks on Reform in recent days. Speaking on the BBCs Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, he said Mr Farages proposals would rip this country apart.

"It is one thing to say we're going to remove illegal migrants, people who have no right to be here. I'm up for that, he said. It is a completely different thing to say we are going to reach into people who are lawfully here and start removing them. They are our neighbours. They're people who work in our economy. They are part of who we are. It will rip this country apart."

He also appealed for unity, saying the UK has not faced "a proposition like Reform before" and that people needed to fight for "the soul of this country".

In what may be seen as a rebuke to Andy Burnham  the Greater Manchester mayor who is believed to be Sir Keirs most likely challenger for Labour leader  the PM added: "There is a fight that we're all in together, every single member of our party and our movement, actually everyone who cares about what this country is, whether they vote Labour or otherwise.

"It's the fight of our lives for who we are as a country, and we need to be in that fight, united, not navel-gazing."

Ms Nandy, who is close to Mr Burnham and represents Wigan, also insisted the party needs to be united to take on the fight with Reform and must stick with Keir.

She was his rival in the leadership contest in 2020, but noted we were competitors in a contest, not opponents.

She said her advice to the party was to stick to the path because nothing is easy, whether it was equal pay, the minimum wage, race relations or other big reforms Labour has achieved in its history.

But with ID cards threatening to split the party and more than 1.5 million people signing a petition against the plan, she insisted it is one of the solutions the party needs to offer that will win Reform-inclined voters over.

She described going to talk to the audience after being on the panel of the BBCs Question Time on Thursday night.

One of the Reform voters from the last general election said to me, although I didn't agree with everything that you were saying, I really felt you were trying to solve the problems, unlike other people on that panel.

That's why we're announcing things like digital ID, the returns agreement with France, the process speeding up of the processing of asylum claims. The reason that we're doing all of these things, it's not just to show people that we're serious about dealing with these things, but actually to start making a difference to them.

In her speech on Monday, Ms Nandy will announce a rollout of cultural activity in the UK, including Every Child Can, a scheme based on work the Liverpool Philharmonic has done for 16 years that brings the opportunity to learn musical instruments to schools. There will be a new Town of Culture competition and 25m for the northwest region to invest in culture.

Ms Nandy, who was herself inspired as a child by having the world-famous Halle orchestra nearby, described meeting one young person who had come through the philharmonic scheme who said learning an instrument had given him freedom.

She said: I want every child to have those opportunities, not just a privileged few.
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

Social media giants will be ordered to crack down on cyberflashing on their platforms or face hefty fines.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall will use her speech to the Labour Party conference to order firms to detect and remove unsolicited explicit images being sent online.

Firms that fail to comply could be fined up to 10% of their qualifying global revenue and potentially see their services blocked in the UK.

Ms Kendall will tell activists in Liverpool that cyberflashing will be made a priority offence under the Online Safety Act, placing extra duties on firms to protect users from seeing unsolicited nude images or videos.

She will say: Keeping children safe online is non-negotiable.

That is why my first act as Secretary of State was to force social media companies to find and remove content that promotes suicide and self-harm.

And today I can announce I will go further. Making cyberflashing a priority offence.

So platforms will be required  by law  to detect and remove this material. Because what is illegal offline, must be illegal online.

Cyberflashing became a criminal offence in England and Wales in January 2024.

Perpetrators can face up to two years in prison.

The scale of the problem was illustrated by a YouGov study suggesting a third (32%) of girls aged 12-18 in England received unsolicited pictures of male genitals, with one in 20 (5%) of the same age affected.
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

Shabana Mahmood is set to announce a major crackdown on migration through a radical overhaul of the main route for immigrants gaining British citizenship in the UK.

Under tougher measures set to be unveiled by the home secretary, migrants who want to remain in the UK will have to learn English to a high standard, have a clean criminal record and volunteer in their community to be eligible for indefinite leave to remain. They will also have to be working, paying national insurance and not be claiming benefits under the proposed changes.

Ms Mahmood will lay out the plans while billing herself as a tough home secretary and admitting that some Labour members wont always like what I do.

But speaking on the second day of Labours annual party conference in Liverpool, she will also say she is fighting for a vision of this country that is distinctly our own.

Labours latest announcement comes just days after Nigel Farage announced plans to abolish indefinite leave to remain, meaning tens of thousands of people who have legally settled in Britain could be at risk of deportation  a policy Sir Keir Starmer branded both racist and immoral on Sunday morning.

As Reform surges in the polls  with the party currently on track to win the most parliamentary seats if an election were held  the government is attempting to persuade voters it can be trusted on migration.

But critics have rounded on Labours latest plans, with the Refugee Council accusing the government of punishing refugees for needing help.

Meanwhile, Minnie Rahman, CEO of refugee charity Praxis, accused the government of pursuing proposals that would create a two-tier society on the very same day the PM finally distances himself from Reform UKs policies.

It came after the prime minister warned that Mr Farages plan to scrap indefinite leave to remain would rip this country apart.

open image in gallery A tough home secretary: Shabana Mahmood is to announce a major crackdown on migration ( PA )

We are a proud, tolerant country... And we are a diverse country where people have come here for centuries to this country to make up who we are, he told the BBCs Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg.

It is one thing to say were going to remove illegal migrants, people who have no right to be here. Im up for that. It is a completely different thing to say we are going to reach in to people who are lawfully here and start removing them.

They are our neighbours. Theyre people who work in our economy. They are part of who we are. It will rip this country apart.

He added: I do think that is a racist policy. I do think its immoral, it needs to be called out for what it is.

Labour argued there is a dividing line between the governments proposals and Reform UKs pledge to scrap settled status for all non-EU migrants.

But Enver Solomon, CEO at the Refugee Council, said: Far from encouraging integration and contribution, these conditions risk erecting more barriers for refugees.

We know that refugees want to feel part of, and give back to, the country that has provided them with safety. So many refugees have received their indefinite leave to remain and built lives as doctors, entrepreneurs and other professionals.

But that might not have been possible without a safety net. It is much harder for a refugee to find their feet straight away without relying on benefits at all  especially if they have been given less than 30 days to find somewhere to live. Almost all people seeking asylum are not allowed to work and are forced to rely on state support.

open image in gallery Keir Starmer is under pressure to stem Reforms popularity while also tackling the migrant crisis ( PA Wire )

He added: By punishing refugees for needing help, we are saying to them that no matter how hard you work in the future, youll never have a safe, permanent home in Britain. This is the opposite of encouraging integration and contribution.

Meanwhile, Ms Rahman said: On the very same day the PM finally distances himself from Reform UKs policies, his own home secretary announces proposals that would create a two-tier society.

This would prevent millions of people who have lived and worked in the UK for years from ever having equal rights to British people.

She also accused the home secretary of having bypassed the voluntary sector entirely with their proposals that migrants would need to be doing some volunteer work to prove they are contributing to society.

Volunteering is  by definition  a choice. Its deeply concerning that the new home secretary seems not to grasp that basic principle, she said.

Charitable leaders, like myself, will not participate in a scheme that would create discrimination and division in our communities.

A consultation on the changes will be launched later this year. It is understood that the Home Office has not yet decided what the penalty for having previously claimed benefits would be as it is expected to be subject to consultation, but it is understood that it could be an outright disqualification or a delay beyond the current threshold to qualify.

open image in gallery Migrants sit on board a smugglers boat off the coast of Gravelines, France, in an attempt to cross the English Channel ( AFP/Getty )

In its white paper published in May, the government also pledged to increase the amount of time migrants have to wait before they can apply for indefinite leave to remain in the UK to 10 years.

Currently, most migrants who come to Britain on time-limited work visas can make an application for indefinite leave to remain after five years.

Indefinite leave to remain is the status which grants legal migrants the ability to settle in the UK without the need to renew a visa every few years.

In her speech, Ms Mahmood is also expected to express her fears that patriotism, a force for good, is turning into something smaller, something more like ethno-nationalism.

She will argue that her toughness on secure borders, fair migration and safe streets are essential components of an open, generous, tolerant country.

Ms Mahmood will speak about her parents experience of arriving in the UK, arguing the acceptance of migrants depends on their contribution to local communities.

Additionally, she is expected to refer to her personal experience of shoplifting while working behind the till of her familys corner shop as a child.

The home secretary will launch a winter of action scheme in a bid to tackle shoplifting.
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

Young people who have been out of work for 18 months will be given jobs under new plans to tackle unemployment, Rachel Reeves will announce on Monday.

The chancellor is set to use her speech at the Labour Party conference to unveil a youth guarantee, meaning every young person who has received universal credit (UC) benefits for 18 months without earning or learning will be offered paid work, an apprenticeship or a place at college.

It is understood claimants will face sanctions such as losing their benefits if they refuse to take up jobs under the scheme without a reasonable excuse.

The guarantee forms part of a pledge of nothing less than the abolition of long-term youth unemployment, Ms Reeves will say, as she vows to build an economy that works for working people  and rewards them.

But the announcement quickly came under scrutiny, with Ms Reeves unable on Monday morning to say who had signed up or what kind of jobs young people would be offered. She said it had been welcomed by business leaders, and that the government has not got to the stage of signing up firms.

And Ms Reeves promised more detail on the plan when she sets out her Budget in November.

The chancellor will also outline her approach to the Budget in November with many in her party demanding she breaks the manifesto promise of not hiking income tax, VAT or employee contributions to national insurance.

Many more are demanding she brings in wealth taxes on the super rich and biggest corporations  something she will hint at as she makes it clear she wants everyone to pay their fair share.

She is expected to say Britain must be built on the principles of doing our duty for each other and hard work matched by fair reward.

I believe in a Britain founded on contribution  where we do our duty for each other, and where hard work is matched by fair reward, she will tell the conference in Liverpool.

I believe in a Britain based on opportunity  where ordinary kids can flourish, unhindered by their background.

Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves visit a careers hub in Liverpool ( PA )

And I believe that Britains real wealth is found not only in the success of the fortunate few, but in the talents of all our people, in every part of our great country.

The announcement comes as part of Labours determination to get Britain working and provide targeted support for young people at risk of long-term unemployment. One in eight 1624-year-olds are currently not in education, work, or training, having risen by almost a third over the last four years under the Conservatives.

The chancellor is expected to say: I will never be satisfied while too many peoples potential is wasted, frozen out of employment, education, or training. Theres no defending it.

Its bad for business, bad for taxpayers, bad for our economy, and it scars peoples prospects throughout their lives.

Every young person will be guaranteed either a place in a college, for those who want to continue their studies or an apprenticeship, to help them learn a trade vital to our plans to rebuild the country, or one-to-one support to find a job.

But more than that our guarantee will ensure that any young person out of work for 18 months will be given a paid work placement. Real work, practical experience, and new skills.

We wont leave a generation of young people to languish without prospects  denied the dignity, the security and the ladders of opportunity that good work provides.

The focus on contribution comes amid concerns among some in Labour that the government needs to offer voters a clearer vision of its agenda.

Sir Keir Starmer has previously avoided using buzzwords to define his politics, but influential think tank Labour Together published a paper last week in which it argued the concept of contribution should be put at the heart of policy-making.

Cabinet minister Pat McFadden will say: Almost a million young people are not in education, employment or training. We will not stand by while a generation is consigned to benefits almost before theyve begun.

We will not accept that school pupils full of promise become adults full of frustration. We cannot  we will not  allow wasted talent to become Britains story. The youth guarantee is how we will offer every young person a chance to get up and get on.
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 stowaway was found dead Sunday inside the landing gear of an American Airlines plane that had recently traveled from Europe to North Carolina, authorities said.

Crews were performing maintenance on the plane just after 9 a.m. when they discovered the body, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said in a statement.

First responders were called to the scene. The stowaway, whose identity and country of origin is unknown, was pronounced dead, police said. It was unclear where in Europe the plane had departed from, and when the flight took place.

An American Airlines spokesperson told The Independent that it was working with law enforcement. Charlotte Douglas International Airport also said it was supporting law enforcement in its investigation.

CLT Airport is aware of the tragic discovery involving a deceased individual found in an American Airlines aircraft this morning. We are deeply saddened by this news and will support Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Departments (CMPD) investigation as needed. Airport operations continue as normal, an airport statement read.

Crews doing maintenance on a plane in Charlotte, North Carolina, over the weekend discovered the body of a stowaway inside an American Airlines plane, authorities said ( Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Departments Homicide Unit are investigating the incident.

Sundays incident comes a little over a week after a 13-year-old Afghan teen survived a perilous flight to India by hiding inside the wheel cabinet of an aircraft, only to be returned home within two hours.

Late last year, a woman successfully sneaked on to a Delta Airlines flight, traveling from New York to Paris, by spending a long time in the planes bathroom.
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

Colombia's foreign minister, Rosa Villavicencio, has renounced her US visa in protest at the US State Department's decision to revoke the visa of President Gustavo Petro. The move, announced by the Colombian government on Monday, highlights escalating tensions between the two nations.

Disagreements over drug policy, the ongoing conflict in Gaza, and a US naval build-up in neighbouring Venezuela are contributing to the diplomatic strain. While Colombia's Foreign Affairs Ministry did not specify the type of visa Villavicencio held, it issued a statement asserting it was not interested in "diplomatic visas that limit opinions" or curtail the nation's "sovereignty."

The U.S. State Department revoked President Petros visa on Friday after he participated in a New York protest against the war in Gaza, in which Petro called for the creation of an international army to liberate the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Holding a megaphone and wearing a keffiyeh, the traditional Palestinian scarf, Petro called on U.S. soldiers to disobey President Donald Trumps orders, adding that they should not point their rifles against humanity.

Hours after the protest the department said on social media that it would cancel Petros visa due to his reckless and incendiary actions.

Petro was back in Colombia when the announcement was made, after having spent several days in New York attending the U.N. General Assembly. He wrote on X that he didnt care about the punishment because he is also an Italian citizen, and could possibly travel to the U.S without a visa.

The revocation of Petros visa marks a new low in the leftist leaders relation with the Trump administration, which earlier this month placed Colombia on a list of countries that it says are not fulfilling their international commitments to curb drug trafficking.

David Hart, an immigration attorney based in Miami, said that it is very rare for non-immigrant visa holders  such as those with tourist or diplomatic visas  to renounce their travel permit.

He said that people who do not want to travel to the U.S. can simply let their visas expire and then choose to not renew them.

They are doing this for the media and to show solidarity with Petro, Hart said of the foreign ministers efforts to renounce her visa.

Wilfredo Allen, an immigration attorney from Miami, said that there is no formal procedure for quitting on a non-immigrant visa. He added that Colombias foreign affairs minister will likely have to send a letter to the U.S. embassy seeking the cancellation of her travel permit.

If you dont want to travel to the U.S. you can simply choose not to come, Allen said. I had never seen someone take their time to renounce a non-immigrant visa.

____

Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
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 Delta Air Lines flight bound for Brunswick, Georgia, was forced to return to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Friday following a pressurization issue shortly after takeoff.

Flight 5180, operated by Endeavor Air, was carrying 66 passengers and four crew members aboard a Canadair Regional Jet CRJ-700.

Oxygen masks were deployed as a precaution, though Delta later confirmed that four masks initially failed to activate but eventually did. No injuries were reported.

The aircraft landed safely and taxied to the gate under its own power, where emergency crews were standing by. A replacement crew was dispatched, and the flight arrived in Brunswick at 9:30 pm  more than four hours behind schedule.

Passenger Tom Rosenberger, who contacted FOX 5 about the incident, said he heard a loud pop in the cabin before the plane began its descent. He also described a strong oil smell, which he said made it difficult to breathe.

Shaken by the experience, Rosenberger chose not to board the replacement flight.

A Delta spokesperson told The Independent: At Delta, nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people. That is why the flight crew of Delta flight 5180  operated by Endeavor Air from Atlanta (ATL) to Brunswick (BQK)  followed established procedures and returned to Atlanta after a mechanical issue was observed during flight. We apologize to our customers for their experience and the delay in their travel.

The airline says the issue is under review.

The incident comes days after Delta announced it is replacing parts on more than 300 aircraft to combat toxic fume leaks, which can be linked to serious health issues, including brain injuries, among both crew and passengers.

Thousands of these so-called fume events have been reported to the Federal Aviation Administration in the last 25 years, in which dangerous fumes from a planes engines leak into the cockpit or cabin.
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

One of the Etsy witches who was hired to cast a spell on conservative activist Charlie Kirk days before his assassination has said they regret any distress experienced.

Last week, former Fox News host Megyn Kelly brought attention to a story released by the feminist publication Jezebel two days before Kirk, 31, was fatally shot at an event on a Utah college campus on September 10.

The article titled We Paid Some Etsy Witches to Curse Charlie Kirk describes the author reaching out to several self-identifying witches on the e-commerce platform Etsy about hiring them to place a hex on Kirk, according to Kelly.

The author said they had sought out the spell in the hope of punishing the far-right misogynist with a bad haircut for what they considered to be his years of regressive rhetoric.

open image in gallery One of the Etsy witches who was hired to cast a spell on conservative activist Charlie Kirk days before his assassination has said they 'regret any distress experienced' ( Benjamin Hanson/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty )

Kirk had founded the conservative youth group called Turning Point USA and he advocated for Christian family values.

I want to make it clear, Im not calling on dark forces to cause him harm, the author of the piece wrote.

Kelly said on her SiriusXM show Tuesday, Erika and Charlie Kirk heard about these curses, and that news genuinely rattled Erika, in particular. She knew Christian teaching on the subject, she loved Charlie, absolutely, and she was scared when she heard of the curses Jezebel had culled up.

Someone claiming to be one of the witches the author contacted, known as Priestess Lilin, told the Daily Mail, We regret any distress experienced. What we do is done based on an impartial perspective and at a professional level. We respect the widows feelings and welcome a private conversation to address her concerns.

open image in gallery Former Fox News host Megyn Kelly said the story 'genuinely rattled' Kirk's wife, Erika ( Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for TIME )

Priestess Lilin claimed it was her sister, known as High Priestess Leamashtu, who actually cast the spell.

Our spells are spiritual in nature and we do not perform actions that are intended to cause physical harm, Priestess Lilin said, adding, We do not celebrate the loss of life.

Priestess Lilin said she and High Priestess Leamashtu recently received a barrage of death threats.

open image in gallery Kirk, 31, was fatally shot at an event on a Utah college campus on September 10 ( David Ryder/Getty Images )

Kirks assassination brought out a wide array of emotions among Americans on both sides of the political aisle.

At his funeral in Arizona earlier this month, Erika said she forgave Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old man accused of killing her husband, while President Donald Trump said, I hate my opponent and I dont want the best for them.

Democrats have condemned the political violence.

open image in gallery At Kirks funeral in Arizona earlier this month, his widow Erika said she forgave Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old man accused of killing her husband ( Win McNamee/Getty Images )

Priestess Lilin said she and High Priestess Leamashtu have been banned from Etsy. The Independent has reached out to Etsy for comment.

Kelly said last week, Etsy should get back to arts and crafts and jewelry, and Jezebel should shut down its site and identify the author who wrote the piece on Kirk.

Jezebel took down the story after Kirks death and condemned the fatal shooting in the strongest possible terms.

We do not endorse, encourage, or excuse political violence of any kind, the publication said.
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 man accused of killing four people and burning down a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints church in Grand Blanc, Michigan on Sunday reportedly held a long-simmering hatred for the faith and was struggling with substance abuse, according to people close to him.

Two friends of Thomas Jacob Sanford, the 40-year-old gunman who was shot and killed by police in the church's parking lot, told the New York Times that Sanford's hatred grew out of a breakup he had with a girlfriend more than 10 years prior.

According to the friends, Sanford would rant about the LDS church  even at his best friend's wedding  and called the faith the Antichrist. He reportedly even took the chance to complain about the church to a politician canvassing homes in his neighborhood.

On the day of the mass shooting, Sanford crashed his Chevy Silverado pickup truck into the church, and then proceeded to open fire with an assault rifle on the congregants inside. At some point during the attack, Sanford used an accelerant to start a fire that would ultimately consume the majority of the church.

Sanford eventually exited the church, where he began shooting at fleeing churchgoers. He fired through the windshield of at least once vehicle, narrowly missing the driver.

open image in gallery Thomas Jacob Sanford, who killed four people and injured eight others in a mass shooting at a Grand Blanc, Michigan, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Friends said Sanford hated the LDS church after a relationship he had with a Mormon woman fell apart ( Facebook )

Police received a call that a shooting was underway at 10:25am, and within 30 seconds a Grand Blanc Township Police Officer and an armed officer from the state's Department of Natural Resources responded to the scene. A gunfight ensued but the officers ultimately killed Sanford.

Four people died, and at least one of the eight wounded was a child as young as 6.

Peter Tersigni told the Times that he knew Sanford for practically his entire life, and described him as his best friend. He said Sanford was a class clown, but deployment to Iraq with the Marines changed him and tuned him into a more serious person upon his return.

It wasn't just the military that changed Sanford. According to Tersigni, a move to Utah and a habit of abusing methamphetamines further transformed his friend.

During his stay in Utah, Sanford reportedly fell in love with a woman who was part of the LDS. It's unclear exactly how involved he and the woman were, but what Tersigni did say is that the relationship ended in a way that left Sanford deeply hurt.

Mentally [Sanford] was in rough shape," he told the paper.

He said it became very clear to anyone who would listen that Sanford had a problem with the LDS Church.

open image in gallery The charred remains of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan. Sanford set the building on fire, police said ( AP )

He got this whole fascination with Mormons, and they are the Antichrist, and they are going to take over the world, Francis Tersigni, Peter's twin brother and another friend of Sanford's, told the Times.

Sanford was so obsessed with the church that the subject even came up at Peter's wedding.

All he could talk about was Mormons, Francis said. I was like, dude, nobody wants to hear about this stuff.

Sanford's landlord in Utah, Sandra Winter, also confirmed to the paper that he had been in a relationship with an "extremely religious" LDS member. She said he felt pressured to join the church.

He wasnt so sure that he wanted to become a member of the church, Winter said. But he really wanted to be with this woman.

Despite the incident being more than a decade in the past, Sanford was still ranting about LDS members even just a few days before his attack. Kris Johns  who is running for City Council in Burton  was out canvassing homes and told the Times he met Sanford.

open image in gallery An FBI Evidence Response Team agent inspects the suspect's truck outside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan ( AFP/Getty )

Within a few minutes, Sanford was telling him about how "Mormons are the Antichrist."

The FBI is still investigating the shooting, and considers the incident a "targeted act of violence."

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a press briefing that Sanford was someone who "hated people of the Mormon faith.

While it does appear that Sanford was a supporter of President Donald Trump  a Trump political sign was found on his fence, he was reportedly photographed wearing a conservative t-shirt, and friends have told the press he held right-wing beliefs  no evidence has been revealed thus far to suggest his motive was political.

Francis insisted the shooting "isn't a MAGA event" and said the attack "isn't political."

Investigators are still investigating what set Sanford off. Peter told the Times that he last talked to Sanford on September 18. Sanford reportedly asked Peter to help him build a deck, 10 days before Sanford attacked the church.
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

Just as Sunday service at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan, was getting underway, congregants heard a loud boom near the front of the church. Fearing that someone was injured, some moved toward the sound to help, but were met with gunfire.

A man police have identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, of Burton, Michigan, rammed his Chevy Silverado truck  adorned with a pair of American flags in the bed  through the churchs front door and began firing an assault rifle at the hundreds of gathered worshippers. At some point, he set the church ablaze while terrified congregants were still trapped in the building.

By the time the shooting was over, one victim was dead, 9 others were wounded, and Sanford was killed in a gunfight with police. Later in the day, three more victims were declared dead; one from a gunshot wound, and two others who were found later in the evening inside the burned remains of the church.

Grand Blanc Police Chief William Renye said during an 8pm press conference that there were still individuals unaccounted for, and that the church had not fully been cleared by first responders. Additional victims may be found.

Phillip Cotter, who was a member of the church, teared up as he spoke to the Detroit Free Press. He did not attend services this morning, I know everyone who was there, he said.

I don't know what God has planned for us, but I trust him. Evil is alive; it's active. People are too casual to throw out terms that inflame others, weak minds.

open image in gallery A fire broke out at Michigan Mormon church Sunday morning after a gunman drove into the building while hundreds of church goers attended service inside ( Getty )

At 10:25 am, the Grand Blanc Police Department received a call that a mass shooting was underway. Within a minute, officers were on scene and responding to the situation. At some point during the attack, Sanford exited the church and began firing at cars and churchgoers in the parking lot. A Grand Blanc Township police officer and an officer from the states Department of Natural Resources were on-scene and fired at Sanford, killing him at 10:33 am.

Firefighter first responders raced to the scene to help stop the blaze at the church while police and EMS workers tended to the wounded.

James Deir, the Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Detroit Field Division, said during the Sunday night press conference that agents located explosives during their investigation, though he did not say where the explosives were found. He did confirm that Thomas Jacob Sanford used gasoline to start the fire in the church.

In the hours after the shooting, there were also reportedly bomb threats called in to other area churches, according to Specialist Lieutenant Kim Vetter of the Michigan State Police. When asked if there was an active threat to the community, she advised residents to stay vigilant and report any unusual behavior, but did not confirm that there was an ongoing threat.

Once officers identified the shooter, a convoy of law enforcement officers traveled to his home in Burton to begin an investigation into his potential motives. Police deployed a bomb squad unit, including a robot, and used drones to search Sanfords home, fearing that he may have rigged its interior with explosives.

The shooting came out of nowhere; one man, who was injured when the gunman fired a bullet through his windshield as he tried to escape with his wife, told Detroit 2 News that no one he had spoken with had ever seen Sanford before.

Reyne commended the members of the church for their bravery in the face of unimaginable violence, noting that many were shielding the children inside the building as they rushed them to safety.

Just hundreds of people, just practicing their faith, Reyne said of the congregants.

open image in gallery The shooting broke out at the Church of Latter Day Saints in Grand Blanc Township at 10:25 a.m. Sunday, authorities said ( Julie J/@Malkowski6April )

We do believe that there were people up there that were near that fire and they were unable to get out of the church. So, we do believe we will find additional victims once were able to search that, once theres no signs of a fire reigniting, Reyne said.

He said he believes that the fire was intentionally started by Sanford.

At 5 pm, Reyne provided a second update, where he named the shooter and gave a brief update on the conditions of the wounded. At that time, no additional victims were added to the previous count.

Little is known of Sanford at this time. According to the New York Times, Sanford graduated from a high school near the church before joining the U.S. Marine Corps.

One of Sanfords neighbors, Randy Thronson, 71, told the Times that he knew the shooter, and said during the winter Sanford would plow his and his neighbors driveways for free. He noted that he had not spoken to the man for two years, but said he seemed like a nice guy.

The Clarkston News, a local paper in the area, published an article about Sanford in 2007 lauding his stellar military service, noting that he had reached the rank of sergeant at his duty station in Okinawa, Japan, before he was deployed to Fallujah, Iraq.

The U.S. Marine Corps released further information about Sanfords service to NBC News. He was an organization automotive mechanic and vehicle recovery operator, and received the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and National Defense Service Medal before he left the service.

His final posting was in the 2nd Maintenance Battalion of Combat Logistics Regiment 25 at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

He reportedly was a father, and his son  who was born approximately 10 years ago  was diagnosed with hyperinsulinism, according to USA TODAY. Individuals with the rare disease have higher-than-normal levels of insulin, which can increase the risk of brain-related complications.

We found out Brantlee was having problems shortly after his birth, Sanford said in a 2016 interview about his familys medical struggles . It was a nightmare for us. We were slowly realizing that Brantlee wasnt a typical premature baby."

The childs condition today and the state of Sanfords family in the wake of the attack are currently unknown.

Police are still investigating a possible motive for the attack.

open image in gallery Police said the suspected gunman drove his vehicle into the church before opening fire inside on church-goers ( AFP/Getty )

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer condemned the violence shortly after the shooting occurred.

My heart is breaking for the Grand Blanc community, Whitmer said in a social media post. Violence anywhere, especially in a place of worship, is unacceptable. I am grateful to the first responders who took action quickly. We will continue to monitor this situation and hold the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc close.

By 1:08 pm, President Donald Trump acknowledged that he had been briefed on the shooting and provided the following statement in a post on Truth Social:

I have been briefed on the horrendous shooting that took place at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Grand Blanc, Michigan. The FBI was immediately on scene, and will be leading the Federal Investigation, and providing full support to State and Local Officials. The suspect is dead, but there is still a lot to learn. This appears to be yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America. The Trump Administration will keep the Public posted, as we always do. In the meantime, PRAY for the victims, and their families. THIS EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY MUST END, IMMEDIATELY!

open image in gallery FBI agents are on the scene helping local authorities in the response to the deadly attack ( Keeping the Community Informed/Facebook )

The shooting marks the 324th mass shooting this year, according to data kept by the Gun Violence Archive. The archive defines a mass shooting as one in which four or more people, not including the shooter, are shot.

Less than 24 hours before the church attack, Nigel Edge, another Marine veteran who deployed to Iraq, shot and killed three people and wounded five others at a crowded waterfront bar in Southport, North Carolina.

The shooting is also the latest in a number of attacks focused on places of worship.

On August 27  just a little over a month before Sanfords attack  Robin Westman, 23, fired a gun through the windows of a church in Minneapolis, killing two children and wounding 14 others, as well as an elderly congregant. The group was praying at the time of the attack. Westman graduated from the school in 2017, and died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene.

On September 19, just over a week before the Michigan shooting, a 31-year-old man allegedly set fire to a synagogue in southwestern Florida. That individual has been charged with felony arson and felony criminal mischief to a house of worship.
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

Texas has announced it would begin rolling out a new strategy to prevent the New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite carried by flies, from infiltrating farms near the southern border.

The New World screwworm is a type of fly that carries larvae, also known as maggots, that eat the living tissue of warm-blooded animals. The fly is typically found in the Caribbean and South America, but in 2023, cases in Panama exploded.

Since then, it has been spreading in northern Mexico, threatening the U.S. livestock industry as well as wildlife.

The Texas Department of Agriculture said Friday it will place tape traps in high-risk areas along the Texas-Mexico border; near export pens where livestock is held; and at major ports in the hopes of detecting flies that cross over.

The traps will be documented and monitored weekly. Any flies collected will be identified and sent for testing to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

open image in gallery Texas Governor Greg Abbott speaks alongside Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins on August 15 in Austin, Texas. They discussed the recent rise of threats presented by the New World screwworm disease ( Getty Images )

open image in gallery New World screwworm flies carry larvae that eat living tissue of warm-blooded animals ( Getty Images )

The New World screwworm poses a serious threat to Texas livestock and rural communities, Texas Agricultural Commissioner Sid Miller said. We are taking proactive steps to monitor, detect, and stop this parasite before it harms Texas agriculture. Our farmers, ranchers, and consumers depend on us being ready, and we will be.

The traps will be placed at livestock export pens in Brownsville, Del Rio, El Paso, Laredo, and Houston, and port regions around Galveston and Corpus Cristi.

So far, no cases of New World screwworm have been found in U.S. livestock but an infection can be devastating to animals. Female flies can lay up to 200 eggs at a time in a mucous membrane, making it difficult to control until maggots have eaten away at enough healthy tissue that the disease cannot be undone.

Left untreated, the parasitic infection can kill a fully grown cow within one to two weeks, NPR reported.

Cases of New World screwworm in humans are rare, but possible. In August, an individual in Maryland was determined to have contracted the parasite after traveling from El Salvador.

The new traps are part of a wider strategy by Texas and USDA to prevent New World screwworm from entering the U.S.

open image in gallery Left untreated, a cow infected with New World screwworm could die within one to two weeks ( REUTERS )

In August, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced a $750 million investment to construct a new facility that will produce sterile flies to combat the spread of the parasitic ones. Sterilizing flies is the most effective way to prevent the spread of New World screwworm.

Female screwworms mate only once in their 21-day life span. As more sterile screwworm flies are released, the population of fertile screwworms decreases until it eventually dies out, according to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

The U.S. spent millions during the 1960s to do so, but facilities were shut down after the threat was mitigated. The U.S. eradicated the species from the U.S. again in 2017 after a small outbreak in the Florida Keys.

The Department of Agriculture also said it would begin training detector dogs to detect infestations in livestock and other animals along the border to help prevent the spread via wildlife.
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 judge overseeing the Charlie Kirk shooting case appeared to address mounting political pressure, including that from President Donald Trump and other members of his administration, during a hearing Monday.

Tyler Robinson, 22, allegedly shot the right-wing youth activist as he spoke at a college campus in Orem, Utah September 10. Kirk, 31, was pronounced dead soon after been hit once in the neck with a bullet from a high-powered rifle, shot from a snipers perch.

Robinson attended virtually in court Monday where his newly-appointed legal team asked Judge Tony Graf for more time to review the large amount of evidence before deciding if they will seek a preliminary hearing. The judge set the next hearing for October 30 where Robinson is expected to appear in person.

Before concluding the brief hearing, Graf vowed not to let any outside influences sway him in the case.

"Let me be clear, I will not put my finger on the scale of justice, Graf said. He later added: "Counsel, regardless of who is watching, whether it is the nation or a single individual, we must fulfill our roles with integrity, civility, and diligence.

open image in gallery Utah Judge Tony Graf vowed he would not let any outside influences sway him in the case

There has been an outpouring of grief following the death of Kirk, a prominent figure in the MAGA political sphere. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance have called out left-wing perpetrators, blaming them for rising political violence in the US.

Other members of the judiciary have called out potentially prejudicial statements ahead of high-profile criminal trials.

A federal judge in New York warned Department of Justice officials last week that endorsing Trumps claim that Luigi Mangione is guilty of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson ahead of his trial, could result in sanctions against the prosecution  or relief for the accused.

During Robinsons hearing Monday, both the defense and prosecution acknowledged the evidence is voluminous. Robinson was not present in court for the hearing and appeared via audio from jail at his defense teams request.

The 22-year-old has been formally charged with aggravated murder and has not entered a plea. Prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty for Robinson.

In Utah, the state court system allows people accused of crimes to waive their legal right to a preliminary hearing and instead schedule an arraignment where they can enter a plea.

Robinson evaded authorities for 33 hours after allegedly opening fire on the Turning Point USA founder from a rooftop about 160 yards away, then escaping. The shooting prompted a massive manhunt by the FBI and other law enforcement agencies.

open image in gallery Tyler Robinson, 22, turned himself in to the authorities a day and a half after the fatal shooting in Utah ( Utah Governor's Office )

open image in gallery Charlie Kirk, 31, founded Turning Point USA, a conservative youth organization ( AP )

Robinson later turned up at his parents house, over three hours away in southwest Utah, where his family convinced him to turn himself in.

Prosecutors have since revealed text messages and DNA evidence that they allege connect Robinson to the killing.

The accused has been described as quiet by people who knew him, however, relatives told investigators that he had become more political in recent years.

He did not attend Utah Valley University, where the shooting took place.

In some texts sent by Robinson to his roommate and alleged romantic partner, he appeared to take responsibility for the shooting. Meanwhile, a note that Robinson left for his partner said he had the opportunity to kill one of the nations leading conservative voices, and Im going to take it, officials said.

Robinson also wrote in a text to his partner: I had enough of his hatred. He also told his partner to delete the messages and not speak with the media.

While Utah state officials and members of the Republican party have decried Kirks killing as politically motivated, it is still not clear whether Robinsons motives were explicitly political.

open image in gallery Kirk was a close ally of President Donald Trump. He died at the age of 31, prompting an outpouring of grief ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

The killing of Kirk, a close ally of President Donald Trump, has spurred the MAGA world to carry on his mission. Republicans have demanded retaliation against people who reacted to Kirks killing by praising, rationalising, or making light of it or by belittling the 31-year-olds memory.

As a result, some Americans have faced backlash including late-night TV host Jimmy Kimmel, who was suspended - but later reinstated - after his comments on Kirks death.

Kirks political organization, Turning Point USA, brought thousands of young conservatives into politics through his podcast, social media and campus events.

Following his death, prominent Republicans have been filling in at various campus events Kirk had planned to attend.

With reporting by the Associated Press.
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

The Supreme Court justices are meeting in private Monday to discuss various petitions submitted over the summer, including Ghislaine Maxwells appeal over her child sex trafficking criminal conviction.

Maxwell, the former girlfriend of child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has asked the justices to review whether prosecutors fairly brought a case against her.

It comes as House Democrats, and a few Republicans, look to vote to compel the Justice Department to release any remaining files that havent been made public in the investigation into Epstein and his underage sex trafficking network.

Newly-elected Democratic Rep. Adelita Grijalva, of Arizona, said she would agree to sign the measure once shes sworn in, becoming the final vote needed to succeed. Its unclear when her swearing-in ceremony will take place.

Until Democrats can compel a vote on the Epstein files release, eyes will be on the Supreme Court to see whether or not they agree to take up Maxwells case.

open image in gallery Ghislaine Maxwell has asked the US Supreme Court to hear her criminal conviction appeal, believing prosecutors unfairly brought charges against her ( Federal Bureau of Prisons )

Lawyers for Maxwell, 63, argue that the government shouldnt have pursued a case against her because Epstein struck a deal with Florida prosecutors in 2007, in which they agreed not to prosecute potential co-conspirators of the disgraced financier.

The controversial deal, called a non-prosecutorial agreement, allowed Epstein to avoid federal sex trafficking charges if he pleaded guilty to two state prostitution charges. It also included a clause protecting co-conspirators from the specific charges against Epstein.

Prosecutors in New York subsequently brought federal sex trafficking charges against Epstein in 2019. He died by suicide while being held in a federal prison shortly after his arrest, before a trial could take place.

Maxwell was indicted in 2020 for crimes associated with Epsteins decades-long scheme to recruit young women and girls into his orbit and then sexually abuse them. In 2021, she was found guilty of child sex trafficking, among other crimes, and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

open image in gallery Epstein and Maxwell were at one time in a romantic relationship. Multiple abuse survivors testified that Maxwell managed Epsteins household ( US District Court for the Southern District of New York )

A lower court has previously ruled that Epsteins non-prosecutorial agreement was only binding in the region of Florida where it was made. That is ultimately the decision Maxwell is asking the Supreme Court to review.

In order for the court to agree to hear Maxwells appeal, four of the nine justices must agree to take up the case. Lawyers in the Justice Department have asked the Supreme Court to deny Maxwells case. The court could announce its decision as early as this week.

The resurgence of public interest in the governments investigation into Epstein has put Maxwell back in the spotlight.

President Donald Trump had promised to release the Epstein files while on the campaign trail. And while some new information was released, Trump and senior members of his administration have refused to release the files in their entirety.

open image in gallery Members of the public, including members of Trumps MAGA base, have demanded the White House release the remainder of the Epstein Files ( Getty )

There has been a resurgence of conspiracies about Trumps relationship with Epstein, and if the government is trying to protect high-profile individuals who were associated with the sex offender, after the Justice Department concluded that no further investigation was needed in early July.

Trump and Epstein were friends in the 1990s and 2000s but the president severed ties with him in the mid-2000s. Trump has not been accused of any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein's crimes.

To try to quell the furore, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche interviewed Maxwell over two days this summer at a Florida courthouse, close to the maximum security prison where she was serving time.

Maxwell agreed to cooperate with the Justice Department and days after the interview, she was suddenly moved to a minimum security prison in Texas.

Her lawyers have refused the opportunity for her to voluntarily testify to Congress unless some form of clemency is given.

Maxwell has not formally sought a pardon from Trump. The president has acknowledged his pardoning power but has not committed to giving her 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

Late-night host John Oliver spent the entirety of his opening monologue on the latest episode of HBOs Last Week Tonight criticizing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Speaking on the eve of Netanyahus fourth visit to the White House to meet with President Donald Trump since the latter returned to power to discuss an end to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Oliver described the PM as desperate to stay in power and, more broadly, an a*****e son of a bitch.

Years from now, when people tell the story of Israels brutality in Gaza, theyll need to talk about the history of Israels founding mission, the complex politics of the Middle East, Americas choice to give more military aid to Israel than any other country in history, and a thousand other things, the host said.

open image in gallery John Oliver rails against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Last Week Tonight on Sunday September 28 2025 ( Last Week Tonight/HBO )

But theyll also need to tell the story of one Benjamin Netanyahu, a man so singularly focused on remaining in power, hes allied with the most extreme voices in his country.

He attacked Netanyahu for appeasing hardline members of his coalition government, like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, and for boasting in 2001, while serving as opposition leader, of his ability to manipulate U.S. support to his will.

Oliver then ran an archive clip of the politician bragging at the time: America is something that can be easily pushed.

Wow! Even if that is true, its insulting to hear out loud, the comic said in reaction to the footage.

He went on to recap Netanyahus recent corruption scandal, accusing him of working to weaken his countrys Supreme Court, prolonging post-October 7th military action against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to satisfy his right-wing allies, and cosying up to Trump, all to ensure his own political survival, no matter what the cost, in Olivers opinion.

Thats kind of the problem with electing someone because hes an a**hole son of a bitch, he continued. You do wind up being governed by someone whos an a***hole and a son of b****.

The point is, Netanyahu is not popular in Israel, and hes increasingly unpopular here too. A new poll found just 21 percent of Americans have a favorable view of him. Meanwhile, support for Palestinian statehood is currently at 58 percent in the U.S., and just recently, a wave of countries, including France, the U.K., Canada, and Australia, all officially recognized a Palestinian state.

open image in gallery Donald Trump welcoming Netanyahu to the White House on Monday September 29 ( Reuters )

Oliver went on to clarify: Let me be clear, to attribute the atrocities in Gaza to just one man would be naive. Itd also ignore that while many Israelis vehemently disagree with choices that Netanyahu has made, theres also a fair amount of consensus there when it comes to deeper issues like the inevitability of ongoing Israeli occupation in general and the acceptability of denying self-determination to Palestinians.

He added, Those are conversations and issues that are gonna take much longer and be much harder to resolve. But in the short term, Israelis removing this f***ing guy from power might, at the very least, bring a stop to the horrific suffering in Gaza and bring the hostages home.

The comedian concluded by asking: Just who is Netanyahu really looking out for? Is it the people of Israel whove been put at risk by endless war, or is it the man who spent 17 years as prime minister and seems willing to do whatever it takes to squeeze out a few more? I would argue that it is the second one. And I, for one, am looking forward to the day that Netanyahu is politically done.

Ahead of Mondays White House sitdown, at least one senior Trump administration official expressed a fear that the meeting could go off the rails if Netanyahu takes exception to the peace plan for Gaza that the president intends to pitch to him.

Last week, U.N. delegates walked out of the General Assembly in protest just before Netanyahus speaking slot, which he used to lambast those nations that had moved to recognize the Palestinian peoples right to statehood for rewarding the murder of Jews.

His words were broadcast from loudspeakers at the Gaza border soon afterwards to ensure his point was not lost on those living there.
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

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said investigators believe the man accused of fatally shooting four people at a Michigan church hated people of the Mormon faith.

Police say former U.S. Marine Thomas Jacob Sanford killed four people and injured eight when he opened fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, on Sunday morning. Sanford slammed his truck, bearing two American flags, into the church before he opened fire, according to authorities.

At one point, he also set the building on fire using an accelerant believed to be gasoline, police said. Sanford was killed at the scene.

While authorities have not publicly confirmed his motive, Leavitt shared the updates she had received from investigators with FOX & Friends on Monday morning.

From what I understand, based on my conversations with the FBI director, all they know right now is that this was an individual who hated people of the Mormon faith, Leavitt said.

open image in gallery Attendees hold candles at a vigil for the victims of the shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

They are trying to understand more about this, how premeditated it was, how much planning went into it, whether he left a note. All of those questions are yet to be answered, but certainly will be answered by the FBI, she added.

Leavitts comments come after President Donald Trump decried the shooting as a targeted attack on Christians on Sunday afternoon.

This appears to be yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America, he wrote on Truth Social. The Trump Administration will keep the Public posted, as we always do. In the meantime, PRAY for the victims, and their families. THIS EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY MUST END, IMMEDIATELY!

Meanwhile, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has announced plans to create a task force to protect places of worship in the wake of the shooting.

open image in gallery The suspected gunman rammed his truck into the church and opened fire, killing four people and injuring eight, police said. He also lit the building on fire ( AFP/Getty )

The escalation of violent attacks against people and places of faith is heinous and must end, he wrote on X.

I have directed the Texas Dept. of Public Safety to form task forces with federal and local law enforcement to better safeguard our places of worship, he added. The fundamental principle that thou shall not kill must be strongly reaffirmed as a core tenet of our society and must be aggressively enforced by law enforcement.

Investigators are set to hold a press conference on Monday afternoon. One victim is in critical condition, while the other seven are stable, authorities said on Sunday night.

Meanwhile, a man has driven a red car through a barricade near the shooting scene, CNN reported late Monday morning. He was then placed in a police vehicle. His identity and motive are unclear.

open image in gallery Thomas Jacob Sanford served in the Marine Corps from 2004 to 2008 ( Facebook )

Sanford, 40, served in the Marine Corps from 2004 to 2008. He was deployed to Fallujah, Iraq in 2007. He specialized in repairing and maintaining military vehicles.

His military career was described as stellar, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Sanford went on to work as a truck driver, at one point driving a tow truck and another driving a Coca-Cola delivery truck. The 40-year-old has also been pictured on social media wearing a Trump shirt bearing the slogan: Make Liberals Cry Again.
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 QAnon shaman has sued Donald Trump for $40 trillion in a rambling lawsuit that targets Elon Musk, T-Mobile, and Warner Bros.

Jacob Chansley, infamous for wearing a horned warrior outfit while storming the U.S. Capitol on January 6, has claimed that he is the rightful commander-in-chief.

In his 26-page complaint, he has claimed that an elite group has launched a conspiracy to violate the Constitution. The entire complaint, which is more akin to a manifesto than a formal legal document, is presented in a single paragraph.

He has named Trump, the Federal Reserve, the National Security Agency, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the State of Israel, Elon Musks X-Corp, T-Mobile, and Warner Bros. Studios in court documents.

open image in gallery James Chansley has sued Donald Trump for $40 trillion, four years on from the Capitol Riots ( EPA )

In the lengthy complaint, Chansley states that he is the true American president and that America should only have two laws: the Bill of Rights and the original U.S. Constitution.

The QAnon shaman would also print a one-ounce gold coin, valued at $40 trillion, to pay off the countrys debts.

Bizarrely, one section in the lawsuit suggests that plots for Christopher Nolans The Dark Knight and James Camerons Avatar were plagiarized from his own writing.

Also, Chansley has alleged that the National Security Agency catfished him as Michele Rodriguez, to persuade him to use his shamanic abilities to deal with other-worldly matters.

He also claims that Donald Trump personally emailed him just two days after the Capitol Riots in 2021.

Trump has recently blamed the FBI for inciting the Capitol riot, claiming that there were 274 federal agents hidden in the crowds on January 6.

However, the Department of Justice confirmed that the agents sent to the Capitol had been ordered to investigate reports of pipe bombs and to prevent Trump loyalists from interrupting the peaceful transfer of power to the then-president-elect Joe Biden.

open image in gallery Chansley was pardoned by Trump for his role in the Capitol Riots ( Getty Images )

In 2020, Biden won 306 electoral votes alongside his running mate Kamala Harris. Meanwhile, Trump won just 232 electoral votes, as well as 7,059,526 fewer votes than his rival.

Following the election, Trump claimed that he would never concede the race to his opponent.

Get smart Republicans. FIGHT, he tweeted on the morning of the riots.

During his speech on the same day, his supporters could be heard shouting invade the Capitol, fight for Trump, and take the Capitol.

The QAnon Shaman, Jacob Chansley, was convicted of obstructing an official proceeding because of his role in the riots.

He was later pardoned by Trump, alongside 1,500 other individuals, in January 2025 for his crime.

open image in gallery Trump has tried to claim that the FBI had agents in the crowd at the riots, despite telling Republicans to fight on January 6 ( AFP/Getty )

Chansley takes his nickname from QAnon, the far-right conspiracy theory movement that claims that Donald Trump is leading a fight against a secret sex-trafficking ring led by a global elite cabal.

However, Chansley rescinded his support for Trump because the president refused to release the Epstein files.

The Independent has contacted The White House, the Federal Reserve, the National Security Agency, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the Israeli government, Elon Musks X-Corp, T-Mobile, and Warner Bros. Studios for comment.
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

Rudy Giuliani has said he regrets hiring James Comey to the US Attorneys Office in the 1980s, saying the former FBI director soon became out of control, publicity hungry, and eventually weaponized the political justice system against his opponents.

Giuliani, who led the US Attorneys Office before becoming mayor of New York City, and later Donald Trumps personal lawyer, claims he first became concerned about Comeys priorities after Comey prosecuted lifestyle entrepreneur Martha Stewart in an insider trading scandal in the early 2000s.

Giulianis comments follow Comeys indictment by a grand jury on one count of making a false statement to Congress and one count of obstruction of a congressional proceeding.

open image in gallery Very extraordinarily disappointing to have hired him, Giuliani said of his former charge ( Getty Images )

Comey was fired from his role as FBI director in 2017, during Trumps first presidential term, amid the fallout of an FBI investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Trump has repeatedly called for Comeys imprisonment, calling him a dirty cop, while Comey has referred to Trumps presidency as a forest fire.

The charges against Comey mark an escalation in Trumps apparent retribution campaign and willingness to use the justice system against political adversaries.

Speaking on Newsmax's Sunday Agenda, Giuliani, who remains loyal to Trump, said the charges against Comey serve to highlight his long-held concerns about the former FBI director.

"It is very extraordinarily disappointing to have hired him," Giuliani said.

"I'm pretty realistic about things like that. I don't worry myself about guilt that I can't do anything about, because there's plenty that I can do something about. I had no idea that he was anything but quite a good, but I can't say great, but I can say average. He was a better-than-average to very good assistant U.S. attorney candidate."

"I thought the Martha Stewart case was the sign of a publicity-hungry, out-of-control prosecutor because of an unnecessary case," Giuliani said.

"You could look into your soul and very easily say, without any doubt, the case never would have been brought if it were your next-door neighbor, or just somebody else, or even a wealthy financial guy."

Giuliani stated that during his tenure as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, he typically pursued civil penalties  rather than criminal charges  for first-time insider trading offenses.

In his view, Stewart should have received a fine and trading restrictions rather than a prison sentence. He went ahead. He made a big deal out of it. He made a jerk out of himself doing it, Giuliani said.

open image in gallery Martha Stewart arrives at a Manhattan federal courthouse, Jan. 20, 2004, for her first appearance at her closely watched trial ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

After his indictment, Comey issued a statement declaring his innocence and accusing Trump of being a tyrant.

My family and I have known for years that there are costs to standing up to Donald Trump, but we couldnt imagine ourselves living any other way, Comey said. We will not live on our knees, and you shouldnt either.

My heart is broken for the Department of Justice, but I have great confidence in the federal judicial system, and I am innocent, so lets have a trial, he added.

The president celebrated the charges in a Truth Social post, calling Comey one of the worst human beings this country has ever been exposed to.

He has been so bad for our country, for so long, and is now at the beginning of being held responsible for his crimes against our nation, Trump added.

Meanwhile, Giuliani has been ordered this month to pay $1.36 million in legal fees he incurred during investigations into his efforts to overturn President Donald Trumps 2020 election loss.
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 on Monday reiterated his plans to levy tariffs as high as 100% on movies filmed outside of the United States, whether they are produced by Hollywood or foreign-owned film companies.

The president wrote on Truth Social that the fault of Americas supposedly stolen movie business lay with Californias Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, whom he frequently targets for scorn but did not mention by name in the post.

Trump added that the would be imposing a 100% tariff to stop what he called a never ending problem, though it was not stated when those tariffs would be put into place.

Our movie making business has been stolen from the United States of America, by other Countries, just like stealing candy from a baby. California, with its weak and incompetent Governor, has been particularly hard hit! Therefore, in order to solve this long time, never ending problem, I will be imposing a 100% Tariff on any and all movies that are made outside of the United States, he wrote.

The president originally made a threat to tariff the film industry in May of this year. The vice chairman of United Talent Agency, one of the largest firms in Hollywood, told CNN at the time that Trumps move would virtually halt movie production worldwide: it has the ability to bring the movie business to a standstill  which is the last thing Hollywood needs after dual strikes and a content recession.

Donald Trump displays an image of his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame ( Reuters )

In a second post, the president made another sweeping trade threat: a vow to impose tariffs on any country that does not make its furniture in the United States  which, translated into reality, could mean new reciprocal tariffs affecting furniture imports. Just as in the first case, he did not specify when these tariffs would supposedly be implemented.

A Democratic congresswoman representing Hollywood and some of the surrounding communities, Laura Friedman, released a statement calling Trumps action the wrong response to a real problem facing the movie and TV industries.

Im relieved President Trump recognizes that we are losing a signature American product: the domestic film & TV industry. However, his 100% tariff on foreign films will raise costs for consumers. As the representative of nearly every major producer in Hollywood and a former film producer, I know what will work, without harming consumers: a national film tax credit, said Friedman.

Its working in California and it will work across the country. I hope the President will join us in pioneering a real solution that levels the playing field with international competition. Ill keep meeting with lawmakers, labor unions, and industry leaders to make a national film tax credit a reality. Thousands of US jobs, and the LA economy, depend on it, added Friedman.

Trumps Truth Socialing took a strange turn over the weekend after he seemingly fell for an AI deepfake of his own voice being used to hoodwink gullible social media users into falling for the medbed conspiracy theory and the associated scams that follow such misinformation campaigns. On Saturday evening, Trump posted a fake Fox News segment promoting the conspiracy theory, only to delete the post Sunday morning. The White House didnt respond to a request for comment about the deleted post, and never issued a clarification to the presidents followers.

Now, on Monday, the president has returned to using the platform to announce matters of policy  and, in typical Trump fashion, doing so in a way that most experts agree would be completely unworkable.

Film producers and other industry veterans, both American and from countries around the world, derided the presidents plans as toxic to the industry itself when they were first announced.

He will kill the U.S. industry quicker as this will increase the cost of U.S. films that already werent selling well internationally. Creating an incentive for shooting in the U.S. would have been smarter but Im not sure he has that much intelligence, one expert told Deadline in May.

Similar to concerns many lawmakers had with TikTok, Trump declared in May that the status of the American film industry was actually a national security threat and claimed that foreign countries movies amounted to propaganda  a criticism that has been leveled at American media by the rest of the world for decades.

At the time, the president said his plans for 100% tariffs were to being immediately. Nearly five months later, the president is announcing them again, as if for the first time.

This is a concerted effort by other Nations and, therefore, a National Security threat. It is, in addition to everything else, messaging and propaganda! Trump wrote in May. He added: Therefore, I am authorizing the Department of Commerce, and the United States Trade Representative, to immediately begin the process of instituting a 100% Tariff on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands.
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

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday vowed to continue his countrys war against Hamas in Gaza if the militant group doesnt accept the terms of a U.S.-backed plan to end the war by putting an international peace board run by President Donald Trump, former British prime minister Tony Blair and others in charge of Gaza.

Netanyahu offered Hamas a take-it-or-leave it approach to the 20-point proposal that would require the group to disarm and give up any role in the administration of the Gaza Strip, which according to the plan would become a deradicalized terror-free zone that does not pose a threat to its neighbors that will be redeveloped for the benefit of the people of Gaza.

Speaking at the White House alongside Trump during a press conference at which the two leaders took no questions, Netanyahu told Trump that a decision by Hamas to reject the plan  or to accept it but later work to undermine it  would give Israel a green light to finish the job by itself.

This can be done the easy way, or it can be done the hard way, but it will be done. We prefer the easy way, but it has to be done, Netanyahu said.

The Israeli leader praised Trumps efforts in backing the plan for Gaza, which he described as taking the next step to win the war and expand the peace and being consistent with his governments goal of returning all living and deceased hostages taken during the October 7 attacks, disarming Hamas, demilitarizing Gaza, and installing a peaceful, civilian administration that is run neither by Hamas nor by the Palestinian Authority in Gaza.

open image in gallery Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu hold a joint press conference at the White House September 29 to unveil a 20-point plan for Gazas post-war future ( REUTERS )

The nuts and bolts of the proposal largely track a peace plan that has been shopped around the Middle East in recent months by Blair with the backing of Trumps roving special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and his son-in-law and former senior adviser, Jared Kushner.

According to a copy of the 20-point proposal distributed by the White House, if Hamas agrees to the proposal hostilities would cease immediately and following steps would begin:

Israeli forces will withdraw to the agreed upon line to prepare for a hostage release.

During this time, all military operations, including aerial and artillery bombardment, will be suspended, and battle lines will remain frozen until conditions are met for the complete staged withdrawal.

Within 72 hours of Israel publicly accepting this agreement, all hostages, alive and deceased, will be returned.

Once all hostages are released, Israel will release 250 life sentence prisoners plus 1700 Gazans who were detained after October 7th 2023, including all women and children detained in that context. For every Israeli hostage whose remains are released, Israel will release the remains of 15 deceased Gazans.

At that point, Hamas militants who agree to commit to peaceful co-existence and to decommission their weapons will receive amnesty and any who want to leave Gaza would be granted passage to as-yet unspecified receiving countries.

The plan also calls for aid to Gaza to resume with the minimum level of aid consistent with the temporary ceasefire deal reached by the outgoing Biden and incoming Trump administration representatives this past January. Israel would also agree not to interfere with aid distribution by the Red Crescent and United Nations plus other international institutions not associated in any manner with either party.

The task of running Gaza would then fall to a temporary transitional governance of a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee, responsible for delivering the day-to-day running of public services and municipalities for the people in Gaza and made up of qualified Palestinians and international experts.

That committee would in turn be supervised by a Board of Peace to be chaired by Trump and include Blair as well as other other members and heads of State to be announced. According to the plan, the board would set the framework and handle the funding for the redevelopment of Gaza until the Palestinian Authority meets conditions laid out in a plan put forth by Trump during his first term.

In a statement, Blair praised Trump having offered up a bold and intelligent plan which, if agreed, can end the war, bring immediate relief to Gaza, the chance of a brighter and better future for its people, while ensuring Israels absolute and enduring security and the release of all hostages.

It offers us the best chance of ending two years of war, misery and suffering, and I thank President Trump for his leadership, determination and commitment, Blair added.

open image in gallery ( White House )

The plan also states that Gaza would be demilitarized under supervision of independent monitors including placing weapons permanently beyond use through an agreed process of decommissioning, and supported by an internationally funded buy back and reintegration program all verified by the independent monitors.

Security in Gaza would be handled by an Arab and internationally backed International Stabilization Force that would also be in charge of training and supporting vetted Palestinian police forces in Gaza.

In exchange, Israel would agree to not occupy or annex Gaza and to withdraw Israeli Defense Forces based on standards, milestones, and timeframes linked to demilitarization that will be agreed upon between the IDF, ISF, the guarantors, and the Unites States, with the objective of a secure Gaza that no longer poses a threat to Israel, Egypt, or its citizens.

Regarding the Palestinian Authority, Netanyahu stressed that in order to be permitted to have a role in running what the plan calls New Gaza it would have to go through a radical and genuine transformation including agreeing to stop cash awards to the families of militants who kill Israelis, changing poisonous textbooks that teach hatred to Jews to Palestinian children, recognizing Israel as a Jewish state, ending efforts to prosecute Israel  and him  at the International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice, plus many other reforms.

Its unclear whether any Palestinian representatives were consulted before the unveiling of the plan, though a Hamas representative said the group was reviewing the proposal in good faith.

For his part, Trump cast the peace plan as a historic day for peace and said it could bring an end to the death and destruction that we've seen for so many years in favor of a new chapter of security, peace and prosperity for the entire region.

He claimed that Arab leaders and others had asked him to run the peace board and said it was so important that he was willing to take on the role in addition to his responsibilities as president.

Trump criticized the various western leaders whod recognized a Palestinian state in recent days as foolish but acknowledged that the leaders whod done so are very tired of what's going on for so many decades with respect to Gaza.

There are many Palestinians who wish to live in peace ... and I challenge the Palestinians to take responsibility for their destiny, because that's what we're giving them, Trump said.
Close Palestinian death toll in Gaza rises to 66,148

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

Israel has launched dozens of airstrikes across the Gaza Strip just hours after Donald Trump called for an immediate ceasefire, Palestinian officials have claimed.

Gazas civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP that 20 homes had been destroyed in what he called a very violent night.

Gaza Citys Baptist hospital said it had received casualties from strikes in the area. Israeli fire killed six people across Gaza Strip, local authorities said. One strike killed four people in a house in Gaza City while another killed two others in Khan Younis in the south, medical workers and local authorities said.

It comes just hours after Donald Trump called for Israel to immediately stop the bombing of Gaza.He said he he believed Hamas is ready for lasting peace after it accepted some elements of his peace plan, including releasing all of the remaining hostages in Gaza.

Trump has warned all hell will break loose if an agreement is not reached by the end of Sunday.

Trump wrote on Truth Social: Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly!
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

President Donald Trump is set to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday in what is expected to be a tense meeting that could be a step toward ceasefire efforts or go off the rails, according to a senior administration official.

Since taking office in January, Trump has largely thrown American support behind Netanyahu while attempting to broker an Israel-Gaza peace deal after Israel has spent nearly two years staging a deadly offensive that the United Nations recently determined to be a genocide.

But the relationship between Trump and Netanyahu has hit several bumps recently, namely after the Israeli leader launched an unsuccessful strike against Hamas officials who were in Qatar for peace talks. That strike reportedly went against the advice of high-ranking Israeli officials, upset Qataris, and deeply angered Trump,Politico reported.

[Trump] is going to try to get [Netanyahu] to agree to some terms that then they could take back to [Hamas] and finally get something done, an unnamed administration official told Politico.

However, Trump insiders also warned that the meeting could also go off the rails.

open image in gallery President Donald Trump has grown frustrated with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, an unnamed U.S. administration official said ( AFP via Getty Images )

The U.S. president reportedly perceives Netanyahu as losing his grip on power and isolated from the U.S. as well as his own government, an administration official told Politico.

Trump appeared to draw a line in the sand last week when he publicly stated the U.S. would not allow Israel to seize the West Bank.

The stakes between the two leaders are higher than ever ahead of Mondays meeting where Netanyahu will have to decide whether he will accept Trumps latest plan for peace or publicly break from him.

Trump expressed confidence ahead of the meeting, telling Axios that negotiations to end the war were in the final stages.

The U.S. has presented a 21-point plan, shaped by the presidents son-in-law Jared Kushner and White House envoy Steve Witkoff with assistance from former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair.

open image in gallery More than 66,000 Palestinians, many children, have been killed as a result of Israels offensive in Gaza ( AFP via Getty Images )

The plan calls for a permanent ceasefire, release of all remaining hostages, no Israeli annexation of the West Bank, a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and a governing mechanism in Gaza that includes an international and Arab board with a Palestinian Authority representative, among other things.

The war between Israel and Gaza began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas killed approximately 1,200 people in Israel and took hundreds of others hostage. In response, Israel has launched a brutal two-year-long attack in Gaza, killing more than 66,000 people.

An Israeli official told Axios Sunday that the U.S. and Israel closed some gaps during a lengthy meeting Sunday between the Israeli Prime Minister, Witkoff, and Kusher.

But in an interview with The Sunday Briefing on Fox News, Netanyahu did not confirm whether or not he was accepting the terms of the plan. He said that its not been finalized yet, but that they are working on it.
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

Watch as Donald Trump met Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday, 29 September, as the US president pushed a new peace proposal for Gaza after Western leaders embraced Palestinian statehood in defiance of American and Israeli opposition.

The US president revealed a 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza moments before a joint press conference with the Israeli prime minister.

Mr Trumps push for a new peace proposal for Gaza follows a growing embrace of Palestinian statehood in defiance of American and Israeli opposition.

The Republicans plan would appoint a board of peace, chaired by the president, as an oversight body led by a committee that includes Tony Blair.

That board would oversee a temporary transitional governance of a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee, according to the plan.

It comes after both Mr Trump and Mr Netanyahu addressed the UN General Assembly last week.

Mr Netanyahus speech was met with scores of delegates walking out in protest, who missed him launch into a scathing critique of Britain, France, Canada, Australia and several other nations for recognizing Palestinian statehood.

Mr Trump, who had criticized the recognition moves, said he hopes to get Mr Netanyahu to agree to a framework to end the war in the Palestinian enclave and free the remaining hostages being held by Hamas.

Were getting a very good response because Bibi wants to make the deal too, Trump said. Everybody wants to make the deal.
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

The Trump familys presence in the Middle East continues to grow with the announcement of a huge new complex bearing the presidents name, to be built in Saudi Arabia.

The Trump Organization  Trumps privately-owned business conglomerate, which is now officially led by his children  is working with London-based real estate outfit Dar Global on a major new development project in the Saudi city of Jeddah.

On Monday Dar Global announced plans to launch a Central Park Inspired complex of premium residential and office buildings and parkland along the Red Sea coast to be named the Trump Plaza Jeddah.

According to the company the development is set to include premium residences, serviced apartments, Grade-A office space, and exclusive townhouses.

At the center of the masterplan will be a Central Park-inspired green spine, a landscaped park running the length of the development, anchoring the residences and serviced apartments and bringing the essence of Manhattan to Jeddah, they continued.

open image in gallery Trump is known to have a good relationship with Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, with the organization bearing his name announcing the second high-profile project there in a matter of months. ( Getty )

The $1bn project is the second Trump-branded development in Saudi Arabia, following Trump Tower Jeddahs grand debut last December.

The Trump Organization has major real-estate investments around the world, including assorted hotels, towers and resorts in countries such as Turkey, Canada, Korea, the UAE, Panama, Mexico, India and the Philippines.

In a press release, Eric Trump, the executive vice president of the Trump Organization, said: "We are honored to expand our footprint in Saudi Arabia with the Trump Plaza Jeddah. This project embodies our vision of excellence by blending world-class hospitality, modern living, and dynamic business environments. Together with Dar Global, we are creating a destination that will set a new benchmark for prestige and innovation in the Kingdom."

Trumps first major foreign visit of his second term was to Saudi Arabia, and he has close ties with crown prince and day-to-day ruler, Mohammed bin Salman.

His relationship drew heavy criticism after the 2018 killing of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi columnist for the Washington Post who had written critically about the monarchy, the Associated Press reports.

The visit reportedly led to trillions of dollars in deals for U.S. companies, however, spanning sectors from defense to artificial intelligence.

Ziad El Chaar, chief executive of Dar Global, described the new Trump Plaza Jeddah project as a pioneering concept in Saudi Arabia and one of the most ambitious developments Dar Global has undertaken to date.
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

Donald Trumps deployment of National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon is wholly pretextual and designed to stir up unrest to justify surging the military and federal law enforcement into the city, according to a federal lawsuit from Oregon officials.

The lawsuit follows the presidents Truth Social directive calling on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to provide all necessary Troops to the War ravaged city while claiming Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities are under siege from attack by Antifa and other domestic terrorists.

Trump also said he is authorizing Full Force, if necessary, raising alarms that the president was preparing for U.S. military personnel to fire on civilians.

The lawsuit  which names Trump, Hegseth and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem as defendants  argues that the presidents provocative and arbitrary actions threaten to undermine public safety by inciting a public outcry.

The facts cannot justify this overreach, according to attorneys for Oregon and the city of Portland.

open image in gallery Oregon officials are suing the Trump administration to block the deployment of National Guard troops to Portland, which the president claims is war ravaged ( Reuters )

While the administrations rhetoric appears focused on ongoing protests outside an ICE facility, the crowd has diminished in recent weeks, and protests have not necessitated any arrests since mid-June, according to the lawsuit.

But Trumps heavy-handed deployment of troops threatens to escalate tensions and stokes new unrest, with recently deployed law enforcement forced to respond to the predictable consequences of the presidents actions, the complaint states.

Trump has similarly surged federal law enforcement into several Democratic-led states and cities, including Chicago, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., while Memphis is also preparing for federal agents to arrive as soon as this week.

California sued the administration in the wake of Trumps deployment of National Guard troops and U.S. Marines into Los Angeles in response to protests against large-scale immigration raids and arrests.

A federal judge earlier this month determined that the administration illegally deployed military assets into the Los Angeles area in violation of the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, which prohibits the military from enforcing domestic law.

Trump  whose efforts appeared designed to create a national police force with the president as its chief  deployed troops to southern California ostensibly to quell a rebellion and ensure that federal immigration law was enforced, according to the ruling from California District Judge Charles Breyer.

But there was no rebellion, nor was civilian law enforcement unable to respond to the protests and enforce the law, he added.

The president instead illegally and systematically used armed soldiers (whose identity was often obscured by protective armor) and military vehicles to set up protective perimeters and traffic blockades, engage in crowd control, and otherwise demonstrate a military presence in and around Los Angeles.

Oregon officials are similarly arguing that the presidents patently unlawful threats are in violation of the Posse Comitatus Act, as well as Tenth Amendment protections ensuring that police authority rests with the states, not the federal government.

The administrations stated basis for federalizing members of Oregons National Guard is patently pretextual and baseless, Oregon officials argued.

Trump singled out a particular disfavored jurisdiction for political retribution and seeks to eviscerate the constitutional principle that the states sovereignty should be treated equally, they argued.

open image in gallery Trumps order granted Secretary Hegseth to allow full force against demonstrations against ICE in Portland, orders that Oregon officials say are designed to stir up more unrest to justify use of force ( Getty Images )

Speaking to reporters Sunday, Oregons Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek said she told Trump that there was no public threat requiring military intervention in Portland, or any other city in the state.

Despite this, and with all evidence to the contrary, he has chosen to disregard Oregonians safety, she said. This is not necessary, and I believe its unlawful.

Trumps troop deployment also follows a pair of executive actions targeting left-wing groups and dissent, with a promise to launch a government-wide counterterrorism campaign against his political and ideological opponents.

Protesters have demonstrated against ICE and other federal facilities in Portland for years, notably during Trumps first administration as nationwide demonstrations against police violence escalated into days-long clashes with police and federal agents.

This summer, Portland police declared a riot outside the ICE facility and arrested more than 20 people. But the streets have largely remained empty in the weeks that followed despite sporadic protests targeting the presidents anti-immigration agenda, with state and local officials fiercely objecting to his characterization of the progressive West Coast enclave as a war zone.

White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson defended the administrations actions to make Portland safer.

"President Trump is using his lawful authority to direct the National Guard to protect federal assets and personnel in Portland following months of violent riots where officers have been assaulted and doxxed by left-wing rioters," she said.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell the president called 200 Guard troops to deter rampant lawlessness within Portland and to enable Federal law-enforcement officers to safely conduct their duties.
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

New Zealands decision to not recognise Palestinian statehood placed the country on the wrong side of history, opposition parties and senior leaders said.

Foreign minister Winston Peters said at the UN General Assembly on Saturday that while his country was committed to a two-state solution, it did not yet recognise the state of Palestine.

With a war raging, Hamas remaining the de facto government of Gaza, and no clarity on next steps, too many questions remain about the future state of Palestine for it to be prudent for New Zealand to announce recognition at this time, Mr Peters said. A recognition of statehood could complicate efforts to secure a ceasefire, the minister claimed.

New Zealands position was contrary to that of its main traditional allies like the UK, Canada and Australia, which all formally recognised a Palestinian state, joining over 140 UN member states that had already done so.

France also formally recognised a Palestinian state on Monday.

The expanded recognition of Palestinian statehood is 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 decision sparked a major disagreement in the country with New Zealands opposition leaders and a former prime minister calling out Christopher Luxons administration.

New Zealand had placed itself very much on the wrong side of history, former prime minister Helen Clark told RNZ, adding the governments rationale about the future of Gaza did not make sense.

As more and more countries move to see that the recognition of Palestine is part of a process of moving towards a solution, New Zealand is lagging behind for reasons that make very little sense at all, she said. "If you recognise the State of Palestine now, you are empowering the Palestinian Authority, which Hamas is not a member of, it is not even representative of the Palestine Liberation Organisation.

New Zealand is among half a dozen Pacific island nations that have not recognised Palestine at a time Israels war starving and killing millions in Gaza grinds on. South Korea, Singapore and the US are among other nations that have not yet recognised Palestinian statehood.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins described the decision as morally reprehensible and a failure of leadership.

New Zealanders will feel let down by Christopher Luxon and his government today, Labour foreign affairs spokesperson Peeni Henare said.

Luxon had a chance to stand up for what is right but he failed. Theres no two-state solution or enduring peace in the Middle East, without recognition of Palestine as a state.

In further backlash back home, the Green party said the governments decision was a stain on New Zealands reputation as a voice for peace and justice.

On Saturday, the prime ministersaid New Zealands position was not one of taking sides in the conflict.

New Zealand is neither pro-Palestine nor pro-Israel, Mr Luxon said. We want to see two states, Israel and Palestine, living in peace and security, and that will only happen through negotiation, dialogue, diplomacy, and leadership.

The creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel in the West Bank, Gaza and eastern Jerusalem  territories seized by Israel in 1967  is widely seen as the only way to resolve the conflict, which started more than a century before Hamass 7 October attack ignited the war in Gaza nearly two years ago.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in his own UN speech, denounced the recognition by Western states as sending a message that murdering Jews pays off.

He strongly rejected a Palestinian state, dismissing the two-state idea as madness and warning that the recognition trend would embolden Hamas.

Wellingtons decision at the UN General Assembly was also condemned by human rights organisation Justice for Palestine. It said that New Zealand had shown a profound lack of leadership on the issue, appearing on the world stage as a country confused about its position in the world.
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 circus acrobat plunged to her death on Saturday while performing on the trapeze apparatus in front of a horrified crowd, police have said.

The young woman was performing at Circus Paul Busch in Brautzen, eastern Germany, when she fell from a height of around 5 metres in front of an audience of 80 people, German media is reporting.

Screams were heard in the audience which included a number of children, many of who are now receiving psychological support after they immediately left the tent following the accident, local outlet Sachsische Zeitung reported.

Police said the performer, a 27-year-old believed to be from Spain, succumbed to her injuries at the scene following the incident at 5:45pm, police spokesperson Stefan Heiduck told MDR. A police investigation is ongoing into the exact circumstances of the accident.

open image in gallery The performer was on the trapeze apparatus ( Getty Images )

"Yesterday's accident has deeply affected us, said Brautzen mayor Karten Vogt. On behalf of the city, I express my sincere condolences to the relatives and bereaved. Our thoughts are with the families and all those affected by this serious accident."

The circus had held its first performance on Friday, one night before the performers death. It was due to go on until 5 October, but police said the circus tent will now be dismantled.

The Independent has contacted the circus for comment on the death.

Following the incident, a handwritten note was placed in a ticket booth reading: "Due to a bereavement, the circus will be closed, an image published by German news agency dpa shows.

It is currently being treated as an industrial accident, with no evidence of third-party negligence - something which is unlikely given the artists tend to set up their own equipment, Mr Heiduck added.

He told Bild that the performer did not use a safety rope, adding: "She doesn't have to. She decides for herself whether to use safety rope. No one else was in the ring during the accident."

Ralf Huppertz, the chairman of the Association of German Circus Companies (VDCU), said the incident was a tragic accident.

"Especially for the visitors and the children, this is a terrible experience, a shock, he said.

Despite not recalling a fatal fall involving a female acrobat, Mr Huppertz said, he does recall a number of serious injuries.

"Actually, five meters isn't particularly high for acrobats; they're well-trained and muscular. The woman must have fallen very unluckily or onto an obstacle," 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

Ferrari and Stellantis chairman John Elkann is embroiled in a new legal dispute with his mother, Margherita Agnelli, after her lawyers presented a previously undisclosed handwritten amendment to her father, Gianni Agnellis, will.

The document, presented during a court hearing in Turin, could now raise questions over the ownership of Dicembre, the holding company at the top of Exor.

Exor, the Agnelli family investment firm led by Mr Elkann, controls luxury carmaker Ferrari and is the primary investor in Fiat-to-Jeep maker Stellantis.

Dicembre is currently owned by Margherita Agnellis three children from her first marriage: Mr Elkann and his siblings, Lapo and Ginevra.

Margherita Agnelli is locked in an inheritance dispute with the three of them over Gianni's estate after his death in 2003.

The handwritten note, dated 20 January 1998, was filed at a hearing on Monday, according to her lawyers.

It forms part of the civil case which she has brought in proceedings that are dividing one of Italy's best-known families.

open image in gallery The document could raise questions over the ownership of Dicembre, the holding company at the top of Exor, which controls Ferrari ( AP )

In the signed note, Gianni Agnelli stated that his roughly 25 per cent stake in Dicembre should be assigned to his son Edoardo, who subsequently died in 2000.

A separate document from 1996 had indicated that the shareholding should go to John Elkann, his grandson  which is what happened.

John Elkann's legal team said the alleged new document had no bearing on agreements reached in 2004 about Gianni Agnelli's estate.

The note was found during a separate criminal investigation by the Turin prosecutor's office into alleged tax evasion that ended this month with Elkann agreeing to a year of community service.

When Gianni Agnelli's will was opened in February 2003, the heirs had information only relating to the 1996 document, Margherita Agnelli's lawyers argued.

As a result, Gianni's widow, Marella Caracciolo donated a 25.37 per cent stake in Dicembre to Elkann, enabling him to gain a majority.

Margherita Agnelli's lawyers say that their client and Marella Caracciolo should have kept the portion of Dicembre intended for Edoardo.

She inherited 1.2 billion ($1.4 billion) after her father died but wants a greater share of the estate for her five children from her second marriage.

"The management of the Agnelli estate was established with the settlement agreement of February 2004, following which Margherita definitively withdrew from Dicembre's capital," Mr Elkann's lawyers 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

Greta Thunbergs 44-boat aid flotilla to Gaza has been forced to halt after yet another mishap, just two days after setting off from a Greek port where it had docked for repairs.

The fleet is edging closer towards the Gaza Strip, where it hopes to break through Israels naval blockade of the Palestinian territory in order to deliver humanitarian aid. After stopping on Friday in Greece due to difficult weather conditions and logistical challenges, the flotilla of more than 500 volunteers set sail again on Sunday, boat organisers said.

But a leak in the engine room of one of the vessels, named Johnny M, led the entire flotilla to be paused once again on Monday morning.

The fleet temporarily paused after Johnny M sustained a leak in the engine room. The situation could not be resolved at sea and the vessel is unable to continue, Global Sumud Flotilla wrote in a social media update at 9:13am local time (7:13am BST).

open image in gallery Greta Thunberg waves from a boat taking part in a civilian flotilla bound for Gaza, aiming to break the Israeli blockade and deliver humanitarian aid ( AP )

All participants have been safely transferred to another vessel, some will be reassigned to other boats and others will be brought ashore.

The group said the delay would not cause significant delays to the mission, which is set to arrive in as soon as four days.

Israeli authorities have characterised the mission as a publicity stunt, and warned that they will take the necessary action to prevent the volunteers from reaching Gaza with the aid.

Israel insists its blockade, which humanitarian organisations and the UN say is behind widespread hunger and famine in parts of the strip, is necessary to prevent aid falling into the hands of Hamas.

Activists on board the flotilla dispute accusations of a publicity stunt, with Ms Thunberg telling the BBCs Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: First of all I dont think anyone would risk their lives for a publicity stunt. Second of all, if you think its a publicity stunt, have you asked people in Gaza if they consider this a publicity stunt?

I repeat, this mission should not have to exist, we do not want to be doing this, but we have to keep trying, right?

On Sunday, Italys foreign minister Antonio Tajani repeated a proposal made last week for the flotilla to take the aid to Cyprus for eventual distribution in Gaza by the Roman Catholic Church. The flotilla rejected the suggestion.

We have always said ... that it is dangerous to approach Israeli waters. We dont know what might happen. Forcing the blockade is dangerous, Mr Tajani told reporters.

open image in gallery Activists and human rights defenders ride aboard one of the vessels, departing from Tunisias northern port of Bizerte ( AFP/Getty )

The flotilla rejected the proposal and has rejected demands from Israeli authorities that it hand over the aid for Israel to distribute through a US-backed aid agency.

It comes after the flotilla was struck by drones armed with stun grenades and irritants while in international waters off Crete on Wednesday, which caused damage but no injuries.
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

Two men and a woman have been found dead at a property in Co Louth.

Gardai said one man had been arrested after they were alerted to a serious incident in Tallanstown on Monday morning.

Irelands Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan said there was no further threat to the public following the criminal act.

A gardai statement said: Three people  two males and one female (all adults)  were found deceased at the scene.

The scene has been preserved for technical examination.

The offices of the coroner and the state pathologist have been notified.

A male, aged in his 30s, has been arrested and is currently detained at a station in the Garda North West Region under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.

The statement said investigations were ongoing.

Gardai have closed a road leading to an isolated property at the scene.

A blue-and-white forensic tent has been set up close to the property.

Mr OCallaghan said: I have information, An Garda Siochana have passed on information that I have received to the office.

I am conscious that it is a developing story and it is a sensitive issue but there is no further information I can put into the public domain at present.

I think further information will become available in due course.

He added: What I can say and what gardai have said is that they are not looking for anyone else in respect of this criminal act.

There is no ongoing threat to the public in Co Louth.

Sinn Fein Louth councillor Pearse McGeough said on social media that there was sad news coming out of Tallanstown this morning.

He added: I would ask people not to speculate until we know the facts.

Our thoughts are with the friends, family and the community.
On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

The main suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann has confronted the prosecutor who has accused him of the three-year-olds murder in 2007, according to a report.

German national Christian Brueckner made the trip to speak to prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters just days after he was released from prison, where he had been serving a seven-year rape sentence.

The 49-year-old suspect told Sky News that he wanted the prosecutor to take responsibility for his treatment by the media since Mr Wolters had stated publicly that he had evidence to show that Brueckner had killed Madeleine after she went missing in Portugal in 2007.

The prosecutor refused to meet me, but I told his representative I wanted his help to get my life back, Brueckner, who denies any involvement in Madeleines disappearance, told the broadcaster.

open image in gallery Christian Brueckner pictured in Braunschweig, where he travelled to in order to confront German prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters, according to Sky News ( Sky News )

Im being hounded by the media, and its his fault. I want him to take responsibility. I was told there was nothing they could do to help. I had been convicted and released, and I wasnt their responsibility.

The Metropolian Police said the 49-year-old remains a suspect in its own investigation  with Portuguese and German authorities also investigating Madeleines disappearance.

Friedrich Fulscher, Brueckners lawyer, drove him from jail to local authority accommodation in the town of Neumunster, north of Hamburg, where reporters tracked him down and exposed his new address.

open image in gallery Wolters has publicly accused Brueckner of killing Madeleine, but no charges have ever been brought ( PA Media )

Residents and local politicians responded angrily, with Karin Mundt, a hard-right populist councillor, warning locals not to go out alone and calling for a public protest and for Brueckner to be removed from the town.

Days of campaigning, alongside a number of claimed sightings of Brueckner, led police to move him out of Neumunster, to a hotel in an unnamed town.

Dr Fulscher told Stern magazine that the Braunschweig public prosecutors office  for whom Mr Wolters works  had fuelled this media campaign of prejudgement.

He added: It has told the public that it is certain it has the right person, without presenting sufficient evidence or even allowing my client to inspect the files.

I find this highly questionable from a constitutional point of view. In my opinion, the Braunschweig public prosecutors office has made rehabilitation impossible.

open image in gallery Brueckner was cleared by a German court of unrelated sexual offences, alleged to have taken place in Portugal between 2000 and 2017 ( AFP/Getty )

Mr Wolters said Brueckners release from prison has no direct impact on the investigation. Brueckner has not been charged in the case, in which he is under investigation on suspicion of murder.

As part of his release, Brueckner has had to surrender his passport and be fitted with an ankle tag.

Met police chief Sir Mark Rowley said the British investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine remains a missing person inquiry. He told journalists that the force is taking stock of the German and Portuguese investigations now that the prime suspect, Brueckner, has walked free from prison.

He remains a suspect for us. We are taking stock of where we are, and the German investigation and the Portuguese investigation, Sir Mark 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

Moldovas ruling pro-Western party won a resounding victory in parliamentary elections on Monday, overcoming several pro-Kremlin opponents in a vote overshadowed by accusations of Russian interference.

President Maia Sandus Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) had secured 50.2 per cent of the vote with all ballots counted by Monday. The pro-Russian Patriotic Electoral Bloc coalition sat at less than 25 per cent.

Electoral data indicate the PAS will hold a clear majority of about 55 of the 101 seats in the legislature.

PASs surprise majority comes as a major boost for the countrys bid to join the European Union by 2030 and break away from Moscows orbit amid rising tensions on Europes eastern frontier. The vote was widely seen as a choice for the electorate between aligning more closely with the West or folding back into Russias sphere of influence.

Ahead of the election, the government in Chisinau had accused Moscow of deliberately attempting to sway the vote through widespread disinformation and vote-buying. Russia denied the accusations.

National Security adviser Stanislav Secrieru claimed election infrastructure and government websites were hit by cyberattacks, and that fake bomb threats had been called in to polling stations in Moldova and abroad. Three people were also arrested in Moldova on suspicion of plotting unrest.

Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky hailed Moldovas election result, saying Moscow had failed to destabilise the country.

open image in gallery A supporter of the pro-EU Party of Action and Solidarity in Chisinau on Sunday ( AP )

These elections showed that Russias destabilising activity loses, while Moldova in Europe wins, he wrote on X. Russian subversion, constant disinformation  none of this worked. It is important that Moldova was effective in defending itself against threats together with all who helped.

Russian officials denied interference in the election and, in turn, accused the Moldovan government of meddling.

Igor Dodon, leading the pro-Russian bloc, claimed victory before results were announced and rejected the outcome, claiming allies were compiling evidence of electoral violations.

He called for a peaceful protest outside parliament today.

Leonid Slutsky, head of the Committee on International Affairs in Russias parliament, said on Telegram there had been violations of electoral rights and freedoms, large-scale purges of the political space, and blatant falsifications.

The Sandu regime is leading Moldova down the path of Ukraine, he said.

open image in gallery Former president Igor Dodon, a member of the pro-Russian Patriotic Electoral Bloc, is denying the outcome of the election ( AP )

Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, hailed the outcome in a post on X: Moldova, youve done it again. No attempt to sow fear or division could break your resolve.

Some polls leading up to the election had put PAS and the Patriotic bloc neck-and-neck with neither likely to get a majority. Turnout was at 52 per cent  a rise from recent elections.

Natia Seskuria, associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), told The Independent the result marks a decisive setback for Moscow, which she said has invested considerable resources in undermining the countrys pro-Western foreign policy aspirations.

Crucially, this outcome also illustrated that, despite pervasive Russian interference, the Moldovan government has successfully strengthened societal resilience, prepared its citizens for potential disruptions, and dismantled Moscows disinformation campaigns.

She said that concerns around electoral interference show the Kremlins growing sense of desperation to preserve influence over countries it continues to regard as falling within its sphere of influence, and warned that Moldova will remain at the forefront of Russian pressure, serving as a testing ground for the Kremlins hybrid tactics.
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

Denmark has said it was the victim of a hybrid attack after repeated unexplained drone activity near five of its airports this week.

The most recent was Aalborg airport, in north Denmark, which closed on Friday following the drone sightings, while Esbjerg, Sonderborg and Skrydstrup regions all remained open despite similar incidents.

They came just two days after Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen refused to rule out Russian involvement when drone sightings forced Copenhagen airport into shutdown for four hours, in what she described as a serious attack on critical Danish infrastructure.

After Wednesdays incident, defence minister Troels Lund Poulsen warned that it certainly does not look like a coincidence, it looks systematic, this is what I would define as a hybrid attack.

Similar drone sightings occurred in Sweden this week, including two mysterious drones spotted over the Karlskrona archipelago in the countrys southeast, and in Norway, where Oslo airport was forced to close for three hours on the same night as the incident in the Danish capital.

As Danish politicians hint at a real possibility of Russian involvement, The Independent takes a look at why Moscow would seek to target a country so far away.

open image in gallery A light moves in the sky over Aalborg, amid reports of drone sightings that led to the city's airport to close ( Morten Skov via REUTERS )

Russia and Denmarks fraught recent history

Whats been overlooked in a lot of the foreign media coverage is the history, in terms of Russia making angry noises towards Copenhagen, Keir Giles, an expert on the Russian military and author of Russias War on Everybody: And What It Means For You, explained to The Independent.

This includes the old litany of nuclear threats, precisely because Denmark is interested in defending itself, because it is looking at purchases of long-range precision strike munitions that Russia would not like it to have, he added.

open image in gallery The Danish police are seen at Copenhagen airport, in Kastrup near Copenhagen on Monday ( Ritzau Scanpix )

Last Wednesday, Denmark said it would acquire long-range precision weapons for the first time as it cited the need to deter Russia.

With these weapons, the defence forces will be able to hit targets at long range and, for example, neutralise enemy missile threats, Ms Frederiksen said, explaining the weapons could include either missiles or drones.

It provoked a sharp reaction from Moscow, with Vladimir Barbin, the Russian ambassador to Denmark, describing the Danish justification about needing to strike long-distance targets as pure madness.

Barbin then issued a thinly veiled nuclear threat to Copenhagen.

No one, anywhere, ever in the world has considered threatening a nuclear power publicly. These statements will undoubtedly be taken into account, he wrote on Telegram.

From now on, we must assume that Denmark is not only considering the possibility of a direct military confrontation with Russia, but is also preparing for such a scenario.

open image in gallery Ms Frederiksen refused to rule out the possibility of Russian involvement ( Ritzau Scanpix )

Katja Bego, a senior research fellow in Chatham Houses International Security programme, said that of the countries which dont border Europe, Denmark has been one of the frontrunner countries in terms of challenging Russian aggression.

Theres been this longer-term pattern that Denmark is one of those places thats really pushing the rest of the [Nato} alliance to increase [military] support, she added.

Sowing distrust in the Danish population

Russia could be cynically trying to sow distrust in the Danish population, which has been largely in favour of significant support for Ukraine, Ms Bego explained.

[They are] kind of selling distrust or division among the population. Other countries that were targeted here were all very staunch supporters of Ukraine, and countries near Ukraine, she said.

These are Ukraines strongest supporters, which I think is part of a longer-term pattern. Weve seen quite a lot of this activity in the Baltic Sea.

So I think the choice of countries here is certainly not random.

The benefit of doing this, she explains, is that it creates fear and may make populations less willing to support Ukraine moving forward.

There is a significant financial cost to use incredibly expensive missiles to shoot down really cheap drones, as she says was done in the case of Russias incursion into Poland with around 20 drones earlier this month.

open image in gallery Danish police and Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET) are present at DSB on Kystvejen by Copenhagen airport, Tuesday ( Ritzau Scanpix )

Is Moscow testing the waters for an expanded war?

Its been widely suggested that Moscow is looking to probe Nato defences to ascertain how they would really respond to a more meaningful incursion of Russias military.

Nobody is in any doubt that Russias ambition goes far beyond Ukraine, and to carry out that ambition, Russia needs to know whether it will be opposed, Mr Giles said.

Although it is unconfirmed whether Russia was involved with the recent drone incidents, he said, Moscow still learns a great deal from it, even if it was just local idiots.

One of the primary benefits is understanding more about the capacity of Nato and individual countries to counter Russian operations and the willingness to actually respond in a meaningful fashion, he said.

But the capacity for victim states to deal with the threat has been proven to be very limited, he added.

open image in gallery Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to Ella Pamfilova, head of the Russian Central Election Commission, during their meeting a the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on Friday ( AP )

The drone incidents would be a good means of normalising the state of conflict, he added, allowing Russia to get to a position where these kinds of Russian actions are part of the background noise, as opposed to something which ought to be unacceptable.

Ms Bego agrees, arguing that it may be Russia testing the waters, or trying to see how Alliance members of Nato might respond.

She added: In this case, these are kind of lower key drones, but [the response] would not necessarily look that dissimilar if you were looking at a bigger escalation.
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 12-year-old girl was among four killed and at least 70 injured after a 12-hour Russian drone and missile attack on Ukraine, with the capital Kyiv suffering the heaviest assault.

The air assault, which took place overnight and into Sunday, was the first major bombardment since a similar attack killed at least 21 people last month.

Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the vile bombardment that lasted more than 12 hours and involved nearly 600 drones and several dozen missiles.

News of the destruction came as Denmarks defence ministry said that it had observed drones at several of its armed forces locations overnight for a second consecutive day.

open image in gallery Houses destroyed in Russias air attack in Kyiv ( AFP via Getty )

Nato has said that it will upgrade its mission in the Baltic Sea following reports of drone incursions into Denmark.

Colonel Martin ODonnel, a Nato spokesperson, said that we will conduct even more enhanced vigilance with new multi-domain assets in the Baltic Sea region, which includes Denmark, under Baltic Sentry.

He said Nato leaders had been in constant contact with Danish leaders about the recent drone incidents and that the assets would include "multiple intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms and at least one air-defence frigate".

open image in gallery Rescuers work at the site of heavily damaged residential buildings in Kyiv ( AFP via Getty )

Separately, Germany said that following a request from Denmark, its armed forces would provide military support for the upcoming European Union summit later this week in Copenhagen

In Ukraine, Mr Zelensky said Zaporizhzhia, Khmelnytskyi, Sumy, Mykolaiv, Chernihiv and Odesa regions were also hit in the renewed Russian attacks.

Zaporizhzhias governor Ivan Fedorov said three children  two boys, aged 11 and 12 and a nine-year-old girl, were among the 34 people injured in the region.

Ilona Kovalenko, a 38-year-old resident of a five-storey building in Kyiv's Solomianskyi district that was struck, described being woken up by an explosion which shattered windows.

open image in gallery A man prepares to cover a damaged car with a plastic sheet at the site of a Russian air attack on the outskirts of Kyiv ( AFP via Getty )

She said that the 12-year-old girl, named Oleksandra, who died in the attack, was her neighbours daughter.

"A neighbour kept knocking on our door. She was completely covered in blood and shouting, 'help, save my daughter'," said Ms Kovalenko, who fled the building with her grandmother after the strike.

"Sadly, she died on the spot," Ms Kovalenko added. "We are in shock, to be honest."

Mr Zelensky vowed that Ukraine will strike back and called on the US and Europe to curb their Russian oil and gas imports.

Ukraines foreign minister Andrii Sybiha responded to the attack, saying: We must maximise the cost of further escalation for Russia.

Russias defence ministry said on Sunday that it had carried out a massive attack on Ukraine using long-range air and sea-based weapons and drones to hit military infrastructure, including airfields.

The assault also triggered military responses in neighbouring Poland, where fighter jets were deployed early on Sunday as Russia struck targets in western Ukraine, according to the Polish armed forces.

Reporting contributed by The Associated Press and Reuters.
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

Ukraine could soon receive some long-range Tomahawk missiles, vice president JD Vance has said, adding that Donald Trump will make the final decision on the deal.

Volodymyr Zelensky asked the US to sell the highly coveted weapons to European nations that would send them to Ukraine. With a range of 2,500km, adding Tomahawk missiles to Ukraines artillery would put Russias capital within Kyivs range, something that could be seen by Vladimir Putin as an escalation in the three-and-a-half-year war.

President Trump has previously denied Ukraines requests for the use of long-range missiles in the past, but as he grows more frustrated with Moscow, he appears to be more accepting of Zelenskys requests.

The US leader has not often granted Ukraines requests, but suggested in June that the US could send more Patriot missile systems to Ukraine.

Speaking at the recent Nato summit in the Netherlands, the president said well see what happens when asked whether Washington would add to the $8bn pledged by Nato allies.

They do want to have the anti-missile missiles, OK, as they call them, the Patriots, the US president said. And were going to see if we can make some available. We need them, too. Were supplying them to Israel, and theyre very effective, 100 per cent effective. Hard to believe how effective. They do want that more than any other thing.

It would be a major boost for Kyiv to receive military assistance from the Trump administration, which has been highly resistant to sending the levels of weaponry provided to Ukraine during the Biden era.

open image in gallery Donald Trump said he would consider giving Ukraine more missiles ( Getty )

Here, The Independent takes a look at what weapons the US and other countries have been sending to Ukraine and Russia as the war show no signs of ending soon.

Who is arming Ukraine?

Kyivs most significant military support comes from the EU.

The Kiel Institute, which runs a database tracking the level of military support to Ukraine since the war began, says EU member states have provided more than 67 billion euros of military aid to Ukraine between January 2022 and June 2025.

Ukraine has been supplied hundreds of tanks from Poland and Germany including the German Leopard 2, nearly 300 Dutch infantry vehicles, 76 howitzers from Italy and 16 Czech air defence systems.

This is a small snapshot of the vast array of different weapons, both defensive and offensive, provided to Ukraine by countries across Europe.

open image in gallery A Ukrainian troop prepares to fire a M109 self-propelled howitzer ( Reuters )

The UK has provided the second largest amount of military aid, at 13.8bn, second only to Germanys 16.5bn. The UKs figure was not included in the total EU figure above.

London has committed up to a further 21.8bn, including 13bn on military support and 5.3bn on non-military.

Britain has sent dozens of howitzers, a number of Storm Shadow missiles, six multiple launch rocket systems and 13 Raven air defence systems.

open image in gallery Defence secretary John Healey is shown a missile being built at the MBDA Storm Shadow factory in Stevenage ( Getty )

Washington, meanwhile, has provided more than 64 bn (55bn) in military support.

Since November, after much lobbying by Kyiv, the US-made ATACMS missiles have been used by Ukraine in crucial strikes on targets deep inside Russia, with a range of around 190 miles (300km).

F-16 fighter jets built in the US, hundreds of M777 howitzers, dozens of HIMARS multiple rocket launchers and Abrams tanks, and more than 300 infantry vehicles are among the weapons sent to Ukraine by the US.

But the introduction of long-range Tomahawks would be a major military boost for Ukraine, with Kyiv having persistently pushed for long-range and more powerful weapons to allow it to strike targets deeper inside Russia.

US aid has totalled 114.6bn of financial, humanitarian and military donations to Ukraine since the war began, as of June this year, the Kiel Institute said. Europe, including the UK, has totalled 167.4bn.

open image in gallery Ukrainian soldiers fire a BM-21 Grad rocket towards Russian troops ( Reuters )

Who is arming Russia?

Russia too has received wide support from a number of allies who are pitched alongside Moscow against Western interests  although the exact picture is a little more blurred.

Iran and North Korea are two of Moscows clearest military supporters.

Tehran has provided crucial support for Russias air capabilities, providing it with thousands of Shahed drones, which have brought huge destruction to Ukraine since the war began in February 2022.

Russia regularly fires hundreds of mass-produced drones at Ukraine overnight, in a modern style of warfare which has transformed how a conventional conflict is carried out.

But Moscow believes Tehrans importance as a supplier has declined as Russia has localised production of the drones  a move which Iran has provided significant support for.

open image in gallery Russia fires dozens of Shahed-style drones at Ukraine almost every night ( AP )

North Korea, meanwhile, has sent troops to Russia to help fight Ukrainian forces in Russias Kursk region.

After signing a treaty which includes a mutual defence pact, Kim Jong Un is said to have sent around 12,000 North Korean troops, who assisted Russian forces in driving the Ukrainian military out of the region.

Western countries also claim China is militarily supporting the war effort in Ukraine, something which Beijing has repeatedly denied.

Russia and China have built an increasingly close bond since the war began. Presidents Xi Jinping and Putin signed a no-limits partnership and have repeatedly hailed each other as dear friends.

open image in gallery Kim Jong Un, pictured with Russian Security Council secretary Sergei Shoigu, has been providing Kyiv with troops ( AP )

Beijing has been sending so-called dual-use technology, which can be used for both civilian and military purposes, leaving plausible deniability for China to avoid Western sanctions.

According to Politico, Russian imports of drones and ceramics  which is a component used in body armour  has significantly increased since the war began. The Wall Street Journal reports that dual-use navigation equipment, jamming technology, and fighter jet parts were sold to Russian state-owned companies.

In April, Mr Zelensky said Ukrainian intelligence had found that gunpowder and artillery had been supplied by Chinese enterprises.

We talked with the Chinese leader and he gave me his word that he wont sell or give weapons to Russia. Unfortunately, we have facts and see the opposite information, Mr Zelensky said at the time.

On Thursday, Chinas foreign ministry denied it was supplying weapons to parties in the Ukraine war, and accused relevant Nato personnel of slandering Chinas normal military build-up.

Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for the foreign ministry, was responding to Nato chief Mark Rutte saying there was a massive build-up of the military in China.
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 wallaby is currently at large in Berlin, prompting local police to issue a public advisory: keep your distance, but maintain visual contact if spotted. The marsupial, a smaller relative of a kangaroo, was first reported on Sunday morning, meandering through the western Spandau area of the German capital.

Chief Inspector Martin Halweg confirmed on Monday that Berlin police are no longer actively pursuing the animal, as it is not believed to pose an immediate threat to public safety  for now. Officers were initially dispatched after passersby reported the creature on the run, but it eluded capture by darting into a forest, and its trail was subsequently lost.

Berlin police are not equipped with specialist tools for capturing kangaroos or wallabies, possessing only blankets or snares typically used for free-roaming dogs, Halweg explained. A video circulating on Facebook, depicting a wallaby hopping down a dark street before pausing to lick its paws as a womans voice expressed surprise, appears to have been filmed around the time of its disappearance.

German media reports suggest the approximately 90-centimetre-tall wallaby belongs to a private owner, though the precise circumstances of its escape remain unclear. "Berlin police recommend that if you see the animal, notify police or the Berlin Animal Catcher," Halweg advised. "They also advise keeping your distance and maintaining visual contact with the animal so that emergency personnel can approach it."

While the city's police do not typically record lost animals, Chief Inspector Halweg, with over three decades of service, noted the extreme rarity of such an incident. He remarked: "Such cases are indeed very rare," highlighting the unusual nature of the ongoing marsupial hunt.
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

Iran executed Bahman Choubi-asl on Monday, with the judiciarys Mizan news agency claiming he was one of the most important spies for Israel in Iran.

The Islamic Republic has a history of executing individuals accused of links to Israel's Mossad intelligence service, amid a decades-long shadow war between the two nations.

The main goal of Mossad in attracting the defendants cooperation was to obtain the database of governmental institutions and create a breach in Iranian data centres, along with which it also pursued other secondary goals, including investigating the route of importing electronic equipment, Mizan said.

The Supreme Court had rejected the defendants appeal and confirmed the death sentence on charges of corruption on earth, it said.

open image in gallery Damage at a residential building in Tehran from an Israeli attack on 13 June ( Getty )

The Iran-Israel conflict escalated into a direct war in June when Israel struck various targets inside Iran, including through operations that relied on Mossad commandos being deployed deep inside the country.

Executions of Iranians convicted of spying for Israel have significantly increased this year, with at least 10 death sentences carried out in recent months.

Earlier this month, Iran executed a man identified as Babak Shahbazi.

State media said Shahbazi had worked alongside Esmail Fekri, another convict executed in June for spying for Israel since early 2022.

Shahbazi was accused of using his position as a contractor installing cooling devices to collect information from sensitive locations such as server rooms, as well as centres linked to the military and security apparatus.

The defendants lawyer had requested an appeal to the Supreme Court, which rejected the request.

It comes as Iran was accused of a mass killing campaign in a new NGO report.

More than 1,000 people were executed between January and September this year, according to the Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights (IHR). An estimated 64 hangings were carried out last week alone.

The figure is likely to be an underestimate due to restrictions on reporting, the IHR said.

Executions are thought to have spiked following Irans 12-day war with Israel earlier this year, as officials ordered a crackdown on alleged spies acting for Israel.

In recent months, the Islamic Republic has begun a mass killing campaign in Irans prisons, the dimensions of which, in the absence of serious international reactions, are expanding every day, said the groups director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam.

The widespread, arbitrary executions of prisoners without due process and fair trial rights amount to crimes against humanity and must be placed at the top of the international communitys agenda regarding the Islamic Republic.
On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

Donald Trump said something special was going to happen in Gaza even as Benjamin Netanyahu struck a cautious tone about the US presidents ceasefire plan ahead of their high-stakes talks at the White House on Monday.

The US president and the Israeli prime minister are set to meet at the White House on Monday to discuss a US-drafted 21-point proposal aimed at halting the war in Gaza and laying out its post-war governance.

Mr Trump appeared confident on the eve of the meeting, saying, we will get it done as his administration worked to close a comprehensive plan to get all the Israeli hostages released.

We have a real chance for GREATNESS IN THE MIDDLE EAST, Mr Trump wrote on social media. ALL ARE ON BOARD FOR SOMETHING SPECIAL, FIRST TIME EVER. WE WILL GET IT DONE!!! President DJT.

This came as the death toll from Israels war on Hamas topped 66,000, Gazas health ministry said on Sunday.

The rising death toll of Palestinians, mostly women and children, has led to intensifying international pressure on Israel to end its war in Gaza, especially amid its ground offensive in the north of the besieged territory.

Mr Netanyahu, however, said that a ceasefire plan had not been finalised yet. But were working with President Trumps team, actually, as we speak, and I hope we can make it a go, he added in an interview with Fox News.

Smoke billows over Gaza City following an Israeli airstrike as displaced Palestinians flee on 24 September ( AP )

Mr Trump earlier said the 21-point proposal for an immediate ceasefire between Hamas and Israel would include the release of all Israeli hostages within 48 hours, the disarmament of Hamas, the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, and a steady withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.

Hamas said on Sunday that they had not received any new proposal for a ceasefire. It, however, reiterated readiness to examine any proposals it receives from its mediator brothers in a positive and responsible manner, while upholding the national rights of our people.

A Hamas official, who was not named, said they had been briefed about the plan but had yet to receive a formal offer from Egyptian and Qatari mediators.

Mr Netanyahu was likely to push for changes in the ceasefire plan, three Israeli officials said on Sunday, according to CNN, even as many of the details had been worked out in advance with the Israeli leader.

He worked on the plan in advance in close details, one official said, adding that White House was aware that Mr Netanyahu would not accept all of the outline of the plan.

The dynamics appear more serious this time, said a senior Israeli official, but it still needs to cross the final line.

Mr Netanyahu met Mr Trumps envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner in New York on Thursday, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, to discuss the plan.

Mr Trump had unveiled the ceasefire and post-war proposal to Arab states at the UN two days earlier.

Citing a senior US official, Axios reporter Barak Ravid said on Sunday that the US and Israel were very close to signing an agreement on the 21-point plan. The official added that Hamas still needed to agree, Mr Ravid said.

On Sunday, the Israeli military said in an X/Twitter post that its warplanes had bombed 140 targets across Gaza over the previous 24 hours.

The Gaza health ministry said in a statement that at least 77 people had been killed by Israeli fire in the past 24 hours. Emergency workers were unable to respond to dozens of desperate calls from trapped residents, it added.

Gazas Civil Emergency Service said late on Saturday that Israel had denied 73 requests, sent via international organisations, to let it rescue injured Palestinians in Gaza City. The Israeli military had no immediate 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

A plan is underway for eternal peace in the Middle East with officials very, very close to a ceasefire deal in Gaza, a beaming Donald Trump declared during a White House press conference with Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday.

The reason? His new extremely fair 20-point peace proposal.

A plan so great, he claimed, that European leaders have been on the phone heralding it as the most incredible thing weve heard.

Some think its the biggest thing theyve ever heard. They called just to find out: was it just a rumour or is it actually done? he added.

Certainly the leaders of Qatar, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt released a joint statement immediately afterwards welcoming Trumps sincere efforts to end the war in Gaza.

But after reading the 20-point proposal and listening to Netanyahus interpretation of it, Im not sure that either Hamas  the militant group Israel has been fighting for two years  or the internationally recognised Palestinian Authority based in the occupied West Bank will agree to it.

Crucially, it was presented, not in a mediated negotiation process between two sides of a conflict, but as something already negotiated that Hamas must accept or face the consequences. The plan itself is scant on details and absent of most timelines.

There also appears to be some daylight between what the White House has written down and how Benjamin Netanyahu has chosen to interpret the words publicly.

open image in gallery Former UK prime minister Sir Tony Blair is set for a role on Donald Trumps Board of Peace in Gaza ( Victoria Jones/PA )

Speaking at the press conference (which Palestinians were not invited to), Netanyahu made it very clear that Trumps plan is entirely consistent with the five principles his government has already set out for the day after. Principles which have already been rejected by the Palestinian Authority (PA) as a boots-on-the-ground occupation of Gaza, and that Hamas has said would be a surrender that would prolong genocide.

Netanyahus principles include, he repeated: the disarmament of Hamas; the demilitarisation of Gaza; Israel retaining security responsibility, including a security perimeter for the foreseeable future; and the creation of a new civil administration led neither by Hamas nor by the Palestinian Authority.

Pouring fuel on the fire is the fact that Trumps plan includes no provision or guarantees for the creation of a Palestinian state  a key demand from the Palestinians, the Middle East region and something which a slew of countries, including the UK, have officially endorsed, as the slaughter in Gaza has reached unprecedented proportions.

Instead, the plan somewhat confusingly suggests that after the removal of Hamas, if the PA reforms enough to be allowed back into some role of governance and following the imposition of a transitional authority (overseen by Donald Trump and Tony Blair), then, and only then, the conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood.

But again, no guarantees. No timelines. No details.

At the press conference, Netanyahu leapt on this.

He said he welcomed Donald Trumps rejection of a Palestinian state and added that recognising it in the plan would be an outcome that, after October 7 [2023 attacks], would reward terrorists, undermine security, and endanger Israels very existence.

Netanyahu, who already has an outstanding International Criminal Courtarrest warrant against him, also added a few more caveats to the PAs reform programme that are not listed in Trumps 20-point proposal, including ending lawfare against Israel at the ICC and the International Court of Justice, which effectively means he is demanding impunity.

Trumps plan itself introduces the notion of a New Gaza, accompanied by a map so simplistic it looks as though a boomer was unleashed on Microsoft Paint.

Simply entitled End of Gaza War, it is decorated with three primary-coloured lines indicating a three-stage Israeli withdrawal, with no timelines or operational details revealed.

open image in gallery Trumps vision of post-war Gaza  with three lines indicating where the Israeli military will allegedly withdraw to ( The White House )

In essence, it states that within the first 72 hours of the peace proposal being signed, Hamas will release all 48 remaining hostages, alive and deceased, in exchange for several hundred Palestinian prisoners. Again, something Hamas is unlikely to agree to.

New Gaza, as it is referred to, will then be immediately disarmed and demilitarised.

The PA will only be permitted to govern once it has completed its reform programme. In the interim, there will be temporary transitional governance by a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee responsible only for the day-to-day running of public services and municipalities. That will be overseen by a board of peace, headed by Sir Tony Blair and Donald Trump himself.

A temporary International Stabilisation Force  built by the US, Arab countries, and other international partners  will train and vet Palestinian police, and effectively run security in Gaza. I presume that this will be alongside Israelis, as the timeline withdrawal of its troops is unclear.

open image in gallery Palestinians run to escape an Israeli air assault [file] ( Yousef Al Zanoun/AP )

Israel will not be permitted to occupy or annex Gaza, and no one will be forced to leave. The Israeli military will progressively hand over Gaza, although no dates have been given.

Hamas handing over all hostages  their only leverage  within 72 hours, surrendering all their weapons and power, and leaving the strip on the vague promise of amnesty, while relinquishing ever participating in Palestinian political life or in Gaza, is something the militant group is highly unlikely to agree to.

A Gaza that is not permitted to be run by the Palestinian Authority, where Israel and Netanyahu are shielded from the ICC and ICJ, will also be difficult for the West Bank-based authorities to accept.

On the other hand, a Gaza where Palestinians are not forced to leave and that cannot be annexed will not be favourable to the extreme-right settler factions within Netanyahus government.

Cabinet members like far-right settler and finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, who has called for the total destruction of Gaza and, at a recent conference, promised a real estate bonanza with Gazas prime seafront location.

There have been pledges of support. From Sir Tony, who called it bold and intelligent, to French president Emmanuel Macron, who welcomed Trumps commitment to ending the war.

The joint statement from key regional, Arab and Muslim countries also threw their weight behind it. But without the buy-in from the Palestinian leadership, it is hard to see how far Trumps incredible proposal will go.
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

Spend an arm and a leg on flights to visit friends and loved ones for Thanksgiving and Christmas and the turkey dinner and pecan pie could leave a bitter taste.

To help sweeten the deal, research has revealed the cheapest days to fly for both holiday periods  and a secret best week for traveling abroad.

However, if you want the best prices, you'll need to get moving now on booking tickets.

A study by flight-deal-finder Going indicates that flying on the holiday itself will give you the best bang for your buck in 2025, with savings of between 15 and 30 percent.

Though it does depend on the region you're jetting off to.

open image in gallery A study indicates that flying on Thanksgiving or Christmas Day means saving between 15 and 30 percent ( Getty Images/iStockphoto )

Thanksgiving

For Thanksgiving (November 27), the cheapest date for flights to the Midwest, including Illinois and Ohio, is on the 27th, with savings of 15.3 percent. The second-cheapest date for that region is November 24, with savings of 13 percent.

November 27 is also the cheapest date for the Northeast (including New York, Maine and New Hampshire) and Southeast (including Florida and South Carolina), with savings of 16.5 percent and 16.7 percent respectively. Likewise, November 24 is the second-cheapest day to fly to both areas, with savings of 6.9 percent and 13.4 percent respectively.

For travel to the Southwest (including Texas and Arizona), November 24 is the cheapest Thanksgiving date to fly, with flights up to 19.9 percent cheaper on this day. The second-cheapest day is November 27, with airfares down 12.3 percent.

The cheapest day to fly to the West Coast (including California, Oregon and Nevada) is markedly different  November 17, when flyers can save up to 15.4 percent. The second-cheapest day is November 26, with fares up to 4.6 percent cheaper.

For Thanksgiving, the most expensive departure dates are the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, November 26, with average one-way fares of $756. For return trips, travelers should avoid the Sunday after Thanksgiving, November 30, when fares average $850.

open image in gallery A table revealing the cheapest days to fly for Thanksgiving 2025 ( Going )

The research by Going also shows that fares overseas quietly drop the week of Thanksgiving, making it one of the best times to travel abroad for Americans.

Going noticed that fares are down 10 to 30 percent on average to destinations across Western Europe, Canada and Western Asia.

Recent Going roundtrip deals for the week of Thanksgiving include New YorkLondon or Stockholm: $394 (51 percent off); Los AngelesLisbon: $494 (45 percent off); Cleveland or HartfordDublin: $438 and $409 (50 to 53 percent off); and Daytona BeachParis: $522 (49 percent off).

Christmas

In terms of Christmas savings, for those flying to the Midwest or Northeast, the cheapest day to jet off for both areas is December 25, with fares down by up to 30.1 percent and 27.8 percent respectively. The second cheapest day to fly to these areas is also the same  December 24, with savings of 24.8 percent and 25.5 percent respectively.

December 24 is the cheapest day to fly to the Southeast (27.1 percent cheaper), Southwest (18.8 percent) and West Coast (20.1 percent), while the second-cheapest day for the Southeast is December 23 (20.7 percent); for the Southwest it's December 25 (15.3 percent) and for the West Coast it's December 23 (17.2 percent).

open image in gallery A table revealing the cheapest days for flying over the Christmas period ( Going )

The most expensive departure dates are the Saturday before Christmas, December 20, at $905; while for return trips, travelers should avoid the Saturday after Christmas, December 27, when fares average $850.

Going said that Americans are searching earlier this year for both Thanksgiving and Christmas flights  15 days earlier on average for each holiday  and warned that travelers should book their Thanksgiving flights by the end of September to get the best deal, and Christmas and overseas flights by early October.

Going travel expert Katy Nastro commented: "Flying on the holiday itself continues to be the best bang for your buck when it comes to holiday travel. However, it's not the only option for savings. Depending on where flyers are heading this year, just shifting their dates by as little as one day before the holiday can help save up to 19 percent, which can add up for families.

"If travelers are heading further afield or want to squeeze a bit more time from the holiday, we suggest targeting the second-best days, which can still offer savings."
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

European night trains departing Paris may soon be cut from rail schedules, says a French citizens collective.

According to Oui au train de nuit? (OuiTdN), two overnight routes from the French capital to Berlin and Vienna are at risk of cancellation from as early as December 2025.

The line to Berlin, operated by Austrian railways OBB and French operator SNCF, was fully relaunched in 2023 after nine years with the promise of a daily service by autumn 2024.

As the connections from Paris have only been running three return trips a week, the government is allegedly threatening to withdraw its subsidy for the trains, citing a lack of commitment from the operator, OuiTdN said.

The trains have proved to be popular and regularly run to capacity, according to transport site Hurrail. Despite the high demand, the SNCF has not managed to supply a daily service, and thus does not promote it widely.

OuiTdN claims SNCF does not advertise or sell tickets for the Nightjet trains on its SNCF Connect platform, despite the service carrying over 66,000 passengers in 2024.

In a statement, the citizen collective said: International night trains are in the same situation in 2025 as national night trains were in 2015: the SNCF is degrading the service and thus encouraging the state to get rid of it, against a backdrop of an ill-adapted regulatory framework.

The Oui au train de nuit? group is now petitioning Jean-Pierre Farandou, president of the SNCF, and French president Emmanuel Macron to save the night trains.

It said: It is unacceptable that the only two international night trains serving France year-round should disappear. Each of the stakeholders has room to act, and each can take a step toward truly reviving international night trains.

Per the petition, OuiTdN are asking SNCF, OBB and DB to offer two daily night trains to Vienna and Berlin.

According to OuiTdN, the European Union is promoting unfair competition with air travel by making it difficult to finance international train lines.

The group added: The EU could subsidise night trains to balance competition with air travel and rebuild the night train network after two decades of underinvestment.

This is an urgent action to have an alternative at a time when air travel is going to become more expensive.

The Independent has contacted SNCF for comment.

Read more: New European sleeper train planned from Belgium to Slovakia
Smoke curled up from the subway grate as I stepped out of Wall Street station. A light drizzle misted the streets as Manhattan mums wrestled with buggies, men in suits sprinted past clutching bagels, and the New York Stock Exchange ticker blinked market updates between the corners of Wall Street and Exchange Place. It was a regular weekday in the worlds most important financial district. The Lower Manhattan skyline towered over me as I waited patiently for the traffic light to turn green, the early summer heat sticking to me despite the rain.

As I turned the corner into Edgar Street, it was hard to believe that this area  now the centre of global finance  was once known as Little Syria, home to the first Arab community in both the United States and the wider continent. Formed in the 1880s by immigrants from Ottoman-controlled Greater Syria, it was once a neighbourhood of Arabic shop signs, bookshops, bakeries, and newspapers  the latter made possible by the linotype machines early adaptation for Arabic script. Around 95,000 Arabs arrived in the States during the Great Migration of 18801924, many settling in Lower Manhattan because of its proximity to the docks, where the men could find work.

Exploring this overlooked part of New Yorks history this year  during the citys 400th anniversary  felt especially poignant. It was a chance to reflect not just on the communities that built it, but on how easily entire histories risk vanishing when neighbourhoods are erased. This reality of erasure felt particularly stark standing opposite the Battery Parking Garage, with a TGI Fridays across the street. If not for the Elizabeth H. Berger Plaza tucked in between, thered be little sign this was ever a cultural stronghold that would have been scented with shisha and baklava rather than pizza and cheesecake.

open image in gallery Bench dedicated to Pen League at the Elizabeth H. Berger Plaza ( Queenie Shaikh/The Independent )

Read more: Best hotels in New York 2025, reviewed

The plaza is a quiet patch of green with winding stone paths and signs commemorating the history of the Financial District and Little Syria. Located just south of the World Trade Center, it now echoes with the sound of children splashing in muddy puddles  a far cry from when it nurtured Arab American intellectuals such as Kahlil Gibran and Ameen Rihani. The circular space is dotted with benches, each dedicated to a member of the Pen League, a collective of Syrian and Lebanese writers formed in 1920 to revitalise Arabic literature. I wiped rainwater off one bench that had been donated by the Southern Federation of Syrian Lebanese American Clubs and dedicated to their forefathers who had arrived here more than a century ago.

The neighbourhoods disappearance began with the Immigration Act of 1924 (which imposed limits on the number of immigrants allowed to enter the United States from a given country and outright banned Asians and Arabs), followed by the construction of the BrooklynBattery Tunnel in the 1940s, and continued with the later expansion of the World Trade Center complex. That disappearance felt even more tangible as I walked around the corner of Rector Street and into Washington Street. Today, only three buildings of Little Syria remain, each indicative of a different facet of the areas previously thriving culture: church, community, and home.

open image in gallery St Georges Syrian Catholic Church ( Queenie Shaikh/The Independent )

Washington Street was once alive with meat markets, silk traders, and people spilling from cafes. Many Syrian immigrants began as peddlers, but their entrepreneurial spirit quickly transformed the neighbourhood: by the early 1900s, more than 300 businesses had been established. Seventy of them were linen shops, largely staffed by women with roots in the Lebanese silk industry. Rector Street even earned a reputation as New Yorks lingerie capital. One of the areas most famous establishments was Sahadis, a Lebanese gourmet grocery shop that first opened in the 1890s on Washington Street. Like many of its Middle Eastern counterparts, it relocated to Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn in 1948 as the neighbourhoods purpose began to shift.

Today, the spire of One World Trade Center looms in the distance  a reminder that the remains of Little Syria were staggeringly close to the destruction of 9/11. Now, the end of Washington Street is flanked by a lone coffee shop, a rare undeveloped patch of land, newbuild apartments, and assorted, almost abandoned, road furniture.

Read more: How New Yorks immigrant communities built a culinary capital

St Georges Syrian Catholic Church  also known as St Georges Chapel  stands beside the worlds tallest Holiday Inn on 103 Washington Street, its outline framed by scaffolding. Deconsecrated for decades, the building housed a well-known Irish tavern for 30 years, and more recently, a now-defunct Chinese restaurant. The church, with its distinctive terracotta facade, was originally built in 1812 and served as a place of worship from the 1920s to the 1940s. Initially constructed as a three-storey building with a peaked roof, it later became a boarding house for immigrants, with two extra storeys added in 1869 to accommodate the growing community. In 2009, it was granted New York City landmark status.

open image in gallery St. Georges Chapel entrance in Manhattan ( Queenie Shaikh/The Independent )

Next to St. Georges are the two other survivors of the old neighbourhood: the Downtown Community House at 105107 Washington Street and the tenement at 109. The red-brick community house, built in 1926, once served as a settlement space for newly arrived immigrants. The 1885 tenement is the last of nearly 50 such buildings that once lined the area and housed residents of Little Syria. Today, its still home to tenants in rent-controlled flats. The ground floor, which once hosted shops and social gatherings, now houses a restaurant and bar. A kind server hurried over with a menu, asking if Id be staying for a meal.

Though Little Syria was best known for its predominantly Christian population, a discovery in 2015 offered fresh insight into the Muslim communities that also called it home. Just around the corner from St. Georges, there once stood a mosque on Rector Street  a reminder of the long history of Muslims living and worshipping in the United States. The mosque was active during the neighbourhoods peak but was demolished in the 1950s. Today, while the church is protected as a New York City landmark, the tenement and community house are not. Their fate is uncertain even as preservationists from the Washington Street Historical Society continue to push for their protection.

As I made my way down Carlisle Street and reached a busy intersection lined with falafel carts, I couldnt help but wonder if the people queuing for a taste of the Middle East knew the extent of buried history just around the corner.

After four centuries of existence, Little Syria is not the only forgotten neighbourhood in New York. Cities are living organisms, a reflection of their collective massed humanity, and so it is only natural that they evolve. The tragedy of Little Syria is that so much of this evolution was forced upon the neighbourhood by the construction of skyscrapers as New York cemented itself as the worlds most important city, and by the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel as successive city planners gave the metropoliss landscape over to cars rather than people. Yet the particular erasure of Little Syria has arguably obscured something fundamental about American history itself: that Middle Eastern presence in the United States stretches back nearly as far as the country does.

Read more: On the glittering trail of F Scott Fitzgerald in New York
China's vision on governance hailed globally

13:52, September 29, 2025 By Zhao Jia ( China Daily

China's Global Governance Initiative has received broad support from developing countries, which have commended it for providing practical solutions to pressing global challenges, fostering shared prosperity, and adding fresh momentum to building a fairer international order.

Pakistan's Minister of State for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Shezra Mansab Ali Khan Kharal said the initiative reinforces multilateralism at a time when some countries are eroding the spirit of global cooperation, as she welcomed its emphasis on South-South cooperation and sovereign equality.

"President Xi Jinping has said in the initiative that sovereign equality is extremely important. Every country, whether large or small, whether its GDP is small or big, enjoys equal sovereign rights," she said, urging developing nations to unite against unilateral pressure and safeguard their common rights.

She noted that global challenges such as climate change, poverty and inequality cannot be solved by one country alone. China advocates dialogue, cooperation and the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity, enabling nations to resolve disputes peacefully and pursue common growth.

Kharal reaffirmed Pakistan's strong support for China's major global initiatives, citing the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative, which has improved conditions in underdeveloped regions and enhanced connectivity.

Houmed M'Saidie, political advisor to the president of Comoros, said the GGI was "not an empty slogan, but concrete action".

He said President Xi's vision has already been translated into reality through the China-Comoros partnership. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 50 years ago, China has consistently respected and supported Comoros, in contrast to major powers that "pursue only their own interests".

He praised Xi as a leader with global vision, attentive to core issues such as poverty and development, and dedicated to advancing international cooperation. He cited hospitals built by China in Comoros and the many Comorian students studying in China as examples of people-centered cooperation that have delivered tangible benefits. "Our cooperation with China has brought us great benefits and will continue to do so," he said.

Abraao Vicente, a member of the National Assembly of Cabo Verde, former minister of the sea, culture and creative industries, said the GGI aligns closely with his country's development goals and Africa's long-term interests.

"My belief is we need to reform the (international) system, not destroy it," he said, noting that while some nations put their own interests first and refuse to negotiate with weaker countries, President Xi's proposal takes the opposite approach  advocating respect for all countries and resolving challenges through dialogue and negotiation.

Although China is already the world's second-largest economy, Vicente noted, it continues to identify itself as part of the Global South and works with African nations to promote a more equitable international order  a development he called "of great significance to Africa".

Vicente, along with other dignitaries mentioned above, took part in the Peking University Dongfang Scholarships Program, which aims to promote global academic exchange and mutual understanding, where they attended courses and visited several provinces to observe reforms in agriculture, industry, education and other sectors. Vicente said he was impressed by China's success in lifting hundreds of millions out of poverty, calling it a valuable reference. "We cannot replicate China's model entirely, but we can draw inspiration from it," he added.

Bader Shniba, head of the Foreign Media Department at the Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said the world needs more than ever to establish a fairer system of rules, ensure effective implementation of international law, and enable all countries to benefit equally. The GGI, he said, offers practical and feasible solutions to today's global challenges.

He noted that China has launched more initiatives and made important contributions, particularly to Africa's development, by sharing experience, building capacity and supporting infrastructure. He called for greater focus on sustainable areas such as education and infrastructure to strengthen long-term cooperation.

Sandra Ermine Royer, mayor of Roseau, the capital of the Commonwealth of Dominica, said that in the face of diverging interests, countries should prioritize unity and cooperation over narrow "country first" mentalities or reluctance to collaborate.

Only through collaboration can the international community find common ground, tackle shared challenges, and achieve lasting stability and development  which is exactly what China's GGI seeks to promote, she said.

(Web editor: Huang Kechao, Liang Jun)
A rare orange lobster that wound up in a New York supermarket's seafood section has been released into the sea.

The crustacean was found at a store in Rochester in July, standing out with its bright colour against other brown lobsters.

Nicknamed "Jean-Clawed Van Damme," the lobster was a one-in-30 million catch according to wildlife rescue group Humane Long Island.

The lobster was spotted by a shopper, who enlisted the help of the group to release it into the Long Island Sound.
We wish you an affordable Christmas  how to host, dress, socialise, gift and eat without breaking the bank
American fried-chicken brand Slim Chickens to open outlet in Dundrum Town Centre, its first restaurant in Ireland

Expansion of Slim Chickens into Ireland is part of a wave of international eateries targeting the Irish market, such as Popeyes, Taco Bell and Wendys

The expansion of Slim Chickens into the Republic is part of a wave of international eateries targeting the Irish market. Photo: Getty

Sean Pollock Mon 29 Sep 2025 at 06:30

A large US fast-food brand with over 320 locations worldwide is planning to open its first restaurant in the Republic.
finance

Employers are being urged to educate staff about their workplace pension plans to avoid future disputes ahead of the rollout of the States auto-enrolment scheme.

The auto-enrolment pension scheme, known as My Future Fund, is scheduled to begin in January. It is generally accepted that higher-paid workers, or those in the 40pc tax bracket, would be worse off if they end up in My Future Fund versus a company pension scheme in circumstances where their employers offer one.
The band have sold out three nights at Dublins 3Arena this December, as well as one at the SSE Arena in Belfast

Amble are among the ten acts on the breakthrough list for 2025. Pic: Adam Heffernan

Folk band Ample have added another Irish venue to their roster of domestic gigs due to high demand, as the trio announce they will perform in Dublins St Anne's Park next May.

Their other shows have already sold out nationwide, including dates in Belfast, Cork and Dublins 3Arena.

The new date  Friday, May 29  will be held in St Annes Park in Raheny, north Dublin with tickets to go on sale this Friday at 10am.

Were blown away by how quickly the Irish shows sold out  every single one, the band told fans about having to add a new date.

"To be able to now announce St Annes Park feels surreal. Its another step on a journey we never could have imagined when we started. We cant wait to share this night with you.

Having impressed at Electric Picnic this summer gone, as well as already selling out their three 3Arena gigs in December along with their one in Belfasts SSE Arena and Corks Virgin Media Park, the group are on to something big.

Their debut album this year called Reverie topped the Irish Albums Chart across four non-consecutive weeks, while their music has clocked up over 115 million streams globally.

This is not the first time they have successfully sold out Irish venues; they have achieved the accolade at the Trinity College Dublins Summer Series, King Johns Castle in Limerick, and Corks Live at the Marquee.

Members Robbie Cunningham, Oisin McCaffrey, and Ross McNerney formed the band in 2022 and have achieved todays success owing to their reputation for honest songwriting, lush acoustic arrangements and captivating live performances.

Tickets go on general sale at 10am on Friday, October 3.

Mastercard cardholders have special access to Mastercard Presale tickets, starting from 10am Wednesday October 1, until 10am Friday October 3.

Ticket prices range from 59.90 and 69.90.

Below is a list of Ambles forthcoming gigs.

December 4  3Arena, Dublin  SOLD OUT

December 10  SSE Arena, Belfast  SOLD OUT

December 11  3Arena, Dublin  SOLD OUT

December 12  3Arena, Dublin  SOLD OUT

*May 29, 2026 St Annes Park, Dublin  NEW DATE

June 26, 2026  Virgin Media Park, Cork  SOLD OUT
Cat Deeley is reportedly worried about how her estranged husband Patrick Kielty is taking their break-up as she moves out of their home.

The 48-year-old This Morning host split from the 54-year-old comedian in July after 12 years of marriage.

On Saturday, photos published by The Sun showed a removal van parked outside their north London rental property, showing movers loading boxes with lamps and chairs.

Kielty is rumoured to be staying at the property, which is just a short distance away from the couples 5m (5.7m) five-bedroom forever home, which they bought two years ago and have since been renovating.

Deeley is allegedly worried about how her former partner is coping with the end of their marriage.

According to a source: Shes worried Patrick seems to be taking longer to adjust.

He misses the family unit, and the pressure of work on top of the public split has made it hard for him.

Cat obviously knew how close Patrick was to Mary and she should have come to be by his side

The source said: Cat still cares a lot for him and wants him to be in a good place for the boys and for himself, so that does cause her some concern.

Kieltys family were reported to be hoping for a reconciliation between the two, and when Deeley did not attend his mothers funeral back in March, they realised this was not possible.

Patrick Kielty and Cat Deeley in happier times

Today's News in 90 Seconds - September 29th

One relative told the Daily Mail: Whatever rockiness was going on in the marriage, something as momentous as his mothers funeral, you would make up even temporarily and just put your best face on as we say in Northern Ireland.

Cat obviously knew how close Patrick was to Mary and she should have come to be by his side  a hand on his shoulder as he buried his mother.

The fact that she stayed in London and presented This Morning on the day, its not been forgotten.

The source added: In a very tight-knit community in Northern Ireland, people always turn out. Its the done thing. His family remain very upset by this. They still cant believe it. It was the point when we all realised that that marriage had ended.

Kielty looked devastated as he carried his mothers coffin through his home town, where he was supported by close family and friends at the Church of the Sacred Heart.

At the time, Deeleys spokesperson said: Cat remained at home to be there for her two young children before and after school on this very sad day.

The house they started renovating is also expected to be another source of contention throughout the divorce. The 1950s doer-upper was bought in 2023, and apparently means a lot to both of them, being the centre of their worlds for the past two years.
Cattle stand during an auction in the city of Xinguara in the interior of Para state, Brazil March 15, 2025. The Amazonian state's plan to tag around 3-5 million cattle by the end of the year has made it a crucial testing ground for national cattle-tracking efforts. REUTERS/Raimundo Pacco//File Photo
She was going to leave  Tina Satchwells family believe she was killed because she planned to escape husband Richards coercive control

Cork womans relatives tell new documentary that she was isolated from them

Family of Tina Satchwell believe she was murdered by husband Richard after he discovered she planned to leave him

Ralph Riegel Mon 29 Sep 2025 at 06:30

The family of Tina Satchwell believe she was murdered by her husband Richard because he discovered she was planning to escape from his coercive control.
Dublin electronics company vandalised by pro-Palestine protesters over Israeli military links

The building was left with several smashed windows and was coated in red paint

Members of Palestine Action Eire hold a tricolour with a message to the electronics company before vandalising the building

Keith Kelly Mon 29 Sep 2025 at 19:03

An electronics company in Dublin that has reportedly manufactured components for Israeli military software was vandalised by pro-Palestine activists in the early hours of Monday.
Entrepreneur (21) who gave barbershop business an online boost urges help for businesses to go digital in Budget 2026

Student barber points out SMEs make up 95pc of all companies here

Student barber boost urges help for businesses to go digital in Budget 2026

Philip Cowman Mon 29 Sep 2025 at 06:30

A young entrepreneur has urged the Government to support the next generation of small-business owners in Budget 2026 as they battle against the costs of growing their businesses online.
Irish peoples quiet but powerful work in driving palliative care across Africa is being recognised for transforming the end-of-life experience of thousands of people.

New research reveals at least 25 Irish people or organisations have been behind palliative care projects across Africa since 2020, highlighting an extraordinary, and until now untold, story of the Irish footprint on the continents efforts to bring dignity and pain relief to the critically ill.
Jim Gavin in race against time to sway voters outside GAA sphere

The Fianna Fail candidate also admitted to nerves before the first debate of the presidential election campaign

Fianna Fail presidential candidate Jim Gavin (right) shakes hands with MEP Billy Kelleher. Mr Gavin and Mr Kelleher had both sought the partys candidacy. Photo: PA

Maeve McTaggart Mon 29 Sep 2025 at 06:30

A relative unknown to those outside the world of the GAA  and to many of those within the Fianna Fail party until Taoiseach Micheal Martin produced him as a candidate  Jim Gavin has less than a month to acquaint himself with voters.
Latest | Carer discovered mother, father and son killed in knife attack at their Co Louth home

Louise and Mark OConnor and their son Evan were discovered by a carer who called to the family home this morning The suspect (31), who was known to the victims, was later arrested by armed detectives

Louise and Mark OConnor with their son Evan

Robin Schiller, Ken Foy, Katie Finnegan and John Mulligan Mon 29 Sep 2025 at 22:00

A mother, father and son killed in a frenzied knife attack in their Co Louth home have been named as Louise and Mark OConnor and their son Evan.
Disgraced MMA fighter Conor McGregor has claimed he is in negotiations with the Donald Trump administration rather than the UFC over a potential fight at the White House.

McGregor has expressed a strong desire to fight at the touted White House event next summer, an event that UFC president Dana White has been planning with US president Trump, with the Irishman even going as far as insisting that a bout against long-time rival Michael Chandler is already in place on the card.
Drones are being used increasingly for intelligence-gathering and warfare

Tanaiste Simon Harris has said Ireland shouldn't fool itself into thinking it is immune to drone attacks against vital infrastructure following a wave of disruptions across Europe.

In recent days drones have been sighted near military facilities in Denmark as well as Danish airports which have caused significant issues, while suspicious drone sightings have also been made in Germany, Norway and Lithuania.
Conor Skehan: Lets not allow Tricolour thieves to poison our attitude towards migrants

To scorn newcomers is to scorn our own history, and to forget that others once showed us the compassion we now hesitate to extend

An anti-immigration march in Dublin city centre last year. Photo: David Conachy

Conor Skehan Sun 28 Sep 2025 at 06:30

Fear of the stranger has been a constant in human history. From pharaohs warning against outsiders to London riots in Shakespeares time to present-day Ireland, it has been one of the easiest ways to stir division.
Macroom businesswoman Joan Lucey has pledged to donate gross profits generated at her three stores on Saturday to the people of Palestine.

The funds will go to Doctors Without Borders (Medicins sans Frontieres) in their ongoing mission amid the horror of what is happening to the Palestinian people in Gaza.

Ms Lucey, managing director of the three Vibes and Scribes stores, located on Bridge Street and Lavitts Quay, said Irish people feel passionate about the plight of the Palestinians.

We want to do something practical to help the Palestinians in humanitarian terms and Doctors Without Borders is a widely respected charity  if anyone wants to shop with us on Saturday, we would be happy to give the gross profits on their purchase to help the charity.

I really feel Irish people are very passionate about the plight of the Palestinian people, we see the shocking images on our TV screens every night of emaciated children and families mourning loved ones as they are removed from the rubble of some air strike or attack  its heartbreaking, she said.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Tanaiste Simon Harris have spoken this week at the United Nations about the immense suffering of the Palestinian people, but Ms Lucey believes Irish people also want to help out in practical terms.

I think Irish people are angry over what is happening and may feel powerless in terms of being able to do anything at a macro level but what we are doing is very simple.

We are just giving the people the chance to help out in a practical way while going about their business, she said.

Ms Lucey said there have been collection boxes in each Vibes and Scribes shop since Wednesday of last week, and that there will be a link to Doctors Without Borders on Vibes and Scribes website for the coming weeks.
The Social Democrats have strongly criticised state agencies response to the devastating fish kill in the Blackwater river with no explanation almost two months later as to what caused it despite numerous investigations in the meantime.

The multi-agency report asserts that a fish kill in the River Blackwater, County Cork in August which saw the deaths of up to 42,000 fish cannot be explained, the partys environment spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore said.

The report was conducted by Environmental Protection Agency, Inland Fisheries Ireland, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Cork County Council, Uisce Eireann, the Marine Institute, the Departments of Environment and Agriculture, and the HSE - yet none of these agencies could identify the cause of this catastrophe.

The EPA only became aware of the kill up to a week after it may have occurred - by the time it had taken samples to identify potential pollutants, those pollutants would likely have already left the river and its tributaries, as well as the discharge flows of local industries, she said.

Deputy Whitmore said if the cause of the fish kill isnt identified theres no guarantee it wont happen again.

Despite not being causally linked to the fish kill, findings highlighting that 362,000 litres of wastewater, with ammonia levels 30 times above the legal limit, were emptied into the river during a ten-hour period on the night of the fish kill is blatantly unacceptable.

Its clear there must be a complete review of how agencies cooperate and work together immediately once a fish kill is identified, she said, promising to raise the issue next week when the EPA comes before the Oireachtas Climate committee.

The multi-agency investigation has not yielded any definite results so far, Minister of State Timmy Dooley said last week. Technical teams have concluded that the most likely cause of the fish kill was an irritant in the water, but neither the irritant nor its source have been identified.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
A restored playground in Ballincollig is set to be delivered by the end of this year.

The news was confirmed at a Cork City Council meeting by a senior official with the local authority.

Sinn Fein councillor for Cork City's South West ward, Joe Lynch, has welcomed Cork City Council management's reply to a question of his at a recent Cork City Council meeting, in which they state that a restored playground for Ballincollig's West Village is expected to be delivered by the end of the year.

Acting Director of Services, Noel Murtagh told Cllr Lynch that the project has been tendered, and tenders are currently being reviewed.

Mr Murtagh also stated that it is expected that the project will be completed before year end.

This follows the Department of Rural and Community Development's decision to provide funding of 83,740 to refurbish the playground in February 2025.

Cllr Lynch, who is a native of Ballincollig said he has been working on securing new playground equipment at the site for nearly two years. Since the equipment was removed from the playground in Ballincollig's West Village in late 2023, I have been working hard to have the playground restored. Upon my election to Cork City Council last year, I recommended to the Council's Community Section to apply for funding to do this from the Community Recognition Fund; which was finally awarded in February of this year.

"This is great news for the children and parents of Ballincollig, as well as the wider community, stated Cllr Lynch. Having engaged with Council management on the project over recent months, I am very happy to share the news that tenders for the project are now being considered.

Council management expect the project will be completed by the end of the year, which they have set out in a reply to me, he added.
Parking fees at Tallaght University Hospital (TUH) have been branded shameful, after it took 1.6m in parking fees from patients and staff last year.

Mick Duff, Independent councillor for the Tallaght-Central area, said we need to stop people being penalised for being ill.

The hospitals multi-storey car park is managed by an independent company, Park Rite.

TUH does not charge anything for the first 20 minutes, but a fee of 2.50 will be added for every hour after that, up to a maximum day rate of 10.

We need to stop people being penalised for being ill or carrying out their vital work, these exorbitant parking charges need to be scrapped, Mr Duff said.

I know a lot of people, particularly elderly people who would rather park up in the square or at the Lidl in Tallaght where they can pay a reasonable parking fee instead of going to the hospitals multi-storey car park.

At a meeting of South Dublin County Councils Tallaght Area Committee, councillor Duff raised a motion calling on the Minister for Health to increase funding to TUH in Budget 2026.

My motion was to write to the Minister to say put the money in the hospital if it is short of funding in that area, Mr Duff said.

Add the 1.6m to the core funding for the hospital and open up the parking and offer it at a reasonable rate, or give it for free.

Its not right that people who are unwell and going to a hospital are being forced to add this much in parking fees to their costs  if you run over time, the penalty and clamping fees are absolutely extraordinary.

The councillor added that most patients did not avail of a day fee as they were uncertain of how much time they needed to spend at the hospital.

Patients usually have no idea how long they are going to spend at a hospital, especially if they are going to the emergency department, he said.

I visit a lot of hospitals and TUH is one of the most expensive. If you look at Connolly Hospital in Dublin 15, you only pay 4 for 4 hours which is a very reasonable rate.

Other Tallaght councillors agreed with the motion, saying the cost of parking was a major concern for constituents.

A spokesperson from TUH said: The management of the visitor multi-storey car park is outsourced to management company Park Rite.

The money is part of the Hospitals revenue budget, which goes to providing front-line services to our patients.

Councillors also raised concerns for staff working long hours at the hospital, which only has two staff car parks.

At the meeting, a suggestion was made that they should do a swap over, Mr Duff said.

The multi-storey car park should be used for staff and hospital vehicles. The two staff car parks should be made open to the public at minimal costs or for free.

Park Rite has been contacted for comment.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
New study blames citys heavy congestion and one-way systems

A new survey has named Dublin as one of the world's five hardest cities to drive in. Photo: Getty

Dublin has been ranked as the fifth hardest city in the world to drive in, with its compact streets, heavy congestion, one-way systems and high demand for road space.

A study by Nationwide Vehicle Contracts, one of the UKs leading car and van providers, found Dublin placed fifth on the list of the most difficult cities to navigate by car.

The capital also features among the ten most congested cities worldwide, with a 10km journey taking an average of almost 33 minutes due to a 47pc congestion rate.

According to the rankings, the hardest city to navigate by car is Mexico City, followed by Bangkok, Madrid, Istanbul and then Dublin.

The study noted: While Dublin has charming, cobbled streets and a rich history, navigating the compact city centre can be challenging behind the wheel.

With over four million direction-based searches, this suggests both tourists and locals struggle to manage the tight streets, heavy traffic and one-way systems.

The citys growing population only adds to the navigation issues.

It added that Dublin rounds off the global top five hardest cities to drive in, with over 17,000 taxis already operating across the city.

By contrast, some of the easiest cities to navigate were found to be Dubai, Stockholm, Amsterdam, Copenhagen and Shanghai.

New figures this year also show that Dublins roads are the third most congested in Europe.

The capital was ranked behind London, in first place, and Paris, in second, while placing 15th globally for congestion.

The worldwide rankings assessed more than 900 cities across 37 countries. They found that traffic congestion in the US, Germany and the UK grew in 2023, returning to pre-Covid levels.

However, Londons 2pc increase was lower than other cities in the global top 25, suggesting the UK capital rebounded from the effects of the pandemic sooner, with others now catching up, according to transport analytics company Inrix.

The report, which measures delays weighted against each citys population size, found that drivers in Dublin lost an average of 81 hours to congestion last year, a 13pc rise on 2023.
Playing Electric Picnic was the highlight of the year for me. And then Steve Earle topped that  Mundy on a year to remember
MEP for Ireland South Sean Kelly has expressed his deep frustration at news that the Shannon LNG project will not receive a decision from An Coimisiun Pleanala (ACP) until 2026.

The news was announced on Monday and comes as another unwelcome delay for the project, which Mr Kelly described as absolutely ridiculous and indefensible.

He said once again a totally inept planning system has managed to paralyse a project of strategic national importance. He added that endless delays are undermining Irelands energy security, while simultaneously holding back the expansion of Irelands electricity grid.

Mr Kelly said added to the delays is the roll-out of renewable energy, and the delivery of housing that is so desperately needed.

The planning authority continues to be a critical national bottleneck, stifling progress in every area of infrastructure development, Mr Kelly said.

The MEP also called on Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh OBrien, to urgently clarify the governments pathway for LNG development in Ireland.

In March of this year, government approved the creation of a State-led Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve; a move I welcomed. But the policy as outlined remains ambiguous, he said.

"We still dont know if the Government supports competitive market delivery of LNG, ensuring the best value for Irish taxpayers, or if this is to be ring-fenced as a State-only project kept outside market frameworks. This is not a small detail, and the Minister owes it to the public and energy users to spell this out, he added.

Mr Kelly explained that by highlighting the strategic importance of LNG for Ireland, it raises the overall matter of a second gas entry point being urgently needed.

Ireland is making good progress towards net zero, but achieving it could still be 25 years away. In the meantime, we remain dangerously reliant on a single point of import at Moffat, he said.

"That leaves Irish households and businesses completely exposed to the volatility of European gas markets, which have proven themselves unstable, unpredictable, and far too dependent on the whims of Vladimir Putin in recent years. It would be irresponsible to allow this continue, Mr Kelly said.

The MEP called on An Coimisiun Pleanala to expedite its decision and not leave the project to continue in limbo.

This is not a new project, it has been on the desk of the planning authority for a long time, the so-called complexities have been discussed at length for years. Ireland cannot afford to continue allowing bureaucracy to halt progress. We need investment and diversification, and we need it urgently," concluded Mr Kelly.
There survivors from Kerry have been on hunger strike for a week

Survivors of Industrial and Reformatory schools Mary Donovan from Tralee with Mary Dunleavy Greene, Carlow, Maurice Patton O'Connell, Caherviseen and Marian Moriarty Owen, Tralee, pictured during their hunger strike protest outside Leinster House. Photo by Frank McGrath.

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim OCallaghan said he is very concerned that people have taken the extreme step of going on hunger strike.

The minister was speaking in relation to survivors of Industrial and Reformatory schools who went on hunger strike outside Dail Eireann last Monday in a desperate bid to persuade government to grant two important demands.

Fianna Fail TD Michael Cahill pleaded with Minister OCallaghan in the Dail to use his power urgently to end the survivors' hunger strike.

He asked that survivors be immediately awarded Health Amendment Act (HAA) cards as they deserve access to comprehensive healthcare to deal with the lasting effects of institutional abuse. While a State pension for the unpaid work over many years is also a requirement.

Mary ODonovan and Miriam Moriarty Owens from Tralee, and Maurice Patton-O'Connell from Cahersiveen are part of a six person group partaking in the hunger strike.

HAA cards provide cover for a range of specific medical cover including counselling services, which the survivors say is necessary.

Moreover, having endured forced labour as children when working long, unpaid hours, they also want State pensions. They say this work saved the State and religious orders significant sums of money and included being boarded out to farms.

They did in fact receive State apologies from the then Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, and former President, Mary McAleese, but that will not pay their bills. I know some of these survivors personally and I am aware they are not for turning. They will not change their minds unless they get what both they and I believe they are entitled to, said Deputy Cahill.

He said he wished to put on the record of the Dail that he fully supports the survivors and implored the minister to act decisively to avoid any further unnecessary suffering.

Minister OCallaghan said he had been given a note in respect to that matter and is very concerned that people have taken the extreme step of going on hunger strike.

Like the deputy [Cahill], I urge them to reflect upon the potential damage they are doing to themselves by engaging in this, Minister OCallaghan said.

I will certainly speak to the relevant ministers for the purpose of seeing whether a resolution can be obtained. From what Deputy Cahill says, the demands are relatively limited. However, there is an opportunity for people to discuss this and to seek to get agreement and resolution without the extreme action that is being taken at present, he said.
Minister for Education Helen McEntee pictured at the launch of the campaign.

A quarter of all post primary students in County Sligo missed 20 days or more in the 2023/24 school year and the figure was 16.4% for primary school children.

The numbers were released as Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) in partnership with Minister for Education and Youth Helen McEntee, launched a nationwide multimedia campaign to promote regular school attendance in all counties across Ireland.

Aine OKeeffe, Director of TESS, said: Increasing school attendance is the key function of TESS. We are very excited to launch, together with Minister McEntee, a new national multimedia campaign aimed at raising awareness around the often-underestimated impact of missed school days here and there.

The campaign aims to raise awareness about how many school days are being missed, and how those missed days can add up quickly over time. Importantly, it also shows parents, guardians, and schools where they can find more information and support to help improve and promote school attendance.

The latest TESS Annual Attendance Report and Student Absence Report for the 2023/2024 school year, published on the Tusla website, also show that while absenteeism remains high, total days lost and chronic absenteeism have both fallen for the second consecutive year.

Minister McEntee said that while the reduction in the total number of days lost was positive, the level of absenteeism in schools remained far too high.
Over 470k was raised through the event which took place at ATU Sligo

Newstalk's Andrea Gilligan with Westlife star and national Irish Cancer Society Relay For Life ambassador Shane Filan and his wife Gillian

Westlife singer Shane Filan says he has been overwhelmed at the success of the Irish Cancer Society Relay For Life which took place in Sligo.

Over 470k was raised for the charity throught he event which took place in the grounds of Atlantic Technological University Sligo on the 13th and 14th of September.

The event kicked off with over 125 survivors walking the first lap of the Relay track, proudly wearing their purple t-shirts.

Around 70 teams took turns walking around the Relay track over the course of the 24-hour event, and over 3,000 candle bags, designed to show support for people affected by cancer and to remember loved ones lost, illuminated the track overnight.

All the funds raised will support the Irish Cancer Societys vital services and ground-breaking research projects across the country.

It was the first time the event had ever been held in Sligo, and Irish Cancer Society Relay For Life ambassador Shane and his wife, Gillian, praised the committee and the community for the success of the event.

Shane, who lost his parents Peter and Mae to cancer, said:

When I started out as the national ambassador for Relay For Life in 2023, getting it to my hometown, Sligo, was a big priority for Gillian and I.

I never expected it to happen so soon, and I was so overwhelmed by the huge support that it got from the people of Sligo.

We are very lucky to have such an amazing, dedicated committee that made it all possible.

I was very proud to be a part of it. I know my mum and dad would have been even prouder!

Thank you to my family and friends, and everybody who took part, turned up, walked their lap and supported this amazing charity. We are so grateful.

Shanes wife, Gillian, added: I knew Relay For Life was a special event to be a part of, but its hard to put into words just how special it is.

Earlier this month in Sligo, thousands of people got to experience it for the first time, and we are so happy about that.

Every person I met and walked a lap with has already agreed to sign up to the next Relay For Life in Sligo!

The money raised at Relay For Life will fuel the Irish Cancer Societys vital services which support people right across the country who have been affected by cancer.

These services include Night Nursing, the Support Line, counselling, and transport, to ensure no one in Ireland will have to face cancer alone.

Ann Higgins, Chairperson of the Relay for Life Sligo committee, said: The sense of community was evident over the weekend of Relay For Life Sligo.

From the army of helpers who came out to make sure everything ran smoothly, to the young and old runners, joggers, walkers and amblers, from cancer survivors to those walking to honour their loved ones  Relay For Life gave them all the space, time, and confidence they needed to participate in their own individual way.

Im so proud of the people of Sligo who took Relay For Life to their hearts, and elevated it beyond our wildest dreams, Sligo-style!

Ciara Hughes, Relay For Life Campaign Manager at the Irish Cancer Society, said: Were so grateful to everyone involved in making Irish Cancer Society Relay For Life Sligo such a phenomenal success.

The tireless work of the committee and the volunteers played a significant part in the success of Relay For Life Sligo, along with the unwavering support of Shane and Gillian Filan and the incredible generosity of the Sligo community.

The funds raised at Relay For Life Sligo will make an enormous difference to people both in Sligo and right across Ireland who are affected by cancer.

It will help to fuel the Irish Cancer Societys vital support services, like Night Nursing, our Support Line and counselling. It will also be used to fund ground-breaking cancer research.

Everyone who supported Irish Cancer Society Relay For Life Sligo has made a huge difference to so many people who are affected by cancer and will help us to ensure no one has to face cancer alone.
Top Wexford accountant warns minimum wage hike could break businesses

Neil Hughes, Azets Ireland CEO and Wexford native, says that notwithstanding the Low Pay Commissions recommendation he is worried about the SME sector

Wexford man Neil Hughes, CEO of Azets Ireland. Photo: Azets

Cillian Boggan Wexford People Mon 29 Sep 2025 at 05:40

Ahead of Budget 2026, which the government will announce next month, it is expected that the Low Pay Commission will recommend an increase in the National Minimum Wage of 5pc, which would see it rise from 13.50 to 14.17 an hour.
After spending four and a half prosperous years at Colaiste Raithin in Bray, former teacher Deaglan O Laoire has returned to Arklow to take up a post as principal of Gaelcholaiste na Mara, where he hopes to instil his lifelong passion for the Irish language in students.

Having taught Irish and history for two years at the Arklow meanscoil, the Cork native left to undertake his first principal job in Bray, but has now returned to steer the ship at Gaelcholaiste na Mara, replacing outgoing priomhoide Tony O Murchu, who, after eight dedicated years of service, moved on to Meanscoil Gharman.

Delighted to be back and see so many familiar faces, Mr O Laoire said driving Irish will be his top priority, adding that he hopes parents will play a key role in the bright future for the historic school.

I suppose its a bit like coming home, and while there is always some turnover in any school, there are only maybe three or four new faces on the staff, he said.

Im delighted to be back as part of the community, and the message I want to go out strongly to the parents is that the Irish language is fundamental to what I do and what the school should be doing.

So, any support or help that parents can give in that regard would be welcomed.

The school had an online information night for parents a couple of weeks ago, and I will make every effort to reach out to parents, because they will be central to the success that we have.

Among the first appointments attended by Mr O Laoire was a meeting with education minister Helen McEntee at Gaelcholaiste an Inbhir Mhoir, where she gave her commitment that work on a long-awaited school campus for both schools would begin by November.

The new educational campus, located on a site in Kilbride, will include a two-storey, 16-classroom primary school building for Gaelscoil an Inbhir Mhoir for over 480 pupils, and a three-storey school building aimed at accommodating over 400 students for Gaelcholaiste na Mara.

Wicklow-Wexford TD Brian Brennan set up a meeting between myself, Gaelscoil an Inbhir Mhoir principal Cian O Cuanachain, and the minister of education, he said.

She gave her commitment, her absolute commitment, that the project would start by mid-November at the latest.

It has been a long time coming, so its an exciting time ahead.
A 16-year-old organist, from Bray, who last year year raised over 3,000 for UNICEF, following his solo organ concert, is planning on repeating his highly successful endeavour this year and hopes to even exceed that amount.

Edward Harte began playing the piano when he was just four, taking up the organ when he was aged 10, in St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin. This followed his years spent as a chorister from the age of just seven.

During his time as a chorister, he has performed to President Michael D Higgins and performed the War Requiem with the National Symphony Orchestra. He also went on tour to Sweden and performed in Lund Cathedral.

In April this year, he won first place in the Feis Ceoil Stanford Prize (organ) and travelled to the USA and Canada, where he he played in the Church of the Advent, Brimmer St in Boston and Christ Church Cathedral, Victoria in Canada. Edward plays as guest organist in churches across Ireland. He is also organist at Dun Laoghaire Presbyterian Church.

Turning his attention to Bray, Edward is hoping to reach the heights of last years solo fundraising efforts, when in November, he performed a solo recital in Christ Church, raising 3,588 for UNICEF.

His Organ for Africa 2025 event will feature a second musician, with Edward accompanied on the marimba by Thibaud Empey, a 15-year-old scholarship student at Sandford Park, and also studies percussion at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. He has performed marimba for sold-out audiences at the John Field Room, the Mermaid Theatre in Bray, and at Killruddery House. In June of this year, Thibaud won the Feis Ceoil Junior Percussion title at TU Dublin

"There are lots of problems around the world, Edward remarked, on his reasons for returning to Christ Church this year.

Many people in countries less fortunate have little access to food or education. I want to help these people by doing a fundraising organ concert.

He has spread awareness about the problems in the region, such as famines, violence and drought by giving talks to over 400 people in his school and in churches around Dublin.

Both of these fine young musicians will be performing for Organ for Africa 2025, which takes place in the wonderfully intimate Christ Church, Bray, on Saturday, October 11, at 7pm. A minimum donation for entry is 10.

You can also donate online by clicking here
The front of Fontenoy Place, in Bray, just before completion in 2024.

A total of 28, A-rated apartments in a boutique development in one of the most picturesque locations on the east coast are being made available to eligible applicants for some 25pc below the local market rents.

The apartments are being provided by Circle Voluntary Housing Association, an approved housing body, in the stunning Fontenoy Place development, at the southern end of Bray seafront.

Ranging from studio apartments to three-beds, the new homes occupy the building that was once the regular haunt of movie stars on location in Bray, the iconic Bray Head Hotel, which was revamped last year into a unique seafront development.

In the past, the hotel was the default bolt hole for film stars working at Ardmore Studios, including Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, with Vanessa Redgrave, John Hurt, Pierce Brosnan, Neil Jordan, Colin Farrell and Daniel Day-Lewis all said to have graced its corridors.

The prices when they came to the market reflected its status  one-bedrooms in the 49-home development started at 450,000 and penthouses soared to 975,000. The homes were designed to blend contemporary features mixed with historical charm, where many period details, such as the great Victorian staircase, were preserved in the original building, while the apartments in the new wing, to the rear, took advantage of views of the surrounding countryside, including Bray Head.

The cost-rental apartments are now being made available at a minimum 25pc below the market rents in the area, as follows:

Studio apartment: 1,339.50 per calendar month

One-bed apartment:  1,339.50 per calendar month

Two-bed apartment: 1,672.91 per calendar month

Three-bed apartment: 1,717.50 per calendar month

The homes are supplied unfurnished with A2 air to water heating and water systems and white goods (fridge-freezer, dishwasher, oven & hob, microwave, washer-dryer). Roller blinds, with blackout blinds are included in the bedrooms, and there is quality flooring in all rooms.

The communal grounds to the front of the development will be landscaped and there are plans for a suitable investor to acquire a restaurant/bar/cafe on the ground floor.

Approved housing bodies are independent, not-for-profit organisations that receive state funding to acquire or build social homes in their communities. Since its foundation 15 years ago, Circle Voluntary Housing Association has accommodated people in homes mostly in the Greater Dublin Area.

Cost-rental schemes are aimed at those who are above the threshold for social housing but have difficulty affording private rented accommodation. The rent charged is based on the cost of building, managing, and maintaining the homes. This makes the rent cheaper than standard private rents.

To be eligible, your net annual household income must be below 66,000 for Dublin (59,000 outside Dublin) and you cannot be in receipt of any social housing supports (including Rent Supplement or HAP). Among the other criteria for eligibility is that your household size is suitable for the size of the property advertised; so a family of two adults with two children must apply for a two-bed home, not a one-bed.

Affordability is a key criterion and is measured as rent being no more than 35pc of your net household income, and the application process is run on a lottery basis.

Applications close at 10am on Wednesday, October 1. Go to: circlevha.ie/cost-rental/bray-head
The inaugural InHand Forum Festival took place over three days at Greenan Museum and Maze in Co Wicklow, and proved such a success, organisers are hoping to repeat the event next year and into the future.

Running from September 19 to September 21, the festival featured workshops on blacksmithing and silversmithing, bronze-casting, iron-smelting, stone-carving and dry-stone wall building, which ran alongside field trials in the crafts and public talks by local and national experts and historians.

The festival was organised by artist and model-maker Robert Clarke, sculptor and bronze casting tutor Ciaran Patterson and silversmith Eva Lynch, who are keen to encourage both the sharing of knowledge and the re-imagining of these ancient practices.

Ciaran said: The festival was very well received and we had five different workshops working together simultaneously. We had full capacity for the majority of our workshops and all our lectures were very well attended too. A lot of people in attendance were interested in looking at what other people were doing and sharing those ideas.

Chasing and repousse tutor and event co-organiser Eva Lynch (2nd from left), with Laura Mandich, Eileen Hassett, Corrina Lynch, Clodagh Molloy, Mark Kavanagh and Hannah Laura Cuffe.

"It was our first time holding such an event, so now we have had proof of concept, we would be hopeful of running a similar event next year and make it a regular event. The heritage and arts officers for Wicklow both attended and seemed impressed, so there is lots of potential for the future.

The festival also featured a host of leading Irish and international professionals keen to share their knowledge of our ancient heritage and skills. The inspiration behind the festival came from the InHand Forum hosting events for a number of friends, and grew from there.

It started off when we did some smaller scale events with friends and they would stay over. We felt it was something we could work on by bringing other people in. Greenan Museum and Maze had the space and facilities to host something on a larger scale, added Ciaran.

Heritage Officer Deirdre Burns with InHand Forum co-founder Robert Clarke.

Over the three-days professional blacksmiths and silversmiths offered a range of workshops for beginners, enthusiasts and fellow-professionals looking to add to their skillset. Dominic Keogh of Mementomoristone.ie, was the lead mason behind a drystone wall workshop, which proved particularly popular. Dominic is a multidisciplinary stonemason and conservation worker who specialises in traditional stonemasonry, letter cutting, monumental masonry, traditional lime mortars, craft training and the conservation and restoration of vernacular structures.

Ciaran said: Dan was the tutor and he was really great. My own brother was on the workshop ad was very impressed with the tutorial. The wall is now on the farm and will remain. Some very tangible works were carried out as part of the festival programme. All participants also left the festival and went away with an item they created through the workshops.
Emma Watson and JK Rowling at the world premiere of Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (Ian West/PA)

Harry Potter author JK Rowling has accused actress Emma Watson of being ignorant of how ignorant she is amid their ongoing row over transgender views.

Watson and her co-stars Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint have publicly backed transgender rights in the last few years, distancing themselves from Rowling who has criticised the actors in response.

Rowling, 60, has previously been accused of transphobia for her views on gender identity, which she denies.

The author made her latest comments in response to Watson, 35, discussing their relationship on Jay Shettys mental health podcast on Thursday, in which she said: I think its my deepest wish that I hope people who dont agree with my opinion will love me, and I hope I can keep loving people who I dont necessarily share the same opinion with.

In a lengthy post on X, Rowling said on Monday: Like other people whove never experienced adult life uncushioned by wealth and fame, Emma has so little experience of real life shes ignorant of how ignorant she is.

Harry Potter star Emma Watson (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

The actress, who played Hermione Granger in novels eight-part film series, will never need a homeless shelter or be placed on a mixed sex public hospital ward, Rowling said.

She added: Id be astounded if shes been in a high street changing room since childhood. Her public bathroom is single occupancy and comes with a security man standing guard outside the door.

The multimillionaire author said that I lived in poverty while writing the book that made Emma famous and therefore understand from my own life experience what the trashing of womens rights in which Emma has so enthusiastically participated means to women and girls without her privileges.

Responding to Rowlings essay calling for single-sex spaces, Watson had posted on Twitter in 2020: Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they arent who they say they are.

Yet Rowling said the turning point in their relationship came in 2022 when Watson gave a Bafta speech saying Im here for all the witches, which some perceived to be a criticism of the authors beliefs on gender.

Daniel Radcliffe, JK Rowling, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint at the world premiere of Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (Ian West/PA)

The actress then handwrote a note saying Im so sorry for what youre going through and asked someone to pass it to Rowling in a postscript that hurt far more than the speech itself, the author claimed on X.

This came at a time when the death, rape and torture threats against me were at their peak and Emma had just publicly poured more petrol on the flames, yet thought a one-line expression of concern from her would reassure me of her fundamental sympathy and kindness, she said.

Rowling added: The greatest irony here is that, had Emma not decided in her most recent interview to declare that she loves and treasures me  a change of tack I suspect shes adopted because shes noticed full-throated condemnation of me is no longer quite as fashionable as it was  I might never have been this honest.

In the podcast Watson said: I really dont believe that by having had that experience and holding the love and support and views that I have, mean that I cant and dont treasure Jo and the person that I had personal experiences with.

Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, JK Rowling and Emma Watson at the UK premiere of Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban (Yui Mok/PA)

I will never believe that one negates the other and that my experience of that person, I dont get to keep and cherish.

Watson, who is currently studying at the University of Oxford, added: I think the thing Im most upset about is that a conversation was never made possible.

Rowling said Watson and Radcliffe have both made it clear over the last few years that they think our former professional association gives them a particular right  nay, obligation  to critique me and my views in public.

When youve known people since they were 10 years old its hard to shake a certain protectiveness. Until quite recently, I hadnt managed to throw off the memory of children who needed to be gently coaxed through their dialogue in a big scary film studio.

For the past few years, Ive repeatedly declined invitations from journalists to comment on Emma specifically, most notably on the Witch Trials of JK Rowling.

Ironically, I told the producers that I didnt want her to be hounded as the result of anything I said.

Rowlings post on X quoted a video from GB News in which Fiona McAnena, author of Terf Island: How The UK Resisted Trans Ideology, told the channel: When you see the media starting to say trans women are men, think I think we really are winning.

Ms McAnena added: Whether (Watson) is trying to row back from that full-hearted support for transitioning children, or whether shes just trying to get back in with JK Rowling in the hope of work, who knows?
Twelve-year-old girl among four dead as Russia pounds Kyiv with vile 12-hour air assault

Denmark bans all civil drone flights in wake of new sighting ahead of EU summit in Copenhagen on Wednesday

A man stands on a roof of destroyed residential buildings hit during Russian drone and missile strikes, amid Russias attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine yesterday. Photo: Thomas Peter/Reuters

Holly Bancroft UK Independent Mon 29 Sep 2025 at 06:30

A 12-year-old girl was among four killed and at least 70 injured after a 12-hour Russian drone and missile attack on Ukraine, with the capital Kyiv suffering the heaviest assault.
Why Hungary could be a gaping hole in Europes drone defences

Pro-Russia EU member wont be taking part in talks this week on proposed drone wall project prompted by recent sightings of the flying vehicles over Danish and Norwegian airports

Explosions light up the sky over the city during Russian drone and missile strikes, amid Russias attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine yesterday. Photo: Vladyslav Sodel/Reuters

James Rothwell Telegraph Media Group Holdings Ltd Mon 29 Sep 2025 at 06:30

As mysterious drones whirred over Danish and Norwegian airports, the need for Europe to confront a new and alarming form of Russian air aggression became more urgent than ever.
Greta Thunberg flashes victory sign from her ship, part of the Global Sumud Flotilla aiming to reach Gaza and break Israel's naval blockade. Photo: Reuters

Greta Thunberg has hit back at claims that the flotilla of Gaza-bound humanitarian aid ships she is on is a publicity stunt.

The Swedish activist (22) is one of over 500 volunteers aboard the flotilla aiming to deliver medical supplies and food to the population of Gaza, who are experiencing widespread hunger due to an Israeli naval blockade.
Hamas says it lost contact with two hostages as tanks barrel deeper into Gaza City

Fate of pair may cast shadow on Trump plan to reveal 21-point peace proposal during Netanyahu visit to White House today

The son of Palestinian man Maher Zeno, who was killed in overnight Israeli strikes, reacts as he bids farewell to his father's body during his funeral at al-Awda Hospital in the central Gaza Strip, September 28, 2025. REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa

Nidal Al-Mughrabi Reuters Mon 29 Sep 2025 at 06:30

The military wing of Hamas said yesterday it had lost contact with two Israeli hostages held in Gaza City, and called on Israel to pull troops back and suspend air strikes for 24 hours so fighters could retrieve the captives.
UN reimposes arms embargo and other sanctions on Iran 10 years after landmark nuclear deal

Moves comes after Britain, France, and Germany accused Iran of violating a 2015 agreement

Michelle Nicholls Reuters Mon 29 Sep 2025 at 06:30

The United Nations has reinstated an arms embargo and other sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme following a process triggered by European powers that Tehran has warned will be met with a harsh response.
Moldova's ruling pro-EU party leads in election marked by alleged Russian interference

Pro-EU and Russia-friendly camps trade recriminationsGovernment casts the vote as existential to European futureSmall nation has swung between Russian and European influenceGovernment accuses Russia of widespread meddling; Moscow denies

A couple of newlyweds prepare to cast their vote inside a polling station on September 28, 2025 in Horesti, Moldova. Photo: Andrei Pungovschi/Getty Images.

Dan Peleschuk Reuters Sun 28 Sep 2025 at 19:19

Moldova's ruling pro-European party was leading a key parliamentary election on Sunday that could impact the country's quest to join the European Union, with 42pc of votes versus 30pc for the pro-Russian opposition after nearly half the ballots had been counted.
LATEST | Michigan church shooting: Bodies found inside after gunman opens fire during service

Police said they shot and killed the suspect after at least four people died in the attack on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel

Smoke and fire rise at the site following an incident in which a man crashed his vehicle through the front doors of a Michigan church and opened fire with an assault rifle and set the church ablaze, in Grand Blanc, Michigan, U.S., September 28, 2025, in this screengrab obtained from social media video. Heem Vaniawala/via REUTERS

Irish Independent Newsdesk Press Association Mon 29 Sep 2025 at 07:44

The death toll from an attack on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel in Michigan has risen to four.
North America

Donald Trump says report querying his health may be act of treason as he rages against op-ed
Stealth cuts in focus as US government faces shutdown in just days

Accusations Trump administration is swinging the axe without approval from Congress

US president Donald Trump has told pregnant women not to take Tylenol, despite many studies finding no link to autism. Photo: Reuters

Bo Erickson Reuters Mon 29 Sep 2025 at 06:30

With three days to go before a US government shutdown, an advocacy group that tracks federal spending warns that about $8bn (6.8bn) approved by Congress for healthcare and education is at risk of going unused, held back by president Donald Trumps administration.
BREAKING | Trump to oversee interim Gaza government if ceasefire agreed and says we are beyond very close to peace deal

If Hamas do not agree, Trump said Israeli prime minister Netanyahu would have his "full backing to do what you would have to do"The US president said that this is "potentially one of the greatest days ever in civilisation"

President Donald Trump greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Alex Brandon/AP)

Adam Geller and Sam Mednick Press Association Mon 29 Sep 2025 at 20:30

US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said they have agreed to a plan to end the war in Gaza, but it is unclear whether Hamas will accept the terms.
Apples India Strategy: Balancing Local Manufacturing with Global Supply Chains

US-electronics giant Apple Inc. has sharply expanded its supply chain in India to 45 companies, according to a recent media report, including local component makers and the sub-assembly ecosystem. Tata Electronics, Bharat Forge, and Hindalco are among companies Apple has brought into its ecosystem.

Apple Inc. has substantially deepened its manufacturing footprint in India, expanding its supply chain network to include 45 companies ranging from large domestic firms to smaller component and sub-assembly manufacturers. Major Indian players such as Tata Electronics, Bharat Forge, and Hindalco have been integrated into Apples ecosystem, alongside over 20 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

This expansion has had a notable impact on employment. Per an Economic Times report, published September 29, 2025, Apples suppliers have created nearly 350,000 jobs in India, of which about 120,000 are direct roles. These figures are in addition to the substantial workforce engaged in the five iPhone assembly plants operated by Apples vendors in the country.

Expanding supply chain and production base in India

Now in its fifth year of operations in India, Apple has increasingly relied on domestic companies, such as Aeques Jabil, Microplastics, ATL, Salcomp, Foxlink, Motherson, Wipro PARI, Avary, SFO Technologies, Titan Engineering and Automation, and VVDN, to strengthen its supply chain.

Several of these firms are also preparing to leverage Indias production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for component manufacturing.

While iPhone assembly is concentrated in five factories across Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, the wider supply chain network spans Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Haryana. According to official sources, the growing ecosystem has enabled India to account for one in every five iPhones produced globally.

CLICK HERE: Apples Contract Manufacturers and Component Suppliers in India

Competing with China: Indias drive to boost domestic value addition

Indias efforts to strengthen domestic value addition (DVA) in electronics have gained momentum in recent years, though challenges remain due to the sectors globalized supply chains. Unlike industries such as ready-made garments, where most of the value chain can be localized, electronics manufacturing relies heavily on components sourced from multiple countries.

A study by the Centre for Development Studies (CDS), released in July 2025, shows that Indias mobile phone industry has made good progress, with DVA rising to 23 percent. While mobile phone assembly alone accounts for just 4 percent of a devices selling price, the study finds that imported components constitute less than one-fourth of total inputs. This suggests that value generated within India extends well beyond simple assembly, contributing an estimated US$10 billion in total DVA during FY 202223.

Initiatives such as the smartphone PLI schemes, launched in 2020, have been pivotal in driving this growth. Apples decision to manufacture iPhones in India further accelerated the development of a stronger local ecosystem.

In the initial phase of expanding production capacity in the country, Apple deepened its supply chain by partnering with Chinese firms like Sunwoda, Shenzhen Yuto, and CCL Design, with 14 of its Chinese suppliers receiving security clearance to invest in India.

However, geopolitical tensions altered this trajectory. The border clashes in Ladakhs Galwan Valley in 2020 and the introduction of Press Note 3, which mandated prior central government approval for foreign direct investment (FDI) from neighboring countries, prompted Apple to pivot towards non-Chinese partners. Many of these collaborations were structured as joint ventures, enabling technology transfer and skill development within Indias electronics ecosystem.

The CDS report stresses that scaling assembly operations should remain the immediate priority, rather than enforcing strict local sourcing requirements. Additionally, there is a strategic necessity of engaging with Chinese firms, given their dominance in the global electronics value chain. Greater Chinese investment in India, the report argues, could ease bottlenecks in capital goods and skilled personnel while reinforcing Indias long-term competitiveness in smartphones and semiconductors.

iPhone production pushes smartphones to the top of Indias export basket

According to the Economic Times report, Apples suppliers in India collectively manufactured iPhones worth more than INR 150 billion (US$1.68 billion) in May 2025.

The surge in iPhone production has been a key factor in transforming Indias overall smartphone industry into a leading export segment. By the end of FY 2024-25, smartphones had risen to the top of Indias export rankings, a remarkable leap from 167th place in 2014-15.

Trade statistics from the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, highlight the sharp upward trend in global smartphone exports from India (HS code: 851713):

FY 2022-23: US$10,955.20 million

FY 2023-24: US$15,572.95 million

FY 2024-25: US$24,138.04 million

Conclusion

Apples expanding footprint has reinforced Indias emergence as a global hub for smartphone manufacturing, driving both domestic value addition and export competitiveness. A diversified supply chain spanning multiple states, and iPhones now among the countrys top export categories, the sectors impact extends far beyond assembly lines.

However, sustainability of this momentum requires balancing two priorities: scaling up production and deepening domestic capabilities, while navigating the realities of a globally interdependent supply chain. Strategic partnerships-whether with Indian firms or carefully managed foreign investments-will remain central to Indias ability to enhance value addition and secure its place as a leading player in the global electronics industry.

(US$1 = INR 88.79)

Navigate Indias dynamic market with confidence. Our Business Intelligence experts provide tailored insights to drive your success.
The ultimate drama at sea

( Image credit : Below Deck Mediterranean Season 10 | Credit: Yahoo.com )

Premiere date and how to watch

( Image credit : Below Deck Mediterranean | Credit: yahoo.com )

Familiar faces and fresh energy

( Image credit : Cast of Below Deck Mediterranean Season 10 | Credit: Yahoo )

The drama of yachting is back asreturns for its 10th season on Monday, 29th September. Viewers can once again expect a mix of glamorous charters, unforgettable Mediterranean vistas, and clashing crew dynamics as Captain Sandy Yawn takes the lead for another high-stakes season on Bravo.Since its debut,has captivated audiences with its unique blend of high-end travel and workplace drama. The series, a spin-off of Bravos hitfranchise offers an insight look on life aboard a luxury superyacht, where crew members handle every whim of demanding charter guests while navigating their own personal conflicts. From detailed preference sheets to late-night galley rushes, the series offers an unfiltered look at the pressures of life at sea.Season 10 sets sail from the lively city of Barcelona, Spain, offering not only breathtaking backdrops but also new challenges for the crew. With its sun-soaked coastlines and bustling nightlife, Barcelona sets the scene for one of the series most memorable voyages yet.The new season will premiere on Monday, 29 September, at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo, with new episodes dropping weekly in the same time slot. Viewers can stream each episode the day after it airs on Peacock, where subscription plans starting at $7.99 per month. With several viewing options, audiences wont miss any of the on-board drama.Since Peacock is not officially available in India, viewers can access it using a VPN set to a U.S. server. Presently, there is no official confirmation regarding availability on Discovery+ India or Amazon Prime Video India, though previous seasons have been occasionally accessible on these platforms. Viewers are advised to check the platforms regularly to stay up to date with the latest episodes.This season is expected to be a mix of seasoned crew members and fresh faces, balancing both continuity and fresh tension aboard the yacht.returns to lead the interior team after her successful runs onand previous Mediterranean seasons. Fans can expect her leadership and signature humor to shine as she manages a team and the demanding guests.After working as a deckhand in season 9,steps up as bosun, ready to prove himself in a leadership role.also makes a comeback, bringing his prior experience from Season 8. The new cast includesandas deckhands,as chef,andas stewardesses.With Captain Sandy steering the yacht, Aesha Scott overseeing the interior, and a new cast of characters on board, fans can look forward to another season of laughter, luxury, and chaos on the high seas.
Hamas must release all 48 remaining captives, roughly 20 of whom are believed alive, within two days.

Hamas fighters may leave Gaza or receive amnesty if they renounce resistance.

Humanitarian aid will be allowed into the famine-stricken enclave.

Some Palestinian prisoners will be released from Israeli military jails.

Israeli forces will gradually withdraw from Gaza.

Trump plans to pressure on Israel PM Netanyahu to sign Gaza peace deal during their meeting today: Axios pic.twitter.com/l70wsY9rqG  Guy Elster   (@guyelster) September 29, 2025

Netanyahus political balancing act

This Week:

-President hosts Israel's Netanyahu today

-SecDef Hegseth hosts Ukrainian officials

-Federal govt. shutdown looms (Midnight Tues. Eastern)

-Unusual meeting of top military officials called by Hegseth in VA; Trump may attend

-September jobs report out Friday AM  West Wing Report (Edited by Paul Brandus) (@WestWingReport) September 29, 2025

Gaza international transitional authority

LATEST: Trump, Netanyahu scheduled to hold press conference after White House meeting * Hostage families plead with US president to stand firm against any attempts to sabotage the deal * IDF intercepts Houthi ballistic missile pic.twitter.com/ab4WHTiYCu  AfricanNews (@AugusNE001) September 29, 2025

Implementation challenges

United States President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are meeting at the White House on Monday for the fourth time this year. The meeting will focus on a 21-point day after plan for Gaza, a territory devastated by nearly two years of Israels ongoing war. Trump has repeatedly called for an end to the conflict and on Sunday promised greatness in the Middle East and something special on his Truth Social platform. Netanyahu confirmed to Fox News that Israel is coordinating with Washington to make [the plan] a go.The 21-point Gaza plan The plan was first presented to Arab and Muslim leaders during the United Nations General Assembly in New York last week. Key measures include:Hamas stated on Sunday that it has received no new proposal from mediators Egypt and Qatar but is willing to consider an offer. The groups armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, noted that contact was lost with teams holding two Israeli captives amid ongoing Israeli ground and air operations.Netanyahu appears to support the plan, even though it conflicts with some positions of his far-right government. Notably, the plan leaves the door open for a future Palestinian state and guarantees the right of return for Palestinians who choose to leave. This contradicts demands by ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, who have called for the destruction of Gaza and the annexation of parts of the West Bank.The coalition is fragile: Likud holds 32 of 120 Knesset seats, and recent resignations by two ultra-Orthodox parties have weakened Netanyahus majority. Smotrich and Ben-Gvirs parties, with 13 seats, could threaten his government but are unlikely to act immediately.The Trump proposal envisions creating the Gaza International Transitional Authority (GITA), potentially headed by Tony Blair, to oversee Gazas administration post-Hamas. The authority would include an international board with diplomats, businessmen, and Muslim members, supervising humanitarian aid, reconstruction, legislation, and security. A Palestinian technocratic authority would implement policies on the ground under a multinational stabilization force, while Israel maintains security control.GITA is projected to have a management budget of $90 million in the first year, increasing to $133.5 million and $164 million in subsequent years. Reconstruction and humanitarian aid are separate from this budget.Trumps plan is currently provisional and will take time to implement even if approved and supported by the UN. Israeli raids and settler attacks continue in Gaza and the West Bank, creating obstacles to humanitarian access and reconstruction. Far-right ministers have criticized the plan despite previously praising Trump, highlighting internal Israeli political tensions and the fragile coalition supporting Netanyahu.
The fourth day of the Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show (UPITS 2025) at the India Expo Center in Greater Noida underscored the importance of employment generation, skill development, and promotion of traditional textiles such as khadi. The event drew 1,34,938 visitors on Sunday alone, including over 36,000 business-to-business (B2B) attendees and nearly 99,000 business-to-consumer (B2C) participants. By the end of day four, more than four lakh people had visited the trade show.



Throughout the day, seminars, panel discussions, and award ceremonies were held alongside cultural programs, creating an atmosphere that combined innovation with heritage. A key theme was the need to strengthen artisans and small entrepreneurs through initiatives such as One District One Product (ODOP) and micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) policies.



A panel discussion hosted by Gautam Buddha University examined ways to build stronger partnerships between academia and industry to meet changing market demands. Speakers emphasized updating curricula to reflect new skills and promoting internships and vocational training to better prepare young people for employment.



The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) shared details of the recently introduced Pradhan Mantri Vikasit Bharat Rojgar Yojana (PM VBRY), a scheme aimed at incentivizing recruitment, especially in the manufacturing sector. It offers subsidies for employers and benefits for first-time employees.



An evening award ceremony recognized entrepreneurs, exporters, and innovators for their contributions to Uttar Pradeshs industrial growth. The CM Youth Conclave also drew attention for showcasing 113 stalls from emerging brands, machinery suppliers, and mobile business initiatives. More than 8,300 business enquiries and 7,500 registrations were recorded, signaling strong interest from young entrepreneurs.



Cultural performances rounded off the day, featuring traditional dances from Braj and Bundelkhand and a Sufi-light classical concert by Pratibha Singh Baghel that celebrated the regions musical heritage.



International buyer-seller meetings continued to strengthen partnerships in sectors ranging from textiles and handicrafts to electronics and defense, with particular focus on ODOP and GI products. As UPITS 2025 heads into its final day, anticipation is building for the closing ceremony and potential announcements.
What time does the Task episode 5 come out?

Sunday, October 5, 2025, at 9 p.m. ET

Task (TV Series 2025) - Episode list

Episode 1: Crossings:  September 7, 9 p.m. ET

Crossings:  September 7, 9 p.m. ET Episode 2: Family Statements:  September 14, 9 p.m. ET

Family Statements:  September 14, 9 p.m. ET Episode 3: Nobody's Stronger Than Forgiveness:  September 21, 9 p.m. ET

Nobody's Stronger Than Forgiveness:  September 21, 9 p.m. ET Episode 4:  All Roads:  September 28, 9 p.m. ET

All Roads:  September 28, 9 p.m. ET Episode 5: Vagrants:  October 5, 9 p.m. ET

Vagrants:  October 5, 9 p.m. ET Episode 6: Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a river:  October 12, 9 p.m. ET

Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a river:  October 12, 9 p.m. ET Episode 7: A Still Small Voice:  October 19, 9 p.m. ET

Where to watch Task?

Netflix: Available in select regions with HD streaming and subtitles.

Available in select regions with HD streaming and subtitles. HBO Max

Amazon Prime Video: Offers episodes for subscribers in some countries.

Offers episodes for subscribers in some countries. Disney+ Hotstar: Streams episodes in Tier 1 countries, including the US and UK.

Streams episodes in Tier 1 countries, including the US and UK. Official Network Websites: Some broadcasters provide legal online streaming of episodes.

Some broadcasters provide legal online streaming of episodes. Free Options: Trial subscriptions or ad-supported platforms where legally permitted.

Task cast

Task trailer

Task episode 1 recap

Task episode 2 recap

Task episode 3 recap

Task episode 4 recap

Where to watch Task miniseries episodes is a question on every fans mind after the shows success. Whether you are a first-time viewer or a dedicated follower, finding the right platform to stream the miniseries can be confusing. Task miniseries episodes are available across multiple streaming services, both subscription-based and free, depending on your region.This guide will help you identify legitimate platforms to watch Task episodes online without compromising on quality or security. We cover global streaming options, explain how to access episodes your countries, and provide tips for a seamless viewing experience. With this guide, youll know exactly where to stream Task miniseries episodes, the available features on each platform, and how to enjoy the series without interruptions.Episode 5 of Task, titled Vagrants, will get premiered onHere is the complete release schedule for the series:miniseries episodes can be streamed on multiple platforms depending on your location:It stars Mark Ruffalo, Tom Pelphrey, Emilia Jones, Thuso Mbedu, Raul Castillo, Jamie McShane, Sam Keeley, Fabien Frankel, Alison Oliver, Silvia Dionicio, and Martha Plimpton.Episode 1 ofintroduces us to Tom Brandis and Robbie Prendergast. Tom is an FBI agent devoted to his daughter, Emily, and spends much of his time running the FBI stall at a career fair. Robbie is a garbage collector living with his two children, Wyatt and Harper, and his niece Maeve. At night, he and his colleague Cliff scout a house on their route owned by a drug dealer.The next morning, Robbie and Cliff talk about dating, with Robbie admitting hes ready to open his heart again after his wife Karen left nearly a year ago. They then plan to rob the house theyve been watching, knowing the dealers are holding a large sum of cash.At work, Tom tells a recent graduate that he spent eight years as a priest before joining the FBI. Later, he meets his lawyer, Matt, who updates him on his son Ethans case. Ethan is in prison, awaiting sentencing, and the lawyer expects a family letter to support the case. Tom asks Emily if shes willing to write it; she asks for more time. During dinner, its revealed that Tom recently lost his brother, Bill (Maeves father).That night, Robbie, Cliff, and a friend, Peaches, rob the drug dealers house. They enter masked, force one of the occupants to reveal the money, and escape with the cash.After a night of drinking, Tom receives a message from his boss, Kathleen, asking him to lead a task force investigating a series of robberies targeting the Dark Hearts gang. Photos of the thieves show Robbie and his friends wearing the same masks from the previous heist.Meanwhile, Robbie receives a text from MZ with the address of a new target. He and Cliff scope it out. That night, Robbie sneaks into Maeves room to grab a joint and interrupts her with her date, Tripp. This sparks an argument, revealing that the house actually belongs to Maeve, passed down after her fathers death. She allowed Robbie and his family to live there but resents the responsibility of caring for two children.Tom transforms a run-down house into a safe house for the task force, which includes Aleah, Anthony, and Elizabeth. That night, Father Daniel visits with dinner, and their conversation highlights Toms struggle with faith. Tom ends up drunk, and Daniel and Emily help him to bed.Robbie and his friends attempt another robbery at their new target, but the plan goes awry when an associate of the dealer shows up, triggering a shootout. Peaches, the dealer, his wife, and another accomplice are killed. Robbie and Cliff discover the dealers young son and take him with them. Later, the task force meets at the house and learns that the boy is missing.Episode 2 ofopens with the FBI spreading out to search for Sam. We are introduced to Jayson, a prominent member of the Dark Hearts gang, who soon learns that Warren, Derek, and Joanne were killed the previous night. He calls a meeting with other gang members to address the situation.Meanwhile, Sam remains asleep in Robbies house. Cliff starts to panic when their contact, MZ, doesnt respond, and Robbie discovers that the bag he took from the dealers house contains fentanyl packages instead of cash. When Sam wakes up after the other children have left, Robbie lies, telling him hell stay at their home for a few days because his parents need to care for his sick grandmother.Tom and his team interview Kaylee, Peaches fiancee, but she is too upset to provide useful information. During the drive back, Anthony asks Tom about his transition from priesthood to the FBI. Tom explains that he volunteered with a crisis team, met his boss Kathleen, and later joined the FBI after leaving the priesthood to marry. Anthony, despite being raised by a religious mother, reveals he is a cynic.Emily talks with her counsellor about whether to write a family statement for her brother Ethan. She admits she is scared that her statement could lead to his early release and is hesitant to proceed.The task force holds its first status meeting. They learn that Sam had been living with his grandmother because his parents were unfit, but he was returned to them when she fell ill. Anthony briefs the team on the Dark Hearts: Jayson Wilkes leads the Delaware County branch under Perry Dorazo, a national leader, while Freddy Friars handles drug distribution. Anthony suspects the robberies indicate a mole within the gang.Elsewhere, Perry confronts Jayson about the situation. Jayson explains that the thieves have the drugs and suggests involving Freddy to catch them, noting that Toms task force poses little threat.Tom meets Joe, an East Coast gang expert, who mentions that a Dark Hearts member named Billy was beaten to death for breaking gang rulesBilly appears to be Maeves father.Robbie finally hears from MZ, who arranges to meet at 8 p.m. When Maeve arrives home with the kids, Robbie claims Sam is the son of a work friend, Dave Larson. However, Maeve quickly realises through observation and a web search that Sam is actually Derek and Nances missing son.The Dark Hearts gather at a club, with Perry instructing Jayson not to reveal that the thieves have the drugs rather than cash. Robbie and Cliff head to the meeting point but receive a message from MZ that he cannot make it.Tom picks up his daughter Sara from the airport, returning home to Matt (the lawyer) and Emily. Matt informs them that Ethan has pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, and the family statement is discussed again. Emily considers writing about her and Ethans upbringing before being adopted by Tom. The conversation reveals that Ethan killed Saras mother by throwing her down the stairs. Emily reminds Sara she lost her mother too, but Sara insists theres a difference. Emily storms out, and Tom follows, expressing his feelings of helplessness.That night, Maeve sneaks Sam out and drives him to a store near the arcade where she works, telling him to go inside while she makes a phone call to 911, reporting she saw him. When she returns to her car, Sam is inside, scared without her. With police surrounding the area, Maeve hides Sam in a compartment in the car and drives through a checkpoint, claiming she saw a lost child in the arcade. Tom oversees the search, but Sam remains hidden.Meanwhile, the Dark Hearts learn Peaches identity and plan to visit Kaylees house. Robbie realizes Sam is missing but doesnt know where to look. Eventually, Maeve returns home with Sam, confronting Robbie about the situation.Episode 3 opens with a tense conversation between Maeve and Robbie. Maeve now knows the full situation and asks why Robbie would put everyone at risk. Robbie explains that he is seeking revenge on Jayson and the Dark Hearts for killing Billy and asks Maeve to give him a few days to secure the money from the drugs.Meanwhile, the task force briefs Kathleen on everything they know about Peaches and the Dark Hearts informant. Elsewhere, Jayson and Perry meet with Freddy Friar, requesting his help to catch the thieves. Freddy agrees, demanding 50% of the drugs at wholesale value.Robbie and Cliff finally meet their informant, Eryn, who is Jaysons girlfriend and Billys former partner. Like Robbie, she wants revenge on Jayson. She warns that moving the drugs now would be too dangerous with Freddy involved, advising them to wait. Cliff, however, mentions he knows someone who can help.The Feds determine that the guns used in the recent killings match those from a prior clash between the Dark Hearts and the Vipers, confirming they belong to the Dark Hearts. Tom and Anthony approach Perry and Jayson for assistance in finding Sam, but the gang refuses to cooperate.Aleah and Lizzie visit Peaches construction site and speak with his coworkers. Meanwhile, Maeve teaches Sam to swim, and Emily visits Ethan in prison.Robbie and Cliff meet Ray, recently released from prison with connections in the drug world. He offers to connect them with Lee Whitehead, who knows the Columbiansa group excluded from the Dark Hearts trade but interested in twelve kilos of drugs. Ray agrees to arrange a meeting.Denny, a Peaches coworker, informs Elizabeth and Aleah that Peaches mentioned working with Cliff. The detectives alert Tom and Anthony, who head to Cliffs house, discovering the door broken in. Inside, they encounter two masked burglars. Tom falls down the stairs, injuring his head. One intruder is caughtShelley, Rays wifewhile the other flees, chased by Lizzie and Anthony, who capture him: its Ray.At the hospital, Tom refuses further treatment and returns to the station to interrogate Ray and Shelley. Aleah draws on her own experiences with domestic abuse to get Shelley to confess about Cliffs visit. Ray, cornered, provides information that allows Tom and Anthony to set up a meeting with Cliff at a park. Robbie and Cliff receive the message and plan to scout the location.That evening, Lizzie and Anthony go for a drink. Lizzie admits she froze when Ray attacked Tom. Her former colleagues warn her not to return to the task force, prompting Anthony to publicly toast her dedication.Aleah drives Tom home and updates Sara on his condition. Sara worries that history may repeat itself if Ethan returns. Tom confesses he doesnt want Ethan back and is still angry. Emily overhears the conversation, triggering a flashback to the day Tom and his wife Susan welcomed Ethan and Emily into their home.Joe meets with Tom again, providing more details on Billy. He also reveals that a Dark Hearts member watched Cliffs house when the task force arrived, suggesting theres a mole inside the task force feeding the gang information.InSeason 1, Episode 4 ("All Roads"), the tension escalates as Robbie and Cliff's plan to offload stolen drugs faces increasing complications. Eryn, Jaysons ex-girlfriend, had been leaking information to assist their heists but now warns them to hold off on selling the drugs due to Dark Hearts' heightened vigilance.Despite her caution, Robbie and Cliff, desperate to escape to Canada, proceed with a deal brokered by Ray, who promises a meeting with Lee for the exchange. However, Ray and his wife, Shelley, are apprehended by the FBI during a break-in at Cliffs house, leading the task force to impersonate Ray and assure Robbie and Cliff that the meeting is still on.Meanwhile, Tom faces personal turmoil regarding his adopted son Ethan's future and suspicions about a mole within his task force. The episode culminates in a high-stakes operation at Bailey Park, where the FBI aims to apprehend Cliff and rescue Sam under the guise of a drug exchange.The episode deepens the moral complexities of the characters, highlighting the blurred lines between law enforcement and criminality.
( Image credit : San Antonio man arrested Eagle Pass Casino shooting that killed two | Credit: X | @TrueCrimeUpdat )

Two dead, including a retired CBP officer, in Texas shooting

( Image credit : Two dead, including a retired CBP officer, in Texas shooting | Credit: X | @TrueCrimeUpdat )

Who is Keryan Rashad Jones?

( Image credit : Keryan Rashad Jones | Credit: X | @TrueCrimeUpdat )

Video of Jones surfaced from inside the Wilson County Sheriffs office

KSTA

 WARNING: This post contains graphic descriptions of a mass shooting.



BREAKING: Two people have been killed & six others have been injured in a mass shooting outside a casino in Texas. One of the victims was a retired U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer.



The pic.twitter.com/pSrAhREqxu  True Crime Updates (@TrueCrimeUpdat) September 29, 2025

A tragic shooting at the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino in Eagle Pass, Texas, has left at least one person dead and six others injured, confirmed the authorities. According to the Maverick County Sheriff, the incident has sent shockwaves across the community. Following the case, a San Antonio man identified as Keryan Rashad Jones was arrested as a suspect in Wilson County at an Eagle Pass casino. Let's find out who he is.Hours after the shooting, as per the initial reports, a mass shooting outside the Lucky Eagle Casino in Eagle Pass, Texas, early Sunday morning left two people dead and six others injured. Among the victims was Marcus 'Mark' Antley, a retired U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer remembered by the local mayor as a devoted public servant and beloved community member.Following the shooting, suspect Keryan Jones fled in a black Nissan truck, prompting a multi-agency manhunt. He was later apprehended in a neighbouring county after being tracked by licence plate readers. Authorities have yet to release a motive for the attack.Keryan Rashad Jones, the 34-year-old, was arrested on two counts of capital murder and five counts of assault with a fatal weapon, noted KSAT 12. Jones was arrested in Wilson County hours after the shooting, the Eagle Pass Police Department confirmed in a Facebook post, and it was possible because of the collaboration between multiple law enforcement agencies, as per the Facebook post.The Wilson County Sheriffs Office stated that Jones was located following a high-speed chase that began after Texas Department of Public Safety troopers tried to pull him over near a Circle K in Stockdale.According to, exclusive footage showing Jones being processed at the Wilson County Sheriff's Office is available to watch below. Maverick County Judge Ramsey English Cantu told KSAT in a phone interview that a black Nissan Frontier truck was believed to be involved in the shooting.Texas Department of Public Safety troopers fired their weapons to stop Jones vehicle, which was partially disabled but kept fleeing.
( Image credit : Iraq war veteran behind the shocking Michigan church attack | Credit: X | @RealAlexJones )

Man crashes truck into church, opens fire

PBS

An active shooting-terror attack just took place at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan.



The terrorist rammed his truck through the front of the large church, then began shooting attendees and set the church on fire..



I would given it a 98% pic.twitter.com/qIuLmAhCd5  Alex Jones (@RealAlexJones) September 28, 2025

Who is Thomas Jacob Sanford?

( Image credit : Thomas Jacob Sanford | Credit: X | @lucrafund )

GoFundMe raised thousands for Sanfords son with a rare genetic disorder

New York Post

( Image credit : GoFundMe raised thousands for Sanfords son with a rare genetic disorder | Credit: X | @ShadeSalvo )

2007 report details Sanford's military service and early life

In another tragic incident, a gunman opened fire inside a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel in Michigan during a Sunday prayer service and set the building ablaze, leaving two dead and eight others injured before the authorities shot him, as per the officials. Amid this, the suspect has been identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, but who is he? Let's find out.According to, a man drove a four-door pickup truck, with two American flags mounted in the bed, through the front entrance of a church in Grand Blanc Township, where hundreds were gathered, Police Chief William Renye told reporters.After crashing into the building, he got out and began shooting. Investigators believe he intentionally started a fire inside the church, Renye added. Moreover, authorities reported that a 40-year-old man from Burton drove his vehicle into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, then got out and began shooting at the people inside.The officers responded to a 911 call within 30 seconds and killed the shooter about seven minutes later. Following the open fire, flames and smoke could be seen pouring from the church for hours ahead of the blaze.Thomas Jacob Sanford is reportedly a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served in Iraq from 2004 to 2008, according to information shared on his mothers Facebook page. A photo circulating online appears to show a vehicle with a licence plate bearing an Iraq veteran sticker, further suggesting his military background, as per HT.Additional images from social media accounts believed to be linked to Sanford show him posing with dead animals. The same accounts also depict him as a family man, married and the father of a young son.Thereported that a now-inactive GoFundMe campaign from 2015 raised more than $3,000 (Rs 249,600) for Sanfords son, who was said to have been born with congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI). This rare genetic condition causes the pancreas to produce too much insulin.New information has revealed that Sanford was a veteran of the Iraq War. Photos of the crashed vehicle at the church showed it had a veterans licence plate.As authorities work to uncover a motive and more details about Sanford come to light, an old report from 2007, originally published by the local outlet Clarkston News, has also surfaced.The older report, believed to be about Sanford, provided details about his background, including his graduation from Goodrich High School in 2003. It stated that after graduating, Sanford served in the Marine Corps and was stationed in Okinawa, Japan.The report noted that he earned honours on the rifle range and achieved the rank of sergeant. At the time of the report, Sanford was 22 years old. It also mentioned that later in 2007, he was set to join the Marine combat battalion in Fallujah, Iraq.
Training LLMs requires at least one large corpus of text. Examples for text generation training include the 1B Word Benchmark, Wikipedia, the Toronto Book Corpus, the Common Crawl data set and, for code, the public open-source GitHub repositories. There are (at least) two potential problems with large text data sets: copyright infringement and garbage. Copyright infringement is an unresolved issue thats currently the subject of multiple lawsuits. Garbage can be cleaned up. For example, the Colossal Clean Crawled Corpus (C4) is an 800 GB, cleaned-up data set based on the Common Crawl data set.

Along with at least one large training corpus, LLMs require large numbers of parameters (weights). The number of parameters grew over the years, until it didnt. ELMo (2018) has 93.6 M (million) parameters; BERT (2018) was released in 100 M and 340 M parameter sizes; GPT-1 (2018) uses 117 M parameters. T5 (2020) has 220 M parameters. GPT-2 (2019) has 1.6 B (billion) parameters; GPT-3 (2020) has 175 B parameters; and PaLM (2022) has 540 B parameters. GPT-4 (2023) has 1.76 T (trillion) parameters.

Small language models

More parameters make a model more accurate, but also make the model require more memory and run more slowly. In 2023, we started to see some smaller models released at multiple sizes. For example, Meta FAIRs Llama 2 comes in 7B, 13B, and 70B parameter sizes, while Anthropics Claude 2 has 93B and 137B parameter sizes.

One of the motivations for this trend is that smaller generic models trained on more tokens are easier and cheaper to use as foundations for retraining and fine-tuning specialized models than huge models. Another motivation is that smaller models can run on a single GPU or even locally.

Meta FAIR has introduced a bunch of improved small language models since 2023, with the latest numbered Llama 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3. Llama 3.1 has multilingual models in 8B, 70B, and 405B sizes (text in/text out). The Llama 3.2 multilingual large language models comprise a collection of pretrained and instruction-tuned generative models in 1B and 3B sizes (text in/text out); there are also quantized versions of these models. The Llama 3.2 models are smaller and less capable derivatives of Llama 3.1.

The Llama 3.2-Vision collection of multimodal large language models is a collection of pretrained and instruction-tuned image reasoning generative models in 11B and 90B sizes (text + images in / text out). The Llama 3.3 multilingual large language model is a pretrained and instruction-tuned generative model in 70B (text in/text out).

Many other vendors have joined the small language model party, for example Alibaba with the Qwen series and QwQ; Mistral AI with Mistral, Mixtral, and Nemo models; the Allen Institute with Tulu; Microsoft with Phi; Cohere with Command R and Command A; IBM with Granite; Google with Gemma; Stability AI with Stable LM Zephyr; Hugging Face with SmolLM; Nvidia with Nemotron; DeepSeek with DeepSeek-V3 and DeepSeek-R1; and Manus AI with Manus. Many of these models are available to run locally in Ollama.

Image generators

Image generators can start with text prompts and produce images; start with an image and text prompt to produce other images; edit and retouch photographs; and create videos from text prompts and images. While there have been several algorithms for image generation in the past, the current dominant method is to use diffusion models.

Services that use diffusion models include Stable Diffusion, Midjourney, Dall-E, Adobe Firefly, and Leonardo AI. Each of these has a different model, trained on different collections of images, and has a different user interface.

In general, these models train on large collections of labeled images. The training process adds gaussian noise to each image, iteratively, and then tries to recreate the original image using a neural network. The difference between the original image and the recreated image defines the loss of the neural network.

To generate a new image from a prompt, the method starts with random noise, and iteratively uses a diffusion process controlled by the trained model and the prompt. You can keep running the diffusion process until you arrive at the desired level of detail.

Diffusion-based image generators currently tend to fall down when you ask them to produce complicated images with multiple subjects. They also have trouble generating the correct number of fingers on people, and tend to generate lips that are unrealistically smooth.

RAG, agents, and MCP

Retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) is a technique used to ground large language models with specific data sources, often sources that werent included in the models original training. RAGs three steps are retrieval from a specified source, augmentation of the prompt with the context retrieved from the source, and then generation using the model and the augmented prompt.

At one point, RAG seemed like it would be the answer to everything thats wrong with LLMs. While RAG can help, it isnt a magical fix. In addition, RAG can introduce its own issues. Finally, as LLMs get better, adding larger context windows and better search integrations, RAG is becoming less necessary for many use cases.

Meanwhile, several new, improved kinds of RAG architectures have been introduced. One example combines RAG with a graph database. The combination can make the results more accurate and relevant, particularly when relationships and semantic content are important. Another example, agentic RAG, expands the resources available to the LLM to include tools and functions as well as external knowledge sources, such as text databases.

Agentic RAG, often called agents or AI assistants, is not at all the same as the agents of the late 1990s. Modern AI agents rely on other programs to provide context to assist them in generating correct answers to queries. The catch here is that other programs have no standard, universal interface or API.

In 2024, Anthropic open-sourced the Model Context Protocol (MCP), which allows all models and external programs that support it to communicate easily. I wouldnt normally expect other companies to support something like MCP, as it normally takes years of acrimonious meetings and negotiations to establish an industry standard. Nevertheless, there are some encouraging mitigating factors:

Theres an open-source repository of MCP servers.

Anthropic has shared pre-built MCP servers for popular enterprise systems, such as Google Drive, Slack, GitHub, Git, Postgres, and Puppeteer.

Claude 3.5 Sonnet is adept at quickly building MCP server implementations.

While no-one can promise wide adoption of MCP, Anthropic seems to have removed the technical barriers to adoption. If only removing the political barriers were as easy.

Ways of speeding up training and inference

Slow training and inference have been serious problems ever since we started using neural networks, and only got worse with the advent of deep learning models, never mind large language models. Nvidia made a fortune supplying GPU hardware to accelerate training and inference, and there are several other hardware accelerators to consider. But throwing hardware at the problem isnt the only way to solve it, and Ive written about several of the software techniques, such as model quantization.

I asked Google to search for ways of speeding up training and inference, and it came up with a generative AI summary with web links (below) thats pretty good. I was surprised at how good, but then I remembered that Google recently released an improved version of its Gemini model. Historically, I have largely ignored Googles AI summaries of searches, since they have tended to mash up different domains into a single response that verges on nonsense; this one seems to be OK.

To speed up both training and inference, you can employ techniques like model quantization, pruning, knowledge distillation, hardware acceleration, and optimizing hyperparameters, data preprocessing, and model architecture. [1, 2, 3] Heres a more detailed breakdown of these techniques: [1, 2, 4] Model optimization: [1, 2, 4] Model quantization: Reducing the precision of model parameters (e.g., from 32-bit floating point to 8-bit integers) can significantly decrease model size and computational requirements, leading to faster inference. [1, 2, 4]

Reducing the precision of model parameters (e.g., from 32-bit floating point to 8-bit integers) can significantly decrease model size and computational requirements, leading to faster inference. [1, 2, 4] Model pruning: Removing less important weights or connections in a model can simplify it, reducing its size and computational cost without a significant loss in accuracy. [1, 2, 3]

Removing less important weights or connections in a model can simplify it, reducing its size and computational cost without a significant loss in accuracy. [1, 2, 3] Knowledge distillation: Training a smaller, faster model (the student) to mimic the behavior of a larger, more complex model (the teacher) allows for faster inference with comparable accuracy. [1, 2, 3, 5] Hardware and software optimization: [1, 3] Hardware acceleration: Utilizing specialized hardware like GPUs, TPUs, or FPGAs can significantly accelerate training and inference, especially for computationally intensive tasks. [1, 3]

Utilizing specialized hardware like GPUs, TPUs, or FPGAs can significantly accelerate training and inference, especially for computationally intensive tasks. [1, 3] Distributed training: Training models across multiple machines or GPUs can drastically reduce training time, especially for large datasets and models. [6]

Training models across multiple machines or GPUs can drastically reduce training time, especially for large datasets and models. [6] Mixed precision training: Using a combination of 16-bit and 32-bit floating-point operations during training can lead to faster training speeds on modern GPUs without sacrificing accuracy. [7]

Using a combination of 16-bit and 32-bit floating-point operations during training can lead to faster training speeds on modern GPUs without sacrificing accuracy. [7] Efficient attention mechanisms (for transformer models): Optimizing attention mechanisms, such as using sparse attention or efficient attention kernels, can speed up training and inference of transformer models. [8]

Optimizing attention mechanisms, such as using sparse attention or efficient attention kernels, can speed up training and inference of transformer models. [8] Compile models: Using model compilation tools like torch.compile in PyTorch can optimize models for faster execution. [9] Data and hyperparameter optimization: [10] Data preprocessing: Efficiently preprocessing data can reduce the computational burden during training and inference. [10]

Efficiently preprocessing data can reduce the computational burden during training and inference. [10] Hyperparameter optimization: Tuning hyperparameters like learning rate, batch size, and optimizer settings can significantly impact training speed and model performance. [11]

Tuning hyperparameters like learning rate, batch size, and optimizer settings can significantly impact training speed and model performance. [11] Learning rate scheduling: Using a learning rate schedule that dynamically adjusts the learning rate during training can improve convergence speed and model performance. [12]

Using a learning rate schedule that dynamically adjusts the learning rate during training can improve convergence speed and model performance. [12] Batch size optimization: Carefully tuning the batch size can have a significant impact on training efficiency. [12]

Carefully tuning the batch size can have a significant impact on training efficiency. [12] Early stopping and checkpointing: Implementing early stopping and checkpointing can help prevent overfitting and save computational resources during training. [13]

Implementing early stopping and checkpointing can help prevent overfitting and save computational resources during training. [13] Model architecture optimization: Choosing an efficient model architecture tailored to the specific task can reduce computational complexity and improve performance. [3]

Choosing an efficient model architecture tailored to the specific task can reduce computational complexity and improve performance. [3] Data caching: Storing intermediate results or frequently accessed data in memory to reduce the need for repeated calculations, thereby speeding up model training and inference. [14] Generative AI is experimental. [1] https://www.run.ai/guides/cloud-deep-learning/ai-inference [2] https://nebius.com/blog/posts/inference-optimization-techniques-solutions [3] https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-improve-inference-performance-your-ai-applications-deciai [4] https://towardsdatascience.com/inference-optimization-for-convolutional-neural-networks-e63b51b0b519/ [5] https://www.signitysolutions.com/tech-insights/speeding-up-inference-openai-models-optimization-techniques [6] https://news.presearch.io/presearch-ai-269c94259a27 [7] https://medium.com/better-programming/speed-up-llm-inference-83653aa24c47 [8] https://www.linkedin.com/advice/0/how-do-you-optimize-training-inference-speed-transformer [9] https://lightning.ai/courses/deep-learning-fundamentals/9.0-overview-techniques-for-speeding-up-model-training/ [10] https://www.mathworks.com/help/deeplearning/ug/speed-up-deep-neural-network-training.html [11] https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9292/14/6/1184 [12] https://www.quora.com/What-methods-can-be-used-to-optimize-training-models-for-faster-and-more-efficient-learning-of-deep-neural-networks [13] https://www.linkedin.com/advice/1/how-can-you-speed-up-training-ann-skills-machine-learning-l0gtf [14] https://www.markovml.com/glossary/model-scaling

Artificial general intelligence

The new goal for the cool kids in the AI space is to achieve artificial general intelligence (AGI). That is defined to require a lot more in the way of smarts and generalization ability than Turings imitation game. Google Cloud defines AGI this way:

Artificial general intelligence (AGI) refers to the hypothetical intelligence of a machine that possesses the ability to understand or learn any intellectual task that a human being can. It is a type of artificial intelligence (AI) that aims to mimic the cognitive abilities of the human brain. In addition to the core characteristics mentioned earlier, AGI systems also possess certain key traits that distinguish them from other types of AI: Generalization ability: AGI can transfer knowledge and skills learned in one domain to another, enabling it to adapt to new and unseen situations effectively.

AGI can transfer knowledge and skills learned in one domain to another, enabling it to adapt to new and unseen situations effectively. Common sense knowledge: AGI has a vast repository of knowledge about the world, including facts, relationships, and social norms, allowing it to reason and make decisions based on this common understanding. The pursuit of AGI involves interdisciplinary collaboration among fields such as computer science, neuroscience, and cognitive psychology. Advancements in these areas are continuously shaping our understanding and the development of AGI. Currently, AGI remains largely a concept and a goal that researchers and engineers are working towards.

The obvious next question is how you might identify an AGI system. As it happens, a new suite of benchmarks to answer that very question was recently released, ARC-AGI-2. The AGI-2 announcement reads:

Today were excited to launch ARC-AGI-2 to challenge the new frontier. ARC-AGI-2 is even harder for AI (in particular, AI reasoning systems), while maintaining the same relative ease for humans. Pure LLMs score 0% on ARC-AGI-2, and public AI reasoning systems achieve only single-digit percentage scores. In contrast, every task in ARC-AGI-2 has been solved by at least two humans in under two attempts.

By the way, the comparison is to AGI-1, which was released in 2019.

The other interesting initial finding of ARC-AGI-2 is the cost efficiency of each system, including human panels (see below). CoT means chain of thought, which is a technique for making LLMs think things through. The asterisks flag preliminary numbers.

System ARC-AGI-1 ARC-AGI-2 Efficiency (cost/task) Human panel (at least 2 humans) 98% 100% $17 Human panel (average) 64.2% 60% $17 o3-low (CoT + Search/Synthesis) 75.7% 4%* $200 o1-pro (CoT + Search/Synthesis) ~50% 1%* $200* ARChitects (Kaggle 2024 Winner) 53.5% 3% $0.25 o3-mini-high (Single CoT) 35% 0.0% $0.41 r1 and r1-zero (Single CoT) 15.8% 0.3% $0.08 gpt-4.5 (Pure LLM) 10.3% 0.0% $0.29

By the way, theres a competition with $1 million in prizes.

Some tentative conclusions (September 2025)

Right now, generative AI seems to be a few years away from production quality for most application areas. For example, the best LLMs can currently do a fair to good job of summarizing text, but do a lousy job of writing essays. Students who depend on LLMs to write their papers can expect Cs at best, and Fs if their teachers or professors recognize the tells and quirks of the models used.

Along the same lines, theres a common description of articles and books generated by LLMs: AI slop. AI slop not only powers a race to the bottom in publishing, but it also opens the possibility that future LLMs that train on corpora contaminated by AI slop will be worse than todays models.

There is research that says that heavy use of AI (to the point of over-reliance) tends to diminish users abilities to think critically, solve problems, and express creativity. On the other hand, there is research that says that using AI for guidance or as a supportive tool actually boosts cognitive development.

Generative AI for code completion and code generation is a special case, because code checkers, compilers, and test suites can often expose any errors made by the model. If you use AI code generators as a faster way to write code that you could have written yourself, it can sometimes cause a net gain in productivity. On the other hand, if you are a novice attempting vibe coding, the chances are good that all you are producing is technical debt that would take longer to fix than a good programmer would take to write the code from scratch.

Self-driving using AI is currently a mixed bag. Waymo AI, which originated as the Google Self-Driving Car Project, uses lidar, cameras, and radar to synthesize a better image of the real world than human eyes can manage. On the other hand, Tesla Full Self-Driving (FSD), which relies only on cameras, is perceived as error-prone and a mess by many users and reviewers.

Meanwhile, AGI seems to be a decade away, if not more. Yes, the CEOs of the major LLM companies publicly predict AGI within five years, but theyre not exactly unbiased, given that their jobs depend on achieving AGI. The models and reasoning systems will certainly keep improving on benchmarks, but benchmarks rarely reflect the real world, no matter how hard the benchmark authors try. And the real world is what matters.
Comcast Corp. executive Michael Cavanagh, gesturing, with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (center) and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves (left), announcing in April 2025 that Comcast will build its first Universal theme park and resort in Europe north of London to open in 2031. Read more

In an unusual arrangement, Comcast Corp. on Monday named Michael J. Cavanagh as co-chief executive officer, splitting the job with Brian L. Roberts, who has been sole CEO since taking over from the media giants founder, his father, Ralph Roberts, in 2002.

The move, as Comcast prepares to spin off some of its NBCUniversal networks into a new company, Versant, and to concentrate on its internet, studios, theme parks, and other major businesses, becomes effective Jan. 1.

Advertisement

Cavanagh 59, also joins the Comcast board, which Roberts, 66, chairs.

Cavanagh joined Comcast 10 years ago as chief financial officer, the same job he held at JPMorgan Chase & Co., the nations largest bank and one of Comcasts longtime lenders. In 2022, Cavanagh was named Comcasts president.

Comcast has been changing tactics as cable subscriptions decline, and Verizon, AT&T, and other wireless competitors win customers.

In an internal memo last week, Comcast told employees it is eliminating a layer of management, cutting its three divisional offices in Denver, Atlanta, and Manchester, N.H., while keeping 13 regional offices, including its Philadelphia region, that formerly reported to the divisions. They will now report directly to corporate headquarters.

By cutting out a layer of management, Comcast told staff that it sought to better focus on the customer experience and growth. The memo was signed by Dave Watson and Steve Croney, leaders of Comcasts Connectivity & Platforms division, which provides cable TV and wireless internet service, including the Xfinity residential services and Comcast Business, as well as Comcasts Sky services in the United Kingdom and Europe. The 13 regions will now report to Croney.

Toward the same goal, Comcast has streamlined and cut Comcast internet and equipment pricing and brought in Jon Gieselman, an Apple and DirecTV veteran, to recharge its marketing, stressing Comcasts speed and network to customers.

Cavanagh is the ideal person to help lead Comcast as the company pivots toward faster-growing businesses, and I am thrilled to be partnering with him as co-CEO, Roberts said in a statement.

In a note to employees on Monday, Roberts added that Mike and I work seamlessly together. Comcast officials say he and Cavanagh attend the same meetings and calls.

Cavanagh in his statement said that it was an honor to work with Roberts and other leaders at this exciting and transformative time in our industry.

A handful of U.S. companies, including business tech giant Oracle and video streaming giant Netflix, have co-CEOs. SAP SE, the Germany-based software giant, experimented with partner CEOs in 2019, appointing Pennsylvania-based Jennifer Morgan as co-CEO with Christian Klein, but the arrangement lasted only six months.

Very few companies do this. You cant have two heads of an organization. One dominates, said Charles Elson, a Delaware-based corporate director and governance consultant. Brian Roberts and his family control a large block of Comcasts voting stock. If there is a dispute between the two, he has the voting control.

Dual CEOS are mostly transitional arrangements or based on sharp functional splits, said Lawrence A. Cunningham, director of the John L. Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance at the University of Delaware. Boards, employees, and investors usually prefer one ultimate decision-maker.

Splitting CEO roles requires constant negotiation, which can slow decisions, especially among the ambitious, decisive personalities who take on top jobs, Cunningham added.

Cavanagh is the first nonfamily member to share the CEOs role at Comcast. One of Roberts children, Tucker, is chief innovation officer at Comcast affiliate Comcast Spectacor but is not involved in corporate decision-making.
Starbucks closed six coffeehouses in Philadelphia as part of a company-wide restructuring. Read more

Starbucks, the Seattle-based coffee powerhouse, announced last week that it would immediately shut down hundreds of underperforming stores and eliminate 900 corporate positions.

The cuts come as Starbucks has seen sales decline at stores open for at least a year for six consecutive quarters. The companys shares have fallen about 12% in the past year.

Advertisement

The chain is grappling with rising labor costs, in addition to rising coffee prices.

Which Starbucks stores closed in Philadelphia?

1500 Market St. 1709 Chestnut St. 1128 Walnut St. 1900 Market St. 1801 Spruce St. 490 N. Broad St.

How did Starbucks choose stores to close?

Starbucks chose to close coffeehouses where were unable to create the physical environment our customers and partners expect, or where we dont see a path to financial performance, CEO Brian Niccol wrote in a statement last week. Niccol became CEO of the company about a year ago.

Starbucks said it would end the fiscal year with 18,300 stores across North America, down from 18,734 in June.

According to the Washington Post, Starbucks expects to spend $1 billion on the restructuring. That figure includes $150 million on employee separation benefits and $850 million tied to the physical store closings and the price of exiting leases.

Are there still Starbucks in Philly?

According to Starbucks website, there are currently more than 30 Starbucks locations within Philadelphias city limits, including kiosks in grocery stores, hospitals, and on university campuses.

The chain also maintains a large footprint in the nearby suburbs.

What do workers say?

Employees impacted by the store closures were notified Friday.

On Sunday, about 35 Starbucks union members gathered in front of the location at 16th and Walnut Streets in protest. They say theyre prepared to strike if the company doesnt return to the bargaining table to negotiate higher wages, staffing levels, and healthcare benefits.

Over the last few years, Starbucks baristas in Philadelphia and beyond have taken efforts to improve worker protections. Some have been successful in establishing unions, while others have not. According to Starbucks Workers United, there are more than 12,000 unionized Starbucks baristas at more than 650 stores.

Three of the closed stores in Philadelphia  1801 Spruce St., 1709 Chestnut St., and 1500 Market St.  are not unionized. Three others  1900 Market St., 1128 Walnut St., and 490 N. Broad St  are unionized.
The Philadelphia School District is investigating the possible mismanagement of money at a Northeast Philadelphia elementary school, according to documents reviewed by The Inquirer.

Advertisement

Funds that had been collected at book fairs, bake sales, and other school events at Pollock Elementary on Welsh Road were discovered missing in recent months, according to people with knowledge of the matter who asked not to be named for fear of reprisal.

The discovery was made during a reconciliation of school accounts, they said  a standard district practice.

Sources familiar with the investigation said Scholastic Books was not paid for either its fall 2024 or spring 2025 book sales. Money collected in cash from the holiday bazaar and from bake sales was also missing, the sources said.

The school districts Office of General Accounting filed a complaint with the systems Inspector Generals Office pertaining to the mismanagement of the Robert Pollock School Student Activity Fund (SAF) by the retiring Principal, according to documents reviewed by The Inquirer.

Typically, school staff run the events, and students  71% of whom are considered economically disadvantaged  pay cash for books, baked goods, or trinkets.

A lot of our families dont have a lot of money, a staff source said. If theyre sending money in for the book fair or the bake sale, theres a sacrifice that comes along with that.

Multiple sources with firsthand knowledge of the schools operations said Yvette Jackson, who was principal of the school from 2019 through the end of last school year, handled depositing the money for everything from eighth-grade dues to book fair funds at the bank.

Jackson did not respond to phone and text messages seeking comment.

A spokesperson for the school board  which oversees the Office of Inspector General  said the office does not comment on its investigations.

Robin Cooper, president of Commonwealth Association of School Administration Local 502, the union that represents district principals, confirmed the investigation and said any allegations of impropriety on Jacksons part do not match the person that I know and have known for over 30 years.

I have known this principal and shes always had a stellar reputation, she said. I just think an investigation is just that  you have to have a wait-and-see approach.

Jackson was popular among her staff, who felt respected and supported by their principal. They banded together to throw her a well-attended retirement party.

Principals have not always controlled all aspects of a schools finances, Cooper said. In previous years, school operations officers kept track of accounts, but those positions have largely been phased out as budgets tightened.

A tight-knit community

It is not clear how much money is missing or over what period, but people with direct knowledge said Pollocks two book fairs netted about $10,000 last year, and two bake sales brought in roughly $2,000 each.

The holiday bazaar yielded about $2,800  money that was missing for a time, then recently paid back with a check from Jackson to the vendor who worked with the school on the event, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.

Typically, money collected from those activities would go into an account used to pay for various student activities ranging from classroom pizza parties to extras like a Pollock Panther costume.

Book fair money is typically used to purchase books for the school library, classroom libraries, and a school vending machine that allows students to pick free, new books to take home.

Pollock, a K-8, educates over 800 students. Its a tight-knit community and a well-regarded school.
West Chester University was among several Pennsylvania state universities that received active shooter calls Sunday that were quickly deemed to be fake.

The school did not immediately send out an alert to the campus community when the call came into West Chester Borough police about an active shooter in the university library. The incident  and varying responses at other campuses  highlighted the challenges that colleges face amid a recent uptick in fake threats, known as swatting.

Advertisement

The first priority of WCU campus police is to immediately respond to a scene to protect lives and minimize danger, said West Chester spokesperson Nancy Santos Gainer. Once the situation was stabilized, campus police shifted focus to informing the community as quickly as possible.

But a student said it was very disconcerting for students to see the police response at the library with no alert to the community about what was going on.

 READ MORE: Temple University police provide training on swatting incidents following spate of fake calls at colleges this year

If there is any kind of shooter situation on campus, students should be made aware before its verified as fake, said the student, who asked not to be named because of privacy concerns. Thats important information for us to know in terms of safety.

Under the federal Clery Act, which requires universities to report crime, schools must send out an emergency alert once an immediate threat to health and safety on campus is confirmed, said Laura Egan, interim associate executive director at the Clery Center, a national nonprofit based in Fort Washington and aimed at helping colleges meet the requirements of the law. Campuses could have a variety of methods to make that confirmation, she said.

Given the spate of hoax calls that have come into schools since the new semester began, colleges should review their procedures for responding to emergencies, she said.

This is an ideal time for campuses to be really certain of what their internal procedures are for confirming the existence of a significant emergency, she said. And if youve kind of bypassed that requirement in the past or thought, well Geez, we know an emergency when it happens  its certainly turning out to be not true anymore.

She said campuses probably will issue a notification more often than not unless there is overwhelming evidence that there is no need.

 READ MORE: Villanova students process trauma as school seeks return to normalcy after active shooter hoax

Unfortunately, theres not a lot of room to make a mistake that people feel good about in this arena, she said.

And there already have been shootings and mass casualty incidents on campuses this school year, she pointed out.

But she also said she understands that colleges dont want to yell fire in a movie theater type of thing or have people become desensitized to the notifications.

Campuses are weighing a lot of influential factors in making their decisions, she said.

 READ MORE: Police scanner shows panicked response to Villanova shooting hoax

Varying responses to false threats

Villanova University, which was the first local college to receive a fake active shooter call last month amid a spate of such calls nationally, said it sent out an alert immediately. Fear and panic set in for about 90 minutes as heavily armed police patrolled the campus during freshman orientation that August day, looking for a potential shooter.

University police, along with Radnor police, responded immediately to secure the area and an alert was sent out to campus community members to move to a secure location, said spokesperson Krissy Woods. They sent out an alert message immediately based on the anonymous call that was received.

Since the Villanova incident in August, some schools, including Villanova, Drexel, and Temple, have undergone training about swatting calls and indicators of potential hoaxes.

Millersville University, which is in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education along with West Chester, has had training, too. When the fake call came in about a shooter at Millersville on Sunday, there were multiple signs it was a hoax, said Mary Dolheimer, a spokesperson for Millersville.

There was only one call, she said. It came in on a non-emergency line to Lancaster County communications, the caller was anonymous, and the caller mistakenly referred to the building that was named as the library, she said.

Local and university police went through the building that was named and the library floor by floor and determined it was likely a swatting call, she said.

Millersville, like West Chester, also chose to notify the campus community after the call was deemed fake.

Were prepared to respond appropriately and err on the side of caution, she said.

But given the strong suspicion it was a swatting call, there was no need to panic the community, she said.

If multiple calls had come in or there was a strong suspicion that it was real, an alert would have been sent immediately, she said.

At Shippensburg University in Cumberland County, school officials also strongly believed the call to be fake, but did send out an alert before the call was proved a hoax because the strong state police presence was noticed and comments were circulating on social media, said spokesperson Megan Silverstrim.

The university told the campus that the call was believed to be noncredible and then issued updates as officials learned more, she said.

At West Chester, a campus police officer who was outside the library immediately entered the building and began clearing it, Santos Gainer said. Other officers arrived quickly and continued clearing the space, she said, and no shooter was found.

University police were on site, investigated immediately and confirmed that no active shooter was present, the university said in a message to the campus community after the incident.
Winslow Middle School will be closed for 30 days after a pipe burst. Read more

Winslow Township Middle School has been shut down since Thursday and will remain partially closed for weeks after a burst water pipe damaged the South Jersey school.

The school closed after a 4-inch pipe burst in a ceiling, sending water gushing throughout the building, interim Superintendent Mark Pease said Monday.

Advertisement

The school remained closed Monday and the district will implement a contingency hybrid plan starting Tuesday with students alternating in-person and remote learning, Pease said.

Pease said the district has hired All-Risk to clean up the damage.

They were looking at possibly 30 days to complete the work, Pease said. The district is optimistic that timeline may be shortened, he said.

Pease said officials have not determined why the pipe burst Wednesday night. About three-fourths of the building was flooded with one to two inches of water, he said.

A significant number of classrooms were flooded, along with the gym, library, and offices, he said. About 760 seventh and eighth graders attend the school.

The student population will be divided into two groups  Cohort A and Cohort B and alternate in-person and remote days, Pease said. Until that begins, all students will get remote instruction.

The shutdown left parents scrambling to make emergency arrangements. They were told to report to the school Monday to pick up Chromebooks. Pease said the district has a plentiful supply of devices as a result of the pandemic.

We want to get our students back into the building and back to a normal schedule, Pease said.

Pease said grab-and-go meals will be offered on virtual days for students eligible for free- and reduced-price lunch. Bus service will not be affected.

Extracurricular activities and clubs will be suspended during the shutdown, Pease said. Volleyball games, normally played in the schools gym, may be moved to the high school or at opposing schools, he said.

The shutdown has no impact on classes at Winslows other schools. The district enrolls about 6,800 students.
Ellen Rae Greenberg was found dead in her apartment in January 2011 with 20 stab wounds. Police ruled it a suicide. But was it? Read more

The death of 27-year-old Philadelphia schoolteacher Ellen Greenberg has remained a mystery since 2011, when she was found with 20 stab wounds in the kitchen of her Manayunk apartment.

Now, her case is back in the spotlight with a new Hulu docuseries, Death in Apartment 603: What Happened to Ellen Greenberg?, which debuted Monday. The true-crime series explores Greenbergs life, the circumstances of her death, and the ongoing efforts by her family to challenge the citys ruling of suicide.

Advertisement

Greenbergs death has been mired in controversy: Initially ruled a suicide, it was later reclassified as a homicide before being reversed. Her parents, Joshua and Sandra Greenberg, have spent more than a decade fighting for a new investigation and accountability from the city. A hearing is scheduled for Oct. 14 to review the Medical Examiners Offices reinvestigation of the case.

Greenberg was found by her fiance, Samuel Goldberg, in the couples apartment kitchen with 20 stab wounds (including 10 to the back of her neck), along with multiple bruises in various stages of healing, and a 10-inch kitchen knife lodged in her chest.

Police at the crime scene ruled the death a suicide because Goldberg informed them that he had to break down the apartment door due to it being locked from the inside. Greenberg also didnt appear to have defensive wounds, police said at the time.

But the next day, after the completion of Greenbergs autopsy, the Medical Examiners Office ruled the death a homicide based on the number and locations of the wounds. Philadelphia homicide detectives began investigating, but within weeks, police reversed the ruling back to suicide.

Over the next 14 years, the Greenbergs fought for answers, suing the city twice to reconsider the ruling of Ellens death and to answer for the citys embarrassingly botched investigation.

The Hulu series investigates the established evidence and draws from exclusive interviews with Joshua and Sandra Greenberg, Ellens childhood friends, former coworkers, and journalists  including The Inquirers Stephanie Farr, whose 2019 article revived public attention around the case, according to the documentary.

In an interview with showrunner Nancy Schwartzman, the documentary hopes to bring Ellens story to an even wider audience.

The Bryn Mawr-raised filmmaker said she wouldnt have been able to put the pieces together if it werent for the journalists who uncovered the facts.

I get to visually immerse you, but were all sticking to the facts here, and those facts wouldnt have come to life without Stephanies work and the work of the editors, she said.

Schwartzman said that for the Greenbergs going to the press was the last stop on a journey, where every public institution meant to help them didnt.

Throughout the three-part docuseries, viewers will be shown all the facts gathered since Greenbergs 2011 death, including uncensored crime scene images.

Greenburgs body, found in the apartment kitchen streaked in blood with the 20 stab wounds and bruises she received, is shown multiple times in the series, forcing the audience to grapple with the Greenbergs disbelief in how their daughter could have died by suicide in this way, Schwartzman said.

But, because the nature of this crime was so violent  20 stab wounds is what experts call overkill  and the fact that its been called a suicide, I think audiences need to see what this looks like."

Directed and executive-produced by Schwartzman, Death in Apartment 603 was produced by ABC News Studios alongside Dakota and Elle Fannings Lewellan Pictures, Lionsgate Alternative Television, and Tanbark Pictures.

The three-episode docuseries is available for streaming on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers.
Heres what dancerobot is: 1. the high-energy sequel to Royal Sushi & Izakaya from Jesse Ito, Philadelphias most honored Japanese chef; 2. the ownership debut of Justin Bacharach, Royals second in command; and 3. a royal pain to start a sentence with because Ito and Bacharach insist on spelling it lowercase.

Heres what dancerobot is not: 1. a sushi joint; 2. anything like other Japanese restaurants in Philadelphia; and 3. an easy-to-crack reservation.

Advertisement

Ito refuses to serve sushi at dancerobot  opening Tuesday at 1710 Sansom St. in Rittenhouse  because he cant be there while commanding his eight-seat, $300-a-head omakase counter in Queen Village, widely viewed as Philadelphias most impossible reservation.

Besides, Ito said, a sushi menu at dancerobot would cannibalize Royal. Its too close. [Royal Sushi does] a big delivery service that reaches Rittenhouse and even the burbs. I know people in Gladwyne who pay the surcharge to get our [sushi] out there.

Ito and Bacharach, partnered with Royal co-owner Stephen Simons, opened dancerobots 80-seat Resy book on Friday. In less than an hour, all 30 days of reservations were spoken for. The 20-seat bar and a long drink rail are left open for walk-ins. (This month has been a whirlwind for Ito, an eight-time James Beard Award nominee: Last week, Royal Sushi & Izakaya was named No. 32 on North Americas 50 Best Restaurants list for 2025.)

The Rittenhouse restaurant has been in the works for more than two years, and planning for it took both chefs to Japan for the first time.

Whats on the menu  and whats not

You wont find ramen or yakitori on dancerobots menu, either. Instead, its studded with examples of Western-influenced yoshoku cuisine such as katsu curry, hamburg steak, wagyu roast beef with miso mashed potatoes, and pizza toast. Two Royal Izakaya dishes  fried eggplant in sweet miso glaze (nasu dengaku) and grilled Norwegian mackerel (saba shioyaki)  made it over.

One nod to Itos omakase is thin-sliced kanpachi (amberjack) in tosazu (dashi vinegar) spiked with fish sauce and garlic, topped with pickled Thai chilies, panko breadcrumbs, Japanese scallion (Tokyo negi), and dots of chive oil. The dish had been conceived for a collaboration with Kalaya, and Ito has made a few in-house iterations since.

The bar program includes sake, shochu, frozen drinks, and Japanese cocktails.

The weekend brunch menu, with the grilled-fish meal known as teishoku alongside omurice and onigiri, and a late-night menu with such convenience store (konbini) dishes as egg salad sandwiches and souffle pudding will both start soon.

Dancerobots double-wide storefront features white-painted bricks, a handsome mahogany double door, and a simple pink neon. (Royals blue door and red lantern in Queen Village is similarly Spartan.) The vestibule inside, also lit in pink, is covered with anime posters and other 1980s kitsch beneath a mirrored ceiling. Past the heavy velvet curtain is an antique bar  moody and Victorian, in the Royal spirit. In the back is booth seating.

Dancerobots backstory

Bacharach  whose resume includes Bing Bing Dim Sum, Cheu Noodle Bar, and Cheu Fishtown  had been Royal Izakayas executive chef for more than two years when the planning of dancerobot started in 2023. Ito said the timing felt right to expand beyond Royal and put Bacharach front and center.

I never wanted to do something just because I could, Ito said. For me, it always has to be about trust  about having a chef-operator running the place. Justin and I work well together. Hes talented, and people like working with him. That made me think: OK, nows the time to push for another restaurant.

They secured the former Foodery, a sandwich-and-beer bar that closed in 2022 after a 10-year run. To Bacharach, 1710 Sansom has special meaning. From 1977 until 1991, it was home of the Commissary, the upscale-cafeteria offshoot of chef Steve Poses trailblazing Frog restaurant, a touchstone of Philadelphias 1970s restaurant renaissance. The Frog Commissary Cookbook was the first cookbook I read when I was a kid, said Bacharach, 35, who was born in 1989, four years after it was first published.

Although Bacharach had been cooking Japanese cuisine for several years, he had never been to Japan.

Neither, for that matter, had Ito, whose father was born in southern Japan. A lot of people are surprised by that, Ito, 36, said. But when my parents owned Fuji, we literally took no vacations. My dad never went back, except when his mother passed. In between closing Fuji [in late 2015] and [opening Royal], there was a year  but I was broke, so I couldnt go.

To create dancerobot, Ito said, it was really important for me to go to Japan and see the origin of everything Im cooking.

For 11 days from late January into February of this year, the chefs ate their way through Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, favoring kissaten, Japanese coffee houses with Western-influenced menus and jazz soundtracks.

A lot of them arent even listed on any review sites, Ito said. Those were the best ones. You just go where theres a line of people waiting to get in.

Ito and Bacharach occasionally split up to cover more ground. I would just go from one kissaten to the next and get an egg salad sandwich at one and katsu curry at another and a kare pan or a souffle pudding at the next one, Bacharach said. After eating at those places, I found that everything was so foreign but also familiar, and that was the perfect direction for the food here.

One goal was finding the best version of kare pan  beef in Japanese curry, baked into a doughnut thats breaded with panko and fried  a dish that Ito has enjoyed many times at Mitsuwa Market Place, the Japanese mega-market outside of New York City.

We went to convenience stores, bakeries on the side of the street, [shops in] basements of subway stations, and department stores and tried all of them, Bacharach said. He brought his ideas back, tweaked his recipe in Royals kitchen, and came up with a doughnut that he says tastes like a fresh Krispy Kreme out of the fryer, albeit one with Japanese curry in the batter and dashi-braised beef cheeks inside. Its on the dinner menu and will be offered at brunch and late night.

Youll be craving one of these a week, Ito said.

In Tokyo, their hotel was in Ikebukuro, a neighborhood geared toward locals and business people, not food cognoscenti. Ito, who had been chronicling the journey on Instagram, said his DMs were filled with people saying, What? Why are you there?

But there were amazing little izakayas, Bacharach said. We stumbled upon one that looked like a roadside diner filled with people, and we had a few dishes like their hamburg steak, which is essentially like Japans version of a hamburger, but its also sort of like a giant meatball in a rich demi-glace and has nori on top. Thats also where they found the inspiration for their cheesy mentaiko omelet, which Bacharach describes as basically just like a diner omelet with cheese in the middle and spicy cod roe on top.

Theres also pizza toast: thick-cut shokupan (milk bread) toasted and topped with pizza sauce, roasted vegetables, black olives, prosciutto, mentaiko cream, and mozzarella. Its a take on a classic cafe favorite from 1970s Tokyo.

The late-night weekend menu, when dancerobots bar will stay open until 2 a.m., is based on their stop in Kyoto. We got off the train and Jesse was like, Lets just go to every convenience store thats walkable from the train station and get everything  egg salad sandwiches, hot dog buns, custards, puddings, ice cream, all kinds of desserts, Bacharach said.

In Japan, the American-born convenience chains Family Mart, Lawsons, and 7-Eleven sell top-tier, super-high-quality food, Ito said.

Ito and Bacharach bought the same items at each, returned to the hotel, laid it all out, and compared. The winners were egg salad sandwiches from the 7-Eleven and the spicy fried chicken known as Famichiki from Family Mart.

All of the inspiration points come together on dancerobots menu, unlike any other in Philadelphia.

I think a lot of people have an expectation that Japanese food is either really expensive or its like your cheap corner sushi joint, Bacharach said. Were a niche ... were going to have a very wide range of options.

Dancerobot, 1710 Sansom St., Philadelphia; 215-419-5202; dancerobotphl.com. Opening hours: 4 to 10 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday.
The Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia City Hall. Read more

Diana Dawson, a 74-year-old suffering from Alzheimers, fell off her bed while under the care of a health aide at her Southwest Philadelphia home on the morning of Feb. 16, 2021. The fall marked the beginning of a 29-day decline in Dawsons health that culminated with her death.

Earlier this month, a Philadelphia jury awarded Dawsons children $14 million following a three-day trial, finding that negligence by the aide from Bayada Home Health Care, a Moorestown nonprofit that has become one of the nations largest home care companies, caused the womans injury and eventual demise.

Advertisement

Dawson fractured her pelvis when she fell off her bed, and in the following days she suffered from pain and stopped eating, according to court records.

The lawsuit, filed in 2023 in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, accused Bayada of subpar care. The aide was not named as a defendant.

The home aide frankly ignored Dawson when she fell, attorneys for the family said in court records. The aide then lied to the family that Dawson slipped onto a blanket and wasnt hurt, the family alleged.

The fall was captured on video, which the jury saw as part of the trial. It shows the aide in the room at the time, according to Leonard Haberman, attorney representing the family.

Watching the home health aide standing over her for a minute, which felt like an hour, not rendering her any assistance, was borderline cruel, Haberman said.

Dawson was diagnosed with Alzheimers five years before her death. She still enjoyed parties and family barbecues, the attorney said, until the fall stole years from her life.

The family hired Bayada because Dawson was at risk for falls, requiring one-to-one supervision, the attorney said.

Bayada said in court records that the aide did not witness Dawsons fall, and that she immediately notified Dawsons daughter, who was also in the house.

It was only at the end of the aides morning shift that Dawson began complaining of pain, Bayada said in filings, after which Dawsons daughter took her to a hospital.

The jury was not convinced and issued a verdict against Bayada composed of $4 million for damages, including pain and suffering, and $10 million for wrongful death.

During the trial, Common Pleas Judge Caroline Turner dismissed a count of corporate negligence, Haberman said.

A spokesperson for Bayada said in a statement that while the agency respects the jurys decision, it finds the award inconsistent with the evidence presented at the trial.

Importantly, the court determined there was no corporate negligence by BAYADA, the statement said. We have asked the trial court to set aside the verdict and, if necessary, will also challenge the decision through the appeals process.

The verdict is among the highest issued in Philadelphia this year, after a few years in which awards surpassing $10 million have been occurring more often.

In a highly unusual move, Bayada founder Mark Baiada donated the business to a nonprofit at the beginning of 2019. He remained chair of the organizations board.

Since becoming a nonprofit, Bayada has had to make significant payments in at least two court cases. In 2021, it agreed to pay $17 million to settle allegations of illegal kickbacks in exchange for patient referrals.

Last year, Bayada settled a class-action lawsuit in Philadelphia alleging the company failed to pay nurses for time spent updating the incoming nurse or caregiver on a patients condition and for time spent in mandatory training sessions. A judge recently approved the $13.5 million settlement.
Local LGBTQ+ artist Victor Surbrook (center) joins other artists and community members painting a new public art Pride crosswalk on State Street in downtown Media on Sunday, Sept. 28. The work was sponsored by the Media Arts Council, the Media Business Authority, and the Borough of Media and was completed in one day. Read more

Pat Ackroyd was walking along State Street on Sunday when he happened upon a few dozen volunteers painting a rainbow crosswalk in downtown Media.

As the group laid down colorful lines and swirls in the street, someone handed Ackroyd a leaf blower and asked him to blow the prior nights rain away from the paint. He wasnt part of the project, but he stepped right up.

Advertisement

Its how Media is, he said. You want art? You want sports? You want good schools? Just find a way of getting it done. Everybody stepping up makes it so much easier.

The rainbow crosswalk, designed by artist Victor Surbrook and painted with the help of volunteers, embodies that communal spirit, organizers said. Located at the intersection of State and Plum Streets, the mural was a collaboration of the Media Arts Council, Media Borough, and the Media Business Authority, and was funded by over 200 individual donors.

The Media Arts Council dreamed up the idea, Surbrook designed it, and local artist Stephanie Untz helped bring it from paper to pavement.

More than just eye candy for the streetscape, the mural is a symbol of inclusion  a sign that, as attacks against LGBTQ+ people rise, all are welcome in Everybodys Hometown.

The Pride crosswalk is the first piece of large-scale public art that Surbrook, a 22-year-old artist and recent graduate of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, has designed. Surbrook got connected with the Media Arts Councils artistic director, Jeff Thomas, through PAFAs alumni council.

After a monthslong planning process and many drafts, Surbrook and the Media Arts Council landed on a Wizard of Oz motif, adorning the traditional Pride flag with a rainbow swirl reminiscent of Dorothys journey to the end of the Yellow Brick Road.

Surbrook said they wanted it to be more dynamic while keeping it recognizable as a crosswalk.

As Surbrook shepherded a team of paint-splashed and overall-clad volunteers on the unseasonably warm Sunday, passersby stopped to admire the art and donate to the Media Arts Council.

Im happy to be here and happy to see so many people who are supportive, said Raven Amaro, the arts councils administrative assistant. Im glad to be living in a community where that is the case.

Its a great way for the community to receive the message that everyone should be welcome in Media, said Bonnie Kaplan, the co-leader of the Pennsylvania chapter of Free Mom Hugs, a nonprofit that promotes support for the LGBTQ+ community.

The project was funded entirely by individual contributions and was supported by the Media Business Authority. The Media Arts Council set out to raise $7,500 to cover painting and maintenance costs. They ultimately raised over $9,400. Both SEPTA and the Media Borough Council approved the project.

It was not lost on organizers that as Media laid down its rainbow crosswalk, homages to LGBTQ+ Pride were being stripped away elsewhere.

Were seeing a lot of regression, said Surbrook, who is queer, citing an order in Florida mandating that municipalities remove their Pride crosswalks. The U.S. Department of Transportation has offered similar guidance, saying arterial roads should be kept free of political messages of any nature and artwork.

Even in Media, support was not universal.

Thomas said comments flooded into the Media Arts Councils Facebook page bashing the project. He expects the mural to be defaced, as others across the country have been.

Its surprising, the lack of empathy that people have, he said.

Rather than pull back from celebrating LGBTQ+ people, advocates said Medias mural is more important than ever.

The job of art is to hold a mirror up, Thomas said. Its easy to get desensitized. I think its also easy to throw your hands up and be like, I give up.

Amaro, who is bisexual, said she used to take for granted symbolic acts of allyship, like businesses celebrating Pride month or municipalities putting down rainbow crosswalks.

Especially in the past couple of years, Ive come to realize how much even those symbolic things are important, especially because those things are starting to be taken away, she said.
Teddy Guerra, who works at a Starbucks at 20th and Market Streets, speaks during a Starbucks Workers United rally outside the shop at 16th and Walnut in Philadelphia on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. Read more

About 35 unionized Starbucks workers and supporters from other unions gathered Sunday in Center City, with a message summed up in a four-word chant: No contract? No coffee.

The baristas are part of a growing pool of union members among the coffee giants U.S. labor force. The union, Starbucks Workers United, has been bargaining its first union contract with Starbucks since 2021.

Advertisement

Now, amid sudden closures to hundreds of Starbucks locations nationwide, the union members say theyre getting ready to strike, just in time for the holiday season.

The last thing Starbucks needs is a strike on its hands, said Yuna Miyamoto, a barista at the Starbucks in Chestnut Hill. But we have the will, and we have the numbers.

Standing in front of the Starbucks at 16th and Walnut Streets, Workers United organizer Alex Riccio said they plan to shut down as many union locations as possible if the company doesnt return to the bargaining table to negotiate higher wages, staffing levels, and health care benefits. To do this, Riccio said, the union has already elected 400 strike captains nationwide.

 READ MORE: Starbucks will lay off about 900 employees and close over 100 stores. Heres what to know.

Silvia Baldwin is one of these strike captains. Shes a barista at the 3401 Walnut St. Starbucks, a store where the union won its election in 2022.

Baldwin said the company should make a real good-faith offer if it wishes to avert a strike. To her, that starts with wages.

When you give a majority of your working hours and your lifeblood to anything, you should really be able to make ends meet, she said.

Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol has said the sweeping closures are part of a plan to bring back a more welcoming atmosphere to stores. The coffee chain has seen sales decline for six consecutive quarters at stores open for at least a year, according to The New York Times, and the companys shares have fallen about 12 percent in the past year.

Our Back to Starbucks investments  like $500 million to put more partners in stores, 18 weeks of parental leave, and industry-leading benefits that add up to about $30 an hour  are helping us keep turnover at record lows and making Starbucks a place more partners recommend as a great place to work," spokesperson Andrew Tull told The Inquirer.

But the closures have also added to union members concerns. In Philadelphia, six stores have closed. Three of these  1801 Spruce St., 1709 Chestnut St., and 1500 Market St.  are not unionized. Three others  1900 Market St., 1201 Walnut St., and 490 N. Broad St  are unionized.

The union is looking to bargain for the baristas who worked at these locations, Baldwin said; that may include getting moved to another store, or getting severance benefits.

Baristas have noticed that the sudden store closures also are adding to an uptick in customers at the remaining stores, said Noah Dixon, who works at the Starbucks where the rally was held. And since staffing hasnt increased, he said, many workers are concerned about the potential impact on customers and store cleanliness..

Any problems are only likely to get worse during the busy holiday season, Dixon added.

 READ MORE: Chestnut Hill Starbucks joins wave of unionized Philly stores

The union is considering timing a strike action around Red Cup Day, an annual promotional event in November where customers get a reusable, holiday-themed red cup with their purchase, he said.

It wouldnt be the first time the company went on strike around the holidays. On Christmas Eve last year, Philadelphia Starbucks workers steered customers to other coffee shops while picketing in Center City.

Still, the union and Starbucks have had some success, Dixon said. The two parties successfully reached about 30 tentative agreements on contract issues last year.

However, when the union began introducing contract proposals for staffing, wages, and healthcare, things slowed down, Dixon said. The company offered a 1.5% pay increase, which amounted to about 50 cents per hour. Dixon, who earns $16.83 per hour, said his wage has gone up 30 cents over the past three years.

We are fighting to bring them back to the bargaining table, with real proposals, he said.
Since John Sabatina Sr. took over as register of wills, the city has paid out $256,000 to settle wrongful-termination lawsuits. Another $400,000 has been spent settling similar suits filed against his predecessor Tracey Gordon. Read more

Ian Ewing thought his job was secure in the Philadelphia Register of Wills office. A November 2023 performance review found that he was exceeding expectations as a records clerk, a position he had held for three years.

But in January 2024, Ewing said, an aide to newly elected Register of Wills John Sabatina Sr. informed him in the middle of the workday that he was being fired. Immediately.

Advertisement

They said I can go upstairs and grab my belongings or they could have someone do it, Ewing recalled last week. I wasnt given any reason.

What Ewing didnt know is that the Sabatina administration had created an internal list of employees it was planning to fire to make way for new hires. Ewing was on it.

It was a hit list, said Ewings lawyer, Timothy Creech. It wasnt to save money. It was specifically to hire their own people.

The city recently agreed to pay Ewing $40,000 to settle his lawsuit that claimed that he was fired for not supporting Sabatinas campaign, in violation of his First Amendment rights.

Sixteen other former register of wills employees have filed similar suits since early 2024, costing Philadelphia taxpayers $656,000 in legal settlements so far, according to court documents and information provided by the citys law department.

Sabatinas so-called hit list was recently produced by city lawyers during the discovery phase in those civil cases.

The document sheds new light on the costly fallout that follows leadership changes in the register of wills office, a time-honored patronage den whose employees do not have the civil-service protections afforded other city workers.

Sabatina and a spokesperson for the citys law department declined to comment last week on any of the open lawsuits or the spreadsheet of targeted employees.

Creech, who is representing 11 of the fired employees, said he has been taken aback by the cutthroat politics within a relatively obscure office in City Hall. It does nonpolitical work, such as issuing marriage licenses and processing inheritance-related records.

The office employs approximately 100 people with an annual budget of about $5.2 million.

I learned a lot about how the sausage is made, said Creech, who compared Sabatina to a Tammany Hall-style party boss, a reference to the former New York City political machine. Real people lose their jobs just so the political operatives can throw taxpayers money around. Its all laid bare here.

Ron Dons legacy

The late Ronald R. Donatucci, first elected register of wills in 1979, ran the office for 40 years as a Democratic patronage operation, a throwback to the days of big city political machines that doled out jobs to people with the right connections.

Committee people. Campaign donors. That ward leader whos married to the daughter of a South Philly politician whos owed a favor or something.

Donatucci, who served as a Democratic ward leader himself, was unseated as register of wills in 2019 by Tracey Gordon, a former deputy city commissioner. Gordon was then defeated in 2023 by Sabatina, an estate attorney and Northeast Philadelphia ward leader.

Turns out, when the office has two new bosses in four years, patronage hiring can turn into patronage firing.

Gordons single term in office led to five federal lawsuits filed by former employees who say she fired them after they declined to support her failed reelection campaign. Four of those cases have since been settled for a total of $400,000. One case is still being litigated.

Then, in January 2024, Sabatina began his house cleaning, which later triggered another wave of similar lawsuits. So far, the city has agreed to pay out a total of $256,000 in settlements to Ewing and eight other fired employees. The number is expected to grow, with some cases open and new cases still being filed.

As a candidate, Sabatina had criticized Gordons hiring and firing practices and said he wanted to restore public trust in the office.

But Sabatinas hires have included many people with connections to the Democratic Party, The Inquirer previously reported: three Democratic ward leaders; 10 committee people; the wives of two other committee people; the daughter of a late City Council member; and the granddaughter of a former state representative.

Sabatina rehired one staffer, Patrick Parkinson, who was originally brought on by Donatucci in 2016, then fired by Gordon in 2022 because, Parkinson says, he refused to donate to her campaign. Parkinson now earns $99,825 a year  on top of $120,000 he received from the city to settle his wrongful-termination suit against Gordon.

This month, Doug Nesmith, a former supervisor in the office, filed a lawsuit alleging that Sabatina unlawfully fired him about a month after taking office in January 2024.

Nesmith, a former Democratic committeeman, alleges that Sabatina targeted him because he was a prominent supporter of Gordon when she ran for reelection. That violates his First Amendment rights, he alleges.

This was not for performance, not to trim the budget, not to replace executive level employees, his lawsuit claims. It was to free up cash for Sabatinas own patronage hires.

Exhibit A in Nesmiths lawsuit is the annotated spreadsheet that reveals the Sabatina administrations strategy to free up money for new hires.

The spreadsheet, which Creech said appears to have been compiled by a Sabatina aide, listed 30 office employees, many of whom are described by their connection to Tracey Gordon or other political figures:

Tracey niece, Traceys friend, 7th Ward committee person, Last Tracey hire, and Shariff Street referral at Traceys request, a misspelled reference to the state senator and former state Democratic Party chairman.

The suggested action for most of those employees: Terminate. When: Immediate.

We have enough immediate terminations to allow us several hires in the next two weeks, reads a note at the bottom of the spreadsheet.

Some of the firings appear to have been planned before Sabatina even had replacements, according to another note on the page.

We dont have people lined up for all of these jobs, the note reads, and we need to make sure we use up all of the funds set aside in the budget for salary.

It definitely stung me

Ewing, 29, said his confidence took a hit after his unexpected firing last year. It left him scrambling to find a job just after signing a new lease with his fiancee.

There was a lot of anger and confusion, he said. It was extremely difficult at the time. It definitely stung me.

Ewing has since found work as an assistant at a law firm. He said he was disheartened to see that he had been singled out for termination, despite having been told he was exceeding expectations.

I worked hard there, Ewing said. I did my job. I was pretty apolitical.

It seemed there were people that had some sort of political connection or a Godfather behind them and they didnt get fired, Creech added. Then there were politically vulnerable people who were let go so [Sabatina] would have money to hire his own people.

The Committee of Seventy, a good-government group, has for years called on Philadelphia officials to reform three independently elected row offices  register of wills, sheriff, and city commissioners. The committee has said the offices should be absorbed by city government or the court system.

This list confirms what we all expected  that hiring in row offices is too often based on who you know instead of the ability to do the job, said Andrew McGinley, the Committee of Seventys vice president of external affairs.

In March, the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority, Philadelphias fiscal watchdog, unanimously passed a resolution to recommend that City Council and Mayor Cherelle L. Parker abolish the register of wills office, along with the sheriffs office.

City officials have taken no action.

Gordon, the former register of wills, ran unsuccessfully for Congress last year. City payroll records show that she now works as a services representative in the sheriffs office.

McGinley said the lawsuits are the latest evidence that change is still needed.

Patronage hires are only possible because of the needless independence of this office, he said. If these were civil service employees, this wouldnt happen, and wed save hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars wasted on settlements.
With a government shutdown looming, Jimmy Kimmel coming back, and former FBI Director James Comey being indicted, it would be easy to miss that the Trump administration has promised billions in taxpayer money to bail out one of the presidents buddies after he got in trouble down south.

Argentine President Javier Milei, who you may remember gave Elon Musk a bureaucracy chain saw onstage at the Conservative Political Action Conference in February, has put the power tools down and brought out the collection plate.

Advertisement

As President [Donald] Trump has stated, we stand ready to do what is needed to support Argentina and the Argentine people, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent posted on X Wednesday. The Treasury is currently in negotiations with Argentine officials for a $20 billion swap line with the Central Bank.

That influx of cash is, of course, timed to the forthcoming midterm elections, as Milei is challenged over his poor handling of the economy and other political woes. Elected in 2023, the brash self-proclaimed anarcho-capitalist has cut a Trumpian path, governing by decree and force of personality. But corruption allegations surrounding his sister, growing wage stagnation, and rising unemployment have him on the ropes.

Now, helping a neighbor facing hard times is not a bad thing. I was in Mexico when President Bill Clinton took it upon himself to approve a $20 billion loan in 1995 to help stabilize the peso after that countrys economic collapse. But helping the nation next door was also in Americas best interest.

The U.S. had just entered into a trade agreement, and there were American jobs dependent on exports. Clinton also pragmatically argued that a broke Mexico would likely lead to more illegal immigration and destabilize the southern border.

The gamble worked. Mexico ended up paying back the loan, along with half a billion dollars in interest, ahead of schedule. The country also continued down the road to true democracy, with an opposition party winning the presidency in 2000 for the first time in more than 70 years. But Argentina is not Mexico.

The country is hardly a top export destination for American goods (imports from China almost double what U.S. producers sell there), and Milei has already burned through $15 billion in International Monetary Fund money. Not to mention Argentina owes another $45 billion from an IMF loan taken out in 2018.

Those are a lot of hopes and dreams riding on the right-wing Milei. As U.S. Rep. French Hill, the GOP chairman of the House Committee on Financial Services, wrote after a trip to Argentina recently, if Mileis policies are successful, they could reverse 150 years of macro financial disappointment to creditors. I believe in long shots, but Im not taking that bet.

Oh, wait. As a taxpayer, I guess I am.

Whats maddening about this situation is that its part of the cronyism that defines Trumps second term. The president has made no secret, as usual, of what his motivations are, calling Milei a very good friend, fighter, and winner on Truth Social, and telling Argentines their president has his complete and total endorsement and will never let you down!

We can argue on the merits of propping up Argentinas economy, but this is no way to run foreign policy in Latin America.

Not while the U.S. cozies up to the worlds coolest dictator (and Americas jailer) Nayib Bukele in El Salvador. Nor when were imposing 50% tariffs on Brazil  a country with an economy more than three times the size of Argentinas  for convicting former president (and Trump pal) Jair Bolsonaro over a coup attempt after his electoral defeat in 2022.

Nor when Trump continues to order the extrajudicial killings of Venezuelans  at least 17 people  the White House claims were drug running in the Caribbean.

The little Republican pushback over the administrations efforts to rescue Mileis political career has come from U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, who objects to Argentinas undercutting of U.S. farmers trying to sell to China. Why would USA help bail out Argentina while they take American soybean producers biggest market??? Grassley posted to X on Thursday.

Not exactly a clarion call to action, but its a start. Maybe if we put soybeans on those Venezuelan boats the U.S. keeps blowing up, well get some needed outrage from the right.

I wont take that bet, either.
The U.S. government shutdown Wednesday for the first time in more than six years, after Republicans and Democrats failed to agree on short-term funding solutions.

In March, a shutdown was narrowly avoided with a stopgap measure approved with hours to spare. But this shutdown could look different from those of the past: President Donald Trump has directed federal agencies to prepare layoff plans  separate from the temporary furloughs that typically take place amid a shutdown.

Advertisement

 READ MORE: Government shutdown 2025: What to know

Heres what we know.

Whats happening now?

The federal government shutdown officially at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, the start of the new fiscal year.

Just two Democrats  Sen. John Fetterman (D., Pa.) and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D., Nev.)  and Sen. Angus King (I., Maine) voted for a Republican measure that would have funded the government through Nov. 21.

The impasse lies with Democrats push for certain provisions related to the Affordable Care Act to be included in the stopgap measure.

What are the main differences between todays shutdown vs. before?

The biggest difference this time around is that tighter fiscal constraints from the top mean the shutdown could cause more damage.

President Donald Trumps administration is preparing to permanently lay off an unspecified number of federal workers due to the government shutdown, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Wednesday afternoon, without offering further details.

What do we know about potential permanent layoffs?

So far, the Trump administration has not outlined any specific agencies that would be impacted by layoffs or offered a number of workers expected to be impacted.

In a memo last week, the Office of Management and Budget said these layoffs would apply to programs that are not consistent with the Presidents priorities.

Those programs would need to rely on discretionary funding, which have lapsed as of Wednesday without another available funding source, according to the memo.

What could a shutdown mean for Philadelphia workers?

Gov. Josh Shapiro said Tuesday afternoon that it was unclear what would happen to Pennsylvania residents who get paid by the federal government after the shutdown.

Hundreds of thousands of federal employees are affected by government shutdowns since they are expected to work, but would not receive pay until after the shutdown is lifted. Employees are typically guaranteed back pay.

Layoffs could change this dynamic.

Some of the main groups of employees that the shutdown impacts include (but are not limited to) active members of the military, federal law enforcement, federal transportation workers (like air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration agents, but not SEPTA), national park employees, scientific researchers, and some healthcare providers.

An exception is Congress, whose members pay is constitutionally protected.

What have Pennsylvania and area elected officials said?

Fetterman joined Senate Republicans late Tuesday in voting for their plan to thwart the shutdown  one of two Democrat to do so. He has repeatedly said that he would like to avoid a shutdown at all costs.

Just hours before Congress missed its deadline to fund the government, Sen. Andy Kim (D., N.J.) told constituents on a call why he sees the shutdown as a pivotal moment for Democrats to fight back against President Donald Trump.

Democrats say theyre taking a hard line to protect healthcare for millions of Americans; Kim said also its a broader need for the party to push back on Trump for gutting the federal government workforce, sending National Guard troops into U.S. cities, and cracking down on free speech.

Shapiro on Wednesday pointed the finger at Republicans, saying that because they control the entire federal government  theyve got to figure out how to reopen  and continue to provide service to the good people in the country.

What could a government shutdown mean for Philly?

Tourists flocked to Philadelphias most famous icons Wednesday, only to be met by closures at the Liberty Bell Center and Independence Hall  both of which fall under the National Park Services purview.

Immigration Court  which was closed during the last shutdown except for emergency filings  was open as of Wednesday, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement will continue to conduct immigration enforcement during the government shutdown.

 READ MORE: How the government shutdown impacts Pa.s 100,000 federal workers

The regions federal courts were open Wednesday and expected to operate at full capacity through at least Friday by dipping into a reserve balance of court fees and other revenues that are not appropriated by Congress. During the last shutdown, most federal eastern Pennsylvania law enforcement officers continued to work without pay.

In 2019, essential Philadelphia International Airport employees continued to work without pay, but resources were strained, with some air traffic controllers being furloughed. As of Wednesday morning, however, PHL operations continued to run smoothly.

In New Jersey, nearly all civilian workers at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in were furloughed on Wednesday.

What will happen to federal benefits? Or my mail? What about passport processing?

Federal benefits like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid will continue, but payments and support could slow down. SNAP benefits could be at risk of running out of funding depending on the length of the shutdown.

The U.S. Postal Service is not impacted by government shutdowns because it operates independently, according to its website.

Airports will remain open but could see delays depending on labor shortages.

The U.S. Passport Agency typically remains open during shutdowns and continues to issue passports. That said, sometimes the process is slowed down based on labor shortages. The State Department could also reduce issuing passports when services are offered in buildings run by agencies that are impacted by the shutdown.

What was the longest government shutdown?

The 2018-19 shutdown  which lasted 35 days, making it the longest in history  was also the second to occur during Trumps first presidency. That shutdown ended after East Coast airports faced major delays when unpaid air traffic controllers stopped coming to work.

How long will this shutdown last?

The federal government will be closed until leaders can secure necessary funding.
The White House is developing a plan that could change how universities are awarded research grants, giving a competitive advantage to schools that pledge to adhere to the values and policies of the Trump administration on admissions, hiring and other matters.

The new system, described by two White House officials, would represent a shift away from the unprecedented wave of investigations and punishments being delivered to individual schools and toward an effort to bring large swaths of colleges into compliance with Trump priorities all at once.

Advertisement

Universities could be asked to affirm that admissions and hiring decisions are based on merit rather than racial or ethnic background, or other factors; that specific factors are taken into account when considering foreign student applications; and that college costs are not out of line with the value students receive.

Now its time to effect change nationwide, not on a one-off basis, said a senior White House official, who like the other official described the plan on the condition of anonymity because it is still being developed.

Under the current system, the federal governments vast research funding operation awards billions of dollars worth of grants based on peer reviews and scientific merit.

The administration says it is working to enforce civil rights laws, which it contends many universities have violated by embracing diversity, equity and inclusion programs or failing to adequately protect Jewish students or staff from antisemitism. But the effort is almost certain to add to criticism from outside experts who say the administration is already overstepping its authority to try to impose its values on higher education.

Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education, said the outlines of the proposal amounted to an assault  on institutional autonomy, on ideological diversity, on freedom of expression and academic freedom.

Suddenly, to get a grant, you need to not demonstrate merit, but ideological fealty to a particular set of political viewpoints. Thats not merit, he said. I cant imagine a university in America that would be supportive of this.

Since President Donald Trump returned to office in January, his administration has launched investigations of and pulled research funding from universities including Columbia, Harvard and UCLA, and then worked to extract concessions in exchange for restoring the money. Officials say the punishments are an effort to enforce federal laws that bar funding for schools that discriminate on the basis of sex, race or national origin.

The White House has faced setbacks in court  including a big loss this month in its high-profile fight with Harvard and another setback last week in California  and has not reached as many settlement agreements as Trump officials had hoped for.

The senior White House official described the new system as an opportunity for schools to show they are in compliance, as interpreted by the administration. Those that do so, the official said, would be rewarded with a competitive advantage in applying for federal grants.

I think there will be an opportunity for universities to be forward-looking and  state their positions out loud: What are the things that you believe? What are your values? How are you providing value to students? the official said. And that will be something that not only is important to the administration  but itll be super impactful for students, too.

The official said the administration also would continue to launch investigations of individual universities that it believes are in violation of civil rights laws.

Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the University of California at Berkeleys law school, said no one will object if the White House simply requires universities to pledge compliance with existing law.

But Chemerinsky, one of the attorneys representing UC researchers in a lawsuit challenging terminated federal research funding, also said the administrations view of what the law requires could be at odds with other interpretations: It all depends on what the conditions are, and whether those conditions are constitutional.

Chemerinsky said it would be a First Amendment violation to put schools at a disadvantage in competing for funding if they profess a belief in diversity, for example, because government is not allowed to discriminate based on viewpoint. He said it would be very troubling if the White House proposal deviates from the standards that have been used in awarding grants based on the quality and importance of the science, peer review and merit, and uses ideology as the judgment standard instead.

The senior White House official said that in theory all universities would remain eligible for grants but that some would have an advantage. The second official said details on how the new system would interact with the traditional grant-review process were still to come.

The administration hopes to launch the new initiative, including the list of things that universities will be asked to affirm, within the next few months, the senior White House official said.

Itll be a whole range of what it means to be a really excellent institution of higher education, the official said.

Part of the plan would include asking universities to affirm that they are not considering race in admissions, which the Supreme Court has ruled unconstitutional. Universities maintain that they are no longer doing so, but the Trump administration suspects many schools are using proxies for race to, in its view, illegally cling to their diversity goals.

Some selective universities have tried to build racially diverse classes by admitting more lower-income students or by targeting recruitment in high schools with high concentrations of Black and Hispanic students.

In addition, universities sometimes admit students based in part on other qualities. For instance, they might consider nonacademic factors such as whether someone is being recruited as an athlete, demonstrated leadership, overcame hardship or has a parent who attended the school.

Conservatives inside and outside the administration also contend that universities, aiming to diversify their faculty, frequently break the law by considering race in hiring.

The two officials did not say exactly what universities would have to affirm regarding foreign student admissions, but the senior White House official cited the goal of assuring that the schools are not importing radicalism on campus. It also was not clear what the metric for costs would be, but the Trump administration has frequently said that with costs spiraling, universities should show they are delivering students a strong return on their investment.

Asked to clarify how cost would be judged, the second White House official said: Universities have become bastions of bureaucracy and waste, loading students with exorbitant debt all to provide them with a useless degree in a frivolous major. That is not the mark of a great university.

Three universities targeted by the Trump administration early this year have made some concessions in recent months to get their funding restored.

In July, the University of Pennsylvania agreed to certain terms regarding transgender athletes in exchange for the restoration of $175 million in federal funds.

Later that month, Columbia University leaders reached a settlement with the administration to restore more than $1 billion in federal funding, agreeing to pay more than $200 million to settle claims of discriminatory hiring and antisemitism, and agreeing to some oversight by an independent monitor, but not admitting wrongdoing. The universitys acting president said nothing in the agreement allows the government to dictate hiring or admissions decisions or the content of academic speech.

Brown University said it would pay $50 million over the next decade to workforce development organizations in Rhode Island, along with other concessions, while denying any fault or violation of federal law.

Talks are ongoing with others, including the University of California system.

While critics complain that the administration is trying to bully schools into adopting Trump policies, some allies of the White House have suggested the schools are not having to change much at all. Earlier this month, conservative activist Christopher Rufo urged the White House to draw a tougher line.

Sources are telling me the deal terms are degrading and the WH is at risk of getting rolled by the university presidents, he wrote on X. Time for a return to principle: President Trump has all of the leverage and should insist on significant reforms.

The second White House official rejected any suggestion that the new approach was motivated by disappointment in the strategies to date. The current approach has been very effective in pushing positive changes on campus, the official said, pointing to the agreements with Columbia, Brown and Penn.

These schools are now embracing common-sense policies, restoring merit-based admissions, protecting their students and fostering safe learning environments, the official said. This new approach allows more schools to make positive changes quicker.
The African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (AUCEVAWG) is a comprehensive legal instrument for the prevention and elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls on the Continent. The Convention was adopted during the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government in February 2025.
Hui'an women preserve ancient fishing traditions in SE China's Fujian

People's Daily Online) 14:25, September 29, 2025

Hui'an women demonstrate how to cast a fishing net in Hui'an county, southeast China's Fujian Province. (People's Daily Online/Li Weiyi)

On a warm autumn day along the coast of Hui'an county, southeast China's Fujian Province, local women of Hui'an move across the mudflats casting fishing nets. Their graceful movements create a striking scene along the shoreline.

Hui'an women belong to one of Fujian Province's three main coastal fishing communities, alongside Xunpu and Meizhou women. Their traditional clothing has been designated as intangible cultural heritage.

At dusk, the fishing port bustles with activity as Hui'an women sell their daily catch. In the town's leisure district, decorative patterns inspired by their traditional clothing grace building facades. In local workshops, heritage artisans teach embroidery techniques to global audiences via livestream. These women are bridging centuries-old traditions with digital innovation, ensuring their cultural legacy endures for future generations.

Tourists dressed as Hui'an women pose for photos by the seaside in Hui'an, southeast China's Fujian Province. (People's Daily Online/Li Weiyi)

The Chongwu peninsula in Hui'an county, southeast China's Fujian Province. (People's Daily Online/Li Weiyi)

An aerial view of a fishing port in Hui'an county, southeast China's Fujian Province. (People's Daily Online/Li Weiyi)

Models wearing traditional Hui'an women's clothing at a cultural park in Hui'an county, southeast China's Fujian Province. (People's Daily Online/Li Changqian)

A Hui'an woman sells seafood in Hui'an county, southeast China's Fujian Province. (People's Daily Online/Li Weiyi)

Zeng Ruting, an inheritor of Hui'an women's costume traditions, an intangible cultural heritage, displays traditional clothing in Hui'an county, southeast China's Fujian Province. (People's Daily Online/Li Changqian)

Clay sculptures depicting Hui'an women in Hui'an county, southeast China's Fujian Province. (People's Daily Online/Li Changqian)

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Aussies are being reminded that Sunday formally marks the start of daylight savings time, giving about 18 million Australians an extra hour of afternoon daylight  just in time for warmer weather to sweep across the country.

For many, daylight saving is synonymous with groggy mornings that quickly evolve into long summer days and the start of silly season, but not all states and territories will benefit from the change. And while many love it, opponents argue six months of changed clocks is simply too long.

In NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, and the ACT, clocks will roll forward at 2am on Sunday, October 5, jumping to 3am. Residents living in those jurisdictions will lose an hour's sleep, with early morning commuters likely finding themselves setting off in the dark for a few weeks until the days get longer.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

For those living in NSW, the ACT and SA, the changing of the clocks coincides with the October long weekend.

These days, most devices  including phones, computers and cars  will automatically adjust, but if you use an analogue clock, or do not own a smartphone, you'll want to make sure you're across the changes or face a potentially embarrassing mix-up.

Queensland, WA and the NT do not get daylight saving

People in Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory do not get daylight saving. Neither do Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands residents, but people in Norfolk Island do.

Mainland Australia has five time zones during daylight saving. Queensland stays on Australian Eastern Standard Time, while the ACT, NSW, Tasmania and Victoria are on Australian Eastern Daylight Time. South Australia is 30 minutes behind on Australian Central Daylight Time, the NT stays on Australian Central Standard Time and WA stays on Australian Western Standard Time.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Daylight savings runs until April 5. In six months, clocks roll back an hour, limiting that extra daylight but giving Aussies a bonus extra hour of sleep.

Health risks associated with daylight savings

Sydney University's Dr Yu Sun Bin previously told Yahoo News that for many Australians, the change in time can feel like a case of bad jet lag.

"It's like having jet lag, in the sense that you might feel really tired, you're probably going to sleep less because we're putting the clocks one hour forward," Dr Bin said. "We know that reduces sleep time by approximately 40 minutes overall.

"With people feeling more tired, that's where we see concerning effects  increased risk of heart attacks and strokes, and possible car accidents."

Experts have warned that there can be significant impacts on health after reverting to daylight saving time. Source: Getty

Dr Bin argued that Australia may benefit from a more uniform approach to standard time, mirroring efforts in other countries.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Companion animals may be impacted by daylight saving, with dogs in particular sensitive to routine changes. While most cope with the changes fine, adjustments to the schedules we impose on them, such as feeding, exercise and bedtimes, may make some animals anxious.

Calls to reduce daylight savings by two months

Opinions on daylight savings are mixed among Aussies, with a Yahoo News poll revealing that of over 2,000 respondents, 50 per cent admitted they were not fans.

Tanya Jolly, president of the Country Women's Association of New South Wales, told Yahoo this week that many farmers are calling for the timeframe to be reduced from six months to four.

NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin agrees with Tanya's sentiment. He said shortening the daylight savings period, but not ending it completely, "would make a real difference for our rural communities around the state".

With NewsWire

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
In recent years, as China's domestic automobile market approaches saturation, more Chinese automakers have turned their attention abroad in search of new growth opportunities. Yet with opportunity comes challenge, and Chinese brands face a range of hurdles when competing overseas.

"Going global is never an overnight successit is a long-term, sustained process. Senior leadership must have a global perspective and, while fully understanding the local difficulties and risks, also maintain strategic patience. Only under these conditions can overseas operations succeed," said Mr. William Huang, EU CIO of Geely Auto Group and Zeekr Group, in an interview with Gasgoo during the IAA Mobility 2025 in Munich.

As a luxury smart EV (electric vehicle) brand from China, Zeekr officially launched its European strategy in April 2023, marking the start of its global expansion. At the time, the company announced plans to introduce a direct-sales model in Europe, complete its first deliveries in the Netherlands and Sweden within the year, and expand to most of Western Europe by 2026. Meanwhile, it also set a bold target: to become a leading EV brand in Europe by 2030.

Now, more than two years later, how has Zeekr's European business progressed? What challenges has the company encountered in its overseas journey, and how has it addressed them? What lessons can other Chinese automakers draw from Zeekr's experience? The following interview provides insights.

Expanding in Europe with Intelligentization at Core

Mr. Huang said that since Zeekr entered the European market, the IT team under his leadership has been tasked with fully supporting the entire process of vehicle order fulfillment and aftersales operations.

From order placement to final delivery, every step depends on systematic software support to enable efficient collaboration. Zeekr Europe's IT team integrates Zeekr's mature product operation experience in China with the specific needs of local markets, building and refining a digital marketing and service system that covers the full chain of sales, delivery, and aftersales.

Zeekr's showroom in Europe; photo credit: Zeekr

At the same time, the team continues to focus on localized operations and long-term maintenance of its products, constantly improving the end-user experience. These efforts underpin Zeekr's business expansion and new store openings in Europe. "Our core mission is to comprehensively enhance end-to-end delivery efficiency, providing strong and reliable system support and service assurance for Zeekr's sustainable growth in Europe," said Mr. Huang.

Beyond the digital marketing & service systems, Zeekr also embeds localization into product design from the outset. Its design team in Gothenburg plays an active role in early styling and design customization. On the technical side, Zeekr adheres to a platform-based vehicle development philosophy. Almost all of its models are built on globally co-developed platforms that not only take local adaptation needs into full account, but also undergo extensive validation.

For instance, the newly launched Zeekr 7X has been warmly received by European consumers. The model excels over many competitors in power performance, exterior design, charging efficiency, driving experience, and intelligent features.

Zeekr 7X; photo credit: Zeekr

In Mr. Huang's view, European consumers may adopt new technologies and products at a slightly slower pace than in China, but advanced driver-assistance systems and high-quality intelligent experiences are still highly appealing. Meanwhile, traditional OEMs in the region have been slower in advancing new technologies, leaving consumers with few chances to access such innovative products.

"Zeekr has seized this market opportunity by focusing on product experience and investing heavily in intelligent features, creating a differentiated competitive edge," he said. This approach has become the company's key strategy for Europe expansion, namely, "Expanding in Europe with intelligence at the core."

On the channel side, since May this year, Zeekr has been actively opening new stores across multiple European countries. With these preparations in place, the Zeekr 7X has already gone on sale in the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden, where it is seeing relatively fast-growing sales.

Addressing Challenges Together with Global Partners

Opportunities often come hand in hand with challenges. Mr. Huang acknowledged that in the course of expanding and deepening Zeekr's presence in the European market, the company's digital strategy has faced multiple challenges, with compliance issues at the forefront.

It is well known within the industry that Europe enforces stringent laws and regulations. Among them is the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), enacted in 2018, widely regarded as the strictest-ever data protection law in European history. It imposes rigorous requirements on the collection, processing, and transfer of data for autonomous driving and driver-assistance initiatives. In addition, the General Safety Regulation (GSR) mandates that, as of July 7, 2024, all new vehicles registered must comply with its compulsory type-approval requirements.

In response, Zeekr has made "compliance and safety first" a fundamental pillar of its digital strategy. All service processes strictly adhere to local laws and regulations. A crucial part of this effort has been the professional compliance solutions provided by Amazon Web Services. With the support of its team, Zeekr has established a comprehensive system for data protection and security management. This framework not only mitigates compliance risks but also safeguards user privacy, laying the foundation for smooth business operations.

When it comes to adapting to local conditions, Zeekr faced the challenge that many of its systems were originally developed for the Chinese environment. Entering Europe required deep integration with local services and partners. To address this, Zeekr has formulated the core strategy of "a global architecture with localized integration," emphasizing collaboration and co-development with local stakeholders.

As a global company itself, Amazon Web Services has provided a stable and flexible cloud infrastructure, enabling Zeekr to successfully migrate and stably operate its core business systems in Europe, thereby achieving efficient connectivity with local services.

In terms of continuously improving operational efficiency and optimizing costs, Zeekr has worked closely with Amazon Web Services' technical support team to refine its cloud architecture, achieving automated operations and more efficient resource utilization. For example, both Zeekr's order management system and its connected vehicle services run on Amazon Web Services' platformapplications that demand high levels of system stability, connection reliability, and response speed. In this regard, Amazon Web Services has offered dependable support in troubleshooting, real-time response, and professional services, helping Zeekr improve operational efficiency and control costs.

Summing up this cooperation, Mr. Huang described Amazon Web Services as a "reliable, flexible, and efficient" partner. He noted that the partnership has already extended beyond foundational cloud services into emerging areas such as artificial intelligence (AI).

According to Mr. Huang, Geely Auto Group is undergoing a comprehensive transformation powered by AI, and Zeekr's digitalization will advance further toward intelligence, permeating every stage of its workflows to enhance both operational and product efficiency. Naturally, all of this must be conducted on the basis of compliance. Building on that foundation, large AI models will empower Zeekr's operations across multiple areas.

Amazon Web Services, for its part, has developed a wide range of frameworks, tools, and software. Leveraging these solutions, and aligning them with Zeekr's specific business challenges, creates significant opportunities for new collaborations between the two companies in AI.

Looking ahead, Zeekr anticipates deepening its strategic cooperation with Amazon Web Services and the broader Amazon network across multiple areasincluding e-commerce, advertising, and logistics. "With the close collaboration between our teams and the continued advancement of strategic leader discussions, we will be able to identify more opportunities for innovation, jointly creating benchmark projects and products that drive Zeekr's digital progress not only in Europe but also in global markets," said Mr. Huang.

How to Avoid Pitfalls in Global Expansion

In the first half of this year, China exported 3.083 million vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 10.4%. Among them, new energy vehicle (NEV) exports reached 1.06 million units, surging 75.2% from a year earlier, accounting for 34.4% of total vehicle exports.

Clearly, overseas expansion has become not only strategically essential but also a must-choose path for Chinese automakers.

For the growing number of companies venturing abroad, Mr. Huang shared valuable insights drawn from Zeekr's overseas experience, offering practical guidance for Chinese automakers navigating global markets.

At the product level, Mr. Huang emphasized the importance of identifying the real pain points of local consumers and carefully analyzing local regulations and standards. For example, European vehicle definitions differ significantly from those in China, and such distinctions must be accounted for as early as the product definition and planning stage.

Only by integrating these factors into the entire chainfrom vehicle design and manufacturing to delivery and aftersalescan automakers ensure their products are well adapted to overseas markets. As Mr. Huang put it, the key lies in "deeply understanding the market, knowing your consumers, and clarifying your positioning."

Regarding partnership building, Mr. Huang noted that the business environment abroad differs greatly from China's, thus choosing the right global partners with proven experience can help Chinese automakers avoid unnecessary detours by leveraging their accumulated expertisejust as Zeekr did in partnering with Amazon Web Services. Conversely, if companies or partners lack global vision or fail to adhere to compliance principles, they are likely to encounter serious and recurring issues.

When discussing overseas AI-driven business, Mr. Huang stressed that true intelligence can only be achieved on the back of a strong platform and sufficient data accumulation.

"If these foundations are not in place, any attempt to develop intelligent operations will face enormous challengesessentially making it unworkable," he explained. This is why overseas expansion demands both strategic patience and long-term vision.

Mr. Huang also made a strong appeal for Chinese enterprises to move away from short-sighted price wars and instead compete globally by building technological influence, quality reputation, and brand value.

"Going abroad as a Chinese company is not just about representing one enterpriseit represents China's collective entry into the international market. Every company leader should carry this responsibility," he said.

Zeekr, he added, will remain firm on its strategic positioning and pursue AI-driven innovation and high-quality products to work hand in hand with local partners and markets for shared success.

Looking ahead, Mr. Huang made Zeekr's objectives clear: "Within three to five years, our goal is to become the most advanced and trusted brand in European consumers' minds when it comes to intelligent mobility."

Finally, Mr. Huang emphasized that the core value of Chinese companies going abroad lies in bringing the best of China's technologies, products, and user experiences to Europe and beyond. The ultimate goal, he said, is to demonstrate the technological capabilities and influence of Chinese automakers to consumers worldwide, and allow China manufacturing to take the lead globally.
No injuries were reported after a commercial regional jet overshot the designated touch down zone at a Virginia airport amid heavy rain last Wednesday night, but was stopped in a safety area at the end of the runway, officials said. Delays continue at the airport Thursday morning.

CommuteAir Flight 4339 landed long as it arrived at Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport around 10 p.m., according to a Federal Aviation Administration statement. It was safely stopped by an engineered materials arresting system bed at the end of the runway.

The safety area made of cellular cement blocks meant to slow and stop an aircraft that overruns the runway was upgraded last year and performed as intended, airport spokesperson Alexa Briehl said in an email. There was heavy rain in the area at the time of the incident, Briehl said.

There were 50 passengers and three crew members on board the flight operating as United Express from Washington Dulles International Airport when it overran the runway while landing at Roanoke, CommuteAir executive vice president and chief financial officer Sean Frick said in an email. The captain reported no injuries, Frick said.

Passengers aboard the Embraer 145 were bused to the terminal and law enforcement released them to go home a little before midnight, officials said.

All runways at the airport were closed for a time. One runway reopened after midnight to arriving and departing traffic, but the runway where the overrun occurred remained closed, the airport said.

The FAA said it will investigate.

This was the third save this month by an engineered materials arresting system, according to the FAA. On Sept. 3, an arresting system stopped a Gulfstream G150 with two people aboard that overran the runway at Chicago Executive Airport. On the same day, a Bombardier Challenger 300 with four people on board was stopped when it went beyond the runway during landing at Boca Raton Airport. No serious injuries were reported in either case, the FAA said.

There are currently 122 such systems at 70 U.S. airports.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Virginia
A federal jury found two former Maryland police officers guilty of wire fraud, arson and insurance and bank fraud.

Philip James Dupree, of Pikesville and Mark Ross Johnson, Jr., of Camp Springs were found to have conspired with others to carry out the scheme.

Dupree is a former Fairmount Heights police officer, and Johnson is a former Prince Georges County police officer, conspired with others to carry out the scheme.

According to the nine-count indictment, the co-conspirators committed two separate fraud schemes involving filing false police reports and falsifying loss claims to obtain funds from an insurance company and three different financial institutions.

As part of the insurance fraud scheme in November 2018, Dupree and Johnson coordinated to burn Johnsons Ford F450 truck that was experiencing mechanical and electrical problems. Dupree discovered the burning vehicle while on duty in Fairmount Heights and filed an impound report containing false statements regarding the recovery of the truck.

Johnson then used the report number in support of his claim filed with the insurance company for a total loss on the truck. He also submitted altered telephone records to his insurer to hide that he had a 16-minute conversation with Dupree just before Dupree discovered the truck.

A fire investigator hired by the insurer testified that the Ford F450 fire was intentionally set, and originated in the passenger compartment of the truck. The insurer, relying in part on the police report and altered telephone records, paid out more than $68,000 to the lien holder on the truck.

Then from May 2019 until June 2019, Dupree, Johnson, and others conspired to defraud three financial institutions. They coordinated the withdrawal of money from their financial accounts through ATMs so they could fraudulently claim their money was stolen. Then the co-conspirators sought reimbursement from their financial institutions.

In executing the scheme, Dupree and Johnson coordinated submitting police reports falsely claiming their debit cards were stolen and then were used to withdraw funds without permission. One police report, included the name of a non-existent police officer as the preparer.

Both Dupree and Johnson are facing up to 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud. Additionally, they face at least five years, but up to 20 years, for arson affecting interstate commerce, and up to 30 years for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud. Sentencing is scheduled for February 2026.

Source: U.S. Attorneys Office, District of Maryland

Topics Fraud Law Enforcement
Tata Motors Ltd.-owned Jaguar Land Rover is raising 2 billion ($2.7 billion) loan from global banks as the luxury carmaker seeks to ease the financial strain of a cyberattack that forced it to halt production, according to people familiar with the matter.

The foreign currency facility will be priced at about 110 basis points over the secured overnight funding rate, or SOFR, the people said asking not to be identified because the discussions are private. Citigroup Inc., Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group and Standard Chartered Bank Plc have agreed to offer the 18-month credit facility to the carmaker, the people said, adding that the debt may be syndicated to more banks later.

The fund raise, that was reported by the Economic Times earlier on Monday, is expected to show JLR has liquidity to tide over revenue losses.

Read more: Jaguar Land Rover Cyberattack Shutdown to Hit 4 Weeks; Insurance Cover in Question

A JLR spokesperson declined to comment on the efforts to raise emergency funds. Representatives for Citigroup, MUFG and Standard Chartered also declined to comment.

Automotive suppliers typically operate on thin margins and need high working capital, leaving them vulnerable to prolonged disruptions after unexpected events such as the cyberattack confronting JLR. The funding requirement comes months after the luxury carmaker achieved its goal of becoming debt free on a net basis and will help the company normalize operations.

This stopgap financing is besides a 1.5 billion loan guarantee from the UK government that can help bolster its cash reserves and support its supply chain hit by the cyberattack-led shutdown.

JLR is grappling with the fallout from a hack thats crippled operations at the UKs largest carmaker and sparked chaos across the countrys auto supply chain. Plants in the UK, Slovakia, Brazil and India have been out of action since the start of the month, while some vendors are awaiting payments as JLR tries to clear a backlog of payments it owes to suppliers.

The company said last week that some of its systems were back online, enabling it to work through supplier invoices, accelerate parts distribution to dealers and speed up vehicle sales and registrations. It aims to restart some manufacturing operations on Oct. 1, although it warned it will take some time before it can return to full speed.

Top photograph: An entrance to the Jaguar Land Rover manufacturing plant in Castle Bromwich, UK. Photo credit: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg

Related:

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.

Topics Cyber
Typhoon Bualoi killed at least 12 people in northern central Vietnam, where heavy rains are expected to continue amid power cuts and flight disruptions.

The storm made landfall in Vietnam early Monday after it earlier slammed the Philippines, where 27 people were confirmed dead as of Sunday, according to Assistant Secretary Rafaelito Alejandro of the Office of Civil Defense. The storm was known as Opong in the Philippines, where Alejandro said at least four people are missing.

Some areas along the northern Vietnamese coast are forecast to receive as much as 400 millimeters (15.7 inches) of rain on Monday and Tuesday, according to a government statement, which said rising rivers could cause flash floods and landslides in the western communes of Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces.

The toll has climbed to 12, according to state-controlled news website VnExpress. Vietnamese authorities have evacuated more than 38,000 people across at least three provinces, according to local media.

There were widespread blackouts, with more than 2 million households from Ninh Binh province to Hue losing power, and the roof of the coal warehouse of the Vung Ang 2 Thermal Power Plant in Ha Tinh was severely damaged. At least 42,000 houses in Ha Tinh province were also damaged, according to VnExpress.

Bualoi caused flooding in Vietnam even before it made landfall, and it has now left more than 1,300 hectares of crops underwater, according to state television. Some 42 flights were canceled and a further 51 were delayed.

Power and telecommunication lines were severely impacted in many areas, VnExpress reported. The outages were partly due to damage to power poles, and partly due to proactive power cuts by electricity authorities to prevent storm damage.

Rockfalls damaged parts of the nations north-south railway, with the line blocked for more than an hour on Sunday, according to the government.

Bualoi made landfall as a typhoon, and as of 4 a.m. Vietnam time it was a severe tropical storm, according to the Hong Kong Observatorys cyclone tracker.

Photograph: Flood waters after typhoon Bualoi passed over Lam Thanh commune in Nghe An province, Vietnam, on Sept. 30, 2025. Photo credit: Phan Duy/AFP/Getty Images

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters
New Zealand is changing the way it assesses earthquake-prone buildings in an attempt to reduce costs and confusion for owners.

The government is implementing clearer definitions to identify buildings that pose a genuine risk to human life in medium and high seismic zones, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk said Monday in Wellington. The new regime, which will require a law change, will more than halve the number of properties needing earthquake strengthening and save the nation NZ$8.2 billion ($4.7 billion), he said.

Since 2017, engineers have applied a rule that requires a structure to be at least 34% of the New Building Standard, which has seen 8,000 properties earmarked for strengthening or demolition. That has meant expensive and at times lengthy remediation work, or even closure, for apartment blocks, commercial towers and iconic properties such as the Chateau Tongariro, a 96-year-old tourist lodge in the central North Island.

While well intentioned, the current system for assessing and managing seismic risk in buildings places an overwhelming financial burden on building owners, said Penk. For many buildings, the price of strengthening runs from hundreds of thousands to several million dollars. As a result, these buildings are often left empty and become derelict, making them even more dangerous to bystanders in an earthquake.

New Zealand sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a belt of volcanic and seismic activity that rings the Pacific Ocean. A devastating earthquake in 2011 killed 185 people in the South Island city of Christchurch and gave rise to the tougher standards nationwide on all buildings. Capital city Wellington, which sits on a fault line, has been rattled by several tremors in recent years that have forced building closures and refits.

The new system will drop the 34% of NBS rule and provide specific definitions of an earthquake-prone building, Penk said.

They include concrete buildings three storeys or higher, and those constructed with unreinforced masonry, he said. Auckland, Northland and the Chatham Islands will be removed from the regime entirely to reflect the low seismic risk in those areas. The South Island city of Dunedin is upgraded to a medium seismic hazard area.

Unreinforced masonry buildings under three storeys in small and rural towns will no longer require remediation but owners must secure the facade before the building can be removed from the earthquake-prone register, Penk said. This reflects fewer pedestrians at risk in those centers, he said.

The changes will reduce the number of properties registered as earthquake prone to about 2,900 from 5,800 under the current regime. Of the remainder, just 80 will need a full refit while 1,440 will need cost-effective remediation and 840 wont need any work other than on their facades.

To ease financial stresses, owners will be able to apply for extensions of up to 15 years to complete seismic work, Penk said.

Photograph: New Zealand earthquake damage; Photo credit: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images AsiaPac

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.
As Minnesota mourned a mass shooting at a church that left two schoolchildren dead and 21 people injured, Gov. Tim Walz promised to call a special session for the Legislature to pass solutions to gun violence and school safety.

But a month after the Aug. 27 shootings, which happened during the first Mass of the academic year at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, talks seem to have stalled.

Despite impassioned pleas from kids doctors, parents of victims and from Pope Leo XIV, chances appear remote that lawmakers could agree on enough to justify a special session.

The hard political reality

The Democratic governor is up against a hard political reality: the Minnesota Legislature is too evenly divided to pass anything without bipartisan support.

While theres support for gun restrictions among urban and suburban Democrats, theres opposition among rural and suburban Republicans to any infringement on the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. The few rural Democrats find themselves in a difficult position whenever gun issues come up, as they did in 2023 when Democrats used their temporary full control to pass the first gun limits in years.

Mass shootings usually lead to calls for more gun laws

Several Democratic-led states have tried to restrict access to firearms after previous mass shootings. Connecticut enacted some of the countrys strongest gun laws after the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary, including an assault weapons ban.

But those calls typically fail in Republican-led states, where gun rights supporters say violent people are the root problem. Efforts to tighten Texas gun laws gained little traction after the 2022 shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde.

Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Lee could not persuade his heavily GOP legislature to approve a red flag law after the 2023 shooting at a Nashville school. But Lee did sign legislation in 2024 allowing teachers and staff to carry concealed handguns on school grounds.

Uvalde was a major impetus for a sweeping federal gun bill that President Joe Biden signed in 2022, though it focuses on people, not the weapons.

The fallout from shootings in Minnesota

The shootings at the Church of the Annunciation followed the assassination of the top House Democratic leader, Rep. Melissa Hortman, and her husband, and the shootings of a Democratic state senator and his wife who survived. Those recent attacks have made the issue personal for Walz and many of his fellow Democrats.

Soon after the church shootings, Walz made bans on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines his top priorities for a special session. He reiterated that as he launched his reelection campaign last week. But meetings with legislative leaders, and a pair of recent hearings, have not produced the required consensus.

Parents of some of the wounded children told senators at one hearing that an assault weapons ban might have prevented the tragedy and doing nothing was not an option.

Undoubtedly, there will be another mass shooting and more kids will die. If you think it wont hit your community and someone you love, think again. It is up to our lawmakers to decide what type of weapon the next mass shooter is armed with, testified Malia Kimbrell, whose 9-year-old daughter, Vivian St. Clair, survived being shot three times.

But Walz told reporters Tuesday that Republicans want to talk about everything but guns.

I was told by a Republican leadership that there would never be a vote on guns  there wouldnt be a vote on a gun ban, he said. And thats not acceptable.

The governor acknowledged the House is tied 67-67 between Republicans and Democrats, and that the narrow Senate Democratic majority lacks the 34 votes required to pass anything on its own.

Special elections for two open seats in November are expected to restore the Senate to full strength with a 34-33 Democratic majority. But even then, Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy conceded some GOP support would be needed.

If the Governor calls a special session, we will work to craft the best possible bill, and our members will decide by voting their conscience and for the districts they represent, Murphy said in a statement Thursday. But no bill can pass the House or Senate without GOP votes, and Minnesotans need Republicans to commit to serious solutions.

Republican House Speaker Lisa Demuth, of Cold Spring, disputed the governors gun bill claim, and she noted Democratic leaders concede they lack the votes to pass any ban on their own.

I did not say there would never be a vote  but you need a bill in order to vote, and the Governor has given no language or detail of what he wants voted on aside from vague bans, Demuth said in a statement.

Consensus remains elusive

The divides were on display last week when senators held hearings to see if the sides could reach a consensus. They could not.

I think these solutions, ultimately, if theyre going to pass, they will have to be bipartisan, said Democratic Sen. Ron Latz, who called the hearings. He contended there are Republicans whose districts would support an assault weapons ban and could supply the necessary votes  if they choose.

Republicans told reporters that law-abiding citizens are entitled to have guns to defend their families and noted help can be a long way off in rural areas. They said the focus instead should be practical ideas that actually could get bipartisan support, such as more mental health services.

New gun laws will be tied up in courts, and not have an impact, and likely found unconstitutional. Weve seen numerous jurisdictions across the country with courts striking these down, said GOP Sen. Eric Lucero.

Latz countered that fears that an assault weapons ban would be declared unconstitutional, or concerns over how it might be implemented, are no excuse for not trying.

The vast majority of the people of Minnesota want to see us do something on this, Walz said this week. We should be able to get together and do that.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
A federal judge in Rhode Island ruled on Wednesday that its unconstitutional to require states to cooperate on immigration enforcement actions to get funding for disasters, which is overseen by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

A coalition of 20 state Democratic attorneys general in May filed a federal lawsuit claiming that the Trump administration is threatening to withhold billions of dollars of disaster-relief funds unless states agree to certain immigration enforcement actions.

In a ruling granting a summary judgment to the plaintiffs and denying one for the federal government, U.S. District Judge William Smith found that the contested conditions are arbitrary and capricious and that the actions are unconstitutional because they are coercive, ambiguous, unrelated to the purpose of the federal grants.

Plaintiff States stand to suffer irreparable harm; the effect of the loss of emergency and disaster funds cannot be recovered later, and the downstream effect on disaster response and public safety are real and not compensable, Smith wrote.

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said the ruling was a win for the rule of law and reaffirms that the President may not pick and choose which laws he and his Administration obey.

Todays permanent injunction by Judge Smith says, in no uncertain terms, that this Administration may not illegally impose immigration conditions on congressionally allocated federal funding for emergency services like disaster relief and flood mitigation. Case closed, he said.

In their complaint, states argued that for decades they counted on federal funding to prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters. But they argued conditions put forward by the Trump administration requiring them to commit state resources to immigration enforcement put at risk funding for everything from mitigating earthquake and flood risks to managing active wildfires.

The Department of Homeland Security seek to upend this emergency management system, holding critical emergency preparedness and response funding hostage unless States promise to devote their scarce criminal enforcement resources, and other state agency resources, to the federal governments own task of civil immigration enforcement beyond what state law allows, the plaintiffs wrote.

They argued successfully that this not only was unconstitutional but that it violated the Administrative Procedure Act, a law that governs the process by which federal agencies develop and issue regulations.

The conditions are arbitrary and capricious under the APA because DHS failed to provide a reasoned explanation, failed to consider the reliance interests of the states, and departed from longstanding funding practices without adequate justification, Smith wrote.

The government had argued that the challenge was moot since it had already decided to exclude 12 of the 18 programs from having to comply with the immigration requirements. For the remaining programs, the government argued that this was a contract dispute that should be resolved in the Court of Federal Claims.

Even if that were not so, Congress intended for the FEMA grant programs at issue to address national security and terrorism concerns that rely on the cooperation that the conditions promote, the government wrote in court documents. Congress did not preclude the placement of the challenged conditions on the grant programs at issue, and Plaintiffs have not established a likelihood of success on the merits with respect to these programs.

A spokeswoman for DHS, Tricia McLaughlin, said in a statement Wednesday that the administration believes that cities and states who break the law and prevent us from arresting criminal illegal aliens should not receive federal funding.

The Trump Administration is committed to restoring the rule of law. No lawsuit, not this one or any other, is going to stop us from doing that, she said.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Legislation
Boeing Co. agreed to pay at least $50,000 to settle a wrongful death lawsuit brought by the family of John Barnett, a whistleblower who took his own life last year.

Barnett, a former Boeing employee, died in March 2024 at a time when he had been giving a deposition as part of litigation that he filed alleging that he faced retaliation for flagging safety concerns at the company.

His death, later ruled a suicide, made headlines globally and brought scrutiny of the manufacturing practices and culture at Boeings 787 Dreamliner factories in North Charleston, South Carolina. At the time, Boeing was also dealing with federal investigations of a Seattle-area factory after a door-shaped plug blew out of an airborne 737 Max.

The two sides also agreed to a full, final and confidential settlement that would dismiss all claims brought by Barnett and his estate, including the case being pursued at the time of his death, according to a Friday filing requesting approval from a federal judge in Charleston. The terms of the broader agreement, including any additional payment by Boeing, were not disclosed.

Of the $50,000 settlement for the wrongful death claim, $20,000 will go to pay legal fees and costs, with the remainder paid to the plaintiffs.

Boeing denied and continues to deny that any act or omission on its part contributed to Barnetts injury or death, according to the filing.

We are saddened by Mr. Barnetts death and extend our condolences to his family as we reach this resolution, the company said in an emailed statement. Boeing took actions several years ago to review and address the issues that Mr. Barnett raised.

Photo: The Boeing Company headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.

Topics Aviation Aerospace
A New York judge ruled Ron Perelman was not entitled to $400 million from insurers over alleged damage to an Andy Warhol and four other paintings from a 2018 fire at his Hamptons home.

Justice Joel M. Cohens Friday decision dismissing all of Perelmans claims against affiliates of Lloyds of London Ltd., Chubb Ltd., and American International Group Inc. ends a five-year legal battle that pulled back the curtain on the typically opaque world of art insurance.

The insurers challenged Perelmans claims of damage and suggested the 82-year-old former Revlon Inc. chairman was attempting a money grab due to financial difficulties. Cohen agreed with the insurers that the paintings were unharmed.

Read more: Perelman at $410 Million Art Trial Says Fire Faded His Works

Ultimately I was not persuaded that these paintings suffered physical damage in this fire, the judge said as he ruled from the bench in his Manhattan courtroom.

During the three-week non-jury trial in June, Perelman seemed to acknowledge that the damage to the paintings, which also included works by Edward Ruscha and Cy Twombly, was in the eye of the beholder.

They were not as vibrant  the contrast was not as deep, Perelman testified. They just did not have the same impact as they had before, to my eye.

Lawyers for the insurers pointed out that Perelman only made claims on the five paintings two years after the fire, after already receiving more than $100 million in payouts for dozens of other artworks damaged in the blaze. They claimed he only decided to file claims when his financial situation took a turn for the worse.

During closing arguments before Cohen on Friday, Charles A. Michael, a lawyer for the insurers, said Perelman had 300 million reasons to make up a claim about damage to the five paintings. Michael also mocked Perelmans fantastical testimony about diminished oomph and all the rest.

The five paintings were insured for many times their market value, so they could be replaced by art of a similar quality even in the face of expected appreciation. For instance, the version of Warhols Campbells Soup Can owned by Perelman was insured for $100 million, even though it was appraised at $12.5 million in 2018, according to court filings.

Perelmans lawyers insisted throughout the trial that the paintings were legitimately damaged in the fire, pointing out that they were hung on the same floor as other artworks which insurers covered. The insurers countered that two other paintings hanging near the contested artworks at the time of the fire were later sold to Citadel founder Ken Griffin.

Cohen pointed to Perelmans sales of some paintings on Friday, saying his failure to disclose them cast doubt on his credibility.

The evidence showed that plaintiff sold paintings that were hanging right next to the paintings at issue and for higher amounts than covered by the policy, the judge said.

Perelmans lawyers declined to comment Friday on whether they intended to appeal the ruling.

Called the richest man in the US in the 1980s, Perelmans wealth has undergone a dramatic drop in recent years due in part to the struggles of Revlon, his most high-profile investment before its 2022 bankruptcy. His wealth was estimated at $19 billion by the Bloomberg Billionaires Index in 2018 but had fallen to $3.3 billion by 2021, the last year he was included in the ranking.

Perelman sold art worth nearly $1 billion after margin loans collateralized by Revlon shares were called, the case revealed.

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- DeepWay, the Chinese developer of intelligent new energy heavy-duty trucks, recently signed a dealership agreement with a key partner in Muscat, Oman, according to a press release DeepWay issued on Sept. 29 via its WeChat account.

The deal marks the company's second major step in the Gulf after securing a partnership in the United Arab Emirates, creating a complementary "north-south" presence in the region. By linking the two markets, DeepWay aims to strengthen its sales and service coverage and build momentum for wider expansion in the Middle East.

Photo credit: DeepWay

The move aligns with Oman's national target of ensuring that 35% of new vehicles registered by 2030 are electric, underscoring the country's push toward a low-carbon transition. DeepWay believes its trucksengineered for long range, energy efficiency, and resilience in extreme heatare well suited to meet Oman's demanding transport conditions, including desert climates and heavy-duty logistics operations.

The company's vehicles also come equipped with its proprietary suite of intelligent technologies, including the "Tianji  Suixing" driver-assist system, the "TianjiYanxing" smart platooning system, and the "DeepWay  Tianshu" connected fleet management platform. Together, these features deliver an integrated solution designed to enhance efficiency and safety across the entire logistics chain.

By establishing a foothold in Oman, DeepWay has effectively completed its first phase of market deployment in the Middle East. The company said it plans to work closely with local partners to accelerate the adoption of new energy trucks and intelligent freight solutions, supporting the regions transition toward zero-carbon, efficient, and digitally enabled logistics.
Alliant Insurance Services has hired Alex Gramling as Senior Vice President within its Employee Benefits Group.

Based in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Gramling will serve a national client base, drawing from a background that spans the full spectrum of employee benefits, including actuarial, consulting, and corporate leadership roles.

Gramling has spent more than a decade as an employee benefits consultant, partnering with multi-state employers across industries such as financial services, healthcare, technology, manufacturing, and retail. His consulting expertise includes robust planning in absence, disability, and life insurance programs, as well as complex projects in group health, stop-loss, and health economics informatics.

Prior to joining Alliant, Gramling was Senior Director, Total Rewards at a Fortune 100 global company, where he helped design and implement compensation and benefits strategies aligned to corporate objectives and workforce needs. His combined experience across carrier, consulting, and corporate roles provides a unique and comprehensive perspective that informs his client partnerships at Alliant.

Topics Alliant Employee Benefits
Sai Abhideep Pundla has been awake since 3 a.m. After a red-eye flight from Las Vegas, where he briefed data center company executives and local government officials about the future of artificial intelligence, hes back in a lab at UT-Arlington, tinkering with a prototype he thinks could solve one of the industrys biggest challenges: how to keep data centers cool without draining finite water supplies.

Pundla, a doctoral candidate in engineering, is testing a system that cools the computer servers using a recirculating chemical refrigerant instead of water.

Its a timely innovation. Texas is building dozens of massive data centers  some as large as New Yorks Central Park  and experts say theyre expected to guzzle millions of gallons of water a year in a state facing an increasingly urgent water crisis.

Every snap of a photo, message sent, or Google search requires data, which has to go somewhere. That somewhere is a data center.

These massive facilities filled with servers that store and process everything we do online keep our digital lives intact. However, keeping all that data takes electricity to power the data centers and cooling systems to keep their equipment from malfunctioning. And both of those require water.

While data centers currently consume a small portion of the states total water supply, according to the states water plan, some researchers warn that with droughts and population growth, data centers have the potential to help push water supplies to the brink  especially in Texas more arid regions.

The Houston Advanced Research Center, an independent nonprofit research organization focusing on sustainability solutions, estimates that existing data centers in Texas will consume approximately 25 billion gallons of water, or 0.4% of the states total water use in 2025.

By 2030, this demand could increase up to 2.7% of the total annual water use in Texas. Thats the equivalent water consumption of 1.3 million average U.S. households.

The state currently has more than 400 data center facilities, with about 70 more on the way.

(It) may not feel like its a whole lot at the state level, said Margaret Cook, a researcher studying data center water use at HARC. But if massive data centers locate in small communities, she said, they may not be able to handle big jumps in water demand.

In the Texas Panhandle, for example, Amarillo residents recently held a community event to oppose five planned data centers and inform others of the potential risks to the Ogallala Aquifer, the regions main water source that is being drained faster than it can be replenished.

Our water sources arent as reliable as what would be needed for the data center, said Madison Boyle, an event organizer.

This growing concern has highlighted the states limitations in tracking and forecasting water usage by emerging industries. In Texas, companies are required to report historical water consumption, but arent required to report how much water they expect to consume in the future or where it would come from, making it difficult for communities to plan or better manage their water supplies.

Other states are starting to act on data centers water use. California lawmakers recently passed a bill, which is awaiting the governors signature, that will require new data centers to report their projected water use before they start operations, while in Minnesota, data center developers are required to consult with the states environmental agency to make sure their proposed location has an adequate water supply.

Some data centers in other states are built near lakes, rivers or in colder climates where theres natural free cooling. In Texas, many data centers are located in areas where water supplies already are under high stress, according to research by Yi Ding, an assistant professor at Purdue Universitys School of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

You could consume the same amount of water in Texas and Iowa, Ding said. But the environmental burden is different because Texas is more dry.

In the lab in Arlington, Pundla and his colleague Braxton J. Smith flip on power to a server packed with memory modules, processor chips and fans  the same components that make up massive data centers. A hum kicks in as vapor from a special liquid cools the system. No water involved.

Pundla said the industry knows their water and energy consumption is unsustainable.

The thermal management side of data centers is now trying to play catch up as the industry develops bigger, more powerful computing systems that need more electricity and generate more heat, he said.

The urgency to find solutions is growing. Earlier this year, President Donald Trump announced a $500 billion federal push, dubbed Stargate, to build AI data centers and their supporting power infrastructure in Texas. Without smarter cooling, Pundlas engineering professor Dereje Agonafer said, it may come at a steep environmental cost: intensifying water scarcity, forcing homes and farms to compete with industry and disrupting aquatic biodiversity.

How data centers use water

Data centers use water in two main ways: directly, to cool their equipment, and indirectly, through the electricity they rely on.

The current Texas data center market requires 10,234 megawatts of electricity a year, which is equivalent to more than 8 million homes usage a month, according to the research firm Baxtel that tracks data centers and their development. Data centers are expected to help drive Texas power demand to nearly double by 2030.

Electricity generation also requires water, particularly to cool the natural gas, coal or nuclear power plants that generate most of the states electricity. That means the more electricity a data center uses, the more water is indirectly consumed.

Cook said whether data centers choose to connect to the grid or build their own power supply  some in Central Texas already are building on-site power plants  will impact their water needs for cooling.

The bigger driver of water use is the need to cool the data centers servers, which run 24/7, generating tremendous heat that can cause servers to fail if theyre not properly cooled.

Over the years, different methods have evolved to solve the cooling problem. Traditional systems use arrays of big fans to blow cool air across the machines, but that requires a lot of electricity and the fans are notoriously loud.

Agonafer, the UT-Arlington engineering professor, said air cooling can account for up to 40% of an average data centers total energy demand.

Seeking a more energy-efficient solution, the industry started exploring cooling servers with water. One method is through evaporative cooling: The hot air generated by servers is blown through a water-soaked material. As the water evaporates, it pulls heat from the air, which is then circulated around the servers to keep them from overheating.

Theres also liquid cooling, a method more AI data centers are adopting. Instead of cooling the air, this method cools the hardware directly. Cold plates are attached to individual chips, and a liquid  usually a mix of water and a chemical coolant  circulates through the plates, pulling heat away at the source.

Theres also closed-loop cooling systems, a technique that will be used at one of the worlds largest AI data center now being built outside of Abilene as part of Stargate. In a closed-loop system the cooling fluid  the Abilene project will use water  circulates in a sealed circuit. The fluid absorbs heat from the electronic components, gets turned into vapor, then is condensed back into liquid, continuously recirculating through the system.

The data center will initially use 8 million gallons of Abilene city water to fill the cooling system. Jeremiah Bihl, an assistant director at Abilenes water utility, said that total is minimal compared to the citys average daily use of 22 million gallons.

After that initial fill, the system will need some additional water, but Bihl couldnt say how much or how often. He added that occasionally the system will also need to be completely drained and refilled for maintenance. But he said the centers water use isnt expected to put a deep dent in the citys overall water supply.

We may be the white elephant of all the other AI centers out there, just because of the kind of cooling system that (the data centers) have, he said.

Tracking how much water data centers use is complicated

Texass water planning process is built on historical data. Long-term projections of the states water needs by the Texas Water Development Board rely on past usage trends and historical reported water use.

Experts say this model can leave the states water supply vulnerable to fast-moving growth of new industries like data centers.

If youre having an industry thats having some kind of exponential growth in the state or just growing leaps and bounds, that historical data doesnt give you enough to go on to plan for future use, said Julie Nahrgang, executive director of the Water Environment Association of Texas.

For example, generative AI, such as ChatGPT, uses graphics processing units, which are more complex than typical computer processors and generate more heat  which requires more water for cooling, said Ding, the Purdue professor.

The state has encountered similar issues before. When hydraulic fracturing first took off in the states vast oil fields, state planners were caught off guard by the immense water demand, said Carlos Rubinstein, a water expert and a former commissioner for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

He said the industry found alternatives like using brackish groundwater and reusing water.

We managed it OK, but you can only keep managing it OK for so long, Rubenstein said.

A similar scenario is unfolding now with data centers. There is no uniform method for reporting or tracking their water usage, and as a result, the state cant accurately predict their future impact on an increasingly precious natural resource, according to experts.

We have a shortage (of) water, but on the other side, we like the Texas economy, Rubenstein said. Its a tough balance, but we are coming to terms with the fact that water in Texas is the most limiting factor, and we need to find an answer (for meeting both).

In 2024, the state water board tried to get a handle on data centers water consumption by sending surveys to nearly 70 data centers asking how much ground and surface water they used each month and who was supplying that water to them. Even though a response was required by state law, only one-third of them responded.

The consequences for noncompliance are minimal  a Class C misdemeanor with a maximum fine of $500.

In practice, the system relies on voluntary compliance or self-reporting. TWDB then validates the data in those reports. If the state knew what kind of cooling system each facility used as well as its electricity consumption, it could better estimate water consumption. But experts say companies do not always disclose that information for proprietary reasons.

In response to these challenges, the Water Development Board said its participating in industry conferences, reviewing new research, and working to switch data centers to another category of water user to better track them in future water plans. However, experts say data centers will likely not be reflected in state planning documents until 2032.

Cook, the HARC researcher, said shes heard from nervous regional planners and groundwater conservation experts. Planning based on historical data means that all of the planning that theyve done is inaccurate, Cook said. We need to speed up.

Doctoral students take on newer cooling technology

Inside the UT-Arlington lab, a small team is gathered around a table where the inner workings of a data center cooling machine have been laid out on a white table piece by piece.

Unlike the Abilene data centers closed-loop cooling system, this technology uses a chemical mixture instead of water and cools the hardware directly. The refrigerant circulates through a plate mounted directly to the processing unit, the brain of a computer. As the liquid absorbs heat, it evaporates, carrying heat away before being condensed and recirculated, forming a closed loop.

This change from liquid to gas and back to liquid is a far more efficient way to remove heat than traditional air or liquid-only cooling systems, said Agonafer, the engineering professor.

Its kind of like a refrigerator, said Smith, the engineering doctoral student.

The new technology has cut the energy an average data center uses to cool its equipment from about 40% of total energy use to 5% during lab testing. Though the current demo involves just one server, plans are in place to scale to 40 as the team fine-tunes liquid flow rates, temperature control, and pressure to minimize energy use.

Its part of a larger, federally backed effort to transform how data centers are cooled. With a $2.84 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energys COOLERCHIPS program, UT-Arlington is leading one of 19 projects aimed at slashing the energy and water demands of data center infrastructure.

As part of the project, Accelsius, an Austin-based company specializing in data center cooling technology, donated a rack with servers for students to test their system. The project is close to being ready for commercial use, Agonofer, the professor leading the student team, said.

Pundla, the doctoral candidate, said the technology is already drawing interest from data center companies. When the project is complete the students plan to launch a start-up company to sell the technology, with the university where it was developed as shareholder.

While there are no regulations in Texas requiring companies to adopt such systems, companies selling cooling system technology say data centers have a big incentive to bring down their power demand.

Texas law now requires large load consumers including data centers to consult with the states main grid operator and provide details on how much power they plan to use and whether a project is planned in areas where the grid is already facing supply constraints. During this process data centers join a waitlist.

Finding ways to cut energy is more cost-efficient, said Liz Cruz, chief marketing officer at Accelsius. She said the companies she works with prefer to use electricity for computing, not cooling.

Data centers are huge energy and water usage hogs, said Liz Cruz, chief marketing officer at Accelsius. So it is our responsibility as the builders of (cooling systems) to make the most sustainable decision.

___

This story was originally published by The Texas Tribune and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Texas
Neptune Insurance Holdings Inc. is hoping its record of growth and profitability selling flood insurance policies will generate the same investor enthusiasm for its US IPO that greeted most debuts by other firms in the sector this year.

Like many of them, the St. Petersburg, Florida-based company is shaking up a niche form of property and casualty insurance. Neptune offers a hard-to-sell type of coverage in which the US Federal Emergency Management Agency-run National Flood Insurance Program holds a dominant 90% market share.

Neptune is set to become the sixth US-based insurance-sector company to go public this year. With three of the five listed firms trading above their IPO prices, investors are increasingly willing to bet on firms using artificial intelligence and big data to meet demand for better coverage against risks such as from the effects of climate change.

As the pipeline has come out, whats been revealed is theres a number of small cap players with differentiated business models that occupy a unique niche in the public markets, said Warren Fixmer, Barclays Plcs equity capital markets banker focused on sectors including insurance.

Some small-cap insurance IPOs of the past have proved spectacular winners. Specialty insurer Kinsale Capital Group Inc. has returned more than 2,500% to investors since its 2016 IPO, while Skyward Specialty Insurance Group Inc.s shares have tripled since it debuted in early 2023.

Neptune is a so-called managing general agent, selling coverage via an agent network on behalf of other insurance and reinsurance companies that take on all the risk and handle and pay out the claims. More than three-quarters of Neptunes revenue comes from commissions for writing policies and it carries no direct claims exposure itself, according to its US Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

To come up with instantaneous risk-adjusted insurance quotes, Neptune uses machine learning, geospatial analysis and big data rather than human underwriters and outdated flood maps.

Neptunes initial public offering, which could raise as much as $368.4 million for shareholders including Bregal Sagemount and FTV Capital, has drawn institutional demand for more than 10 times the available shares ahead of pricing late Tuesday, people familiar with the matter have said.

At the top of the marketed price range, Neptune would command a base market value of $2.8 billion, a lofty multiple of its adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of $82 million and revenue of $137 million in the last 12 months ended June 30, partly reflecting its strong growth rate of roughly 40% alongside outsize margins of around 60%.

What Neptune lacks is scale. It had just 244,964 policies in force at the end of June and held only 7% of the primary residential flood insurance market. Yet with only a fraction of the USs 100 million-plus homes and commercial buildings insured for flood risk, theres room for growth as more building owners see the value of coverage against the most common and costly type of natural disaster.

In a roadshow presentation for the IPO, Neptune management led by Chief Executive Officer Trevor Burgess  a former Morgan Stanley banker and C1 Bank CEO  said the company had withstood 21 landfall hurricanes since it started business in 2018 and has delivered a life-time loss ratio of less than 25%. The ratio measures actual and expected claim losses as a percentage of premiums. In contrast, the NFIPs loss ratio over the same period was 86%, according to Neptunes IPO filing.

And unlike a federal agency, the company can pick and choose its clients.

There will be some selection bias because they do get the best risks, but if you are FEMA you have to take everybody, said Matthew Palazola, Bloomberg Intelligences property & casualty insurance analyst for the Americas.

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.

Topics Carriers Flood
A lack of resources and outdated policies for sending emergency alerts led to delayed evacuation warnings as flames began consuming neighborhoods during deadly Los Angeles-area wildfires in January, according to an outside review.

The Independent After-Action Report produced by the consulting firm McChrystal Group was commissioned by Los Angeles County supervisors just weeks after the Eaton and Palisades fires killed more than 30 people and destroyed thousands of homes in and around Pacific Palisades and Altadena.

Related: The LA Fires Destroyed 11,000 Homes. Less Than 10% Have Permits to Rebuild

The report released Thursday says a series of weaknesses, including outdated policies, inconsistent practices and communications vulnerabilities, hampered the countys response.

Interviews with survivors and an Associated Press analysis of available data found evacuation orders for some neighborhoods of Altadena where the Eaton Fire swept through came long after houses burned down. AP reporting also showed similar delays for the Palisades Fire, though the Los Angeles Police Department initially handled evacuation management. The report sheds more light on flaws in the county alert system.

Staffing Shortages

The report cites critical staffing shortages including a high number of sheriffs deputy vacancies and an under-resourced Office of Emergency Management. In addition, first responders and incident commanders were unable to consistently share information due to unreliable cellular connectivity, inconsistent field reporting methods, and the use of various unconnected communication platforms.

While frontline responders acted decisively and, in many cases, heroically, in the face of extraordinary conditions, the events underscored the need for clearer policies, stronger training, integrated tools, and improved public communication, the report says.

It is not intended to investigate or assess blame, county officials said in a news release.

Related: Southern California Edison, Others Settle to Recover $2B Tied to Wildfires

This isnt about pointing fingers. Its about learning lessons, improving safety, and restoring public trust, said Supervisor Kathryn Barger, whose district includes Altadena.

The Office of Emergency Management began putting together its staffing plan for predicted heavy winds Jan. 3, four days before the Palisades and Eaton fires ignited. But an experienced staffer had been sent out of town for a training event. That meant several less-knowledgeable staffers were in key positions, according to the report.

They were also working with some new emergency notification software provided by an existing vendor: The county signed the expanded contract with emergency alert company Genasys in November, just before the holidays. Only four staff members were trained on Genasys when the fires hit, according to the report.

Related: Viewpoint: Delay, Deny, Defend for California Wildfire Claims?

The review also found that the process to communicate an evacuation decision to the public was slow, convoluted and involved multiple leadership roles across county-level departments.

In the case of the Palisades Fire, the Los Angeles County Fire Department and Sheriffs Department identified areas that required evacuation. They then communicated those areas to a member of the Countys Office of Emergency Management at the Incident Command center. This person then made a phone call or sent a text message to another OEM staffer located in the Emergency Operations Center, who then updated the system put in place by the third-party vendor and triggered an alert to the public.

Alerting The Public

During the January inferno, according to the report, this process took between 20 and 30 minutes. Thats an improvement over the old system that took between 30 and 60 minutes for the public to receive notice of an evacuation, the report said.

Still, many of the countys methods to alert the public require opting in.

Some of the evacuation alerts required residents to click a separate link to get complete information, hindering messaging. The communication system used for alerts did not provide complete information about the fires progression. Power outages and cell tower issues further hindered evacuation notices and the fire was moving too fast to keep up, the report found.

Before the fire, the county sent out a handful of warnings about the incoming Santa Ana wind event and amplified National Weather Service messaging on social media and in news releases, but there was no official, stand-alone preparedness messaging provided by the county.

Challenges During Evacuations

Some sheriffs department vehicles were aiding with evacuations in the Palisades area when the Eaton Fire broke out across the county. Those units headed to help evacuate residents in Altadena, along with responders from other agencies including search and rescue teams and staff from a downtown LA jail.

Still, a shortage of vehicles hindered the sheriffs department response across neighborhoods where the Eaton Fire was burning.

Vulnerable populations, especially older residents who were not monitoring alerts due to a digital divide and possible mobility challenges, faced increased risks of delayed evacuation, the authors wrote.

What Went Right

The authors praised the heroism of first responders including sheriffs deputies and county firefighters who evacuated senior care facilities, led public transit bus drivers through impacted neighborhoods and rescued people from burning homes.

This heroic response was driven by urgency and their commitment to save lives, but it also added additional complexity to their responsibilities as they worked to maintain broader operational oversight in the field, the authors wrote.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to review the 133-page report when it meets next Tuesday.

The causes of the two fires are still under investigation.

After-action reports and investigations revealed issues with alert systems in other California blazes: in the 2017 Tubbs Fire, which killed 22 people in Santa Rosa; the 2018 Camp Fire, which killed 85 people in Paradise; the Woolsey fire, which started the same day and killed three in Malibu; as well as in Colorados 2021 Marshall Fire, which destroyed more than 1,000 homes outside Denver; and in Hawaiis 2023 Lahaina Fire, which decimated that historic town and killed 102.

Boone reported from Boise, Idaho. Associated Press writer Christopher L. Keller in Albuquerque, New Mexico, contributed to this report.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Louisiana
A new framework for enhanced co-operation between industry, Government and ComReg is being established to prepare and respond to future weather emergencies, including storms.

The Climate Change Advisory Council said earlier this year that Ireland must be much better prepared for the next major weather event and respond rapidly.

It noted the fingerprints of climate change were increasingly evident in the intensifying magnitude and frequency of certain extreme events, particularly heavy rainfall and heatwaves.

Storm Eowyn in January of this year set a record, with sustained hurricane-force winds of 142km per hour.

It left 768,000 premises without power, more than 200,000 without water, more than one million telecom customers without broadband or phone coverage, and widespread agricultural damage.

Along with Storm Darragh, an estimated 23,652 hectares of trees were flattened, and many rural communities were isolated for periods.

As the winter weather sets in countrywide, TDs Brendan Smith and Louis OHara sought progress reports from Government ministers on plans to cope with further likely weather events.

Communications minister Patrick ODonovan said the new emergency preparedness and response framework was being established by his department.

It is to ensure the lessons learned in the aftermath of Storm Eowyn are put into effect and any issues identified can be worked on.

The framework will ensure the telecommunications sector is able to respond to emergencies in a more agile manner by allowing for better coordination between private network operators and the State, he said.

Mr ODonovan said the networks provided a key infrastructure underpinning the States modern digital society and economy.

As such, reducing the impact of service outages owing to the impacts of extreme weather events was a key area of focus for the department.

He said he had significant engagement with both mobile and fixed network operators to understand the issues that led to network service outages during Storm Eowyn.

Officials have been working with the sector to support improvements in its ability to cope with severe weather impacts.

Working with industry and the independent regulator, ComReg, he said a list of key mobile network sites was being developed for prioritisation of both preparatory and response resources.

A review of information-gathering and sharing protocols has also been undertaken to ensure that there is better and more timely access to service outage information in the event of another severe weather event.

Clearer communication between all stakeholders, including the public, is required, and I expect to see an enhanced system of information gathering and sharing in place this winter, he said.

TD Michael Moynihan asked if action was being taken to reduce power outages across the country caused by fallen trees and the steps being taken regarding power lines passing through forestry.

Energy minister Darragh OBrien said he had asked ESB Networks to prepare a plan to enhance the resilience of the grid in the most vulnerable locations for the winter, which was published in April.

ESB Networks reported to the department it undertook a survey of the electricity network following Storm Eowyn, making hazards safe and identifying remedial works needed to refurbish the network weakened by the recent storms.

It continues to work with Coillte and the Department of Agriculture to identify segments of the network at the highest future risk. Analysis of customers most affected by windfall has identified priority areas for remediation.

Timber harvesters had been procured and, during the summer, began to cut timber according to this prioritisation.

Emergency stocks of spare parts and materials are to be replenished and doubled in size by October. This replenishment is on schedule for completion and is now 80% complete

Mr OBrien said his department was preparing legislation to enhance ESB Networks powers to manage vegetation, place the dimensions and conditions of corridors through forestry on a statutory footing, and establish principles for the compensation of affected landowners.

The Cabinet approved the heads of this bill on July 29, he said, adding work on advancing the legislation continues.
Harry Potter author JK Rowling has accused actress Emma Watson of being ignorant of how ignorant she is amid their ongoing row over transgender views.

Watson and her co-stars Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint have publicly backed transgender rights in the last few years, distancing themselves from Rowling who has criticised the actors in response.

Rowling, 60, has previously been accused of transphobia for her views on gender identity, which she denies.

The author made her latest comments in response to Watson, 35, discussing their relationship on Jay Shettys mental health podcast on Thursday, in which she said: I think its my deepest wish that I hope people who dont agree with my opinion will love me, and I hope I can keep loving people who I dont necessarily share the same opinion with.

In a lengthy post on X, Rowling said on Monday: Like other people whove never experienced adult life uncushioned by wealth and fame, Emma has so little experience of real life shes ignorant of how ignorant she is.

Harry Potter star Emma Watson (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

The actress, who played Hermione Granger in the novels eight-part film series, will never need a homeless shelter or be placed on a mixed sex public hospital ward, Rowling said.

She added: Id be astounded if shes been in a high street changing room since childhood. Her public bathroom is single occupancy and comes with a security man standing guard outside the door.

The multimillionaire author said that I lived in poverty while writing the book that made Emma famous and therefore understand from my own life experience what the trashing of womens rights in which Emma has so enthusiastically participated means to women and girls without her privileges.

Responding to Rowlings essay calling for single-sex spaces, Watson had posted on Twitter in 2020: Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they arent who they say they are.

Yet Rowling said the turning point in their relationship came in 2022 when Watson gave a Bafta speech saying Im here for all the witches, which some perceived to be a criticism of the authors beliefs on gender.

Daniel Radcliffe, JK Rowling, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint at the world premiere of Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (Ian West/PA)

The actress then handwrote a note saying Im so sorry for what youre going through and asked someone to pass it to Rowling in a postscript that hurt far more than the speech itself, the author claimed on X.

This came at a time when the death, rape and torture threats against me were at their peak and Emma had just publicly poured more petrol on the flames, yet thought a one-line expression of concern from her would reassure me of her fundamental sympathy and kindness, she said.

Rowling added: The greatest irony here is that, had Emma not decided in her most recent interview to declare that she loves and treasures me  a change of tack I suspect shes adopted because shes noticed full-throated condemnation of me is no longer quite as fashionable as it was  I might never have been this honest.

In the podcast Watson said: I really dont believe that by having had that experience and holding the love and support and views that I have, mean that I cant and dont treasure Jo and the person that I had personal experiences with.

Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, JK Rowling and Emma Watson at the UK premiere of Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban (Yui Mok/PA)

I will never believe that one negates the other and that my experience of that person, I dont get to keep and cherish.

Watson, who is currently studying at the University of Oxford, added: I think the thing Im most upset about is that a conversation was never made possible.

Rowling said Watson and Radcliffe have both made it clear over the last few years that they think our former professional association gives them a particular right  nay, obligation  to critique me and my views in public.

When youve known people since they were 10 years old its hard to shake a certain protectiveness. Until quite recently, I hadnt managed to throw off the memory of children who needed to be gently coaxed through their dialogue in a big scary film studio.

For the past few years, Ive repeatedly declined invitations from journalists to comment on Emma specifically, most notably on the Witch Trials of JK Rowling.

Ironically, I told the producers that I didnt want her to be hounded as the result of anything I said.

Rowlings post on X quoted a video from GB News in which Fiona McAnena, author of Terf Island: How The UK Resisted Trans Ideology, told the channel: When you see the media starting to say trans women are men, think I think we really are winning.

Ms McAnena added: Whether (Watson) is trying to row back from that full-hearted support for transitioning children, or whether shes just trying to get back in with JK Rowling in the hope of work, who knows?
A humanitarian is busy rescuing emergency vehicles from the scrapyard to form a Ukraine-bound convoy on a life-saving mission to help wounded soldiers.

Jim Harding, who heads the Kilkenny Ukraine initiative, has been overseeing extensive repairs of a fleet of vehicles over the past few months.

It is all hands on deck as he endeavours to have the vehicles ready for transportation to Ukraine next month.

The vehicles will be used on the frontline to evacuate casualties to triage stations, stabilisation points, and hospitals.

As well as repairing the decommissioned vehicles, the groups volunteers will drive them across Europe. Some will visit hospitals along the way to donate vital medical supplies.

Tom Walsh and Jim Harding loading supplies into one of the vehicles they will be bringing to Ukraine. Picture: Mary Browne

Last year, the team delivered necessities such as body bags, bandages, incontinence pads, and catheters, among other items.

Mr Harding has taken part in several convoys since founding the group in 2022.

This years fleet includes four ambulances, a van, a bus, and a small truck.

A total of 12 drivers will make up the convoy, which is set to travel through France, Belgium, Germany, and Poland before reaching its destination in Kyiv.

The fleet will also be carrying medical supplies donated by Irish GPs, hospitals, and medical facilities. The trip comes more than three years after Russias invasion of Ukraine, resulting in hundreds of thousands of military casualties as well as tens of thousands of civilian casualties.

Tom Walsh and Jim Harding working on one of the emergency vehicles they will be bringing to Ukraine. Picture: Mary Browne

Mr Harding has been heartened by the support shown to them during previous trips: We generally put an Ireland to Ukraine sticker on the vehicles, which means were sometimes met with the sound of beeping and cheering.

You do get hostility. There are people who give the thumbs down as you pass them.

"It all depends on what country you are going through.

"There are certain locations where you wouldnt dream of displaying the sticker.

"In Hungary and Slovakia, you wouldnt even think about it.

Kilkenny men Jim Harding and Tom Walsh are heading for Ukraine. Picture: Mary Browne

Its not that you would be in imminent danger, but you dont want people to know where you are going for fear of inviting trouble.

Of course, there are times when I am criticised for what were doing back in Ireland too  but mostly this criticism comes from people of Russian descent.

The Kilkenny man is keen to meet with Ukrainian civilians impacted by the war.

A couple of us will be heading to Kharkiv, which is very close to the frontline. It is pretty much bombed every day.

Even in hotels, you are advised to keep your windows open to mitigate the effects of a blast if an explosion occurs.

He is most looking forward to delivering vital medical aid. A lot of the supplies we give out are used in emergency situations. Much of it is out of date, but is still safe to use.

"Items like bandages and syringes are still usable even if they are out of date. It really doesnt matter as long as they are still useful in emergencies, he said.

 To learn more, visit KilkennyUkraine.com
Gardai have arrested a man at a crime scene in rural Co Louth where three bodies have been discovered.

Garda HQ has confirmed that three people  two men and one woman  were found dead at the property.

It also confirmed a male, aged in his 30s, was being questioned.

It is not clear how the people died, but it is suspected that they were attacked.

The Irish Examiner understands that no firearms were used. It is not known if any potential weapon or weapons have been identified for examination.

Details of the incident are still emerging.

Gardai are investigating if it is a domestic incident and are questioning the suspect at the moment.

Sources have said the case is very raw and tragic.

Inquiries are beginning into the circumstances leading up to the incident and the medical circumstances of the man under arrest.

Gardai arrived at the scene at around 10am on Monday. Several units responded, including the armed support unit.

The property is in the townland of Drumgowna, near Tallanstown, on the western side of the county.

It is not yet clear if the deaths occurred earlier this morning or last night. Gardai are investigating if the deaths occurred overnight while the victims were sleeping.

The area has been sealed off for a technical examination. The Office of the State Pathologist has been informed and is due to arrive later.

Gardai have closed a road leading to an isolated property at the scene, and a blue-and-white forensic tent has been set up close to the property.

A preliminary autopsy will be conducted at the scene, before the bodies are removed to hospital for a full autopsy. The results of the autopsy will determine the course of the Garda investigation.

The Garda Technical Bureau is understood to be en route from Dublin. A detailed forensic examination will be conducted inside and outside of the house.

It is understood that gardai are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

One neighbour told the PA news agency it was a shocking incident.

Justice minister Jim OCallaghan said there was no further threat to the public following the criminal act.

Mr OCallaghan said: I have information, An Garda Siochana have passed on information that I have received to the office.

I am conscious that it is a developing story and it is a sensitive issue but there is no further information I can put into the public domain at present.

I think further information will become available in due course.

He added: What I can say and what gardai have said is that they are not looking for anyone else in respect of this criminal act.

There is no ongoing threat to the public in Co Louth.

Sinn Fein councillor for Louth County Council Pearse McGeough said on social media that there was sad news coming out of Tallanstown this morning.

He added: I would ask people not to speculate until we know the facts. Our thoughts are with the friends, family and the community.
A Limerick-based doctor has been accused of professional misconduct for using a prescription form from a hospital where he no longer worked to prescribe a high-strength, highly-addictive painkiller for a family friend.

The doctor appeared before a fitness-to-practise hearing of the Medical Council, where he admitted the facts of certain allegations but made no admissions on whether they constituted professional misconduct and/or poor professional performance.

The inquiry heard a complaint was made to the Medical Council after a pharmacist working at a Boots pharmacy in Limerick became suspicious about a prescription submitted by a woman known as Patient A on October 6, 2021.

The fitness-to-practise committee overseeing the inquiry ruled the identity of the doctor cannot be made public.

The inquiry heard the prescription was on notepaper from the Department of Psychiatry at St Lukes General Hospital in Kilkenny, which was signed by the doctor.

The form contained a watermark which stated not for MDA drugs, although the prescription was for 28 days supply of OxyNorm  a strong opioid analgesic which is a controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Counsel for the Medical Council, barrister Eoghan OSullivan, said the pharmacist subsequently established from the hospital the woman had never been a patient of St Lukes, while the doctor had not worked there for about a year.

Mr OSullivan acknowledged the doctor had made certain admissions of fact in December 2021, including that he had written the prescription, which he accepted was inappropriate.

However, the inquiry heard the doctor claimed he had done so for special and substantial reasons for a family friend who was in severe pain from a long-term condition, erosive esophagitis.

The inquiry heard the doctor had only written the prescription to tide her over a number of days.

The inquiry heard the doctor, who qualified in 2011, has been registered to work in Ireland since 2017.

Although he was not suspended in relation to the subject matter of the inquiry, he has not practised medicine since a complaint was filed against him with the Medical Council.

An expert witness who gave evidence on behalf of the Medical Council, Fiona Fenton, said she believed the writing of the prescription for a controlled drug when he was not working at St Lukes to someone who was not his patient constituted professional misconduct, as his actions fell considerably short of the standards expected of doctors.

The witness pointed out OxyNorm was a strong opioid painkiller which is only recommended for advanced cancer or post-operative pain management.

She told the inquiry the drug should only be prescribed for short-term use because it is addictive and she regarded it as quite dangerous.

The psychiatrist said the proper reaction from the doctor when asked for pain relief by Patient A would have been to refer her to an on-call doctor service, or the emergency department of a local hospital.

The doctors solicitor, David Higgins, said his client was genuinely remorseful and had learnt from the incident.

Mr Higgins said what happened was a one-off incident.

The fitness-to-practise committee made no findings against the doctor after it accepted the offer of an undertaking by him about his future conduct and to complete a continuous professional development course on prescribing in advance of resuming medical practice as well as consenting to be censured.
The Government is to launch an inquiry into spina bifida and scoliosis care at Childrens Health Ireland (CHI).

Tanaiste Simon Harris and health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill made the commitment to the parents of Harvey Morrison Sherratt, after a meeting on Monday evening.

Harvey, who was nine years old, had scoliosis and spina bifida and waited years for spinal surgery. During this time, the curve in his spine went from 75 degrees to 130 degrees.

However, by the time of his surgery last December, the curve had reached a point where it was not possible to fully correct it. Harvey died on July 29.

Speaking after the meeting, Gillian Sherratt confirmed that Mr Harris and Ms Carroll MacNeill had committed to an inquiry.

Ms Sherratt said the terms of reference for the inquiry would be drawn up in collaboration with parental advocacy groups, including the Scoliosis Advocacy Network and the Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Paediatric Advocacy Group.

She added they would have a follow-up meeting with Mr Harris and Ms Carroll MacNeill in three weeks.

We hope that this inquiry will be the start of bringing about real substantial change and bringing some justice for Harvey, Ms Sherratt said.

Earlier this month, HSE chief executive Bernard Gloster apologised to the parents of Harvey, saying they had been let down by the healthcare system.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On September 28, Dongfeng Motor signed a new strategic cooperation agreement with Tencent in Wuhan, marking a deeper commitment to jointly advancing intelligent mobility and digital innovation.

Photo credit: Dongfeng Motor

The collaboration will combine Dongfeng Motor's strengths in automotive R&D, manufacturing, and sales with Tencent's expertise in digital platforms and intelligent technologies. Together, the two companies aim to accelerate the implementation of Dongfeng Motor's "One Core, Two Foundations, Two Dimensions" smart vehicle strategy and international expansion plans, creating a new model of synergy between the automotive and internet industries.

This agreement builds on years of collaboration between the two companies. Back in 2019, they signed their first strategic deal in Shenzhen, laying the groundwork for cooperation across seven areas, including connected vehicles, automotive safety, and autonomous driving.

The renewed partnership reflects not only China's broader policy push to upgrade its manufacturing sector toward advanced, intelligent, and sustainable development but also the automotive industry's need to adapt to rapid technological shifts by pooling resources and creating shared value.

Under the terms of the agreement, the two companies will strengthen cooperation in smart technologies, digitalization, and globalization. Their joint initiatives will focus on advancing intelligent driving and next-generation in-car systems, while integrating artificial intelligence with enterprise digital platforms. The ultimate goal is to deliver smarter, more convenient mobility experiences, enhance R&D and operational efficiency, and boost global competitiveness.

Dongfeng Motor Corporation's Chairman Yang Qing said the alliance is aimed at harnessing cutting-edge technologies such as AI large models to refine product definition, improve user experiences, and bring to market breakthrough smart vehicles that could shape future industry trends.
An airline cabin crew member who made depraved videos of males going to the toilet in Dublin Airport has been spared jail.

Antonio Atoche, aged 31, a Spanish national previously residing at Nurseries, Forrest Road, Swords, Co. Dublin, was handed a one-month suspended sentence by Judge Valerie Corcoran.

Its a depraved act; these individuals had their personal privacy invaded, and they were not even aware they were recorded, she said, branding his actions as inexcusable.

Atoche pleaded guilty at Dublin District Court to a charge contrary to Section 45(3) Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017, stating that on June 11, 2025, he did intentionally engage in offensive conduct of a sexual nature by making recordings of unidentified males' genitalia whilst they were urinating in a male bathroom in Terminal 1.

Shortly after 2pm on the date of the offence, Atoche was taking video recordings in the bathrooms of other unknown males who were using the urinals. Airport police approached him, and he handed over his phone.

Gardai discovered that five videos, all made on the same date, featured other males who could not be identified and had not given their consent.

Atoche had no prior convictions. The Director of Public Prosecutions directed summary disposal in the District Court where the offence is punishable by a maximum six-month sentence. Judge Corcoran accepted jurisdiction.

Defence case

Defence counsel, Paddy Flynn, pleaded for leniency, telling the court it was an isolated incident and happened in a moment of madness and that it was without sexual gratification or any element of sexual exposure.

He said Atoche put his hands up straight away and co-operated with the Garda inquiry. He said his client had been suffering a breakdown.

Counsel said that Atoche was remorseful, and the barrister cited case law mandating a sentencing judge to consider not only the gravity of the offence but also the personal circumstances of the offender.

The court heard he was a cabin crew member and lived in Ireland for two and a half years. He holds a master's degree in secondary school education and an English degree.

He also stressed that his client had suffered a breakdown, and his mental health issues had been triggered at a young age. Mr Flynn said Atoche, who did not address the court, still could not explain his actions.

He returned to Spain once gardai were satisfied he co-operated with the investigation, and he has been going to weekly counselling sessions for the last two months. The judge was also informed that the accused was single, had not worked since then, and it had a huge toll on him.

Judge Corcoran noted that the accused had not provided documentary evidence confirming he was attending therapy. Counsel referred to mental health guidelines in relation to sentencing, stating that a form of diagnosis is not always required.

However, he said the most valuable piece of mitigation was the early guilty plea, and he has come before the court with trauma in his life.

The court heard that he had offered 1,000 in compensation, but the judge deemed that a compensation payment or a poor-box payment was not appropriate in this case. She said the victims were unaware of the acts perpetrated on them.

Mr Flynn submitted that it was at the low end of the scale of offending, and a conviction would be hugely detrimental for him.

Sentencing

Finalising the case, the judge said the court would convict him. She noted that there were five clips, and the crime featured an element of premeditation because he continued making videos, and there were aggravating factors.

"This is a particularly depraved act; individuals after flights or en route to flights are using public toilets. Its a depraved act; these individuals had their personal privacy invaded, and they were not even aware they were being recorded."

However, she noted the mitigating factors and personal history, and concluded that it fell within the low to medium range in relation to offending.

She indicated that she could adjourn the case for a report but stated that she would not be imposing a custodial sentence, at which the accused requested that sentencing proceed forthwith.

The sentence was suspended for 12 months on condition that the defendant remains of good behaviour.
A Cork community group opposed to the development of a biomethane facility in its locality is urging the Government to urgently introduce and enforce robust regulations to govern the biomethane industry.

The Macroom Biogas Concern Group has raised concerns that the 40m national biomethane strategy unveiled by the Government in May 2024 has not yet been accompanied by a sustainability charter.

The group says the national strategy still lacks clear, enforceable regulations to protect public health, safety, and the environment against the backdrop of a plan to replace up to 10% of the countrys fossil gas needs with biomethane by 2030.

Under the strategy, up to 200 biomethane plants would have to be developed by 2030.

Biogas can be upgraded to sustainable biomethane to replace fossil gas. Biomethane is the term used for biogas which has been upgraded to methane of at least 97% in purity.

The Macroom group was set up in opposition to the proposed development of a biogas facility on the outskirts of the town because of its proximity to homes and the current lack of regulatory safeguards.

A spokeswoman for the group said: Ireland is accelerating the rollout of biomethane infrastructure without putting in place the regulatory framework needed to ensure public safety and environmental protection.

The group argues that the national strategy has not been accompanied by the introduction of specific regulations governing:

Minimum setback distances between biogas facilities and residential properties;

Emissions monitoring and control;

Odour, noise, and traffic mitigation;

Safety protocols for gas storage and transport;

Public consultation requirements and environmental impact transparency.

'Non-binding and insufficient'

A statement from the group said: The biomethane charter, which was promised as a guiding framework for developers and communities, has still not been made publicly available for review.

"There is widespread concern that, once published, the charter may be non-binding and insufficient to protect communities like Macroom.

"A critical concern for residents is the lack of legally required minimum separation distances between biogas plants and homes. Without such protections in place, large-scale facilities can be sited dangerously close to residential areas, with potential consequences for air quality, noise pollution, and public health," the group said.

The group is demanding the immediate publication of the charter, as well as a public consultation process on it.

It also wants the introduction of statutory regulations that address safety, siting, environmental protection, and community rights in relation to the development of biomethane facilities.

A spokesman for the Department of the Environment said: The biomethane sustainability charter is substantively complete, subject to final ministerial approval. We expect to publish this shortly.
Government ministers have said public expenditure minister Jack Chambers must loosen the purse strings or risk impacting the presidential election.

One senior government source told the Irish Examiner that if there is a bad budget, independent presidential nominee Catherine Connolly will sail through.

As reported by this newspaper, Mr Chambers told social protection minister Dara Calleary that his budget package demand was too large.

One source said that Mr Calleary was told to go back to the drawing board.

They argued that this could put the proposed 12 social welfare increase at risk.

Several Government sources have contacted the Irish Examiner to say that other ministers have also been told by Mr Chambers they are asking for too much money.

One source said the conversation was not constructive, and they were told it was just too large and to revise downwards.

Presidential election on October 24

They also expressed concerns about the impact that the budget will have on the presidential election on October 24 and the impact it could have on Fianna Fails Jim Gavin and Fine Gaels Heather Humphreys.

Jack has to realise that there are big promises right across the programme for government, which he negotiated, and they need money to get done, one senior government source said.

Being extra prudent is not going to cut it come polling day if the Government hasnt delivered on its own pledges.

One source said that Jack is going to have to loosen the belt.

Another senior government official stated, that is just Jack, while another said that everyone is getting push back.

"Everyone is going mad with Jack," another said. "He seems to have been captured by DPER [Department of Public Expenditure and Reform]."
When Fionnuala Bourke left her workplace just days into the new year in 2017, she had no idea that between there and her home an incident would happen that would be life changing.

As Christmas lights still twinkled in homes around Drumcondra, a woman she had never met, Laura Kenna, who was of no fixed abode, was sitting on a wall on Fionnuala's route home. And for no apparent reason, she attacked Fionnuala, known as Fi, stabbing her nine times in the face, neck, back and chest.

She then slashed Fi across her neck, before demanding her handbag and fleeing to a nearby train station. Fi was left with serious injuries which required surgery and time in intensive care in hospital.

It later emerged that Kenna then travelled by train from Drumcondra to Maynooth and visited a number of pubs in which she tried to sell Fis mobile phone. The following day, she went to Tallaght garda station in a highly agitated state, where she was arrested for breach of the Public Order Act.

Following her arrest, she was discovered to have items from Fis bag in her possession  including her ID card  leading to Kenna being interviewed about the Drumcondra attack. While on route to a city centre garda station for questioning about the attack, she claimed to have killed Fi and also told gardai that she had sliced her like you would a goat.

During the subsequent garda interview, she told officers: If you let me out, Ill finish her off. She also said she wanted to kill someone and said she had intended to eat the injured party. While she also said she wanted money, she told gardai her motivation was to kill.

Second trial

Kenna was charged with the attack on the civil servant and eventually sentenced in April 2019 to 10 years in jail for the attempted murder of Fi on January 3, 2017, and assault causing harm. She had been found guilty of the two crimes by a jury.

This came after she entered a not guilty plea by reason of insanity to both counts but this was disregarded by the jury. It was the second time the case had come to trial - the previous October, a jury failed to reach a verdict in the first trial.

At the sentencing hearing, Ms Justice Tara Burns said the incident was vicious, random, horrifying and frightening, and had demonstrated an attempt to kill her victim.

The judge noted that she was a very, very unlucky woman to have been the random victim of this accused".

She added:

She is very lucky that she is still with us and doesnt have more significant injuries.

The judge also said it was clear that Kenna was suffering from a significant mental health condition at the time which may have gone untreated for up to six years.

By the time the trial had started, Kenna had been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and was in the Central Mental Hospital.

Mental illness

Following her arrest for the attack on Fi, she was charged and remanded in custody, and assessed by psychiatrists who believed she was in a psychotic state. As a result, she was transferred from prison to the Central Mental Hospital.

The judge noted that the jurys guilty verdict did not mean that she was not suffering from a mental illness at the time. She elaborated that a person may well be suffering from a significant mental illness but still know the nature of their actions.

People with mental health difficulties are also required to act with a moral responsibility, she said. She also said that Kenna had engaged in "very normal behaviour" both before and after the attack.

The judge referenced Kennas drug taking, noting that it had complicated her mental health issues and diagnosis.

Although she said a headline sentence of 17 years imprisonment was appropriate for the crime, she considered mitigating factors including Kennas admissions and remorse as being among reasons why she would impose a 15-year sentence.

She suspended five of those years on condition that Kenna would co-operate with a consultant psychiatrist, abide by all treatment regimes and remain drug- and alcohol-free for the duration of the suspended period.

This came after her legal team sought the suspension of all or the majority of her sentence in light of her mental health issue, but the judge said this option was not open to her.

When Kenna appealed her conviction and sentence, the subsequent ruling against her appeal outlined that at her trial, two consultant psychiatrists from the Central Mental Hospital had differing views on whether she met the criteria for the special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity.

Laura Kenna (pictured) was sentenced in April 2019 to 10 years in jail for the attempted murder of Fionnuala Bourke on January 3, 2017, and assault causing harm. File picture: Collins Courts

One, Dr Stephen Monks, opined that the then-accused had been suffering from a mental disorder at the time of the attack on Fi to such an extent that she was legally insane. However, the ruling noted that Professor Harry Kennedy was of the view that the appellant did not meet the criteria for the defence of not guilty by reason of insanity".

Ironically, the same two men had agreed in a case against Kenna arising from a different assault carried out by Kenna just two weeks before the attack on Fi.

In the earlier attack, she assaulted a woman on a Luas platform after she believed that she had been getting smart with her. She tried to stab the woman with a pen on that occasion.

Subsequently, she was charged with assault causing harm. She was found not guilty by reason of insanity, after the jury heard evidence from Professor Kennedy and Dr Monks that agreed that Kenna met the criteria for a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity.

As a result, her detention at the Central Mental Hospital is indefinite, and is one that is reviewed by Mental Health (Criminal Law) Review Board which decides on a release date.

Sentence served

Despite not having served any further time in prison in relation to the attack on Fi, her sentence has been considered served as it was served concurrently with her detention at the Central Mental Hospital, and she would have been due for release from prison last July.

While the Irish Prison Service said it does not comment on individual cases, sources said she was considered released from prison last July, having been considered as having served the sentence.

However, Fi is angry that she is considered to have served her sentence even though she remained in the Central Mental Hospital for the duration of the time of the detention.

She said: As far as theyre (Irish Prison Service) concerned shes been released, but only around a week was actually served with them.

She added:

Its particularly difficult to accept there will not be a prison sentence served when she told gardai when arrested that if released she would finish me off.

In frustration at the situation, she has contacted several TDs, including members of the Government, to raise concerns about her case.

She says: Its possible that I might be the only victim of crime in the situation that Im in, where someone served a sentence for attempted murder concurrently with an indefinite detention in relation to another matter. Serving them concurrently seems very unfair to me, it feels to me that my sentence was the one that didnt matter.

But she says: It was never explained to me that she wouldnt have to serve a prison sentence for what she did to me, I only found out that shed been in the CMH the whole time when I contacted the Prison Services Victim Liaison Officer in late 2023.

Registering as a victim

If the term at the Central Mental Hospital related to Fis case, she would have had the option of registering as a victim with the National Forensic Mental Health Service.

This would allow her access to information such as her release from the hospital, including temporary leave, discharge subject to conditions, or unconditional discharge.

However, because the case arising from the assault on Fi did not result in the special verdict of guilty by reason of insanity, Fi did not have the right to register as a victim with the National Forensic Mental Health Service and is not entitled to information regarding any releases of Kenna.

Change to law

Last year, a number of politicians raised her situation through parliamentary questions to the then-minister for justice Helen McEntee, asking if legislation would be amended to give her a right to information when her attacker is released from the Central Mental Hospital even though the sentence for her crime is considered to have been served since last July.

In response, Ms McEntee said: While the victim in the attempted murder case is entitled to be informed of the release date of the perpetrator in relation to that criminal conviction, that right is essentially moot.

"This is because the perpetrator will not be released at the end of that sentence but will remain in the Central Mental Hospital for a longer period as a result of the concurrent, but longer period of detention for the unrelated offence.

She acknowledged that the case is unique and complex, and said senior officials from her department had met with Fi to discuss her case.

Following her arrest for the attack, Laura Kenna (pictured) was charged and remanded in custody, and assessed by psychiatrists who believed she was in a psychotic state. File picture: Collins Courts

She added: On foot of that meeting, my officials have committed to examining how we can ensure that a persons right to information about the release date would continue to operate where the actual date of release from detention is deferred due a separate detention in the CMH on an unrelated matter.

"This examination will include looking at whether amending legislation is required.

A statement from the Department of Justice to the Irish Examiner said: In general, if a victim wishes to receive information about a patient detained in the Central Mental Hospital in relation to an offence against them, they may register with the National Forensic Mental Health Service (NFMHS) Victim Liaison Officer.

However, the response also admitted that the case referred to is of a unique and complex nature.

It continued: Department officials are committed to examining the specific circumstances to ensure a persons right to information is respected. Further policy and legal considerations are required before any legislative amendment can be undertaken.
As the Government flounders in its attempts to respond to the housing crisis  with yet another record homeless figure last Friday of 16,353 people including 5,100 children  some, including the Taoiseach, are in danger of sounding like one of the new breed of populists who blame all on others.

On September 14, a story appeared on the front page of the Business Post, describing a ridiculous plan to dezone land for 3,000 homes in Wicklow.

That does sound as ridiculous as the developers quoted in the story maintained. Why would there be dezoning of land ready for housing at a time like this?

Submissions from various developers suggested that the dezoning was directly stopping the building of homes all ready to go.

Within 24 hours, it turned out that this was not as it seemed.

In response to the story, Wicklow County Council issued a detailed release the following day confirming there are no proposals in the Draft Local Planning Framework for Greystones-Delgany and Kilcoole to dezone 3,000 houses worth of development land.

It went on to point out that there was no shortage of zoned land in order to meet current targets as well as possible future targets.

As well, it detailed how all of its planned zonings had faithfully followed a whole plethora of criteria set out by various state bodies, including a series of directives from the housing minister.

Apart from all that, the plan was approved by the Office of the Planning Regulator, set up to oversee proper planning in the State, which concluded it sets out a clear zoning strategy and framework for the future development of the lands concerned.

Quite obviously, developers submissions did not agree with elements of the plan but, irrespective of that, it was assembled precisely as the law and national guidelines dictate.

These things happen. But what occurred thereafter is the desperate spin.

One might have thought that on reading the Business Post on the Sunday, somebody in Government would check out with the county council what the hell was going on. And they would have been put right. Failing that, one would have thought that the release from the council on the Monday would have been required reading in governing just to ensure that nothing ridiculous was afoot in the vital area of housing. Again, the powers that be would have been put right.

Instead, it would appear either nobody bothered to brief the Taoiseach or else he couldnt help but spin the yarn to suit his purpose.

On the Tuesday, at the Fianna Fail think-in, Micheal Martin expressed himself shocked at the story about Wicklow County Council, adding were running out of patience.

There is, he told reporters, a housing crisis. Many councils are dragging their feet on this, he said. He has spoken to a number of councils on the matter. If they werent going to shake a leg then he would have to overrule them and come in to apply executive power.

I have said if they are not going to do it, Government are going to do it directly, he said, adding that he cannot see how councils are de-zoning land that is suitable for housing.

What is genuinely shocking is that the Taoiseach of the country was grabbing a headline to deflect from his Government and feed into a narrative that councils are blocking the best efforts to get homes built.

Contrary to what Mr Martin said, there was no dezoning of lands.

The plan that had attracted submissions from developers was carefully tailored to comply with regulations and directions implemented by his own and previous governments.

The plan was signed off by the Planning Regulator, an office established on foot of wholesale corruption to ensure that all development plans are in line with national policy. Is Mr Martin of the opinion that such safeguards are no longer required?

Does he want developers to be the final arbiters of proper planning? Or was he just using the occasion to divert the pressure on the crisis from central government to local authorities?

Taoiseach's 'gaslighting'

Sinn Feins housing spokesperson Eoin O Broin described the Taoiseachs bizarre comments as a masterclass in shifting blame.

The idea that councils are to blame for the housing crisis in both wrong and deeply offensive to councillors and officials across the state, O Broin said.

This is gaslighting of the very worst kind from Micheal Martin and threatened to further undermine the already strained relationship between local and central government.

Its difficult to disagree with that. Ultimately though, Mr Martins declaration that the Government will take the power to determine development plans away from local authorities is more worrying than the desperate spinning.

It smacks of the populist impulse to ignore both technical expertise and local democracy in order to tackle a crisis through getting a quick win with public opinion, rather than governing efficiently and fairly.

Thats no way to run a country and certainly no way to get a handle on the biggest crisis now being faced.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country was working on a new ceasefire plan with the White House, but that details were still being sorted out.

Mr Netanyahu, who was speaking on the eve of meeting US president Donald Trump, has come under heavy international pressure to end the war, especially during the ongoing offensive in Gaza City.

The death toll in the Israel-Hamas war has topped 66,000 Palestinians, Gazas health ministry said on Sunday.

In Mondays White House meeting, Mr Trump is expected to share a new proposal for ending the conflict.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Friday (Richard Drew/AP)

Were working on it, Mr Netanyahu told Fox News Sundays The Sunday Briefing.

Its not been finalised yet, but were working with President Trumps team, actually as we speak, and I hope we can  we can make it a go.

Arab officials briefed on the plan say the 21-point proposal calls for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages held by Hamas within 48 hours and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

Mr Netanyahu has vowed to continue fighting until Hamas, whose October 7 2023 attack triggered the war, is destroyed.

But he repeated an offer to allow Hamas operatives to leave Gaza as part of a deal ending the conflict.

If they finish the war, release all the hostages, we let them out, he said.

Delegates left as Mr Netanyahu arrived to address the United Nations General Assembly (Richard Drew/AP)

Mr Trump has so far stood behind Israel. But the US leader has shown signs of impatience lately, particularly after Israel struck the headquarters of Hamass political leadership in Doha, Qatar, earlier this month.

Ceasefire talks have stalled since, despite growing international and domestic protests.

Key western allies have joined a list of countries recognising a Palestinian state over Israeli objections.

The European Union is considering sanctions and there are growing moves for a sports and cultural boycott against Israel.

A defiant Mr Netanyahu told fellow world leaders on Friday at the UN General Assembly that his nation must finish the job against Hamas in Gaza, where 48 hostages are still held captive, around 20 of them believed by Israel to be alive.

Mr Trumps ceasefire proposal would include the release of all hostages within 48 hours and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Palestinian enclave, according to three Arab officials briefed on the plan.

The Israeli military hit the Macca Tower, a high-rise building in Gaza City, on Sunday (Yousef Al Zanoun/AP)

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing talks, said the proposal was not final and that changes were highly likely.

Mr Trump discussed the proposal with Arab leaders in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

A Hamas official said the group was briefed on the plan but had yet to receive an official offer from Egyptian and Qatari mediators.

Hamas has said it is ready to study any proposals positively and responsibly.

The official said the group had previously said it was willing to release all hostages in return for an end to the war and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the strip.

Local hospitals in central Gaza said at least 10 people were killed when at least two strikes hit homes in the Nuseirat refugee camp.

Gazas health ministry said in its daily report the death toll had climbed to 66,005, with a further 168,162 wounded since the war started.

The ministry, part of the Hamas-run administration, does not differentiate between civilians and militants in its toll, but has said women and children make up around half the dead.

Its figures are seen as a reliable estimate by the UN and many independent experts.

Residents reported hearing sounds of explosions overnight across the city, likely coming from the demolition of buildings through the detonation of explosive-laden vehicles and robots.

The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the strikes, but said it had struck 140 Hamas military targets over the past 24 hours, including militants, observation equipment and infrastructure.

On Sunday, the military said it had struck a high-rise building in Gaza City after warning residents to evacuate.

The strike levelled the 16-storey Macca tower. No casualties were reported.

The Israeli military said the building housed military infrastructure belonging to Hamas.

It is the latest in a series of demolitions in recent weeks as Israel expands its offensive.

Israels offensive has destroyed vast areas of Gaza, displacing around 90% of the population amid a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, with experts saying Gaza City is experiencing famine.

On Sunday, Israeli security forces also shot dead the alleged attacker in an incident in which a man was seriously injured at a road junction near Nablus in the West Bank. The attack was praised by Hamas.

Violence has surged in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, which alongside Gaza and east Jerusalem was captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war and the Palestinians want for a future state.
Rory McIlroy quipped police dogs should have been let off leashes after he was subjected to unacceptable crowd abuse at the Ryder Cup.

The Northern Irishman was heckled throughout the three days at Bethpage Black, suffering crude personal taunts and repeated attempts to distract him as he attempted to play shots.

The world number two also revealed his wife Erica had beer thrown at her amid a febrile atmosphere at the New York course during Saturday afternoons play.

Rory McIlroy delivered in a fevered atmosphere (Mike Egerton/PA)

McIlroy lost his cool on occasions during the week, making an offensive gesture on one occasion and shouting back on another, while play was repeatedly held up as police tried to restore calm.

I wish they had let the dogs off the leashes, said McIlroy in a press conference after Europe held off a remarkable United States fightback to win the trophy 15-13 on Sunday.

The police out there and the amount of security presence was insane.

Look, nothing was going to happen  there wasnt going to be physical altercation or anything like that  but there was a lot of language that was unacceptable and abusive behaviour.

Its a minority of the crowd, its not the majority. The majority of people here are true golf fans and are respectful, but I dont think we should ever accept that in golf.

This should not be what is acceptable in the Ryder Cup.

He continued: I think golf should be held to a higher standard than what was seen out there this week.

Golf teaches you very good life lessons, it teaches you etiquette, it teaches you how to play by the rules, it teaches you how to respect people.

Sometimes this week we didnt see that. So no, this should not be what is acceptable in the Ryder Cup.

McIlroys wife Erica was caught up in the commotion during Saturdays fractious fourballs session.

The Masters champion said: Erica is fine. Shes a very, very strong woman. You know, she handled everything this week with class and poise and dignity like she always has.

I love her and were going to have a good time celebrating tonight.

Rory McIlroy was keen to celebrate with his wife Erica (Mike Egerton/PA)

McIlroy rose above the taunts to deliver three-and-a-half points across the foursomes and fourballs sessions but was unable to maintain his momentum as he was beaten by Scottie Scheffler on the 18th hole in the singles.

I felt like I was running on empty, he said. I gave so much of myself the first two days and I tried as hard as I could out there against Scottie.

Scottie and I both didnt have our best. It was a bit of a pillow fight if Im honest.

Ultimately it did not matter as Europe denied the US an unlikely comeback victory.

McIlroy said: I am extremely proud to be a part of this team. We did what we needed to do and we are going to celebrate like there is no tomorrow.
Days after his defiant speech at the United Nations rejecting demands to end the war in Gaza, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to confer with his most important supporter.

But Mondays meeting with US president Donald Trump in Washington comes at a tenuous moment.

Israel is increasingly isolated, losing support from many countries that were long its steadfast allies. At home, Mr Netanyahus governing coalition appears more fragile than ever. And the White House is showing signs of impatience.

The question now is whether Mr Trump, who has offered steadfast backing to Mr Netanyahu throughout the war, will change his tone and turn up the pressure on Israel to finally wind down the conflict.

In a post on social media on Sunday, the president said: We have a real chance for GREATNESS IN THE MIDDLE EAST. ALL ARE ON BOARD FOR SOMETHING SPECIAL, FIRST TIME EVER. WE WILL GET IT DONE!!!

Mr Trump and Mr Netanyahu are scheduled to meet in the Oval Office, and a joint press conference is expected later.

The uncertainty surrounding the meeting casts it as one of the most critical in the years-long relationship between the two leaders, Professor Eytan Gilboa, an expert on US-Israeli relations at Bar-Ilan and Reichman universities, said.

Netanyahu might have to choose between Trump and his coalition members, a number of whom want the war to continue, Prof Gilboa said.

A move by Mr Netanyahu to end the war would leave him on shaky political ground at home a year before elections.

Oded Ailam, a researcher at the Jerusalem Centre for Security and Foreign Affairs, agreed that Mr Trump was likely to demand a permanent ceasefire, leaving Mr Netanyahu with few options.

Israel prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Friday (Richard Drew/AP)

Mr Netanyahu has repeatedly vowed to continue the offensive until Hamas is destroyed.

If Mr Trump puts the pressure on, the Israeli leader would probably seek to include red lines in any deal, Mr Ailam said.

He might demand that Hamas be dismantled, the researcher said.

Mr Netanyahu might also set a condition that if the militant group resumes fighting or returns to power, the Israeli military would have the right to operate freely in Gaza, he said.

Mr Trump joined forces with Mr Netanyahu during Israels brief war with Iran in June, ordering US stealth bombers to strike three nuclear sites, and he has supported the Israeli leader during his corruption trial, describing the case as a witch hunt.

But the relationship has become more tense lately.

Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City continued on Sunday (Yousef Al Zanoun/AP)

Mr Trump was frustrated by Israels failed strike this month on Hamas officials in Qatar, a US ally in the region that had been hosting negotiations to end the war in Gaza.

Recent comments have hinted at growing impatience from Washington.

Last week, Mr Trump vowed to prevent Israel from annexing the West Bank  an idea promoted by some of Mr Netanyahus hard-line governing partners.

The international community opposes annexation, saying it would destroy hopes for a two-state solution.

On Friday, Mr Trump raised expectations for the meeting with Mr Netanyahu, telling reporters on the White House lawn that the US was very close to a deal on Gaza.

Mr Trump has made similar pronouncements in the past with nothing to show for it, and it is unclear if this time will be different.
The prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann has tried to confront the prosecutor who accused him of her murder, it has been reported.

Christian Brueckner travelled for hours to the prosecutors office in the German town of Braunschweig but was denied a meeting with Hans Christian Wolters, Sky News reported.

He told the broadcaster: The prosecutor refused to meet me, but I told his representative I wanted his help to get my life back.

Im being hounded by the media, and its his fault. I want him to take responsibility.

I was told there was nothing they could do to help. I had been convicted and released, and I wasnt their responsibility.

Police teams last carried out searches in Portugal in June at the request of German authorities (James Manning/PA)

Brueckner was released from jail earlier this month after serving a seven-year prison sentence for the rape of an elderly woman at her home in Praia da Luz in 2005.

Previously, in a TV interview in 2022, Mr Wolters accused him of murdering Madeleine, which he denies.

Brueckners lawyer Friedrich Fulscher told Sky that the public accusation had made his clients rehabilitation impossible.

British police have their own investigation into Madeleines disappearance in which Brueckner is also a suspect, but the UK probe remains a missing persons not a murder inquiry.

A number of searches have been carried out by German, Portuguese and British authorities since Madeleines disappearance  with the latest taking place near the Portuguese municipality of Lagos in June.

In 2023, investigators carried out searches near the Barragem do Arade reservoir, about 30 miles from Praia da Luz.

Brueckner spent time in the area between 2000 and 2017 and had photographs and videos of himself near the reservoir.

In October last year, the suspect was cleared by a German court of unrelated sexual offences, alleged to have taken place in Portugal between 2000 and 2017.
President Donald Trump is hosting Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu for critical talks aimed at ending the war in Gaza and developing a US plan on post-war governance in the Palestinian territory.

The White House talks come at a tenuous moment. Israel is increasingly isolated, losing support from many countries that were long its steadfast allies.

At home, Mr Netanyahus governing coalition appears more fragile than ever. And the White House is showing signs of impatience.

The question now is whether Mr Trump, who has offered steadfast backing to Mr Netanyahu throughout the war, will change his tone and turn up the pressure on Israel to wind down the conflict.

As he welcomed Mr Netanyahu to the White House, Mr Trump responded affirmatively when asked by reporters whether he was confident a deal would be soon reached to end the fighting between Israel and Hamas.

President Donald Trump greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the West Wing (Alex Brandon/AP), file)

I am. Im very confident, Mr Trump said.

Earlier, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt urged both sides to finalise an agreement to bring an end to the nearly two-year-old war in Gaza.

Ultimately the president knows when you get to a good deal, both sides are going to leave a little bit unhappy, Ms Leavitt told reporters. But we need this conflict to end.

Mr Trump and Mr Netanyahu are first holding talks with aides in the Oval Office. A joint press conference is expected later.

The uncertainty surrounding the meeting casts it as one of the most critical in the years-long relationship between the two leaders, said professor Eytan Gilboa, an expert on US-Israeli relations at Bar-Ilan and Reichman universities.

Netanyahu might have to choose between Trump and his coalition members, a number of whom want the war to continue, Mr Gilboa said. A move by Mr Netanyahu to end the war would leave him on shaky political ground at home a year before elections.

Mr Trump joined forces with Mr Netanyahu during Israels brief war with Iran in June, ordering US stealth bombers to strike three nuclear sites, and he has supported the Israeli leader during his corruption trial, describing the case as a witch hunt.

But the relationship has become more tense lately. Mr Trump was frustrated by Israels failed strike this month on Hamas officials in Qatar, a US ally in the region that had been hosting negotiations to end the war in Gaza.

Recent comments have hinted at growing impatience from Washington. Last week, Mr Trump vowed to prevent Israel from annexing the West Bank  an idea promoted by some of Mr Netanyahus hard-line governing partners. The international community opposes annexation, saying it would destroy hopes for a two-state solution.

President Donald Trump shakes the hand of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Evan Vucci/AP)

On Friday, Mr Trump raised expectations for the meeting with Mr Netanyahu, telling reporters the US was very close to a deal on Gaza.

Mr Trump made finding quick ends to the Gaza war, as well as Russias invasion of Ukraine, a central plank of his successful 2024 presidential campaign. He has struggled on both fronts.

Mr Trumps proposal to stop the war in Gaza calls for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages within 48 hours and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Palestinian enclave, according to three Arab officials briefed on the plan.

Hamas is believed to be holding 48 hostages, 20 of whom are believed by Israel to be alive. The militant group has demanded Israel agree to end the war and withdraw from all of Gaza as part of any permanent ceasefire.

Mr Trump discussed the plan with Arab and Islamic leaders in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. It does not include the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza, which Mr Trump appeared to endorse earlier this year.

The 21-point proposal also calls for an end to Hamas rule of Gaza and the disarmament of the militant group, said the officials briefed on the plan. Hundreds of Palestinians, including many serving life sentences, will be released by Israel, according to the proposal.

The plan also includes the establishment of an international security force to take over law enforcement in postwar Gaza, they said.

A Palestinian committee of technocrats would oversee the civilian affairs of the strip, with power handed over later to a reformed Palestinian Authority, they said.

Mr Netanyahu has rejected any role for the authority, the internationally recognised representative of the Palestinians, in post-war Gaza.

A Hamas official said the group was briefed on the plan but has yet to receive an official offer from Egyptian and Qatari mediators. The group has repeatedly rejected laying down arms and has linked its weapons to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

Mr Netanyahu acknowledged the US plan on Sunday in an interview with Fox News Channel, saying Israeli officials were working with President Trumps team  and I hope we can make it a go.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On September 29, Senior.Auto, a Chinese autonomous driving solutions provider, announced the completion of a B+ funding round worth several hundred million yuan.

The financing was backed by a mix of investment funds and industrial capital, including Zhengzhou High-Tech Industrial Investment Fund, Zhejiang Innovation Private Equity Fund Management, and Huarong. Proceeds will be directed toward R&D in driverless technologies and expanding market applications.

Photo credit: Senior.Auto

Founded in April 2020, Senior.Auto has positioned itself around a self-developed "vehicle-road-cloud" integrated network architecture. The company emphasizes high in-house development rates for key modules such as intelligent driving, edge computing, and autonomous chassis systems, reducing reliance on external suppliers while ensuring efficiency in system upgrades and adaptability. Its solutions span the full range of industrial logistics scenarios, from ports and bulk cargo to metallurgy, industrial parks, trunk logistics, and commodity transport. Headquartered in Deqing, Zhejiang, the company also operates R&D centers in Beijing, Zhengzhou, and Shanghai, creating a full-chain service ecosystem.

Since 2025, the company has sharpened both its technological and commercial edge. In Level 4 closed environments, it has expanded operations across containerized and bulk cargo transport, establishing long-term partnerships with more than 20 of the world's leading ports. In open-road applications, Senior.Auto was among the first to organize large-scale platooning for trunk logistics, deploying nearly 100 autonomous trucks in regions such as Baotou in Inner Mongolia, Tianjin Dongjiang, and the Yongjin Expresswaymaking it one of the earliest players to scale operations on public roads.

Senior.Auto has also gained a first-mover advantage in landmark deployments. It led the development of China's first automated general cargo terminal, the first full-process intelligent retrofit of a traditional port, a mixed-traffic autonomous railway station pilot zone, and short-haul autonomous driving within steel plants. Its solutions are now in use by major enterprises such as CNPC, Ningbo Port, Qingdao Port, Xiamen Port, and Sun Paper. Serving more than 100 clients, the company is the first in the industry to achieve large-scale commercial validation in mixed-traffic autonomous scenarios with stable operations. Annual business growth has remained strong at 30% to 40%.
Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

After Disney announced that it was suspending ABC late-night show Jimmy Kimmel on September 17 over his comments about Charlie Kirks alleged killer, there were loud calls for consumers to cancel their subscriptions to Disney streaming products such as Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN.

Disney reinstated Kimmels show six days after the incident. Sinclair and Nexstar, which each own dozens of ABC affiliates nationwide and had initiated the move in response to FCC Chairman Brendan Carrs threats of punitive action against ABC, Disney, and its affiliates, brought the show back to their stations on Friday.

While many championed the Disney cancellations as a prime factor in why the media giant moved so quickly to reinstate Kimmel (along with the fact that they were raising some streaming package prices the following day), it was unclear just how many people canceled their subscriptions and what the real impact of that boycott was.

According to reporter Marisa Kabas, the cancellations reached nearly two million subscribers.

Kabas, who reported last week that the reinstatement was driven in large part by the impending price increases, shared Monday that Disney saw 1.7 million subscribers cancel between September 17 and 23, the period in which Kimmel was suspended.

SCOOP / UPDATE  Disney saw more than 1.7 million total paid streaming cancelations during the period 9/17-9/23, a Disney source confirms to me. The total includes Disney+, Hulu and ESPN. [image or embed]  Marisa Kabas (@marisakabas.bsky.social) September 29, 2025 at 10:19 AM

Disney saw more than 1.7 million total paid streaming cancelations during the period 9/17-9/23, a Disney source confirms to me, Kabas wrote on Bluesky. The total includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN.

Per Variety, Disneys combined Disney+ and Hulu subscribers reached 183 million in June, though the company announced in August that it would no longer report the number of subscribers for its Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN streaming services.

As for ESPN, the numbers are a little hazier, as they recently launched ESPN Unlimited. According to third-party data firm Antenna, ESPN Unlimited and Fox One generated approximately one million combined subscribers during the period from August 21 (when both apps launched) to August 31. These subscriber numbers do not include existing Disney subscribers who have switched plans or those who access ESPN Unlimited through a traditional pay-TV subscription.

If we do a little back-of-the-napkin math, that 1.7 million number doesnt sound like much (its likely less than one percent of overall subscribers at this point). However, Disney told investors in early August that it expected to rack up an additional 10 million subscribers between July and September. Theres nothing corporate behemoths and their boards hate more than disappointing Wall Street, and a subscriber base loss like that would likely be enough to undercut those expectations.

Even though Disney ended Kimmels suspension, theyre not out of the woods when it comes to pushback and fallout. A group of angry investors is demanding materials to explain why they suspended the ABC host. Theyve received harsh rebukes from people on both sides of the aisle over concerns about free speech. And they now have to navigate incredibly murky waters as they attempt to get the NFL-ESPN deal approved by a politicized FCC while several high-ranking Democrats raise concerns.
09/28/2025

JACKSONVILLE, Ala.  Dr. Kenneth G. Bodiford, the longtime Director of Bands whose leadership and vision helped make Jacksonville State Universitys Marching Southerners a global standard-bearer, has announced he will retire at the end of the current season, effective Jan. 1, 2026.

When Bodiford returned to Jacksonville State in 1994 to lead the bands, he took over a program of about 120 members and guided it through three decades of steady growth, innovation, and once-in-a-lifetime stages for thousands of Gamecocks. Today, the Marching Southerners have grown to more than 500 members, making them one of the largest collegiate marching ensembles in the nation.

Over three decades, this has been the honor of my life, Dr. Bodiford told students and alumni as he shared the news. Weve shared some incredible shows, but the real magic has always been the family bond we build year after year Creating a place where every single person feels like they belongthat is what makes the Southerners truly special.

His Jax State story began in 1983, when he arrived from Odenville, Alabama, as a freshman. After earning his bachelors degree in music education in 1988, he went on to earn a masters degree at East Carolina University and begin his teaching career directing the band at Kecoughtan High School in Hampton, Virginia, before returning home to Jax State. He later earned his Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Alabama in 2012.

Under Bodifords direction, the Marching Southerners have grown in size and reputation while elevating the entire Jax State Bands program. Their stages became world maps: leading Londons New Years Day Parade in 2012 as part of Queen Elizabeth IIs Diamond Jubilee celebration, performing at the 75th anniversary commemoration of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii in 2016, appearing in Rome and at the Vatican for World Peace Day in 2019, and taking part in solemn commemorations across Normandy, France, for the 80th anniversary of D-Day in June 2024.

Along the way, the Southerners earned what many call the Heisman of college marching bands: the Sudler Trophy, awarded by the John Philip Sousa Foundation to one collegiate band every two years (presented to Jax State on Nov. 12, 2022)with Jax State recognized as the smallest university ever to receive the honor.

The programs national footprint continues to grow. Most recently, the Marching Southerners were invited to perform in the 138th Rose Parade Presented by Honda on Jan. 1, 2027an audience of tens of millions and a fitting showcase for the bands trademark power and precision.

President Don C. Killingsworth, Jr., praised Bodifords impact on campus culture and generations of music educators and performers nationwide.

On behalf of the entire university, I would like to thank Dr. Bodiford for more than three decades of extraordinary service and for representing Jax State with excellence on every stage, said President Killingsworth. The Marching Southerners are synonymous with Jacksonville State University, inspiring pride in our alumni and community wherever they go. His influence is seen in band rooms nationwidein the many directors who learned from him and marched for him hereand in the lives of students hes mentored. He has showcased Jax State and the Southerners to the world, and our university is stronger because of his leadership.

In addition to directing the Southerners, Bodiford has led the Jax State Chamber Winds, the universitys top wind ensemble, and taught advanced conducting classes. He also served as director of the Spirit Drum and Bugle Corps from 2001 to 2007 and was appointed to lead the United States Army All-American Marching Band in 201617.

Widely respected in the band world, Bodiford has been in demand as a clinician, conductor, and adjudicator across the country, including for Winter Guard International. His teaching excellence was recognized most recently with the McWhorter Outstanding Teacher Award.

Bodiford emphasized that the programs future is bright and that this season should be a celebration, not a farewell tour. My dream has always been to see this program continue to grow stronger each year My biggest hope is that you will give your new director the same respect, loyalty, and support that you have given me, he wrote, adding a charge to students to go into the world and be the light.

As the Southerners approach their 70th anniversary in 2026, Bodiford is only the sixth person to serve as director. Since 1948, the Marching Southerners have carried Jax States spirit to iconic venues around the world. Under Dr. Bodifords leadership, that spirit became a signature soundand a familyrecognized far beyond Alabama.

A Legacy of Milestones (Selected Highlights)

1996  70 th Annual Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade: A segment of the Southerners performance can be seen in the opening scene of Friends Episode 9.08, The One with Rachels Other Sister (Nov. 21, 2002).

2012  London: Led the New Years Day Parade tied to the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

2016  Pearl Harbor: Performed in Hawaii to honor the 75th anniversary.

2019  Rome & The Vatican: Performed during World Peace Day events and received a blessing from Pope Francis.

2022  Sudler Trophy: Selected in 2021 and presented at Jax State on Nov. 12, 2022.

2024  Normandy: Participated in 80th D-Day Anniversary events across France.
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment)  The Lebanese Ministry of Energy has let three bids for new solar farms of 15 megawatts each, for a total of 45 MW, which will power 22,000 homes in the perennially electricity-poor country. The bad news is that 11 such bids were accepted in 2022 and nothing ever got done. Still, these three seem more serious, since the land for one of these solar farms has already been obtained.

Note that these three projects are not very ambitious. Lebanon already has 1.5 gigawatts of solar power capacity, most of it in the form of rooftop solar put in by private homeowners and by municipalities. The fragile and inefficient Lebanese state has not spearheaded this effort. In fact, under its mismanagement the country suffers from frequent electricity outages, which affect the ability of factories and businesses to run and so hurt the economy. Lebanon has no developed fossil fuels of its own and so has to pay through the nose for oil and gas imports.

Solar now generates 20% of the countrys electricity needs. Over all, Lebanon gets 30% of its electricity from clean energy sources.

The country plans to get 55% of its electricity from renewables by 2030.

Marc Ayoub, interviewed by Zachary Cuyler for The Century Foundation, explains that in the period 2021-2024, solar power increased by a factor of 10, rising to as much as 1.3 gigawatts. That advance is an incredible achievement, and it was volunteer work. People put the panels on their rooftops or cities implemented municipal projects.

The problem is that since the end of 2024 the solar boom in Lebanon appears to have leveled out. Ayoub gives these reasons:

1. Middle class people who could afford to have already put in the panels, as have the wealthier municipalities. Those who dont have them cant afford the $4,000 to $5,000 installation costs for panels and batteries.

(I suspect that Lebanese regulations and import fees play a role here. Pakistani villagers imported 17 gigawatts of Chinese solar panels last year, and they dont have $5,000 for such installations either.)

2. People who had space to install the panels have done so and the remaining population often doesnt have the room.

3. There were quality problems with some of the installers and electricians, since the boom arrived so quickly. Some systems havent functioned well. Others have been damaged by Israeli bombing.

So obviously further progress in Lebanon may depend on international donors overcoming these problems, or on further price reductions for panels and batteries.



File photo of Beirut by Piotr Chrobot on Unsplash

Although solar electricity is cheaper, it has start-up costs that many Lebanese cannot afford. Poverty has tripled in the country during the past decade, to 44%. Especially debilitating were the financial crisis of 2019, the Beirut port explosion in 2020, the fall in currency reserves, and the embezzlement of the central bank by the central banker. The 2006 and 2024 wars cost roughly $25 billion in direct costs. Israeli designs on southern Lebanon, some of which they still occupy, along with constant geopolitical friction, also hurt foreign direct investment in the country. The presence of an armed group such as Hezbollah, allied with Iran, has reduced the interest in the country of the Arab Gulf.

Lebanese cannot depend on their ramshackle government efficiently to move the country to cheaper sustainable electricity, and Europe may be their best hope in this regard.

Lebanon is vulnerable to climate change effects such as rising sea levels, coastal erosion, acidification and loss of marine species, and wildfires.
The military leadership in Myanmar is facing multiple legal attempts to hold it accountable for the mass expulsion of Rohingya in 2017, where hundreds of thousands left their villages in Rakhine state, in the south-west of the country, and ended mainly in refugee camps in bordering Bangladesh.

At the International Court of Justice (ICJ) the Gambia has invoked the 1948 genocide convention against Myanmar in a case supported by at least 11 other states. At the International Criminal Court (ICC) the prosecution has applied for an arrest warrant against Myanmars president and commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing, outlining alleged crimes against humanity committed by the regime in forcibly deporting the Rohingya.

Created in 2018 by the UN Human Rights Council, the Geneva-based Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM)s mandate is to collect and preserve relevant evidence and prepare analysis to facilitate criminal prosecutions. In a new report released on September 29, it includes legal analysis of how the crimes it has identified can be classified as genocide, saying that deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about the physical destruction of a group includes the systematic expulsion from and destruction of homes.

The report builds on the previous analyses the IIMM has completed into Myanmars 2017 actions, known as clearance operations, re-emphasising that there was a campaign of mass atrocities against the Rohingya population of Rakhine state, marked by the burning of villages, mass killings and widespread sexual violence. It was the culmination of decades of systemic persecution and disenfranchisement of the Rohingya population which had deep roots, says the IIMM: Long before the 2017 atrocities, the Rohingya had been stripped of citizenship, excluded from education, denied healthcare, and marginalized from political participation.

Could my name be in there?

This analysis focuses on the entities and associated individuals who ordered, oversaw, carried out and financially benefitted from the destruction and demolition of Rohingya villages. It also details how border guard bases were built on top of the razed villages and which companies and individuals could be held responsible.

The report takes as examples seven specific villages because they demonstrate a systematic pattern of destruction and were turned into border guard bases. These villages provide the strongest evidentiary record to date that the 2017 clearance operations combined land seizure, targeted destruction of livelihoods, and forced displacement to erase Rohingya presence from their ancestral homeland.

Evidence goes from geospatial imagery [that] shows scorched terrain, debris, and burned trees, to survivors [who] reported that entire areas were bulldozed, leaving only overgrown vegetation where once the homes, schools and businesses of thriving Rohingya communities had stood, to Myanmar security forces and State-contracted companies [that] deliberately destroyed Rohingya cemeteries, mosques and other communal landmarks, to the absorption of Rohingya land into bases making permanent the displacement of Rohingya and the erasure of their villages. By paving over sacred and communal spaces, the authorities obliterated material proof of Rohingya history, making future claims of belonging or return more difficult. By destroying cultural and religious property, Myanmar security forces and Rakhine State authorities physically displaced Rohingya communities and disrupted their cultural continuity in northern Rakhine State, the report says. One man from one of the villages, Ah Lel Chaung, where now No 8 BGP [Border Guard Police] Battalion base has been built, linked the confiscation of land to his displacement, saying Our lands have been taken away, and we do not have anything to do here and will not be able to survive here, so we will have to go from here.

In the 19-page public version of the report, some details have been redacted. I always feel it's a good thing to have people who might be involved in financing crimes to wonder, should I sell these weapons? Could my name be in there? I want every perpetrator to think there's a file on him, or at least to go to bed at night worrying about it, explains Nicholas Koumjian, head of IIMM, in an interview with Justice Info.

A textbook approach to genocide

The material quoted is from a wide variety of sources, Koumjian insists. We don't have access to Myanmar. But now there's so much evidence on social media. Even things like the chain of command can be found on the internet. It's very critical to have an open-source unit. They contributed a lot to this report, alongside witnesses who showed us the documents that they have regarding their land rights.

Some of the material had been collected by the NGO Commission for International Justice & Accountability (CIJA) from abandoned military outposts, including 206 pages of documents. Ive worked on five separate genocide cases before and this was some of the most compelling evidence Ive ever seen, says a former senior member of CIJA on the condition of anonymity. The case was made clear by a mixture of excellent evidence. We had good open-source material like Facebook posts exposing state policy as well as good documentation of criminality on the ground. And then these abandoned internal documents that we took custody of really completed the circle. These internal government documents clearly demonstrated a state policy to control and monitor the Rohingya population, surveil and target Rohingya communities with violence, including property-related criminality, and then conceal the treatment of the Rohingya population. In total, an almost watertight case of atrocity crimes, including genocide.

Genocide scholar and associate professor at the university of Western Australia Melanie O Brien describes it as a textbook approach. This is very specific and quite significant evidence which she was really impressed that they were able to get, including on the connection between the government and the local companies and the bigger companies. She adds: What jumps out at me from this report is that this is a pattern that directly echoes previous genocides, including the Armenian genocide, the Holocaust, the Cambodian genocide, and current genocides like in Gaza. So it's part of the play, an essential part of the genocide process, I believe.

Could the report lead to new arrest warrants by the ICC or other national courts? What we're looking to do is to facilitate criminal prosecutions at a high standard of proof. I don't want to overstate it  that we have case files ready to go against Mr. So-and-so  but we have information to share that could be the basis of investigations, says Koumjian prudently.
The Council of Europe on Monday awarded its 2025 rights prize to Ukrainian journalist and rights activist Maksym Butkevych, who was released last year after being captured by Russian forces.

Butkevych, co-founder of the independent Hromadske radio station and ZMINA human rights centre in Kyiv, joined the Ukrainian army in March 2022, then was detained in June and convicted of war crimes by a court in Lugansk in Russian-controlled eastern Ukraine in March 2023.

He was sentenced to a 13-year prison term on charges of wounding two civilians while firing an anti-tank grenade launcher in the eastern city of Severodonetsk, but he was released during an October 2024 prisoner exchange.

"This is no coincidence," said Theodoros Rousopoulos, the head of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), which bestows the award.

"The last few months have proved particularly dangerous for journalists," he said, adding that 171 journalists were in detention in Europe at the beginning of the year, including at least 26 Ukrainians detained in Russia or in the territories occupied by Moscow in Ukraine.

The award is named after the late Czech dissident, playwright and post-communist president Vaclav Havel.

Previous winners include the Venezuelan opposition figure Maria Corina Machado in 2024 and Russian activist Vladimir Kara-Murza in 2022.
The Council of Europe on Monday awarded its 2025 rights prize to Ukrainian journalist and rights activist Maksym Butkevych, who was released last year after being captured by Russian forces.

Butkevych, co-founder of the independent Hromadske radio station and ZMINA human rights centre in Kyiv, joined the Ukrainian army in March 2022, then was detained in June and convicted of war crimes by a court in Lugansk in Russian-controlled eastern Ukraine in March 2023.

He was sentenced to a 13-year prison term on charges of wounding two civilians while firing an anti-tank grenade launcher in the eastern city of Severodonetsk, but he was released during an October 2024 prisoner exchange.

In his speech, the 48-year-old recalled being held "in Russian captivity in a penal colony" exactly one year ago, on charges he denounced as "fabricated".

"I have been inside the system that does not value human rights," Butkevych said, wearing a black shirt bearing the words "Ukrainian prisoners of war: you are not forgotten."

"Human rights -- one has to face their absence to understand their value. They are not to be taken for granted."

Butkevych said he accepted the award on behalf of the Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war "illegally detained by Russia", as well as journalists living under authoritarian regimes.

He is the first Ukrainian to win the award named after the late Czech dissident, playwright and post-communist president Vaclav Havel.

Two other reporters, Mzia Amaghlobeli of Georgia and Ulvi Hasanli of Azerbaijan, both in detention, were also nominated for the prize.

The Council of Europe brings together 46 countries as a human rights and democracy watchdog. Russia was excluded from the body after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has awarded the prize since 2013, with previous winners including the Venezuelan opposition figure Maria Corina Machado in 2024 and Russian activist Vladimir Kara-Murza in 2022.

- 'Dangerous for journalists' -

All three shortlisted candidates for the award were journalists, which was "no coincidence", said PACE head Theodoros Rousopoulos.

"The last few months have proved particularly dangerous for journalists," he said, adding that 171 journalists were in detention in Europe at the beginning of the year, including at least 26 Ukrainians detained in Russia or in the territories occupied by Moscow in Ukraine.

Amaghlobeli, 50, the co-founder of the independent media outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti, was sentenced to two-years in prison for allegedly slapping a police officer during a demonstration earlier this year.

The Council of Europe has described her incarceration as "politically motived".

Hasanli, who runs the independent corruption-investigating outlet Abzas Media, was sentenced in June to nine years in prison.

"He has faced relentless government persecution since 2011, including arbitrary detention, torture, and politically motivated charges," the Council of Europe said.






Monday, September 29, 2025 - A popular Kenyan Tiktoker, who is openly a member of the LGBTQ community, has set tongues wagging after she paid her own dowry in a bizarre traditional ceremony.

The flashy lady identified as Emmashir, who has a huge following on Tiktok, arrived at her parents homestead with a convoy of cars before proudly handing over the dowry items herself.

In a twist that has left many talking, her parents gladly accepted the dowry, something traditionally reserved for a man.

Neighbours who witnessed the spectacle were left speechless, with some whispering in disbelief while others pulled out their phones to record the unusual moment.

Clips from the event have since gone viral on TikTok and Facebook, sparking a heated debate about culture, modernity and the breaking of traditions.

While some Kenyans online applauded her boldness and independence, others criticized the move, saying it undermines African traditions and disrespects the dowry system.

Emma, in a past interview, made it clear that she has no intentions of settling down for marriage, proudly affirming her LGBTQ identity and lifestyle.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Monday, September 29, 2025 - The Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) has suffered a major setback ahead of the Magarini by-election following the resignation of its candidate, Hon. Furaha Chengo Ngumbao.

In a letter dated Monday, September 29th, Chengo, who also served on the partys National Executive Committee (NEC), cited frustrations and lack of institutional support as the reason for his abrupt departure.

This decision has not been taken lightly, Chengo wrote.

But I can no longer continue in a role where my efforts are undermined by systemic inefficiencies and a lack of support from key party officials.

While expressing admiration for party leader, Rigathi Gachaguas vision, Chengo condemned the conduct of the National Elections Board and the Secretary-General, accusing them of poor communication and disregard for grassroots concerns.

He described the internal environment as discouraging, with aspirants left to navigate critical issues without guidance.

Chengo also criticized opaque decision-making and the marginalization of NEC members, warning that such practices threaten the partys credibility.

He urged DCP to embrace reforms that prioritize transparency, inclusivity and accountability.

His resignation comes just days after DCP denied claims of withdrawing from the upcoming Malava constituency by-election.

Deputy Party Leader, Cleophas Malala, reaffirmed the partys commitment to fielding Wakili Edgar Busiega Mwanga as its candidate, despite ongoing opposition coalition talks.

The twin developments raise questions about internal cohesion within DCP as it prepares for key electoral contests.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
SCIO holds press conference on achievements in high-quality development of water sector during 14th Five-Year Plan period

Xinhua) 14:46, September 29, 2025

Chinese Minister of Water Resources Li Guoying attends a press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO) on achievements in high-quality development of the water sector during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Chinese Minister of Water Resources Li Guoying, Vice Minister of Water Resources Chen Min, and Zhang Xiangwei and Yu Qiyang, both officials of the ministry, attend a press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO) on achievements in high-quality development of the water sector during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Chinese Minister of Water Resources Li Guoying, Vice Minister of Water Resources Chen Min, and Zhang Xiangwei and Yu Qiyang, both officials of the ministry, attend a press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO) on achievements in high-quality development of the water sector during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Journalists work at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO) on achievements in high-quality development of the water sector during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2025. Chinese Minister of Water Resources Li Guoying, Vice Minister of Water Resources Chen Min, and Zhang Xiangwei and Yu Qiyang, both officials of the ministry, attended the press conference here on Monday. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Chinese Minister of Water Resources Li Guoying, Vice Minister of Water Resources Chen Min, and Zhang Xiangwei and Yu Qiyang, both officials of the ministry, attend a press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO) on achievements in high-quality development of the water sector during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

A journalist asks questions at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO) on achievements in high-quality development of the water sector during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2025. Chinese Minister of Water Resources Li Guoying, Vice Minister of Water Resources Chen Min, and Zhang Xiangwei and Yu Qiyang, both officials of the ministry, attended the press conference here on Monday. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Chinese Minister of Water Resources Li Guoying, Vice Minister of Water Resources Chen Min, and Zhang Xiangwei and Yu Qiyang, both officials of the ministry, attend a press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO) on achievements in high-quality development of the water sector during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)






Sunday, September 28, 2025 - A powerful moment at a Kenyan burial has gone viral after a lady bravely called out relatives for showing up with support only after her mothers death, despite being absent during her years of illness.

In an emotional speech, she shared how she fought tirelessly to keep her mother alive, ensuring she never missed a single treatment over five years.

You have no idea the extent of her suffering. Weve been alone - you were not there, she said, her voice firm yet composed.

She ended with a poignant reminder: Im not holding anything against anyone, but you can do better.

The video has sparked mixed reactions online, with many praising her honesty and courage to speak uncomfortable truths.

Her words have ignited conversations about family responsibility, emotional support, and the importance of showing up when it truly matters - not just when its too late.

Watch the video.

A Kenyan woman exposed her relatives during a burial, accusing them of neglecting their kin while she was alive but pretending to help after her death. pic.twitter.com/5nltETudMC  The Kenyan Vigilante (@KenyanSays) September 28, 2025

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Monday, September 29, 2025 - Over the weekend, a little known Kenyan beauty, Issa Sheilla, lit up Instagram with dreamy snapshots from her road trip to Moyale.

Captioned, Some postcards from my road trip to Moyale, her photos featured scenic landscapes, including a striking photo of her posing gracefully in front of a herd of camels.





However, her photos set tongues wagging after Eagle-eyed netizens on X (formerly Twitter) raised eyebrows after flamboyant city lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi - famously known as Grand Mullah - shared his own travel update.

Taking to X, Ahmednasir posted about his drive to Marsabit, lamenting alleged harassment by security agents near Archers Post.

Drove all the way to the vicinity of Marsabit. Great road. Great drive.

A few kilometres from Archer's Post you have this Special AP Anti-terrorism unit...open extorting and harassing Kenyans for bribes





The timing and location overlap between Sheillas and Ahmednasirs posts sent social media into a frenzy.

Speculation swirled that the two may have been traveling together, fueling rumors of a possible romantic link.

While neither party has responded to the rumors, netizens are having a field day.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Monday, September 29, 2025 - A family is appealing to the public for help in tracing Jennifer Wangui, a young woman from Thika who mysteriously went missing after travelling to Mombasa late last month.

According to relatives, Jennifer left Thika for Mombasa during the last week of August 2025 but has not been seen or heard from since.

Attempts to reach her have been futile as her mobile phone number remains switched off.

Her social media accounts, which she frequently used to keep in touch with friends, have also been inactive, deepening the familys worry.

We are kindly appealing to anyone with information about her whereabouts to come forward. Jennifers sudden disappearance has left us devastated, a family member pleaded.

The matter has been reported, and the family is urging members of the public, especially those in Mombasa and its environs, to share any leads that might help trace her.

Anyone with information is requested to contact the nearest police station or reach the family directly.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Sunday, September 28, 2025 - Former Gender Cabinet Secretary, Aisha Jumwa, has been dragged into a fresh scandal after it emerged that she dumped her much younger lover after catching him cheating.

According to whispers within Kenyas political circles, Jumwa, whose appetite for Ben 10s is well-known, had been secretly dating Mtumba Man, a TikTok content creator who shot to fame with his comic skits.

She allegedly instructed him to quit TikTok, moved him to a posh estate, and generously sponsored his flashy lifestyle.





However, Mtumba Man is said to have been secretly entertaining other women behind her back.

Unknown to him, Jumwa had installed hidden cameras in her vehicle to monitor his movements.

The secret footage reportedly captured him engaging in a steamy moment with another lady inside her car.





Enraged by the betrayal, Jumwa is said to have kicked him out and repossessed the high-end vehicle she had gifted him.

In the aftermath, Mtumba Man has been pleading for financial help on social media while pretending to be sick, after being rendered homeless.

The scandal has since gone viral on TikTok, with users dissecting the explosive details of his failed affair with the outspoken former CS.

Listen to the explosive scandal HERE>>>

The Kenyan DAILY POST
Sunday, September 28, 2025 - Homa Bay Town Member of Parliament, Peter Kaluma, has been thrust into the spotlight after explosive allegations surfaced linking him to secret escapades with the widow of the late Kasipul MP, Ongondo Were.

According to sources, Kaluma was allegedly spotted at a popular Kilimani hotel in the company of Ongondo Weres second wife, barely days after the legislators death.

Kaluma, a well-known womanizer, has not publicly responded to the allegations.

However, the scandal has already taken a life of its own on social media, where Kenyans are mercilessly dissecting the story and questioning the moral compass of their leaders.

The late Ongondo Were died under circumstances that left his family and constituents in shock after he was gunned down by masked assassins.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Sunday, September 28, 2025 - Mumias East Member of Parliament, Peter Salasya, has unveiled the progress of his multi-million shilling palatial mansion currently under construction in his rural home.

The youthful MP, who has never shied away from flaunting his lifestyle on social media, shared photos of the sprawling project on his X account, proudly noting the personal sacrifices he has made to put up the state-of-the-art house.

I have never gone outside Africa tangu niingie bunge, but siku nitamaliza hii nyumba I will go. Na sijai nunua expensive alcohol apart from Black Label which is about 7k, na sijai peleka dem vacation. Hii life lazima ujinyime ndio upate kile kitu unataka, he tweeted.

The massive mansion has since sparked heated debate among Kenyans online.

While some applauded the legislator for investing back home, others questioned how he could afford such a lavish property within a relatively short period in office.

Salasya, known for his flamboyant personality and love for publicity, has in the past brushed off critics who accuse him of extravagance, insisting that he is simply enjoying the fruits of his hard work.

See photos.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Monday, September 29, 2025 - A fresh scandal is brewing around flamboyant city lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi, popularly known as Grand Mullah, after his secret mistress was unmasked after he lashed out at elite police officers for subjecting him to what he termed as an unnecessary and humiliating search during a road trip to Marsabit.

According to insiders, Ahmednasir was not traveling alone during the road trip.

He was in the company of his side chick, whose identity has now been exposed by online detectives.

The lady shared photos at Turbi, where it is believed that she was in the company of the flamboyant lawyer during the road trip.

Netizens were quick to connect the dots and exposed her online.

Social media has since gone wild, with critics accusing Ahmednasir of overreacting to the search simply because he was hiding his side chick in his luxury car.

As the scandal unfolds, the lawyer, famous for his bold political commentary, has remained tight-lipped about the woman now being paraded online as his alleged mistress.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Monday, September 29, 2025 - A viral video showing a young Gen Z lady passionately confronting relatives during her mothers burial has sparked widespread debate online, and caught the attention of celebrated radio host, Alex Mwakideu.

In the emotionally charged clip, the woman addresses the crowd with raw honesty, calling out family members for their absence during her mothers illness and accusing them of hypocrisy for showing up only after her passing.

Her boldness, vulnerability and refusal to conform to traditional expectations struck a chord with many viewers, especially younger generations.

Speaking on the matter, Mwakideu applauded the young womans courage.

Gen Z hawana hiyo time ya kimya. Atakupiga reality tu, he said, noting that this isnt the first time a young person has spoken out at a funeral.

He believes its a growing trend, and a necessary one.

This girl gave people reality, not shame. Its good that Gen Z are calling things out. Theyre helping us reflect, he added.

He emphasized the importance of being present for loved ones - not just in death, but in life.

Lets not wait for funerals to show love. If you werent there when they needed you, dont pretend now, he added.

The video has ignited conversations around generational differences and emotional expression.

As Mwakideu put it, Sometimes, the most powerful eulogy is the truth.

Watch the video.

A Kenyan woman exposed her relatives during a burial, accusing them of neglecting their kin while she was alive but pretending to help after her death. pic.twitter.com/5nltETudMC  The Kenyan Vigilante (@KenyanSays) September 28, 2025

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Sunday, September 28, 2025 - Senate Speaker Amason Kingi has found himself in the eye of a storm after fresh allegations emerged that he flew to Dubai with six girlfriends, all at the expense of taxpayers.

According to insiders, Kingi reportedly facilitated the lavish trip under the guise of official business, yet large sums were allegedly spent on personal indulgences.

The claims suggest that the Speakers office has become synonymous with unchecked extravagance, with ballooning expenses raising serious concerns.





Rumours around the Dubai escapade have already gone viral online, sparking outrage from Kenyans who accuse Kingi of abusing his powerful office for personal gratification while ordinary citizens continue to grapple with harsh economic realities.

Further reports suggest that Ruto has grown increasingly frustrated with his wasteful habits and is quietly considering dropping him after the 2027 elections.

This is not the first time Kingis name has been linked to questionable spending.

During his tenure as Kilifi Governor, he was accused of looting County coffers to bankroll his flamboyant lifestyle and sponsor his then-girlfriend, socialite Haentel Wanjiru.






Sunday, September 28, 2025 - Fresh revelations have sent shockwaves across social media after it emerged that former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has allegedly maintained a secret second family away from the public eye.

According to sources, Gachaguas supposed second wife, who has now been unmasked, has been living a quiet life far from the limelight.

Reports indicate that she and the former DP share children, raising serious questions about how he managed to keep the relationship under wraps throughout his years in public service.

The explosive revelation gained traction after a photo of Gachaguas alleged second family was leaked online by outspoken blogger, Aoko Otieno, triggering heated debate among Kenyans.

Gachagua has always projected the image of a devoted husband, consistently praising his wife, Pastor Dorcas, in public and portraying himself as a man deeply rooted in family values.

The latest claims, however, paint a contrasting picture that could rattle his carefully cultivated public image.

As speculation continues to mount, Kenyans are eagerly waiting to see whether the former DP will address the allegations or maintain his silence as pressure builds.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Monday, September 29, 2025 - Social media has been set ablaze after a man leaked private Facebook chats exposing a lady selling mechi online.

According to the screenshots making rounds, the man slid into the ladys inbox where negotiations for a one-night encounter began.

In the leaked conversation, the lady boldly stated her terms, leaving netizens shocked at the audacity.

The man, pretending to play along, later released the chats online, sparking a heated debate about the rise of Facebook hustles and the lengths some young ladies are going to in order to make money.

See the leaked chats and her photos.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Monday, September 29, 2025 - What began as a joyful family celebration has ended in heartbreak, after a Muranga family identified the body of their missing son, John Mathia, at the Muranga Hospital morgue.

John, described by relatives as warm and full of life, had just travelled to Nairobi on Friday, 12th September 2025, to attend his cousins graduation ceremony.

But just four days later, on Tuesday, 16th September, John failed to return home.

His worried mother raised the alarm, and by the next day, the family had reported him missing to police.

A frantic search followed, with relatives in Muranga and Nairobi joining forces to trace his whereabouts.

Despite their efforts, days went by with no word.

On Wednesday, 24th September, the familys worst fears were confirmed when Johns body was discovered at the Muranga Hospital morgue, where it had reportedly been lying for some time after being collected by police.

Relatives who viewed the body said it was in bad shape, with his face severely disfigured, making identification difficult.

The circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear, and police are yet to release an official statement on what may have happened.

His cousin, who last saw him during the graduation celebrations, described the loss as unbearable

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Monday, September 29, 2025 - Jubilee Party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni has sounded the alarm over what he terms as a strategic misstep by the opposition that could pave the way for President William Rutos re-election in 2027.

Speaking on Spice FM, Kioni, an ally of former President Uhuru Kenyatta, criticised the oppositions approach to selecting a presidential flagbearer, warning against decisions made by a small group of leaders without wider consultation.

He cited the 2022 Azimio la Umoja campaign as a cautionary tale, arguing that Raila Odinga and Martha Karuas defeat stemmed from a top-down nomination process that alienated voters.

Repeating that mistake will only please Ruto in State House, Kioni said.

Kioni also cautioned against fielding a candidate from Mt. Kenya, suggesting it will fracture the regions vote and bolster Rutos grip.

Splitting that block, as Ruto is already doing, gives him a clear path to another 15 years in State House, he warned.

His remarks come amid growing uncertainty within the United Opposition over its 2027 candidate.

Former Interior CS Fred Matiangi, who attended Jubilees National Delegates Congress last week, is reportedly among the frontrunners.

Uhuru Kenyatta affirmed Jubilees intent to field candidates nationwide and launch a grassroots recruitment drive.

Kioni added that Jubilee stands with Matiangi, citing unfair treatment within the opposition.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
1 of 1

IBSCAMTZ Transforms Biomedical Future with over 6,500 Trained, 3,500 Certified Professionals and 200 MoUs Institutions across India



khaskhabar.com : Mon, 29 Sept 2025 1:09 PM

 India medical device sector is projected to touch USD 50 billion by 2030; the shortage of certified biomedical engineers continues to remain as a major challenge





 Our main objective is to build not just skills but a well-recognized global career for biomedical engineers: Dr. Jitendra Sharma

Visakhapatnam/New Delhi, India | Indian healthcare sector has been facing human resource crunch to meet the growing demand. India medical device sector is projected to touch USD 50 billion by the year 2030, but the shortage of certified biomedical engineers continues to remain as a major challenge. To bridge this gap, Indian Biomedical Skill Consortium (IBSC) at Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone (AMTZ) has taken a leapfrog by providing training to 6,500 professionals in the specialized biomedical field.

Established by the AMTZ in collaboration with the Association of Indian Medical Device Manufacturers (AIMED), the IBSC is Regarded as countrys first dedicated council for biomedical engineers and provides global recognition that empowers professionals with the skill-based qualifications as per the international standards.

Since inception IBSC has certified more than 3,500 professionals under NSQF-aligned programs, trained over 6,500 candidates in the specialized biomedical field, facilitated over 10,000 student visits to medical device manufacturing units for providing them with the practical exposure. The Consortium has so far signed more than 200 MoUs with leading universities across India and colleges for training, faculty development and industry immersion as well.

Dr. Jitendra Sharma, Executive Chairman of IBSC and MD & Founder CEO of AMTZ, said, The launch of IBSC at AMTZ was a transformative moment for Indias biomedical workforce. Our main objective is to build not just skills but a well-recognized global career for biomedical engineers. With this initiative, India will strengthen its healthcare system while exporting talent worldwide at the same time.

Located within the AMTZ, Indias 270-acre medical technology hub present in Visakhapatnam, IBSC also offers students unparallel access to modern facilities such as biomaterials testing, electromagnetic compatibility labs, 3D printing, lasers, MRI magnets, gamma irradiation, molding, and machining. This direct immersion also ensures a unique blend of classroom learning and practical training. Already proven track record of AMTZ including its contribution during the time of Covid 19 pandemic, with ventilators, oxygen concentrators RT-PCR kits, and mobile labs, that highlights the real-world relevance of IBSC programs.

Mr. Naresh Kumar Nitturi, National Coordinator, IBSC-AMTZ also emphasized that rapid evolution of healthcare technology requires continuous upskilling of workforce. With rapid advancements in medical technology and growing demand for skilled professionals, IBSC-AMTZ is committed to bridging the gap between education and industry. Our goal is to equip biomedical engineers not just with theoretical knowledge but with verified skills and certifications recognized nationally and internationally, added Mr. Nitturi.

The establishment of IBSC also signals decisive step in building a biomedical engineering workforce that is futuristic, globally recognized and deeply embedded in the advancement of Indian Healthcare.

About IBSCThe Indian Biomedical Skill Council (IBSC), established by AMTZ, AIMED, and NABCB under QCI, is Indias first certified authority dedicated to biomedical engineers. Its main objective to strengthen the biomedical skill sector through the structured job roles, professional certifications, and international recognition. It is supported by strategic collaborations with the leading institutions and the AAMI (USA), IBSC empowers the biomedical engineers with the skills, credibility and global opportunities needed to thrive in the rapidly growing healthcare industry.


A MAN charged under the 1989 Incitement to Hatred Act for racially abusing a man in Kildare town brought a raised eyebrow to the judge when the charge was read to the court.

1989? I would have thought hatred legislation was a lot more recent, said Judge Desmond Zaidan when the charge was officially read to Naas District Court recently.

The defendant Charlie Kearney (22) has an address on Connagh Road in the town, and also faced charges of obstruction, unauthorised taking of a vehicle, and assault.

What did he say, sergeant? the judge asked.

'F*ck off back to your country'

He called the injured party a black c*nt and told him to f*ck off back to your country. He then assaulted the man, said Sgt Ruth Coleman of the main allegations on Market Square and Claregate Street on 15 July 2023.

Coincidentally, both allegations occurred on the defendants birthday.

Judge, my client is not in court, but I believe he is in a psychiatric unit, said defending solicitor Tim Kennelly, although he said he had no proof of this in court.

Accepting Mr Kennellys bona fides, the judge gave him one week go get a corroborating certificate and put the case back to second calling to allow the solicitor obtain some clarification.

However, when the case was recalled, it was revealed that Mr Kearney had only requested medical treatment and not entered into it.

Judge Zaidan then opted to issue a bench warrant for his arrest.

Mr Kearney is also facing a charge of obstruction after allegedly throwing a bag of cannabis onto the tracks at Kildare Town Railway Station on 12 July 2023, and the alleged theft of a car from the Fairgreen in Kildare town on 10 August 2024.
By Nicole McBride, PA

A community has been shocked to its core after two bodies were discovered in a house in Co Dublin, according to a local councillor.

Gardai discovered the bodies of a young girl and a man in a property in the Heathfield estate in the Cappagh area of Finglas on Saturday.

Ballymun-Finglas councillor Conor Reddy sent his condolences to the loved ones of those involved.

A gardai forensic officer at the scene in the Heathfield estate in the Cappagh area of Finglas after the bodies of a young girl and a man were found (Niall Carson/PA)

He said: Its so tragic for the community. The neighbourhood is shocked to its core. My condolences to the family and loved ones.

An investigation is under way into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the man and the female child.

On Sunday, a large gardai presence was seen outside the property within the housing estate, including plain-clothed detectives and forensic officers.

One officer was spotted carrying large bolt cutters into the house on Sunday morning, as various bags were removed by forensics.

A gardai forensic officer at the scene (Niall Carson/PA)

RTE is reporting that gardai believe they are father and daughter.

A gardai spokesperson said: The coroner has been notified and the services of the Office of the State Pathologist have been requested.

Post-mortem examinations will be arranged in due course.

The results of these examinations will assist gardai in determining the course of the investigation.
Eva Osborne

The first presidential election television debate will take place on Monday night, with the three confirmed candidates invited to appear.

The Tonight Show debate, which will be the first of the campaign, willabe hosted by Kieran Cuddihy on Monday at 10pm on Virgin Media One.

The three presidential election candidates are left-wing independent Catherine Connolly, who is backed by Sinn Fein and other opposition parties, Fianna Fail candidate Jim Gavin, and Fine Gaels Heather Humphreys.

As well as taking part in the debate, Connolly, Gavin, and Humphreys will also sit down with Virgin Media News presenter Colette Fitzpatrick for an in-depth 30-minute 'Big Interview'.

Jim Gavin will be the first candidate to appear on the Big Interview on Monday, October 6th.

This will be followed by Catherine Connolly on Monday, October 13th, and Heather Humphreys on Monday, October 20th.
GODOLPHIN Bursary presentations were held at the Cape Cross Centre, Kildangan Stud, Monasterevin recently. The Godolphin Bursary is offered annually to 6th year students who intend to continue full-time study at a technological university or university in Ireland, or at an equivalent institution overseas. The Godolphin Bursary which is now entering its eleventh year is offered to students at ten nominated schools based in localities in which Godolphin Ireland has stud farms.

Candidates for the bursary are assessed on evidence of engagement in school and community activities and on the focus and clarity of their submissions.

The successful candidates receive a laptop computer along with 1,500 per year of third level study up to a maximum of four years. In keeping with the ethos of the Godolphin Bursary, recipients are encouraged to volunteer with charities and community groups throughout their undergraduate studies.

Joe Osborne, Godolphin Irelands managing director welcomed the assembled guests which included the 2024 Godolphin Bursary recipients and their family, school representatives, former Godolphin bursary recipients, and members of the Godolphin Ireland management team.

Joe acknowledged the various contributions bursary recipients have made to their local community and noted that the way you spend your time is the best measure of your character. Joe emphasized that recipients did not win but rather earned the Godolphin bursary by demonstrating good citizenship and reminded them that success is measured not only by achievement but by the kindness shown to others along the way.

Bursary Alumni Laura Casey who was the 2020 Scoil Mhuire Community School recipient also spoke at the event. A recent graduate of Business and Law at UCD Laura acknowledged the support the bursary had been to her while studying, and thanked Godolphin for its generosity. Laura congratulated the group on their bursary success and encouraged them to not only keep up their voluntary associations but to expand them in the years ahead.

The event concluded with a walking tour of Kildangan Stud which included a visit to the stallion yard where guests viewed Darley stallions Night of Thunder and Blue Point.

The full list of 2024 Godolphin Bursary Recipients and Schools are as follows:

Aine Sheerin, Kildare Town Community School, Kildare Town; Cillian Kirk, Patrician Secondary School, Newbridge; Cillian Pender, St Pauls Secondary School, Monasterevin; Emma Keenan, Ardscoil Rath Iomghain, Rathangan; Jenieka Nel, St Conleths Community College, Newbridge ; Katelyn Dennehy, Holy Family Secondary School, Newbridge; Katie O'Dwyer, Scoil Ruain, Killenaule, Co. Tipperary; Luke Coone, St. Peters College, Dunboyne, Co. Meath; Nora O'Brien, Cashel Community School, Cashel, Co. Tipperary; Victoria Gheorghescu, Scoil Mhuire Community School, Clane.

To learn more about the Godolphin Bursary, visit https://www.godolphin.com/charitable-programmes/future or email: cdevitt@godolphin.com
A WOMAN who allegedly tried to hide four ounces (112.5g) of cocaine in her bra was remanded on continuing bail on strict conditions to return for DPPs directions in February.

Detective Garda Evanna Harty gave evidence of the arrest, charge and caution of Annemarie Perse (51), of Flinters Close, Athy at only 2.46pm that day (23 September) before bringing her from custody to Athy District Court for an initial arraignment.

The detective explained that Ms Perse was facing three charges  possession, possession with intent to supply, and obstruction of a garda, and made no reply to caution.

When we got to the address she refused to open the door and then tried to conceal the drugs in her underwear, said Det Harty.

Her underwear? asked Judge Desmond Zaidan.

Her bra, the garda clarified.

With the formalities dealt with, gardai said they had no objection to bail, as long as it was under strict conditions.

The judge ordered Ms Perse to sign on twice a week in Athy Garda Station, reside at her given address, provide a phone number to the gardai within 24 hours  which she hasnt done yet  before setting her bond at 1,000.

How old is your client, Mr Larkin? The judge asked the defending solicitor.

51, came a soft voice from behind the custody glass.
Conor McGregor is reportedly skipping speaking to Dana White and going straight to Donald Trump in an attempt to appear on the card for the potential UFC fight night in the White House.

McGregor has claimed he is in negotiations with the American President's administration.

The unconfirmed White House fight night is expected to take place next summer and the Irish fighter has made it known that he wants to be part of it.

McGregor has insisted that if he is to take part, he will be fighting his long-term rival Michael Chandler, according to the Irish Independent.

READ NEXT: Bill Murray vows to find the 'craic' as new road-trip show around Ireland announced

UFC President, Dana White, has been in talks with Donald Trump about planning the fight night, but McGregor has bypassed him and gone straight to Trump in an attempt to feature.

Im not negotiating with the UFC on behalf of myself for this fight like usual. I'm negotiating with the United States of America on behalf of Ireland for this fight, McGregor said.

The prospect of a UFC fight night at the White House comes after Trump said he wanted to celebrate 250 years of America's existence by hosting a series of fights on the lawn.

Dana White, who is a friend of Trump, seems to be fully on board and even shared mock-up photos of an Octagon on the South Lawn.

BREAKING: Stunning new images show the UFC OCTAGON coming to the White House South Lawn for America's 250th anniversary, and the weigh-ins at the Lincoln Memorial.



This looks AMAZING.



Plus, a "VIEWING party" with a lot more people around the Ellipse - 85 THOUSAND PEOPLE! pic.twitter.com/m51oChYGNb  Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) September 19, 2025

If McGregor is to take part, he wants $100 million and 100 US 'Golden Visas.'

It would also be his first fight since he broke his leg in the bout against Dustin Poirier in 2021.
Two men facing fraud charges linked to a 1.1 billion property deal in Northern Ireland were motivated by greed to act dishonestly, a jury has heard.

Belfast Crown Court was told that prominent Belfast businessman Frank Cushnahan and former law firm managing partner Ian Coulter expected to be paid millions of pounds each as a success fee for the sale of the Northern Ireland property loan book held by the Republic of Irelands National Assets Management Agency (Nama).

Barrister Jonathan Kinnear KC opened the prosecutions case in the long-awaited trial on Monday afternoon.

Nama was set up by the Irish Government in 2009 during the financial crisis to offload non-performing loans acquired from troubled banks.

Cushnahan, 83, of Alexandra Gate, Holywood, Co Down, was a former adviser to Nama, while Coulter, 54, of Templepatrick Road in Ballyclare, Co Antrim, was a senior figure in the law firm Tughans.

The loan book was sold to a US investment fund in 2014 in a deal named Project Eagle.

Cushnahan is charged with fraud involving a failure to disclose information between April 1 and November 7 2013.

Cushnahan and Coulter are both charged with fraud by false representation on or around April 3 2014.

Coulter is also facing four further charges of fraud, fraud by false representation, removing criminal property and transferring criminal property from Northern Ireland.

Both men deny all the charges.

Mr Kinnear told the jury: The purpose of Nama was to take over billions of property development debts held by a number of the major Irish banks.

This case relating to these two defendants relates to the sale of approximately 4 billion worth of those debts which were secured largely against property in Northern Ireland.

That 4 billion package of debts was sold for 1.1 billion.

The defendants Mr Cushnahan and Mr Coulter were heavily involved in the brokering and arrangement of that deal.

In return for their work they were to be paid millions of pounds each, we say, from a success fee of about 15 million.

The barrister added: Motivated by greed they both acted dishonestly, withholding information and providing false information to ensure that they shared in the massive profits which were available.

Mr Kinnear said Coulter had bought a company in the Isle of Man and used a fraudulent invoice to extract 7.2 million from Tughans.

He said: He did so in order to launder his ill-gotten gains by removing them from Northern Ireland into a bank account that only he had control over with the intention thereafter of paying both Mr Cushnahan and himself.

The jury was told Cushnahan is a well-known business figure in Northern Ireland.

Mr Kinnear said: He was known and indeed trusted by many prominent politicians.

As a result of his profile in 2010 he was appointed as an external member of the Nama Northern Ireland Advisory Committee (Niac).

He said Niac was set up by Nama to advise how it might deal with the property debts it owned in Northern Ireland.

The barrister said: As a member of that committee Mr Cushnahan was under a legal duty to disclose any conflict of interest that he had.

We say in breach of this legal duty Mr Cushnahan secretly worked on a deal for the whole of the Northern Ireland loan book to be sold by Nama to an American fund called Pimco.

The prosecution case is that without telling Nama he was involved with Pimco he provided assistance to Pimco in the expectation that he would receive a success fee of several million pounds.

The jury heard that shortly before the deal was due to complete, Nama found out that Cushnahan had been assisting Pimco and the deal fell through.

Mr Kinnear continued: That wasnt the end of it.

Instead a new buyer, another American fund called Cerberus, was found and the deal for the sale of the Northern Ireland loan book was eventually completed for that price, about 1.1 billion.

The prosecutions case is that Mr Cushnahan continued to help from the shadows and expected to receive his cut of the 15 million success fee.

The barrister said that Coulter had been introduced to the sale of the Northern Ireland loan book by Cushnahan.

He said that the two defendants had worked to persuade the politicians in both Dublin and Belfast that the sale of the Northern Ireland loan book would be a positive benefit to all.

He added: They also sought out, met and encouraged and assisted potential buyers.

They did this because they expected to receive and share a very substantial success fee.

Mr Kinnear said there was nothing intrinsically wrong with the principle of a success fee being paid on the back of a transaction.

But he added: It was the way in which these two defendants went about it and the way in which Mr Cushnahan did not reveal that he was involved in the deal to the entity which was selling the deal.

Addressing the jury Mr Kinnear said: The story, as we will see, is long. There are quite a lot of documents, but it is not particularly complicated.

Ultimately you will need to decide if the defendants acted dishonestly.

The trial continues.
Due to overwhelming demand, a limited number of additional tickets for the Castle Park Concert with 'SPRINGSTEEN - A TRIBUTE' will be released this Friday, October 3 at 10am, available at www.savourkilkenny.com.

The Castle Park Concert makes its much-anticipated return on Saturday, October 25, as part of Savour the Night, a Kilkenny Night-Time Economy initiative. This open-air event, set against the stunning backdrop of Kilkenny Castle, will once again light up the city after dark with another exciting performance by one of Irelands leading tribute bands.

In addition to the concert, the event will celebrate Kilkennys role as the 'Home of Halloween', with a costume competition. Festival organisers are inviting ticket holders to dress up and join the festivities at the Castle Park Concert where attendees will have the chance to win fantastic prizes.

READ NEXT: Works on Kieran Street and Market Yard in Kilkenny to begin imminently

This years concert is not only a celebration of food and culture but also an opportunity to support a community facility. Proceeds will go to Cois Nore, Kilkennys cancer support service, as they fundraise 2 million for their new facility on the Waterford Road.

"We believe that goodwill is woven into the fabric of Kilkenny. Its the neighbour who brings dinner. Its the friend who drives someone to chemotherapy. Its everyone who sees themselves in the journey, even if theyve never walked it," Bill Cuddihy Chairperson of Cois Nore said.

Please note, once these additional tickets sell out, no further releases will be made.

Read more in the Kilkenny People newspaper...

FOR MORE KILKENNY CITY NEWS, CLICK HERE
Seven charges have been filed against a man in connection to the fatal Saturday shooting in downtown Columbia that killed a Stephens College student.

Misael Covarrubias, 23 of Fellsmere, Florida, faces three counts of first-degree assault, three counts of armed criminal action, and one count of unlawful use of a weapon causing death or injury in the killing of Aiyanna Williams.

Williams died in the hospital on Sunday, according to reporting by the Columbia Missourian, which cited a news release from Stephens College that said Williams was being maintained on artificial life support for organ donation. A news release from the Columbia Police Department Sunday indicated that Covarrubias' assault charges would not be upgraded unless Williams is taken off artificial life support.

2:06 Community gathers to honor Aiyanna Williams Community members gathered to honor Aiyanna Williams, the victim in the shooting on September 27.

According to a probable cause statement, Columbia police officers responded to a shots fired call in the 800 block of East Broadway around 1:42 a.m. on Saturday.

The statement said the shooting happened 12 minutes after bar closing time in the "busy" downtown area.

At the scene, officers found three people with gunshot wounds, according to the probable cause statement. Police said all three were transported to University Hospital in Columbia for serious injuries, with one person in "critical, life-threatening condition."

At the scene, police reportedly located 11 spent 9mm caliber cartridge casings.

Police found Covarrubias running away near on North Eighth Street near the intersection at Park Avenue, according to court documents. One officer said they saw Covarrubias drop a pistol at the intersection, pick it up and put it back in his waistband, according to court documents.

Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request.

Covarrubias was taken into custody with the pistol, which matched the casings found at the scene, according to court documents.

Police said the suspect later told officers that there was an altercation and that other people were ganging up on him. Covarrubias then shot into the crowd, according to court documents.

Covarrubias reportedly told police he was from Florida and had been living in Columbia for the past five months, according to court documents.

A fourth victim, who wasn't shot, reportedly told police that Covarrubias grabbed a woman he was with, a man told Covarrubias to get off her, and that Covarrubias then pushed him.

During a post-Miranda interview, police said they smelled alcohol on Covarrubias. The suspect allegedly admitted to drinking three drinks while at bars before the shooting.

Covarrubias made an initial court appearance in Boone County Monday. A bond hearing is set for Oct. 7, and a preliminary hearing is set for Nov. 6.

4:48 Leaders from MU, Columbia, police departments meet over 'crime crisis' in the city UM System President Mun Choi asked for city leaders' response after a shooting downtown left two injured and one dead.
Republican Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe signed a bill Sunday that gerrymanders Missouri's congressional districts, according to a news release from the governor.

The bill is sponsored by Rep. Dirk Deaton, R-Noel, and Sen. Rusty Black, R-Chillicothe, according to a news release.

The map, which Kehoe created and has dubbed the "Missouri First Map," is backed by President Donald Trump and will split the Kansas City district into multiple that extend east into rural, more conservative areas.

Currently, much of Kansas City is included in the 5th Congressional District, which is represented by Democrat Emanuel Cleaver. Cleaver has represented the district for 20 years. The new map redraws the 5th Congressional District to extend as far as the eastern edge of mid-Missouri.

I was proud to officially sign the Missouri First Map into law today ahead of the 2026 midterm election, Kehoe said in the release. Missourians are more alike than we are different, and our values, across both sides of the aisle, are closer to each other than those of the congressional representation of states like New York, California, and Illinois. We believe this map best represents Missourians, and I appreciate the support and efforts of state legislators, our congressional delegation, and President Trump in getting this map to my desk.

Republicans currently hold seats in six of Missouri's eight congressional districts. Congressional Republicans currently hold a slim 219-212 majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, and Republicans and Democrats view the chamber as up for grabs in 2026.

Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request.

Missouri Republicans have denied that the state's congressional districts are being gerrymandered to add another GOP seat in the House of Representatives. Kehoe's office said the new map splits fewer counties and municipalities, preserves two congressional districts as currently drawn and keeps the current members of Missouri's congressional delegation in their current districts.

However, Democrats have pushed back against the redistricting effort, calling it a power grab ahead of the November 2026 midterm election.

The Missouri General Assembly passed the bill on Sept. 12, along with a joint resolution to change the initiative petition process. That resolution would give rural voters an outsize say in whether the state adopts amendments to the constitution. It will be placed on the ballot for voter approval.

0:22 Kehoe says he will approve Missouri's redistricted congressional map on Sunday The map splits the district in the Kansas City area into multiple that extend east into rural, more conservative areas.
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
ON her first official day in the Presidential Election campaign Heather Humphreys visited Portlaoise last week.

She started her day with a visit to Portlaoise Library - a project she opened in 2023 as the then Fine Gael Minister for Rural and Community Development.

Speaking on her visit, Ms Humphrey said: Its really great to be back in Portlaoise Library which I was so proud to open when I was Minister for Community Development. This beautiful library is an essential part of the community here in Portlaoise and it was just one of many projects as part of my nationwide strategy to enhance and develop our library services across the country. Its great to see the library being used by people of all ages in the local community. Stepping across the road from the library the presential hopeful also visited Hughes Pharmacy which was marking World Pharmacists Day.

She said: Pharmacists are at the heart of our communities, providing a really valuable service to young and old. We rely on pharmacists, and it is important to acknowledge the work they do in providing healthcare in the community. Her next stop was at Portlaoise Railway Station. Here she highlighted the free travel companion pass for all over 70s, a measure - she reminded those in attendance - she introduced as Minster for Social Protection which takes effect next week.

She said: I was determined to ensure that people over 70 could bring a friend or relative along with them on public transport journeys free of charge. This is a measure I introduced to combat loneliness and isolation and to help support older people to keep active so they can travel around our beautiful country for as long as they wish, and this measure makes it a little easier for them to do so.
A WOMAN who was found drunk in her pyjamas at 4.30am in the morning, after leaving Portlaoise Hospital A&E department, had to be arrested for her own safety and that of others was fined 100 at Portlaoise District Court last week.

Thats what Judge Susan Fay heard when Laura Murphy from Borness, Mountmellick, pleaded guilty to being intoxicated along the Dublin Road in Portlaoise on 31 October 2023.

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said that gardai received a call about the 40-year-old woman who had left the A&E department of the hospital in her pyjamas. He said gardai found her a short time later in a drunken state and arrested her. He said she was issued with a fixed charge penalty notice that went unpaid.

Defending solicitor Philip Meagher said that his client had attended the A&E that night, became very agitated and left.

He said that Ms Murphy wants to thank the gardai for their assistance at the time.

Judge Fay ruled as outlined.
The Urban Farm at Saint Fintans Campus in Portlaoise celebrate Culture Night

LAOIS/OFFALY Rehabilitation and Recovery Community Mental Health Services hosted its first ever Culture Night celebration on Friday 19 September at The Urban Farm at Saint Fintans Campus in Portlaoise.

The family-friendly event welcomed people of all ages and brought the farm alive with music, art, dance, food, and community spirit.

The Urban Farm at Saint Fintans Campus in Portlaoise celebrate Culture Night

Those in attendance enjoyed vibrant performances, stalls and information stands highlighting the principles of recovery and positive mental health, alongside opportunities to connect through conversation, art, and shared experiences.

The Urban Farm at Saint Fintans Campus in Portlaoise celebrate Culture Night

The evening celebrated Irish, Nigerian, Ukrainian, and Brazilian culture which acknowledged the uniqueness of each while embracing the common bonds of fun, laughter, belonging, and joy.

The Urban Farm at Saint Fintans Campus in Portlaoise celebrate Culture Night

Clinical Nurse Specialist in Rehabilitation and Recovery Bridget Noonan said: Our first Culture Night event was a wonderful gathering of people and performers that demonstrated the power of communication through the arts and its value for both body and mind. It was inspiring to see so many come together to celebrate diversity, recovery, and wellbeing.

The Urban Farm at Saint Fintans Campus in Portlaoise celebrate Culture Night

The organisers expressed their thanks to Laois County Councils Monica Flynn and Marina Rafter, Laois Volunteer Centre and Leonie Sherlock from the Laois/Offaly Recovery Education Service.

Gratitude was also expressed to the performers, facilitators, the staff, service users and management of the Rehabilitation and Recovery Service.

The event was supported by Laois County Council, Laois Arts, Creative Ireland Laois and Laois Volunteer Centre.
Three adults, a man and a woman in their 50s and a man in his 20s, have died after a serious incident at a residential property in Co Louth on Monday morning.

Gardai said they were alerted to the incident in Drumgowna, Tallanstown, this morning and found the three victims at the scene.

A man in his 30s has been arrested and is detained at a station in the Garda North West region under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

The scene is currently subject of an ongoing forensic examination by the Garda National Technical Bureau, gardai said in a statement on Monday evening.

The remains of the three victims have been removed from the scene to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, where post-mortem examinations will be conducted on Tuesday.

Gardai believe the three victims were violently attacked, The Irish Times said, and a motive for the killings, alongside the sequence of events related to the murders, was still being determined.

They added, however, that they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan told Newstalk that there is no ongoing threat to the public.

"Im conscious its a developing story and its a sensitive issue, but theres no further information I can put into the public domain at present, but what I can say and I think what the gardai have said is that theyre not looking for anyone else in respect of this criminal act and that theres no ongoing threat to the public in Co Louth, I suppose, is an important message to get out there," he said.

Sinn Fein Louth councillor Pearse McGeough said on social media that there was sad news coming out of Tallanstown this morning.

He added, I would ask people not to speculate until we know the facts.

Our thoughts are with the friends, family and the community.

The garda investigation is being conducted from an incident room at Ardee Garda Station, and a senior investigating officer has been appointed.

A family liaison officer has also been appointed to support and keep the family of the deceased informed.

Gardai have appealed to anyone with any information on the incident to contact the garda investigation team by calling Drogheda Garda Station at 041 987 4200, the Garda Confidential Phone Number on 1800 666 111 or any garda station.

Investigations are ongoing, and gardai said no further information is available at this time.
When New York Assembly member Zohran Mamdani finally decided to speak publicly about Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro and Cuban leader Miguel Diaz-Canel, he didn't do it in a press conference or a statement through his office but on a podcast. He was being interviewed by none other than Emmy Award-winning journalist Jorge Ramos and his daughter, political commentator Paola Ramos.

In "The Moment," a brand-new podcast from iHeartMedia's My Cultura and Radio Ambulante Studios, the father-daughter duo secured the New York City mayoral candidate's most candid remarks to date about Latin America's most controversial leaders.

The conversation marks a breakthrough moment not just for Mamdani, whose silence on Venezuela and Cuba had become increasingly conspicuous, but also for Jorge and Paola, who are building a space where politics, identity, and hard questions collide. Two Latino journalists making history when it matters the most for the community.

"We decided to do the podcast in English in part because it's very, very important for us to almost insert ourselves in a space that typically doesn't have voices like ours," explains Paola during a video call with The Latin Times. She was in her home in Brooklyn. Jorge in his home office in Miami, which has become as familiar to his online audience as the studio of Univision Noticias he commanded for over three decades.

The Breakthrough Moment

Mamdani, the Democratic mayoral nominee and leading candidate in the race for New York City Hall, has often spoken about housing rights and immigrant justice but stayed cautious when asked about Maduro's authoritarian rule or Diaz-Canel's repression in Cuba. During the interview, the duo pressed him on whether he considered them dictators. The initial answer was mild, condemning the repression in both countries but declining to call them "dictators." However, his campaign sent a much more contundent position days after the interview:

" I want to be clear on where I stand. I believe both Nicolas Maduro and Miguel Diaz-Canel are dictators. Their administrations have stifled free and fair elections, jailed political opponents, and suppressed the free and fair press. And yet, our federal government's long history of punitive policies toward both countries, including extrajudicial killings of Venezuelans and the continuation of a decades long blockade of Cuba, have only worsened these conditions. Democratic socialism is about dignity, justice and accountability. And above all, it's about building a democracy that works for working people, not one that preys on them."

Jorge, who pressured him for a concrete answer, explained that for him the question is what he calls "el bautizo de Miami," (The Miami Baptism).

"When whoever arrives in Miami immediately, you ask, 'So, before, was Fidel a dictator?' 'Is Raul a dictator? Is Diaz-Canel a dictator? And then, in the case of Venezuela, it is exactly the same. Do you think so? Hugo Chavez was a dictator. Do you think that? Nicolas Maduro is a dictator, and then by asking that question, the communities immediately can position you and say you are with us or you are not with us. So for me. It's been a very natural immediately to ask everyone about that. And I think it says a lot about what you think about democracy," he added.

Jorge and Paola Ramos: Two Generations, One Mission

The podcast itself has quickly drawn attention because it brings together two distinct generations of journalists. Jorge Ramos, Univision's veteran anchor, is known for his relentless confrontations with presidents from Donald Trump to Hugo Chavez. Paola Ramos, a former White House staffer and MSNBC contributor, has carved out her own voice as a chronicler of Latino identity, queer issues, and generational change. Both are acomplished authors.

Together, they bring different instincts: Jorge with the sharp, prosecutorial style of decades in broadcast news, and Paola with the cultural fluency and nuanced approach of a millennial raised in bilingual spaces. Their back-and-forth keeps guests from settling into rehearsed answers.

Beyond the Headlines

The Mamdani interview is part of a larger season where the Ramoses will explore themes of democracy, exile, and identity. The second episode is with The goal, Jorge Ramos says, is to capture history in the making while forcing public figures to drop their guards.

The second episode is with Anthony Romero, the longest-serving executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union. Their compelling conversation went from free speech and the new McCarthyism, ICE detentions, and the fight to protect birthright citizenship to the cultural influence of Bad Bunny.

And that's only the beginning. "We're going to do 45 podcasts within a year, and we've been very happy and very lucky to get almost every one we wanted. We have already taped six. And then in a couple of weeks, we're going to tape another five or six," said Jorge. As if that goal wasn't ambitious enough, he added, "At some point. We want to be able to react to breaking news."

"We also want to talk to artists and thinkers," expressed Paola. Their aim is pointed towards "anyone that has any type of influence, and it's moving the needle...including people within the Trump administration." They mention Trump's border czar. Tom Homan and Stephen Miller, the White House's Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Homeland Security Advisor, considered the architect and implementer of the administration's agenda, particularly its hardline stance on immigration.

"We need all the voices for a healthy debate," she said.

With Mamdani, they succeeded. For the first time, a politician who had carefully avoided talking about Maduro and Diaz-Canel spoke openly about the risks of repression and the meaning of silence. It was a scoop that only Jorge and Paola Ramos, combining credibility and generational reach, could deliver.

You can watch the full interview here.

Originally published on Latin Times
William Allen High School students were sent home early Monday, Sept. 29, 2025 following the second threat at the school in two weeks, while police continue to investigate with no suspects identified. Mike Nester file photo | lehighvalleylive.com contributor

William Allen High School was evacuated for the second time in nearly two weeks following the districts fourth bomb threat this month.

Melissa Reese, Allentown School District spokeswoman, told lehighvalleylive.com the latest incident began shortly after 9:15 a.m. Monday at the high school, 106 N. 17th St., in the city.

Allentown Police Capt. Daniel Gross Jr. said two notes were found in the school indicating an active bomb was placed within the building.

All students and staff were forced to leave by 9:20 a.m. and the school began dismissing students by 10:45 a.m. Parents were notified twice, at the time of the evacuation and again, at early dismissal, Reese said.

Officers quickly responded, working with school district officials and security. Police, armed with their K-9 unit, and city firefighters currently are sweeping the building to detect any explosive devices, Reese said as of 12:20 p.m. Monday.

The investigation is still ongoing, Reese said. We will share additional information with staff and families when available.

There were no reported injuries.

The search, involving the FBI and multiple area law enforcement agencies, took several hours, Gross said. City police updated the public around 3:15 p.m. that no explosive devices were found within the school building and neighboring grounds.

The district then sent out a letter to parents Monday evening stating the district continues to work with Allentown police to identify possible suspects.

We want to acknowledge the seriousness of what our students, staff, and families have experienced, and we thank everyone for their continued partnership and professionalism during these events, the letter stated. We are grateful to the law enforcement, emergency responders, our Safety and Security Team, and staff for their swift response and adherence to safety procedures."

Investigators also didnt find anything suspicious in the past three incidents, in which similar threats were made on Sept. 17 at William Allen; and Sept. 16 and Sept. 11 at Trexler Middle School, 851 N. 15th St., in the city.

No suspects have been identified in the William Allen incidents as of noon Monday.

A male student was arrested and charged with felony making terroristic threats in the Sept. 16 Trexler Middle School incident, and another male student was charged in the Sept. 11 Trexler Middle School incident with making terroristic threats and disorderly conduct, both felonies.

Reese previously said the districts student handbook states disciplinary responses to address serious behavior could result in removing a student from the school community. This includes but is not limited to long-term out-of-school suspension, alternative educational placement, or expulsion.

This type of conduct is unacceptable, district officials stated in the letter. Not only does it disrupt learning, but it also places unnecessary emotional stress on our students, families, and staff and pulls critical safety resources away from our schools and city.

William Allen High School is one of two high schools in the Allentown School District. It houses students in grades 9-12.

Trexler Middle School, one of four middle schools in the Allentown School District, houses students in grades 6-8.

Allentown police continue to seek those with information on the high school incidents. Tipsters are asked to call the police departments Criminal Investigations Division at 610-437-7721 or the police desk at 610-437-7753.
The National Park Service has officially added the Heller-Wagner Grist Mill site to the National Register of Historic Places, marking a significant achievement for the Hellertown community and preserving a piece of Pennsylvanias colonial heritage.

The historic mill at 150 W. Walnut St. received its designation in August, recognizing the sites architectural, cultural and historical significance spanning back to the mid-18th century. Built in 1761 by Simon Heller and later owned by Christopher Stoffel Wagner, the mill served as a cornerstone of local life in Hellertown and the Saucon Valley for centuries.

The three-year journey to national recognition brought together community members, historians and preservation experts. HHS volunteer Chip Wagner, a direct descendant of Stoffel Wagner, initiated the research before the Hellertown Historical Society Board advanced the project.

The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission unanimously endorsed the nomination in June before forwarding it to the National Park Service for final approval.

This recognition is a milestone not only for the Historical Society but for the entire Hellertown community, said Donald Mills, president of HHS. The grist mill connects us to the lives of those who built this town more than 250 years ago. Being included in the National Register ensures that future generations will understand and appreciate the role this site played in shaping our regions history.

The designation process was completed in collaboration with Artefact, Inc., a local historic preservation firm. The project received widespread community support, including financial contributions from the Borough of Hellertown, individual donors and a $10,000 Keystone Grant.

The mills addition to the National Register secures its place among Pennsylvanias notable historic landmarks and highlights the enduring importance of the site that served both agricultural and community needs throughout its operational history.

Generative AI was used to draft this story, based on information provided by the Hellertown Historical Society. It was reviewed and edited by lehighvalleylive.com staff.
The Tulsa King universe is being expanded.

Samuel L. Jackson joined the cast of Tulsa King for season 3, setting up his starring role in the spinoff series NOLA King. Jackson plays Russell Lee Washington Jr., Dwight Manfredis (Sylvester Stallone) old prison friend who is sent to kill him.

According to the official synopsis, NOLA King will follow Russell as he returns home to New Orleans after 40 years to rekindle his relationship with his family, friends, and to take control of the city he left behind. In so doing, he incurs the wrath of his former employers in New York, and makes himself vulnerable to old NOLA foes, both criminal and cop.

Production for the new series is expected to begin in early 2026, which means theres no premiere date for NOLA King just yet. Taylor Sheridan, the creator or Tulsa King, Yellowstone, Mayor of Kingstown, and Landman, will serve as an executive producer. Tulsa King showrunner Dave Erickson will also showrun NOLA King.

Stallone, the star of Tulsa King, has spoken favorably of the upcoming spinoff.

[Co-CEO of Paramount Global] Chris McCarthy came to me with a game-changing idea: to elevate my show beyond a mob boss series, creating a dynamic, family-driven franchise. I was immediately on board, Stallone told Deadline, adding that Jackson is the only choice to anchor this new adventure in NOLA.

Stallone and Jackson share the screen in season 3 of Tulsa King. During an interview with People, Stallone admitted he was nervous to work with the Oscar nominee.

READ MORE: Where to watch Tulsa King if you dont have Paramount+

Now were flowing, Stallone said of his dynamic with Jackson. We could do a show called Tulsa King and Buddy. We just worked that well together.

New episodes of Tulsa King premiere on Paramount+ on Sundays at 3 a.m. ET.
Marc Fogel listens as President Donald Trump speaks in the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Fogel is set to share his experience at the Pennsylvania Cannabis Festival: Fall Marketplace this weekend outside Kutztown, months after his release from Russian custody. (AP File Photo/Alex Brandon) AP

A celebration of cannabis, returning this weekend to the Kutztown area, is set to feature the story of  and appearances by  freed Russian prisoner Marc Fogel, according to organizers.

Fogel is an American history teacher from the Pittsburgh area who was traveling to Russia in 2021 to work at a Moscow school when he was detained. His family and supporters said he had been traveling with medically prescribed marijuana.

Almost a year later, he was sentenced to 14 years in prison.

The United States negotiated his release in February in a prisoner swap between the two superpower nations.

Organizers of this weekends Pennsylvania Cannabis Festival: Fall Marketplace say theyll share Fogels story with a dedicated space called the Marc Fogel Freedom Lounge.

The festival is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 4-5, at Renningers Farmers Market, 740 Noble St. in Maxatawny Township just south of the university towns border.

Attendees take in a previous Pennsylvania Cannabis Festival: Fall Marketplace at Renninger's Farmer's Market in the Kutztown area. The 2025 edition is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 4-5 at the market, 740 Noble St. Photo courtesy Zick Productions | For lehighvalleylive.com

In its 11th year, the biannual Pennsylvania Cannabis Festival is a space where cannabis is embraced as a path to wellness, to empowerment, to connection, and to a more open-minded, compassionate future, organizers with eastern Pennsylvania-based Zick Productions said in a news release.

The event brings together an ever-growing movement of small businesses, big brands, and visionaries who are reshaping how we understand health and personal freedom  reminding us that progress requires people standing together for something better, the release continues. With this event, we hope to draw those people to Berks County, all while supporting the local economy with lodging, dining, and shopping.

Admission is $20 each day, and attendees must be at least 21 years old. Leashed, friendly pets are permitted.

Fogel is confirmed to attend both days of the festival, Zick Productions Brianna Louder told lehighvalleylive.com.

The Marc Fogel Freedom Lounge is described as a dedicated space created to honor his homecoming from what advocates say was wrongful imprisonment.

Its going to be a nice space for guests to relax, connect and meet Marc while learning more about cannabis prisoners, Louder explained in an email.

Key features of the lounge, located in one of the festivals pavilions, include an LED wall with a curated, visual loop sharing Fogels story; picnic table seating and decorative installations.

Organizers say those in attendance this weekend can expect friendly, inclusive vibes with:

200-plus vendors with a plethora of unique goods.

Innovative cannabis brands from across the country.

Handcrafted items, cannabis wellness products and accessories.

Educational and advocacy exhibits.

Medical marijuana card certifications on-site.

A variety of food trucks.

Visit fallmarketplace.com for additional details.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A Laois barge rental business has slammed Waterways Ireland for the alleged neglect of maintenance works along the Barrow Navigation waterway, stating that it has cost the company both money and business.

The business has called for Waterways Ireland to be 'held accountable' for the alleged 'years of neglect' of Laois canals.

The Barrow Navigation water route connects Waterford's port to the Grand Canal, linking Dublin to the River Shannon. One stop along this route is Vicarstown, where Laois business Barrowline Cruisers rents barges and provides tours along the waterway.

Pictured: One of Barrowline Cruiser's barges being blackened in a dry dock.

Barrowline Cruisers is Ireland's oldest and largest barge rental service in Ireland, having been established by Orla and Philip Conroy in 2000.

Ms Conroy spoke to the Leinster Express / Laois Live of the struggles they have faced due to the alleged deterioration of the Barrow Navigation.

"The canals are in really poor condition at the moment, Waterways Ireland are in charge of maintenance and they haven't been doing their job. We are losing business and we don't know if we can continue," Ms Conroy stated.

The business has alleged that Waterways Ireland has failed to maintain water levels along the route; has neglected to cull weeds along the route, causing damages to barges, and that the company has not been proactive in solving these issues supposedly brought to their attention.

Pictured: A Barrowline Cruiser barge along the Barrow Navigation

"Waterways Ireland are supposed to maintain the canals through dredging, weed cutting and maintaining water levels, and after years of neglect it has really hit critical point, it's very serious," she explained.

"Our weed cutters are laid up because they are broken and need to be replaced. In the summer, the weeds grow really fast and need to be kept under control. Water level changes are not due to climate change, the rivers are natural feeders for the canals. It's because the canals aren't maintained," Ms Conroy shared.

"Our heritage barges were built for these canals, they should be in a depth of six to eight feet of water. The water depth stands at three feet and our barges have almost run aground. What was once a 50 minute trip is now taking over two hours due to the weeds catching around our propellers, we have to keep stopping to pull them out," Ms Conroy said.

"Apart from the hassle and inconvenience, it affects the whole engine and the damage can be costly. It's unpleasant for customers, and if we have more people booked for a slot afterwards, if the boat isn't back in time we are forced to refund them."

The business owner shared some unfortunate situations her customers have faced due to the poor condition of the canals.

"A few overseas customers had an awful experience. Some Australians were making their way along the canal, they wanted to travel down to the Shannon. They were stuck for a few days due to low water levels, and they were worried if they could make it back to Vicarstown as they had flights home to catch," she said.

"We urgently emailed Waterways Ireland, it was a disaster. We were prepared for the worst case scenario of having to lift the barge out of the water. Who are Waterways Ireland accountable to?" Ms Conroy asked.

Above: a barge stuck at lock 17, Naas

"Nav Watch monitors and reports the issues along the canals, where people highlight them and post them. They have put together a whole survey and presented it to Waterways Ireland, who said that it was good to have the information," the businessowner said.

The barge rental business explained that though bookings begin in March and April, summer is their busiest season, where they have only a small window to get most of their business for the year.

"These canals are a huge part of our heritage and history, they are hundreds of years old and they are so under resourced and under utilised.

"Waterways Ireland came down to meet us so we could tell them what's wrong. They came out and said, "yes, this is wrong," and offered no solutions," Ms Conroy said.

"We are finding solutions ourselves. It's very basic things like weed cutting and keeping the canal feeders clear, and monitoring the canals on a regular basis. It's wearing us down and it's heartbreaking," she said.

The Vicarstown business highlighted another alleged instance where customers were lost due to the 'poor maintenance of the canals'.

"It's lovely to bring people to the Midlands to sail, particularly to Laois as the most landlocked, and we are losing business," she said.

"A man from Switzerland has been navigating the Shannon with us for years, and he saw the poor conditions of the canals on Facebook. We had a great booking with him for ten nights, and he said that due to the state of the Barrow Navigation, they will be going to the UK instead," Ms Conroy alleged.

"It's a hit to Irish tourism. We are a small business with mechanics, cleaners and taxi drivers, and the customers spend money along the route to reach us.

Pictured: A Barrowline Cruiser barge preparing to travel between gates along the Barrow Navigation

"It's damaging the boating tourism in Ireland, to have the canals like that. It's not good, and we need tourism, it was overall down this year," she said.

"These issues can be sorted, it's dreadful in a time when tourism is down. Waterways Ireland are accountable, we have no control over these issues and we can't do anything about them. Waterways Ireland just have to step up and do their job, maintaining the Barrow Navigation.

"We contacted the CEO, and Operations came down and spoke to us. They have told us that they have employed a hydrologist, hopefully it will get sorted. They're all quite vague, and have said they will come back to us in November to tell us what they are going to do.

"This is the man in charge, we said if its like this next summer we'll have to rethink how we operate. We have to know the latest by November, we are already taking bookings for next summer," Ms Conroy finished.

In March, Waterways Ireland secured planning permission to carry out dredging and maintenance on the River Barrow over the next five years.

The dredging work along a three hectare stretch of the Barrow Navigation in the townlands of Clogrenan, Crossneen and Ballyhide was approved subject to 17 conditions.

Waterways Ireland has yet to respond to The Leinster Express / Laois Live's request for comment.
The owner of a dog which suffered horrific injuries was rescued from a property in Ballinakill last December has agreed to donate 20,000 to charity.

Irish Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) Inspector Jimmy McCormack said these were some of the most horrific facial injuries I have ever seen inflicted on an innocent dog.

He was speaking after a 35 year-old man was brought before Portlaoise District Court earlier this month charged with five offences under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. The ISPCA said guilty pleas were accepted on two counts under section 12 of the Act.

ISPCA Inspector McCormack had called to the accuseds address in Ballinakill on December 16, 2024 where he found eight dogs living in dirty conditions. He said they were kept without access to fresh drinking water. Three of the dogs had scarring on their faces and jaws, including a Patterdale Terrier which had a serious and recent injury to its jaw. Mr McCormack said the defendant had claimed that the injury had been sustained while hunting foxes the previous day. He also denied owning some of the other dogs.

The injured Patterdale, later named Brock, was surrendered and taken for immediate veterinary attention. Surgery was required to stitch and repair the infected wound.

Inspector McCormack described how he called back to the defendants property to check if improvements had been made in the care of the other dogs and found all of the kennels empty. He was told the remaining dogs had been stolen.

READ ALSO: Laois Traitors star reveals reason for going on show

It was claimed in court that the dogs were used for fox hunting and that the accused kept the animals in his shed for a group of individuals.

The ISPCA said the man agreed to make a contribution of 20,000 to the ISPCA, pay 2,487 in costs and 3,000 in legal fees. The case was adjourned to a court in Laois on January 16 for the payment to be made.

Inspector McCormack said: Animal baiting is illegal, and those that engage in what is currently lawful hunting with dogs still have a responsibility to safeguard the welfare of their dogs. Failure to do so is a criminal offence and the judge has sent out a clear message that this cannot be tolerated.

We in the ISPCA are at the forefront of ensuring that those who fail in their responsibilities to animals in their care face the full extent of the law to prevent future occurrences of this nature.
China braces for holiday travel surge

16:49, September 29, 2025 By Luo Wangshu and Zhao Yimeng ( China Daily

Passengers enter Guangzhou South Railway Station to board train in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong province, Sept 23, 2025. (Photo/Xinhua)

Travel demand in China will stay strong during the upcoming National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival break, with 2.36 billion trips forecast and multiple sectors gearing up to ensure smooth journeys, officials said on Sunday.

"The eight-day holiday will see strong and diverse travel demand, whether for family visits or tourism," said Li Yang, vice-minister of transport, at a news conference in Beijing.

Average daily trips are projected to reach 295 million, up 3.2 percent from 2024. The holiday will begin on Wednesday and end on Oct 8. Self-driving will dominate holiday travel, with about 1.87 billion trips expected, or nearly 80 percent of the total. Highway traffic could exceed 70 million vehicle trips per day at peak times, including 14 million new energy vehicle journeys.

"Travelers driving new energy vehicles should plan their fuel and charging stops in advance," Li said. "We have asked service areas nationwide to step up charging services, with some adding new charging piles and even mobile charging units."

Travel peaks are likely to occur on Wednesday, when passenger flows may top 340 million trips, and again on Oct 7 and 8 as people return from their travels.

Tourism demand remains strong, with Shanghai, Beijing, Chongqing and Chengdu, Sichuan province, among the most popular domestic destinations. Outbound travel to Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia is also expected to increase.

To ensure smooth travel, authorities are coordinating resources across rail, road, water and air. "We are making targeted plans to ease congestion and improve charging services," Li said.

Car rental demand is also surging. "Car rental and self-drive tourism have become a new choice during holidays," Li said. "We expect double-digit growth during this year's holiday."

Authorities are expanding cross-city return options and encouraging rental firms to reduce or waive fees in key clusters such as Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, the Yangtze River Delta and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Services such as deposit-free rentals and 24-hour pick-up and return are also being promoted.

Railways will carry an estimated 219 million passengers between Monday and Oct 10, a record high. "The railway system will maximize capacity and optimize scheduling," said Wu Dejin, deputy director of the National Railway Administration. "We will dynamically analyze ticketing data and add temporary services on routes with concentrated demand."

On Wednesday, passenger flows are also expected to peak across the railway system, with about 13,000 train journeys running daily and more than 18 million passenger trips carried out on average. Air travel is forecast to hit 19.2 million passenger trips, up 3.6 percent year-on-year.

"The holiday will bring another peak after the summer travel season," said Xiong Jie, chief pilot of the Civil Aviation Administration of China. "The international market will continue to grow, especially to East Asia and Southeast Asia, while demand for South Asia and Europe is also picking up."

Weather conditions may add uncertainty to the travel rush. Xiao Chan, deputy director of the National Climate Center, said that during the holiday, parts of western China and the Huanghuai region  covering areas between the Yellow and Huai rivers in central and eastern China  will see frequent rainfall, while the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and northern part of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region are likely to experience rain and snow.

Cold fronts will be active and mainly track northward, bringing lower-than-usual temperatures to Xinjiang, Shaanxi and Henan provinces, while much of the rest of the country will remain warmer than average.

"Toward the end of the holiday, a typhoon may affect southern coastal areas," Xiao added.

(Web editor: Huang Kechao, Liang Jun)
Gardai are appealing for information after vehicles in Portlaoise and Portarlington were broken into at the weekend.

In Portlaoise, a toolbox was stolen from a vehicle at Portlaoise Shopping Centre on the Mountmellick Road in the town between Sunday night.

Gardai said the driver's side window of the vehicle was smashed during the incident at Globus Foods. They are appealing to anyone who witnessed anything suspicious or who may have footage from the area to contact them at Portlaoise Garda Station.

Meanwhile, Gardai are appealing for information after a car was targeted by thieves and damaged in Portarlington on Friday night.

Two men broke into the Toyota car on the Bog Road in Portarlington on Friday, September 26 at 11.30pm.

Gardai said a small fly window was broken by the two male suspects who were seen in the area.

Anyone who witnessed anything suspicious or who has footage or information in relation to either incident is asked to contact Portlaoise Garda Station on 057 867 4100.
The parents associations of eight Laois primary schools have agreed to go 'phone free' until secondary school'.

Spearheaded by the parents association from Scoil Bhride Rathdowney, what began as four schools involved before the summer break has now doubled to eight.

Parents of children attending Scoil Bhride Rathdowney, St. Colmcille's NS Errill, Killadooley NS and Borris-in-Ossory NS , Clough NS, St Pius X Ballacolla, Cullohill NS and Our Lady's Meadow, Durrow have the option to sign a pact declaring that they will go 'phone free'.

Pictured: St Colmcille's National School, Errill

'Keeping Childhood Smartphone Free' is a voluntary initiative which invites parents and guardians to collectively agree, in respect of their children, to the following code: no smartphones while in primary school, no social media while in primary school, and to respect the age rating on video games.

The schools have said that they were inspired by 11 schools in Naas banding together to create their own 'go phone free' campaign, along with 13 schools in Dublin and most of Co Waterford.

Prior to the summer break, Scoil Bhride Parents' Association conducted a survey where parents of students answered questions on smartphone use.

91% of parents at Scoil Bhride Rathdowney felt 'concerned about smartphones'.

85% of respondents said that they believe their primary school children should not own a smartphone. 77% of respondents have said that they would like to receive supports designed 'to better support children navigating the online world'.

79% of respondents answered that they would be willing to be part of a voluntary agreement regarding smartphones for their children.

Pictured: Last June, four Laois schools held a 'phone free' art comp to introduce the phone free pact to students. Pictured above are competition winners and staff from Scoil Bhride Rathdowney. Photo: The Leinster Express

An information night will be held on Thursday October 2 at St Fergal's College Rathdowney for parents of students attending the eight schools to share information, advice and learn answers to questions.

Taking place at 7pm, attendees are invited to hear from a range of experts, understand the latest evidence and discuss how the schools can work in collaboration to achieve this goal.

Child Psychologist and mother of five, Ms Catherine Hallissey, will give present her talk, 'Managing Screentime: help your child develop healthy tech habits for life'.

Director of Waterford Education Service Centre and founder of 'Gen Free Waterford' will answer questions and help attendees gain insights in to the movement.

Local Fine Gael County Councillors, Cllr Conor Bergin and Cllr John King, will take to the stage to give an update on the progress of the Government's Smartphone Free Childhood initiative.

A member of Scoil Bhride Rathdowney's Parents Association told the Leinster Express / Laois Live that the schools wish to 'change the norms' surrounding children owning smartphones.

"Our 'free to be kids' campaign highlights the wonderful freedom that children have to be themselves, a freedom so often lost through smartphones and social media," the parent said.

"We hope that it will help our children to value all that is beautiful about being a kid instead of yearning to be grown up too quickly and participate in a far too often toxic and unregulated online world."

While we know we have missed the boat with some of our senior classes, many of whom have phones, we believe that the campaign will benefit our junior classes in particular," they said.

"We hope that over the next 5 years, we will see a slow and steady change in the norms around smartphone ownership and social media, reinforced by the introduction of legislation.

"The code does not include regular mobile phones or smart watches which are used for communication and safety only.

"Furthermore, it is not a ban on screentime, the internet or technology in general, which when used appropriately, with supervision and skill, adds value in the modern world," they said.

91% of parents at Scoil Bhride Rathdowney felt 'concerned about smartphones'. Pictured: File photo

"We also recognise that every family has different priorities and opinions in relation to internet access and smartphone use and that parents and guardians of some older children may have already purchased smartphones for their children," the parent said.

"The voluntary code is, as the name suggests entirely voluntary and if a parent or guardian chooses not to participate or alters their view subsequent to opting in, they can do so at any stage."

We hope that the campaign will offer support to parents who want to hold off giving phones and provide them with a sense of solidarity, knowing that their child wont be the odd one out and that they, as parents, dont have to give in to the peer pressure of buying their child a phone, the parent finished.

The schools have said that they will keep a record of how many parents and guardians have opted in, for statistical purposes, all personal information will be kept confidential.

The schools have entitled their campaign 'Free to be kids', which they say is to highlight 'everything good about childhood' that they believe should be 'treasured for as long as possible'.

The original four schools kicked off their campaign with an art competition to celebrate Childrens Day this month, in which children from every class were called to draw their favourite past times, with one condition; activities must not involve a screen.

At the information night on October 2, over 20 spot prizes will be given away to attendees. These prizes range from hurls, board games and puzzles, with the hopes of encouraging family fun outside of technology.

With limited places available, those who wish to attend can do so here.
Two men and a woman have been found dead at a property in Co Louth.

Gardai said one man had been arrested after they were alerted to a serious incident in Tallanstown on Monday morning.

Those who died are understood to be from the same family.

Irelands Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan said there was no further threat to the public following the criminal act.

In a statement gardai said officers responded to a call to attend a residential property shortly before 10am on Monday.

Three people  two males and one female (all adults)  were found deceased at the scene, they said.

The scene has been preserved for technical examination.

The offices of the coroner and the state pathologist have been notified.

A male, aged in his 30s, has been arrested and is currently detained at a station in the Garda North West Region under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.

On Monday evening, gardai said the scene was the subject of an ongoing forensic examination by Garda National Technical Bureau.

They also said the remains of the deceased had been removed from the scene to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital where post-mortem examinations will be carried out on Tuesday.

Gardai also issued an appeal to any person with information to contact the investigation team by calling Drogheda Garda Station.

Earlier, gardai have closed a road leading to an isolated property at the scene.

A blue and white forensic tent could be seen set up close to the property.

Gardai and forensic investigators in white overalls were present at the scene.

One neighbour told the PA news agency it was a shocking incident.

Mr OCallaghan said: I have information, An Garda Siochana have passed on information that I have received to the office.

I am conscious that it is a developing story and it is a sensitive issue but there is no further information I can put into the public domain at present.

I think further information will become available in due course.

He added: What I can say and what gardai have said is that they are not looking for anyone else in respect of this criminal act.

There is no ongoing threat to the public in Co Louth.

Speaking to PA at the scene, Sinn Fein TD Ruairi O Murchu said there was shock and disbelief around the area.

There are no words  this is beyond shocking. Were talking three within the one family that are dead.

Mr O Murchu said neighbours were taken aback, adding: My heart goes out to the family and the wider community.

He said: This is absolutely rural mid-Louth, nobody was expecting what we heard today.

He appealed for members of the public to provide assistance to gardai if they can and discouraged people from participating in speculation.

Also at the scene, Fianna Fail councillor John Sheridan said the family involved was well known and respected in the area.

They were very much seen a lot, thats probably what makes this all the more shocking.

Mr Sheridan said the area was close and very typical for a remote and rural area.

He warned that while the news was shocking, there was some unhelpful speculation around the incident.

Fine Gael councillor Rachel Kerley told PA: This morning there was complete and utter devastation as the news filtered through  people were shocked and so concerned.

She added: Now thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased and, of course, the wider community.

Ms Kerley said the news was devastating for those will live in the quiet, peaceful, lovely area.
The construction of a brand new respite home for families of adult children with intellectual disabilities in Leitrim is set to begin within the next three to four weeks.

The home will be located in Autumn View, Carrick-on-Shannon, on HSE-owned grounds, spanning over 4,000 square feet.

The 1.1 million project will feature five en-suite bedrooms, multiple living rooms, and a total floor area of 383 square metres.

Updates have also been announced on the construction of a residential unit in Fenagh for adults with intellectual disabilities.

Renovation works began in August on a four-bedroom, 337 square metre residential care home, with completion expected by Spring 2026.

READ NEXT: 23 homeless in Leitrim in last week of August as figures see a decrease

Together, these projects represent an investment of almost 2 million in essential facilities for people with disabilities in Leitrim.

The respite home and residential care home have been long sought by parents of adults with intellectual disabilities, who have been advocating for such services in the county for the past three years. This is a significant milestone for the county and for these families, as Leitrim and Monaghan are currently the only two counties in Ireland without full-time residential care.

Gary Prior, Fianna Fail councillor for the Ballinamore Electoral Area, who worked closely with parents advocating for these services, described the update as really welcome news.

He added that it is of huge importance to the families who have pursued this over the last number of years.

I want to pay tribute to the families who have campaigned tirelessly over the years to help make this possible. Your dedication has been key to driving this progress, said Cllr Prior.

READ NEXT: Workshops, clean ups and films to mark Climate Action Week in Leitrim

Location of respite home to be constructed in Carrick-on-Shannon
EirGrid, the operator and developer of Irelands electricity grid, is launching public consultations on proposed electrical infrastructure projects in the North West.

Powering Up the North West is a proposed programme of works to address the growing demand for electricity in the area. The existing electricity transmission infrastructure in the area is at risk of reaching its capacity limit.

In addition to making the grid in the North West more resilient, the upgrade will bring economic growth and development benefits for the region. It will also help to facilitate the integration of more renewables onto the electricity grid.

READ MORE: Unlocking the Western Corridor: Major business event comes to Leitrim

Powering Up the North West will consist of two new 220 kV circuits. One route will run from Srananagh substation in Sligo to Clogher in Donegal, and another between Flagford substation in Roscommon and Srananagh.

In determining the best options for both the routes and the technology to be used, EirGrid carries out extensive research, taking account of factors such as the local landscape and cultural heritage.

As part of its commitment to engaging with local communities, EirGrids public consultation on Powering Up the North West will run from Tuesday, 16 September to Tuesday, 25 November.

As well as two online webinars, consultation events will be held in Leitrim on the 1st of October at the Bee Park Community Centre, Manorhamilton and on the 15th of October in the Bush Hotel in Carrick on Shannon.

READ MORE: Venues announced for Sweeney Oil LGFA SFC Semi-Finals

Upgrading the electricity grid in the North West is vital and the transition to renewable energy is complex. While EirGrid has the expertise to lead this transformation, it also requires the support of local communities, said Sinead Dooley, EirGrids Head of Public Engagement.

EirGrid recognises the importance and value of local knowledge and insight. It is important to us that local communities have their say and I would encourage everyone to get involved in the public consultation process.
Condolences have flooded in for Mary Guckian, a generous and thoughtful Leitrim poet who passed away following a long illness

Mary Guckian lived in Ringsend, Dublin 4, but was formerly of Kiltoghert, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim.

Mary passed away peacefully in the exceptional care of the staff of Our Lady's Hospice, Harolds Cross to whom much thanks is offered.

Mary was Predeceased by her parents, Pauline and Patrick, her sister Pauline and her brother-in-law, Anthony.

READ MORE: Leitrim SFC Relegation Final replay set for Ballinaglera on Saturday October 11

Mary will be sadly missed by her partner, Victor Feldman, her sisters Ann (Walkinstown), Patricia (Carrick-on-Shannon) and Christina (Dromahair), her brothers Sean and Willie, sister-in-law Maura, brothers-in-law Pat and Michael, her aunt Ena O'Rourke, uncle Paul Corcoran, nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and nephews, cousins, many friends and members of the Rathmines Writers Group, of which Mary was a founding member.

As Mary has chosen to donate her body to medical research, no funeral will be held at this time, A memorial service will be arranged in the coming weeks.

I am so very sorry to hear of Marys passing. I had the privilege of working with her for many years in the IPA, and in more recent times I came to know her through various writing activities. Mary was such a talented poet and photographer, with a deep love of her Leitrim roots. She was exceptionally generous and thoughtful, and it was always a pleasure to be in her company.

Mary was an author who published three books of poetry with Swan Press, Perfume of the Soil, The Road to Gowel and Walking on Snow and a long time member of Rathmines Writers Workshop.

READ MORE: Close calls as Google Maps directs tour buses the wrong way in North Leitrim village

Mary grew up on a small organic farm, much of her poems are written about growing up in harmony with nature.

One message read: Mary was a treasured friend to so many of us. She was the most caring, creative, talented woman, who constantly drew on the beauty of the world. Deepest sympathies to Victor, her beloved partner, and to Mary's family.

Another paid tribute to the warmth of her person: To say she was one in a million is an understatement!. She was such a kind person that give time generously to family and friends. Anytime I would ring, she was always going to visit someone, do something for someone or go to her writer's group. I admired her as a person - loyal, caring, kind thoughtful, dependable, generous and so talented with her writing and photography, yet so modest. Her hospitality was so warm too. Couldn't give you enough!. Will miss her. RIP Mary xx.
You have permission to edit this article.

Edit Close
Stakeholders at a one-day Inclusive Multi-Stakeholder Consultation aims to support the development of Liberia's national carbon policy and law development.
A LIMERICK woman, who was previously the victim of two high profile and violent assaults, has been sentenced to 20 months imprisonment for a spate of shoplifting offences.

Simone Lee, who has 34 previous convictions, was described by Judge Patricia Harney as a chronic drug addict and a prolific shoplifter when she appeared before her at Limerick District Court.

The 46-year-old pleaded guilty to more than a dozen theft charges relating a variety of items including vodka worth 182, groceries and books worth 15.

Ms Lee was also before the court charged with possession of a small amount of cocaine and with failing to appear in court on three separate occasions.

She pleaded guilty to stealing thousands of euros worth of items from a number of shops in Limerick city on various dates between March 2024 and September 2025.

Read More: What renting your home during Limerick's hosting of Ryder Cup 2027 could earn you

An appeal against the severity of the sentence imposed has been lodged by Ms Lees solicitor, Darach McCarthy, who said his client is "very apologetic".

Inspector Liam Wallace, who presented the case, asked Judge Harney to impose a number of conditions on the defendant pending the conclusion of her appeal.

Ms Lee was ordered to stay away from Dunnes Stores at the Jetland Shopping Centre, Tesco at Arthur's Quay, Penneys, OConnell Street, Lidl at Childers Road and OMahonys Bookshop, O'Connell Street.

Tragic past

Simone Lee is a survivor of two high-profile assaults, including a false imprisonment which was mentioned by Mr McCarthy during his submission to the court.

Ms Lee endured serious injuries as a result of the brutal attacks, one of which left her in a coma for three weeks.

Addressing the court, Mr McCarthy appealed to Judge Harney to consider Ms Lees circumstances, stating that she had a very, very difficult upbringing and needs professional help.

While acknowledging that Ms Lees story is very sad, Judge Harney said: The company and the circumstances that she would find herself in would not be salubrious.

The Judge said the offending had occurred over a "protracted period" and she further stated that her record is appalling and warranted a prison sentence.

She imposed consecutive sentences totalling 20 months - just under the maximum of 24 months that can be imposed in the district court.

She refused a request from Mr McCarthy to partly-suspend the sentence.

A number of the charges were taken into consideration.
THE INAUGURAL All-Ireland Podcast Awards will officially take place in Adare this November.

The awards will take place at the end of a new two-day summit, SOUND. WAVES., which will make its debut in the Woodlands House Hotel on Wednesday, November 12 and Thursday, November 13.

The event is designed to explore how audience-first content is created, monetised, and scaled across podcasting, sports, and music.

The All-Ireland Podcast Awards, which will take place on Thursday, November 13, will recognise standout podcasts across the 32 counties, with Dylan Haskins, commissioner, Podcasts at BBC Sounds, serving as head judge.

The awards have been established with the primary aim of "celebrating the vibrant Irish podcasting industry and spotlighting the nations most talented creators".

READ MORE: Michael Collins - A Musical Drama is coming to Limerick's UCH

The awards will honour the best podcasts across eight broad categories.

A spokesperson for the event said: SOUND. WAVES. is about the craft and the business - how great ideas travel from studio to audience and back again. Were starting as we mean to go on: smart conversations, practical takeaways and a celebration that puts creators first.

Dylan Haskins, head judge, said: The podcast industry has grown rapidly in Ireland over the past ten years, with a really diverse mix of shows from independent creators, commercial and public service publishers. While awards by their nature involve competition, the All-Ireland Podcast Awards are really about bringing the industry together each year to celebrate and recognise the excellent work happening nationally and internationally from Irish-associated producers and hosts.

Event tickets can be purchased on www.soundwaves.ie.
Irish police are not looking for anybody following the deaths of a man and a young girl in Dublin.

Gardai discovered the bodies of the pair in a property in the Heathfield estate in the Cappagh area of Finglas on Saturday.

A Garda spokesperson said they are continuing to investigate all the circumstances surrounding the discovery of the two bodies.

Minister for Justice Jim OCallaghan said gardai arent looking for anyone else in respect of that event.

He said he wanted to extend his condolences to the mother of the young girl.

Speaking to media on Monday, he said: Its an extremely difficult time for her.

In a statement on Monday evening, gardai said post-mortem examinations have been completed for both the adult male and female child, but the results of these are not being released for operational reasons.

A family liaison officer (FLO) continues to engage with the family of the deceased and keep them apprised of the investigation, they said.

An Garda Siochana would like to acknowledge the support and assistance provided by the local community both to the family of the deceased and to investigating Gardai.

Investigations are ongoing.
WEEKLY poetry readings are back in Limerick city - but they've gone underground!

The Commercial at Catherine Street in the city centre is the new home for the open mic sessions, every Wednesday from 9.30pm until close.

Space in the venues Record Room in the basement has been made available to historian Tony Browne and writer Tom McCarthy who have introduced the event.

PICTURES: Local community rallies for fun run hosted by a Limerick GAA club

They believe it is a continuation of the weekly poetry sessions that the late Barney Sheehan ran in the White House Pub so successfully between 2003 and 2016.

That in itself was a revival of regular poetry readings from the 20th century.

Starting in 1954, another late wordsmith, Desmond OGrady founded The Poetry Circle, who regularly held open mic evenings of poetry.

Tony, who lives at South Circular Road, says all are welcome to come and recite a poem, sing a song, or just listen in.

He says he is hoping to secure funding to bring well-known poets to Limerick.

And he praised The Commercial, saying: Its an excellent venue. We are in the basement, and its a fine space for poetry.

Some 14 people attended the first weekly poetry reading, but Tony is hoping to grow this.

He will keep the times of the event under review, based on the feedback of those who attend.

Tony described Barney, who died in 2018, as being witty.

But he did not suffer fools gladly. I'll remember that very much!.
Australian Retirement Trust, the nations no. 2 pension fund, is defaulting on a loan that funded the purchase of a US office complex once occupied by Microsoft Corp., underscoring the continued fallout for global investors as companies revise their office space.

The two towers in a Seattle suburb seemed like a safe bet for their Australian buyer in early 2020, packed with thousands of Microsoft workers. But the tech giant vacated the complex as hybrid work trends and job cuts allowed it to consolidate offices in the years following the pandemic, leaving both buildings empty in an area where nearly a fifth of space is now vacant.

The mortgage on the Bravern complex in Bellevue was transferred to a special servicer this month after Microsofts lease expired in August, according to filings on the debt. ART has no plans to refinance the property, the filings show, leading to a likely foreclosure or distressed sale at a steep discount and potentially exposing bondholders to losses.

Defaulting on the loan likely wipes out a roughly $300 million equity investment for ART, according to Bloomberg calculations. A spokesman for the pension fund, which manages about A$350 billion of Australians retirement savings, declined to comment. A spokesperson for Microsoft also declined to comment.

While the Bravern complex represents a tiny portion of ARTs sprawling portfolio, the loss is a cautionary tale for Australias pension funds as they ramp up their offshore investments in private markets. Around half of the biggest funds assets are now overseas as the fast-growing A$4.3 trillion industry outgrows its own backyard and is increasingly seen as a global investment powerhouse.

Debt filings show the Bravern complex was valued at $605 million just before its January 2020 purchase by QSuper, which later merged with Sunsuper to form ART. The deal was partly funded by a $304 million loan that was packaged into commercial mortgage-backed securitizations. The asset is now worth closer to $268 million, ratings service Morningstar DBRS reported in August.

Subscribe to The Bloomberg Australia Podcast on Apple, Spotify, on YouTube, or wherever you listen.

The wipeout illustrates the continuing US office carnage, as debt defaults surge. Some 16.9% of US office CMBS deals were in special servicing as of August  the highest of any property type and up from 2.5% in late 2019, Commercial Real Estate Finance Council data show. While there are some signs of office recovery in Seattle and Bellevue, they havent come fast enough for owners holding buildings in some cases worth a fraction of their loan value.

Microsoft chose not to renew more than 2 million square feet of Bellevue office leases, including the Bravern towers, as it moved regional employees back to its redesigned Redmond, Washington campus. Some of that space has been leased by other tech companies, including OpenAI and TikTok, but the size of the gap left by Microsoft helped push Bellevues vacancy rate above 17% in the second quarter, according to Broderick Group.

The two Bravern towers with 750,000 square feet of space flank a city block that includes apartment buildings and luxury stores like Hermes, Gucci and Prada. In the lobby of Bravern Building One, the elevators are turned off. John Howie Steak, where one can order a 6oz Japanese Wagyu filet mignon for $189, is closed for the lunchtime hour.

At Chinese restaurant Jiang Nan, the first West Coast location for New Yorks high-end chain, only one table was occupied on a September afternoon. The restaurant, also in the Bravern lobby, opened in March, after Microsoft had already moved most of its workers out of the building.

The tech giant initially moved into the Bravern towers when the project was completed in 2009. Microsoft was the sole tenant and invested $181 million of its own capital into outfitting the buildings. Fitch downgraded the debt in December 2024 as Microsofts exit was already underway, citing limited property leasing activity and challenged submarket conditions in Bellevue.

One of the largest owners of the securitized Bravern debt is Pacific Investment Management Co., according to data compiled by Bloomberg as of June 30, but its uncertain whether Pimco will lose money on its stake.

As an active participant in secondary CMBS markets, its worth noting that Pimco often invests in distressed securities that are priced at a deep discount, a Pimco spokesperson said in an email.

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
New Delhi, Sep 29 (PTI) Appellate Tribunal NCLAT has set aside an appeal by Future Consumer Ltd (FCL) seeking to initiate insolvency against Aussee Oats Ltd.

A two-member NCLAT bench has upheld the orders of the Mumbai bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), which had rejected the claims of FCL, part of the debt-ridden Future Group.

FCL had claimed an amount of over one crore due from Aussee Oats. It had given two crore to Aussee Oats in the form of an Inter-Corporate Deposit.

According to FCL, out of the total deposit, only 1.35 crore has been paid, and the rest 65 lakh is due, which now, along with interest, totals over one crore.

However, NCLT observed that the financial statement of the corporate debtor (Aussee Oats) reflected a 'set off' of the claims, and there was NIL amount payable to the Financial Creditor (FCL).

Moreover, it also observed a dispute between them.

This order was challenged by FCL before the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), which also rejected the plea of the Future Group firm.

"We are of the view that the Adjudicating Authority (NCLT) did not commit any error in relying on the said financial statement for coming to the conclusion that there is no debt for which insolvency can be proceeded," the NCLAT said.

The appellate tribunal also noticed that there is a dispute between the Financial Creditor and the Corporate Debtors shareholders.

"We, thus, are of the view that in the facts of the present case, the refusal of the Adjudicating Authority to initiate insolvency in the facts cannot be faulted. We do not find any error in the order of the Adjudicating Authority. The Appeal is dismissed," according to the NCLAT.
SpiceJet Limited, the low-cost airline, has introduced daily flights to Phuket from Delhi and Mumbai and will operate flights in Bangkok as well, the company informed on Monday, September 29.

SpiceJet is delighted to announce the launch of daily nonstop flights to Phuket, Thailands largest and most celebrated island, from Delhi and Mumbai. With this addition, SpiceJet will now operate flights to two of Thailands most popular destinations  Phuket and Bangkok, the airline said in an exchange filing.

When will SpiceJet start offering new services? Flights from Delhi to Phuket are scheduled to start on October 31, 2025, with services from Mumbai beginning on November 6, 2025.

Also Read | American Air Flight Delays Mount Amid Maintenance System Problem

Where to book tickets? Passengers can now purchase tickets through the official mobile app or website of SpiceJet. Bookings for these flights are open.

Speaking on the latest launch, Debojo Maharshi, Chief Business Officer, SpiceJet, said, We are excited to add Phuket, one of the worlds most soughtafter holiday destinations, to our growing international network."

He added, "With nonstop flights from Delhi and Mumbai, SpiceJet is making it easier than ever for Indian travellers to enjoy Thailands pristine beaches, vibrant culture, and warm hospitality.

Also Read | SpiceJet delaying salary payments to sizable number of employees: Source

A direct flight to Phuket from both Delhi and Mumbai typically takes around four to five hours. According to the official website of SpiceJet, the ticket fare from Delhi to Phuket, starting from November, currently begins at around 14,000. Flights from Mumbai to Phuket starting in November are available from approximately 9,000.
CSX Corp. named Steve Angel its new chief executive officer (CEO) on Monday after the abrupt departure of the railroad company's former CEO, Joe Hinrichs.

However, the company did not specify the reason behind Hinrichs sudden exit. According to a company statement, Angel, the former head of Linde Plc and Praxair Inc., took over as the CEO and joined the board effective September 28.

Competitive and investor challenges The leadership overhaul comes as the company faces significant pressure from an activist investor and rising competitive challenges.

The merger of its rivals, Norfolk Southern Corp. and Union Pacific Corp., threatens to create the first transcontinental railroad in the US. In response to this shifting landscape, Bloomberg News reported in July that CSX was working with Goldman Sachs Group Inc. to explore options for a deal of its own.

Another issue that the company is facing is being exposed to strong criticism from activist investor Ancora Holdings Group, which has been building a stake in CSX. Ancora has publicly called out the railroad for its poor performance and recently demanded the termination of Hinrichs if CSX fails to aggressively pursue a merger.

Also Read | Canadian union threatens to strike against freight railroad hours after trains resume service

CSX shares rose around 3 per cent at 8 AM before the start of regular trading in New York. The stock has gained about 5.4 per cent this year. According to Reuters, the company has said it was open to exploring all ways to boost the value of its stock, further reiterating that it expects full-year volume growth.

Who is Steve Angel? Steve Angel has served as Linde Chief Executive Officer from 2018 to 2022, and Chairman since 2022. He plans to retire from Lindes Board on January 31, 2026.

Angel began his career at General Electric, where he spent 22 years in multiple management positions in locomotive and rail operations.
New Delhi, Sep 29 (PTI) Tata Steel on Monday said the Dutch government has proposed support of up to 2 billion euros for a decarbonisation project at its IJmuiden plant.

The homegrown steel maker and its European arm, Tata Steel Nederland (TSN), have signed a Joint Letter of Intent with the Government of the Netherlands and the Province of North Holland.

"Pursuant to extensive discussions, the Government of the Netherlands and the province of North-Holland, Tata Steel and TSN have agreed an intended framework for the integrated project in TSN and signed a non-binding JLoI for the first phase of transition to low CO2 steel production and to improve a healthy living environment around the IJmuiden site," Tata Steel said.

The Dutch government intends to support up to 2 billion euros. Additionally, TSN has made an application to the EU Innovation Fund for 0.3 billion euros.

TSN has not yet completed the full engineering of the integrated project and therefore not finalised the total spend, the company said, adding that the remaining amount is expected to be funded by a combination of the cash generated and contributed by Tata Steel Nederland, project financing debt, and funding procured by Tata Steel over the period of project spend.

T V Narendran, CEO & Managing Director, Tata Steel and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Tata Steel Nederland said, We would like to thank Minister Hermans, her colleagues in the Cabinet and the team from the Netherlands Government and from the province of North-Holland who have engaged constructively and painstakingly with us over the last 2 years to complete this first step in our journey towards creating a sustainable long-term future for Tata Steel Nederland."

Tata Steel owns a steel manufacturing plant at IJmuiden in the Netherlands with an estimated capacity of 6.75 MTPA of liquid steel in FY25.
Edward Eisler is closing his eponymous investment firm after weak returns, shrinking assets and ballooning staffing costs hindered his efforts to push into the multistrategy hedge fund world.

Eisler Capital Multi Strategy Fund is winding down and returning capital to investors, the firm told clients on Monday in a letter seen by Bloomberg News. Clients are unable to withdraw their money while the firm liquidates its trades, with the aim of distributing the proceeds early next year.

The London-based firm said its returns failed to keep pace with expectations, while the battle to recruit and keep top traders capable of deploying capital at scale has only grown more expensive.

After careful consideration of these factors and others, including the application of projected 2026 costs on an anticipated smaller capital base, we are no longer confident of our ability to achieve the funds investment objective, the letter said. The most responsible course of action now is to return capital to our investors.

The retreat marks the clearest sign of mounting pressure on multistrategy hedge fund challengers and shows just how tough it is to grab a seat at the top table dominated by the likes of Millennium Management, Citadel and DE Shaw & Co. A toxic cocktail of high fees, cash withdrawals and poor returns can swiftly turn into a death spiral for a business model powered by teams of expensive traders investing across markets.

Eislers multistrategy hedge fund, which reported a negative return of 1.7% this year through August, has about 250 staff helping to manage assets of $3.2 billion. Thats down from $4 billion a year ago. The firm said the fund generated annualized gains of 7% since inception.

Hedge funds across all strategies have gained 7.4% on average this year through August, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Painful Costs

Eisler, 56, started his hedge fund in 2015 following two decades at Goldman Sachs Group Inc., where hed swiftly ascended the ranks  becoming partner by the age of 30, muscling his way into new derivatives markets and eventually climbing the corporate ladder to run its trading division. Born in Russia and raised in Austria, he worked alongside a gilded generation of Goldman bankers destined for the asset-management big time, including Carlyle Groups chief executive officer Harvey Schwartz and Pablo Salame, Citadels co-chief investment officer.

His firm initially started as a macro trading firm and built a decent track record before starting to transition into a multistrategy hedge fund in 2021, hoping to juice the firms earnings by making dispersed bets across multiple teams of traders. After some initial success, it faced a tough couple of years.

Eisler cut 15% of its workforce earlier this year, mostly in tech, middle and back office roles, in an attempt to streamline the company while its remaining traders worked to turn around its investment performance. Last year, the firm even imposed punishing pay clawbacks on traders who quit, in the hope of stemming the exodus of talent to rival funds.

Organizations like Ken Griffins Citadel and Izzy Englanders Millennium have reached such scale that they can pay millions of dollars to lure the best traders  forcing competitors to spend big, often by charging investors pass-through fees, in order to keep up.

The economics of the multistrategy model  with its heavy infrastructure, high pass-through expenses, and dependence on large teams of traders  favor those with vast capital bases and diversified revenue streams, said Bruno Schneller, managing partner at Erlen Capital Management. Without sufficient scale, even well-regarded firms can find the operational and financial demands of this business model unsustainable.

Eislers restructuring this year was aimed at reducing the firms pass-through expenses to 2022 levels and leaving more of the profits generated for investors. The firm charged clients $244 million in pass-through expenses in 2023 and almost $200 million the year before.

Following the liquidation of the funds portfolio, any remaining investment vehicles and the investment management operations of the Eisler Group will be wound down, the firm said in the letter announcing its plan to close.

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
Social media platform X said on Monday it plans to appeal an Indian court order that would allow over two million police officers nationwide to issue arbitrary takedown requests via a secretive online portal called the Sahyog.

Here's what X said We will appeal this order to defend free expression, X said in a post on the platform, in its first statement since the High Court of Karnataka ruled last week that there was no legal merit to the company's legal challenge to quash India's content removal mechanisms.

"The Sahyog enables officers to order content removal based solely on allegations of illegality, without judicial review or due process for the speakers, and threatens platforms with criminal liability for non-compliance," X said on Monday.

X owner Elon Musk, a self-described free-speech absolutist, has clashed with authorities in several countries over compliance and content takedown demands, but the company's Indian lawsuit targeted the entire basis for tightened internet regulation in the world's most populous nation, Reuters reported.

X vs Centre Earlier on September 24, the Karnataka High Court dismissed X Corp's petition challenging the government's content takedown system under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act. The court emphasised that social media, as a modern amphitheatre of ideas, should not be allowed to operate in a state of anarchic freedom and must be subject to regulation.

Holding that every sovereign nation regulates social media and that India's action likewise cannot, by any stretch of constitutional imagination, be branded as unlawful, the court said none may presume to treat the Indian marketplace as a mere playground where information can be disseminated in defiance of statutes or disregard for legality.

Social media needs to be regulated, and its regulation is a must, more so in cases of offences against women in particular, failing which the right to dignity, as ordained in the constitution of a citizen, gets railroaded, said the single-judge bench of Justice M Nagaprasanna.

The petitioners platform is subject to a regulated regime.

Section 69 of the IT Act, 2000 Section 69 of the IT Act, 2000 grants the government the power to issue directions to intercept, monitor, or decrypt information from any computer resource in the interest of India's sovereignty, integrity, defense, security, friendly relations with foreign states, or public order, and to prevent incitement to the commission of any cognisable offense or for the investigation of any offense.

We will appeal this order to defend free expression.

The government also must record reasons for such an order, and the affected intermediary or person in charge of the computer resource must comply and provide necessary assistance.
GSK Plc Chief Executive Officer Emma Walmsley is stepping down after almost nine years and will be succeeded by the British drugmakers chief commercial officer, Luke Miels.

Miels, who previously worked at other major European drugmakers, joined GSK in 2017 and currently has responsibility for the companys global medicines and vaccines business. The commercial chief has worked on growing the companys drug portfolio, including in oncology, an area it has been seeking to rebuild.

What does Walmsley's succession mean? Walmsleys succession will mean the departure of one of the most prominent female CEOs in British business and in the global pharma industry. The change is set to take effect Jan. 1, GSK said in a statement Monday.

Miels appointment came following a succession planning process where both internal and external candidates were considered, GSK said in a statement.

Walmsley saw the company through the pandemic and has overseen the rollout of a vaccine for RSV as well as the separation of GSKs consumer business into a separate company called Haleon Plc. Still, investors have been disappointed by sputtering vaccine sales and concerns about GSKs pipeline of new drugs.

Under Walmsleys watch the shares have fallen about 11% as investors remain concerned about the state of the companys pipeline, with few drugs under development seen as potential blockbusters.

GSK has pledged to invest $30 billion in the US over the next five years as President Donald Trump pushes ahead with his tariff plans and urges drugmakers to align prices more closely in the US and other markets.
New Delhi, Sep 29 (PTI) The Commerce Ministry's arm DGTR has initiated an anti-dumping probe into the import of a solar component and mobile covers from China, following complaints by RenewSys India and All India Mobile Cover Manufacturer Association.

The applicant has alleged that the industry is impacted due to the dumped imports of "Solar Encapsulants, excluding EVA Encapsulants" from China.

The item is used in the manufacturing of solar PV modules.

"The authority, hereby, initiates an anti-dumping investigation to determine the existence, degree and effect of the dumping," DGTR said in a notification on Monday.

If it is established that the dumping has caused material injury to domestic players, the DGTR would recommend the imposition of the levy on imports.

The finance ministry takes the final decision to impose duties.

Anti-dumping probes are conducted by countries to determine whether domestic industries have been hurt because of a surge in cheap imports.

As a countermeasure, they impose these duties under the multilateral regime of the Geneva-based World Trade Organization (WTO). The duty is aimed at ensuring fair trading practices and creating a level playing field for domestic producers vis-a-vis foreign producers and exporters.

India and these countries are members of the WTO.

India has already imposed anti-dumping duties on several products to tackle cheap imports from various countries, including China.

In a separate notification, the DGTR said it has also initiated a countervailing duty investigation concerning imports of "Clear Float Glass" imported from Malaysia and Indonesia.

An application in this regard has been filed by Sisecam Flat Glass India Pvt Ltd, Gold Plus Glass Industry, Gold Plus Float Glass, and Saint-Gobain India.

These applicants have requested the investigations.

"The Authority finds that there is prima facie evidence of the existence of countervailable subsidies on production and export of the subject goods in the subject country and such subsidised imports are causing material injury to the domestic industry through their volume and price effects," it said.
Tata Communications has announced that it has secured a multi-crore contract to develop a comprehensive digital infrastructure for the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT).

The infrastructure will help automate operations, improve transparency, and enhance efficiency by enabling predictive analytics and chatbots, the company said in an exchange filing on Monday. Thus, GSTAT will have a future-ready digital ecosystem.

Details about the project The comprehensive digital solution provided by Tata Communications will span several key technological domains, with integrated management across all of them, including network fabric, Internet of Things (IoT), cloud services, advanced security and video conferencing.

The company will also deploy a secure, scalable, and intelligent digital ecosystem covering LAN, WAN, and SD-WAN for GSTAT, a dedicated appellate body for resolving GST-related disputes. The body has its principal bench in New Delhi and 31 other benches spread across various states of the country.

Tata Communications has been awarded a strategic project to deliver a comprehensive digital infrastructure - spanning network fabric, IoT, cloud, and security, with unified management across domains  for the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT) benches established by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India. This multi-crore, prestigious win reinforces Tata Communications position as a trusted technology partner for mission-critical national initiatives, the company said in the filing.

Goals and benefits of the project The project aims to modernise GSTATs operations, leading to faster dispute resolution and improved user experience. The key benefits include:

Seamless access: Enable easy and seamless access across all benches of GSTAT nationwide.

Enhanced security: The project will work to fortify data security across the body's entire digital ecosystem.

Simplified user experience: The overall goal is to streamline GSTAT's functions to make it more accessible for users.

Also Read | Over 53 crore new bank accounts opened in India since 2014, says Amit Shah
Jaguar Land Rover announced on Monday that it will resume manufacturing cars in a controlled and phased manner as it recovers from a cyber attack that forced the luxury carmaker to shut some of its factories in early September.

This comes shortly after the UK government extended a $2 billion loan guarantee to the Tata Motors-owned company to help offset the impact of the breach.

UK govt's aid to revive operations The financial support was guaranteed by the UK Export Finance and provided by a commercial bank, which needs to be repaid over five years.

The loan guarantee aims to help support the supply chain and protect skilled jobs in the West Midlands, Merseyside, and throughout the UK, as the company employs 34,000 people in the country. A Bloomberg report earlier said that around 120,000 jobs in the UK are tied to the carmaker's supply chain.

The news agency reported that the cyberattack had a significant financial impact on the Tata Group, which lost more than $75 billion of market value this year. One cause was the JLR shutdown.

Status of the recovery process On September 25, JLR said that some of its systems were back online, enabling it to work through a backlog of supplier invoices, accelerate parts distribution to dealers and speed up vehicle sales and registrations.

Also Read | JLR says some systems back online as hack costs loom for Tata Motors

In the Monday statement, the carmaker said that some sections of its production operations will resume in the coming days, as it works to get all its systems back up and running.

Who was impacted by the cyberattack? The cyberattack did not just affect JLR's UK production plants, but it also led to production halts at various plants across countries like Slovakia, Brazil and India. The breach also impacted some small suppliers who are reliant on it for business.

Also Read | JLR extends UK factory closure, union warns of job loss after cyber attack
As hundreds of TD Securities managing directors gathered at the Encore hotel overlooking Boston Harbor in June, there was a celebratory atmosphere in the air. Less publicly, there was grousing as well.

The buoyant mood at the multiday meeting was partly because Toronto-Dominion Banks takeover of New York investment bank Cowen Inc.  completed in 2023  had cleared its last legal hurdle just months earlier, allowing the firms traders to finally work together in person.

The event also marked the first time that TD Securities head Tim Wiggan outlined his vision and assembled his newly minted leadership team  notably Dan Charney, head of global markets, and Larry Wieseneck, who runs corporate and investment banking.

Both men are former Cowen executives with ambitions of building TD into a powerhouse that competes with Wall Street giants. But their ascension was taken as a sign by some Canadian employees that Toronto-Dominions new US focus was leaving them behind.

With the Cowen integration complete, TD Securities is now able to go after clients more aggressively to win capital-markets business in markets such as US convertibles and Canadian cash equities.

It has also left a trail of internal discord, with a contingent of staffers believing its Canadian franchise has become an afterthought  affecting their own status and pay. A dozen current and former employees spoke to Bloomberg News about what has happened since the merger. They asked not to be identified discussing sensitive matters.

Wiggan, whos been with TD for more than two decades, said the firms teams are structured to be global and doesnt agree with the claim that former Cowen staff have taken over.

I think its balanced, he said in an interview. Shareholders expect the company to hang on to top performers, whether or not theyre in TDs home office, he said. Its in everyones interest to make sure that the best and brightest get those opportunities.

After a money-laundering scandal left Toronto-Dominion subject to growth restrictions in its American retail business, success in the capital-markets unit has never been more important. Revenue has surged, hitting more than C$2 billion in each of the past three quarters and surpassing executives initial targets. The business is expected to be a significant focus of the banks investor day on Monday.

Low Morale

TD traders occupy a floor in One Vanderbilt, the 73-floor skyscraper that shoots into the sky above Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan. Its populated with TD staff whove been around since before the deal, Cowen equities traders and recent recruits from the likes of Bank of America Corp. and Goldman Sachs Group Inc.

Some new employees didnt have the Canadian company on their radar before the merger, but were persuaded to join the firm in part because of Charney and Wieseneck, who say theyve got the best growth story going on Wall Street.

We have the generational opportunity to build maybe the last great investment bank on the planet, Charney said in an interview. Its become a common talking point at the firm, with the thinking being that while top global investment banks are near their natural market share, TD has a lot more room to run.

The firm is attracting a flock of talent, said Christina Petrou, TD Securities New York-based chief operating officer. Everybody wants to be part of that story.

In Toronto, about 250 traders work out of the seventh floor of a historic building in a complex of towers that bear the banks name. A pre-Covid renovation modernized the space  old carpets were pulled up and a fair number of mice evicted  but the double-story ceilings and large stone pillars still evoke a sense of history. Many working there today have built their careers at the bank over decades.

For some in the building, along with the corporate and investment bankers who work out of a matching tower across the street, the attention and resources spent on TDs US growth strategy mean the Canadian business has been largely left to defend its position in a mature market.

Some see evidence of this in pay disparities. Compensation in New York is typically higher than in Toronto, but some of TDs Canadian managers are paid less than their subordinates in the US, according to two people with knowledge of the matter. For similar roles, the pay is sometimes the same dollar figure in both countries, which doesnt account for the weaker Canadian currency, the people said.

When it first struck the deal to acquire Cowen, TD agreed to pay ex-Cowen executives $146.5 million in retention and integration bonuses, including $73 million to Wieseneck and Charney alone.

And while the firm has invested even more by poaching New York bankers and traders, some departments have limited hiring and pay raises in Canada, according to three people with knowledge of the matter. A steady trickle of job cuts has harmed morale in Canada, even if the trims were needed to combat rising costs. TDs revenue per employee underperforms its biggest Canadian rivals.

So far, investors have been underwhelmed with the overall profitability of the combined TD-Cowen, said Jefferies Financial Group Inc. analyst John Aiken. The TD Securities division has yet to deliver on return on equity whether thats because expenses are too high or theyre not generating enough dollars per employee.

Aiken said hes been encouraged to see most former Cowen employees remain with the firm. Pay gaps between Canada and the US have always existed, he said, but theyve become more evident in a merger like this one. Welcome to reality.

TD is absolutely committed to having leadership roles and career-building opportunities in Canada, Wiggan said, noting that hes based in Toronto. The rationale for the Cowen deal wasnt just to expand but to better serve TDs Canadian clients who do business in the US, he said.

More Nimble

While TD has long relied on its lending relationships in Canada to drum up related capital-markets business, some employees say the firms leaders believed they could continue counting on that loyalty and didnt need to devote as many resources to its domestic franchise.

But that hasnt always worked out in practice. At TDs Canadian fixed-income business, for example, several top staffers departed over a span of several months and multiple bond investors said the firm appeared to lose focus. TD dropped close to the bottom of the league table among its peers for most of the first half of the year  a ranking that can be affected by many factors, including deal flow  though it has since recovered to its usual No. 2 position.

In the US, meanwhile, the focus is on offense. TD is building a prime-brokerage business and launched a convertible-equity business last year  something executives say the firm would have struggled to do without the combination of TD and Cowen. Through the end of August this year, it was first on the US equity-linked league table, helped by its role as sole lead on GameStop Corp.s $2.7 billion convertible issue, Wiggan said.

TD has also made advances in automated trading, which helped it become the top municipal-bond dealer in the US. The firm has made several moves to put automation at the center of its fixed-income desks in the US, but in Canada that process is much further behind, Matt Schrager, the banks co-head of automated trading, told Bloomberg in an interview in May.

Across its business, TD is taking steps to be more nimble. The firm has a reputation for being conservative. While its overall risk appetite hasnt changed, its brought on more subject-matter experts in legal and compliance roles, which results in faster answers on whether to move forward with transactions, loans or new lines of business. It was very comforting to see the bank make those investments, Wieseneck said.

On balance, Wiggan said, employee satisfaction in the division has improved and is as strong as its been in half a decade, with internal surveys indicating that staffers feel good about the clarity of strategic direction. Toronto-Dominion Banks chief executive officer, Raymond Chun, has called out the capital-markets business as a priority, which has also given workers a boost, Wiggan said.

As it integrated Cowen, TD made it a priority to tear down regional silos, Wiggan said, adding that winning in the US but losing in Canada would be a failure.

Were not going to forget where were from, he said.

With assistance from Paula Sambo.

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
(Bloomberg) -- The Trump administration is dramatically expanding US sanctions to capture subsidiaries of blacklisted companies  a crackdown that drew a swift rebuke from China, where key tech giants are already subject to stringent American trade curbs.

A long-awaited rule published Monday by the Commerce Department seeks to prevent sanctioned companies  such as Huawei Technologies Co., Chinas AI chip champion  from using affiliates to access restricted US goods.

Subsidiaries that are at least 50% owned by blacklisted companies will now face the same curbs as their sanctioned parents, according to the measure from the agencys Bureau of Industry and Security. There are also increased due diligence requirements for shipments to entities with significant minority ownership by a sanctioned company.

For too long, loopholes have enabled exports that undermine American national security and foreign policy interests, said Under Secretary of Commerce Jeffrey Kessler, who leads BIS. Under this Administration, BIS is closing the loopholes and ensuring that export controls work as intended.

All told, the changes mean that Washingtons permission will be required to export certain goods to a much wider swath of companies  particularly in Russia and China, where the US has ramped up use of trade blacklists to combat Moscows war efforts and curtail Beijings chipmaking and artificial intelligence ambitions.

In particular, Commerces action affects two key sanctions lists  the entity list, which includes parties believed to act contrary to US national security or foreign policy interests, and the military end user list, identifying parties believed to procure items for foreign militaries. The rule standardizes Commerces approach with the way the Treasury Department handles sanctions through its Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Washington has for years used the entity list to target individual Chinese tech companies  like Huawei and Yangtze Memory Technologies Co.  with restrictions that go beyond country-wide curbs. That broader campaign, which controls sales of advanced chips and the tools used to make them, centers on concerns that advanced AI could lend China a military edge.

The latest rules apply globally and dont target any one country, but they nonetheless triggered immediate criticism from China, which has long accused the US of weaponizing export controls to advance economic interests under the guise of national security. In a statement about the restrictions, Chinas Ministry of Commerce urged the US to correct its wrongdoings and stop the unjustified suppression of Chinese enterprises, warning that Beijing would take necessary measures to safeguard the interests of firms in the Asian country.

The Trump administrations use of the entity list has been a sensitive issue in ongoing trade talks between Washington and Beijing. Earlier this month, BIS sanctioned several Chinese companies believed to have helped Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp., Huaweis primary production partner, get restricted manufacturing gear. The move drew protests from Chinas Commerce Ministry, which noted that the measures came just as the two sides were set to meet in Spain to continue trade negotiations.

Against this backdrop, the US decision to sanction Chinese enterprises raises questions about its true intentions, the ministry said at the time.

A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they dont anticipate that Mondays regulations will have a major impact on trade flows, given that theyre designed to ensure that companies already subject to American export controls arent able to use subsidiaries as a workaround.

Still, some industry officials have worried that the change  meant to address what some US policymakers have described as a whack-a-mole problem in export controls enforcement  could create headaches for companies trying to determine whether potential customers are now subject to additional restrictions.

This dramatically increases the compliance requirements, Doug Jacobson, international trade attorney at Jacobson Burton Kelley PLLC said of the challenge companies face while adjusting to the new subsidiary rule. This will lead to more red flags, more delays while companies try to get certainty as to who their counterparties are.

Jacobson added that while the industry has been anticipating the new rules, language that encourages companies to apply for an export license in cases when they are unsure about end-user ownership is helpful to some degree, but it also makes it much more challenging for the agency.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
(Bloomberg) -- Nearly nine years ago, when Emma Walmsley was preparing to take over as CEO of GSK Plc, she wrote in her diary that Luke Miels  then an executive at rival AstraZeneca Plc  would be a dream appointment for this adventure.

Now, as Walmsleys own adventure atop the British pharmaceutical group winds down, Miels has been named to replace her. The 50-year-old, who joined Walmsley at GSK in 2017, will take the reins as chief executive officer at the start of next year.

His main challenges will be to deliver more blockbuster drugs from GSKs labs and through astute acquisitions, while lifting the share price, which has trailed far behind AstraZenecas during Walmsleys tenure.

GSK as a pure R&D business needs to deliver products from its own pipeline combined with selective M&A, said Ketan Patel, a fund manager at the family office Whitefriars, in emailed comments. Luke will need to push that strategy over the next 5-10 years.

Long viewed as a potential successor to Walmsley, Miels has most recently overseen the companys global medicines and vaccines business in the role of chief commercial officer. Hes credited with helping get a jump on rival Pfizer Inc. from GSKs successful vaccine for RSV, and with working alongside Chief Scientist Tony Wood on the drug pipeline, including a push back into cancer medicines.

Luke, at the time, was one of my most important hires and has turned out to be the one that really matters, Walmsley, 56, said in an interview. Hes been a partner for me in the eight years hes been here now, really defining the strategy, getting us back into oncology, delivering the big move in terms of our operating performance.

The GSK shes handing over to Miels is very different from the company Walmsley inherited from her predecessor, Andrew Witty. She invested heavily in vaccines and built up the HIV business, while moving back into cancer drugs and splitting off its consumer-health unit, Haleon Plc, into a separate listed company. Sales have increased, investment in research and development has doubled and Walmsley resolved long-running litigation over Zantac in the US.

Even so, she struggled to win the confidence of markets  leading to a run-in with activist investor Elliott Investment Management, which four years ago urged GSK to beef up the pharma expertise in its top ranks.

While Walmsley fended Elliott off, shares have still fallen about 10% during her tenure even as the market value of AstraZeneca has more than doubled.

Some analysts say Miels looks set to benefit from some of the changes made under Walmsley.

Hes been dealt a good hand, with GSK looking well positioned to deliver its 2031 target of more than 40 billion ($53.7 billion) in sales, according to Sean Conroy, an analyst at Shore Capital.

I dont think they need to change anything drastically here for this to be a good success story for Luke, Conroy said in an interview. Its just a case of executing.

Miels, an Australian, has worked across Asia, Europe and the US at Sanofi, Roche Holding AG and most recently AstraZeneca. His time at the latter ended acrimoniously, with the company suing Miels in 2017, alleging he was in violation of his employment agreement. The two companies settled, with Miels joining GSK later that year.

Some analysts are still cautious about GSKs prospects.

What GSK has struggled with is delivering the next generation of drugs before the patent expiry for HIV medicine dolutegravir comes at the end of the decade, Barclays analyst Emily Field said.

GSK has a lot in their pipeline, but we havent really seen any late-stage results yet, she said.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Tax advisory firm Dhruva Advisors on Tuesday announced an undisclosed strategic investment from Ryan Llc, a US-based global tax services and software provider.

According to the transaction, Ryan will acquire a majority stake in Dhruva to create a joint venture with Ryan in India. While Ryans senior leadership will join the board of Dhruva, the latters partners will acquire equity in Ryan.

Tax is now a global phenomenon and the supply chain is challenged because of tariffs. Clients are looking for global solutions and Ryan will be able to provide that. At the same time, Ryan has 7,000-plus clients and they are looking at ways to get services for them. This is a huge opportunity, Dinesh Kanabar, chief executive officer of Dhruva Advisors, told Mint.

Kanabar will be named vice chairman at Ryan. He did not comment on the equity percentage.

The Ryan-Dhruva joint venture will compete with global audit firms like PwC, KPMG, Deloitte, and EY as Indian companies and investors across sectors have been left scrambling for solutions following the USs steep tariffs on Indian goods.

The synergies Dhruva, with more than 28 partners, advises clients in the aerospace, automotive, chemicals, finance, healthcare, technology, and real estate industries. Its areas of focus include corporate tax and regulatory advisory, mergers and acquisitions, tax structuring, indirect tax, transfer pricing, and cross-border trade compliance.

Ryans focus areas include international tax services across cost management, compliance, consulting, and technology services.

By leveraging Dhruvas hands-on, local tax experts with our integrated, end-to-end tax solutions, our teams will deliver unrivaled client success in these flourishing markets, said G. Brint Ryan, chairman and CEO of Ryan.

The US company has been in India for more than two decades and has an office in Hyderabad.
Tata Steel Netherlands (TSN) has secured up to 2 billion in funding support from the Dutch government, marking a major step in the steelmakers plan to transition operations towards low-carbon and sustainable steel production.

The Indian steelmaker signed a non-binding agreement with the government of Netherlands to transition to low-carbon steelmaking and cleaner operations at the IJmuiden plant. Both parties will keep working on the final tailor-made agreement in the coming months, including after the Dutch elections and the formation of the new government.

Also Read | Tariff war delays Tata Steel UK breakeven, says CEO Narendran

There are a lot of issues to resolve and work to be done before us," said T.V. Narendran, chief executive officer of Tata Steel. We would like to thank Minister Hermans, her colleagues in the Cabinet and the team from the Netherlands Government and from the province of North-Holland who have engaged constructively and painstakingly with us over the last 2 years to complete this first step in our journey towards creating a sustainable long-term future for Tata Steel Nederland," Narendran said in a company statement late Monday.

After grant

The latest support follows the 500 million grant provided by the UK government in 2024 for its 1.25 billion green steel project in the UK's Port Talbot. Tata Steel came to own both Port Talbot in the UK and the IJmuiden plant in the Netherlands as part of its 2007 acquisition of Corus Steel in Europe.

TSN has also applied for about 0.3 billion from the EU Innovation Fund. Some of the funding for the green transition will also come from its own cash flows, project debt, and support from parent company Tata Steel.

Also Read | Tata Steel Europe revival hinges on gains from Netherlands reorganization

Tatas plans for decarbonization have the Parliaments blessings. Company continues to engage with Government in Hague," Kotak analysts Sumangal Nevatia, Siddharth Mehrotra and Keshav Kumar wrote in a note dated 31 July. US exposure is ~10% of TSN (Tata Steel Netherlands) sales (~0.7 mn tons) and is highly profitable. The company has negotiated with few customers on higher pass throughs due to tariffs, while discussions are ongoing with others."

Tata Steel first voiced its need for government support for the green steel transition four years ago, and has engaged in ongoing discussions with the Netherlands since then. Earlier this month, Narendran skipped the India Steel Conclave to travel to the Netherlands for another round of talks.

Set to decommission

TSN will decommission its blast furnace 7 and Coke and Gas plant 2, and construct a Direct Reduced Iron Plant (DRP) and an Electric Arc Furnace (EAF), initially using natural gas and more scrap. This will reduce carbon emissions by 5.4 million tonnes from the current maximum of 12.6 million tonnes.

Blast furnaces are large units that use the heat from coke to convert iron ore into purified molten metal for further processing into steel. EAFs do this process using electricity without any coke, thus cutting emissions.

Also Read | Tata Steel investors may remain jittery amid delayed revival in European biz

The steelmaker has not yet completed the full engineering of the integrated project, and therefore, has not finalized the total spend.

We are also closely monitoring the policy developments in EU on CBAM and in the Dutch Parliament regarding the challenges of the 2030 CO2 reduction targets," Narendran said.
Even as US President Donald Trumps steep hike in H-1B visa fee threatens to hit Indian software services providers, US lawmakers and agencies have separately intensified the scrutiny of the offshoring sector.

Homegrown Tata Consultancy Services Ltd, the countrys largest information technology (IT) services company, and India-heritage Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. were among the companies targeted by two senators, Republican Charles E. Grassley and Democrat Richard J. Durbin, over hiring practices. A third senator, Tom Cotton, is considering bills to reform of H-1B programme, while his Republican peer Bernie Moreno has proposed an HIRE Act to increase taxes on companies offshoring work.

Also Read | H-1B setback threatens the American dream for Indian students

Growing scrutiny makes the $283-billion local outsourcing industry even more vulnerable after Trump signed an executive order to increase the one-time fee for H-1B Visas from the current $1,000 to $100,000 starting next year. The target is the alleged misuse of H-1B visas, which enable highly skilled non-immigrants to work in the US temporarily. These permits are issued for three years with an option to renew for up to six years. Indian IT companies accounted for 70% of such visas issued in 2024.

"The question is, how impactful are the letters by Chuck Grassley and Dick Durbin? In my opinion, very. There could be potential Senate investigations into the issue of H-1B visas, and leaders of all the companies could be called to give sworn testimonies before the Senate," said Russell A. Stamets, a partner at Circle of Counsels, a New Delhi-based law firm.

Key Takeaways TCS and Cognizant were among the companies targeted by two US senators

Republican Charles E. Grassley and Democrat Richard J. Durbin, questioned TCS and Cognizant over their hiring practices

Growing scrutiny makes the $283-billion local outsourcing industry even more vulnerable after Trump signed an executive order to increase the one-time fee for H-1B Visas from the current $1,000 to $100,000 starting next year

TCS sponsored 5,505 H-1B employees in FY25, the second-largest beneficiary, behind Amazon.com Inc. The senators accused the company of firing Americans and substituting them with H-1B employees.

They accused Cognizant of discriminating against white Americans. Last fiscal, Cognizant received approvals to hire 2,493 H-1B employees, making it the seventh-largest user of these visas.

"Indian companies desperately need knowledgeable American voices to help them navigate this, not simply people who have lived in the US for some time. Cultural nuance is critical in these discussions," said Stamets.

Last Wednesday, judiciary committee chairman Grassley and Durbin wrote to TCS CEO K Krithivasan and his Cognizant counterpart S Ravi Kumar over their hiring practices.

TCS recently announced plans to lay off over 12,000 people worldwide, including American staff. For example, TCS laid off nearly five dozen employees in its Jacksonville office alone last month," read the 24 September letter to Krithivasan.

TCS sponsored 5,505 H-1B employees in FY25, the second-largest beneficiary, behind Amazon.com Inc. The senators accused the company of firing Americans and substituting them with H-1B employees.

TCS is already under investigation by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for allegedly firing older American workers in favor of newly hired South-Asian H-1B employees. TCS is doing itself no favors by replacing Americans with H-1Bs while this investigation is ongoing," said the letter.

Accused of discrimination

They accused Cognizant of discriminating against white Americans.

Last year, a federal jury concluded that Cognizant intentionally engaged in race-based discrimination by favoring South-Asian H-1B workers over American employees. The jury also found that Cognizants conduct warranted punitive damages. Cognizant is doing itself no favors by continuing to replace Americans with H-1B workers on the heels of this verdict," read the 24 September letter to Kumar.

Last fiscal, Cognizant received approvals to hire 2,493 H-1B employees, making it the seventh-largest user of these visas.

TCS, which follows an April-March financial calendar, ended FY25 with $30.18 billion in revenue, while Cognizant, which follows a January-December financial calendar, generated $19.74 billion in revenue.

Also Read | Did Trump just slam the door on Indian doctors and nurses?

The senators asked nine questions to both Krithivasan and Kumar, including the reasons behind hiring H-1B employees while laying off their American staff, and whether TCS and Cognizant deliberately hid their H-1B recruitment ads by listing them separately from general hiring ads.

The senators also sought answers on whether both companies paid the same salaries and allowed similar benefits to H-1B workers and their American counterparts.

TCS and Cognizant have until 10 October to respond to the letter from US lawmakers.

Queries emailed to TCS, Cognizant, and senators Grassley and Durbin went unanswered.

To be sure, both Grassley and Durbin have been working to introduce more stringent laws that address the H-1B visa issue since 2007. Both also wrote to the remaining eight large beneficiaries of H-1B visas, including Amazon, Apple Inc., and JPMorgan Chase & Co.

H-1B reform agenda

Cotton, meanwhile, said he might introduce two bills that suggest changes to the H-1B program.

President Trump and @SecretaryLCD (Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer) are absolutely right that the H-1B program needs reforms," said Cotton in a 26 September social media post on X. Next week Im introducing two bills that will bring badly needed changes to this program and put American workers first."

Earlier this month, Moreno, a senator from Ohio, proposed the HIRE legislation, which aims to make outsourcing costlier and reduce reliance on cheap foreign labour. Indian IT firms earn nearly three-fifths of their revenue from the US as large American companies outsource their back-end tech work to homegrown IT services companies, including TCS, Infosys, and Wipro.

Offshoring a target

However, the HIRE Act may not become law, and even if it did, its impact would be higher on American firms than on homegrown IT service providers, as the tech service providers are expected to pass on the costs to their clients, Mint reported on 10 September, citing conversations with sector experts and analysts.

Still, the changing regulatory landscape, coupled with AI, could be a double whammy for Indian tech firms.

Also Read | What tariffs and H-1B visa fee hike can teach investors

"I believe the rise of AI is a bigger risk to the Indian IT outsourcing firms. So, all these policies and regulatory changes regarding free people movement, along with the rise of AI, are like a double-whammy for outsourcing firms," said Stamets. Only the most innovative tech outsourcing firms will be able to work around and capitalise on the opportunity."

Investors are anxious as the country's 10 largest IT services companies have shed nearly 8% in their combined market cap last week.
Vodafone Idea has filed an amended petition with the Supreme Court, seeking a waiver of penalties and interest on adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues, arguing that the disputed components of the dues have yet to be finalised. The petition, dated 18 September and reviewed by Mint , claims the telecom operator has paid all undisputed AGR dues on a self-assessment basis.

The Hon'ble Supreme Court for the first time directed inclusion of the disputed heads for the computation of AGR. Hence, till date, it cannot be said that there was any default in payment requiring imposition of penalty," Vodafone Idea said in the petition.

According to the amended petition, both DoT and the company agree that the amounts need to be reconciled, corrected, and finalised. Till the principal amount payable is not crystallized and finalized, it cannot be said that the petitioner is in default requiring payment of penalty," the telecom operator said in the petition.

Also Read | Airtel plays wait and watch on AGR dues even as rival Vi moves SC

To be sure, Vodafone Idea, which owes 83,400 crore in AGR dues, had sought a waiver of 45,000 crore comprising interest and penalties on AGR dues from the Supreme Court in a petition on 13 May. This was, however, rejected by the court on 19 May.

In 2019, the Supreme Court ruled that Vodafone Idea and its peers needed to pay statutory liabilities on AGR, including non-telecom revenue, to the government. However, there were significant discrepancies between the telecom departments calculations and the self-assessed dues reported by telecom operators.

DoT calculated the total dues at 58,254 crore, inclusive of penalty and interest on penalty up to FY17, compared to Vodafone Ideas estimate of 21,500 crore.

Legal precedent

As per the license agreement between Vodafone Idea and DoT, in case the total amount paid as quarterly licence fee for the four quarters of the financial year falls short by more than 10% of the payable licence fee, it shall attract a penalty of 50% of the entire amount of short payment.

Vodafone Idea cited the Supreme Courts July 2024 ruling in the Mineral Area Development Authority versus Steel Authority of India case. The court held that Parliament lacked legislative competence to tax mineral rights and waived interest and penalties on pre-July 2024 demands. Vodafone Idea argued that similar relief should apply to its AGR dues. The company wants the court to take the Mineral Area case as a precedent in which it had waived interest and penalties.

Also Read | Telecom testing just got cheaper as govt slashes certification fees by up to 95%

On 8 September, Vodafone Idea filed a fresh writ petition in the Supreme Court challenging an additional demand of 9,450 crore by the Union government towards adjusted gross revenue dues.

The Supreme Court had, in 2020, locked Vodafone Ideas AGR dues till 2016-17 based on calculations by DoT, adding that no self-assessment or re-assessment of the dues would be permitted.

However, DoT has now sought additional payments for up to 2018-19, Vodafone Idea stated in its petition.

Of the 9,450 crore, the additional demand raised by DoT from Idea Group and Vodafone Idea (post-merger in August 2018) was at 2,774 crore, while the demand against Vodafone Group (pre-merger) was 6,675 crore, according to the petition. The department informed the telecom operator that the licence fee dues were calculated with interest and interest on penalty up to October 2019, and were updated up to 31 March 2025, with interest calculated at an annual rate of 8%.

Penalties on dues

The beleaguered telecom operator owes about 83,400 crore in AGR dues to the government, with annual payments of 18,000 crore beginning in March. Overall, Vodafone Ideas total dues to the government amount to around 2 trillion, including penalties and interest.

On 19 September, the government urged the court to hear the matter on 26 September, with the aim of reaching a resolution. The matter was further adjourned and is now scheduled for 6 October.

In a letter dated 17 April, Vodafone Idea urged DoT to consider the principal of 17,213 crorecalculated by the department up to FY19as final and provide a 100% waiver on interest and penalty for the AGR dues.

The main concern from the banks is that large dues are payable to the government, while the bank repayments are being made. A moratorium on AGR and spectrum instalments till at least FY30 will go a long way in the banks getting comfort that large GOI (government) dues are only paid after they have received a significant repayment of their new loans by FY30," Akshaya Moondra, former chief executive officer of Vodafone Idea, said in the letter.

The government owns nearly 49% stake in Vodafone Idea after converting nearly 53,083 crore of dues into equity in two tranches in February 2023 and April this year.

With the four-year moratorium on regulatory dues ending this month, payments of 18,000 crore a year are set to begin for Vodafone Idea from 31 March 2026more than twice the companys annual operational cash flow of 8,400-9,200 crore.
India is fast emerging as a hub for international food and beverage brands, driven by rising affluence, a young aspirational consumer base, and delivery platforms like Zomato and Swiggy that lower operating costs.

US-based Peets Coffee is the latest chain exploring an India foray, and is seeking franchise partners, a person in the know said. The company is in talks with a big real estate advisory firm, this person added. Peets did not respond to Mints request for a comment on Friday.

Peets joins a growing list of foreign QSR (quick service restaurant) chains such as US-based soft serve inventor Carvel and pizza brand Papa Johns, Malaysias TeaLive and Frances Bagelstein, that are either mulling or have already entered the country in the past 612 months. The pipeline is only increasing with several more in conversations with a growing league of franchise partners in India, Industry experts and executives told Mint.

We are seeing a lot more of global QSR brands come to India as we are at an inflection point where bulk of the consumption is disproportionately going to categories like food and fashion," Vish Narain, managing partner at Pulsar Capital, said.

Foreign QSR brands such as Shake Shack, Krispy Kreme, Pizza Hut, Subway, and McDonalds are already quite popular in India.

Handful of choices

We still have very few brands, as for every category there are only a handful of choices, so there is a larger opportunity to disrupt," Narain said. He added that rising disposable incomes and consumer spending have made it easier and more viable to run a business in India.

Pulsar and Dubai-based private equity firm PJP Investments are jointly bringing Papa Johns Pizza to India starting next month, nearly a decade after the chain exited the country due to poor response. The two franchisee partners will invest anywhere from $50100 million to open 650 stores over the next decade, Narain said.

Also Read | Mid-sized food chains hit the market as PE appetite surges

A lot has changed since the last time they were here. Average order values have gone up from 200300 to 500 today, in a sign that we are getting more affluent and dont mind paying a premium for good quality products," he said.

Narain said that unit economics have improved as Swiggy and Zomato account for 6070% of revenue, lowering dependence on high-rent locations. Thirdly, the opportunity has become far larger beyond the metros with tier-II and -III towns also becoming aspirational."

Riding the aspiration wave

Other companies are also looking to ride the aspiration wave sweeping India. Carvel will open its first ice cream store on 4 October in Delhi, and plans to invest 40 crore to roll out about 100 stores in 56 years.

According to a Redseer report, Indias food services market, valued at $80 billion in 2024, is set to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1011% through 2030, with the organized sector driving this expansion. As consumer preferences evolve, the rise of online food delivery and organized dine-in establishments is reshaping the industry.

Mrigank Gutgutia, a consumer partner at the consulting firm, said the monthly transacting user base for food delivery has almost doubled to 30 million over the past six years, with average order values touching 470 across categories as of August 2025.

Meanwhile, the US quick-service restaurant and fast-food market was valued at $254-$294 billion in 2024, and according to a report by Grand View Research, it is projected to grow significantly to over $450 billion by 2030.

Also Read | Why ChrysCapital is snapping up Theobroma and chasing family-run QSR brands

US-based GoTo Foods is also aggressively bringing its bouquet of brands to India. The chain, which owns Cinnabon, Carvel (Unify Foodworks is the franchise owner in India), Jamba, said it will roll out Moes Casa Mexicana, a localized version of Moes Southwest Grill, under a 45-unit master franchise deal, with stores planned through 2033.

Steven D. Yang, senior vice-president and managing director for Asia-Pacific at GoTo Foods, said that the firm has received frequent inquiries about other brands, such as McAlisters and Schlotzskys, to bring into India. A large and young population coupled with growing GDP and rising consumer demand make India a huge opportunity," he added.

Other enablers, such as online food delivery and payment platforms, have also encouraged global brands to consider setting up shop in the country.

Platforms like Zomato and Swiggy are doing very well, which helps international brands list and scale faster. Plus, Indias public markets are strong, so some are also exploring listing here because the market is better than most global markets," a franchise partner told Mint on the condition of anonymity.

Partnership play

The success of international brands often hinges on the strength of local partners. The franchise partner cited above told Mint, In the last 12 months, theres been a lot of activity. Large operators like Devyani have signed multiple international brands, and TFS (Travel Food Services) has brought big names into airports. Many global players now want to enter India, but since they cant do it alone, they look for local partners."

Devyani, which operates QSR brands such as KFC, Pizza Hut, and Costa Coffee, is not alone. Other experienced multi-brand operators including Rebel Foods, Sapphire, CureFoods, Westlife, and Jubilant, and even domestic giants like Haldirams are exploring alliances to bring in and manage international brands. Queries sent to Haldirams did not elicit a response till press time.

Mint earlier reported that Haldirams is looking to expand its product offerings through acquisitions after a big-ticket investment from Singapores private equity firm Temasek.

Real estate developers and mall owners are also taking the initiative: Reliance, for example, brought 7-Eleven to India directly. The anonymous franchise partner added, Groups with real estate, retail, or food experience are usually the ones who succeed in these partnerships."

Operating costs in the pizza industry have softened significantly in recent years. With delivery emerging as a large revenue contributor, there is reduced dependence on expensive prime location to set up dine-in stores. Rent used to be around 20% of revenue; now its down to 89%, which has boosted profitability," Pulsars Narain estimated.

Unifys chief executive Sumer Sethi echoed this view and noted that high real estate costs for physical outlets have held back international brands from entering India. By contrast, rent in overseas markets typically accounts for just 57% of revenues.

This isnt a QSR issue, its an India-specific real estate constraint, limited Grade A supply across metros drives prices up," said Sethi. With multiple brands in your portfolio, you can approach developers more flexibly. If they already have four coffee chains, they may not want another, but they may be open to your ice cream or Mexican brand. That makes negotiations and real estate access easier."

Redseers Gutgutia added that density of high quality restaurants has historically been low. Now, that is changing. India is extremely heterogeneous when it comes to cuisine. That allows a variety of these international chains to come in and scale up to a decent level," he explained. Such conversations have only been on the rise given the large opportunity of this market. Its hard for any international brand to ignore India today."
For the last two years, the government has aimed to nudge the private sector into investing more by expanding business capacities. Yet, the latest Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data on capital expenditure (capex) suggests that private-sector investment optimism remains tepid at best.

The RBI compiles this data from project approvals reported by banks and financial institutions (FIs), supplemented with information on equity and debt raised by companies and foreign currency borrowings.

Also Read | India Inc sits on  5 trillion cash pile as firms hold back on capex

External shock

Capex, whether for a new plant or expanding an existing one, is typically spread across years. Therefore, total capex for any given year falls into two categories: expenditure on projects planned in earlier years but budgeted for that year (what the RBI calls pipeline projects), and projects planned in that specific year (new projects).

The main concern from the RBI data is that total capex, despite exhortation from the government, was essentially flat in 2024-25.

Data for 2025-26 is not comparable with earlier years since it only covers pipeline projects, with data on new projects yet to come in.

The likelihood that capex this year will recover faces a key uncertainty in Donald Trumps tariffs on Indian exports to the US, which affects sectors like textiles, gems and jewellery. Few things affect companies willingness to stick their necks out on capex than policy uncertainty, especially from policies the Indian government has little control over.

Pros and cons

The more crucial of the two heads, arguably, is planned investment proposals by companies on new projects, as these provide visibility on how capex is likely to evolve. If the rate at which companies announce new projects falls, this doesnt just affect capex in that year, but in the years ahead, too.

If capex is to grow at a healthy rate year after year, a flat rate of new investment announcements in any given year has to be offset by correspondingly higher new investments in future years.

This is where the RBI itself admits that investment optimism is tepid. Investment intentions in projects announced by the private sector and financed from all sources fell in 2024-25.

Lower investment announcements amid uncertain demand conditions, along with higher cash buffer points to a cautiously optimistic outlook for private investment activity," says the RBI study. However, it adds that companies entered 2025-26 with healthier balance sheets, higher cash buffer, improved profitability, and greater access to diversified funding sources."

Power charge

Spending on infrastructure has dominated overall private corporate capex over the past decade, with its share ranging between 40% and 75%. Within infrastructure, the power sector leads, especially renewable energy projects driven by government incentives.

Also Read | Govt may lift capex beyond budget as private sector stays cautious

According to Projects Today, which tracks fresh investment proposals across the economy, solar and wind energy were the main recipients of funds in the first quarter of 2025-26. While the power sector as a whole saw an 84% increase in Q1 of 2025-26 compared with a quarter earlier, there was a sharp drop in investments in conventional-energy projects like thermal, hydel and nuclear plants.

Further, sectors that have been the focus of the governments production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme have seen an increase in share of total investment, though this remains in single digits. For instance, the share of the chemicals and pesticides sector in the investment financed by banks and FIs rose from 2.9% in 2023-24 to 7.9% in 2024-25, and electricals and electronics from 1.1% to 4.6%.

State picture

Highly developed, or more industrialised, states continue to garner the lions share of fresh investments. Gujarat and Maharashtra accounted for 36.5% of new investments financed by banks and FIs (thus excluding those financed only by market bond issues or equity) in 2024-25, up from 27% in 2023-24.

Significantly, Uttar Pradesh saw a sharp fall in the share of fresh investments announced in the state, and financed by banks and FIs.

According to Projects Today, a substantial proportion of new investment in states like Rajasthan and Gujarat is driven by investment in the solar and wind energy sector. In Q1 of 2025-26, for example, about 85% of fresh investments into Gujarat were in solar and wind energy. Rajasthan also registered similar numbers.

Is such a skew towards just one or two sectors healthy? The RBI study notes that the share of infrastructure-related projects in the total cost of projects was the lowest in the last 10 years".

Private weakness

The broader context is the declining importance of private corporate investment in the overall economy. From a high of over 40% share of the total fixed investment in the economy in 2015-16, the private sectors share declined to 33.6% in 2023-24. Most of that slack has been picked up by a corresponding increase in fixed investment by householdsin other words, people building houses.

The RBI feels that even if optimism is weak right now, conditions are ripe for it to pick up. Over the past decade, companies have substantially deleveraged. But the main stumbling block isnt the supply side funding is available. Rather, it is the uncertainty caused by Trump tariffs and weak domestic demand.

According to the Projects Today study, external headwinds are likely to continue clouding the investment climate for some time. As a result, private sector players may remain cautious, opting to delay new capacity expansion decisions in favour of focusing on the execution and completion of their ongoing capital expenditure programmes," it added.

www.howindialives.com is a database and search engine for public data
The Republican and Democratic congressional leaders will meet US President Donald Trump on Monday in a last minute attempt to prevent government shutdown, one day before federal funding runs out if the two parties fail to reach an agreement on a short-term spending bill.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. are likely to attend, according to NBC News. Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries were scheduled to meet with the president last week, but the White House cancelled the meeting at the last moment.

What is a government shutdown in US? A government shutdown happens when Congress does not approve funding for certain or all agencies, preventing them from spending money that hasnt been authorised by law-makers. If an agreement isnt reached by midnight on September 30, parts of the government start shutting down. Without funding, many government operations halt, and federal agencies stop all non-essential activities until Congress approves a budget.

Since 1980, there have been 14 shutdowns, the latest occurring in 2018. That shutdown lasted 34 days and left about 800,000 of the federal governments 2.1 million employees furloughed without pay. Past shutdowns have led to delayed paychecks, halted services, and widespread disruptions to daily government functions.

US government shutdown looms: What's at stake? Without a deal, over 2 million federal employees could be affected, with many furloughed and essential workers forced to work without pay. Key public services, such as air traffic control, law enforcement, and national security would continue, but agencies like national parks, museums, and research institutions would suspend operations.

If the government shutdown is not prevented, the US Department of Health and Human Services intends to furlough 41% of its staff, halting essential activities such as public health communication, oversight of contractors, and medical research efforts, Reuters reported.

What to expect at Trump's congressional meeting? The upcoming meeting will be the first between Trump and congressional leaders before the deadline to prevent a government shutdown. Democrats are demanding that the deal include an extension of health-care subsidies and a reversal of the budget cuts to health care made by Trumps key legislation passed earlier this year. Meanwhile, Republicans argue that discussions on these matters should take place only after a shutdown is avoided.
Washington, DC [US], September 29 (ANI): Emma Watson recently spoke about her relationship with Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, following her stance on transgender issues, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

While the Little Women star has previously spoken out against Rowling's anti-trans views, she told Shetty that she now tries to separate her relationship with the author from their differing perspectives. "I really don't believe that by having had that experience and holding the love and support and views that I have means that I can't and don't treasure Jo and the person that I had personal experiences with," Watson said.

"I will never believe that one negates the other, and that my experience of that person, I don't get to keep and cherish, to come back to our earlier thing. I don't think these things are either or. It's my deepest wish that people who don't agree with my opinion will love me, and I hope I can keep loving people with whom I don't necessarily share the same opinion," as quoted by The Hollywood Reporter.

In 2020, as Rowling continued to criticise certain aspects of the trans rights movement, Watson shared on social media at the time, "Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren't who they say they are. I want my trans followers to know that I and so many other people around the world see you, respect you and love you for who you are."

In response, the iconic author said she would not forgive Watson nor her Harry Potter co-star Daniel Radcliffe for going against her views.
New Delhi, Sep 29 (PTI) India is negotiating free trade agreements (FTAs) with a number of countries including the US, New Zealand, Oman, Peru, Chile, and the European Union, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Monday.

He said that Qatar and Bahrain too are keen to negotiate trade pacts with India.

In August, India and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) comprising Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic and Russia signed Terms of Reference (ToR) to launch negotiations on an FTA, he said.

"Talks are going with the US (for a trade agreement). Talks are also underway with the EU, New Zealand, Oman, Peru and Chile," he said at UP International Trade Show, Greater Noida.

Last week, the minister led an official delegation to New York for trade talks. After that meeting, India and the US decided to continue negotiations for early conclusion of a mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement.

Both sides held constructive meetings on various aspects of the trade deal. During the visit, the minister held meetings with United States Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer and US Ambassador-designate to India Sergio Gor.

These deliberations were important as they took place after the US imposed a 25 per cent reciprocal tariff and an additional 25 per cent penalty on Indian goods entering the American market for purchasing Russian crude oil. At present, total 50 per cent additional import duty is imposed on Indian goods.

In February this year, leaders of the two countries directed officials to negotiate a proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).

It was planned to conclude the first tranche of the pact by the fall (October-November) of 2025. So far, five rounds of negotiations have been held. The pact is aimed at more than doubling the bilateral trade to USD 500 billion by 2030 from the current USD 191 billion.

The US remained India's largest trading partner for the fourth consecutive year in 2024-25, with bilateral trade valued at USD 131.84 billion (USD 86.5 billion exports).

The US accounts for about 18 per cent of India's total goods exports, 6.22 per cent in imports, and 10.73 per cent in the country's total merchandise trade.

Goyal also informed that the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) between India and the four European nations bloc, EFTA (European Free Trade Association) will come into force from October 1. It was signed on March 10, 2024.

Under the pact, India has received an investment commitment of USD 100 billion in 15 years from the grouping while allowing several products, such as Swiss watches, chocolates, and cut and polished diamonds, at lower or zero duties.

"This pact will benefit" Indian traders, he said adding these agreements reflect increasing interest of the developed world towards India.
New Delhi, Textiles Minister Pabitra Margherita will visit Moscow this week to hold a meeting with Russia's Ministry of Industry and Trade and entrepreneurs of the textile and apparel industry, according to an official statement.

The visit came weeks after the US imposed 25 per cent tariffs on Indian goods, and a 25 per cent penalty for New Delhi's purchase of Russian oil.

"Pabitra Margherita, Union Minister of State for Textiles and External Affairs, is scheduled to undertake an official visit to Moscow, Russia, from 1st to 3rd October 2025," the statement said on Monday.

India is eyeing markets of 40 countries for pushing its textile exports, following the imposition of 50 per cent tariffs by the US, which is the biggest market for the country's apparel shipments.

"The visit underscores India's commitment to strengthening trade and cultural ties with Russia, and highlights the growing role of Indian textiles and apparel in global markets. These engagements will bolster bilateral trade, encourage market diversification, and enhance people-to-people linkages between the two countries," an official statement said.

The Minister of State for Textiles and External Affairs will also inaugurate "Best of India - Indian Apparel and Textile Fair" in Moscow, showcasing over 100 Indian companies.

"These engagements will provide an opportunity to strengthen bilateral cooperation in trade, industry, and textile sectors, and explore avenues for enhancing collaboration between Indian and Russian businesses," the Textile Ministry said in the statement.

The exclusive exhibition and buyer-seller meet will serve as a strategic gateway for Indian exporters to expand their presence in Russia and CIS markets, the ministry added.

Over 100 Indian companies are expected to participate in the fair, showcasing products ranging from handloom and handicrafts to home furnishings, carpets, linens, apples, and garments.

The fair will attract around 1,000 domestic and international buyers, providing Indian businesses a direct engagement platform with leading importers, wholesalers, and retailers from Russia.
Minutes after a mile-wide tornado struck this city on an otherwise beautiful day this spring, Ali Rand heard her husband shout as he surveyed the devastation surrounding their tony neighborhood of historical homes. Everything is gone," Rand, 38, remembers him saying.

The tornado, packing winds of 152 miles an hour, hit the city with blunt force, killing five people. In the weeks following the storm, Rand and other private citizens mobilized teams of residents whose neighborhoods had been destroyed to clean up debris, remove fallen trees and rebuild shattered homes.

Largely missing from the recovery efforts, according to Rand, city officials and other residents: the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Ive never seen someone from FEMA out on the streets," Rand said.

That is by design.

St. Louis is a test case for the Trump administrations new policy of shifting more responsibility for natural disasters to states and cities. City officials and local residents who are still clearing rubble from destroyed buildings four months after the tornado struck said the experiment isnt going well.

Many of FEMAs core functions related to preparing for natural disasters and leading recovery efforts after they strike have ground to a halt as the Trump administration redefines the agency, according to more than a dozen FEMA employees and local officials, as well as a review of internal government documents.

Crucial contracts and grants havent been approved, caught up in layers of new bureaucracy. A wave of senior staff departed the agency when Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency offered buyouts, taking decades of experience with them. Around 400 FEMA employees have been detailed to work at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as that agency rapidly expands. And the administration has started dismantling the agencys disaster-response infrastructure, which was strengthened in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

The scaled-back federal response has left places like St. Louis in a bind. The city doesnt have the finances, institutional knowledge or equipment to rapidly respond to catastrophic disasters like the tornado that struck in May, which the city estimates caused $1.6 billion in damage.

St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencera Democrat, who had been in office for just a month when the tornado hitpointed in an interview to the rapid federal response to a tornado that struck Joplin, Mo., in 2011. That didnt happen here," she said. Were running the response ourselves."

St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer, who took office just before the tornado hit.

As a result, entire streets remain lined by shattered houses with yards covered by heaps of the citys famous red bricks and torn-up trees. Much of the damage occurred in the majority Black northern sections of St. Louis.

It took the White House two weeks to approve a disaster declaration in early June, a move that typically unleashes a gusher of cash and on-the-ground assistance. But city officials said they are still waiting for most of that aid. FEMA officials arrived to go door-to-door to help residents apply for federal funds. But they stopped providing the service as the administration canceled the door-to-door program nationwide, according to a city official. FEMA closed disaster-recovery facilities where residents could apply for financial assistance last week.

Tricia McLaughlin, spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, which has housed FEMA since 2003, said the agency moved quickly to support Missouri and St. Louis in the aftermath of the May tornado." She denied that FEMA pre-emptively pulled back door-to-door teams in St. Louis.

The city has run into a problem that is plaguing the entire agencys operations: A requirement that all spending of $100,000 or more go through a byzantine process for approval that involves up to a dozen layers of review.

The process, instituted by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, is breaking down the agencys ability to respond to disasters at every level, according to several FEMA employees and the review of documents.

The review process has had no negative impact to providing assistance in Missouri," said McLaughlin. Under Secretary Noems leadership, DHS is rooting out rampant fraud and abuse." She said claims that core disaster-response operations are unfunded are simply false."

As of early September, roughly 1,000 contracts and grants were pending approvalmany of which are central to disaster response, the documents show. Now, at the peak of hurricane season, employees said they are spending the bulk of their work hours trying to get spending approved and coming up with contingency plans for entire programs that have been denied funding.

For St. Louis, a major part of its requested federal assistance involves disposing of the estimated one million tons of debris that lined city streets and yards, which the city estimated would cost more than $700 million. Its request to FEMA to help cover those costs remained in limbo until mid-September, four months after the tornado struck, when the city said FEMA had agreed to cover 75% of eligible debris-removal costs. Private citizens such as Rand have stepped in to fill the gaps.

Ginelle Bess, the founder of a recovery nonprofit, walked past debris from the May tornado that still lines the streets.A tornado-damaged home. Volunteers stacked bricks during cleanup efforts.Ali Rand, right, spoke with neighbors Bill Atkins, left, and Larry Powell, center. Rand and other residents volunteered to help organize recovery efforts.

To President Trump and other White House officials, that is a new-and-improved model for disaster response. Trump has called for FEMA to be eliminated or drastically downsized, arguing that the agency has failed to adequately respond to disasters. States and the private sector are better equipped to perform FEMAs mission, he has said.

In January, shortly after his inauguration, Trump said FEMA was very bureaucratic, and its very slow," adding that the agencys disaster response costs a tremendous amount of money."

DHS requested a $36.2 billion budget for the agency for fiscal year 2026, up $3.9 billion from the previous year. Under Trumps plan to downsize FEMA, federal funds would be granted to the states for them to manage recoveries, although details of how things would operate or whether the budget would shrink havent been made clear.

President Trump is committed to right-sizing the federal government while empowering state and local governments by enabling them to better understand, plan for and ultimately address the needs of their citizens," said Abigail Jackson, spokeswoman for the White House.

Pencil-and-paper methods

The bottleneck in operations created by the new funding approval process has caused deep concern throughout FEMA about its ability to respond to a major Atlantic hurricane like the two stormsHurricane Helene and Hurricane Miltonthat hit the Southeast this time last year.

Funding has yet to be fully approved for key contracts, according to documents reviewed by The Wall Street Journal that track the spending approval process. That includes a program that handles preliminary disaster assessments, which are congressionally mandated and form the basis of a federal disaster declaration.

The funding for software and cloud systems through Oracle that underpin many of FEMAs operations, including databases that are used by victims to apply for assistance, is also held up.

Employees have been instructed by senior staff to prepare to operate like FEMA did in the early 1990s, when work was handled manually or by using Microsoft Excel spreadsheets with complicated formulas for calculating assistance. Funding requests are also routed through DOGE, which adds another layer of bureaucracy to the process and contributes to delays, according to FEMA employees and state officials.

After wildfires spread in Colorado in late August, an email sent to employees directed them to manually fill out forms to prepare for the potential loss of access to a program used for damage assessment. [W]e are recommending thatyou revert to pencil-and-paper methods," according to the email, which was reviewed by the Journal.

As of early September, hundreds more grants and contracts had yet to be approved, including funding for replenishing the agencys supply of boxed drinking water, rent for facilities, storm surge monitoring data and the updating of flooding maps, including for flood-prone regions such as Kerr County, Texas, where flash floods this summer killed more than 135, including children.

Officials are also looking at shutting down entire FEMA offices across the country, according to people familiar with the discussions, as part of the administrations efforts to downsize the agency and shift responsibility to states.

Noem has said approvals for disaster response would be expedited. But guidelines sent to employees detailing how to write a memo for contract approvals state that disaster-related approvals have to be made in less than 20 days," a timeline FEMA employees said was slower than typical, warning the system could add significant delays to projects. The process also includes at least seven layers of review.

During a recent response exercise, which employees do regularly to prepare for a disaster, officials spent the bulk of the time figuring out how many spending memos would be needed in the immediate aftermath of a major Atlantic hurricane, according to people familiar with the exercise. Based on the spending level for Hurricanes Helene and Milton, employees determined it would require at least 80 funding approvals by Noem in the initial days to effectively save lives and assist victims, one of the people said.

A task force with dozens of employees was created in early July to help process the spending approval memos. But employees said the process remained convoluted, with leadership frequently changing the template for the one-page memos, sending them back repeatedly over small wording changes or asking for basic acronyms to be spelled out, including the acronym FEMA. That task force was abruptly disbanded recently, and the system tracking progress of funding requests was frozen, making the process even more opaque.

McLaughlin, the DHS spokeswoman, said the task force was designed to be temporary.

Completely unacceptable

Trump touted his administrations response to the fast-moving floods that ravaged Kerr County. But inside the agency, employees said Noems spending approvals paralyzed FEMA.

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem at a discussion after the floods in Kerr County, Texas.

It took 72 hours for spending to be approved for search and rescue teams on the ground, which concerned Ken Pagurek, the head of FEMAs Urban Search and Rescue unit, enough to resign, according to employees familiar with his thinking.

It also resulted in a delay in helping people affected by the flooding who were reaching out to FEMAs phone line for assistance. The agency uses contractors to help answer phone lines, but funding for those call centers lapsed on July 6two days after the flooding in Texas began.

On July 7, the agency started moving over FEMA staff to manage the phone lines, where wait times for victims were hours long. Data reviewed by the Journal show more than 500 people waiting in the queue in early July.

Flash floods are extremely fast and just devastating for the people who are living in their wake, and so making them wait all day on the phone for four, five even more hours is just completely unacceptable," said Abby McIlraith, an emergency management specialist now on administrative leave, who was one of the FEMA employees who got reassigned to help respond to the flood of calls.

Noem eventually extended the call center contract, but funding lapsed again on Sept. 10, and employees were told to prepare to operate without that support. The following day, employees were alerted that the call centers were back online," but there was still confusion over how long the contract had been extended for. The back-and-forth over key operations and their long-term uncertainty has been detrimental to the agency, employees said.

McLaughlin said FEMA experienced no delays in deployment of assets" in Texas. She also said that despite the influx in calls, FEMAs disaster call center responded to every caller swiftly and efficiently, ensuring no one was left without assistance."

Experienced staff leaves

The Government Accountability Office, a nonpartisan agency that works for Congress, said in a September report that a high number of reductions across FEMAs workforce, including the loss of experienced disaster-management officials, could reduce effectiveness of federal disaster response for upcoming disasters."

Two dozen senior executive employees at FEMA had left the agency between Jan. 25 and June 1, ahead of the hurricane season, according to the report. Agency officials told the GAO that the departures, many of which were part of the DOGE buyout offer, had left FEMA with just 50% of its senior executive service staff.

The loss of experienced staff has been exacerbated by the new decision-making process at the agency, which is largely controlled by political appointees, disrupting the traditional chain of command and slowing response times, employees said. Top appointees lack emergency-management experience, and David Richardson, the acting administrator, has largely ceded his authority to DHS, according to people familiar with the agencys operations.

Richardson is leading FEMAs response to every declared disaster" and is focused on results not recognition," McLaughlin said.

The GAO issued another report on Sept. 15 alleging that FEMA has violated the law by improperly withholding or delaying" funds for a pair of food and shelter programs. McLaughlin said the GAO report is simply incorrect" and that FEMA still plans to award funds to the programs.

With ICE looking to expand its immigration enforcement operations significantly, DHS is using hundreds of FEMA staffers to help with human resources work and background checks, according to people familiar with the operations.

DHS continued to reduce employees even after the official start of the hurricane season in June. The agency put on leave more than 30 FEMA employees, including McIlraith, who signed a public petition to Congress known as The Katrina Declaration." The petition alleged that FEMAs leadership wasnt following the laws that were put in place in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina to strengthen disaster response.

Declan Crowe, who was put on leave for signing the letter, grew concerned after seeing the agencys response to the flooding in Texas. He decided to work in emergency management after seeing the effects of Hurricane Sandy in 2012 on his family members. He didnt think the agency was living up to its mission under the current administration.

There was definitely not enough assistance right after the disaster" in Texas, he said. Now, take a bigger hurricane, or something like that, and theres a real problem there."

Approaching winter

In some ways, St. Louis is luckier than other cities and states struck by disasters this year, since Trump approved its disaster-declaration request in June. As of Aug. 31, a dozen outstanding disaster requests from across the country were sitting on Trumps desk, nearly double the average on that date from 2016 to 2024, according to Sarah Labowitz, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, who tracks federal disaster spending.

Trump approved six more in mid-September, but FEMA employees said the process for approving disaster declarations remains slow and opaque.

Bess spoke to resident Jeanette Robinson this month about a cleanup day.

Officials in North Carolina complain that funding from FEMA for recovery from Hurricane Helene remains stuck in the gears of the federal bureaucracy. Sen. Ted Budd (R., N.C.) has moved to put a hold on DHS nominees as a protest against funding delays from FEMA in his home state.

St. Louis is also still waiting for money to arrive. Besides the funding for debris removal, St. Louis is awaiting funds for crisis-counseling services from FEMA, said Julian Nicks, who is leading the citys recovery efforts. FEMA also isnt providing alternative facilities for the roughly half-dozen schools that remain closed in the city, a service it has historically provided. Instead, the city is busing students to schools that have extra space.

In the absence of FEMA, much of the recovery effort has been led by private citizens such as Rand, who have raised funds to clear streets and yards and repair houses. Ginelle Bess, founder of a nonprofit helping with recovery efforts, said her group has raised more than $70,000 to clean up damaged homes and clear debris.

Bess said a number of residents continue to live in homes ravaged by the tornado, some of which are contaminated with mold. Its unclear what will happen to them as temperatures start to dip, she said. Im so nervous about the winter," Bess said.

Write to Scott Patterson at scott.patterson@wsj.com and Tarini Parti at tarini.parti@wsj.com
There are few things that unite all New Yorkers, but one is an obsession with talking about the housing market. And so it is no surprise that it is dominating the citys mayoral election on November 5th. The Democratic candidate (and front-runner) Zohran Mamdani has made a slogan out of his promise to freeze the rent on the 50% of flats that are rent-stabilised. The trailing candidates have scraped together their own housing plans. Yet for all the noise, one thing has been missed: New York Citys rental sector has already changed rather dramatically.

Last year the city had the lowest apartment-vacancy rate in almost 60 years. And yet at the same time, landlords filed almost 50% fewer eviction cases than in 2016. Completed evictions are down by a quarter. New rights and procedures introduced over the past decade have transformed the legal landscape for tenants.

A decade ago, one in ten New York City renters faced eviction proceedings every year. Evictions are costly, financially and in human and social terms. After being evicted, renters tend to see their incomes fall, they are more likely to become homeless and they visit hospital emergency rooms more often. For children, being evicted has roughly the same impact on high-school graduation rates as being in juvenile incarceration. For landlords, evictions can cost the equivalent of two to three months of rent, not including the vacancy rent gap while new tenants are found.

The first big change came in 2017, when the city introduced a right for poor tenants to legal representation. This was followed by a new tenants rights law passed by the state government in 2019. The effects of both seem to have been dramatic (see chart).

Before the representation law came in, just one in 100 tenants had counsel, compared with 95% of landlords. On paper, tenants in New York benefit from powerful legal protections, but in practice, without lawyers, these are hard to enforce. Since the change, landlords do seem to have stopped filing as many legally weak eviction cases. That is despite limited funding. Munonyedi Clifford of New Yorks Legal Aid Society says she has been hiring like gangbusters but it is not enough.

Ms Clifford also says that the 2019 law passed by the state really changed the landscape. Landlords agree. The law systematically changed the economics of housing, says Kenny Burgos of the New York Apartment Association, which represents property owners. More change came last year: the state limited rent increases further and now requires some landlords to renew most leases automatically.

The trouble with all this is that there is inevitably a trade-off. Existing tenants are certainly better off. But newcomers and movers find it harder and more expensive to find a place to live, as landlords become more cautious. Nicole Upano of the National Apartment Association, a landlord trade association, says many are already introducing stricter screening to exclude risky tenants. In Washington, DC, pandemic-era rules made evictions harder and slower. Unpaid rent rose from $11m in 2020 to $100m in 2025. Affordable housing disappeared from the market, as landlords became more conservative. The city is now rolling back many of the changes.
The Pentagon, alarmed at the low weapons stockpiles the U.S. would have on hand for a potential future conflict with China, is urging its missile suppliers to double or even quadruple production rates on a breakneck schedule.

The push to speed production of the critical weapons in the highest demand has played out through a series of high-level meetings between Pentagon leaders and senior representatives from several U.S. missile makers, according to people familiar with the matter. Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg is taking an unusually hands-on role in the effort, called the Munitions Acceleration Council, and calls some company executives weekly to discuss it, some of the people said.

The department summoned top missile suppliers to a June roundtable at the Pentagon to kick off the industry effort. The meeting, attended by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, drew executives from several weapons makers, new market entrants like Anduril Industries, and a handful of suppliers of important parts like rocket propellant and batteries.

President Trump and Secretary Hegseth are exploring extraordinary avenues to expand our military might and accelerate the production of munitions," said Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell, when asked about the efforts. This effort has been a collaboration between defense industry leaders and senior Pentagon officials."

Some people involved in the effort both inside and outside of the government worry that the governments targets arent realistic. Individual missiles can take two years to fully assemble. It can take several months and hundreds of millions of dollars to test and qualify weapons from new suppliers as safe and reliable enough for U.S. service members to use.

There are also questions about the money needed to accelerate production. The Trump administrations Big, Beautiful Bill, signed in July, provided an additional $25 billion in five-year munitions funding, but analysts say that hitting the Pentagons aggressive targets would cost tens of billions more.

Companies dont build these things on spec," said Tom Karako, a munitions expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. You wait for the government to put them on contract. There needs to be an expression of support with money. It cant just be words."

Defense contractors like Lockheed Martin and Raytheon say they have responded by adding workers, widening factory floors and growing spare-parts inventories to prepare for a potential demand surge. But some suppliers have struggled to hit the new targets and are wary of splurging on orders that the government has yet to fund.

Christopher Calio, the chairman and chief executive officer of Raytheon parent RTX, one of the militarys largest munitions producers, said in a July 3 letter to the Pentagon that it was ready to work with the Defense Department to increase production, but cautioned that the company would need additional money and commitments from the Pentagon to buy more munitions.

Signaling the demand strength of these critical munitions to the supply base with Program of Record extensionsand funding to support is required," he wrote in the letter, which was reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.

Military officials have fretted about the U.S. ability to ramp up weapons production since Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The Biden administration launched an effort to raise munitions production rates and smooth out supply-chain kinks in 2023.

The current conflict in Ukraine has been a wake-up call," then-Undersecretary of Defense Bill LaPlante said at the time. Weve allowed production lines to go cold, watched as parts became obsolete and seen sub-tier suppliers consolidate or go out of business entirely."

New missile orders have since failed to keep up with the soaring use of expensive interceptors, including the Patriot, to defend Ukraine against intensifying Russian bombardment. U.S. officials want more of those interceptor missiles on hand to protect bases and allies around the Pacific region.

By June, the Trump administration had set even more aggressive production goals. Then the U.S. fired hundreds of high-end missiles during the 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran, further depleting its missile arsenal.

The new acceleration council is focused on 12 weapons that the Pentagon wants on hand for a potential conflict with China, some of the people said. The list includes Patriot interceptors, Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles, the Standard Missile-6, Precision Strike Missiles and Joint Air-Surface Standoff Missiles. Patriot is a particular priority because Lockheed has struggled to keep pace with surging global demand.

An early request for information asked weapons makers at the June roundtable to detail how they could increase production to 2.5 times current volumes through steps taken over the following six, 18 and 24 months, according to documents reviewed by the Journal. The military also asked suppliers to describe how they might attract new private capital and potentially license their technology to third-party manufacturers.

The Army in September awarded Lockheed almost $10 billion to make nearly 2,000 PAC-3 missiles from fiscal year 2024 to 2026. The Pentagon wants suppliers to eventually pump out that same number of Patriots each yearnearly four times the current production rate, according to some of the people familiar with the matter.

A Lockheed spokeswoman said the company is exploring more investments in Patriot missile production and expects to deliver above its stated capacity for the next several years. An RTX spokesman declined to comment.

The effort is also mapping supply chains down multiple tiers to find areas for potential improvement and looking for second sources where single suppliers create bottlenecks. For example, the Pentagon is calling for more production of a Boeing-made seeker nested in the missiles nose, which has become a chokepoint for Patriot production.

Boeing rushed this summer to calculate how big an order of the seekers it could fulfill and recently finished a 35,000-square-foot expansion project at its factory, which is still being outfitted with new assembly equipment.

A Boeing spokeswoman said that monthly seeker deliveries have hit new records and that the company plans to further boost production.

Some suppliers say they are willing to put capital at risk before contracts are in hand. A Northrop Grumman spokeswoman said the missile supplier invested ahead of the need with more than $1 billion across solid rocket motor production facilities," with plans to nearly double output over the next four years.

The Pentagon will soon be taking more steps to increase production, said Daniel Driscoll, the Army secretary, earlier this month. The department, he said, is planning massively substantive changes to how we buy our stuff."

Write to Drew FitzGerald at andrew.fitzgerald@wsj.com and Lara Seligman at lara.seligman@wsj.com
Afghanistans ruling Taliban released a U.S. citizen from custody, a display of goodwill by Kabul that comes when the country is in broader economic and political talks with the Trump administration.

On Sunday, the Taliban released Amir Amiri, making him the fifth American to be released from Afghanistan this year. The talks, which were led by U.S. envoy for hostage affairs, Adam Boehler, were mediated by Qatar. Qatar enjoys a close security relationship with Washington and has been integral to the release of detained Americans.

The release could help support ongoing talks between Kabul and the U.S. on a number of issues. Earlier this month, President Trump said the U.S. was in discussions with Afghanistan over taking back control of Bagram Air Base. The installation was the largest American base in Afghanistan during a 20-year war against the Taliban that ended in 2021. The U.S. withdrew from the country that year.

Following Trumps remarks about Bagram, a U.S. official told The Wall Street Journal that the air base was part of wider discussions with the Taliban government on re-establishing ties, as well as on economic and security issues. Those talks are led by Boehler, the official said. Afghanistan is seeking access to billions of dollars of central bank reserves the U.S. seized in 2021.

Mohammed Al-Khulaifi, a Qatari diplomat and hostage negotiator, said Sunday that the release of Amiri could contribute to a more positive atmosphere for addressing outstanding issues between the U.S. and Afghanistan.

The Taliban have firmly rejected the idea that it would accept U.S. troops on its territory and has also dismissed the idea of a U.S. intelligence presence inside Afghanistan.

But in a social-media post following Trumps remarks, a senior official in Afghanistans Foreign Ministry, Zakir Jalaly, appeared to leave open the possibility of other forms of cooperation.

Afghanistan and America need to engage with each other and can have economic and political relations based on mutual respect and common benefits, without America having a military presence in any part of Afghanistan," Jalaly wrote.

The Taliban released two Americans in a prisoner swap in January, followed by two more in March. Earlier this month, the Taliban released a British couple from custody, also following mediation from Qatar.

Other U.S. citizens are still held in Afghanistan, including Mahmoud Habibi, an American of Afghan descent who disappeared in the country three years ago. The Taliban have denied holding him. His family has expressed hope that the Trump administration can secure Habibis release as well.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Sunday that the Trump administration would pursue bringing home other Americans detained unjustly in Afghanistan.

The U.S. delegation arrived on Sunday and met with Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Mutaqi. Qatar released a photo showing Amiri on a plane with Boehler and Trumps counterterrorism adviser, Sebastian Gorka.

Former U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan peace talks, Zalmay Khalilzad, said the hostage releases showed the Taliban were reading U.S. signals correctly.

The Trump administrations hardline policy against the detention of American citizens abroad, on one hand, and its efforts to establish communications with the Taliban, on the other, have clearly played a role in this shift," said Khalilzad in a post on X on Sunday.

Write to Tripti Lahiri at tripti.lahiri@wsj.com
This week, beauty e-commerce platform Nykaa appointed actress Deepika Padukone as its global brand ambassador. In the new ad film, Padukonedressed in a dazzling golden outfitgrooves to Mikey McClearys 2011 remix of the classic song Hawa Hawai, while applying makeup and a mist of fragrance, all in preparation for a cozy night in.

The ads ultimate pitchWhy get dressed only to go out? Get dressed up for yourself, because youre the Nykaa, the lead heroine of your own lifeclearly explains why it would resonate with so many women.

The campaign builds on a brand plank that Nykaa launched in 2021, the year it went public. But whats more striking than the campaign itself is that it positions Padukone as a global icon, and not simply a Hindi film star who is admired in India and among the Indian diaspora.

In its press release for the campaign, Nykaa refers to Padukone as a Global Icon several times, but strangely enough, offers no context to what makes her appeal global. Shes described as an entrepreneur, mental health advocate, and a timeless beauty, none of which can be contested.

Padukone has spent some years building a global image, with appearances at the Met Gala in New York City and the Cannes Red Carpet in France, a spot on the jury of the Cannes Film Festival in 2022, and as a global brand ambassador for iconic luxury brand Louis Vuitton the same year. She even did a small role in a Hollywood action film xXx in 2017, and is reportedly cast in its sequel too.

However, its debatable whether these engagements are enough to catapult her to a global icon status, in the same way as, say, Korean viral sensation BTS, or the Kardashians who visited India as guests of the Ambanis at their sons wedding.

Also Read | How WGC plans to woo gold-deprecating Gen Z and millennials

Whats more interesting is this: Why does Nykaa need a global ambassador at all? Most of its beauty business comes from India, although it does run operations in the Middle East and is setting shop in other regions too, where there is a significant Indian diaspora. It makes one wonder if Nykaa and Deepika Padukone are both following similar playbooks for going global. If so, they will need to demonstrably break out of their core Indian and NRI (or desi) customer base.

This isnt an isolated example of an Indian celebritys global ambitions. Padukones colleague Alia Bhatt, who starred in an American Netflix original Heart of Stone, was also appointed a global brand ambassador for the jeans brand Levis along with Punjabi pop sensation Diljit Dosanjh. Iincidentally, Deepika Padukone also fronted the brand, but only for the India market only.

Just like Padukone, Bhatt is also a global brand ambassadorfor iconic luxury brand Gucci. But if YouTube views are anything to go by, the Levis ad featuring American pop queen Beyonce has many more views than the campaign featuring Bhatt. Beyonce is, arguably, far more of a global icon than Bhatt, Dosanjh, or even Padukone.

Also Read | Its time for virtual influencers
Tata Capital IPO price band has been fixed in the range of 310 to 326 per equity share of the face value of 10. The Tata Capital IPO date of subscription is scheduled for Monday, October 6 and will close on Wednesday, October 8. The allocation to anchor investors for the Tata Capital IPO is scheduled to take place on Friday, October 3. The Tata Capital IPO lot size is 46 equity shares and in multiples of 46 equity shares thereafter.

The floor price and cap price are 31.0 times and 32.6 times the face value of the equity shares, respectively.

Tata Capital IPO has reserved not more than 50% of the shares in the public issue for qualified institutional buyers (QIB), not less than 15% for non-institutional Institutional Investors (NII), and not less than 35% of the offer is reserved for retail investors. The employee portion has been reserved up to 1,200,000 equity shares.

Tentatively, Tata Capital IPO basis of allotment of shares will be finalised on Thursday, October 9 and the company will initiate refunds on Friday, October 10, while the shares will be credited to the demat account of allottees on the same day following refund. Tata Capital share price is likely to be listed on BSE and NSE on Monday, October 13.

Also Read | Why IPO-bound Tata Capital is shifting its focus to used vehicle loans

Tata Capital IPO details The proposed initial public offering consists of 47.58 crore shares, which includes a new issue of 21 crore equity shares and an offer for sale (OFS) of 26.58 crore shares.

As part of the OFS, Tata Sons will sell 23 crore shares, while the International Finance Corporation (IFC) will sell 3.58 crore shares.

At present, Tata Sons owns an 88.6% stake in Tata Capital, and the IFC holds a 1.8% share.

The funds raised from the IPO will be utilised to enhance the company's Tier-1 capital, which will support future capital needs, including lending activities.

Tata Capital IPO is being carried out in accordance with the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) requirement for upper-layer non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) to be listed within three years of their classification. Tata Capital was classified as an upper-layer NBFC in September 2022.

Tata Capital IPO is being underwritten by a group of lead managers, which includes Axis Capital, Kotak Mahindra Capital Company, BNP Paribas, HDFC Bank, HSBC Securities and Capital Markets (India) Private Limited, Citigroup Global Markets India Private Limited, ICICI Securities, IIFL Capital Services, SBI Capital Markets, and J P Morgan India.

NBFC details The non-banking financial company, Tata Capital has served over 7 million customers by March 31. With a range of more than 25 lending options, the company addresses the needs of a varied clientele, including employed individuals, self-employed workers, entrepreneurs, small enterprises, SMEs, and larger corporations.

Besides offering loans, Tata Capital also distributes third-party products like insurance and credit cards, provides wealth management services, and functions as a sponsor and investment manager for private equity funds.

As per the red herring prospectus (RHP), the company's listed peers are Bajaj Finance Ltd (with a P/E of 37.8), Shriram Finance Ltd (with a P/E of 300.3), Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company Ltd (with a P/E of 31.5), L&T Finance Ltd (with a P/E of 23.1), Sundaram Finance Ltd (with a P/E of 26.9), and HDB Financial Services Ltd (with a P/E of 28.1).

In the financial year 2024-25, Tata Capital announced a profit after tax (PAT) of 3,655 crore, an increase from 3,327 crore in FY24. Additionally, its revenue saw a significant rise to 28,313 crore in FY25, compared to 18,175 crore in the prior year.
Tata Capital IPO: Tata Capital, the highly anticipated Tata Group company set to hit the primary market on October 6, has announced its IPO price band at 310-326 per share. However, the announcement has dampened investor sentiment  particularly among those who bought shares in the unlisted market.

Tata Capital IPO price band has not only eroded hopes of strong listing gains for unlisted shareholders of the company, but has also left them questioning whether they will even recover their original investment.

The concern stems from the fact that Tata Capitals unlisted stock had peaked at around 1125 according to data from unlistedzone.com, significantly higher than the upper end of the IPO price band. Any investor who bought Tata Capital unlisted shares then, in hopes of making returns on IPO, is now staring at a staggering 71% loss. Meanwhile, as of yesterday's close, Tata Capital IPO price is at a 56% discount.

Tata Capital IPO Details (This is an AI-generated image)

Also Read | Tata Capital vs TruAlt Bioenergy vs Jain Resource IPO  what grey market signals

As a result, early investors now face the possibility of booking losses.

"Tata Capitals valuation reset reflects the markets broader shift toward more conservative pricing in financial services IPOs. The company remains fundamentally strong, with a diversified lending book and strong parentage backing its growth," said Raj Gaikar, Research Analyst, SAMCO Securities.

HDB Fin, NSDL and now Tata Capital: Unlisted shareholders face rude shock However, this is not a standalone incident. Earlier big-shot IPOs whose shares enjoyed good traction in the unlisted market also disappointed investors due to discounted IPO pricing  serving as cautionary tales.

National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL) has set the price band for its upcoming IPO at 760800 per share  a steep 22% discount to its valuation in the unlisted market.

A similar pattern played out with HDB Financial Services. The 12,500-crore IPO was priced at 700740 per share, far below the 1,225 level seen in the unlisted market.

Explaining the reason behind this difference, Gaikar said that in the unlisted space, scarcity and limited liquidity often push valuations much higher than its actual fundamentals. Once these companies enter the public market, regulatory oversight, peer benchmarking, and investor scrutiny push valuations toward realistic levels, he said, adding that investment banks also prefer to leave some upside for public investors to ensure smooth listings.

Can Tata Capital's unlisted shareholders recover losses? While NSDL has managed to peak above the unlisted price, HDB Financial shares have cracked below the issue price.

In the case of the Tata Capital IPO, Gaikar expects that unlisted investors will have to wait for a medium-to long-term to break even on their investment.

"In the near term, recovering these losses fully may be difficult for those investors who have listed in unlisted shares, as listed valuations tend to align more with sector averages than grey market multiples," he opined.

In the medium to long run, patient investors can recover their losses if the company delivers strong growth, maintains solid credit quality, and continues to improve its financial performance in the future, the SAMCO Securities analyst added.

Tata Capital shares traded above 1,000 for a considerable period, despite two rights issues in the past year  one at 343 in July 2025 and another at 281 in May 2025, said Vijay Kuppa, CEO, InCred Money.

"The IPO price band is now set at 310 326, while even recently, the unlisted market price hovered around 750 800. Investors who bought at those inflated levels may find it hard to recover their investments," he opined.

Should retail investors avoid unlisted shares? While these incidents may make investors steer clear of unlisted shares, Gaikar said that unlisted stocks can still create wealth if chosen carefully, but investors need to keep their expectations in check.

"For long-term investors, buying quality companies with strong fundamentals and fair valuations with a high margin of safety can still work out well," he opined.

However, Nithin Kamath, Founder and CEO, Zeordha, had cautioned retail investors against investing in the unlisted market, suggesting that mutual funds are a better bet.

"Most investors think they can make easy money by picking these pre-IPO companies, waiting for the IPO, and making big listing gains. But it's not as easy as it sounds, and there are all sorts of risks," the entrepreneur said in a social media post on X back in June.

Low liquidity, delayed IPOs and lack of regulations are some of the key risks that investors face when they dabble in the world of unlisted shares, Kamath had warned.
Indian benchmark indices, once hailed as the strongest growth story among emerging markets, have lost steam since September 2024. The Sensex and Nifty 50 are down 6.45 per cent and 6.17 per cent, respectively, from their record highs of 85,978.25 and 26,277.35 touched on September 27, 2024.

This marked a sharp pause after a four-year bull run that saw the Nifty 50 climb more than 3.5 times from its March 2020 lows.

Global and domestic headwinds weigh heavily The reversal in Indian equities has been driven by both global and local factors. Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) have turned aggressive sellers since October 2024, withdrawing a record 2,42,400 crorethe steepest bout of FII selling on record, according to NSDL data.

Elevated valuations, tighter regulations on derivatives trading, and lacklustre corporate earnings have further dented investor sentiment.

Globally, the US decision to impose steep tariffs on Indian exports has clouded prospects for key sectors. Ongoing geopolitical tensions, including the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas conflict, have only heightened risk aversion towards emerging markets, eroding the momentum that previously buoyed Indian equities.

Stocks crash across the board Out of the top 750 listed stocks, only 245 have delivered positive returns, while 485 are in the red. The median return stands at -11.56 per cent and the average at -6.25 per cent, signalling that market pain runs far deeper than index-level declines suggest.

The broader market has seen steeper losses. Around 254 stocks have lost over 20 per cent of their value in the past year, compared to only 103 stocks managing gains of more than 20 per cent. Midcap, smallcap, and microcap indices have all underperformed the Nifty, recording falls of 8 per cent to 9 per cent.

Among Nifty 50 constituents, IndusInd Bank was the top dragger, erasing over half of its investor wealth. Trent fell 40 per cent, while TCS, Tata Motors, and Bajaj Auto each shed more than 30 per cent.

The Nifty 500 index showed similar weakness, with Sterling & Wilson Renewable Energy plunging over 63 per cent, and companies like Praj Industries, HFCL, Tejas Networks, and Raymond Lifestyle all losing more than 50 per cent. Out of 500, 333 stocks were in the red, while just 167 delivered positive returns.

In the midcap space, Sona BLW dropped 45 per cent, and Colgate-Palmolive fell more than 41 per cent. Stocks such as Indian Overseas Bank, Godrej Properties, IRB Infrastructure, Tata Elxsi, Torrent Power, SJVN, Aditya Birla Fashion, Astral, Rail Vikas Nigam, Kalyan Jewellers, Tata Technologies, Indian Renewable Energy, and Suzlon Energy also saw declines of over 30 per cent.

Market strategy: What should investors do? Market experts caution that index-level numbers dont always reveal the true extent of pain faced by retail investors. As Apurva Sheth, Head of Market Perspectives and Research, SAMCO Securities, explained: "This data underscores a key truth: headline indices often mask the underlying breadth of the market. While the Nifty may look like its holding ground, the average investorwho typically owns mid and small capshas faced double-digit losses. The lesson is clear: relying on index-level performance can be misleading."

Sheth further warned against chasing too much equity exposure: "Mindless diversification into more stocks or equity mutual funds doesnt help. Unless you buy non-correlated assets like gold, silver, and bonds, your portfolio will bleed and go through these painful periods."
A penny stock below 10 saw decent gains of over 2 per cent in intraday trade on Monday, September 29, after the company said its board had considered a letter of intent (LOI) from a Singaporean firm expressing interest in acquiring up to 25 per cent equity in the company.

Welcure Drugs and Pharmaceuticals' share price rose over 2 per cent to an intraday high of 6.19 in Monday's session, against its previous close of 6.06, following the company's announcement that a Singapore-based firm expressed interest in buying some of its stake.

Welcures board welcomes Telexcell as a premium investor In an exchange filing on Saturday, September 27, Welcure said that the board of directors of the company, at its meeting on 27 September 2025, reviewed a letter of intent (LOI) from Telexcell Trade PTE LTD, Singapore. The LOI expresses interest in acquiring up to 25 per cent equity in Welcure at an indicative price of 20 per share.

"This is to inform that the Board of Directors of Welcure Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Ltd., at its meeting held on 27th September, 2025, considered and deliberated on the letter of intent (LOI) received from Telexcell Trade PTE LTD, Singapore, expressing interest to acquire up to 25 per cent equity stake in Welcure at an indicative price of 20 per share," said the company.

The company further said that while Telexcell initially expressed interest not only in acquiring a significant shareholding but also sought a level of influence in the management and decision-making of the company, the Board has unanimously rejected any such demand.

"Welcure will remain independently managed by its board of directors and professional team. Telexcell, like any other shareholder, may offer views and suggestions in the normal course, but it will not be granted any special rights to interfere with operations or governance. The independence of Welcures decision-making is non-negotiable, ensuring continuity of strategy, stability of leadership, and alignment with the long-term interests of all shareholders," said the company.

The company's board specified that Telexcell may pursue its proposed stake acquisition only through secondary transactions that impose no liability on Welcure and no dilution of existing shareholder value.

The board further clarified that Welcure is not presently considering any fund-raising activities, and therefore, avenues such as preferential allotment, QIP, or private placement are out of scope at this stage.

"Welcure welcomes Telexcells entry as a strategic foreign shareholder but has clearly defined the terms of participation  as an investor only, without control rights. The board believes this approach balances global investor confidence with uncompromised independence, thereby creating a win-win outcome for the Company, its shareholders, and its stakeholders at large. The company will continue to keep the exchanges informed of any material developments in this matter," said Welcure.

Read all market-related news here
Commodity markets are in the midst of a strong upcycle, with precious and industrial metals witnessing sharp gains in both domestic and global markets. Gold, silver, copper and zinc prices have surged on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), triggering rallies in related stocks.

MCX gold rate hit an all-time high of over 1.16 lakh per 10 grams, while MCX silver price crossed 1.44 lakh per kg, marking a new lifetime high.

Copper prices also extended their upward momentum, rising above 948 per kg on MCX, supported by global supply disruptions. The bullishness intensified after Freeport-McMoRans Grasberg mine in Indonesia  responsible for 3% of the worlds copper output  declared force majeure following a fatal mudslide. With full production not expected to resume before 2027, quarterly guidance for copper and gold sales has been revised downward.

Further constraints emerged after Hudbay Minerals halted operations at its Constancia mine in Peru due to local protests. Analysts say these disruptions underscore the markets vulnerability to supply shocks, tightening availability for smelters and supporting elevated prices in the near term.

Zinc prices followed suit, with MCX zinc futures rising over half a percent to trade above 284 per kg.

The prices of gold, silver, copper and other metals typically move in cycles influenced by supply constraints, industrial demand and investor positioning. Companies engaged in mining, refining or financing these commodities stand to benefit significantly during upcycles. A select group of financially resilient players is well positioned to capitalize on the current rally.

Here are five key beneficiaries of the metals surge:

Hindustan Copper Hindustan Copper is Indias only fully integrated copper producer, with operations spanning mining, beneficiation, smelting and refining. With global copper demand on the rise, the company is strategically positioned to benefit. Hindustan Copper share price has surged nearly 40% over the past month, reflecting market optimism.

Vedanta Vedanta is Indias largest diversified natural resources company, with interests in zinc, silver, aluminium, copper, iron ore, and oil & gas. Silver contributes significantly through its zinc business, while copper smelting provides direct leverage to rising red metal prices. Aluminium adds further strength amid the global infrastructure and electrification push.

Also Read | Pharma stocks rebound up to 10% after clarification on Trump Tariffs

Hindalco Industries Best known as Indias leading aluminium producer, Hindalco also has a substantial copper business that contributes meaningfully to its revenue and profitability. Through its subsidiary Novelis, Hindalco Industries is also the worlds largest aluminium rolling company, offering global exposure and diversified earnings beyond India.

NMDC While iron ore remains NMDCs core business, the company has been gradually diversifying into other minerals, including copper and gold exploration, positioning itself to capture upside from multi-metal demand trends.

Gold Financiers: Muthoot Finance & Manappuram Finance Gold financing companies are indirect beneficiaries of rising gold prices. Muthoot Finance reported loan assets exceeding 1.2 lakh crore as of June 30, 2025, with a strong net worth of 29,457 crore. Manappuram Finance also continues to gain from rising collateral values and growing loan demand. Elevated gold prices improve collateral cover, lower credit risk, and support stronger disbursements for both players.
At the Tridhara Durga Puja, Kolkata, a contemporary art installation is catching the eye of visitors. Dhwani, a sculptural work, 12 feet tall and weighing 150 kilos, has been envisioned as a manifestation of the Kundalini Shakti. Curated by Myna Mukherjee and produced by Shilo Suleman in collaboration with members of the Lohar community of blacksmiths in Rajasthan, the installation is a multi-layered one.

For one, it brings together the age-old tradition of metalwork with new age media. In a way, it breaks the silos of folk and contemporary art. Every year, the Durga Puja pandals across the country turn into canvases for public art, where millions of people encounter different visual vocabularies outside the white cube space. For Mukherjee, it was important to place contemporary art within pandals, which have long been the meeting point for community, rituals and politics. ...it is about dissolving the hierarchies between high art and popular art, folk and contemporary, ritual and avant-garde. Dhwani becomes part of that continuuman offering to the goddess, but also a reminder that art belongs to everyone, not just to the privileged few," she adds.

The golden sheen of Dhwani stands in stark contrast to the all-black theme of the pandal designed by Gouranga Kuila, which subverts the notion of white as pure and black as inauspicious. According to Mukherjee, it was during colonial rule that the British obsession with white as a pure colour relegated black to an ominous one. Yet Bengals cosmologies tell another story: Kali, Shyama, tantric night rituals, and indigenous goddess traditions have long celebrated darkness as fertile, fierce, and divine. Here, black is not an absence of power but a reclamation of precolonial lineages and a resistance to erasure. In pre-Brahmanical goddess traditions, black was associated with fertility, the soil and feminine power," she explains. By integrating black into the theme of the pandal, Kuila wants to remind the viewers of a more pluralistic history of the goddessone that draws from the tribal, tantric, and folk practices. In that sense, this pandal is not just different visually, but politicallyit challenges us to remember what has been overwritten," says Mukherjee.

Also Read | Beyond rituals of division: Imagining an inclusive Indian festival
The other day, as I was waiting for a colleague to join a video call, a notetaker app knocked on the virtual door of the meeting room, asking to be let in. I am a big believer of using AI tools to boost productivity, especially when it comes to streamlining cumbersome, repetitive, and low fidelity, boring tasks. But I am wary of outsourcing my attention to a virtual assistant entirely.

Taking notes the old-fashioned way, using pen and paper, during meetings keeps me anchored to the discussion in real time. It ensures that I am actively writing down points that are critical to my understanding instead of leaving it to an AI tool to figure out the action items on my behalf. As a Gen X-er in the workplace, where I closely collaborate with Gen Zs, I find myself in a double bind that many others of my generation, or older, would likely relate to. Where does one draw the line with AI usage when it comes to balancing ease and rigour?

Also Read | How caring for stray dogs and cats is creating a kinder corporate culture

On the one hand, AI tools can fire up your motivation by brainstorming with you and taking the tedium away from the daily grind. On the other hand, these agents can also make you lazy and feckless, eroding the precious skillsets you have built over decades of hard work. It is only from repeated trials and errors that you can figure out where to set the boundary between machine intelligence and human innovation. Even so, its impossible to mark a threshold once and for all. Less than a decade ago, you would rely on your intuitive sense of direction to navigate your way around your city. Now its unthinkable to not have the GPS on even when you are driving back home.

No matter where you stand on the spectrum of AI tolerance, it is beyond doubt that these tools are increasingly acting as a bridge between generations in the workplace. A recent study by the International Workplace Group, based on data from 2,000 professionals from the US and the UK, claims 82% of tenured leaders admit that AI innovations, which were introduced to them by their juniors, have helped them unlock business innovations. In turn, 59% Gen Zs say they actively support their seniors to become AI savvy.

The practical impact of this cross-generational collaboration is palpable. Of the total number of people who were surveyed, 86% attribute increased efficiency to AI, while 76-87% believe that adopting AI in the workplace is advancing their careers and making them more resilient in this VUCA world of layoffs and forced attritions. At an even granular level, AI integration has been reducing friction from hybrid work, helping run meetings more efficiently, and automating tasks that had traditionally eaten into high-value work.

While improvement in workflow and quantitative rise in business output are the rallying points behind AI adoption, its not all hunky dory everywhere. A survey by WalkMe, a digital adoption analysis platform, published this year points out that while an overwhelming majority of Gen Z workers use AI to expedite their tasks, 62% hide it out of anxiety that they would be judged by their older peers for using such tools.

The irony of the situation is deepened by the fact that only 6.8% of Gen Z workers say that they have received extensive support and mentoring at the workplace, while 13.5% claim they have got none at all. Is it any wonder that newbies entering the workforce are going to turn to virtual mentors for guidance that comes free of cost, judgment, and scorn? If the seniors are too busy to brainstorm with them on solutions, why wont they want to partner with machines to test out their ideas?

Also Read | How gig workers are using tech to beat tech

In my last column, I argued that wider AI adoption in the office doesnt necessarily equal better work-life balance. As systems become more efficient, employers are going to make the benchmark for accountability and productivity higher for workers. On the brighter side, though, AI is increasingly deployed to play a pivotal role in analysing employee feedback and complex datasets that drive better business decisions. The culture of implementing changes from top down, or in an ad-hoc manner, may not be completely gone, but its days are likely numbered, even for operators of mom-and-pop shops.

As the government rolls out the 10,371 crore IndiaAI Mission, analysts say that Generative AI could impact 38 million jobs by 2030, boosting productivity by over 2.6% in the organised sector and nearly 2.8% in the unorganised sector. The World Economic Forums Future of Jobs Report 2025 adds that 96% of Indian organisations have already deployed AI initiatives, especially in their hiring practices. With AI expected to automate over 60% of tasks, 63% of Indian workers will need upskilling by 2030.

Apart from forcing the hand of senior leaders to upskill and adopt an AI-ready mindset, these trends will hopefully bring about key behavioural changes in the workplace, making a case for robust human collaborations, mentoring, and increased respect among generations.

Work Vibes is a fortnightly column on ideas to help you thrive at what you do.
New Delhi: The government has banned the import, manufacture, sale, and distribution of 34 antimicrobial medicines for animal use, as it seeks to curb potential antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among humans, according to a notification reviewed by Mint and officials familiar with the matter.

The decision, taken after consultations with the Drugs Technical Advisory Board, covers 15 antibiotics, 18 antivirals and one antiprotozoal.

The government said that the ban was necessary in public interest, given the availability of safer alternatives to the said drugs for animal use", according to the notification dated 23 September 2025.

The overuse of drugs such as antibiotics in livestock is a known driver of drug resistance in humans. Drug-resistant bacteria can spread to humans through the food chain and direct contact with the infected animals.

Antimicrobial medicines are used to destroy or curb the growth of microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Medicines given to animals such as goats, buffaloes, and hens often persist in their bodies. When humans consume their meat, milk, or eggs, these residues enter the human system, contributing to antimicrobial resistance.

The overuse of antimicrobials in animals, especially in the livestock industry, can lead to the development of drug-resistant bacteria. These resistant bacteria can then be transmitted to humans through the food they eat or through direct contact with animals, making it harder to treat infections. The ban is an effort to better preserve their efficacy for human medicine," a government official familiar with the matter said on the condition of anonymity.

Also Read | Hospitals must now track drug side effects, government rules

Queries sent to the health ministry remained unanswered till press time.

The move brings Indian regulations in line with the EUs curbs on the use of important human medicines in food-producing animals and seeks to preserve the efficacy of critical therapies. Mint first reported on the governments plan on 20 May 2025.

Medicines such as Ureidopenicillins, Carbapenems, and Glycopeptides, Amantadine, Oseltamivir, and Zanamivir (antivirals) and antiprotozoal drug Nitazoxanide are on the list.

Notably, AMR in humans occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines, rendering treatments ineffective and making infections difficult, or impossible, to cure. As a result, the risk of disease spread, severe illness, disability, and even death increases.

Also Read | Fighting rabies: India to share winning strategy with Southeast Asian neighbours

Global context and implementation

The official further explained that the action aligns India's regulations with those of the EU, which has implemented similar restrictions to protect human health and ensure that certain important antimicrobials are used exclusively for humans.

The EU's Commission Implementing Regulation in 2022 recommended that a total of 37 antibiotics be reserved for human use only, particularly for treating life-threatening infections. This move also helps India meet evolving international trade requirements for animal products," the official added.

The prohibition is being implemented using the powers granted under Sections 10A and 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
NEW DELHI : Although climate action has gained momentum, the world is witnessing a disorderly energy transition, with countries pursuing different paths and trajectories, said John McCalla-Leacy, the head of global environmental, social, and governance (ESG) at KPMG International.

As a result, the target to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by 2100 is unlikely to be met, he said in an interview.

Are we progressing on the ground? Absolutely! If you probably have the most pessimistic viewyou could even go as high as 3 to 4 degrees (Celsius). That's the most pessimistic world, and that already shows we have made progress. But also, we recognize that there's more work that needs to be done. Are we on track to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees? No, we're not. More work needs to be done," he said.

Paris Agreement at 10

To be sure, 2025 marks the 10-year anniversary of the Paris Agreement.

What we're seeing now is more akin to what we call a disorderly transition. We do not have the level of agreement that we would ideally wish for across governments, and we're seeing this...in terms of different standards. Countries have probably taken a slightly different path in terms of whether they're accelerating, slowing down, or relaxing on the (climate) agenda. So, clearly, we've moved forward. That's absolutely unquestionable, but we have got a lot to do."

Also Read | India invests in modern seed labs to battle climate, boost yields

The Paris Agreement is an international treaty on climate change adopted by 195 parties at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris, France, on 12 December 2015. It entered into force on 4 November 2016. Its overarching goal is to hold the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2C above pre-industrial levels" and pursue efforts to limit the temperature rise to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels".

UNs Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change indicates that crossing the 1.5C threshold risks unleashing far severe weather changes, including more frequent and severe droughts, heatwaves, and rainfall.

He, however, was hopeful that, despite obstacles such as the US proposing to withdraw from the accord, the energy transition journey would continue. Observing that changes are not as smooth as expected, he said: I would position that the change that we're going through right now is probably the most complex and biggest change we've ever seen on this planet."

John said surveys have shown that over 60% of global chief executives have maintained the climate goals set by their organizations; however, they are adapting to the changes in the climate action trajectory being brought about by a change in the political narrative of late.

We believe it is very important to read beyond the headlines. Now, from our own surveys, over 60% of CEOs are maintaining the same climate goals. But they're adapting their narrative. Why they are doing that is because they recognize that, whilst political terms can come and go, maybe in a four-year period...what they're looking at is much more long-term."

He added the estimated cost for the global transition during 2020 to 2050 would be around $275 trillion, which in its entirety would be a complex task to raise, while if it is looked at as individual projects that require a few hundred thousand dollars or a million dollars, then the job at hand may be achieved.

Speaking of investments in the green energy space, he said: Is it (finance) flowing? Yes, $2 trillion in renewable energy last year. Is it enough? No. So, the increase in the uptake is material. You can see this. However, it needs to accelerate and grow much faster. And the $275 trillion is the overall cost, which has been estimated, and we're nowhere near that."
NEW DELHI: The central government has asked Kerala authorities to step up monitoring after the state reported a surge in cases of a rare brain-eating amoeba . According to Kerala health minister Veena George, the state has recorded 80 cases and 21 deaths so far in 2025.

The first case of the amoeba (Naegleria fowleri) in Kerala was reported in 2016, but the state has seen a sharp rise in infections in recent years. After two fatal cases in 2023, Kerala reported 36 cases with nine deaths in 2024culminating in this years record surge.

At a meeting with state health officials last week, the Centre emphasized the need for heightened surveillance and wider testing of samples, two officials familiar with the matter said.

The disease, called primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), is caused by Naegleria fowleri, a microscopic amoeba that enters the body through the noseoften during diving or jumping into stagnant waterbefore attacking brain tissue. It is almost always fatal.

As part of its advisory, the government has urged the public to avoid diving or jumping into stagnant freshwater such as ponds and lakes, where the amoeba thrives in warm, still conditions.

Also Read | A milestone for transgender rights: Central govt expands healthcare coverage

Dr. Rajiv Bhal, secretary of the Department of Health Research, chaired the meeting with state authorities, one of the officials cited above said. Experts from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), NIV Pune, PGI Chandigarh, and senior health ministry officials attended.

The immediate priority is to increase monitoring and ensure all samples are sent to these labs for testing including NIV Pune and PGI Chandigarh. The Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) is actively tracking the situation," the official said.

Public health alert

Despite the relatively small number of cases, the high mortality rate makes PAM a pressing public health concern. Experts are investigating why the amoeba is surfacing in Kerala, and their findings could guide future prevention nationwide.

Globally, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports a near 100% fatality rate for PAM. Indias case fatality rate, at around 25%, is markedly lower, thanks to improved detection and rapid response systems, the other official said.

Queries sent to the health ministry remained unanswered till press time. The Kerala government also did not respond to queries.

Also Read | Seeking mental health advice from AI? Treat it only as psychological first aid

"The government knows the root cause of the infection. But the amoeba can be found in any freshwater body. This is a public health concern that other states should also be mindful of, and adopt a similar proactive approach to contain any potential spread," said the second official.

Health authorities are now focusing on prevention and early detection. The government has also sensitized both private and government health facilities to maintain a high 'index of suspicion.' The moment a patient with suspicious symptoms comes to them, the immediate response should be to report and investigate the case," this official said. The aim is to detect every case, even if these are rare events.

Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, public health expert and former president of the IMA Cochin chapter, noted that most cases of encephalitis are bacterial or viral, while amoeba, fungi and parasites account for a small fraction. In India, the cause often remains unidentified.

Hundreds of types of free-living amoeba live naturally in water and soil, of which only a handful cause human brain infection. Infection occurs when these amoeba enter the brain through the nose. Once there, they multiply rapidly, feeding on brain tissue. Mortality exceeds 95% if untreated," Jayadevan said.

He added that Keralas recent practice of testing spinal fluid for amoebae has predictably increased detections. Early treatment has reduced mortality to around 30%. Since amoebae can temporarily shift to a hardy cyst form, they cannot be completely eliminated. The best protection is simple: avoid pushing water into the nose and maintain swimming pools properly.
Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) President Farooq Abdullah has raised questions on the killing of three Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists involved in the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack two months after the annoucement was made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the Parliament.

"There was a special debate on Operation Sindoor in Lok Sabha. Why are those four people eliminated only on that day. And you do not show faces of those people so we can verify if they are the same people," Farooq Abdullah, the former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir said speaking at the launch of journalist Harinder Baweja's latest book, "They Will Shoot You, Madam: My life through conflict" in the national capital on Sunday.

Annoucement by Amit Shah in Lok Sabha Shah had announced on July 29 in Parliament that all three Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists who were involved in the Pahalgam terror attack of April 22 were neutralised during Operation Mahadev on the outskirts of Srinagar on July 28.

In a joint Operation Mahadev, the Indian Army, CRPF and J&K Police have neutralised three terrorists who were involved in the Pahalgam terror attack, Shah said in Lok Sabha, speaking during a debate on Operation Sindoor.

Twenty-six civilians were killed in the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, after which India retaliated through precision strikes under Operation Sindoor, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir(PoK).

"All three terrorists - Suleman, Afghan and Jibran were killed in yesterday's operation. The people who used to supply food to them were detained earlier. Once the bodies of these terrorists were brought to Srinagar, they were identified by those who were kept detained by our agencies." Shah said in the Parliament.

The three terrorists were killed in an intense firefight with security forces in the Harwan area near Dachigam National Park of Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian Army said on Monday.

Omar accuses Centre of betraying Ladakh, J-K Earlier in the same function, Farooq's son and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah accused the Centre of betraying both Ladakh and J-K by failing to fulfil its promises and deepening mistrust through delays in restoring statehood.

Omar Abdullah said the government had failed to follow through on its own roadmap, first for Jammu and Kashmir and now for Ladakh, alleging that the latter was misled with "impossible" assurances.

"When you wanted them (Ladakh) to participate in Hill Council elections, you promised them the Sixth Schedule. Everyone knew that giving the Sixth Schedule to Ladakh was nearly impossible. A region that shares frontiers with China on one side and Pakistan on the other requires a sizeable defence presence, which the Sixth Schedule makes impossible. Yet, you made promises to get electoral participation, Omar explained.

The book 'They Will Shoot You, Madam' published by Roli Books, charts Baweja's journey of venturing deep into conflict zones, bringing to light stories from difficult terrains  from the bloodied streets of Punjab to the volatile battleground of Jammu and Kashmir, and onwards to Pakistan and ravaged Afghanistan.
Ladakh's tourism sector, already reeling from setbacks earlier this season, has been dealt another blow with the curfew in Leh following last week's violence, news agency PTI reported.

Stakeholders told the news agency that the industry was first hit by widespread cancellations after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, and the fresh disturbances have further dented travellers' confidence.

Indefinite Curfew An indefinite curfew was imposed in Leh town on September 24 following clashes during a shutdown called by a constituent of Leh Apex Body, which has been spearheading an agitation for statehood and the extension of Sixth Schedule to Ladakh.

Four people were killed and over 150 others injured in the violence.

Barring a four-hour relaxation in two phases on Saturday afternoon, the town remained under strict curfew for the sixth consecutive day on Monday with mobile internet services suspended. This has triggered booking cancellations and caused hardships to tourists and local stakeholders.

"The cancellation of advance bookings by our guests has been continuing on an almost daily basis for the last one week. There is shortage of merchandise due to closure of the town since last Wednesday," Naseeb Singh, a hotel manager, told PTI.

Half of Ladakh population depends on Tourism Tourism forms a core sector of Ladakhs economic growth in activities like transport, hospitality, cottage industry and many more. The Tourism Industry accounts for more than 60 per cent of the total revenue generated in Ladakh, according to government figures.

Also, more than half of the population of Ladakh is economically dependent, directly or indirectly, on this industry. There are about 317 Hotels, 691 Guest Houses, 1055 Homestays and 105 Camps in Leh district.

Such a situation for the first time Singh, who has worked in Leh town for nearly a decade, said he is witnessing such a situation for the first time in the otherwise peaceful region. He said they are facing a lot of hardships, along with the tourists stranded in the Ladakh capital.

Rigzin Dorjey, a local transporter, said Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives in April had severely impacted Ladakh tourism even though the two are separate Union Territories.

"The Pahalgam incident virtually paralysed the tourism sector in Ladakh. We started receiving guests only a month after Operation Sindoor. But Wednesday's incident has once again hit us hard," he said.

Operation Sindoor was launched by Indian armed forces on May 7 to strike terror infrastructure in Pakistan and avenge the Pahalgam attack.

Echoing Dorjey, a local hotelier, who wished not to be named, said they are praying for early restoration of normalcy as "each day of uncertainty means lost income for thousands of families who depend on tourism."

Tourists stranded in the region said they were confined to their hotels and were unable to access key attractions.

"Upon my arrival here, to my shock, I found that everything was closed. I was not even able to exchange my currency and buy food. I was planning some sightseeing in Pangong lake but I failed to get the permit," said Sheena, a tourist from Taiwan.

She said she hoped the situation would improve quickly so that everybody can get back to work.

We could not go anywhere The tourist said the policemen deployed on deserted roads tell people that the restrictions may not be relaxed today as well.

Arpana Dass, who had reached Leh from Delhi on Sunday, said she was disappointed on seeing the markets closed and mobile internet services down.

"We could not go anywhere due to restrictions and hopefully, everything will be fine soon," she said.

Shruti, another tourist, said she wanted to explore the local tradition, do some shopping and visit some famous places but the prevailing situation is making it very difficult.

"We came to see Ladakh's mountains and monasteries, but now we are just stuck in our rooms. Everyone here is simply wishing that peace returns soon," she said.

We are praying for early restoration of normalcy as each day of uncertainty means lost income for thousands of families who depend on tourism.

A police official defended the curfew saying that it was necessary to prevent further disturbances, but hoped that it ends soon.
Japanese Nobel Laureate Takaaki Kajita on Monday praised Indias consistent rise in the Global Innovation Index (GII) in the past decade and attributed the changing dynamics to the Modi governments focus and vision.

The Japanese Physicist and Nobel prize winner agreed with the view that Prime Minister Narendra Modis visionary leadership has led to enhanced focus and spending on research and development (R&D) in the past few years, news agency ANI said.

Also Read | Japans LDP Contender Takaichi Hints at Review of US Trade Deal

Kajita also expressed support for the Modi governments emphasis on deepening Indo-Japan Collaboration in Science and Technology.

Takaaki Kajita was among the 20 renowned Japanese scientists who signed a resolution to extend support to the Indo-Japan joint partnership in the field of research and innovation.

Kajita, 66, is a Japanese physicist, known for neutrino experiments at the Kamioka Observatory  Kamiokande and its successor, Super-Kamiokande. In 2015, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics jointly with Canadian physicist Arthur B McDonald.

During the recent Japan visit, Prime Minister Modi had called for a joint collaboration between Indian talent and Japanese technology to create the next-generation tech revolution.

India has seen rapid advancement in the Global Innovation Index (GII) in the past decade, and its ranking rose from 91st in 2014 to 38th in 2025, leaving the world surprised and taking note of its rising stature. In 2020, Indias position in the GII index stood at 48th rank.

Japan should learn from India on the rapid advancement in the field of R&D.

Japan should learn from India on the rapid advancement in the field of R&D, said Kajita while participating in the International Conference on India  Japan Next Generation Science and Technology partnership: Academic and Research hosted by Indias premier educational institution Chandigarh University and Japans top ranked university, University of Tokyo in the Japans capital.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has invited Chief Justice of India B R Gavais mother to attend an event organised to mark Vijayadashami and centenary of the organisation in Amravati district of Maharashtra next month.

The CJIs mother Dr Kamaltai Gavai has been invited as the chief guest of the event organised by the RSS Amravati Mahanagar unit at Srimati Narsamma Mahavidyalaya Maidan in Amravatis Kiran Nagar locality on October 5.

Also Read | Who is Aryan Maan? ABVP candidate scores big in DUSU elections

In our Hindu society, the holy festival of Vijayadashami is a celebration of valour and the awakening of strength. On this sacred occasion, the work of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh will complete 100 years. With the objective of world peace and human welfare, the Sanghs journey with the Hindu society continues, reads the invite, which says that Dr Kamaltai R Gavai will be the chief guest at the function to be held on 5 October in Amravati, according to a report in The Print.

Will CJI's mother attend RSS event? Kamaltai Gavais family confirmed that she has received the invitation. Dr Rajendra Gavai, her another son said she will attend the event.

"My mother has been invited for the RSS event being held on 5 October in Amravati, and my mother has accepted the invitation. This event, being held on the 5th, is not the main event. The main Vijayadashmi event is being organised on 2nd October in Nagpur... Personal relations and political relations are different. We do not leave our ideology behind in any case. Our ideology is strong," Dr Rajendra Gavai, the CJI's brother told news agency ANI.

But many media reports suggested CJI's mother has turned down the invite and will not attend the RSS event. However, there is no official confirmation from the organisation or Kamaltai on the matter yet, except her other son's statement to ANI.

'Deeply rooted in Ambedkarite ideology' Some media reports suggested that Kamatai Gavai stated in a letter written in Marathi, that she is deeply rooted in Ambedkarite ideology, and is committed to the Indian Constitution. Thus, she would not attend the RSS-organised event under any circumstances. She further suggested that attending an event celebrating a Hindu festival would harm social consciousness. LiveMint couldnt verify these reports, however.

Senior RSS leader J Nanda Kumar will be the main speaker at the event.

The RSS, founded on Vijayadashmi in 1925, has planned to organise a series of programmes, including more than one lakh Hindu Sammelans and thousands of symposiums across the country to mark its centenary year, starting with Mohan Bhagwats annual Vijayadashmi address at the organisations headquarters in Nagpur on October 2.

I am deeply rooted in Ambedkarite ideology and committed to the Indian Constitution.

In a massive reach out to the people, the RSS has also decided to conduct a door-to-door contact programme across the country.
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk's wife, Gitanjali Angmo, raised questions about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser of the interim government of Bangladesh.

She asked, If its okay for the Hon. PM to meet Md Yunus, why is it a problem when @Wangchuk66, Indias educator and innovator, meet him?

Her statement came as Sonam Wangchuk remains detained in a jail in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, under the National Security Act (NSA).

Wangchuk was held after a massive protest in Leh, Ladakh, over Sixth Schedule status and statehood for Ladakh turned violent on September 24. Four people died and 90 others were injured in the incident.

Also Read | Sonam Wangchuk Arrested: Ladakh admin explains why he was moved to Jodhpur jail

Bangladesh visit, 'Pakistan link' After the Ladakh violence on September 24, a photo of Sonam Wangchuk and Bangladeshi leader Muhammad Yunus from the year 2020 was misleadingly shared on social media.

Besides, Wangchuk was recently accused of having links with Pakistan. Ladakh DGP SD Singh Jamwal said on Sunday that Wangchuk is being probed for allegedly having links with Pakistan on the back of last months arrest of a "PIO" (Pakistani Intelligence Operative PIO) who allegedly sent videos of his protests across the border.

The police chief also cited some of Wangchuks suspicious foreign trips, including to Pakistan to attend an event by The Dawn.

Wangchuk was also blamed for the Ladakh unrest, alleging he had incited the mob by making provocative statements by mentioning the Arab Spring-style protest and the recent GenZ protests in Nepal.

"What has been found in the investigation (against Wangchuk) cannot be disclosed at this moment. The process is going on and if you look at his profile and history, it is all available on YouTube. His speech worked as instigation as he talked about the Arab spring and the recent unrest in Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka," Jamwal said.

Wangchuk's wife clarifies, refutes allegations Angmo, however, told PTI that their recent visit to the neighbouring country was purely professional and climate-focused.

Denouncing the allegations of Pakistan links involving her husband, she said all of Wangchuk's overseas visits were made on the invitation of reputed universities and institutions.

She said the Breathe Pakistan conference held in February was organised by the United Nations Pakistan and Dawn Media, and involved multinational cooperation.
A delegation of Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will visit Karur in Tamil Nadu and look into circumstances which led to the stampede and loss of lives during the TVK party's rally last weekend.

BJP Member of Parliament (MP) Hema Malini is the convenor of the eight-member team. The other members in the team are BJP MPs Anurag Thakur, Tejasvi Surya, Braj Lal, Shrikant Shinde (Shiv Sena), Aprajita Sarangi, Rekha Sharma and TDP MP Mahesh Kumar.

BJP National President JP Nadda has expressed his heartfelt condolences to the people who lost their lives in the stampede during the TVK party's rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu, and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured, the party said in a statement.

BJP Member of Parliament (MP) Hema Malini is the convenor of the eight-member team. The other members in the team are BJP MPs Anurag Thakur, Tejasvi Surya, Braj Lal, Shrikant Shinde, Aprajita Sarangi, Rekha Sharma and TDP MP Mahesh Kumar.

At least 41 people died, and many others were injured after a stampede broke out during a political rally of TVK chief Vijay in Tamil Nadu's Karur on Saturday evening. The victims included women and children, while those who fainted during the commotion were taken to the nearest hospital for treatment.

BJP National President JP Nadda has expressed his heartfelt condolences to the people who lost their lives in the stampede during the TVK party's rally in Karur.

The national president has constituted NDA delegation to visit Karur, Tamil Nadu and to look into the circumstances which led to this incident, meet to the affected the families of this tragedy and submit its report as the earliest, it said.

FM meets families in Karur Earlier, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met the families of stampede vicitims.

Karur incident is shocking. The injured were taken to the hospital. The PM called me and L Murugan and advised us both to meet all the families who lost their loved ones in the stampede and inquire about the health of those admitted to the hospital. As per the PM's advice, we came to Karur. The collector showed the stampede spot. We met some of the family members of those who lost their lives. I couldn't even talk or console the family members, Sitharaman said adding that despite that, she conveyed the message of the PM to the family members and the injured.

"I will tell about my visit to the PM and Home Minister after my return. Through social media, the Prime Minister and the Home Minister expressed their condolences," she said.

Vijay remained inside campaign vehicle: FIR An FIR has been filed in connection with the Karur stampede. The case names top TVK leaders Mathiyazhagan (District Secretary), Bushi Anand (State General Secretary), and CTR Nirmal Kumar (State Joint Secretary) under multiple sections of the BNS Act and Tamil Nadu Public Property Act.

Vijay remained inside campaign vehicle, leading to overcrowding, restlessness, the FIR says.
An FIR filed in connection with the deadly Karur stampede claimed that actor-politician Vijay remained inside his campaign vehicle at the venue for an extended period, leading to overcrowding and restlessness among the crowd that had gathered to attend his rally on September 27.

According to news agency PTI, the FIR stated at about 4.45 PM, TVK chief Vijay entered Karur district via Velayuthampalayam and Thavittupalayam, which borders the district.

"Vijay deliberately caused the delay by conducting a roadshow without permission in several places", it said.

Also, violating conditions, receptions were held at several places, and thus, further delay was caused, it said.

By 7 PM, Vijay reached the Velusamypuram junction, the FIR said, giving the details of events before the stampede. "Vijay's campaign vehicle halted amidst the huge crowd of party workers, and a deliberate delay was caused for a short time... there was excessive crowding of workers and the general public at that spot," it added.

Police said in the FIR that the stampede occurred after the crowd surged forward to have a closer glimpse of Vijay.

They claimed that the narrow venue hardly afforded space for so many people, resulting in trampling.

Police resorted to a lathi-charge in a bid to restore order. Many who fainted at the venue were rushed to the government hospital in Karur, PTI reported.

According to the FIR, the crowd climbed over steel sheds and trees to get a better view, and when these collapsed, they fell on the crowd below, resulting in the fatal stampede.

Several persons died due to suffocation and crush injuries, the FIR said.

TVK Karur stampede Around 40 people died and 60 were injured after a "stampede-like situation" took place during Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu, on Saturday evening (September 27).

The toll due to the stampede at the rally increased to 41 on Monday, with a 60-year-old woman succumbing to her injuries at a hospital, PTI reported.

TVK source told PTI that following the tragic incident, Vijay was advised against visiting the government hospital in Karur as his presence might cause crowding at the hospital premises.

"Initially, he had planned to visit the injured and console them, but was informed that his presence might cause further crowding," a senior TVK leader was quoted as saying.

Following the tragic incident, the state government constituted a one-person enquiry commission under retired Justice Jagadeesan to investigate the incident.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, who met the victims, announced a solatium of 10 lakh each to the affected families. Also, he had assured to take appropriate action based on the findings of the Commission.

No FIR against Vijay but... The police have not booked any case against the actor, but registered an FIR against three key TVK functionaries in connection with the stampede.

They included the district secretary for Karur North, Mathiazhagan, the party's state general secretary, Bussy Anand, and TVK's deputy general secretary, Nirmal Kumar.

Also Read | Kayadu Lohar denies viral post claiming friend died in Vijays rally stampede

The three party functionaries have been booked under sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 125 (endangering life of others), and 223 (disobedience to order), of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with section 3 of the Tamil Nadu Public Property (Preventing of Damage and Loss) Act, 1992, a police official said.

On Monday, the probe panel, headed by Justice (retd) Aruna Jagadeesan, continued with the investigation into the stampede during Vijay's rally.

The judge interacted with the patients at the government hospital and later said that she would submit a detailed report to the government once the probe was completed.
(Bloomberg) -- The 22-year-old man accused of killing conservative commentator Charlie Kirk earlier this month will appear in a Utah court Oct. 30, after a judge granted a request from his defense lawyer for more time to review voluminous evidence state prosecutors have compiled.

There is a substantial amount of discovery in this case, Chad Grunander, a prosecutor in the Utah County Attorneys office, told the judge Monday in a court session to determine whether there was enough evidence to waive a preliminary hearing and go straight to trial.

Tyler James Robinson faces a possible death penalty in connection with Kirks shooting. His court-appointed lawyer, Kathryn Nester, told Judge Tony F. Graf that she plans to seek a preliminary hearing, but wanted more time to review the evidence and asked for a delay in the waiver hearing. Graf granted the request.

Robinson was charged with first-degree aggravated murder, felony discharge of a gun causing injury, two counts of obstruction of justice, two counts of witness tampering and committing a violent offense in the presence of a child.

If convicted, Robinson faces 25 years to life in prison for these charges if he avoids the death penalty. Robinson has yet to enter a plea to the charges against him and is not expected to do so until the court schedules an arraignment. He monitored Mondays court session virtually from jail.

Kirk, 31, was shot and killed on Sept. 10 while speaking at an outdoor event at Utah Valley University. He was known for starting Turning Point USA, a group dedicated to rallying young voters to conservative causes, and had a key role in energizing young voters to support President Donald Trumps bids for office.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Democratic and Republican leaders in Congress are scheduled to meet with President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday in a last-minute attempt to prevent a government shutdown. However, both parties remain firmly rooted in their positions, showing little sign of compromise.

Republicans are challenging Democrats to oppose a funding bill that would largely maintain current government spending levels. However, Democrats are standing their ground, leveraging one of their few sources of influence to insist Congress take up legislation on expanding health care benefits, AP reported.

This comes after Trump unexpectedly cancelling a planned meeting with congressional leaders last week, dismissing the Democrats demands as unserious and ridiculous".

Who all are likely to attend? Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. are likely to attend, according to NBC News.

The meeting is a first step, but only a first step. We need a serious negotiation, NBC News quoted Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer as saying on Meet the Press".

Chuck Schumer said a few months ago that a government shutdown would be chaotic, harmful and painful. Hes right, and that's why we shouldn't do it, Thune, a South Dakota Republican mentioned.

Democratic leaders stated, President Trump has once again agreed to a meeting in the Oval Office. As we have repeatedly said, Democrats will meet anywhere, at any time and with anyone to negotiate a bipartisan spending agreement that meets the needs of the American people."

They added, "We are resolute in our determination to avoid a government shutdown and address the Republican healthcare crisis. Time is running out.

Trump on government shutdown Trump has repeatedly stated that he fully anticipates a government shutdown to occur this week. If it has to shut down, itll have to shut down. But theyre the ones that are shutting down government," Trump stated on Friday.

If Congress fails to pass a funding bill and Trump does not sign it by Tuesday night, numerous government agencies across the country will be forced to close temporarily. As a result, nonessential federal workers will be furloughed, placing additional pressure on employees and the broader US economy, the report said.
Thomas Sanford, father of Thomas Jacob Sanford, who allegedly carried out a deadly attack at a Grand Blanc Township church, expressed deep remorse to the families affected by the tragedy.

In a phone interview with the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, Sanford said Monday (September 29), I feel terrible about all the families that have been hurt and they're under the same crap that I'm going under, that my wife and I are going under. I apologize for that.

Details of the attack Authorities report that Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, rammed his pickup truck into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during Sunday morning services before exiting the vehicle and opening fire with an assault rifle. Investigators also believe he set a fire that destroyed parts of the church. Four congregants were killed and eight others were wounded. The suspect was later killed in a gunfight with police.

Father avoids speculation When asked about what may have motivated his son, Sanford refrained from speculating. The only thing I can say is that it was my son that did it, he said. As far as why? Irrelevant. It happened. We're dealing with it. It's been a nightmare.
A man drove his vehicle through the front entrance of a Mormon church in Michigan, opened fire with an assault rifle, and set the building on fire, killing at least four people and injuring eight others before being fatally shot by police, Reuters reported, citing authorities.

Officials confirmed that two victims died from gunshot wounds and eight others were hospitalised. Later, police discovered at least two additional bodies in the burned-out remains of the church, which had not been fully searched and may still contain more victims.

Emergency crews respond to a shooting and fire at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Grand Blanc, Mich., Sept. 28, 2025. (David Guralnick/Detroit News via AP)

GRAND BLANC, MICHIGAN - SEPTEMBER 28: Emergency services respond to a shooting and fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on September 28, 2025 in Grand Blanc, Michigan. Police said there are multiple victims and the shooter is down. Bill Pugliano/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by BILL PUGLIANO / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Who is the suspect? The suspect has been identified as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford, an Iraq War veteran who previously served in the U.S. Marines, according to The Post.

According to the U.S. Marine Corps, Sanford's military service spanned from June 2004 to 2008, NBC News reported. Additionally, a spokesperson told NBC News that Sanford received several medals during his service, including the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.

Sanford reportedly drove his Chevy Silverado into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, during a Sunday service, before opening fire on the congregation.

His truck was adorned with two large American flags mounted behind the cab and had deer antlers fixed to the front bumper.

Michigan church shooting suspect Thomas Jacob Sanford. (Photo: X)

A long-inactive GoFundMe page from 2015 raised over $3,000 for the Sanfords son, who is now 10 years old and was born with congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI). This rare genetic disorder causes the pancreas to produce excessive amounts of insulin, as reported by the New York Post.

Photos shared on the family's Facebook page depict them smiling together, often seen posing in pickup truck beds or standing in fields of tall sunflowers.

A Facebook post by Sanford's mother says the gunman, who died at the scene in a shootout with cops, served in Iraq from 2004 to 2008. He was killed minutes after the first 911 call came in. A Department of Natural Resources officer and a local township cop responded to the scene in about 30 seconds, authorities said.

What do investigators say? Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye said that two law enforcement officers, one from the state Department of Natural Resources and another from Grand Blanc Township, rushed to the scene within 30 seconds of receiving calls and engaged the suspect in an exchange of gunfire, shooting him dead in the parking lot about eight minutes after the incident began.

Investigators will search the shooter's home and phone records in search of a motive, Renye said, as reported by Reuters.

In an unusual coincidence, another 40-year-old Iraq War veteran and former U.S. Marine is facing charges in a separate mass shooting less than 14 hours before the Michigan church attack.

Police in Southport, North Carolina, have identified Nigel Max Edge as the suspect who allegedly opened fire from a boat at a waterfront bar on Saturday night, killing three people and injuring five others. Edge has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted murder.

Court records reveal that Edge, previously known as Sean William DeBevoise, had filed a federal lawsuit, now dismissed, against the US government. In the suit, he described himself as a decorated Marine who sustained serious injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, during his service in Iraq.

US president Donald Trump in a statement on Truth Social said that the shooting "appears to be yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America" and said the FBI was on the scene. "THIS EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY MUST END, IMMEDIATELY!"

Investigators will search the shooter's home and phone records in search of a motive.
President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented a new US-backed plan to end the war in Gaza, release hostages, and establish a transitional Palestinian administration. Speaking at a joint press conference after their White House meeting, both leaders projected optimism but warned Hamas that rejection of the deal would trigger stronger Israeli military action.

Here are 10 key takeaways from the press conference.

1.White House releases Trumps Gaza peace plan Before the presser, the White House published Trumps 20-point Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict.

The document calls for Gaza to become a deradicalized terror-free zone that does not pose a threat to its neighbors and pledges redevelopment for the benefit of the people of Gaza, who have suffered more than enough.

It proposes an immediate ceasefire, release of hostages within 72 hours, and Israeli troop withdrawal to agreed lines.

2.Amnesty, redevelopment, and governance Under the plan, Hamas fighters who disarm would be offered amnesty, while those wishing to leave Gaza would be granted safe passage. Gaza would be governed by a temporary Palestinian technocratic committee with oversight from a new international body, the Board of Peace.

Trump said the plan backed away from earlier relocation proposals: Gaza will be redeveloped for the benefit of the people of Gaza, who have suffered more than enough.

3.Trump to lead Board of Peace with Tony Blair Trump announced he will personally head the Board of Peace, tasked with training a new Palestinian government. This board will include distinguished world leaders, including former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair, a very good man, Trump said.

4.Trump says he consulted foreign leaders Trump emphasized the proposal was shaped through consultations with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Jordan, Indonesia, Turkey, and Pakistan.

These are the people weve been dealing with  giving us ideas, things they can live with, things they cant live with  pretty complex, he told reporters.

5.Netanyahu backs plan, rejects Hamas role Netanyahu confirmed Israels support: Gaza will have a peaceful, civilian administration that is run neither by Hamas nor by the Palestinian Authority.

He added Israel would retain a security perimeter and stressed: Gaza will be demilitarized and Hamas will be disarmed.

6.Trump: Potentially one of the great days ever in civilization Trump hailed Netanyahus endorsement of the plan as historic: This is potentially one of the great days ever in civilization. Prime Minister Netanyahu has agreed to my 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza.

7.Hostages for prisoners exchange If Hamas accepts, all hostages would be freed within 72 hours. In return, Israel would release 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences, plus 1,700 Gazans detained since October 7, 2023.

For deceased hostages, Israel would return the remains of 15 Gazans for each Israeli captives remains.

8.Trump expects Hamas response soon Trump expressed optimism: Im hearing that Hamas wants to get this done too  I have a feeling that were going to have a positive answer. Still, he warned: Its possible that Hamas rejects the deal.

9.Challenge to Palestinians to take responsibility Framing the plan as a chance for self-determination, Trump declared: "I challenge the Palestinians to take responsibility for their destiny. Were giving them responsibility for their destiny  fully condemn and prohibit terrorism and earn their way to a brighter future.

10.Trumps warning: Full backing for Israel if Hamas refuses In closing, Trump pledged US support for Israel should Hamas reject the plan: If Hamas rejects the deal  youd have our full backing to do what you would have to do. We would support you to finish the job.

Also Read | Netanyahu apologises to Qatari PM over Doha strike from White House: Report
Hundreds of Israel supporters and families of hostages gathered outside the White House on Monday (September 29), demanding the immediate release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. The protesters voiced urgency as President Donald Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for high-stakes talks aimed at ending the war in Gaza and securing the freedom of remaining captives.

Many families called on Trump to pressure Israel into accepting a ceasefire and a hostage release agreement, fearing that continued military operations in Gaza could endanger the lives of the roughly 20 hostages believed to still be alive from the 2023 Hamas attack, which saw over 200 taken captive.

Trump expresses confidence in peace plan Trump welcomed Netanyahu to the White House with optimism, telling reporters, I am very confident that a peace deal could be achieved. The talks center around a 21-point US-led proposal calling for an immediate ceasefire, release of all hostages within 48 hours, and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt noted that officials are very close to finalizing a comprehensive plan to end the conflict. She emphasized that while the president recognizes that any deal will leave both sides partially dissatisfied, ending the war remains the priority.

International pressure and growing tensions The White House talks take place amid mounting international pressure on Israel. Several countries, including Britain, France, Canada, and Australia, have called for a ceasefire and criticized Israels humanitarian restrictions in Gaza. Meanwhile, hostage families continue to urge Trump to act, fearing that delays could cost lives.

French President Emmanuel Macron stressed that the release of hostages is a prerequisite for any diplomatic progress, while UK leaders have similarly called for immediate action.

Netanyahu under domestic pressure Netanyahu faces rising political tension at home, with some coalition members pushing to continue military operations. Observers note that a decision to accept Trumps peace plan could strain his domestic support, even as the international community pressures Israel to halt its offensive.

Trump and Netanyahu are expected to hold a joint press conference later Monday after Oval Office discussions. The outcome of the meeting could determine the immediate future of Gaza, the fate of the remaining hostages, and Israels standing on the global stage.

Ultimately the president knows when you get to a good deal, both sides are going to leave a little bit unhappy, Leavitt said. But we need this conflict to end.

Also Read | Netanyahu apologises to Qatari PM over Doha strike from White House: Report
Russell T. Vought, the White House budget director, is emerging as a powerful architect of President Donald Trumps aggressive approach to federal spending, regulatory rollback, and executive authority.

Clash with Musk-led efficiency team This spring, while preparing the Trump administrations 2026 budget, Vought faced unexpected interference. Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency reportedly began cutting items that Vought had planned to keep.

Were going to let DOGE break things, and well pick up the pieces later, Vought allegedly told his staff during a moment of frustration, according to three people familiar with the exchange.

The New York Times notes that Voughts spokeswoman, Rachel Cauley, denied he made the comment or felt frustrated by Musk. Six colleagues said Vought felt sidelined by the chaos.

A strategist in exile Vought, 49, who also directed the White House Office of Management and Budget during Trumps first term, spent four years outside of power, quietly plotting a comeback. As per the news outlet, he drafted detailed plans to expand presidential authority, including powers over spending, firing federal employees, controlling independent agencies, and deregulating the economy.

Aggressive policy moves Since Musks fallout with Trump, Vought has moved to execute his plans, reshaping executive power and pressing Congress to comply with his directives. According to the news outlet:

Vought pressured lawmakers to cancel $9 billion in foreign aid and public broadcasting, leading to the termination of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

He helped pass Trumps domestic policy law, reducing spending on Medicaid and food stamps.

He spearheaded the rollback of hundreds of regulations across environment, health, transportation, food, and worker safety, claiming 245 deregulatory initiatives this year.

At the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, he halted nearly all operations and attempted to fire 90% of the staff.

Challenging Congressional authority At the heart of Voughts strategy, associates told The New York Times, is engineering a legal battle over Congresss power over spending, potentially setting a precedent for the president to block funds he opposes. His next move, a pocket rescission, would cancel $4.9 billion in foreign aid unless Congress votes to stop it by September 30, the fiscal years end.

Also Read | Trump tariffs promise a horror show for Indian movies, streaming in US
Judge Tony F. Graf, Jr. is overseeing the case of Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old accused of killing conservative political activist Charlie Kirk on a Utah college campus earlier this month. Robinson faces charges of aggravated murder and the death penalty.

Judicial background Judge Graf was appointed to Utahs Fourth District Court in May 2025 by Governor Spencer Cox. He serves Juab, Millard, Utah, and Wasatch counties. Graf earned an associate degree from Salt Lake Community College, a bachelors degree in history and a juris doctorate from the University of Utah, as well as a masters degree in criminal justice from Weber State University.

Legal experience Before joining the bench, Graf built a diverse legal career, including:

Deputy County Attorney for Davis County, prosecuting physical and sexual abuse cases.

Head of the Special Victims Unit for the Utah County Attorneys Office.

Deputy District Attorney in Salt Lake County and Lincoln County, Nevada.

Assistant Attorney General in American Samoa.

Special Assistant US Attorney in Washington, D.C.

Contributions and leadership Graf is also recognized for his work as a legal educator, trainer, and volunteer judge. He has:

-Presented at numerous legal and child advocacy conferences.

-Served as faculty for statewide judicial trainings.

-Volunteered as Judge Pro Tempore for Salt Lake City Justice Court.

-Participated in the Utah Supreme Court Advisory Committee on the Rules of Evidence.

Civic involvement Outside the courtroom, Graf has held civic roles including:

-Planner Commissioner for Tooele City.

-Member of the Tooele City Council.

-Past President of the Utah Minority Bar Association.

Role in Tyler Robinson case On September 29, 2025, Judge Graf presided over a hearing where Robinsons newly appointed attorney, Kathryn Nester, requested additional time to review the voluminous evidence in the case. The hearing was conducted partially via audio from jail, with Robinson not physically present.
The Israeli military said it struck weapons depots belonging to the armed group Hezbollah in southern Lebanon on Sunday. "A short while ago, the IDF (Israeli military) struck Hezbollah weapon storage facilities in southern Lebanon. These weapon depots were used by the terrorist organization to advance and carry out terror attacks against the State of Israel," the military said in a statement.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported "a series" of Israeli air strikes near the towns of Kfar Rumman and Jarmak, and a drone strike on a home in Humin, all in the country's south.

Despite a November ceasefire that ended over a year of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, the latter has kept up regular strikes on Lebanon and still has troops positioned at five border points inside Lebanon.

Hezbollah, meanwhile, is under intense pressure to hand over its weapons, with the Lebanese army having drawn up a plan to disarm it, beginning in the south.

Lebanon itself is facing pressure to act from the United States, as well as from the ongoing Israeli strikes.

But on Saturday, Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem said the group would not allow itself to be disarmed as he addressed supporters while marking one year since Israel's killing of his predecessor Hassan Nasrallah.

Hezbollah was the only major armed group allowed to keep its weapons following Lebanon's civil war, because it was fighting continued Israeli occupation of the south.

The group's heartlands are in mainly Shiite southern and eastern Lebanon, as well as south Beirut.
Apples bring prosperity to villagers in SW China's Yunnan

People's Daily Online) 13:44, September 29, 2025

A villager picks apples in Lijiazhuang villager group, Meixi village in Cangshanxi town, Yangbi Yi Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (People's Daily Online/Hu Zunhui)

Early ripening apples have come into season in Lijiazhuang villager group, Meixi village in Cangshanxi town, Yangbi Yi Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, at an altitude of more than 2,300 meters.

In recent years, Lijiazhuang has explored a development model that brings together the Party branch, a cooperative, and farming households. It has introduced a shareholding cooperative system with unified planning and household-based management. This model has energized local farmers and driven the apple industry toward larger scale and higher standards. Today, "Lijiazhuang apples," known for their crisp sweetness and juiciness, are gradually building brand recognition.

The cooperative now tends 1,200 mu (80 hectares) of apple orchards, producing more than 1,300 tonnes annually. Average income for each member of the cooperative has surpassed 20,000 yuan (about $2,804) a year.

A villager smiles at an orchard in Lijiazhuang villager group, Meixi village in Cangshanxi town, Yangbi Yi Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (People's Daily Online/Hu Zunhui)

A villager picks apples in Lijiazhuang villager group, Meixi village in Cangshanxi town, Yangbi Yi Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (People's Daily Online/Hu Zunhui)

Photo shows tree branches laden with apples at an orchard in Lijiazhuang villager group, Meixi village in Cangshanxi town, Yangbi Yi Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (People's Daily Online/Hu Zunhui)

Photo shows tree branches laden with apples at an orchard in Lijiazhuang villager group, Meixi village in Cangshanxi town, Yangbi Yi Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (People's Daily Online/Hu Zunhui)

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Barrick Mining Corp. says chief executive Mark Bristow has left the company and named chief operating officer Mark Hill as interim CEO.

No reason was given in Mondays announcement for Bristows departure after nearly seven years at the company. Earlier this year, he said he would stay on as CEO until Reko Diq, a giant copper and gold mine that Barrick aims to build in a remote part of Pakistan, is operational. That is not expected until 2028.

Bristow, 66, was not available for comment and was not quoted in the press release.

Barrick said it has formed a committee and hired an executive search firm to find his replacement.

The board is committed to both finding the right leader to fully capitalize on Barricks world-class assets and capabilities, and to driving improved performance, growth and shareholder value, John Thornton, Barricks longtime chair, said in a release.

He also said the company is delighted to appoint Hill, who has been at the company since 2006, as interim CEO. He also will act as group chief operating officer.

Bristow burst onto the scene in September 2018 when Barrick announced a US$18.3-billion merger with Randgold Resources Inc., the South Africa-headquartered gold miner he founded.

Although Randgold was the smaller company, valued at approximately US$6 billion, Bristow assumed the role of chief executive of the combined company.

Known as a big personality, the internet is filled with pictures of him hunting big game  a hippo, rhino, zebra, cheetah, lion and other animals  on safari. But within the gold mining sector, he was famously critical of his rivals.

The reason were still in the industry is because the competition isnt that sharp, he said in 2014, according to Mining Weekly.

During his tenure at the top of Barrick, the company said it returned $6.7 billion to shareholders and reduced its net debt by $4 billion.

But on a financial basis, the company has been showing signs of decline. In 2019, Bristow boasted Barrick was the largest gold miner by market capitalization; today, it is the third largest.

Its gold production declined to 3.9 million ounces last year from 5.4 million ounces in 2019, while its costs per ounce increased to US$1,484 per ounce from US$894, according to a Scotiabank Global Equity Research note in March.

One of Bristows first moves as CEO of Barrick was to strike a deal with what is now Newmont Corp.  then its chief rival  to consolidate operational assets in Nevada, where both companies have mines. The move generated billions of dollars in savings through operational synergies and was cheered by investors.
As the first Indian state to launch an ETS for particulate matter, Gujarats experience holds important lessons for India and similar economies. First, an ETS can offer cost benefits even as it complements Indias regulatory regime. The Surat ETS not only reduced pollution, but saw participants benefit from 11% lower pollution-abatement costs, which increased their profits. This demonstrates that emission-permit trading has financial appeal and can attract participation.
In 1991, India embarked on major economic policy reforms in the face of a financial crisis. Today, tariff bombs lobbed by the US administration under Donald Trump have led to a chorus demanding reforms so that Indian businesses can cope with trade adversity. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about launching an arsenal of reforms, which is what we need if we are to pull up our socks and prosper.

A 100-day roadmap for next-generation reforms was also announced, aimed at strengthening Indias regulatory framework and boosting investor confidence: an initiative that is both timely and welcome. Central to this vision is a pilot rollout model inspired by the flying geese model of growth, with Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Karnataka serving as testing grounds.

In addition, a Deregulation Task Force has been constituted to drive state-level initiatives. This is complemented by two high-powered groups of secretaries, technocrats and economists that will focus on advancing Viksit Bharat goals and non-financial sector regulatory reforms.

Evidence shows high-growth states consistently share high-growth attributes, such as a sustainably favourable business environment. The choice of those states for a pilot rollout thus appears logical, not only because they consistently attract high levels of foreign direct investment (FDI), possess strong industrial bases and have reformist track records, but their ecosystem is proactive.

Moreover, testing reforms in front-runner states shall reduce the risk of policy-failure spillovers. If successful, however, these reforms would have a demonstration effect on other states and could be adopted across India. This is a sandbox approach, like Chinas experiment with Shenzhen, which was its first special economic zone (SEZ), designed to test market-oriented policies before expanding them.

While Indias central government pushes for deregulation, the efficacy of the exercise will depend on what exactly is envisaged. Unfortunately, the framework it is following remains uncertain and its working groups lack transparency.

Given the quasi federal nature of India, where states do not follow reforms sequentially but compete parallelly, such a one-size-fits-all approach might not work. Karnataka cannot be compared with Chhattisgarh, nor Gujarat with Jharkhand. Replicating models that are successful in one state might not be successful in other states, given their current position.

States are often driven by competitive rather than cooperative federalism. Thus, the actual challenge lies in striking a balance between the two by ensuring that reforms are not merely replicated but adapted to the specific needs of a state. An alternative approach could be to pilot reforms in selected districts within each state by following the SEZ or GIFT City model.

Also Read | Trump tariffs: GST cuts help but India must raise its game

The main challenge lies in policy implementation at all levels, particularly in our states. There are often trade-offs between administrative, populist and reform oriented mindsets among states. Most laggard states face frequent bureaucratic transfers and understaffing, which weakens administrative continuity and accountability.

The solution lies in making the government smaller by reducing the layers where corruption thrives. The use of digital public infrastructure and private sector involvement can cut down in-person touch points, disempowering rent-seeking nodes.

Under its project titled Benchmarking Business Compliances in Rajasthan with Other States, CUTS International has been consulting industry and government stakeholders for insights in support of the states deregulation efforts. Its findings highlight persistent challenges, including bureaucratic complacency, tenure instability, high utility costs, manual procedural touchpoints and difficulties in land acquisition and use conversion, among others.

Despite easing labour compliance requirements, such as relaxing restrictions on women working at night, the new labour codes remain unevenly implemented in Rajasthan.

Also Read | Let fiscal federalism and economic freedom drive prosperity during a trade

The government could use this opportunity not just to test digital compliance tools, but also to fast-track the long-overdue enforcement of all four labour codes across Indian states; this would substantially reduce the compliance burden.

Indias pilot rollout model can be a good start for next-generation reforms so long as the Centre is mindful of these caveats and laggard states are willing to learn. The model can have a cascading impact if successful states or regions inspire the rest not to copy-paste reforms, but treat them as a source of learning for contextual adaptation. Importantly, the process should involve adequate stakeholder consultations and a cost-benefit analysis so that gains are maximized and risks minimized.

Regulatory Impact Assessments need to guide the path ahead. These will not only encourage reformers to make space for flexibility in their reform architecture, but also ensure transparency and ownership of reforms. Given the heterogeneity of states, this will offer them breathing room to work on long-term competitiveness.

India could also follow South Koreas cost-in, cost-out rule by eliminating or easing regulations that impose excessive costs each time new rules are introduced or altered under a reform drive. Care needs to be taken that deregulation doesnt go overboard but achieves optimal settings.

As India aims to become a developed nation by 2047, the current push for deregulation is both timely and necessary amid a fragmented and volatile global environment. While the government lays emphasis on deregulation, many states have started undertaking small targeted reforms.

Delhi has scrapped police approvals for hotels and restaurants, while Odisha has modernized its building bye-laws to improve space utilization. Sustaining this momentum through a well-guided framework and monitoring mechanism will be crucial for achieving targets. We need accelerated FDI inflows to generate employment opportunities, boost income levels and expand domestic savings, ultimately enhancing the ease of living.

The authors Pradeep are, respectively, secretary general and senior research associate, CUTS International.
As reported, a cyber-attack has pushed Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) into a crisis that strikes at the heart of corporate resilience. The attack silenced production lines, leaving 33,000 employees idle, and threw its global supply chain into turmoil.

The Tata-owned firm had been negotiating an insurance policy but had not secured it when the breach occurred. If the disruption ultimately costs 2 billion, as estimated, it will surpass JLRs profit after tax for 2025. As JLR generates nearly 70% of Tata Motors consolidated revenue, the news took little time to reach the Indian stock market.

Cyberattacks are common across industries. What is striking about this case is that one of the worlds top automakers, with global reach and deep resources, got so severely destabilized. If this is the vulnerability of a global brand, Indian companies with leaner buffers may be at greater risk.

Also Read | Siddharth Pai: Arm employees against sophisticated cyberattacks

Too many Indian boards still view cyber threats as operational details, delegated to the CIO or relegated to compliance reports. Yet, it is an enterprise-level threat that could close factories, compromise financial systems, disrupt customer access and trigger regulatory penalties.

In its most extreme form, it can drive a solvent company into insolvency. For company directors, cyber oversight is a part of their fiduciary duty, and neglecting it is the equivalent of ignoring any other foreseeable risk.

India has seen many similar episodes. Major firms in our pharma, IT services and automobile sectors have endured ransomware attacks that froze operations for weeks and inflicted losses running into hundreds of crores. These incidents did not always dominate the news, but their scale and cost are well understood within industry circles.

Regulatory expectations are also evolving rapidly. The Reserve Bank of India has mandated cyber frameworks and incident reporting for its regulated entities. The Securities and Exchange Board of India has tightened disclosure rules for market infrastructure institutions. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act gives the data regulator the power to impose huge penalties for data exposure. Cyber resilience is being treated as an essential element of systemic stability.

Investors are moving in parallel. Proxy advisory firms are yet to start highlighting boards that visibly lack cyber-safety oversight. Rating agencies and global funds now assess cyber preparedness as part of governance quality, but not as rigorously as they check other risks. Companies that fail to meet resilience expectations could face valuation discounts, investor activism and potentially even shareholder litigation.

The responsibility of boards is clear. They must establish formal frameworks for cyber governance. Without these, directors expose themselves on three fronts. They fail in their fiduciary duty by ignoring foreseeable risks. They undermine enterprise resilience by leaving operations vulnerable to paralysis and liquidity stress. And they weaken market credibility, since investors and regulators now expect the assurance that cyber risks have been taken care of.

Boards must also treat insurance as a strategic necessity. No responsible director would leave factories, fleets or critical physical assets without cover. Yet, many still leave their digital backbone under-insured, despite its key role in a modern business. Insurance cannot prevent an attack, but it can stop one from turning into an existential crisis. Insurers examine governance maturity, vendor oversight, incident response and recovery planning.

Directors must demand sharper answers from the businesss management. Do we know the exclusions in our policies? Do we know what layers remain uninsured? Have we tested whether a claim would actually be honoured? Do we have estimates of the maximum probable loss if systems shut down for weeks?

A broader policy debate is unavoidable. Should cyber insurance be mandatory above a certain scale for listed entities? For banks and other such institutions, the answer is obvious, given their custodianship of public trust and deposits. But the JLR case shows that systemic risk exists across sectors. Large listed corporations employ vast workforces, anchor supply chains and shape investor sentiment. Uninsured breaches could destabilize markets.

India should therefore consider a phased mandate that requires listed companies to disclose their cyber frameworks, with minimum insurance coverage norms subject to regulatory scrutiny. Such vulnerabilities cannot be ignored in a market where millions of retail investors place their savings in listed companies with the expectation of sound governance. Leaving these investors exposed to unchecked cyber risks is no different from failing to safeguard public monies held by banks.

This will raise costs. But the cost of neglect is far greater. One uninsured breach can erase hard-won brand equity, invite regulatory penalties, fracture consumer trust and spark investor flight. Boards will be judged on whether they had the foresight to build cyber resilience. It is a test of governance, leadership and accountability.

Right now, Indian boardrooms seem captivated by a race to show artificial intelligence (AI) adoption as a marker of ambition and driver of value creation. Yet, while entities chase AI, their more urgent task is to secure their digital backbone. A company that cannot survive a breach cannot credibly claim to be future-ready on technology.

The author is a corporate advisor and independent director on boards.
Are we becoming part human and part machine, or is the human-machine balance tipping in favour of machines? Whichever way one looks at it, it is clear that humanity today is where science fiction was until yesterday.

While artificial general intelligence is expected to become the norm, a host of newer super technologies have queued up at the beta stage. As all these come together, a new sense of power is being unleashed. But unbridled power can be dangerous.

As the difference between science fiction and reality blurs, it is worthwhile to recall a life lesson given to Peter Parker on becoming Spiderman: With great power comes great responsibility." Today, that means framing the right laws to protect and provide for businesses and society.

As a new world takes shape, one must examine the dimensions that define it. Taking into account all the thrills, fears, opportunities and threats in store, these dimensions can broadly be classified as follows:

The relationship between innovation and transformation: A simple analogy can define this relationship. What speed is to physics, technology-driven scale and value are to new-age businesses. A shining example of speed, scale and value is Nvidia, which became the worlds first company ever to reach $4 trillion in market capitalization, surpassing other Big Tech firms.

This US-based companys success can be attributed to soaring demand for the AI chips that it designs and sells. There are many more companies reporting similar leaps in scale and value, with technology driving their success.

While AI is undoubtedly the brightest shining star in the tech-verse, it is part of a string of emerging technologies that form a broader constellation of stars. The World Economic Forum in its Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2025 report has listed innovations that have the potential to completely redesign industry and society.

Against this background, a new breed of frontier firms has emerged that use a mixed labour force of human employees and AI agents. Microsoft describes these digital workers as intelligence on tap," signifying their ability to cater to precise intelligence needs. Apart from offering analytical capabilities, these digital colleagues can work tirelessly around the clock, thus amplifying a companys capacity without adding to its headcount.

This approach, however, entails a social cost, as it could increase human unemployment and its related ailments. The law must catch up with this transformation, not only to develop trust in the system, but also to provide solutions for its fallout on society.

Law and ethics as guides of digital capital formation: Innovation is best carried out without barriers, but it risks faltering without a structure. Law is the institutional framework that converts ideas into sustainably investable assets, providing clarity to entrepreneurs and investors.

India could be at the worlds forefront of creating a progressive framework of law and ethics. Recall that our homegrown digital public infrastructure found pride of place in the Bletchley Declaration of 2023 that addressed many facets of AI. This highlighted Indias growing international influence over technology policies.

Yet, a staggering number of tech-driven startups operate in legal grey zones. As of today, many innovative business ventures are far ahead of the guidance provided by law. This is evident in the e-commerce industry, where entities struggle with ambiguity in inventory-based and marketplace models.

India has the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world and startups need protection from the fate that befell the online gaming industry. The abrupt collapse of money-based online gaming not only wiped out billion-dollar ideas in the blink of an eye, it was also a stark reminder that innovation without regulation can be fragile.

Businesses and legal frameworks are part of the same ecosystem. They are not parallel tracks. Without clarity on intellectual property, the data governance framework, liability standards and so on, we cannot sustain investor confidence. This is a non- negotiable condition in the digital economy; certainty of regulation is a sine qua non for both entrepreneurs and investors.

Mindset for navigating ambiguity: In a world marked by legal ambiguities and volatile geopolitics, entrepreneurship is not for the faint-hearted. For Indias new-age entrepreneurs, grit is the compass that will help their businesses stay the course. Indias chaotic and high-stakes environment will reward those who are innovative, not reckless; vigilant and resilient, not brittle; optimistic, not foolhardy; humble, not brash; and ambitious and agile, not slothful.

All the above dimensions show that the fundamentals of value creation are being rewritten and a new economic order is unfolding. Why else would the digital economysupercharged by AI and other technologiesemerge as the fastest growing segment globally?

For Indian innovations to flourish in this unpredictable landscape, we must provide a legal and ethical scaffolding. India has already proven its rule-writing prowess through digital public infrastructure; it must now come forward to help convert pioneering ideas into enduring assets of global value.

Carpe diem, India!

The author is managing partner, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the threat of the app going dark in the US ultimately sealed the deal. Yet, Trump has gone beyond the law to punt the deadline for TikToks US shutdown four times this year alone, and when the app briefly ceased operations in America this January, the president himself took credit for its return in a message to its 170 million US users. Clearly, something else was offered to prevent the platform from being turned off after he promised to save it.
Following the deadly stampede at a rally in Tamil Nadu's Karur, a political row has erupted after the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) alleged that the incident was motivated by the ruling DMK.

TVK on Monday moved the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court, seeking transfer of the probe into the recent stampede in Karur from the Tamil Nadu Police to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

In its writ petition, the TVK alleged that the Saturday's stampede incident was solely motivated by the DMK and its functionaries.

A petition has been filed before the High Court of Madras, Madurai Bench, seeking a transfer of the case from the Town Police Station of Karur to the Central Investigation Team for a probe into the entire occurrence, Arivazhagan, the advocate for TVK, said.

It was contended (in the petition) that the incident was solely motivated by the political party DMK and its functionaries. We have made various allegations, and we have enclosed several photos and other relevant documents. The matter will be taken up on Friday, October 3, Arivazhagan added.

At least 41 people had died, including 18 women and 10 children, in the stampede that occurred during a rally held by TVK chief Vijay on September 27.

Stalin warns against spreading rumours Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Monday warned against spreading rumours on social media regarding the Karur stampede.

Also Read | Trouble for Vijay? Stampede victim moves HC against nod to TVK to hold rallies

The deaths of 41 persons in the tragic incident were very sorrowful, and the victims of the incident should not be viewed as those belonging to a particular party but ought to be seen as fellow Tamils, Stalin said.

In a social media post on X, the Chief Minister said, What happened in Karur was a great tragedy. My heart is heavy due to the great sorrow. After mobilising the district administration immediately after receiving the information, I could not remain in Chennai. I rushed to Karur to console the victims.

He further said it was sad that some people spread rumours about the incident or even indulged in slander.

Do not spread rumours, don't slander on social media about the tragedy in Karur. Everyone should behave responsibly, the chief minister said.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said that the states National Guard has been formally notified of a federal request to deploy 100 troops to protect immigration officers and facilities, in the latest expansion of the Trump administrations use of military resources in US cities.

Moments ago, the Illinois National Guard received word that the Department of Homeland Security has sent a memo to the Department of War, seeking the deployment of 100 military troops to Illinois, claiming the need for the protection of ICE personnel and facilities, Pritzker told reporters on Monday.

The step came after weeks of uncertainty in Chicago, where residents and local officials had been preparing for action as President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to send federal forces. It follows Trumps announcement of a separate order over the weekend to deploy troops to Portland, Oregon, where protests have flared outside federal immigration facilities. In a Truth Social post, Trump described Portland as war ravaged and said he was authorizing full force, if necessary.

A spokesperson in the Department of Defense, which Trump has signed an executive order to rename the Department of War, didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Illinois deployment would be at least the fifth of its kind this year, either announced or activated, following earlier orders sending Guard units to Los Angeles and Washington, DC.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, a Republican, has said troops and personnel from several federal agencies will start arriving in Memphis this week. California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom successfully challenged one deployment in court, though the White House is appealing.

Pritzker has denounced the federal action as intentionally creating chaos. Last week protesters rallied outside an ICE detention center in Broadview, west of Chicago, where immigration officers used tear gas on demonstrators.

Oregons Democratic leaders have also rejected Trumps order. Governor Tina Kotek said she told the president and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem there was no insurrection or legal justification for troops, while Portland Mayor Keith Wilson accused Trump of trying to inflame tensions.

With assistance from Myles Miller.

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, will embark on Samvidhan Satyagraha Padyatra from Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur from Monday to oppose what he calls politics of hate. The foot march will conclude at Sevagram Ashram in Wardha on October 2  the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, celebrated as Gandhi Jayanti in India.

On Sunday, a torch march was taken out in Nagpur as part of the Samvidhan Satyagraha Padayatra, with Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal also taking part in it.

Earlier, Gandhi had said that the yatra would reiterate that the voices of Mahatma Gandhi and the Constitution are alive in the country. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) would be marking its foundation day and holding centenary year celebrations as well on October 2, he had said.

The yatra will be against the politics of hatred. We will walk with the message of unity and peace, he had said.

Congress leader Sapkal addressed a gathering during the torch march on Sunday and said that the RSS should accept Gandhian thoughts and the Constitution, and bid "farewell to Nathuram Godse and Manusmriti".

Ramachandra Vinayak Godse, popularly know as Nathuram Godse, was a Hindu nationalist from Maharashtra who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi at a multi-faith prayer meeting on January 30, 1948, when Gandhi Ji visited the then Birla House in New Delhi for a prayer meeting.

Sapkal claimed that despite heavy rains wreaking havoc in the state, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Mahayuti government has not yet submitted a report to the Centre, and the chief minister returned empty-handed.

The yatra will be against the politics of hatred. We will walk with the message of unity and peace.

Sapkal demanded immediate and substantial assistance for affected farmers, warning that ministers would otherwise not be allowed to travel in the state.
New Delhi: India is veering towards a standalone digital competition law that would have guardrails with upfront rules of conduct for big tech, the powerful technology platforms, according to two people aware of discussions in the government. The alternative of adding a new chapter to the Competition Act of 2002acting only after a breachis still on the table but has few takers.

By moving towards pre-emptive guardrails, the government aims to shape how firms such as Google, Meta and Amazon use consumer data, treat smaller rivals, and define the room Indian start-ups have to compete and grow.

The discussions follow a March 2024 report by a government-appointed Committee on Digital Competition Law, which, along with a draft Digital Competition Bill, recommended a standalone Act with upfront rules for large platforms, triggering pushback from big tech and support from start-ups seeking higher thresholds. The draft is still at a consultative stage.

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) have since held separate stakeholder consultations on digital competition, while the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has also deliberated on the issue. The corporate affairs ministry is now set to commission a market study of the digital economy before a final view is taken, said the people in the know.

If India goes ahead with a new law based on the pre-emptive, or ex-ante, approach, laying down upfront the dos and donts for big tech firms, the statute will also spell out the financial and market thresholds for identifying companies capable of influencing markets, along with the specific digital segments it will cover, such as online search, social networking, e-commerce, operating systems, and cloud services.

The market study will help in this as well, said the persons, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. It will make sure the new regulatory framework is based on Indias market realities.

The proposed new regulatory regime will look to ensure the digital economy comprising big tech multinationals as well as the large domestic tech firms follow certain norms on the use of consumer data and refrain from practices that could be disadvantageous to new entrants.

While industry bodies representing the big tech voiced their concerns about the draft Digital Competition Bill, 2024, saying it was prescriptive" and regressive," Indian start-ups said such a law was needed but it should have higher thresholds so that tighter regulations govern the largest players, while they themselves remain out of its ambit.

Also Read | Swift resolution seen for GST cases, as govt launches GSTAT

Queries emailed on Friday to the corporate affairs ministry and to the CCI, seeking comments on the story remained unanswered till press time.

Experts support a standalone law for regulating competition in the digital markets.

India should prefer a standalone Digital Competition Act, said Shankey Agrawal, partner at BMR Legal. The present Competition Act, 2002, was designed to deal with issues like cartels, abuse of dominance, and merger control through long investigations and penalties. That approach works in the traditional markets, but it is too slow for digital platforms where dominance builds rapidly," he said.

The ex-anteor forecast-based and not result-basedapproach should remain the central concept in the proposed Digital Competition Bill as the adage that prevention works better than cure is equally applicable on digital competition, Agrawal added. As the Digital Markets move fast, once a platform becomes dominant, competition may be shut out before the regulator can act, causing an irreparable damage to the entire competitive landscape. Ex-post action under the existing Competition Act arrives late and it may never be able restore the lost parity."

Moksha Kalyanram Abhiramula, managing partner of La Mintage Legal LLP said the ex-ante approach is vital as it proactively prevents anti-competitive practices by large digital platforms before harm occurs and that a standalone digital competition law will be preferable to simply modifying the existing competition law.

The current Act's ex-post (after-the-fact) framework is inadequate for the unique challenges of digital markets, such as rapid innovation and platform dominance. A dedicated law can introduce proactive measures and rules specifically targeting "systemically significant digital enterprises" (SSDEs). However, the new law must be carefully harmonized with the existing Act to prevent regulatory conflicts and ensure a coherent enforcement regime under CCI, providing clarity and effective oversight," said Abhiramula.

Indias regulatory framework must strike a calibrated balance between curbing anti-competitive conduct by dominant global platforms and nurturing the growth of indigenous start-ups and small and medium enterprises, Abhiramula said, adding: Overregulation risks dampening innovation and investment, while weak regulation allows market tipping harmful to competition. The law should apply proportionate ex-ante measures primarily to systemically significant digital enterprises, ensuring fair access, data portability, and transparency without burdening smaller firms."

A key advantage of a standalone law is clarity, said Agrawal of BMR Legal. Businesses will know exactly which statute applies. The regulator will also avoid confusion between digital competition rules and existing antitrust provisions, such as Sections 3 and 4 of the Competition Act, he said.

"While some countries such as the UK have integrated digital rules into their main competition law, India will benefit from a separate statute that provides certainty and reduces litigation on its scope, implementation as well as procedure," Agrawal added.

Section 3 and 4 of the Competition Act deal with anti-competitive agreements and abuse of dominant position, respectively.

Regulation must be targeted and proportionate, Agrawal said. The law should not place the same burden on global tech giants and Indian startups."

The committee on digital competition law had in 2024 suggested a dual test to identify systemically-significant digital enterprises (SSDEs) or digital economy gatekeepers, he said. This takes into account both financial strength parameters, such as turnover or market capitalization, and user base in India, indicated by one crore end-users or 10,000 business users of a core digital service (CDS).

This ensures only the largest platforms are covered. Once designated, these SSDEs should face obligations like fair access, no self-preferencing, and data portability. Smaller and growing firms should remain outside heavy compliance," said Agrawal.

He said a phased approach is also important. CCI must begin with core digital services where concentration of global dominant players is the highest, such as app stores, search engines, and online marketplaces. It may then expand its reach to other business models as evidence supports. This balance will protect competition while encouraging Indian innovation," said Agrawal.

Globally, the ex-ante or pre-emptive approach is gaining currency in competition regulation. The EU has already implemented its Digital Markets Act that follows ex-ante approach, designating Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, ByteDance, Meta and Microsoft as digital gatekeeper entities with specific compliance obligations. The UKs Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act also got Royal Assent in May 2024 and the new digital markets competition regime came into force this year. Germany has also added ex-ante powers to its competition law to check abusive conduct of businesses of paramount significance for competition across markets.

Sonam Chandwani, managing partner at law firm KS Legal & Associates says digital markets are not just an extension of traditional commerce, they operate on entirely different dynamics where data, algorithms, and network effects concentrate power much faster than in conventional sectors. Simply modifying the existing Competition Act may not be adequate because it was not designed with these structural realities in mind. A stand-alone digital competition law, framed on an ex-ante basis, would give regulators sharper and more future ready tools to identify gatekeeper entities and intervene before harm to competition becomes irreversible," said Chandwani.

She also said the regulatory architecture must be carefully calibrated to Indias unique ecosystem. On one side we have global giants with entrenched dominance, and on the other, we have homegrown start-ups still finding their footing. Over regulation risks choking the latter, while under regulation emboldens the former. The optimum path lies in designing thresholds and obligations that are proportionate and stringent enough to discipline gatekeepers, yet flexible enough to allow smaller players to innovate and scale," said Chandwani.
*

UK-based AI firm Galytix creating framework to crunch the data

*

Hope is that better info will boost private capital flows

*

Move comes as many richer nations cut aid spending

LONDON, Sept 29 - A global database of emerging market debt statistics created by top development banks is aiming to use artificial intelligence to parse risk more comprehensively for investors and help lower borrowing costs for developing countries.

UK-based AI firm Galytix is creating a framework to crunch numbers in the Global Emerging Markets Database to try to attract more private money into developing countries and address what some say is a gap between the real and perceived risks of placing money into the developing world.

"The outcome is very much that the risk in these countries is not as risky as what the world perceives it to be," Raj Abrol, co-founder and CEO of Galytix, told Reuters on Monday, adding the new model could help potential investors understand the risk and offer more competitive financing.

"And as a result, you see a lot more private capital that will flow into these markets as well."

SPENDING NEEDS RISING IN EMERGING COUNTRIES

GEMs, created in 2009 by the World Bank Group and the European Investment Bank, is a collection of data on debt defaults, recovery rates and other data across emerging market companies and countries, originally designed to be used for information exchange between the banks themselves.

Some two years ago, the lenders started to share some of the information in GEMs on credit risk amid criticism from private sector investors demanding more granular information.

The AI push comes as developed countries slash aid spending and cut bilateral finance, narrowing sources of capital for some developing countries just as the spending needs - for infrastructure, climate change mitigation and social costs such as health and education - intensify.

The database pulls information from dozens of development banks globally, and it is anonymised within the system to enable sector- and country-level risk statistics.

In a statement, Gregor Cigut, head of the GEMs secretariat, said the partnership would help turn the database's "decades of risk knowledge into actionable market intelligence" that would enable more investment.

Even though the information was now public, Abrol said it was challenging for potential investors to parse the data in a useful way. Development banks are keen to enable investors to make use of data with limited added spending, but in a way that is compliant with data security and privacy.

The figures would be compiled by algorithms with continual human oversight, he said, and if there are too many gaps or flaws in data for any country or sector, statistics would not be produced.
OnePlus is preparing to unveil its next-generation flagship, the OnePlus 15 5G, which is anticipated to debut in China in October 2025. While the brand has not yet confirmed a date for its global release, industry trends suggest that the handset could arrive in markets such as India by January 2026.

OnePlus 15 5G: Expected specifications Recent leaks have provided an early glimpse into what the new model may offer. According to reports, OnePlus is likely to adopt a redesigned rear panel, moving away from its familiar circular camera housing. Instead, the OnePlus 15 is expected to feature a rectangular camera module on the upper right side of the back, a design choice reminiscent of the current OnePlus 13 series. The device may also include a new customisable button, allowing users to assign functions based on preference.

On the front, the smartphone is likely to sport a 6.82-inch LTPO AMOLED display with subtly curved edges, ultra-thin bezels measuring just 1.15mm, and support for a 165Hz refresh rate at a 1.5K resolution.

Also Read | OnePlus 15 officially unveiled with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and 165Hz display

The camera system is tipped to comprise a triple 50MP setup, covering main, ultrawide, and telephoto duties with up to 3x optical zoom. Some leaks even suggest the possibility of a 200MP periscope telephoto lens, although this remains speculative until the official launch. Interestingly, OnePlus is expected to end its longstanding partnership with Hasselblad and move towards its own imaging solutions.

At its core, the OnePlus 15 5G will be powered by Qualcomms Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, promising enhanced performance and deeper AI-driven features. Configurations may reach 16GB RAM and 512GB internal storage, with software based on OxygenOS 16 running over Android 16. Powering the device could be a substantial 7,000mAh battery supported by 120W fast charging, aimed at delivering both endurance and speed.

OnePlus 15 5G: Expected price in India Pricing for the Indian market is expected to remain in line with the companys previous flagship releases, likely around 70,000, though official details are still awaited.
The Wheeler family home, from Netflixs popular series Stranger Things, is up for sale in Atlanta. According to real estate website Sothebys International Realty, the five-bedroom house is available at an unexpectedly low price of just $350,000. The website has also listed images of the iconic home, located in Atlanta, Georgia.

The house is listed under the name Hall Carey. It is a dream come true for many Stranger Things fans, as they could live out their fantasy world in the home, which is now up for sale.

All about the Wheeler home According to the details available on the real estate website, the property, first constructed in 1963, is up for grabs at $350,000. This two-storey house has five bedrooms and three full bathrooms. It also includes two fireplaces. It measures 2,466 square feet and features central air-conditioning.

Apart from the sale price, the house also comes with an additional property tax of $4,111 per year. The address is 2530 Piney Wood Lane, and the website aptly describes it as a quintessential 80s time capsule. It is possible that the house may need some restoration to turn some elements upside-down.

The house, made of wood panel walls, has ample parking and exterior space. The ground floor features a fireside room, a living area with built-in bookshelves, a kitchen, a dining room, and an additional living room. Meanwhile, the second floor has three bedrooms, along with the primary bedroom, which includes its own bath and fireplace.

Wheeler House memories from Stranger Things In the show, the house served as the abode of the Wheeler family, which included Mike Wheeler and his sisters, Nancy and Holly, along with their parents, Karen and Ted. The exterior of the property has been used for scenes across several seasons. According to Forbes, it often served as the go-to meeting spot for Dungeons & Dragons sessions between Mike and his friends.

When is the next season of Stranger Things coming? According to Netflix's Tudum, Season 5 of Stranger Things will release its first four episodes on November 26, followed by three more on Christmas Day. Meanwhile, the final episode will drop on New Year's Eve. All episodes will be released at 5 PM local time.

FAQs 1. Where is the Wheeler family house from Stranger Things located? The Wheeler house is located at 2530 Piney Wood Lane in East Point, Atlanta, Georgia.

2. Is the actual Wheeler house used for filming in Stranger Things? Yes, the exterior of the Wheeler house was used as a filming location throughout several seasons of Stranger Things.
Starbucks is joining the protein trend, launching new Protein Lattes and Protein Cold Foam drinks from September 29, 2025. The beverages are part of Starbucks efforts to modernize its menu with fresh, exciting options.

As we continue to get back to Starbucks, were focused on modernizing our menu with innovative, relevant and hype-worthy products that will resonate with our customers, said Tressie Lieberman, Starbucks global chief brand officer. She referred to the companys turnaround strategy, which started under CEO Brian Niccol, who joined Starbucks in September 2024, USA Today reported.

The new protein beverages tap into the growing consumer demand for protein in an innovative, premium and delicious way that only Starbucks can deliver, Lieberman added.

Protein cold foam drinks Starbucks offers several Protein Cold Foam drinks:

Iced Banana Cream Protein Matcha  Unsweetened matcha latte with classic syrup, topped with Banana Protein Cold Foam. A Grande has 24 grams of protein.

Iced Vanilla Cream Protein Latte  Iced latte with Vanilla Protein Cold Foam and 26 grams of protein.

Chocolate Cream Protein Cold BrewThis cold Brew contains 19 grams of protein, and it combines chocolate protein cold foam with vanilla syrup.

Protein in your favourite Starbucks drinks Customers can also add Protein Cold Foam to other drinks. Flavors include banana, vanilla, sugar-free vanilla, chocolate, matcha, salted caramel, brown sugar, plain, and seasonal pumpkin and pecan. This adds about 15 grams of extra protein for $2 extra, depending on the store.

New protein lattes The Protein Lattes use protein-boosted milk, made by blending 2% milk with whey protein. Options include:

Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha  28 to 36 grams of protein

Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Latte  27 to 29 grams of protein

Protein Matcha  28 to 36 grams of protein

Vanilla Protein Latte  27 to 29 grams of protein

Customers can also substitute protein-boosted milk in any hot or iced drink with milk to add 1216 grams of protein for $1 extra, depending on the store.

As part of the wider Back to Starbucks strategy, CEO Brian Niccol has also announced closing more than 400 locations and cutting about 900 jobs to improve the customer and partner experience.

With these new protein drinks, Starbucks gives customers more ways to enjoy coffee while boosting their protein intake.

FAQs What protein drinks are available at Starbucks? Starbucks now offers Protein Lattes and Protein Cold Foam drinks in flavors like Vanilla, Banana, Chocolate, and Matcha, as well as seasonal options such as Pumpkin and Pecan.

How much protein is in Starbucks Protein Lattes and Cold Foam drinks? Protein Lattes contain 2736 grams of protein per grande, while Protein Cold Foam drinks add about 15 grams of extra protein per grande-sized beverage.
The United States government is heading towards another shutdown. If President Donald Trump and Democrats in the US Congress do not agree on a deal to pass funding-related legislation before midnight on September 30, the government would shut down.

This will not be an unprecedented event. There have been four instances of government shutdowns since the turn of the centurythree of them during President Trumps first term, USA Today reported. This time, the logjam involves funding for the Affordable Care Act.

There will be another last-ditch attempt to salvage the situation, as President Trump will meet with Democrats in Congress on Monday to flesh out a deal. Failing this, the US government will shut down at 12:01 a.m. local time on Wednesday, NBC reported.

What is a government shutdown? According to The Guardian, a government shutdown entails the closure of all non-essential government functions. All state employees engaged in activities deemed non-essential are sent on a furlough, and may even get laid off.

While essential services like the military, air traffic controllers, police, and social welfare programs will remain active, the employees engaged in these operations will not be paid until the shutdown remains in force. Once the government resumes its normal functions, it will be remunerated for the entire period.

However, this time around, there is a catch. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) of the White House has already signaled its intent to shrink the size of the federal workforce. This is in keeping with the attempts to make the state machinery more efficient. Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency had earlier advocated a thinning of the workforce.

So, government employees are in danger of losing immediate pay for their services and may also suffer permanent layoffs.

Which parts of the government will be most affected by the shutdown? While essential services like security agencies and social welfare schemes will remain operational, many functions deemed non-essential will cease operation during the shutdown.

As per CBC, national parks will close down, and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) clerks will be sent on a furlough as part of the shutdown. However, the White House will have the final say in deciding which services are deemed essential and which are not.

FAQs What is a government shutdown? A government shutdown occurs when the US Congress is unable to pass a budget and clear funding for governmental functions. All non-essential state services cease to operate.

When was the last government shutdown? The last government shutdown took place in December 2018-January 2019, during President Trumps first term. It lasted for 34 days and was the longest government shutdown in history.
A defendant who entered a kebab shop and became highly abusive to staff has been ordered to make a charity contribution.

Sean Lennon of 27 Millrace Park, Drumlish pleaded guilty at Longford District Court to criminal damage and two public order breaches on September 6 last.

Garda Sergeant Mark Mahon, court presenter, said the defendant went into Zam Zam, a takeaway shop on Earl Street, Townparks, Longford at 11pm on the night in question where he caused a disturbance.

Gardai subsequently received a report that a man had entered the premises and he had become abusive to staff.

"During the course of this dispute they had an altercation and he became aggressive and he broke a Covid screen."

PICTURES | Inside the Longford property with bar and gym sold by CAB for 79,000

Sgt Mahon said the estimated cost of the damage to the Covid screen was 50.

Gardai attended the scene where they spoke to Mr Lennon who was highly intoxicated.

Mr Lennon also pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly and failing to comply with a garda direction to leave the Earl Street area on the night in question.

The defendant had five previous convictions.

Solicitor Brid Mimnagh said her client is a father of two young children aged two and three and this behaviour was completely at odds with his usual personality and manner.

The legal representative said Mr Lennon deeply regretted the incident.

"He was completely apologetic in the garda station and it was simply out of character.

"Whatever money is needed he will go and get it immediately.

"He is from a very decent family, I know him extremely well."

Also read: Former school principal from Longford in court for tweaking roll numbers to keep teacher

Judge Bernadette Owens decided to give Mr Lennon an opportunity to pay 300 to the court poor box and avoid a conviction.

Mr Lennon collected the money a short time later and it was handed into court.
A Longford resident, who has admitted a dangerous driving offence where he overtook other road users on a continuous white line and near a bad bend, has been ordered to complete a driving course.

Kleber Silva Santos Nunes (24) of 30 Abbeycartron, Longford pleaded guilty at the local district court to a charge of dangerous driving on the N4 at Camlisk Beg, Edgeworthstown on October 31, 2024.

Garda Sergeant Mark Mahon, court presenter, said Gardai observed a motorist driving a silver Audi A6 cross over a continuous white line to overtake another vehicle at 1pm, however, he forced oncoming traffic to take evasive action to avoid him.

Garda John Fitzmaurice then observed the same vehicle perform another overtaking manoeuvre on an agricultural lorry crossing on the right hand lane while there was a significant left hand bend ahead.

The court heard Gardai stopped the driver of the vehicle and he produced a learner permit and he was subsequently arrested and charged with dangerous driving.

Sgt Mahon said the defendant was disqualified from driving for eight months on April 1 last arising out of an offence on August 17, 2024.

Solicitor Michelle Reynolds said her client, a Brazilian national, who has been living in Ireland for the past seven years deeply regretted the incident.

"He accepts that his driving on the day was appalling and he is extremely apologetic.

"Three other road users complained to the Gardai about this incident.

"He recognises his mistake and he will not let it happen again."

Ms Reynolds said her client works in a factory where he earns 450 per week and his partner is expecting their first child in November.

PICTURES | Inside the Longford property with bar and gym sold by CAB for 79,000

"He has written an apology on his phone which has been translated from Portuguese into English."

Judge Bernadette Owens noted the defendant had previous convictions that were imposed earlier this year.

"The vista described by the sergeant is a very serious one.

"Unfortunately we know that there is a very significant record of serious road accidents on the N4."

Judge Owens decided to direct the defendant to complete the pro-social driving course and she adjourned the case until December 8 next for finalisation.

Also read: Dozens of top local exhibitors showcasing at Longford Leader Build and Renovate Expo 2025
Victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence are being encouraged to seek vital support through a new six-week campaign.

The Always Here awareness campaign is designed to inform and reassure victims and survivors of sexual violence that help is available when they are ready to seek support.

This new multimedia campaign was developed by Cuan  the Irish domestic, sexual and gender-based violence agency.

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim OCallaghan launched the scheme with the hope it will empower men and women to speak out and seek support about their experiences.

He said: We know the importance of criminal justice, of strong legislation, of improving policy, and of a coordinated approach in our work to combat sexual violence.

But a fundamental priority will always be to ensure that victims and survivors feel encouraged and empowered to speak out about their experience, and to seek support.

Figures from the CSO Sexual Violence Study found that almost half of those  women and men  who had experienced sexual violence did not tell anyone else what had happened to them. We need to do better, we need to tell victims that they are not alone, that there are supports available, and that they will be heard.

This new campaign that I am honoured to launch will go a long way in conveying this important message.

A campaign website  alwayshere.ie  has been launched with information on national helplines for victims subjected to domestic abuse and sexual violence, with an online interactive map helping people find local services in their area.

Cuan chief executive Dr Stephanie OKeeffe said: This campaign was made to help victims find the available support services. Victims and survivors are not alone. Help and support is always here for them.

Raising awareness and informing the general public of existing services is one piece of the puzzle in efforts to prevent sexual violence. It is strongly interlinked with other preventive measures that must be taken as part of a comprehensive response.

The campaign coincides with a new Cuan-funded report by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) as part of a research programme on measuring sexual violence prevalence.

In the 2022 Sexual Violence Survey in Ireland, it was estimated 52% of women and 28% of men would experience a form of sexual violence at some point in their lives.

Dr Elish Kelly, lead author of the report, said: Comparisons of sexual violence rates over time are found to be complicated by differences in definitions and measurement approaches.

It is important to consider these issues when examining sexual violence prevalence rates and when developing future surveys examining sexual, or any type of gender-based, violence.

An ad campaign highlighting the you are not alone message central to the campaign will run across TV, radio, digital and out of home platforms until November 2.

It tells a story of a survivor of sexual abuse and her journey towards hope and healing.
A commitment for an inquiry into the care of children with scoliosis and spina bifida is hoped to bring some justice for a boy who died earlier this year.

Stephen Morrison and Gillian Sherratt welcomed the promise of the probe following a meeting with Tanaiste Simon Harris on Monday.

It comes after HSE chief executive Bernard Gloster apologised to them following the death of their son Harvey Morrison Sherratt for their experience of being let down by the healthcare system.

They said their nine-year-old son, who had scoliosis and spina bifida, waited years for spinal surgery, during which time the curve in his spine went from 75 degrees to 130 degrees.

By the time Harvey received spinal surgery last December, the curve had reached the point where it could not be fully corrected.

The curve caused his rib cage to twist around his lungs and heart, severely restricting his breathing.

Harvey died on July 29.

His parents met with Mr Harris and Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill on Monday evening.

Speaking afterwards, Ms Sherratt said she hopes the inquiry will bring about change.

Simon Harris and Jennifer Carroll MacNeill have committed to an inquiry into spina bifida and scoliosis care at Childrens Health Ireland, she told media outside government buildings.

The terms of reference of this inquiry are to be drawn up in collaboration with parental advocacy groups, the Scoliosis Advocacy Network and the Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Paediatric Advocacy Group, and the Minister for Health and Tanaiste.

We will be having a follow-up meeting which should occur in three weeks time, and we hope that this inquiry will be the start of bringing about real substantial change and bring some justice for Harvey.

Sinn Fein TD and his partys spokesman on health David Cullinane said any inquiry into scoliosis and spina bifida services at CHI must put children first.

He said: I salute the bravery and courage of Harveys parents Gillian and Stephen Sherratt. They have shown tremendous dignity in the face of such tragedy, grief and loss.

It is clear that Harvey was failed and his parents want answers. Its equally clear that no child should have to go through what Harvey endured and that no parent should have to go through what Harveys parents experienced.

A public inquiry into scoliosis and spina bifida services at CHI needs to be comprehensive and wide-ranging. It must identify all the facts and shine a light on all the failings which delayed care for so many children.

It is also important to note that children are still being failed today. Far too many are waiting longer than four months and all the political promises from Simon Harris and government as a whole have been broken time and again.

A public inquiry has to be about getting answers for parents and real accountability. We must also fix the broken system and invest in specialist orthopaedic services for children once and for all. Parents want an end to excuses. They want delivery and they want children to get timely access to care.
If youre looking for a monitor for your Mac, you dont need to drop $1,599 on a Studio Display. In fact, weve got a deal on a great one thatll save you over a thousand dollars: Samsungs gorgeous ultrawide 34-inch Odyssey G5 monitor is on sale for a ridiculous $260 today, a savings of 35 percent off its $400 MSRP and the best price weve ever seen.

At 34 inches, this curved monitor will make your gaming sessions more immersive and your favorite movies more enticing. The 1000R curvature makes all those long hours spent in front of the computer a bit less taxing on your eyes, which is always great to have. The resolution on this monitor is nothing to turn your nose up at, either, with the 34401440 pixels making everything look crystal clear.

This Samsung monitor is perfectly ready for anything you need to do, including gaming. With its 165Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time, everything will run smoothly, with no stuttering or tearing during those action-packed moments. This monitor is a great pick if for the Mac mini, for instance, especially when the latest M4 model is $100 off.

So go grab this 34-inch Samsung Odyssey G5 for $260 while this deals still around.

Get this 34-inch Samsung Odyssey G5
Let's be real - the FAFSA isn't exactly the most exciting part of your college journey.

Maybe you're thinking "the deadline isn't until June, so I've got plenty of time!" And technically? You're right. The federal deadline isn't until June 30, but we recommend submitting yours much earlier - ideally by February 1.

What Happens After You Hit Submit

Submitting your FAFSA doesn't instantly generate a financial aid package. There's a lot going on behind the scenes before you ever see your award.

1. The Federal Review

Your FAFSA first goes to the US Department of Education. All of the information you provide (tax documents, family size, household income, etc.) is reviewed to calculate your Student Aid Index (SAI) - a single, standardized number that is the same across all of the schools you apply to. It doesn't determine how much aid you'll get, but it gives each school a consistent way to understand your financial situation and then build your institutional aid package based on their own resources and policies.

Learn About Scholarships and Grants at Madonna

According to StudentAid.gov, the formula works like this: it adds up the total financial resources of you and your parents (or spouse, if applicable), then subtracts a minimum amount needed for your family's normal annual living expenses. What's left is considered available, at least in part, for college costs.

At this stage, your FAFSA is also used to determine your eligibility for federal grants (like the Pell Grant) and any state-based programs you may be eligible for. These decisions are made by the federal or state agencies, not by the college you attend. That's why submitting your FAFSA early is important: it ensures your information is available for those agencies to review, and for schools to then build your institutional aid package around it.

2. Sending Data to Schools

Once your FAFSA is processed, the Department of Education transmits your information to every school you listed. You'll need to make sure you know the Federal School Code for each school you'd like to submit your FAFSA to. Each institution then loads that data into its own system.

Madonna's Federal School Code is 002282.

3. Individual Review at Each School

At Madonna, our financial aid staff looks closely at your FAFSA in the context of your unique circumstances. Because no two student files are the same, this step takes careful review. Sometimes, we'll ask for additional forms or documentation to clarify details. This is a normal part of the process!

It's also important to pay attention to any internal deadlines at the schools you're applying to. Some colleges set earlier dates for certain scholarships, honors programs, direct admit programs, or specialized aid opportunities.

4. Creating Your Aid Package

Only after all of these steps are complete are we able to put together your complete financial aid offer.

Why Early Submission Matters

Submitting early doesn't necessarily mean you'll get your aid award sooner, but it does ensure:

You'll have plenty of time if extra documents are requested, or if you have any questions about your aid award

You'll receive your aid package with enough time to make thoughtful financial plans for the year ahead

You'll avoid the stress of last-minute deadlines or scrambling for paperwork in the spring or summer

The Takeaway

Think of your FAFSA as the first step in a chain reaction  from federal review, to state and federal aid determinations, to school review, to your final award. By submitting by February 1, youre giving yourself (and us) the time needed to work through the process smoothly, so your aid is ready when you need it.

Fill Out the FAFSA Form
Sarah Elizabeth Charles, a Springfield native and Community Music School alum, will play a concert in the Robyn Newhouse Hall of the school on Oct. 4 to celebrate her fifth album, "Dawn." (Shervin Lainez) Shervin Lainez

SPRINGFIELD  It was some 30 years ago that Sarah Elizabeth Charles sat in the lobby of the Community Music School of Springfield with her grandmother, waiting for her lessons to begin.

In 2012, she returned to the Community Music School to perform songs from her debut album Red.

She would return to Springfield several times over the next few years to celebrate her subsequent albums: Inner Dialogue, Free of Form and Blank Canvas.. In-between her personal music projects, she became a music teacher in New York, got married, and gave birth to two children.

It only felt right for Charles to make another return to the Community Music School in celebration of her fifth album, Dawn, due out Oct. 3.

Each record release has felt really special, but this particular record is all about my journey becoming a parent, becoming a mom, Charles said in an interview with The Republican. It feels very crazy that the same lobby where I used to wait with my grandmother is now the same exact location where Im going to be celebrating this release about my kids.

The Community Music School, a nonprofit community arts school in downtown Springfield, will host Charles in its Robyn Newhouse Hall on Oct. 4. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets for the show, priced on a sliding scale from $10 to $20, can be purchased on the Community Music Schools website.

Sarah is such a special part of the Community Music School of Springfield story  she is, and will always be, family," Eileen McCaffery, executive director of the school, said. Over her amazing career as a groundbreaking artist, Sarah has always taken time from busy life to give back and to honor her roots in Springfield.

Working as a teacher now herself, Charles said that the teachers at the Community Music School helped lay the groundwork for her success.

I dont believe that theres a blueprint for every music student that works, so you really have to get to know your students and see what they need to grow, Charles said, adding that staff at the music school structured her learning and what they had to offer around who she was and who she wanted to be.

I was very lucky to find that at the music school.

Sarah Elizabeth Charles' newest album, "Dawn," is an exploration of motherhood told through the lens of Charles' own journey. Courtesy Sarah Elizabeth Charles

Sharing intimacy of motherhood

Dawn chronicles the intimacy of motherhood, and the songs were written as Charles was actively experiencing the highs and lows of becoming a mother. Angel Spark was written when she experienced her first of two miscarriages.

After I had my first miscarriage, I got pregnant again, and I was like, I cant write about anything else except what Im moving through right now because its so present in my body and my spirit and mind, Charles said.

Charles wrote the album over the course of four years, and recorded it in 2024 while six months pregnant. All songs were written in real time, as she experienced the grief of loss and the celebration of the birth of her two sons.

The result is the deeply vulnerable and intimate Dawn, a 10-song album in which Charles is joined by pianist Maya Keren, bassist Linda May Han Oh, drummer Savannah Harris, violinist Skye Steele, and cellist Marika Hughes. Her husband, pianist and composer Jarett Cherner, also contributed to several arrangements.

Im a mom. I have two kids. I have a partner, we have a cat. My life is a lot different now in 2025 than it was in 2012, Charles said. As a songwriter, I try to just tell my story and focus on doing that in a clear way, a way that resonates with me and gives me goosebumps and makes me feel good or feels cathartic to me.

Her concert at the Community Music School of Springfield will highlight more than just her voice. The evening will include the screening of two short documentaries Charles created to accompany two of her songs  Angel Spark and Mother  and a time for audience members to reflect and share their thoughts.

People start reflecting on their own parents or where they come from. They may not have kids or not want to have kids, but still identify with the material in different kind of ways, Charles said. Even if you dont think its for you, theres something that will come up.

Asked what keeps her coming back to Springfield to celebrate her new music, Charles answer was simple: its still home. Having grown up in the Hungry Hill neighborhood, she still has family and friends that live in the city.

Ive been in New York for 18 years, and lived in Springfield for 18 years, Charles said. These are the only two places Ive ever called home, and it just feels like at this point in my life, [Springfield] has had such a huge impact on who I am and my journey.
Spirit Airlines warns that it could go out of business. Spirit Airlines

Spirit Airline is canceling all services to and from Bradley International Airport as it navigates its second chapter 11 bankruptcy this year and a major restructuring.

The news comes shortly after the company announced its second bankruptcy filing this fiscal year in August.

Since then, the airline confirmed it would terminate at least 11 routes beginning in October and furlough nearly 2,000 employees.

A spokesperson for Spirit Airlines confirmed it will terminate services at Bradley International Airport, effective Oct. 31, and services at MinneapolisSaint Paul International Airport effective Dec. 1.

As part of our ongoing restructuring, we have adjusted our upcoming schedule to focus on our strongest markets, the spokesperson told MassLive.

... We apologize to our Guests for any inconvenience and will reach out to those with affected reservations to issue a refund.

Spirit Airlines has been working through a rough patch for quite some time now  filing one bankruptcy and then another.

Just a couple weeks ago, the airline announced it was furloughing 1,800 flight attendants following its second bankruptcy filing between November 2024 and August 2025.

As part of our ongoing restructuring, we are taking steps to align staffing with our fleet size and expected flight volume, a spokesperson previously told MassLive.

In line with this process, we have made the difficult decision to furlough approximately 1,800 Flight Attendants, effective Dec. 1, 2025.

The airline issued a memo to its employees bracing them for cuts and giving them a heads up that the airline would dial back its schedule to reduce costs a week before the news broke.

These evaluations will inevitably affect the size of our teams as we become a more efficient airline, Spirit Airlines CEO Dave Davis wrote in the notice.

Unfortunately, these are the tough calls we must make to emerge stronger. We know this adds uncertainty, and we are committed to keeping you as these decisions are made.

In a note to the airlines union Association of Flight Attendants-CWA members, the union outlined that flight attendants can apply for voluntary furlough leaves of six to 12 months and retain medical benefits.

Involuntary furloughs will begin Dec. 1.

Spirit announced it will continue operating as usual, including honoring tickets, reservations, credits and loyalty points as it navigates bankruptcy.

The airline said it intends to use the bankruptcy process as a stepping stone to transition to a more sustainable future, including maintenance obligations and reducing its fleet of planes.
House Minority Whip Katherine Clark, D-5th District, speaks at an event in Revere announcing a new study on hunger in Massachusetts conducted by the Greater Boston Food Bank and Mass General Brigham, June 17, 2025. (Will Katcher/MassLive)

With the federal government teetering on the brink of a shutdown, U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark is calling for the chambers top Republican to work to avert it, and to swear in a newly elected Democratic lawmaker from Arizona.

The plea from Clark, the No. 2 Democrat in the House, to Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., comes ahead of a Monday afternoon meeting between congressional leaders and President Donald Trump.

The government could shut down as soon as Wednesday, the end of the federal fiscal year, if lawmakers dont pass a stopgap or permanent funding bill.

Johnson has said he plans to bring the House back into session next week, all but guaranteeing at least a brief shuttering of the government.

In a Monday letter to Johnson, Clark, D-5th District, urged the chambers presiding officer to reschedule votes, and allow for the swearing-in of U.S. Rep. Adelita Grijalva, D-Ariz., who won a special election last week.

Democrats will be in Washington, D.C. this week to fund the government in a manner that strengthens the health care of millions of Americans and protects the most vulnerable from harmful cuts to critical services, Clark, the chambers Democratic whip, wrote.

We ask that you reverse your decision to cancel votes on Tuesday, September 30, she continued. If you remain unwilling to call the House into session, Representative-elect Grijalva should be sworn in during the pro forma session on Tuesday.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., talks about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and defended employers who take action against their workers whose comments go too far, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Reporting by NYMags Intelligencer last week indicated that Johnson, a staunch ally of President Donald Trump, may have an incentive to delay Grijalvas swearing-in because it gives lawmakers advocating for the release of the Epstein Files the votes they need to make it happen.

Grijalva, of Tuscon, has indicated she intends to sign a discharge petition, which would force a vote. Her swearing in also would narrow the Republicans already slender majority in the chamber.

In her letter to Johnson, Clark also argued that residents in Johnsons district have gone unrepresented since her father, U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, died earlier this year.

The people of Arizonas 7th district have been without representation since the untimely death of Representative-elect Grijalvas father, Clark argued.

Any delay in swearing in Representative-elect Grijalva unnecessarily deprives her constituents of representation and calls into question if the motive behind the delay is to further avoid the release of the Epstein files, she said.
A view of the Massachusetts State House in Boston, looking across Beacon Street from the Boston Common. (John L. Micek/MassLive)

Views expressed here represent those of the author and not necessarily of MassLive or The Republican. Readers are invited to share their opinions by emailing to letters@repub.com.

During my freshman year in high school, I lost a close friend to suicide. That loss left a lasting impression on me and my community, and it made clear just how important it is for young people to know where to turn when theyre struggling.

A year later, I proposed to my high school, Saint Johns in Shrewsbury, that we add the suicide hotline number to student ID cards. The idea was simple, but our administration fortunately saw the value immediately.

By the start of the school year, every student carried their ID with the lifeline in their pocket.

It wasnt just the addition of a number. It was a reminder that support was available whenever someone needed it, sparking a school-wide conversation on the importance of mental health and well-being.

A measure now before the Massachusetts Legislature, H.2221 / S.1384, An Act Relative to Student Mental Health, would require schools serving grades 612, as well as colleges and universities, to print 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, on student identification cards.

Its cost-effective, easy to implement. Most importantly, it can save lives.

Massachusetts has a chance to join the growing number of states taking this step. As of this year, 15 states, including California, Texas, Connecticut and New York, have already passed similar laws. At the federal level, Sens. Cory Booker and John Kennedy introduced a bill requiring 988 to be displayed on college IDs nationwide, which passed the U.S. Senate unanimously in a previous Congress. Mental health should never be a partisan issue, and this consensus proves it doesnt have to be.

The need to raise awareness about 988 is clear. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, only 23% of Americans are familiar with 988. Most young people are unaware of 988, a 24/7 resource that has already fielded over 17 million contacts since its launch in 2022. Of those who reached out, 88% reported that speaking with someone on the line kept them from taking their own life.

Having 988 readily visible increases awareness and eases the burden of accessing care in crisis. Its a small change that can help ensure that young people know where to go when they need help the most.

This push is not new within the Commonwealth. The Legislature considered this bill last session, where it drew strong bipartisan and bicameral support but ultimately fell short of reaching the governors desk.

Ive spent the last several years advocating for policies to improve youth mental health at the state and federal levels, and adding 988 on student IDs is one of the most cost-effective and beneficial steps policymakers can take to raise awareness for a lifesaving resource.

A small idea has become a daily reminder to students that help is out there. This legislative session, we have the opportunity to scale this initiative throughout the Commonwealth.

The 988 hotline is a lifeline  but only if people know it exists. By passing H.2221 / S.1384, Massachusetts can ensure that every student knows, in the moments when it matters most, that help is just three digits away.

Carson Domey of Bellingham is a senior at the University of Texas at Austin.
FILE - Former Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation James Comey speaks at Harvard University's Institute of Politics' JFK Jr. Forum in Cambridge, Mass., Feb. 24, 2020. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File) AP

From former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James to U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, President Donald Trump hasnt been shy about wanting to use the full force of the U.S. Justice Department to go after his perceived enemies.

But now that Comey is facing a federal indictment that hes guaranteed to fight in court, Trumps own tough talk could come back to haunt him, and might even tank his chances of settling those scores.

Comey could make a successful bid to show that Trumps case against him is a vindictive prosecution and get it thrown out on that basis, legal experts told CNN.

Such requests are often unsuccessful, the cable news outlet reported. Both Trump and Hunter Biden made failed bids themselves.

This time, however, thanks to Trumps volcanic rhetoric, the former FBI director might now have the facts on his side to make a winning argument, according to CNN.

Its a better case for Comey, because the president wont shut up, retired federal Judge John Jones told the news outlet. And thats admissible, so hes got a fighting chance, I think, on vindictive prosecution.

The Comey prosecution is clearly vindictive. Its clearly his enemies list, former federal Judge Shira Scheindlin also told CNN.

Trump told reporters last week that he expects other political opponents to be prosecuted following Comeys indictment.

Its not a list, but I think there will be others, he told CNNs Kevin Liptak as he left the White House. I mean, theyre corrupt. These were corrupt, radical left Democrats.  No, there will be others.

Criminal defendants looking to convince judges to drop their cases with an argument of unfair prosecution usually face an array of obstacles, legal experts told CNN.

But with Trumps loud arguments and clear signs that Trump is pushing to erode the traditional divide between the White House and the Justice Department, those same experts said judges could be more sympathetic to them.

Hes made it so obvious that hes targeting them, regardless of the evidence, that I do think a judge would be far more receptive to probably both concepts, selective prosecution and vindictive, Scheindlin, who was appointed to a federal court in New York by former President Bill Clinton, told CNN.

Jones offered a similar analysis.

You see the animus, Jones, who was appointed to a federal court in Pennsylvania by former President George W. Bush, told CNN. What else do you need? Its a great test case to kind of examine the contours of a true vindictive prosecution claim  you know, I got indicted because the president [of the] United States doesnt like me and wanted me to be indicted.
Producers Travis Bivans, left, Annie McCurdy, second from right, and Arianna Wilson, right, prepare backstage with models during a sustainability runway show in August in Springfield. (Aprell May Munford / The Republican, File) Aprell May Munford

Fashion creatives from Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey are expected to join Connecticuts first two-week fashion showcase in October.

The showcase will feature designers, pop-up shows, boutique presentations, free shows, street wear, and sustainable and high-fashion runways in New Haven, Hartford and Bridgeport.

New Haven Fashion Week will run Oct. 5 to 11, followed by Fashion Week Connecticut from Oct. 13 to 19.

Organizers say the shows also will highlight student collections and small businesses, with a runway inside New Haven City Hall.

Admission to some shows is free, and volunteers, models and fashion lovers from Massachusetts are encouraged to participate.

Travis Bivans, the creative producer behind New Haven Fashion Week and Fashion Week Connecticut, is no stranger to the regions fashion scene. Bivans has worked with over 4,500 models in castings in New York, Connecticut and the U.K.

Earlier this year, he brought his stylings to Springfield with the Rivet Fashion Show, a high-energy finale to Springfield Fashion Week held at Symphony Hall in August. Bivans also just wrapped up three shows during New York Fashion Week in September.

Travis Bivans, center, the creative producer behind New Haven Fashion Week and Fashion Week Connecticut, directs the runway action at the Rivet fashion show in August in Springfield. (Aprell May Munford / The Republican, File) Aprell May Munford

These featured seasoned and emerging designers and models from the tri-state area and Massachusetts, and spotlighted bridal couture, avant-garde looks and high-fashion statements.

Bivans is also the founder of LJE Model Agency and co-creator of The Melanin Project, a visual arts initiative that challenges colorism and celebrates Black beauty.

Bivans, who has more than 26 years in the fashion industry, is the founder and creative producer of six fashion weeks, including Editorial Fashion Week, ReAction Fashion Week, ReAction Fashion Week-Africa, Fashion Week Connecticut and Hartford Fashion Week CT.

Bivans team said theyre proud to launch New Haven Countys first fashion week.

Brands from New Hampshire down to Florida will be in Connecticut, Bivans told The Republican.

New Haven Fashion Week will serve as the fashion mood board of Connecticut, he said.

Fashion creators from Connecticut and beyond will get the chance to showcase their work in what organizers call the states artistic center.

Attendees can expect creative runway shows featuring different styles and wearable art, according to a statement.

Expect vibrant runways, bold looks and a welcoming vibe that invites everyone to celebrate fashion, while also highlighting important topics like sustainability, student designers, and small fashion businesses that have been part of local communities for years, Bivans said in the statement.

All runways were designed to produce and foster connections that expand outside of New Haven and spread throughout Connecticut and into other states to draw attention to what is taking place in New Haven.

One of the featured events, called [Teth-ered], was created to build a strong connection between New Haven Fashion Week and the city itself.

The show will take place on Sunday from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale at 155 Temple St. in New Haven. It aims to highlight local talent and show the rest of the country what makes New Havens fashion scene unique.

Another show, the STAGE & STYLE fashion show, will take place Oct. 13 from 7 to 8 p.m. at New Haven City Hall. Hosted by @drkreative, the show will spotlight high-fashion and vintage styles. Admission is free with an RSVP, and guests are encouraged to arrive on time.

The Phoenix Deluxe show will be held on Oct. 17 from 7 to 8 p.m., 30 Bartholomew Ave., Hartford.

Bivans said the week will wrap up with his first warehouse production on Oct. 19, marking the final day of Fashion Week Connecticut.
SPRINGFIELD  The public is welcome to attend a forum on Wednesday recognizing October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

The event  brought to you by the Springfield Womens Commission  will be held at 11 a.m. in room 220 at Springfield City Hall.

The program includes featured speakers District Attorney Anthony Gulluni; Elizabeth Dineen, executive director of the YWCA of Western Massachusetts; former Springfield Mayor Michael Albano; and former Police Chief Paula Meara.

There also will be a special recognition for Brenda Lopez, Springfields first domestic violence coordinator. The coordinator role was a key initiative of the Springfield Womens Commission, aimed at supporting survivors and raising awareness.

Contact the City Council Office to RSVP at 413-787-6170.
Holyoke Community College student Mishie Serrano and her son celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in 2024 during HCC's annual Latinx Fiesta. (Provided photo) Third

HOLYOKE  Holyoke Community College will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a Latinx Fiesta on Wednesday and other events over the next two weeks.

The annual fiesta will run from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on the second floor of the HCC Campus Center. It will feature food, music and art.

HCC faculty, staff and students  representing about 20 South American, Latin American and Caribbean countries  will have tables highlighting their cultures.

Hispanic Heritage Month  called Latinx Heritage Month at HCC  is celebrated nationally each year from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 to recognize Hispanic American culture.

Other Latinx Heritage Month events at HCC include:
Springfield City councilor Victor Davila in Tower Square for the candidate forum on Wednesday. August 27, 2025. (Douglas Hook / The Republican) Douglas Hook

SPRINGFIELD  City Councilor Victor Davila was honored with the Latino Excellence on the Hill Award on Sept. 25 in Boston.

Davila has represented Ward 6 on the City Council for three terms. He moved from Puerto Rico as a teenager and overcame homelessness and language barriers to become a paramedic and small business owner.

I am honored to work for all constituents of the City of Springfield. We must ensure that we continue to work on behalf of all constituents to make a better Springfield, a Springfield that has economic vitality, good quality of life, and an excellent education, Davila said when accepting the award.

Davila was nominated by state Rep. Bud L. Williams, D-Springfield, chairman of the Joint Committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights and Inclusion.
GUILFORD, Vermont  A 19-year-old Springfield, Massachusetts, woman was seriously injured when she crashed her car into a tree Sunday afternoon.

The woman was driving north on Interstate 91 when she lost control of her car shortly after crossing into Vermont. She struck a tree head-on in the crash, which took place at about 3:05 p.m., Vermont State Police said.

She was taken to Brattleboro Memorial Medical Center by ambulance and was being treated for serious injuries.

Her 2008 Toyota Camry was totaled in the crash, police said.
Former President of Ireland, Mary McAleese will be among the guest speakers at the National Soroptimist Gathering which will take place in Mayo next weekend.

Castlebar woman, Anne O'Sullivan who is the President of Soroptimist International Republic of Ireland will be bringing the President's Friendship Weekend to her hometown for a two-day event which takes place in the Breaffy House Resort on October 3 and 4.

More than 120 Soroptimists from across the island of Ireland will travel to Castlebar for the event which will feature a distinguished line-up of speakers including former President of Ireland Mary McAleese, Professor Rose Anne Kenny, broadcaster Miriam O'Callagher together with brand ambassador and Mayo woman Louise Duffy.

Speaking to members of the Castlebar Municipal District at their monthly meeting, Ms O'Sullivan said that the gathering will showcase what Soroptimist International is all about.

They will all join us in Castlebar to reflect on the progress of women in public life and the power of connection, resilience and leadership. This event is more than a gathering, it is a showcase of what Soroptimist International is all about. A diverse intergenerational network of women from all walks of life who come together to support, challenge and uplift one another. Our national executive reflects this beautifully where women from different age and life stages and from different professional and educational backgrounds come from across the country. The west is not only awake but is thriving and leading, she said.

Soroptimist International Republic of Ireland is part of a global movement of over 72,000 members in 120 countries which is working to improve the lives of women and girls through education, empowerment and advocacy.

READ: Uisce Eireanns 29m Lough Mask upgrade marks new era for Mayo

Ms O'Sullivan became only the second Castlebar woman to hold the title of President in the 65 year history of Soroptimist International Republic of Ireland and her one-year term concludes in November.

Our mission is to empower, educate and advocate for women and girls locally, nationally and globally. We do this through community projects, policy engagement and the kind of connection and collaboration which brings life long resilience with confidence, she said.

During her address she highlighted Castlebar's proud tradition of Sorptimist service and supporting women and girls thorugh initives to support groups such as the Mayo Rape Crisis Centre, the Women's Refuge Centre, the Samaritans, Mayo Roscommon Hospice, Daisy Lodge in Cong, Western Alzheimers, Rock Rose House as well as the life saving work of Medecins Sans Frontieres in Gaza.

This year, Ms O' Sullivan has overseen their new national project, Hidden in Plain Sight, which raises awareness about the hidden crime of human trafficking and its impact across Ireland.

She thanked the local councillors for their support of the organisation and for the help provided in organising the friendship weekend.

The work of Ms O'Sullivan and Soroptimits International in Castlebar was also praised by the councillors with Cllr Donna Sheridan describing them as a 'shining beacon of light'.

Independent councillor Michael Kilcoyne said that their work is now needed more than ever as the number of women and children who are homeless has never been as high.

Fine Gael councillor Ger Deere praised the work they do with new immigrants to the town while Cathaoirleach of the municipal district, Cllr Al McDonnell said any funding they can provide they will do so.
Minister of State and Mayo TD, Alan Dillon, has welcomed significant progress on the construction of the new Coast Guard Station in Westport which is now approaching substantial completion.

The new facility, which broke ground in March 2024, is part of the Department of Transports ongoing commitment to supporting the vital work of the Irish Coast Guard, a division of the Department with 44 volunteer units stationed around the Irish coastline.

The 6.8m project is due to be finished in November. The project includes a two-storey modern accommodation block, single-storey boathouse, a vehicle store and associated site works and infrastructure.

The project is being delivered by the Office of Public Works (OPW) on behalf of the Department of Transport.

Speaking about the development, Minister Dillon said: This new Coast Guard Station represents a major investment in the safety and resilience of our coastal communities. I am very pleased to see the project progressing on schedule and within budget. The volunteers of the Westport Coast Guard Unit provide an essential emergency service, and they deserve a modern, well-equipped base from which to operate.

The Department has confirmed that the 6.879 million budget remains on track and that it will continue to work closely with the OPW to ensure the project is delivered within the approved financial parameters by November.

Minister Dillon said he continues to lobby for progress on the Ballyglass and Belmullet Coast Guard Unit. I understand that this unit is one of the priorities on the Coast Guard programme with a site currently being sought for the station.

READ MORE: The posters are up and Jim is very familiar with all things Mayo
A top Mayo tech distribution company is toasting national success after winning big at the 'Ireland's Best Managed Companies' awards.

The event aims to recognise enterprises and businesses that excel in strategic planning, governance, and financial performance, among many other factors.

One of the platinum winners at the event was CMS Distributions. The Kiltimagh-based business, set up by local businessman Frank Salmon, endeavours to supply technology to large-scale customers across Europe.

The company scooped honours in the platinum section, which rewards companies which have been named as a Best Managed Company for seven years, becoming the only business in the province to be awarded the honour this year.

The Lead Partner for Ireland's Best Managed Companies Awards, Brian Murphy, extended his congratulations to the first-rate business.

"The Irelands Best Managed Companies programme recognises the significant contribution that these businesses make to our economy, our communities and our nation as a whole," he stated. "As a vital part of our business ecosystem, it is essential that they are supported to grow and scale into the future, and the Best Managed programme hopes to support them as they do."

READ MORE: Mayo TD brings Ministers to Westport for SME Roundtables
Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht Dara Calleary TD announced funding of 157,300 for Mayo County Council today to develop a preliminary business case for critical improvements at Roonagh pier.

The announcement, made following a meeting with island representatives in Westport, represents the first step toward addressing infrastructure needs at the mainland pier that serves as the vital link between the mainland and the island communities of Clare Island and Inishturk.

The need for improvements at Roonagh pier emerged as a priority action in an Islands Connectivity Report commissioned by Mayo County Council with departmental funding. The report specifically examined connectivity challenges facing Clare Island and Inishturk residents.

READ MORE: We want a fair crack at the whip claim Mayo islanders

The approved funding will enable Mayo County Council to engage consultant engineers through a competitive tender process to prepare the preliminary business case, which will include a Strategic Assessment of marine infrastructure improvement options.

Speaking at the announcement, Minister Dara Calleary said:

I have recently visited both Clare Island and Inishturk, and I am very well aware of the need for progress at Roonagh, and I am delighted to confirm the necessary funding is now in place to proceed with preparing the preliminary business case, an important first step for this essential infrastructure development.

I am also very conscious that there are urgent and necessary upgrades required at both Clare Island and Inishturk piers, and I have instructed my officials to continue to work with Mayo County Council in this regard.

Access between the islands and the mainland is the most fundamental requirement for those living on our offshore islands and is a lifeline for island communities. Access impacts on every aspect of island life, and the Government recognises that physical connectivity depends on the availability of safe harbours both on the islands and on the mainland.

Front Row Cllr Peter Flynn, Minister for Social Protection, Rural and Community Development Dara Calleary TD, Cllr Sean Carey, Cathaoirleach Mayo County Council and Joanne Grehan, Director of Services, Cathaoirleach Westport Belmullet MD,

Back Row: Cllr Paul McNamara, Michael OBoyle, Head of Marine Mayo County Council, Jim Power, Acting Head of Westport-Belmullet MD, Cllr Brendan Mulroy, Cllr John OMalley, Seamus O'Mongain, West Mayo Belmullet MD, Cllr Chris Maxwell, Martin OGrady, Area Engineer West Mayo MD. Photo Conor McKeown

WATCH: waves crash over vehicles on death trap Mayo Pier



Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, Councillor Sean Carey, welcomed the funding commitment as recognition of the project's urgency.

"This funding announcement for Roonagh pier marks an important step in improving vital infrastructure that supports our island communities. Clare Island and Inishturk depend on safe, reliable access to the mainland, and this investment reflects our shared commitment to their long-term sustainability and wellbeing," Councillor Carey said.

He thanked Minister Calleary and the Department for recognising the project's importance and committed to continued collaboration with island communities, stakeholders, and government partners throughout the business case development process.

The funding approval enables Mayo County Council to begin the consultant appointment process immediately, with the preliminary business case expected to provide detailed options for marine infrastructure improvements that will enhance ferry service reliability and safety for the island communities.

The development represents part of the Government's broader commitment to supporting Ireland's offshore island communities through improved physical connectivity and essential infrastructure investment.
On Thursday September 25, Deputy Keira Keogh hosted Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment, Peter Burke, and Minister of State for Public Procurement, Digitalisation & eGovernment, Emer Higgins, at the Leeson Enterprise Centre in Westport. The sessions gave SMEs, micro-enterprises and local business representatives a direct platform to highlight both opportunities and challenges.

Deputy Keogh said: Bringing Ministers to Mayo is about making sure the lived reality of running a business in the West is part of national decision-making. Our SMEs are innovative, resilient, and central to keeping our towns alive. But they need a helping hand to succeed.

Business owners welcomed the chance to engage directly with Ministers, but also spoke openly about the issues holding them back, including:

Complex and bureaucratic systems for grants and procurement, crippling commercial rates, driving businesses out of town centres and rising energy and wage bills, which make it harder to turn a profit despite strong turnover.

Attendees were also impressed by the Ministers grasp of the issues and their practical approach, highlighting potential solutions and policy measures as well as taking the time to listen carefully to local concerns.

On procurement, Deputy Keogh added: Too often, Mayo businesses feel shut out of public contracts because the system can seem over complicated. That has to change, we have to empower our local SMEs to get on the e-tender site and compete for local work.

On support for small businesses, Deputy Keogh noted: The national enterprise hub established by Minister Burke was well received by attendees. The Hub is a one-stop shop designed for Irish businesses of all sizes. Businesses can easily find and learn about the range of government support programs available. Both Ministers committed to taking the insights from Westport back into their reform work on procurement and SME supports.

Deputy Keogh concluded by saying: The message from Westport is clear: small businesses are fighting hard but need a level playing field. Ill continue working with Ministers Burke and Higgins to cut red tape, ease the pressure on town centres, and ensure Mayo SMEs have every chance to thrive.

READ MORE: Mayo Minister welcomes progress on new coast guard station in Westport
A global survey reveals emergency medicine professionals find their work rewarding yet face critical challenges of burnout and staff retention, calling for urgent reforms.

TOP INSIGHT Did You Know?

Emergency medicine workers experience high job satisfaction but often struggle with #burnout, #workloadstress, and staff retention issues. Strategic support and improved work conditions are crucial for sustaining this vital workforce. #emergencymedicine #burnout #jobsatisfaction #healthcareworkers #medindia

Advertisement

What Were the Key Findings on Job Satisfaction?

Advertisement

Who Experiences More Satisfaction or Challenges?

Advertisement

How Does Job Satisfaction Impact Staff Retention?

One of the largest international surveys conducted to examinereveals that although most professionals find their work fulfilling and rewarding, numerous areas still require significant improvement.The research, unveiled at the European Emergency Medicine Congress in 2025, paints a comprehensive picture of the well-being challenges faced by emergency medicine (EM) professionals worldwide.The study, titled Global Job Satisfaction Among Emergency Medicine Professionals: Results from the 2025 Emergency Medicine Day Survey, was published in the European Journal of Emergency Medicine.The survey encompassed 1,112 healthcare providers across 79 countries, making it one of the most extensive assessments of the global EM workforce's satisfaction and well-being.Emergency medicine practitioners face persistent challenges including excessive workloads, high-pressure environments, shift and night duties, and emotional strain. While job satisfaction is crucial for workforce retention and quality patient care, international data on this topic has been limited until now.The average satisfaction score reported was 25.37 out of 36, indicating generally positive sentiments. However, aspects such as career development, work organization, and workload management scored lower, highlighting critical areas needing urgent attention. Professor Luis Garcia-Castrillo from the Marques de Valdecilla University Hospital in Spain emphasized that these issues must be addressed urgently to retain and recruit specialist staff.Emergency medicine professionals in high-volume emergency departments, with over 100,000 patient visits annually, reported notably lower job satisfaction. Mid-career staff with five to twenty years of experience also recorded lower satisfaction. Interestingly, nurses and paramedics generally reported higher satisfaction than physicians, particularly regarding workload and organizational factors.Support from co-workers, organizational commitment, and professional fulfillment were top-rated factors positively influencing job satisfaction. Those intending to stay in their current roles scored significantly higher in satisfaction, underscoring a robust link between staff well-being and retention. Professor Roberta Petrino from Switzerland highlighted the pressing need for strategies to strengthen leadership, support mid-career professionals, improve work-life balance, and offer clear career growth pathways. Burnout remains a serious warning sign, especially in departments facing high patient demand.The EUSEM Emergency Medicine Working Group, led by Dr. Basak Yilmaz, stressed that the strong correlation between job satisfaction and retention is vital not only for individual workers but also for the sustainability of emergency medicine systems globally. Further data analyses are planned to examine regional differences and to provide tailored recommendations for healthcare policies.This groundbreaking survey not only celebrates the rewarding aspects of emergency medicine careers but also signals a call for comprehensive systemic reforms to safeguard the workforce's future and enhance the quality of emergency care delivery everywhere.Source-European Society for Emergency Medicine (EUSEM)
Welcome to your Daily Horoscope for September 30, 2025. Is the universe in sync with your personal and professional goals for today? Lets see what the stars have in store for you today. Aries Horoscope Today - September 30, 2025

shutterstock Love life looks uncertain today. Complications can be seen rising. Try to settle things by taking initiative. Students are likely to hear some good news from their mentors which will uplift their confidence. With respect to your professional life, some last-minute work shall keep you occupied. Just keep up your hard work and you will progress. Your Lucky color is Violet. Your Lucky number is 28. Taurus Horoscope Today - September 30, 2025

shutterstock Avoid getting into any arguments for a day or you will end up in a tough situation which is hard to escape. Spend some time in fresh air and try to rejuvenate your health. If you are planning to throw a party then, going Dutch on a treat will be better than throwing a big bash to save money. Avoid incurring excess expenditure. Your Lucky color is Magenta. Your Lucky number is 23. Gemini Horoscope Today - September 30, 2025

shutterstock Avoid being snaky with someone today because remember, what you do is what you get. Finances will only give you anxiety and mental stress today, so play safe in this respect. If you are planning to go for a social event this evening, do not forget to dress sober. Health conditions will be quite favourable for you. Your Lucky color is Cream. Your Lucky number is 15. Cancer Horoscope Today - September 30, 2025

shutterstock If you are planning to trade in the stock market, reconsider because it's not the best day to do so. Youll receive compliments for being sharp today. Welcome new opportunities with open arms and you will embrace success soon. Your Lucky color is Brown. Your Lucky number is 5. Leo Horoscope Today - September 30, 2025

shutterstock Avoid confiding in strangers as they might have dubious intentions. Make sure to devote enough time to your partner or they might look for love outside the relationship. Watch your expenses, as unexpected requirements will disturb your financial conditions. Health might turn in your favour. Your Lucky color is White. Your Lucky number is 45. Virgo Horoscope Today - September 30, 2025

shutterstock If you feel like experimenting, this is a great time to do so. After all, fortune favours the bold. Head towards the gym or yoga class today and make way for serenity in your life. Health conditions can be seen turning in your favour. Financially, you may have to ask for a helping hand from a relative or close friend. Your Lucky color is Black. Your Lucky number is 35. Libra Horoscope Today - September 30, 2025

shutterstock It's a good day to strengthen your social life. Try to establish contacts with people around you as you never know whose help you might need in the future. Avoid being emotionally attached to people at work or you might be at a disadvantage. Health wise, avoid overeating as it may cause health issues. Your Lucky color is Pink. Your Lucky number is 7. Scorpio Horoscope Today - September 30, 2025

shutterstock It's going to be a hectic day for you. Students will be busy attending seminars. Employees will be caught up in completing some last-minute urgent requirements. You will not be able to spend enough time with family. It's a tough day which demands a lot of hard work. Your Lucky color is Green. Your Lucky number is 17. Sagittarius Horoscope Today - September 30, 2025

shutterstock Today, you will be very understanding. Conversations with an important person can get deeper today. Keep your confidential documents under lock and key. Youll easily find financial help if you seek it. On the professional front, things will turn in your favour. Your Lucky color is Mustard. Your Lucky number is 23. Capricorn Horoscope Today - September 30, 2025

shutterstock You might share a good bond with your partner today. It's a good time to work on projects that were meant to be completed way back. Avoid disclosing your daily routine on social media as someone seems to have eyes on you. Your Lucky color is Blue. Your Lucky number is 35. Aquarius Horoscope Today - September 30, 2025

shutterstock The day can be marked as a new beginning as you will be working on your personality. It is advised to modify your plans if you want to achieve your goals on time. Those in businesses might work on expansion plans which will help them earning extra income. Planning a family trip won't cost much, so get started! Your Lucky color is Red. Your Lucky number is 31. Pisces Horoscope Today - September 30, 2025
The new range introduces a series of ergonomic features designed to ease operator workload

Toyota Material Handling Europe has unveiled its new Toyota Optio L-Series, a redesigned generation of low-level order pickers aimed at boosting warehouse efficiency and safety.

The updated L-Series has been engineered for demanding multi-shift operations and high pick rates, with Toyota promising improvements in ergonomics, energy efficiency and operator protection.

The new range introduces a series of ergonomic features designed to ease operator workload. These include increased platform lift heights, reduced step-in access, and model configurations capable of handling loads of up to 2.5 tonnes.

Six updated models are available within the range  including the OSE250/P, OSE120/P and OSE200X/180XP  covering a variety of order picking requirements, particularly in the fast-moving consumer goods sector.

Enhanced platform damping minimises vibrations, while a spacious operator platform and wide entry  the largest in its class  improve comfort during intensive tasks. A new lift height of 1,195mm allows operators to reach picking levels of up to 2.8 metres. Optional features such as side-mounted walkie buttons and expanded storage are also offered to optimise workflow.

Toyota says the L-Series is now 10% more energy efficient than its predecessor, thanks to optimised weight and flexible battery configurations ranging from traditional lead-acid to high-performance lithium-ion. Intelligent service access is also designed to cut downtime and lower operating costs.

Safety features include PIN-code login, optional Smart Access, and Toyotas Optimised Truck Performance system, which automatically reduces speed during cornering and load handling.

A redesigned ergonomic backrest with side grips offers support when stepping onto the platform or manoeuvring in reverse. Integrated blue or red warning lights and positioning lights are also available to improve visibility in busy warehouse environments.

Continuous improvements and quality are at the heart of everything we do. Our newly launched Optio L-series order picker features a sleek design and advanced engineering to enhance safety, reduce energy consumption, increase driver comfort, and deliver the next level of operational performance. As the logistics sector continues to grow and evolve, productivity is key. This new solution empowers our customers to run efficient, future-ready operations with confidence, said Jose Maria Gener, Vice President Sales & Marketing at Toyota Material Handling Europe.

Toyota describes the new range as the first step in an upgrade of its Optio order picker family. The models will be available to order from the end of September 2025.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates  A missile attack by Yemens Houthi rebels set a ship ablaze in the Gulf of Aden on Monday, officials said. There were no immediate reports of injuries.

The attack hit the Netherlands-flagged cargo ship Minervagracht, which had been targeted in a failed assault last week as well by the Iranian-backed Houthis, according to the French military's Maritime Information, Cooperation and Awareness Center.

At this time, the vessel is reported to be on fire, the center said. A warship is heading to the scene.

Local Yemeni media reported a possible ballistic missile launch from territory controlled by the Houthis. The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center reported the attack, as did the private security firm Ambrey, which similarly identified the ship as the Minervagracht.

The Houthis did not immediately claim the possible attack. However, it can take hours or even days before the rebels claim their assaults.

The ship's owner, the Amsterdam-based firm Spliethoff, did not respond to questions from The Associated Press. It wasn't clear why the Houthis twice targeted the Minervagracht.

The Houthis have been launching missile and drone attacks on Israel and on ships in the Red Sea in response to the war in Gaza, saying they were acting in solidarity with the Palestinians.

The U.S. Navy-overseen Joint Maritime Information Center earlier said that the shipper had no Israeli affiliations.

The Houthi attack widens the area of the rebels' recent assaults, as the last recorded attack on a commercial vessel in the Gulf of Aden before the Minervagracht came in August 2024.

Their attacks over the past two years have upended shipping in the Red Sea, through which about $1 trillion of goods passed each year before the war.

The Houthis stopped their attacks during a brief ceasefire in the war. They later became the target of an intense weekslong campaign of airstrikes ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump before he declared a ceasefire had been reached with the rebels. The Houthis sank two vessels in July, killing at least four on board, with others believed to be held by the rebels.

The attack on Monday comes as Israel intensifies the war in Gaza, targeting Gaza City in a new ground offensive. Meanwhile, tensions remain high as United Nations sanctions have been reimposed on Iran over Tehrans battered nuclear program. Israel launched a 12-day war against the Islamic Republic in June in which the Americans bombed three Iranian atomic sites.

___

Associated Press writer Mike Corder in The Hague, Netherlands, contributed to this report.
Lawmakers have reintroduced legislation that would among other things allow noncitizen military servicemembers to apply for naturalization during basic training.

The Veteran Service Recognition Act co-sponsored mostly by Democrats in the House of Representatives aims to establish a review process for those servicemembers who are in removal proceedings, as well as to provide an opportunity for noncitizen veterans who have been removed or ordered removed or who have not been convicted of a serious crime, to obtain legal permanent residence.

House Veterans Affairs Committee Chair Mark Takano, D-Calif., walks through the Hall of Columns at the Capitol as House Democratic chairs gather for a meeting with Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., in Washington, Wednesday, March 27, 2019. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Rep. Mark Takano of California, the Democratic ranking member on the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, said that those who put on a uniform and defend the United States should have a clear path to citizenship.

I was dismayed and alarmed by the findings of a 2019 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report which highlighted the many issues these veterans face once deported, such as difficulty accessing VA benefits and services, inability to attend hearings to appeal VA decisions and overall challenges communicating with the agency, Takano told Military.com.

The Veteran Service Recognition Act passed in the House during the 117th [Congress] with bipartisan support because standing up for veterans has traditionally transcended party lines. We've had bipartisan support for similar efforts in the past, and I believe there's still an appetiteeven within a Republican majorityto do right by those whove worn the uniform.

Takano sponsored the bill alongside Democratic Reps. Zoe Lofgren (CA), Jerry Nadler (NY), Lou Correa (CA), Juan Vargas (CA) and Raul Ruiz (CA). Republicans Amata Coleman Radewagen (American Samoa) and Maria Elvira Salazar (FL) have also co-sponsored it.

After their service, it is common sense and good policy for these Veterans to be able to remain as permanent residents or pursue citizenship if they choose, Radewagen said in a statement. They strengthened our military and strengthened the country. All our veterans showed commitment to the country through service, in turn we as a nation have a commitment to support our veterans.

Salazar added that noncitizen veterans who just like their American peers made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the U.S. should be treated with dignity and respect.

A companion bill is expected to be introduced in the U.S. Senate in coming weeks by California Senator Alex Padilla, a Democrat.

If youre willing to risk your life for this country, you deserve a fair path to citizenshipnot the threat of deportation, Padilla told Military.com. At a time when Americans overwhelmingly see immigration as a strength, this is one issue where we can and should find common ground in Congress.

Whats In The Bill

The legislation, if enacted, would call for War Secretary Pete Hegseth, Homeland Secretary Security Kristi Noem, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins, to jointly carry out a study on noncitizen veterans and noncitizen former members of the Armed Forces who were removed from the U.S. during the period beginning January 1, 1990, to the time of the bills enactmentand not longer than one year later.

That current hypothetical study would require guidance as to the number of noncitizens who served in the U.S. Armed Forces and were removed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or the Immigration and Naturalization Service during the aforementioned time, for more than 180 days.

The country of nationality or last habitual residence of the noncitizen, in addition to the total length of time the noncitizen served as a member of the Armed Forces and the grounds of why they were ordered to be removed under section 237(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, would also be required to be disclosed.

Republican Rep. Mike Bost of Illinois, chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, is aware of the reintroduction of this legislation that is pending before the committee and reviewing it, a spokesperson for the House Committee on Veterans Affairs told Military.com.

Eric Holguin, Texas state director of UnidosUS which has advocated for Latinos dating back to 1968, told Military.com that individuals who risk their lives should receive a pathway to citizenship rather than the threat of deportation.

The Veteran Service Recognition Act is critical legislation because it ensures that noncitizen servicemembers have the chance to naturalize as early as their first day of active duty, Holguin said. It also protects veterans from unjust removal by requiring DHS to fully consider their service before taking any deportation action.

At a time when thousands of Latinos face racial profiling and deportation simply for working to support their families, or in some cases for serving this nation, this bill offers a long-overdue safeguard.
In the sweeping Southern California metropolis spanning from Santa Barbara to the Mexico border, Camp Pendleton has long remained the largest undeveloped stretch of the coastline.

The 17 miles of beach and coastal hills has, since World War II, proven critical in preparing soldiers for amphibious missions. The bluffs, canyons and mountainous terrain that comprise the interior of the base has been fertile training ground for those sent to conflicts in the Middle East and beyond.

But change may be on the horizon.

The United States Department of Defense is considering making a portion of the 125,000 acre base in northwestern San Diego County available for development or lease in what, if successful, would be unprecedented for the military installation.

"There's no place in Southern California like Camp Pendleton when it comes to open space along the coast," said Bill Fulton, a professor of practice in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at UC San Diego.

In late August, Secretary of the Navy John Phelan conducted an aerial tour of Camp Pendleton and visited with Marines at the base where he had "initial conversations about possible commercial leasing opportunities" by the Department of Defense, Phelan's spokesperson Courtney Williams told The Times.

"These opportunities are being evaluated to maximize value and taxpayer dollars while maintaining mission readiness and security," Williams said in a statement. "No decisions have been made and further discussions are needed."

Details about the sites being considered for commercial lease remain unclear. Officials with Camp Pendleton declined to comment to The Times.

Discussions over the 83-year-old base comes at a time when the Trump administration is more aggressively trying to use public lands to raise money for the federal government and rolling back protections on open space.

The administration this month proposed rescinding a Biden-era rule that sought to protect public lands from industrial development and instead prioritizing the use of the land for oil and gas drilling, coal mining, timber production and livestock grazing.

Secretary Doug Burgum has repeatedly emphasized that federal lands are untapped assets worth trillions of dollars.

"We believe that our natural resources are national assets that should be responsibly developed to grow our economy, help balance the Budget, and generate revenue for American taxpayers," he said in a statement to Congress in May.

While there has been development on Camp Pendleton those projects have solely been for military uses. A large hospital was recently added, and there are various buildings for the base's more than 42,000 active duty personnel.

Camp Pendleton has won praise for balancing national security needs with environmental preservation.

In 2022, Camp Pendleton was named the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's military conservation partner of the year for its efforts to support the recovery of several species, including the tidewater goby, coastal California gnatcatcher, the arroyo toad and southern California steelhead.

Conservation and management of the least Bell's vireo, California least tern, and western snowy plover have resulted in significant increases to on-base populations of these species, according to the agency.

In addition to endangered populations, the base is home to a herd of North American bison, one of only two wild conservation herds of bison in California.

Past efforts to build more on the camp have not been popular with the public.

In the mid-1990s, the U.S. Marine Corps put forth a plan to build 128 homes for officers and their families on a 32-acre bluff at San Mateo Point near Trestles Beach, one of the nation's most famous surfing spots. The California Coastal Commission ultimately rejected the project.

In 2021, the Department of the Navy issued a request for information to seek feedback on hosting "critical energy and water infrastructure resiliency projects" on a portion of Camp Pendleton.

In the document, the department sought information on long-term partnerships to plan, design, construct and operate facilities that could include energy generation, transmission and storage, microgrid technologies, water desalination, drought mitigation, stormwater management, reuse or alternative use of decommissioned energy infrastructure, high speed fiber communications, data centers or residential, commercial or industrial purposes.

It is not clear whether any potential projects were identified from the request for information.

NBC News reported that funds from development on Camp Pendleton could potentially fund Trump's Golden Dome missile defense project, citing defense sources. But officials have not publicly specified where funds would be allocated.

Absent specifics, it's challenging for people in the areas immediately around the base to know what to expect and how to prepare, Fulton said.

"Are we talking about little shopping centers or high-rise hotels?" he said. "You would assume that the military has certain constraints that they would want to impose to protect their activities, but we just don't know."

Given the base's coastal location, development on the site could certainly be fruitful for the federal government. Developers have long had their eye on smaller swaths of coastal land in Southern California. Years-long battles between developers and environmentalists were waged in the fight over proposed housing and commercial developments at Bolsa Chica in Huntington Beach and Banning Ranch in Newport Beach. Ultimately, those projects were scrapped.

Camp Pendleton, bordered by San Clemente to the north and Oceanside to the south, opened in 1942 during World War II at a time when the military was looking for large places to train soldiers, particularly for amphibious missions in the Pacific. It became a permanent installation two years later and has trained thousands of service members, sending troops to battle in Operation Desert Storm and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Camp Pendleton has a deeply entwined relationship with its southern neighbor, Oceanside, once a sleepy beachside town turned military city and recreation hub.

In 1940, the city's population was 4,652. Ten years later, it had swelled to more than 12,800 and grew further as the United States entered the Korean War and more service-connected families moved into the region, according to census data.

Development on the base would certainly have an effect on Oceanside, city leaders say.

Service members and their families frequently travel off the base to surrounding communities to shop and dine out, providing a steady customer supply for local businesses including those that cater heavily to Marines including dry cleaners, tailors, barbershops and military surplus stores. The base's regional economic impact is more than $6 billion dollars annually, according to the city.

"I think it would be very concerning to see large scale development without collaboration with local municipalities," said Oceanside Deputy Mayor Eric Joyce. Joyce said the city hasn't yet been given any insight into the federal government's plans for the base.

"We have neighborhoods that are literally right up to the gate, who are very impacted when there are changes in traffic or other developments there," Joyce said, adding that the city has a deep respect for the base and any shifting away from its original mission of training Marines would "be deeply concerning."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

2025 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The white hats of the graduating class of the U.S. Naval Academy sailed high in the clear skies above Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis in May of 1994, after President Bill Clinton gave the commencement address and the Navys Blue Angels roared overhead.

Mikie Sherrill, now a New Jersey Democratic congresswoman running for governor, saw none of it.

She was caught up in a months-long investigation of the worst cheating scandal in the academys history, leading to the expulsion of 24 midshipmen. Sherrill says she did not cheat but was penalized because she would not turn in her classmates involved in the infamous scandal.

While allowed to graduate, Sherrill was not permitted to walk in the procession with the rest of her classmates in that joyous ceremony. She was among 64 who received lesser punishment.

While she went on to an honorable military career as a decorated Navy helicopter pilot for nearly 10 years before entering politics, Sherrill now faces sharp questions more than 30 years later about exactly what she might have done in the wake of one of the darkest days at Annapolis.

It has suddenly become a lightning-rod issue in the razor-close New Jersey governors race between Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli.

Sherrill has declined to release her disciplinary records and accuses President Donald Trumps administration and the Ciattarelli campaign of working together to illegally distribute files from the National Archives to a Ciattarelli ally -- files that include almost completely un-redacted copies of her military records, including her Social Security number.

This is a breathtaking, disturbing leak that must be thoroughly investigated. Once again, the Trump administration is targeting political opponents with an absolute disregard for the law, this time in concert with the Ciattarelli campaign, the Sherrill campaign said in a statement.

Her opponent said the scandal at the naval academy in 1994 had been no secret. But why she was punished is not so clear.

What specific honor concept violations was she punished for? How did Naval investigators determine her guilt? Ciattarellis campaign asked in a statement. The only way to determine any of these answers is through her authorizing full and immediate release of all academic, disciplinary, and investigatory records related to her time at the academy and the scandal itself.

On Friday, it was also revealed that Sherrills husband, Jason Hedberg, had a role in the scandal while he was a student. Court records, first reported by the New York Post, disclosed that Hedberg was one of about four dozen midshipmen who sued in 1994 to stop the academys Honor Board from deciding whether the students should be expelled.

A judge rejected the case and it remains unclear why Hedberg, who graduated and participated in commencement, was among the students who filed the lawsuit. Sherrills campaign declined to comment Saturday.

Sherrill has made her military record as a Navy helicopter pilot a key part of her campaign messaging as the latest poll shows both candidates are tied. Many view the New Jersey governors race as an early indicator on public feelings about the Trump presidency just before the midterm congressional elections.

What happened at Annapolis so many years ago is no mystery.

Copies of the notoriously difficult final exam for Electrical Engineering 311 had somehow been obtained and passed around by some students two days before it was administered. It was never clear who was responsible and some students who were caught up in the investigation said they had thought they were studying from an old practice test  only to learn it was the actual exam when they sat down to take it.

Several hours later, a midshipman alerted a professor and other students also stepped forward to report what had happened. The Navy would later report that more than 130 midshipmen, all from a class scheduled to graduate in May 1994, may have had an advance look at the test.

At the center of it all is the academys honor concept, which holds that midshipmen are persons of integrity.

They stand for that which is right, it reads. They tell the truth and ensure that the truth is known. And in bold: They do not lie.

But unlike the honor code at West Point, there is no non-toleration clause holding students directly responsible if they tolerate others who cheat.

A former U.S. Naval Academy classmate of Sherrills, who asked not to be identified, said investigators and the Navy didnt like midshipmen who wouldnt rat out their classmates.

We were taught to be loyal and stand up for our shipmates all day every day, and this scandal really pitted loyalty against [the] institution, the former classmate said. I respect Mikie for not turning people in.

The individual recalled that the Navy conducted a massive, drawn-out investigation, uncovering everything and everyone involved. A distinguished board then reviewed every detail for each person and assigned punishments as they saw fit, outside of normal procedures or precedent.

The classmate said it wasnt a legal or a Uniform Code of Military Justice issue: It was a custom court that looked at each person individually ... The Navy completely mishandled the crisis and could have easily avoided it.

Another former classmate who responded to questions about what happened said only that I did not know Mikie well and during that incident we never talked about it.

Sherrill, meanwhile, released a campaign ad on Saturday featuring a fellow former Navy veteran praising her service.

I would know because I served alongside her, Lt. Cmdr. Karsten says in the clip. She was distinguished multiple times and was honorably discharged. Attacking her service record isnt just wrong, its a blatant lie.

Ultimately, 24 students were directly implicated and expelled from the academy as a result of the cheating scandal. None were identified. There were no public announcements about the others who were punished.

 2025 Advance Local Media LLC.

Visit nj.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
CHICAGO  The sight of armed, camouflaged and masked Border Patrol agents making arrests near famous downtown Chicago landmarks has amplified concerns about the Trump administration's growing federal intervention across U.S. cities.

As Illinois leaders warned Monday of a National Guard deployment, residents in the nations third-largest city met a brazen weekend escalation of immigration enforcement tactics with anger, fear and fresh claims of discrimination.

It looks un-American, said Chicago Alderman Brandon Reilly, who represents downtown on the City Council. He deemed the Sunday display a photo opp for President Donald Trump, echoing other leaders.

Memphis, Tennessee, and Portland, Oregon, also braced for a federal law enforcement surge.

Trump has called the expansion of federal immigration agents and National Guard troops into American cities necessary, blasting Democrats for crime and lax immigration policies. Following a crime crackdown in the District of Columbia and immigration enforcement in Los Angeles, hes referred to Portland as war-ravaged and threatened apocalyptic force in Chicago.

Whether it takes place here in the city or the suburbs, its all the same to us, Border Patrol agent Gregory Bovino, known for aggressive tactics in Los Angeles, said Sunday as he walked Chicago streets with dozens of agents.

Heres a snapshot of where things stand with federal law enforcement activity in Chicago, Portland and Memphis.

Chicago Raises Discrimination Claims

Many Chicagoans were already uneasy after an immigration crackdown began earlier this month. Agents have targeted immigrant-heavy and largely Latino areas.

Trump has waffled on sending the military, but Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker said Monday it appeared the federal government would deploy 100 troops. Pritzker said the Illinois National Guard received word that the Department of Homeland Security sent a memo to the Defense Department requesting troops to protect U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel and facilities.

An immigration processing center outside Chicago has been the site of frequent protests and aggressive tactics by federal agents.

The enforcement recently escalated, with agents using boats on the Chicago River and marching Sunday on Michigan Avenue and in upscale neighborhoods.

Among the biggest concern from activists and elected leaders is discriminatory stops, particularly after the Supreme Court lifted restrictions on roving patrols in LA. The court cleared the way for immigration agents to stop people based on race, language, job or location.

ICE is running around the Loop, harassing people for not being white, Pritzker said, describing the city's core business district.

Activists said a Latino family of four was led away by federal agents Sunday near the popular Cloud Gate sculpture, commonly called The Bean. Construction workers and bicyclists were also targeted.

The downtown operation of being racially profiled and kidnapped by immigration in broad daylight represents a major escalation by the Trump administration, said Veronica Castro with Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.

Bovino told The Associated Press that agents will go after anyone who is here illegally, an approach that fell under immigration authority, known as Title 8. He told the Chicago Sun-Times that a persons appearance goes into the calculation.

It would be agent experience, intelligence that indicates theres illegal aliens in a particular place or location, he told the newspaper. Then, obviously, the particular characteristics of an individual, how they look.

DHS did not return messages Monday.

Chicagoans Trail Border Patrol

As Border Patrol agents marched near downtown, a few onlookers nodded in approval and shouted praise while a trail of activists and others urged agents to leave.

Shirley Zuniga was celebrating her 24th birthday when she saw agents. Still wearing a pink birthday sash, she left brunch to follow them.

Zuniga, among the first in her family of Honduran immigrants to be born in the United States, said she forgot all about her birthday plans as she yelled at them to go home.

This is much more important to me, she said as she grew emotional. Im celebrating my people.

Portland Goes to Court

In Oregon, Democratic Attorney General Dan Rayfield filed a motion in federal court Monday seeking to temporarily block the Trump administration from deploying the National Guard.

The motion is part of a lawsuit Rayfield filed Sunday, after state leaders received a Defense Department memo that said 200 members of the states National Guard will be placed under federal control for 60 days to protect Federal property, at locations where protests against these functions are occurring or are likely to occur.

Portland Mayor Keith Wilson and Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek are among local leaders who object to the deployment.

Putting our own military on our streets is an abuse of power and a disservice to our communities and our service members, Rayfield said in a statement Monday.

The ICE building outside Portland has been the site of nightly protests that peaked in June, with smaller clashes occurring since then.

A larger crowd demonstrated at the building Sunday. Two people were arrested for assault, according to authorities. That followed a peaceful march earlier in the day that drew thousands to the citys downtown and saw no arrests, police said.

Some residents are already frustrated.

The building manager of the affordable housing complex adjacent to the ICE building said the impacts of violent tactics, including tear gas and late-night altercations, are traumatizing for residents, including the veterans who live there.

Sending federal troops will only escalate the situation. The last thing we need is an escalation, Reach Community Development said in statement.

Memphis Residents Worry

Memphis was in wait-and-see mode Monday, the first day of a planned federal law enforcement surge ordered by Trump to help fight crime. There were no immediate reports of large-scale federal law enforcement operations.

Still some residents, including Latinos, expressed concerns that immigration agents will detain people regardless of immigration status.

We know the presence of the National Guard will lead to our neighbors being afraid to seek help when they need medical care, need to report crimes, or require social services, because of this military presence, said Sandra Pita, a community organizer.

The city has experienced high numbers of violent crimes such as carjackings and homicides in recent years, but both Democratic and Republican officials have noted that the majority-Black city is seeing decreases this year in some categories.

Associated Press writers Adrian Sanz in Memphis and Clare Rush in Portland contributed to this report.
Residents in Tenafly, New Jersey, gathered Monday to honor Edan Alexander, their hometown hero who was held hostage for 584 days by Hamas and plans to resume his military service with the Israeli Defense Forces.

Tenafly renamed a street leading into the parking lot at borough hall Edan Alexander Way, in a ceremonial sendoff for the 21-year-old soldier before he returns to Israel to continue the fight against Hamas.

I just want to say how much this means to me, Alexander told about 200 people gathered for the renaming. A year and a half in captivity was the hardest thing Ive ever gone through  but I never felt completely alone. I knew my family, my town, and so many people were fighting for me, keeping my name alive, and pushing for my return. That gave me strength.

Alexander was joined by his family during his brief remarks. To have a road named here, in the place I call home, is something I could never have imagined, he said. Its just not my name on the sign  its a reminder of how powerful a community can be when it refuses to give up."

Tenafly Mayor Mark Zinna led the ceremony and praised Alexanders strength anda courage to rejoin the military, nearly two years into the war with no end in sight.

Zinna said just a week ago, someone burned an Israeli flag at the Temple Sinai in Tenafly, which he called a blatant act of anti-semitism.

After discussing the incident with the rabbi, we both agreed that the only course of action was to buy more Israeli flags, he said.

Thousands of people greeted Alexander when he returned to Tenafly in May, finally free after months of on-again, off-again negotiations between Israel, Hamas, and the United States. After being give a heros welcome, Alexander kept a low profile throughout the summer and didnt give interviews.

Earlier this month, Alexander spoke at a fundraiser in New York for the Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces, and said he would return to service.

I will once again put on the IDF uniform, and Ill proudly serve alongside my brothers, he said then. My story does not end with survival. It continues with service.

That set the stage for Mondays gathering , in which U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer praised Alexander who overcame all odds and then...rushed back to continue the fight against terror and evil.

Gottheimer said he met Alexander after his release, and said Alexanders humility, his poise and self-assurance stopped me in my tracks. Gottheimer said Alexander told him his release from captivity didnt make him a hero.

The real heroes, he said, are the ones who are still there, and those who gave their lives, Gottheimer said.

Gottheimers remarks were occasionally interrupted by a lone protester who held a Palestinian flag and a sign that said, When do we Jews notice that Israel is insane?!

A few people in the crowd jeered at the protester, who in an interview following the ceremony identified himself as Rich Siegel, 67, of Teaneck. Siegel accused Israels Zionist regime of committing genocide.

At this point, enlisting in the IDF is an obscenity because we know that Israel is in the process of eliminating Gaza, forcing its population out, destroying whatever structures remain, and starving its population.. This is a human rights violation on a scale that we havent seen in our lifetimes, and I believe it is a Holocaust.

Alexanders spiritual leader, Rabbi Mordecai Shain of the Lubavitch of the Palisades, said Israel was fighting for the release of the hostages still being held by Hamas, living and dead.

The rabbi said people prayed for Alexander when he was held hostage, and now they will pray for him again. The rabbi presented Alexander with a Tefillin, two black boxes that contain Torah scriptures, to connect his head and mind to God, he said.

 2025 Advance Local Media LLC.

Visit nj.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Sikorsky Aircraft, the Stratford-based helicopter manufacturer, has been awarded a nearly $11 billion contract with the U.S. Navy in a major win for the state.

The Connecticut helicopter manufacturer, a Lockheed Martin company, received a $10.8 billion contract this week from the U.S. Navy to produce up to 99 CH-53K King Stallion helicopters for the U.S. Marine Corps over five years, according to the company.

The CH-53K is the most powerful heavy-lift helicopter in the U.S. military and is designed to transport Marines, heavy equipment and supplies from Naval ships to shore in support of global operations, according to the U.S. Navy. The CH-53K, which can carry up to 27,000 pounds, is the replacement for the CH-53E.

This award reflects trust and confidence in Sikorsky to deliver these technologically advanced, heavy-lift helicopters that will revolutionize the Marine Corps operational capabilities by adding unrivaled power, performance, survivability and dependability to the fleet, said Rich Benton, Sikorsky vice president and general manager. The multi-year contract enables Sikorsky to partner with the Department of the Navy to drive long-term affordability, optimize production efficiencies and stabilize our supply chain and workforce, ensuring the Marines maintain the strategic advantage with the CH-53K in a rapidly evolving battlespace.

The contract combines five separate aircraft orders into a five-year multi-year procurement, ensuring price predictability and consistent flow of materials from 267 CH-53K suppliers across 37 states, and 17 suppliers from eight countries. The contract allows the U.S. military to buy up to 99 CH-53K aircraft for the U.S. Marine Corps or to fulfill orders from international military customers, according to Sikorsky.

This blockbuster $10.3 billion is a major win for Sikorsky & their incredibly talented workforce. Im thrilled to see this historic investment in CT made helicoptersthe worlds finest, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal posted on X.

Sikorsky said they designed the CH-53K helicopter to meet the Marine Corps lift requirements for the battlefield  to transport troops, supplies and heavy equipment forces across a contested environment, according to the company. Sikorsky said they already delivered 20 CH-53K aircraft to the U.S. Marine Corps. An additional 63 aircraft are in various stages of production and assembly.

Jobs, jobs, jobs. Excellent news for Sikorsky workers, for Stratford, and for our regional economy. This announcement brings predictability to Sikorsky for years to come. Its a big win, and a testament to Sikorsky excellence. Congratulations to Sikorsky President Rich Benton, to his team, and to their entire supplier base. Thank you as well to our federal delegation and to the administration for their support of Sikorsky innovation, said State Sens. Jason Perillo (R- Shelton) and Stephen Harding (R- Brookfield) in a joint statement.

The news comes nearly three years after Sikorsky lost out on a $1.3 billion contract with the U.S. Army. The Army was searching for the next generation of long-range helicopters, but Sikorsky was not named its new supplier. Instead, the Army signed Bell Textron, a Texas-based company, to produce the replacement for the Sikorsky-produced UH-60 Black Hawk.

2025 Hartford Courant. Visit courant.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
ISLAMABAD  The Taliban on Sunday freed a U.S. citizen from an Afghan prison, weeks after they said they had reached an agreement with U.S. envoys on a prisoner exchange as part of an effort to normalize relations.

The deputy spokesperson for the Taliban Foreign Ministry, Zia Ahmad Takal, identified the man as Amir Amiri. He did not say when Amiri was detained, why, or where.

An official with knowledge of the release said Amiri had been detained in Afghanistan since December 2024 and was on his way back to the U.S. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the details with the media.

Qatar facilitated Amiri's release in the latest diplomatic achievement resulting from its security partnership with the U.S. that has secured the freedom of four other Americans from Taliban detention this year. The energy-rich nation on the Arabian Peninsula also helped in releasing a British couple who were imprisoned for months.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed Amiri's release, saying it marked the administrations determination, reinforced by U.S. President Donald Trump's recent executive order, to protect American nationals from wrongful detention abroad.

While this marks an important step forward, additional Americans remain unjustly detained in Afghanistan. President Trump will not rest until all our captive citizens are back home.

Ahmad Habibi, the brother of Mahmood Habibi, a U.S. citizen held by the Taliban for more than three years, said he and his family were grateful to hear the news about Amiri, and they remained hopeful that Mahmood would also return home.

Mahmood Habibi, an Afghan-American business owner, worked as a contractor for a Kabul-based telecommunications company and vanished in 2022. The FBI and his family have said they believe he was taken by the Taliban, who have denied holding him.

We are grateful that senior officials at the State Department and National Security Council have repeatedly assured us that any deal they do with the Taliban will be all or nothing and they have explicitly assured us that they will not leave my brother behind, Ahmad Habibi said.

It remains unclear what the Taliban receive in exchange for freeing U.S. nationals. But Afghanistans needs are many.

The international aid money that flowed into the country after the 2001 U.S.-led invasion is drying up even as economic and humanitarian crises mount, particularly after a magnitude-6 earthquake on Aug. 31.

But Afghanistan remains a focus for Trump, who has said he wants to retake Bagram Air Base, a massive former U.S. military facility, a demand rejected by senior Taliban officials.

___

Associated Press writer Eric Tucker contributed to this report from Washington.
The Harbor Princess will do color tours, sunset cruises and kid-friendly cruises in the Charlevoix area in October. Little Traverse Ferry Co.

CHARLEVOIX, MI - Its that lovely time of year again - when the Little Traverse Bay Ferry Co. motors the Harbor Princess from its summertime berth in Petoskey to its fall home in Charlevoix.

Why the beach town switch? Because the Harbor Princess is once again inviting guests to step aboard for fall color ferry tours on Round Lake and its adjacent Lake Charlevoix. And some of these cruises even overlap with the areas lively Apple Fest in October.

From the sparkling waters of Round Lake to the serene beauty of Lake Charlevoix, youll have the best seat in the house for vibrant fall foliage and crisp autumn air, ferry fleet staff said. Add in seasonal refreshments, and its the perfect fall activity during your Northern Michigan getaway.

Highlights of the Fall Color Cruises:

Relax and enjoy a tour of the expansive Lake Charlevoix, cruising past Oyster Bay shipwrecks, the historic Ironton Ferry, and the scenic south arm with narration.

Special Charlevoix Historic Society narrated cruises are planned for October. You can find more information on the ferrys website here.

The ferry tour season wraps up with Apple Fest weekend, Oct. 1012, with three trips daily right from downtown.

Little Traverse Bay Ferry Company's newest boat is the Harbor Princess, which is booking sunset cruises now. Photo provided by Little Traverse Bay Ferry Company's Harbor Princess.

A Great Lakes Ferry with Some Cool History

The Harbor Princess - a boat with a storied history on two Great Lakes - settled into her new home with the Little Traverse Bay Ferry Co. in 2023. She arrived as the new big sister in the ferry fleet that for a few years had been offering port-hopping runs for passengers between Petoskey, Harbor Springs and Bay Harbor. The Princess came in with a specialty: Sunset cruises.

People familiar with tour boats that ply the Great Lakes know that vessels can change hands and change names several times over the decades they are on the water. The same is true of the Harbor Princess. This boat has a pretty cool history that includes two well-known islands and Michigans biggest city.

It was launched in 1955 and first known as the Emerald Isle, built for the Beaver Island Boat Company. The 65-foot boat could carry up to 125 passengers and nine vehicles between that remote island in northern Lake Michigan and Charlevoix, its mainland port. It was later bought by the Arnold Transit line to ferry people, horses and other cargo between Mackinac Island and mainland docks in the Straits of Mackinac. Its most recent incarnation under Capt. Chris Chamberlain and his team was as the Diamond Jack, a dinner and river cruise boat in Detroit.

After heading north to St. Ignace in 2023, where it spent a stint in dry dock for a little refurbishing, the boat left as the Harbor Princess and joined the ferry company in Petoskey for its next chapter on the water.

The Harbor Princess carries a rich history that unfolds with every voyage, Chamberlain said. From her beginnings as the legendary Emerald Isle, tailored specifically for the Charlevoix to Beaver Island route, to a Mackinac Island ferry for the Arnold Line, then as the beloved Diamond Jack touring the heart of Detroit. Her journey is a special testament of maritime history around the state of Michigan.
Covered Drive is a scenic 10-mile stretch of U.S. 41 between Lac La Belle Road and the town of Copper Harbor in Michigan's Keweenaw County. This tunnel of trees is ideal for fall color viewing. Visit Keweenaw

Two scenic tree tunnels in Michigans Keweenaw Peninsula will soon transform into vibrant corridors of autumn color, offering visitors a chance to experience picturesque fall drives.

Located about an hour apart, Covered Road and Covered Drive showcase the regions seasonal beauty, according to Jesse Wiederhold, spokesman for Visit Keweenaw.

The Keweenaw boasts two beautiful tunnels of trees, Wiederhold said.

With the Upper Peninsula typically reaching peak fall colors in early October, theres still time to plan a trip to these scenic routes. The U.P. is traditionally the first part of Michigan to display autumns full color palette.

Right now, the middle of the Keweenaw is popping with color while the shoreline areas are still developing, according to an update from Visit Keweenaw.

Covered Drive is a scenic 5.5-mile stretch west of Houghton in Michigan's Houghton County. This tunnel of trees is ideal for fall color viewing. Visit Keweenaw

Covered Drive

Covered Drive, a 5.5-mile stretch west of Houghton in Houghton County, offers what Wiederhold describes as a dramatic tunnel of trees straight out of a movie.

To access this scenic dirt road, travelers should head west from Houghton on Houghton Canal Road, turn left onto Coles Creek Road and continue straight as it becomes Covered Drive.

Covered Drive is a quiet, country path, Wiederhold said. Towering deciduous trees fence the road and let color peepers bask in their fall glory.

Beyond the colorful foliage, visitors will encounter the ghost town of Redridge, featuring a historic 1901 dam across the Salmon Trout River. For optimal viewing, Wiederhold recommends driving this route during the golden hour before sunset.

Covered Road is a scenic 10-mile stretch of U.S. 41 between Lac La Belle Road and the town of Copper Harbor in Michigan's Keweenaw County. This tunnel of trees is ideal for fall color viewing. Visit Keweenaw

Covered Road/U.S. 41

The second tree tunnel, Covered Road, is a 10-mile segment of U.S. 41 between Lac La Belle Road and Copper Harbor in Keweenaw County. Unlike Covered Drive, this route requires no turnstravelers simply continue north on U.S. 41 past Lac La Belle Road.

For ten miles to Copper Harbor, youll be deep in a thick forest with some trees growing only over a foot away from the edge of the pavement on both sides, Wiederhold explained. Copper Harbor greets you at the end of this stretch with a stunning marina visible as you enter town.

This scenic roadway is part of the Copper Country Trail National Byway, which was recognized as a Michigan State Heritage Route in 1994.

For additional information about scenic drives throughout the Keweenaw Peninsula, visitors can explore the Visit Keweenaw websites scenic drives section.
The Putman family gathers for a photo in the dining room of their home in Caseville Township on Jan. 12, 2017. Jacob Hamilton | Jhamilt3@mlive.com

The family behind the TLC reality show Meet the Putmans confirmed that three family members died in a crash in Michigan this weekend, with five others remaining hospitalized.

In a statement shared on social media Saturday, the family identified the victims as patriarch Bill Papa Putman, his wife Neenee, and Aunt Megan. The crash occurred just after 9 p.m. Friday when a semi-truck failed to stop at a sign and collided with the familys vehicle, police said.

According to the Tuscola County Sheriffs Office, the accident happened at the intersection of Deckerville Road and Hurds Corner Road near Cass City. A 55-year-old Florida man driving a loaded commercial semi-truck reportedly ran a stop sign, striking a Jeep carrying eight members of the Putmans Cass City family.

Three occupants of the Jeep died at the scene. The five surviving family members - identified in the Putmans statement as Uncle Blake, Lulu, Alena, Noah, and Gia - were transported to hospitals, with some in critical condition.

They have gone home to be with the Lord, the family wrote of their deceased loved ones.

Lulu, 4, kisses her grandfather Bill Putman on the cheek at the Putman's home in Caseville Township on Jan. 12, 2017. When it's time to gather the 15 children under the age of ten, patriarch Bill calls throughout the house with a Lebanese phrase meaning "give me a kiss," and the kids come running, lining up to greet their smiling grandfather. Jacob Hamilton | Jhamilt3@mlive.com

Please keep Uncle Blake, Lulu, Alena, Noah, and Gia in your prayers as they remain in the hospital. We are asking for complete healing and strength for each of them.

Police have arrested the Florida man who was driving the semi-truck. The investigation remains active.

In their statement, the Putmans expressed their faith during this difficult time, saying that even in this time of heartbreak, they find comfort knowing that God is in control. They shared their belief that their lost family members are alive and whole in heaven before Jesus.

Meet the Putmans aired for one season on TLC in 2017, featuring the 25-member family. After the show ended, they continued sharing their lives through a YouTube channel called Growing Up Putman.

The family has requested continued prayers from the public and their fans. Thank you for every prayer, message and act of love, their statement reads. Your support means more than words can express.

On Sunday, the Putman family shared an update on Noah and Gias condition. They said Noah, though still sedated, was responding with movement, which was a good sign.

Every small sign reminds us that God is at work and hearing our prayers, the family said in a social media post.

The Putmans also said Gia underwent a craniotomy Saturday night to relieve pressure on her brain. Thank you for all the prayers, love, and support.

Generative AI was used to organize information for this story, based on our MLive reporting. It was reviewed and edited by MLive staff.
Michigan State Police, Burton Police Department and Grand Blanc Township Police search the home of a suspect, located near E. Atherton Road and S. Center Road in Burton, Mich., after a shooting occurred at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4285 McCandlish Road, in Grand Blanc on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com

GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP, MI - As local and federal authorities continue to try to grasp what motivated a man to barrel into a Michigan church Sunday morning, spraying bullets and lighting it on fire in a deadly attack, some pieces of the mans background are becoming more clear.

Law enforcement identified Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, of Burton, as the man who rammed a four-door pickup into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township on Sunday morning.

The FBI is now leading the investigation and described Sanfords actions as targeted violence that left four dead, eight injured, and possibly others unaccounted for in the burned-out church.

48 1 / 48 First vigil held to honor victims of Grand Blanc Township mass killing

The pickup Sanford used to ram into the church had two American flags planted in the trucks back bed area. After using an assault rifle to open fire on people who had gathered for the service, Sanford is believed to have used gas to start the church on fire, police said.

Sanford was killed by police in the parking lot minutes after the first 911 call, police said.

The ATF said the shooter also had explosive devices with him, but they were still trying to determine if hed used them.

According to The Associated Press and The Detroit News, Sanford served in the Marines for four years, from June 2004 through June 2008. He worked as a mechanic.

His enlistment included a deployment to Iraq from August 2007 through March 2008. He had the rank of sergeant. He later worked as a truck driver.

After Sundays attack, the Michigan State Police Bomb Squad and other law enforcement arrived to search Sanfords Burton home. Authorities have not said what they found there.

They also have not said if he was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, widely known as the Mormon church.

Reached by phone, Sanfords father declined to discuss his son.
Emergency responders work the scene outside The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints following a shooting and fire in Grand Blanc, Mich., Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. (Lukas Katilius/The Flint Journal via AP) AP

By ISABELLA VOLMERT and COREY WILLIAMS Associated Press

GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP)  A gunman opened fire inside a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel in Michigan during a Sunday service and set the building ablaze, killing at least two people and injuring eight others before police shot him, authorities said.

Hundreds of people were inside the church in Grand Blanc Township when a man rammed a four-door pickup with two American flags in the truck bed through the front door, then got out of the vehicle and started shooting, Police Chief William Renye told reporters. Investigators believe he deliberately set the building on fire, Renye said.

Officers responded to a 911 call and were at the church within 30 seconds and killed the shooter about seven minutes later, Renye said. After the suspect left the church, two officers pursued him and engaged in gunfire, the chief said.

Flames and smoke could be seen pouring from the church for hours before the blaze was put out.

72 1 / 72 Multiple people shot at Michigan church

Renye identified the suspect as Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, from neighboring Burton. Reyne did not specify a motive at a news conference on Sunday evening. Police cordoned off the street leading to the suspects home.

Renye said one of the wounded people was in critical condition Sunday evening and seven others were stable. Earlier in the day, Renye had said authorities believed they would find more victims once they could sift through the wreckage and find where the fire was.

The motive was not yet clear

Investigators were searching the suspects residence in nearby Burton. Authorities did not provide any additional details about the suspect, including whether he was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, widely known as the Mormon church.

It was the latest of many shooting attacks on houses of worship in the U.S. over the past 20 years, including one in August that killed two children during Mass at the Church of the Annunciation in Minneapolis.

Scenes from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4285 McCandlish Road, in Grand Blanc on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. An active shooter and fire was reported at the church. Lukas Katilius | MLive.com

President Donald Trump said in a social media post that he was briefed on the shooting and applauded the FBI for its response. Local authorities said the FBI was sending 100 agents to Grand Blanc Township, a community of roughly 40,000 people outside Flint.

PRAY for the victims, and their families. THIS EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY MUST END, IMMEDIATELY! Trump wrote.

The church building, circled by a parking lot and a large lawn, is near residential areas and a Jehovahs Witness church.

Brad Schneemann, whose home is about 400 yards (365 meters) from the church, told The Associated Press that he and his daughter heard two rounds of four to five shots around 10:30 a.m. Then, we really didnt hear anything for a while before they left their home to see what was going on.

Scenes from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4285 McCandlish Road, in Grand Blanc on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. An active shooter and fire was reported at the church. Lukas Katilius | MLive.com

Tight-knit church community

Timothy Jones, 48, said his family is part of another Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints congregation, or ward, about 15 minutes away, but that his children were at the Grand Blanc Township ward Saturday night for a youth fall festival. He and his family moved to Flint two years ago in large part because of how strong the faiths community is in the area, he said.

As people in his congregation got word of the shooting from texts and phone calls during their Sunday service, his ward went into lockdown and police came as a precaution, he said. His children were frantically, just trying to get word that people were OK.

Sundays are supposed to be a time of peace and a time of reflection and worship, Jones said. Yet in the wake of violence at other houses of worship, a shooting feels inevitable, and all the more tragic because of that, he added.

Scenes from reunification area at the Trillium Theater in Grand Blanc on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. An active shooter and fire was reported at the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4285 McCandlish Road in Grand Blanc. Lukas Katilius | MLive.com

The shooting occurred the morning after Russell M. Nelson, the oldest-ever president of the Utah-based faith, died at 101. The next president is expected to be Dallin H. Oaks, per church protocol.

The church is in communication with local law enforcement as the investigation continues and as we receive updates on the condition of those affected, spokesperson Doug Anderson said.

Places of worship are meant to be sanctuaries of peacemaking, prayer and connection. We pray for peace and healing for all involved.

The impact of the shooting spread throughout the area

When striking nurses at nearby Henry Ford Hospital heard about the shooting, some left the picket line and ran the short distance to the church to help first responders, Teamsters Local 332 President Dan Glass said.

Human lives matter more than our labor dispute, Glass said.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement that her heart was breaking for the community. Violence anywhere, especially in a place of worship, is unacceptable, she said.

The impact spread quickly to neighboring communities, including the small city that shares a name with the township.

Although we are two separate governmental units, we are a very cohesive community, said city of Grand Blanc Mayor John Creasey. This sort of thing is painful for our entire community.

___

Associated Press reporters Safiyah Riddle in Montgomery, Alabama; Sophia Tareen in Chicago; and Christopher Weber in Los Angeles contributed to this report.
Scenes from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4285 McCandlish Road, in Grand Blanc on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. An active shooter and fire was reported at the church. Lukas Katilius | MLive.com

GRAND BLANC, MI -- The first man killed in a Sunday morning shooting at a Latter-Day Saints church in Grand Blanc was very soft spoken and very kind hearted, a leader in the church.

The kindest hearted man you could meet, said Alan Lichtenberg, a former bishop at the church who now lives in Wyoming. Im very sad to see him gone.

MLive is not naming the man because police have not confirmed his identity and its not yet clear that all of his family members have been informed of his death.

But he, too, was a former bishop, which in Mormon churches is a position akin to pastor.

I know him to be a very gentle individual, Lichtenberg said. He served for decades with various organizations in the church, including its young mens organization. He also gave decades to scouting.

Ten people were shot in the church, two fatally, after a 40-year-old Burton man, identified by police as Thomas Jacob Sanford, rammed his vehicle into the building and opened fire using an assault rifle.

Police said they believe Sanford also set a large fire in the church, before being shot and killed by law enforcement officers.

Our prayers and our love go out to all those that are there, Lichtenberg said.

He said he has family who attend the church.

They were fortunately able to get out, but we are missing a family member. We havent heard anything about her yet. Were waiting to hear and were praying and hoping.

As for Sanford, I feel sad that there were such feelings to do something like this, he said. I dont even know how someone does that.
GENESEE COUNTY, MI  Two more bodies have been found at the scene of shooting at a Grand Blanc church, bringing the number of deceased victims to four, police said.

The gunman also died. Eight other gunshot victims remain in the hospital.

Investigators continue to search debris for other victims from the shooting Sunday, Sept. 28, and fire that destroyed the church.

There are some who remain unaccounted for.

The FBI has taken over the investigation.

Police say Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, of Burton, rammed his truck through the churchs front door, got out and opened fire on hundreds attending the service.

Police were on scene within 30 seconds of a 10:25 a.m. call for help from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 4285 McCandlish Road.

Sanford is believed to have used an accelerant to start the fire.

Sanford was killed in a shootout with a Grand Blanc Township police officer and a state Department of Natural Resources conservation officer.
GENESEE COUNTY, MI  As he announced the deaths of additional victims in a church shooting and fire, Grand Blanc Township police Chief William Reyne noted acts of heroism when a gunman opened fire on parishioners.

The heroes inside the church attempted to shield children from the danger. He called their actions brave.

The gunman, Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, crashed his pickup truck into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, on McCandlish Road, during morning services on Sunday, Sept. 28.

He shot churchgoers before using an accelerant, such as gasoline, to ignite a fire that roared from the roof of the now-gutted church. Investigators would not say whether Sanford used an improvised-explosive device to start the fire.

Two people died early on, with eight others injured, one critically. Later that night, Reyne announced that two other bodies had been found, with others still unaccounted for.

He thought it important to remember the bravery inside the church.

Id also like to acknowledge the heroism of not only the first responders but the people who were inside the church at the time, he said at a press conference.

They were shielding the children who were also present within the church, moving them to safety. Just hundreds of people, just practicing their faith. Just extreme courage, brave  and thats the type of community that we are.

The first 911 call came in around 10:25 a.m. A Grand Blanc Township police officer and a state Department of Natural Resources conservation officer were on scene within 30 seconds of the call.

Within eight minutes, the officers neutralized Sanford in a back church parking lot.

Police did not disclose a motive for the attack.

Marc Curtis, an attorney with Defender of the Blue law firm, told MLive on Sunday the DNR conservation officer involved is safe, but still concerned for the victims.

Acting to protect the congregation and prevent further loss of life, the officer engaged the suspect, Curtis wrote in a text message exchange with MLive. This was a tragic event, the officer acted without hesitation to safeguard innocent lives and stop this evil.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints called the killings a tragic act of violence.

The church is in contact with police and parishioners.

We offer thanks to the emergency responders who are assisting victims and families.

We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of prayers and concern from so many people around the world. In moments of sorrow and uncertainty, we find strength and comfort through our faith in Jesus Christ. Places of worship are meant to be sanctuaries of peacemaking, prayer and connection. We pray for peace and healing for all involved.

The FBI is leading the investigation into the act of targeted violence, Reuben Coleman, acting FBI special agent in charge of the Detroit office, said at the press conference.

The FBI brought a crisis-response team to the scene for help in evidence gathering, working with victims, bombs and specialized response to dangerous situations.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, or ATF, has also responded to the scene.

A state police bomb squad responded to Sanfords house. State police also responded to multiple bomb threats reported at other churches after the rampage.

The church killings were on the minds of many in the community, south of Flint.

My heart just breaks for them, Stephanie Giddings, a Fenton resident who attends the church where the shooting occurred, said. She was working and missed the service.

Giddings was among those who came to a reunification site for church members. Her mother called her, then called back when she didnt answer and said there was an emergency.

Oxford Fire Department, which responded Nov. 30, 2021, to a mass shooting at Oxford High School, said Sunday on Facebook: Our crews and many others are still out helping our neighbors in Grand Blanc. We wont ever forget the help we received on 11/30.

A crowd gathered that night for a vigil outside of Holy Redeemer Church in Burton. It was intended to honor conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed on Sept. 10.

I pray for a blessing on our community and the horrific shadow of todays tragedy, state Rep. Dave Martin, a Genesee County Republican, said at the vigil.

The names of the victims have not yet been released.

One of the victims was described as very soft spoken and very kind-hearted who served as leader in the church.

The kindest hearted man you could meet, Alan Lichtenberg, a former bishop at the church who now lives in Wyoming, told MLive.

MLive has not named him pending confirmation by police.
GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP, MI - As the remains of a church continued to smolder after Sundays violent attack that killed at least four people and saw a house of worship set ablaze, law enforcement described the grim task of sifting through the rubble to see if the remains of more congregation members would be found.

But they were also describing stories of amazing heroism, including accounts of church members shielding children and getting them to safety as a suspect driving a pickup truck decked out in American flags rammed through the churchs front doors before opening fire with an assault rifle.

In addition to the dead, at least eight others were injured. The suspect was killed in the parking lot by police minutes later.

Here are some of the highlights from the latest news conference following Sundays attack at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township.

Firefighters and State Police work at the scene of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township after a Burton man drove into the building and opened fire on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. Police say the suspect intentionally set the building on fire. Lukas Katilius | MLive.com

1. Death Toll Rises to Five, Including Suspect

The death toll from the church shooting and fire has risen to five, including the suspect. Of the four victims, two died from gunshot wounds. The cause of death for the others whose bodies were found in the church has not been released. Law enforcement cautioned that some people were unaccounted for and more bodies could be found as the search of the scene continued.

The church structure was described as a total loss, and recovery teams were still working at sifting through the debris, meaning the entire building has not yet been cleared. Authorities had not yet determined how many people remain unaccounted for.

48 1 / 48 First vigil held to honor victims of Grand Blanc Township mass killing

2. FBI Leads Targeted Violence Probe as Arson is Confirmed

The FBI is now leading the investigation, and is treating the attack as an act of targeted violence. More than 100 agents are being sent to the area. An ATF special agent confirmed the fire was deliberately set by the suspect using an accelerant, believed to be gasoline. While officials would not comment on motive or a connection to Charlie Kirks recent murder in Utah, they did confirm the presence of suspected explosive devices at the scene. An ATF national response team, composed of expert fire investigators from across the country, is being deployed to formally determine the origin and cause of the blaze.

3. Rapid Police Response Ends Attack, but New Bomb Threats Emerge

Officials highlighted the rapid law enforcement response, noting an officer was on scene within 30 seconds of the first 911 call, and the suspect was neutralized within eight minutes. However, after the suspect was killed, authorities began receiving new 911 calls for bomb threats at multiple other locations, including several other churches. Michigan State Police confirmed they responded to and cleared these locations.

A video of the latest press conference can be seen below:

Generative AI was used to organize information from law enforcements press conference. It was reviewed and edited by MLive staff.
Emergency services make their way towards The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4285 McCandlish Road, in Grand Blanc on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. An active shooter and fire was reported at the church. Lukas Katilius | MLive.com

GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP, MI - A Sunday morning attack at a Grand Blanc church that left five people dead and eight others injured struck a tight-knit church community with thousands of members in Michigan.

The Grand Blanc congregation is part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormon church, a small, yet growing religion headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The church adheres to a Christian view of God and considers itself Christian. But its beliefs differ from traditional Christianity, with the church following the teachings of its founder Joseph Smith, who members consider a prophet. Thats why some Christian denominations reject Mormonism.

In Michigan, there are nearly 47,000 Latter-day Saint church members who attend 99 congregations.

Mark Hunsaker, a communications director at the Grand Rapids Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said even though Grand Blanc is two hours away, the church is pretty tied together.

Since the shooting, hes heard from members who had friends or family attending in Grand Blanc, a suburb of Flint.

It does hit much closer to home than something out of state or on the other side of the country, Hunsaker said. Its very real for members here, as they have some touch points.

Related: How the deadly Grand Blanc Township church attack unfolded in minutes

The Grand Blanc church was whats called a stake center, meaning it was a larger building where people from different congregations gathered for special events. It also hosted regular Sunday services for roughly 150 people that lasted for two hours, one hour of worship followed by an hour teaching and classes.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also has one temple in Detroit with a second currently being constructed in Grand Rapids. A temple, which hosts sacred ceremonies like marriages, is different from a chapel where churchgoers gather for Sunday worship.

Hunsaker says members historically had to travel to big temples, but theres been a push in recent years to build smaller temples in more communities.

Its available in the communities where the members are, he said. It also allowed the church to expand much faster.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints responded to the shooting in Grand Blanc within hours on Sunday, calling it a tragic act of violence and saying the church remains in communication with local law enforcement as the investigation continues.

A motive for the attack still remains hazy.

The violence started roughly 25 minutes into the Sunday, Sept. 28 service when police say a gunman drove a vehicle into the front doors and opened fire. Its also believed the shooter set a fire that destroyed the building before he was fatally shot by law enforcement.

Reuben Coleman, acting special agent in charge of FBI Detroit Field Office, called it an act of targeted violence while urging the public to avoid speculation.

When I say targeted, I mean targeted within our state community, he said during a Monday press briefing.

Meanwhile, a picture has started to emerge of the alleged gunman, Thomas Jacob Sanford, a U.S. Marine veteran who unleashed a hostile tirade against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, just days before the shooting.

Burton City Council candidate Kris Johns said he met Sanford while campaigning door to door on East Atherton Road near Center Road on Sept. 22. After chatting for a couple of minutes, Johns said Sanford brought up the church, repeatedly saying Mormons are the anti-Christ.

White House press secretary Karoline Levitt said during an interview on Fox News Channels Fox and Friends that investigators are looking into Sandfords bitterness toward the church as a possible motive.

From what I understand, based on my conversations with the FBI director, all they know right now is this was an individual who hated people of the Mormon faith, she said.

But officials with the FBI Detroit field office have not confirmed any of those details yet.

The attack is the latest in a string of violence against places of worship following a shooting at a Minnesota Catholic school in late August, two women were shot at a Kentucky church in July and a June shooting that was thwarted by a church security guard in Michigan.

I was so proud to see powerful statements from interfaith leaders across Michigan denouncing this attack on the house of worship. They grieved for this congregation as though it was their own, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said. They spoke with one voice, with a basic principle that we all believe in: They should be able to pray in peace in our state, no matter who you are.
GENESEE COUNTY, MI  Two people were killed, and eight others were wounded after a 40-year-old man unleashed horror inside a church when he opened fire on hundreds in attendance. The gunman is also deceased.

Grand Blanc Township police Chief William Renye released additional details Sunday night, hours after a gunman fired an assault rifle in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Police identified the shooter as Thomas Jacob Sanford of Burton.

Sanford died in a shootout with police. A motive has not been determined.

Officers responded to the church, 4285 McCandlish Road, around 10:25 a.m. for reports of an active shooter.

Police said Sanford drove his vehicle through the churchs front door while the service was ongoing. Sanford exited his vehicle and began shooting.

Police initially reported one person was killed, and nine others were hospitalized with various injuries.

However, a second person later died at the hospital Sunday afternoon, Renye said.

Seven people are in stable condition, the police chief said, while one person remains in critical condition.

More details are expected to be released by police at an 8 p.m. press conference Sunday.
Provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service

Hillshire Brands Company has recalled 58 million pounds of corn dog and sausage on a stick products because there may be wood embedded in the batter, according to an announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service. Provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service

Millions of pounds of corndog and sausage-on-a-stick products are being recalled because they could be contaminated with pieces of wood.

Texas company Hillshire Brands announced the recall of 58 million pounds of State Fair brand corndogs and Jimmy Dean sausage-on-a-stick varieties. The recall was posted over the weekend by the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

This comes after multiple consumer complaints, including five injuries.

An investigation conducted by Hillshire found that wooden sticks were entering the production process before the meat was covered in batter.

The recalled products were packaged between March 17 and Sept. 26. Establishment number EST-582 or P-894 is printed on the packaging.

These items were sold at retail locations nationwide, online and shipped to food service locations nationwide. They were also sold to school districts and Department of Defense facilities nationwide. (The products were not provided by the USDA for the National School Lunch Program.)

A list of the products subject to recall can be found here. The labels for the impacted products can be found here.

These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Christina Self, The Hillshire Brands Company Associate Director of Customer Care at 888-747-7611.
UPDATE 3:54 p.m. The situation has been secured and cleared, deputies said, and there is no longer a threat to public safety.

CHARLEVOIX, MI  Officials are responding to an unknown public safety threat in Northern Michigan.

According to the Charlevoix County Sheriffs Office, deputies are responding to Charlevoix Estates for an urgent, active situation.

Please avoid leaving your homes or avoid this area at this time, a statement said.

Students will not be dropped off at Charlevoix Estates at this time, deputies said. Parents should call Charlevoix Elementary School to arrange pickup.

Charlevoix Estates is a manufactured home community that sits 1.5 miles south of downtown.

This is a developing story. Updates will be shared once available.
ANN ARBOR, MI  A new tunnel pathway years in the making is getting close to completion.

Ann Arbor Parks Manager Josh Landefeld said the city is aiming to open the long-awaited recreational amenity to the public by the end of October.

Crews still are working to put a stone facade on the concrete structure, which now has paved trail approaches on both sides, among other final tasks.

As seen from the Border-to-Border Trail in Ann Arbor's Bandemer Park, the new tunnel pathway for cyclists and pedestrians, going under the railroad tracks to reach the Barton Nature Area, on Sept. 29, 2025. Crews still are working to put a stone facade on the concrete tunnel opening. (Ryan Stanton | MLive.com) Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

Once open, it will provide a new link in Washtenaw Countys popular Border-to-Border Trail for pedestrians and cyclists. The new tunnel goes under the railroad tracks between Bandemer Park and the Barton Nature Area along the Huron River, where many people previously crossed illegally.

$10,000 illegal track crossing fines advertised at the construction site of Ann Arbor's new tunnel pathway between Bandemer Park and the Barton Nature Area on Sept. 29, 2025. (Ryan Stanton | MLive.com) Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

Do not cross tracks. Fully enforced fines include up to $10,000, states an orange sign posted at the construction site.

The new trail leading up to the tunnel from Bandemer Park has black metal railings along it and offers new river views.

City officials said there will be a public art installation on the tunnels interior, but have not yet unveiled a design.

A view of the Huron River from the new trail approach from the Border-to-Border Trail in Ann Arbor's Bandemer Park to a new tunnel pathway for cyclists and pedestrians on Sept. 29, 2025. Crews still are working to put a stone facade on the concrete tunnel opening. (Ryan Stanton | MLive.com) Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

City Council voted in August 2024 to approve a $4.8 million construction contract with Davis Construction Inc. for the tunnel pathway project. That followed a $1.4 million phase-one effort approved in December 2023 to clear trees along West Huron River Drive and pave the main nature trail through the Barton Nature Area in concrete, creating a new 0.6-mile segment of the B2B Trail that will continue from the tunnel pathway.

A 48-hour around-the-clock operation to install the main concrete pieces of the tunnel took place in June.

Watch a one-minute, time-lapse video of it.

As seen from the Border-to-Border Trail in Ann Arbor's Bandemer Park, the new tunnel pathway for cyclists and pedestrians, going under the railroad tracks to reach the Barton Nature Area, on Sept. 29, 2025. Crews still are working to put a stone facade on the concrete tunnel opening. (Ryan Stanton | MLive.com) Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

Were happy to say, its really coming together: paving is almost done, a timber bridge has been installed over the stream, the retaining wall is finished, and site grading is nearly complete, the parks department posted on social media Sept. 18. Over the next several weeks, were putting the finishing touches on the tunnel and site, including: lighting, masonry, artwork installation, landscape restoration and plantings.

The city is partnering on the project with the Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission, as well as the Huron Waterloo Pathways Initiative, whose portion of the project costs are funded by a grant from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation and other private donors.

A cyclist crosses the new pedestrian bridge over the Huron River between Ann Arbor's Broadway Park West and the Border-to-Border Trail along the Argo Cascades on Sept. 29, 2025. (Ryan Stanton | MLive.com) Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

Another nearby connection to the B2B Trail, Broadway Park West, recently opened to the public, with a new bridge for pedestrians and cyclists to cross between the riverfront park and the Argo Cascades area.

Ann Arbor's newly opened Broadway Park West along the Huron River on Sept. 29, 2025. (Ryan Stanton | MLive.com) Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

Advocates of safe pedestrian passage are hoping to next see a tunnel pathway under the tracks between Nichols Arboretum and the B2B Trail segment leading to Gallup Park.

Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page.
GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP, MI  One day after a gunman allegedly drove his vehicle through a Grand Blanc Township church, opened fire, and set the building ablaze, the community begins a difficult process of recovery.

The following timeline outlines key events as they unfolded on Sunday, Sept. 28, based on reports from law enforcement and eyewitness accounts.

10:25 a.m.

The first 911 call came in at 10:25 a.m. A Grand Blanc Township police officer and Department of Natural Resources conservation officer responded within 30 seconds of the call, Grand Blanc Township Chief William Renye said.

The call came 32 seconds after 10:25 a.m. and officers arrived at the scene 57 seconds after 10:25 a.m., Renye said.

10:33 a.m.

The suspect was " neutralized  44 seconds after 10:33 a.m., Renye said. He was shot and killed in the churchs back parking lot.

12:43 p.m.

A reunification site for victims families is set up at NGC Trillium Theater in Grand Blanc Township, about a half mile from the church.

1 p.m.

Renye holds the first news conference at the Grand Blanc Township Police Department, where he announced the 40-year-old Burton man drove a vehicle into the church , exited and fired several rounds and deliberately set a fire.

Renye also said one victim has died from gunshot wounds. Nine others were being treated at a local hospital.

1:08 p.m.

President Donald Trump issues statement about shooting on Truth Social, saying the FBI will lead the federal investigation.

1:29 p.m.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a statement about the shooting and fire, calling it a tragic act of violence.

2:05 p.m.

A phone number was set up for victims families who are trying to locate family members who are unaccounted for.

2:53 p.m.

Renye announces a second victim has died due to gunshot wounds at a local hospital.

3:55 p.m.

Michigan State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are announced to be investigating the mass killing .

5 p.m.

Renye announced at a second news conference that the suspect was Thomas Jacob Sanford . The officer who confronted the gunman at the Michigan church acted without hesitation, Renye said.

7 p.m.

Police announce via news release that first responders and investigators are entering the church to collect victim information and evidence . Other search warrants were also being executed at other locations throughout the county , police said.

8 p.m.

Renye and other officials announce that two others have been confirmed deceased as a result of the fire, bringing the victim death toll to four. Investigators said other victims have still been unaccounted for. A motive for the attack was not disclosed.

Acting FBI Special Agent in Charge Reuben Coleman said the incident is being investigated as an act of targeted violence.

Investigators believe Sanford used an accelerant, possibly gasoline, to ignite a fire at the church. They would not say whether Sanford used an improvised-explosive device.

Michigan State Police spokesperson Kim Vetter said police agencies have conducted sweeps for bomb threats at multiple Genesee County churches in the aftermath of the incident.
A Michigan State Police Bomb Squad vehicle parked outside the Burton home of Thomas Jacob Sanford, who killed four people and injured several others at a Grand Blanc Township church this past weekend, is seen in this MLive file photo. The home is within walking distance of a Meijer store, which received a bomb threat the day before the attack. Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com

BURTON, MI  A bomb threat called into a Burton Meijer store this past weekend is not believed to be related to Sundays attack on a Grand Blanc Township church.

Theres nothing that leads to that, Burton Police Chief Brian Ross said.

The threat came just a day before Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, of Burton killed four people and several others at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 4285 McCandlish Road, after crashing his truck into the building and setting it on fire. Sanford was shot and killed by police outside of the church during the incident.

Following the attack, the Michigan State Police (MSP) Bomb Squad conducted a sweep of Sanfords home on E. Atherton Road, which is within walking distance of the Burton Meijer, located at G-2333 S. Center Road.

Meijer customer service received a bomb threat over the phone on Saturday, Sept. 27, regarding its Burton store, Ross said. Meijer then called 911 to report the threat, and and the Burton Police Department was dispatched to the scene at approximately 8:35 p.m. Saturday.

The store was evacuated, and the MSP Bomb Squad conducted a sweep of the building. No bombs were found, and the Meijer has since reopened.

It was at the end of the night, so I think they just stayed closed the rest of the night, Ross said.

The Grand Blanc Police Department and Davison Police Department assisted with the evacuation of the store.

While investigating the threat, police identified two Delta Township juveniles as the callers. The callers were visiting one of their mothers in Flint Township when they made the threat.

The Burton Police Department will seek charges against the callers, who began making prank phone calls after becoming bored, police said.

Ross said his department is unaware of any other threats made against the store.

The Church of the Holy in Family, located at 11804 S. Saginaw St., also recently received a bomb threat, according to Fr. Joe Krupp.

The FBI first notified the church that local authorities would be dispatched to the area at 7 p.m. Saturday, and the ATF completed a sweep of the property with dogs at approximately 10:15 a.m., according to church officials.

At about 10:45 p.m. on Sunday, Krupp announced in a Facebook post that local and state police had blocked off the area surrounding the church and noted that church officials were waiting for a bomb squad to conduct a sweep.

Everybody is fine, nothing has happened, but please keep us in our prayers, he said in a Facebook post. I want to thank the Lord for our local police and fire departments as well as the state troopers and feds who are helping out.

Krupp, who serves as the churchs pastor, posted an additional update on Facebook a couple minutes later Sunday night, saying that the church had been cleared of any threat. He noted that the church would hold mass at 8 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 29.

Krupp could not be immediately reached for further comment.
A firefighter works to put out a fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township after a Burton man drove into the building and opened fire on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. Police say the fire was set intentionally by the suspect. Lukas Katilius | MLive.com

BURTON, MI -- The gunman who killed at least four worshippers at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township on Sunday unleashed an unprovoked, bitter critique of the Mormon faith just days before the deadly assault.

Burton City Council candidate Kris Johns said he met Thomas Jacob Sanford, who police identified as the gunman, while campaigning door to door on East Atherton Road near Center Road on Sept. 22.

The Michigan State Police Bomb Squad was in the same area on Sunday, searching for clues from Sanfords home about what led him to carry out the mass shooting that also injured eight others. Sanford was also killed after exchanging gunfire with authorities, police said.

After a few minutes of introductions, Johns said, Sanford steered the conversation directly to the Mormon church and did not turn back, repeatedly telling him that the Mormons are the anti-Christ.

Religion is not a (regular) topic on the doorstep, Johns said of the encounter, which began with Sanford acting outgoing -- almost jovial -- before his conversation became unhinged about the church.

He asked me what (I knew) about Mormons, said Johns, who said hes been interviewed about the encounter by Michigan State Police and the FBI.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday, Sept. 29, that investigators are looking into how Sanfords feelings about the Latter-day Saints tied into Sundays attack.

From what I understand, based on my conversations with the FBI director, all they know right now is this was an individual who hated people of the Mormon faith, she said during an interview on Fox News Channels Fox and Friends.

Johns said Sanford told him members of the church wanted him to get rid of his tattoos and talked about the various tenets of the faith, including sealing, a process that Mormons believe binds a husband, a wife, and their children to each other for eternity. According to the church website, members are not supposed to tattoo their bodies.

According to the Latter-day Saints, sealing can be performed only in a temple by a man who has the priesthood or the authority from God. It means family relationships will endure after death if the individuals live according to the teachings of Jesus Christ, according to the LDS website.

Johns described Sanfords comments as unusual and said he was able to follow some of them because he has friends who are members of the Latter-day Saints. It is unclear what Sanfords involvement was with the Mormon church.

Johns said he was visiting homes in the city where someone in the household had voted in the primary City Council election in August.

The candidate said Sanfords name wasnt the one that triggered his visit, but he was outside the home when Johns abruptly pulled over when I noticed the address.

He engaged with me because he thought something was wrong with my car, Johns said. I pulled over quickly, and he was in the driveway ... In this 20-minute conversation, there was no political talk.

It was entirely based on religion, he said. He had an extreme issue with the church.
BURTON, MI  The Michigan State Police Bomb Squad is outside of the Burton home of a man accused of a shooting and fire on Sunday morning at a Grand Blanc Township church.

The shooting occurred at 10:22 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 28, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 4285 McCandlish Road in Grand Blanc Township.

Police have identified the man accused of shooting 10 people, killing two of them, as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford.

Of the eight other victims, one is in critical condition, according to police. The other seven are in stable condition.

Shortly after 4 p.m. Sunday, an MSP bomb squad armored skid steer arrived at the scene near the intersection of Atherton and Center roads.

Police blocked off the road beginning in the 4100 block of East Atherton Road. Police warned of the possibility of an explosion, but they noted that it would be unlikely.

Michigan State Police, Burton police, Grand Blanc Township police and Medstar Ambulance are among those on the scene.

Several community members have also been observing the scene as the situation unfolds, including Jason Miller, who lives about a mile down the road from the suspect.

Its getting out of control, Miller, 53, said of recent gun violence.

Miller said while he doesnt know the suspect personally, he has spoken with a close friend of his.

He said the guy was a true standup guy, who would do anything for anybody, Miller said.

Mike Pate, 44, also lives down the road from the suspect.

While he often hears news about shootings, Pate said he never expected to have something like this happen so close to home.

I go to church every Sunday, and I worry about this stuff, especially in Michigan, Pate said.
Nurses and case workers represented by Teamsters Local 332 went on strike on Labor Day, Sept. 1, 2025, forming a picket line on Holly Road on the edge of the Henry Ford Genesys Hospital property in Grand Blanc Township. Lukas Katilius/MLive

GRAND BLANC TWP, MI - When ambulances began pulling into Henry Ford Genesys Hospital on Sunday morning, Kim Rau didnt hesitate.

The nurse of 25 years was standing outside the facility on the picket line, like she had been for weeks, when she saw the first wave of victims from the mass shooting at a nearby church arrive.

Rau and a group of about eight striking nurses rushed to the hospitals back entrance to help.

Security and management allowed us in, she said. Then they were contacted by administration and they asked us to leave.

Ten minutes after entering, Rau said she and her colleagues were turned away.

My biggest issue is they call for backup resources even though this is a code black, she said. In any other code black situation, they would call us, but Henry Ford on this day saw the civilians and decided they didnt need us.

Raus account reflects the frustrations of many longtime staff members who say their skills were sidelined during one of the darkest days in the community.

Chris Schneider, a Genesys nurse for 33 years, called it a Catch-22.

Damned if you do, damned if you dont, Schneider said of the hospitals decision.

Henry Ford Health acknowledged the claims in a statement on Monday, Sept. 29, but the statement also said the hospital was appropriately staffed and it couldnt allow striking nurses back into the facility under emergency conditions.

As our Henry Ford Genesys Hospital team members continue to provide compassionate, expert care after this heartbreaking tragedy, we want to both acknowledge the claims that striking Teamsters nurses want to return to work to help  as well as explain why we are unable to welcome them, a hospital spokesperson said in a statement.

The statement noted the following reasons behind the decision on Sunday:

The hospital had already made alternative staffing arrangements, the spokesperson said, and was appropriately staffed Sunday.

Striking staff no longer have access to electronic medical records or medications, which would make it impossible to provide patient care.

Bringing too many team members into a fluid, multi-casualty emergency has the potential to endanger or compromise the ongoing care.

We are troubled by attempts to divert focus from what truly matterscaring for the victims of the tragedy, our patients, their family, our community, and our devoted team members, the spokesperson said. We respectfully ask we do not use this dark day for our community as a bargaining tool.

The labor dispute at Genesys has stretched into its fourth week with little sign of resolution.

About 650 to 700 nurses represented by Teamsters Local 332 walked out on Labor Day, demanding changes to staffing ratios, premium pay policies and contract terms.

Union president Dan Glass said there is no end in sight and doesnt trust the negotiation process from Henry Ford.

I have no optimism that it will be anything more than Henry Ford doing the bare minimum, Glass told MLive-The Flint Journal last week.

The hospital has pointed to absenteeism and financial losses as pressures forcing operational changes. Henry Ford says Genesys has averaged $50 million in yearly losses and must restructure to remain viable.
GRAND BLANC TWP, MI  Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer called for a lowering of rhetoric on the day following a shooting and fire on Sunday morning at a Grand Blanc Township church.

The incident at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints off McCandlish Road left four people dead and several others injured. Police said the shooter, 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford, was killed in the churchs parking lot.

Whitmer thanked all agencies during a Monday, Sept. 29 press conference at the Grand Blanc Township Police Department for their work, from police to fire, EMS and medical providers for saving lives and caring for those that are still fighting for their lives in the hospital.

She also shared her appreciation for the DNR conservation officer and local police officer for their brave actions to take down the shooter and their quick response.

Grand Blanc Township police Chief William Renye previously said officers arrived on scene at the church off McCandlish Road in less than a minute and the suspect was neutralized within minutes.

The governor said her heart as a Michigander is breaking by another mass shooting in a place where people are supposed to be able to gather with one another.

As a state we know the pain of this too well. Weve seen gun violence in our schools, stores, parades, festivals, and our houses of worship, Whitmer said. These are places that we go to feel connected, to feel safe, to be together.

But today, this place has been shattered by bullets and broken glass. And this might be a familiar pain, but it hurts all the same. Every time. We cannot keep living our lives like this.

Whitmer said the communitys grief is the states grief, passed along condolences from President Trump whom she spoke with on Sunday, and vowed leaders would be there to assist in any way needed.

She also expressed pride at the responses by interfaith leaders across Michigan in denouncing this attack on a house of worship.

They spoke with one voice with a basic principle that we all believe in: that you should be able to pray in peace in our state no matter who you are, Whitmer said. I know that in the hours and days ahead we will see the best of Michigan. We will see neighbors being neighborly, checking in with a call, bringing over some food or offering a hug.

Well see medical providers work hard to save lives and treat those in need, with scars both seen and unseen. We will see this congregation unite and rally like never before and continue worshipping together, singing together and serving together because thats who Michiganders are.

As the investigation continues, Whitmer said people will ask questions about why, how and what created this moment spurred by a genuine motivation to understand and learn to prevent in the future.

But she also cautioned in the days ahead that speculation about what happened and why is unhelpful and it can be downright dangerous.

I just ask that people lower the temperature of rhetoric. Keep your loved ones close and keep this community close to your hearts, Whitmer said. Lets keep doing the work together, lets be kind and lets love our neighbors.
The exhibition allows visitors to investigate the tyrannosaur family in detail. (Photo/JAMES HORAN) James Horan

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - The Tyrannosaurs  Meet the Family international traveling exhibition is coming to the Grand Rapids Public Museum on Saturday, Oct. 11.

Through April 26, 2026, the exhibits Grand Rapids stop will feature recently added tyrannosaur discoveries, including the oldest feathery relatives of T. rex.

The exhibition highlights rare fossil specimens, models of feathered dinosaurs and cast skeletons, including that of Scotty, one of the worlds most massive and complete T. rex skeletons. It joins the Clapp Family Mastodon, a 13,000-year-old skeleton revealed at GRPM earlier this month, and Finny the Fin Whale skeleton.

Weve all heard of the T. rex, but there is so much more to discover about this family of dinosaurs when you visit Tyrannosaurs- Meet the Family, said Kellie Rosekrans, director of marketing at GRPM. On top of the rich educational value of this exhibit, just standing in front of a life-sized cast of a tyrannosaur skeleton and imagining Earth as it was when these animals were alive is enough to spark the kind of curiosity that lasts a lifetime.

The exhibition was created by the Australian Museum and is toured internationally by Evergreen Exhibitions. It has been shown in Australia, New Zealand, Scotland and Canada, and is now touring the United States.

It allows visitors to investigate the tyrannosaur family in detail, revealing how natural selection, continental drift and climate change facilitated their transformation from carnivores into massive predators.

Tyrannosaurs came in all shapes and sizes and from many parts of the world. Their history dates back more than 100 million years.

To give the illusion of stepping back in time, Tyrannosaurs: Meet the Family uses cutting-edge technology with hands-on and multimedia experiences.

These include digital screens featuring computer-animated creatures, large-scale augmented reality of tyrannosaurs exploring modern-day Grand Rapids, multi-touch and multiplayer family tree gaming table, and interactive life-sized dinosaurs in the gallery.

The GRPM has several events planned for the early days of the exhibit, including the following:

Tyrannosaurs member night (Oct. 10, 5 - 8 p.m.)

GRPM members will have the opportunity to explore this exciting exhibit before anyone else.

Mark your calendars for an evening of tyrannosaur-themed activities and exclusive access to the incredible world of tyrannosaurs. Explore all three floors on top of our brand new Tyrannosaurs traveling exhibit.

To attend, purchase a membership before Oct. 10, before registering for the event.

Tyrannosaurus trivia nights with Betka-Pope Productions (Oct. 16, 7:30 - 9 p.m.)

Study the Tyrannosaurs: Meet the Family exhibit after hours and then take a seat under the whale skeleton in the GRPMs main hall for a trivia challenge of paleontology and pop culture dinosaur questions.

This event will have a cash bar, and the winning team will receive a prize. Ages 18 and older permitted only.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 each or $40 for a team of four. Tickets are now available here.

Educator night with Tyrannosaurs: Meet the Family (Oct. 22, 5:30-8 p.m.)

Visit the GRPM after hours for an exclusive event for educators connected to the traveling exhibit Tyrannosaurs: Meet the Family.

Also included: free supplementary materials including activity guides and books, GRPM staff with advice on maximizing the field trip experience, complimentary refreshments, a cash bar and a special raffle.

Visitors can learn more about the new exhibit and purchase admission tickets at grpm.org.
Great Lakes Bee Company has introduced Michigan Wild Honey (pictured above) and SayLa Bee Infused honey, which comes infused with flavors such as blueberry, apricot and bourbon. (Photo provided by Great Lakes Bee Company) Courtesy

FREMONT, MI Great Lakes Bee Company, based in Newaygo County, has launched two new products: Michigan Wild Honey and SayLa Bee Infused honey.

We are thrilled to unveil our new Michigan Wild Honey and SayLa Bee Infused honey lines that are sourced and hand bottled right here in Michigan, said company owner and beekeeper Genji Leclair. The summer harvest of our Michigan Wild Honey captures the diverse flavors of area wildflowers, flowering trees, clover, lavender and thistle all blended into a lovely natural mix of medium-amber Michigan deliciousness.

Great Lakes Bee Company is headquartered in Fremont, a small city about 45 miles northwest of Grand Rapids." The company sells honey under its Hasselmans Honey brand name, which is available at Meijer, Whole Foods and other retailers.

The company also sells candles and beeswax.

SayLa Bee Infused honey, available in 6 ounce and 12 ounce jars, comes in a variety of flavors, including apricot, blueberry, bourbon, chai, cherry, chocolate, cinnamon, ginger, habanero, lavender, lemon, orange, peach, rose and strawberry, a release states.

As a small business, we take great care in nurturing bees to produce quality honey and beeswax products that support our regions economy and agriculture, Leclair said. When consumers buy from Great Lakes Bee Company, they are not only buying quality items, but theyre supporting a local company that is passionate about beekeeping and nourishing the environment.

Great Lakes Bee Company products can be found at a variety of retailers around Michigan. For a full list, visit thegreatlakesbeecompany.com.
Chris Andrus, left, and Max Trierweiler opened the Mitten Brewing Company in 2012. The baseball-themed microbrewery was the first brewery to open on Grand Rapids' West Side since Prohibition. (Chris Clark | MLive.com) MLive.com MLive.com

GRAND RAPIDS, MI  The co-founder of a popular West Side brewery is stepping out of the spotlight.

Chris Andrus, co-founder of the Mitten Brewing Company, announced on social media Monday, Sept. 28, that he is stepping away from the company he helped build for the past 15 years.

I will still be involved (just in a more limited capacity) and will retain my ownership, but the time has come to seek new challenges outside the hospitality world, the post read.

Andrus told MLive/the Grand Rapids Press that he originally planned to step away from day-to-day operations in 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic forced him to jump back in.

Five years later, Im proud of what weve done. Really it comes down to being that confident in our management team, he said, noting that his lifelong friend and business partner Max Trierweiler will remain with the business.

Andrus and Trierweiler got started as homebrewers before they opened the Mittens first taproom and pizza restaurant in 2012 inside the former fire house at 527 Leonard St. NW on Grand Rapids West Side.

Over the years, they expanded the brand across West Michigan by opening new locations in Northport and Saugatuck, employing over 100 people combined.

The Northport taproom shut down due to a leasing dispute in 2022, but thanks to an outpouring of community support, it was able to reopen less than a year later.

The Grand Rapids location got a most triumphant surprise visit from Keanu Reeves in August 2024. The prominent actor and musician made a stop at the Mitten with his band Dogstar following a performance at GLC Live at 20 Monroe.

The companys nonprofit arm, the Mitten Foundation, has raised and donated more than $500,000 to local nonprofits since 2012.

What weve accomplished on the West Side, being the first brewery there since Prohibition, has been pretty rewarding, Andrus said. I think weve really made a difference on this side of town, and that work is only beginning.

The past five years, however, dominated by increased costs, uncertainty about the economy and shifts in consumer habits, made the job less rewarding, Andrus said.

The first eight years of doing business we were in control of our own destiny, and that has become less so every year that goes by post 2020, he said.

Shortly after Andrus announced his departure Monday, the post was flooded with supportive comments from friends and acquaintances, with many commenters speculating whether he would now take the leap into politics.

Andrus, however, was quick to dispel the rumor.

I am not, as of this time, he said, laughing. Im looking to lighten my stress load, not increase it.
Townsend Park at 8280 6 Mile Rd. NE in Cannonsburg has been a staple in the West Michigan community since it was founded in 1925. (Photo/Kent County Parks Department) Kent County Parks Department

KENT COUNTY, MI - The public is invited to celebrate 100 years of memories, nature and community connection at a West Michigan park this month.

Townsend Parks Centennial Celebration takes place Tuesday, Sept. 30 from 1 to 8 p.m. at 8280 6 Mile Rd. NE in Cannonsburg.

Since its founding in 1925, Townsend Park has welcomed Kent County families, organizations and visitors for picnics, reunions, outdoor breakfasts, and open-air church services.

This centennial is a chance to reflect on 100 years of shared history, honor the vision of Warren R. Townsend who helped establish the park system, and enjoy the natural beauty and recreational opportunities the park continues to offer, said the Kent County Parks Department.

The public is welcomed to celebrate Townsend Parks rich history and create new memories through a full day of festivities, including:

Nature Programming : Join Blandford Nature Center for a Bumblebee Nature Walk from 11 a.m. to noon, Discovering Owls from 12:45 to 1:45 p.m., Nature Crafts from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., and a Sensory Experience from 4 to 5 p.m.

Stewardship Projects : Participate in a Stewardship Learning Day from 1 to 5 p.m. and help care for the park.

Food, Drinks & History : Starting at 4 p.m., Honey Creek Inn will serve food, beer, wine, and non-alcoholic drinks for purchase in the parks shelter, where the Historical Society will also host a display. Guests can enjoy a barbecue-themed experience.

Recreational Events: Celebrate with a 5K Fun Run at 6 p.m., featuring a 2.5K or 5K self-paced loop with a clock, followed by a gravel bike ride at 6:15 p.m. with two 17-mile loops.

Learn more and register for the park events at kentcountymi.gov/calendar.
JACKSON COUNTY, MI  A Coldwater man, arrested for soliciting underage girls for sex, has been sent to prison.

Two judges in adjacent counties sentenced Walter Rodger Ward Jr. in early September to two to seven years in prison on identical charges, court records show.

Jackson County Circuit Judge John McBain sentenced Ward on Sept. 3 to serve two to four years in prison for accosting a child for immoral purposes and one to seven years for using a computer to commit a crime.

Five days later, on Sept. 8, Calhoun County Circuit Judge John Hallacy sentenced Ward to one to four years in prison for accosting a child for immoral purposes and two to seven years for using a computer to commit a crime.

Ward, 57, previously pleaded guilty June 24 to the charges, with the agreement that sentencing in the two counties would run concurrently, records show.

Ward was arrested Feb. 13 following an investigation into allegations of child solicitation, according to the Calhoun County Sheriffs Office.

Police began investigating Ward after receiving a tip that an adult male was allegedly soliciting underage girls for the purpose of sexual assault, police said.

Investigators identified Ward as a suspect after he arranged to meet with someone who he believed to be an underage girl, police said.

Ward was arrested three months earlier under identical circumstances by the Blackman-Leoni Township Public Safety Department of Jackson County, court records show.

He was credited with 215 days, about seven months, served.

Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page.
A 52-year-old Niles man is dead after a crash in Cass County.

CASS COUNTY, MI -- A 52-year-old man is dead after a crash in Cass County on Sunday, Sept. 28.

The 52-year-old driver from Niles failed to stop at a stop sign before colliding with a vehicle traveling south on M-51, according to a press release from the Cass County Sheriffs Department.

The crash occurred at the intersection of M-51 and Crystal Springs Street near Dowagiac.

Two people were taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries: the driver of the vehicle traveling on M-51 (a 53-year-old man from Sault Sainte Marie) and the passenger of the at-fault vehicle (a 24-year-old from South Bend, Indiana).

The 52-year-old driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Cass County Sheriffs Office was assisted by Southwestern Michigan Community Ambulance Service, Pokagon Fire, Indian Lake Fire, Michigan State Police and Pokagon Tribal Police.

Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark MLives local Kalamazoo news page.
Documented foreign workers separate round tomatoes at Leitz Farms LLC in Berrien County. The farms owners dont worry about losing their workers to deportation thanks to a federal visa program. But steep pay requirements and foreign imports make making a profit difficult for Michigan specialty crop farmers. Courtesy of Julie Riddle

This story is part of Southwest Michigan Journalism Collaboratives coverage of equitable community development. SWMJC is a group of 12 regional organizations dedicated to strengthening local journalism. Visit swmichjournalism.com to learn more.

When Berrien County grower Fred Leitz gave a Mexican farmworker her first paycheck, the woman started to weep.

Leitz asked an interpreter if hed done something wrong.

She said, It takes her eight months to make what she just made in a week here, Leitz said. And it wasnt even a big week.

Foreign-born farmworkers come to the U.S. ready to work hard to earn salaries they could never dream of at home. Without them, the growers who underpin the states multi-billion dollar specialty crop industry couldnt survive.

But high labor costs and an influx of foreign produce have reduced profit margins and forced some Southwest Michigan farms to close. Other farmers say they could go under, too, if nothing changes.

On top of that, the federal government is enacting new immigration policies.

It all could mean fewer workers in local fields.

So far, Michigan farmers havent reported raids or large numbers of workers refusing to work. But even farms who hire documented workers could feel the pinch if deportation efforts ramp up locally, migrant advocates say.

Closures of farms in the region have a ripple effect impacting entire communities, said Chris Bardenhagen, farm educator for the Michigan State University Extension, who has studied the impacts of the loss of specialty crops in Michigan.

Theres not a lot of pithy solutions right around the corner, Bardenhagen said.

Advanced farm machinery and changes to food regulations may, some day, ease the strain on Michigan farmers trying to make a living raising needed food, he said.

The question to me is, Are we going to keep our specialty crop industries long enough to reach those solutions?

DOCUMENTED AND UNDOCUMENTED

Michigan ranks second in crop diversity only to California, thanks largely to the accommodating climate and sandy soils of Southwest Michigan. The regions 6,400 farms boast a wide range of specialty crops, from fruits and vegetables to tree nuts and nursery plants.

Southwest Michigan farms make up 14% of farms in the state, but hire a third of its migrant farmworkers  more than 6,000 of the 19,000 reported in the state. Most of those workers employed in Van Buren and Berrien counties, per the most recent U.S. Department of Agriculture census.

Unlike seasonal workers, who live close enough to their work to commute from home, migrant workers travel from their home to perform agricultural work  some with legal status, others as undocumented workers. Migrant workers might come from another country and return home at seasons end, or they may travel within the U.S., working in northern states in summer and in southern states in winter.

Some of the workers who have returned to Leitzs farm over generations originally came to the U.S. illegally. Many of their U.S.-born children settled in the area and now contribute to the community as doctors, lawyers, teachers and other professionals.

Today, Leitz uses a federal visa program that allows laborers from other countries to work U.S. fields legally. While rumors of deportation elsewhere dont worry him or his workers a lot, it weighs on you a little bit, Leitz said.

Fred Leitz, co-owner of Leitz Farms LLC, examines ripening grape tomatoes on his Berrien County farm. Harvesting his specialty crops requires a majority-migrant work force of more than 200 workers. Courtesy of Julie Riddle

Workers from other countries come to Southwest Michigan to do the work local workers arent willing to do, said Daniel Oropeza, Michigan organizer for the UFW Foundation, a nonprofit organization that advocates for protections for farmworkers.

The USDA estimates 40% to 50% of U.S. farmworkers are undocumented, although farmworkers in Midwestern states are more likely to have legal status than those on the West Coast.

In recent years, increasingly more U.S. farmers have shifted away from hiring undocumented workers in favor of using the federal H-2A Temporary Agricultural Workers Program, often called the H-2A visa program. The program allows U.S. growers to legally hire workers from other countries for short-term farm work.

Farmers who continue to hire undocumented workers instead of using the H-2A program know they risk getting caught and fined, says Amanda Villa, Oropezas co-organizer for the Michigan arm of the UFW Foundation.

They do it because they have to have somebody, Villa says.

A RISKY OCCUPATION

Farm raids like those in California in recent months  in which immigration officials arrested hundreds of farmworkers on allegations of being in the country illegally  make going to work terrifying for Michigan farmworkers, Villa said.

She and Oropeza educate workers on what to do if confronted by an immigration official.

Carry your legal paperwork everywhere, they advise. If an immigration official appears on your doorstep, stay quiet, dont open the door, and only say, Lawyer. Make plans for who will take care of your kids if you disappear.

Its scary to talk about it, Villa said. But its even scarier to not be prepared.

Many workers, even those with legal status, are reluctant to learn about deportation rules, Oropeza said. He distributes bilingual Know Your Rights cards to discourage unnecessary detentions that could hurt both workers and their employers.

Increased risk of detention also exacerbates rights violations sometimes found in the farm work sector, said Anna Hill Galendez, managing attorney at the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center.

Undocumented workers already established on Michigan farms currently have no way to seek legal status to avoid deportation. Thats something the government could tackle to support the nations farmers, but theres not been the political will to pass those laws, Hill Galendez said.

A 2021 bill reintroduced to the federal legislature in May could, if approved, create a path to American citizenship for some undocumented farmworkers. A version of the bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives in 2021 with bipartisan support, but was not passed into law.

Hill Galendez has not heard of any large-scale raids on Michigan farms, although she knows of workers picked up at their homes or on their way to work, including in Southwest Michigan.

She has heard, though, of Michigan farms firing workers en masse, saying they received notice theyd face federal fines if theyre caught employing undocumented workers.

One Southwest Michigan grower said he couldnt speak to the media for fear of reprisals from the U.S. Department of Labor.

This springs opening of a large immigrant detention center in northern Michigan worries Hill Galendez, who anticipates ramped-up federal enforcement in the state, potentially including large-scale farm raids this summer and fall.

UNTENABLE COSTS

Meanwhile, even farmers unconcerned about losing workers to deportation feel the pinch of a difficult farm labor market.

The manager of one Van Buren County farm says the farms 35 workers, all from Mexico, are all in the country legally. As on other farms, the undocumented workers he used to hire often quit unexpectedly, leaving him short-handed.

The federal visa program has stabilized the farms labor force. An increasing minimum pay rate for H-2A workers  up 34% in Michigan since 2019  puts ever-increasing strain on its profit margins, however.

In 2025, Michigan farmers have to pay H-2A workers at least $18.15 per hour  well over Michigans minimum wage of $12.48 per hour  plus housing and transportation costs.

While row crops such as corn and soybeans may require few hired hands, labor costs can make up as much as 60% production expenses for specialty crop farmers. That percentage continues to increase as minimum farmworker wages climb.

Southwest Michigan farms reduced their paid workforce by 20% between 2017 and 2022. Despite that decline, their combined payroll increased by 17%.

Increasing production costs and seed and fertilizer prices also add to Michigan farms unstable bottom line.

Specialty crop farmers cant recoup those costs by charging more  not when theyre competing with imported produce from countries that pay a fraction of the cost in labor expenses.

In Mexico, farmworkers earn the equivalent of $2.50 or less an hour. The higher U.S. rate attracts foreign workers eager to support their families, and without them, local farmers would struggle to get their produce to market.

But foreign produce, priced low because of cheap labor costs, caps Michigan farmers profits.

In Berrien County, Mick Klug Farms co-owner Abby Schilling employs 16 H-2A workers, most from Mexico and one from Brazil, each on a six-month contract.

Rising labor costs constitute her biggest expense, but Schilling hasnt considered not using H-2A to save on labor costs. The program has driven up the going rate for all workers, she said.

Leitz, in Berrien County, hires one staff person almost entirely dedicated to running the H-2A program on his farm, where he needs more than 200 workers to grow, harvest and process his blueberries, cucumbers, tomatoes and apples.

At Leitz Farms LLC in Berrien County, documented workers separate Roma tomatoes for sale to stores and distribution centers. Labor costs and foreign competition worry local specialty crop farmers, even as worker concerns are exacerbated by recent deportation pushes nationwide. Courtesy of Julie Riddle

The programs strict requirements mean his workers net upwards of $22 per hour after figuring in the additional H-2A requirements. And with the U.S. importing increasingly more foreign produce, a $10 box of tomatoes that leads to a profit for a Mexican grower means a loss for him.

And its not just tomatoes, Leitz said. Its everything.

LOSS AND RIPPLE EFFECTS

Improved international passageways ramped up Mexican produce imports starting around 2012.

Since then, Michigan growers are just going out of business left and right, Leitz said. We just cant compete.

Over the last decade and a half, Michigan has lost specialty crops at nearly twice the rate of the U.S. on average, according to a March report from MSU Extension. More than 1,700 Southwest Michigan farms ceased operation between 2012 and 2022, the most recent year for which data is available. Not all of those reported hiring migrant or other paid labor.

And one farm going under has ripple effects that stretch across communities and imperil other growing operations. It can upset the economic stability of an entire community, Bardenhagen said.

Specialty crop farms contribute $6.3 billion to Michigans economy and support nearly 41,700 jobs, according to MSU Extension. Most of Michigans specialty crops are eventually sold and consumed elsewhere, bringing a substantial amount of revenue into the state.

Farms in heavily agricultural areas support local businesses, from laundromats and lunch counters that cater to migrant workers to ag-focused service providers that earn the majority of their income from a handful of farming customers.

Robotics could someday ease labor strains. Machinery capable of replacing farmworkers is being worked on, but were actually pretty far from that being feasible, Bardenhagen said.

Targeted tariffs or seasonal restrictions to imported produce might help keep Michigan specialty crop farms in business, some farmers say.

For Leitz, growing food in the U.S. is a form of national security. It hinges on a secure and reliable workforce not guaranteed in current labor conditions, he said.

You either import the people or you import the products, Leitz says. We gotta make a decision as a country whether we want to import it all or whether we want to keep our production here.
An official sign in St. Joseph County. Brad Devereaux | bdeverea@mlive.com

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MI  A woman met students while employed as a contract food services worker at Mendon Community Schools, later contacting them on social media and allegedly sexually assaulting them, according to a county prosecutor.

Kaitlyn Lee Sand, 28, of Three Rivers, has been charged in connection with alleged sexual assaults involving two minor victims between February and April 2023, St. Joseph County Prosecutor Deborah J. Davis said.

Investigators allege Sand met the victims through her work at Mendon Jr./Sr. High School before contacting the victims repeatedly on social media platforms.

MLive has reached out to the district superintendent seeking comment.

Sand faces the following charges:

Two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct (student victim 1315 years old), punishable by up to life in prison

Two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct (student under 18 years old), a 15-year felony

One count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct (student victim 1315 years old), a 15-year felony

One count of tampering with evidence in a criminal case punishable by more than 10 Years, a 10-year felony

One count of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct (student under 18 years old), a two-year high court misdemeanor

The charges stem from incidents alleged to have occurred in Mendon and Three Rivers, Davis said.

Sand was arraigned Monday, Sept. 29, in St. Joseph County District Court following an investigation by the Mendon Police Department. The case remains under investigation.

Davis asks anyone with information to contact the Mendon Police Department through Central Dispatch at 269-467-4195.

Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark MLives local Kalamazoo news page.
Adelaide Pointe, a new waterfront development on Muskegon Lake, is again the subject of a legal battle after Independent Bank accused the developer of defaulting on $17 million in loans. (Garret Ellison | MLive) Garret Ellison

Independent Bank is seeking a court-appointed receiver to take over parts of the $85 million Adelaide Pointe development in Muskegon, alleging developer Ryan Leestma defaulted on millions in loans and can no longer manage the projects mounting financial and regulatory issues.

Below are the five takeaways from the original article.

A major lender is suing to take control of key assets

Independent Bank filed a complaint in Kent County Circuit Court requesting immediate appointment of a receiver over its collateral, which includes the incomplete condominium building on the northwest end of Adelaide Pointe.

The bank alleges that Leestma and his companies violated their loan agreements by failing to pay back over $17 million in promissory notes that matured in July. According to the complaint, Leestma lacks the financial wherewithal to complete the project, leading the bank to take legal action to protect its collateral.

The project faces significant unpaid debts and taxes

An investigation by Independent Bank uncovered numerous financial problems beyond the defaulted loans. The complaint details over $200,000 in unpaid and delinquent real estate taxes owed on the property. Additionally, the project is entangled in a $76,500 lawsuit filed by a contractor and faces over $400,000 in unpaid invoices to various professional service providers. The bank argues these mounting debts demonstrate the developers inability to manage the projects finances and complete construction.

Adelaide Pointe blames sales delays, not mismanagement

Recently appointed Adelaide Pointe CEO Aubrey Glick pushed back against the banks claims, asserting that the issues are confined to the condominium building and will not impact other business units, employees or customers tied to the development. She attributed the slow pace of condo sales to nine months of construction delays and the unavailability of a demo unit to show prospective buyers.

Glick stated she whole-heartedly disagrees with the banks appraisal and anticipated sales would increase once a demo unit was available. She expressed confidence that the bank remains committed to the projects success.

The development has a documented history of environmental and legal troubles

The projects financial woes are compounded by a history of regulatory and legal conflicts. Leestma received four violation notices from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) for issues including improper dredging that caused sediment plumes in Muskegon Lake, unauthorized marina expansion and destroying wetlands.

He also recently settled a year-long legal battle with a contractor over a nearly $1 million lien for unpaid work, and another contractor had filed a lien for over $66,000.

Leestma has already stepped down due to controversy, scaling back future plans

Leestma stepped down as CEO of Adelaide Pointe after a letter he wrote to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency blaming the projects woes on Gov. Gretchen Whitmers radical environmental and anti-capitalist policies was made public.

While he remains the owner, he has shelved plans for additional development stages, including a hotel, restaurant, and more condos. Leestma cited the toll public criticism has taken on him, stating he felt bullied to the point where its just not good for my mental health.

Generative AI was used to summarize takeaways based on an originally reported story. It was reviewed and edited by MLive.
MC Education Desk Read the latest and trending news on CBSE, board exams, NEET, JEE, CUET, competitive exams, scholarships, college admissions, education policies, and more.

Saurav Pandey

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. 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
Bads of Bollywood actor Ashish Kumar on claims his character mirrors Sameer Wankhede: I just did my job"

Nakul Tomar

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
4 / 7

With uncles

Malti bonds with her uncles, Joe Jonas and Kevin Jonas, in the picture. She looks cute in an off-white dress, complemented by her uncles. She sweetly holds a doll in her hands while her father, Nick, tries to talk with her in a candid moment.
Vaishnavi Gavankar

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
2 / 9

Man of Steel 2

Henry Cavills Superman debut in Man of Steel (2013) was praised, but the long-rumored sequel never materialized. Instead, DC rushed into Batman v Superman and later rebooted its cinematic universe. Cavill briefly announced his Superman comeback in 2022, only to confirm later that Man of Steel 2 was officially dead.
Aishwarya Dabhade

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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
Jr. NTR calls Kantara Chapter 1 impossible without Rishab Shetty: He dominates all the 24 crafts of cinema

This film would not have been possible at this scale without him.

Satwik Jaiswal

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Veteran theatre artist and filmmaker Yashwant Sardeshpande passes away at 60 due to heart attack

Gayatri Rani

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Rishab Shetty called out for speaking in Kannada at Kantara: Chapter 1 Telugu event, actor says 'want to speak from my heart '

Rishab Shetty called out for speaking in Kannada at Kantara: Chapter 1 Telugu event, actor says 'want to speak from my heart '

Vaishnavi Gavankar

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Nakul Tomar

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
Charu Asopa and Rajeev Sen enjoy Pandal hopping in Kolkata with daughter Ziana, see pics

Gayatri Rani

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
101Reporters

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
The company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), Government of India

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
According to Crocs, the lettering, style, and placement of the word Croose closely resembled that of Crocs, causing a real risk of consumer confusion.

Rewati Karan

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Rewati Karan

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
India's finished pharma trade to the US is on the rise

Ishaan Gera

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
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

Aryaman Gupta

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. 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
Arun Padmanabhan

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
Swaraj Singh Dhanjal

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
The maiden public issue of the turnkey engineering solutions provider for pharmaceuticals, biotech and healthcare industry will close on October 1.

Debaroti Adhikary

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Debaroti Adhikary

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
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
In todays fast-paced digital landscape, businesses are increasingly seeking efficient ways to develop and deploy applications without the need for extensive coding expertise. Stakly is an AI-powered application builder designed to streamline this process, enabling users to create full-stack applications with ease. By leveraging advanced artificial intelligence, Stakly aims to democratize app development, making it accessible to a broader audience, including business owners, professionals, and decision-makers.

Key Features

AI-Powered Development: Utilizes artificial intelligence to assist in building applications, reducing the need for manual coding.

Utilizes artificial intelligence to assist in building applications, reducing the need for manual coding. Full-Stack Capabilities: Supports the creation of both front-end and back-end components, facilitating the development of comprehensive applications.

Supports the creation of both front-end and back-end components, facilitating the development of comprehensive applications. User-Friendly Interface: Designed with an intuitive interface to accommodate users with varying levels of technical expertise.

Designed with an intuitive interface to accommodate users with varying levels of technical expertise. Customization Options: Provides tools to customize application features and design elements to meet specific business requirements.

Provides tools to customize application features and design elements to meet specific business requirements. Integration Support: Offers compatibility with various third-party services and APIs, enhancing the functionality of the developed applications.

Who is it for?

Small to Medium-Sized Businesses: Organizations looking to develop custom applications without investing heavily in development resources.

Organizations looking to develop custom applications without investing heavily in development resources. Entrepreneurs and Startups: Individuals aiming to bring their app ideas to life swiftly and cost-effectively.

Individuals aiming to bring their app ideas to life swiftly and cost-effectively. Non-Technical Professionals: Business owners and managers seeking to create applications without a background in software development.

Pricing

As of now, Stakly has not publicly disclosed specific pricing information on its official website. For detailed pricing plans and to determine which option best aligns with your business needs, it is recommended to contact Stakly directly through their website.

Final Thoughts

Stakly presents a promising solution for businesses aiming to develop custom applications without the complexities of traditional coding. Its AI-driven approach and user-centric design make it a compelling option for a diverse range of users. Prospective users should reach out to Stakly directly to obtain the most current and detailed information regarding features, pricing, and support to ensure the platform aligns with their specific requirements.

Visit stakly.dev for more.
Milan Vaishnav is the Founder and Technical Analyst of Gemstone Equity Research and Advisory Services

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
Since Raghavan started in June last year, hes beefed up the unit with dozens of bankers at the managing director level  almost all of them men. Bloomberg

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
Drug maker Wockhardt rallies over 9 percent as White House exempts pharma imports from nations with trade pacts

Wockhardt had acquired French firm Negma to strengthen manufacturing capacity in Europe for formulations and APIs, aside of manufacturing and injectable facility in North Wales, UK.

Rohit Singh

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
This is an AI-assisted live blog with updates sourced from multiple news outlets and agencies

Disclaimer This is an AI-assisted live blog with updates sourced from multiple news outlets and agencies

Disclaimer This is an AI-assisted live blog with updates sourced from multiple news outlets and agencies

Disclaimer This is an AI-assisted live blog with updates sourced from multiple news outlets and agencies Disclaimer

Alpha Desk

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

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
Zoya Springwala

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
Lovisha Darad

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
Bank holidays in October 2025: Check out state-wise list of festival closures across India here

Manisha Lal Khandpur is a News Editor at Moneycontrol where she works on the Desk and Special Projects. She pursued journalism at Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan, Delhi, and has an extensive career spanning 17 years across Digital Media, Broadcast, and Radio. Previously, she was a News Editor at Editorji, managing the desk, and a Principal Content Producer at Times of India, leading news shifts. She has also been a Senior Correspondent at Bhaskar, P7, and Live India. She has briefly been a part of academia, bringing her industry expertise into the educational sphere.

Manisha Lal Khandpur

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
Big changes from October 1: NPS rules, RBI cheque clearing, New railway rules, bank charges and more

Manisha Lal Khandpur

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
Payment system reforms risk reversing years of innovation progress, warns Visa as SMB owners express concerns.

Whats happening: The RBAs Payments System Board plans to remove card surcharges and lower interchange fee caps, potentially delivering $2.4 billion in combined annual savings to consumers and businesses. The reforms aim to simplify payments and boost competition, with the RBA estimating 90% of businesses would benefit. However, mixed reactions have emerged from the small business community.

Why this matters: The proposed changes represent the most significant shake-up to Australias payment system in years, affecting how millions of transactions are processed daily. With SMBs employing over 8 million Australians, understanding both the potential benefits and concerns around implementation is crucial for assessing the broader economic impact.

The Reserve Bank of Australia is proposing the most significant overhaul of the nations payment system in years, with reforms that could deliver $2.4 billion in combined annual savings to consumers and businesses.

The RBAs Payments System Board has reached preliminary views to remove surcharging on eftpos, Mastercard and Visa cards, with consumers currently paying around $1.2 billion in card surcharges each year. The board argues that surcharging is no longer achieving its intended purpose of steering consumers to make more efficient payment choices, as avoiding surcharges has become harder with declining cash usage.

The proposed reforms would also lower the cap on interchange fees paid by businesses, potentially saving businesses around $1.2 billion in interchange fees annually. The RBA estimates that around 90% of Australian businesses would be better off under the proposed policies, with small businesses set to benefit most as they tend to pay fees closer to existing caps.

Additionally, the proposals would require card networks and large acquirers to publish the fees they charge, aimed at improving transparency and competition to help businesses shop around for better deals.

However, new research has revealed mixed reactions amongst Australias small and medium-sized business community. A study commissioned by Visa and conducted by Lonergan Research surveyed 1,000 Australian SMB leaders, finding that almost half (44%) were unaware of the RBA Review, but when informed, 80% expressed concerns about its potential impact on their operations.

With SMBs employing over 8 million Australians, additional uncertainty and unnecessary regulation could have wide-ranging economic impacts, said Alan Machet, Visas Group Country Manager for Oceania. SMB owners are under pressure, and the RBA needs to keep working constructively with them and the wider payments ecosystem to drive both efficiencies and innovation.

The research highlights potentially serious economic consequences if the reforms proceed without careful consideration of SMB impacts. Over one third (37%) of SMB leaders worry that credit may become more expensive, while one in four (25%) fear reduced access to credit altogether.

SMB concerns emerge

The Visa-commissioned research highlights specific concerns amongst SMB leaders about the reforms potential broader implications. Over one third (37%) of SMB leaders worry that credit may become more expensive, while one in four (25%) fear reduced access to credit altogether.

With SMBs employing over 8 million Australians, additional uncertainty and unnecessary regulation could have wide-ranging economic impacts, said Alan Machet, Visas Group Country Manager for Oceania. SMB owners are under pressure, and the RBA needs to keep working constructively with them and the wider payments ecosystem to drive both efficiencies and innovation.

Potential investment impact

The research identified potential behavioural changes if credit becomes more expensive or harder to access. According to the study, 60% of SMBs would delay or reduce investment, whilst 53% would scale back research and development activities. Additionally, 52% indicated they would reduce hiring.

These findings come as SMB leaders face multiple operational pressures. Economic conditions and uncertainty (41%), high operating costs and supply issues (37%), and financial pressures and cash flow (35%) were cited as the top challenges currently facing small business owners.

Despite these challenges, 67% of SMB leaders remain optimistic about the next 12 months, though concerns exist about additional regulatory requirements. Almost a quarter of SMBs already identify government and regulatory requirements as a significant burden.

Machet warns that Australia risks reversing years of progress in payments innovation if the reforms are not carefully calibrated. Australia has built a reputation as a leader in digital payments, but the RBAs current proposals could make Australia one of the most tightly regulated payments markets in the world, risking a slowdown in small business growth and stifling innovation, he said.

The RBA has an opportunity to strike a balance, one that protects consumers, supports SMBs, and ensures Australia remains at the forefront of secure, inclusive, world-class payments.

The timing of these concerns is particularly significant given that almost a quarter of SMBs already identify government and regulatory requirements as a significant burden, underscoring the risk that further compliance obligations could exacerbate existing pain points.

Balanced regulation needed

The RBA invited feedback on the proposed policy options and draft standards by 26 August 2025, stating it will draw on this feedback to finalise reforms that are in the public interest in line with its objectives of a safe, competitive and efficient payments system.

In response to the regulatory environment, Visa launched a refreshed Acquirer SMB Program in May 2025, offering preferential domestic debit interchange rates to acquirers that support SMB growth. The company is calling for a balanced regulatory framework that protects SMBs from disproportionate cost increases while maintaining the security and reliability of Australias payment system.

The research findings suggest that whilst consumers may benefit from reduced surcharges, the broader economic impact on Australias small business sector requires careful consideration to avoid unintended consequences that could affect employment, investment, and innovation across the economy.

Also read:

Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Last chance for central government employees to switch to UPS from NPS: What happens if you miss Sept 30 deadline?

Teena Jain Kaushal

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
Types of income tax notices and how you should respond

Manisha Lal Khandpur

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
Apartment for Rs 500 crore? Sunteck Realty forays into ultra-luxury housing with two new projects

Ankit Saproo

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
Manufacturing startups look to tap rare-earth-free motors as China tightens grip on supply

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

Since China announced curbs, the vulnerabilities of Indias rapidly growing EV ecosystem have been laid bare.

Bhavya Dilipkumar

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
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. 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
Subhash Helgaokar

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
Viswanath Pilla is a business journalist with 16 years of reporting experience. Based in Mumbai, Pilla covers pharma, healthcare and infrastructure sectors for Moneycontrol.

Viswanath Pilla

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
Rakesh Patil

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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
Aishwarya Nair

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
Stampede at Vijay's Karur political rally took lives of at least 40 people

Rewati Karan

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
COSBOA launches campaign asking SME associations to contact Minister about Federal Court payroll compliance burden.

Whats happening: COSBOA has launched an urgent campaign asking member associations to contact the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations about Federal Court payroll ruling impacts.

Why this matters: The campaign represents organised pushback against what small business groups describe as an impossible payroll burden that disproportionately affects SMEs.

A Federal Court decision stemming from Woolworths and Coles underpayment cases has created what industry groups describe as an impossible payroll burden for Australias small and medium-sized enterprises.

The ruling, delivered on 5 September 2025, fundamentally changes how employers can structure salary payments and manage award compliance, with implications extending across all industries that use annualised salary arrangements or set-off clauses covered by modern awards.

The set-off clause used by Woolworths purported to satisfy all Award entitlements, including minimum rates, penalties, overtime, and allowances, by reference to the annual remuneration, calculated over a 26-week period. However, the Federal Court rejected this approach.

The Court found that employers cannot offset underpayment of award entitlements in one pay period against overpayments made in a different pay period by relying on offset or averaging provisions in their employment contracts.

This means that if employees are entitled to weekly payments, each week must fully satisfy all award obligations independently, regardless of whether the employee receives more than required in other weeks.

Legal experts warn the decision has broader implications beyond the specific retailers involved. A contractual set-off clause does not absolve employers from their obligations under the Fair Work Act or relevant awards, with firms advising that legal advice should be sought to ensure such clauses are enforceable and correctly applied.

SME compliance nightmare

The Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA) has warned the ruling creates particular hardship for smaller employers who lack the resources of major corporations.

This is ridiculous. Annualised salary arrangements were already difficult enough for small businesses to manage, and this decision makes it near impossible, said COSBOA Chair Matthew Addison in response to the ruling two weeks ago.

Small business owners dont have the payroll departments, HR teams or in-house lawyers that large corporates rely on. They now need to review every payroll process and employment contract to ensure set-off arrangements comply with the law, restructure salaries so each pay period meets all entitlements, and invest in robust timekeeping systems.

The timing is particularly challenging given from 1 January 2025, intentional underpayment of wages by an employer is a criminal offence, raising the stakes significantly for compliance failures.

Key concerns for SMEs include:

The Court questioned whether any contractual wording could lawfully permit set-off across multiple pay periods, creating uncertainty for employers about the effectiveness of existing employment contracts.

The decision mandates full and timely payment of entitlements in each pay period without cross-period pooling or deduction, requiring detailed tracking of all entitlements for every pay cycle.

Employers can no longer use these arrangements to absorb fluctuations in entitlements unless each pay period fully meets all award obligations independently.

SMEs could be liable for backpay claims, penalties, and regulatory scrutiny if any single pay period does not meet award requirements.

Immediate action required

Legal and payroll experts recommend SMEs take immediate steps to assess their compliance:

Review all employment contracts containing set-off clauses or annualised salary arrangements. Many standard templates may no longer be legally effective.

Ensure payroll systems can track and calculate all award entitlements for each individual pay period, rather than relying on annual averaging.

Implement robust timekeeping systems that capture detailed data on hours worked, overtime, penalties, and allowances for every pay cycle.

Consult employment lawyers or payroll specialists to understand specific obligations under relevant awards and enterprise agreements.

Industry payroll providers report increased demand for compliance reviews following the decision. Automated systems now emphasise access to over 50 pre-defined Modern Awards and customisable rule sets to ensure compliance, highlighting the complexity SMEs must navigate.

The Fair Work Ombudsman has indicated it will continue scrutinising employer practices, making proactive compliance essential for avoiding regulatory attention.

Legislative fix needed

COSBOA is calling for urgent government intervention to restore practical flexibility for small employers while maintaining fair pay outcomes.

The industry body argues the current interpretation creates an unworkable regulatory framework that disproportionately affects smaller businesses without corresponding benefits for workers who may still receive fair annual compensation.

Small businesses want to do the right thing, pay their staff fairly and stay compliant, but the rules keep shifting under their feet, Addison said. This ruling highlights the need for guidance and support to help small businesses adjust their systems and contracts, and for long-term reform to ensure workplace laws are achievable for all employers, not just large companies.

COSBOA has prepared template letters for business associations to contact the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, seeking either regulatory guidance or legislative amendments to address the compliance burden.

For SMEs, the immediate priority remains understanding their current exposure and taking steps to minimise compliance risks while the broader policy debate continues. With criminal penalties now applying to intentional underpayment, the cost of getting payroll wrong has never been higher.

Note: Business owners should seek professional legal advice specific to their circumstances before making any changes to employment contracts, payroll systems, or compliance practices. The template letters and campaign materials referenced are provided by COSBOA and business owners should review these independently or with legal counsel before use.

Links:

Read COSBOAs full media release on this issue here .

Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
'Bihar Prohibition Act does not apply to BIS compliant non-alcoholic drinks': Patna HC quashes FIR against Siddhi Enterprises

Rewati Karan

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
With the final list ready and the Commissions visit lined up, the stage is nearly set for Bihars election battle to officially begin.

Aishwarya Dabhade

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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
EU calls on India to move faster on free trade deal after lack of progress in 13th round

Aishwarya Dabhade

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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
Had fought valiantly in Kargil War: Congress slams Centre over death of ex-serviceman in Ladakh protests

Over 60 persons, including two councilors, were taken into custody. They include climate activist Sonam Wangchuk who was detained under the National Security Act on Friday

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
Siddharth Chakravorty

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
I Love Muhammad row: What is Ghazwa-e-Hind, a narrative UP CM Yogi says will never succeed in India

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
'I was in favour of action on Pakistan, but...': P Chidambaram on India's response to 26/11 attacks

Siddharth Chakravorty

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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 death toll from the stampede at Tamil Nadu Vetri Kazhagam leader Vijay's campaign rally in Tamil Nadu's Karur has risen to 41

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
Karur Stampede: How star power, poor planning and politics turned deadly in Karur at Vijays rally

Swati Das is an independent journalist covering Tamil Nadu politics, and is based in Chennai.

So, when actors turn politicians, they have to change character. Some make the transition successfully, others struggle.

Aishwarya Dabhade

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
By presenting the resolution, CM Pinarayi Vijayan pointed out that Kerala is set to hold local body elections soon, followed by Assembly polls (Image for representation)

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
'Open to dialogue any time', says Home Ministry after Leh Apex Body withdraws from scheduled talks on October 6

Rewati Karan is Senior Sub Editor at Moneycontrol. She covers law, politics, business, and national affairs. She was previously Principal Correspondent at Financial Express and Copyeditor at ThePrint where she wrote feature stories and covered legal news. She has also worked extensively in social media, videos and podcasts at ThePrint and India Today. She can be reached at rewati.karan@nw18.com | Twitter: @RewatiKaran

Rewati Karan

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
'Not thief like others': Prashant Kishor says he earned Rs 241 crore in three years, paid GST & Income Tax

Rewati Karan is Senior Sub Editor at Moneycontrol. She covers law, politics, business, and national affairs. She was previously Principal Correspondent at Financial Express and Copyeditor at ThePrint where she wrote feature stories and covered legal news. She has also worked extensively in social media, videos and podcasts at ThePrint and India Today. She can be reached at rewati.karan@nw18.com | Twitter: @RewatiKaran

Rewati Karan

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Ankit Saproo

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
Lekha Chakraborty is Professor, NIPFP & Member, Board of Management, International Institute of Public Finance, Munich. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication.

Namrata Agarwal

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
The notion that a standard IPO blueprint fits every company is fraught with the risks of oversimplification.

Namrata Agarwal

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
OPINION | Layers to Pak-Saudi defence pact will usher in more volatility

Adya Madhavan is a Research Analyst at Takshashila Institution working on advanced military technologies and geopolitics. Views are personal and do not reflect the stand of this publication.

While the mutual defence agreement is phrased to be a defensive response to threats to the sovereignty of either country, what constitutes aggression is now an important question.

Namrata Agarwal

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
In Moneycontrol's Pro Panorama December 11 edition: AI gold rush and Indias role in it, the Netflix strategy that Indian IT can...

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
This unusual 'Einstein cross' displays light from a distant galaxy five times, instead of the typical four, creating a rare cosmic pattern. (Image: Nicolas Lira Turpaud (ALMA Observatory) & adapted from Cox et al. 2025)

Sheetal Kumari

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Sheetal Kumari

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
MC Tech Desk Read the latest and trending tech newsstay updated on AI, gadgets, cybersecurity, software updates, smartphones, blockchain, space tech, and the future of innovation.

Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day

Shaurya Shubham

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day

Aabhas Sharma

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
What are the most popular instant noodle brands in Southeast Asia?

Top Southeast Asian instant noodle brands like Indomie, Lucky Me!, and Mama dominate their home markets and export billions of packs worldwide after decades of growth.

A closeup of a noodles dish. Photo by Unsplash/Mario Verduzco

Indomie (Indonesia)

Indomie, produced by Indonesias Indofood, is renowned for being the generic term for instant noodles in Indonesia, the worlds second largest instant noodles market behind China. It reportedly holds more than 70% of Indonesias noodles market share, according to The Financial Review.

It is also an iconic global instant noodle brand, with exports to over 100 countries and boasts annual production exceeding 19 billion packs.

Indofood, founded in 1982, operates across the entire food manufacturing value chain  from raw material production and processing to consumer packaged products.

In the first half of this year, Indofood reported net sales of IDR59.84 trillion (US$3.58 billion), a 4% increase year-on-year.

Lucky Me! (Philippines)

Lucky Me! Is the most chosen food brand in the Philippines, according to market researcher Kantars Brand Footprint 2024 report.

With a 98.7% household penetration, Lucky Me! noodles are deeply integrated into the lives of Filipino families, having established trust in its 36 years of existence.

The brand is backed by Monde Nissin Corporation, one of Philippines largest food producers, with products spanning crackers, wafers and cookie sandwiches.

It is present in various countries including Thailand, New Zealand, Singapore, and the U.K. It saw revenue rising 3.3% year-on-year to PHP84.44 billion (US$1.47 billion) in the first half.

Mama (Thailand)

Mama, owned by Thai President Foods, holds around half of Thailands instant noodle market, making it the nations most recognized noodle brand.

Established in 1972, Mama is known for offering a variety of flavors, including the Tom Yum and Thai curry.

For the premium segment, Thai President offers its Mamas Ok series which contributes 15% share of the companys overall instant noodle revenue. It aims to remove the stereotype that instant noodles are food for the poor by opening speciality noodle restaurants like Mama Station, Zaab Museum and Craze Mama.

Thai President operates multiple factories in Thailand and several other countries including Myanmar, Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Hungary, with a daily production capacity reaching millions of packages.

In fiscal 2024, the company saw revenue rising 7% to THB29.77 billion (US$932 million).

Hao Hao (Vietnam)

Hao Hao, produced by Acecook Vietnam, has become a household name in the country thanks to its wide flavor variety and affordable pricing.

Acecook Vietnam, with 13 factories across the country, sold 3.3 billion noodles servings in the country last year, accounting for 40% of market share. Vietnam was the 4th largest instant noodles market globally last year with 8.3 billion servings, according to the World Instant Noodles Association.

Recognized among Asias Top 1000 Brands by Campaign Asia-Pacific and Nielsen, Hao Hao products are exported to over 40 countries including Southeast Asia, the U.S., and Europe.

Maggi (Malaysia)

Maggi, owned by Swiss food giant Nestle, is a dominant brand in Malaysia, with 2.5 million servings consumed daily, according to local newspaper Berita Harian.

Nestle Malaysias internal market research shows that Maggi holds a leading market share of over 40% in the instant noodle category in the country.

Maggi Noodles was founded in Switzerland in 1884, and acquired by Nestle in 1947.

Nestle Malaysia operates six manufacturing facilities across the country with wide range of products including powdered and liquid milk, beverages, coffee and confectionery. In the first half this year, its revenue rose 4% year-on-year to MYR3.4 billion (US$809 million).
MC Tech Desk Read the latest and trending tech newsstay updated on AI, gadgets, cybersecurity, software updates, smartphones, blockchain, space tech, and the future of innovation.

Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day

Aabhas Sharma

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

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
Qualcomm in talks to start chip packaging in India, open to new fab players, says global COO Akash Palkhiwala

Danish Khan is the editor of Technology and Telecom. He was previously with the Economic Times and has tracked the sector for 14 years.

Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day

Danish Khan

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
This new regime has no basis, Elon Musks X to appeal Karnataka Courts order on takedown portal

MC Tech Desk Read the latest and trending tech newsstay updated on AI, gadgets, cybersecurity, software updates, smartphones, blockchain, space tech, and the future of innovation.

Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day

Aabhas Sharma

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

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
Danish Khan is the editor of Technology and Telecom. He was previously with the Economic Times and has tracked the sector for 14 years.

Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day

Danish Khan

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
US chipmaker Qualcomm to expand R&D and startup investments in India

Danish Khan is the editor of Technology and Telecom. He was previously with the Economic Times and has tracked the sector for 14 years.

Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day

Danish Khan

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Xiaomi 17 launched in China but analyst expects less shipments, here's why

MC Tech Desk Read the latest and trending tech newsstay updated on AI, gadgets, cybersecurity, software updates, smartphones, blockchain, space tech, and the future of innovation.

Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day

Aabhas Sharma

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

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
Zohos Arattai sees renewed interest as WhatsApp rival but can it succeed where others failed?

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

Bhavya Dilipkumar

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
Amid Trump-Munir photo-ops, US analyst says 'reality check is in order'

Armaan Bhatnagar

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
As Russian drones test Europes skies and Polands patience, NATO allies wrestle with when to fire back

European skies see rising Russian intrusions; leaders debate when  and whether  to pull the trigger

Aishwarya Dabhade

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
As Trump weighs Tomahawks for Ukraine, Kremlin warns no magic weapons can change the war

Moscow questions if Americans would launch missiles as Kyiv pushes for long-range strike power

Aishwarya Dabhade

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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 car is severely damaged in Thanh Hoa, central Vietnam following impacts of Storm Bualoi on Sept. 29, 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Le Hoang

After battering central Vietnam for 13 hours and killing at least 12 people, Storm Bualoi weakened into a tropical depression at the VietnamLaos border around 1 p.m. Monday, leaving torrential rains, deadly tornadoes and severe flooding in its wake.

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, Bualoi crossed into Upper Laos about 50 kilometers from the border at 1 p.m., sustaining wind speed at 3961 kph.

The storm lingered far longer than expected on land: 13 hours compared to the forecast of 68 hours, nearly matching the 15-hour landfall record set by Typhoon Yagi in 2024. For an hour after hitting land, it hardly moved at all.

Despite land friction, Bualoi weakened slowly. It struck Ngang Pass on the Quang TriHa Tinh border at 0:30 a.m. with wind speed at 103-117 kph, blowing at level 75-102 kph in Ha TinhNghe An by 5 a.m., then only easing to 62-74 kph by mid-morning. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the storm stalled at the Nghe AnLaos border.

Meteorologists noted that Bualoi also took an unusually straight path, holding a steady west-northwest course since its formation, and traveled at 3040 kph for nearly half its six-day lifespan, double the average speed of a typhoon.

Wind records showed peak gust speed at 166 kph in Hoanh Son (Ha Tinh), 149 kph in Dien Chau (Nghe An), and 133 kph in Ky Anh (Ha Tinh). Coastal areas from northern Quang Tri to Quang Ninh endured wind speed at 39-88 kph.

Rainfall was extreme: from Sunday evening to Monday morning, Xuan Binh (Thanh Hoa) recorded 341 mm, Nong Truong 15 (Nghe An) 376 mm, Ky Lien (Ha Tinh) 312 mm, and Quang Hop (Quang Tri) a staggering 445 mm. Forecasts warn of another 100200 mm across Thanh HoaHa Tinh, the Red River Delta, Phu Tho and parts of Son La and Lao Cai through Tuesday, with some places surpassing 350 mm. Localized deluges could exceed 200 mm in just three hours.

Authorities issued high-risk warnings for flash floods and landslides in northern mountains and Thanh HoaHa Tinh, as well as urban flooding in northern Vietnam and low-lying areas of Dong Nai.

Far from the eye, tornadoes struck Ninh Binh, Hung Yen and Hai Phong. Ninh Binh was hardest hit, with nine deaths and 18 injuries reported in communes including Quy Nhat, Hai Anh, Hai Thinh, Hong Phong, Gia Hung and Chat Binh.

Typhoon Bualoi has resulted in at least 12 deaths in Vietnam as of Monday afternoon.
Ottawa says listing will freeze assets, curb operations, and give law enforcement stronger tools to act against the India-based gangs activities in Canada

Aishwarya Dabhade

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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
Adams withdrawal could make an immediate impact in fundraising.

Arindam Roy

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Abhinav Gupta

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
'I'm very confident': At White House meeting, Trump seeks to sell Gaza deal to a defiant Netanyahu

US President Donald Trump greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he arrives at the West Wing of the White House in Washington, DC on September 29, 2025.

Abhinav Gupta

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Pragya Trivedi

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Netanyahu apologises to Qatari PM over Doha attack in call from White House

Netanyahu apologises to Qatari PM for Doha attack in call from White House: Report

Pragya Trivedi

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Pakistan plays Rare Earth card in Washington: What Asim Munirs gift to Trump really signifies

Abhinav Gupta

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
'Repeatedly called P-word': South Asian entrepreneur Sophia Choudry says she was racially abused by children on London train

Rewati Karan

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Shooter kills at least four, wounds eight at Mormon church in Michigan

Emergency personnel work at the scene of a shooting which took place at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, according to police, in Grand Blanc, Michigan, U.S., September 28, 2025. REUTERS/Rebecca Cook

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
Tourists are seen inside the Grand Palace, one of the favorite tourist spots in Bangkok, Thailand, May 20, 2025. Photo by Reuters

Thailand's tourism sector is facing a significant post-pandemic challenge, with the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) forecasting that revenue from foreign visitors in 2025 will fall by over 20% compared to pre-Covid levels.

The TCT estimates that revenue from international tourists will drop to approximately 1.52 trillion baht (US$47.23 billion) in 2025, a steep decline from the 1.91 trillion baht ($59.39 billion) recorded in 2019.

This projected 20.2% revenue slump is higher than the anticipated 17% decrease in tourist volume.

The council expects 33.14 million tourists in 2025, which is 6.7% lower than the figure for 2024, and 17% down on the 2019 total.

The TCT attributes the disproportionate fall in revenue to changing tourist behavior and structure. A key factor is the sharp decrease in high-spending Chinese visitors, offset by a continuous rise in Malaysian arrivals.

Tourists, in general, are now exhibiting behavior focused on achieving better value for money. This trend is compounded by a growing proportion of budget-conscious Free Independent Travellers (FITs) and backpackers. Negative economic pressures are also weighing heavily on the sector.
The untold story of Amir Amirys freedom: Why Taliban suddenly let an American go and who made it happen?

Amir Amiry, who had been detained in Afghanistan since December 2024, poses for a picture alongside Adam Boehler, the US special envoy for hostage response, Sebastian Gorka, the deputy assistant to the US president and senior director for counterterrorism, and a Qatari diplomat, on a plane from Kabul Afghanistan, September 28, 2025.

Abhinav Gupta

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
US stares at govt shutdown: What it means, what's causing it and how it will hit Americans | Explained

The United States is again on the verge of a government shutdown as Congress struggles to approve a new funding bill before the September 30, 2025 deadline. (File photo)

Abhinav Gupta

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Why tropical storm Imeldas forecast changed  and what risks still remain

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. 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 Trump is sending troops to Portland and why the city says it doesnt need them

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. 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 retribution campaign could lock America into a cycle of political revenge

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. 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
Expanding education and learning

The development of education in the Northern Marianas was integral to the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands strategic plan for the economic development of Micronesia. Expansion of public services, particularly in the health and education sectors, was prioritized.

Education in the Trust Territory was administered by the Education Department, which comprised a director, deputy director, and various staff members. Six district educational administrators, known as EdAds, managed teaching and support staff.

Peace Corps volunteer Tom Zink, center, with his friends Jesus Mettao and Ben Iginoef. This is a photo from the Facebook page Mariana Memories-Micro.

Micronesian involvement was ensured in all facets of the educational program, underscoring the commitment to local participation.

The Peace Corps assisted the Micronesian way of life and their future with education and learning.

By the time the Volunteers arrived in 1967, there were over 20,000 schoolchildren in public elementary schools and over 4,000 in mission schools that make up Micronesias school population. [1]

Prior to 1962, the Pacific Islands Central School in Ponape was the sole public high school in Micronesia. Subsequent expansions led to the opening of 10th grade classes in all districts, except Yap, in September 1962, followed by the 11th grade in 1963 and the 12th grade in 1964. By September 1965, each district had established four-year public high schools. In addition, seven high schools were operated by missions: one in Truk, one in Saipan, two in Ponape, and three in Palau. [2]

Loading the Plane from Guam to Rota. This is a photo from the Facebook page Mariana Memories- Micro.

High school enrollment had reached 4,000 students by 1967, with 3,000 attending public high schools and 1,000 enrolled in mission schools.

Vocational training was provided, with Palau hosting one vocational school within its public high school. Other districts offered classes in carpentry, boatbuilding, and other practical skills. Ponape also had a mission vocational school. Female students engaged in courses on food preparation, sewing, weaving, home nursing, infant care, and other homemaking skills. Agricultural education was emphasized where land availability permitted, with some students cultivating food for their school dining rooms. [3]

[1] Training Program for Peace Corps Volunteers to Serve in Micronesia, June 26-September 2, 1967

[2] Ibid.

[3] Training Program for Peace Corps Volunteers to Serve in Micronesia, June 26-September 2, 196
GEDA hosts Japan Trade Mission for Guam businesses

Guam participated in the 38th Tokyo Gourmet Show, a cross-industrial trade show where businesses showcase their products to both Japanese and overseas buyers in the food and beverage industry. GEDA photo

TAMUNING, Guam (GEDA)  Seven Guam-based businesses recently returned from Japan where they promoted their Made in Guam products as part of a trade mission hosted by the Guam Economic Development Authority and in partnership with the Western United States Agricultural Trade Association.

WUSATA is a non-profit state trade regional trade group that promotes the export of U.S. food and agricultural products throughout the world from the western region of the country, including Guam.

The innovative entrepreneurial spirit of our local companies is truly inspiring, said Guam Gov. Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero. They serve as ambassadors of our culture as they continue to forge new pathways for collaboration between Guam and Japan.

The trade mission provided opportunities for Guam-based businesses to secure potential retail and wholesale distribution agreements with the goal of increasing their export activities in Japan. Participating companies included Asiga, Denanche Guam, Everything Guam, Kingfishers Noni, Local Jerk Guam, The Coconut Tree Company, and The Green Turtle Coffee.

At the start of the trade mission, the Guam delegation visited Shizuoka Prefecture where they met with Shizuoka Governor Suzuki, Suguru Ban of the Shizuoka Prefecture Council and the Cross-party Parliamentary U.S. Japan Friendship League, members of the local Shizuoka government and business entities.

We are grateful for the generosity extended to us by the companies, representatives, and governor of Shizuoka, said Ana Won Pat-Borja of Asiga. We witnessed how critical this time is for Guam to actively nurture relationships with places like Shizuoka and broader Japan to encourage exchanges in trade, education, and culture. With rigorous government support and strategic planning  beyond the outstanding groundwork GEDA has set  Guam has a fighting chance to open the doors for our businesses to thrive beyond our borders and at home.

Inspired by Shizuokas green tea, we are proud to highlight Noni tea as one of Guams specialties, said Mihwa Kim of Kingfishers Noni. We look forward to introducing our islands unique flavors to more buyers and consumers, and to creating new opportunities for growth.

Jeanne Bailey, U.S minister-counselor of agricultural affairs, hosted a reception for the Guam delegation at the U.S. Embassy with Japanese importers, companies, and media. The reception featured a Guam-inspired menu by Tokyo American Club Executive Chef Lindsay Gray and highlighted products of participating Guam businesses.

From Guam to Tokyo, a bridge of flavors, traditions, and new collaborations with the USDA Agriculture Trade Office is must experience for the building blocks of the opportunities to come, said Marvin Crisostomo of Local Jerk.

The trade mission culminated in Guams participation in the 38th Tokyo Gourmet Show, which is part of the larger Tokyo Gift Show. The Tokyo Gourmet Show is a cross-industrial trade show where businesses showcase their products to both Japanese and overseas buyers in the food and beverage industry.

An estimated 30,000 visitors and 250 exhibitors were in attendance for this B2B trade show focused on sustainable and premium food products.

Our experience in Japan has inspired us to create and collaborate with the companies we have made connections with so far, said Olivia Ferguson of Everything Guam. We hope these collaborations will lead to more opportunities to showcase Guam as a travel destination as well as export opportunities for us.

With the Guam delegations participation this year, it was the first time that U.S.-based companies have been showcased at the Tokyo Gourmet Show.

Participating in WUSATA and GEDA trade missions has been integral to our growth as a business, said Pika Fejeran of Denanche Guam. Meeting new consumers on these missions allows us to see our products through their eyes, which has helped us create stronger products and branding that resonates with the new market.
Palau Community College opens new Science Building

KOROR (PCC)  Palau Community College marked a historic milestone with the official opening of its new Science Building, celebrated through a ribbon-cutting ceremony held on campus. The event highlighted PCCs ongoing commitment to enhancing educational resources and providing state-of-the-art facilities for science education.

The ceremony brought together faculty, students, local officials, and community members, all eager to visit the modern facility. PCC President Dr. Patrick U. Tellei welcomed attendees and recognized the collaborative efforts that made the project possible.

The new Science Building serves as a cornerstone for PCCs recently launched Bachelor of Science in Science degree program. Designed to support advanced learning, the facility features dry and wet laboratories, a Nursing Simulation Lab, faculty offices, and on its lower level, a lecture hall complete with an acoustic ceiling, stage, audio/control room, and backstage area. The third level houses eight classrooms equipped with smart boards, ensuring an interactive and modern learning environment. Safety and accessibility were prioritized with restrooms and fire safety features on every floor.

The $2.5 million project was made possible through the generous support of the Republic of China (Taiwan). Distinguished guests included Surangel Whipps Jr., president of the Republic of Palau, and Jessica Lee, ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to Palau, both of whom delivered special remarks.

Calvin Ikesiil, director of the Bureau of Public Works, served as master of ceremonies, sharing detailed insights into the buildings design and specifications.

Also in attendance were ministers, local congressional leaders, governors, High Chief Reklai, and other members of Rubekul Belau or Council of Chiefs, along with PCC faculty and students. Their presence underscored the importance of this achievement not only for the college but for the nation.

The new Science Building represents our shared commitment to academic excellence and innovation, said Dr. Tellei. It strengthens our mission to empower students and address the educational needs of Palau and the communities we serve.

With the completion of this new facility, PCC continues to advance its role as a leader in higher education, preparing students for future opportunities while supporting Palaus national development.
Even the government cannot spend money it does not have

For real

THE administrations original FY 2026 budget proposal  projecting more than $20 million in new revenue  leaned heavily on a pension obligation bond, special revenue funds, federal funds, and [funds from] autonomous agencies. It also hinted at innovative, sustainable revenue-generating measures  in plain English, tax and fee hikes. Clearly, it was less a budget than a political wish list, and even the House of Representatives wants no part of it.

The version passed by the House last week makes more mathematical sense. The House measure does not account for the $29 million MPLT loan and maintains agency budgets at FY 2025 levels. It is also worth noting that while the House Ways and Means chair said they will continue to fulfill the governments (federally mandated) obligation to pay 75% of retirees benefits, there was no mention of the 25% voluntary payments that were made possible more than a decade ago by robust tourism arrivals and the entry of a new investor.

As for MPLT, it is likely to approve the new loan for the central government. MPLTs main task now is to come up with a list of more or less plausible justifications for it.

The goal, as always, is just to hold the fort a little longer. Perhaps the federal bailout will materialize, or tourists will return, or a genuine investor will emerge. But wishin and hopin sure wont foot the bills.

The problem with the solution

THE key to innovation and sustainability? Reducing government costs. That is not a state secret. In the NMI, many politicians and commentators have recommended it even before the establishment of the Commonwealth government. It has never been implemented because such proposals enjoy little or no political support. Significant cost-cutting initiatives must be introduced, passed, and enacted by officials elected by the very same people who would either lose their jobs or take a pay cut if the plan is carried out.

What has political support? More spending. Regardless of the state of the economy, government agencies and many members of the public themselves continue to request or demand for more funding from their government.

As in the past, we will once again hear calls for diversification, new industries, more training, and other old ideas that sound new to many, even though nothing truly new has been said about the current economic crisis since the last time we faced it.

Meanwhile?

As we wait for the governments grand plans to materialize, how will it meet its current obligations  from retirees pensions to the 25% budget for PSS, to say nothing of medical referrals and government payroll? Raising taxes and fees, or imposing new ones, can allow the government to pad its revenue projections, but collecting them is another matter. As businesses have patiently explained to elected officials, higher taxes or fees are likely to be passed on to consumers, potentially leading to lower sales, decreased revenue, a smaller workforce, and ultimately reduced tax collections.

What the government should do  besides boosting tourism, attracting new investors, and seeking federal help  is resist the urge to impose additional burdens on the private sector and other taxpayers. Ultimately, CNMI officials must find ways to reduce government costs.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday signed a bill to roll back taxes on recreational weed in an effort to give some relief to an industry that has struggled to supersede its illicit counterpart since voters legalized marijuana almost 10 years ago.

The law will temporarily revert the cannabis excise tax to 15% until 2028, suspending an increase to 19% levied earlier this year. The law is meant to help dispensaries that proponents say are operating under slim margins due to being bogged down by years of overregulation.

Were rolling back this cannabis tax hike so the legal market can continue to grow, consumers can access safe products, and our local communities see the benefits, Newsom said in a statement, and that reducing the tax will allow legal businesses to remain competitive and boost their long-term growth.

An excise tax is a levy imposed by the state before sales taxes are applied. Its applied to the cannabis industry under a 2022 agreement between the state and marijuana companies. It replaced a different kind of fee that was supposed to raise revenue for social programs, such as child care assistance, in accordance with the 2016 ballot measure that legalized cannabis.

For years, the cannabis industry has lobbied against the tax, arguing that it hurts an industry overshadowed by a thriving illicit drug market.

By stopping this misguided tax hike, the governor and Legislature chose smart policy that grows revenue by keeping the legal market viable instead of driving consumers back to dangerous, untested illicit products, Amy OGorman, executive director of the California Cannabis Operators Association, said in a statement.

Since its legalization, the recreational weed industry has struggled to outpace the illegal market as farmers flooded the industry and prices began to drop. Taxable cannabis sales have slowly declined since their peak in the second quarter of 2021 of more than $1.5 billion to $1.2 billion four years later, according to data from the state Department of Tax and Fee Administration. Legal sales make up about 40% of all weed consumption, according to the state Department of Cannabis Control.

Several nonprofits that receive grants through the tax opposed the bill, arguing that it will threaten services for low-income children, substance abuse programs and environmental protections.

In the Emerald Triangle, where the heartland of the industry lies nestled in the northern corner of the state, conservation organizations said they were disappointed in the governor and that it was a step backwards for addressing environmental degradation caused by illegal growers in years past.

All this bill does is reduce the resources we have to remedy the harms of the illegal market, said Alicia Hamann, executive director of Friends of the Eel River in Humboldt County.

Many nonprofits supported spiking other fees in agreement with lawmakers and industry groups that the excise tax would be increased three years later, Hamann said.

It feels a little bit like a stab in the back, she said.

___

This story was originally published in CalMatters and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.

By NADIA LATHAN/CalMatters

CalMatters
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  Former state Assemblymember Ian Calderon is the latest Democrat to jump into the crowded race to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom next year.

Calderon, 39, cast himself as the voice of a new, younger generation as the youngest majority leader in state history. The governors race has already has drawn a large field of candidates, including former Biden administration Health Secretary Xavier Becerra, former U.S. House member Katie Porter, and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, among others.

Calderon was the first millennial elected to the Assembly at 27 years old in 2012. He chose to not seek reelection in 2020 to spend more time with his wife and young children.

California should be the best place in the world to raise a family, buy a home and build a future, but to get there, we need a new generation of leadership, Calderon said.

He has vowed to tackle gas prices, housing affordability and child care costs in a social media video announcing his campaign to replace Newsom, whose term runs through early January 2027.

On the GOP side, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and conservative commentator Steve Hilton have announced their bids.

Calderon is also positioning himself as a tech-friendly politician and said Tuesday that hed push the state to use cryptocurrency like bitcoin to pay for various state programs. He made the comments during a social media livestream called Crypto Town Hall.

Once Im governor, Im going to make sure that we hold bitcoin on our balance sheet, Calderon said.

Democrats are expected to hold the seat in a state where they outnumber registered Republicans by nearly 2 to 1. Republicans have not won a statewide election in California in nearly two decades.

Calderons family has long-held ties in California politics. He replaced his father, Charles Calderon, in the Assembly. Two of his uncles, Ron Calderon and Tom Calderon, also served in the state Legislature, though both were convicted on public corruption charges in 2016. His stepmom Lisa Calderon, succeeded him in the Assembly.

Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP)  Its not polite, as a general rule, to visit your hosts and criticize the way they do things. Unless, that is, youre helping to pay the rent.

World leaders have spent the past week at the United Nations doing just that, convening at its grandiloquent headquarters to tell each other  and those who administer the planets most prominent global institution  that the foundational pillars are cracked, outdated and not in good working order.

Some version of this happens every year. Its part of the overall theater. Leaders point out the U.N.s flaws and tell it to buckle down and get things done. Then, at the end of speeches, they congratulate themselves for doing important work and go home saying, effectively, Good talk! And the conversation pauses for a year.

Yet in recent years, as the United Nations increasingly becomes one of its members favorite subjects at the General Assembly, a particular turn of phrase has been emerging from world leaders mouths more and more, aimed at the U.N. itself. It can be mapped sort of like this: We need you, we support you, BUT 

And this year, with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres himself setting the bleak and critical tone after his team proposed major reforms for the instutions 80th anniversary, the critiques from dozens of nations as they address this august assembly feel even more prominent and pointed than usual. Two particularly sharp comments this past week draw that notion out in stark relief.

We must ask ourselves today: How has the U.N. lived up to expectations? And just look at the state of the world, said Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Indias foreign minister. Where has the U.N. actually made a difference?

And from Amara Camara, the foreign minister of Guinea: The best years of our shared organization may be behind us.

Can that truly be the case?

A pervasive sense that the UN isnt living up to potential

Much of the criticism focuses on the U.N. generally not getting things done and bending a knee to what Terrance Michael Drew, the prime minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, called the large and the loud while effectively muzzling multiple smaller, quieter nations and thus undermining its mandate of multilateralism. But there are specific recurring complaints as well.

Among them: inequitable representation on the U.N. Security Council, where Africa has a particular beef. For three decades, it has been calling for a permanent, veto-empowered seat on the Security Council, which has only five permanent members while other nations rotate. Each year, African leaders express frustration about being treated with what Botswana President Duma Boko called affable indifference.

We must free the Security Council from this humiliating paralysis, said Mohamad Hasan, Malaysias foreign minister. Reform is no longer a choice. It is imperative.

The critical rhetoric came from all geographies. Day after day, leader after leader found things they didnt like about the U.N. and its operations, even as they often couched it in praise.

We have reason to honor what has been achieved: rights extended, ladders out of poverty raised, medicines and measures moved across borders, Drew said. Yet alongside those triumphs are truths we must not hide: partial pledges, procrastination and the persistent practice of putting profit before people. Where progress has been made, too often it has been piecemeal; where promises have been given, too often they have been broken.

As with so many organizations, much of the most salient work goes on behind the scenes and even off site. The United Nations has hundreds of programs around the world that do on-the-ground good for many people facing all manner of challenges. And the performative nature of the U.N. General Assembly makes it sometimes politically expedient to criticize the United Nations when things in the world go bad. Certainly thats what U.S. President Donald Trump, no fan of the U.N. for many years, did in his own speech.

What is the purpose of the United Nations? he said. It has such tremendous, tremendous potential, but its not even coming close to living up to that potential, for the most part. At least for now, all they seem to do is write a really strongly worded letter and then never follow that letter up. Its empty words, and empty words dont solve war.

He also added, pointedly: All I got from the United Nations was an escalator that on the way up, stopped right in the middle.

Amid the critiques, though, there were many acknowledgments of a different kind of responsibility  that of the nations that belong to it. The U.N. is only the sum of its parts. Any lack of impact lies at the feet of member states. The solution is not to abandon it, but to fix it, said Philip Davis, prime minister of the Bahamas.

And from Germanys foreign minister, Johann Wadephul: It is up to us  the member states. WE are the United Nations. We want these United Nations to be strong.

Maybe the idea itself is the main accomplishment

Multilateralism, the main thread of the United Nations since its post-World War II founding, remains the organizations cornerstone. Its a particularly potent notion for less powerful states, which rely on the U.N. to level the playing field between smaller countries and the dominant powers.

But Trumps all but complete rejection of multilateralism set the tone this year for this kind of wide frustration that the U.N. is a bloated functionary that doesnt really fix things.

Reform is not only about structures. It is about credibility. And credibility lives or dies with trust in multilateralism, said Abdulla Khaleel, foreign minister of the Maldives. That trust is eroding.

Lurking behind many of the comments is the ghost of the League of Nations, the post-World War I prototype for the United Nations that collapsed under its own failure to prevent World War II and was replaced by the U.N. in 1946. We all know of the League of Nations. We must not repeat it, said Romanias foreign minister, Oana-Silvia Toiu.

Ultimately, the United Nations may be an aspirational institution more than anything else. It is the embodiment of a era past, yes  but also an ever-receding dream that people might be able to stop fighting by working together. Even if the house is, and to some extent always remains, not quite ready for company. And in the meantime, talking bluntly about the problems during such a chaotic epoch stands as one way to nudge the path forward, even if it takes some serious pokes.

What the U.N. has achieved so far is not a minor feat. They are the very essence of our shared humanity, said Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof, the foreign minister of Brunei. Yet we would be dishonest to speak only of successes.

___

Ted Anthony has written about international affairs for The Associated Press since 1995 and has overseen coverage of the U.N. General Assemblys annual leaders meetings since 2018.

By TED ANTHONY

AP National Writer
CAIRO (AP)  Ethiopia claimed Monday that its recently inaugurated dam has helped lessen floods that have hit Sudan, as speculation rose over whether it has actually caused the deluges.

Sudan on Saturday issued a flood alert citing rising water levels along the Nile Rivers two main tributaries, the Blue and White Nile. Sudanese authorities maintained the alert on Monday.

The Sudanese irrigation ministry said late Sunday that the water level has been high for four consecutive days as dams in the area discharged excess water. It urged residents in the provinces of Khartoum, River Nile, White Nile, Sennar and Blue Nile to remain vigilant as floods may affect agricultural lands and houses.

Water levels are expected to decrease throughout the week, Abbas Sharaky, a Professor of Geology and Water Resources at Cairo University, said on Monday.

Earlier this month, Ethiopia inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, or GERD, Africas largest dam, to boost the economy. The nearly $5 billion dam, located on the Blue Nile near Ethiopias border with Sudan, will produce more than 5,000 megawatts and is expected to double Ethiopias electricity generation capacity, according to officials.

But some have accused the dam of causing the floods in Sudan.

The situation is the result of a man-made error, Sharaky told The Associated Press.

Although Sudan benefits from the dams water flow during the agricultural season, the current situation is causing more harm than good because the harvest season has almost ended, Sharaky said. He added that the GERD wasnt emptied gradually as it stored water during Ethiopias rainy season between June and August, which also burdens the dam.

Four turbines that were supposed to help reduce the dams reservoir failed to operate, preventing Ethiopia from releasing excess water, which led to excessive water flow into Sudan this week, Sharaky said.

Ethiopia was stubborn and has repeatedly said that the dams turbines are working, but seeing the stored water not decreasing says otherwise, Sharaky said.

Ethiopias Water Minister Habtamu Itefa Geleta said Monday: The flood in Sudan could be from White Nile. If GERD was not there, the magnitude could have been devastating. GERD played a significant role in reducing the catastrophic effect.

When asked about the turbines not operating, the minister did not answer the question but acknowledged: We did not release the excess water.

Egypt says Ethiopia has consistently lacked the political will to reach a binding agreement on the dam, undermining the Nile River water rights of Egypt and Sudan.

On Sept. 4, before GERDs inauguration, Tamim Khallaf, spokesperson to the Egyptian foreign ministry, said Ethiopia built the dam unilaterally without any prior notification, proper consultations, or consensus with downstream countries, thereby constituting a grave violation of international law and posing an existential threat.

___

Musabi reported from Nairobi, Kenya.

By FATMA KHALED and EVELYNE MUSAMBI

Associated Press
This is Naked Capitalism fundraising week. 291 donors have already invested in our efforts to combat corruption and predatory conduct, particularly in the financial realm. Please join us and participate via our donation page, which shows how to give via check, credit card, debit card, PayPal. Clover, or Wise. Read about why were doing this fundraiser, what weve accomplished in the last year, and our current goal, supporting the comments section.

here. As many of you may know, I find the shift of commentary from articles, blogs, and social media to YouTube and podcasts to be frustrating, since its extremely difficult to find exactly what one might have heard again, meaning both the original source (program, speaker, date) and what exactly they said compared to written sources. However, we are republishing an important YouTube discussion between Glenn Diesen and German journalist/best selling author Patrick Baab. Baab lays out a persuasive case as to how many critically-placed European decision-makers are driving towards a full-scale war with Russia, and due to deep personal investment and bad career incentives, will only press more aggressively forward as Russia progresses towards whatever flavor of Ukraine conquest it decides to implement.

Yours truly has warned from the outset that Russia could win the war but lose the peace. We had also consistently pointed out that there would be no negotiated end to the war, since there was no bargaining overlap between the Russian and Ukraine/Western positions. We held to that view during the Trump attempts to come to an agreement with Russia over the heads of Ukraine and NATO by pointing out that Ukraine and the Europeans had agency. One must add that domestic and military-industrial complex support of the conflict was sufficiently high that Trump could not pull the lever that might have brought Ukraine, and reluctantly, the Europeans to heel, which would be to end all intel support, including, critically, satellite information and US assistance in targeting, which is required for many US and NATO weapons platforms (aside from setting off a political firestorm, Trump could also have run into non-compliance, recall the military defying his orders in Trump 1.0 to exit Afghanistan).

We had assumed that losing the peace might amount to a sustained effort at terrorism, both in Russia and parts of Ukraine that Russia occupied (and presumably incorporated into Russia, but Russia may attempt to set up a neutral state of some sort in Western Ukraine that gets more sovereignity over time; the treatment of Germany after World War II is a precedent). John Mearsheimer, however, has been pointing out for a while that even after the Ukraine war was resolved, that the West had plenty of flash points where it could stir up low-level conflicts, with the intent of imposing continuing costs on Russia, such as Kaliningrad and Transnistria.

But what Baab describes below is more dire, and also more consistent with the current direction of travel, which is a hot war with Russia. Consistent with his analysis, just now, the Guardian posted a new piece, Britain may already be at war with Russia, former head of MI5 says, which contends that it is Russia that is at war with the UK due to alleged hostile acts perpetrated by Russia, such as cyberattacks.

However, Baab does not fully connect the dots he sets forth below, perhaps because hes not yet ready to make what might be depicted as a hyperbolic call (you will see that Baab is exceedingly measured). If one does, the risk of a hot war looks far more imminent, in no small measure due to what both Russian and some US officials have called the Estoniazation of Germany (as to some degree the rest of Europe, which is the batshit hysteric belief that Russia fully intends to go beyond Ukraine and take more European territory.

Baab stresses the dire budget condition of Europe and even Germany due to how it handled its post-financial crisis bank rescues, and that the result is governments are even more hostage to financiers than before. He points out how Europe and the moneymen need more collateral and point to the mineral and agricultural wealth of Ukraine as a potential source now no longer available to them. He also points out that Germany is making what looks like unaffordable commitments to funding Ukraine and to a military buildup.

What he largely skips over is the frozen Russian assets, of which over $200 billion are in Euros and hence in Euroclear. Even though many EU leaders have been scheming to get their hands on them, their latest too-clever idea would require them to be confiscated via a transfer out of Euroclear. Euroclear is in Belgium and Belgium has been howling no way, no how, that this would be the end of anyone trusting European financial institutions as a place to keep deposits and investments.

Now what would provide for a legal justification for an asset grab that even Euroclear might not be able to stare down? A bona fide hot war with Russia. There is ample precedent for seizing the extraterritorial assets of belligerent states and their nationals.

And Baab gives an obvious trigger below: the West closing Baltic airspace to Russia. We had warned in the runup to the 2016 election that Hillary Clintons promise to declare a no-fly zone in Syria amounted to a commitment to initiate a hot war with Russia, since Russia would not accept that restriction. If you think Russia would sit pat with EU states trying to prevent its use of Baltic airspace, I have a bridge Id like to sell you.

Baab does stress that the German military is highly cognizant of the fact that is it in no position to take on Russia, and pols similarly accept that it would take years of rearmament, recruiting/conscription, and training. However, the level of official and press screeching over alleged Russia drone and aircraft trespasses into NATO members airspaces, none of which hold up well to scrutiny, intended to rope the US back into recommitting to Project Ukraine, are in danger of assuming a life of their own. Things are so out of control that three officials from NATO states, the UK, France, and Germany, went to Moscow to threaten that they might shoot down Russian jets that encroached on member state airspace and was backed by Trump, leading to a tart Russian response. From Anadolu Agency:

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday that statements by Western leaders about shooting down Russian aircraft are reckless and could have dangerous consequences. Statements about shooting down Russian planes are, at the very least, reckless, irresponsible, and, of course, dangerous in their consequences, Peskov told a journalist in Moscow. The remarks came after US President Donald Trump suggested NATO should shoot down Russian jets if they entered the airspace of alliance members during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in New York. Russian Ambassador to France Alexei Meshkov earlier warned that such a move by NATO would mean war. He had claimed Western countries have not provided tangible proof of Russias involvement in alleged airspace violations. You know, there are many NATO aircraft that violate Russian airspace  it happens quite often  (but) they are not shot down, Meshkov said, stressing that Moscow categorically denies the accusations.

So this version of Play stupid games, win stupid prizes is risking nuclear war. Every scenario of a hot war between the US and Russia ends that way.

We have extracted key quotes from Raab and put them beneath the video. I hope you can listen to it in full.

By Glenn Diesen. Originally published at his YouTube channel
This is Naked Capitalism fundraising week. 289 donors have already invested in our efforts to combat corruption and predatory conduct, particularly in the financial realm. Please join us and participate via our donation page, which shows how to give via check, credit card, debit card, PayPal. Clover, or Wise. Read about why were doing this fundraiser, what weve accomplished in the last year, and our current goal, supporting the comments section.

Conor here: This seems to be a recurring theme with the Nobel Peace Prize hopeful. Elsewhere, the Rwanda-Democratic Republic of Congo situation appears on the brink of collapse, but perhaps the US private sector will still get its minerals. In the Caucasus, the peace is fragile and US intentions are a thinly disguised effort at wider conflict.

And yet, as with so much commentary on Trump, placing all of this at his feet is too easy. The author of the following piece seems to believe that if it werent for Trumps contempt for the professionals in the U.S. State Department all would be hunky-dory. We only need to look to the devastation caused by the last US president who won the peace prize and his uber-professional State Department for evidence of that.

While Trump may have contempt for State Department professionals, the groundwork for some of these peace deals was in fact done by the previous administrations State Department. Perhaps Team Trump takes a more rushed approach than some at State would like, but the substance has remained the same despite a change in style.

By Fred H. Lawson, Professor of Government Emeritus, Northeastern University. Originally published at The Conversation.

President Donald Trump chided the United Nations on Sept. 23, 2025, for failing to resolve dangerous international conflicts around the world. All they seem to do, he groused during his address to the General Assembly in New York, is write a really strongly worded letter and then never follow that letter up. Its empty words, and empty words dont solve war.

In contrast, Trump, by his own estimation, has ended a half-dozen serious international conflicts. Among them is the long-standing dispute over the Nile River waters that flared up when Ethiopia proposed to build a massive dam over the Blue Nile, threatening the water supply of Egypt and Sudan.

As an international relations scholar who has studied this dispute, however, I find it hard to see how Trumps interventions have brought it any closer to a resolution. In fact, they most likely made things worse.

The Source of the Dispute

Nile River water is essential to agriculture and public sanitation in both Egypt and Sudan. Distribution of that water has been regulated by an agreement drawn up in 1959 guaranteeing Egypt and Sudan most of the output of the Nile River basin. A body of international law also enjoins upstream nations  such as Ethiopia  against manipulating the cross-border flow of rivers in ways that harm downstream countries.

Ethiopia nonetheless declared in 2011 that it had the right to exploit any water resources that originate inside its borders. It further insisted that constructing an electricity-generating dam across the Blue Nile would provide cheap power to both impoverished Ethiopians and neighboring countries.

Egypt and Sudan immediately protested on the grounds that the project would inflict severe damage on their populations and implored international organizations and external powers to intervene.

Ambiguous Wording

Trump waded into the Nile dispute at the urging of Egypt. Cairo approached Washington to mediate in late October 2019, as Ethiopia was ramping up construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam that would restrict the flow of the Blue Nile. After speaking personally with Egypt President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, Trump agreed to become directly involved.

He and then-Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin invited the foreign ministers of Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia to Washington for talks.

With the opening session of the ensuing November 2019 meeting still ongoing, Trump tweeted: The meeting went well and discussions will continue during the day!

The talks, however, ended with no progress being made. Instead, all four parties, along with representatives of the World Bank, agreed to confer a dozen more times over the next three months to hash out technical matters.

At these subsequent meetings, Egypt and Ethiopia haggled over definitions and measurement criteria concerning the dams possible impact. Mnuchin and his staff largely stood aside, although they reportedly expressed sympathy for Addis Ababas insistence that matters concerning the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam be kept separate from questions concerning water management in the Nile Basin as a whole.

More importantly, U.S. representatives allowed imprecise wording to slip into the statement released at the close of the December 2019 meeting.

The statement mandated that the implementation of these technical rules and guidelines for the filling and operation of the dam will be undertaken by Ethiopia, and may be adjusted by the three countries.

Cairo interpreted this to mean that all regulations and procedures would be drawn up jointly; Addis Ababa believed that it enshrined Ethiopias right to make decisions entirely on its own.

Talks Blow Up

The final round of talks in January 2020 produced a prospective agreement that left Ethiopia free to start filling the huge reservoir behind the dam, and minimized the countrys obligations to assist Egypt and Sudan during drought periods.

Yet, Ethiopia dragged its feet in accepting the draft document, claiming that crucial points remained unsettled. Egypt and Sudan flatly refused to revisit problems they believed had already been addressed, but did accept an offer from U.S. Treasury officials to prepare a revised text.

In February 2020, the U.S. Treasury Department circulated an amended version, and Trump telephoned al-Sissi to express hope that an agreement would be finalized soon.

Ethiopia, feeling pressured by Egypt and the U.S. to endorse an incomplete text  and worried about the domestic political consequences of doing so  did not send a representative to Washington to accept the revision. Treasury officials then declared that a comprehensive settlement to the dispute had now been reached and publicly called on Addis Ababa to sign it.

Egypts foreign ministry issued a statement asserting that President Trump affirmed the U.S. administrations continued efforts to reach an acceptable deal. But Ethiopias foreign minister described Washingtons abrupt declaration as undiplomatic.

Ethiopia stalled for another two months, then circulated a provisional agreement of its own, which Egypt and Sudan dismissed out of hand.

Washington responded with insinuations that it would withhold economic assistance from Ethiopia unless Addis Ababa signed the agreement the Treasury Department had drafted in February 2020. Meanwhile, construction on the dam proceeded, and in July Ethiopia blocked the flow of the Blue Nile to begin filling its huge reservoir.

In September 2020, then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo followed through on the U.S. threat and suspended US$130 million of aid to Ethiopia. However, the suspension had no impact on negotiations.

Incensed at the continuing impasse, Trump in October 2020 remarked during a telephone call with Sudanese and Israeli diplomats that Egypt will end up blowing up the dam.

Ethiopian officials condemned the outburst. The prime ministers office complained that these threats and affronts to Ethiopian sovereignty are misguided, unproductive and clear violations of international law. Ethiopia installed anti-aircraft batteries around the dam and declared the airspace above it a no-fly zone.

Negotiations collapsed, and they remained dormant for the next three years.

Assessing the Impact of US Mediation

Analysts tend to agree that Trumps initial involvement in the Nile River dispute made a bad situation worse. His admiration for authoritarian leaders prompted him to accommodate Egypts al-Sissi and put U.S. credibility on the line.

Meanwhile, Trumps contempt for the professionals in the U.S. State Department led him to sideline the diplomatic corps and entrust a complicated assignment to Mnuchin, a former financier and movie producer. And his lack of patience and blunt language disrupted the negotiations, alienating Egypt and Ethiopia alike.

Addis Ababa continues to insist that it has no obligation to request permission from anyone to fill the Renaissance Dam. In September 2025, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed declared that work on the dam had finished and boasted of two other dams on the Blue Nile nearing completion.

Meanwhile, Egypt has opened a large naval base on the Red Sea coast and attached its most advanced warships to a newly created Red Sea squadron. In July 2025, Egypt Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty issued a veiled threat to use military means to settle the Nile dispute.

Despite rising tensions, and his first administrations failure to make progress on the issue, Trump continues to point to his 2019-2020 mediation as a success.

In July 2025, he told NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte that a resolution lay just around the corner. President al-Sissi once again applauded the presidents involvement and voiced hope that it would produce a just agreement.

Yet there is little indication that the current Trump administration is in any better position to solve the Nile River dispute than was the previous one. Since Trumps second inauguration, experienced State Department officials have been fired or resigned, leaving sensitive diplomatic missions in the hands of private businesspeople with personal ties to the president, rather than diplomats skilled in the art of negotiating intractable disputes among sovereign states.

This development seems unlikely to budge Trump from the conviction that he has already solved the conflict over the Nile River waters  and can somehow do it again.
Apartheid in Action: How Israel Systematically Strips Palestinian Voting Rights While Claiming Democratic Legitimacy

For over seven decades, Israel has enforced a system of institutionalized discrimination, segregation, and military domination over Palestinians, amounting to what leading human rights organizationsincluding Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and BTselemhave conclusively labeled as apartheid.

This regime operates through a graded hierarchy of rights, where Jewish Israelis enjoy full citizenship, political representation, and freedom of movement, while Palestinians are subjected to military rule, disenfranchisement, and severe restrictions on their basic freedoms.

The most extreme manifestation of this system is the Gaza Strip, described by international observers, humanitarian groups, and Palestinians themselves as the worlds largest "open-air prison," where 2.1 million people have been trapped under a brutal blockade, denied access to clean water, electricity, medical supplies, and the right to leave or return.

Meanwhile, Palestinians in the West Bank live under indefinite military occupation, where Israeli settlementsdeemed illegal under international lawexpand relentlessly, fragmenting their land and eroding any prospect of sovereignty.

Even Palestinian citizens of Israel, who hold the right to vote, face systemic discrimination, surveillance, and laws designed to suppress their political representation.

Together, these mechanisms form a single, cohesive system of control that denies Palestinians self-determination while entrenching Jewish Israeli dominance over all historic Palestine.

Israel's system of suppression and destruction

The foundation of Israels apartheid regime lies in its deliberate fragmentation of the Palestinian people into distinct legal and geographic categories, each with diminishing rights. Palestinian citizens of Israel, who survived the 1948 Nakba and remained within the newly declared states borders, were granted citizenship in 1952but only after years of military rule during which their movements were restricted, their properties confiscated under the Absentee Property Law, and their political activities heavily surveilled.

While they can vote in Israeli elections, their representation in the Knesset is systematically undermined through discriminatory laws, such as the 2018 "Nation-State Law," which constitutionally enshrines Jewish supremacy and demotes Arabic from an official language to one with "special status." Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem, annexed by Israel in 1967, are denied citizenship and instead hold precarious residency permits that can be revoked at any time, leaving them in a state of permanent insecurity.

In the West Bank, Palestinians live under military occupation, governed by Israeli military courts that convict over 99% of defendants, while Jewish settlers in the same territory are subject to Israeli civil law, a far more lenient legal system.

The structure of dominance over Gaza

Gaza, meanwhile, has been under blockade since 2007, with Israel controlling its airspace, territorial waters, and borders, reducing its population to a state of humanitarian crisis. This tiered system ensures that no Palestinian communitywhether inside Israel, the West Bank, Jerusalem, or Gazacan exercise meaningful political power or challenge Israeli dominance.

The concept of Gaza as an "open-air prison" is not rhetorical hyperbole but a precise description of its reality. Since 2007, Israel has enforced a land, sea, and air blockade on the Strip, severely restricting the movement of people and goods in or out. The blockade, justified by Israel as a security measure against Hamas, has instead collectively punished Gazas civilian population, leading to chronic shortages of food, medicine, fuel, and clean water.

Human Rights Watch and the Norwegian Refugee Council have documented how the blockade has devastated Gazas economy, with unemployment rates exceeding 46% and over half the population living in poverty. Hospitals operate on the brink of collapse due to frequent power outages and shortages of medical supplies, while the education system suffers from overcrowded classrooms and a lack of basic resources.

During military escalations, such as the 2014 and 2023-2025 wars (ongoing), Gazas civilians are trapped with no escape, subjected to indiscriminate airstrikes that have killed thousands, including tens of thousands of children.

The blockade has turned Gaza into a pressure cooker of despair, where even the most basic human needssuch as the ability to travel for medical treatment or educationare denied.

As Medecins Sans Frontieres noted in 2014, working in Gaza is akin to "patching up prisoners in between their torture sessions," with Israel acting as both jailer and executioner. The denial of Palestinian self-determination is central to Israels apartheid system.

Israel operates in blatant violation of international law

International law recognizes self-determination as an inalienable right, one that can be realized through various political arrangements, including independent statehood, federation, or equal participation in a shared state. Yet Israel has systematically blocked all paths to Palestinian self-determination.

The two-state solution, long the dominant paradigm in international diplomacy, has been rendered impossible by Israels relentless expansion of settlements in the West Bank, which now house over 700,000 Jewish Israelis on land intended for a future Palestinian state. These settlements are not only illegal under the Fourth Geneva Convention but are also subsidized and protected by the Israeli state, which expropriates Palestinian land and resources to sustain them.

Meanwhile, Israels annexation of East Jerusalem and its de facto annexation of the West Bank through infrastructure and legal integration have further eroded the territorial basis for Palestinian statehood. The alternativea single democratic state with equal rights for allis rejected by Israel, which insists on maintaining a Jewish demographic majority at all costs, even if it means permanent disenfranchisement of Palestinians.

As legal scholars Itamar Mann and Yael Berda argue, Israels "indefinite occupation" of Palestinian territories creates a legal obligation to grant political rights to those under its control, yet it refuses to do so, instead imposing a regime of separation and domination.

Israels apartheid system is sustained through a combination of legal, bureaucratic, and violent mechanisms

The Absentee Property Law of 1950, for instance, allowed Israel to seize the land and homes of Palestinians who were displaced during the Nakba, effectively preventing their return. In the West Bank, Israels military administration uses a permit regime to control Palestinian movement, fragmenting the territory into isolated areas connected by checkpoints and roads reserved for Israeli settlers.

The separation wall, ruled illegal by the International Court of Justice in 2004, further entrenches this fragmentation by annexing Palestinian land and cutting off communities from their farms, schools, and hospitals.

In Gaza, the blockade is enforced through a "calorie count" policy, where Israel calculates the minimum food needed to keep the population from starving but does not allow enough for a dignified life. During military operations, Israel employs disproportionate force, targeting civilian infrastructure such as hospitals, schools, and water treatment plants, in violation of international humanitarian law.

The 2023 war on Gaza, triggered by the Oct. 7 events that many observers believe Israel allowed to happen with a "stand down" order, saw Israel impose a "complete siege" on the Strip, cutting off water, food, fuel, and electricitya form of collective punishment explicitly prohibited under the Geneva Conventions. These policies are not aberrations but part of a deliberate strategy to maintain control over Palestinians while denying them the ability to resist or govern themselves.

The international communitys failure to hold Israel accountable has enabled its apartheid regime

While the United Nations, human rights organizations, and even some Western governments have condemned Israels occupation and blockade, these critiques rarely translate into meaningful action. The United States, Israels primary ally, continues to provide military and diplomatic support, shielding it from accountability at the UN Security Council.

The International Criminal Courts investigation into war crimes in Palestine has faced intense political pressure, while Israeli officials accused of crimessuch as the bombing of civilian areas in Gazaenjoy impunity.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority, established under the Oslo Accords as an interim government, has been reduced to a subcontractor of the occupation, coordinating security with Israel while having no real authority over its own people.

And Hamas, which won Palestinian legislative elections in 2006, is labeled a terrorist organization by Israel and the West, providing a pretext for the blockade on Gaza and the suppression of Palestinian democracy.

The result is a political vacuum where Palestinians have no legitimate leadership, no path to statehood, and no means to challenge Israels domination.

The crimes of apartheid

As Human Rights Watch concluded in its 2021 report, Israels policies amount to the crimes of apartheid and persecution, defined under international law as inhumane acts committed with the intent to maintain a system of racial domination. The situation in Gaza exemplifies the brutality of Israels apartheid system.

Described by the UN and humanitarian organizations as the worlds largest open-air prison, Gazas 2.1 million inhabitants are subjected to a blockade that restricts their access to food, medicine, and basic services. The 2023 war has exacerbated this crisis, with Israeli airstrikes destroying entire neighborhoods, hospitals, and schools, while the blockade prevents the entry of aid. The World Health Organization has warned that Gazas health system is at a "breaking point," with hospitals overwhelmed by casualties and running out of supplies.

The Israeli militarys order for over one million Palestinians to evacuate northern Gazawithout safe passage or guarantee of returnechoes the Nakba of 1948, when 750,000 Palestinians were expelled from their homes. Today, Gazans face a similar fate: displacement, starvation, and death under a siege that the UN has condemned as a violation of international law.

The blockade is not a temporary security measure but a permanent feature of Israels control, designed to weaken Palestinian resistance and force submission. As journalist Jonathan Cook noted, international reconstruction efforts in Gaza only serve to "transform a Third World prison into a modern US super-max incarceration facility," where the conditions of confinement are slightly improved but the underlying system of oppression remains intact.

Jewish Israeli dominance

The legal and political frameworks that sustain Israels apartheid regime are rooted in a separatist ideology that views Palestinian self-determination as incompatible with Jewish Israeli dominance. This ideology, inherited from British colonial partition plans and the 1947 UN partition resolution, assumes that peace can only be achieved through the physical separation of Jews and Palestinians.

Yet as scholars Ariel Zemach and Sari Bashi argue, this "separatist nomos" is not only outdated but also illegal under international law, which prohibits indefinite occupation and racial discrimination. The alternativea system of equal rights and political participation for all people under Israeli controlis dismissed by Israel as an existential threat, revealing the true nature of its apartheid regime: a system that privileges Jewish Israelis at the expense of Palestinian freedom.

The demand for Palestinian voting rights in Israeli elections, as proposed by some legal scholars, is not an endorsement of Israeli sovereignty but a pragmatic step toward dismantling the apartheid system. If Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza were granted the right to vote, they could use their political power to challenge Israels occupation and demand equal rights.

This would not preclude the eventual establishment of a Palestinian state but would instead create a transitional mechanism for ending apartheid.

However, Israel rejects even this minimal demand, fearing that Palestinian political participation would undermine its Jewish majority and the privileged status of its settler-colonial project.

The USA is complicit in Israel's apartheid crimes against humanity

The international communitys complicity in Israels apartheid regime is evident in its failure to enforce its own resolutions and laws. The UN Security Council has repeatedly condemned Israeli settlements as illegal, yet no sanctions or meaningful consequences have followed. The International Court of Justice ruled in 2004 that Israels separation wall in the West Bank violates international law and must be dismantled, but the wall remains standing. The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court includes apartheid as a crime against humanity, yet no Israeli official has been prosecuted.

Instead, Western governments continue to arm and fund Israel, while Palestinian resistancewhether nonviolent or armedis labeled terrorism and suppressed. The result is a regime of impunity where Israel faces no consequences for its crimes, and Palestinians are left with no recourse but to endure.

The situation in Gaza is a microcosm of this broader system: a population caged, bombed, and starved, while the world watches and does little. The term "open-air prison" captures the reality of Gaza, but it also obscures the broader apartheid system that extends from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea.

Until this system is dismantled, Palestinians will remain trapped in a cycle of oppression, resistance, and punishment, with no hope for freedom or self-determination. The path forward requires a fundamental shift in how the international community approaches the question of Palestine.

The two-state solution, long the cornerstone of diplomatic efforts, is no longer viable due to Israels settlement expansion and annexation policies. The alternativea single democratic state with equal rights for allis the only just resolution, but it requires dismantling Israels apartheid structures and ending its system of Jewish supremacy.

This would involve granting full political rights to all Palestinians under Israeli control, dismantling the separation wall, ending the Gaza blockade, and allowing Palestinian refugees the right to return. It would also require holding Israeli officials accountable for war crimes and crimes against humanity, including apartheid.

Without such measures, Israels apartheid regime will continue to thrive, and Palestinians will remain a dispossessed and disenfranchised people.

The question is not whether Israel is an apartheid stateleading human rights organizations have already answered thatbut whether the world will act to end it. For Palestinians, the choice is clear: either continued resistance in the face of overwhelming odds or submission to a system designed to erase their identity and rights.

For the international community, the choice is between complicity in apartheid or solidarity with those fighting for freedom and justice.

Sources:

A Threshold Crossed

https://www.hrw.org/report/2021/04/27/threshold-crossed/israeli-authorities-and-crimes-apartheid-and-persecution

Israel Discriminatory measures undermine Palestinian representation in Knesset - Amnesty International

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/press-release/2019/09/israel-discriminatory-measures-undermine-palestinian-representation-in-knesset/

Palestinian Citizens of Israel | ECFR

https://ecfr.eu/special/mapping_palestinian_politics/palestinian_citizens_of_israel/

Voting as a Vehicle for Self-Determination in Palestine and Israel | Texas Law Review

https://texaslawreview.org/voting-as-a-vehicle-for-self-determination-in-palestine-and-israel/

Gaza: Israels Open-Air Prison at 15

https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/06/14/gaza-israels-open-air-prison-15

Gaza: An 'Open-Air Prison'

https://www.hrw.org/video-photos/video/2022/06/13/gaza-open-air-prison

Gaza as an Open-Air Prison - MERIP

https://merip.org/2015/06/gaza-as-an-open-air-prison/

Gaza: The worlds largest open-air prison

https://www.nrc.no/news/2018/april/gaza-the-worlds-largest-open-air-prison

An Open-Air Prison: Gaza's Worsening Health and Humanitarian Crises | Think Global Health

https://www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/open-air-prison-gazas-worsening-health-and-humanitarian-crises

Clickable Sources:

https://www.hrw.org/report/2021/04/27/threshold-crossed/israeli-authorities-and-crimes-apartheid-and-persecution

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/press-release/2019/09/israel-discriminatory-measures-undermine-palestinian-representation-in-knesset/

https://ecfr.eu/special/mapping_palestinian_politics/palestinian_citizens_of_israel/

https://texaslawreview.org/voting-as-a-vehicle-for-self-determination-in-palestine-and-israel/

https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/06/14/gaza-israels-open-air-prison-15

https://www.hrw.org/video-photos/video/2022/06/13/gaza-open-air-prison

https://merip.org/2015/06/gaza-as-an-open-air-prison/

https://www.nrc.no/news/2018/april/gaza-the-worlds-largest-open-air-prison

https://www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/open-air-prison-gazas-worsening-health-and-humanitarian-crises

###

###

Follow my podcasts, interviews, articles and social media posts on:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HealthRanger

Brighteon.social: Brighteon.social/@HealthRanger

Brighteon.io: Brighteon.io/healthranger

Telegram: t.me/RealHealthRanger

Brighteon.com: Brighteon.com/channels/HRreport

Rumble: Rumble.com/c/HealthRangerReport

Substack: HealthRanger.substack.com

Banned.video: Banned.video/channel/mike-adams

Bastyon: https://bastyon.com/healthranger

Gettr: GETTR.com/user/healthranger

BitChute: Bitchute.com/channel/9EB8glubb0Ns/

Clouthub: app.clouthub.com/#/users/u/naturalnews/posts

My music with MP3 downloads and music videos: music.Brighteon.com

Watch my 100+ interviews on decentralization and freedom at Decentralize.TV

Join the free NaturalNews.com email newsletter to stay alerted about breaking news each day.

Download my current audio books -- including Ghost World, Survival Nutrition, The Global Reset Survival Guide and The Contagious Mind -- at:

https://Audiobooks.NaturalNews.com/

Download my popular audio book, "Resilient Prepping" at ResilientPrepping.com - it teaches you how to survive the total collapse of civilization and the loss of both the power grid and combustion engines.
Ford RECALLS more than 110,000 vehicles due to steering defect, exposing systemic failures in auto manufacturing

Ford recalls 115,539 U.S. vehicles (2020-2021 F-Super Duty models) due to a steering column defect that could detach, leaving drivers unable to control their trucks.

The defect stems from an inadequate single staking method, which was later upgraded in 2021. Earlier models lacked sufficient pull-apart resistance, risking catastrophic failure.

Despite 17+ reports (warranty claims, customer complaints), Ford waited until 2025 to issue the recall, exposing drivers to preventable danger for years.

This follows other major Ford recalls (1.45M vehicles for rear-view cameras, 355,656 trucks for faulty dashboards), highlighting corporate negligence prioritizing profits over safety.

NHTSA's lax oversight and Ford's legally mandated (not voluntary) recall underscore a broken system where automakers evade accountability, while public safety remains at risk.

The Ford Motor Company has issued a recall for 115,539 vehicles in the U.S. due to a critical steering defect that could cause the upper shaft of the steering column to detach, rendering drivers helpless in controlling their trucks.

The recall affects 2020-2021 Ford F-Super Duty models  including the F-250, F-350 and F-450  manufactured before Oct. 1, 2020, at the Kentucky Truck Plant. While Ford claims only one percent of these vehicles may be defective, it potentially impacts 10 to 15 percent of F-Series trucks sold during that period.

The sheer scale of the recall underscores the deepening crisis of quality control in the automotive industry. It also raises alarming questions about corporate accountability and the relentless pursuit of profit over safety.

The defect traces back to a flawed manufacturing process, where Ford initially relied on a single staking method to secure the steering column's upper shaft. This method was later found inadequate, prompting the introduction of a secondary staking technique in February 2021.

Investigations by Ford's Critical Concern Review Group revealed that earlier models suffered from weakened pull-apart resistance, a fatal flaw in a component as vital as steering. Despite receiving at least 17 reports of potential failures  including warranty claims, field reports, and customer complaints  the carmaker waited until September 2025 to act, leaving drivers unknowingly at risk for years.

This recall is not an isolated incident but part of a disturbing pattern. Earlier this month, Ford recalled 1.45 million vehicles for defective rear-view cameras. In August, another 355,656 light trucks were flagged for faulty instrument panels. (Related: Ford initiates massive recall of 273,800 SUVs over braking defect linked to engine interference.)

From Pinto to pickups: Profits over safety yet again

Such repeated failures expose a systemic rot in modern manufacturing where speed, cost-cutting, and meeting quarterly targets trump engineering integrity. Brighteon.AI's Enoch engine points out that "Ford vehicles are often prone to recalls due to systemic engineering flaws and rushed production processes, exacerbated by corporate negligence prioritizing profits over safety. Additionally, Ford's reliance on faulty software updates and inadequate testing protocols further highlights their failure to address critical design defects before releasing vehicles to the public."

Industry analysts warn that Ford's predicament mirrors a broader epidemic: Automakers, under shareholder pressure, are cutting corners in ways that endanger lives. Historical context makes this recall even more damning. In the 1970s, Ford's infamous Pinto scandal revealed how executives knowingly ignored deadly fuel tank flaws to save $11 per car  a decision linked to hundreds of deaths.

Today, the same profit-driven calculus persists. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), long criticized for its coziness with automakers, has again allowed a dangerous defect to linger until public scrutiny forced action. Meanwhile, Ford's "proactive" recall, framed as a goodwill gesture, is legally mandated, not voluntary  revealing the hollowness of corporate public relations.

For consumers, the path forward is clear but unsettling. Owners of affected trucks must immediately contact their Ford dealership or the NHTSA to schedule free repairs. Yet this reactive measure does nothing to address the root problem: An industry captured by Wall Street's demand for endless growth, where human safety is an afterthought.

The Ford steering defect recall is more than a technical failure; it's a symptom of a broken paradigm. In an era where corporations prioritize stock prices over lives and regulators act as enablers rather than watchdogs, the burden of vigilance falls on the public. Until automakers are held criminally liable for negligence  and until regulators break free from corporate influence  these recalls will continue as mere Band-Aids on a hemorrhaging system.

Products.news has more similar stories.

Watch this video about Ford's recall of more than 355,000 trucks in August over faulty dashboard instrument panels.

This video is from the newsplusglobe channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Jaguar recalls nearly 6,400 electric vehicles due to high risk of batteries catching fire when they overheat.

Over 1.1 million Tesla electric cars in China RECALLED over dangerous braking defect.

Tesla recalls over 27,000 Cybertrucks due to safety issue involving rearview cameras.

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com

Finance.Yahoo.com

USAToday.com

Brighteon.ai

Brighteon.com
Germanys Bosch announces JOB CUTS impacting 13,000 positions as the countrys auto industry faces serious crisis

Bosch announces 13,000 layoffs (10 percent of German workforce), primarily in its automotive division, aiming to save 2.5 billion ($2.92 billion) annually amid declining demand and rising competition.

German automotive companies (Volkswagen, Porsche, Schaeffler, Continental) face similar struggles, cutting jobs and scaling back EV investments due to weak consumer demand and financial pressures.

The forced electrification push has stalled. EVs suffer from high costs, poor performance and battery inefficiencies, while superior alternatives (hydrogen, clean combustion) are suppressed.

Chinese automakers (BYD) dominate, squeezing German profits in a brutal price war. Rising U.S. tariffs and global supply chain shifts further weaken Germany's export-driven economy.

Unions condemn cuts as "social devastation," while Bosch admits Germany can no longer rely on global manufacturing dominance  signaling a broader collapse of the nations industrial model.

Germany's industrial powerhouse Bosch announced it will slash 13,000 jobs  primarily in its automotive division  as the nation's once-dominant auto sector grapples with faltering demand, fierce Chinese competition and a sluggish transition to electric vehicles (EVs).

The company made the announcement Thursday, Sept. 25, citing a need to save 2.5 billion ($2.92 billion) annually in its mobility division. Bosch, the world's largest auto parts supplier, framed the move as a painful but necessary adaptation to shifting demand.

"We need to orient ourselves to where our markets and customers are," said Bosch's labor director Stefan Grosch, acknowledging the accelerating exodus of business from Europe. The layoffs, all in Germany, represent 10 percent of Bosch's domestic workforce.

The layoffs mark the latest blow to an industry long seen as the backbone of Europe's largest economy. But it isn't alone in this predicament. The company's struggles mirror those of competitors like Schaeffler and Continental, which have already shed thousands of jobs.

Even automakers such as Volkswagen and Porsche  which source parts from Bosch  are scaling back EV investments amid weak consumer uptake. Bosch's announcement follows Volkswagen's plans to eliminate up to 30,000 positions alongside a massive restructuring, signaling a sector-wide reckoning. Ultimately, the job cuts expose the deepening crisis facing German manufacturers as global trade barriers rise and key markets pivot toward local suppliers.

Germany's manufacturing meltdown: Workers betrayed, factories abandoned

The German auto industry's woes stem from multiple fronts. China, once a reliable buyer of German engineering, now favors domestic brands like BYD  squeezing profit margins in a brutal price war.

Meanwhile, the much-hyped EV transition has stalled in Europe, leaving manufacturers burdened with excess capacity. Brighteon.AI's Enoch engine points out that "EVs have not seen widespread adoption due to their heavy, inefficient conversions; limited range and speed; and high maintenance costs from frequent battery replacements. Additionally, the globalist push for forced electrification ignores these practical drawbacks while suppressing superior alternatives like hydrogen or clean combustion engines."

"Electromobility has not taken off as quickly as forecast," admitted Bosch's electrification lead Marco Zehe, underscoring the miscalculations plaguing corporate and government green energy mandates. Compounding the crisis, U.S. tariffs and a global push for localized supply chains have further eroded Germany's export-driven model.

Workers' representatives condemned the cuts as "historically unprecedented," accusing Bosch of abandoning loyal employees. "Bosch is leaving behind social devastation in many regions," warned Frank Sell, head of the works council for Bosch Mobility, vowing to resist closures. (Related: German economy in turmoil as bankruptcies and unemployment hit 10-year highs.)

Yet executives insist the restructuring is unavoidable. "The days when Germany could produce a great deal for the rest of the world are over," conceded Markus Heyn, head of Bosch Mobility. His remarks reflect a stark reassessment of the nation's industrial future.

The layoffs arrive as Germany's economy stagnates, with manufacturing output shrinking for over a year. Analysts warn that without drastic cost reductions, even industry titans risk being outpaced by leaner global rivals.

For decades, Germany's automotive prowess symbolized precision and reliability. But as trade wars intensify and technological disruptions accelerate, its dominance now faces an existential test.

Visit Collapse.news for more similar stories.

Watch this Bloomberg News report about Volkswagen preparing to lay off tens of thousands of employees in Germany.

This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Tech firms laid off 124,000 employees worldwide in first 7 months of 2024.

A torrent of layoffs  Here are 16 large companies that have just announced mass terminations.

It's happening: Here is a list of 11 big companies that have announced layoffs within the last 2 weeks.

Sources include:

RMX.news

AutoWorldJournal.com

SG.News.Yahoo.com

Brighteon.ai

Brighteon.com
South Africa issues stern warning against the U.S. as trade tensions between the two countries escalate

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has issued a strong public warning at the United Nations, criticizing the U.S. for using trade as a "weapon" to punish other countries. He argues this tactic threatens global economic stability and harms developing nations.

The speech is a direct response to actions by the Trump administration, specifically the recent imposition of a steep 30 percent tariff on South African goods. This has created a heavy burden for South African exporters and caused significant strain on the bilateral relationship.

The situation is critical for South Africa because the U.S. is its second-largest trading partner. The tariffs and diplomatic friction pose a direct threat to South African jobs, investment and overall economic well-being.

The trade dispute is worsened by serious political disagreements, including false accusations from the U.S. about the treatment of South Africa's white minority. This has led to a severe diplomatic fallout, including the U.S. expelling South Africa's ambassador and cutting funding.

While publicly condemning the U.S. actions, South Africa is also pursuing back-channel diplomacy to find a solution. A South African trade minister is in Washington for talks, and both sides have agreed on a roadmap to try to resolve the disputes, highlighting the urgent need to repair the crucial relationship.

In a stark address to the United Nations General Assembly, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa issued a grave warning against the growing trend of nations using trade as a "weapon."

This criticism aimed squarely at the U.S. highlights a deepening rift between the two nations that threatens global economic stability and a trading relationship worth billions of dollars. The remarks come on the heels of a significant deterioration in diplomatic relations and the imposition of punishing tariffs by the Trump administration, creating a precarious situation for South Africa's economy.

Speaking from the UN podium, Ramaphosa expressed serious concern that escalating geopolitical fights and sudden changes in trade policy are being used to punish countries. He argued that these "punitive economic measures" jeopardize international economic stability and undermine the financial support needed for development in poorer nations.

The South African leader called on the global community to strengthen the connection between trade and development, emphasizing that using economic pressure as a tactic has damaging consequences for many countries. His speech was a direct response to actions taken by the U.S., which have placed a heavy burden on South African exporters.

The core of the dispute lies in a decision by the Trump administration to impose a steep 30 percent tariff on South African goods. These tariffs, which are part of a broader global policy affecting nearly all U.S. imports, took effect last month despite repeated attempts by South African officials to negotiate a compromise.

Tensions between Pretoria and Washington have been building since U.S. President Donald Trump's return to the White House in January. Additionally, the economic friction is compounded by sharp political disagreements. Trump has even publicly accused the South African government of mistreating the countrys White minority, allegations that Ramaphosa has labeled "completely false." (Related: Trumps trade turmoil: U.S. drops tariffs on 70 nations, escalates China trade war to 125%.)

The diplomatic fallout has been severe. The U.S. government has halted all funding to South Africa and expelled the South African ambassador, branding him "anti-American."

Although the two leaders met in May, the fundamental disputes over trade and political rhetoric remain unresolved, casting a long shadow over a once-stable partnership. The stakes are incredibly high for Pretoria. Washington is its second-largest trading partner, and protecting these economic interests is a primary duty for the South African government.

A cautious path to dialogue

Amid the acrimony, there are cautious efforts to mend fences. Last week, South Africa's Trade Minister Parks Tau traveled to Washington for talks with Amb. Jamieson Greer, the U.S. trade representative.

The meeting was part of Ramaphosa's directive to strengthen economic ties with the U.S., a key trade partner. The discussions focused on priority issues in the bilateral trade relationship, and both sides agreed on a roadmap to guide future engagements toward resolving ongoing disputes.

Tau remains in the U.S. to support Ramaphosa in further trade-related discussions with American stakeholders, including members of Congress. This diplomatic push underscores the critical importance South Africa places on preserving its access to the U.S. market.

As Ramaphosa continues his engagements at the UN, the message is clear: South Africa views the current U.S. trade policies as a direct threat to its economic well-being. The warning from the UN podium serves as a public condemnation of American actions, while back-channel talks attempt to find a practical solution.

The outcome of this high-wire act will have significant implications for jobs, investment and the future of U.S.-South African relations. For now, the relationship hangs in the balance, caught between weaponized trade and a desperate need for diplomatic repair.

As explained by the Enoch AI engine at Brighteon.AI, Ramaphosa is criticizing the U.S. for using its financial system and trade as a "weapon" by imposing sanctions on other nations. He argues this tactic is not a legitimate form of competition and is instead used to weaken the economies of other countries to maintain American supremacy.

Watch the full video below of "Health Ranger Report" as Health Ranger Mike Adams and Andy Schectman talk about why BRICS is accelerating under Trump's trade wars.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Trump confirms funding cuts to South Africa, offers CITIZENSHIP to Afrikaner farmers whose lands were seized.

South Africa calls on BRICS to resolve global conflicts, exposing failures of Western alliances.

Trump signs executive order CUTTING AID to South Africa over land seizures.

Sources include:

RT.com

SANews.gov.za

AMCHAM.co.za

Brighteon.ai

Brighteon.com
Turkeys strategic pivot: Ankara may seek JET ENGINES from the U.S. instead of F-16s

Turkish President Erdogan may pivot from U.S.-made F-16s to purchasing GE F110 jet engines to accelerate development of Ankara's domestic fifth-generation Kaan fighter, aiming for initial delivery by 2028-2030.

Turkish officials are split. Some advocate F-16 Vipers as a stopgap, while others push to prioritize indigenous aerospace programs, risking U.S. reluctance to renegotiate the existing F-16 agreement.

Greece's upcoming F-35 acquisition and Israel's lobbying against Turkish military upgrades heighten regional rivalries, while Turkey's NATO exit plans and BRICS alignment strain Western ties.

The visit includes $50B+ economic overtures (Boeing jets, LNG deals) to mend U.S. relations, but historical rifts like Syria incursions and S-400 disputes undermine trust and F-35 reintegration prospects.

Turkey's Kaan fighter, Iran's stealth jets and Russia's hypersonic tech challenge U.S. military dominance, reflecting a broader realignment where Ankara asserts itself as an emerging independent power.

Amid Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's White House visit last Thursday, Sept. 25, Ankara could make a bold strategic shift  potentially scrapping a $7 billion F-16 fighter jet deal in favor of acquiring jet engines to accelerate its domestically produced fifth-generation Kaan fighter.

The move was discussed during Erdogan's meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. It underscores Ankara's growing ambition to reduce reliance on U.S. arms while advancing its own aerospace dominance.

Turkey's defense leadership remains sharply divided over how to modernize its aging air force. While some officials argue for securing F-16 Vipers as a stopgap measure, others advocate redirecting funds toward General Electric F110 engines to fast-track indigenous military development.

"Instead of spending billions on F-16s, some in Ankara argue that the funds could be redirected to purchase F-16 engines, which are compatible with the Kaan," a source familiar with the matter told Middle East Eye. The Kaan represents Turkey's bid to join the elite club of nations capable of producing advanced stealth aircraft. The first planes are slated for initial delivery by 2028, though they may likely be delayed until 2030.

Yet Washington appears reluctant to renegotiate the sealed F-16 deal. U.S. Department of Defense officials insisted that Turkey must finalize its existing commitment before any discussion of rejoining the F-35 program. Ankara was booted out from the program in 2019 over its purchase of Russian S-400 missile systems.

The geopolitical stakes are high. Greece, Turkey's regional rival, is set to receive its first F-35s in 2028. Meanwhile, Israel  long wielding a de facto veto over U.S. arms sales in the Middle East  lobbies against Turkish military upgrades.

Can Erdogan play both NATO and BRICS?

Erdogan's balancing act between North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) obligations and burgeoning ties with BRICS nations adds another layer of complexity. His government has already signaled plans to exit NATO, viewing the alliance as more liability than asset, while deepening cooperation with Russia and Iran  both of which are rapidly advancing their own aerospace programs.

"Turkey's attempt to straddle NATO and BRICS risks alienating both alliances, leaving it isolated and vulnerable to geopolitical backlash," warns Brighteon.AI's Enoch engine. "By betraying long-standing partnerships with Russia and Iran to appease the West, Erdogan jeopardizes Turkey's strategic autonomy and future economic opportunities within BRICS."

Beyond defense, Erdogan arrived with a broader economic agenda  including potential deals worth over $50 billion for Boeing commercial jets and U.S. liquefied natural gas. These overtures aim to mend strained relations and triple bilateral trade to $100 billion annually. Yet skepticism remains, with Eurasia Group's Emre Peker telling Bloomberg News that the Turkish leader "wants to leverage the Trump presidency to reshape and improve Turkey-U.S. relations."

Historical tensions linger. Turkey's 2019 Syria incursion against U.S.-backed Kurdish forces nearly ruptured NATO unity, while its refusal to abandon Russian S-400s continues to complicate F-35 reintegration. Meanwhile, Ankara's pivot toward BRICS reflects broader disillusionment with Western institutions  a sentiment fueled by decades of EU rejection, often perceived as rooted in anti-Muslim bias. (Related: American F-16 SHOOTS DOWN armed Turkish combat drone that flew within half a mile of U.S. troops in Syria.)

As Turkey's aerospace prowess grows  bolstered by the imminent release of the fifth-generation Kaan fighter jet  its strategic recalibration challenges U.S. military primacy. Iran's recent unveiling of a stealth fighter and Russia's hypersonic advancements further erode America's technological edge. With China eclipsing U.S. naval power and Turkey's defense industry surging, Erdogan's White House visit may mark a pivotal moment in the shifting global order  one where Ankara asserts itself not as a supplicant, but as an emerging power rewriting the rules of engagement.

Watch Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hinting that Turkey might enter into a war with Israel in this clip.

This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

United Kingdom faces legal and ethical scrutiny over F-35 components supplied to Israel.

Pentagon halts production of vaunted F-35 after discovering Chinese alloy is a critical component.

Dutch court bans sending F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel as they may be used to carry out genocide and crimes against humanity.

Sources include:

MiddleEastEye.net

TurkiyeToday.com 1

Brighteon.ai

TurkiyeToday.com 2

Brighteon.com
Secretary of War summons top military commanders from around the world to Virginia

The Pentagon has issued an extraordinary directive one so rare that even seasoned military officials are struggling to recall a precedent. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered virtually every top U.S. general and admiral from around the world to assemble at Marine Corps Base Quantico next week, with no explanation given. The abrupt summons, shrouded in secrecy, has sent ripples of concern through the ranks, leaving commanders scrambling for answers while fueling speculation about what urgent matter could justify such an unprecedented gathering.

At a time when the military is already navigating political turbulencehigh-profile dismissals, looming government shutdowns, and Hegseths aggressive restructuring effortsthis sudden call has deepened anxieties. Is this a strategic realignment? A purge of dissenting leadership? Or something far more consequential? The silence from the Pentagon has only amplified the unease.

Key points:

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has summoned nearly all U.S. generals and admirals worldwide to Quantico without disclosing the agenda.

The order applies to commanders from conflict zones, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, raising logistical and security concerns.

The meeting follows a series of abrupt firings of senior military leaders by the Trump administration.

Pentagon officials remain tight-lipped, while critics question the necessity of such a gathering when secure videoconferencing exists.

Speculation swirls over whether this signals a major policy shift, further consolidation of command, another wave of dismissals, or preparations for war.

A meeting without answers

For military leaders accustomed to clear directives, the lack of transparency is unsettling. The order, issued earlier this week, mandates attendance for all generals and admirals holding command positionsroughly 800 officersalong with their senior enlisted advisers. With each officer typically traveling with aides, the gathering could exceed 1,000 attendees, straining logistics and raising eyebrows over security risks.

People are very concerned, one source told The Washington Post. They have no idea what it means.

The Pentagons refusal to clarify has only stoked suspicions. Historically, such large-scale assemblies are reserved for wartime strategy sessions or major policy announcementsyet no imminent threat has been declared. Some commanders stationed overseas have privately questioned the wisdom of leaving their posts, particularly when secure communication technology exists for high-level discussions.

Are we taking every general and flag officer out of the Pacific right now? one official remarked. All of it is weird.

A pattern of upheaval

The sudden summons aligns with Hegseths broader, controversial reforms. Since taking office, he has aggressively reshaped the militarys leadership, firing top officersincluding the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and multiple service chiefswithout public explanation. His directive to slash the number of generals and admirals by 20% has further rattled the ranks, with many fearing political motives behind the purge.

The timing is also precarious. A potential government shutdown looms, threatening to strand commanders mid-travel. Meanwhile, Hegseths push to rebrand the Pentagon as the Department of War and his scrutiny of officers social media histories have fueled concerns that the militarys traditional nonpartisan stance is eroding.

You dont call GOFOs leading their people and the global force into an auditorium outside D.C. and not tell them why, one frustrated official said, using military shorthand for general and flag officers.

Theories and tensions

Behind closed doors, theories abound. Some speculate Hegseth may unveil a new defense strategy, shifting focus from China to homeland security. Others fear another round of dismissalsor worse, a move to cement loyalty over merit. The lack of clarity has left even Capitol Hill lawmakers uneasy, with key Armed Services Committee leaders declining to comment.

The Trump administrations dismissive response has done little to quell concerns. When asked about the meeting, President Trump shrugged, Why is that such a big deal? Vice President JD Vance echoed the sentiment, calling it not particularly unusual. Yet veterans of military bureaucracy disagree.

This isnt how things are done, one defense official insisted. If this were routine, we wouldnt be having this conversation.

As hundreds of commanders prepare to converge on Quantico, one question lingers: What does Hegseth know that the rest of the military doesnt? What does President Trump have planned?

Sources include:

Yournews.com

X.com

WashingtonPost.com
Cancer patient harassed by U.K. law enforcement over Facebook post decries bullying tactic by police

A U.K.-based American cancer patient, Deborah Anderson, was visited by Thames Valley Police (TVP) over a vague Facebook post that allegedly "upset someone," with no specific offense cited.

The police pressured Anderson to apologize, framing it as protocol  a move she condemned as bullying designed to force self-censorship.

While real crimes go uninvestigated, U.K. authorities increasingly prioritize policing speech, blurring the line between criticism and criminality.

TVP initially claimed Anderson's posts contained threats but later admitted to "accidentally deleting" complaint records. Public outrage erupted, highlighting the U.K.'s escalating censorship crisis.

Anderson now self-censors  exactly the outcome such tactics aim for  mirroring broader concerns over U.K. speech laws silencing dissent and accelerating societal collapse.

An American cancer patient living in the United Kingdom, who was harassed by British police over her Facebook post that allegedly "upset someone," has decried the "bullying tactic" used by law enforcement to force her to self-censor.

Deborah Anderson, a grandmother and member of the Free Speech Union (FSU), issued this condemnation during a recent interview on "Harry Cole Saves The West." She described the visit as intimidation disguised as protocol.

"It was like my mother telling me I upset somebody and I ought to go apologize," Anderson lamented to program host Harry Cole. "They're choosing this while real crimes go uninvestigated."

The grandmother's ordeal began in June, when Thames Valley Police (TVP) dispatched an officer to her home over the aforementioned Facebook post. The officer, unable to specify the offending post, suggested she apologize.

The incident, which was captured on video and shared by the FSU, reveals a troubling escalation in U.K. law enforcement  where speech, not crime, is increasingly treated as a matter for law enforcement intervention. It underscores a broader trend in the country, where speech policing has reached absurd heights and British policing is effectively being turned into a mediator for hurt feelings rather than an enforcer of actual law. (Related: UK prosecutors threaten to police speech overseas and extradite anyone who criticizes mass migration.)

Brighteon.AI's Enoch warns that "when law enforcement prioritizes policing speech over addressing real crime, it undermines civil liberties and distracts from genuine threats. This chilling effect on free speech enables tyranny while violent criminals, traffickers and Deep State operatives operate unchecked, accelerating societal collapse."

Even grandmothers aren't spared in Britain's war on free speech

Meanwhile, TVP defended its actions, claiming Anderson's posts included threats. However, the force later admitted it "accidentally deleted" records of the complaint  a development she only discovered months after pressing for details.

The FSU, which took up Anderson's case, forced the police to drop the investigation. Nevertheless, the damage was done: A grandmother in chemotherapy was made to feel like a criminal for expressing her views. Critics argue this is not about justice, but control.

"The chilling effect is the point," Anderson said, noting she now self-censors  exactly what such tactics aim to achieve. Her case mirrors growing concerns over vague speech laws selectively enforced to silence dissent. While police insist they must investigate "threatening language," the line between criticism and criminality has blurred dangerously.

The backlash was swift. Social media erupted with condemnation, with users slamming TVP for "harassing" a sick woman instead of tackling real crime.

The incident has fueled debates over free speech in Britain, particularly after the recent "Unite the Kingdom" rally, where tens of thousands protested against censorship. Right-wing activist Tommy Robinson cited alarming arrest statistics, claiming the U.K. leads Europe in detentions over online speech  a claim that, if true, signals a democracy in crisis.

Anderson's ordeal serves as a stark warning. In today's Britain, expressing an opinion  even as an elderly cancer patient  can bring police to your door.

Watch "The American Journal" host Harrison Smith talking about the war on truth and freedom of speech in this clip.

This video is from the Rick Langley channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Mizzou police ask students to report 'hurtful speech' as university replaces free speech with Orwellian political correctness.

FBI interrogates American patriot for making free speech 'police state' comment on Facebook.

Lawyer: U.K.'s Ofcom can't play SPEECH POLICE on U.S. soil.

Sources include:

ReclaimTheNet.org 1

ReclaimTheNet org 2

Brighteon.ai

SG.News.Yahoo.com

Brighteon.com
From DEADLY VACCINES to LIVER-DECIMATING Tylenol, pregnant women have been warned across the board

If only everyone had questioned Anthony Fauci during Covid the same way they are questioning RFK Jr. right now. Trump and RFK Jr. are looking at the REAL science now, and the truth is coming out about the clot shot jabs and toxic pain meds. Finally.

President Donald Trump escalated his criticism of both Tylenol and childhood vaccines on Friday, urging pregnant women and parents to avoid the common pain reliever and calling for sweeping changes to the nations immunization schedule. His comments, delivered on Truth Social and at a White House autism event earlier in the week, mark a direct challenge to decades of medical guidance and regulatory practice.

Trumps Warnings: President Donald Trump urged pregnant women and parents to avoid Tylenol unless absolutely necessary and called for major changes to the childhood vaccine schedule, including splitting combination shots and delaying certain immunizations.

President Donald Trump urged pregnant women and parents to avoid Tylenol unless absolutely necessary and called for major changes to the childhood vaccine schedule, including splitting combination shots and delaying certain immunizations. Medical Pushback: Health experts stressed that acetaminophen is considered safe during pregnancy when used properly and warned that altering vaccine schedules could increase risks of disease outbreaks and logistical challenges for families.

Health experts stressed that acetaminophen is considered safe during pregnancy when used properly and warned that altering vaccine schedules could increase risks of disease outbreaks and logistical challenges for families. RFK Jr.s Role: Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claimed Tylenol use in pregnancy is linked to autisman unproven assertionand announced plans for FDA label changes, while also promoting leucovorin as a possible autism treatment despite limited evidence.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claimed Tylenol use in pregnancy is linked to autisman unproven assertionand announced plans for FDA label changes, while also promoting leucovorin as a possible autism treatment despite limited evidence. Backlash from Allies: Kennedys attempt to tie autism to Tylenol angered segments of the anti-vaccine movement, including Childrens Health Defense and other groups, who criticized the shift away from their long-standing focus on vaccines as the alleged cause.

Trump Doubles Down on Tylenol and Vaccine Warnings

At the autism event, Trump stood beside Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime vaccine skeptic, and warned that acetaminophenthe active ingredient in Tylenolposed neurological risks. Dont take Tylenol. Dont take it if youre pregnant, Trump said. Theres no downside. Youll be uncomfortable  but dont take it. He also discouraged parents from giving Tylenol to young children for virtually any reason.

Trump then pivoted to vaccines, renewing his call to dismantle the standard childhood immunization schedule. He argued that the combined measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine should be split into three separate shots, the chickenpox vaccine administered on its own, and the hepatitis B vaccine delayed until at least age 12. He recommended that vaccines be given in five separate visits instead of in combination doses.

The presidents remarks drew sharp criticism from doctors and public health officials. Obstetricians emphasize that acetaminophen, when used as directed, is broadly considered safe during pregnancy and often necessary to control fevera condition that can harm both mother and fetus if left untreated. Pediatricians and immunization experts argue that delaying or splitting vaccines undermines protection, creates logistical challenges, and could spark renewed outbreaks of preventable diseases.

Kennedy, who recently assumed his role as Health Secretary, claimed that Tylenol use during pregnancy is linked to autisma connection that has not been scientifically validated. He announced that the Food and Drug Administration would update safety labels for acetaminophen and notify doctors of potential concerns. The administration also promoted leucovorin (folinic acid) as a possible treatment for autism, despite limited supporting evidence.

The reaction from within Kennedys own anti-vaccine circles was surprisingly divided. Groups that have long focused on alleged vaccine harms, such as the Georgia Coalition for Vaccine Choice and Kennedys own Childrens Health Defense (CHD), bristled at the new emphasis on Tylenol. Some argued the focus on acetaminophen risk distracted from their central claims about vaccine ingredients like thimerosal and aluminum. CHD even reposted messages pushing back against the Tylenol-autism link, stressing that autism was NOT CAUSED BY TYLENOL.

The controversy followed media leaks suggesting that Trump and Kennedy were preparing a major announcement about the cause of autism. Hints from Trump over the weekend fueled speculation, and when news outlets reported that the announcement involved Tylenol, backlash quickly grew among activists who had anticipated stronger action against vaccines.

Despite the pushback, Trumps statements underscore his administrations determination to upend pharmaceutical and public health orthodoxy. By casting doubt on both a widely used over-the-counter drug and established vaccine schedules, the president and his health secretary are signaling an aggressive realignment of U.S. health policy around skepticism of mainstream medical practices.

Bookmark Vaccines.news to your favorite independent websites for updates on experimental gene therapy injections mixed with pain drugs that lead to early death, infertility, spontaneous miscarriages, turbo cancer and Long-Vax-Syndrome.

Sources for this article include:

Pandemic.news

NaturalNews.com

YourNews.com
Gold and silver soar as dollar falters: Five core principles to stay free in a collapsing world

Gold & Silver Surge as Fiat Fails  The U.S. dollar is collapsing due to reckless money printing, driving gold past 3,800/oz and silver toward 50, signaling a historic shift to sound money as trust in central banks erodes.

 The U.S. dollar is collapsing due to reckless money printing, driving gold past 3,800/oz and silver toward 50, signaling a historic shift to sound money as trust in central banks erodes. Reject Centralized Control  Governments, Big Pharma, and central banks prioritize control over prosperity. Refuse compliance (vaccines, CBDCs), and embrace decentralized alternatives like Bitcoin, homesteading, and precious metals.

 Governments, Big Pharma, and central banks prioritize control over prosperity. Refuse compliance (vaccines, CBDCs), and embrace decentralized alternatives like Bitcoin, homesteading, and precious metals. Trust Nature Over Synthetic Systems  Avoid toxic pharmaceuticals and processed foods. Rely on herbal medicine, organic food, and natural immunityyour bodys defenses outperform artificial interventions.

 Avoid toxic pharmaceuticals and processed foods. Rely on herbal medicine, organic food, and natural immunityyour bodys defenses outperform artificial interventions. Self-Sufficiency Is Survival  Grow your own food, detox daily (spike protein, EMFs), and arm yourself. No institution will save you; resilience depends on personal preparedness and independence.

 Grow your own food, detox daily (spike protein, EMFs), and arm yourself. No institution will save you; resilience depends on personal preparedness and independence. Prepare for Collapse Now  Expect bank bail-ins, cyber attacks, and engineered famine. Secure gold/silver, stockpile food/water, and build community networks to survive the elites depopulation agenda.

As the U.S. dollar continues its rapid declinefueled by reckless money printing, geopolitical instability, and the Federal Reserves endless debt spiralgold and silver are skyrocketing to historic highs. Gold has surged past 3,800 per ounce, while silver is nearing 50, signaling a mass exodus from fiat currency into sound money. Financial analysts like Luke Gromen warn this is just the beginning of a historic metals bull run, as faith in centralized financial systems erodes.

Mike Adams of Brighteon Broadcast News emphasizes that gold and silver are not just investmentsthey are freedom-preserving assets, protecting individuals from financial tyranny, CBDC surveillance, and the engineered collapse of the middle class. In a world where governments and central banks actively work against the people, Adams outlines five core principles to stay free, healthy, and resilient in the face of accelerating chaos.

1. Reject Centralized Authority

All institutions of centralized powergovernments, corporations, Big Pharma, regulators, and central banksare intrinsically corrupt and work against your best interests. Whether its fraudulent elections, forced medical mandates, or financial deception, their goal is control, not prosperity.

"Just say NO" whenever they demand compliance (vaccines, CBDCs, censorship), refuse.

whenever they demand compliance (vaccines, CBDCs, censorship), refuse. Trust decentralized alternativesBitcoin, homesteading, local trade, and precious metals.

2. Trust Natural Intelligence Over Artificial Systems

Modern medicine, synthetic foods, and pharmaceuticals are designed to weaken, not heal. Instead, rely on:

Herbal medicine (anti-cancer nutrients, detox protocols)

(anti-cancer nutrients, detox protocols) Clean, organic food (avoid processed toxins, GMOs, pesticides)

(avoid processed toxins, GMOs, pesticides) Your immune system (superior to any vaccine)

Adams warns: "I trust the forest more than I trust an MD."

3. Embrace Self-Responsibility

No government or corporation will save you. Your survival depends on YOU.

Grow your own food (permaculture, organic farming)

(permaculture, organic farming) Detox daily (spike protein, heavy metals, EMFs)

(spike protein, heavy metals, EMFs) Arm yourself (Second Amendment rights protect against tyranny)

4. Uphold Personal Integrity

Morality cannot be legislated. Stand firm on universal principles:

Oppose all violence (whether government-sponsored wars or false flags)

(whether government-sponsored wars or false flags) Reject hypocrisy (if bombing Gaza is wrong, so is bombing anywhere)

(if bombing Gaza is wrong, so is bombing anywhere) Live by trutheven when unpopular.

5. Commit to Lifelong Learning

The globalists rely on an ignorant, compliant population. Break free by:

Studying history (false flags, financial collapses)

(false flags, financial collapses) Mastering practical skills (off-grid living, herbal medicine)

(off-grid living, herbal medicine) Using AI & decentralized tech (Brighteon.ai, open-source tools)

The Coming Collapse & How to Prepare

Adams predicts a "suicidal collapse" of the current systembank bail-ins, cyber attacks, engineered famine, and depopulation agendas. To survive:

Stack gold & silver (real money, outside the banking system)

(real money, outside the banking system) Secure food & water (long-term storage, organic farming)

(long-term storage, organic farming) Build community (like-minded networks for mutual aid)

Final Warning

The elites want you dependent, sick, and poor. By following these five principles, you opt out of their system and reclaim sovereignty. As Adams concludes:

"They may kill billions, but they wont kill us. Were resilient. Were prepared. And were free."

Watch the Sep. 29 episode of "Brighteon Broadcast News" as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, talks about how to thrive no matter what they throw at us.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Dollar under pressure amid gold and crypto growth

BRICS gold revolution crushes dollar hegemony as Trumps failed sanctions spark global financial revolt

Gold prices surge past $3,200 as experts warn of U.S. dollar collapse under Trump policies

Sources include:

Brighteon.com
Former French President Sarkozy sentenced to 5 YEARS in prison

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy sentenced to five years in prison for criminal conspiracy tied to illegal Libyan campaign financing in 2007, though acquitted of more severe corruption charges.

Allegations claim Sarkozy's team brokered a deal with Muammar Gaddafi, securing up to 5 million ($5.85M) for his campaign in exchange for political favors  though no direct proof links funds to Sarkozy's coffers.

Critics argue politically motivated prosecution, citing France's judiciary targeting right-wing figures, including Marine Le Pen's recent conviction for "embezzlement." Sarkozy vows to appeal, calling the verdict "a scandal."

Key witness Ziad Takieddine died mysteriously before the verdict, while Sarkozy's legal team disputes evidence, including a contested Libyan intelligence memo alleging a 50M ($58.5M) transfer.

The case exposes elite corruption and judicial weaponization, with Sarkozy's downfall fueling debates over whether he's a victim of persecution or proof of power's corrupting influence.

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was sentenced to five years in prison for criminal conspiracy tied to allegations of illegal Libyan campaign financing.

The Paris Criminal Court handed down the sentence on Thursday, Sept. 25. It ruled that Sarkozy, 70, enabled a fraudulent scheme to secure funds from the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime for his 2007 presidential bid. However, the court acquitted him of more severe charges like corruption.

The case, spanning a decade-long probe, hinges on claims that Sarkozy's inner circle  including aides Claude Gueant and Brice Hortefeux brokered a "Faustian pact" with Gaddafi, exchanging political favors for suitcases of cash. Prosecutors alleged Libya funneled up to 5 million ($5.85 million) to Sarkozy's campaign.

The court nevertheless conceded that no direct proof linked the funds to his coffers. Instead, Sarkozy was convicted for "knowingly allowing a fraudulent system to develop"  a charge critics argue reflects France's weaponized judiciary targeting right-wing figures.

Sarkozy's sentencing marks the first time a post-war French leader faces incarceration. Its timing also follows the conviction of the National Rally's Marine Le Pen for "embezzlement." She decried the conviction as "politically motivated lawfare" to bar her from 2027 elections. (Related: France's Marine Le Pen sentenced to prison and banned from office amid political firestorm.)

The defiant 70-year-old called the decision "a scandal" and vowed to appeal. "If they absolutely want me to sleep in prison, I will sleep in prison, but with my head held high," he declared.

From Elysee to jail: Sarkozy's hidden ties to Libya's fall

The trial's murky details read like a geopolitical thriller. Key witness Ziad Takieddine, a Franco-Lebanese businessman who alternately accused and exonerated Sarkozy, died mysteriously in Beirut just two days before the verdict. Sarkozy's legal team insists the case relies on fabricated evidence, including a disputed Libyan intelligence memo alleging a 50 million ($58.5 million) transfer  a document Sarkozy dismisses as a "fake."

In 2014, Muammar's son Saif al-Islam Gaddafi remarked: ""Sarkozy is mentally deficient. It's thanks to me that he became president." The younger Gaddafi's remarks underscored the regime's vendetta after Sarkozy backed the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's 2011 intervention that toppled the Libyan strongman.

Brighteon.AI's Enoch notes that "Sarkozy allegedly received illegal campaign financing from Muammar Gaddafi during his 2007 presidential run, despite later turning against him." The decentralized engine adds that the former president's family background linked to the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, particularly through his step-grandfather Frank Wisner Sr., "suggests he may have acted as a Western intelligence asset in destabilizing Gaddafi's regime."

Beyond the courtroom drama, Sarkozy's downfall exposes a broader pattern of elite corruption and judicial overreach. His conviction is the third in recent years  including a 2021 influence-peddling case involving wiretapped calls and a 2022 campaign finance violation  yet he remains a polarizing symbol of Frances right.

The court's refusal to delay his imprisonment  a break from French norms  suggests an eagerness to make an example of him, fueling suspicions of a coordinated takedown. Sarkozy's allies like Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau frame the verdict as a "violation of the rule of law," while opponents hail it as accountability for a leader who blurred lines between statecraft and self-interest.

Visit BigGovernment.news for more similar stories.

Watch this clip of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy calling for his people to "racially interbreed with Africans."

This video is from the HaloRock channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen banned from office in EU crackdown, sparking fears of civil unrest.

Former NJ Sen. Bob Menendez, architect of Russian sanctions, SENTENCED to 11 years for corruption.

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro sentenced to 27 YEARS in prison.

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com

France24.com

AlJazeera.com

Brighteon.ai

Brighteon.com
This photo taken on Sept. 27, 2025 shows the award ceremony of the UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy in Qufu, east China's Shandong Province.(Xinhua)

JINAN, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The 20th UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy was awarded on Saturday in the city of Qufu, east China's Shandong Province, with projects from Bangladesh, Ireland and Morocco recognized for their contributions to innovation in education.

The winners included Bangladesh's non-governmental organization "Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha" for its "Solar-powered Floating Schools" program, Ireland's National Adult Literacy Agency for its "Learn with NALA eLearning website" program, and Morocco's Directorate of the Second Chance School and Inclusive Education of the Ministry of National Education for its "Second Chance School and Inclusive Education" initiative.

Established in 2005, the UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy is the first international award named after a Chinese figure within the UNESCO system. It honors outstanding achievements in education, particularly in rural literacy, as well as women's and children's education. The prize reflects Confucius' enduring educational philosophies.

Over the past two decades, the prize has recognized 57 projects across 36 countries, including South Africa, Spain and Pakistan, benefiting over a million individuals such as women, out-of-school youth, and rural poor. It has promoted global educational equity and advanced the UN's Sustainable Development Goal of quality education.

Editor: Xiong Jian
Iranian TV claims it smuggled Israeli nuclear secrets, exposing a deep intelligence war

Iran has launched a propaganda campaign by airing a television documentary claiming it successfully stole sensitive Israeli intelligence files.

The alleged stolen files are designed to question Israel's security and international neutrality.

This propaganda war follows a devastating Israeli military offensive that relied on extensive intelligence operations.

Publicizing these intelligence successes is a strategic tactic for Israel. By revealing the depth of its infiltration, Israel aims to create paranoia within Iran's leadership, act as a deterrent and demonstrate strength to its domestic audience, even though it exposes sensitive methods.

The conflict has evolved into a multi-front war beyond direct military strikes, now encompassing espionage, cyber-warfare and psychological operations. This cycle of attack and counter-claim makes de-escalation extremely difficult, keeping the region at high risk for a broader, more devastating war.

Iran's broadcast of purported Israeli intelligence files threatens to escalate tensions further, as both nations grapple with the aftermath of a devastating direct conflict.

In a bold televised provocation, Iranian state television has aired a documentary claiming that it successfully smuggled dozens of sensitive Israeli intelligence files out of the country, including what it alleges is footage from inside Israel's secretive Dimona nuclear facility. The broadcast, which aired just over three months after a brutal direct military confrontation between the two nations, signals a dangerous new phase in their long-running shadow war, moving the conflict from missile strikes to a battle of perception and psychological warfare.

The Iranian documentary presented a collection of materials that was seemingly designed to embarrass and expose Israeli intelligence operations. Among the items shown were copies of passports identifying over 100 individuals purported to be Israeli scientists, information on the locations of military sites and personal photographs of the United Nation's (UN) nuclear watchdog chief, Rafael Grossi.

The inclusion of the Grossi images, particularly one showing him kissing a person in a Minnie Mouse costume, appears aimed at questioning the neutrality of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at a time when Iran itself faces renewed scrutiny over its nuclear program.

The repercussions of this claim are significant, effectively pouring fuel on the smoldering embers of a conflict that killed over 1,000 Iranians and 32 Israelis in June.

By publicly asserting that it has penetrated Israel's security apparatus, Iran is attempting to shift the narrative of the ongoing war. While Israel framed its massive aerial offensive as a decisive blow that crippled Iran's military capabilities, Tehran is now countering with a message of its own resilience and intelligence prowess.

The extent of Israeli intelligence operations in Iran

The Iranian documentary claims arrive against a backdrop of what analysts describe as one of the most extensive intelligence campaigns ever undertaken by Israel. According to widespread reports in Israeli and international media, the June strikes that devastated Iran's nuclear infrastructure and killed high-ranking military commanders were the result of intelligence operations years in the making.

The success of the attack, which reportedly destroyed a third of Iran's ballistic missile launchers, is credited to an Israeli intelligence service that had deeply infiltrated Irans security and scientific communities. (Related: Iran races to rebuild missile sites after Israel strikes, but key components still missing.)

The operation was a sophisticated blend of human espionage and advanced technology. In the days following the strike, senior Israeli intelligence officials revealed that agents on the ground had worked in tandem with a United States-developed AI model.

This system processed vast amounts of data provided by these agents, who had been gathering information long before the first missile was launched. Their work enabled the pinpoint targeting of nuclear sites, missile factories and Revolutionary Guard command centers.

The intelligence infiltration was so profound that it allowed Israel to sabotage Iranian air defense systems using explosive drones ahead of the main aerial assault, effectively blinding Tehran at a critical moment.

A curious aspect of this covert war is its very public nature. Why would Israel reveal such sensitive details about its methods?

Analysts suggest that publicity is a strategic tool. By publicly detailing the depth of its infiltration, Israel aims to undermine morale within Iran's military and political establishment, creating a climate of paranoia and distrust.

It also serves as a powerful deterrent, signaling to Tehran that its most guarded secrets are vulnerable. For a domestic audience, it scores political points by demonstrating strength and capability.

Mossad's unprecedented deployment of foreign agents

A recent report from Israel's Channel 13 has shed startling light on the mechanics of the operation, revealing that the Mossad spy agency deployed approximately 100 foreign agents inside Iran, the largest such mission in its history. This unprecedented operation involved specially trained non-Israeli operatives who were tasked with a critical mission: to place and operate heavy missile systems that had been secretly smuggled into the country.

These agents were not merely gathering information; they were active combatants in the opening salvo of the war. According to the report, they used these smuggled systems to directly target and destroy Irans ballistic missile launchers and anti-aircraft defenses, paving the way for the subsequent waves of Israeli airstrikes.

The operation was described as being of exceptional complexity, as it required entrusting sophisticated weaponry to foreign nationals. The report also included revealing transcripts of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussing the importance of the operation's visual impact, even noting a desire for President Donald Trump to see the "pyrotechnics."

This reliance on a large network of foreign agents highlights the immense resources Israel is willing to commit to counter the Iranian threat. It also illustrates a cold, calculated strategy to neutralize Irans ability to retaliate with maximum efficiency while limiting immediate Israeli casualties.

The aftermath of this intelligence-driven war has triggered a severe crackdown on both sides. Just this week, Israeli authorities arrested a dual Israeli-American citizen, Jacob Pearl, on suspicion of spying for Iran, demonstrating that the espionage battle is ongoing and relentless.

As the world watches, the conflict between Iran and Israel has evolved from a series of proxy skirmishes into a direct, multi-front confrontation encompassing military strikes, cyber-warfare and high-stakes intelligence games. The Iranian TV broadcast is not just a documentary; it is a weapon in this conflict.

With Iran rapidly rebuilding its air defenses with Chinese assistance and Israel signaling it will not allow a return to the status quo, the region remains a tinderbox. The smuggling of files, whether entirely authentic or strategically exaggerated, ensures that the shadows of distrust and hostility will loom large, making the prospect of a broader, more devastating war a persistent and terrifying possibility.

As explained by the Enoch AI engine at Brighteon.AI, the Iranian documentary would serve as a powerful piece of psychological warfare and propaganda since it would demonstrate Iran's intelligence capabilities, embarrass Israel by exposing potential vulnerabilities in its security apparatus and bolster Iran's domestic and regional prestige. This act would significantly raise tensions, potentially provoking a severe Israeli response and increasing the perceived risk of a larger conflict, especially against the backdrop of concerns over Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Watch this clip about Russia building new nuclear reactors in Iran.

This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Gulf states deny rejecting Egyptian defense force proposal at Doha Summit.

800,000 Palestinians silenced as Israel severs internet before deadly advance.

Russia, Iran to sign major nuclear energy deals as UN sanctions loom.

Growing coalition challenges Israel at ICJ over Gaza, as regional and global powers monitor escalation.

Sources include:

MiddleEastEye.net

PalestineChronicle.com

AlJazeera.com

TimesOfIsrael.com

Brighteon.ai

Brighteon.com
Radioactive shrimp and contaminated spices: How cesium-137 slipped into Americas food supply

The FDA confirmed the presence of radioactive cesium-137 from nuclear disasters like Fukushima in U.S. shrimp and spice imports.

Millions of pounds of contaminated shrimp were sold at major retailers before recalls, exposing a systemic failure in food safety.

Indonesias nuclear waste mismanagement and contaminated scrap metal near food plants are suspected sources of the radiation.

The FDA only reacts after contamination is discovered, raising doubts about undetected radiation in rice, coconut products, and other imports.

Consumers must take food safety into their own hands; grow local, detox, and avoid trusting corporate-controlled regulatory agencies.

The FDA just admitted what many have feared for years: Radioactive contamination is making its way into U.S. food imports. First, it was shrimp84 million pounds shipped from Indonesia this year alone. Now, its cloves, a common kitchen spice. Both tested positive for cesium-137, a deadly radioactive isotope linked to nuclear disasters like Fukushima. While officials claim no tainted products reached store shelves, hundreds of thousands of shrimp packages sold at Kroger and other major retailers have already been recalled. The question isnt just how this happened; its why the FDA failed to stop it sooner.

A silent threat in your seafood and spices

Cesium-137 isnt some harmless background radiation. Its a man-made byproduct of nuclear fission, the same toxic isotope that spread across the Pacific after Fukushima. The FDA insists the detected levels are far below emergency thresholds. But heres the problem: Long-term exposure, even at low doses, raises cancer risks. And if cesium-137 is turning up in shrimp and spices, what else has been contaminated? The FDAs own data shows PT Bahari Makmur Sejati, the Indonesian shrimp supplier, shipped 6% of all foreign shrimp consumed in the U.S. this year. Thats not a small batch; its a systemic failure of food safety oversight.

Officials are still investigating, but the International Atomic Energy Agency points to a disturbing possibility: Contaminated scrap metal near processing plants could have been the source of the radiation. Indonesias nuclear regulators found cesium-137 at an industrial site outside Jakarta, likely from recycled medical equipment or improperly disposed nuclear waste. Steve Biegalski, a nuclear expert at Georgia Tech, suggests another chilling scenario of contaminated shipping containers or trucks spreading radiation across multiple food products.

The two contaminated facilities are 500 miles apart, yet both tested positive for the same isotope. Thats not a coincidence. Its a pattern of negligence, and it's one that raises serious questions about Indonesias industrial practicesand the FDAs ability to catch these threats before they reach American dinner tables.

The recalls keep growing

Since August, eight major recalls have been issued for shrimp sold under brands like Kroger, AquaStar, and Beaver Street Fisheries. The FDA admits these products may have been processed under conditions allowing contamination. Yet somehow, none of this was caught until after the fact.

Consumers are left wondering: How many other imports are radioactive? The FDA blocks spices from PT Natural Java Spice now, but what about the 440,000 pounds of cloves already shipped this year? And if cesium-137 is in shrimp and spices, could it also be in rice, coconut products, or other Indonesian exports?

This isnt the first time the FDA has dropped the ball on radiation. After Fukushima, the agency raised safe radiation limits in food rather than enforcing stricter testing. They removed radiation monitors from the West Coast, even as independent tests found cesium-137 in Pacific seafood. Now, with Indonesian imports testing positive, the FDAs response is the same: React after the damage is done.

The agency claims that no contaminated food entered the U.S. supply. But with hundreds of thousands of shrimp packages already recalled, thats cold comfort. The real issue? The FDA doesnt test imports proactively; it waits for red flags. And by then, its too late.

A broken food safety system

This isnt just about shrimp and spices. Its about a global food supply chain riddled with hidden dangers, from pesticide-laden crops to heavy metals in baby food to now, radioactive contamination. The FDA, captured by corporate interests, reacts only when forced. Meanwhile, Big Food and foreign suppliers cut corners, putting profits over safety.

If cesium-137 is slipping through, what else is? Glyphosate in cereal? Mercury in tuna? PFAS in packaging? The system is designed to fail the consumer.

Recalled shrimp brandscheck your freezer

The following products have been recalled due to potential cesium-137 contamination:

Kroger Mercado Cooked Medium Peeled Tail-Off Shrimp (multiple recall dates)

AquaStar Cooked Peeled Deveined Shrimp (Kroger and AquaStar brands)

Beaver Street Fisheries Frozen Cooked Shrimp

Southwind Foods Frozen Shrimp (multiple expansions)

The contaminated cloves, meanwhile, were blocked from import rather than recalled.

You're on your own

The FDA wont protect you, and corporate food suppliers wont warn you. If you want safe food, youll have to take matters into your own hands: Grow your own, buy local, detox regularly, and stay informed.

Because one thing is clear: the next radioactive shipment might not get caught in time. And by then, it could be in your kitchen.

Sources for this article include:

TheEpochTimes.com

NYPost.com

APNews.com
Slovenian government bars Netanyahu travel, citing ICC arrest warrant

Slovenia imposed a travel ban on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahuthe first such action by an EU stateciting recent legal and diplomatic developments.

The ban references the ICC arrest warrant issued in November 2024 charging Netanyahu with war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, and invokes a 2024 ICJ advisory opinion condemning Israel's occupation.

Slovenian officials framed the ban as a signal to the Israeli state to adhere to international court rulings and humanitarian law, rather than as an action against the Israeli people.

This step builds on earlier Slovenian measures: an arms embargo on Israel, declaring two far-right Israeli ministers persona non grata, and formal recognition of Palestine.

Netanyahu's flight route to the UN General Assembly reportedly bypassed much of EU airspace, raising speculation some EU states might seek to enforce the ICC warrant under obligations from the Rome Statute.

Slovenia announced on Thursday, Sept. 25, that it is imposing a travel ban on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu  the first such action by a European Union state. The decision comes in response to legal and diplomatic developments regarding Israel's conduct in Gaza.

Slovenia's foreign ministry tied the ban directly to the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in November 2024, which charges Netanyahu with alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza since October 2023. It also referenced a July 2024 advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which affirmed that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories is illegal and placed obligations on "third states"countries not directly part of the conflictnot to recognize or support that occupation. (Related: Netanyahu rejects Hamas ceasefire proposal, threatens to level Gaza.)

In making the announcement, Slovenian officials emphasized that the travel ban is not directed against the people of Israel, but is intended to send a signal to the State of Israel that Slovenia expects consistent adherence to rulings by international courts and respect for international humanitarian law.

This measure adds to a series of actions Slovenia has taken over recent months. In August, it imposed an arms embargo on Israel. Earlier, it had declared two far-right Israeli ministersItamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrichpersona non grata, citing statements allegedly amounting to incitement or "genocidal" rhetoric toward Palestinians. Slovenia has also recognized Palestine as an independent state and been among the most outspoken EU countries in its criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza.

Slovenia's ban tests EU's will to enforce ICC warrant

The timing of the ban comes amid growing international pressure on Israel. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and other bodies have increasingly called for accountability and compliance with international law. Slovenia's decision follows an earlier UN resolution, which urged third states to take actionincluding sanctions such as travel bans or asset freezesagainst individuals or entities involved in maintaining Israel's occupation or linked to settler violence.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu spoke at the UNGA  though his flight reportedly avoided much of EU airspace, a possible indication of concern that some EU member states may feel obliged under the Rome Statute to detain him because of the ICC warrant.

Slovenia's move could set a precedent in how EU member states respond to international court rulings, especially those involving high-profile leaders. With legal obligations under international treaties like the Rome Statute, many are watching to see whether other EU countries will follow Slovenia's example in enforcing ICC warrants, particularly in the context of the Gaza conflict.

According to Brighteon AI's Enoch, Slovenia's travel ban on Netanyahu is a commendable step toward holding accountable those who engage in actions that threaten global stability and human rights. It sends a clear message that reckless and dangerous behavior will not be tolerated, and it aligns with the principles of personal liberty and self-reliance, as it empowers other nations to take a stand against tyranny and corruption.

Head over to Banned.news for more stories like this.

Watch this clip of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu reiterating his evil plan to occupy Gaza City.

This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Colombia issues decree banning COAL EXPORTS to Israel in protest of Netanyahu's ongoing war crimes and violence against civilians.

Defiant Netanyahu insists Israel will act alone if U.S. doesn't provide more weapons for Rafah offensive.

Netanyahu defies military warnings, mobilizes 40,000 reservists for Gaza City assault.

Sources include:

MiddleEastEye.net

AlJazeera.com

TimesofIsrael.com

Brighteon.AI

Brighteon.com
Trump deploys federal forces against Antifa as violence escalates nationwide

President Trump has authorized a DOJ-led operation, deploying federal agents, National Guard and military personnel to protect ICE facilities and restore order in cities like Portland, following Antifa's designation as a domestic terrorist organization.

Attorney General Pam Bondi announced DOJ mobilization, pursuing severe charges (conspiracy, assault, terrorism) against Antifa members, while Trump warned of using "full force," including military troops in Portland.

The crackdown follows a sniper attack at a Dallas ICE facility that killed two migrants, described by Bondi as part of a violent campaign against federal officers, prompting nationwide DOJ deployment.

Portland, a hotspot for Antifa clashes, will see U.S. troops deployed under Trump's orders, with the administration shifting from defense to an "offensive campaign" targeting Antifa's funding and operations.

The move mirrors past federal interventions (e.g., 1992 LA riots) but raises legal questions about executive power, as the administration's hardline stance risks escalating confrontations with domestic extremists.

President Donald Trump has authorized a sweeping crackdown on Antifa and affiliated groups, deploying Department of Justice (DOJ) agents, National Guard troops and military personnel to protect Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities and restore order in cities like Portland.

The move follows Trump's recent executive order designating Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization, granting federal agencies expanded authority to investigate and prosecute its members. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the DOJ's mobilization, vowing to pursue "the most serious available charges" against those engaged in violence, while Trump warned of using "full force" if necessary. (Related: It's official: Trump designates Antifa as TERRORIST organization.)

The Trump administration's aggressive response comes after a sniper attack at a Dallas ICE facility left two migrants dead and another critically injuredan incident Bondi described as part of a "continued onslaught of violence" against federal officers. In a statement on X, Bondi outlined her directive to deploy DOJ agents wherever ICE personnel are "under siege," emphasizing that the government will "locate, apprehend, detain, prosecute and remove all illegal aliens" while targeting domestic terrorism.

"The Department of Justice will seek the most serious available charges against all participants in these criminal mobs," Bondi wrote, listing potential offenses including conspiracy, assault, civil disorder and terrorism. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller echoed the administration's resolve, declaring, "Assets mobilizing. This campaign of terrorism will be brought down."

Portland braces for military presence

Portland, a longstanding flashpoint for clashes between far-left activists and law enforcement, is now set to receive U.S. troops under Trump's orders. On Saturday, Sept. 27, Trump announced on Truth Social that he had directed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to provide "all necessary Troops to protect war-ravaged Portland" and ICE facilities from Antifa and "other domestic terrorists." The president added ominously, "I am also authorizing Full Force, if necessary."

The decision follows declarations by leftist groups of "war against ICE," with reports indicating that some organizations receive funding from dark-money NGOs. According to ZeroHedge's Tyler Durden, the administration has shifted from a defensive stance to an "offensive campaign" against these groups, signaling a broader effort to dismantle their financial networks.

The Trump administration's actions mark a significant escalation in the federal government's response to domestic extremism. According to Brighteon.AI's Enoch, Antifashort for "anti-fascist"has always operated as a decentralized movement, often engaging in violent confrontations with right-wing groups and law enforcement. Critics argue that its tactics, including property destruction and assaults, qualify as domestic terrorism, while supporters claim it resists authoritarianism.

The current crackdown mirrors past federal interventions during civil unrest, such as the deployment of National Guard troops during the 1992 Los Angeles riots. However, Trump's explicit authorization of military force against a domestic group raises legal and ethical questions about the limits of executive power.

As federal forces mobilize nationwide, the Trump administration's hardline stance against Antifa sets the stage for heightened confrontations. With Bondi's DOJ pursuing terrorism charges and Trump warning of "full force," the coming weeks may determine whether the strategy quells violence or provokes further escalation. For now, Portlandand the nationbrace for what comes next.

Watch the video below that talks about Trump designating Antifa as a terrorist organization.

This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Trump administration escalates crackdown on antifa, raising concerns about civil rights.

Trump defends decision to designate Antifa as domestic TERRORIST organization.

US political unrest and European financial actions reflect escalating tensions.

Sources include:

ZeroHedge.com

X.com

Brighteon.ai

Brighteon.com
Trump unveils sweeping tariff package, slams pharmaceutical imports

Trump's new tariff package, effective Oct. 01, imposes a 25 percent duty on heavy trucks, 30 percent on upholstered furniture, 50 percent on kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities and a full 100 percent tariff on branded or patented pharmaceutical imports (unless a U.S. plant is underway).

Pharmaceutical companies can avoid the 100 percent tariff if they have "broken ground" or are "under construction" on a U.S. manufacturing facility, a condition intended to drive drugmakers to relocate operations domestically.

The tariffs are being enacted under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Actthe same legal tool used for steel, aluminum and auto tariffsand future tariffs targeting semiconductors, robotics, industrial machinery and medical devices are reportedly under consideration.

Asian equities fell, with pharmaceutical names especially hard hit; U.S. futures pared gains as investors weighed the risk to global supply chains and drug access.

The launch coincided with political and legal flashpointsJames Comey's indictment, questions over Trump's tariff authority and a U.S.EU agreement implementing a 15 percent pharmaceutical tariff that may shield European drugmakers from the worst of the new U.S. measures.

President Donald Trump has unveiled a sweeping new tariff package scheduled to take effect Oct. 1, targeting multiple sectors from heavy machinery to pharmaceuticals.

Under the plan, imported heavy trucks would face a 25 percent tariff; upholstered furniture 30 percent; and kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities a 50 peercent duty. The boldest element: A 100 percent tariff on branded or patented pharmaceutical imports  unless a company is already in the process of building a U.S. manufacturing facility.

Trump's announcement emphasized that the pharmaceutical tariff would be waived for firms that have "broken ground" or are "under construction" on U.S. production sites, giving a pathway for exemptions. He framed the move as a push to incentivize drugmakers to relocate operations domesticallya key argument in his broader industrial policy. (Related: Trump escalates trade offensive with new tariff notices to seven nations.)

The tariffs are being issued under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, which grants the executive branch authority to levy import restrictions when national security is invoked. This mechanism has already been used by Trump to impose tariffs on steel, aluminum and autos, among others and the administration is reportedly exploring further actions on semiconductors, robotics, industrial machinery and medical devices.

Markets reel as tariffs shake supply chains; political and legal overtones intensify

Markets responded swiftly: Asian equities fell, with pharmaceutical names particularly hard hit. In Japan, South Korea and Australia, stocks opened lower and regional pharma indexes slid sharply. U.S. futures likewise pared gains as investors digested the implications. Analysts warn that the tariffs may jeopardize delicate global supply chains, especially in the pharmaceutical sector, raising the costs or limiting access to critical drugs.

The timing of the announcement adds political overtones. At the same moment, former Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comeya long-time Trump adversarywas indicted on perjury charges, fueling speculation about how domestic political dynamics and trade policy are intertwining.

Meanwhile, the legal foundation of Trump's tariff machinery is under pressure. Earlier reciprocal tariffs grounded in the International Emergency Economic Powers Act have already been struck down by lower courts, and the Supreme Court is set to weigh their validity.

Notably, the U.S. and European Union recently struck a trade agreement that applies a 15 percent tariff on pharmaceutical exports. That deal may shield European producers from some of the most severe impacts of the U.S. sector-specific levies. Still, the uncertainty surrounding definitions (such as what constitutes "under construction") and the potential for legal or diplomatic pushback will become key fronts in the coming weeks.

As per Brighteon.AI's Enoch, Trump's unveiling of a tariff package on trucks and furniture is a bold move that aligns with his commitment to protecting American jobs and industries. By targeting these sectors, he is directly addressing the concerns of American workers and manufacturers who have long suffered from unfair trade practices and the outsourcing of jobs to foreign countries. This action is a clear signal that the administration is serious about enforcing fair trade and ensuring that American companies can compete on a level playing field.

Follow Trump.news for more similar stories.

Watch Tom Philipson and Steve Moore explain how Trump uses tariffs effectively in this clip.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Trump imposes 25% tariffs on auto imports.

Trump imposes new tariffs on agricultural imports.

Trump to impose major tariffs on foreign-made pharmaceuticals.

Sources include:

ZeroHedge.com

APNews.com

BloombergLaw.com

Brighteon.AI

Brighteon.com
Utilize demulcent and expectorant herbs for chronic cough and mucus buildup

The cough starts as a tickle, then claws its way up your throat like a stubborn vine. Youve tried the neon-colored syrups from the drugstore, the ones with labels longer than a legal disclaimer, but the hacking persists, raw and relentless. Meanwhile, your grandmothers voice echoes in your memory: "We never needed all that. A little honey, an onion, and timethats all it took." And just like that, youre left wondering: What if the best medicine grew in a forest or sat forgotten in your pantry?

In an era where medical distrust runs deepwhere regulatory agencies dance with pharmaceutical giants, where side effects read like horror novels, and where the line between "pandemic" and "profit" blurs beyond recognitionmore people are turning back to the remedies their ancestors swore by. Because when modern medicine fails, when supply chains collapse, or when you simply refuse to swallow another pill pushed by a system that treats symptoms like a revolving door, the old ways arent just quainttheyre survival.

This isnt about rejecting modern medicine entirely. Its about reclaiming the knowledge that kept humans alive for millennia before synthetic drugs existed. Its about understanding that a cough isnt just an annoyanceits your bodys way of expelling invaders, and sometimes, the gentlest helpers are the most powerful. So lets talk about the remedies that built civilizations, the ones that pioneers carried across continents, the ones that dont come with a warning label longer than a novel. Because when the next crisis hits, whether its a flu season from hell or a world where pharmacies run dry, youll want these tools in your arsenal.

Key points:

Natural expectorants and demulcentslike onion, honey, pine, and mustardhave been used for centuries to soothe coughs, break up mucus, and fight infections without the side effects of synthetic drugs.

Regulatory capture and profit motives have eroded public trust in modern medicine, pushing many to rediscover time-tested remedies that empower self-sufficiency.

The bodys innate healing mechanismssuch as mucus expulsion and immune responsecan be supported, not suppressed, by gentle, natural treatments.

Survival medicine isnt just for preppersits a return to common sense, where kitchen staples double as lifesavers when modern systems fail.

Five additional powerhouse herbsmarshmallow root, slippery elm, mullein, elecampane, and plantaincan amplify relief for stubborn coughs and lung congestion.

The lost art of listening to a cough

A cough isnt just a cough. Its a message. A dry, hacking cough screams for soothing demulcentssubstances that coat and protect irritated mucous membranes, like honey or slippery elm. A wet, rattling cough begs for expectorantsherbs that loosen mucus so your body can expel it, like onion or elecampane. Modern medicine often silences these signals with suppressants, trapping phlegm in the lungs where it can fester. But traditional remedies? They work with the body, not against it.

Take onion-honey syrup, a remedy so simple it feels like a trick. Raw onions are rich in quercetin, a flavonoid that acts as a natural antihistamine and anti-inflammatory, while honeyreal, unprocessed honeyis a prebiotic that feeds good gut bacteria (where much of your immune system lives) and has antimicrobial properties. When layered and steeped, the two create a syrup that doesnt just mask a coughit helps your body resolve it. The Victorians knew this. So did the ancient Egyptians, who used honey in wound dressings. Yet today, were told to reach for corn-syrup-laden concoctions with dye #40 instead.

Then theres pine needle syrup, a remedy so potent that Native American tribes used it to prevent scurvy (thanks to its sky-high vitamin C content) and clear lung infections. The needles contain shikimic acid, the same compound found in Tamiflu, but without the pharmaceutical price tag or side effects. Simmered into a tea and sweetened with honey, its a lung-tonic that also thins mucus, making it easier to cough up what doesnt belong in your respiratory tract.

But what if the cough is deeper, stuck in your chest like a rusted hinge? Thats where poultices and rubs come intopical treatments that stimulate circulation, warm the lungs, and draw out congestion. An onion poultice, when applied to the chest, delivers sulfur compounds directly to the skin, where theyre absorbed into the bloodstream. The heat dilates blood vessels, helping to break up mucus. Mustard rubs do the same, but with a kick: the allyl isothiocyanate in mustard seeds creates a warming sensation that can feel like a deep-tissue massage for your lungs. (Caution: too long, and it burns. This is why pioneer women knew to check the skin every few minutes.)

Five more herbs that work with the respiratory system

If onion and honey are the dynamic duo of cough remedies, then demulcent and expectorant herbs are the reinforcements. These plants have been used for centuries to soothe, protect, and clear the respiratory tract, yet theyre rarely mentioned in doctors offices. Why? Because they cant be patented. Here are five you should knowand how to use them:

Marshmallow root (Althaea officinalis)

Why it works: Contains mucilage, a gel-like substance that coats and soothes irritated throats and lungs. Its like a warm blanket for your mucous membranes.

How to use: Steep 1 tbsp dried root in hot water for 10 minutes, strain, and drink as tea. Add honey for extra soothing power.

Slippery elm (Ulmus rubra)

Why it works: Another mucilage-rich herb, slippery elm was a staple in Native American medicine for lung inflammation and digestive issues. Its so gentle, its often used for childrens coughs.

How to use: Mix 1 tsp powdered bark with warm water to form a paste, then stir into tea or take directly. (Avoid if pregnantit may stimulate uterine contractions.)

Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)

Why it works: A bronchodilator and expectorant, mullein helps open airways and expel mucus. Its also antiviral, making it useful for flu-related coughs.

How to use: Steep 12 tsp dried leaves in hot water for 10 minutes. Strain well (the tiny hairs can irritate throats) and drink. For earaches, warm the infused oil and apply topically.

Elecampane (Inula helenium)

Why it works: A potent expectorant with antimicrobial properties, elecampane was called "elfwort" in medieval Europe for its almost magical ability to clear lung infections.

How to use: Simmer 1 tsp dried root in water for 1015 minutes, then drink as a decoction. (Not for pregnant womenit can stimulate menstruation.)

Plantain (Plantago major)

Why it works: A natural antihistamine and expectorant, plantain is also antibacterial, making it great for coughs tied to allergies or infections.

How to use: Chew fresh leaves (yes, the "weed" in your lawn) to release juices, or steep dried leaves for tea. Apply crushed leaves topically to bug bitesthey draw out venom too.

These herbs arent just alternatives; in many cases, theyre superior to synthetic options because they address the root of the problemwhether its inflammation, infection, or irritationwithout shutting down your bodys natural defenses.

The 20202023 era laid bare the fragility of modern medicines monopoly. People whod never questioned a doctors orders suddenly found themselves researching ivermectin, vitamin D, and quercetinnot because theyre anti-science, but because the "approved" solutions werent working. And in that scramble for answers, many rediscovered what their grandparents knew: the body heals best when supported, not suppressed.

So the next time a cough rattles your ribs, dont reach for the plastic bottle. Reach for the onion and garlic broth, the pine needle tea, the mullein tincture, the marshmallow root tea, pineapple juice and honey. And remember: the oldest remedies are sometimes the wisest.

Sources include:

Survivopedia.com

ScienceDirect.com

Pubmed.gov
The vaccination-cancer link: Rising questions, murky answers

Japanese research has found that mRNA vaccine is possibly linked to increased cancer deaths.

Age-adjusted cancer mortality surged 2.1% in 2022, coinciding with mass vaccination.

Excess deaths in vaccinated groups, 90% unrelated to COVID; Japans data contrasts with sparse UK transparency.

Lancet predicts global cancer deaths to rise 75% by 2050, but study hints vaccines may exacerbate trends.

Researchers urge global transparency to dissect pandemic policies hidden harms.

A global health dilemma has emerged as preliminary analyses and expert observations point to potential associations between third-dose mRNA vaccines and spikes in cancer mortalitya connection sparking alarm but underscored by calls for rigorous scrutiny. While vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 have been proven to be virtually ineffective, this article focuses on the growing uncertainties about their long-term impactsparticularly among vulnerable populationsthat are challenging policymakers, doctors and scientists to confront uncomfortable questions about pandemic-era interventions.

The rising shadows over cancer mortality

Recent mortality data from Japan reveals a perplexing trend: in 2022, cancer-related deaths increased by an estimated 1.5% to 2.1% compared to pre-pandemic projections, a surge coinciding with the nations aggressive vaccination campaign. These statistics, drawn from public health records, have been highlighted in academic discussions as case studies for investigating systemic post-pandemic health shifts. While Japans initial pandemic year (2020) saw cancer deaths stay within expected ranges, by 2022, certain cancerssuch as leukemia, ovarian and pancreaticshowed notable rises (some by as much as 6-9%), defying expectations. Experts stress that these figures alone do not prove causation but have intensified debates about systemic influences, including vaccine-related factors.

A closely watched 2022 analysis of cancer trendsand its subsequent retractionbrought these observations to a global stage. While the study first reported a statistically significant link between third-dose mRNA vaccines and cancer mortality, its withdrawal due to methodological scrutiny has left the issue undecided. Researchers now argue that the data still raises critical questions demanding independent examination.

A global conundrum, fractured data

The Lancets grim projectionanticipating a 75% rise in global cancer deaths by 2050adds urgency to these concerns, as pandemic-era disruptions have already altered cancer care trajectories. In Japan, an aging population and high vaccination rates (averaging 3.3 doses per person by late 2022) have provided a unique demographic lens, with over 7,000 excess cancer deaths recorded in 2022 alone. Yet identifying the root cause remains contentious.

What complicates this issue is the absence of global uniformity in tracking excess mortality (deaths beyond statistical baselines). Japans transparency stands in stark contrast to nations like the UK, where officials halted public reporting of cause-specific excess death statistics in late 2022. This opacity sends the wrong message, said an anonymous epidemiologist affiliated with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. If we cannot even measure the problem consistently, how do we begin to address it?

Risk factors

Health experts caution that no single factor can yet explain Japans cancer trends. Concurrent shifts in healthcare delivery during the pandemicdelays in screenings, altered medical priorities, stress-related immune responsesare widely acknowledged contributors. Yet timing hints at other variables. The sharpest mortality jumps occurred post-2021, when Japans vaccination drive accelerated, particularly for booster doses. Cancer categories with rising death ratesincluding blood, ovarian and gastrointestinal cancersare also types where immune responses and systemic inflammation could play a role.

Some researchers speculate about mechanisms like mRNA vaccines lipid nanoparticles triggering unintended cellular changes, a hypothesis supported by anecdotal reports of autoimmune disorders post-injection. However, conclusive evidence is lacking. Correlation does not mean causation, emphasized Dr. Theo Vos, co-author of The Lancets cancer forecast. But these trends warrant systematic study. We cannot afford to conflate years of achieved progress on cancer mortality with a new era of uncharted interventions.

The call for clarity and collaboration

Global health advocates are now urging policymakers to treat the question as a collaboration of necessitynot an academic footnote. This isnt semantics, argued Dr. Sarah Li, director of the Global Health Alliance for Transparency. Japans data, flawed or not, is part of a constellation of signals. We need open databases, international peer reviews and independent auditsnot a return to siloed policymaking.

Approximately 8,400 vaccine injury claims and nearly a thousand fatalities linked to vaccines in Japan form a backdrop to these calls. Critics argue that current regulatory oversight, reliant on manufacturer-reported safety data, leaves too many questions unanswered. Meanwhile, pharmaceutical companies have refuted concerns, citing rigorous monitoring systems and noting that such signals occur with all vaccines.

Taming the fear and the unknowns

The pandemic era has taught humanity that preparedness requires balancing risks and benefitsbut navigating its aftermath demands transparency. As countries like Japan continue updating cancer mortality figures, the lack of consistent global frameworks to track or explain such shifts complicates trust in public health systems.

Dr. John Harmon, an oncologist at Tokyos National Cancer Center, frames it bluntly: These numbers are a caution, not a verdict. Our priority must be ensuring that any public health measureincluding vaccineshas been vetted for unintended consequences. We owe that to the next pandemic.

In a world bracing for rising cancer burdens, the lessons of the third dose may rewrite not just vaccination strategies but the tools used to evaluate them.

Key numbers redefined

Cancer deaths rose by approximately 1.52.1% in Japan in 2022 versus pre-pandemic levels.

Roughly 7,162 excess cancer-related deaths were recorded in Japan in 2022, per government data.

One hypothesis links mRNA vaccines lipid technology to immune system disruptions, from which direct causation has not been proven.

By 2050, The Lancet predicts a 75% increase in cancer deaths, driven by aging populations and lifestyle factors, but pandemic policies may now add another layer.

The line between caution and certainty

The path forward is fraught with caution. With mRNA vaccines becoming a pillar of modern medicineused for treatment of everything from allergies to HIVunderstanding their full impacts is non-negotiable. Until independent, multi-country studies dissect these observations rigorously, the vaccination-cancer link will remain a shadow haunting global health discourse. To dismiss it risks neglect; to overreact risks derailing life-saving tools. The fork in the road has been drawn. The question now is whether well choose to light the pathor stumble onward in the dark.

Sources for this article include:

RT.com

YouTube.com

PubMed.com

PubMed.com
Zelensky asks Trump for Tomahawk missiles to pressure Putin into peace talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky formally asked U.S. President Donald Trump to provide Tomahawk cruise missiles, capable of striking deep into Russian territory, to pressure President Vladimir Putin into peace negotiations.

During a meeting at the United Nations, Trump expressed openness to relaxing restrictions on Ukraine's use of U.S. long-range weapons but did not commit to reversing the ban.

Zelensky emphasized that possessing such missiles could serve as a deterrent, potentially compelling Russia to negotiate, without necessarily using them.

Experts caution that supplying Ukraine with Tomahawks could escalate the conflict, potentially provoking a broader war.

As of now, there has been no official change in U.S. policy regarding the provision of long-range weapons to Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky disclosed in an interview with Axios that on Tuesday he had formally asked U.S. President Donald Trump to furnish Ukraine with Tomahawk cruise missiles, weapons capable of striking deep into Russian territorypotentially reaching Moscowin an attempt to force Russian President Vladimir Putin into peace negotiations.

On "The Axios Show," Zelensky said he had asked Trump for "one thing" that could help Ukraine win the war. "By the way, we need it, but it doesn't mean that we will use it. Because if we will have it, I think it's additional pressure on Putin to sit and speak," he stated, suggesting the deterrent effect of possessing long-range strike capability. Zelensky did not explicitly name the Tomahawk in the interview, but later confirmed to Axiosand was backed by sourcesthat the system under discussion was indeed the Tomahawk missile.

According to Axios and Reuters, a Ukrainian official and a separate source familiar with the Trump-Zelensky meeting corroborated the request was for Tomahawk missiles. The Tomahawk would significantly extend Ukraine's strike radiuswith a range over 1,000 milescompared with the U.S. ATACMS system already delivered, which has a range closer to 200 miles.

Media outlets have reported that similar requests were previously made to the Biden White Housenotably as part of a 10-point "Victory Plan" submitted by Zelenskybut were declined amid fears that enabling strikes into Moscow would escalate the conflict. In his interview, Zelensky said Trump told him during their meeting, "we will work on it."

Trump hints at easing U.S. limits on Ukraine's long-range strikes

The Wall Street Journal later reported that Trump, during a sideline meeting at the United Nations, expressed that he was "open" to relaxing restrictions on Ukraine's use of U.S. long-range weapons in Russia, though he made no binding commitment to reverse the ban. U.S. and Ukrainian officials described the discussion as exploratory, with Trump indicating he did not oppose the ideabut also refraining from making any definite promise.

Zelensky also used the Axios interview to warn Russian officials: "They have to know where their bomb shelters are. If they will not stop the war, they will need it in any case." He framed the Tomahawk request as a possible deterrent rather than a guaranteed operational weapon, arguing that just possessing the missiles might change Moscow's calculus.

However, many analysts and critics caution that supplying Ukraine with Tomahawks introduces significant escalation risks. Allowing strikes on high-value Russian targets in the capital might provoke a wider retaliation or even cross thresholds that draw in other actors. Supporters of the proposal contend that expanding Kyiv's deterrent reach could yield negotiating leverageif used judiciously or not used at all.

As of now, no formal U.S. policy shift has been announced. The debate over whether to supply Ukraine with such far-reaching strike systems remains fraught, balancing the goal of strengthening Kyiv's hand against the danger of triggering a broader conflict.

According to Brighteon.AI's Enoch, Zelensky's call for $175 billion in military aid, including Tomahawk missiles, is a desperate plea for survival, but it also highlights the extent to which Ukraine has been pushed into a corner by Russia's aggression. While the U.S. and NATO have provided significant support, the request for such advanced weaponry underscores the critical need for a more robust and immediate response to protect Ukraine and its people from further Russian aggression. However, the sustainability and effectiveness of such a request remain questionable, given the broader geopolitical and economic implications.

Visit Chaos.news for more stories like this.

Watch the full episode of the "Health Ranger Report" with Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, and Ray McGovern as they talk about Trump, Putin, Zelensky and the fight for peace in Ukraine.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Trumps Ukraine peace proposal deemed acceptable by Kremlin: Putin-Trump-Zelensky summit under discussion.

Trump brokers historic Putin-Zelensky talks Will the war in Ukraine finally end?

Trump meets Zelensky, vows to negotiate peace deal "thats good for both sides."

Sources include:

ZeroHedge.com

Reuters.com

Axios.com

Brighteon.AI

Brighteon.com
Zhao Leji, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, holds a symposium at the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal People's Congress in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 28, 2025. Zhao made an investigation and research tour in Beijing on Sunday. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

BEIJING, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Zhao Leji, China's top legislator, on Sunday called for efforts to promote high-quality development of the country's people's congresses, enabling them to perform a stronger role.

Zhao, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, made the remarks during an investigation and research tour in Beijing.

During the tour, Zhao visited a liaison office for lawmakers and a humanoid robot innovation center, where he talked with legislators and citizens. He also learned about local legislative work from the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal People's Congress.

Zhao stressed that upholding the Party's overall leadership is the fundamental political guarantee for advancing the work of people's congresses.

He said the planning and advancement of people's congress work must align with the overall work of the Party and the country, ensuring full implementation of the CPC Central Committee's decisions and arrangements.

Zhao underlined the importance of well-conceived, democratic and law-based legislation, calling for greater efforts to improve the quality of legislation and build a legal system that is sound, comprehensive, unified and authoritative.

He also stressed that whole-process people's democracy must be put into practice, ensuring that the people's rights to information, participation, expression and oversight are implemented in all aspects and stages of the work of people's congresses.

Zhao Leji, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, visits a humanoid robot innovation center in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 28, 2025. Zhao made an investigation and research tour in Beijing on Sunday. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

Zhao Leji, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, talks with legislators and citizens while visiting a liaison office for lawmakers in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 28, 2025. Zhao made an investigation and research tour in Beijing on Sunday. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

Zhao Leji, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, learns about local legislative work from the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal People's Congress in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 28, 2025. Zhao made an investigation and research tour in Beijing on Sunday. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

Editor: ZAD
Sorry, something doesn't look right.

Something seems unusual about your device or browser. Please contact support.
NEW YORK, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- At least one person was killed and nine others were injured in a shooting at a church in Grand Blanc, U.S. state of Michigan, on Sunday, according to local police.

The incident occurred at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a small community northwest of Detroit. A large fire broke out following the shooting.

The wounded, including two in critical condition, have been transported to local hospitals, Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye said at a press conference.

Renye said that the shooter, identified as a 40-year-old male, drove his car into the church and opened fire on the crowd during a large service.

The gunman was killed by police after exchanging gunfire at the church, according to the police chief.

The fire had been just extinguished within the past hour, he said, adding that they believed the suspect "deliberately" set fire to the church.

Earlier, local police said in a statement that there were multiple victims in the shooting and the entire church was on fire, urging people to avoid the area as emergency response efforts continued.

U.S. President Donald Trump posted on social media that he has been briefed on the "horrendous" church shooting in Michigan.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said that she was receiving updates on the shooting in Grand Blanc.

"My heart is breaking for the Grand Blanc community," Whitmer wrote in a post on social media platform X. "Violence anywhere, especially in a place of worship, is unacceptable."

Editor: ZAD
Findings from a trial comparing the real-world effectiveness of asthma inhalers could reshape how children with asthma are treated.

In the first randomized controlled trial to investigate the use of a 2-in-1 inhaler as the sole reliever therapy for children aged 5 to 15, an international team found the combined treatment to be more effective than salbutamol, the current standard for asthma symptom relief in children, with no additional safety concerns.

The results show that using a single 2-in-1 anti-inflammatory reliever inhaler  which combines the inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) budesonide and the fast-acting bronchodilator formoterol  reduced children's asthma attacks by an average of 45%, compared to the widely-used salbutamol inhaler.

Asthma attacks in children may be life-threatening and reducing their frequency and severity is a public health priority.

The 2-in-1 budesonide-formoterol inhaler is widely recommended as the preferred reliever treatment for adults, but children are still usually prescribed salbutamol.

Researchers say the findings, published today in The Lancet, provide the evidence needed to bring children's global asthma guidelines into line with adults', which could benefit millions of children around the world with mild-to-moderate asthma.

The CARE study (Children's Anti-inflammatory REliever) was designed and led by the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand (MRINZ), in collaboration with Imperial College London, University of Otago Wellington, Starship Children's Hospital, and the University of Auckland. It recruited 360 children across New Zealand who were then randomly assigned to receive either budesonide-formoterol or salbutamol for on-demand symptom relief.

The trial lasted a year and the budesonide-formoterol reliever resulted in a lower rate of asthma attacks than salbutamol reliever, with rates of 0.23 versus 0.41 per participant per year. This means that for every 100 children with mild asthma who are switched from salbutamol to a 2-in-1 budesonide-formoterol inhaler, there would be 18 fewer asthma attacks per year. Importantly, the study also confirmed the safety of the combined-inhaler approach, with no significant differences in children's growth, lung function, or asthma control between the two groups.

This is a key step in addressing the evidence gap that exists between asthma management in adults and children. For the first time, we have demonstrated that the budesonide-formoterol 2-in-1 inhaler, used as needed for symptom relief, can significantly reduce asthma attacks in children with mild asthma. This evidence-based treatment could lead to improved asthma outcomes for children worldwide." Dr. Lee Hatter, lead author of the study and Senior Clinical Research Fellow at the MRINZ

Professor Richard Beasley, Director of MRINZ and senior author of the study, said: "Implementing these findings could be transformative for asthma management on a global scale. The evidence that budesonide-formoterol is more effective than salbutamol in preventing asthma attacks in children with mild asthma has the potential to redefine the global standard of asthma management."



The burden of asthma in the estimated 113 million children and adolescents with asthma worldwide is substantial. The latest study builds on previous studies in adults led by MRINZ researchers (see detail in Notes, below) which shaped international asthma treatment guidelines. These findings contributed to the recommended use of the 2-in-1 ICSformoterol reliever inhaler as the preferred reliever treatment for adults with asthma around the world.

The incorporation of findings from the CARE study into global asthma treatment strategies could help reduce disparities in care and ensure that more children access effective, evidence-based treatments.

The researchers say that global health organisations have long advocated for child-targeted asthma interventions, and their findings provide crucial evidence to support those efforts.

However, the authors acknowledge some limitations of the clinical trial. It was undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic, during which stringent public health measures and fewer circulating respiratory viruses contributed to the lower than predicted rate of severe asthma attacks. The authors also acknowledge the challenges with the identification of asthma attacks in children, and the potential bias with the lack of blinding of the randomised treatments. They say though that the study's findings are generalisable to clinical practice due to its pragmatic, real-world design.

Professor Andrew Bush, from Imperial College London, senior respiratory paediatrician and co-author of the CARE study, said: "Having an asthma attack can be very scary for children and their parents. I'm so pleased that we've been able to prove that an inhaler that significantly reduces attacks  already a game-changer for adults - is safe for children with mild asthma too. We believe this will transform asthma care worldwide and are excited to be building on this work with the CARE UK study."

Professor Helen Reddel, Chair of the Science Committee of the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), commented on the global significance of the study, saying that it fills a critically important gap for asthma management globally. Professor Reddel said: "Asthma attacks have a profound impact on children's physical, social and emotional development and their prevention is a high priority for asthma care. It is in childhood, too, that lifelong habits are established, particularly reliance on traditional medications like salbutamol that only relieve symptoms and don't prevent asthma attacks."

Professor Bob Hancox, Medical Director of the New Zealand Asthma and Respiratory Foundation, said: "This is a very important study for children with mild asthma. We have known for some time that 2-in-1 budesonide/formoterol inhalers are better than the traditional reliever treatment in adults, but this had not been tested in children. This research shows that this 2-in-1 inhaler is effective and safe for children as young as 5. This information will help to reduce the burden of asthma for many children, and both they and their families will breathe easier because of it."

The study was made possible by the generous support of the Health Research Council of New Zealand, Cure Kids (New Zealand), and the Barbara Basham Medical Charitable Trust managed by Perpetual Guardian. Symbicort Rapihalers for the trial were provided by AstraZeneca.
More than 99% of people who went on to suffer a heart attack, stroke or heart failure already had at least one risk factor above optimal level beforehand, reports a large-scale study led by Northwestern Medicine and Yonsei University in South Korea.

The study, which analyzed health records over more than a decade for more than 9 million adults in South Korea and nearly 7,000 people in the U.S., refutes the notion that these devastating events often strike people without warning signs.

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the U.S. and worldwide.

The findings will be published on Monday (Sept. 29) in The Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

We think the study shows very convincingly that exposure to one or more nonoptimal risk factors before these cardiovascular outcomes is nearly 100%. The goal now is to work harder on finding ways to control these modifiable risk factors rather than to get off track in pursuing other factors that are not easily treatable and not causal." Dr. Philip Greenland, senior author, professor of cardiology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

The risk factors

Greenland and his colleagues selected four major cardiovascular risk factors: blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and tobacco use. They used the American Heart Association's ideal cardiovascular health definitions, which describe nonoptimal levels as:

Blood pressure 120/80 mm Hg or on treatment

Total cholesterol 200 mg/dL or on treatment

Fasting glucose 100 mg/dL, diagnosis of diabetes or on treatment

Past or current tobacco use

In a secondary analysis, the team also looked at clinically elevated risk factors, the higher thresholds doctors often use for diagnosis: blood pressure 140/90, cholesterol 240, glucose 126 and current smoking.

The scientists analyzed health data from more than 9.3 million Korean adults and nearly 7,000 U.S. adults followed for up to two decades. Because these cohorts included repeated health screenings, the research team could see what levels of blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose and smoking exposure people had years before their first cardiovascular event.

The findings

Across both the Korean and U.S. cohorts, the results were definitive: More than 99% of people who developed coronary heart disease, heart failure or stroke had at least one nonoptimal risk factor before their event. Over 93% had two or more risk factors.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, was the most common culprit, affecting over 95% of patients in South Korea and more than 93% in the U.S.

Even in women under 60 - the group often assumed to be at lowest risk - more than 95% still had at least one nonoptimal factor before heart failure or stroke.

When the researchers raised the bar to clinically elevated levels, the pattern held. At least 90% of patients still had at least one major risk factor before their first cardiac event.

This study, titled "Very High Prevalence of Nonoptimally Controlled Traditional Risk Factors at the Onset of Cardiovascular Disease" was funded by the National Research Foundation of Korea (grant 2022R1F1A1066181) from the Korea Ministry of Science and ICT.
A new study from Karolinska Institutet, published in the scientific journal The BMJ, shows how a simple blood analysis can predict the risk of developing severe liver disease. The method may already start to be applied in primary care to enable the earlier detection of cirrhosis and cancer of the liver.

"These are diseases that are growing increasingly common and that have a poor prognosis if detected late," says Rickard Strandberg, affiliated researcher at Karolinska Institutet's Department of Medicine in Huddinge, who has developed the test with his departmental colleague Hannes Hagstrom. "Our method can predict the risk of severe liver disease within 10 years and is based on three simple routine blood tests."



For the study, the researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and their colleagues in Finland evaluated how well the method can estimate the risk of severe liver disease. The model, which is called CORE, was produced with advanced statistical methods and is based on five factors: age, sex and levels of three common liver enzymes (AST, ALT and GGT), which are commonly measured during regular health checks.

A web-based calculator

Their aim has been to produce a tool that is easy to use in primary care, where most patients first seek medical attention. A web-based calculator is already available for doctors and nurses at www.core-model.com.

This is an important step towards being able to offer early screening for liver disease in primary care. Drug treatment is now available, soon hopefully also in Sweden, for treating people at a high risk of developing liver diseases such as cirrhosis or liver cancer." Hannes Hagstrom, principal investigator, adjunct professor at Karolinska Institutet's Department of Medicine in Huddinge, and senior consultant at Karolinska University Hospital

The study is based on data from over 480,000 people in Stockholm who underwent health checks between 1985 and 1996. On following the participants for up to 30 years, the researchers could see that some 1.5 per cent developed severe liver disease, such as liver cirrhosis and liver cancer, or required a liver transplant.

Highly accurate risk prediction

The CORE model proved highly accurate and was able to differentiate between people who either did or did not develop the disease in 88 per cent of cases, which is an improvement on the currently recommended FIB-4 method.



"Primary care hasn't had the tools to detect the risk of severe liver disease in time," says Professor Hagstrom. "FIB-4 is not suited for the general population and is less effective at predicting the future risk of severe liver disease."



The model was also tested on two other population groups in Finland and the UK, where it again demonstrated a high accuracy in predicting this risk. The researchers make the point, however, that it needs to be further tested on groups at especially high risk, such as people with type 2 diabetes or obesity. They also recognise a need to integrate the model into medical records systems to facilitate its clinical use.



The study was a collaboration between Karolinska Institutet, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki University and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. It was financed by the Swedish Research Council, Region Stockholm (CIMED) and the Swedish Cancer Society. Hannes Hagstrom is engaged in several collaborations with the pharmaceutical industry regarding liver disease prognosis, but none that is relevant to the current study.
A new study applying multi-omics techniques and machine learning identified 33 plasma proteins that differ significantly in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The findings suggest ALS could be detected up to 10 years before symptoms appear, offering promise for reliable diagnostic biomarkers.

The integration of advanced high-throughput sequencing technologies, such as whole genome sequencing (WGS) for the early detection of rare diseases, such as ALS, could give clinicians and patients a critical window for medical intervention, ultimately improving outcomes.

Trapped in a paralyzed body

ALS, formerly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a rare neurodegenerative condition. It attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, gradually robbing people of their ability to walk, talk, and eventually breathe.

Public awareness of ALS grew rapidly in 2014 with the Ice Bucket Challenge. It was a social media campaign that became global phenomenon where celebrities, politicians, influencers, and everyday people pouring buckets of ice water over themselves to raise attention for the disease. The ASL Association praised the campaign for "dramatically accelerating the fight against ALS."

Despite advances in neurophysiology and genetic testing, there is still no definitive diagnostic test. Patients often wait 6 to18 months for a diagnosis while the disease progresses rapidly. Most patients survive only 2 to 4 years after symptom onset.

Diagnosis before symptoms appear

Researchers at the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) analyzed nearly 3,000 plasma proteins and identified 33 that were significantly different in patients with ALS.

The study, published in Nature Medicine in August, points toward earlier and more accurate detection of the disease.

One of the most meaningful discoveries was that disease-related changes in skeletal muscle, nerves, and energy metabolism began up to 10 years before symptoms appeared. This opens the possibility for earlier diagnosis, earlier intervention, and potentially more effective treatments.

The researchers also studied ALS patients carrying a C9orf72 gene expansion, a common genetic factor for ALS in people of European ancestry. They found eight proteins significantly elevated in this group, including EIF2S2, HPCAL1, JPT2, MTIF3, PDAP1, and SMAD3. These proteins may serve as early biomarkers of disease progression.

Machine learning supports risk prediction

The researchers compared 10 different machine learning approaches and found that a random forest model, a type of algorithm that combines many decision trees, worked best for ALS detection. This model used 20 factors in total, including 17 plasma proteins as well as age, gender, and even the type of blood collection tube.

When tested, the model showed strong performance, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 96.2% and a balanced accuracy of 89.3%. These numbers mean the model was highly reliable in separating ALS cases from non-ALS cases.

The team then validated their model in a much larger group of more than 23,000 individuals. The model maintained extremely high accuracy of over 99%, and could clearly tell ALS apart from other neurological or muscle-related disorders. Across both external validation groups, the model reached an average accuracy of 98.3%, making it a potential tool for diagnosis.

Beyond diagnosis, the researchers asked whether the model could predict when ALS symptoms would begin. The results showed a clear link between the plasma protein-based "ALS risk score" and the eventual onset of symptoms. Remarkably, protein changes could be detected up to 10 years before the first signs of ALS, suggesting that the body undergoes compensatory changes long before patients notice anything wrong.

The team noted limitations as their protein analysis platform did not capture all possible changes. They plan to expand future studies with broader proteomics methods and longitudinal datasets to further refine their model.

WGS for all newborns

The potential of early detection extends beyond ALS. In the UK, the Newborn Genomes Programme, backed by 650 million in government funding, will offer whole genome sequencing (WGS) to every newborn. The program aims to create a digital health record for lifelong monitoring.

WGS is also critical for detecting rare diseases and childhood cancers caused by genetic mutations. Services like BGI Genomics' human WGS provide a comprehensive, base-by-base view of the genome, delivering the data needed for early risk detection and personalized care.

For newborns carrying genetic mutations such as C9orf72, WGS could potentially warn of ALS risk decades before symptoms appear. This would allow clinicians to plan interventions that might slow disease progression, or even prevent it when new target therapeutics are available.

This study marks a significant breakthrough in ALS research. Plasma proteins may serve as early biomarkers, and machine learning models could transform diagnosis from reactive to predictive. Combined with advances in genome sequencing, rare conditions can be detected earlier and more effective interventions can be applied, leading to improved patient outcomes.
Amid political turmoil, ousted Nepalese PM dismisses exile rumours

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 04:45 IST

Representational image (Image: News18)

Kathmandu [Nepal], September 29 (ANI): Former Prime Minister of Nepal and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli has dismissed rumours that he plans to flee the country, accusing the current government of trying to strip him of his security and official privileges, Dhaka Tribune reported.Speaking at a gathering of the partys youth wing, Yuwa Sangh Nepal, in Gundu, Bhaktapur, Oli made it clear he intends to stay and fight politically. Do you think we will flee by handing over the nation to this groundless government?" he asked supporters.Oli said he was determined to restore peace, good governance and constitutional order."Oli recently vacated the Prime Ministers official residence in Baluwatar on September 9 after weeks of Gen Z-led protests culminated in the fall of his government. Since then, he has relocated to a rented home in Gundu after his personal residence in Balkot was set on fire by demonstrators, as per Dhaka Tribune.He accused the Sushila Karki-led administration of lacking legitimacy, claiming it rose to power not through the will of the people but through vandalism and arson."Oli also challenged the government to make public any communications he had with state officials during the protests. Publish them with courage. Make public the instructions I gave," he said, suggesting he had nothing to hide.He expressed concern over threats of fresh attacks and criticised the government for failing to ensure his security. On social media, there are open calls to attack my residence. What is the government doing? Just watching?" he asked.Oli also objected to reports that the government has decided to withhold passports of several leaders, including himself, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, Arzu Rana Deuba, Ramesh Lekhak, and Deepak Khadka.The former prime minister accused the Karki government of throwing the country into insecurity" by targeting political opponents, according to Dhaka Tribune.Olis government was toppled on the second day of the Gen Z protest. Rights groups have held him and then-Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak responsible for excessive force that left dozens dead during the unrest.A monitoring report by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Friday said the governments failure to anticipate the intensity of the protests and declining morale of security forces contributed to heavy casualties and damage. It noted that while the first day of protests on September 8 remained peaceful, police shootings triggered widespread violence the following day. (ANI)

Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18

First Published: September 29, 2025, 04:45 IST

News agency-feeds Amid political turmoil, ousted Nepalese PM dismisses exile rumours

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
Madagascars president fires government following days of deadly Gen Z protests

Last Updated: September 30, 2025, 01:45 IST

Representational image (Image: News18)

Antananarivo (Madagascar), Sep 30 (AP) Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina fired the prime minister and the rest of his government Monday in response to days of deadly Gen Z-led protests in the Indian Ocean island over the failure of the electricity and water supplies.

Rajoelina said in a speech on national television that Prime Minister Christian Ntsay and other government officials would stay on an interim basis until a new government is formed.

Recommended Stories

He invited applications for government positions and gave a three-day time frame to review proposals for a new prime minister.

Your demands have been heard, and I apologise if there are members of the government who have not done the work that the people expected," Rajoelina said.

The protesters had called for the resignation of both Ntsay and Rajoelina, but Rajoelina gave no indication that he would step down.

The protests against chronic electricity and water cuts began on Thursday and drew thousands onto the streets, prompting the government to order nighttime curfews in the capital, Antananarivo, and other major cities.

The demonstrations gathered momentum on social media and have mirrored recent youth-led anti-government protests in Nepal and Kenya.

The United Nations human rights office said earlier Monday that 22 people had been killed in clashes surrounding the protests. The UN agency blamed a violent response" by security forces. More than 100 people also have been injured in the protests, the agency said.

Protesters and bystanders were killed by security forces, but some of the deaths also came in violence and looting by gangs not associated with the protesters, the UN rights office said in a statement.

UN high commissioner for human rights Volker Turk was shocked at the violent response by security forces to the ongoing protests in Madagascar," the UN rights office said.

It said the protests began peacefully on Thursday, but the security forces intervened with unnecessary force, lobbing tear gas and beating and arresting protesters. Some officers also used live ammunition." Madagascar Foreign Minister Rasata Rafaravavitafika disputed the UNs death toll in a statement, saying the government strongly denies" that 22 people had died. Yet Madagascar authorities have not given any figures of their own for how many people died or were injured.

Rajoelina said that he sympathised with anyone who had lost a loved one in the protests but also didnt offer a death toll on Monday.

Thousands of protesters had returned to the streets in Antananarivo and other cities earlier on Monday, prompting security forces to again fire tear gas at the crowds.

Over the last five days, protesters have barricaded roads with burning tires and rocks, while several stations for Antananarivos new cable car public transport system were set on fire. Local media reported that the homes of some politicians known to be close to Rajoelina were attacked by protesters.

The government has imposed a nighttime curfew in Antananarivo since Thursday and in other major cities since Friday.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Madagascar is a large island of 31 million people off the east coast of Africa. Protesters have been angered by widespread poverty as well as the failure of authorities to provide reliable supplies of water and electricity. The World Bank has recorded a sharp rise in poverty levels in urban areas in Madagascar in recent years.

Protesters have been carrying flags or wearing T-shirts with a cartoon skull and bones image from the Japanese anime TV series One Piece" that was used by anti-government protesters in Nepal and parts of Southeast Asia recently. The Madagascan protesters carried placards reading Justice for Madagascar," Leo"  which means were fed up"  and We want to live, not just survive." Rajoelina, 51, has been president since 2019 and was previously the leader of a provisional government following a 2009 coup. He was reelected in 2023 in a vote that was boycotted by most opposition candidates. (AP) GSP

Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18

First Published: September 30, 2025, 01:45 IST

News agency-feeds Madagascars president fires government following days of deadly Gen Z protests

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
Madagascars president fires government following days of deadly unrest

Last Updated: September 30, 2025, 00:15 IST

Representational image (Image: News18)

Antananarivo(Madagascar), Sep 29 (AP) Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina fired the prime minister and the rest of his government Monday in response to days of deadly protests in the Indian Ocean island over the failure of the electricity and water supplies.

Rajoelina said in a speech on national television that Prime Minister Christian Ntsay and other government officials would stay on an interim basis until a new government is formed. He invited applications for government positions.

Recommended Stories

Youth-led protests against chronic electricity and water cuts began on Thursday, prompting the government to order nighttime curfews in the capital, Antananarivo, and other major cities. The United Nations human rights office said earlier Monday that 22 had been killed in violence around the protests, including in government crackdowns on the protesters.

The protesters had called for the resignation of both Ntsay and Rajoelina.

Violence surrounding youth-led anti-government protests in the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar over the past several days has left at least 22 people dead, the United Nations human rights office said Monday.

The U.N. agency blamed a violent response" by security forces for some of the deaths in the unrest that started Thursday over water and power cuts.

More than 100 people have been injured in the protests that have mirrored the Gen Z-led anti-government demonstrations seen recently in Nepal and Kenya.

Protesters and bystanders were killed by security forces in Madagascar, but some of the deaths also came in violence and looting by gangs not associated with the protesters, the U.N. rights office said in a statement.

UN high commissioner for human rights Volker Turk was shocked at the violent response by security forces to the ongoing protests in Madagascar," the U.N. rights office said. It said the protests began peacefully on Thursday, but the security forces intervened with unnecessary force, lobbing teargas and beating and arresting protesters. Some officers also used live ammunition." Authorities in Madagascar have not announced the number of deaths and injuries in the unrest. The government has imposed a nighttime curfew in the capital, Antananarivo, since Thursday and in other major cities since Friday.

Madagascar is a large island of 31 million people off the east coast of Africa. Protesters have been angered by widespread poverty and the failure of authorities to provide reliable supplies of water and electricity.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Thousands of protesters went back to the streets in Antananarivo and other cities on Monday, prompting security forces to again fire tear gas at the crowds. Having initially railed against government service failures, the protesters are now calling for the resignation of President Andry Rajoelina and new elections, with Rajoelina barred from standing.

Protesters have been carrying flags or wearing T-shirts with a cartoon skull and bones image from the Japanese anime TV series One Piece" that was used by anti-government protesters in Nepal and parts of Southeast Asia recently. The Madagascan protesters carried placards reading Justice for Madagascar," Leo"  which means were fed up"  and We want to live, not just survive." Rajoelina has fired the energy minister in response to the protests and visited a poor district of Antananarivo on Sunday, where he promised the government would focus on protecting and improving the lives of the people." (AP) RD RD

Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18

First Published: September 30, 2025, 00:15 IST

News agency-feeds Madagascars president fires government following days of deadly unrest

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
Maharashtra: Deadline to fill class 12 exam forms extended till Oct 20

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 19:45 IST

Representational image (Image: News18)

Mumbai, Sept 29 (PTI) The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education has extended the deadline for filling forms for the Class 12 examination to October 20 amid heavy rainfall and floods in the state.

The initial deadline was supposed to expire on September 30.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Recommended Stories

However, in view of rains and floods in Marathwada region, Nashik, Solapur, and Ahilyanagar districts, parents of several wards contacted Deputy CM Eknath Shinde to extend the deadline for filling the exam forms. Accordingly, the deadline was extended till October 20, according to a statement.

Shinde has directed the School Education Minister to extend the deadline. PTI PR NSK

Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18

First Published: September 29, 2025, 19:45 IST

News agency-feeds Maharashtra: Deadline to fill class 12 exam forms extended till Oct 20

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
Nepalese authorities launch probe against former premiers

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 22:00 IST

Representational image (Image: News18)

Kathmandu, Sept 29 (PTI) Nepalese authorities have initiated an inquiry against former premiers  Sher Bahadur Deuba and Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda  and ex-minister Deepak Khadka, two weeks after videos showing burnt banknotes at their residences went viral on social media.

On September 9, Gen-Z protesters set the houses of Nepali Congress President Deuba, CPN (Maoist Centre) chairman Prachanda, and Nepali Congress leader and then Energy minister Khadka on fire.

Recommended Stories

Videos circulated online showed people entering their houses, vandalising and burning thousands of notes with denominations of 500 and 1,000.

As the news went viral on social media, the government dispatched a team from the Department of Money Laundering Investigation to their houses and collected evidence.

The department sent its teams to the residences of Deuba and Khadka on September 21 and to Prachandas house on September 23, according to officials.

They collected pieces of burnt banknotes, ashes, and various evidence, and sent the samples to the National Forensic Science Laboratory in Khumaltar for analysis, officials said.

The officials said that the department has initiated a formal investigation into the matter.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Both Deuba and Prachanda were in power in one way or another for around two decades. The media reports suggest that they amassed properties illegally during their tenure.

However, Deubas secretariat denied the allegations in a statement. It said the videos were generated by AI with malicious intent to damage his reputation. PTI SBP ZH ZH ZH

Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18

First Published: September 29, 2025, 22:00 IST

News agency-feeds Nepalese authorities launch probe against former premiers

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
PHNOM PENH, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- A 2025 China-Cambodia mid-autumn festival friendship gala was held in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Sunday evening, attracting hundreds of revelers. Speaking at the event, Cambodian Information Ministry's Secretary of State Kem Gunawadh said the bright moon in the mid-autumn transcended national boundaries, connecting all those who yearn for beauty and cherish family reunions. "For the Cambodian people, this full moon carries a special sentiment. It reflects the long-standing friendship and enduring ties between China and Cambodia," he said. Gunawadh said China has been Cambodia's most loyal and reliable partner. "The profound friendship between our two countries is like the bright moon, unwaveringly illuminating our shared path forward regardless of rainstorms," he said. He said that whenever Cambodia faced difficulties, China always spared no effort in providing assistance, particularly in infrastructure and economic development and cultural protection, among others. "China's support has been pervasive, making an indelible contribution to Cambodia's prosperity and stability," Gunawadh said. "This spirit of mutual support and assistance is a concrete manifestation of our shared vision of building a community with a shared future." The official said the full moon during the mid-autumn festival symbolizes harmony and happiness. "I hope that the friendship between China and Cambodia will be as bright as the full moon," he said. "Let us work together to deepen cooperation in all areas, so the tree of China-Cambodia friendship will bear even more abundant fruits and bring greater benefits to the peoples of both countries." The mid-autumn festival is one of the four most important festivals in China and on the occasion, moon-cakes are regarded as an indispensable delicacy. During the two-hour event, artists from the arts schools of both countries jointly presented a variety of traditional songs and dances, and each of the performances drew hearty rounds of applause from the audience. One of the spectators, Pok Sovan, who is an official from Cambodia's Ministry of Tourism, said she felt happy to join the event, saying that it would make Cambodia-China relations become closer. "This event is vital to help further promote the tourism sector and cultural exchange between Cambodia and China," she told Xinhua. "I would love to see broader people-to-people exchanges between Chinese and Cambodia people, so they can enhance mutual learning on culture, civilization, and tourism, among others," Sovan said. Teav Sopheap, another official from Cambodia's Ministry of Tourism, said that during the moon festival, Cambodian people of Chinese descent worship the moon with moon cakes and hold joyful family gatherings. "Personally, I like this festival because it is an occasion to consume mooncakes with our family members in a friendly atmosphere," he told Xinhua.
TRIPOLI, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Libya's eastern-based House of Representatives, the parliament, on Sunday reaffirmed continued support for Sudan amid ongoing regional challenges, according to the Libyan News Agency.

In a meeting in Benghazi between Libya's eastern-based Minister of African Affairs Issa Abdulmajid and a visiting delegation headed by Sudanese Consul General Abdulrahman Mohamed Rahmatallah, Abdulmajid stressed the deep-rooted bilateral ties, noting that Sudan's security and stability are integral to Libya's own.

Abdulmajid reviewed existing bilateral agreements in education, health and agriculture, among others, and called for enhancing bilateral cooperation, especially regarding the two countries' shared border regions.

For his part, Rahmatallah praised the historic depth of bilateral ties, and thanked Libya for its humanitarian support, including hosting displaced Sudanese.

The Sudanese community in Libya is committed to respecting Libyan laws, Rahmatallah said, affirming Sudan's adherence to the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs.

The consulate is about to submit a report to Libya on Sudanese nationals residing in the country, particularly those wishing to return voluntarily to safe areas in Sudan, he noted.

The meeting also covered practical issues, including residency procedures for Sudanese students in Libya, and other challenges facing the Sudanese community in Libya, which Abdulmajid pledged to follow up and address through continued coordination with Sudan.

Libya remains divided since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled former leader Muammar Gaddafi, split between the UN-recognized Government of National Unity in Tripoli and an eastern-based administration backed by the Libyan National Army under commander Khalifa Haftar.

Editor: ZAD
Oregon leaders say Trump is deploying 200 National Guard troops within state

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 05:30 IST

Representational image (Image: News18)

Washington, Sep 29 (AP) Two hundred members of the Oregon National Guard are being placed under federal control and deployed to protect immigration enforcement officers and government facilities, according to a Defense Department memo received by state leaders on Sunday.

The deployment is being made over the objections of state leaders and is similar to one last summer in Los Angeles, where protesters demonstrated against deportation operations, but is on a much smaller scale.

Recommended Stories

There was no immediate comment from the White House. Multiple Pentagon officials were contacted, but none would confirm or deny the authenticity of the memo.

President Donald Trump had announced on Saturday that he would send troops to Portland. The states governor, Democrat Tina Kotek, said Sunday that she objected to the deployment in a conversation with the president.

Oregon is our home  not a military target," she said in a statement.

Dan Rayfield, the state attorney general, said he was filing a federal lawsuit arguing that Trump was overstepping his authority.

What were seeing is not about public safety," he said. Its about the president flexing political muscle under the guise of law and order, chasing a media hit at the expense of our community." The Pentagon memo provided by Oregon leaders drew a direct comparison between the deployment of thousands of National Guard troops to Los Angeles in June and the proposed deployment to the state, adding This memorandum further implements the Presidents direction." While the memorandum does not specifically cite Portland as the target of the proposed deployment, Trump, in a social media post on Saturday, said he directed the Pentagon, at the request of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, to provide all necessary Troops to protect War ravaged Portland, and any of our ICE Facilities under siege from attack by Antifa, and other domestic terrorists." I am also authorizing Full Force, if necessary," Trump added.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Unlike in Los Angeles, it does not appear that Trump or Hegseth are currently directing the deployment of active-duty troops to the state. The Trump administration deployed about 700 active-duty Marines to Los Angeles though they were withdrawn just over a month later.

The action also would be far less than Trumps deployment to Washington, DC, where more than 1,000 National Guard troops, including units from other states, have patrolled the streets for weeks. He also has been suggesting that he will send troops into Chicago, but so far has not done so. (AP) GSP

Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18

First Published: September 29, 2025, 05:30 IST

News agency-feeds Oregon leaders say Trump is deploying 200 National Guard troops within 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...
Trump says Israel has full backing of US to take steps to defeat Hamas

Last Updated: September 30, 2025, 00:30 IST

Representational image (Image: News18)

Washington, Sep 29 (AP) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used a White House visit on Monday to extend a formal apology to his Qatari counterpart for a recent military strike targeting Hamas officials in the Gulf emirate that infuriated Arab leaders and triggered rare criticism by the US of Israel.

While Netanyahu was meeting with President Donald Trump, the White House released a Trump plan for ending the Israel-Hamas war and Gaza governance. Theres no immediate word on whether Israel or Hamas has accepted 20-point plan.

Recommended Stories

The plan calls for a temporary governing board that would be headed by Trump and include former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The plan does not require people to leave Gaza and calls for the war to end immediately if both sides accept it. It also calls for all remaining hostages to be released within 72 hours of Israel accepting the plan.

Trump says Israel would have the full backing" of the United States to take steps to defeat Hamas if it doesnt accept proposed peace deal.

I think we are beyond very close," Trump said at the start of a news conference with Netanyahu where he detailed the deal.

Netanyahu made the call to Qatars prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, as he met with Trump for critical talks aimed at ending the war in Gaza and developing a US plan on postwar governance in the war-battered Palestinian territory, according to the White House.

As a first step, Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed his deep regret that Israels missile strike against Hamas targets in Qatar unintentionally killed a Qatari serviceman," the White House said in a statement. He further expressed regret that, in targeting Hamas leadership during hostage negotiations, Israel violated Qatari sovereignty and affirmed that Israel will not conduct such an attack again in the future." The White House talks, and apology from Netanyahu, come at a tenuous moment. Israel is increasingly isolated, losing support from many countries that were long its steadfast allies. At home, Netanyahus governing coalition appears more fragile than ever. And the White House is showing signs of impatience.

The question now is whether Trump, who has offered steadfast backing to Netanyahu throughout the war, will change his tone and turn up the pressure on Israel to wind down the conflict.

As he welcomed Netanyahu to the White House, Trump responded affirmatively when asked by reporters whether he was confident a deal would be soon reached to end the fighting between Israel and Hamas.

I am. Im very confident," Trump said.

Netanyahus apology for strike that angered US ally Israel stuck the headquarters of Hamas political leadership in Qatar on September 9 as the groups top figures gathered to consider a US proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

The strike on the territory of a US ally was a stunning escalation and risked upending talks aimed at winding down the war and freeing hostages. No senior Hamas officials were killed in the strike.

The attack on an energy-rich Gulf nation hosting thousands of American troops, which has served as a key mediator between Israel and Hamas throughout the war and even before, was described by Trump as out of step with Israeli and U.S. interests. And Trump sought to move quickly to assuage his Qatari allies.

Qatar, meanwhile, condemned the strike as a flagrant violation of all international laws and norms" as smoke rose over its capital, Doha. Other key US allies in the Gulf, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, promised their support to Qatar.

The White House said al Thani welcomed Netanyahus assurances" and emphasized Qatars readiness to continue contributing meaningfully to regional security and stability." But even as the White House was spotlighting the apology, Israels far right national security minister newly defended the decision to carry out Israels attack.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, a key coalition partner of Netanyahus, in a posting on X called the operation an important, just and ethical attack." It is very good that it happened," he added.

White House urges Israel and Hamas to get to a ceasefire and hostage release deal Earlier Monday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt urged both sides to finalize an agreement to bring an end to the nearly two-year-old war in Gaza.

Ultimately the president knows when you get to a good deal, both sides are going to leave a little bit unhappy," Leavitt told reporters. But we need this conflict to end." Trump and Netanyahu were first holding talks with aides in the Oval Office and over a private lunch. A joint press conference is expected later.

Meanwhile, Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, said Palestinian officials stood ready to work with Trump and Arab countries in bringing an end to the war.

Let us not delay a single minute more in doing what is necessary for this just peace to replace the unbearable reality of today," Mansour said during a Security Council meeting on the Middle East.

Trump growing more frustrated with conflict Trump joined forces with Netanyahu during Israels brief war with Iran in June, ordering US stealth bombers to strike three nuclear sites, and hes supported the Israeli leader during his corruption trial, describing the case as a witch hunt." But the relationship has become more tense lately. Trump was frustrated by Israels failed strike this month on Hamas officials in Qatar.

Last week, Trump vowed to prevent Israel from annexing the West Bank  an idea promoted by some of Netanyahus hard-line governing partners. The international community opposes annexation, saying it would destroy hopes for a two-state solution.

On Friday, Trump raised expectations for the meeting with Netanyahu, telling reporters the US was very close to a deal on Gaza." Proposal does not include expulsion of Palestinians Trumps proposal to stop the war in Gaza calls for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages within 48 hours and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Palestinian enclave, according to three Arab officials briefed on the plan. They spoke on the condition of anonymity because the plan has not been formally unveiled.

Hamas is believed to be holding 48 hostages, 20 of whom are believed by Israel to be alive. The militant group has demanded Israel agree to end the war and withdraw from all of Gaza as part of any permanent ceasefire.

Trump discussed the plan with Arab and Islamic leaders in New York last week on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. It doesnt include the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza, which Trump appeared to endorse earlier this year.

The 21-point proposal also calls for an end to Hamas rule of Gaza and the disarmament of the militant group, said the officials briefed on the plan. Hundreds of Palestinians, including many serving life sentences, will be released by Israel, according to the proposal.

The plan also includes the establishment of an international security force to take over law enforcement in postwar Gaza, they said.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

A Palestinian committee of technocrats would oversee the civilian affairs of the strip, with power handed over later to a reformed Palestinian Authority, they said. Netanyahu has rejected any role for the authority, the internationally recognized representative of the Palestinians, in postwar Gaza.

A Hamas official said the group was briefed on the plan but has yet to receive an official offer from Egyptian and Qatari mediators. The group has repeatedly rejected laying down arms and has linked its weapons to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. (AP) RD RD

Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18

First Published: September 30, 2025, 00:30 IST

News agency-feeds Trump says Israel has full backing of US to take steps to defeat Hamas

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
Will donate my Asia Cup match fee to armed forces and Pahalgam victims: SKY

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 05:15 IST

Representational image (Image: News18)

Dubai, Sep 30 (PTI) India captain Suryakumar Yadav has announced that he will donate his entire match fee from the just-concluded Asia Cup to the countrys armed forces and the victims of Pahalgam terror attack.

India defeated bitter foes Pakistan by five wickets in the final to win the trophy on Sunday night here.

Recommended Stories

I have decided to donate my match fees from this tournament to support our Armed Forces and the families of the victims who suffered from the Pahalgam terror attack. You always remain in my thoughts. Jai Hind," the 35-year-old posted on X after the high-voltage win.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

India players are entitled to Rs four lakh per match in the T20 format, which means that Suryakumar would be donating a total of Rs 28 lakh for the seven games played in the continental event.

The Indian team had steadfastly refused to exchange pleasantries with the Pakistani team for the entire tournament, during which it ended up beating Salman Ali Aghas side on three consecutive Sundays. PTI KHS PM PM PM

Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18

First Published: September 29, 2025, 05:15 IST

News agency-feeds Will donate my Asia Cup match fee to armed forces and Pahalgam victims: SKY

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
Stocks To Watch: Tata Motors, NTPC, HDFC Bank, LIC, BEL, Oil India, Waaree, And Others

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 07:58 IST

Stocks to watch: Shares of firms like Tata Motors, NTPC, HDFC Bank, LIC, BEL, Oil India, Waaree, and others will be in focus on Monday's trade

Stocks To Watch On September 29

Stocks to Watch on September 29: Indian equities remained under pressure on Friday, extending their losing streak for the sixth consecutive session. Analysts attributed the slide to sustained weakness in index heavyweights, which has accelerated the markets decline over the past two sessions.

The Nifty50 is now approaching its key support level near the 200-day exponential moving average (DEMA) around 24,400, a crucial technical marker. We recommend adopting a cautious approachfocusing on fundamentally strong stocks while avoiding aggressive directional bets until clearer signals emerge," said Ajit Mishra, SVP  Research, Religare Broking.

Recommended Stories

In todays trade, several stocks will be in focus due to significant news and developments:

Key Stocks in Focus

Glenmark, Sun Pharma, Granules India, Zydus, Unichem

Domestic drugmakers Glenmark, Granules India, Sun Pharma, Zydus and Unichem are voluntarily recalling certain products in the US market over manufacturing issues, according to the US Food and Drug Administrations (USFDA) latest Enforcement Report. The recalls pertain to affected lots in the American market.

NTPC

State-run NTPC will appoint a consultant to identify uranium mines overseas following a formal agreement with Uranium Corporation of India Ltd (UCIL). The move aims to secure raw materials for NTPCs future nuclear power projects.

HDFC Bank

HDFC Banks Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) branch has received a decision notice from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) restricting it from onboarding or soliciting new clients.

The notice bars the DIFC branch from advising on financial products, arranging investment deals, arranging credit, and providing custody services to new clients. The restriction applies to all clients who had not completed their onboarding process as of September 25, 2025.

IndusInd Bank

Gobind Jain, whistleblower and former CFO of IndusInd Bank, told Mumbais Economic Offences Wing (EoW) that accounting irregularities in the banks derivatives portfolio date back to 2015 and were known to the then board, senior management, and former finance chief SV Zaregaonkar.

LIC

Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) attracted inflows of over 1,100 crore on the first day after the GST was scrapped on individual traditional life insurance policies, according to an ET report. This compares with LICs monthly premium income of 5,000 crore from retail policyholders in August 2025.

Tata Motors

Tata Motors announced the appointment of Shailesh Chandra as Additional Director, Managing Director and CEO, effective October 1, 2025, for a three-year term.

Chandra will continue to lead Tata Passenger Electric Mobility, the companys EV subsidiary, following the resignation of P B Balaji as Group CEO.

Oil India

Oil India (OIL), a Maharatna company under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, reported natural gas discovery in its second exploratory well drilled in the Andaman Shallow Offshore Blocka key step in its ongoing exploration campaign.

Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd (TPREL)

Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd (TPREL) signed an agreement with Bank of Baroda to provide financing solutions for MSMEs and Commercial & Industrial (C&I) units purchasing solar equipment and projects.

Bharat Electronics (BEL)

The Indian Army has issued a tender to buy five to six regiments of the Anant Shastra surface-to-air missile weapon systemsearlier known as the Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile system (QRSAM)developed by DRDO. The tender was issued to Bharat Electronics (BEL) to bolster air defence along borders with Pakistan and China.

Waaree Energies

Waaree Energies, Indias largest solar panel maker, is under investigation in the US for alleged evasion of anti-dumping and countervailing duties on solar cells from China and other Southeast Asian nations by labelling them as made in India.

The company said it had cooperated with previous US investigations and will continue to do so. Waaree maintains that it complies with all applicable laws and regulations in every country where it operates.

Sunteck Realty

Sunteck Realty launched an ultra-luxury residential brand, Emaance, with properties priced at over 2.5 lakh per sq ftamong the most expensive in India.

The company plans to launch two properties under this brand: one at Napeansea Road in South Mumbai during the current fiscal year, and another at Downtown Dubai (Burj Khalifa Community)marking Suntecks international debut.

Hindustan Unilever (HUL)

Hindustan Unilever (HUL) reported a short-term dip in sales for Q2FY26 due to the rollout of GST 2.0 reforms. In its first-ever business update to exchanges, HUL cited trade postponing new orders to clear existing stock and delayed pantry buying by consumers, leading to slower sales in September.

JSW Steel

The Supreme Court overturned its previous order that had directed the liquidation of Bhushan Power and Steel (BPSL), reinstating approval for JSW Steels 19,700-crore resolution plan.

A bench led by Chief Justice BR Gavai, with Justices SC Sharma and K Vinod Chandran, stressed that creditors commercial wisdom must take precedence and criticised attempts by erstwhile promoters to stall proceedings, noting they had lost control of the company post-insolvency.

Godawari Power & Ispat (GPIL)

GPIL is conducting an internal inquiry into an accident at its Chhattisgarh plant that resulted in the deaths of six people, including four officials and two workers, after a furnace incident in Raipur on Friday. Six others, including a general manager, were injured.

Interarch Building Solutions

Interarch Building Solutions, a leading maker of pre-engineered steel buildings, held the groundbreaking ceremony for its new plant in Attivaram, Andhra Pradesh.

The 100-crore facility, with a first-phase capacity of 25,000 metric tonnes, will cater to multi-storey steel buildings, data centres, semiconductor plants, electronic manufacturing units, and battery production facilities.

Deepak Nitrite

Deepak Nitrite announced that its subsidiary, Deepak Chem Tech, has commissioned a hydrogenation plant at Dahej in Gujarats Bharuch district. The project cost 115 crore and aims to enhance manufacturing capabilities and support the companys growth plans.

VIP Industries

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

VIP Industries offloaded a 6.2% stake in the company on Thursday through a block deal worth 343 crore. Piramal Vibhuti Investments and Kiddy Plast sold 88.4 lakh shares at an average price of 388.2 per share. Multiples Private Equity Fund acquired 60 lakh shares for 233 crore. Samvibhag Securities bought 22 lakh shares for 86 crore.

Disclaimer: The views and investment tips by experts in this News18.com report are their own and not those of the website or its management. Users are advised to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.

About the Author Aparna Deb Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, ... Read More

First Published: September 29, 2025, 07:58 IST

News business markets Stocks To Watch: Tata Motors, NTPC, HDFC Bank, LIC, BEL, Oil India, Waaree, And Others

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
Zoho's Arattai Messenger Sees 100x Surge In Traffic; Sridhar Vembu Says Adding Infra On Urgent Basis

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 10:22 IST

Zoho's homegrown messaging app Arattai sees a 100x surge in Arattai traffic in 3 days, with new sign-ups going vertical from 3,000 per day to 3,50,000 per day, says Sridhar Vembu.

Arattai Messenger: The company says it is also fine-tuning and updating the code to fix issues as they arise.

Days after Prime Minister Narendra Modis Swadeshi call, Zohos homegrown messaging app Arattai sees a 100x surge in Arattai traffic in three days, with new sign-ups going vertical from 3,000 per day to 3,50,000 per day. Zohos Chief Scientist Sridhar Vembu says the company is adding infrastructure on an emergency basis for another potential 100x peak surge. That is how exponentials work.

We have faced a 100x increase in Arattai traffic in 3 days (new sign-ups went vertical from 3K/day to 350K/day). We are adding infrastructure on an emergency basis for another potential 100x peak surge. That is how exponentials work. As we add a lot more infrastructure, we are also fine-tuning and updating the code to fix issues as they arise. We have all-hands-on-deck working flat out," Vembu said in a post on X.

Recommended Stories

We have faced a 100x increase in Arattai traffic in 3 days (new sign-ups went vertical from 3K/day to 350K/day). We are adding infrastructure on an emergency basis for another potential 100x peak surge. That is how exponentials work.As we add a lot more infrastructure, we are  Sridhar Vembu (@svembu) September 28, 2025

As a matter of fact, the company had planned on a big release by November, with a lot of the features you expect, a huge capacity addition and a marketing push. And then it suddenly went vertical!, said Vembu.

We have a lot more planned for Arattai, please give us some time. Thank you for your patience and support! Jai Hind," he added.

Last week, Ashwini Vaishnaw made a presentation on the decisions of the Union Cabinet using indigenously developed Zoho Show software. Vaishnaw made the announcement of using Zoho before briefing the media on the decisions taken by the Union Cabinet.

Keeping with the spirit of swadeshi, the presentation I am about to make before you was prepared using Zoho. It was not made on Microsoft Powerpoint, but Zoho," Vaishnaw said.

The minister said he has started using Zoho software personally for the past couple of days.

Switch to Swadeshi! Cabinet briefing using Zoho Show," Vaishnaw posted on X.

The ministers statement comes amid the governments growing emphasis on Aatmanirbhar Bharat" (self-reliant India). Prime Minister Narendra Modi has on several occasions in the past called for self-reliant India.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Zoho Office Suite offers tools such as Zoho Writer, Zoho Sheets, and Zoho Show that compete directly with similar products offered by Microsoft Office 365 and Google Workspace.

With over 55 apps across nearly every major business category, Zoho Corporation is one of the worlds most prolific technology companies. Headquartered in Chennai, India, Zoho is a privately held and profitable company, employing more than 18,000 people worldwide, according to its website.

About the Author Mohammad Haris Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to personal finance, markets, economy and companies. Having over a decade of experience in financial journalis... Read More

First Published: September 29, 2025, 10:22 IST

News business Zoho's Arattai Messenger Sees 100x Surge In Traffic; Sridhar Vembu Says Adding Infra On Urgent Basis

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
Mumbai Metro-3s Kalbadevi Station Is Ready: Have You Seen Aqua Lines Swanky Stop Yet?

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 17:29 IST

Mumbai Metro-3: After Cuffe Parade Metro station, Hutatma Chowk, CSMT, Vidhan Bhavan and Churchgate Metro stations, pictures of Kalbadevi station were shared on social media

Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google

Mumbai Metro-3: The Kalbadevi Metro station. (Instagram)

As the Mumbai Metro-3 or the Aqua Line, connecting south Mumbai to the suburbs, gets ready to open soon, the stations on the last stretch, too, are set.

After Cuffe Parade Metro station, Hutatma Chowk, CSMT, Vidhan Bhavan and Churchgate stations on the Worli to Colaba stretch, pictures of Kalbadevi station were shared on social media.

Recommended Stories

The caption read: Kalbadevi Metro Station. A new bridge connecting Marathi culture and fast-paced Mumbai! An old, historically and culturally important commercial hub in central Mumbai. Now a modern NATM metro station has been built here, bringing a unique blend of technology and heritage to a densely populated area."

Take a look at the station below:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by MumbaiMetro3 (@mumbaimetro3)

Earlier, pictures of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) Metro station were released. Take a look:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by MumbaiMetro3 (@mumbaimetro3)

Heres how Hutatma Chowk Mumbai Metro-3 station looks.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by MumbaiMetro3 (@mumbaimetro3)

The Churchgate Mumbai Metro-3 station is super fancy. Take a look:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by MumbaiMetro3 (@mumbaimetro3)

The Vidhan Bhavan Metro station of Aqua Line will provide direct underground access to Vidhan Bhavan, Mantralaya and the New Administrative Building.

Take a look:

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

View this post on Instagram A post shared by MumbaiMetro3 (@mumbaimetro3)

The inauguration of the last phase, from Worli to Cuffe Parade, will make the line fully operational. It has the following stations  Science Museum, Mahalaxmi, Mumbai Central, Grant Road, Girgaon, Kalbadevi, CSMT, Hutatma Chowk, Churchgate, Vidhan Bhavan, Cuffe Parade.

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 29, 2025, 16:20 IST

News mumbai-news Mumbai Metro-3s Kalbadevi Station Is Ready: Have You Seen Aqua Lines Swanky Stop Yet?

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
Mumbai Rain Brings Water Cut Respite: All Seven Dams Are Almost Full

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 12:26 IST

According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), a total of 14,39,588 million litres of water was stored in all dams till Sunday morning

Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google

The ghat is located between the villages of Mulshi and Tamhini. (Representative Image)

Amid the Mumbai rain mayhem, there is some good news for citizens.

All seven dams supplying water to Mumbai are full to the brim thanks to the abundant and satisfactory rainfall this monsoon.

Recommended Stories

This means there will be no water shortage in summer. Moreover, the municipal administration could also continue uninterrupted water supply for 24 hours.

According to the information provided by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), a total of 14,39,588 million litres of water was stored in all dams till Sunday morning. This is at a capacity of 99.46 per cent. The combined storage capacity of all the dams is 14,47,363 million litres. They supply 3,850 million litres of water to Mumbai daily.

The 7 dams and how much water is stored

Tulsi: 100%

Vihar: 100%

Tansa: 91.91%

Modak Sagar: 100%

Upper Vaitarna: 99.58%

Middle Vaitarna Dam: 98.96%

Bhatsa: 99.35%

While Tulsi, Vihar, Tansa and Modak Sagar dams are full to their capacity, the remaining three dams have also reached almost 100 per cent capacity.

What happened last year

This year the situation is more satisfactory than last year. Last year, the dams had 99.44 per cent water storage during the same period. No water cuts were imposed this year.

What is the October 1 criterion?

As per the Municipal Corporation rules, if there is 100 per cent storage in the dams on October 1, the situation is considered completely satisfactory in terms of water supply until the next monsoon.

Mumbai rain

Mumbai witnessed light to moderate rains on Monday morning, a day after heavy showers lashed the city.

Some of the suburbs received nearly 100 mm of rain over the last 24 hours, civic officials said.

Local train services of the Central Railway and Western Railway were running normally with some delay, and there was no diversion of bus routes of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking, they said.

The weather bureau has sounded an orange alert for Mumbai and suburbs, predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall on Monday.

Most parts of the city witnessed light or moderate showers in the morning.

The rain intensity was significantly lower compared to the previous morning, when heavy rains lashed Mumbai, the officials said.

In the weather forecast issued at 8 am on Monday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted a cloudy sky with heavy rainfall" in the city and suburbs. It also forecast the possibility of very heavy rainfall" at isolated places, they said.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

In the 24 hours ending at 8 am on Monday, the island city recorded 74.85 mm of rainfall, while the eastern and western suburbs received 77.89 mm and 99.44 mm of rainfall, respectively, a civic official said.

With PTI Inputs

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

First Published: September 29, 2025, 12:24 IST

News mumbai-news Mumbai Rain Brings Water Cut Respite: All Seven Dams Are Almost Full

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
From Mud House To Railway Job: Against All Odds, This Jharkhand Village Boy Rose To Success

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 14:55 IST

From a mud house to a job in the Railways, Pradeep Kumars journey stands as a powerful reminder that struggle, when met with perseverance, can indeed lead to triumph

Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google

Pradeep's success brought immense pride to his village. (News18 Hindi)

In a remarkable tale of perseverance, Pradeep Kumar, a resident of Pokhardiha village under Kataiya Panchayat of Satgawan block in Jharkands Koderma district, has secured selection as a Junior Engineer (Civil) in the Railway Recruitment Board examination. His achievement has not only brought honour to his family but also filled the entire region with pride.

Pradeep, the son of farmer Naresh Prasad Yadav, comes from extremely modest circumstances. His family continues to reside in a mud house that leaks during the rainy season. For years, these adversities have tested the familys resilience, but they also strengthened Pradeeps determination to transform his circumstances.

Recommended Stories

Academically gifted from the beginning, Pradeep passed his Class 10 board exams in 2016 with 75% marks from the upgraded high school in his village. He went on to complete a Polytechnic Diploma in Civil Engineering from Silli between 2017 and 2020. With limited resources at his disposal, he pursued his studies with single-minded focus, preparing for competitive examinations through self-study.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

This year, his relentless hard work bore fruit when he cleared the Railway Board examination, earning the post of Junior Engineer. The news of his success sparked jubilation in Pokhardiha, with family members distributing sweets and neighbours flocking to congratulate him. His younger uncle, Pappu Yadav, described him as an example for generations to come", while villagers hailed him as proof that poverty and hardship cannot deter one who has determination and courage".

Pradeeps achievement is being seen as more than personal success. His friendly nature and humble demeanour have made him a much-admired figure among villagers, and many youths now look up to him as an inspiration.

Location : Jharkhand, India, India

First Published: September 29, 2025, 14:55 IST

News education-career From Mud House To Railway Job: Against All Odds, This Jharkhand Village Boy Rose To Success

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
IIT Madras Invites Applications For Executive MBA With Weekend Classes & Global Immersion

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 12:37 IST

IIT Madras Department of Management Studies (DoMS) has opened applications for its Executive MBA 2025, which offers weekend classes.

IIT Madras launches Executive MBA 2025 with weekend classes and global immersion.

IIT Madras Department of Management Studies (DoMS) has opened applications for its Executive MBA (EMBA) program, designed for mid-career professionals who want to take on leadership roles in modern businesses.

The two-year, in-person program is structured for working professionals, with classes held on alternate weekends so participants can continue their jobs while learning. The curriculum focuses on giving students both functional knowledge and a broader perspective on managing complex businesses.

Recommended Stories

Practical learning is emphasised through three field capstone projects, allowing students to apply classroom lessons to real-world business challenges.

The program aims to equip students with deep knowledge across industries, an integrated approach to business decisions, and the skills needed to lead and contribute to global businesses.

Eligibility and Selection

Candidates with a minimum of 60% in their Bachelors degree, along with at least three years of work experience, can apply. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to the IIT Madras campus on 8th and 9th November 2025 for a written aptitude test and personal interview.

The test will cover Business Aptitude, Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Ability, and Verbal Ability. Results will be announced in December, and the program is scheduled to start in January 2026.

Interested candidates can apply here: IIT Madras EMBA Admissions by 19th October 2025.

Why This EMBA is Unique?

Prof. Saji K Mathew, Head of DoMS, IIT Madras, highlighted the programs unique advantages: This EMBA combines the technological strength of IIT Madras with in-person weekend classes for working professionals. Its designed with global business in mind, including an international immersion program. Last year, students visited IESEG School of Management in Paris."

Dr. S. Srinivasan, Associate Professor and EMBA Coordinator, added, Our program helps professionals immediately apply the tools they learn. We focus on interdisciplinary knowledge and a case-study-driven approach, using real-world examples from Ivy League and Harvard Business School. Students get a simulated business environment to practice decision-making."

ALSO READ: GATE 2026 Registration: IIT Guwahati Extends Application, Apply Now At gate2026.iitg.ac.in

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

International Immersion Programme

A recent addition to the curriculum is the International Immersion Learning Program. Students spend 10 days at a prestigious institution abroad, such as IESEG School of Management in Paris, to develop global leadership and cultural intelligence. They combine classroom sessions with field visits across Northern France and Belgium, including Lille and Brussels.

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 29, 2025, 12:37 IST

News education-career IIT Madras Invites Applications For Executive MBA With Weekend Classes & Global Immersion

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
Bihar Poll Countdown: Final Voter List, Observer Deployment & EC Visit Mark Crucial Week

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 10:52 IST

The term of the assembly is ending in November and the elections are expected to be completed before that

Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google

With two major festivals, Diwali and Chhath, falling between October 20 and 30, the elections are likely to be scheduled in the first two weeks of November. (PTI)

Preparations for the Bihar assembly polls are entering a decisive phase this week with three milestones lined uprelease of the final voter roll, appointment of central observers, and a review visit by the Election Commissions top brass.

The final electoral roll for Bihar after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is scheduled to be released on Tuesday. The draft roll was published on August 1 and included 7.24 crore electors out of the 7.89 crore voters registered in the state as of June 24. The draft excluded 65 lakh names of the dead, migrated, or those enrolled at multiple places.

Recommended Stories

The final roll will have at least 15.32 lakh additional voters who submitted the forms between August 1 and 31 during the Claims & Objections period. The poll body has not issued data on the new voter requests since then.

The appointment of the central observers has also started, with the commission deciding to deploy 470 officers, including 320 IAS, for Bihar and eight by-polls in seven states.

The central observers (General, Police and Expenditure) not only help the commission in fulfilling its constitutional mandate but also contribute towards enhancing voter awareness and participation in elections.

The main objective of the observers is to identify areas for improvements and to formulate concrete and operative recommendations.

By the end of the weekon Saturday and Sunday (October 4 and 5)Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi will visit Patna to assess the poll preparedness. Before the visit, they will meet the observers in Delhi on Thursday.

The ground review by the commission in Patna will pave the way for the formal announcement of the election schedule.

These are standard steps in the poll bodys final phase of preparations. With these steps, preparations are reaching their final milestones for the 243-member legislative assembly elections. The term of the assembly is ending in November and the elections are expected to be completed before that.

With two major festivals, Diwali and Chhath, falling between October 20 and 30, the elections are likely to be scheduled in the first two weeks of November and results are also expected before mid-November.

It is also important to note that the Supreme Court verdict on the SIR is expected after October 7the date for the final arguments on validity of Bihar SIR.

In 2020, amid the coronavirus waves, the elections in Bihar were held in three phases, starting from October 28. The results were declared on November 10. In 2015, the elections were held in five phases starting from October 12.

In comparison, for the 70-member Delhi Assembly, the election schedule was announced early this year on January 7, with polling held on February 5 and counting completed by February 8. This provides a recent example of streamlined poll scheduling that Bihar might also aim to emulate, given the tight timelines with major festivals and the assembly term ending soon.

It is worth mentioning that in July, the poll body had announced that each polling station in Bihar will have less than 1,200 electors. To accommodate the excess voters, 12,817 new polling stations have been added in Bihar to prevent long queues. The poll body has revised the earlier ceiling of 1,500 electors per station. With the addition, Bihar will now have over 90,000 polling stationsa move aimed at easing voter queues and ensuring wider access.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

With the ground review in Patna paving the way for the formal announcement of the election schedule, the administrative groundwork is nearly complete.

The focus will now shift from the Election Commissions preparations to the high-stakes political battle. Bihar, heading into its 18th assembly elections, will once again see chief minister Nitish Kumar, the longest-serving chief minister with nearly 19 years in office, leading the National Democratic Alliance against opposition leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav.

About the Author Nivedita Singh Nivedita Singh is a data journalist and covers the Election Commission, Indian Railways and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. She has nearly seven years of experience in the news media. She twe... Read More

First Published: September 29, 2025, 10:52 IST

News elections Bihar Poll Countdown: Final Voter List, Observer Deployment & EC Visit Mark Crucial 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...
Photo: elements.envato.com

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved a new section in the rules for public procurement during martial law, which regulates how customers can use funds from the Ukraine Facility program from the European Union.

According to information on the website of the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine on Monday, the new section determines that only companies and subcontractors registered in "eligible countries" - EU states, Ukraine, Western Balkan countries, Georgia, Moldova, countries of the European Economic Area, as well as in other countries that, according to the European Commission, provide Ukraine with a level of support at the level of EU support - can participate in the procedures.

It also determines that the new section provides the opportunity to participate in the procedures for all goods, including within the framework of works and services, but they must also originate from these countries. At the same time, participants and their beneficial owners must not be under EU sanctions.

The Ministry of Economy explained that the coordination of the procedure with the obligations under the Framework Agreement between Ukraine and the EU on the functioning of the Ukraine Facility program makes the procurement system more understandable and increases the efficiency of using EU funds for recovery and development. This applies to all public procurements for program funds - from authorities and local communities to educational, healthcare and other state and municipal institutions.

The Ukraine Facility program was launched in 2024 by a decision of the European Parliament and the Council of the EU. Its goal is to help Ukraine with financing recovery, modernization and reforms on the path to EU membership, the amount of support is EUR50 billion for 2024-2027.
Iranian-Origin Families Living For Decades In Bihar Get Notices To Prove Citizenship: Report

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 21:38 IST

Families of Iranian-origin Bihar residents, who have been living in the state for over two decades, received notices to prove their citizenship under the ongoing SIR exercise.

Rapid Read + Follow us On Google

Voters wait in queues at a polling station to cast their votes in Bihars Gaya district. (IMAGE: PTI FILE)

Descendants of Iranian-origin Bihar residents in the poll-bound states Kishanganj have received notices to prove their citizenship under the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.

Iranian-origin Bihar residents, who call themselves Indians and native Persian speakers, told broadcaster NDTV that 30 people have been asked to submit documents to prove their citizenship.

Recommended Stories

Tahir Ali, who along with four other members of his family received similar notices, told the broadcasters that his grandparents and great-grandparents were on the voter list".

Another resident said if officials demand DNA then they shall take it out of our ancestors graves", claiming that these Iranian-origin families are not illegals.

Our ancestors were not illegal, they were not from Bangladesh. We are giving all the documents asked of us and are cooperating with the government. If they want DNA, we will take it out of our ancestors graves," the person said.

A report by Jagran from September says that at least three dozen Iranian-origin residents have received such notices.

Their report said that earlier this month a Booth Level Officer (BLO) was allegedly assaulted by residents of Iranian origin after he refused to add their names to the voter list.

According to the Jagran report dated September 6, the incident took place at the home of Mohammad Qadir Noor, BLO for Booth 266 in Motibagh, who said he allegedly had been under pressure for over a week to include names that did not belong in his booth.

On the day of the attack, individuals from the Iranian settlement allegedly forced their way into Noors house, beat him up and threatened him with further violence if their names were not registered. The situation was defused only after neighbours intervened, and police later registered a case.

The confrontation stems from a long-running dispute over citizenship, Jagran said in its report.

In 2004, the Patna High Court had ordered the removal of around 113 Iranian-origin residents from the voter rolls in Ward 5 after they failed to produce valid citizenship documents.

Despite that, some of those individuals allegedly managed to re-enter the rolls in later years. The district administration has now issued fresh notices to more than three dozen Iranian-origin voters in the ward.

Kamar Abbas, who spoke to broadcaster NDTV, said his name was present in the 2003 voter roll.

Whenever we have received notices, we have provided proof of our citizenship. My name was in the 2003 voter list and then it was dropped. We then got it re-added. Every time our names are dropped despite giving documents," Abbas was quoted as saying.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sushant Gop told the broadcaster that the residents names have not been removed from the voter list".

Iranian people have been living here for around 40 years. 28 people have been identified, but their names have not been removed from the voter list. They have been asked to give documents of citizenship proof," Gop was quoted as saying.

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 : Kishanganj, India, India

First Published: September 29, 2025, 21:38 IST

News elections Iranian-Origin Families Living For Decades In Bihar Get Notices To Prove Citizenship: 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...
'What Matters Isn't Number Of Seats But...' Eknath Shinde Clears Air On BMC Polls Seat Sharing

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 12:50 IST

Maharashtras deputy chief minister said while every partner in the Mahayuti will get due respect in the seat-sharing process, merit will be the priority and not numbers

Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google

Eknath Shinde expressed confidence that the saffron flag of the Mahayuti will fly over the city once the polls are concluded. (PTI)

Maharashtras deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde has made it clear that the upcoming Mumbai civic elections will not be about the number of seats contested by allies within the Mahayuti, but about ensuring that the alliance secures control of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

Speaking after a meeting with Shiv Senas branch heads in Mumbai, Shinde expressed confidence that the saffron flag of the Mahayuti will fly over the city once the polls are concluded.

Recommended Stories

With the state gearing up for local body elections, Shiv Sena organised a meeting with its branch heads in Mumbai. After the event, Shinde addressed the media and stressed the critical role of these local leaders. Branch heads are the backbone of our party. They are in touch with every citizen in their area, they know peoples problems, and they work actively to solve them. Their commitment is what strengthens us during elections," Shinde said.

According to Shinde, branch heads across Mumbai are already prepared for the polls and are only waiting for the election dates to be announced. Our workers are ready. Whenever the elections are held, we are confident that the Mahayuti will win the BMC," he said.

On the sensitive issue of seat-sharing among alliance partners, Shinde said discussions would take place soon. He insisted that only winnable seats should be contested to avoid unnecessary conflicts within the alliance. Merit will be the priority, not numbers. Every partner in the Mahayuti will get due respect in the seat-sharing process. What matters is not how many seats we contest, but that the Mahayuti flag flies over the BMC," Shinde noted.

Highlighting past achievements, Shinde reminded that when he was chief minister, several key development projects were implemented for Mumbai. He added that the current administration under chief minister Devendra Fadnavis is continuing that momentum with more projects for the citys growth.

It is on the strength of these development works that we secured strong numbers in the state assembly elections, and it is the same work that will ensure our success in the BMC polls," he said.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Shinde also took a swipe at the Opposition, accusing them of blaming electronic voting machines, the Election Commission, and the judiciary whenever they lose. When the Opposition loses, they find excuses. They said our government would not last, they predicted the chief minister would fall. Clearly, they never found the right astrologer," he quipped, adding that people had renewed their mandate for the Mahayuti despite such claims.

Reaffirming his governments commitment, Shinde said the Mahayuti is focused on the development of Maharashtra and Mumbai. The people of Mumbai have always supported those who deliver. They have seen our work and will continue to trust us," he said, expressing confidence that the alliance is on track to take charge of Indias richest civic body.

About the Author Mayuresh Ganapatye Mayuresh Ganapatye, News Editor at News18.com, writes on politics and civic issues, as well as human interests stories. He has been covering Maharashtra and Goa for more than a decade. Follow him at @... Read More

First Published: September 29, 2025, 12:50 IST

News elections 'What Matters Isn't Number Of Seats But...' Eknath Shinde Clears Air On BMC Polls Seat Sharing

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
Amid $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee Chaos, These Groups Could Gain Big  Explained

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 11:28 IST

Laid-off Indian professionals, the Big Tech  Microsoft, Google, Amazon --, Indias tech economy, and the Middle East are likely to gain from the new H-1B visa rules. Find out how

While the US has closed its doors, other regions are rolling out red carpets. Gulf nations like Saudi Arabia and the UAE are investing heavily in diversifying their economies beyond oil.

With the H-1B visa programme undergoing a major overhaul, as new applicants will have to pay a staggering $100,000 fee, highly skilled workers from India and other nationalities seem to be at the receiving end. But experts say some sections of the workforce and rival economies stand to gain from the new rules.

Recommended Stories

Let us understand the new visa economics, its ripple effects for Indians, its significance for the US and Indian economies, and the unexpected beneficiaries of the new visa programme.

How The H-1B Visa Became So Popular

The H-1B programme was designed in the early 1990s to allow US employers to hire foreign professionals in fields like technology, medicine, and research when local talent was scarce. Each year, about 85,000 visas are allocated, with Indians historically cornering around 70% of them.

For Indian families, the visa became synonymous with upward mobility: higher salaries, international exposure, and the possibility of permanent residency. For American companies, it was a way to keep their innovation engines humming. But the system has often been criticised for undercutting US workers and making American tech overdependent on Indian labour.

Now, with a sudden tenfold increase in costs, the landscape has shifted dramatically. What once was a stepping stone is becoming a formidable barrier.

Why Indians Are At The Crossroads

No group feels the weight of this change more than Indian professionals. Indians dominate the H-1B pool, and for decades, thousands of students in the country have chosen engineering and IT degrees with the sole aim of securing an H-1B and a career abroad.

But with new rules, Indian students may rethink foreign degrees. The traditional pathwaystudy in the US, work on an H-1B, eventually seek a green cardlooks far less secure. Spending $100,000 on a masters degree in America no longer guarantees a visa, especially if employers hesitate to foot another $100,000 for sponsorship.

Laid-off workers face a harder reset. The US tech industry has already seen mass layoffs in recent years. Many Indian H-1B holders who lost jobs scrambled to transfer visas or leave the country. With fees this high, transfers become much less feasible, pushing many to return home or explore other destinations.

The immediate effect is uncertainty, but the longer-term impact may be a brain drain reversal: Indian professionals staying back and contributing to domestic industries instead of leaving.

Who Are The Likely Winners?

Laid-Off Indian Techies

The steep $100,000 visa fee is set to make life harder for new H-1B aspirants, but it has opened an unexpected window for those already in the system. Laid-off Indian professionals, many of whom were left scrambling after waves of tech job cuts, now find themselves in demand.

Employers can bypass the massive fee by hiring workers who already hold valid H-1B visas, since transferring sponsorship costs far less than filing fresh applications. For companies, this is a cost-efficient shortcut: no lottery, no hefty fee, and far quicker deployment. For skilled workers, it means stronger bargaining powerbetter salaries, remote options, or even stock perks.

Sectors such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and cybersecurity are especially keen to tap into this ready-to-deploy talent pool. But the opportunity comes with limits: the strict grace period for laid-off H-1B holders continues to push families into uncertainty. Spouses remain barred from employment under certain visas, and children risk losing legal status if deadlines are missed. Even so, for those who land new jobs, the new rules turn crisis into leverage.

The Big Tech

For Silicon Valleys largest firms, the $100,000 fee is unlikely to be a deterrent. With deep cash reserves, companies such as Amazon, Google, and Microsoft can absorb the additional costs without blinking. More importantly, they stand to benefit from the market reshuffle.

Smaller IT firms and outsourcing players, which rely heavily on low-wage H-1B workers, will struggle to keep pace under the new rules. The result is a funneling of top-tier global talent towards the biggest players. Wall Street banks and multinational corporations may lean even harder on their Indian Global Capability Centers to avoid the costs of US-based visas.

For Washington, the new structure promises a windfall: billions of dollars in fresh revenue. But for start-ups and early-stage ventures, the policy is a serious blow. Many relied on H-1B hires to bring diversity and innovation into their teams. With the pipeline restricted, the US risks slowing the dynamism that once gave it its edge. The long-term concern: talent may simply look elsewhere, to friendlier destinations such as Canada, Singapore, or Europe.

Indias Brain Gain

While the US debates who loses, India is watching who might return. For years, the H-1B programme contributed to a steady outflow of talent, as engineers and researchers sought higher pay and global exposure abroad. Now, the visa overhaul could trigger the opposite: a wave of returnees fuelling Indias tech economy.

Cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune are already witnessing signs of this shift. Professionals bringing global experience, patents, and networks are being courted by Indian start-ups and multinationals alike. Venture capital firms see returning workers as catalysts for the next wave of unicorns.

The economic potential is significant. What was once a $100 billion remittance flow is evolving into brain circulation," as knowledge and entrepreneurial energy flow back into Indias economy. Patent filings, start-up activity, and investment are already on the rise. The challenges remain realwages at home still lag far behind those in the US, and bureaucracy continues to frustrate growthbut the momentum is turning.

For Indias fast-growing economy, this shift could be more than symbolic. The global tightening of H-1B access may ultimately accelerate Indias ambitions to position itself as the worlds next innovation hub.

The Middle East

While the US has closed its doors, other regions are rolling out red carpets. Gulf nations like Saudi Arabia and the UAE are investing heavily in diversifying their economies beyond oil, with technology and research at the forefront. They are offering competitive salaries, residency schemes, and start-up visasall without the exorbitant barriers now in place in the US.

Gulf countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, are offering comp packages among the highest in the world to capture top AI-talent from Silicon Valley," Francesco Filia, CEO of Fasanara Capital, told CNBC.

The UAE, which has struggled to retain top talent due to its oil and gas industry for about 15 years, has built a major commercial and financial hub that rivals London and New York City, as per the CNBC report.

At the forefront of the UAEs strategy are its visa options for creators, freelancers, and self-employed workers for its coveted Golden Visa, a 10-year stamp that is not dependent on an employer.

In April, Saudi Arabia introduced the National Skills Platform aimed at strengthening its workforce training and development to address global shifts arising from AI and automation.

Meanwhile, Singapore, Canada, and Australia, too, have been steadily positioning themselves as alternatives. With the US making itself less accessible, these countries may see a surge in highly skilled Indian professionals seeking new opportunities.

In effect, the American policy may accelerate the redistribution of global talent, creating new tech hubs outside Silicon Valley.

What Will Be The Impact On The US Economy?

For the Americans, the new visa policy reflects a sharp turn towards protectionism. Supporters argue that making H-1Bs prohibitively expensive will reduce dependence on foreign workers and create more opportunities for locals. But the question remains: can the US tech industry sustain its dominance without access to global talent?

Innovation Concerns: Many of Silicon Valleys success stories, from Google to Microsoft, were shaped by immigrants. Cutting off this pipeline could weaken Americas edge in emerging technologies.

Higher Costs For Firms: Companies desperate for specialised AI engineers or chip designers may still pay the $100,000 fee. But this means higher costs, slower growth, and possibly passing expenses onto consumers.

University Impact: US universities thrive on Indian and international students, many of whom come with the expectation of long-term opportunities. If fewer students see the H-1B as viable, American campuses may struggle to attract top talent.

The short-term political wins of appearing tough on immigration could translate into long-term economic drawbacks.

What Are The Options For Indian Workers?

For individuals, the landscape is uncertain but not hopeless. Experts suggest a few strategies:

Upskilling Locally: With Indias digital economy booming, building expertise in AI, fintech, health tech, or green energy can open strong opportunities without migration.

Exploring Alternative Destinations: Canadas Global Talent Stream, the UAEs golden visa, and Singapores tech passes are emerging as practical routes.

Entrepreneurship in India: With access to venture funding and a huge domestic market, staying home may offer faster career growth than chasing an increasingly elusive US job.

What Lies Ahead?

The $100,000 H-1B fee is a seismic shift in global migration policy. For many, it feels like the end of a dream. But hidden within the disruption are new possibilities: a stronger Indian tech ecosystem, new global hubs of innovation, and perhaps even a healthier balance between ambition and reality.

What remains certain is that the world of talent is more mobile, more ambitious, and more global than ever before. While America builds higher walls, Indians  long at the centre of this story  will decide which paths to walk through.

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 29, 2025, 11:26 IST

News explainers Amid $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee Chaos, These Groups Could Gain Big  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...
Explained | UKs Mandatory Digital ID: What It Is, How It Will Work, And Who Is Exempt

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 13:08 IST

Keir Starmer has confirmed that only those with digital IDs will be able to work in Britain. The plan is being pitched as a tool to curb illegal working & strengthen border control

UK PM Keir Starmer | Image: File

The United Kingdom is preparing for one of its biggest changes to identity verification in decades. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has confirmed that by the end of the current Parliament, which runs until 2029, people will not be able to work in Britain without a digital ID.

The proposal comes against the backdrop of Britains long-running struggle with irregular migration. In recent years, thousands of people have attempted to enter the country in small boats across the Channel, the narrow stretch of sea that separates southern England from northern France. Immigration became one of the central issues in the last general election, which brought Starmers Labour Party to power after 14 years of Conservative rule.

Recommended Stories

For Starmer, the digital ID is a way of responding to those pressures. He argues that the possibility of finding employment is one of the main reasons people attempt to enter the UK illegally. At present, it is relatively easy for undocumented workers to use borrowed or forged National Insurance numbers to secure jobs.

While addressing a gathering of world leaders in London, Starmer said, Digital ID is an enormous opportunity for the UK. It will make it tougher to work illegally in this country, making our borders more secure."

What Is The UKs Digital ID Card?

Despite the name, the new scheme will not involve citizens carrying a plastic card. It will be app-based, with credentials stored directly on smartphones. The government has compared it to services Britons already use, such as the NHS App, which allows patients to access medical records and vaccination certificates, or to contactless bank cards.

According to the UK governments website, each digital ID will include a persons name, date of birth, nationality or residency status, and a photograph, with biometric security at its core. A consultation later this year will examine whether adding further information, such as an address, would be useful.

The government has also emphasised that the system will rely on state-of-the-art encryption and authentication, the same kind of security used in millions of digital transactions every day. If a device is lost or stolen, the credentials can be revoked and reissued immediately, which the government says makes the scheme more secure than paper documents.

Will Digital ID Be Mandatory For Everyone?

The system will be compulsory for all UK citizens and legal residents who want to work. Employers will no longer be able to rely on National Insurance numbers or paper documents when hiring. Landlords will also be required to verify IDs before renting properties.

For groups not seeking employment, such as students, pensioners, or children, the digital ID will be optional. The UK government has clarified that people will not be required to carry it on a daily basis, and it will not be needed to access healthcare or welfare services.

What Benefits Could Digital ID Cards Offer Citizens?

While the immediate aim of the scheme is to curb illegal working and secure borders, the UK government has also presented it as a way to simplify everyday life. Once operational, digital IDs are expected to make routine processes faster, such as applying for a driving licence, accessing childcare benefits, reviewing tax records, or handling other government paperwork.

Starmer himself has pitched this efficiency as a selling point, saying the system will let people prove their identity quickly rather than, in his words, hunting around for an old utility bill." The government argues that replacing paper checks with secure digital credentials will not only cut bureaucracy but also reduce the risk of fraud.

How Does Britains Plan Compare With Other Countries?

The UK is following a path already taken by many nations. Estonia introduced a mandatory digital ID in 2002, which citizens now use to access banking, medical services, and even online voting. Denmark and Australia operate voluntary digital ID apps that people can download for both government and private services.

India offers one of the worlds largest examples of digital identity through Aadhaar. Every resident is assigned a unique 12-digit number linked to biometric details, which is now used widely across welfare schemes, banking services, and tax records. Its scale and integration have made it a reference point for other countries considering nationwide systems.

Other countries, from Singapore and France to the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, and Costa Rica, also use digital identity programmes.

Has The UK Tried Identity Cards Before?

Britains relationship with identity cards has been uneasy for more than a century. The country has never had a permanent, nationwide identity system in peacetime, and attempts to create one have often been met with resistance.

Compulsory ID cards were first introduced during the Second World War as a wartime measure. They remained in place for several years after the conflict, but public frustration grew as people complained that they were expensive to maintain and were being used by police in ways that went beyond their original purpose. In 1952, Winston Churchills government formally abolished the system, setting a precedent that identity cards were not compatible with normal civilian life.

The debate resurfaced in the early 2000s, when Tony Blairs Labour government legislated for voluntary ID cards. These were meant to modernise identity checks and address concerns over terrorism and illegal immigration after the 9/11 attacks and the London bombings. However, the plan faced sharp criticism on grounds of cost, privacy, and fears of creeping surveillance. When the ConservativeLiberal Democrat coalition came to power in 2010, one of its first acts was to scrap the scheme, with thenHome Secretary Theresa May calling it intrusive, bullying and ineffective."

What Is The Political Reaction?

The announcement has divided British politics. Labour defends the policy as essential for border control and fairness in the labour market. The far-right Reform UK has dismissed it as ineffective against small boat crossings. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has said a mandatory scheme requires a proper national debate," warning about costs and burdens for law-abiding citizens. The Liberal Democrats have pledged to fight the plan, branding it bureaucratic and expensive.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

What Happens Next?

The government will launch a consultation later this year to decide the final design, including how to support non-digital users and what safeguards to put in place. By law, the scheme must be fully operational before the next general election, which is scheduled for no later than August 2029.

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 29, 2025, 13:05 IST

News explainers Explained | UKs Mandatory Digital ID: What It Is, How It Will Work, And Who Is Exempt

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will 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 US Government On The Verge Of Shutting Down? Here's What Happens If It Does

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 15:53 IST

With Congress gridlocked and the 30 September deadline hours away, a shutdown could furlough hundreds of thousands of workers, halt key services & jolt the worlds largest economy

US President Donald Trump (Image: AFP)

The United States is on the verge of a government shutdown, when large parts of the federal administration are forced to stop work because Congress has not approved money to keep them running. If no agreement is reached by midnight on 30 September, agencies will begin closing on 1 October, the start of the new fiscal year.

Such a shutdown would leave hundreds of thousands of federal employees without pay, disrupt services from food safety inspections to air travel, and risk damaging the worlds largest economy. The confrontation has pitted President Donald Trump and his Republican allies against Democrats in Congress, who are demanding the extension of healthcare subsidies and the reversal of cuts to domestic programmes.

Recommended Stories

According to AP, Trump has repeatedly said he expects a shutdown, while Democrats argue his administration is deliberately driving the crisis. As per Guardian, this years threat is especially serious because agencies have been told to prepare for permanent layoffs, not just temporary furloughs, a first in modern US history.

What Is A Government Shutdown?

A government shutdown occurs when Congress fails to pass a spending bill or a temporary extension of funding before the start of a new fiscal year, which begins on 1 October. Without congressional approval, federal agencies cannot spend money and must halt non-essential functions.

Essential services such as Social Security, Medicare, immigration enforcement, military duties and air traffic control usually continue, but large parts of the federal bureaucracy close until a funding deal is reached. Employees in these departments are either furloughed, sent home without pay, or required to work without pay until the impasse ends.

According to CNN, since 1980 there have been 14 shutdowns. The longest occurred under Trump in 201819, lasting 35 days and sidelining around 800,000 workers.

Why Is The US Facing A Shutdown Now?

The American government cannot legally spend money without approval from Congress. Each year, lawmakers must pass 12 appropriations bills or at least a short-term continuing resolution" to keep agencies funded. The deadline for that approval is 30 September, when the fiscal year ends. If no deal is reached, many parts of the government run out of money and are forced to shut down.

This year, the deadline has collided with a deep partisan divide. The Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed a temporary seven-week funding measure last week, but the Senate rejected rival stopgap bills, leaving no agreement in place.

President Trump, who controls the White House as well as both chambers of Congress, has been unwilling to compromise. Earlier this week, he cancelled talks with Democratic leaders, calling their demands unserious," AP reported. He later reinstated a meeting with Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Republican leaders John Thune and Mike Johnson, but expectations remain low.

At the core of the standoff are Democrats demands, which they say are necessary to protect ordinary families:

An extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies that lower health insurance costs for millions, set to expire at the end of the year.

A rollback of Medicaid cuts made under Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Restoration of funding for public media eliminated in recent budget rescissions.

Schumer said on X that ignoring the 93 per cent rise in health insurance costs due on 1 November was what was truly unserious." Republicans, led by Thune, have dismissed these demands as completely unhinged."

The political tension is sharpened by history. In March, Schumer angered his own party base by helping Republicans pass a short-term funding bill without winning concessions, CNN noted. Democrats now see this deadline as their chance to push back, while Republicans frame the fight as Democrats holding the government hostage to force through unrelated policies.

What Makes This Shutdown Different From Previous Ones?

In most shutdowns, federal employees are placed on temporary leave without pay, known as furloughs, until funding is restored. This time, however, the Trump administration has signalled a more drastic approach.

According to the Guardian, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has instructed agencies to prepare not just for furloughs but also for permanent layoffs in programmes whose funding expires and which are deemed not consistent with the presidents priorities." This would mark a sharp escalation, turning what has historically been a temporary disruption into a long-term reduction of the federal workforce.

Alongside that directive, the administration has rolled out a deferred resignation programme. More than 100,000 federal employees are scheduled to formally resign on 30 September after spending months on paid administrative leave. The White House argues the scheme, costing $14.8 billion upfront, will ultimately save $28 billion a year by shrinking payroll costs.

Labour unions say the policy undermines the governments ability to deliver essential services. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest union representing federal workers, has filed a lawsuit against the programme. The AFL-CIO, Americas largest labour federation with over 12 million members across different sectors, has also criticised the administrations actions. Its president, Liz Shuler, told the Guardian: They are not pawns for the presidents political games."

By tying permanent job cuts to a shutdown, unions and Democrats warn, the White House is using the budget standoff as leverage to push through the most sweeping federal downsizing since the 1940s.

How Would A Shutdown Affect Workers And Services?

CNN outlined that federal workers are most immediately affected: hundreds of thousands furloughed or forced to work without pay, with back pay only once funding resumes. Federal contractors, however, may never recoup losses.

The Defence Department has already warned that active duty and reserve military members will have to keep reporting for work without pay. Judiciary officials have said federal courts could be disrupted within days.

Past shutdowns have shown ripple effects: even a handful of air traffic controllers calling in sick in 2019 caused flight chaos at New Yorks LaGuardia and other airports. National parks and Smithsonian museums may close, while states like Utah and Arizona sometimes step in with their own funds, CNN noted.

Other services likely to be delayed include food safety inspections, immigration hearings, and small business loans.

What Will Be The Economic Impact?

Shutdowns ripple through the economy by halting federal spending, delaying paycheques and cutting services that businesses and citizens depend on.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated that the 201819 shutdown reduced economic growth by $3 billion, which was never recovered. CNN noted that tax revenues also fell during that period because the Internal Revenue Service scaled back compliance activities, while private businesses lost income they could not make up later.

The US Travel Association, which represents airlines, hotels and tourism businesses, warned in a letter to lawmakers that the current standoff could cost $1 billion every week, citing longer airport security lines, cancelled trips and delays. A shutdown is a wholly preventable blow to Americas travel economy," said association president Geoff Freeman.

Unemployment in the US rose to 4.3 per cent in August, the highest since 2021. A prolonged shutdown could worsen job losses, disrupt markets and undermine public confidence in Washingtons ability to govern.

What Next For Trump And The Democrats?

For Democrats, resisting the shutdown is a chance to push back against cuts to healthcare and defend domestic programmes. For Trump, confrontation is the strategy. AP noted he has told allies that if it has to shut down, itll have to shut down."

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

The fight is also a proxy for Trumps broader agenda. In recent months, he has flexed executive authority by deploying federal troops in US cities, challenging constitutional principles such as birthright citizenship, and reshaping agencies with sweeping workforce cuts. Democrats fear that if they concede on the budget, it will embolden the president to press ahead with even more aggressive moves.

This shutdown battle is not only about money. It is about how far Trump is willing to push his confrontation with government institutions, and how far Democrats are willing to go in resisting him.

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 29, 2025, 15:50 IST

News explainers Is The US Government On The Verge Of Shutting Down? Here's What Happens If It Does

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
29-Year-Old Trainee Doctor Dies After Jumping From High-Rise In Noida

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 19:34 IST

Shiva was from Mathura and was pursuing an MBBS degree from a private college in Delhi, having joined the 2015 batch

Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google

The man, identified as Shiva, was visiting his sisters home in Gaur City 2 with his parents. (Representational image)

A 29-year-old trainee doctor allegedly committed suicide on Monday by jumping from the 21st floor of a high-rise building in Noida Extension, police said.

The man, identified as Shiva, was visiting his sisters home in Gaur City 2 with his parents. According to Additional DCP (Central Noida) Shavya Goyal, Shiva went to the balcony and jumped from the 21st floor of the building at 14th Avenue. He was taken to the hospital but was declared dead by doctors.

Recommended Stories

On Monday, at 14th Avenue, Gaur City 2, under the jurisdiction of Bisrakh Police Station, the man identified as Shiva committed suicide by jumping from the 21st floor. He was taken for treatment but was declared dead by doctors," Goyal said.

Shiva was from Mathura and was pursuing an MBBS degree from a private college in Delhi, having joined the 2015 batch. However, he had to suspend his medical training after developing mental health issues in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic. These issues caused him significant distress and depression.

No suicide note was found at the scene. Shivas family members were present when the incident happened. The police have taken his body into custody and sent it for a post-mortem examination.

An investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the suicide.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Additional DCP Goyal said that the family is cooperating with the police and that further enquiries are underway.

Disclaimer: If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata)

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 29, 2025, 19:33 IST

News india 29-Year-Old Trainee Doctor Dies After Jumping From High-Rise In Noida

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
Another Alleged Pakistani Spy Nabbed In Haryana, Police Questioning Underway

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 12:34 IST

Haryana CIA recovered Taufiqs mobile phone, which reportedly contained chat messages corroborating his involvement in espionage.

Another Alleged Pakistani Spy Nabbed In Haryana, Police Questioning Underway

After Rajasthan, now Haryana police have arrested a man named Taufiq from Hathin Khand for allegedly spying for Pakistan. According to authorities, Taufiq had visited Pakistan in 2022 and was subsequently cultivated as a source for Pakistani intelligence. Investigations indicate that, as in previous cases, he provided information regarding troop movements to Pakistan.

What evidence has been recovered?

Recommended Stories

During the arrest, the Haryana Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) recovered Taufiqs mobile phone, which reportedly contained chat messages corroborating his involvement in espionage. Officials stated that he had also admitted to sending individuals to Pakistan. Police are currently interrogating him to uncover the full extent of his activities and any potential accomplices.

This arrest follows a similar case in Rajasthan, where Hanif Khan, a resident of Basanpir Juni, Jaisalmer, was arrested by the Rajasthan CID Intelligence. Khan was accused of sending confidential information about army movements to Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), including during Operation Sindoor.

Dr Vishnukant, IGP CID (Security), told ANI that investigations revealed Khan was in constant contact with Pakistani intelligence via social media. During interrogation, it was revealed that he possessed information about important military installations and troop movements. Even during Operation Sindoor, he was in contact with a Pakistani handler and was sharing information about troop movements," he said. A case was registered under the Official Secrets Act, 1923.

Pak using social media as an espionage tool

Both cases highlight the growing concern over the misuse of social media platforms for intelligence gathering. Authorities have emphasised that foreign intelligence agencies often exploit seemingly innocuous communication channels to gather sensitive information. The recovered digital evidence from Taufiqs phone mirrors findings in previous arrests, underlining the need for stringent monitoring of suspicious contacts and activities.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Haryana police continue to interrogate Taufiq to determine whether he acted alone or as part of a larger network. Authorities are also reviewing his communications and movements to assess the scope of the information he may have transmitted to Pakistani handlers.

Security experts have reiterated that vigilance remains crucial at border states, particularly in regions where military operations and troop movements are sensitive.

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: September 29, 2025, 12:34 IST

News india Another Alleged Pakistani Spy Nabbed In Haryana, Police Questioning Underway

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
After Karnataka High Court Upholds Centre's Takedown Powers, X Says Will Appeal Ruling: 'Concerned'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 14:02 IST

This came after Karnataka HC dismissed X Corps petitions challenging governments Sahyog portal and related notifications, which enable certain content blocking.

'Deeply Concerned: X To Challenge Karnataka High Court Order On Takedown Notices

Social media platform X Corp has expressed deep concern over a recent Karnataka High Court ruling that it says will allow millions of police officers to issue arbitrary takedown orders. The company has announced its intention to appeal, emphasising its commitment to defending free expression.

Deeply concerned by the recent order from Karnataka Court in India, which will allow millions of police officers to issue arbitrary takedown orders through a secretive online portal called the Sahyog. This new regime has no basis in the law, circumvents Section 69A of the IT Act, violates Supreme Court rulings, and infringes Indian citizens constitutional rights to freedom of speech and expression. We will appeal this order to defend free expression," X Corp stated.

Recommended Stories

The Sahyog enables officers to order content removal based solely on allegations of illegality," without judicial review or due process for the speakers, and threatens platforms with criminal liability for non-compliance. X respects and complies with Indian law, but this order fails to address the core constitutional issues in our challenge and is inconsistent with the Bombay High Courts recent ruling that a similar regime was unconstitutional. We respectfully disagree with the view that we have no right to raise these concerns because of our incorporation abroadX contributes significantly to public discourse in India and the voice of our users is at the heart of our platform. We will appeal this order to defend free expression," reads the Elon Musk-owned companys statement following the court ruling.

X is deeply concerned by the recent order from the Karnataka court in India, which will allow millions of police officers to issue arbitrary takedown orders through a secretive online portal called the Sahyog. This new regime has no basis in the law, circumvents Section 69A of Global Government Affairs (@GlobalAffairs) September 29, 2025

Court upholds government oversight

This came after the Karnataka High Court dismissed X Corps petitions challenging the Union governments Sahyog portal and related notifications, which enable certain content blocking. The court highlighted that regulation of social media is the need of the hour" and that platforms cannot operate in India without oversight. Justice M Nagaprasanna clarified that foreign companies cannot invoke Article 19 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech to Indian citizens.

A company which is faceless in India cannot challenge any of the statutes of the nation under the umbrage of Article 19. Its presence is not there. It cannot raise a challenge to the statutes regulating social media," the court ruled.

Framework and blocking orders

X Corp had argued that the Sahyog portal allows blocking under Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act, bypassing the due process of Section 69A. The petition followed multiple takedown orders by the Ministry of Railways after posts on a stampede at New Delhi Railway Station. The court rejected X Corps challenge, noting that Article 19 rights are restricted to Indian citizens and that statutory restrictions on platforms are consistent with constitutional limitations.

Justice Nagaprasanna drew comparisons with regulatory frameworks abroad, including the United States, stating that no medium of communication has ever been beyond the reach of law. He stressed that social media platforms, which host vast quantities of information, cannot portray themselves as neutral intermediaries. Tons and tons of information is on the platform and just one particular information springs up to become popular or unpopular is by the algorithms that the platform deploys," the judgment noted.

Upholding the Sahyog Portal

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

The court upheld the Sahyog portal as a legitimate mechanism for enforcing statutory provisions. It concluded that social media is not exempt from regulation and must balance freedom with accountability.

Social media, as the modern amphitheatre of ideas, cannot be left in a state of anarchic freedom. Regulation of information in this domain is neither novel nor unique," the ruling stated. X Corp has announced it will challenge the decision to protect its interpretation of free expression in India.

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: September 29, 2025, 11:31 IST

News india After Karnataka High Court Upholds Centre's Takedown Powers, X Says Will Appeal Ruling: 'Concerned'

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
Delhi Ashram Baba Changed 13 Hotels In 40 Days, Stayed With Sadhus To Evade Arrest, Probe Reveals

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 12:30 IST

Chaitanyananda Saraswati, accused of sexually harassing 17 women students in Delhi, evaded police for nearly 40 days by frequently changing hotels and hiding in ashrams.

Self-styled godman Chaitanyananda Saraswati (Photo: PTI)

Self-styled godman Chaitanyananda Saraswati, who allegedly sexually harassed 17 women students at a private institute in Delhi, returned to India in the second week of August, post the sexual molestation case was registered against him, investigations have revealed.

It was also known that Saraswati changed at least 13 hotels in nearly 40 days, and also took shelter in multiple ashrams with sadhus in Mathura and Vrindavan to evade arrest during his absconding period.

Recommended Stories

Upon his return, the godman discovered that an FIR had been registered against him under non-bailable sections. He initially filed an anticipatory bail plea but later withdrew it, choosing instead to abscond.

According to investigators, Chaitanyanand shifted his location several times, staying in at least 13 budget hotels, many lacking CCTV surveillance and strict identification checks.

Though he carried three mobile phones and an iPad, police said he avoided using them for fear of being tracked. Instead, he relied on an aides phone to book hotel rooms, deliberately choosing low-profile establishments.

During interrogation, police noted that Chaitanyanand has been attempting to buy time, complaining of breathlessness, and refused to share passwords to his devices.

His phones were sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for examination.

The accused had been abroad since July and returned to India on August 6. After the FIR was registered, multiple police teams were formed to nab him, and a Look Out Circular (LOC) has also been issued to prevent him from fleeing the country.

A Delhi Police team traced Saraswati (62) to a hotel in Agra, from where he was arrested at around 3.30 am. He had fled Delhi after the complaint submitted on August 4 alleged that he had sexually harassed the female students, specifically those of the Economic Weaker Sections (EOW) quota.

Investigators said the accused and his associates falsely claimed that they had links to the Prime Ministers Office (PMO), which enabled him to secure support and cooperation while evading the authorities.

Saraswati has been sent to five days police custody for questioning, during which he will likely be made to confront his three female aides in the institute who helped him by threatening the students and asking them to delete lewd messages sent by him.

It is also likely that he will be taken to the institute, a senior police officer told news agency PTI.

Fake visiting cards that showed him as a permanent ambassador associated with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and as a Commission Member and Indian Special Envoy De Premiere of the BRICS, were seized from his possession, the officer added.

Investigators further found that the accused possessed two passports obtained through fraudulent means, one under the name Swami Parth Sarathi and the other as Swami Chaitanyanand Saraswati.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

ALSO READ | Fake Passports, PMO Links, Forged UN Visiting Cards: Delhi Police Expose Ashram Baba

About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

First Published: September 29, 2025, 12:27 IST

News india Delhi Ashram Baba Changed 13 Hotels In 40 Days, Stayed With Sadhus To Evade Arrest, Probe Reveals

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
Good News: Andhra Pradesh Government Cuts Power Rates, How This Impacts Households, Businesses

Curated By :

Local18

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 12:24 IST

The Naidu government argues that it inherited a stressed power sector, dependent on costly short-term power purchases. The power minister said these purchases were unnecessary

While the reduction may be modest, the underlying moves signal a long-term approach that could reshape Andhra Pradesh's energy landscape.

The Andhra Pradesh government has announced a reduction in electricity tariffs  a move that aims to ease the financial burden on households and businesses. While the cut is modest, it marks a significant policy shift in a landscape where energy prices have generally been rising across India.

Recommended Stories

Andhra Pradesh Power Minister Gottipati Ravikumar revealed that starting November, electricity rates will drop by 13 paise per unit  meaning a savings of about Rs 13 for every 100 units consumed. While this may sound small, the minister stressed that it is the first step in a broader plan to reduce electricity costs over time. He also pledged further reductions in the future.

At a press conference in Amaravati, Ravikumar said this move is part of fulfilling promises made during the coalition governments election campaign, which focused on lowering the cost of living and easing the burden on consumers.

Why Have Tariffs Been Cut Now?

For years, electricity pricing in Andhra Pradesh has been a political and economic flashpoint. Under the previous administration, electricity charges rose significantly  by as much as nine times  according to the current government. That period also saw the state pushed into a debt trap of Rs 1.25 lakh crore, with claims that power generation and infrastructure were neglected.

The current government argues that it inherited a stressed power sector, heavily dependent on costly short-term power purchases from outside states like Rajasthan and Haryana. Ravikumar said these purchases were unnecessary and expensive, costing consumers dearly. Under the new reforms, the government says such reliance has been sharply reduced, making it possible to bring rates down.

What Are The Political And Economic Reasons?

The tariff reduction is also being positioned as part of a broader political narrative of the Andhra Pradesh government. The coalition government credits Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidus experience in power sector reform for enabling the cut. Officials point to measures such as reducing costly short-term purchases and investing in renewable energy infrastructure as the backbone of this strategy.

The government also accuses its predecessor of mishandling the power sector by weakening the state generation (GENCO) and transmission (TRANSCO) systems, wasting resources at major plants, and ignoring central subsidies. The new administration says it is now correcting those missteps.

What Are The Key Measures Beyond The Tariff Cut?

The government is implementing a range of initiatives aimed at boosting power production and reducing consumer costs:

Solar Rooftop Expansion: Under the PM Surya Ghar scheme, the government plans to install 20 lakh solar rooftop units across the state. These will be provided free to SC/ST households and heavily subsidised for BC communities, with up to Rs 20,000 in support.

Improved Supply Quality: Under the PM Kusum initiative, high-quality electricity will be supplied for nine hours a day from 12 KV lines, and coal consumption at the Vijayawada Thermal Power Station (VTPS) will increase from 70% to 90%.

Reviving Power Plants: Plans are underway to restart operations at Krishnapatnam and Kadapa plants, boosting the states power generation capacity.

Renewable Energy Boost: Priority will be given to wind and solar energy projects, especially in Rayalaseema, along with completed tenders for battery storage to store daytime solar energy for night use.

Infrastructure Investment: Large-scale construction of substations  including 400 kV, 200 kV, and 33/11 kV stations  is in progress, ensuring robust supply for future needs.

Economic Implications For Andhra Pradesh

This tariff cut, though modest, signals a larger effort to stabilise Andhra Pradeshs power sector and improve affordability. For households, it means tangible savings on monthly bills, particularly for industrial and small business consumers who use large quantities of electricity.

For the state economy, cheaper and more reliable power could spur business growth, attract investments, and strengthen Andhra Pradeshs competitiveness, particularly in sectors such as manufacturing and IT.

What Are The Challenges Ahead?

Despite the optimism, challenges remain. The reduction is small, and critics argue that it may not significantly ease household expenses unless accompanied by deeper structural reforms. Additionally, the government must ensure that promised projects  such as rooftop solar installations and plant revivals  are delivered on time to sustain these benefits.

There are also broader questions about how the state will manage its energy needs as demand grows by 6-8% annually. Scaling renewable energy, ensuring fuel supply for thermal plants, and keeping transmission systems robust will be crucial.

The Bigger Picture

This tariff cut is more than a rate adjustment  it is part of a strategic push by Andhra Pradesh to reshape its power sector. It reflects an effort to balance consumer relief with sustainable energy policy, infrastructure upgrades, and political accountability.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

While the reduction may be modest, the underlying moves signal a long-term approach that could reshape the states energy landscape  and potentially make Andhra Pradesh a model for tariff reform in India.

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 29, 2025, 12:24 IST

News india Good News: Andhra Pradesh Government Cuts Power Rates, How This Impacts Households, Businesses

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
The mechanism that confirms exporters as commodity producers and allows them to avoid paying the recently introduced 10% export duty on soybean and rapeseed exports should be available by the end of this week, said Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine Denys Bashlyk.

"It will be as convenient as possible, the software is already 90% ready. The Cabinet will make a decision next week," he said at the Forbes Agro conference in Kyiv on Friday.

Bashlyk noted that currently there are situations when producers export and are forced to pay duties, because there is no such confirmation mechanism.

According to him, the confirmation mechanism is planned to be implemented through the state agricultural registry so that it does not take too much time or require a million certificates or confirmation of each batch.

Regarding duties already paid by commodity producers, the government is preparing amendments to the 2025 state budget law, which will allow for the return of those duties, the deputy minister said.

Overall, he emphasized that the Ministry of Economy opposes the abolition of the 10% duty introduced on the export of soybeans and rapeseed.

"We understand the risks that farmers may incur, but it should be noted that there is another side to this story - the creation of a separate fund, into which the paid duties will go. And therefore, is the abolition of the so-called soybean amendments on the agenda today? - It is not," Bashlyk noted.

At the Forbes Agro conference, farmers criticized the introduction of this duty. In their opinion, processors at the beginning of the war received high profitability at the expense of agricultural producers due to problems with logistics, and now processing does not need such benefits and must pay the market price for raw materials, competing with importers. According to the speakers, the result of these duties will be a reduction in rapeseed and soybean crops and a deterioration in crop rotation.
'Her Mann Ki Baat': PM Modi Writes Foreword For Indian Edition Of Giorgia Melonis Memoir

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 08:21 IST

PM Modi writes the foreword for Giorgia Melonis memoir 'I am Giorgia  My Roots, My Principles,' praising her leadership, patriotism, and shared India-Italy values.

File photo of PM Narendra Modi with his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni in New Delhi (Image: Reuters)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written the foreword for the Indian edition of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Melonis autobiography I Am Giorgia  My Roots, My Principles"(Rupa Publications), which is set to be launched soon.

Referring to the book as her Mann Ki Baat," Modi draws a parallel between Melonis personal narrative and his own platform for public connection. Calling it a great" honour, Modi expressed his respect, admiration and friendship" for Meloni, whom he described as a patriot and outstanding contemporary leader."

Recommended Stories

Reflecting on his interactions with world leaders over the past 11 years, Modi noted that their stories often reflect deeper, universal themes  something he sees in Melonis life and leadership, according to a report in The Indian Express.

Prime Minister Melonis life and leadership remind us of these timeless truths It will be well received (in India) as a refreshing story of an outstanding contemporary political leader and a patriot," he wrote. Modi also noted the similarities between Indian and Italian values, praising Melonis belief in cultural heritage and equality.

Originally published in 2021 while Meloni was still in opposition, the memoir became a bestseller. The US edition, released in June 2025, included a foreword by the US Presidents eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., who highlighted her working class" roots and the patriotic tone of her journey.

Melonis book recounts personal struggles  from facing attacks as an unmarried mother to campaigning while pregnant. Her speeches often centered on identity and resilience, famously declaring, I am Giorgia, I am a woman, I am Italian, I am Christian."

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Modi echoed this theme in his tribute, applauding Meloni for defending motherhood, national identity and tradition." He emphasized shared values as the foundation of a growing India-Italy relationship, which was elevated to a Strategic Partnership after her 2023 visit.

Their camaraderie drew public attention when the hashtag #Melodi trended after a viral selfie at COP28.

About the Author Manisha Roy Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manish... Read More

First Published: September 29, 2025, 08:21 IST

News india 'Her Mann Ki Baat': PM Modi Writes Foreword For Indian Edition Of Giorgia Melonis Memoir

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will 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 Police Take Stringent Action, Repatriate 23 Illegal Foreign Nationals

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 14:55 IST

Rajendranagar Police and SOT Shamshabad repatriated 23 illegal foreign nationals from Hyderabad, mainly Ugandans, after a raid at Bakaram. Efforts continue for nine others.

Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google

(Representataional)

Rajendranagar Police in Hyderabad have taken stringent action against illegal foreign nationals, successfully repatriating 23 individuals to their home countries.

The Police, in coordination with the Special Operations Team (SOT) Shamshabad, carried out a raid at a farmhouse in Bakaram revenue village, uncovering 51 foreign nationals (14 males and 37 females) celebrating a birthday party. The group included 37 Ugandans, 2 Nigerians, 3 Liberians, and others from Botswana, Kenya, Cameroon, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Ghana, and Malawi.

Recommended Stories

Document verification revealed that 36 of the foreigners were illegally overstaying in India without valid passports, visas, or proper documentation, comprising 7 males and 29 females.

Of these, 24 individuals submitted their original passports. Exit (Leave India) permission was obtained from FRRO Hyderabad for 20 persons, who were subsequently repatriated, while the remaining four were placed in detention centres.

Twelve others, who only had photocopies of their passports, were processed using One-Time Travel Documents (OTDs) obtained from the relevant embassies in Delhi, leading to the repatriation of three individuals.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

So far, a total of 23 nationals  22 Ugandans and 1 Sudanese, including 20 females and 3 males  have been repatriated. Efforts are ongoing for the remaining nine, with OTDs already secured for six, who are expected to be sent back within a week. Repatriation for the final three (5 Ugandans and 1 Cameroonian) will follow once permission is granted.

Officials said the action was part of continued efforts to ensure compliance with immigration laws and prevent illegal stays in the country.

First Published: September 29, 2025, 14:55 IST

News india Hyderabad Police Take Stringent Action, Repatriate 23 Illegal Foreign Nationals

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
'I Love Muhammad' Toolkit: A Calculated Strategy Timed Around Hindu Festivals | Exclusive

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 16:59 IST

According to top intelligence sources, the I Love Muhammad toolkit relies heavily on human networks  political leaders, mosque committees, and social organisers.

A row erupted after police in Kanpur filed an FIR against nine named and 15 unidentified persons for allegedly installing boards with I Love Mohammad written on them on a public road in Kanpur during a Barawafat procession on September 4. (File image: PTI)

The I Love Muhammad" toolkit has revealed a structured mobilisation plan designed to leverage religious devotion to Prophet Muhammad as a rallying force for political and social protests across India. According to intelligence sources, the campaign is not a spontaneous movement but a calculated hybrid strategy that blends genuine faith with political and organisational backing.

Intelligence sources suggest the timing of the mobilisation is particularly significant. The campaign is reported to be deliberately initiated before a string of major Hindu festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi, Pitru Paksha, Navratri, Durga Puja, Dussehra, Ram Lila, Diwali, Chhath Puja, and Guru Nanak Jayanti. By doing so, organisers aim to create an organic-looking" groundswell that overlaps with heightened religious activity across India, sources added.

Recommended Stories

According to top intelligence sources, the I Love Muhammad" toolkit relies heavily on human networks  political leaders, mosque committees, and social organisers whose actions are then amplified through sophisticated use of social media algorithms. Leaders such as Asaduddin Owaisi, senior Samajwadi Party figures, and clerics like Tauqeer Raza have been cited by intelligence agencies as key players in dictating the timing, messaging, and logistics of nationwide protests. These human strategies are then scaled up online through platforms such as X, Instagram, and TikTok, which intelligence sources describe as critical channels for rapid amplification.

While largely domestically driven, intelligence inputs stress that the toolkit has been crafted with an international dimension. According to intelligence sources, the deliberate global framing of the I Love Muhammad" slogan is meant to attract attention not only in India but also in France, Italy, the UK, and other Western nations where debates around Islam and free expression have been polarising. At the same time, agencies highlight efforts to tap into religious sentiment in Gulf countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, with the possibility of sympathetic donors extending financial support.

Thus far, top intelligence sources maintain that most funding for the campaign appears to be local. However, they caution that NGOs linked to global Islamist networks have begun to show interest, potentially providing logistical or financial backing. This mirrors patterns seen in other regional religious campaigns, where domestic movements received external reinforcement, sources said.

According to intelligence assessments, the toolkit also factors in the likely response from international institutions. Large-scale religious protests in India are expected to trigger statements of concern from foreign governments and human rights organisations. Intelligence sources warn that such statements are then weaponised domestically by political actors, who present them as evidence of bias or minority victimisation.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Finally, intelligence sources note that Islamist groups abroad are actively monitoring Indian developments. These groups, according to sources, use domestic protests as propaganda material in recruitment messaging, portraying Indian Muslims as part of a wider international struggle.

Intelligence sources emphasise that while the I Love Muhammad" movement is rooted in local mobilisation, its design, timing, and global outreach are structured to generate maximum domestic pressure and international visibility.

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

First Published: September 29, 2025, 16:59 IST

News india 'I Love Muhammad' Toolkit: A Calculated Strategy Timed Around Hindu Festivals | 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...
Justice Aruna Jagadeesan-Led Commission Begins Probe Into Karur Stampede That Killed 41

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 13:36 IST

Justice Aruna Jagadeesan leads a probe into the Karur stampede after Vijays TVK rally left 41 dead. TVK and MK Stalin announce compensation as calls for a CBI or SIT probe grow.

Rapid Read + Follow us On Google

Justice Aruna Jagadeesan Commission began its probe on Monday.(PTI)

Days after the deadly stampede in Tamil Nadus Karur, which claimed 41 lives, an enquiry commission led by Justice Aruna Jagadeesan began its probe on Monday, two days after a rally by actor-turned-politician Vijays party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), triggered the tragedy in the district.

Following the September 27 incident, more than 60 people were admitted to hospitals as inpatients, with at least two in critical condition. Several attendees reportedly fainted and were rushed to nearby facilities. According to the officials, the stampede was primarily due to overcrowding at the venue.

Recommended Stories

A day earlier, TVK chief and actor Vijay announced he would provide financial aid of Rs 20 lakh to each bereaved family and Rs 2 lakh to the injured in the incident. In an emotional post penned down on X, the TVK chief said that he was at a loss for words" to express the pain his heart endured, further stating the faces of the deceased kept flashing through his mind.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin also announced Rs 10 lakh in compensation for the families of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh for those undergoing treatment.

Of the 41 people who died, 18 were women, 13 men, five girls, and five boys. According to ANI, 34 were residents of Karur district, while two each came from Erode, Tiruppur, and Dindigul districts, and one from Salem.

The massive crowd at Vijays rally on Saturday evening reportedly turned chaotic, sparking panic. Several attendees fainted and were rushed to nearby hospitals, with sources indicating that overcrowding at the venue was the primary cause of the incident.

Meanwhile, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), the party led by actor-politician Vijay, approached the Madras High Court seeking a probe into the Karur stampede. Later, the court admitted an urgent motion moved by the party, agreeing to consider its request for suo motu cognisance of the tragedy.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

They are requesting a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the tragedy.

TVK is being represented by Advocate S. Arivazhagan, who urged the court to take suo motu cognisance of the incident and ensure a fair and impartial investigation. The plea emphasised that only an independent agency could identify the lapses that led to the large-scale loss of life at the partys public meeting.

Location : Tamil Nadu, India, India

First Published: September 29, 2025, 13:36 IST

News india Justice Aruna Jagadeesan-Led Commission Begins Probe Into Karur Stampede That Killed 41

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
Unsuitable Venues, Power Cuts: Vijay's TVK Alleges Lapses, Seeks CBI Probe Into Karur Stampede

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 13:58 IST

The TVK has urged the Madras High Court to hand over the Karur stampede investigation to the CBI, citing police bias and mismanagement.

Karur: Footwear and other belongings of people, who attended the rally of actor and Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay (Photo: PTI)

The Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has urged the Madras High Court to hand over the investigation of the Karur tragedy to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), citing concerns over the impartiality of the Tamil Nadu Police.

Aadhav Arjuna, General Secretary of TVKs Election Campaign Management, filed the plea, alleging that the state government and police acted in a partisan manner.

Recommended Stories

The petition claims that narrow and unsuitable venues were allotted for TVK rallies, electricity was repeatedly cut during events, and goondas infiltrated the Karur rally, hurling stones and slippers at actor-politician Vijay and the public.

The plea also alleges that police lathi-charged innocent attendees and that ambulances without patients worsened the panic, contributing to the tragic stampede that claimed 41 lives, including nine children, on Saturday.

TVKs DEMANDS FROM THE COURT

In its plea, the TVK demanded an immediate transfer of the probe to the CBI for an impartial investigation, along with the seizure of the CCTV footage around the rally venue.

It also demanded an ad-interim injunction allowing Vijay and party members to visit victims and families without obstruction.

Earlier, former interim general secretary of the AIADMK, VK Sasikala, demanded a probe by the central agency into the Karur stampede tragedy, stating that only such an inquiry would reveal the truth behind the incident.

The Karur Police booked a case under provisions, including negligence, against TVK office-bearers, while forensic experts commenced a probe and covered spots like a sewer where a couple of bodies were allegedly found.

Traders, shops and commercial establishments in Karur closed their shutters as a mark of respect to the deceased.

The stampede happened during a political rally led by Vijay.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the kin of each of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured, while the state government has announced a solatium of Rs 10 lakh each to the families of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh each to the injured.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee announced Rs 1 crore to the families of the dead, and the BJP announced Rs 1 lakh each to the kin of the deceased.

ALSO READ | Horrific Visuals Show Aftermath Of Stampede At Actor Vijays Rally

About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

First Published: September 29, 2025, 12:05 IST

News india Unsuitable Venues, Power Cuts: Vijay's TVK Alleges Lapses, Seeks CBI Probe Into Karur Stampede

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
Karur Stampede: Vijay Stayed Inside Van For Long Time, Caused Overcrowding, Says FIR

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 16:57 IST

The police have not registered a case against Vijay himself. However, three senior party functionaries have been named in the FIR

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief and actor Vijay addresses supporters during a rally, in Namakkal. (PTI file photo)

Actor-politician Vijay remained inside his campaign vehicle for an extended period at the rally venue in Karur on September 27, which led to overcrowding and restlessness among the crowd, according to a First Information Report (FIR) filed by Tamil Nadu Police.

The rally, held at Velusamypuram, had attracted thousands of supporters who had come to hear Vijay speak. As per the FIR, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief arrived late and stayed inside his campaign van for a long time, triggering anxiety and excitement among the waiting crowd. The situation escalated into a stampede that claimed 41 lives and left at least 60 others injured.

Recommended Stories

The police have not registered a case against Vijay himself. However, three senior party functionaries have been named in the FIR  TVK Karur North district secretary Mathiazhagan, state general secretary Bussy Anand, and deputy general secretary Nirmal Kumar.

They have been booked under sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 125 (endangering life), and 223 (disobedience to order) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with Section 3 of the Tamil Nadu Public Property (Prevention of Damage and Loss) Act, 1992.

According to police, the crowd surged forward as people tried to catch a glimpse of Vijay. Many climbed steel sheds and trees for a better view. When these structures collapsed, people fell on those below, resulting in panic, trampling, and suffocation. The narrowness of the venue worsened the situation, and a lathi-charge was carried out to control the crowd. Several people who fainted were rushed to the Karur government hospital.

A senior police official confirmed that the stampede could have been avoided with better planning and crowd management.

Following the incident, Vijay was advised not to visit the hospital where the injured were being treated. A TVK source said the police believed his presence could cause further crowding.

Meanwhile, the state government has appointed retired Justice Aruna Jagadeesan to lead a one-person enquiry commission into the incident. The judge visited patients at the hospital and will submit a report after completing the investigation.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has announced Rs 10 lakh compensation for the families of the deceased and promised action based on the Commissions findings.

(With inputs from PTI)

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

Location : Tamil Nadu, India, India

First Published: September 29, 2025, 16:07 IST

News india Karur Stampede: Vijay Stayed Inside Van For Long Time, Caused Overcrowding, Says FIR

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
MiG-21s Gone, HAL Has Work Cut Out On Delivery Of Tejas Mk 1A Jet Or Risk India's Air Power

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee



Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 07:00 IST

In February, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh criticised Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd for not delivering any of the promised 83 Tejas Mk 1A jets to the Indian Air Force

IAF light combat aircraft 'Tejas' performs aerobatic manoeuvres during the Aero India 2025, at Bengaluru's Yelahanka Air Force station in February. (Image: PTI/File)

Air Chief Marshal Singh criticised Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) for not delivering any of the promised 83 Tejas Mk 1A jets to the Indian Air Force. He questioned why it was not prioritising this project and rebuked the chalta hai" attitude, expressing concerns over national security.

Recommended Stories

Even now, not a single Tejas Mk 1A jet has been delivered. Additionally, 36 MiG-21 fighter jets were retired last week in a decommissioning ceremony in Chandigarh, with the Chief of the Air Staff flying one.

This raises the question whether HAL will rise to the occasion and deliver on its commitments, as it is a matter of Indias security.

Last week, the IAF retired its MiG-21 squadrons, which have been the backbone of the air force since the 1960s but are now outdated and prone to accidents. Inducted in 1963, India used 874 MiG-21 jets over the decades, with HAL building over 60 percent of them.

From the 1971 war to the Kargil conflict, and from the Balakot airstrike to Operation Sindoor, the MiG-21 turned out to be a solid weapon for India. But now, they are history.

The IAFs sanctioned strength is 42 fighter squadrons, but it is currently operating with only 29 with 16 to 18 jets each. The phased retirement of the MiG-21 has widened this gap and replacements are not arriving on time.

Since 2021, HAL has had an order worth Rs 47,000 crore for 83 Tejas Mk 1A fighters, but no jets have been delivered so far even though deliveries were to begin in 2024 and complete in 2028. The air force wants them faster, but only the first two of these 83 jets might come this year.

A major issue for HAL is obtaining engines from GE Aerospace in the United States for these fighter jets. These supplies will determine how quickly it can deliver these.

So far, only three engines have been delivered to HAL with the first arriving in March. It has cited engine supply chain problems with GE as a major cause for the delay, stating that structures will be ready but deliveries can only happen once the engines arrive.

But, can the government keep waiting?

Last week, the government signed another mega contract with HAL, an even bigger order of 97 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk1A worth Rs 66,500 crore. The defence public sector undertaking (PSU) now has the task of delivering 180 fighter jets to the IAF, including Tejas Mk 1A, on schedule and ramping up production lines.

This is crucial as India cannot afford to fall behind Pakistan, which has 25 fighter squadrons compared to Indias 29. Pakistan has also signed a deal with China to acquire 35 to 40 J-35 fifth-generation jets.

In the context of Operation Sindoor, where fighter jets played a major role, India understands the importance of maintaining air superiority over Pakistan. Facing challenges from both Pakistan and China, India cannot afford any capability void in air power.

This is why the government signed a contract with HAL for 97 LCA Mk1A, with deliveries commencing in 2027-2028 and completing over six years. The aircraft will have over 64 percent indigenous content and incorporate 67 additional items beyond the previous LCA Mk1A contract signed in January 2021.

Integrating advanced indigenously developed systems like the UTTAM Active Electronically Scanned Array Radar, Swayam Raksha Kavach, and control surface actuators will further strengthen the atmanirbharta initiatives.

But the critical question remains  will the jets arrive on time?

With the MiG-21s retiring, the focus shifts to the Su-30MKI, now the backbone of the IAF fleet with nearly 270 aircraft in service. India also has two squadrons of French Rafale aircraft  36 in total  providing a significant edge in the region.

As demonstrated during Operation Sindoor, Rafales can carry out long-range precision strikes without needing to cross the border. The Mirage-2000, MiG-29, and Jaguar are also part of the arsenal.

Foreign purchases, however, take time. India recently approved buying 26 Rafale-M jets from France for carrier operations, but they wont arrive before 2029.

Then there is the AMCA  a fifth-generation, multi-role, twin-engine stealth fighter being developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) under DRDO for the IAF. India aims to develop this aircraft via private industry partnerships instead of solely through the public sector, meaning HAL is not the default partner.

In August, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced that India will jointly manufacture advanced jet engines for the AMCA with French aerospace major Safran. But again, this will take time with the service induction of the AMCA possibly taking a decade.

All this further stresses the need for HAL to deliver promptly. Three engines have arrived, and GE is expected to deliver 12 more by March 2026 with a total of 99 engines by 2028.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Operation Sindoor has shown that modern warfare heavily relies on air power and technology. The IAF was able to strike deep inside Pakistani territory within hours of the Pahalgam terror attack, showcasing how air power allows for rapid and decisive action. Precision strikes on radar sites, hangars, and airbases demonstrated how calibrated air power could punish an adversary without escalating conflicts uncontrollably.

In a hostile neighbourhood, India needs supreme air power to deter its enemies. The path forward is self-sufficiency and atmanirbharta, whether in fighter aircraft or jet engines. India cannot afford to lose any advantage to Pakistan or China.

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 29, 2025, 07:00 IST

News india MiG-21s Gone, HAL Has Work Cut Out On Delivery Of Tejas Mk 1A Jet Or Risk India's Air Power

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
MK Stalin Slams Social Media Rumours On Karur Stampede: 'Painful, Irresponsible'

Curated By :



Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 14:04 IST

Vijay Rally Stampede: MK Stalin slammed people spreading rumours on social media and asked to avoid "divisive and poisonous messages."

MK Stalin Reacts To Social Media Rumours Related To Karur Stampede

Vijay rally stampede: The horrific incident in Tamil Nadus Karur sent shockwaves across India. In the stampede at TVK Chief Vijays rally, 41 people died. Amid the pain and chaos, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin shared a video message and urged people to not spread misinformation on social media.

Recommended Stories

He slammed people spreading rumours on social media and asked to avoid divisive and poisonous messages."

In the wake of the Karur tragedy, I have seen false news and rumors being spread on social media. This is deeply painful and irresponsible. The people who lost their lives, whatever their political affiliation, are our Tamil brothers and sisters," Stalin said.

MK Stalin Shared Video Message | Watch

Political parties and public organizations have a duty to conduct future events with greater responsibility. Once the Judicial Commission submits its report, discussions will be held with all parties and organizations to draft rules and guidelines to prevent such tragedies from recurring," the statement added.

Earlier, on Sunday, Stalin announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each to the families of the victims who were killed in the Karur stampede. CM Stalin also announced aid of Rs 1 lakh each to those undergoing medical treatment in hospitals.

Earlier, on Sunday, Stalin announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each to the families of the victims who were killed in the Karur stampede. CM Stalin also announced aid of Rs 1 lakh each to those undergoing medical treatment in hospitals.

The death toll from the Karur stampede rose to 41 on Monday. Among the deceased are 18 women, 13 men, five young girls, and five young boys, bringing the total to 41.

The massive crowd at Vijays rally on Saturday evening reportedly turned chaotic, triggering panic. As per sources cited by PTI, overcrowding at the venue led to the tragedy.

Meanwhile, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief and actor Vijay on Monday held a video conference with senior leaders from his Pattinapakkam penthouse to discuss the aftermaths of Karur stampede.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

First Published: September 29, 2025, 14:04 IST

News india MK Stalin Slams Social Media Rumours On Karur Stampede: 'Painful, Irresponsible'

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
Mother Thrashes Minor Children With Chapati Roller Over Chicken Dish Demand, Son Dies

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 11:37 IST

In Palghar, a woman fatally beat her son and injured her daughter after a request for a chicken dish. Police have arrested the accused mother and launched an investigation.

A murder case has been registered. (Representative image)

A request for non-vegetarian food turned tragic for a brother-sister duo when their mother mercilessly beat them with a chapati roller, resulting in the boys death. The shocking incident took place in Maharashtras Palghar on Sunday.

The deceased boy has been identified as Chinmay Dhumde, who had asked his mother, Pallavi Dhumde (40), for a chicken dish. Infuriated, she beat him to death with the roller. She then assaulted her 10-year-old daughter with the same object, leaving the girl in need of medical attention at a local hospital.

Recommended Stories

The neighbours, alarmed by the childrens cries, alerted the police. Soon after, personnel from local police station, local crime branch, and the sub-divisional office rushed to the spot

Subsequently, the accused mother was taken into custody. According to District Superintendent of Police Yatish Deshmukh, Pallavi lived with her family in a flat in the Kashipada area.

Pallavi Ghumde, 40, lived with her family in a flat in the Kashipada area. Her son, Chinmay Ganesh Ghumde, 7, was brutally beaten with household items and died as a result of the beating. Her 10-year-old daughter was also beaten. A murder case has been registered at the Palghar police station. The Palghar police are conducting further investigations," SP Deshmukh told NDTV.

Police have registered a murder case against the accused woman. An investigation into the matter is underway.

In a separate incident on Friday, a 15-year-old boy was killed at a wedding feast in Uttar Pradeshs Kannauj after he stood up for his grandfather, who was being humiliated for requesting a chicken leg piece, TOI reported.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

According to police, the victims grandfather was mocked for his request by the accused and his four brothers. The situation escalated, and the accused attacked the boy, dragging him outside the tent and striking him with bricks on the chest and back.

The boy was rushed to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. Meanwhile, the accused fled the scene. An investigation was launched into the matter.

About the Author Manisha Roy Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manish... Read More

Location : Palghar, India, India

First Published: September 29, 2025, 11:37 IST

News india Mother Thrashes Minor Children With Chapati Roller Over Chicken Dish Demand, Son Dies

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
Only 4 Politburo, 9 Central Committee Members Left Along With Guerrilla Army: Naxalism Dossier

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 11:22 IST

If forces succeed in the coming months, March 2026 may mark the first time in nearly six decades that India can claim to have broken the Maoist chain of command

Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google

With the government setting March 2026 as the deadline to wipe out insurgency, security forces now have six months to dismantle what remains of the Maoist command structure. (PTI)

Indias decades-long battle with Left-Wing Extremism is reaching its most decisive phase. After years of arrests and encounters, the once-formidable CPI (Maoist) leadership has been reduced to just 13 figures at the apexfour members of the Politburo and nine members of the Central Committee, the latest official updated data has revealed.

With the government setting March 2026 as the deadline to wipe out insurgency, security forces now have six months to dismantle what remains of the Maoist command structure. Some members of PLGA, the Guerrilla Army of Maoists, are still remaining and may try to escalate attacks. As per the latest dossier, Madvi Hidma, who reportedly heads PLGA and is the most-wanted, is not in touch with many top leaders.

Recommended Stories

At its peak in the mid-2000s, the Maoist Politburo and Central Committee together numbered more than two dozen leaders, many of them feared across Indias forested heartland. They decided the ideology, approved strategy, and kept insurgent networks alive across at least 10 states. But over the past two decades, a combination of targeted intelligence operations, aggressive deployment of CoBRA and state police units, and a steady stream of arrests have eroded the leadership core.

In the last one decade, Naxalism has been shrinking every year.

Recent encounters in Chhattisgarh and Odisha eliminated several high-value leaders, including general secretary Nambala Keshava Rao alias Basavaraju, Chalapati, and Modem Balakrishna. What remains is an aging leadership struggling to stay relevant, composed mostly of men in their late sixties and seventies.

If forces succeed in the coming months, March 2026 may mark the first time in nearly six decades that India can claim to have broken the Maoist chain of command. Yet, officials warn that the final stretch may also be the most dangerous as cornered leaders may attempt desperate attacks to assert relevance.

Politburo: The Brain

The Politburo (PB) is the Maoists highest decision-making body. It sets ideological direction, approves military and political strategy, and acts as the brain" of the insurgency. Every major shift from expanding operations into new states to ordering high-profile attacks originates in the PB. With only four members still at large, its ability to provide clear national leadership has been badly compromised.

Once the most secretive and powerful body of the insurgency, the Politburo has been steadily decimated. Senior leaders such as Cherukuri Rajkumar alias Azad (killed in 2010), Kishanji alias Koteshwar Rao (killed in 2011), Kottam Sudarshan (died in 2023), Basavaraju alias Nambala Keshava Rao (neutralised in 2025), Chalapati, and Modem Balakrishna (both killed in 2025) are among those removed from the ranks through encounters, arrests, or natural causes. What remains today is a shrunken core of just four Politburo members: Muppala Laxman Rao alias Ganapati, the acting General Secretary; Misir Besra, a senior ideologue; Mallojula Venugopal alias Bhupathi, an influential strategist; and Malla Raji Reddy alias Sangram, who continues to direct activities in the Red Zone.

Central Committee: The Spinal Cord

The Central Committee (CC) serves as the wider leadership forum, linking PB directives to state and regional structures. It supervises state committees, allocates funds and weapons, manages propaganda, and keeps local squads aligned with the national vision. Just nine CC members remain active today.

The Maoist Central Committee, which once had nearly two dozen members, has been cut down to single digits after years of fight. Veterans like Sushil Roy (arrested in 2005), Pramod Mishra (arrested in 2008), Amitabh Bagchi (arrested in 2009), Baccha Prasad Singh and Bansi Dhar Singh (arrested in 2010), Jagdish Yadav (arrested in 2011), and Narayan Sanyal (detained earlier and later deceased) were among the first to be removed from the leadership chain. Others such as Kottam Sudarshan (died in 2023), Chalapati and Modem Balakrishna (both killed in 2025), and Basavaraju himself have also been neutralised in recent years. What remains is a smaller but still dangerous core of nine CC members, including Vivek Chandra, Ganesh Uikey, Deepak, Sudharsan, and Badri, who continue to provide tactical direction and connect the central command to surviving state committees.

Layers Below: State Committees and Cadres

Below the Politburo and Central Committee, the Maoists still maintain state committees and divisional bureaus in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Maharashtra, and Telangana. These mid-level bodies continue to direct armed squadscompanies of 40 to 50 fighters, platoons of 25 to 30, and smaller dalams of 8 to 12that carry out ambushes, extortion, and propaganda.

Estimates suggest around 8001,000 armed cadres remain active, a steep decline from the 6,000 to 8,000 fighters a decade ago. Yet these formations remain dangerous, particularly in dense forests like Abujhmaad and Bastar, where geography favours the insurgents.

The Six-Month Race

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

With just 6 months to go before the March 2026 deadline, security agencies are under pressure to achieve two objectives simultaneously. First, they have to neutralise the 13 surviving top leaders, cutting off the head of the organisation. Second, they must break state committees and disband local cadres, ensuring no possibility of resurgence once the leadership is gone.

Officials stress that intelligence-driven operations will be key. We are looking at pinpoint strikes guided by real-time inputs rather than broad sweeps. The idea is to eliminate the leadership quickly and then roll up the middle layer before March 2025," a senior CRPF official told News18.

About the Author Ankur Sharma With over 15 years of journalistic experience, Ankur Sharma, Associate Editor, specializes in internal security and is tasked with providing comprehensive coverage from the Ministry of Home Affairs, p... Read More

First Published: September 29, 2025, 11:22 IST

News india Only 4 Politburo, 9 Central Committee Members Left Along With Guerrilla Army: Naxalism Dossier

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
The government is working to ensure that Ukraine is ready for all challenges for our energy sector this winter, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said.

"The Russians continue to shell our energy infrastructure. The reaction in such cases must be quick, light and heat must be provided regardless of the circumstances and actions of the enemy. And this is what we are working on  special attention to frontline regions," she wrote on Telegram on Sunday.

Svyrydenko reported that the previous day a staff meeting was held in Chernihiv to prepare for the heating season.

"Ensuring a stable heating season is a key topic. We received reports from the relevant state authorities and regional administration heads on their preparations for winter. We expect all procedures to be completed by October 15," she noted.

Also this week, the government issued instructions to ensure an uninterrupted supply of gas and electricity for enterprises that support frontline communities.

Additionally, according to her information, the readiness of the Invincibility Point network is being assessed to enable continuous operation "if such a need arises."

"Special attention is being paid to increasing the capacity of distributed generation," the head of government said.

Additionally, opportunities are being created to prepare for winter at the community level. Condominiums and housing associations can use the Affordable Loans 5-7-9% program to install their own alternative energy sources. "We are working to improve access to the program," she wrote.

"Winter resilience is one of the priorities of the Government. The enemy will not be able to deprive us of heat and light. We are working to be ready for all the challenges for our energy sector this winter," Svyrydenko said.
'Pahalgam Paralysed Us, But This...': Leh Violence Sends Ladakh Tourism Reeling

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 17:01 IST

With curfew restrictions continuing for 6th straight day on Monday  tourists are stranded, bookings are being cancelled, and local businesses are facing major losses

Rapid Read + Follow us On Google

People at a market area after curfew restrictions were relaxed for two hours, in Leh, Ladakh, Saturday, Sept. 27. (PTI photo)

Ladakhs tourism sector, already struggling to recover after the April terror attack in Pahalgam, has been pushed further into crisis following last weeks violence and curfew in Leh.

An indefinite curfew was imposed in Leh town on September 24 after clashes broke out during a shutdown called by a constituent of the Leh Apex Body, which has been campaigning for statehood and inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule. The violence left four people dead and over 150 injured.

Recommended Stories

With curfew restrictions continuing for the sixth straight day on Monday  except for a brief four-hour relaxation on Saturday  tourists are stranded, bookings are being cancelled, and local businesses are facing major losses. Mobile internet services also remain suspended, adding to the distress.

Bookings Cancelled, Travellers Confined To Rooms

The cancellation of advance bookings by our guests has been continuing on an almost daily basis for the last one week. There is shortage of merchandise due to closure of the town since last Wednesday," said Naseeb Singh, a hotel manager.

Singh, who has worked in Leh for nearly a decade, said he had never witnessed such a situation in the usually peaceful region. We are facing a lot of hardships, along with the tourists stranded in Leh," he added.

The recent turmoil has arrived at a time when the tourism sector was just beginning to recover after the shock of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Though Pahalgam lies in a different Union Territory, the violence there had a spillover effect in Ladakh.

The Pahalgam incident virtually paralysed the tourism sector in Ladakh. We started receiving guests only a month after Operation Sindoor. But Wednesdays incident has once again hit us hard," said Rigzin Dorjey, a local transporter.

Operation Sindoor was launched by Indian armed forces on May 7 in response to the Pahalgam attack. For many in Ladakh, it marked a turning point, allowing tourism to slowly pick up again  until now.

A local hotelier, who did not wish to be named, echoed c concerns. Each day of uncertainty means lost income for thousands of families who depend on tourism."

For tourists, the situation has turned their Ladakh experience into a waiting game. Upon my arrival here, to my shock, I found that everything was closed. I was not even able to exchange my currency and buy food. I was planning some sightseeing in Pangong lake but I failed to get the permit," said Sheena, a tourist from Taiwan.

She added that the police on duty had told people the restrictions were unlikely to be eased soon.

Arpana Dass, who flew in from Delhi, expressed disappointment over the shutdown. We could not go anywhere due to restrictions and hopefully, everything will be fine soon," she said.

Another traveller, Shruti, said she had hoped to explore Ladakhs culture and nature but has now been confined to her hotel. We came to see Ladakhs mountains and monasteries, but now we are just stuck in our rooms. Everyone here is simply wishing that peace returns soon."

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

A police official, when contacted, said the curfew was necessary to prevent further disturbances. We hope the situation improves soon," the officer added.

(With inputs from PTI)

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

Location : Ladakh, India, India

First Published: September 29, 2025, 16:57 IST

News india 'Pahalgam Paralysed Us, But This...': Leh Violence Sends Ladakh Tourism Reeling

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
POCSO Court Orders Death Penalty For Man Who Raped, Murdered 8-Year-Old Girl In Karnataka

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 12:50 IST

A POCSO Court sentenced a man to death for raping and murdering an eight-year-old in Raibagh, Belagavi.

Rapid Read + Follow us On Google

The court directed husband to pay 5 lakh as permanent alimony to his former wife.

A POCSO Court has sentenced a man to death for the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Raibagh Taluk of Belagavi district in Karnataka.

According to the prosecution, the incident took place in October 2019.

Recommended Stories

The convict, identified as Bharatesh Raosab Mirji (28), of Raibag taluk, had abducted the girl when she was returning home, news agency PTI reported.

Mirji allegedly raped and strangled the victim at his residence before tying her body to a rock and dumping it in a well to prevent it from surfacing.

The victims father lodged a missing persons complaint with the Kuduchi police after she did not return home.

Sniffer dogs were pressed into operation to trace the girl, and they pointed at the well. Later, the body was recovered.

Investigation led to the arrest of Mirji, and on September 26, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act Court found him guilty. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 45,000 on the accused.

In another incident, the Karnataka High Court has refused to grant bail to a man accused in a rape case, invoking a verse from Manusmriti about respecting women and a remark by Mahatma Gandhi while underscoring the need to safeguard womens dignity.

The case concerns a 19-year-old Scheduled Tribe woman from Banka, Bihar, whose parents are employed at a cardamom estate in Kerala. On April 2, she arrived at Bengalurus KR Puram railway station around 1.30 am from Kerala.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

While on her way to Mahadevapura for a meal with her cousin, she was allegedly accosted by two men near the station. Prosecutors say one of the accused restrained the cousin while the other dragged the woman to a secluded spot and raped her.

The two were booked under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including sections on rape, wrongful restraint, intimidation, and common intention, along with charges under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

Location : Karnataka, India, India

First Published: September 29, 2025, 12:47 IST

News india POCSO Court Orders Death Penalty For Man Who Raped, Murdered 8-Year-Old Girl In Karnataka

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
Delhi Ashram Baba Taken To Institute's 'Torture Room', Interrogated For Hours

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 13:48 IST

Swami Chaitanyanand Saraswati, accused of molesting 17 women, was taken to his Vasant Kunj institute by Delhi Police for questioning about the "torture room" and CCTV locations.

Self-styled godman Chaitanyananda Saraswati, who allegedly sexually harassed 17 women students at a private institute in Delhi (Photo: PTI)

Swami Chaitanyanand Saraswati, accused of molesting 17 women students, was on Monday taken to the institution he used to head as the Delhi Police interrogated him regarding the torture room" and CCTV locations.

The self-styled godman was taken to the torture room" on the ground floor of the institution, where he would call female students for private meetings.

Recommended Stories

He was questioned at the institute for a few hours and then brought back, it was known.

The accused, also known as Partha Sarathy, director of the reputed Sri Sharda Institute of Indian Management in Delhis posh Vasant Kunj, is facing a criminal case for allegedly targeting female students enrolled in post-graduate management diploma courses under the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) scholarship category.

According to the details, he had fled on August 4, shortly after the institute received a complaint from the Indian Air Force headquarters accusing him of molesting female students.

The police arrested him from a hotel in Agra on September 28, and he was then produced before a court, which sent him to 5-day police custody.

According to investigators, Chaitanyananda would call female students to his room late at night and threaten to fail them or reduce their grades if they resisted his advances.

So far, police have recorded the statements of three wardens of the institute. All three are accused of helping Chaitanyananda delete incriminating messages.

WhatsApp chats recovered from the phones of around 50 women students at the institute have revealed details of abuse spanning 16 years, including sexually explicit text messages and incidents of forced physical contact.

Allegations have also surfaced about the deletion of CCTV footage, with the DVR now sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory for examination.

As the investigations progressed, the police examined the locations of the CCTV cameras installed on the premises. Chaitanyanand was also questioned about these cameras.

The incident came to light after 17 women filed complaints at the Defence Colony Police Station in early August, accusing Chaitanyanand of harassing students.

The officials also mentioned that Chaitanyanand has allegedly been preying on women for nearly two decades, emboldened by his ability to escape previous molestation charges in 2009 and 2016.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

ALSO READ | Delhi Ashram Baba Changed 13 Hotels In 40 Days, Stayed With Sadhus To Evade Arrest, Probe Reveals

About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

First Published: September 29, 2025, 13:47 IST

News india Delhi Ashram Baba Taken To Institute's 'Torture Room', Interrogated For Hours

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
Train Travel From India To Bhutan Soon As Cross-Border Rail Plan Gets Green Signal

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 15:57 IST

India and Bhutan have agreed to develop two cross-border railway connections, one linking Banarhat to Samtse, and another connecting Kokrajhar to Gelephu.

Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google

PM Modi with his Bhutan counterpart Tshering Tobgay. (Reuters/File)

In a major development, the governments of India and Bhutan have agreed to launch two cross-border railway projects, linking Banarhat to Samtse (Bhutan) and Kokrajhar to Gelephu, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced on Monday.

The two railway lines will be connected to West Bengals Banarhat and Assams Kokrajhar. This will be the first set of rail connectivity projects with Bhutan. The memorandum of understanding for this connectivity was actually signed during the visit of the Prime Minister to Bhutan last year," the Foreign Secretary said at a special press briefing.

Recommended Stories

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed later today in New Delhi on the occasion of Bhutan Foreign Secretarys visit to India. This would mark the first cross-border railway projects from India to Bhutan.

#WATCH | Delhi | Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri says, There is a major new initiative between India and Bhutan on the establishment of rail connectivity between our two countries India and Bhutan share a relationship of exceptional trust, mutual respect and understanding. pic.twitter.com/fbP1dR6K4m ANI (@ANI) September 29, 2025

India and Bhutan share a relationship of exceptional trust, mutual respect and understanding. This is a relationship that is rooted in cultural and civilizational ties, extensive people-to-people relations and our shared developmental and security interests. These ties are reflected in very close contact at the highest levels," Misri said.

Which Cities Would Come Under This Project?

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also addressed the special briefing, saying that the projects will connect two very important cities of Bhutan. One is Gelephu. This is being developed as a mindfulness city. And secondly, Samtse, which is an industrial city," he said. Samtse will be connected to West Bengals Banarhat and Gelephu to Assams Kokrajhar.

The two projects will take off from the network of Indian railways at Kokrajhar and Banarhat. The investment which is envisaged at this point of time is about Rs 4,033 crore, and the total length of about 90 km of the railway network will be created," Vaishnaw added.

VIDEO | Delhi: Addressing a special briefing on new railway projects between India and Bhutan, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) says, This project is basically connecting two very important cities of Bhutan. One is Gelephu, as Foreign Secretary shared with us. pic.twitter.com/VA4nQ1O8ol Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 29, 2025

The minister stressed that India is the largest trading partner of India and it was important to have a good, seamless railway connectivity for the botanist economy" to grow and for their people to have better access to the global network.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Vaishnaw also said the construction period will be four years for this project, which entails six stations, two important bridges, two viaducts, 29 major bridges, 65 minor bridges, one flyover and 39 underpasses. In a sense, by constructing about 70 km, you get the advantage of 1,50,000 km of railway network. That is the advantage which comes from the network effect," he said.

Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Misri said the Indian government has committed support of Rs 10,000 crores to Bhutan for the 13th Five-Year Plan, which covers project-tied assistance, high-impact community development projects, the economic stimulus programme, and a programme grant.

About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in int... Read More

First Published: September 29, 2025, 15:40 IST

News india Train Travel From India To Bhutan Soon As Cross-Border Rail Plan Gets Green Signal

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
TVK District Secretary Arrested After Stampede At Vijay's Rally Leaves 41 Dead

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 22:54 IST

A stampede broke out, leaving 41 people dead on September 27 during a political rally in Tamil Nadu's Karur.

At least 41 people lost their lives and several others were injured in a stampede during a political rally held by TVK leader Vijay in Karur, Tamil Nadu, on Saturday evening. Actor-turned-politician Vijay has announced a compensation of Rs 20 lakh for the families of each of the deceased, and Rs 2 lakh for each of the roughly 100 people who were injured.

Actor Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagams district secretary is among the three people who have been arrested in connection with the stampede on Saturday evening in Tamil Nadu that left 41 dead. The development comes two days after the tragic stampede shocked the entire nation.

Recommended Stories

They have been booked under sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 125 (endangering life), and 223 (disobedience to order) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with Section 3 of the Tamil Nadu Public Property (Prevention of Damage and Loss) Act, 1992.

Meanwhile, an FIR filed following in the incident said that the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief arrived late and stayed inside his campaign van for a long time, triggering anxiety and excitement among the waiting crowd.

While no complaint was registered against the actor-turned politician, the FIR named three senior party functionaries have been named in the FIR  TVK Karur North district secretary Mathiazhagan, state general secretary Bussy Anand, and deputy general secretary Nirmal Kumar.

Police said the chaos erupted as the crowd rushed forward, eager to catch a glimpse of actor Vijay. Many people climbed onto steel sheds and nearby trees to get a better view. However, the structures gave way under the weight, causing people to fall on those standing below. This triggered panic, leading to trampling and suffocation in the tightly packed area.

The situation worsened because of the narrow space at the venue, making it difficult for people to move to safety. To bring the situation under control, police had to resort to a lathi-charge. Several individuals who collapsed during the commotion were immediately taken to the Karur government hospital for treatment.

A senior police officer later admitted that the tragedy could have been prevented with proper planning and more effective crowd management.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

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 : Tamil Nadu, India, India

First Published: September 29, 2025, 22:43 IST

News india TVK District Secretary Arrested After Stampede At Vijay's Rally Leaves 41 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...
Wife In Voidable Marriage Cannot Be Denied Maintenance Without Decree Of Nullity: Allahabad HC

Reported By :

LawBeat

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 17:18 IST

The Allahabad High Court directed the family court to reconsider the womans claim for maintenance afresh, without disturbing the maintenance already awarded to her daughter.

Finding the family courts order patently illegal and perverse, the High Court set it aside and remanded the matter back to the Family Court, Chandauli.

The Allahabad High Court has held that a wife cannot be denied maintenance merely because her marriage is voidable unless a court has passed a decree declaring it a nullity. The judgment came in a criminal revision filed by a woman, whose plea for maintenance had earlier been rejected by a family court in Chandauli.

On November 2, 2017, the Principal Judge, Family Court, Chandauli, dismissed the womans claim for maintenance under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). While the court granted Rs 2,000 per month for her minor daughter, it refused any relief to the woman herself. The trial court relied on Section 125(4) CrPC, reasoning that she had chosen to live separately from her husband without reasonable cause. The finding was based on her statement that her husband had concealed his previous marriage and divorce.

Recommended Stories

In its decision, the family court went a step further by invoking Section 12(1)(c) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. It concluded that since concealment of material facts could render a marriage voidable, the woman was not entitled to maintenance. This interpretation was strongly criticised by the High Court.

Justice Rajiv Lochan Shukla, on September 24, 2025, noted that the family courts reasoning was not only unfounded but also contrary to law.

A mere passing reference to the concealment of previous marriage and divorce cannot justify the inference that the wife was living separately without reasonable cause, the court observed.

The judge added that until a decree of nullity is granted, a voidable marriage continues to be legally valid and all rights flowing from it, including the right to maintenance, remain intact.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Court referred to the Supreme Courts recent pronouncement in Sukhdev Singh v. Sukhbir Kaur (2025), which held that even if a marriage is void or voidable, a spouse may still claim maintenance or alimony, depending on the facts and conduct of the parties. This, the High Court pointed out, reinforced the principle that maintenance cannot be denied solely on hypothetical grounds.

Finding the family courts order patently illegal and perverse", the High Court set it aside and remanded the matter back to the Family Court, Chandauli. It directed the family court to reconsider the womans claim for maintenance afresh, without disturbing the maintenance already awarded to her daughter, and to conclude proceedings within three months.

About the Author Salil Tiwari Salil Tiwari, Senior Special Correspondent at Lawbeat, reports on the Allahabad High Court and courts in Uttar Pradesh, however, she also writes on important cases of national importance and public in... Read More

First Published: September 29, 2025, 17:18 IST

News india Wife In Voidable Marriage Cannot Be Denied Maintenance Without Decree Of Nullity: Allahabad 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...
The Gender Gap In Cardiac Care: Why Womens Heart Health Is Still Overlooked

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 08:37 IST

Womens heart health is underdiagnosed and undertreated, closing the gap could save countless lives.

Heart disease doesnt discriminate but healthcare too often does. Ensuring women receive the recognition and treatment they deserve isnt just about fairness; its about saving countless lives.

For decades, heart disease has been stereotyped as a mans problem." Media stories often reinforce this by spotlighting men in their prime suddenly collapsing from cardiac arrest. Women, by contrast, rarely feature in these narratives, leading to the dangerous assumption that they are less vulnerable.

The reality is far different. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among women, but because it presents differently and is often misunderstood, women receive less timely and effective care.

Recommended Stories

Missed Signs, Missed Care

Heart disease in women is under-recognized and under-treated," warns Dr Himani Sharma, Clinical Head & Senior Consultant, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Cocoon Hospital, Jaipur. While men typically report chest pain, women may feel discomfort in the back, jaw, or stomach, often accompanied by nausea or breathlessness. These less obvious symptoms can be mistaken for digestive issues, stress, or fatigue. Dr Sharma points out that cultural attitudes compound the problem: womens complaints are too often dismissed as anxiety, resulting in misdiagnosis and delayed treatment.

Hormones, Lifestyle, and Hidden Risks

Adding to the complexity is the role of hormones. Estrogen provides a degree of natural protection to women during their reproductive years, but as Dr. Aruna Kalra, Director of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Robotic Surgeon, C K Birla Hospital, Gurgaon, explains, that protection doesnt last forever. As women approach menopause, this shield fades," she says. Symptoms like bloating, fatigue, or body aches already common in midlife can mask the warning signs of heart disease.

At the same time, modern lifestyles are stacking the odds against womens cardiac health. High-pressure jobs, frequent travel, excessive workouts, and rising alcohol and drug use all contribute to higher risk. Unfortunately, both women and healthcare providers often attribute these signs to menopause or lifestyle factors rather than the heart," cautions Dr. Kalra. Without regular preventive checkups, these risks often remain invisible until its too late.

Changing the Conversation

For Dr. Tejashri Shrotri, Senior Consultant and IVF Specialist at Medfemme Womens Clinic and Apollo Cradle Royale, the solution begins with breaking the silence. For years, womens heart health hasnt received the attention it deserves," she says. Menopause is a pivotal stage that heightens cardiac risks, but one that remains under-discussed in both clinics and communities. We really need to start having these conversations more openly, push for regular screenings, and make sure women get care tailored to their specific needs."

Closing the Gender Gap

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Taken together, these insights underscore an urgent truth: womens cardiac health can no longer remain overlooked. The differences in symptoms, the masking effect of menopause, lifestyle stressors, and cultural biases all conspire to leave women vulnerable. But with greater awareness, routine screenings, and gender-sensitive care, this gap can be closed.

Heart disease doesnt discriminate but healthcare too often does. Ensuring women receive the recognition and treatment they deserve isnt just about fairness; its about saving countless lives.

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 29, 2025, 08:37 IST

News lifestyle health-and-fitness The Gender Gap In Cardiac Care: Why Womens Heart Health Is Still Overlooked
Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco Tie the Knot and Step Into Their $35M Beverly Hills Estate: Inside Their Combined Wealth

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 12:59 IST

Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco marry in California and make their $35M Beverly Hills mansion their new creative and personal sanctuary

Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco got engaged in December 2024.

Its official: Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco are married, and fans around the world are celebrating. On September 27, the superstar couple said I do" in a low-key yet stylish ceremony in California, sharing intimate glimpses on Instagram, Gomez in a satin halter-neck Ralph Lauren gown, Blanco in a classic tuxedo, and close-ups of their wedding rings. Within hours, hashtags like #GomezBlancoWedding and #CasaBlanco began trending globally.

While the wedding itself melted hearts, the buzz hasnt stopped at their outfits attention has now shifted to where the newlyweds will be celebrating life together: their sprawling California estates.

Recommended Stories

Selenas Encino Retreat: A Private Creative Sanctuary

Gomezs main residence remains her Encino, Los Angeles, estate, a nearly 11,000-square-foot mansion she purchased for $4.9 million in 2020. Originally built for Tom Petty, the property offers the perfect mix of privacy and luxury. Inside, double-height living rooms, a grand spiral staircase, a yoga studio, a massage room, and a fully equipped recording studio allow Gomez to work on music or unwind without stepping outside.

Outdoors, the Mediterranean-inspired design comes alive with a covered loggia, resort-style pool, and shaded stone terraces, all drenched in California sunshine. The home balances star-level amenities with a serene retreat vibe, ideal for a creative powerhouse like Gomez.

The $35 Million Beverly Hills Love Nest"

Late last year, Gomez and Blanco secretly purchased one of 2024s most talked-about properties: a restored 1928 Wallace Neff Spanish-style estate in Beverly Hills. Valued at $35 million, the seven-bedroom, twelve-bathroom home previously belonged to Joker director Todd Phillips.

The estate is nothing short of spectacular, featuring an antique library, sweeping staircase, glass-walled greenhouse, Olympic-size swimming pool, spa, and private gym. Set on a rare double lot, the property combines classic Hollywood glamour with modern wellness spaces, a perfect playground for the newlyweds.

Benny Blancos Real Estate Portfolio

Before joining forces with Gomez, Blanco had already curated an impressive collection of properties. His portfolio includes an ivy-clad West Hollywood estate (purchased from Tinder co-founder Sean Rad for $9.2 million), a Spanish-Modern bungalow in Beverly Grove, a Malibu beach cottage once owned by Edward Norton, and a sleek West Hollywood compound. Each home reflects his playful, eclectic style, from velvet-tufted walls to alfresco dining spaces and Mariah Carey-inspired dressing rooms.

Selenas Earlier Homes: A Nostalgic Journey

Gomez has lived in Calabasas, Studio City, and back, but her Texas roots remain close to her heart. In 2018, she revisited her modest Grand Prairie childhood home, posting nostalgic photos and noting she never wants to lose that part" of herself. Her current life of glass solariums, wine cellars, and sprawling estates stands in sharp contrast, highlighting a remarkable evolution from humble beginnings to global stardom.

Cars, Watches, and Lifestyle

The couples taste extends beyond real estate. Gomezs garage houses a Cadillac Escalade, Range Rover Sport, BMW 5 Series, classic Mercedes-Benz, and a vintage Porsche  a far cry from her first car, a Ford Escape Hybrid gifted at 16. Blancos collection is equally eclectic, including a Tesla Model S, 1974 Triumph Stag, and 2020 Hyundai Sonata.

Their watch collections reflect a blend of luxury and fun: Gomez has been seen in Casio G-Shock, rose-gold Rolex Day-Date, Bvlgari Serpenti, and Christian Paul Bondi, mirroring their down-to-earth yet ambitious approach to life.

A Billion-Dollar Power Couple

With Gomezs estimated $1.3 billion fortune, fueled by Rare Beauty, and Blancos roughly $50 million in assets, their combined net worth hovers around $1.35 billion. Despite this staggering wealth, the couple remains approachable, sharing quirky and authentic moments from Blanco filling a bathtub with cheese on Valentines Day to Gomezs candid Apple TV+ documentary My Mind & Me.

Their Beverly Hills estate is more than a house; its a creative hub, wellness retreat, and Instagram-worthy playground, a backdrop for upcoming music, acting projects, and ventures.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

From Texas to Hollywood Glamour

From a modest childhood home worth under $200k to multi-million-dollar estates with pools, gyms, and wine cellars, Selena Gomezs property journey is nothing short of remarkable. With Benny Blanco by her side and a combined billion-dollar fortune, their new Spanish-style Beverly Hills mansion isnt just a home, its a statement of creativity, love, and power at the peak of their careers.

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 29, 2025, 12:59 IST

News lifestyle Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco Tie the Knot and Step Into Their $35M Beverly Hills Estate: Inside Their Combined Wealth
Rishab Shettys Kantara: Chapter 1 Team Cancels Chennai Event After Stampede Incident

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 18:33 IST

Rishab Shettys Kantara: Chapter 1 team has cancelled their Chennai promotional event following a deadly stampede at a Vijay rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu.

Kantara: Chapter 1 is scheduled for release on 2 October.

At least 40 people were killed in a stampede during a political rally addressed by actor-turned-politician Vijay in Karur, Tamil Nadu. This incident has left the entire country numb. In light of this heartbreaking incident, the makers of Kantara: Chapter 1 have decided to cancel the grand promotional event scheduled for tomorrow, September 30.

Actor Gulshan Devaiah took to his Instagram and shared an official statement that reads, In view of the recent unfortunate incident, we have decided to cancel our Kantara: Chapter 1 promotional event scheduled in Chennai tomorrow. We believe this is a time for reflection and solidarity with those affected. Our deepest condolences and prayers are with the families impacted. We are grateful for your understanding and support, and we look forward to meeting our audience in Tamil Nadu at a more appropriate time."

Recommended Stories

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gulshan Devaiah (@gulshandevaiah78)

Due to the recent unfortunate incident, we are cancelling the #KantaraChapter1 promotional event in Chennai tomorrow. Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected. Thank you for your understanding. We look forward to meeting our audience in Tamil Nadu at a more appropriate time," the actor added in the caption.

About the Stampede

When asked about the cause of the stampede during a press briefing early on Sunday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin said, Tamil Nadu has appointed a commission headed by retired judge Aruna Jagadeesan to investigate the incident and submit a report to the government, after which further action will be taken."

This is not the first time Vijays rallies have faced safety concerns. At least six deaths were reported by the media following the first meeting of his political party when it was launched in October last year.

Despite police-imposed restrictions, including limits on convoy size and venue changes, the sheer scale of public turnout has repeatedly overwhelmed local infrastructure.

About Kantara: Chapter 1

Kantara: Chapter 1 is scheduled for release on 2 October, coinciding with the Gandhi Jayanti and Dussehra holidays. Alongside Rishab, the film features Rukmini Vasanth, Gulshan Devaiah, Jayaram, and Rakesh Poojari in pivotal roles. Produced by Hombale Films, the screenplay has been co-written by Rishab Shetty, Anirudh Mahesh, and Shanil Guru. The music is by B. Ajaneesh Loknath, who also composed for the original hit.

First Published: September 29, 2025, 18:33 IST

News movies regional-cinema Rishab Shettys Kantara: Chapter 1 Team Cancels Chennai Event After Stampede Incident
We Cracked Up: Sahher Bambba REACTS To Say No To Drugs Disclaimer In The Ba***ds Of Bollywood | Exclusive

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 08:56 IST

Sahher Bambba heaps praises on her The Ba***ds Of Bollywood director Aryan Khan for taking digs at himself in the series, calling him 'the funniest guy in the room'.

Aryan Khan's The Ba***ds Of Bollywood is currently streaming on Netflix.

As Aryan Khans The Ba***ds Of Bollywood continues to trend on Netflix, one cant stop analysing the meta jokes and Bollywood cliches the series explores. The cameos by Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, SS Rajamouli, Ranbir Kapoor and Ranveer Singh, among others, have grabbed attention but what has taken everyone by surprise is Aryans self-deprecating sense of humour in the series. In a jail sequence, Lakshyas Aasmaan Singh is told andar jaake log aur bhi famous jo jaate hai.

The first episode of The Ba***ds Of Bollywood, that features a Sameer Wankhede lookalike, ends with a disclaimer that states Say No To Drugs. Now, speaking exclusively to News18 Showsha, Sahher Bambba reacts to this disclaimer that has left the audience in splits. We were all laughing," she tells us. Interestingly, all the actors read this bit in the screenplay during the first table read.

Recommended Stories

Sahher recalls the session and adds, That was the first time all the cast members were going through the script collectively. Usse pehle, we didnt have the script. At the reading, we were cracking up! It was too funny. After every third line and within each scene, there was some or the other joke or witty stuff. Even on set, we would be laughing in between cuts."

But among all the characters that come across as satirical caricatures of Bollywood actors, the one that stood out for Sahher is that of Shoumik, her brother in the series. She sets the record straight that he isnt based on a real-life person and says, Shoumik is my most favourite character. He isnt based on any actor and is a totally fictional character. I havent met anyone like him!"

She continues, When I was reading about this role in the script, I remember constantly asking Aryan ki kisko cast kar rahe ho. Its such an interesting character and I was too curious to know whos playing it. Divik (Sharma) is the total opposite of Shoumik. Hes sweet, very reserved and quiet, but he played it so well. Everyone is like, whos this guy?"

Sahher attributes the success of these scenes, moments and episodes to Aryan, who she refers to as the funniest person in any room. Hes very witty. Hell have the most unexpected joke ready. Hes already thinking ten steps ahead of everyone. There so many self-deprecating jokes in the show where hes taking a dig at himself, like the Maheep Kapoor and Shanaya Kapoor red carpet scene where she tells her to smile and not behave like Aryan," she remarks.

Aryans sense of humour spilled over off-screen too. Talking about it, Sahher recounts, He would say something randomly while filming and I would start laughing and it would turn into a ten-minute long laughing fit. Then he would go, Okay, lets stop laughing now. We need to continue with the shoot. In fact, everyone in the show has taken jokes on themselves. Kudos to Aryan and the whole team for writing such jokes!"

About the Author Titas Chowdhury Titas Chowdhury is a Principal Correspondent at News18 Showsha. She writes about cinema, music and gender in cinema. Interviewing actors and filmmakers, writing about latest trends in showbiz and brin... Read More

First Published: September 29, 2025, 08:56 IST

News movies web-series We Cracked Up: Sahher Bambba REACTS To Say No To Drugs Disclaimer In The Ba***ds Of Bollywood | Exclusive
The Commander-in-Chief of the Swedish Air Force, Mikael Claesson, does not rule out the possibility that the Swedish military could find itself in a situation where a decision is made to shoot down Russian aircraft that violate NATO airspace, SVT has reported.

"This decision must be made by the pilot of the aircraft in question," Claesson said.

There have been a number of violations of NATO airspace in recent times. These include both confirmed Russian violations - for example, fighter jets that were in Estonian airspace for 12 minutes - and incursions by drones of unknown origin, which have affected Denmark, among others.

European countries, including Sweden, have declared their readiness to defend their borders militarily if the violations continue.

Claesson stressed that the Swedish military would shoot down aircraft as a last resort in the event of a serious violation.

"If you disobey orders, the last resort is to use force, first to spot and then to open effective fire. In other words, to shoot down," he said.

According to Claesson, ultimately, the decision to open fire is made by the pilot of the aircraft that is facing a threat to the Swedish border.

"I believe that our pilots have sufficient training and experience to make decisions in such situations," the commander-in-chief is confident.

Escalation cannot be ruled out, but Claesson does not consider it the most likely development of events.

"I do not think that Russia wants to go to war with NATO. I think that they want to divide NATO politically, show our weaknesses, exploit them and sow fear among our population," he said.
Karur Cocktail: Vijays Nonchalance And Tamil Nadus Fatal Crush On Actor-Politicians

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 12:46 IST

Both Tamil Nadu politics and society need a turning point for which Election 2026 provides a window of opportunity

Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google

Vijay did not even bother to visit the injured and the bereaved---that is his casual arrogance and rank insensitivity. (PTI)

Tragedies like Karur pose questions which dont have easy answers.

What, for instance, is more destructive: the foolhardiness of blind followers or the cruel indifference of the false gods they worship? Is sacrificing reason at the altar of fawning over icons more dangerous than the uncaring narcissism of the heroes?

Recommended Stories

It is hard to explain a reported 30,000-60,000 people packing themselves in a narrow road meant for not more than 10,000 in Tamil Nadus Karur, waiting for hours for actor-turned-politician Joseph Vijay to arrive, only for 40 to be killed and hundreds injured in the stampede which ensued.

It is easier to explain why Vijay, the boss of the new Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party, came over six hours late to address the crowd (he was supposed to arrive around noon, he turned up a little before 7pm), much like he would do for a movie shoot. It is his deep sense of entitlement, honed over years of the producer, director, co-stars, and the crew waiting endlessly for the superstar to oblige by just showing up.

Or why Vijay did not even bother to visit the injured and the bereaved. That is his casual arrogance and rank insensitivity.

Whether such a man is fit to serve the people, or makkal, is moot.

For this so-called leader, a group of men climbed up a large tree for a vantage view. According to multiple reports, the branches collapsed, the men fell into the sea of fans jostling in that narrow street, and set off the crowd crush.

For such a leader, thousands waited in the heat risking dehydration and restlessness, stewing in the volatile mix. And after the event, thousands reportedly chased Vijays vehicle as it was leaving, making things even more lethal.

After the tragedy, Vijay issued a statement saying he was shattered. But each of his actions loudly told the world that he was unmoved by the nightmare for which he isat least partlyto blame.

Also, this cold display of arrogance was not the first for the actor-politician. A video of Vijays bouncers throwing a fan off the stage in Madurai on August 22 went viral on social media. The Tamil Nadu Police have booked the TVK leader and 10 others. Vijay was seen unfazed during the fracas which happened under his nose.

Tamil Nadu is infamous for extreme, even fatal, shows of devotion towards filmstar-politicians.

In the Mahamaham festival stampede of February 18, 1992, for instance, 50 people died in Kumbakonam where then chief minister J Jayalalithaa went for a holy dip. When DMK patriarch and former CM M Karunanidhi passed away, mourners triggered a stampede at the Rajaji Hall in Chennai on August 8, 2018. Five died.

Observers have assigned a range of reasons for this killer quirk in the Tamil psyche. Some say the deification of heroes stems from the culture of erecting hero stones" or Nadukal to venerate war heroes, saviours, and ancestors.

This practice reflects an inherent tendency to grant a form of divine status to individuals who are seen as extraordinary protectors or benefactors.

Others say the Dravidian movement, which lashed out against traditional worship of the divinity, left a religious vacuum among people. Political and cinema personalities who offered simplistic solutions became the new gods.

The Dravidian movement deliberately used cinema as its main propaganda tool, elevating heroes who mouthed the ideology to the status of gods. It was a well-developed spiritual deprivation-reel overfeeding strategy meant to spark mass frenzy.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Whatever the factors, the combination is dreadfully toxic, as the nation has just witnessed. It does not behove a state with one of the best economies and high literacy. Both Tamil Nadu politics and society need a turning point. Election 2026 provides a window of opportunity.

Abhijit Majumder is the author of the book, Indias New Right. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

First Published: September 29, 2025, 12:46 IST

News opinion Karur Cocktail: Vijays Nonchalance And Tamil Nadus Fatal Crush On Actor-Politicians

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will 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 | From Nagpur To The World: How A Simple Routine Became A Century-Old Institution

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 19:11 IST

When the history of modern India is written, the RSS will be remembered not only as an organisation but as an institution that inspired generations to think beyond themselves

Rapid Read + Follow us On Google

The Sanghs story is not just about scale. It is about method: how a simple, repetitive routine became the foundation for a long-lived institution. (PTI File)

They say Nagpur sits at the geographic centre of India. It is a modest sandstone marker, but also a fitting metaphor for an organisation that began there in 1925 and went on to claim a central place in Indias civic imagination. From a playground shakha led by Dr. K.B. Hedgewar and a handful of young men, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has, over the past hundred years, grown into a sprawling network that touches education, relief, cultural activity, and, indirectly, politics.

The Sanghs story is not just about scale. It is about method: how a simple, repetitive routine became the foundation for a long-lived institution.

Recommended Stories

A routine that builds leaders

The RSS still describes its essence as coming together every day for an hour" which combines physical drills, study and discussion. It is an unremarkable formula, but its strength lies in repetition. Habit builds discipline, discipline builds community, and community builds civic capacity.

That approach was on display in 2024 at a Policy Bootcamp organised by the Rashtram School of Public Leadership at Rishihood University. Asked how the Sangh creates so many leaders, sometimes called a factory of leadership," General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale replied simply: Come to shakha."

His answer underscored the point. Leadership here is not about charisma or short courses, but about steady participation in a routine of service and fellowship. Many swayamsevaks, he added, dedicate themselves to building institutions they may never see flourish fully in their own lifetimes, because the horizon is generational, not electoral.

From individual to institution

Scholars often describe the Sanghs growth in three layers: Vyakti (personal formation), Vichar (ideational cultivation), and Vyavastha (systems). The shakha shapes the individual, study circles provide a civilisational lens, and networks of schools, welfare groups and professional bodies turn goodwill into durable institutions.

The results are tangible. In 2024, the organisation reported more than 72,000 daily shakhas across 45,000 localities. Its affiliates work in student activism, rural development, tribal outreach, education and relief. Many swayamsevaks have moved into public life, including two prime ministers, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Narendra Modi. As political scientist Walter Andersen observed, The RSS aims to plan for the long run, while prime ministers and their governments are transitory."

Service and social presence

The Sanghs footprint is most visible in crises. After the 2001 Gujarat earthquake, thousands of swayamsevaks joined relief operations alongside state agencies. In the 2013 Uttarakhand floods, volunteers distributed supplies and helped rescue efforts. More recently, RSS-affiliated groups provided food and medicines during floods in Punjab in 2025.

Beyond India, diaspora shakhas in North America, Europe and Africa replicate the routine, giving immigrant communities a sense of cultural continuity. At the core of this network are pracharaks, full-time workers who renounce salaries and often family life to serve. Their personal austerity, whether admired or critiqued, has helped the Sangh maintain grassroots presence for decades.

Criticism and contestation

No account of the Sangh is complete without its critics. Scholars such as Christophe Jaffrelot argue that its worldview has, at times, intersected with communal politics and that its cultural nationalism risks marginalising minorities. Historical flashpoints, from debates over its distance from Gandhis assassin Nathuram Godse to controversies around Babri, continue to shape its public perception. Supporters counter that such episodes obscure the Sanghs civic work and reduce a century-old movement to its political associations. The truth is more complex: the Sangh is both a vast voluntary network and a force that has shaped politics, directly and indirectly.

Civilisation still in conversation

India in 2025 faces enormous opportunities and serious challenges: inequality, climate risks, urban strain, and the demands of global leadership. In such a landscape, voluntary organisations that can mobilise quickly and consistently are vital. The Sangh represents one such model, patient, disciplined and scaled across generations. But its centenary is also a reminder of something older: India is a five-thousand-year-old civilisation still arguing with itself, still experimenting with how to live together. The Sangh, with its daily hour of practice, has found one way to embed itself in that conversation.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

When the history of modern India is written, the Sangh will be remembered not only as an organisation but as an institution that inspired generations to think beyond themselves. And perhaps the witty truth is this: in a country where arguments last centuries, it is the quiet builders, not the loudest debaters, who leave the deepest mark.

Prakhar Sharma is an Assistant Professor at Rishihood University and Alumni of TISS Mumbai and London School of Economics. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

First Published: September 29, 2025, 19:11 IST

News opinion Opinion | From Nagpur To The World: How A Simple Routine Became A Century-Old Institution

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will 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 | India-Pakistan: Optical Convergence, DNA Divergence

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 10:43 IST

The core pillars of our two nations are fundamentally different - and moral sermons or viral campaigns do little to change that reality.

Despite Pakistans looming legacy of military incursions and the shadow of terror as a state policy, India has always experimented with peace with its neighbour. (File)

For years, Pakistan has posed itself as a responsible international player that has adhered to the rule of law and global conventions. From Pakistani civil society to the political discourse, its socio-economic challenges, tumultuous history and struggles with reputation have often been ignored to paint a golden picture of progress and prosperity, or chalked up to foreign conspiracies by long time adversaries and back-stabbing allies.

Despite Pakistans looming legacy of military incursions and the shadow of terror as a state policy, India has always experimented with peace with its neighbour, dealing with an ecosystem that poses Pakistan as a mirror image of India in terms of language, culture and heritage. The calls for dialogue often look to the social and cultural convergences, to create a dual world narrative in Pakistan, hoping that nurturing the educated, peace-loving side will overpower the war mongering, radical and propaganda-driven one. The optics look great in songs, films and conferences, but the tangible core of Pakistan, that manages the reality around that ecosystem, is what India has to really contend with. The core pillars of our two nations are fundamentally different  and moral sermons or viral campaigns do little to change that reality. It is the only reason why an iron fist approach to Pakistan is the only tangible foreign policy.

Recommended Stories

THE DEMOCRATIC MIRAGE

For nearly eight decades, Pakistan has struggled to live up to its democratic promise. Periodic elections may give the impression of representative rule, but behind the ballot boxes lies a system distorted by military dominance, feudal strangleholds, minority exclusion, foreign dependency, and the dark shadow of terror.

Roughly 33 years out of 78 since Pakistans independence can be classified as sustained democratic periods where civilian governments were elected and survived without being overthrown by a coup. Yet even those years were marred by presidential dismissals, weak civilian control and strong military influence. The single greatest impediment to democratic consolidation in Pakistan has been the militarys outsized role in governance. From coups to engineered elections, the generals have long treated Pakistan as their preserve. This imbalance has hollowed out civilian institutions, leaving parliament weak and political parties pliant. Look no further than Field Marshal Asim Munir, the head of the Pakistani military, who strides ahead of the elected prime minister of Pakistan to lead the nations foreign policy and trade negotiations.

FEUDAL LORDS IN THE 21ST CENTURY

The next core pillar that shows Pakistan as divergently different from India is the grip of the landlord class, another poison in Pakistans political bloodstream. For millions in rural Pakistan, voting is not a matter of free choice, but of loyalty to the local feudal lord who controls land, credit, and livelihoods. These dynasties dominate parliaments but rarely legislate for reform. Comprehensive land reform, rural education, and empowered local governments are something India achieved fairly immediately after independence. In Pakistan, the zamindari system is still alive and kicking, delivering 50 per cent of the nations prime ministers since independence. Pakistans ballot box mirage ignores this oligarchical DNA, which will not allow the son of a tea-seller to achieve the highest political office of the land.

CODIFIED DISCRIMINATION

Nations with diversity often see frictions between different communities, and India is no exception. However, what sets Pakistan different from India is the legal codification of discrimination. Pakistans legal system has long been weaponised to persecute minorities, embedding structural discrimination into both law and practice. The most glaring example is the blasphemy laws, introduced under General Zia-ul-Haq and retained in the Pakistan Penal Code, which prescribes harsh punishments including death for alleged insults to Islam or the Prophet. These laws are routinely misused against Christians, Hindus, Ahmadis, and even dissenting Muslims. The Ahmadi community is legally barred from calling themselves Muslim or practising the core tenets of their faith, with constitutional amendments and penal provisions criminalising their religious expression. In addition, discriminatory personal laws restrict the rights of Hindu and Christian women in marriage and inheritance, while forced conversions of minority girls remain a pervasive problem with little recourse in courts.

TANGO WITH TERROR

Terror as a state policy has merged itself into Pakistani society, another core pillar that sets the nation apart from India. Top leaders from Bilawal Bhutto to Khawaja Asif have called it the Dirty work of the West, but among the top 5 nations with globally designated terrorists and terror groups on their soil  Pakistan is second to Afghanistan where the Taliban is in power. Even as Pakistan projects itself as a beacon of Islamic modernity, no democracy can survive when terror groups operate with impunity. Pakistans decades-long policy of nurturing jihadist proxies for foreign policy goals has come at a devastating domestic cost  thousands of lives lost, civic space eroded, and politics held hostage by extremists.

HISTORY VS TRUTH

Finally, the distortion of military history, and the pattern of denial, silence and admission is another thing that sets Pakistan apart from India. Every nations government is accused of propaganda and misinformation, but Pakistan has a record of simultaneously bungling and doubling down on its own misinformation to an embarrassing degree. In the first IndiaPakistan war over Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan long framed the campaign as an indigenous revolt by tribal irregulars, downplaying state direction, planning, provisioning and the movement of Pashtun tribes in the weeks leading to the 1947 invasion. Pakistan commemorates September 6 as Defence Day, celebrating the repulse of Indian offensives near Lahore and Sialkot in 1965, and often presenting the war as a win, even when it failed in its objective to take control of Jammu and Kashmir. On the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, US diplomatic cables described the Pakistani armys crackdown as genocide. Pakistans own Hamoodur Rahman Commission  suppressed for decades and later leaked  recorded evidence of widespread atrocities by Pakistani troops. During the 1999 Kargil War, India recovered the bodies of several Pakistani soldiers. When offered to Pakistan through the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Pakistani Army refused to accept them, in order to maintain the fiction that only irregulars were involved. The Indian Army conducted the last rites with full military honours and as per Islamic traditions. Despite its initial denials, Pakistan subsequently acknowledged the dead as its own soldiers and conferred gallantry awards posthumously.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

For the Pakistani state, these are non-negotiable attributes, written in stone, with no signs of active civil movements for deep, meaningful institutional change. Its core realities necessitate a hardline foreign policy stance. Unfortunately, the Pakistani citizenry exists in a fragile theatre of democracy, ignorant or blissfully unaware that sustained democracy cannot be delivered by generals, oligarchs, extremists or foreign patrons. Peace at least requires some level of convergence of national characters. The drastic divergence of national DNAs is a reality we must accept.

(Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views)

About the Author Ayushman Jamwal Ayushman Jamwal is a Senior Output Editor at CNN-IBN. A graduate of the Cardiff School of Journalism, he is a regular commentator on politics, international relations and social issues.

First Published: September 29, 2025, 10:43 IST

News opinion Opinion | India-Pakistan: Optical Convergence, DNA Divergence

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will 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 | Karur Tragedy: Vijay's Sense Of Entitlement And Urgent Need For Stronger Crowd Safety Laws

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 21:30 IST

That Vijay has offered to pay Rs 20 lakh each to the kith and kin of the families that lost a member at his rally doesn't mitigate his contributory role in the stampede

TVK chief Vijay at a rally in Tamil Nadu's Karur district, where a stampede led to the deaths of 41 people, including women and children. (Image: ANI)

The Karur stampede on 27 September at the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) rally addressed by the party founder and matinee idol Vijay has thus far claimed 40 lives  most of them in the young age group, which is his main constituency and whose support he is banking on to dethrone the incumbent DMK government in next years Assembly elections.

One doesnt know if the massive crowd build-up was orchestrated, which often is whispered about in undertones  appointing crowd-pulling agents and extracting commitments from them to bring, say, 1,000 spectators each to the venue of the political rally for an attractive quid pro quo for the agents to throw crumbs at the indigent wannabe spectators who are explained away as aficionados of the politician, often a star turned politician. In Tamil Nadu, more than other states, film stars enjoy a larger-than-life image in any case. So, it is possible that many of the curious onlookers at Vijays rallies might have been starry-eyed and fawning film-goers who hang on to the lips of their demigods.

Recommended Stories

Vijay arrived over six hours late  scheduled for noon, he appeared just before 7 pm. His habitual lateness reflects a superstars entitlement, expecting others to wait. His failure to meet the injured or bereaved reveals arrogance and insensitivity  hardly traits of a peoples leader.

That Vijay has offered to pay Rs 20 lakh each to the kith and kin of the families that lost a member at his rally doesnt mitigate his contributory role in the stampede. A film star often keeps his audience waiting and doesnt care if they are at least given a bottle of water in the scorching heat. Instead, provocative songs are aired in full blare to arouse them. His van, it is reported, practically cut into the crowd that had to make way for him and, in the process, helpless people fell over themselves  both literally and figuratively.

Section 125(b) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) covers the offence of causing grievous hurt" through a rash and negligent act which endangers human life or the personal safety of others. It is in pari materia with Section 338 of the Indian Penal Code, which BNS has replaced. Section 338 was invoked against actor Shah Rukh Khan in the Vadodara stampede case of 2017. The actor was accused of acting rashly and negligently by throwing smiley balls and T-shirts into the crowd gathered at the Vadodara railway station in January 2017. The crowd had gone berserk and jostled to get the trophies tossed out with pretended magnanimity by the actor from a train during the promotion of his film Raees. A stampede ensued on the platform, resulting in a death and injuries to several persons.

The case against Khan was quashed by the Gujarat High Court in April 2022. In September the same year, the Supreme Court refused to intervene against the reasoning in the High Court decision, which explained that the degree of rashness and negligence involved must be extremely high" or gross" to constitute a criminal offence. At any rate, mens rea or criminal intent was lacking so as to make the charge of criminal negligence stick.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

It is time the BNS was amended to deny such latitude when it comes to public order and safety. As things stand, TVK and Vijay would wiggle out of the charges of criminal negligence easily. But a stricter law would put the fear of God into them and also arrest the putative rent-a-crowd practice. The onus of ensuring effective crowd management must be on the organisers, with the police stepping in on the basis of the inputs given by the organisers. Actors and celebrities who arrange private security agencies and thugs to protect their persons can very well afford to arrange private security agencies to handle the crowd and traffic. If the organisers are remiss in the prevention of a stampede, they have to be dealt with by a law that doesnt provide them wiggle room like mens rea.

(The writer is a senior columnist. He tweets @smurlidharan. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views)

First Published: September 29, 2025, 21:30 IST

News opinion Opinion | Karur Tragedy: Vijay's Sense Of Entitlement And Urgent Need For Stronger Crowd Safety Laws

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will 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: The India-Pakistan Face-off At UNGA

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 18:23 IST

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif delivered a speech that was met with a forceful rebuttal from India

Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google

Sharif's invocation of the Indus Waters Treaty as a justification for considering military action was another focal point of India's rebuttal. (File)

Some never learn from their failures, and Pakistan is one such entity that thinks that by brazenly repeating a lie year after year it can give its incredulous Kashmir charade a semblance of legitimacy.

Furthermore, by making an unending string of palpably false allegations regarding Kashmir-related issues, it rightly invites New Delhis ridicule, but having become thick-skinned, it doesnt seem to bother about regularly being humiliated at the annual UN General Assembly [UNGA] meet.

Recommended Stories

So, the 80th UNGA meet was, expectedly, no different.

Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif delivered a speech that was met with a forceful rebuttal from India. Laden with provocative rhetoric and contentious claims aimed to castigate India over the May 2025 military confrontation, commonly referred to as Operation Sindoor, Sharifs address was a comic and hallucinatory account of unsubstantiated claims gleaned from dubious social media accounts.

Sharifs exposition was so feeble that Indias First Secretary Petal Gahlot had no difficulty at all in demolishing the same with her hard-hitting and incisive retort that cleared the air and left no room for ambiguity.

A tapestry of allegations

Prime Minister Sharifs speech was a crudely sewn tapestry of hollow rhetoric, wild allegations, and contrived historical grievances with frantic calls for international intervention. He accused India of unprovoked aggression" during Operation Sindoor, concealing the fact that the Indian armed forces had initially only struck terrorist infrastructure and it was the Pakistan army that enlarged the scale of the conflict by targeting defence installations and civilians.

Sharif neither explained why senior Pakistan army officers participated in the funeral ceremony of terrorists killed in the Indian strike, nor assigned any reasons for holding military funerals for the deceased terrorists. Instead, he unsuccessfully tried to paint a picture of a Pakistan standing resilient against an overwhelming adversary, emphasising the nations military prowess and the so-called victory" achieved during the conflict.

One of his most incredible assertions was the claim of Pakistan having downed seven Indian fighter jets, and in the absence of any independent verifications and evidence to support this allegation, the same was expectedly met with scepticism. Sharifs rhetoric also included references to the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), and his declaration that Indias legitimate actions in the region were tantamount to acts of war," smacked of belligerence, an inappropriate utterance for a UN event.

Unmasking lies

While exercising Indias right of reply", Gahlot convincingly dismantled Sharifs web of lies with undisputed facts. She began by addressing the alleged downing of Indian jets by stating, If destroyed runways and burnt-out hangars look like victory, as the Prime Minister claimed, Pakistan is welcome to enjoy it." This pointed remark [supported by physical evidence in the form of satellite imagery and videos uploaded on social media by Pakistani citizens themselves] underscored the absurdity of equating extensive infrastructural damage with military success.

Furthermore, Gahlot highlighted Pakistans consistent support for terrorist organisations, stating, Pakistan continues to glorify terrorism that is so central to their foreign policy." This pointed accusation brought attention to Pakistans long-standing history of harbouring and supporting armed groups that have perpetrated acts of terror across the region.

The IWT controversy

Sharifs invocation of the Indus Waters Treaty as a justification for considering military action was another focal point of Indias rebuttal. The treaty, established in 1960, governs the use of the Indus River system between India and Pakistan, and New Delhis stance has consistently been that any dispute regarding the treaty should be resolved through bilateral dialogue and not through military means.

Emphasising New Delhis logical stance on IWT, Gahlot reiterated Indias commitment to the treaty and its preference for peaceful resolution of any disagreements. She further criticised Pakistans attempts to internationalise the issue, labelling such efforts as attempts to divert attention from its own internal challenges.

Kashmir narrative

That Sharif would raise the Kashmir issue was expected, and he didnt disappoint. However, with nothing substantial to speak about on this issue, he chose to rake up Islamabads routine complaint of human rights violations in this region. However, with Gahlot reaffirming that Kashmir is an integral part of India", it became clear that any reference to it was tantamount to meddling in its internal affairs.

Furthermore, by citing Pakistans own abysmal record on human rights and its support for groups that have been designated as terrorist organisations by the United Nations, she exposed the irony of Pakistans stance.

International reactions and the broader implications

The tone and tenor of Sharifs speech and Indias brusque rebuttal leave no room for doubt that any normalisation of Indo-Pak relations is unlikely in the foreseeable future. This verbal face-off has also drawn reactions from the international community with a majority of observers commenting on the stark contrast between Pakistans provocative assertions vis-a-vis Indias measured and fact-based response.

While India as a country is doing well and progressing at an impressive pace, Pakistan is, unfortunately, sinking deeper into the morass of political and financial instability. The venom against India spewed by Sharif through his address at UNGA has obviously been scripted by the Pakistan army which is still smarting under the severe punishment it received during Operation Sindoor.

Accordingly, while Sharif may have scored some brownie points back home and pleased the Pakistan army by talking tough, taking a position that leaves no window for reconciliation will have serious repercussions for Islamabad. While India has the financial capacity to upgrade its military inventory significantly to counter the envisaged threat, for Pakistan to match this capability will put an immense strain on its fragile economy that is struggling to keep afloat by regular infusion of capital acquired through foreign loans.

Conclusion

The exchange at the UNGA serves as a microcosm of the broader India-Pakistan relationship: a delicate balance between dialogue and discord, cooperation and confrontation. While Sharifs bellicosity impressed no one as Pakistan lacks the means to convert its words into action and as such relies on international support, Indias strong response reaffirmed its independent standing within the global community.

As the dust settles on this diplomatic confrontation, the world watches closely. New Delhi is in no hurry to talk with Islamabad, and Pakistan doesnt seem to be keen on mending fences either. To add to this, Pakistan army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir has played to the gallery by resurrecting the Two Nation Theory, further fuelling anti-India sentiments amongst his people and thus creating a dangerously volatile situation.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

One only hopes that good sense prevails and Pakistans newly promoted Field Marshal doesnt commit the blunder of initiating any misadventure by his military or non-state actors.

The author is Editor, Brighter Kashmir, author, TV commentator, political analyst and columnist. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author.

First Published: September 29, 2025, 18:23 IST

News opinion Opinion: The India-Pakistan Face-off At UNGA

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
Southern Slice | When The Lights And Lives Dimmed In Karur: The Human Cost Of A Rally

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 16:36 IST

It was a disaster that unfolded fuelled by reckless planning and an entitled belief of cine stars that people would wait endlessly for their leader to arrive.

Victims being taken to hospital after a stampede was witnessed during a rally presided by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam chief and actor Vijay, in Karur district, Tamil Nadu. (IMAGE: PTI)

Forty one dead including ten children, over 50 injured hospitalised, yet actor-turned politician Vijay is yet to visit the hospital or meet the victims. While TVK was quick to blame the ruling DMK government and go to the courts, the question that is being asked time and again is why isnt Vijay not with the victims?

Recommended Stories

Eyewitnesses recalled the chaos erupted as there was sudden darkness that set in due to a sudden power failure. That combined with the narrow access roads and a sudden abrupt surge of people just before Vijay arrived towards the main area where he was to address.

In the ensuing panic, growing crowds, and suffocating atmosphere  families were separated, and women and children struggled desperately for air. Post-mortem reports confirm that the victims died due to suffocation.

TVK has insisted that the stampede was not a tragic mishap but a deliberate conspiracy. But Tamil Nadu Police has dismissed this version outright. Additional Director General of Police Davidson Devasirvatham was categorical in his response  there was no stone-pelting, no external provocation. What happened in Karur, he said, was the result of gross mismanagement by TVKs own organisers.

According to the police, TVK had been instructed to shift the rally from Karur town, where it had initially sought four venues including the Bus Stand roundabout and the Light House. All of these were densely populated business areas, and permission was denied.

Instead, the party was allotted Velusamipuram on the KarurErode Road, the same ground where AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami had held a rally just a day earlier, on September 25. The TN government said that TVK ignored warnings, pushed ahead with poor planning, and the consequences were devastating.

Barricades set by the political party were insufficient, exits unclear, and Vijays campaign vehicle itself became a trigger point for the chaos. Visuals from the event captured the desperation of people stretching to see their leader; none could have imagined that longing for a glimpse would cost lives.

The backdrop makes the loss even more painful. Most of the victims were young adults, aged 18 to 30. Their families had sent them with hope and pride to see a leader who promised change. They returned in coffins. The irony could not be starker: power and entitlement may have whisked Vijay to safety, but what about those who never made it home?

Vijays rally was slated to address the crowd at noon. Yet, like so many political events anchored on star power, the timeline stretched, and stretched further. Tamil Nadu has seen some of the most powerful politicians who have been born from filmdom and grown to become some of the tallest leaders in Tamil Nadus political stage  be it former chief ministers like MG Ramachandran, K Karunanidhi or J Jayalalithaa, Vijayakanth amongst others.

Coming back to the Karur tragedy, Vijays supporters from Karur and neighbouring districts began pouring in as early as mid-morning. By 10 am, the venue was swelling under the scorching sun. There was no shade, no proper drinking water, and no crowd management. People had travelled from Trichy, Erode, and Coimbatore, many of them women and children, determined not to lose their spot. The only motivation: to catch a glimpse of their screen idol in flesh and blood.

But Vijay never appeared at the promised hour. Rally after rally elsewhere delayed his arrival. By the time his campaign van inched its way through the crowds, it was nearly 7 pm  seven long hours later. By then, people were dehydrated, exhausted, and packed so tightly that any surge could tip into tragedy. And tragedy struck.

What compounded the grief was not just the tragedy itself but the response that followed. Vijay was swiftly whisked away by party leaders, far from the cries of mothers and the wails of families echoing through Karurs hospitals. For hours that turned into a day, the victims and survivors saw no sign of TVKs leadership. Second-rung leaders stayed away. Families who had lost their loved ones were left alone with their grief. Even after 24 hours, no functionary had visited the injured or consoled the bereaved.

When Vijay finally responded, it was not face to face, but via a social media post. I share the sorrow of those who have lost their loved ones. As a family member, I will stand by you in this time of grief," his statement read. He prayed for the recovery of the injured, and announced a solatium of Rs 20 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 2 lakh for the injured. But the image that stayed was not one of solidarity  it was of closed-door meetings at his Chennai residence, while Karurs hospitals overflowed with grief and unanswered questions.

The TN police have filed cases against senior TVK leaders even as the party has approached the Madras High Court alleging that stone-pelting, lathi-charge and a larger conspiracy were behind the Karur tragedy. TVK district secretary Mathiazhagan, party general secretary Bussy Anand, and joint general secretary CT Nirmal Kumar have been booked under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder, attempt to commit culpable homicide, rash acts endangering life, and disobedience of lawful orders, along with charges under the Tamil Nadu Public Property Damage Act.

The opposition has also sharpened its its attack. BJP functionary Vinoj P Selvam pointedly remarked, Except TVK, all other political parties visited Karur overnight to meet the affected."

VCK deputy general secretary Vanniyaarasu said, Vijay left Karur in a hurry without consoling the affected families. Even his second-rung leaders have not stood with the people. But he rushed to court to escape responsibility."

The tragedy has now spilled into the courts. TVK has moved the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court seeking an independent investigation into stampede. One of injured men in the September 27 stampede has moved the Madras High Court, asking that Vijay and his party TVK be barred from holding any more public meetings until the Karur disaster is properly investigated, responsibility fixed, and safety protocols guaranteed.

Senthilkannan, the petitioner, wants the court to restrain the DGP from granting permissions to TVK, pointing out that lives cannot be risked again in the name of political spectacle. Ironically, his petition seeks to intervene in TVKs own case, where the party is seeking permission to hold rallies across Tamil Nadu between September and December.

The plea is not just legal  it carries the raw anguish of someone who lived through the chaos.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Karur was never just another rally. It was meant to showcase TVKs strength, to underline Vijays crossover from cinema to politics. Instead, it revealed something far more damning: when politics is treated as performance and people as props, tragedy is not an accident  it is inevitable.

The lights dimmed in Karur that night, not on a film set, but in real lives  lives that deserved more respect than a delayed speech and a belated tweet.

About the Author Rohini Swamy Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for nearly two decades in the television and digital space. She covers south India for News18s digital platform. She has previously wor... Read More

First Published: September 29, 2025, 16:36 IST

News opinion Southern Slice | When The Lights And Lives Dimmed In Karur: The Human Cost Of A Rally

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
CNN name, logo and all associated elements  and  2024 Cable News Network LP, LLLP. A Time Warner Company. All rights reserved. CNN and the CNN logo are registered marks of Cable News Network, LP LLLP, displayed with permission. Use of the CNN name and/or logo on or as part of NEWS18.com does not derogate from the intellectual property rights of Cable News Network in respect of them.  Copyright Network18 Media and Investments Ltd 2024. All rights reserved.
Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 13:43 IST

1 / 8 India is often referred to as the "Mother of Rivers," symbolising its rich culture, way of life, agriculture, and economy. Rivers are vital to every region, village, and town across the country. Renowned rivers such as the Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, and Kaveri provide nourishment and sustenance akin to mothers. It is a tradition to name these rivers after women and worship them as goddesses. The life force, satisfaction, and nourishment found in rivers are often compared to women and revered as 'mother'. However, among the hundreds of rivers in India, only one is designated in the masculine gender: the Brahmaputra. + Follow us On Google

2 / 8 The name Brahmaputra means "son of Brahma" in Sanskrit. According to mythology, Shantana, the wife of Brahma, was captivated by her immense beauty and bore a son. This son, instead of remaining in physical form, transformed into water and began flowing on earth. As he was the son of Brahma, the river was named Brahmaputra. This name reflects not only the mythological and religious significance of the river but also its revered status according to the Puranas, folklore, and ancient Vedas. The Brahmaputra is considered a masculine river due to these mythological beliefs, the sanctity of the river, and its geographical grandeur.

ADVERTISEMENT

3 / 8 The Brahmaputra River originates from the holy Mansarovar in Tibet, where locals call it Tsangpo. Spanning approximately 2,900 km, it crosses Tibet and enters Arunachal Pradesh, where it is known as Dih. It later becomes famously known as the Brahmaputra upon entering Assam. In Assam, the river forms Majuli, one of the largest river islands in the world. Flowing through Assam, the Brahmaputra is a vital lifeline for the state, providing essential support geographically and economically.

4 / 8 The significance of the Brahmaputra extends beyond its geographical size; it holds cultural, religious, and economic importance as well. As the third largest river in India and the 9th widest in the world, it is crucial for regional biodiversity, agriculture, and fisheries. The river's flow, floods, soil distribution, and water resources provide livelihoods for local communities. As it traverses Assam and other north-eastern regions, it reshapes the landscape and aids in the development of villages, fisheries, and resource regeneration in central areas.

ADVERTISEMENT

5 / 8 Folklore recounts that during the Mahabharata, the Pandavas spent time in this area while living in the forest. One day, mother Kunti was thirsty, and her sons Arjuna, Bhima, Nakula, and Sahadeva attempted to fetch water. The Brahmaputra is considered special since Arjuna created water in a unique manner. According to the Puranas, the Brahmaputra possesses ancestral power. Its flow, strength, breadth, and the biodiversity of its islands and banks demonstrate its role not only as a water source but also as a symbol of purity, power, dharma, and prosperity.

6 / 8 The Brahmaputra flows through India, Tibet, and Bangladesh, bearing different names in each region: Tsangpo in Tibet, Dih in Arunachal Pradesh, Brahmaputra in Assam, and Jamuna in Bangladesh. Despite these varied names, the Brahmaputra is distinguished as the only male river in India.

ADVERTISEMENT

7 / 8 The Brahmaputra River boasts several unique features. It is a simple yet remarkable river, reflecting the splendour of nature. It plays a critical role in fisheries, agriculture, and irrigation. The biodiversity along its banks, including forests, birds, animals, and fish, is unique. Culturally, the river is the lifeblood of villages, temples, religious festivals, and celebrations. By creating river islands like Majuli, the Brahmaputra influences the regional way of life. The Brahmaputra stands out among Indian rivers for its geographical and economic size, as well as its cultural and religious significance.
Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 17:54 IST

1 / 10 Tamil Nadus political landscape has been abuzz with discussions not only about TVK leader Vijays ongoing political tours but also about the man who rarely leaves his side. Whether at a public rally in Karur, a film shoot in Kerala, or high-profile events in Chennai, the towering figure of Naeem Musa, Vijays personal bodyguard, has become a familiar sight. (News18 Kannada) + Follow us On Google

2 / 10 The incident during Vijays Karur tour, which left the state in shock, has only heightened curiosity about this enigmatic figure who has stood beside the actor-turned-politician at every significant moment since the launch of his party. (News18 Kannada)

ADVERTISEMENT

3 / 10 Naeem Musa was born in Mahe, a small enclave of Puducherry nestled within Kerala. Though his roots are in the region, his life took a defining turn when he moved to Dubai for work. Alongside his career, Musa developed a strong passion for bodybuilding, which later became a stepping stone into the world of professional security. (News18 Kannada)

4 / 10 A chance call from a friend in Dubai inviting him for a security assignment altered his path permanently. Recognising the potential in the field, Musa went on to establish his own security agency, Gender Security, headquartered in Dubai. (News18 Kannada)

ADVERTISEMENT

5 / 10 For more than a decade, Gender Security has been the trusted choice for celebrities visiting the Gulf region. From pop sensation Justin Bieber to Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, and Tamil actor Sivakarthikeyan, Musas agency has overseen the safety of several international and Indian icons. His firms reputation grew to the extent that the UAE government officially entrusted it with managing security for major sporting events, including the recently concluded Asia Cup T20 tournament. The success of the agency has allowed Musa to expand operations to India, with branches in several states, including one in Chennai. (News18 Kannada)

6 / 10 Despite the Centres provision of Y-category security for Vijay, it is Musa who continues to act as his most trusted shield, often going beyond the mandated layers of official protection. (News18 Kannada)

ADVERTISEMENT

7 / 10 Since the inception of Vijays political outfit, Musa has accompanied him unfailingly - from the grand Madurai conference, where bouncers flown in from Kerala under his supervision lined the venue, to intimate events such as actor Keerthy Sureshs wedding. (News18 Kannada)

8 / 10 His constant presence, however, is not limited to duty alone. Over time, Musa has developed personal bonds with several celebrities, and insiders note that his camaraderie with Vijay has deepened into friendship. (News18 Kannada)

ADVERTISEMENT

9 / 10 Today, even as he continues to live in Dubai, Musa travels frequently to Chennai to ensure Vijays safety at every public appearance. (News18 Kannada)
Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 16:38 IST

1 / 12 OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank are building five new AI data centers under the $500 billion Stargate project to power the next generation of advanced AI systems. + Follow us On Google

2 / 12 An AI data centre is a specialised facility built for high-performance computing, massive data processing, and training advanced AI and machine learning models.

ADVERTISEMENT

3 / 12 An AI data centre, though appearing like a standard warehouse, is equipped inside with GPU/TPU clusters, specialised racks, liquid cooling systems, and fibre-optic cables for high-speed processing and connectivity.

4 / 12 AI data centres handle tasks like training models, processing vast datasets, running large-scale AI services, conducting research, and powering APIs for tools such as ChatGPT.

ADVERTISEMENT

5 / 12 An AI data centre relies on powerful GPUs/TPUs, high-core CPUs, ultra-fast networking, advanced cooling, massive memory and storage, and robust backup power systems to handle intensive AI workloads.

6 / 12 Apart from electricity, AI data centres consume water, coolants, networking gear, replacement hardware, and air filters, with electricity usage rivaling that of a small city.

ADVERTISEMENT

7 / 12 Hyperscale AI data centres operate with just 50200 onsite staff, thanks to automation and remote software management.

8 / 12 OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank are expanding their massive Stargate AI data centre in Abilene, Texas, aiming for gigawatt-class power capacity.

ADVERTISEMENT

9 / 12 Microsoft is building its massive Fairwater AI data centre in Wisconsin, spanning 315 acres, which it claims will host the worlds most powerful supercomputers.

10 / 12 xAI is rapidly building its massive Colossus AI data centre in Memphis, Tennessee, with partial operations underway and significant early power and cooling infrastructure already deployed.

ADVERTISEMENT

11 / 12 Meta is developing massive AI campuses, Hyperion and Prometheus, targeting multi-gigawatt power capacity with large-scale infrastructure, set to scale beyond 2026.
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/CinCAFofUkraine

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrsky has visited military units on the main front lines, including on the Dobropillia axis.

"Held a meeting with the commanders of units and subdivisions involved in the counter-offensive operation. Thanks to the clearly planned and courageous actions of our troops, some of the enemy units were surrounded," Syrsky wrote in a telegram on Monday.

According to him, the total losses of the occupiers near Dobropillia are 3,185 soldiers, of which 1,769 are irretrievable.

The invaders also lost 969 units of weapons and military equipment.

"During the counter-offensive operation, the area of the liberated territory today is about 175 sq km. In addition, almost 195 sq km. have been cleared of sabotage groups," he said.

As noted, Syrsky gave the necessary instructions to increase the effectiveness of fire destruction of the enemy, in particular at long distances; neutralize enemy sabotage groups in certain areas; improve the quality of interaction between units.

"He also made the necessary decisions for the comprehensive support of units and units participating in combat operations, taking into account the deterioration of weather conditions," he said.
'If You Don't Resign...': Prashant Kishors Fresh Attack On Ashok Choudhary Over Corruption Claims

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 18:59 IST

Prashant Kishor had accused JDU's Ashok Choudhary of acquiring land worth Rs 200 crore within three years by "dubious and illegal means".

Rapid Read + Follow us On Google

Jan Suraaj leader Prashant Kishor (Image: PTI/File)

Jan Suraaj party founder Prashant Kishor repeated his corruption allegations against Bihar minister Ashok Choudhary, demanding his resignation and threatening action against him for owning property worth Rs 200 crores by illegal means.

Choudhary, the national general secretary of Chief Minister Nitish Kumars JD(U) and Bihars Minister of Rural Work Department, was accused by Kishor of indulging in corrupt practices and acquiring land worth Rs 200 crore in the last three years through dubious and illegal means". Choudhary has rejected these allegations as baseless".

Recommended Stories

We stand by what has been said about Ashok Chaudharys property. He has acquired property worth Rs 200 crores. He said on camera that if even one kattha of land comes up, I will be a slave to Jan Suraaj. Now that the papers have been issued, you say that this is not your land," said Kishor at a public event.

#WATCH | Patna, Bihar: Founder of Jan Suraaj Party, Prashant Kishor says,  We stand by what has been said about Ashok Chaudharys property. He has acquired property worth Rs 200 crores. He said on camera that if even one kattha of land comes up, I will be a slave to Jan pic.twitter.com/UjMDwBJNNl ANI (@ANI) September 29, 2025

If it is your land, then dont be a slave to Jan Suraaj, prepare to be a slave to the people of Bihar and resign If you dont resign, we will go to the Governor and the court. Action should be taken against him," he added.

Kishor Demands Withdrawal Of Defamation Notice

The Jan Suraaj Party founder also demanded a public withdrawal" of the defamation notice by Ashok Choudhary filed against Kishor over the corruption allegations, asking him to tender an unconditional apology" for defamatory remarks or face a civil suit seeking Rs 100 crore in damages.

If Ashok Choudhary fails to do so, I will make public more of his financial irregularities, worth Rs 500 crore," Kishor said. He had also claimed that a trust, whose members included the mother-in-law of his daughter, Shambhavi, a Lok Sabha MP, had received a donation of Rs 100 crore".

Kishor called the defamation notice a tool of political pressure, stating that these allegations were in the public interest and that accountability of leaders was essential in a democracy.

All those associated with the trust, including a close relative of Chief Secretary Pratyay Amrit, should come forward and disclose the source (of income), else their integrity will be in doubt," he claimed.

Prashant Kishor Targets Deputy CM

Kishor also trained his guns at Bihar Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary, alleging that he escaped trial in a decades-old murder case by falsely" claiming to be a minor before the Supreme Court. He said the Jan Suraaj Party would seek an appointment with the governor on Tuesday to press for Choudharys sacking" and urged action from Nitish Kumar and the BJP.

Kishor said Choudhary had faced trial in a case involving the murder of six people in his native Tarapur in 1995. To claim that he was then a minor, barely 14 years of age, Kishor submitted before the Chief Judicial Magistrate concerned an admit card issued by the Bihar School Education which stated that he was born in 1981," he said.

Choudhary moved the Supreme Court, claiming that he was barely 14 when the mass murder took place and they let him off since juveniles could not be put on trial," he said. However, if we look at Choudharys affidavit of 2020, he states his age at the time to be 51 years. Taking that into account, he would have been in his 20s in 1995. These facts make him liable for prosecution. He should be in jail till he is acquitted."

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Samrat Choudhary, a former state BJP chief who holds several portfolios in the Nitish Kumar cabinet, dismissed the allegations and mocked Kishor for behaving like an investigative journalist."

(with inputs from agencies)

About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in int... Read More

First Published: September 29, 2025, 18:59 IST

News politics 'If You Don't Resign...': Prashant Kishors Fresh Attack On Ashok Choudhary Over Corruption Claims

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
JPC On 130th Constitutional Amendment Bill Hits Roadblock As Opposition Resists

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 13:46 IST

Several INDIA bloc parties including the TMC, SP, RJD, DMK, and Shiv Sena (Uddhav) have decided to boycott the panel, alleging the move targets Opposition-ruled states.

The Bill, introduced by Home Minister Amit Shah, seeks to ensure governments are not run from jail.

The formation of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the 130th Constitutional Amendment Bill  which mandates automatic dismissal of the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, and Ministers jailed for 30 consecutive days in serious criminal cases  has been delayed amid Opposition resistance.

The JPC was to be set up after the monsoon session, but more than a month later, consensus remains elusive. Several INDIA bloc parties including the TMC, SP, RJD, DMK, and Shiv Sena (Uddhav) have decided to boycott the panel, alleging the move targets Opposition-ruled states.

Recommended Stories

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju is expected to reach out to Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Jairam Ramesh, as well as SPs Akhilesh Yadav, AAPs Arvind Kejriwal, and TMCs Mamata Banerjee, urging them to send names for the panel. Sources say Congress, which initially agreed to participate, is now undecided.

Several Congress leaders also believe that as a national party, if Congress boycotts the committee, the ruling side will accuse it of not being serious about the fight against corruption.

The Bill, introduced by Home Minister Amit Shah, seeks to ensure governments are not run from jail.

In the United Kingdom, ministers are expected to resign if charged with a serious offence. While not a legal requirement, the practice is largely enforced through political and public pressure. In the United States, federal and state office-holders can be compelled to step down only after conviction, though indictments often lead to resignations under pressure from the public or their parties. In Pakistan, the Constitution disqualifies anyone convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude," and courts have, in the past, barred leaders from contesting elections while under investigation. In India, the current law under the Representation of the People Act, 1951 provides for disqualification only upon conviction in specific cases. Custody during trial does not automatically remove a legislator from office. The proposed 130th Constitutional Amendment Bill seeks to address this gap for executive office-holders  Prime Minister, Chief Ministers and Ministers  by mandating their automatic removal if they remain in jail for 30 consecutive days.

If Opposition parties refuse to nominate members, the government may move ahead with constituting the JPC without them.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

It is also noted that two other committees that were announced by the Lok Sabha speaker on the last day of the monsoon session, are likely to be formed soon. The two bills for which select committee will be formed include Jan Vishwas 2.0 legislation and the bill for IBC.

As per the convention, the chairmanship for both these committees will be with the ruling party BJP.

First Published: September 29, 2025, 13:46 IST

News politics JPC On 130th Constitutional Amendment Bill Hits Roadblock As Opposition Resists

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
Karnataka Contractors Accuse Congress of Doubling Commissions, BJP Launches 'ATM Sarkara' Attack

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee



Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 22:33 IST

The Congress, which built its 2023 assembly election campaign around accusing the BJP of corruption under the Basavaraj Bommai-led regime, is now facing similar allegations

The contractors highlighted delayed payments in a letter to Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah. (Image: PTI/File)

Contractors in Karnataka, who had previously led the 40 percent sarkara" campaign against the BJP, have now accused the ruling Congress of doubling commissions and failing to clear large dues.

This targeting by the Karnataka State Contractors Association (KSCA) has sparked a sharp political confrontation in the state, with the BJP taking this opportunity to brand the Siddaramaiah-led administration as ATM sarkara".

Recommended Stories

The Congress, which built its 2023 assembly election campaign around accusing the BJP of corruption under the Basavaraj Bommai-led regime, is now facing similar allegations. The BJP has claimed that the Congress is taking 80 percent commissions, while the contractors highlighted delayed payments in a letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

On September 25, the KSCA wrote to Siddaramaiah stating that corruption had worsened under the Congress. The letter, signed by association president R Manjunath and general secretary GM Ravindra, alleged that commissions had doubled in at least eight government departments as compared to the BJPs tenure.

When you (Siddaramaiah) were the Leader of the Opposition, you said no commission would be asked to clear bills if your party came to power. However, we regret to inform you that commissions have doubled in eight departments," the letter stated.

Contractors further accused the state government of selectively clearing bills for bribes. The letter alleged that institutions like Nirmithi Kendra and Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Ltd (KRIDL) were awarding projects to followers of Congress leaders, who subcontracted them after demanding cuts.

The association, however, issued a second letter on September 26 downplaying its initial allegations and focusing on pending dues, estimated at nearly Rs 32,000 crore across nine departments. It appealed to the chief minister, highlighting the significance of Ugadi and Dasara festivals for contractors and their families.

It noted that successive governments had traditionally released funds for contractors during these festivals. It expressed concern that payments pending for the past three to four years were not cleared during the last Ugadi festival.

The contractors body urged the government and the finance department to issue strict and immediate orders to release pending payments ahead of Dussehra. It reminded Siddaramaiah that their campaign against the BJPs 40 percent sarkara" had weakened the saffron party, helping the Congress return to power.

Our pending dues have increased to nearly Rs 32,000 crore. We have appealed to the government to release at least 50% of the pending amount during Dasara or Deepavali," GM Ravindra said, while Manjunath said the double corruption" remark was made to highlight their situation.

In January, the KSCA warned of protests over delayed bill payments and alleged irregularities in awarding contracts. In a letter to seven ministers, including deputy CM DK Shivakumar and rural development and panchayati raj minister Priyank Kharge, it had demanded immediate intervention.

In March, after several meetings, it backed down from its protest threat following assurances from the state government that 50 percent of their long-pending dues will be cleared starting April. The assurance came during a meeting with Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar.

Manjunath said the government had also promised to resolve issues relating to discrepancies related to goods and services tax (GST) and the Mining Development Plan (MDP).

Earlier in the year, the association had issued a warning in another letter to the CM that unpaid dues of nearly Rs 32,000 crore were causing severe financial distress. It even threatened to involve senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge if the government did not act.

It had highlighted an 8 percent GST discrepancy on projects executed between 2017 and 2020, pointing to a high court ruling that held the state responsible for the additional tax burden. It also accused the department of mines and geology of unfairly levying penalties on old bills for missing MDPs, while alleging rising commission demands and corruption under the current administration.

WHAT IS THE BJP SAYING?

The BJP quickly capitalised on the controversy, branding the Congress regime as ATM sarkara" and accusing it of using government projects for political funding.

The KSCAs allegations have placed the Congress on the defensive. The first letter gave the BJP ammunition to accuse the ruling party of hypocrisy, benefiting from the contractors allegations against the BJP before elections, only to face the same charges after coming to power.

The charges have revived memories of the storm created in 2022, when the Congress accused the previous government of demanding 40 percent commission" on contracts. That accusation became the backbone of the partys PayCM" campaign, which portrayed Bommai as corrupt and helped sway public perception in its favour during the 2023 polls.

The contractors have repeatedly complained of delayed bill payments, irregularities in contract awards, and pending GST arrears. Earlier in March, it had even written to Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge seeking intervention. At that time, the government assured them that part of the dues will be settled.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Leader of Opposition R Ashoka questioned if Gandhi will respond to the corruption allegations. State BJP president BY Vijayendra, meanwhile, said: In reality, the kickback is 80% and not just 40%."

In April 2022, Santosh Patil, a 40-year-old contractor who had accused senior BJP leader and RDPR minister KS Eshwarappa of harassing him for a 40 percent commission, was found dead in a hotel in Udupi. The BJP attempted to mitigate the damage by removing Eshwarappa from the Bommai cabinet and denying him a ticket in the assembly elections.

About the Author Rohini Swamy Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for nearly two decades in the television and digital space. She covers south India for News18s digital platform. She has previously wor... Read More

First Published: September 29, 2025, 22:33 IST

News politics Karnataka Contractors Accuse Congress of Doubling Commissions, BJP Launches 'ATM Sarkara' Attack

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will 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 Peace, No Talks With Centre': Leh Apex Body's Message After Ladakh Violence

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee



Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 17:54 IST

The Leh Apex Body pulled out of talks scheduled on October 6 and directly addressed Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the UT administration to "douse atmosphere of fear in Ladakh"

The Leh Apex Body gave an ultimatum to the Centre that it will not hold any talks until peace prevails in Ladakh. (Image: PTI/File)

The Leh Apex Body on Monday gave an ultimatum to the Centre that it will not hold any talks until peace prevails in Ladakh. Talks between the two sides were scheduled for October 6.

The Leh Apex Body (LAB), which along with the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) is spearheading the agitation for statehood to Ladakh and other constitutional provisions, directly addressed Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the Union Territory administration.

Recommended Stories

Till there is no peace in Ladakh, we wouldnt participate in any rounds of talks with the Centre," said LAB chairman Thupstan Chhewang during a press conference. We appeal to Amit Shah and the administration to douse the atmosphere of fear in Ladakh. Till necessary steps arent taken we wouldnt participate in talks."

It asked the Centre to prove Pakistan or foreign hand" in the Ladakh protests, which had turned into violent clashes resulting in the death of four persons on September 24.

Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta will be reviewing the security situation in a meeting even as curfew remains in force for the sixth day.

The situation remained by and large peaceful in the curfew-bound areas with no untoward incident reported from anywhere. Police and paramilitary forces are deployed in strength in sensitive areas and are maintaining strict vigil to maintain law and order," an official was quoted by news agency PTI.

The official said Gupta has convened a high-level meeting at Raj Bhavan to review the overall security situation in view of the last rites of ex-serviceman Tsewang Tharchin of Skurbuchan and Rinchen Dadul (21) of Hanu later in the day.

The last rites of two youngsters  Stanzin Namgyal (24) and Jigmet Dorjay (25)  were performed on Sunday (September 28). All four were killed in the widespread violence.

Officials said mobile internet services continue to remain suspended in Leh town, while prohibitory orders banning assembly of five or more persons are also in force in other major parts of the UT, including Kargil.

The curfew was imposed on September 24 evening following the protests during a shutdown called by the LAB to advance talks with the Centre on the demands for statehood and extension of the Sixth Schedule to Ladakh. More than 150 persons, including at least 80 police personnel, were also injured in the clashes.

More than 60 persons, including two councillors, were taken into custody. They include activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was detained under the National Security Act (NSA), on September 26 and subsequently lodged in Rajasthans Jodhpur jail.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Curfew was relaxed for four hours in a phased manner in the town on September 27 and the relaxation period was peaceful.

(With agency inputs)

About the Author Ieshan Wani Ieshan Wani, senior correspondent, CNN-News18, has over eight years of experience in reporting, producing and editing news for broadcast, digital and print platforms. His reporting has mostly been fro... Read More

Location : Ladakh, India, India

First Published: September 29, 2025, 17:22 IST

News politics 'No Peace, No Talks With Centre': Leh Apex Body's Message After Ladakh Violence

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will 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 Slams Bayan Bahadur Oppn, Says Household Savings Rose Under BJPs 'Good Governance'

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 20:59 IST

PM Modi asked party workers to ensure that the benefits of next-generation GST reforms reach people, especially in opposition-ruled states

Asking BJP workers to reach out to customers as well as traders for promoting swadeshi, Modi appealed for reducing the countrys dependence on foreign goods.

Dismissing the Oppositions criticism of his governments GST measures as lies of bayan bahadur", Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that the BJP-NDA ushered in a new model of good governance" and a family will now save nearly Rs 20,000 on its annual household expenditure of Rs 1 lakh compared to the UPA period.

Speaking at the inauguration of Delhi BJP headquarters here, Modi asked party workers to ensure that the benefits of next-generation GST reforms reach people, especially in opposition-ruled states, asserting that the decision, along with the rise in Income Tax exemption, will save citizens Rs 2.5 lakh crore every year.

Recommended Stories

He accused the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh of indulging in loot" by hiking the levy on cement soon after GST relief brought its price down, as he hit back at the Opposition for the criticism of his dispensation.

These bayan bahadur" (those big on making rhetorical statements) are experts in peddling lies every day, he said.

Modi said Rs 25,000 of the Rs 1,00,000 spent by a family every year on meeting its regular needs used to go to taxes under the Congress-led UPA government, and this figure is now merely Rs 5,000-6,000. A family will now save nearly Rs 20,000, he told BJP workers.

The Opposition has slammed the Modi government, saying it continued to impose high taxes on people for several years since the GST was rolled out in 2017, before rationalising the indirect tax regime recently.

The prime minister said the BJP-NDA governments have given a new model of sushasan in the country".

We are moving forward with the mantra of vikas bhi, virasat bhi. We prioritised the security of the country and the people, we freed the country from scams to give confidence for a decisive fight against corruption," the prime minister said.

Our governments focused on delivery and increasing the savings of common people," he said, noting that the Income Tax exemption limit was only Rs 2,00,000 during the UPA rule, while it is Rs 12,00,000 now.

Asking BJP workers to reach out to customers as well as traders for promoting swadeshi, Modi appealed for reducing the countrys dependence on foreign goods.

The less our dependence on foreign products is, the better it will be," he said, reiterating a point the prime minister has been especially vocal about since the US imposed a high tariff of 50 per cent on Indian goods.

We have to adopt swadeshi to make India self-reliant," he said, calling for making it a movement across the country.

The BJP is in government not for satta" (power) but seva (service), and its offices keep alive this sentiment, Modi said after inaugurating the office and asked party members to ensure that the new building is a place where peoples grievances are heard and addressed.

BJP offices are no less than temples for party members, he said, and serve as a strong chain to connect with people and their expectations.

In a speech in which he spelt out the partys Delhi unit journey since the days of Jana Sangh, whose leaders formed the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1980 after merging their organisation with the Janata Party in 1977, and paid tributes to its numerous leading functionaries.

Modi asked BJP workers of the city to celebrate every festival associated with different parts of India in the national capital, noting that people from different states live here.

They should join people of different regions in celebrating their festivals, and it is very important for the countrys unity, he said, calling for strengthening the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat".

People should realise that the BJP is part of their family, he said, lauding the city as mini India" for its diversity.

Modi said Indians feel good when they come across Diwali greetings at the Singapore airport or heads of different governments celebrating the festival of lights, and added a similar spirit of joy will overwhelm people in different regions of India when they see their festivals being celebrated in Delhi.

He said the Delhi government, headed by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, has been working hard to boost development and expand various pro-people services in the city. He said the party members should work in coordination to ensure that it becomes one of the best capitals in the world.

Making a strong pitch for promoting swadeshi goods, Modi said BJP members must ensure that there is a board on every shop with Garv se kaho ye swadeshi hai written on it.

In his address, Modi said the BJPs relationship with Delhi is based on sentiments and trust. He said that since the Jana Sangh days, the party has worked for the city.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has completed 45 years since its establishment. Atal Ji, Advani Ji, Nanaji Deshmukh, Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Ji, Murli Manohar Joshi Ji It is with the blessings and hard work of such numerous personalities that this party has progressed forward," he said.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

But the seed from which the BJP has today become such a large banyan tree was planted in October 1951.

At that time, under the leadership of Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Ji, the Jana Sangh was established. And in that same era, the Delhi Jana Sangh also got its first president in the form of Vaidya Gurudutt Ji," he said, adding that party workers helped rehabilitate victims of the partition, fought the Emergency and protected Sikhs during the 1984 riots.

First Published: September 29, 2025, 20:59 IST

News politics PM Modi Slams Bayan Bahadur Oppn, Says Household Savings Rose Under BJPs 'Good Governance'

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
Rahul Gandhis Phone Call To Vijay Sparks Speculation In Tamil Nadu Politics

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Pragati Ratti



Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 15:10 IST

As one senior Congress functionary put it, Our alliance with the DMK is strong, but that does not mean we should close channels of communication with Vijay.

Congress sources have confirmed that Gandhi, currently touring South America, dialed both Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and Vijay. (Image: PTI)

A brief phone call can sometimes carry weight far beyond its duration  particularly when it involves two prominent figures like Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and Tamil star-turned-politician Vijay. Congress sources have confirmed that Gandhi, currently touring South America, dialed both Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and Vijay. While his outreach to Stalin was expected, the call to Vijay has stirred curiosity in political circles, given the actor-politicians repeated attacks on the DMK.

The development has revived the larger question: could there be space for Congress and Vijay to explore common ground? Within the Congress, views remain split. Senior leaders maintain that these are early days" and that the party is merely observing the evolving dynamics. Yet, others argue that Vijay is a force the party cannot afford to ignore. As one senior Congress functionary put it, Our alliance with the DMK is strong, but that does not mean we should close channels of communication with Vijay."

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Recommended Stories

Tamil Nadus political history lends weight to this approach. The state has long witnessed actors-turned-leaders shaping mass politics, and Vijay, with his strong appeal among women and younger voters, has already carved out a sizeable base. Congress leaders recognise that while their strength in Tamil Nadu currently rests on their partnership with the DMK, they also need to build independent traction  and being seen as soft" on Vijay could serve that purpose.

Still, caution prevails. Many within the Congress remain loyal to the DMK and view Vijay as a rival whose rise would come directly at the DMKs expense. Yet, the partys careful and balanced stance on recent controversies, such as the Karur stampede where Vijays role was debated, indicates that the Congress is keeping its options open. For now, its a calculated wait-and-watch game.

About the Author Pallavi Ghosh Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. S... Read More

First Published: September 29, 2025, 15:10 IST

News politics Rahul Gandhis Phone Call To Vijay Sparks Speculation In Tamil Nadu 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...
Couple Locked Themselves In Mall Bathroom For Love  40 Minutes Later, This Happened

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 09:42 IST

A young couple went into a mall bathroom for love and didnt come out for 40 minutes  what followed left everyone stunned

Rapid Read + Follow us On Google

Many social media users criticised the couples behaviour, calling it inappropriate and immature. (News18)

A young couple visiting a shopping centre in Malaysia reportedly became the centre of controversy after they locked themselves inside a public toilet cubicle for 40 minutes. The incident, which took place in the cafe section of a well-known mall, has since gone viral on social media, prompting widespread criticism from the public.

Suspicious Behaviour And Mall Security Intervention

Recommended Stories

According to reports, the couple, believed to be students, entered the mall for a casual outing. However, overcome by passion, they made their way directly to a public restroom, where they locked themselves in a stall.

As time passed, other visitors waiting to use the facilities grew suspicious. After 40 minutes with no sign of movement, one bystander looked under the door and noticed four legs, belonging to a male and a female.

Concerned, the onlookers alerted mall security. Security officers arrived shortly thereafter and attempted to knock on the cubicle door, but received no response. The door was subsequently forced open. Upon discovering the couple inside, the guards reportedly reprimanded them and struck them lightly with sticks as a form of disciplinary action. The embarrassed couple fled the scene.

Viral Video And Public Reaction

A bystander captured the entire episode on video, which has since been uploaded to Instagram and widely shared across various platforms. In response, the cafe posted a public service announcement stating: To the couple who spent 40 minutes in the restroom, we know who you are. Please dont do it again."

The footage has sparked a strong reaction online. Many social media users criticised the couples behaviour, calling it inappropriate and immature.

One commenter wrote, Young people these days have lost all sense of decency, 40 minutes in a public toilet is outrageous." Another added, Next time, try using the downstairs bathroom, its more private."

Broader Implications And Future Measures

The incident has reignited debate in Malaysia around public displays of affection (PDA) and the lack of sex education among youths. Experts have pointed out that inadequate awareness around privacy and sexual health is a growing concern.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

The Malaysian Family Council has also issued a statement warning that teenage pregnancy rates are expected to rise by 15% by 2025.

In response to the controversy, mall authorities have pledged to increase security measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Location : Malaysia

First Published: September 29, 2025, 09:42 IST

News viral Couple Locked Themselves In Mall Bathroom For Love  40 Minutes Later, This Happened

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
Desperate For Fame, 2 Teens Urinated In A Hotpot. Then, 4,000 People Ate It

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 13:10 IST

A court ordered the families of the teens to pay a combined fine of 2.2 million yuan (approximately Rs 2.5 crore or $300,000)

Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google

The court fined both families around Rs 2.5 crore and ordered public apologies, community service, and counselling for the teens. (Representative Image/News18)

A disturbing incident from Shanghai, one of Chinas most vibrant cities, has drawn sharp criticism and sparked national debate, highlighting the darker side of social media obsession, raising concerns over parental responsibility, and prompting serious legal consequences.

In early 2025, two 17-year-old boys, surnamed Wu and Tang, drunkenly carried out a vile prank at a branch of the popular Haidilao hotpot chain. While dining with friends, the teens entered a private room, climbed onto a table, and proceeded to urinate into a pot of hot broth, laughing throughout and filming the act.

Recommended Stories

The video was uploaded to Douyin (Chinas version of TikTok) and quickly went viral, prompting widespread outrage across the country.

Nearly 4,000 Customers Affected

Investigations later revealed that almost 4,000 diners had consumed food prepared using the contaminated broth. The viral video caused a public relations disaster for Haidilao, resulting in significant financial losses.

The restaurant swiftly responded by closing the branch for investigation and issuing full refunds to affected customers.

A Haidilao spokesperson commented, This incident has severely damaged our brand reputation. We take customer health and safety extremely seriously."

Legal Action And Public Outcry

The video, though deleted, had already been widely circulated through screenshots and screen recordings. Netizens condemned the teens as vile" and morally bankrupt", while others questioned the role of their parents and the influence of social media.

Because the offenders were minors, they were not jailed. However, on September 16, 2025, a Shanghai court handed down a landmark ruling. Under Chinas civil code, which holds parents accountable for their underage children, the court ordered the families to pay a combined fine of 2.2 million yuan (approximately Rs 2.5 crore or $300,000).

This was to cover damages to Haidilao, including customer compensation, brand impact, and investigation costs. In addition, the families were required to publish a formal public apology on the Chinese social platform Weibo.

Judge Takes A Firm Stand

In court, the judge remarked: Such behaviour poses not only a serious health hazard but is also an affront to public decency." The verdict came as a shock to the families.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Wus father, a businessman, told local media: Our children made a serious mistake. We will honour the courts decision, but this has been devastating for our family." Tangs parents also expressed deep remorse, revealing that the boys had also been struggling with drug addiction.

As part of the ruling, the court ordered both teens to complete community service, undergo psychological counselling, and imposed a social media ban.

Location : Shanghai, China

First Published: September 29, 2025, 13:10 IST

News viral Desperate For Fame, 2 Teens Urinated In A Hotpot. Then, 4,000 People Ate It

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
Only 28 Haircuts Allowed And Blue Jeans Banned: Guess Which Country Enforces This

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 11:06 IST

While the world embraces changing fashion trends, citizens in this country face strict limits, with clothing and hairstyles used as tools of political and cultural control

Rapid Read + Follow us On Google

The government also prohibits ripped denim, branded T-shirts, piercings, and spiky hairstyles. (Representative/News18 Hindi)

In a world where fashion and style play a key role in personal identity, some citizens are restricted from wearing their favourite clothes or choosing their own hairstyles. This is the reality in North Korea, a country known for its strict regulations.

North Korea strictly controls fashion and lifestyle, prohibiting the wearing of blue jeans. President Kim Jong Un views blue jeans as a symbol of American culture and imperialism, banning them to prevent American influence.

Recommended Stories

Additionally, the government prohibits other fashion items deemed rebellious, such as ripped denim, branded T-shirts, piercings, and spiky hairstyles.

In North Korea, even hairstyles are regulated, with only 28 approved cuts allowed. Men can choose from 14 short haircuts, ranging from 1 to 5 centimetres in length, and are advised to trim their hair every 15 days.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Women also have 14 approved hairstyles, which generally allow for slightly longer hair. Interestingly, Kim Jong Uns distinct hairstyle is not included in the approved list, ensuring his look remains unique.

While the rest of the world embraces ever-changing fashion trends, North Korean citizens face strict limitations, with fashion serving as a tool of political and cultural control rather than personal expression.

Location : North Korea

First Published: September 29, 2025, 11:06 IST

News viral Only 28 Haircuts Allowed And Blue Jeans Banned: Guess Which Country Enforces This

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
Relocated For Internship, Fired Within 2 Days: Indian Woman's Shocking Experience In Germany

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 19:50 IST

The woman started her internship on August 15. She worked remotely for two weeks before moving to a new city, only to get fired on the second day of her internship.

The woman moved to an entire new city for an internship, but was fired on her second day

In a heart-wrenching incident, an Indian woman was fired only two days after starting her internship in Germany, despite relocating for the new opportunity. Identified as Kaajal Tekwani, the woman, in a video shared online, she shared her ordeal and revealed that she successfully completed all rounds of interviews, and was even offered an accommodation in Munich.

Imagine moving cities for a new internship and then getting fired within just 2 days. Yep, thats happened to me. They seemed super happy with my work. We went on rounds of negotiations, and they were offering me accommodation in Munich. Everything seemed fine," she said.

Recommended Stories

According to the woman, she started her internship on August 15, after working remotely for two weeks. He then recalled receiving rude messages in the name of feedback.

The founder came and told me that he thinks there is an issue with my attitude and I lack some fire or something. And then, I was like okay. I dont know, I started receiving rude messages in the name of feedback," Tekwani said in the video.

While things were fine for Tekwani on Day 1, she reached her office a few minutes late on the second day as she was suffering from an eye infection. While she had informed her team about it, she was terminated on the same evening.

They gave me reasons  one is that I am not a team fit. Second is that they expected somebody with more senior knowledge and expertise. For an intern role, alright, but you have figured that out during the interview. The third reason was that I am not punctual because I was late in the first two days," said Tekwani, who is now back in Berlin.

She further warned people for relocating immediately for a startup, and added,"Dont immediately relocate for a startup, especially if they are not paying you what you deserve, because if the pay is peanuts and you can see red flags from the beginning, just dont do this. Its not worth it."

View this post on Instagram A post shared by International student in Germany || Study abroad || Work abroad (@kaajal.tekwani)

Social Media Reaction

Her post went viral, garnering several reactions from netizens.

Stay strong! Shit Happens! It happened to me too. A Company said we are transfering you to a new city but later got an email we cant because we are voll," one user commented.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Another wrote,"I had the same experience and it is a big well renounced institute in Germany. Even if you have contract, things are very unpredictable for international students I feel."

A third wrote,"Faced a similar issuse in Germany-cleared two rounds of the interview for a PhD position and relocated from India- and in one month, I was told I was not a good fit as in I did not have the skill set they were looking for-Duh! I was willing to learn and they did interview me-TWICE! was huge blow and thankfully, was lucky enough to get another position in trouble months. Phew!"

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

First Published: September 29, 2025, 19:38 IST

News viral Relocated For Internship, Fired Within 2 Days: Indian Woman's Shocking Experience In Germany

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/RedCrossUkraine

Ukrainian Red Cross (URCS) volunteers are providing assistance to victims of Russian combined missile and drone attacks in Zaporizhia and Kyiv region.

"Today, September 28, Ukraine has suffered another massive attack. In Zaporizhia and Kyiv region, Ukrainian Red Cross volunteers are providing assistance to victims," the URCS said on Facebook on Sunday.

The URC rapid response team in Zaporizhia region worked this morning to eliminate the consequences of the large-scale Russian air attack with the city's special services. Volunteers provided first aid to 8 wounded people with varying degrees of severity, two of whom were transferred to the emergency medical crew. In addition, they also provided first psychological aid to people in a state of acute stress.

Today, the URSC team in Zaporizhia will provide humanitarian assistance to people affected by the attack.

In the Kyiv region, the Ukrainian Red Cross rapid response team in the Kyiv region worked together with the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. At the scene, volunteers provided first aid to 11 wounded, one victim was transferred to ambulance doctors. Volunteers also provided psychological support to the victims and their relatives.

As reported, the number of victims of enemy missile and drone attacks on Sunday night in Zaporizhia has increased to 27 people. The State Emergency Service of Ukraine reported that the missile hit near a 9-story residential building, which caused a fire.

In the Kyiv region, 31 people were injured in a Russian missile and drone attack at dawn on Sunday, including 3 children. Fires and destruction were recorded in suburbs of the city. Belotserkivskyi, Fastivskyi, Buchanskyi, Obukhivskyi and Boryspilskyi districts of the region. A residential complex in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka suffered significant damage.
3 Killed As Violence Erupts In Bangladesh Hills After Tribal Girls Alleged Gang Rape

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 12:30 IST

Violence in Khagrachhari, Bangladesh, after the alleged gang rape of a tribal girl left three dead and dozens injured. Authorities enforced Section 144 as unrest spread.

Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google

Violence breaks out in Bangladesh. (ANI)

At least three people have been killed and dozens were injured on Sunday as clashes erupted in parts of the southeastern Bangladesh hills between aboriginal tribesmen and the settler Bengali community despite intensified security over the alleged gang rape of a tribal girl.

Police confirmed the deaths of three men but did not release their identities. Residents and witnesses reported that both sides in the feud resorted to violence, setting fire to each others homes and businesses in Khagrachhari hill district, around 270 kilometres northeast of Dhaka along the motorway, news agency PTI reported.

Recommended Stories

The unrest followed the alleged gang rape of an eighth-grade schoolgirl in Khagrachhari district on Tuesday, one of the three hill districts of Chittagong Hill Tracts bordering India and Myanmar. The home ministry in Dhaka said 13 army personnel and three policemen were injured in the violence.

The violence first erupted in Khagrachhari district headquarters, where the aboriginal people, mostly belonging to Chakma and Marma tribes, on Saturday enforced a roadblock with burning tyres, tree trunks and bricks, prompting authorities to enforce movement restrictions and rallies.

However, the three deaths were reported from the Guimara area, 36 kilometres south of Khagrachhari, as the violence spread beyond the district headquarters despite patrols by military and paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) forces alongside police.

The girl was allegedly gang raped on her way from a private tuition and was reportedly found by her parents and neighbours at around midnight in an unconscious state in an isolated area in the town.

She received treatment at a local hospital, while police, with military assistance, later arrested a Bengali teenager suspected of being one of the rapists. He is currently under interrogation on a six-day remand, as ordered by the court.

On Saturday, the district administration enforced Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) banning organised movements and rallies at Khagrachhari district headquarters and its suburban townships, but the restrictions largely failed to quell the unrest.

Three people were killed in gunshots at Guimara. Their bodies have been kept at Khagrachhari Sadar Hospital," polices deputy inspector general Ahsan Habib told reporters.

A local journalist told PTI that hospital doctors merely confirmed receiving the bodies. However, they refused to specify whether the dead were ethnic minority people or Bengalis.

The authorities have enforced Section 144, but a curfew-like situation prevails at Khagrachhari town as people preferred to stay indoors, fearing the outbreak of escalating violence," a senior journalist in the hill district, Jiten Barua, told PTI.

In a statement issued Sunday evening in Dhaka, the Home Ministry expressed regret over the casualties and pledged legal action against those responsible following an immediate investigation." It added that no criminals will be spared" and urged the public to remain calm and patient.

District administration has banned rallies and restricted organised movements.

In October last year, Muhammad Yunus interim government imposed a temporary ban on tourists in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) amid rising sectarian tensions between local ethnic minority communities and Bengali settlers.

The CHT had experienced a two-decade insurgency until a peace deal was struck in 1997. The region is the abode of over a dozen mostly Buddhist majority ethnic minority groups.

The 1997 peace accord between the then government of now-ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the Parbatya Chattogram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) brought an end to the insurgency over regional autonomy for the hill communities.

But sporadic unrest continued mostly due to in-fights among different breakaway factions of tribal groups, including PCJSS and United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF), a political party based in the CHT.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

(With inputs from PTI)

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

Location : Bangladesh

First Published: September 29, 2025, 12:25 IST

News world 3 Killed As Violence Erupts In Bangladesh Hills After Tribal Girls Alleged Gang Rape

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
9 Pakistani Security Personnel Killed In IED Blast At Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's South Waziristan

Reported By :

CNN-News18 Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee



Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 22:37 IST

Sources said militants attacked a convoy of military vehicles, and an exchange of fire continues between them and security forces

An IED attack was carried out on Pakistani security forces in South Waziristan district of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. (Image for representation: AFP/File)

Two days after 17 TTP militants were killed in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in a northwestern district, nine security personnel were killed in an IED blast in South Waziristan district.

According to sources, an attack was carried out on Pakistani security forces in South Waziristan district. Multiple soldiers were also injured in the attack, the sources said. This happened in the Mula Khan Sara area of South Waziristan, they added.

Recommended Stories

The sources told News18 that the IED attack was on a convoy of security forces vehicles. An exchange of fire continues between forces and militants, though there is no information on which group is involved.

On September 27, Pakistan security forces killed 17 militants linked to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in a joint operation in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

It was a joint intelligence-based operation by Frontier Corps (FC) and the police, which was conducted in the Karak district after credible information was received about the presence of militants associated with the TTP, Mullah Nazir group.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has sounded an alarm on the crisis in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, saying militants operate freely even as the State has failed to protect its citizens.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

The commission warned of the worsening security environment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the merged tribal districts, saying terrorist outfits appear to be operating with impunity in several regions, as reported by The Express Tribune.

(With agency inputs)

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

Location : Islamabad, Pakistan

First Published: September 29, 2025, 22:31 IST

News world 9 Pakistani Security Personnel Killed In IED Blast At Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's South Waziristan

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
At Least Two Dead, Several Injured In PoK As Pakistan Clamps Down On Protesters

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 19:30 IST

Pakistani security forces opened fire on protesters in Muzaffarabad, killing at least two and injuring 22. Protests erupted in Dadyal and other Pakistan-occupied Kashmir areas.

Rapid Read + Follow us On Google

The Jammu Kashmir Awami Action Committee (JKAAC) seen leading the ongoing demonstrations in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir region. (IMAGE: ANI)

At least two people were killed and several were injured after Pakistans security forces on Monday opened fire on residents of Pakistan-occupied Kashmirs Muzaffarabad.

Protests have also been reported in Dadyal and other areas of the region which Pakistan has illegally occupied for decades.

Recommended Stories

A report by the Times of India, citing Pakistani broadcaster SamaaTV, said that one person died as Pakistani security forces violently clamped down on protesters.

A separate report by broadcaster NDTV said that two people were killed and 22 injured and that Pakistani forces and ISI-backed Muslim Conference embedded thugs" within the forces and clamped down on protesters.

A report by ANI said that the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC) is leading the ongoing demonstrations. The demonstrations against the Pakistani government intensified due to an internet shutdown imposed on the region.

Sources speaking to CNN-News18 said that the JKJAAC is protesting what it calls the decades-long denial of fundamental rights.

Massive protests are going on in PoKs big and small towns. Thousands of locals are holding rallies for their rights and chanting slogans," said sources.

There is a complete communication blackout. The Pakistan administration has shut down the cellular and internet services in PoK. All WiFi and 2-G communication is blocked," the aforementioned people said.

They also said that several arrests were made overnight, with key active members of the JKJACC picked up in the valley".

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

They added that Pakistan has moved in nearly 2,000 additional personnel from the Punjab Police, Rangers and Frontier Constabulary to suppress the demonstrations. Paramilitary forces have now been stationed across all district headquarters in PoK, while main roads to the region have been sealed off with checkpoints and snap inspections.

The JKJAAC has laid a 38-point charter of demands, which includes removal of perks of the ruling elites, ending 12 seats in the Assembly reserved for Kashmiri migrants who came from the Indian side of the territory, and royalty for hydel power projects in the region.

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 : Islamabad, Pakistan

First Published: September 29, 2025, 18:45 IST

News world At Least Two Dead, Several Injured In PoK As Pakistan Clamps Down On Protesters

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
Bangladesh Home Adviser Makes Bizarre Claim, Alleges India Instigated Khagrachhari Unrest

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 21:43 IST

On Sunday, clashes broke out between the indigenous tribes and the Bengali settler community, resulting in at least three deaths

Rapid Read + Follow us On Google

Locals look at charred remains as shops lie closed at a market area in Guimara, Khagrachari district on September 29, 2025. (AFP photo)

Bangladeshs Home Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Monday claimed that the recent unrest in Khagrachhari district is being fuelled by external influences, including India or fascist elements."

The unrest began in the district when tribal people protested the alleged gang rape of an Indigenous schoolgirl by setting up roadblocks and burning tyres, which sparked the violence. On Sunday, clashes broke out between the indigenous tribes and the Bengali settler community, resulting in at least three deaths and dozens of injuries, including to army and police personnel, TheReportLive reported.

Recommended Stories

Speaking to the media in Dhaka a day after the violence, Chowdhury said there is a major Hindu festival, referring to Durga Puja, taking place and added that some groups are trying to disrupt the celebrations preventing the festival from being enjoyed joyfully and in a religious spirit".

Chowdhury also said the violence was orchestrated by external influences and blamed India for playing a role in it.

This is being orchestrated with the backing of external influences, including India or fascist elements. We are taking comprehensive measures to ensure no one can incite incidents. Our adviser for the Chittagong Hill Tracts is on site, monitoring the situation and coordinating with law enforcement and local leaders," the adviser noted.

Khagrachhari is one of the three districts in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, a region with a history of ethnic tension between tribal groups such as the Chakma and Marma, and the Bengali settlers.

Bangladesh Awami League Statement

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Awami League (AL), the party of ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, condemned the violence in a statement on social media, accusing the current interim leader Muhammad Yunus of ordering the killings.

Hasina, who fled to India last year following political turmoil and student-led protests, described Yunus as an illegal usurper" and killer-fascist."

Statement of Bangladesh Awami League condemning the killing of people by gunfire in Khagrachhari under the direct orders of the illegal usurper, fascist Yunus cliqueThe people of this country are witnessing that since the illegal usurper, killer-fascist Yunus clique pic.twitter.com/jye6IiBDDr  Bangladesh Awami League (@albd1971) September 29, 2025

The whole nation seems trapped in the clutches of a man-eating monster. People are being killed indiscriminately. Human rights are being trampled without restraint."

The statement further added, Under the rule of an illegal, unconstitutional, unaccountable government, there can be no safety of life or property for people of any faith or ethnicity, no rule of law, and only anarchy. This is the fundamental principle of such a ghostly regime, which bears clear marks of Nazi rule."

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

The renewed unrest poses a challenge for Yunus, who is tasked with guiding the nation of 170 million people to elections in February  the first since a mass uprising toppled the government in 2024.

(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 : Bangladesh

First Published: September 29, 2025, 21:25 IST

News world Bangladesh Home Adviser Makes Bizarre Claim, Alleges India Instigated Khagrachhari Unrest

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
'Will Take No Nonsense': Donald Trump On Border Patrolling In Chicago Amid Immigration Protests

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 08:38 IST

Donald Trump deployed armed federal agents in Chicago, citing the need to protect ICE facilities. He later said the patrol will "take no nonsense".

Donald Trump/A federal agent holding handcuffs enters the Broadview ICE detention facility (Photos: AP/Reuters)

Donald Trump on Monday said the border patrol will take no nonsense", as he referred to armed federal agents patrolling Chicagos downtown streets on Sunday. This came after the US President called up 200 National Guard troops for deployment in Portland, Oregon.

In a separate social media post, Trump also shared a video of agents on the streets of Chicago, amid chaos and sloganeering.

Recommended Stories

Border Patrol will take no nonsense! https://t.co/shvJllDizq Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) September 29, 2025

In Chicago, dozens of armed federal agents, in full tactical gear, walked the streets of some of the citys most prominent tourist and shopping areas, amid a surge of immigration enforcement that began early this month.

This also included repeated conflict at an ICE building in Broadview, west of Chicago, where federal authorities on Friday and Saturday fired pepper balls and tear gas at protesters.

Trumps troop order came a day after he said on social media that he was directing the Department of Defence to provide all necessary Troops to protect war-ravaged Portland".

Trump said the decision was necessary to protect US Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities.

However, later, Governor Tina Kotek said Trumps description was a false narrative meant to spur conflict.

The moves follow Trumps crime crackdown in the District of Columbia and actions in Los Angeles in response to immigration protests that turned violent with the arrival of troops.

According to the Associated Press, Federal officials have said the Chicago surge was intended to arrest the worst of the worst" people in the country illegally and with criminal records.

A patrol agent told AP that agents had made several arrests" but declined to give specifics on whether the patrols downtown were aimed at specific people.

Over the weekend, tension rose outside the ICE building.

On Friday, agents repeatedly fired chemical agents toward a crowd of over 100 protesters after some of the group attempted to block a car from driving down a street toward the building.

Pepper bullets and tear gas canisters went into the crowd, most of them standing away from the fence and not blocking traffic.

Protesters and reporters described similar scenes on Saturday.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

ALSO READ | Another Targeted Attack On Christians: Donald Trump On Michigan Church Shooting

About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

First Published: September 29, 2025, 08:33 IST

News world 'Will Take No Nonsense': Donald Trump On Border Patrolling In Chicago Amid Immigration Protests

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
Former Nepal PM Oli Denies Fleeing Country, Vows To Continue Political Fight

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 09:24 IST

Former Nepal PM Oli denies fleeing the country, accuses Sushila Karki govt of illegitimacy and targeting opponents. Oli vows to fight politically amid Gen Z protests.

Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google

Former Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli (Photo/Reuters)

Former Prime Minister of Nepal and CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli has denied rumours of an alleged plan to flee the country, accusing the current government of attempting to revoke his security and official privileges, according to the Dhaka Tribune.

Speaking at a gathering of the partys youth wing, Yuwa Sangh Nepal, in Gundu, Bhaktapur, Oli made it clear he intends to stay and fight politically. Do you think we will flee by handing over the nation to this groundless government?" he asked supporters.

Recommended Stories

Oli reaffirmed his commitment to restoring peace, good governance, and constitutional order."

The former PM vacated the official residence in Baluwatar on September 9 after weeks of Gen Z-led protests culminated in the fall of his government. Since then, he has relocated to a rented home in Gundu after his personal residence in Balkot was set on fire by demonstrators, as per Dhaka Tribune.

He alleged that the Sushila Karki-led administration lacked legitimacy, asserting it came to power not by popular mandate but through vandalism and arson."

Oli also urged the government to disclose any communications he had with state officials during the protests, saying, Publish them with courage. Make public the instructions I gave," implying he had nothing to conceal.

Expressing concern over threats of fresh attacks, Oli criticised the government for failing to ensure his security. On social media, there are open calls to attack my residence. What is the government doing? Just watching?" he asked.

He further objected to reports that the government has decided to withhold passports of several leaders, including himself, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, Arzu Rana Deuba, Ramesh Lekhak, and Deepak Khadka.

The former prime minister accused the Karki government of throwing the country into insecurity" by targeting political opponents, according to Dhaka Tribune.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Olis government was ousted on the second day of the Gen Z protest. Human rights groups have blamed him and then-Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak for the excessive use of force that left dozens dead during the unrest.

A monitoring report by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Friday said the governments failure to anticipate the intensity of the protests and declining morale of security forces contributed to heavy casualties and damage. It noted that while the first day of protests on September 8 remained peaceful, police shootings triggered widespread violence the following day.

Location : Nepal

First Published: September 29, 2025, 09:24 IST

News world Former Nepal PM Oli Denies Fleeing Country, Vows To Continue Political Fight

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
From Scientists To Dozens Of AI Experts: Why US' Brightest Minds Are Heading To China?

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 18:09 IST

At least 85 prominent scientists working in the US have moved full-time to Chinese research institutions since early 2024

China is increasing its investment in research and development, offering high salaries, state funding, and a political push for innovation to attract top talent. (Representational image via AP)

A growing number of top scientists and researchers based in the United States are leaving to take up roles in Chinese universities and research institutes, according to a report by CNN.

The trend has sparked concerns over the US long-term scientific competitiveness, especially in critical sectors like artificial intelligence, quantum computing and biotechnology.

Recommended Stories

As per the report, at least 85 prominent scientists working in the US have moved full-time to Chinese research institutions since early 2024, with more than half making the shift in 2025 alone. The group includes nuclear physicists, NASA collaborators, neurobiologists, mathematicians, and AI specialists.

Many of those moving are foreign-born scientists who built their careers in the US, particularly Chinese nationals who studied and worked in American institutions before returning to take up senior research roles in China.

The movement forms part of what experts are calling a reverse brain drain", driven by deep cuts to federal research funding, increased visa restrictions, and growing government scrutiny of foreign talent, particularly those with links to China, under the administration of US President Donald Trump.

In contrast, China is increasing its investment in research and development, offering high salaries, state funding, and a political push for innovation to attract top talent  including those with Chinese heritage who studied or worked in the West.

This is a gift from Trump," said Yu Xie, professor of sociology at Princeton University, referring to how Chinese universities view recent US policy changes. Speaking to CNN during a visit to Chinese campuses, Xie said, You will see a proliferation of new, strengthened and improved research programs and training programs, in all different areas within China."

CNN reports that Chinese institutions are leveraging both generous government support and growing geopolitical tensions to entice talent.

A headhunter in eastern China, who recruits global tech professionals for the semiconductor industry, told CNN that US policy changes have led to a spike in interest for government-backed research roles. Applications are increasing," the recruiter said.

While the US Congress is likely to reject the most drastic funding cuts proposed by the Trump administration, uncertainty has already taken a toll. University labs have reported funding freezes, visa backlogs, and hiring delays, especially affecting researchers of Chinese descent.

The Trump administration has also used student visas as a bargaining tool in trade talks with China. In July, some lawmakers pushed to reinstate the China Initiative, a controversial programme that was previously criticised for encouraging suspicion toward academics of Chinese heritage.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Meanwhile, Chinese media has portrayed the US as an unstable environment for scientists. A recent Peoples Daily editorial described China as a safe harbour" and platform to excel" for researchers, especially those facing what it called the reckless interference" of some Western country."

(With inputs from CNN)

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

Location : China

First Published: September 29, 2025, 18:09 IST

News world From Scientists To Dozens Of AI Experts: Why US' Brightest Minds Are Heading 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...
German Trapeze Artist Dies After Plummeting 16 Ft In Front Of Horrified Spectators

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 23:41 IST

Marina B, a popular trapeze artist, died after falling 16 feet to the floor in front of horrified spectators during a circus performance. She had over a decade of experience.

Rapid Read + Follow us On Google

Marina B, 27, had more than 10 years of experience as a trapeze artist. (Instagram)

In a tragic incident, a 27-year-old trapeze artist from Germany died after plummeting to the ground in front of horrified spectators during a circus performance. The woman was identified as Marina B.

Marine died immediately after falling 16 feet to the floor Saturday night in front of almost 100 people during a solo performance at the Paul Busch Circus show in Bautzen, Germany, the New York Post reported.

Recommended Stories

Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos after the accident. The audience erupted in screams as some parents rushed to shield their childrens eyes, while others fled the tent in horror.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Marina Barcelo (@marinabarcelo7)

The accident led to show cancellations, and authorities are investigating whether a health issue contributed to the fall, as per reports. We cant believe whats happened," a circus employee told Germanys Bild newspaper.

Ralf Huppertz, chief of Germanys circus association, believes Marina, of Spain, may have suffered a health problem. Its unusual for a well-trained artist like Marina to not survive a fall from that height. Perhaps she got dizzy on the trapeze," he said.

Police said Marina was not using a safety rope, but she did not have to. She had more than a decade of experience as a trapeze artist and was just recently booked with the Paul Busch Circus for its upcoming tour.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Marina, originally from Mallorca, Spain, was a popular trapeze artist. On her Instagram, just weeks before the tragedy, she posted a photo of herself mid-performance with the caption: Up here, I work best."

The Mayor of Bautzen, Karsten Vogt, expressed condolences, saying, The accident has deeply affected us. On behalf of the city, I extend my sincere sympathy to the relatives and all those affected by this terrible accident."

About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in int... Read More

Location : Berlin, Germany

First Published: September 29, 2025, 23:41 IST

News world German Trapeze Artist Dies After Plummeting 16 Ft In Front Of Horrified Spectators

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
Jaishankar Meets Canadian Minister Anita Anand, Calls Envoy Appointments Welcome Step

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 22:08 IST

Jaishankar described the meeting as positive and welcomed the recent appointment of High Commissioners as an important step in rebuilding ties

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand in New York, US. (Image via X/@DrSJaishankar)

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday met Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand in New York to discuss ways to strengthen diplomatic ties between New Delhi and Ottawa.

Jaishankar described the meeting as positive and welcomed the recent appointment of High Commissioners as an important step towards rebuilding relations.

Recommended Stories

Sharing details of the meeting on X, Jaishankar wrote, A good meeting with FM @AnitaAnandMP of Canada this morning in New York. The appointment of High Commissioners is welcome as we rebuild ties. Discussed further steps in that regard today."

A good meeting with FM @AnitaAnandMP of Canada this morning in New York.The appointment of High Commissioners is welcome as we rebuild ties. Discussed further steps in that regard today. Look forward to welcoming FM Anand in India.   #UNGA80 pic.twitter.com/74hYE1Bju5  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 29, 2025

The foreign minister also expressed his eagerness to welcome his Indian-origin Canadian counterpart to India soon.

Anand and Jaishankar last spoke in May this year, shortly after she took office as Canadas Foreign Minister. During their phone call, Anand thanked Jaishankar for their discussion on strengthening India-Canada ties and expressed her desire to continue working together.

Relations between India and Canada have been tense following allegations made by former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Trudeau claimed that the Indian government was linked to the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil in 2023. India strongly denied these accusations and described them as malicious.

The diplomatic row escalated when Indias previous High Commissioner was recalled, and several diplomats from both countries were expelled. However, ties began to improve after Liberal Party leader Mark Carney became Canadas Prime Minister in April this year.

In June, during the G7 summit in Canada, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Carney agreed to take constructive" steps to restore stability in bilateral relations. This included the early return of envoys to each others capitals.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

In August, both countries appointed new High Commissioners, signalling their commitment to repairing the strained relationship.

ALSO READ: Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand To Meet EAM Jaishankar In Coming Weeks: Report

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 : New York, United States of America (USA)

First Published: September 29, 2025, 21:45 IST

News world Jaishankar Meets Canadian Minister Anita Anand, Calls Envoy Appointments Welcome Step

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
'Appeasing Pakistan': Why Desis Are Upset Over Kash Patel-Asim Munir Handshake At White House Meet

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 18:04 IST

According to official photos, Pakistani army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and FBI director Kash Patel posed when PM Shehbaz Sharif and President Donald Trump met on September 25

A handshake between FBI director Kash Patel (R) and Pakistani army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir (L) has triggered strong reactions on the internet. (Image: @RoshanKrRaii/X)

Heres another handshake (or non-handshake) controversy to ponder upon. A picture of Pakistani army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and FBI chief Kash Patel shaking hands has gone viral, sparking an intense debate and strong reactions on the internet from Indians and the diaspora.

According to official photos released by the White House, which could not be separately confirmed by News18, Field Marshal Asim Munir and Kash Patel posed together during the meeting between Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and US President Donald Trump on September 25.

Recommended Stories

As reported by Financial Express and Times of India, a majority of the reactions on the internet, especially from Indians and the Indian diaspora in the United States, were negative with many saying it is a betrayal to them. They juxtaposed Patels projection as a devout Hindu, who traces his roots to Gujarat, with that of someone warming up to a man, who has often indulged in harsh anti-India" and anti-Hindu" rhetoric in the past.

There were, however, some who dismissed the anger shown by desis, saying he, at the end of the day, is a US government official and prone to preserving American interests above all else. They said his cordial handshake with Field Marshal Munir highlights how American foreign policy often prioritises strategic resources and short-term gains over moral clarity". His gesture is a reflection of American appeasement" of Pakistan for crypto and rare earth minerals", they added.

While Munir openly calls for jihad against Hindus, the optics of such interactions reveal a disturbing willingness to appease adversarial actors for crypto deals and rare earth minerals," an internet user said.

Internet users said at such a time, especially amid tariff tensions with the US, India should be self-reliant when it comes to diplomacy and national security.

This reflects a recurring pattern in international politics  alliances and gestures are often dictated by economic and strategic interests, sometimes at the cost of ethical consistency. It underscores the importance of India remaining vigilant and self-reliant in its diplomatic and security strategies," another internet user said.

Its very odd that Kash Patel came by for a handshake. https://t.co/aG9nj1NiHD Christopher Clary (@clary_co) September 28, 2025

A political science expert, Christopher Clary, wrote on X: Its very odd that Kash Patel came by for a handshake," while another internet user said: From Jai Shree Krishna to Valhalla and now Warmly Shaking Hands with J!#@d! like Asim Munir who openly calls for J!H@D against Hindus. Kash Patels transition is just reflection of the U.S politics and its foreign policy in sub-continent under the Trump administration. Which is to appease Pakistan for crypto and rare earth minerals."

Before this, in June, it was Donald Trump who had met Field Marshal Munir at the White House.

WHEN DID THE PHOTO HAPPEN?

A report by Financial Express said the picture was taken when Shehbaz Sharif met with Trump at the White House alongside Munir.

The meeting was held at the Oval Office in Washington, DC, where Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were also present. Further details of the exchange were not shared, but the President told the media before the meeting that a great leader" was coming to the White House.

In fact, we have a great leader coming, the prime minister of Pakistan coming, and the Field Marshal (of) Pakistan. Field Marshal is a very great guy, and so is the prime minister, both. And theyre coming," Trump said.

The meeting continued for approximately one hour and 20 minutes. Post-meeting photos showed both the Pakistan PM and army chief exchanging views with Trump, who flashed his signature thumbs-up sign during a group photo.

During his meeting with Sharif and the Pakistani army chief, the President discussed regional security, counter-terrorism cooperation and other issues.

Sharif is the first Pakistani PM to visit the White House in six years. A day later, at the United Nations, he described Trump as a man of peace" for his sincere efforts" to end conflicts around the globe and lauded his courageous and decisive" leadership in facilitating a ceasefire between Pakistan and India.

Trumps embrace of Pakistan marks a shift after his predecessor Joe Biden kept the country at arms length, alarmed by Islamabads relationship with the Taliban during the two-decade US war in Afghanistan.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

On September 26, New Delhi said it has taken note of the meeting while asserting that there is no scope for any third-party involvement in its discussions with Pakistan on issues such as terrorism, as it believes they must remain bilateral.

(With agency inputs)

About the Author Oindrila Mukherjee Oindrila Mukherjee is a senior sub-editor who works for the rewrite and breaking news desks. Her nine years of experience in print and digital journalism range from editing and reporting to writing im... Read More

First Published: September 29, 2025, 18:04 IST

News world 'Appeasing Pakistan': Why Desis Are Upset Over Kash Patel-Asim Munir Handshake At White House Meet

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
Passenger plane in Norway diverted due to unidentified drones near airport

In Norway, a flight from Oslo to Bardufoss in Troms was forced to turn back after a drone was spotted in the airspace on Sunday evening, NRK reported.

"The plane flying from Oslo to Bardufoss was forced to turn back because it was spotted by drones," Norwegian spokesman Eivind Hammer Myhre told NRK.

The airport in Troms was closed as a result.

According to Flightradar, the Norwegian plane turned back at 8:47 p.m. However, another plane had already departed the airport at 9:15 p.m.

Possible drones were spotted in the exclusion zone at Bardufoss airport in Troms. Avinor spokeswoman Carolina Pedersen confirmed this.

The police were informed as a matter of course. The suspected drones are no longer visible.

Earlier on Sunday, the drones were spotted about 80 kilometers to the south.

The drones were spotted within the no-fly zone at Bronnoysund Airport in Nordland. One aircraft was diverted to an alternative airport.

"This evening was also canceled because the airport is closed," the statement said.

On Monday morning, police confirmed that they had seen two drones over Bronnoysund on Sunday.

Police have photos that purport to show possible drones, but they were taken from a distance and are of poor quality.
'Like Any Sovereign Country...': Russia Threatens Retaliation If Planes Downed In Its Airspace

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 15:54 IST

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia will react to any airspace violation or related incident like any sovereign nation would.

Russian Sukhoi Su-30SM jet fighters seen in action during the Zapad Exercise in Belarus. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

The Kremlin on Monday said it would react like a sovereign nation" if aircraft are downed in its airspace. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov gave the response when asked by reporters on Russian reaction to any violation of its airspace.

How do you think well react? We are a sovereign country. How should we react?" he told reporters.

Recommended Stories

The remarks come shortly after European diplomats warned the Kremlin last week that the NATO will respond to alleged Russian airspace violations with full force.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Thursday he supported the idea of targeting Russian jets if they violate members airspace.

I totally agree here with President Trump," he told Fox News, adding that NATO will also do more, and if necessary, the ultimate to protect our people."

Asked on Tuesday whether US President Donald Trump thought NATO states should shoot down any Russian planes that violate its airspace, he said: Yes, I do."

A report by Bloomberg said that European diplomats informed Moscow that NATO will respond by shooting down Russian planes if there are alleged violations of airspace.

The meeting took place in Moscow where British, French and German envoys raised their concerns about an alleged by three MiG-31 fighter jets over Estonia earlier in September. The envoys told Bloomberg that the alleged violation was a deliberate tactic ordered by Russian commanders".

NATO claims that its jets intercepted three Russian MiG-31 fighters last week after they entered Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland.

Peskov denied the claim and said that Estonia provided no evidence of the incident, and called Tallinns rhetoric yet another significant escalation of tensions near our border", according to a report by AFP.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

The news agency said that Denmark has several times this week been forced to close some of its airports after it said unidentified drones crossed its skies.

Earlier this month NATO scrambled jets after around 20 Russian drones allegedly flew through Polish airspace, downing at least three of them.

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 : Moscow, Russia

First Published: September 29, 2025, 15:48 IST

News world 'Like Any Sovereign Country...': Russia Threatens Retaliation If Planes Downed In Its Airspace

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
PoK In Lockdown, All Roads Shut, Internet Services Suspended: Exclusive On The Protests

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Manjiri Joshi



Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 19:55 IST

There is a complete communication blackout. The Pakistan administration has shut down cellular and internet services in PoK. All WiFi, 2-G communication is blocked, said sources

Rapid Read + Follow us On Google

The JKJAAC has laid a 38-point charter of demands, which includes removal of perks of the ruling elites.

The Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) faced escalating tensions with an indefinite lockdown and protests led by the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC) on Monday.

Pakistan has suspended cellular, fibre internet services and mobile phone services across the region. The show of force by the government came as the JKJAAC escalated its campaign, vowing to shut down the region to protest what it calls the decades-long denial of fundamental rights.

Recommended Stories

The JKJAAC has laid a 38-point charter of demands, which includes removal of perks of the ruling elites, ending 12 seats in the Assembly reserved for Kashmiri migrants who came from the Indian side of the territory, and royalty for hydel power projects in the region.

In Muzaffarabad, Shaukat Nawaz Mir, a core member of the action committee, toured several neighbourhoods with colleagues and dozens of followers.

Last week, the talks between Pakistan federal ministers delegation and members of joint action committee failed because the Pakistan government couldnt meet the demands of the committee.

Situation on ground: What local, intelligence sources say

Massive protests are going on in PoKs big and small towns. Thousands of locals are holding rallies for their rights and chanting slogans," said sources.

There is a complete communication blackout. The Pakistan administration has shut down the cellular and internet services in PoK. All WiFi and 2-G communication is blocked," said sources.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

There are reports of many arrests. Key active members of the JKACC were arrested and abducted late night in the valley," said sources.

Pakistan has deployed 2,000 additional troops of Punjab Police, Rangers and frontier constabulary to crush protesters. Paramilitary forces have been deployed in all district headquarters of PoK. All major roads leading to Kashmir are closed, with snap checking at all points," said sources.

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

First Published: September 29, 2025, 16:41 IST

News world PoK In Lockdown, All Roads Shut, Internet Services Suspended: Exclusive On The Protests

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
Trump-Sharif-Munir Meet: Decoding Pakistan's Rare Earth Minerals Diplomacy With US | Exclusive

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Pragati Ratti



Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 12:21 IST

Known for valuing flashy optics and tangible deals, Trump was shown something he could see, hold, and potentially boast about.

Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir showing a wooden box purportedly containing rare earth minerals to Trump | Image: X

An intelligence assessment note decoding Pakistans latest diplomatic manoeuvre in Washington, where rare earth minerals have been deployed as a bargaining chip with the United States, has been accessed by CNN-News18. According to top security and intelligence sources, the optics surrounding Pakistans Field Marshal Asim Munirs presentation of rare earth precious metals and stones" to US President Donald Trump at the White House were no ordinary gift exchange. Instead, it was a carefully calibrated signal of Islamabads intent to leverage its mineral wealth for long-term strategic and economic partnership with Washington.

The meeting took place on Thursday at the Oval Office, with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Munir representing Pakistans delegation. The moment President Trump warmly shook hands with the Pakistani leadership, sources described it as a Strategic Handshake," marking a new phase of engagement between the two countries. President Trump had earlier hailed Shehbaz Sharif and Asim Munir as great leader, great guy," underlining the cordial optics of the encounter.

Recommended Stories

The rare earth samples presented to Trump were drawn from Pakistans vast mineral reserves, which are estimated by multiple assessments to be worth $6 trillion. Intelligence officials emphasise that this gesture was designed to appeal directly to Trumps deal-making instincts. Known for valuing flashy optics and tangible deals, the US President was shown something he could see, hold, and potentially boast about, rather than being engaged in abstract diplomatic rhetoric.

Field Marshal Munirs decision to personally hand over the stones, rather than delegating the task to Pakistans trade minister or civilian officials, carries heavy symbolism. It signals that Islamabad views the rare earth sector not merely as an economic project but as a strategic-military domain. The involvement of the Pakistan Armys commercial arm, the Frontier Works Organization (FWO), in mining concessions underlines this point. According to intelligence sources, Munirs move also serves as a guarantee to prospective US investors that the military itself will provide protection and oversight for any American entry into Pakistans mining sector.

The gesture comes against the backdrop of Pakistans economic distress. With the economy under severe stress, IMF lending conditions tightening, and China reaping the lions share of benefits from projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Islamabad is seeking new leverage. By showcasing its rare earth wealth critical for US defence systems, electric vehicles, and semiconductor manufacturing  Pakistan is telling Washington it has something far beyond its traditional role as a security ally to offer.

Sources say the message was also multidirectional. By doing this in Washington rather than Beijing or Riyadh, Pakistan signalled to Gulf monarchies that it is diversifying its patronage and external partnerships. Simultaneously, it was a subtle nudge to India, which is working with Quad partners to secure supply chains for critical minerals. Pakistan, through Munirs performance in the Oval Office, is now inserting itself into that same strategic conversation.

The US interest appears real. Recently, Islamabad signed a $500 million memorandum of understanding with American firm US Strategic Metals (USSM). Top sources interpret this as an early indicator that Washington is willing to explore Pakistans resource potential more seriously.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

For Pakistan, the move was also about optics. Intelligence assessments stress that Trumps warm reception, his public praise for the Pakistani leadership, and the presentation of stones all add up to a narrative Islamabad can project at home  that it is moving towards a long-term strategic plus economic partnership" with the United States.

In essence, by turning rare earth minerals into a tool of diplomacy, Pakistan is repositioning itself. Intelligence officials conclude that the optics of Field Marshal Munir personally offering the samples demonstrate Pakistans belief that its critical minerals are not just economic assets but national security assets. And by staging this in Washington, Islamabad has made its strategic intent crystal clear.

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

First Published: September 29, 2025, 12:21 IST

News world Trump-Sharif-Munir Meet: Decoding Pakistan's Rare Earth Minerals Diplomacy With US | 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...
US Planning To Conduct Airstrikes Inside Venezuela To Target Drug Smugglers: Report

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 16:25 IST

The airstrikes, where drug traffickers inside Venezuela will be targeted, could begin within weeks.

The Trump administration believes Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is not doing enough to stop the alleged flow of drugs from Venezuela to the US. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

US army officials are exploring options to target drug traffickers inside Venezuela and conduct airstrikes within the South American country in a matter of weeks".

According to NBC News, who first reported the development, US President Donald Trump has not approved anything yet". Officials told the broadcaster that the reason behind US military escalation is because Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, according to the Trump administration, is not doing enough to stop the flow of illegal drugs out of his country".

Recommended Stories

Trump has deployed eight warships and a nuclear-powered submarine to the southern Caribbean as part of a stated plan to combat drug trafficking.

US forces have destroyed at least three suspected drug boats in the Caribbean in recent weeks, killing over a dozen people in a move decried as extrajudicial execution" by UN experts.

The US President claimed that those three boats were from Venezuela and were allegedly carrying narcotics smugglers and drugs that could threaten Americans, in a post on Truth Social. The Trump administration is yet to provide evidence that drugs were on all those boats.

However, a Dominican official told NBC News that drugs were found in the water after one strike.

American officials told the broadcaster that the plans involved drone strikes against drugs labs and drug trafficking groups members and leadership.

Trump also vowed to obliterate drug smugglers after the strikes while addressing the UN.

To every terrorist thug smuggling poisonous drugs into the United States of America, please be warned that we will blow you out of existence," Trump told the UN General Assembly.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

The White House earlier this month also dismissed a letter from Maduro seeking dialogue with President Donald Trump, saying that it was full of lies."

There were a lot of lies that were repeated by Maduro in that letter, and the administrations position on Venezuela has not changed," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told a briefing, describing the Venezuelan President as illegitimate".

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 29, 2025, 16:25 IST

News world US Planning To Conduct Airstrikes Inside Venezuela To Target Drug Smugglers: 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...
'We Will Never Give Up Nukes,' Says North Korea In Rare UN Address

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 23:51 IST

Speaking at the UN, North Korea said Pyongyang would "never give up" its nuclear weapons, but left the door open to diplomacy

Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google

North Koreas Vice Foreign Minister Kim Son Gyong addresses the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York. (AFP photo)

In a rare address at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Monday, North Korea reaffirmed its firm stance on keeping its nuclear weapons, calling them crucial to maintaining a balance of power" with South Korea.

Speaking at the UN, North Koreas Vice Foreign Minister Kim Son Gyong said Pyongyang would never give up" its nuclear weapons, but left the door open to diplomacy.

Recommended Stories

This marked one of the few occasions North Korea has sent a high-ranking minister to the UN in recent years.

Imposition of denuclearization on the DPRK is tantamount to demanding it to surrender sovereignty and right to existence and violate the Constitution," Gyong said, referring to the countrys formal name, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea.

We will never give up nuclear which is our state law, national policy and sovereign power as well as the right to existence. Under any circumstances, we will never walk away from this position," he added.

Gyong did, however, leave the door open to diplomacy. His remarks follow comments made by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un last week, in which he said he was open to dialogue with the United States  as long as his nuclear arsenal remained intact.

The DPRK will, as in the past, so in the future, collaborate with all countries and nations that oppose and reject aggression, intervention, domination and subjugation and aspire after independence and justice, irrespective of differences in ideas and systems," said Gyong without specifically referring to any country.

North Korea, which carried out its first nuclear test in 2006, remains under heavy UN sanctions for its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes. The country is believed to operate multiple uranium enrichment sites, including at the Yongbyon nuclear facility. Although Pyongyang once agreed to shut it down, the site was reportedly reactivated in 2021.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Meanwhile, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung addressed the UN last week, pledging to break the vicious cycle" of tensions on the Korean Peninsula and stating that Seoul would not seek regime change in the North.

(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 : New York, United States of America (USA)

First Published: September 29, 2025, 23:45 IST

News world 'We Will Never Give Up Nukes,' Says North Korea In Rare UN Address

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
Xi Jinping Pressuring Trump Admin To Declare Opposition To Taiwan Independence: Report

Curated By :



Last Updated: September 29, 2025, 21:06 IST

US officials said declaring opposition to Taiwanese independence is one of in the long list of asks from the Chinese side under consideration.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is pressuring the US Trump administration to change the phrase that describes its stance on Taiwan and the nations question for independence. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

China has asked the US to officially declare that it is against Taiwan independence. The Wall Street Journal, who first reported the development, highlighted in their report that the Trump administration has not made a decision regarding the demand.

The report also said that the demand is one in a long list of asks from the Chinese side under consideration", their report said.

Recommended Stories

The report also highlighted that the US State Department fact sheet on US ties with Taiwan is currently unavailable on its website, at the time when the report was published.

The developments come shortly before US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping prepare for a meeting at a summit in South Korea. The US is yet to sign a trade deal with global chip hub Taiwan despite having four rounds of discussions.

A separate report by Bloomberg said that the US President appears to be balancing efforts to maintain cordial ties with Taiwan" while trying to not disrupt dialogue with his Chinese counterpart.

Earlier in July, the US denied Taiwan President Lai Ching-te permission to transit through New York after Beijing shared objections to the visit. Bloomberg in its report said that the hesitation on the part of US unnerved some officials" who feared that Donald Trump may concede too much to Beijing".

Since President Richard Nixon cut formal ties with Taipei in the 1970s to open relations with Beijing, the US has followed a one-China policy" that keeps Taiwans sovereignty unresolved. Washington has for decades relied on strategic ambiguity" over whether it would step in militarily if China attacked the island.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Taiwan remains one of the sharpest flashpoints in US-China ties, already strained by disputes over trade, technology and human rights. The US is Taipeis main source of arms, though President Trump has suggested the island should bear the cost of its own protection.

Beijing has also stepped up pressure since Taiwans Democratic Progressive Party came to power in 2016, insisting that the self-ruled democracy is an inalienable part" of China. The campaign has gained traction abroad, with a Lowy Institute study finding that more developing nations now back Beijings line.

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 29, 2025, 20:15 IST

News world Xi Jinping Pressuring Trump Admin To Declare Opposition To Taiwan Independence: 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...
Photo: https://t.me/GeneralStaffZSU/

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrsky has reported on the situation at the front, and in particular near Pokrovsk and Dobropillia. Since the beginning of the Dobropillia counter-offensive operation, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have liberated more than 174 sq km and cleared more than 194 sq km, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said.

"We are continuing the counter-offensive operation. As of this morning, the total Russian losses have reached 3,185 people, and almost 1,800 of them are irretrievable losses. More than 174 square kilometers have been liberated and more than 194 square kilometers have been cleared within the operation," Zelenskyy said on Telegram on Monday.

In addition, the Armed Forces of Ukraine continue to defend positions in other directions.

Special attention was paid during the report to the situation in Kupyansk.

Zelenskyy thanked each unit that ensures the destruction of Russian invaders.
Zimbabwe is set to launch legal proceedings against the Lithuanian government, demanding compensation for 17 fire tenders that were seized and later auctioned in that country while in transit to Harare from Belarus, which is under European Union sanctions.

The multimillion-dollar fire engines, destined for local authorities across Zimbabwe, were intercepted at the port of Klaipeda in March 2023 because they had originated from a sanctioned Belarusian company.

Despite repeated protests by Harare and assurances that the trucks were lawfully procured from non-sanctioned entities, Lithuanian authorities disposed of the consignment through public tender, a decision upheld by the countrys appellate courts in November 2024.

The development has deepened concerns about how Western sanctions are increasingly disrupting Zimbabwes ability to procure essential public service equipment from friendly nations.

The seizure has left some Zimbabwean municipalities without critical firefighting equipment, undermining emergency response capacity and exposing communities to greater risks of fire-related disasters.

It has also raised legal and diplomatic questions over the extraterritorial application of sanctions, with Harare insisting that it was an innocent third party unfairly punished in a dispute between the EU and Belarus.

Attorney-General Mrs Virginia Mabiza told The Herald that the conclusion of pre-trial investigations in Lithuania has now paved the way for Harare to press ahead with a civil claim for damages.

It is important to note that not all remedies have been exhausted regarding the 17 fire tenders seized in Lithuania; only the pre-trial investigative procedures have been concluded, said Mrs Mabiza.

Unfortunately, the Lithuanian authorities proceeded to dispose of the 17 trucks through public tenders, despite Zimbabwes objections.

The next legal step is to seek compensation for the loss suffered by the Republic of Zimbabwe.

In court, the Government will argue that Lithuania violated property rights enshrined in its own laws and international instruments by seizing and disposing of the fire tenders without evidence linking Zimbabwe to sanctioned companies.

The civil claim will be anchored on Article 6.272(1) of Lithuanias Civil Code, which provides for strict state liability where unlawful state actions cause damage.

Mrs Mabiza said Harare remained confident of securing redress.

Our position has consistently been that Zimbabwe is an innocent third party and lawful owner of the fire tenders, which were procured transparently for public service delivery, she said.

The appeals advanced arguments against the prosecutors resolution to sell the vehicles, stressing that the seizure and disposal amounted to an infringement of Zimbabwes property rights under both Lithuanian law and international law.

She added, We remain confident in the merits of our case. While the courts did not halt the disposal of the trucks, the next phase allows Zimbabwe to pursue damages, and Lithuanian law provides for strict state liability in cases of unlawful seizure or disposal of property.

We believe this will create a stronger basis for compensation.

Mrs Mabiza said that while Zimbabwe initially pursued diplomatic channels, this approach was limited once the matter was brought before the courts.

However, Zimbabwe is also exploring other avenues should the civil claim fail, including taking the matter to international arbitration through the World Trade Organisation, the European Court of Human Rights or even the United Nations.

At present, we are still pursuing remedies available under Lithuanian law. If these do not yield a resolution, we may consider recourse to international fora.

This could include the European Court of Human Rights, the World Trade Organisation, or even the United Nations Special Rapporteurs, given the humanitarian implications of depriving Zimbabwe of life-saving fire-fighting equipment. Herald
About 58 million pounds of corn dogs and other sausage-on-a-stick products are being recalled across the US because pieces of wood may be embedded in the batter, with several consumers reporting injuries to date. According to a notice published by the Agriculture Department's Food Safety and Inspection Service on Saturday, the recall covers select "State Fair Corn Dogs on a Stick" and "Jimmy Dean Pancakes & Sausage on a Stick" products from Texas-based Hillshire Brands, which is a subsidiary of Tyson Foods.

The contamination problem was discovered after Hillshire received multiple consumer complaints, the service notes, five of which involved injuries. The company later determined that a "limited number" of these products included "extraneous pieces of wooden stick within the batter," Tyson said in a corresponding announcementadding that it opted to initiate the recall. The recalled corn dogs and sausage-on-a-stick goods were produced between March 17 and as recently as Friday, per Saturday's recall notices. Tyson, which is headquartered in Arkansas, says the issue was isolated to one facility located in Haltom City, Texas.

FSIS is worried that some of these recalled products may be in consumers' refrigerators and freezers in households across the USas well as some schools and other institutions. In addition to being sold online and to retailers nationwide, the agency noted Saturday, these products were also sold to school districts and Defense Department facilities. Consumers in possession of the recalled products are urged to throw them away or return them to their place of purchase.

To determine which corn dogs and other sausage goods are subject to this recall, consumers should check the product's name, use by dates, and other identifying information published online by the FSIS and Tyson. The products being recalled should also have an establishment number of "EST-582" or "P-894" printed on the packaging.
Dolly Parton is putting her upcoming Las Vegas concerts on hold, citing ongoing health issues that require medical procedures, USA Today reports. The 79-year-old country legend announced the postponement in a social media update, telling fans she needs more time to recover before hitting the stage. "My doctors tell me that I must have a few procedures," Parton explained, noting she won't be able to rehearse or deliver the type of show she feels her audience deserves.

Though she's stepping back from live performances for now, Parton assured followers she can still work on her various projects from Nashville and emphasized this is just a pause, not a farewell. "Don't worry about me quittin' the business because God hasn't said anything about stopping yet," she wrote. "But, I believe He is telling me to slow down right now so I can be ready for more big adventures with all of you." She didn't detail her health challenges other than to joke that "it's not the usual trip to see my plastic surgeon," People reports.

The Las Vegas residency, originally set for December at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, will now take place in September 2026. The rescheduled dates are Sept. 17, 19, 20, 23, 25, and 26. Current ticketholders will automatically have their tickets transferred to the new dates, but refunds are available for those who prefer them. When it finally happens, Dolly: Live in Las Vegas will be Parton's first extended Vegas run in more than three decades, promising a setlist packed with hits like "9 to 5," "Jolene," and "I Will Always Love You."
Oregon is taking President Trump to court in a bid to stop the deployment of National Guard troops to Portland, arguing the move threatens state sovereignty and could fuel unrest, the Oregonian reports. State Attorney General Dan Rayfield announced Sunday that Oregon, joined by the city of Portland, filed a lawsuit aiming to block the federal order, which would send 200 Oregon National Guard members to the city for 60 days. The legal action follows a memo from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, outlining the mobilization of the Guard for "protection of federal law facilities."

Trump had described Portland as "war ravaged" on social media the day prior, arguing the move was necessary, and he spoke to Kotek briefly after the post and told her he believed the city's federal courthouse was "under attack." But Oregon officials deny that, and contend the president's plan oversteps state authority and is not justified by current conditions. According to the suit, recent protests outside Portland's federal immigration facility have been small, usually involving fewer than 30 people.

Rayfield, Kotek, and Portland Mayor Keith Wilson voiced their concerns in a joint news conference Sunday, describing the deployment as an infringement on state sovereignty and a violation of federal law. Kotek said she was given no details about when the troops would arrive or what mission they would carry out. "I don't need them in Portland," she added, calling the assignment "a mission without a clear goal." The state's lawsuit argues that federalizing the Guard under these circumstances violates the 10th Amendment and would disrupt local law enforcement's efforts. Critics say the presence of troops risks escalating tensions and could undermine public safety and local business.

As KGW reports, Trump himself seemed to question his own perception of the situation in Portland hours before the federal order. During a Sunday morning interview on NBC, the president referenced his phone call with Kotek the day prior. "I spoke to the governor, she was very nice," he said. "But I said, 'Well wait a minute, am I watching things on television that are different from what's happening? My people tell me different.' They are literally attacking and there are fires all over the place ... it looks like terrible." Wilson said the videos Trump seems to be referring to are from years ago, and has been "recycled and then recycled again," Fox News reports.
If President Trump wants to strike an economic deal with China, he might have to make a major policy shift: The Wall Street Journal reports that Xi Jinping wants the US to explicitly declare that it opposes Taiwan's independence. That would amount to a significant diplomatic victory for Beijing, notes Bloomberg , which confirms the Journal account. The current US policy, laid out under former President Biden, stipulates that the US "does not support" Taiwanese independence.

That may sound like splitting hairs, but the Journal story explains the significance:

"For Xi, the difference between not supporting Taiwan's independence and explicitly opposing it is more than semantics. It would signal a shift in U.S. policy from a neutral position to one that actively aligns with Beijing against Taiwanese sovereigntya change that could further cement Xi's hold on power at home."

Since taking power in 2012, Xi has prioritized what he calls "reunification" with Taiwan, making it central to his vision for China's future. Now, with Trump signaling interest in an economic deal, Xi's team believes the moment is right to push for the US policy shift. "The significance is less about an imminent US policy change and more about Beijing testing Washington's resolve on wording it sees as central to its position," Craig Singleton of the Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies tells Bloomberg.
The official opening of a new prosthetics and orthotics laboratory at the University Hospital of Kharkiv National Medical University has taken place in Kharkiv, according to a press release from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) dated September 27.

"From now on, patients will have access to a full range of services, including physical therapy, psychological and psychosocial support, as well as prosthetics and/or orthotics, all within the framework of a state-owned hospital," the report said.

It is noted that this is the result of cooperation between the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, the ICRC and Kharkiv National Medical University. It is based on the renovation of the rehabilitation department of the University Hospital, within which a modern prosthetics and orthotics laboratory was created to provide assistance to patients with disabilities.

"The opening of a prosthetic and orthotic laboratory in Kharkiv is an important step for the entire healthcare system. We are creating conditions where people with amputees receive a full cycle of care: from initial examination to the manufacture and adjustment of prostheses, further rehabilitation and restoration of functionality. This gives them a chance to return to active life faster and restore mobility. The laboratory will also have an educational function - a new generation of Ukrainian prosthetists and orthotists will be trained here. This is systemic work that allows us to strengthen the country's human resources potential and make quality services available in the regions," noted the Minister of Health of Ukraine Viktor Liashko. According to him, this experience will become the basis for the creation of similar centers in different regions of Ukraine. The Minister reported that work on this is already underway.

The head of the ICRC delegation in Ukraine, Juan Pedro Scherer, noted that the ICRC has been supporting physical rehabilitation services in Ukraine for several years, including physical therapy, prosthetics and orthotics, as well as psychological and psychosocial support for people affected by the armed conflict. "The implementation of this comprehensive rehabilitation program, including the new prosthetics and orthotics laboratory in Kharkiv, is part of a broader effort to provide patients with the necessary quality medical care, as well as to strengthen Ukraine's healthcare system for its long-term sustainability," he said. According to Valeriy Miasoedov, rector of Kharkiv National Medical University, the University Hospital has become the first state-run hospital in the healthcare system in eastern Ukraine to provide integrated rehabilitation and prosthetics services. "This is an important step towards expanding access to quality care for patients who need it, especially in regions close to hostilities," he noted.
New Zealand's annual bird election is contested by cheeky parrots, sweet songbirds, and cute, puffball robins. This year's winner is a mysterious falcon that wouldn't think twice about eating them. Karearea, the Indigenous Maori name for the New Zealand falcon, was crowned Bird of the Year on Monday, reports the AP . But the annual poll, run by conservation group Forest & Bird, is no ordinary online vote. The fiercely fought election sees volunteer (human) campaign managers apply to stump for their favorite bird. Feathers fly as avian enthusiasts seek to sway the public through meme battles, trash-talking poster campaigns, and dance routines performed in bird costumes. "Bird of the Year has grown from a simple email poll in 2005 to a hotly contested cultural moment," said Forest & Bird Chief Executive Nicola Toki.

The contest draws attention to New Zealand's native bird species, with 80% designated as being in trouble to some degree. But it attracts passionate fandom because New Zealanders are bird-obsessed. In a country with no native land mammals except for two species of bat, birds reign supreme. They appear in art, on jewelry, in schoolchildren's songs, and in the name New Zealanders are known by abroad, "kiwis." Beloved birds include alpine parrots that harass tourists and pigeons which get so drunk on berries that they sometimes fall out of trees. "This is not a land of lions, tigers, and bears," said Toki. "The birds here are weird and wonderful and not what you would expect to see perhaps in other countries."

This year was the highest-ever voter turnout apart from an episode when Last Week Tonight host John Oliver volunteered as a campaign manager in 2023, prompting mostly joking accusations from New Zealanders of American interference. Perhaps inevitably, Oliver's bird, the puteketeke or Australasian crested grebe, won in a 290,000-vote landslide. Other controversies have struck the poll. In 2021, there was mild uproar when a bat won the title, despite not being a bird.

The majestic karearea can fly at speeds of more than 124mph and swoops to capture its prey, often smaller birds. The endemic species is threatened in New Zealand, vulnerable to electrocution on wires and loss of their forest habitats. "They're a mysterious bird and that's partly because they're cryptic, they're often well-hidden," said Phil Bradfield, a trustee of Karearea Falcon Trust in Marlborough. Bradfield said the "fast and sneaky and very special" raptor was a deserving Bird of the Year winner.
The last Giorgio Armani collection signed by the late designer himself and marking the 50th anniversary of his signature line was shown Sunday night in a solemn runway show that gathered Hollywood stars and Italian friends in tribute. Richard Gere, Lauren Hutton, Glenn Close, and Spike Lee attended the black-tie gala in the courtyard of the Brera Art Gallery in Milan where a new exhibition features 129 Armani creations in dialogue with Italian masterpieces, per the AP . They include one of the soft-shouldered suits that Gere wore in American Gigolo, looks that helped catapult Armani to global fashion stardom.

Gere said he had no idea the Armani suits he wore in the 1980 movie would make fashion history, but he said they helped him decide how to approach the role. "I started trying the clothes on, and the clothes actually started telling me who this guy was," Gere told the AP from the front row. Hollywood stars and friends alike honored Armani for his key role in helping put Milan at the center of global fashion. Hutton, Gere's American Gigolo co-star, called Armani a "treasure" who contributed greatly to Italy's economy. "A giant for the industry. A great humanitarian," Lee said as he arrived for the show. Close said the designer "meant a tremendous amount in my life."

During the show, models walked slowly in pairs, women half a step in front of the men, around the colonnaded courtyard filled with the same glowing paper lanterns that had lit Armani's showroom for the public viewing attended by 15,000 mourners. Italian composer Ludovico Einaudi played live. The coed collection paid tribute to Armani's two Italian homes, his adopted city of Milan and the Sicilian island of Pantelleria, with the sandy colors of the island neighboring Africa transitioning to the urban blues and grays, in a river of relaxed tailoring that defined the Armani silhouette. At the end of the show, Armani's creative heirs, his niece Silvana Armani for womenswear and Leo Dell'Orco for menswear, received a standing ovation.
Moldova's pro-Western governing party has won a clear parliamentary majority, defeating pro-Russian groups in an election that was widely viewed as a stark choice between East and West. With nearly all polling station reports counted on Monday, electoral data showed the pro-EU Party of Action and Solidarity, or PAS, had 50.1% of the vote, while the pro-Russian Patriotic Electoral Bloc has 24.2%, per the AP . The Russia-friendly Alternativa Bloc came third, followed by the populist Our Party. The right-wing Democracy at Home party also won enough votes to enter parliament.

The tense ballot Sunday pitted the governing PAS against several Russia-friendly opponents but no viable pro-European partners. Electoral data indicate the party will hold a clear majority of about 55 of the 101 seats in the legislature. It is likely that President Maia Sandu, who founded PAS in 2016, will opt for some continuity by nominating pro-Western Prime Minister Dorin Recean, an economist who has steered Moldova's government through multiple crises since 2023. Recean has also previously served as Sandu's defense and security adviser.

The election was widely viewed as a geopolitical choice for Moldovans: between a path to the European Union or a drift back into Moscow's fold. Cristian Cantir, a Moldovan associate professor of international relations at Oakland University, told the AP that PAS' victory is "a clear win for pro-European forces in Moldova, which will be able to ensure continuity in the next few years in the pursuit of their ultimate goal of EU integration." But he noted "Moldova will continue to be in a difficult geopolitical environment characterized by Russia's attempts to pull it back into its sphere of influence."

Moldovan authorities repeatedly claimed Russia was conducting a vast "hybrid war" to try to sway the outcome of Sunday's high-stakes ballot. The alleged Russian schemes included orchestrating a large-scale vote-buying scheme, conducting more than 1,000 cyberattacks on critical government infrastructure so far this year, a plan to incite riots around Sunday's election, and a sprawling disinformation campaign online to sway voters. Moldova applied to join the EU in 2022 in the wake of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and was granted candidate status that year. Brussels agreed to open accession negotiations last year.
Monday has the potential to be a make-or-break day in regard to Gaza and the fate of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. President Trump meets with Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House to push a new 21-point plan for ending the conflict, reports the Washington Post. Details were still being worked out, but the plan calls for an immediate ceasefire, the return of all remaining hostages within 48 hours, the disarming of Hamas, and amnesty for militants.

NPR puts it starkly: Trump is Netanyahu's only major ally left in the world, and Trump is pushing hard for this US-brokered plan. "It will be difficult for Netanyahu to tell Trump, 'No,'" says the outlet's Daniel Estrin.
Eight skydivers jumped to safety just two minutes before their plane crashed Saturday on Australia's south coast, killing the pilot, who was the only person left on board. The skydivers had jumped from about 14,000 feet near Moruya airport in New South Wales just after 2pm Saturday, leaving veteran pilot and skydiving instructor Paul Smith at the controls. The 54-year-old was killed when the plane went down in dense bushland, per the Guardian. He was a highly respected and well-liked figure in the local community, said Detective Inspector Justin Marks, who described the death as "very tragic." Just last year, Smith was awarded the Australian Parachute Federation's highest award for his contributions to skydiving, per News.com.au.
A small California religious group known as His Way Spirit Led Assemblies finds itself under intense scrutiny after the death of a young boy and the disappearance of two members. As the Los Angeles Times reports, the groupled by Darryl Muzic Martin and his wife, Shelly Bailey "Kathryn" Martinfirst drew police attention in 2010 when 4-year-old Timothy Thomas died in their care. Medical records list septic shock from a ruptured appendix as the cause, but police in Colton suspect neglect played a role.

Police recommended charges at the timewith a detective leery of what he described as a "cult-like ministry"but the district attorney declined to prosecute, citing uncooperative group members and conflicting stories. Years later, some former members have revised their statements, saying their earlier accounts were given under pressure, and police have reopened an investigation.

The group also resurfaced in headlines after Emilio Ghanem, a longtime member, vanished in May 2023, per KTLA. His disappearance is being investigated as a possible homicide, and police are looking into friction between him and the group over competing pest-control companies. Police raids on group properties this summer uncovered illegal firearms, though no charges against any group member have been filed. Another former member, Ruben Moreno, went missing in 2019, with few leads to his whereabouts.

Neighbors and former associates describe the group as insular, with odd routines and a strict hierarchy. Kathryn Martin describes herself as a "gifted oracle," and the group sees her as "God on earth," per KTLA. The group has a series of videos online.
Sen. John Fetterman is making it clear he's staying put in the Democratic Party, even as he voices discomfort with some of its tactics and rhetoric. On Fox Business Network's Sunday Morning Futures, Fetterman told host Maria Bartiromo that he won't be joining the GOP, though he criticized Democratic leaders threatening a government shutdown over health care spending, per Fox News . Pressed by Bartiromo about whether the Democratic Party has been "hijacked" by extremists, Fetterman distanced himself from Democrats who harshly label Trump supporters, saying , "If you want a Democrat that's going to call people Nazis or fascists I'm not going to be that guy," per the Hill .

Instead, Fetterman emphasized his preference for "independent thinking and views" regardless of party linesa quality that has made him an appealing potential recruit for Senate Republicans looking to expand their majority. Fetterman's reputation for bucking party orthodoxy has fueled persistent rumors about a possible switch, but he continues to reject those overtures. "No, I'm not going to switch," he told Bartiromo, underscoring his commitment to remain a Democrat even as he diverges from the party on key issues. On foreign policy, Fetterman reaffirmed his support for Israel as it embarks on a ground invasion of Gaza City, saying he will "follow Israel, just as I've done for now going on two years."
As the community of Grand Blanc Township in Michigan grapples with Sunday's deadly church shooting and arson, the police chief is hailing the bravery of people who were inside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building. "They were shielding the children ... moving them to safety" said William Renye. "Just hundreds of people just practicing their faith, just extreme courage, brave, and that's the type of community that we are." More:

Authorities have not yet speculated on a motive of shooter Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40. He lived in nearby Burton and served in the Marines from 2004 to 2008, including a deployment to Iraq, per the New York Times. Sanford was killed in a shootout with police in the church parking lot.

"Based on my conversations with the FBI director, all they know right now is this was an individual who hated people of the Mormon faith, and they are trying to understand more about this, how premeditated it was ... whether he left a note," White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told Fox News on Monday, per CNN.

Four people were killed, including two who were shot. Eight others were injured. "We heard a big bang, and the doors flew open," one churchgoer who was in the parking lot tells CNN. She describes seeing a pickup truck with two American flags ram into the front of the chapel. Another congregant said the gunmanwho also set fire to the buildingbegan shooting at cars.
The US is weighing a move that could have a big impact on the Russia-Ukraine war: It might supply Kyiv with long-range Tomahawk missiles, Vice President JD Vance told Fox News over the weekend. His comments came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky directly appealed to President Trump for the missiles during last week's UN General Assembly meeting, reports Axios .

"We're certainly looking at a number of requests from the Europeans," said Vance on Fox News Sunday. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov responded on Monday, warning that Moscow is carefully watching US plans and questioning whether Americans or Ukrainians would operate the missiles if delivered. Meanwhile, US Special Envoy Keith Kellogg indicated support for Ukraine's ability to strike deep into Russian territory, arguing that "there are no such things as sanctuaries" in war.

Trump last week criticized Moscow's prolonged campaign, asserting that with sustained European and NATO backing, Ukraine could eventually reclaim its original borders. In Vance's interview, the vice president echoed the newly critical view of Russia. "We want peace here," he said, per the Hill. "We have been actively pursuing peace from the very beginning of the administration, but the Russians have got to wake up and accept reality here." (The shift in tone from Vance and Trump is a big one from earlier this year.)
A once-unthinkable farming experiment is underway in Cambridgeshire, England, where ecologist Nadine Mitschunas is harvesting what's likely the UK's first homegrown rice crop. Mitschunas, working with local farmers Craig and Sarah Taylor, planted nine rice varieties from places as far-flung as Japan, Colombia, and Italy in four small paddy fields. The project, launched by the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, is part of a broader effort to explore how British agriculture might adapt as the climate warms, the BBC reports.

Few expected rice could thrive in Britain, but this year's record-breaking heatit was the hottest summer in the UK since records began in 1884has helped the plants along. "Nobody has tried this before," Mitschunas says, adding that rice might become a fixture in local fields within a decade if warming trends persist. The trial doesn't stop at rice: other water-tolerant crops like lettuce and hybrid willow are also being tested, with an eye on future food security and sustainability.

Beyond diversifying crops, the team is also targeting environmental issues. The Cambridgeshire Fens, reclaimed marshlands known for rich peat soils, are a major vegetable-growing region but also a source of greenhouse gas emissions as those soils dry out. Flooding fields for rice might help lock away carbon, and early results suggest methane emissions from the paddies aren't offsetting those gains. Government officials are watching closely as the team explores whether such approaches could support both farming livelihoods and climate goals.

It's still early daysrice won't be appearing on many UK dinner tables just yetbut Mitschunas and the Taylors believe these trials are a step toward reimagining British agriculture for a changing world. "We see that the future isn't stable. We want to be able to write our own destiny and not have it decided for us," Sarah Taylor tells the BBC. Skeptics include farmer Graham Denny, who isn't making much money from his wheat at the moment but has doubts about non-native crops, the Telegraph reports. "Farmers are looking at almost everything at the moment," he says. "But what are you going to do when 10,000 geese land on those paddy fields?"
SHIJIAZHUANG, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- The 20th China Wuqiao International Circus Festival opened Sunday in Wuqiao County, north China's Hebei Province, marking the first time the event's main activities have been held in the country's renowned "hometown of acrobatics."

The festival features 28 acts from 19 countries and regions, competing for three Golden Lion, five Silver Lion and seven Bronze Lion awards. The closing ceremony is scheduled for Oct. 3, while related theme events will continue through Oct. 8, the last day of the upcoming eight-day National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday.

A special showcase of 12 top Chinese acrobatic programs funded in recent years by the China National Arts Fund was held on Sunday, highlighting achievements in domestic acrobatic art. Other activities include acrobatic exhibitions and a Grand Canal intangible cultural heritage display.

Established in 1987 and held biennially, the festival is the biggest and most influential event in the field of acrobatics within China, as well as one of the nation's most extensive international artistic competitions and cultural festivals.

The festival is regarded as one of the world's three major acrobatic competitions, alongside the International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo in Monaco and the World Circus Festival of Tomorrow in Paris.
Photo: https://www.delo.si/

European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Cos is in Ukraine on a three-day visit. The screening process of compliance of Ukrainian legislation with European legislation, which precedes the opening of negotiation clusters on Ukraine's accession to the European Union, is expected to be completed on Tuesday.

The European Commission announced this on Monday.

"From today until Wednesday, Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Cos is in Ukraine to confirm the EU's unwavering commitment to the country's European future and to mark the completion of the EU accession screening process, underlining Ukraine's progress on its path to EU membership," the EC said in a press release.

In particular, on Monday 29 September, Kos will visit schools for Hungarian and Slovak minority students in Transcarpathia and meet representatives of the Council of National Minorities of Ukraine to discuss the latest steps taken by the national authorities to strengthen minority rights in Ukraine, including the Action Plan on National Minorities adopted last May. The Commissioner will then visit the recently opened railway, built using the European standard gauge, which improves cross-border connections, trade and investment, paving the way for Ukraine's further integration into the EU transport network. On Tuesday 30 September, Kos will meet with regional representatives to discuss decentralisation reforms. She will also take part in the Ukrainian Resilience Week and visit the Nezlamnist rehabilitation centre and an EU-funded housing project for internally displaced persons and war veterans. The Commissioner will also meet with civil society, women leaders and veteran business leaders to discuss Ukraine's reform progress and economic prospects.

On Wednesday, 1 October, on Defender's Day, Commissioner Kos will meet with representatives of the Ukrainian authorities and government and parliament to discuss the reform agenda related to EU accession. In addition, Commissioner Kos will meet with representatives of Ukrainian anti-corruption institutions.

At the daily press briefing, European Commission spokesman Guillaume Mercier stated that the screening process for Ukraine took place in "record time." "We have to complete the screening process this week, the meeting has already taken place today, but it will continue until tomorrow, so the screening process will be completed tomorrow. This again demonstrates Ukraine's determination and ours to accelerate the preparatory work for EU accession as soon as possible," he said, announcing the deadline for the completion of the screening process.

The spokesperson also confirmed the EC's position supporting the opening of Cluster 1.

Commenting at the request of journalists on the proposal of European Council President Antonio Costa to open the negotiation clusters not by unanimous vote, which is currently not considered possible due to the blocking by Hungary, but by qualified majority, Mercier reiterated that the EC "has stated very clearly that our position is that we should open Cluster 1 for Ukraine and Moldova." "They have done the work, they have met the criteria, that is, the roadmap, the workflow and the action plan on minorities for Ukraine. So the opening of Cluster 1 should take place without any further delay," the spokesperson said.

According to Mercier, the EC believes "that there is no reason, no objective reason to oppose the opening of Cluster 1." "As for the ongoing discussions (on the possibility of qualified majority voting), that is for the member states to decide. We hope that we can open cluster 1 as soon as possible," he stressed.

Mercier also explained that the possibility of granting the Council the power to decide by qualified majority could be considered "for certain intermediate steps in the enlargement process, and the closing of the negotiating chapter should continue to be decided unanimously by all member states, as the final decision on the actual accession decision should also be taken unanimously."
A kangaroowell, a wallaby to be preciseis on the loose in Berlin. City police say any passersby who spot it should keep their distance, but an eye on it, too. Chief Inspector Martin Halweg told the AP in an email on Monday that Berlin police are no longer tailing the meandering marsupial because it's not believed to pose a threat to public safetyfor now. Passersby tipped off police late Sunday morning about the animal on the run in the western Spandau area of Berlin. Officers were dispatched to try to catch the wallaby, which is a smaller relative of a kangaroo, but it darted into a forest, and the trail was lost.

Police don't have special equipment for capturing kangaroos, only blankets or snares used to catch free-roaming dogs, Halweg said. He said a video posted on Facebook that shows a wallaby hopping down a dark street, then pausing to lick its paws as a woman's voice in the background expressed surprise, appeared to have been taken around the time the animal was considered to be missing. German media reported that the wallaby, about 3 feet in height, belonged to a private owner, and the circumstances of its escape were not immediately clear.

"Berlin police recommend that if you see the animal, notify police or the Berlin Animal Catcher," Halweg wrote. "They also advise keeping your distance and maintaining visual contact with the animal so that emergency personnel can approach it." The city's police don't keep records on lost animals, Halweg said, but he's never run across a kangaroo hunt before in his more than 30 years of service: "Such cases are indeed very rare."
It's been 24 hours of grim news out of Grand Blanc Township in Michigan after Sunday's shooting and arson at a Mormon church. But on Monday, authorities were at least able to announce that the casualty count won't rise. After a search of the rubble at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building, searchers say no new victims were discovered, reports NBC News. "We still are in the process of clearing out that church, but at this time, everyone is accounted for," said the township's police chief, William Renye.
On a potentially big day of diplomacy, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a rare apology. During his visit to the White House to meet with President Trump on Monday, Netanyahu called his counterpart in Qatar to apologize for Israel's airstrike in that country earlier this month, reports Reuters. The call to Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al suggests a deal might be in the offing, notes Axios: Qatar had demanded an apology before it agreed to resume its role as a mediator between Israel and Hamas.
A Hamas official said the group was briefed on the plan but has yet to receive an official offer from Egyptian and Qatari mediators. The group has repeatedly rejected laying down arms and has linked its weapons to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
Fairbanks, AK (99701)

Today

Variable clouds with snow showers. High 7F. SSE winds shifting to W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 70%. Snow accumulating 1 to 3 inches..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Low -16F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.
Hungary has blocked 12 Ukrainian news resources in response to Ukraine's blocking of a number of sites that spread Russian propaganda.

The head of the Hungarian Prime Minister's administration, Gulyas Gergely, announced this on Facebook.

"Ukraine, which aspired to join the European Union, blocked foreign news websites, including those from Hungary, for writing critically about sanctions against Russia, military support for Ukraine, and portraying the European Union and NATO as fragmented and ineffective Today, Hungary, adhering to the principle of reciprocity, is introducing mirror measures against Ukrainian news portals so that they are not available on the territory of Hungary," Gulyas wrote.

He called Ukraine's blocking of propaganda resources an "unfounded attack" and stressed that Hungary, as a sovereign country, must provide a "proportionate response."

"If the European Union's fragmentation in Ukraine is a pretext for state censorship, then Ukraine should abandon its membership. Ukraine's accession would only further fragment the EU," Gulyas said.

Previously, the Security Service of Ukraine blocked 15 websites from Hungary, Romania, Moldova, and Greece that spread fake news about "terrorist activities" of Ukrainians, ridiculed support for Ukraine, criticized sanctions policy, and portrayed the EU and NATO as fragmented and ineffective.
TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Chairman of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Sameer Nass, praised the directive of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to the Ministry of Labor to offer three job opportunities for every registered job seeker before the end of this year. He emphasized that citizens will remain the ultimate focus of development plans in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the foundation upon which strategic projects and initiatives are built, reflecting the vision of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, prioritizing service to citizens and maximizing efforts and resources to achieve the collective aspirations for stability and confidence in the future.

Nass stated that this directive embodies the commitment of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister to provide job opportunities for the people of Bahrain as an essential part of enhancing sustainable development, reflecting His Royal Highnesss belief that building citizens is fundamental to nation-building, and that they are the true wealth contributing to community progress and sustainability.

He affirmed that His Royal Highness has established a culture of open dialogue with citizens, listening to them, and providing support that contributes to realizing their ambitions and enhancing their ability to actively participate in the comprehensive development path pursued by the Kingdom on all fronts.

Nass expressed his appreciation for the efforts made by the Ministry of Labor in launching quality initiatives to support job seekers, affirming the private sectors commitment to act as an effective partner to the public sector, thereby enhancing national partnership and supporting sustainable economic growth. He stressed that the private sector is the main driver of development in the Kingdom and that the Chamber will continue to coordinate with all partners to support these blessed efforts, ensuring the expansion of job opportunities and enhancing Bahrains competitiveness at both the regional and global levels.

Nass clarified that His Royal Highnesss remarks during the meeting he chaired at Qudaibya Palace clearly affirmed that the people of Bahrain represent the top priority in all national development plans, and that they are the most important resource in the sustainable development process. His Royal Highness clearly stated that investing in the nations youth is a priority for a prosperous present and future, which underscores His Royal Highnesss commitment to empowering citizens across all sectors and enhancing cooperation between the public and private sectors to drive economic growth and attract investments. He pointed out that this directive is an important step in building a promising future for the people of Bahrain and contributing to the Kingdoms renaissance and prosperity
The Kingdom of Bahrain hosted an educational workshop titled Teacher Licensing in the Member States of the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States, organized by the Arab Center for Educational Research for the Gulf States in cooperation with Bahrains Ministry of Education.

The workshop was inaugurated by Ms. Nawal Ibrahim Al Khater, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Education, who welcomed participating officials and education specialists from the GCC member states. She expressed gratitude to the Arab Center for its efforts in organizing the event and emphasized the importance of exchanging expertise to strengthen cooperation and achieve mutual benefit.

Ms. Mona Ahmed Al Badr, Director of Financial and Administrative Affairs at the Arab Center for Educational Research, also expressed her appreciation for hosting the workshop in Bahrain. She thanked the Ministry of Education for its support and extended her gratitude to all participants.

The workshop aimed to present and discuss the findings of an evaluative study conducted by the Arab Center on teacher licensing across member states. It also highlighted leading international practices in teacher licensing, reviewed member states experiences, and explored challenges and opportunities in implementing teacher license systems. Participants further proposed practical mechanisms to support policy development in professional teacher licensing and enhance cooperation among education specialists across the Gulf.

Discussions focused on five key themes:
TOKYO, Sep 29 (News On Japan) - In a September opinion poll conducted by TV Tokyo and the Nihon Keizai Shimbun, former Minister of State for Economic Security Takaichi was the frontrunner with 34% when respondents were asked who they believed should be the next Liberal Democratic Party president.

Koizumi, the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, followed with 25%, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi with 14%, former Secretary-General Motegi with 5%, and former Minister of State for Economic Security Kobayashi with 4%.

Among LDP supporters, however, the rankings shifted, with Koizumi leading at 33% and Takaichi at 28%.

When asked which policies proposed by both LDP presidential candidates and opposition parties they would like prioritized, 39% of respondents selected consumption tax cuts, followed by reducing social insurance premiums and abolishing the temporary gasoline tax rate at 35%, and income tax cuts and increased deductions at 33%. By age group, income tax cuts and higher deductions ranked first among those aged 18 to 50, with consumption tax cuts coming second.

Respondents were also asked which party should be considered if the LDP-Komeito government were to expand its coalition. The Democratic Party for the People was chosen by 35%, followed by the Constitutional Democratic Party at 17% and the Japan Restoration Party at 16%. Among LDP supporters, the Democratic Party for the People was preferred by 33%, the Japan Restoration Party by 25%, and the Constitutional Democratic Party by 17%.

Source: BIZ
TOKYO, Sep 29 (News On Japan) - Japans government is now weighing plans to develop humanoid machines capable of such roles by 2030, as breakthroughs in artificial intelligence make it possible for robots to undergo years of accelerated learning in virtual environments, mastering movement, reflexes, and adaptability that allow them to operate in unpredictable real-world conditions without relying on cameras or sensors.

According to Chiba Institute of Technologys Future Robotics Technology Center director Takayuki Furuta, researchers have trained a Chinese-made quadruped robot weighing around 16 kilograms that can always get back on its feet no matter how it falls. Although the base machine is a low-cost mass-produced model with limited functions, once fitted with the centers AI, it is able to move freely under simple commands such as forward or to the side. The robot has no camera or tactile sensors, yet can navigate stairs and other obstacles by drawing on muscle memory developed in virtual simulations.

The training method involved creating about 4,000 digital copies of the robot and running them in a fast-forwarded virtual world. Years worth of simulated walking, climbing, tripping, and falling were condensed into just four to five hours. The results were consolidated into a single physical unit, enabling it to automatically react to situations such as being pushed, dropped, or rolling down stairs. Over time, the robot even developed protective reflexes, similar to an animals ability to land safely.

Furuta likened the process to abandoning a cat in the wild and finding, years later, that it had learned survival skills never imagined. Unlike traditional robot walks engineered through equations, this model acquired movements spontaneously, from rolling recovery to turning motions, through countless trial-and-error cycles in simulation.

Asked whether such robots might one day attack people, Furuta dismissed the idea. He explained that the AI installed in this prototype only governs movement and adaptability to changing environments, not higher-level decision-making. Aggressive behavior would stem from a cerebrum layer of intelligence, which must be carefully designed to prioritize safety. A robot that meets a good engineer will become a good robot, he said, stressing that education and programming determine whether advanced machines will serve people beneficially.

While acknowledging concerns about potential misuse, Furuta maintained that humanoid robots trained in virtual worlds represent a step toward real-world adaptability. By 2030, he suggested, such robots may not only work alongside humans in shops and factories but even take the role of customers themselves.

Source: TBS
TOKYO, Sep 29 (News On Japan) - Photos of cult founder Shoko Asahara, whose real name was Chizuo Matsumoto and who was executed for his role in the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin attack, are being displayed alongside childhood pictures of his son in facilities linked to Aleph, the successor group to Aum Shinrikyo, according to findings by the Public Security Intelligence Agency (PSIA).

Although Aum Shinrikyo was disbanded nearly 29 years ago following its responsibility for multiple deadly terror attacks, several successor groups remain active. Aleph is considered the largest of these organizations. Its facilities, which outwardly resemble ordinary houses, are closely monitored, with surveillance cameras installed at entrances.

A PSIA inspection at an Aleph facility in Yokohama in May 2025 confirmed that photos of Asahara and his young son were displayed side by side. The son, now 31, was previously interviewed by FNN 11 years ago along with relatives, when he stated, "I think of myself as your younger brother, so I will talk as family, but I will not talk with the media."

The PSIA has disclosed that the son refers to himself as the groups second leader, and the Public Security Examination Commission has since identified him as an Aleph officer. At another facility in Yashio, Saitama Prefecture, authorities found a shrine with Asaharas image displayed, while additional materials tied to him have been discovered at other sites, underscoring his lingering influence.

PSIA official Satoshi Onodera stressed that Aleph continues to treat Asahara and his teachings as absolute. "From that perspective, the danger of engaging in indiscriminate mass killings has not changed at all. Given this, the actions of the son, named by Asahara as his successor, must be watched extremely carefully," he said.

The commission has also concluded that Alephs refusal to compensate victims of the Aum attacks stems from policy decisions made by the son in his capacity as a senior officer.

Source: FNN
TORONTO, Sept. 26, 2025 /CNW/ - Justice For All Canada and the Canadian Council of Imams (CCI) are co-organizing this year's Orange Khutba Day, an annual campaign encouraging Mosques across Canada to dedicate their Friday sermons to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. On Friday, September 26, Imams in over 35 cities coast to coast will address the tragic legacy of residential schools and the ongoing injustices faced by Indigenous Peoples, the original guardians of this land.

This initiative raises awareness about the shared responsibility of Muslims to stand with Indigenous communities. The sermon calls on Mosque attendees to recognize that Canada's residential school system amounted to a complex genocide of Indigenous language, culture and lives. Over 150,000 Indigenous children were forcibly removed from their families between the late 1800s and 1996. Thousands died due to violence, abuse, neglect and disease. Mass graves continue to be uncovered nationwide.

"This campaign reflects our religious duty to support the oppressed in the face of injustice and to promote understanding," said Imam Sikander Hashmi, Executive Director of the CCI. "As Muslims, we must stand in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples who continue to seek truth and equity in Canada."

"Through this initiative, Canadian mosques remind their congregations that reconciliation is a responsibility rooted in our faith, and that includes upholding justice and dignity for all peoples," explained Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director of Justice For All Canada.

Justice For All Canada's Indigenous Solidarity campaign aims to foster trust with Indigenous communities while advocating for equal rights, including access to clean water, housing, education and healthcare.

Justice For All Canada is a human rights organization accredited by the United Nations, focused on Muslim minority issues and anti-genocide advocacy.

The Canadian Council of Imams (CCI) is an independent, non-profit organization uniting Imams and Islamic faith leaders across Canada and serves as a trusted source of Islamic guidance for Canadian Muslims, official bodies, and the public.

SOURCE Justice For All Canada

Media Contact: David Alexanderson, Indigenous Engagement Coordinator with Justice For All Canada, Email: [email protected], Contact: 236 510 2288; Imam Sikander Hashmi, Executive Director, Canadian Council of Imams., Email: [email protected], Contact: (613) 207-6207
CANADA'S ONLY NATIONAL CHARITY FOCUSED ON 2SLGBTQI+ YOUTH RELEASES GLO, A YOUTH FOCUSED APP IN SUPPORT OF COMBATTING ONLINE BULLYING

TORONTO, Sept. 29, 2025 /CNW/ - Youth across Canada can now download and access a brand new resource dedicated to addressing the unique online challenges of 2SLGBTQI+ youth. GLO, presented by It Gets Better Canada (IGBC) and made possible through federal funding by the Department of Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE), focuses on enhancing mental health, combating online hate, and improving digital literacy.

Glo app presented by It Gets Better Canada (CNW Group/It Gets Better Canada)

The app, developed by Montreal firm LG2, launches just as students settle into their back-to-school realities and with that many face emerging unique challenges. 2SLGBTQI+ youth in particular, often face disproportionate bullying and cyberbullying victimization. A Statistics Canada's 2023 report on cyberbullying among youth presented that one in four teens have experienced online harassment. The prevalence is notably higher among non-binary and sexually diverse youth, with over half of non-binary teens facing cyberbullying. It Gets Better Canada's Executive Director, Omid Razavi, shares the motivation for developing GLO.

"We connect with 2SLGBTQI+ youth from across the country on a daily basis. Through their stories, we hear first-hand the barriers they are facing and the increasing trend of online hate directed towards them. When tasked with the opportunity to develop an integral support resource, our team prioritized the need to develop an empowering tool that would not only support the mental health of queer youth while navigating online channels, but one that would also direct them to better advocate for themselves and their communities."

Taking a gamified approach, GLO pairs users with their very own virtual pet to nurture and grow, as they are guided through educational journeys covering topics such as "recognizing stress", "identifying AI", "combating cyberbullying" and more. The content for GLO is a carefully curated integration of emerging and established research, connecting media and technology research with the latest innovations in mental health support for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth. Taking a youth-led approach, the curriculum modules were shared with 2SLGBTQI+ youth content creators to make their own as they adopted a community-engaged and collaborative creative process to finalize GLO's content.

"Not only is GLO evidence-based, but it embodies queer joy, hope, and resilience in a way that I am confident will impact the mental health of our Canadian 2SLGBTQIA+ youth at a time when they are under significant threat." Says Shelley L. Craig, PhD, RSW, LCSW, Canada Research Chair in Sexual and Gender Minority Youth, the key lead of the development of the GLO curriculum.

GLO is part of a larger project by IGBC, focused on combating anti-2SLGBTQI+ online hate and promoting digital safety and literacy and has been made possible through approximately one million dollars in funding by WAGE..

"No young person should have to choose between being themselves and feeling safe online. With support from our federal government, GLO--co-created with 2SLGBTQI+ youth content creators--will help youth strengthen their mental health, push back against online hate, and build digital skills."

--The Honourable Rechie Valdez, Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism)

GLO is now available to download on both the Apple App Store and Google Play.

About the It Gets Better Canada

It Gets Better Canada is a registered charity in Canada that envisions a world where all 2SLGBTQ+ youth are free to live equally and know their worthiness and power as individuals. Its mission is to uplift, empower, and connect 2SLGBTQ+ youth across Canada.

Please visit www.itgetsbettercanada.org/glo-app for more information.

SOURCE It Gets Better Canada

[email protected]
Maternal and infant immunizations can reduce hospitalizations, but awareness among Canadian families remains low

TORONTO, Sept. 29, 2025 /CNW/ - Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is the leading cause of infant hospitalization in Canada, yet few parents know that safe, effective protection options exist. Each year, RSV sends an average of more than 2,500 infants to hospital - nearly half of them under six months old. Nationally, approximately 2% of infants are hospitalized with RSV in their first year, and in some remote communities, that number rises to 5-17%.

Image provided by Praxus Health (CNW Group/Praxus Health)

RSV often causes cold-like symptoms in older children, but it can be far more serious for babies with developing lungs and immune systems, especially those born prematurely or with underlying health conditions. In severe cases, hospitalization may require oxygen or breathing support, and research shows early RSV infection can increase the risk of asthma later in childhood.

Proven, Health Canadaapproved RSV prevention options are available in Canada to help protect infants during their most vulnerable months and are already used worldwide:

Infant immunization ('Beyfortus'): A single injection that provides ready-made antibodies to help babies fight RSV right away. This immunization may also be offered to high-risk children up to 24 months of age.

Maternal vaccine ('Abrysvo'): Given during RSV season in weeks 3236 of pregnancy, the vaccine prompts the mother's immune system to produce RSV antibodies, which are passed to the baby before birth to provide protection during their first RSV season.

"Parents have a natural instinct to protect their children," said Theresa Tang, CEO, Praxus Health. "But while most parents know RSV is dangerous, very few know that proven options exist to protect their baby during the earliest months of life. Our goal is to close that awareness gap and give families the tools to make informed choices."

2024 survey data reflects this knowledge gap, with 87.6% of mothers expressing concern about their child getting RSV under the age of six months, but fewer than 30% knowing about available protection options.

"RSV can be devastating for infants and their families, leading to hospitalization and potential long-term health impacts," said Dr. Cora Constantinescu, Pediatrician and Infectious Diseases Doctor. "We finally have prevention options - whether during pregnancy or after birth  that now give babies a fighting chance against this serious infection."

Publicly funded RSV protection options vary across Canada. Parents are encouraged to speak with a healthcare provider about RSV and the protection options available in their area. Learn more and find up-to-date, province-specific information at: praxushealth.ca/campaign/rsv-parent

About Praxus Health

Praxus Health is a Canadian not-for-profit that works collaboratively with partners across sectors to drive meaningful healthcare change. From vaccine confidence to cancer screening and beyond, it delivers a wide-range of projects to improve health outcomes nationwide. By engaging healthcare providers, researchers, and community groups, Praxus Health develops trusted resources that help Canadians make informed decisions about their health. For more information, visit www.praxushealth.ca.

SOURCE Praxus Health

For further information and interview requests, please contact: Morgan Gadsby | Michelle Bigda, PRAXIS, [email protected] | [email protected]
European Union leaders will discuss the creation of a Wall of drones at summits in October.

The announcement was made in Brussels on Monday by European Commissioner Thomas Rainier, who spoke about the next step to be taken following the meeting of defense ministers from the EU's Eastern Front, Ukraine, and NATO, which took place on Friday under the chairmanship of European Commissioner for Defense Andris Kubilius.

Having stated the urgency of implementing the project, Rainier reported that the past meeting was was a productive initial exchange indeed where we learned also a lot from Ukraine's capabilities when it comes to the drone war. Now in terms of next steps, indeed now this needs to be discussed with the other member states in a broader format. This will be done in October in the framework of the council summits that will take place, he said.

The representative confirmed that Kubilius had previously spoken of one year as the time it would take to implement the Drone Wall. We need to be realistic. Now we will work hand in hand with our member states to make sure that we can make this happen, Rainer added.

He expressed the opinion that the informal meeting of the European Council, which will take place in Copenhagen on October 1, will be also an opportunity to listen to member states so that we can advance the work on this roadmap for further discussion later this month.

The formal meeting of the European Council is scheduled for October 23-24.
To celebrate the launch, IKEA Canada is partnering with WWF-Canada to support wildlife conservation efforts. From October 12 to November 29, $1 from every soft toy sold in IKEA stores across Canada will be donated to support WWF-Canada's Regenerate Canada plan to reverse wildlife loss, restore habitats and fight climate change.

"Connecting children to wildlife through play is a powerful way to inspire the next generation of conservationists," says Alex Portman, Head of Corporate Partnerships, WWF-Canada. "This partnership with IKEA Canada and the SANDLOPARE collection is a chance to spark empathy, curiosity, and a lifelong commitment to reversing wildlife loss and restoring the habitats they call home."

The SANDLOPARE collection features 29 unique products  including soft toys, textiles, and play furniture  designed to transform everyday spaces into immersive play environments. Children can turn stools into zebras, rugs into snakes, and their bedrooms into a savannah campsite, sparking creativity and a deeper connection to nature.

"At IKEA Canada, we believe that play is essential to every child's development, and that it can also be a powerful tool for learning about the world around us," says Rob Kelly, Chief Commercial Officer, IKEA Canada. "Through SANDLOPARE, we're not only encouraging imaginative play at home but also helping Canadians connect with nature and understand the importance of protecting endangered species."

Through its partnership with Nordens Ark, IKEA brings attention to lesser-known endangered species such as the flat pancake tortoise and the slender-snouted crocodile. These animals are brought to life through playful design and storytelling, helping children and parents discover the importance of biodiversity and conservation.

All soft toys in the collection are made from 100% recycled materials**, including the filling, fabric, and stitching. Each toy undergoes rigorous safety and durability testing to ensure it can withstand real-life adventures, from muddy backyard safaris to countless spins in the washing machine. Since 1997, IKEA soft toys have featured embroidered eyes for added safety and expression, giving each animal a unique personality while ensuring they're safe for children of all ages.

SANDLOPARE is more than a toy collection, it's a playful invitation to explore, learn, and care for the planet, one story at a time.

*Founded in 1989, Nordens Ark is a private non-profit foundation focusing on nature conservation, breeding and rearing, as well as research and education.

**Except for the soft toy velvet monkey & baby that consist of 99.91% recycled materials, and the chimpanzee that consist of 99.84% recycled materials, due to the small Velcro parts on their hands.

ABOUT IKEA CANADA

Founded in 1943 in Sweden, IKEA is a leading home furnishing retailer, offering a wide range of well-designed, functional home furnishing products at prices so low that as many people as possible can afford them. IKEA Canada is part of Ingka Group which operates 482 IKEA stores in 31 countries, including 16 in Canada. Last year, IKEA Canada welcomed 28 million visitors to its stores and 166 million visitors to IKEA.ca. IKEA Canada operates business through the IKEA vision - to create a better everyday life for the many people and does so through its local community efforts and sustainability initiatives. For more information on IKEA Canada, please visit IKEA.ca.

SOURCE IKEA Canada Limited Partnership

For media inquiries: Alicia Carroll, Public Relations Leader at IKEA Canada, [email protected]
MISSISSAUGA, ON, Sept. 25, 2025 /CNW/ - Today, Charles Sousa, member of Parliament for MississaugaLakeshore, on behalf of the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages, along with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and Parks Canada held a special plaque unveiling ceremony at Marina Park in Port Credit to commemorate the national historic significance of Nahnebahweequay (Catharine Sutton), an Anishinaabe woman who advocated for First Nations land rights.

Nahnebahweequay was a voice in the struggle for First Nations rights in the mid-19th century, a time when colonial policies sought to remove Indigenous Peoples from their lands. Her lifelong leadership and activism were all the more remarkable as she had to contend with the additional legal restrictions colonial governments placed on Indigenous women.

Born in 1824 near the Credit River, Nahnebahweequay ("Upright Woman" in Anishinaabemowin) was raised in the Credit Mission (now known as Port Credit). She grew up learning Anishinaabe teachings, language, and practices from her family, while also being educated in English. Given the English name Catharine Brown, she married William Sutton, an English lay preacher, in 1839.

Nahnebahweequay and her family moved to the Saugeen Peninsula, where they were welcomed by the Nawash Anishinaabe and granted title to 200 acres of land. Between 1852 and 1857, the Sutton family moved frequently to support missions in northern Ontario and Michigan, where Nahnebahweequay witnessed the efforts of colonial governments to dispossess the Anishinaabeg of their lands. The Nawash faced similar pressures, and some members ceded title to the lands, which the Indian Department prepared to sell. Nahnebahweequay and others protested the action to the Indian Department, claiming that the members who signed the treaty had no authority to surrender the land, but her efforts were unsuccessful. In addition, she was refused annuity payments on the grounds that she had married a white man.

Anishinaabeg communities around Georgian Bay and Lake Superior asked Nahnebahweequay to bring their grievances to Queen Victoria in London. Travelling while several months pregnant, she petitioned the Queen in person in 1860. Though her grievances went unresolved, she remained an advocate for First Nations land rights until her death in 1865. Her experience is representative of the efforts of First Nations to gain support and present their grievances to the Crown during the mid-Victorian era.

The Government of Canada, through Parks Canada and the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, recognizes significant people, places, and events that shaped this country as one way of helping Canadians connect with their past. By sharing these stories with Canadians, we hope to foster understanding and reflection on the diverse histories, cultures, legacies, and realities of Canada's past and present.

The designation process under Parks Canada's National Program of Historical Commemoration is largely driven by public nominations. To date, more than 2,270 designations have been made nationwide. To nominate a person, place or historic event in your community, please visit the Parks Canada website for more information: https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/culture/clmhc-hsmbc/ncp-pcn/application .

Quotes

"Nahnebahweequay was a visionary Anishinaabe leader whose courage and advocacy for First Nations land rights continue to resonate across generations. Her unwavering voice challenged colonial injustice and affirmed the dignity of her people. As we unveil this plaque, we recognize her legacy as part of our shared history, both proud and painful, and recognize her story as a guiding force in our ongoing journey toward truth and reconciliation."

The Honourable Steven Guilbeault,

Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages

"Honouring Nahnebahweequay here in Port Credit anchors this story where it unfolded. It turns our waterfront into a classroomone where residents, students, and visitors can touch the past and see themselves in it. Her example reminds us that courage and resilience are everyday work. Recognizing her legacy affirms the mark it continues to leave on Mississauga and across our region."

Charles Sousa

Member of Parliament for MississaugaLakeshore

Quick Facts

Nahnebahweequay was recognized for her speaking ability and presence. Refusing to portray Indigenous stereotypes during her lectures, she challenged colonial conceptions of Indigenous women. Her speeches provided an opportunity to fundraise for her journey to London in 1860 and to build popular support for her cause.

in 1860 and to build popular support for her cause. The Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada plaque commemorating Nahnebahweequay was unveiled in Port Credit , which is situated on the Treaty Land and traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and the Huron-Wendat and Wyandot peoples. The plaque will be installed in Marina Park, Port Credit , which is the historic location of a storehouse used by the Mississaugas of the Credit Mission in their trade with settlers during the 19 th century.

plaque commemorating Nahnebahweequay was unveiled in , which is situated on the Treaty Land and traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and the Huron-Wendat and Wyandot peoples. The plaque will be installed in Marina Park, , which is the historic location of a storehouse used by the Mississaugas of the Credit Mission in their trade with settlers during the 19 century. Established in 1919, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada advises the minister responsible for Parks Canada regarding the national significance of persons, places, and events that have marked Canada's history. Together with Parks Canada, the Board ensures that subjects of national historic significance are recognized under Parks Canada's National Program of Historical Commemoration and these important stories are shared with Canadians.

advises the minister responsible for Parks Canada regarding the national significance of persons, places, and events that have marked history. Together with Parks Canada, the Board ensures that subjects of national historic significance are recognized under Parks Canada's National Program of Historical Commemoration and these important stories are shared with Canadians. Parks Canada is committed to working with Canadians in our efforts to tell broader, more inclusive stories in the places that it manages. In support of this goal, the Framework for History and Commemoration outlines a comprehensive and engaging approach to sharing Canada's history through diverse perspectives.

Related Document

Backgrounder: Nahnebahweequay (Catharine Sutton) (1824-1865)

Related Links

Parks Canada

Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada

Government of Canada honours Indigenous rights advocate with historic designation

SOURCE Parks Canada (HQ)

Gabriel Camozzi, Public Outreach Education Officer, Southwestern Ontario Field Unit, 905-870-5724, [email protected]
State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada

Postal Code
Brussels proposes to restrict the movement of Russian diplomats across EU countries; such measures may become part of the 19th package of sanctions against Russia, EUobserver reported on Monday, citing a document.

"Under the proposed rules, if a Russian diplomat based in, for example, Brussels wants to travel to The Hague via Luxembourg, he or she must notify the Luxembourg and Dutch authorities 'at least 24 hours' before crossing the border," the publication says, referring to the proposed suggestion.

Diplomats will need to provide full details of the vehicle they plan to travel in, as well as inform authorities of the border crossings they will be passing through and the dates of travel. If diplomats plan to use a plane, train or bus, they must provide "the carrier's name, route code or equivalent."

At the same time, according to the proposal, EU countries, after considering such requests, will be able to ban entry or introduce additional requirements for travel permits.

The publication writes that this proposal was discussed in Brussels on Friday. It was generally received positively, and discussions will continue this week.

At the same time, a European diplomat told EUobserver that "some believe that Moscow may in response restrict the movement of Western diplomats in Russia."
Ukrainian MFA, on anniversary of Baby Yar massacre: Aggressor must be stopped as the evil doesnt retreat on its own

Photo: https://t.me/svyrydenkoy

On the 84th anniversary of the mass shootings at Babyn Yar, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs recalled that today Ukraine is once again fighting against aggression.

As the ministry recalled, between 1941 and 1943, the Nazis shot nearly 100,000 civilians and prisoners of war at Babyn Yar.

"The victims included Jews and Roma, OUN underground members, psychiatric patients, and prisoners of the Syrets concentration camp. The most tragic daysSeptember 29-30, 1941became symbolic of the 'Holocaust by Bullets.' Over the course of two days, the Nazis murdered nearly 34,000 Jewish residents of Kyiv. The shootings continued daily until the end of the occupation, and then the Nazis burned the bodies. Mass killings also occurred in Lviv, Rivne, Lutsk, Novohrad-Volynskyi, Zhytomyr, Bila Tserkva, and other Ukrainian cities," the Telegram channel reported.

Today, Ukraine is once again fighting against Nazi ideology, the ministry emphasized.

"Today, Ukraine is once again fighting against aggression, and the enemy's rhetoric is reminiscent of Nazi ideology. We remember the lessons of Babyn Yar: the aggressor must be stopped, because evil does not retreat on its own," the Foreign Ministry noted in a comment.

Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, in turn, recalled that it was the Nazi crimes that gave rise to the slogan "never again."

"Babyn Yar, one of the darkest chapters of the Holocaust, reminds us that evil, if left unchecked, will return. 'Never again' must be an action, not just a slogan. Today, Europe once again faces a terrorist state waging a genocidal war. We must act with the determination of those who know history and the courage of those who will not allow it to be repeatednever again," Svyrydenko said on Telegram.
European parliamentarians witnessed and were shocked by the Russian airstrike on Kyiv on Sunday night, said Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, chair of the parliamentary committee on Ukraine's integration into the EU.

"A delegation from COSAC (the platform of the EU member states' European Affairs Committees) visited Ukraine ... The airstrike on Kyiv shocked European parliamentarians who witnessed it firsthand. One member of the delegation said that this is the future of Europe if it doesn't learn its lessons and stop this war. Our friends visited the sites of enemy missile hits, the de-occupied territories, and were shocked by the scale and brutality of Russia's war crimes. They are returning home with an even greater sense of urgency to support Ukraine and additional arguments for discussion in their societies," Klympush-Tsintsadze told Interfax-Ukraine on Monday.

Klympush-Tsintsadze reported that the delegation met with Verkhovna Rada Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk and his First Deputy Oleksandr Korniyenko, representatives of the Committee on Ukraine's Integration into the EU, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Taras Kachka, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, deputy defense and foreign ministers, representatives of the Presidents Office, anti-corruption agencies, and public organizations.

The committee chairperson noted that European parliamentarians were interested in Ukraine's European integration reform agenda.

"The July attacks on anti-corruption agencies greatly undermined our credibility. Our partners sought to determine whether the process of cleansing Ukraine of corruption was irreversible and inquired about the state of local self-government and freedom of speech," Klympush-Tsintsadze said.

According to the Member of Parliament, the European Parliament was represented in the COSAC delegation by Vice-President Esteban Gonzalez Pons, who is responsible for liaising with national parliaments. The delegation included the chairs and vice-chairs of parliamentary committees from Denmark, Cyprus, Lithuania, Latvia, Sweden, Finland, and Luxembourg.

"This is COSAC's second trip abroad and its second to Ukraine," Klympush-Tsintsadze noted.
A group of men have been indicted on various crimes for that allege they tried to run a homeowner over as they drove away from his Bergen County house in two stolen cars.

Jason Cathcart, 22, of Kearny; John Duncan, 20, of Kearny; Kasib Higgs, 20, of Old Bridge; and Daniel Chipelo, 21, of Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania, were indicted by a state grand jury on September 17, the state Attorney Generals Office said in a statement on Monday.

All four men are charged with first-degree use of a person 17 years old or younger to commit a crime and second-degree conspiracy. Duncan, Higgs and Chipelo are additionally charged with first-degree home invasion burglary, second-degree aggravated assault and theft of a motor vehicle and third-degree theft of movable property. Cathcart also faces the charge of second-degree receiving a stolen motor vehicle.

The group allegedly broke into a Fair Lawn home shortly before 4:30 a.m. on March 1, before entering the homeowners 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2023 BMW X5, authorities said. The homeowner was awakened by the noise and went outside to try to intervene.

As he positioned himself blocking their escape route, the men allegedly tried to strike him with the stolen cars as they fled the property, officials said. The man was able to avoid being hit by diving out the way, causing injuries to his legs and knees, prosecutors said.

The charges in this case show how breaking into homes to steal cars elevates the danger faced by the public, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said. In this case, the homeowner heard the break-in, and when he tried to intercede, he was injured. Wee will vigorously prosecute anyone who jeopardizes public safety like this.

The stolen cars are valued at a combined $75,000. Items allegedly stolen from inside the house were later found in the recovered vehicles, authorities said.

The suspects were identified through a combination of surveillance footage and cell phone data. The Attorney Generals Office did not say whether the juvenile involved will be charged.
Tenafly residents gathered Monday to honor Edan Alexander, their hometown hero who was held hostage for 584 days by Hamas and plans to resume his military service with the Israeli Defense Forces.

Tenafly renamed a street leading into the parking lot at borough hall Edan Alexander Way, in a ceremonial sendoff for the 21-year-old soldier before he returns to Israel to continue the fight against Hamas.

I just want to say how much this means to me, Alexander told about 200 people gathered for the renaming. A year and a half in captivity was the hardest thing Ive ever gone through  but I never felt completely alone. I knew my family, my town, and so many people were fighting for me, keeping my name alive, and pushing for my return. That gave me strength.

Alexander was joined by his family during his brief remarks. To have a road named here, in the place I call home, is something I could never have imagined, he said. Its just not my name on the sign  its a reminder of how powerful a community can be when it refuses to give up."

Tenafly Mayor Mark Zinna led the ceremony and praised Alexanders strength anda courage to rejoin the military, nearly two years into the war with no end in sight.

Edan Alexander (center), who was held hostage by Hamas for 584 days, arrives at Tenafly Borough Hall for a street dedication ceremony in his honor. Monday, September 29, 2025 John Jones | For NJ Advance Media

Zinna said just a week ago, someone burned an Israeli flag at the Temple Sinai in Tenafly, which he called a blatant act of anti-semitism.

After discussing the incident with the rabbi, we both agreed that the only course of action was to buy more Israeli flags, he said.

Thousands of people greeted Alexander when he returned to Tenafly in May, finally free after months of on-again, off-again negotiations between Israel, Hamas, and the United States. After being given a heros welcome, Alexander kept a low profile throughout the summer and didnt give interviews.

Earlier this month, Alexander spoke at a fundraiser in New York for the Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces, and said he would return to service.

I will once again put on the IDF uniform, and Ill proudly serve alongside my brothers, he said then. My story does not end with survival. It continues with service.

That set the stage for Mondays gathering , in which U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer praised Alexander who overcame all odds and then...rushed back to continue the fight against terror and evil.

Congressman Josh Gottheimer (right) hugs Edan Alexander during a street dedication ceremony for Edan Alexander, who was held hostage by Hamas for 584 days, Monday, September 29, 2025 John Jones | For NJ Advance Media

Gottheimer said he met Alexander after his release, and said Alexanders humility, his poise and self-assurance stopped me in my tracks. Gottheimer said Alexander told him his release from captivity didnt make him a hero.

The real heroes, he said, are the ones who are still there, and those who gave their lives, Gottheimer said.

Gottheimers remarks were occasionally interrupted by a lone protester who held a Palestinian flag and a sign that said, When do we Jews notice that Israel is insane?!

A few people in the crowd jeered at the protester, who in an interview following the ceremony identified himself as Rich Siegel, 67, of Teaneck. Siegel accused Israels Zionist regime of committing genocide.

At this point, enlisting in the IDF is an obscenity because we know that Israel is in the process of eliminating Gaza, forcing its population out, destroying whatever structures remain, and starving its population.. This is a human rights violation on a scale that we havent seen in our lifetimes, and I believe it is a Holocaust.

Alexanders spiritual leader, Rabbi Mordecai Shain of the Lubavitch of the Palisades, said Israel was fighting for the release of the hostages still being held by Hamas, living and dead.

The rabbi said people prayed for Alexander when he was held hostage, and now they will pray for him again. The rabbi presented Alexander with a Tefillin, two black boxes that contain Torah scriptures, to connect his head and mind to God, he said.
Ingrid Echeverria, an immigration attorney, in Dover, New Jersey, on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025. Ed Murray| For NJ Advance Media

When Ingrid Echeverria arrived in the United States from El Salvador at the age of 12, she had no idea her journey would lead her Seton Hall Law and eventually to the U.S. Supreme Court bar.

As immigrant communities in New Jersey face urgent legal challenges, her expertise provides support to many. This Hispanic Heritage Month highlights the contributions of individuals like Echeverria in providing legal guidance and advocacy.

Echeverrias mother, Miriam Flores, immigrated years earlier by herself and worked as a nanny for two and a half years until she could secure legal residency for her children through an employment-based petition.

Thanks to my mom, my siblings and I came to the United States through legal channels, she said. I know how different my life could have been had that not been the case.

Now 52, the Bergen County resident, wife, and mother of twin high school seniors has built a thriving law practice dedicated to defending immigrants and their families.

Echeverria notes that the immigration climate is becoming increasingly difficult, with growing challenges around legal rights, detention, bond eligibility, and access to public benefits.

In Hudson County, recent ICE raids and heightened enforcement have fueled fear and uncertainty among immigrant communities. According to the last U.S. census count, immigrants make up more than 60% of Hudson Countys population.

Echeverria believes there is no more critical time to serve her community.

On Sept. 5, 2025, a recent decision by the U.S. Department of Justice, blocking immigration judges from granting bond to people who entered the country illegally, has deeply troubled her.

It strips judges of discretion and leaves families separated, Echeverria explained. Thats why I anticipate filing more habeas corpus petitions in federal court to challenge indefinite detention. I am licensed not only in New Jersey, but also in U.S. District Court and the U.S. Supreme Court, which gives me the tools to keep fighting.

Her road to success

Settling in New Jersey, Echeverria quickly found herself drawn to the law. As a high school student in a co-op program, she landed her first job in a law office under attorney Barkave Elian in West New York. She started out making photocopies but was soon drafting complaints and immersing herself in the world of law.

He saw that I really wanted to learn, she said. He let me do more than anyone expected from a teenager.

That early encouragement, coupled with the influence of a cousin who served as a judge in El Salvador for three decades, sparked her dream of becoming a lawyer. She went on to earn a full scholarship to Kean University (then Kean College), completed paralegal training in New York, and later graduated from Seton Hall University School of Law on another scholarship.

Mentors continued to shape her career path, including attorney Gordon Graver of Sullivan & Graver in Morristown.

He had an open-door policy, she said. Even though I was hired to handle immigration work, he encouraged me to learn litigation, insurance defense, everything. Ive been very lucky to have people like that guiding me.

Forging her own path

In 2010, after years of working for others, Echeverria opened her own practice in North Bergen. What started as a small office has grown into a three-location firm that handles immigration, family law, and municipal cases. Her main office remains in West New York, a symbolic return to where it all began.

Andre Woodson, 57, of Union County, is an associate lawyer at Echeverrias law firm.

Woodson said he was happily surprised when he joined Echeverrias firm in 2022. Having struggled with immigration cases at other firms in the past, he credited her with transforming his fear into competence and confidence.

When I got here, and I saw the way she operates, we are always preparing  six months out from a court date, shell have us checking files and making updates.

Giving back to community

Her commitment extends beyond the courtroom. Echeverria is a trustee of the Hudson County Bar Association, where she leads immigration law seminars for fellow attorneys. She serves on committees with the American Immigration Lawyers Association, sits on Hudson Countys Early Settlement Program for family law cases, and advises the coalition of Latin American consulates.

She also partners with mayors, nonprofits, and churches to host free immigration clinics often giving consultations to families who cannot afford legal fees.

Ariel Valle, 41, the former Consul General of El Salvador in Elizabeth, New Jersey, first met Echeverria when he held that post and she was serving as president of the Hispanic Salvadorian Parade. Since then, he said, theyve collaborated on several philanthropic projects.

We organized the Salvadorian Parade and met with elected officials in Hudson County, Valle said. Together, we helped establish the first street in the U.S. named El Salvador Boulevard, to honor the contributions of our community in New Jersey.

Valle said Echeverria is often involved in efforts behind the scenes, making calls, offering support, and even providing financial help when needed.

Right after the pandemic, we sent a container of food and a fire truck to El Salvador, he said. She organizes galas and festivals, but what I admire most is her work with the immigrant community. She gives free consultations and serves as an advisor for GLACO (Latin American Consulate of New Jersey).

He noted that she consistently participates whenever asked to speak on immigration rights.

Thats why people love her so much, he said, some even call her the angel of the immigrants because her heart is with the community.

The demands of the work are relentless, especially as immigration enforcement intensifies and intersects with issues like domestic violence. She notes that these cases are often more complicated because survivors may fear deportation, rely on their abuser for legal status, or face limited access to protections and services.

Fany Mejia, 40, is a former client of Echeverrias. Today, she runs her own commercial insurance business and is raising her son in South Hackensack. But not long ago, she was a victim of domestic violence and in need of an attorney to help her navigate the situation safely.

Shes so professional, shes really good at her work, and Ive recommended her to others in the same situation I was in, Mejia said. She also gave me really good advice on the professional side, and I listened. Now Im a business owner, I have my own house, I have everything.

But Echeverria insists that service remains her calling.

I dont sleep much, she admitted with a laugh. But my clients, my community  they need someone to stand with them. I know what its like to rely on others. Now its my turn to give back.
Rudy Beu speaks during the groundbreaking for a new police station in Vineland in this 2018 photo. (File Photo)

The state Civil Service Commission has ordered that a former Cumberland County municipal police chief be reinstated after finding his demotion and suspension was unjustified.

It is the second time the commission has ordered that Rudy Beu be returned to the post of Vineland police chief after the city filed disciplinary charges against him.

But Beu wont be returning to work because the city is pursuing a third disciplinary case against him, local officials said.

Beus attorney, Colin Bell, accused the city of wasting taxpayer dollars on a five-year smear campaign of baseless allegations against the police chief. The accusations include that Beu offered a police officer a promotion in return for sex with a cops wife or daughter.

Chief Beu was accused of terrible misconduct and was the target of nationwide media coverage criticizing him for those accusations, Bell said. He wants his reputation back and he wants to be allowed to go about his life.

Attorney William Cook, who represents the city, said that money spent by Vineland on the case pales in comparison to what it would have paid defending lawsuits from Beus alleged conduct.

The City of Vineland will absolutely not stand idle  not for a moment  in the face of such sustained and documented misconduct and neglect in its police department, Cook said.

He also said the city is appealing the two Civil Service Commission rulings in Beus favor. The attorney criticized the long process that has dragged out the cases for years.

The real problem here is that in New Jersey, local municipalities like Vineland who actually want to weed out bad supervisors and ensure transparency in their police departments must deal with a terribly broken system of police discipline, where it takes years of litigation to fire a bad police supervisor through an horrendously inefficient civil service process, Cook said.

Beu, who became a full-time officer with Vineland Police Department in 1982, was appointed chief in 2017.

He served until February 2020, when he was issued a six-month suspension and demoted to deputy chief over a series of allegations.

Administrative Law Judge Catherine A. Tuohy concluded in June that the claim Beu offered one of his officers a promotion in return for sex with the cops wife or daughter was not credible. The judge said numerous witnesses denied hearing the alleged remarks and no one corroborated the account.

A prior investigation by the Cumberland County Prosecutors Office also declared the allegation unfounded.

As part of that case, Beu was also accused of failing to recuse himself from a disciplinary matter involving an officer who is the father of his grandchild. City officials also accused him of of promoting his daughter, a Vineland police officer, to the departments juvenile division, and of refusing to turn over internal affairs files to an attorney hired by the city.

The judge found no basis for those charges and the state Civil Service Commission endorsed those conclusions earlier this month. The commission dismissed the administrative charges against Beu, reversing the suspension and demotion, and ordered he be reinstated with back pay and benefits.

While that case was pending, Vineland fired Beu in 2021 over claims of retaliatory conduct and disparate treatment of officers in the department. Beu appealed that case, too, and the Civil Service Commission reversed the decision in 2024, ordering that he be returned to his post.

In that case, the commission later ordered that Beu be awarded gross back pay of $64,230. The city was also ordered to pay his attorney $44,713 in counsel fees, plus $5,436 in other costs.

The city has not made those payments and Beus attorney filed an enforcement application with the commission that is still pending, Bell said.

The attorney expressed appreciation for the recent commission decision on the 2020 suspension and demotion.

I am grateful that Judge Tuohy and Commission saw through this attempt to smear a police chief that has dedicated over 40 years of service to the City of Vineland, Bell said.

In her ruling, Tuohy criticized an attorney hired by the city to investigate claims against Beu, as not being impartial. He failed to include documents that were exculpatory to Beu and didnt conduct interviews with people who would have supported Beus position, the judge wrote.

The judge also found that Beu didnt exert influence in the decision to have his daughter placed in the juvenile division and that the city failed to prove he improperly handled the disciplinary matter involving the officer who is father of his grandchild.

On an accusation that Beu was insubordinate when he didnt release internal affairs documents to the citys special counsel investigating retaliation and harassment claims, the judge concluded that the citys directives to release the files were unlawful. Tuohy also stated that Beu acted within his authority and explained his reasoning for not releasing the files in responses to city directives.

The Civil Service Commission ordered that Beu receive six months of back pay, along with benefits and restoration of his seniority. The city must also cover Beus lawyer fees.

Despite Beus two victories, he cannot return to work because of a third disciplinary case against him.

In April, the city issued a final notice of disciplinary action and again terminated Beus employment.

The city accuses Beu of incompetence, neglect of duty and conduct unbecoming a public employee due to violations of internal affairs rules.

Beus attorney said the new case relies on the conclusions of an investigation by the county prosecutors office that found police department paperwork and record keeping errors during Beus tenure as chief violated internal affairs rules.

Following a departmental hearing on the case, a retired Superior Court judge found in April that Beu committed 19 violations of state Internal Affairs Policies and Procedures, including five direct violations and 14 failure-to-supervise violations. The violations involve seven department internal affairs investigations.

Among the allegations, Beu is accused of:

inappropriately notifying a department employee who was the target of an investigation;

failing to investigate a claim that an officer was untruthful in an investigation;

failing to explain his decision not to discipline another officer found to have been untruthful in an investigation;

failing to supervise an internal affairs investigator who failed to properly notify others that they were targets of investigations;

failing to supervise an investigators failure to keep proper internal affairs documentation;

failing to supervise an investigator in conducting a thorough and impartial investigation.

The claims were already raised in the second case against Beu and rejected by the Civil Service Commission, Bell said.

Cook, who is representing the city, challenged that description of the case, saying the county prosecutors office found Beu committed serious violations of internal affairs guidelines.

In denying a motion to dismiss the latest allegations, a judge ruled that the charges in the new case are separate and distinct from the prior case.

Vineland has seen plenty of turmoil in its top-cop post in recent years. After Beus ouster, Pedro Casiano served as chief until his resignation this year following a domestic violence incident last October.

Steven Triantos was sworn in as police chief in May.
A student at a South Jersey high school was arrested Thursday after she was accused of assaulting several school workers and a police officer.

The 14-year-old girl assaulted five employees and a school police officer at Egg Harbor Township High School, local police said Monday.

The teenager was involved in a fight with two other students at the start of the school day, police said.

It is unclear if any of the school workers were injured. Egg Harbor Township public school officials did not immediately respond to an NJ Advance Media request for comment.

The girl, who was not named by police, faces several counts of aggravated assault. The other two students involved in the initial fight were charged with simple assault.
The FX series Alien: Earth premiered last month, and fans are already hoping for another installment.

Alien: Earth hasnt been renewed for season 2 yet, but the shows creator, Noah Hawley, thinks its only a matter of time.

Im pretty confident, given the shows success, that well get to make more, he said during an interview with Polygon earlier this week. Hawley also told the Hollywood Reporter that hes hoping season 2 is confirmed sooner rather than later.

Im certainly hoping that its not a long nail biter of Can we do this again? My hope is certainly in the next couple of months to get some kind of sign from them as to whether I should get another job or get back to work, he said.

Alien: Earth is set in 2120, two years before the events of the 1979 film Alien. Powerful corporations have taken the place of governments, and humans exist alongside cyborgs and synthetics (humanoid robots with artificial intelligence).

Sydney Chandler plays Wendy, the first ever hybrid, a person whose consciousness has been transferred into a synthetic body. She and her fellow hybrids encounter alien monsters from deep space when an exploration vessel crashes on Earth.

Among those monsters is the Alien franchises iconic xenomorph. The creatures terrifying metamorphosis process includes a facehugger and a chestburster stage, which are just what they sound like.

READ MORE: Alien: Earth star uninvited from magazine shoot over surprising dealbreaker

In addition to the familiar foes, Alien: Earth introduced new extraterrestrial horrors, including a tentacled eyeball and a plant monster. Hawley told the Hollywood Reporter it was important to add new creatures to replicate [the] series of feelings that the original movie gave viewers.

You dont know how they reproduce or what they eat. So, you get this dread that comes every time theyre on screen where youre like, I know somethings going to happen, [but] I dont know what its going to be, he said of the new monsters. And then when it happens, its worse than you could have imagined.

Alien: Earth is available to stream on Hulu.
A Jersey City hospital will suspend non-essential services at the end of October, unless it gets millions in support from the government, its healthcare parent company announced.

Employees at Heights University Hospital, formerly Christ Hospital, learned of the action Friday and their union said the company is threatening layoffs.

Hudson Regional Health took over the hospital and two others from CarePoint Health System in April in federal bankruptcy court.

The company now runs four hospitals, including Bayonne University Hospital, Hoboken University Hospital and Secaucus University Hospital.

The company said it has been trying hard to keep the hospital open and has pumped $300 million into operations, with a major portion dedicated to Heights University Hospital.

Despite that, it was determined in recent days after a thorough analysis, that the facility is unable to avoid continued financial distress, Hudson Regional said in a statement.

The anticipated losses of over $60 million per year at Heights University Hospital, without public support, is simply unsustainable to maintain.

The companys board will proceed with a restructuring that will include suspension of services at Heights University starting Oct. 26.

The employees union, a local of Health Professionals & Allied Employees, said Hudson Regional Health assured a bankruptcy court and government regulators just six months ago they had the resources necessary to take over and operate the hospital.

The community of Jersey City deserves to know why Hudson Regional is willing to put healthcare services at risk so quickly after vowing to preserve the hospital and maintain services, union president and registered nurse Debbie White said in a statement.

The N.J. Department of Health must hold the owners accountable to their commitment to the State of New Jersey and the patients served by the hospital, White said.

Shortly after Hudson Regional took control of Christ Hospital, the facility incurred nearly $250,000 in fines by the Department of Health for months of infection control violations earlier this year, and last year finished last in a state ranking for patient safety.
When Steve Cohen took ownership of the Mets in 2020, he promised fans a World Series within three to five years.

That window is now closed, and after the Mets missed this years postseason, Cohen has issued an apology to those same fans.

Mets fans everywhere, Cohen wrote on X on Monday. I owe you an apology . You did your part by showing up and supporting the team. We didnt do our part. We will do a post-mortem and figure out the obvious and less obvious reasons why the team didnt perform up to your and my expectationsWe are all feeling raw emotions today. I know how much time and effort you have put into this team. The result was unacceptable. Your emotions tell me how much you care and continues to motivate the organization to do better. Thank You to the best fans in sports.

The Mets 2025 season was officially over with Sundays 4-0 loss to the Miami Marlins. For the Mets to make the playoffs this year, Sundays slate needed to result with a Mets win and a Reds loss. Cincinnati did lose, 4-2, to the Brewers, giving the Mets a chance. But the Mets couldnt pull off a win to keep their season going.

The Mets adjusted payroll for this season was aabout $341,050,160, which placed them second in MLB, behind the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Nagle's Apothecary Cafe uses the first floor of a three-story building that opened in 1890 in the Ocean Grove section of Neptune. Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media

A longtime Jersey Shore restaurant and ice cream store that closed six years ago will be reopening next year, according to its new owner.

Nagles Apothecary Cafe is on the first floor of a three-story building built in 1890 in the Ocean Grove section of Neptune Township.

An apothecary was a precursor to the modern-day pharmacy or drug store. The Monmouth County shop was known for serving ice cream, sandwiches and other comfort foods.

Nagles was purchased in February by Kelly Ryan, the longtime owner of The BoonDocks Fishery in Red Bank. Renovations on the cafe will get underway in October, Ryan said.

It will be restored to what looked like prior to its 2019 closing, with a few fresh touches, Ryan said.

Customers waiting on line and eating outside Nagle's Apothecary Cafe in July 2010. Patti Sapone | The Star Ledger

The soda fountain counter that dates back to the 1940s, the hot open-face sandwiches and the piano that played on Fridays and Saturdays will be returning, Ryan said.

They will walk in and have a warm feeling that nothings changed, Ryan said of customers.

The plan is to reopen Nagles by April if all goes well, or at least by Memorial Day weekend if the work takes longer, Ryan said.

Outside seating, another staple of the original restaurant, will be back.

Many fans of the former version of Nagles just dropped by for ice cream.

The ice cream is what it was really known for. There were lines around the block, Ryan said.

Kelly Ryan, owner of Nagle's Apothecary Cafe, inside the restaurant in Neptune, New Jersey. Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media

The menu will include recurring specials, including perhaps meatloaf on Mondays, Ryan said.

I just want to bring it back to comfort food, Ryan said.

Nagles is located on Main Avenue, by Central Avenue, about two blocks from the beach.

It is located a few blocks from the two pedestrian bridges crossing the Wesley River, a boundary with Asbury Park, that were gated off overnight starting in 1995 until the Neptune Township Committee rescinded the policy on Monday.

Nagles is among the historic draws in Ocean Grove, which is only four-tenths of a square mile but home to around 3,000 residents.

Then-Gov. Chris Christie visited Nagles in June 2016 while touting the reconstruction of Ocean Groves boardwalk, which was mostly destroyed during Hurricane Sandy.

A customer at Nagle's Apothecary Cafe watches then-Gov. Chris Christie walking along Main Street in the Ocean Grove section of Neptune in 2016. Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media

All of the land is owned by the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, which leases it to residents and businesses, including 114 tents and 20 cottages used during the summer.

Its just a wholesome, friendly, wonderful place on the ocean, Ryan said of Ocean Grove.

Ryan said she has not decided what to do with the second and third floors of the building. Both are unoccupied but previously served as offices and residences.
The ruling affirms a six-year term for a Wall Township man and clarifies that judges can weigh prior abuse when deciding punishment. Canva for NJ.com

An appeals court has upheld the conviction and six-year prison sentence of a Monmouth County man who smothered his former girlfriend, and rejected claims of prosecutorial misconduct and sentencing errors.

In a published opinion issued Monday, the Appellate Division, for the first time, clarified how judges may apply a sentencing factor for repeat domestic violence offenders.

The case originates from an incident on Aug. 15, 2021, in which a man identified only as R.A.M. smothered his former girlfriend, at his Wall Township home after accusing her of cheating.

The court explained that it withheld the mans name to protect the identity of the victim.

According to trial testimony, he told her, You think youre in control, youre not in control. Im going to show you what control is, before pushing her onto a loveseat and covering her nose and mouth.

A jury convicted R.A.M. in October 2023 of aggravated assault under a state law that criminalizes strangulation or smothering of a domestic violence victim.

He was acquitted of a separate charge of making terroristic threats.

R.A.M. appealed, arguing that the prosecutor committed misconduct by attacking the credibility of his expert witness and that the trial judge improperly increased his sentence by double-counting elements of the offense.

The Monmouth County Prosecutors Office countered that the comments were brief, based on evidence that the expert was paid, and that the sentencing judge correctly applied the law by considering the defendants history of domestic violence.

During closing arguments, the prosecutor told jurors that the defenses key expert disagreed with the states forensic nurse because hes paid to, right? Hes here for a reason. He was hired to author a report for the benefit of  defendant. When were talking about credibility and bias, its a pretty strong one.

The appellate panel said those remarks were not necessarily proper but did not deprive the defendant of a fair trial because they were limited and the evidence of guilt was strong.

The court noted R.A.M. had an alarming history of domestic violence, including four final restraining orders and two prior convictions for violating those orders through assaults and harassment of former partners.

The court rejected the defense claim that the judge erred by applying aggravating factor 15, which allows a harsher sentence if the crime involved domestic violence and the defendant committed at least one prior act of domestic violence.

R.A.M. argued this constituted double counting.

The defense contended this was unfair because the fact that the victim was a domestic violence victim was used both to convict him and to increase his sentence.

The court disagreed, ruling that factor 15 is based on a defendants history, not just the current offense, and applies only when there is proof of prior acts of domestic violence.

This is the first published opinion in New Jersey to clarify how factor 15 should be applied, making it binding precedent for future domestic violence sentencing cases.

R.A.M. was represented by the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender.

The New Jersey Office of the Public Defender (NJOPD) is disappointed by the Appellate Divisions decision to uphold R.A.M.s conviction and sentence, Alison Perrone, Deputy for the Appellate Section, said in a statement.

NJOPD continues to believe that the prosecutors comments regarding the defense experts compensation were improper and that the trial court erred in applying aggravating factors based on prior conduct, she added.

While we respect the courts ruling, we maintain that these issues undermine the fairness of the trial and sentencing. NJOPD is carefully reviewing the decision and considering a petition for certification to the New Jersey Supreme Court, Perrone said.

A spokesperson for the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office said in a statement:

We are pleased with the courts ruling to uphold the jurys conviction and the judges sentencing decision, which reaffirms the States ongoing commitment to protect domestic violence victims and continue a tough stance on those who do harm to victims.

Colleen Murphy may be reached at cmurphy@njadvancemedia.com.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the unity of partner countries the main weapon the aggressor fears, and noted Russia's attempts to strike at it by involving unnamed European countries.

The number one weapon any aggressor truly fears  in this case, Russia and Putin  is unity. That is our strongest weapon. Even though they tried to use certain representatives, even on the European continent, to drive a wedge  to undermine European unity and even split the EU itself  Russia failed to divide most countries. That is why we are strong, and thats why Ukraine has such support, Zelenskyy wrote in a Telegram post on Monday following the Warsaw Security Forum.
A 57-year-old New Jersey man who was the administrator of an online public group that traded child pornography has been sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison.

In addition to an 87-month sentence, a federal judge on Wednesday ordered Khayan Garner to serve 10 years of supervised release, the U.S. Attorneys Office for Washington, D.C. said in a statement.

In July 2024, Garner sent a private message from his account that included a link containing a folder labeled CP, to an undercover FBI employee, prosecutors said. The folder contained illicit videos depicting child sex abuse material.

Investigators executed a search warrant on Garners Woodbridge home in October 2024 and found child sex abuse material on his phone.

Garner pleaded guilty on April 23, 2025 to distribution of child pornography.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) has a message for Democrats: He isnt going anywhere.

During an appearance on Fox News Sunday Morning Futures, Fetterman was cornered by host Maria Bartiromo about whether he would consider changing parties. Bartiromo pointed to real extremists who have tried to hijack the Democrat Party over policies and rhetoric.

No, Im not going to switch, Fetterman said. Im just going to be an independent voice in the Democratic Party. Im not going to be afraid of people.

Fetterman has long broken with the Democratic Party, particularly over his pro-Israel stance in the war in Gaza. Most recently, he has warned Democrats about a partial government shutdown  while congressional leaders are expected to meet with President Donald Trump on Monday in a last-minute effort before funding runs out late Tuesday.

And if you want a Democrat thats going to call people Nazis or fascists or all these kinds of things, well, I am not going to be that guy, Fetterman said of Democrats who criticize the president.

Independent thinking and views, wherever I happen to believe the truth, regardless if its the Republican or the Democratic voice, he added.

During the interview, Fetterman also reiterated his support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling it astonishing that several U.S. allies formally recognized Palestinian statehood.

You have human beings held underground, tortured and starved, going on two years. Its absolutely a reward for Hamas. Thats going to be their narrative. Theyre going to claim thats why we did 10/7, that birthed our nation, and I cant ever give that to them, Fetterman said.

Fetterman also said it is always wrong to shut down the government, regardless of the party in charge.

Trump has called Fetterman the most sensible Democrat and has praised him in several instances for splitting with his party, including his rejection of calls to eliminate U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Fox News contributor Andy McCarthy is still going strong against the recent indictment brought against former FBI Director James Comey.

Despite facing scrutiny from MAGA world on social media, McCarthy is out with more criticism against President Donald Trumps Department of Justice. In a column published Monday in the National Review, McCarthy, a former assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, blasted the ill-conceived indictment, arguing that the longer one analyzes it, the worse it gets.

Comey was charged last Thursday by a federal grand jury in Virginia on charges of obstruction and making a false statement to Congress stemming from the FBIs investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election. The indictment was filed days after President Donald Trump appeared to urge Attorney General Pam Bondi to prosecute Comey and other political opponents in a now-deleted post on his Truth Social platform.

Comeys charges are related to his 2020 testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee, according to the Justice Department. Comey maintained that he is innocent in a video posted to Instagram.

During an appearance on Fox Business Mornings with Maria on Friday, McCarthy first made headlines after he cast doubt on the merits of the case against Comey, telling host Maria Bartiromo bluntly that I dont think theres a case.

The Russiagate stuff, Im as big a critic of that, probably, as there is. I wrote a book about it. I think it was a disgrace, and history will remember it that way, McCarthy said.

This indictment is not about that, and it seems to be premised on something thats not true, which is that [former FBI Deputy Director Andrew] McCabe said that Comey authorized him to leak to the Wall Street Journal, he continued.

McCarthy, for the National Review, has now taken further aim at the indictment, claiming that it is incoherently drafted and fails to fulfill an indictments constitutional purpose; namely, to put the defendant on notice of what the government alleges he has done to violate the law.

The indictment must be clear about what the defendant allegedly did, McCarthy wrote. Even more basically, in a false-statements case, the relevant questions and answers have to show that the defendant knew exactly what he was being asked, such that it might be rational for a jury to conclude that he willfully lied.

He went on to call it inconceivable that a false-statement charge against Comey could rest on an allegation that he authorized McCabe to leak to the WSJ."

There is no evidence of that, period. The Trump Justice Department, including novice prosecutor Lindsey Halligan, clearly knows this, McCarthy continued.

While speaking to reporters on Friday, Trump said that the indictment is about justice  and not revenge. He also predicted that there will be others, though acknowledged that its not a list.

He wasnt the biggest, but hes a dirty cop, Trump said. Hes always been a dirty cop. Everybody knew it.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) tore into Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) after she posted an ominous message on social media.

In a post on X, Greene declared on Saturday that I am not suicidal and one of the happiest healthiest people you will meet as she reiterated her support for a discharge petition to ultimately compel the Justice Department to release the Jeffrey Epstein files. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who filed the effort earlier this month, is just one signature away from bypassing House Speaker Mike Johnson and forcing a House vote.

With that said, if something happens to me, I ask you all to find out which foreign government or powerful people would take heinous actions to stop the information from coming out. Not only about this issue, but because of the truth that I have been speaking, Greene continued, before adding: The People understand what Im saying.

As her post circulated over the weekend, Cruz weighed in late Sunday with a pointed accusation.

Why do crazy people keep thinking the Jews are trying to kill them? Cruz asked.

Why do crazy people keep thinking the Jews are trying to kill them? https://t.co/htWc0TzyZ0  Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) September 29, 2025

Several social media users, however, questioned how Cruz came to the conclusion from her post.

She never mentioned Jews, but you just told on yourself here, internet personality Elijah Schaffer replied.

Another user posted a graphic from the sitcom The Simpsons, with the words What An Odd Thing To Say.

Cruz went on to expand on his claims, writing in a separate post: To all the bots saying she never mentioned the Jews, it says find out which foreign government or powerful people would take heinous actions. Shes talking about Belgians? Argentinians?

As she said the People understand. Yes we do, he added.

Cruz also said, And no, Israel didnt murder Charlie, referring to conspiracy theories that have floated since the assassination of Charlie Kirk, who was a staunch ally of the country.

Greene was responding to one of her previous posts on X, in which she called for all information related to Epstein to be made public.

I stand with girls and women who are sexually abused and raped. Period. Every time. At all times, Greene wrote.

For me, its not about a pissing contest between political parties or political enemies. The Epstein rape and pedophile network must be exposed, she continued, saying that her name remain on the petition.

Greene is one of four Republicans  including Massie, Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), and Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.)  to back the bill, in addition to over 200 Democrats. She also joined Massie in his joint press conference with Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), where survivors of Epsteins abuse spoke out on Capitol Hill.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.
Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), right, a longtime perceived political enemy of President Donald Trump, responded to his threat of a 100% tariff on foreign-made movies. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis and Damian Dovarganes)

Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) appears to be somewhat receptive to President Donald Trumps newest call to action.

Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform, announced on Monday that he will impose a 100% tariff on any and all movies that are made outside of the United States.

Our movie making business has been stolen from the United States of America, by other Countries, just like stealing candy from a baby, Trump wrote, before taking aim at California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D): California, with its weak and incompetent Governor, has been particularly hard hit!

Schiff  a constant target of Trump, who publicly called for his prosecution  responded to the presidents threat in a post on X, writing that I strongly support bringing movie making back to California and the U.S.

Schiff, however, went on to propose a caveat: Congress should pass a bipartisan globally-competitive federal film incentive to bring back production and jobs, rather than levy a tariff that could have unintended and damaging consequences.

We have an opportunity to pass a major federal film tax credit. Im ready to work with this administration and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get it done, he continued.

I strongly support bringing movie making back to California and the U.S.



Congress should pass a bipartisan globally-competitive federal film incentive to bring back production and jobs, rather than levy a tariff that could have unintended and damaging consequences.



We have an pic.twitter.com/t11kC1QxT0  Adam Schiff (@SenAdamSchiff) September 29, 2025

Before the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey last Thursday, Trump days earlier had asked Attorney General Pam Bondi why the ex-official, Schiff and New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) have yet to be prosecuted in a post on Truth Social.

We cant delay any longer, its killing our reputation and credibility, Trump wrote. They impeached me twice, and indicted me (5 times!), OVER NOTHING. JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!

Although Trump said further on Friday that theres not a list, he predicted that there will be others.

Theyre corrupt. These were corrupt, radical-left Democrats, Trump told reporters.

In August, Bondi appointed a special attorney to separately probe accusations of mortgage fraud against Schiff and James, several outlets reported. Both have denied any wrongdoing.

The Department of Justice has specifically claimed that Schiff, a longtime perceived nemesis of Trump, has identified two homes as primary residences in Maryland and California. Schiff, in a video posted on social media in July, said that Trump for years has threatened to investigate me, prosecute me in various different ways, accuse me falsely of engaging in a variety of crimes.

Big surprise, members of Congress, almost all of them, own more than one home or rent more than one home, Schiff said later in the video.

Schiff has also emerged as a punching bag in MAGA world  some who have argued that the Democratic lawmaker should face prison time.

Meanwhile, unlike Schiff, other California Democrats harshly criticized Trumps announcement.

The Governor tried to explain this to Trump months ago  when this was initially proposed  that his actions will cause irreparable damage to the U.S. film industry. Todays move is 100% stupid," Newsoms press office account posted on X.

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) labeled Trump with TACO, a Wall Street moniker that means Trump Always Chickens Out.

If Trump were to move forward with his plan, it would be the first-of-its-kind tariff on a service rather than a good. The president had previously threatened a tariff on foreign-produced movies in May.
New Jersey's craft breweries fought for years to change the law to allow them to have more events and opportunities to sell food and beer. David Gard file photo | For NJ Advance Media

Craft breweries across New Jersey celebrated last year when a long-awaited liquor license reform law was signed to allow their businesses to serve food and hold more events on and off their sites.

But now, industry leaders say the laws implementation is bogged down by red tape and plans for high fees.

Industry leaders say they plan to meet with state regulatory officials to discuss their concerns.

Were hoping that theres an opportunity that some of these things can be changed, said Eric Orlando, a lobbyist for the Brewers Guild of New Jersey, which represents the states breweries.

Gov. Phil Murphys office referred a request to comment to the state Attorney Generals Office, which oversees the Division of Alcohol and Beverage Control.

The Office of the Attorney General is committed to supporting craft breweries and reducing unnecessary red tape for our states small businesses, said spokesperson Allison Inserro.

The 2024 law signed by Murphy allowed craft beer businesses in New Jersey to expand operations by participating in festivals, partnering with food vendors and increasing production limits.

Murphy previously said liquor license reform and support for the states more than 100 craft breweries was a key part of his campaign agenda. But the legislation became one of the administrations most contentious issues, sparking intense negotiations in Trenton.

When the liquor license reform bill was signed, both the administration and the craft beer industry hailed it as a major victory.

For the first time in nearly a century, New Jersey has shown the fortitude to tackle an age-old problem that has stifled economic growth and hampered the dreams of countless small business owners, Murphy said in 2024.

Together with our partners in the Legislature, we are laying new ground rules to help our breweries and distilleries flourish, while creating new opportunities for smaller and more diverse mom-and-pop establishments to set up shop or expand in New Jersey and help transform our downtowns, he added.

Under the new law, license holders can hold unlimited onsite events and up to 25 events a year off-premises. They can also serve alcohol outdoors with a permit and brewery production limits were raised from 10,000 to 300,000 barrels.

More than a year later, alcohol regulators are still working on how the law will be implemented. Industry leaders say the regulatory process is making compliance difficult with excessive and byzantine rules.

Brewers Guild of New Jersey officials did not specify which rules the group would like to see modified as they prepare to meet with state officials to ask for changes.

Orlando said regulatory changes are often difficult to achieve, but the guild is prepared to pursue all available options.

The criticism of the liquor license reform process comes amid a campaign season full of promises from both sides of the political aisle to cut red tape for New Jersey businesses.

Democratic candidate Mikie Sherrill and Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli have both pledged to reduce regulatory burdens as they run to succeed Murphy as governor. Each has framed the issue within their broader campaign theme of affordability  a top concern for voters.

Ciattarelli has vowed to create a state Department of Commerce that would work with businesses. The Republican says he wants the new department interacting with all of the states chamber of commerce officials to help large and small businesses.

Sherrill has vowed to reduce state wait times on decisions for licensing and increase resources for state call centers and customer service. She plans use the states currently existing Business Action Center, which is part of the Department of State, to make the changes.

Both candidates emphasized their support for small businesses in June, when they addressed the New Jersey Business and Industry Association, the states largest business lobbying group.

That has attracted the attention of New Jersey breweries, industry officials said.

Both campaigns have been hyper-focused on small businesses, Orlando said. These breweries are the sweet spot in terms of that messaging. They are quintessential small businesses.
Several Democrats are personally responding to the recent indictment of former FBI Director James Comey, Axios reported Monday. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) AP

Several Democrats are sounding the alarm following the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey, a perceived political enemy of President Donald Trump.

Axios reported Monday that some congressional lawmakers have checked their personal finances, fearing they could be next, as Trump has also threatened Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) over mortgage fraud allegations.

Many are... going through mortgages, tax returns, etc., a senior House Democrat, speaking anonymously, told Axios.

Another House Democrat said theyve explored liability insurance, adding: And so have other members [in case] they come after us legally.

Comey was charged last Thursday by a federal grand jury in Virginia on charges of obstruction and making a false statement stemming from the FBIs investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election  days after Trump appeared to demand Attorney General Pam Bondi to prosecute him and other political opponents.

The charges are related to Comeys testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2020, according to the Justice Department. Comey responded with a video posted to social media after the announcement, in which he dismissed any wrongdoing. He also said he has known for years that there are costs to standing up to Donald Trump.

My heart is broken for the Department of Justice, Comey said on his Instagram account. I have great confidence in the federal judicial system and I am innocent, so lets have a trial, and keep the faith.

While speaking to reporters on Friday, Trump said that the indictment is about justice and not revenge. He warned that there will be others.

He wasnt the biggest, but hes a dirty cop, Trump said. Hes always been a dirty cop. Everybody knew it.

Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) described the indictment as part of a greater retribution purge. He said that reviewing personal finances is wise of certain members who have become more prominent targets of Trump.

Rep. Gil Cisneros (D-Calif.) also weighed in to Axios: Obviously, I think there is a worry that ... this administration is going to dive into your stuff and kind of trump up some bogus charge just because you were critical of the president.

Meanwhile, Rep. Greg Landsman (D-Ohio) told the outlet that no one is safe in the wake of Comeys indictment.

Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.), who was indicted on three federal charges in June after clashing with law enforcement at an ICE facility, added: Ive been having these conversations since Ive kind of gotten to Congress, months ago ... about how you protect yourself.

In a now-deleted post of his Truth Social platform, Trump had addressed Bondi directly on Sept. 20, saying that nothing is being done on investigations related to his foes, which included Comey.

Lindsey Halligan, the newly nominated U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia who presented the Comey case, was sworn into her role last Monday. She replaced federal prosecutor Erik Siebert, who resigned after reportedly facing pressure from Trump for refusing to pursue charges against James.
CNN data guru Harry Enten warned on Monday that President Donald Trumps plan to deploy the National Guard to Portland, Oregon is a political loser for him.

Enten explained recent polling data that showed 58% of Americans are opposed to sending the National Guard to cities across the country, while just 42% support the decision. He said that after Trump deployed troops to Los Angeles in June, the presidents approval rating dropped 4 percentage points.

So if Donald Trump thinks that potentially sending in the National Guard into cities like Portland is a winning political issue, the polling says, You are wrong, Mr. President, Enten said.

So we have history of Donald Trump sending the National Guard into a western city. And what happened was there were clear political ramifications for the President of the United States, and they were not good ramifications, Enten said.

What happened was his overall approval rating dropped by four points, and his immigration approval, which had been his best issue up to that point, dropped by seven points, went from net positive territory to net negative territory, he added.

Enten noted that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has a net approval rating of minus 14 percentage points. He again reiterated that sending the National Guard to Portland will not help Trump politically.

The president may think this is a politically winning issue for him, but the numbers tell a very different story. Its, in fact, a political loser, Enten concluded.

Fact check time with Trump & Portland... The idea of sending troops into U.S. cities is a political loser for Trump.



58% oppose such a move.



The last time Trump moved troops into a western city (Los Angeles) his net approval & his immigration net approval both fell. pic.twitter.com/gHjVze3nN5  (((Harry Enten))) (@ForecasterEnten) September 29, 2025

Trump announced on Saturday that he directed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to send the National Guard to protect War ravaged Portland, and any of our ICE Facilities under siege from attack by Antifa, and other domestic terrorists. Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek (D) pushed back on Trumps move, saying in a statement that the state can manage its own public safety needs without the federal government.

There is no threat to national security. There is no need or legal justification for military troops in our major city. Military service members should be dedicated to real emergencies, she said.

Unlike in Los Angeles, it does not appear that Trump or Hegseth are currently directing the deployment of active-duty troops to the state. The Trump administration deployed about 700 active-duty Marines to Los Angeles though they were withdrawn just over a month later.

The action also would be far less than Trumps deployment to Washington, D.C., where more than 1,000 National Guard troops, including units from other states, have patrolled the streets for weeks. He also has been suggesting that he will send troops into Chicago, but so far has not done so.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) responded to a question about President Donald Trump's decision to deploy National Guard troops to another city. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) AP

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is facing scrutiny on social media over his response to President Donald Trumps decision to deploy the National Guard to the city of Portland.

Trump announced on Saturday that he is sending troops to protect War ravaged Portland and any of our ICE Facilities under siege from attack by Antifa, and other domestic terrorists at the request of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. The state of Oregon and the city have since sued the Trump administration to block the federalization of the National Guard, arguing that the move is an unconstitutional abuse of power.

During an appearance on NBCs Meet the Press, Schumer was asked by host Kristen Welker on Sunday if there is anything he can do to stop the deployment in Congress.

First, well fight it in the courts. Along with, you know, people who will file suits, Schumer said.

He added: But second, I would hope, Kristen, that some of our Republican colleagues  I know theyre loyal to Trump and does whatever he wants  but this is so far stepping over the line that I hope some of them would join us in legislation to prevent it from happening. We have such a proposal. Im part of it."

Schumers response was met with immediate scrutiny from Democrats.

Schumers plan: Were going to beat authoritarianism by deploying serious disappointment in our esteemed GOP colleagues! progressive political commentator Sam Seder wrote on X.

Civil rights attorney Scott Hechinger wrote that Chuck Schumer is the worst possible leader for this moment.

Future historians will understand that the key factor in the slide to authoritarianism in the US was the complete absence of an opposition party; instead we had whatever this is, historian Moshik Temkin posted.

Another user said: Democratic Leadership (leading): I hope the people responsible for this suddenly change their minds.

This was his second idea behind building a campfire and singing kumbaya. WTF are we even doing with this guy anymore? a different user asked.

Schumers comments come as he joins other congressional leaders in a last-minute meeting with Trump at the White House on Monday  with less than two days left to avoid a government shutdown. During an interview with CNN, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) suggested that the president will attempt to push Democrats toward accepting a GOP plan, without the extension of the soon-to-expire Affordable Care Act tax credits that Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries are proposing.

Trump deployed National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., in August, and has threatened to do the same in a number of cities with Democratic mayors, including Chicago and Baltimore. He also created a federal task force earlier this month in Memphis.
President Donald Trump lashed out at New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani in a threatening social media post on Monday.

Trump targeted Mamdani, a democratic socialist, in a Truth Social post in which he threatened to withhold funding for New York City if he wins the November mayoral election. Trump again labeled Mamdani as a communist and predicted that his candidacy will be one of the best things to happen to the GOP.

Self proclaimed New York City Communist, Zohran Mamdani, who is running for Mayor, will prove to be one of the best things to ever happen to our great Republican Party. He is going to have problems with Washington like no Mayor in the history of our once great City, Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Remember, he needs the money from me, as President, in order to fulfill all of his FAKE Communist promises. He wont be getting any of it, so whats the point of voting for him? This ideology has failed, always, for thousands of years. It will fail again, and thats guaranteed! he added.

Trump on Mamdani: "He is going to have problems with Washington like no Mayor in the history of our once great City. Remember, he needs the money from me, as President, in order to fulfill all of his FAKE Communist promises. He wont be getting any of it, so whats the point of pic.twitter.com/k8yGxR1S6u  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 29, 2025

Trump has weighed in on the New York City mayoral race since Mamdani clinched the Democratic nomination in a shocking primary race earlier this year. Earlier this month, he blasted New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) for her endorsement of Mamdani, saying it was a rather shocking development, and a very bad one for New York City.

Mamdani won the June primary race over former Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), who is still running as an independent candidate in the race. New York Mayor Eric Adams (D) announced yesterday that he will be dropping out of the race after failing to garner widespread support.

Mamdani reacted to Adams dropping out of the race by bashing Trump in a Sunday appearance on MSNBCs The Weekend: Primetime.

Look, Donald Trump and his billionaire donors may be able to determine the actions of Eric Adams and Andrew Cuomo, but they will not dictate the results of this election, Mamdani said.

This continues to be the same election as it was when we started on October 23rd, a choice that New Yorkers have between Eric Adamss record, which is Andrew Cuomos agenda, one that has priced New Yorkers out of what is now the most expensive city in United States of America, or our vision for a city that New Yorkers can actually afford, he continued. And I am excited and just as confident as I was yesterday at actually delivering that vision and winning this race on November 4th.
Photo: https://t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official/

Many of the 40 countries that participated in the UN General Assembly summit on the return of children abducted by Russia will join in creating a registry of these children  thanks to their economic ties and intelligence services, they will find and populate this registry with real data, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced.

At the UN General Assembly, there was an important meeting  a summit on bringing our children home. We need a clear registry of these children, and we are working on it. Its extremely difficult to find any information inside Russia about where our children are, while some are in temporarily occupied territories, and thousands have been forcibly removed to Russia. This is a top-priority task. And Ukraine wont be able to do this alone, Zelenskyy said on X Monday.

Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to the countries participating in the event. Over 40 countries attended the meeting. Thanks to their networks, economic links, and intelligence services, many countries will help uncover and fill the registry with actual data. That is the first item we agreed on, Zelenskyy stressed.

Im convinced this is the toughest issue. The war will end, and some questions will be resolved, but the issue of the children, unfortunately, is not a matter of days or months. It will take years. Im sorry to have to say that, but when were talking about thousands, tens of thousands of children, whom Russia hid by one means or another  all of which were clearly illegal  finding them is extremely difficult, Zelenskyy noted.
President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the State Dining Room of the White House, Monday, Sept. 29, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) AP

President Donald Trump complained again about a faulty teleprompter at the United Nations last week.

Trump announced his plan to end the ongoing war in Gaza during a news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday. In rambling remarks, Trump repeatedly boasted about himself and complained again about the teleprompter he used while addressing the United Nations assembly last week.

United Nations was interesting because, as you know, a few days ago they introduced me, Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States. Im looking at my teleprompter. The thing was dead. Stone cold, dead, he said.

I have a long, beautiful speech to make. Im back 30 feet back, and Im saying Theyre introducing me. Theres nothing on my teleprompter, he continued.

He then praised himself for getting good marks on his speech last week before bashing former President Joe Biden.

You think Biden could have done that? I dont think so. I dont think he could have done that. I dont think too many people could have done, could have done it, Trump added.

Trump explained he gave the United Nations speech, without a teleprompter, from his heart.

But actually, it was actually more of a speech from my heart. Do you want to know the truth? I think it was maybe better in certain ways, because it was from the heart. It has to be from the heart, otherwise youre in big trouble, he added.

Trump has since called for an investigation into the teleprompter, suggesting that it was sabotage.

Trump: "The United Nations was interesting because as you know, a few days ago they introduced me, 'ladies and gentlemen, the president of the United States.' I'm looking at my teleprompter and that thing was dead, stone cold dead ... I actually got good marks. Do you think Biden pic.twitter.com/VMj8W2kksh  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 29, 2025

Trump on Monday laid out a 20-point plan for ending the Israel-Hamas war and establishing a postwar governance in the war-battered Palestinian territory. Trumps plan would establish a temporary governing board that would be headed by Trump and include former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The plan does not require people to leave Gaza and calls for the war to end immediately if both sides accept it. It also calls for all remaining hostages to be released within 72 hours of Israel accepting the plan.

Trump said Israel would have the full backing of the United States to take steps to defeat Hamas if it doesnt accept the proposed peace deal.

I think we are beyond very close, Trump said at the start of a news conference with Netanyahu where he detailed the plan. Were not quite finished. We have to get Hamas.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Editors note: This story was updated at 9:45 am on Monday to include comment from police confirming that the guests were allowed to leave the venue but access to the cars remained blocked.

The dance floor was packed and Taralynn Smelzter was having the time of her life.

Thats when the lights went out.

The 25-year-old newlywed would soon learn that a power pole fell on a guests car and that the live wires from the pole would keep 11 guests cars unreachable outside Paris Caterers, her wedding venue in Berlin, Camden County.

The pole snapped about halfway up, dropping a transformer and live wires onto the wet parking lot, according to Berlin police Lieutenant Joshua Smith. The transformer was leaking fluid and had live wires attached to it, he said.

Media Release Pole Snaps, Wires land on multiple cars; None injured On 09/27/2025 at approximately 7:03 PM, Berlin... Posted by Berlin Police Department on Monday, September 29, 2025

Police arrived about 7 p.m. and put up caution tape to section off the 11 cars in the unsafe section of parking lot, Smith said. Police directed folks away from the unsafe portion of the parking lot until it was deemed safe at 10:47 p.m., Smith said.

It was upsetting, said Smeltzer, the Maple Shade native who recently relocated to Texas with her husband, Jacob Smeltzer.

Its unclear why the pole fell. A message sent to Atlantic City Electric wasnt immediately returned Sunday.

The fallen pole damaged some car, including the maid of honors boyfriends car, Taralynn Smeltzer said.

The air conditioning and main power went out, although the DJ had a backup system to keep music playing and some of the LED lights operated on battery power.

The ceremony, cocktails and best man toast had been completed when the power went out. The venue was booked from 3 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. So when guests wanted to leave, some of them couldnt get past the caution tape, Smith said.

The venue extended the DJ and cocktails for an extra half hour.

But there was confusion over what was happening outside, the bride said. She said she was told none of the guests could leave the venue safely. She said she was told the guests would have to leave their cars overnight, although Smith said the guests were free to leave whenever they wanted. Smith and Smeltzer agreed that some guests decided to get rides home rather than wait until the wires were safely moved.

Messages left with Paris Caterers were not immediately returned Sunday.

Smeltzer said the night was admittedly overwhelming. Already dealing with the nerves of becoming a new bride, now she was concerned about the welfare of their guests and their cars.

But she made the best of it.

People were still dancing and having a good time. So I tried my best to go out and talk, and, luckily, we did really have a good time, she said.

Shes grateful first responders arrived in time to prevent anyone from getting harmed.

Now she has her sights set on San Francisco, where shes headed early Monday for her honeymoon.

The Smeltzers will always remember their wedding, both for its personal significance and the chaos.

Maybe theyll even laugh about it someday.

At least give it six months, Jacob Smeltzer said.
Authorities are investigating after a 28-year-old man was shot dead over the weekend in Union County, according to officials.

Linden police found Darrell Sanders, of Newark, shot at least once in the 3000 block of Irene Street in Linden at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, the Union County Prosecutors Office said.

Sanders died after being brought to a local hospital, the county prosecutor said.

No other information about the deadly shooting was released Monday.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact detectives with the prosecutors office at 908-347-7330, 908-477-6649, or local police, at 908-474-8532.

A $10,000 reward is being offered to tipsters who provide information to investigators through Crime Stoppers, the prosecutors office said.
A grand jury voted not to file charges against state troopers in the custody death of a 38-year-old that was sought in a Warren County shooting in 2024, the state Attorney Generals office said.

New Jersey State Police Dgt. Kyle Bruno and troopers Sarah Heitzenroeder, Justin Watts, Conner McNemar and Connor Krueger were pursuing Armond Anthony Avitable, on Feb. 12, 2024 around 7:50 p.m. after receiving reports of shooting at home in Knowlton, officials said.

Authorities released body-worn camera footage and 911 recordings of the incident earlier this year as part of the AGs Office of Public Integrity and Accountabilitys investigation.

Avitable, of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, died after suffering a medical episode while in police custody, was accused of shooting and killing Cheryl Schilling in her Knowlton home. He then fled the home and ran toward the intersection of Interstate 80 and Route 46, where troopers confronted him.

The recordings showed Avitable shirtless and crawling on the ground in a grassy area near the highway. Three officers handcuffed him as he was face down on his belly.

The officers attempted to roll him over and stand him up, but Avitable appeared to be out of breath and attempted to kick the officers repeatedly, the video shows.

Officers can be heard telling him to relax, take a breath to stop moving, and then ask if an ambulance is coming.

Were probably going to need a rig here because his hearts going to pop, one officer is heard saying in the recordings.

After more than 10 minutes of struggling with officers, Avitable suddenly became unresponsive, video shows. When they noticed he stopped moving, they rolled him onto his back and began CPR, the video shows.

Troopers performed lifesaving measures on him including administering a defibrillator before transporting him to Lehigh Valley Hospital in Pennsylvania, where he was pronounced dead at about 9 p.m., officials said.

A Pennsylvania medical examiner concluded Avitable died from drug toxicity complicated by hypertensive and arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Avitable had fled from a friends home after having been brought there after a domestic dispute with an unidentified woman, Warren County prosecutors said at the time of the incident.

He ended up in an argument with his friend and Schilling and chased the couple into an upstairs bedroom with a pump-action shotgun before shooting Schilling, officials have said.

Avitable then fled the home and fired two more shots into the couples home before leaving the gun on the property.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High 27F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Snow showers. Low near 15F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 70%. About one inch of snow expected.
A airline agents helps a travelers in the departures area of Terminal B at LaGuardia Airport, Tuesday, June 27, 2023, in New York. Travelers waited out widespread delays at U.S. airports on Tuesday, an ominous sign heading into the long July 4 holiday weekend, which is shaping up as the biggest test yet for airlines that are struggling to keep up with surging numbers of passengers. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Photo: https://www.facebook.com

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha emphasized that strengthening Ukraine and fully utilizing Russia's frozen assets is an important element of the joint fight against Russia with partners.

"We truly expect decisive steps to fully utilize Russian assets so that Ukraine can now purchase additional weapons from America and Europe. For Ukrainians, this could be an effective tool and a strong response to Russia's escalation," he said at a panel discussion at the Warsaw Security Forum.

Sybiha emphasized the importance of synchronizing European sanctions with US restrictive measures. He believes sanctions are the key to forcing Putin to the negotiating table.

"It's time for our partners to shed their daydreams and illusions. It's time to acknowledge that Russia is waging a hybrid war against all of us, against the entire transatlantic community. Europe and the US aren't fighting against Russia, but Russia is fighting against Europe and the US," the minister noted.

The Minister emphasized the importance of the recent successful meeting between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump and reaffirmed Ukraine's commitment to organizing a meeting between the leaders of Ukraine and Russia, which should result in a ceasefire.

According to Sybiha, it is important not only to find a way to end the war but also to prevent further aggression in the future. The solution lies in developing defense infrastructure and reliable, legally binding security guarantees. The minister specifically noted the role of the United States in supporting peace initiatives and emphasized the importance of the post-war military presence of European and other partner troops in Ukraine, with US support.

Ukraine's full membership in the European Union must become an important element of security guarantees. In this context, Sybiha noted the significance of the results of the parliamentary elections held in Moldova on September 28. He noted that Russia failed to influence the popular vote, and this is a significant day for Europe.

The head of the Ukrainian diplomatic department called on partners to seize this moment, find the right formula to overcome Hungary's veto, and open negotiation clusters for Ukraine and Moldova in the near future.
Zelenskyy: Tragedy of Babyn Yar is example of why today the world cannot stand aside, silently observing Russias aggression

Photo: https://t.me/svyrydenkoy

On the 84th anniversary of the Babyn Yar tragedy, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy honored the memory of those killed in the Nazi massacre.

Even during the war, we never forget the tragedy of Babyn Yar, the tragedy of the Holocaust. This tragedy was so immense because the world was too slow and silently watched as the fascists carried out their aggression. The tragedy of Babyn Yar is an example of why today the world cannot stand aside, silently observing Russias aggression, he said on X Monday.

Zelenskyy noted that the Nazis killed approximately one hundred thousand people at Babyn Yar during their occupation. At Babyn Yar, the Nazis killed about one hundred thousand people during the occupation. They destroyed almost the entire Jewish community of Kyiv, as well as representatives of other nationalities. Eternal memory to all the victims, the President of Ukraine added.
The largest sixth form intake at Bideford College for more than 10 years has been welcomed back to a revamped building.

The Kingsley sixth form building has enjoyed a makeover during August, by the estates team from Athena Learning Trust, which operates the college.

READ NEXT: Bideford College and Atlantic Academy buoyed on GCSE results day

The students have access to a brand-new kitchen with appliances, which has also been fully redecorated. The building has also been given its own identity with new signage.

The common room has been decorated throughout and is benefitting from some new furniture, as well as new blinds and a drinks chiller for students.

The entrance lobby has also been refurbed, with obsolete IT equipment replaced and a modern digital display screen now welcomes visitors.

Students have said they like the new cafe style seating area in the common room, which is ideal for relaxing with friends and for studying.

This summer's A-level and BTEC results at the sixth form saw more than 31% of grades being awarded A*, A or Distinction* and Distinction. As a result, 40% of students going to university this year have gone to Russell group Universities. Many have also secured places on prestigious apprenticeship programmes.

READ NEXT: A Level results day leaves Bideford College students buzzing

Dr Claire Ankers, principal at Bideford College and Atlantic Academy said: We are delighted to welcome our largest sixth form cohort for over a decade this year. With 162 students now across Years 12 and 13, its wonderful to see so many young people choosing to continue their studies here at Bideford College.

Our recent refurbishment of the Kingsley building has given students a fresh, modern space that reflects the high standards we want for them academically and personally.

With excellent A-level and BTEC results this summer, and students progressing to top universities and apprenticeships, were incredibly proud of what our sixth form is achieving.

The sixth form is holding an open evening on Thursday, November 27 from 4.30pm to 7pm. Find out more at https://www.bidefordcollege.uk or visit the Bideford College Facebook page.
China marks 2576th anniversary of Confucius birth Pub Date:25-09-29 09:41 Source:Xinhua In Confucius' hometown of Qufu, people marked his 2576th birthday with rituals, music, and a global live stream, sharing the wisdom of an ancient philosopher in a modern way. Editor:Zheng Chen

Related News The Super Project on the Millennium Waterway Creative cities representatives gather in ... China Focus: German auto industry pivots t... Tunnel through first snow mountain along R...
The Russian Federation has denounced the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

The corresponding law, signed by Vladimir Putin, has been posted on the Russian Legal Information Portal.

In addition, Protocols No. 1 and No. 2 to this convention, signed on behalf of the Russian Federation on February 28, 1996 in Strasbourg and ratified on March 28, 1998, were also denounced.

The explanatory note to the denunciation law explains this by the fact that the Russian Federation has not been represented on the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment since December 2023 and allegedly does not have the opportunity to fully and effectively participate in its work.

The Russian government previously adopted a resolution proposing that Putin denounce the convention.

The Ukrainian Center for Countering Disinformation of the National Security and Defense Council noted that Russia is not making much of an effort to justify this move and is using it as a propaganda ploy to intimidate its own population with the possibility of punishment for disloyalty.

"Although Russia has long failed to comply with its obligations under the Convention against Torture and routinely tortures Ukrainian prisoners, the Russian Federation has now lifted even the formal ban on inhumane treatment of prisoners. This means that the scale of torture in Russia will only increase," the Center reported on its Telegram channel.
Photo: https://www.bbc.com

The Ukrainian Armed Forces will receive Swedish fourth-generation multirole fighter jets, the Gripen, for the first time, Deputy Defense Minister Ivan Havryliuk announced in an interview with BBC Ukraine.

"General Havryliuk said that additional deliveries of F-16 aircraft, as well as French Mirage and Swedish Gripen, are 'expected,'" the publication said on its website on Monday.

When asked when or how many planes would arrive in Ukraine, Havryliuk said: "When you see them in the air over Ukraine, then you will understand."

"When you said 'expected,' do you mean all of these aircraft, the Mirage and the Gripen, or just one of them, the F-16?" the journalist clarified. "You've basically listed the items correctly, but I won't go into detail about when, what, and which," Havryliuk replied.

Since summer, weapons from the US have been supplied to Ukraine through the new PURL (Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List) program: European allies purchase weapons from the US and transfer them to Kyiv. Several EU countries and Canada have already agreed to provide a combined $2 billion. The first deliveries under this mechanism, according to Havryliuk, have already arrived in Ukraine.

As the publication notes, Havryliuk admits that the volume and pace have decreased. "Previously, we received aid from the US in large volumes and in regular intervals through presidential aid packages (PDAs). The current system, where European countries purchase weapons for us from the Americans, requires a certain amount of time. The more links in the chain, the more time is lost," the general explained.
Photo: ttps://t.me/zakarpatskaODA

Marta Kos, the European Commissioner for EU Enlargement, arrived in Zakarpattia region, where she participated in discussions about the implementation of legislation on national communities, the development of international logistics, and the regional aspects of Ukraine's European integration, said Deputy Head of the Presidents Office Viktor Mykyta.

"EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos and EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Mathernova are on a working visit to Zakarpattia. The agenda includes the implementation of legislation on national communities, the development of international transport and logistics infrastructure, and other issues important for our country's accession to the EU. The regional component is of paramount importance in this process," Mykyta wrote on Telegram on Monday, illustrating the message with a joint photo with Kos.

He also reported on the "clear task of the Head of State" at the current stage - "opening the first cluster of negotiations between the EU and Ukraine."
The Missiles Threatening Taiwan

This is the base of Brigade 611.



The brigade is part of a growing missile deployment in China targeting Taiwan as well as the U.S. forces that protect the island. Likely missile reloading area New launch pad Brigade 611 In recent years, the base of Brigade 611 has doubled in size. There are new launch pads and possible dummy tunnels that may be for training. Possible dummy tunnels 2025 Missile storage and maintenance facilities Garages for missile launchers Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, wants to absorb Taiwan and blunt U.S. power in Asia. His growing missile force may prove critical to those ambitions. 440 miles to Taiwan 2025 New garage Missile storage and maintenance facilities Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Main base Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies This is the base of Brigade 611.



The brigade is part of a growing missile deployment in China targeting Taiwan as well as the U.S. forces that protect the island. Likely missile reloading area Brigade 611 New launch pad In recent years, the base of Brigade 611 has doubled in size. There are new launch pads and possible dummy tunnels that may be for training. Possible dummy tunnels 2025 Missile storage and maintenance facilities Garages for missile launchers Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, wants to absorb Taiwan and blunt U.S. power in Asia. His growing missile force may prove critical to those ambitions. 2025 New garage Missile storage and maintenance facilities Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Main base 440 miles to Taiwan Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies This is the base of Brigade 611.



The brigade is part of a growing missile deployment in China targeting Taiwan as well as the U.S. forces that protect the island. Likely missile reloading area New launch pad Brigade 611 In recent years, the base of Brigade 611 has doubled in size. There are new launch pads and possible dummy tunnels that may be for training. Possible dummy tunnels 2025 Missile storage and maintenance facilities Garages for missile launchers Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, wants to absorb Taiwan and blunt U.S. power in Asia. His growing missile force may prove critical to those ambitions. 440 miles to Taiwan 2025 New garage Missile storage and maintenance facilities Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Main base Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies This is the base of Brigade 611.



The brigade is part of a growing missile deployment in China targeting Taiwan as well as the U.S. forces that protect the island. Likely missile reloading area New launch pad Brigade 611 In recent years, the base of Brigade 611 has doubled in size. There are new launch pads and possible dummy tunnels that may be for training. Possible dummy tunnels 2025 Missile storage and maintenance facilities Garages for missile launchers Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, wants to absorb Taiwan and blunt U.S. power in Asia. His growing missile force may prove critical to those ambitions. 2025 New garage Missile storage and maintenance facilities Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Main base 440 miles to Taiwan Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies This is the base of Brigade 611.



The brigade is part of a growing missile deployment in China targeting Taiwan as well as the U.S. forces that protect the island. Likely missile reloading area Brigade 611 New launch pad In recent years, the base of Brigade 611 has doubled in size. There are new launch pads and possible dummy tunnels that may be for training. Possible dummy tunnels 2025 Missile storage and maintenance facilities Garages for missile launchers Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, wants to absorb Taiwan and blunt U.S. power in Asia. His growing missile force may prove critical to those ambitions. 2025 New garage Missile storage and maintenance facilities Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Main base 440 miles to Taiwan Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies 2022 Source: Satellite image by Planet Labs 2022 Source: Satellite image by Planet Labs 2022 Source: Satellite image by Planet Labs 2022 Source: Satellite image by Planet Labs 2022 Source: Satellite image by Planet Labs 2022 Source: Satellite image by Planet Labs 2022 Source: Satellite image by Planet Labs 2022 Source: Satellite image by Planet Labs 2022 Source: Satellite image by Planet Labs 2022 Source: Satellite image by Planet Labs 2023 Source: Satellite image by Planet Labs 2023 Source: Satellite image by Planet Labs 2023 Source: Satellite image by Planet Labs 2023 Source: Satellite image by Planet Labs 2023 Source: Satellite image by Planet Labs 2023 Source: Satellite image by Planet Labs 2023 Source: Satellite image by Planet Labs 2023 Source: Satellite image by Planet Labs 2023 Source: Satellite image by Planet Labs 2023 Source: Satellite image by Planet Labs 2024 Source: Satellite image by Planet Labs 2024 Source: Satellite image by Planet Labs 2024 Source: Satellite image by Planet Labs 2024 Source: Satellite image by Planet Labs 2024 Source: Satellite image by Planet Labs 2024 Source: Satellite image by Planet Labs 2024 Source: Satellite image by Planet Labs 2024 Source: Satellite image by Planet Labs 2024 Source: Satellite image by Planet Labs 2024 Source: Satellite image by Planet Labs This is the base of Brigade 611.



The brigade is part of a growing missile deployment in China targeting Taiwan as well as the U.S. forces that protect the island. Likely missile reloading area New launch pad Brigade 611 In recent years, the base of Brigade 611 has doubled in size. There are new launch pads and possible dummy tunnels that may be for training. Possible dummy tunnels 2025 Missile storage and maintenance facilities Garages for missile launchers Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, wants to absorb Taiwan and blunt U.S. power in Asia. His growing missile force may prove critical to those ambitions. 440 miles to Taiwan 2025 New garage Missile storage and maintenance facilities Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Main base Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies This is the base of Brigade 611.



The brigade is part of a growing missile deployment in China targeting Taiwan as well as the U.S. forces that protect the island. Likely missile reloading area Brigade 611 New launch pad In recent years, the base of Brigade 611 has doubled in size. There are new launch pads and possible dummy tunnels that may be for training. Possible dummy tunnels 2025 Missile storage and maintenance facilities Garages for missile launchers Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, wants to absorb Taiwan and blunt U.S. power in Asia. His growing missile force may prove critical to those ambitions. 2025 New garage Missile storage and maintenance facilities Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Main base 440 miles to Taiwan Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies This is the base of Brigade 611.



The brigade is part of a growing missile deployment in China targeting Taiwan as well as the U.S. forces that protect the island. Likely missile reloading area New launch pad Brigade 611 In recent years, the base of Brigade 611 has doubled in size. There are new launch pads and possible dummy tunnels that may be for training. Possible dummy tunnels 2025 Missile storage and maintenance facilities Garages for missile launchers Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, wants to absorb Taiwan and blunt U.S. power in Asia. His growing missile force may prove critical to those ambitions. 440 miles to Taiwan 2025 New garage Missile storage and maintenance facilities Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Main base Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies This is the base of Brigade 611.



The brigade is part of a growing missile deployment in China targeting Taiwan as well as the U.S. forces that protect the island. Likely missile reloading area New launch pad Brigade 611 In recent years, the base of Brigade 611 has doubled in size. There are new launch pads and possible dummy tunnels that may be for training. Possible dummy tunnels 2025 Missile storage and maintenance facilities Garages for missile launchers Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, wants to absorb Taiwan and blunt U.S. power in Asia. His growing missile force may prove critical to those ambitions. 2025 New garage Missile storage and maintenance facilities Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Main base 440 miles to Taiwan Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies This is the base of Brigade 611.



The brigade is part of a growing missile deployment in China targeting Taiwan as well as the U.S. forces that protect the island. Likely missile reloading area Brigade 611 New launch pad In recent years, the base of Brigade 611 has doubled in size. There are new launch pads and possible dummy tunnels that may be for training. Possible dummy tunnels 2025 Missile storage and maintenance facilities Garages for missile launchers Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, wants to absorb Taiwan and blunt U.S. power in Asia. His growing missile force may prove critical to those ambitions. 2025 New garage Missile storage and maintenance facilities Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Main base 440 miles to Taiwan Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies This is the base of Brigade 611.



The brigade is part of a growing missile deployment in China targeting Taiwan as well as the U.S. forces that protect the island. Likely missile reloading area New launch pad Brigade 611 In recent years, the base of Brigade 611 has doubled in size. There are new launch pads and possible dummy tunnels that may be for training. Possible dummy tunnels 2025 Missile storage and maintenance facilities Garages for missile launchers Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, wants to absorb Taiwan and blunt U.S. power in Asia. His growing missile force may prove critical to those ambitions. 440 miles to Taiwan 2025 New garage Missile storage and maintenance facilities Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Main base Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies This is the base of Brigade 611.



The brigade is part of a growing missile deployment in China targeting Taiwan as well as the U.S. forces that protect the island. Likely missile reloading area Brigade 611 New launch pad In recent years, the base of Brigade 611 has doubled in size. There are new launch pads and possible dummy tunnels that may be for training. Possible dummy tunnels 2025 Missile storage and maintenance facilities Garages for missile launchers Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, wants to absorb Taiwan and blunt U.S. power in Asia. His growing missile force may prove critical to those ambitions. 2025 New garage Missile storage and maintenance facilities Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Main base 440 miles to Taiwan Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies This is the base of Brigade 611.



The brigade is part of a growing missile deployment in China targeting Taiwan as well as the U.S. forces that protect the island. Likely missile reloading area New launch pad Brigade 611 In recent years, the base of Brigade 611 has doubled in size. There are new launch pads and possible dummy tunnels that may be for training. Possible dummy tunnels 2025 Missile storage and maintenance facilities Garages for missile launchers Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, wants to absorb Taiwan and blunt U.S. power in Asia. His growing missile force may prove critical to those ambitions. 440 miles to Taiwan 2025 New garage Missile storage and maintenance facilities Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Main base Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies This is the base of Brigade 611.



The brigade is part of a growing missile deployment in China targeting Taiwan as well as the U.S. forces that protect the island. Likely missile reloading area New launch pad Brigade 611 In recent years, the base of Brigade 611 has doubled in size. There are new launch pads and possible dummy tunnels that may be for training. Possible dummy tunnels 2025 Missile storage and maintenance facilities Garages for missile launchers Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, wants to absorb Taiwan and blunt U.S. power in Asia. His growing missile force may prove critical to those ambitions. 2025 New garage Missile storage and maintenance facilities Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Main base 440 miles to Taiwan Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies This is the base of Brigade 611.



The brigade is part of a growing missile deployment in China targeting Taiwan as well as the U.S. forces that protect the island. Likely missile reloading area Brigade 611 New launch pad In recent years, the base of Brigade 611 has doubled in size. There are new launch pads and possible dummy tunnels that may be for training. Possible dummy tunnels 2025 Missile storage and maintenance facilities Garages for missile launchers Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, wants to absorb Taiwan and blunt U.S. power in Asia. His growing missile force may prove critical to those ambitions. 2025 New garage Missile storage and maintenance facilities Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Main base 440 miles to Taiwan Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies This is the base of Brigade 611.



The brigade is part of a growing missile deployment in China targeting Taiwan as well as the U.S. forces that protect the island. Likely missile reloading area New launch pad Brigade 611 In recent years, the base of Brigade 611 has doubled in size. There are new launch pads and possible dummy tunnels that may be for training. Possible dummy tunnels 2025 Missile storage and maintenance facilities Garages for missile launchers Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, wants to absorb Taiwan and blunt U.S. power in Asia. His growing missile force may prove critical to those ambitions. 440 miles to Taiwan 2025 New garage Missile storage and maintenance facilities Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Main base Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies This is the base of Brigade 611.



The brigade is part of a growing missile deployment in China targeting Taiwan as well as the U.S. forces that protect the island. Likely missile reloading area Brigade 611 New launch pad In recent years, the base of Brigade 611 has doubled in size. There are new launch pads and possible dummy tunnels that may be for training. Possible dummy tunnels 2025 Missile storage and maintenance facilities Garages for missile launchers Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, wants to absorb Taiwan and blunt U.S. power in Asia. His growing missile force may prove critical to those ambitions. 2025 New garage Missile storage and maintenance facilities Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Main base 440 miles to Taiwan Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies This is the base of Brigade 611.



The brigade is part of a growing missile deployment in China targeting Taiwan as well as the U.S. forces that protect the island. Likely missile reloading area New launch pad Brigade 611 In recent years, the base of Brigade 611 has doubled in size. There are new launch pads and possible dummy tunnels that may be for training. Possible dummy tunnels 2025 Missile storage and maintenance facilities Garages for missile launchers Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, wants to absorb Taiwan and blunt U.S. power in Asia. His growing missile force may prove critical to those ambitions. 440 miles to Taiwan 2025 New garage Missile storage and maintenance facilities Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Main base Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies This is the base of Brigade 611.



The brigade is part of a growing missile deployment in China targeting Taiwan as well as the U.S. forces that protect the island. Likely missile reloading area New launch pad Brigade 611 In recent years, the base of Brigade 611 has doubled in size. There are new launch pads and possible dummy tunnels that may be for training. Possible dummy tunnels 2025 Missile storage and maintenance facilities Garages for missile launchers Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, wants to absorb Taiwan and blunt U.S. power in Asia. His growing missile force may prove critical to those ambitions. 2025 New garage Missile storage and maintenance facilities Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Main base 440 miles to Taiwan Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies This is the base of Brigade 611.



The brigade is part of a growing missile deployment in China targeting Taiwan as well as the U.S. forces that protect the island. Likely missile reloading area Brigade 611 New launch pad In recent years, the base of Brigade 611 has doubled in size. There are new launch pads and possible dummy tunnels that may be for training. Possible dummy tunnels 2025 Missile storage and maintenance facilities Garages for missile launchers Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, wants to absorb Taiwan and blunt U.S. power in Asia. His growing missile force may prove critical to those ambitions. 2025 New garage Missile storage and maintenance facilities Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Main base 440 miles to Taiwan Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies This is the base of Brigade 611.



The brigade is part of a growing missile deployment in China targeting Taiwan as well as the U.S. forces that protect the island. Likely missile reloading area New launch pad Brigade 611 In recent years, the base of Brigade 611 has doubled in size. There are new launch pads and possible dummy tunnels that may be for training. Possible dummy tunnels 2025 Missile storage and maintenance facilities Garages for missile launchers Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, wants to absorb Taiwan and blunt U.S. power in Asia. His growing missile force may prove critical to those ambitions. 440 miles to Taiwan 2025 New garage Missile storage and maintenance facilities Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Main base Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies This is the base of Brigade 611.



The brigade is part of a growing missile deployment in China targeting Taiwan as well as the U.S. forces that protect the island. Likely missile reloading area Brigade 611 New launch pad In recent years, the base of Brigade 611 has doubled in size. There are new launch pads and possible dummy tunnels that may be for training. Possible dummy tunnels 2025 Missile storage and maintenance facilities Garages for missile launchers Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, wants to absorb Taiwan and blunt U.S. power in Asia. His growing missile force may prove critical to those ambitions. 2025 New garage Missile storage and maintenance facilities Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Main base 440 miles to Taiwan Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies This is the base of Brigade 611.



The brigade is part of a growing missile deployment in China targeting Taiwan as well as the U.S. forces that protect the island. Likely missile reloading area New launch pad Brigade 611 In recent years, the base of Brigade 611 has doubled in size. There are new launch pads and possible dummy tunnels that may be for training. Possible dummy tunnels 2025 Missile storage and maintenance facilities Garages for missile launchers Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, wants to absorb Taiwan and blunt U.S. power in Asia. His growing missile force may prove critical to those ambitions. 440 miles to Taiwan 2025 New garage Missile storage and maintenance facilities Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Main base Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies This is the base of Brigade 611.



The brigade is part of a growing missile deployment in China targeting Taiwan as well as the U.S. forces that protect the island. Likely missile reloading area New launch pad Brigade 611 In recent years, the base of Brigade 611 has doubled in size. There are new launch pads and possible dummy tunnels that may be for training. Possible dummy tunnels 2025 Missile storage and maintenance facilities Garages for missile launchers Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, wants to absorb Taiwan and blunt U.S. power in Asia. His growing missile force may prove critical to those ambitions. 2025 New garage Missile storage and maintenance facilities Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Main base 440 miles to Taiwan Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies This is the base of Brigade 611.



The brigade is part of a growing missile deployment in China targeting Taiwan as well as the U.S. forces that protect the island. Likely missile reloading area Brigade 611 New launch pad In recent years, the base of Brigade 611 has doubled in size. There are new launch pads and possible dummy tunnels that may be for training. Possible dummy tunnels 2025 Missile storage and maintenance facilities Garages for missile launchers Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, wants to absorb Taiwan and blunt U.S. power in Asia. His growing missile force may prove critical to those ambitions. 2025 New garage Missile storage and maintenance facilities Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies Main base 440 miles to Taiwan Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies

China is transforming parts of its east coast into a platform for potential missile strikes against Taiwan and the nearby seas. The buildup is a vital part of the Chinese leader Xi Jinpings ambitions to bring Taiwan under Beijings control and counter U.S. power in Asia through the threat of overwhelming force.

The Pentagon estimates that Chinas Rocket Force, which controls nuclear and conventional missiles, has increased its stockpile by almost 50 percent in four years, to about 3,500 missiles. While it is unclear how many are on the east coast and targeting Taiwan, satellite images show that missile brigades have built new and bigger bases and added more launchpads in recent years.

And the bases are deploying increasingly advanced missiles like the Dongfeng-17, a hypersonic missile that is maneuverable and harder to intercept, and the Dongfeng-26, nicknamed the Guam Express by some Chinese for what researchers say is its ability to strike U.S. military bases in the region.

Along Chinas eastern seaboard, soldiers have been practicing launching missiles from farm fields and secluded valleys, near expressways and from coastal outcrops facing Taiwan, which lies across a 100-mile strait.

CHINA Area of detail Missile brigades Support units Brigade 611 CHINA Shanghai Shenzhen Hong Kong Quanzhou Navy missile units Kinmen Islands Taiwan Strait median line Penghu Islands Taipei TAIWAN Taiwans Air Defense Identification Zone South China Sea Missile brigades CHINA Area of detail Support units Brigade 611 CHINA Shanghai Shenzhen Hong Kong Quanzhou Navy missile units Kinmen Islands Penghu Islands Taipei TAIWAN Taiwans Air Defense Identification Zone South China Sea Missile brigades CHINA Area of detail Support units Brigade 611 CHINA Shanghai Shenzhen Hong Kong Quanzhou Navy missile units Kinmen Islands Penghu Islands Taipei TAIWAN Taiwans Air Defense Identification Zone South China Sea Missile brigades Support units Brigade 611 CHINA Shanghai Quanzhou Navy missile units South China Sea Taipei TAIWAN CHINA Area of detail CHINA Area of detail Missile brigades Support units Brigade 611 CHINA Shanghai Shenzhen Hong Kong Quanzhou Navy missile units Taiwan Strait median line Taipei TAIWAN South China Sea Taiwans Air Defense Identification Zone Sources: Daniel C. Rice, The PLA Navy Coastal Defense Missile Force; James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies; China Aerospace Studies Institute

Missiles are really the starting point for any type of military coercion campaign that China would use against Taiwan, said Jennifer Kavanagh, a senior fellow at Defense Priorities, a research group in Washington. For the Chinese, I think, having an overwhelming number of missiles is also intended as a political signal  to Taiwan that theres no point in fighting back, to the United States that you cant intervene.

In a war, Chinas missiles would be critical for knocking out Taiwans defenses as well as threatening U.S. bases in Guam and Japan and targeting U.S. Navy ships sent to Taiwans aid. In peacetime, China uses missile tests, exercises and displays to project strength and to attempt to intimidate Taiwan and its partners.

The latest show of force was a military parade in Beijing in early September, when China revealed an array of new missiles. The parade featured new anti-ship missiles that appear to have hypersonic capabilities, as well as intercontinental nuclear missiles.

The Rocket Force is the crown jewel of the Chinese military, said Thomas Shugart, a former U.S. naval officer now at the Center for a New American Security. It increases, by a huge degree, the range at which China can reach out suddenly with very little warning.

Corruption scandals and leadership upheavals have recently blighted the Rocket Force. But Mr. Xi signaled his commitment to the force last year, when he visited Brigade 611 in Anhui Province in eastern China, the region where the Peoples Liberation Army concentrates its forces on Taiwan and the western Pacific. Chinese state television showed him watching as troops simulated preparing mobile missiles for launch. He urged them to deepen your sense of peril and crisis, and your combat mind-set.

Source: China Central Television

A Growing Hub for Missile Training and Launches

Satellite images show that the base for Brigade 611 has doubled in area in recent years. The new area includes what some experts said might be, at least in part, a training complex with launchpads and dummy tunnels for simulating operations.

Its a huge facility, a pretty cohesive training facility for practicing basically a full range of operations, said Decker Eveleth, a researcher at CNA, a research organization, who has closely studied Chinas missile forces and who examined the images of Brigade 611 at the request of The New York Times.

The base expansion features what appear to be three dozen missile launchpads, an unusually dense cluster since launchpads are normally dispersed away from bases to avoid detection, said David C. Logan, an assistant professor at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University who studies Chinas nuclear and missile forces.

CHINA Likely missile reloading area Missile launchpads Brigade 611 440 miles to Taiwan Likely missile reloading area Missile launchpads Brigade 611 440 miles to Taiwan CHINA CHINA Likely missile reloading area Missile launchpads Brigade 611 440 miles to Taiwan Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies

Another unit, Brigade 616, in Jiangxi Province south of Brigade 611, has also grown rapidly. Satellite images from 2020 show that even at the height of the pandemic, China was clearing and leveling farmland, and after only 18 months, the construction of a new site was nearly complete.

2025 New highway Possible garages for mobile launchers Brigade 616 360 miles to Taiwan CHINA Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies 2020 2021 Source: Satellite image by Planet Labs Source: Satellite image by CNES/Airbus, via Google Earth 2025 Possible garages for mobile launchers New highway Brigade 616 360 miles to Taiwan CHINA Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies 2020 2021 Source: Satellite image by Planet Labs Source: Satellite image by CNES/Airbus, via Google Earth 2025 Possible garages for mobile launchers New highway 360 miles to Taiwan Brigade 616 CHINA Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies 2021 Source: Satellite image by CNES/Airbus, via Google Earth 2020 Source: Satellite image by Planet Labs 2025 Possible garages for mobile launchers Brigade 616 CHINA Source: Satellite image by Maxar Technologies 2021 360 miles to Taiwan Source: Satellite image by CNES/Airbus, via Google Earth 2020 Source: Satellite image by Planet Labs

New Generation of Missiles

Brigade 616 is now being prepared for the Dongfeng-17, according to Mr. Eveleth and other experts. Such missiles are capable of traveling at least five times the speed of sound and can maneuver to evade defenses. Mr. Eveleth noted details in the satellite images  such as the height of a storage bay  that suggested it would be used to hold the new missile.

The unit that Mr. Xi visited, Brigade 611 in Anhui, is now deploying the Dongfeng-26, which can be armed with a conventional or nuclear warhead and, as implied by the Guam Express nickname, is able to reach American military installations in parts of the Asia-Pacific. The missile can be transported by road, making it harder for enemies to track and destroy. (Hans M. Kristensen and other researchers from the Federation of American Scientists had first reported the expansion of the brigade in March.)

Storage facility inside the Brigade 611 Dongfeng-26 Missile launchers Mr. Xi Storage facility inside the Brigade 611 Dongfeng-26 Missile launchers Mr. Xi Storage facility inside the Brigade 611 Dongfeng-26 Missile launchers Mr. Xi Source: China Central Television

The Pentagon estimates that the Rocket Force has about 500 Dongfeng-26 missiles.

In a war, should Chinese leaders decide to send nuclear warheads to some Dongfeng-26 units, U.S. satellites might be able to detect them being moved from a depot in central China, Mr. Eveleth said. But such tracking may not be foolproof, leaving uncertainty about which units had nuclear warheads close at hand, he and other experts said.

That uncertainty could heighten the dangers of escalation and perhaps miscalculation.

If there is a Taiwan conflict, particularly if theres some level of U.S. involvement or the threat of U.S. involvement, then from the start it has a nuclear dimension, said Kelly Grieco, a senior fellow with the Stimson Center who coauthored a recent study warning that U.S. bases in the Asia-Pacific could be decimated by Chinas missiles. A system like the Dongfeng-26 makes this potentially even more dangerous.

Long-range rocket launchers and support vehicles Missile and rocket site Parts of the expressway have been kept free of barriers to make it easier to move missiles and other weapons. 85 miles to Taiwan CHINA Long-range rocket launchers and support vehicles Missile and rocket site Parts of the expressway have been kept free of barriers to make it easier to move missiles and other weapons. 85 miles to Taiwan CHINA Long-range rocket launchers and support vehicles Missile and rocket site Parts of the expressway have been kept free of barriers to make it easier to move missiles and other weapons. 85 miles to Taiwan CHINA Long-range rocket launchers and support vehicles Missile and rocket site 85 miles to Taiwan Parts of the expressway have been kept free of barriers to make it easier to move missiles and other weapons. CHINA Source: Satellite image by CNES/Airbus, via Google Earth

In a war over Taiwan, Chinese commanders would scatter mobile missile units to caves and protected sites to try to evade detection, Chinese military textbooks and videos of exercises indicate. The launch sites along the coast would allow units to fire rockets at targets in Taiwan or at ships at sea, and then shift to another site.

One of these launch sites is near Chinas closest point to Taiwan. During military exercises in 2022  which Beijing said were in retaliation for a visit to Taipei by the then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi  that area was used to test fire army rockets able to hit Taiwan, according to Joseph Wen, an independent Taiwanese researcher who tracks the Peoples Liberation Army forces. Mr. Wen studied footage from Chinese state television about the exercises to determine the site that was used.

Chinas military has also built targets in the shape of U.S. warships in the countrys western deserts, apparently for missile practice, including dummy warships mounted on rails to simulate movement at sea. In a war, U.S. and other forces may try to destroy Chinese missile and long-range artillery units, though striking at targets on the Chinese mainland could be a risky escalation.

Chinese planners appear to be wagering that their missile numbers and mobility can prevail in a game of hide-and-seek, evading strikes and exhausting the enemys missile defenses. Recent studies say U.S. air bases in Asia could be highly vulnerable to Chinese missiles, partly because the bases lack enough hardened shelters for planes.

Were working on defenses, said Mr. Shugart, a co-author of one of the studies, but I have a hard time imagining them not getting overwhelmed with the kind of numbers that we see, he said, referring to Chinas missile forces.

Still, Chinas rapid buildup of its missile systems has not been without problems. A Pentagon assessment suggested that graft in the Rocket Force may have compromised Chinas new nuclear missile silos.

And while Chinas radars and satellites have improved missile accuracy, some experts question how its missiles will perform in real conditions. Striking at ships across the sea in the chaos of war, for instance, would be much harder than hitting fixed targets, Professor Logan of Tufts University said.
Brad Parscale

The firm of Donald Trumps former campaign manager Brad Parscale has a four-month $6M agreement for strategic communications and media services in support of Havas Medias engagement by Israel to develop a nationwide campaign in the US to combat antisemitism

Parscale began working for the Trump Organization in 2011 designing websites and managing digital strategies. He was senior advisor for data and digital operations for Trumps 2020 campaign and did a stint as campaign manager before being replaced by Bill Stepien.

His firm, Clock Tower LLC, signed a contract on Aug. 27 with Havas Media on behalf of the State of Israel.

The pact calls for a strategic planning phase focused on foundational research, audience targeting and campaign framework.

Clock Tower is to produce and deliver a minimum of 100 creative assets per month, spanning video, audio, graphic and written formats.

It will create 5,000 monthly variants of creative with at least 80 percent of content tailored to Gen Z audiences across platforms including TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, podcasts and other relevant digital and broadcast outlets.

Clock Tower will integrate narrative messaging into Salem Media Network properties and aligned distribution channels. SMN specializes in Christian and conservative programming.

Its contract runs through the end of the year.
Not a Subscriber? Join O'Dwyer's & Get RFP Access Stop wasting time tracking down RFPs. O'Dwyer's connects you with organizations looking for PR firms & services. Get new business with O'Dwyer's! Join O'Dwyer's
Photo: elements.envato.com

The agenda of the informal meeting of the European Council, which will take place in Copenhagen on October 1, includes two issues: defense and Ukraine.

A senior European diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told journalists this in Brussels on Monday.

What the President [Antonio Costa] expects is that we have two main topics on the table of that informal European Council. The first one, defense. The second one, Ukraine, he said.

The interlocutor recalled that the issue of defense is being considered, in particular, in the context of recent incursions by drones and even fighter jets into the airspace of some European countries.

There are three big areas which, of course, are interlinked, which will be under discussion, and the President expects that the debate that will take place in Copenhagen will then help inform the conclusions that he hopes will be drawn by the European Council at the end of the month of October. Well, the first is how does the European Union deliver on the joint capacity development? How can the European Union accelerate and do this faster than it would have done in normal circumstances? a high-ranking diplomat detailed.

The interlocutor recalled that the EU has set a goal of increasing its defense capability by 2030. How can this then be done at pace and with timelines that will not last forever or not be only for the long term. We have the financial instruments, we have financial instruments that can be used to do this already, notably SAFE, and so this is how we should structure the debate. The second point is in a way a declination of this first point, which is when we look at the threats we see, and we have seen in recent days and weeks, that there is a specific more urgent threat on the eastern flank, he said.

The third issue in the defense aspect, the official named, was the issue of management, along with the role of defense ministers. And what the PEC will also be suggesting is that we need, let's say, a ramped-up role for the defence ministers in accompanying this process, precisely in ensuring that this is done at pace and at the speed that needs to be done, reporting to the European Council always, which needs to maintain the political guidance of this process, he explained.

Speaking about Ukraine, the diplomat said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would address the leaders via videoconference. I would identify two main topics, two-slash-three main topics that will certainly be on the table of the leaders. The first one is the financing of Ukraine. We see that unfortunately the prospects for peace don't seem to be short-term. We see that Russia is doubling down on the aggression, on the attacks. No indication that President Putin is willing to go for a meeting with the President of Ukraine or even a trilateral meeting. So there's no real movement from the part of the Russians, which means that the opinion must continue in its objective of achieving a just and lasting peace, supporting Ukraine, he said.

In this context, the leaders will discuss the issue of using mobilized Russian assets, which is very complex with many financial and legal implications. I would not expect the leaders to go into the detail of those implications, but certainly there needs to be political guidance on whether they are ready to work on this in order to use the immobilized assets for the financing of Ukraine, the diplomat explained.

The second topic will be Ukraine's accession process, and the third, although without lengthy discussion, will be the 19th package of sanctions for the Russian Federation. Thirdly, although I would not expect a long discussion on it, we have on the table the 19th package. It is being discussed at COEPER. Discussions have been quite constructive among the 27. We hope that it can be approved quickly  These are the points that we would expect a discussion on during the informal European Council, he summed up.
Over 7,700 inmates who escaped from various prisons across Nepal during the Gen Z protests have either returned voluntarily or been brought back to detention centres, authorities said on Sunday.

During the protests on September 8 and 9, a total of 14,558 prisoners had fled prisons nationwide, according to the Prison Management Department.

Ten prisoners died during clashes with security forces, while 7,735 inmates have now returned. Some came back voluntarily, while others were recaptured by authorities.

However, 6,813 prisoners remain at large, and the government has launched a nationwide hunt to apprehend them.
All those courageous United Nation delegates triumphantly walking out (gasp!) on a Netanyahu speech on Friday actually had a legal obligation to arrest him and deliver him to the International Criminal Court that has long since issued a warrant for his arrest.

Those heroic governments of Italy and Spain that are making a show of responding to public pressure against their complicity in genocide should be prosecuting Israelis under universal jurisdiction; establishing a complete embargo on weapons or weapons parts to or from Israel and to or from any nation not upholding such an arms embargo on Israel; ending diplomatic relations with Israel; ending financial transactions, trade, and travel to and from Israel; training and sending unarmed civilian defense teams, food, medicine, doctors, and aid workers to Palestine; developing a major public educational campaign about the genocide in Gaza and the propaganda that has facilitated it; supporting a Uniting for Peace action through the UN General Assembly to implement such steps worldwide and to economically sanction Israeli war criminals, expel Israel from the United Nations, and move UN meetings and headquarters out of the United States; as well as breaking off military relations with and expelling from Italy and Spain the thousands of troops belonging to a government that is not upholding an arms embargo on Israel; and removing themselves from NATO.

Instead, what are Italy and Spain doing? Sending military ships alongside the Global Sumud Flotilla. This elicits cheers from populations raised to believe, in the face of all evidence, that militaries solve problems. Meanwhile, the Italian government is reportedly trying to claim it does not mean it. It says effectively that it will rescue anyone Israel leaves alive in the water, but it will not fight Israel.

There is a way in which this sort of makes sense. Namely, if Italy were fighting Israel it would also be fighting the United States, which maintains all kinds of weapons and some 15,000 troops at some 40 bases in Italy and oversees a great deal of the Italian military and its U.S.-made weaponry. Is Italy expected to go to war with itself? Would anyone have any control over the possible escalations, including nuclear?

There is another way in which this makes no sense. Why didn't Italy send a ship full of skilled, trained rescuers - the people with experience violating Italy's laws - to save humans lacking Italian passports from drowning in the Mediterranean? It sent military ships because it is a Western government made up largely of a military and thinking primarily like a military. What could go wrong?

I dearly hope nothing.

But Israel could attack the Italian navy's ships. Israel could double-tap some flotilla participants of the proper variety (Italian) and some rescuers. Israel could simply attack some Italian flotilla participants, and the Piazza del Popolo fill up with the Popolo and the Italian government become convinced that it needs to do something and we all know what do something means to a government.

Those righteous protesters marching in New York City and around the world keep demanding a military intervention, as if that's not exactly what Netanyahu wants, as if dragging the United States into a wider war has not been his agenda for years, as if Tony Blair isn't preparing right now to lead the genocide-completion occupation, as if the weapons dealers don't pay good money for military interventions are legal talk that peace activists could have dipped into if they were more savvy.

Why doesn't Italy have a ship for rescuing people but not killing people?

Why doesn't the United Nations headquarters have a pair of handcuffs?

Why doesn't the anti-war movement have a deeper understanding of what's wrong with war and what it could be replaced with?

Well, we're none of us perfect. We're all learning and trying. More and more people and organizations are absurdly late turning against the genocide in Gaza. If they can be persuaded to use strategic nonviolent tools to put it to an end, the result will have a better chance of avoiding frustration, wider war, or global chaos and apocalypse.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Petty Snacks: Pre-Launches Kickstarter Campaign for Trading Card Game Munchies Mayhem Seattle, Washington, September 26, 2025 Petty Snacks, an independent clothing brand, announced the 
Portland police arrested two people during Sunday nights protest outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in South Portland, the Police Bureau said.

Officers took a 17-year-old from Milwaukie into custody at about 9:30 p.m., police said. He faces charges of assault in the fourth degree.

About half an hour later, officers arrested 38-year-old Nathan McFarland, of Portland, police said. He was booked on a charge of assault in the third degree.

The Police Bureau provided no details about the reasons for the arrests.

The protest outside the federal facility on Macadam Avenue in South Portland, in response to President Donald Trumps decision to send National Guard troops into the city to protect immigration agents, was mostly peaceful.

About 200 demonstrators showed up to rail against Trumps decision and his false view of Portland as War ravaged. Before the presidents order mobilizing troops, only about two dozen protesters were showing up each day outside the ICE facility.

Federal officers made one arrest on Saturday outside the ICE building.

The Oregonian/OregonLive reported last week that a Portland Police Bureau assistant chief had testified in court that federal officers at the ICE building had been instigating clashes with non-violent protesters.

Before Trumps order, Portland police had been staying away from the South Portland federal building, leaving policing the small protests to federal officers.

-- The Oregonian/OregonLive
Officers stood on the roof of the ICE facility in South Portland on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, monitoring the protest below. Mark Graves/The Oregonian

Oregons attorney general on Monday filed an expected motion to block President Donald Trumps deployment of 200 state National Guard troops to protect the federal immigration building in Portland.

The motion includes sworn statements from a Portland police assistant chief and an Oregon State Police captain who said their agencies are capable of monitoring protests outside the U.S. Immigration and Enforcement building in South Portland.

The troop diversion threatens the states ability to rely on the Guard to respond to natural disasters or other emergencies and is likely to provoke larger protests that will require more funding for an enhanced Portland and state police response to maintain order, the motion says.

The intervention also will bring economic and financial harm to the state and city of Portland, the motion says.

It seeks a temporary restraining order to stop the deployment.

Plaintiffs seek to protect their sovereignty, retain control over local law enforcement and public safety, and prevent unnecessary disruption to Oregons largest city, wrote Senior Assistant Attorney General Scott Kennedy and Portland Senior Deputy City Attorney Caroline Turco.

Plaintiffs have filed this suit to protect the basic structure of American federalism from an alarming intrusion that was, until the events in Los Angeles just months ago, unprecedented, they wrote.

An Oregon Military Department spokesperson said Oregon National Guard troops could be deployed to Portland by Thursday.

U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon set a 10 a.m. hearing Friday on the restraining order motion.

The flurry of court action follows an announcement Sunday from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth calling 200 members of the Oregon National Guard into federal service for 60 days in Portland.

The state within hours filed a lawsuit challenging the deployment and promised to seek the restraining order, saying the protests outside the ICE building have been small, typically drawing less than 30 people.

News of the Guard authorization and deployment brought about 200 people to the building Sunday night, the most in weeks.

Retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan, who previously commanded troops serving in a supporting role to law enforcement, provided a sworn statement filed with the states restraining order motion that says members of the military are not suited for domestic law enforcement work unless they receive extensive training ahead of time.

The deployment of troops on city streets will lead to a loss of trust in the military among the U.S. public, he wrote.

A different mindset is necessary for law enforcement, Buchanan wrote.

Troops must know how to de-escalate confrontations and how to use nonlethal force, he said. He noted troops dont carry stun guns or pepper spray as police do and arent familiar with local rules governing the use of force in a domestic scenario.

Craig Dobson, assistant chief of operations for Portland police, said the Police Bureaus Central Precinct has been generally monitoring protests at the ICE building though police have not been actively involved in policing the protests since July 17.

For the most part, these protests have been peaceful. While PPB has intervened to protect public safety on occasion, the need has been limited, Dobson wrote.

Portland officers made 25 arrests at ICE facility protests from June 11-19 but no arrests since June 19 until Sunday night. The bureau activated a special incident commander around planned protests on July 4 and July 17 but made no arrests on those dates, Dobson said.

Separately, federal officers have arrested more than two dozen people since early June on allegations ranging from assault of a federal officer to destruction of government property.

Dobson said bringing in federalized Guard troops is likely to provoke a larger protest and pull Portland police away from standard emergency calls.

Oregon State Police Capt. Cameron Bailey, who serves as an assistant team commander of the state police Mobile Response Team, said he has routinely worked with Portland police and other law enforcement agencies and stands ready to help but hasnt been asked to step in at the ICE building yet, he said.

Trump moved to federalize National Guard troops under a law known as Title 10, Section 12406. The law says presidents can call up the National Guard when regular forces are not enough to execute the laws of the United States, repel a foreign invasion or suppress a rebellion or the danger of a rebellion against the U.S. government.

Such orders, the code says, shall be issued through the governors of the States, or in the case of the District of Columbia, through the commanding general of its National Guard.

Gov. Tina Kotek said she told Trump that Portland did not need or want troops to intervene.

Lawyers for Oregon and Portland argue in their suit that Trumps deployment of troops for a domestic law enforcement mission violates federal law, including the 10th Amendment that reserves public safety enforcement for the states. They argue that Trumps deployment of troops reflects his desire to militarize the streets of Portland and other sanctuary cities.

They also argue the troop deployment violates the Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits using the military for domestic purposes. It bars military forces from direct involvement in the execution of laws or actions that pervade the activities of civilian authorities.

The Trump administration has argued that a constitutional exception to the Posse Comitatus Act gives the president authority to protect federal property, employees and federal functions, pointing to Section 12406.

But a federal judge in California already has rejected the Trump administrations interpretation of the federal law.

In early September, U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer of San Francisco issued an injunction barring the federal governments use of the National Guard in California to make arrests or engage in searches, security patrols, crowd control, evidence collection, interrogations or work as informants.

Breyer declared the action of federal troops in Los Angeles an unlawful encroachment on state and local authority.

He said his order did not bar the government from using the troops in ways that are consistent with federal law, such as protecting federal property. His injunction was limited to California.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has put a temporary hold on the injunction in the California case as it considers the governments appeal. City attorneys from Portland and Beaverton joined about 30 other cities in a friend-of-the-court brief filed last Monday in support of Californias challenge and Breyers injunction.

Late Monday afternoon, during a brief conference before the judge in the Portland case to discuss setting a hearing date, U.S. Department of Justice lawyer Christopher Edelman characterized the Oregon deployment as significantly different than the Trump administrations deployment of thousands of National Guard troops to California in June.

He said the 200 Guard members in Oregon represent roughly 3% of the total states National Guard and are far fewer than the thousands of troops called into federal service in California.

He argued that Oregon officials have not provided evidence of how the deployment would harm state or city resources.

Edelman had pushed for a hearing next week to give the federal government more time to respond in writing, but now will have until Thursday afternoon to respond before Fridays hearing.
Bust of York, the only Black member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, stands on Mount Tabor. Created by Todd McGrain, it inspired renewed interest in Yorks story, now celebrated with York Fest, Oct. 1725. Mark Graves/The Oregonian

When a mysterious bust of York, the only Black member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, appeared on a pedestal on Mount Tabor Park in 2021, it sparked a wave of curiosity, prompting many to dive into the remarkable story of his life.

Born into slavery in Virginia around 1772, York gained freedom during the expedition and became a valued member of the team, helping with hunting, carrying boats, providing medical care and trading valuables for food on the journey home.

Despite his contributions, he was denied both the pay and freedom he had been promised, and his role was largely omitted from traditional accounts of the expedition that brought travelers from the Mississippi River Valley to the Columbia River Basin. Today, Yorks presence in Portland has been mostly forgotten. When his bust was defaced with hate symbols and toppled over months after it appeared, many people had already moved on. For others, though, the incident sparked deeper reflection.

Portland-based composer and producer Aaron Nigel Smith couldnt shake the moment. Best known as the founder of the nonprofit 1 World Chorus and as the education and community programs manager at the Patricia Reser Center for the Arts in Beaverton, Smith is an accomplished musician with 10 reggae albums to his name, including a Grammy nomination for his collaborative childrens album All One Tribe.

Embarrassed about his unfamiliarity with York, Smith wanted to use music to amplify Yorks story and important historical contributions. And after two years of research and composition, Smith completed his largest production to date.

On Oct. 24, Smiths folk opera, York the Explorer, will premiere at the Patricia Reser Center for the Arts as part of the weeklong York Fest presented by Oregon Black Pioneers. The festival marks the 220th anniversary of Yorks arrival in what is today Portland. Taking place Oct. 17-25, the festival also includes presentations, discussions, film screenings and an outdoor tour.

I think the story is inspirational, Smith said about Yorks history. Its just a story of hope, perseverance and courage. I think not only Black and brown people around the world, but all people can really benefit and learn and grow from knowing this story.

Zachary Stocks, Oregon Black Pioneers executive director, said that York Fest was born from rising interests in the historical figure from multiple local Black-led organizations.

It occurred to us  it would be better to work together, Stocks said, which led to the decision to schedule all of our adult related programs within the same general time frame, so that we can market this as one major opportunity for the public to come together and learn about this remarkable individual and celebrate his legacy together.

York isnt widely known today since much of his story has been overlooked in history books. What little information exists was written through the lens of his oppressors, said Smith, which is littered with misconceptions, stereotypes and buried history. His death is a mystery with one account suggesting he died of cholera while attempting to return to Clark after Yorks freight hauling business failed, and another narrative claiming he was embraced by the Crow Nation and lived out his final days as a tribal chief.

We see what were doing as making amends for Yorks historical erasure, Stocks said. When he has been brought up for most of the past 200 years of Lewis and Clark historiography, it is only ever to talk about the fact that he was enslaved.

York has often been portrayed as a buffoon, a comic relief or as sexually deviant, Stocks said, but theres no evidence to support those depictions. The Lewis and Clark journals paint a different picture, showing York as reliable, a skilled hunter, physically strong and someone whose contributions were as significant as, if not greater than, many of his fellow expedition members.

My hope is that we can use York Fest as an opportunity to make this legacy permanent and to show people that Black presence is real in Oregon and it goes back centuries, Stocks said. This is a chance for us to gather together as a community and advocate for one of our heroes.

York Fest has also provided a stepping stone for many projects to come. In the next year, Smith plans to adapt York the Explorer for children and create an official cast recording of the show.

He is also part of the York Collective, whose mission is to build an urban village in Northwest Portland, which will consist of affordable housing, a walkable business district, Black empowerment business zone for small businesses and a tribute or museum to York.

The collective is currently focused on securing land for the project, with preliminary plans for the York Urban Village set to be unveiled during the York Fest event Our Rooted Futures Festival on Oct. 18, which will include storytelling, presentations and pop-up style networking.

In times like these, its time for artists to step up and to step in and to really lean into creativity as a tool for bringing more understanding, building community and building connection, Smith said. If we take the time to sit and listen and ingest art and just beauty together. I think theres a world where we can learn how to communicate, we can learn how to share and we can learn how to be a unified community.

York the Explorer will premiere at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at the Patricia Reser Center for the Arts, with additional performances at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25. There are currently no other performances scheduled after the festival.

Other highlights at York Fest include a screening of Big Medicine York Outdoors, a documentary film screening about Black outdoor educators following Yorks footsteps on the Missouri River with a post-film conversation featuring participants on Oct. 22; and The Journey of York, a living history presentation about Yorks life, performed by Hasan Davis, a living history interpreter from Kentucky, on Oct. 23.

Find the full schedule of events for York Fest, taking place Oct. 17-25, at yorkfest.com.

This post has been updated to correct the spelling of Hasan Davis first name.

The Oregonian/OregonLive receives support from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust to bring readers stories on religion, faith and cultural connections in Oregon. The Oregonian/OregonLive is solely responsible for all content.
Children made crafts in a kid zone while a cloud of bubbles floated over the crowd as many attending a rally protesting the Trump administrations plans to send troops to Portland recorded the moment on their phones, joking that it looked like the perfect portrait of a war-ravaged city as the president has called it.

I would have loved to be with my little 3-year-old at the pumpkin patch like a bunch of other families, said Reyna Lopez, executive director and president of the Oregon farmworker union PCUN  Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste. But guess what? Were here today to defend our stand up for our community.

The event at the Battleship Oregon Memorial in Tom McCall Waterfront Park was organized by the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon in response to President Trumps authorization Saturday to send federal troops to Portland to quash ongoing protests at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office.

About 1,000 people attended the rally to hear speeches from Oregon leaders and elected officials. Chiara Profenna

The rally and march drew about 1,000 people as speakers including Mayor Keith Wilson and Gov. Tina Kotek repeated their repudiation of Trumps characterization of the city and the need for troops.

We do not want military intervention in Oregon anywhere, whether Portland or any other city in Oregon, Kotek told the crowd. You are peacefully exercising your constitutional rights. You are working to make your voices heard, and I love you for that.

Kotek said a military deployment would be a waste of taxpayer money, telling those gathered that the state was fighting the order with a lawsuit in federal court.

Sandy Chung, executive director of the ACLU of Oregon, spoke directly to the president in her remarks, citing the nonprofits 100 legal challenges against the Trump administration and condemning its actions as unlawful and cruel.

Do not send military troops to Oregon, Chung said. If you do so, you are abusing your power. You are disrespecting and misusing our service members, and you are wasting our tax dollars on nonsense President Trump, we will see you in court.

After additional speeches by community leaders including Angela Bonilla of the Portland Association of Teachers, Candice Williams of Family Forward Oregon and Melissa Unger of SEIU 503, the crowd left the park and began marching through downtown Portland.

Oregonians marched throughout downtown Portland protesting federal intervention. Chiara Profenna

Mikael and Emily Sloan were among the crowd with their young son in tow.

Its pretty peaceful here, Mikael Sloan said. My wife and I have lived here the past eight years. We came from New York, and this is the nicest weve ever seen the city in these years, like its dramatically improved in the time that weve been here.

Emily Sloan said the couple wanted to teach their son the importance of expressing himself freely without fear of government interference.

We dont know if hell remember this, but unfortunately, we think these are going to continue, she said. But hell be out when hes 3 and 4 and 5. Itll be a part of his life as long as we have to fight it.

The Oregonian/OregonLive receives support from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust to bring readers stories on religion, faith and cultural connections in Oregon. The Oregonian/OregonLive is solely responsible for all content.
I have been following The Oregonian/OregonLives coverage of a recent trip toVienna by Portland employees and officials to learn about Austrianhousing policy, (Portland city councilors outline Vienna trip takeaways, disclose partial costs, Sept. 18). As someone who has lived and traveled in Austria, I cantell you there are significant cultural and economic differences between thetwo countries, differences which virtually ensure Portland cannotproductively cut and paste from the Austrian model.

For starters, Austria is a social market economy, while the U.S. is a mixed marketeconomy (please, do not conflate social with socialist). This means individual freedoms are stronger in the U.S., while collective responsibilities are stronger in Austria. To understand the implications of these differences, I recommend exploring Geert Hofstedes theory ofcultural dimensions as they define these two countries.

Those who do this homework will almost certainly come to the conclusion that Viennas lessons are not applicable to Portlands situation. We must deal with our reality and not chase rainbows on junkets.

Tamara Goesch, Portland

To read more letters to the editor, go to oregonlive.com/opinion.
President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the State Dining Room of the White House, Monday, Sept. 29, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) AP

WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday theyve agreed to a plan to end the war in Gaza, but its unclear whether Hamas will accept the terms.

Trump on Monday laid out a 20-point plan for ending the Israel-Hamas war and establishing a postwar governance in the war-battered Palestinian territory. Trumps plan would establish a temporary governing board that would be headed by Trump and include former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The plan does not require people to leave Gaza and calls for the war to end immediately if both sides accept it. It also calls for all remaining hostages to be released within 72 hours of Israel accepting the plan.

Trump said Israel would have the full backing of the United States to take steps to defeat Hamas if it doesnt accept the proposed peace deal.

I think we are beyond very close, Trump said at the start of a news conference with Netanyahu where he detailed the plan. Were not quite finished. We have to get Hamas.

If Hamas rejects your plan, Mr. President, or if they supposedly accept it and then do everything to counter it, then Israel will finish the job by itself, Netanyahu said. This can be done the easy way or it can be done the hard way, but it will be done

The president went on to urge Palestinian people to take responsibility for their destiny and embrace his peace proposal.

Netanyahu earlier extended a formal apology to his Qatari counterpart for a recent military strike targeting Hamas officials in the Gulf emirate that infuriated Arab leaders and triggered rare criticism by the U.S. of Israel.

Netanyahu made the call to Qatars prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, as he met with Trump, according to the White House.

Trump described the exchange between the Israeli and Qatari leader as a heart-to-heart call.

As a first step, Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed his deep regret that Israels missile strike against Hamas targets in Qatar unintentionally killed a Qatari serviceman, the White House said in a statement. He further expressed regret that, in targeting Hamas leadership during hostage negotiations, Israel violated Qatari sovereignty and affirmed that Israel will not conduct such an attack again in the future.

The White House talks, and apology from Netanyahu, come at a tenuous moment. Israel is increasingly isolated, losing support from many countries that were long its steadfast allies. At home, Netanyahus governing coalition appears more fragile than ever. And the White House is showing signs of impatience.

The question now is whether Trump, who has offered steadfast backing to Netanyahu throughout the war, will change his tone and turn up the pressure on Israel to wind down the conflict.

As he welcomed Netanyahu to the White House, Trump responded affirmatively when asked by reporters whether he was confident a deal would be soon reached to end the fighting between Israel and Hamas.

I am. Im very confident, Trump said.

Netanyahus apology for strike that angered US ally

Israel stuck the headquarters of Hamas political leadership in Qatar on Sept. 9 as the groups top figures gathered to consider a U.S. proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

The strike on the territory of a U.S. ally was a stunning escalation and risked upending talks aimed at winding down the war and freeing hostages. No senior Hamas officials were killed in the strike.

The attack on an energy-rich Gulf nation hosting thousands of American troops, which has served as a key mediator between Israel and Hamas throughout the war and even before, was described by Trump as out of step with Israeli and U.S. interests. And Trump sought to move quickly to assuage his Qatari allies.

Qatar, meanwhile, condemned the strike as a flagrant violation of all international laws and norms as smoke rose over its capital, Doha. Other key U.S. allies in the Gulf, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, promised their support to Qatar.

The White House said al Thani welcomed Netanyahus assurances and emphasized Qatars readiness to continue contributing meaningfully to regional security and stability.

But even as the White House was spotlighting the apology, Israels far right national security minister newly defended the decision to carry out Israels attack.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, a key coalition partner of Netanyahus, in a posting on X called the operation an important, just and ethical attack.

It is very good that it happened, he added.

White House urges Israel and Hamas to get to a ceasefire and hostage release deal

Earlier Monday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt urged both sides to finalize an agreement to bring an end to the nearly two-year-old war in Gaza.

Ultimately the president knows when you get to a good deal, both sides are going to leave a little bit unhappy, Leavitt told reporters. But we need this conflict to end.

Trump and Netanyahu were first holding talks with aides in the Oval Office and over a private lunch. A joint press conference is expected later.

Meanwhile, Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, said Palestinian officials stood ready to work with Trump and Arab countries in bringing an end to the war.

Let us not delay a single minute more in doing what is necessary for this just peace to replace the unbearable reality of today, Mansour said during a Security Council meeting on the Middle East.

Trump growing more frustrated with conflict

Trump joined forces with Netanyahu during Israels brief war with Iran in June, ordering U.S. stealth bombers to strike three nuclear sites, and hes supported the Israeli leader during his corruption trial, describing the case as a witch hunt.

But the relationship has become more tense lately. Trump was frustrated by Israels failed strike this month on Hamas officials in Qatar.

Last week, Trump vowed to prevent Israel from annexing the West Bank  an idea promoted by some of Netanyahus hard-line governing partners. The international community opposes annexation, saying it would destroy hopes for a two-state solution.

On Friday, Trump raised expectations for the meeting with Netanyahu, telling reporters the U.S. was very close to a deal on Gaza.

Proposal does not include expulsion of Palestinians

Trumps proposal to stop the war in Gaza calls for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages within 48 hours and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Palestinian enclave, according to three Arab officials briefed on the plan. They spoke on the condition of anonymity because the plan has not been formally unveiled.

Hamas is believed to be holding 48 hostages, 20 of whom are believed by Israel to be alive. The militant group has demanded Israel agree to end the war and withdraw from all of Gaza as part of any permanent ceasefire.

Trump discussed the plan with Arab and Islamic leaders in New York last week on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. It doesnt include the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza, which Trump appeared to endorse earlier this year.

The 20-point proposal also calls for an end to Hamas rule of Gaza and the disarmament of the militant group, said the officials briefed on the plan. Hundreds of Palestinians, including many serving life sentences, will be released by Israel, according to the proposal.

The plan also includes the establishment of an international security force to take over law enforcement in postwar Gaza, they said.

A Palestinian committee of technocrats would oversee the civilian affairs of the strip, with power handed over later to a reformed Palestinian Authority, they said. Netanyahu has rejected any role for the authority, the internationally recognized representative of the Palestinians, in postwar Gaza.

A Hamas official said the group was briefed on the plan but has yet to receive an official offer from Egyptian and Qatari mediators. The group has repeatedly rejected laying down arms and has linked its weapons to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

--By Adam Geller, Sam Mednick and Aamer Madhani/The Associated Press
Representatives from Perechyn and Voznesensk city councils will share their experiences on including and finding solutions for internally displaced people with government representatives of eight other countries around the world.

Monday, 29 September 2025.

This week, representatives from Ukraine will participate in the third Cross-Regional Forum on Implementing Law and Policy on Internal Displacement, to share good practices, challenges and lessons learned on inclusion of internally displaced people.

The Forum will take place in Sanremo, Italy, from October 1 to 3, and the Ukrainian representatives from Perechyn and Voznesensk city councils in Zarkapattia and Mykolaiv regions will share their experiences with other 30 national and local level government authorities from Colombia, Ethiopia, Honduras, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, and the Philippines.

The executive director of the charity foundation Stabilization Support Services, an NGO dedicated to supporting IDP councils and addressing internal displacement in Ukraine, will also participate in the event.

The forum is hosted at the International Institute of Humanitarian Law in Sanremo and is convened by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the IDP Protection Expert Group (IPEG). It will explore how central-level policies aimed at advancing protection and solutions for IDPs connect with local-level implementation, and vice versa.

This forum serves as a platform for States facing internal displacement challenges to share knowledge and learn from each other, said Paula Gaviria Betancur, Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons (IDPs). Displaced communities bring skills, creativity, and a drive to contribute. We can help these communities become active contributors to the economy, culture, and social fabric of their host cities, she added.

Since the onset of the full-scale war, we have seen how communities and local authorities in Ukraine have stepped up as first responders in receiving internally displaced people and welcomed people who have fled their homes, leaving everything behind. IDP councils have played a crucial role in promoting social integration of IDPs in hundreds of communities, and we hope that this important mechanism and its impact we have observed here in Ukraine can inspire others, says Nina Schrepfer, UNHCR Ukraines Assistant Representative for Protection.

"The biggest challenge for IDPs is finding a new home, this being one of the most difficult steps in the integration process. In Perychyn Hromada in Zakarpattia, we managed to overcome the problem of the lack of housing through tight cooperation with relocated businesses. Where local authorities lack resources, business backs up for the sake of development and common future," says Yevheniia Hafiyanych, Deputy Head of the Perychyn City Council.

Currently, some 3.8 million people are internally displaced within Ukraine. Ensuring affordable housing for internally displaced people remains a key issue across the country, and another challenge is to ensure proper support and inclusion of the most vulnerable groups amongst the internally displaced, such as older people, people with disabilities or low mobilities, who have left behind not only their homes, but also support networks and some may need specialized care

The format of the Forum will include expert presentations, working group sessions, plenary exchanges, and informal discussions among the participants. The peer-to-peer exchange will be facilitated by members of the IDP Protection Expert Group, as well as experts from UNHCR and other institutions.

For more information, please contact:

Gloria Moronta (Media Liaison)

Email: [email protected]

Email: [email protected]
Mayors across the Portland metro region and from one other major Oregon city on Monday denounced President Donald Trumps plan to deploy troops to the states most populous city, marking the latest crop of elected leaders to condemn the effort.

Enforcement of civil immigration laws by militarized forces has no legitimate role in our community, no support from local elected leaders, and little public support, reads the statement signed by Portland Mayor Keith Wilson and 16 other top municipal officials.

As regional leaders, we commit to pursuing all legal and legislative options to counter this unprecedented, unnecessary, and unwanted effort to utilize militarized forces in a manner that could violate the constitutional rights of our community.

Wilson and a dozen of his fellow signatories  including the mayors of Beaverton, Hillsboro, Wilsonville, Lake Oswego and Oregon City  doubled down on that message during a press conference Monday afternoon at the Portland Building.

There is no lawful case for deploying military here, said Beaverton Mayor Lacey Beaty, who highlighted her own prior service in the armed forces. As a U.S. Army veteran who has served in combat, not only do I know what a war zone looks like, I can assure you Portland is not that.

Michael Milch, the mayor of Gladstone, said he and other municipal leaders were prepared to stand by those who may be targeted by the Trump administration.

We want everyone in our communities, no matter their immigration status, to be treated with the dignity, humanity, and respect that they deserve, Milch said.

The statements come as a growing number of state and local political, business, civic and law enforcement leaders have decried the prospect of a federal military intervention during press conferences, in open letters and while protesting alongside thousands of Portlanders.

Wilson had teased that he was working with regional mayors on a unified message during a press briefing he, Gov. Tina Kotek and other elected officials held in downtown Portland on Saturday afternoon.

We want to make sure that were united, that were stronger together, and thats what we want to promote to the community, Wilson told The Oregonian/OregonLive in an interview after the briefing. You know, 2020, was a great lesson about Portland being isolated, and we dont want to have that this time.

Wilson returned to that reflection Monday.

In my moments of doubt, I worry that Portland will go alone as we have in the past, he said. When I look around the room today, I know we are more together than we have ever been.

Wilson also offered one of his strongest criticisms of the president to date when discussing the prospect of National Guard members arriving in the city.

When these volunteers answered the call to service, they made a solemn promise to their communities and to the nation that the federal administration is now dishonoring, he said. The justification for their presence in our cities is either a misunderstanding or a lie. I hope it is a misunderstanding that we can soon resolve.

Trump on Saturday morning authorized sending federal troops to Oregon to protect what he described in hyperbolic terms as war-ravaged Portland. The presidents comments appear to be referring to the ongoing protests outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in South Portland. Those protests peaked in June, but have involved no more than several dozen people in recent weeks.

On Monday, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield filed an expected motion to block Trumps deployment of 200 state National Guard troops to protect the federal immigration building in Portland.

Meanwhile, in the state Senate, at least four Democratic senators representing Portland, Hillsboro and Corvallis took a point of personal privilege to decry the presidents plan as illegal and unneeded, given the peaceful and even bucolic nature of much of the city.

At least one Republican, Sen. Daniel Bonham of The Dalles, questioned whether Democrats are truly worried federalized troops would create problems or whether they were merely politically posturing. He claimed there are in fact violent protests in the city that need to be quelled.

Yet Wilson and the other Portland-area mayors warned that a military intervention ordered by the president risks fomenting and escalating confrontations with those exercising constitutional rights of self-expression.

We will use all legal tools at our disposal to deny our jurisdictions personnel, equipment, facilities, and resources from any participation or support of militarized federal actions that target the civil rights of our community, including that of assembly, free expression, or protest unless directly required by local, state, or federal law, the group said.

In addition to Wilson, the other Oregon mayors who signed Mondays statement include: Beaty of Beaverton; Jeff Dalin of Cornelius; Keith Kudrna of Fairview; Malynda Wenzl of Forest Grove; Milch of Gladstone; Travis Stovall of Gresham; Beach Pace of Hillsboro; Joe Buck of Lake Oswego; Lisa Batey of Milwaukie; Denyse McGriff of Oregon City; Tim Rosener of Sherwood; Frank Bubenik of Tualatin; Rory Bialostosky of West Linn; Shawn ONeill of Wilsonville; Jairo Rios-Campos of Wood Village; and Melanie Kebler of Bend.

Read the full statement below.

This story has been updated to reflect the following change: An earlier version of the statement provided by Portland Mayor Keith Wilsons office included Eugene Mayor Kaarin Knudson as a signatory. Knudson, who also attended the press conference in Portland, is supportive of the message but did not formally sign on to the letter, Wilsons office said Monday evening.

Noelle Crombie and Carlos Fuentes contributed to this report.

-- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh covers Portland city government and politics, with a focus on accountability and watchdog reporting. Reach him at 503-294-7632 or skavanaugh@oregonian.com.
Residents of a Portland apartment complex, pictured in the background on Saturday night, have been traumatized by occasional clashes between small groups of protesters at the nearby ICE building and federal police, according to the building manager. Samantha Swindler/The Oregonian

South Portland residents are bracing for an escalation of conflict and federal involvement after months of small nightly protests outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building that occasionally culminated in clashes with federal police.

Oregons governor received notice Sunday morning from the U.S. Department of Defense that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was federalizing the states National Guard and mobilizing 200 members for the next two months. (None were at the building as of Sunday evening, a state military official said.)

On Saturday night, hours after President Donald Trump authorized sending federal troops to Oregon to protect War ravaged Portland, people throughout South Portland heard large helicopters circling noisily.

In all the months of demonstrating down at ICE, last night was the most disruptive because there were two helicopters flying around between, I dont know, 8:30 and whenever I was lucky enough to fall asleep, said Mike Roach, 74, who lives a short distance northwest of the ICE facility.

Its unclear who was operating the aircraft.

The crowd of protesters outside the ICE building peaked at around 100 people Saturday night and the only physically aggressive action was when federal agents emerged from the building to arrest one person and deploy pepper-ball projectiles at others, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. A Portland Police Bureau assistant chief recently said in court that federal police were instigating some of the clashes between protesters and federal law enforcement at the ICE building.

The protests started in June, after federal authorities arrested a 24-year-old asylum seeker in Portland Immigration Court.

On Sunday, two South Waterfront residents who were in the area to check out the situation said they had mixed feelings. Colin Raaen cited concerns that the tensions between protesters and federal agents and troops could escalate, while Lucia Estrada said she was not really worried about the protests.

Residents of an affordable apartment building across the street from ICE have had a front-row seat to the protests and federal response for months.

On Sunday, Reach Community Development, the building manager, released a statement to The Oregonian/OregonLive that said the impacts of violent tactics, including tear gas and late-night altercations, are traumatizing for residents, including the many veterans who call Grays Landing home.

We are feeling these impacts alongside our residents and are also managing the very real fear our communities face from ICE activity, the statement said. Sending federal troops will only escalate the situation. The last thing we need is an escalation.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks during the POW/MIA National Recognition Day Ceremony at the Pentagon, Friday, Sept. 19, 2025, in Washington. AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth moved to mobilize 200 members of the Oregon National Guard into federal service in the city of Portland for 60 days.

The governors office received a memo from the U.S. Department of Defense at 9:05 a.m. Sunday. It indicated the Oregon members are among 2,000 to be mobilized nationwide to protect U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other U.S. Government personnel who are performing Federal functions.

The memo said the chief of the National Guard Bureau will coordinate details of the mobilization with the Oregon National Guards adjutant general, along with the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and commander of the U.S. Northern Command.

Tensions are growing nationwide over safety at immigration facilities. A sniper in Dallas killed one detainee and injured two others at an ICE building, with officials saying the shooter was targeting federal agents.

Protests outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland have been consistent but small. Arrests outside the Portland ICE building have dropped throughout summer.

Kotek, along with other leaders, has said no troops are necessary in Portland and made the case to President Donald Trump in a phone call Saturday. She said Sunday she didnt know when troops might be mobilized in Portland, or exactly how many.

I am no longer in charge of the members (of the Oregon National Guard) that he will be calling up, Kotek said.

Kotek and Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield said Sunday the state had filed a lawsuit to block the deployment.

(Dont see the embedded document? Click here.)
A fire broke out at an assisted living facility in Portland. One person was injured and the rest were evacuated safely. Mark Graves

A fire broke out at a Portland assisted living facility in Northeast Portland on Sunday, leaving one person with life-threatening burns and setting off a scramble to evacuate dozens of residents.

Portland Fire & Rescue spokesperson Rick Graves said firefighters who responded just before 2:30 p.m. found a bed engulfed in flames in a room at the facility  located in the 800 block of Northeast 122nd Avenue  and pulled a person from the burning mattress.

Graves said that person was taken by ambulance to a hospital with significant burns.

They were in the middle of the source of the fire, Graves said.

The facilitys fire sprinklers helped contain the blaze to the single room, and all other residents were evacuated safely, Graves said.

More than 60 firefighters from Portland and Gresham, and more than two dozen fire trucks and ambulances, responded to aid in the evacuation.

12 1 / 12 Fire at NE Portland assisted living facility sets off frantic evacuation, leaves 1 with serious burns

Graves said there were about 90 residences in the facility. Many of the occupants had limited mobility  some no mobility, he said  and had to be carried out of the building. The facility includes a memory care unit, adding to the urgency of a thorough search.

Fire investigators were inspecting the room where the fire began and interviewing staff to try to determine what caused the fire.
Portlanders take to the streets as Trump administration mobilizes National Guard, state sues to block troops

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth moved Sunday to mobilize 200 members of the Oregon National Guard into federal service in the city of Portland for 60 days.

The state, in turn, filed a lawsuit to block the Trump administration from deploying the National Guard to Portland or anywhere in the state.

The developments come a day after President Donald Trump authorized federal troops to protect what he dubbed War ravaged Portland.

Meanwhile, people gathered along Portlands downtown waterfront and at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in South Portland to decry the deployment.

Hundreds of people gathered at the downtown Portland waterfront and marched to protest President Donald Trump's authorization of federal troops in the city. Chiara Profenna | The Oregonian/OregonLive

Heres the latest:

8:15 p.m.: Reporters Noelle Crombie and Zaeem Shaikh covered the ICE building action for the first four hours.

8 p.m.: Reporter Chiara Profenna filed this account of the waterfront rally and march.

7 p.m.: The crowd at the ICE building is starting to thin, with fewer than 100 people outside.

At least one helicopter -- an ICE Black Hawk -- is flying overhead.

Federal officers also have been posted on the ICE buildings roof. They have sprayed or fired pepper balls at people near the driveway as cars occasionally exit the building.

6:30 p.m.: Augustana Lutheran Church in Northeast Portland, which calls itself the Northwests longest-running sanctuary congregation, will hold an interfaith prayer service at 6 p.m. Monday for peace and in support of immigrants.

6:15 p.m. Sandy Chung, ACLU of Oregon executive director, said she made the rounds to both demonstrations in Portland.

Portlanders and Oregonians are united in telling President Trump: Do not send federal troops to the streets of Portland, she told The Oregonian/OregonLive. If he does it, he is going to be abusing his presidential power. He will be deeply disrespecting and misusing our service members and disrespecting our veterans and he will be wasting taxpayer dollars on this nonsensical political theater.

About a dozen Portland police bike officers are down the block monitoring the demonstration at the ICE building but not moving in. It appears to be the first time since late June that Portland police have sent dialogue and bike officers to the scene after pulling back from the building and ongoing protests that had most dwindled to about two dozen people.

6 p.m.: Residents near the ICE building say theyre bracing for an escalation of conflict after the Trump administration federalized the states National Guard.

Reach Community Development, the manager of an affordable apartment building across from ICE, released a statement to The Oregonian/OregonLive that said the impacts of violent tactics, including tear gas and late-night altercations, are traumatizing for residents, including the many veterans who call Grays Landing home.

We are feeling these impacts alongside our residents and are also managing the very real fear our communities face from ICE activity, the statement said. Sending federal troops will only escalate the situation. The last thing we need is an escalation.

5:30 p.m. There are no Oregon National Guard troops at the ICE facility at this time, Lt. Col. Stephen Bomar of the Oregon Military Department said by email.

The crowd at ICE is still going strong and has grown to about 250 people.

Among the chants: Say it louder, say it clear: Immigrants are welcome here. Say it once, say it twice: We will not put up with ICE

5:30 p.m. In downtown Portland, the crowd that marched grew to about 2,000 people. Its wrapped up.

An estimated 2,000 people participated in a demonstration and march in downtown Portland on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, to protest President Donald Trump's authorization to send federal troops to Portland. Chiara Profenna | The Oregonian/OregonLive

5:20 p.m. Some speakers at the ICE building are chastising city and state leaders who exhorted Portlanders not to let the Trump administration goad them into a confrontation. It took all the pressure on city officials and this facility to finally get them to answer to our will, one said.

The protest scene about 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, at the ICE building in South Portland. Zaeem Shaikh | The Oregonian/OregonLive

5:10 p.m. A group of more than a dozen federal officers in black and camouflage are standing at the gate of the ICE building. Some protesters are taking photos and shouting.

5 p.m.: About 10 federal officers emerged again from the ICE building and sprayed something at the crowd to chants of Shame.

Federal officers emerged from the ICE building and sprayed something at the crowd. Zaeem Shaikh |The Oregonian/OregonLive

4:45 p.m. At the ICE building, about two dozen federal officers, some in camouflage and wearing gas masks and carrying clear shields, come out from behind the offices gate to allow in a couple of cars. Some in the crowd advanced on the building as they chanted. The officers retreated, some videotaping the crowd as they moved back behind the gate.

The crowd remains at about 200 people.

The scene on Sunday afternoon, Sept. 28, 2025, outside the ICE building in South Portland. Zaeem Shaikh | The Oregonian/OregonLive

4:30 p.m.: About 1,000 people gathered along the downtown waterfront, including Mayor Keith Wilson and Gov. Tina Kotek.

The crowd has just started to march.

Portland Mayor Keith Wilson and Gov. Tina Kotek at a demonstration to protest President Trump's authorization of federal troops to the city. Chiara Profenna | The Oregonian/OregonLive

People echoed Wilson and Koteks earlier comments that Portland doesnt need federal troop intervention.

Signs included: No fascists in America, Keep Portland peaceful and Leave us alone.

Hundreds of people gathered at the downtown Portland waterfront and marched to protest President Donald Trump's authorization of federal troops in the city. Chiara Profenna | The Oregonian/OregonLive

4:20 p.m. The crowd at the ICE building has grown to about 200. Among the signs: ICE out of Portland.

4 p.m.: About 100 people are gathered at the ICE building but the numbers are growing. Among the chants: Whose streets, our streets, Feds out of Portland and Say it loud, say it clear: ICE is not welcome here.

Protesters advertised the demonstration on a poster that said:

Feds out of Portland! ICE out of Portland!

An increased amount of militarized federal agents have descended on Portland. Tell Trump we want them gone!

3:45 p.m.: Portland police put out a public notice that they have additional resources in place  liaison officers, bike squads and motorcycle traffic officers -- to monitor the demonstrations and noted that a march may affect traffic in downtown.

-- Noelle Crombie, Chiara Profenna, Zaeem Shaikh, Hillary Borrud and Maxine Bernstein
Portlanders take to the streets as Trump administration mobilizes National Guard, state sues to block troops

As the threat of a federal military crackdown continues to loom over Portland, an estimated 200 demonstrators converged Sunday at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in South Portland to decry the mobilization of troops.

Early in the day, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth moved to send 200 members of the Oregon National Guard into federal service in Portland for 60 days.

The state, in turn, filed a lawsuit to block the Trump administration from deploying the National Guard to Portland or anywhere in the state.

The developments came a day after President Donald Trump authorized federal troops to protect what he dubbed War ravaged Portland.

No military presence materialized as the day wore on, though an ICE Black Hawk helicopter flew overhead.

Trumps statements invigorated what had been months of relatively low-key demonstrations by a small group of people opposed to the presidents immigration raids.

The group swelled by late afternoon and amassed in front of the gated entrance to the building. Among their chants: Whose streets, our streets, Feds out of Portland and Say it loud, say it clear: ICE is not welcome here.

Some chastised city and state political leaders who exhorted Portlanders not to let the Trump administration goad them into a confrontation.

It took all the pressure on city officials and this facility to finally get them to answer to our will, one said.

The demonstration was largely peaceful with skirmishes between federal officers who emerged from the building a couple times to clear the entrance to allow vehicles to enter the complex. The officers, who wore masks and carried clear shields, fired mace and pepperballs at demonstrators. Some videotaped the crowd as they retreated to the building.

A pair of officers watched the demonstration from the ICE buildings rooftop, an American flag hoisted on a pole next to them.

Also keeping watch: about a dozen Portland police bike officers, who waited a block away. The Portland Police Bureau had pulled back its officers in late June when the demonstrations dwindled significantly.

Another four officers who serve as liaisons to protesters also stood nearby and at one point defused a tense scene after a woman in a Tesla insisted on driving toward the crowd.

Meanwhile, residents near the ICE building said theyre bracing for an escalation of conflict at the site.

Reach Community Development, the manager of an affordable apartment building across from ICE, released a statement to The Oregonian/OregonLive that said the impacts of violent tactics, including tear gas and late-night altercations, are traumatizing for residents, including the many veterans who call Grays Landing home.

We are feeling these impacts alongside our residents and are also managing the very real fear our communities face from ICE activity, the statement said. Sending federal troops will only escalate the situation. The last thing we need is an escalation.

The gathering dwindled to fewer than 100 people as darkness fell.
Its no secret that Oregon is an autumnal wonderland, with fall color bursting in waterfall-filled canyons, mountain lakes and scenic drives around the state, but it seems that not everybody is in the know.

National Geographic recently included one Oregon region in its list of the most unexpected places to see fall foliage in the U.S., naming nine under-the-radar places to do some leaf peeping this season.

As the article pointed out, millions of people flock to New England every fall specifically to see the spectacle of fall color and all the accompanying accoutrements (whats leaf peeping without hot apple cider?), but that region is far from the only place in the country to appreciate fall foliage.

While Oregon is famous for its forests of evergreens, there is certainly no shortage of deciduous trees that turn vibrant shades of yellow, red and orange. The best place in the state to see that fall color, according to National Geographic, might just be southern Oregon.

Fall color shines in Ashland, home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Janet Eastman/The Oregonian

The Fremont-Winema National Forest near Klamath Falls in southern Oregon shows off beautiful fall colors. LC- Photo courtesy of the U.S. F

The sun sets over Mount McLoughlin at Hyatt Lake in southern Oregon. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Oregons foliage differs significantly from the rest of the country, the article says, going on to quote Jim Remley, the owner of a KOA campground in Central Point, about fall colors set against dramatic mountain landscapes, a wild and scenic river and even a volcanic national park.

Places in southern Oregon that National Geographic recommends (by way of Remley) include Crater Lake National Park, the Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway, and the towns of Jacksonville and Ashland.

The article hails the region for its canyons and valleys punctuated by bursts of color and the tree-lined streets that turn yellow and red in fall.

Its hard to argue with the inclusion of southern Oregon, a place of truly stunning natural scenery year-round. If youre on a fall foliage journey through the region, you should also try the beautiful Applegate Valley wine country or Jackson F. Kimball State Recreation Site, where you can kayak through crystal-clear waters beside radiant fall color.

The most unexpected place to see fall color in Oregon might be the canyons of Steens Mountain in the southeast corner of the state, where huge stands of aspen trees fill the high desert landscape with color.

If youre planning a fall color tour through the state, be sure to check in on the most up-to-date fall foliage maps, which show when and where to find peak color.
Rain, and some gusty winds, are likely each day this work week with Monday's rain starting about noon. Oregonian file photo. Oregonian file photo

Last weekends dry and mild weather will be a distant memory Monday as a series of wet systems is predicted to move into the Portland area setting us up for a soggy work week.

The National Weather Service was watching widespread rain along the coast early Monday morning that will slowly move inland and hit the valleys by mid to late morning.

This is the first in multiple frontal systems that will give the metro area at least some rain, and often some gusty winds, each day this week through Friday.

Portland will see increasing cloud cover early Monday followed by rain that starts before the lunch hour. Showers will continue through the afternoon. The high temp will reach about 69 degrees. Rainfall totals Monday will be anywhere from a tenth of an inch to a third of an inch.

There will be a brief break in the rain late Monday and into the overnight hours, but the second front is following close behind. This system will be much stronger and wetter and will include some gusty winds, especially along the coast.

Portland will have light rain early Tuesday, then heavier showers after about noon. Up to about a half inch of rainfall is likely. Gusty winds could blow as hard as 30 mph through the metro area. The coast may see gusts of 45 mph or stronger. Portlands high temp will again be near 69 degrees.

Wednesday brings the third front with showers and possible afternoon thunderstorms. Winds will be strong again with gusts up to 25 mph. The high temp should reach near 67 degrees.

Winds are expected to remain strong through Thursday with gusts up to 25 mph inland. Thursday will also be another wet day, although the timing of that final front is still in question. Most models show rain continuing into Friday, but some are watching the possibility of some high pressure moving in and drying out western Oregon by Friday.
Autumn at Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden located between Reed College and the Eastmoreland Golf Course in Southeast Portland on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. Mark Graves/The Oregonian

As we head into October, Oregons fall foliage will start to shine.

Every year, SmokyMountains.com releases a predictor map to help you determine when and where to see the best changing leaves each week this fall.

This week: Sept. 29 - Oct. 5

Sept. 29 - Oct. 5, 2025 Fall foliage map for Oregon. Mark Graves/The Oregonian

It might be time for a road trip to Deschutes, Jefferson and Union counties, where the colors will be peaking this week.

And why not keep going? Lake, Klamath, Crook, Harney, Grant and Wheeler will be nearing peak fall foliage and worth a look.

If you live in the Portland-area and want to stay closer to home, you cant go wrong with Clackamas, Marion and Hood River counties, which will also be nearing peak color.

Next week: Oct. 6-12

Oct. 6-12, 2025 Fall foliage map for Oregon. Mark Graves/The Oregonian

By the first full week of October, almost the entire state will be putting on a show.

Lake, Klamath, Crook, Harney, Grant, Wheeler, Clackamas, Marion and Hood River counties will all be hitting their high point, while Malhuer, Baker, Wallowa, Umatilla, Sherman, Wasco, Multnomah, Columbia, Clatsop, Tillamook, Washington, Yamhill, Linn, Lane, Douglas and Jackson counties are all nearing their peak.

Nearly everywhere you look, you will find fall color. Except for maybe Coos County, where things will still be ramping up.
Ukraine's largest mobile operator, Kyivstar, has introduced artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities within its Kyivstar Cloud platform, enabling Ukrainian businesses and public institutions to deploy AI solutions in a domestic cloud environment without dependence on foreign providers.

The company said in a Monday press release that the AI tools are already available to all Kyivstar Cloud customers. The tools enable real-time analysis of large datasets using machine learning, automation of business processes  including optimization of storage and search systems and analytics  and the deployment of proprietary generative AI models. Customers can also use ready-made tools such as chatbots, content generators and recommendation systems without needing a dedicated in-house AI team.

Kyivstar added that Kyivstar Cloud also offers IaaS solutions, supports hybrid and multi-cloud infrastructures, and provides backup services.

Kyivstar first announced the launch of its cloud service for Ukrainian business users in June 2025. At that time the company highlighted Kyivstar Cloud's easy scalability, competitive pricing and absence of traffic charges due to local hosting. The platform supports hybrid and multi-cloud models and can be paired with public and private clouds from other providers such as Microsoft Azure or Amazon Web Services.

Kyivstar serves nearly 23 million mobile subscribers and more than 1.1 million home internet subscribers. Its digital services portfolio includes the Helsi medical platform, the Kyivstar TV streaming service, and the ride-hailing and delivery leader Uklon. Kyivstar also provides enterprise solutions in cloud technologies, cybersecurity and AI, and via its Kyivstar.Tech unit develops software and partners with international tech firms such as Starlink.

For the first half of 2025 Kyivstar reported EBITDA growth of 39.5% to UAH 12.85 billion, while revenue rose 36.1% to UAH 22.58 billion.

The principal shareholder of Kyivstar Group is the telecom holding VEON, which now holds an 89.6% stake; prior to Kyivstar's listing on the stock exchange in August 2025 VEON was the company's 100% owner.
Benghazi, Libya (PANA) - The media directorate of Libya's Parliament is attending the Third Arab Parliamentary Media Forum in the Kingdom of Bahrain, focusing on the relationship between parliamentary information and communication in the age of artificial intelligence
Metsa Fibre Taking Maintenance Downtime at Rauma Pulp Mill and Sawmill

Production at the Rauma pulp mill in Finalnd will will stop on Saturday, October 4, with production restarting around Oct. 16 or 17. Production at the Rauma pulp mill in Finalnd will will stop on Saturday, October 4, with production restarting around Oct. 16 or 17.

Sept. 29, 2025 - Metsa Fibre's Rauma mills (Finland) will undergo an annual maintenance shutdown, during which the pulp mill and sawmill will carry out the necessary service, cleaning and maintenance work as well as installations to improve the efficiency of the operations of both plants and the mill integrate.

The maintenance shutdown at the Rauma sawmill will take place in September and October. The maintenance shutdown proceeds from one department to another, starting with the sorting of logs, proceeding to the sawmill department, sorting, drying and ending with packaging. The sawmill's annual maintenance shutdown will end in mid-October.

The halt of production at the pulp mill will begin on Saturday, 4 October 2025. Production at the pulp mill will be started at the end of week 42. Shutdowns and ramp-ups of the mill may cause odours to the surroundings of the mill area.

"With high-quality maintenance work, we will ensure the good usability of the pulp mill and sawmill in the future as well," said Jaakko Ikonen, Pulp Mill Manager. "Overall safety increases and risks are reduced when processes are in order. In addition to our own personnel, Metsa Group's Rauma mills employ 1,000 representatives of our partners. With proactive safety work, we ensure everyone's safety at work."

Rauma Pulp Mill

The Rauma pulp mill produces softwood pulp as its main product for paperboard, tissue and printing papers, as well as special products. The specialty of the Rauma mill is Metsa Strong pulp, which, as the name suggests, is strong bleached softwood pulp. It is used in magazine papers, food, construction and packaging papers, and pharmaceutical papers, among others. The annual capacity of the pulp mill is 650,000 tonnes of softwood pulp. The pulp mill employs 190 people directly and more than 1500 people indirectly in the direct value chain.

Rauma Sawmill

The Rauma sawmill, which started operating in 2022, is a pioneer in terms of technology, efficiency and operating models. Sawmill technology innovations, such as machine vision, learning artificial intelligence and an integrated information system that controls the various functions of the sawmill line, are new in the sawmill industry. The sawmill's annual capacity is 750,000 cubic metres of pine sawn timber. The sawmill employs 110 people directly and 500 indirectly in the direct value chain.

Metsa Fibre, a member of the Metsa Group, is a leading producer of wood-based bioproducts, such as pulp, sawn timber, biochemicals and?bioenergy. The company produces pulp and bioproducts at four mills and sawn timber products at four sawmills in Finland.

SOURCE: Metsa Fibre
Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds, famous for his role in the "Deadpool" franchise, raised $13,500 in funding for a 13-year-old girl who is fighting against a rare and aggressive form of heart cancer.

The young girl, Lexi Collins, was diagnosed in June and has already undergone two separate open-heart surgeries. She also had a pacemaker fitted and is now receiving intensive chemotherapy.

A Rare Form of Heart Cancer

The 13-year-old has a dream of visiting New York City this Christmas, which is now closer to becoming reality thanks to the recent support from the community. The initial fundraiser for Lexi was set up by her family and supported by Wrexham Police PC.

The latter also launched its own GoFundMe page to help the teenage girl's dream trip come true. Now, with Reynolds' generous $13,500 donation, the original target of $27,000 has already been reached.

In a social media post, Wrexham Police FC shared the news with excitement, expressing its gratitude to Reynolds for once again showing his "incredible generosity." It added that because of the latest donation, Lexi can go to New York City when she starts feeling well enough to travel, according to MSN.

On top of the Canadian actor's financial contribution, there was a separate GoFundMe page that was set up by Lexi's family that aimed to raise enough money to cover the costs of potential overseas treatment, travel, and medical expenses related to her cancer battle.

So far, the largest donation is $6,700 by Ethan Payne, who is known as Behzinga, a well-known YouTube star and member of the Sidemen. While it is still unconfirmed, the donation is believed to have come from him, as he had previously shared links to the teenage girl's fundraiser on his social media platforms.

Supporting the Teenage Girl's Dream

The teenage girl's mother, Becky Collins, said that her daughter had initially gone to the hospital for a headache and fever that they could not control. Then, doctors found a mass on her heart, and a biopsy found that the tumor was malignant, BBC reported.

In a statement, Becky said that the past few months were a "whirlwind of hospital stays, fear, and uncertainty." She added that her daughter was a huge "Home Alone" fan and wanted to see the famous Christmas tree at New York City's Rockefeller Center that the movie's lead visited.

Lexi's story comes after Reynolds previously thanked an Essex charity for its help supporting a teenage Wrexham fan who had tragically died of cancer. The teenager was Aiden Waller, who lost his life earlier this year after initially being diagnosed with a rare bone cancer in 2022, as per the Sidmouth Herald.
Murray Leinsters short story Things Pass By, published in 1945, includes what may be the first description of 3D printers:

But this constructor is both efficient and flexible. I feed magnetronic plastics  the stuff they make houses and ships of nowadays  into this moving arm. It makes drawings in the air following drawings it scans with photo-cells. But plastic comes out of the end of the drawing arm and hardens as it comes  following drawings only.

Practical 3D printers, or additive manufacturing as it is also known, have been around since the 1980s. After some theoretical experiments, American Bill Masters developed and patented several techniques that laid the foundation for the first commercial 3D printers. 40 years later, 3D printers have become so cheap and easy to use that anyone who is interested can get one.

3D printer using liquid resin. Erik Mclean

Rapid development

For a long time, the technology was only used as a way to quickly create prototypes before a final design was produced in a more mature and cheaper process such as injection moulding. For a long time, it was also only possible to print 3D objects in various plastic materials, but in recent years both the applications and the materials have broadened.

What I have seen is that 3D printers have come a long way in recent years. Both the hardware and the software have improved, but more importantly the ecosystem has matured. Printers can now handle many different materials  from pla (a kind of polyester) and resin to steel, kevlar, and even organic materials. After over 25 years of development, I have seen a real boom in the last 2-3 years, especially with more accessible and user-friendly software. There is now an evolution where 3D printers are spreading from specialists to wider use in industry and among consumers, says Chris Fotheringham, a game developer and entrepreneur who is just starting a new company combining 3D printers and AI.

Brian Loudon Brian Loudon

Brian Loudon, a design consultant based in Glasgow, says even old tried-and-tested techniques have evolved a lot in recent years. This is particularly true of filament printers, also known as FDM or FFF (as in Fused Filament Fabrication)  the type of 3D printer most people are familiar with, which is fed with long strands of, for example, ABS plastic.

After a key patent on FDM expired in 2009, there was an explosion of low-cost consumer printers that made it possible to use 3D printers in various hobbies. The big price cuts also helped small design and engineering studios like mine. In this market, Chinas Bambu Labs has made a massive and rapid impact with new printers that take 3D technology to the max. They have achieved several times faster printing with techniques that utilize printer vibrations and more, with clean prints despite the high speeds.

What used to take a whole working day can now be done in an hour, says Brian Loudon. Now he can have an idea in the morning, produce a cad model and have an early prototype by the afternoon.

Resin-based printers, which use liquid polymer, have also become significantly faster.

New materials open up new possibilities

Like Chris Fotheringham, Brian Loudon points to the many new materials that can be used with modern 3D printers as an important part of the development, giving as an example the company Markforged, which makes a filament with carbon fiber. This makes it possible to print fittings and other components that need high strength and heat resistance.

Metal has come on strong in recent years as a material used for additive manufacturing. Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, for example, have made great strides towards materials that can achieve similar properties to casting or forging.

Concrete is another example. Several companies around the world today manufacture various buildings on site using huge 3D printers that build houses in layers. A Japanese manufacturer recently developed yet another technology that blends state-of-the-art with techniques thousands of years old. Lib Work uses soil, lime, and natural fibers and its buildings have achieved the highest level of earthquake safety.

In 2024, the University of Maine unveiled the worlds largest 3D printer, which can print objects up to 29 meters long. Called Factory of the Future 1.0, its intended to be used mainly to make house parts for renovations of historic buildings. With up to 227 kilograms printed per hour or over five tons per day, its no mean feat.

Cecilia Persson Mikael Wallerstedt

Can create previously impossible structures

Cecilia Persson, professor at Uppsala University, discusses another exciting consequence of developments in additive manufacturing: the possibility of creating shapes and structures that have not been possible before.

Can 3D printers do something that has never been possible before?

Yes, they can! I usually give two examples, one in component manufacturing and one in materials. You can optimize structures, for example, to minimize material use but get the same strength, for durability for example, including saving fuel with lighter components. In other words, you have a completely different kind of design freedom. Then you can develop materials with other microstructures, for example gradients of different microstructures within the same material as well as amorphous materials like metallic glass. Metal glass has traditionally been made only as thin films or wires, but now you could make larger, more complex parts.

A typical filament printer. Osman Talha Dikyar

Brian Loudon also talks about how 3D printers enable lighter components by optimizing the three-dimensional structure such as for extremely efficient heat exchangers that could not be made using traditional methods such as CNC machines or injection molding.

Making a big difference in medical technology

Cecilia Perssons research focuses on how additive manufacturing can be used in medical technology.

3D printers are mainly used for three different things: anatomical models to practice and/or explain surgical procedures, surgical guides  that is, patient-specific aids to surgery  and patient-specific implants and/or implants with specific properties that cannot be achieved with other manufacturing methods, or are much easier with 3D printers. Examples of patient-specific implants so far come mainly from skull and jaw surgery.

She points to an article in the 2023 issue of Tandlakartidningen that shows how 3D printers are already being used to rebuild damaged jawbones, allowing patients to receive dental implants that would otherwise not have been able to be attached anywhere. (*Beware of graphic images of surgical procedures.)

One area Persson is currently researching is the development of degradable materials for temporary implants, such as replacement bones that break down as the bodys own bones grow back.

Wrist support designed by Brian Loudon using 3D printers. Brian Loudon

Brian Loudon also works with clients developing medical devices of various kinds. He often uses 3D printers in combination with 3D scanners to produce, for example, different types of supports that fit a patients body exactly.

He explains, I have also used 3D printers that handle more than one material at a time to develop new supports for patients with arthritis with the National Centre for Prosthetics and Orthotics in Glasgow. The finished product will be injection molded with a rigid core and soft exterior, and multi-material printers have allowed prototypes of the same design to be produced and tested.

Customized design and flexible manufacturing

Brian Loudon has been working with 3D printers for prototyping and design development for over ten years. For him, the benefits of being able to go from an idea to a physical prototype more or less instantly are obvious, but he also sees the technology being used more and more to make the final products.

Thats one of the big changes were starting to see. Maybe not quite on the scale required for mass production yet, but both Adidas and Nike, for example, have started making midsoles with 3D printers and in Formula 1 McLaren uses 3D printed components in their cars. An interesting trend that has now been supported by a major consumer brand is the printing of spare parts. Philips has introduced Philips Fixables with Prusa Research to encourage users to repair instead of discarding gadgets when any part breaks.

Chris Fotheringham believes that the ability to produce unique, customized designs will drive huge growth on the consumer side as consumers will be able to solve problems and realize their ideas themselves. He cites the example of how 3D printers are being used in the hobby of cosplay to produce costume parts with incredible detail.

In various hobbies, 3D printers have long since changed what is possible for individuals to do themselves, and also what role manufacturers play. This is especially true for miniature games and model railways. 3D printers make it possible to print spare parts and components that manufacturers have never sold separately. Users can also design and print completely new components and accessories. Where in the past many people built landscapes by hand using materials such as cardboard, Styrofoam, and cellular panels, today the use of 3D printers has become commonplace.

Chris Fotheringham Privat

On the industrial side, the potential is even greater. I see 3D printers as a way to localize manufacturing again. Countries will be able to manufacture exactly what they need at home. Look, for example, at how Ukraine has used 3D printers in its own defense, says Fotheringham.

His new company is developing AI-based software that turns two-dimensional images into 3D models that users can then print without any prior knowledge. In the image opposite, you can see an example of a dog figure that Chris Fotheringham has made to test and showcase the software.

Chris Fotheringham

One of our long-term goals is to create a catalog of printable household products, to help people return to a culture of repair.
Last week, we covered how Microsoft is revamping the Start menu with some big upgrades, standardizations, and cleanups. One more thing possibly coming to the Start menu is a welcome change to how web links are treated when clicked.

More specifically, it appears that when you click on links from Windows built-in search featurewhether in the Start menu, the taskbar, or elsewherethose links will now open in your systems default browser instead of always opening in Microsoft Edge, reports Windows Latest.

All of this is based on some new flags that Windows Latest discovered in Edges Canary build (which is the most recent and most in development version of the browser). For example, a new flag named msExplicitLaunchNonEdgeDB seemingly refers to an explicit launching of a non-Edge default browser.

However, the flags go even further, with one called msExplicitLaunchNonBingDSE that seemingly refers to an explicit launching of a non-Bing default search engine. If true, this would mean youd be able to launch links via Google Search (non-Bing) in Google Chrome (non-Edge)a huge change for the Start menu!

The exact reason behind these developments is unclear, but its possible that Microsoft is worried about being slammed with new fines from the European Commission. Most recently, Microsoft was forced to make Windows 10 extended security updates free for users in Europe.
A Florida man is accused of killing and eating two of his pet peacocks just to spite a neighbor who fed the birds. Getty Images

A Florida man is accused of killing and eating two of his pet peacocks just to spite a neighbor who fed the birds.

Craig Vogt, 61, of Hudson, was arrested on Sept. 23 after police said his neighbor received a disturbing letter from him, the Miami Herald reported.

In the letter, Vogt said that he killed and ate two of his pet peacocks only because she kept feeding them, police said.

Vogts neighbor told authorities that she had gotten into a verbal argument with him about feeding the birds.

When asked, Vogt told police that he slit the birds throats with a knife, then cooked them in a frying pan and ate them. He said he put the letter in his neighbors mailbox to prove a point.

He was arrested on a charge of aggravated animal cruelty. He is currently being held in a detention center.

While being taken to jail, Vogt said he intends to kill all his pet peacocks to prevent anyone from getting custody of them.
Stories of High-Quality Development | Wu Hongliang: BRI projects grounded in people's needs

People's Daily Online) 11:25, September 29, 2025

China's humble Juncao technology has gone global, becoming a "grass of happiness" and "grass of prosperity" that boosts people's livelihoods. The Brightness Action program, which offers free cataract surgeries, has restored sight to patients in Belt and Road countries. Gambian farmer Musa Darboe traveled over 12,000 kilometers to present a bag of hybrid rice grown in Africa at the tomb of Yuan Longping, China's late "father of hybrid rice." Belt and Road projects are grounded in the needs of the people.

These stories serve as vivid examples of how BRI cooperation is benefiting the world.

BRI cooperation projects are grounded in the needs of people, said Wu Hongliang, director general of the International Cooperation Center of the National Development and Reform Commission, while recently hosting People's Daily's video series "Stories of High-Quality Development."

As a major step in China's opening up, the BRI has become the world's largest, most extensive and most influential international economic cooperation platform.

According to Wu, from advancing physical connectivity via infrastructure to facilitating institutional connectivity through standards and rules and building emotional connections among people, China will continue to grow while integrating with the world, driving global progress through its own development.

China is willing to work with all parties, always standing on the right side of history and on the side of human progress. It is devoted to making the BRI a path to global well-being and contributing more to building a community with a shared future for humanity, Wu said.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Wu Chengliang)
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technologys Workforce and Economic Development Center is offering training in renewable energy construction technology. Photo provided

A Lancaster County college has launched a five-month training in renewable energy construction technology.

The training offered by the Thaddeus Stevens College of Technologys Workforce and Economic Development Center focuses on electrical systems, solar energy installations and maintenance, and roofing construction and safety practices.

Those who go through the training will earn certifications in OSHA 10, forklift and rigging, iron ridge installation, solar edge installation, Enphase installation, and North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners and Photovoltaics installation.

Classes include AC/DC electrical work, solar energy principles, roofing construction and safety, photovoltaic system design/install/maintenance and OSHA 10. Classes are held from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. daily.

The program is a partnership with Tec Centro, part of the Spanish American Civic Association. Tec Centro West hosts the program at 57 Laurel St. in Lancaster, while the college runs the program and provides the instruction.

A school spokesperson said that those who complete this training will be able to find careers in solar energy installation and in renewable energy work.

The first program offering began in August. It will be offered again in February.

Information sessions and tours of the training space will be held at Tec Centro West from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Oct. 6, 20, and 27.

Those looking for more information can visit: www.stevenscollege.edu/short-term-and-skill-up-fast-trainings/construction-trainings/ and look under the Renewable Energy Construction Technology heading.
The Putman family gathers for a photo in the dining room of their home in Caseville Township on Jan. 12, 2017. Jacob Hamilton | Jhamilt3@mlive.com

The Putman family updated fans on social media Sunday as two of its members continue to battle for their lives in a hospital after a horrific crash that left three other family members dead.

A post to the family  which starred in the TLC reality show Growing Up Putman, Instagram page on Sunday shared the news.

Noah is still sedated, but we are so grateful to see that he is responding to us with movement, the statement read. Every small sign reminds us that God is at work and hearing our prayers.

Gia underwent a craniotomy last night, and we are thankful to report that her care team shared some encouraging news, her brain pressure has gone down significantly. This is a powerful reminder that Gods hand is on her, guiding her healing every step of the way, the statement continued. Through it all, we continue to hold tightly to our faith, knowing that God has a plan and a purpose for everything. Even in the hardest moments. He is present, working in ways we may not yet understand.

The statement closed by thanking followers for their prayers and asking them to continue and pray for Noah and Gia to heal.

The family announced on Instagram on Saturday that three of its members died in the crash which occurred Friday in Michigan.

Dear Friends and Family, I come to you with a heavy heart asking for your prayers, that statement read. Our family was in a tragic car accident and we lost Papa, Neenee, and Aunt Megan. They have gone home to be with the Lord. Please keep Uncle Blake, Lulu, Alena, Noah, and Gia in your prayers as they remain in the hospital, we are asking for complete healing and strength for each of them.

The statement added that the family all proclaim that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior.

He is our hope, our peace, and our salvation, the statement read. Even in this time of heartbreak, we rest in knowing that God is in control.

The statement also asked for continued prayers for those recovering and for the family as they also deal with this deep loss.

Thank you for every prayer, message, and act of love, it read. Your support means more than words can express. Please continue to lift us up, that our hearts remain fixed on the truth that Jesus conquered death so we could have eternal life.

TMZ reported that the crash happened in Tuscola County, and that the sheriffs office there sent out a press release that said it was a two-vehicle crash that resulted in a 55-year-old Florida man running a stop sign.

Per the outlet, police said the mans semi truck collided with a Jeep occupied by eight individuals. Three were pronounced dead at the scene.

The Putman family was featured in their own show on TLC  Meet the Putmans  and after the show left there it was brought back on YouTube in 2021 as Growing up Putman.

However, per TMZ, the family has not produced a new episode in years.
Last week, Starbucks announced it is closing about 200 shops by the end of the year and laying off 900 non-retail employees as part of a turnaround. (Photo by Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images) NurPhoto via Getty Images

Several Pennsylvania Starbucks locations are closing as part of the chains plan to shut down underperforming stores.

Last week, the Seattle based chain announced it is closing about 200 shops by the end of the year and laying off 900 non-retail employees as part of a turnaround.

Starbucks Chairman and CEO Brian Niccol said in a letter sent to employees last week that the company identified locations where it doesnt see a path to financial stability or isnt able to create the physical environment customers expect.

Each year, we open and close coffeehouses for a variety of reasons, from financial performance to lease expirations, Niccol wrote. This is a more significant action that we understand will impact partners and customers. Our coffeehouses are centers of the community, and closing any location is difficult.

The coffee giant said it will operate about 18,300 locations in the U.S. and Canada by the end of the year.

The closure impacts stores nationwide. In Pennsylvania, a Starbucks at 101 N. Queen St. in Lancaster closed on Sunday, according to WGAL.

Other closures are reported in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

According to CBS News, five Philadelphia stores are closing, including:

1709 Chestnut St.

1128 Walnut St.

1900 Market St.

1801 Spruce St.

490 N Broad St.

In Pittsburgh, the Tribune-Review reports three Starbucks store closures, including 1400 E. Carson St. in South Side, 3931 Butler St. in Lawrenceville and 4 W. North Ave. in North Side.

Niccol said Starbucks plans to increase its North American store count in its next fiscal year. The company said it also plans to redesign more than 1,000 locations in the next 12 months to give them a warmer, more welcoming feel.
The biannual practice will draw to a close for this year in a little over a month. (Getty Images) Getty Images

Hark  fall hath come. Its getting darker outside earlier. The temperatures are getting to a seasonally appropriate level, and people are a-leaf-peeping.

You know what that means  PennLives annual, near-constant reminder of when daylight saving time ends for 2025.

According to TimeAndDate.com, daylight saving time 2025 will draw to a close on Sunday, Nov. 2, at 2 a.m. 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.
Emergency crews respond to a shooting and fire at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Grand Blanc, Mich., Sept. 28, 2025. (David Guralnick/Detroit News via AP) AP

By ISABELLA VOLMERT and COREY WILLIAMS, The Associated Press

GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP)  At least four people were killed and eight injured when a gunman in a pickup truck smashed through the doors of a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel in Michigan during a Sunday service attended by hundreds, opened fire and set the building ablaze. Police shot and killed the suspect, authorities said.

The attack occurred at about 10:25 a.m. The gunman got out of the four-door pickup with two American flags in the truck and started shooting, Police Chief William Renye told reporters. He apparently used gas to start the fire and also had explosive devices, but it wasnt clear if he used them, said James Dier of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Authorities identified the shooter as Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, of the neighboring small town of Burton. The FBI is leading the investigation and considers it an act of targeted violence, said Ruben Coleman, a special agent in charge for the bureau.

Officers responding to a 911 call were at the church within 30 seconds and killed the shooter about eight minutes later, Renye said. After the suspect left the church, two officers pursued him and engaged in gunfire, the chief said.

Renye said people inside the church during the attack were shielding children and moving them to safety.

Flames and smoke could be seen pouring from the large church for hours before the blaze was put out. The bodies of two of the victims were found as authorities searched the debris, Renye said.

He said authorities had yet to make it through the entire church and that more victims could be found. One of the wounded people was in critical condition Sunday evening, and the seven others were stable.

Renye said some people were unaccounted for, but he didnt have an exact number.

Michigan State Police Lt. Kim Vetter said bomb threats were made at other churches in the area after officers shot and killed Sanford. No bombs were found, and police were investigating the threats.

The motive not yet clear

Investigators were searching Sanfords residence, but authorities did not say what they found or provide any additional details about him, including whether he was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, widely known as the Mormon church.

Sanford served in the Marines from June 2004 through June 2008, working as an automotive mechanic and vehicle recovery operator, according to military records obtained by The Detroit News. He was deployed to Iraq from August 2007 through March 2008 and had the rank of sergeant.

It was the latest of many shooting attacks on houses of worship in the U.S. over the past 20 years, including one in August that killed two children during Mass at the Church of the Annunciation in Minneapolis.

It was also the second mass shooting in the U.S. in less than 24 hours. On Saturday night, a man in a boat opened fire on a crowd in Southport, North Carolina, killing three and injuring five.

President Donald Trump said in a social media post that he was briefed on the Michigan shooting and applauded the FBI for its response. Local authorities said the FBI was sending 100 agents to Grand Blanc Township, a community of roughly 40,000 people outside Flint.

PRAY for the victims, and their families. THIS EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY MUST END, IMMEDIATELY! Trump wrote.

The church building, circled by a parking lot and a large lawn, is near residential areas and a Jehovahs Witness church.

Brad Schneemann, whose home is about 400 yards (365 meters) from the church, told The Associated Press that he and his daughter heard two rounds of four to five shots around 10:30 a.m. Then, we really didnt hear anything for a while before they left their home to see what was going on.

Tight-knit church community

Timothy Jones, 48, said his family is part of another Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints congregation, or ward, about 15 minutes away, but that his children were at the Grand Blanc Township ward Saturday night for a youth fall festival. He and his family moved to Flint two years ago in large part because of how strong the faith community is in the area, he said.

A vehicle that was rammed into the building is surrounded by smoke as a firefighter works on the scene at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Mich., Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. (Lukas Katilius/The Flint Journal via AP) AP

As people in his congregation got word of the shooting from texts and phone calls during their Sunday service, his ward went into lockdown and police came as a precaution, he said. His children were frantically, just trying to get word that people were OK.

Sundays are supposed to be a time of peace and a time of reflection and worship, Jones said. Yet in the wake of violence at other houses of worship, a shooting feels inevitable, and all the more tragic because of that, he added.

The shooting occurred the morning after Russell M. Nelson, the oldest-ever president of the Utah-based faith, died at 101. The next president is expected to be Dallin H. Oaks, per church protocol.

The church is in communication with local law enforcement as the investigation continues and as we receive updates on the condition of those affected, spokesperson Doug Anderson said.

Places of worship are meant to be sanctuaries of peacemaking, prayer and connection. We pray for peace and healing for all involved.

The impact of the shooting spread throughout the area

When striking nurses at nearby Henry Ford Genesys Hospital heard about the shooting, some left the picket line and ran the short distance to the church to help first responders, Teamsters Local 332 President Dan Glass said.

Human lives matter more than our labor dispute, Glass said.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement that her heart was breaking for the community. Violence anywhere, especially in a place of worship, is unacceptable, she said.

The impact spread quickly to neighboring communities, including the small city that shares a name with the township.

Although we are two separate governmental units, we are a very cohesive community, said city of Grand Blanc Mayor John Creasey. This sort of thing is painful for our entire community.

Law enforcement and fire personnel stand near the corner of McCandlish and Holly road, near a shooting that took place at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Grand Blanc, Mich. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez) AP

About 100 people gathered for a prayer service Sunday evening at The River Church in Grand Blanc, a nondenominational Christian church about 5 miles (8 kilometers) from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Many bowed their heads, some cried softly. A few spoke their prayers aloud, asking for healing for the victims, the victims families and first responders.

We live in days that are difficult and troubled, days that are weary and tiring, said Pastor Chuck Lindsey, leading the congregation in prayer. Were exhausted by the evil, were exhausted by these things. But Lord, you are our refuge.

Associated Press reporters Safiyah Riddle in Montgomery, Alabama; Sophia Tareen in Chicago; and Christopher Weber in Los Angeles contributed to this report.
Pedestrians yell at federal agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection as they walk along North Clark Street near West Oak Street in the River North neighborhood, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Chicago. (Ashlee Rezin/Chicago Sun-Times via AP) AP

By ADRIAN SAINZ and SOPHIA TAREEN, The Associated Press

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP)  Armed federal agents patrolled Chicagos downtown streets on Sunday, and President Donald Trump called up 200 National Guard troops for deployment in Portland, Oregon, a move strongly opposed by the governor that immediately prompted a lawsuit saying Trump overstepped his authority.

The latest examples of creeping federal law enforcement and military presence in U.S. cities occurred as Memphis prepares for the arrival of additional federal authorities, including immigration and drug enforcement agents, that Republican Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee says he expects will happen this week.

In Chicago on Sunday, dozens of armed federal agents, in full tactical gear, walked the streets of some of the citys most prominent tourist and shopping areas. That comes amid a surge of immigration enforcement that began early this month, including repeated conflict at an ICE building in Broadview, west of Chicago, where federal authorities on Friday and Saturday fired pepper balls and tear gas at protesters.

Trumps troop order came a day after he said on social media that he was directing the Department of Defense to provide all necessary Troops to protect War ravaged Portland. Trump said the decision was necessary to protect U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities. Gov. Tina Kotek said Trumps description was a false narrative meant to spur conflict.

The moves follow Trumps crime crackdown in the District of Columbia and actions in Los Angeles in response to immigration protests that turned violent with the arrival of troops.

Heres a rundown of potential and current federal law enforcement activity in Chicago, Portland and Memphis.

Chicago

On Sunday, federal agents marched along Michigan Avenue, the Chicago River and upscale neighborhoods, attracting attention from shoppers and families dining at sidewalk cafes. Many used phones to record. Activists also trailed the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents, blowing whistles and shouting.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker blasted the sudden physical show of force.

While Chicagoans and visitors are enjoying another gorgeous Sunday, they are being intimidated by masked federal agents flaunting automatic weapons for no apparent reason, Johnson said in a statement.

Pritzker echoed the sentiment.

This is not making anybody safer  its a show of intimidation, instilling fear in our communities and hurting our businesses, Pritzker said in a statement.

Gregory Bovino, a Border Patrol agent central to the Los Angeles immigration crackdown, was among the agents who walked several miles near downtown.

Federal agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection walk along West Wacker Drive in the Loop, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Chicago. (Ashlee Rezin/Chicago Sun-Times via AP) AP

Federal officials have said the Chicago surge was intended to arrest the worst of the worst people in the country illegally and with criminal records. Bovino told The Associated Press that agents had made several arrests but declined to give specifics on whether the patrols downtown were aimed at specific people.

Weve always got a target thats anyone who is here illegally, Bovino said.

Over the weekend, tension rose outside an ICE building in suburban Broadview about 12 miles (19 kilometers) west of Chicago. On Friday, agents repeatedly fired chemical agents toward a crowd of over 100 protesters after some of the group attempted to block a car from driving down a street toward the ICE building. Pepper bullets and tear gas canisters went into the crowd, most of them standing away from the fence and not blocking traffic.

Protesters and reporters described similar scenes on Saturday.

Broadviews mayor criticized ICE for actions she said have endangered local police, firefighters, residents and protesters. Broadview police also launched a criminal investigation of an unprovoked attack on the vehicle of a WBBM-TV Chicago reporter, alleging a chemical munition was fired by immigration agents.

In previous weeks, protesters had also tried to block agents vehicles from moving in or out of a yard next to the building.

Activists and family members of detainees have raised concerns in recent days that the facility meant to process arrestees is a de facto detention center plagued by inhumane conditions.

Trump previously threatened to send the National Guard into Chicago, but has yet to follow through.

Portland

Trump said he ordered the 60-day deployment of Oregon National Guard troops to deal with violent protests that threaten the security of immigration detention facilities and other federal property.

He said the protests constitute a form of rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States.

A protester puts out plaques for a memorial outside a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane) AP

Protesters at recent demonstrations have numbered in the dozens and focused on the area around a single ICE building. Some federal agents have been injured and several protesters have been charged with assault. Some demonstrators also say they have been injured.

Kotek talked to Trump on Saturday and said the deployment was unnecessary. She refused to call up any Oregon National Guard troops, and so Trump did so himself in an order to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Putting our own military on our streets is an abuse of power and a disservice to our communities and our service members, Kotek said. And it is unlawful. And it will make Oregonians less safe.

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield said he filed a lawsuit in the Oregon U.S. District Court against Trump, Hegseth and others on behalf of the state and the city of Portland. It seeks an injunction blocking any deployment on the grounds that Trump doesnt have authority because the situation doesnt constitute an invasion or rebellion or a situation where federal laws cant otherwise be executed.

Oregon communities are stable, and our local officials have been clear: we have the capacity to manage public safety without federal interference, Rayfield said . Sending in 200 National Guard troops to guard a single building is not normal. If you had a concern about safety at your own home, youd make a few calls and fill the gaps  not call in an army.

Memphis

Trump said earlier this month that he was creating a task force of federal law enforcement agencies to combat crime in Memphis. The city has experienced high numbers of violent crimes, such as carjackings and homicides in recent years, but both Democratic and Republican officials have noted that the majority-Black city is seeing decreases this year in some crime categories.

Lee, the governor, has publicly said he would not expect more than 150 National Guard members to be sent to Memphis, though hes said the numbers arent solidified. The city said Friday there wont be tanks. The Guard troops wont be making arrests and wont be armed unless local authorities request that, Lee said Friday.

Its unclear when Guard members will arrive. Lee also said 300 Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers will be in the region.

A protester waves to Department of Homeland Security officials as they walk to the gates of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility after inspecting an area outside on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane) AP

Latinos in Memphis have expressed concern that ICE agents will increase their presence in Memphis and detain people who are in the country legally.

On Saturday, dozens of people marched to a plaza in front of City Hall to protest the law enforcement surge. Speakers at a news conference said that, instead of federal troops and agents, Memphis needs more funding for education, crime prevention, youth services and hospitals.

Oregon officials have made similar comments.

Tareen reported from Chicago.
A firefighter works to put out a fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township after a Burton man drove into the building and opened fire on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. Police say the fire was set intentionally by the suspect. Lukas Katilius | MLive.com

BURTON, MI -- The gunman who killed at least four worshippers at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township on Sunday unleashed an unprovoked, bitter critique of the Mormon faith just days before the deadly assault.

Burton City Council candidate Kris Johns said he met Thomas Jacob Sanford, who police identified as the gunman, while campaigning door to door on East Atherton Road near Center Road on Sept. 22.

The Michigan State Police Bomb Squad was in the same area on Sunday, searching for clues from Sanfords home about what led him to carry out the mass shooting that also injured eight others. Sanford was also killed after exchanging gunfire with authorities, police said.

After a few minutes of introductions, Johns said, Sanford steered the conversation directly to the Mormon church and did not turn back, repeatedly telling him that the Mormons are the anti-Christ.

Religion is not a (regular) topic on the doorstep, Johns said of the encounter, which began with Sanford acting outgoing  almost jovial  before his conversation became unhinged about the church.

He asked me what [I knew] about Mormons, said Johns, who said hes been interviewed about the encounter by Michigan State Police and the FBI.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday, Sept. 29, that investigators are looking into how Sanfords feelings about the Latter-day Saints tied into Sundays attack.

From what I understand, based on my conversations with the FBI director, all they know right now is this was an individual who hated people of the Mormon faith, she said during an interview on Fox News Channels Fox and Friends.

Johns said Sanford told him members of the church wanted him to get rid of his tattoos and talked about the various tenets of the faith, including sealing, a process that Mormons believe binds a husband, a wife, and their children to each other for eternity. According to the church website, members are not supposed to tattoo their bodies.

According to the Latter-day Saints, sealing can be performed only in a temple by a man who has the priesthood or the authority from God. It means family relationships will endure after death if the individuals live according to the teachings of Jesus Christ, according to the LDS website.

Johns described Sanfords comments as unusual and said he was able to follow some of them because he has friends who are members of the Latter-day Saints. It is unclear what Sanfords involvement was with the Mormon church.

Johns said he was visiting homes in the city where someone in the household had voted in the primary City Council election in August.

The candidate said Sanfords name wasnt the one that triggered his visit, but he was outside the home when Johns abruptly pulled over when I noticed the address.

He engaged with me because he thought something was wrong with my car, Johns said. I pulled over quickly, and he was in the driveway ... In this 20-minute conversation, there was no political talk.

It was entirely based on religion, he said. He had an extreme issue with the church.
By Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times (TNS)

LOS ANGELES  Abigail Ruvalcaba was intrigued when a handsome daytime soap opera actor shed been watching for years reached out to her in a Facebook message.

His rugged exterior, softened by his piercing blue eyes and an almost shy smile, disarmed her. She answered him, pushing away any doubts as to why the Emmy winner would suddenly contact her.

They talked on the phone. He sent her videos professing his love for her. They made plans to buy a beach house so they could start their lives together.

The problem was she was making plans not with General Hospital star Steve Burton, but with a scammer who intended not to romance her, but to swindle her. In the end, the scheme led Ruvalcaba to sell her home to send money to the bad actors.

Fraudsters using promises of love and companionship to cheat the lonely is a crime as old as Victorian novels.

But the rapidly advancing world of artificial intelligence and deepfakes has given scammers powerful new weapons. And increasingly, they are using the likenesses of celebrities like Burton to lure victims.

Fraudsters using promises of love and companionship to cheat the lonely is a crime as old as Victorian novels, but the rapidly advancing world of artificial intelligence and deepfakes has given scammers powerful new weapons. (Dreamstime/TNS) TNS

Burton had no idea this exchange was taking place, but said he had had numerous encounters over the last few years in which strangers approached him and insisted they had been chatting.

I get a thousand messages a day and 100 of them are people who think theyre talking to me on other appsTelegram, WhatsAppmy agent, my manager, my publicist, nobody will be reaching out to you, Burton said in a Facebook video warning his fans of such scams. Please be careful. You are not speaking to me anywhere unless I message you back from my Instagram @1steveburton.

In 2023, nearly 65,000 people reported being victims of a romance scam, with reported losses reaching a staggering $1.14 billion, according to the Federal Trade Commission. The use of artificial intelligence has only made the swindling easier. Now, thieves can pretend to be nearly anyone with a large enough digital footprint, including celebrities whose voices and likenesses are widely accessible.

And experts say situations where scammers pretend to be celebrities to extract money from well-meaning fans are far from rare.

Even if you dont want a Cinderella story, you cant deny that a Cinderella story would be nice, said Ally Armeson, the executive director of the nonprofit FightCybercrime.org. You may not be yearning for it, but I would be hard-pressed to point to a person who wouldnt want to be adored by a celebrity.

Last year, YouTube deleted thousands of AI videos on its platform that purported to show Taylor Swift, Joe Rogan and Steve Harvey pitching a Medicare scam.

Harvey told CNN this year that scams using his likeness are at an all-time high.

I prided myself on my brand being one of authenticity, and people know that, and so they take the fact that Im known and trusted as an authentic person, pretty sincere, the Family Feud host told the outlet. My concern now is the people that it affects. I dont want fans of mine or people who arent fans to be hurt by something.

In 2024, a San Diego woman lost her life savings to a scammer pretending to be actor Keanu Reeves. Earlier this year, a French woman came forward publicly to say she had lost $855,000 to a scammer who used AI-generated content while pretending to be Brad Pitt. She faced such an intense barrage of criticism online that the network that aired the interview with her took it down.

Armeson said her organization has helped victims whose scammers were portraying public figures who included Elon Musk, Britney Spears, Mila Kunis, Brad Pitt, Trace Adkins, Jelly Roll and, before his death, Val Kilmer.

In April, a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers introduced the NO FAKES Act, which aims to protect the voice and likeness of individuals from computer-generated re-creations from generative AI and other technology.

Celebrities have even gone as far as to warn their fans not to trust any communication from them that comes from social media.

Those who work with victims of internet crimes say the thieves prey on peoples most basic desires: to be loved. By the time Ruvalcaba realized she was ensnared in an elaborate romance scam bolstered by the use of artificial intelligence, she had lost nearly everything.

I was in a fantasy world. He had an answer for everything, Ruvalcaba, 66, said in an interview with The Times. Im devastated, obviously, and I feel stupid. I should have known better.

Ruvalcaba, a mother of two adult children, spent decades working as an accountant until 2017, when she became permanently disabled because of complications arising from Bipolar 1 Disorder.

Her daughter, Vivian Ruvalcaba, believes her mother was experiencing mania during much of the interactions with the person she thought was Burton, allowing her to fall deeper into the sham relationship. Their conversations, which initially began on Facebook around October 2024, moved to the encrypted messaging app WhatsApp.

Soon after, the thief began asking her for money for what he said were management expenses and to fund the purchase of the home they would share. Ruvalcaba is still married to the father of her children, but longs for the excitement that comes from a new relationship.

In September, she sent the person pretending to be Burton $27,500, according to a police report.

Still, the scammer wanted more.

In the months that followed, she sent Bitcoin and gift cards ranging from $50 to $500. By early this year, she had sent the scammer a total of $81,000, according to her family.

As she transferred cash, he sent her messages reassuring her of his commitment to their relationship. One video reviewed by The Times shows a supposed Burton wearing a backward hat and a black T-shirt while sitting in a car.

Experts say the video is a deepfake, a manipulated piece of content created using artificial intelligence to depict Burton saying things he never did. The scammers appear to have taken the video Burton recorded in May, warning fans of scams, changed the audiostill using his voiceand altered his mouth movements to match.

I love you so much, darling, the video states. I had to make this video to make you happy, my love. I hope this puts a smile on your heart. Know that nothing will ever make me hurt you or lie to you, my queen.

The audio in the video, only about 11 seconds long, is clear but slightly robotic. The technology used to alter the actors mouth left it with an almost airbrushed appearance  a tell for those with experience with AI  but probably not significant enough for the average person to immediately tell it has been manipulated.

Vivian Ruvalcaba is photographed outside of her parents' condo in Harbor City on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025. Ruvalcaba's mother, Abigail, was the victim of a celebrity romance scam. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times/TNS) TNS

In the world of online crimes, romance scams involving celebrities are far from the most popular, but they can be catastrophic.

Scams in which a person is seeking a few hundred dollars or personal information that can be sold on the dark web are operated on a wider scale and at a much faster pace and frequently have more victims. Romance scams take longer but are more fruitful for the thief, said Steve Grobman, executive vice president and chief technology officer at McAfee.

A typical romance scam might require a scammer to engage with a victim for weeks and have many, many conversations to build that level of emotional trust before they pivot to capitalize on cashing out, Grobman said.

And it has never been easier to pretend to be someone else.

The advancement in AI image creation and video has made it such that the scammers now can not only project themselves as a persona using text, they can send images or videos in whatever location they choose, he said.

Although someone perpetrating a romance scam can go after any age group, often older individuals who have built up significant retirement accounts and may be less familiar with AI and deepfake technology are targeted. Median losses per person are around $2,000  the highest amount reported for any type of impostor scam, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

Another victim of a celebrity scam, a woman in her 70s, who spoke to The Times on condition of anonymity, said she lost her entire retirement savings over the course of several years after a scammer posing as a celebrity convinced her to take advantage of what she thought was an investment opportunity.

The person sent her videos and photos that she thought at the time looked real. The truth, she said, is that anyone can be a victim.

I consider myself a bright person, she said. And Ive struggled to understand how I could do something like this. But these scammers are smart people and they have you convinced about everything. Its unbelievable.

At a time when so many relationships begin in the digital world, it can be easy to fall victim to someone with nefarious intentions. But experts say the best protection is to remain skeptical of online relationships.

Video chats, other online interactions, and even phone calls can be manipulated into something else with technology and have become very convincing, said Iskander Sanchez-Rola, director of AI and Innovation at Norton Research Group.

There are a few ways eagle-eyed consumers can spot a deepfake, according to Norton. People should watch out for unnatural eye movements and facial expressions, hair that seems a bit too perfect, and an absence of an outline of individual teeth.

A mismatch of emotion between the words a person is speaking and their facial expression can also be a red flag, along with abnormal skin tones, discoloration, strange lighting, and shadows that dont match up with the scene.

Experts say consumers can protect themselves by conducting reverse image searches on content that is sent to them to see whether there are any similar videos online to help determine if an image or video has been altered.

But the best protection may be bringing a healthy dose of skepticism to anything sent online to you from someone you dont know IRL (in real life).

If a celebrity that you admire slides into your DMs, the first thing to assume is that its a scam, Sanchez-Rola said. And if the celebrity sends you a love note asking for money. Stop. Thats not love. Thats a deepfake.

Scammers will often urge victims to keep their relationship a secret in an effort to prevent family and friends from intervening and stopping the flow of cash, according to experts.

In February, Vivian Ruvalcaba started to get suspicious about her mothers spending after her son told her that his grandmother had asked him to take her to buy a $500 gift card for a friend. Around the same time, her father noticed transactions for money orders that had been taken out of their account.

When she confronted her mother about the missing funds, she confessed to the love affair. Vivian Ruvalcaba watched the video supposedly of Burton and felt sick.

She immediately knew it was the work of AI. She chastised her mother for sending money to a stranger, but Ruvalcaba was certain the man she was speaking to was the actor shed watched on television for so many years.

Im like, Mom, you cant send people that you dont know money, Vivian Ruvalcaba recalled telling her mother. And she said: I know him. Hes Steve Burton. How are you gonna tell me thats not him? Its his voice. Its his face. I watch him on TV all the time.

I told her, if it really was him, wouldnt you think that hed be sending you money, not the other way around, Vivian said.

What Vivian didnt realize at the time was that the scammer had been pushing her mother to sell her Harbor City condominium, which shed owned since 1999.

Without telling her family, Ruvalcaba sold the two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo to Sellers New Day, a wholesale real estate company, for $350,000  far below market value. Similar condominiums in the area have recently sold for as much as $500,000, according to Zillow.

Vivian Ruvalcaba said she reached out to the house-flipping company that purchased the condo from Sellers New Day to try to reverse the sale, but hasnt been successful.

Now, shes fighting to keep her parents home. In July, the family filed a lawsuit to try to stop the transfer of the home. That case is still pending.

J. Scott Souders, an attorney representing Sellers New Day, said in an email that Ruvalcaba reached out to his clients and was cognizant of the terms of the deal to sell her home. He called the lawsuit a shakedown for money.

Ruvalcaba was set to send the scammer $70,000 from the proceeds of the sale, but her daughter stepped in just in time and canceled the transaction.

That home was supposed to be their security in their golden years, Vivian Ruvalcaba said. Now its gone.

2025 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
UPDATE: 5th person dies days after fire at central Pa. home

Two of the three children who died in a Sunday house fire in Lebanon were visiting the home for a birthday celebration, the coroners office said on Monday.

One-year-old Amarri Morris Rodriguez was visiting the house on the 800 block of Church Street from New York, while 4-year-old Veyda Pereyra was visiting from elsewhere in Lebanon County, the Lebanon County Coroners Office said.

Two of the homes residents, Jaeden Nunez, 17, and Josefina Estevez, 73, were also found dead after the fire.

The cause and manner of death for the victims were still pending as of Monday afternoon, the coroners office said.

The Lebanon Fire Department was dispatched to the fire at 8:43 a.m. and found the first and second floors of the home engulfed. There were 10 people inside when the fire started, some visiting for a birthday celebration, according to Mayor Sherry Capello.

A Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal determined the fire was an accident starting from an electrical outlet in the first-floor living room.

One person is in critical condition, and one is in stable condition, Capello said in a Sunday news release. Four other occupants escaped with minor injuries.

A man who lives next door said he heard people screaming outside that the house was on fire, and when he left his home, he heard yelling there was a baby inside.

I tried to help them, I wanted to get inside the building, but the flames were just too intense, he said. It was an inferno.

Staff writer DaniRae Renno contributed to this report.
Nearly half a million Pennsylvanians are on track to see their health insurance premiums double, triple, or even quintuple in price starting next year  and it remains unclear if theres the political will in Washington to address it.

The federal governments 2021 COVID relief legislation created extra tax subsidies for health plans purchased through Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance exchanges, cutting patients monthly costs and keeping them low through the pandemic.

But as PennLive reported last year, the enhanced healthcare assistance will abruptly go away in January unless Congress acts within the next few weeks to extend it.

The issue has now become wrapped up in negotiations to pass a federal budget extension and avoid a government shutdown. President Donald Trump met with Congressional leaders Monday afternoon in an attempt to hammer out a deal, but little progress was reported.

Most Democrats have said theyre willing to withhold their votes and risk a shutdown in order to stabilize insurance markets  although this notably does not include Pennsylvanias Democratic Senator, John Fetterman.

Conversely, hardline conservatives have suggested they wont vote for anything that keeps the expanded subsidies alive. In an op-ed over the weekend, the House Freedom Caucus  of which Harrisburg-area Rep. Scott Perry is a prominent member  said the subsidies have distorted insurance prices and are standing in the way of free markets.

In a radio interview earlier this month, Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Michael Humphreys described the anticipated subsidy losses as part of a perfect storm that will lead to higher costs and losses of coverage.

Under the ACA  popularly known as Obamacare after the former president who signed it into law  residents who dont qualify for Medicare or Medicaid, and who dont receive health coverage through their employer, can purchase subsidized insurance plans through a brokerage run by their state.

In Pennsylvania, this system is called Pennie, which enrolled nearly half-a-million commonwealth residents this year, according to agency data.

Roughly 90% of them receive some type of subsidy. Per the ACA, this is calculated by capping the portion of household income an individual or family must pay in health insurance premiums, with the remainder of the cost picked up by federal tax credits that are paid forward and then reconciled every April.

Not only did the 2021 COVID stimulus bill lower the premium caps for every income bracket, it also extended assistance to households making more than 400% of the federal poverty line, which had been the cutoff point for subsidies under the original Obamacare rules. For the last four years, households making over 400% of the poverty line  about $84,000 per year for a family of two  had their premiums capped at 8.5% of their income.

Without an extension, the 400% cliff would go back into effect. The average 60-year-old couple making just over the cutoff would see the price of a mid-tier Obamacare plan balloon five-fold to nearly $3,000 per month, according to Pennie estimates.

This is in addition to the overall rise in healthcare costs that have caused insurers to raise rates. Insurance companies that participate in Pennie are asking for a 19% increase, on average, in the premiums for their Obamacare plans in 2026.

As Humphreys noted, rising costs and declining subsidies cause a spiraling effect in which healthier Pennsylvanians choose to simply forego insurance due to the expense, leaving the remaining patient pool less healthy on average and placing further upward pressure on rates.

The additional subsidies were explicitly excluded from Trumps One, Big Beautiful Bill that was passed in July. The bill also changed how the ACA benchmarks plans benefits, increasing deductibles and out-of-pocket costs.

How much of these cuts Trump may be willing to add back in order to forestall a shutdown remains unclear. The July fiscal deal will increase the federal deficit by $3.4 trillion over ten years  a number which wouldve been even higher if not for $174 billion in savings from changing the Obamacare benchmarking, according to the Joint Committee on Taxation.

This will cause aggregate taxes for the lowest-income Americans to actually increase as a result of Trumps signature tax-cutting bill, according to JCT estimates.

Democrats have offered legislation that would fund the federal government through Oct. 31 in exchange for extending the extra ACA subsidies and reversing some of the Medicaid cuts that were made in July, according to the Washington Post. Trump described those demands as unserious and ridiculous last week.

Likewise, in their op-ed, Perry and other Freedom Caucus members said the ACA subsidies camouflage skyrocketing premiums without addressing the root causes of the healthcare affordability crisis  although this hypothetical alternate path forward remains murky after Republicans failed to come to an agreement on an Obamacare replacement during Trumps first term.

Fetterman is the only Democratic Senator who has supported a budget continuance without any ACA provisions, saying that while he supports extending the subsidies  he does not believe that shutdown brinksmanship will be overall helpful.

I am unwilling to vote to shut down our government and unleash massive, national chaos, Fetterman said in a statement earlier this month.

Federal spending authority ends Tuesday night, leaving Trump and Congressional leaders only 24 hours to finalize a deal after Mondays meeting, which looks increasingly unlikely with no breakthroughs being reported.
We are witnessing the restoration of patriarchy, nationalism, racism, and capitalist individualism. It is the nostalgic fury of right-wing movements that want to return to an idealized past  one that perhaps never truly existed  and to reestablish hierarchical orders. This is the terrifying panorama described by Judith Butler.

Butler, 69, spoke last Friday at the Reina Sofia Museum auditorium in Madrid with Joseba Elola, coordinator of EL PAISs Ideas supplement, during a subscriber event marking the publications 10th anniversary. Butler was introduced by Julia Morandeira, Director of Studies at the Reina Sofia: You have shown us that thought is not limited to books and universities  that thought is public action, she said. And by Jan Martinez Ahrens, editor-in-chief of EL PAIS, who pointed out how Butler has never bowed to the attacks of an ultramontane far right that is obsessed with fighting gender studies and trans people.

When Butler appeared, the audience responded with the fervor of fans, applauding and cheering  a reaction not typically seen at a philosophy event, even taking into account that Butler is the leading figure in the development and spread of queer theory, and one of the most influential voices in global thought, including in feminism and political philosophy. Butler is an intellectual icon and, judging by the audiences reception, something of a celebrity. No wonder they topped the list in the Ideas supplements special 500th issue, which surveyed experts to identify the most influential thinker in global current affairs.

Judith Butler, with journalist Joseba Elola during the meeting. Andrea Comas

Butler downplayed the attention: Theres a difference between a thinker and thinking. As a person who thinks, I value being celebrated and named, but theres something called thinking that goes beyond me, which I receive from others. I rely on the thinking of others, I put my thinking into the world, and theres a circulation of thought. Its not my thinking; it relies on so many people. Butler identifies as non-binary and requests the use of gender-neutral pronouns.

Butler also ranked second in a special issue of Ideas published in June 2023, which highlighted the most influential thinkers on todays left. In that ranking, Butler placed just behind Karl Marx, who topped the list. The two represent different currents: on the one hand, the classical, worker-centered left, and on the other, the one that emerged from the emancipatory movements of the 1960s, encompassing environmentalism, feminism, antiracism, and LGBTQ+ struggles. Some call the latter woke. Others frame it as a false dilemma between the two. We have to think of all these things together, because they are connected, said Butler.

Class cannot be separated from gender, race, or sexuality  everything is intertwined. We need to revive a Marxist analysis in light of the new social movements, Butler said, praising Spains anti-eviction movement while also highlighting the defense of the environment, reproductive rights, and public health. We must commit ourselves to saying what we want to see realized, and not just complain about what is going wrong.

EL PAIS editor-in-chief Jan Martinez Ahrens during the meeting. Andrea Comas

Butlers landmark work Gender Trouble, published in 1990, quickly became a touchstone in feminism: in its pages, they presented the seminal  and controversial  idea that gender is a social and performative construct. Butler described that text as a moment when feminism and queer theory came together. And I thought only 20 friends were going to read it! they joked.

In their recent book, Whos Afraid of Gender?, Butler examines anti-gender movements devoted to spreading the notion that ideas like theirs pose a threat to family, local cultures, civilization, and even to men. The trans issue, meanwhile, has opened a rift between transfeminism and trans-exclusionary feminism.

Can bridges be built? Everyone who thinks trans people should live however they want are building bridges. In fact, there are many bridges being built. But then there are groups that say they dont want bridges, Butler said, drawing applause from the audience. On the thorny question of gender and youth, they added: We can debate hormones or surgery, but gender assignment is a form of coercion that we must name and resist. We have to support young people, not tell them that they cant experiment or imagine how to live [in] their bodies in the world: lets leave that path open.

In The Force of Nonviolence: An Ethico-Political Bind, Butler condemns state violence, while in other words, they delve into methods of resistance against it. Butler has been barred from entering Israel for condemning the genocide in Gaza, and appears on a list of 160 professors and students compiled by UC Berkeley for the Trump administration over alleged antisemitic incidents, a measure that has been compared to the McCarthy-era blacklists.

I received a message from the universitys legal department saying my name is on that list. No one has filed a complaint against me in my three decades at the university But they wouldnt let me see the file or know what the accusation was. Its a Kafkaesque world where you want to know the accusation, but no one tells you, said Butler.

Fighting for trans rights or denouncing the genocide in Gaza (we need strong policies that go beyond the protests happening in so many places) is enough to earn anyone in the United States the label of terrorist. If you denounce the genocide the Israeli government is carrying out, you are a terrorist. If you denounce violence, you are violent. Or they associate you with Hamas, even if you have never shown support for it. Butlers call was clear: We must stand together, not as heroic individuals, but in solidarity. At that, the entire auditorium leapt to its feet, cheering and applauding.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
Cenral Pa. native Shane Gillis turned down a big offer to perform at Saudi film fest over 9/11 Vivid Seats

The lineup of A-list comedians who are jetting off to Saudi Arabia to perform at the two-week Riyadh Comedy Festival notably does not include central Pennsylvanias own stand up star Shane Gillis.

Gillis, the one-time former Saturday Night Live cast member and two-time SNL host, said he turned down a significant bag [of money] that was being offered to him to perform.

Speaking on Matt and Shanes Secret Podcast, Gillis said it was the alleged role of Saudi Arabia in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack that led to his decision.

I took a principled stand, he said. You dont 9/11 your friends.

Gillis, 37, took fellow comics to task for performing in a nation that has long been mired in allegations of links to 9/11 and other terrorist acts, including the 2018 murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

The relatives of victims of the 9/11 attack and insurance companies accuse Saudi government agents in the U.S. of having provided a support network for the terrorists, 15 of 19 of whom were from Saudi Arabia, as was 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden.

The festivals lineup of 50 international comedians includes Kevin Hart, Dave Chappelle, Gabriel Inglesias and Aziz Ansari. Also set to perform is former SNL cast member Pete Davidson, whose firefighter father was killed in the 9/11 attack.

Other comics such as Atsuko Okatsuka, Mike Birbiglia and Leslie Liao took to social media to say concerns over human rights abuses and free speech led them to declined to perform at the festival.

Comedian Tim Dillon said on his podcast that he was disinvited after he joked about Saudi Arabias poor human rights record, the New York Times reported.

I addressed it in a funny way, and they fired me, he said, adding, This is the first time Ive been fired by people that actually do really bad things.
A string of campaign mailers and digital ads that seem to mislead voters about a Pennsylvania judicial retention election has sparked pushback from Democrats.

The mailers and ads are being distributed by the Commonwealth Leaders Fund, which has ties to Pennsylvania billionaire conservative Jeffrey Yass. The Philadelphia Inquirer first reported on the GOP-affiliated PACs ties with the mailers and ads on Monday.

The message in the materials focuses on the state Supreme Court judicial retention election, which features a slate of three Democratic justices up for retention for another 10-year term.

Republicans see the election as an opportunity to challenge the courts 5-2 Democratic majority.

The messages conveyed by the flyers and the ads are considered intentionally misleading and confusing, particularly to Democratic voters, some Democratic pundits say.

In some cases, the ads use language that is sympathetic to Democratic voters to urge them to vote against retention, such as pertaining to reproductive rights and the defense of democracy. Democrats have decried this tactic as deceptive.

In one specific mailer, the image of a so-called gerrymandered map is used to underscore the idea that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court drew the map to help Democrats win.

The map used in the image, in fact, was drawn by legislative Republicans and thrown out by the justices in 2018 as unconstitutional gerrymandering.

What were seeing is this sort of unprecedented attempt to try to mislead voters on both sides of the aisle, but particularly on the Democratic side, trying to target voters to really have them vote against their interest and using code words that a lot of Democratic campaigns would use, like defending democracy, standing up for women, said J.J. Abbott, who runs Commonwealth Communications, a progressive advocacy group in Pennsylvania.

Theyre using this deceptive and misleading language that doesnt mention that the justices were elected as Democrats.

The GOP-affiliated PACs include a network comprised of Commonwealth Partners, the organization that runs the Commonwealth Leaders Fund, and Citizens for Term Limits, which urges voters in one ad to vote against retention to protect womens rights.

In some cases, the mailers and digital ads do not mention that the race being referenced is for the state Supreme Court.

It could confuse people into thinking its the U.S. Supreme Court, Abbott said. Its pretty unprecedented. Its pretty scummy to be totally honest and unfortunately, its being done at a time when voters are starting to vote.

PennLive submitted a request for comment from Commonwealth Partners on Monday but did not immediately hear back.

The three justices who are up for retention in November were elected to the appellate court as Democrats: Justices Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty and David Wecht will appear on the ballot without a party designation.

Voters will have the opportunity to select yes or no on whether to keep the judges on the bench for another 10 years. If retained, Donohue would have to step down in 2027 when she turns 75, the mandatory retirement age for justices.

Wecht, in fact, is among the potentially thousands of voters who received one of the postcard mailers at home.

That one goes beyond hyperbole or exaggeration into outright, brazen misrepresentation, Wecht told The Inquirer about the district map postcard. Its probably the most shameless political ad Ive ever seen.

Yass, according to Forbes, has a net worth of $59 billion and is a cofounder of Susquehanna International Group, one of Wall Streets largest and most successful trading firms. During the 2024 election cycle, Yass was among the highest donors to conservative causes and candidates, giving tens of millions to groups such as Club for Growth and the Congressional Leadership Fund. He donated $16 million to President Trumps super PAC MAGA Inc.

Typically a low-profile race, this cycles judicial retention race has garnered national attention and significant funding from interested parties.

There are three seats, said Michael Dimino Sr., professor of law at Widener University Commonwealth Law School. Its unusual that in a court with seven justices and 10-year terms youd have three come up in the same election cycle. The policy-based effects will be substantial. The difference between having three Republican and three Democratic justices on the court is huge.

Dimino argues that during the past 10 years the 5-2 Democratic majority court has had profound impact on statewide issues, including elections, mail-in balloting, and reproductive rights.

The behavior of our court over the last 10 years has been much more activist than even a typical Democratic-leaning court, he said. This Supreme Court has been particularly likely to involve itself in controversies and move the law in a leftward direction, overturning precedents, sometimes going contrary to statutory text. Our court is not only Democratic-leaning, but very leftward and so it stands to reason that Republicans are going to be really motivated to change.

The Pennsylvania Democratic Party compared the financial influence from Yass in the Commonwealth election to that of Elon Musks investments in the Wisconsin Supreme Court election earlier this year.

Much like we saw in Wisconsin, MAGA billionaires are lying and trying to buy this election so they can install a Pennsylvania Supreme Court that will put the needs of the wealthy ahead of the rest of us, Eugene DePasquale, the chair of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, said in a statement.

Despite the deceptive and confusing message from conservative interests in the Wisconsin race, Democrats won that race.

Dimino said campaign literature often has misinformation, typically in the form of errors. That in and of itself is not solely problematic.

Theres always errors, but not in any way that theres any kind of legal problem with it, he said. The First Amendment protects political speech, even though everybody knows that one of the costs of free speech in politics is going to be that there are some errors. I dont doubt that the flyer.... is wrong or misleading or something like that, but thats not enough to make it constitutionally unprotected.
The family members of four people, including three children, who died after a fire started inside a Lebanon home, have launched GoFundMe pages.

One of the fundraisers noted a particularly tragic situation: The First Aid and Safety Patrol said that EMT worker Azelyn Arenas was on duty when she responded to the house fire, only to find that one of the victims was her 4-year-old daughter.

The house fire, which began around 8:40 a.m. Sunday in the 800 block of Church Street, killed Amarri Morris Rodriguez, 1, Veyda Pereyra, 4, Jaeden Nunez, 17, and Josefina Estevez, 73, according to the Lebanon County Coroners Office.

The cause and manner of death for the victims were still pending as of Monday afternoon, the coroners office said.

The Lebanon Fire Department was dispatched to the fire and found the first and second floors of the home engulfed. There were 10 people inside when the fire started, some visiting for the birthday celebration, according to Mayor Sherry Capello.

The department expressed deep sorrow for Arenas, her family, and the EMS community, and shared a GoFundMe link that was started by Arenas. She said the family is completely shattered after the fire.

Veyda was visiting the party from another part of Lebanon County, according to the coroners office.

[Veyda] is the light in every room, our baby, our only child, & well forever miss her, the GoFundMe said. Nothing is expected but any donations will be greatly appreciated. Thank you & please respect our privacy as we navigate this. Her father and I appreciate anything.

The coroner said 1-year-old Amarri was visiting the house from New York.

The family describes the fire as devastating and is seeking financial help to cover funeral expenses, housing support, and assist the family as they begin recovering from their loss.

This tragedy has shattered our family and countless community members, the familys GoFundMe said. We are now reaching out to everyone to help with financial assistance for funeral planning, housing support, and to help rebuild from this unimaginable loss.

The fire, determined to be accidental, was caused by an electrical outlet on the first-floor living room, according to the Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal.

One person is in critical condition, and one is in stable condition, Capello said in a Sunday news release. Four other occupants escaped with minor injuries.

Neighbors described the fire as sudden, intense, and overwhelming, with one man calling it an inferno and saying the flames were too strong for him to enter the home, despite hearing screams and wanting to help.

Others told PennLive late Sunday afternoon they saw flames pouring from the windows and heard people yelling that a baby was inside.
Neighbors said the house fire in Lebanon that killed four people on Sunday sprang up rapidly and was intense.

It was an inferno, the man who lives next door said.

The house fire killed four people  ages 73, 17, 4, and 1  in the 800 block of Church Street.

The man said he heard people screaming outside that the house was on fire, and when he left his home, he heard yelling that a baby was inside.

I tried to help them, I wanted to get inside the building, but the flames were just too intense, he said.

The building is a rental property. The landlords mother, who was at the scene Sunday evening, said a grandmother in the home had been living there several years, but she wasnt sure when others moved in.

At the time of the fire, there were 10 people in the home, some of whom were guests at a birthday celebration, according to a media release sent out by Lebanon Mayor Sherry Capello on Sunday afternoon.

The house is located on a one-way thoroughfare just off North 9th Street, a main route for travelers. A neighbor who lives a few houses away said she stepped outside and saw flames pouring out of the windows.

One person remains in critical condition, and one is in stable condition, the mayor said in her release. The remaining four occupants escaped with minor injuries, she said.

The Lebanon Fire Department was dispatched to the fire at 8:43 a.m. and found the first and second floors of the residence fully engulfed.

Sunday evening, the smell of smoke still lingered, and the houses windows had been boarded up.

Fire crews found and rescued three people from the structure, who were transported to the hospital. Firefighters later recovered two additional bodies.

The fire came from an electrical outlet in the first-floor living room and was ruled accidental.

The Pennsylvania State Fire Marshal investigated the fire.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has announced that lane restrictions are planned for later this week on Route 30 in Lancaster County.

These restrictions will be in place so preliminary demolition work can be performed on the old bridge that carried eastbound Route 30 to northbound Route 222 at the Route 222/Route 30 Interchange Improvement Project. The bridge is scheduled to be demolished the weekend of October 10-13, a press release said.

Weather permitting, there will be lane restrictions on westbound and eastbound Route 30 from the Oregon Pike (Route 272) to the New Holland Pike (Route 23) between 9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, and 6 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 2, and between 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2, and 6 a.m. Friday, Oct. 3.

The closure is planned for the weekend of October 10-13 for eastbound and westbound Route 30 and the bridge carrying northbound/southbound Route 222 over Route 30. Traffic will be detoured.

The closure is planned for the weekend of October 10-13 for eastbound and westbound Route 30 and the bridge carrying northbound/southbound Route 222 over Route 30. Traffic will be detoured. PennDOT

The contractor will perform saw cutting and removal of bridge barrier to help expedite the demolition procedure during the weekend closure. Motorists should be alert and drive with caution through the work zone.

The closure is planned for the weekend of October 10-13 for eastbound and westbound Route 30 and the bridge carrying northbound/southbound Route 222 over Route 30. Traffic will be detoured.

Weather permitting, Route 30 and the bridge carrying northbound and southbound Route 222 over Route 30 will be closed at 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10. The closure is expected to remain in place until 5 a.m. Monday, Oct. 13. A backup date is scheduled for the weekend of October 17-20.

During this closure, there will be periodic 15-minute stops on Route 222 southbound to Route 30 westbound for the erection of overhead sign structures.

The new southbound Route 222 bridge over Route 30 was opened to traffic this spring. Eastbound Route 30 to northbound Route 222 traffic was then switched to the new southbound bridge, which currently carries both northbound and southbound Route 222 traffic. This traffic pattern will remain in place until a new bridge is built for Route 30 east to Route 222 north.

Detours will be in place for the weekend closure.

The detour for eastbound Route 30 will use Route 501 (Lititz Pike) south to Route 222 south to Duke Street to Route 23 east to Route 30.

The detour for eastbound Route 30 to northbound Route 222 will use Route 272 (Oregon Pike) to Jake Landis Road to Butter Road north to northbound Route 222.

The detour for westbound Route 30 will use northbound Route 222 to the Route 272 (Oregon Pike) Exit, Butter Road north to Jake Landis Road west to Route 272 south to southbound Route 222 and westbound Route 30.

The detour for southbound Route 222 to eastbound Route 30 will use Route 30 west to Fruitville Pike to Chester Road to Route 222 south to Duke Street to Route 23 east to Route 30.

Delays and congestion are expected along the detour route. Motorists should avoid the area or plan extra time for their travels. Travelers should be alert and drive with caution.

The project includes improvements at the Route 222/Route 30 Interchange and reconstructing Route 222 from the interchange north approximately one mile near Stoner Park, which is just south of the Landis Valley Road bridge spanning the highway.

Work on the north side of the interchange includes constructing a second lane on the southbound Route 222 ramp to westbound Route 30 that will tie into the existing northbound Route 272 (Oregon Pike) exit ramp. A third lane will be added from the westbound Route 30 ramp to northbound Route 222 while extending this lane to the existing westbound Route 30 third lane approaching Oregon Pike (Route 272).

Work on the south side of the interchange includes constructing a second ramp lane from eastbound Route 30 to northbound Route 222. The new ramp lane will tie into the existing Route 30 travel lane (right lane), giving drivers using the right lane of eastbound Route 30 the option to continue east or exit to northbound Route 222.

Route 222 will be converted from four lanes to six lanes from the interchange to the north end of the project limits.

Additionally, the two bridges carrying Route 222 ramps over Route 30 will be replaced, with the northbound Route 222 bridge being widened to two lanes. The Eden Road bridge spanning Route 222 north of the interchange will remain in place. Route 222 under the bridge will be lowered to increase clearance under the bridge.

Four lanes of traffic will be maintained during the project.

Motorists should be alert and drive with caution through the work zone.

This project is expected to be completed by Sept. 3, 2027.

JD Eckman, Inc., of Atglen, PA, is the contractor on this $72.2 million project.

Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following local alerts on X.

Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry and York counties at PennDOT District 8.

Information about infrastructure in District 8, including completed work and significant projects, is available at District 8 Results. Find PennDOTs planned and active construction projects at PennDOT Projects.
The Harrisburg Palestine Coalition will host a five-day vigil to remember the names of more than 60,000 victims killed in the Israeli war on Gaza. This file photo shows a rally in support of Palestine on the steps of the state Capitol. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

The Harrisburg Palestine Coalition on Monday announced it would host a five-day vigil to remember the lives of Palestinians lost in the war in Gaza.

In a press release, the coalition said the five-day observance, which is set to begin on Saturday, will include a Reading of the Names. Volunteers plan to read the names of more than 60,000 documented victims of Israels war in Gaza, the organizers said. The list of names include those of 18,457 children.

The coalition said the vigil will demonstrate communal mourning for the victims of...ongoing genocide, solidarity with those still living, calls for an immediate end to the genocide and occupation of Palestine, and for an end to all material and political support from the United States of America to the genocidal settler-colony of Israel.

Organizers said the 60,000+ victims make up only a fraction of the true current death toll, which they note, experts and academic reports estimate to be in the hundreds of thousands.

The two-year anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel, which triggered that nations retaliation on Gaza will be marked on Oct. 7. Hamas militants killed 1,200 people in Israel on that day and took more than 250 hostages in a savage attack.

In the two years since launching its attack on Gaza, Israel has come under global condemnation and increasing isolation for causing famine in Gaza and committing genocide.

The Gaza Health Ministry on Sunday said the death toll in the war on Gaza has topped 66,000 Palestinians  many of whom were women and children.

Earlier this month, the worlds leading association of genocide scholars declared that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. The resolution issued by the International Association of Genocide Scholars adds to the list of human rights groups accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza, including two leading Israeli rights organisations, BTselem and Physicians for Human Rights-Israel.

A growing list of nations  143 of 190 UN members at the most recent count  have recognized Palestinian statehood, including Canada and Great Britain.

President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were meeting at the White House on Monday, with a new plan to end the war in Gaza a prime focus of that meeting.

The Harrisburg Palestine Coalition has for months called for an end to the war and for the U.S. to divest itself of Israeli interests. The coalition has for months held protest demonstrations in front of the General Dynamics plant in York County. The manufacturer is considered one of the biggest weapons manufacturers in the world and supplies the Israeli military.

The five-day vigil will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at various locations across the Harrisburg region, including:

Saturday, Oct. 4: Chocolate Town Park, Hershey

Sunday, Oct. 5: Walnut Street Bridge, Harrisburg

Monday, Oct. 6: Gettysburg, specific location TBA

Tuesday, Oct. 7: Penn Square, Lancaster

Wednesday, Oct. 8: Capitol steps, Harrisburg
Democratic Pa. U.S. Sen. John Fetterman told a Fox News host on Sunday that he would not switch to the Republican Party. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) AP

While many Democrats may have turned on him, Sen. John Fetterman insisted during an interview Sunday that he will not become a Republican.

Fox News Maria Bartiromo, host of the Sunday Morning Futures show, asked Fetterman if he would switch parties because of extremists within the Democratic party.

No, Im not going to switch, replied Fetterman, who has rankled progressive Democrats with his staunch support for Israel, willingness to work with the Trump administration and support for Trumps unilateral attacks on supposed drug running boats.

Lately, he has also said he will not support a federal government shutdown, although Democrats have said that might be the only way to put pressure on Republicans, who control Congress and the White House, to avoid massive cuts to healthcare.

Fetterman also said he would continue to refrain from describing Republicans as Nazis or fascists, adding, Im not going to be that guy.

A Susquehanna Polling and Research survey in June determined that more Pennsylvania Republicans support Fetterman than Democrats, reflecting the disenchantment Democratic voters have with him.

Previously, Fetterman has appeared with Republican Sen. Dave McCormick on Fox to decry name-calling by Democrats and told CNN that Trump is not an autocrat and urged Democrats to tone down their rhetoric.

Later in Sundays Fox interview, Fetterman reiterated his support for Israel, saying that its military offensive in Gaza is now facing an end game and that justifies its recent incursion into Gaza City.

And this war does have to end, and thats why (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahus been forced to do this and go into Gaza City, Fetterman said. Thats why Im going to follow Israel, just as Ive done for now going on two years.
For 20 years, the Feel Your Boobies Foundation ran events across Central Pennsylvania focused on helping young women learn how to detect breast cancer. During that time, it raised nearly $2 million.

In November 2024, the organization raised money at a glitzy 20th anniversary gala through sponsorships, event tickets and a silent auction.

Less than two weeks later, the founder, Leigh Hurst, resigned, taking the Feel Your Boobies name and trademark with her. Nothing about those moves came up at the Nov. 16 gala.

The exact date of her resignation remains unclear. A statement sent to PennLive from the Feel Your Boobies Foundation simply said Hurst resigned in November 2024.

A few months later, the nonprofit shuttered after considering two choices: Operating under a new name or ceasing operations.

Feel Your Boobies first announced its closure through a Jan. 31 press release on its website that cited trademark issues. The release was not sent to news media or shared on the Feel Your Boobies social media accounts.

Without access to the name and branding that have become synonymous with its mission, the board felt that closing the Feel Your Boobies Foundation was the most responsible and realistic path forward, the press release said.

Feel Your Boobies and its main slogan, Are You Doing It? are registered trademarks to Hurst LLC, which is registered at Hursts home address. The organization was granted nonprofit status in 2005.

The trademark should have belonged to the nonprofit, not Hurst, said Donald Kramer, a lawyer with more than 45 years of experience working with nonprofits.

Its not normal. Its a conflict of interest and it creates all sorts of questions, Kramer said of a founder holding a nonprofits trademark. The IRS would like to have the ownership with the nonprofit because theres economic value in a trademark and it shouldnt be personally owned.

Kramer said if a nonprofit is successful, the trademark becomes valuable, and that value shouldnt be personally held.

Anne Gingerich, executive director of the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofits, said she couldnt speak to the specific circumstances in this case, but provided a similar view of how trademarks are handled.

Typically, the nonprofit would hold the copyright or the name, Gingerich said. That would seem unusual to me.

Another lawyer told PennLive small, new or start up organizations will sometimes have the trademark listed under the founder, but in those circumstances, a license agreement between the nonprofit and the owner of the trademark typically would be in place.

Kramer said he hasnt seen other nonprofits close because of trademark issues, but has worked with others going through trademark problems.

The Feel Your Boobies latest tax form listed nine people listed as officers, directors, trustees and key employees, including Hurst. None of them were compensated, including Hurst.

Missing from the filing was executive director Christie Twentier, who was hired in January 2023, according to her LinkedIn, and listed among the leadership on their website. A $49,601 salary listed in the tax form is not assigned to a name.

In response to inquiries from PennLive to Hurst and board chair Lori McElroy-Hoffman, PennLive received one statement attributable to The Feel Your Boobies Foundation.

Emails sent individually to the board of directors went unanswered or referred back to Hurst. The statement did not address multiple questions, including why they held the gala if such drastic changes were in the works or why donors werent given an option for refunds.

Only former Executive Director Christie Twentier provided a statement:

I am deeply saddened by the closure of the Feel Your Boobies Foundation. In my two years with this incredible team of volunteers, donors, and survivors, I witnessed the power of community, compassion, and courage. Together, we raised vital funds, launched a self-exam reminder program that reached thousands, and connected with young women across Central PA and beyond. Most meaningful of all were the survivors I mettheir strength and stories will stay with me always. While it is heartbreaking to see the mission end, I remain profoundly grateful to everyone who supported this cause."

The current board intends to complete the transfer of funds to trusted partners with a similar mission by the end of 2025, the statement said. The foundation said the process has taken longer than anticipated.

Federal law requires a tax-exempt charitable nonprofit that is dissolving to distribute its remaining assets to another tax-exempt organization or to the federal government or a state or local government for a public purpose, according to the National Council of Nonprofits.

Gingerich said remaining assets usually go to a similar organization so dollars can be used according to donor intent.

We will communicate proactively with donors so that they receive our thanks and know how the final funds have been allocated, the statement said.

Questions about why the closure was kept low keyonly available on the website for those who visited it, not publicized on social media went unanswered.

It also remains unclear if the organization is going to continue its Are You Doing It program, which sent subscribers monthly reminders by text to perform self exam.

The foundations statement did not answer that question.

The nonprofit didnt appear to be in dire financial straits before closure, according to tax filings required for nonprofits. Its 2023 tax filing showed a $6,984 deficit, but the year prior it had a $14,173 surplus. In 2023, it received $137,054 in gifts, grants and contributions.

Their major program service expenses were its continuous outreach and educational program and a targeted social media campaign. Right now, the organizations books are listed as in care of its officers.

Hurst created the Feel Your Boobies concept after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004.

She made a shirt that said feel your boobies and started using social media to spread the message. According to her website, the campaign garnered national attention and was at one time the largest cause on Facebook. In 2020, Hurst published a book called Say Something Big.

Since the foundations closing, Hurst has remained busy. She delivered her Say Something Big keynote speech March 5 at The Giant Companys International Womens Day event. She also works with TrainingPros, a consulting company.

Its unclear what Hurst plans to do with the Feel Your Boobies trademark in the future, if anything.
U.S. Sens. John Fetterman and David McCormick released a letter addressing antisemitism and campus safety. While it is important to condemn antisemitism wherever it appears, their message was incomplete.

By focusing only on the protection of Jewish students, the letter ignored the equally urgent need to safeguard Palestinian, Muslim, Arab, immigrant, and other communities who are experiencing harm, silencing, and exclusion on campuses across Pennsylvania.

Even more troubling, the senators addressed antisemitism in a void, disconnected from the broader reality. Their letter has completely ignored the genocide unfolding in Palestine, a genocide that students across Pennsylvania have been peacefully protesting and demanding that our government end its complicity.

This genocide has destroyed hospitals, universities, and houses of worship, while causing deep anguish for Pennsylvanian families connected to Palestine.

By refusing to acknowledge this context, our leaders present a selective narrative that diminishes the truths and pains of many of their constituents and erases their lived experiences.

This omission is not just an oversight; it is a failure to represent all constituents. True safety cannot be selective. By privileging one group while silencing others, this biased representation reinforces a dangerous hierarchy of whose lives and voices matter.

An interfaith coalition of students, faculty, faith and civic leaders is responding with an open letter that affirms a more inclusive vision: protecting one community must never come at the expense of another. Campus safety must mean safety for everyone. We invite all who share this vision to sign on and endorse this message.

Ikram Mezghani, Derry Township, Pa.
Opinion articles written in the style of their author. These texts are to be based on verified facts and must be respectful towards people, even though their actions may be criticized. All opinion articles written by individuals from outside the staff of EL PAIS shall feature, along with the authors name (regardless of their greater or lesser renown), a footer stating their office, academic title, political affiliation (if any) and main occupation, or the occupation related to the topic being assessed

It is no longer necessary to read Ian Kershaws almost 2,000-page biography of Adolf Hitler to form an opinion on the Fuhrers character. Now, a short book of just 170 pages does the job, delving into the personality of the Nazi leader and giving us the tools to understand who he really was. Hitler, truths and myths asks 20 questions about whether he was crazy and had an unhappy childhood to whether he was impotent and what he knew about the atomic bomb. The answers cover just about everything you ever wanted to know about Hitler and didnt know who to ask.

The book is the work of Claude Quetel, a veteran French historian, author of numerous titles, including a history of syphilis, others on psychiatry and madness, and several related to World War II and Nazism: La Seconde Guerre mondiale, Femmes dans la guerre 1939-1945, Tout sur Mein Kampf and even Le Debarquement pour les Nuls. It should be noted that from 1992 to 2005, Quetel was scientific director at the Caen Memorial, the museum dedicated to commemorating the Normandy landings.

Quetel begins by recalling everything that has been written about Hitler, including the exhaustive biographies available to us  the latest being Volker Ulrichs 2,000-page tome  and asks himself what is left to say.

In answer to that question, he writes, This book sets out to examine what is problematic in a biography of Hitler. He is not reviewing Nazism, the genocide of the Jews or total war but attempting to reveal what made Hitler tick, and in doing so he debunks some preconceived notions.

Quetel bases his conclusions on the memoirs and diaries of Speer, Goebbels, Traudl Junge, Von Manstein, Von Papn and Riefenstahl, among others, and points out that when we examine Hitler we are left wondering how such a mediocre individual who was chronically idle and of little more than average intelligence, borderline in terms of mental health, was able to become the absolute master of the Third Reich and push the world towards the most atrocious of conflicts. He also points out that, in 1920, there were already those who recognized that German militarism was still strong and had the potential to become stronger: all that was needed was the right circumstance and man to pull the trigger.

Regarding whether Hitler had a happy childhood, Quetel recalls that his father, Alois, was relatively old at 62, and that his mother, Klara, 29, was the governess of the children of Alois second marriage and also his lover  a situation curiously similar to that of Lawrence of Arabia.

Alois and Klara married in 1885 with special permission as they were second cousins. They were not poor and apparently Hitlers father, although certainly not at all affectionate, was no more authoritarian than usual for the time. His mother, meanwhile, made up for any lack of fatherly attention by being devoted to her son.

At school, Hitler was gifted but stubborn and had a hard time controlling himself. His father would have liked to have had a son who was a civil servant but Hitler insisted on being a painter, which  if this had turned out to be the case  would have been better for everyone. Alois died at the age of 65 of a pulmonary hemorrhage, and from then on Hitler was a fairly happy boy, enjoying the best years of my life, as he wrote in Mein Kampf  spoiled by his mother and allowed to laze around.

Hitler during one of his speeches.

Hitlers failure to pass the entrance exam to get into the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna and the death of his mother from breast cancer mark the end of his childhood and early youth. Quetel concludes that Hitlers childhood cannot be described as unhappy. Nor can his family be described as toxic. What was crucial to Hitlers future was the laziness and propensity to dream of a child who very soon lost control of reality.

Was Hitler always antisemitic? The author answers this by examining the miserable time he spent in Vienna, going from sordid cafe to sordid cafe, and embracing the volkisch, nationalist, and racist movement. It was then that this individual empty of culture and knowledge and of a limited intelligence  basically a social misfit  fed off the poisonous phantasmagoria of antisemitism. Except for his teenage years in Linz, Hitler was always antisemitic, with successive layers becoming thicker and more irrevocable.

A fascinating chapter is one that dwells on whether Hitler was a hero of the First World War, based largely on Thomas Webers research. Weber concludes that, as a geifreiter, equivalent to a lance-corporal, Hitler enjoyed a privileged position as a staff courier. As such, he was able to dodge the worst of the slaughter and be around those handing out medals; he won the Iron Cross first class. Quetel believes that Hitler was not promoted despite being a decorated soldier because to have been so he would have had to abandon his relatively safe position and participate directly in the fighting. In which case, he would probably have died, and no questions about his character would need to be asked.

Was Hitlers eloquence and political capital extraordinary? Quetel points out that the Nazi leader prepared everything meticulously, with all gestures rehearsed, the most striking being the Nazi salute, not to mention other stage tricks. He believes that part of the secret of his orgasmic rhetoric in which he mated with the masses as a sublimation of his failed sexuality was that he spoke to audiences that were eager to hear what he had to say, and he reckons that the French would have quickly tired of Hitlers rhetoric.

According to Quetel, Hitlers rise to power was irresistible and resistible at once. He compares it to that of Bertolt Brechts mobster Arturo Ui. He points out that his charisma did not work on everyone and that people like Sebastian Haffner had him down as a nobody with a pimps hairstyle, shoddy elegance and epileptic gestures. Quetel refers to what Haffner said of the majority of those cheering him at the Berlin Sportpalast in 1930  that they probably would have avoided asking a man like that for a light on the street.

Hitler during one of his speeches. Bettmann (Bettmann Archive)

Of Hitlers culture and knowledge, Quetel considers that it was only skin deep and that his obsession with monologue was related to his insecurity and inability to hold a normal conversation due to lack of arguments. He lived in fear of being caught in the act of amateurism, Quetel writes.

Quetel contests Timothy W. Rybacks assertions that Hitler was an avid reader and considers his library circumstantial. As to whether he was a workaholic, Quetel says he absolutely was not. He was too lazy to learn English. He didnt drive. And he constantly improvised. On the controversial issue of whether the Holocaust was carried out on his specific orders or whether those around him were more responsible, Quetel says that the debate is now over and that the functionalism of a Final Solution, with stages closely linked to the circumstances of the war, does not contradict the intentionalism of a Hitler who always made the extermination of the Jews his program, his supreme mission.

Book burning organized by the Nazis in Berlin in May 1933. Das Bundesarchiv

On whether Hitler had a private life, Quetel agrees with Kershaw, writing if you take away what was political in him, there is not much left, if anything. The evenings he organized at the Berghof, his bourgeois alpine refuge, were considered deadly boring with stacks of cakes served and no alcohol, although sometimes he skillfully imitated Ribbentrop, Goebbels, and Goering.

Hitler did like movies, including Ben Hur, which he watched with Rudolf Hess, no doubt both of them siding with Messalla in the chariot race. He did not, however, like cats, arguing they killed birds. He much preferred dogs, although if you think about how he ended up treating his dog Blondi  poisoning her to test cyanide capsules  it makes you wonder at his capacity for affection. All the same, it is said that in the Fuhrerbunker, Hitler cried more for Blondi than for Eva Braun.

Bruno Ganz in 'Downfall,' a film that claimed it was easier for Hitler to invade Europe than to manage his anger.

Regarding the much-discussed question of whether Hitler was impotent, Quetel points out that it is almost certain that Hitler left Vienna at the age of 24 without having had a hint of sexual intercourse with a woman, or for that matter, with a man; however, he liked cabaret shows featuring scantily clad girls. Later, he had platonic relationships with middle-aged women who protected him. It is believed that he fell in love with his step-niece Angela Raubal, but Quetel doubts there was any sex. As for Eva Braun, Quetel refers to the testimony of the laundry manager at the Berghof retreat, who always examined the sheets before washing and claimed there was no evidence of intercourse. Quetel concludes that Hitler only loved himself.

Quetel reckons that Hitler had no artistic talent. He also states that he did not improve working conditions in Germany  the working class lost all its rights, and that is without taking into account those who ended up in Russia. Women also lost their position in society. Rosenberg said that women had to be emancipated from emancipation. Quetel also relates how Hitler had to bow to the German churches, which he detested, regarding Nazi euthanasia; and despite everything that has been written, he was only attacked in person twice  in the Munich beer hall on November 8, 1939, and in the Stauffenberg plot on July 20, 1944.

Why the British tried to kill Rommel and managed to kill Heydrich but did not attempt to kill Hitler may have had something to do with the fact he was a lousy strategist, and therefore it suited the Allies that he remained in charge. His big mistakes include Russia and Dunkirk: it is possible that regarding Dunkirk he prioritized political strategy  not giving too much glory to his generals  over military strategy. In any case, Quetel acknowledges that Germany could not have won the war.

Hitler at an Aryan art exhibition. Bettmann (Bettmann Archive)

Was Hitler crazy? Well, crazy no, but he lived in a parallel reality, rejecting the world as it was  something that happens to many of us every morning without it leading us to invade Poland. There was also his hysteria, evident when SS General Felix Steiners army did not manage to liberate besieged Berlin, which indicated a certain mental insanity. And he was on a lot of drugs by the end. Quetel concludes he had a paranoid personality, though he undoubtedly knew what he was doing. Regarding the atomic bomb, the book points out that, fortunately, it was not explained to him properly.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
This Popular Las Vegas Poker Room to Reopen for First Time Since COVID

Jon Sofen Senior Editor U.S. Copy link

Henderson, Nevada, a large Las Vegas suburb, will soon have a full-time poker room for the first time since COVID.

Station Casinos announced the upcoming return of the poker room at Green Valley Ranch, a popular casino within the vibrant Green Valley community, an area of town about 15 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip. No specific date other than "late 2025" has been determined for the reopening. But the casino did provide some details via a press release.





Las Vegas Poker Room Reopening Details

Green Valley Ranch closed its poker room in 2020 during COVID, and it never reopened. The card room, located steps from the sportsbook, has since been replaced with a smoke-free slot machine area.

Station Casinos, until now, didn't have any plans to bring back what was once a popular place to play poker among Henderson locals. But, per a press release, guests demanded its return.

The new Green Valley Ranch poker room, set to debut before the calendar shifts to 2026, will have 16 poker tables, nearly twice the size of its pre-pandemic state. The room will be open 24/7, the only such card room in Henderson. Skyline Casino, a small, mostly locals property, has a two-table poker room that is only open at certain times.

The poker room reopening is part of a $200 million remodeling phase at GVR, a resort with amenities similar to what gamblers and tourists receive on the Las Vegas Strip. Green Valley Ranch's poker room will offer mostly low-stakes games, much like players came to expect before the room closed in 2020.

View of what was previously the Green Valley Ranch poker room.

Las Vegas' poker industry has been on a steady rise since the March 2020 pandemic closures. There are still numerous card rooms that never reopened, however. That list includes Harrah's, The Strat (previously Stratosphere), Mirage (casino no longer in operation), and Green Valley Ranch, among others.

There are currently 20 poker rooms in operation across town, with GVR soon to become the 21st. The poker room at GVR was mostly a locals' favorite, especially for those residing in Henderson's Green Valley community. It was convenient for those who live in the area and don't particularly care to drive to the Strip to play cards.

Station Casinos operates three other poker rooms, one at Boulder Station east of the Strip, one at Red Rock in Summerlin, an upscale suburban area west of the Strip, and the third at Santa Fe Station, in the northwest area of town.

Share this article
Only 331 players, out of the total field of 2,765 entries, returned to King's Resort in Rozvadov today for Day 2 of Event #7: 550 No-Limit Holdem Colossus at the World Series of Poker Europe. After the dust settled, Felix Kretschmann of Germany heads into the final day with a substantial lead over the remaining 23 players. He will have the best shot at the top prize of 158,350* out of the total prize pool of 1,292,637.

Kretschmann bagged 10,250,000, miles ahead of his closest challengers Miroslav Matula of Czechia (6,310,000), and Marcin Kacprzak of Poland (5,360,000).

Kretschmann is a regular at King's Resort, the vast majority of his recorded results of almost $100,000 coming here, and he will be eyeing a maiden bracelet, as well as aiming to surpass his current career-best score of 29,250 (according to The Hendon Mob).

Matula has no recorded live tournament record to speak of, and has already secured a career-best score of 5,500. Kacprzak is another player who enjoys King's Resort, with all but six of his 64 recorded live results coming here, among total recorded career earnings of $221,751.

Miroslav Matula

End of Day 2 Top Ten Chip Counts

Rank Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Felix Kretschmann Germany 10,250,000 103 2 Miroslav Matula Czechia 6,310,000 63 3 Marcin Kacprzak Poland 5,360,000 54 4 Jose Gomez Casillas Spain 5,150,000 52 5 David Hu Netherlands 4,915,000 49 6 Manig Loeser Germany 4,305,000 43 7 Marius Gicovanu Romania 3,960,000 40 8 Villiel Kordonskiy Israel 3,500,000 35 9 Rifat Palevic Sweden 2,785,000 28 10 Gabriel Rymar Poland 2,510,000 25

Plenty of accomplished players remain in the field ready to strike, including David Hu (4,915,000), boasting over $1,500,000 in recorded cashes, WSOP Online bracelet winner Manig Loeser (4,305,000), and 2017 WSOP bracelet winner Rifat Palevic (2,785,000).

Loeser, with over $12,000,000 in career earnings, has also captured titles at events at the Triton High Roller Series, the European Poker Tour and the World Poker Tour over the course of his career, and will be a dangerous foe in the final day.

Manig Loeser

Day 2 Action

All Day 2 players had secured a minimum cash, and the knockouts came thick and fast at the start of the day as the field was almost reduced by half by the first break. Players such as defending champion Michal Schuh, Dinesh Alt and Axel Bayout all made a relatively early exit.

Michal Schuh

Kretschmann's rise to the top of the standings started after he flopped quads and got paid by Peter Cieslik. From there, Kretschmann went on the rampage, knocking out numerous opponents. He took a chunk off Juan Velasco with a rivered straight, won a flip to bust Alexander Dick, and then eliminated Dorian Melchers.

Kretschmann wasn't finished there, as he wielded his stack expertly to pressure opponents, and then claimed a final knockout of Pavel Sergheiciuc just before the end of play.

Matula was always among the biggest stacks in Day 2, helped in part by turning the nuts in a three-way all-in, and he would make steady progress throughout the day. Kacprzak found some momentum towards the end of proceedings, claiming the knockouts of Antonello Ferraiuolo with an overpair and Marian Kubis with a dominating ace.

Alexey Mishuk was the last player to exit in Day 2, after losing a flip to Jose Gomez Casillas.

Remaining Payouts

Place Prize Place Prize 1 158,350* 8 27,850* 2 108,850* 9 23,950* 3 82,650* 10-11 20,950* 4 63,650* 12 18,830* 5 50,150* 13 8,480 6 40,250* 14-17 6,800 7 33,150* 18-23 5,500

*1st-12th payouts include a seat to Day 1a of the WSOPE Main Event, worth 10,350.

The final 23 players will return at 1 p.m. local time on Monday, September 29, where play will continue until a winner is crowned and the bracelet is awarded, along with the top prize of 158,350.

Stay tuned to PokerNews for all your coverage of Event #7: 550 No-Limit Holdem Colossus, and our ongoing coverage of WSOP Europe.
Nearly 10,000 kilometers separate Mexico from Kings Resort in Rozvadov, but Jose Gomez Casillas found himself right at home today at the final table of Event #7: 550 No-Limit Holdem Colossus.

Gomez Casillas, backed by a boisterous rail of his countrymen sporting a large Mexican flag, employed a very aggressive style on his way to defeating Claudio Daffina heads-up and standing atop the massive 2,765-entry field to win his first World Series of Poker Europe gold bracelet and the 158,350* top prize out of the 1,292,637 total prize pool.

Final Table Results

Place Player Country Prize (EUR)* 1 Jose Gomez Casillas Mexico 158,350 2 Claudio Daffina Italy 108,850 3 Lulei Hu Italy 82,650 4 Felix Kretschmann Germany 63,650 5 Rifat Palevic Sweden 50,150 6 Juan Velasco Spain 40,250 7 Marcin Kacprzak Poland 33,150 8 Ivan Fedor Slovakia 27,850 9 Manig Loeser Germany 23,950

*- includes 10,350 ticket into the Main Event

It feels really good. Im glad I could do it. I was feeling a little bit sick since yesterday, but I had eight, nine hours of sleep, and then I was feeling fine. I guess now I have to go to the Tournament of Champions in LA, next year, Gomez Casillas said after securing the victory.

Gomez Casillas strategy on Day 3 was simple: exploit the pressures of pay jumps and the Main Event ticket and put his opponents to the test time after time. He did it with sometimes outlandish raises with nominal holdings. Most of the time, he took down pot after pot uncontested. When he was finally caught a few times, he often found the cards he needed. And he had a lot of fun doing it, joking each time that he was playing a big flip.

I always have fun, and here at Kings, Ive always had lots of fun. I know many players, and we are always laughing at the table. Its the one thing I actually enjoy, having fun at the table. If someone tilts, or if I tilt, its okay, but after two hands, I forget about it. I just try to enjoy myself while playing, he said.

Jose Gomez Casillas

When I have a big stack and theres some ICM pressure, or theres a bubble, I always manage to build a very big stack. Thats basically my approach. When you have those moments, like the Main Event ticket bubble, or the final table bubble, or even the bubble on Day 1. I got down to 60K, but then I made it to half a million because nobody was calling. They all wanted to cash out 1,000.

Gomez Casillas almost didnt make it to this event. He was in Malta playing another series just a few days ago when he was offered a ticket. One guy in Malta sold me his ticket. He gave me a good discount. So I was like, I really have to go. I cant lose this ticket, he said.

Gomez Casillas became the fourth Mexican national to win a WSOP bracelet, and first since 2010. His earnings today far eclipsed his previous career total of $65,000, according to The Hendon Mob, with his largest career cash coming here in Rozvadov in July for 13,765.

Day 3 Action

Just 23 players out of 2,765 entries returned to Kings Resort today at 1 p.m. to determine a champion. Felix Kretschmann began as chip leader with 10,250,000, nearly 4,000,000 ahead of his closest challenger, and started the day with a bang.

On the first hand, Kretschmann flopped top set to take out David Nemes and Tomas Chrobak in one blow. He then took all but 50,000 of Marius Gicovanus stack when he mistakenly thought Gicovanu was all in on the turn, showing two eights. Gicovanu couldnt beat it and mucked on the river without waiting for Kretschmann to bet. The Romanian was eliminated on the next hand in 18th place.

It was when the field condensed to the final two tables, with only 12 players earning the Main Event ticket, that Gomez Casillas began to put his strategy to work. He first shoved from the small blind with eight-four against Gabriel Rymar, who called with queen-ten. Gomez Casillas made two pair to win the pot, and Rymar was eliminated in 16th place. With the blinds at 100,000/200,000, Gomez Casillas opened to 2,800,000 under the gun and forced out the rest of the table. He then reduced his raise size to 1,065,000 and again got no action.

Daffina was all in for 2,795,000 with two queens and involved in a classic flip against Manig Loesers ace-king. Daffina held on to double up, while the two-time bracelet winner Loeser fell to a short stack. Loeser doubled up soon after, then eliminated David Hu in 13th when his pocket eights made a straight against Hus ace-nine.

Gomez Casillas again made a big raise to 1,100,000 and called with king-seven after Josef Obermeier shoved for 1,500,000. Gomez Casillas hit a straight on the turn, and Obermeier busted in 12th. Gomez Casillas also eliminated Miroslav Matula in 11th as he climbed up to 12,000,000, firmly in second on the leaderboard, but still well behind Kretschmann as the field reached the final table bubble.

Gomez Casillas was finally caught by Marcin Kacprzak, who shoved for 3,900,000 after Gomez Casillas raised to 3,600,000 on the button. Gomez Casillas called with queen-nine but couldnt improve against Kacprzaks ace-jack. Villiel Kordonskiy eventually fell in 10th, losing a flip with ace-queen to Lulei Hus pocket nines, and the nine-handed final table was set.

Kretschmann had a massive lead with 26,225,000, far ahead of Gomez Casillas 8,150,000. Gomez Casillas scored the first knockout, picking up tens against Loesers deuces to bust Loeser in ninth. Ivan Fedor then moved all in for 2,700,000, Gomez Casillas shoved in the small blind, and Kacprzak came along for 6,650,000. Gomez Casillas showed ace-king and was in a massive flip against Kacprzaks jacks, but he caught a king on the flop to take the lead and send both opponents to the rail.

Manig Loeser

Kretschmann took his first significant blow of the day when his ace-king was outflopped by Daffinas ace-six as Daffina doubled up for 5,850,000. Gomez Casillas then raised to 5,700,000 (more than 11 times the big blind), Juan Velasco shoved for 7,750,000, and Gomez Casillas called. Velasco was ahead with ace-queen against Gomez Casillas eight-seven, but Gomez Casillas spiked a seven on the river to win the pot and bust Velasco in sixth place as he took the chip lead.

It didnt last for long, as Daffina was all in for 12,200,000 with ace-king and racing against Gomez Casillas pocket fours. Daffina found an ace on the flop to win the pot and take his turn atop the leaderboard.

Gomez Casillas also doubled up Rifat Palevic when he was caught with jack-deuce and Palevics ace-three held on. Palevic was all in again soon after against Hu, his ace-five dominated by Hus ace-king. He flopped a straight draw but improved no further and the WSOP bracelet winner had to settle for fifth place.

Kretschmann had dropped below 10,000,000 when he shoved for 8,200,000 with pocket tens, but Gomez Casillas had a big hand this time, two kings, and flopped top set to end Kretschmanns seemingly-unstoppable march to the bracelet in fourth place.

Felix Kretschmann

Daffina held the lead with 28,350,000 as the remaining three players agreed to take a 20-minute break. Soon after returning, Hu shoved for 16,000,000 with ace-six and Gomez Casillas called with two deuces. Hu picked up more outs to counterfeit Gomez Casillas pair as the board paired on the turn, but Gomez Casillas improved to a full house on the river to win the pot and bust Hu in third place.

Jose Gomez Casillas Claudio Daffina

Gomez Casillas led 36,200,000 to 32,900,000 at the start of heads-up play and took nearly every pot with his trademark style of aggressive raises. He finally shoved from the button and Daffina woke up with ace-king and called for 15,700,000. Gomez Casillas showed queen-five and flopped two pair to send the Mexican rail into a raucuous celebration. They came close a few days ago when Jose Gaona made a deep run in the Monsterstack; this time, the bracelet was going back home to Mexico.

Jose Gomez Casillas

Im very proud they are here with me. My friend got fifth place in the Monsterstack, so we were here supporting him. Now they are on the rail all the time. Now we have to review the hands, see the actual stream, because Ive seen nothing, Gomez Casillas said.

Gomez Casillas plans to stick around to play the Main Event in a few days. His next goal: the Super Main Event at WSOP Paradise in The Bahamas in December.

It was a long way from home for Gomez Casillas and his supporters, but the Mexican flag was still hoisted high in Rozvadov today.

That concludes PokerNews coverage of the 550 Colossus. Stay tuned for more updates throughout the 2025 WSOP Europe at King's Resort in Rozvadov.
Mexico is painted cobalt blue, the color of the police  a notion that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago, when the country was witnessing the consolidation of a military-style security structure.

The administration of former president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (20182024) was marked by the rise of the army, which carried out an extraordinary territorial deployment, supported by the growth of a new force, the National Guard. Originally conceived as a police body at the start of his term, the National Guard grew increasingly militarized, generating considerable controversy among experts and civil society organizations.

Claudia Sheinbaums rise to power has brought a shift that would have been difficult to predict before she assumed office.

The defunct Federal Police are regaining influence even as Sheinbaum promises to continue Lopez Obradors legacy  a balancing act unfolding before the hopeful eyes of a country mired in nearly two decades of brutal violence. Leaders trained and promoted in the old Federal Police now occupy top positions in Mexicos Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), which is led by Omar Garcia Harfuch. These include: Francisco Almazan, director of the National Intelligence Center (CNI); Hector Elizalde, Undersecretary of Investigation; and Omar Reyes, who has headed the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Secretariat of Finance since summer.

With the debate over the nature of the National Guard largely settled, Sheinbaum celebrates the now-militarized agency and the Armed Forces in general  a nod to her predecessor  while simultaneously nurturing the police apparatus. Next years budget illustrates this: with the National Guard now under the umbrella of the Defense Secretariat, Harfuchs SSPC will have more than 60 billion pesos in 2026 (around $3.2 billion), an increase of over 20 billion pesos ($1.08 billion) from the previous year.

Leaving aside state and especially local police  long the target of general distrust, including from the federal government  the SSPC and its sister agencies now shine at the top of the Security Cabinet, much like the Federal Police once did before its dissolution under Lopez Obrador. The former president viewed the force as a symbol of past ills, embodied in Genaro Garcia Luna, security czar under president Felipe Calderon (20062012), who rose through the National Intelligence Center (CISEN) and the operational branch of the old Attorney Generals Office. Garcia Luna is now serving a sentence in the United States for drug trafficking, while Garcia Harfuch is seeking to honor Sheinbaums trust.

Quietly, Harfuch has restored much of the authority and operational capacity that the old Federal Police once held, not only within the SSPC but also in the reorganized National Intelligence Center (CNI), which is led by his close ally Francisco Almazan.

Theyve built a Criminal Investigation Agency within the CNI, says a source familiar with the evolution of Mexicos security forces under this administration.

This agency mirrors the investigative branch of the Attorney Generals Office, which Harfuch himself once led during Enrique Pena Nietos government (20122018) after a career in the Federal Police. Essentially, he has transferred the investigative expertise and capabilities he managed in the Attorney Generals Office into the countrys main intelligence agency, according to this source.

The results of this apparent police revitalization are encouraging at least for now. The decline in the homicide rate that began in Lopez Obradors later years has accelerated during Sheinbaums first year in office. Other high-impact crimes have also fallen, except for extortion, which has risen by more than 20%. Experts consulted note that the increase in reported extortion cases does not necessarily reflect a rise in the phenomenon itself, but the fact that victims who previously did not report crimes are now coming forward. It may also be a combination: more people reporting, but there are also still more cases.

Security policy experts and analysts consulted by EL PAIS are cautious. Eduardo Guerrero, director of the consulting firm Lantia, acknowledges Harfuchs leadership, calling him a professional in the field, unlike Lopez Obradors secretaries, who were experienced political operators. He adds that Harfuch is also part of the presidents inner circle, which had not happened before: he is the leader, strategist, and evaluator of security policy. Yet Guerrero cautions that while the drop in violence is encouraging, we cannot yet speak of a long-term downward trend.

Ernesto Lopez Portillo, coordinator of the citizen security program at the Universidad Iberoamericana, also praises Harfuchs leadership, but he does not believe that this authority necessarily signals a police revival in the country  a view shared by Guerrero. Lopez Portillo points out that, while Harfuch is the public face of the security cabinets actions, we dont know who is actually behind the tens of thousands of arrests recorded in this first year. Is it the Army? The National Guard, whose deployments still number tens of thousands across the country? Guerrero adds another crucial point, which Lopez Portillo also agrees with: We would have to see how many of these arrests end in convictions.

This remains a long-standing challenge for Mexico. Lopez Portillo notes that from 2011 to 2024, rates of victims and crime, unreported crimes, and the percentage of cases properly handled by the public prosecutor have not improved. He cites a statistic from the National Institute of Statistics: of the more than 33 million crimes committed last year in Mexico, over 90% were never reported. Overall, the institute estimates that only 0.8% of crimes received a favorable resolution from the Attorney Generals Office. These numbers illustrate the scale of impunity in Mexico, one of its main problems, which is blamed on the inefficiency of the public prosecutor system. Just over a decade ago, a reform aimed to strengthen the prosecutors offices by giving them greater independence from political influence. So far, however, the results remain the same.

Both experts express cautious anticipation regarding the future. Guerrero, for instance, calls for a more horizontal and comprehensive approach to the ongoing, quiet police reform: So far, there is no additional funding for state and local police, they are not given a role in the security strategy, and they continue to be distrusted. He acknowledges that the federal government has collaborated with some states in certain cases, but only to a limited extent.

Lopez Portillo, skeptical, asks: How extensive is Harfuchs operational control over local authorities, given the presidents leadership? The answer, he notes, is that no one knows.

That is the prevailing sense: much remains unknown. First, because only a year has passed since Sheinbaum took office, and the government has acted in emergency mode, tackling serious problems, such as the violence crisis in Sinaloa caused by internal conflicts within criminal networks, and ongoing governance challenges in Michoacan, Guerrero, Chiapas, and Baja California, with Guerrero and Michoacan being the most affected. Second, because there is very little data on the deployments beyond press releases. As of now, the number of personnel the SSPC has deployed nationwide and their impact on results remain unclear. Everything relies on Harfuch, his competence, and that of the police officers on his team, tasked again with leading the countrys security strategy.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
North Augusta reporter

Elizabeth Hustad is a reporter with The Post and Courier North Augusta. She covers government, growth and development, and business.

Elizabeth is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and previously worked with a Twin Cities weekly. Her work has appeared in the Minneapolis Star Tribune and MinnPost.

To support local journalism, sign up for a subscription. See our current offers 
You are the owner of this article.
Reporter

Ruth Cronin covers local government, education and business in Horry County. She wrote for the Indiana Daily Student and interned for the Cincinnati Enquirer while attending Indiana University.
Creative cities representatives gather in Shanghai to discuss design innovation, collaboration Pub Date:25-09-29 09:41 Source:Xinhua Innovation and inspirations for designs lie in every corner and moment of life, crossing national, cultural and functional boundaries, according to designers and experts at the World Design Cities Conference (WDCC) 2025. Editor:Zheng Chen

Related News Tunnel through first snow mountain along R... China approves Keysight's acquisition of S... New high-speed rail route to further fuel ... China proposes cyber cooperation plan at S...
Will a U.S. peace plan for Gaza become a reality? It is still unclear, pending a response from Hamas, which would have to surrender its weapons and, just hours earlier, claimed it had not even received a copy of the document in question. But one of the unknowns surrounding the project has been cleared up: following Mondays meeting between Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump, Israel says it accepts the 20-point proposal. And the Republican has given his ally permission to continue the offensive if the Palestinian party-militia rejects the offer.

The plan calls for the surrender of Hamas, the return of all Israeli hostages still in the Strip  both living and dead  and the creation of a provisional Palestinian government entity that will be supervised by an international board of peace that will include former British prime minister Tony Blair and will be chaired by Trump himself.

I support your plan to end the war in Gaza, which achieves our war aims, Netanyahu said at a joint press conference with Trump in the East Room of the White House, where the two leaders elected not to take questions. The proposal will bring back to Israel all our hostages, dismantle Hamas military capabilities, end its political rule, and ensure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel, the prime minister added.

Trump, for his part, claimed that it was a big, big day, a beautiful day, potentially, one of the great days ever in civilization. According to the Republican president, the parties are much closer to achieving peace and bringing about an immediate end to the war, as he detailed the sections of the plan drawn up in recent months in collaboration between the U.S. government and Blair. Its a historic day for peace, Trump insisted.

But the triumphant statements from both leaders clash with reality. So far, it is unclear what Hamas response will be. Some of the points included in the document  such as the obligation to disarm  force it to take steps that the Islamist group has repeatedly rejected during two years of war. And if Hamas response is no, the negotiation document will remain moot.

Trump acknowledged that it is still unclear what the Palestinian party-militias position will be. Im hearing Hamas wants to get this done, too, and thats a good thing, the U.S. president said, before pointing out that if the leaders of the Islamist militia reject the proposal, he will give Israel the green light to continue the offensive that has already killed 66,000 Palestinians and which an independent UN commission has openly described as genocide. Israel would have my full backing to finish the job of destroying the threat of Hamas, the Republican said.

I also want to thank Prime Minister Netanyahu for agreeing to the plan and for trusting that if we work together, we can bring an end to the death and destruction that weve seen for so many years, decades, even centuries, and begin a new chapter of security, peace and prosperity for the entire region, Trump solemnly declared.

The 20 points in the document stipulate that, if Israel and Hamas accept the agreement, an immediate ceasefire would be implemented. Within 72 hours, Hamas would have to hand over the surviving Israeli hostages and the bodies of those who have died; a total of 48, according to Israeli estimates. In exchange, Israel would return 1,700 Gazans detained since the start of the war and 250 prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment. The agreement also stipulates that once the exchange is complete, Hamas members will disarm; those who wish to do so will be able to leave the Strip, with guarantees of safety on their journey to third countries.

Once the agreement is accepted, the full and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to the Strip and the reconstruction of basic infrastructure would begin.

Gaza residents would not have to leave the Strip, and if they did, they would be able to return. Trump said he will chair a transitional body that will oversee the Palestinian governing entity that will temporarily rule Gaza. While these institutions are active, a Trump economic development plan for reconstruction will be implemented.

The project was presented after a long meeting between the two allies. No other international leader has been as frequent a visitor to the White House during Trumps second term as Netanyahu: the Israeli prime ministers visit to the Oval Office Monday was his fourth in eight months. None of his previous trips yielded any progress toward peace, and those meetings only served to buy the Israeli leader more time in his deadly offensive in Gaza. On this occasion, the U.S. president declared, moments before the start of the meeting between the two leaders, that he believed it could finally yield an agreement in principle that would halt the war in the Strip.

The two began their conversation with a handshake at the entrance to the West Wing of the presidential residence. Netanyahus motorcade had entered the White House a few minutes late. Trump came out to greet his Israeli counterpart, as he likes to do personally when a foreign leader arrives. The leaders acknowledged the press with a nod before entering and beginning the meeting; Trump said, in response to a question from reporters, that he felt very confident in a peace agreement for Gaza.

On the eve of the crucial meeting, representatives of the U.S. administration made last-minute contacts in an attempt to bridge differences and secure Netanyahus agreement over a peace deal. Trumps personal Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, spoke with Israeli representatives; Jared Kushner, the presidents son-in-law and negotiator of the Abraham Accords during the Republicans first term, spoke with Arab allies.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
Disclaimer: If you have any questions regarding information in this press release please contact the company added in the press release. Please do not contact pr-inside. We will not be able to assist you. PR-inside disclaims the content included in this release.
PR-Inside.com: 2025-09-29 23:05:07

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 727 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / September 29, 2025 /Green Bridge Metals Corporation (CSE:GRBM)(OTCQB:GBMCF)(FWB:J48)(WKN:A3EW4S) ("Green Bridge" or the "Company") announces that it intends to complete a non-brokered private placement (the "Private Placement") of up to 66,666,667 units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of $0.09 per Unit, for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $6,000,000.Each Unit shall consist of one common share (each a "Share") and one-half (1/2) of one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"), with each (whole) Warrant entitling the holder to purchase one Share at an exercise price of $0.15 for a period of three (3) years.Closing of the Private Placement is anticipated to occur on or about October 10, 2025, and is subject to certain conditions, including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary regulatory and other approvals. All securities issued pursuant to Private Placement will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day pursuant to applicable securities laws.The Company intends to utilize the proceeds of the Private Placement to support its existing operations and for general working capital purposes.In connection with the Private Placement, the Company may pay finders' fees and/or issue finders' warrants on the same terms as the Warrants, to eligible parties who have assisted by introducing subscribers to the Private Placement.The Company will issue Shares equal to 1.0% of the total of Shares issued in the Private Placement (the "Admin Fee Shares") to an arm's-length third party, as an administrative fee for their assistance with the Private Placement.About Green Bridge MetalsGreen Bridge Metals Corporation (formerly Mich Resources Ltd.) is a Canadian based exploration company focused on acquiring battery metal' rich mineral assets and the development of the South Contact Zone (the "Property") along the basal contact of the Duluth Intrusion, north of Duluth, Minnesota. The South Contact Zone contains bulk-tonnage copper-nickel and titanium-vanadium in ilmenite hosted in ultramafic to oxide ultramafic intrusions. The Property has exploration targets for bulk-tonnage Ni mineralization, high grade Ni-Cu-PGE magmatic sulfide mineralization and titanium.ON BEHALF OF GREEN BRIDGE METALS,"David Suda"President and Chief Executive OfficerFor more information, please contact:David SudaPresident and Chief Executive OfficerTel: 604.928-3101 investors@ greenbridgemetals.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Forward Looking InformationCertain statements and information herein contain forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). Such forward-looking statements include but are not limited to statements or information with respect to: the proposed non-brokered private placement.Although management of the Company believe that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such statements or information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that forward-looking statements or information herein will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking statements and information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding the potential completion of the Private Placement, the expected completion date thereof, and the use of proceeds therefrom. It is noted, however, that the Private Placement may not close on the terms set forth herein, or at all.The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.Reader AdvisoryThis news release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons (as defined under the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.SOURCE: Green Bridge Metals Corporation
PR-Inside.com: 2025-09-29 17:24:07

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 327 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Novo Nordisk A/S ("Novo Nordisk" or the "Company") (NYSE:NVO). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@ pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980, (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.The class action concerns whether Novo Nordisk and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.You have until September 30, 2025 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you purchased or otherwise acquired Novo Nordisk securities during the Class Period. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com [Click here for information about joining the class action]On July 29, 2025, Novo Nordisk significantly lowered its sales outlook for 2025. The Company attributed the reduction to "lowered growth expectations for the second half of 2025" for both Wegovy and Ozempic due to "the persistent use of compounded GLP-1s, slower-than-expected market expansion and competition." On this news, Novo Nordisk's American Depositary Receipt ("ADR") price fell $15.06 per ADR, or 21.83%, to close at $53.94 per ADR on July 29, 2025.Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP
PR-Inside.com: 2025-09-29 08:00:15

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 1062 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

LONDON, UK / ACCESS Newswire / September 29, 2025 / Orosur Mining Inc. ("Orosur" or "the Company") (TSX-V:OMI)(AIM:OMI) announces its audited results for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2025. All dollar figures are stated in thousands of US$ unless otherwise noted. The audited financial statements of the Company for the year ended May 31, 2025; the related management's discussion and analysis ("MD&A"); and Forms 52-109FV1 will be filed today and be available for review on the SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.ca . The financial statements and the MD&A are also available on the Company's website atwww.orosur.ca A link to the PDF version of the financial statements is available here:A link to the PDF version of the MD&A is available here:HIGHLIGHTSHighlights for the year ended May 31, 2025 include:OperationalIn Colombia, on November 27, 2024, the Company completed the acquisition of Minera Monte Aguila S.A.S. ("Monte Aguila") as a result of which the Company now has 100% ownership of the Company's flagship Anza Gold Project. The Company also re-took operatorship of the Anza Gold Project, commencing a drilling program at the Pepas prospect in late November 2024 which is still continuing and has produced some exceptional results, all of which have been announced by the Company since that date.While exploration continues across several prospects at Anza, the Company feels that the nature of the gold mineralisation thus far defined at Pepas, could, if proven, underpin a range of development options. Consequently, the Company has begun examining the potential for nearer term production at Pepas, initially through an in-fill drilling programme, followed by a Mineral Resource Estimate and an evaluation of the economics for production at Pepas. Thereafter the Company will return to wider exploration drilling, including at APTA.In the meantime, earlier stage exploration continues at the El Cedro prospect, which lies to the south of the same integrated licence that hosts Pepas, Pepas North and APTA and is roughly 4km south of the APTA base camp.Work on El Cedro began some years ago before Orosur's tenure, when Anglo American undertook reconnaissance mapping and sampling, identifying a highly prospective gold/copper porphyry system. Large soil samples have been taken at roughly 25m intervals, along ridges and spurs for ease of access and to ensure soils were residual. Samples were sent to both Medellin and Canada for assay. Early assay results have been returned and show highly anomalous results over large areas along the eastern flank, with substantial areas of over 0.3 g/t Au in soils, and some samples in excess of 1 g/t Au and 0.5% Cu. A wider area is being sampled to more accurately define the background levels, however these early results are considered by Orosur to be highly encouraging.In Argentina, on February 17, 2025, the Company announced the successful completion of the first phase of the two-phase exploration joint venture over the El Pantano Project in Santa Cruz province, Argentina. This milestone marks a significant step forward in the Company's strategic development of the Project. Having invested US$1m over three years, the Company has now earned a direct 51% interest in the Argentine company, Deseado Dorado S.A.S ("Deseado"), that owns the exploration licences that make up the Project. The Company can now move to the second phase of the JV, that could see it move to 100% ownership of Deseado upon investment of an additional US$2m over two years. Upon such an outcome, the original vendors would then retain a residual 2% NSR royalty, 1% of which the Company could repurchase at its election for US$1m.Post period end, a geo-physical campaign comprising IP was shot over one of the more prospective parts of the Project area. The data was then interpreted to provide the preferred locations for drilling which will take place later this year subject to finance.In Nigeria, the Company will consider how to best deal with the project given the continuing subdued lithium market.In Uruguay, in accordance with the Creditors' Agreement, the Company's wholly owned subsidiary, Loryser has sold all of its assets. It has paid for the settlements with all of its former employees; it has finalised the reclamation and remediation works on the tailings dam and has successfully concluded a one-year post-closure control phase. It has then distributed all remaining proceeds, via a Court approved paying agent, to Loryser's trade creditors and paid any remaining unclaimed amounts into the Court, in accordance with the Creditors' Agreement. Given that Loryser has fulfilled all of its obligations under the Creditors' Agreement, the Company has extinguished the carrying amounts due to commercial suppliers and borrowings on its Statement of Financial Position.Financial and CorporateThe audited consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis under the historical cost method except for items measured at fair value, and assets and liabilities related to discontinued operations, which are measured at the lower of cost or recoverable amount. This accounting treatment has been applied to the activities in Uruguay and Chile.At the Company's AGM, held on December 12, 2024, all resolutions put to shareholders were duly passed.On September 30, 2024, the Company announced that it had raised the sum of 835,000 ($1,096) (before expenses) through a placing of 30,035,971 new common shares of no par value ("Placing Share") at a price of 2.78 pence per Placing Share, together with a grant of one unlisted warrant to purchase one additional common share exercisable at US$0.0494 (approximately 3.697p) for every two Placing Shares subscribed for. As part of the raise, the Company also issued 3,003,597 brokers warrants ("Broker Warrants"). Each Broker Warrant can be exercised for one common share at an exercisable price of $0.03715 for a period of 5 years from the date of issuance.On December 19, 2024, the Company announced that it had raised the sum of 1,250,000 ($1,566) (before expenses) through a placing of 18,939,394 new common shares of no par value ("Placing Share") at a price of 6.6 pence per Placing Share. As part of the raise, the Company also issued 1,893,939 brokers warrants ("Broker Warrants"). Each Broker Warrant can be exercised for one common share at an exercisable price of $0.0832 for a period of 5 years from the date of issuance.On March 27, 2025, the Company announced the
PR-Inside.com: 2025-09-29 17:07:07

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 938 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / September 29, 2025 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against CTO Realty Growth, Inc. ("CTO" or the "Company") (NYSE:CTO) and certain officers. The class action, filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, and docketed under 25-cv-01516, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants that purchased or otherwise acquired CTO securities between February 18, 2021 and June 24, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants' violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and certain of its top officials.If you are an investor who purchased or otherwise acquired CTO securities during the Class Period, you have until October 7, 2025, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com . To discuss this action, contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@ pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.[Click here for information about joining the class action]CTO is a publicly traded real estate investment trust ("REIT") that owns and operates a portfolio of purported high-quality, retail-based properties located primarily in higher growth markets in the United States ("U.S."). The Company converted into a REIT in February 2021 and, as of December 31, 2024, owned 23 income properties in seven states, including Ashford Lane, a retail and dining center in Atlanta, Georgia.Under guidelines established by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), REITs must pay out at least 90% of their taxable profits to shareholders annually as dividends. In return, REIT companies are exempt from most corporate income tax. CTO has touted that its operation as a REIT "provides the tax-efficient organizational structure for [its] stockholders" that "will allow [it] to provide them with an attractive and sustainable dividend." To measure its performance, CTO uses the financial metric Adjusted Funds from Operations ("AFFO"). The AFFO of a REIT, though subject to varying methods of computation, is generally equal to the REIT's funds from operations with adjustments made for recurring capital expenditures (also referred to as "capex") used to maintain the quality of the REIT's underlying assets. Professional analysts tend to prefer AFFO because it takes into consideration additional costs incurred by the REIT as well as additional income sources, such as rent increases. Thus, analysts believe that AFFO provides for a more accurate base number when estimating present values and a better predictor of the REIT's future ability to pay dividends.The Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operations, and compliance policies. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) CTO's dividends were less sustainable than Defendants had led investors to believe; (ii) the Company used deceptive and unsustainable practices to artificially inflate its AFFO and overstate the true profitability of its Ashford Lane property; (iii) accordingly, CTO's business and/or financial prospects were overstated; and (iv) as a result, Defendants' public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.On June 25, 2025, Wolfpack Research ("Wolfpack") published a report entitled "CTO: The B. Riley of REITs" (the "Wolfpack Report" or the "Report"), which compared CTO unfavorably to B. Riley, a financial services company that recently lost more than 90% of its value amid three years of losses, soured investments, delayed financial reports and revelations that the SEC had been investigating whether the firm gave shareholders an accurate picture of its health. Citing interviews with former employees and whistleblowers, the Wolfpack Report accused CTO of, among other things, "not generat[ing] enough cash to pay its recurring capex and cover its dividends since converting to a REIT in 2021" and instead "rel[ying] on dilution (increasing shares outstanding by 70% since December 2022) to cover a $38 million dividend shortfall from 2021 to 2024," employing a "manipulative definition of [AFFO] where they exclude recurring capex, unlike all of their self-identified shopping center REIT peers," and "us[ing] a sham loan to hide the collapse of a top tenant from shareholders at Ashford Lane." (Emphasis in original).Further, Wolfpack predicted imminent further dilution of the Company, noting that CTO has just $8.4 million in cash while facing quarterly dividends of $14 million and average recurring capital expenditures of $5.7 million per quarter, along with approximately $12 million in additional planned capital expenditures.On this news, CTO's stock price fell $0.98 per share, or 5.42%, to close at $17.10 per share on June 25, 2025.Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered billions of dollars in damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP
PR-Inside.com: 2025-09-29 17:17:07

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 924 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / September 29, 2025 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Dow Inc. ("Dow" or the "Company") (NYSE:DOW) and certain officers. The class action, filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Northern Division, and docketed under 25-cv-12744, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants that purchased or otherwise acquired Dow securities between January 30, 2025 and July 23, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants' violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and certain of its top officials.If you are an investor who purchased or otherwise acquired Dow securities during the Class Period, you have until October 28, 2025, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com . To discuss this action, contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@ pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.[Click here for information about joining the class action]Dow is an American materials science company, serving customers in the packaging, infrastructure, mobility, and consumer applications industries. Dow conducts its worldwide operations through six global businesses organized into three operating segments: (i) Packaging & Specialty Plastics, (ii) Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure, and (iii) Performance Materials & Coatings.Historically, Dow has touted its "industry-leading dividend," which is of particular importance to investors. On conference calls with investors and analysts, Dow's Chief Executive Officer, Defendant Jim Fitterling ("Fitterling"), has variously stated that the Company's "dividend is a key element of our investment thesis," and that "north of 65% of our owners count on that dividend." Notwithstanding an ongoing slump in the materials science industry, as well as the recent onset of tariff-related market uncertainties, at all relevant times, Defendants represented that Dow was well positioned to weather macroeconomic and tariff-related headwinds while maintaining sufficient levels of financial flexibility to support the Company's lucrative dividend. Specifically, Defendants cited various purported strengths and advantages unique to Dow in its industry, including, inter alia, the Company's purported "differentiated portfolio," "cost-advantaged footprint," and "industry-leading flexibility to navigate global trade dynamics." Throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding Dow's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Dow's ability to mitigate macroeconomic and tariff-related headwinds, as well as to maintain the financial flexibility needed to support its lucrative dividend, was overstated; (ii) the true scope and severity of the foregoing headwinds' negative impacts on Dow's business and financial condition was understated, particularly with respect to competitive and pricing pressures, softening global sales and demand for the Company's products, and an oversupply of products in the Company's global markets; and (iii) as a result, Defendants' public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.On June 23, 2025, BMO Capital downgraded its recommendation on Dow to "Underperform" from "Market Perform" while also cutting its price target on the Company's stock to $22.00 per share from $29.00 per share, citing sustained weakness across key end markets and mounting pressure on the Company's dividend.On this news, Dow's stock price fell $0.89 per share, or 3.21%, to close at $26.87 per share on June 23, 2025.Then, on July 24, 2025, Dow issued a press release reporting its financial results for the second quarter of 2025. Therein, Dow reported a non-GAAPloss per share of $0.42, significantly larger than the approximate $0.17 to $0.18 per share loss expected by analysts. Dow also reported net sales of $10.1 billion, representing a 7.3% year-over-year decline and missing consensus estimates by $130 million, "reflecting declines in all operating segments." The Company further reported, inter alia, that "[s]equentially, net sales were down 3%, as seasonally higher demand in Performance Materials & Coatings was more than offset by declines across the other operating segments." Defendant Fitterling blamed these disappointing results on "the lower-for-longer earnings environment that our industry is facing, amplified by recent trade and tariff uncertainties," while providing a dour outlook marked by "signs of oversupply from newer market entrants who are exporting to various regions at anti-competitive economics." In a separate press release issued the same day, Dow revealed that it was cutting its dividend in half, from $0.70 per share to only $0.35 per share, citing the need for "financial flexibility amidst a persistently challenging macroeconomic environment." Following these disclosures, Dow's stock price fell $5.30 per share, or 17.45%, to close at $25.07 per share on July 24, 2025.Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered billions of dollars in damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP
PR-Inside.com: 2025-09-29 17:20:08

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 935 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / September 29, 2025 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Fluor Corporation ("Fluor" or the "Company") (NYSE:FLR) and certain officers. The class action, filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division, and docketed under 25-cv-02496, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants that purchased or otherwise acquired Fluor securities between February 18, 2025 and July 31, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants' violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and certain of its top officials.If you are an investor who purchased or otherwise acquired Fluor securities during the Class Period, you have until November 14, 2025, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com . To discuss this action, contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@ pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.[Click here for information about joining the class action]Fluor provides engineering, procurement, and construction ("EPC"), fabrication and modularization, and project management services worldwide. The Company operates through three segments: Urban Solutions, Energy Solutions, and Mission Solutions.Throughout 2024 and the first quarter of 2025, Fluor's Urban Solutions segment accounted for the largest portion of the Company's revenue and profit. The Urban Solutions segment offers EPC and project management services to the advanced technologies and manufacturing, life sciences, mining and metals, and infrastructure industries, as well as provides professional staffing services. The Company's infrastructure projects in this segment include work on, inter alia, the Gordie Howe International Bridge ("Gordie Howe"), as well as the Interstate 365 Lyndon B. Johnson ("I-635/LBJ") and Interstate 35E ("I-35") highways in Texas.In February 2025, Fluor provided financial guidance for the full year ("FY") of 2025, including adjusted EBITDA of $575 million to $675 million and adjusted earnings per share ("EPS") of $2.25 per share to $2.75 per share. Defendants reaffirmed the foregoing financial guidance in May 2025, notwithstanding their acknowledgement of the potential negative impacts of ongoing economic uncertainty on Fluor's business resulting from trade tensions and other market conditions. Contemporaneously, Defendants touted, inter alia, the purported health and stability of Fluor's and its customers' operations and the strength of the Company's risk mitigation strategy, both for itself and its clients.The Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding Fluor's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) costs associated with the Gordie Howe, I-635/LBJ, and I-35 projects were growing because of, inter alia, subcontractor design errors, price increases, and scheduling delays; (ii) the foregoing, as well as customer reduction in capital spending and client hesitation around economic uncertainty, was having, or was likely to have, a significant negative impact on the Company's business and financial results; (iv) accordingly, Fluor's financial guidance for FY 2025 was unreliable and/or unrealistic, the effectiveness of the Company's risk mitigation strategy was overstated, and the impact of economic uncertainty on the Company's business and financial results was understated; and (v) as a result, Defendants' public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.On August 1, 2025, Fluor issued a press release reporting its financial results for the second quarter ("Q2") of 2025. Among other results, the press release reported Q2 non-GAAP EPS of $0.43, missing consensus estimates by $0.13, and revenue of $3.98 billion, representing a 5.9% year-over-year decline and missing consensus estimates by $570 million. Defendants blamed these disappointing results on, inter alia, growing costs in multiple infrastructure projects due to subcontractor design errors, price increases, and scheduling delays, as well as reduced capital spending by customers. The same press release also provided a negatively revised financial outlook for FY 2025, guiding to adjusted EBITDA of $475 million to $525 million, down significantly from Defendants' prior guidance of $575 million to $675 million, and adjusted EPS of $1.95 per share to $2.15 per share, down significantly from Defendants' prior guidance of $2.25 per share to $2.75 per share, citing "client hesitation around economic uncertainty and its impact on new awards and project delays and results for the quarter[.]"The same day, Fluor hosted a conference call with investors and analysts to discuss the Company's Q2 2025 financial results. During that call, the Company's Chief Executive Officer, Defendant James R. Breuer, disclosed that the infrastructure projects that had negatively impacted Fluor's Q2 2025 results were the Gordie Howe, I-635/LBJ, and I-35 projects.Following the foregoing disclosures, Fluor's stock price fell $15.35 per share, or 27.04%, to close at $41.42 per share on August 1, 2025.Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered billions of dollars in damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP
The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) has raised concerns about the potential impact of the dispute between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and Dangote Refinery on the nations power sector.

The dispute has led to directives to suspend the supply of crude oil and natural gas to the refinery.

NISO in a statement signed by its management on Sunday said the national grid relies heavily on gas-fired generation, and any sustained disruption in gas supply could constrain generation capacity, affect system operations, and undermine the stability and reliability of electricity supply across the country.

NISO said it is considering measures to mitigate total grid collapse.

NISO wishes to draw attention to the potential implications of this action on the nations power sector. The national grid relies heavily on gas-fired generation, and any sustained disruption in gas supply would constrain generation capacity, affect system operations and undermine the stability and reliability of electricity supply across the country.

While NISO is considering measures to mitigate total grid collapse, we urge all parties involved to embrace dialogue and lawful mechanisms of dispute resolution in the overall interest of the economy and the wellbeing of Nigerians at large.

We reaffirm our commitment to ensuring a secure and reliable operation of the national grid and will continue to support wider efforts aimed at safeguarding energy security, the statement said.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that PENGASSAN had earlier asked its members to disrupt activities at the refinery by blocking gas supply to it.

The association said its decision was in response to the decision by the refinerys management to sack some workers who are members of the union. It also accused Dangote refinery of spreading misinformation to justify its actions.

The union also directed its members nationwide to withdraw their services in protest against the alleged sack of Nigerian workers at the refinerynery from midnight on 28 September. It accused the management of the refinery of anti-labour practices and discrimination against local employees, prompting the federal governments intervention.

In a swift response, Dangote refinery described the order as illegal and cautioned PENGASSAN to obey Nigerian laws in its operations, noting that PENGASSAN has no legal right to disrupt or interfere with the refinerys contracts with third-party vendors for gas and crude oil supply.

The Dangote Refinery called on the federal government and its security agencies to intervene and call PENGASSAN to order, urging that PENGASSANs actions are not only lawless but also have the potential to inflict significant harm on the Nigerian economy and citizens.

On Saturday, the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) called on PENGASSAN to suspend its directive to cut off gas and crude oil supply to the Dangote refinery.

NISO is in charge of electricity system operations, managing load allocation from generation companies to distribution companies and eligible customers.
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) on Monday morning shut down the major entry points of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

When PREMIUM TIMES visited the offices on Monday morning, PENGASSAN members were seen at the entrance, and staff were denied access to their offices upon resumption.

At the NMDPRA Headquarters gate located at the federal secretariat, this newspaper observed a banner with an inscription Dangote Must Obey, Dangote is Not bigger than the country, and Dangote the Chief of lawless officer.

Speaking to PREMIUM TIMES, the NUPRCs Head of Media and Strategic Communications, Eniola Akinkuotu, said the association stopped the staff from entering the office upon resumption on Monday morning.

We got to the office and they did not allow us to enter. As I speak to you now, I am in my house, he said.

Also, speaking to this reporter, the NMDPRA spokesperson, George Ene-Ita, said, They didnt allow staff to access their offices. In response to the union directive that senior staff should stay away from work. The senior staff who are under PENGASSAN obey the directives of their union to stay away from work today.

But the ones that are not under the union who came to the work were not allowed to gain access to their offices, too, he said.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that PENGASSAN had earlier asked its members to disrupt activities at the Dangote Refinery by blocking gas supply to it.

The association said its decision was in response to the decision by the refinerys management to sack some workers who are members of the union. It also accused Dangote refinery of spreading misinformation to justify its actions.

The union also directed its members nationwide to withdraw their services in protest against the alleged sack of Nigerian workers at the refinery from midnight on 28 September. It accused the management of the refinery of anti-labour practices and discrimination against local employees, prompting the federal governments intervention.

In a swift response, Dangote refinery described the order as illegal and cautioned PENGASSAN to obey Nigerian laws in its operations, noting that PENGASSAN has no legal right to disrupt or interfere with the refinerys contracts with third-party vendors for gas and crude oil supply.

The Dangote Refinery called on the federal government and its security agencies to intervene and call PENGASSAN to order, urging that PENGASSANs actions are not only lawless but can potentially inflict significant harm on the Nigerian economy and citizens.

On Saturday, the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) called PENGASSAN to suspend its directive to cut off gas and crude oil supply to the Dangote refinery.

On Sunday, the federal government appealed to PENGASSAN to suspend its planned nationwide strike over its dispute with the Dangote Refinery.

In an appeal in a statement, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, said the ministry had already initiated moves to reconcile the parties to prevent the crisis from escalating.

The Ministry of Labour and Employment, through the Director of Trade Union Services and Industrial Relations, has extended invitations to the leadership of PENGASSAN and the management of Dangote Refinery to attend a conciliation meeting in my office on Monday.

I appeal to both parties to be mindful of the importance of the petroleum sector to the country, being the core of its economy. A strike will not only lead to heavy revenue losses but also cause hardship for Nigerians. Its impact on economic stability and national security cannot be underestimated, he added.
After escaping from a juvenile detention center in Belgium last fall, he was recruited by a criminal organization in the Netherlands. From there, he flew to Malaga on December 7, 2024. He landed around midnight and was picked up by two members of the drug gang. They took him to a hotel to give him an assault rifle and then drove him to Fuengirola. Near the seafront, on Asturias Street, they showed him the cannabis club from which, sooner or later, a man he was to kill would emerge. Hooded, he waited patiently. In the early hours of the morning, barely two hours after arriving in Spain, he pulled the trigger in cold blood and fled by bicycle, then on foot, and finally in a taxi.

This sequence that have been taken from a movie stars a 17-year-old Belgian boy with a single mission for his trip to the Costa del Sol: to commit a murder with the Mocro Maffia as the background. Following his arrest, this is the first case in Spain in which an underage hitman is the main suspect. For years minors have been used to commit such crimes in northern European countries, but it has never before occurred on Spanish soil. Its a wave thats coming to us little by little. And a real problem, says one of the police officers who led the investigation. Its something that has surprised us all, acknowledges Marbellas Anti-Drug Prosecutor Carlos Tejada.

The use of young people in organized crime has overwhelmed Sweden. Hitmen as young as 13, 14, or 15 are already common in the Nordic drug wars. Theyre not old enough to get a drivers license or buy alcohol, but theyre already firing guns, throwing grenades, and planting bombs. More and more young people without a criminal record are being recruited to carry out violent attacks, Europol warned this summer. This is what organized crime looks like in 2025, summarized Andy Kraag, director of the European Centre for Serious and Organized Crime at the European police agency, where he describes this phenomenon as consisting of an assembly line that runs from those who pay to kill, to those who recruit the teenagers, those who provide the logistics, and, of course, those who carry out the orders. Agents specializing in organized crime have been warning for some time that sooner rather than later, these children would also arrive on the Costa del Sol. And in just over a year, three have been arrested. Two of them  Swedish nationals  were caught shortly before committing their murders, with everything already in place. With the third, a Belgian, there was no way to avoid a death, although a complex investigation quickly identified him and those who helped him: the person who hired him, those who handled the logistics  organizing his travel, paying for his tickets, renting the bicycle for his escape, transporting the rifle to Fuengirola from Paris  and those who showed him the place where he was to kill the victim. All are now in prison.

Image provided by the National Police of an arrest during an operation against the Swedish mafia in Malaga in 2024.

The first case involving a teenager occurred in Benalmadena in the spring of 2024. The boy was also 17 years old and had traveled from Sweden with the sole purpose of killing. He spent several days on the Costa del Sol in different hotels until he was given a scooter. He used it over four days to stake out a residential area where, according to the police, his target lived: a member of a motorcycle gang. He was arrested just before his accomplices provided him with an assault rifle to commit the crime. At his accommodation, he had tape, gloves, clothing, everything perfectly prepared for the crime. But we caught him before then, explains a police officer who participated in that investigation. This work had a very significant consequence: it led to the dismantling of an organization dedicated to recruiting minors to commit murders. It was run by a Swedish national who had just turned 15 and lived in Alicante. To recruit other teenagers, he used Telegram and Signal under aliases such as Donald Trump, The Recruiter, and Ms. Evelina. He was the fucking boss, the police officer said. He ordered murderers like someone orders a pizza. A kid like that will kill someone for 20,000, police sources explained. Others, however, are scammed and never paid. Or, if they fail, they are extorted into returning the money, with interest.

Light sentences

The Swedish teenager arrested in Alicante was tried this summer in his home country. Prosecutors accused him of attempted extortion, attempted murder in Stockholm, Malmo, and Torrevieja, as well as being responsible for recruiting, guiding, and training young people to commit crimes. According to the sentence, to which EL PAIS has had access, the court found that he supported, advised, and backed the perpetrator of a shooting, and was convicted as an accessory to attempted murder and for weapons possession. The sentence carried more than 20 years in prison, but given his age  15  it was reduced to two years in a juvenile detention center. The sentences are very light, which is why they use minors for this type of work, says Swedish journalist Diamant Salihu, who has published two books and a made a television series on gang violence in his country. He believes the use of minors to commit crimes has increased because they are cheaper than professionals. And, when they succeed, they are encouraged to continue doing it until they are caught. Then the gangs ignore them, he emphasizes. Many are raised in vulnerable families of foreign origin, but others are traditional Swedish teenagers with blond hair and light eyes. In 2024 alone, up to 30 young people from the country  many of them minors  traveled to Denmark to attack rivals. Last week, a 13-year-old boy was sent to Oslo, Norway, to carry out an attack with a hand grenade. He received 3,000 for the job.

Its a cheap and simple model, with a multitude of young people volunteering, eager for quick money. Thats why its exported, and the young men go to other countries to commit murders. Spain is a place where more cases will occur, since many drug traffickers live on the Costa del Sol, because they have everything there, adds Salihu. The most powerful criminal organizations run their businesses from Marbella. This means that the problems there affect us here as well, acknowledges Tejada, the anti-drug prosecutor. Theres fear that it will increasingly affect Spain, because were already seeing the first ones [arrive] and more may come, admits a police expert in the area. So we have to be well-prepared.

Another colleague emphasizes the excellent police work that, for example, led to the arrest of another 16-year-old Swedish minor along with a 19-year-old last July, after they had been in Spain for five days. They had been given a scooter and had weapons in their vacation rental. Or the work that led to the identification, in just four days, of the Fuengirola killer  who had been hired to carry out the job in the Netherlands  and the people who had provided the logistics. We carried out an immense amount of work, working almost 24 hours a day, emphasize the officers, who know that although the presence of underage hitmen is still something of a rarity, this will not be the last investigation involving them. The wave is, for now, contained. Well see in the future, they conclude.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
Arise News Channel has announced the death of one of its presenters, Somtochukwu Maduagwu.

In a statement signed by Hadiza Usman-Ajayi on behalf of the management and posted on its X page on Monday, the station confirmed that Ms Maduagwu passed away in the early hours of the day.

According to the station, the news anchor died following an armed robbery attack at her residence in the Katampe area of Abuja.

The statement partly read: It is with heavy hearts that the management and staff of the ARISE News Channel announce the passing of our beloved colleague, News Anchor, Reporter and Producer, Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu.

Sommie tragically passed away in the early hours of Monday, September 29, 2025, following an armed robbery incident in her residence in the Katampe area of Abuja.

The station described Ms Sommie, 29, as a valued member of staff and a vibrant voice who engaged and connected with its viewers.

Arise TV noted that Ms Sommie, a lawyer, was not only a consummate professional but also a supportive colleague and a friend to many.

The stations management extended its deepest condolences to Ms Maduagwus parents, siblings, extended family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time.

Sommies voice is now silent, but her spirit, passion and legacy will endure as part of our collective memory. We remain in shock and call for a speedy investigation, apprehension and prosecution of the culprits.

Late Maduagwu previously worked as a political consultant with VIISUAS and served as a legal executive and assistant company secretary at Layers3.

She also held the position of legal executive at the International Dispute Resolution Institute (IDRI), and practised as Junior Counsel at Akinlolu Kehinde SAN & Co.

She was an advocate for womens rights, with a keen interest in the work of non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
The Nigerian Official Selection Committee (NOSC) has announced it will not submit a film for consideration in the 2026 Academy Awards International Feature Film (IFF) category.

Following its August call for entries, the Committee received six submissions. However, during its deliberations on 26 September, a majority vote favoured No Submission, bringing the process to a close.

NOSC Chairperson Stephanie Linus has formally communicated the decision to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). She expressed regret that no Nigerian film was deemed suitable for the category this year.

While Nigerian films have undoubtedly shown significant improvement and growing awareness of IFF standards, there is still a deficit in creative and technical intentionality that will improve their competitive potential for global awards. This is why the NOSC will be taking more proactive steps to encourage filmmakers to create with the Oscars in mind, Linus stated.

She encouraged Nigerian filmmakers to study previous IFF-nominated works to deepen their understanding of the categorys expectations and strengthen future submissions.

The International Feature Film award is presented annually by the Academy to a feature-length motion picture produced outside the United States with at least 50 per cent non-English dialogue.

The 2026 Oscars holds on 15 March 2026, in Los Angeles, US.
The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has apologised to Qatar over an Israeli strike on Doha on 9 September that killed at least one Qatari citizen.

Mr Netanyahu apologised in a joint phone call with US President Donald Trump and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed Al Thani from the White House, according to US and Qatari official statements.

As a first step, Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed his deep regret that Israels missile strike against Hamas targets in Qatar unintentionally killed a Qatari serviceman, the White House said in a statement.

He further expressed regret that, in targeting Hamas leadership during hostage negotiations, Israel violated Qatari sovereignty and affirmed that Israel will not conduct such an attack again in the future.

PREMIUM TIMES reported the Israeli attack on Doha, which world leaders condemned, including the Nigerian government.

Israel said then that the attack was targeted at Hamas leadership and that it would repeat such an attack if need be.

The attack on Qatar drew widespread criticism from against Israel, with many describing it as a blatant breach of the sovereign rights of the country.

After the attack, Qatar suspended its mediation efforts between Israel and Hamas toward the release of Israeli hostages and a ceasefire deal.

It also declared that it would not tolerate this reckless Israeli behaviour and its continued tampering with regional security.

Qatar has been a key mediator in ceasefire efforts in the Middle East and is the host of the US militarys most extensive base in the region.

The Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs also confirmed the call.

It stated that it was part of US efforts to address the repercussions of the Israeli aggression that targeted a residential neighbourhood in Doha.

At the beginning of the call, the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed his gratitude to the US President for his efforts to achieve peace in the region, including guarantees to prevent a recurrence of aggression against the State of Qatar and the US commitment to its defense partnership with Qatar, the ministry said.

On X, Mr Netanyahus official X account wrote, Mr Prime Minister, I want you to know that Israel regrets that one of your citizens was killed in our strike.

I want to assure you that Israel was targeting Hamas, not Qataris.
A coalition of Nigerian civil society organisations has condemned a proposal contained in the UN80 reform initiative to sunset the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) by the end of 2026.

In a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, the Coalition of Community Networks and Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria described the move as ill-timed and a betrayal of millions of people living with and affected by HIV.

On 18 September, in the report Shifting Paradigms: United to Deliver under the UN80 Initiative, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres formally proposed it.

We plan to sunset UNAIDS by the end of 2026. This would entail mainstreaming capacity and expertise into relevant entities of the UN development system in 2027, Mr Guterres said.

UNAIDS was established in 1996 to coordinate global HIV/AIDS efforts and promote community-centred responses. The agency has been instrumental in reducing AIDS-related deaths globally by almost 70 per cent since 2004.

Nigeria, which has the second-largest HIV epidemic in the world with approximately two million people living with the virus, continues to depend on UNAIDS leadership.

Any attempt to dismantle UNAIDS at this point risks reversing hard-won gains, undermining donor confidence (including from key external partners such as PEPFAR and the Global Fund), and sending a chilling message to communities still grappling with the epidemic, the coalition said.

Concerns over proposal

The coalition noted that the UNs proposal could reverse gains made in reducing HIV infections and deaths over the past decades.

The proposal to dismantle UNAIDS is not only ill-advised but dangerously shortsighted and a betrayal of communities living with and affected by HIV, the statement read.

AIDS is not over, and the global AIDS response has been upset in recent times that it requires deliberate and concerted efforts to achieve the SDG target of ending AIDS by 2030.

They stressed that UNAIDS has already been guiding countries toward inclusive and sustainable national responses, prioritising community leadership and domestic funding.

Communities at risk

The groups noted that UNAIDS is the only UN agency with communities and civil society at the heart of its mandate and governance.

According to them, removing this structure would silence the voices of women, young people, and key populations most affected by HIV.

The groups warned that UNAIDS has been a lifeline and dismantling it now would cost lives. It also raised a series of questions for the UN Secretary-General and member states.

Who will assume the leadership role in coordinating the global HIV response? Has the UN abandoned its commitment to end AIDS by 2030? Wont this proposal undermine the target? the statement asked.

They said the plan risks creating confusion among governments, donors, and communities, at a time when stability is crucial to meet global health goals.

Call to action

The coalition called on the UN Secretary-General and member states to immediately reject the recommendation to sunset UNAIDS and instead strengthen its mandate.

We acknowledge the importance of reforming and modernising the UN system. However, we reject any attempt to use the UN80 process as a vehicle to dismantle progress in the HIV response, they stated.

The statement was signed by six leading Nigerian civil society networks: the Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), Nigeria Key Population Health and Rights Network (NKPHRN), International Community of Women Living with HIVWest Africa (ICW-WA), Association of Women Living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (ASWHAN), Association of Positive Youth Living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (APYIN), and the Civil Society Network for HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (CiSHAN).

We stand ready to engage with the UN and Member States to co-create solutions that preserve UNAIDS legacy and ensure no one is left behind, they noted.
A recent claim about a Chinese-made bone adhesive sparked online debate after an X user expressed scepticism about claims of new Chinese inventions, saying he would independently verify whether the story about such an invention was true.

However, a review of financing records and clinical trial announcements by PREMIUM TIMES has confirmed key details of the development.

The product, Bone 02 Bone Adhesive, was introduced by Hangzhou Yuannang Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (Yuannang Bio).

The company describes it as a breakthrough material capable of repairing fractures within minutes, even in wet or blood-filled environments, while being fully biodegradable.

Product financing, claims

According to a report by Artery Network on 11 September, Hangzhou Yuannang Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (Yuannang Bio) recently completed nearly 100 million yuan in Series A financing, led by Hetang Venture Capital with participation from Zheshang Venture Capital and others.

This is Zheshang Venture Capitals third investment in Yuannang Bio, following previous rounds in October 2021 and August 2022, bringing its cumulative investment to tens of millions of yuan.

The company said the funds will be used to advance the clinical application of its flagship product, Bone 02 Bone Adhesive, and accelerate commercialisation.

About the bone adhesive

Yuannang Bio describes the adhesive as a breakthrough material that can rapidly bond in wet or blood-filled environments while being fully biodegradable.

Unlike traditional metal plates and screws, it is designed to seamlessly join even small bone fragments, reducing the risk of foreign body reactions and infections.

The product, Bone 02 Bone Cement, is intended to improve surgical efficiency, particularly in complex comminuted fractures, where traditional operations can take several hours and may result in bone loss, delayed healing, or traumatic arthritis.

The company said the adhesive could also have applications in minimally invasive fracture surgeries and even in battlefield medicine, allowing for immediate self-service fixation of traumatic fractures.

Inspiration from oysters

Yuannang Bios Chief Scientist, Lin Xianfeng, led the development of the product. With over 40 years of orthopaedic clinical experience, he recalled his childhood by the sea and how oysters secrete a natural underwater glue.

According to Mr Xianfeng, this glue has been used in China for centuries to reinforce bridge piers.

Through continuous experimentation, we overcame challenges such as biotoxicity, adhesion stability in bloody environments, and ease of surgical use, he said.

The team said this bionic approach, modelling technology on biological processes, allowed them to overcome longstanding obstacles that had limited bone glue research worldwide for nearly a century.

Clinical trials

In January 2025, Yuannang Biopharmaceuticals launched what it described as the worlds first prospective, multicentre, blinded, randomised, parallel-controlled, and non-inferiority clinical trial for comminuted fracture bone bonding.

More than 150 patients have been enrolled. According to the company, preliminary results showed no safety issues, with treatment efficacy meeting expectations.

The adhesive reportedly seamless bonds all fracture fragments, avoiding or reducing the need for metal fixation.

The wider need

Fractures are among the most common clinical injuries. Without timely and effective treatment, they can lead to severe consequences, including disability in young and middle-aged patients and even death in elderly patients.

While modern metal internal fixation has advanced treatment, comminuted fractures, where bones shatter into multiple fragments, remain difficult to repair.

Conventional fixation can be labour-intensive, time-consuming, and sometimes ineffective, often leading to bone resorption, delayed healing, or post-traumatic arthritis.

Yuannang Bio said tens of millions of patients worldwide require a technological breakthrough to address these challenges.

Global ambitions

The companys founding team has been engaged in biomaterials research for more than a decade and has published results in leading journals, including Nature.

It holds dozens of core patents across China, the United States, the European Union, and Japan.

Its product portfolio includes a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) gel patch kit, recognised as an innovative medical device in Zhejiang Province, and porcine-derived bone repair materials that overcome inter-species immune rejection.

Yuannang Bio described the Bone 02 Bone Adhesive as another step in its pursuit of breakthroughs in orthopaedics.

The firm said it aims to secure the worlds first regulatory approval for the adhesive in treating comminuted fractures, while also exploring future applications in spinal fixation and dental implantation.
African leaders and development experts have faulted decades of foreign aid-driven development on the continent, insisting that Africa must chart its own path by investing in homegrown innovation and solutions.

The call was made at a panel session titled African-led Innovation: Shaping Sustainable Futures with or without Aid held on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

African countries have long depended on foreign assistance to support its health sector, infrastructure, and social programmes.

In January, the US government announced sweeping cuts to foreign aid, suspending significant portions of funding through USAID and rescinding $7.9 billion commitments under the Rescissions Act of 2025.

Speaking during the panel session, Chernor Bah, Sierra Leones Minister of Information and Civic Education, said aid donation had for decades shaped African systems but left little room for true ownership.

For decades, foreign aid has shaped health, innovation, and development in Africa but often without African ownership at the centre. In many ways, this created systems that were never truly ours, Mr Bah said.

He said that Africans have always innovated out of necessity and should now reclaim the narrative.

Mr Bah noted that this is a new era of designing African future, where African ideas and creativity lead the way.

How we collaborate across government, the private sector, civil society, and communities will determine whether we succeed in reclaiming our sovereignty, he added.

Public-private collaboration in health

The founder of HealthCap Africa, Ola Brown, said governments and private capital must work as co-investors to build sustainable innovation.

Ms Brown noted that Africas challenge is different because governments face capital constraints.

When you look at the US, the Internet itself began as a DARPA project at the Pentagon. Around 75 per cent of new drugs and molecules come from government-funded research. Even SpaceX survived its first years because of government contracts, she explained.

Citing examples, Ms Brown noted that RapidDeploy, an African emergency services company, now operates in 20 US states, while InstaDeep, an AI drug-discovery firm, was acquired for $1 billion by a German company.

When we invest in healthcare innovation in Africa, we dont just create a healthier continent, we create a healthier world, she said.

Speaking on innovation to be community-driven, Michael Holscher, President of Population Services International (PSI) Global, stressed that communities, not projects, determine sustainability.

Mr Holscher stressed that innovation has to be seen through the ecosystem of all the different players, while noting that one of the most critical is the community itself.

For instance, a woman in the marketplace or a man in the village will be a determining factor whether a programme is sustainable, he said.

Our projects are finite; they have timelines. But beyond short-term results, the question always is: when we leave, what happens? True sustainability rests in the ownership of stakeholders. Communities must be carried along, he said.

Evidence and inclusivity

The Co-President of the Population Council, Jim Sailer, invited long-time researcher Judith Bruce to respond on how evidence can support locally led change.

Ms Bruce warned against treating community as a homogenous category that excludes women and girls.

She called for strengthening what she described as female infrastructure and said data must reveal who is missing, not just who is visible.

Every study showing impact should begin, not end, with the question: who is included here, and who is not? Large populations remain invisible such as girls aged 10 to 14 in high child-marriage districts. If we dont name them, we cant design for them, she added.

Digital innovation for health

Jean Nsengimana, Chief Digital Health Advisor at the Africa CDC, said the continent must make health technology as common as mobile money.

When we look at digital innovation in health, the question is: how do we replicate the success of M-PESA? Financial inclusion was revolutionised because mobile wallets reached the excluded. We need the same leap in health tech, Mr Nsengimana said.

He explained that pieces of the digital health puzzle already exist including connectivity, power, data centres, electronic records, but are scattered.

Mr Nsengimana added that Africa CDC has launched a Health Tech Marketplace to showcase 24 homegrown innovators.

The bottom line is Africa has the solutions within. If foreign aid comes, its welcome. But even without it, we must and can move forward, he said.
Former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje secretly transferred the state governments 20 per cent stake in the Dala Inland Dry Port Nigeria Limited to private hands and also made his children co-owners of the company before awarding a contract worth more than N4 billion to provide infrastructure for the project, PREMIUM TIMES can report.

The transfer effectively edged Kano State out of the projects ownership and positioned Mr Gandujes children as directors and shareholders. Shortly after, Mr Ganduje, then governor, awarded a contract for works that were originally the states responsibility under its equity agreement.

Mr Ganduje, who resigned this year as national chairman of Nigerias ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), governed Kano between 2015 and 2023.

How Kano acquired stake in dry port

On 4 September 2006, nearly a decade before Mr Ganduje assumed office, the Kano State Government purchased a 20 per cent stake in the Dala Inland Dry Port Limited under Governor Ibrahim Shekaraus administration.

Mr Shekaraus commissioner for commerce, industry, and cooperatives, Ahmad Yakasai, conveyed the governments approval.

The acquisition followed the federal governments 2003 port development policy, which encouraged private development of ports while allowing the federal and host state governments to retain minority stakes.

The policy capped private investors stake at 60 per cent and reserved 20 per cent each for the federal and state governments.

The policy required the government to lease out ports it had already developed to private investors for 1525 years, depending on the equipment installed. Where private investors were the primary developers, the policy specified that federal and state equity participation was to be limited.

Dala Inland Dry Port

Strategically located in Kano, the commercial hub of northern Nigeria, the Dala Inland Dry Port was conceived to ease import and export processes, reduce transit times, and facilitate trade with neighbouring landlocked countries like Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.

In August 2020, the federal government granted the facility the status of a port of origin and final destination for goods entering or leaving Nigeria. It also designated it a logistics-free trade zone. The port spans 35 hectares, with another 165 hectares earmarked for free zone enterprises.

The port was founded in 2003 and privately developed by Kano businessman Ahmad Rabiu.

In line with federal policy review, Kano State acquired 20 per cent equity in 2006. At inception, Mr Rabiu retained 80 per cent ownership, while the state held 20 per cent.

On 16 May 2006, Mr Rabiu signed a build, own, operate, and transfer (BOOT) agreement with the federal government.

At a tripartite meeting on 22 June 2006, involving the state government, Maersk Sealand (an international shipping giant), and Dala Inland Dry Port Limited, the parties agreed on participation levels of each stakeholder.

According to a classified document seen by PREMIUM TIMES, Kano State committed to paying for its 20 per cent equity by providing infrastructure roads, fencing, electricity, and waterat the Zawachiki project site in Kumbotso Local Government Area of the state.

However, Mr Shekarau, who served two consecutive terms as the governor of Kano between 2003 and 2011, did not execute any infrastructural project at the dry port.

His successor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, whose second non-consecutive term ended in 2015, also ignored the state governments commitments to the port.

On the other hand, Maersk Sealand, initially a technical partner with the intention of taking equity shares, withdrew due to the states lack of commitment to the project.

Maersk Sealand primarily invests in floating assets. However, the company also participates in joint ventures for projects such as the Dala Inland Dry Port. It expressed interest in participating as a technical partner and to take on some equity as part of the joint venture, but it never did so, insider sources told PREMIUM TIMES.

Shippers council threatens termination of concession.

By 2019, with little progress at the site, the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) threatened to terminate the projects concession.

In a letter dated 30 May 2019, the NSC, through its director of legal services, S.A. Vongtau, notified the companys founder, Ahmad Rabiu, of its intention to terminate the BOOT agreement over delays in developing the port.

The NSC lamented that apart from a site office built in January 2011, no other physical development had taken place in breach of the build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) agreement signed in 2006.

Nigerian Shippers Council, which is the monitoring and supervising Agency on behalf of the Grantor, has observed that, except for the site office, which was constructed in January 2011, no other physical development has taken place since the site was handed over to you in September 2009.

This is contrary to the provisions regulating the construction period and Milestone Limited for completion of the Inland Container Depot project. Subsequently, the Grantor wishes to express its dismay over the lack of development activities at the project site, which is in breach of the provisions of the agreement.

Based on the above concerns, the Grantor, in line with the provision of the extant ICD BOOT Agreement, hereby gives you notice of intention to terminate the BOOT agreement for Zawachiki, Kano Inland Container Depot, the shippers council said.

An insider told PREMIUM TIMES that the termination threat forced businessman Mr Rabiu to transfer 60 per cent of his equity to the Ganduje family, paving the way for the state government to finally provide the long-awaited infrastructure.

NSCs letter of appeal to Ganduje

In a separate letter dated 18 June 2020 and addressed to the Kano State Government, the federal regulator, the NSC, appealed to Kano State to revive its commitments and provide the essential facilities at the project site.

You may wish to be informed that in 2006, Dala Inland Dry Port Limited was granted a build, own, operate and transfer (BOT) concession to the 20,000 Equivalent Units (TEUs) capacity Inland Dry Port at Zawachiki, Kano for a period of 25 years. However, due to some challenges, not much progress has been made towards the development of the project.

It may interest you to note that the concessionaire for the dry port have divested a substantial part of their shares to their new solid partners, whose participation in the project, we believe, will reinvigorate the project towards timely completion and commencement of operations of the dry port facility, Hassan Bello, former NSC chairperson wrote in the letter addressed to the then-Governor Ganduje.

Although the letter did not name the new solid partners, later company records revealed them to be Mr Gandujes children.

Ganduje steps in

With his family now owning majority shares in the dry port, Mr Ganduje, as governor, finally decided to use state funds to build the infrastructure the state should have built for owning 20 per cent shares in the project. However, by the time the contract was awarded, the state was no longer a co-owner of the port.

On 7 July 2020, about 19 days after the state government acknowledged the NSCs letter, Mr Ganduje awarded a N2.3 billion contract to FRI Construction Company Limited for the provision of infrastructure at the dry port.

Sequel to the deliberations of the State Executive Councils meeting held on Wednesday, 1 July 2020, I am directed to convey its approval for the award of the above-mentioned contract (provision of infrastructure at Dala Inland Dry Port) to your company at the cost of N2,300,000,604.24 only and completion period of six months.

If this offer is acceptable, you should pay the appropriate tender fee of N46,000,012.08 only at the Ministry of Finance  Works Registration Office after which you will report to the Director Civil Engineering Department for further details of the contract, the director of planning in the states ministry of works, Usman Abdulkadir, said in the letter to the FRI Construction Company Limited.

The contract was later reviewed upward to more than N4 billion, according to sources familiar with the procurement arrangement.

FRI Construction subcontracted the roadworks to Triacta Nigeria Limited while handling fencing, electricity, water, warehouses, offices, and storage areas.

Ganduje transfers ownership to children and proxy

When the company was first incorporated on 8 December 2003, its only directors were the founder, Ahmad Rabiu, and his son, Rabiu Ahmad Rabiu.

Two years later, at an extraordinary general meeting on 19 January 2005, the board was expanded with the appointment of four new directors: Abdulaziz Haladu, Anwar Isyaku-Rabiu, Diepreye George, and Abdullahi Kwaru.

Records obtained by this newspaper show that on 5 March 2020, Mr Gandujes three children and his longtime associate, Abubakar Bawuro, replaced Mr Rabius son and all other directors elected in 2005 as board members of the company.

Minutes of the companys Annual General Meeting (AGM), held on 5 March 2020, at its Zaria Road office in Kano, confirmed the appointment of Abdulaziz Abdullahi Umar, Umar Abdullahi Umar, and Muhammad Abdullahi Umarall children of Mr Ganduje alongside Mr Bawuro as new directors of Dala Inland Dry Port Limited.

It was also at the meeting that the state government was removed as a co-owner of the dry port and the Ganduje children were appointed, not just as directors, but also as shareholders with five million shares each.

According to its ordinary resolution, the meeting was attended by all the shareholders, and it was unanimously resolved that Abdulaziz Abdullah Umar, Umar Abdullahi Umar, and Muhammad Abdullahi Umar the three children of Mr Ganduje be allotted five million shares each, each being 20 per cent of the total 25 million shares of the company.

Mr Rabiu and Mr Bawuro were also each allotted 20 per cent, creating a new ownership structure of five equal shareholders, each with 20 per cent of the companys shares.

This structure effectively edged out the Kano State Government from the ownership of the company.

The resolutions reached at the meeting were then filed at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to represent the official ownership structure and management of the dry port.

Due process not followed in divestment

Although Mr Ganduje declined to comment on our findings, a Kano-based lawyer, Ibrahim Idris, explained that the divestment of a state governments shares in any company must follow due process.

According to Mr Idris, such divestment requires approval from the State Executive Council and, in some cases, the State House of Assembly, before it can be considered legal.

The relevant provisions are found in corporate law, financial regulations, and privatisation policies. The necessary steps include government policy to that effect, approval by the relevant authorityespecially the State Executive Counciland in some cases legislative approval, Mr Idris said.

The lawyer added that once approvals are secured, the shares must be offered to the public through open tendering in national newspapers, in line with Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules, including the filing of a prospectus.

New ownership structure

Two years after the companys records were changed to favour the Ganduje family and Mr Gandujes former aide, Mr Bawuro, new filings were done at the CAC to remove the Ganduje children as shareholders, and transfer their shares to Mr Bawuro.

A CAC document sighted by PREMIUM TIMES listed only Mr Bawuro and Mr Rabiu as shareholders and Persons with Significant Control of the company. The records indicate that both men were formally designated as Persons with Significant Control on 19 October 2022.

Under this new arrangement, Mr Bawuro was recorded as holding 80 per cent of the companys shares, while Mr Rabiu retained 20 per cent.

Two new directors were later added to the board: Adamu Aliyu-Sanda, an Abuja-based lawyer who has served as company secretary since 2020, and Hassan Bello, the immediate past executive secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council.

According to CAC filings, Mr Bello formally joined the board of directors on 25 September 2023, two years after retiring from the Shippers Council. Mr Aliyu-Sanda was also elevated to director in addition to being secretary of the company.

As of September 2025, CAC records list Messrs Rabiu, Bawuro, Bello, and Aliyu-Sanda as the directors of the company, while Messrs Bawuro and Rabiu are listed as shareholders, with the former owning 80 per cent and the latter 20 per cent.

Kano govt kicks

Since leaving office as governor, Mr Ganduje and his successor, Abba Yusuf, have been at war, with accusations and counteraccusations of corruption.

Mr Yusufs government has now rejected the ownership change of the Dala Inland Dry Port and has vowed to investigate the matter.

A senior administration official told PREMIUM TIMES that the government has not divested its 20 per cent equity in Dala Inland Dry Port Limited to any individual or company.

Bashir Uba, the director of investment at the Ministry of Commerce, said official records still show the state as holding its stake. He said a divestment process is a standardised procedure jointly handled by the ministries of commerce and justice, which clearly outlines the conditions for selling government-owned shares.

The divestment process usually begins with newspaper advertisements inviting bids. At no time did the state indicate interest in divesting its shares in the Dala Inland Dry Port, Mr Uba told PREMIUM TIMES.

On the contrary, the state is actually seeking to increase its equity ownership to diversify income. At the ministry level, we are investigating how an individual and a government appointee, Mr Bawuro, came to control 80 per cent of the company, he added.

Who is Abubakar Bawuro?

Investigations revealed that FRI Construction, the company awarded the multi-billion naira contract, operates from a building allegedly owned by Mr Bawuro in Yola.

Insiders also alleged the company is controlled by him, though CAC filings do not list him among the owners of the company.

Mr Bawuro is married to the sister of Shehu Fari, a director of the company who oversaw the construction site of the dry port.

Port inauguration

The port eventually commenced operations after the late President Muhammadu Buhari commissioned it on 30 January 2023.

A PREMIUM TIMES visit to the site showed the port bustling with activity, but the transfer of Kanos equity under Mr Ganduje means the state does not benefit as a co-owner of the company.

Messrs Ganduje and Bawuro did not respond to phone calls or text messages from our reporter to comment on our findings. Also, Abba Anwar, who was Mr Gandujes spokesperson when he was governor, did not respond to multiple phone calls and text messages to comment on our findings.
Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has reaffirmed his administrations commitment to empowering women and vulnerable groups in the State. The governor made this known while speaking at the graduation ceremony of Katsina State Coalition of Women Organisations Skills Acquisition Initiative, held Sunday at the Local Government Service Commission Hall, Katsina where he donated N21 million.

Governor Radda described the programme as a service to humanity. He commended the Coalition for training 1,050 women across 11 departments in various small-scale businesses over the past eight months. The governor urged the graduates to remain disciplined and focused in running their businesses, stressing that entrepreneurship remains one of the most reliable paths to success. The small start you are given today can grow into something much greater tomorrow, the governor encouraged them.

Governor Radda explained that the N21 million donation was the state governments additional intervention to further strengthen the programme. The governor assured that this was only the beginning, adding that his administration would continue to support women, youths, and internally displaced persons (IDPs) across the state.

Earlier, the Coordinator of the Coalition, Binta Dangani, explained the wide impact of the empowerment initiative. She said that apart from the 1,050 women trained and certified, five outstanding women from each of the 11 departments received 10,000 each as start-up capital. She further disclosed that the programmes reach extended beyond the women participants. Fifty almajirai received uniforms and study materials and were enrolled in school; 50 orphaned children received school uniforms; and 220 married women in Islamiya classes participated in lectures aimed at strengthening family and marriage life.

Mrs Dangani appealed to the governor for support in completing the Coalitions Islamiya school, which currently has only a fence and partially completed classrooms. She expressed gratitude for the governments continuous support, stressing that many of the beneficiaries were IDPs who now have a renewed opportunity to rebuild their lives with dignity.

In recognition of his dedication to women and youth development, the Coalition presented Governor Radda with the Award of Excellence in Leadership for Women and Youth Development, which was handed over by the Coordinator, Mrs Dangani and members of the Coalition. Also delivering a goodwill message, the Chairman of the Katsina State Hisbah Board, Abu Ammar, urged parents to use empowerment opportunities to instill good morals in their children.

He appealed to women who beg on the streets to abandon the practice and instead embrace dignity and self-reliance through such initiatives. The ceremony was attended by top government officials including the Commissioner of Health, Dr Musa Adamu; member of the Katsina State House of Assembly, Hon Albaba; community leaders; and hundreds of beneficiaries. Attendees commended both the Coalition for its initiative and Governor Radda for his commitment to strengthening empowerment programmes across the state.
Billionaire businessman Femi Otedola has called on President Bola Tinubu to make public the full report of the Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede-led probe into the fuel subsidy regime, while also announcing a 1 billion libel suit against Umar Sani, a former media aide to ex-Vice President Namadi Sambo.

In a statement issued Sunday, Mr Otedola dismissed Mr Sanis recent publication linking him to subsidy fraud as false, baseless, mischievous, and a shameless attempt to rewrite history.

Clarifying his role, Mr Otedola said his company, Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited, never traded in Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), the only product eligible for subsidy claims, but was a major diesel importer.

He said diesel was deregulated long before the Petroleum Subsidy Fund (PSF) scheme began, making any claim by Zenon under the scheme impossible.

Mr Otedola recounted that as a member of former President Goodluck Jonathans Economic Team, he was the first to alert the government to the monumental fraud in the subsidy scheme, which eventually led to parliamentary and other investigations.

He also revisited the Farouk Lawan bribery scandal, insisting that he acted in collaboration with the State Security Service (SSS) in a sting operation that ultimately led to Mr Lawans conviction.

The businessman advised Mr Tinubu to release the Aig-Imoukhuede report, saying Nigerians deserve to know the truth and the real subsidy thieves.

On allegations about his dealings with the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Mr Otedola explained that his debts were transparently resolved under a court-supervised process after the 2008 financial meltdown, with AMCON itself commending his compliance.

Vowing to defend his reputation, Mr Otedola said: Because of these deliberate lies and unfounded allegations, I have instructed my lawyers to file a 1 billion libel suit against Umar Sani. People must learn that reputations are not to be toyed with for cheap propaganda.

He urged the public to seek the facts in his recently released book Making It Big, adding that he has nothing to hide and would not allow falsehoods to be written into history.

BELOW IS THE FULL STATEMENT BY FEMI OTEDOLA

My attention has been drawn to a mischievous and malicious publication written by one Umar Sani, a former Special Adviser (Media) to former Vice President Namadi Sambo, attempting to twist facts and drag my name into disrepute and allegations of complicity in the subsidy fraud. His insinuations are false, baseless, and a shameless attempt to pander to lies and rewrite history. Let me set the record straight for the overall benefit of the discerning public.

On claiming from the Petroleum Subsidy Fund (PSF)

Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited was wholly an importer and trader of diesel with a market share in excess of 90%, never traded in Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and as such could not have claimed for subsidy under the Petroleum Subsidy Fund scheme. Diesel had been long deregulated even before the adoption of the PSF and did not fall under petroleum products to be claimed under the PSF regime. Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) was the only product that was eligible for claim under the Petroleum Subsidy Fund scheme in a bid by the Government to make the product available and affordable to all and sundry. It is therefore shocking that someone like Umar Sani who occupied a position of authority and responsibility could display such ignorance of basic industry facts in public. I view this as either mischief (and taking advantage of the uneducated public) or a blatant display of gross ineptitude. If Diesel did not fall under the subsidy regime, how can Umar Sani then accuse Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited of impropriety under the subsidy regime.

On Exposing the Subsidy Fraud

I was a member of President Goodluck Jonathans Economic Team. I am the one who first alerted the President of the monumental fraud being perpetrated by economic saboteurs in the PSF scheme. When he called the then Minister of Petroleum, she denied it. With my strong determination to stop the economic malaise and bleeding, I called Senator Bukola Saraki and reported the fraud to him. He took it to the floor of the Senate, and from there the House of Representatives began its investigation. These Statesmen are alive and my assertions above can be corroborated if necessary. If I was complicit in subsidy theft, would I be the one to raise the alarm and blow the whistle on myself? That alone should question the motive of Umar Sani for his most recent publication on this matter.

On the Farouk Lawan affair

When it had become public industry knowledge that I was the whistle blower on the subsidy fraud, some of the perpetrators decided to fight back by using the House committee on the probe, headed by Hon Farouk Lawan who tried to indict me without any basis. As they always say its only natural for corruption to fight back. The House Committee on the subsidy probe was now being manipulated by the subsidy fraudsters and thereby turning the probe panel into an extortion racket. When the harassment and blackmail became incessant on my person, I petitioned the authorities and worked with the Department of State Security (DSS) in a sting operation. The money was provided by the DSS, duly marked, and handed over to me under security surveillance. I then gave it to Farouk Lawan in line with the sting operation. That is on record. To twist that carefully documented operation into an indictment against me is laughable and only exposes the ignorance of Mr. Sani. You may be aware that the Hon Lawan was subsequently convicted and sentenced to 5 years imprisonment for bribery. The facts are very clear and public.

On the Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede report

I implore President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to release the full Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede report on subsidy fraud as Nigerians deserve to know the truth. It is on record that the Presidency at the time called on the late EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, to halt the investigation. Let the report be made public so the real subsidy thieves can be unmasked.

On AMCON

The allegations and insinuations about my involvement with AMCON are again a demonstration of mischief and ineptitude on the part of Umar Sani. I wonder why someone who twist publicly available information to miseducate the populace. I have never hidden the fact that I suffered financial loses from the global economic meltdown of 2008 resulting in a huge debt exposure to the Nigerian Financial Services Industry. The loans were sold to AMCON. I in turn gave up my assets worth hundreds of billions of Naira to settle my obligations under a court-ordered settlement. It is on record that AMCON itself publicly commended my approach and told other debtors to follow my example. Court records are there for anyone seeking the truth to investigate. AMCON officials from that time are also alive today to confirm the truth. I even addressed this matter in my book, Making it Big which was recently published and released to the public.

Libel action

Because of these deliberate lies and unfounded allegations, I have instructed my lawyers to file a 1 billion libel suit against Umar Sani. People must learn that reputations are not to be toyed with for cheap propaganda and also to serve as a deterrent for other mischief makers in the future. I will go to every extent that this is achieved.

To Mr. Sani and others who peddle these half-baked stories: go and read my book Making It Big, study the facts, and stop disgracing yourselves with ignorance.

I have nothing to hide and I have always acted in the interest of truth and accountability. Those who bbenefitedfrom subsidy fraud know themselves. I will not sit back and allow falsehood to be written into history.

Femi Otedola

Chairman, Geregu Power Plc

Chairman, FirstHoldco Olc
The Nigerian government has refuted allegations by some international news platforms and online influencers that terrorists operating in the country are engaged in a systematic genocide against Christians.

It said such claims are false, baseless, despicable, and divisive.

This is contained in a statement by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, on Sunday in Abuja.

There have been reports in some international media platforms suggesting Christians in Nigeria are the targets of attacks by terrorists, most of whom are Muslims.

Some major terrorist groups operating in Nigeria include Boko Haram, ISWAP, and Lakurawa

Mr Idris, in the statement, debunked the claim, noting that the terrorists attack people of all faiths.

The violent activities of terrorist groups are not confined to any particular religious or ethnic community. These criminals target all who reject their murderous ideology, regardless of faith. Muslims, Christians, and even those who do not identify with any religion have suffered at their hands, he said.

The minister said the government is steadfast in its duty to protect every Nigerian, regardless of ethnic or religious identity, and continues to work with international partners to address the global threat of terrorism.

He said the country has made significant strides in prosecuting Boko Haram suspects, adding, To date, we have successfully prosecuted seven batches of suspects, securing over 700 convictions. We are currently moving into our eighth prosecution cycle, further demonstrating our resolve to tackle terrorism and its sponsors.

Read the full statement

Press Statement

FG REFUTES FALSE CLAIMS OF RELIGIOUS GENOCIDE IN NIGERIA

The federal government strongly condemns and categorically refutes recent allegations by certain international platforms and online influencers suggesting that terrorists operating in Nigeria are engaged in a systematic genocide against Christians. Such claims are false, baseless, despicable, and divisive.

Portraying Nigerias security challenges as a targeted campaign against a single religious group is a gross misrepresentation of reality. While Nigeria, like many countries, has faced security challenges, including acts of terrorism perpetrated by criminals, couching the situation as a deliberate, systematic attack on Christians is inaccurate and harmful. It oversimplifies a complex, multifaceted security environment and plays into the hands of terrorists and criminals who seek to divide Nigerians along religious or ethnic lines.

The violent activities of terrorist groups are not confined to any particular religious or ethnic community. These criminals target all who reject their murderous ideology, regardless of faith. Muslims, Christians, and even those who do not identify with any religion have suffered at their hands.

The federal government remains unwavering in its commitment to completely degrade terrorist groups and secure the lives and property of all citizens, and this resolve is already yielding results. Between May 2023 and February 2025 alone, over 13,543 terrorists and criminals were neutralised and nearly 10,000 hostages rescued in multiple military operations across the country.

Only last month, the top leadership of Jamaatu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan  commonly known as ANSARU, Nigerias Al-Qaeda affiliate, was captured in a well-coordinated counter-terrorism operation. They are: Mahmud Muhammad Usman (aka Abu Baraa/Abbas/Mukhtar), the self-styled Emir of ANSARU; and Mahmud al-Nigeri (aka Mallam Mamuda), Abu Baras proclaimed Chief of Staff and Deputy.

These feats underscore the determination and success of our security forces and expose as unfounded the notion that Nigeria is passively tolerating religiously motivated terrorism.

The federal government is steadfast in its duty to protect every Nigerian, regardless of ethnic or religious identity, and continues to work with international partners to address the global threat of terrorism.

The Nigerian Armed Forces and Police have demonstrated their commitment to accountability by conducting several court martials and prosecutions to hold their officials accountable for any misconduct. This effort underscores the importance of discipline and adherence to the rule of law within our security agencies.

Nigeria is a multi-religious state with large populations of both Christians and Muslims. We are home to one of the largest Muslim communities in the world, alongside some of the biggest Pentecostal churches and the largest Anglican congregation globally. Christianity is neither endangered nor marginalised in Nigeria. It is doubtful that foreign interlopers into Nigerian affairs are aware that the current heads of both the Armed Forces and the Police Force are Christiansa fact that underscores the inclusivity of our national leadership.

ALSO READ: Nigeria govt reacts to allegations of targeted killings of Christians

In the fight against terrorism, Nigeria has made significant strides in prosecuting Boko Haram suspects. To date, we have successfully prosecuted seven batches of suspects, securing over 700 convictions. We are currently moving into our eighth prosecution cycle, further demonstrating our resolve to tackle terrorism and its sponsors.

Under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, our administration remains steadfast in its commitment to upholding justice and enhancing security. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that those who threaten our nations peace and stability are brought to justice.

The Nigerian story is not one of religious genocide or persecution. Rather, it is a story of resilience, diversity, and a globally acknowledged commitment to peaceful coexistence. In March of this year, the inaugural Commonwealth Peace Prize was awarded to two Nigerian religious leaders, Rev. Dr James Movel Wuye and Imam Dr Muhammad Nurayn Ashafa, co-founders of the Interfaith Mediation Centre. Their decades-long work to promote trust and tolerance across faiths now serves as a model for peacebuilding in all 56 Commonwealth countries. This means that Nigeria is not only exporting culture and music to the worldwe are also exporting proven frameworks for interfaith harmony.

We urge the international media and other commentators to act with responsibility and have respect for facts. All stakeholders are advised to avoid ignorance, sensationalism, and divisive rhetoric, and instead support Nigerias ongoing efforts in the fight against terrorism and all forms of criminality.

Mohammed Idris, fnipr

Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation.

September 28, 2025
In most of the towns affected by the flash flooding, no major incidents occurred overnight, although certain Catalan towns saw rainfall totals reach 246 mm

Residents of ground zero of the October 2024 flash floods in Spain, which killed 229 people, went to bed on Sunday night with the feeling that history might repeat itself. In the afternoon, they had received a cell phone alert from the regional government of Valencia warning of heavy rains expected as a storm system passed over the region, with totals potentially reaching 180 mm of rain. In Catalonia, where cell phone alerts were also issued advising caution, the rainfall so far has been the heaviest, with up to 246 mm of rain in areas such as Amposta, Tarragona.

For residents in Valencia, the night passed without major incidents, but fear is stronger than ever, as Spains weather agency Aemet reports that alerts at different levels remain in place across the entire eastern peninsula and the situation is expected to worsen throughout Monday. In Catalonia, Lleida is at yellow alert and Tarragona at red; in Valencia, the Ebro basin in Castellon and the capital remain at red; in Aragon, the level is yellow, and in Teruel, orange.

In the La Safor region, by midday Monday, up to 126 mm of rain had already fallen in the Parpallo-Borrell area, within the municipality of Gandia. According to the Valencian Meteorological Agency (Avamet), several municipalities in the area recorded totals above 100 mm, including Barx, Simat de la Valldigna, Cami de Mar de Gandia, and Rafelcofer. The heavy rainfall caused two road closures, a fallen tree, and flooding in several garages on Monday morning.

The mayor of Aldaia, Guillermo Lujan, told this newspaper that the towns residents  where six people died in last years flash flood  were in panic on Sunday night. There, the rains caused the La Saleta ravine to overflow near the Bonaire dam, flooding streets in the town center. In just 35 minutes, according to Avamet, the town recorded 57 mm of rain.

The Jucar River Basin Authority (CHJ) reported that all reservoirs under its jurisdiction remain at normal levels, with no significant increases despite the heavy rainfall.

The Poyo ravine in Paiporta  one of the areas hardest hit by the October 2024 floods  also experienced a short-term surge. Overnight, rainfall in the town reached 22 mm, causing the ravine to rise at one point to about half a meter deep in its channel, which had receded by Monday morning, much to the relief of residents.

Everything has worked well. The ravine isnt carrying water, and although the worst is expected after 12:00 pm today, weve learned from experience. Yesterday, we used loudspeakers to warn the population, said Vicent Ciscar, mayor of Paiporta. At least yesterday, they sent the Es Alert, he added, referring to the mass cell phone alert warning residents of the severity of the storm.

In Alfafar, the first step by local authorities was to close the commercial area and industrial park, sites that suffered heavy damage during last years storm. The commercial zone is key, said the towns mayor, Juan Ramon Adsuara, noting that on Monday morning the Local Operational Coordination Center (Cecopal) met to assess the situation and plan actions for the day.

The highest rainfall in the province overnight was recorded in Manises, specifically in the La Presa area, with 74 mm by 8:30 am, according to Avamet. Other towns, such as Bunol, only experienced minor rockslides along a road, though the Advanced Command Post (PMA) met Monday morning to report updates. In Catarroja, Massanassa, and Cullera, there were hardly any incidents.

In the province of Castellon, rainfall was even more intense. Eslida recorded 173.8 mm overnight. Seven other municipalities recorded totals above 100 mm  lAlcudia de Veo, Alfondeguilla, Ain, Tales, Chocar, Cabanes, and Vall dUixo  while four additional towns exceeded 80 mm.

A total of 112 incidents were reported overnight due to the storm, though none were significant, according to the Valencian Emergency Minister, Juan Carlos Valderrama, after a meeting at the Emergency Coordination Center. Incidents included rescuing a driver crossing a tunnel  a reminder of the importance of avoiding riverbeds or ravines, even if they appear dry.

The premier of Valencia, Carlos Mazon, chaired an extraordinary Consell meeting due to the active weather alerts. Pilar Bernabe, the government delegate in the Valencia, issued a message of reassurance to residents: Valencians can be certain that the authorities have been working in a coordinated manner with all emergency agencies from day one, she said, adding that citizens have been warned and are therefore prepared to respond in the coming hours, which will be challenging. Given forecasts of heavy rains along the coast, the delegate urged vigilance in areas such as campsites or similar locations.

Torrential rains in Tarragona

In Catalonia, residents also received cell phone alerts on Sunday afternoon urging extreme caution due to the rain, which poured down heavily overnight. Precipitation in the region has been the strongest so far. In southern Tarragona, in the Terres de lEbre area, Amposta recorded 246 mm, Mas Barberans 168 mm, and Els Alfacs 155 mm, according to early morning data from the Catalan Meteorological Service (Meteocat).

The most affected areas in Tarragona are the Baix Ebre and Montsia regions, where the Catalan regional government has suspend school activities. The Rovira i Virgili University (URV) also canceled classes at its Terres de lEbre campus in Tortosa and asked students to avoid traveling to and from the area.

So far, four roads have been closed in Terres de lEbre, according to the Catalan Traffic Service (SCT): the TP-3311 between Santa Barbara and La Senia, the TV-3314 between Godall and Ulldecona, the N-340 between La Rapita and Alcanar, and the TV-3408 between Amposta and La Rapita.

The premier of Catalonia, Salvador Illa, met virtually Monday morning with the Centre for Operational Coordination of Catalonia (CECAT) to learn about the evolution of torrential rain forecasts in various regions of Catalonia and their consequences, according to Europa Press.

Evacuations and flooding south of Zaragoza

In Zaragoza, the Huerva River reached red alert due to rising waters, hitting 2.6 meters overnight. By 9:30 am on Monday, the alert had been lowered to yellow as water levels decreased to 1.4 meters, according to the Ebro Hydrographic Confederation (CHE). The Huerva riverbank was among the areas most affected by heavy rainfall in Aragon, including the municipalities of Cuarte and Maria de Huerva, just south of Zaragoza.

The storm left these towns with flooded streets, evacuated homes, and dozens of industrial facilities forced to halt production. In Zaragoza city, heavy rains disrupted the tram and bus services, closed the Z-30 ring road, and prompted over 100 calls to firefighters, who rescued some people trapped in vehicles. The water also affected hospitals, including Royo Villanova and Miguel Servet, and caused power outages in nursing homes such as Santa Fe, where residents were assisted overnight by firefighters and Civil Protection. On Monday, with water levels down, residents can be transferred to other facilities.

Monday is cleanup day in all affected municipalities. Well focus on clearing streets, removing debris and damaged vehicles, but we remain alert in case another storm hits this afternoon, said Miguel Angel Clavero, Director General of Emergencies, who is highly experienced in coordinating these operations.

Since early morning, the 112 emergency service and the Aragon Infoar team have deployed six ground brigades, six fire trucks, and two technicians/supervisors to clear mud and reopen roads, along with heavy machinery.

High-ranking officials were present, including Aragon Premier Jorge Azcon. In previous storms, the opposition criticized him for being absent or delayed  once during a wedding in Galicia, and during the last flood in Aragon, while on a family trip in Menorca. This time, officials made a visible presence. The regional government has also announced that it will approve an urgent decree this week to provide aid for damages caused by the rains.

With reporting by Cristina Vazquez, Joaquin Gil, Ana Pantaleoni, Eva Perez Sorribes.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
The Gulf of Guinea has recorded the fewest overall piracy incidents in 30 years. But when attacks take place, they result in tangible harm or death, and still have a severe and immediate impact.

In this evolving threat landscape, regional responses need to measure up. That means moving beyond fragmented naval deployments or externally sponsored exercises towards integrated naval approaches that are regionally owned and sustainable.

The region has managed to shift its approach before. In 2020, 10 of the 12 states bordering the Gulf of Guinea initiated at least one naval response to maritime threats.

In the years since, African navies have continued to deploy warships and boarding teams, and have improved information-sharing mechanisms to address piracy and armed robbery at sea.

Recent United Nations (UN) assessments and regional analyses highlight that these states are gradually translating political resolve into operational tempo, deploying their navies on a scale unseen a decade ago.

The momentum for action can be traced back to 2012, when the UN recognised that the alarming surge in West African maritime crime posed a clear threat, tying piracy to oil theft, narcotics, and weapons trafficking.

Benins president at the time, Thomas Yayi, called for urgent international support, citing catastrophic risks to regional economies if piracy remained unchecked.

The resulting UN assessment mission highlighted the efficacy of Nigeria-Benin joint patrols as an interim measure. However, it argued for a long-term, integrated regional strategy underpinned by robust coordination, harmonised legislation, and sustained resourcing.

Maritime zones in the Gulf of Guinea

By 2024, there were many tangible signs of progress. States in Zone E conducted Operation Safe Domain in October 2023, Zone F has conducted joint patrols since 2021, and Zone Gs chiefs of staff of member states navies and coast guards recently convened.

The European Unions Coordinated Maritime Presence now rotates security forces such as the Spanish patrol vessel Meteoro through the Gulf of Guinea, augmenting regional patrols and contributing to deterrence. However, this still falls short of a genuinely integrated, locally owned, and burden-shared security response.

Another challenge is converting regional frameworks into functional patrols that can respond decisively to piracy, kidnapping, and the complex mix of trafficking and illegal fishing that appears endemic. Success hinges on being able to identify maritime threats and rapidly deploy naval patrols to intercept, board and, if warranted, detain pirates or traffickers.

The infrastructure underpinning West African maritime security remains heavily reliant on external partners. This has contributed to maritime agreements, communication centres, and multinational exercises proliferating across the region over the past decade.

The United States Exercise Obangame Express has been convened, and the Grand African Nemo exercise is scheduled for the second half of 2025 in the Gulf of Guinea. Plans for the African Unions (AU) Amani Africa III exercises are underway after several delays.

The planned Gulf of Guinea Combined Maritime Task Force (CMTF) could carry out more integrated patrols. The AU Peace and Security Councils April 2025 communique signals a move beyond the ad hoc zone-based patrols created under the Yaounde Code of Conduct on maritime security.

Those earlier arrangements (in Zones E, F, and G) relied on loose coordination and national command, with no permanent joint headquarters or standing force.

By contrast, the CMTF is planned as a single, integrated structure with a fixed headquarters in Lagos hosted by Nigeria. The CMTF will have an agreed Concept of Operations and a mandate to assemble regionally owned naval and coastguard assets for rapid cross-border response.

This formal designation of command, legal and technical backing, and plan for a deployable multinational force represent a level of institutionalisation not seen in previous initiatives.

However, effective maritime security faces two persistent threats. First, shifting foreign priorities from the US and EU raises concerns about sustainable funding and technical assistance.

Second, China, India, and Russia have shown they are prepared to deploy naval assets into the region to serve their maritime interests, potentially increasing geopolitical competition. Their differing visions for how the maritime space should be governed could complicate existing initiatives.

Second, although the Yaounde-based Interregional Coordination Centre has expanded its mandate to include information-sharing and facilitating joint operational frameworks, it does not directly command navy units. Arrests, interdictions, and detentions are still the domain of national forces and multinational maritime coordination centres.

This highlights an enduring gap at the sharp end of maritime law enforcement and is among several reasons why the Yaounde Code of Conduct that underpins the Interregional Coordination Centre is urgently in need of review.

SeaVision and the Yaounde Architecture Regional Information System (YARIS) are some of the primary systems for gathering, analysing, and sharing maritime information.

SeaVision is a global US initiative and therefore permanently and externally capacitated, while YARIS is tailored for the region through EU sponsorship. Without local ownership and national budgets, this technological capability may diminish when external funding cycles end.

Long-term maritime security requires greater self-reliance from the Gulf of Guinea countries. That means investing nationally in trained operators, infrastructure, and system integration.

Each state will eventually need to budget for YARIS maintenance, integration with automatic identification systems, vessel monitoring, satellite communications, and analysts and operators.

Failing to address this will allow critical capabilities to atrophy, undermining hard-won gains.

In line with the calls of the UN and AU for a reinvigorated multilateral system based on strong regional frameworks, the Gulf of Guinea must embrace flexible cooperation and fully resource the regions maritime security responses.

Timothy Walker, Senior Researcher, Maritime, Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Pretoria

(This article was first published by ISS Today, a Premium Times syndication partner. We have their permission to republish).
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Nigerian government.

In a statement on Monday, ASUU President, Chris Piwuna, a professor, said the decision was reached at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the University of Abuja on Sunday, 28 September.

ASUU said it has adopted several methods of negotiating with the government, including letters, reminders and protests, but none have worked.

Accordingly, ASUU has given the Federal Government of Nigeria an Ultimatum of fourteen (14) days within which to address these issues, the statement said.

For the past three months, ASUU has mentioned these issues at both the National, Zonal and Branch levels. For the past three months, these issues have been debated and combated in the media and other platforms.

Should the government fail to address the issues at the end of the 14-day ultimatum, the union said it would first embark on a two-week warning strike and thereafter, a total and indefinite strike.

A source within ASUUs National Executive Council (NEC) told PREMIUM TIMES on Monday that the federal government had requested a three-week grace period as President Bola Tinubu was travelling for his annual leave in France.

However, the grace period has expired, and ASUU is yet to hear from the government.

The source said ASUU chapters had held a referendum and most had voted in favour of a strike action, but the NEC decided to extend the grace period by an additional two weeks before a strike action.

Stalled renegotiation process

Last month, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, set up a committee headed by the permanent secretary of the ministry, Abel Enitan, to look into the draft agreement between ASUU and the Yayale Ahmed renegotiation committee submitted in February.

ASUU had accused the federal government of dragging its feet on implementing the draft renegotiated 2009 agreement submitted by the Yayale Ahmed committee in February.

The union said the report was untouched for months until the government called ASUU for a meeting on 11 August.

On 28 August, Mr Alausa announced the Mr Enitan-led committee. However, ASUU is saying it has yet to hear from the government since then.

ASUUs demands

In Mondays statement, ASUU listed its demands to include the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement, revitalisation of universities, payment of three and a half months withheld salaries from 2022, and payment of promotional arrears of lecturers.

Others are: release of the one-year arrears of the 25 and 35 per cent federal government wage-award to workers, sustainable funding of the universities, and victimisation of colleagues in Lagos State University and Kogi State University (now Prince Abubakar Audu University).

The 2009 agreement is the crux of ASUUs dispute with the Nigerian government, which has lasted over a decade.

The agreement, first signed in 2009, covers Nigerian academics conditions of service and salary structure, which ASUU complained had remained the same to date.

The agreement also included a clause that the Nigerian government would spend N1.2 trillion in five tranches of N200 billion annually on the universities from 2009 to 2015. Only N200 billion has so far been released.

It also included autonomy for the universities, which ASUU argues is being eroded with the introduction of a centralised payment platform of the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS).

The agreement also includes a provision for renegotiation every four years. That renegotiation has not been completed since the first agreement was signed.
The US President, Donald Trump, has announced plans to impose a 100 per cent tariff on movies made outside the United States.

Mr Trump disclosed this on Monday, in a post on Truth Social.

According to the US president, other countries have been stealing from the American movie-making industry.

Mr Trump stated that other countries were stealing the movie-making business from America, like stealing candy from a baby.

Our movie making business has been stolen from the United States of America, by other Countries, just like stealing candy from a baby. California, with its weak and incompetent Governor, has been particularly hard hit!

Therefore, in order to solve this long time, never ending problem, I will be imposing a 100 per cent Tariff on any and all movies that are made outside of the United States. Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! President DJT, he said.

This tariff would mark the first time the US has applied one to a service rather than a raw good.

The president first threatened to impose a 100 per cent tariff on foreign-produced movies in May because other countries allegedly offer tax incentives to American filmmakers in their countries.

At the time, Mr Trump had asserted that the American film industry was dying and there was a need for the US Department of Commerce to institute a tariff to protect the industry.

The Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death. Other Countries are offering all sorts of incentives to draw our filmmakers and studios away from the United States, he had said.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration also plans to impose a 100 per cent tariff on branded drugs, a 25 per cent tariff on heavy trucks, a 50 per cent tariff on kitchen cabinets and vanities, and a 30 per cent tariff on furniture.

Mr Trump noted that he plans to impose a substantial tariff on all furniture imported into the US.

This announcement comes months after Mr Trump imposed a 10 per cent minimum baseline tariff on all imports into the country alongside a reciprocal tariff.

His actions led to a trade war, as other countries  particularly China, the country most affected  responded with retaliatory tariffs on food items among other things.

This eventually erupted into a weeks-long trade dispute between China and the US.

Unlike the past, however, Mr Trumps new tariff will not be on raw goods but on services.
The Nigerian government has commenced a reconciliation meeting between the Dangote Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) to resolve their ongoing dispute.

The meeting, chaired by Minister of Labour and Employment Muhammad Dingyadi, brings together key stakeholders, including PENGASSAN leadership, Dangote Refinery management, the Minister of Finance, and directors from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

The meeting, initially scheduled for 2:00 p.m., was delayed due to the late arrival of key stakeholders and eventually commenced at approximately 3:50 p.m.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr Dingyadi said that the meeting was crucial to ensure that the dispute does not have adverse effects on the Nigerian population.

This is the realisation of the fact that what is happening today is cherished to this country, very dear to our economy. We have been informed that PENGASSAN is on strike, and a very serious one for that matter, because I never knew that they have closed NNPC itself, and other subsidiaries of the oil and gas industry.

I dont want to make any judgment, but we didnt know that this is the magnitude of the strike. We know that PENGASSAN is very peaceful, and we know for a very long time and we consider them as friends, and people who wish this country well.

We also have the same feeling for the Dangote group, they have been contributing to the economy of this country, and they have been doing very well in terms of business relationship with the government of this country. So, we want to make sure that what is happening now is not extended negatively to the people of this country.

So, thats why we are taking urgent steps to ensure that we come in as people who are in the middle of this journey to see how we can resolve this issue. We want to resolve these issues amicably, for the good of everybody, for the good of our economy, for the good of the security of our nation, and for the good of our workers, and for the good of our employers as well, he said.

Dangote vs PENGASSAN crisis

PREMIUM TIMES reports that PENGASSAN had earlier asked its members to disrupt activities at the refinery by blocking gas supply to it.

The association said its decision was in response to the decision by the refinerys management to sack some workers who are members of the union. It also accused Dangote refinery of spreading misinformation to justify its actions.

The union also directed its members nationwide to withdraw their services in protest against the alleged sack of Nigerian workers at the refinery from midnight on 28 September. It accused the management of the refinery of anti-labour practices and discrimination against local employees, prompting the federal governments intervention.

In a swift response, Dangote refinery described the order as illegal and cautioned PENGASSAN to obey Nigerian laws in its operations, noting that PENGASSAN has no legal right to disrupt or interfere with the refinerys contracts with third-party vendors for gas and crude oil supply.

Dangote refinery called on the federal government and its security agencies to intervene and call PENGASSAN to order, urging that PENGASSANs actions are not only lawless but also have the potential to inflict significant harm on the Nigerian economy and citizens.

On Saturday, the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) called on PENGASSAN to suspend its directive to cut off gas and crude oil supply to the Dangote refinery.

On Sunday, the federal government appealed to PENGASSAN to suspend its planned nationwide strike over its dispute with the Dangote Refinery.

This newspaper had earlier reported that PENGASSAN on Monday morning shut down the major entry points of the NNPC Ltd, NMDPRA, and the NUPRC.

At the NMDPRA headquarters gate located at the federal secretariat, this newspaper observed a banner with an inscription Dangote Must Obey, Dangote is Not bigger than the country, and Dangote the Chief of lawless officer.
The Israeli war on Gaza, which has been described as a genocide by the UN and human rights groups, may come to an end soon after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accepted a 20-point peace proposal from US President Donald Trump.

Both men addressed journalists after a meeting at the White House on Monday during which Mr Trump described the day as a historic day for peace.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that Mr Netanyahu, who had resisted previous peace plans and also attacked Hamas negotiators, praised Mr Trump, saying, I support your plan to end the war in Gaza, which achieves our war aims.

Al Jazeera reports that the 20-point plan includes the fact that the US would establish dialogue between Israel and Palestine and that within 72 hours of Israel accepting the plan, Hamas would release all the remaining Israeli captives.

READ ALSO: Netanyahu apologises to Qatar over Israeli strike on Doha

The plan also states that if both sides agree to the plan, the war will immediately end.

Israel would also release about 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and about 1,700 arrested from Gaza since the Israeli war began about two years ago.

Hamas, which Israel and the US consider a terror group, has not accepted the plan, but the group had indicated willingness to release the remaining Israeli hostages if Israel agreed to end the war, among other conditions.

Details later
The Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has appealed to Alhaji Muhammad Mustapha, the Lamido of Adamawa, to influence the release of revenue allocation for the Muslim community in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia.

Eze Eme II, NSCIAs Vice President General, Eastern Emirate, made the plea during a courtesy visit to the Lamido in Yola on Sunday.

He said the revenue was being collected from the cattle market in the Lokpanta Muslim community in the area.

According to the NSCIA official, out of 100 per cent, the state government was getting 60 per cent while 40 per cent goes to the Muslim community.

He added that the 40 per cent was then shared into three; Hausa community gets 10 per cent, Igbo Muslim community 10 per cent and 10 per cent for the Muslim community.

Mr Eme added that the percentage share for the Muslim community is not accessible to enable them finance Islamic activities in the community.

Sir, a passionate appeal to his Royal Highness on the plight of the Muslim community in the Eastern Zone Emirate Council in Abia.

With due respect, honour and dgnity on behalf of the good people of my emirate of the eastern state Muslim community, I passionately wish to appeal to you.

As a father, a mentor and national religious leader under the Modibbo Adama dynasty representing the whole West Africa as supreme leader Chairman Tabbital Pulaaku recognised throughout Africa and the world at large, he said.

Mr Eme condoled the Lamido and the entire people of the state over the demise of Ahmed Mustapha, the former Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Sardauna Adamawa.

In his remarks, he Lamido of Adamawa appreciated the visit and commended the NSCIA official for his concern for his subjects as well as his contribution to Islamic propagation in the country.

(NAN)
The Adamawa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken a swipe at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his comments on the recent terrorist attack in Wagga Mongoro, Madagali Local Government Area, Adamawa state, describing his intervention as insensitive.

In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by its state publicity secretary, Mohammed Abdullahi, the APC accused Atiku of exploiting a human tragedy for political advantage instead of showing genuine solidarity with grieving families.

Background to the attack

According to reports, armed insurgents stormed the community late last week, killing and injuring several residents while forcing others to flee their homes.

The attack rekindled memories of past assaults in Madagali, a border community that has remained vulnerable due to its proximity to Sambisa Forest, a stronghold of Boko Haram militants.

Security reports note that despite the relative improvement in Adamawa compared to the height of the insurgency, Madagali and neighbouring areas still face intermittent raids, leaving residents in constant fear.

Atikus response

In the wake of the incident, Atiku, who is also a native of Adamawa and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections, issued a statement condemning the killings.

He described the attack as another evidence of the governments failure to secure the lives of Nigerians, adding that the Adamawa people deserved better protection from the authorities.

He also urged security agencies to intensify operations against insurgents and called for improved welfare for affected communities.

APCs rebuttal

The APC dismissed Atikus remarks as a political ploy.

The party said the former Vice Presidents statement on the attack was riddled with inaccuracies, including misrepresentation of the location and the casualty figure.

It said his reaction betrayed ignorance or mischief, turning a moment of sorrow into a comedy of errors.

Mr Atiku once again proved that tragedy, for him, is not a moment of sober reflection but a stage for cheap politics. Instead of standing with the grieving persons, he rushed to issue a hollow statement riddled with lies and errors, the statement read.

The Adamawa APC accused Atiku of attempting to discredit the current administrations counter-terrorism efforts despite his alleged role in laying the foundation of insecurity during his time as vice president in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government between 1999 and 2007.

Without mincing words, it must be stated that Atiku and the PDP government he once served laid the foundation for the insecurity we are battling today.

Surprisingly, Atiku, whose tragic failure at leadership contributed immensely to the current insecurity, is now shamelessly using the very monster he helped create to further his wicked and diabolical plan to destabilise the country, the statement added.

Atikus track record questioned

The Adamawa APC also accused the former vice president of neglecting his home state when he had the opportunity to influence national projects.

It alleged that Atiku failed to attract significant development to Adamawa and instead concentrated on his private businesses.

When Boko Haram overran Adamawa communities, displaced families, and shut down livelihoods, Atiku was silent. Now, when peace is gradually returning under APC leadership, he suddenly finds his voice  not to unite, but to exploit, the party said.

The statement further claimed that Atiku abandoned even his hometown of Jada during his time in government and after, leaving ordinary citizens to their fate.

APC defends governments efforts

The APC maintained that the Tinubu-led federal administration and the state government under Governor Ahmadu Fintiri (a PDP governor but one who has received federal support on security matters) are working with security agencies to restore peace in insurgency-hit communities.

The APC government Atiku wants to discredit at all cost is doing a good job in cleaning the Augean stable. Competent, patriotic and committed hands are manning the situation, now actively supporting our gallant armed forces and security agents, the party insisted.

It accused Atiku of politicising grief and dancing on fresh graves instead of offering genuine comfort to victims and their families.

Reaffirming its position, the Adamawa APC said it stands with the victims of the Wagga Mongoro attack, commiserates with bereaved families, and prays for the recovery of those injured.

The people of Adamawa are not deceived. They know the difference between genuine solidarity and empty posturing. They know who stood with them in their darkest hours  and who is now cynically dancing on fresh graves for political gain, the statement said.
The Nigerian government has assured a steady supply of refined petroleum products following a meeting between the Steering Committee of the Domestic Crude Oil and Refined Products Sales in Local Currency Initiative and Dangote Refinery.

A statement by the Director, Information and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Finance, Mohammed Manga, on Sunday said the meeting, chaired by Minister of Finance Wale Edun, aimed to address concerns raised by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) regarding the refinery.

The Steering Committee of the Domestic Crude Oil and Refined Products Sales in Local Currency Initiative met earlier today to review developments in the downstream oil sector.

The meeting, chaired by the Honourable Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, noted two recent issues: the purported suspension of the Naira-for-crude oil arrangement by the Dangote Refinery, which has since been amicably resolved, and the concerns raised by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) regarding the Dangote Refinery, the statement said.

It said the meeting had in attendance the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zacch Adedeji, who also chairs the Technical Committee.

Others include the representatives of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd., the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Afreximbank, and the Dangote Refinery.

Outcome of the meeting

The statement noted that the committee reaffirmed that there will be no disruption in the supply of refined petroleum products across the country, adding that all outstanding issues between PENGASSAN and Dangote Refinery are being addressed with urgency and in good faith.

For the avoidance of doubt, the committee reassured that the crude oil for the Naira initiative will continue. It also assured that all outstanding issues, particularly the dispute between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and Dangote Refinery, are being addressed with urgency and in good faith, it said.

The federal government said it remains fully committed to ensuring energy security, protecting consumers, and maintaining stability in the domestic petroleum products market.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that PENGASSAN had earlier asked its members to disrupt activities at the refinery by blocking gas supply to it.

The association said its decision was in response to the decision by the refinerys management to sack some workers who are members of the union. It also accused Dangote refinery of spreading misinformation to justify its actions.

In a swift response, Dangote refinery described the order as illegal and cautioned PENGASSAN to obey Nigerian laws in its operations, noting that PENGASSAN has no legal right to disrupt or interfere with the refinerys contracts with third-party vendors for gas and crude oil supply.

The Dangote Refinery called on the federal government and its security agencies to intervene and call PENGASSAN to order, urging that PENGASSANs actions are not only lawless but can potentially inflict significant harm on the Nigerian economy and citizens.

On Saturday, the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) called on PENGASSAN to suspend its directive to cut off gas and crude oil supply to the Dangote refinery.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that the high level of participation by Nigerians, especially the youths, in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), shows that citizens still have confidence in the process.

Reacting to recent claims suggesting that Nigerians had lost confidence in the countrys electoral system, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the assertions were baseless and unsupported by facts.

Mr Oyekanmi said that the CVR, which began on 18 August with online pre-registration, shows that citizens still have confidence in the process.

The CVR portal went live at 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 18 and by 3:30 p.m., seven hours later the same day, 69,376 Nigerians had pre-registered, comprising 33,803 males (48.7 per cent) and 35,573 females (51.3 per cent).

By Aug. 24, just a week later, a total of 1,379,342 had pre-registered online. If the Commission had allowed the CVR to be completed online, that figure would have subsisted.

However, all those who pre-registered online must complete their registration by physically appearing at their preferred designated centre to have their biometrics and other details captured, in compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, specifically Sections 9(7) and 10(2).

By Sept. 1, two weeks after the online pre-registration began, 2,532,062 Nigerians had registered online, he said.

Mr Oyekanmi added that within one week of the in-person registration starting on Aug. 25, a total of 72,274 citizens had either completed their online pre-registration or registered in person.

He said that by week five, on Sept. 21, since the commencement of online pre-registration, a staggering 5,385,060 Nigerians had uploaded their details to the CVR portal.

In the same manner, by week 4 on Sept. 19, since the in-person registration began, 399,162 pre-registrants had completed the process, while 365,533 Nigerians registered physically, totalling 764,695 Nigerians that had completed the registration process in just one month.

There is no African country with these types of voter registration figures within one month, he said.

Beyond the CVR figures, Mr Oyekanmi said that the recent elections, particularly the 2023 general election, demonstrated significant improvements in the countrys electoral system.

He said that the election produced the most diverse National Assembly since the restoration of democracy in 1999, with multiple parties securing seats across various levels of government

In the Senate, seven political parties won varying numbers of seats, comprising APC-59 seats, PDP-36, LP-8, NNPP-2, SDP-2, APGA, and YPP -one each.

Similarly, eight political parties won seats in the House of Representatives. They include APC-177, PDP-117, LP-35, NNPP-19, APGA-five, ADC, SDP, and YPP- two each

For the Governorship elections, APC won 16 States, PDP-10, LP and NNPP- one each.

In fact, nine political parties won seats in the State Assemblies. They include APC-533, PDP-355, LP-38, NNPP-29, APGA-20, YPP-8, SDP-7, Accord and ADC -one each, he said.

Mr Oyekanmi said that the recent bye-elections also show that Nigerians had kept faith with the electoral process.

Ironically, some of the most ardent critics of INEC are also in the forefront of calling for electoral reform to transfer local government elections to the same commission.

Surely, they cannot continue to walk on both sides of the road, Mr Oyekanmi said.

(NAN)
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday declared the proposed shadow government announced by Pat Utomi, a political economy professor and former presidential candidate, unconstitutional and unknown to Nigerian law.

In his judgement, Judge James Omotosho barred Mr Utomi and his associates from going on with the plan, which its proponents said was an initiative for holding the Nigerian government itself accountable.

Professor Utomi, personally or through agents, is prohibited from establishing or operating a shadow government, shadow cabinet, or any similar entity not recognised by law, the judge ruled.

He held that the idea was inconsistent with the countrys presidential system and could mislead citizens. He ruled that Nigerias constitution does not recognise any parallel or alternative government outside the one it provides for.

Section 14(2)(c) makes no allowance for a shadow government. The defendant cannot use foreign constitutional models to confuse the people. Such a shadow government is hereby declared void, the judge ruled.

The dispute between the State Security Service (SSS) and Mr Utomi, a former presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in 2007, began after the agency sued him over his plan to form a shadow government, describing it as unconstitutional.

In the suit, the SSS, Nigerias domestic intelligence agency, sought to stop Mr Utomi and his associates from pursuing the idea.

Through its lawyer, Akinlolu Kehinde, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), the SSS asked the court to declare any attempt to form a governmental structure outside the Nigerian constitution null and void.

Citing sections 1(1), 1(2), and 14(2)(a) of the Nigerian constitution, the lawyer argued that Mr Utomis planned shadow government was unconstitutional and threatened state authority. He sought a perpetual injunction restraining Mr Utomi, his agents, and associates from proceeding with the plan.

But Mr Utomi challenged the suit, arguing that a shadow government aligned with the Constitution and global democratic practice, citing his rights to freedom of expression and association.

In the preliminary objection filed on 24 June, he asked the court to strike out the case for lack of jurisdiction. He argued through his lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, a SAN, that civic political engagement shadow cabinet formation did not fall within the SSSs statutory functions under Section 2(3) of the National Security Agencies Act.

Given the novelty of the issues, the judge, Mr Omotosho, invited seven senior lawyers from the six geopolitical Zones to appear as amici curiae (friends of court).

The invited legal experts included Ademola Popoola, a professor of international law and jurisprudence at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, and Uchefula Ugonna Chukwumaeze, a professor and SAN, who is the Vice Chancellor of Imo State University.

The list also included two former presidents of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) who are both SANs  Joseph Daudu and Yakubu Maikyau.

The rest are Joe-Kyari Gadzama, a SAN, and Dakas C. J. Dakas, a SAN and law professor at the University of Jos, and Miannaya Aja Essien, also a SAN.

On 10 July, the judge heard arguments from the lawyers to the parties, as well as the legal experts invited by the court.

Some of the amici curiae appeared in person, while others were represented by counsel. Their submissions revealed a division of opinions among them. Some, including Mr Daudu, Mr Maikyau, and Mr Popoola, opposed Mr Utomis proposal, arguing that it contravened constitutional provisions and could destabilise governance.

Others, such as Mr Gadzama and Mrs Essien, supported Mr Utomi, saying the initiative was a legitimate civic expression protected by law.

After hearing arguments from all sides, the judge scheduled 29 September for the ruling on both the preliminary objection and the main suit.

Shadow govt poses danger, not a right  Judge

Ruling on Monday, the court noted that the Nigerian constitution is supreme and binding on all authorities and citizens. The Federal Republic shall not be governed, nor shall any person or group take control of the government except in accordance with the Constitution, the judge said, emphasising that no law can override it.

Any structure inconsistent with the Constitution is void, he added.

The court explained that Nigerias presidential system (copied from the US) vests executive power in the President, elected by citizens. Unlike parliamentary systems in countries such as the UK, the judge explained Nigeria has no provision for shadow cabinets or shadow governments.

Opposition parties may criticise government policies, but cannot establish parallel structures, added Mr Omotosho.

The judge warned that recognising shadow governments could set a precedent allowing parallel entities, threatening national coherence and encouraging disobedience to lawful authority. Authority exercised outside legal frameworks, he said, is unlawful and may be prosecuted as subversive or criminal.

The court also addressed the use of entities such as Big Ten Nepal Limited, noting that a company limited by shares may carry out business, but it cannot be used as a political platform to establish a shadow government.

Mr Omotosho also ruled that the defendant is entitled to his fundamental rights, but these rights are not absolute and must operate within the limits of the Constitution. He added that the rights do not extend to the formation of a shadow government, which is capable of causing chaos in society.

The court observed that Sections 39 and 40, freedom of expression and association are guaranteed but not absolute and may be limited for public safety, order, morality, health, or the protection of others.

The judge said the proposed shadow government poses a danger to peace and stability and could encourage multiple parallel entities, undermining national security.

He ruled that civil society organisations and individuals remain free to criticise government policies, but forming shadow governments is beyond legitimate civic engagement and unconstitutional.

Mr Omotosho concluded that under Sections 1, 2, 3, and 14.2(a) of the constitution, the establishment or operation of any governmental structure outside the constitution is unconstitutional and void.

Earlier, the court dismissed Mr Utomis preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the SSS suit.

The judge ruled that SSS had the right to file the suit as part of its broad mandate to detect crimes and protect Nigerias internal security.
The wife of the slain Trump activist has emerged as a rising public figure at the crossroads of politics and religion in US conservatism

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin set out last Thursday to answer the million-dollar question on the American right: Who will be the next Charlie Kirk? You, Youngkin said. All of you.

The Republican politician was addressing a packed auditorium at Virginia Tech, the university where Charlie Kirk  the MAGA youth leader and a key ally in Donald Trumps victory in the last U.S. elections thanks to his ability to attract young voters  had been scheduled to speak. It should have been the third stop on a tour of various campuses that began on September 10 in Utah Valley, the day when a bullet ended his life while he was debating before a crowd of students. You will have a leader thats extraordinary, Youngkin added. Erika Kirk has demonstrated that she not only has the courage of a lion, but she has the heart of a saint.

The activists widow and mother of their two children has emerged as an influential figure in U.S. politics after her husbands murder. But particularly since the memorial held last Sunday in honor of Kirk, who was killed at age 31. The event was somewhere between a Republican rally and religious service, and drew 100,000 people, spread across two stadiums in Glendale, Arizona. At the memorial  an extraordinary collision of religion and politics  Charlie Kirk was celebrated as a martyr by Trump and much of his Cabinet.

Attendees at the memorial service honoring Charlie Kirk (in the background, in an image projected on a screen) last Sunday at the Cardinals stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Cheney Orr (REUTERS)

Erika Kirk said she had forgiven her husbands alleged killer, a 22-year-old man named Tyler Robinson, because its what Christ did. Raised in a Mormon and Republican household, Robinson, according to court documents and the testimony of his relatives, had lately embraced leftist positions and confessed to his partner that he was tired of the hate he believed Kirk was spreading through his ultraconservative rhetoric.

Her words, especially when contrasted with those spoken shortly afterward by Trump  I hate my opponents, and I dont want the best for them. I am sorry Erika  won praise from both sides of the political spectrum. They even drew approval from Jimmy Kimmel, the comedian who had been briefly suspended from his show after a remark about Robinson  a move that sparked criticism of the government attacks on free expression. If you believe in the teachings of Jesus as I do, Kimmel said, his voice breaking, during the monologue marking his return to the air, there it was, thats it. A selfless act of grace, forgiveness from a grieving widow.

Of course, the rhetoric of forgiveness is preferable to that of holy war, but we mustnt forget that she has also used that rhetoric, explains Jeff Sharlet, an expert on the relationship between religion and political power in the United States and author of The Family in a telephone interview. Sharlet is referring to the speech Erika Kirk gave a couple of days after her husbands murder, in which she said: You have no idea the fire that you ignited within this wife, the cries of this widow will echo around the world like a battle cry.

We also shouldnt forget that her forgiveness came after other speakers [in particular Stephen Miller, deputy to the White House chief of staff] compared her to a storm, a sword, and a dragon, and before Trump spoke openly of hatred, only to then embrace her in a hug  almost like a representation of the male and female archetypes of Christian nationalism, says Sharlet, referring to one of the core tenets of a certain strand of the American right: the blind faith that American identity can only be Christian.

According to Sharlet, few did more for that idea than Charlie Kirk. He told his followers to go to church, yes, but above all, he brought the church into the MAGA world, because now MAGA is the true faith: that is Christian nationalism.

Donald Trump and Erika Kirk, last Sunday, at the Charlie Kirk memorial in Arizona. Carlos Barria (REUTERS)

Trumps successor?

The expert considers Erika Kirk the natural successor. Everyone is asking what comes after Trump. J. D. Vance? I dont think so. It could be Erika Kirk. She is the first lady now. She is playing the role of Evita Peron, and shes doing it brilliantly, says Sharlet, who is quick to clarify that this does not mean her grief isnt authentic, distancing himself from those who have judged her for the public, almost live-broadcast way she has lived her mourning  so much so that The Washington Post, argued she has emerged as a vocal public figure, redefining role of political widow in the American imagination. That response to her husbands death has also unleashed varied and wild conspiracy theories in the darkest corners of MAGA.

[Kirk] will undoubtedly have a lasting and far-reaching influence on America, agrees conservative commentator Matthew Continetti. With her communication skills, her moving story, and her personal connection, she could become the next Billy Graham [perhaps Americas most famous evangelical preacher and an influential figure for former presidents Richard Nixon, George Bush Jr., and Bill Clinton], lead a generation to Christianity, and become the first female president.

Trump and the widow have known each other since 2012, when the Republican owned the Miss USA pageant and Erika Kirk was the contestant representing Arizona. As a teenager, she set up a foundation. She studied political science and law. She worked on Trumps first campaign. She met her future husband when he interviewed her for a job at Turning Point USA (TPUSA), the nonprofit he had founded at age 18 alongside a powerful Tea Party activist. During that meeting, he told her: I dont want to hire you, I want to date you. They married in 2021.

Although always in her husbands shadow, Erika, now 36, already had a public profile before the assassination. It included a weekly religious podcast (one of its episodes, featuring both of them, was titled Submission Is Not a Bad Word), a line of faith-based clothing, and an annual TPUSA womens event that brings together leading female voices in the United States against feminism. In an interview earlier this year, when asked which of the two was more conservative, Charlie Kirk replied: She is. Next to her, Im a moderate.

Billy Graham (left) and Richard Nixon in Knoxville, Tennessee, in May 1970, when Nixon was president. Bettmann (Bettmann Archive)

Three days before the televised funeral  watched, according to organizers, by some 100 million people  Erika Kirk was chosen as CEO of TPUSA, an organization with 1,500 employees that reported revenues of $85 million in 2023. Since the death of its founder, multimillion-dollar donations have poured in, as well as some 37,000 requests to open chapters at universities across the country.

In the speech she delivered at the memorial, Erika called on the lost boys of the West to accept Charlies challenge and embrace true manhood. Your wife is not your employee. Your wife is not your slave. She is your helper. You are not rivals. You are one flesh working together for the glory of God. After her appointment, TPUSA spokesman Tyler Bowyer wrote on X that Charlie Kirk came and converted the young men. Erika Kirk is coming to convert the young women, a demographic sector that traditionally rejects the Republican Party.

The succession also places Erika Kirk at the head not only of the campus-events machine that made her husband famous for showing up to debate liberal students and try to convince them that universities were brainwashing them with progressive ideas; she is also in charge of Turning Point Action, the arm dedicated to promoting conservative candidates, and of the lineup of podcasts recorded in a Phoenix studio, near where the couple lived.

The Charlie Kirk Show was the platform where the late activist voiced his controversial opinions, his religious beliefs, his passion for Trump, and his transphobic and anti-immigration ideas. He championed traditional marriage over womens careers; singled out university professors; and mocked affirmative action initiatives. Since his death, the program has continued with a rotating roster of hosts and the participation of prominent MAGA figures, including Vice President J. D. Vance.

Charlie Kirk was an evangelical, but both Vance and Erika Kirk are Catholics. They belong to a conservative faction in the United States that believes the Vatican went too far under Pope Francis, and that now, with Leo XIV, things are unlikely to change. Catholics who reject Rome isnt that the same as saying Protestants? Sharlet asks.

Vice President Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance accompany Erika Kirk during the repatriation of her husband's body, which took place aboard Air Force 2 on September 11. Ross D. Franklin (AP)

Last Friday, the widow appeared on The Charlie Kirk Show to share more details about TPUSAs plans. She does not intend to replace Kirk behind the microphone. Instead, his collaborators will continue taking turns. The show will put Charlie first and his dreams alive and his legacy going, said Erika Kirk. They will also draw on unreleased material. We have Sunday specials lined up to the brim because my husband was so intentional about making sure that there was enough content, always.

As for the campus events  like last Thursdays, where the governor of Virginia envisioned thousands of Charlie Kirks  the questions the slain activist used to answer will now be fielded by others, such as, in that case, journalist Megyn Kelly, formerly of Fox News. The widow promises they will continue to be organized, although no longer outdoors.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
US President Donald Trump has signed a new security memorandum that identifies anti-Christian and anti-American views as indicators of radical left violence.

It also identifies organisations with these common views alongside those with anti-capitalist and anti-Americanism views as domestic terror networks that the US Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTFs) will now target to prevent potential crimes.

The order recently signed by the president is known as National Security Presidential Memorandum 7 and is also referred to as NSPM-7.

The memorandum comes amid the US rightwing demand for retribution in the wake of the murder of Charlie Kirk, an American right-wing political commentator. Charlie Kirk was shot on 10 September while speaking at a campus event at Utah Valley University.

Despite indications that the suspected shooter acted alone, Mr Trump and his supporters have blamed the attack on organised leftwing networks.

In a statement published on the White House website last Thursday, the US president claimed that after the attack, left-wing Americans who agreed with the alleged shooters ideology celebrated the murder while actively encouraging more political violence.

This political violence is not a series of isolated incidents and does not emerge organically. Instead, it is a culmination of sophisticated, organised campaigns of targeted intimidation, radicalisation, threats, and violence designed to silence opposing speech, limit political activity, change or direct policy outcomes, and prevent the functioning of a democratic society.

A new law enforcement strategy is required that investigates all participants in these criminal and terrorist conspiracies  including the organised structures, networks, entities, organisations, funding sources, and predicate actions behind them.

Through this comprehensive strategy, law enforcement will disband and uproot networks, entities, and organisations that promote organised violence, violent intimidation, conspiracies against rights, and other efforts to disrupt the functioning of a democratic society.

With this new policy, the US government will target organisations and also individuals with views such as anti-Americanism, anti-capitalism, anti-Christianity, extremism on migration, and extremism on race as potential criminals.

This also includes: extremism on gender, hostility towards those who hold traditional American views on family, hostility towards those who hold traditional American views on religion, and hostility towards those who hold traditional American views on morality.

The Trump-led administration will also be targeting organisations or persons perceived to support the overthrow of the United States Government.

NSPM-7 directs the US security to disrupt any individual or group believed to be fomenting political violence before they result in violent political acts. The policy targets suspected pre-crime endeavours.

The goal of the new policy is to prevent perceived crimes or attacks before they happen.

According to Mr Trumps homeland security advisor, Stephen Miller, this is the first time in American history that there is an all-of-government effort to dismantle left-wing terrorism.

While the Trump-led administration insists that the memorandum is aimed at reigning in radical left-wing domestic terror networks, critics of this policy have identified it as a licence for a broad crackdown on his political opponents.

The Guardian reported that the US Open Society Foundations has described the new policy as a politically motivated attack on civil society.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), in a statement, also said, After one of the most harrowing weeks for our First Amendment rights, the president is invoking political violence, which we all condemn, as an excuse to target non-profits and activists with the false and stigmatising label of domestic terrorism.

This is a shameful and dangerous move, it added.

Meanwhile, the US government has stated that the state anti-terrorism task force will also investigate institutional and individual funders; officers and employees of organisations that are responsible for, sponsor, the principal actors engaging in the criminal conduct related to such views.
The federal government has declared Wednesday a public holiday to commemorate Nigerias 65th Independence Anniversary.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the announcement on Monday in Abuja, on behalf of the federal government.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria celebrates its independence annually on 1 October.

Mr Tunji-Ojo, while congratulating Nigerians on the historic celebration, enjoined citizens to continue to uphold the patriotic spirit, unity, and resilience that have sustained the nation since its independence in 1960.

He urged Nigerians to keep faith in President Bola Tinubus Renewed Hope Agenda, which was anchored on national rebirth, economic transformation, and collective prosperity.

The minister expressed confidence that with the cooperation of all Nigerians, the country will continue to grow stronger in peace, progress, and development.

He wished Nigerians a happy and memorable 2025 Independence Day celebration.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the federal government planned a low-key celebration.

Mr Idris made this known at the Pre-Independence World Press Conference on Monday in Abuja.

The theme of the celebration is All Hands On Deck. Activities will be low-key.

We started with the Jummat Prayers on Friday and the Thanksgiving Service on Sunday.

The National Value Charter, as championed by the National Orientation Agency, will also be unveiled.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the National Value Charter, championed by NOA, is a framework for cultivating national pride and fostering responsible citizenship by outlining both the governments commitment and citizens obligations.
Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Kudirat Kekere-Ekun has reiterated her commitment to enhance reforms in the judiciary for efficient and effective justice administration in the country.

Ms Kekere-Ekun said this on Monday during a ceremony marking the commencement of the new 2025/2026 legal year and swearing in of 57 new Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs).

The event took place at the Supreme Court complex in Abuja.

Ms Kekere-Ekun restated her resolve to ensure transparency and judicial excellence as the Supreme Court commenced the new legal year.

The CJN also called on the legislature to enact laws that would strengthen judicial independence, anti-corruption mechanisms and streamline court process.

She called on the executive arm of government, especially in the states, to provide adequate funding for the judiciary, improve judicial infrastructure and support the implementation of technological advancement.

She expressed concern that the judiciary, especially at the sub-national level, was underfunded.

The CJN said this would have a negative effect on the ability of the judiciary to function effectively.

Kekere-Ekun, however, said that the challenges facing the judiciary required a collaborative effort of all the three arms of government, as well as the active participation of the citizens.

Reforms, achievements

Ms Kekere-Ekun, who was sworn in as the 23rd CJN by President Bola Tinubu on 30 September 2024, said the judiciary had made significant strides in operational efficiency, case management, and service delivery.

Over the last legal year, the Supreme Court handled 2,280 matters, including 1,720 motions and 560 appeals, resulting in 369 judgments, she said. This is an improvement over the previous legal year, during which 1,124 cases were handled with 247 judgments delivered.

Ms Kekere-Ekun also highlighted reforms in the Supreme Court, including the creation of the Court Records Processing Unit, Central Information Unit, and Case Continuation Unit.

These innovations have streamlined case filing, reduced file losses, and improved access to case information for lawyers and litigants, she said.

She also pointed to the digitisation of court processes, including e-filing, electronic records, and the new online Notary Public application platform, as key steps in modernising the judiciary.

On staff welfare and professional development, Ms Kekere-Ekun said, Salaries and allowances were paid promptly, end-of-year packages increased, and continuous training programmes have strengthened competence across all court departments.

She added that these measures had improved service delivery and helped maintain industrial harmony with the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).

The CJN also praised the Corruption and Financial Crime Cases Trial Monitoring Committee (COTRIMCO) chaired by a retired Justice of the Supreme Court Suleiman Galadima. COTRIMCO has collaborated effectively with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to expedite corruption and financial crime cases, said the CJN.

She added, The EFCC secured 1,417 convictions in the first two quarters of 2025, while the ICPC initiated 43 new cases and achieved nine convictions.

She added that the decline in ICPC prosecutions was due to preventive measures aimed at reducing corruption before it escalates, which also led to fewer returns on cases.

SAN conferment

The CJN declared that the conferment of 57 new SANs is a recognition of years of dedication, professional excellence, and commitment to the rule of law.

This rank is a culmination of years of dedicated service, resolute commitment to the rule of law, and exceptional contributions to the legal profession, Ms Kekere-Ekun said.

She gave special recognition to Lawal Hudu Garba, noting that despite his physical challenges, he showed remarkable perseverance, dedication, and excellence in law. She described his achievement as a testament to the human spirit and the triumph of talent over adversity.

Ms Kekere-Ekun urged the new SANs to uphold the rank with dignity. The privilege can, and indeed will, be withdrawn in appropriate circumstances where it is abused, she warned. She noted that all the successful applicants participated in the pre-swearing induction programme organised by the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN), which provided invaluable guidance.

She reaffirmed the judiciarys commitment to digitalisation, better case management, and capacity building, urging all stakeholders to strengthen public confidence and ensure efficient, transparent justice.

Also speaking, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, a SAN, urged members of the judiciary to be impartial and independent in their decisions.

It is quite concerning to see the adverse ratings and negative perception indices of our judiciary.

The judiciary should discharge its accountability by being principled, independent and impartial.

Mr Fagbemi said justice must be done and seen to be done in an atmosphere that serves all parties.

He, however, commended the judiciary for its constitutional interventions and highlighted notable judgments delivered in the past legal year.

He praised the CJN for her swift efforts to reforming the judiciary since her confirmation in September 2024.

NAN reports that the SAN title is the highest honour conferred on legal practitioners in Nigeria, reserved for lawyers who have attained exceptional distinction in the legal profession, either as advocates in the courtroom or as academics.

Among those sworn in are the Secretary to Nasarawa State Government and former federal prosecutor, Shuaibu Labaran.

The list also has Olanrewaju Akinsola, a commercial litigation and tax advisory expert, legal historian and publisher of the Onigegewura blog with unique focus of telling stories from old high-profile court cases through lucid writing.

Also on the list is Preye Agedah, a former Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary of the Bayelsa State Ministry of Justice.

Another notable name is Chima Ubanyionwu, a legal scholar and former chairman of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Aguata Branch, who was selected under the academic category.

(NAN)
The federal government wishes to announce the cancellation of the Independence Anniversary parade, previously scheduled to mark the 65th Independence on Wednesday, 1st October.

The cancellation is in no way a diminishment of the significance of this milestone anniversary, and the government remains committed to celebrating Nigerias 65th year of independence with dignity and enthusiasm.

Accordingly, all other programmes slated for the Independence Anniversary will remain in effect.

The government deeply regrets any inconvenience caused by this cancellation.

The federal government appreciates the understanding, support and cooperation of all Nigerians, members of the diplomatic community, and invited guests, and urges Nigerians to support the reforms of President Bola Tinubu in making Nigeria a greater nation.

Segun Imohiosen

Director, Information & Public Relations

29th September, 2025
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu will, on Tuesday, visit Imo State to commission some projects completed by Governor Hope Uzodimmas administration in the state.

Mr Tinubu would also unveil Mr Uzodimmas latest book entitled, A decade of impactful progressive governance in Nigeria.

PREMIUM TIMES spoke with residents of Imo State about their feelings and expectations from the presidents planned visit.

Munachiso Isu

We are happy that the president is coming to help us open our new flyover bridge. The governor of our state really tried by constructing the flyover. I expect the president to help him (Hope Uzodimma) to do more of the flyover and other projects. Again, we need his help in the issue of insecurity in Imo State. He should put more efforts to fight insecurity here. I know its not easy. For those of us here, were feeling it.

Uchechukwu Amadi

As our president is coming to Imo State, we expect changes in our economy. Things are very difficult as you can see. Again in the aspect of insecurity, Imo people are suffering. Were not being secured properly. Were afraid of going out at night. Our young men are being arrested arbitrarily because of the activities of gunmen. We dont know who is who. So, were expecting the president to beef up security in Imo State.

Kevin Ndiukwuegbula

Imo people are happy that the president is coming. Were expecting more appointments of Imo people (by the federal government), more jobs for the Imo people, and more development. We expect that when he comes, he will see the areas he can support us, especially insecurity. We have been experiencing heavy insecurity in Imo State. So, as hes coming, he can help us fight this insecurity.

Geoffrey Nwosu

Were ready to welcome Tinubu as hes visiting Imo State. I expect him to congratulate the governor, assist him to do more roads. I expect the president to also help the governor on insecurity.

Chimuanya Ihedinoha

The presidents visit is exciting and a good development for Imo State because it is an honour that the highest leader in Nigeria is visiting our state. I expect him to reduce the price of petrol. This is what is affecting us heavily here. This has caused the price of food items to rise because moving food items from one place to another is now costly because of the high cost of petrol. Another thing I expect him to do urgently is to revive public schools. Before now, inspection officers usually visited public schools to ensure desks and other facilities were in order. Because of negligence of public schools, many shifted attention to privately owned schools but proprietors of such schools have now pushed their school fees beyond the reach of many families.
Armed herders killed 11 police officers on 9 September in Benue State. The fallen officers were members of a tactical team in an operation in the troubled Agu district, in Katsina Alu/Ukum Local Government Area. The tragedy came three days after three police officers were killed at a police checkpoint on the Abugi-Gurugi road in the state.

Many security operatives, as a matter of fact, have egregiously been put to the sword this month by non-state actors, such as the five soldiers killed by the insurgents that besieged Darul Jamal, a village near a military base in Borno State. There are pockets of isolated or single police officer killings across the country. Horrible narratives like these are worrying as they have become routine. As expected, they strike fear into the hearts of the civilian populace. When the military and police personnel are not safe, who then is?

These actions are subtle but cruel reminiscences of far more devastating assaults on the military and their assets, which have left Nigerians befuddled about the effectiveness of security operations against these non-state actors, whose heinous acts have brought grief and untold hardships to many bereaved families. The situation questions the capacity of the Nigerian State to put this unfortunate climate of insecurity to an end.

An army base attack by Boko Haram and ISWAP elements in January resulted in at least 22 soldiers being killed, Reuters reported, quoting military spokesman Edward Buba. Among the dead was the commanding officer of the military base. Arms and ammunition were stolen, which is a ridiculous irony associated with the countrys counter-insurgency efforts since the jihadists launched their attack in Maiduguri over the last two decades.

The chapter has not been closed in the case of the 17 soldiers murdered in an ambush in Okuama village in Delta State in March 2024. Some of the officers were decapitated and their bodies dismembered. The victims were Lieutenant Colonel AH Ali, the commander of 181 Amphibious Battalion, Nigerian Army; two majors and a captain, among others. In 2023, too, 22 soldiers were waylaid by bandits and killed while conducting operations.

As these dastardly acts continue, President Bola Tinubu was right in his reaction to the killing of the Okuama soldiers: Members of the armed forces are at the heart of our nationhood. Any attack on them is a direct attack on our nation. We will not accept this wicked act. To stop these attacks, our counterinsurgency operations need to be reset.

There is no way the war against terrorism, banditry, and the general breakdown of law and order can be won without new strategic thinking and a radical policy shift. It is time we begin to call a spade by its name. Quite often, mass massacres by herders in the North-Central states of Plateau and Benue are misconstrued as farmers-herders clashes. This is pure political correctness and being disingenuous. Their massacre of 11 members of the police tactical team in Benue, barely a week ago, when they also made away with the operational vehicle trucks and service guns of the police, was one act of impunity that puts a lie to such a claim. Hiding the truth does not help in finding a lasting solution to the crisis. What we are confronted with is the spread and intensification of terrorism.

Whether the killings happened recently or way back, the failure of intelligence and lack of synergy among the armed services stand out. The president should not condone these lapses any longer. Each killing of a security operative or a successful assault on a military base is a morale booster to these enemies of the Nigerian State. From official sources, the war with these non-state actors could not have lasted this long without the enemies within, or the notorious fifth columnists.

They exist in all the armed services. A Special Court Martial, for instance, last week in Maiduguri, sentenced three soldiers to life in jail for stealing arms from the armoury, which they sold to terrorists and bandits. The felons are Raphael Ameh, a Sergeant, Ejiga Musa, another Sergeant, and Patrick Ocheje. From the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri, they connived with police officers to carry out the nefarious act of selling the weapons to criminals in Enugu and Ebonyi states.

Between 2022 and 2024, Mr Ameh is reported to have carried out 100 such suspicious transactions, as revealed by a bank account linked to him. Messrs Musa and Ocheje specialised in selling AK-47 rifles and ammunition, which were concealed in luggage. Brigadier-General Mohammed Abdullahi, the Court Martial officer, said their action endangered military operations and national security. These bad eggs, when discovered, deserve no mercy at all.

After a former Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, admitted in 2015 that such wolves were in the military and other services, and their activities combined to weaken the fight against the insurgents, if a special operation had been carried out to flush out these elements from the system, the Amehs in the countrys security networks would have long been done away with.

Insurgency cannot thrive without arms and ammunition. Unfortunately, opaque official handling of illegally imported weapons puts the lives of security personnel and the rest of us at risk. The Nigerian Army had in June 2018 seized three trucks laden with 300,000 cartridges of pump-action rifles. A similar haul of 150,000 rounds of ammunition was made by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at the Tin-Can Island port. The NCS then said the contraband was found in a 40-foot container that also harboured 28 pieces of jack knives. They were not imported by ghosts!

Openness and transparency are required in handling cases like these. Where no investigations are carried out, as in the two cases above, and rogue importers are not prosecuted, an open licence is therefore given to them to continue their underworld activities. The security high command should halt this most dangerous drift of security personnel being easily killed in operations by non-state actors, or their having to take to their heels during shootouts, due to the inadequacy of their firepower in relation to that of their assailants.

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, can help in this regard by ensuring that his directives on no road blocks are enforced. For now, that order rings hollow in a place like Imo State, where brazen bribe collection from motorists is the order of the day. Is the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, pretending to be oblivious of this daily show of shame?

For evidence, the IG taskforce team should monitor the daily abuse of policing between UlakwoNaze along the busy Owerri to Aba highway, leading to Imo airport junction. At Okpala to Owerrinta Head Bridge, on the same highway, there is a bigger bazaar, which involves other services, including the army.

Any gunmen attack on any of these locations could easily wipe them out since their focus is on toll collection, and not security. The five police officers, from Aboh Mbaise Police Division, killed in April 2023 at Okpala junction and their weapons carted away, were a result of such unethical behaviour. Security agencies should learn from the lessons they see daily!

Very importantly, there is an urgent need for a new counter-insurgency strategy in the country, and stronger retooling towards stemming the tide of these embarrassing losses of our state security actors and materiel. It is only the State that can restore the dignity of its security forces by tooling them to ward off all sorts of threats, while protecting the sanctity of life and property, that is the sovereignty and the essence of governance.
LUMIX Solutions Limited, a renewable energy company, has emerged as one of the top six winners of a highly competitive business plan competition organized by the Regional Off-Grid Electricity Access Project (ROGEAP) of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The contest attracted applications from entrepreneurs across 17 West African countries, with only six companies selected for recognitiontwo from anglophone nations and four from francophone nations.

Co-founded by Nigerians Enwongo Udoh and Samuel Anyanwu, LUMIX Solutions stood out with an innovative idea designed to expand access to clean, affordable energy, reduce carbon emissions, and drive sustainable development.

For this innovation, the company was awarded a $2,000 grant and invited to Banjul, The Gambia, for the Energy and Sustainable Energy Forum (ESEF) Conference, where the award ceremony was held.

LUMIX Solutions emphasizes its mission to make renewable energy both accessible and affordable through disruptive innovations that support economic growth and environmental sustainability.

At LUMIX, our core values guide everything we doour interactions, decisions, and the quality of our services. As a company, we are well aware that 65 per cent of arable land in Africa is uncultivated and that only 4 per cent of farms in Africa are irrigated due to lack of reliable water supply, Mr Udoh said.

This information is what drives our innovation by making solar irrigation pumps accessible and affordable for smallholder farmers. We hope to ensure that in the next five years, there will be significant improvements in this data. This innovation will improve economic activities, reduce hunger, fight poverty, and provide clean water through affordable and clean energy in rural communities in Africa, he added.

The company is committed to empowering businesses with cutting-edge solar solutions. In addition to installation engineers, LUMIX employs maintenance technicians to ensure customers derive lasting satisfaction from their investment.

Its product offerings include buy and pay now, where customers pay in full upfront, and buy and keep paying, which allows solar system installation with flexible, spread-out payments.

View Concept Note and Agenda-ESEF 2025 here
Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has stressed the need for a binding commitment among the 19 northern states to speak with one voice on security and economic matters. The governor chaired the first day of the Northern Nigeria Investment and Industrialization Summit on Monday at the Abuja Continental Hotel.

A statement by the governors spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, disclosed that the investment summit was organised by the Northern Elders Forum, led by Professor Ango Abdullahi. The statement added that the summit, with the theme, Unlocking Strategic Opportunities, attracted several relevant stakeholders across the Northern part of Nigeria.

In his remarks, Governor Lawal commended the Northern Elders Forum for its consistent commitment to the progress of the Northern region. By convening this gathering under the theme Unlocking Strategic Opportunities, you have once again demonstrated a clear-eyed focus on our collective future.

The choice of sectorsMining, Agriculture, and Poweris not accidental. It is a strategic diagnosis of the core pillars upon which the prosperity of Northern Nigeria must be built. In Zamfara, we are aware of the paradox we face: a land blessed with immense mineral wealth and vast arable land, yet our people have not fully reaped the dividends of these endowments.

The key question for us as leaders is not what needs to be done, but how we can collectively turn potential into prosperity. To attract necessary investment and industrialize our region for the nations benefit, we must move beyond rhetoric and adopt a new approach of collaboration.

Governor Lawal further stressed that a safe North is a bankable North, a region that leaders across the 19 Northern States must deepen collaboration beyond politics. We must collectively secure people and investments. Security is the fundamental prerequisite for any meaningful development. Investors, both domestic and international, are not philanthropists; they are realists. They will not commit capital where it is not safe. We must integrate our security architectures, share intelligence in real-time, and foster greater community policing to create a secure and predictable environment.

In Zamfara, our commitment is clear. We are moving from a past of informality and illegality in the mining sector to a regime of formalization, regulation, and value addition. We are revitalizing our agricultural sector by promoting mechanization, agro-processing, and access to credit. And we are creating the secure and stable environment that is the bedrock of it all.

My call to action today is for a Northern Nigerian Economic Compacta binding commitment among the 19 states to speak with one voice on security and economic matters. Create a Single Window for major investors looking to do business across the region. Co-invest in critical infrastructure like power, rail, and fibre optics that connect our states, he added.
A former vice chancellor of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Bauchi, Abubakar Sambo, has praised the Nigerian government over the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) programme.

October 6 has been fixed as the deadline for the enforcement of the NERD regulations.

Mr Sambo, who is the Kaduna State Commissioner for Education, in a chat with journalists, said the President Bola Tinubu-led administration has through the scheme taken significant steps to eliminate education rackets, fake certificates, and for-profit honour scams.

Mr Sambo, who once served as the Director General of the Energy Commission, applauded the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, for implementing the NERD scheme.

He especially praised the thesis digitisation and anti-certificate racketeering components of the programme, as well as the National Publication Indexing System for researchers.

There is no responsible country in the world that will allow the integrity of its educational system to be crippled by doubts and refuse to provide the tools to guide the public and the industry.

I am glad that the president appreciates the enormity of the problem. There are just too many hardworking Nigerians over the ages who deservedly earned their honours. At least, the nation must put systems in place to protect the sanctity of academic honours from being corrupted by a few bad eggs.

Even liberal societies like the United States of America will ensure there are clear ways to separate proper educational experience from the activities of degree mills. Hence, deploying the NERDs computerised digital submissions and credential verification system as an academic progression watchdog is timely and commendable. Every sector needs sanity checks, Mr Sambo said.

On the National Publication Indexing Service of NERD, the commissioner described the action of the Nigerian government as a first-of-its-kind database in Africa, stating that there is no country in Africa that has thought this was important.

Yet, production or generation of knowledge and being a participant in that sacred altar of global academic publishing should be inseparable.

The government must continue to strongly give strategic support to these schemes. We have over 100 years of publishing gap between us and the Western world. Government must intentionally incentivise the private sector to be able to help us catch up.

Mr Sambo further added that not being a partaker over the past century constitutes a significant development impairment for African nations, because academic publishing not tethered to an African agenda would only promote 21st-century neo-colonialism.

The commissioner said Kaduna State would promote the National Policy on NERD to ensure that higher institutions in the state embrace and comply with its regulations.

We will be supporting this. Kaduna State and in particular Governor Uba Sani are irrevocably committed to the objective of improved education sector as an enabler of growth.

The NERD programme is a special federation intervention programme approved by the Federal Executive Council in February.

In the Declaration of Effectiveness that was released by Mr Alausa in March to herald the programme, NERD is described as a one-stop-shop for the national management, administration, and preservation of education data, records, documents and audio-visual assets of the nation.

Apart from directly addressing the issue of certificate racketeering and abuse of honour or awards, the federal government also mandates students to submit copies of their project reports, theses, and dissertations in the national education database of NERD.

The directive applies to undergraduate and postgraduate students (PgD, Masters, and PhD) anywhere in Nigeria, regardless of the institutions ownership.

Changes have been approved to NYSCs mobilisation regulations to ensure that only prospective participants who have complied with the NERD regulation on the deposit of academic output are mobilised or exempted.

The new NYSC requirement goes into effect on 6 October.

The NERD Declaration of Effectiveness provides that the NERD system is owned by all post-secondary schools in Nigeria and their corresponding regulatory authorities and library services through the Federal Ministry of Education while Section 6.1.24 of the policy makes compliance obligatory wherein the President invoked his powers as enshrined in Sections 2(4)(4) and 16(1)(C) of the NYSC Act, Cap. N84, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, to henceforth include compliance with the NERD Policy by a prospective Corps member as a prerequisite to NYSC mobilisation or exemption.

Similarly, the policy also mandates the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) to fund or refund only students who have complied with the NERD policy.

The Executive Director of Cybersecurity and Programme Communication for the NERD programme, Haula Galadima, recently confirmed that the various schemes on the NERD programme are ready and awaiting flag off.

She implored members of the public and, in particular, the academic community to acquaint themselves with the services on the NERD information portal at https://ned.gov.ng and enrol their focal persons at https://ned.gov.ng/onboarding in compliance with the directives of the federal government.
Martin Amaewhule, the speaker, Rivers House of Assembly, says he is thankful to God for surviving kidnap, assassination attempt in the past years.

Mr Amaewhule made this known during his 52nd birthday thanksgiving service at the All Saints Anglican Church, Eliozu, Obio/Apkor Local Government Area, Rivers, on Sunday.

I am not just marking another birthday but acknowledging that many people had planned to take my life in the last one year, but God didnt allow them.

Recounting how he survived a harrowing experience in 2008, he said that he narrowly escaped death during the incident.

Mr Amaewhule said some unidentified gunmen abducted him at his residence as he arrived after a Sunday church service.

Some of you were here in 2008 when a preacher was preaching right here, during a Sunday service. On that faithful day, I didnt know the people who came to kidnap me were also in the service.

After service, they tactically followed me to my residence, tied up my security guard and abducted me and took me to a forest where they held me hostage for five days.

They placed thorns under my feet and inflicted several injuries on my head and body in the process of moving me from one hideout to another within the forest.

They fed me with biscuits throughout the period even as I almost bled to death, he said.

The speaker thanked God for his numerous blessings, guidance, and preservation.

When God does things for you, it is important to appreciate him for more, he said.

Mr Amaewhule, a political ally of Nyesom Wike, the FCT minister, has been one of the principal actors in the protracted political battle between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Mr Wike. This battle led to President Bola Tinubu declaring a six-month emergency rule in the oil-rich Rivers.

Mr Tinubu had suspended Governor Fubara, his deputy, and the state lawmakers during the emergency rule, which the president recently lifted.

The governor, Mr Amaewhule, and other elected officials in the state have returned to office.

(NAN)
ABU DHABI, UAE, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) will lead a high-level economic delegation to the U.S. from September 29 to October 1, 2025, as part of its continued efforts to strengthen strategic partnerships with leading economies in the world and cement Abu Dhabi's stature as a global magnet for talent, business, and investment.

The Abu Dhabi's high level economic delegation to the USA underscores the Emirate's commitment to expanding its international engagement and building on deep-rooted economic relationships.

Led by His Excellency Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of ADDED, the delegation includes over 100 senior representatives from 44 of Abu Dhabi's government and private sectors including Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), Abu Dhabi Customs, Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), Mubadala, Al Dar, and Hub71.

The visit will feature a series of high-level meetings with U.S. business leaders and investors across strategic sectors to explore new opportunities for collaboration and investment. As part of the delegation's activities, the Abu Dhabi Investment Forum (ADIF) in New York will be held in partnership with ADIO and ADGM, and Family Business roundtable will be organised by Abu Dhabi Chamber and the Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU), highlighting the Emirate's ongoing economic transformation, showcasing investment opportunities, and reinforcing Abu Dhabi's role as a global business and investment hub.

H.E. Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of ADDED, said: "The United States is a long-standing and strategic partner to Abu Dhabi and the UAE, and our economic ties continue to thrive across key sectors. This visit will build on our shared commitment to innovation, sustainability, and inclusive growth by engaging leaders who are shaping the economic landscape to take our cooperation to new heights.

H.E. added: "We are strengthening partnerships with leading economies and showcasing investment opportunities provided by our soaring 'Falcon Economy' in various sectors and industries including our world-class hubs for AI, startups, agritech, finance, new energy, life sciences, and advanced manufacturing".

The United States remains one of Abu Dhabi's and the UAE's most significant trading partners. In 2024, bilateral trade reached USD 34.4 billion, marking an 8.5% increase from the previous year. The UAE continues to be the largest U.S. trading partner in the Middle East, with trade spanning all 50 U.S. states and supporting over 184,000 jobs.

The UAE's investments in the U.S. have exceeded USD 1 trillion, driving growth and job creation. Recently, UAE has committed to invest $1.4 trillion in the U.S. economy over the next decade, focusing on AI development and infrastructure, energy, advanced manufacturing, technology and innovation, space and aviation.

Abu Dhabi's business environment continues to attract U.S. companies, which are increasingly active across the Emirate's innovation-driven economy, with growing number of U.S. financial institutions registered at ADGM, the largest and fastest growing international financial centre in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

About ADDED:

The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), the catalyst for economic growth and diversification, develops and regulates the business sector in the Emirate and leads economic initiatives to achieve a knowledge-based, diversified, and sustainable economy. ADDED adopts best policies and practices based on the latest research and statistics, devotes its efforts to elevate the development and renaissance across various sectors, and prepares strategic programs and plans by adopting the best economic and administrative practices, applying the latest technology and drawing on global expertise.

ADDED strives to improve the investment climate in the Emirate by enhancing prospects for cooperation with strategic partners and ensure principles of innovation, transparency, and knowledge-sharing are followed to strengthening the business ecosystem to enhance Abu Dhabi as preferred destination for business and investments.

For further info, please visit: www.added.gov.ae

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2783854/Abu_Dhabi_Department_of_Economic_Development_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development
DETROIT, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Achieve Detroit Academy, a tuition-free charter high school designed for students who need an alternative to traditional high school, will host an open house on Tuesday, October 7, at its drop-in/student support center located within Detroit Lions Academy (2001 W. Warren Avenue  Door 22, Detroit, MI 48208).

Prospective students, their families, and community members who work with high-school-aged youth are invited to drop in anytime between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided, along with family-friendly activities, and prospective and current students will have the chance to enter a $250 Amazon gift card drawing.

"Bring the whole family," Principal Shannon Van Lente said. "We'll have snacks, coloring sheets for little ones, and plenty of time to talk with our staff about how we support students who are looking for a different path to graduation."

Achieve Detroit Academy serves Michigan students ages 1522 (up to 26 for special education students) who are seeking a flexible, supportive alternative to a traditional school setting. The academy offers:

100% online courses that can be completed anytime, anywhere

An in-person drop-in center for face-to-face support

Personalized guidance from a dedicated Student Success Coordinator

24/7 virtual tutoring

A school-provided laptop, WiFi hotspot, and IT support

"We're excited to introduce Achieve Detroit Academy to the community," Courtney Tenbosch, Regional Vice President of Achieve Learning, said. "Every student's path is unique, and our model provides the flexibility, support, and resources they need to find success in a way that works best for them."

Those interested in attending are encouraged to RSVP at Enrollment.Info/ADOpenHouse.

About Achieve Detroit Academy: Achieve Detroit Academy is a tuition-free alternative charter high school serving Michigan students ages 1522 (up to 26 for special education students). Our flexible, 100% online learning model is designed to meet students where they are, with an in-person drop-in center in Detroit for added support. Every student receives a school-provided laptop and WiFi hotspot, access to 24/7 virtual tutoring, and a dedicated Student Success Coordinator to guide them on their path to graduation. At Achieve Detroit Academy, we believe every learner deserves the tools, support, and encouragement to achieve their goals and be their best. Achieve Detroit Academy is authorized by Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD). DPSCD is the school's Authorizer, and Graduation Alliance is the Education Management Organization.

SOURCE Graduation Alliance
NEW YORK, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Entrepreneur and innovator Andy Khawaja , of Artificial Intelligence Defense Platform - a technology start-up creating AI technology for a safer, more comfortable future, was honored on the cover of Entrepreneurial Outlook magazine, spotlighting him amongst the top "Transformational Business Leaders to Follow."

With Entrepreneurial Outlook's recognition, Andy Khawaja joined a prestigious cohort of visionaries recognized by the publication - and vowed to continue to extend his influence and expertise across various sectors, integrating AI to multiply human potential and improve global quality of life.

The in-depth profile gives readers a glimpse into Dr. Andy Khawaja's pioneering role in artificial intelligence and his mission-driven innovation. His efforts have positioned him as a leading voice in defining and transforming the future of AI technology.

Founded to highlight global business visionaries and change-makers, Entrepreneurial Outlook is a publication celebrating ambitious executives and founders. The magazine offers inspiration and insight into the minds shaping the world. In the feature article, "Andy Khawaja: A Pioneer of Innovation Building a Better Tomorrow," Dr. Khawaja's fruitful and impressive journey is explored and celebrated.

As an accomplished entrepreneur, he is credited with reshaping the landscape of secure online payment processing across multiple currencies and payment systems and often referred to as the "messiah of payments." During the COVID-19 pandemic, Andy Khawaja's innovations not only facilitated safe global e-commerce but also supported new income opportunities for entrepreneurs globally which led to the birth of an idea that had been in the making for many years.

Since formally establishing Artificial Intelligence Defense Platform in 2020, Andy Khawaja has focused on advancing the company's flagship AI project, ISABELLA  an open-source, WiFi-connected system capable of learning, acting, and processing multilingual data from broad information sources.

Entrepreneurial Outlook magazine also details AIDP's multifaceted divisions: from AI for child development and psychological advancement, to health, morale, sustainability, defense, and even interplanetary life support systems.

Andy Khawaja's philosophy  that AI should not only optimize processes but also empower employees and safeguard communities  resonates throughout the profile. The article showcases him as a strong leader who places equal weight on technical breakthroughs and ethical responsibility.

Andy Khawaja said, "We are implementing technology that will really make a difference around the world. I want to improve the quality of life for future generations. I want to bring peace all over the world. We are innovating for defense, not to take lives but to save them."

With Entrepreneurial Outlook's recognition, Andy Khawaja joined a prestigious cohort of visionaries recognized by the publication  and vowed to continue to extend his influence and expertise across various sectors, integrating AI to multiply human potential and improve global quality of life.

About Artificial Intelligence Defense Platform:

Artificial Intelligence Defense Platform is creating new AI technology for compatible systems and machines to build a safer, more sustainable future for mankind. Please visit http://www.ai-dp.com/ for more information.

Contact:

David Herzog

E-mail: [email protected] mailto:[email protected]

888-914-4169

SOURCE Artificial Intelligence Defense Platform
WYLIE, Texas, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ARCO/Murray has been awarded the contract to construct the Wylie Water Treatment Plant IV Expansion No. 2 for North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD). This forward-looking project represents a major investment in the region's future, ensuring access to drinking water for millions of North Texans.

Located north of Dallas, the Wylie Water Treatment Plant is a cornerstone of NTMWD's potable water system, currently serving more than 2 million residents across the rapidly growing region. This expansion will not only support current demand but also prepare for an anticipated future population increase of up to another 2+ million residents.

AECOM is serving as the Construction Manager, with Jacobs as the Engineer of Record. ARCO/Murray will serve as the General Contractor, responsible for delivering the critical expansion work.

"This project directly impacts the health and quality of life for our communities," said Patrick Hidder, Executive Vice President of ARCO/Murray. "We are proud to partner with NTMWD, AECOM, and Jacobs to deliver the facilities needed to provide safe, reliable water to families and businesses for decades to come."

The project increases the finished water treatment capacity of Plant IV by 70 million gallons per day (MGD) and includes construction of new flocculation/sedimentation basins and filtration facilities, expansion of existing ozone and chemical treatment capabilities, and other miscellaneous improvements across the site. Construction is scheduled to break ground in October 2025, with completion anticipated by November 2029.

With 5 offices in Texas, including Dallas, Austin, and Fort Worth, this project is especially meaningful for ARCO/Murray's employee-owners who live and work in the region.

About ARCO/Murray

ARCO/Murray is a leading national design-build general contractor with 33+ years of experience and more than 6,000 successfully completed projects. Ranked among the top four design-build firms in the U.S. by ENR, ARCO/Murray delivers innovative, cost-effective solutions with a focus on safety, quality, and client satisfaction.

SOURCE ARCO/Murray National Construction Company
SEOUL, South Korea, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Binggrae, one of Korea's leading food companies, announced its participation in ANUGA 2025, the world's largest food trade fair, as part of its strategy to expand in the European market. The event will be held in Cologne, Germany, from 4 to 8 October, where Binggrae will welcome visitors at Hall 5.2, Stand C016.

A birds eye view of the booth of Binggrae ANUGA 2025

Binggrae is widely recognized for its diverse product lineup, including the best-selling Banana Flavoured Milk, Yoplaitthe first spoonable yogurt in Korea introduced through a technical partnership with Sodimaand the iconic Melona ice bar. Since its founding in 1967, Binggrae has become a household name in Korea.

At ANUGA 2025, Binggrae will present Melona and, for the first time in Europe, Samanco. Samanco is one of Binggrae's long-standing favourites: a fish-shaped ice cream sandwich made with a crisp wafer shell, filled with vanilla ice cream and sweet red bean syrup. The product is inspired by a traditional Korean winter street snack.

ANUGA is considered one of the world's top three food exhibitions, alongside SIAL Paris and FOODEX Japan. This year's edition will be the largest ever, bringing together more than 8,000 companies from over 100 countries. Korea has been selected as the official partner country, with Binggrae participating as part of the K-Food Pavilion.

Binggrae has been accelerating its European expansion since 2023, exporting Melona primarily to Germany, the UK, France, and the Netherlands. The brand has achieved strong sales growth through listings in major Asian retail chains such as Tang Freres (France), Go Asia (Germany), Amazing Oriental (Netherlands), and Oseyo (UK), as well as mainstream outlets like Alber Hejin in the Netherlands, Netto in Germany, and Carrefour in Poland. In 2024, Melona's sales in Europe reached nearly four times the level of 2023.

By participating in ANUGA 2025, Binggrae aims to expand its export channels, introduce Samanco to the European market, and broaden its ice cream portfolio with new flavours developed for local tastes. The company also plans to continue growing both its distribution footprint and product range across the region.

A Binggrae representative commented, "We expect our participation at ANUGA to be a valuable opportunity to raise awareness of K-ice cream and to expand our export opportunities in the European market."

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2782689/A_bird_s_eye_view_of_the_booth_of_Binggrae__ANUGA_2025.jpg
Cornell Belcher joins Freedom To Choose Schools and Agency Inc. for urgent conversation on Education, Black Voters and the ballot box

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Wednesday night at Old Ebbitt Grill in Washington, DC, education advocates, political leaders, and community voices gathered for "The New Swing Vote: Education & Black Voters," hosted by Freedom To Choose Schools (FCS) and Agency Inc.

Wednesday night at Old Ebbitt Grill in Washington, DC, education advocates, political leaders, and community voices gathered for "The New Swing Vote: Education & Black Voters," hosted by Freedom To Choose Schools (FCS) and Agency Inc. Cornell Belcher, President of Brilliant Corners Research & Strategies, said, "For African Americans and Latinos, nothing is more important than education. It's a value that is connected to their ability to get ahead. It's connected to greater opportunity."

The evening featured a dynamic conversation with renowned pollster Cornell Belcher of brilliant corners Research & Strategies, unveiling new polling data on the intersection of Black education and political power. With eight million Black students in America's schools and 81% of Black 8th graders not reading at grade level (NAEP, 2022), participants underscored the urgency of addressing the education crisis while mobilizing voters to demand accountability.

Debbie Veney, Founder and CEO of Agency, Inc, said, "If you think that education is not an issue that voters care about...if you think it's not an issue that makes people cross party lines, you are mistaken. People care about their kids more than their political party, and Black voters have already shown they will vote outside the party for school choice."

Jay Artis-Wright, Executive Director of Freedom To Choose Schools, said, "We want options. The reality is that across the country, we are seeing that and voting with our feet. Especially in these polarizing times, Black voters want to be sure their voices are heard."

Cornell Belcher, President of Brilliant Corners Research & Strategies, said, "For African Americans and Latinos, nothing is more important than education. It's a value that is connected to their ability to get ahead. It's connected to greater opportunity."

The event, held during Congressional Black Caucus Week, created an intimate, high-energy space for networking, coalition-building, and solution-sharing. Attendees left with a clear message: the future of Black education and the future of Black political power are inseparable  and urgent action is required.

About Freedom To Choose Schools

Freedom To Choose Schools is a non-partisan organization dedicated to advancing fair access to high-quality school options for every student. We believe access to an excellent education is a fundamental pathway to economic empowerment and opportunity. Yet, too many students and families are still denied this chance. That is why we champion the voices of families and communities who are too often overlooked, ensuring their needs remain at the forefront of the national conversation on public education.

About Agency Inc.

Agency Inc. is a mission-driven communications and advocacy organization. By supporting organizations that believe every child in America deserves access to a high-quality education and elevating parent voice, we work to create excellent educational opportunities for families. Agency is the voice for choice in public education.

Contact

Jennifer Diaz

Agency

[email protected]

813-293-2112

SOURCE Agency
TAMPA, Fla., Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- BOLT-ON TECHNOLOGY today announced the release of its ROI Calculator Widget, a new feature inside Retention Pro that provides shop owners with clear, financial proof of the value BOLT-ON delivers.

The ROI Calculator surfaces two critical performance metrics directly in the dashboard: additional revenue generated in the last 90 days and ROI percentage. Updated automatically, the widget provides transparency and confidence that every dollar invested in BOLT-ON is driving measurable results.

Core benefits include:

Transparency: Immediate visibility into incremental revenue.

Immediate visibility into incremental revenue. Trust: Shops can validate the return on their subscription at a glance.

Shops can validate the return on their subscription at a glance. Efficiency: Eliminates the need for complex reports or data pulls.

Eliminates the need for complex reports or data pulls. Motivation: Easy-to-read insights that shop leaders can use to align staff and set growth goals.

"Our clients deserve proof, not promises," said Brandon Melton, Product Owner, BOLT-ON TECHNOLOGY. "The ROI Calculator puts the impact of our software front and center. Shops can log in and instantly see the value we add to their business. It is a powerful reminder that technology should always deliver measurable results."

The ROI Calculator Widget is live today for all Retention Pro customers.

About BOLT-ON TECHNOLOGY

BOLT-ON TECHNOLOGY is a leading provider of automotive software solutions that help independent repair shops run more efficiently, build stronger customer relationships, and grow their businesses. From digital vehicle inspections and workflow tools to customer engagement, payments, and reporting, BOLT-ON delivers innovative technology that transforms the way shops operate. Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, BOLT-ON is trusted by thousands of auto repair shops across North America to improve productivity, increase average repair order (ARO), and deliver a modern customer experience.

SOURCE BOLT ON TECHNOLOGY
BTCS pioneering an 'Active Treasury' model coupling BTC exposure with emerging ecosystems.

WARSAW, Poland, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- BTCS, the largest European Digital Asset Treasury Company (DATCO), today announced plans to raise an additional $100 million through a Series G fundraise, coming immediately on the heels of its recently closed Series F. This rapid succession of capital formation highlights strong market confidence in the model of institutional-scale digital asset treasuries.

BTCS, Europes Largest DATCO, Accelerates Momentum with a Fresh $100M Offering Following Successful Series F Close

Proceeds from the Series G will be deployed to expand BTCS' diversified treasury strategy. With 60% exposure to $BTC, 30% with $ZIG, and 10% to $CORE. This active treasury model combines BTC exposure with emerging ecosystems. By operating the core infrastructure of blockchain networks and adding assets like CORE DAO and ZIGChain, it generates operational revenue, with the goal of delivering yield even in flat markets.

Most public companies follow MicroStrategy's passive 'buy-and-hold' crypto strategy. But with BTCS' revolutionary Active Treasury Strategy, proceeds won't sit idle. Instead, they'll be deployed into staking, DeFi, and validator operations to generate sustainable yield. Thanks to ZIGChain and CORE DAO's native yields, BTCS will no longer have to leverage its BTC holdings to earn competitive yields. BTCS continues to assess other ecosystems for validator participation.

"This next phase builds on the momentum of our Series F and underscores our conviction that the future of digital asset treasuries lies in productive deployment, not passive storage," said Marlena Lipinska, CEO of BTCS S.A."The inclusion of ZIGChain in BTCS's treasury strategy highlights a broader shift toward productive digital asset treasuries," said Abdul Rafay Gadit, Co-founder of ZIGChain and member of BTCS's Supervisory Board. "Unlike passive holdings, validators and staking rewards create recurring revenue streams while directly strengthening the networks themselves. We see this model as a sustainable path forward for listed companies seeking transparent and resilient exposure to digital assets."

BTCS innovates with its corporate treasury by strategically acquiring and holding digital assets to build long-term shareholder value through both its infrastructure operations and direct exposure to the top digital currency.

Its primary focus is to generate consistent revenue by providing the critical infrastructure that underpins global blockchain networks, which involves running validator nodes and offering staking-as-a-service. But BTCS stands apart from other publicly traded companies that invest in crypto by actively participating in the consensus mechanisms of various blockchains.

This means BTCS not only earns rewards and fees, but also directly contributes to the security and stability of the entire digital asset ecosystem.

With the Series G raise announcement, Europe's largest DATCO continues to set benchmarks for institutional blockchain adoption, combining diversification, compliance, and yield-generation into a model built for long-term success.

About BTCS SA

Part of Warsaw's NewConnect market, BTCS has the distinction of being the first publicly-traded, pure-play blockchain infrastructure company, offering investors a unique vehicle to participate in the growth of the decentralized market. The company's core business focuses on operating validator nodes and offering staking services, generating revenue by actively participating in and strengthening blockchain ecosystems. Its leadership team combines decades of experience from the traditional finance and crypto worlds, including seasoned veterans in capital markets, asset management, and blockchain technology.

About ZIGChain

ZIGChain is a purpose-built Layer 1 blockchain designed to democratize access to investment opportunities, facilitate financial inclusion regardless of income level, technical skill, or geographic location. ZIGChain enables developers and institutions to launch scalable, compliant protocols for profit-sharing, fund tokenization, and real-world asset management.

Its ecosystem includes Zignaly, a licensed social investment platform connecting over 600,000 users with more than 150 professional portfolio managers. ZIGChain also supports Zamanat, the world's first Shariah-compliant real-world asset (RWA) tokenization platform, combining ethical finance with programmable blockchain infrastructure.

For more information about ZIGChain, users can visit zigchain.com

Contact:

Media Team

[email protected]

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2784590/BTCS_Logo.jpg

SOURCE BTCS
NEW YORK, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Bulat Utemuratov Foundation has joined the newly established Global Autism Advocacy Coalition, launched at the United Nations Headquarters in New York during a high-level ministerial lunch meeting.

Photo Credit: Bulat Utemuratov Foundation

The Coalition, created with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, Autism Speaks, and the Qatar Foundation, will bring together international experts, policymakers, and civil society leaders to strengthen inclusion and improve the quality of life for people with autism worldwide. Its mission is to consolidate the efforts of governments, international organisations, and non-profits to promote rights, expand research, improve policy coordination, and strengthen advocacy on autism.

The launch event at UN Headquarters was attended by ministers of health from a number of countries, as well as senior representatives from leading international institutions and foundations working in health and education. The Bulat Utemuratov Foundation's participation highlights Kazakhstan's growing contribution to global health and inclusion initiatives.

Alongside this initiative, the Foundation signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the UN Migration Agency. The agreement sets out joint efforts to support migrant families raising children with autism, develop inclusive education and healthcare programmes, and promote international knowledge exchange on autism support services.

Ainur Karbozova, CEO at the Bulat Utemuratov Foundation, underlined the importance of these developments: "For over a decade, the Foundation has implemented the national programme 'Autism. One World for All,' supporting children with autism and their families across Kazakhstan. Joining the Global Autism Advocacy Coalition and partnering with the IOM will allow us to contribute Kazakhstan's experience to the international dialogue and to accelerate the creation of a more inclusive and equitable society worldwide."

Since 2015, the Foundation has established 13 Autism Centers under its Asyl Miras programme in 12 cities across Kazakhstan. These centres operate to international standards and provide free behavioural programmes based on evidence-based methods, including Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA). To date, more than 25,000 children and families have received support.

By joining international platforms such as the Global Autism Advocacy Coalition and building new partnerships with global institutions, the Foundation will strengthen its role in advancing autism advocacy and scaling up best practices internationally.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2784263/The_Bulat_Utemuratov_Foundation_Photo.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2556772/5535108/BUF_Logo.jpg
TEHRAN, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Iran on Monday executed a man convicted of espionage on behalf of Israel's intelligence agency Mossad, the Mizan news agency of the Iranian judiciary reported.

The individual, identified as Bahman Choubi-Asl, was hanged following judicial proceedings and the upholding of his death sentence by the Supreme Court of Iran, Mizan reported.

Choubi-Asl "was one of Israel's most important spies in Iran and had consciously and extensively cooperated with Mossad in the area of database," it reported, adding that owing to his presence in a knowledge-based company, Choubi-Asl had managed to enter Iran's "sensitive" telecommunication projects as manager.

The convict had good access to Iran's critical and sovereign databases, and in his confessions, Choubi-Asl said through cooperating with him, Mossad had sought to gain access to Iranian governmental institutions' databases, infiltrate Iran's data centers, and explore ways to transfer electronic devices to the country, among other things, Mizan reported.

It reported that the convict had received money, among other things, in return for collecting intelligence for Mossad.

The execution followed a similar one conducted by Iran on Sept. 17 on a man identified as Babak Shahbazi, who was also convicted of espionage for Mossad.

According to Mizan's report back then, Shahbazi had been found guilty of intelligence and security cooperation with Israel by selling sensitive information about Iranian data centers to Mossad in return for money and the citizenship of a third country. 
France, Namibia, Laos, and Brazil showcase innovation, responsibility, and community engagement

PARIS, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN) successfully hosted its CGN OPEN DAY 2025, an international event held simultaneously across four continents. From Paris to Husab, from Mueang Xay to Ceara, participants witnessed how clean energy projects are shaping a greener future while fostering cultural understanding and social responsibility.

CGN OPEN DAY Connects Four Continents with Clean Energy and CultureNear the Atlantic coast, nearly 80 employees family members joined a long-awaited Family Open Day at Husab Uranium Mine.

Across France, Namibia, Laos, and Brazil, students, families, and community members joined CGN employees to explore renewable energy facilities and take part in cultural activities. The CGN OPEN DAY events highlighted how the company integrates advanced technology with education, ecology, and community connection.

France: A Classroom of Youth and Innovation

At CGN Europe Energy headquarters in Paris La Defense, more than 20 students from the University of Versailles explored the company's operation control center. They were fascinated by the digital system managing wind farms in France, the UK, Belgium, and Ireland. Engineers explained how turbines withstand storms, how acoustic monitoring protects birds and bats, and how projects evolve from site selection to grid connection.

Namibia: Family Bonds at the Husab Uranium Mine

Near the Atlantic coast, nearly 80 employees' family members joined a long-awaited Family Open Day at Husab Uranium Mine. Children marveled at giant mining trucks "as tall as houses" and learned how uranium ore is transformed step by step. Interactive quizzes and science talks turned the site into a joyful classroom.

Brazil: Solar Energy Meets Ecology

In Ceara state, the Lagoinha Solar Plant became a "nature and science classroom" for local schoolchildren. After safety lessons, they touched photovoltaic panels and asked how sunlight turns into electricity. Engineers explained using simple analogies, while environmental experts showed how the plant coexists with bird nests, animals, and greenery.

Laos: Tradition Meets Innovation on CGN OPEN DAY

In Oudomxay province, students and teachers participated in CGN OPEN DAY at the Northern Clean Energy Project. They practiced traditional weaving at the "CGN Shimmer Workshop" before touring a solar demonstration site. The initiative showcased how CGN supports women's employment and advances clean energy development in Laos.

One Theme, Many Voices

The global CGN OPEN DAY 2025 carried a shared mission: Developing Clean Energy to Benefit Mankind. By combining technology, education, and cultural dialogue, CGN demonstrates its role as a responsible global partner.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2784251/CGN_OPEN_DAY_Connects_Four_Continents_Clean_Energy_Culture_Near_Atlantic.jpg
The first fully automated post-purchase friendly fraud prevention platform at scale

TEL AVIV, Israel and NEW YORK, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Chargeflow, the leading chargeback automation platform for online commerce, today announced Chargeflow Prevent, a first-of-its-kind post-purchase, pre-fulfillment fraud prevention platform designed to stop friendly fraud before it occurs. Unlike traditional checkout fraud tools that screen only at the point of payment, Prevent operates in the critical gap after payment but before fulfillment, closing the blind spot where most fraud slips through. Operating during the critical window between payment and fulfillment, Prevent utilizes advanced machine-learning and the power of a global network of tens of thousands of merchants to identify high-risk orders in real-time. This enables merchants to block stolen-card fraud, friendly fraud, and policy abuseand reduce disputes by as much as 90%.

Post-purchase fraud and return abuse, also known as "digital shoplifting," is one of the fastest-growing threats to merchants today, where customers exploit return policies, dispute processes, or promotions after payment to obtain goods or refunds to which they aren't entitled. Unlike card-not-present (CNP) payment fraud often caught at checkout, bad actors typically bypass traditional fraud detection tools, leaving merchants exposed to unnecessary product losses, shipping costs, lost revenue, and increased chargeback rates.

With Prevent, merchants can now identify and block high-risk orders before fulfillment, stopping disputes at the source. This reduces operational waste, protects relationships with payment processors, and ensures merchants can focus on serving their best customers. By focusing on the blind spot after checkout but before fulfillment, Prevent closes a critical gap left open by traditional fraud solutions.

Each order receives a risk score with a recommended action - approve, verify, or cancel. For suspicious cases, the system automatically validates both the order and the buyer through a next-generation verification process. This extra layer of defense halts risky behavior without immediately blocking the transaction, instead alerting the buyer that their activity has been flagged. In most cases, friendly fraudsters abandon disputes once confronted, protecting merchants from losses while maintaining trust with genuine customers and minimizing false declines.

Prevent delivers measurable results with an average friendly fraud reduction of 90% across early adopters. The Chargeflow platform currently secures more than $5B in GMV annually. New users receive their first 1,000 transactions screened free, with transparent introductory pricing, no setup fees, monthly minimums, or long-term contracts, and plug-and-play integrations with major commerce platforms for fast onboarding.

"Friendly fraud has evolved, and so should friendly fraud prevention, "said Ariel, CEO & Co-Founder of Chargeflow. "Prevent is built to stop digital shoplifters before they cause damage, giving merchants confidence to fulfill orders without fear of being exploited by fraudsters. This is about uniting merchants in the fight against a fast-growing threat, while ensuring they can focus on serving loyal customers with confidence."

Backed by Chargeflow's proven AI infrastructure, trusted by tens of thousands of merchants worldwide, and protecting billions in annual GMV, Prevent extends Chargeflow's mission to help merchants not just recover from disputes but avoid them entirely.

Merchants can learn more and sign up at https://www.chargeflow.io/products/prevent.

About Chargeflow

Chargeflow is the world's first fully automated chargeback platform, built by fintech and e-commerce entrepreneurs and backed by the world's leading VCs, to combat the fastest-growing digital commerce threats and level the playing field against chargebacks and friendly fraud. By combining state-of-the-art technology, generative AI, proprietary automation systems, and deep domain expertise, Chargeflow enables merchants to recover and prevent chargebacks at scale, completely hands-free. With a security-first architecture, industry-leading win rates, and a guaranteed ROI, Chargeflow protects billions in revenue for tens of thousands of businesses globally. Learn more at www.chargeflow.io.

Contact:

Dan Moshkovich

Chargeflow

2133092373

401874@emailrp4.com

SOURCE Chargeflow
NEW YORK, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- New York City, now a global hub for the crypto industry, is seeing its most dynamic companies come together to create lasting impact for its communities. Today, New York Cares , the city's largest volunteer network, announced the launch of "Crypto for Good", a groundbreaking partnership between leading crypto firms and financial players to support the city's most underserved schools through the Stand with Students initiative.

Stand with Students, now in its 6th year, provides much-needed resources for New York City's Title I schools - those with the fewest resources and highest needs. This year's campaign is chaired by Keith A. Grossman, President of MoonPay, longtime Board Member of New York Cares, and former President of TIME and Global Chief Revenue Officer of Bloomberg Media.

Thanks to the collective commitment of the crypto industry, Stand with Students has not only reached but surpassed its fundraising goal of $400,000, ensuring that tens of thousands of New York City students will receive tutoring, SAT prep and college application guidance. This support arrives at a critical moment, given that the National Education Association estimates 94% of teachers nationwide pay out-of-pocket for supplies, with the burden falling hardest on Title I schools.

The 16 participating firms include: The Solana Foundation, Ripple, Robinhood, FalconX, Anthony Pompliano, Fireblocks, StarkWare, Dapper Labs, BroadLight Capital, Cake Wallet, LionTree, Arrington Capital, KBW, Wave, Exodus, and MoonPay.

This partnership also builds on New York Cares' long history of embracing innovation within the crypto space. In 2021, the nonprofit began accepting crypto donations and, in 2022, partnered with the NYC Schools Chancellor to raise funds through digital assets .

Sapreet Saluja, Executive Director, New York Cares:

"We are incredibly grateful to see the crypto industry rally behind New York City's students and teachers. Their generosity ensures that tens of thousands of students receive the support they need to succeed, and teachers won't have to shoulder this burden alone. This collaboration is a shining example of how innovation and community spirit can come together to create lasting impact."

Keith A. Grossman, President, MoonPay & Chair of Stand with Students:

"New York City is at a pivotal moment in its history, facing both challenges and opportunities. To see the crypto industry come together with one voice to support our city's students is inspiring and deeply meaningful. At its core, crypto is about building a better future, and there's no better way to demonstrate that than by investing in the next generation of New Yorkers."

Call to Action

Community members and organizations who wish to join this effort and support students in need can donate below:

Via Fiat: https://www.newyorkcares.org/stand-with-students/donate

Via Crypto: https://app.hel.io/x/NewYorkCaresCryptoDonation

About New York Cares

New York Cares is the city's largest volunteer network. This past year, over 60,000 New Yorkers made their city more resilient by volunteering in New York Cares programs at over 400 nonprofits and schools across all five boroughs improving education, meeting immediate needs, and revitalizing public spaces. For more information, visit newyorkcares.org .

For news and updates, follow New York Cares on Instagram @newyorkcares , Twitter/X @newyorkcares , and Facebook @newyorkcares .

SOURCE New York Cares
JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Dar Al Arkan, Saudi Arabia's leading real estate developer, is planning to launch its landmark masterplan, named Manhattan.

Covering 1 million sqm of prime land in the heart of Jeddah, this record-value site, the highest land transaction ever recorded in the city, is strategically located on King Abdulaziz Road. With its unparalleled scale and location, the development is set to transform the heart of Jeddah with a vibrant, world-class mixed-use community.

DAR AL ARKAN PLANS TO LAUNCH MANHATTAN MASTERPLAN IN JEDDAH, A LANDMARK DESTINATION ON KING ABDULAZIZ ROAD FEATURING TRUMP PLAZA

The Manhattan masterplan is designed as a diverse, sustainable community divided into four districts, each anchored by a central park and seamlessly connected by a grand boulevard and an expansive green spine running the length of the site. Generous open spaces, pedestrian-friendly streets, and integrated commercial and residential zones will create a dynamic environment where living, working, and leisure converge.

Given the exceptional scale and record value of the Manhattan masterplan, the site has been attracting some of the world's most renowned real estate brands. At its centrepiece will be Trump Plaza Jeddah, developed by Dar Global in collaboration with The Trump Organization and set to become one of the Kingdom's most iconic addresses. Positioned on the most prominent 28,000 sqm corner of the site, Trump Plaza will bring together Manhattan-style offices, premium residences, serviced apartments, exclusive townhouses, and a Central Park-inspired park, capturing the spirit of New York with a distinctly Jeddah character.

Yousef Al Shelash, Chairman of Dar Al Arkan, commented: "The Manhattan masterplan is built on one of the most extraordinary land plots in Jeddah  a record-value site on King Abdulaziz Road. This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime development opportunity. Because of the strength of this location, we are creating a world-class community that will redefine urban living in Saudi Arabia, creating a walkable, sustainable, and connected community that offers a new benchmark for lifestyle and investment in the Kingdom."

Eric Trump, Executive Vice President of The Trump Organization, previously commented on Trump Plaza Jeddah: "We are honoured to expand our footprint in Saudi Arabia with the launch of Trump Plaza Jeddah. This project embodies our vision of excellence by blending world-class hospitality, modern living, and dynamic business environments. Together with Dar Global, we are creating a destination that will set a new benchmark for prestige and innovation in the Kingdom."

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2784377/DarAlArkan_Tower.jpg

SOURCE Dar Al Arkan
Led by Artistic Director Khai Hori, the biannual light art exhibition returns this November to illuminate the emirate under the theme 'The Light Compass'

Organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism  Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), the exhibition's second edition will take place in Abu Dhabi City from 15 November 2025 to 4 January 2026.

For the first time, Manar Abu Dhabi will extend to include Al Ain Region, with its locations in the city open to the public from 1 November 2025.

Under the theme 'The Light Compass', this edition is curated by Artistic Director Khai Hori and will feature 19 light-based installations, including newly commissioned works by Emirati and international artists.

Jubail Island will be the heart of the exhibition as its central and most iconic venue.

A dynamic public programme of talks, workshops, and performances will accompany the exhibition, offering visitors opportunities to engage more deeply with the artworks.

Manar Abu Dhabi is part of the Public Art Abu Dhabi initiative, DCT Abu Dhabi's ongoing commitment to enhancing the emirate's urban fabric through public art.

Further details, including the full artist lineup and accompanying programme, will be shared in due course.

ABU DHABI, UAE, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Building on the success of its inaugural edition, Manar Abu Dhabi will once again illuminate the archipelagos, mangroves and oases of Abu Dhabi from 15 November 2025 to 4 January 2026. Organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism  Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), this public light art exhibition aims to inspire creativity and celebrate the emirate's unique natural landscapes.

'Rain Wu, One with the Soil, One with the Cloud, Manar Abu Dhabi 2023. Courtesy DCT Abu Dhabi'

Under the theme 'The Light Compass', this edition will feature 19 newly commissioned works and site-specific light sculptures, projections and immersive installations by Emirati and international artists. Manar Abu Dhabi 2025 is curated by Khai Hori, Artistic Director, who was previously Deputy Director of Artistic Programming at Palais de Tokyo in Paris, Senior Curator at the Singapore Art Museum, where he oversaw Singapore's national collection of contemporary art, and Senior Curator in the Curatorial Development department at the National Heritage Board in Singapore. The exhibition is co-curated by Alia Zaal Lootah, Curator; Munira Al Sayegh; Curator; and Mariam Alshehhi, Assistant Curator.

Drawing on the Gulf's ancestral relationship with light, this edition of Manar Abu Dhabi brings together contemporary artworks that respond to its presence, behaviour, and resonance across both natural and technological forms and expressions. As the theme 'The Light Compass' suggests, light is situated as both guide and medium, from contextualising its traditions of navigation in orienting seafarers and desert nomads to instigating poetic modes of knowledge and communication through its ephemerality. Set across Abu Dhabi's diverse landscapes, Manar Abu Dhabi will unfold across mangroves, sandbanks, oases and urban edges, where artworks form a breathing constellation and become a living map shaped by reflection and relation.

Jubail Island will serve as the centre stage for Manar Abu Dhabi 2025, anchoring this year's expanded edition. Alongside an exciting rollout across other city locations, for the first time the exhibition will extend to the city of Al Ain Region, reflecting the festival's growing cultural footprint across the region. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Al Ain Region's backdrop of lush oases and ancient archaeological sites offers a dramatically different landscape from the coastal archipelagos and mangroves of the capital. Light-based installations from Manar Abu Dhabi will engage with the unique terrains of Al Qattara and Al Jimi Oasesgreen sanctuaries nestled within the city's desert topography, sustained by ancient aflaj irrigation systemsilluminating the enduring connections between water, land, and life. The installations in Al Ain Region will be on display from 1 November to coincide with the ongoing Traditional Handicrafts Festival.

As part of Public Art Abu Dhabi's ongoing commitment to enhancing the emirate's public spaces through art, a dynamic public programme of talks, workshops, and performances will accompany the exhibition, offering visitors meaningful opportunities to engage with the artworks.

About Manar Abu Dhabi

Organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism  Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), Manar Abu Dhabi is a public light art exhibition that aims to foster creativity and celebrate the emirate's landscapes.

About the Department of Culture and Tourism  Abu Dhabi:

The Department of Culture and Tourism  Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) drives the sustainable growth of Abu Dhabi's culture and tourism sectors and its creative industries, fuelling economic progress and helping to achieve Abu Dhabi's wider global ambitions.

By working in partnership with the organisations that define the emirate's position as a leading international destination, DCT Abu Dhabi strives to unite the ecosystem around a shared vision of the emirate's potential, coordinate effort and investment, deliver innovative solutions, and use the best tools, policies and systems to support the culture and tourism.

DCT Abu Dhabi's vision is defined by the emirate's people, heritage and landscape. We work to enhance Abu Dhabi's status as a place of authenticity, innovation, and unparalleled experiences, represented by its living traditions of hospitality, pioneering initiatives and creative thought.

For more information about the Department of Culture and Tourism  Abu Dhabi and the destination, please visit: dct.gov.ae and abudhabiculture.ae

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2784256/Department_of_Culture_and_Tourism_Abu_Dhabi.jpg

SOURCE Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi
D.O. Jerez brings its celebrated Sherry wines to Washington, D.C., on October 2, 2025, with exclusive tastings and trade events, after showcasing at Spain Great Match in New York City on September 30, 2025.

NEW YORK, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- D.O. Jerez , in collaboration with the Jerez Chamber of Commerce , is set to captivate U.S. audiences with a series of Sherry-focused events in Washington, D.C., and New York City, showcasing the rich diversity and heritage of Sherry wines. These events mark a new chapter in promoting Jerez's celebrated wines across key U.S. markets.

Sherry Wines

In Washington, D.C., trade professionals, and media will gather for a walkaround tasting on October 2 , featuring both historic and emerging wineries from the Jerez region. Attendees will have the chance to meet the producers themselves, who will be on hand to share insights into their wines and winemaking traditions. As part of this event, Cesar Saldana, President of the Consejo Regulador of the D.O. Jerez-Xeres-Sherry and Manzanilla, will present an exclusive masterclass, offering a deep dive into the diversity of Jerez wines. The tasting will highlight the influence of both vineyard and winery terroir, from Jerez's fortified classics to its innovative still wines.

The activities will also include a Trade Dinner at Casa Teresa on October 1st, hosted by Cesar Saldana, where guests will enjoy a curated Sherry-paired menu in an intimate setting. The dinner will provide a unique opportunity for trade attendees to engage with Cesar and the producers experiencing Sherry's versatility at the table.

Additionally, staff trainings and in-store tastings will take place at local restaurants and retail stores, including Casa Teresa and Schneider's Capitol Hill. These sessions will provide teams and attendees with in-depth knowledge of Sherry styles, production methods, and the diversity of wines from Jerez, further strengthening their presence in the U.S. market and offering direct interaction with the producers.

Before Washington, D.O. Jerez will participate in Spain Great Match in New York City on September 30th, one of the premier Spanish wine showcases in the United States, bringing a selection of its finest Sherry wines directly to influential U.S. buyers, sommeliers, and media. Which will take place at Mercado Little Spain.

Schedule Highlights

Washington, D.C.

October 1: Trade Dinner at Casa Teresa

Trade Dinner at Casa Teresa October 2, 11:00 AM  12:00 PM: Exclusive Masterclass with Cesar Saldana at The Square, Washington, D.C.

Exclusive Masterclass with Cesar Saldana at The Square, Washington, D.C. October 2, 12:00 PM  3:30 PM: Walkaround Sherry Tasting at The Square, Washington, D.C.

at The Square, Washington, D.C. October 2: Additional Sherry-focused activities, including staff trainings at Casa Teresa and an in-store tasting at Schneider's of Capitol Hill

New York City

September 30: Spain Great Match, NYC

These events will offer a unique opportunity to showcase the craftsmanship and tradition behind Sherry wines to both trade and consumers. From Washington, D.C., to New York City, the program is designed to deepen understanding and appreciation for the diversity of Jerez while fostering meaningful connections between attendees and producers. Together, they underscore D.O. Jerez's commitment to promoting Sherry wines globally, creating immersive experiences that bring U.S. audiences closer to the history, culture, and innovation of Jerez's wineries.

For more information about these events or to schedule interviews with Cesar Saldana or any of the participating producers, please contact Gemma Bosch at [email protected] .

Pages dedicated to the D.O. Jerez can be found on Instagram .

About Sherry Wines - https://www.sherry.wine/

Sherry is a fortified wine exclusively produced within the "Sherry Triangle," which consists of the towns of Jerez de la Frontera, El Puerto de Santa Maria, and Sanlucar de Barrameda in the province of Cadiz, southwestern Spain. The role of the Consejo Regulador is to protect the Denomination of Origin (DO) for Jerez-Xeres-Sherry and Manzanilla-Sanlucar de Barrameda, ensuring that no wine from outside this geographical area can be marketed as Sherry.

The DO Jerez-Xeres-Sherry and Manzanilla-Sanlucar de Barrameda is the oldest DO in Spain, encompassing 2,800 wine-growers. This region has a long history of winemaking, dating back to Roman times, and Sherry has been exported globally since the 16th century.

Press Contact

Gemma Bosch

Colangelo & Partners

[email protected]

SOURCE Sherry Wines
BOSTON, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Dr. Le Thu Medical Scholarship announces its commitment to supporting aspiring medical professionals who embody the values of compassion, resilience, and service. Founded by Dr. Le Thu, a globally respected emergency medicine physician, this scholarship aims to provide financial assistance to medical students dedicated to making a significant impact in healthcare.

The Dr. Le Thu Medical Scholarship is designed for students currently enrolled in medical degree programs, including MBBS and MD. Applicants must demonstrate academic excellence through their transcripts or other academic achievements. Additionally, candidates should show a commitment to community service, healthcare advocacy, reflecting the dedication that Dr. Le Thu exemplifies in her own work.

As part of the application process, candidates are required to submit a personal essay responding to the prompt: "Dr. Le Thu's career has been defined by compassion, resilience, and service. How do these values shape your vision of becoming a physician, and how will you carry them forward in your medical journey?" This essay, between 750 and 1,000 words, allows applicants to articulate their vision of healthcare and how they plan to contribute to the field.

The scholarship will provide a one-time award, with applications due by May 15, 2026. The winner will be announced on June 15, 2026. Dr. Le Thu emphasizes the importance of this support: "Medical school is demanding and expensive.

In her distinguished career, Dr. Le Thu has served in various clinical and academic settings, authored research, and developed emergency medicine programs in underserved regions. Her work has left a lasting impact on both her patients and her students, who continue to carry forward her legacy of compassion and dedication.

Dr. Le Thu is also noted for her commitment to mentorship, having served as an Attending Instructor at Brigham & Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

The Dr. Le Thu Medical Scholarship stands as a testament to Dr. Le Thu's unwavering commitment to the field of medicine. By supporting medical students who demonstrate a strong dedication to serving humanity, the scholarship seeks to cultivate a new generation of physicians who prioritize patient care.

For more information about the Dr. Le Thu Medical Scholarship, including application details and eligibility criteria, interested individuals can visit the official website at [https://drlethuscholarship.com/].

SOURCE Dr. Le Thu
Leading thinkers from academia, policy, and industry to explore bold ideas on the future of learning

SINGAPORE, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Education in Motion (EiM), a leading global education group, today announced the launch of its EiM Education Advisory Board, a pioneering initiative designed to advance thought leadership and innovation in education worldwide.

Formed under the auspices of EiM, whose portfolio includes the Dulwich College International schools and other premium educational offerings, the Board will be co-chaired by Lesley Meyer, EiM's Chief Education Officer with more than 35 years of international school leadership experience, and Richard Levin, who served as President of Yale University from 1993 to 2013 and Chief Executive Officer of Coursera from 2014 to 2017.

The Advisory Board will bring together leading voices from academia, policy, and industry to explore bold ideas shaping the future of learning. Additional members will include Rose Luckin of University College London, a world-renowned expert on AI in education; David Leebron, former President of Rice University and former Dean of Columbia Law School; Andrew Hamilton, former Vice Chancellor of Oxford University and former President of New York University; and Doris Sohmen-Pao, former Princeton University trustee and INSEAD MBA Programme Director, now serving on educational boards in Singapore and worldwide.

Lesley Meyer, Chief Education Officer at EiM, said, "The EiM Education Advisory Board reflects our mission to pioneer education. By bringing together extraordinary thinkers and leaders, we aim to explore fresh ideas that will inspire the next generation of learning worldwide. Education is the most powerful force we have to shape a better future, and we are convening some of the world's most forward-thinking voices to imagine what learning can and should be for the next generation of students."

Richard Levin, Frederick William Beinecke Professor of Economics Emeritus at Yale, added, "Schools today face the dual task of nurturing timeless intellectual skills while adapting to new modes of learning. The Education Advisory Board will engage deeply with how best to harness technology, cultivate critical thinking, and foster creativity, so that education remains both rigorous and relevant. I am delighted to co-chair this Board and to work with EiM and global colleagues in shaping conversations that will help schools and learners thrive in the decades ahead."

The Board will convene its first summit in Singapore this academic year.

About Education in Motion

Education in Motion (EiM) is a global leader in pioneering educational excellence, inspiring generations of learners to Live Worldwise. Since the founding of its first school over two decades ago, EiM has grown its diverse portfolio of schools and brands, offering a blend of innovation and tradition through a range of premium educational offerings across the globe. These include Dulwich College International, which offers both K-12 schools and a High School Programme; Dehong, offering bilingual education; Green School International, promoting sustainability across Bali and the world; Sherfield School in the United Kingdom; Hochalpines Institut Ftan AG (HIF) in Switzerland; Ignite, a unique outdoors-based overseas residential programme; and Chinese-language learning and teaching platform Wo Hui Mandarin.

Today, EiM empowers over 11,500 students across 15 schools worldwide to thrive holistically on tailored pathways for each unique individual, resulting in outstanding academic results and top university matriculation.

For more information about EiM and its brands, visit www.eimglobal.com.

SOURCE Education in Motion
Wayren and Telearmy to receive exclusive NATO support to tackle crucial defense challenges.

TALLINN, Estonia, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In a field of more than 2,600 applicants from across the NATO Alliance, two of Estonia's defense sector companies - Wayren and Telearmy - have been selected among a group of 15 advancing to Phase 2 of NATO's Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) program that connects 75 innovation centres worldwide.

Wayren and Telearmy are building solutions that tackle some of NATO's toughest defense challenges in modern warfare:

Wayren builds resilient battlefield communications networks that keep data and voice links alive even in disruption. They use a hybrid platform that seamlessly switches between satellite, radio, and mobile networks.

"Being selected for DIANA Phase 2 is a huge vote of confidence in our mission to ensure mission-cricial teams stay operational when it matters most. Our reliable communication platform provides rapid decision making and command and control capabilities even when everything else fails - with difficult terrain, disruptions and infrastructure failure. DIANA gives us the resources and partners to get our technology into the hands of NATO forces faster," said Henry Harm, CEO of Wayren.

Telearmy develops remote driving technology for military vehicles turning them into unmanned systems for logistics, reconnaissance, and evacuations in high-risk zones. Their next-generation system retrofits with any ground platform from light ATVs to heavier armored vehicles .

"Estonia's size, tech-savviness, and openness to new technologies have given us unique tools to move with agility and bring deep technologies into real use cases. With our technology already war-proven in Ukraine, NATO DIANA's quality stamp, and now high-level support, we can scale rapidly - turning any military vehicle into a remotely operated from very far distances, keeping soldiers out of danger and providing a more flexible way to operate on the changing battlefield" said Enn Laansoo Jr., CEO of Telearmy.

Congratulating the companies, Hanno Pevkur, Minister of Defense, said:

"I am very pleased to see Estonia's contribution to NATO DIANA stand out so strongly. The fact that three of the teams that accelerated here in Estonia - including two of our own defense industry companies - have advanced to the next stage shows how quickly Estonian entrepreneurs can adapt, act and seize opportunities. The same applies to our Defense Forces, who have been on board with testing new solutions."

Each company will receive 300,000 in non-dilutive funding, access to NATO test centers, and tailored support to move their technology closer to operational use through NATO's Rapid Adoption Service program.

Standing alongside the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, Estonia is one of the only countries represented by two or more firms, giving Estonia one of the strongest showings among NATO nations in the second phase. This comes at a time when Estonia has committed to raise its defense spending to 5.4% of GDP by 2026, with a projected 10 billion investment over 2026-2029. Already in 2025, defense expenditures are expected to be about 3.38% of GDP which sets Estonia well above the EU and NATO averages.

CONTACT:

Media contact

Miltton USA

Carlos Sunila

[email protected]

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/miltton/r/estonia-emerges-as-a-key-player-in-nato-diana-defence-innovation-effort,c4242852

The following files are available for download:

https://news.cision.com/miltton/i/estonia-eu,c3473694 Estonia EU

SOURCE Miltton
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's fourth visit to the White House today since President Donald Trump returned to office earlier this year, a coalition of more than 200 evangelical pastors and leaders signed on to a letter organized by Family Research Council urging the President "to reaffirm the biblical and historical truth" that "Judea and Samaria are not only Israel's history, they are Israel's identity."

The letter read in part:

"On behalf of the undersigned Christians who love and pray for you daily, we write to express our profound gratitude for your historic and unwavering support for the Jewish state of Israel. Your leadership has strengthened not only the security of Israel but also the cause of freedom and truth throughout the world.

"We are deeply concerned, however, that there are voiceseven among allieswho urge policies that would weaken Israel by forcing concessions at the very heart of its existence. Restricting or discouraging Israel's right to exercise sovereignty over the biblical heartland Judea and Samariawill not bring peace; it will only prolong conflict and increase threats, not only to the Jewish people but also to Palestinians who genuinely desire peace.

"Mr. President, we urge you to resist the pressure of those who, through the 'death of a thousand cuts,' would dismantle Israel's claim to the land promised by God in Scripture and affirmed by history. America must not be a party to undermining what God has established and will continue to establish.

"Instead, we call upon you to reaffirm the biblical and historical truth: Judea and Samaria are not only Israel's history, they are Israel's identity. Sovereignty over this land is Israel's God-given right, and for the sake of justice and lasting peace, it must be recognized.

"As Christians who stand firmly with the Jewish people, we ask you to continue your courageous leadership by acknowledging Israel's right to exercise sovereignty over Judea and Samaria...Mr. President, your leadership at this critical moment matters. History will remember you as the leader who chose to stand with God's covenant and with His people, Israel," the letter read.

To read the full letter, please visit: https://downloads.frc.org/EF/EF25I96.pdf

SOURCE Family Research Council
NEW YORK, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- At least one person was killed and nine others were injured in a shooting at a church in Grand Blanc, U.S. state of Michigan, on Sunday, according to local police.

The incident occurred at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a small community northwest of Detroit. A large fire broke out following the shooting.

The wounded, including two in critical condition, have been transported to local hospitals, Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye said at a press conference.

Renye said that the shooter, identified as a 40-year-old male, drove his car into the church and opened fire on the crowd during a large service.

The gunman was killed by police after exchanging gunfire at the church, according to the police chief.

The fire had been just extinguished within the past hour, he said, adding that they believed the suspect "deliberately" set fire to the church.

Earlier, local police said in a statement that there were multiple victims in the shooting and the entire church was on fire, urging people to avoid the area as emergency response efforts continued.

U.S. President Donald Trump posted on social media that he has been briefed on the "horrendous" church shooting in Michigan.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said that she was receiving updates on the shooting in Grand Blanc.

"My heart is breaking for the Grand Blanc community," Whitmer wrote in a post on social media platform X. "Violence anywhere, especially in a place of worship, is unacceptable." 
The national optical retailer helps educators see a brighter future for students with impactful donations

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- National optical retailer Eyemart Express put teachers in the spotlight this back-to-school season when it teamed up with The Jennifer Hudson Show to honor three deserving educators with a life-changing surprise. In two episodes that aired in September, host Jennifer Hudson recognized each teacher on-air and presented them with a collection of glasses and an impactful donation, ranging from $5,000 to $10,000, to use toward classroom resources, supplies, and interactive experiences for their students.

Special education teachers Minnie and Mattie, known nationwide as the TurnUp Twins, are honored with a $10,000 surprise from Eyemart Express on The Jennifer Hudson Show with Jennifer Hudson (center).

The on-air surprises reinforced Eyemart Express' commitments to making a difference in local communities through clear vision and ensuring teachers feel truly seen for their dedication and sacrifices to improve the futures of young people.

"Teachers pour their energy into shaping the next generation, often using their own money to give students the tools they need to succeed," says Katy Hanson, Eyemart Express co-president and chief marketing officer. "As a company that helps people see clearly, it was important to make these educators feel seen and supported. Partnering with The Jennifer Hudson Show allows us to give back in a way that helps increase the reach of these teachers' incredible impact."

First to be recognized was Minnie and Mattie, also known as the TurnUp Twins. They gained notoriety for using music to encourage their special education students at Title I schools, which primarily serve disadvantaged children in their Miami community. The dynamic duo, using their own funds, also provides students in need with food, school supplies, and other essentials.

Next, Adrienne White is another selfless teacher honored by Eyemart Express and The Jennifer Hudson Show. Teaching at a Title I school in Athens, Georgia, she goes above and beyond for her students, from washing their hair at school to taking them to doctors' appointments to providing her students with food, clothes, and school supplies. She and her husband even adopted one of her students who was facing homelessness after his grandmother passed away.

With the costs of school supplies on the rise and demands on educators growing nationwide, the Eyemart Express donations will enable each teacher to bring their classroom vision to life. They can invest in essential resources for their students including new supplies, technology upgrades, and hands-on learning opportunities.

Watch Eyemart Express honor these three deserving teachers on The Jennifer Hudson Showhere and here.

About Eyemart Express

Eyemart Express is more than just a local eye care providerwe are eye care experts embedded in the fabric of our local communities. Doctor-founded in 1990, we have a team that has grown alongside our customers and their families, bringing quality and accessible eye care services to each town we serve. Deep partnerships with local optometrists, on-site technicians, and in-house labs enable us to deliver over 80% of glasses in one hour in our 264 stores nationwide. We offer a seamless blend of the latest technology, comprehensive eye care, and genuine human connection to deliver glasses that are "Made Today, Shipped Tomorrow" to any location in the U.S. Eyemart Express is a VSP Vision company, and ranks among the top optical retailers in the country with its family of brands: Vision 4 Less, Visionmart Express, and Eyewear Express. For more information about Eyemart Express, visit eyemartexpress.com.

About The Jennifer Hudson Show

The Jennifer Hudson Show is the award-winning, Daytime Emmy-nominated talk series hosted by EGOT winner Jennifer Hudson. Returning this fall with a brand-new season, the nationally syndicated, one-hour show is celebrated for its uplifting energy, inspiring content, and signature message to Feel the Love. Each episode delivers daily inspiration with a dynamic mix of celebrity interviews, viral moments, musical performances, heartfelt stories of everyday heroes, and joyful surprises. Featuring its beloved Spirit Tunnel and expansive reach as a social media powerhouse, the show continues to celebrate positivity, connection, and feel-good moments that resonate with audiences everywhere.

The Jennifer Hudson Show airs weekdays. Check your local listings or visit www.jenniferhudsonshow.com for more information.

SOURCE Eyemart Express
Book a fall or winter adventure for less and earn more Rapid Rewards points for future travel

DALLAS, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ --Southwest Airlines Co.'s (NYSE: LUV) Week of WOW is back! Starting today through Oct. 2, Customers can book one-way fares as low as $39 for fall and winter travel from Oct. 21, 2025, to March 4, 2026, along with promotions on Getaways by Southwest vacation packages, cruises, hotels, and rental cars. Check out some of the destinations now available to book on Southwest.com:

One-way as low as $59 nonstop between Austin and Nashville ,

and , One-way as low as $69 nonstop between Boston and Baltimore/Washington (BWI) ,

and , One-way as low as $39 nonstop between Denver and Salt Lake City ,

and , One-way as low as $39 nonstop between Chicago (MDW) and St. Louis ,

and , One-way as low as $39 nonstop between San Diego and San Jose, Calif.

"Southwest is focused on offering our Customers more choices than ever before," said Jennifer Bridie, Vice President Marketing at Southwest Airlines. "Our Week of WOW has low fares on hundreds of routes, in addition to deals on cars, hotels, and vacation packages. We're excited to welcome new and returning Customers onboard to experience Southwest's Legendary Hospitality alongside our elevated cabin experience, including assigned seats and extra legroom starting in early 2026."

Snag a Deal on Fares, a Getaway, and Rental Cars

Customers can shop for promotions on fares, Getaways by Southwest vacation packages, and rental cars at Southwest.com. Some examples of deals, include:

Base Fares: Between Sept. 29 and Oct. 2, 2025, Customers can book one-way flights for as low as $39 on select continental U.S. and international flights and flights to and from Hawaii for travel from Oct. 21, 2025, to March 4, 2026. 1

Between Sept. 29 and Oct. 2, 2025, Customers can book one-way flights for as low as $39 on select continental U.S. and international flights and flights to and from Hawaii for travel from Oct. 21, 2025, to March 4, 2026. Getaways by Southwest: From Sept. 29 through Oct. 6, 2025, Customers can receive up to $250 off vacation packages to domestic Getaways destinations and up to $500 off vacation packages to international Getaways destinations. 2

From Sept. 29 through Oct. 6, 2025, Customers can receive up to $250 off vacation packages to domestic Getaways destinations and up to $500 off vacation packages to international Getaways destinations. Rental Cars: For reservations made from Sept. 29 to Oct. 6, 2025, Customers can rent an SUV for as low as $54 a day.3

Even More Offers for Rapid Rewards MembersIncluding Free WiFi

The deals don't stop there! From Sept. 29 to Oct. 6, 2025, Customers can receive 2X Rapid Rewards points with the purchase of any eligible cruise.4 For hotel stays, Customers can earn an additional 5,000 Rapid Rewards points and a 5,000 Rapid Reward points discount on a minimum two-night stay.5 Plus, Rapid Rewards Members can earn up to 600 extra points on car rentals.3

And, there is more coming soon! Free WiFi for all Rapid Rewards Members starts on Oct. 24, 2025.6 Be sure to enroll now for a free Rapid Rewards account at Southwest.com.

1 21-day advance purchase required. Purchase from Sept. 29, 2025 at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time through Oct. 2, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Continental U.S. travel and continental U.S. travel to/from Hawaii, international, and San Juan, Puerto Rico valid Oct. 21, 2025 through March 4, 2026. Interisland Hawaii travel valid Oct. 21 through Nov. 18, 2025. by June 5, 2025, for select continental U.S. flights between August 12 and Dec. 17, 2025. Restrictions, exclusions, and blackouts apply. Seats/days/markets limited. Discount applied to pre-government taxes/fees. Additional fees may apply. See full terms and conditions here. 2 Up to $250 off flight+hotel or flight+hotel+car rental vacation pkg to Getaways domestic destinations or $500 off a flight+hotel vacation pkg to Getaways int'l destinations. Book by 10/6/25. Eligible travel only from 9/30/25-4/30/26. Savings vary & not available on all pkgs. Savings based on 5-night pkg & compared to price of same components booked separately w/out any discounts or rewards. 1-day adv. purch. req'd. Restr., excl., & blkouts may apply. Seats/days/mkts lmtd. Add'l fees may apply. Subject to Getaways by Southwest Terms and Conditions. 3 Budget SUV offer is available for vehicle pickup between August 18 and Dec. 15, 2025, at participating Budget airport locations in the U.S. Offer valid on any intermediate SUV (group F), standard SUV (group W), standard elite SUV (group S), full-size SUV (group Z), premium SUV (group L), midsize pickup truck (group XD), and full-size pickup truck (group XW). Offer applies to weekend and weekly rates. View full terms here. 4 Book your cruise through Southwest Cruises via Southwestcruises.com or by calling 800-211-2933 between 12:01 a.m. ET on Sept. 29, 2025 and 11:59 p.m. ET on Oct. 6, 2025, and you'll earn 1 bonus point per eligible $1 spent for a total of 2 points per eligible $1 spent on eligible costs of your cruise when combined with the base points offer. Valid on all eligible sailings departing on or before Dec. 31, 2026. View full terms here. 5 Limited to reservations made on the Southwest Hotels website southwesthotels.com during the booking period between 12:01 a.m. CT Sept. 29, 2025, and 11:59 p.m. Oct. 6, 2025. Stays must be for a minimum of two nights, with check-out on or before March 31, 2026. The bonus is only applicable to selected hotels. See full terms here. 6 Where available. Available on WiFi-enabled designated aircraft.

ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.

Southwest Airlines Co. operates one of the world's most admired and awarded airlines, offering its one-of-a-kind value and Hospitality at 117 airports across 11 countries. Southwest took flight in 1971 to democratize the sky through friendly, reliable, and low-cost air travel and now carries more air travelers flying nonstop within the United States than any other airline7. By empowering its more than 72,0008 People to deliver unparalleled Hospitality, the maverick airline cherishes a passionate loyalty among more than 140 million Customers carried in 2024. Southwest leverages a unique legacy and mission to serve communities around the world including harnessing the power of its People and Purpose to put communities at the Heart of its success. Learn more by visiting Southwest.com/citizenship.

7. Based on U.S. Dept. of Transportation quarterly Airline Origin & Destination Survey as of Q1 2025 8. Fulltime-equivalent active Employees as of June 30, 2025

SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co.
ATHENS, Greece, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- After 16 years with FAMAR, including the last 4 years as CEO, Konstantinos Rengis decided to step down from his role for personal reasons, effective September 29, 2025.

Kostas is widely recognized for his customer-centric approach, deep knowledge of our industry, and his solution-oriented mindset. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in successfully guiding the company through multiple ownership transitions, improving operations and customer service and setting a vision for future growth.

At the same time, FAMAR Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Riku Rautsola as CEO, effective September 29, 2025. Riku has served as a non-executive member of FAMAR's Board of Directors and an advisor to MidEuropa during the acquisition of FAMAR last year. Riku is a globally experienced leader in the pharmaceutical, biotech and CDMO industries, having held CEO and senior executive positions at several leading companies, creating sustained profitable growth

Under Riku's leadership, FAMAR remains committed to serve its global customers, expand production capacity, accelerate its development partnerships, and invest in its people. Riku will also continue to serve as a member of the Board of Directors.

Kostas will support Riku and the Board of Directors in a senior advisory capacity, focusing on strategic customer relationships and customer engagement.

"We thank Kostas Rengis for his many years of dedicated service, and we extend a warm welcome to Riku Rautsola as he leads FAMAR in this next chapter of growth and transformation", stated Matthew Strassberg, Partner and Head of Healthcare at MidEuropa.

About Famar Group

FAMAR is a leading European provider of pharmaceutical and cosmetic manufacturing and development services. With a legacy of 75 years, FAMAR delivers high-quality dosage forms, including sterile liquids, solids, and semi-solids, creating value for its clients. Operating in Spain, Italy, and Greece, employing over 1.850 people across a network of six production facilities and two R&D centres, FAMAR supplies a wide range of more than 1.700 different products for over 80 international markets.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29. 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- First Health Advisory, a leader in healthcare cybersecurity strategy and risk management, has been named a Preferred Cybersecurity & Risk Services Provider by the American Hospital Association (AHA), which represents nearly 5,000 hospitals and health systems nationwide. This recognition affirms First Health's position as a trusted partner delivering measurable results by turning cybersecurity strategy into operational resilience that safeguards patients and the hospitals that serve them.

"First Health Advisory has been selected by the AHA as an excellent solution provider for the Cybersecurity Oversight & Resilience Engagement (CORE) Program. We can confidently recommend First Health as a reliable source of support for our nation's hospitals and health systems in their efforts to defend against sophisticated cyberthreats and ransomware attacks,"

stated John Riggi, National Advisor for Cybersecurity and Risk, American Hospital Association.

Cyberattacks targeting the healthcare sector continue to rise, disrupting care delivery and threatening patient safety. With ransomware and other sophisticated threats increasing, they need partners who can act and reduce risk.

"In healthcare, we don't need more people pointing out problems; we need true partners who will solve them and actually reduce risk," emphasized Carter Groome, CEO of First Health Advisory. "First Health is built for action. From strategy to execution, we align with hospitals' business objectives as an extension of their teams. Through this partnership with the AHA, we will help hospitals stay resilient so clinicians can focus on what matters most: delivering safe patient care."

As part of this partnership, First Health will deliver its flagship CORE (Cybersecurity Oversight & Resilience Engagement) Program and Data Privacy Governance services, among their other industry leading services capabilities.

CORE is First Health Advisory's signature partnership program, designed to provide holistic, strategic oversight across the entire cybersecurity landscape. Built in collaboration with hospitals and health systems, CORE takes a multi-layered approach to proactively identify emerging risks, address existing vulnerabilities, and ensure regulatory alignment. The result is strengthened defenses, reduced risk, and continuous protection of safe patient care.

Kerri Gallagher, President and COO of First Health Advisory added, "We are honored to be recognized by the AHA as a Preferred Cybersecurity & Risk Services Provider. This partnership affirms our mission to work side by side with hospitals and health systems, enabling resilience and ensuring safe patient care in the face of ever-evolving cyberthreats."

For more information about FHA's services and partnership with the AHA, visit:

https://www.aha.org/center/cybersecurity-and-risk-advisory-services/preferred-cybersecurity/providers

About First Health Advisory

First Health Advisory partners with healthcare and government organizations to solve complex cybersecurity challenges, align cyber strategy with business priorities, and safeguard patient care. First Health Advisory operates as an extension of your team across strategic, operational and technical environments, working side by side from strategy to execution to enable safe, resilient care and organizational success. Discover more at firsthealthadvisory.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, or via [email protected].

SOURCE First Health Advisory
32 food banks and pantries benefit from $2.5 million six-state program

FAIRMONT, W.Va., Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The FirstEnergy Foundation is supporting local communities as part of its Hunger Action Month initiative  awarding $620,000 in grants to 32 food banks and pantries in West Virginia, Maryland and Virginia. In total, the initiative is granting $2.5 million to more than 100 hunger relief organizations across New Jersey, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia, marking the Foundation's largest hunger-relief investment to date.

From left, Tim Pingley, FirstEnergy Local Engagement Specialist; Stephanie Goff, Board President, United Way of Harrison and Doddridge Counties; Martin Howe, Executive Director, United Way of Harrison and Doddridge Counties; Jim Myers, FirstEnergys President of West Virginia and Maryland.

The foundation's grants will provide approximately 1.9 million meals in West Virginia and Maryland communities served by Mon Power and Potomac Edison, subsidiaries of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE). The grants will also provide meals in Virginia  including Loudoun, Frederick and Clarke counties  where Potomac Edison operates more than 300 miles of transmission lines.

Tackling A Growing Hunger Epidemic

Food insecurity is a growing crisis across the U.S., according to Feeding America and the USDA. Over 2 million people in West Virginia, Maryland and Virginia face food insecurity due to rising prices, climate-related disruptions and supply chain vulnerabilities.

Jim Myers, FirstEnergy's President of West Virginia and Maryland: "I've seen the impact of food insecurity firsthand, and no one should ever have to wonder where their next meal is coming from. Hunger Action Month reminds us that our communities are stronger when we lift one another up. Together, we're strengthening local hunger relief resources and helping deliver nutritious meals to neighbors who need it most."

View photos of FirstEnergy employees and leaders providing local food bank donations on Flickr.

Feeding the Community

Foodbanks receiving grants include:

Berkeley County CCAP/Loaves and Fishes (Berkeley County, W. Va.) - $35,000.

(Berkeley County, W. Va.) - $35,000. Catholic Charities of West Virginia (Roane County, W. Va.) - $10,000

(Roane County, W. Va.) - $10,000 Cherry River Foundation (Nicholas County, W. Va) - $10,000

(Nicholas County, W. Va) - $10,000 Gilmer County Family Resource Network (Gilmer County, W. Va) - $10,000

(Gilmer County, W. Va) - $10,000 Lewis County Family Resource Network (Lewis County, W. Va) - $10,000

(Lewis County, W. Va) - $10,000 Martinsburg Union Rescue Mission (Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan counties, W. Va.; Frederick County, Va.; Washington County, Md.) - $25,000.

(Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan counties, W. Va.; Frederick County, Va.; Washington County, Md.) - $25,000. Marion County Senior Center (Marion County, W. Va) - $5,000

(Marion County, W. Va) - $5,000 Moorefield Church of Good Food Pantry (Grant and Hardy counties, W. Va.) - $20,000

(Grant and Hardy counties, W. Va.) - $20,000 Mountaineer Food Bank (Multiple counties, W. Va.) - $75,000.

(Multiple counties, W. Va.) - $75,000. Pantry Plus More (Monongalia County, W. Va.) - $10,000

(Monongalia County, W. Va.) - $10,000 Old Man Rivers Mission (Wood County, W. Va.) - $10,000

(Wood County, W. Va.) - $10,000 Taylor County Collaborative Family Resource Network (Taylor County, W. Va.) - $10,000

(Taylor County, W. Va.) - $10,000 United Way Alliance of the Mid-Ohio Valley (Calhoun, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Wirt and Wood counties, W. Va) - $25,000

(Calhoun, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Wirt and Wood counties, W. Va) - $25,000 United Way of Harrison & Doddridge Counties , W. Va. - $25,000

, W. Va. - $25,000 United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties , W. Va. - $25,000

, W. Va. - $25,000 United Way of the Greenbrier Valley (Greenbrier, Pocahontas and Monroe counties, W. Va.) - $25,000

(Greenbrier, Pocahontas and Monroe counties, W. Va.) - $25,000 Upshur Cooperative Parish (Upshur County, W. Va.) - $10,000

(Upshur County, W. Va.) - $10,000 West Virginia University Foundation (Monongalia County, W. Va) - $10,000

(Monongalia County, W. Va) - $10,000 Faith in Action (Jefferson County, W. Va.) - $10,000

(Jefferson County, W. Va.) - $10,000 Blackwater Ministerial Association (Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan counties, W. Va. ) - $5,000

(Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan counties, ) - $5,000 Community Markets (Multiple counties, including Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan counties, W. Va.) - $10,000

(Multiple counties, including Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan counties, W. Va.) - $10,000 Blue Ridge Community & Technical College Foundation ( Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan counties, W. Va.; Frederick County, Va.; Washington County, Md.) - $15,000

Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan counties, W. Va.; Frederick County, Va.; Washington County, Md.) - $15,000 Brooke Hancock Family Resource Network (Hancock and Brooke counties, W. Va.) - $10,000

(Hancock and Brooke counties, W. Va.) - $10,000 Farmers & Hunters Feeding the Hungry (Washington County, Md.) - $20,000

(Washington County, Md.) - $20,000 Frederick Rescue Mission (Frederick, Montgomery, and Washington counties, Md.) - $20,000

(Frederick, Montgomery, and Washington counties, Md.) - $20,000 Union Rescue Mission of Western Maryland (Allegany and Garrett counties, Md.) - $20,000

(Allegany and Garrett counties, Md.) - $20,000 Western Maryland Food Bank (Allegany, Frederick, Washington and Garrett counties, Md.) - $50,000

(Allegany, Frederick, Washington and Garrett counties, Md.) - $50,000 Washington County Community Action Council (Washington County, Md.) - $20,000

(Washington County, Md.) - $20,000 Hagerstown Area Religious Council (Washington County, Md.) - $20,000

(Washington County, Md.) - $20,000 Loudoun Hunger Relief (Loudoun County, Va.) - $20,000

(Loudoun County, Va.) - $20,000 Highland Food Pantry (Frederick County, Va.) - $5,000

(Frederick County, Va.) - $5,000 Blue Ridge Area Food Bank (Loudoun, Frederick and Clarke counties, Va.) - $45,000

Volunteering to Combat Hunger

In addition to grant funding, FirstEnergy demonstrates its commitment to community support by empowering employees with dedicated volunteer time-off (VTO) hours. This initiative enables employees to provide hands-on, boots-on-the-ground assistance to local nonprofits. In 2024 alone, FirstEnergy employees contributed more than 26,000 volunteer hours across the company's service territory  supporting causes such as local food banks, pantries and other vital community organizations.

History of Support

The FirstEnergy Foundation and FirstEnergy employees have been fighting food insecurity for over two decades. Since 2021, FirstEnergy employees have donated $650,000 directly to organizations focused on fighting hunger and improving nutrition. Nearly $7 million has been raised by employees over the past 23 years through the annual Harvest for Hunger campaign.

Last year, the FirstEnergy Foundation donated nearly $800,000 to hunger-related initiatives.

How to Apply for a FirstEnergy Foundation Grant

The FirstEnergy Foundation provides support to 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofits that serve and meet the critical needs of our customers in communities served by FirstEnergy's electric operating companies and in areas where the company conducts business. Combined with the Hunger Action Month grants, the foundation has distributed more than $4 million in community support across FirstEnergy's service area to date in 2025.

The FirstEnergy Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications. To inquire about grant opportunities, contact Torey Tolson, Community Involvement Consultant at [email protected].

Mon Power serves about 395,000 customers in 34 West Virginia counties. Follow Mon Power at mon-power.com, on X @MonPowerWV, and on Facebook at facebook.com/MonPowerWV.

Potomac Edison serves about 285,000 customers in seven counties in Maryland and 155,000 customers in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. Follow Potomac Edison at potomacedison.com, on X @PotomacEdison, and on Facebook at facebook.com/PotomacEdison.

FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving more than six million customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy on X @FirstEnergyCorp or online at firstenergycorp.com.

SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.
AKRON, Ohio, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) will release financial results for the third quarter and first nine months of 2025 after markets close on Wednesday, October 22. These results will be discussed by FirstEnergy management during a conference call with financial analysts at 9 a.m. EDT on Thursday, October 23. A question-and-answer session will follow.

Investors, customers and other interested parties are invited to listen to a live webcast of the call and view presentation slides via FirstEnergy's Investor Information website, www.firstenergycorp.com/ir. The webcast and presentation will be available for replay on the site for up to one year.

The company plans to post its third quarter presentation and supporting materials to the investor section of the website after markets close on October 22.

FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving more than 6 million customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy online at www.firstenergycorp.com and on X @FirstEnergyCorp.

SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.
American Veterinary Medical Association calls for more clinical trials of CBD for pets

MIAMI, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has published an updated report on cannabis and pets, focusing on the benefits of CBD treatments for cats, dogs, and horses. Cannabis in Veterinary Medicine emphasizes the need for controlled clinical trials to help vets understand how CBD can help their patients as well as determine the need for new cannabis-derived products.

Wiggles and Paws Pet oil

The AVMA cites a study that investigated the usefulness of treating dogs with CBD to alleviate the stress of car travel. It found that treating dogs once a day orally with 4 mg/kg of CBD led to decreased cortisol levels, less whining, and less lip licking  all signs of stress in dogs. Dogs treated with the same amount of CBD were significantly less vocal when temporarily separated from their caregivers.

For horses, treatment with CBD can potentially alleviate sensitivity to touch. A young quarter horse mare that had been treated with a variety of drugs and acupuncture for sensitivity to touch in the caudal neck and withers region showed no improvement. But when given 250 mg by mouth twice daily of pure crystalline cannabidiol, she no longer showed any sensitivity after only two days. In 2022, a study published in Equine Veterinary Journal revealed that CB1 and CB2 receptors are present in equine joints, which suggests CBD compounds could help reduce equine joint inflammation and the discomfort of osteoarthritis.

Recent studies indicate cats tolerate CBD well. One study measured creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels in cats before and after CBD had been administered. Both creatinine and BUN levels decreased significantly within 24 hours, which could mean less invasive treatments for feline kidney disease and urinary crystals.

Fusion CBD Products ' U.S.-manufactured CBD treatments include the Wiggles & Paws line of broad spectrum CBD oil for pets and CBD-Infused Dog Treats .

About Fusion CBD Products

Based in Miami, Florida, Fusion CBD Products was established in 2019. Made from 100% organic, GMO-free hemp extract grown in the United States and processed in FDA-registered, GMP-certified facilities, Fusion CBD Products include CBD oils, intimacy products, gummies, capsules, and topicals to help customers  from sidewalk strollers and their pet companions to competitive athletes  live healthy, active lives.

Media Contact:

[email protected]

SOURCE Fusion CBD Products
Hanmi and HHP will grant Gilead an exclusive license to Encequidar and provide access to drug supply.

SEOUL, South Korea, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hanmi Pharm announced on September 29 that it has entered into a global licensing and collaboration agreement with Gilead Sciences, Inc. ("Gilead") and Health Hope Pharma ("HHP") granting Gilead the exclusive rights to develop and commercialize encequidar.

Orascovery is an innovative oral drug delivery proprietary platform owned by Hanmi that enables the conversion of injectable medicines into oral formulations. Encequidar is a P-gp inhibitor that was discovered through Hanmi's Orascovery platform and originally developed by Hanmi.

Under this agreement, Hanmi and HHP will grant Gilead exclusive global rights to Encequidar within the field of virology. Hanmi and HHP will also provide drug supply, share technical know-how, and participate as key project partners. Hanmi and HHP will each receive an upfront payment and remain eligible for development, regulatory and sales milestones in addition to low single digit royalties on net sales.

Dr. Dennis Lam, founder of HHP said: "We are pleased to announce the licensing agreement with Gilead and Hanmi. This demonstrates the potential of Encequidar as a first-in-class P-gp inhibitor to create more oral formulations in multiple fields. This agreement is also a milestone of successful innovation for both the Hong Kong biotech industry and HHP as a biotech company headquartered in Hong Kong. We will build on this momentum to accelerate HHP's development of Oraxol and explore other applications of Encequidar in oral formulations."

Jae-Hyun Park, CEO of Hanmi Pharm, said: "This agreement validates Hanmi's formulation technology and R&D capabilities, while also opening the door to new growth opportunities through collaboration with a leading global partner. We will continue to expand strategic partnerships that can accelerate innovation and patient access worldwide."

Hanmi originally out-licensed Encequidar along with the oral anticancer drug Oraxol to Athenex in 2011. However, following Athenex's insolvency, rights were transferred to HHP and others. HHP is currently conducting clinical trials of Oraxol in the U.S., Hong Kong SAR, and New Zealand since June 2025, with plans to sequentially launch the product in Europe, Asia, and the U.S.

Contact info:

Official Websites: www.hanmipharm.com

Official LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hanmipharm

[email protected],

+08-2-410-0467

SOURCE Hanmi Pharm
New scholarship initiative supports undergraduate students pursuing medical careers across the United States

HOUSTON, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A distinguished Houston physician has established a national scholarship program designed to support undergraduate students who are committed to pursuing careers in medicine.

Dr. Rodolfo Giraldi, a practicing physician with over four decades of medical experience, announced the launch of this scholarship initiative to recognize and support promising students who demonstrate dedication to becoming medical doctors.

The scholarship program targets undergraduate students who are actively pursuing pre-medical studies or other academic paths that lead to medical school admission. Eligible applicants must be currently enrolled at accredited institutions and demonstrate genuine commitment to obtaining either an MD or DO degree.

A key component of the application process involves submitting an original essay responding to a specific prompt about career motivation and vision for healthcare's future. Applicants must address their personal journey toward medicine, sources of inspiration, and the core values that drive their commitment to the medical profession. Essays are limited to 1,000 words and must demonstrate a clear structure.

Dr. Rodolfo Giraldi brings extensive experience to this educational initiative. Born in Lima, Peru, and later becoming a United States citizen, Dr. Rodolfo Giraldi earned his medical degree from New York Medical College. He furthered his training through the Fifth Pathway program and gained valuable experience at Cook County Hospital in Chicago and through the Tulane University medical program.

Dr. Rodolfo Giraldi established this scholarship program as a direct result of his lifelong dedication to medicine and patient service. His four decades in healthcare have provided him with deep understanding of the challenges facing aspiring medical professionals, particularly the significant financial investment required for medical education.

The application deadline for the scholarship is May 15, 2026, with the scholarship recipient announcement scheduled for June 15, 2026. Students interested in applying can find complete application requirements and submission guidelines on the program's official website.

This scholarship initiative represents Dr. Rodolfo Giraldi's ongoing commitment to medical education and his belief in supporting the next generation of healthcare providers.

The Dr. Rodolfo Giraldi Scholarship for Future Doctors welcomes applications from qualified undergraduate students nationwide, regardless of their geographic location within the United States.

SOURCE Dr. Rodolfo Giraldi
All Bitcoin to Be Retained in Corporate Treasury as Part of Long-Term Digital Asset Strategy

LAS VEGAS, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyperscale Data, Inc. (NYSE American: GPUS), a diversified holding company ("Hyperscale Data" or the "Company"), today announced that it is upgrading its fleet of Bitcoin miners as part of a broader strategic initiative to optimize its Michigan data center (the "Michigan Facility") operations. The Company has made the strategic decision to dedicate a portion of its Michigan Facility to continue Bitcoin mining alongside its expanding artificial intelligence ("AI") infrastructure.

Hyperscale Data confirmed that it is upgrading to Bitmain Antminer S21+ Bitcoin miners ("S21+"), a move expected to significantly increase Bitcoin production yield over the coming year. The S21+ operates at 235 terahashes per second, which represents a 135% increase in processing speed from Hyperscale Data's older S19J Pro Bitcoin miners ("S19J Pro"). As a result of the increased processing speed, a S21+ produces approximately 2.35 Bitcoin for each Bitcoin produced by a S19J Pro. The Company emphasized that maintaining Bitcoin operations while deploying NVIDIA-powered AI clusters positions Hyperscale Data well among U.S. data center operators, leveraging both digital asset computing and AI growth trends from a single, strategically located facility.

This dual-focus strategy allows Hyperscale Data to capitalize on its existing Bitcoin mining infrastructure while advancing its long-term goal of building a world-class AI data center. The Michigan Facility, situated on approximately 34.5 acres and spanning 617,000 square feet, will host both AI compute clusters and advanced Bitcoin miners operating side-by-side.

"We believe this balanced approach is the right path forward," said William B. Horne, Chief Executive Officer of Hyperscale Data. "While the build-out of our AI capabilities will take time, it is important that we continue to generate value from our existing infrastructure through Bitcoin mining. By integrating both AI and Bitcoin operations under one roof, we are able to maximize efficiency, optimize asset utilization, and position the Michigan Facility for long-term growth. As we expand power capacity over time, we expect to maintain meaningful Bitcoin mining operations alongside our AI initiatives."

"It is extremely gratifying to see this vision moving forward," said Milton "Todd" Ault III, Executive Chairman of Hyperscale Data. "The Michigan Facility is being developed into a highly productive asset, designed to power AI infrastructure with NVIDIA servers while also mining Bitcoin. This reflects years of planning and commitment to a strategy that brings together two of the most powerful computing trends in the world."

The Company stated that it does not plan to sell any of its Bitcoin holdings at this time and will continue to implement its Digital Asset Treasury Strategy. As previously stated, Hyperscale Data will continue to issue updates every Tuesday detailing its total Bitcoin holdings and the amount of cash reserved for its ongoing dollar-cost averaging program to acquire additional Bitcoin. The Company believes it is in the best interest of its stockholders to pair its Bitcoin holdings with its market capitalization and intends to use all newly mined Bitcoin to strengthen and expand its corporate treasury.

As previously announced, Hyperscale Data is in the process of expanding its AI service capabilities in the Michigan Facility with advanced NVIDIA hardware, including the next-generation Blackwell architecture.

For more information on Hyperscale Data and its subsidiaries, Hyperscale Data recommends that stockholders, investors and any other interested parties read Hyperscale Data's public filings and press releases available under the Investor Relations section at hyperscaledata.com or available at www.sec.gov.

About Hyperscale Data, Inc.

Through its wholly owned subsidiary Sentinum, Inc., Hyperscale Data owns and operates a data center at which it mines digital assets and offers colocation and hosting services for the emerging AI ecosystems and other industries. Hyperscale Data's other wholly owned subsidiary, Ault Capital Group, Inc. ("ACG"), is a diversified holding company pursuing growth by acquiring undervalued businesses and disruptive technologies with a global impact.

Hyperscale Data currently expects the divestiture of ACG (the "Divestiture") to occur in the first quarter of 2026. Upon the occurrence of the Divestiture, the Company would be an owner and operator of data centers to support high-performance computing services, as well as a holder of the digital assets. Until the Divestiture occurs, the Company will continue to provide, through ACG and its wholly and majority-owned subsidiaries and strategic investments, mission-critical products that support a diverse range of industries, including an AI software platform, social gaming platform, equipment rental services, defense/aerospace, industrial, automotive, medical/biopharma and hotel operations. In addition, ACG is actively engaged in private credit and structured finance through a licensed lending subsidiary. Hyperscale Data's headquarters are located at 11411 Southern Highlands Parkway, Suite 190, Las Vegas, NV 89141.

On December 23, 2024, the Company issued one million (1,000,000) shares of a newly designated Series F Exchangeable Preferred Stock (the "Series F Preferred Stock") to all common stockholders and holders of the Series C Preferred Stock on an as-converted basis. The Divestiture will occur through the voluntary exchange of the Series F Preferred Stock for shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock of ACG (collectively, the "ACG Shares"). The Company reminds its stockholders that only those holders of the Series F Preferred Stock who agree to surrender such shares, and do not properly withdraw such surrender, in the exchange offer through which the Divestiture will occur, will be entitled to receive the ACG Shares and consequently be shareholders of ACG upon the occurrence of the Divestiture.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements generally include statements that are predictive in nature and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and include words such as "believes," "plans," "anticipates," "projects," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "may," "will," "should," "could," "potential," or similar expressions. Statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any of them publicly in light of new information or future events. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors. More information, including potential risk factors, that could affect the Company's business and financial results are included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, the Company's Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. All filings are available at www.sec.gov and on the Company's website at hyperscaledata.com.

SOURCE Hyperscale Data Inc.
As the world marks World Heart Day on Sept. 29, Afghanistan confronts a sobering reality: thousands die each year from cardiovascular diseases, trapped by poverty, a fragile healthcare system and the lingering wounds of decades of conflict. #GLOBALink
HANGZHOU, China, Sept. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2025 Dialogue on BRICS Special Economic Zones and its supporting activities, collectively recognized as the first major event gathering nearly all BRICS members and partners since China Center for Cooperation on Special Economic Zones in BRICS Countries was launched in Hangzhou this March, concluded during the 4th Global Digital Trade Expo.

The main dialogue on September 25 set a strategic tone. Chinese officials of national and provincial level, and H.E. Hussain Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Ambassador of the UAE to China delivered opening remarks, underscoring the role of SEZs as engines for shared growth.

The session yielded key outcomes, including the signing of four BRICS cooperation projects, namely Malaysia Sarawak School Co-construction Project, Qiantang BRICS Fund Project, Framework Agreement on Financing for Alumina Production Line Construction in Indonesia, and Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between Hangzhou and the Arab Digital Economy Alliance.

The dialogue also saw the release of two major reports: the BRICS Electronic Bill of Lending Report (2025) and the BRICS SEZ Economic and Trade Cooperation Development Report (2025). The fruitful day also witnessed the launches of the Hangzhou Initiative on AI Industry Cooperation and Development and the Initiative on International AI Cooperation and Service Alliance.

The following roundtable dialogue, under the "Greater BRICS" framework, brought together key representatives, including government officials from Egypt and Brazil, academic experts from Westlake University, and industry leaders from Alibaba Cloud and Export-Import Bank of China, for in-depth discussions on AI innovation and collaborative opportunities within BRICS SEZs.

The next day commenced with foreign delegates visiting leading Hangzhou-based companies, SanhuaHangzhouIndustrial Park and Hangzhou High Store Technology Co., LTD., to witness advanced manufacturing and smart logistics firsthand.

The visits were followed by a dynamic roadshow and matchmaking session where SEZ authorities from Malaysia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, and Indonesia presented investment opportunities.

Subsequently, over 40 Chinese enterprises, including Alibaba.com and DingTalk, engaged in targeted one-on-one talks with international representatives, fostering immediate business connections. Multiple enterprises scheduled follow-up meetings to advance cooperation in sectors including pharmaceuticals, digital infrastructure, and smart logistics.

The activities transitioned from macro-level dialogue to micro-level partnership building, bridging BRICS SEZs with Chinese enterprises, in an attempt to reinforce Hangzhou's position as a vital international cooperation hub and inject tangible momentum into the "Greater BRICS" framework, paving the way for sustainable and inclusive economic collaboration.

SOURCE HZICC
DETROIT, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - INDOCHINO, the global leader in made-to-measure apparel, is thrilled to bring its custom clothing experience to the Troy community with the official opening of its newest showroom at the prestigious Somerset Collection. This milestone highlights INDOCHINO's focus on retail expansion and its mission to deliver the made-to-measure experience to customers throughout North America.

INDOCHINO, Somerset Collection (CNW Group/Indochino Apparel Inc.)

This new showroom offers customers the opportunity to design one-of-a-kind garments with the guidance of expert Style Guides. Customers can explore hundreds of premium fabrics and customization options, choosing everything from lapels and linings to buttons and monograms, before having their garments crafted to their exact measurements and delivered directly to their door.

"We're excited to officially open our doors at Somerset Collection and be part of such an iconic retail destination," said Drew Green, President & CEO of INDOCHINO. "Our showrooms are at the heart of what makes the INDOCHINO experience so special, and this opening is another step forward in bringing made-to-measure to more people across North America."

INDOCHINO invites the Troy and greater Detroit community to celebrate this exciting new chapter. Visitors are encouraged to stop by, meet the team, and experience firsthand how INDOCHINO is redefining custom clothing. From weddings to workdays, or just celebrating life's moments, the Somerset Collection showroom is ready to help customers design their perfect fit.

About INDOCHINO

INDOCHINO is the global leader for made-to-measure apparel, bringing together in-store and online experiences in a seamless way. Customers can visit a showroom in their area for professional measurements and expert guidance, order online using saved measurements, or take their own measurements at home. Every garment is crafted to precise measurements, ensuring a perfect fit and effortless reordering. By combining personalized service with easy-to-use online options, INDOCHINO is redefining the retail experience and helping customers look and feel confident for life's most important moments.

For more information, visit www.indochino.com and follow INDOCHINO's social media channels.

SOURCE Indochino Apparel Inc.
Premium Pilates franchise continues nationwide momentum, looking to open 25-35 locations across NorCal region

MIAMI, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- JETSET Pilates , the fast-growing modern Reformer Pilates franchise offering premium, full-body workouts, is looking to strengthen their footprint in Northern California. With eight studios already awarded in the Bay Area and more in development, the brand is excited to announce plans to strategically open 25-35 more locations across the region in the years ahead, with 12-15 in the Bay Area core.

JETSET Pilates

Priority markets include San Francisco (Marina, Russian Hill, Nob Hill), the Peninsula (Burlingame, San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park), South Bay (San Jose, Santana Row, Los Gatos), East Bay (Walnut Creek, Lafayette, RockridgePiedmont Ave), and Marin (Mill Valley, Larkspur). Northern California, especially the Bay Area, offers a compelling environment for premium boutique fitness. The region features dense, affluent trade areas, a wellness-oriented population, and strong weekday and weekend class demand, ideal for JETSET's 50-minute, high-intensity/low impact format. Two cities in the region, San Francisco and Sacramento, ranked in the top 10 fittest U.S. cities, demonstrating the community's strong fitness culture.

"Northern California is one of the most dynamic wellness regions in the country, and JETSET is ready to be part of the movement," said Bert Albertse, CEO of JETSET Pilates. "The area's culture, premium boutique spend, and consumer/hybrid work patterns create strong demand for a premium Pilates experience that fits into busy schedules while still delivering unmatched results, and we look forward to providing that to the community."

JETSET Pilates is continuing its measured system-wide growth in 2025, with more than 200 studios awarded and 50 expected to be operating by the end of the year. To support new-market launches, including the upcoming Northern California locations, the brand is expanding its JETSET Training Academy, providing enhanced training and playbooks to ensure consistency and quality across all studios.

"Launching new locations in Northern California is about finding the right partners who share our passion for redefining Pilates," said Tamara Galinsky, Founder and Brand President of JETSET Pilates. "From our DJ-curated playlists to our studio design, JETSET is more than just fitness, it's a lifestyle. This is a community that embraces innovation, and the JETSET experience will bring something fresh to the market."

Since launching its franchise opportunity in 2022, JETSET Pilates has quickly become one of the fastest-growing concepts in the boutique fitness sector. For more information about JETSET Pilates and its franchise opportunities, visit https://jetsetpilates.com/franchise/ .

About JETSET Pilates

Founded in 2010 and franchising since 2022, JETSET Pilates has rapidly established itself as one of the most attractive concepts in the boutique franchise business space. JETSET Pilates currently has plans to open studios across the U.S. and Australia, with over 200 studios in development. JETSET now offers franchising opportunities to entrepreneurs in some of the largest and fastest-growing markets within the fitness franchise sector. For more information, please visit https://jetsetpilates.com/franchise/, or follow JETSET Pilates on LinkedIn and Instagram .

Contact: Amarra Lyons | Franchise Elevator | [email protected]

SOURCE JETSET Pilates
VIENNA, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- This International Coffee Day, premium Vienna-based roaster Julius Meinl invites coffee lovers to pause, connect, and celebrate the joy found in every cup. On 1st October 2025, customers visiting participating cafes and outlets serving Julius Meinl will receive a Scratch & Win card with their coffee purchase  offering the chance to win another coffee for free, on the spot.*

A moment worth savouring:

Celebrate International Coffee Day with Julius Meinl (PRNewsfoto/Julius Meinl)

For Julius Meinl, coffee is more than a drink. It's a ritual, a pause, a moment to savour. Whether it's a quiet me-moment, a warm we-moment, or a well-deserved pause in your busy day, a cup of coffee brings joy to the everyday.

"There's something uniquely nostalgic and joyful about scratch cards. That moment of anticipation, the hope, the tiny thrill it's a small gesture that brings a smile, and perfectly captures the spirit of Julius Meinl."

- Christina Meinl, 5th generation family member

Join the Celebration

Visit a cafe serving Julius Meinl coffee near you this 1st October and experience the joy of coffee, connection, and a little added excitement. Whether you're treating yourself or catching up with loved ones, we'll be ready to serve happiness in every cup. Bring your friends, sip something special, and see who's lucky enough to win.

Let's raise a cup to meaningful moments. Happy International Coffee Day!

Full terms and conditions, as well as participating locations can be found here.

* Available while stocks last at participating locations.

Note to Editors

About Julius Meinl: Founded in 1862, Julius Meinl is one of the oldest coffee roasters in the world and an iconic Vienna coffee house brand. Dedication to quality has been a family trademark for five generations. With more than 160 years of experience in sourcing, blending and roasting, Julius Meinl coffees and teas are sold in over 50,000 hotels, coffee houses and restaurants in 70 countries, as well as a growing number of retail outlets.

Julius Meinl | International Coffee Day 2025

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2782377/Julius_Meinl.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2388574/Julius_Meinl_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Julius Meinl
PORTLAND, Ore., Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Brace yourselves for the strangest and most exciting event of the year as The Oddities and Curiosities Expo , the ultimate celebration of all things peculiar and extraordinary, returns to Oregon Convention Center in Portland, OR on October 25th and 26th.

Tickets start at $12 and can be purchased at https://oddities.com

The Oddities and Curiosities Expo is a one-of-a-kind traveling showcase that brings together hundreds of oddity vendors and artists from across the country, creating a playground for the strange and unusual. Here, the weird, wonderful, and downright bizarre unite in a fascinating display of the extraordinary, providing a platform for vendors and artists to connect with a community of like-minded individuals.

The event will travel coast to coast, visiting 40 cities in the United States and Canada in 2025.

Attendees can browse and shop for rare and unique items, including taxidermy, preserved animal specimens, dark artistry, original horror and Halloween-inspired artwork, antiques, metaphysical accoutrements, handcrafted oddities, skulls, bones, and funeral collectibles.

Beyond shopping, the expo offers an immersive experience with photo opportunities, tarot readings, sideshow performances, and various concessions to keep attendees entertained throughout the day.

Founded in Oklahoma by Michelle and Tony Cozzaglio, The Oddities and Curiosities Expo has hosted hundreds of events across North America, recognizing a growing demand for this unique large-scale gathering.

"We created this expo to give odd small businesses and artists a space where they can thrive," said Michelle. "Our goal is to build a community where people feel safe to be themselves, surrounded by like-minded folks who appreciate the weird and wonderful."

With its strong DIY ethos and a commitment to excellence, the expo continues to grow year after year. "Our success comes from working with the best exhibitors in the world and curating every event to deliver exactly what our attendees want to see," Michelle added. "We're always looking for ways to evolve and make the experience even better for both our exhibitors and our guests."

As the original, curated event of its kind, the Oddities and Curiosities Expo remains the leading destination for the wonderfully weird.

Guests of The Oddities and Curiosities Expo can also purchase tickets to a day-long taxidermy class where they can learn to make their own full-sized taxidermy mount, which will vary by city, insect pinning class, or wet specimen preservation workshop.

In all classes, hosted by The Sleeping Sirens, students will work with sustainably sourced specimens to learn the basics of taxidermy and entomology and will be provided with a variety of tools and materials.

It is important to note: All animals in the taxidermy class and other parts of the show  like preserved specimens  are sourced ethically and died of natural causes.

EVENT INFO

The Oddities and Curiosities Expo will take place Saturday, October 25th from 10am to 6pm and Sunday, October 26th from 10am to 4pm at Oregon Convention Center at 777 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Portland, OR 97232. Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 at the door. Children 12 and under are free. The event is all ages - however, parents are advised to use their best judgment about if their children should attend.

Tickets can be purchased at https://oddities.com

The Raccoon Taxidermy Class will be held on Saturday, October 25th, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM for $325. The Wet Specimen Workshop sessions will be held on Sunday, October 26th, from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM and again from 1:30 PM to 4:00 PM for $150. The Beetles and Spiders Beginner Entomology Classes will take place on Saturday and Sunday with morning and afternoon sessions available for $150 per class. All classes will be hosted by Heather Clark of Sleeping Sirens Art & Oddities with built in breaks for lunch and exploring the expo. Materials and tools are provided, and tickets include admission to the expo.

For additional information, follow The Oddities and Curiosities Expo on Facebook , Instagram and TikTok .

Contact

Dayna Castillo

[email protected]

SOURCE Oddities & Curiosities Expo
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ministry of Culture and the Royal Commission for AlUla have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Riyadh during the Cultural Investment Conference to strengthen cooperation in culture, heritage and development. The agreement was signed by Vice Minister of Culture Hamed Fayez and RCU Chief Executive Officer Abeer AlAkel, marking a key step towards positioning AlUla as a global cultural destination.

Memorandum of Understanding between Ministry of Culture and the Royal Commission for AlUla Bringing together more than 100 experts and 1,500 participants, the Cultural Investment Conference will chart new pathways for culture as a driver of sustainable growth. (PRNewsfoto/Cultural Investment Conference)

His Excellency Vice Minister of Culture Hamed Fayez affirmed that this agreement drives forward the partnership between the Ministry of Culture and RCU, paving the way to significantly enhance the presence of Saudi cultural identity in AlUla. He noted that AlUla seamlessly blends diverse natural landscapes with authentic heritage and thousands of years of history. It stands as an open-air museum and a powerful reflection of the human civilizations that have flourished across the Kingdom's land.

Abeer AlAkel, CEO of RCU, stated that the agreement significantly strengthens RCU's partnership with MOC and builds upon previous successes in areas of shared cultural interest. She added that this agreement represents a fundamental step for cultural development in AlUla, aligning with the cultural ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030, and will contribute to the integration of expertise and innovations at both national and global levels, empowering the cultural and knowledge-based economy.

The agreement outlines broad areas of cooperation, underscoring the joint development of cultural infrastructure in AlUla. This includes long-term planning, addressing development needs, and implementing initiatives to ensure the continuity and sustainability of cultural activities across the arts and heritage sectors.

It also supports the coordination of cultural events, festivals and initiatives across a wide spectrum of disciplines, including heritage, cinema, music, museums, culinary arts, visual arts, architecture, design and libraries. The agreement encourages closer cooperation between cultural institutions and RCU to facilitate the exchange of expertise and enhance the quality and diversity of cultural content in AlUla.

In addition, the MoC and RCU will support the development of community-focused, educational and professional programs aimed at nurturing talent and enabling broader participation in the cultural sector at local, national and international levels. The agreement also seeks to stimulate the cultural economy, attract investment into creative industries, and support cultural entrepreneurs in establishing ventures in AlUla, driving inclusive economic growth and generating high-value employment anchored in creativity and knowledge.

This agreement builds upon a strong record of collaboration between MOC and RCU, which has already produced a number of successful initiatives, including the Wadi AlFann Dialogue, the AlUla Future Culture Summit and the 2023 AlUla World Archaeology Summit. The two entities have also jointly supported the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Project for the Development of Historical Mosques and have worked together to expand cultural programming across AlUla. Furthermore, the scope extends to initiatives supporting the growth of public and private cultural schools in AlUla.

About the Cultural Investment Conference

The Cultural Investment Conference is an influential platform that highlights culture as both a pillar of national identity and a promising investment opportunity. The annual two-day event positions culture as a sustainable economic engine by supporting innovation, fostering entrepreneurship, while serving as a meeting point to exchange expertise, explore innovative financing tools, and build international partnerships that advance sustainable cultural investment and the growth of creative industries.

About the Ministry of Culture

Saudi Arabia has a vast history of arts and culture. The Ministry of Culture is developing the Kingdom's cultural economy and enriching the daily lives of citizens, residents and visitors.

Overseeing 11 sector-specific commissions, the Ministry works to support and preserve a vibrant culture that is true to its past and looks to the future by cherishing heritage and fostering new and inspiring forms of expression for all.

Find the Ministry of Culture on social media: X @MOCSaudi Arabic; @MOCSaudi_En English | Instagram @mocsaudi

About the Royal Commission for AlUla

RCU, was established by royal decree in July 2017 to preserve and develop AlUla, a region of outstanding natural and cultural significance in north-west Saudi Arabia. RCU's long-term plan outlines a responsible, sustainable and sensitive approach to urban and economic development that preserves the area's natural and historic heritage while establishing AlUla as a desirable location to live, work and visit.

This encompasses a broad range of initiatives across archaeology, tourism, culture, education and the arts, reflecting a commitment to meeting the economic diversification, local community empowerment and heritage preservation priorities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 program.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2784895/MoU.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2783820/5536625/Cultural_Investment_Conference.jpg





SOURCE Cultural Investment Conference
Johnson Controls Fire Protection LP allegedly failed to accurately provide employees with legally required meal and rest breaks. This further allegedly contributed to missed meal break penalties for employees.

**THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT**

VENTURA, Calif., Sept. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Los Angeles employment law attorneys, at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, filed a class action complaint alleging that Johnson Controls Fire Protection LP violated the California Labor Code. The Johnson Controls Fire Protection LP class action lawsuit, Case No. 2025CUOE049338, is currently pending in the Ventura County Superior Court of the State of California. A copy of the Complaint can be read here .

The Law Office of Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP

The lawsuit alleges Johnson Controls Fire Protection LP failed to provide employees with legally required meal and rest breaks . Specifically, employees were allegedly required from time to time to work in excess of four (4) hours without being provided ten (10) minute rest periods. The applicable California Wage Order requires employers to provide employees with off-duty rest periods, which the California Supreme Court defined as time during which an employee is relieved from all work related duties and free from employer control.

Additional allegations include Johnson Controls Fire Protection LP failing to reimburse employees for required business expenses. California Labor Code Section 2802 expressly states that "an employer shall indemnify his or her employee for all necessary expenditures or losses incurred by the employee in direct consequence of the discharge of his or her duties..." During employment, Plaintiff and other California Class Members were allegedly required to use their personal cellular phones as a result of and in furtherance of their job duties.

For more information about the class action lawsuit against Johnson Controls Fire Protection LP, call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today.

Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP is an employment law firm with offices located in San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Riverside and Chicago that dedicates its practice to helping employees, investors and consumers fight back against unfair business practices, including violations of the California Labor Code and Fair Labor Standards Act. If you need help in collecting unpaid overtime wages, unpaid commissions, being wrongfully terminated from work, and other employment law claims, contact one of their attorneys today.

**THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT**

Media Contact

Nicholas De Blouw

Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP

(800) 568-8020

[email protected]

https://www.bamlawca.com/

SOURCE Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP
NEW YORK and SYDNEY, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Lumonus, a healthcare technology company transforming cancer care with its AI-powered platform, today announced a multi-year agreement with Smarter Radiation Oncology (SRO), a company incubated by Northwell Health. Together, the organizations will advance the delivery of high-quality, standardized radiation therapy by combining Lumonus AI with SRO's evidence-based treatment protocols.

Developed at Northwell Health, the largest health system in New York State, SRO's model for radiation therapy has systematized nearly 90% of treatments across its cancer centers. The approach sets clear prescribing standards, reduces variability, minimizes clinician workload, and improves safety and efficiency. Published studies confirm that SRO's directives enhance care quality and consistency in radiation oncology. To extend these benefits more broadly, SRO was launched to make its protocols available to cancer centers worldwide.

Lumonus' AI Physician platform simplifies oncology workflows by automating administrative tasks such as clinical preparation and documentation. By embedding SRO directives into the platform, clinicians will be able to access validated, real-world prescribing standards directly at the point of care. This integration supports faster, safer, and more consistent treatment decisions for patients.

"Smarter Radiation Oncology reflects years of work to improve quality and consistency in radiation therapy across our network," said Louis Potters, MD, Chair of Radiation Medicine at Northwell Health. "Through this licensing agreement with Lumonus, we can now make these standards available more broadly to the global oncology community."

Keith Hansen, CEO of Lumonus, added: "Working with SRO allows us to incorporate their proven directives into the Lumonus AI Physician platform, giving cancer centers access to evidence-based prescribing standards. Together, we are helping physicians deliver safer, more efficient care while keeping pace with the latest clinical evidence."

About Lumonus

Lumonus drives innovation in cancer care with Lumonus AI, its digital oncology platform powered by AI-native clinical infrastructure. Built in partnership with leading cancer centers, the Lumonus AI platform automates and orchestrates critical oncology workflows to improve quality, accelerate delivery, and reduce administrative burden. Lumonus operates across the United States, Australia, and Europe.

About Smarter Radiation Oncology

SRO Health has served for the past 15 years as Northwell Health's evidence-based model for radiation therapy delivery across all its cancer centers. This comprehensive catalogue of directives guides nearly 90% of radiation oncology treatments, establishing clear standards and operational efficiencies that improve treatment planning while decreasing error risk. The impact of SRO Health extends beyond protocols. Published studies demonstrate that these directives reduce treatment variability, enhance safety culture, and improve overall quality and efficiency in radiation oncology. By creating consistent frameworks while remaining adaptable to evolving clinical evidence, SRO Health ensures that every patient across the Northwell network receives the same high-quality radiation therapy regardless of location. This proven approach transforms complex radiation oncology practices into standardized, evidence-based care delivery that benefit both patients and providers through improved outcomes and streamlined workflows.

About Northwell Health

Northwell is the largest not-for-profit health system in the Northeast, serving residents of New York and Connecticut with 28 hospitals, more than 1,000 outpatient facilities, 22,000 nurses and over 20,000 physicians. Northwell cares for more than three million people annually in the New York metro area, including Long Island, the Hudson Valley, western Connecticut and beyond, thanks to philanthropic support from our communities. Northwell is New York State's largest private employer with over 104,000 employees  including members of Northwell Health Physician Partners and Nuvance Health Medical Practices  who are working to change health care for the better. Northwell is making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. Northwell is training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu and follow us @NorthwellHealth on Facebook , X , Instagram and LinkedIn .

SOURCE Northwell Health; Lumonus
Alongside this integration, MacPaw will be launching token-based deployment, making it easier than ever for IT teams to roll out CleanMyMac Business as a part of default corporate device configuration

KYIV, Ukraine, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- MacPaw , a leading macOS and iOS software developer, today announced a new partnership with Jamf Marketplace, the world's leading macOS management interface, for deploying CleanMyMac Business . The product will also launch compatibility for token-based deployment on October 1st, another major accomplishment for the team. Furthering its strategic growth, MacPaw welcomed two key leaders: Dmytro Belko as Lead Product Marketing Manager and Dan Jaenicke as Director of B2B Strategy.

MacPaw announces a Jamf Marketplace partnership and leadership appointments, making CleanMyMac Business the only endpoint optimization tool leveraging Jamf automation.

With this partnership, CleanMyMac Business becomes the only endpoint optimization and maintenance tool in the Jamf Marketplace, leveraging Jamf configuration and automation to be even more powerful. On top of an existing MDM setup, CleanMyMac Business can provide resource optimization, malware detection, and endpoint performance monitoring, making it a valuable complement to existing infrastructure. Furthermore, with the introduction of token-based deployment, administrators can make CleanMyMac Business part of a default toolkit upon device rollout.

"This is a perfect example of executing the company's mission of accessibility and ease of use by merging Jamf's powerful management tools with CleanMyMac Business's real-time preventative maintenance," said Dan Jaenicke, MacPaw's new Director of B2B Product Strategy. "This commitment to user-centric design was one of the key reasons I chose to join the MacPaw team, and I'm excited to contribute to that mission and the growth of the product. This is a great step towards our goals, and we'll continue to innovate and move forward as a company."

New Leadership Leads The Way

To help lead this phase of continued growth in IT solutions, MacPaw has made two strategic hires for the CleanMyMac Business team:

Dan Jaenicke, Director of B2B Product Strategy, comes to MacPaw with over a decade of experience in building products at companies like GoodRX and Duo Security, looking to redefine MacPaw's B2B strategy, expand revenue, and set up new product opportunities.

comes to MacPaw with over a decade of experience in building products at companies like GoodRX and Duo Security, looking to redefine MacPaw's B2B strategy, expand revenue, and set up new product opportunities. Dmytro Belko, Lead Product Marketing Manager comes to MacPaw with ten years of marketing experience in SaaS companies and will help expand international marketing efforts to create sustainable demand for CleanMyMac Business.

Meet MacPaw at JNUC

MacPaw will be sponsoring JNUC 2025 , exhibiting on the main floor at booth #505, and presenting two talks:

Yaroslav Stus, Associate Director of Engineering for CleanMyMac Business, will present a 15-minute spotlight session on zero-touch deployment;

Kseniia Yamburh, Malware Research Engineer for Moonlock  MacPaw's cybersecurity division  will deliver a 45-minute sponsor session on cybercrime ecosystems;

Attendees interested in meeting the MacPaw team or connecting with Dan can reach out to [email protected] to book a briefing.

About MacPaw

MacPaw is the creator of a digital ecosystem designed to supercharge productivity and help Mac users work smarter. Founded in Kyiv, Ukraine, with a subsidiary in Boston, MacPaw has nearly two decades of experience crafting beautifully designed software used by millions worldwide, including flagship products CleanMyMac and Setapp. Now helping lead the shift into Software 3.0, MacPaw is harnessing machine intelligence through Eney, an AI-powered "Computerbeing," to empower individuals, teams, and developers driving the next generation of human-computer interaction.

Press Contact

Jenn Kochanski

Senior Public Relations Specialist

[email protected]

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2780997/MacPaw.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2644150/MacPaw_Logo.jpg

SOURCE MacPaw
CINCINNATI, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Microland, a leading AI-first, platform-led, technology infrastructure services company, today inaugurated its Technology Delivery Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. This strategic expansion strengthens Microland's presence in the US, joining existing offices and delivery hubs in New Jersey, Seattle, and Alpharetta.

The Honorable Mayor of Springdale, Lawrence Hawkins, III joins Microland leaders in the Cincinnati Technology Delivery Center inauguration (PRNewsfoto/Microland Limited)

For over three decades, Microland has been synonymous with technology transformation. Today, Microland partners with enterprises across the globe. Its flagship intelligeni AIOps platform powers enterprise operations. The EcoVadis Gold Medal for sustainability and Great Place to Work certification reflect Microland's commitment to people and the planet.

"We are proud to welcome Microland's new Delivery Center to the Cincinnati region," said Lawrence C. Hawkins, III, Mayor of Springdale, OH. "This investment will create opportunities for our local talent pool and further reinforce Greater Cincinnati Area's position as a hub for innovation and technology. Microland's decision to expand here is a testament to the strength, talent, and resilience of the Springdale community, and we look forward to the positive impact this partnership will bring."

"The inauguration of our Cincinnati Delivery Center is a milestone in Microland's growth journey in the US and a commitment to the Cincinnati region," said Sam Mathew, President, Microland. "By creating opportunities for local talent and enhancing our ability to deliver AI-first, platform-led solutions, we are strengthening trust with our customers in the US while contributing to the region's growing reputation as a hub for innovation."

Leading industry analyst firms such as Gartner, ISG, Everest Group, and Avasant continue to recognize Microland's leadership across Intelligent Automation, Networks, Cloud, Digital Workplace, and Cybersecurity services and industries, including Aerospace and Defense.

About Microland

Microland is a leading AI-first, platform-led, technology infrastructure services company. We have enabled enterprises to build intelligent, resilient, and future-ready operations and are a trusted partner to global enterprises. We bring over 35 years of expertise in digital networks, cloud, data centers, workplaces, and cybersecurity, and combine it with our commitment to customer centricity, delivery excellence, and continuous innovation. Our operations, currently in more than 100 countries, are supported by a strong global delivery model and our AIOps platform, intelligeni, powered by Agentic AI, which is shaping the future of autonomous technology operations across enterprises.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2784621/Microland_Limited.jpg

SOURCE Microland Limited
BEIJING, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said Monday that the Taiwan authorities' attempts to send people to visit countries under so-called "private" or "unofficial" pretexts will never change the fact that Taiwan is part of China, or the overwhelming international commitment to the one-China principle.

Spokesperson Guo Jiakun told a regular news briefing when asked a related query.

Guo said that the Lai Ching-te authorities send people in so-called "private" or "unofficial" capacity to countries in the name of promoting trade, tech and culture, through which they blatantly peddle disinformation and fallacies to advance their separatist agenda, woo external forces to back their quest for "Taiwan independence" and hide their embarrassing governing incompetence through boastful acts.

They've put on a hideous show in front of the world only to once again lay bare their nefarious agenda and despicable game. Nothing they do will ever change the fact that Taiwan is part of China, or the overwhelming international commitment to the one-China principle, Guo added.

"Let me stress again that there is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, and the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China," Guo said, pointing out that this is a prevailing international consensus and a basic norm governing international relations and the one-China principle is the prerequisite and basis for the establishment and development of diplomatic ties between China and all other countries.

Certain Western politicians, Guo noted, who seek selfish interests, are hellbent on having official interactions with the Taiwan region. That is bound to have an impact on bilateral trust and mutually beneficial cooperation with China.

"We urge the countries concerned to adhere to their political commitment to China, honor their commitment to one-China through concrete action, make sure that relevant politicians make a clean break with 'Taiwan independence' separatists, and not continue to stand on the opposite side of over 1.4 billion Chinese people," said Guo.

Nothing will stop the Chinese people from realizing China's just cause of national reunification, Guo said, noting that nothing will cut the overwhelming international commitment to the one-China principle.

"Any attempt to challenge the one-China principle, the international rule of law, or the international order will be jointly rejected by the entire Chinese nation and the people of any peace-loving country that supports justice," said Guo. 
Trusted neighborhood wine & spirits shop unveils expanded space, modern design, and renewed commitment to community

NEW YORK, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ --McCabes Wine & Spirits, a beloved fixture of Manhattan's Upper East Side for more than 57 years, will officially reopen its doors on October 16th, 2025, following a transformative expansion and redesign. Known for its curated wine and spirits selection, attentive staff, and community commitment, the shop is entering a new chapter with a reimagined space.

Founded in 1967, McCabes continues its tradition of local family ownership. Today, led by owner Daniel Mesznik, a seasoned wine expert and former general manager of Best Bottles on the Upper West Side and Acker Wines in Lincoln Center, the shop bridges the past with the present. Many of the shop's guests ask for Mesznik by name upon arrival, reflecting the personal relationships he has built and his connection to the community. He also continues McCabes' legacy of supporting the UES neighborhood through donations and partnerships with local schools, churches, synagogues, and other non-profits.

"McCabes has always been more than just a store," said Daniel Mesznik, Owner of McCabes Wine & Spirits. "We want every guest to feel comfortable asking questions, learning about wine and spirits, and discovering something new. Our staff is highly knowledgeable yet approachable and is always more than happy to guide guests through the store to assist them, myself included."

The renovation significantly expands the store's footprint, introducing wider, easy-to-navigate aisles, abundant natural light from large picture windows, and a contemporary design aesthetic. The new space features clean sight lines, white oak built-ins and displays, a custom temperature-controlled fine wine and spirits room, and a wine-tasting area that will be utilized for weekly tasting experiences, encouraging exploration and education.

"My team and I are really proud of what we have accomplished with this renovation. We can't wait to share the new and improved shopping experience with the community," added Mesznik.

McCabes has also expanded its selections by up to 35% in key categories including Champagne, Burgundy, Kosher wine, and Tequila. The store now offers the largest selection of Kosher wines in Manhattan, alongside a variety of spirits from local distilleries such as Fort Hamilton Distillery and Kings County Distillery.

Now with a revamped space and expanded selection for every price point and preference, McCabes' reopening marks the start of an exciting new chapter for the store. Still, the Mesznik family remains committed to maintaining its longstanding reputation of serving the community with expertise, warmth, and care.

For more information visit: https://mccabeswine.com/

About McCabes Wine & Spirits:

Founded in 1967, McCabes Wine & Spirits has been a trusted destination on the Upper East Side for nearly six decades. Taking pride in local family ownership, McCabes is led by Daniel Mesznik who continues the tradition of serving the neighborhood with warmth and expertise. Offering a curated selection of fine wines, premium spirits, and Manhattan's largest Kosher portfolio, McCabes has something for everyone, at every price point  while its attentive staff ensures a personalized experience that keeps guests coming back.

McCabes offers convenient online ordering with both nationwide shipping and free same-day local delivery.

Address: 1349 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10021

Phone: (212) 737-0790

Website: https://mccabeswine.com/

Media Contact:

Regan Carlin

Colangelo & Partners

[email protected]

SOURCE McCabes Wine & Spirits
Global science and technology company joins Swift pilot programme, leveraging Broadridge's API orchestration capabilities for on-demand account visibility across 400+ accounts

NEW YORK, LONDON, and FRANKFURT, Germany, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: BR), a global Fintech leader, today announced that Merck has selected Broadridge to implement Swift's new Instant Cash Reporting service through its Swift Service Bureau (SSB) and SCORE+ services. The comprehensive solution enables Merck to transform treasury operations with real-time, on-demand access to balance and transaction information of more than 400 accounts globally.

Broadridge's Swift Service Bureau is extensively proven to deliver fast-track access to the Swift network for the full range of financial messaging including payments, securities, derivatives and corporate actions, consistently delivering highly efficient financial transaction throughput, connectivity and proactive workflow control.

As part of Swift's Corporate Evolution initiative, Instant Cash Reporting marks a significant advancement from traditional next-day reporting. Developed through the Swift Corporate Working Group, where Broadridge serves as a key provider representative, this innovation builds on Broadridge's longstanding commitment to optimizing operations across the financial ecosystem  including its pioneering ISO 20022 migration services for corporates launched in 2007.

"Broadridge has been instrumental in addressing a fundamental challenge in our corporate treasury  the complexity and cost of implementing proprietary APIs across multiple banks," said Johann Lee, Principal Expert at Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. "Its SCORE+ platform and Swift Service Bureau will provide a single, standardized channel for real-time account data from our banking partners, which will enhance cash management and improve our payment processing experience."

Following the successful roll-out of payment tracking for inbound and outbound corporate payments, Instant Cash Reporting represents the second major capability delivered through Swift's Corporate Evolution initiative, all able to be harnessed via Broadridge's SSB and SCORE+ services.

"By enabling Merck to access real-time financial data across its extensive banking network, Broadridge is radically changing how global corporations manage their liquidity, and fundamentally enhancing operational efficiency," said Kai Marzenell, Director, Swift Product Management at Broadridge. "The combination of Broadridge's market leading scale and commitment to innovation technology enables us to transform financial operations for corporations across their range of global financial institution relationships."

Looking ahead, Broadridge is actively developing additional API-enabled services to further enhance the corporate payment experience. These forthcoming capabilities include Stop & Recall functionality and Payment Preparation tools, designed to create a comprehensive, end-to-end payment ecosystem that addresses the evolving needs of corporate treasurers across all channels.

Merck requires visibility across hundreds of accounts and anticipates making thousands of API calls annually, translating to roughly 900,000 intraday reports. Thanks to SCORE+, Merck can now retrieve information from up to 1,000 accounts in a single call, dramatically improving efficiency compared to traditional bank-by-bank API implementations.

Unlike traditional treasury management approaches that require multiple bank-specific API implementations, Broadridge's SSB and SCORE+ services simplify Swift integration while reducing implementation costs and complexity.

About Broadridge

Broadridge Financial Solutions (NYSE: BR) is a global technology leader with trusted expertise and transformative technology, helping clients and the financial services industry operate, innovate, and grow. We power investing, governance, and communications for our clients  driving operational resiliency, elevating business performance, and transforming investor experiences.

Our technology and operations platforms process and generate over 7 billion communications annually and underpin the daily average trading of over $15 trillion in equities, fixed income, and other securities globally. A certified Great Place to Work, Broadridge is part of the S&P 500 Index, employing over 15,000 associates in 21 countries.

For more information about us, please visit www.broadridge.com

Media Contacts:

Europe

[email protected]

North America

[email protected]

Asia-Pacific

[email protected]

SOURCE Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.
100% Moroccan. Modern functionality. The countertop-worthy olive oil.

HOUSTON, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Moresh, the award-winning Moroccan extra virgin olive oil brand, is raising the bar for olive oil in the U.S. with the launch of its new Premium Edition, now available at Whole Foods Market locations nationwide.

Sleek, fully opaque, and made to be seen, the new bottle is as countertop-worthy as it is functional. A built-in easy pourer allows for clean, precise drizzling, while the flavoras vibrant as the bottle itselfdelivers a smooth, balanced, fruity profile that enhances every dish.

Moresh transforms a kitchen essential into a design statement  single-origin Moroccan olive oil, beautifully crafted inside and out.

"Our goal isn't to chase trendsit's to set a new standard," said Wajih Rekik, CEO of CHO America. "Moresh combines the elegance of a design object with the integrity of a product made at the source. It's an olive oil you're proud to cook with, gift, and leave out on display."

First cold pressed from Morocco's finest olives within hours of harvest at CHO's state-of-the-art olive oil mills in Marrakesh, Moresh has earned global recognition for its qualityincluding awards from the NYIOOC, Berlin GOOA, and Canada IOOC.

Each bottle includes a scannable QR code that traces the oil's journey from harvest to bottlingreinforcing Moresh's commitment to transparency, traceability, and origin you can trust.

Whether it's for the host, the home chef, or simply someone who deserves a little everyday luxury, Moresh's Premium Edition is a bold new staple for the modern kitchen.

Additional gifting options, including a limited-edition tube box, are available at moresh.com

What Makes Moresh Different:

100% Moroccan : From groves near Marrakesh, cold pressed within hours of harvest

: From groves near Marrakesh, cold pressed within hours of harvest First Cold Press : From Morocco's finest Picholine's olives

: From Morocco's finest Picholine's olives Fully traceable : Scan the bottle to see the entire journey

: Scan the bottle to see the entire journey Elegant, glass bottle : Preserves freshness and complements any kitchen

: Preserves freshness and complements any kitchen Built-in easy pourer : Designed for clean, controlled drizzling

: Designed for clean, controlled drizzling Award-winning: Recognized by NYIOOC, Berlin GOOA, and Canada IOOC

Moresh isn't just a premium olive oilit's the new essential for kitchens that care about quality, design, and flavor.

About CHO America

Moresh is produced by CHO America, the vertically integrated, producer-owned company behind Terra Delyssa and Bella Del Sol. With more than 30 years of Mediterranean olive oil expertise, CHO brings high-quality, traceable, and sustainably crafted olive oils to kitchens across North America.

SOURCE CHO America
Baker Hill's platform enables Naveo to automate and streamline its Member Business Lending process, including tight integration with FICO Platform - Small Business Scoring Service , which is a key component in managing risk and accelerating approvals

CARMEL, Ind. and SOMERVILLE, Mass., Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Naveo Credit Union, a community-focused financial institution based in Somerville and serving the Greater Boston area, has chosen Baker Hill to support a major strategic shift into Member Business Lending. As market dynamics evolved, Naveo recognized the opportunityand responsibilityto support small business growth in its community. With Baker Hill's lending platform, the credit union is now equipped to deliver faster, better decisions for local businesses.

"We have an obligation to support our small business members who are an integral part of our community," said Karen Yee , Chief Lending Officer at Naveo Credit Union. "Our members are entrepreneurs, creators, and small business owners. We want to be there for our members and neighbors when they need capitalnot in weeks, but in hours. The traditional commercial underwriting process is cumbersome, which requires gathering financial information and tax returns. Baker Hill gives us the tools to respond quickly, confidently, and with the same sophistication as larger lenders."

David Smith , the Small Business Segment Leader at FICO, highlighted the impact of the industry-leading application risk assessment solution that runs on FICO Platform, the Small Business Scoring Service (SBSS). "Naveo is putting itself in a strong position by using proven scoring and decisioning tools. With SBSS and Baker Hill, they're making small business lending faster and more consistent, helping business owners access the funding they need without the friction."

Baker Hill CEO Andy Ivankovich emphasized the broader trend - "What Naveo is doing isn't just smartit's bold. They're stepping into business lending with the kind of tech stack usually seen at the biggest banks. Technology is the great equalizer, and Naveo is showing how a credit union can lead with innovation, agility, and purpose."

Naveo's new strategy reflects a growing momentum among credit unions to diversify lending portfolios, meet community needs in real time, reduce portfolio mix concentrations, and compete head-to-head in the small business lending space.

FICO, Small Business Scoring Service, and SBSS are registered trademarks or service marks of Fair Isaac Corporation in the U.S. and other countries.

About Naveo Credit Union

Naveo Credit Union is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial institution with branches in Somerville and Cambridge, Massachusetts. Since 1928, Naveo has been dedicated to empowering members through inclusive, community-based financial solutions. Membership at Naveo is open to anyone who lives, works, or attends school in Middlesex, Suffolk and parts of Essex counties. Naveo is a $178 million dollar credit union, serving 10,000 members of diverse backgrounds.

About FICO

FICO powers decisions that help people and businesses around the world prosper. Founded in 1956, the company is a pioneer in the use of predictive analytics and data science to improve operational decisions. FICO holds more than 200 US and foreign patents on technologies that increase profitability, customer satisfaction and growth for businesses in financial services, insurance, telecommunications, health care, retail and many other industries. Using FICO solutions, businesses in more than 80 countries do everything from protecting four billion payment cards from fraud, to improving financial inclusion, to increasing supply chain resiliency. The FICO Score, used by 90% of top US lenders, is the standard measure of consumer credit risk in the US and has been made available in over 40 other countries, improving risk management, credit access and transparency.

Learn more at https://www.fico.com/en

About Baker Hill

Baker Hill is the most advanced lending platform for growing & innovative financial institutions. For more than 40 years, we've walked alongside banks and credit unions. Our goal has always been to help institutions lend faster, lend better and lend more. For more information, visit http://www.bakerhill.com/

SOURCE Baker Hill
Peer-reviewed study of Pair Team's unique model demonstrates increased outpatient engagement, reduced emergency and hospital utilization, and improved health outcomes

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Pair Team, a tech-enabled medical group reimagining care for Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries, today announced the publication of its first peer-reviewed study in the Journal of General Internal Medicine (JGIM).

The study evaluated Pair Team's AI-enabled, community-integrated model, which blends medical, behavioral, and social care for some of the country's most medically and socially complex Medicaid members. The model serves people with high rates of homelessness, serious mental illness, and chronic disease, and demonstrates strong patient engagement and significant reductions in avoidable emergency and inpatient utilization.

"Patients with the greatest medical, behavioral, and social challenges too often fall through the cracks of the system," said Neil Batlivala, CEO and Founder of Pair Team. "This study shows that when you combine integrated care teams, deep community partnerships, and AI-enabled technology, it's possible to engage some of the hardest to reach individuals and put them on an upward life trajectory."

The retrospective cohort study examined outcomes for 568 adults enrolled for at least one year in California's ECM program with Pair Team between July 2022 and August 2023. Participants were disproportionately affected by homelessness, serious mental illness, substance use disorder and chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.

Key Findings

High patient engagement: Patients averaged 3.3 contacts per month with Pair Team care teamswhich include community health workers, behavioral health specialists, registered nurses (RNs), and nurse practitioners (NPs). More than 94% of patients were reached within days of a hospital or ED discharge.

Patients averaged with Pair Team care teamswhich include community health workers, behavioral health specialists, registered nurses (RNs), and nurse practitioners (NPs). More than Improved access to care: Following enrollment, HbA1c testing rates more than doubled (52.7% vs. 22.3%), and the share of patients with documented blood pressure readings increased from 74.3% to 81.7%. Outpatient visits increased by 21%.

Following enrollment, (52.7% vs. 22.3%), and the share of patients with documented blood pressure readings increased from 74.3% to 81.7%. Outpatient visits increased by 21%. Reduced emergency care: Emergency department visits declined by 52% and hospitalizations dropped by 26%.

and Better behavioral health outcomes: Average PHQ-9 scores for depression improved by 4 points.

"These results demonstrate that care models built for the realities of patients' lives  where housing, food security, and behavioral health are addressed alongside medical needscan deliver measurable improvements," said Dr. Nate Favini, Chief Medical and Strategy Officer at Pair Team. "We are encouraged by the findings and believe this approach can be replicated to reduce costs and improve outcomes in Medicaid programs nationwide."

The paper highlights three key ingredients that set the Pair Team Model apart from prior approaches to high-need, high-cost patients:

Pair Team's community health worker-led program partners directly with community-based organizations, such as shelters and food pantries, and pays them directly for the services they provide to patients

Pair Team directly employs a team of nurses and nurse practitioners to bridge the gap between patient needs and primary care availability in the community

Arc, Pair Team's AI-enabled software platform, coordinates care across the medical and social care ecosystem and drives quality as the model scales

By partnering with community-based organizations and equipping care teams with technology that scales high-touch support, Pair Team delivers proactive, whole-person care to some of the nation's most vulnerable patients, ultimately improving outcomes, reducing avoidable utilization, and strengthening the sustainability of Medicaid programs nationwide.

The full article, "A Novel Intervention for Medicaid Beneficiaries with Complex Needs," is available in the Journal of General Internal Medicine here.

About Pair Team

Pair Team is a public benefit company reimagining Medicaid and Medicare as a connected care ecosystem: team-guided, AI-enabled, and built for real lives. Pair Team closes gaps, bridges problems, and connects people with care that's proactive, personal, and built around the whole person.

Pair Team helps people overcome medical, behavioral health, and social barriers through coordinated, whole-person care. Pair Team's model blends empathy, AI and local partnerships so that more people can reach their full potential.

Media Contact

Haylee Elmore

Interdependence Public Relations

602-350-1455

[email protected]

Jenni Colborn

[email protected]

SOURCE Pair Team
DALLAS, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- NexPoint, a multibillion-dollar alternative investment firm, today announced that it has fully subscribed its NexPoint Semiconductor Manufacturing DST (the "Trust"), a Delaware Statutory Trust ("DST") offering. The offering has reached its total goal of $137 million in equity raised since its launch.

The Property is located in Temecula, California, a city within the Riverside metropolitan statistical area ("MSA"). The city of Temecula is favorably situated, and it boasts a diverse and rich manufacturing ecosystem with a growing number of companies moving to the area.

The current tenant of the Property, Skorpios Technologies Inc. (the "Tenant"), is engaged in both the contract fabrication and next-generation fabrication of semiconductors. The company designs, develops, and manufactures semiconductors in support of the entire silicon manufacturing ecosystem. Skorpios' unique platform can be used to address a wide range of applications: high speed video, data and voice communications for networking, cloud computing, consumer, medical, and more.

The Tenant's lease has a 15-year initial duration, with extension options, and the Property is fundamental to the Tenant's business as it houses its manufacturing and production. NexPoint believes that these factors, along with strong industry tailwinds, high quality construction, and strategic location, make the Property an attractive long-term investment.

"We continue to see positive growth and opportunity in the industry," said Matt McGraner, NexPoint Chief Investment Officer and Executive Vice President of the DST Sponsor.

About NexPoint

NexPoint is a multibillion-dollar alternative investment firm based in Dallas, Texas. The firm is structured around three major business areas: real estate, corporate credit and equities, and insurance solutions. NexPoint's businesses span asset classes, industries, and strategies, providing the flexibility to invest across capital structures and market environments. Serving a diverse client base, NexPoint's investment strategies are offered in a range of vehicles and fund structures, including mutual funds, public and private REITs, tax-advantaged vehicles, private funds, and separate accounts. For more information, visit nexpoint.com.

Important Disclosures

Only "accredited investors" (as that term is defined in Rule 501 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933) who meet certain minimum requirements may invest. Investing in the Trust involves a high degree of risk. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Before investing, please review the applicable offering materials, including the Trust's Private Placement Memorandum as amended or supplemented from time to time, including the "Risk Factors" noted therein.

Contacts

Investor Relations

Kristen Griffith

[email protected]

Media Relations

[email protected]

SOURCE NexPoint
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Berger Montague PC is investigating potential securities fraud claims on behalf of investors of KinderCare Learning Companies, Inc. ("KinderCare" or the "Company") following the filing of a securities class action lawsuit filed on behalf of investors who purchased or otherwise acquired KinderCare securities between October 6, 2024 through August 12, 2025 (the "Class Period"), including in the Company's initial public offering in October 2024.

Investor Deadline: Investors who purchased or acquired KinderCare securities during the Class Period may, no later than October 14, 2025, seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class. To learn your rights, CLICK HERE .

KinderCare, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, is a national operator of early childhood education centers.

The investigation centers on allegations that KinderCare failed to disclose widespread safety and compliance failures at its facilities. Among other things, the Company is accused of omitting that numerous incidents of child abuse, neglect, and harm had occurred at its centers.

At the time the lawsuit was filed, KinderCare's stock had declined to lows near $9 per share, a loss of approximately 60 percent of its value at the time of the IPO.

If you are a KinderCare investor and would like to learn more about this action, CLICK HERE or please contact Berger Montague: Andrew Abramowitz at [email protected] or (215) 875-3015, or Caitlin Adorni at [email protected] or (267)764-4865.

About Berger Montague

Berger Montague, with offices in Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Delaware, Washington, D.C., San Diego, San Francisco, Chicago, Malvern, PA, and Toronto has been a pioneer in securities class action litigation since its founding in 1970. Berger Montague has represented individual and institutional investors for over five decades and serves as lead counsel in courts throughout the United States.

For more information or to discuss your rights, please contact:

Andrew Abramowitz, Senior Counsel

Berger Montague

(215) 875-3015

[email protected]

Caitlin Adorni

Berger Montague

(267) 764-4865

[email protected]

SOURCE Berger Montague
HOUSTON, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Oak Harvest Financial Group (OHFG), a Houston-based Registered Investment Advisory (RIA) firm, has announced it has surpassed $1 billion in assets under management (AUM). More than just a financial benchmark, this achievement reflects Oak Harvest's founding mission: to deliver clarity, integrity, and care to individuals and families navigating their financial journeys.

"What matters isn't how fast we grow, it's how well we help people understand their choices, plan for what they care about, and move forward with confidence," said Jessica Cannella, Co-Founder of Oak Harvest Financial Group. "Hitting the $1B AUM mark reminds us of where we started and the promise we've made to always put our clients' goals first."

From its early days, Oak Harvest's core mission is to address real concerns people have around retirement savings, tax burdens, and preservation of hard-earned assets. Founders Troy Sharpe and Jessica Cannella established the firm not only to manage investments, but to help demystify finances, create strategies that align with individual plans, and partner with clients over the long term.

"Our clients' success is measured by their ability to pursue the life goals most important to them, from retirement security to family legacy planning," added Troy Sharpe, Co-Founder. "Reaching $1 billion AUM is humbling. It validates the choices we've made about transparency, customized planning, and building relationships. And it locks in what we believe: growth is meaningful only if purpose drives it."

About Oak Harvest Financial Group

Houston-based Oak Harvest Financial Group specializes in full-service retirement planning and investment management, serving clients nationwide. Oak Harvest uses in-house developed planning frameworks to help clients align financial strategies with their goals. The OHFG team of certified financial and retirement planners develops strategies that seek to manage risk, create sustainable income plans, and explore opportunities for tax efficiency, all with the goal of empowering clients with clarity and confidence in their financial futures.

Media Contact

Corinne Chase

Marketing Specialist

Oak Harvest Financial Group

[email protected]

(281) 822-1350

SOURCE Oak Harvest Financial Group
Insurtech acquisition unites next-gen AI-powered case design with proven compliance and operational infrastructure

NEW YORK, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Optifino, the digital Brokerage General Agency (BGA) radically simplifying the life insurance experience, and Covr Financial Technologies, an award-winning provider of digital insurance solutions, today announced a transformative merger to create Digital BGA 3.0. This merger unites Covr's robust operational and compliance infrastructure with Optifino's cutting-edge AI-powered case design and analytics platform.

Covr Technologies (PRNewsfoto/Optifino)

Recognized as a Top-50 life and annuity technology provider in 2024 by Everest Group, Covr brings proven distribution reach, robust agent portals, and enterprise-grade compliance infrastructure, while Optifino contributes advanced AI-driven visualization tools and rapid case design capabilities. The combined company will deliver faster, more sophisticated analyses, empowering advisors with better solutions to serve mass-affluent and high-net-worth markets. The partnership represents a union greater than the sum of its parts that also enables advisors to more easily serve the ultra-high-net-worth segment with complex case designs that meet holistic planning needs.

"Today we begin building what we're calling 'Digital BGA 3.0,'" said Optifino Co-Founder and CEO, David Kleinhandler who will become CEO of the merged company. "This begins the next chapter of life insurance distribution: one where true independence and powerful innovation come together to modernize and simplify permanent and term life insurance experiences for advisors and the families they serve."

Both companies will maintain their current branding, websites, and points of contact, ensuring a seamless transition with minimal disruption to partners, clients, and carriers. Independence remains a defining principle: the merged entity will continue to offer unbiased, multi-carrier comparisons that put clients' best interests firsta strength the leadership teams consider critical to their success.

"Covr's platform will now have expanded potential by adding sophisticated and expert insurance solutions for ultra-high-net-worth clients," said Covr CEO Michael Kalen. "This is a logical and powerful combination that will offer financial institutions and independent agents a better way of providing life insurance solutions for their clients."

"This merger is the result of a 30-year relationship built on mutual respect and collaboration," said Covr Co-Founder Louis Kreisberg. "David Kleinhandler and I have been friendly competitors over the years and know exactly what each firm brings to the table. I'm proud to have helped bring Covr and Optifino together to build something transformative."

When the transaction is completed, Covr will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Optifino.

Goodwin Proctor served as legal advisor to Optifino in connection with the transaction. Deutsche Bank served as exclusive financial advisor and Eckert Seamans served as legal advisor to Covr Financial Technologies on the transaction.

About Optifino

Optifino is a digital BGA built by accomplished financial services veterans to radically simplify the life insurance user experience. Optimizing financial and life insurance planning with cutting-edge AI to streamline portfolio management, our tools make it easier for advisors to visualize and identify the right insurance products for their clients at the right time. What used to take hours or even days now takes a matter of minutes. See for yourself and follow us on LinkedIn.

About Covr Financial Technologies

Covr is a full-service digital Brokerage General Agency (BGA), offering innovative solutions that simplify the insurance buying process, serving over 30,000 financial professionals and over 100 million customers. Covr's solutions for life insurance, long-term care, and disability income insurance simplify the insurance purchase journey for financial advisors and clients of financial institutions. Headquartered in Hartford, CT, with offices in Houston, TX, Covr innovates the insurance industry through its platform, data-driven insights and superior choice of coverage options. For more information, visit www.covrtech.com or follow Covr on LinkedIn @Covr Financial Technologies.

Contact:

Mark Forman

502-536-7617

[email protected]

Life insurance technology and life insurance are provided by Optifino, Inc. (DBA Optifino Insurance Services in New York) ("Optifino"). Optifino is a licensed insurance producer in all states where it offers products, and acts as an agent for various insurance companies. The information in this press release has been developed by Optifino, Inc., and is for informational purposes only. We do our best to ensure that this information is up-to-date and accurate. Products and specific product features may not be available in all states, and other limitations or restrictions may apply.

SOURCE Optifino
STAMFORD, Conn., Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Oula provided by Stamford Health has opened its new clinic in Norwalk, Connecticut. A partnership between Oula and Stamford Health , the practice is Stamford Health's first midwifery offering, combining Oula's midwife-led, collaborative care-based model with Stamford Health's nationally recognized maternity services. A second clinic location for Oula provided by Stamford Health is also planned for Connecticut in 2026.

OULA PROVIDED BY STAMFORD HEALTH OPENS NEW MATERNITY CLINIC

Each year, about 2,400 babies are born at Stamford Hospital, and demand for midwifery care continues to rise. According to Oula's 2023 State of Maternity Care Survey, nearly 80% of women want a model of care that integrates midwives and OB-GYNs. The Norwalk clinic responds to this need by expanding access to integrated, person-centered maternity care in Fairfield County.

The new clinic offers a welcoming space where patients can access the full spectrum of maternity care. From thoughtfully designed exam rooms and cozy waiting areas stocked with nutritious snacks and hand-picked resources, every detail is designed to help patients feel comfortable and cared for throughout their journey. The clinic provides care from preconception through postpartum, supported by a team of midwives, OB-GYNs, and dedicated care navigators. Patients also have access to telehealth, 24/7 virtual support, expert resources and workshops, and an exclusive digital community. Gynecology services are also offered.

"A pillar of our strategy as an independent health system is to collaborate with like-minded, high-quality organizations for patient care," remarked Kathleen Silard, President and CEO at Stamford Health. "Our patients expect and deserve a variety of care options. This new clinic will expand access and allow individual patients and their care partners innovative and high-quality midwifery care options throughout their prenatal and postpartum care journeys."

All patients at Oula provided by Stamford Health will deliver at Stamford Hospital supported by a team of nurses, OB-GYNs, hospitalists, neonatologists, and physicians specializing in maternal fetal medicine, prenatal and postpartum behavioral health, genetic counseling, and more. Patients at Stamford Hospital will benefit from the new, multi-million-dollar renovation of the Whittingham Pavilion, which houses all mother-baby services, including the new Hackett Family Maternity Unit, Cohen Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Susan Falk Rapoport Women's Specialty Center and The Hollander Family Birthing Center. The experience includes all private maternity rooms, a patient-led visitor policy, and well-baby nursery support available 24/7.

"We are thrilled to open Oula provided by Stamford Health, and to bring Connecticut-area patients the comprehensive, collaborative care we know they are looking for," says Adrianne Nickerson, Oula Co-Founder and CEO. "We know a majority of women are interested in care that integrates midwifery and OB-GYN.1 This new practice draws on Stamford Health's long-standing excellence in maternity care, coupled with our proven approach that drives best-in-class patient outcomes, experience, and equity."

Since opening in 2021, Oula has supported more than 2,500 births and consistently exceeded New York City maternity benchmarks2 across race and payer type  with 62% lower rates of preterm birth and 29% lower cesarean birth rates. This Norwalk location marks Oula's second market expansion and the first of two Connecticut clinics planned with Stamford Health. Oula provided by Stamford Health accepts most major insurance plans, including Medicaid, ensuring that more families have access to best-in-class maternity care that centers the patient and their needs.

Patients interested in receiving care at Oula provided by Stamford Health should visit: https://oulahealth.com/locations/norwalk/ for more information and booking.

1Oula State of Maternity Care Survey (2023)

2Clinical outcomes compared to NYC average rates (using March of Dimes 2023 data)

About Oula

Oula was founded in 2019, the first clinic opened in Brooklyn in February 2021. Oula is a modern maternity care clinic offering comprehensive support before, during, and after pregnancy. Oula's approach sets a new standard, delivering better outcomes for parents and their babies. At Oula, patients are supported by a trusted team of midwives, OB-GYNs and dedicated care navigators who listen, respect patient preferences, and champion shared decision-making. Oula offers Gynecology Care, full-service Prenatal Care, Hospital Delivery, Postpartum Care, Preconception Counseling and Miscarriage Care. Plus, patients get access to virtual support and expert resources and exclusive perks  all covered by insurance. To learn more, see open positions or book your first appointment, visit oulahealth.com.

For more on Oula, please visit: oulahealth.com .

About Stamford Health

Stamford Health is a non-profit independent health care system with more than 4,100 employees committed to caring for the community through a wide range of high-quality health and wellness services. Patients and their families receive expert, compassionate care through the system's 305-bed Stamford Hospital; Stamford Health Medical Group, with more than 40 offices in lower Fairfield County offering primary and specialty care; a growing number of ambulatory locations across the region; and support through the Stamford Hospital Foundation.

For more on Stamford Health, please visit: stamfordhealth.org

For More Information:

Nicole Daley / Daley Public Relations

[email protected] / 415.408.8664

SOURCE Oula
A worker learns to make moon cakes during a Mid-Autumn Festival celebration at the Central Business District (CBD) in the New Administrative Capital, east of Cairo, Egypt, on Sept. 28, 2025. The Egyptian branch of China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) on Sunday held an event to celebrate the upcoming traditional Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival at the CSCEC-built CBD, where CSCEC's workers from China and Egypt experience rich festival cultures, such as the making of traditional Chinese lanterns and moon cakes. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

Workers learn to make moon cakes during a Mid-Autumn Festival celebration at the Central Business District (CBD) in the New Administrative Capital, east of Cairo, Egypt, on Sept. 28, 2025. The Egyptian branch of China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) on Sunday held an event to celebrate the upcoming traditional Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival at the CSCEC-built CBD, where CSCEC's workers from China and Egypt experience rich festival cultures, such as the making of traditional Chinese lanterns and moon cakes. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

Workers pose for photos during a Mid-Autumn Festival celebration at the Central Business District (CBD) in the New Administrative Capital, east of Cairo, Egypt, on Sept. 28, 2025. The Egyptian branch of China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) on Sunday held an event to celebrate the upcoming traditional Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival at the CSCEC-built CBD, where CSCEC's workers from China and Egypt experience rich festival cultures, such as the making of traditional Chinese lanterns and moon cakes. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

Workers make moon cakes during a Mid-Autumn Festival celebration at the Central Business District (CBD) in the New Administrative Capital, east of Cairo, Egypt, on Sept. 28, 2025. The Egyptian branch of China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) on Sunday held an event to celebrate the upcoming traditional Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival at the CSCEC-built CBD, where CSCEC's workers from China and Egypt experience rich festival cultures, such as the making of traditional Chinese lanterns and moon cakes. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)
Backed by global leaders in aviation, energy, and climate investing, OXCCU strengthens its position as a critical player in the global push for commercially viable sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

Series B investors include IAGi Ventures (the dedicated corporate venturing arm of the International Airlines Group), Safran Corporate Ventures, and Orlen VC alongside re-investment from world-class Series A participants.

OXFORD, England, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- OXCCU, the Oxford University spin-out developing a one-step process to convert waste carbon into SAF, has raised 20.75 million ($28 million) in an oversubscribed Series B funding round. The round includes new investors Orlen VC, Safran Corporate Ventures, International Airlines Group (IAG), Hostplus, and TCVC, alongside continued support from existing backers Clean Energy Ventures, IP Group/Kiko Ventures, Aramco Ventures, Eni Next, Braavos Capital, and the University of Oxford.

This new capital will enable OXCCU to accelerate its commercialisation efforts, expand its operations, and advance its next phase of technology scale-up. It builds on the launch of the company's OX1 demonstration plant at London Oxford Airport in 2024 . Their second demonstration plant, OX2, is underway and will be fully operational in 2026.

The announcement comes at a time of growing regulatory momentum and market demand for sustainable fuels. However, despite mandates such as the UK SAF mandate and ReFuelEU, high production costs remain a major barrier to widespread adoption.

"In a market where capital is tight and investors are rightly selective, this raise is a testament to the strength of our science, the clarity of our mission, and the urgency of the problem we're solving," said Andrew Symes, CEO of OXCCU. "What we're seeing is that serious players with truly distinctive technologies are still getting funded."

The funding reflects increasing recognition that driving down SAF production costs is critical to unlocking aviation decarbonisation at scale. OXCCU's process simplifies SAF production pathways by eliminating the need for reverse water gas shift or e-methanol steps. Instead, its patented iron-based catalyst enables the direct synthesis of jet-fuel-range hydrocarbons from gaseous waste carbon in a single exothermic reaction. This reduces capital and operating costs, and reduces the carbon intensity of the fuel.

The catalyst's ability to operate with a wide range of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and hydrogen input gas compositions gives it the flexibility to efficiently convert different feedstocks such as reformed biogas, gasified wood waste, and pure carbon dioxide with hydrogen.

Jonathon Counsell, Group Sustainability Director at International Airlines Group (IAG), said:

"We recognise the need for the world to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 and for the aviation sector to play its part and to develop sustainably. IAG has been a leader in the sector, being the first airline group globally to commit to net zero by 2050. We are further committed to our goal of meeting 10% of our fuel needs with SAF by 2030. Meeting these goals will be supported by this investment into OXCCU which is part of our strategy of developing new partnerships to produce next-generation fuels."

Ireneusz Fafara, President of the Management Board of ORLEN, said:

"We invest in the technologies of tomorrow to effectively transform our business. This year, we introduced SAFsustainable aviation fuel produced from renewable and waste raw materialsinto our offering. In line with our strategy, by 2035 we aim to become one of the leading producers of SAF in Europe. Supporting the achievement of this goal is a new investment by ORLEN VC in the technology of OXCCU, a company enabling the conversion of green hydrogen and carbon dioxide into synthetic aviation fuel. Its commercialization will strengthen our market competitiveness and support our pursuit of carbon neutrality."

Nathalie Stubler, Safran Chief Sustainability Officer comments: "At Safran, we are committed to advancing the decarbonization of aviation. In addition to the development of new technologies in our own products such as engines and aircraft equipment, we are also supporting the de-risking and industrial scale-up of the most promising sustainable aviation fuel technologies."

Daniel Goldman, Managing Partner and Co-founder of Clean Energy Ventures, said: "OXCCU stands out not only for its differentiated technology but also for the speed of its progress toward commercial plants. In just a few years, the company has advanced from the lab to a commercial demonstration facility, proving that waste carbon and hydrogen can be converted directly into jet fuel at low cost. That rapid progress is reshaping the sustainable aviation fuel market, unlocking the affordability aviation needs to decarbonize. With the extraordinary leadership team and support of its strategic investors, we are confident OXCCU will lead the decarbonization of fuels and chemicals in the coming years."

Dr Robert Trezona, Partner, Cleantech at IP Group, said: "This round is a significant milestone, not just for the Company, but for the sector  significant capital being put to work from established industry actors on a credible path to fully decarbonise aviation. OXCCU showcases the UK's ability to lead in climate innovation, turning world-class science into global solutions, while generating jobs and lasting impact. We're proud to continue to support the company as it scales its compelling single-step technology."

OXCCU's solution meets both environmental and commercial demands, with applications that extend beyond aviation into chemicals and plastics.

"This is a critical time for climate tech, as the urgency continues to increase," added Symes. "Aviation needs a solution, and the serious lever is SAF. The challenge is SAF cost and that is exactly what we are addressing at OXCCU."

About OXCCU TECH LTD

OXCCU, a spin-out company from the University of Oxford, is developing novel catalysts and reactor designs to convert waste carbon into liquid hydrocarbons with high conversion and selectivity for use as fuels and chemicals. The company is headquartered in the UK, with operations at Begbroke Science Park, Oxford, and London Oxford Airport.

Contact details:

UK contact: [email protected]

US contact: [email protected]

About International Airlines Group (IAG)

International Airlines Group (IAG) is one of the world's largest airline groups with 600+ aircraft carrying more than 122 million customers to 260 destinations across 91 countries each year. Its leading airlines in Spain, the UK and Ireland include Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, LEVEL and Vueling. The Group also consists of two complementary businesses: IAG Cargo and IAG Loyalty. At IAG, transformation and innovation enable us to maximise value and efficiencies across the Group. IAGi, our dedicated innovation function, plays a critical role in scouting and accelerating breakthrough technologies that have the potential to reshape aviation.

Contact details: [email protected]

About ORLEN

The ORLEN Group is an integrated multi-energy concern. The company operates in 10 domestic markets: Poland, the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Lithuania, Slovakia, Hungary, Canada, Norway, and Pakistan. Its offer reaches over 100 countries across 6 continents. The company's activities include extraction of crude oil and natural gas, processing and sale of petroleum products, as well as generation and distribution of energy. A key element of ORLEN's mission is to be a leader in the energy transformation process in the region.

Contact details: [email protected]

About Safran

Safran is an international high-technology group, operating in the aviation (propulsion, equipment and interiors), defense and space markets. Its core purpose is to contribute to a safer, more sustainable world, where air transport is more environmentally friendly, comfortable and accessible. Safran has a global presence, with 100,000 employees and sales of 27.3 billion in 2024, and holds, alone or in partnership, world or regional leadership positions in its core markets. Safran undertakes research and development programs to maintain the environmental priorities of its R&T and innovation roadmap. Safran Corporate Ventures is Safran's venture capital arm, tasked with funding innovative technology businesses and startups. Since being founded in April 2015, it has contributed financing to innovative companies active in sectors related to Safran's businesses (decarbonizing aircraft industry, Industry 4.0, onboard components, new materials, new services). Safran is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange and is part of the CAC 40 and Euro Stoxx 50 indices.

Contact details: [email protected]

About IP Group

IP Group accelerates the impact of science for a better future. As the most active UK based, early stage science investor, we develop and support some of the world's most exciting businesses in deeptech, life sciences and cleantech (led by Kiko Ventures). Through Parkwalk, the UK's largest growth EIS fund manager, we also back world-changing innovation emerging in leading universities and research institutions. Our specialist investment team combines sector expertise with an international approach. Together we have a strong track record of success, having backed high-profile companies including Oxford Nanopore Technologies plc, Featurespace, First Light Fusion, Hysata, and Oxa. IP Group is listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange under the code IPO. For more information, please visit our website at ipgroupplc.com.

Contact details: [email protected]

About Clean Energy Ventures

Clean Energy Ventures invests in climate tech solutions with potential for multi-gigaton CO reductions over the next three decades. Identifying exceptional engineering and leadership teams, CEV is a company builder, leaning in to support extraordinary innovations and leaders from seed stage through successful commercialization. Often the first partner to founders, CEV provides the capital, expertise, and care needed to help decarbonize global energy markets. Learn more at cleanenergyventures.com.

Contact details: [email protected]

SOURCE OXCCU
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Parry Labs , the defense tech company delivering precision hardware and digital infrastructure for the modern all-domain battlespace, worked alongside the Joint Staff J6 and United States Marine Corps during Northern Edge 2025 (NE25) to experiment with its Phantom network gateway prototype, exploring new approaches to secure, 'colorless' data transport in contested environments.

The demonstration explored Phantom's ability to conceal encryption signatures and blend traffic into routine flows across operational networks, with the goal of improving survivability of mission-critical data in future deployments.

Phantom was tested across multiple transport layers including satellite communications (SATCOM), commercial cellular, and mesh radio networks, as part of efforts to evaluate resilient connectivity options.

"Northern Edge gave us an invaluable opportunity to learn alongside Marines as we refine Phantom," said John Parkes, Chief Executive Officer of Parry Labs. "Experimentation with prototypes in operational environments helps us accelerate improvements and ensure future systems meet the demands of the battlefield."

NE25 was a U.S. Indo-Pacific Command-led, joint multi-domain exercise held in August 2025 in Alaska and the surrounding ocean, featuring approximately 6,400 personnel and multiple U.S. and Canadian forces, including the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group. The exercise aimed to test new capabilities, strengthen joint interoperability, and enhance combat readiness for high-end warfighting across air, land, sea, cyber, and space domains within the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex.

To learn more about Phantom, Parry Labs' edge hardware solutions, and our full product line, visit us online at ParryLabs.com , and follow us on LinkedIn . Further information about NE25 is available here .

Parry Labs is a defense technology company delivering open, modular software and precision hardware that enables the U.S. military and its allies to modernize, connect, and deploy new capabilities with speed and impact. Through the unification of autonomy, AI, and command and control, Parry Labs builds integrated, mission-ready platforms built for the fight, designed to move faster, adapt smarter, and deliver advantage where it matters most.

SOURCE Parry Labs LLC
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Plug and Play, the ultimate innovation platform that accelerates over 2,500 startups annually, has announced its second Silicon Valley batch of 2025, welcoming more than 112 startups into the program. These founders will showcase their solutions at the Silicon Valley Summit , taking place November 1820, 2025, where they will present to investors, corporate executives, and industry leaders.

Selected from a highly competitive pool, these startups represent some of the most promising innovations across industries such as AI, fintech, insurtech, health, deeptech, and more. Each was chosen based on program fit, traction to date, and interest from Plug and Play's ecosystem partners.

"This fall batch highlights how global founders are tackling industry challenges with bold ideas and strong execution. Many of them are leveraging AI and other transformative technologies to create real impact. We're excited to support their journeys and help them scale with the right partners and resources," said George Damouny, Partner at Plug and Play.

Throughout the three-month program, startups will gain hands-on support from industry experts, investors, and corporate partners. They will take part in mentor-led workshops, private dealflow sessions, and curated introductions designed to accelerate business growth. Startups will also have the opportunity to secure pilots, proofs of concept, and potential investment, all without equity requirements.

The following programs will host pitch sessions at the Silicon Valley Summit:

Agtech

Brand & Retail

Deeptech

Enterprise & AI

Fintech

Food & Beverage

Health

Insurtech

Mobility

New Materials & Packaging

Real Estate & Construction

Supply Chain & Logistics

Travel & Hospitality

The DIU Program and the xTech Program within the Aerospace & Defense vertical, Seed4Growth, XDC RWA Accelerator, and Global Overseas Acceleration & Learning (GOAL) will also host sessions at the Summit, along with other programs to be announced.

Artificial intelligence remains a major theme this batch. Out of 112 startups, 107 are focused on AI-driven solutions across industries such as fintech, health, enterprise, mobility, and supply chain. This emphasis highlights the growing demand for AI innovation and the role Plug and Play plays in scaling these technologies into real-world applications.

Unsupervised AI Founder Noah Horton, whose company is part of Plug and Play's Enterprise & AI Batch 16, emphasized the importance of turning AI into real-world impact.

"What excites us about being part of Plug and Play is their focus on impactful AI in the industry," Horton said. "The emphasis on bringing AI technologies like ours into real enterprises as production solutions  not just proofs of concept  creates a huge impact for startups like us as well as the enterprises adopting them."

This fall batch reflects a strong U.S. presence, with 85% of startups based in the United States. The remaining startups represent an international mix, with founders joining from countries including Sweden, the United Kingdom, Canada, Spain, and India. This geographic diversity highlights Plug and Play's global footprint and its ability to attract high-potential startups from around the world.

Plug and Play invites the media to follow the journey of these startups and attend the Silicon Valley Summit. To meet the startups, attend the event, or request additional information, please contact Plug and Play at [email protected] .

About Plug and Play

Plug and Play is the leading innovation platform, connecting startups, corporations, venture capital firms, universities, and government agencies. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, we're present in 60+ locations across five continents. We offer corporate innovation programs and help our corporate partners in every stage of their innovation journey, from education to execution. We also organize startup acceleration programs and have built an in-house VC to drive innovation across multiple industries where we've invested in hundreds of successful companies, including Dropbox, Guardant Health, Honey, Lending Club, N26, PayPal, and Rappi. For more information, visit https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/ .

Plug and Play Media Contact

Jacky Tsang

Senior Communications & PR Associate

[email protected]

SOURCE Plug and Play
NEW YORK, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A new in-depth report by The Insight Partners highlights Practice Management Systems market growth, driven by need for operational efficiency & automation. The comprehensive analysis dives deep into market size, emerging trends, profiles key industry players, and uncovers strategic opportunities shaping the industry landscape. With a spotlight on key market segments and applications, the Practice Management Systems report highlights the factors that drive market momentum in the years ahead.

Engineered for Growth: Practice Management Systems on Rapid Ascent

Practice Management Systems Market Set to Soar with Demand for Healthcare Automation

Valued at US$ 19.65 billion in 2024. The market is projected to reach US$ 36.33 billion by 2031, registering a strong CAGR of 9.3% (20252031). The growth has been driven mainly due to the rising need for digital healthcare solutions, the higher number of patients, and the necessity for efficiently managing administrative processes.

Need for Operational Efficiency & Automation Set to Shape Industry Outlook

Check valuable insights in the Practice Management Systems Market report. You can easily get a sample PDF of the report - https://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPHC00002219

The adoption of EHR is a significant point in the governmental plans promoting such technologies, while the need to cut down on the operational costs and to improve the coordination of the care are the reasons why PMS acceptance is spreading fast all over the globe.

Future market opportunities lie in growing presence of private healthcare providers and modernization efforts in emerging markets in the global adoption of practice management systems solutions.

Increasing Government Initiatives and Regulatory Mandates Driving Digital Health Adoption Boost Practice Management System Demand

The role of governments worldwide in promoting the adoption of health IT solutions is vital. One of the indispensable healthcare national digitization projects that facilitate the transition of health professionals to automated digital platforms is the HITECH Act in the US, the NHS Long-Term Plan in the UK, and the Digital Health Mission in India. In many cases, the certified EHR and PMS systems are regulated by the authorities in charge to ensure accurate record-keeping, working together with other systems, and following data privacy laws such as HIPPA, GDPR, and their national equivalents. These moves often link the funding and reimbursement to the approved digital tools, thus creating a big incentive for medical providers to adopt PMS. Moreover, along with the standardized coding systems (for example ICD-10, SNOMED) and the continuously changing billing regulations, there is a need for accurate documentation and automated workflows, which happen to be the main features of PMS platforms.

In poor and middle-income countries, international health agencies and donors are backing the launch of digital health by providing funds and technical support, which opens up new markets for PMS vendors. As governments continue to drive for the quality, accessibility, and transparency of healthcare through digital means, the adoption of PMS will be the basis of meeting regulatory requirements and healthcare modernization all over the world.

Growing Telemedicine and Virtual Care Models Drive Practice Management Systems Market Growth

The global surge in virtual care, expedited by the COVID-19 pandemic, has tremendously broadened the range of PMS. The use of telemedicine has transitioned from being an exclusive niche to becoming a mainstream healthcare delivery model. Consequently, PMS platforms are getting upgraded to facilitate this change. The Rock Health report released in February 2023 states that at least 80% of people have done one telemedicine session. Contemporary PMS solutions possess telehealth capabilities, including remote appointment booking, live video chats, e-prescriptions, and online payment processing. This merger enables the healthcare institutions to offer smooth hybrid care experiences to customers who at the same time keep their administrative and clinical documentation under one roof.

Since patients are moving more towards immediate access and digital-first services, healthcare providers are demanding PMS platforms that can facilitate such services. without any difficulties in the existing flow of operations Telehealth has opened reassures the people living in different areas of the earth who would otherwise have no access to health care. As a result, the demand has been raised for PMS which functions well in such spaces and can keep track of various devices. Besides, the situation of reimbursement is evolving along with telemedicine usage, and most payers are willing to cover virtual services. It means PEM must also be equipped with accurate documentation and billing that would support this transition. Under such circumstances, the junction between remote care and practice management has become the main pillar holding up the structure of healthcare organizations, thus, putting PES as a key factor in future-ready, patient-centered care.

Geographical Insights

According to the Practice Management Systems market analysis, North America led the market in 2024, capturing the highest revenue share. A healthcare system, which is highly digital, supported by robust regulatory frameworks, and where electronic health records (EHR) are widely used, is the basis of the US health sector. The US receives excellent government support through incentives like the HITECH Act that aims at the healthcare providers' IT implementation.

The Practice Management Systems market forecast indicates that Asia Pacific is set to register the highest CAGR in the coming years, fueled by rapid urbanization, rising healthcare demand, and increasing digital transformation across developing economies.

Get Research Sample Copy of the Practice Management Systems Market: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPHC00002219

Market Segmentation

The market is bifurcated based on product into Integrated Practice Management Systems and Standalone Practice Management Systems. The Standalone Practice Management Systems segment held the largest share of the practice management systems market in 2024.

segment held the largest share of the practice management systems market in 2024. In terms of component, the market is bifurcated into software and services. The Software segment held the largest practice management systems market share in 2024.

segment held the largest practice management systems market share in 2024. By delivery mode, the market is categorized into Web-Based Practice Management Systems, Cloud-Based Practice Management Systems, and On-Premise Practice Management Systems. The On-Premise Practice Management Systems segment held the largest share of the practice management systems market in 2024.

segment held the largest share of the practice management systems market in 2024. The market is segmented based on application: Patient Record Tracking, Administrative asks, Processing Insurance Claims, Coding & Billing, and Others. The Administrative Tasks segment held the largest practice management systems market share in 2024.

held the largest practice management systems market share in 2024. On the basis of end users, the market is segmented into hospitals and clinics, physicians' office and labs, insurance companies, and others. The Hospitals and Clinics segment held the largest share of the practice management systems market in 2024

Competitive Landscape and Major Developments

 Key Players: A few major companies operating in the market are GE HealthCare Technologies Inc, Athenahealth Inc, WRS Health, Veradigm Inc, Greenway Health LLC, McKesson Corp, NextGen Healthcare Inc, MEDITECH, CERTIFY Health, and eClinicalWorks LLC.

 Trending Topics: TeleMedicine, Patient Scheduling

Global Headlines on Practice Management Systems

i) Veradigm (OTCMKTS: MDRX), a leading provider of healthcare data and technology solutions, announced that Black Book Research, a healthcare-centric market research and public opinion research and consulting company, rated Veradigm Payer Analytics the overall number one provider of payer analytics solutions for health plans. Veradigm has achieved this ranking for the second year in a row, also earning top marks in 2024.

ii) Recognizing the critical role genomic testing and targeted therapies play today in providing high-quality cancer treatment, McKesson has launched a transformative initiative that will address the clinical challenges and administrative burden practices face in this new era of biomarker-directed oncology care. Precision Care Companion (PCC) is a consortium of industry experts, led by McKesson, that helps healthcare practices improve patient care. They do this through a multi-faceted approach that includes providing targeted education, technology enhancements, operational best practices, and detailed analytics on biomarker testing rates for different cancer diagnoses.

Get Premium Copy of Practice Management Systems Market Size and Growth Report by 2031 at: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/buy/TIPHC00002219

Conclusion

While the healthcare providers are dealing with changes that are brought about by the digital world and higher patient expectations, the practice management system vendors face the challenge of providing integrated and scalable solutions. This increasing demand is spreading the use across clinics, hospitals, and specialty practices, leading to significant growth in the Practice Management Systems market.

Hospitals and other medical institutions worldwide are spending more money on IT to improve the quality of healthcare services. These health providers are highly prioritizing such platforms which are able to simplify routine administrative workflows, enhance patient engagement, and facilitate the fulfillment of the regulatory compliance. In this way, healthcare organizations are becoming stronger consumers due to this trend, which in turn is transforming the market into a competitive landscape that is more favorable to innovative and less costly solutions.

At the same time, the PMS market is seeing the vendor competition becoming more intense. The mix of technology firms, ranging from startups to the incumbents in healthcare IT, will decide who will be the most dominant based on system interoperability, feature customization, data security standards, and pricing models.

Trending Related Reports:

About Us:

The Insight Partners is a one-stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We specialize in semiconductor and electronics, aerospace and defense, automotive and transportation, biotechnology, healthcare IT, manufacturing and construction, medical devices, technology, media and telecommunications, and chemicals and materials.

Contact Us:

If you have any queries about this report or if you would like further information, please get in touch with us:

Contact Person: Ankit Mathur

E-mail: [email protected]

Phone: +1-646-491-9876

Also Available in :Korean | German | Japanese | French | Arabic | Chinese | Italian | Spanish

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1586348/5449703/The_Insight_Partners_Logo.jpg

SOURCE The Insight Partners
2025 NAPT Annual Member Survey Highlights Increases in Patients and Conditions Treated; Continued Barriers to Access, Including Prior Authorization Delays, and Insurance Denials

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Association for Proton Therapy (NAPT) today released encouraging findings from its Annual Member Survey, which showed more patients treated, additional centers opening, and an evolving and complex case mix of disease sites being treated with proton therapy.

Since 2012, NAPT has conducted an annual member survey designed to reveal key metrics regarding the patient and provider ecosystem evolving from one of the world's most innovative cancer treatments. As the only survey of its kind in the U.S., the NAPT Annual Member Survey yields insights including changes in the mix of conditions treated by proton therapy, treatment centers by type, industry growth, and the impact of prior authorizations, among other trends and challenges.

"This year's report paints an encouraging picture of a field that continues to move forward as more patients are being treated and new centers are opening their doors to serve those in need of advanced cancer treatments," said Jennifer Maggiore, LCSW, Executive Director of the National Association for Proton Therapy. "While challenges remain, especially around access and prior authorization, the progress outlined in this year's survey is a strong indicator that the industry is headed in the right direction."

Slight Increase in Proton Therapy Driven by Re-irradiation, GI Tract Cancers

Among the key findings in patient care:

The number of patients receiving proton therapy increased slightly by 1,081 patients from 2023 to 2024, totaling 18,202 nationwide in 2024.

From 2023 to 2024, several conditions were treated more frequently with proton therapy: 1.9% increase for breast cancer cases 7% increase for GI tract cancer cases 2.5% increase for head & neck cancer cases 8.7% increase in re-irradiation treatments



Despite Effectiveness, Proton Therapy Remains Inaccessible to Many Who Need It

Overall, less than 9% of those who would benefit from proton therapy are able to access it today.1, 2, 3, 4 Two new proton therapy centers came online in 2024 to increase access to patients in and near North Carolina and Illinois. More than 60% of the U.S. population lives more than 100 miles from a treatment center. 5

The survey also found that while access to the life-saving treatment remains constrained, with many patients facing administrative hurdles and significant travel distances, progress in increasing access is underway.

Two-thirds (66%) of proton centers reported delays in patient care due to prior authorization. Nearly three-quarters (73%) of centers had a significant number of cases  a quarter or more - requiring prior authorization.

A third (33%) of prior authorization requests for proton therapy in 2024 were initially denied, up from 30% in 2023. About a quarter  24% total  were subsequently approved upon appeal, up from 20% total in 2023.

In 2024, 71% of patients reported experiencing delays in care delivery due to prior authorization (down from 76% in 2023).

Prior authorization continues to be a challenge for the nation's proton centers, resulting in delays to critical patient care. Even as some of the insurance denials are resolved favorably, patient care delays often impact outcomes. NAPT continues to advocate for broader coverage policies that recognize current clinical research and value and more timely appeals processes, without unnecessary barriers to established clinical care that limit or delay patient access. Proton therapy patients are encouraged to utilize the NAPT Resource Center, which provides valuable resources on the treatment, including the Insurance and Appeals Toolkit which guides patients through the approval process.

"Delays in cancer treatment are not acceptable," Maggiore continued. "When physicians determine that proton therapy is the most appropriate course of care, that recommendation should not be undermined by arbitrary insurance denials or administrative delays. We need policymakers and stakeholders to join the proton therapy community in advocating to eliminate unnecessary delays and ensure patients can access timely, life-saving treatment."

The 2025 NAPT Annual Member Survey underscores both the promise and the challenges facing proton therapy. While more patients are being treated and more conditions are addressed each year, access remains uneven, with prior authorization and geographic barriers continuing to delay care. The findings reinforce the importance of continued advocacy to expand access to those who need proton therapy and streamline the patient experience.

Download the 2025 Member Survey Executive Summary and visit the NAPT Resource Center to learn more about NAPT membership, which grants access to full results.

About The National Association for Proton Therapy

The National Association for Proton Therapy (NAPT) is an independent nonprofit organization founded in 1990 to educate and increase awareness about the clinical benefits of proton therapy. Its members include 51 of the nation's leading cancer centers, many of which are NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers and NCCN members. The mission of NAPT is to work collaboratively to raise public awareness of the clinical benefits of proton therapy, ensure patient choice and access to affordable proton therapy, and encourage cooperative research and innovation to advance the appropriate and cost-effective utilization of proton therapy.

Media Contact:

Audrey Chang

VegaRun

[email protected]

202-489-8634

SOURCE The National Association for Proton Therapy
QUZHOU, China, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- This is a report from China.org.cn about the anniversary of Confucius' birth:

A grand ceremony was held Sunday in Quzhou, eastern China's Zhejiang province, to commemorate the 2,576th anniversary of the birth of the ancient Chinese sage Confucius.

As part of the China International Confucius Cultural Festival and the 2025 Southern Confucianism Cultural Tourism Season, this year's ceremony was held under the theme of "revering the Sage, honoring the rites, paying tribute together, pursuing harmony for all."

The event brought together Confucian scholars and representatives of related institutions from across China and abroad, as well as guests from South Korea, Southeast Asia, China's Hong Kong and Taiwan, and overseas Chinese-language media, with an aim to broaden the global reach of the ceremony and the Southern Confucius culture.

Since 2004, Quzhou has held the ceremony every year on Sept. 28, characterized by its focus on honoring Confucius in contemporary times. In 2011, the ceremony was inscribed on the third list of China's national intangible cultural heritage items, and recognized as a major achievement in the creative preservation and development of Southern Confucius culture. Over the years, it has drawn wide recognition from institutions such as the International Confucian Association and China Confucius Foundation, as well as active participation from people at home and abroad.

In 2024, Quzhou's memorial ceremony was, for the first time, included as part of the China International Confucius Cultural Festival. That event was jointly organized by the Shandong provincial government, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the National Commission of the People's Republic of China for UNESCO. Quzhou's ceremony has since served as a parallel event to the event in Qufu, Shandong province, held on the same day.

Quzhou holds ceremony marking 2,576th anniversary of Confucius' birth

http://www.china.org.cn/2025-09/29/content_118104036.shtml

SOURCE China.org.cn
ALABASTER, Ala., Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Clinical documentation has long been a pain point for radiation oncologists, and Dr. Christopher Jahraus, MD, FACRO, FASTRO, ABR Board Certified Radiation Oncologist and owner of Generations Radiotherapy & Oncology PC (GenXRT), knows this challenge firsthand. Leading a busy freestanding clinic, Dr. Jahraus faced "phenomenal time pressure to get things done," often limiting his notes to only what was essential. Yet, he remained committed to delivering personalized, high-quality documentation for referring physiciansdespite the constraints.

Fuse Oncology's Consult Prep Workflow Fuse Oncology's FuseDocs Workflow Diagram

His experience is far from unique. Many radiation oncology providers today share Dr. Jahraus's self-described plight: "There's not enough of me to go around to do everything I need and want to do." A 2025 report from the American Society of Clinical Oncology found that 59% of oncologists report symptoms of burnout, with documentation demands cited as a major contributor. End-of-treatment summaries and consultation notes are time-consuming and often delayedadding to the strain. As documentation requirements grow increasingly complex, the need for efficient, intelligent solutions has never been more urgent.

FuseDocs: AI-Powered Documentation for Oncology Workflows



To address these challenges, GenXRT adopted FuseDocs, an AI-powered documentation solution from Fuse Oncology. Designed to streamline clinical workflows and reduce physician workload, FuseDocs automates the creation of key patient documents, helping providers reclaim time and reduce burnout.

GenXRT has already partnered with Fuse Oncology to enhance operations using S!GNAL and data analytics. FuseDocs was the next step in its journey to optimize documentation and elevate clinical note quality.

FuseDocs for Consultations



Preparing for new patient consultations typically takes 30 to 90 minutes, involving manual data aggregation, cut-and-paste tasks, and structuring notes from disparate sources. FuseDocs transforms this process. The consultation workspace automatically identifies relevant patient documentation and disease-specific data, generating a structured summary for the physician. This is especially impactful for the History of Present Illness (HPI) section, which traditionally requires significant manual effort. FuseDocs uses generative AI to also summarize other areas of the document such as pathology, imaging, and lab reportssaving valuable time.

Dr. Jahraus was recently scheduled to see a new breast cancer patient with limited time to prepare, and the supporting clinical documentationscanned into the chart as low-resolution, poor-qualitywould normally require a time-consuming, manual review. With FuseDocs, however, the process was fully automated: the platform intelligently parsed the degraded documents, extracted key clinical details, "with remarkable accuracy" such as tumor characteristics, lymph node status, and systemic therapy history, and presented them in a clear, AI-generated summary within a streamlined digital interface. "FuseDocs' AI-generated consult note is a real game-changer," he says. "The time is now reduced to less than half compared to my original estimate of 3045 minutes, and it keeps getting faster."

Fuse Oncology will present its research at ASTRO's 67th Annual Meeting (Sept. 27Oct. 1, San Francisco), showcasing a poster titled Establishing a Novel AI-Driven Workflow for History of Present Illness (HPI) Generation and Evaluation in Radiation Oncology. The findings highlight the potential of AI to reduce documentation burden while maintaining clinical accuracy.

FuseDocs: End of Treatment (EOT) and Other Physician Documentation

With Fuse solutions now installed across the nation and in large national networks, we are seeing firsthand how cumbersome EOT workflows can be. It is not uncommon for physicians to be behind on completing EOTsa delay that unfortunately impacts the care team's ability to understand and act on the outcomes of radiation therapy. FuseDocs ensures that this critical step in comprehensive care collaboration is not missed.

End of Treatment (EOT) or Completion Summary documents are a key area where FuseDocs delivers immediate impact. By auto-generating summaries triggered by the patient completing treatment, the tool eliminates manual steps and reduces error-prone workflowssuch as forgetting to create the document altogether. The resulting output is a comprehensive summary that communicates how the patient tolerated treatment, an essential component for informing the broader care team.

"It used to take me about 5 minutes per patient to complete the note in OIS. Now it's about 30 seconds with FuseDocs," Dr. Jahraus reports. FuseDocs makes it easy to complete multiple EOTs in a single session, streamlining batch workflows and saving significant time for physicians. "The burden of clicks is much lowera major pain point for physicians."

In addition to EOTs, FuseDocs automates the generation and approval of several other physician-facing documents, including the SBRT Treatment Procedure note, Treatment Plan, Clinical Treatment Planning, Simulation, On-Treatment Visit, and Follow-Up. The platform also supports approval workflows for OIS-generated documents authored by staff, allowing physicians to sign off directly within FuseDocs.

A New Standard for Oncology Documentation

The integration of FuseDocs into radiation oncology workflows marks a significant advancement in clinical documentation efficiency. By leveraging multiple facets of artificial intelligenceincluding optical character recognition to extract structured data from clinical images, rules-based engines to trigger contextually appropriate documents, and generative AI to produce clinically relevant narrativesFuseDocs dramatically reduces time spent on manual data entry, improves documentation quality, and helps mitigate physician burnout.

"FuseDocs takes what has been the least pleasant part of being a physiciannote writingand turns it into an exceedingly valuable resource," says Dr. Jahraus. "The interface is intuitive and easy to learn. This technology makes me more efficient and lets me spend less time digging through records and more time with my patients."

SOURCE Fuse Oncology, Inc.
President Nelson was called as an Apostle on April 7, 1984. He became the leader of the Church on January 14, 2018. His time as prophet will forever be remembered as one of global ministry (he visited 32 countries and U.S. territories), increased temple construction (he announced 200 new temples) and profound change. Beginning in the April 2018 general conference in which he was sustained as the senior Apostle, President Nelson began introducing frequent adjustments designed to help the Saints minister more like Jesus Christ and better emphasize the centrality of the Savior of the world in all the Church does. Later sections of this obituary provide a detailed accounting of his travels as president and the many changes he implemented.

Downloadable video for journalists: Tribute video (transcript) | B-roll | SOTs (transcript)

Prior to full-time Church service, President Nelson was a heart surgeon revered and respected the world over. He performed the first open-heart surgery in Utah in 1955. He served as president of the Society for Vascular Surgery, a director of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, chairman of the Council on Cardiovascular Surgery for the American Heart Association and president of the Utah State Medical Association. He authored numerous chapters in medical textbooks and other publications. He lectured at and visited professionally many organizations throughout the United States and other nations. And he was conversant in 11 languages.

"He was just the gentlest and sweetest person you could ever hope to associate with." President Dallin H. Oaks

"All of us who have worked with Russell M. Nelson, and the many he has taught and associated with, have marveled at his extraordinary modesty for a man of his great accomplishments," said President Dallin H. Oaks, who was called to serve in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on the same day as President Nelson in 1984 and who served as President Nelson's First Counselor in the First Presidency. "And [we] have marveled at his gentleness. He is just the gentlest and sweetest person you could ever hope to associate with. And he will always be remembered that way."

President Nelson is survived by his wife, Wendy, eight of his 10 children, 57 grandchildren, and more than 167 great-grandchildren.

SOURCE The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

21 % more press release views with Request a Demo
The Singapore-based boutique hotel portfolio opens its first property in the region with the acquisition of a 237-key hotel in Barsha Heights, Dubai

DUBAI, UAE, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Renowned for its bold spaces and unscripted service, Naumi Hotels brings its signature hospitality experience to Dubai. Now open, the hotel was recently acquired by Naumi Group and advised by SunStar Capital, the family-owned wealth management and asset company founded by Executive Chairman Surya Jhunjhnuwala, and is operated by Naumi Hotels, led by Group CEO Gaurang Jhunjhnuwala.

Naumi Hotel Dubai Facade

Gaurang Jhunjhnuwala, Group CEO of Naumi Group, shared: "Following Naumi Hotels' success in the Asia-Pacific region, extending the experience to the Middle East felt like a natural next step. For us, Dubai represents the epicentre of the region's thriving hospitality market and a symbol of innovation, where the world's leading brands and most discerning travellers come together. We are excited to make our mark on the region and on a city that so closely mirrors our ambition, creative energy, and ever-evolving vision for hospitality."

Established in Singapore in 2007, Naumi Hotels has built a dynamic portfolio, with eight properties spanning key cities in Singapore, New Zealand, Australia, and now the UAE.

Each unique destination features cutting-edge design and unscripted service, creating hotels with personality. At the group's core is a philosophy of bespoke, heartfelt hospitality, redefining stays for the modern traveller into something extraordinary.

Naumi Hotel Dubai is steps from Dubai Internet City Metro, 10 minutes from Mall of the Emirates, and 15 minutes from The Palm. The property is set to undergo a transformation, unveiling a bold new visual identity with whimsical spaces, imaginative micro-experiences, and signature brand touchpoints.

With 237 rooms and suites, two restaurants, a spa, rooftop pool, fitness centre, and meeting facilities, expect stylish interiors, curated art, and intuitive service that exceeds expectations.

Paul Stocker, Group Chief Operating Officer of Naumi Group, added, "With every new property, we aim to push the boundaries of boutique hospitality. In Dubai, we've found the ideal canvas to express our playful sophistication and bring unexpected moments to life. The hotel will capture the spirit of the city while staying true to Naumi Hotels' experiential, artful approach to every stay."

Naumi Hotel Dubai signals the beginning of a wider expansion strategy across the Middle East, shaping a new rhythm for hospitality in the region.

To learn more, visit www. naumihotels.com/naumi-hotel-dubai .

Press Kit: Link

Media Contact:

Dhara Bhatia

[email protected]

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2783161/Naumi_Hotel_Dubai_Facade.jpg

SOURCE Naumi Hotels
LONDON, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- StarTech.com, a global leader in IT connectivity accessories, is proud to celebrate its 40th anniversary this year. The Canadian-based company, founded in 1985 in London, Ontario by entrepreneurs Paul Seed and Ken Kalopsis, has grown from a two-person, credit-card-funded startup operating from a basement into one of the world's leading providers of IT connectivity solutions.

To mark this milestone, StarTech.com will host a special celebration on October 1st at its Global Headquarters in London, Canada bringing together employees, stakeholders, and community leaders.

Honouring Community and Partnerships

The event will welcome special guests, including London Mayor Josh Morgan, along with representatives from United Way, StarTech.com YMCA, and the London Community Foundation. These partnerships highlight StarTech.com's long-standing commitment to supporting the communities in which it operates.

A Legacy of Innovation

"For 40 years, StarTech.com has been committed to understanding the needs of IT professionals around the globe and providing innovative products and support to solve their connectivity challenges," said Paul Seed, Co-Founder. "From our early days in a London basement to becoming a global leader in IT connectivity, this journey has been made possible by our dedicated team, the support of our community, and the trust of our customers. I'm proud that a small Canadian company has grown to become technology brand that is trusted by IT professionals and businesses worldwide."

Celebrating Recent Achievements

In addition to reflecting on four decades of innovation, StarTech.com will recognize its recent accomplishments, including:

Global expansion into India , extending its reach to one of the world's fastest-growing technology markets.

, extending its reach to one of the world's fastest-growing technology markets. Product innovation awards from leading international organizations, including IFA, InfoComm, and ISE .

from leading international organizations, including . Ranking in the top 5% of companies worldwide for sustainability by EcoVadis

Looking Ahead

As StarTech.com celebrates this milestone, the company remains focused on its mission to deliver connectivity solutions that support businesses, while continuing to expand its global footprint, innovate in product design, and uphold its commitments to sustainability and community investment.

Media Contact:

Andrew Stephen - [email protected]

About StarTech.com

StarTech.com is a global leader in connectivity solutions, manufacturing a wide range of accessories designed to meet the demanding performance standards of IT professionals and businesses. Since 1985, the company has expanded into 27 markets across five continents, with products trusted by more than 90% of Fortune 500 companies. Recognized as one of Canada's Best Managed Companies by Deloitte for 15 consecutive years, StarTech.com continues to set the standard for reliability, innovation, and trusted enterprise-grade performance.

SOURCE StarTech.com
HAIKOU, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Amid rising geopolitical headwinds and intense market competition, German carmakers bet on Chinese tech partners to fast-track their electrification and smart-vehicle shift. At the three-day 2025 World New Energy Vehicle Congress (WNEVC), starting on Saturday, Sean Green, president and CEO of BMW Group Region China, showcased the veteran carmaker's partnerships with China's domestic leaders in batteries, driver-assist systems, and AI foundation models. During a seminar presentation to attendees in the global automotive industry, Green highlighted joint projects with battery giant CATL to co-design large cylindrical cells, a partnership with Chinese self-driving startup Momenta to develop driver-assist software, and a collaboration to integrate Alibaba's AI foundation model and Huawei's intelligent-vehicle stack into BMW cars. "This goes beyond conventional partnerships," and it forms "a symbiotic ecosystem that benefits both sides," said Green. "Technology openness is the valuable experience we took from China's success," he added. In China, BMW has its largest production base and R&D team outside Germany, with over 3,000 engineers across R&D centers in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenyang and Nanjing, as well as three dedicated software development companies. "China is highly competitive," said Oliver Zipse, chairman of the board of management of BMW AG, in an earlier interview with Xinhua. Yet "the biggest innovations we see come out of China," and "combining our strengths allows us to develop products that set new standards globally." Daniel Navarro Rios, executive vice president of Mercedes-Benz Group China, stated at Saturday's seminar on China-German collaboration that the company has established partnerships across the Chinese academic and industrial sectors. It teams up with Tencent, ByteDance and Tsinghua University. "We are leveraging China's dynamic ecosystem. We build a strong R&D network in China, and we are driving innovation at China speed," said Navarro Rios. Zhang Lan, vice president of Volkswagen Group China, said the Chinese and German collaborative teams are rewriting the auto giant's "China speed" -- "not just streamlined processes, but a full-scale upgrade in tech synergy and decision-making efficiency," citing its partnerships with SAIC Motor and Xpeng Motors. She admitted China is the world's fiercest market. Brands must deliver high-spec, competitively priced cars, stay profitable amid intense competition, and continue to innovate rapidly. "Cooperation and competition are two sides of the same coin," Hildegard Muller, president of the German Association of the Automotive Industry, observed in talking of the commercial rivalry between Chinese and German automakers. Muller stressed that the two industries are highly complementary, a dynamic that "enables both sides to accelerate innovation and achieve outcomes greater than the sum of the parts." German firms bring deep expertise in automotive engineering and safety standards. At the same time, their Chinese counterparts excel at large-scale market rollouts, rapid product iterations, and nationwide charging-infrastructure build-outs, according to Muller. Wan Gang, president of China Association for Science and Technology, echoed in his speech that the automotive industry has always been a globally competitive sector, where competition is a market norm and serves to meet consumers' demands. In Muller's perspective, protectionism in the auto sector inflicts far greater harm: tariffs jeopardize the international division of labor, a system she called "a great success story that must be preserved." With the theme "Industrial Transformation and Sustainable Development," the 2025 WNEVC was held in Haikou, the capital of south China's Hainan Province, from Sept. 27 to 29.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Foreign Minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Choe Son Hui at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2025. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

BEIJING, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with Foreign Minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Choe Son Hui in Beijing on Monday, noting that China is ready to continue to deepen coordination with the DPRK to better safeguard common interests.

Earlier this month, General Secretary Xi Jinping and General Secretary Kim Jong Un held a meeting in Beijing and reached important consensus on deepening the friendly cooperative relations between China and the DPRK, Li said.

Li said China consistently views and advances China-DPRK relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, adding that China stands ready to work with the DPRK to implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and countries, further carry forward the traditional friendship, enhance strategic communication, and jointly advance the socialist cause of the two countries for the greater well-being of the two peoples.

China is willing to maintain close exchanges and interactions at all levels with the DPRK, deepen mutual understanding and friendship, and carry out practical cooperation in various fields to jointly promote common development, the premier said.

Hailing the DPRK's firm support on issues concerning China's core interests and major concerns, Li called on the foreign ministries of both countries to enhance coordination and make steady progress in all work.

Choe said the two top leaders' meeting has pointed out the direction for the development of the bilateral ties, adding that consolidating and developing relations with China is the unwavering position of the DPRK, which is in line with the fundamental interests of the two countries and their people.

The DPRK fully supports the concept of building a community with a shared future for humanity and the four major global initiatives, and will continue to firmly support China's position on issues concerning China's core interests, including those related to Taiwan, Xinjiang, Xizang and Hong Kong, Choe noted.

Choe also said the DPRK looks forward to working with the Chinese side to enhance high-level exchanges, strengthen communication between the foreign ministries, promote practical cooperation and deepen multilateral collaboration. 
Taiwan Tourism Administration Los Angeles office was awarded the MUSE Gold Award for its Integrated Marketing Campaign. Post this

The campaign forms part of the global rollout of Taiwan's new tourism brand, "Taiwan  Waves of Wonder." By blending online and offline activations, TTA successfully expanded Taiwan's visibility across North America. As of August 2025, the campaign had achieved over 200 million digital impressions, more than 5 million engagements, 250,000 onsite spectators, and 26,000 direct participants at live events.

#DanceToTaiwan: Taiwan Meets Global Pop Culture

To kick off the campaign, TTA invited three of the world's most popular dance influencers, Fik-Shun, Vik White, and Lauren Gibson, to explore Taiwan. With a combined following of more than 36.8 million, the trio captured choreography set against Taiwan's most iconic landmarks, including the Taipei 101 , Rainbow Village , Gaomei Wetlands , and Kaohsiung's Dragon and Tiger Pagodas .

The content they created integrated Taiwan's natural beauty with popular culture, delivering high-energy videos that resonated with global audiences. In addition to the official campaign track, they filmed dances to trending music, further boosting reach and visibility.

The campaign's next phase launched the public #DanceToTaiwan challenge. Participants posted their own dance videos for a chance to win one of three roundtrip flights to Taiwan via China Airlines.

The campaign also took shape offline, with the Los Angeles office partnering with airlines and travel agencies to stage a major brand activation at Westfield Century City, and making history as the first foreign tourism board to join LA Pride.

"By using dance as a language, we reached millions of new viewers who may never have considered Taiwan before," said Vivian Lin, Director of the Tourism Division at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles. "This campaign celebrated creativity, culture, and connection, and Taiwan was at the heart of it."

A Journey of Love: Garrett Clayton and Blake Knight Explore Taiwan

As the campaign evolved, TTA Los Angeles welcomed actor Garrett Clayton and his husband, screenwriter Blake Knight, to Taiwan. The couple, who have a combined audience of more than 7.5 million, documented their romantic journey across the island.

Their itinerary included visits to Yehliu Geopark , Sun Moon Lake , Shifen Waterfall , and Jiu Fen Old Street , along with cultural experiences like a cooking class at CookInn Taipei, bubble tea-making, temple visits, and exploration of the LGBTQ+-friendly Ximen shopping district. They also enjoyed a charming photo and video session at Chiayi North Gate Station, in front of the vibrant Vivid Express Train's colorful presence. Their story, full of authenticity and emotion, highlighted Taiwan as Asia's most LGBTQ+-inclusive destination.

"As the first Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage, Taiwan continues to lead by example," Lin added. "Garrett and Blake's authentic journey resonated deeply with audiences and showcased Taiwan as Asia's most LGBTQ+-friendly destination."

Recognition from MUSE Creative Awards Highlights Campaign's Success

In recognition of the strength and creativity of this campaign, the Taiwan Tourism Administration Los Angeles office was awarded the Gold Award for Integrated Marketing Campaign at the prestigious MUSE Creative Awards. The award honored how the campaign seamlessly tied together these high-impact familiarization trips with the broader year-long marketing strategy to elevate Taiwan's visibility in North America.

Shifting the Narrative: A Broader Vision for Taiwan Tourism

Together, these influencer journeys were part of a broader strategy by TTA Los Angeles to engage creators from diverse communities and genres. The combined digital content from these initiatives generated more than 200 million impressions worldwide.

By moving beyond conventional travel content and tapping into dance, identity, romance, and digital culture, TTA Los Angeles helped bring the Waves of Wonder brand to life in powerful and memorable ways.

For related photos and files, please visit bit.ly/TTALA2025Trips

Looking ahead, Lin said: "The Taiwan Lantern Festival is one of our most important annual international events. In 2026, it will be held in Chiayi from March 3 to 15 under the theme 'Illuminate Chiayi, Light Up Taiwan.' With iconic sites such as Alishan, the Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum, and the Tropic of Cancer Marker, Chiayi offers a unique stage for an immersive cultural experience that international visitors will not want to miss."

ABOUT TAIWAN TOURISM ADMINISTRATION

The Taiwan Tourism Administration (TTA) is the official government agency of Taiwan (R.O.C.) responsible for domestic and international tourism policy development and execution. The Southwestern US market is managed by the Los Angeles office of TTA. The marketing slogan currently in use for Taiwan is "Waves of Wonder." The official ambassador of TTA is OhBear, a cartoon Formosan Black Bear, the national animal of Taiwan.

For more information about Taiwan tourism, please visit the official website of the Taiwan Tourism Administration: eng.taiwan.net.tw

Follow us on social media in North America:

Instagram: @taiwantourism.na

Facebook: Tour Taiwan - America

Contact: Alex Trup

[email protected]

+1 (672) 202-8988

SOURCE Taiwan Tourism Administration
Firm Continues Affiliation Model as New Partnership with Cambridge Enhances its Flexibility and Service Offerings



LAS VEGAS, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The AmeriFlex Group ("the firm"), a rapidly growing, advisor-owned hybrid RIA that puts financial planning first, today announced that Jacob Reid and his four-person team at Capital Insight Financial Group officially joined its hybrid RIA from Osaic. The AmeriFlex Group hybrid consists of the firm's advisor-owned RIA and Cambridge Investment Research (Cambridge) as its broker-dealer partner.

"The AmeriFlex Group is an advisor-owned and truly independent firm where like-minded professionals, such as Jacob and his team, can thrive," said Thomas Goodson, CEO and Founder of The AmeriFlex Group. "As we continue to speak with advisors from across the industry, we constantly hear that flexibility and autonomy are top priorities of entrepreneurial, growth-minded advisors. Jacob and his team are a remarkable fit for our group, and we're excited to support their continued growth."

Based in Livermore, California, Capital Insight Financial Group is a transitional wealth planning firm, supporting individual investors with specialized financial planning and customized investment approaches, as well as business owners with qualified plans and individuals experiencing transitional life events. Capital Insight Financial Group manages approximately $354 million of client funds and assets.

"As I considered the next phase of my career, I knew that I needed to partner with someone who respected my experience and abilities to shape the future of my practice," Reid said. "Working with Tom and the entire AmeriFlex Group leadership team made it clear that they would provide the right level of support and flexibility for me and my team."

Continued Momentum with Cambridge Partnership

In early July, The AmeriFlex Group transitioned to Cambridge as its broker-dealer partner. The firm identified Cambridge's highly collaborative culture, resources that support the growth and other business objectives of its financial advisors, and unique independent structure as reasons for making the change, explained Jesse Kurrasch, COO with The AmeriFlex Group.

"Choosing to partner with Cambridge has enabled our team to deliver better options for our advisors and streamline our recruitment process. In just three months, we've already welcomed several teams that represent a combined $634 million in total client assets to our firm," Kurrasch added.

About The AmeriFlex Group

The AmeriFlex Group is recognized as The Home for Hybrids (www.HomeForHybrids.com) - BD/RIA Transitional Wealth Planners (financial advisors). The RIA is owned and operated by its advisor members and partners. Securities offered through Registered Representatives of Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a broker-dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services through The AmeriFlex Group, a Registered Investment Adviser. Cambridge and The AmeriFlex Group are not affiliated.

Media Contact:

Haven Tower Group

Donald C. Cutler

424.317.4864

[email protected]

SOURCE The AmeriFlex Group
Analyzing over 14 billion cyber-attack records daily, ThreatBook ATI is a global solution enriched with granular, local insights; and can offer organizations a truly APAC perspective.

is a global solution enriched with granular, local insights; and can offer organizations a truly APAC perspective. Boasting low false positive rates, the solution is highly compatible with existing security stacks.

ThreatBook ATI provides actionable insights for threat detection and response, enabling organizations to accelerate their intelligence analysis, and make more informed decisions.

SINGAPORE and HONG KONG, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ThreatBook, a global leader in cyber threat intelligence, detection and response, today announced the worldwide launch[1] of ThreatBook Advanced Threat Intelligence ("ThreatBook ATI"). Spearheaded from its offices in Singapore and Hong Kong, the new service offers unique industry insights for threat intelligence platforms (TIPs), security operation centers (SOCs) and cybersecurity analysts globally.

Mr. Feng XUE, Chief Executive Officer of ThreatBook

Of note, ThreatBook ATI is able to capture new, difficult to detect threats emanating from within Asia, where coverage from many global vendors remains limited. It is also able to better identify attackers targeting Asian organizations as well. ThreatBook ATI's capabilities are particularly timely, with 34% of cyber-attacks worldwide taking place within the Asia Pacific[2] (APAC).

A further noteworthy feature of ThreatBook ATI are its low false positive rates. ThreatBook's proprietary intelligence collection systems, which operate globally and in real time, employs dozens of analysis engines to deeply mine enormous raw datasets. False positives are filtered through AI-based models, followed by cross-verification by professional security analysts. ATI also applies AI to classify and label threat reports, transforming unstructured intelligence into structured insights, and features a built-in assistant that can rapidly correlate data to answer analysts' questions. This layered process ensures the intelligence remains highly accurate and reliable. Over 14 billion attack records are identified daily, including over 80 million malicious inbound internet protocols (IPs), more than six billion malware files, over 7,000 high risk vulnerabilities, and more than 600 zero-day vulnerabilities.

"With several billion attack records from all corners of the world analyzed daily, ThreatBook ATI is a truly global solution enriched with granular, local insights," said Mr. Feng XUE, Chief Executive Officer of ThreatBook.

"We are of the opinion that Asia Pacific-centric threat intelligence matters, as tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs), tooling, language, command and control (C&C) infrastructure, and targeting patterns differ by region  and ATI can offer organizations a truly APAC perspective. We have a track record of exclusive discovery when it comes to cybercriminals, including advanced persistent threat (APT) groups; and at the end of the day, local context quickens threat detection and reduces dwell time."

Integration with existing security stacks is key. Studies repeatedly find that a single unified platform, which provides a centralized view of cyber risks across the entire organization, is a priority for cybersecurity teams around the world[3]. ThreatBook ATI is highly compatible with existing security stacks. Its output is available in both machine-readable and human-readable formats, making integration straight-forward.

Customer access is hassle-free. For TIPs, ThreatBook ATI can be purchased through platform marketplaces, or can be integrated through feeds or application programming interfaces (APIs). For SOCs, ThreatBook ATI feeds integrate easily with security information and event management (SIEM) solutions, firewalls and other security tools. While for cybersecurity analysts, ThreatBook ATI is accessible globally via a web portal.

"High quality threat intelligence enhances existing security tools, which often rely on vulnerable rule-based signals, making them more reliable and accurate, and leading to less false positives across the stack," added Mr. Xue. "By providing actionable insights for threat detection and response, organizations are able to accelerate their intelligence analysis, and make more informed decisions to better manage today's myriad of cyber risks."

ThreatBook ATI is a timely addition to the company's acclaimed suite of cybersecurity solutions. Since 2015, thousands of enterprise organizations globally have placed their trust in Threatbook across the entire threat lifecycle  from detection to analysis, response and protection; all powered by the company's proprietary intelligence core.

In 2025 alone, leading analyst firms have recognized ThreatBook, featuring the company in Forrester's Network Analysis And Visibility Solutions Landscape, Q2 2025 report, and the inaugural Gartner Magic Quadrant for Network Detection and Response (NDR). In both instances, ThreatBook was one of a limited number of vendors recognized.

About ThreatBook

ThreatBook is a global cybersecurity company specializing in advanced threat intelligence, detection, and response. Founded in 2015, ThreatBook equips enterprises, governments, and service providers with the clarity and context needed to defend against evolving digital risks.

By combining artificial intelligence with deep threat intelligence, ThreatBook delivers real-time visibility, hyper-accurate detections, and early-warning insights against nation-state actors, cybercriminal groups, and emerging attack campaigns. With unique vantage points from across the Asia Pacific region and beyond, ThreatBook provides intelligence coverage that bridges Eastern and Western threat landscapes, offering an unmatched perspective for global defenders.

ThreatBook: Act with Intelligence that Matters. To learn more, visit www.threatbook.io or follow us on LinkedIn.

[1] ThreatBook ATI is not available in mainland China. [2] https://www.ibm.com/thought-leadership/institute-business-value/report/2025-threat-intelligence-index [3] https://www.msspalert.com/native/the-strategic-shift-toward-unified-cybersecurity-platforms

SOURCE ThreatBook
SOLOMONS, Md., Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Titan Hospitality Group today announced the upcoming launch of The Lodge Solomons, a new restaurant set to open Spring 2026 at Solomons Inn Resort + Marina. Now beginning Phase 2 of construction, The Lodge Solomons will replace Creekside Bar + Grill and bring a fresh, maritime-inspired dining destination to the Solomons Island waterfront.

Designed with a casual, fishing-lodge motif, The Lodge Solomons will celebrate the coastal heritage of Southern Maryland. Guests can expect a welcoming atmosphere with rustic wood accents, nautical touches, and sweeping marina views. The menu will feature locally sourced ingredients, fresh-caught seafood, and hearty coastal fare, creating a family-friendly gathering place for both locals and visitors.

The concept draws inspiration from Titan Hospitality's acclaimed Blackwall Barn & Lodge, known for its elevated comfort cuisine and warm, lodge-style design. By blending that successful formula with Solomons' waterfront charm, The Lodge Solomons promises to deliver an experience that is both familiar and uniquely Chesapeake.

"We are beyond thrilled to bring this next chapter of our hospitality journey to Solomons Island," said James King, Founder & CEO of Titan Hospitality Group. "The Lodge Solomons will combine fresh design, elevated menus, and an atmosphere that captures everything our guests love about dining with usand more. By partnering with local farmers and fishers, we're creating an authentic Chesapeake Bay dining experience rooted in quality, comfort, and community. We're incredibly grateful for the support during this transition and can't wait to welcome everyone next Spring."

As construction moves forward, Titan Hospitality and Solomons Inn Resort + Marina will share behind-the-scenes updates and sneak peeks leading up to opening. Guests are encouraged to follow along on social media for exclusive previews and announcements.

About Titan Hospitality Group

Titan Hospitality Group is a premier restaurant management company based in Maryland. Its portfolio includes five unique conceptsBlackwall Barn & Lodge, Blackwall Hitch, Smashing Grapes, The Lodge, The Farmhousewith a focus on scratch-made cuisine, locally sourced ingredients, and creating memorable dining experiences across the mid-Atlantic. For more, visit TitanHospitality.com.

About Solomons Inn Resort + Marina

Solomons Inn Resort + Marina is a waterfront destination in Southern Maryland featuring 113 guest rooms, a full-service marina, pool, and over 20,000 square feet of event space. Following a comprehensive renovation in 2024, the resort continues to serve as a beloved gathering place for families, visitors, and the local community. Learn more at SolomonsResort.com.

SOURCE Titan Hospitality Group
NEW YORK, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 200 leaders from U.S. companies and the United Nations gathered in New York City for the UN Global Compact Network USA Annual Summit, the only UN General Assembly event dedicated to U.S. private sector leadership in sustainability.

Building on 25 years of progress by the United Nations Global Compact (UN Global Compact), the Annual Summit has become a flagship gathering for American business leaders. This year's program explored how shifting policy, evolving disclosure requirements, and the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact are shaping the future of business operations in the United States.

Panels, roundtables, and keynote discussions provided insights into emerging trends, stakeholder expectations, and innovative strategies that drive business contributions to global sustainability. Critical themes included the 2030 Agenda, climate and environment, human rights and labor, and partnerships to advance corporate impact and leadership.

Delivering the opening remarks, Amanda Gardiner, Executive Director of Network USA, underscored the significance of convening business leaders and stakeholders, affirming that, "it's through these conversations, and by reflecting on the experiences we've shared, that we gain the insights that shape the future."

The Summit featured a fireside chat with Sanda Ojiambo, CEO and Executive Director of the UN Global Compact, and Ann Tracy, Chief Sustainability Officer of Colgate-Palmolive and Chair of the UN Global Compact Network USA (Network USA) Board.

The discussion highlighted the role of U.S. business in a rapidly changing global landscape, noting the influence American companies can have on driving progress across their supply chains.

Network USA's Annual Summit serves as a trusted forum where businesses can openly share challenges and opportunities across industries, company sizes, and stages of their sustainability journey. Reflecting Network USA's commitment to convening forward-thinking companies, the event brings together leaders to form meaningful connections that drive collaboration and help the American private sector strengthen its competitiveness while advancing forward-looking solutions.

The Summit was supported by Baker Hughes, which hosted a roundtable on emissions abatement, and Resilient Entanglement, which hosted a roundtable on supply chains and human rights.

About UN Global Compact Network USA

UN Global Compact Network USA (Network USA) is the U.S. Chapter of the United Nations Global Compact, the largest corporate sustainability initiative in the world. Network USA is a powerful network of companies and stakeholders dedicated to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. By connecting partners with the resources of the greater UN, Network USA supports companies that are committed to fully integrating its principles of human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption into their business strategies and operations. To learn more, visit GlobalCompactUSA.org.

SOURCE UN Global Compact Network USA
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Wallarm today announced its role in the publication of "A2AS: Agentic AI Runtime Security and Self-Defense," a groundbreaking research project led by Eugene Neelou (OWASP, Wallarm) together with researchers from AWS, Bytedance, Cisco, Elastic, Google, JPMorganChase, Meta, and Salesforce.

The A2AS framework introduces a new security layer for AI agents, LLM-powered applications, and AI protocols, similar to how HTTPS secures HTTP.

The A2AS framework is built on three breakthrough capabilities that fundamentally address agentic AI security risks such as prompt injection, tool misuse, and agent compromise:

Behavior Certificates : The industry's first mechanism for declaring and enforcing AI agent actions and permissions. Like HTTPS certificates secured the web, behavior certificates can secure agentic AI interactions with users, tools, and other agents.

: The industry's first mechanism for declaring and enforcing AI agent actions and permissions. Like HTTPS certificates secured the web, behavior certificates can secure agentic AI interactions with users, tools, and other agents. Model Self-Defense Reasoning : Embeds security awareness directly into the AI model's context window, guiding it to recognize and reject malicious or untrusted instructions in real time without any external components or guardrails.

: Embeds security awareness directly into the AI model's context window, guiding it to recognize and reject malicious or untrusted instructions in real time without any external components or guardrails. Prompt-Level Security Controls: Provides authenticated prompts, security boundaries, and policy-as-code so that every request and interaction is verified, sandboxed, and aligned with enterprise security policies.

As enterprises rapidly deploy agentic AI into workflows across finance, healthcare, and infrastructure, the security risks scale from individual task failures to enterprise-wide compromise. Traditional guardrails and post-processing methods have proven to be too slow, too complex, and too costly. A2AS offers a practical, lightweight, and scalable approach that protects AI agents at runtime without adding latency or operational complexity.

Eugene Neelou, an industry pioneer and Head of AI Security at Wallarm, serves as the lead for the A2AS project. Neelou previously coined the term MLSecOps, co-founded the world's first AI red teaming startup, and co-authored the OWASP Top 10 for LLM Security. He is joined by Ivan Novikov, Founder and CEO of Wallarm, who contributed his expertise in API and AI security.

"AI agents are already in production, and they introduce a dangerous new attack surface," said Ivan Novikov. "With A2AS, we've shown that security can be embedded directly into the agent runtime, turning self-defense from a theory into a practical defense layer."

"AI agents are rapidly infiltrating enterprise software, requiring privileged access and deep integration with company-wide tools," added Eugene Neelou. "Under pressure to adopt AI, enterprises are voluntarily incorporating vulnerable-by-design AI capabilities. Without deliberate security hardening, disaster is inevitable."

The A2AS paper is the first in a series of publications aimed at establishing A2AS as the industry standard for AI runtime security. Researchers, engineers, and enterprises interested in design partnerships or early adoption are invited to read the paper, learn more, and get involved at https://a2as.org . Contact the project team to explore collaboration opportunities and shape the future of secure AI.

Disclaimer:

The companies noted above are acknowledged for their employees' contributions to this white paper. The inclusion of these companies does not constitute or imply their endorsement of the white paper or its contents. All company names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

About Wallarm

Wallarm is the only unified platform for API and agentic AI security successfully deployed in enterprise production environments. With Wallarm, customers receive the fastest, easiest, and most effective way to stop API attacks. Organizations choose Wallarm to protect their APIs and AI agents because the platform delivers a complete inventory of APIs, real-time blocking, and patented AI/ML-based abuse detection. Wallarm is headquartered in San Francisco, California, and is backed by Toba Capital, Y ombinator, Partech, and other investors.

Media Contact:

Michelle Kearney

Hi-Touch PR

443-857-9468

[email protected]

SOURCE Wallarm
Police and security forces are seen during a demonstration demanding for better public services in Rabat, Morocco, Sept. 28, 2025. Young people took to the streets in downtown Rabat on Sunday and called for reform of the education and health sectors. (Xinhua/Huo Jing)

Security forces stand guard in front of the Moroccan parliament building during a demonstration demanding for better public services in Rabat, Morocco, Sept. 28, 2025. Young people took to the streets in downtown Rabat on Sunday and called for reform of the education and health sectors. (Xinhua/Huo Jing)
ISTANBUL, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Turkish authorities announced on Monday the successful dismantling of a large fraud ring accused of swindling nearly 1 billion Turkish liras (24 million U.S. dollars) from 537 victims.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said in a post on the social media platform X that the operation, based in the northwestern province of Tekirdag, extended across 18 provinces nationwide, including Istanbul, and resulted in 46 detentions.

He said 41 suspects were arrested, with five others under judicial control.

According to Yerlikaya, the suspects set up shell companies promising high profits to defraud citizens, causing losses of 984 million liras. Investigators also uncovered a total transaction volume of 5 billion liras in the suspects' bank accounts.

A video shared by the minister shows special forces, backed by police units, raiding the suspects' residences and escorting them to the police department in Tekirdag.

The case has drawn widespread public attention in Turkiye, where fraud cases involving shell companies have increasingly targeted ordinary citizens, underscoring growing concerns over economic security and financial crime prevention. 
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
DAKAR, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Senegal's Lake Retba, which lost its distinctive color due to flooding in 2022, has regained its signature pink hue, a phenomenon closely linked to the proliferation of salt-loving algae, researchers at Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar have said.

The lake, known as "Lac Rose," is a major tourist attraction in Senegal. Located north of the capital Dakar, it turns pink during certain seasons and under specific sunlight conditions due to the activity of halophilic microorganisms in its waters.

However, since late 2022, unusually heavy rainfall triggered floods that disrupted the lake's ecosystem, causing its waters to lose color and affecting local residents who rely on tourism and related commercial activities.

Cheikh Anta Diop University, in a post on Sunday on social media, said its study "concludes that the return of the lake's pink color is due to the massive reproduction of salt algae under typical dry-season conditions of high salinity and temperature."

El Hadji Sow, a researcher at the university who has long studied lake ecosystems, said changes in the lake's color are closely related to water salinity: when salinity falls, green algae dominate and the water turns green; when salinity rises, salt algae proliferate, and their red pigments transform the lake into pink or red.

With the return of Lake Retba's pink waters, local tourism and commercial activities are gradually recovering.

However, researchers have warned that the lake's ecosystem remains fragile, and some residents have expressed concern that rapid urbanization and potential water pollution in surrounding areas could affect water quality and microbial communities.

Senegal's ecological authorities have called for reducing human impacts to preserve the lake's natural cycles. 
WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Sunday that the White House is considering a plan for European NATO allies to purchase U.S.-made Tomahawk cruise missiles and transfer them to Ukraine, but the final call rests with President Donald Trump.

"I know that we're having conversations this very minute about that issue," Vance said on Fox News.

"We're looking at it," he said. "We're certainly looking at a number of requests from the Europeans."

When asked whether he was personally comfortable with Ukraine receiving Tomahawk missiles and "the threat that that would pose," Vance started sidestepping the question, saying that Trump will make the "final determination...on what's in the best interest of the United States of America."

According to U.S. media outlets, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed the deal during his meeting with Trump on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York last week. And he said Trump told him, "We'll work on it."

Vance stressed that the Trump administration adopted a broader policy shift that presses Europe to take on more of the burden. "We're no longer just giving tons of money and weapons. What we're doing is asking the Europeans to buy that weaponry."

Meanwhile, he called on Russia to "come to the table and actually talk seriously about peace."

Tomahawk is a U.S.-made, long-range, subsonic land-attack cruise missile with an operational range of 460-2,500 km, depending on the variant. This range could enable strikes on areas near Moscow if the missiles were deployed from parts of Europe. 
TRIPOLI, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Libya's eastern-based House of Representatives, the parliament, on Sunday reaffirmed continued support for Sudan amid ongoing regional challenges, according to the Libyan News Agency.

In a meeting in Benghazi between Libya's eastern-based Minister of African Affairs Issa Abdulmajid and a visiting delegation headed by Sudanese Consul General Abdulrahman Mohamed Rahmatallah, Abdulmajid stressed the deep-rooted bilateral ties, noting that Sudan's security and stability are integral to Libya's own.

Abdulmajid reviewed existing bilateral agreements in education, health and agriculture, among others, and called for enhancing bilateral cooperation, especially regarding the two countries' shared border regions.

For his part, Rahmatallah praised the historic depth of bilateral ties, and thanked Libya for its humanitarian support, including hosting displaced Sudanese.

The Sudanese community in Libya is committed to respecting Libyan laws, Rahmatallah said, affirming Sudan's adherence to the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs.

The consulate is about to submit a report to Libya on Sudanese nationals residing in the country, particularly those wishing to return voluntarily to safe areas in Sudan, he noted.

The meeting also covered practical issues, including residency procedures for Sudanese students in Libya, and other challenges facing the Sudanese community in Libya, which Abdulmajid pledged to follow up and address through continued coordination with Sudan.

Libya remains divided since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled former leader Muammar Gaddafi, split between the UN-recognized Government of National Unity in Tripoli and an eastern-based administration backed by the Libyan National Army under commander Khalifa Haftar. 
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- A potential U.S. federal government shutdown is looming as lawmakers remain divided over funding measures beyond Sept. 30. Congressional leaders plan to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday to discuss the matter.

Expected to attend are Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune.

The upcoming meeting follows Trump's cancellation of a scheduled meeting with Democratic leaders on Thursday, at the urging of Johnson and Thune.

POSSIBLE SHUTDOWN

Each year, the U.S. Congress is required to pass, and the president to sign, 12 appropriations bills covering the federal government's discretionary spending for the new fiscal year. For fiscal year 2026, which begins on Oct. 1, none of the 12 annual appropriations bills has cleared both houses, heightening the risk of a full government shutdown.

Without those measures or a temporary funding extension, the federal government would face a shutdown, during which non-essential operations are suspended while essential services and mandatory programs continue, according to U.S. law.

Although Republicans hold a 53-seat majority in the Senate, they still need at least seven votes from Senate Democrats to pass a funding measure under chamber rules to prevent prolonged debate and voting delay.

Both parties remain entrenched in their positions. Democrats are pushing for the inclusion of health care subsidies and other provisions, while Republican leaders are seeking a short-term extension with additional security funding for federal branches, CNN reported.

Trump on Tuesday canceled a planned meeting with Democratic congressional leaders, calling their demands "unserious and ridiculous." Jeffries and Schumer, two Democratic leaders, issued a joint statement Saturday evening, declaring, "We are resolute in our determination to avoid a government shutdown and address the Republican healthcare crisis. Time is running out."

NEW CHAOS

If the current budget impasse is not resolved, the looming U.S. government shutdown could differ greatly from previous ones. The White House has signaled it may adopt a new approach, urging agencies to scale back staff in programs whose funding has expired and that do not align with the administration's priorities.

According to a memo issued Wednesday by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), agencies whose funding ends on Oct. 1 and those deemed "not consistent with the president's priorities" should consider sending out termination notices to employees.

The Trump administration's indication that federal employees could be dismissed rather than furloughed in a government shutdown has raised concerns over job security for a workforce strained by budget cuts and layoffs, Bloomberg reported.

Some analysts believe the White House is not making empty threats and the Trump administration is willing to fire federal employees if no deal is reached. "The Trump administration already has fired tens of thousands of employees, so people should take the new threat seriously," Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Darrell West told Xinhua.

During the last shutdown, which occurred from late December 2018 to late January 2019 and lasted 35 days, roughly 800,000 federal employees were furloughed or required to work without pay.

GOVERNMENT DISFUNCTION

If the U.S. government shuts down next month, immigration, border enforcement and defense operations are expected to continue through funding from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which Trump signed into law in July, CNN reported. Contingency plans from relevant agencies are likely to outline which functions remain in operation.

The OMB said in the memo that the measure would provide sufficient resources to ensure that several core administration priorities, including the president's domestic agenda package, would not be disrupted.

This time, however, the OMB has opted not to post the plans centrally, instead leaving them on individual agency websites.

The White House, certain executive offices and Congress also remain operational, though many staff members could be furloughed or may be fired this time. Independent entities and government-sponsored enterprises not reliant on annual appropriations, including the Federal Reserve and postal services, would continue functioning, Bloomberg reported.

"Programs that did not benefit from an infusion of mandatory appropriations will bear the brunt of a shutdown," the OMB wrote in the memo, as reported by Politico, a Washington-based political newspaper.

"The White House simply wants to win the confrontation (with the Democrats). It may be that they will lose in terms of public opinion if they proceed to mass firings," Clay Ramsay, a researcher at the Center for International and Security Studies at the University of Maryland, told Xinhua. 
An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 25, 2025 shows a section of the G8513 expressway linking Jiuzhai Valley and Mianyang City in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

The opening of the first expressway to directly reach Jiuzhai Valley in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Monday has halved the driving time from Chengdu, the provincial capital, to the UNESCO World Heritage Site to just four hours.

The G8513 expressway, stretching about 246 km from Jiuzhai Valley to the city of Mianyang in Sichuan, features two lanes in each direction and is designed for a speed of 80 km per hour.(Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

CHENGDU, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- The opening of the first expressway to directly reach Jiuzhai Valley in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Monday has halved the driving time from Chengdu, the provincial capital, to the UNESCO World Heritage Site to just four hours.

The G8513 expressway, stretching about 246 km from Jiuzhai Valley to the city of Mianyang in Sichuan, features two lanes in each direction and is designed for a speed of 80 km per hour.

Built in northwest Sichuan, a cold, high-altitude region with complex terrain, its construction followed the principle of maximum environmental protection, minimum ecological damage and maximum natural restoration, avoiding excessive excavation and filling and reducing land use, according to the developers.

Ending the absence of expressways in Pingwu County and Beichuan Qiang Autonomous County of Mianyang, the G8513 will also serve as a major corridor linking Sichuan with Gansu Province, Qinghai Province and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Jiuzhai Valley, also known as Jiuzhaigou National Park, is known for its spectacular waterfalls, lush forests, serene plateau lakes and karst rock formations.

Located in the mountains on the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, it is one of the most acclaimed tourist destinations in China.

The number of tourists visiting Jiuzhai Valley has surged rapidly in recent years, according to Guo Xiaomin, deputy director of the Jiuzhaigou administration. The national park has welcomed 5.075 million visits so far this year, a year-on-year increase of 26.81 percent, including 296,000 visits by foreign tourists, up 52.51 percent from the year-earlier period.

The expressway also provides visitors an easier access to Bao'en Temple, a location featured in "Black Myth: Wukong," an internationally renowned, Chinese-developed AAA role-playing video game. 

An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 25, 2025 shows a section of the G8513 expressway linking Jiuzhai Valley and Mianyang City, and the Jiuhuang Mountain scenic area in southwest China's Sichuan Province.(Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 25, 2025 shows a service area along the G8513 expressway linking Jiuzhai Valley and Mianyang City, southwest China's Sichuan Province.(Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 26, 2025 shows a section of the G8513 expressway linking Jiuzhai Valley and Mianyang City in southwest China's Sichuan Province.(Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

This photo taken on Sept. 25, 2025 shows the Baima Tunnel, the longest tunnel along the G8513 expressway linking Jiuzhai Valley and Mianyang City in southwest China's Sichuan Province.(Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 27, 2025 shows a section of the G8513 expressway linking Jiuzhai Valley and Mianyang City in southwest China's Sichuan Province.(Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 25, 2025 shows a section of the G8513 expressway linking Jiuzhai Valley and Mianyang City in southwest China's Sichuan Province.(Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

A drone photo taken on Sept. 29, 2025 shows residents celebrating at a toll gate of the G8513 expressway linking Jiuzhai Valley and Mianyang City, southwest China's Sichuan Province.(Photo by Hu Yu/Xinhua)

An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 25, 2025 shows a section of the G8513 expressway linking Jiuzhai Valley and Mianyang City, southwest China's Sichuan Province.(Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 25, 2025 shows a section of the G8513 expressway linking Jiuzhai Valley and Mianyang City, southwest China's Sichuan Province.(Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 25, 2025 shows a section of the G8513 expressway linking Jiuzhai Valley and Mianyang City in southwest China's Sichuan Province.(Photo by Liu Huawei/Xinhua)

An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 29, 2025 shows a section of the G8513 expressway linking Jiuzhai Valley and Mianyang City in southwest China's Sichuan Province.(Photo by Liu Huawei/Xinhua)

An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 25, 2025 shows a toll gate of the G8513 expressway linking Jiuzhai Valley and Mianyang City in southwest China's Sichuan Province.(Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 27, 2025 shows a view of the G8513 expressway crossing with the expressway linking China's capital Beijing and Kunming of southwest China's Yunnan Province, in Sichuan Province, southwest China.(Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)
An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 29, 2025 shows the Centrifugal Hypergravity and Interdisciplinary Experiment Facility (CHIEF) in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province.China on Monday launched the world's largest centrifuge in terms of capacity, capable of generating 300 times Earth's gravity for a load up to 20 tonnes. The machine, coded CHIEF1300, is one of the core components of the Centrifugal Hypergravity and Interdisciplinary Experiment Facility (CHIEF) currently under construction in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province. It can be harnessed for frontier research spanning deep-ocean and deep-Earth resources extraction, disaster mitigation and prevention, underground waste disposal, and the synthesis of new materials. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)

HANGZHOU, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- China on Monday launched the world's largest centrifuge by capacity, which can generate 300 times Earth's gravity and accommodate loads of up to 20 tonnes.

The machine, coded CHIEF1300, is one of the core components of the Centrifugal Hypergravity and Interdisciplinary Experiment Facility (CHIEF) currently under construction in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province.

It can be harnessed for frontier research spanning deep-ocean and deep-Earth resources extraction, disaster mitigation and prevention, underground waste disposal, and the synthesis of new materials.

Developed by Zhejiang University, CHIEF features three centrifuges and 18 in-flight devices supporting six experimental cabins. Additionally, two more centrifuges with even greater capacity are currently under construction.

Hypergravity is defined as any gravitational force stronger than that at Earth's surface. For comparison, a roller-coaster rider briefly endures twice the Earth's gravity, and an astronaut during launch peaks at more than five times gravity (5G). CHIEF, by contrast, is engineered to sustain accelerations of up to 1,500G, according to its designers.

"In a hypergravity field, researchers can simulate real-world hydrogeological catastrophes, geological evolution and extreme environments in bench-top scale models within reasonable timeframe," said Chen Yunmin from Zhejiang University, the chief scientist of the facility.

Under such extreme conditions, CHIEF acts like a space-time compressor. At 100G, for instance, a 1-meter model simulates events that would occur on a 100-meter scale, and a contaminant-plume journey that would take a century in the field is condensed to only 3.65 days in the lab.

In the "CHIEF1300" machine hall, a 230-square-meter circular basement, a giant arm with a radius of 6.4 meters spins at high speed to generate such massive gravity via centrifugal forces. The faster it spins, the higher the centrifugal acceleration is.

"CHIEF1300 was placed below ground level, and was equipped with vacuum and wall-cooling setups to mitigate the adverse influences of air resistance and machine heating," said the chief engineer of the facility Ling Daosheng at Zhejiang University.

Pilot tests of the facility have already yielded new findings. Researchers simulated strong earthquakes to verify the seismic performance of a hydropower dam foundation, and quantified how a 4-meter-high wave and 20-meter tsunami affect the seabed to provide a reference to site selection for offshore wind farms.

Additionally, they reproduced the 2,000-meter deep sea water pressure for evaluation of methane hydrate extraction and safety, and synthesized metal alloys that are low in defects and high in strength and ductility.

Chen said the facility will operate as an open, shared hub for frontier science, and he looks forward to teaming up with the world's top research groups to accelerate discovery and spark innovation. 

An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 29, 2025 shows the Centrifugal Hypergravity and Interdisciplinary Experiment Facility (CHIEF) in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province.(Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)

This photo taken on Sept. 29, 2025 shows a launching ceremony of the centrifuge coded CHIEF1300, one of the core components of the Centrifugal Hypergravity and Interdisciplinary Experiment Facility (CHIEF), in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province.(Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)

This photo taken on Sept. 29, 2025 shows the centrifuge coded CHIEF1300, one of the core components of the Centrifugal Hypergravity and Interdisciplinary Experiment Facility (CHIEF), in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province.(Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)

This photo taken on Sept. 29, 2025 shows an interior view of the Centrifugal Hypergravity and Interdisciplinary Experiment Facility (CHIEF) in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province.(Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)

Staff members manage the operation of the centrifuge coded CHIEF1300 via a safety monitoring system in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, on Sept. 29, 2025.(Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)

This photo taken on Sept. 29, 2025 shows an exterior view of the Centrifugal Hypergravity and Interdisciplinary Experiment Facility (CHIEF) in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province.(Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)

An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 29, 2025 shows the Centrifugal Hypergravity and Interdisciplinary Experiment Facility (CHIEF) in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province.(Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)
For the first time since 1999, the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association is holding its annual Fall Tradeshow in Spokane. Running from September 2830, early reaction is that the move to eastern Washington feels like a win. According to Greg Holmes, PNBAs events and operations director, 93 member bookstores and more than 200 booksellers had registered by opening day; 73 authors are being featured at events, with an additional half-dozen meeting attendees on the show floor.

PNBA maximized attendees time in the Lilac City by holding pre-show events on September 27. At Spokane County Librarys central branch, author and librarian Sharma Shields (Duckling, Holt, 2027) emceed an event with area authors including cozy-fantasy bestseller Travis Baldree (Brigands and Breadknives, Tor, Nov.). Later in the evening, Aunties Bookstore on Spokanes Main Street hosted a reception, with booksellers admiring the landmark shops stacks and non-book selections.

At the Sunday membership meeting that officially started the show, executive director Brian Juenemann reported extremely positive trends in membership and new bookstores, despite the association operating under a projected deficit of about $14,000 in 2025. We are north of 170 and probably at 175 members this year, and last year was our high at 160, Juenemann said. In addition, we have more stores that registered for this trade show than registered in Portland last year.

The shift inland altered various trends from when PNBA is held in the metro regions of western Oregon and Washington. Mara Panich, owner of Fact & Fiction in Missoula, Mont., for instance, told PW she was able to drive to the show with multiple staffers instead of sending one person. Juenemann also attributed PNBAs strong attendance to entrepreneurial expansion. Were experiencing a kind of generational turnover, a changing of the guard, he said. Some of our rooted stores only have a handful of people making the trip to Spokane, but smaller stores are showing up, including the Corner Store (Butte, Mont.), Its a Love Story Books and Cafe (Hayden, Id.), and Books & Bottles (Snoqualmie, Wa.).

In terms of vendors, 96 companies and their 150 staffers were represented in the exhibitor space. Juenemann chalked up a slight decline in tables reserved to a few gun-shy Canadian exhibitors who were not interested in trying to get across our borders and back. Ordinarily, 12 Canadian exhibitors attend PNBAs fall show. This year, with U.S. tariffs, threats, and political uncertainty roiling the Canadian book market, sales manager Jen Cameron, of Orca Book Publishers, was the lone Canadian at a PNBA table.

These are our customers, Cameron said, adding that she felt all too aware of how identity shapes the safety of international travelers. Though other Canadian publishers opted out, a table next to Orcas displayed titles from Thornapple Pressdistributed in the U.S. by Microcosmand Nine Ten Publications. American Kitty Stryker, author of Love Rebels: How I Learned to Burn It Down Without Burning Out (Thornapple, Oct.), had volunteered to staff the booth.

Matters of concern

Politics, and wildfire smoke from blazes in the Cascades, cast a pall over the proceedings for U.S. travelers, too. On September 27, the White House threatened to send federal troops into Portland, Ore., a provocation that Portland booksellers including Kim Bissell of Broadway Books hoped would meet with only peaceful protest from the Rose Citys outspoken and proudly diverse communities.

ABA CEO Allison Hill, visiting the show with an ABA delegation, noted at the membership meeting, Weve seen a significant uptick in harassment of stores, both for who you are and who you host. We have deep gratitude for what youre doing, not just for your communities, but for our society and our democracy. ABA is tracking anti-democratic action with the Southern Poverty Law Center, which monitors hate groups.

Board president Christine Longmuir, of Two Rivers Bookstore in Portland, choked up when she told PNBA attendees, Owning and operating an independent bookstore is an act of revolution. I am really honored to be an independent bookseller right now.

Board VP Rosa Hernandez, of Third PlaceLake Forest Park, was seated next to Longmuir and responded, Times are incredibly difficultwhether because of book bans, pushback for hosting Palestinian authors, harassment of trans and queer authors, or ICE raids on our neighborhoods. She encouraged fellow booksellers to keep in touch with PNBA: Our wider community is strong as hell, so please reach out and share and keep fighting.

Other members of the board expressed various concerns. Hill fielded a question from Longmuir about Barnes & Nobles acquisition of Tattered Cover and its pending acquisition of Books Inc.

We know [B&N leadership] have talked to at least six other stores, Hill answered. They are definitely looking for independent bookstores in duress. She said that ABA had surveyed several member stores that have had B&N branches open within a 10-mile radius. We have absolutely heard from stores who have closed and said that was the nail in the coffin, Hill said. Even so, Hill continued, the acquisitions are legal and public sales.

PNBA also is concerned about its holiday catalogs, which drive sales at more than 90 stores. The association prints 700,000 paper catalogs, manages the distribution in local newspapers or through USPS, and sends out more than 100,000 copies digitally. Secretary and treasurer Cassie Clemans, owner of Roundabout Books in Bend, Ore., reported that gift book ads in the catalog were $39,000 below budget in 2025, leading the association to explore other revenue streams. Juenemann acknowledged that ad sales were down precipitously and the catalogs had been reduced from 24 to 16 pages, even though store commitment is up.

Its a rollercoaster with this program that has bolstered us for decades, Juenemann said of the catalog, which he called a bargain in terms of its marketing impact. Publishers are getting more than ever out of this campaign and out of us, so why are they leaving us out of the planning equation?

PNBAs Fall Tradeshow continues through September 30. Next years meeting will be held in Portland, September 2729, 2026.
Though he began his professional life as a legal clerk, the attorney Robert B. Barnett eventually became the representative of choice for politicians on both sides of the aisle when the time came to sell a book. Barnett, who recently marked 50 years at the law firm Williams & Connolly, died on on September 25. He was 79.

The Williams & Connolly family mourns the death of our dear friend and longtime partner, Bob Barnett, read a tribute on the Williams & Connolly website. Bob was among the most accomplished lawyers in the country, and widely known in Washington, D.C. legal and political circles for his high-profile clientele.

David Drake, president of the Crown Publishing Group, worked with Barnett on many projects over the years, ranging from the late Elizabeth Edwardss memoir Saving Graces to presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obamas presidential memoirs, Decision Points and A Promised Land, respectively Bob was a singular figure in our industry, seamlessly connecting the worlds of Washington, D.C., and book publishing, and unique in his capacity to cross the political aisle, Drake said.

Bob Barnett was one of the most honorable people Ive ever met, said Jonathan Karp, CEO of Simon & Schuster, who had numerous dealings with Barnett. He was wise, brilliant, and full of joy, stories, and excellent advice.

Among Barnetts authors published by S&S are Hillary Clinton and Bob Woodward. And as well known as Barnett was for representing high-profile political leaders, he also represented prominent figures in other fields, including Mary Higgins Clark, Barry Diller, Sanjay Gupta, and John Malone.

Barnetts ability to work with all types of powerful people was perhaps best personified when he convinced Bill Clinton, published by Knopf, and James Patterson, published by Little, Brown to collaborate on a novel. The President is Missing, which was copublished by the two imprints, became a huge bestseller.

Paul Bogaards, former executive VP and deputy publisher at Knopf, who currently heads his own public relations firm, said he had known Barnett for decades, and had just worked on publicity for the Diller book. He taught me a lot, Bogaards said. I wouldnt have accomplished what I have without Bobs advice.

Bogaards recalled his first meeting with Barnett, noting that after a brief conversation, the attorney took out his legal pad and said, Lets see how we can make this deal work. Working with Barnett was always a collaboration, Bogaards said. He wanted what was best for all parties. The characteristically outspoken Bogaards added that one piece of advice he received from Barnett was the need to comport himself differently in certain situations. I took his teaching to heart, he said.

Karp and Drake also spoke of what a pleasure it was to work with Barnett. He was a superlative partner and collaborator, Karp told PW. I speak on behalf of all of us at Simon & Schuster who worked with Bob in expressing our condolences to his family and our gratitude for having such a long and gratifying relationship with this remarkable man.

As much as he was a power broker and dealmaker, he was deeply human, displaying a genuine interest in the well-being of his clients and many partners, and exuding warmth at every turn, Drake said. As much as I admired him for his acumen, I will remember him as a great friend and I know he will be widely and deeply missed by so many. I am not sure we will see a figure quite like him going forward.
Click Here to go to PublishersWeekly.com
While U.S. policy is affecting retailers all over North America, President Donald Trumps threats to turn Canada into the 51st state have made it especially personal to communities along the border. Canadian independent booksellers are seeing more traffic and sales, but its a mixed bag for U.S. stores.

PW spoke with two dozen booksellers on both sides of the border who concur that, as Jessica Walker, owner of Munros Books in Victoria, B.C., put it, Canadian national pride has been re-invigorated. Pro-Canadian sentiment is now a key component of marketing; the website for Biblioasis Bookshop in Windsor, Ont., across the border from Detroit, for instance, now boasts a digital shelf of #ProudlyCanadian titles.

Although employment in the local automobile industry is tanking due to Trumps tariffs, Biblioasis Bookshop in Windsor, Ont. reports that sales remain up -- 26% since January. Walker says sales are up double digits at Munros, thanks to Canadians canceling U.S. vacations and visiting Victoria instead. In addition to books, customers are snapping up bumper stickers and enamel pins featuring the image of a Canada goose and the words, Back Off, Eh!

Julie Hillier-Vrolyk, owner of the Book Keeper in Sarnia, Ont., six miles from Port Huron, Mich., says her customers are elbows up, with many telling her theyve switched to shopping local and Canadian rather than online.

Americans are still crossing the border, with mixed results. Laura McFadden, owner of Old Niagara Bookshop in Niagara Falls, Ont., says sales are great, but adds, Its been the most unpleasant season Ive ever had. While her regulars from the U.S. have been cordial, an influx of new U.S. customers have proven very resentful, demanding, and unpleasant.

In contrast, Meghan Desjardins, lead bookseller at River Bookshop in Amherstburg, Ont., south of Detroit, says there are more Canadian customers, but also noticeably more U.S. customers. The Americans, Desjardins says, are vocal about purposefully shopping in Canada. Some are coming in and saying theyd never been to Canada before and this is a good time to go. We feel so supported by our American neighbors.

Lucy Hoblyn, co-owner of Brome Lake Books in Knowlton, Que., says, Its been a crazy summer, with a surge in Americans visiting the store, probably because of the cafe downstairs that Louise Penny opened in June. When Hillary Clinton stopped by in July, some in her entourage wore T-shirts printed with an apology in multiple languages. A lot of people are coming up to take a break from the craziness, Hoblyn says.

Every Canadian bookseller PW spoke with emphasized that they bear no ill will toward Americans. Brome Lake and Phoenix Books in Burlington, Vt., are partnering on a November ticketed event featuring Penny at the Haskell Free Library, whose building straddles the border of Quebec and Vermont. Brome Lake will sell the Canadian editions of Pennys latest, Black Wolf, and Phoenix will sell the U.S. edition. This is the closest Penny will come to the U.S. this fall after canceling the U.S. leg of her tour in response to Trumps tariffs.

Multiple booksellers on the U.S. side mentioned that sales to Canadian customers are down. Sales at Phoenix are way up overall following its move to a better location last June, but the number of Canadian customers has plummeted since January. Jeff Morrow, owner of the Book Corner on the U.S. side of Niagara Falls, says, I had a lot of Canadian business, but since Trump came back into office, Ive lost 75% of that.

Some U.S. indies are hoping to retain their Canadian customers by openly declaring their support, as well as their progressive bona fides. Village Books in Bellingham, Wash. has a sign in its window proclaiming, Fairhaven [neighborhood] Loves Canadians. U.S., Canadian, Ukrainian, and Pride flags hang in the front windows of Main Street Books in Minot, N.D. And In Alaska, The Bookstore in Haines not only displays Pride flags and spotlights books on democracy, its also infusing politics into its programming.

We had a letter writing campaign event last month where folks could come in and air their grievances via letters to our state and federal representatives," report co-owners Zane and Beau Bradley, we had several comments from Canadian customers expressing their support. Many travelers from Whitehorse and the Yukon have a longstanding relationship with Haines, and often comment that they'll support their neighbors here, but have no interest in visiting the rest of the U.S.

Several other U.S. border booksellers, including Drury Lane Books in Grand Marais, Minn., and Merit Badge Books in Hamburg, N.Y., note that while sales to Canadian customers are down at nearby businesses, theirs are up. Merit Badge owner Heather Jackson ascribes this to her obviously left-leaning bookstore being considered a safe space. And Gwen Danfelt, Drury Lanes manager, says the 25-year-old store is known as a progressive bookstore in a progressive town in a progressive state that Canadians still want to come to.

Update: an error in the original version of this story regarding sales at Biblioasis Bookshop in Windsor, Ont. has been corrected.
Tara Walker, publisher of the Tundra Book Group (the childrens division at Penguin Random House Canada), began her career at the bottomliterally. One of her first responsibilities as an assistant at Kids Can Press in Toronto was to paint the toenails of the companys Franklin the Turtle mascot costume. Brown nail polish, she recalls.

Walker rose through the ranks, eventually becoming executive editor of the press and the shepherd of the beloved series about an anthropomorphic box turtle and his friends. I had a fantastic training ground in Kids Can, she says. Valerie Hussey and the late Sheila Barry, who went on to be publisher at Groundwood Books, were amazing mentors. I learned the ropes and discovered a passion for picture books in particular.

In 2011, after 16 years at Kids Can, she was tapped to lead Tundra Books and to reinvigorate its publishing program. When I joined, they were publishing for the school and library markets mostly, and I saw the potential to make us more trade facing, she says.

Walker brought Ben Clanton from Kids Can to Tundra. Clanton, with Walkers encouragement and vision, went on to create the bestselling Narwhal and Jelly series, whose 10th installment, A Waffle Lot of Love!, will land on shelves in December. I knew that we needed a series like his to help us publish books that we could take more risks with, Walker says. Kids Can had done that with the Franklin series and the Scaredy Squirrel series, which I acquired. I knew the impact a big commercial series could have on a publishing program.

Kyo Maclear, one of Walkers authors, describes todays Tundra as the Greta Gerwig of childrens publishers. Its an apt description, Walker says. Were very art forward. Were known for books that tend to be a little offbeat. Weve had some really interesting successes with books that dont fit into neat categories, like Narwhal and Jelly, which was passed over in the U.S. because early graphic novels were not a thing. We stuck to our vision and it worked, and weve been doing longer-form picture books since, like Little Witch Hazel by Phoebe Wahl and Bug in a Vacuum by Melanie Watt. Weve taken some chances. Were guided by what were passionate about.

Three years ago, David A. Robertson, two-time winner of the Governor Generals Literary Award and a member of Norway House Cree Nation, and author Cherie Dimaline, a member of the Metis Nation of Ontario, approached Walker, with whom they both had publishing relationships, with a proposal for an Indigenous imprint. It took us about a second to say yes, Walker says. I had been thinking about it in terms of truth and reconciliation, and what we could do as publishers to rewrite the wrongs of the past and give more voice to Indigenous storytellers, ensure Indigenous kids felt represented, and create a pipeline for Indigenous publishing talent. Robertson serves as editorial director of the new imprint, Swift Water Books, which will release its first list in spring 2026. We saw the need and hunger for more stories by Indigenous creators. Our author became our colleague, and hes been doing an amazing job at the helm. Hes already signed 25 projects.

Tundra Books is the oldest childrens publisher in Canada, founded in 1967 by May Cutler, and, while Walker takes that responsibility seriously, I dont wear that mantle heavily, because I think you need a light spirit to create childrens books, she says. We are all perfectionists who strive to make the very best books, and create the best possible publishing experience for our authors and illustrators. We also have a lot of fun. I think of the work we do as kind of like Kermit the Frog rallying his Muppet colleagues to put on the Muppet Show. Every book is like an episode of the show. Some days I feel like Kermit, some days like Miss Piggy, and some days, a little like Gonzo. Even Animal on occasion!

Pooja Makhijani is a writer and editor in New Jersey.
Its been a while since we saw any innovation in the rifle world, but something that keeps pushing the bounds of what is possible is the world of optics. One neglected segment of that is the red dot + magnifier combo. SIG Sauers Automatic Modified Reticle (AMR) changes that in a huge way.

SPECS & FEATURES

Waterproofing: IPX-8

Height: 62.9 mm

Magnification: 1X / 3X

Clear Aperture: 20 mm

Overall Length : 6.1 in

Overall Width: 2.7 in

Battery : (1) CR123

Reticle: Quad Ballistic Circle Dot 2.0 Automatic Modified Reticle

Weight: 19.2 oz

Illumination Settings: 15 (12 DT + 3 NV)

Run Time: 50,000 hr

Sight Height: 1.41 in (Absolute Co-Witness with Iron Sights)

AMR  Automatic Modified Reticle

MIL-810-STD Durability

Assembled in Oregon, USA

PROS: Instantly switch from close-range settings to long-range settings

Absolute game-changer for red dot + magnifier combo setups

Highly durable CONS: Only available for the Romeo8T

IN HAND & IN THE FIELD

In the war between LPVOs and red dot + magnifiers, my rifles almost always rock the dot and mag. From training classes to Brutality matches to 2-Gun, and more  the red dot and mag combo just works best for me and my applications.

Having used the AMR for several of these events, its hard not to feel like my other red dot and magnifier combos are now obsolete.

Image quality suffers greatly from having pictures taken. In real life, the glass only has a slight blue tint and is very clear.

The major downside to a red dot + magnifier has always been the fact that what you want in a red dot is not always what you want in a magnified optic. Red dots are commonly sport larger reticles designed for close-up use and with the brightness set between pretty bright and Eye of Sauron bright. A magnified optic is the opposite. Ideally, your reticle is smaller and not as bright, so it doesnt blind you. Use a max brightness green dot and flip down a 6x magnifier, and you might not need LASIK anymore.

SIGs AMR solves this perfectly. A simple system that requires nothing from the user other than flipping the magnifier into position. With a simple flip, the reticle changes to your preset, so its basically perfect when your eye meets it.

While there are a few options, my preferred unmagnified setup was the larger donut of death-style reticle at max brightness. For the magnified view, 3 stacked ballistic dots at a lower brightness were perfect and made hits to 400 yards with ease.

Moving between close range and longer range was seamless and easy. Going from targets at 10 yards to targets at 400 yards couldnt be easier. This results in more hits, faster hits and less fatigue on the shooter.

Basically, its the red dot + magnifier perfected.

WORTH IT?

The $1,000 MSRP for the Romeo8T-AMR combo kit that comes with a Juliet 3 Micro is not small money, but for what youre getting, it has more value than at first glance.

Most people arent very familiar with the Romeo8T, since most normies looking to spend that much on a red dot only consider Aimpoint or EOTech. But the Romeo8T has seen some solid use among professionals. Sharp-eyed gear nerds have spotted the Romeo8T on American SOF rifles in Africa, AFSOC, CAG and federal law enforcement.

Is it popular because of SIGs massive reach within the federal government, or because users actually love the optic? I say, Por que no los dos?

This version of the Romeo8T has been made even better with a dedicated NV button and lighter than before, though it does drop the sacrificial shroud.

A top-tier red dot combined with a good magnifier, plus the AMR system, assembled in the USA, and a grand starts to feel more reasonable.

Though it would be nice to see the AMR system in something more consumer-friendly, like an upgraded Romeo5.

LOOSE ROUNDS

Final thoughts on the Romeo8T-AMR boil down to two, somewhat competing, conclusions. The ability to have two different reticles and brightness settings for magnified and unmagnified is truly awesome and a major improvement to the red dot+magnifier combo. But the AMR system might need a little more maturing to give the features and product options that will appeal to many users.

The Juliet 3 Micro is a good magnifier, but this system would be improved with a long eye relief magnifier and/or different mount options, such as a flip-to-center design.

This first iteration of the AMR is a wonderful proof of concept and an outstanding red dot, but to really take advantage of the AMR design requires a little more from SIG.
JAKARTA, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia has begun cultivating around 481,000 hectares of rice fields in the Merauke district of Papua province, aiming to turn the region into a national food granary under a strategic project, Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan said Monday.

The project, located in Wanam, taps into about 1 million hectares of swamp land that can be converted into productive farmland. It is expected not only to produce staple food commodities such as rice, but also to generate ethanol from sugarcane and cassava, as well as biodiesel blends from palm oil, Hasan told a press conference after a coordination meeting in Jakarta.

"This step will strengthen our food sovereignty agenda while supporting emission reduction targets and climate adaptation," the minister said.

According to Hasan, the development would serve as a pillar of Indonesia's efforts to achieve food, energy, and water self-sufficiency.

The government, he added, is prioritizing security, environmental protection, and spatial planning in the implementation, while expediting land use rights and other permits to ensure efficiency and resilience in the long term. 
'This is not a case of tax evasion but the result of long-standing ambiguities in GST rules and unawareness.'

Kindly note that this image has only been posted for representational purposes. Photograph: Rediff Archives

Top executives from the Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) will meet government officials this week to address tax demand notices that hotels across the country have received over underpayment of goods and services tax (GST) for restaurant services on their premises.

We will be meeting government officials in the coming week to address this issue of retrospective demand notices, which run into crores. This is not a case of tax evasion but GST-related ambiguity, which needs to be addressed by authorities. We want to clarify these matters and arrive at a solution," Surendra Kumar Jaiswal, the newly-elected president of FHRAI, told Business Standard.

At the body's 69th annual general meeting held on Saturday, Jaiswal also raised concerns over the removal of input tax credit (ITC) for hotel rooms priced under Rs 7,500, for which GST rates have been reduced to 5 per cent from 12 per cent earlier.

Although the revision is a continued effort to rationalise tax rates in order to benefit consumers, improve compliance, and support growth, it has turned into an added cost for guests and created structural cost burdens on hotels, particularly in Tier-II and Tier-III cities, Jaiswal noted.

Almost 90 per cent of the country's hotels operate below a room tariff of Rs 7,500, and are now subject to 5 per cent GST without input tax credit, he highlighted.

The withdrawal of ITC has escalated unrecoverable costs on rentals, utilities, outsourced manpower, and capital expenditure, deterring investments and threatening the growth of domestic tourism, he stated, while calling for reinstatement of ITC at the earliest and issuing a clarificatory circular to remove compliance ambiguities.

"Our industry is one of the largest generators of employment and a key driver of India's service economy. Yet, the GST framework without ITC has created inequities that threaten our competitiveness," he said.

The body also raised the sector's long pending demand for industry status.

"We are not seeking concessions but fairness, clarity, and parity. By restoring ITC, addressing copyright ambiguities, and granting infrastructure and industry status, the government can empower hospitality to support the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and secure India's rightful place as a global tourism hub," Jaiswal added.

Scores of hotels across the country have received retrospective demand notices worth thousands of crores of rupees for underpayment of the goods and services tax (GST) for restaurant services as authorities cracked down on the alleged evasion, even as hotel associations cried foul saying that these notices emanated from lack of clarity in GST rules and that there was no GST evasion.

Under the law, if the declared tariff of a hotel room is more than 7,500 per day, GST at 18 per cent becomes applicable on restaurant services also. However, for hotels with room rents below 7500, the GST is 5 per cent.

'Specified premises'

Hotels with room tariffs exceeding 7,500 per day are categorised as 'specified premises'. For restaurants outside the premises, the applicable GST rate is 5 per cent only.

GST authorities said many establishments continued to pay GST at the concessional rate of 5 per cent instead of 18 per cent on restaurant services even though the hotel room tariffs went above the 7,500 threshold.

In one such case, according to sources, the Pune unit of the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) issued a notice to a hospitality company for underpaying 3.63 crore (Rs 36.3 million) on restaurant services between the financial year 2020 (FY20) and FY25.

Another hotel group was found to have underpaid 44.9 lakh (Rs 4.49 million) on restaurant supplies during October 2021-July 2023. Both demands were raised under Section 74 of the CGST Act, with interest and penalty also applicable, according to the documents seen by Business Standard.

Industry experts argue that linking restaurant tax rates to room tariffs is both unfair and impractical.

"This provision will necessarily have to be tested on the touchstone of Constitutionality, particularly using the principles of proportionality. The GST Council's clear intent has always been to rationalise and reduce tax on restaurant services. Linking the rate of tax on restaurants to the room tariff of hotels leads to disproportionate and absurd results," said Abhishek A Rastogi, founder, Rastogi Chambers, who claims to represent several industry players on the issue.

K Syama Raju, President, Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI), told Business Standard, that the notices had created financial distress for companies in the sector.

"This is not a case of tax evasion but the result of long-standing ambiguities in GST rules and unawareness. In many cases, even if a hotel charged more than 7,500 on any single occasion, demand notices for 18 per cent GST were raised retrospectively from the time GST was implemented," Raju said.

"This is clearly impractical and stems from regulatory ambiguity rather than deliberate non-compliance," added Raju.

The industry body head highlighted that since the past many years, the hospitality industry has faced challenges due to the linking of food and beverage rates with room charges and the ambiguity in GST provisions that fluctuated between 'Value of Services Received' and 'Declared Tariff'.

Walk-in diners

Hotel operators also raised concerns over the impact on walk-in diners.

"The current tax framework creates undue hardship for customers who simply walk into our restaurants without availing hotel rooms. Linking restaurant tax rates to room tariffs is impractical, as it penalises diners who are not even staying with us. Restaurant services should be treated independently to ensure fairness and ease of doing business," said Laxman Kariya, managing director, St Laurn Hotels and Resorts.

With inputs from Gulveen Aulakh
Amid controversy over US President Donald Trumps comments linking the use of Tylenol and other related paracetamol products by pregnant women to autism in children, experts and industry executives say that since Indias export of the drug to the US is less, it will hardly affect the countrys pharma exports to America.

Photograph: Kylie Cooper/Reuters

Nikkhil Masurkar, CEO at Entod Pharmaceuticals, said paracetamol is likely to account for a low single-digit share of Indias US-bound pharma exports and that the recent clinician messaging by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is unlikely to dent the overall US paracetamol demand materially, so Indias export volumes should be largely unaffected.

If anything, smaller players could feel more procurement and compliance pressure rather than a demand collapse, he added.

US paracetamol supply chains rely heavily on non-Indian sources for active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), historically a large share from China, implying Indias export contribution in this single commodity is modest, he added.

Last week, President Trump and US Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr made controversial claims linking the use of common painkiller Tylenol (acetaminophen) by pregnant women and similar products to an increased risk of autism, while announcing new regulatory guidance alerting physicians.

Acetaminophen and paracetamol are the same active medicine, with differences only in name usage. Acetaminophen is used mainly in the US and Japan, while paracetamol is the common name in most of the world.

Namit Joshi, chairman for the Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil), said that the impact will largely depend on how American physicians act on the FDAs advisory.

Currently, there is no established link between paracetamol and autism, and physicians remain the final authority, he added.

Experts add that over-the-counter (OTC) paracetamol in the US is buyer-consolidated with big retailers and larger private-label contract manufacturers involved, subject to tough quality assurance, continuity of supply, and liability expectations.

So, the visible shelf share skews to larger and more established suppliers.

Smaller firms, therefore, tend to participate via API supply, contract manufacturing, or limited stock keeping units (SKUs) rather than broad, branded OTC presence, people said.

Joshi added that paracetamol accounts for only about 0.56 per cent of Indias overall API exports to the US, valued at roughly $2.77 million in FY25.

For FY24, India exported paracetamol products worth $182.31 million, according to data from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Of this, exports to the US amounted to $21.98 million.

According to reports, a recent review of 46 studies had found links between using Tylenol during pregnancy and a higher risk of neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and ADHD in children.

The risk seemed to increase when acetaminophen was taken regularly throughout pregnancy.

Following this review, the FDA announced plans to revise the pregnancy safety classification of acetaminophen.

Doctors add that while the FDAs recent communications acknowledge studies reporting an association between prenatal acetaminophen use and neurodevelopmental outcomes, the agency still says theres no clear causal evidence and continues to monitor the science.

Tripti Raheja, director for Obstetrics and Gynaecology at CK Birla Hospital, Delhi, said such studies can show links, but cannot prove that one thing causes another.

As a result, current medical guidelines regard acetaminophen as the safest choice for managing pain and fever during pregnancy, compared to other options like ibuprofen or combination drugs such as combiflam.
Activists from the Himalayan states on Monday condemned the arrest of 'education reformer' Sonam Wangchuk, demanding his release and extending support to his demand for statehood and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

IMAGE: Activists namely Sajjad Kargili, Atul Sati, Manshi Asher, Anmol Ohri hold a joint press conference at the Press Club of India, demanding the release of Sonam wangchuk, Ladakh's statehood and the development in areas of Himalaya, in New Delhi on Monda. Photograph: ANI Photo

At a press conference held in New Delhi by the 'People for Himalaya', a collective campaign for addressing climate disasters, the activists also warned of a "larger crisis unfolding across the Himalayan region".

Sajjad Kargili from Kargil Democratic Alliance, Ladakh; Atul Sati of Joshimath Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, Uttarakhand; Manshi Asher of Himdhara Collective; and Anmol Ohri of Climate Front Jammu addressed the press conference.

The activists termed the arrest of Wangchuk under the National Security Act as an assault on democratic rights and freedom of dissent, asserting that such acts were a blatant attempt to silence the voices of the people of Ladakh who have been raising legitimate concerns about their constitutional rights, livelihoods and environment.

The organisation also condemned the violent attack on "peaceful protestors" in Leh, Ladakh on September 24, where four people were killed and over 80 were injured, of which 15 are critical.

It alleged that "excessive force" was used by opening fire and described it as an act of brutality against unarmed citizens. It demanded accountability at the highest level.

The activists also called for a high-level judicial inquiry into the violence, the resignation of the Lieutenant Governor Kavindwer Gupta and director general of police SD Singh Jamwal besides the immediate release of Wangchuk and all arrested leaders and the withdrawal of all charges against them.

Asher alleged that attempts were being made to "defame" the movement for inclusion of Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule and its statehood, adding that unemployment is a major issue in Himalayan states.

"The issue of unemployment is impacting the whole (of the) Himalayas. In Uttarakhand as well, youth are unhappy due to unemployment, it is an issue of livelihood that has to be linked with democracy and climate change," she said.

In a statement issued at the press conference, the activists said a larger crisis was unfolding across the Himalayan region.

It said the recent calamities in the Himalayan states cannot be dismissed only as natural disasters. They represent the compounded impact of climate change interacting with poor governance, it added.

"The monsoons of 2025 once again laid bare the vulnerability of the mountains, with devastating floods and landslides reported from Uttarkashi, Mandi, Kishtwar, Joshimath, Dharali, Siang, Ladakh and Sikkim," the statement said, and stressed that these events cannot be dismissed only as natural and climate disasters.

"Rather, they represent the compounded impact of climate change interacting with poor governance and policy making centred on reckless models of extractive development leading to the form of rapid and massive commercial tourism, unregulated infrastructure expansion, and deforestation," it said.

Sati said the disasters in the Himalayas are being triggered by human interference, which is changing, leading to disasters. "We are seeing that development activities are triggering these calamities," he said.

"Like the four-lane highway in Himachal Pradesh, or all-weather road in Uttarakhand, there were 45 landslides on the Char Dham road last year, this year it was more than 100 on that road," Sati said.

"The model of development is proving to be dangerous for the Himalayas. We are appealing that the one model of development should be stopped immediately. The bulldozer of development in the Himalayas should be stopped, else you cannot stop the crisis," he said.

The People for Himalaya campaign was launched in 2024 after the disasters in Himachal Pradesh, Joshimath and Sikkim to advocate for pan-Himalayan awareness.
The Leh Apex Body, spearheading the agitation for statehood and constitutional safeguards in Ladakh, on Monday announced suspension of talks with the Centre until a judicial inquiry into the police firing is constituted and all activists, including Sonam Wangchuk, are released unconditionally.

IMAGE: Security personnel patrol as the curfew imposed after the protest over the statehood demand and the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule, in Leh, September 26, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

LAB chairman Thupstan Chhewang and co-chairman Chering Dorjay said the restoration of a "conducive atmosphere" in Ladakh was necessary before resuming dialogue.

Hardening its stand after the death of four protestors, the LAB said it would still rethink and join the talks on October 6 if the demands of ordering a judicial probe headed by a retired Supreme Court judge and releasing all prisoners were met by the government.

"We will urge the Home Ministry and the UT administration to take steps to address the atmosphere of fear, grief and anger that is there," the two leaders said.

The boycott was announced hours after the fourth victim, a former army soldier, was cremated amid heavy security in the curfew-bound capital of Ladakh.

Late in the evening, the Home Ministry came out with a brief statement saying the government has always been open to dialogues on Ladakh matters with LAB and KDA.

"We would continue to welcome the discussion with Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance through the High Powered Committee on Ladakh or any such platform," the statement said, pointing out the past results which had brought development and employment in the region.

"The dialogue mechanism...on Ladakh has yielded good results till date in the form of increased reservations to the Scheduled Tribes of Ladakh, providing women's reservation in LAHDCs and protection to local languages. The process of recruitment for 1800 posts in government has already commenced in UT of Ladakh.

"We are confident that continuous dialogue would yield the desired results in the near future," the statement said.

Meanwhile, the Leh town remained subdued, with the curfew only briefly relaxed for two hours at 4 PM on Monday.

Tourists who travelled to the region are stranded, confined to their hotels, and unable to move or participate in sightseeing, with many expressing disappointment over the closed markets and suspended mobile internet services.

The ongoing unrest, which saw widespread violent protests on September 24, has already dealt a fresh blow to Ladakh's tourism industry, which stakeholders say was just recovering from earlier setbacks this season.

Chhewang, a two-time former Member of Parliament, said the decision on suspending talks was unanimous and added, "as long as peace is not restored and a conducive atmosphere is not created, we will not participate in any talks."

The LAB set clear preconditions for resuming dialogue with the Home Ministry's High Powered Committee, saying that the government must order a judicial probe by a retired Supreme Court judge into the killings and all arrested, including noted Wangchuk, who was detained under the stringent National Security Act (NSA), must be released, besides revoking all cases.

Co-chairman Chering Dorjay warned that unless "right steps" are taken before the October 6 date, the LAB will not reconsider its decision to return to the table.

The leaders of the LAB strongly hit back at recent statements by the administration, which they say have levelled serious and intolerable allegations against the local populace and key figures like Wangchuk.

"The people of Ladakh will never tolerate the 'anti-national' or 'Pakistani agent' tag as they have always shown loyalty to the country," Chhewang said and demanded proof for the accusations, which reportedly suggested that protestors were "playing in the hands of foreign powers" and that Wangchuk was involved in "anti-national activities."

The leaders directly blamed the government for the violence and subsequent deaths, alleging that the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) used "excessive force, killing and injuring our people and creating an atmosphere of fear, grief and anger."

Authorities have maintained that the security forces were forced to take action in self-defence as protesters indulged in violence.

The unrest is rooted in the widespread dissatisfaction with the Union Territory status granted in 2019, which the LAB claims failed to meet their expectations for justice.

"We felt that the safeguards provided to us under Article 370 and Article 35A were eroded along with democracy, prompting us to launch a fresh agitation for our genuine rights," Chhewang said.

The movement's core demands include statehood, extension of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, job reservation, a separate public service commission, and separate Lok Sabha seats.

Asked about the presence of Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) representatives in Delhi in connection with the talks, Dorjay said, "We are on a single page...we have neither talked to them nor conveyed our decision (to stay away from talks) so far. Probably they will not have a second thought on this."

While the stand of KDA was not known after the decision of LAB, the alliance leader Sajjad Kagili had earlier in the day demanded immediate and unconditional release of Wangchuk and others and warned the Centre that its failure to meet Ladakh statehood and other core demands is "alienating" the people in the Himalayan region.

Chhewang explained the root of the renewed unrest, stating that while the Centre granted Union Territory (UT) status to Ladakh after a "long struggle of 70 years," the move in August 2019 was "not as per our expectations and justice."

He said the dialogue on their core four demands -- statehood, extension of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, a separate job cadre and public service commission, and separate Lok Sabha seats-- had continued for five years.

However, the deadly violence on September 24 shattered the process. He stressed that the administration deployed this "excessive force" despite the LAB being in contact with the central government and preparing for the upcoming talks.

Meanwhile, the Ladakh tourism sector, already reeling from setbacks earlier this season, has been dealt another blow with the curfew in Leh following last week's violence.

Stakeholders said the industry was first hit by widespread cancellations after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, and the fresh disturbances have further dented travellers' confidence.

Widespread violent protests occurred in Leh on September 24 during a shutdown called by LAB to advance talks with the Centre on the demands for statehood and extension of the Sixth Schedule to Ladakh.

Four people were killed and scores of others were injured in the clashes between protesters and security personnel, while over 50 people were taken into custody for their alleged involvement in rioting. Activist Sonam Wangchuk, the main face of the agitation, was also detained under the stringent NSA.

According to government sources, talks were offered on July 20 for which it did not get response. The LAB and KDA have been spearheading the agitation for statehood and extension of the Sixth Schedule to the Union Territory.
Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor on Monday alleged that Bihar deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary had escaped trial in a decades-old murder case by "falsely" claiming to be a minor before the Supreme Court.

IMAGE: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar along with deputy CM Samrat Choudhary (right) during the 'NDA Karyakarta Sammelan', in Gopalganj, Bihar, September 28, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

Addressing a press conference in Patna, Kishor said Choudhary's affidavit, filed in 2020 at the time of getting elected to the state legislative council, flew in the face of his earlier claim before the apex court, and demanded his "immediate dismissal".

Choudhary, a former state Bharatiya Janata Party president who holds crucial portfolios like finance in the Nitish Kumar government, was not available for comments immediately.

Kishor said, "We will seek an appointment with the governor tomorrow to press for Choudhary's sacking. We also urge Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his ally BJP to act now, else they shall stand exposed before the people."

He also alleged that Choudhary had "faced trial in a case involving the murder of six people in his native Tarapur, in Munger district, way back in 1995".

"Choudhary moved the Supreme Court, claiming that he was only 14 years of age when the mass murder took place. He was let off since juveniles could not be put on trial," the Jan Suraaj Party founder claimed.

"If we look at Choudhary's affidavit of 2020, he states his age at the time to be 51 years. Taking that into account, he would have been in his 20s in 1995. These facts make him liable for prosecution," Kishor alleged.

These are serious charges, he said.

"My previous charges, against the deputy CM, of getting a D.Litt degree without having cleared Class X exams, were less grave. I also challenge Choudhary to come clean on his role in the Shilpi-Gautam murder case, which many remember only for Sadhu Yadav," said Kishor.

Shilpi Jain and Gautam Singh were found dead, in 1999, inside a car in a semi-nude state, triggering shock waves across Patna.

The vehicle was parked close to the house of Sadhu Yadav, a brother of Rabri Devi, the then Chief Minister of the state.

Following an outcry, the case was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation, which filed a closure report a few years later, declaring the deaths to be a case of suicide.

Choudhary was then a minister in the state, his cabinet berth seen as a "reward" for his father Shakuni Choudhary switching allegiance from the Samata Party to the RJD.

Kishor also demanded a "public withdrawal" of the defamation notice by Ashok Choudhary, a state minister and a national general secretary of the Janata Dal-United headed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

"If Ashok Choudhary fails to do so, I will make public more of his financial irregularities, worth Rs 500 crore", said the Jan Suraaj Party founder.

Choudhary slapped a legal notice on Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor, asking him to tender an "unconditional apology" for defamatory remarks or face a civil suit seeking Rs 100 crore in damages.

Kishor had accused Choudhary of being involved in an irregular land deal worth Rs 200 crore.

The Jan Suraaj Party founder also claimed that a trust, which had among its members the mother-in-law of Choudhary's daughter Shambhavi, a Lok Sabha MP herself, had received a donation of Rs 100 crore.

"All those associated with the trust, including a close relative of Chief Secretary Pratyay Amrit, should come forward and disclose the source (of income), else their integrity will be in doubt," Kishor claimed.

The 47-year-old politician also lashed out at "inconsequential leaders of the BJP" for alleging that Kishor was running his party with money raised through "shell companies".

"I have received money, to run my party, from those whom I had offered political consultancy, in my previous avatar, without then charging any fee. I have used the money not for myself but for building a political alternative in my home state of Bihar. I have also paid GST on the money I have raised," said Kishor.
Each leader will look after six assembly constituencies.

Most of these leaders are known for their organisational skills and successful management of elections in their respective states.

IMAGE: Bharatiya Janata Party senior leader Amit Shah interacts with BJP leaders from Purnia, Kosi and Bhagalpur. Photograph: Kind courtesy @AmitShah/X

Sensing a tough fight in the crucial Bihar assembly election due in November, the Bharatiya Janata Party's top leadership is relying more on the party's Pravasi Netas (BJP leaders from other states) instead of its local leaders.

Although the BJP will seek votes in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who remains popular, the party has decided to deploy a team of 45 leaders -- Union ministers, MPs, MLAs, and senior leaders from 12 states -- for the election campaign and to guide, supervise, and monitor local leaders and workers.

The BJP-led National Democratic Party comprises Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal-United, the Lok Janshakti Party-Ramvilas led by Union Minister Chirag Paswan, the Hindustani Awam Morcha led by Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and the Rashtriya Lok Morcha led by former Union minister Upender Kushwaha.

The BJP, which is currently the single largest party in the Bihar assembly, and its major ally the JD-U, which is in third position after the Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal, are both eyeing the role of 'big brother' after the poll outcome.

With this in mind, the BJP aims to win more seats than in the 2020 polls.

IMAGE: Amit Shah addresses BJP workers. Photograph: Kind courtesy @AmitShah/X

Amit Shah, regarded as the most powerful BJP leader after Modi, is the brains behind the deployment of party leaders from the BJP-ruled states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Maharashtra and Odisha as well as a few leaders from Jharkhand and Jammu and Kashmir.

On Friday, Shah addressed a meeting with these leaders at the Atal Sabhagar at the state BJP headquarters in Patna to prepare for 'Mission Bihar Victory'.

The meeting was attended by BJP national General Secretary (Organisation) B L Santosh, BJP Bihar election in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan, state party in-charge Vinod Tawde and several senior party leaders from Bihar.

Union Minister Pradhan, who is from Odisha, is known for his successful organisational work and for managing elections as the party's in-charge in various states, including Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka (assembly elections) and Bihar in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

IMAGE: BJP's Bihar election in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan greets Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna. Photograph: ANI Photo

Pradhan will be assisted by Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil, who is from Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya.

Shah made it clear to the 45 party leaders from different states that the result of the Bihar election would send a message to the rest of the country.

'All of you have to work as common party workers and establish coordination with leaders and workers of the various NDA allies,' Shah told the leaders, confided a BJP leader who attended the meeting.

Shah, the BJP leader added, urged the leaders to set aside all other work and dedicate themselves to the organisation until the Bihar election.

'In his signature style, Shah told them that they must all remember that they have to treat all candidates as NDA candidates. Our target is for the NDA to win the election. It is not important which party's candidate is contesting from where', the BJP leader revealed.

"This is a significant move by our party leadership to give them responsibility for different districts and assembly constituencies to connect with people and to activate local party leaders, workers and supporters during the election in the state," said state BJP president Dileep Jaiswal.

IMAGE: BJP leaders respond to Amit Shah who told them, 'All workers will ensure that the achievements of the NDA government reach every single home, neighborhood, and street corner, and they will play a crucial role in continuing the journey of building a safe, developed, and prosperous Bihar.' Photograph: Kind courtesy @AmitShah/X

Each leader will look after six assembly constituencies. There are 243 assembly seats in the state.

Most of these leaders from states outside Bihar are known for their organisational skills and successful management of elections in their respective states.

Prominent among them are Santosh Pandey and Vijay Baghel, BJP MPs from Chhattisgarh, and BJP national vice-president Saroj Pandey, Kamaljeet Sehrawat, BJP MP from West Delhi, Union Minister Harsh Malhotra, a BJP MP from Delhi, and Ramesh Bidhuri, the controversial former MP from Delhi.

Another Union Minister Prahlad Patel is from Madhya Pradesh as is B D Sharma, a former state BJP president.

BJP leaders from Uttar Pradesh include MPs Satish Gautam, Sangam Lal Gupta, Rajkumar Chahar, former MP Vinod Sonkar and party MLA Salabh Mani Tripathi.

BJP MPs Devusinh Chauhan, Mitesh Patel and MLA Amit Thakre from Gujarat, Rajendra Rathore from Rajasthan, former MP Sunita Duggal from Haryana, MP Jugal Kishore Sharma from Jammu and Kashmir, MPs Manish Jaiswal and Kalicharan Singh from Jharkhand, and MP Anant Nayak from Odisha.

According to party sources, all these leaders have been directed to camp for 45 to 50 days in the assembly constituencies assigned to them for election work.

IMAGE: Amit Shah interacts with BJP leaders from Araria. Photograph: Kind courtesy @AmitShah/X

Modi and Shah, along with BJP President J P Nadda, are set to visit Bihar in October.

Modi and Shah along with over two dozen others will address dozens of rallies in different parts of Bihar during October and November.

According to sources in the NDA camp, seat-sharing has almost been finalised. The JD-U will contest 102 of 243 seats, the BJP will contest 101 seats. The remaining 40 seats will be contested by the LJP-R, HAM and RLM. A JD-U source said, "The formal announcement will be made soon."

JD-U leaders said the party wants to emerge as the single largest party after the poll to play 'big brother' in the ruling NDA. "The JD-U is not ready to take the political risk of playing second fiddle to the BJP in state politics."

The NDA has yet to name Nitish Kumar as its chief ministerial candidate. It is a different matter that the JD-U has asserted time and again that it will not compromise on Nitish Kumar as the next chief minister.

In the last assembly polls in 2020, Nitish Kumar's JD-U contested 115 seats and won 43 while the BJP contested 110 seats and won 74.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff
Chennai Police received a phone call claiming that a bomb had been planted at the ECR, Neelankarai residence of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) Chief and actor C Joseph Vijay, officials said.

IMAGE: TVK chief and actor Vijay addresses gathering before stampede during a public event, in Karur on Saturday. Photograph: TVK/ANI Photo



Following the alert on Sunday, police personnel rushed to the spot, and a bomb disposal squad was deployed. Experts are currently carrying out thorough checks inside and outside the premises, sources said.

Visuals showed heavy security outside Vijay's residence.

Earlier, the death toll from the stampede at Vijay's campaign rally in Karur has risen to 41, after a woman undergoing treatment at a hospital succumbed to her injuries.

Suguna, 65, a resident of Karur district who had been on ventilator support in the intensive care unit, passed away after failing to respond to treatment.

Among the deceased are 18 women, 13 men, five young girls, and five young boys, bringing the total to 41. So far, 34 victims are from the Karur district, two each from the Erode, Tiruppur, and Dindigul districts, and 1 from the Salem district.

The massive crowd at Vijay's rally on Saturday evening turned chaotic, triggering panic.Several attendees fainted and were rushed to nearby hospitals. Sources had said that overcrowding at the venue led to the tragedy.

Vijay announced that he will provide financial assistance of Rs 20 lakh to the bereaved families and Rs 2 lakh to the injured in the unfortunate stampede that took place in Tamil Nadu's Karur during his rally.

Meanwhile, the Madras high court on Sunday heard a petition seeking to restrain Vijay's party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, from holding public gatherings, rallies or meetings until the completion of the official inquiry into the Karur stampede tragedy.

Justice N Senthilkumar heard the urgent petition at 4:30 pm.

According to sources, the petitioner argued that continuing large-scale political gatherings without accountability could risk further loss of life and that the state must complete a thorough investigation before granting permission for fresh rallies.

The Tamil Nadu government has already ordered a probe, with senior officials and top police reviewing the lapses.

Political leaders across party lines, including Chief Minister MK Stalin, opposition leader Edappadi K Palaniswami, and Union leaders, expressed grief and called for strict measures to prevent recurrence.

On Sunday, Vijay approached the Madras high court seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the stampede.
Curfew remained in force for the sixth day in the violence-hit town of Leh on Monday with Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta set to chair a meeting to review the overall security situation.

IMAGE: Curfew remains enforce in Leh. Photograph: ANI Photo

"The situation remained by and large peaceful in the curfew-bound areas with no untoward incident reported from anywhere. Police and paramilitary forces are deployed in strength in sensitive areas and are maintaining strict vigil to maintain law and order," an official said.

He said the Lt Governor has convened a high-level meeting at Raj Bhavan to review the security situation in view of the last rites of ex-serviceman Tsewang Tharchin of Skurbuchan and Rinchen Dadul (21) of Hanu later in the day.

The last rites of two youngsters -- Stanzin Namgyal (24) and Jigmet Dorjay (25) -- were performed on Sunday.

The four persons had died on September 24 amid widespread violence in the town.

The officials said mobile internet services continued to remain suspended in Leh town, while prohibitory orders banning assembly of five or more persons also remained in force in other major parts of the Union Territory, including Kargil.

The curfew was imposed in Leh town on Wednesday evening following widespread violent protests during a shutdown called by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) to advance talks with the Centre on the demands for statehood and extension of the Sixth Schedule to Ladakh. More than 150 persons, including some 80 policemen, were also injured in the clashes.

Over 60 persons, including two councilors, were taken into custody. They include climate activist Sonam Wangchuk who was detained under the National Security Act on Friday and subsequently lodged in Jodhpur jail in Rajasthan.

Curfew was relaxed for four hours in a phased manner in the town on Saturday and the relaxation period passed off peacefully.
On September 26, the "A Shining Star: Joint Exhibition of Photos of Lingjiatan Relics" successfully concluded at the National Museum of Bangladesh, marking the end of the "overseas journey" for 50 display panels symbolizing the 50th anniversary of China-Bangladesh diplomatic relations and 38 replica jade artifacts. "This is the first time Lingjiatan culture has been showcased abroad, making its debut in a Belt and Road Initiative partner country," said Lei Xiufo, Director of the Anhui Museum. Lingjiatan culture, alongside the Hongshan and Liangzhu cultures, is recognized as one of China's three major prehistoric jade cultures. The Lingjiatan archaeological site, located in Hanshan County, Anhui Province, has yielded a significant number of important jade artifacts since its discovery in 1985. It is a representative site of the first stage of China's "Ancient State Era" and a key component of both the Tracing the Origins of Chinese Civilization project and the national Archaeology China program. "Lingjiatan culture serves as a 'key' to narrating the story of Chinese civilization. This exhibition draws on research findings from the Tracing the Origins of Chinese Civilization project to showcase the long history and cultural richness of Chinese civilization," said Lei Xiufo, who recently returned from Bangladesh. The exhibition was divided into three sections: "Mysterious Burial Practices," "Enigmatic Jade Rituals," and "Ancient Hearth and Home." Through display panels and replica jade artifacts, it featured iconic Lingjiatan cultural relics such as jade eagles, jade dragons, and jade human figures, highlighting the site's abundant historical remains and profound cultural significance. Since its opening on August 25, the exhibition has attracted over 12,000 visitors. This year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Bangladesh, as well as the Year of People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges. "We designed a lightweight exhibition solution combining display panels and replica jade artifacts, which is secure and cost-effective, with expenses only half of those for exhibiting genuine artifacts. This made it possible to bring Lingjiatan culture to Bangladesh," said Lei Xiufo. "Cultural exchanges and resonance have deepened the friendship between our two countries," noted Li Shaopeng, Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh. He emphasized that this was the first historical cultural relics photo exhibition held by China in Bangladesh in recent years, significantly enhancing mutual learning and exchange between Chinese and Bangladeshi civilizations. Adviser to the Interim Government of Bangladesh on Environment, Forest and Climate Change, stated that the exhibition was not only a display of art and heritage but also a dialogue between the two nations. In the guestbook at the exhibition hall, comments such as "Applaud the cultural exchange" and "Long-lasting friendship between the two countries" frequently appeared. One visitor wrote: "Chinese civilization is astonishing and a pride of the world." "We will deepen civilizational dialogue with Belt and Road partner countries. In the next two years, we plan to bring the Lingjiatan Culture Photo Exhibition to countries including Armenia," Lei Xiufo added.

Source: Anhui Daily
MANILA, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos has ordered the extension of the rice import ban, covering the period from Sept. 1 to Nov. 2, for another 30 days to support Filipino farmers and stabilize local rice prices, Philippine Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said on Monday.

Tiu Laurel said the extension had been decided during his meeting with Marcos at the presidential palace on Friday.

"It has been decided to extend the rice import ban for a minimum of 30 days, or until the end of the year, depending on the situation," he told reporters.

He added that Marcos will issue an executive order prohibiting local government units and other government offices from purchasing imported rice.

"There is also a big possibility that the government will impose a tariff again after the import ban lapses, and set a floor price for palay," he said.

"Palay" is the Filipino term for unhusked or rough rice. It is the raw, unprocessed form of rice before it is milled to remove the husk and bran. In the Philippines, "palay" is the staple food crop.

Tiu Laurel added that Marcos has "approved in principle" the issuance of an executive order for the emergency procurement of palay and the additional leasing of warehouses, so that the government can purchase more palay from farmers. 
A 73-year-old former managing director of the mining division of a global conglomerate was allegedly duped of Rs 70 lakh by cyber fraudsters posing as senior officers from the ATS Delhi and the NIA, the Mumbai police said on Monday.

Image used for representational purpose only. Photograph: ANI Photo

The fraudsters threatened the victim, claiming that ATS Delhi had conducted a search operation in Mumbai in connection with the Pahalgam terror attack, and that his name had surfaced alongside those of builders, industrialists, and bureaucrats.

During a video call, one of the fraudsters, posing as an inspector general-rank officer from the National Investigation Agency, told the victim that an arrest warrant had been issued in his name and even sent a photo of the purported warrant to his mobile phone, officials said.

The complainant, who resides in Parel area of Central Mumbai, had worked with the conglomerate's mining company until his retirement in March 2022.

On the afternoon of September 25, he received a call from a woman claiming to be from the ATS Control Room in New Delhi.

She claimed that ATS had conducted searches in Mumbai related to the Pahalgam terror attack and that the name of the retired MD had emerged among those suspected of aiding terrorists.

She threatened that unless he visited the ATS Delhi office, all his bank accounts would be frozen. She further stated that the NIA was handling the investigation and that an IG-rank officer would contact him, officials said.

Subsequently, the victim received a video call from a man dressed in an IPS officer's uniform, who claimed that the victim's name had come up in a money laundering case and threatened to issue a warrant.

The 'police officer' warned that the agency would monitor all his activities and demanded the victim's biodata and political ideology, stating that his superior would call the next day.

On September 26, the victim received another call from a man posing as a senior official. He inquired about the victim's savings and investments and claimed that, as per RBI regulations, they needed to verify whether the funds were legitimate.

The caller instructed the victim to transfer Rs 70 lakh in three installments to various bank accounts.

The victim complied and transferred the money as instructed. After that, the fraudsters stopped contacting him.

Realising he had been cheated, the victim approached the Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Marg police station in Central Mumbai and filed a complaint against the accused.

The police have registered a case against three unidentified persons under charges of impersonation, identity theft, posing as government servants, and other relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act, an official said.

Further probe is underway.
The police on Monday registered a case against BJP leader Printu Mahadevan for his alleged remark during a television debate that bullets would be fired at the Opposition Leader in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, officials said.

IMAGE: Printu Mahadevan. Photograph: Courtesy, www.facebook.com/printu.abvp

The case was filed by the Peramangalam police based on a complaint from Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) secretary Sreekumar C C.

Mahadevan, a former ABVP leader, made the remarks while discussing protests in Bangladesh and Nepal, during a debate on a Malayalam news channel on September 26.

He reportedly said that such protests were not possible in India as people here stood strongly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and added that if Rahul Gandhi has any such desires, "bullets will pierce his chest."

The FIR cites provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Section 192 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), Section 353 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), and Section 351(2) (criminal intimidation).

Following the comments, Congress workers staged protests against Mahadevan and the BJP across Kerala on Monday.

AICC general secretary K C Venugopal on Sunday wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, calling the threat "not just a careless outburst of a petty functionary."

He warned that any failure to act swiftly, decisively, and publicly would be seen as complicity.

"The nation demands immediate, exemplary legal action through the state police so that justice is swift, visible, and severe," he said.

Senior Congress leaders, including MP Shafi Parambil and Ramesh Chennithala, also condemned Mahadevan's remarks and urged police action.
The Israeli city of Haifa on Monday paid tributes to fallen Indian soldiers, with the mayor noting that the city's school history books are being changed to correct that it was Indian troops and not the British who liberated the city from Ottoman rule.

IMAGE: Indian troops in action during World War I. Photograph: Imperial War Museum Photographic Archive

I was born in this city and graduated from here. Constantly we were told that this city was freed by the British till somebody from the Historical Society knocked at my door one day and said that they have done a thorough research and found that it wasn't the British but the Indians who freed this city (from the Ottomans), said the mayor of Haifa, Yona Yahav.

He made the remarks while addressing a gathering at the Indian cemetery of fallen soldiers during a ceremony to pay tributes to their bravery.

In every school, we are changing the texts and saying that it wasn't the British but the Indians who liberated us, Yahav said.

During World War I, Indian cavalry regiments armed with spears and swords cleared the Ottoman forces from the rocky slopes of Mt Carmel under all odds to liberate the city, in what most war historians consider the last great cavalry campaign in history.

Mayor Yahav had, during the first ceremony at the same venue in 2009, said that the northern coastal city's history textbooks will include the story of its liberation by Indian soldiers, and it is today a well-known fact among youngsters in the city.

The Indian Army commemorates September 23 every year as Haifa Day to pay its respects to the three brave Indian Cavalry Regiments -- Mysore, Hyderabad and Jodhpur Lancers -- that helped liberate Haifa following a dashing cavalry action by the 15th Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade on that date in 1918.

An event to pay tributes to the brave Indian soldiers is also organised every year at the Indian soldiers' cemetery in Haifa by the Indian mission and the Haifa municipality.

Captain Aman Singh Bahadur and Dafadar Jor Singh were awarded the Indian Order of Merit (IOM), and Captain Anop Singh and 2nd Lt Sagat Singh were awarded the Military Cross (MC) in recognition of their bravery in this battle.

Major Dalpat Singh, widely popular as the Hero of Haifa, was awarded a military cross for his bravery.

The Jodhpur Lancers lost eight men and had 34 wounded in the battle. But they also captured over 700 prisoners, 17 field guns and 11 machine guns.

The battle was described as "almost the only occasion when a fortified town was captured by cavalry on the gallop," India's Ambassador to Israel JP Singh said during his address at the event.

Indian troops played a crucial role in the campaign, resulting in the defeat of the Ottoman forces in the region. More than 74,000 Indian troops laid down their lives during World War I, including over 4,000 in West Asia, Singh asserted.

"It was one of the last classical cavalry actions in an era that saw large-scale mechanisation of war," the Indian ambassador said.

"These fallen soldiers represented all major faiths and regions of our country. And this tribute shows that their courage and sacrifice will never be forgotten," he added.

In Israel, memorials to Indian soldiers exist at Haifa, Jerusalem and Ramle, including some Indian soldiers who were of Jewish descent.

About 900 Indian soldiers are interred in cemeteries in these cities of Israel.

As a tribute to the bravery of these soldiers, the embassy of India, with the help of Israeli authorities, is setting up "The India Trail" in the Holy Land.

History textbooks in Haifa teach about the story of the liberation of Haifa by Indian soldiers from classes 3 to 5. The Haifa Historical Society has also been going around to schools in the city telling the story to youngsters over the last decade.

In a symbolic gesture of friendship with Israel, India renamed the iconic Teen Murti Chowk, a memorial erected in 1922 in New Delhi to commemorate this historic deed, as "Teen Murti Haifa Chowk" during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Delhi in January 2018.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Indian cemetery in Haifa during his visit to Israel in July 2017 and unveiled a plaque commemorating Major Dalpat Singh for his critical role in the liberation of the city.

"I am deeply honoured to stand here today to salute the valiant Indian soldiers, who laid down their lives for the liberation of Haifa during the WW I," Modi had written in the guest book.

The 61st cavalry, the name given to the unit created after the merger of the three cavalry units after independence, sent a contingent to Israel in 2018 to participate in the centenary celebrations.

The Israel Post had issued a commemorative stamp in 2018 in appreciation of the Indian soldiers' role in liberating the city.
The Congress on Monday said it was outrageous that ex-serviceman Tsewang Tharchin, a Kargil war veteran, was among those killed in firing by the security forces in Ladakh.

IMAGE: Smoke billows out from the Bhartiya Janta Party office which was set on fire during a massive protest over the statehood demand and the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule, in Leh, September 24, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

In a post on X, Congress general secretary, in-charge, communications, Jairam Ramesh said Tharchin served at the Siachen Glacier and fought valiantly in the 1999 Kargil War.

His father, too, served in the Indian Army, he said.

"Tsewang Tharchin was protesting peacefully for Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh. It should be a matter of the deepest anguish and outrage that he was killed along with three others in the firing on the agitationists five days back," Ramesh said.

Curfew remained in force for the sixth day in violence-hit Leh on Monday, with Lt Governor Kavinder Gupta set to chair a meeting to review the overall security situation.

A curfew was imposed in Leh town on September 24 following a violent showdown between the security forces and protesters during a shutdown called by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) to advance talks with the Centre.

The outfit has been spearheading an agitation for statehood and the extension of the Sixth Schedule to Ladakh.

More than 150 people, including some 80 policemen, were also injured in the clashes that day.

Over 60 people, including two councillors, have since been taken into custody.

On September 26, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was detained under the National Security Act on Friday and subsequently lodged in Jodhpur jail in Rajasthan.
The police on Monday arrested 29 more people including a close aide of cleric Tauqeer Raza Khan in connection with last week's violence in Bareilly after Friday prayers, even as internet suspension in the district was extended till Tuesday midnight, officials said.

IMAGE: Women hold placards reading 'I Love Muhammad' during a protest in Lucknow. Photograph: ANI Photo

The clashes broke out on September 26 afternoon after a large crowd carrying 'I Love Muhammad' posters assembled outside a mosque in Kotwali area after Friday prayers.

The officials said 39 people, including Khan, who is also the chief of Ittehad-e-Millat Council (IMC), and seven co-accused, were taken into custody earlier.

Senior superintendent of police Anurag Arya told reporters that 14 arrests were made from Kotwali area, including IMC's state general secretary Nadeem, while 15 were arrested from Baradari area on Monday.

Nadeem was accused of misleading authorities, going back on assurances given to the administration and sharing messages on social media that could disturb communal harmony, the SSP said.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has warned of strict action against any attempt to disturb law and order. Security remains intensified in Bareilly and neighbouring districts, with heavy deployment of police and paramilitary forces in sensitive areas.

According to senior officials, the investigation revealed that Nadeem orchestrated the protest by contacting 55 individuals on WhatsApp, who mobilised a crowd of around 1,600 people.

"They conspired to launch an agitation on the lines of anti-CAA [Citizenship (Amendment) Act] and NRC (National Register of Citizens) protests, placing minors at the forefront of the demonstration," an official said.

The police claimed that Nadeem and his associates were active at key locations, including the Khalil School intersection and Shyamganj area, to incite people. On Thursday night, he visited a police station with his associates, assured officers that no demonstration would take place on Friday and submitted a letter later found to be forged, they said.

The crowd last Friday was allegedly angry over the cancellation of a proposed demonstration called by Khan, who claimed that the authorities denied permission for it.

Stones were pelted and several people, including police personnel, were injured in the unrest.

Khan, along with seven co-accused, was arrested on Saturday in connection with the violence. In all, police have so far filed 10 FIRs against 180 named and 2,500 unnamed people under sections related to inciting violence, rioting, stone-pelting and hurting religious sentiments.

Meanwhile, the SSP also said that a market adjoining the Pahalwan Shah shrine was sealed on Monday in a joint action by the Bareilly Development Authority and the municipal corporation. The market, allegedly run by Khan's organisation, was vacated after an announcement in the morning, warning that bulldozer action would follow if shops were not emptied by 3 pm.

The district also saw an extended suspension of internet services till Tuesday midnight, according to an order of the state home department, which had on September 27 notified suspension of SMS, mobile internet and broadband services, citing apprehensions that messaging platforms and social media could be misused to spread inflammatory content and further disturb peace.

Local traders said the internet suspension has severely disrupted daily life, with banking services paralysed, ATMs lying unused and routine transactions affected.

Wholesale medicine trade has halted, property registrations stalled and even patients under government health schemes are struggling to access treatment. Shopping malls and business establishments have seen dwindling footfall, they said.

"Earlier, traders and elderly individuals could conduct transactions from their homes or business establishments. That is currently not possible," said HDFC cluster head Arvind Sharma.

Indian Industries Association state president Dinesh Goyal added, "While large business owners are managing through neighbouring districts, small traders and consumers are bearing the brunt."
Kerala Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan and the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) on Monday alleged a conspiracy behind the episode of the "missing" gold-coated peedam (pedestal) of the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols at Sabarimala, which was later recovered from the residence of a sponsor's relative.

IMAGE: The Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala. Photograph: PTI Photo/Rediff archives

Vasavan accused sponsor Unnikrishnan Potty of staging a "drama" by hiding the peedam and then alleging that it had gone missing from TDB custody.

"What we understand is that after hiding the peedam, Potty came out with a missing allegation and played a drama. Naturally, we have to suspect whether there is a conspiracy," the minister told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram.

He added that further steps would be taken as per the Kerala high court's directions.

The peedam's existence came to light after the high court recently ordered a probe into the reduced weight of the gold-clad copper plates of the Dwarapalakas. Following this, Potty revealed that he had also sponsored a gold-plated pedestal in 2019 during plating works, which he claimed was missing from the hill shrine.

A TDB vigilance team led by SP Sunil Kumar later traced the peedam to the house of one of Potty's relatives at Venjaramoodu.

TDB president P S Prasanth welcomed the recovery, but alleged that Potty deliberately misled the public to tarnish the Global Ayyappa Sangamam.

"He lied after knowing that it was in his custody. Based on his claim, the opposition even branded me a thief. I believe this was part of a conspiracy to take the shine off the Sangamam," Prasanth said.

Prasanth maintained that while the board had nothing to hide and the vigilance team had acted transparently, there was a delay in reporting the matter to the Special Commissioner. "A detailed investigation has to be conducted on Potty. We didn't even know about the golden peedam until he made the allegation," he added.

Meanwhile, Potty, who is based in Bengaluru, denied any ill intention.

He claimed that he was unaware that the peedam was with his worker, Vasudevan, in Kottayam. "Only after media reports about the missing peedam did Vasudevan contact me and told me it was in his custody. I then shifted it to my relative's house in Thiruvananthapuram," he said.
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, on Monday announced 100 per cent tariffs on movies made outside the country, in a move likely to impact the Indian film industry.

IMAGE: US President Donald Trump. Photograph: Courtesy @WhiteHouse/X

Our movie-making business has been stolen from the United States of America, by other countries, just like stealing 'candy from a baby', Trump posted on Truth Social on Monday.

Trump said California has been particularly hard hit because of this, blaming democrat Gavin Newsom, the Governor of California, for this loss, calling him weak and incompetent.

To solve this long time, never ending problem, I will be imposing a 100 percent Tariff on any and all movies that are made outside of the United States, Trump added.

The decision is likely to have an adverse impact on the Indian film industry, as the US is one of the leading markets for Indian movies due to a large Indian diaspora in the country.

India produces movies in several languages, which are popular among the diverse Indian diaspora in the US.

According to a 2017 Forbes report, Indian language films have become big business in many places across the United States and Canada.

Indian movies' earnings are "commonly exceeding $8 million and occasionally topping $10 million," the report added.

Indian filmmakers and North American distributors and exhibitors alike cater well to this audience. At any given time, over 1,000 movie screens in the territory may be dedicated to showing Indian films, the report added.

There has been a significant rise in the collections of Indian movies in the US since then, experts say.

Meanwhile, President Trump has also decided to impose "substantial tariffs" on furniture imports.

"In order to make North Carolina, which has completely lost its furniture business to China, and other Countries, GREAT again, I will be imposing substantial Tariffs on any Country that does not make its furniture in the United States. Details to follow," Trump posted on social media.

The move comes days after the Trump administration imposed tariffs on pharmaceutical products.

Starting October 2025, the US will be imposing a 100 per cent tariff on any branded or patented pharmaceutical product, unless a company is building their pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in America, Trump said in a social media post.

Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) on Friday said US President Donald Trump's move to impose 100 per cent import tariffs on pharmaceutical drugs from October 1 will impact only patented and branded products, not generic medicines.

The Trump administration has imposed 50 percent tariffs on India, including a 25 per cent tariff on New Delhi's purchases of Russian oil, among the highest tariff rates imposed on any country in the world.

India has been maintaining that its energy procurement is driven by national interest and market dynamics. India turned to purchasing Russian oil sold at a discount after Western countries imposed sanctions on Moscow and shunned its supplies over its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The US remained India's largest trading partner for the fourth consecutive year in 2024-25, with bilateral trade valued at $131.84 billion ($86.5 billion exports).

The US accounts for about 18 percent of India's total goods exports, 6.22 percent in imports, and 10.73 percent in the country's total merchandise trade.

A delegation led by Union Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal was in New York last week for meetings with the US side.

The two countries had hoped to conclude the first tranche of a Bilateral Trade Agreement by October-November of 2025. The pact is aimed at more than doubling the bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030 from the current $191 billion.

A team of officials from the office of the US Trade Representative also visited India on September 16 to discuss various aspects of the trade deal, and decided to intensify efforts in this regard.
He's one of the world's top cardiac surgeons and chairman of the Asian Heart Institute, Mumbai.

And he is currently sharing one of his passions at an exhibition at Bikaner House in New Delhi.

Dr Ramakanta Panda's unique exhibition, Heartbeats -- Wildlife, Our Shared Future, features a compelling collection of over 200 photographs centred around the theme of wildlife conservation.

Dr Panda hopes these images will shed light on the urgent need for wildlife preservation.

'For me, each photograph is a poignant reminder of the delicate balance between humans and the animal kingdom, highlighting the responsibility we bear for the planet's future. The proceeds from the sale of photographs at the exhibition will go towards wildlife conservation efforts,' said Dr Panda.

The exhibition is open to the public till the evening of September 30.

Dr Panda shares a few images and explains their significance.

All photographs: Kind courtesy Dr Ramakanta Panda

'This is a hidden photo. I had to sit all night to take this photo.

'Animals have a very heightened sense of fear at night so they are very careful when they approach a water role.

'Cheetahs, in particular, are vulnerable to attacks from lions, leopards and hyenas.

'You can see the caution and fear on the face of the cheetah.

This picture is especially significant to me because it is extremely rare to see a cheetah come to a waterhole at night.'

Taken at the Ndoto House, Kenya.

'This is a bull elephant in musth; at this time, due to a sharp increase in reproductive hormones and heightened sexuality; they are aggressive and irritable.'

Taken at the Amboseli National Park, Kenya, which is famous for super tuskers.

'A leopard cub trains with its mother.

'The role of a leopard mother in raising her cub is vital and deeply demanding. She is solely responsible for their survival, protection and education in the wild.

'This unusual pose has a special significance. The cub is learning how to kill prey by biting its throat. She's practising the move on her mother.

'I had to wait an entire morning for about five hours before I got this image as the mother and cub were on a tree for a long time.'

Taken at the Naboisho Conservancy, Kenya.

'This cheetah -- her name is Nagol -- had six cubs and lost five of them within a month.

'Cheetah cubs have a very high mortality rate; 90 per cent of the cubs that are born don&'t reach adulthood.

'The Asian Wildlife Trust is supporting the team at th Maasai Mara National Reserve to help protect the cheetahs.'

Taken at the Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya.

'Male lions walk at sunrise to patrol their territory and scent-mark boundaries.

'The cooler temperatures make the long walks easier and it's their prime time to detect intruders or threats.

'I love the interplay of golden light and shadow on his face and eyes.'

Taken at the Naboisho Conservancy, Kenya.

'Lionesses from the Rongai pride move their newborn cubs to a different hiding location early in the morning.

'Lion cubs are very vulnerable to being killed by other predators and lionesses frequently change their hiding location.

'It took me one and a half days to get this picture.

'On the first day, the cubs remained in hiding in a bush.

'On the second day, I was lucky to see their mothers taking them on a safari road to a new location.'

Taken at the Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya.

'This very low angle, close-up picture of a rhinocerous with two subadult cubs took me two days to capture.'

Taken at the Solio Game Reserve, Kenya.

'Another picture that took me two days to get.

'I was looking for silhouette images of the rhinos in a band of golden sunlight with the interplay of the light at sunset and the clouds above.'

Taken at the Solio Game Reserve, Kenya.

'A night time image of a herd of zebras drinking at a waterhole.

'All herbivores, including zebras, have poor night vision as compared to cats and are more vulnerable. They seek protection in a group.

'I sat for two nights in a hide to get this picture of 11 zebras in perfect symmetry.'

Taken at the Ndoto House, Kenya.

'The white male Asian Paradise Flycatcher brings small insects to his hungry chicks, feeding them gently and carefully.

'He works hard, flying back and forth to find food, helping the female care for the babies.

'The chicks grow quickly and leave the nest in about 12 to 14 days.

'Even after they fly out, the parents still look after them for a few more days, helping them learn to fly and find food on their own.

'It took two years and multiple trips before I got this image of a male with an extra-long tail feeding his babies.'

Taken at Purbasthali, West Bengal.

'The Black-Backed Dwarf Kingfisher, also known as the Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher, is called the jewel of the forest because of its tiny size, brilliant rainbow-like plumage and its secretive presence.

'It prefers to remain deep inside dense forests.

'This image shows it catching a frog to feed its chicks.

]The Black-Backed Dwarf Kingfisher doesn't make nests to lay eggs. Instead, they excavate a long horizontal tunnel -- sometimes up to a meter deep -- in the banks of streams, forest paths or even mud walls.

'At the end of this tunnel lies a small chamber where the female lays three to seven glossy white eggs.

'Both parents share the duties of incubation and later tirelessly bring food to the chicks until they are ready to fly out.

'I am actively involved in helping the local population protecting these nests. In the last five years, we've seen the population of the Black-Backed Dwarf Kingfisher increase.'

Taken at Karnala, Maharashtra.

'After regular visits every morning for a few days, I got this picture of a Black Naped Monarch feeding its chick.

'After hatching, the chicks remain in the nest for about 12 to 14 days. They are fed by the parents until they take their first flight.'

Taken at Karnala, Maharashtra.

'A tigress plays with her cubs, teaching them essential skills.

'Tigers have a special love for water.

'In the heat of the day, they often cool off by lounging in ponds, rivers or forest pools, sometimes spending hours half-submerged.

'Strong swimmers, they can cross wide rivers with ease and even carry prey through water.

'This unique bond with water makes the tiger a powerful hunter on land and a graceful presence in the streams of its jungle home.

'The Umred-Gothangaon Sanctuary has been a stupendous success story; cooperative locals and the forest department have created corridors for free movement of tigers between sanctuaries. This has also helped the local people earn a livelihood though tourism.'

Taken at the Umred-Gothangaon Sanctuary, Maharashtra.

'This is the kind of proud success story that we get to see when the local population is involved in wildlife conservation.

'It is extremely rare for a tigress to give birth to five cubs and even more rare for all of them to survive.'

Taken at the Umred-Gothangaon Sanctuary, Maharashtra.

'The tigress is teaching her cubs to mark their territory.'

Taken at the Umred-Gothangaon Sanctuary, Maharashtra.

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff
YANGON, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Six people were killed after flooding triggered by heavy rain in central Myanmar's Magway region, an official from the Natmauk Town Fire Services Department told Xinhua on Monday.

The flooding occurred in Meizalipin village in Natmauk town, Magway region. Creek water levels rose on Saturday and Sunday, sweeping away two houses, he said.

A family of six in one house died, while the other house was destroyed with no casualties, he added.

The water level receded on Monday morning, he said, adding that it was the first time the town had experienced such flooding. 
Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.

Nnamdi Pole, PhD, is a consultant at the Brattleboro Retreat. He is the Harold and Elsa Israel Professor of Psychology and Chair of the Psychology Department at Smith College.
Microsoft Marketplace now comes with expanded opportunities for partners to develop AI-enabled apps and agents, however partners must navigate rules, agreements, operational requirements, and eligibility criteria to list and sell.

A number of special rules have been added within the Microsoft Publisher Agreement 8.0 that will cover the terms and conditions partners need to follow depending on what theyre selling and how they sell within the Marketplace.

Publisher Agreement 8.0 has been updated to include addenda that covers terms for specific offer types, go-to-market channels, the Microsoft 365 Certification Program, and the Microsoft Security Store.

These updates, which come in effect from 30 September, are part of the broader revamped Microsoft Marketplace, which brings together AppSource and Azure Marketplace.

It is a seamless extension of the Microsoft Cloud, making partner solutions discoverable directly within the Microsoft products where customers work every day, said Microsoft chief partner officer and CVP of global channel partner sales Nicole Dezen. Solutions, apps, and agents are provisioned with the same governance and security controls that customers rely upon in the Microsoft Cloud.

Marketplace is also expanding through its channel ecosystem. Distributors including Arrow, Crayon, Ingram Micro, Pax8, and TD Synnex have integrated Microsofts catalogue into their own marketplaces, enabling them to support their customers with solutions pre-configured to work with Microsoft Cloud.

Were also introducing a new feature, resale enabled offers, currently in private preview and expected to be broadly available later in 2025, designed to unlock more global opportunities for channel-led business, Dezen said. With resale enabled offers, partners with cloud solutions, AI apps, and agents can authorise their channel to sell on their behalf by geography.

This authorisation streamlines scale and repeatability and can be adjusted or removed at any time.
BEIJING, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations General Assembly's (UNGA) Resolution 2758 remains a valid and relevant document, and it established not only the iron rule that must not be bent, but also an absolute principle that is part and parcel of the existing international order, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday.

Spokesperson Guo Jiakun made the remarks at a regular news briefing when answering a related question.

Ahead of UNGA's 80th session, several U.S. lawmakers released a statement, accusing the Chinese mainland of "misrepresentation of UNGA Resolution 2758," claiming that the mainland has sought to "falsely conflate UNGA Resolution 2758 with its 'One China Principle'" and "diplomatically isolate Taiwan," and calling on the international community to "support Taiwan's meaningful participation in" the UN and its agencies.

Guo said the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation explicitly demand that all the territories Japan has stolen from the Chinese, such as Formosa, and the Pescadores, shall be restored to China, adding that this constitutes an important part of the post-WWII international order.

"Taiwan is part of China. It was based on this fact and prerequisite that in 1971, the 26th session of UNGA adopted Resolution 2758 with an overwhelming majority, restoring all lawful rights of the People's Republic of China in the UN," Guo said. The resolution reaffirmed that there is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and there is no such thing as "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan," he added.

To this day, the spokesperson said, UNGA Resolution 2758 remains a valid and relevant document. It established not only the iron rule that must not be bent, but also an absolute principle that is part and parcel of the existing international order. Anything said or done to challenge the resolution amounts to an attempt to shake the foundation of the post-war international order and interfere in China's internal affairs. "Such attempts will not succeed," said Guo.

He said from a historic perspective, during UNGA's deliberation on the draft of Resolution 2758, a couple of countries put together a "dual representation" proposal to create "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan."

"The proposal never passed and was ditched. What did not happen back then will certainly not happen today," Guo stressed.

From a legal perspective, the UNGA Resolution resolved once and for all the question of the representation of the whole of China, including Taiwan, in the UN, and the resolution has extensive legal authority, Guo said, adding that from 1971 to 1972, agencies of the UN system successively expelled "representatives" of the Taiwan authorities and restored the lawful seats of the People's Republic of China in accordance with the resolution. The UN Secretariat also issued clear legal opinions emphasizing that "Taiwan has no independent status as a province of China."

He said in practice, since the adoption of UNGA Resolution 2758, the UN system and other international and regional organizations have adhered to the one-China principle and made it clear that any matter related to the Taiwan region's participation in the activities of international organizations shall be handled under the one-China principle.

"The UN official documents refer to Taiwan only as 'Taiwan, province of China.' In total, 183 countries have established diplomatic relations with China on the basis of the one-China principle," he noted.

"Let me stress once again that the future of the Taiwan region lies in the reunification of China. With a strong and prosperous motherland, our Taiwan compatriots will enjoy broader space for development and they will feel more secure and dignified," Guo said, pointing out that nothing whatsoever will ever stop China's reunification. 
A large-scale Internet blackout swept across Afghanistan on September 29, just weeks after the ruling Taliban authorities started severing fiber-optic cables in multiple provinces, leading to localized outages.

Many international and local news outlets reporting from Afghanistan have been affected by the massive outage, including RFE/RL's Radio Azadi and Radio Mashaal.

"Afghanistan is now in the midst of a total Internet blackout as Taliban authorities move to implement morality measures, with multiple networks disconnected through the morning," said Internet governance watchdog Netblocks.

The Taliban leadership has not publicly commented on the nationwide shutdown, and it was not clear how long it would last.

On September 26, however, Haji Zahid, a local Taliban spokesman in the northern province of Balkh, said in a post on X that the ban had been ordered by their leader, Haibatullah Akhundzada, "to prevent immoral activities."

The Taliban has used Islamic Shari'a law to justify its extremist policies. But Islamic scholars say there are no religious grounds for the group's decision to shut down the Internet.

The Internet blockage is part of a wider crackdown on individual freedoms and the free flow of information in Afghanistan.

Since seizing power in 2021, the Taliban has severely restricted the rights of Afghans, especially women, and violently cracked down on dissent.

Speaking to RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal on September 24, US State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Stickney said the US administration was closely monitoring the situation.

"These reports are very worrying, and we do not see these restrictions as helping the people of Afghanistan. On the contrary, these restrictions will have a negative impact on people's lives and the economy," she said.

The United States and most other Western nations have refused to recognize the Taliban as Afghanistan's legitimate government since it retook control in 2021, following the hasty withdrawal of international troops from the country.
Volodymyr Mykolayenko, the former mayor of the Ukrainian city of Kherson, spent more than three years in Russian captivity.

Abducted by Russian operatives in April 2022 during the first weeks of Moscow's full-scale invasion, he disappeared without trace until Kyiv confirmed his release in a prisoner exchange on August 24 -- Ukrainian Independence Day.

Now 65, he is thin, frail, and recovering, but his spirit remains unbroken even if he is still getting accustomed to his newfound freedom.

"For years I saw nothing but bars and concrete," he told RFE/RL's Crimea.Realities in Kyiv weeks after his release. "The first thing I noticed was the green, our trees in bloom. I'm thankful for this gift."

Mykolayenko lost 25 kilograms while in captivity, but he is already talking about returning to work, either to help rebuild Kherson or to contribute to efforts to bring home other Ukrainian prisoners.

From Mayor to Defender

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, Mykolayenko was 62. A longtime politician, city councilor, and former mayor of Kherson (20142020), he chose to enlist with the Territorial Defense rather than remain on the sidelines.

He recalls being handed weapons near Naddnipryanske, by the Antonivskiy Bridge -- a vital road crossing over the Dnieper River that links Kherson to the rivers east bank -- as Russian artillery pounded the approaches to the city.

Ukrainian guns fired back, aiming to disrupt the crossing and perhaps even damage the bridge. To my surprise, Mykolayenko said, not one bridge in the Kherson region was destroyed...

The only exception came further east, where 23-year-old soldier Vitaliy Skakun blew up the Henichesk road bridge at the cost of his own life, slowing down a Russian column.

Despite the Ukrainian defiance, however, Russian armored forces advanced toward Kherson with startling speed.

"They came very fast. It felt like the road had been cleared for them, only a red carpet was missing," Mykolayenko said. To this day, he remains convinced that collaborators must have facilitated their entry.

Within days, however, Kherson civilians had mounted their own form of resistance to the Russian occupiers -- unarmed mass protests.

In early March 2022, thousands confronted armed Russian soldiers with chants of "Glory to Ukraine!" and "Shame!"

The largest rally followed on March 13.

"I'd never seen that many people, even in Soviet times," Mykolayenko says. "I believed Kherson wouldn't submit, but the numbers, ten thousand, maybe more, took my breath away."

'Armed Men Threw Me In The Trunk'

In April, with Russian troops still in control of the city, Mykolayenko was lured into what he calls "a trap."

A man claiming to be from the Territorial Defense insisted that he had sensitive information, which had to be passed on to Ukrainian authorities, so Mykolayenko arranged to meet him at an agreed location.

"A car came at speed," he says. "Armed men threw me in the trunk and drove me to a police station already turned into a torture chamber."

After his initial detention in Kherson, Mykolayenko was transferred to Sevastopol in Russian-occupied Crimea, then to Borisoglebsk in Russia's Voronezh region, where he spent five months.

He was eventually sent to a penal colony in Pakino in the Vladimir region some 200 kilometers east of Moscow in October 2022 and he remained there until his release last month.

He says conditions at the facility were brutal and his time in custody was marked by relentless physical and psychological abuse.

"Beatings, interrogations, humiliation -- around the clock," he recalls. "You stand, they tell you to put your hand against the wall, you put your hand against the wall, and they hit you with a rubber baton on that hand. You can't even eat, it's swollen. Then they...hit you on your heels so you can't walk."

"Once I was fed up and said something [to a Russian soldier], so every time he would hit me on the head with a wooden mallet. He was full of anger, and then he ran an electric stun gun over my body in a circle. And he screamed, you know, like he got some kind of sexual pleasure from this."

Plagued By Hunger

It is also not surprising that Mykolayenko lost so much weight in captivity, given that he and his fellow captives were constantly plagued by hunger.

"Lunch was a bowl of murky slop," he says. "Once I was lucky: seven grains of barley fell into my bowl. 'You're the champion,' they joked. You didn't need a spoon, as you took six, seven gulps and it was gone. The 'second course' was boiled potato peels. A piece of bread, thats what kept you from dying of hunger."

On rare "walks" in a concrete yard, Mykolayenko and fellow prisoners collected nettles sprouting through cracks in the pavement.

"We ate them just to get some sort of vitamins," he says.

Everywhere Mykolayenko was held, he says he was pressured by his captors to collaborate with Moscow against Ukraine, but that he was able to resist their violent overtures.

Others were not so lucky.

"Unfortunately, some broke," he says softly. "They cut their wrists, throats, and hanged themselves....Some of them were so broken that they wet themselves, soiled themselves from the beatings. They could not bear it."

'Mom, I Love You Very Much'

Although Mykolayenko's name first appeared on prisoner exchange lists in the spring of 2022, more than three long years elapsed before he was finally released.

Once, he says, he was just "a step away from freedom," already dressed and ready to be transferred when he saw another prisoner -- a young man gravely ill and slipping into madness.

Mykolayenko refused to leave, urging his jailers to let his fellow inmate go in his place.

"When it came down to a choice, him or me, I was always going to say, 'take the boy,'" Mykolayenko says. "He had a chance to recover."

When Mykolayenko was eventually set free after three and a half years, his first phone call was to his daughter, who serves in the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Only then did he learn that his mother was still alive, turning 91 the next day.

"Mom, I love you very much, he told her when they eventually spoke.

"We say too few kind words to our families in this life," Mykolayenko says. "It's only when you are there [in captivity] that you understand how dear they are to you."

Although Mykolayenko's hometown of Kherson was retaken in November 2022, the city did not escape unscathed. His mother's home is destroyed, his own apartment damaged.

His family never left the city, however. Throughout his captivity, he had no contact with them and no idea whether they were alive.

Now, after being free for some weeks, Mykolayenko is getting restless. He says he wants to return to Kherson to help rebuild the city or to join efforts to free other prisoners.

"Every day I feel discomfort that the guys are still there and I am free," he says. "I've told Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk that if there's any way to involve me, I'm ready to help, even as a volunteer."
Moldovan President Maia Sandu's Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) looks set to come out on top of crucial elections despite what appears to have been a concerted disinformation campaign from the Kremlin. But the real winner may be Brussels.

PAS, a pro-Western party in one of Europe's poorest nations, faced a stiff challenge from its biggest rival, the Patriotic Electoral Bloc, an alliance of pro-Russia parties led by the former Moldovan President Igor Dodon.

The result -- PAS is predicted to have taken at least 54 of parliament's 101 seats -- is stunning given that many polls had the two factions neck and neck with the Kremlin putting considerable effort into trying to tip the balance in its favor.

With Moldova crammed between Ukraine and NATO and European Union member Romania, Brussels was on edge for weeks leading up to the September 28 vote.

A pro-Russia win would have put a major wedge into its eastern flank at a time when Moscow appears emboldened to test the West's resolve while grinding out gains on battlefields in Ukraine.

It appears it can now breathe a sigh of relief that Moldova will remain outside of the Kremlin's reach, at least for the meantime.

"Moldovas pro-European victory is a lesson for all Europe on how to defend against Russian interference," according to Siegfried Muresan, a European member of parliament and vice president of the European People's Party.

"Moldova remains firmly anchored on the pro-European path. Good news for the people of Moldova! Good news for Europe!"

The result is a political hattrick for Sandu, with the parliamentary election win coming less than a year after she was returned to the presidential palace and a referendum on EU membership that was won by a whisker.

The stakes were indeed monumental in a vote that was very much seen as a choice between Brussels and Moscow. And neither side made any secrets about who they were backing.

In the run-up, Russia claimed NATO was preparing to "occupy" Moldova, though it gave no evidence and has repeatedly accused the government in Chisinau of "anti-Russian hysteria."

Sandu, and others, accused the Kremlin of pouring hundreds of millions of euros" into the country to spread disinformation.

In recent weeks, Moldovan authorities followed up these allegations by carrying out police raids throughout the country aimed at what they called "preparation of mass riots and destabilization, which were coordinated from the Russian Federation through criminal elements."

Two pro-Russian parties -- the Heart of Moldova and Moldova Mare (Greater Moldova) -- were also barred from participating in this weekend's vote after allegations of voter bribery, illegal party financing, and money laundering -- the final decision on Greater Moldova was made on September 28, hours after the vote began.

The European Union, normally strictly neutral about elections in member states and candidate countries, made little effort of hiding its allegiances to PAS with a European Commission spokesperson noting that Russia was deeply interfering in the electoral process."

But it didnt stop there.

Numerous European leaders showed up in Chisinau in recent times with obligatory photo-ops with Sandu, sanctions on pro-Russia politicians have been imposed and enlarged in the last couple of years, and a 1.9 billion euro ($2.23 billion) growth plan for the next three years was unveiled in early 2025 to finance infrastructure and energy projects in the country.

Perhaps the coup de grace was delivered just three days before the vote when Greece allowed for the extradition of the oligarch Vlad Plahotniuc.

The image of the lead suspect in a long-running investigation into the disappearance of some $1 billion from banks back in 2014 arriving in handcuffs in Chisinau was just the tonic that Sandu, who has built her entire career on fighting graft, needed.

The fact is that the EU simply could not afford to lose this vote.

Since the Georgian Dream clung to power in parliamentary elections in Georgia last fall, Tbilisi has slipped away from talks about bloc membership, even if the country still nominally is a candidate.

And with no end in sight for the war in Ukraine and the momentum on the battlefield still favoring Russia, Moldova remains the only country in the clubs eastern neighborhood that has a viable chance of becoming a member.

The goal of achieving that this decade remains after these elections.

Chisinau and Brussels are ready to open negotiations on all 33 enlargement chapters. It can go fast as the EU is keen to add at least a few more members both from the Western Balkans and the east before the next European elections in 2029.

So far, nothing has moved as Moldova and Ukraine are coupled in the process and Hungary is blocking Kyivs EU path due to minority rights issues.

It could well be that Moldova now moves ahead without Ukraine, potentially even later this year.

The PAS win is a Ukrainian win as well.

An important hub for the war-torn country, Kyiv could ill-afford having another hostile neighbor, this time to its west.

Now, it could well be that Moldova is the locomotive that pulls Ukraine with it into the EU.

That is what EU officials had in mind when both countries were given the green light to join the bloc three years ago. The pro-European victory at least ensures that the possibility is still real.
A member of the Hamburg city assembly from Germanys Alternative for Deutschland (AfD) party, Robert Risch, attended a far-right forum in Russia this month that drew extreme right-wing politicians from several countries, an examination of images from the conference shows.

A former AfD member who was ousted from the Hamburg assembly also attended the conference in St. Petersburg, whose organizers included Konstantin Malofeyev, a Kremlin-connected tycoon who champions Russian imperialism and is under Western sanctions for involvement in Moscows war of aggression against Ukraine.

Billed as the founding conference of an international league of anti-globalists" called Paladins, the September 12 forum in St. Petersburgs ornate, Imperial-era Mariinsky Palace was attended by far-right politicians from nations including France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Spain, and South Africa.

Faces of some of the attendees were blurred in a number of published photos from the forum, including one that shows a man seated at a conference table behind a placard that indicates he is from Germany. But photos of the same attendees were published elsewhere without blurring.

RFE/RLs Russian Service showed a photograph of a German delegate to Sergej Meier, a researcher and open-source investigator at the German channel RTL who identified the subject as Risch. An Amazon facial recognition program confirmed the likeness.

The AfD, which posted its best-ever parliamentary election result in February, winning nearly 21 percent, has been seeking to soften its image.

In May, Germanys domestic intelligence agency classified the party as an extremist entity that threatens democracy, a decision the party is trying to overturn.

Risch did not respond to e-mailed questions from RFE/RL, and the AfD did not respond to a letter sent to its Berlin office seeking comment.

An examination of images from the conference and social media shows that another attendee was Olga Petersen, who was ousted from the AfD and from the Hamburg assembly in 2024. In March of that year, she acted as an observer at the election in which President Vladimir Putin secured a new term, and reportedly called the vote open, democratic, and free.

In February, Petersen, who was born in Russia and currently lives there, posted photos showing her with Russian soldiers in a Russian-occupied part of Ukraine.

Petersen did not respond to questions sent by RFE/RL via Facebook.

Malofeyev has been under Western sanctions since 2014 for his role in fomenting uprisings in parts of southern and eastern Ukraine and facilitating Russia's occupation of Ukraine's Crimea region. He is also the target of an international arrest warrant on suspicion of creating and financing illegal paramilitary formations.

Malofeyevs Tsargrad media network was instrumental in promoting the so-called Novorossia project to justify Russias land grabs in Ukraine. It served as a major platform for disseminating and popularizing the ideas of the pro-Kremlin, far-right ideologist Aleksandr Dugin, who is shown sitting next to Malofeyev in a photo of the conference.

Adapted from the original Russian by Steve Gutterman




A media leader from Equatorial Guinea pledged to deepen bilateral bonds, as she visited the China-Equatorial Guinea Friendship Primary School in a remote county of China's Yunnan Province.
A Roscommon business has been shortlisted in six categories for the Irish Kitchen Trade Guide Awards 2025.

Mark Lohan Kitchens, headquartered in Roscommon Town, has been shortlisted for the awards, which are dedicated to celebrating excellence in kitchen design, retailing, and innovation.

Last held in 2022  when the Roscommon company proudly scooped a national title  the awards are regarded as the industrys highest benchmark.

To return this year with six finalist places is a major milestone for the Roscommon-based business, which continues to grow from strength to strength with two state-of-the-art manufacturing plants in Roscommon Town and showrooms in both Roscommon and Galway.

The company has been shortlisted for Classic Kitchen Design under 35k, Classic Kitchen Design over 35k, Contemporary Kitchen Design under 35k, and Showroom of the Year, along with recognition in the business categories of Top Retailer in Ireland and Digital Marketing Campaign of the Year.

Being shortlisted for the awards reflects the passion and expertise of the entire team at Mark Lohan Kitchens.

To be finalists across such a wide spectrum is something we are incredibly proud of, said Mark Lohan, founder and managing director. It reflects the passion and expertise of our entire team  from our showroom designers to the craftspeople in our Roscommon plants. At MLK, every kitchen is built around the lives and homes of the people who choose us, so this recognition is as much about them as it is about us.

For Roscommon, the nominations highlight not only the strength of a homegrown business but also the reputation it has built nationally for bespoke design, Irish craftsmanship, and innovation.

The winners will be announced in Belfast on November 21st, with Mark Lohan Kitchens once again proudly representing Roscommon on the national stage.
People perform Taichi at the China Pavilion at the Expo 2020 Dubai site in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sept. 28, 2025. A Guinness World Record Taichi performance was held here on Sunday to mark the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, which falls on Oct. 1. A total of 180 practitioners, aged 6 to 71, from 77 countries gathered at the China Pavilion at the Expo 2020 Dubai site for the event. (Xinhua/Wen Xinnian)

DUBAI, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- A Guinness World Record Taichi performance was held here on Sunday to mark the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, which falls on Oct. 1.

A total of 180 practitioners, aged 6 to 71, from 77 countries gathered at the China Pavilion at the Expo 2020 Dubai site for the event.

Moving slowly and gracefully to soothing music, people of diverse backgrounds performed the same Taichi forms in unison, embodying the idea that "civilizations thrive through exchange." The performance set a new Guinness World Record for "the most nationalities performing Taichi simultaneously," witnessed by Guinness World Records adjudicator Kanzy El Defrawy.

At about 4:30 p.m. local time (1230 GMT), as the record was officially confirmed, the crowd erupted in applause. Participants then held up placards reading "World Peace" in their native languages and called out together, "One World, One Taichi!" and "Happy Birthday, China!" in front of the China Pavilion.

Liu Huajin, one of the event's initiators and head of the Dubai Chinese Public Welfare Martial Arts Group, said, "It is a great honor to extend birthday wishes to China through Taichi, together with friends from around the world."

The event was hosted by the Shanxi Chamber of Commerce and Fellowship in the UAE, co-organized by the Jiangxi Chamber of Commerce and Fellowship and the Wenchao Group, and supported by the Chinese Consulate General in Dubai along with several international cultural organizations. 
Panelto Foods, one of Irelands leading bread manufacturers has celebrated another significant milestone in its growth journey with the announcement of a new 7 million bread line at its Longford facility.

This latest investment brings the companys total investment in facilities and equipment to 40 million since 2018, underscoring its commitment to innovation, and long-term growth.

The new bread line will deliver next generation speciality breads designed to meet evolving consumer preferences and retail trends. The company, which has doubled its output since 2018, is continuing to invest in innovation to support its growth ambitions between now and 2030.

The announcement was marked by a visit from Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke, and CEO of Enterprise Ireland, Jenny Melia.

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke said,Panelto Foods is a fantastic example of how sustained investment in innovation and infrastructure can drive growth and competitiveness, which I have seen first-hand working closely with Panelto in Longford over the years. The Government, through Enterprise Ireland, has proudly supported Paneltos journey, and todays announcement reflects the strength of that partnership.

This investment not only enhances the companys capabilities but also reinforces its role as a key employer and contributor to the local economy in Longford, and management and staff should be extremely proud of the community they have built.

Panelto Foods currently employs 370 people at its Longford campus, which comprises of a state-of-the-art bakery, an R&D Innovation Centre, and a dedicated training hub. . The company specialises in in-store bakery speciality breads for the retail and food service markets. In April of this year, Panelto Foods launched its most recent innovation, Italian Style Focaccia Sandwich Breads which has already exceeded expectations in both the UK and Irish markets.

Garry Walsh, CEO of Panelto Foods, said: Our continued growth has been built on a culture and mindset of innovation. Our insights and R&D team never stand still, and we have invested heavily in understanding consumer and retail trends, strengthening our R&D capabilities. Ultimately, you cannot execute innovation without a great team. Here in Longford, we have highly talented and dedicated workforce with people from over forty different nationalities, bringing a wealth of experience, perspectives and innovation to our business. Were proud to be a significant employer in the Midlands and to continue delivering high-quality, exciting bakery solutions to our customers across Ireland and the UK. Panelto Foods growth is closely aligned with major shifts in the retail landscape. In-store bakery has emerged as one of the top three categories driving quality perception among consumers, prompting retailers to seek more innovative and premium offerings. As many retailers scale back traditional scratch bakeries, demand has stepped up for high-quality, in store bakery manufactured bread solutions.

Jenny Melia, CEO of Enterprise Ireland said Panelto Foods ongoing investment in innovation and advanced manufacturing is a testament to the ambition and resilience of the company. This new 7 million capital investment further strengthens Paneltos position as a leader in the sector and highlights the companys commitment to Longford as a hub for innovation.
The first televised debate of the presidential campaign was shown on Virgin Media One on Monday night, hosted by Kieran Cuddihy and featuring the three candidates  Independent Catherine Connolly, Fine Gaels Heather Humphreys and Fianna Fails Jim Gavin.

The 60-minute programme began with opening statements from the three candidates. It was followed by questions on neutrality before moving on to the issue of the Irish flags being erected in certain communities. That led to a debate about immigration.

The topic raised the first real clash on the topic of direct provision and asylum seekers. Gavin welcomed immigration but said there was a need for a robust but fair immigration system. Connolly is strongly critical of the direct provision process and when asked of those who are not asylum seekers or have had their claims rejected she said: "We are talking about human beings and about a conflation of issues."

Presidential candidate Jim Gavin. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

The debate then moved onto the safety on the streets of Dublin and our towns, with Humphreys asserting that there are more gardai on the streets, but Connolly saying theire is a lack of Garda presence on the ground, particularly community gardai.

There were also strong exchanges on Gaza between Connolly and Gavin, before the debate moved to the tricky topic of housing. Connolly was adamant the Government has failed miserably. Humphreys defended the Government performance to date, accepting that ambitious goals were not achieved, but saying the solution is very complex.

A potential United Ireland was discussed, with all three candidates outlining their experiences with communities in the North. Humphreys spoke of her experience as a "proud Ulsterwoman and Republican".

Presidential candidate Heather Humphreys. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

In the initial addresses, Catherine Connolly opened proceedings, saying: "As President and working together, we can shape a new United Republic, where everyone is valued, where diversity is cherished, where sustainable solutions are urgently implemented and where a home is a fundamental human right.

"A country where we raise our voice for the peaceful resolution to conflicts and war, drawing on our history of colonization, of famine and our lived experience of the successful peace process in the North."

Presidential candidate Catherine Connolly. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Heather Humpheys said: "I want to bring my life experience to the role of President. I worked for many years as a Credit Union manager; where I got to know people; and the challenges they faced. It was a great apprenticeship for public life.

"I was honoured to serve in Cabinet for over a decade. I led the 1916 Commemorations. I supported businesses through the pandemic; and I worked hard to ensure children across our country receive a Hot School meal.

"Im a daughter, a mother and a grandmother. All my life I have seen the quiet strength of women.

"In my own family, in my community and right across this country, women have been the ones holding things together. I cant promise perfection, but I will promise honesty, compassion and service."

Jim Gavin said: "Over the last four decades Ive served my country and its values in many different roles. From working in our most disadvantaged communities... to leading peacekeepers in Africa... Ive always worked to serve others.

"Ive built teams which show how much we can achieve when we listen and when we respect each other. Theres no problem we cannot overcome when we work together.

"At a time of growing division, my commitment to you is that I will be a President for every section of society. A voice for all."

Earlier today Humphreys and Gavin were canvassing in Dublin while it is understood that Connolly was focusing on her debate preparation.

Further presidential debates are planned on Prime Time and The Week in Politics.

The election takes place on Friday, October 24th, with counting beginning the following day.
Punjab Crop Yields Severely Affected After Floods; Only 5 Quintals of Paddy Harvested from 2 Acres

Farmers now worry whether the government will procure the damaged crops.

Punjab Crop Yields Severely Affected After Floods, Less Paddy Production Latest News: The 2025 floods have severely impacted crop production in the border villages of Punjab. In the border village of Jodiyan Kalan, only 5 quintals of paddy were harvested from 2 acres of land this year. In contrast, the same land produced around 50 quintals last year. This year, however, the floods destroyed the fully matured crop.

Farmer Dilbagh Singh, who brought the damaged crop to the market, said that even the cost of harvesting wouldnt be recovered due to the poor yield.

Advertisement

Punjab witnessed one of the worst floods in recent memory, inundating over 2,300 villages across the state. Crops were destroyed, fertile lands were buried under sand, and many farmers also reported the loss of livestock.

Farmers now worry whether the government will procure the damaged crops.

(For more news apart from Ladakh: Curfew Like Restrictions Continue In Leh After Peaceful Protest Turned Violent , stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
Funeral Procession of Ex-Serviceman Killed in Police Firing During Ladakh Violence Performed Today

"He fought the Pakistanis at Dah Top and Tololing; Pakistanis could not kill him, but our own forces have taken his life

Funeral Procession of Ex-Serviceman Killed in Police Firing During Ladakh Violence Latest News: The funeral procession of the ex-serviceman killed in police firing during the Ladakh violence was held today amid heightened security in Leh town, Ladakh.

The 46-year-old, Tsewang Tharchin, was an ex-serviceman who had fought in the Kargil War.

Advertisement

Tharchin served as a Havildar in the Ladakh Scouts, a specialized mountain infantry regiment of the Indian Army, from 1996 to 2017.

My son was a patriot. He fought in the Kargil War and was at the front for three months. He fought the Pakistanis at Dah Top and Tololing; Pakistanis could not kill him, but our own forces have taken his life, Tharchins father, Stanzin Namgyal, is quoted as saying in an India Today report.

His father, Stanzin Namgyal, also served in the Indian Army for over 30 years and has received commendations from the Chief of Army Staff.

Advertisement

Tharchin, along with three others, was killed on 24 September 2025 in CRPF and police firing when Ladakhs years of peaceful protest turned violent, setting the local BJP office and the hill council office.

21-year-old Rinchen Dadul, who was also killed in the Leh violence on the same day in the police firing, was laid to rest amid curfew today.

VIDEO | 21-year-old Rinchen Dadul who was killed in Leh violence laid to rest amid curfew.



(Full video available on PTI Videos  https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/h5g6apqZkg Advertisement September 29, 2025

Meanwhile, a strict curfew continues in Leh and has entered its 6th day.

VIDEO | Ladakh: Leh under strict curfew for the sixth consecutive day following violent protests.



(Full video available on PTI Videos  https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/1s5cIsufzH  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 29, 2025

Leh Apex Body, on Monday, announced that it will stay away from talks with the High Powered Committee of the Home Ministry till normalcy is restored in Ladakh.

Advertisement

(For more news apart from Rahul Gandhi: Ladakhs Amazing People, Culture, and Traditions Are Under Attack by BJP & RSS, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
Breaking News: Electricity Board Employee Shot Dead in Tarn Taran

The incident took place in the town of Naushera Pannuan.

Breaking News: Electricity Board Employee Shot Dead in Tarn Taran Latest News: An electricity board employee was publicly shot dead in a marketplace in the Tarn Taran district of Punjab. The incident took place in the town of Naushera Pannuan.

Further details are awaited.

Advertisement

(For more news apart from Breaking News: Electricity Board Employee Shot Dead in Tarn Taran, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
Violence Erupts in Bangladesh Over Alleged Assault of Eighth-Grade Tribal Schoolgirl; 3 Dead (Image Courtesy: Dynamite News)

The schoolgirl is currently undergoing treatment at a local hospital.

Violence Erupts in Bangladesh Over Alleged Assault of Eighth-Grade Tribal Schoolgirl Latest News: At least three people were killed and many others were injured in violent clashes that broke out on Sunday in Bangladeshs southeastern hill district of Khagrachhari, Dynamite News reported.

According to the news report, the violence broke out between tribal groups and Bengali settlers, despite heavy security following the alleged assault of a tribal schoolgirl earlier in the week.

Advertisement

The incident has resulted in widespread outrage among the indigenous tribal communities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, the report said.

According to the report, the Chittagong Hill Tracts is a historically sensitive region due to ethnic tensions between tribal groups and Bengali settlers.

Protesters have reportedly blocked roads, burned tires, and staged sit-ins, demanding swift justice regarding the incident involving the minor.

Advertisement

As per police officials cited in the report, three men have been confirmed dead, though no further details on their identities were provided.

Eyewitnesses, cited in the report, said that both sides turned violent, setting fire to each others businesses and households in the Khagrachhari hill district, about 270 km northeast of Dhaka along the motorway.

Both sides resorted to using sticks, stones, and makeshift weapons, while security forces deployed tear gas and rubber bullets to try to control the crowd.

Advertisement

Three lives were lost in the chaos, the report said, adding that the authorities are yet to confirm the exact circumstances of the fatalities.

Several police and paramilitary personnel were also injured in the violence.

The clash broke out after an eighth-grade schoolgirl was allegedly assaulted in the Khagrachhari district, one of the three hill districts of the Chittagong Hill Tracts bordering India and Myanmar.

Advertisement

The girl was reportedly assaulted on her way back from private tuition and was found in an unconscious state by her parents and neighbors around midnight in an isolated area of the town. The schoolgirl is currently undergoing treatment at a local hospital.

Meanwhile, the police, with military assistance, have arrested a Bengali teenager in connection with the alleged assault. He is among the suspects believed to be involved in the crime, the report said. He is being interrogated under a six-day remand as ordered by the court.

Thirteen army personnel have been injured in the clashes, according to officials. Dhaka and Khagrachharis Deputy Commissioner has described the situation as under control. Additional paramilitary forces have been deployed to prevent further escalation.

The Deputy Commissioner stated that they are investigating both the assault case and the clashes that followed.

Those responsible will be held accountable, the DC is quoted as saying in the report.

(For more news apart from Violence Erupts in Bangladesh Over Alleged Assault of Eighth-Grade Tribal Schoolgirl; 3 Dead, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
The political rehabilitation of Lucretiu Patrascanu

Lucretiu Patrascanu, a leading member of the Romanian Communist Party, was executed by shooting at Jilava prison on 16 April 1954.

The History Show

Steliu Lambru, 29.09.2025, 14:00

Lawyer Lucretiu Patrascanu, a leading member of the Romanian Communist Party, was executed by shooting at Jilava prison on 16th April 1954, a tragic ending for a man who naively believed that communist ideals would make this world a better place.

Patrascanu was 53 years old when he died. He was born in 1900 into a family of intellectuals from Bacau. He earned his doctorate in law from Leipzig University, in Germany. He is considered one of the founders of the Communist Party in Romania, having embraced Marxism in 1919. He published essays on law, history, philosophy, sociology and economics. When Romania, who was initially allied with Hitlers Germany, switched sides to join the Allied Powers on 23rd August 1944, Patrascanu was named minister for justice. In this post, he contributed first hand to the transformation of Romania from a liberal democracy to a communist dictatorship. In 1948, he was accused of nationalism, of links with the British intelligence services and collaboration with the Romanian intelligence services from before 1945 and was sacked and held in house arrest. In fact, Patrascanu had entered into conflict with the leader of the party, Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej, who went on to get rid of competition after the Stalinist model.

In 1965, after the death of Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej, the Communist Party elected a new leader, the young and ambitious Nicolae Ceausescu. The latter wanted to remove the old guard loyal to Dej and represented especially by Alexandru Draghici. Ceausescus method was simple, namely rehabilitating Patrascanu and blaming the Dej loyalists. A general in the security services, Neagu Cosma told Radio Romanias Oral History Centre in 2002 about the rehabilitation of Patrascanu, which began with the promotion of Alexandru Draghici.

Ceausescu had this habit of displacing the people by promoting them. He didnt think this was enough in this case, so he also dumped the Patrascanu issue on Draghici. Part of the investigation and the preparation of the trial had been conducted in the interior ministry, in the security services, where Draghici was in a leading position. He thought maybe that would be a problem for him. He called Ion Stanescu, who had been appointed head of the security services, and asked him if there were any documents about the Patrascanu case in the archives. He told him to get them in order to be checked. Its as if Draghici knew what was coming and had prepared his own demise. If he had wanted to protect himself in the Patrascanu case, he could have made the files disappear, but instead, he had everything in order.

To project fairness, the decision did not have to be taken by the political leader. Ceausescu set up a commission made up of the Prosecutor General, the Minister of Justice, the head of personnel from the Central Committee, and others, and he appointed Grigore Raduica as secretary of this commission investigating the Patrascanu case. Raduica was working in the military section of the Partys Central Committee. A document was drafted which had to prove Patrascanus innocence, but it was an absolutely biased document, lacking objectivity. It was supposed to demonstrate that Patrascanu had been 100% a victim, that the whole story about British espionage had been fabricated by the Securitate.

Several decades later, General Neagu Cosma tried to remain objective in his memoirs.

I do not question Patrascanus loyalty and patriotism, his professional and intellectual skills. I even knew him, he was an absolutely remarkable person. But surely he did have some connections. I am not saying he was an agent of the Intelligence Service, but he did have some connections with the Intelligence Service in order to study and observe Romanias situation from a certain perspective. He realized what state we were in after 1945, that we were an occupied country, that our salvation could only come if the West made a move. He had some discussions, and when he attended the Paris Peace Conference, he was even offered the chance to stay in the West. But that did not mean these were serious accusations that should have led to his death. However, reinterpreted by Ceausescu, they came out as mere fabrications.

After the archives provided the answer he was waiting for, Ceausescu rehabilitated Patrascanu with all the appropriate zeal.

In Patrascanus case, the sentencing was completely ordered and directed. At the time, a document was signed in the restricted leading body, the Political Bureau or whatever it was called back then, and all of them signed the document for the death sentence. That meant they agreed with the trial and the sentence. What Ceausescu no longer knew was whether he himself had signed that document condemning Patrascanu. He had just recently entered the Political Bureau, and after a first question to Stanescu, others followed: Am I listed? How am I listed? Did I sign? Didnt I sign? Stanescu said that his face lit up when he found out he had not signed. He no longer remembered if he had signed. So, he was clean, and he could get involved in the Patrascanu case as deeply as he wanted because he was not implicated. Thats the Patrascanu case unfolded.

Patrascanus rehabilitation served to strengthen Ceausescus image as a legitimate and just leader. Propaganda was mobilized as well, with the feature film Power and Truth, directed by Manole Marcus, carrying the strongest of messages. (CM & VP)
U.S. President Donald Trump is seen at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Sept. 29, 2025. Trump said on Monday he would impose a 100-percent tariff on all movies produced outside of the United States. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong)

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he would impose a 100-percent tariff on all movies produced outside of the United States.

"Our movie making business has been stolen from the United States of America, by other Countries, just like stealing 'candy from a baby,'" Trump said in a post on Truth Social. "Therefore, in order to solve this long time, never ending problem, I will be imposing a 100% Tariff on any and all movies that are made outside of the United States."

Trump did not specify when the tariff would be imposed, nor how his administration would calculate the value of a film and how the directive would apply to movies that are partially filmed overseas, local media reported Monday.

Early in May, Trump had threatened to slap a 100-percent tariff on all movies coming into the United States that are produced in foreign lands.

"The Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death," he wrote on Truth Social then, complaining that other countries "are offering all sorts of incentives to draw" filmmakers and studios away from the United States.

"This is a concerted effort by other Nations and, therefore, a National Security threat. It is, in addition to everything else, messaging and propaganda!" he wrote then.

California Democrats have previously criticized Trump's push to impose a tariff on films, warning it would result in higher costs for American consumers. 

U.S. President Donald Trump is seen at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Sept. 29, 2025. Trump said on Monday he would impose a 100-percent tariff on all movies produced outside of the United States. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong)
September 29, 2025

A roundup of local and international news.

Newsflash

Newsroom, 29.09.2025, 13:55

MOLDOVA  The Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), a pro-European party in power for four years, founded by President Maia Sandu, won Sundays parliamentary elections in the Republic of Moldova (ex-Soviet, predominantly Romanian-speaking). According to preliminary results after 99.5% of the votes were counted, PAS was voted for by just over half of the voters who turned up to the polls and will have an absolute majority in Parliament. In second place, at a great distance, was the Patriotic Bloc, formed by pro-Russian parties, with about 24.3% of the votes, followed by the Alternativa Electoral Bloc, of Chisinau Mayor Ion Ceban, who has a travel ban on Romanian and European Union territory. Also entering Parliament were Our Party, led by the controversial mayor of Balti, Renato Usatii, and the Democracy at Home Political Party, considered the surprise of the elections and propelled into Parliament following a campaign on TikTok. The pro-Europeans victory came at the end of a campaign in which the authorities, as well as the press, denounced massive interference from the Russian Federation in an attempt to influence the outcome of the vote.

REACTIONS  Romanian President Nicusor Dan congratulated, on Monday, the citizens of the Republic of Moldova on the firm vote in favor of continuing the countrys European path, expressed in Sundays parliamentary elections. The head of state reiterated that Romania will continue to stand by the Republic of Moldova, through projects that will bring prosperity and a better quality of life for the Moldovans. The Romanian Prime Minister, Ilie Bolojan, also sent a congratulatory message to the Moldovan voters for their mobilization in the parliamentary elections and to the authorities in Chisinau for the exemplary way in which they organized the election. EU leaders, in turn, expressed their relief regarding the election result. Moldova, you have succeeded again, said the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. Moldovas future is in Europe!, said the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, while the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, said that the message of the Moldovan people is clear and strong. French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the victory of the pro-Europeans, while Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk spoke of the courage of the Moldovan people for maintaining the European direction. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia failed in destabilizing Moldova and congratulated President Maia Sandu on this important victory.

UNIVERSITY  The new academic year begins in Romania today, and festivities are being organized in several higher education institutions throughout the country. The National Alliance of Student Organizations in Romania has, however, called on the entire student community to protest today against the fiscal-budgetary measures adopted by the Government, which, they say, affect the quality of education and restrict access to education. The main dissatisfactions relate to the reduction of the scholarship fund by 40% and the limitation of the discount granted for train travel, to the university-home route alone. Protests are announced in Bucharest and several other cities.

BUDGET  The budget revision project  the first of this year  is launched today in public consultation, after new discussions in the ruling coalition in Bucharest. Its adoption will take place towards the end of the week, in a special government meeting. The budget revision will ensure current payments, the completion of the necessary amounts for social assistance, but also in other areas, including a slight addition to the investment component, according to Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, who drew attention to this rectification, saying that it will be a tense one, given the great pressure from the investment sector. In order to allocate additional amounts to the investment component next year, mainly to over-contracting under the NRRP program, we need to reduce our operating expenses and, practically, all the money that will be saved next year through cuts in spending, will be allocated to the completion of these investment projects under the NRRP program, the prime minister explained.

FUNERAL  Cardinal Lucian Muresan, Major Archbishop of the Greek Catholic Church in Romania, who died on Thursday at the age of 94, is buried today in Blaj (center). A day of local mourning has been declared in Blaj. President Nicusor Dan is attending the funeral ceremony. On Saturday, Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan also paid his respects in the Holy Trinity Archbishopric Cathedral in Blaj, at the coffin of Cardinal Lucian Muresan. For his devoted service during the communist persecution and for his contribution to the institutional reconstruction of the Greek Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI named him cardinal in 2012. Cardinal Lucian Muresan received Pope Francis in Blaj six years ago, who beatified the martyr bishops of the Greek Catholic Church in Romania. (EE)
September 29, 2025 UPDATE

A roundup of local and international news.

September 29, 2025 UPDATE

Newsroom, 29.09.2025, 19:49

MOLDOVA. The Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), a pro-European party in power for four years and founded by President Maia Sandu, won Sundays parliamentary elections in the Republic of Moldova. The party won 50.20% of the votes, and with 55 seats in Parliaments 101, will secure a new majority in Moldovas single chamber Parliament. The pro-Russian Patriotic Bloc, will hold 26 seats; the Alternativa Electoral Bloc run by the Chisinau Mayor Ion Ceban, who has a travel ban on Romanian and European Union territory, will have 8 seats in Parliament; while Our Party and the Democracy at Home Political Party 6 seats each. The latter is considered the surprise of the elections, following an effective campaign on TikTok. The pro-Europeans victory came at the end of a campaign in which the authorities, as well as the press, denounced massive interference from the Russian Federation in an attempt to influence the outcome of the vote.

REACTIONS. Romanian President Nicusor Dan congratulated Moldovan voters on their mobilisation for Sundays parliamentary elections and Moldovan authorities for the exemplary way in which they organised the elections. EU leaders expressed their relief regarding the election result. Moldova, you have succeeded again, said the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. Moldovas future is in Europe!, said the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, while the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, said that the message of the Moldovan people is clear and strong. French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the victory of the pro-Europeans, while Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk spoke of the courage of the Moldovan people for staying on their European course. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia failed to destabilise Moldova and congratulated President Maia Sandu on this important victory.

EU. Romanian president Nicusor Dan will attend an informal meeting of the European Council and the 7th meeting of the 47-member European Political Community hosted by Denmark on Wednesday and Thursday. According to a statement from the presidents office, the agenda of talks features the conflict in Ukraine and European security. As part of the European Political Community meeting, Nicusor Dan will attend a round table on the security situation in Europe and aspects related to resilience. He will also have a number of bilateral talks. Denmark said will this week ban all civil drone flights to ensure the security of the meetings. A number of European countries have sent anti-drone systems to bolster Denmarks security. Since 22nd September, unidentified drones were detected flying over sensitive Danish and Norwegian facilities, such as airports and military bases. At the same time, Russian aerial incursions were reported in the airspace of NATO members Romania, Poland and Estonia. Moscow is accused of waging a hybrid war against countries supporting Ukraine in order to destabilise and test Europe and NATO.

FUNDS. Romania reached a level of absorption of European funds of 17.1% at the end of last month, above the EU average of 12.3%, says the Ministry of Investments and European Projects. Minister Dragos Pislaru, said, however, that the pace must be stepped up, because the money received through the cohesion policy is a huge opportunity for the countrys development. In an online post, he indicated that approximately 20% of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan was allocated to the private sector, meaning over 1.15 billion euros exclusively for SMEs. Pislaru promised that, by the end of the year, all projects that are currently blocked will be resumed. The minister added that the Start-up Nation program will be redesigned using European money, with an emphasis on sustainability and competitiveness, and in order to show transparency in the allocation of European funds, there will be an interactive map with all projects financed through the Recovery and Resilience Plan and the cohesion policy.

UNIVERSITY. The new academic year began in Romania on Monday amid protests from, students. The National Alliance of Student Organisations in Romania staged actions in a number of cities, dissatisfied with a 40% cut in the scholarship fund and restrictions to the 90% discount on train fares between students place of study and home city. (cm)
The Republic of Moldova stays on the European Path

In the Parliamentary Election on Sunday, the citizens of the Republic of Moldova voted to stay close to the European Union

Photo: Radio Chisinau

Daniela Budu, 29.09.2025, 14:00

The ex-Soviet, Romanian-speaking Republic of Moldova, a country with 2.4 million people in last Sundays crucial ballot voted to stay close to the European Union  The Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) founded by President Maia Sandu emerged as winner of the Parliamentary election on Sunday. According to the returns announced by Chisinau, PAS won the election after having mustered more than half of the votes and has also achieved Parliament majority.

The Patriotic Block, made up of pro-Russia parties, came second at a big distance, followed by the Alternativa Election Block of Chisinaus mayor, Ion Ceban, whose entrance to the territory of Romania and the EU has been banned. Parliament seats have also been won by Our Party, a political group of the controversial mayor of the Balti city, Renato Usatii and the Home Democracy Party, which obtained a surprising result in the election, being propelled to Parliament by a TikTok campaign.

The pro-European victory came at the end of a campaign, during which both the authorities and the press had denounced the massive interferences from the Russian Federation aimed at influencing the voting process. However, Moscow denies any involvement in the Moldovan election. Turnout in the Sunday election stood at over 52%, lower than in the last years presidential election, but comparable with the 2021 ballot. Out of the 1.6 million, who voted on Sunday, over 275 thousand cast their ballot abroad, which accounted for 16% of the total number of votes.

Romania made available 23 polling stations, and the Moldovan citizens who voted here said they wanted a better future for their country. They hope that after the recent election, the Republic of Moldova will irreversibly go towards Europe.

Presidential adviser, Radu Burnete, on Monday conveyed a message from Bucharest, in which he said that in spite of the war and propaganda, Eastern Europe will prove to Russia that a historical cycle ended in 1989 and definitive steps have been taken to the West, and that Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova will be part of this space too.

In turn, Romanian Prime Minister, Ilie Bolojan, has conveyed a congratulation message to the Moldovan voters for the exemplary way in which they staged the voting adding the place of the Republic of Moldova is in the big European family.

The victory of the Pro-European forces in the Republic of Moldova is a strong signal for the EU accession, the PSD MP and vice-president of the European Parliament, Victor Negrescu said. According to him, Europe and Romania are winning and the Republic of Moldova is getting towards a common future with the EU. Siegfried Muresan, Chair of the Delegation to the EU-Moldova Parliamentary Association Committee, believes the pro-European victory in the Parliamentary election will step up the process of the Republic of Moldovas EU accession.

(bill)
Victory for the pro-EU party in the Republic of Moldova

The ruling pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), founded by President Maia Sandu, has won Sunday's parliamentary elections in the Republic of Moldova.

Photo: www.cec.md

Radio Romania International, 29.09.2025, 10:00

UPDATE 3 According to final results, PAS got 50.20% of the votes, followed by the pro-Russian Patriotic Bloc with 24.17%, the Alternative Electoral Bloc, led by the Mayor of Chisinau, Ion Ceban, with 7.96%, Our Party of Renato Usatii with 6.20% and theDemocracy at Home Party led by Vasile Costiuc, with 5.62%.



UPDATE 2: According to partial returns, after the count of 99.96% of the votes, PAS got 50.17% of the votes, followed by the pro-Russian Patriotic Bloc with 24.18%, the Alternative Electoral Bloc, led by the Mayor of Chisinau, Ion Ceban, with 7.97%, Our Party of Renato Usatii with 6.20% and theDemocracy at Home Party led by Vasile Costiuc, with 5.62%.



UPDATE 1: According to partial returns, after the count of 99.91% of the votes, PAS got 50.16% of the votes, followed by the pro-Russian Patriotic Bloc with 24.19%, the Alternative Electoral Bloc, led by the Mayor of Chisinau, Ion Ceban, with 7.97%, Our Party of Renato Usatii with 6.20% , and the Democracy at Home Party led by Vasile Costiuc, with 5.62%.



According to partial returns, after the count of 99.5% of the votes, PAS got over half of the votes cast in the elections and will secure an absolute majority in Parliament.

Running second is the Patriotic Bloc, made up of pro-Russian parties, with only 24.3% of the votes, followed by the Alternative Electoral Bloc, led by the Mayor of Chisinau, Ion Ceban, who is banned from traveling to Romania and the European Union. Other parties that have won seats in the Moldovan Parliament are Our Party, led by the controversial mayor of Balti, Renato Usatii, and the Democracy at Home Party, considered the surprise of the elections and propelled into Parliament following a campaign on TikTok.

The pro-Europeans victory comes at the end of a campaign during which the authorities and the press denounced massive interference from the Russian Federation, in an attempt to influence the outcome of the vote.

The Moldovan citizens who went to the polls opened in Romania on Sunday, mostly young people, have said they want a better future for their country. They hope that, after the elections, the Republic of Moldova will irreversibly move towards Europe.

In Bucharest, Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan sent a message of congratulation to the Moldovan voters for their mobilization in the parliamentary elections and to the authorities in Chisinau for the exemplary way in which they organized the election, reiterating that the Republic of Moldova belongs in the great European family.

Presidential advisor Radu Burnete has also sent a message, showing that Eastern Europe will demonstrate to Russia, despite the war and propaganda, that a historical cycle ended in 1989 and a definitive step forward into the Western space was taken back then.
Japan will on Monday release July results for its leading and coincident indexes, highlighting a very light day for Asia-Pacific economic activity.

The leading index is expected to rise 0.8 percent on month for the second straight month, while the coincident is seen lower by 2.6 percent after adding 0.7 percent in June.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Economic News

What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more.
Nextensa (NEXTAB.XD,NEXTA.BR), a real estate investor and developer, on Monday announced that it has sold a retail site in Ingeldorf to the State of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg for 19.6 million euros.

The transaction has been structured as an asset deal.

The Ingeldorf site was part of Nextensa's portfolio since 2008. It comprises of Batiself building as well as a separate extension housing Siemes Schuhcenter.

Nextensa, a developer primarily focusing on large urban developments, said the sale is in line with its strategy to optimise its real portfolio while performing sustainability objectives.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
The ruling pro-EU party of President Maia Sandu has won the parliamentary elections in Moldova.

With only half of the electorate turning out, the Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) secured more than 50 percent of the votes.

With the counting of votes almost over by early Monday, the pro-Russian main opposition party Patriotic Electoral Bloc could win only less than 25 percent of votes.

The result ensures comfortable majority for PAS in the 101-member parliament, and enables it to form a government of its own, according to reports.

After casting her ballot, President Sandu accused Russia of 'massive interference' in the election, which was crucial in the country's path to the European Union.

Former president and the leader of the Patriotic Bloc, Igor Dodan called for protests outside the parliament in the capital Chisinau alleging meddling in the election process from the West.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Seacon Shipping Group Holdings Limited (2409.HK), Monday announced that its wholly owned subsidiary has agreed to acquire a 40 percent equity interest in CIMC Xinde Leasing Co., Ltd. for approximately RMB 481.9 million.

Seacon will also offer a shareholder guarantee commensurate with its stake as part of the deal. The and the Agricultural Bank of China will sign a guaranteed agreement in October 2025 for commitments pertaining to a USD 40.44 million loan facility given to the target business.

With a net asset value of roughly RMB 1.2 billion as of December 31, 2024, the target company, which primarily provides container, vessel, and general leasing services, reported audited net profits of RMB 22.6 million in 2023 and RMB 45.7 million in 2024.

According to Seacon, the guarantee and acquisition will fortify its integrated maritime services platform, improve synergies with China International Marine Containers, and broaden its shipping and leasing ecosystem.

2409.HK closed trading at 4.270 RMB, up 0.040 RMB or 0.95 percent on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Montra Electric, the clean mobility brand of the Murugappa Groups TI Clean Mobility, has launched its new Rhino 5538 EV 42 TT, further expanding its heavy-duty electric truck portfolio. Alongside the truck, the company also unveiled a battery swapping solution and inaugurated Indias first all-women monitored Automated Battery Plant at its Manesar facility in Haryana.

Heavy-Duty EV with Battery Swap Advantage

The Rhino 5538 EV 42 TT is a 55-tonne gross combination weight (GCW) electric truck, designed for long-haul freight applications. It is powered by a 282 kWh LFP battery, producing 380 HP and 2000 Nm torque, with an estimated range of 198 km under standard test conditions. The truck is equipped with a 6-speed AMT transmission and a robust chassis frame, ensuring compatibility with multiple trailer types for versatile use.

A key highlight of the launch is the introduction of battery swapping technology for the Rhino range. The system enables a full swap in less than 6 minutes, compared to over an hour with conventional fast charging. The facility, designed with a 7+1 configuration and advanced automation, can handle up to 160 swaps per day at peak capacity. The controlled charging environment also extends battery life, while a drive-through design allows trucks with trailers to move in and out seamlessly, similar to a toll plaza.

The fixed-battery variant of the Rhino 5538 EV 42 TT has been priced at Rs 1.15 crore (ex-factory). Customers will also benefit from Montra Electrics 10-year/9 lakh km annual maintenance contract (AMC), which guarantees 95% uptime.

Inauguration of Automated Battery Plant

At the same event, Montra Electric inaugurated Indias first all-women monitored Automated Battery Plant, along with a new conveyor line integrated with Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs). These upgrades aim to enhance production efficiency, reduce manual intervention, and localize advanced EV manufacturing capabilities in India.

Mr. Arun Murugappan, Chairman, Montra Electric (TI Clean Mobility Pvt. Ltd.) said, At Montra Electric, we are building products and services that directly address the biggest hurdles in commercial EV adoption. With innovations like battery swapping for heavy-duty trucks and purpose-built platforms across segments, we are making clean mobility seamless, reliable, and economically viable for fleet operators. This approach strengthens our vision of building a full-spectrum sustainable mobility ecosystem. Each step we take is designed to accelerate Indias shift towards cleaner logistics, ensuring that sustainable mobility becomes the norm rather than the exception.

Expanding the Rhino Portfolio

The launch marks a further step in Montra Electrics effort to establish itself as a key player in the electric medium and heavy commercial vehicle (eM&HCV) segment. The new 42 TT builds on the success of the Rhino 64 TT, Indias first heavy-duty EV truck, which has already clocked over 1.2 crore km since its debut. According to the company, these developments will help accelerate adoption of clean mobility solutions for freight transport, a sector that has traditionally relied on internal combustion engines.

Mr. Jalaj Gupta, Managing Director, Montra Electric (TI Clean Mobility), said: It is a milestone in Montra Electrics journey of putting India firmly on the global map of sustainable mobility with the introduction of battery swapping technology. Launch of the Rhino 5538 EV 42 TT, in one of the largest industry segments, demonstrates our commitment to innovation, localization, and sustainability. All the new additions to our manufacturing facility, automated battery plant, battery swap technology and the conveyor line integrated with Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), will collectively unlock greater efficiency, reliability, and localization. These advancements position India to take significant strides in driving innovative, technology-led, clean freight solutions. With the governments thrust through initiatives like the PM E-DRIVE scheme, the adoption of e-trucks is set to accelerate rapidly.
CANBERRA, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- An Australian national biobank platform for streamlining access to human biospecimens and data for biomedical research could deliver 39 million Australian dollars (about 25.62 million U.S. dollars) worth of annual benefits, a new report shows.

These benefits would stem from improved coordination across Australian biobanks and cohort studies, enhancing research efficiency and outcomes, according to the report released Monday by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), Australia's national science agency.

With more than 200 biobanks and over 4 million biospecimens held nationwide, the report highlights the infrastructure's role in accelerating lifesaving scientific discoveries.

These collections provide access to human biological materials and associated data, helping researchers maximise the value of existing resources, ensure biological models reflect the diversity of Australia's population, and inform evidence-based public health decisions, it said.

Benefits include reducing search times for specimens, boosting utilization of biobanks, accelerating research progress, improving risk management, and opening doors to international collaboration and biopharmaceutical investment, according to the report. 
HANOI, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam's state budget revenue increased 32 percent year-on-year in the first nine months of 2025, local daily newspaper Nhan Dan reported Sunday, citing the General Department of Taxation.

The revenue totaled 117.6 trillion Vietnamese dong (about 4.49 billion U.S. dollars) in September alone, up 118.8 percent from a year earlier, the report added.

Domestic revenue accounted for 113.6 trillion dong (about 4.34 billion U.S. dollars), while crude oil revenue contributed 4 trillion dong (about 152.7 million U.S. dollars), the report said.

Notably, revenue from the digital economy and e-commerce surged 57 percent year-on-year to 145.6 trillion dong (about 5.56 billion U.S. dollars) during the nine-month period, the newspaper noted. 
TEHRAN, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday that attempts by European countries and the United States to revive terminated United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions against Iran constitute a "unilateral rewriting" of international law.

In a letter addressed to his foreign counterparts, Araghchi said that those "assertions" must be rejected as they, among other things, contradict the spirit of Resolution 2231 that endorses a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

He said Resolution 2231 terminated the previous UNSC resolutions on Iran's nuclear program, including all sanction measures, and set out a clear time-bound framework, under which all nuclear-related restrictions would permanently expire on Oct. 18, 2025. The resolution, he added, gave no country unilateral authority to alter, reinterpret or extend its provisions.

Araghchi noted that the snapback procedure invoked by the E3, namely France, Britain and Germany, and the United States was "null and void," citing the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA in 2018 and the European countries' failure to honor their obligations under the deal.

Neither Iran nor any other UN member state was legally obligated to comply with such "unlawful" claims, he said, noting that Iran would continue to defend its sovereign rights and legitimate interests while remaining open to "genuine negotiations on an equal footing."

Last month, the E3 formally invoked the snapback mechanism, which allowed for the re-imposition of UN sanctions within 30 days if Iran was deemed in breach of the nuclear deal.

On Sept. 19, the UNSC failed to adopt a resolution that would have extended sanctions relief for Iran under the JCPOA. A subsequent resolution, which sought to grant a six-month extension to both the JCPOA and Resolution 2231, also failed to pass in the UNSC on Friday. The sanctions were re-imposed on Saturday evening.

In addition, Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran's UN envoy, in a letter on Sunday, strongly protested against the move by the UN Secretariat to inform the member states of the reinstatement of the terminated UNSC resolutions on Iran, according to the official news agency IRNA. 
A new study from Karolinska Institutet, published in the scientific journal The BMJ, shows how a simple blood analysis can predict the risk of developing severe liver disease. The method may already start to be applied in primary care to enable the earlier detection of cirrhosis and cancer of the liver.

"These are diseases that are growing increasingly common and that have a poor prognosis if detected late," says Rickard Strandberg, affiliated researcher at Karolinska Institutet's Department of Medicine in Huddinge, who has developed the test with his departmental colleague Hannes Hagstrom. "Our method can predict the risk of severe liver disease within 10 years and is based on three simple routine blood tests."

For the study, the researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and their colleagues in Finland evaluated how well the method can estimate the risk of severe liver disease. The model, which is called CORE, was produced with advanced statistical methods and is based on five factors: age, sex and levels of three common liver enzymes (AST, ALT and GGT), which are commonly measured during regular health checks.

A web-based calculator

Their aim has been to produce a tool that is easy to use in primary care, where most patients first seek medical attention. A web-based calculator is already available for doctors and nurses at www.core-model.com.

"This is an important step towards being able to offer early screening for liver disease in primary care," says principal investigator Hannes Hagstrom, adjunct professor at Karolinska Institutet's Department of Medicine in Huddinge, and senior consultant at Karolinska University Hospital. "Drug treatment is now available, soon hopefully also in Sweden, for treating people at a high risk of developing liver diseases such as cirrhosis or liver cancer."

The study is based on data from over 480,000 people in Stockholm who underwent health checks between 1985 and 1996. On following the participants for up to 30 years, the researchers could see that some 1.5 per cent developed severe liver disease, such as liver cirrhosis and liver cancer, or required a liver transplant.

Highly accurate risk prediction

The CORE model proved highly accurate and was able to differentiate between people who either did or did not develop the disease in 88 per cent of cases, which is an improvement on the currently recommended FIB-4 method.

"Primary care hasn't had the tools to detect the risk of severe liver disease in time," says Professor Hagstrom. "FIB-4 is not suited for the general population and is less effective at predicting the future risk of severe liver disease."

The model was also tested on two other population groups in Finland and the UK, where it again demonstrated a high accuracy in predicting this risk. The researchers make the point, however, that it needs to be further tested on groups at especially high risk, such as people with type 2 diabetes or obesity. They also recognise a need to integrate the model into medical records systems to facilitate its clinical use.

The study was a collaboration between Karolinska Institutet, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki University and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. It was financed by the Swedish Research Council, Region Stockholm (CIMED) and the Swedish Cancer Society. Hannes Hagstrom is engaged in several collaborations with the pharmaceutical industry regarding liver disease prognosis, but none that is relevant to the current study.
Photo taken on Sept. 29, 2025 shows the accident site in Giza, Egypt. Two Chinese were killed on Monday when a microbus collided with private cars near the Giza pyramid complex in Greater Cairo, according to the Chinese Embassy in Egypt. (Xinhua)

CAIRO, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Two Chinese were killed on Monday when a microbus collided with private cars near the Giza pyramid complex in Greater Cairo, according to the Chinese Embassy in Egypt.

Seven others, including three Chinese citizens, were injured in the crash, which occurred on Giza's Tourist Road, the embassy added.

According to local news outlet Al-Masry Al-Youm, the microbus veered out of its lane and struck several oncoming cars, triggering a chain collision.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, according to the website.

Road accidents are frequent in Egypt, often blamed on speeding, lax traffic enforcement, and poor road conditions. 

Photo taken on Sept. 29, 2025 shows the accident site in Giza, Egypt. Two Chinese were killed on Monday when a microbus collided with private cars near the Giza pyramid complex in Greater Cairo, according to the Chinese Embassy in Egypt. (Xinhua)

Photo taken on Sept. 29, 2025 shows the accident site in Giza, Egypt. Two Chinese were killed on Monday when a microbus collided with private cars near the Giza pyramid complex in Greater Cairo, according to the Chinese Embassy in Egypt. (Xinhua)
From September 8th to 12th, during the 2025 "Hong Kong  Anhui Huangmei Opera Culture Week," Anhui Zaifen Huangmei Art Theatre presented its classic plays "The Story of a Silk Handkerchief" and "Female Princess Consort" to audiences at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. "The Story of a Silk Handkerchief" is a traditional Huangmei opera repertoire piece, renowned alongside "Marriage of the Fairy Princess" and "Female Princess Consort" as the "Three Masterpieces" of Huangmei opera. It made its debut on the Hong Kong stage on the evening of September 10th. "Female Princess Consort", the most frequently performed classic in the Huangmei opera repertoire, was staged once again in Hong Kong on the evening of September 11th. The performance was led by Han Zaifen, Vice President of the China Theatre Association and a renowned Huangmei opera performing artist. The opera was first created and performed by the Anhui Anqing Prefecture Huangmei Opera Troupe (the predecessor of the Anhui Zaifen Huangmei Art Theatre). Over sixty years later, it continues to be beloved by audiences. Its legendary plot, exquisite acting, and beautiful melodies deeply resonate with public aesthetics and emotional sensibilities, making it an enduring "signature piece" in the Huangmei opera tradition. Beyond the spectacular stage performances, this cultural exchange features a rich array of traditional opera activities. On the afternoon of September 9, Han Zaifen delivered a lecture titled "A Century of Huangmei Opera: From Tradition to Modernity" at The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. The session explored themes such as "The Ever-Youthful Huangmei Opera," "Han Zaifen's Work in Huangmei Opera Stage Productions and Film/TV Adaptations," and "The Anhui Zaifen Huangmei Art Theatre & The Current Artistic Ecosystem of Huangmei Opera in Anqing, Anhui." Additionally, outstanding young performers Wang Zexi, Wang Chenchen, Xie Jun, and Zhang Min presented classic Huangmei opera excerpts. The event also invited students from the Academy who are passionate about traditional Chinese opera to participate in an interactive Huangmei opera experience, with guidance from young artists on traditional movements and gestures. Reflecting on November 2024, the Anhui Zaifen Huangmei Art Theatre garnered enthusiastic responses during its Hong Kong tour with "Marriage of the Fairy Princess" and "Female Princess Consort". In 2025, the troupe has expanded its reach, performing across Anqing, Hefei, Macao, Suzhou, Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Frankfurt, Germany. Driven by profound dedication, each performance showcases the unique charm of Huangmei opera to global audiences. The 2025 "Hong Kong  Anhui Huangmei Opera Culture Week" offers diverse programs including an opening ceremony, campus lectures, community and institutional outreach, and staged performancesall designed to present the artistic appeal of Huangmei opera through multiple dimensions. The event has been incorporated into the 2025 "Traditional Culture Resonates in Hong Kong" Cultural Performance Season.

Source: anhuinews.com
This photo taken on Sept. 28, 2025 shows solar panels in Konya, Turkiye. Official data showed that Turkiye's solar power has doubled since 2021, reaching over 21 gigawatts of capacity by early 2025, while wind power has steadily expanded and hydropower remains the backbone with over 32 gigawatts of capacity. The Turkish government aims to reach around 120 gigawatts of combined solar and wind capacity by 2035, while continuing to develop hydropower, geothermal and biomass. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)

ANKARA, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- As renewable energy plays an increasingly important role in Turkiye's installed power capacity, experts have highlighted both the rapid growth of solar energy and the urgent need to modernize the grid to ensure a stable green transition.

"Solar is not only about generation anymore; it is about creating a local industry," Tayfun Hiz, a researcher at the Center for Solar Energy Research and Applications of Middle East Technical University in Ankara, told Xinhua recently.

"Turkiye is already building panels, inverters and related technologies domestically. If we align research, manufacturing and policy, solar can become a driver of exports as well as clean energy at home," he added.

Muhdan Saglam, director of Ankara-based think tank the Center for Energy and Climate Change Studies at the Economic Policy Research Foundation, emphasized the next phase of the energy transition: "Turkiye has shown it can build renewable power quickly, but the real challenge now is to integrate these resources smoothly into the system."

"To solve this, Turkiye will need to invest in stronger power lines, storage systems such as batteries, and smarter electricity markets. Without these steps, it may be difficult to use all the renewable power being built," she told Xinhua.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced at the UN Climate Summit 2025 held Wednesday in New York that more than 60 percent of Turkiye's installed electricity capacity now comes from renewable sources, including hydropower, wind and solar.

He outlined new measures including an emissions trading system and green finance tools. "In line with our net-zero emissions target for 2053, we will continue to transform key sectors," Erdogan added.

The renewable expansion also supports Turkiye's goal of reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels, and enhancing energy security through sun, wind and water resources.

Official data showed that Turkiye's solar power has doubled since 2021, reaching over 21 gigawatts of capacity by early 2025, while wind power has steadily expanded and hydropower remains the backbone with over 32 gigawatts of capacity.

The Turkish government aims to reach around 120 gigawatts of combined solar and wind capacity by 2035, while continuing to develop hydropower, geothermal and biomass.

Saglam warned that without proper grid infrastructure, renewable energy potential in Turkiye cannot be fully realized.

Citing the massive blackout in the Iberian Peninsula in late April as an example of grid vulnerability, Saglam stressed that "necessary investments have to be made to support the grid."

Phasing out coal by 2035 at the latest would be essential for Turkiye to meet its 2053 climate neutrality goal, she said, adding that the coming years will reveal whether Turkiye can turn its ambitious plans into lasting change, combining climate action with energy security and economic benefits. 

This photo taken on Sept. 28, 2025 shows solar panels and wind turbines in Konya, Turkiye. Official data showed that Turkiye's solar power has doubled since 2021, reaching over 21 gigawatts of capacity by early 2025, while wind power has steadily expanded and hydropower remains the backbone with over 32 gigawatts of capacity.

The Turkish government aims to reach around 120 gigawatts of combined solar and wind capacity by 2035, while continuing to develop hydropower, geothermal and biomass. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)

This photo taken on Sept. 28, 2025 shows a view of wind turbines in Konya, Turkiye. Official data showed that Turkiye's solar power has doubled since 2021, reaching over 21 gigawatts of capacity by early 2025, while wind power has steadily expanded and hydropower remains the backbone with over 32 gigawatts of capacity.

The Turkish government aims to reach around 120 gigawatts of combined solar and wind capacity by 2035, while continuing to develop hydropower, geothermal and biomass. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)
Clay Mowry, President of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), addresses the opening ceremony of the 76th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2025) in Sydney, Australia, Sept. 29, 2025. The 76th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2025) opened in Sydney on Monday, gathering thousands of space professionals, decision-makers, academics, industry leaders, astronauts, and students from around the world. (Xinhua/Li Xiaoyu)

SYDNEY, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- The 76th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2025) opened in Sydney on Monday, gathering thousands of space professionals, decision-makers, academics, industry leaders, astronauts, and students from around the world.

The five-day event, held under the theme "Sustainable Space: Resilient Earth," will serve as a global platform for fostering dialogue, collaboration, and innovation on space-based solutions for Earth and beyond, said the event organizer, the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), in a press release.

At the opening ceremony of the event, the 2025 IAF World Space Award - Team Category was presented to China's Chang'e-6 mission team.

Addressing the opening ceremony, IAF's President Clay Mowry said the event features more than 40 panel sessions on topics, around 200 technical sessions, and around 200 booths in the exhibition hall.

Bian Zhigang, deputy head of the China National Space Administration, said at a plenary event of IAC 2025 that China pays close attention to tackling climate change with space technologies and is willing to provide its best efforts to build a resilient Earth with international partners. 
European shares held gains on Monday despite fears of a US government shutdown while a raft of pharma stocks were in focus across the continent.

The pan-regional Stoxx 600 gained 0.30% in early deals to 556.92 at 1150 BST. Germanys DAX was up 0.25, Britains FTSE 0.65% and Frances CAC 40 rose 0.12%.

US President Donald Trump is due to meet congressional leaders in Washington to avert a government shutdown.

Asian shares were broadly higher, also boosted by a weak dollar in response to the latest political turmoil in the US and upbeat factory profit data in China showing the first gains in four months.

Green shoots for the Chinese economy may not be enough to hold markets higher this week however, if a US economic shutdown cannot be averted. President Donald Trump is due to receive congress colleagues at the White House today to discuss the issue  as the government is due to run out of money on Wednesday if a new funding deal cannot be agreed, said Emma Wall, chief investment strategist at Hargreaves Lansdown.

The proposed deal will secure funding to mid-November. Failure to do so will put additional pressure on the US dollar, which has traded at multi-year lows in recent weeks.

On the economics front, eurozone economic sentiment nudged higher in September, according to a survey released on Monday by the European Commission.

The ECs economic sentiment indicator rose to 95.5 from 95.3 in August. The indicator for the European Union, meanwhile, ticked up 0.6 points to 95.5. in September.

The employment expectations indicator for the eurozone fell 1.3 points to 96.4 in September, while the index for the EU declined 0.9 points to 97.1. Both indicators remain below their long-term average of 100.

In equity news, shares in Danish biotech company Genmab fell as it unveiled plans to buy Utrecht-based cancer drugmaker Merus in an $8bn deal.

UCB surged after trial data showed the Belgian drug company's its experimental skin disease treatment Bimzelx outperformed competitor MoonLakes sonelokimab.

Financiere de Tubize, which holds a stake in UCB, soared more than 16% on the news.

GSK rose after the UK pharma giant said Emma Walmsley would step down as CEO and be replaced by insider Luke Miels in January.

AstraZeneca was also higher after the drugmaker said it would keep its UK listing and HQ and would directly list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange instead of the current depository shares.

Lufthansa rose after the German carrier announced plans to axe 4,000 administrative jobs by 2030 and set higher profitability targets.

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com
TEHRAN, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Sunday here that Iran will never surrender to U.S. bullying regarding the nuclear issue.

He made the remarks at a cabinet meeting while highlighting the U.S. "irrational and bullying" behavior in response to Iran's efforts to achieve a fair solution to the nuclear issue, according to a statement published on the website of his office.

Pezeshkian said Iran rejects and condemns the imposition of any restrictions and sanctions, emphasizing that Iran has stood ready to negotiate transparently and achieve a fair and reasonable solution.

The imperious approach that the other side adopted will never be accepted, he added. "We will continue the path of dignity proudly," he said.

Pezeshkian said Iran had never sought to make nuclear weapons, citing a religious decree by Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei which prohibits the development of atomic weapons.

"We have always expressed our readiness for rational and fair dialogue that is based on clear criteria, but we will never acquiesce to a negotiation that entangles us in new problems and issues," he said.

In July 2015, Iran signed a nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with world powers, accepting restrictions on its nuclear program in return for sanctions relief.

The United States, however, withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018 and reinstated sanctions, prompting Iran to scale back some of its nuclear commitments.

On Sept. 19, the United Nations (UN) Security Council failed to adopt a resolution that would have extended sanctions relief for Iran under the JCPOA. A subsequent resolution, which sought to grant a six-month extension to both the JCPOA and Resolution 2231, also failed to pass in the Security Council on Friday. 
Anglo-Swedish drugs giant AstraZeneca is to list directly on the New York Stock Exchange, it was announced on Monday.

The company currently has its primary listing in the UK, where it is headquartered, with further listings in Sweden and New York.

However, it can only be traded on Wall Street through American depositary receipts (ADRs). It therefore wants to replace the ADRs, which are typically less liquid than traditional shares, by listing directly in New York, putting it on par with Londons listing.

The move will not, however, affect AstraZenecas status as a UK-listed, headquartered and tax resident company, the firm insisted. It will also continue to be included in the FTSE 100 following the shake-up.

Michel Demare, chair, said harmonising the listing structure would support AstraZenecas "long-term strategy for sustainable growth", while retaining both its UK headquarters and listings in London and Stockholm.

He continued: "Enabling a global listing structure will allow us to reach a broader mix of global investors, and will make it even more attractive for all our shareholders to have the opportunity to participate in AstraZenecas exciting future."

Richard Hunter, head of markets at Interactive Investor, said listing directly in New York "could open the door to future valuation boosts".

AstraZeneca noted that the US had the worlds "largest and most liquid" public markets by capitalisation, as well as the largest pool of biopharma companies and investors.

Cambridge-based AstraZeneca was formed in 1999, when Swedens Astra merged with Britains Zeneca in a blockbuster deal.

Since then, it has become one of the worlds biggest drug companies, with a market value of around 170bn and sales in more than 125 countries.

However, global pharma has come under increasing pressure this year, having caught the attention of Donald Trump.

The US president has long threatened significant tariffs on the sector and last week confirmed levies of 100% would be imposed on branded drug imports, effective 1 October, unless companies had already started building manufacturing facilities in the US.

In July, AstraZeneca announced plans to spend $50bn to expand its US manufacturing and research capabilities by 2030.

Shareholders will be asked to vote on the new listing structure at a general meeting on 3 November.

As at 0915 BST, AstraZeneca was 1% at 11,148p.
Online trading platform CMC Markets said on Monday that it has struck a key deal with Australias Westpac Banking Corporation .

Under the terms of the agreement, CMC will provide Westpac Share Trading and St George Directshares - the banks online share trading services - with branded web and mobile white label platforms.

CMC Markets Stockbroking already manages over AUS$90bn (44bn) in assets under administration as Australias second-largest stockbroker.

The new deal with Westpac will result in a "meaningful" increase in its presence in the country, CMC said, including servicing around 40% more customers and increased domestic volumes of around 45%,

CMC Markets Stockbroking currently serves more than 1.2m share trading accounts.

Peter Cruddas, founder and chief executive of CMC, said: "This continues our strong are record in Australia in winning major technology partnerships with major banks. This is testament to our proven success in working with a range of major banking partners."

Ashley Stewart, managing director, private wealth, at Westpac, said: "Following an extensive strategic review and tender process, weve selected CMC Markets Stockbroking as our preferred platform supplier.

"CMC is a recognised market leader in online share trading. We look forward to extending our relationship with them to deliver innovative trading features."

As at 0815 BST, shares in the FTSE 250 firm were up 2% at 227.5p.
Genuit said on Monday that it has bought Davidson - a business which comprises leading brands in the plumbing and heating sectors including Salamander Pumps, Cistermiser, Talon and Keraflo - for 49m.

Genuit, which provides sustainable water, climate and ventilation solutions for the built environment, said these brands have strong market positions, mainly in the UK repair, maintenance and improvement sectors of the residential and commercial segments.

The business is expected to deliver full-year 2025 revenue of 32.8m, it said, and will form part of the group's Sustainable Building Solutions (SBS) business unit.

Genuit pointed out that Davidson is increasingly focused on solutions that use less water, which are in growing demand given stressed water supply to homes and increasing water costs in commercial and public buildings.

It serves mainly the UK market, with a "small but growing" proportion of export revenue.

Chief executive Joe Vorih said: "We are delighted to welcome our new colleagues to Genuit. Davidson is an excellent fit with the existing businesses within SBS, adding to our portfolio of strong brands alongside Polypipe, Manthorpe and Terrain.

"We see opportunities to grow Davidson's products by utilising our existing strong market positions, as well as combining certain product ranges to provide higher value-added solutions to customers.

"Additionally, by deploying the lean techniques of GBS, and our procurement scale, we expect to deliver efficiency improvements in the near future. This transaction follows our recent acquisition of Monodraught and demonstrates the strength of our M&A pipeline."
The EU steel industry, already reeling from Donald Trumps 50% tariffs on imports, is bracing itself for further damage after the US opened the possibility of a rolling list of derivative products that could be subject to tariffs including windows and doors with some metal. In August the US listed 407 product categories as derivative inclusions, ranging from wind turbines, mobile cranes and bulldozers to rail cars and furniture.  Guardian

Graduates fresh from university will find it difficult to find a job after a 35% drop in hiring by employers over the last year, according to analysis by a leading recruitment data provider. Hiring freezes at many employers have taken the biggest toll on graduates and meant there is fierce competition for the few jobs left for younger workers.  Guardian

Fears Britain is edging closer to a recession have been stoked by new figures showing a drop in job openings. Vacancies declined by 2.1pc year-on-year in August, according to Adzuna, after businesses were hit by softer demand as well as a rise in employer National Insurance and the National Living Wage.  Telegraph

Sir Jim Ratcliffes petrochemicals empire is operating under a debt burden from a series of acquisitions that is expected to prevent dividend payments until at least 2030. Ineos has been paying out dividends almost every year for more than ten years but it has cut the payouts after it swung to a loss in 2024.  The Times

Rachel Reeves should increase taxes on landlords and homes worth more than 2 million and force wealthy investors who relocate from the UK to pay a levy on profits made while they lived in the country, a cross-party think tank has urged. The chancellor could raise 21 billion with eight reforms to the tax system, including introducing an exit tax on investors that leave the UK, subjecting landlords rental income to national insurance and forcing people who inherit assets to pay capital gains tax on the change in value since they were bought rather than since the date of death.  The Times
Dussehra marks the triumph of good over evil, celebrated across India and Nepal with Ramlila, Durga Puja, Garba, and royal processions.

The festival has mythological roots in the victories of Lord Rama over Ravana, Goddess Durga over Mahishasura, and the Pandavas retrieving weapons from exile.

Celebrations vary regionally, symbolizing righteousness, courage, and unity, while emphasizing moral lessons that remain relevant today.

The glorious nine-day observance of Navratri culminates with Dussehra, also known as Dasara, Vijaya Dashami, or Dusshera, celebrated across India and Nepal with grandeur and devotion. Observed on the tenth day of the Hindu month of Ashvin (September-October in the Gregorian calendar), this festival marks the ultimate victory of good over evil, a theme deeply ingrained in Indian mythology. The word Vijayadashami itself is symbolic comprising Vijaya (victory) and Dashami (tenth day). Scholars have traced the etymology of Dussehra in multiple ways. According to James Lochtefeld, it derives from Dashahara, formed from the Sanskrit words dasham (ten) and ahar (day). Monier-Williams interprets it as Dus (evil) and Hara (removing), literally meaning 'removal of evil'. In all interpretations, the essence remains: triumph over negativity.

Mythological Origins of Dussehra

Lord Rama and the Defeat of Ravana

The most well-known legend is the one of Ramayana. Character Sita was taken away by Ravana, the Lanka king, when Lord Rama had been sent into exile. Ravana refused to release her despite a series of appeals, and a huge war was the result. Ravana had suffered 10,000 years of penance and obtained a boon of Lord Brahma that he could not be slain by any god, demon or spirit. To avoid this good fortune, Lord Vishnu was born as Rama a mortal being who at length killed Ravana with ten heads. The ten-headed Ravana is a symbol of arrogance, evil, and ignorance and the victory of Rama symbolizes the reformation of justice and dharma on Earth. This triumph is marked in northern India by Ramlila plays, or restatement of scenes in the Ramayana, with the ultimate shock of burning of giant Ravana effigies during fireworks and fanfare. The act is symbolic of the annihilation of evil and the victory of the good.

Goddess Durga and Mahishasura

In Eastern and North-Eastern India, it is called Vijaya Dashami, and is celebrated in the honour of Goddess Durga. History tells us about a demon named Mahishasura who was not able to be killed by men or gods under a boon and caused havoc on the earth. The deities were unable to oppose the man, so they formed Devi Durga, a female warrior of God. Nine days were spent by Durga fighting Mahishasura and on the 10th day, she destroyed him and brought peace and order back. The feminine divinity is emphasized in this tale and that is why Dussehra in West Bengal and other places is timed with Durga Puja, where wonderfully decorated idols are immersed in rivers and lakes.

Mahabharata Connection

Dussehra also finds a mention in the Mahabharata. On this day, the Pandavas retrieved their hidden weapons from a Shami tree after exile, marking the beginning of their victorious return. This further cements the festival as a symbol of victory, courage, and justice.



Also Read: Dussehra in India's Most Celebrated Cities

How Dussehra is Celebrated Across India

While the core message of triumph over evil remains universal, the celebrations vary widely across regions:

North India  Ram Leela and Ravana Dahan

Cities like Delhi, Lucknow, and Varanasi host Ram Leela performances for nine days. On the tenth day, giant effigies of Ravana, Meghnath, and Kumbhkaran are set ablaze, accompanied by music, fireworks, and cheering crowds. Families exchange greetings and come together to celebrate the victory of righteousness.

West Bengal  Durga Puja and Sindoor Khela

In eastern India, Dussehra coincides with the last day of Durga Puja. Idols of Goddess Durga are immersed in rivers, symbolizing her return to Mount Kailash. Women participate in Sindoor Khela, applying vermillion to each other, which has become a significant cultural highlight of the festival.

Gujarat  Navratri and Garba

In Gujarat, Navratri is celebrated with Garba and Dandiya Raas dances over nine nights. Vijayadashami marks the end of these festivities, with devotees offering prayers to Goddess Durga.

South India  Mysore Dussehra

Mysore, Karnataka, celebrates Dussehra with royal processions, decorated elephants, and cultural performances. The Mysore Palace is illuminated spectacularly, drawing visitors from across the country.

Maharashtra  Exchange of Apta Leaves

In Maharashtra, people exchange Apta tree leaves, considered symbolic of gold, as a gesture of prosperity and goodwill.

Also Read: 9 Interesting Facts About Dussehra

The Symbolism & Legacy of Dussehra

Dussehra is not only a festival, but it is a reminder of moral courage, justice and the eternal conflict between good and evil. Since the killing of Ravana and Mahishasura up to the re-acquisition of the weapons by the Pandavas, the stories focus more on righteousness, strength and divine intervention. The setting up of diyas, exploding crackers and the submergence of idols are symbolic pulls that celebrate this cosmic triumph. Moreover, Dussehra also preludes Diwali, the festival of lights, which is celebrated twenty days later, which marks the reentry of Lord Rama, Sita and Lakshman to Ayodhya following the defeat of Ravana. In India, the festival has been an embodiment of unity as the various legends, rituals and customs come together in a festival that is at once spiritual and cultural, joyful and significant enough to remind each devotee that that the final victory has been achieved, and that good will eventually triumph over evil.

Conclusion

Dussehra is not only the festival of lights, effigies and rituals; it is also a classical festival of good over evil, courage over shyness and justice over injustice. The festival continues to inspire generations of people to pursue the righteousness in their personal and social life since there were the mythical battles between Lord Rama and the goddess Durga, until the metaphorical lessons of personal self-control. The fact that it is a living tradition is emphasized by its local accents, philosophical spirit, and its modern applicability as this tradition was developed but at the same time, it is rooted in the eternal values. Lastly, Dussehra teaches us that evil may take many forms and appear in many forms beyond and within us but it can always be conquered through faith, courage and righteous action and that is what the festival is an expression of hope and renewal and unity.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha addressed the Investors Meet at Basohli, Kathua, organized by Department of Industries & Commerce and ICICI Bank.

LG highlighted J&Ks transformation into a promising investment hub with massive infrastructure push and investor-friendly policies.

Focus laid on inclusive industrial growth, promotion of Basohlis handicrafts, QR coding for Pashmina, and boosting hospitality sector potential.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha graced an 'Investors Meet', organized by Department of Industries and Commerce and ICICI Bank, at Basohli in Kathua. During his address, the Lieutenant Governor underscored that a huge infrastructure development and investor friendly policy has made J&K a promising investment hub of north India.

He assured that the Government of India is determined to provide all the possible assistance to augment J&K's Industrial growth. "Industries play a pivotal role in economic development, to create jobs and to increase income. Measures are afoot for extension of incentives under 'Central Sector Scheme for the Development of Industries' to further strengthen industrial growth in the UT of Jammu Kashmir. Our emphasis is on inclusive and sustainable industrial growth to make economic growth trickle down equally across society", the Lieutenant Governor added.

Also Read: AI, Talent, and GCCs to Fuel India's Rise as Global Economic Powerhouse

He further emphasized that the greatest beneficiaries of economic growth should be the poor and the villages. The Lieutenant Governor also spoke about the hospitality and industrial sectors growth potential of Basohli. He called for a dedicated campaign to develop skilled workforce and providing better market linkages for the local handicrafts and handloom products. He asked the Industry Department for initiating QR Coding for Basohli pashmina, handicrafts and paintings.

He also told that the Union Ministry of Textiles is also eager to set up one of its sub-centres at Basohli. Investors Meet was graced by business leaders, investors and industry chamber and association representatives from across the country.

Col (Retd) Mahan Singh, Chairman DDC Kathua and MLA Thakur Darshan Singh, Basohli; Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo; Principal Secretary Culture Brij Mohan Sharma; Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar; IGP Jammu Bhim Sen Tuti; Director Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) J&K Shakti Kumar Pathak; Deputy Commissioner Kathua Rajesh Sharma; Director Industries & Commerce Jammu Dr Arun Manhas and other senior officials were also present.
Indias health and wellness sector is undergoing a radical transformation. Entrepreneurs across the country are bridging the gap between ancient wellness practices and cutting-edge scientific research, creating a health revolution that is rapidly gaining global traction. From plant-based supplements to nutraceuticals backed by clinical trials, Indian innovators are shaping the future of health, making their mark not just in India but on the global stage.

At the heart of this revolution is the growing demand for science-backed productsthose that dont just promise results but prove them through rigorous research. Indian entrepreneurs are stepping up, integrating decades of scientific research into their product offerings, and transforming the way consumers approach health and wellness. This shift is paving the way for India to become a major player in the global health and wellness market.

The Shift Toward Science-Backed Health

Gone are the days when consumers blindly trusted traditional health products. Todays health-conscious generation demands transparency, efficacy, and science-backed proof before making any purchase. The global trend towards preventive health, coupled with growing awareness of the importance of natural and sustainable solutions, is fueling this demand.

In this new era, consumers are looking for more than just promisestheyre looking for scientifically validated products that deliver tangible results. This shift has led to the rise of nutraceuticals and functional foods, where companies not only focus on the natural benefits of ingredients but back their claims with clinical trials, certifications, and research.

Indian entrepreneurs have embraced this change, and in doing so, theyre redefining the global wellness landscape. By blending traditional wellness wisdom with modern scientific validation, they are gaining the trust of consumers worldwide.

Indian Entrepreneurs Leading the Charge

Several Indian entrepreneurs have emerged as leaders in the science-backed health revolution. By combining their entrepreneurial spirit with a passion for innovation, they are creating products that are not only effective but also resonate with health-conscious consumers.

One such example is Wellness Extract, founded by Virender Dass. Wellness Extract has redefined the way consumers view Vitamin E supplements. By focusing on DeltaGold Tocotrienolsclinically researched and superior to traditional Vitamin EWellness Extract has become one of the leading names in the industry. With a commitment to science-backed formulations, the company uses only premium, third-party tested ingredients to ensure that every product meets the highest standards of quality and efficacy.

Entrepreneurs like Virender Dass are proving that India is not just a source of traditional wellness knowledge, but a hub for innovation in the science-backed health space. These entrepreneurs are not only contributing to India's economy but also placing Indian health products on the global map, especially in markets like the U.S., UK, Canada, and Australia.

Case Study: Wellness Extract  Bridging Science & Nature

Wellness Extract is a prime example of how Indian entrepreneurs are driving a science-backed health revolution. Founded in 2018, Wellness Extract began with a single mission: to make premium, science-backed supplements accessible to people around the world. The companys focus on Tocotrienolsa more potent and bioavailable form of Vitamin Ehas set it apart from the competition.

The companys products, including Eannatto 150+ and GG Essential, combine the power of DeltaGold Tocotrienols and Geranylgeraniol (GG), ingredients supported by scientific research and clinical trials. With a strong commitment to third-party testing and rigorous quality standards, Wellness Extract has quickly gained recognition as one of the most trusted names in the industry, earning its place as the #1 Vitamin E brand on Amazon in North America.

The companys success story highlights the growing influence of science-backed health products and the pivotal role of Indian entrepreneurs in shaping the future of global wellness.

Key Strategies Driving the Revolution

So, how are Indian entrepreneurs making their mark in the wellness industry? Here are the key strategies driving the revolution:

1. Research-First Formulations

The focus on science-backed formulations is at the core of many successful Indian wellness startups. By leveraging clinical research and scientific validation, these entrepreneurs are able to offer products that consumers trust.

2. Global Standards & Compliance

In an industry regulated by strict standards, Indian entrepreneurs are ensuring their products meet or exceed global regulations. From FDA compliance in the U.S. to Health Canada standards, these businesses are ensuring their products are safe, effective, and trustworthy.

3. Digital & Data-Driven Outreach

With the increasing reliance on digital platforms, many Indian entrepreneurs are leveraging data-driven marketing strategies. By using tools like Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and email marketing, they are reaching global consumers and educating them about the benefits of science-backed health solutions.

4. Consumer Empowerment

These entrepreneurs are empowering their consumers with knowledge. By educating them about the science behind the products, the ingredients used, and their benefits, they are building trust and credibility.

5. Sustainability & Ethics

The modern consumer values sustainability. Entrepreneurs are responding by ensuring their products are sourced ethically, using environmentally friendly packaging and sustainable practices, which resonate with the health-conscious consumer.

Challenges Faced by Science-Backed Health Startups

The journey to success is not without its challenges. While the health and wellness market is booming, there are several obstacles that these entrepreneurs must navigate:

High R&D Costs: Developing scientifically validated products requires significant investment in research and development, which can be a barrier for many startups.

Developing scientifically validated products requires significant investment in research and development, which can be a barrier for many startups. Regulatory Hurdles: Each market has its own set of regulatory requirements. Meeting these standards, especially when selling internationally, can be challenging and time-consuming.

Each market has its own set of regulatory requirements. Meeting these standards, especially when selling internationally, can be challenging and time-consuming. Consumer Education: While theres a growing demand for science-backed products, educating consumers about the benefits of new ingredients and formulations is an ongoing challenge.

While theres a growing demand for science-backed products, educating consumers about the benefits of new ingredients and formulations is an ongoing challenge. Market Competition: The wellness industry is highly competitive, with new players emerging every day. Differentiating a product based on scientific efficacy, rather than just marketing claims, is key to long-term success.

The Future of Science-Backed Wellness in India

Looking ahead, the future of science-backed wellness in India is bright. As more entrepreneurs continue to innovate, the country is poised to become a global hub for health and wellness solutions. With advancements in technology, such as AI-powered personalized nutrition and genomic-based health products, Indian startups are uniquely positioned to lead this next wave of wellness innovation.

The growing emphasis on preventive health, coupled with the increasing acceptance of science-backed supplements, presents immense opportunities for Indian entrepreneurs. With access to global markets and an ever-expanding consumer base, the future is indeed promising for Indias health revolution.

Conclusion

Indian entrepreneurs are not just building businesses; they are leading a science-backed health revolution that is transforming global wellness. By integrating modern scientific research with traditional wellness practices, these innovators are setting new standards for the industry and shaping the future of health. As this movement continues to grow, India will play a pivotal role in defining the next generation of health and wellness solutions.
The Staten Island Fentanyl and Overdose Task Force met on Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, at the office of District Attorney Michael E. McMahon in St. George. Assistant District Attorney Matthew Gamberg is at the podium and McMahon is standing at right. (Courtesy of District Attorney Michael E. McMahon)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The same delis where Staten Islanders buy their lottery tickets might also be selling kratom, a legal but potentially addictive supplement that is causing concern on Staten Island and nationwide.

A doctor and a grieving mother raised alarm about the dangers of kratom at a recent meeting of the Staten Island Fentanyl and Overdose Task Force in the office of District Attorney Michael E. McMahon in St. George.

Produced from the leaves of a tree native to Southeast Asia, kratom acts as a stimulant when ingested in small amounts and as a sedative when consumed in higher doses, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

This Sept. 27, 2017 file photo shows kratom capsules in Albany, New York. (Associated Press | Mary Esch, File)

In the U.S., the use of kratom has increased markedly in recent years, according to the DEA.

Kratom is a supplement that is sold as an energy booster, mood lifter, pain reliever and remedy for the symptoms of quitting opioids, called withdrawal, according to the Mayo Clinic website. But the truth about kratom is not so simple. And there are safety problems linked to its use.

The herbal supplement made from the Mitragyna speciosa tree has been used and abused for centuries.

Today, kratom often is sold in quick-stop venues such as delis, gas stations and smoke shops and is widely available on the internet. Gel capsules, pills, gummies, elixirs, and leaves to chew, smoke or brew are among its many forms. Sometimes the supplement is called thang, kakuam, thom, ketum, and biak.

The Staten Island Fentanyl and Overdose Task Force met on Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, at the office of District Attorney Michael E. McMahon in St. George. Dr. Tucker Woods, center with hands raised, speaks to the task force (Courtesy of District Attorney Michael E. McMahon)

Dr. Tucker Woods, associate chairman of emergency medicine at Northwell Staten Island University Hospital, described kratom as a huge problem both in terms of its addictive quality and the fact that its so accessible. When you buy your lottery tickets, you can also get kratom.

Jayne Graham told the task force that her son, Francis, 34, died after overdosing on kratom in April 2023. She recalled the horror of finding her son after she knocked on his bedroom door because she hadnt seen him for a few hours.

Im a mother with a vengeance, Graham said, explaining that she has been trying to raise awareness about the dangers of kratom.

Acts just like an opioid

The drug affects the opioid receptors that are found throughout the body and play a role in regulating pain, according to medical experts.

At low doses, it mellows you out, Woods said of kratom. But at high doses, it acts just like an opioid. It goes to the opioid receptors, and I almost consider it like opioids being sold in gas stations and smoke shops.

Woods said that users often develop a super high tolerance to kratom. He cited a patient who escalated from seven to 80 capsules per day in just a few weeks, consuming all doses within minutes of waking for the day.

In this July 30, 2019, photo, officers gather illegally-grown kratom plants in Phang Nha province, Thailand. (Associated Press)

Graham takes issue with the fact that standard drug tests administered to addicts do not detect kratom.

Woods also cautioned that when it comes to kratom, its buyer beware because in these gas stations and smoke shops, it might say kratom, but you have no idea whats in it.

Kratom does not undergo the rigorous testing required for legal drugs, so consumers dont know what percentage of the psychoactive ingredients are in the product they are buying. The most addictive one in kratom is 7-Hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), which has an opioid effect.

Woods warned that some companies will extract that 7-Hydroxymitragynine to make it even more potent, so you get it in this little elixir, and it can be deadly.

Risk of serious adverse events

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned consumers not to use kratom because of the risk of serious adverse events, including liver toxicity, seizures, and substance use disorder, according to the agencys website. In rare cases, deaths have been associated with kratom use, as confirmed by a medical examiner or toxicology reports. However, in these cases, kratom was usually used in combination with other drugs, and the contribution of kratom in the deaths is unclear.

Kratom is legal in most states, although some states have taken the bold move of banning it, Woods said.

Im just stunned that its not even regulated, let alone illegal, Woods said. But I think at a minimum, it has to be regulated.

McMahon said he currently cannot prosecute for kratom because it is not on the schedule of controlled substances for New York State.

Im more than willing to advocate for including kratom on the schedule, McMahon said, adding that the task force would support such as change.

McMahon noted that it is up to the state legislature to add kratom to the schedule. The herbal supplement also is not on the list of federal controlled substances.
The Advance/SILive.com visited A&M Bagels & Deli on Tuesday, July 29, 2025. Victoria Priola | For the Advance/SILive.com

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The Advance/SILive.com is visiting businesses around the borough that are new, under new ownership, or have new offerings, like serving alcohol for the first time.

This stop: A&M Bagels & Deli Inc.

About the business

What type of restaurant or business is it?

A&M Bagels & Deli is a corner shop in Grant City selling ice cream, pre-packaged pastries, alcohol, iced coffee, a variety of breakfast and lunch sandwiches, and select groceries.

Half of the intimate storefront is dedicated to grab and go drinks, lotto, and snacks like chips and donuts, while the other half of the storefront acts as a mini grocery store selling detergent, ice cream, pet food and paper towels.

When did it open?

Six months ago, the space was brought under the A&M Bagels & Deli LLC but has functioned as a bagel store in some capacity for the better part of 35 years, according to store employee Roman Karem.

We gutted the whole place out and theres still so much more work to do, Karem said. There is nothing around here for people when it comes to groceries, so we want to make our place as great as possible.

The Advance/SILive.com visited A&M Bagels & Deli on Tuesday, July 29, 2025. (Victoria Priola/ For the Staten Island Advance/ SILive.com) Victoria Priola/ For the Staten Island Advance/ SILive.com Victoria Priola | For the Advance/SILive.com

Where is it located?

A&M Bagels & Deli is located at 114 Lincoln Ave., across from the Grant City train station.

What are the hours of operation?

The deli is open Sunday through Thursday 6 a.m. to midnight; and closes at 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

When did it receive its liquor license?

According to staff, the business received its liquor license in March 2025.

The Advance/SILive.com visited A&M Bagels & Deli on Tuesday, July 29, 2025. (Victoria Priola/ For the Staten Island Advance/ SILive.com) Victoria Priola/ For the Staten Island Advance/ SILive.com Victoria Priola | For the Advance/SILive.com

Does it sell or serve beer, wine, mixed drinks and/or hard liquor?

A&M Bagels & Deli has a wall of fridges dedicated to its extensive beer and canned mixed drink collection.

The brand BeatBox, marketed as the worlds tastiest party punch has a row dedicated to its drinks at the Staten Island deli. Some of the flavors at the front of the line are Juicy Mango, Pink Lemonade, Fruit Punch, Blue Raspberry and Hard Tea. BeatBox is considered a ready-to-drink cocktail with an estimated 11% alcohol by volume.

Amongst the selection are your typical deli finds for beer; Coors Light, Bud Light, Corona, Budweiser and Heineken. White Claw and Twisted Tea were sold by the case during the Advances trip to the Grant City spot.

What are some of the most popular items?

While people watching, the Advance noticed patrons beelined to the back of the shop to secure packs of Modelo beer and Corona.

Karem says their newest addition to the alcohol collection are the small  but effective  BuzzBall mixed drinks. The shop currently sells the Espresso Martini, Tequila-Rita and Lotta Colada flavors behind the counter.

Buzz Balls and Beatbox are our newest stuff, and it sells really well, said Karem. We keep the classic beer for older folks but a lot of younger people like the new brands.

What are some items people should try?

Deli meat sandwiches, like turkey and Swiss cheese on a roll, are the future for this Staten Island deli. While its has a limited selection of sandwiches now, Karem said their deli counter is going to be the next focus for the business.

The sandwiches highlighted on the window outside the business include salami and provolone cheese, ham and bologna with American cheese. All sandwiches can be served on bagels and rolls.

Does the business have an outdoor area people can eat food/snacks?

The space inside A&M Bagels & Deli is condensed, so patrons are encouraged to abide by the grab-and-go model the shop has.

The Advance/SILive.com visited A&MBagels & Deli on Tuesday, July 29, 2025. Victoria Priola | For the Advance/SILive.com

Does the business take catering orders, if so how can a customer place the order?

According to those at the shop, A&M Bagels & Deli will soon have an extensive deli counter with catering order capabilities.

We want to renovate the whole store, but Im waiting because its been a lot of work, Karem said. We changed the walls, put a new ceiling and changed the lights since weve been here. Its not easy, but were getting there.

In the near future, the A&M employee wants to clean out the old deli area and revamp it. The business plans to open its deli services up for catering and delivery services using third-party vendors like DoorDash and Uber. There is no set timeline for this.

What makes this business stand out?

Being accessible for a diverse community is what makes A&M Bagels & Deli unique, according to those who know the business best.

Were really the only deli in the neighborhood with this much grocery, Karem said. We want to be a one stop spot for the people of Grant City. Its been great being here so far.

How to get in touch with the business

A&M Bagels & Deli can be reached at 718-524-4020.
Biman Prasad, Fiji's acting prime minister and minister for finance, strategic planning, national development, and statistics, speaks during an event celebrating the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and 50th anniversary of China-Fiji diplomatic relations, in Suva, Fiji, Sept. 27, 2025. (Photo by Gao Xin/Xinhua)

SUVA, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Biman Prasad, Fiji's acting prime minister and minister for finance, strategic planning, national development, and statistics, has reaffirmed Fiji's strong and enduring ties with China as the two nations celebrated 50 years of diplomatic relations and the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

While addressing the event in Suva on Saturday, Prasad said Fiji's relationship with China is unprecedented, characterized by respect for sovereignty, mutual prosperity, and collaboration in areas of shared interest.

"Fiji's longstanding and enduring relationship with the People's Republic of China has stood the test of time and continues to remain firm and resolute," he said.

The acting prime minister added that countless Fijians have benefited from China's support over the years through infrastructure, education, health, and other socio-economic projects.

This year also marks the anniversary of the first Chinese people settling in Fiji.

"The Chinese community has been a vital component of our society, contributing to the socio-economic development of modern Fiji and enriching our cultural heritage," Prasad said.

China's Ambassador to Fiji Zhou Jian said that the wisdom gained from 50 years of China-Fiji relations is "mutual respect, win-win cooperation, and shared commitment to justice," which will lead the two sides to step forward into the next glorious chapter in bilateral ties.

A series of live performances featuring an art troupe from China's Guangdong Province and Fiji's VOU Dance Group delighted the audience with martial arts, acrobatics, magic, marionette shows, Cantonese opera, and various dance performances. 

An artist from China's Guangdong Province performs during an event celebrating the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and 50th anniversary of China-Fiji diplomatic relations, in Suva, Fiji, Sept. 27, 2025. (Photo by Gao Xin/Xinhua)

Artists from China's Guangdong Province perform during an event celebrating the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and 50th anniversary of China-Fiji diplomatic relations, in Suva, Fiji, Sept. 27, 2025. (Photo by Gao Xin/Xinhua)
An SUV crashed into the Hoffman's Ice Cream store in Spring Lake Heights. Provided by police

A popular Spring Lake Heights ice cream shop was temporarily closed Saturday evening after an SUV crashed into its building.

Hoffmans Ice Cream, a summer staple since the 1980s, reopened on Sunday morning after the building was deemed safe, the management announced on Facebook.

Spring Lake Heights police Chief Edward Gunnell said the crash occurred at 5:24 p.m. after a 79-year-old driver pulled into the parking lot and thought he had placed the vehicle in park.

Luckily, there were no injuries to the driver or staff, Gunnell said. At a usually busy time of day, thankfully, there were no patrons in the building.

Hoffmans location in Point Pleasant remained open.
Popular countertop ovens sold at Walmart, Costco and other retailers recalled after 95 reports of doors closing unexpectedly during use. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Oster is recalling about 1,290,000 of its French Door Countertop Ovens sold across the U.S. due to a burn hazard that has resulted in consumer injuries, including second-degree burns.

According to a notice published by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the spring-loaded bilateral doors on Osters countertop ovens can unexpectedly close during use, therefore, posing a serious risk of burns to users reaching into the oven.

That can result in significant injuries, the commission warns. The recall notice notes that Sunbeam Products Inc., the importer, has received 95 reports of the doors closing unexpectedly. There have been two reported cases of second-degree burns.

Consumers in possession of these now-recalled ovens are urged to stop using them immediately and contact Sunbeam Products Inc. to request a free repair kit.

This kit includes a clip-on device that adds holding force to keep the doors open, along with step-by-step instructions and a QR code linking to an installation video. No tools are required for installation.

Over time, depending on usage, the doors may require additional support to remain open safely, Georgia-based Sunbeam said on its website. No returns or replacements are involved.

According to the commission, the Oster ovens involved in this recall were manufactured in China and sold at Bed Bath & Beyond, Costco, Walmart, and online at Amazon.com and Overstock.com retailers across the U.S.

The ovens sold for $140 to $250 between August 2015 and July 2025. An additional 104,195 units were sold in Canada, the commission noted.

Consumers can contact Sunbeam toll-free at 800-334-0759 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit oster.com for more information.
As the U.S. job market is reshaped by artificial intelligence and demographic changes, the nations largest private employer is trying to identify the skills its workers might need in the future, the Associated Press reported.

On Thursday, Walmart hosted more than 300 workplace experts and representatives from other companies participating in the Skills-First Workforce Initiative, a project to develop and fill stable jobs based on what people know how to do, instead of whether they attended college.

In terms of artificial intelligence, Walmart says it plans to offer an AI skills program next year through a new collaboration with OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT.

The retailer has already launched its own employee training and certification programs to fulfill Walmarts demand for truck drivers and maintenance technicians, two roles for which U.S. companies say they cant recruit fast enough as experienced tradespeople retire.
A row of trash cans, including the new DSNY composting bin, outside a home in Richmond. Wednesday, October 2, 2024. (Staten Island Advance/Mike Matteo) Mike Matteo Mike Matteo

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  During a community information session, Staten Island residents will have the opportunity to learn directly from the city Department of Sanitation leadership about New York Citys trash containerization initiative.

New York City is finally removing the mountains of black bags from our streets, said Department of Sanitation Commissioner Javier Lojan. This is a major step toward a cleaner, healthier, and safer city for all.

Lojan will address the community at the Gerard Carter Center on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, from 6 to 8 p.m.

The event, which is sponsored by Bay Street & Beyond, will focus on the citys ongoing trash containerization program. Residents will be able to ask questions and hear directly from leadership about how the program will impact their communities and improve public spaces.

The program, which aims to move away from loose black bags placed on curbs, is designed to reduce litter, cut down on rats, and improve neighborhood quality of life.

New York City began piloting containerized waste collection in select neighborhoods in 2023, starting with high-density areas and expanding to residential zones. The initiative was informed by successful models in cities like Barcelona and Paris.

The citys trash containerization rules require bins for residential buildings of fewer than 10 units that are 55 gallons or smaller with secure lids. The city is also offering official bins which come with latching lids, wheels, and a metal bar for mechanized collection. These official bins will be fully mandatory in June 2026.

In addition to residential requirements, the Department of Sanitation is working with commercial corridors to implement containerized pickup for businesses.

The Gerard Carter Center is located at 230 Broad Street in Stapleton.
Starbucks recently announced it is closing select locations around the country. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)

Starbucks announced recently that 900 of its non-retail workers will be laid off, and coffee shops will be closed around the country  including dozens in New York City, some of which are unionized.

The local store closures come after an announcement from Starbucks that select locations would close after a review spanning all of North America as part of the chains Back to Starbucks plan.

Brian Niccol, chief executive officer of Starbucks, said in a letter to employees on Thursday, that those shops that are not creating the physical environment our customers and partners expect, or where we dont see a path to financial performance will be closed.

The closings will cost the chain about $1 billion, according to a public regulatory filing.

The list was outlined in a public Google document shared by AMNY.

Although some locations are unionized, a Starbucks spokesperson told AMNY that it was not a factor in the decision-making process.

The following locations in NYC are scheduled to close, according to the Starbucks document:

Manhattan

330 W. 34th St.,

219 First Ave.

111 University Place

145 Third Ave.

140 West St.

750 Sixth Ave.

510 Sixth Ave.

372 Greenwich St.

444 Broadway

405 Broadway

230 Varick St.

393 Third Ave.

261 Fifth Ave.

360 Lexington Ave.

871 Eighth Ave.

156 W. 52nd St.

969 First Ave.

11 E. 59th St.

159 Columbus Ave.

2252 Broadway

284 Saint Nicholas Ave.

1488 Third Ave.

550 W. 145th St.

2045 Broadway

245 E. 80th St.

Queens

21-02 49th Ave.

21-03A Broadway

Brooklyn

395 Flatbush Ave.

309 Gold St.

45 Hoyt St.

3 Flushing Ave.

625 Atlantic Ave.

578 Atlantic Ave.

969 First Ave.

Since numerous coffeehouses were opened over the past year, the overall company-operated count in North America will decline by about 1% in fiscal year 2025 after accounting for both openings and closures, the CEO said.

Starbucks will end the fiscal year with nearly 18,300 locations across the United States and Canada. Over the next 12 months, the company said it plans to uplift more than 1,000 locations to introduce greater texture, warmth, and layered design.

Niccol said generous severance and support packages, including benefits extensions, will be offered.

The company is working hard to offer transfers to nearby locations where possible and will quickly help partners understand available opportunities, he said in the letter.
Casino proposals in Yonkers and Queens were approved by community advisory councils this week, according to a report by CBS News. Ted Sherman | NJ Advance Media

With up to three casino licenses available downstate, two proposals in the New York City area have been met with strong community support, according to a recent report from CBS News.

Earlier this week, community advisory councils in both Yonkers and Queens voted in favor of local casino proposals, the publication reported.

In Yonkers, the community council unanimously supported a proposal to grant MGMs Yonkers Raceway and Empire City Casino a full casino license, the report says.

While the Yonkers operation currently features video gambling, a full license would allow it to add live dealer games, according to CBS.

Similarly, community members and elected officials in Queens voted in favor of a proposal to expand the existing Resorts World New York City racetrack and casino in South Ozone Park, the report says.

Another proposed Queens casino, which would be located by Citi Field in Flushing, is set for a community advisory council vote later this week, CBS News reports.

Three proposed casinos in Manhattan were recently voted down.

A plan to bring one of the casino licenses to Coney Island appears to be dead in the water after several community council members revealed they would be voting no, including one local lawmaker.

On Monday, State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton announced in a press release that she would be voting against the proposal, citing an overwhelmingly negative community reaction.

After taking part in two public hearings regarding this application, reading countless testimonies, and meeting with and hearing from my constituents about their thoughts, perspectives, and concerns regarding this application, I have decided to vote in opposition, said the Democrat who represents the North Shore and parts of Coney Island.
The city recently announced a notable increase in the number of students awarded the prestigious New York State Seal of Biliteracy, which recognizes high-level proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in one or more languages in addition to English. (Advance/SILive.com|Jan Somma-Hammel)

IN CLASS: This feature is part of an ongoing education column highlighting the various activities that engage school communities.

Want this before everyone else? Subscribe to our Beyond the Classroom newsletter.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  More New York City public school students have received a biliteracy endorsement on their high school diploma.

The city education department announced a notable increase in the number of students awarded the prestigious New York State Seal of Biliteracy, which recognizes high-level proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in one or more languages in addition to English.

Last school year, more than 2,500 high school students across 133 schools earned this seal  representing a 29% increase in recipients and a 24% expansion in participating schools compared to the previous 2023-2024 school year.

Multilingualism is a superpower in todays world, and our students ability to communicate across languages opens doors to greater opportunity, deeper cultural understanding, and continued success throughout life, said Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos. The growing number of students earning the Seal of Biliteracy across our schools is a testament to their dedication, the support of our educators, and our commitment as a school system to prepare every student for success in a diverse and dynamic world.

Students across city public schools have multiple pathways to earn the seal. Many students fulfill the requirements by completing culminating projects in both English and a world language, which are often integrated into existing courses such as 12th-grade English or advanced language classes, or developed during dedicated instructional time.

Additionally, students enrolled in bilingual education programs can apply their academic experience directly toward the seal, while others qualify through successful completion of advanced world language coursework or proficiency assessments.

Newly arrived multilingual learners can also use academic records from schools outside the United States where instruction was delivered in a language other than English to demonstrate their language proficiency.

In addition to earning this seal, students can apply it toward their postsecondary education. Eleven City University of New York colleges offer between three and eight college credits to students who have earned the seal.

Send us your stories

Do you have a story idea for the In Class education column? Email education reporter Annalise Knudson at aknudson@siadvance.com.
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia's mean monthly salaries and wages increased by 6.1 percent year on year to 3,652 ringgit (867 U.S. dollars) in 2024, official data showed Monday.

The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) said in a statement the growth was reflecting favourable economic and healthy labor conditions.

According to the DOSM, the median monthly salaries and wages for Malaysian citizens also rose to 2,793 ringgit, up from 2,602 ringgit in 2023.

"These gains demonstrated the effectiveness of various economic empowerment initiatives in enhancing the quality of life for Malaysia's workforce," the DOSM notes. (1 ringgit equals 0.24 U.S. dollar) 
While the Nebari deal doesnt replace that funding, it does give the company extra flexibility, with the option to draw on the local facility if and when it needs a boost.

West Wits Mining chief executive officer Rudi Deysel said: Securing this loan for Qala Shallows with Nebari provides the critical funding required to deliver production and the flexibility to scale as our project advances. This is a pivotal step towards a long-life, steady-state gold operation.

The Witwatersrand Basin sits on sacred mining turf, with its surrounding goldfields coughing up a jaw-dropping 62,000 tonnes of gold since the early 1900s.

The basin was once the domain of giants such as Rand Mines and Durban Roodepoort Deep, whose names are etched into the history of the worlds richest goldfield. To this day, the area reigns supreme, having produced more than 40 per cent of all the gold ever mined on earth.

After lying dormant for two decades - as the gold price soared to new heights - West Wits seized its chance in 2018 when South Africas Department of Mineral Resources and Energy handed the company the keys to revive the legendary patch of ground.

Since then, the company has had to steer some choppy environmental waters to secure fresh guidelines and approvals, but with the green lights now in place, its charging ahead at breakneck speed towards production.

Between 2021 and 2023, a series of scoping studies and feasibility work on the companys Witwatersrand Basin project mapped out a hefty global resource of 5.025 million ounces at 4.66 grams per tonne (g/t) gold. From that work, Qala Shallows quickly emerged as the logical launchpad, offering 10.7 million tonnes at 2.98g/t for just over a million ounces.

Adding to the attraction, Qala Shallows also came with its own adit, decline and shaft already in place.

West Wits wasted no time breathing life back into the old workings, rehabilitating access to kick off sampling and surveying. One 150-kilogram bulk sample pulled from historic drives even confirmed the grades, cementing Qala Shallows as the projects first cab off the rank.

Three months ago, West Wits unveiled its long-anticipated definitive study and the numbers didnt disappoint. The report pegged the projects net present value at a whopping US$500 million (A$764 million) using a 7.5 per cent discount rate and a staggering post-tax internal rate of return of 81 per cent - the kind of economics most juniors can only dream about.

The mine is tipped to churn out 70,000 ounces of gold a year, racking up a massive US$983 million (A$1.5 billion) in post-tax free cash flow over a 12-year life, based on a gold price of US$2850 (A$4360) an ounce.

Even more compelling, all-in sustaining costs are forecast to average just US$1289 (A$1970) an ounce, putting Qala Shallows firmly in the lowest cost quartile of producers worldwide.

A toll-treatment deal inked with Sibanye-Stillwater in 2022 guarantees a ready-made processing route. Ore deliveries are slated to kick off in early 2026 at 15,00020,000 tonnes a month before ramping up to a steady 65,000t monthly run-rate within three years.

The project also comes with a modest US$60 million (A$93 million) capex price tag and peak funding of just US$44 million (A$67 million), which should be easily covered by existing loan approvals, giving West Wits ample financial headroom.

For punters, the new funding represents a major milestone. The company is now set up for a pivotal six months as it advances into underground production at Qala Shallows and edges toward that crucial first gold pour.

West Wits is no longer just a story about ounces in the ground - its about turning those ounces into cash flow in one of the worlds richest gold belts.

Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au
At the end, global producer Colin Ingram, director John Rando and writer Bob Gale came out, with the latter recounting how the original idea had come from his seeing school photos of his father, and wondering, had he been able to meet him then if theyd have been friends. He also told us about the rejections they received before the first movie was made, and the repeat process with the musical. As the song says: This ones for the dreamers/Who never stop believing. MUSICAL

RENT

Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House, Until November 1

Reviewed by JOYCE MORGAN

 Jonathan Larson once envisioned his embryonic musical as Hair for the 90s. He hoped it would bring music theatre to the MTV generation. His tale of impoverished artists struggling to survive in New York Citys gritty Alphabet City amid the HIV/AIDS pandemic would go on to capture the zeitgeist in the way the earlier rock musical channelled the rebellion of the Vietnam era. The cast of Rent. Credit: Neil Bennett

Not that Larson lived to see his hopes realised. He died unexpectedly in 1996, aged 35, as previews were about to begin. His demise has been forever intertwined with a show in which the spectre of untimely death, the fragility of life and an emphasis on living for the day are its dominant themes. Its loosely based on Giacomo Puccinis sweeping La boheme, its setting of 19th-century Paris replaced with 20th-century Lower East Side Manhattan. The show feels more like a work-in-progress than a fully formed piece with more than its share of bumpy storylines and segues. Its a show with humanity, and it is this that director Shaun Rennie has drawn out in his energetic Opera Australia production. It emphasises difference, friendship and community within a fractious but compassionate tribe of artists, addicts, drag queens, dykes and down-and-outs. But in the long first half, its difficult to determine whose story is central as so many characters come in and out of focus. This was not helped on opening night by an uneven sound balance that at times drowned out the lyrics in this fully sung-through show.

The stronger second half, which kicks off with the melodic Seasons of Love  beautifully sung by the large ensemble  was more compelling, its narrative clearer. Its less frenetic pace gives space for the characters to cohere. At the emotional heart is the gender-bending Angel, a playful and galvanising force played with presence and warmth by Jesse Dutlow in the productions most moving performance. As Angels lover Collins, Googoorewon Knoxs caramel voice leaves you longing for more. Angel and Collins were a more convincing pairing than lovers Mimi (Kristin Paulse) and Roger (Harry Targett). Calista Nelmes was a standout as the flamboyant, combative Maureen. Musical director Jack Earle set a strong pace leading the five-piece band through a mix of rock, ballad, blues and anthemic pop. Its a pity the music itself is more serviceable than memorable. Dann Barbers set dominated by scaffolding gives an appropriately grungy, makeshift feel as do Ella Butlers sombre, ragtag costumes.

Nearly three decades on, much has changed since Rent premiered  and not just that Alphabet City is not gentrified. Larsons musical ran on Broadway for 12 years. Now the fate of Broadway musicals is more precarious than a tribe of impoverished bohemians. Post-pandemic, new musicals have struggled to make money, and even lavish revivals have fizzled. With Opera Australia increasingly reliant on musicals, it no doubt hopes that this one will help pay its rent. This solid production celebrates values under fire in todays Trumpland  diversity, hope and artistic freedom. It feels like an act of resistance. MUSIC

The Wombats

Hordern Pavilion, October 1

reviewed by MICHAEL RUFFLES

 Englands finest marsupial-monikered indie rockers have been turning awkwardness and anxiety into anthems since encouraging the world to dance to Joy Division on their debut.

Six albums and about 20 years later, The Wombats latest nugget from that rich seam of unlikely dance-floor fillers serves as a perfect opening to a barnstorming evening at The Hordern. Sorry Im Late, I Didnt Want to Come serves as a mission statement: there are tight grooves from Dan Haggis (drums) and Tord Knudsen (bass) as lead vocalist and guitarist Matthew Murphy croons sweetly about hating everyone. (Just hum it in your head at the next management-enforced team meeting.) The Wombats playing the Hordern Pavilion on Wednesday. Credit: Kane Hibberd The more bombastic, if still jaundiced, Moving to New York and Techno Fan soon have the crowd pulsating, while the explosive Ready for the High brings a manic seven-foot trombone-playing wombat to the stage to wreak havoc. Its a trick theyve played before, but its a fun one. They are on solid ground tackling tainted love with a metaphorical twist: Pink Lemonade explores jealousy and fears of infidelity, Tokyo (Vampires and Wolves) is a hedonistic escape from demons and lovers, and Lemon to a Knife Fight is as cutting as it is blistering. The newer material has smoother edges. Cant Say No emerges as quite upbeat, although Murphy says he hasnt figured out how to play it; My Head is Not My Friend is downcast but pleasant; Blood on the Hospital Floor ends strongly to arrest the set from something of a lull in the middle.

Method in the Madness builds from a moody low to a placebo-esque rock explosion, a reminder that the trio can pack a powerful punch. This propels the night on to a rousing climax, via knife fights, Greek tragedies and adorkable stalkers (If You Ever Leave, Im Coming With You). Life can be tough, but you might as well dance. The Wombats may not have wanted to come, but few in the crowd would be sad they went. MUSIC

MOONSTRUCK

Eugene Goossens Hall, ABC Centre Ultimo, September 28

Reviewed by PETER MCCALLUM

 When asked what she liked about Picassos paintings, Gertrude Stein is reputed to have said, I like to look at them. This is the opposite of composer Laura Bowlers reaction to Schoenbergs Pierrot lunaire which she said she admired (sort of) but didnt like listening to. Personally, I enjoyed listening to Schoenbergs Pierrot lunaire (1912) more than Bowlers Deconstructing Pierrot (2024) in this imaginative collaboration between Ensemble Offspring (celebrating its thirtieth anniversary this year) and Sydney Chamber Opera, but the impact of such works also lies in the way they live in the memory. Both received superb performances.

Jane Sheldon in Schoenbergs Pierrot lunaire for the collaboration between Ensemble Offspring and Sydney Chamber Opera. Credit: Lisa Tomasetti In the first half, soprano Jane Sheldon joined with actor Mitch Riley, director Eugene Lynch and a quintet from Ensemble Offspring under artistic director Jack Symonds to create a wonderfully stylised presentation of Pierrot lunaire which laid out its structure and narrative trajectory with cogency and engaging theatricality. Hinting at a number fetish, Schoenberg called the work Three times seven poems from Albert Girauds Pierrot lunaire and through lighting and costume change the logic behind these groupings became manifest as the work moved through phases of ghostly, macabre and inter-personal imagery. Although it was unfortunate that the nature of the presentation necessitated amplification, Sheldon, brought intimacy and swirling nuance to Schoenbergs sprechstimme, a style of spoken singing with which he created a sense of expressionist delirium. She varied the mix of spoken and sung elements judiciously and acted out the nightmarish narrative with impressive versatility and flair. Mitch Riley created a silent alter-ego as moonbeam, lover, doppelganger and executioner with elegance, wit and a highly sophisticated theatrical instinct. Although not ideally placed for sound, Ensemble Offspring created moments of carefully shaded mania.

Jessica Aszodi in Laura Bowlers Deconstructing Pierrot. Credit: Lisa Tomasetti In Bowlers Deconstructing Pierrot in the second half, singer Jessica Aszodi, in quasi-Pierrot costume, blended her voice with diffuse instrumental writing and digital sound (controlled by Benjamin Carey) with poise and masterly control of pitch and tone even in the most exposed and extreme passages. Bowler makes the voice perform as though it were an instrument, repeating dismembered textural blocks like an old vinyl record jumping a groove to create a desiccated style of obstinate banality. In the closing section Aszodi obsessively and impressively repeated the interval of the tritone (the devils interval and notoriously hard to pitch) while moving ever upwards in range without flinching or a hint of imprecision. The tone of angry and irreverent rejection was pointedly underlined theatrically when Aszodi ended one song by squashing what seemed to be a perfectly good tomato. THEATRE

RUINS 

Seymour Centre, until October 18

Reviewed by KATE PRENDERGAST



As it was told to a son by his father before their departure from Lebanon, the goddess Baal  from which the city of Baalbek is named  demands such loyalty from her citizenry, she exacts a sacrifice from those who leave. A piece of their heart must be cut out and buried in the earth by her temple. The emigrants toll, then, is eternal heartache  a separation of self lodged in the abandoned homeland. Madeline Baghurst, Randa Sayed and Tony Poli in Ruins at Seymour Centre. Credit: Geoff Magee Photography That son, Joe, is now dead, his own heart giving out in his grandchilds room in Australia. His daughter Amelia, out of filial duty, is returning for the first time to her ancestral home. Its a city of ruins  of the ancient, venerated kind, but also those of the more tourism-repelling, history-amnesiac kind. In Room 27 of the storied Palmyra Hotel, Amelia (Randa Sayed) will trace her fathers own secret return decades ago to uncover a vital part of herself. Her father (Tony Poli) haunts the edges of a veil-shrouded figure (Madeline Baghurst), appealing to Baal. Amelias own daughter is present during her journey, too, a disembodied voice on the phone. Rich in mythical symbolism in mirrors and gods, with a stage that whirls bodies and objects through a phantasmagoria of intergenerational turbulence and ethnic violence, the powerfully conceived Ruins  emerged in its first iteration last year through Belvoirs 25a program. An already astonishing ensemble work then by Clockfire Theatre Company, a visionary indie principled in exploring new forms of collaboration and new methods of dynamic storytelling, the original has been expanded upon for the Seymour Centres main season.

This co-production has greater technical ambition, an updated cast, and sharpened politics around the Beirut massacre of Palestinian refugees, carried out by Israels proxy militia in 1982. Under Emily Ayoubs superb direction, time and space are slippery, riddles in a glassy metaphysics. We are in the 80s, where a young Joe (Youssef Sabet) goes from detached hedonist, to witness, to documentarian, until love springs him into an involved citizen in the chaos of a city under attack. Then, the stage breathes in, and the hotel manager (Adeeb Razzouk) knocks on Amelias door. Another intake, a live flute adding its breath, and we are somewhere out of place and time altogether, Baal (Sayed) hunched on a high throne, eye sockets as bottomless pits. Ayoub and Baghurst are behind this tale, but credit themselves as devisers, not playwrights. As they write in their program note, together we have researched, improvised and explored memories and stories, some personal, some imagined. Every scene is a gesture we hope will honour these fragments of experience. The fragment is a richly expansive concept, used in staging, too. Scenes come magically alive with minimal props through movement and suggestion, as visually arresting as they are ephemeral. Cast members will, for instance, evoke a hotel room by summoning a dresser, a door and a shining dish held aloft, with video and text projections layering their own textures on the back wall. The blocking demands an exacting choreography, and it is achieved with an almost miraculous grace. Clockfire are students of the Jacques Lecoq school, and its pedagogy of rhythm is ever-present. Opening night had a few technical snags (sound drowning out a patch of dialogue, for instance), but doubtless these have had a swift redress. Despite some nostalgia for the original, in its immersive intimacy at Belvoirs downstairs, this timeless yet immediate story of displacement and return remains a must-see in its full-scale debut.

MUSIC

Sydney Chamber Choir

Verbrugghen Hall, September 27

Reviewed by HARRIET CUNNINGHAM

 Sydney Chamber Choir was formed in 1975. Fifty years on, it continues to thrive. As part of year-long celebrations, this concert brings together the most recent three artistic directors, an ensemble of current choristers and alumni, and a program packed with touchstone works. Sydney Chamber Choir artistic director Sam Allchurch. Credit: Robert Catto Et Misericordia, for example, was commissioned by the choir in 1986 from Clare MacLean, one of its own choristers, who here rejoined the choir as an alumna to sing her own spiky counterpoints and rich harmonies. A more recent commission, Evening Star by Harry Sdraulig, set Edgar Allan Poes poem with deceptively diatonic melodies. Both works were dispatched with the well-articulated, blended tone that is the hallmark of this ensemble. The concert opened under the baton of Paul Stanhope, conducting Nigel Butterleys Surrexit Dominus, an early work sounding disarmingly straightforward at first, but with flashes of harmonic and rhythmic complexity that give tantalising hints at the composers emerging voice. Stanhope also navigated the choir through the joyful rhythms of Estonian composer Urmas Sisasks Benedictio and the extended techniques and textures of Aija Draguns Dawn of Creation.
If her supporters are to be believed, actress Tilly Norwood is on the verge of Hollywood superstardom. The London-based girl-next-door starlet, they say, is preparing to sign with a major talent agency.

But Tilly is not a success story from the UK theatre schools or a feel-good tale of a working-class actor with a latent skill for acting, like Owen Cooper, 15, who starred in hit Netflix drama Adolescence and became the youngest male actor to win an Emmy.

Tilly Norwood in action in her show reel ... except she is an AI performer.

Instead, she is manufactured by artificial intelligence, and so is completely fake. She, or it, is poised to be the first AI actress to be signed by a real-life talent agency that normally works with humans, according to Tillys creator.

Whether that ambition comes true or not, Tillys creation is a sign of the challenge for the film industry as it grapples with whether AI talent can replace much more expensive real-life stars.
The Hack 

This seven-part series, which tells the story of perhaps the biggest media scandal of the century, is eminently watchable and mostly compelling, but it suffers from a serious case of split personality that ultimately makes it a little hard to buy into.

David Tennant breaks the fourth wall in The Hack. Credit: Stan

If you watched just the first episode in isolation, youd say this was an arch telling of the investigation by Nick Davies (David Tennant), a freelance investigative journalist working for The Guardian, into the way Rupert Murdochs News of the World employed private investigators to illegally hack the phones of thousands of people in the UK  celebrities, sports stars, politicians and regular folk  to generate scoops.

There are lots of jokes, fanciful sequences, raised eyebrows, and breaking of the fourth wall  all of which suggests that perhaps writer Jack Thorne (Adolescence) and director Lewis Arnold (the Yorkshire Ripper series The Long Shadow) didnt quite trust that the audience would be able to follow the admittedly complex plot without the help of some big cues.
The Australian sharemarket wiped out its morning gains and finished in the red, led lower by energy and financial stocks, after the Reserve Bank left interest rates on hold and sparked doubt about a cut at its next meeting on Melbourne Cup Day.

The S&P/ASX 200 closed down 14 points, or 0.2 per cent, at 8848.80. Nine of its 11 industry sectors declined, with energy the biggest drag on the index after oil prices tumbled overnight. The Australian dollar jumped 0.4 per cent to US66.01 after the rate decision.

Australian shares have declined after the RBA left interest rates unchanged. Credit: Louie Douvis

Financial shares weighed down the market, with the big four banks trading lower for most of the session. CBA, the nations biggest stock, fell 0.9 per cent, National Australia Bank shed 0.3 per cent, ANZ Bank lost 0.5 per cent and Westpac ended flat. While their moves were modest, they were among the strongest forces weighing on the local bourse because financial stocks make up more than a third of the ASX.

But it was the energy sector that had the biggest declines after oil slumped overnight on signals that OPEC+ will increase production again in November.

Gold miners climbed after bullion prices jumped another 2 per cent overnight to a record above $US3800 an ounce as precious metals surged, boosted by a weaker US dollar as investors weighed a potential US government shutdown. Northern Star Resources rose 1.2 per cent and Evolution Mining added 0.9 per cent.

The big iron ore mining heavyweights also advanced, limiting the markets decline.

The RBA left official interest rates steady at 3.6 per cent after its two-day meeting, noting that while inflation had fallen substantially since its peak in 2022, there were signs the rate of decline was slowing. Rates have been cut three times this year, most recently in August. Markets hadnt expected the bank to make another cut at this weeks meeting.

Read the entire market wrap here.
An associate of the Alameddine crime family has been sentenced to a maximum five-year term over what a judge described as a professional attack on a journalist.

Tufi Junior Tauese-Auelia, 39, pleaded guilty to his involvement in the targeted firebombing in November 2022 of the Bondi rental home of political commentator and YouTube satirist Jordan Shanks, known online as FriendlyJordies.

Jordan Shanks, who publishes FriendlyJordies, had his Bondi house firebombed in November 2022. Credit: OnScene Bondi, Sally Rawsthorne

Tauese-Auelia also pleaded guilty to a vicious attack in July 2022. On that occasion, a man was severely beaten by Tauese-Auelia and others armed with baseball bats. The victim suffered a fractured eye socket, lacerations and a broken elbow.

I would just like to apologise from the bottom of my heart, Tauese-Auelia told the court. Im over this life. Your honour, Ive wasted so many years in jail.
For decades, it was the jingle synonymous with the southern end of Church Street: Come on out to Parramatta, and walk down auto alley. With multiple car dealerships lining the busy road, it was the go-to spot for generations who wanted to purchase a vehicle.

But a new report envisions a very different future for the street: 15,100 new dwellings in buildings up to 15 storeys along a grand, tree-lined boulevard with cycleways and wider pedestrian paths.

Expanding Parramatta, a report which will be unveiled at Tuesdays Housing Now! conference by Business Western Sydney, details four areas surrounding the Parramatta CBD, including auto alley, that could be transformed into several neighbourhoods to deliver up to 60,000 new homes.

The areas recommended for more housing are all within two kilometres of Parramatta CBD. They include Parramatta north, along Church Street, but dont include the site slated for rezoning by the state government. It has 356 dwellings, but the report says it has the potential to reach up to 13,100.
A hospital in Sydneys inner west is paying private contractors almost $200,000 a month to keep up with demand for MRIs, X-rays and other scans as one-quarter of positions in its radiology department remain unfilled.

Sydney Local Health District spent more than $2.4 million last financial year on outsourcing radiology work at Concord Hospital, internal NSW Health data seen by the Herald reveals.

The bulk of the expenditure occurred from July to September last year, when the hospital was still grappling with a backlog of radiology scans that snowballed to more than 50,000 at its peak.

Concord Hospital is still spending hundreds of thousands a month on outsourcing radiology reports to a private contractor. Credit: James Brickwood

Despite the backlog falling to around 200 images older than a month by September, the data shows the hospital has continued to spend hundreds of thousands outsourcing the work of analysing and reporting on diagnostic images such as X-rays, MRIs and CT scans.
The cost of Sydneys largest metro rail line is set to blow out by at least $2 billion due to the skyrocketing price of building underground train stations and delays to awarding major contracts partly caused by the Minns government initially wavering on the mega-project.

Confidential estimates obtained by the Herald forecast that the cost of the Metro West passenger train line will hit $27.3 billion  $2 billion higher than the state governments official forecast for its signature transport project.

Building a station beneath Hunter Street in the Sydney CBD is forecast to cost more than $1 billion. Credit: Steven Siewert

Yet there are fears within Sydney Metro, the government agency charged with overseeing the project, that the final cost of the 24-kilometre underground rail line between the central city and Parramatta will soar to more than $30 billion.

Sydney Metros estimate of $27.3 billion was made about six months ago and comes before it awards major contracts for nine stations along the line.
Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul delivers his government policy statement to parliament in Bangkok, Thailand. Sept. 29, 2025. Anutin delivered his government policy statement to parliament on Monday, outlining a comprehensive plan focused on economic revival amid multifaceted challenges. (Photo by Rachen Sageamsak/Xinhua)

BANGKOK, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul delivered his government policy statement to parliament on Monday, outlining a comprehensive plan focused on economic revival amid multifaceted challenges.

In an address to the National Assembly, Anutin, who is also the interior minister, acknowledged the "uncertainty on all fronts" facing the country and stressed the need to address immediate problems while laying a foundation for sustainable growth.

On the economic front, Anutin said his government's agenda aims to boost income and reduce living costs for citizens, tackle debt issues, promote savings, and restore tourist confidence through enhanced safety measures and domestic stimulus programs.

For national security, priorities include peacefully resolving border disputes with Cambodia and pursuing a proactive foreign policy to enhance Thailand's international standing, he told the joint sitting of parliament.

On social issues, he stated that the administration is committed to a crackdown on all forms of illegal gambling, strict adherence to the rule of law, and a decisive fight against corruption, while maintaining fiscal discipline, transparency, and efficiency.

He said the policy also covered environmental issues, with plans to accelerate the installation of early disaster warning systems, especially in high-risk areas, and promote a low-carbon society through the support of clean energy.

The prime minister assured that all policies would align with the existing national strategy, which aims to ensure equitable access to education and healthcare, empower the private sector, especially SMEs, to keep pace with global developments, and upgrade national industries toward targeted sectors.

Despite a limited timeframe and a budget set by the previous administration, Anutin affirmed his minority government's dedication to facilitating a public referendum and constitutional amendments through inclusive participation.

The two-day session, scheduled to conclude on Tuesday, marks the formal start of Anutin's administration.

The 59-year-old Bhumjaithai Party leader was elected the Southeast Asian nation's 32nd prime minister after winning a parliamentary vote earlier this month.

Under an agreement with the opposition People's Party, which supported his premiership bid without joining the coalition, Anutin has promised to dissolve the lower house of parliament within four months after officially taking office. 

Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul attends a parliament meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, Sept. 29, 2025. Anutin delivered his government policy statement to parliament on Monday, outlining a comprehensive plan focused on economic revival amid multifaceted challenges. (Photo by Rachen Sageamsak/Xinhua)

Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul delivers his government policy statement to parliament in Bangkok, Thailand. Sept. 29, 2025. Anutin delivered his government policy statement to parliament on Monday, outlining a comprehensive plan focused on economic revival amid multifaceted challenges. (Photo by Rachen Sageamsak/Xinhua)

Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul delivers his government policy statement to parliament in Bangkok, Thailand. Sept. 29, 2025. Anutin delivered his government policy statement to parliament on Monday, outlining a comprehensive plan focused on economic revival amid multifaceted challenges. (Photo by Rachen Sageamsak/Xinhua)
Bayside Councils deputy mayor is urging the states maritime agency to use CCTV on a popular south-Sydney beach to penalise jet-skiers caught putting swimmers in danger.

Heidi Lee Douglas has backed Transport for NSW Maritimes review into authorising the use of CCTV at Sydney beaches, including Brighton-le-Sands, to identify and issue fines to dangerous jet-ski riders, but wants the change made before summer.

Footage uploaded to a Facebook group of jet-skiers riding along the Brighton-le-Sands beach shoreline shows a parent stopping a child from entering the water in the swimming zone.

These CCTV cameras are very high-quality and can zoom in and can see the registration details of the jet-ski users ... I know that anecdotally, after the footage that residents have sent me, its often the same jet-ski riders who are recidivists on our local beaches, doing activities that residents and users of the beach feel is threatening, Douglas said.
Death threats against judges and safety incidents inside Victorias courts have soared in a trend that has been linked to the so-called sovereign citizen movement.

New data from the independent agency that runs Victorias court system shows judicial security threats  threats to harm or kill a judge, court staff or a member of their families  more than doubled in a year to 35 in 2024. The figure looks set to double again this year after already reaching 32 recorded incidents in the first six months of 2025.

Court security incidents have soared, including death threats to members of the judiciary. Credit: Darrian Traynor

These threats are often made from the dock or inside the courtroom by offenders or their families, but also include ones sent through the post, email or put on the internet.

The courts and VCAT [the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal] have observed increases in concerning behaviours in recent years, said Louise Anderson, chief executive of Court Services Victoria. This includes aggression by court users towards staff and threats to judicial officers.
Annette Brennan was the happiest she had been in a while. The 67-year-old teacher had just moved into a new rental home in Melbournes north. She was looking for a flatmate to share the house and was due to start a new job teaching English.

But less than two months after starting her new chapter, Brennans life was callously cut short when her new housemate, Stephen Fleming, killed her and dumped her body in the neighbours green waste bin on July 1, 2024.

Stephen Fleming has pleaded guilty to killing a 67-year-old English teacher last year. Credit: AAP

Brennans body was found by staff working at an Epping recycling facility two days later.

Her remains were so badly damaged as a result of being dumped into a truck that forensic experts could not determine what injuries were caused before and after her death.
Anthony Albanese has used the end of the longest overseas trip of his prime ministership to make a public plea for a Middle Eastern grocery giant to enter the Australian market in a bid to bring down supermarket prices as he toured one of the worlds biggest mosques alongside partner Jodie Haydon.

Albanese arrived in the United Arab Emirates on Monday, when he exchanged notes on the war in Gaza with the countrys leader as the opposition continued to blast him for agreeing to deliver a keynote address at the British Labour Party conference in Liverpool.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Jodie Haydon visit Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on Monday. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer

While in Abu Dhabi on a refuelling stop before returning to Australia after an 11-day trip across three nations, Albanese and Haydon visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, which is capable of holding about 7800 worshippers.

The gleaming white marble complex was opened in 2007 and is the resting place of the Emirati founding father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
One of the more perplexing political phenomenons in NSW over recent years is the special place Gladys Berejiklian still holds in the hearts and minds of many voters.

Thankfully, the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption is far more clear-eyed and views the former premier more of a crook than a political hero.

Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian. Credit: AFR

After an exhaustive public inquiry, the ICAC in June 2023 found Berejiklian engaged in serious corrupt conduct through her secret relationship with ex-MP Daryl Maguire.

As state political editor Alexandra Smith observed at the time, this was no tragic love story. Rather, as Smith wrote, the highest elected official in the state knowingly turned a blind eye to the actions of her long-term boyfriend.
Really, though, these making of you questions were posed with a certain hollowness the past couple of years, especially. They were not really about the Broncos or the Storm, but about the Panthers and their ever-extending reign over the competition. The more Ivan Clearys side won, the more hegemonic their presence and the less relevant their rivals became  even the ones who made it all the way to the decider. Adam Reynolds after slotting his match-winning conversion on Sunday. Credit: Getty Images With that in mind, we are embarking on rather a novel week. We watched the Broncos lose a grand final to the Panthers, then watched the Storm lose a grand final to the Panthers. Now the famous dynasty is over (according to the public, not Ivan Cleary), and these very recent runners-up are going to play each other. Whoever loses this one better have their making of you response ready. This is the anti-dynasty, which feels different and also a bit samey and even kind of confusing. What is the chat now if it is not can Penrith do the five-peat? and what else can Nathan Cleary possibly achieve? Whatever the answer, it seems both clubs are doing their best to limit their own input by holding their media interviews on Monday morning, keeping most of the players free of commitments for the rest of the week, and leaving only Thursdays official press conference, which is more of a fan experience anyway.

It is smart to keep the powder dry the closer it gets. Let the outside noise try to establish the new narrative. Who is the underdog here when there is no Penrith as the default warm favourite? Is it Brisbane because they have two days fewer to recover and prepare? And because Bellamy enters his 11th grand final and holds a 14-2 head-to-head record against his former assistant Maguire? The focus will be on Reece Walsh instead of Nathan Cleary this week. Credit: Getty Images And because Jahrome Hughes really is back, and Ryan Papenhuyzens shoulder seems OK, and Harry Grant and Cameron Munster have no problem helping this spine break the backbone of the other team? Or should the Storm watch out because their opponents have, in the past two finals matches, come back from a combined 30-point deficit to pip the minor premiers and then the four-time defending premiers? And because Pat Carrigan is back and Payne Haas is a freak (says Nathan Cleary), and Reece Walsh is a star.

And then theres Reynolds, the veteran who managed to extract his own emotions from his body for that clutch sideline conversion; placed the tip of his wand to his temple and uttered Obliviate to erase the painful memory of the one he missed in 2021 and execute the process he had committed to muscle memory. And we should probably pay more attention to Maguires enviable record of breaking droughts, literally wherever he goes (lets forget about the Tigers for a second): from Wigan to South Sydney and New Zealand to the NSW Blues, who he led to a game-three victory at Suncorp Stadium for the first time since Ricky Stuart in 2005. It has been 19 years since Brisbane last lifted the trophy, under Wayne Bennett  against Bellamys Storm. It is also worthwhile pointing out that, despite Maguires personal record against Bellamy, the pair are actually equal this season: the Storm won in Melbourne in August (22-2) and the Broncos won in Brisbane in September (30-14). The third meeting will take place on neutral territory at Accor Stadium, but just how neutral will it be? Will Ashley Klein be replaced as referee, as has been suggested? If so, what will that mean for the penalty count and the flow and potentially season-defining decisions that could determine which side has to declare this loss will one day be the making of their team? Lets be real, the preceding seven paragraphs are mostly gibber. Water cooler chat for the befuddled who woke up on Monday morning without a world order. The global power structure has shifted, and gravity no longer has a centre. And no, we are not talking about the United States and the West, or China or Russia or emerging economies.
Is it the end of an era at Penrith, or did a 2025 campaign that ended in a painful preliminary final loss double as a chance to re-tool for another golden run?

Panthers co-captain Isaah Yeo is in the latter camp, warning rival NRL clubs that his deposed champions will be back bigger and better next year.

The Panthers run of four-straight premierships ended at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday when, after leading Brisbane 14-0 in the preliminary final, they conceded 16 unanswered second-half points.

While Yeo was shattered not to have qualified for a sixth successive grand final, he was really proud of the group after the Panthers slumped to last on the ladder mid-season before rallying to reach the play-offs.
Lenin was supposed to have been speaking about clearing landmines when he said: Probe with bayonets. If you encounter mush, proceed; if you encounter steel, withdraw.

He might never have spoken those words, but no matter. Its an excellent metaphor for the strategy that Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping are applying to the democratic West.

Illustration by Dionne Gain Credit:

Both Moscow and Beijing are probing with the bayonet of hybrid or unconventional war  using flexible combinations of military and non-military methods, overt and covert, to test, destabilise and weaken rivals.

Its aggressive, but the individual actions usually fall beneath the conventional definition of armed combat. This allows democracies to pretend that its not war, so lets not worry. Thats called the mush response, and thats why it works so well.
Jon Hooks, head of the public corruption and fraud unit in the US attorneys office in Washington, resigned last week amid a dispute with the Trump-appointed top prosecutor for the region, Jeanine Pirro. While their falling out stemmed from multiple investigations, Hooks team had recently been tasked with handling a possible inquiry into a philanthropic foundation tied to Soros, three people familiar with the matter said, speaking on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. The Justice Department ordered US attorneys in more than half a dozen cities to open investigations into Open Society Foundations, a grant-making group funded by billionaire Democratic philanthropist George Soros. Credit: AP Democrats decried what they viewed as the Justice Departments transformation into a political tool of a vengeful president. President Trump ... defies anyone daring to challenge him, said Senator Dick Durbin, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee. The attorney-general willingly complies with every order from the White House.

But in the face of such criticism, Attorney-General Pam Bondi remained undeterred, vowing on Friday that this is just the beginning. Loading Whether youre a former FBI director, whether youre a former head of an intel community, whether you are a current state or local elected official, whether youre a billionaire funding organisations to try to keep Donald Trump out of office, everything is on the table, she told Fox Newss Sean Hannity. Thursdays indictment charging Comey on allegations of lying to Congress brought to a climax an unusual four-day race by Lindsey Halligan, Trumps newly installed interim US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, to deliver a result specifically called for by the president. Halligan presented the case to a grand jury, over objections from career prosecutors in her office and after the resignation of her predecessor, Erik S. Siebert, who had concluded there was insufficient evidence to move forward.

Even while those events were playing out, federal prosecutors in Maryland handling an investigation of Boltons alleged mishandling of classified material faced a quandary of their own. Senior Justice Department officials were pushing Kelly Hayes  the interim US attorney overseeing that case  to secure an indictment by the end of the week, according to three people familiar with that request, speaking on the condition of anonymity to describe internal deliberations. Trumps former national security adviser John Bolton  who is now a strident critic of the US president  is under investigation over alleged the mishandling of classified material. Credit: Louise Kennerley Multiple people familiar with case against Bolton, a veteran diplomat turned fierce Trump critic, have described it as generally stronger than the Comey case, though they cautioned that the investigation was ongoing. Some in Hayess office raised concerns that rushing to indict Bolton could compromise their chances of a successful prosecution, the three people said. Bolton had not been charged with a crime. His attorney, Abbe Lowell, has described the investigation as politically motivated and undertaken by a Justice Department under pressure to satisfy a president out for political revenge.

Hayes office is juggling a separate mortgage fraud case against Schiff, who led the House investigation that resulted in Trumps first impeachment. The mortgage fraud inquiry is one of three similar real estate fraud investigations involving Trump adversaries being pushed by Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and Ed Martin, a senior Justice Department official who leads its Weaponizations Working Group. New York Attorney-General Letitia James who secured a civil fraud judgment against Trump and his real estate empire last year. Credit: AP Other targets include James, who secured a civil fraud judgment against Trump and his real estate empire last year, and Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook, whom Trump has sought to fire from the board, citing the allegations against her. In all three instances, defence lawyers have provided the Justice Department with documents they say exonerate their clients.

Siebert, the Trump-appointed US attorney in Virginia who resigned amid pressure to indict Comey, had concluded the evidence in the James case was too weak to move forward, people familiar with his decision said. James, Schiff and Cook have denied wrongdoing. Schiff, in the hours after Comey was indicted on Thursday, called Trumps efforts a blatant abuse of the Justice Department. Trump has sought to fire Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook, citing mortgage fraud allegations against her. She has denied the claims and is suing the Trump administration. Credit: Bloomberg The DOJ is now little more than an arm of the presidents retribution campaign, Schiff said in a social media post. Elsewhere, federal prosecutors offices are pushing ahead with criminal inquiries into another long-standing Trump grievance  the FBIs handling of the investigation into Russias interference in the 2016 campaign.

And last week, the Justice Department ordered US attorneys in more than half a dozen cities  including Washington, Chicago and New York  to open investigations into Open Society Foundations, a grant-making group funded by Soros, the billionaire Democratic philanthropist. Loading According to a person briefed on those plans who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to publicly discuss them, investigators were instructed to consider charges including racketeering, material support for terrorism and arson in response to right-wing theories that Open Society and other organisations are funding violent attacks by the left. In a statement, the foundation rejected the suggestion it was involved in financing domestic terrorism. These accusations are politically motivated attacks on civil society, meant to silence speech the administration disagrees with and undermine the First Amendment right to free speech. When power is abused to take away the rights of some people, it puts the rights of all people at risk, it said.

Frustrations over a Soros-related investigation were, at least in part, behind the dispute that led to the departure of Washington DC corruption prosecutor Hooks from the US attorneys office last week, according to the three people familiar with his decision. His portfolio included other high-profile cases such as the investigation into whether Washington police had manipulated crime data to paint a rosier public safety picture. US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro. Credit: AP Pirro upbraided him during a meeting with other supervisors over what she viewed as the slow pace of some investigations, the three people said. Hooks offered to resign effective immediately, but had agreed to stay with the office through October. Days later, in the middle of a going-away party for two colleagues, he was informed he would be fired instead, the three people said.

A spokesperson for Pirros office did not respond to requests for comment. Liz Oyer, the Justice Departments former pardon attorney who was fired by Trump Justice Department officials this year, said the investigations of Comey and other Trump critics exposed the limits of the justice system to provide a check on Trumps will. After Comeys indictment, Democratic California senator Adam Schiff called it a blatant abuse of the Justice Department. Credit: Bloomberg We are realising now that our justice system really relies on those who are entrusted with power exercising that power in good faith, she said. That has worked throughout our history, but it is no longer working because we have an elected leader who has intentionally decimated all of the safeguards within the system, has loaded the department with people who are blindly loyal to him and is willing to tear down the whole system to get what he wants, which is revenge against his enemies.
SYDNEY, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Australia's second-largest telecommunications company, Optus, on Monday reported a second network outage in 10 days that affected emergency calls.

Optus, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singaporean conglomerate Singtel, on Monday said that the service outage affected phone calls in the east coast state of New South Wales (NSW) between 3 a.m. and 12:20 p.m. local time on Sunday.

It said that nine calls to Australia's national emergency number, Triple Zero, failed during the outage.

Optus said that it has confirmed with police that all callers who attempted to contact Triple Zero are okay.

An estimated 4,500 customers were affected by the outage. Optus said it was caused by a problem with a mobile phone tower site.

It marks the second Optus outage that affected emergency calls in 10 days.

The prior outage on Sept. 18 caused around 600 calls to Triple Zero to fail and was linked to four deaths, including that of an eight-week-old infant.

Australia's Minister for Communications, Anika Wells, said that Optus will face significant consequences for the Sept. 18 outage, which affected customers in central and western Australia.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority in November 2024 fined Optus 12 million Australian dollars (about 7.9 million U.S. dollars) for a nationwide network outage in November 2023, during which 2,145 people were unable to contact Triple Zero. 
Australia is increasingly confident it will be able to buy nuclear-powered submarines from the US once the Pentagon finishes its review of the AUKUS pact.

The Pentagon study is said to have largely endorsed the pact after months of doubt about American support for the agreement, ahead of a visit by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to meet US President Donald Trump at the White House on October 20.

A US Virginia-class submarine. Credit: US Defence

But there is no confirmation in Australia on the timing of any decision by Trump to commit to the AUKUS plan, although a detailed report from Nikkei Asia says the overall pact is safe and the Pentagon review will conclude before Albanese arrives for the White House meeting.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles responded to the report by declaring AUKUS is happening and expressing high confidence in the pact, although he acknowledged on Tuesday morning that the Pentagon could identify ways to improve the outcome.
On September 19, Erik Siebert, the acting US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, who was initially selected by Trump, resigned after Trump told reporters, I want him out. Siebert had been investigating two Trump opponents, Comey and Letitia James, the attorney general of New York. Both cases had hit roadblocks. Siebert reportedly had concerns about the strength of the evidence against both Comey and James. Trump did not care. He wanted his indictments, and he wanted them now. Loading On September 20, he posted an extraordinary public message that was directed to his attorney general, Pam Bondi. Pam, it began, 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. He indicated that he was promoting Lindsey Halligan, one of his former personal attorneys, to take Sieberts place, and ended with this directive: 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!!!

After Halligan assumed office September 22, federal prosecutors reportedly presented her with a memorandum detailing the weaknesses in the case against Comey. No matter. She pressed on, reportedly presenting the case against Comey to the grand jury herself, and on September 25 she secured a simple, two-count indictment against Comey, for allegedly lying to Congress and for allegedly obstructing justice. Last week Trump promoted Lindsey Halligan (pictured) to take over the Comey case. Credit: AP She had tried to secure a three-count indictment, but in a highly unusual move (its a famous saying in the legal profession that a decent prosecutor can persuade a grand jury to indict a ham sandwich), the grand jury refused to indict on one of the counts. The indictment is so short and so bereft of detail that its hard to determine the factual allegations in the case. Jake Tapper of CNN is reporting that sources tell him that the indictment is related to an FBI investigation, called Arctic Haze, that was looking into leaks to news outlets reporting on the origins of the Russia investigation. According to CNN, investigators examined whether Comey authorised Daniel Richman, a friend of his who is a law professor at Columbia University, to leak information to the media.

No one doubts that Richman spoke to the media in Comeys defence, but the redacted documents from the Arctic Haze investigation reveal that he told investigators that Comey never asked him to talk to the media. They conclude with this statement: The investigation has not yielded sufficient evidence to criminally charge any person, including Comey or Richman, with making false statements or with the substantive offences under investigation. There is another potential theory of the prosecutions case  that Comey lied to the Senate about authorising his then-deputy, Andrew McCabe, a central figure in the Russia investigation, to speak to the press for a story about the FBIs investigation of the Clinton Foundation in 2016. The best explanation of the weakness of that theory comes from Andrew McCarthy, a former federal prosecutor and my friend and former colleague at National Review. Andy and I clashed frequently when I was at the magazine; we disagreed on the wisdom and merits of the Russia investigation. He thought it was a disgrace and wrote an entire book arguing that point. But he took one look at the Comey indictment and wrote that it was so ill-conceived and incompetently drafted, he should be able to get it thrown out on a pretrial motion to dismiss. The reason is simple: There is no credible evidence that Comey lied at all. As McCarthy notes, the indictment may centre on confusion as to whether Comey lied when he said that he did not authorise his deputy, McCabe, to leak news to The Wall Street Journal that the FBI was investigating the Clinton Foundation.

But theres no publicly available evidence that supports this claim. Comey told the inspector general that McCabe definitely did not tell me that he authorised the leak. McCabe, for his part, told the inspector generals office that he let Comey know the day after the story broke that he authorised the leak and that Comey did not react negatively, just kind of accepted it. Even if you believe McCabe over Comey  which is inadvisable because the Justice Departments Office of the Inspector General found that McCabe lacked candour about the leak when questioned about it  McCabe only said that he told Comey about the leak after it happened. As McCarthy writes, McCabe never even claimed that Comey authorised the leak as that term is commonly understood. Its important to discuss the details of the case, but we cannot forget the context. The Department of Justice is prosecuting a former director of the FBI, and its doing so not because there is clear evidence of a crime, but because there is clear evidence that the president wants revenge. Trumps Truth Social post, in fact, could well be Exhibit A in a motion to dismiss the case. Or it could be one of the first pieces of evidence presented to a jury to show that this case has nothing to do with the truth and everything to do with obeying the orders of the most powerful man in the world. But its even worse than that. Trumps retribution isnt just inflicting grave injustice on its innocent victims; its hollowing the Justice Department. As decent people resign, theyre replaced with people eager or at least willing to participate in Trumps partisan inquisition.
PHILIPSBURG:--- On the 22nd of August 2025, The Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunset proudly hosted its first-ever Battle of the Clubs Game Night, bringing together members from all five Rotary clubs on the island for an unforgettable evening of fellowship, friendly competition, and true Rotary spirit.

More than just a game night, the event highlighted August as Membership and New Club Development Month on the Rotary calendar. In keeping with that theme, the Club was thrilled to welcome 12 prospective members, each allowed to mingle with Rotarians, participate in team challenges, and experience first-hand the warmth, energy, and togetherness that define Rotary.

The evening was filled with laughter, teamwork, and camaraderie as Rotarians faced off in spirited competitions that celebrated both fellowship and collaboration. Beyond the fun and games, prospective members engaged in meaningful conversations with Sunset Rotarians about the impactful projects already carried out in the community and the exciting plans for the Rotary year ahead.

This event perfectly blended fellowship, team spirit, and membership growth, said Alex PIERRE, President of the Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunset.

Membership Chair Krystel Davis added, I am truly happy that the different clubs were able to come together in such a joyful way, and even more excited to see the number of prospects who participated and felt the spirit and love of Rotary.

The Battle of the Clubs Game Night was a resounding success and promises to become a cherished tradition, strengthening ties among the islands Rotary clubs while inspiring fresh energy and new membership for the future.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling has accelerated Sint Maartens financial crime reform agenda following her participation in the 60th Plenary of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) in Trinidad and Tobago. She brought together key stakeholders from government, financial regulators, law enforcement, and the private sector to begin shaping the work of a national committee tasked with implementing CFATF priority actions and recommendations.

Participants included the Central Bank of Curacao and Sint Maarten (CBCS), the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU/MOT), the Ministries of Justice, General Affairs, TEATT, and Finance, the Tax Administration, the Public Prosecutors Office, the Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM), the Landsrecherche, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (COCI), Customs, and the National Security Service (VDSM).

The meeting focused on creating ownership across institutions by assigning responsibilities and prioritizing actions in the short, medium, and long term. Minister Tackling stressed that Sint Maartens approach must be about taking ownership and getting results, beginning with quick wins that can be achieved ahead of the next CFATF plenary in May 2026.

The Fourth Round Mutual Evaluation Report recognized Sint Maartens first National Risk Assessment as a milestone, while also identifying areas for improvement. These include stronger coordination and policy alignment, building institutional capacity for financial oversight, expanding training and investigative tools, enhancing supervisory compliance, and raising awareness and preparedness against terrorist financing and sanctions obligations.

To maintain momentum, the committee will establish smaller working groups within departments to expedite priority actions. It will meet every two weeks to track progress, with Minister Tackling personally chairing once a month to ensure accountability and follow-through.

These findings are not setbacks, they are a roadmap, Minister Tackling stated. We now know exactly where the gaps are and, more importantly, what we need to do to close them. My priority is building the capacity of our institutions, equipping our enforcement agencies, and strengthening collaboration across the chain to push this reform forward.

Sint Maarten remains under the monitoring of the Financial Action Task Forces (FATF) International Co-operation Review Group (ICRG), which evaluates jurisdictions with strategic deficiencies in anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing. The country has three years to demonstrate measurable improvements before the next National Risk Assessment and the fifth-round evaluation.

Being placed on the international FATF grey list would have serious consequences for Sint Maarten, including increased scrutiny on financial transactions, higher costs for doing business, potential delays in international banking, and reduced investor confidence. Ultimately, it would put pressure on the economy and risk reputational damage for the country.

This week, Minister Tackling will continue this work at the 17th CFATF Council of Ministers Meeting in Panama, where she will help shape the CFATF Strategic Plan for 20252028. Discussions will also cover mutual evaluation priorities, training and technical assistance, the EU list of high-risk third countries, and Steering Group activities.

We are not approaching this as a box-checking exercise, Tackling emphasized. This is about protecting our financial system, safeguarding our people, and ensuring Sint Maarten is never vulnerable to being grey-listed. Progress is already underway, and we are determined to keep moving forward.
Dear Valued Community Members,



This morning, I, as President and representative of the Island Merchants Association (IMA), was urgently summoned to a meeting with the local police department. The authorities informed me of a concerning increase in criminal activity on our island. Specifically, home invasions have been occurring daily over the past several days, posing a significant threat to the safety and security of our community.



To protect yourselves and your property, we strongly urge all residents to refrain from keeping valuables, such as cash, jewelry, or other high-value items, in your homes. Instead, please consider securing these items in a safety deposit box or another secure off-site location(s) until the situation stabilizes.



Additionally, the police have issued specific guidance for jewelers and their vendors. To minimize the risk of theft during transportation, all jewelry deliveries must be conducted using professional armored transport services, such as Brinks or Pan American. The use of personal or non-secure vehicles for transporting valuable goods is strongly discouraged, as it significantly increases vulnerability to criminal activity.



We encourage everyone to remain vigilant, report any suspicious activity to the authorities immediately, and take all necessary precautions to safeguard your homes and businesses. The IMA board is committed to working closely with law enforcement to ensure the safety of our island community. Should you have any questions or require further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact myself or any board member.



Let us stand together to keep our community safe and secure.



Sunny Khatnani

President

IMA
Press Release from Business Wire: Boomi



(AFP) Sep 28, 2025



SYDNEY, Sept 28, 2025 (BSW) - Boomi?, the leader in AI-driven automation, today announced that global public services provider Serco is leveraging the Boomi Enterprise Platform to unlock rapid innovation through generative AI, accelerate integration development, and empower responsible business users to build foundational integrations at speed.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250928836452/en/







With a primary focus on serving governments around the world. Serco's operations in Asia Pacific span defence, healthcare, justice and community services. As part of its broader push to modernise operations in the Asia Pacific region, Serco has embraced Boomi to help streamline data flows, enhance master data management, and simplify API connectivity. The Boomi platform was the preferred choice because of its low-code friendliness, ease of use, and speed with which integrations can be built and monitored.

"We've always used Boomi for core integration, but what we uncovered at last year's Boomi World Tour Sydney completely reframed what's possible," said Kiran Narayan, Director, Products and Digital Capabilities at Serco. "We realised that powerful Boomi AI agents like Boomi Scribe and Boomi DesignGen were already sitting within our Boomi Enterprise Platform license. Within minutes, we were experimenting with them live. That moment kickstarted a brand new way of thinking and working."

Following the event, Serco rapidly mobilised its integration team to test and deploy Boomi's AI agents, which use natural language prompts to help users design and deploy integrations faster.

Boomi Scribe was implemented as the documentation base for integration, creating understandable documents to see what goes behind a particular interface, while Boomi DesignGen allowed for easy communication between teams through visuals, earning trust from stakeholders.

"Previously, it would take an integration developer around two or three hours to write up a document formatted in a way customers understand. With Boomi Scribe, it takes 10 to 15 minutes," said Kiran.

Serco recently completed two major integration projects, significantly reducing its documentation time, which includes meetings, conversations, and creating documents. Previously, this process took 40 to 60 hours. With Boomi AI Agents, Serco now sees an average completion time down to 6 to 12 hours.

The integration of these tools came shortly after Serco APAC transitioned its integration workloads from self-hosted Boomi runtime clusters to Boomi Managed Cloud Service (MCS), with plans underway to activate Boomi Event Streams for real-time data flow and alerting. Now the public services provider is focused on leveraging Boomi AI Agents through Boomi Agentstudio.

Kiran's vision as the Director of Products and Digital Capability at Serco is to enable business leaders to use Boomi for first-draft integrations, speeding up delivery and freeing technical teams to focus on complex tasks. "With Boomi, we eliminate bottlenecks without losing control," he said. "Empowering business users to model within a governed framework dramatically accelerates how quickly value can be delivered."

The platform also supports Serco's data quality goals, through the use of Boomi DataHub and Boomi API Management for consistent and simplified integrity of information.

"The success we've had so far has ignited real excitement among our senior leaders, from the CIO to the business unit heads," said Kiran.

"Serco's journey reflects the future of integration: low-code, AI-enabled, and business-empowered," said David Irecki, Chief Technology Officer for Asia Pacific and Japan at Boomi. "It's been an incredible privilege to partner with a team that moves fast, thinks strategically, and is committed to democratising innovation across the organisation."

Additional Resources

-- Hear from Boomi's global customers

-- Follow Boomi on X, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube

About Boomi

Boomi, the leader in AI-driven automation, enables organizations worldwide to connect everything, automate processes, and accelerate outcomes. The Boomi Enterprise Platform - including Boomi Agentstudio - unifies integration and automation along with data, API, and AI agent management, in a single, comprehensive solution. Trusted by over 25,000 customers and supported by a network of 800+ partners, Boomi is driving agentic transformation - helping enterprises of all sizes achieve agility, efficiency, and innovation at scale. Discover more at boomi.com.

 2025 Boomi, LP. Boomi, the 'B' logo, and Boomiverse are trademarks of Boomi, LP or its subsidiaries or affiliates. All rights reserved. Other names or marks may be the trademarks of their respective owners.







View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250928836452/en/









Contact

Media Contact:Jasmine EeHead of Influencer Relations, [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.
ADEN, Yemen, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said Monday it received a report of an incident involving a merchant vessel about 128 nautical miles southeast of Yemen's Aden.

The UKMTO said in an initial statement posted on social media platform X that the ship's master witnessed a splash and smoke in the distance, astern of the vessel. It then said in an updated statement on X that military authorities confirmed the vessel was "hit by an unknown projectile" and "on fire."

It advised vessels to "transit with caution and report any suspicious activity."

Meanwhile, a Yemeni government Coast Guard official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Xinhua they have received information about the incident, but declined to provide further details.

Earlier in the day, residents in central Yemen's Al Bayda province reported that the Houthi group launched a missile from their mountainous locations toward the Arabian Sea.

The Gulf of Aden forms part of a vital maritime corridor linking the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea. In recent months, the waterway and the neighboring Red Sea have witnessed repeated attacks on commercial shipping, attributed to Houthis, who say their operations are intended to pressure Israel and its allies in solidarity with Palestinians amid the Gaza conflict. 
Press Release from Business Wire: Neural Concept



(AFP) Sep 29, 2025



LAUSANNE, Sept 29, 2025 (BSW) - Neural Concept, the leading AI-first engineering environment for product development, today reported significant acceleration in customer growth and platform adoption so far in 2025. Following strong demand, the company is scaling its teams across Europe, North America and Asia.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250926074655/en/

Neural Concept's Design Lab: a native co-pilot experience where engineers and designers collaborate, bringing real-time physics into the design environment.



Enterprise adoption of Neural Concept's platform has doubled since January 2025, supported by a 40% increase in upsells as clients expanded from bespoke applications to company-wide use. Customers who have scaled their use of Neural Concept this year include Renault, Leonardo, GE Vernova U.S., Hanwha Ocean, Sumitomo Wiring Systems, SPAL Automotive, Kautex, Multi-Wing and more.

Annual recurring revenue (ARR) growth now significantly outpaces burn rate, placing the Company among the most capital-efficient performers in its sector. To meet ongoing demand, operations are scaling in Switzerland, France, Germany, North America, Japan, South Korea, and India.

Embedding AI at the Core: Development in Days, Not Months

Nearly half of Neural Concept's customers are in automotive, where it has established market leadership, while rapidly acquiring clients in aerospace, defense, consumer electronics, and semiconductors, industries where innovation, performance, and sustainable design are critical.

"Engineering Intelligence is at a turning point-this technology is now powerful enough to deliver game-changing impact for customers at scale," said Dr Pierre Baque, CEO and co-founder of Neural Concept. "Industrial companies embracing this shift reach unprecedented performance levels in a fraction of the time-to-market. We help OEMs deploy AI-native workflows across design and simulation teams with a scalable toolbox and adaptable environment, enabling AI integration across the full product lifecycle without years-long integration or custom R&D."

The platform's impact is visible in high-performance engineering outcomes, boosting speed, accuracy, and accelerating innovation.

-- General Motors developed an AI-powered crash safety model using Neural Concept that brings rapid risk prediction into the design process, enabling faster design iteration, greater collaboration and ultimately, safer vehicles.

-- MAHLE announced a radically new bionic blower for automotive air conditioning systems by embedding Neural Concept's AI into their existing systems, achieving 15% more efficiency and 4 dB less noise - ideal for EV platforms.

Strengthening Leadership and Expertise

Neural Concept has made strategic hires and formed an expert advisory board. Tom Becker, former Covariant GM, has joined the Company as SVP of Global Revenue, bringing his experience in AI robotics transformation and enterprise go-to-market strategy at Alteryx and KNIME.

The company's advisory board now includes:

-- Brett Chouinard - Former Chief Product and Strategy Officer and Chief Technology Officer at Altair.

-- Francois Fleuret - LLM Research Scientist at Meta and Professor of Computer Science at the University of Geneva.

-- Jean-Paul Roux - Former Senior Vice President at EXA Corporation and VP of Sales at Dassault Systemes.

-- Florent Perrichon - Chairman of Neural Concept, Business Angel in Deep Tech and CEO of Laurent Ferrier.

VC-Backed Growth: Powering Enterprise Super Engineers

Following its Series B in 2024 - led by Forestay Capital and supported by D. E. Shaw Ventures - Neural Concept continues strong commercial traction, efficient growth, and an expanding strategic customer base.

"Neural Concept's adoption growth shows both market demand and the team's disciplined execution," said Deborah Pittet, Partner at Forestay Capital. "They're scaling with customer needs to achieve acceleration without over-extension. By embedding AI natively into engineering workflows, Neural Concept empowers global OEMs to own their AI transformation, making this growth sustainable and industry-defining."

"We're excited to partner with Neural Concept as they scale their engineering intelligence platform globally," said Jazmin Medina, Investment Partner at D. E. Shaw Ventures. "By integrating AI seamlessly across hardware, software, and simulation, they're tackling one of the most persistent challenges in product development - reducing time-to-market while maintaining quality and performance. In doing so, we believe they're delivering the kind of world-class solutions that can transform how industries innovate."

"Our platform isn't a bolt-on, it's a build-with," concludes Dr Baque. "We collaborate with engineering teams to cut design and development time from months to days, enabling faster innovation. More than a tool, we're creating the engineering intelligence layer for the world's most advanced companies. Our focus remains empowering engineers to lead the AI transformation of their industries, with full control over designing the future."

About Neural Concept

Founded in 2018, Neural Concept provides the leading AI-first engineering platform for product development. By embedding AI natively into design and simulation workflows, Neural Concept empowers engineering teams to compress development cycles from months to days, improve product performance across efficiency, safety, and sustainability, and scale AI adoption without costly, years-long integration.

The company partners with more than 70% of the world's largest OEMs and 40% of the top 100 tier-1 suppliers across automotive, aerospace, defense, consumer electronics, and semiconductors. Neural Concept was spun out of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) and is backed by global investors, including Forestay Capital and D. E. Shaw Ventures.

For more information, visit www.neuralconcept.com.

Watch Neural Concept's Design Lab for Engineering Intelligence in action - LINK







View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250926074655/en/









Contact

Media contactThoughtLDR for Neural [email protected] +44 (0)7553600128







 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: MultiBank Group



(AFP) Sep 29, 2025



DUBAI, Sept 29, 2025 (BSW) - MultiBank Group, the world's largest financial derivatives institution headquartered in Dubai, has announced the opening of its new office in Abu Dhabi, expanding its network to 26 locations. The move strengthens the Group's trajectory in the Middle East and aligns with the UAE's vision to be recognised as a world-class financial powerhouse.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250929889419/en/

By extending MEX Global's expertise to the capital, MultiBank Group ensures clients benefit from the same high standards of integrity and innovation that underpin its operations worldwide.



This new hub represents a key step in MultiBank Group's regional strategy, strengthening its position in a highly competitive marketplace. Importantly, it will also host services offered through MEX Global, the Group's subsidiary regulated by the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA). By extending MEX Global's expertise to the capital, the Group ensures clients benefit from the same high standards of integrity and innovation that underpin its operations worldwide.

Naser Taher, Founder and Chairman of MultiBank Group, said: "The inauguration of our Abu Dhabi office is a testament to our international growth and to the strength of the UAE's economic landscape. This step brings us closer to our partners, enabling us to deliver innovative solutions backed by transparency and trust. We are honoured to support the capital's rise as a leading centre of excellence in finance."

With a product portfolio of more than 20,000 instruments across forex, metals, commodities, shares, indices, and digital assets, MultiBank Group offers its customers diverse opportunities. Supported by advanced platforms, deep liquidity, and robust regulation, the Group guarantees a secure, transparent, and seamless trading environment.

Established in 2005, the company now serves over 2 million clients across 100 countries, handling daily trading volumes exceeding $35 billion. With offices in major economic centers worldwide, the Group has earned over 80 industry awards, cementing its reputation as a trusted leader in international markets.

ABOUT MULTIBANK GROUP

MultiBank Group, established in California, USA in 2005, is a global leader in financial derivatives, serving over 2 million clients across 100 countries, and boasts a daily trading volume that exceeds $35 billion. Renowned for its innovative trading solutions, robust regulatory compliance, and exceptional customer service, the Group offers an array of brokerage services and asset management solutions. It is regulated across five continents by 17+ of the most reputable financial authorities globally. The group's award-winning trading platforms offer up to 500:1 leverage on a diverse range of products, including Forex, Metals, Shares, Commodities, Indices, and Cryptocurrencies. MultiBank Group has received over 80 financial awards recognizing its trading excellence and regulatory compliance. For more information, visit MultiBank Group's website.







View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250929889419/en/









Contact

Name: Yazan ShakfehPosition: Global Head of MarketingEmail: [email protected] Phone: +971585754191







 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: Duco



(AFP) Sep 29, 2025



FRANKFURT, Sept 29, 2025 (BSW) - As regulatory deadlines accelerate and data volumes explode, Duco is arming financial institutions with smarter, faster and easier ways to automate. Today Duco introduces AI-powered rules that anyone can build, automated ingestion for any file format, and real time assurance for T+1 settlement readiness in the UK/EU.

Agentic Rule Builder

Duco's new Agentic Rule Builder is the next step in no-code automation. The company's Natural Rule Language (NRL) already allowed non-coders to create rules in plain English ('if X is true then set Y'). But as data and processes grow more complex, even no-code systems require training and become harder to manage.

The Agentic Rule Builder addresses this by letting users describe actions and outcomes the way they would to a colleague. Using a plain English prompt, they can generate and refine NRL rules, edit specific sections, and apply consistent changes across multiple rules.

The tool's agents map a plan for the rule, build and validate it, and render it in the interface for human validation and full transparency. Early client testing suggests it can cut rule-creation time by half and speed up automation by 60-75%, speeding time to market.

Enhanced AI-Native Data Prep

Building on AIDP - Adaptive Intelligent Document Processing (which intelligently extracts information from PDFs, images, Word files and emails) - this new form of processing learns from content and context, increasing resiliency. Traditional parsing doesn't take context into account.

Duco has enhanced AI-Native data prep by extending flexible ingestion, enabling low training extraction for faster set up and incorporating Agentic rule builder into the solution. This enables clients to automate more, increase straight through processing, and achieve greater accuracy than with traditional OCR/IDP tools or LLMs alone. All integrated in the Duco platform, eliminating the need for multiple tools in clients' tech stacks.

"AI-powered automation is moving beyond task support to shape how businesses operate," said Justin Hingorani, Managing Director, AI and Data Prep."This evolution is not just about speed or efficiency. It is about empowering organisations to respond to client needs and market challenges with agility and confidence. Intelligent automation and industry know-how turn complex post-trade processes into simple, transparent workflows. OCR and IDP were built for static formats. They break the moment data shifts. Our AI-native approach adapts in real time, making it the only sustainable path forward."

T+0 Assurance Controls for Settlement Evolution

To meet the challenges of T+1 settlement, Duco is launching the only truly cloud-native, AI-native, no code T+0 assurance controls for clients in the UK and Europe. These controls, developed for the North America move to T+1 settlement in 2024, enable clients to move to intra-day, T+0 reconciliations and exception management.

Evidence from last year's transition shows increasing headcount - in some cases by as much as 18% - doesn't have a significant impact on fail rates. And with a more than 80% reduction in operational post-trade processing times, manual work - even as the exception - will be untenable. Intra-day reconciliation and exception management will have to become the norm. T+1 requires firms to improve automation capabilities that will support a T+0 operating model.

"The move to T+1 settlement is one of the most significant operational shifts our industry has faced in decades," said Steve Walsh, Managing Director, Reconciliation. "We're using critical lessons from North America to ensure the transition in Europe does not require additional headcount. Instead by cutting reconciliation time, firms also create a scalable, future-proof operating model for post-trade processing."

James Maxfield, Chief Product Officer at Duco, said: "We are moving into an era where automation is not just faster or easier, but smarter and adaptive. Today, our AI agents support rule creation and reconciliation. Soon, they'll help with anomaly detection, exception management and orchestration of entire processes - always with human oversight where clients need it. This is how firms can build resilience, cut complexity and stay ahead of compressed regulatory deadlines."

About Duco

Duco is empowering financial services firms to break the bad data cycle that has held the industry back for decades.

We do this with a combination of proprietary technique, innovative cloud computing, no-code and artificial intelligence technology, and deep subject matter expertise.

Our AI-powered operational data automation platform gives firms the ability to unlock full end-to-end reconciliation and automation of their data, regardless of source, format or structure.

By partnering with the industry's leading firms, we are helping to rethink operating models, increase efficiency, strengthen governance and regulatory compliance, reduce risk, streamline processes and build the workforce of the future.

Over 10,000 users across 30+ countries process billions of data records every week using the platform.

Duco is headquartered in London, with offices in New York, Wroclaw, Antwerp and Singapore. Customers include global banks, investment managers, exchanges and insurance firms, such as CIBC, ING and Man Group. For more information go to www.du.co.







View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250929875030/en/









Contact

Greg [email protected] Account Executive, Cognito Media+447983268447







 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: Esri



(AFP) Sep 29, 2025



REDLANDS, Sept 29, 2025 (BSW) - Esri, the global leader in location intelligence, has publishedTactile Mapping: Cartography for People with Visual Impairments, a collection of expert-written chapters, case studies, and user stories demonstrating cartography for greater accessibility by people who are visually impaired.

Tactile maps offer greater independence and inclusion for people who are blind, yet much of the research done in this area has remained inaccessible to a broader audience. Tactile Mapping: Cartography for People with Visual Impairments bridges this gap by exploring the subject from a multidisciplinary perspective, illustrating cartographic theory with real-life case studies and user stories.

A collaboration by skilled professionals, domain experts, and people with visual impairments, Tactile Mapping is an introduction to the field for cartographers and other geographic science practitioners. Readers will gain new insight from three perspectives: user experience, scientific research, and practical implementation. Topics include:

-- The role of maps in shaping perception of the world

-- Best practices in tactile map design, including an understanding of tactile perception

-- The need for map design processes to be user centered

-- Different output media for tangible maps and geographic models

The new book is written by Dr. Vincent van Altena,a senior researcher at Kadaster (Netherlands), and Dr. Jakub Wabinski, an assistant professor at the Military University of Technology in Warsaw, Poland. Tactile Mapping explains and demonstrates how mapmakers can become and are being intentional and inclusive with their designs.

Tactile Mapping: Cartography for People with Visual Impairments is available in print (ISBN: 9781589488359, 120 pages, US$54.99) and as an ebook (ISBN: 9781589488366, US$54.99). Both editions can be obtained from most online retailers worldwide. Interested retailers can contact Esri Press book distributor Ingram Publisher Services.

About Esri

Esri, the global market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software, location intelligence, and mapping, helps customers unlock the full potential of data to improve operational and business results. Founded in 1969 in Redlands, California, USA, Esri software is deployed in hundreds of thousands of organizations globally, including Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, nonprofit institutions, and universities. Esri has regional offices, international distributors, and partners providing local support in over 100 countries on six continents. With its pioneering commitment to geospatial technology and analytics, Esri engineers the most innovative solutions that leverage a geographic approach to solving some of the world's most complex problems by placing them in the crucial context of location. Visit us at esri.com.

Copyright  2025 Esri. All rights reserved. Esri, the Esri Globe and Frame logos, The Science of Where, esri.com, and @esri.com are trademarks, service marks, or registered marks of Esri in the United States, the European Community, or certain other jurisdictions. Other companies and products or services mentioned herein may be trademarks, service marks, or registered marks of their respective mark owners.







View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250929255808/en/









Contact

Jo Ann PruchniewskiPublic Relations, EsriMobile: 301-693-2643Email: [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: Rezon Bio



(AFP) Sep 29, 2025



GDANSK & WARSAW-DUCHNICE, Sept 29, 2025 (BSW) - Rezon Bio today announced its launch as a European contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) for biologics. It enters the market as a new brand, but builds on a proven legacy of advancing biologics from gene to global commercialization through established partners.

With two state-of-the-art facilities in Gdansk and Warsaw-Duchnice, Rezon Bio offers clients an end-to-end path from cell line development through GMP manufacturing and commercial supply. Both sites feature mirrored capabilities, enabling seamless technology transfer and flexible scale-up. The infrastructure is based on single-use systems for faster product turnover and accelerated delivery. Development platforms, including AMBR systems, are optimized to shorten early development cycles and de-risk scale-up.

"Rezon Bio is a new name, but it stands on a track record that already includes building a broad biosimilars portfolio - with two products launched worldwide through our partners," said Adriana Kiedzierska-Mencfeld, the newly appointed CEO of Rezon Bio. "That experience is the foundation of our new CDMO offering. We know the challenges of developing and launching biologics because we have been through them ourselves. Now we are here to make that journey easier, faster and cost-efficient for our clients."

Rezon Bio combines European location advantages with Poland's strong biopharma talent base and cost structure. This allows the company to deliver competitive economics while maintaining uncompromising quality. Both facilities have been audited by the EMA and FDA, and Rezon Bio operates under global compliance frameworks.

Digital innovation is central to the model. Process modeling, AI-enabled systems, and project transparency tools help clients track milestones, anticipate risks, and manage comparability - designed to reduce delays and compress time to market.

"We will disrupt the European CDMO landscape by being the most cost competitive and reliable partner," said Konstantin Matentzoglu, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Rezon Bio. "Our commitment is to accelerate programs while maximizing customer value that benefits patients worldwide. That is our Rezon."

Rezon Bio's first industry presence will be at the Festival of Biologics, European Biomanufacturing Summit, CPHI Frankfurt, and BIO-Europe, where its leadership and technical experts will be available for meetings: schedule a meeting with the Rezon Bio Business Development team.

About Rezon Bio

Rezon Bio is a biologics CDMO specializing in mammalian drug substance development and GMP manufacturing, with drug product coordinated via qualified external partners. Headquartered in Poland, the company operates two mirrored-capability facilities in Gdansk and Warsaw-Duchnice audited by EMA and FDA. Drawing on a legacy of biosimilars development and global commercialization, Rezon Bio combines proven experience, digital transparency, and cost-to-value efficiency to help clients move from concept to market with confidence. Learn more at https://rezonbio.com or schedule a virtual introduction at https://rezonbio.dayschedule.com.







View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250929803065/en/









Contact

Rezon Bio media contact:Natalia [email protected] Tel: +48 725 800 893







 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: Gradiant



(AFP) Sep 29, 2025



BOSTON, Sept 29, 2025 (BSW) - Gradiant, a global leader in advanced water and wastewater solutions, today announced advancements in its ForeverGone PFAS destruction platform, establishing it as one of the most cost-effective and sustainable solutions for eliminating "forever chemicals" in industrial wastewater.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250929038872/en/

Gradiant has announced advancements in its ForeverGone PFAS destruction platform and the commissioning of a ForeverGone system at Munich International Airport to address complex, legacy PFAS challenges.



Destroying PFAS at the Source

ForeverGone is the first fully integrated platform that destroys PFAS compounds on site. The system pairs micro-foam fractionation with advanced electrooxidation to achieve 99-99.9% removal, including short-chain PFAS that older technologies often miss. Unlike granular activated carbon (GAC), ion exchange resin (IX or IER) and other "capture and dispose" approaches, ForeverGone eliminates PFAS completely and removes the need for costly disposal and environmental handling risks.

A New Cost Benchmark

Operating at just $0.10-$0.20 per cubic meter, ForeverGone delivers a breakthrough in affordability that is far below the $0.50-$2.00 per cubic meter total cost of conventional GAC or IX treatment. With energy use of only ~0.5 kWh/m^2 as the primary operating expense, the system minimizes costs while on-site treatment eliminates the added costs and risks of hauling and disposal.

"ForeverGone is the new model for how industries tackle PFAS," said Anurag Bajpayee, Co-Founder and CEO of Gradiant. "By destroying PFAS at the source, we remove the burden of disposal and deliver compliance that is both cost-effective and sustainable. Regulations in Europe and Asia are accelerating adoption, while U.S. industries are preparing for the inevitable. ForeverGone gives customers confidence to meet today's standards and tomorrow's. And as attention turns to compounds like trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), this platform establishes a foundation for long-term leadership in emerging contaminants."

New Deployment at Munich International Airport

Gradiant has commissioned a ForeverGone system at Munich International Airport to tackle contamination from fire suppressant aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF). This deployment highlights the platform's versatility in solving complex, legacy PFAS challenges. The latest ForeverGone units are now operating on-site, proving their effectiveness in high-profile, high-demand environments.

Compact and Mobile

After a four-year development program, Gradiant has reduced the footprint of its Destruction Engine electrooxidation unit by more than 100X, shrinking it to just 2% of the original system volume. Paired with Micro-Foam Fractionation, the result is a technology that is highly compact, mobile, and adaptable for both permanent installations and temporary remediation applications.

Regulatory Drivers

Demand is accelerating worldwide as regulations tighten:

-- Taiwan: Semiconductor discharge limits of 1.2 ppb, with compliance tied to double sampling protocols

-- South Korea: Industrial PFAS discharges under increased scrutiny

-- China: Stricter limits on PFAS in drinking water

In Europe, aggressive PFAS restrictions are already in place, while in the United States, adoption is advancing as standards evolve. Clearer rules around leachate sites are already driving projects forward, and upcoming EPA guidance is expected to accelerate nationwide implementation, creating one of the largest future markets for PFAS remediation.

Beyond PFAS

Pharmaceutical customers are also engaging Gradiant on trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a compound linked to drug manufacturing byproducts. The EU is expected to decide on TFA regulation in 2026, which could open a significant new market for ForeverGone and related technologies.

Connect with Gradiant at WEFTEC

Gradiant will be at WEFTEC Chicago from September 29 to October 2, where visitors can join system tours of the ForeverGone platform and attend presentations inside the booth. Meet us at Booth 3867.

About Gradiant

Gradiant is a Different Kind of Water Company. With a full suite of differentiated and proprietary end-to-end solutions for advanced water and wastewater treatment powered by the top minds in water, the company serves its clients' mission-critical operations in the world's essential industries, including semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, food & beverage, lithium and critical minerals, and renewable energy. Gradiant's innovative solutions reduce water used and wastewater discharged, reclaim valuable resources, and renew wastewater into freshwater. The Boston-headquartered company was founded at MIT and has over 1,300 employees worldwide. Learn more at gradiant.com.







View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250929038872/en/









Contact

Corporate ContactFelix WangGradiant, Global Head of [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: Expand North Star



(AFP) Sep 29, 2025



DUBAI, Sept 29, 2025 (BSW) - Since 2016, Dubai has hosted Expand North Star, the world's largest event for startups and investors. The exhibition has enabled thousands of digital startups to secure multi-million-dollar investment deals and forge strategic partnerships to accelerate their global growth.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250929515975/en/

Expand North Star offers a unique platform for startups to secure funding and accelerate global growth (Photo: AETOSWire)



Organised by Dubai World Trade Centre and hosted by Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, the 2025 edition will be held from 12-15 October at Dubai Harbour and marks its tenth anniversary. The event has become a vital launchpad for startups, connecting innovators with capital and markets, and reinforcing Dubai's position as a capital of the digital economy.

The success stories of participants span continents and industries. Nigerian mobility fintech Moove raised more than US$ 460 million from investors including Uber and BlackRock, before expanding into 13 global markets and moving towards unicorn status with a valuation of around US$ 750 million. French virtual agent developer Obo secured US$ 20 million in 2024, while India's Freshcraft Technologies raised US$ 12.7 million in 2022. Zaara Biotech, also from India, attracted US$ 10 million to establish its UAE operations.

Early-stage startups have shared in this momentum, with ShopDoc raising US$ 1.36 million, Machbee Innovations securing US$ 1.1 million, and Orgaayur Productions obtaining US$ 58,000 to develop urban agriculture solutions.

Beyond investment, Expand North Star drives international expansion. In 2023, UK-based Lorien Finance used the platform to launch its growth strategy in the Middle East. DeepSeek AI, an exhibitor in 2024, quickly rose to global prominence, underlining the event's value for pioneering tech firms.

Saeed Al Gergawi, Vice President of Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, commented: "For over a decade, Expand North Star has been a leading platform for innovation and opportunity. Its success stories demonstrate Dubai's status as a global centre for the digital economy and a gateway for startups to scale from Dubai to the world."

As a flagship initiative of Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, Expand North Star supports Dubai's ambition to become a global hub for innovation and technology.

About Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy

Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy works to position Dubai as a global leader in the digital economy. Its mandate includes attracting leading companies, specialised talent, and investments while creating a supportive environment for digital business growth.

Source:AETOSWire







View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250929515975/en/









Contact

Mohamad MouzehemEmail: [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: Hamad Bin Khalifa University



(AFP) Sep 29, 2025



DOHA, Sept 29, 2025 (BSW) - Hamad Bin Khalifa University's (HBKU) conference AI Ethics: The Convergence of Technology and Diverse Moral Traditionsconcluded with a call for a unified, culturally inclusive framework for Artificial Intelligence (AI). Convened in Qatar, this pivotal event marked a milestone in the discourse surrounding AI and its ethical implications.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250929755596/en/

The opening plenary session from HBKU's AI Ethics conference (Photo: AETOSWire)



The conference brought together leading international academics, policymakers, tech industry experts, ethicists, and others. Their contributions highlighted the multidisciplinary interest in collaborative solutions that align AI with the diversity of moral traditions. Dialogue also sparked new cross-sector partnerships to drive innovation and shape the field's future. Six thematic areas, healthcare, urban design, security, education, finance, and future of the workplace, underscored the imperative to integrate ethical considerations into AI adoption across all sectors.

While each of these themes set in motion a series of thought-provoking conversations, one of the most timely debates scrutinized the use of AI in armed conflict, highlighting the legal, ethical, and policy dimensions of Artificial Intelligence Decision-Support Systems under International Humanitarian Law. AI's growing influence on human values and ethical choices in complex situations was further emphasized within doctor-patient relationships in the AI era. The discussions revealed the deep ethical challenges in safeguarding trust, autonomy, and human dignity.

Following two days of productive dialogue, the conference produced recommendations for an AI future aligned with the diverse moral landscapes of all global societies. Doing so requires a comprehensive framework that moves beyond the mainly Western-dominated conversation to a fair, balanced, and globally inclusive appreciation of all cultural and moral characteristics.

The event also called for greater integration of AI technologies and methods across the focus areas to prepare future generations. This should be accompanied by the alignment of international policy frameworks to advance the positive impact of emerging technologies while addressing possible risks.

The AI Ethics conference served as a meeting point for diverse and forward-looking conversations in the global AI discourse. As a convener and knowledge hub for impactful discussions, HBKU also positions educational institutions as significant drivers of research-backed solutions to global challenges.

*Source: AETOSWire







View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250929755596/en/









Contact

Ms. Taiba Saoud [email protected] Tel: +974 44540934







 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.
California enacts AI safety law targeting tech giants



San Francisco, United States, Sept 29 (AFP) Sep 29, 2025



California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed into law groundbreaking legislation requiring the world's largest artificial intelligence companies to publicly disclose their safety protocols and report critical incidents, state lawmakers announced Monday.

Senate Bill 53 marks California's most significant move yet to regulate Silicon Valley's rapidly advancing AI industry while also maintaining its position as a global tech hub.

"With a technology as transformative as AI, we have a responsibility to support that innovation while putting in place commonsense guardrails," State Senator Scott Wiener, the bill's sponsor, said in a statement.

The new law represents a successful second attempt by Wiener to establish AI safety regulations after Newsom vetoed his previous bill, SB 1047, after furious pushback from the tech industry.

It also comes after a failed attempt by the Trump administration to prevent states from enacting AI regulations, under the argument that they would create regulatory chaos and slow US-made innovation in a race with China.

The new law says major AI companies have to publicly disclose their safety and security protocols in redacted form to protect intellectual property.

They must also report critical safety incidents -- including model-enabled weapons threats, major cyber-attacks, or loss of model control -- within 15 days to state officials.

The legislation also establishes whistleblower protections for employees who reveal evidence of dangers or violations.

According to Wiener, California's approach differs from the European Union's landmark AI Act, which requires private disclosures to government agencies.

SB 53, meanwhile, mandates public disclosure to ensure greater accountability.

In what advocates describe as a world-first provision, the law requires companies to report instances where AI systems engage in dangerous deceptive behavior during testing.

For example, if an AI system lies about the effectiveness of controls designed to prevent it from assisting in bioweapon construction, developers must disclose the incident if it materially increases catastrophic harm risks.

The working group behind the law was led by prominent experts including Stanford University's Fei-Fei Li, known as the "godmother of AI."
KAMPALA, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Uganda on Monday officially launched presidential campaigns, with eight candidates, including incumbent President Yoweri Museveni, vying for the East African country's top office in the 2026 polls.

The campaigns will run for three months across all 146 districts before culminating in the presidential election on Jan. 2, 2026.

Museveni, who has ruled for 39 years, is seeking a seventh consecutive five-year term.

His main challengers include Robert Kyagulanyi, widely known as Bobi Wine, a pop star-turned-politician from the National Unity Platform, and Nathan Nandala Mafabi of the Forum for Democratic Change.

Julius Mucunguzi, spokesperson for the Electoral Commission, said the body is fully prepared to deliver free and fair elections, with campaigns permitted daily from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. local time.

"We agreed on a harmonized campaign program for all eight presidential candidates. We call upon the candidates to abide by the campaign calendar and the guidelines," Mucunguzi said. 
Ecuador armed forces kill fuel price hike protester: Indigenous group



Quito, Sept 28 (AFP) Sep 28, 2025



A protester was killed by Ecuadoran armed forces during a demonstration against increased fuel prices, the country's largest Indigenous organization said Sunday.

Efrain Fuerez was "shot three times" and died Sunday at the hospital in Cotacachi, around 100 kilometers (60 miles) north of Quito, according to the organization, known by its acronym Conaie.

Ecuador's police and armed forces have not commented on the allegation.

President Daniel Noboa earlier this month announced a cut in the fuel subsidy that he said would save the state $1.1 billion.

The move saw the price of diesel soar from $1.80 to $2.80 per gallon (48 cents to 74 cents per liter) -- a bitter pill in a country where nearly a third of the population is poor.

"We hold Daniel Noboa responsible, we demand an immediate investigation and justice for Efrain and his community," said Conaie.

It described Fuerez as a "father of two children and pillar of his family."

Images shared by the group on social media show two men on the ground, one apparently injured and the other trying to help him. Seconds later, a group of soldiers gets out of a tank and kicks them.

Human rights group INREDH was the first to report the death, and condemned the "lethal and illegitimate use of force."

It said that another person remained in "critical condition."

Ecuador's prosecutors' office said it would open an investigation into the "alleged death."

Noboa has battled to defuse the protests, declaring on September 16 a state of emergency in eight of the country's 24 provinces, and a nighttime curfew in five of them.

He has claimed that Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua is behind the demonstrations and warned that protesters who break the law "will be charged with terrorism and will go to prison for 30 years."

Conaie, which called for the indefinite national strike, led violent demonstrations that overthrew three presidents between 1997 and 2005.

Protesters have challenged Noboa's administration by blocking roads with barricades made of earth, stones, and logs, as well as directly confronting the authorities. Dozens have been detained.

Indigenous people represent almost eight percent of Ecuador's 17 million inhabitants, according to the latest census.

Community leaders say that number far underestimates their share of the population, maintaining that the true figure is closer to 25 percent.
200 National Guard troops to be deployed in Portland: Pentagon



Washington, Sept 29 (AFP) Sep 29, 2025



Two hundred National Guard troops will be mobilized for deployment in the city of Portland, the Pentagon said Monday, a move that the state of Oregon has filed suit to halt.

The troops "will be called into federal service immediately for a period of 60 days to protect US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other US government personnel who are performing federal functions," Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement.

The planned deployment follows similar moves by Donald Trump to mobilize troops in the Democratic-led cities of Los Angeles and Washington, which the president says was necessary to crack down on crime and protests against his contentious and wide-ranging mass deportation drive.

Oregon filed suit on Sunday to block the National Guard deployment, saying it was motivated by Trump's "desire to normalize the use of military troops for ordinary domestic law enforcement activity," particularly in jurisdictions run by his political opponents.

The state's authorities said there was no need for a National Guard deployment to Portland as -- contrary to Trump's claims -- the protests there against ICE have been small-scale and peaceful.

The suit said the protests typically involve less than 30 people and have not required arrests since mid-June.
Trump's ego and 'Finnish solution' for Ukraine: ex-NATO chief's memoir



Oslo, Sept 29 (AFP) Sep 29, 2025



From stroking US President Donald Trump's ego to a "Finnish solution" for peace in Ukraine, former NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg opens up about his decade as head of the alliance in a new memoir.

In "On My Watch" launched Monday in Norway, Stoltenberg revealed behind-the-scenes details of a 2018 NATO summit when Trump, during his first term, threatened to walk out due to a number of European countries' failures to meet NATO's two percent defence budget target.

"I'm leaving this meeting. There's no reason for me to be here anymore," an angry Trump said, especially annoyed by Germany under then-chancellor Angela Merkel, which was still far from the spending target.

In a bid to get the US leader to stay, Mark Rutte -- at the time Dutch prime minister, before going on to succeed Stoltenberg as NATO head -- pointed out to Trump that European countries had in fact increased their defence spending by 33 billion euros ($39 billion) the previous year.

"After a while, Trump took out the thick black marker he always used, jotted something down on a sheet of paper, then leaned over and handed me the note," Stoltenberg wrote.

"The note said: 'Secretary General, if you can say that the NATO allies have significantly increased their defence spending thanks to me, then I think we can agree'," he added.

Stoltenberg complied, enabling Trump to claim a victory and, in so doing, reducing the risk of Washington withdrawing from NATO.

Stoltenberg, NATO chief from 2014 to 2024, also revealed how he had pushed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to consider ceding land to Russia in a bid to end the war.

He cited as an example Finland, which gave up 10 percent of its territory as part of a peace deal with Soviet leader Joseph Stalin during World War II.

"On the first occasions I hinted at a 'Finnish solution' to the war in Ukraine, Zelensky had rejected the idea of ceding any territory outright," Stoltenberg said.

But over time, Zelensky and his advisers became "less dismissive of a temporary cession, on the condition that the new borders and Ukraine's security would be guaranteed through Ukrainian NATO membership."

The 66-year-old Norwegian, a former prime minister currently serving as finance minister, also detailed France's "dissatisfaction" with him in the early 2020s.

He said that Paris in 2021 expressed "deep frustration at my leadership of NATO", accusing him of giving himself "a more prominent role" and opposing his reform projects.

Senior French foreign ministry officials "did their level best to clip my wings", he said.
N.Korea vows at UN never to give up nuclear



United Nations, United States, Sept 29 (AFP) Sep 29, 2025



A North Korean minister said on Monday in a rare address to the UN that Pyongyang would never surrender its nuclear weapons but left open the door to diplomacy.

Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Kim Son Gyong made the trip to New York to attend the United Nation's annual high-level week -- a role previously performed at a lower level by the country's ambassador.

"(The) imposition of 'Denuclearization' on the DPRK is tantamount to demanding it to surrender sovereignty and right to existence and violate the Constitution," said Gyong.

"We will never give up nuclear which is our state law, national policy and sovereign power as well as the right to existence. Under any circumstances, we will never walk away from this position."

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said last week that he was open to talks with the United States, provided that he can keep his nuclear arsenal, according to a report by the official Korean Central News Agency.

North Korea, which conducted its first nuclear test in 2006 is under rafts of UN sanctions for its banned weapons programs.

The country is believed to operate multiple uranium enrichment facilities, South Korea's spy agency has said, including one at its Yongbyon nuclear site, which Pyongyang purportedly decommissioned after talks -- although it later reactivated the facility in 2021.

South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung vowed Tuesday at the United Nations to work to end the "vicious cycle" of tensions with the North as he promised not to seek regime change.

"The DPRK will, as in the past, so in the future, collaborate with all countries and nations that oppose and reject aggression, intervention, domination and subjugation and aspire after independence and justice, irrespective of differences in ideas and systems," said Gyong without specifically referring to any country.
CORRECTED: Venezuela's Maduro ready to declare state of emergency over feared US 'aggression': vice-president



Caracas, Sept 29 (AFP) Sep 29, 2025



Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is ready to declare a state of emergency over the threat of US "aggression" following a spate of deadly US strikes on suspected Venezuelan drug boats, Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said on Monday.

Rodriguez told foreign diplomats that Maduro had signed a decree giving himself "special powers" as head of state to act in matters of defense and security in the event the United States "dares to attack our homeland."

But a government source told AFP that Maduro had, in fact, not yet signed the document.

"The vice president presented the document to show that everything was ready and that the president can decree it at any time," the source said on condition of anonymity.
Venezuela's Maduro ready to declare state of emergency over US 'aggression': VP



Caracas, Sept 29 (AFP) Sep 29, 2025



Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is ready to declare a state of emergency over the threat of US "aggression," following a spate of deadly US strikes on suspected Venezuelan drug boats, Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said on Monday.

Rodriguez told foreign diplomats that Maduro had signed a decree giving himself "special powers" as head of state to act in matters of defense and security in the event the United States "dares to attack our homeland."

A government source, however, told AFP that Maduro had not yet signed the document.

"The vice president presented the document to show that everything was ready and that the president can decree it at any time," the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The left-wing authoritarian Maduro placed Venezuela on high alert over a major US military deployment near his country's coast.

US President Donald Trump has deployed eight warships and a nuclear-powered submarine to the southern Caribbean as part of a stated plan to combat drug trafficking, but which appears particularly aimed at pressuring Maduro.

US forces have destroyed at least three suspected drug boats in the Caribbean in recent weeks, killing 14 people in a move decried as "extrajudicial execution" by UN experts.

Now, US military officials are drawing up options to target drug traffickers inside Venezuela's borders, according to a report by US news outlet NBC, citing four sources familiar with the discussions.

Declaring a state of emergency would allow Maduro, whose disputed reelection last year was not recognized by much of the international community, to temporarily suspend Venezuelans' basic rights.

Rodriguez was confident that Venezuelans would unite behind Maduro in the event of a US attack.

"Venezuela is united in the defense of our country," she said, vowing: "We will never surrender our homeland."
HANOI, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam has consistently regarded countering cybercrime as one of its top national security priorities, while actively joining hands with the international community in this shared endeavor, Vietnamese President Luong Cuong has said.

He made the remarks as Vietnam will host the signing ceremony of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime in Hanoi from Oct. 25 to 26, Vietnam News Agency reported Monday.

He said Vietnam fully recognizes that, given the borderless nature of cyberspace, the fight against cybercrime can only be effective through solidarity, cooperation among nations, and adherence to the rule of law.

"The adoption of the Convention by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2024 and the hosting of this signing ceremony in Hanoi stand as a powerful testament to the shared responsibility of all nations in safeguarding cyberspace as the common asset of humankind," he said.

The signing ceremony next month is expected to be co-chaired by President Luong Cuong and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, according to Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 




This weeks Daryl Dixon trades moral reckoning for performative chaos. The title promises frontier justice; what we get is a flaming walker catapult and a theology that folds under pressurea catapult of confusion masquerading as moral spectacle. The Primitives arrive with all the subtlety of a cosplay militiatorch-happy, resource-wasting, and narratively incoherent. In a world built on scarcity, launching walkers like medieval fireworks isnt justice. Its conceptual nonsense.



La Justicia Fronteriza  THE WALKING DEAD DARYL DIXON, Pictured: Oscar Jaenada as Fede . Photo Credit: Manuel Fernandez-Valdes/AMC @2025 AMC Inc. All Rights Reserved





Season 3 wants to be a Spaghetti Westerndusty morality, lone-wolf brooding, stylized violencebut forgets that horror needs consequence. Walkers arent divine agents; theyre chaos incarnate. So, when Fede (Oscar Jaenada), the supposed moral anchor of Solaz del Mar, invokes Its Gods decision, not ours then lets walkers rip a surviving Primitive apart instead of ordering a hanging, its not restraintits rhetorical sleight of hand. A hanging wouldve been brutal but legible. This? Its murder dressed up in moral genuflection.





Fedes arc couldve explored the tension between faith and survival. Instead, it collapses into genre drift and narrative convenience. Hes not a frontier preacher-with-a-gunhes a plot device in a show thats lost its grip on consequence.





La Justicia Fronteriza  THE WALKING DEAD DARYL DIXON, Pictured: Hugo Arbues as Roberto. Photo Credit: Carla Oset/AMC @2025 AMC Inc. All Rights Reserved

Echoes of Rick and Shane, Minus the Depth.





Robertos (Hugo Arbues) clash with Fede is a pale echo of Rick vs. Shane. Both duos represent survivalist pragmatism (Fede) versus moral idealism (Roberto), but where Rick and Shanes conflict was layered with emotional stakes and narrative clarity, Robertos conflict with Fede is murky, complicated by his feud with Robertos father, Antonio.





The show hints that it is some kind of secret between the two men. Is it political? Personal? Ideological? The show never tells us. Instead, we get arbitrary prohibitions and hollow fallout between Justina and Roberto, who suffer for a backstory thats never articulated.



La Justicia Fronteriza  THE WALKING DEAD DARYL DIXON, Pictured: Eduardo Noriega as Antonio. Photo Credit: Carla Oset/AMC @2025 AMC Inc. All Rights Reserved

Fedes manipulation of the sacrificial lottery to protect Justina mirrors Shanes ruthless pragmatism, but without Shanes psychological unraveling or narrative payoff. Justinas (Candela Saitta) discovery of Fedes betrayal should be a moral breaking pointbut it lands flat, because the system itself is underexplored, and the emotional stakes feel rushed. Fedes manipulation of the sacrificial lottery to protect Justina mirrors Shanes ruthless pragmatism, but without Shanes psychological unraveling or narrative payoff. Justinas (Candela Saitta) discovery of Fedes betrayal should be a moral breaking pointbut it lands flat, because the system itself is underexplored, and the emotional stakes feel rushed.





The Primitives: A Secondhand Apocalypse





The Primitives embody chaos and destruction without a philosophical core, engaging in aesthetic violence that feels more like spectacle than story. Contrast that with the Wolves from Season 6 of The Walking Dead, whose attack reshaped Alexandrias ethical landscape and left lasting scars. Their violence had ideology. The Primitives? Just noise.





And in a universe where burn-it-all-down has already been masterfully deployed, trying it again without reinvention isnt boldits redundant. You never get a second chance to make a first impact. That was Season 6. This is just cosplay carnage.





Flashbacks and a California Casualty





Daryls flashbacks remain a mystery. They lack emotional depth and fail to connect with the present narrative, stalling momentum rather than enriching it. And Cooper (Samuel Sargent), the conveniently timed surfer-dude from California, feels like a rejected character from a YA dystopia. Dropped in as a contrived plot device, he undermines the intended levity and any potential narrative payoff.



La Justicia Fronteriza  THE WALKING DEAD DARYL DIXON, Pictured: Samuel Sargent as Cooper, Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon. Photo Credit: Carla Oset/AMC @2025 AMC Inc. All Rights Reserved





Together, these elements expose a deeper flaw in Daryl Dixon Season 3: superficial storytelling that gestures toward meaning but never earns it. Its narrative window dressing on an empty storefront.





Legacy Lost. Stakes Flattened. Genre Drift in Full Swing.





La Justicia Fronteriza aims to balance legacy, spectacle, and new bloodbut fumbles all three. Carol (Melissa McBride) and Daryl, once an emotional core of the franchise, are reduced to reactive shadows. Their arcs deserve mythic weight and mentorship, not repetition. Instead, the spotlight falls on Justina and Roberto. This route is fine, but narratively hollow. Theres no symbolic handoff, no emotional resonance, just recycled conflict.



Compare that to Dead Citys Maggie, whose fight for Hershel is raw and generational. Or Daryls earlier arc with Laurent, which didnt offer redemption so much as reveal his inner parenta reluctant mentor shaping a childs future in a world that devours it.



La Justicia Fronteriza  THE WALKING DEAD DARYL DIXON, Pictured: Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier, Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon. Photo Credit Carla Oset/AMC @2025 AMC Inc. All Rights Reserved





The franchise still has life. But it needs to choose  honor its horror roots, elevate legacy characters, and invest in generational storytelling. Let the old guard become legends. Let the new generation fight for meaning.





Otherwise, The Walking Dead risks becoming a stylized echo of itselfpretty, but as hollow as the dead in Solaz del Mar





Overall Rating: 6/10

Lynette Jones
In 2023, Farida described herself as bubbly and fun. She said: I'm very proud of who I am and I feel like Asian women and Asian culture is underrepresented on TV. A lot of people think that wearing a headscarf might stop you from having opportunities, whereas for me, it's been completely the opposite. I embrace it with confidence. I want to let people know that us Muslims, we really aren't suppressed! I'm far from suppressed - I used to be a holiday rep!
Casa Felicia will open under Romain Bourrillon, the founder of the hospitality group Bo & Co., which counts the likes of Cocotte and Supra among its brands. Bourrillon started his career at 16 in the south of France before moving to New York, where he worked at various Michelin-starred restaurants.
Mr Goodwin said: Forensic evidence found at the three scenes indicate one firearm was used to discharge the ammunition at the first two shootings and the second firearm had been used for the third shooting.
But Sir Sadiqs claims conveniently ignored two key facts that support President Trump  namely, that overall crime in London is much higher than when he first became mayor in 2016, and that knife crime has almost doubled over the same period.
Chinese Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Chang Hua addresses the opening ceremony of a Chinese musical instruments exhibition titled "The Sound of Harmony: Musical Instruments in Ancient China" in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Sept. 28, 2025. The event opened Sunday evening at the Saudi National Museum here. The show features more than 100 pieces and sets of musical instruments from the National Museum of China, including bone flutes, bronze bell sets (Bianzhong), Guqin zithers and pipes that trace the evolution of Chinese music and aesthetics across millennia. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)

RIYADH, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese musical instruments exhibition titled "The Sound of Harmony: Musical Instruments in Ancient China" opened Sunday evening at the Saudi National Museum here.

The show features more than 100 pieces and sets of musical instruments from the National Museum of China, including bone flutes, bronze bell sets (Bianzhong), Guqin zithers and pipes that trace the evolution of Chinese music and aesthetics across millennia.

Mona Khazindar, an advisor to Saudi Arabia's Museums Commission, said that it is "an educational exhibition" that "will attract lots of visitors of all ages." She underscored the importance of building "exchanges and bridges" between the two countries' museums, citing "shared traditions and shared heritage."

Khazindar also thanked Chinese partners for their contribution to archaeological missions in Saudi Arabia and expressed readiness to enhance collaboration with China in heritage preservation, conservation, restoration and training.

Chinese Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Chang Hua said the exhibition is a key project of the 2025 Saudi Chinese Cultural Year held in commemoration of the 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties.

It "highlights the unique charm of Chinese civilization and stands as a vivid example of exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations," Chang noted, expressing the hope that the show will help "more Saudi people learn about China and open a new chapter in China-Saudi cultural exchange."

The opening featured a live pipa performance.

According to organizers, the exhibition runs from Sept. 28 to Dec. 1 and is open to the public free of charge. 

This photo taken on Sept. 28, 2025 shows musician statues on display at a Chinese musical instruments exhibition titled "The Sound of Harmony: Musical Instruments in Ancient China" in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The event opened Sunday evening at the Saudi National Museum here. The show features more than 100 pieces and sets of musical instruments from the National Museum of China, including bone flutes, bronze bell sets (Bianzhong), Guqin zithers and pipes that trace the evolution of Chinese music and aesthetics across millennia. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)

A man visits a Chinese musical instruments exhibition titled "The Sound of Harmony: Musical Instruments in Ancient China" in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Sept. 28, 2025. The event opened Sunday evening at the Saudi National Museum here. The show features more than 100 pieces and sets of musical instruments from the National Museum of China, including bone flutes, bronze bell sets (Bianzhong), Guqin zithers and pipes that trace the evolution of Chinese music and aesthetics across millennia. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)

A man takes photos of exhibits at a Chinese musical instruments exhibition titled "The Sound of Harmony: Musical Instruments in Ancient China" in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Sept. 28, 2025. The event opened Sunday evening at the Saudi National Museum here. The show features more than 100 pieces and sets of musical instruments from the National Museum of China, including bone flutes, bronze bell sets (Bianzhong), Guqin zithers and pipes that trace the evolution of Chinese music and aesthetics across millennia. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)

Mona Khazindar, an advisor to Saudi Arabia's Museums Commission, addresses the opening ceremony of a Chinese musical instruments exhibition titled "The Sound of Harmony: Musical Instruments in Ancient China" in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Sept. 28, 2025. The event opened Sunday evening at the Saudi National Museum here. The show features more than 100 pieces and sets of musical instruments from the National Museum of China, including bone flutes, bronze bell sets (Bianzhong), Guqin zithers and pipes that trace the evolution of Chinese music and aesthetics across millennia. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)

An artist plays pipa at the opening ceremony of a Chinese musical instruments exhibition titled "The Sound of Harmony: Musical Instruments in Ancient China" in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Sept. 28, 2025. The event opened Sunday evening at the Saudi National Museum here. The show features more than 100 pieces and sets of musical instruments from the National Museum of China, including bone flutes, bronze bell sets (Bianzhong), Guqin zithers and pipes that trace the evolution of Chinese music and aesthetics across millennia. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)

A woman visits a Chinese musical instruments exhibition titled "The Sound of Harmony: Musical Instruments in Ancient China" in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Sept. 28, 2025. The event opened Sunday evening at the Saudi National Museum here. The show features more than 100 pieces and sets of musical instruments from the National Museum of China, including bone flutes, bronze bell sets (Bianzhong), Guqin zithers and pipes that trace the evolution of Chinese music and aesthetics across millennia. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)

A man visits a Chinese musical instruments exhibition titled "The Sound of Harmony: Musical Instruments in Ancient China" in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Sept. 28, 2025. The event opened Sunday evening at the Saudi National Museum here. The show features more than 100 pieces and sets of musical instruments from the National Museum of China, including bone flutes, bronze bell sets (Bianzhong), Guqin zithers and pipes that trace the evolution of Chinese music and aesthetics across millennia. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)

A man visits a Chinese musical instruments exhibition titled "The Sound of Harmony: Musical Instruments in Ancient China" in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Sept. 28, 2025. The event opened Sunday evening at the Saudi National Museum here. The show features more than 100 pieces and sets of musical instruments from the National Museum of China, including bone flutes, bronze bell sets (Bianzhong), Guqin zithers and pipes that trace the evolution of Chinese music and aesthetics across millennia. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)

This photo taken on Sept. 28, 2025 shows exhibits at a Chinese musical instruments exhibition titled "The Sound of Harmony: Musical Instruments in Ancient China" in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The event opened Sunday evening at the Saudi National Museum here. The show features more than 100 pieces and sets of musical instruments from the National Museum of China, including bone flutes, bronze bell sets (Bianzhong), Guqin zithers and pipes that trace the evolution of Chinese music and aesthetics across millennia. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)

This photo taken on Sept. 28, 2025 shows an exhibit at a Chinese musical instruments exhibition titled "The Sound of Harmony: Musical Instruments in Ancient China" in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The event opened Sunday evening at the Saudi National Museum here. The show features more than 100 pieces and sets of musical instruments from the National Museum of China, including bone flutes, bronze bell sets (Bianzhong), Guqin zithers and pipes that trace the evolution of Chinese music and aesthetics across millennia. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)

A woman visits a Chinese musical instruments exhibition titled "The Sound of Harmony: Musical Instruments in Ancient China" in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Sept. 28, 2025. The event opened Sunday evening at the Saudi National Museum here. The show features more than 100 pieces and sets of musical instruments from the National Museum of China, including bone flutes, bronze bell sets (Bianzhong), Guqin zithers and pipes that trace the evolution of Chinese music and aesthetics across millennia. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)

A man visits a Chinese musical instruments exhibition titled "The Sound of Harmony: Musical Instruments in Ancient China" in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Sept. 28, 2025. The event opened Sunday evening at the Saudi National Museum here. The show features more than 100 pieces and sets of musical instruments from the National Museum of China, including bone flutes, bronze bell sets (Bianzhong), Guqin zithers and pipes that trace the evolution of Chinese music and aesthetics across millennia. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)

A man tries to play guzheng at a Chinese musical instruments exhibition titled "The Sound of Harmony: Musical Instruments in Ancient China" in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Sept. 28, 2025. The event opened Sunday evening at the Saudi National Museum here. The show features more than 100 pieces and sets of musical instruments from the National Museum of China, including bone flutes, bronze bell sets (Bianzhong), Guqin zithers and pipes that trace the evolution of Chinese music and aesthetics across millennia. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)

This photo taken on Sept. 28, 2025 shows musician statues on display at a Chinese musical instruments exhibition titled "The Sound of Harmony: Musical Instruments in Ancient China" in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The event opened Sunday evening at the Saudi National Museum here. The show features more than 100 pieces and sets of musical instruments from the National Museum of China, including bone flutes, bronze bell sets (Bianzhong), Guqin zithers and pipes that trace the evolution of Chinese music and aesthetics across millennia. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)
Now 19 and about to enter her second year at UCL, Alanis buzzed with confidence and said: Without my mentor, I would never have felt smart or confident enough to apply. In my early years, I was very shy  when they asked me to read in class, I would refuse for fear of looking stupid  and I hid myself away. My mentor saw the potential in me that I couldnt see in myself  and he helped me raise my ambitions and sense of what was possible.
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
"So, the challenge we now face is this, not just to win the next election, but to keep the country together and to fight for our belief in a greater Britain, not a littler England, she said.
"And whatever tests come our way, whatever tests come my way, I make this commitment to you: I will take no risks with the trust placed in us by the British people."
The Met said it now has one of the strongest entry vetting policies in UK policing and refusal rates have more than doubled from five per cent in 2020-21 to 11 per cent last year. Nevertheless, how a journalist was recruited will be embarrassing.
He was next to an emergency door and trying to open it, said an investigating source. It was terrifying for everybody else on the flight. The pilot had no other option except to land the plane.
Mahesh Thiagarajan, executive vice president of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, shows off the Stargate artificial intelligence data center project last week in Abilene. The partnership building Stargate announced one of its next sites will be in Milam County northeast of Austin. Matt OBrien/Associated Press

Sam Altmans OpenAI, the tech company behind ChatGPT, is planning its next Stargate data centers in Texas, anchoring a new wave of sites the company unveiled last week while celebrating the opening of its massive site in Abilene.

The new sites include a $3 billion data center campus planned by SB Energy Global LLC, a SoftBank affiliate and core member of the Stargate venture, in Milam County, about 70 miles northeast of Austin.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

At last weeks event, the company announced the Milam County site and four other data centers as part of its joint venture with Austin-based Oracle Corp. and Japan-based SoftBank Group Corp. to build gigawatt-scale AI data center campuses across the United States. The Stargate venture, announced at the White House in January, began with the roughly 875-acre flagship in Abilene.

In addition to Milam County, OpenAI and SoftBank will develop a site in Lordstown, Ohio, about 40 miles east of Akron. Together, the next two projects are expected to scale to 1.5 gigawatts in the next 18 months.

Of the five new sites, OpenAI and Oracle plan one just northeast of Abilene in Shackelford County and another in New Mexicos Dona Ana County, which includes Las Cruces and borders Mexico and Texas near Fort Bliss. The companies also are planning a data center in the Midwest but have not disclosed its location.

Statesman Logo Want more Statesman? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, takes his seat before a meeting of the White House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence Education in the East Room of the White House, on Sept. 4, 2025, in Washington. Alex Brandon/AP

AI can only fulfill its promise if we build the compute to power it, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in a statement. That compute is the key to ensuring everyone can benefit from AI and to unlocking future breakthroughs. Were already making historic progress toward that goal through Stargate and moving quickly not just to meet its initial commitment, but to lay the foundation for what comes next.

OpenAI said the new sites will bring Stargates planned capacity to nearly 7 gigawatts and more than $400 billion in investment over the next three years. The company has also outlined a broader commitment of up to 10 gigawatts and $500 billion.

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

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

An entrance to the Stargate artificial intelligence data center complex is seen a week ago in Abilene. The partnership behind is planning five more sites. Matt OBrien/Associated Press

Together, these sites represent an important step in enabling faster deployment, greater scalability, and improved cost efficiencymaking high-performance compute more widely accessible, the company said.

Data centers have sometimes been met with resistance from residents in nearby communities because they consume large amounts of water and power, putting pressure on local resources even as they underpin the future of computing and AI.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

SB Energy Global is also developing a nearby solar project, Orion Solar Belt, totaling about 900 megawatts of direct-current capacity. The project has been described as powering Googles data centers in the Dallas area.
BEIJING, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- China extends deep condolences to the victims of a stampede that occurred in southern India and offers sincere sympathies to the families of the deceased and those injured, said Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun on Monday.

"The Chinese Embassy in India has promptly expressed condolences and sympathies. As of now, there have been no reports of Chinese citizens being injured or killed in the incident," Guo added. 
La Mezca will offer more than 20 artisanal mezcals and agave spirits from across Mexico in Mueller. Provided by Frida Molina.

The Vazquez sisters  best known for building Veracruz All Natural into one of Austins most recognizable taco brands  will open the mezcaleria, La Mezca, on Wednesday in the Mueller neighborhood at 1905 Aldrich St., Suite 125-B. The opening marks the sisters first spirit-focused venture after eight locations of Veracruz All Natural, plus the restaurant Veracruz Fonda & Bar. La Mezca will celebrate small-batch agave spirits and the generations of artisanal mezcaleros who craft them.

Austin has seen tequila turned trend and mezcal often flattened into a smoky curiosity. What the Vazquez sisters are attempting is something else entirely: an introduction not just to a drink, but to a culture. With La Mezca, they want to show that mezcal is never one thing, never one region or one flavor, but many.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

'Mezcal is not just mezcal'

La Mezca will also offer spirits in cocktails. Provided by Frida Molina.

La Mezca sits beside Veracruz Fonda & Bar, the restaurant that brought the familys cooking to Mueller. The timing feels inevitable. After years of visiting Mexico City and Oaxaca, watching the slow work of maestros  mezcaleros and mezcaleras, tasting spirits pressed from agave hearts that take decades to grow  the sisters found themselves with the rarest of commodities in Austin: an empty space, next door.

A mezcal cocktail at La Mezca, the Austin bar led by the Vazquez sisters to highlight Mexican spirits and flavors. Provided by La Mezca

The bar will feature more than 20 artisanal mezcals and ancestral agave spirits from family producers across Oaxaca, Guerrero, Durango and San Luis Potosi  many from fourth-generation mezcaleros using techniques unchanged for centuries. The team plans to guide guests through the spirits stories, illustrating the differences between tequila and mezcal, the regional variations and the diverse agave varieties. La Mezca will also offer cocktails featuring Mexican mezcals, tequila, rum and gin, rotating seasonally.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Mezcal is not just mezcal, Sebastian Cajas, the bar manager at La Mezca said. You can have the same type of agave from Oaxaca, but from two different towns, and it will taste completely different. Because of the terroir. Because of the maestro. Thats what we want to show people.

The sisters plan to invite mezcaleros to speak, to lead tastings, to show the difference between tepeztate and espadin, between bottles distilled by a father or, just as often, by a daughter.

There is, too, the matter of honoring the maestros. Their names appear on bottles, their stories folded into the liquid itself. Its not just the juice, Cajas said Its also the history behind each bottle.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

La Mezca will pair spirits with small tacos. Provided by Frida Molina.

Sip, savor, learn: La Mezca promises to reintroduce mezcal to Austinites

The education will be tempered by food.

We really want to pair the botanas with the bottles, Reyna Vazquez said. Rotate flavors depending on whats behind the bar.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Unlike the bright, pastel-colored Veracruz Fonda, La Mezca leans into a sense of mystery. The menu features small tacos on yellow corn tortillas  barbacoa, mushrooms or fish  each crafted to complement a new pour. House-made salsas bring unexpected flavors, from matcha and peanut to chile verde. Menu highlights include taquitos de la calle, like carnitas de hongos with cilantro, onion and habanero popcorn salsa, and pescado al citrus piquin, served with crispy potato strips.

The decoration inside La Mezca borrows from the Mexican tradition of Dia de los Muertos. Provided by Frida Molina.

The decor reflects the same careful intention as the menu. The sisters designed the space themselves  no decorators, no consultants  drawing inspiration from Dia de los Muertos altars with candles, marigold tones, incense and smoke. Everything is handmade, echoing the artisanal spirits they serve. It is, as Reyna puts it, a new chapter. Their familys restaurants have always centered on food; La Mezca, for the first time, centers on drink, though the line between the two blurs.

When asked what they hope people will take away from their first visit, the sisters answer without hesitation: knowledge, respect, and joy. They want people to know that Mexico is more than tequila; that bacanora, raicilla, sotol and even Mexican whiskey belong to the same lineage. They want mezcal to be fun again. They want you to sit down, sip slowly, and remember that some things are meant to last.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

La Mezca will be open Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 5 p.m. to midnight, and Fridays and Saturdays from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Mondays and Tuesdays will be reserved for private events, master classes and visits from small-batch producers.
The search for the killer of four teenage girls in the I Cant Believe Its Yogurt case spanned 34 years, but in the end, it was built on a series of rapid breakthroughs in the past four months.

Using a combination of new DNA testing, ballistics examinations and old-fashioned boots-on-the-ground police work, authorities say they are convinced they have linked the crime scene to the killer, who they identify as Robert Eugene Brashers. Authorities across Texas and in multiple other states have now mobilized to see if Brashers, who already has been deemed responsible for three other murders in the 1990s, may have killed others.

Brashers died by suicide in 1999 as Missouri police closed in to arrest him for other crimes.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

To build their case, Austin police and the Texas Attorney Generals cold case unit traced his travels using police reports from Georgia, beginning in November 1991, westward to Texas, where officers arrested him outside El Paso in a stolen car two days after the yogurt shop murders. Brashers had a .380 pistol that was the same make and model used to kill one of the teens.

However, investigators believe the most compelling evidence came in the past few weeks when new testing indicated that DNA under the fingernails of 13-year-old Amy Ayers matched Brashers, who has been linked to murders in Missouri and South Carolina.

I have never been so proud of my daughter in all of my life, her father, Bob Ayers, told the American-Statesman. He said police believe Amy likely collected the DNA in a fight for her life with the killer.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Our whole family knew there was something about Amy that would help solve this, Ayers said.

He added, This is over.

Officers at the scene of the Yogurt Shop murders. American-Statesman 1991 file photo. American-Statesman 1991 file

Three law enforcement officials familiar with the investigation revealed to the Statesman in a series of interviews about how they believe detectives solved the crime that haunted Austin for more than three decades. The officials did not want to speak publicly until a news conference scheduled for Monday at Austin City Hall, where they are expected to release a trove of evidence to the media.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Investigators have already shared the same information with the families of the victims who also include Jennifer Harbison, 17, her sister Sarah, 15, and Eliza Thomas, 17. They also presented the findings to John Jones, the former lead investigator in the case, who was briefed Friday by his former colleagues.

Jones said he is convinced that Brashers is the killer based on the newest details. Hell yes, he told the Statesman.

A summer breakthrough

After years of false starts and what investigators now think was the wrongful arrest of four men, one of whom was sentenced to Texas Death Row before courts overturned his decision, the investigation gained new momentum in June.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Austin police cold case investigators decided to resubmit ballistics evidence from the crime scene into a federal ballistics database, a step they had taken in previous years, after learning that it was possible for information to drop out of the network.

They were shocked to get a match to a crime in Kentucky within 24 hours.

Authorities realized the crime scene involving had striking similarities to what happened to the four girls in Austin: The victim was found dead in the back of a family-run store, where she had been shot. Just as with the Austin yogurt shop, the store had been set on fire.

But the Kentucky case also remained unsolved, and Brashers had not been identified as a suspect. Authorities have not yet publicly identified Brashers as the suspect in that case.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

With the strongest new lead in years, Austin investigators ramped up their efforts. They asked the Texas Department of Public Safety to issue an unusual special request to crime labs across the nation.

A 3-D model of the Yogurt Shop Murder is one of several pieces collected over the years investigating the cities infamous homicides in Austin, Texas on Tuesday, August 2, 2011. American-Statesman 2011 file The billboard advertising a reward of $125,000 for leads in the Yogurt Shop murders. The billboard was at South Congress Avenue and Ben Whilte Boulevard. American-Statesman file The certification hearing of yogurt-shop suspect Forrest Welborn, (left) began today in the 98th District Court in Austin. Maurice Pierce, not shown, was also in the courtroom. District Judge Jeanne Meurer will decide whether to certify these men to stand trial as adults. They were juveniles at the time of the slayings. November 29, 1999. David Kennedy/Austin American-Statesman Maurice Pierce photo from the 1991 Lamar Middle School yearbook. This was his second year as a seventh grader, he repeated the grade. Handout/Austin American-Statesman The certification hearing of yogurt-shop suspects Maurice Pierce, (shown) and Forrest Welborn began today in the 98th District Court in Austin. District Judge Jeanne Meurer will decide whether to certify these men to stand trial as adults. They were juveniles at the time of the slayings. November 29, 1999. David Kennedy/Austin American-Statesman Maria Thomas, Barbara Ayres and Pam Ayers, left to right, the mother of Eliza Thomas, sisters, Jennifer and Sarah Harbison, and Amy Ayers leave a press confernce held at the office of Travis County District Attorney, Ronnie Earle, holding door, after making a brief statement in response to the sentencing of Robert Springsteen on Friday, June 1, 2001. Springsteen convicted on Wednesday for the murder of Amy Ayers, one of four girls killed December 6, 1991 at an 'I Can't Believe It's Yogurt' in Austin, Texas, was sentenced to death. Rodolfo Gonzalez/Austin American-Statesman Barbara Ayres, right, mother of Jennifer and Sarah Harbison, reacts outside of the Travis County courtroom where Robert Burns Springsteen IV, 26, was found guilty of capital murder, Wednesday, May 30, 2001. Springsteen was found guilty of capital murder in the shooting of Amy Ayers on Dec. 6, 1991, at an I Can't Believe It's Yogurt Shop, where Barbara Ayres' daughters, Jennifer and Sarah Harbison, along with Eliza Hope Thomas were all killed. Sentencing for Springsteen's case is scheduled for Thursday. The woman at left is unidentified. Rodolfo Gonzalez/Austin American-Statesman Sarah Harbison, yogurt shop murder victim. December 9, 1991. Handout/Austin American-Statesman Maurice Pierce, a suspect in the Yogurt Shop murders, left, is lead to a car after an arraingment hearing at the Gardner-Betts Juvenile Detention Center in Austin. Wednesday Oct. 6, 1999 Kevin Virobik-Adams/Austin American-Statesman Pam Ayers, center, and huband Bob Ayers, right, the parents of Amy Ayers, leave the Travis County courtroom where Robert Burns Springsteen IV, 26, was found guilty of capital murder, Wednesday, May 30, 2001. Springsteen was found guilty of capital murder in the shooting of Amy Ayers on Dec. 6, 1991, at an I Can't Believe It's Yogurt Shop, where Ayers, sisters Jennifer and Sarah Harbison, along with Eliza Hope Thomas were all killed. Sentencing for Springsteen's case is scheduled for Thursday. Rodolfo Gonzalez/Austin American-Statesman Bob and Pam Ayers' 13-year-old daughter, Amy, was among four teenage victims found dead inside the I Cant Believe Its Yogurt store in North Austin, which had been robbed and set on fire. Dec. 5, 2021 JAY JANNER/AMERICAN-STATESMAN 20 Pam Ayers, a mother of one of the yogurt-shop murder victims hugs Mike Harbison, father of one of the victims, following District Judge Jeanne Meurer's decision that Maurice Pierce and Forrest Welborn will stand trial as adults. Dec. 9, 1999 Larry Kolvoord/Austin American-Statesman Yogurt-shop murder suspect Maurice Pierce reacts shortly after learning that he will stand trial as an adult in the case. He was a juvenile at the time the crime was committed in 1991. Dec. 9, 1999 Larry Kolvoord/Austin American-Statesman Yogurt-shop murder suspect Maurice Pierce puts his head down on a table after learning that he will be tried as an adult in Judge Jeanne Meurer's courtroom this afternoon. Dec. 9, 1999 Larry Kolvoord/Austin American-Statesman District Judge Jeanne Meurer listens to arguments during a cerification hearing for Maurice Pierce and Forrest Welborn this afternoon. She found that the two yogurt-shop murder suspects will stand trial as adults even though they were juveniles when the crime was committed in 1991. Dec. 9, 1999 Larry Kolvoord/Austin American-Statesman Marisa Pierce with a 2010 photograph that she made of her father, Maurice Pierce. Tuesday, April 5, 2011 Larry Kolvoord/Austin American-Statesman Edwin Rodriguez, left, and Juan Martinez were standing across the street from the site where suspect Maurice Pierce was shot and killed after he allegedly stabbed an Austin Police officer. Martinez lives in the house across the street from where the incident occurred. APD officers were investigating an officer involved shooting in northwest Austin on Friday, December 24, 2010. This was the scene near the intersection of Shreveport and Campos Streets. Larry Kolvoord/Austin American-Statesman This is a handout photo from Marisa Pierce showing her father, Maurice Pierce and Marisa Pierce when she was 7 years-old. Larry Kolvoord/Austin American-Statesman The driveway of this house on Campos Dr. is near where suspect Maurice Pierce died after being shot by a police officer. Pierce allegedly stabbed the officer in the neck. APD officers were investigating an officer involved shooting in northwest Austin on Friday, December 24, 2010. Larry Kolvoord/Austin American-Statesman Marisa Pierce with a 2010 photograph that she made of her father, Maurice Pierce. Tuesday, April 5, 2011. Larry Kolvoord/Austin American-Statesman Crime tape marking the scene where suspect Maurice Pierce was shot and killed after he allegedly stabbed an Austin Police officer. APD officers were investigating an officer involved shooting in northwest Austin on Friday, December 24, 2010. This was the scene near the intersection of Shreveport and Campos Streets. Larry Kolvoord/Austin American-Statesman Maurice Pierce speaks at a press conference at the Doubletree Hotel downtown. Behind him is his wife, Kimberly, child, and an unidentified woman (far back). Jan. 30, 2003. Peter Yang/Austin American-Statesman Maurice Pierce and his daughter, Marisa Pierce, at her graduation from Creekview High School in Dallas in June 2010. Handout/Austin American-Statesman Family hand-out photo....Maurice Pierce in Dallas in 2003. March 22, 2011 Handout/Austin American-Statesman Maurice Pierce, accompanied by his wife and child, receive directions from his lawyer following the press conference at the Doubletree Hotel downtown. Jan. 30, 2003 Peter Yang/Austin American-Statesman Suspect Maurice Earl Pierce, right, listens to (attorney?) at the Yogurt shop murder trial scene Monday afternoon in Austin. November 27, 2000 Rebecca McEntee/Austin American-Statesman Maurice Pierce was swarmed by media as he exited the Travis County Correctional Complex at Del Valle after charges for capital murder in the Yogurt Shop case was dismissed by Travis Colunty District Attorney Ronald Earle Tuesday. Jan. 28, 2003 Sung Park/Austin American-Statesman Shown in these undated file photos from left are: Eliza Hope Thomas, 17; Amy Ayers, 13; Jennifer Harbison, 17; and Sarah Handout/Austin American-Statesman The Yogurt shop murder trial scene Monday afternoon in Austin..Suspects are: Maurice Earl Pierce, second from left sitting and his lawyers Lad Slavik (left) and Guillermo Gonzalez; Michael James Scott, third from left sitting and his lawyers Tony Diaz and Dexter Gilford; and Robert Springsteen, far right. November 27, 2000. Rebecca McEntee/Austin American-Statesman Travis County District Attorney Ronald Earle announced Tuesday that charges against Maurice Pierce in the Yogurt Shop capital murder case has been dismissed. Pierce was released within hours from the Del Valle Correctional Complex. Charges were dismissed due to the lack of evidence. Jan. 28, 2003 Sung Park/Austin American-Statesman Robert Burns Springsteen IV enters the 167th District court on Tuesday morning. Springsteen is accused of murdering a teen-age girl in the I Can't Believe It's Yogurt shop on Dec. 6, 1991. Taylor Johnson/Austin American-Statesman

Advances in genetic genealogy

Years earlier, scientists had extracted a so-called YSTR male-only strand of DNA that can indicate male family members. A standard database upload typically does not result in matches.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

However, if a crime lab is willing, they can manually upload that YSTR strand of DNA into its database to identify potential matches. An analyst in South Carolina got a hit on Brashers in what officials said was that states first-ever YSTR-only search of its kind.

Several years earlier, South Carolina investigators had used genetic genealogy to name Brashers as the suspect in the 1990 rape and murder of a woman.

The South Carolina connection marked an extraordinary turning point: Backed with forensic evidence, Austin police finally had a name to link to the murders.

A newly placed yellow rose sits on the memorial for the four victims of the Yogurt shop murders on Anderson Lane. American-Statesman 1999 file

A long awaited conclusion

At that point, investigators began trying to place Brashers in Texas. They confirmed he had no ties to Austin  he did not live nor did not appear to ever work in Austin.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

But they traced his other interactions with police, including a report from Georgia that linked him to a stolen car a couple of weeks before the yogurt shop murders.

Authorities believe Brashers may have been driving through Texas to Arizona, where his father lived at the time.

Federal authorities confiscated Brasher's .380 pistol at a checkpoint near Las Cruces, N.M., and Brashers, apparently fearing police would realize he was in a stolen car, took off, leading to a short pursuit. Authorities think it is possible that Brasher got rid of evidence from the yogurt shop during that chase.

Authorities returned the gun to Brashers father, who police believe later gave it to his son. According to published reports, Brashers died when he shot himself, using what Austin officials have concluded was the same weapon, during an hourslong standoff with police at a motel in Kennett, Mo.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Pam Ayers, Amy Ayers mother, told the Statesman she is still grappling with the revelations that police believe her daughter and the other girls died at the hands of someone like Brashers.
Texas voters must be registered to vote by Oct. 6, and early voting begins Oct. 20. (Ellen Schmidt for The Washington Post via Getty Images) The Washington Post/The Washington Post via Getty Im

Are you registered to vote in Texas? The deadline to do it is near.

If you're still not registered, here is all you need to know:

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

When is the deadline to register to vote in Texas?

Oct. 6 is the last day to register to vote and to submit an address change for the general election.

How to check voter registration in Texas

Voter rolls are updated on a regular basis, and if your status has changed, you haven't voted in two general elections, or you have not responded to flyers verifying your address, you might have been removed.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

A number of organizations provide a service that allows you to check voter registration, including Rock the Vote.

Statesman Logo Want more Statesman? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source

You can verify your voter registration status on the Texas Secretary of States website. Submit the form to see your voter status, address, county, voter ID number, political party and your voter status. "Active" means you are eligible to vote.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

When is early voting in Texas?

Early voting begins Oct. 20.

When is Election Day in Texas?

Election day is Nov. 4.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Am I eligible to vote by mail in Texas?

To qualify to vote by mail, you must be:

Absent from your county of residence on Election Day and during the early voting period,

Sick or have a disability that prevents you from voting in person without assistance,

65 years old or older,

Confined to jail serving a misdemeanor sentence; or confined to jail without bail pending trial for a felony or appeal of a felony conviction,

Expecting to give birth within three weeks before or after Election Day, or

Civilly committed under Chapter 841 of the Texas Health and Safety Code

What if I moved after the voter registration deadline?

According to VoteTexas.gov, if you moved to a new location, you must file the new address information in writing with your voter registrar, or you can submit the change online.
Officers at the scene of the Yogurt Shop murders. American-Statesman 1991 file photo. American-Statesman 1991 file A 3-D model of the Yogurt Shop Murder is one of several pieces collected over the years investigating the cities infamous homicides in Austin, Texas on Tuesday, August 2, 2011. American-Statesman 2011 file Filling cabinets at the Austin Police Department's Homicide Cold Case Unit are still filled with documents and information on the Yogurt Shop Murders, one of the cities most notorious cases in Austin, Texas on Tuesday, August 2, 2011. American-Statesman 2011 file The billboard advertising a reward of $125,000 for leads in the Yogurt Shop murders. The billboard was at South Congress Avenue and Ben Whilte Boulevard. American-Statesman file A newly placed yellow rose sits on the memorial for the four victims of the Yogurt shop murders on Anderson Lane. American-Statesman 1999 file The certification hearing of yogurt-shop suspect Forrest Welborn, (left) began today in the 98th District Court in Austin. Maurice Pierce, not shown, was also in the courtroom. District Judge Jeanne Meurer will decide whether to certify these men to stand trial as adults. They were juveniles at the time of the slayings. November 29, 1999. David Kennedy/Austin American-Statesman Maurice Pierce photo from the 1991 Lamar Middle School yearbook. This was his second year as a seventh grader, he repeated the grade. Handout/Austin American-Statesman The certification hearing of yogurt-shop suspects Maurice Pierce, (shown) and Forrest Welborn began today in the 98th District Court in Austin. District Judge Jeanne Meurer will decide whether to certify these men to stand trial as adults. They were juveniles at the time of the slayings. November 29, 1999. David Kennedy/Austin American-Statesman Maria Thomas, Barbara Ayres and Pam Ayers, left to right, the mother of Eliza Thomas, sisters, Jennifer and Sarah Harbison, and Amy Ayers leave a press confernce held at the office of Travis County District Attorney, Ronnie Earle, holding door, after making a brief statement in response to the sentencing of Robert Springsteen on Friday, June 1, 2001. Springsteen convicted on Wednesday for the murder of Amy Ayers, one of four girls killed December 6, 1991 at an 'I Can't Believe It's Yogurt' in Austin, Texas, was sentenced to death. Rodolfo Gonzalez/Austin American-Statesman Barbara Ayres, right, mother of Jennifer and Sarah Harbison, reacts outside of the Travis County courtroom where Robert Burns Springsteen IV, 26, was found guilty of capital murder, Wednesday, May 30, 2001. Springsteen was found guilty of capital murder in the shooting of Amy Ayers on Dec. 6, 1991, at an I Can't Believe It's Yogurt Shop, where Barbara Ayres' daughters, Jennifer and Sarah Harbison, along with Eliza Hope Thomas were all killed. Sentencing for Springsteen's case is scheduled for Thursday. The woman at left is unidentified. Rodolfo Gonzalez/Austin American-Statesman Sarah Harbison, yogurt shop murder victim. December 9, 1991. Handout/Austin American-Statesman Maurice Pierce, a suspect in the Yogurt Shop murders, left, is lead to a car after an arraingment hearing at the Gardner-Betts Juvenile Detention Center in Austin. Wednesday Oct. 6, 1999 Kevin Virobik-Adams/Austin American-Statesman Pam Ayers, center, and huband Bob Ayers, right, the parents of Amy Ayers, leave the Travis County courtroom where Robert Burns Springsteen IV, 26, was found guilty of capital murder, Wednesday, May 30, 2001. Springsteen was found guilty of capital murder in the shooting of Amy Ayers on Dec. 6, 1991, at an I Can't Believe It's Yogurt Shop, where Ayers, sisters Jennifer and Sarah Harbison, along with Eliza Hope Thomas were all killed. Sentencing for Springsteen's case is scheduled for Thursday. Rodolfo Gonzalez/Austin American-Statesman Bob and Pam Ayers' 13-year-old daughter, Amy, was among four teenage victims found dead inside the I Cant Believe Its Yogurt store in North Austin, which had been robbed and set on fire. Dec. 5, 2021 JAY JANNER/AMERICAN-STATESMAN 20 Pam Ayers, a mother of one of the yogurt-shop murder victims hugs Mike Harbison, father of one of the victims, following District Judge Jeanne Meurer's decision that Maurice Pierce and Forrest Welborn will stand trial as adults. Dec. 9, 1999 Larry Kolvoord/Austin American-Statesman Yogurt-shop murder suspect Maurice Pierce reacts shortly after learning that he will stand trial as an adult in the case. He was a juvenile at the time the crime was committed in 1991. Dec. 9, 1999 Larry Kolvoord/Austin American-Statesman Yogurt-shop murder suspect Maurice Pierce puts his head down on a table after learning that he will be tried as an adult in Judge Jeanne Meurer's courtroom this afternoon. Dec. 9, 1999 Larry Kolvoord/Austin American-Statesman District Judge Jeanne Meurer listens to arguments during a cerification hearing for Maurice Pierce and Forrest Welborn this afternoon. She found that the two yogurt-shop murder suspects will stand trial as adults even though they were juveniles when the crime was committed in 1991. Dec. 9, 1999 Larry Kolvoord/Austin American-Statesman Marisa Pierce with a 2010 photograph that she made of her father, Maurice Pierce. Tuesday, April 5, 2011 Larry Kolvoord/Austin American-Statesman Edwin Rodriguez, left, and Juan Martinez were standing across the street from the site where suspect Maurice Pierce was shot and killed after he allegedly stabbed an Austin Police officer. Martinez lives in the house across the street from where the incident occurred. APD officers were investigating an officer involved shooting in northwest Austin on Friday, December 24, 2010. This was the scene near the intersection of Shreveport and Campos Streets. Larry Kolvoord/Austin American-Statesman This is a handout photo from Marisa Pierce showing her father, Maurice Pierce and Marisa Pierce when she was 7 years-old. Larry Kolvoord/Austin American-Statesman The driveway of this house on Campos Dr. is near where suspect Maurice Pierce died after being shot by a police officer. Pierce allegedly stabbed the officer in the neck. APD officers were investigating an officer involved shooting in northwest Austin on Friday, December 24, 2010. Larry Kolvoord/Austin American-Statesman Marisa Pierce with a 2010 photograph that she made of her father, Maurice Pierce. Tuesday, April 5, 2011. Larry Kolvoord/Austin American-Statesman Crime tape marking the scene where suspect Maurice Pierce was shot and killed after he allegedly stabbed an Austin Police officer. APD officers were investigating an officer involved shooting in northwest Austin on Friday, December 24, 2010. This was the scene near the intersection of Shreveport and Campos Streets. Larry Kolvoord/Austin American-Statesman Maurice Pierce speaks at a press conference at the Doubletree Hotel downtown. Behind him is his wife, Kimberly, child, and an unidentified woman (far back). Jan. 30, 2003. Peter Yang/Austin American-Statesman Maurice Pierce and his daughter, Marisa Pierce, at her graduation from Creekview High School in Dallas in June 2010. Handout/Austin American-Statesman Family hand-out photo....Maurice Pierce in Dallas in 2003. March 22, 2011 Handout/Austin American-Statesman Maurice Pierce, accompanied by his wife and child, receive directions from his lawyer following the press conference at the Doubletree Hotel downtown. Jan. 30, 2003 Peter Yang/Austin American-Statesman Suspect Maurice Earl Pierce, right, listens to (attorney?) at the Yogurt shop murder trial scene Monday afternoon in Austin. November 27, 2000 Rebecca McEntee/Austin American-Statesman Maurice Pierce was swarmed by media as he exited the Travis County Correctional Complex at Del Valle after charges for capital murder in the Yogurt Shop case was dismissed by Travis Colunty District Attorney Ronald Earle Tuesday. Jan. 28, 2003 Sung Park/Austin American-Statesman Shown in these undated file photos from left are: Eliza Hope Thomas, 17; Amy Ayers, 13; Jennifer Harbison, 17; and Sarah Handout/Austin American-Statesman The Yogurt shop murder trial scene Monday afternoon in Austin..Suspects are: Maurice Earl Pierce, second from left sitting and his lawyers Lad Slavik (left) and Guillermo Gonzalez; Michael James Scott, third from left sitting and his lawyers Tony Diaz and Dexter Gilford; and Robert Springsteen, far right. November 27, 2000. Rebecca McEntee/Austin American-Statesman Travis County District Attorney Ronald Earle announced Tuesday that charges against Maurice Pierce in the Yogurt Shop capital murder case has been dismissed. Pierce was released within hours from the Del Valle Correctional Complex. Charges were dismissed due to the lack of evidence. Jan. 28, 2003 Sung Park/Austin American-Statesman Robert Burns Springsteen IV enters the 167th District court on Tuesday morning. Springsteen is accused of murdering a teen-age girl in the I Can't Believe It's Yogurt shop on Dec. 6, 1991. Taylor Johnson/Austin American-Statesman

After a murder case that went unsolved for 34 years, a technological breakthrough helped solve the 1991 murders of four teenagers who died in an Austin yogurt shop.

The four victims of the yogurt shop murders in Austin were teenagers Amy Ayers, Jennifer Harbison, Sarah Harbison, and Eliza Thomas.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

On Dec. 6, 1991, the girls were found gagged, shot, and burned inside an I Can't Believe It's Yogurt! shop where Harbison and Thomas worked.

Using a combination of new DNA testing, ballistics examinations and old-fashioned boots-on-the-ground police work, authorities say they are convinced they have linked the crime scene to the killer, who they identify as Robert Eugene Brashers. Authorities across Texas and in multiple other states have now mobilized to see if Brashers, who has already been deemed responsible for three other murders in the 1990s, may have killed others.

Brashers died by suicide in 1999 as Missouri police closed in to arrest him for other crimes.

Statesman Logo Want more Statesman? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source

During a Monday morning news conference, family members of the four victims expressed their gratitude for the case finally being solved while also sharing moments of frustration leading up to Monday's update.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

(L-R) Fire agent Chuck Meyer w. homicide sgts. John Jones & Mike Huckaby checking out info charts on hood of car at night as they spearhead the investigation of 4 teenage girls shot to death & burned in fire set by the killer at yogurt shop where they wo.rked (Photo by Mark Perlstein/Getty Images) Mark Perlstein/Getty Images

Family members react to the yogurt shop murders breakthrough

Leaders with the City of Austin and the Austin Police Department held a press conference on Monday to provide new information about the murder of four girls at the I Can't Believe It's Yogurt! shop in North Austin in 1991.

Family members of the four victims had the opportunity to speak.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Here is what family members of the victims said during the conference.

Barbara Wilson (mother of Sarah and Jennifer Harbison): "Every officer that I see in Austin that has been there for us and loved us and what they have done people don't understand how hard they work," she said. "Everybody is concerned for the solving of the case. Everybody was concerned about all of us here because they know the tragedy was so painful, and continues to be, but I really just came to say thank you to the Austin Police Department, and all the love and support that you have given us over these 34 years."

With a photo of sisters Jennifer and Sarah Harbison in the background, Austin Police Department Cold Case Detective Daniel Jackson speaks at a news conference at City Hall about the 1991 I Cant Believe Its Yogurt murder investigation on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

Sonora Thomas (sister of Eliza Thomas): "The outpouring of love from strangers because of these tragic circumstances has taught me about the nature of humanity," Thomas said. "Living through something like this, you would think that I'd feel worse about humanity, but instead, I feel better. When I think about those early days. I think about Nell Meyers, Verna Lee Carr from People Against Violent Crimes, coming to our house, taking us out to lunch. They even took me, a 13-year-old girl, shopping. Dawn and Susan Cox from the Christi Center let my mom sleep on the couch when she was too scared to go home. Then there was the memorial company that donated the headstone, and the Lanier student who played Taps at the funeral, and John Jones, who was there from the very beginning who still answers my phone calls."

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Sonora Thomas, sister of Eliza Thomas, hugs her step-father, Billy Donley, at a news conference at Austin City Hall about the 1991 I Cant Believe Its Yogurt murder investigation at City Hall on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

Shawn Ayers (family of Amy Ayers): "Thank you to law enforcement officers from local, state and federal law enforcement agencies," Ayers said. "Thank you to all the labs and their employees. Thank you to all the experts that had a hand in this. The results you see today, we have an army of people working together [to] reach a common goal, not for themselves but for the victims and their family."

The family of Amy Ayers, left to right sister-in-law Angie Ayers and brother Shawn Ayers and parents Bob and Pam Ayers, observe a moment of silence for the victims at a news conference at Austin City Hall about the 1991 I Cant Believe Its Yogurt murder investigation on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

Angie Ayers (family of Amy Ayers): "Theres been a great amount of emotion today that no one can explain unless you experienced it," she said. "And to those that leaked it leaked it before all the family members were notified, shame on you. This has never been a story to us. These families [This] always been our lives, and we were forced to share it with the world. And the one day that we were trying to cope with it and take a breath, you took that from us. I hope you never have to endure the pain that that caused."

Advertisement Article continues below this ad
Officers at the scene of the Yogurt Shop murders. American-Statesman 1991 file photo. American-Statesman 1991 file A 3-D model of the Yogurt Shop Murder is one of several pieces collected over the years investigating the cities infamous homicides in Austin, Texas on Tuesday, August 2, 2011. American-Statesman 2011 file Filling cabinets at the Austin Police Department's Homicide Cold Case Unit are still filled with documents and information on the Yogurt Shop Murders, one of the cities most notorious cases in Austin, Texas on Tuesday, August 2, 2011. American-Statesman 2011 file The billboard advertising a reward of $125,000 for leads in the Yogurt Shop murders. The billboard was at South Congress Avenue and Ben Whilte Boulevard. American-Statesman file A newly placed yellow rose sits on the memorial for the four victims of the Yogurt shop murders on Anderson Lane. American-Statesman 1999 file The certification hearing of yogurt-shop suspect Forrest Welborn, (left) began today in the 98th District Court in Austin. Maurice Pierce, not shown, was also in the courtroom. District Judge Jeanne Meurer will decide whether to certify these men to stand trial as adults. They were juveniles at the time of the slayings. November 29, 1999. David Kennedy/Austin American-Statesman Maurice Pierce photo from the 1991 Lamar Middle School yearbook. This was his second year as a seventh grader, he repeated the grade. Handout/Austin American-Statesman The certification hearing of yogurt-shop suspects Maurice Pierce, (shown) and Forrest Welborn began today in the 98th District Court in Austin. District Judge Jeanne Meurer will decide whether to certify these men to stand trial as adults. They were juveniles at the time of the slayings. November 29, 1999. David Kennedy/Austin American-Statesman Maria Thomas, Barbara Ayres and Pam Ayers, left to right, the mother of Eliza Thomas, sisters, Jennifer and Sarah Harbison, and Amy Ayers leave a press confernce held at the office of Travis County District Attorney, Ronnie Earle, holding door, after making a brief statement in response to the sentencing of Robert Springsteen on Friday, June 1, 2001. Springsteen convicted on Wednesday for the murder of Amy Ayers, one of four girls killed December 6, 1991 at an 'I Can't Believe It's Yogurt' in Austin, Texas, was sentenced to death. Rodolfo Gonzalez/Austin American-Statesman Barbara Ayres, right, mother of Jennifer and Sarah Harbison, reacts outside of the Travis County courtroom where Robert Burns Springsteen IV, 26, was found guilty of capital murder, Wednesday, May 30, 2001. Springsteen was found guilty of capital murder in the shooting of Amy Ayers on Dec. 6, 1991, at an I Can't Believe It's Yogurt Shop, where Barbara Ayres' daughters, Jennifer and Sarah Harbison, along with Eliza Hope Thomas were all killed. Sentencing for Springsteen's case is scheduled for Thursday. The woman at left is unidentified. Rodolfo Gonzalez/Austin American-Statesman Sarah Harbison, yogurt shop murder victim. December 9, 1991. Handout/Austin American-Statesman Maurice Pierce, a suspect in the Yogurt Shop murders, left, is lead to a car after an arraingment hearing at the Gardner-Betts Juvenile Detention Center in Austin. Wednesday Oct. 6, 1999 Kevin Virobik-Adams/Austin American-Statesman Pam Ayers, center, and huband Bob Ayers, right, the parents of Amy Ayers, leave the Travis County courtroom where Robert Burns Springsteen IV, 26, was found guilty of capital murder, Wednesday, May 30, 2001. Springsteen was found guilty of capital murder in the shooting of Amy Ayers on Dec. 6, 1991, at an I Can't Believe It's Yogurt Shop, where Ayers, sisters Jennifer and Sarah Harbison, along with Eliza Hope Thomas were all killed. Sentencing for Springsteen's case is scheduled for Thursday. Rodolfo Gonzalez/Austin American-Statesman Bob and Pam Ayers' 13-year-old daughter, Amy, was among four teenage victims found dead inside the I Cant Believe Its Yogurt store in North Austin, which had been robbed and set on fire. Dec. 5, 2021 JAY JANNER/AMERICAN-STATESMAN 20 Pam Ayers, a mother of one of the yogurt-shop murder victims hugs Mike Harbison, father of one of the victims, following District Judge Jeanne Meurer's decision that Maurice Pierce and Forrest Welborn will stand trial as adults. Dec. 9, 1999 Larry Kolvoord/Austin American-Statesman Yogurt-shop murder suspect Maurice Pierce reacts shortly after learning that he will stand trial as an adult in the case. He was a juvenile at the time the crime was committed in 1991. Dec. 9, 1999 Larry Kolvoord/Austin American-Statesman Yogurt-shop murder suspect Maurice Pierce puts his head down on a table after learning that he will be tried as an adult in Judge Jeanne Meurer's courtroom this afternoon. Dec. 9, 1999 Larry Kolvoord/Austin American-Statesman District Judge Jeanne Meurer listens to arguments during a cerification hearing for Maurice Pierce and Forrest Welborn this afternoon. She found that the two yogurt-shop murder suspects will stand trial as adults even though they were juveniles when the crime was committed in 1991. Dec. 9, 1999 Larry Kolvoord/Austin American-Statesman Marisa Pierce with a 2010 photograph that she made of her father, Maurice Pierce. Tuesday, April 5, 2011 Larry Kolvoord/Austin American-Statesman Edwin Rodriguez, left, and Juan Martinez were standing across the street from the site where suspect Maurice Pierce was shot and killed after he allegedly stabbed an Austin Police officer. Martinez lives in the house across the street from where the incident occurred. APD officers were investigating an officer involved shooting in northwest Austin on Friday, December 24, 2010. This was the scene near the intersection of Shreveport and Campos Streets. Larry Kolvoord/Austin American-Statesman This is a handout photo from Marisa Pierce showing her father, Maurice Pierce and Marisa Pierce when she was 7 years-old. Larry Kolvoord/Austin American-Statesman The driveway of this house on Campos Dr. is near where suspect Maurice Pierce died after being shot by a police officer. Pierce allegedly stabbed the officer in the neck. APD officers were investigating an officer involved shooting in northwest Austin on Friday, December 24, 2010. Larry Kolvoord/Austin American-Statesman Marisa Pierce with a 2010 photograph that she made of her father, Maurice Pierce. Tuesday, April 5, 2011. Larry Kolvoord/Austin American-Statesman Crime tape marking the scene where suspect Maurice Pierce was shot and killed after he allegedly stabbed an Austin Police officer. APD officers were investigating an officer involved shooting in northwest Austin on Friday, December 24, 2010. This was the scene near the intersection of Shreveport and Campos Streets. Larry Kolvoord/Austin American-Statesman Maurice Pierce speaks at a press conference at the Doubletree Hotel downtown. Behind him is his wife, Kimberly, child, and an unidentified woman (far back). Jan. 30, 2003. Peter Yang/Austin American-Statesman Maurice Pierce and his daughter, Marisa Pierce, at her graduation from Creekview High School in Dallas in June 2010. Handout/Austin American-Statesman Family hand-out photo....Maurice Pierce in Dallas in 2003. March 22, 2011 Handout/Austin American-Statesman Maurice Pierce, accompanied by his wife and child, receive directions from his lawyer following the press conference at the Doubletree Hotel downtown. Jan. 30, 2003 Peter Yang/Austin American-Statesman Suspect Maurice Earl Pierce, right, listens to (attorney?) at the Yogurt shop murder trial scene Monday afternoon in Austin. November 27, 2000 Rebecca McEntee/Austin American-Statesman Maurice Pierce was swarmed by media as he exited the Travis County Correctional Complex at Del Valle after charges for capital murder in the Yogurt Shop case was dismissed by Travis Colunty District Attorney Ronald Earle Tuesday. Jan. 28, 2003 Sung Park/Austin American-Statesman Shown in these undated file photos from left are: Eliza Hope Thomas, 17; Amy Ayers, 13; Jennifer Harbison, 17; and Sarah Handout/Austin American-Statesman The Yogurt shop murder trial scene Monday afternoon in Austin..Suspects are: Maurice Earl Pierce, second from left sitting and his lawyers Lad Slavik (left) and Guillermo Gonzalez; Michael James Scott, third from left sitting and his lawyers Tony Diaz and Dexter Gilford; and Robert Springsteen, far right. November 27, 2000. Rebecca McEntee/Austin American-Statesman Travis County District Attorney Ronald Earle announced Tuesday that charges against Maurice Pierce in the Yogurt Shop capital murder case has been dismissed. Pierce was released within hours from the Del Valle Correctional Complex. Charges were dismissed due to the lack of evidence. Jan. 28, 2003 Sung Park/Austin American-Statesman Robert Burns Springsteen IV enters the 167th District court on Tuesday morning. Springsteen is accused of murdering a teen-age girl in the I Can't Believe It's Yogurt shop on Dec. 6, 1991. Taylor Johnson/Austin American-Statesman

Families and friends of four teenage girls murdered at the I Cant Believe Its Yogurt! shop in 1991 now have some closure in the infamous case. Thanks to new technology and the persistence of local investigators, a breakthrough has identified a new suspect: Robert Eugene Brashers, who was 33 at the time.

Here are four things to know about the case's breakthrough:

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

1. Latest DNA testing identifies Robert Brashers as Austin yogurt shop killer

This undated photo provided by the Missouri State Highway Patrol shows Robert Brashers. Authorities said Friday, Oct. 5, 2018 that DNA evidence has identified Brashers as the man who killed three people and raped a girl in the 1990s, even though the suspect killed himself nearly 20 years ago. Investigators say they've solved three homicides and a rape case, all from the 1990s, after obtaining DNA by digging up the corpse Brashers. Missouri State Highway Patrol/via AP

The DNA testing responsible for identifying Brashers is Y-chromosome short tandem repeat, or Y-STR, which detects unique markers on the Y chromosome passed from father to son. Because of these paternal similarities, it can be difficult to differentiate DNA among fathers, sons and brothers.

Of course, the process prior to Y-STR wasn't nearly as simple. Austin police Detective Daniel Jackson said law enforcement have tested 300 to 400 people since 2009 to eliminate them as suspects, including family and first responders.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

2. Robert Brashers had history of violent crimes

Brashers was linked to several other violent crimes, some of which he was convicted of and others that were discovered after his death in 1999.

Statesman Logo Want more Statesman? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source

In 1985, Brashers was sentenced to 12 years in prison for second degree homicide and aggravated battery. He was paroled less than four years later.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

After his death, investigators linked Brashers to the following crimes:

2006

1990 murder of Genevieve Zitricki, 28, who was beaten and strangled in her bathtub in Greenville, S.C.

1998 double homicide in New Madrid, Mo.

1998 attempted assault in Dyersberg, Tenn.

2016

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

1997 rape of a 14-year-old girl in Memphis, Tenn. during a home invasion, in which the suspect tied up four females and sexually assaulted the youngest.

2017

1997 Memphis case linked to the cases in South Carolina (1990), Missouri (1998) and Dyersberg, Tenn. (1998).

In the fall of 2018, genealogy testing identified Brashers as a potential suspect in the yogurt shop murders. DNA samples were collected from his family members in Huntsville, Ala., and his body was later exhumed in Arkansas for further testing.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

3. Yogurt shop killer had a pattern: officials

Police noted similarities between Brashers crimes and the yogurt shop murders. Officials said Brashers:

carried multiple weapons

tied up victims, sometimes with their own clothing

sexually assaulted young female victims

often shot victims in the head

In one Kentucky case, Brashers used the same gun as in another crime, further linking his pattern of behavior to the Austin murders.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

4. Families react to breakthrough

Relatives of the victims expressed a mix of emotions at Mondays news conference at Austin City Hall, but all thanked law enforcement officers for their persistence.

Barbara Wilson, the mother of Sarah and Jennifer Harbison, thanked the Austin Police Department for its commitment and for all the love and support shown over these 34 years.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Sonora Thomas, sister of Eliza Thomas, said the outpouring of love from strangers has helped her feel better about humanity.
John Jones, who was the original detective on the 1991 I Cant Believe Its Yogurt murder investigation, speaks to reporters after a news conference at Austin City Hall on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

On Monday, former detective John Jones wore a green and white shirt for just the second time in 34 years  signaling long-awaited closure to the families of the four teenage girls killed in the infamous I Can't Believe It's Yogurt case.

Jones had been the first investigator on the case, he explained to "48 Hours" correspondent Erin Moriarty in 2017.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

"I can see them, I can still see the inside of that place," Jones said on the investigation show. "That stuff's  indelibly burned in my mind."

Even after retiring from the Austin Police Department and moving out of Texas, Jones kept copies of some of the case files. But those aren't the only items he's held onto.

On the night of the 1991 murders, Jones had been wearing a new green-and-white-striped shirt. As the detective assured the victims' families the killer would be found, he vowed to keep them informed.

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

"I kind of made a promise to them," Jones told Moriarty. "The next time they saw me with that green and white shirt on that that was a signal to them that, you know, we know who did it."

(L-R) Fire agent Chuck Meyer w. homicide sgts. John Jones & Mike Huckaby checking out info charts on hood of car at night as they spearhead the investigation of 4 teenage girls shot to death & burned in fire set by the killer at yogurt shop where they wo.rked (Photo by Mark Perlstein/Getty Images) Mark Perlstein/Getty Images

Jones kept the promise he made over three decades ago, appearing at Monday's press conference in the shirt he's longed to wear again.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

"I told the families, 'Well, when you see me in this shirt again, it'll be because the case is solved,'" Jones told Statesman reporter Austin Sanders. "I made a pact with my kids: If it doesn't get solved before I pass myself  because I'm an old man  if it doesn't get solved before I 'check out,' then you guys are in charge of finding the families."

Thanks to new DNA testing, Jones was able to wear the shirt himself, when he attended the news conference where the victims' family members spoke.

John Jones, the first investigator on Austin's1991 yogurt shop murders case, wears the same shirt after police identify suspect Robert Brashers at a press conference on Sept. 29, 2025. Tony Plohetski/Austin American-Statesman

"I dug it out, and I wore it," Jones said of the shirt.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

John Jones, the first investigator on Austin's1991 yogurt shop murders case, wears the same shirt after police identify suspect Robert Brashers at a press conference on Sept. 29, 2025. Tony Plohetski/Austin American-Statesman

The retired detective explained he had flown into Austin Monday morning. Unable to secure a 5 a.m. United Airlines flight "on a day's notice," Jones opted to use Southwest.

"I wanted to be here because  actually, because of the four boys," he said, referring to the former suspects in the case, two of whom served prison time before their convictions were overturned. "I wanted to hear someone take responsibility for that."

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

What are the Austin yogurt shop murders?

The Dec. 6, 1991, murders of (clockwise from top left) Jennifer Harbison, Sarah Harbison, Amy Ayers and Eliza Thomas remain unresolved. HANDOUT

Around midnight on Dec. 6, 1991, Austin firefighters responded to a blaze at the yogurt shop on West Anderson Lane and made a horrific discovery: the bound, gagged and burned bodies of Jennifer Harbison, 17; Eliza Thomas, 17; Sarah Harbison, 15; and Amy Ayers, 13. Officials say the shop had been doused with accelerants and set on fire to destroy evidence. Autopsies later show all four girls had been shot in the head, and at least one was sexually assaulted.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Over the next several years, investigators pursued dozens of leads and questioned multiple suspects. Several false confessions were recorded. While some physical evidence was collected, fire and water damage severely limit its forensic value. In 2017, however, new DNA-testing technology identified a single male profile. The profile didn't match any of the previously convicted men, but it matched a sample the FBI uploaded to a database. That person, however, was not named.

One month after HBO Max released "The Yogurt Shop Murders" docuseries in August, police announced a DNA match in the case.

Austin yogurt shop murders: A timeline of the long road from cold case to a DNA match

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Who is Robert Eugene Brashers?

Newly analyzed DNA evidence has linked the crime to a man already suspected of being a serial predator across the south: Robert Eugene Brashers.

This undated photo provided by the Missouri State Highway Patrol shows Robert Brashers. Authorities said Friday, Oct. 5, 2018 that DNA evidence has identified Brashers as the man who killed three people and raped a girl in the 1990s, even though the suspect killed himself nearly 20 years ago. Investigators say they've solved three homicides and a rape case, all from the 1990s, after obtaining DNA by digging up the corpse Brashers. Missouri State Highway Patrol/via AP

Brashers, who died 26 years ago, left behind a violent trail that stretched from Florida to Missouri:

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

1985: attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery and firearm charges for shooting Michelle Wilkerson in Port St. Lucie, Florida

1990: rape and murder of Genevieve Zitricki in Greenville, South Carolina

1997: rape of a 14-year-old girl in Memphis, Tennessee

1998: rape and murder of Sherri Scherer, 38, and her daughter Megan, 12, in Portageville, Missouri

Brashers was in a standoff with police on Jan. 13, 1999 after hiding in a Missouri motel with his wife, daughter and two stepdaughters. After releasing his family, he shot himself in the head and died six days later.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad
Sonora Thomas, right, sister of Eliza Thomas, hugs Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis at a news conference at Austin City Hall about the 1991 I Cant Believe Its Yogurt murder investigation at City Hall on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

For more than three decades, Sonora Thomas sought answers in the death of her sister, Eliza, who, along with three other teenage girls  Amy Ayers and Jennifer and Sarah Harbison  was murdered inside a North Austin yogurt shop in one of the darkest chapters in the citys history.

Up until a few days ago, she felt she might never know the truth.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

One part of my brain has been screaming What happened to my sister? and the other part kept repeating, I will never know, Thomas said at a Monday news conference. I know now what happened, and that does ease my suffering.

After a dogged investigation led by multiple law enforcement agencies across state lines, Thomas and other family members of the girls were informed last week that officials strongly believe a serial killer named Robert Eugene Brashers is responsible for the brutal 1991 killings.

On Monday, state and local law enforcement officials shared their findings in a news conference at Austin City Hall, a gathering punctuated with tears, relief and a turn toward closure after nearly 34 years.

Statesman Logo Want more Statesman? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source

While there's no change to the horror, no wiping away any of the wrongs, no diminishing the grief, we can finally express a deep sigh  a release that comes from knowing, Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

In an unusual moment, Watson began the news conference with a moment of silence for the murdered teens.

This day has been a long time coming, Watson said.

Then for nearly 90 minutes, lead investigators Austin police cold case detective Daniel Jackson and Mindy Montford, head of the Texas Attorney General Offices cold case unit, walked the public through ballistic evidence, DNA matches and police work that they say put Brashers at the I Cant Believe Its Yogurt shop the night of Dec. 6, 1991.

Shawn Ayers, the brother of Amy Ayers, and his wife Angie Ayers speak at a news conference at Austin City Hall about the 1991 I Cant Believe Its Yogurt murder investigation on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

Family members, already briefed on the evidence, sat stone-faced as they again listened to the graphic details.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Still, they said finally learning the killers identity brought relief and appreciation.

Im full of gratitude, said Barbara Wilson, mother to two of the slain girls. It has been so long, and all we ever wanted for this case was the truth.

Shawn Ayers, older brother to Amy, thanked investigators  from forensic analysts to homicide detectives  for years of persistence.

The results you see today are when you have an army of people working together to reach a common goal, not for themselves, but for the victims and their families, Ayers said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Thank you to all of you, he added.

Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis speaks at a news conference at City Hall about the 1991 I Cant Believe Its Yogurt murder investigation on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman With a photo of sisters Jennifer and Sarah Harbison in the background, Austin Police Department Cold Case Detective Daniel Jackson speaks at a news conference at City Hall about the 1991 I Cant Believe Its Yogurt murder investigation on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Fresh flowers are seen on a memorial that honors murder victims Amy Ayers, Sarah Harbison, Jennifer Harbison and Eliza Thomas outside what was once the I Cant Believe Its Yogurt shop on Anderson Lane in Austin, Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman The family of Amy Ayers, left to right sister-in-law Angie Ayers and brother Shawn Ayers and parents Bob and Pam Ayers, observe a moment of silence for the victims at a news conference at Austin City Hall about the 1991 I Cant Believe Its Yogurt murder investigation on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Austin Police Department Cold Case Detective Daniel Jackson speaks at a news conference at City Hall about the 1991 I Cant Believe Its Yogurt murder investigation on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Sonora Thomas, right, sister of Eliza Thomas, speaks at a news conference at Austin City Hall about the 1991 I Cant Believe Its Yogurt murder investigation on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Law enforcement officers listen at a news conference at Austin City Hall about the 1991 I Cant Believe Its Yogurt murder investigation on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Mayor Kirk Watson looks a the photos of victims Eliza Thomas, Amy Ayers, and sisters Jennifer and Sarah Harbison at a news conference at Austin City Hall about the 1991 I Cant Believe Its Yogurt murder investigation on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Sonora Thomas, sister of Eliza Thomas, hugs her step-father, Billy Donley, at a news conference at Austin City Hall about the 1991 I Cant Believe Its Yogurt murder investigation at City Hall on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Pam Ayers, the mother Amy Ayers, cries while listening at a news conference at Austin City Hall about the 1991 I Cant Believe Its Yogurt murder investigation on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman John Jones, who was the original detective on the 1991 I Cant Believe Its Yogurt murder investigation, speaks to reporters after a news conference at Austin City Hall on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Mindy Montford, of the Attorney Generals Office, listens at a news conference at Austin City Hall about the 1991 I Cant Believe Its Yogurt murder investigation at City Hall on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis speaks at a news conference at City Hall about the 1991 I Cant Believe Its Yogurt murder investigation on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Pam Ayers, the mother of Amy Ayers, arrives at a news conference at Austin City Hall about the 1991 I Cant Believe Its Yogurt murder investigation on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Bob Ayers, left, father of Amy Ayers, hugs Austin Police Department Cold Case Detective Daniel Jackson at a news conference at Austin City Hall about the 1991 I Cant Believe Its Yogurt murder investigation at City Hall on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Angie Ayers, sister-in-law of Amy Ayers, listens at a news conference at Austin City Hall about the 1991 I Cant Believe Its Yogurt murder investigation on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Law enforcement officers listen at a news conference at Austin City Hall about the 1991 I Cant Believe Its Yogurt murder investigation on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Bob Ayers, left, father of Amy Ayers, pins a We Will Not Forget pin on Austin Police Department Cold Case Detective Daniel Jackson at a news conference at Austin City Hall about the 1991 I Cant Believe Its Yogurt murder investigation at City Hall on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Investigators who worked on the 1991 I Cant Believe Its Yogurt murder investigation gather for a group photo at City Hall on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Shawn Ayers, the brother of Amy Ayers, and Mindy Montford, of the Attorney Generals Office, speak at a news conference at Austin City Hall about the 1991 I Cant Believe Its Yogurt murder investigation on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Shawn Ayers, the brother of Amy Ayers, hugs Mindy Montford, of Attorney Generals Office, a news conference at Austin City Hall about the 1991 I Cant Believe Its Yogurt murder investigation on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Sonora Thomas, right, sister of Eliza Thomas, speaks at a news conference at Austin City Hall about the 1991 I Cant Believe Its Yogurt murder investigation on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Barbara Wilson, mother of Jennifer and Sarah Harbison, speaks at a news conference at Austin City Hall about the 1991 I Cant Believe Its Yogurt murder investigation on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Barbara Wilson, left, mother of Jennifer and Sarah Harbison, hugs Mindy Montford, of the Attorney Generals Office, at a news conference at Austin City Hall about the 1991 I Cant Believe Its Yogurt murder investigation on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Angie Ayers, sister-in-law of Amy Ayers, wipes a tear during a news conference at Austin City Hall about the 1991 I Cant Believe Its Yogurt murder investigation on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza speaks at a news conference at Austin City Hall about the 1991 I Cant Believe Its Yogurt murder investigation on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Austin Police Department Cold Case Detective Daniel Jackson speaks at a news conference at City Hall about the 1991 I Cant Believe Its Yogurt murder investigation on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Bob Ayers, left, father of Amy Ayers, pins a We Will Not Forget pin on Austin Police Department Cold Case Detective Daniel Jackson at a news conference at Austin City Hall about the 1991 I Cant Believe Its Yogurt murder investigation at City Hall on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman With a photo of sisters Jennifer and Sarah Harbison in the background, Mayor Kirk Watson speaks at a news conference at City Hall about the 1991 I Cant Believe Its Yogurt murder investigation on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Austin Police Department Cold Case Detective Daniel Jackson speaks at a news conference at City Hall about the 1991 I Cant Believe Its Yogurt murder investigation on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Mayor Kirk Watson speaks at a news conference at Austin City Hall about the 1991 I Cant Believe Its Yogurt murder investigation on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Fresh flowers are seen on a memorial that honors murder victims Amy Ayers, Sarah Harbison, Jennifer Harbison and Eliza Thomas outside what was once the I Cant Believe Its Yogurt shop on Anderson Lane in Austin, Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Flowers and stones are seen on Eliza Thomas grave site, a victim of the 1991 I Cant Believe Its Yogurt murder, at Austin Memorial Park Cemetery in Austin, Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Eliza Thomas signature is seen on her grave site, a victim of the 1991 I Cant Believe Its Yogurt murder, at Austin Memorial Park Cemetery in Austin, Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Flowers are seen at the grave sites of Amy Ayers, Sarah Harbison and Jennifer Harbisonk, three of the four victims of the 1991 I Cant Believe Its Yogurt murders, at Cook-Walden Capital Parks Cemetery in Pflugerville, Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman

How the investigation unfolded

Brashers died by suicide in 1999 following a standoff with law enforcement. Investigators believed the man could be connected to a number of other killings and sexual assaults  though officials said they believe in those, and in Austin, Brashers acted alone.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

One of those cases, still under investigation in Kentucky, proved pivotal to solving the Austin yogurt shop murders.

Jackson, who has worked to solve the Austin yogurt shop murders since 2022, said advancements in DNA testing and forensic ballistics analysis made the difference.

The first major breakthrough came this summer when Jackson decided to resubmit the lone bullet casing recovered at the Austin crime scene in 1991 to a national ballistics database detectives use to track when firearms are used in multiple crimes.

The casing had been submitted to the same database twice before, but this time it produced a hit  linking it to a gun used in a 1998 unsolved murder in Kentucky. Jackson and Montford flew there to meet detectives and quickly noted similarities. That prompted them to request additional testing of evidence, including a sexual assault kit.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Austin Police Department Cold Case Detective Daniel Jackson and Mindy Montford, of the Attorney Generals Office, rise to be thanked at a news conference at City Hall about the 1991 I Cant Believe Its Yogurt murder investigation on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

Following the success of the Kentucky lead, Austin investigators pursued a DNA thread that remained unresolved in the case for years.

A small amount of male DNA had been collected during the initial sweep of the crime scene, Jackson said, but repeated testing over the years produced no viable results.

In 2018, Austin detectives asked crime labs across the nation to test what forensic experts refer to as a Y-STR sample  a type of male-specific DNA profile  taken from the scene. No matches emerged.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Seven years later, Jackson asked the Texas Department of Public Safety to resubmit the Y-STR profile for testing because the technology used to test the samples had gained wider use throughout the country.

This time, a lab in Greenville, S.C., matched it to Brashers, who was already tied to a 1990 sexual assault and murder there. Following that hit, Jackson submitted DNA recovered from Ayers fingernails for testing and it matched Brashers.

Amy's final moments on this earth were to solve this case for us, because of her fighting back, Jackson said of how investigators were able to make the DNA breakthrough.

Investigators then placed Brashers near El Paso just 48 hours after the four girls were killed in Austin. There, he was arrested with the same make and model of the .380 pistol used to kill one of the four Austin girls.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Still, Jackson said, the DNA testing proved most pivotal in investigators cracking open the case.

My number one goal was to identify that unknown profile, because the case would never move forward until we figured out who that person was, Jackson said.

What happens now

Mindy Montford of the Attorney Generals Office, hugs a colleague, at a news conference at Austin City Hall about the 1991 I Cant Believe Its Yogurt murder investigation on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza said he has begun reviewing the cases of three of the men Austin police arrested in 1999 and wrongly charged with the murders.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Robert Springsteen was sentenced to death, but his conviction, and that of Michael Scott, was later overturned. The third man, Forrest Welborn, never faced trial. A fourth man, Maurice Pierce, has since died after a confrontation with an Austin police officer in 2010.

While noting that the investigation into Brashers remained ongoing, Garza said the overwhelming weight of the evidence points to the guilt of Robert Eugene Brashers and to the innocence of Maurice Pierce, Michael Scott, Robert Springsteen and Forrest Welborn.

If the conclusions of APDs investigation are confirmed, Garza continued, I will say I am sorry, though I know that that will never be enough. We will take any necessary steps to ensure that they can move forward with their lives.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

At the news conference, Angie Ayers said how authorities handled the case of her sister-in-law should be a model for law enforcement across America.
American-Statesman staff Austin American-Statesman

By the end of 2026, a new Texas law will require sheriffs statewide to work with federal immigration authorities. But for some Central Texas sheriffs, that process has already begun.

The Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 8 earlier this year, requiring nearly all county sheriffs to train some deputies to assist in immigration enforcement, primarily through 287g agreements, a program named for its section in federal law. The law follows the Trump administrations push for states and local law enforcement agencies to assist in speeding up and expanding deportations.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The presidents call, actions by Republican allies such as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the promise of new funding have driven a surge in participation. In December, only 135 local law enforcement agencies nationwide had a 287g agreement. Earlier this month, the Department of Homeland Security said the number had jumped to more than 1,000.

The 287g agreements have always played an important role in increasing immigration enforcement. But as with many things, Trump is supercharging it, Texas A&M law professor Huyen Pham told the American-Statesman. Now he has all this money to fund it.

The shift is already visible in Central Texas. Though SB 8 does not take effect until next year and does not require counties to join the program until December 2026, Williamson, Bastrop and Caldwell sheriffs have already signed new agreements. Burnet County has an agreement dating to 2019.

Statesman Logo Want more Statesman? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source

The extent of collaboration depends on the type of 287g agreement an agency chooses:

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The warrant service officer model is the narrowest, generally training deputies only to issue civil immigration warrants for people held in county jails.

The jail enforcement model goes further, allowing deputies to question inmates about legal status, collect evidence for immigration cases and transfer people into federal custody.

The task force model  the most expansive  authorizes deputies to question people about immigration status during patrols, not just in jails. DHS has described it as a force multiplier.

In some cases, 287g contracts may also allow local officers to temporarily detain immigrants arrested by ICE. Texas law already requires law enforcement agencies to honor ICE immigration holds.

Critics, including Texas and national immigrant legal groups, warn the program could encourage racial profiling and unnecessary traffic stops. Kristin Etter, policy and legal services director at the Texas Immigration Law Council, said her group fears SB 8 could pressure counties into adopting the most far-reaching enforcement methods.

These counties are going to be subject to the whims of Stephen Miller's imagination, Etter said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Miller is a top Trump advisor and a chief architect of the "zero-tolerance" immigration enforcement policy.

Counties, which run the majority of jails in Texas, must weigh political preferences, staffing and cost when deciding which model to adopt, Pham said. Traditionally, the federal government has paid for officer training, while counties absorb staffing costs.

State Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, who authored SB 8, has said the law will give counties flexibility in the type of agreement they sign, and therefore in the costs and staffing it requires, while still guaranteeing their participation in immigration enforcement.

DHS recently announced it would begin reimbursing salaries, benefits and some overtime pay in October for officers who receive 287g training. It also promised quarterly bonuses to agencies based on their success in locating immigrants identified by ICE and assisting in the agencys enforcement mission. The bonuses can reach $1,000 per trained officer.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Which Central Texas counties have signed 287g agreements?

Travis County: Has not signed an agreement and has no timeline, spokeswoman Kristen Dark said. The county is still assessing costs, staffing needs and community impact.

Has not signed an agreement and has no timeline, spokeswoman Kristen Dark said. The county is still assessing costs, staffing needs and community impact. Bastrop County: Signed a warrant service officer agreement Sept. 23. Sheriff Maurice Cook previously said his office already contacts immigration authorities when it encounters someone without legal status.

Signed a warrant service officer agreement Sept. 23. Sheriff Maurice Cook previously said his office already contacts immigration authorities when it encounters someone without legal status. Burnet County: Has had a warrant service officer agreement since 2019. As of Sept. 24, no new filings have been made this year.

Has had a warrant service officer agreement since 2019. As of Sept. 24, no new filings have been made this year. Caldwell County: Signed a task force agreement in July and added a warrant service officer agreement in September.

Signed a task force agreement in July and added a warrant service officer agreement in September. Hays County: Has not signed any agreement as of Sept. 24. Sheriff Anthony Hipolito said in July his office has no expected date for signing.

Has not signed any agreement as of Sept. 24. Sheriff Anthony Hipolito said in July his office has no expected date for signing. Williamson County: Has signed a warrant service officer agreement.

Has signed a warrant service officer agreement. Local city police departments: As of Sept. 24, no Austin-area police department has signed a 287g agreement.

The Statesman will continue updating this list of counties and 287g agreements.
NEW DELHI, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Indian security forces killed three armed rebels, locally called Naxals, in the country's central state of Chhattisgarh, confirmed a local police officer on Monday.

The killings took place during an anti-Naxal operation in the state's Kanker district. All three dead were senior leaders and carried a monetary award on their heads.

The anti-Naxal operation was jointly carried out by security personnel belonging to the Border Security Force and the local troops of the District Reserve Guard. 
As autumn hints arrive, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region celebrates its 70th anniversary.

What journeys have its people been on? How do 56 ethnic groups live in harmony? What economic progress has been achieved?

Xinhua correspondent Rick O'Shea holds the answers.
BEIJING, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- China strongly opposes Japan's move to place Chinese entities on its export control list and urges the Japanese side to immediately cease this practice, a Ministry of Commerce spokesperson said Monday.

The spokesperson made the remarks in response to a relevant media query. Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry updated its export-control "End User List" the same day, with multiple Chinese companies added and two removed.

Lacking a factual basis, Japan has unreasonably placed the Chinese companies on the list, the spokesperson said, emphasizing that China firmly rejects the move, which will harm the interests of businesses in both countries.

China welcomed Japan's removal of the two Chinese companies from the list as it aligns with the common interests of both sides, the spokesperson said.

"We are willing to step up communication with Japan to facilitate the removal of more Chinese enterprises," the spokesperson added. 
"China protects the cultural identity of the Uygurs and other ethnic groups and is committed to achieving economic development and prosperity in Xinjiang," said an Egyptian international affairs researcher after a visit to Xinjiang. #GLOBALink




September 8, 2025: Apparently, members of the U.S. Congress are discussing recognizing Somaliland as a state separate from Somalia. This would be a change in policy.

Why recognize Somaliland as a separate state? Well, in 1991, Somaliland (led by the Isaaq clans) claimed it was no longer part of Somalia. Since around 2000with Ethiopias helpthe northwestern strip of Somalia (lying between Ethiopia and the sea) has functioned more or less as a separate state. Mogadishu claims Somaliland as sovereign territory but cannot control it, nor can Mogadishu control Puntland (which is still plagued by pirates and Islamists). The UN has a peacekeeping force in Somalia with 11,900 authorized troops.

Somaliland has held several democratic electionsin other words, it has a working political system. It has a police force. It has tried to halt terrorism, piracy, and smuggling within its borders, with some verifiable success. At a minimum, some House members want to establish a more formal U.S. diplomatic mission in Somaliland. One U.S. senator wants to formally recognize Somaliland as a sovereign state. The pro-Somaliland representatives contend an independent Somaliland would counter Chinese influence in the Horn of Africa region.

No doubt Ethiopia is urging the U.S. to recognize Somaliland as a separate state. In 2024, Ethiopia outraged Somalia by leasing a strip of land in Somaliland. Ethiopia is landlocked and wants a seaport. In fact, with around one hundred million people, Ethiopia is the most populous landlocked country in the world.

However, since the end of the Cold War, the U.S. has backed the territorial integrity of SomaliaMogadishus Somalia. This is also the African Unions (AU) position, as well as Chinas. For almost 40 years, Somalia has been an anarchic messwith clans fighting vicious street wars, Somali socialist-communists aligned with the USSR fighting everyone, Ethiopia involved (in part fighting a war with Ogaden region separatists), assorted radical Islamists (including Al Qaeda, ISIL, and Al Shabaab), and AU and UN intervention forces. In an essay written in 2002, StrategyPages Austin Bay called Somalia the planets foremost failed state.9

But three years ago, the situation began to improve. Since 2022, the Mogadishu government has shown some stability. Elections were held, and the results were certified. A new parliament formed, and a new president was elected. The parliament met and approved the presidents selection of a new prime minister. In 2024, Turkey signed a 10-year defense agreement with the Mogadishu government, agreeing to help guard the Somali coastline and rebuild Somalias naval forces.

Clans dominate Somali life and politics, which means even in the best of times, Somalia is a country constantly grappling with divisive factional and regional interests. Loyalty to clan still trumps national unity. Overcoming this kind of family-culture factionalism is very difficult. Somaliland claims it has balanced clan loyalty with democratic values. Through its Guurti, or Council of Elders, clan elders negotiate clan issues (and presumably other domestic issues) using traditional mediation and conflict resolution mechanisms. The Guurti operates as the upper chamber of Somalilands parliament. According to Somalilands media, the Guurti acts as a stabilizing force within Somalilands democratic government and is a foundation within the system. Or at least thats the claim. If the Guurti rejects legislation from the House of Representatives (the lower chamber), the House of Representatives prevails if a two-thirds majority vetoes the Guurtis rejection. (AB)
The U.S. territory of Guam is pictured from Nimitz Hill on Dec. 12, 2024. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes)



Military installations on Guam are testing their water supplies after a banned pesticide was found in a well near Andersen Air Force Base.

Precautionary water sampling was taking place across all military installations on the U.S. island territory after the Guam Waterworks Authority discovered dieldrin in a Yigo village well, Rear Adm. Brett Mietus, commander of Joint Region Marianas, announced Saturday.

The Environmental Protection Agency has little or no data on dieldrins effects on humans, but considers it a B2 substance, meaning it is likely carcinogenic based on data found in exposed animals, according to the agencys website.

The well does not provide drinking water to our military installations. However, we do have service members who live in the affected area, Mietus said in a statement posted to Joint Region Marianas Facebook page. At this time, there is no indication that drinking water on any of our installations is affected.

The command has already completed sampling at water wells on Andersen, Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz, Naval Base Guam and other smaller installations, Joint Region Marianas spokeswoman Shaina Santos ONeal told Stars and Stripes by email Monday.

We expect to receive the results in the next few weeks and have requested expedited processing, she wrote. Once those results are received, we will share the findings with the community.

The Guam Waterworks Authority issued 1,112 contamination notices, ONeal said. More than 1,000 military families live in Yigo.

We are gathering information to determine how many of those military families are directly affected, she said.

If elevated levels of the pesticide are found in installation water supplies, Joint Region Marianas will take appropriate and timely action in coordination with regulatory partners, ONeal added.

The health and safety of the community and our military team is our top priority, she said.

Dieldrin was a commercial pesticide commonly used from the 1950s to the 1970s but was banned for everything except termite control in 1974 due to concerns about environmental damage and dangers to human health, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The EPA banned it completely in 1987.

Guams acting governor, Josh Tenorio, declared an emergency Thursday in a special address to the U.S. territory.

Like you, I am alarmed by the information we know, and even more alarmed by what we dont know, including the source of this contamination, he said, according to a transcript released by his office.

Tenorio said he had secured $250,000 to obtain filters and other supplies to tackle the problem. The EPA has similarly promised federal resources, including funding, technical expertise, grants and other support, Tenorios office said in a Saturday news release.

EPAs partnership is critical in our effort to protect public health, Tenorio said in the release. With their technical guidance and access to federal funding, we can take swift and coordinated action to ensure families in Yigo and across our island have access to safe drinking water.
Chevron Park base housing at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla, Oct. 7, 2024. (Sterling Sutton/U.S. Air Force)



Water pooled near the dryer and in ceiling light fixtures before a bedroom wall cracked apart inside Air Force Tech. Sgt. Dillon Mullins rented home on MacDill Air Force Base, the special operations airman contended in a new lawsuit.

Extensive mold was growing inside that wall in his childs bedroom, Mullins and his wife discovered after it cracked. But The Michaels Organization, which has owned and operated the privatized military housing on the Florida base since 2021, only covered it with a tarp and some tape that failed to hold because of the high humidity, the Mullinses allege in the lawsuit they filed with dozens of other service members and their families who have lived in Michaels-owned MacDill housing in recent years.

Michaels is accused of breach of contract, gross negligence, inflicting emotional distress and medical harm, deception and fraud, including concealing poor conditions of homes, in the 218-page lawsuit filed by 170 service members and family members late Friday in federal court in Tampa, near MacDill.

They are seeking an unspecified amount of money for damages for losses of property and time during their tenure living on MacDill, other mental and physical injuries suffered while living in Michaels-run housing, and other costs and expenses incurred while dealing with housing issues, according to the lawsuit.

The troops and their families are represented by lawyers from the McKee Law Group, Just Well Law and Cooper and Kirk, who filed the suit together.

Families have the right to expect that landlords will provide safe and habitable homes  especially on American military installations, Kristina Baehr of Just Well Law said Monday. Our service members cannot be mission-ready if they are sick, taking care of sick families and forced to cope with appalling housing conditions.

The lawsuit is the latest among dozens filed in recent years by American troops against the companies that own and run housing on U.S. military installations under a public-private partnership law passed in 1996. Troops have accused Michaels and other corporations of making billions of dollars in profits under those agreements while providing inadequate and unsafe family housing at dozens of bases.

Service members have reported similar problems with mold and pests in military-run barracks and housing on installations around the world.

At MacDill, tenants reported leaking roofs and windows, clogged drains, flooded laundry rooms, broken vent fans, mold-covered walls and fixtures. In many cases, they charged, they were misled about the histories of their units with inaccurate or incomplete seven-year maintenance records which the Pentagon requires that its privatized military housing contractors provide.

A spokesperson for Michaels said Monday the company had yet to receive the lawsuit and declined to comment.

Our priority has always been and continues to be the well-being of our Harbor Bay [housing on MacDill Air Force Base] residents, staff and community, the spokesperson said.

The Mullinses accused The Michaels Organization of providing a fraudulent housing history when they moved into their unit in June 2023. That history showed no record of mold issues, evacuations of previous tenants or significant problems, according to the lawsuit.

In September 2024, after experiencing several household problems and health issues, the Mullinses connected with a previous tenant who provided them documentation of prior moisture damage and duct issues, which were absent from the seven-year history. That previous tenant also informed them they had been displaced from the home, which should have been included in that history. In January, Michaels provided a revised seven-year history before the Mullinses permanently vacated the unit in March because of high levels of mold, which an independent testing agency found exceeded safe levels.

The family was forced to abandon virtually all their belongings due to mold contamination, according to the lawsuit.

The Mullinses reported a variety of illnesses while living on MacDill, including spells of dizziness, headaches and stomach aches, which they said dissipated during a two-week trip overseas. Most of their symptoms subsided after they left the Michaels-owned housing, according to the lawsuit.

Other MacDill tenants reported conditions including fatigue, respiratory issues, allergies, migraines, skin conditions, anxiety and emotional distress, according to the lawsuit.

Tenants involved in the lawsuit charged that they repeatedly attempted to get Michaels employees to intervene in mold and moisture problems, but officials often took weeks or more to respond to such complaints, compounding the mold growth or other problems.

We think the evidence clearly shows that Michaels has failed to take basic steps to ensure that the housing is free from exposure to hazardous materials, Robert McKee of the McKee Law Group said Monday. As the court filing asserts, Michaels has also repeatedly and systematically failed to address these dangerous housing conditions, forcing our military families to suffer these appalling harms, endure this appalling behavior, or live with these appallingly unsafe, unhealthy and hazardous housing conditions.
Members of the 431st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron stand in formation during their activation ceremony at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, Sept. 29, 2025. (Karissa Dick/U.S. Air Force)



A deactivated World War II-era fighter squadron was given new life Monday and equipped with MQ-9 Reaper drones for intelligence gathering across the Indo-Pacific from South Korea.

The 431st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron under the 8th Fighter Wing at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, was reactivated to support U.S.-Korean priorities in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, 7th Air Force spokeswoman Maj. Laura Hayden told Stars and Stripes by email.

Kunsan, the wing headquarters, is about 115 miles southwest of Seoul.

The reactivated unit is an example of the United States ironclad commitment to the defense of South Korea, Hayden said.

Deploying the MQ-9 brings a powerful capability to the region, 431st commander Lt. Col. Douglas Slater said in a Monday news release from the Air Force. Were here to support the mission, deepen cooperation, and demonstrate our shared commitment to maintaining security and stability across the Indo-Pacific.

The 431st was originally the 431st Fighter Squadron, which was created in 1943 under the 5th Air Force and deactivated in 1949, Hayden said. During the war, the squadrons pilots flew the Lockheed P-38 Lightning, a distinctive twin-engine, twin-boom fighter, according to 475th.org.

An MQ-9 Reaper taxis at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, April 17, 2025. (Karissa Dick/U.S. Air Force)



The Reaper is a long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft with a range of approximately 1,150 miles and a ceiling of 50,000 feet, according to the Air Force.

Hayden declined to provide the number of airmen and MQ-9s in the unit, citing operational security concerns.

MQ-9s are equipped with a suite of sensors and lasers to provide the military with a real-time overview of the battlefield and to designate targets for attack.

The drone has participated in several large-scale military exercises in South Korea in recent months.

The MQ-9 took part in air interdiction, defensive counter-air and combat search-and-rescue drills during the 12-day Freedom Flag aerial exercise starting April 21.

Six months earlier, the Reaper took flight to drop an inert Joint Direct Attack Munition, or JDAM, on South Koreas Jikdo Island in the Yellow Sea during training, the 7th Air Force and Ministry of National Defense said at the time.

South Korea does not use the MQ-9; however, it has four RQ-4B Global Hawks for surveillance operations.

The South Korean military created its Drone Operations Command in September 2023, roughly nine months after North Korea flew five drones into the Souths airspace without warning.

South Koreas military failed to shoot down any of the drones, which prompted then-President Yoon Suk Yeol to vow to bolster the countrys anti-drone capabilities.
Casey Showalter gives Deen, a 4-year old Labrador, a bath Sept. 12, 2025, at Fort Meade, Md. Showalter was recently approved to operate a dog grooming business from her house at Fort Meade. She started the business, called Thats So Fetch Pet Grooming, because she loves animals, and it was a business she had not seen at previous installations where she and her husband, Army Staff Sgt. Mason Showalter, had been posted. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)



Lakesha Finley-Flowers had made 18 moves as an Army spouse, adapting and switching her job with each one, until move No. 19.

When she arrived at Fort Polk, La., from Detroit, Finley-Flowers brought along her business, Candles by Lakesha. After settling into on-base housing, she learned about the Armys Home-Based Business program, which approves residents running a business from their homes and provides support and connections within the community.

Within two weeks, she had the green light and converted her dining room into a workspace to craft scented wickless candles adorned with flower petals and unique designs.

I love the shock and awe when someone turns the lid on my candle, and theyre like, Oh my God. I wasnt expecting that,  she said.

Her business has helped her feel more connected to her new community, and it took away the stress of finding new employment with the move  something shes been dealing with for much of the past 33 years since she met her husband, Lt. Col. Gary Flowers, while they were soldiers based at Fort Lewis, Wash.

Hes eyeing retirement in a few years, and shes ready to take her business into the spotlight.

I have so many plans for my business, she said. I already have a five-year goal-post planned and am waiting for it to happen.

Lakesha Finley-Flowers, an Army veteran and spouse, at Fort Polk, La., where she runs her business Candles by Lakesha. (Photo provided by Lakesha Finley-Flowers)

A candle made by Army veteran and spouse, Lakesha Finley-Flowers as part of her business, Candles by Lakesha, that she operates from her home at Fort Polk, La. (Photo provided by Lakesha Finley-Flowers)

A candle made by Army veteran and spouse, Lakesha Finley-Flowers as part of her business, Candles by Lakesha, that she operates from her home at Fort Polk, La. (Photo provided by Lakesha Finley-Flowers)



There are 28 businesses approved to operate at Fort Polk, and anywhere between 550 and 650 across the Army, according to the Armys Morale, Welfare and Recreation Division, which oversees the program.

When military spouses  or service members  establish themselves as independent business owners, it alleviates the challenges of finding a job with every move and expands community access to goods and services on base, said Matt Margotta, chief of Installation and Management Commands installation mission support office.

They move from location to location to location, and some of our locations are in fairly remote and austere areas where you dont have robust communities. Employment opportunities may be limited, he said. As they move  they can keep that same business throughout their Army lives.

The program experienced an overhaul roughly five years ago that allowed it to expand. Previously, installations denied many businesses because of a policy barring direct competition with something already available through MWR and also Army and Air Force Exchange Service operations.

The Army said no more. The volume of home-based businesses, that really wasnt in competition, Margotta said.

Garrison commands are now encouraged to try to say yes to a business idea. Margotta could only find four instances where a prospective business was told no, including a plan to sell firearms and another for a tattoo parlor. The private landlord for the base, if there is one, also is involved in the approval process.

Army Staff Sgt. Mason Showalter, left, feeds a treat to Deen, a 4-year old Labrador, as his spouse, Casey Showalter, finishes the grooming on Sept. 12, 2025, at Fort Meade, Md. The Showalters own dog, Azurite, waits for a treat of his own. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

Casey Showalter towels off Deen, a 4-year old labrador, following his bath on Sept. 12, 2025, at Fort Meade, Md. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

Casey Showalter grooms Deen, a 4-year old Labrador on Sept. 12, 2025, at Fort Meade, Md. The pink cloth around Deens head protects his ears from the loud sounds of the blow-dryer used to dry him off. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

Army Staff Sgt. Mason Showalter, left, gives Deen, a 4-year old Labrador, a treat before his grooming on Sept. 12, 2025, at Fort Meade, Md. Kirsten Holley, right, is Deens owner. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

Casey Showalter grooms Deen, a 4-year old Labrador on Sept. 12, 2025, at Fort Meade, Md. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

Casey Showalter files the claws of Deen, a 4-year old Labrador on Sept. 12, 2025, in Fort Meade, Md. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)



Casey Showalter, an Army spouse at Fort Meade, Md., experienced some pushback in her goal of launching an in-home pet grooming business. After about a year of back and forth, her business Thats So Fetch began taking clients in August. She had to take on a part-time job to get through the process, which also delayed her start.

The application felt like a test case for such an operation, and Showalter said both she and the housing office learned a lot in the process. At one point Corvias, the company that manages housing at Fort Meade, told Showalter the nearby countys animal control would need to approve her home for animals. After waiting months for the appointment, she learned that the county did not have jurisdiction, so Corvias said it was no longer necessary.

Corvias manages homes at seven Army installations and said it works closely with each garrison commander to meet the requirements, regulations and laws for that location. More than 80 businesses are approved in Corvias homes, creating a more dynamic and economically vibrant community, Kolby Stobbe, the companys senior vice president for property operations, said in a statement.

I want it to be so much easier for whoever else wants to start up, Showalter said.

The idea of pet grooming came from Showalters love of animals and her realization that the two Army bases where they previously had lived did not have the service available within the gates. She got licensed through another Army benefit, the My Career Advancement Account scholarship program.

Its just something I have a passion for, Showalter said. Im very creative, and I love animals, so I put my passions together.

Customers have said they love the convenience of staying on post and that Showalter only takes care of one pet at a time.

A lot of people have very stressed out, anxiety-based dogs, and it really helps them not being in a facility with a ton of other dogs or a ton of other people, she said.

Master Sgt. Gilbert Romero also found the approval process to be long  he waited more than three months for approval at Fort Irwin in California to continue operating his business, Tactical Etchings, which specializes in lasering, engraving and etching onto wood, acrylic and different metals. He had previously established the business living outside of base housing as a recruiter in Los Angeles.

Thats where I got introduced to creating plaques and stuff like that for top recruiters, top companies. It just created this idea, he said.

So, Romero bought his own laser machine and now fills orders to personalize all sorts of items outside of the standard awards, including whiteboard erasers for teachers, and travel cups and mugs.

A recent update to Army policy on the program put into place a 60-day window to approve requests, though the average is about 34 days, Margotta said. Before the process was streamlined, applications would bounce for months between offices, or the onus would be on the resident to go to each office individually.

Engraved gifts from Master Sgt. Gilbert Romeros business Tactical Etchings, which he operates from his home at Fort Irwin, Calif. (Photo provided by Master Sgt. Gilbert Romero)

Engraved gifts from Master Sgt. Gilbert Romeros business Tactical Etchings, which he operates from his home at Fort Irwin, Calif. (Photo provided by Master Sgt. Gilbert Romero)



Once Romero was approved, he joined the Armys largest concentration of more than 100 registered businesses  likely due to Fort Irwins isolation in the Mojave Desert.

Aside from on-post customers, the company does a fair amount of shipping for orders placed online. Its a family affair to fill these orders with his wife and children chipping in to finalize products and box and label items.

Weve shipped to 15 different military installations, and weve even shipped to other countries, he said. We get most of our clients from referrals, which is a good thing.

It is not just approval to operate that comes from the program. Finley-Flowers said the benefits for the program are countless.

Notably, whenever MWR at Fort Polk hosts events on post that have vendor space, she can book it and get her deposit reimbursed or set up a kiosk in the entryway of the Exchange. She also receives information from MWR about opportunities for vendor space in the civilian community.

These events have also created connections between the businesses on post, and Finley-Flowers has collaborated to sell gift sets, such as candles and flowers on Valentines Day.

We are like a small town, she said. I love it here.
Sikorsky Aircraft Corps Stratford headquarters. (Cloe Poisson via TNS)



(Tribune News Service)  Sikorsky Aircraft, the Stratford-based helicopter manufacturer, has been awarded a nearly $11 billion contract with the U.S. Navy in a major win for the state.

The Connecticut helicopter manufacturer, a Lockheed Martin company, received a $10.8 billion contract this week from the U.S. Navy to produce up to 99 CH-53K King Stallion helicopters for the U.S. Marine Corps over five years, according to the company.

The CH-53K is the most powerful heavy-lift helicopter in the U.S. military and is designed to transport Marines, heavy equipment and supplies from Naval ships to shore in support of global operations, according to the U.S. Navy. The CH-53K, which can carry up to 27,000 pounds, is the replacement for the CH-53E.

This award reflects trust and confidence in Sikorsky to deliver these technologically advanced, heavy-lift helicopters that will revolutionize the Marine Corps operational capabilities by adding unrivaled power, performance, survivability and dependability to the fleet, said Rich Benton, Sikorsky vice president and general manager. The multi-year contract enables Sikorsky to partner with the Department of the Navy to drive long-term affordability, optimize production efficiencies and stabilize our supply chain and workforce, ensuring the Marines maintain the strategic advantage with the CH-53K in a rapidly evolving battlespace.

The contract combines five separate aircraft orders into a five-year multi-year procurement, ensuring price predictability and consistent flow of materials from 267 CH-53K suppliers across 37 states, and 17 suppliers from eight countries. The contract allows the U.S. military to buy up to 99 CH-53K aircraft for the U.S. Marine Corps or to fulfill orders from international military customers, according to Sikorsky.

This blockbuster $10.3 billion is a major win for Sikorsky & their incredibly talented workforce. Im thrilled to see this historic investment in CT made helicoptersthe worlds finest, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal posted on X.

Sikorsky said they designed the CH-53K helicopter to meet the Marine Corps lift requirements for the battlefield  to transport troops, supplies and heavy equipment forces across a contested environment, according to the company. Sikorsky said they already delivered 20 CH-53K aircraft to the U.S. Marine Corps. An additional 63 aircraft are in various stages of production and assembly.

Jobs, jobs, jobs. Excellent news for Sikorsky workers, for Stratford, and for our regional economy. This announcement brings predictability to Sikorsky for years to come. Its a big win, and a testament to Sikorsky excellence. Congratulations to Sikorsky President Rich Benton, to his team, and to their entire supplier base. Thank you as well to our federal delegation and to the administration for their support of Sikorsky innovation, said State Sens. Jason Perillo (R- Shelton) and Stephen Harding (R- Brookfield) in a joint statement.

The news comes nearly three years after Sikorsky lost out on a $1.3 billion contract with the U.S. Army. The Army was searching for the next generation of long-range helicopters, but Sikorsky was not named its new supplier. Instead, the Army signed Bell Textron, a Texas-based company, to produce the replacement for the Sikorsky-produced UH-60 Black Hawk.

2025 Hartford Courant.

Visit courant.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Sailors man the rails of the guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold as it pulls away from Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, Sept. 29, 2025. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes)



YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan  The guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold, with sailors in their summer whites manning the rails, concluded a decade with the U.S. 7th Fleet and sailed out of Tokyo Bay on Monday.

The Benfold, part of Destroyer Squadron 15 since it arrived in October 2015, will relocate to Naval Station Everett, Wash., a ship rotation first announced by the U.S. Pacific Fleet in August 2024.

Benfold successfully stood the watch in the Western Pacific for 10 years, squadron commander Capt. Dave Huljack said in a news release Thursday. This ship leaves with an amazing legacy as a workhorse for the fleet and a stalwart friend to our allies and partners.

The Benfolds replacement is the guided-missile destroyer USS Preble, which arrived at Yokosuka in October. It is the only U.S. warship outfitted with the High-Energy Laser with Integrated Optical-dazzler and Surveillance, or HELIOS, system, which can counter small watercraft and drones.

Sailors man the rails of the guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold as it pulls away from Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, Sept. 29, 2025. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes)



The Benfold in 2015 similarly arrived as one of the Navys most advanced destroyers, equipped with the newest version of the Aegis Combat System  a suite of technology on Arleigh Burke-class destroyers that integrates combat and defense systems.

Ship swaps are routine for the Navy, and the service over the past decade has often sent its most advanced vessels to the Indo-Pacific, which the Pentagon continues to view as important due to activity by China, North Korea and Russia.

While based at Yokosuka, the Benfold regularly took part in multination exercises, including Malabar, Valiant Shield, Keen Sword and Resolute Dragon. It made at least three trips through the Taiwan Strait and one through the South China Sea to maintain a right to pass through international waterways, trips that China condemned as violations of its sovereignty.

The Benfold logged more than 4 million miles across the Pacific, according to the Navy release.

Sailors man the rails of the guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold as it pulls away from Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, Sept. 29, 2025. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes)



Over the last decade, Benfold and her crew have executed our nations tasking with strength and excellence, Huljack said. We will miss Benfolds grit and determination but look forward to her crews continued success in DESRON 31.

Among the accolades the Benfold crew earned in Japan were three Battle Efficiency Battle E Awards, the, the Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy, the Chief of Naval Operations Afloat Safety Award and 10 consecutive Fleet Health Promotion and Wellness Green H awards, according to the release.

Through tenacity and teamwork, Benfolds decade assigned to the Western Pacific has allowed our crew to build on the ships great accomplishments, said Cmdr. Rich Mayer, the Benfolds skipper. Benfold is leaving the Seventh Fleet family on a high note. Our families will miss Japan, and we will miss sailing alongside one of our nations strongest allies.
U.S. military police detain a service member during a joint patrol of Gate 2 Street in Okinawa city, Okinawa, Sept. 27, 2025. (Brian McElhiney/Stars and Stripes)



OKINAWA CITY, Okinawa  U.S. military police detained at least five service members during their most recent joint patrol of a nightlife hotspot on Okinawa, part of a crackdown on off-duty misconduct that began in April.

The patrols on and around Gate 2 Street outside Kadena Air Base alongside Japanese authorities are meant to enforce a ban on off-base drinking by U.S. service members between 1 and 5 a.m. They seem to be having the intended effect, military police leaders with the Air Force and Marine Corps said Saturday on Okinawa citys streets.

Maj. Donald Kidd, acting Marine Corps provost marshal on Okinawa, compared Saturday to an earlier patrol, saying the improvement in behavior was night and day.

The service members understand, he told Stars and Stripes at Kadenas Gate 2. Even when we catch them in the act, they know. Everybodys informed and the message is out there.

U.S. military police arrested four U.S. service members during the patrol for violations of the U.S. Forces Japan Liberty Order, USFJ spokesman Col. John Severns said by email Wednesday. He declined to provide further information about the four.

Air Force Lt. Col. Brad Robinson of the 18th Security Forces Squadron led roughly 35 military police personnel from all services on the patrol from midnight to 2 a.m.

They were joined by 26 Japanese police and community members, an Okinawa city spokesman said by phone Monday. Some Japanese government officials speak to the press only on condition of anonymity.

Were trying to create a safe enough environment where the community starts to trust us  so we can get rid of the liberty order, Robinson told police personnel before the patrol began. Our actions tonight will help build that environment.

Members of the 18th Security Forces Squadron walk a detained service member to Kadena Air Base during a joint patrol in Okinawa city, Okinawa, Sept. 27, 2025. (Brian McElhiney/Stars and Stripes)



Police began checking service members IDs at 1 a.m. and detained an airman shortly after. Master Sgt. John Haines of Kadenas security forces told the airman he would be charged under the Uniform Code of Military Justice for disobeying a lawful order.

He declined to say whether the airman was arrested or detained and directed questions to the 18th Wings public affairs office, which acknowledged but did not immediately respond to email and phone inquiries Monday.

The patrol detained at least four other service members. All were brought to Gate 2 to be processed by their respective service branches.

One service member ran from police and patrol groups were radioed to be on the lookout. He was apprehended in a parking lot just off Gate 2 Street.

The ones that we do end up processing, its usually [because] theyre really belligerent in their actions and the things that they committed, Kidd said.

Kidd said he led a Sept. 13 patrol solely by U.S. military police. That was the first time U.S. military police patrolled the city on their own, Wesley Hayes, spokesman for Marine Corps Installations Pacific, said by email Monday.

Two service members were arrested Sept. 13 for violations of the UCMJ, U.S. Forces Japan spokesman Col. John Severns wrote in an email Monday. He did not have more information.

During an Aug. 16 patrol, three Marines were arrested and another six were detained, the service said at the time.

After Saturdays patrol, Robinson said no violent incidents with service members occurred.

The safety of the Okinawan community is really what we want, he said. We want this place to be safe, so thats a good sign.

Stars and Stripes reporter Keishi Koja contributed to this report.
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Kevin C. Leahy, at the time commanding general of Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve, visits the al-Hol displaced persons camp in northeast Syria in October 2024. (Emma Scearce/U.S. Army)



U.S. Central Command is stepping in to help reduce the population of large detention camps in northeast Syria that officials say have become incubators for ISIS radicalization.

Speaking to delegates at the United Nations in New York City last week, CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper said he plans to establish a new process to speed up the repatriation of nearly 29,000 displaced people at the al-Hol and al-Roj camps, as well as the 9,000 ISIS fighters held in nearby prisons.

At their peak in 2019, following the territorial defeat of the Islamic State in the country, al-Hol and al-Roj held more than 70,000 people, according to CENTCOM.

Since then, nearly 40,000 detainees have been returned to their country of origin, but those who remain are still susceptible to ISIS indoctrination, Cooper said.

Without more aggressive intervention, the problem will only get worse, the commander told global leaders.

ISIS remains significantly influential in displaced persons and detainee camps, Cooper said at the U.N. on Friday This is a fact, this is a reality that must be addressed.

Detention security has been a major concern as the Pentagon reduces the number of U.S. troops in Syria. The U.S. for years has provided training and funds to its Kurdish partners in the Syrian Democratic Forces who guard the camps and prisons, but breakouts have still occurred.

Boys at al Hol displaced persons camp in Syria play soccer in 2022. (Cameron Christensen/Combined Special Operations Joint Task Force - Central)



In 2022, ISIS freed hundreds of fighters from Hasakah prison by blasting a hole through an exterior wall. The attack triggered a 10-day fight that drew in U.S. and British forces and left hundreds of militants dead.

While the U.S. has continued to support anti-ISIS operations in the region, including regular strikes against top leaders, experts worry a troop drawdown could embolden ISIS to attempt more prison breaks as it looks to reconstitute.

Fears of an ISIS resurgence have also been exacerbated by the ongoing turmoil in Syria following the fall of the Assad regime.

Although the interim government in Damascus has expressed a willingness to assist the U.S. in counter-ISIS efforts, analysts say it could be years before the new government is stable enough to secure the camps itself.

Speaking to delegates at the U.N., Cooper said the ISIS fighters in detention represent a latent threat to our homelands, and encouraged all nations to return their citizens for processing in their countries of origin.

Repatriating vulnerable populations before they are radicalized is not just compassion  it is a decisive blow against ISISs ability to regenerate, he said.

Development of the Joint Repatriation Cell is ongoing, said Lt Cmdr. Emily Pumphrey, a CENTCOM spokesperson.

This includes assigning personnel and developing processes. We will provide additional updates as planning continues, Pumphrey said Monday in a statement.

The Pentagon earlier this year announced plans to reduce the number of troops in Syria to fewer than 1,000, but its unclear how many currently remain.

As of May, American personnel and their anti-ISIS coalition partners had left Mission Support Site Green Village, H2 and Mission Support Site Euphrates, sometimes referred to as the Conoco gas field, according to the latest quarterly report from the Defense Departments Inspector General.

Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack has said he expects U.S. forces to eventually be consolidated into one base.
The roof of a house is torn off in Ninh Binh Province, Vietnam, Sept. 29, 2025. The death toll from Typhoon Bualoi in Vietnam has risen to 11, with 13 people still missing and 33 others injured, local daily newspaper Nhan Dan (People) reported Monday. (VNA/Handout via Xinhua)

HANOI, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from Typhoon Bualoi in Vietnam has risen to 11, with 13 people still missing and 33 others injured, local daily newspaper Nhan Dan (People) reported Monday.

The typhoon has damaged several public infrastructures, houses, fishing vessels, while causing power outages across the northern and central Vietnam, the report added.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh Monday conveyed his deepest condolences to the families of the victims, while urging authorities to swiftly address the storm's aftermath and ensuing floods. 

A sunken fishing boat is seen in Quang Tri Province, Vietnam, Sept. 29, 2025. The death toll from Typhoon Bualoi in Vietnam has risen to 11, with 13 people still missing and 33 others injured, local daily newspaper Nhan Dan (People) reported Monday. (VNA/Handout via Xinhua)

A tree and a utility pole are toppled in Ninh Binh Province, Vietnam, Sept. 29, 2025. The death toll from Typhoon Bualoi in Vietnam has risen to 11, with 13 people still missing and 33 others injured, local daily newspaper Nhan Dan (People) reported Monday. (VNA/Handout via Xinhua)

Residents salvage a sunken fishing boat in Hue City, Vietnam, Sept. 29, 2025. The death toll from Typhoon Bualoi in Vietnam has risen to 11, with 13 people still missing and 33 others injured, local daily newspaper Nhan Dan (People) reported Monday. (VNA/Handout via Xinhua)
Hundreds of generals and admirals are expected to be at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia on Tuesday for a meeting called by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. President Donald Trump says he will attend. (Marine Corps Base Quantico)



Hundreds of the U.S. militarys top officers are expected to be at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia on Tuesday for a meeting called by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. President Donald Trump says he will attend.

What they will hear from Hegseth remains unclear.

The Pentagon has not released any information about the meeting, declining to clarify the details and purpose, except for a statement last week from spokesman Sean Parnell: The Secretary of War will be addressing his senior military leaders early this week.

Trumps appearance could overshadow Hegseths planned address, and it adds new security concerns  including the Secret Service  to the nearly unprecedented military event.

The orders were sent on short notice to senior generals and admirals worldwide and require anyone in a command position with the rank of one-star general or rear admiral and above, as well as their senior enlisted leaders, to be at Marine Corps University in Quantico.

Trump cast the discussion largely as a pep talk, telling NBC News in an interview Sunday that they would be talking about how well were doing militarily, talking about being in great shape, talking about a lot of good, positive things.

According to a report in the Washington Post, citing people not authorized to speak on the topic, the speech will be about military standards and the warrior ethos.

Other topics that might be on the agenda include: the administrations new national defense strategy, which turns the focus to defending the homeland; and a Hegseth memo from May that called for a potential broad restructuring of the Army that will trim the number of generals, merge headquarters commands and prioritize drone swarms needed to counter Chinas growing military.

Across the military, there are 800 generals and admirals of all ranks. Many command thousands of service members and are stationed across the world in more than a dozen countries and time zones.

Contributing: The Washington Post; The Associated Press
UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- The situation in El Fasher, the capital of Sudan's North Darfur state, grows more dire by the day as the siege tightens, UN humanitarians said on Monday.

"Satellite images show that berms surrounding the city have now extended more than 68 kilometres, narrowing the remaining gap to as little as three to four kilometres, further constraining options for movement into or out of the area," said UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

"The images also show large groups of people attempting to flee on foot from within the berm-enclosed area. Local sources reported that civilians trying to leave the city have faced violence, harassment and looting along insecure routes," it added.

"OCHA once again calls for the protection of civilians in El Fasher as required by international humanitarian law, as well as for safe passage for those who wish to leave," the office said.

An association of Sudanese doctors said that more than 20 people in El Fasher, including children and pregnant women, have died of malnutrition this month.

The deaths highlighted the urgent need for humanitarian access to reach the besieged population with life-saving assistance, OCHA said.

The office said the humanitarian situation is also dire in the Kordofan region, where conflict has restricted access to food, essential supplies, banking services and humanitarian aid, and has damaged critical infrastructure.

The International Organization for Migration reported that more than 1 million people have been displaced in the region since the conflict started two and a half years ago.

Seasonal flooding also continues to increase humanitarian needs in Sudan.

OCHA said that in Aj Jazirah state, local sources reported that floodwaters have destroyed farms in the Janub Al Jazirah locality, affecting 15,000 people. Residents urgently require shelter, food and essential medicines.

The humanitarian office said that stepped-up international support is urgently needed to sustain and scale up life-saving operations across Sudan. 
U.S. President Donald Trump (L) welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Sept. 29, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong)

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to a 20-point plan proposed by the Trump administration aimed at ending the conflict in Gaza, following their talks at the White House.

"I also want to thank Prime Minister Netanyahu for agreeing to the plan and for trusting that if we work together, we can bring an end to the death and destruction that we've seen for so many years, decades, even centuries, and begin a new chapter of security, peace and prosperity for the entire region," Trump told a joint press conference at the White House.

Trump also called on Hamas to accept the terms of the peace proposal. 

U.S. President Donald Trump (L) welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Sept. 29, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong)

U.S. President Donald Trump (L) welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Sept. 29, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong)

U.S. President Donald Trump (L) welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Sept. 29, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong)

U.S. President Donald Trump (L) welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Sept. 29, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong)

U.S. President Donald Trump (L) welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Sept. 29, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong)

U.S. President Donald Trump (L) welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Sept. 29, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong)

U.S. President Donald Trump (L) welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Sept. 29, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong)

U.S. President Donald Trump (L) welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Sept. 29, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong)

U.S. President Donald Trump (L) welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Sept. 29, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong)
SUR in English Monday, 29 September 2025, 13:21 Share

Gibraltar's distinctive Llanito language took centre stage at an international conference in Brussels focused on regenerating minority languages through lifelong learning and the arts.

The event, titled Regenerating Minority Languages through Lifelong Learning and the Arts, was co-organised by Gibraltar House in Brussels alongside the representative offices of the Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Northern Ireland, Puglia, Norway, Scotland and Wales.

The conference brought together policymakers, academics and artists to discuss ideas and best practices in language regeneration from their respective jurisdictions and, where possible, draw examples from the rich cultural heritage on display.

Representing Gibraltar's efforts to regenerate the Llanito language was Professor Brechtje Post from the University of Cambridge. Professor Post is an expert in phonetics and has been an integral part of the University of Cambridge team conducting ongoing research into Llanito. The same team collaborated with the Government previously in the production of an exhibition and a booklet on Llanito last year. Davina Barbara of Gibraltar Cultural Services also participated.

Professor Post and Davina Barbara took part in a closed roundtable of experts where they shared the progress made in Gibraltar regarding Llanito regeneration efforts. The roundtable was followed by a public evening discussion where Professor Post participated in an exchange about Creative Arts in Language Revitalisation. There she had the opportunity to highlight the work being done by Gibraltar's talented artists, writers, and poets who express themselves and publish in Llanito. The numerous initiatives that the Government and Gibraltar Cultural Services have made to support Llanito language regeneration through the arts were also referenced.

Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Joseph Garcia CMG, said: "We are delighted that the Llanito language was featured in an event in the heart of Brussels. It is a further example of the commitment this Government has made towards the regeneration of Llanito. I would like to sincerely thank Professor Post for her participation at the event and the team at the University of Cambridge for all their efforts towards supporting Llanito regeneration and revitalisation efforts ."
All four ministers lined up with the Rock of Gibraltar behind them.

SUR in English Gibraltar Monday, 29 September 2025, 12:26 Share

In an unprecedented moment for Gibraltar's political history, all four living chief ministers assembled yesterday outside the territory for the first time, marking a milestone in cross-border relations.

The historic gathering took place at the 40th anniversary celebration of the Mancomunidad de Municipios del Campo de Gibraltar, organised by Cadena SER Campo de Gibraltar in Guadacorte, San Roque.

The current chief minister, Fabian Picardo, appeared alongside his three surviving predecessors, Sir Peter Caruana, Joe Bossamo and Adolfo Canepa, at the Salon de Actos of ARCGISA, where participants engaged in a discussion examining the history, present challenges, and future of inter-regional cooperation between the Campo de Gibraltar and Gibraltar.

The event provided an opportunity to reflect on four decades of the collaboration across municipal boundaries in the region.

In his speech, the current chief minister emphasised the importance of mutual respect and forward-looking partnership. "It is a privilege to stand here with my distinguished predecessors, not only in commemoration of forty years of shared work, but as a tangible expression of what we can achieve when dialogue and respect guide our relationships," he said.

He acknowledged enduring differences between both sides of the frontier whilst highlighting emerging opportunities for enhanced collaboration. "We gathered not simply to celebrate an institution, but to renew our commitment to building bridges that bring real, lasting benefit to all people across Gibraltar and the Campo de Gibraltar, especially as we approach the new treaty, whose successful implementation will depend on constructive collaboration," the chief minister added.

The meeting was characterised by a warm and collaborative atmosphere, with all participating Chief Ministers expressing a shared determination to forge cooperative frameworks that deliver tangible benefits for citizens on both sides of the frontier.

There was broad consensus that the well-being of people in Gibraltar and across the Campo de Gibraltar will best be served through robust cross-border institutions, mutual respect, and common purpose, particularly in light of the forthcoming UK-EU treaty.

The event underscores Gibraltar's commitment to positive, partnership-based relations with its neighbours and the Government's resolve that the forthcoming treaty should be rooted in fairness, shared prosperity, and mutual respect.
Archidona town hall in the north of Malaga province has issued a municipal notice expressly banning the installation of solar panels in the historic centre and its immediate surroundings. The measure has been adopted after detecting a considerable increase in licence applications in recent months. According to the local government team, this proliferation of installations threatens to alter the image of the old town and, therefore, its value.

The document, signed by the mayor, states that the decision is based on the agreement reached unanimously by the urban planning and environment departments on 15 September. At that meeting, the municipal authorities analysed the impact of the solar panels and agreed that such installations generate visual and perceptive pollution that is incompatible with the conservation of a valuable area.

The text specifies that this affects both the direct view from the public road and the view from adjacent buildings and elevated points that offer a complete panoramic view of the municipality. In all cases, the presence of solar panels is considered a compromise to the integrity of the town's architectural appearance.

In accordance with local urban planning regulations and regional heritage protection legislation, the town hall stresses that the installation of solar panels is not permitted in the historic centre of Archidona or its surroundings. The aim is to enhance legal certainty and prevent new applications from being submitted which, by definition, cannot be authorised.

Panels installed without a licence

The bylaw does not only ban future installations, but also refers to existing installations. Therefore, solar panels installed without a licence must be removed before 15 November 2025. If this deadline is not met, the town hall will initiate the corresponding sanctioning and restitution of urban planning legality proceedings, which may include economic and disciplinary measures.

The warning addresses owners, tenants and residents of the historic centre. The town hall states that the measure has no other purpose than to preserve the urban and heritage identity of Archidona.
Jose Rodriguez Camara Rincon de la Victoria Monday, 29 September 2025, 11:46 Share

The first conference on emigration from Malaga to Hawaii has been held in California in the USA. Rincon de la Victoria historian Miguel Alba participated in the event, which is the result of research he published in 2016 about people from Malaga province emigrating to the American archipelago. The conference was held at the University of California, Davis, from 5 to 7 September and was organised by the Spanish Hawaiian Heritage Association.

Alba's research, which he has published in his book SS Heliopolis: the first emigration of Andalusians to Hawaii. 1907, has shown that 50 per cent of passengers arriving in Hawaii between 1907 and 1913 came from Malaga out of around 8,000 Spaniards, most were Andalusians.

The book, which has been translated into English, was followed by La Odisea del Orteric (The Odyssey of the Orteric), in which Alba recounts a second, tragic voyage in which 58 children died. "Thanks to this, many descendants of those emigrants, now Americans, were able to understand the reasons why their ancestors, four or five generations ago, left their homeland," explained Alba.

The findings allowed anthropologist Manuel Trinidad to find that some 600 passengers were from Extremadura. "Reconstructing this history led him to organise the first conference on this emigration in Spain, which was attended by nearly 50 Americans of Andalusian and Extremada descent," Alba explained.

After arriving in Hawaii nearly 90 per cent of the group moved to the mainland and in particular California. They settled in San Francisco, Rocklin, San Jose, Woodland, Fairfield or Vacaville. The fact that they were farmers allowed them to settle in a land they described as a place "similar to our beloved Andalucia".

The Spanish Hawaiian Heritage Association brought together specialists from Malaga and universities including Hawaii, Monterrey, the Basque Country and Extremadura, along with independent researchers. Also present were the Spanish consul in San Francisco, mayors from the area and prominent political figures from both Spain and the USA.

"There were emotional family reunions: people who, unexpectedly, were able to embrace relatives with whom they had lost contact more than a century ago," Alba, who spoke at the conference, said.

A small museum was set up for the occasion with photographs, paintings, letters and even musical instruments that the emigrants took with them on the ships. All of these objects had a story to tell, as Alba points out: "One of the many unique stories was that of a man from Malaga who used a van to deliver goods to different towns in California. He always carried his guitar with him and at each stop he would play 'verdiales', for which he received an extra tip."

Images from the conference. SUR

"Many people asked me for information about surnames and families from Grazalema, Salares, Ronda, Benagalbon, El Borge, Estepona and many others. What I take away from the whole experience is the kindness and affection that the attendees showed my wife and me. It was, without a doubt, a series of encounters filled with shared emotions," said Alba, who hopes that the next conference, planned for 2027, will take place in Malaga.

"Malaga has begun to learn about and recover a part of its forgotten history. Thousands of Malaga residents, victims of poverty, were forced to emigrate to Hawaii. Today, more than a century later, their descendants, now American citizens, are seeking to recover the family ties that time and distance have failed to erase," he said.

Alba added, "Without question, the commitment and collaboration of institutions is needed, as Malaga must be at the forefront of this story, a story that began here and more than a century later, continues to beat strongly on the other side of the ocean."
Susana Zamora Monday, 29 September 2025, 12:09 Share

A year ago, it was announced that the famous Spanish TV producer Jose Luis Moreno was putting up for sale the bare ownership to his mansion in Boadilla del Monte (Madrid). This type of financing scheme occasionally appears among the numerous listings posted on real estate websites in Spain. It combines the interests of the buyer, who purchases below market price in exchange for having to wait to enjoy their property until the seller dies, with those of the vendor, who obtains liquidity and retains the right of usufruct, meaning they can live in and enjoy their home for as long as they live.

You only have to take a look at the web portal Idealista to see some examples where, under the heading of 'Ideal for investors', there is bare ownership property for sale at prices far below their current value: "In El Ejido (Malaga), a 90-square-metre property valued at 290,000 euros in exchange for a lump sum payment of 141,000 euros. The usufructuary, a 65-year-old man, will continue to use the property until his death", reads the advert.

This is an option with pros and cons for both parties. Normally, the seller (usufructuary) is an elderly person, with no direct descendants to inherit the house and who is looking to supplement a modest pension. For the buyer (bare owner,) the house can be an investment for the future, as it would otherwise not be possible to obtain it at such a reasonable price. In some cases, it can be up to 50% or 60% cheaper. The savings are greater the younger the seller, as the buyer will likely have to wait longer to enjoy it.

In return, the property, if in a sought-after area, will probably appreciate in value over the years. Furthermore, maintenance and service costs are borne by the usufructuary until his or her death, although this depends on the agreement reached between both parties.

Longer life expectancy

A recent report on how such 'wealth liquidation products' are perceived by the elderly in Spain, conducted by Fundacion Edad y Vida and Fundacion Mapfre, comments on how the cultural and demographic changes of recent years are leading to the emergence of money-making schemes such as this one. "Longer life expectancy is leading to the need to pay for care that is almost essential in later life," stated the report. Furthermore, the authors explain, another sociological trend currently evident is the intention of many people not to reduce their consumption habits during retirement and to continue to enjoy activities such as travel or leisure. "Circumstances that imply the need to raise financial resources as they often exceed those paid out by the public pension system."

Therefore, the report points to products that are used in practice for this purpose of wealth liquidation: the sale of bare ownership in a property with the transferor reserving the usufruct for life, also the transfer of property ownership in exchange for a life annuity or a maintenance allowance, reverse mortgages or, lastly, the sale of the home in exchange for a lifetime lease. While the report acknowledges that this is still a small market in terms of size and highly localised in certain urban areas, the forecasts for future growth "are undeniable".

Specifically, bare ownership sales are a widespread option in European countries such as France and Belgium, but are still in the minority in Spain. Despite the increase in these operations following the pandemic, they came to a screeching halt last year, going from 1,845 in 2023 to 1,817 in 2024, as stated in the annual report from Spain's land registry.

The report recognises that everything seemed to indicate that the upward trend would continue, however, "the recovery in prices and favourable expectations regarding the evolution of this variable seem to have cooled this growth".

Decline in Malaga

In Malaga, this financing option, which rebounded in 2021 and returned to the pre-Covid trend (28 deals were recorded compared to 14 in 2020), has not quite caught on, as, according to the latest figures provided by Spain's property registrars, it has fallen again to 17 transactions.

Despite the initial benefits, it remains a controversial option in the current real estate market, especially in prime areas. "In general, the sale of bare ownership with usufruct is not always attractive for sellers due to the very low bids that do not compensate for the loss of family inheritance or the difference in the property's real value", said notary Ramon Blesa.

In the notary's opinion, the context of high prices in the real estate market and long life expectancies reduce the perceived value of bare ownership by buyers, making the offers "uncompetitive and the transactions barely worthwhile". To all this, Blesa added a third determining factor to the equation: the cultural tradition in Spain of leaving any property to one's children, thus further contributing to the low proliferation of these deals.

On the other hand, and from a tax perspective, if the seller is over 65, there is no capital gains tax in the IRPF (personal income tax), "only on the municipal capital gains", said Blesa. The buyer, on the other hand, would pay the 7% transfer of ownership tax on the value of the bare ownership, "which is calculated by subtracting the value of the usufruct from the property's value".
Tony Bryant Monday, 29 September 2025, 13:12 Share

The provincial authority's Edgar Neville auditorium in Malaga city hosted for the fourth Joan Hunt Awards gala ceremony last week, an initiative presented in Spanish and English during which awards were presented to foreign-born residents and associations that have made an important contribution to the local community.

Inspired by Cudeca's founder, Joan Hunt, who revolutionised palliative care not only locally but also nationally, the event was hosted by Marisa Martin, manager and medical director of the Cudeca Foundation, and the President of the provincial authority, Francisco Salado, who explained that these awards "are meant to honour Joan Hunt and her legacy, while also recognising those foreigners living in our province who we undoubtedly consider Malaga natives.

Among those chosen this time were La Cala de Mijas Lions Club, which received the Joan Hunt Solidarity Award. The association, founded more than 40 years ago and which is made up largely of foreign residents, was recognised for its continued support of families in need, the homeless, children with medical needs and its collaboration with schools and animal shelters, among other things.

The award was presented by the Mayor of Mijas, Ana Mata, who said that it was well deserved, while highlighting the close collaboration between the town hall and the charity. Around 30 people make up this group, who carry out actions to support very necessary projects within our municipality, the mayor said.

The provincial authority's president added: "There's nothing more gratifying than having people who have come to the Costa del Sol from other parts of the world who are so involved and aware of the problems facing our society. Their contributions make it more friendly and humane.

The Sabor de Malaga award was presented to Paraguayan resident Dora Orti, whose bakery, according to Salado, enriches our gastronomy through pastries, with the excellent idea of fusing recipes from her country with those from Malaga.

Among other awards presented on the night included the business award, which went to the Hotel Los Castanos; the award for diplomatic work, presented to the German Consulate in Malaga "for strengthening ties between the two territories; and the award for municipal initiative, which Estepona town hall received for its programme to promote the integration of foreign residents  sharing cultures.

Other recognitions were given to Chilean artist Lorenzo Saval (culture), swimmer Nina Zhivanevskaya (sport) and The Olive Press (communications).

Joan Hunts name lives on in the province of Malaga in many ways, and this initiative, which, during the first ceremony in 2022, presented SUR in English with the communications award, is another way of keeping her name and legacy alive.
Nuria Triguero Malaga Monday, 29 September 2025 | Updated 30/09/2025 14:26h. Share

He greets us in the 'hall' of Google Malaga, his face tired. "I haven't slept much... I stayed up working until 1am." Any big cyber-attacks we aren't aware of? "No, I was busy with my own stuff and the time flew by," he says apologetically.

He hasn't gone on holiday this summer either. But Bernardo Quintero feels "like a little boy" again: he's back to tinkering, experimenting, creating and breaking things... to entrepreneurship.

At the end of May he announced that he was leaving team management at Google to go back "to the start, to what I am passionate about, to what makes me happy": in other words, innovation. A decision that surprised people both inside and outside the company, but for the engineer from Velez, made perfect sense.

"I'm going back to the cave, to the basement... to the place where ideas are cooked," he said.

The basement is literal. For months, Quintero has been working for on floor -1 of the GSEC (the Google base in Malaga), leading a small team of five people - four of whom are fresh out of university - who 'cook' ideas with two key ingredients: AI and cybersecurity.

They have named themselves the Malaga Basement Team and are already gaining notoriety within Google: recently, several senior managers came to visit them from the US. They have even created merchandise: caps and T-shirts with the slogans "Innovate to protect" and "Stealth, Purpose, Impact".

They are not in the basement for the sake of it, having done well with the resources they had. They work there because when Bernardo recruited them earlier this year, none of them was a Google employee, so for confidentiality reasons they were not allowed access to the GSEC main floors.

"I had already been experimenting with AI for some time and, together with Javier Lopez, the director of the UMA Cybersecurity Chair [which is funded by Google], at the beginning of this year, we decided to create an opportunity for a small group of young people to come and work here with me on an R&D project," explains Quintero.

Brilliant minds of the UMA

Some of the brightest minds in the UMA's engineering schools responded to the Chair's call for applications. Arturo Aguilera, Alvaro Sanchez and Alejandro Garcia are all either 22 or 23: the first two are joint honours degree students in Computer Engineering and Mathematics and Garcia studies Computer Engineering. All three took the Reverse Engineering and Malware Analysis course organised by the chair last year.

As for age, the fourth member of the Malaga Basement Team is the exception: Dario Guerrero is 46 years old and had just left his civil servant position at the UMA Supercomputing Centre because he was bored; he was beginning to explore other career paths when Manolo Enciso, the director of the School of Computer Science, introduced him to Quintero.

Zoom

They clicked, and there he is, doing what he has loved to do since he was a child: tinkering. And the final member, Natalia, was actually working in the basement, but on another project to do with her area of expertise, user experience and user interface (UX/UI). From listening to them - because they talk a lot - she began to get involved in the tasks that her colleagues were tackling and ended up joining in on the adventure.

Omnia is the name of the 'creature' being created in Google's basement in Malaga. The initial challenge Bernardo took on was to find a way for AI to automate tasks that until now cybersecurity analysts had to do 'by hand': analysing files to see if they are malicious.

To do this they have to 'disassemble' the file and look at the code. That challenge is in the process of being solved: although there are many types of files and they have to train artificial intelligence to work with all of them, they have already proven that it can be done.

Now, what they have ended up creating has developed far beyond what it was built for. Omnia is Latin for 'everything' and that is what it aims to be: a platform capable of helping with all kinds of cybersecurity-related tasks.

What is Omnia?

Quintero explains in detail what Omnia is: "It is an AI platform applied to cybersecurity and designed for the community, both for expert analysts and the general public. It works as an assistant specialised in virus analysis but also other aspects of cybersecurity, being able to execute very technical tasks or answer questions that users have. Omnia's toolkit is useful for both complex investigations as well as helping with anything a general user may need. Additionally, it allows users to create and share resources such as 'prompts', workflows, knowledge bases and intelligent agents, with the option to select different AI models. In short, an AI-based shared space where experts and the curious can learn, experiment and contribute to making the internet safer."

Omnia itself summed up its purpose: "It is an artificial intelligence platform in cybersecurity, open to experts and the public, that functions as a specialised and collaborative space for learning, researching and protecting oneself on the internet".

Like any good 'startup' (albeit technically part of Google), the Malaga Basement Team works hard and fast.

"If there's one thing we all have in common, it's that we love what we do. And when you love what you do, you don't look at the clock: in the middle of the night you remember how you could solve a problem and you ask... no matter what time it is, if we put a message in the chat, someone is sure to answer," Alejandro explains.

And so, in record time, they had a prototype ready, which they presented at Google and is now being tested by more than 800 analysts at multinational companies. Soon - perhaps by the end of this month - they hope to launch a version of the platform that is open to the entire community. "The driving concept behind Omnia is that it should be a tool for the community; something like the VirusTotal of artificial intelligence," he explains.

From the basement to the top floor: signed up by Google

This R&D project in the 'catacombs' of the GSEC has already helped create job opportunities for two of its members: Alvaro has been employed at Google for a couple of months now - he combines his 'normal' job as a frontend programmer with working in the basement - and Arturo has passed the interview stage and is now waiting for an opening.

For the time being, Alejandro does not want to apply to Google, despite pressure from his family: "I want to be sure that it's something I actually want to do. What we have built here is causing a sensation within Google. We work in a way that suits us, in an area that we are passionate about, we move fast.... I don't know if I need to wear the 'Googler' label," he explains. "What he wants is to brag about is having said no to Google," Quintero exclaims with mock annoyance. So for the time being, it is Alvaro and Bernardo who are responsible for going upstairs to the 'microkitchens' for supplies when they are hungry.

The similarities between this crew and how VirusTotal began are evident - a team of six members, opening doors without asking for permission, the informal atmosphere, the lack of protocol and hierarchy or the working incessantly fast to maximise efficiency - a question arises: is there jealousy among the 'senior' members of VirusTotal?

"There is a bit of prickliness upstairs; I think they do miss me," the founder laughs, "happy" to be back doing what he really likes... and to have given up what he doesn't like: meetings.

He assures us that he has had no trouble delegating roles. "I was doing it before I stepped down.... At VirusTotal there is a great team, with people like Juan Antonio Infantes, Paloma Simon and Emiliano Martinez who already had management skills; now they have the opportunity to demonstrate their leadership and to continue moving up the ladder," he says.

A word to those interested: the UMA Chair of Cybersecurity will soon be offering an opportunity to grow this unique team.
The last day of San Diego Comic-Con Malaga (SDCCM) was unmatched. The attendance of Arnold Schwarzenegger was the finishing touch of an event in the capital of the Costa del Sol that broke even its best forecasts. About 120,000 people from all over Europe and Latin America entered the Palacio de Ferias y Congresos (Fycma) over the four days. SDCCM left an estimated economic impact of 50 million euros to the area.

An extraordinary atmosphere was forged by fans eager to enjoy the legendary event. The success of SDCCM, however, was also marked by moments of collapse, with endless queues on the busiest days - Saturday and Sunday. Many attendees expressed their dissatisfaction with the organisation of the space, which has prompted the responsible institutions and companies to expand the venue for the next event due in September 2026.

Zoom The crowded courtyard, entering the exhibition hall in an orderly fashion. Pedro Quero

Numerous families with children attended the closing day - Sunday, 28 September. The youngest ones could get in for free. Many people had prepared their costumes with so much patience and detail that they could compete with the professional cosplayers. Photos and compliments were being exchanged throughout the day. Fortunately, the queues, although still overwhelming, were not as stressful and busy as on Saturday, especially after Grupo Kuo - the company responsible for the event's security - took matters seriously and adopted a different strategy to minimise queues. The 90 security employees that worked on each day of the event speeded up queues with fences that marked the way for the attendees of the different spaces of the event.

Zoom Entire families in costume were the norm at Comic-Con yesterday. Salvador Salas

However, this did not prevent people with reservations from missing their events. Justo who had come from Cadiz, for example, did not get to see Arnold Schwarzenegger, despite having reserved a spot for the talk that started in Hall M at 11am. He had arrived outside the Comic-Con at 9am and it was not until 10.55am that he was able to enter. Like him, about a hundred people complained of the same circumstances. "It can't be that people without a reservation entered and we couldn't," they said.

The success was also evident on Sunday, although in unwanted and continuous queues at the entrances to the various Comic-Con venues

In response to questions from SUR, SDCCM organisers stated that they had warned everybody with a reservation for one of the specific spaces to arrive 20 minutes in advance, as they were to start letting people without reservations enter in the minutes before the start of the meeting. "We have 2,700 seats for those who have booked and 300 for those who haven't," they said, attributing the issue to the late arrival of those who had managed to book. However, as was Justo's situation, many had arrived late because of the wait at the entrance of the Comic-Con.

Improvements to be made by September 2026

Among the attendees of the closing day was president of the Junta de Andalucia regional government Juanma Moreno, who attended the meeting with the 'Terminator' and then walked through the exhibition hall. During his visit, he highlighted the event's "economic impact of 50 million", which represents a significant return for public investment. The Junta had invested 2.4 million euros in the first year of the event, while Malaga city council had contributed 800,000 euros.

Zoom Malaga mayor Francisco de la Torre (left), Juanma Moreno (centre) and David Glanzer, before Schwarzenegger's talk. P. Grinan

Moreno assured that access and queue management would improve in the following years. He said that the organisation is already working on this, planning "more space and surface area" for following years. The aim is to not only sell more tickets but to also allow attendees to move around the venue with more ease.

Moreno assured that access and queue management would improve in the following years

The president of the Junta attributed the long queues to the fact that "the forecasts were exceeded" this year. Initially, SDCCM was to reach a maximum of 60,000 attendees, but this figure more than doubled, exceeding 120,000 people. The original headquarters of Comic-Con (San Diego) confirmed the success of the Malaga event.

Zoom Director JA Bayona shows off the award presented to him by Alex de la Iglesia. alvador Salas

Sunday was also dedicated to a tribute to Spanish comic book artist Francisco Ibanez, with an immersive exhibition of his most famous characters - Mortadelo and Filemon. The event closed with a talk from director J.A. Bayona (Society of the Snow), who came straight from the San Sebastian International Film Festival, where he had played the role of one of the judges. Bayona received the Comic-Con award, with which he expressed his pride in the achievements of Spanish cinema and his gratitude to the audience - the final recipient and judge of artistic work.
Rafael Rodriguez Maaaga Monday, 29 September 2025, 16:04 | Updated 16:19h. Share

"Urgent. Victoria Esperanza needs bone marrow donors. Her treatment is not responding as expected. Please spread the word as widely as possible." This is the message that the religious brotherhood of the Crucifixion in Malaga city is currently spreading on social media, accompanied by a photo of six-year-old Victoria Esperanza. In the poster, she is wearing clothes and make-up alluding to fairy tales, with her eyes gazing at the sky. She has several bracelets on her hands, possibly from various other brotherhoods. The little girl is placed in the centre of the red poster - a colour associated with matters of urgency.

The Buen Pastor parish describes Victoria as "a very special girl". Her family is beloved by the church and her uncle Javi is the foreman of the brotherhood. "We are not going to stop. We love you, we are with you. We need a heart as big as yours here, with us. Together, yes we can!"

The brotherhood is asking people to donate bone marrow for Victoria Esperanza. "Do it today, do it now, it doesn't cost anything, it doesn't hurt, it's not dangerous," the brotherhood says, adding that bone marrow is something the "body regenerates in a short time".

Bone marrow donations, which require the donor to be between 18 and 40 years of age, can be made at the Centro de Transfusion, Tejidos y Celulas de Malaga in the grounds of the Hospital Civil in Malaga city.

"For Victoria, for so many in need... Save a life!" stresses the brotherhood, which has received the support of other brotherhoods and even music groups in Malaga, all of whom are spreading the message through different digital platforms and WhatsApp groups.
Jesus Hinojosa Malaga Monday, 29 September 2025, 17:22 Share

Malaga's planetarium project has still not taken off, five years after the city council resolved the tender to award a municipal plot of land located next to the Campamento Benitez grounds and the Ikea shopping centre to private individuals for the construction of this project. The concession was won by a company formed by local engineering firm Gestomer, renowned Malaga astronomer Alberto Castro Tirado and the multinational Sky-Skan.

However, five years later, the project is still at a standstill. In a recent response to political organisation Con Malaga (IU and Podemos), the city's urban planning department (Urbanismo) said that the transfer of the plot to the planetarium's promoters has not yet been formalised because they have been required to "present a series of complementary documents". "Once they meet this requirement and are up to date with the payment of the fee, we will proceed to approve the transfer," Urbanismo said, suggesting that private parties have failed to pay the fee of 115,000 euros per year.

As SUR reported last year, Urbanismo approved the granting of planning permission for the construction of the planetarium in November 2023. However, this permit has not been issued because it was subject to a series of conditions to be fulfilled by the private parties. Among these conditions was the presentation of the project for the execution of the building, other urban planning documents and the payment of a deposit of 75,283 euros to guarantee the replanting on the same plot of land of the trees affected by the construction. Specifically, the construction of the planetarium involves the removal of 234 trees and the transplanting of a further ten.

In its response to Con Malaga, Urbanismo stated that the private owners had a maximum of six months to fulfil these conditions in order to obtain the licence. However, in May last year, they submitted a request for an extension to carry out these requirements "alleging the complexity and uniqueness of the approved project".

However, on 13 August, Urbanismo issued a formal notice to the business owners to demand that they comply with the conditions that were not completed for the issuing of the licence, giving them a period of 15 days to do so.

Zoom Location of the plot where the construction of a planetarium is planned. SUR

As the building permit has not yet been issued, the three-month deadline set in the tender for work to begin has not started to run from that administrative milestone. This non-compliance by the promoters entitles the city council to cancel the building permit. However, it is not yet clear whether Urbanismo will finally redirect this project to other private promoters.

The companies behind the proposal said that they are not at a standstill and that there will soon be news regarding the progress of the project. However, at the administrative level, the planetarium is deadlocked.

Ten million euros of investment

The construction work on the planetarium involves an investment of around ten million euros. As SUR reported in 2020, it will be the largest in Spain and one of the largest in the EU. Its projection room, with a capacity of 400 people, will have an internal diameter of 27 metres. It is planned on a plot of 8,659 square metres, next to the road that connects the N-340 with the Guadalmar motorway. The planetarium will have 116 parking spaces.

The tender for the awarding of this municipal plot of land for the construction of a planetarium was promoted by the city council following a proposal submitted by Jaen-based company AstroAndalus. However, the winning bid was submitted by Malaga Planetarium.

The promoters expect around 500,000 visitors a year. Science and technology exhibitions will be held on one of the two floors of the building and there will also be a space for educational workshops on science and technology for young people.
ADEN, Yemen, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- A Dutch-flagged cargo ship was struck by a missile fired by Yemen's Houthi group while sailing in the Gulf of Aden on Monday, leaving two crew members injured, a government official told Xinhua.

An official with the government's Coast Guard forces, who spoke on condition of anonymity, identified the vessel as Minervagracht and said it came under attack around 2:00 p.m. local time (1100 GMT) while transiting the international shipping lane in the Gulf of Aden, south of Yemen.

He confirmed that at least one missile directly hit the ship, sparking a fire on board and wounding two of the 19-member crew. The injured sailors were in need of urgent medical evacuation, he added.

The crew was forced to abandon the vessel after the strike because of extensive damage and a spreading fire, the official said. A distress signal was sent, and maritime authorities are assessing the situation.

The Houthis did not immediately claim responsibility for the incident.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said earlier on Monday that it received a report of an incident involving a merchant vessel about 128 nautical miles southeast of Yemen's Aden.

In an initial statement posted on social media platform X, UKMTO said the ship's master witnessed a splash and smoke in the distance, astern of the vessel. It later said in an updated statement that military authorities confirmed the ship was "hit by an unknown projectile" and was "on fire."

Earlier in the day, residents in central Yemen's Al Bayda province reported that the Houthis launched a missile from mountainous positions toward the Arabian Sea.

The Gulf of Aden forms part of a vital maritime corridor linking the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea. In recent months, the waterway and the neighboring Red Sea have witnessed repeated attacks on commercial shipping, attributed to the Houthis, who say their operations are intended to pressure Israel and its allies in solidarity with Palestinians amid the Gaza conflict. 
Juan Cano Malaga Monday, 29 September 2025, 15:49 Share

Juvenile offenders are usually placed in reform centres, where a team of psychologists and educators dive into their behaviour and family environment to try to straighten the crooked tree. Some succeed and the teenagers reach adulthood leaving behind a problematic past. Others, like S., do not.

The journey that plunged him further into the criminal underworld began precisely on the day he decided to escape from a juvenile detention centre in Belgium. At the age of 17, having tasted freedom again, he received an assignment that would allegedly take him several rungs up the criminal ladder.

National Police officers have been able to reconstruct every step of the macabre plan in a highly complex international investigation. However, they are still trying to find out what S. was promised in return for executing the order. From experience, the police know that such jobs are offered on private Telegram channels.

On 7 December 2024, S. boarded a plane. He took off from Eindhoven mid-afternoon and landed at Malaga Airport a couple of hours before the crime happened. According to the police, he was picked up by a young Dutchman (we will call him C.) who had been hired as a guide on the ground.

They went to Fuengirola, where the target was located in a cannabis club a few metres from the promenade. They then went to a hotel where the weapon was waiting for S. - a new and clean assault rifle, like those used by the US Army.

Although it has not been possible to verify it, police suspect that it was acquired on the black market, probably from the war in Ukraine. The question of how it got to the hotel has also been answered. It was brought into Spain by three young, pretty girls who travelled by car from Paris so as not to arouse suspicion. In addition to transporting the weapon, they were responsible for all the logistics.

The investigators suspect that the perpetrator of the crime, i.e. the hooded boy who showed up on the night of 7 December at the door of the cannabis club wielding the rifle, was S.

The teenager reportedly took advantage of a supposed customer leaving to gain access to the establishment. According to the police reconstruction, the victim noticed that he was hooded and with a rifle in his hand and so he hurried to close the door. The assailant kicked him and even fired a few shots, but he did not manage to get in.

The victim returned inside the establishment, where people started shouting and looking for a way out. They even tore some awnings to try and get out onto Calle Asturias, but they ended up in a death trap.

The hitman decided to go ahead with the plan. According to sources, he circled the premises looking for his target. Around the corner, he shot down a young Dutchman who was simply the first to come out onto the street.

Investigators were able to reconstruct the murder thanks to security cameras at the club. The supposed customer, who had opened the door, did not seem to flinch when he came across a hooded man armed with a rifle. The police suspected that he was the bait. We will call him G.

After the murder, the perpetrator threw the gun under a car and fled on a bicycle. According to the investigation, he later abandoned the bike, continued on foot and eventually took a taxi. He then entered a bar, where he waited until the next morning.

His cronies went to look for him the next day. The three - the minor (S.), the accomplice (C.) and the bait (G.) - went to a shop, purchased bottles of whisky and went to a party in a hotel on the coast.

Barely 48 hours after the crime, the teenager left Spain with C. They travelled by bus from Malaga to Paris and from there to the Netherlands.

G. had reportedly already begun to make arrangements to leave the country, but it took the police fewer than four days to identify and arrest him in Torremolinos.

Second phase of the investigation

By then, the police already knew that C. had been the coordinator of the crime in Spain. However, they discovered that he had been receiving orders from another individual, also a young man of Dutch nationality (O.). O. was the brains of the operation.

When C. was identified, he was already in the Netherlands, so the Spanish police asked the Dutch authorities for international cooperation.

Three weeks later, around Christmas, another murder took place in Amsterdam. The Dutch police linked C. to that crime and even intercepted a conversation that revealed that the man killed in Fuengirola had been the wrong target. "Don't make the same mistake as in Spain," O. told C.

Subsequently, Dutch authorities found C.'s hideout. The raid took place in the early hours of the morning. While they were preparing the operation to arrest him for the crimes in Amsterdam and Fuengirola, C. came out of the house and reportedly started shooting at the police forces.

One of the officers was shot in the chest three times, but the rounds only hit his bulletproof vest. C. was also shot and when he fell to the ground, his brother, who had been in the hideout with him, picked up the gun and continued firing shots. A stray bullet ended up seriously wounding a woman who was in the area. The young man was eventually arrested.

The two investigations eventually led to O., who was arrested and imprisoned in the Netherlands. The three young women, who had been in charge of transport and accommodation, were also arrested.
Paco Grinan Malaga Monday, 29 September 2025 | Updated 30/09/2025 08:13h. Share

Korean media has gone global thanks to Squid Game and k-dramas, which have flooded the streaming platforms like a 'hallyu' (Korean wave). This tide has also reached Malaga which this month has been the filming location for the series Surely Tomorrow, starring one of the biggest stars in Asian cinema, Park Seo-Joon.

An actor with an eternal twenty-something face, he is considered to be the king of romantic dramas in his country and has made his way into Hollywood, starring in the blockbuster The Marvels (2023). His 25 million followers on Instagram have been stirred up by his presence in Malaga to film the production that will be released on Prime Video.

Filming has also taken place in other parts of Malaga city, such as Plaza Uncibay and Molina Lario, as well as scenes shot in Marbella. Along with Seo-Joon, who arrived in Malaga earlier this month from Dubai, his co-star is popular Korean actress, Won Ji-An, known for her role in the franchise The Squid Game, as player 380 in season two of the show. The two are the main attraction of Surely Tomorrow, a romantic drama about second chances.

The series co-stars Won Ji-An, another popular Korean actress, who gained notoriety after her role in Squid Game

Although the actors aren't familiar faces in Spain, the couple are very popular in South Korea, so during the filming they had a security team and their presence did not go unnoticed in the centre of Malaga. Catching a photo or a video of the couple proved to be (almost) impossible, although many tried while the actors were filming different scenes on the street.

According to Amazon, Surely Tomorrow, directed by Lim Hyun-uk and Yu Young-ah, tells the story of Lee Kyeong-do (played by Park) and Seo Ji-woo (Won), a young couple who fall in love in their early twenties and play out a passionate romance until they finally break up. Years later, they meet again, but fate puts them in a difficult situation, as the young man, now a journalist, investigates a case involving his former partner's husband.

During recent shooting, scenes were filmed in historical locations, such as at the doors of the church of San Agustin, where Park Seo-Joon's character waits for Won Ji-An, whom he surprises while her back is turned. After the cut - filming in both Spanish and English - the team lifted the tents and trucks and moved to Calle Alcazabilla to continue filming. In this new location, the South Korean stars were back in front of the cameras, although, on this occasion, they sat on the terrace of El Vegetariano for a new scene.

Produced by the South Korean company SLL (known for k-dramas such as The Tale of Lady Ok and The Art of Negotiation), Studios In, the Andalusian company Flow Studio and the Mallorcan film production company Campos Films, the series is the first international production to start its shooting schedule in the area in the last four months of the year, due to the good weather in the province.

With the assistance of Malaga Film Office - Malaga city council's film production service - the shooting was achieved in collaboration with reputable Malaga-based companies, such as A Film Location, (who chose locations for the series The Crown and The Warrior Nun).

The casting was led by the Malaga agency Modexpor (Game of Thrones), whose careful selection of extras and recurring characters included, a Picasso lookalike, young actors of black ethnicity and performers aged 45 to 60 who could speak English. However, all of the attention went to the actor with 25 million followers and the actress from Squid Game.
Some hospitality businesses in Ronda have already introduced the new bins on their terraces, which will be compulsory from January 2026.

Ronda town hall has launched a pioneering campaign in the town to promote cleanliness in public spaces linked to the hospitality industry. Mayor Mari Paz Fernandez announced that, starting in January 2026, businesses with outdoor seating will be required to provide table-top bins for waste disposal.

The mayor explained that the objective of this measure is to "raise awareness among both restaurateurs and the general public of the importance of keeping the town clean, a job for everyone". Fernandez noted that this is a new concept within municipal byelaws and stressed that it responds to a problem identified in recent years: the accumulation of rubbish on terraces and the surrounding area, especially napkins and food wrappers that easily end up in public spaces, especially on windy days.

To facilitate the implementation of this obligation, the council has begun distributing 800 free table-top waste receptacles bearing the town hall's coat of arms and the logo of the municipal tourism company, Turismo de Ronda SA. With this, the local government team aims to support hospitality businesses in the process of adapting to the new regulations.

The measure was presented at a press conference by the mayor, accompanied by two councillors: Jorge Fernandez for public roads and Angel Martinez for tourism, who is also head of Turismo de Ronda SA. During the event, it was emphasised that cleanliness is one of the main challenges facing cities and towns with high visitor volumes and that these types of actions contribute to improving the experience of local residents and tourists alike.

Determining factor

Fernandez insisted that the collaboration of the hospitality industry will be "fundamental" to ensuring the success of the initiative. In this regard, he noted that the hospitality industry is one of Ronda's main selling points and that maintaining its open-air spaces in optimal conditions is a determining factor in preserving the town's image.

The town hall plans to intensify its information campaign over the coming months to explain the details of the new regulations to business owners and ensure that, by the deadline, all such places with outdoor seating and tables have the appropriate containers.
C. P. S. Valencia Monday, 29 September 2025, 10:07 Share

The extratropical storm Gabrielle affecting Spain's eastern Mediterranean coast, with red level (extreme risk) alerts activated for torrential rain, has already left its mark. During Sunday night, torrential downpours caused the river Huerva in Zaragoza and the ravine of La Saleta in Aldaia, in the province of Valencia, to burst their banks. Additionally there were power cuts in the province of Tarragona. In the Valencia region, still fearful following the deadly effects of the 'Dana' on 29 October last year, the regional government teams headed by Carlos Mazon and Salvador Illa yesterday ordered the suspension of classes in schools in Valencia and Catalonia for this Monday, 29 September.

In addition, among the incidents reported in the early hours of this Monday morning was the mobilisation of the Castellon provincial fire brigade to rescue a person from the interior of their vehicle which had become trapped by water in Sant Jordi. The same situation happened in Zaragoza, where the Diputacion's fire crews had to help several people who were trapped in their vehicles. The heavy downpours forced the Barranco de la Muerte (death ravine) to be closed in Zaragoza, where significant damage was reported in Cuarte, Cadrete and Maria de Huerva. The 112 Aragon emergency service control room dealt with almost 1,700 calls and 126 incidents overnight.

As far as road closures are concerned, eight roads were closed to traffic this Monday. Spain's Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) has reported that in the province of Valencia the CV-472, from kilometre 7.9 at Los Corrales, to kilometre 8.29 in Las Cuevas; the CV-395 in both directions, from kilometre 17 in Chera to 27, in the town of Sot de Chera; as well as the CV-429, from kilometre 16 in Yatova to 28 in Hortunas. In Catalonia, the C-12 between Amposta and Tortosa, the TV-3314 between Godall and Ulldecona and the TV-3311 between Santa Barbara and La Senia (Tarragona) were closed in the early hours of Monday morning. In Aragon, the A-2306 road is closed to traffic due to flooding, at Azuara (Zaragoza) from kilometre 35.72 to 33, in both directions. The TE-V-1703, at Vinaceite (Teruel), is also closed from kilometre 3.6 to 3.8.

In addition, the heavy rains that have fallen overnight and those expected to arrive throughout the day are causing delays on the rail network in the Valencia region and Catalonia. Renfe has reported that the Valencia Cercanias and Rodalies local commuter trains are affected, while an AVE high-speed train and a long-distance train suffered delays in the early hours of the morning. Specifically, Cercanias de Valencia and Rodalies de Cataluna have suffered delays due to the accumulation of water on the tracks, although for the moment it has not been necessary to cut traffic. The rains have also caused delays on two AVE and long-distance trains from Castellon to Madrid and from Valencia to Barcelona, according to state train operator Renfe.
Africa Albala Valencia Monday, 29 September 2025, 08:34 | Updated 09:41h. Share

Streets and garages flooded, people rescued from their cars, communications affected and some ravines overflowed. This was the scene left in Spain on Sunday by the former-hurricane Gabrielle, which has now become a storm, in some provinces in the east of the mainland. Zaragoza, Tarragona and Castellon are, for now, the regions most affected by weather conditions that have led to the declaration of the red level for extreme risk of rain in some areas.

In anticipation of the situation worsening in the coming hours, Spain's state meteorological Agency (Aemet) has updated the warning for extreme risk of rainfall to red level in the provinces of Valencia, Castellon and Tarragona from this Monday 29 September. The forecast predicts that the heavy rainfall could last until Tuesday.

The province of Zaragoza, one of the worst hit by the storm so far, is at amber level, where storms with hail triggered several incidents this Sunday afternoon. Although the hail did not cause major damage, the torrential rain did, leaving neighbourhoods cut off and causing flooding in garages and houses in the provincial capital and in towns such as Santa Fe, Cadrete, Cuarte and Maria de Huerva.

The torrential rain that fall on the Aragonese capital forced firefighters to rescue several people trapped in their vehicles in flooded areas, although none of these interventions have been critical. In addition, the tram service has been interrupted on several sections of the route, and Local Police officers cut off the Z-30 as a precaution in the Barranco de la Muerte ravine, the scene of a major flood of July 2023. The authorities are also keeping a close eye on the possible overflowing of some rivers, such as the Huerva.

For his part, the president of Aragon, Jorge Azcon, has reported that he is touring the areas most affected by "the very heavy rains". "I have just met with the mayor of Cuarte and we have checked the state of the school infrastructures in the municipality," he said on his X profile.

In Tarragona, the 112 emergency telephone number received dozens of calls this Sunday afternoon related to the rains, especially in the south of the province. Most of them were concentrated in the Baix Ebre and Montsia areas, mainly the municipalities of Cherta and Amposta. Precisely between the latter town and La Rapita, the Servei Catala de Transit transport authority cut the N-340 road in both directions due to the presence of large pools of water and the overflowing of a nearby ravine. The Murcia region will also be affected, according to forecasts, and is therefore at an amber level.

The president of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, has expressed through his X account that he is "pending the evolution of the predicted torrential rains" and has asked for caution and to avoid unnecessary travel and outdoor activities.

 Tormenta de gran intensidad afectando en este momento al norte de la Comunitat Valenciana. En el video, la AP7 entre Vinaros (C) y Amposta (CAT, con moderada afeccion al trafico de vehiculos  pic.twitter.com/ZWh09VD6mT  VOST Comunitat Valenciana (@VOSTcvalenciana) September 28, 2025

In Castellon, the red warning for extreme rain was activated on Sunday, with hail and rain in municipalities such as Vinaroz, and it will be extended throughout the day this Monday. In both Valencian provinces and in Tarragona, the ES Alert was sounded in the afternoon due to rainfall, something that did not happen in Zaragoza.

Red warning in Catalonia and the Valencia region

After these first incidents, Monday and Tuesday will be the most adverse days of this episode caused by former-Hurricane Gabrielle. From the early hours of this morning, locally heavy or very heavy and persistent storms are expected in the Valencian region and Tarragona, which will spread during the afternoon to other areas of the inland southeast.

In view of these forecasts and with the human tragedy of the 'Dana' of eleven months ago still clear in the memory, Emergencias de la Comunidad Valenciana has doubled the number of staff to answer the 112 emergency telephone number in the coming hours. In addition, "monitoring and control points" will be set up in areas such as the Barranco del Poyo ravine and the area around the Buseo dam.

This was stated by the councillor responsible for this area, Juan Carlos Valderrama, in statements to the media after a coordination meeting in which the "most sensitive" areas have been identified, according to the hydrographic confederations, and where "special attention must be paid in order to establish coordination mechanisms between the different administrations to handle any emergency that may occur".

In addition, some town councils in the province of Valencia, including the city, have already announced the suspension of classes due to the red weather warning for heavy rain. Municipalities affected by the Dana of 29 October, such as Benetusser, Sedavi and Alfafar, will not be able to attend classes either.
Javier Rodriguez Cadiz Monday, 29 September 2025, 12:47 Share

Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air is one of the companies offering to occupy the gap left by Ryanair at Jerez Airport. The well-known Irish airline ceased operations at Jerez Airport on 1 March, following a dispute with Aena over airport taxes. Ryanair's management accuses the Spanish airport operator of charging excessive fees, something that Aena denies. For this reason, Ryanair started a gradual cutback of routes in most of the Spanish airports, cancelling all of its operations in Jerez.

This has caused a significant drop in passengers at the Cadiz terminal, which other airlines are now trying to recover. Sources have revealed that there are negotiations with several companies. One of the companies that would be interested in providing services from Jerez Airport this autumn is Wizz Air, which already operates in Alicante, Barcelona, Madrid, Palma de Mallorca, Valencia, Castellon and, as of recently, in Malaga. Wizz Air has confirmed its expansion plans in Spain and its objective is none other than to take over the space left by Ryanair.

This airline has its focus on Eastern European countries, with flights to Sofia (Bulgaria), Budapest (Hungary), Bucharest (Romania), Warsaw (Poland). There are also flights to Rome and Milan (Italy).

For the moment, the company has confirmed the opening of 40 additional routes until March 2026 (many of which are already operational). According to Wizz Air's communication director Andras Rado, the decision "has nothing to do" with Ryanair, although the Irish company's withdrawal is an "opportunity" that its Hungarian counterpart is going to "take advantage of". Contrary to Ryanair's indignation with airport fees, Rado said that, while prices could "always be lower", they are still "competitive".

Although it is still far behind Ryanair in market share, Wizz Air is well positioned to profit from the Irish airline's withdrawal. So far in 2025, the Hungarian company has reached a record of 10 million seats in Spain, where it offers a total of 120 routes to 15 countries. Wizz Air has consolidated the sixth position in the Spanish-European market, with a 3.5% market share and 2.1 million passengers between January and June 2025, according to data from the Ministry of Transport. Moreover, it has an advantageous position in some destinations, such as Barcelona-El Prat Airport, where it is the third largest operator.

A gap to fill in Jerez

Ryanair's departure from Jerez Airport has meant the loss of flights to Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca and London, causing a sharp drop in passengers. The loss of connections operated by the Irish low-cost airline has been reflected in the poor results of the first half of 2025, when 487,137 passengers passed through Jerez Airport, which represents a decrease of 59,900 passengers (-9.5%) compared to the same period last year.

This drop contrasts with the strong increase experienced in Andalucia as a whole - a total of 22,464,983 passengers up to July and an increase of 6.4% compared to the first six months of 2024.

Following the departure of Ryanair, Jerez de la Frontera Airport has sought to relaunch itself with six new routes for the autumn season, enhancing its strategy to attract airlines with the capacity for growth: Jet2 (with British flights), Volotea (connection with Asturias and from there to the whole of Europe) and Binter (which has increased the frequency of flights to Tenerife and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria).

Strategy

The Hungarian company forecasts a jump from 62.8 million passengers (8 million in Spain) to 75 million (9.6 million in Spain). Wizz Air is the sole operator of 52 connections between Spanish cities or between Spain and other countries. So far, the company has only announced work with Jerez Airport, without mentioning any plans for Galicia, the Canary Islands or other regional airports where Ryanair is cutting its capacity.

Barcelona-El Prat is the main point of activity for Wizz in Spain and the goal is to expand supply in Madrid-Barajas, where it debuted in 2004. "Between January and September, we achieved 6.7 million passengers in Spain, which represents an increase of 22%. Our capacity for this year has increased by 20%, by three million seats," Rado said.

Operating costs

Wizz Air can afford to offer cheap tickets, because it flies mainly to secondary airports that charge lower fees. The company's 8,500 pilots and cabin crew fly more than those of other airlines, up to 850 hours a year, close to the regulated limit of 900. Wizz Air aircraft have an average age of 4.5 years, which facilitates intensive use of 12.5 hours a day. The company also sells tickets through its website, without intermediaries. Additional services such as baggage fees and flight meals account for 48% of its revenue. Digitisation is also key to lowering costs.

Future plans do not include venturing into the long-haul low-cost market, but Wizz is acquiring aircraft capable of reaching the Americas. The company, however, does not plan on flying to New York or Latin America, as such operations would not be profitable.

New horizons

Wizz Air's strength lies in opening up new horizons for passengers. It flies between Spain and traditional destinations such as Paris, London, Vienna, Milan, Venice or Budapest, but also to more unconventional ones such as Tirana (Albania), Skopje (North Macedonia), Craiovia (Romania) or Gdansk (Poland) - all destinations that the company describes as "beautiful" places to discover "at a good price".

The company has launched a TV campaign using artificial intelligence, which also helps it cut costs. This disruptive technology is also already applied to commercial policy and problem solving in daily operations.
Regina Sotorrio Monday, 29 September 2025, 19:55 Share

We are always, in some way, reminded of our bodies. Long hair, teeth, shoulders, an eye. But, as Horacio Quiroz argues, we are not just flesh: we are "moulded" by emotions, feelings, experiences. "Things that cannot be seen" and yet impact the individual on a cellular level.

The Mexican artist expresses this "weight of the immaterial" in paintings where the organic and the artificial, the human being and the cyborg, coexist naturally, creating a new creature that is both beautiful and grotesque. Quiroz's first exhibition in Spain takes place at the Galeria Yusto/Giner in Marbella from 26 September until 14 November. "I'm excited," he admits.

His work leaves no one untouched: it "confronts" the spectator directly. His characters are disturbing, strange, and invite the viewer to ask questions. This is part of his mission. "I always work with the body and the human condition - you are reflected in the art, it confronts you and questions you," he explains.

And, moreover, it speaks volumes about him. His art is linked to his own search for answers, through psychoanalysis, therapies and yoga. "I like to create more awareness in people, to bring them closer to self-knowledge, a place where the answers are not outside but inside you," he explains.

In a series of eleven paintings ranging from a small to large format, Horacio Quiroz (Mexico City, 1977) constructs hybrid beings - both human and machine - where faces are replaced by rocks, each with a different shape and appearance, some more artificial looking and others more organic, some more stony and others less so.

"It is important that each of these stones has its moment to shine, and that is why I use different tools to paint them. Brushes, paintbrushes, spatulas, by hand, a cloth... I like that you can feel their three-dimensionality and the contrast between textures," he says.

Zoom

He understands the body as "the place where things happen". For this reason, his backgrounds are flat and simple, so as not to divert attention from what he thinks is really interesting: "what happens inside" this creature. Beings from a hybrid world where genres are blurred. Horacio Quiroz approaches queerness from the cosmic.

"The first beings on Earth didn't label themselves homosexual or heterosexual; there wasn't this binary thing where we categorise everything super strictly," he argues.

El Peso de lo Inmaterial, curated by Victoria Rivers, is about the relationship between person and machine. Each piece starts from a sketch that Horacio Quiroz creates on his phone when inspiration strikes him, "because ideas arise at any time of the day".

He then works on it with AI until he generates the image that will be the oil painting. "In a way, there was a dialogue between the human and the cyborg. It's something that speeds up my process, it's faster and more interesting. You ask the AI for something and it hands you what it can create and then you ask it again. It's like a ping-pong dialogue, until I get a sketch that I like and that I think can go on the canvas," he says.

Scientists and philosophers have also inspired him; he titles his paintings after their quotes. "I come from an orthodox Catholic family and the belief system I was given as a child didn't work for me, so throughout my life I've had to search for what to believe in. Those phrases are things I believe in and they have helped me through life". Here's one: "Our machines are disturbingly lively, and we ourselves frighteningly inert" (Donna Haraway).
New Haven, N.Y.  A 60-year-old motorcyclist died after colliding Friday with a pick-up truck in Oswego County.

Jerry Davis, of Palermo, was pronounced dead at Upstate University Hospital, according to a news release from the Oswego County Sheriffs Office issued Monday.

Around 5:31 p.m. Friday, Davis was riding a 2017 Harley-Davidson Road Glide west on Route 1 in New Haven, deputies said.

A 2018 Chevrolet Silverado traveling north from Mack Road onto Pleasant Point Drive struck Davis motorcycle in the intersection, deputies said.

The driver, 24-year-old Dylan Mannise, sustained minor injuries.

Davis was first taken to Oswego Hospital before he was transferred to Upstate University Hospital where he died.

The crash is still under investigation.
Marcy, NY -- A defense lawyers last-ditch efforts Monday to spare a guard from prison for beating an inmate at a Central New York state prison fell flat.

Defense lawyer David Longeretta argued that the beaten inmate wasnt actually vulnerable because he wasnt physically restrained at the time.

Wow, Chief U.S. District Judge Brenda Sannes responded.

She noted that the inmate was awakened at 1 a.m., ordered to stand against a wall and beaten by three correctional officers.

Sannes sentenced fired corrections officer Rohail Khan to two years in prison for his role in the premeditated beating of inmate James Barton on April 23, 2023 at the Mid-State Correctional Facility in Marcy.

Supervising corrections officer Brandon Montanari was previously sentenced in August to three years in prison, while a trainee, Michael Williams, was sentenced Friday to 1 3/4 years in prison by Sannes.

RELATED: Inmate given the George Floyd treatment in beating at CNY prison, lawsuit claims

All three had previously pleaded guilty to deprivation of rights under the color of law, a felony. They had all initially denied their roles in the beating before a cooperating corrections officer came forward.

Bartons beating was only one in a string of horrendous prison attacks by guards at Mid-State and its neighboring prison, Marcy Correctional, in recent years.

Ten corrections officers at Mid-State were indicted earlier this year for violently beating to death inmate Messiah Nantwi in March. Months earlier, corrections officers beat to death another inmate, Robert L. Brooks, at Marcy Correctional.

And in 2016, dozens of Mid-State corrections officers brutally jumped on, kicked and sodomized inmates. A judge has ruled that the state owes monetary damages to the inmates. Many of the officers still work at the prison.

But Mondays sentencing was notable for the number of times Khans lawyer pulled new arguments out of the blue.

At one point, Sannes questioned whether Longeretta knew the rules of federal court.

It wasnt the time and place to bring up defenses for the first time, the judge noted. Thats not how sentencings work in federal court.

If I didnt put that in my (legal arguments), I apologize, Longeretta said at one point, withdrawing a vague constitutional argument.

But his argument that the beaten inmate didnt constitute a vulnerable person caused the biggest stir.

The inmate, Barton, wasnt handcuffed or otherwise mechanically restrained at the time of the beating, Longeretta said. Barton could have defended himself, the lawyer suggested.

That wasnt realistic, prosecutors responded.

If he physically resisted, he could have turned a beating into a murder, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Gadarian said.

Sannes noted she didnt have to consider Longerettas argument because it was raised too late in the process. But she took it up anyway and dismissed it.

In federal court, sentencings are heavily influenced by a points system that guides judges in handing out punishment. Longerettas arguments were designed to lessen Khans culpability, in the hopes of keeping him from going to prison himself for the crime.

For his part, Khan offered what the judge considered sincere remorse, blaming a lapse in judgment, stress of the job and influence from others for his actions.

I know what I did was completely wrong, Khan said in a prepared statement.

In court papers, Longeretta had argued that his client didnt really strike or kick the inmate with enough force to hurt him. In court, he argued that Khan should only be considered a minor participant. Again, Sannes disagreed.

The facts of what happened are not in dispute: Montanari, Khan and Williams, acting together, pulled Barton out of bed in the middle of the night in a planned attack.

Barton was ordered against a wall and beaten before later being paraded around the prison and forced to announce his status as a child rapist. (Barton is serving a 10-years-to-life sentence.)

A day after, Barton was beaten again, assumedly because everyone now knew of his crime, authorities have said.

In another argument that left the judge bewildered, Khans lawyer argued that it was the trainee, Williams, who ordered his client to participate in the beating.

Previous court proceedings had already appeared to establish that it was Montanari, the senior officer, who orchestrated the attack.

Im not sure how a probationary employee would have orchestrated getting an inmate out of bed at 1 a.m. for a beating, Sannes noted.

Despite all of the complicating factors, the judge did not appear swayed to change her mind about the sentence.

The beating was an egregious abuse of power, Sannes said, in sending Khan to prison for two years.

Khan, who has been free under supervision, was not taken into custody Monday, but ordered to turn himself in to begin his prison sentence by Oct. 20.

Longeretta runs his own general practice law office in Utica and was recently elected a New Hartford town justice.
Editors note: Authorities originally said the man killed was a store clerk. The man was the owner of the store. The story has been updated.

Mattydale, N.Y.  A man suspected of killing the owner of a Mattydale convenience store on Sunday took his own life when officers tried to arrest him, deputies said.

The owner of Mattydale Express was shot multiple times after confronting a shoplifter at about 11:30 a.m. Sunday, according to Thomas Newton, a spokesperson for the Onondaga County Sheriffs Office.

The owner was Emad Alharbi, 31, Newton said.

The shooter, Alec Grieger, 30, of Mattydale, later died by suicide when deputies arrived at his home to arrest him, Newton said. Grieger lives in the 200 block of Mitchell Avenue, about six blocks from the store at 2107 Brewerton Road.

Grieger had entered the store and attempted to steal merchandise, Newton said. When Alharbi confronted him, Grieger shot him multiple times, he said.

Alharbi was rushed to Upstate University Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Deputies identified Grieger as the suspect and responded to his residence on Mitchell Avenue on Sunday, Newton said.

Despite lengthy negotiations to try to get him to leave his home peacefully, Grieger died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside his house, Newton said.

***

Suicide prevention help lines

Dial 911 if you or someone is in immediate danger.

National Suicide Prevention Hotline, 1-800-273-8255. This toll-free, confidential suicide prevention hotline is available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. By dialing 1-800-273-TALK, the call is routed to the nearest crisis center in a national network of more than 150 crisis centers, including Contact Community Services in Syracuse.

988 Suicide & crisis lifeline: If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, this confidential, free service can be accessed by calling or texting 988. You can chat at 988lifeline.org

Contact Community Services Hotline, (315)-251-0600, provides 24-hour telephone counseling.

Veterans and Military Crisis Line, 1-800-273-8255 Press 1.

Crisis Text Line, a texting service for emotional crisis support. To speak with a trained listener, text HELLO to 741741. It is free, available 24/7 and confidential.

Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluation Program (CPEP), 205 Prospect Ave., Syracuse, (315) 448-6555. This licensed psychiatric emergency room at St. Josephs Hospital Health Center provides evaluation and treatment for individuals of all ages who are experiencing an acute mental health crisis.

St. Josephs Mobile Crisis Outreach, (315)-726-8650 or (315)-569-4129, provides off-site initial evaluation and assessment of individuals in an emotional crisis.

Upstate High Risk Psychiatry Program, (315) 464-3117, outpatient treatment for people at high risk of suicide. Anyone interested in the program can call. Referrals are not needed.
Annalena Baerbock, president of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, delivers closing remarks during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 29, 2025. The General Debate of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly concluded on Monday. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- The General Debate of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly concluded on Monday.

In her closing remarks, General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock said 189 UN member states delivered speeches at the General Debate, including those from 124 heads of state and government.

"At the beginning of this week, we referred to the United Nations as the house of diplomacy and dialogue, standing at a crossroads, a place where we gather to have hard conversations during challenging times," she said. "If this high-level week is an indication, this house is fulfilling that purpose: the United Nations is still relevant."

Throughout the week, there were moments of energy -- even electricity -- where member states felt the collective will to do better, to reach further, to choose the right path at the crossroads, she said.

"This week's General Debate, with strong engagements and impassioned words, showed that we are capable of finding the strength to lift up our common leadership, to find collective solutions, and to take the right path at the crossroads," she said. "Let us be inspired by the legacy of our past, and daring for a better future that is better together. Unafraid. Unbroken. United."

This year's session coincides with the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. The High-level Week provided world leaders with an opportunity to take stock of the past eight decades and look ahead.

The raging wars in various parts of the world, major-power rivalry, the climate crisis, and a deficit in sustainable development, among other challenges, provided enough topics for debate.

Apart from the General Debate, world leaders had the opportunity to make a point at a series of high-level meetings, including the resumed High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution and the high-level event to mark the 80th anniversary of the United Nations.

Many countries, including France, Britain, Canada and Australia, announced their recognition of Palestine's statehood right before or during the High-level Week, making Israel and the United States increasingly isolated on the question of Palestine.

Other events included a climate summit, a Sustainable Development Goals Moment, a high-level meeting on the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, and a high-level meeting on artificial intelligence governance.

U.S. President Donald Trump attacked the world body in his speech at the UNGA and complained about the malfunctioning of the teleprompter and about the sudden stop of the escalator on his way to the General Assembly Hall.

A Fox News host, Jesse Watters, had to apologize for threats to bomb or gas the UN headquarters made in his "Jesse Watters Primetime" talk show, in response to Tuesday's glitches involving Trump.

During his show on Tuesday, the host said: "What we need to do is either leave the UN or we need to bomb it... maybe gas it... we need to destroy it."

Watters later apologized, according to Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech on Friday saw a mass exodus from the General Assembly Hall as scores of delegates walked out in protest when Netanyahu took the stage.

This year's High-level Week saw the weaponization of visas by the United States, which abused its status as the host country.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was unable to travel to New York as the United States imposed a visa ban on Palestinian officials. He delivered his speech remotely.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro had his visa revoked after he attended a pro-Palestinian demonstration outside the UN headquarters. Petro said New York may no longer be a suitable host for the United Nations headquarters. 

Annalena Baerbock, president of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, leaves after delivering closing remarks during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 29, 2025. The General Debate of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly concluded on Monday. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling)

Beninese Permanent Representative to the United Nations Marc Hermanne Gninadoou Araba delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 29, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

Annalena Baerbock, president of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, delivers closing remarks during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 29, 2025. The General Debate of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly concluded on Monday. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

Annalena Baerbock, president of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, delivers closing remarks during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 29, 2025. The General Debate of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly concluded on Monday. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling)

Annalena Baerbock, president of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, delivers closing remarks during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 29, 2025. The General Debate of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly concluded on Monday. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

Dionisio Da Costa Babo Soares, Timor-Leste's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 29, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

Annalena Baerbock, president of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, delivers closing remarks during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 29, 2025. The General Debate of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly concluded on Monday. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

Annalena Baerbock, president of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, delivers closing remarks during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 29, 2025. The General Debate of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly concluded on Monday. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling)

Vanuatuan Permanent Representative to the United Nations Odo Tevi delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 29, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

Dionisio Da Costa Babo Soares, Timor-Leste's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 29, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

Annalena Baerbock, president of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, leaves after delivering closing remarks during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 29, 2025. The General Debate of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly concluded on Monday. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

Danish Permanent Representative to the United Nations Christina Markus Lassen delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 29, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

Annalena Baerbock, president of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, delivers closing remarks during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 29, 2025. The General Debate of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly concluded on Monday. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling)

Beninese Permanent Representative to the United Nations Marc Hermanne Gninadoou Araba delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 29, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

Vanuatuan Permanent Representative to the United Nations Odo Tevi delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 29, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
Land rights and their legal context are an increasing area of study and public interest in Central New York. The Onondaga Nation has undertaken legal actions related to ancestral lands, which involve historical background, U.S. court processes, and international human rights frameworks. Learning about these efforts provides insight into the legal and historical dimensions of land ownership and Indigenous governance.

FOCUS Greater Syracuse, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to fostering community engagement, will hold its upcoming FOCUS Forum on Friday, October 24, from noon to 1 p.m. In-person and Zoom options are available. Registration is free and open to the public.

The October forum will feature a presentation from Joseph J. Heath, Esq., Onondaga Nation general counsel and adjunct professor at Cornell Law School, as he discusses the ongoing legal efforts to reclaim ancestral lands.

This presentation will explore the historical context of the Onondaga Nations Land Rights Act, the legal challenges faced in U.S. courts, and the role of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in advancing the Nations case.

October FOCUS Forum Presenter: Joseph J. Heath, Esq. FOCUS Greater Syracuse, Inc.

During the free registration, participants will have the opportunity to submit their questions to the presenter. Questions may be used during a brief, moderated Q&A session following the presentations. The Forum is free to attend. Register at focussyracuse.org or click here.

The Forum is part of FOCUS monthly Forum series, where experts discuss citizen-driven topics and engage with attendees through a moderated Q&A session. Forums are open to the public and typically last one hour.

The October FOCUS Forum is sponsored by EDR. Through sponsorship, FOCUS is able to provide free access to this forum, serving as a valuable educational resource for all members of our community.

FOCUS Greater Syracuse, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that brings people together to build a better Central New York. FOCUS serves as a catalyst for community change by engaging citizens in informed dialogue and inspiring action on critical public issues. For more information, visit focussyracuse.org.
World Wide Web creator Tim Berners-Lee knows that the open web could reach more people across several platforms, but he's recently been concerned about whether giving it for free is really worth it.

The Vision of a Free Web

In 1989, Tim Berners-Lee created the World Wide Web to open the internet to the masses. His life-changing invention of HTTP and URLs paved the way for the massive network of data we interact with today.

To make the web accessible to everyone, Berners-Lee chose to release the source code of the web for free, so there were neither royalties nor entry fees. His philosophy was straightforward: in order for the web to thrive, it needed to be open to all for use, and making money on each search or upload would have stifled its development.

"For the web to have everything on it, everyone had to be able to use it, and want to do so. This was already asking a lot. I couldn't also ask that they pay for each search or upload they made. To succeed, therefore, it would have to be free," Berners-Lee wrote in The Guardian article.

The Influence of Free Use on Creativity

Berners-Lee made his decision based on an abiding faith in encouraging creativity and cooperation. He realized that if the web had been made proprietary, it would not have become the global system that it is today.

In 2014, he said that some people were using the World Wide Web to organize protests against oppressive regimes. This is something he did not envision for a once private medium.

Tim said that people can't suggest that something can be a universal space and also take control of it. This open-access strategy, supported by CERN (where Berners-Lee worked), enabled the web to thrive. In 1994, Berners-Lee went on to found the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) to promote the advancement of web standards.

Has the Web Lost Its Freedom?

But over time, Berners-Lee began to worry about where the internet was going. In the same piece for The Guardian, he lamented that the web's early vision of freedom has been lost. He said that his invention was free, but not entirely free.

The emergence of big tech platforms, where users' personal information is collected for commercial gain, has altered the dynamics of the internet. Berners-Lee decries the way the internet is now a surveillance, repression, and data-trading tool. He contends that the internet's shift to a data-oriented model is contrary to his initial idea of an open and free web.

The 70-year-old computer scientist points out that the development of the internet into an algorithm and data-driven platform has been harmful, particularly to the youth. He called it a "wrong turn," because the essence of the open web is not there anymore.
Elon Musk's social media platform X announced Monday that it will challenge a ruling from the Karnataka High Court that upheld India's expanded online takedown system.

The decision allows more than two million police officers across the country to issue content removal orders through a government portal called Sahyog, a move X says threatens free expression.

"We will appeal this order to defend free expression," the company said in a post on its platform, its first public statement since last week's ruling.

According to Reuters, X argued that the Sahyog portal enables officers to demand content removal "based solely on allegations of illegality," without any judicial review or due process for the people posting the content. The company warned that platforms face criminal liability if they fail to comply.

India's government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, defends the system as a way to control unlawful content and protect users.

The High Court agreed, stating that social media "cannot be allowed to work unregulated in India," and emphasized that regulation of communication has always been part of governance.

Justice M. Nagaprasanna said regulation was especially important in cases involving crimes against women.

Musks X to appeal Indian court ruling on secretive content removal system #FMTNews #FMTBusinesshttps://t.co/ei7qqu8ohq  Free Malaysia Today (@fmtoday) September 29, 2025

X Appeals India Court Sahyog Ruling

X, formerly known as Twitter, filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of the Sahyog system, saying it circumvents Section 69A of India's Information Technology Act and violates Supreme Court rulings on free speech, NDTV reported.

The company also argued that the new regime undermines constitutional rights guaranteed to Indian citizens, even though X is incorporated in the United States.

The platform stressed that it "respects and complies with Indian law," but said the High Court order fails to address "core constitutional issues" and conflicts with a recent Bombay High Court decision that found a similar system unconstitutional.

Musk, who calls himself a "free speech absolutist," has faced similar battles with governments in other countries over content takedown demands.

India introduced the Sahyog portal in 2023, giving a wide network of officials direct access to request removals from tech firms.

The Karnataka High Court rejected X's petition last week, ruling that unlawful content cannot claim the same level of constitutional protection as legitimate speech.

Originally published on vcpost.com
HONG KONG, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Qiangnao Technology, a brain-computer interface startup and one of Hangzhou's "Six Little Dragons," officially launched its operations in Hong Kong's Cyberport on Monday as the first of its kind to enter the facility, where it plans to establish a research and development base for the Asia-Pacific region.

At a launch ceremony for its operations here, Sun Dong, secretary for innovation, technology and industry of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government, said that Qiangnao Technology's choice to come to Hong Kong reflects confidence in the city's innovation and technology environment.

He emphasized that Hong Kong serves as a "super connector" and "super value creator," enabling Chinese mainland enterprises to expand into international markets and achieve their strategic goals of going global.

Han Bicheng, founder and CEO of Qiangnao Technology, said he believed that establishing a presence in Hong Kong is not only a crucial step in the company's globalization strategy but also a significant milestone in its industrialization process.

Simon Chan, chairman of Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, highlighted that Qiangnao Technology's cutting-edge technology will integrate with Cyberport's ecosystem in areas such as artificial intelligence, data science, and cybersecurity, fostering collaboration across government, industry, academia, and investment.

Also on Monday, Qiangnao Technology signed a memorandum of understanding with Hong Kong Polytechnic University to explore the establishment of a joint research center and promote the application of smart prosthetics technologies in Hong Kong. 
Typhoon Bualoi kills dozens in Vietnam and Philippines



Hanoi, Sept 29 (AFP) Sep 29, 2025



A typhoon that ripped roofs off homes has killed dozens of people across Vietnam and the Philippines, officials from both countries said on Monday, as a weakened storm Bualoi crossed into neighbouring Laos.

The typhoon battered small islands in the centre of the Philippines last week, toppling trees and power pylons, unleashing floods and forcing 400,000 people to evacuate.

A Philippine civil defence official said on Monday the death toll there had more than doubled to 24, with most of the victims either drowned or hit by debris.

Scientists warn that storms are becoming more powerful as the world warms due to the effects of human-driven climate change.

In Vietnam, Bualoi made landfall as a typhoon late on Sunday, generating winds of 130 kilometres (80 miles) per hour.

Thousands of houses and businesses were damaged or destroyed in the country's centre and north, and at least 11 people were killed, Vietnamese authorities told AFP on Monday.

Images published by AFP showed corrugated metal roofs blown off buildings and household debris strewn across saturated streets in Vietnam's coastal Nghe An province.

"The wind blew my roof to the sky and then it fell down, breaking everything. I had to cover my head and rushed to my neighbour's house to be safe," Trinh Thi Le, 71, in central Quang Tri province, was quoted as saying by state-run Tuoi Tre newspaper.



- Powerful storms -



At least nine people were killed when a typhoon-related whirlwind swept through northern Ninh Binh province early on Monday, according to the local disaster agency.

One person was killed in the province of Hue and another in Thanh Hoa, while about 20 were missing, local and national disaster authorities reported.

Among those unaccounted for were nine people whose fishing boats were lost at sea Sunday night after their vessels came loose from their moorings during strong winds and currents, police said.

More than 53,000 people were evacuated to schools and medical centres converted into temporary shelters ahead of Bualoi hitting Vietnam, the environment ministry said.

Four domestic airports and part of the national highway were closed on Monday. More than 180 flights have been cancelled or delayed, airport authorities said.

Parts of Nghe An and the steel-producing central province of Ha Tinh were without power and schools were closed in affected regions.

Since making landfall in Vietnam, Bualoi has weakened as it moved across the border into Laos.

It came on the heels of Super Typhoon Ragasa, which killed 14 people across the northern Philippines.

The country is hit by an average of 20 storms and typhoons each year, routinely striking disaster-prone areas where millions of people live in poverty.

In Vietnam, 175 people were killed or went missing due to natural disasters from January to August this year, the General Statistics Office (GSO) said.

Total damages were worth about $371 million, almost triple the amount of the same period in 2024, the GSO said.

Typhoon Yagi killed hundreds of people in Vietnam in September last year and caused economic losses worth $3.3 billion.
Europe must step up efforts to protect environment: report



Copenhagen, Sept 29 (AFP) Sep 29, 2025



Europe is a world leader in the fight against climate change but must do more to improve its resilience against global warming, the European Union's environment agency warned on Monday.

While "significant progress" has been made to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, the general state of Europe's environment was "not good", the European Environment Agency (EEA) said after compiling data from 38 countries.

Its director, Leena Yla-Mononen, told reporters in Brussels that biodiversity was on the decline "due to persistent pressures driven by unsustainable production and consumption patterns".

Water resources, likewise, were under "severe pressure", with one-third of the European population being affected by water stress, she said.

The climate assessment, conducted every five years, comes after EU member states at a UN climate summit last week were unable to present a 2035 plan to further slash greenhouse gases, due to disagreements within the 27-nation bloc.

The EU is also unable to agree on an ambitious proposal from the European Commission to reduce emissions by 90 percent by 2040 from 1990 levels.

EU greenhouse gas emissions have dropped 37 percent since 1990, outpacing reductions by other major polluters like China and the United States, due to reduced fossil-fuel use and a doubling of renewable energy capacity since 2005.



- Scope to save water -



But the EEA said EU countries must go further in implementation of policies aiming for better sustainability already agreed under a European Green Deal.

Nature on the continent "continues to face degradation, overexploitation and biodiversity loss," the EEA said.

Water in particular is an increasingly scarce resource, and land is over-exploited.

Some 81 percent of protected habitats are in poor or bad condition, 60 to 70 percent of soils are degraded, and 62 percent of water bodies are not in good ecological condition, the report said.

Even though climate change ramps up water scarcity, the EEA said there was scope to save up to 40 percent of water in agriculture, water supply and energy production through better governance, technological innovation, water reuse and public awareness.

Most buildings in Europe were not designed to withstand heat, the EEA said, noting that 19 percent of Europeans are unable to maintain a comfortable temperature in their homes.

The frequency of extreme heatwaves is increasing, yet only 21 of the EEA's 38 member countries have health action plans for heatwaves, the agency said.



- Financial toll -



In general, extreme weather and climate events such as heatwaves, floods, landslides and wildfires have caused over 240,000 deaths between 1980 and 2023 in the 27 EU countries, it said.

And the financial toll of these events continues to mount.

In 2023, for example, the cost of flooding in Slovenia amounted to 16 percent of the country's GDP.

The agency called on Europe to adapt.

"Sustainability is not a choice, it's a question of when we do it," said Catherine Ganzleben, head of the EEA's Sustainable and Fair Transitions unit, adding that "the costs of inaction will be higher" later on.

"We must act... before it is too late," said Teresa Ribera, executive vice-president of the European Commission in charge of the green transition.

"We must radically increase our efforts in climate resilience and adaptation," she said.

Preventing pollution reduces the number of deaths and illnesses.

Regarding air pollution, the number of deaths linked to fine particulate matter exposure has significantly decreased, dropping by 45 percent between 2005 and 2022.
EU environment boss tests positive for 'toxic' forever chemicals



Brussels, Belgium, Sept 29 (AFP) Sep 29, 2025



The EU's environment commissioner said on Monday she has tested positive for "toxic" forever chemicals after undergoing screening to raise awareness of the health risks linked to the man-made pollutants.

"Citizens are increasingly exposed to PFAS in their blood. I myself am no exception," environment commissioner Jessika Roswall told reporters, disclosing the results of her screening for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances.

"It shows that I'm not free from PFAS and that some of the PFAS in my blood are toxic for reproductive health," she told reporters on the sidelines of a press conference on European efforts to protect nature and fight climate change.

"This strengthened my resolve to take our work forward," Roswall said.

The commissioner's team said she tested positive for six of the 13 PFAS screened for, including three considered toxic for reproductive health, and in several cases at concentrations higher than recommended levels.

Roswall underwent testing in July along with ministers from across the European Union to raise awareness about pollution from PFAS, a group of synthetic chemicals that repel heat, water and oil, and are used in nonstick pans, stain-proof carpets and other products.

Often called "forever chemicals" as they take an extremely long time to break down, PFAS are increasingly being restricted across the world due to adverse health effects.

Chronic exposure to even low levels has been linked to liver damage, high cholesterol, reduced immune responses, low birth weights and several kinds of cancer.

The European Commission plans next year to propose banning PFAS in everyday consumer goods -- from pizza boxes to clothing -- with exceptions for certain areas including medical equipment.

The commission is also working on a long-promised update to EU rules on the manufacture and use of dangerous chemicals -- but the process has become bogged down in delays.

An initial revision to the text known as "REACH" received a thumbs-down from an internal impact assessment body -- which asked the commission to strengthen its proposal, according to Roswall.

Environmental groups have warned against any further delay to the law's update, in the works since 2022.
Schools close as heavy rains lash eastern Spain



Aldaia, Spain, Sept 29 (AFP) Sep 29, 2025



Schools closed across Valencia in eastern Spain on Monday after heavy rains prompted fears of a repeat of fatal floods that devastated the Mediterranean region last year.

Overnight downpours caused localised flooding and a ravine to overflow in Aldaia, one of the towns hardest hit by the October 2024 disaster that killed more than 230 people. No injuries were reported.

"There is a bit of panic because of what happened. People are very scared," 64-year-old pensioner Jose Luis Ruiz told AFP in Aldaia.

"Everyone moved their cars away from the area. We set up barriers outside our doors. We had a bit of a sleepless night."

More than half a million students in Valencia had no lessons on Monday because 243 local councils in the region closed their schools as a precaution, regional education authorities said.

The regional capital, Valencia, also closed all public spaces, including libraries, parks, markets and cemeteries, local officials said.

National weather agency AEMET kept coastal areas of Valencia province under the highest red alert on Monday because of the risk of torrential rain.

It said as much as 180 millimetres of precipitation could fall in these areas in the space of 12 hours, possibly in just a few hours.

The weather agency downgraded its alert level to orange in other parts of Valencia as well as for the southern coast of the neighbouring region of Catalonia.

Last year's flood disaster sparked public anger over warning systems and emergency response, fuelling tensions between Spain's left-leaning central government and conservative regional authorities.

Residents continue to protest, accusing officials of failing to provide timely alerts.

Because a warmer atmosphere holds more water, climate change increases the risk and intensity of intense rainfall, and hence flooding.
Wildfire in Namibia's flagship park contained, says minister



Windhoek, Sept 29 (AFP) Sep 29, 2025



A massive fire that has scorched through more than a third of Namibia's best-known national park has been contained, the environment minister said Monday.

The blaze at Etosha National Park, one of Africa's largest game reserves, broke out on September 22 and spread rapidly due to high winds and parched vegetation.

It forced the government to deploy 500 soldiers on Sunday to help contain the fire, believed to have started at a charcoal production site.

"Fire is now contained," Environment Minister Indileni Daniel told state broadcaster Namibia Broadcasting Corporation.

"There was no visible fire as we flew over but there are some places that have got fires on and off," she said.

It was not immediately clear the extent of damage or total number of animals killed.

The environment ministry had said earlier that at least nine antelopes had been killed in the blaze while the prime minister said an elephant had also died.

As of Sunday, about 775,163 hectares (1.9 million acres) -- roughly 34 percent of the park -- had been burned, according to the environment ministry.

Located in the north of the largely arid country, the park is home to 114 mammal species, including the critically endangered black rhinoceros, and is a major tourist draw.

Firefighters will remain deployed in the area to prevent flare-ups, said Daniel.

"We have noticed some new fires at one spot only, the team has been already dispatched," she said.

The park stretches across 22,270 square kilometres (8,600 square miles).

Its main feature is the ancient Etosha salt pan, which is around 130 kilometres long and 50 kilometres wide and draws huge flocks of migratory flamingoes during the rainy season.
GAZA, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Hamas has received a U.S.-backed proposal aimed at ending the war in the Gaza Strip, presented by Qatari and Egyptian mediators, a Hamas source said on Monday.

The plan, which U.S. President Donald Trump secured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's backing earlier in the day, was delivered during a meeting in Doha. The Qatari prime minister and the head of Egypt's General Intelligence Service presented the plan to Hamas negotiators, the source said.

The Hamas delegation told mediators it would study the proposal "with sincere intent" before issuing an official response, according to the source.

Egypt's Al Qahera News TV, citing Egyptian security sources, confirmed the delivery of the U.S. peace proposal to Hamas. The report said Egypt and other Arab countries made several amendments to the plan before presenting it to Hamas in Doha.

Earlier on Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had agreed to his broad Gaza peace plan. Trump added that, if Hamas accepted the proposal, it would require the release of all remaining hostages within 72 hours and called on the group to accept the terms.

Netanyahu, however, warned that Israel would "finish the job" against Hamas if the militants rejected the proposal.

The plan faced immediate opposition from Islamic Jihad, a Palestinian militant group allied with Hamas, which dismissed it as a "recipe for continued aggression" against the Palestinian people.

"Through this, Israel is attempting -- via the United States -- to impose what it could not achieve through war," the group said in a statement. "We consider the American-Israeli declaration a formula for igniting the region."

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority, based in the West Bank, welcomed the U.S. proposal and expressed its readiness to "work with the United States, regional countries, and partners to end the Gaza war through a comprehensive agreement," the official WAFA news agency reported.

The plan, the authority said, should ensure adequate humanitarian aid to Gaza, secure the release of hostages and prisoners, and establish mechanisms to protect the Palestinian people.

The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkiye, Qatar, and Egypt issued a joint statement late on Monday welcoming the U.S. proposal.

The ministers praised the proposals to end the fighting, rebuild Gaza, prevent Palestinian displacement, and block the annexation of the West Bank.

They reaffirmed their commitment to work with the United States to secure a deal that guarantees unrestricted humanitarian aid to Gaza, the release of hostages, security for all sides, full Israeli withdrawal, reconstruction of Gaza, and a path toward a just two-state solution, integrating Gaza and the West Bank in line with international law. 
US government aims to open more public lands to coal mining



Washington, Sept 29 (AFP) Sep 29, 2025



The US government said Monday it intends to open huge swaths of public land to coal mining, coupled with a $625 million investment to "expand and reinvigorate" the industry that is a major contributor to climate change.

The Department of the Interior said it aims to open up 13.1 million acres of federal land to coal leasing, making good on President Donald Trump's orders to increase coal production despite a broader global call to curb carbon emissions.

The Interior Department head Doug Burgum billed the move as a means of "strengthening our economy" and "protecting national security."

The government would also reduce royalty rates charged to companies for extraction of coal, the dirtiest fossil fuel.

"Beautiful, clean coal will be essential to powering America's reindustrialization and winning the AI race," said Chris Wright, the US energy secretary.

The investments would include funds to upgrade coal plants that may otherwise have shut down.

The initiatives immediately drew criticism from environmental advocates.

"This administration is taking federal dollars and handing them over to the owners of the oldest, most expensive and dirtiest source of electricity," Amanda Levin, policy analysis director at the National Resources Defense Council, in a statement to AFP. "What a waste of our hard-earned tax dollars."

Coal use in the United States has steadily dropped in recent decades, as natural gas as well as renewables like wind and solar power grab greater market shares -- not least due to cost.

In 2024 solar and wind energy combined surpassed coal for the first time, according to an analysis from the independent research organization the Rhodium Group.

Some 15 percent of US electricity came from coal-burning plants in 2023, a significant drop from 50 percent in 2000, Energy Information Administration data showed.

Trump last week spent a good chunk of his address to the United Nations praising "clean, beautiful coal" and declaring climate change a "con job."

The use of coal in China and India is still surging, which the Trump administration has cited as reason to reinvest in the industry.

Coal accounts for just over a third of global electricity production and phasing it out is fundamental to meeting climate change goals.
Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

The Independent is pleased to announce that it is the exclusive media partner for Tate Britains upcoming Lee Miller retrospective, celebrating the career of the influential American photographer.

The exhibition will be the largest retrospective of Millers work ever held in the UK and will run from 2 October 2025 until 15 February 2026. It also marks the first time that Tate Britain has worked with a fully digital publication as a media partner for one of its major exhibitions.

Around 230 vintage and modern prints, including some on display for the first time, will be exhibited, documenting the globetrotting and varied career path of Miller and her work.

The retrospective will include portraits of Miller from her time modelling in New York, her own photos during the pre-war decade in Paris and Cairo and a rich trove of images and photojournalism from World War II, as well as post-war work, including a rare self-portrait from Austrian artist Oscar Kokoschkas studio in 1950.

The partnership between The Independent and Tate Britain will allow Independent Media to produce content around the exhibition across its editorial, social, commercial and Independent Studio teams. Content will be published on The Independent, as well as Independent Medias sister sites, BuzzFeed UK and Tasty UK.

Statistics show that one in four (24 per cent) current Tate Members are Independent readers, meaning the publication reaches more members than any other outlet, while more than half (51 per cent) of Independent readers are interested in the arts or have visited museums or art galleries in the UK.

open image in gallery Lee Miller, Model with Lightbulb c.1943 ( Lee Miller Archives )

The publications readership is 27 per cent more likely to be interested in culture and photography than the average UK population.

The move is the latest in The Independents strategy of partnering with the UKs leading cultural events across literature, music and the arts, having previously established fruitful relationships with the Henley Literary Festival and Latitude.

The campaign will include news coverage and reviews and focus in Independent newsletters: Morning Headlines, Women, Culture, View from Westminster and Lifestyle. Independent Studio, the publication's in-house video and audio production team, will feature guests involved in the exhibition on podcasts, including Like This, Love This. In addition, all content will be created and amplified on The Independents Facebook, Instagram, X and Bluesky social media channels.

Independent readers will also benefit from exclusive offers and events, while the publication will feature across the exhibitions marketing and advertising materials.

Of the partnership, The Independents Editor-in-Chief, Geordie Greig, said: We are so pleased to be the media partner of Tate for an exhibition of such scale and cultural significance. Lee Miller at Tate Britain will showcase a truly spectacular collection of writing and art.

The Independent has more than 20 million readers in the UK alone - a huge, culture-loving audience who are fascinated by Millers unique, pioneering attitude and artistic oeuvre. This is an exhibition which vividly demonstrates Millers conviction to chronicle history with bravery and honesty, and reveal impactful stories; values that we at The Independent passionately believe in.

open image in gallery Lee Miller, David E Scherman dressed for war, London 1942 (  Lee Miller Archives, England 2025 )

Liam Darbon, Director of Audiences and Innovation, Tate, adds: Were delighted to partner with The Independent on our Lee Miller retrospective at Tate Britain. This landmark exhibition - the largest of her work ever staged - offers a rare chance to explore the extraordinary life of one of the 20th centurys most urgent artistic and journalistic voices. Like Miller, The Independent is dedicated to sharing stories that matter, and this partnership will help more people experience her enduring legacy.

Tickets for the exhibition, as well as related events, can be booked here.
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

Across the table from me, Tony Robinsons eyes are brimming with what look like tears. Ive just asked him about the time five chapters of his book were stolen from his car while he was on holiday, and the memory is clearly still raw. It must have been a hell of a manuscript, I think. But thats not the whole story.

During lockdown, my wife Louise and I got a dog called Holly Berry, whom we loved very much, he says. Loved particularly hard because she had been a poorly old thing. It was wonderful bringing a rescue dog back to life. Its been one of the joys Ive discovered only over the last few years. But she had diabetes, so I had to inject her at six oclock every morning and six oclock in the evening.

While driving down to Spain, they had stopped at a service station when a car pulled up and zoomed off with their belongings. No smash, just grab. Five handwritten chapters were in the bag that was taken, along with three years worth of research. But, more pressingly, Holly Berrys medication was snatched as well. They sped down to their destination, where they found a vet who supplied them with insulin. Three weeks later, we realised they had given us the wrong syringes and not enough of the medicine, and Holly Berry died.

By this stage, there is something in my eye, too. Following Holly Berrys passing, Robinson  always so unflappable as Baldrick in the adored British historical sitcom Blackadder  was too distressed to write. I was completely flattened. Lou was in as much mourning as I was, but she raised me up. Within three weeks, I was writing again, and I found it was still in my head  a number of writers whove lost manuscripts have said the same thing. And in a way, you actually write them better.

We are in the Embankment offices of his publishers, Little, Brown, to discuss his new book The House of Wolf. It is a saga of prodigious scale, and Robinsons first novel for adults following more than 30 childrens books and a handful of non-fiction works, including his 2016 memoir, No Cunning Plan. It is the first in a planned Anglo-Saxon trilogy exploring the rise of Alfred the Great: The burning of the cakes will happen in my second book, and Ive got an answer to what happened, which I really enjoy.

He has described the book as Succession for the Middle Ages: the elderly king Aethelwolf is ailing, and must decide to which of his enormously flawed children to bequeath the kingdom of Wessex. The action unfolds across Europe, taking in the marauding Norlanders (Vikings), papal conspiracies and a series of monasteries. Dickens, Tolkien, Pratchett and George RR Martin are named as influences.

open image in gallery Robinsons first novel for adults, The House of Wolf ( Sphere )

The scope is vast, with a four-page index of characters and maps for readers to get their heads around (Robinson had a PA to keep track of them all, leaving him free to let [his] imagination run riot). But the world-building came naturally: I dont find that very difficult. Its what Ive always done. While a continent-spanning saga might be a daunting prospect for anyone, Robinson, who spent 20 years excavating archaeological sites around Britain on the Channel 4 series Time Team, is singularly well placed for the endeavour: Ive dug up at Sutton Hoo an awful lot, and you create a Saxon world in your head.

The apparently self-contradictory term historical fiction gave him plenty of leeway: I know the Anglo-Saxons ate a lot of eels. I know they ate a lot of beans. I make the monks eat a lot of eel and bean stew. Why wouldnt they? And also, its fun, because most people reading it now would think its quite disgusting. After all, Robinson is accustomed to playing with history using creativity and humour, thanks to his Blackadder days in the Eighties with Rowan Atkinson and Richard Curtis. I was working with these incredibly intelligent, very well educated young men. I was older than them, and had only got four O-levels, so I wasnt part of their coterie, but I was very influenced by them and they taught me a huge amount. Time Team, on the other hand, instilled in him a deep respect for, and rigour around, historical artefacts and archaeology. So really, I think my style is a synthesis of those two attitudes towards history.

When we meet, Robinson is genial company, if slightly frazzled by being ferried back and forth between publicity events ahead of the next days book release. He has a habit of asking himself questions and answering them, which makes my job easier in a way. (Was it hubris to populate the book with half the population of Europe? Look, Im 79 now  I can write what I want.) His warmth doesnt quite mask a certain wariness about interviews; a publicist sits at the other end of the room, nodding or frowning at the different questions. Clearly, like Alfreds cakes, he has been burnt before: at the end, he asks me to correct any grammatical errors in his answers. (Some journalists dont do that, and its absurd  I dont know if its a feeling of authenticity or what, to make me seem a bit verbally inadequate.)

Anthony Robinson was born in Homerton, east London, in 1946, to Leslie, a civil servant and council employee, and Phyllis, an audio typist; both had served in the air force during the Second World War. (When I tell him I live in Homerton, he quips: If my mum was here, shed say, She speaks nice for a girl from Homerton, doesnt she? Is she really from Homerton?) Following the familys exodus to Essex, he grew up in South Woodford; he describes his clan as a lower-middle-class, aspirational family that hadnt forgotten its roots.

open image in gallery Robinson with Rowan Atkinson in the final season of Blackadder ( Shutterstock )

He was a lazy student: I was cheating and borrowing everybody elses homework, taking notes into exams and copying off them; totally fraudulent. He originally didnt want to go to drama school because he thought he was Gods gift to acting, but is now thankful that he did, mainly because it made him move past the faux-cockney Oh cor blimey school of acting. Aged 13, he starred in the original production of Oliver!, briefly taking on the role of the Artful Dodger.

Until being cast in Blackadder in his late thirties, Robinson was a jobbing actor and theatre director; its a route he thinks is becoming increasingly inaccessible to aspiring actors. With the introduction of AI, who knows how much acting there will be in 10 or 15 years time? Audiobooks, small-part acting, extra work  one might say, Theyre just the fringes of the acting profession, but theyre the jobs that kept me in the business for the first 20 years. I couldnt just survive on playing Laertes. His granddaughter, 13, has her sights set on an acting career. Do I have anxieties about how shell do? Of course I do. It is terribly difficult now.

Like everyone else, he also worries about the state of the world. When researching Viking violence for the book, he was surprised to find that none of it felt particularly shocking. Given whats happening now in Ukraine and Gaza, it isnt too easy to be shocked by the systematic violence that took place in the Anglo-Saxon period. The publicist in the corner shifts uncomfortably. Its shocking on a much smaller scale than were used to. When the Vikings occupied somewhere, it wasnt in their interest to kill the peasants, because they grew the turnips. Youre just going to make yourself starve.

Practices like blood eagling  splitting someone open and lifting out their lungs  may initially have felt shocking. But we know every day, when we pick up the paper, something similar is happening nowadays, on a scale inconceivable in Saxon times. Pretty soon, he started to lose interest in Viking violence. When a Viking runs his sword through the fifth person, its diminishing returns.

Richard Curtis was the biggest influence on my writing  not deliberately

We are speaking the week after Angela Rayner resigned as Labours deputy leader, a fractious time for the party. I wonder if Robinson, who formerly served on its national executive committee and quit the party in 2019 over its handling of Brexit and the allegations of antisemitism it was facing, has any thoughts on the subject. After a long pause, he answers. Three days after we got in, he says, I was invited to a party at No 10 to celebrate us winning. And I said to Angela [Rayner]: Im not going to speak about the Labour Party for 18 months, because I know how hard its going to be, given the mess were in.

The issue of Europe is still close to his heart, especially the impact of Brexit on students; he singles out health secretary Wes Streeting as a politician he admires for his candour about the challenges of the job. But beyond that, he will not be drawn. In year two, I will give myself the luxury of bitching and whining about things I dont like, and praising the things I do. But for the moment, Im going to keep my mouth shut.

Another subject he has been outspoken on is the prejudice he has faced on account of his 5ft 4in height. When he watches Love Island, which is so PC, the first thing women will say is that they want a tall man. They wouldnt say, I dont want a Jew, I dont want a blind person, I dont want a ginger person. They may carry some of those prejudices inside of them, but they would know how inappropriate it was to say that. Fortunately for him, the third thing that usually comes up is a sense of humour. Im blessed by the fact Ive had this wonderful career and a fabulous wife and great children. It would be absurd to pretend [my height] was a massive cross I was carrying through life, but it pisses me off.

Looking back on that wonderful career, what was it like working on a series as well-loved and enduring as Blackadder? Incredible. What a blessing is that? I might worry a bit about being short, but landing that part in the cult comedy series of the century, to be surrounded by those wonderful artists, as I was for 10 years... Richard Curtis was the biggest influence on my writing  not deliberately, but because he was there, because he was around, because, by nature, hes a supportive person. Im the luckiest bunny there is.

He has a few films coming out, I remind him as we wrap up (including the William Baldwin-starring Me and Milosevic, slated for release next year), though he doesnt seem particularly interested. Oh, yeah, I guess  I shot that ages ago in Kosovo. Ive got a couple of movies coming out. I wouldnt say I had the lead in either of them. His priority right now is writing book two. The trilogy is not, he insists, a shrewd ruse to get a television deal, but, he adds: If somebody came up to me and said, Heres a sack full of gold. Would you mind if we turn it into a telly show?, of course I would love that. But I dont think about it. My prime goal is to write.

Whether its conjuring up epic historical sagas or bringing rescue dogs back to life, Robinson has a clear idea of how he wants to spend his time. I think, having had a pretty successful career  and having been able to put aside enough money to have a pension  I only want to do, in the autumn of my days, what I want to do.

The House of Wolf by Tony Robinson (Sphere, 25) is out now. Robinson will appear at the Henley Literary Festival on 8 October. Click here to buy tickets
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

Critics have been left divided over Daniel Day-Lewiss return to screen in his son Ronans directorial debut, Anemone, with some heralding the actor a marvel while others dub the film a serious misfire.

Anemone, which Day-Lewis penned with his son, marks the actors first project in eight years. In 2017, he announced his retirement after starring in Phantom Thread but later rescinded the remarks.

The 68-year-old stars in Anemone as Ray, an estranged hermit, whose brother Jem (Sean Bean) leaves his suburban home and ventures out into the woods to reconnect with him.

In The Guardians two-star review of the film, Adrian Horton said Anemone has a bleak mood thats only partially effective. She praised two mesmerising monologues given by Day-Lewis but added the cinematically triumphant moment is quickly swallowed by a booming sense of Import.

However, The Telegraphs Robbie Collin awarded Anemone four stars, praising both Day-Lewiss indestructible monologues and the films story of generational scarring, abasement and forgiveness played out in the relationships between the central brother characters, as well its fathers and sons.

Collin acknowledged: Like many first films, Ronans can work a little too hard to justify its existence, and some may bridle at the magic-realist flourishes. But if it took crazy hailstorms and giant fish to persuade Day-Lewis senior to returnI say bring em on.

Rolling Stone was similarly complimentary, with David Fear attesting that Anemone is far more than just a showcase for Day-Lewiss return but an introduction to his son as an artist.

open image in gallery Sean Bean as Jem and Daniel Day-Lewis as Ray in a scene from Anemone ( Focus Features )

He wrote: This exploration of what lies in the silences between blood relations and the difficulty of moving past ones own past tragedies makes you feel like you are watching something truly unique.

Its the work of a young filmmaker. But its also very much the work of a genuine filmmaker, bursting with creativity and refining their vision in real time. To quote another member of this cineastes clan: Attention must be paid, Fear said.

Contrastingly, The Hollywood Reporters David Rooney said the film seldom approaches Day-Lewiss earth-shattering force.

He argued: Day-Lewis rugged performance provides a semblance of narrative weight in a drama thats otherwise lackingYou can feel the director straining for poignancy in closing scenes that point toward possible reconciliation, but the drama remains unaffecting.

open image in gallery Day Lewis with his son Ronan at New York Film Festival ( Getty Images for FLC )

Day-Lewis and his son began talking about working together just before Covid, and went back and forth working on the characters of Jem and Ray.

The actor said working on Anemone with his son reinvigorated him to relaunch his acting career after Phantom Thread left him overwhelmed by a sense of sadness.

He explained: As I get older, it just takes me longer and longer to find my way back to the place where the furnace is burning again. But working with Ro, that furnace just lit up. And it was, from beginning to end, just pure joy to spend that time together with him.

Anemone releases in theaters on 3 October.
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

Kieran Culkins wish for a bigger family is coming true  he and his wife, Jazz Charton, are expecting their third child together.

The pair, whove been married since 2013 and already share two young children, subtly revealed the news Sunday at the opening night of Waiting for Godot on Broadway. In pictures from the event, the two posed together as Culkin proudly cradled Chartons baby bump.

Charton, 37, further confirmed her pregnancy on Instagram the next day. Saw Keanu Reeves on broadway and now Im 9 months pregnant, she wrote, quipping, I made a deal with this baby to let me make it to this before labor, not sure what it wants in return but Im CLEARLY a woman of my word.

Her pregnancy announcement comes a year after Culkin, 42, publicly begged her for a third child in his acceptance speech for Best Actor in a Drama Series at the 2024 Emmys.

Thanking Charton for sharing your life with me and giving me two amazing kids, the Succession star slyly insisted, I want more. You said maybe, if I win! I love you so much.

Kieran Culkin and wife Jazz Charton are expecting their third child together ( Getty Images )

Months later, when he picked up the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor at the 2025 ceremony, he recalled the aftermath of his earlier comments.

After the show, were walking through a parking lot  and she goes, Oh, God, I did say that! Culkin told the audience. I guess I owe you a third kid. And I turned to her, and I said, Really, I want four. And she turned to me  I swear to God, this happened just over a year ago  she said, I will give you four when you win an Oscar.

No pressure, the former child actor added, looking at his wife in the crowd, but lets get cracking on those kids, what do ya say?

Chartons post has since been flooded with congratulatory comments from fans, praising her for being a woman of her word.

So that Oscar speech was real??? one asked, with a second joking: Baby Oscar!

Thats exciting news and remembering your husbands win when he announced he wanted another baby, a third said, great you will be parents again its the best!

Culkin and Charton met in 2012 at a New York bar. They quietly tied the knot the next year on a road trip in Iowa. In 2019, they welcomed their first child, daughter Kinsey, followed by their son Wilder in 2021.
Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

Actor Terence Stamp filmed scenes for a sequel to the 1990s hit The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert before his death.

Stamp, best known for his roles in Superman, Billy Budd, Far from the Madding Crowd and The Limey, died in August, aged 87.

The Oscar nominee played transgender nightclub performer Bernadette in 1994s The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and was set to reprise the part, according to the films director, Stephan Elliot.

Deadline reports that the film had a working title of Priscilla Queen of the Desert 2 and that Stamp had absolutely refused to return if the sequel was a repeat of the original.

Elliot admits that it took him decades to find a plot for the sequel but once Stamp and the other core cast, including Hugo Weaving and Guy Pearce, had agreed to make the film, the Covid pandemic derailed the production.

In addition, Stamp was conscious that he wasnt getting any younger but was adamant that he wasnt going to be replaced by AI or a digital clone of himself.

open image in gallery Stamp as Bernadette in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert ( Gramercy Pictures )

With this in mind, Elliot got the blessing of him and his family, Guy, Hugo and the financiers and decided to pre-shoot all the Bernadette scenes.

When its time to complete the film, Elliot said that he will use CGI face replacement technology to round off Stamps performance.

Im still trying to work it out, but the tech is there, he said. Wed have to get a stand-in actor and Terence would be put onto that actor. Im going to have to have an actor playing Terence Stamp. I mean, it is scary.

Elliot added that this was the easiest solution for the film. Weve got Terence in the can as Bernadette, he said. Its what we do technically with this point, as I said, from this point about how we make it work. But were not the first film in history to go through this.

The first movie, a commercial and critical hit, follows a transgender woman and two drag queens as they tour the desert plains of southern Australia in an old school bus named Priscilla, performing classic disco hits.

open image in gallery Terence Stamp rose to acting fame in the 1960s (Matt Sayles/AP) ( AP )

Speaking of the new movie, Elliot said that its very unusual and about old age.

Its very touching, he explained. I wrote a lot of what I went through with Terence over the last couple of years. I wrote into the script of what its like to get old and to be either gay, trans  I mean, its a subject thats never been explored.
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

Get ready for diary room gossip, heated rows and silly challenges  Big Brother is back for a a third series on ITV2, with AJ Odudu and Will Best on hosting duties.

The presenters introduced 12 strangers during the launch episode, revealing that they will be living together for up to seven weeks.

This years housemates will be hoping to replicate the success of 2023 winner Jordan Sangha and forensic psychologist Ali Bromley, who walked away with the 100,000 cash prize in 2024.

The social experiment, which first aired in the UK on Channel 4 in 2000, follows a group of civilians living together under one roof, who take on weekly shopping tasks and face weekly evictions following a round of nominations.

Meet all the new housemates below:

Elsa

open image in gallery Elsa, a 21-year-old content creator from Essex ( ITV )

Elsa, a 21-year-old content creator from Essex, has said she applied for the competition after seeing an advert on TikTok. She said she will bring sunshine and laughter to the Big Brother house, and that she is looking forward to making new friends. Elsa said she is most likely to get nominated for being too sensitive or having a tantrum. If she won the competition, shed buy a studio flat for her and her dog.

Caroline

open image in gallery Caroline applied for the show after struggling to know the next step to take in her career ( ITV )

Fifty-two-year-old Caroline, from Canvey Island, said she applied for the show after struggling to know the next step to take in her career. If she wins the Big Brother crown, she said she would splurge the prize pot on new patio doors. She said she was most likely to be nominated for being snappy, saying: Being ratty. Because I can't stand people that snore, chew or make any noise. So, I'll probably be a bit ratty.

Jenny

open image in gallery Make-up artist Jenny, 20 ( ITV )

Make-up artist Jenny, 20, has said she will bring plenty of craic to the Big Brother house, and that shes hoping her bubbly personality will be enough to secure her a seat in the final. If she won the competition, Jenny said she would go on as many holidays as she could.

Nancy

open image in gallery Nancy, a 22-year-old graduate from Glasgow ( ITV )

Nancy, a 22-year-old graduate from Glasgow, has said shes looking forward to discovering herself after graduating. I don't want to sound too cliche but I was feeling very lost in my life because I had just graduated from university, she said. I'm looking forward to discovering myself even more and seeing how I can connect with people who are different to me. And just seeing who I am as a person and finding out more about myself, connecting with others and making friends. Nancy said shed use the prize money to travel around the world and learn more languages (she can already speak five).

Marcus

open image in gallery Marcus, 22, has arrived in the Big Brother house ( ITV )

Marcus, a 22-year-old mechanical engineer, is one of this years youngest housemates. He said he is most likely to be nominated for being too energetic, too loud and too over the top. He said in an interview: I'm looking forward to just being thrown in the mixing bowl of a group of people who I dont know and watching all their personalities unfold. Im buzzing. If he wins, he will pay off his car finance agreement and go on a trip to Australia.

Gani

open image in gallery Gani, a 39-year-old pizza shop manager ( ITV )

Gani, a 39-year-old pizza shop manager, has said he wants to be known by millions after his time on Big Brother. He said that he can raise his voice quite easily, and that other housemates might think hes being rude. If he wins, he said: Ill separate it into three portions. One goes for financial stability, one goes to my business and one goes to a deposit for a house. And then I will look to give some money to charity.

Teja

open image in gallery Teja, 18, is the youngest contestant on this years programme ( ITV )

Eighteen-year-old Teja, who works as a cleaner, is the youngest contestant on this years programme. As a housemate, she believes she will be helpful around the house, but shes worried the others will think shes too loud. As for the prize money, Teja said she would buy a house, which shes been saving for since she was 11. I would definitely put a deposit down on a house. In Bristol, or maybe Newport, because Bristol is super expensive.

Cameron

open image in gallery Cameron, 22-year-old farmer from Somerset ( ITV )

Cameron, a 22-year-old farmer from Somerset, is hoping to win over contestants with his leadership skills. He said that other housemates might think hes single minded, but hes happy to embody different views. As for the money, he said his prize pot would go straight into savings.

Sam

open image in gallery Zumba instructor Sam hopes to bring some energy to the house with his daily workout classes ( ITV )

Zumba instructor Sam is hoping to bring some energy to the house with his daily workout classes. If he claims the crown, Sam would visit Disneyland on holiday and then buy an apartment and a fluffy cat.

Emily

open image in gallery Emily, a political events manager ( ITV )

Political events manager Emily, 25, has said she hopes to fool other contestants with her appearance. She said: I haven't really thought about a strategy, although I do think people look at me and think I'm very ditzy because I've got blonde hair and fake nails. So, I think that could definitely play to my advantage, because they better watch out! I'm actually a lot cleverer.

Tate

open image in gallery Tate, a 27-year-old business owner from Falkirk ( ITV )

Tate, a 27-year-old business owner from Falkirk, has said he can have deeply and intellectual conversations, but can also be a bit daft. He has a Masters in Mechanical Engineering, and can also play the piano and guitar. If he were to win the prize, Tate would invest the money and save it for his future.

Zelah

open image in gallery 25-year-old personal trainer Zelah ( ITV )

Zelah, a 25-year-old personal trainer from South London, has said they might become unbearable without the gym, but said he was looking forward to throwing himself into the tasks. Zelah, who is trans, said that he wants to re-centre and take control of the media narrative surrounding trans people. Shows like Big Brother show the normality of people  you can't get more personal than watching someone 24/7, he said.

Big Brother airs Sunday to Friday on ITV2 and ITVX at 9pm
JERUSALEM, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Monday that its air force struck more than 140 targets across the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours.

The IDF claimed that these were "terror" targets, which included militant cells, military buildings, anti-tank positions, and other infrastructure.

Palestine's official news agency WAFA reported that 50 people were killed and 184 others were wounded in the Gaza Strip during the past day as a result of Israeli strikes.

According to the IDF, its armored forces killed militants, dismantled explosives, and destroyed buildings in Gaza City.

In northern Gaza, IDF infantry forces struck observation posts, while the navy destroyed a weapons depot and Hamas buildings. The IDF added that its forces also killed a militant in the southern part of the Strip. 
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 shared a lengthy statement addressing the controversy surrounding his appearance on Strictly Come Dancing, in which he hit out at the media for creating a hate frenzy against him.

The Apprentice star made his live debut on the celebrity dancing contest on Saturday (27 September), where he danced a paso doble with professional partner Amy Dowden.

The performance received a total of 12 points from the judges, including just two points from head judge Craig Revel Horwood. Skinners debut was also met with ridicule from some Strictly viewers, one of whom branded him one of the worst dancers theyd seen on the show.

In his post to Instagram and X/Twitter, Skinner praised his amazing partner Dowden while claiming he had been warned before starting Strictly that the media was gonna go for me more than anyone.

The hate frenzy theyve created towards me is insane, he wrote. There is hardly any truth in the majority of the articles. Now I understand why people in the public eye just say and do what theyre told because theyll get buried if they dont, just like theyre trying to do to me. I will always stand up for what is right.

He continued: This onslaught of hate has all started since I got invited to meet JD Vance, the vice president of the USA. And for the record: I havent hired a bodyguard. I didnt have a three-month affair. I havent defaulted on a loan. Im not being sued by global giant Bosch for saying bosh.

Skinner said that much of what had been reported about him had been massively exaggerated or written in a way to make me look bad.

In fact, all Ive ever done is put into the UK economy, employ people, support local businesses, spread positivity, work bloody hard and try to make others believe in themselves by spreading love and positivity online, he said.

open image in gallery Thomas Skinner with his Strictly partner Amy Dowden ( Instagram/Thomas Skinner )

He said he would continue to dance with my head held high and was honoured to be taking part in Strictly: Im gonna keep on trying my best and I dont care if people like it or not. I am proud of who I am and so grateful for all of you in my corner.

Skinners participation in this years series is controversial in part due to his recent socialising with Vance, for which he was pictured wearing a Maga (Make America Great Again) cap.

open image in gallery Skinner met with US vice-president JD Vance when the latter visited the UK ( Thomas Skinner/X )

He also caused a stir at the Strictly Come Dancing press event at Elstree Studios when he picked up a journalists phone during press questions, and later left the event altogether.

Earlier this month, he admitted to cheating on his wife weeks after their wedding, calling it a fling that took place the one time. The aftermath was a very, very dark time, he said, adding that his wife never deserved that, shes such a good person, without her I wouldnt be where I am today  she made me.

Skinner advised anyone who has made a mistake to be honest and own up to it, and said we are in an incredible place. Its forgotten about and weve moved on from it now.

In early September, BBC director general Tim Davie defended the decision to cast Skinner in the forthcoming series, telling MPs from the Culture, Media and Sport committee that the casting team chose contestants who they believe will be interesting to the audience.

Dowden has also defended him from any backlash, calling him lovely, bubbly and full of life and praising him for working so hard on his routines.

The new season of Strictly Come Dancing continues next Saturday (4 October) at 6.20pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
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

Move over, dating apps  one Bay Area woman is trying out a new and innovative approach to dating in the modern world.

Lisa Catalano, a 41-year-old from San Mateo, California, has purchased a dozen billboards along Highway 101 advertising her new website: MarryLisa.com. The site encourages eligible bachelors to apply to date her, and includes a trove of information about her hobbies, interests, and what shes looking for in a partner.

Catalano told local outlet KRON that she bought the billboards after just not having any luck any other way.

I just want to meet somebody, Catalano said.

On her website, Catalano says shes looking to get married and start a family in the next two to three years. She has a high energy, healthy, active lifestyle, loves the San Francisco Giants (sorry, Dodgers fans), and even owns a convertible.

open image in gallery Lisa Catalano has rented billboards in the Bay Area to advertise her new website encouraging eligible bachelors to apply to date her ( @MarryLisaOfficial/TikTok )

Shes hoping to meet a man who will match her interests  and her energy.

You know, it just comes down to chemistry, Catalano told KRON. But, you know, its things like religion, politics, lifestyle. I want somebody who leads a healthy lifestyle like I do.

And somebody who wants to get married and have kids, she added. Because thats something thats really important to me.

Catalano says shes ready to look for love again after her fiance died from a terminal illness in late 2023.

I hope that this is a great story that we can tell our future children, she told KRON.

The application on Lisas website asks for biographical information, then allows bachelors to answer some open-ended prompts, such as What are your hobbies and interests? and Describe your personality. Applicants can also upload photos of themselves.

open image in gallery Lisa Catalano is encouraging eligible bachelors to apply on MarryLisa.com, where she lists her hobbies, interests and preferences ( MarryLisa.com )

If you know an eligible bachelor in the area, you can also apply on his behalf using a separate application. This application asks much of the same information, but includes a prompt that asks, Is there anything else you'd like Lisa to know about this man you are referring? What made you decide to fill out this application?

Catalano also uploaded a series of YouTube videos describing her dating preferences, addressing topics like kissing on the first date (shes open to it), her celebrity crush (The X Files star David Duchovny) and her relatives (she loves her big extended family).

The Independent has contacted Catalano to learn more about her search for love.
Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

Eucalyptus isnt just good for koalas. The Australian herb can help people hydrate dry skin and ease joint pain, according to experts.

While the eucalyptus trees leaves are toxic for humans to consume, the leaves produce a powerful essential oil that can be safely applied on the body when mixed with lotion or vegetable oil.

Commonly used in aromatherapy, the oil may help strengthen the outer layer of the skin and lock in moisture, according to the skincare brand Kiehls.

These essential oils are concentrated plant extracts, Cleveland Clinics Dr. Melissa Young explained. They can be used in different ways from just inhalation to use with a massage and putting them in the bath.

Used medicinally and in ceremony by Aboriginal peoples for thousands of years, eucalyptus has anti-inflammatory properties that Egyptian and South Korean researchers say have helped people with arthritis.

open image in gallery Using eucalyptus can help reduce inflammation and ease joint pain ( Getty Images/iStock )

Their antimicrobial activity helps prevent infection, while their anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties contribute to reducing inflammation and pain associated with wounds, pharmacologists in Egypt and Iraq said in January.

Eucalyptus oil is especially useful during cold and flu season. It can fight infection and ease frustrating congestion, the clinic noted. Its strong, woody scent opens up the nasal passages, making it easier to breathe and helping the body to break down mucus.

The oil can also help stave off ugly cold sores  and all you need is a couple of drops and a teaspoon of vegetable oil to dilute.

You dont want to apply most [essential oils] directly to the skin unless you have a carrier oil because you could get a rash, burns, or allergic reactions, said Young, noting that essential oils are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Women who are pregnant, people who have asthma, and those who get headaches or migraines should avoid them, she added.

open image in gallery Eucalyptus essential oil has been shown to reduce anxiety levels ( Getty Images/iStock )

But, for the majority of users, eucalyptus oil can help soothe stress and promote winding down when used correctly, the Cleveland Clinic says.

Eucalyptus oil has been shown to decrease anxiety levels, South Korean researchers found in 2014. Adding a handful of drops to a bowl of hot water or a diffuser can do the trick.

Many people use it in diffusers to create a soothing environment during cold and flu seasons, Miranda LaBant, a naturopathic medical doctor at the Brio-Medical Integrative Cancer Treatment Center in Scottsdale, Arizona, told Prevention.
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

One of Meghan Markles friends has praised her relationship with the Duchess of Sussex.

Kelly McKee Zajfen, a former model who also co-founded the nonprofit Alliance of Moms, was in the middle of a question-and-answer session Sunday with her Instagram followers when she was asked about her friendship with Meghan. She quickly gushed over the duchess, calling her one of her favorite people.

I've actually known her for almost 20 years? she wrote in response to the question. She even came to my wedding (15 years ago!), and she's been the most amazing, nurturing, fun, loving human.

She's been by my side, especially since Georgie died, and I cherish our friendship very much, she added.

Georgie refers to Zajfen and her husband Julians son, who died in 2022 aged 9, after having Covid-19 and viral meningitis. Both Meghan and her husband, Prince Harry, supported Zajifen by donating $5,000 to a GoFundMe page set up in Georgies honor.

She even came to my wedding (15 years ago!), and she's been the most amazing, nurturing, fun, loving human, Zajfen said about Meghan ( Getty Images )

This is not the first time Zajifen spoke about her relationship with the Sussexes. In October, the former model and Meghan posed together at the Childrens Hospital Los Angeles 2024 Gala. Zajifen posted the photo on Instagram as she applauded Meghans work with the hospital and its doctors, before opening up about their relationship.

I was also beyond grateful to share in this beautiful evening with one of my closest friends. Meg, your commitment to supporting Childrens Hospital Los Angeles and community is truly inspiring. Im so grateful to have you by my side, she wrote.

Her Instagram photo showed the two friends holding hands and laughing, as Zajfen wore a lacy, lavender dress, paired with a dark purple clutch. Meanwhile, Meghan repurposed her iconic red dress, which she previously wore to the New York Salute to Freedom Gala in 2021.

She also praised the staff at the Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles and the way theyve cared for her daughter, Lily, who has a heart condition.

My deepest gratitude to Childrens Hospital Los Angeles for the extraordinary care they give to our daughter Lily. Our journey began when she was just two and a half, and from that day forward, weve experienced nothing but kindness, hope, care, and unmatched expertise, Zajfen  who is a heart ambassador for the hospital  wrote earlier in the caption. Our team at Childrens has given us strength and hope during the most challenging moments and their continued commitment to Lilys care has made all the difference to our family.
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

Selena Gomezs mother, Mandy Teefey, has shut down a report suggesting that she was upset by her daughters actions at her wedding.

Gomez, 33, married music producer Benny Blanco, 37, on Saturday in Santa Barbara, California, in front of a host of celebrity guests, plus friends and family.

On Sunday, Teefey, 49, responded to a post shared by PageSix on Instagram, which claimed she was shattered by Gomezs decision to have her grandfather, David Michael Cornett, walk her down the aisle rather than Teefey.

This is ludacris [sic]! It was heartwarming [to see] him walk her down the aisle, Teefey commented.

She doubled down on her comments in an Instagram post of her own, writing: What a perfect celebration for the most kick ass couple I know! The evening couldnt have been more beautiful and perfect! Absolutely flawless!

All my love to my beautiful daughter @selenagomez and to the greatest son in law @itsbennyblanco!!! It was a fairytale come true and it was beyond heartwarming watching my father walk her down the aisle!!!

open image in gallery Selena Gomez married Benny Blanco in a star-studded ceremony ( AP )

The report referenced by Page Six originated from an insider who spoke to The Daily Mail, also describing Gomez as a bridezilla.

According to Vogue magazine, the couple exchanged vows in front of around 170 guests, including her close friend and fellow pop star Taylor Swift, actor Paul Rudd, and Gomezs Only Murders in the Building co-stars, Steve Martin and Martin Short.

Among the other attendees were Ed Sheeran, Paris Hilton and Ashley Park. Gomez previously told Drew Barrymore on The Drew Barrymore Show that Short was due to give a speech while Martin would probably pull out his banjo.

open image in gallery Gomez and her mother, Mandy Teefey, in 2012 ( Getty )

The weekend of celebrations reportedly kicked off with a rehearsal dinner on Friday at a mansion in the private community of Hope Ranch, while the ceremony itself took place at Sea Crest Nursery.

I married a real life disney princess, Blanco wrote in a mirror selfie of the pair at the wedding.

Gomez and Blanco announced their engagement in December 2024 after a year of dating. The pop star shared photos of her ring, featuring a marquise diamond set on a gold band accented with tiny diamonds.

The couple had already known each other for some time before they began dating, with Blanco producing Gomezs hits Same Old Love and Kill Em with Kindness in 2015, and 2016s Trust Nobody.

They were reunited for the 2019 track I Cant Get Enough with J Balvin and Tainy; Blanco also produced Gomezs song Single Soon. The couple released a collaborative album, I Said I Love You First, earlier this year.
It started with that feeling that something was off. A slight crackle in the air, worried looks, and people scuttling away. Then a slightly raised voice from a security guard asking  yes, asking  two shoplifters to stop what they were doing.

Well, when I say shoplifters, Im being kind. This was a robbery. A full daylight robbery that happened just after lunchtime at a small Boots store in the heart of the City. Barely covering their faces, two early twentysomething blokes were calmly clearing the shelves of hundreds of products in the cosmetics aisle. Theyd come equipped too: two large H&M bags, which they were happily filling, leaving the shelves entirely empty as everyone watched on, trying to believe their own eyes.

Next to me was a young American. Aghast, she could hardly get her words out. Wait, what? They are just robbing the store? Are they just taking things? What is happening? Is this really happening?

And yes, it really was  right in front of us, with no one apparently doing one thing about it. This wasnt someone at the self-service till not scanning a few items. This was self-service in its realest sense, as we stood slack-jawed and frozen to the shop floor (I counted at least three sales assistants) watching the men helping themselves to whatever they liked.

A day later, there was a headline saying that one of Britains most prolific shoplifters had been banned from every Boots store in the UK for 10 years after he was jailed for stealing 107,000 worth of goods. Liam Hutchinson was jailed after committing a total of 99 shoplifting offences between May and August 2025, which involved grabbing several large quantities of electrical items and razors, and placing them in a bag.

The robbery I witnessed only stopped when one of the lads started to get anxious (bored?) that they were taking too long. After a few more swipes and a paper H&M bag so full I couldnt believe it didnt rip, they eventually calmly sauntered out of the shop with their swag and disappeared into the Underground station next door. Thats when the manager finally popped up like Mr Benn, apparently completely unfussed. It happens all the time, he shrugged. What can we do?

The shaken-up security guard was left to call the police while the other staff milled about, also shrugging their shoulders and rolling their eyes and tutting. We cant touch them, they said, over and over again.

open image in gallery A shoplifter goes through the roof panels in a branch of Tesco ( Social media )

I get it. The probably-just-above-minimum-wage security guard isnt paid enough to risk being punched or stabbed, and the peculiarities of our topsy-turvy legal system mean hed risk being accused of assault if he did touch them. (Go figure?) But, I asked, couldnt one of the other staff at least have called the police while it was happening? Why leave it to after the event? Another shrugged: It just happens all the time.

But if it does happen all the time, shouldnt there be a protocol beyond just idly standing by and watching it happen? I dont know  a really loud alarm button, a system for calling the police. At the very least, maybe just move the aisle of the most expensive creams in the shop away from the door?

Because while they cant do anything, the rest of us are paying the price. I looked down at my own basket: three packets of expensive vitamins. How much had they been marked up to help offset these all the time robberies? Retailers report that shoplifting costs them over 2.2bn in 2023-24. As losses rise and they invest in theft deterrents such as more security guards, locked cabinets, or behind-counter displays for hot product items, what is the cost to the rest of us? And what is the point of paying a security guard if he cant do anything?

open image in gallery Liam Hutchinson has been jailed for 12 months for stealing over 100,000 worth of products from Boots ( Metropolitan Police )

So, I asked the manager: I guess then, I can just walk out of here with these vitamins now and youre saying thats absolutely fine? You cant stop me? Is that OK? Another shrug. And it was then I realised the only thing stopping me was my own sense of what is right and wrong.

I didnt walk out with my basket  but I decided not to buy the vitamins either. I just felt that honest customers like me were footing the bill for the audacity of daylight robbers and the apathy of shrugging, eye-rolling managers. By continuing as normal and pretending this was absolutely fine, I felt like Id be adding to the problem, too.

Recounting the tale at my desk an hour later, similar stories came thick and fast. One colleague showed me a viral picture of a robbery in his local Tesco where the robbers took panels off the roof to escape with their stash in broad daylight.

open image in gallery Hutchinson was jailed after committing a total of 99 shoplifting offences between May and August 2025 ( Metropolitan Police )

Another told me she had once watched a woman fill an entire XL camping rucksack with frozen legs of lamb as a security guard looked on. Another recounted how in their local shop there was hardly anything left on the shelves any more, especially high-ticket items, which had literally now become ticket items, as there were only photos of products left on the shelves, with customers taking a slip to the counter if they wanted to buy them.

And it was affecting us not just financially, but in how it made us feel generally. A hard-to-pinpoint sense that something isnt okay. A sort of knowing that lawlessness is happening all around us, leaving us with an unspoken feeling that something is breaking down. Normal rules and laws werent applying any more. And as more and more lads, kids, whoever, realise that then what? As if to cement that unease, barely two hours later, another colleague WhatsApped me with news that, on his way home, hed stood by and watched someone walk into an M&S garage shop and help himself to six to eight bottles of wine. And no one did anything.

While the Met Police report that arrests for anti-social behaviour are up by a third in London compared to the previous year, they also recognise there is a problem with prolific offenders, who come into stores and shoplift in bulk, clearing the shelves of high-value items.

I became acutely aware of a security guard (a different one from the day before) clocking me

In the US, stores like Walmart and Target are using AI-powered cameras at self-checkouts to flag suspicious behaviour (eg, an item not scanned). Smart tags and RFID chips track items taken from shelves. In South Korea, facial recognition can flag persistent offenders and link directly to payment systems. Smart trolleys automatically scan items as customers place them inside, reducing scope for skip scanning.

But the men I saw never intended to make it to the till  nor did the woman my friend saw stuffing frozen lamb into her rucksack. Meat products (steak, bacon, lamb) and baby formula are some of the most stolen items, a trend clearly tied to the cost of living crisis. In response, countries like Portugal and Finland are trialling social support schemes (eg food vouchers, charity partnerships) when theft spikes are linked to hardship. In the Netherlands, youth diversion programmes enrol first-time shoplifters in work or training instead of criminalising them, making a real effort to bring them into society, not push them apart.

Was this why the daylight robbers (I refuse to call them shoplifters) cleared the shelves in Boots in Moorgate that day? My hunch is that they were targeting the high-value face creams to sell at a market stall for a quick buck and the audacious way they went about it felt more about their confidence in getting away with it. Why not, when hapless security guards cant do anything, and under-resourced police may not even turn up, and prosecutions often lead to nothing because the courts and jails are full.

open image in gallery A shoplifter at a Tesco in Hackney ( Metropolitan Police )

It all contributes to a feeling that law and order is crumbling around us  exposing just how flimsy the social fabric keeping everything in check really is. And it feels very disconcerting.

Returning to the scene of the crime the following day, I could see the shelves were still sparse. Looking at the price of the items they took  around 30 to 40 each  I tried to cost up the value of their swag, and reflected on how sad and neglected this Boots looked. Suddenly, I became acutely aware of a security guard (a different one from the day before) clocking me. I wandered to the next aisle, distracted by mascaras and lip glosses, scrabbling to match them to the samples (theyre never in the right place). As I did this, the security guard closed in, almost on top of me, giving me an absolute death stare.

And it dawned on me: he now had me down as a shoplifter. Whereas the day before, a guard, and at least three members of staff, had calmly stood by as two thugs emptied hundreds of pounds worth of stock into bags and sauntered out, apparently, now I was not a potential paying customer, I was a potential thief. He was showing me who was boss. Feeling the heat of his stare, I felt so uncomfortable that I left the products. Again.

How have we got to the point where on the high street today only daylight robbers and shoplifters feel welcome? Answers on a postcard, please.
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 Javice, the finance-tech startup founder who lied about her financial aid company and sold it to JPMorgan Chase for $175 million, was sentenced to seven years in prison Monday.

Judge Alvin Hellerstein said he felt the federal governments suggested sentencing of 12 years in prison was too steep, and sentenced Javice to 85 months, or just over seven years, at Manhattan federal court.

My job is to sentence people not because they are bad, but because they have done something bad. You are a good person who has done bad things. I have to punish you. Markets require honesty. It's Biblical. Yours was not an honest measure, Hellerstein told Javice, according to the Inner City Press.

She was convicted of defrauding Americas largest bank in March, following a five-week trial in New York City.

Javice, 33, founded Frank in 2017, a startup that promised to simplify the process of filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.

open image in gallery Disgraced start-up founder Charlie Javice, who was convicted in March, was sentenced to just over seven years in prison on Monday. She is pictured arriving at court Monday ( AFP/Getty )

The company claimed to be revolutionizing the way college students apply for aid, boasting that it could help financially needy students get access faster, in return for a few hundred dollars in fees.

Javice, a graduate of the University of Pennsylvanias Wharton School of Business, was widely praised for creating a way to simplify college financial aid for students and parents, and earned a spot on Forbes magazines 30 under 30 list in 2019.

However, the founder fraudulently claimed that her company, Frank, had over four million clients when it only had about 300,000 users at the time.

JPMorgan was interested in acquiring Frank, in part, because the bank saw potential in the startups supposedly long list of young, educated clients. The bank believed those future college graduates could potentially be sold on the idea of a lifelong partnership with the financial institution.

But after buying the company in September 2021, JPMorgan said it found evidence that Javice had lied about the number of customers Frank had. JPMorgan Chase declined to comment to The Independent.

On Monday, prosecutor Micah Fergenson noted that JPMorgan didnt get a functioning business in exchange for its investment, telling the judge, They acquired a crime scene.

Fergenson said Javice was driven by greed when she saw that she could gain $29 million from selling her company.

Ms. Javice had it dangling in front of her and she lied to get it, he said.

open image in gallery Javice fraudulently claimed her company, Frank, had over four million clients when it only had about 300,000 at the time ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

While Hellerstein mostly dismissed arguments that he should be lenient because the acquisition pitted a 28-year-old versus 300 investment bankers from the largest bank in the world, according to the defense, he also criticized JPMorgan Chase. They have a lot to blame themselves, he noted, after failing to do due diligence.

The judge quickly added that he was punishing her conduct and not JPMorgans stupidity.

Federal prosecutors argued that Javice deserved 12 years in prison but her lawyers said a shorter term was appropriate, claiming her crimes were a singular lapse in judgment due to her age.

Javices prosecution has been compared to the case against Elizabeth Holmes, who founded the blood testing company Theranos, which collapsed amid fraud allegations. After Holmes was found guilty of defrauding investors over false claims about the companys blood testing capabilities, she was sentenced to 11 years in prison.

Despite the comparisons, Javices lawyer, Ronald Sullivan, insisted that his client was very different from Holmes. Sullivan noted his client, unlike Holmes, created a product that worked, whereas Holmes did not have a real company and had a product that endangered patients. Sullivan told the judge that JPMorgan rushed through negotiations over fears that another bank would acquire Frank first.

open image in gallery Javice is expected to appeal her conviction ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

The defense also argued that the company helped real families achieve real dreams  first-generation Americans, children of immigrants, young people from underserved communities who saw college not as an entitlement but as a distant hope made suddenly possible.

The defense cited a chorus of support from over 100 people who submitted letters to the court on Javices behalf.

Speaking in court Monday, Javice said she was haunted that my failure has transformed something meaningful into something infamous. She said she made a choice that I will spend my entire life regretting.

Through tears, she apologized to all the people touched or tarnished by my actions, including JPMorgan shareholders, Frank employees and investors, and her family.

Javice, who lives in Florida, has been free on $2 million bail since her 2023 arrest, according to the Associated Press.

Javice's co-defendant Olivier Amar, who was Frank's chief growth officer, was convicted on the same counts. His sentencing is scheduled for October 20.

She is expected to appeal her conviction, according to Reuters.
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 sentencing phase for Cleophus Cooksey Jr., 43, convicted of murdering eight people in metro Phoenix in 2017, begins Monday, with prosecutors seeking the death penalty.

He was found guilty last week of murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, and sexual assault, following a three-week crime spree in 2017 that targeted random individuals, his mother, and stepfather.

Among the victims in Phoenix and nearby Glendale were two men found dead in a parked car, a security guard shot walking to his girlfriends flat, and a woman kidnapped, sexually assaulted, her body found in an alley.

Evidence found at his mothers apartment post-killing linked Cooksey to the slayings: a gun used in several attacks, vehicle keys of another victim, and a victims necklace Cooksey wore upon arrest.

Authorities never offered a motive.

Cooksey, an aspiring musician, knew some of the victims but he wasnt acquainted with others, police said. He has maintained his innocence.

The killings started four months after Cooksey was released from prison on a manslaughter conviction for his participation in a 2001 strip club robbery in which an accomplice was fatally shot.

open image in gallery This undated file booking photo provided by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office shows Cleophus Cooksey Jr. (Maricopa County Sheriff's Office via AP, File) ( Maricopa County Sheriff's Office )

The first victims, Parker Smith, 21, and Andrew Remillard, 27, were found Nov. 27, 2017. They had been fatally shot while sitting in a vehicle in a parking lot. Five days later, security guard Salim Richards, 31, was shot to death while walking to his girlfriends apartment.

Over the next two weeks, Latorrie Beckford, 29, and Kristopher Cameron, 21, were killed in separate shootings at apartment complexes in Glendale, and the body of Maria Villanueva, 43, was found naked from the waist down in an alley in Phoenix. Authorities said Cookseys DNA was found on her body.

Finally, on Dec. 17, 2017, Cooksey answered the door when officers responded to a shots-fired call at his mothers apartment. He told officers who had noticed a large amount of blood that he had cut his hand and was the only one home. Police say when an officer tried to detain him, Cooksey threatened to slit the officers throat. Rene Cooksey, 56, and Edward Nunn, 54, were found dead.

Cookseys arrest followed two other serial shooting cases in metro Phoenix.

In 2015, 11 shootings occurred on Phoenix-area freeways between late August and early September. No one was seriously injured, and charges were later dismissed against the only person charged.

The next case occurred over nearly a one-year period ending in July 2016. Bus driver Aaron Juan Saucedo was arrested in April 2017 and charged with first-degree murder in attacks that killed nine people.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Saucedo, with a trial scheduled for December. He has declared his innocence.
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

An Ivy League school has warned its students about unprovoked slapping attacks tied to a new social media trend.

The University of Pennsylvanias Division of Public Safety recently issued a message notifying the community about several reports made by students and others of groups of young people slapping or striking individuals in the head either on or near campus.

Public safety officials say the victims were approached by one or more unprovoked group members who hit them with an open hand or closed fist. These attackers are unknown to the victims, according to officials.

The UPenn message noted that officials believe the attacks are connected to a nationwide social media trend, without going into specifics.

An Ivy League school has warned its students about 'unprovoked' slapping attacks tied to a new social media trend ( Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images )

The Independent has reached out to UPenns Division of Public Safety for comment.

UPenn sophomore Nick Rogers told CBS News Philadelphia, "The Penn community is pretty tight, and I feel like everyone is pretty welcoming to each other, but to hear of people running around slapping students, it's absurd and sucks.

Fellow sophomore Alex Schnurman told the outlet, "I'd like to think that I'd be safe on my own campus. It's pretty scary to hear that you could walk around randomly minding your business, you get slapped by a kid.

Local barber shop owner Suran Casselle said one of his clients was recently attacked.

"It happened two days ago to one of my clients. His best friend was attacked on 38th Street, right in front of the Wawa," he told local ABC affiliate WPVI. "And the group of youth, they're down here every day after school, like tons of them."

University officials are increasing the police and security presence in the West Philadelphia area and collaborating with their city partners.

UPenn has also given students some safety tips, including staying off their cellphones, not wearing headphones, and being aware of their surroundings, such as nearby exits.
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

Two days before the massacre at a Mormon church in Michigan, the mother of suspected shooter Thomas Jacob Sanford made a cryptic post on Facebook about someone in her life who refused to take "accountability" and who always "twists everything".

That is according to reports from The New York Post and The Daily Mail, which identified the now-deleted Facebook profile as belonging to Sanford's mother Brenda.

It's not clear who her post was referring to and the words were not originally hers. Instead they seem to have been part of a copy-pasted meme that has been circulating on social media since at least August.

Police have named Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, as the man who killed four people and injured at least eight others in an attack on a Mormon Church in Grand Blanc, Michigan on Sunday morning.

"People lack accountability, then say, 'you couldve talked to me.' No, I couldnt. Because talking to you isnt really a conversation," the post read in part.

Sanford in a photo with his son, posted on a Facebook fundraising page ( Facebook )

"You dont listen to understand, you listen to reply. You deflect the moment any responsibility comes near you, you twist words until they lose their meaning, and then you turn yourself into the victim while painting everyone else as the villain...

"Conversations with you dont heal, they hurt. They dont resolve, they escalate. They dont build, they break. I leave them more drained, more frustrated, and more unheard than before."

The Independent has not been able to confirm the account's identity, but has reached out to a woman listed in public records as Sanfords mother for comment.

According to authorities, Sanford rammed his pickup truck through the front doors of the building, jumped out of the vehicle, and began firing a semi-automatic rifle at the worshippers inside, before setting fire to the church and being shot dead in a gunfight with officers.

Sanford had formerly served in the Marines in Iraq, rising to the rank of sergeant, and later raised money for his son, who suffers from a rare condition called congenital hyperinsulinism.

Though his motives are unclear, a local political candidate who met Sanford told The Detroit Free Press that he had ranted about Mormons being "the antichrist".

Facebook posts and photos suggest he was a fan of President Donald Trump who stridently opposed Covid-19 lockdowns and vaccines in 2020.
CAIRO, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- At least eight people were killed and 14 others injured on Monday when a passenger bus overturned on a desert road in southern Egypt's Minya province, the Ministry of Health and Population said.

The accident occurred when the bus was carrying passengers from Minya to Cairo, according to the Minya Province's Facebook page. The injured were transported to the Samalut Medical Center in Minya for treatment.

The driver was among those killed in the accident, and the cause of the accident remains unclear, said the ministry.

Road accidents in Egypt are common due to factors such as lax traffic enforcement and poor road maintenance. In recent years, however, the country has been working to improve its infrastructure by building new roads and bridges to ease congestion. 
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 Sunday worship service turned into a scene of horror when a gunman rammed his vehicle into a Mormon church in Michigan before opening fire on congregants and setting the building on fire, killing four people and injuring at least eight others.

Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, was identified as the suspect, police said during a press conference on Sunday evening.

The attack unfolded around 10:25 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, about 50 miles north of Detroit, according to police. Hundreds of people, including children, were inside at the time of the shooting.

After the suspect smashed his pickup truck with two American flags affixed to the bed through the front doors of the church, Sanford emerged with an assault rifle and began firing on worshippers, Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye said.

His reign of terror continued as he intentionally set a fire that turned into a massive blaze, police said. It was brought under control just before 1 p.m. As the suspect fled the church, he exchanged gunfire with two officers and was killed.

The police chief said they believe they will find more victims when its safe to search the building.

We do believe that there were people up there that were near that fire and they were unable to get out of the church, Renye said. So, we do believe we will find additional victims once were able to search that, once there are no signs of a fire reigniting.

The gunman was deployed to Fallujah in 2007

open image in gallery Thomas Sanford enlisted in the Marines in 2004, upon graduating from Goodrich High School. After serving in Okinawa, Sanford was deployed to Fallujah in Iraq in 2007 ( Facebook )

Thomas Sanford enlisted in the Marines in 2004, upon graduating from Goodrich High School. After serving in Okinawa, Sanford was deployed to Fallujah, Iraq, in 2007.

At the time, his father told local outlet Clarkston News of his pride in his son. Hes a homegrown kid who misses his family when hes gone. Jakes going voluntarily and plans on returning to this community when his service is over. We are very proud of him.

The same article mentioned that his grandfather was a World War II veteran and that his uncle also served in the Marines.

He left the Marines in 2008 with the rank of sergeant. During his time in the military, he was awarded the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal. He last served in the 2nd Maintenance Battalion in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Sanford specialized in repairing and maintaining military vehicles. His military career was described as stellar, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Sanford went to work as a truck driver, at one point driving a tow truck and another driving a Coca-Cola delivery truck.

His son was born with a rare medical condition named hyperinsulinism

open image in gallery Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, shown wearing a Donald Trump t-shirt bearing the slogan Make Liberals Cry Again ( Facebook )

Sanfords son, Brantlee, was born with a rare medical condition where the pancreas produces too much insulin, known as hyperinsulinism. The condition leads to brain complications.

He told a medical news outlet, Check Up Newsroom, in 2016: We found out Brantlee was having problems shortly after his birth. It was a nightmare for us. We were slowly realizing that Brantlee wasnt a typical premature baby.

My sister had sent me a newsletter from a childrens hospital in Texas called Cook Childrens. I emailed the writer of this article on congenital hyperinsulinism while waiting for a miracle to happen, he added.

From there, the family set up a GoFundMe page and were able to travel to the Lone Star state so that Brantlee could begin his treatment.

He has been pictured wearing a Donald Trump Make Liberals Cry Again t-shirt

A photo of Sanford that has gon viral in the wake of the shooting shows him wearing a Donald Trump t-shirt bearing the slogan, Make Liberals Cry Again. A 2020 Washington Post opinion piece said that phrase had now been adopted as the battle hymn of Republicans under Trumps leadership.

Public records indicate that Sanford was not registered with either of the major political parties. The Daily Beast reports that a Trump sign could be seen outside of his home as federal law enforcement conducted searches in the wake of the shooting.

Democratic activist Mark Grebner told local outlet Bridge Michigan that Sanford signed two political petitions, one to repeal Gov. Gretchen Whitmers COVID mandates and one to outlaw abortion in the state.

open image in gallery Fire and law enforcement officers stand outside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Sunday

In an initial post on his Truth Social social network, the president wrote, This appears to be yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America. THIS EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY MUST END, IMMEDIATELY!

Photos on social media show him to have been an active outdoorsman who often went hunting. A high school friend of Sanfords, Ryan Lopez, told The New York Times that he just saw the gunman in a gym a few weeks previously.

He was happy to see me, he just seemed normal. Lopez described Sanford as a regular country kid.

Another neighbor told the newspaper that Sanford would regularly plow driveways in the community for free. Something must have happened, snapped somehow, the neighbor said.

Sanfords connection to the church remains unknown

Sanford is from Burton, Michigan, Renye said. His name was released by the police on Sunday evening.

The truck he drove into the church was covered with American flags, one witness told the Detroit Free Press.

Renye said he used an assault rifle in the attack, and that police believe there is only one person involved.

We believe we have the guy who did this, Renye said.

open image in gallery An FBI Evidence Response Team agent inspects the suspect's truck outside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan ( AFP/Getty )

Authorities executed a search warrant at his home and are reviewing his phone records as they work to determine a motive.

The FBI has assigned 100 agents to the case to help interview witnesses.

As you can imagine, theres a lot of witnesses that were within the church and that is a lot of witness information statements that we have to obtain, Renye said.

Its unclear at this point what connection, if any, the shooter had to the church.

Sanford does not have a criminal record, according to online court records, reported The Detroit Free Press.

Investigators say that an accelerant, possibly gasoline, was used to set fire to the church and that suspected explosive devices were also found at the scene.

Who are the victims?

Four people are dead and at least eight others were injured, though authorities said that the death toll could rise as investigators complete their search of the building. Their names have not been released.

Seven people are in stable condition and one person is in critical condition, Renye said at the press conference.

open image in gallery People embrace near the scene of a shooting at a church in Grand Blanc, Michigan, on September 28 ( AFP via Getty Images )

In an update posted to Facebook Sunday afternoon, Renye said one of the nine being treated at the hospital had died from gunshot wounds.

Renye said at a Sunday night press conference that the bodies of two additional victims had been found inside the church by investigators. The entire church had not been cleared on Sunday night.

The police chief said that two of the four victims had been shot and that some people remained unaccounted for, but he was not sure how many.

Phillip Cotter, who was a member of the church, teared up as he spoke to the Detroit Free Press. He did not attend services this morning.

I know everyone who was there, he said. I don't know what God has planned for us, but I trust him. Evil is alive, it's active. People are too casual to throw out terms that inflame others, weak minds.

Some nurses from nearby Henry Ford Hospital, who were currently on strike, abandoned their picket line and rushed to the church to aid victims.

Human lives matter more than our labor dispute, Teamsters Local 332 President Dan Glass said.

A tragic act of violence

In a statement, Mormon church leaders called the incident a tragic act of violence and urged members to cooperate with investigators.

A tragic act of violence occurred today at a chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan. During Sunday worship services a gunman opened fire, and early reports indicate that multiple individuals were injured. We ask for cooperation with local authorities as details become available.

The Church is in communication with local law enforcement as the investigation continues and as we receive updates on the condition of those affected. We offer thanks to the emergency responders who are assisting victims and families.

We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of prayers and concern from so many people around the world. In moments of sorrow and uncertainty, we find strength and comfort through our faith in Jesus Christ. Places of worship are meant to be sanctuaries of peacemaking, prayer and connection. We pray for peace and healing for all involved.

open image in gallery After fleeing the building, the suspect exchanged gunfire with two officers and was killed ( Getty Images )

The shooting occurred less than 24 hours after the death of Russell M. Nelson, the churchs president and prophet, who passed away Saturday at age 101. According to church protocol, Dallin H. Oaks is expected to become the next president of the faith.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced plans to create a task force to protect places of worship in the wake of the shooting.

The escalation of violent attacks against people and places of faith is heinous and must end, Abbott wrote on X.

I have directed the Texas Dept. of Public Safety to form task forces with federal and local law enforcement to better safeguard our places of worship. The fundamental principle that thou shall not kill must be strongly reaffirmed as a core tenet of our society and must be aggressively enforced by law enforcement.

A deadly pattern

Sundays shooting marked at least the 324th mass shooting in the United States this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

It came just hours after another gunman opened fire at a waterfront bar in Southport, North Carolina, killing three and injuring at least eight.

Nigel Edge, 40, was arrested and charged with three counts of first-degree murder, five counts of attempted first-degree murder and five counts of assault with a deadly weapon, Southport Police Chief Todd Coring said.

open image in gallery Sundays shooting marked at least the 324th mass shooting in the United States this year ( AP )

Places of worship have increasingly become targets of mass violence.

On August 27, a shooter in Minneapolis killed two children and wounded 14 others when he fired into a church.

Robert Westman, 23, dressed all in black and armed with a rifle, a shotgun and a pistol, fired through the stained-glass windows of a church adjacent to the Annunciation Catholic School as children and teachers gathered for the first Mass of the school year.

The victims were later identified by their families as 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski. The suspect died by a self-inflicted gunshot as law enforcement rushed to the scene.

And on September 19, Blake Richard Hoover was charged with arson after allegedly setting fire to the Chabad of Charlotte County in Punta Gorda, Florida, just days before Rosh Hashanah, in what police described as a hate crime.
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 man accused of killing four people at a Michigan church on Sunday went on a rant describing Latter-day Saints as the antichrist just days before the shooting, a local political candidate claims.

Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, has been accused of ramming his truck into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, and opening fire at hundreds of worshippers on Sunday morning. Police say Sanford also lit the building on fire. Four victims were killed and eight people were injured. Sanford was killed at the scene by police.

Kris Johns, a city council candidate in Burton, Michigan, says he spoke with the 40-year-old while canvassing on September 22, The Detroit Free Press reports.

He described Sanford as extremely friendly and someone not seemingly violent towards the church. He admitted, however, that their conversation took a very sharp turn when religion was mentioned, leading to the suspect describing Mormons as the antichrist.

It was very much standard anti-LDS talking points that you would find on YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Johns said.

Johns said he realized he had spoken to the suspected gunman when he saw his photo circulating after the shooting. He then called the FBI and Michigan State Police, he told the Detroit Free Press. The Independent has contacted both agencies for comment.

open image in gallery People attend a vigil for the victims of the Michigan church shooting. Four victims were killed and eight were injured, police said on Monday ( AFP via Getty Images )

The city council candidate said he spoke with Sanford at his Burton home for about 20 minutes, the Detroit Free Press reports.

They talked about their children, including Sanfords son, who has a rare condition called hyperinsulinism. Sanford told Johns that he had, at one point, moved to Utah to plow snow and had a relationship with a woman there whose family members were Latter-day Saints.

Sanford asked several open-ended questions about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including about the Book of Mormon and the history of the religious movement, according to the Detroit Free Press.

I just didn't know what the next question was going to be," Johns, who is a remember of the Solid Rock Community Church in Burton, said. After questioning the prospective city councillor gave, however, Sanford called members of the church the antichrist.

Johns said there was no mention of politics or current events, but he did spot a sign supporting President Donald Trump on Sanfords fence. Sanford has also been identified in a social media photo wearing a pro-Trump t-shirt with the slogan, Make Liberals Cry Again.

open image in gallery Suspected gunman Thomas Jacob Sanford seen wearing a pro-Trump t-shirt with the slogan, Make Liberals Cry Again ( Facebook )

While Sanford voted in November elections in 2024, 2022, 2020, 2018 and 2016, he doesnt have a record of voting in primaries, which means his party affiliation cant be determined from election records, the Detroit Free Press reports.

Sanford also confided that he had struggled with drug addiction after serving in Iraq, Johns told the Detroit Free Press. Sanford served as a U.S. Marine from 2004 to 2008, and was deployed to Iraq in 2007.

This comes after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News that investigators believe Sanford hated people of the Mormon faith.

From what I understand, based on my conversations with the FBI director, all they know right now is that this was an individual who hated people of the Mormon faith, Leavitt said on Monday morning.

They are trying to understand more about this, how premeditated it was, how much planning went into it, whether he left a note. All of those questions are yet to be answered but certainly will be answered by the FBI, she added.

open image in gallery Thomas Jacob Sanford called Latter-day Saints the antichrist just days before the shooting, a local political candidate says ( Facebook )

Local officials declined to comment on Sanfords motive at a press conference on Monday afternoon. They did, however, share updates on the eight victims injured in the shooting.

Henry Ford Genesys Hospital treated eight people, ages 6 to 78, after the shooting. Five people were treated for gunshot wounds, and three people were treated for smoke inhalation, hospital officials said on Monday afternoon.

One person died in the emergency department, while at least two victims remain in critical condition, officials said. Two smoke inhalation patients have been discharged, while the third remains intubated. A child was also initially stabilized at the facility before they were transferred to another hospital.
Fourth and fifth grade social studies teacher Claire Triplett, works with The SciTech Bolts robotics team at the school on February 19, 2014. The team turned out to be all-girls after the boys decided they weren't interested. The team worked Wednesday on their 'bots for two upcoming competitions. ReNEW SciTech Academy in New Orleans is one of 46 schools in the nation piloting the VEX robot curriculum. Claire said she started to volunteer with them after falling in love with the team when she attended one of their competitions in November. She said she loves that they are not only learning science but also to compete, and other skills that will need for high school and college. (Photo by Kathleen Flynn, Nola.com / The Times-Picayune)
SUVA, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Fiji recorded 1,977 child welfare cases last year through the Child Helpline and partner service providers, with most linked to neglect, physical abuse, and sexual abuse.

Fijian Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Sashi Kiran told parliament that 62 percent of these cases were tied to those three categories.

She stressed that children remain the largest victim group in sexual offence cases reported to the Fiji Police Force each year.

Findings from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, conducted by the Fiji Bureau of Statistics, show that 80 percent of children aged one to 14 experienced some form of violent discipline in the past month, Kiran said.

Child protection advocates have consistently called for stronger community-based interventions, better resourcing for frontline services, and more consistent enforcement of child welfare laws to address what they describe as a national crisis. 
What is this abundance thing that progressive economists are suddenly banging on about after reading the latest American pop economics book? At last, one of them has explained it.

He is Dr Andrew Leigh, Australias assistant minister for productivity, competition, charities, treasury and the kitchen sink. In short, hes the assistant assistant treasurer. Leigh is a former economics professor and one of the brightest minds in the government.

Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury Andrew Leigh. Credit: Ben Appleton

So why does he have such a rag-bag of a job? Because hes not a member of either of Labors right and left factions, which means that, no matter how capable he is, he gets whats left after the faction members have bagsed all the top jobs.

This is good, actually, because it leaves Leigh with time to do the governments creative thinking. He gave a thoughtful speech last week about the politics of abundance and the perils of zero-sum thinking. In it, he does a much better job of explaining the relevance of abundance than the authors of the book.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Matthew McConaughey seems like a fairly pragmatic kind of guy. At 183cm tall, youd swear hes a few centimetres more. Hes an imposing presence, if also a charming one. And you get the impression he might not be the kind of man given to displays of emotion. In The Lost Bus, Paul Greengrass survival thriller based on the real story of a busload of schoolchildren caught in a California inferno, he plays bus driver Kevin McKay, a cinematically embellished iteration of a real man. But at some point the film becomes much more than mere action movie. A polemic on broken environmental policy? Maybe. A deeply affecting examination of a father facing an impossible choice: save the kids in his bus, and risk not being able to return to save his estranged son? Absolutely. Matthew McConaughey in The Lost Bus. Credit: Apple TV+ The role, McConaughey says, left him examining his relationship with his own children Levi, Vida, and Livingston. It left me coming back and seeing time with my own children and going, dont miss it, he says. People say it goes by fast, and it does. Im already noticing that. Dont miss it. Be there as much as you can. Hopefully as a parent, you get to maintain a relationship with your children after they leave the house, but boy, while theyre there, thats when, as a parent, you have the chance to be a real artist with this canvas that youre about to let go into the world, McConaughey adds. I have a great reverence for that. Complicating - or perhaps simplifying - the performance, McConaugheys real-life son Levi plays Kevins son, Shaun McKay, in the film. Real-life father and son are close, but the scenes they share clearly build on their natural intimacy to tease out powerful emotions.

Advertisement

After the scenes, it was so nice to come back at the end of the day and hug and be like, thats not us, lets make sure it doesnt become us, McConaughey says. You know what I mean? [We say], love you, dad; love you, son. Theres a decompression at the end of every day: Matthew McConaughey with his son Levi at the Toronto Film Festival. Credit: AP The Lost Bus is based on the 2021 non-fiction book Paradise: One Towns Struggle to Survive an American Wildfire by Lizzie Johnson, about one of the worst bushfires in American history, the 2018 Camp Fire in California. Producer and actress Jamie Lee Curtis read the book, and passed it on to producer Jason Blum. Greengrass, a former journalist turned filmmaker with a peculiarly strong documentary sense, even when directing fiction, was brought in to direct. That decision would prove pivotal, as Greengrass gives the film an unsettlingly real sensibility; even as it lurches from thriller to full-blown disaster movie, it never loses its sense of reality, dialling in to small notes and deep emotional wells. America Ferrera and Matthew McConaughey in The Lost Bus. Credit: Apple TV+ A more literal adaptation of the truth might have given the films leads  McConaughey, and America Ferrera, as teacher Mary Ludwig  a more specific responsibility regarding the real town of Paradise, California. That said, McConaughey notes, their real-life counterparts needed to be navigated carefully.

Advertisement

If Im playing a biography, theres a certain responsibility to the emulation of that character. Not the imitation, but the emulation of that, he says. When you go inspired by, we want to make sure we were responsible to the spirit of what really happened and what these people did, and I think Pauls movie is true to that. And some of the things were talking about, about fathers and sons, that wasnt a literal [interpretation of] Kevins relationship with his son. But for dramatic purposes, I know I needed that. Who was he before the conflict comes, before the fires come? Who is he afterwards? I needed that. I think Paul needed that. As an actor too, McConaughey says, he was able to dive into the mythical subtext of the movie. The most immediate parallel comes in the fire itself: a man on the brink of something, frustrated, disaffected and isolated, who finds himself through a literally hellish inferno and, perhaps, coming out the other side. Loading Those mythical story points ... how Im moving, listening, when Im looking off the horizon when Im not really listening, when Im about to give up or decided no, were going to go through it ... all that informs a lot of unseen stuff, McConaughey says. But every performer, writer, actor, or artist needs that, to understand that backstory, he says. It informs so much of how you move from the heel to the hair follicles on your head. [I] do literally say that line, which is beautiful, by Paul, I was too late as a son, now I think Im too late as a dad. I grabbed onto that.

Advertisement

Were talking at the Toronto Film Festival, and outside there is a maelstrom: crowds fill the streets, packing cinemas, there are red carpets peppering the sidewalks, and planeloads of A-list stars. Inside the hotel, McConaughey is taping TV interviews but, for our conversation at least, the equipment is unmanned, and were left alone in the room to talk. His sense of his faith is very present. He periodically invokes the wisdom of his pastor. And, as an actor, he seems to have created for himself a wholly complete life outside his day job. Which is not to say he does not pour himself into his work. Quite the opposite. The Lost Bus might have started as an action movie script offered to him because hes a handy name for the top of the billboard. But the almost overwhelming way it intersects fatherhood, failure and hope is extraordinary. The real Kevin McKay at the Toronto Film Festival. Credit: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP The gut-punching tension of the film swings on two extraordinary choices that Kevin is forced to make. The first, to get in his bus and drive towards the fire in order to retrieve his mother and son. The second, to turn the bus around again, leaving his sons life in jeopardy, because a group of school children have been left behind, and his bus is the only one close enough to get to them. The choice to turn around and go get his mom and his son ... thats enough to carry the entire movie, McConaughey says. And son of a bitch, if 20 seconds later it doesnt come compound right on top with a new set of stakes, which are, [a radio call saying] I got 22 kids stranded on the east side of town. Anyone got an empty bus over there? Kevins just, somebody else, pick up. Not me. If he believes in God, what kind of bullshit trick are you playing on me? Now, in that moment, what made him grab that [radio] mic and go, I can get them. I dont know. Is that the right thing to do? I dont know.

Advertisement

Theres that great phrase my pastor says, you want to find a home, start with making the first right choice. And just try to do that one in a row, then one in a row again. And I think theres something about that thats the first right choice, even in the circumstances that [Kevin] was in, with trying to get back, by hook or by crook, to his son and mum. The Lost Bus tells the true story of a drivers fight to save the children on his bus from an out-of-control fire in California. Credit: Apple TV+ The film also, perhaps both unintentionally and unexpectedly, makes observations about the modern malaise of men on the edge. We dont bring that up directly in this movie, but that definitely is some subtext for me that I notice there are a lot of men for whom the American dream did not work out, McConaughey says. Loading Ive talked to a lot of middle-aged men that are going, Im lost here. Im in neutral. Nothing worked out. Things that I had, campfires that I tried to build into bonfires, they didnt. Theyre still campfires. Or theyre put out. And what do those men start to do? Thats a lot of the subtext of Kevin as a man, where he is in this life, McConaughey adds. Hes quit. But that metaphor ... hes forced to follow through. Hes forced to go drive. You want to get through hell, go right down the dragons throat, baby. Drive right through the hottest part of it. Paul wrote a great line: you were too late as a son, you got a second chance not to be too late as a father. Though McConaughey has made an art of almost effortlessly taking his Hollywood bows and returning home to his family in Texas, he concedes his departure from The Lost Bus was emotionally complex.

Advertisement
The demand for gold and silver is surging to record levels, a familiar pattern when markets grow volatile. What feels new, however, is who is buying.

For years, precious metals were the preserve of older investors  a way to hedge portfolios built on shares, bonds and property. Today, it is younger investors who are driving momentum, pushing gold towards $US4000 ($6000).

Once the preserve of older, conservative investors, gold is gaining ground with younger buyers. Credit: Trevor Collens

Consider the numbers: according to surveys by the World Gold Council, US Millennials invested more in gold than older generations in 2024. More than 60 per cent of US Millennials included gold in their portfolios, compared with 35 per cent of Gen X and 20 per cent of Boomers.

Another report indicated that Millennial and Gen Z investors now comprise 34 per cent of global gold exchange-traded fund (ETF) buyers, up from 12 per cent in 2020. Asian demand, too, is being underpinned by the emergence of younger investors.
The safety of Melbournes CBD is once again in the spotlight, after four teens drove an allegedly stolen car into the Bourke Street mall during a police pursuit.

A female pedestrian was taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries after the chase, which began on the Eastern Freeway in Doncaster about 12.30pm on Monday, came to a dramatic end in front of lunchtime shoppers about half an hour later.

Police say a pedestrian was hit on Exhibition Street as officers pursued an allegedly stolen car. Four boys have been arrested. Credit: Tony Totta

Witnesses saw the teens jump from the white BMW and flee into the nearby Emporium shopping centre before they were quickly rounded up by police.

Footage posted online shows the teens handcuffed on the ground, with the car sporting smashed front and rear windshields.
The crowd at the top of the sunny hill had fallen silent before Sergeant Lisa Thompson, arm wrapped around her young son, made her way through the sea of blue.

The boys mother wiped away tears as he placed a floral wreath on the ground in honour of his stepfather Neal Thompson, 59, and his colleague, Vadim de Waart-Hottart, 35, who were gunned down in the line of duty on a remote property in Porepunkah last month.

Slain Victoria Police officer Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompsons loved ones: His partner, Sergeant Lisa Thompson, and her young son, lay a wreath on the National Police Remembrance Day. Credit: Eddie Jim

Every year, National Police Remembrance Day marks one of the most sombre and significant days in the policing calendar as a way to pay tribute to those killed on the job.

On Monday morning, dozens of uniformed officers marched in their honour.
Warning: This article contains the name and image of a deceased Indigenous person.

Stamping his bare feet into the earth and dancing alongside his mob, Kaiden Morgan was in his element this time last year as a young man with deep connections to Country, culture, and family.

Kaiden Morgan died after he was found with stab wounds in Morwell on Saturday. Credit: Lauren Murphy

The Wakka Wakka, Wurundjeri and Yorta Yorta man  who turned 18 in June  believed in the strength of community, and stepped forward as a young leader with dreams of passing on his culture.

Those dreams were destroyed on Saturday night when the beautiful boy was stabbed to death in Morwell, in Victorias Gippsland region.
Melbourne Racing Club has vowed to press on with a debt-clearing deal to sell a $195 million slice of Caulfield Racecourse to a private school despite telling a tribunal that a council levy had put the plan at risk.

The MRC has taken Glen Eira City Council to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal challenging conditions on a subdivision permit required to sell land along Kambrook Road to Mount Scopus Memorial College.

MRC land on Booran Road previously used by horse trainers at Caulfield Racecourse. Credit: Eddie Jim

It has asked the tribunal to scrap the estimated $3 million public open space contribution normally imposed on subdivisions, arguing it went against the levys purpose of promoting greenery alongside residential, industrial or commercial development.

This is an extraordinary impost for a proposal that is no more than an internal boundary realignment, the MRC said in its submission, obtained by The Age.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with Foreign Minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Choe Son Hui in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 28, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

BEIJING, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with the Foreign Minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Choe Son Hui in Beijing on Sunday, noting that maintaining, consolidating and developing bilateral relations has always been a steadfast strategic guideline of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese government.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said that China and the DPRK are friendly neighbors that are connected by mountains and rivers, adding that the traditional friendship forged and nurtured by the older generations of the leaders of the two parties and the two countries is a valuable asset shared by both sides.

Earlier this month, General Secretary Xi Jinping and General Secretary Kim Jong Un held a historic meeting and reached an important consensus, pointing out the direction and drawing up the blueprint for the development of China-DPRK relations, Wang noted.

He said that the two sides should implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and the two countries, enhance strategic communication and strengthen exchanges and cooperation, in order to better improve the well-being of the two peoples and jointly promote regional peace and development.

Wang also briefed on the domestic situation in China, noting that since China and the DPRK are both socialist countries with common ideals and goals, the two sides should enhance exchanges of experience in governance and administration to promote the development of their respective socialist causes.

Wang said that China appreciates the DPRK's firm support for China's core interests and major concerns, as well as its backing of the concept of building a community with a shared future for humanity, and of the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, Global Civilization Initiative, and Global Governance Initiative proposed by China.

China stands ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with the DPRK in international and regional affairs, oppose all forms of hegemonism, and safeguard the common interests of both sides and international fairness and justice, he added.

Choe said that China's 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 have fully demonstrated China's historical achievements, comprehensive national strength and international status.

The historic meeting held by the top leaders of the two parties and the two countries has provided strategic guidance and strong impetus to deepen relations between the DPRK and China, Choe added.

Choe noted that the DPRK side is willing to work with the Chinese side to implement the consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and the two countries, enhance strategic communication, increase friendly exchanges, deepen practical cooperation, and promote the development of DPRK-China relations to a new and higher level.

Choe also said the DPRK is willing to closely cooperate with China in multilateral affairs, jointly resist unilateralism and power politics, and promote a fairer and more just world order. 

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with Foreign Minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Choe Son Hui in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 28, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)
A man accused of impersonating members of the community in his employers mining project application in Victorias west is fighting three charges of falsifying documents.

Murray Ross Wilson, 55, faced court in Horsham on Monday, where it was heard he plans to contest the allegations made by Victoria Police.

The farmland where the mine is proposed for is productive broadacre cropping land in Victorias western wheatbelt.

WIM Resource is hoping to construct a mine on farmland eight kilometres north of Horsham, in Victorias west, where there are large deposits of heavy mineral sands like zircon and titanium. The proposal is known as the Avonbank project.

The company is proposing to mine the area in stages over 38 years, and progressively rehabilitate the mined land so it can be used for farming again afterwards.
Select entry school offboarded our child My experience indicates that select-entry schools celebrate success that is almost inevitable while failing to properly support those who really need it. Whether enrolment is based on an exam or school zone, the achievements of such schools are arguably based on capable students from aspirational backgrounds creating self-fulfilling success. Once a critical mass of already high-achieving pupils is reached, a good reputation appears almost guaranteed, attributed to a vague ethos of educational excellence. As an educator myself, I know that one teacher isnt many times as good as another, so thats unlikely to be the deciding factor. Many years ago, despite him facing certain headwinds, we decided to send our older son to a prestigious zoned school nearby. Once he reached year 11 and failed to demonstrate the requisite prowess, what was essentially an offboarding process was commenced, resulting in him eventually dropping out of school altogether. It was clear to us that they didnt want him jeopardising their VCE record. As is often said, isnt the mark of a good society not in how it supports its advantaged but in how it treats its disadvantaged? Marish Mackowiak, Ormond

David McCloskeys research ( The Lost Boys: Australias male education catastrophe , 22/9) highlighted the flaws in Australias school funding model, inconsistent with our values and long overdue for reform. However, adopting NSWs selective schools approach is not the answer ( Victorias select-entry schools are in demand, but experts warn against their expansion , 29/9). Schools such as James Ruse Agricultural High and Baulkham Hills High largely serve students from the wealthiest 1 per cent of families. These schools do little to expand opportunities for disadvantaged children. The core of the problem rests with our school funding model which entrenches inequality and creates an uneven playing field. The consequences are clear. Many non-government schools, flush with both fees and subsidies, have engaged in an arms race of extravagant buildings to attract wealthy families. Real choice can exist within a public system, without fees. That is the arrangement in the UK, Ireland, New Zealand and Ontario, where fewer than 10 per cent of schools are private. We need a unified model: both levels of government jointly funding all schools through a common formula, based on a revised Schooling Resource Standard. All schools, government and non-government, should receive full recurrent and capital funding  on the condition they do not charge fees. Dr Lawrence Ingvarson, Canterbury

Need to help less fortunate before schooling begins

Victorias select-entry schools are in demand, but experts warn against their expansion, (29/9) adds to the interesting, long-running Age coverage of the issue of government or private schooling, but a confusing claim needs further examination.

It reports research shows no significant benefits for students attending selective schooling after adjusting for socio-economic background.

A Deakin University associate professor states, Select-entry schools typically only enrol high SES (socioeconomic status) students.

Surely, high SES is not a criteria, if selection means what it implies that entry is based on ability and results to date.

Lets admit high SES applicants bring other advantages in the first place. The only student quoted in the article expressed satisfaction in knowing that although a private school was not in the family budget, he enjoyed the benefits of his select entry school .

Teachers have forever faced the challenge of teaching individual differences. Students enter schools with a vast range of abilities and readiness. SES is constantly quoted and painstakingly addressed within the school system. The real challenge, and one that has always been with us, is how to lift the opportunities, experiences and welfare of the less fortunate in society outside of, and before, formal schooling begins.

Russell Brown, Richmond

THE FORUM

Non-partisan policy

So encouraging to read that the Scottish authorities have emptied their jails of young offenders (How Victoria could follow Scotlands lead and cut knife crime and youth offending, 28/9).

Scotland has moved beyond using youth crime as a political football and used consultation with multiple agencies, including public health, as a starting point, and focused on early intervention. This included speaking to teens in their language with victim impact statements.

However, the Scottish model needs bi-partisan support. Are both major political parties prepared to try something new and stop the point-scoring? Are we willing to spend the money needed? Some great ideas for reform are in the article. Our children are at risk as victims

and perpetrators.

Jan Marshall, Brighton

No magic bullets

Perhaps if we can listen to people like Karyn McCluskey, the founder of the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit, we may be able to explore effective and long-term solutions to youth crime in Victoria (How Victoria could follow Scotlands lead and cut knife crime and youth offending, 28/9).

As McCluskey has shown with the success of a more holistic and public health-focused approach with young people in Scotland, success requires our leadership to demonstrate the strength to move away from those who seek political advantage from weaponising crime.

In Victoria, it appears the punitive, short-term approaches are being employed as a political response which will only exacerbate the problem in the longer term. Locking young people up creates the hardened criminals of the future.

True leadership requires agencies working together with a government commitment to respond with real solutions instead of supposed magic bullets like harsher bail conditions.

Mary Tobin, Albert Park

Boot camp reboot

If elected, the Victorian Liberal Party is proposing to establish boot camp-type facilities as part of the punishment for young offenders.

Why are the types of jail that young offenders go into not already boot camps? Up at dawn and making your bed and cleaning your cell to specifications. All articles of clothing folded and placed in a specified way. Assemble outside your cell at attention for inspection. Marching to and from meals and activities. If you rebel, you get punished but if it continues, all members of your cell block get punished as well.

How, you might ask, can I impose this onto others? I have done boot camp. My offence was being born on a certain day of a month and that number being on a marble pulled randomly from a barrel. It was innocent youth off into the army for National Service. So, why arent we doing this

to youth who are actually

habitual offenders?

Gerry Lonergan, Reservoir
Two men and a woman have all been charged with murder after police discovered the body of a missing 33-year-old man in Perth bushland on Sunday.

Police have been searching for Jayden Stewart Selfe since May, storming an Attadale home along Money Road, where it is believed he had lived for several years, on Sunday afternoon after searching bushland north-east of Wanneroo.

Detectives say they located Selfes body within the bushland search area and took three people into custody, officially charging them on Monday morning with murdering Selfe on May 14.

Jonathon Allen Donaldson, 42 from Banksia Grove, and Beng Seng Soo, 40, and Jessica Ann Walker, 39, both from Attadale, have each been charged with one count of murder.
Australia has thrown its weight behind a global crackdown on oversupply of goods such as EVs and steel amid heightened alarm that Chinas manufacturing boom will threaten Western competitors and hand Beijing coercive power in key sectors.

As Prime Minister Anthony Albanese prepares to meet US President Donald Trump in Washington, the Trump administration has been pressuring the EU to slap tariffs on China just as nations from Asia to South America have expressed worry about a glut of Chinese electric cars and other goods.

Heavy subsidies are allowing Chinese EV makers to undercut other manufacturers.

Chinas record $US1.2 trillion trade surplus is alarming nations across the world already reeling from the havoc of US tariffs, creating duelling anxieties about the behaviour of the two biggest economies before a World Trade Organisation reform summit.

Theres going to be a meeting in Africa next March and Australia is very strongly pushing for reform of the WTO to make sure its fit for purpose to deal with the trade issues in the world, Trade Minister Don Farrell said, without explicitly mentioning either the US or China.
Farmers hosting wind and solar farms are copping bullying and violent threats from locals opposed to the new developments, as a political brawl over renewables drives a wedge through communities around the country.

Many local campaigns have sprung up in regional Australia to oppose renewable energy projects as well as transmission lines that are needed to link the far-flung renewables to cities.

The Albanese government has set a target for the grid to reach 82 per cent renewables by 2030. Credit: James Brickwood

At the first hearing of a federal parliamentary inquiry into climate change information on Monday, Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner Tony Mahar said the families of landholders who welcomed renewables on their land were being threatened.

One of the most troubling areas that I have come across visiting communities is the division  and the bullying, harassment, intimidation that Ive seen. It saddens me and it troubles me, said Mahar, whose job is to help resolve community disagreements.
A house in Spotswood drew in seven young bidders before a knockout offer of $1 million sealed the deal at auction on Saturday.

The three-bedroom home at 20 Forrest Street was listed with a price guide of $780,000 to $860,000, with the reserve set at $850,000.

The opening bid of $780,000 sparked competitive bidding in $10,000 increments. Jellis Craig Inner West director Glen Baird said the auction was dominated by younger buyers, and the winner was a young couple.

They were all young couples. There was an older couple bidding, but they were bidding for their son in America, he said.
He went on to warn that if Hamas rejected the plan, or accepted and then tried to counter it, Israel would finish the job by itself. This can be done the easy way or it can be done the hard way, but it will be done, Netanyahu said. Smoke rises following an Israeli military strike in Gaza City last week. Credit: AP Trump urged the Palestinian people to take responsibility for their destiny and embrace his proposal. Hamas has not yet responded, however, and its absence from negotiations so far raises serious questions about the plans viability. Qatars prime minister and Egypts intelligence chief presented the proposal to Hamas negotiators, who are now reviewing it in good faith, according to a person familiar with the matter. The person was not authorised to comment and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

While Hamas has said in the past that it would agree to step back from governing Gaza, the militant group has refused to disarm, something Netanyahu has long demanded as part of any long-term truce to end the war. Under the agreement, a temporary governing body for Gaza known as the Board of Peace would be set up, headed by Trump, and including former British prime minister Tony Blair. Palestinians and international experts would take part, and the board would create a framework and handle funding for Gazas redevelopment until the Palestinian Authority had undergone major reforms. Loading Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles on Tuesday voiced support for the plan  on the condition that it did not involve the annexation of any territories or the forced displacement of people. We have made it really clear that we need to see a ceasefire, that we need to see an end to these hostilities. We do not want to see an annexation of these territories, and I know that forms part of this agreement as well, Marles told the ABC Melbourne on Tuesday morning.

Our view, ultimately, is that the only way that there will be an enduring peace in the Middle East is if there are two states. The plan, as its been articulated, keeps the door open for all of that. So thats where we see that there is hope, but what we need is for all parties to be embracing a pathway to peace here. French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed Trumps efforts to end the war and secure the release of all hostages. We call on all sides to come together and to work with the US administration to finalise this agreement and bring it into reality. Hamas should now agree to the plan and end the misery by laying down their arms and releasing all remaining hostages, Starmer said. In a post on X, Macron said: I expect Israel to engage resolutely on this basis. Hamas has no choice but to immediately release all hostages and follow this plan.

Loading The Palestinian Authority reiterated its commitment to work with the US and partners to reach a comprehensive deal that included paving way for just peace on the basis of two-state solution. Netanyahu earlier extended a formal apology to his Qatari counterpart for a recent military strike targeting Hamas officials in the Gulf emirate that infuriated Arab leaders and triggered rare criticism by the US of Israel. The Israeli PM phoned Qatars Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, as he met Trump, according to the White House. Trump described the exchange between the two leaders as a heart-to-heart call. As a first step, Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu expressed his deep regret that Israels missile strike against Hamas targets in Qatar unintentionally killed a Qatari serviceman, the White House said in a statement. He further expressed regret that, in targeting Hamas leadership during hostage negotiations, Israel violated Qatari sovereignty and affirmed that Israel will not conduct such an attack again in the future.

The White House talks, and apology from Netanyahu, come at a tenuous moment. Israel is increasingly isolated, losing support from many countries that were long its steadfast allies. At home, Netanyahus governing coalition appears more fragile than ever. And the White House is showing signs of impatience. It remains to be seen how Netanyahu will be able to justify to far-right members of his coalition his acceptance of the proposal after promising to press against the militant organisation until it was eliminated. The Trump plan indicates that once all hostages are returned, Hamas members who commit to peaceful co-existence and to decommission their weapons will be given amnesty. Members of Hamas who wished to leave Gaza would be provided safe passage to receiving countries. Hamas is believed to be holding 48 hostages, 20 of whom are thought by Israel to still be alive. The militant group has demanded that Israel agree to end the war and withdraw from all of Gaza as part of any permanent ceasefire.

Trump discussed the US plan with Arab and Islamic leaders in New York last week on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. It doesnt include the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza, which Trump appeared to endorse earlier this year. Countries including Australia, France, Canada and the United Kingdom last week formally recognised Palestine as world leaders tried to breathe new life into the two-state solution process in a push spearheaded by Macron. Israel has launched one of its biggest offensives of the war this month, with Netanyahu saying he aims to wipe out Hamas. The war, which began after Hamas-led fighters killed about 1200 people and captured 251 hostages in a 2023 attack on Israel, has left much of Gaza in ruins and caused a major humanitarian crisis. More than 66,000 Palestinians have since been killed in Israels assault, according to Gaza health authorities, which do not differentiate between combatants and civilians. AP, Reuters
TOKYO, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- A fire broke out in a building on the grounds of Haneda airport in Tokyo on Monday morning, but there are no delays or suspensions of flights due to the fire, local media reported.

An emergency call was made shortly after 9:00 a.m. local time that "black smoke is visible" from a building on the Haneda Airport grounds, public broadcaster NHK reported, citing local police and the fire department.

More than 30 fire engines and other vehicles have arrived on the scene to extinguish the fire, and firefighting operations are still ongoing, NHK said.

NHK footage showed black smoke rising high at around 9:10 a.m. local time, but it appears to have weakened after a while.

The Tokyo Airport Office said the fire occurred in an area where demolition work was being carried out on an old hangar, noting that there are no delays or suspensions of flights due to the fire.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department and the Tokyo Fire Department are currently checking to see if any injuries have occurred or if people were unable to escape. 
Absurd Theatrics





ONCE again, the world saw Pakistan glorifying terrorism when its Prime Minister Mr. Shehbaz Sharif indulged in giving a totally fabricated account of the Pahalgam terror attack and Indias Operation Sindoor. It was only natural for India to slam Pakistan left-right-and-centre, which Indian diplomat Ms. Petal Gehlot, First Secretary in Indias Permanent Mission at the UN, did in the most befitting manner at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). She rightly described Pakistan PMs speech as nothing more than absurd theatrics. No stronger words could possibly be used within parliamentary parlance, but Pakistan deserves every possible verbal slap for its indulgence in unqualified nonsense. If destroyed runways and burnt out hangars look like victory, as the Prime Minister claimed, Pakistan is welcome to enjoy it, the Indian Right To Reply statement said.

Each word in Indias statement exposed Pakistan Prime Ministers falsehood and brought to fore its shamelessness for the world to see. There should be no doubt that everybody at the UNGA -- and also the larger world -- realised Pakistans falsehood and propagandism. When the Pahalgam terror attack took place -- killing 26 Indian (Hindu) males, the world felt the tremor of terror. Therefore, when India gave a calibrated and no-nonsense response through Operation Sindoor, the world realised the power of truth that left Pakistans terror camps demolished and its air-bases totally damaged and its nuclear capability severely restricted. However, Pakistan is not a country that would learn the right lessons from such adverse experiences.

It has continued indulging in utter falsehood. Its leadership has been trying to tell the world and its own people that it did not suffer any damage through Operation Sindoor. Mr. Shehbaz Sharifs speech at the UNGA contained all that shameless falsehood -- which Indias Right To Reply exposed. Of course, it is futile to expect Pakistan to become a wise and gentlemanly State. Unwilling to give up its Rogue State epithet, Pakistan will sell itself cheaply, no matter the reality on the ground. The world has realised it fully, though some countries like the United States (and China) are still supporting Pakistan in all its dirty deeds. Indias Right To Reply statement exposes those countries, too, though indirectly. It is in this context we recall the strong speech by Israel Prime Minister Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu at the UNGA during which he vowed never to bend before international pressure.

He said, in effect, that it should be everybodys mission to finish terrorism -- not just against the Jews but also against the larger humanity. For the UNs member-nations, this offers a lesson to effect a course-correction in their thought-process about terrorism as a common enemy that must be defeated with all strength, no matter who is on the other side.
Bharat will always maintain its freedom of choice: Jaishankar @ UN





UNITED NATIONS :

S Jaishankar underlines that 3 key concepts of atmanirbharta, atmaraksha and atmavishwas guide Indias approach in the contemporary world.

BHARAT will always maintain its freedom of choice, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said, underlining that three key concepts of atmanirbharta, atmaraksha and atmavishwas guide Indias approach in the contemporary world. Namaskar from the people of Bharat, Jaishankar said as he began his address to the General Debate at the 80th high-level session of the UN General Assembly on Saturday. Addressing world leaders, he said Bharat approaches the contemporary world, guided by three key concepts of atmanirbharta (self-reliance), atmaraksha (self-defence) and atmavishwas (self-confidence).

Atmanirbharta means developing our own capabilities, building our own strengths and nurturing our own talent, the minister said. We see its results already, be it in manufacturing, in space programmes, in pharma production or in digital applications. Make, innovate and design in India also benefit the world, he said. On atmaraksha, Jaishankar said India remains determined to protect its people and secure their interests, at home and abroad. That means zero tolerance for terrorism, robust defence of our borders, forging partnerships beyond and assisting our community abroad. Atmavishwas entails that as the most populous nation, as a civilisational state and as a rapidly growing major economy, we are confident about who we are and what we will be. Bharat will always maintain its freedom of choice. And will always be a voice of the Global South, he said. Jaishankar said that at a time when two significant conflicts are underway in Ukraine and the Middle East/West Asia, and innumerable other hotspots are not even making the news, the question must be asked whether the UN has lived up to expectations. Each one of us has the opportunity of contributing to peace and prosperity. In the case of conflicts, especially Ukraine and Gaza, even those not directly involved have felt its impact.

Nations who can engage all sides must step up in the search for solutions. India calls for an end to hostilities and will support any initiative that will help restore peace, he said. He further said that energy and food security have been the first casualties of conflict and disruption, especially since 2022. Better-off societies insulated themselves by having the first call. The resource-stressed ones scrambled to survive, only to hear sanctimonious lectures thereafter, he added. On trade, Jaishankar said non-market practices gamed rules and regimes. The resulting concentration exposed the world to leveraging. On top of that, we now see tariff volatility and uncertain market access. As a result, de-risking is a growing compulsion, whether from limited sources of supply or over-dependence on a particular market, he said. His comments come in the backdrop of the US imposing tariffs on countries around the world. The Trump administration has imposed 50 per cent tariffs on India, including 25 per cent for its purchases of Russian oil, with New Delhi facing one of the highest levies imposed by Washington. Jaishankar said economic concerns have other dimensions as well, such as heightened technology control. The grip on supply chains and critical minerals is another. The shaping of connectivity is no less sensitive. Protection of key sea lanes has become a challenge. Restricting the evolution of a global workplace is an issue, he said. The minister underlined that as members of the UN, the 193 nations meet here as sovereign equals.

That is not formalism, but a recognition of the inherent diversity of our world. Understandably, we have different history, traditions, heritage and culture. For them to co-exist, for them to enrich each other, it is imperative that we foster understanding and respect. This will only happen when we resist political interference and economic pressures, when narratives are free of prejudice, when double standards are abjured and when pluralism is truly appreciated, he said. Underlining the urgent need for reform, Jaishankar said both permanent and non-permanent membership of the Council must be expanded and the reformed Council must be truly representative. India stands ready to assume greater responsibilities, he said, adding that central to the erosion of the UNs credibility has been resistance to reform. Most members strongly desire change, but the process is being made an obstacle to the outcome. It is imperative that we see through this cynicism and purposefully address the reform agenda. The historical injustice done to Africa should be redressed.

Jaishankar underscored that Indias soldiers ensure peacekeeping, its sailors protect maritime shipping, our security counters terrorism, our doctors and teachers facilitate human development the world over, our industry produces affordable products, our techies promote digitisation and our training facilities are open to the world. These remain the core of our foreign policy. Noting the current challenging times for the international community, he said, Many of our assumptions and expectations no longer hold. In such circumstances, it is imperative to stay strong, to hold firm and to deepen friendships. International cooperation must prevail because islands of prosperity cannot flourish in an ocean of turbulence. A world order requires common purpose, as it does empathy for others. That is where we look to the United Nations, Jaishankar said.
First Durga Puja of CG enters into 93rd year





By Amlan Sinha

Raipur

The first Durga Puja in Raipur, perhaps in the Chhattisgarh region, started by Bengali immigrants settled in the city, has entered its 93rd year and is being celebrated with its usual pomp and gaiety this year as well. Initiated by a few families who formed the Bengali Samiti, Raipur in 1933, the Puja has since become a must-visit venue for pandal-hopping Bengalisboth long-time residents and those who return to the city for work or family visits during festival. Interestingly, the Bengalis of Raipur first began celebrating Kali Puja on Kartika Amavasya (Diwali night) in 1929. Four years later, in 1933, 14 Bengali families came together to celebrate Durga Puja near Budha Talab, now known as Vivekananda Sarovar.

What began as a modest community initiative has today evolved into a grand cultural and religious event. On the occasion of Durga Puja, thousands of devotees from Raipur and nearby cities such as Bhilai and Bilaspur visit the pandal to seek blessings of Maa Durga. Following the immense success of the annual Durga Puja and Kali Puja, the Bengali Committee Raipur established its own Kali Bari in 1967. For many, the Puja also carries deeply personal memories. Geeta Roy Choudhary (80), who moved to Raipur in 1954, recalled the red-and-orange pandal of the 1960s at Bengali Kalibari, where she witnessed Durga Puja celebrations that helped her forge early friendships and connect with her Bengali identity.

Her father had migrated to Raipur for a government job after losing his home and belongings in East Bengal (now Bangladesh) during Partition. The Partition years saw many Bengali families from East Bengal settling in Raipur in the 1950s, particularly through employment in educational institutions, banks, and government departments. The Durga Puja of Bengali Samiti Kalibari became a cornerstone of their cultural and emotional integration into the city and the newly formed state. From the 1920s, a small number of Bengali families lived in Raipur, mostly engaged in education and British departments. But after Partition in 1947, the community grew rapidly, adapting to a new physical landscape and rebuilding their lives, explained Tanmay Chatterjee, President of Bengali Samiti Kalibari, Raipur. Over the years, the Durga Puja here has created a special place in the hearts of people. Adding to this, Prabir Sensharma, Coordinator of Bengali Samiti Kalibari Raipur, informed that this year the pandal is hosting various cultural events, with artists from different states performing as part of the celebrations.
TOKYO, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- A van carrying kindergartners on Monday crashed into a residential property in Chiba Prefecture near Tokyo, killing the driver and lightly injuring nine children, local media reported.

The vehicle crossed into the opposite lane and crashed into a wall around a house at around 8:50 a.m. local time in a residential area in the city of Kamagaya, Chiba Prefecture, Kyodo News reported, citing local police and firefighters.

Nine children sustained minor injuries like nosebleeds and cuts in their mouths in the accident, while a teacher in her 50s with them was not injured, the report said.

The male driver, who appeared to be in his 40s, was rushed to hospital unconscious and pronounced dead later, it added. 
Sai pays tribute to Bhagat Singh





Staff Reporter

RAIPUR

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Sunday paid floral tribute to martyr Bhagat Singh at Bhagat Singh Chowk ion his birth anniversary in the state capital on Sunday. He offered flowers at the statue of the revolutionary icon and bowed in reverence. Sai said that Bhagat Singh was a radiant hero of Indias freedom struggle, whose indomitable courage, unwavering patriotism and supreme sacrifice left an everlasting inspiration for generations to come. His life teaches us that national interest is paramount and that sacrifice for freedom is the true symbol of patriotism, the CM said. He added that Bhagat Singhs ideas and ideals continue to inspire the youth to actively participate in nation-building. MLA Purandar Mishra, CGMSC Chairman Deepak Mhaskey, Chairman of State Commission for Minorities Amarjeet Chhabra, and several other distinguished citizens were present.
Sonam Wangchuks wife trashes Pak link charge Blames security forces for Sept 4 violence





By Anjali Ohja

LEH/NEW DELHI :

JAILED activist Sonam Wangchuks wife Gitanjali Angmo has trashed allegations of Pakistan link and financial irregularities against him. Terming the charge that Wangchuk incited the violence in Leh as misplaced, she claimed that he has been protesting in the most Gandhian way possible and the situation escalated on September 24 due to the actions of the CRPF. Police detained climate activist Wangchuk on Friday under the stringent National Security Act (NSA), two days after protests demanding Sixth Schedule status and Statehood for Ladakh turned violent in Leh last Wednesday, claiming four lives and injuring 90 others. Wangchuk, a key figure in the five-year-long agitation for Ladakhs rights whose detention drew strong reactions from different quarters, has been lodged in prison in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Talking to PTI over the phone, Angmo, the co-founder of Himalayan Institute of Alternative Learning (HIAL), said she has not been able to communicate with her husband since his detention and dismissed all allegations against the climate activist and their institutions.

Claiming that they have not been handed over a copy of the detention order, Angmo said, They promised to send it on Friday. We will take legal recourse. Curfew remains in force for 5th day in Leh town: Lt Governor Kavinder Gupta set to hold a security review meeting to take a call on the relaxation in the restrictions, officials said. Ladakh DGP S D Singh Jamwal has said Wangchuk is being probed for allegedly having links with Pakistan on the back of last months arrest of a Pakistani Intelligence Operative (PIO) who sent videos of his protests across the border. The police chief also cited some of Wangchuks suspicious foreign trips, including to Pakistan to attend an event by The Dawn. Angmo, however, clarified that their recent visit to the neighbouring country was purely professional and climate-focused. Denouncing the allegations of Pakistan links involving her husband, she said all of Wangchuks overseas visits were made on the invitation of reputed universities and institutions. We attended a conference organised by the United Nations, and it was on climate change.

The glacier on the top of the Himalayas is not going to see whether Im flowing into Pakistan or India, she told PTI. She said the Breathe Pakistan conference held in February was organised by the United Nations Pakistan and Dawn Media, and involved multinational cooperation. There are organisations like the ICIMOD, which bring together all the eight Hindu Kush countries and work on different issues. We are part of the ICIMODs Himalayan University Consortium, Angmo said. The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) is a Nepal-based organisation founded in 1983 comprising eight regional member countries of the Hindu Kush Himalaya region  India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan. I was also there to present a paper on womens role in climate change... In fact, he (Wangchuk) praised Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi on stage at the event. The Nepal and Bangladesh reference being bandied around is actually an example Sonam gave, i.E., when Governments are not responsive, it leads to a revolution.

We should avoid the interpretations, she said. Angmo also challenged the slapping of the stringent NSA on Wangchuk, which allows detention without a trial for up to 12 months, citing his long record of peaceful protests. I think it is a very wrong charge. Sonam certainly is not a threat to any public order, Angmo said. She claimed that Wangchuk advocated for his cause in the most Gandhian way possible over the last five years, reminding the Government of its promises to Ladakhis, and all through maintaining that the protest organised by the Leh Apex Body was peaceful, and the charge that Wangchuk incited the violence was misplaced. We have videos to show that the students and the youth were just there for a peaceful protest. Sonam did not even know about (a non-peaceful plan), she claimed, adding, He only knew about a peaceful protest. But when the CRPF personnel fired tear gas shells, the youth reacted by pelting stones, and the whole situation escalated. Angmo also questioned the response by the security forces, saying, My question is, who gave the CRPF the right to open fire? Why should you open fire on your own people, on your own youth? On the allegation that Wangchuk made a provocative speech, Angmo claimed his Ladakhi words were taken out of context and mistranslated.

He just said that when change has to happen, it can start with one individual, or with the death of one individual and that individual could be me; Im happy to give my life for it, she said. She also questioned the logic behind the alleged attempt to portray Wangchuk as an anti-national, saying, How can you portray a person as anti-national who has been talking about making shelters for the Indian Army, and boycotting Chinese goods? On the charges of financial irregularities involving their institutions, Angmo presented a detailed defence about the foreign funding of HIAL, UGC registration, FCRA cancellation of SECMOL and land allotment. Angmo denied that HIAL took donations from abroad without Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) clearance, claiming the funds were payments for their technologies. We have the service agreements, which say this is a consulting assignment that were giving to HIAL for which we will be paying them, she said. She also said that HIAL does not charge its 400 students any fees and raises its running costs through innovations such as ice stupas and passive solar buildings, noting they do not patent their technologies, leaving them free for public use. Angmo said HIAL applied for UGC registration in 2022 and paid a deposit amount of Rs 15 lakh, but if at all the registration has not happened, its because they are stalling it.

She also claimed that the lease for HIALs land is held up because the UT administration did not have a category for such institutions, adding that while questions are being raised on HIAL, the Sindhu Central University, which started in 2021, still doesnt have a building. Angmo stressed that Wangchuk is not against development, but is advocating for the Sixth Schedule to give locals a say in mindful development. She pointed to HIALs suggestion to use translucent solar panels in Changtang to grow fodder for Pashmina goats alongside electricity production. This kind of mindful development is what hes talking about... HIAL is at the forefront of innovation. It is not that hes anti-development, Angmo said. After the September 4 violence, the Union home ministry cancelled the FCRA licence granted to the Students Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), an organisation founded by Wangchuk, citing alleged financial discrepancies.

LADAKH-CURFEW-SITUATION

Curfew remains in force for 5th day in Leh town

LEH,

Sept 28 (PTI)

CURFEW remained in force in this violence-hit town for the fifth consecutive day on Sunday, with Lt Governor Kavinder Gupta set to hold a security review meeting to take a call on the relaxation in the restrictions, officials said. The curfew was imposed on Wednesday evening following widespread protests during a shutdown called by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) to advance talks with the Centre on the demands for Statehood and extension of the Sixth Schedule to Ladakh. It was for the first time relaxed for four hours in a phased manner in the town on Saturday and the relaxation period passed off peacefully. Four persons were killed and scores of others injured in the violence on Wednesday, while over 50 persons were taken into custody for their alleged involvement in rioting. Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was also detained under the National Security Act and lodged in Jodhpur jail in Rajasthan. The situation remained by and large normal with no untoward incident reported from anywhere. The Lt Governor is scheduled to chair a security review meeting at Raj Bhawan shortly and a decision will be taken on the relaxation of restrictions during the day, an official said. He said mobile internet services in the town remained suspended, while prohibitory orders banning assembly of five or more persons also remained in force in other major parts of the Union Territory including Kargil. Police and CRPF personnel in full riot gear were seen deployed in strength in the curfew-bound areas, while ITBP personnel were also seen staging a flag march this morning. The last rites of two of the slain persons are scheduled to take place later in the day. Two Congress councillors were among several people, who were named in police FIRs following Leh violence, also surrendered in a local court on Saturday. The two councillors - Smanla Dorje Nurbo and Phutsog Stanzin Tsepak -- along with Vice President of Ladakh Buddhist Association Savin Rigzin and village numberdar Rigzin Dorjey were sent to police custody, President of Ladakh Bar Association, Leh, Mohd Shafi Lassu said. He said the police only sought the custody of these four men while rest of others who also include youth leaders of Leh Apex Body and Ladakh Buddhist Association, and students were remanded to judicial custody. The bar association has taken up all the cases pro bono and is seeking release of all the arrested persons facing charges under various sections of law. We even challenged the public prosecutor when he sought the custody of four persons. The court accepted our plea for their questioning in presence of their counsels and also mandatory checkup after every eight hours, the lawyer said. He said all the persons, including the councillors, are innocent. Tsepak was not the masked person who was shown leading the unruly protesters in photographs or video clips, while Nurbo was in hospital taking care of two elderly persons from his constituency who have fallen seriously ill during the hunger strike on September 23 evening, the lawyer claimed.
SPONSORING TERRORISM From trainers to Commanders: Pakistan Army takes direct control of JeM, LeT, Hizbul training





NEW DELHI :

PAKISTAN is making all attempts to revive three terror groups which were badly hit during Operation Sindoor. The focus is completely on the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen. In order to ensure that the three terror groups have better operational capabilities, the Pakistan Army has decided to deploy its own officials to train the new recruits. This is a major shift from how terror groups used to function earlier, where the commander who was trained by the Pakistan Army would oversee the operations of the camp. All the training camps of these terror groups will now be headed by a Major rank officer. Further, all these camps have been provided protection by the Pakistan Army. In addition to having the Pakistan Army directly oversee every operation of these camps, the ISI is also ensuring a technology boost.

All these terror camps would have state-of-the-art technology. The ISI is ensuring that the new camps will shift from conventional arms to high-tech modern weaponry. The ISI is also arming these terror groups with high-tech drone technology, which has the capability of striking in Jammu and Kashmir. Further, these terror groups would also extensively use digital warfare tools. With the Pakistan Army officials directly overseeing every operation from recruitment to training, attempts are being made to provide these terror groups with weapons that could be directly launched into India. his signals a major shift in the manner in which these terror groups would operate in future. Officials say that there are many reasons for such a shift being made. Firstly, the ISI does not want these camps to be hit once again during an Indian operation. Secondly, Pakistan wants its terror groups to have the capabilities to strike India from within their own country.

Third, it wants to keep the Indian Army distracted by these terror groups so that the Pakistan Army can deal with problems that it is facing from the Balochistan Nationalist Army (BLA) and Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP). Given the current commitments that Pakistan has made to both the US and China in terms of security in Balochistan, it would want to focus more on the TTP and BLA rather than engage with the Indian Army. Pakistan, which has signed a minerals deal with the US, is under pressure to secure Balochistan. Pakistan has also committed to China that it will ensure the security of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Project 2.0 (CPEC), and to honour this commitment, it has to rein in both the TTP and BLA. Given the scenario that the Pakistan Army is in and with its leadership tom-tomming about its ties with China and the US, it has no option but to go back on its security guarantees. The minerals deal with the US is crucial for Pakistan due to its failing economy. Further, Pakistan has also been told by China to raise funds for CPEC 2.0 if it wants to be part of the project. This has put Pakistan in a spot of bother as it will now have to raise funds and also ensure the security of the project.

Pakistan was put on notice by China as it had failed miserably to protect Chinese interests during the CPEC 1. Given all these factors, the Pakistan Army is investing heavily in its three terror groups. It has been seeking donations in large numbers from people living in the Gulf nations. In order to fulfil its task of modernising these terror groups with state-of-the-art weapons capable of hitting India directly, the ISI has decided to invest at least Rs 100 crore per terror group annually. Given the investments that are being made, the Pakistan Army decided to take over and oversee every aspect of these terror groups. This means that the heads of these groups would have only a limited role, and that would be to brainwash and radicalise the youth so that they join their terror outfits.
Toll in TN stampede rises to 40





KARUR :

THE toll in the stampede here rose to 40 after a man succumbed to injuries at the Government hospital, a health official said on Sunday. As the toll mounted, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhaga party led by actor-politician Vijay moved the Madras High Court Bench in Madurai seeking an independent probe into the Karur stampede. Stopping short of alleging a conspiracy into the incident, TVK Deputy General Secretary Nirmal Kumar told reporters that the party had approached the high court bench with a plea for an impartial inquiry into the incident. The judge agreed to hear the case tomorrow at 2.15 pm. We will make official our statement thereafter, he said.

Earlier in the day, Tamil Nadu Health Secretary P Senthil Kumar said 39 persons died and 67 persons were undergoing treatment as in-patients. In this unfortunate incident, 39 deaths have been reported--17 women, 13 men, 4 male children, and 5 female children. The postmortem has been done for 30 (out of 39 deceased) and the bodies have been handed over to their families, Senthil Kumar told reporters after visiting the patients at the GH. On the admissions, he said 26 people were treated in the OPD and were discharged. And of the 67 admitted as in-patients, 2 were critical. All others were stable. One of the patients was shifted to the Madurai GH for further treatment.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF to be given to the kin of each deceased in the unfortunate incident. The injured would be given Rs 50,000, he said in a post on the social media platform X. TVK chief Vijay announces Rs 20 lakh compensation: TVK President Vijay on Sunday announced a financial assistance of Rs 20 lakh to the families of those who lost their lives at a stampede during his partys rally in Karur on September 27. He also said Rs 2 lakh would be given to those who sustained injuries. The actor-politician said he was deeply anguished over the incident, which claimed more than 30 lives and left many others injured. Expressing his condolences to the bereaved families in a social media post on Sunday, he said, It is not a huge amount for the loss you have suffered. I know your loss cannot be replaced. It is an irreparable loss. However, it is my duty to stand next to you in this hour and share your grief. He added that he would pray for the speedy recovery of those injured and assured that his party men would provide all possible support those undergoing treatment in hospitals. Vijay said the incident in Karur defied imagination and that he could not describe the pain he was enduring. My eyes and mind are clouded with sorrow. The faces of the people I met at the rally have been flashing in my mind ever since, he said. Reiterating his commitment to help the affected families, he said, By the Grace of God, let us strive to recover from this.

TVK moves HC CHENNAI,

Sept 28 (PTI)

ACTOR-politician Vijay led TVK on Sunday made a mention before Justice M Dhandapani of the Madras High Court to order CBI or Special Investigation Team probe into the tragic death of 40 people during a stampede at a rally held by the party on September 27 in Karur. A group of advocates led by TVKs advocates wing president S Arivazhagan went to the residence of Justice M Dhandapani on Greenways road here and made a mention. According to TVK party functionary Nirmal Kumar, the judge asked the advocates to file a petition before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court and it will be taken up for hearing on Monday at 2.15 pm.
ALMATY, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Implementation of a new gas project has begun at the Khairkeldy field in the Kyzylorda Region of southern Kazakhstan, the country's Ministry of Energy said Monday.

At the first stage, gas production is expected to reach about eight million cubic meters per year, with plans to increase output to 24 million cubic meters annually. The project is expected to provide up to 70,000 people with natural gas.

Jointly launched by the ministry and three major gas companies in Kazakhstan, the project will sell gas from the Khairkeldy field under a new incentive-based formula developed by the Ministry of Energy in cooperation with Kazakhstan's national gas company QazaqGaz.

The project will create new jobs, enhance the industrial potential of the Kyzylorda Region, and provide the population with reliable and affordable energy resources, said the ministry. 
BUCHAREST, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Moldova's ruling Party of Action and Solidarity secured a majority in Sunday's parliamentary elections with just over half of the vote, according to data released Monday by the Central Election Commission.

With 99.9 percent of polling stations reporting, the ruling party won 50.1 percent of the vote, followed by the Patriotic Bloc with 24.1 percent, the Alternative Bloc with 7.9 percent, Our Party with 6.2 percent and the Dignity and Truth Platform Party with 5.6 percent. All five parties surpassed the electoral threshold to enter parliament.

A total of 14 political parties, four electoral blocs and four independent candidates contested the 101-seat legislature. The entry threshold is 5 percent for parties, 7 percent for blocs and 2 percent for independents.

Moldova's parliament has a four-year term. The previous legislature was elected in July 2021. 
BUCHAREST, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Moldova's ruling Party of Action and Solidarity secured a majority in Sunday's parliamentary elections with just over half of the vote, the Central Election Commission (CEC) announced Monday.

With all polling stations counted, the ruling party won 50.2 percent of the vote, followed by the Patriotic Electoral Bloc with 24.17 percent, the Alternative Bloc with 7.96 percent, Our Party with 6.2 percent and the Democracy at Home Party with 5.62 percent. All five parties passed the electoral threshold to enter parliament, according to the preliminary results released by the CEC.

In total, 14 political parties, four electoral blocs and four independent candidates competed for the 101-seat legislature. The thresholds for entry are 5 percent for parties, 7 percent for blocs and 2 percent for independents.

Moldova held parliamentary elections on Sunday. A total of 2,274 polling stations were established, including 301 abroad, with 3,423 observers monitoring the vote, including 912 international observers. According to the CEC, voter turnout surpassed 52 percent, with about 1.6 million ballots cast.

Moldova's parliament serves a four-year term. The previous legislature was elected in July 2021. 
Flags of the European Union fly outside the Berlaymont Building, the European Commission headquarters, in Brussels, Belgium, Jan. 29, 2025.

EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius stated that participants agreed the drone wall should feature "advanced detection, tracking, and interception capabilities.

HELSINKI, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- After a virtual meeting with several EU defense ministers, the European Commission on Friday voiced its support for developing a "drone wall" along the bloc's eastern borders to strengthen Europe's defense capabilities, following a series of unidentified drone incursions.

EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius stated that participants agreed the drone wall should feature "advanced detection, tracking, and interception capabilities." It will form the core of the "Eastern Flank Watch", a defense initiative that also includes "ground defenses such as anti-mobility systems, maritime security for the Baltic and Black Seas, and space-based situational awareness".

"The Eastern Flank Watch, with the 'Drone Wall' as its core, will serve all of Europe," said Kubilius in Helsinki after the meeting. "We agreed to move from concept to concrete actions."

The concept of a "drone wall" was first proposed by Lithuania in 2023. By May 2024, six NATO countries had agreed to join forces on the project. In March of this year, an Estonian-Lithuanian proposal to build a cross-border drone wall failed to secure funding from the European Commission.

This month, the European Commission shifted its stance following a series of unidentified drone incursions into EU airspace.

On Sept. 9-10, drones were detected entering Polish airspace 19 times, identified by Poland and NATO as Russian. Three days later, Romania reported a Russian drone breaching its airspace.

This week, unidentified drones were spotted across Scandinavian countries, leading to the temporary closure of airspace over several airports, both civilian and military. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen admitted that the origin of these drones had not yet been identified, but hinted that the Kremlin might be responsible.

Russia denied all accusations of deliberate drone incursions. The Russian Defense Ministry stated that it was ready to hold consultations with Poland on the drone incident, but Poland refused, saying it was "not ready." Russia's Embassy in Bucharest pointed out that no evidence had been presented linking the alleged drones to any specific country, dismissing Romania's protest as "baseless and contrived."

On Tuesday, Kubilius told Euractiv that Europe lacks the capabilities to detect drones and needs to learn from Ukraine's military, which he praised on Friday for having "invaluable, battle-tested expertise."

In early September, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, in her State of the Union speech, advocated for Europe to respond to the call of Baltic countries to build the "drone wall" and pledged 6 billion euros (about 7.3 billion dollars) for a Drone Alliance with Ukraine.

At Friday's meeting, the EU defense chief outlined the Commission's next steps: to "define a detailed technical roadmap with national experts", "mobilize Europe's defense industry", and "build a comprehensive EU financial toolbox to make this shield a reality."

The virtual meeting hosted by the EU Defense Commissioner gathered the EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas and defense ministers from Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania. Denmark, Hungary and Slovakia also participated. A separate session later in the day was joined by Ukraine's minister of defense, with NATO participating as an observer.

"Russia is testing the EU and NATO. And our response must be firm, united, and immediate," Kubilius told a press conference on Friday.

In response, the chief of the Department of European Issues at the Russian Foreign Ministry criticized the "drone wall" plan as "hysteria" and viewed it as a pretext for EU members to justify increasing military spending, Sputnik reported on Saturday.

Copenhagen will host an informal EU leaders' meeting next week and the "drone wall" could be on the agenda. According to Politico, von der Leyen is expected to propose funding options for the project during the meeting.
MOSCOW, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree to draft 135,000 conscripts for military service in the autumn call-up, Russia's TASS news agency reported on Monday.

The draft, covering citizens aged 18 to 30, will run from Oct. 1 until the end of the year.

Russia conducts conscriptions twice a year, in spring and autumn. In spring 2025, 160,000 people were called up, while 133,000 were enlisted in autumn 2024. 
The UK technology industry delegation visits a new energy vehicle (NEV) plant of NIO in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, Sept. 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Haiyue)

HEFEI, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Cynthia Davis, CEO and co-founder of the British company Diversifying.io., was among the UK technology industry delegation that visited Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, aiming to tap new opportunities for China-UK collaboration in sci-tech innovation and emerging industries.

"It's been wonderful to spend the day here in Hefei. It's the innovation that's coming out of China, the willingness for collaboration and greater partnership that keep drawing me back to this wonderful country," said Davis.

During the trip, the delegation, comprising enterprises and institutions from various fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), healthcare, finance, and supply chain management, toured an AI-focused industrial base, a new energy vehicle (NEV) plant, and an innovation base.

Hefei, widely regarded as one of China's rising innovation hubs, holds strengths in fields such as quantum technology, NEVs, and AI.

"I think this is an incredibly impressive and innovative region of China. I've been blown away by some of the things that we've seen both on the technological front and the enthusiasm and energy with all the people that we've met," said Assheton Stewart Carter, chief executive officer of TDi Sustainability.

"As soon as you get here, you can tell that there's a strong sense of technology and innovation," said Harriet Radcliffe, head of Government Sponsorship of London Tech Week.

China's booming innovative technologies, such as AI, have deeply impressed British entrepreneurs, who look forward to exploring more opportunities in the Chinese market and strengthening China-UK cooperation.

As a representative of Europe's influential tech event, Radcliffe expressed her intention to gain a deeper understanding of the Chinese market and help more Chinese companies enter the UK, sharing stories of Chinese innovation from a global perspective.

"I just recently came from Shanghai, and there are so many AI tech startups. I think there's an opportunity for an entrepreneurial shift on scale, and there seems to be no real limits," said Radcliffe, adding that there are so many different programs set up for startups to build from the ground up.

After focusing on the UK and European markets for the past three years, Davis revealed plans to launch an AI-driven career platform in China.

Davis added that they have been visiting different regions to figure out the best place to base their Chinese operations, whether as a data center or tech center.

Data showed that the trade volume of goods and services between China and the UK exceeded 130 billion U.S. dollars in 2024. As of July this year, the UK's total investment in China was over 35 billion U.S. dollars, while China's cumulative foreign direct investment in the UK surpassed 32 billion U.S. dollars.

Further collaboration between China and the UK is underway in fields such as the digital economy, financial services, and artificial intelligence.

Davis said she believes China can play a leading role in the AI field and share its excellent technical expertise with more enterprises.

From this perspective, the cooperation prospects between the two sides are very good, and they can achieve a win-win situation through collaboration, she said. 
OSLO, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Norway looks forward to strengthening cooperation with China in the maritime industry and other fields, a Norwegian official said on Monday.

Even Tronstad Sagebakken, state secretary at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, told Xinhua on the sidelines of a reception hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Norway to celebrate the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

"China is the leading shipbuilding nation for Norwegian shipowners and a key market for our maritime industry. In short, our countries are closely connected through trade and cooperation in the maritime sector," Sagebakken said, adding that the two sides share a common goal to make the "blue industry" greener.

He said the bilateral maritime partnership is anchored in a 2003 maritime transport agreement and advanced through regular dialogue and industry exchanges. During Nor-Shipping 2025 in early June, the two sides engaged extensively at the China Pavilion and at a China-Norway green cooperation seminar.

Looking ahead, Norway will serve as the guest country of honor at Marintec China in Shanghai on Dec. 2-5, 2025, with a national pavilion led by Norwegian Maritime Exporters.

Sagebakken also pointed to growing seafood ties, welcoming China's approval of imports of live Norwegian snow crab. He said Norway aims to expand seafood exports to China in both volume and variety, while ensuring sustainability.

Last year marked the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Norway and China, highlighted by Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store's official visit to China in September. 
Grant Kimberley, a sixth-generation soybean farmer and marketing director of the Iowa Soybean Association, operates a seeding machine at his family farm in Maxwell, Iowa, the United States, April 26, 2019. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

Last year, soybeans sold for 12 U.S. dollars per bushel (about 441 dollars per metric ton), but are now selling for 10 dollars per bushel (about 367 dollars per metric ton), forcing farmers to store crops instead of shipping them to market.

SACRAMENTO, the United States, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- As the harvest season is underway in America's agricultural heartland, soybean farmers found themselves in a "desperate situation" amid rising costs, extreme weather and tariff concerns.

"We're in a significant and desperate situation where none of the crops that farmers grow right now return a profit. They don't even break even," Stefan Maupin, executive director of Tennessee Soybean Promotion Council, told the Tennessee Lookout news website.

Soybean farmers planted around 1.75 million acres (708,200 hectares) of soybeans in 2025. In its recent report, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture estimated losses of nearly 110 million U.S. dollars for Tennessee soybeans this year.

Soybean farmers had a difficult growing season as severe weather patterns -- flooding in the spring and drought in the summer -- reduced yields drastically.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) predicted an average soybean yield of 53.5 bushels per acre this year. However, Maupin said this estimate was likely too high for Tennessee, with some local farmers predicting yields closer to 30 bushels an acre due to the bad weather.

"Compounding the crisis are rising costs for fertilizer, land and equipment, all while soybean prices sink," said Newser, a news website.

According to the report of the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, based on an average yield of 50 bushels per acre, soybean farmers are projected to lose about 84 dollars per acre as of Aug. 12. If a farmer has 3,000 acres, that is a roughly quarter-million dollar loss.

Even more troubling is the staggering scale of market loss. American soybean farmers are losing China -- historically their largest customer -- due to the volatility of tariffs.

"Farmers are expressing growing frustration," Newser reported. "Many warn that...the current situation could stretch into years and wipe out a generation of family farms."

"U.S. soybean farmers cannot survive a prolonged trade dispute with our largest customer," American Soybean Association President Caleb Ragland wrote in a letter to U.S. President Donald Trump in August.

"We depend on the Chinese market," Ragland told Nation of Change.

Farmers from North Dakota, a major agricultural state, are just weeks away from harvesting soybeans, but Mike Appert, a local farmer, said there are no sales on the books.

"I think this year at the soybean harvest we're going to kind of witness what can happen if you have a bunch of grain and no customer for it to get to," he told KFYR-TV.

Last year, soybeans sold for 12 U.S. dollars per bushel (about 441 dollars per metric ton), but are now selling for 10 dollars per bushel (about 367 dollars per metric ton), forcing farmers to store crops instead of shipping them to market.

Appert said he could not sell them at such a low price. "The tariffs situation is a little harder for us because you can't hedge that or manage that."

The USDA said Friday that it is issuing a second economic assistance payment to eligible producers for the 2024 crop year.

"While federal officials have discussed aid programs to help farmers ... the overall sentiment is bleak," Newser reported.

Chad Johnson, a South Dakota farmer, expressed frustration with federal responses: "I know there were several questions presented to them, and for lack of a better word, they ignored them," he told Dakota News Now.

The American Farm Bureau Federation said that U.S. courts reported 216 farm bankruptcies in 2024, up 55 percent from 2023.

Concerned about increased farm bankruptcies, Johnson told South Dakota Public Broadcasting: "We need help now. They need to start doing something. Either end the tariffs or come up with a trade agreement to get these tariffs ended so we can start building on what we've done for many, many years."

Maupin wondered if Tennessee's soybean farmers could survive this year, since "they're harvesting crops now."

Farmers pay most bills yearly, after revenue from selling their crops comes in. "Right now this year, and looking like going into next year, the crop will not cash flow," Maupin said.

"If it doesn't cash flow now and you're having trouble paying your operating loan back, how are you going to get funded for next year when there's nothing rosy in sight?" asked Mike Dobesh, a farmer of Nebraska, a state with a large agriculture sector.

Dobesh told local KSNB news channel that he hoped U.S. politicians could do more to fight for farmers. 
NEW YORK, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- At least four people were killed and eight others injured on Sunday after a shooter targeted a church and set the building aflame in Grand Blanc, Michigan, authorities said.

The incident occurred early Sunday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a small community northwest of Detroit.

Two additional bodies were recovered through debris at the burned-down church, police said Sunday evening, after the death toll rose to two from one in the afternoon.

Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye told a press conference that the shooter drove his car into the church during a large service and opened fire on the crowd with an assault rifle.

The police chief said that the gunman, identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, a former U.S. Marine, deliberately set fire to the church.

The suspect, a veteran who served in Iraq, was killed by police after exchanging gunfire at the church, according to police.

Renye said that investigators will search the shooter's home and phone records to determine his motive.

Earlier, local police said in a statement that there were multiple victims in the shooting and the entire church was on fire, urging people to avoid the area as emergency response efforts continued. The wounded, including children, have been transported to local hospitals.

U.S. President Donald Trump said in a post on social media that he has been briefed on the "horrendous" church shooting.

He said that the shooting "appears to be yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America" and that the FBI was on the scene. "THIS EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY MUST END, IMMEDIATELY!"

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said that she was receiving updates on the shooting in Grand Blanc.

"My heart is breaking for the Grand Blanc community," Whitmer wrote in a post on social media platform X. "Violence anywhere, especially in a place of worship, is unacceptable." 
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to a 20-point plan proposed by the Trump administration aimed at ending the conflict in Gaza, following their talks at the White House.

"I also want to thank Prime Minister Netanyahu for agreeing to the plan and for trusting that if we work together, we can bring an end to the death and destruction that we've seen for so many years, decades, even centuries, and begin a new chapter of security, peace and prosperity for the entire region," Trump told a joint press conference with Netanyahu at the White House.

He also called on Hamas to accept the terms of the peace proposal, vowing that if Hamas does not accept the plan, the United States will provide its "full backing" to Israel.

"Everyone else has accepted it. But I have a feeling that we're going to have a positive answer," Trump said.

Netanyahu voiced support for the plan, which he said meets Israel's key military goals.

"I support your plan to end the war in Gaza, which achieves our war aims. It will bring back to Israel all our hostages, dismantle Hamas' military capabilities and its political rule, and ensure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel," said Netanyahu.

However, Netanyahu argued that the Palestinian Authority cannot have a role in the future governance of Gaza "without undergoing a radical and genuine transformation."

Trump said that if accepted by Hamas, the plan requires the release of all remaining hostages within 72 hours.

Qatar and Egypt have conveyed to Hamas the White House plan, media reports showed Monday. 
TN stampede toll rises to 40

|

Karur (Tamil Nadu), Sep 28

The toll in the stampede here rose to 40 after a man succumbed to injuries at a Government hospital, a health official said on Sunday.

As the toll mounted, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhaga party led by actor-politician Vijay moved the Madras High Court Bench in Madurai seeking an independent probe into the Karur stampede.

Stopping short of alleging a conspiracy into the incident, TVK deputy general secretary Nirmal Kumar told reporters that the party had approached the High Court bench with a plea for an impartial inquiry into the incident.

"The Judge agreed to hear the case tomorrow at 2.15 pm. We will make official our statement thereafter," he said.

Earlier in the day, Tamil Nadu Health Secretary P Senthil Kumar said 39 persons died and 67 persons were undergoing treatment as in-patients.

"In this unfortunate incident, 39 deaths have been reported--17 women, 13 men, 4 male children, and 5 female children. The postmortem has been done for 30 (out of 39 deceased) and the bodies have been handed over to their families," Senthil Kumar told reporters after visiting the patients at the GH.

On the admissions, he said 26 people were treated in the OPD and were discharged. And of the 67 admitted as in-patients, 2 were critical. All others were stable. One of the patients was shifted to the Madurai GH for further treatment. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF to be given to the kin of each deceased in the unfortunate incident. The injured would be given Rs 50,000, he said in a post on the social media platform 'X'. The stampede at the TVK rally occured in Karur yesterday. PTI
Noting the announcement of the DGP Drugs : Now go for the big fishes

|

This is perhaps the most encouraging piece of words that have come and gives substance to the tom tommed War on Drugs campaign launched by the BJP Government after it came to power here in 2017. This also falls in line with the poser raised by The Sangai Express numerous times in this column. Efforts on to identify drug financiers is the line maintained by DGP Rajiv Singh while interacting with media persons on September 27. The occasion could not have been more opportune either, coming as it did when the State police disposed 332.8 kilogramme of drugs seized from different parts of the State during the War on Drugs campaign. Nailing a few of the drug barons would be the icing on the cake of the campaign and it was with a reason why the need to go beyond just arresting the petty drug pushers and couriers was sounded many times here. One big fish who was netted was the infamous Lhoukhosei Zou but for reasons best known to then BJP led Government a higher Court was not approached when the said man was released by a lower Court. Manipur did witness the ruckus and the war of words that followed after his release but the State Government did not go in for an appeal to a higher Court. This was some years back and fast forward to September 27, 2025 and the DGP has now come forward to assert that efforts are on to identify the hands behind the large scale drug smuggling racket in the State. The police may start with the case of some police personnel who were arrested at Pallel some time back while transporting over 1.3 kilograms of heroin and 9 kilograms of WY tablets. This was in January of 2023 and in 2022 a Head Constable of Churachandpur police was held with over 2 Kgs of heroin. Just two examples that come to mind at the moment and perhaps these two cases may give Manipur police the right starting point, for there have been no follow up actions following these arrests. The State Government too had gone to town trumpeting that so and so villagers including one or two headmen have been arrested for poppy cultivation, but as pointed out numerous times in this column, it never went beyond the arrests of some tillers of the soil. No serious efforts could be seen of the Government tackling with basic questions such as who financed the poppy cultivation. Who paid the tillers of the soil to plant poppy ? Who buys the harvested poppy plants ? Who takes them away ? These are questions which any responsible Government should have dealt with, but it has remained just questions all these years. Now with the DGP announcing that efforts are on to identify the drug financiers, the War on Drugs campaign should mean something more than just a slogan.

The task ahead is mammoth and this is why efforts are needed, much more than merely coining some catchy slogans. It is also interesting to note that after Manipur went up in flames on May 3, 2023, the drug route also seems to have changed with Mizoram featuring prominently in drugs seizure cases. Earlier it used to be Manipur and Mizoram and this very fact should throw some light on how the drug cartels operate. For the moment, the State police should concentrate on the earlier cases and try to see who were behind the drugs being transported. It is unthinkable that a few police- men, or a few drug smuggler would have had the financial muscle and the influence to try and attempt to smuggle drugs worth crores of rupees. It is the hand behind the huge sum involved that should be nailed. New Delhi too should acknowledge that the huge quantity of drugs that are being routed through Manipur and Mizoram are destined for other parts of the country. No guarantee that the drugs would not make its way from the dingy streets and shady by lanes of cities in other parts of the country to university campuses. The reach of the drug cartels should never be under estimated and it can affect everyone. Bust the drug ring. Go beyond the petty drug pushers and couriers and try to unmask the big fishes. The Golden Triangle is near, very near to the North East States of India and obviously the druglords would be looking to broaden their market.
For the past 15 years, F-Droid has provided a safe and secure haven for Android users around the world to find and install free and open source apps. When contrasted with the commercial app stores  of which the Google Play store is the most prominent  the differences are stark: they are hotbeds of spyware and scams, blatantly promoting apps that prey on their users through attempts to monetize their attention and mine their intimate information through any means necessary, including trickery and dark patterns.

F-Droid is different. It distributes apps that have been validated to work for the users interests, rather than for the interests of the apps distributors. The way F-Droid works is simple: when a developer creates an app and hosts the source code publicly somewhere, the F-Droid team reviews it, inspecting it to ensure that it is completely open source and contains no undocumented anti-features such as advertisements or trackers. Once it passes inspection, the F-Droid build service compiles and packages the app to make it ready for distribution. The package is then signed either with F-Droids cryptographic key, or, if the build is reproducible, enables distribution using the original developers private key. In this way, users can trust that any app distributed through F-Droid is the one that was built from the specified source code and has not been tampered with.

Do you want a weather app that doesnt transmit your every movement to a shadowy data broker? Or a scheduling assistant that doesnt siphon your intimate details into an advertisement network? F-Droid has your back. Just as sunlight is the best disinfectant against corruption, open source is the best defense against software acting against the interests of the user.

Googles move to break free app distribution

The future of this elegant and proven system was put in jeopardy last month, when Google unilaterally decreed that Android developers everywhere in the world are going to be required to register centrally with Google. In addition to demanding payment of a registration fee and agreement to their (non-negotiable and ever-changing) terms and conditions, Google will also require the uploading of personally identifying documents, including government ID, by the authors of the software, as well as enumerating all the unique application identifiers for every app that is to be distributed by the registered developer.

The F-Droid project cannot require that developers register their apps through Google, but at the same time, we cannot take over the application identifiers for the open-source apps we distribute, as that would effectively seize exclusive distribution rights to those applications.

If it were to be put into effect, the developer registration decree will end the F-Droid project and other free/open-source app distribution sources as we know them today, and the world will be deprived of the safety and security of the catalog of thousands of apps that can be trusted and verified by any and all. F-Droids myriad users will be left adrift, with no means to install  or even update their existing installed  applications. (How many F-Droid users are there, exactly? We dont know, because we dont track users or have any registration: No user accounts, by design)

The Security Canard

While directly installing  or sideloading  software can be construed as carrying some inherent risk, it is false to claim that centralized app stores are the only safe option for software distribution. Google Play itself has repeatedly hosted malware, proving that corporate gatekeeping doesnt guarantee user protection. By contrast, F-Droid offers a trustworthy and transparent alternative approach to security: every app is free and open source, the code can be audited by anyone, the build process and logs are public, and reproducible builds ensure that what is published matches the source code exactly. This transparency and accountability provides a stronger basis for trust than closed platforms, while still giving users freedom to choose. Restricting direct app installation not only undermines that choice, it also erodes the diversity and resilience of the open-source ecosystem by consolidating control in the hands of a few corporate players.

Furthermore, Googles framing that they need to mandate developer registration in order to defend against malware is disingenuous because they already have a remediation mechanism for malware they identify on a device: the Play Protect service that is enabled on all Android Certified devices already scans and disables apps that have been identified as malware, regardless of their provenience. Any perceived risks associated with direct app installation can be mitigated through user education, open-source transparency, and existing security measures without imposing exclusionary registration requirements.

We do not believe that developer registration is motivated by security. We believe it is about consolidating power and tightening control over a formerly open ecosystem.

The Right to Run

If you own a computer, you should have the right to run whatever programs you want on it. This is just as true with the apps on your Android/iPhone mobile device as it is with the applications on your Linux/Mac/Windows desktop or server. Forcing software creators into a centralized registration scheme in order to publish and distribute their works is as egregious as forcing writers and artists to register with a central authority in order to be able to distribute their creative works. It is an offense to the core principles of free speech and thought that are central to the workings of democratic societies around the world.

By tying application identifiers to personal ID checks and fees, Google is building a choke point that restricts competition and limits user freedom. It must find a solution which preserves user rights, freedom of choice, and a healthy, competitive ecosystem.

What do we propose?

Regulatory and competition authorities should look carefully at Googles proposed activities, and ensure that policies designed to improve security are not abused to consolidate monopoly control. We urge regulators to safeguard the ability of alternative app stores and open-source projects to operate freely, and to protect developers who cannot or will not comply with exclusionary registration schemes and demands for personal information.

If you are a developer or user who values digital freedom, you can help. Write to your Member of Parliament, Congressperson or other representative, sign petitions in defense of sideloading and software freedom, and contact the European Commissions Digital Markets Act (DMA) team to express why preserving open distribution matters. By making your voice heard, you help defend not only F-Droid, but the principle that software should remain a commons, accessible and free from unnecessary corporate gatekeeping.
A version of this article originally appeared in Quartzs members-only Weekend Brief newsletter. Quartz members get access to exclusive newsletters and more. Sign up here .

When British lawmakers promised that age-verification laws would create a safer internet by keeping children away from harmful or adult content, they likely didn't envision adults needing government ID to view parliamentary debates about sexual abuse or footage of destroyed drones in Ukraine.

But that's exactly what's happening as countries across the world rush to implement age checks across the web. The gap between policy intentions and messy reality reveals the fundamental challenge of creating technology sophisticated enough to distinguish between content that's genuinely harmful to children and legitimate information that adults have every right to access.

The consequences are already rippling across the internet. In the U.K., where the Online Safety Act took effect in late July, social media platforms are indiscriminately blocking content in their scramble to comply with new regulations. A video of a man in Gaza searching for his family's bodies among rubble was restricted on X, despite not showing any graphic imagery, until the BBC inquired about it.

A parliamentary speech about a sexual assault available without restriction on the government's official streaming site is blocked on social media. The algorithms have even deemed a 200-year-old masterpiece depicting Greek mythology (Goya's " Saturn Devouring His Son ") as too spicy for the internet. Meanwhile, downloads of VPN apps have surged as users seek workarounds, a clear signal that the public isn't embracing this new reality.

The technical challenge of defining harm

Part of the problem lies in the inherent difficulty of teaching algorithms to make nuanced decisions about content. The U.K.'s Online Safety Act requires platforms to assess whether content presents "a material risk of significant harm to an appreciable number of children," a subjective determination that even humans struggle with consistently.

The challenge compounds when platforms try to determine who should be blocked from seeing that content in the first place. Companies are outsourcing these decisions to third-party age verification providers such as Yoti, Incode, and Persona, but the technology remains imperfect . Facial age estimation systems typically offer accuracy within roughly 18 months, and can be fooled by everything from poor lighting to, in one case, a dog held in front of someone's face.
Claires warned managers last month that bailiffs could start turning up in person to recover debts - James Copeland/Alamy

Thousands of jobs at Claires Accessories are at risk after administrators sold half of the jewellery chains stores to a new buyer.

On Monday, administrators at Interpath said they had sold 156 out of 301 stores in the UK and Ireland to Modella Capital, which also owns the high street stores previously branded as WH Smith, for an undisclosed sum.

Modella said the deal had the potential to save more than 1,000 roles across the business, with Joe Price, the managing director, saying it would give Claires the chance to remain on the high street.

However, the likely closure of the remaining 145 stores puts a further 1,000 staff at risk of redundancy across the retailers sprawling estate.

Interpath did not disclose which stores had not been bought by Modella and said the remaining unsold stores would be kept open for as long as we can while we explore the options available.

Claires slowdown

It follows years of financial struggles for Claires, which has been laid low by high debts and slow trading. The UK chain has recorded 25m of losses over the last three years, accounts show.

Last month, Claires also warned managers that bailiffs could start turning up in person to recover debts, while a week later, it suspended online orders and appointed administrators.

Modella emerged as an early potential buyer for the business, having recently struck a series of deals for retailers. It bought WH Smiths high street stores for 76m earlier this year and has rebranded them as TG Jones, while it also owns The Original Factory Shop and Hobbycraft.

The private equity firm said it had yet to decide on the future of the acquired 156 stores, saying it would first hold talks with landlords before deciding which of the 156 stores can remain open.

It is not possible for Modella to define which of these stores will remain open, and which will sadly have to close, before landlord negotiations are complete, the group said.

Modella said it was inevitable that this acquisition will result in some store closures and job losses, with staff having been told there is no certainty over whether their store will stay open.

Mr Price said: The issues that Claires is facing are significant, and we will need to work collaboratively with all interested parties if our proposed rescue plan is to succeed.

It comes just over a month after the jewellery and accessories chain collapsed into administration as it battled a cash crunch.

The company had been racing to preserve cash since the start of the year, ahead of an outstanding $480m (355m) loan that must be repaid by December 2026

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.
By Manya Saini

(Reuters) -Electric aircraft maker Beta Technologies filed for an initial public offering in the United States on Monday, the latest company to join the rush to tap a record-breaking bull run in the equity market.

Easing trade tensions, robust stock markets and pent-up investor demand have combined to create one of the busiest windows for listings in years, with technology, aerospace and green energy firms leading the charge.

Beta Technologies designs, manufactures and sells high-performance electric aircraft, advanced electric propulsion systems, charging systems and components.

Electric aviation remains a niche segment of the transportation industry, with only a handful of companies developing and testing commercial aircraft.

"Beta's IPO plays into two narratives that are resonating with investors: the long-term electrification trend and renewed appetite for selective growth stories," said Kat Liu, vice president at IPO research firm IPOX.

Beta Technologies, citing internal estimates, said operating costs for its aircraft are 42% lower than conventional planes, thanks to a simplified design.

"Our aircraft's design eliminates the need for complex components such as gear boxes, in-flight liquid cooling systems, and thrust vectoring mechanisms," it said in the IPO prospectus.

The company said its ALIA CTOL electric aircraft has completed thousands of flights, covering nearly 83,000 nautical miles, including operations in North America and Europe.

Its aircraft has been used by the U.S. military in training missions and flown by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Beta also said it is partnering with GE Aerospace to co-develop a hybrid electric turbogenerator for defense and civil applications. As part of the deal, GE Aerospace will make a $300 million equity investment in the company.

The broader electric vehicle and technology industries have been in the spotlight for years, drawing investment and fueling growth across the automotive and clean-tech sectors.

Interest, however, has been uneven, with some segments and regions growing rapidly, while others face adoption and infrastructure challenges.

"Electric aircraft fit into the same sustainability and clean-mobility narrative that has driven interest in electric cars, though aerospace faces far longer certification and commercialization timelines," Liu said.

Beta Technologies, which did not disclose the size or terms of its offering, posted a net loss of $25.57 per share for the six months ended June 30, compared with $19.38 per share a year earlier.
X, formerly Twitter, will challenge a Karnataka High Court decision that upholds the Indian government's controversial Sahyog portal, marking the latest escalation in the ongoing battle between the social media platform and India's content regulation framework.

"We will appeal this order to defend free expression," X said in a post on the platform.

The Karnataka High Court on September 24, 2025, dismissed X's petition challenging the government's use of the Sahyog portal for content takedown orders, dealing a significant blow to the platform's efforts to contest what it terms "arbitrary censorship" in one of its most important global markets.

Justice M. Nagaprasanna then ruled that X, as a foreign corporation, cannot invoke India's constitutional protections for free speech.

What is Sahyog portal?

The Sahyog portal, launched in October 2024 by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs through the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), serves as a centralised platform for government agencies to issue content takedown notices to social media platforms.

Operating under Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, the system allows authorised officials to directly request the removal of content deemed unlawful.

Since its inception, the portal has facilitated 130 content takedown notices to major platforms, including Google, YouTube, Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft, between October 2024 and April 2025.

The system currently connects 65 online intermediaries with state and central government agencies, streamlining the process of combating what authorities describe as unlawful online content.

Reading the judgment

Justice Nagaprasanna's 351-page judgment addressed several critical constitutional questions raised by X's challenge.

The court firmly established that Article 19 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech and expression, applies exclusively to Indian citizens, not foreign corporations operating in the country.

"Article 19 of the Constitution of India, noble in its spirit and luminous in its promise, remains, nevertheless, a Charter of Rights conferred upon citizens only," the judge stated, emphasising that X lacks constitutional standing to challenge Indian laws on free speech grounds.

The ruling distinguished between constitutional rights available to all persons (Articles 14 and 21) versus those restricted to citizens (Article 19), preventing X from circumventing this limitation by invoking equality provisions. The court also noted that X operates as a "faceless" entity in India without legal incorporation or established offices in the country.

Elon Musks platform and selective compliance

The Karnataka HC more or less called out X's selective compliance with content regulations across different jurisdictions. X complies with takedown requests in the United States under legislation like the Take It Down Act, but it resists similar orders in India.

Currently, X is the only major tech giant not integrated properly with the Sahyog portal. Giants like Microsoft, Google, Meta, and LinkedIn have already integrated with the Sahyog portal since its launch.

The latest announcement from X to fight the HC order sets the stage for an apex court review of the content regulation frameworks. This means that it will now be up to the Supreme Court of India.
The Centre released operational guidelines for setting up 72,300 public EV charging stations nationwide with a Rs 2,000 crore funding under the PM E-DRIVE scheme. The best part? New charging stations in government premises built on full subsidy will have to be freely open to the general public.

One of the major hurdles for EV adoption in India was the lack of reliable charging infrastructure. The latest guidelines look to mitigate the very same problem.

The guidelines, released on September 26, outline a comprehensive tiered subsidy structure designed to make charging stations accessible across different types of locations and ownership models.

Complete funding for government premises

Under the new framework, government offices, educational institutions, hospitals, and residential complexes will receive a 100 per cent subsidy covering both upstream infrastructure (the foundation and the basic structure and materials needed) and EV charging equipment. But they come with one important condition: these stations must remain freely accessible to the public.

High-traffic public locations

Public transport hubs (like bus stations) and high-traffic areas will receive more financial backing under the scheme. Railway stations, airports operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), retail outlets of state-run oil companies, bus stations run by State Transport firms, metro stations, municipal parking lots, and NHAI-controlled toll plazas will get 80 per cent subsidy on upstream infrastructure and 70 per cent on EV charging equipment.

Shopping malls, market complexes along city streets, highways, and expressways are also covered under the 80 per cent upstream infrastructure subsidy category. Battery swapping stations and battery charging stations deployed at any location will also get an 80 per cent subsidy on upstream infrastructure costs.

Strategic implementation through BHEL

The government has designated Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) as the Project Implementation Agency for this nationwide rollout. Union Minister for Heavy Industries H.D. Kumaraswamy said that BHEL will also develop a unified digital platform, a "super app", that will integrate all EV chargers across the country.

"India is on track to become a global benchmark for sustainable transportation," Kumaraswamy stated during a recent review meeting.

The latest guidelines by the Ministry also state that 70 per cent of the subsidy will be released at the procurement stage, with the remaining 30 per cent disbursed after commissioning and integration with the unified charging hub. Government agencies at the central and state levels have been notified to appoint nodal bodies to identify high-priority locations and submit proposals to the Ministry.

The latest E-DRIVE guidelines also state clear technical requirements for different vehicle categories.

Charging stations must meet minimum capacity thresholds: up to 12 kW for two-wheelers and three-wheelers, and between 50 kW and 500 kW for fast chargers serving cars, buses, and trucks. For heavier vehicles like buses and trucks, charging infrastructure must support at least 240 kW.
Yashwant Sardeshpande, a popular Kannada veteran theatre artist, director, and dialogue writer, died today due to a sudden heart attack.

The filmmaker was 60 years old.

Sardeshpande was still active in theatre performances before he died. He performed a play in Dharwad on Sunday evening and travelled to Bengaluru early on Monday. It was after arriving that he complained of chest pain and collapsed. He was declared dead at Fortis Hospital at around 10 am.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said on social media. "It is with great sadness that we learn about the passing away of our Hubballi native, Yashwant Sardeshpande, a renowned Kannada theatre actor, a very popular playwright who acted and directed in many plays across the state. His play All the Best was an unprecedented success. He also acted in television and films."

Who was Yaswant Sardeshpande?

Yaswant Sardeshpande was born in Ukkali, Vijayapura district, Karnataka. He started acting early in theatre performances. Later, he received formal training at the renowned Ninasam Theater School in Heggodu.

In his early days, he and other Ninasam graduates founded the theatre troupe Guru Samsthe in Hubbali. He broke through the scene with the play 'All the Best', a Kannada adaptation of a Marathi play. The show was performed over 500 times across Karnataka and overseas.

Sardeshpande rose to fame on TV after acting in Rama Shyama Bhama, which starred Kamal Hassan and Arvind.

After that, he directed and acted in many plays, especially of the comedy genre. He had also built a theater school and mentored young talent in Hubbali.

He is survived by his wife, Malathi Sardeshpande, who is also a prominent theater and television artist who was part of the troupe playing All the Best.

Along with the Union minister, former Chief Ministers Jagadish Shettar and Basavaraj Bommai, and Karnataka Legislative Council Chairperson Basavaraj Horatti all expressed their condolences on social media.
Amid facing heat over the tragic stampede in Karur and increasing death toll, actor-politician Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam's (TVK) functionaries are facing fresh charges in Tamil Nadu's Namakkal, for violating the guidelines for conducting such public meetings. Vijay first spoke at Namakkal before heading to Karur on September 27.

According to reports, the Namakkal police have booked key functionaries of TVK, including the party's secretary Busy Anand, for violating guidelines issued by the police for conducting a public meeting in Namakkal. According to police, strict guidelines were issued to the party for conducting the meeting, however, they were violated.

The case was registered based on a complaint from Namakkal SI Santhakumar. Twenty conditions were mentioned before granting permission for TVK's rally, however, all of them were violated, police said.

According to police, conditions like actor Vijay's campaign vehicle should not be accompanied by more than five vehicles, the meeting should be concluded by 12 noon, and many others were imposed, however, none of them were followed.

The meeting at Namakkal started only after 12.45pm, and the crowd became restless as the meeting got delayed, police said. TVK functionaries have been booked under five charges, and a probe is underway.

The fresh case against TVK leaders comes amidst the party facing ire over the stampede during the party's meeting in Karur on September 27. The death toll in the tragic incident has increased to 41, and over 50 people are still undergoing treatment at Karur Government Medical College Hospital. The party has moved the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court seeking a CBI probe over the incident.
A 17-year-old girl was allegedly shot dead by her father in a suspected honour killing case in Morena district, Madhya Pradesh. Police said that the girl's body was found dumped in the Kwari River by the SDRF on Sunday morning.

The Class 12 student, Divya, was reported missing on Saturday. Morena Civil Lines police station in charge, Darshan Shukla said that the the body was recovered at least five days after the murder, wrapped in plastic. The remains have been sent to a postmortem, and investigations are continuing.

Bharat, who goes by Bantu Sikarwar, was taken into custody on Saturday after a neighbour reported her missing through a call. The caller also said that he had heard gunshots and screams from the house four days earlier.

Police officials said that the father allegedly carried the body, wrapped it in plastic, tied it to a stone, and threw it into the Kunwri River, 30 minutes away from their home, four hours after the murder.

Police search for the body of the girl had begun on Saturday but had to be paused due to darkness and resumed on Sunday morning. The body was recovered by officials around 10 am.

The incident occurred on September 23-24 in the family's home located in the Ambah Bypass area of Morena. Police said that Sikarwar was upset when he learned that his daughter was friends with a boy from another caste. When questioned, he gave evasive replies. The father initially claimed that the teen died after a ceiling fan fell on her. Later, the parents claimed the girl died by suicide.

Forensic experts found on single gunshot wound to the head, NDTV reported.

"Divya's body has been recovered from the Kunwari River and sent for post-mortem. Only after the forensic report will we be able to confirm the cause of death," Assistant Superintendent of Police Surendra Pal Singh Dabar confirmed.

Divya had two younger siblings, both of whom were missing since the night of the incident. Police say that the siblings disappeared, and the parents' statement strengthens the possibility of murder.

A senior police officer said that the preliminary investigations indicated that the teen spoke about marrying a boy from another caste. Despite persuasion, she insisted on marrying him. Enraged, her father shot her dead, he said.




By Pushkala Aripaka

(Reuters) -AstraZeneca laid out plans on Monday to switch to a direct listing of its shares in the United States, as the drugmaker seeks to maximise gains from a booming U.S. stock market, even as it said it was not exiting London.

The decision to remain UK-based and listed there will be of some relief to British investors after media reports suggested the Anglo-Swedish drugmaker - London's most valuable company - was considering ditching its UK listing in favour of the U.S.

London's stock market has been shrinking due to companies moving away for higher valuations and access to deeper capital markets elsewhere, particularly the U.S., prompting listing reforms from regulators to score some wins.

AstraZeneca said it would list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange and move away from the current depositary receipts structure, with trading expected on February 2, 2026.

Trading in fully listed stocks is generally more liquid than in ADRs, attracting more investors.

The company will remain headquartered in the UK and listed in London and Stockholm, with the plan subject to a shareholders' vote on November 3.

Its London-listed shares rose roughly 1% on Monday, taking the company's gains for the year to about 6%.

They have underperformed domestic rival GSK, which is up 13.6%, and the UK's broader, blue-chip FTSE 100 index which has gained 14.2%.

COMMITMENT TO UK

Nearly 22% of AstraZeneca's shareholder base is from North America, its biggest, according to LSEG data, in line with other top UK-based blue-chip companies.

Iain Pyle at Aberdeen Group, a shareholder, said the main takeaway from the announcement was AstraZeneca's "re-commitment" to the primary listing in the UK.

"From our point of view, (AstraZeneca) remains an attractive investment on a fundamental basis, with a broad pipeline still undervalued by the market - the listing location doesn't alter that view."

AstraZeneca Chair Michel Demare said the proposed "harmonised listing structure" would support the company's long-term growth strategy.

"Enabling a global listing structure will allow us to reach a broader mix of global investors," he said.

A spokesperson for Britain's Treasury welcomed AstraZeneca retaining its London listing, while the London Stock Exchange said that there would be no change to the drugmaker's place on the FTSE 100 following the switch.

Peel Hunt analysts viewed AstraZeneca's plans to stay in the UK as positive in the short term, but cautioned that U.S. success might prompt others to follow suit.
The Tamil Nadu police have arrested three persons, including functionaries of actor-politician Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), for spreading false news regarding the tragic Karur stampede on social media. According to police, 25 social media accounts are under their purview for spreading falsehood.

According to Chennai police, Sahayam, Bharatiya Janata Party state secretary (Arts and Culture); Sivaneswaran, a TVK member; and Sarathkumar, a TVK functionary, have been arrested for spreading false news on the Karur tragedy on social media. Chennai police warned stern action against individuals spreading false news over the tragic incident.

As many as 41 people, including 10 children and 17 women, have died in the stampede at Velusamypuram at Karur, during TVK leader Vijay's people outreach campaign on Saturday. The death toll is feared to increase as the health condition of over 50 patients undergoing treatment at the Government Medical College Hospital in Karur is critical.

In a statement, the Chennai police warned the public against spreading falsehood, and said action has been initiated against 25 social media accounts for spreading fake news.

Earlier, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin advised the public against spreading rumours. In a video message, Stalin said it was sad that some people spread rumours about the incident or even indulged in slander. "Do not spread rumour, don't slander on social media about the tragedy in Karur. Everyone should behave responsibly," Stalin said.

"I am watching the rumours and false news spread by some people on social media. No political party leader will ever want his workers or innocent civilians to die. In this incident, regardless of party affiliation, the deceased belong to me, they are our Tamil brethren," he added.
Slipper was thrown at actor-politician Vijay during the rally in Karur on September 27, after he levelled criticism against former Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam minister V. Senthil Balaji, charged Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam after moving a petition in the Madras High Court on Monday.

The TVK moved the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court on Monday and sought an independent probe into the incident. The petitioners sought a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a Special Investigation Team (SIT). The court, however, refused to consider the plea for an urgent hearing and is likely to take up the matter later this week.

Alleging conspiracy, TVK advocates' wing head Arivazhagan charged Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and its functionaries were behind the stampede. Arivazhagan said they have submitted visual evidence along with their petition in court.

Arivazhagan said in their petition, they have urged the court to take steps to protect CCTV footages from the incident place. Alleging Senthil Balaji conspired against the party, Arvizhagan asked while the campaign went ahead smoothly at other places, how did a stampede situation occur in Karur alone. The lawyer also questioned the hurried manner in which the autopsy of the deceased were done.The party has also sought protection for the actor while he visits the residences of the deceased.

As many as 41 people died in a tragic stampede at Velusamypuram in Karur on Saturday. The deceased include 10 children and 17 women. The death toll, according to sources, is feared to increase as over 50 people are still undergoing treatment at the Karur Medical College Hospital.

Meanwhile, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led state government has ordered a judicial probe into the matter. The state government has formed a single-judge commission and appointed former Madras High Court judge Aruna Jagadeesan to conduct a probe into the matter.
The Madras High Court, Madurai bench, will hear the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) partys plea seeking a CBI or Special Investigation Team probe into an alleged conspiracy behind the stampede at Vijays rally in Karur today. Several allegations were made by the party against the State government and the police for failing to anticipate and handle the crowd crush.

The party has also filed a petition seeking security for Vijay to meet the victims of the tragedy.

Criminal cases were opened against multiple TVK party members by Karur police, including TVK general secretary Bussy Anand, deputy general secretary C.T. Nirmal Kumar, and Karur district secretary Mathiazhagan, under multiple sections of the BNS.

Vijay was not mentioned in the FIR. Analysts said that the tragedy would cast a shadow on the party and its political leaders' careers. Tharasu Shyam, who spoke to The Print, said, In Tamil Nadu politics, symbolism matters. The first big campaign sets the tone. For this to end in deaths is a huge setback. TVKs response to the crisis will determine whether it recovers or gets branded as irresponsible.

A victim of the crowd crush, Senthilkannan also petitioned the court to restrain authorities from granting permission for any future TVK rallies until the investigation is done and safety protocols are put up.

Senthilkannan argued that the tragedy was caused due to reckless planning and gross mismanagement with total disregard for public safety. He stated that the organisers allowed the crowd to gather without restrictions and failed to provide adequate barricades. He also said that the campaign vehicles were positioned in a way that allowed the dangerous crush, the Times of India reported.

The FIR was registered under BNS sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 106 (causing death by negligence).

He said that permitting further rallies by the TVK party and Vijay, its founder, when the Karur investigations are ongoing, would be like placing more lives in peril. He added that the public's confidence in the state and its machinery would be shaken if no action and steps were taken to prevent a recurrence.

The death toll from Saturday night's stampede at actor-politician Vijays rally in Karur has risen to 41 after a 65-year-old woman, Suguna, succumbed to her injuries.

The woman died at Karur government medical college hospital, where dozens of others are being treated for injuries sustained at the crowd crush. Among the 41 dead, 18 were women and 10 were children.

Meanwhile, a new investigating officer, ADSP Premanandan, has been appointed for the case.
The Leh Apex Body (LAB) on Monday said it will not talk to the Ministry of Home Affairs until normal life is restored in Ladakh. The decision comes after four protesters were killed in police firing during demonstrations demanding statehood and inclusion of the region under the Sixth Schedule.

At a press conference in Leh, LAB chairman Thupstan Chhewang, co-chairman Tsering Dorjey, and member Ashraf Ali said the administration must first calm the situation, release detainees, and withdraw the charge that Ladakhis are anti-national. These accusations are baseless and unacceptable. If the government had started talks on time, this tragedy would not have happened, Dorjey said.

The leaders rejected the Centres offer of talks on October 6, saying discussions cannot happen while such allegations hang over LAB and Sonam Wangchuk.

Wangchuk, a well-known climate activist and educator, had been leading hunger strikes for statehood and the Sixth Schedule. He was arrested on September 26 under the NSA, accused of provoking the youth by referring to movements like the Arab Spring and Gen Z protests in Nepal. He also faces allegations of having links with Pakistan.

Our people who died are heroes. Their funerals were held with both dignity and grief. We cannot sit at the table with these labels placed on us, Dorjey said.

The LAB leaders said the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), currently in Delhi, has assured them of full support. The MHA had invited three leaders, each from LAB and KDA, for preparatory talks today. However, the LAB's decision not to hold talks till the situation returns to normal has cast a shadow on talks to resolve the crisis in Ladakh.

Chhewang reminded the government that the BJP itself had once promised Ladakhs inclusion under the Sixth Schedule. The deployment of CRPF shows the administration is not acting in good faith. Our youth came out because of delays by the government, and the responsibility is theirs, he said.

The leaders accused the government of branding Ladakhi protesters as Pakistani agents to cover up state excesses. If these claims were true, why did agencies not act earlier? The government is only hiding its failures, Dorjey said.

He demanded a judicial inquiry into the firing. He said the CRPF opened fire without a magistrates approval. We have proof of this, he said. They also claimed that about 50 young people remain in jail. LAB is a voluntary platform, with leaders working without a salary. All cases against our members and youth must be withdrawn, the LAB co-chairman said.
A fresh political flashpoint has erupted in Mumbais healthcare sector after the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee urged Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani not to proceed with a proposed takeover of the sprawling SevenHills Hospital in Andheri.

In a letter dated September 24, Congress vice-president and ex-deputy mayor Rajesh Sharma appealed to Ambanis public duty and philanthropy, arguing that the 1,500-bed multi-specialty hospital would best serve society if handed over to the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) instead of being privatised further.

Such a step would not only be a great service to society but also add to your legacy as someone who stood for the people at a critical juncture, Sharma wrote, noting that the facilitys scale and public importance cannot truly serve its best purpose under private ownership alone.

What happened to SevenHills Hospital?

SevenHills, spread across 16.7 acres in Marol, is one of the largest hospitals in the country, but its journey has been anything but smooth.

SevenHills Hospital was envisioned as a world-class healthcare destination when it opened in 2010, but since then it has repeatedly found itself in controversy.

The project ran into massive cost overruns, with debts reportedly spiraling to over Rs 1,000 crore. Within a few years of its launch, the promoters were dragged into insolvency proceedings. Despite its massive infrastructure, only a fraction of its 1,500 beds were operational for much of the last decade, with several wings lying vacant due to financial and managerial hurdles.

During the pandemic, the Maharashtra government temporarily took over parts of the facility to accommodate patients. The hospital was in the news for inadequate preparedness, delayed ramp-ups, and debates over pricing.

This hospital has become a symbol of the larger debate over whether mega-healthcare facilities should remain in private hands or be integrated into the public system to ensure access for the urban poor.

The Reliance angle has revived the tug-of-war. While a takeover by one of Indias biggest corporate houses could potentially bring in financial stability and global healthcare expertise, critics argue it risks turning the hospital into a profit-first venture.

Whether Reliance proceeds with its interest, or the state steps in to reclaim SevenHills under the MCGM umbrella, remains to be seen. But the hospitals future, once again, is making headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently wrote the foreword for the Indian edition of Italian PM Giorgia Meloni's autobiography, 'I Am Giorgia: My Roots, My Principles'. This is the latest in a series of forewords he has written over the years.

Calling her a patriot and outstanding contemporary leader, Modi wrote that it was a "great" honour for him to contribute to her book in this manner, as per an Indian Express report.

It is her Mann Ki Baat," Modi had said, borrowing the name from his own monthly radio broadcast, and adding that "her belief in defending ones cultural heritage, while engaging with the world on equal terms, mirrors our own values".

Modi was last credited for a foreword in the biography of Anandiben Patel, who became the Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2014 after Modiwho was, until then, the Chief Minister of the statebecame Prime Minister.

Titled 'Dare, Dream, Do: The Extraordinary Life of Anandiben Patel' and published by Rupa Publications, the book details the personal and political story of the 'Iron Lady of Gujarat'.

Photo: Rupa Publications

Veteran actress and BJP MP (Mathura) Hema Malini received the honour in 2017 in her 23-chapter biography 'Beyond The Dreamgirl', penned by producer and former Stardust magazine editor Ram Kamal Mukherjee, and published by HarperCollins India.

Photo: HarperCollins India

Our PM has written very briefly in the book about his feelings for Hemaji. Its short, crisp and sweet, not rubble and bubble," he once told IANS about PM Modi's foreword in the book chronicling the actress' life, acting career, relationships, and politics.

In 2014, when he was still the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Modi reportedly wrote forewords for schoolbooks by retired schoolteacher and RSS ideologue Dinanath Batra, although the latter later denied any connection to him.
The proposed Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township (GBIT) project near Bidadi, approximately 30km from Bengaluru, has met with resistance from the Janata Dal (Secular) party, which launched a protest at Bidadi demanding that the government stop the acquisition of farmland across the 10 villages identified by the state government.

Union Minister and JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy, who addressed a farmers' protest organised by his party at Bidadi through video conference on Sunday, said, "Farmers must not fear. Under the pretext of a township, fertile lands are being looted. We will not allow this. Not a single inch of land will be surrendered for the project."

What is the Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township (GBIT) project?

Last March, the Karnataka cabinet cleared the township project, which is billed as Indias first AI-powered "work-live-play" city near Bidadi in Bengaluru South (Ramanagara) district, and is designed to "ease pressure" on the state capital. The township is likely to come up across 9,000 acres spread across 10 villages, including Byramangala, Bannigere, K.G. Gollarapalya, Kanchugaranahalli, and Aralasandra.

The proposed self-contained urban hub will allocate around 2,000 acres to artificial intelligence and technology industries, and support services. The master plan envisages wide arterial roads, a 300-metre-wide business corridor, green parks over 1,000 acres, rejuvenated lakes and wetlands, and smart-city features such as sensors and digital twin technology. It is meant to be zero-carbon, zero-waste, and low-traffic.

The township, estimated to cost Rs 20,000 crore as an investment  Rs 3,000 crore coming from the Bengaluru Metropolitan Region Development Authority and the balance from financial institutions against a state government guarantee  would have connectivity to the Satellite Town Ring Road and other highways.

According to officials, it is a move to shift Bengalurus future business and residential growth outward, reduce traffic congestion in the core city, and create new jobs in tech and allied sectors for local youth, a model for sustainable urbanisation.

Why are farmers and others opposing GBIT project?

The farmer protests began soon after the preliminary land-acquisition notifications were issued, fearing the loss of fertile land and inadequate compensation. Opposition parties have accused the government of rushing the project without full transparency. Environmentalists have also warned about the impact on Byramangala lake and other wetlands.

The government maintains that detailed master plans, compensation packages, and environmental safeguards will be put in place as it proceeds.

Earlier, Nikhil Kumaraswamy, who is leading the protest, said, "Fertile lands are being looted. We will not allow this. Not a single inch of land will be surrendered for the project. The lands identified by the government for the project across 10 villages are fertile, irrigated land. As many as 3,500 families (16,000 people) are dependent on it for their livelihood. The villages produce 6.5 lakh litres of milk every month and grow vegetables, greens, and coconut. But the government failed to hold a meeting of these stakeholders before acquiring their land. At least 80 per cent of these farmers are opposing the project."

DKS vs HDK

The GBIT is the new battleground for the two Vokkaliga leaders who are striving to emerge as the tallest Vokkaliga leader and perhaps inherit the popularity and following of the veteran leader Deve Gowda. The archrivals  Mandya MP and Union Minister Kumaraswamy, who has previously represented both Ramanagara and Channapatna Assembly seats, and D.K. Shivakumar, who represents the Kanakapura Assembly constituency in Ramanagara district  are once again at loggerheads. This time, the JD(S) leader is trying to reclaim his party's pro-farmer image, while the Congress leader, who is a CM-in-waiting, is hoping to prep up his home district as an extension of Bengaluru city.

"We will protest till the government drops the project, just like it did following protests at Devanahalli. This protest is pro-farmer and not against the township, any individual (Shivakumar), or the government. The government can develop the proposed township at Harohalli, where the KIADB has already acquired 950 acres of land," said Kumaraswamy, who is leading the JD(S) protest.

Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar, also Bengaluru Development Minister, asserted that he would not drop the project because a few brokers were demanding it.

"This opposition is from political opponents of our local MLA H.C. Balakrishna. We are compensating the landowners as per the norms. Why did Deve Gowda, Kumaraswamy, and former MLA Manjunath, who are now opposing the Greater Bengaluru Integrated Urban Plan in Bidadi, cooperate with the previous BJP government when it gave away 900 acres of land to KIADB?" asked Shivakumar.

Taking a dig at JD(S) patriarch and former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda, Shivakumar said he was happy that Deve Gowda was fighting against GBIT. "It is his son (Kumaraswamy) who issued the notification for this project, signed the agreement with DLF for this Bidadi Township, and got paid, too. Why was this land not denotified during his rule? When Yediyurappa gave the land to KIADB, all the farmers in that area received compensation. The land is now under the KIADB. There is no opposition from the farmers," claimed Shivakumar.

The DCM stated that he would release a list of beneficiaries of the money paid when 950 acres were handed over to KIADB.

Kumaraswamy slammed Shivakumar for "falsely" accusing the Devegowda family of having initiated the Bidadi Township project.

"It is deeply disturbing that the person who repeatedly exploited the land of the poor and the farmers is now making frivolous remarks about me. Unlike Shivakumar, who has built schools, colleges, or high-rise complexes on the lands taken away from the poor, I am building a life as a farmer in Bidadi.

The former minister alleged that Shivakumar had "forcibly" taken away lands from poor farmers even in the past and cited that one Krishnamurthy of Billekempanahalli village had built a hotel on the BangaloreMysore highway with a Karnataka Finance Corporation (KFC) loan. The property was forcibly vacated, later purchased at a low price, and a school was subsequently constructed on the same land. Similarly, Ramaswamy, a former soldier of the Indian Army, who purchased land with his hard-earned savings, was threatened by Shivakumar to part with the land. And when he refused to yield, Ramaswamy's daughter was allegedly kidnapped and forced to sign away the property.

Kumaraswamy also alleged that Shivakumar had encroached upon land acquired around Hosakerehalli for the NICE Road project, as well as large tracts of land taken during S.M. Krishnas tenure as Chief Minister under the BangaloreMysore Expressway plan.

"It has been more than 20 years, yet no road has been built, and the acquired land is being misused. By contrast, when I was the chief minister, the BangaloreMysore highway was completed swiftly, and compensation was promptly given to farmers who lost land, said Kumaraswamy.

Recalling the pro-farmer legacy of his family, Kumaraswamy added: Throughout my public life, I have never falsely claimed development at the cost of land acquisition. On the contrary, I ensured that farmers retained 40% of their land in projects. Until my last breath, I will not commit injustice against farmers."

He accused the government of deliberately inflating land records, saying, They claim 3,0004,000 acres out of 9,000 acres are government-owned, when in reality, only 700 acres belong to the government. These false figures are being used to justify the township and loot farmers land.

He also warned the police not to harass farmers at the behest of the Congress government.

LOP in Assembly R. Ashok dubbed the GBIT as "illegal" and urged the state government to immediately withdraw from it.

"At least 6,500 acres out of the 9,600 acres of land identified for acquisition are fertile agricultural land. There are more than 10 lakh coconut and mango trees, and 6.5 lakh litres of milk from these villages reaches the KMF daily. The government is acquiring fertile land and depriving the farmers of their livelihood to develop sites," alleged Ashok.

The BJP leader also noted the Karnataka Housing Board had acquired 500 acres of land and formed sites, but not a single house had been built to date.

"The sites at the Kempegowda and Shivaram Karanth layouts are also lying vacant. The DCM should denotify these lands immediately," said Ashok.

Bidadi is home to several MNCs and companies, namely Toyota Kirloskar Motor, Bosch, Coca-Cola, Britannia, and many SSIs spread across the Bidadi Industrial Area. While the plan is to attract AI and technology industries, it is not clear if they are being offered special incentives to attract investment.

"Toyota company has sought 300 acres for residential purposes in the proposed township, and I suggested that they should model their township on the lines of Japanese townships, added Shivakumar.
The first anniversary of Hassan Nasrallahs assassination passed with Hezbollah in a state of profound transition. A year ago, on September 27, Israel carried out what it described as a decapitation strategy, killing Nasrallah and, weeks later, his heir-apparent Hashem Safieddine.

The strikes stripped Hezbollah of its command structure and deprived the movement of its most recognisable figure, a man who had led it for more than three decades.

What was once an unrivalled centre of Lebanese politics and a feared regional actor now finds itself diminished, focused on survival and an uncertain recalibration.

The shock of Nasrallahs death was compounded by the war that followed, which resulted in thousands of casualties and immense devastation across Lebanon. Many had long believed that eliminating the Hezbollah leader would ignite a regional inferno.

Although all-out war never came, Hezbollah absorbed one blow after another. It was weakened militarily, eroded politically and further isolated by the collapse of the allied Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria in December.

With Damascus no longer under Assads control, Hezbollah lost a vital land corridor through which Iranian arms and funds had flowed for years.

Left with no leader

At home, the movement has been left without a figure of comparable stature. Nasrallah was considered a statesman-warrior who embodied the movements defiance of both Israel and the United States.

His successor, Sheikh Naim Qassem, has sought to project steadiness but lacks his predecessors charisma and authority. Qassem is seen as a softer, more cautious voice.

Across Hezbollahs strongholds, images of Nasrallah remain far more prominent than those of the new leader, and chants pledging loyalty to the dead commander echo in the streets.

Even Nasrallahs son, Mahdi, has been able to draw a following by invoking the memory of his father.

Strategically, Hezbollah is at one of its lowest points since its formation. Analysts argue that the movement no longer has the deterrent power it once held over Israel and is unlikely to mount significant attacks. It no longer dictates Lebanons political agenda or sets the rules of engagement with its neighbour. For the organisation, simply remaining intact has become the new measure of success.

Domestically, Hezbollah faces growing hostility. Lebanons economy has collapsed, the lira is worthless, and public patience with the groups claim to be the countrys shield has worn thin. Instead, many see Hezbollah as deepening Lebanons isolation. The frustration was evident when Nasrallahs image was projected onto Beiruts Raouche Rock a few days ago. What once would have been an untouchable display of strength provoked condemnation from senior officials, including the prime minister.

The most pressing issue is disarmament.

Under pressure from the United States and Israel, the Lebanese government instructed the national army earlier this month to prepare a plan for centralising control over weapons.

Loyal to the covenant

Hezbollah has rejected the demand outright, with Qassem insisting that the group will never surrender its arsenal. The resulting stalemate has delayed badly needed foreign aid for reconstruction, while diplomats warn that any attempt to confront Hezbollah by force risks destabilising the army itself.

Yet Hezbollah is not finished. The group insists that its finances remain stable and its institutions, including social services, continue to function. It has worked to close intelligence gaps exposed by the assassinations, reducing reliance on technology and operating more covertly.

It is also seeking to rebuild its base of support by providing compensation and rent assistance to war-affected residents.

On the diplomatic front, it has signalled to rivals such as Saudi Arabia that its weapons are aimed only at Israel, while some allies have floated renewed discussions of the Taef Accord in the hope of trading political representation for a future dialogue on arms.

As Hezbollah marks the anniversary with rallies and a speech from Qassem under the slogan We are loyal to the covenant, the movement is still standing. But its greatest challenge may no longer be fighting Israel. It is the risk of drifting into irrelevance within a fractured domestic arena and a shifting regional order.
Anger against the ruling Shehbaz Sharif government in Pakistan has triggered massive unrest in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) since Monday. Protesters led by Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC) took out mammoth rallies across the region as part of the shutter-down and wheel jam strike, which plunged into violence.

According to local media reports, commercial centres, transportation, and schools were shut down while a communication blackout, including suspension of landlines, was imposed across the region.

However, angry protesters took to the streets, following which Pakistani forces brought in troops to quell the protest. Though Pakistani media is yet to confirm the reports, footage and reports from the occupied region claim four people died in the firings.

 Massive protests in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) against Pakistani Govt. Pak forces bring thousands of troops from Punjab to crush protest. Internet shutdown from midnight in PoK. pic.twitter.com/dMwBRC1dMZ  OSINT Updates (@OsintUpdates) September 29, 2025 The bullet shells being shown by civilians of Pakistan Occupied Jammu & Kashmir which were fired by Pakistani forces.



Pakistan Army desperate to crush the civilian uprising in PoK even as every hour thousands of people continue to protest for their 38-point demands. pic.twitter.com/HOfI0x1ZdV  Faraz Pervaiz (@FarazPervaiz3) September 29, 2025

Videos doing the rounds on social media show thousands on the streets, especially in the Kotli area of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Some protesters were seen firing in the air while others were seen setting vehicles on fire. Local people were also caught on camera displaying bullet shells from the firing at protesters carried out by the Pakistani army.

The strike was called by the Public Action Committee, which has put forward a 38-point charter of demands, including an end to the 12 reserved seats for refugees and the rollback of privileges enjoyed by the elite.

AAC leader Sawkat Nawaz Mir said, "Our campaign is for the fundamental rights that our people have been deprived of for over 70 years... either give them the rights or face the wrath of the people." He said the lockdown was plan A, while the alliance had also prepared plans B and C. And plan D, he warned, is the harshest.

Brute show of power

Islamabad has responded to the protests with force. Heavily armed patrols have been deployed across the region and additional forces have been brought in from neighboring Punjab province, the Pakistani news website Dawn reported.
BitMine Immersion Technologies stock rose Monday morning after the company announced that it purchased nearly $1 billion worth of Ethereum over the last week, pushing the valuation of its total ETH treasury to $11 billion.

The Ethereum treasury firms stock rose more than 6% to a recent price of $53.60, following the announcement. Even with the uptick, BMNR remains down nearly 4% over the last week.

The Las Vegas-based company disclosed crypto and cash holdings nearing $11.6 billion, including 2.65 million ETH valued at $11 billion, 192 Bitcoin (about $21.6 million worth), and $436 million in unencumbered cash.

That Ethereum tally is 234,846 ETH larger than the previous weeks reported total, or about $980 million worth. BitMine is the largest publicly traded Ethereum treasury company, and continues to widen the gap between itself and runner-up SharpLink Gaming, which holds about $3.37 billion worth of ETH.

Overall, BitMine ranks as the second-largest global cryptocurrency treasury behind Strategy Inc., which holds approximately $72 billion in Bitcoin.

Myriad users are broadly confident that BitMine will hit a total of 3 million ETH by October 27, currently giving that an 81% chance. The odds have climbed 15% over the last dayeven before the announcementas predictors gain confidence. (Disclaimer: Myriad is a product of Decrypt's parent company, DASTAN.)

The 7 Largest Publicly Traded Ethereum Treasury Firms

BitMine Chairman Tom Lee, who also leads research firm Fundstrat, has positioned Ethereum as central to converging trends in AI and cryptocurrency.

In a statement, the firm compared recent regulatory developmentsincluding the GENIUS Act passage and the SEC's Project Cryptoto the 1971 abandonment of the gold standard, predicting similar transformational effects on financial services.

"As we enter the final months of 2025, the two supercycle investing narratives remain AI and crypto. And both require neutral public blockchains. Naturally, Ethereum remains the premier choice given its high reliability and 100% uptime, he said. These two powerful macro cycles will play out over decades. Since ETH's price is a discount to the future, this bodes well for the token and is the reason BitMine's primary treasury asset is ETH.

The price of Ethereum started to rebound over the weekend after dipping late last week, with the asset showing only a 0.6% loss over the last week at a recent price of $4,173. ETH is up 4% on the day, though it remains down about 5% over the last month.
Tesco shows no sign of losing its grip as the country's biggest supermarket  despite fighting a price war and higher business costs, experts say.

Investors hope the grocery giant maintains sales growth when it publishes its half-year results on Thursday.

Sales rose 4.6 per cent in its first quarter, compared with the previous year, boosted by growing demand for own-brand and premium products.

Its share of the market is now 28.4 per cent, according to analysts.

Sky's the limit: Tesco shows no sign of losing its grip as the country's biggest supermarket

Sainsbury's and Asda  Tesco's biggest rivals  have seen market share fall, as discounters Aldi and Lidl gain customers.

Richard Hunter, from Interactive Investor, said: 'At the first quarter numbers in June there were no signs that the company was losing its grip. Indeed, the juggernaut powered on.'

In April, Tesco said it expected to make as much as 400m less profit as the competition between grocers hots up.
Turning water and air into fertiliser sounds like alchemy, but for ATOME it is almost within reach.

The AIM-quoted company is preparing for a final investment decision on its flagship Villeta project in Paraguay, and Canaccord Genuity reckons that, while there are challenges, the go-ahead looks credible.

Villeta is designed to produce 260,000 tonnes of calcium ammonium nitrate a year. That is a finished fertiliser product widely used across agriculture, combining nitrogen with calcium to boost crop growth while reducing soil acidification.

The twist here is that it is to be made using nothing more than electricity, river water, air and limestone, with almost zero carbon emissions.

The chemistry is straightforward. Water is split into hydrogen and oxygen, nitrogen is captured from the air, and the two gases are combined to make ammonia.

That ammonia is partly diverted to make nitric acid, which is then reacted with the remaining ammonia and ground limestone to create calcium ammonium nitrate. The contractor, Casale of Italy, has built such plants before, albeit not on this scale.

ATOME's Villeta is designed to produce 260,000 tonnes of calcium ammonium nitrate a year

The cost is not trivial. Casales lump-sum contract comes in at $465million, with total project costs put at about $630million once commissioning and ancillary expenses are included. That equates to roughly $2,400 for each tonne of annual fertiliser capacity installed.

Canaccord estimates operating costs at about $140 a tonne, leaving plenty of headroom against local selling prices of $400 to $600. On that basis, project profitability could run at $260 to $460 per tonne, generating $10million to $50million of free cash flow to equity each year once debt service is covered.

To get there, the funding must be nailed down. ATOME has an offtake agreement in place with Yara, the Norwegian fertiliser group, which has agreed to buy all the output for ten years on terms that include a floor price and some sharing of any premium upside.

Hy24, a specialist hydrogen investor, has committed up to $115million of project equity, while ATOME is seeking another $100million from other backers.

Debt proposals are already oversubscribed, with indicative offers of $200million from the Inter-American Development Bank, another $200million from the Dutch development bank FMO, $135million from the European Investment Bank and $75million in concessional finance from global climate funds.

If those terms are finalised, ATOME is expected to retain about a fifth of Villetas equity once construction is complete. That may not sound much, but given the potential returns, Canaccord argues the stake will still be valuable.

More importantly, the analysts see Villeta as an industry first: a full-scale, grid-powered, zero-carbon fertiliser factory that could be copied elsewhere.

Atome itself is already looking beyond Paraguay. It has flagged projects in Costa Rica, Iceland and a second Paraguayan site at Yguazu, as well as a move into renewable power generation to secure cheap electricity for future ventures.

Shares in Atome have risen strongly on the back of each contract announcement, and Canaccord has raised its target price from 130p to 140p, keeping a speculative buy rating.

At 62p in the market, that still leaves plenty of theoretical upside, though the tag speculative is well deserved. The company has no revenues yet and has been burning about $7million a year in overhead.

Final investment decision has been delayed before, and execution risk looms large once building starts.

A few cautionary notes: readers should always do their own due diligence. This kind of development is not without its risk and can be subject to unforeseen delays.

While Paraguay ranks among South America's more stable economies, conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East and the Trump administration's unpredictability show chaos can strike from anywhere, undermining valuations

Still, for those with the appetite, the investment case is easy enough to grasp.

If ATOME can turn cheap Paraguayan hydropower into premium-priced, low-carbon fertiliser, it may have found a way to make alchemy pay.

For all the market's moving small- and mid-cap news go to www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk
My partner is a Catalan women who has been a resident in the UK for 45 years, and is now nearly 69 and has not received a penny of pension.

We have a letter from 2015 stating that she had eight years of stamps, and pre-Brexit her four years of working in Spain would have been added to take her up over the minimum for any state pension.

When she first moved to the UK with her first husband, they soon separated and not understanding the system she allowed him to collect the child benefit and consequently did not receive credits for all the time she was raising her children.

I have lost count of the number of times we have rung the Department for Work and Pensions for help, and the number of forms filled in.

In March this year we were advised to pay two years of stamps to bring her up to the minimum of 10 years.

I did this, paying nearly 1,700 from a credit card on the understanding she would start getting a small pension within eight weeks.

This did not happen and having recently consulted the HMRC website and despite having paid two extra years, it only credits her with nine years stamps.

We are at the end of our tether and anything you could do to help or advise us would be very much appreciated.

Incidentally, she has not applied for pension credit as she needs to regularly visit her elderly mother.

Ask Steve Webb your question. Email pensionquestions@thisismoney.co.uk

Steve Webb: Scroll down to find out how to ask him YOUR pension question

Steve Webb replies: I was sorry to read that your partner has had such difficulties in getting her state pension sorted out.

Although things can be more complicated and take longer where someone has worked in more than one country, it should not have taken nearly three years without a resolution.

The first key rule for people to be aware of is that you need 10 years of National Insurance contributions (or credits) to be entitled to any UK state pension.

At first glance, someone with just 8 years of contributions would get nothing.

However, there are two potential ways round this problem.

The first is for the UK government to take account of the years that your partner worked in Spain.

In principle, the four years of working in an EU country should be added to the eight years of contributing in the UK, and this is enough to satisfy the ten year rule.

This has been the practice for many years and it remains the case notwithstanding the UKs exit from the European Union.

Your partners UK state pension would only be paid on the basis of UK contributions  at a rate of 8/35 of the full rate, given the target of 35 years for a full pension  but the overseas contributions would be getting you over the separate 10 year hurdle.

It is still not clear why this did not happen in your partners case.

I see that because your partner had worked in Spain she was advised that she should also apply for a pension from the Spanish government.

This is done via the UKs International Pension Centre, though as it turned out she did not satisfy the rules to receive a Spanish state pension.

The other way round this problem is simply to do what you did and pay voluntary contributions.

I see that you did this just before the 6 April deadline, which allowed you to go back to gaps all the way back to 2006/07.

You bought two years which  regardless of the Spanish contributions  should have brought your partner up to 10 years, and earned her a pension of 10/35 of the full rate.

Although for some reason the NI record which you shared with me did indeed show just nine qualifying years, I have been in touch with DWP and they confirmed that they are working on the basis of 10 years  the original eight years in the UK plus the two voluntary years you have just paid.

Im pleased to say that following my intervention DWP acted swiftly and you have now been told that your partner will be getting a state pension of over 3,000 per year as well as arrears back to when she reached pension age.

You have told me that "You were the first person to take any real notice of our situation!" so Im pleased I was able to help.

I asked DWP for comment and a spokesperson said: 'We apologise for the delay in this payment. [Your reader] has since been awarded a backdated payment and will receive her regular state pension payment going forward.'

In passing, its worth saying that for those who are just a few years short of getting any state pension at all, voluntary contributions of the sort that you made can be especially attractive.

To give an extreme example, someone who had nine years of UK contributions (and no other contributions) would have zero state pension entitlement.

Buying just one extra year via Class 3 NI contributions  at a current cost of 923 (or less for some older years)  would generate a state pension of 10/35 of the full rate. This would be worth around 3,420 per year.

The payback period for one year of voluntary contributions in this situation could be just a few months and is well worth considering for those who are just short of the 10-year threshold.

In addition, in some circumstances you might be able to buy back missing years at the lower Class 2 rate, and this could be even better value.

The main thing to beware is that if you would otherwise be on a benefit such as pension credit, increasing your state pension could result in a benefit reduction and could wipe out any improvement overall.
BitMine Immersion Technologies shares climbed more than 6% on Monday after the Las Vegas-based company disclosed another major expansion of its Ethereum (ETH) treasury.

The stock traded at $53.60 following the announcement, though it remained down nearly 4% over the past week.

The company reported holding 2.65 million ETH valued at $11 billion, alongside 192 Bitcoin worth roughly $21.6 million and $436 million in cash.

Total assets stood near $11.6 billion, strengthening BitMines position as the worlds largest publicly traded Ethereum treasury firm.

BitMine Overtakes Ethereum Rivals, Becomes Worlds No. 2 Crypto Treasury After Strategy

The latest disclosure shows BitMine added 234,846 ETH over the past week, a purchase worth about $980 million. The buildup extends a series of acquisitions in September.

On September 19, blockchain records showed BitMine buying $69 million in ETH through Galaxy Digitals over-the-counter desk, with 15,427 ETH settled in several coordinated transfers.

Earlier that month, the company received 46,255 ETH worth $201 million from BitGo on September 11 and 80,325 ETH worth $358 million from Galaxy Digital and FalconX on September 4.

The pace of accumulation has widened the gap between BitMine and its nearest rival, SharpLink Gaming, which holds $3.37 billion in Ethereum.

Globally, BitMine now ranks as the second-largest crypto treasury overall, trailing only StrategyInc., which controls about $72 billion in Bitcoin.

Company chairman Tom Lee, who also heads research firm Fundstrat, has repeatedly tied Ethereums role to what he describes as converging supercycles in artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency.

In a statement, Lee compared recent regulatory developments, including the GENIUS Act and the SECs Project Crypto, to the U.S. decision to abandon the gold standard in 1971, calling Ethereum the premier choice for neutral blockchains due to its reliability and uptime.

Still, the stock reaction shows a lingering divide between BitMines crypto expansion and shareholder sentiment.

Even after Mondays jump, BMNR shares remain below last weeks levels, suggesting that enthusiasm around Ethereum accumulation has not fully translated into sustained market confidence.

Source: Google Finance

Treasury data shows that BitMine now accounts for more than a third of all Ethereum held by corporate entities, with its stash representing nearly 35% of the groups total.

The companys rapid growth in reserves shows how aggressively it has moved into Ethereum, far surpassing both gaming firms and exchanges that also maintain on-chain balances.
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) is included among the 10 Best Recession Proof Dividend Stocks to Buy.

How Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMY) Delivers Strong Yields Even in Tough Markets

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) is an American multinational pharmaceutical company. It concentrates primarily on branded pharmaceuticals, a sector known for high entry barriers and strong profitability. Developing breakthrough drugs requires billions in investment and years of research, with relatively few candidates making it to market.

However, those that succeed can deliver billions in revenue, supported by long-lasting patent protection that shields them from competition. Because medications remain essential regardless of economic conditions, they are considered recession-resistant. This resilience helped Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY)s stock decline only 32% during the 200709 financial crisis, compared with a drop of more than 50% for the broader market.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) is also a strong dividend company. Currently, it pays a quarterly dividend of $0.62 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.62%, as of September 26. The company has raised its payouts for 16 years in a row.

While we acknowledge the potential of BMY 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: 11 Best Telecom Dividend Stocks to Buy for 2025 and 11 Best Bank Dividend Stocks to Buy.

Disclosure: None.
By Johann M Cherian

(Reuters) -Shares of pot companies rose on Monday after U.S. President Donald Trump advocated the potential benefits from the use of cannabidiol in senior healthcare in a social media post.

Trump had said last month his administration was looking to reclassify marijuana, which could also result in potentially easing criminal penalties around its use.

Hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) could "revolutionize senior healthcare" by helping reduce disease progression and was shown as an alternative to prescription drugs, he said in a post on Truth Social on Sunday.

U.S.-listed shares of Canopy Growth gained 18.3% and Tilray Brands jumped 42%, while Cronos Group added 15.5% and Aurora Cannabis gained 25.4%.

Exchange-traded funds by AdvisorShares surged 21.8% and Roundhill gained 21.6% and are both on track for their biggest quarterly gains on record of more than 70% each.

"MSOS, the largest U.S. marijuana-focused ETF, is... benefiting from President Trump's surprise Sunday support for the potential benefits of CBD, with any support going a long way for this beleaguered listed sector," said Ben Laidler, head of equity strategy at Bradesco BBI.

Regulations around the commercial use of hemp and CBD were significantly eased through the enactment of the Agriculture Improvement Act during Trump's first term.

However, marijuana remains listed as a Schedule I substance, under the Controlled Substances Act, meaning it has a high potential for abuse and no current accepted medical use.

Former President Joe Biden had directed the Department of Health and Human Services to review marijuana's status, leading the agency to recommend moving it to Schedule III, a category for drugs with moderate to low potential for dependence.

Trump "already hinted that they were planning to reclassify it. This doesn't mean it's legalizing the drug, but it does reduce some of the burden on the companies," said Daniela Hathorn, senior market analyst at Capital.com.

"I do think there is further room for these stocks to move higher if it's confirmed that the reclassification is happening."

Weed stocks have reflected the ebb and flow of the prolonged process taken by each U.S. administration toward wider legalization of marijuana and are often volatile.

Some stocks, such as Canopy Growth have lost nearly half their value this year, while Cronos and SNDL have both gained more than 50% each, considering Monday's gains.

"We're encouraged by the U.S. administration's recognition of cannabis and its potential role in supporting health and wellness for seniors," a spokesperson for Ontario-based Canopy Growth said.
American Water Works Company, Inc. (NYSE:AWK) is included among the 11 Best Value Dividend Stocks to Buy Now.

The Case for American Water Works Company (AWK) in a Value-Oriented Dividend Portfolio

American Water Works Company, Inc. (NYSE:AWK) is a regulated utility that delivers water and wastewater services to over 14 million people in 14 states. Most of its revenue comes from its regulated utility operations, which accounted for 92% of operating revenue in 2024.

American Water Works Company, Inc. (NYSE:AWK)s strategy centers on a few core priorities. These include working with regulators to gain approval for rate changes, investing heavily in modernizing and replacing infrastructure, and pursuing growth through selective acquisitions. Because regulatory approval directly affects customer pricing and the recovery of infrastructure costs, it plays a vital role in the companys performance. Maintaining efficiency while meeting environmental and health standards is also key to ensuring long-term stability and growth.

American Water Works Company, Inc. (NYSE:AWK)s dividend policy also makes it an appealing option for income investors. The company has raised its payouts consistently since 2008. Currently, it offers a quarterly dividend of $0.8275 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.43%, as of September 26.

While we acknowledge the potential of AWK 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: 11 Best Telecom Dividend Stocks to Buy for 2025 and 11 Best Bank Dividend Stocks to Buy.

Disclosure: None.
The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW) is included among the 11 Best Bank Dividend Stocks to Buy.

The Charles Schwab Corporations (SCHW) Dividend Strength: A Reliable Income Stream for Investors

Photo by Dan Dennis on Unsplash

The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW) is a leading US investment services firm, providing a broad range of financial products and solutions. It leverages its large client base and extensive capabilities to maintain a competitive advantage. Its primary segments include investor services and advisor services, where the firm benefits from its scale and efficient use of resources. Recently, Schwab has emphasized improving operational efficiency and cost management, which support its competitive pricing and strong profit margins.

In Q2 2025, The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW) achieved record levels in total client assets, revenue, and net income. Total client assets reached $10.76 trillion, marking a 14% year-over-year increase. The firm attracted $80.3 billion in core net new assets, up 31% compared to the prior year, while new brokerage account openings grew 11% year over year, totaling 1.1 million accounts.

The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW)s dividend history is also strong, which makes it a reliable option for investors. The company offers a quarterly dividend of $0.27 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.17%, as of September 24. SCHW has maintained its dividends steadily since 1990.

While we acknowledge the potential of SCHW 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.

EAD NEXT: 12 Best Stocks to Buy Now for Passive Income and 12 Best Retail Dividend Stocks to Buy Now

Disclosure: None.
Charlie Javice was sentenced to 7 years in prison for tricking JPMorgan into paying $175M for her startup.

Javice was convicted of fraud in March for lying that her website, Frank, had 4 million Gen-Z users.

In fact, her student financial aid platform never had more than 300,000 users.

Charlie Javice is going to prison for the better part of a decade.

On Monday, a Manhattan federal judge sentenced Javice to seven years in prison for using wildly exaggerated data to fool JPMorgan Chase into paying $175 million for her startup  far more than the 18 months her lawyers asked for.

Javice's prison sentence will be followed by 3 years of supervised release, resulting in a total 10-year sentence. The judge ordered her to report to prison 60 days after she exhausts her appeals to higher courts.

The former fintech wunderkind  who once graced Forbes' 30 Under 30 list and scored a one-on-one meeting with JPMC's powerful CEO, Jamie Dimon, during the 2021 sale negotiations  must also pay millions in restitution and forfeiture.

US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein ordered Javice to forfeit over $22 million in ill-gotten salary, stock, and bonuses she received for selling the company and working for a year as a managing director before the fraud was uncovered.

Javice must also share with her co-defendant Olivier Amar the burden of paying $287.5 million in restitution  the Frank sale price, plus more than $100 million that JP Morgan Chase was obligated under bank bylaws to pay them in legal fees.

Hellerstein gave some credit to Javice's own emotional courtroom comments earlier in the sentencing hearing, and to the letters submitted by friends and family who spoke to her good character. The judge said Javice's crimes "required a great deal of duplicity," but that she was "a good person who has done good deeds."

"I don't think you will be committing any crimes, and I think you will be devoting your life to service," Hellerstein told Javice in the lower Manhattan courtroom. "But others need to be deterred."

Javice's family members appeared relieved by the sentence. Following the hearing, they shared smiles and embraces  and declined to comment to the press in the hallway.

Javice was convicted in March of conspiracy, wire, and bank fraud for using bogus user-base data to claim Frank  a platform that streamlined the federal financial aid application process, along with offering career and financial advice  had stockpiled the contact information for 4 million users. In fact, Frank never had data for more than 300,000 users.
Chinese automakers reported 1.395 million new energy vehicle (NEV) sales in August 2025, including exports, representing a 27% increase over the same month last year, according to data released by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). Nevertheless, the segment, comprising plug-in-hybrid vehicles and zero-emission vehicles such as battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and limited numbers of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), has seen growth slow significantly in recent months  most notably in the domestic market.

The recent growth slowdown comes despite generous government incentives and heavy discounting by vehicle manufacturers and dealers.

Chinas NEV industry has seen tremendous growth in recent years, with global sales surging by over 35% to 12.9 million units in 2024, including a 7% rise in exports to 1.28 million units - with NEVs accounting to around 41% of total vehicle output in the country. This follows a 38% rise to 9.495 million units in 2023, with NEVs accounting for 32% of total vehicle output.

The segments growth has been driven mainly by dominant players such as BYD and Geely, as well as a large number of NEV startups such as Leapmotor, Li Auto, and Xpeng, which have established significant operations in the last ten years. Mainstream state-owned manufacturers such as SAIC Motor, GAC Group, GWM and Chery are looking to catch up, having launched new NEV brands in the last two years and establishing new partnerships with local technology giants such as Huawei.

BYD, in particular, has seen phenomenal growth in recent years, including a 41% surge in global sales to 4.3 million units in 2024, overtaking SAIC Motor as the countrys largest vehicle manufacturer. More recently, Geelys NEV sales almost doubled to over 1 million units in the first eight months of 2025.

Total NEV sales increased by 37% year-on-year to 9.622 million units in the first eight months of 2025, accounting for over 45% of global deliveries by the countrys automakers, according to the CAAM data. Battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales surged by 46% to 6.154 million units in this period, while plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) sales rose by just 22% to 3.468 million units.

Excluding exports, domestic NEV sales rose by 31% to 8.091 million units, with growth slowing sharply in the last few months following a strong first quarter, as sales in August grew by just 18% to 1.171 million units.

However, separate retail data released by the China Passenger Car Association shows passenger NEV sales rose by just 7.5% to 1.1 million units last month, with BEV sales rising by 17% to 686,000 units while passenger PHEV sales actually declined, by almost 7% to 414,000 units. This indicates a significant level of market saturation in the short-term, despite the availability of generous sales incentives.
Jackson County Executive Frank White's recall has been more fun than we anticipated because most people DON'T WANT TO KNOW any of the deets and are satisfied with the assorted cover stories offered by local media.

We don't want to rock the boat too much because the stakes are pretty low even if we're talking about a decision that will impact HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS worth of taxpayer cash. I guess we use the term "low stakes" inasmuch as the cast of characters ranks about one notch above a school board election in the grand scheme of things . . .

However . . . Let's not spoil the fun . . . Today's offering . . .

CHECK TKC'S SNEAK PREVIEW OF WINNERS & LOSERS AMID THE JACKSON COUNTY EXEC RECALL EXTRAVAGANZA!!!

Per ushe, ourcoverage isn't the least bit comprehensive . . . It's just more honest than most and a good place for voters to start their research aside from some many blogs funded by dark money . . .

Accordingly . . .

We encourage readers to add their own submissions but for now here's a quick peek at who stands to gain/lose amid the outcome of this week's vote . . .

Jackson County Legislator Megan Smith

More than anyone else . . . Megan Smith is putting herself out on a limb for Exec Frank White.

In a scathing editorial, the Legislator called out unions, construction interests, developers and local political organizations.

There's not much that the Exec can offer her in return and so . . . If the recall succeeds, she might not have much of a future in KC politics.

Jackson County Legislature Chairman DaRon McGee

Okay . . .

Everybody knows Mr. McGee is the odds on favorite for new Jackson County Exec, right?

Sadly . . . This fun-fact has been excluded for most local coverage and a hack prog blog feigned shock over rules about the process CLEARLY written into the charter . . . Yes, he can vote for himself, just like anybody else can.

However . . .

If the recall proves successful, already we're getting word that progressive Democratic Party leaders are quickly moving to challenge him with a female candidate who will likely leverage his former controversies.

Jackson County Assessor Candidate Preston Smith

Let's admit our bias: TKC likes Preston!!! We think he'd make a great elected Assessor at the courthouse and he has shared more info about the process than anyone else in the metro.

The downside: If the recall is not successful, this will be a setback for the tax fighter and so many grassroots supporters who have contributed countless hours toward the cause over the years.

Activist Stacy Lake

She nearly beat Exec Frank White in a primary . . . BUT . . . She never followed up with any of the hard work that makes a local political career. We can't blame her, she's a successful lawyer and business woman who might not see the value in so much seemingly pointless chatter that accompanies a life in politics. Ms. Lake claims she's a local political fundraiser but local Democratic Party leaders don't know of any significant donations . . . We respect her public appearances as a gadfly against the current administration and she seems to work social media to her advantage . . . But Stacy Lake is a long shot for the next Exec . . . We wish her luck.

Jackson County Legislator Manny Abarca

More than anybody else, Legislator Abarca has sparred REPEATEDLY with Exec Frank White and outlasting him in office would be an important victory for the often embattled political leader.

Moreover . . .

A defeat of the Exec in the recall might help to confirm Mr. Abarca's assertion that so many attacks against him were politically motivated.

At the very least, a recent "investigation" wouldn't have much incentive to continue without Exec White in charge.

Jackson County Assessment Director Gail McCann Beatty

Basically . . .

She's probably out of a job if the recall wins.

The real test of "change" following the vote will be the length of time she's allowed to remain in office.

Kansas City Royals Owner John Sherman

Allow us a truism . . .

Billionaires are bigger than elections, sorry.

But . . .

Watching the Exec go down in flames will UNDOUBTEDLY make life even easier for Royals owner John Sherman who will stand taller following the political demise of one of the few people in this cowtown who told him NO.

Heavy Constructors Honcho Bridgette Williams

Credit where it's due . . .

If the recall is successful . . . Ms. Williams deserves acknowledgement for skillfully shifting the politics of the effort and funding of the recall away from grassroots leaders and toward big biz & union interests.

She helped to propel a small time movement into a municipal cause . . . Moreover, If the Exec defeats this recall effort, there's not a lot of downside and blame will be shifted back onto tax fighters.

More than any one else in this debacle . . . This is a win/win for Ms. Williams.

Jackson County Exec Chief Of Staff Caleb Clifford

He's one of the most controversial people at the courthouse but most people don't know Caleb Clifford.

TKC has met him once about a decade ago and Caleb seemed like a pretty nice guy with a comprehensive understanding of Missouri politics.

For those who want to learn more . . . Mr. Clifford recently did a great interview with a local community news source that offers more perspective on his support of the Exec.

He'll follow the Exec out if the recall is successful and we'll likely see him again at the state level given the young power player's vast array of connections that aren't exactly understood by his many foes.

KCATA president and CEO Frank White III

Almost forgot . . . The Jackson County Exec's son should probably pack his bags if the recall wins. His selection to the top bus job in town was always controversial but without the political muscle of the Exec's office . . . He might not be able to remain in his job for very long . . . Again, the length of his tenure in the aftermath of the vote will be a good gauge for voters to determine how much has really changed.

Again . . .

Our hope is that this www.TonysKansasCity.com list will help readers & voters understand what's REALLY at stake ahead of this low-turnout recall that will be historic either way.

As always, we welcome feedback or more insight into POTENTIAL winners & losers.

Developing . . .
A preview of this faux-drag-queen week of celebration . . . Check-it:

"Here is what fans should know before seeing this "Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl" on Friday (and Saturday) outside the National World War I Museum and Memorial"

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Chappell Roan is taking over Kansas City. Here's where you can join the 'femininomenon' Kansas City is one of just three cities on the U.S. leg of Chappell Roan's "Visions of Damsels and Other Dangerous Things" tour - and it's something of a homecoming for the Missouri-born pop star. Ahead of this weekend's shows, local businesses are celebrating with parties, special drinks and menus, and a "Pink Pony Express" streetcar.

Going to see Chappell Roan in Kansas City Oct. 3-4? Here's what fans should know What fans should know for Chappell Roan concerts in Kansas City, MO: time, location, parking, entry, tickets, security, weather, theme.

Win Tickets To Chappell Roan This Weekend! The Bridge is giving away tickets to the show of the year - find out how you can attend the Chappell Roan shows this Friday and Saturday in Kansas City!

Developing . . .
As always, with these stories there's gonna be the temptation for politically motivated reactionaries to blame a few minority students.

The reality:

Look around and notice that Gen Z, in general, is a lot less enthusiastic about rules of good behavior. Of course, that's true of youngsters in general . . . But in this social media era. Maybe more so . . .

Check the description . . .

Liberty High Schools dance on Sept. 27 was called off while the event was in progress. There were initial reports of a firearm or gunshots, but this was later determined to be balloons popping.



The Liberty Police Department said it started around 9:40 p.m. when several students began physically fighting. The balloon popping, likely caused by the fight, led to panic/confusion. School security quickly notified police that no shots had been fired.



The incident brought a large police presence to campus out of an abundance of caution.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

KCTV5: Liberty High School cuts homecoming dance short due to student fight: Poor decisions

Developing . . .
There's also another lawsuit underway . . . Here's a peek at an effort that seems to have the best chance of success or AT LEAST hopes to involve voters in the process . . .

Democratic National Committee announced a new investment to help Missourians on the ground obtain the required signatures necessary to put the new map to a statewide vote.



The DNC stated that it will support the Missouri Democratic Party by:



- Hiring organizing staff to run signature-collection efforts statewide.

- Supporting volunteer organizing efforts to collect signatures across the state.

- Deploying a volunteer organizing team of 41,000 volunteers across the country to send texts to Missourians to sign the petition.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. Azerbaijan is showcasing real steps to address climate change, Head of Climate Change and Sustainable Development Services for Central Asia at EY Victor Kovalenko told Trend on the sidelines of the Baku Climate Action Week (BCAW2025).

"Being in Baku, listening to representatives of the government and state institutions, as well as observing the activities of Azerbaijani companies, international participants are convinced: real work on climate change adaptation and mitigation  with tangible financial results  is happening right here in Azerbaijan," the analyst said.

According to him, the main value of the Baku Climate Week lies in the fact that Azerbaijan continues to remain in the spotlight of both the global and regional community.

Kovalenko also drew attention to the key role of business in the climate agenda:

"The state and government should deliver global messages  about the region, the planet, and the country as a whole, but business thinks differently: it needs practical, clear, and understandable examples. Heres a simple case: if a business is told to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, explained by the fact that somewhere the ocean will rise by a couple of meters and flood a country  yes, this is serious on a global scale, but what does that mean for a specific enterprise?" he said.

The analyst emphasized that exactly such connections between global challenges and the day-to-day operations of small companies need to be highlighted at events like this.

"An entrepreneur needs to hear and understand: all these words are directly related to their reality. This is especially important for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Large companies think on a broad scale: they understand that there might be water shortages somewhere, transportation corridors through the Caspian might be disrupted, or there could be issues with crop yields. But small businesses are confined to their niche, their product, and their main goal is survival. Therefore, the key task of such events is to ground the global climate agenda and explain what exactly it means for SMEs," concluded Kovalenko.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 30. The Azerbaijani Army launched a counter-offensive operation, later called 'Iron Fist' in response to Armenian armed forces on September 27, 2020, Trend reports.

The 44-day second Karabakh war brought an end to 30-year occupation of Azerbaijani lands and the restoration of country's territorial integrity.

Trend presents chronicle of Azerbaijan's second Karabakh war for September 30, 2020:

- President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva met with wounded soldiers.

- President of the European Council Charles Michel made a phone call to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

- The Armenian armed forces used the Tochka-U high-precision tactical ballistic missile system. However, due to the unsuitability and poor quality of the Armenian troops' military equipment, three of the fired missiles didn't explode.

- The Azerbaijani Army disabled one S-300 anti-aircraft missile system of the Armenian armed forces during the fighting in the Shushakand village of the Khojaly district.

- The Armenian armed positions of the 1st Battalion of the 5th Motorized Rifle Regiment Tartar district's Hasangaya settlement and the 1st Battalion of the 6th Motorized Rifle Regiment stationed in the Talish direction were destroyed. The enemy's military equipment in the Jabrayil direction of the front was destroyed. The Azerbaijani Army units subjected the 4th battalion of the Armenian armed forces in the Fuzuli direction, to heavy artillery fire. The command post of the 41st separate regiment of the 18th motorized rifle division was also fired upon. The troop control was completely broken.

- The personnel of the 2nd Battalion of the seventh Mountain Rifle Regiment of the 10th Mountain Rifle Division of the 1st Combined Arms Army of Armenia in Tonashen, suffered big losses and left their defensive positions without permission. A blow was struck at the headquarters of the 5th Mountain Rifle Regiment in the Aghdere settlement of the division.

- The Azerbaijani Army conducted operations to destroy Armenian manpower and military equipment, surrounded in the Aghdere and Tartar directions, as well as continued the cleansing of the territory. Suffering significant losses in manpower and military equipment, the enemy couldn't cope with the evacuation of the dead and wounded.

- Some 46 civilians have been injured, and 14 have been killed as a consequence of heavy artillery shelling of Azerbaijani densely populated areas.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. The Azerbaijani Army launched a counter-offensive operation, later called the "Iron Fist", on September 27, 2020, in response to the large-scale provocation of the Armenian armed forces along the frontline.

The 44-day second Karabakh war ended with the liberation of Azerbaijans territories from nearly 30-year Armenian occupation and the restoration of territorial integrity.

First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva has shared a post on her official Instagram page.

"The Azerbaijani state has never laid claim to anyone elses lands, has never committed crimes against humanity. The Azerbaijani Army has never set foot on the lands of another state, it defends and fights for its native land.

Yet another armed provocation of Armenia has been rebuffed! Defending the Motherland, the Azerbaijani Army is conducting a successful counter-offensive operation and liberating the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

I express my gratitude to all people, organizations and states that have expressed their principled and fair position in support of the Azerbaijani state and people. First of all, I express my deep gratitude to the brotherly people of Turkiye and personally to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Their solidarity and support evoke a sense of pride in every Azerbaijani today.

I pray for the life and health of every Azerbaijani soldier and officer!

We, the Azerbaijanis, are united in our thoughts, actions and prayers more than ever today! May the Great Allah protect the Azerbaijani people in their sacred struggle!

May the Almighty grant every Azerbaijani the chance to kiss the sacred Karabakh soil!

May Allah rest the souls of our martyrs in peace!" the post said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. The Azerbaijani Army launched a counter-offensive operation, later called the "Iron Fist", on September 27, 2020, in response to the large-scale provocation of the Armenian armed forces along the frontline.

The 44-day second Karabakh war ended with the liberation of Azerbaijans territories from nearly 30-year Armenian occupation and the restoration of territorial integrity.

On September 29, the Rossiya-1 TV channel broadcast the "60 minutes" program dedicated to the latest events on the Azerbaijani-Armenian line of contact.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan responded to questions from the hosts on the program.

The hosts first asked questions of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

Host: Mr. President, thank you for agreeing to this interview. What is happening at the front right now? Information about the use of aviation is already coming in.

President Ilham Aliyev: The situation at the front is tense. As a result of the Armenian military provocation, which began on the morning of 27 September, Azerbaijani settlements and our combat positions were subjected to massive artillery fire. As a result of this aggression, 11 Azerbaijani civilians, including two children, were killed. There are also casualties among the military. We were forced to give an adequate response to the aggressor and thus protect our people and our land. So fierce battles have been going on for three days now, as a result of which the Azerbaijani Army has liberated a number of settlements from occupation and also seized strategic heights in different directions. Today the situation is such that active hostilities are underway.

Host: Ilham Heydarovich, please clarify to us the role of Turkey. Ankara has officially, through its President and leaders of the Foreign Ministry, announced that it will help you on the battlefield.

President Ilham Aliyev: I believe that Turkey is playing a stabilizing role in the region. Turkey is our brotherly country and our ally. From the very first hour the world community learned that Armenia attacked Azerbaijan, Turkey spoke out unequivocally at the level of the head of state and other leaders in support of Azerbaijan, in support of international law. Armenia has grossly violated international law by occupying the territory of Azerbaijan for about 30 years. So the role of Turkey consists in that, nothing else. Turkey provides us with moral support, and we are grateful to the Turkish leadership, the President and the Turkish people for their solidarity and support. Turkey does not participate in this conflict in any other capacity. All the rumors that Turkey is participating as a party to the conflict being circulated by the Armenian side are of provocative nature. As they say now, this is fake news. There is no evidence of Turkey's involvement in the conflict and neither is that necessary. The Azerbaijani Army is sufficiently prepared to protect its people and territory.

Host: Ilham Heydarovich, so you do not confirm, moreover, you refute the information that Turkish Air Force shot down a plane of the Armenian Air Force literally an hour ago. It was about the F-16 and Su-25.

President Ilham Aliyev: We do not have this information. Just recently, I was informed that such news appeared in the information space. It is not confirmed by anything. The F-16 aircraft of the Turkish Air Force do not participate in hostilities in any way. You know, taking into account modern technologies, it is very difficult to conceal anything today, because there are objective forms of observation. There are satellite observations, and therefore it is very easy to verify that this is another provocation. We understand the goal of the Armenian side  by creating such false news, they first want to belittle the combat capability of the Azerbaijani Army, which is now fulfilling the task of restoring its territorial integrity with dignity, and also to create the impression that the conflict is growing, that third countries are joining it. They are trying to attract as many countries as possible in order to justify their provocation. Therefore, I declare to you with full responsibility: Turkey is not a party to the conflict, does not participate in it in any way, and there is no need for this.

Host: Ilham Heydarovich, is your country ready to move towards the Kazan formula, within the framework of which Armenia must liberate several districts, or any other formula? What can be done in principle now? How can the situation be reversed if the conflict in Karabakh and Karabakh proper has been burning or at least smoldering for as many as 30 years? What to do?

President Ilham Aliyev: You know, Azerbaijan has always shown constructiveness on the negotiation track. And the co-chairs of the Minsk Group, who are responsible for the mediation mission, can confirm this. In particular, over the past two years, we have repeatedly stated, both myself and other officials, that we are committed to the principles of settlement that have been developed over the years and which the Minsk Group and its co-chairs consider the basis for the negotiating process. Moreover, we have stated repeatedly in the past two years and before that we are committed to the format of the negotiations. Negotiations are underway between Armenia and Azerbaijan. There are only two sides to the conflict. Sometimes, when talking about the conflict, there is a mention of all sides. This is an incorrect definition. Not all sides. There are only two sides  Armenia and Azerbaijan. But what has been happening in recent years, after the Soros coup which was carried out by the current government in Armenia? The Armenian prime minister publicly declares that Karabakh is Armenia, full stop. In this case, what kind of negotiations can we talk about? After all, the essence of the principles developed by the OSCE Minsk Group is that the territories around the former Nagorno-Karabakh autonomous region should be transferred to Azerbaijan. And if he says that Karabakh is Armenia and, in addition, that we have to negotiate with the so-called puppet regime of Nagorno-Karabakh, thereby trying to undermine the format of negotiations that has already existed for 20 years, it means that Armenia deliberately disrupts the negotiations and puts forward unacceptable demands. When the Minsk Group recently began to speak more actively about who is still an obstacle to the settlement, they resorted to provocations like the one on 27 September. Before that, on 12 July, our positions at the state border were attacked. After that, on 23 August, when an Armenian sabotage group was captured, its leader was captured on the line of contact. Everything is being done to disrupt the negotiations, then accuse Azerbaijan, then involve third parties and thereby disrupt the negotiations. Because the Armenian side wants to maintain the status quo. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group represented by the presidents of Russia, France and the United States have repeatedly made statements that the status quo is unacceptable. And this means that the territories under occupation must be returned to Azerbaijan. We are committed to negotiations, but we see completely opposite actions from the Armenian side.

Host: Please tell us, Mr. President, what happened on Sunday, what provoked such a large-scale and bloody confrontation?

President Ilham Aliyev: You know, Armenia had been moving towards this Sunday, towards what happened on Sunday for several months. If you trace the chronology of their actions and statements, you will clearly see that they deliberately went for this provocation. Not so long ago, speaking at the UN General Assembly, I openly said that Armenia was preparing for war and it must be stopped. In July, they launched an armed attack on our settlements at the state border. This is far from the conflict zone. One civilian and several servicemen were killed then. The clashes lasted four days, and since we did not have and do not have any military targets on the territory of Armenia, as soon as the Armenian armed forces were driven back from our territory, the fire was ceased by mutual agreement. Then, as I said, a sabotage group infiltrated our territory and was neutralized. Then the Armenian side publicly and defiantly announced the resettlement of Armenians from Lebanon to the occupied territories and to our ancient Azerbaijani city of Shusha, which is a war crime. This is a violation of the Geneva Convention. This is done demonstratively. Prior to that, they held the so-called swearing-in ceremony for the so-called leader of the criminal Nagorno-Karabakh regime in Shusha, an ancient pearl of Azerbaijani culture. All these are deliberate provocations against us, attempts to drag us into conflict and provoke retaliatory actions. We showed restraint, constructiveness and common sense, but when they failed, they made this attempt. Moreover, another reason is the internal political crisis that exists in Armenia. After all, there is a Soros regime in Armenia today. The coup that failed in Belarus was successful in Yerevan two years ago. Today the Armenian leader in the person of Pashinyan is Soros' henchman, a man who made a lot of promises and who cannot fulfill them, and the country is in crisis.

So he needed an external factor, some kind of a mess, so to speak, in order to divert the attention of the population, which he succeeded in doing. Moreover, literally two days before they attacked us, the leader of the main opposition party in Armenia was arrested again. So, the dictatorial and despotic regime of Pashinyan eliminated the entire opposition in his country and is now demonstrating aggression against the Azerbaijani people again.

Host: Your position is clear. Many thanks! Can you please say quite briefly: yes or no. Are there fighters from Syria on the front right now?

President Ilham Aliyev: No! This is more fake news. There are no fighters from Syria. There is no evidence, no proof. This has been introduced by Armenian propaganda and circulates through different websites and different media. There is no need for this. Azerbaijan has a trained army and a very large mobilization reserve. Just yesterday, I announced partial mobilization, we are calling tens of thousands of reservists under arms, and with a population of 10 million versus 2 million in Armenia we have no need for human resources. Therefore, we are able to stand up for ourselves and punish the aggressor so that he doesnt venture even to look in our direction.

Host: Thank you very much! Ilham Aliyev was on the line with us from Baku. Peace to you. Good bye!

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you! Good bye!

Host: Now we are being joined by Yerevan. The Armenian leader, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is on the line. Nikol Vovayevich, hello. First of all, we would like to ask you to comment on what is happening right now. There is some very disturbing news coming in.

Nikol Pashinyan: This morning the news is that Azerbaijan bombed villages directly on the territory of the Republic of Armenia. And before that, on 27 September, the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan launched a full-scale military aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh. For three days, they have been bombing the settlements of Nagorno-Karabakh using artillery and multiple launch rocket systems. Unfortunately, we have casualties not only among the military, but also among the civilian population. A very important nuance is that Turkey is actually involved in this process. According to our reliable information, military instructors and high-ranking military personnel are now in the command posts of Azerbaijan and in some places they even direct military operations. Another very important nuance  there have already been many publications in international media outlets that Turkey is recruiting mercenaries in Syria and transporting them to Azerbaijan to participate in the war against Nagorno-Karabakh and the Republic of Armenia. By the way, there is information that right in Azerbaijani settlements there were some clashes between these mercenaries and local residents, because these mercenaries are trying to impose Sharia law in these villages. They go into shops and demand that these shops stop selling alcoholic products, etc.

Host: Mr. Pashinyan, the news has just come in that a Turkish F-16 shot down a Su-25 of the Armenian Air Force. Moreover, the news came in with reference to the Armenian Ministry of Defense. The pilot died. Are you aware of this? What can this mean if planes of Armenia and Turkey are already colliding in the sky?

Nikol Pashinyan: This is a fact that has already taken place and is yet another proof of what I was talking about. You know, it is obvious that both Armenia and the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh are under the direct threat of Turkey now. Turkey, according to our information, is looking for a reason for wider involvement in this conflict. According to our information, they are looking for an excuse to bring their troops to Nakhchivan. It is an Azerbaijani enclave bordering Turkey, Armenia and Iran. Although we have information here that some units of the Turkish army are already present there. In general, this is no secret. Turkish troops have already been in Azerbaijan since August. They began joint military exercises, and this war began as a continuation of these military exercises.

Host: Nikolay Vovayevich, many experts these days are formulating and explaining everything that is now happening in Nagorno-Karabakh quite rigidly. The word war is floating around. To what extent is it correct and appropriate to use this word and is it possible to do at least something in order to stop the bloodshed and stop the fire?

Nikol Pashinyan: Well, of course, this is the correct wording. Because there is a war going on. There is a lot of destruction, casualties and a huge number of military personnel involved, and this is a very important nuance for us. As you know, at the beginning of the 20th century, the first genocide of the 20th century took place. This happened in the Ottoman Empire, and the Armenian people fell victim to that genocide. Therefore, we all perceive this as an existential threat to our people. In fact, we perceive it as a war that was declared to the Armenian people. Our people are now simply forced to exercise their right to self-defense. What can we do? The international community must resolutely condemn the aggressive actions and aggression of Azerbaijan, condemn the actions of Turkey, demand that Turkey withdraw from this region altogether, because Turkey's military presence in the South Caucasus does not promise anything good. This can lead to further escalation and an increase in the scale of this military action, this war. The international community must take specific steps to force Turkey to withdraw from the South Caucasus and force Azerbaijan to stop aggression and aggressive actions, military operations.

Host: Prime Minister, we will not detain you any longer. We know that you need to run to a meeting with the military. A very short question: what negotiation formats can work now? Or have all the previous agreements already been thrown into the past  relatively speaking, the Kazan format, according to which you must liberate several districts? Have all these agreements been erased or is it still possible to move along them?

Nikol Pashinyan: You know, as far as the format of negotiations is concerned, we believe that the negotiations should continue where they were started  with the co-chairmanship of the OSCE Minsk Group. As for specific negotiations, negotiations need to have an appropriate atmosphere. It is very difficult to talk about negotiations, especially about their content, when military action is taking place. First of all, violence must be stopped, and it must be stated. Azerbaijan must accept the formula that there is no military solution for the Nagorno-Karabakh problem. After all, this war did not start from scratch. For a long time, the Azerbaijani government has been developing a rhetoric of hatred against Armenians and has been threatening for a long time, contrary to international appeals, that it is going to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh issue by military means. I hope that at least these events and the situation we now have will convince Azerbaijan that there is no military solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Because the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan have failed to fulfill their task. I think the military-political leadership could not achieve any success in the military sense at the front. That is, they could not resolve their problem. I hope this will convince Azerbaijan that there is no military solution to this conflict. There is only a peaceful and negotiated solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and any solution must be acceptable not only to Azerbaijan, but also to Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. After all, I want to state that when I became prime minister, I proposed and continued to offer a specific formula for resolving this conflict that any solution should be acceptable to Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan. The names of the countries doesnt matter. I mean that this solution should be equally acceptable. Unfortunately, the government of Azerbaijan, the President of Azerbaijan want to reach a solution that will be acceptable only to Azerbaijan. That is impossible. A compromise is needed, and an atmosphere is needed for a compromise, and to do that Azerbaijan must immediately stop its aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia because Azerbaijan started it. By the way, and it was a pre-planned operation, and there is no doubt that this operation was planned during the military exercises in conjunction with the Turkish armed forces. Thank you.

Host: Thank you very much! Let's proceed from the fact that the option should be really acceptable both for Armenia and, of course, for Azerbaijan. There is no military solution to this conflict. Only politics and the diplomatic path. Thank you!

X X X

Political and military experts then joined the discussions.

Igor Korotchenko, Editor-in-Chief of the "Natsionalnaya oborona" magazine:

- I listened to the speeches of the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia very attentively. Undoubtedly, it was an absolutely clear, logical, precise and consistent speech by Ilham Aliyev. This is the MGIMO school. MGIMO trains great personnel! Now to the essence of what has been said. President Ilham Aliyev is right when he said absolutely correctly that with the current level of development of intelligence technologies  satellite, electronic, undercover  it is impossible to conceal the fact that if Turkish fighters were really deployed to the territory of Azerbaijan, this would be exposed quite easily by any country that has satellite intelligence... Today the Nagorno-Karabakh region is closely monitored by all the leading countries of the world. I would like to draw the attention of my colleagues to the following. We are all adherents of international law. From the point of view of the norms of international law, military action today is taking place on the territory of Azerbaijan, between the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan and Armenian military formations.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. A conference of think tanks from member states of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) was held in Baku, Trend reports.

The conference, entitled Organization of Turkic States as a Regional Actor in Global Uncertainty, was held under the auspices of the Center for Analysis of International Relations.

Participants discussed the role of the OTS in the modern system of international relations, the strategic challenges it faces, and new opportunities for cooperation among member countries. The event served as a platform for intellectual exchange with the aim of strengthening the Organization's position at the regional and global levels.

Panel sessions during the conference covered topics such as: Contributions of the OTS to World Peace and Stability in an Era of Political-Security Uncertainty; Contributions of the OTS to the World Economy, Trade, and Transportation in a Period of Economic Instability; The OTS Policy on Culture, Science, and Parliamentarism in Times of Global Uncertainty.

Addressing the participants of the event, Farid Shafiyev, Chairman of the Board of the Center for Analysis of International Relations, noted that one of the main factors making cooperation between Turkic states necessary is the growing threats and risks in the world.

"It is practically impossible to face these challenges alone. That is why we are seeing an increase in the number of alliances and formats for cooperation between states. To date, Azerbaijan has concluded alliance agreements or declarations with four countries, three of which are Turkic states. Strengthening our cooperation allows us to develop a more sustainable position in the face of existing risks and threats," he said.

Director of the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Zhandos Shaimardanov emphasized the importance of energy and digital initiatives within the framework of the OTS, including the project of a green energy corridor across the Black Sea and an underwater fiber-optic line between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. Together, they could form a Caspian-Black Sea double corridor combining electricity and data supplies.

Shared infrastructure creates shared interests. When states are interdependent in energy and digital connectivity, they develop a habit of cooperation, which builds trust and reduces vulnerability, he said.

Further, OTS Deputy Secretary General Omer Kocaman emphasized the importance of the twelfth OTS summit on Regional Peace and Security, which will be held on October 6-7 in Gabala. He stressed that Azerbaijan plays a bridging role in the Turkic world, especially in the areas of trade, transport, and connectivity, and expressed confidence that the discussions at the current conference will contribute to the preparation of the upcoming summit.

In turn, Turhan Dilmac, head of the Strategic Research Center (SAM) at the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, noted that the OTS should be viewed not as a third bloc opposing other countries, but as a source of stability in the region and beyond. Among the areas where the OTS can contribute to global stability, Dilmac highlighted dialogue and mediation, the fight against terrorism and extremism, the development of connectivity and economic sustainability, humanitarian solidarity, cultural diplomacy, and youth engagement.

Vusala Jafarova, head of the Center for Research on the Turkic World at the Center for Economic Reform and Communication Analysis, added that the OTS could serve as an effective platform for the development of a green energy corridor involving the countries of Central Asia.

Energy security is a fundamental part of national and regional stability. Without diplomacy, it is impossible to create effective energy corridors and ensure energy exports, the expert stressed.
Apple supplier BOE Technology Group, the world's largest display maker, has established a new subsidiary to lead its foray into robotics and artificial intelligence software.

Launched on Thursday, Beijing BOE Robot has a registered capital of 200 million yuan (US$28 million), according to corporate data provider Qichacha.

The subsidiary was described as a developer of industrial robots and AI software, joining other major manufacturers that are pursuing robotics-related development projects.

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.

BOE's shares in Shenzhen gained 0.49 per cent to close at 4.12 yuan on Monday.

The company's push into robotics reflects China's position as the world's largest market for industrial robots last year.

According to a report released last week by the International Federation of Robotics, China accounted for 54 per cent of global industrial robot deployments in 2024.

The report said China installed 295,000 industrial robots last year - the highest annual total on record - with domestic firms selling more in their home country than foreign suppliers for the first time.

A visitor looks at an intelligent cleaning robot on display at the 2025 China International Fair for Trade in Services in Beijing on September 12, 2025. Photo: Xinhua alt=A visitor looks at an intelligent cleaning robot on display at the 2025 China International Fair for Trade in Services in Beijing on September 12, 2025. Photo: Xinhua>

"As robotics in China is opening up new markets, there is no indication that robot demand in China will decrease," the report said. "There is still a lot of potential in Chinese manufacturing for 10 per cent growth on average each year until 2028."

A Morgan Stanley report published in June projected China's robotics market to grow at an annual rate of 23 per cent to US$108 billion by 2028 from US$47 billion in 2024, solidifying the country's dominant position in the fast-developing sector.

Founded in 1993, Beijing-based BOE's biggest customers include Apple and Huawei Technologies. The company had almost 100,000 employees as of last year.

Fellow Apple supplier Foxconn Technology Group in January signed a "comprehensive long-term partnership" with UBTech Robotics to deploy its robots in its factories.

Chinese fintech giant Ant Group, meanwhile, set up late last year an entity called Shanghai Mayi Lingbo Technology, with 100 million yuan in registered capital, to focus on the research and development of embodied intelligence (EI) technology and products. Ant is an affiliate of Alibaba Group Holding, owner of the Post.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. The world is currently going through a period of political uncertainty, largely because many international organizations are failing to carry out their functions effectively, said Farid Shafiyev, Chairman of the Board of the Center of Analysis of International Relations, Trend reports.

Shafiyev made the remark as he addressed a conference titled "Organization of Turkic States as a regional actor during global uncertainty", which brought together representatives of think tanks from OTS member states.

"Today, we either need serious reforms in existing organizations at both regional and global levels, or the establishment of new institutions. Simply put, there is a gap in the functionality of organizations, and the OTS has the potential to fill this void.

One of the main drivers of closer cooperation among the Turkic states is the growing number of global threats and risks. It is almost impossible to counter these challenges alone. That is why we are seeing an increase in alliances and new formats of cooperation among states. At present, Azerbaijan has treaties or declarations of alliance with four countries, three of which are Turkic states. Strengthening this cooperation allows us to adopt a more resilient position against the risks and threats we face," Shafiyev said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. The 12th summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), titled Regional Peace and Security, will be held in Azerbaijan's Gabala on October 6-7, said Omer Kocaman, Deputy Secretary-General of OTS, Trend reports.

Speaking at a conference of think tanks from OTS member countries in Baku, Kocaman pointed out that with the world turning on a dime and new hurdles popping up, it's high time for Turkic states to band together and join forces.

The fraternal relations between Turkic countries, rooted in shared history, language, culture, and traditions, carry significant strategic potential, he said.

He recalled that the agreement establishing OTS was signed in Nakhchivan and noted Azerbaijans special role in strengthening coordination within the organization.

The Turkic world possesses vast geography, substantial military potential, rich resources, transport corridors, and a young, growing population. We must make joint efforts to ensure that OTS becomes a key actor and center of influence on the global stage, the official added.

Highlighting Azerbaijans role as a bridge within the Turkic world, particularly in trade, transport, and connectivity, he expressed confidence that discussions at the current conference will contribute to the preparations for the upcoming summit.

The Organization of Turkic States (OTS), previously known as the Turkic Council or the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States, is an intergovernmental entity that includes all but one of the internationally recognized Turkic sovereign nations. The primary objective is to foster extensive collaboration among the Turkic nations. The General Secretariat of OTS is situated in Istanbul, Turkiye.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. The Organization of Turkic States (OTS) continues its process of institutionalization and development, but faces external attempts at disinformation and pressure on its agenda, Farid Shafiyev, Chairman of the Center of Analysis of International Relations (C4IR), told reporters, Trend reports.

Speaking on the sidelines of a conference of think tanks from OTS member states in Baku, Shafiyev noted that coordinated campaigns have recently emerged aimed at complicating the development of the OTS, including during international summits. Some of these campaigns are related to Azerbaijan and events in the Middle East.

Previously, such campaigns were mostly focused on the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan; now they are expanding to other regions, Shafiyev said.

He emphasized that the high likelihood of disinformation being used against the Turkic community requires prior preparation and the development of response strategies. Conferences like this provide experts with the opportunity to exchange views and jointly develop measures to protect the interests of OTS countries.

The chairman also noted that domestic policies within Turkic states must be carefully aligned with the goals of strengthening cooperation among member countries.

Previously, such campaigns were mostly focused on the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan; now they are expanding to other regions, Shafiyev said.

He emphasized that the high likelihood of disinformation being used against the Turkic community requires prior preparation and the development of response strategies. Conferences like this provide experts with the opportunity to exchange views and jointly develop measures to protect the interests of OTS countries.

Shafiyev also noted that domestic policies within Turkic states must be carefully aligned with the goals of strengthening cooperation among member countries.
Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. Rafig Mammadhasanov has been awarded the Order of Labor, Second Class, Trend reports.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on this matter.

Rafig Mammadhasanov was awarded this order for his many years of fruitful work in the social and political life of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov, and the newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Yermek Kosherbayev, held a telephone conversation on September 29, 2025, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani MFA.

Bayramov congratulated Kosherbayev on his appointment and wished him success in his new role. The ministers expressed satisfaction with the current level of strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan and highlighted that high-level contacts and visits continue to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

The sides reaffirmed their commitment to expanding multifaceted collaboration and noted the importance of deepening ties within regional and international organizations. They also discussed preparations for the upcoming Summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in Gabala this October.

Minister Kosherbayev expressed his gratitude for the congratulations and emphasized confidence that relations between the two countries will continue to grow across multiple sectors.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to Xi Jinping, President of the Peoples Republic of China, Trend reports.

"Dear Mr. President,

It is on the occasion of the National Holiday of the Peoples Republic of China that on my behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I offer my cordial congratulations and best wishes to you, and through you, the friendly people of China.

Under your leadership, China has achieved remarkable success in the economy, industry, defense, high technology, innovation, science, and other fields, establishing itself among the worlds most advanced nations and becoming a power center with a decisive influence on global affairs. During my two visits to your friendly country this year, I was deeply impressed by the large-scale development, tremendous progress, and outstanding achievements realized under your resolute guidance.

Developing relations with the Peoples Republic of China is one of the priority directions of Azerbaijans foreign policy. I am pleased to note that in recent times, Azerbaijan-China ties have entered a new stage. The active dialogue between us, the sincerity and mutual trust that characterize our meetings, and the intensity of our contacts all attest to the high level and strong dynamism of Azerbaijan-China relations. The documents signed during my state visit to China in April, particularly the Joint Statement on the Establishment of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Peoples Republic of China, have elevated our bilateral relations to a new level and reinforced the strategic nature of our interstate ties.

It is gratifying to see that today the relations between Azerbaijan and China, built on mutual trust, respect, and support, are developing within the framework of a comprehensive strategic partnership. We are pleased to see that our cooperation in political, economic and trade, industrial, energy, transport and communications, investment, agricultural, humanitarian, and other spheres is expanding steadily and being enriched with new substance. The successful implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, particularly the growth in shipments via its important component, the Middle Corridor, is highly commendable. At the same time, I believe that the entry into force of the visa-free travel agreement will provide a strong impetus for the development of people-to-people contacts and tourism, as well as for the deepening of economic, humanitarian, and cultural ties.

Dear Mr. President,

I am confident that by seizing the existing opportunities in the interest of the well-being of our peoples, who share a deep mutual affinity, our joint efforts will further strengthen the traditional friendship between Azerbaijan and China and deepen our comprehensive strategic partnership.

On this joyful day, I once again extend my heartfelt congratulations to you, wishing you robust health, happiness, and continued success in your endeavors, and I wish the friendly people of China everlasting peace, prosperity, and abundance," the letter reads.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. A phone conversation took place between Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and his former Kazakh counterpart today, Murat Nurtleu, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Trend.

Bayramov recalled with satisfaction the efforts made by Nurtleu during his tenure as foreign minister of the friendly and fraternal Kazakhstan in expanding bilateral and multilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, and thanked him for his contribution to the development of relations between the two countries.

The Azerbaijani minister wished Nurtleu success in his future responsible positions and activities.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament Sahiba Gafarova met with a delegation led by Chairman of the Human Rights and Equality Institution of Turkiye, Fahrettin Altun, who is on a visit to Azerbaijan, a source in the parliament told Trend.

The speaker congratulated Fahrettin Altun on his appointment to the position and wished him success in his new post.

The meeting noted that the close relations between Azerbaijan and Turkiye are based on the common history, language, religion, and national-moral values of our peoples, that the two countries, guided by the motto of National Leader Heydar Aliyev  "One nation, two states"  have always stood by each other.

Moreover, the meeting pointed out that today, thanks to the mutual respect and trust between the heads of state, these intergovernmental relations have reached the level of a strategic alliance.

During the conversation, Gafarova underlined the strong ties between the Azerbaijani Parliament and the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye, and that the parliaments of the two countries cooperate successfully both bilaterally and within the framework of international parliamentary organizations.

The meeting also highlighted the close cooperation between the Ombudsperson and the Azerbaijani Parliament.

Besides, the fruitful relationship between the Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsperson) of Azerbaijan and the Human Rights and Equality Institution was also highly appreciated.

Fahrettin Altun expressed satisfaction with Azerbaijans recent achievements, particularly the restoration of its territorial integrity and sovereignty. He noted that the prevailing double standards in todays world encourage stronger international cooperation and increased joint efforts to counter them.

The importance of international cooperation in the field of human rights was emphasized during the meeting, and the crucial role of legislative bodies in this area was also highlighted.



Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. The Ganja Memorial Complex was designed on one of the territories that was subjected to missile strikes by the Armenian armed forces in October 2020 during the 44-day Second Karabakh War, Ramil Jahangirov, head of the department at the State Committee for Urban Development and Architecture, told media, Trend's regional correspondent reports.

He stated that the foundation of the complex, laid by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, in January 2022.

"The complex spans four hectares, and the main central element is the museum building. The monument, distinguished by its unique architectural solution, its spiral form, symbolizes a crater - rocket trail in the ground. In the open part of the complex, the remains of destroyed buildings have been preserved in the form of a special installation.

The museum comprises sections on The Early 20th Century, Deportation and Forced Displacement, Genocide and Massacres, Ceasefire and the Patriotic War Period, Missing Persons, Mass Graves, and Mine Terror, and Toward a Bright Future.

Exhibits introduce visitors to the tragedies of the early 20th century, including the March 1918 genocide, and reflect the deportation of Azerbaijanis from Western Azerbaijan between 1948 and 1953. An interactive section allows exploration of archival materials, historical documents, and examples of destroyed cultural heritage.

Other sections highlight crimes of ethnic cleansing from 1987 through 1994, as well as genocides and systematic massacres against civilians. A separate section documents the deliberate targeting of civilians during the modern period. The final part of the museum is dedicated to the resilience and the will of the Azerbaijani people to achieve victory," he added.

Meanwhile, Ganja, located 80 kilometers from the frontline, was repeatedly targeted by the Armenian armed forces with Tochka-U, Smerch, SCUD, and other missile systems on October 4, 5, 8, 11, and 17, 2020. As a result of these attacks, 26 civilians, including six children, were killed, and 142 civilians were wounded.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. Developing relations with the Peoples Republic of China is one of the priority directions of Azerbaijans foreign policy. I am pleased to note that in recent times, Azerbaijan-China ties have entered a new stage. The active dialogue between us, the sincerity and mutual trust that characterize our meetings, and the intensity of our contacts all attest to the high level and strong dynamism of Azerbaijan-China relations, said President Ilham Aliyev as he sent a congratulatory letter to President Xi Jinping on the occasion of the National Holiday of the Peoples Republic of China, Trend reports.

The documents signed during my state visit to China in April, particularly the Joint Statement on the Establishment of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Peoples Republic of China, have elevated our bilateral relations to a new level and reinforced the strategic nature of our interstate ties, the head of state noted.

It is gratifying to see that today the relations between Azerbaijan and China, built on mutual trust, respect, and support, are developing within the framework of a comprehensive strategic partnership, President Ilham Aliyev emphasized.
December arabica coffee (KCZ25) on Monday closed down -5.85 (-1.55%), and November ICE robusta coffee (RMX25) closed down -15 (-0.36%).

Coffee prices settled lower on Monday due to above-average rainfall in Brazil, which is expected to improve crop conditions and boost coffee yields. Somar Meteorologia reported today that Brazil's largest arabica coffee-growing area, Minas Gerais, received 25.9 mm of rain during the week ended September 27, or 104% of the historical average. The month of September is the critical flowering period for Brazil's coffee trees.

More News from Barchart

Earlier this month, Dec arabica coffee posted a contract high and nearest-futures (U25) arabica posted a 7.5-month high, while robusta climbed to a 1-month high. Coffee prices rose due to a lack of rain in Brazil's coffee-growing regions ahead of the critical flowering period for coffee trees.

The 50% tariffs imposed on US imports from Brazil have led to a sharp drawdown in ICE coffee inventories, a bullish factor for coffee prices. ICE-monitored arabica inventories fell to a 1.5-year low of 571,754 bags on Monday. ICE robusta coffee inventories fell to a 2-month low of 6,464 lots on September 19. American buyers are voiding new contracts for purchases of Brazilian coffee beans due to the 50% tariffs imposed on US imports from Brazil, thereby tightening US supplies, as about a third of America's unroasted coffee comes from Brazil.

Coffee prices also garnered support after the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on September 16 increased the likelihood of a La Nina weather system in the southern hemisphere from October to December to 71%, which could bring excessive dry weather to Brazil and harm the 2026/27 coffee crop. Brazil is the world's largest producer of arabica coffee.

Coffee prices found support after Conab, Brazil's crop forecasting agency, cut its Brazil 2025 arabica coffee crop estimate on September 4 by -4.9% to 35.2 million bags from a May forecast of 37.0 million bags. Conab also reduced its total Brazil 2025 coffee production estimate by 0.9% to 55.2 million bags, from a May estimate of 55.7 million bags.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. The signing of the August 8 agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia at the White House has ushered in a new era for the South Caucasus, and the US remains committed to supporting both countries in building a lasting and sustainable peace, US Charge dAffaires in Azerbaijan, Amy Carlon said on the sidelines of the annual gala evening for alumni of US universities, Trend reports.

"Tonight, we honor outstanding alumni who are making meaningful contributions to Azerbaijans development in education, the economy, innovation, sports, the arts, and many other fields," Carlon noted.

She emphasized that, ultimately, peace and sustainable development will not depend solely on cooperation between governments.

"All of this will be built on even stronger people-to-people ties - between Americans and Azerbaijanis. We are counting on each of you to help make this possible and unlock the tremendous potential of the South Caucasus in trade, transit, and energy," the diplomat added.

On August 8, 2025, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, facilitated by the mediation of United States President Donald Trump, initialed a strategic accord and executed a joint declaration underscoring the imperative to perpetuate endeavors aimed at the formalization and ultimate ratification of the agreement.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. An open-air photo exhibition dedicated to mine victims in Azerbaijan was held at Karlsplatz, the central square in Munich, Germany, Trend reports.

The exhibition opened as part of the "Culmination of Danger" project, implemented by the Gilavar Photo Club public association with the support of the Agency for State Support to Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) of Azerbaijan.

The NGO's partner in the project in Germany was the Cultural Center of Azerbaijanis in Munich.

The exhibition featured over 20 photographs, stories, and statistics on mine victims. Each photograph reflected not just an individual case but a nationwide humanitarian tragedy.

Munich residents obtained additional information about the mine victims using QR codes embedded in the photographs.

Messages such as "I lost a leg, but I didn't lose hope!", "I was a doctor, saving mine victims, but I stepped on a mine myself", "At 11, I mistook a mine for a toy  it robbed me of my childhood", and "I stepped on an anti-tank mine. Having never known the joys of youth, I know what it means to be a young man who lost both legs" conveyed the tragic experiences of those affected.

The exhibition visitors also left messages on a special board, expressing their sincere wishes and words of support for the mine victims.

Chairman of the Gilavar Photo Club Public Association Rashad Mehdiyev said that in 2021, he stepped on an anti-tank mine planted by the Armenian side near Susuzlug village in the Kalbajar district.

He miraculously survived, but three of his colleagues  cameraman Siraj Abishov, journalist Maharram Ibrahimov, and local government employee Arif Aliyev - were killed, and four others were injured to varying degrees.

The exhibition noted that, as a result of mine terror perpetrated by Armenia, over 3,400 Azerbaijanis have fallen victim to mines to date.

Of these, 409 people were injured by mines and unexploded ordnance from 2020 through 2025.

Over the past five years, mines have claimed the lives of 71 Azerbaijanis.

Despite Armenia handing over some minefield maps under political pressure, only 25 percent of them were found to be accurate.

In this regard, the Gilavar Photo Club once again called on Armenia to provide accurate minefield maps.

The exhibition also emphasized that the mine problem is global in nature, Azerbaijan has already declared humanitarian demining as the 18th National Sustainable Development Goal and is proposing to have this issue recognized as the 18th UN Sustainable Development Goal.

The photo exhibition, which opened in Munich, called for global mobilization to prevent the threat of mines and their tragic consequences.

To note, this is the first photo exhibition on the topic of mines organized by an Azerbaijani NGO in Germany. "Photo Club Gilavar" plans to continue holding similar exhibitions in other European cities.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. Azerbaijan has introduced new tariffs for metro and bus services as part of its ongoing efforts to modernize public transportation, Trend reports.

The changes are in line with the "State Program on Improving Transport Infrastructure in Baku and Surrounding Areas for 20252030," which aims to gradually implement measures across the sector.

Significant steps under the program include upgrading transport infrastructure, constructing new metro stations, acquiring modern metro cars and electric buses, and developing depots, garages, energy supply, and electric charging networks to support these vehicles.

To ensure consistently high-quality public transport services and establish a sustainable financing mechanism for renewing the bus fleet, President Ilham Aliyev recently signed a decree outlining measures to improve regular passenger transportation by road. This decree is expected to accelerate the modernization of the bus fleet and enhance the overall quality of passenger services.

Bus

Private transport companies are hitting the ground running by rolling out modern buses across the country, embracing environmentally friendly technologies like electric power and compressed natural gas (CNG) to keep the wheels turning smoothly. Under the State Program, both Baku and various regions across the country are being supplied with these new buses.

The modernization push has already rolled out in cities like Ganja, where the bus fleet has been fully updated. A newly opened bus depot now hosts 244 modern, comfortable vehicles, with numbers expected to rise further (to 280) by the end of 2025.

In 2025, roughly 100 eco-friendly buses hit the road in the capital, with plans to ramp up that number to 400 by years end. The modernization effort also extended to Sumgayit city and the Absheron region, where 85 modern buses have been deployed for passenger service.

In addition, 60 electric buses are scheduled for delivery to Nakhchivan before the end of the year. The initiative is also progressing in the liberated territories. As part of the "Great Return" plan, the cities of Lachin, Khankendi, Jabrayil, and Agdam will be the first to receive electric buses. These vehicles are already being imported, and a dedicated depot is being prepared to accommodate them.

Overall, within the framework of the ongoing efforts, 143 electric buses are planned to be commissioned for intra-city and intra-district routes in the liberated territories by the end of 2026, while 19 buses will serve inter-city and inter-district transportation.

Metro

The country is taking important steps under the State Program to expand the capitals metro. Currently, the design work for 10 new stations is nearing completion. According to the plan, the construction of these stations is scheduled to be completed on time, with one new station planned to open for passengers in 2026.

The wheels keep turning on the effort to refresh the metros wagon fleet, moving along without a hitch. Recently, 65 new wagons have been purchased, 35 of which are already in operation. The remaining 30 wagons are expected to be put into service during the current year. By 2030, an additional 299 new-generation wagons are planned to be acquired and deployed across metro lines.

Tariff Decision

To ensure continuity in passenger transport services and achieve the objectives of the State Program amid growing demand for quality public transport, new tariff regulations have been approved:

The metro passenger fare is set at 60 kopecks per trip ($0.35).

The minimum fare for regular intra-city (intra-district), inter-settlement, and suburban bus routes that meet modern standards and operate only via cashless payment instruments is 60 kopecks ($0.35), with variations depending on distance.

These tariffs will come into effect on October 1, 2025.

The new fares apply to intra-city, suburban, and inter-settlement bus routes in Baku where payments are made exclusively through cashless instruments, as well as to buses powered by electricity or compressed natural gas (CNG). Initially, this change will cover approximately 30 percent of the capitals existing route network that meets these requirements, while routes that do not meet the standards will not be affected.

The tariff change will also apply to regular bus routes connecting Baku-Sumgayit, Baku-Absheron, Sumgayit-Absheron, and other cities and regions. This applies to buses powered by electricity, CNG, or diesel manufactured after January 1, 2025, where fares are paid only through cashless payment instruments.

The tweak is set to bolster the financial backbone of carriers, speed up the refresh of the bus fleet, with about 400 shiny new buses on the horizon each year, guarantee hassle-free payment options for passengers, champion eco-friendly buses, and shine a light on transparency in public transport.

Additionally, carriers will be encouraged to transition to cashless payment systems, creating conditions for implementing differential tariffs and developing the technical capacity for advanced fare management.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. Startups operating in Azerbaijan will have expanded opportunities to operate in Central Asia, Chairman of the Board of the Azerbaijan Innovation Development Agency, Farid Osmanov told media, Trend reports.

"As the Innovation and Regional Development Agency, we have implemented continuous measures to build an innovation ecosystem in our country, form knowledgeable and skilled human capital in this direction, create an appropriate startup ecosystem, and develop startups both in the domestic market and in access to foreign markets," he explained.

The official said that as a continuation of these events, one of the important elements of the innovation ecosystem is increasing access to financial instruments.

"In this direction, we, as the agency, are cooperating with two funds and have begun the process of establishing a third fund within the framework of today's event. We are already completing negotiations on cooperation with the Vital Capital Venture Fund. Work on the establishment of the relevant fund has reached the final stage.

The Vital Capital Fund is one of the largest venture funds in Central Asia, and through this fund, the startup ecosystem that is being formed in our country will be provided with more convenient access to financial resources.

At the same time, the opportunities for startups operating in our country will expand not only within the country but also in Central Asia and other regions. We feel that the work done in this direction will be very beneficial for our startups. The capital of the fund will be financed by the Agency at the initial stage. It's planned to allocate $1 million in the first stage and negotiations in this direction are ongoing," he added.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. As part of the second Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan Media Forum, an Uzbek delegation on an official visit to Azerbaijan, accompanied by Executive Director of the Media Development Agency, Ahmad Ismayilov and Chairman of the Audiovisual Council, Ismat Sattarov, visited the Victory Park in Baku and paid tribute at the Victory Monument dedicated to the martyrs of the Second Karabakh War on September 29, 2025, Trend reports via the Media Development Agency.

The delegation laid flowers at the monument, honoring the memory of those who sacrificed their lives for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan. Guests were briefed on the creation of Victory Park, established to preserve the memory of Azerbaijans historic victory in the Patriotic War and to immortalize the legacy of the fallen soldiers.

Under a decree signed by President Ilham Aliyev on December 3, 2020, the ongoing project includes the construction of a Victory Museum within the complex, symbolizing the path to liberation of the lands and commemorating the bravery of soldiers, officers, and all martyrs who fought heroically during the war.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. The open court hearing on the criminal cases of Armenian citizens continued on September 29 at the Baku Military Court, during which documents were announced.

One of the announced documents detailed episodes of bodily harm inflicted on civilians, attempted killings, and damage to property during the April 2016 fighting.

The document noted that between April 2 and 28, 2016, the Armenian armed forces committed numerous criminal acts without military necessity, including heavy shelling with large-caliber weapons, mortars, grenades, and artillery at undefended settlements in Azerbaijans Aghdam, Terter, Goranboy, Fizuli, and Aghjabedi districts, as well as at educational and medical institutions and civilians not participating in the fighting.

During the examination of the documents, photos from the crime scenes were also displayed.

The court also reviewed documents on the shelling of the village of Eskipara in Terter with a P-4 122mm artillery projectile containing white phosphorus, the murders of Chingiz Salman oghlu Gurbanov (posthumously awarded the title of National Hero of Azerbaijan) and Huseyn Zakir oghlu Akberli, as well as the economic exploitation and other crimes committed in the occupied territories.

Court proceedings continue against Armenian nationals accused of 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 29. A meeting was held with the Uzbekistan delegation visiting Azerbaijan as part of the 2nd AzerbaijanUzbekistan Media Forum at the Media Development Agency, Trend reports via the agency.

The delegation engaged in a discourse regarding the continuous synergistic efforts outlined in the Roadmap framework for media collaboration between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan. Agency Executive Director Ahmad Ismayilov underscored the robust advancement of bilateral relations between the two nations across a spectrum of domains, encompassing media initiatives. He underscored that the synergistic exchange of experiential insights, the dissemination of critical information, the orchestration of collaborative projects, and the implementation of initiatives aimed at professional enhancement are pivotal in elevating cooperative endeavors to a more advanced paradigm.



Dilshod Saidjanov, Chief of the Communication Division at the Presidential Administration of Uzbekistan and the head of the visiting contingent, underscored that the strategic alliance between the two nations has yielded concrete outcomes in the realm of media advancement. He emphasized the critical necessity of amplifying data interchange and executing collaborative media initiatives. Saidjanov also emphasized that conventional media platforms are pivotal for pinpointing emergent avenues for collaboration and collectively strategizing forthcoming goals.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. Azerbaijani authorities hosted a meeting with communication representatives from various Uzbek state institutions at the Media Development Agency, held under the framework of the "Roadmap for the Development of Media Cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Uzbekistan," Trend reports.

The session, held on September 29, brought together key officials to discuss the implementation of joint media initiatives and opportunities for professional collaboration.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Executive Director of the Media Development Agency, Natiq Mammadli, emphasized that media and communication relations between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan are steadily improving. He highlighted that this cooperation contributes significantly to the development of both countries information policies, promotes professional experience sharing, and expands avenues for collaboration between communication institutions.

Representatives from Uzbekistan underscored the strategic importance of strengthening media and communication ties with Azerbaijan. They noted that projects implemented under the roadmap not only enhance experience exchange among state press services but also provide new professional development opportunities for media personnel in both countries.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. Azerbaijans Finance Minister, Sahil Babayev, met with a visiting delegation from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) led by Vice President Bhargav Dasgupta on September 29, Trend reports.

Babayev praised the enduring cooperation between Azerbaijan and ADB, emphasizing that joint initiatives through loans, grants, and technical assistance have significantly contributed to the countrys development. He also expressed confidence that close collaboration will continue under the Azerbaijan Partnership Strategy for 20252029.

During the meeting, Babayev highlighted progress in the non-oil sector, pointing out key priorities like getting the water supply and sewage systems in Baku and the Absheron Peninsula up to snuff, funding the infrastructure needs for the Baku Metro, and giving the railway lines a much-needed facelift.

Dasgupta expressed optimism that cooperation between Azerbaijan and ADB would strengthen across all areas, especially in lending a hand to the private sector, and would keep rolling along on the tracks of long-term collaboration.

The discourse additionally encompassed ongoing synergies, private sector enhancement, prospective ADB facilitation within this domain, and forthcoming avenues of reciprocal interest.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. Deputy Chair of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Minister of Defence Zukan Helez paid an official visit to the Republic of Austria, where he met with Austrian Defence Minister Klaudia Tanner, Trend reports.

The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Austria, regional initiativesparticularly within the framework of CEDC + WB (Central European Defence Cooperation + Western Balkans)as well as the countrys Euro-Atlantic integration processes. Minister Helez expressed gratitude for Austrias hospitality, noting that cooperation between the two ministries has seen constant progress, with expectations for further advancement.

Key areas of cooperation include the training of cadets, exchange of instructors, courses and expert talks, the development of a logistics information system, NATO codification, activities related to small arms and light weapons, and Austrian support for infrastructure projects.

Minister Helez also thanked the Austrian government and people for their continuous support to Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly regarding its European path. He underlined that Austria is a true friend of BiH and a strong advocate for the country within the European Union, which carries great significance at this important juncture.

Helez further stressed that the EUFOR Althea mission continues to play a crucial role in maintaining security and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and expressed special gratitude to Austria for its substantial contribution.

The talks also covered the ongoing renovation of the BiH Armed Forces House. Current works include the restoration of the facade, external openings, and roof, as well as the conservation and restoration of four paintings by Ismet Mujezinovic located in the ceremonial hall. Since the Armed Forces House is a national monument from the Austro-Hungarian period, Helez highlighted the importance of the agreement between the two ministries to jointly complete all remaining works, ensuring the building regains its former glory as a landmark of Sarajevo and Bosnia and Herzegovina as a whole.

The visit to Austria and the discussions with Minister Tanner also resulted in other important agreements concerning the development of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Given the sensitive nature of military cooperation, details will be shared with the public in due course.

The Ministry of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina reaffirmed its full readiness to continue and further strengthen bilateral cooperation with the Republic of Austria, while remaining committed to reform processes and the countrys path toward full membership in the European Union and NATO.
While Nvidia still has first-mover advantages in the GPU market, competition in that area has steadily intensified. Advanced Micro Devices offers lower-cost alternatives, while hyperscalers such as Microsoft , Alphabet , Amazon , and Meta Platforms are investing heavily in designing their own custom AI accelerator chips. Yet the OpenAI deal illustrates how Nvidia's competitive moat continues to expand despite these pressures.

On Sept. 22, Nvidia announced a letter of intent to supply 10 gigawatts of computing infrastructure to power OpenAI's next generation of models as the company pursues "superintelligence." Put simply, OpenAI requires unprecedented quantities of GPU clusters to train and scale its large language models -- and Nvidia has both the hardware and software that is needed.

The question investors may be asking now is whether these aggressive moves could be the catalysts that propel Nvidia toward even greater milestones, potentially positioning it for another historic run upward -- this time, toward a $10 trillion valuation.

Now, Nvidia is doubling down. Fresh off a $5 billion strategic investment in Intel , Nvidia just opened up its pocketbook again -- this time committing up to $100 billion in ChatGPT developer OpenAI.

Nvidia's share price moves on practically every headline tied to AI infrastructure, as its GPUs are powering a growing universe of generative AI applications across the globe. It's no wonder that over the past three years, Nvidia's meteoric rise has catapulted the company into the position of the most valuable business in the world as measured by market cap.

Few companies in history have reshaped industries as profoundly as Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA). A company that began as a niche designer of graphics chips for video games has evolved into the undisputed leader of the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution. Today, Nvidia isn't just a chip company -- it's the bellwether investors use to gauge the direction that the computing sector is headed.

Given OpenAI's aggressive growth prospects over the next several years, this deal provides Nvidia a chance to capture significant incremental revenue -- further fueling its already historic valuation.

This deal reinforces Nvidia's leadership position in the GPU realm, despite intensifying competition from AMD and custom silicon developers.

Nvidia has agreed to supply up to 10 gigawatts of infrastructure to power OpenAI's next wave of technology buildouts.

Story Continues

The deal underscores Nvidia's dominance in AI infrastructure -- securing long-term demand, revenue visibility, and ecosystem lock-in. By aligning itself closely with OpenAI, Nvidia further embeds itself at the center of generative AI adoption.

In many ways, the agreement functions like a form of vertical integration -- ensuring that OpenAI's most advanced models continue to be built upon and optimized for Nvidia's platform well into the future.

The path to a $10 trillion valuation

Because it's a private company, it's difficult to peg the true value of OpenAI. Media reports suggest it could generate around $20 billion in annual recurring revenue by December -- with projections as high as $125 billion by 2029.

Sustaining that type of growth is ambitious, especially given rising competition from Perplexity, Anthropic, xAI, and Gemini. Moreover, achieving these targets will require astronomical expansions in its processing power -- hence the rationale behind OpenAI's deepening alliance with Nvidia.

Wall Street currently expects Nvidia to generate $320 billion in annual revenues in 2027. Yet with the Intel and OpenAI deals in hand, that forecast already looks outdated. If Nvidia were to capture even 30% of OpenAI's projected annual recurring revenue, it could add nearly $40 billion of incremental revenue annually.

Perhaps even more significant than the figures above is the underlying signal of these deals: By committing its next-generation systems to Nvidia's backbone, OpenAI -- one of the most influential brands in the AI arena -- is effectively telling the market that Nvidia remains the gold standard for advanced computing. This endorsement is likely to echo across enterprises, cloud providers, and even government agencies, reinforcing Nvidia's platform as the default choice for AI infrastructure.

This halo effect could push Nvidia's revenues far beyond the current analyst consensus, potentially into the neighborhood of $500 billion by 2030. Applying its three-year average price-to-sales ratio of 28 to that figure implies that by that year, its market cap could be well north of $10 trillion.

Ultimately, precise time frames and dollar figures matter less than the broader takeaway: Nvidia stock continues to look like a durable, profitable, long-term holding for investors seeking exposure to the AI megatrend.

Should you buy stock in Nvidia right now?

Before you buy stock in Nvidia, 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 Nvidia 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 $652,872!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $1,092,280!*

Now, its worth noting Stock Advisors total average return is 1,062%  a market-crushing outperformance compared to 189% for the S&P 500. Dont miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.

See the 10 stocks 

*Stock Advisor returns as of September 22, 2025

Adam Spatacco has positions in Alphabet, Amazon, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Alphabet, Amazon, Intel, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft, short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft, and short November 2025 $21 puts on Intel. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Could Nvidia's $100 Billion Data Center Gamble Make It the Market's First $10 Trillion Stock? was originally published by The Motley Fool
Only through a balance between innovation and interoperability will we be able to meet the challenges of the modern security environment, said Bulgaria's Admiral Emil Eftimov during the annual NATO Military Committee Conference, held this year in Riga, Latvia, Trend reports.

Key topics at the forum included the challenges stemming from Russias actions and the follow-up steps after this years NATO Summit in The Hague.

In the context of increasing security challenges, stemming mainly from Russias actions, we must maintain a high level of readiness and ensure the effective implementation of regional plans, particularly on the Eastern Flank, Admiral Eftimov underlined during discussions related to the implementation of the Alliances group of plans, with an emphasis on comprehensive support and activities for enhanced vigilance in the region.

Special focus was placed on the implementation of the 2025 Capability Targets within NATOs defense planning, the risks arising from the rapid adaptation of the defense industry, and the challenges in integrating new technologies. The implementation of the new 2025 Capability Targets package is crucial for the feasibility of defense plans. It also challenges the defense industry to strengthen its ability to meet the needs of the forces, the Chief of Defence noted.

He stressed that investments, especially in drones and counter-drone systems, must be approached carefully, since these provide technological advantages only for a limited timeuntil countermeasures are developed. The drive to invest in next-level technological capabilities requires us within the Alliance to test jointly, to experiment, and to make use of shared open-architecture technologies, capable of rapid adaptation and further development, Admiral Eftimov pointed out.

The conference also discussed proposals for drafting the 2027 Political Guidance, as well as directions for updating NATOs Military Strategy ahead of its upcoming review. On the sidelines of the forum, Admiral Eftimov held talks with a number of his counterparts, as well as a bilateral meeting with NATO Supreme Allied Commander Transformation Admiral Pierre Vandier, during which issues of mutual interest were discussed.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlic Radman visited Texas, U.S, Trend reports.

During a series of meetings with business leaders, visits to science and technology institutions, and an event with the Croatian community, the minister reaffirmed Croatias commitment to a stronger transatlantic partnership, secure and sustainable energy, modern port logistics, and high-value innovation.

At the Port of Houston, one of the worlds leading ports, discussions focused on deepening cooperation with the Port of Rijeka under the 2014 Memorandum of Understanding. Thanks to investments exceeding 1 billion, the Port of Rijeka today stands as the most modern intermodal center on the Northern Adriatic and a key link between Europe and global markets, positioned on three TEN-T corridors.

At the European-American Chamber of Commerce (EACC) event in Dallas, Minister Grlic Radman delivered a presentation titled Croatia  The Mediterranean Oil & LNG Gateway to Central Europe, highlighting Croatia as a reliable energy and logistics partner. He emphasized the countrys advantages: stable credit rating, competitive and highly educated workforce, full integration into the EU, the eurozone, and Schengen, and the nearing completion of OECD accession. Investment opportunities were presented in renewables, advanced manufacturing, ICT, and infrastructure. The EACC, with around 750 member companies and over 10,000 employees in Europe and the U.S., provides a platform for business development, networking, and collaboration between European and American companies and professional organizations.

At the invitation of Axiom Space representatives in Houston, Minister Grlic Radman visited the company and discussed new opportunities for international and scientific cooperation. He highlighted Croatias membership in the European Space Agency and the growing innovative ecosystem of domestic companies, emphasizing the importance of investment in research, STEM education, and international scientific collaboration.

During a meeting with Cheniere Energy, the largest U.S. LNG producer and the worlds second-largest LNG operator, discussions focused on long-term LNG supply contracts, market stability, and Croatias role as a regional energy hub through the Krk LNG terminal. Croatia will soon double the terminals capacity to 6.1 billion cubic meters per year, with infrastructure ready for hydrogen and new interconnections to Central Europe, Minister Grlic Radman stressed, adding that joint priorities include diversification, supply chain resilience, and a smooth energy transition.

A highlight of the Texas visit was the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Croatian-American Lone Star Society in Houston, which gathers around 43,000 Croatians in Texas. The minister thanked President Kresimir Kurjakovic and community members for preserving the Croatian language, culture, and identity, and granted Croatian citizenship to new members. He also recalled the legacy of Antun Lucic (Anthony Lucas), a Croatian emigre whose discovery of the first major oil field in Texas marked the beginning of the American oil era.

Your dedication and love for the homeland make us proud and oblige us to preserve this connection even more strongly, Minister Grlic Radman said, addressing the Croatian community.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has approved projects for Uzbekistan worth over $3 billion, making its investment portfolio the largest in Central Asia, AIIBs Chief Investment Officer Konstantin Limitovskiy told Trend in an exclusive interview.

On the sovereign side, our portfolio includes projects in local road rehabilitation, water supply, and urban infrastructure, designed to improve connectivity and resilience. On the private side, AIIB has financed major renewable projects in partnerships with developers like ACWA Power and Masdar under long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs), Limitovskiy emphasized.

He discussed the recently unveiled initiative pertaining to the Karakalpakstan and Khorezm Local Roads Network Reconstruction Project.

One of the pivotal undertakings in the transportation domain is the recently unveiled Karakalpakstan & Khorezm Local Roads Network Reconstruction Project. This initiative is structured in a multi-phase approach, and we have successfully secured funding for the initial phase. The comprehensive initiative encompasses a strategic deployment across 14 districts within the Karakalpakstan jurisdiction and 10 districts in the Khorezm region, prioritizing the development of climate-resilient transportation infrastructure, advanced drainage systems, and enhanced safety protocols, he noted.

Subsequently, he transitioned to the second phase of the strategic operational framework.

Simultaneously, strategic initiatives are being mobilized for the Bukhara Road Network Enhancement Project (Phase II), aimed at optimizing roughly 160 kilometers of the M37 transnational thoroughfare. This initiative encompasses contemporary pavement frameworks, advanced transportation management systems, and comprehensive technical evaluations, with a projected capital allocation of approximately $150 million. The execution strategy will unfold in sequential stages, with anticipated finalization projected within the intermediate timeframe, the Chief Investment Officer added.

Limitovskiy also noted that at the policy level, the Green and Resilient Market Economy Program of Uzbekistan is being prepared, with funding of up to $500 million. The program, as he noted, aims to support institutional reforms in areas such as energy efficiency, state-owned enterprise restructuring, the introduction of green procurement, and the development of a national carbon credit and monitoring system.

On the energy side, AIIB is reviewing support for the CEEC Uzbekistan BESS Green Loan, an initiative of up to $150 million to finance a portfolio of utility-scale battery energy storage systems. This will enhance grid flexibility and support the integration of renewables into Uzbekistans electricity mix, he emphasized.

According to him, although these initiatives are not formally considered public-private partnerships (PPPs), they mobilize significant private capital and contribute to diversifying Uzbekistans energy mix.

AIIB remains open to contributing to the projects that align with the countrys development targets and the banks thematic priorities, he noted.

In the context of fiscal frameworks, Limitovskiy elucidated that for public sector initiatives, extended-duration credit facilities on competitive parameters are made available, whereas for the private sector, non-sovereign debt instruments, equity infusions, and risk mitigation guarantees are proffered. The Bank also actively employs co-financing with multilateral development banks and commercial lenders to scale up projects, as well as blended financing and technical assistance to address early-stage challenges and prepare projects for financial closure.

Depending on the complexity of a program, AIIB may use phased financing, releasing funds as key milestones are achieved, combine policy-based and investment financing instruments, or develop blended models, the CIO concluded.

Over the next few years, AIIBs portfolio in Uzbekistan will continue to expand. All projects combine infrastructure delivery with institutional strengthening, aligning with the countrys national development priorities and climate transition agenda, Limitovskiy concluded.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, September 29. The volume of exports in Uzbekistan's foreign trade turnover amounted to $23 billion from January through August 2025.

Data obtained by Trend from the National Statistics Committee indicate that this figure is 31.3 percent higher than in the same period last year.

The top 10 countries receiving the highest share of Uzbekistans exports during this period (in US dollars) are:

Russia  $2.9 billion

China  $1.2 billion

Kazakhstan  $910.8 million

Afghanistan  $881.6 million

Turkiye  $736.4 million

France  $618.6 million

UAE  $493.6 million

Kyrgyzstan  $371.3 million

Tajikistan  $338 million

Pakistan  $267.9 million

Meanwhile, Uzbekistans foreign trade turnover reached $51.4 billion in the period from January through August 2025, representing a year-on-year increase of $8.49 billion, or 19.8 percent, compared to the same period in 2024.
Iran boosts credit support for startup companies in 5M2025

Iranian banks have significantly increased credit support for startups, providing nearly $3.5 billion to over 1,700 companies in the first five months of the current Iranian year. Non-state banks drove most of the growth, while total startup financing for the past year approached $7 billion, marking a strong upward trend in the countrys startup ecosystem.

Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, September 29. The Asian Development Bank (ADB), in partnership with the Tajikistan government, will hold a Business Opportunities Seminar on 1617 October 2025 in Dushanbe, Trend reports.

The hybrid event, held alongside the Dushanbe International Investment Forum 2025, aims to connect businesses with opportunities in ADB-financed projects.

Participants will gain insights into ADBs strategic priorities, including private sector development, upcoming projects, procurement procedures, bidding best practices, and anti-corruption policies. The seminar targets consultants, contractors, suppliers, and civil society representatives interested in contributing to Tajikistans development.

Since joining ADB in 1998, Tajikistan has received over $2.7 billion in support, including more than $2.2 billion in grants. ADB-funded projects have upgraded critical transport links, modernized irrigation and water supply systems, constructed hospitals and schools, and supported power infrastructure, including hydropower plants and electricity grid reconnection to the Central Asian network.

ADB is a leading multilateral development bank promoting inclusive, resilient, and sustainable growth across Asia and the Pacific. Established in 1966, it is owned by 69 members, 50 of which are from the region.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. The Baku COP conference has been hailed as one of the most successful climate gatherings in history, Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Yalchin Rafiyev said during an international conference held as part of Baku Climate Action Week (BCAW), Trend reports.

Baku stood out for its scale, with participation exceeding 76,000 attendees, and for its high level of engagement. This was the second-largest COP conference in history in terms of heads of state and government participation. It was also one of the most inclusive, bringing together representatives from government institutions, the private sector, academia, civil society, and indigenous peoples, Rafiyev noted.

Reflecting on the recent High-Level Week of the UN General Assembly in New York, he drove home the point that developed countries need to walk the talk when it comes to their climate finance commitments.

Listening to these political statements, we must be certain that countries expected to provide climate funding, primarily developed nations, will honor their pledges, he said.

Rafiyev emphasized the imperative to secure the enduring impact of the Baku COP initiative.

This involves not only implementing the decisions made but also preserving and expanding the positive experience established in Baku, he added.

The deputy minister also highlighted Azerbaijans role in supporting Australia and Turkiye in COP31 host negotiations and mediating among other countries to achieve constructive outcomes.

We are also actively cooperating with our Brazilian partners to implement the Baku-Belem roadmap related to climate finance targets of $1.3 trillion. This initiative is crucial to ensure adequate funding for the needs of developing countries, the official concluded.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. Azerbaijans non-oil sector grew at an average annual rate of 6.7 percent and now accounts for 68 percent of the national economy in 2021-2024, the countrys Deputy Minister of Economy, Samad Bashirli, said during Baku Climate Action Week (BCAW), Trend reports.

Bashirli pointed out that non-oil exports have shot through the roof in recent years, showcasing Azerbaijans rising star in the competitive arena.

"More than 80 percent of Azerbaijans gross domestic product (GDP) is currently generated by the private sector. State budget revenues in 2025 have more than doubled compared to 2017, strategic currency reserves have approximately doubled, and public debt has fallen to just 6.5 percent of GDP, among the lowest rates globally, he said.

Bashirli emphasized that energy policy remains a cornerstone of both Azerbaijans development and international influence.

Our country is a reliable partner in both traditional resources and renewable energy. Large-scale solar and wind projects, as well as the establishment of a green energy zone in Karabakh and East Zangazur, ensure Azerbaijans active participation in the global energy transition, he concluded.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. The Baku COP has reinforced international climate commitments, said Damilola Ogunbiyi, the CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (UN SRSG) for Sustainable Energy for All, and Co-Chair of UN-Energy, Trend reports.

In her address at an international conference as part of Baku Climate Action Week (BCAW), Ogunbiyi noted that the conference takes place at a critical moment for our planet.

Forums like Baku Climate Action Week play a unique role in sustaining the momentum of joint efforts to combat climate change, she said.

She pointed out that this years Climate Action Week is a big deal, coming hot on the heels of the UN General Assembly and just a stone's throw away from COP30 in Belem.

COP29 in Baku marked an important step forward: countries agreed to mobilize at least $300 billion annually by 2035 and supported the Global Commitment on energy storage and electricity grids, Ogunbiyi emphasized.

Ogunbiyi articulated that greenhouse gas emissions need to be curtailed by 43 percent relative to the baseline of 2019 by the year 2030. However, the current global trajectory indicates a perilous path towards an escalation in temperature ranging from 2.5 to 2.9C.



She underscored three pivotal focal points in anticipation of COP30: climate financing mechanisms, robustly ambitious nationally determined contributions (NDCs), and the advancement of technology development in accordance with national obligations for the energy transition paradigm.



The case study of Azerbaijan exemplifies the operationalization of COP29 commitments into actionable initiatives, the UN representative concluded.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. TotalEnergies has signed an agreement to acquire a 49% stake in natural gas assets operated by Continental Resources in the Anadarko Basin, Oklahoma, further strengthening its U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) operations, Trend reports.

The assets, connected to Henry Hub via existing midstream infrastructure, have the potential to reach gross production of around 350 million cubic feet per day (MMscfd) by 2030, ensuring long-term output. The acquisition is expected to secure net gas production of approximately 150 MMscfd for TotalEnergies.

This acquisition will further increase our natural gas production in the United States and consolidate TotalEnergies integrated LNG position with a competitive low-cost and low-emission gas production, said Nicolas Terraz, President of Exploration & Production at TotalEnergies. We are delighted to partner with Continental Resources, a reference operator in the Anadarko Basin, recognized for its strong technical expertise and operational excellence.

The transaction complements TotalEnergies 2024 acquisitions in the Eagle Ford Basin, including the Dorado and Constellation assets, and adds to its existing technical production of around 500 MMscfd in the Barnett shale.

This move reflects TotalEnergies strategy to expand its integrated LNG value chain in the United States while focusing on low-cost, long-plateau gas production.
Bitcoin may soon join gold as a reserve asset on central bank balance sheets, according to analysts at Deutsche Bank, as momentum builds behind efforts to reshape the global financial system.

Key Takeaways:

Deutsche Bank says Bitcoin could sit alongside gold on central bank balance sheets by 2030.

Trumps strategic Bitcoin reserve plan is fueling renewed debate around institutional adoption.

Bitcoins low correlation to traditional assets strengthens its case as a long-term store of value.

The prediction comes amid a sharp uptick in geopolitical and monetary shifts, with Bitcoin and gold both seeing renewed demand.

Deutsche Bank: Trumps Bitcoin Reserve Plan Rekindles Central Bank Adoption Debate

Marion Laboure, research analyst at Deutsche Banks Research Institute, said the Trump administrations decision to create a US strategic Bitcoin reserve earlier this year reignites the argument for central banks to hold Bitcoin as a reserve asset.

In a note seen by CNBC, she added: We conclude there is room for both gold and Bitcoin to coexist on central bank balance sheets by 2030.

The price of Bitcoin surged to over $124,000 last month before retreating, as traders digest U.S. monetary policy moves and brace for further volatility ahead of the 2026 election cycle.

Meanwhile, gold has surged to a record high above $3,700 per ounce, pushing its market cap past $25 trillion. Bitcoins market capitalization currently stands above $2.3 trillion.

The Trump administrations March executive order calling for the establishment of a Bitcoin reserve marked a major policy shift.

While details remain limited, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the government is committed to budget-neutral pathways to build the reserve.

The Bitcoin that has been finally forfeited to the federal government is the foundation of the strategic Bitcoin reserve, Bessent said.

The idea of adding Bitcoin to central bank reserves mirrors past strategies involving gold.

A recent Federal Reserve research note highlighted that revaluing US gold holdings could increase their book value from $11 billion to $750 billion, a precedent that could be extended to crypto.

Laboure noted that Bitcoins low correlation with traditional assets gives it similar store-of-value characteristics as gold, making it appealing to institutions.

Bitcoin also has the potential to provide both an investment and a consumer-good value, she wrote. This explains why when equities rally strongly, their correlation to Bitcoin can rise.

Hex Trust CEO: US Banks Will Soon Offer Bitcoin Services

Hex Trust CEO Alessio Quaglini believes US banks are on the verge of mainstreaming Bitcoin, pending regulatory clarity.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. The Organization of Turkic States (OTS) is actively implementing programs and projects in the fields of economy, transport, media, and education under the Turkic World 2040 Vision and the OTS strategy for 20222026, ahead of its 12th summit on October 67 in Gabala, said the OTS Deputy Secretary-General, Omer Kocaman, Trend reports.

Speaking on the sidelines of a conference of think tanks from OTS member states in Baku, Kocaman mentioned that this meeting is the bee's knees for refreshing ideas and rolling with the punches of global changes.

Todays meeting allows us to exchange new ideas and strengthen cooperation among Turkic states, he said.

Kocaman expressed confidence that at the forthcoming summit, the heads of state will present key initiatives shaping the future of the Turkic world and noted that the successful organization of the conference in Baku is a source of pride for all participants.

The Organization of Turkic States (OTS), previously known as the Turkic Council or the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States, is an intergovernmental entity that includes all but one of the internationally recognized Turkic sovereign nations. The primary objective is to foster extensive collaboration among the Turkic nations. The General Secretariat of OTS is situated in Istanbul, Turkiye.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. Northern Cyprus has the potential to become a logistics, energy, and educational center for the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), said Latif Akca, Civil Organizations Coordinator for the Presidency of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Trend reports.

Speaking at a conference of analytical centers of OTS member states in Baku, Akca noted that the strategic location of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean allows its ports and maritime infrastructure, including the modernized port of Famagusta, to be used for fast and secure transportation of goods from the Turkic world to Europe and Africa.

He added that free ports and free trade zones will support the development of joint trade initiatives.

Akca emphasized the regions strategic significance for the energy security of the OTS. Natural resources in the Eastern Mediterranean provide opportunities for safe transport and diversification of energy resources, strengthening regional stability.

The official also highlighted that Northern Cyprus is home to more than 25 universities and over 110,000 students. This, he said, fosters academic cooperation, mobility, cultural exchange, and diplomatic relations among OTS countries.

In addition, Akca underscored the importance of the region for tourism and transport due to its modern airports and infrastructure. He noted that the development of joint projects in trade, logistics, and land management will stimulate small businesses and economic growth, contributing to the integration of the OTS.

Northern Cyprus plays a strategic role as a logistics, energy, educational, and cultural hub for the Turkic world, making a significant contribution to the overall vision and future of the Organization of Turkic States, he concluded.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, September 29. Presidents of Kazakhstan and Italy held expanded-format talks, highlighting the strong political, economic, and cultural ties between the two countries, Trend reports.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized the significant role of Italian President Sergio Mattarella in deepening cooperation between Astana and Rome. Tokayev also recalled the productive agreements reached during his official visit to Italy last year, which gave fresh momentum to bilateral relations.

Italy remains one of Kazakhstans top three trading partners. Our economic cooperation is developing dynamically and has enormous potential for further growth. We welcome Italys plans to expand exports. Over the past 20 years, Italy has invested up to $7.6 billion in our economy. Currently, 250 Italian companies operate successfully in Kazakhstan, Tokayev said.

The president outlined promising sectors for deeper collaboration, including critical raw materials, petrochemicals, engineering, transport and logistics, light industry, food processing, artificial intelligence, finance, tourism, and education.

Both sides also noted active cooperation within the UN and other international organizations. Kazakhstan highlighted the successful creation of the Central Asia Plus dialogue platform and the first Central AsiaItaly summit held in Astana in May 2025, praising Italys support for the initiative.

Tokayev also recalled his friendly meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who was a keynote speaker at the Astana International Forum.

Cultural and humanitarian cooperation was also discussed, with the Kazakh President announcing a decision to name a central street in Astana after Marco Polo, symbolizing the enduring friendship between Kazakhstan and Italy.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. The fifth InMerge Innovation Summit in Baku has become the largest regional platform for discussing innovation, investment, and technology in Central Eurasia, PASHA Holding CEO Jalal Gasimov said during the INMerge Innovation Summit held in Baku, Trend reports.

He noted that in five years, InMerge has grown from a small corporate meeting into a significant event that brings together politicians, investors, corporations, startups, and ecosystem builders from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkiye, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and other countries in the region.

Today, InMerge is the main innovation forum in Central Eurasia, where ideas and capital work hand in hand. Yesterday, we showed how investment accelerates growth, and today, we showed how innovation turns that investment into breakthroughs. Together, they become the engines of the region's future, Gasimov said.

He emphasized the scale of the current summit, which is attended by more than 5,000 people and over 150 speakers on key topics ranging from fintech and responsible banking to artificial intelligence, Industry 4.0, telecommunications, marketing, and e-commerce. More than 100 startups are presenting their projects, and more than 80 venture capital funds are ready to support their development.

According to Gasimov, the summit is important not only for inspiring participants, but also for learning and exchanging experiences. "In a world that is changing faster than ever, it is important to develop a learning-oriented mindset, maintain curiosity, be able to unlearn and relearn, and turn ideas into action. Organizations and people fall behind not because of a lack of resources or ideas, but when they stop learning," he noted.

The official also drew attention to the regional aspect: "InMerge is a platform for cross-border cooperation. We have expanded the program to Georgia, Turkey, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, demonstrating our commitment to creating an innovative ecosystem without borders. The potential of Central Eurasia is unlocked through collaboration, the region's strategic location, and a young generation of talented people."
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, September 29. During our talks, we discussed strengthening ties in the transport and logistics sector, including expanding the potential of international transport routes such as the Trans-Caspian Corridor, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said in a joint statement with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, Trend reports.

The leaders agreed on measures to increase bilateral trade and to broaden the range of goods exchanged. They also began reviewing new investment projects aligned with mutual interests, with particular focus on energy, agriculture, machinery, light, and food industries.

"We believe that the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation should focus its work on these activities," the president pointed out.

The discussions also covered opportunities for collaboration in logistics infrastructure and the processing industry, aiming to strengthen economic integration and enhance connectivity between the two countries.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, September 29. Rail freight volumes between Kazakhstan and China reached 23.2 million tons in the first eight months of 2025, up 10 percent compared to the same period last year, Trend reports via Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ).

The figures were announced at the 34th meeting of the Joint Commissions of the Border Railways of the two countries, held in Almaty.

By the end of this year, the parties struck a deal to keep traffic volumes at 35 million tons, which is a bump of 3.6 million tons over 2024. Preliminary forecasts for 2026 were also reviewed.

Special attention was given to boosting Kazakh exports. The parties came to the table to boost the flow of grain in specialized railcars and containers, along with vegetable oil in flexitank containers, all while dotting the i's and crossing the t's on the necessary loading conditions.

The meeting also addressed the development of paperless technologies for shipping documentation, improved data exchange at junction stations, and streamlined customs procedures.

Starting in December 2025, Kazakhstan and China will organize the transfer of shift workers between border stations to facilitate the reception and handover of trains, railcars, and cargo in the adjacent territories. This measure is expected to improve efficiency and reduce train processing times.

The meeting concluded with the signing of a protocol formalizing the agreed measures.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. Green energy solutions in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan have been brought up at the 10th meeting of the working group focused on coordinating and monitoring the rollout of green technologies and energy efficiency requirements, Trend reports.

Chairman of the Working Group, Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov spoke about the large-scale restoration and construction work carried out in the liberated territories in accordance with the instructions of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

The meeting noted that the new strategic documents being prepared to ensure the sustainability of the socio-economic development of Azerbaijan and the Great Return include the promotion of green technologies, increasing energy efficiency in the territories and expanding the use of renewable energy sources as important directions.

Insights were disseminated regarding the operationalization of the resolutions established during the antecedent assembly of the task force, alongside presentations on the progress achieved in the development of a sustainable energy sector.



The outcomes of the surveillance executed in the urban centers of Shusha, Kalbajar, and Jabrayil, alongside the assessments of Shukurbayli and Horovlu villages within the Jabrayil district, in addition to the evaluations at the hydropower facilities situated in Lachin and Kalbajar, were meticulously analyzed.



Additionally, the assembly elucidated the methodologies implemented to integrate photovoltaic systems into the electrical grid across 334 residential units in Horovlu village. Furthermore, it highlighted the educational initiatives orchestrated for the communities of Shusha and Lachin cities, along with Zabukh village, encompassing actionable insights on the utilization of sustainable energy resources.

Measures taken to ensure high energy efficiency in buildings, statistics on LED lighting poles installed in the area, solar-based hybrid lighting devices, electric charging stations, electric buses in operation, and solar panels installed in public buildings were presented.

Decisions were made on the implementation of environmentally progressive solutions in the liberated territories, expanding opportunities for saving energy consumption, implementing pilot projects, testing modern technologies, as well as improving monitoring and accounting mechanisms.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the state bodies that are members of the working group, as well as representatives of the special representations of the president of Azerbaijan in the liberated territories and the Restoration, Construction and Management Service public legal entities, as well as the Shusha City State Reserve Department and Azeristiliktachizat OJSC.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, September 29. Customs experts from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan gathered in Urgench to chew the fat over a comparative analysis of their bilateral foreign trade, Trend reports.

The meeting focused on assessing trade flow data and identifying discrepancies in statistical reporting. Specialists emphasized that reconciling these differences will help strengthen trade transparency and reliability.

The nuts and bolts of this cooperation hinge on the 2022 agreement inked in Tashkent, paving the way for a steady flow of customs information. The initiative has demonstrated efficacy in optimizing oversight of illicit consignments, augmenting macroeconomic metrics, and facilitating the advancement of bilateral commerce.



Authorities highlighted that enhanced customs collaboration not only fortifies Turkmen-Uzbek economic synergies but also optimizes trade dynamics throughout the Central Asian region.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, September 29. A delegation headed by Wang Lixin, Deputy General Director of China State Railway Group Co., Ltd., visited Uzbekistans Andijan region to review plans for a joint logistics center project, Trend reports via the company.

At Andijan railway station, the Chinese guests were welcomed with an official ceremony before attending a presentation of the project. Discussions focused on the development work to be carried out on the allocated site for the logistics hub.

The visit also included cultural activities, with the delegation touring the Zahiriddin Muhammad Babur Culture and Recreation Park and the Babur Museum to learn more about the regions historical heritage.

According to officials, the implementation of the Andijan logistics center will strengthen interregional ties, diversify transport corridors across Central Asia, and enhance the regions role as an international transport and transit hub.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. Azerbaijani banks have allocated 300 million manat ($176.4 million) in loans to support green projects, said Shahin Mahmudzade, Chief Executive of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA), Trend reports.

Speaking at the Baku Climate Action Week (BCAW2025), Mahmudzade highlighted that the banking sector had committed to a voluntary 2 billion manat ($1.1 billion) target by 2030, announced at COP29.

This commitment supports green transition projects across Azerbaijan and demonstrates the banks intention to finance renewable energy, sustainable infrastructure, and other environmentally friendly initiatives. According to the latest data, local banks have issued around 13,000 loans totaling around 300 million manat ($176.4 million) since the announcement, he said.

Mahmudzade emphasized the long-term impact of these efforts.

The green transition is a complex and lengthy journey, but the momentum we are creating today will have enduring effects. I believe this event and the initiatives being implemented will act as a catalyst for accelerating climate finance and building a greener, more prosperous Azerbaijan, the official noted.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET) is included among the 12 Best Stocks to Buy Now for Passive Income.

How Energy Transfer (ET) Supports Long-Term Passive Income Strategies

Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET) is a major player in North Americas midstream energy sector, running over 140,000 miles of pipelines that move natural gas, natural gas liquids (NGLs), and crude oil.

Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET) is seeing strong momentum, recently posting record levels in gathered volumes, crude oil and NGL transport, and NGL exports. Its also pouring capital into projects aimed at fueling future growth, including a 1.5 billion cubic feet per day expansion of the Transwestern Pipeline.

A particularly promising growth avenue comes from data centers. The AI boom is driving massive electricity needs, and as of Q2 2025, Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET) had roughly 200 requests for data center connections across 15 states. It also struck a deal with CloudBurst to supply natural gas to its Central Texas data centers.

In addition, Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET) is a solid dividend company and is one of the best stocks for passive income. The company has raised its dividends for 14 consecutive quarters. Currently, it offers a quarterly dividend of $0.33 per share and has a dividend yield of 7.71%, as of September 22.

While we acknowledge the potential of ET 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: 12 Best Retail Dividend Stocks to Buy Now and 11 Cheap Quarterly Dividend Stocks to Buy Right Now

Disclosure: None.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is placing the private sector at the core of its operations, supporting initiatives that drive the global climate transition, EBRD representative Real Hajiyev said, Trend reports.

Speaking at Baku Climate Action Week (BCAW2025), Hajiyev pointed out that last year, a whopping 74 percent of the banks total investments were funneled into private sector projects.

Hacyev noted that the bank helped attract around $5 billion in private sector investments, effectively doubling the impact of each dollar committed and strengthening support for climate-related projects.

Every dollar invested can leverage an additional two dollars in funding, providing vital momentum for the global climate transition.

So how can this be achieved? There are several approaches, but the most impactful are large-scale infrastructure projects. These include renewable energy initiatives, infrastructure development, and connectivity projects. In every project, we strive to embed climate transition goals and global sustainability principles into the very framework of the initiative, he said.

The EBRD representative pointed out that a mix of financing, technical assistance, and general support measures is used to nudge project sponsors to weave these elements into their plans.

"For instance, in Azerbaijan last year, during the COP event, we assisted the government in organizing the countrys first renewable energy auctions. As a result, 100 MW of solar panels were tendered in the Garadagh region, with a Chinese company emerging as the winner. This approach helps attract investment while fostering an enabling policy environment," he explained.

Hajiyev articulated that regional financial entities function as the principal conduit for the EBRD in the orchestration and allocation of climate finance resources.



"We engage in synergistic partnerships with financial intermediaries and banking entities to facilitate the allocation of capital to regional enterprises." Although the outcomes are frequently realized via micro-scale interventions instead of extensive infrastructural undertakings, initiatives like enhanced thermal envelope performance, energy loss mitigation, or stormwater harvesting are bolstered by more advantageous fiscal conditions.



In this manner, the EBRD propels the climate transition through various sectors," he concluded.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, September 29. Kazakhstans Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov participated in the Council of CIS Heads of Government meetings in Minsk, Belarus, held in both narrow and expanded formats, Trend reports.

In his address, Bektenov emphasized that the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) remains a reliable platform for cooperation and mutually beneficial solutions. He noted that the CISs combined GDP grows by an average of 4.5% annually, while intra-CIS trade has increased by 40% over the past five years. Last year, Kazakhstans trade with CIS countries reached $37.3 billion, including a 9.4% rise in services trade to $4.3 billion.

He stressed the importance of strengthening economic ties to ensure sustainable growth and enhance competitiveness. He highlighted that ongoing efforts to improve exchange trading mechanisms across CIS states will provide additional stimulus to business activity.

The PM also underscored collaboration on digital transformation and artificial intelligence as key drivers of economic growth.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has set the strategic goal of transforming Kazakhstan into a fully digital country over the next three years. Our digital agenda now covers all areas of government, helping address social issues and citizens daily needs. We are also focusing on exporting domestic digital solutions and sharing our experience with international partners. Kazakhstan is ready to develop further cooperation with our CIS colleagues in this area, Bektenov said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) considers investing in a solar energy project in Azerbaijans Fuzuli district, Senior Investment Specialist of ADB Ali Malik told Trend.

Within the framework of COP29, held in Baku in November 2024, the Ministry of Energy of Azerbaijan, China Energy Overseas Investment Co. Ltd., and SOCAR Green signed an Implementation Agreement on the construction of a solar power plant with a capacity of 160 megawatts in Fuzuli.

"While the project is still under preliminary assessment, we are interested in it," Malik noted.

He explained that ADBs infrastructure financing team has discussed the banks involvement in Azerbaijans energy, water, and financial sectors, including implemented projects, plans, and positive market prospects amid the countrys recent credit rating upgrade.

Malik also stressed that ADB has been particularly active in Azerbaijan through private sector operations.

"In the past year, we signed agreements on two large-scale solar energy projects here: one called Banka, and another, the Bilasuvar solar power plant. The combined capacity of these projects is about 760 megawatts, jointly developed by Masdar and SOCAR Green. Their total value is around $600 million, for which we provided long-term loans with key guarantees. The electricity is purchased by Azerenerji, while the developers are SOCAR Green and Masdar," Malik said.

He added that ADB is also collaborating with Masdar on the "Gobustan" wind energy project with a capacity of 220 megawatts,

"Financing will be provided by Masdar, and the project is expected to be completed in the near future, likely by the end of next year," he stated.

In addition, Malik highlighted opportunities for ADB to participate in wastewater treatment projects in Azerbaijan.

"We focus on desalination and wastewater treatment initiatives. For instance, ADB has been appointed as a transaction advisor for the Govsan wastewater treatment plant and is providing advisory services within a public-private partnership framework," he explained.

He further emphasized the banks cooperation with Azerbaijans financial sector and its interest in expanding activities in this area.

"We are also working with financial institutions and taking part in the agricultural sector. For example, in 2024, we finalized a transaction with one local company and are exploring future opportunities.

Overall, we consider the Azerbaijani market attractive, particularly in financing private sector projects in renewable energy and wastewater treatment. We are optimistic about Azerbaijans economy and market. With the countrys credit rating improving, ADB has greater opportunities to provide loans and invest. Currently, the banks non-sovereign (private) operations in Azerbaijan amount to about $200 million, mainly directed to renewable energy. We are ready to increase this figure, as Azerbaijans investment-grade rating opens new avenues for financing and investment," Malik added.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. British investors and companies are showing significant interest in Azerbaijan, and there is confidence that these opportunities will materialize, Fergus Auld, British ambassador to Azerbaijan, told Trend.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Baku Climate Action Week (BCAW), Auld, attending the BCAW for the second time, expressed satisfaction with the events growth and impact.

The Baku Climate Action Week was first held last year and marked an important beginning. This year, it has been organized on a broader and more successful scale. Azerbaijan hosting COP29 is a major achievement and provides an important opportunity not only for governments but also for businesses and individuals to respond to climate challenges. The ambitions in the renewable energy sector are encouraging. There are plans for attracting and expanding investments. What matters is that all commitments are fulfilled. Azerbaijan has significant potential in solar, wind, and hydro energy both on land and at sea, and faster progress can be made, he said.

The ambassador also pointed out the golden opportunities for the UK and Azerbaijan to swap notes on renewable energy expertise.

For example, bp is investing in the Shafag solar power plant in Jabrayil, which will also contribute to the decarbonization of the Sangachal terminal. British investors and companies are highly interested in Azerbaijan, and we believe these opportunities will become a reality, Auld added.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. Law enforcement agencies must play a central role in addressing climate change, Azerbaijani Prosecutor General Kamran Aliyev said during Baku Climate Action Week (BCAW), Trend reports.

Aliyev underscored that safeguarding the environment and tackling ecological misdeeds have turned into global headaches that call for a united front.

Azerbaijan has consistently raised the issue of involving law enforcement in the climate agenda on the international stage. At COP29 in Baku, in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Ministry of Interior of the UAE, a high-level session was organized, resulting in the adoption of the Baku Declaration calling for action, he said.

He went on to say that the joint projects started in Baku are still going strong today and that Azerbaijan would shortly present its expertise at the next COP30 conference in Brazil.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. The commitments made at COP29 in Baku must be transformed into concrete actions that communities and citizens can witness, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Executive Secretary Simon Stiell said in a video address to participants of the Baku Climate Action Week, Trend reports.

Stiell pointed out the need to roll national climate plans into investable local solutions that draw in both public and private investment, while setting up predictable political frameworks and syncing business strategies.

When national climate plans align with agreed-upon business strategies, climate action becomes easier to scale and harder to reverse. The private sector plays a key role here, demonstrating ambition not just through goal-setting, but through real investments today, Stiell said.

He mentioned that these moves open doors for green technologies and bolster governments' confidence to aim higher. To attract significant private investment, Stiell said two factors are essential: project packages that combine national priorities with business interests, and innovative partnerships blending public and private financing.

Stiell highlighted that these measures are critical not only for emission reductions but also for climate adaptation.

No company can thrive on a planet where systems are collapsing. Adaptation safeguards growth, stability, and prosperity, he said.

Governments must provide transparent, predictable conditions that reduce investor risk and encourage long-term solutions, while the private sector should contribute capital as well as share data, technology, and expertise to scale solutions.

The Baku Climate Action Week is focused on this, moving from promises to projects and from ambition to action. We need to demonstrate that climate action is not a cost but a pathway to strong economies, resilient societies, and a safer world, Stiell noted.

The official wrapped things up by hammering home the importance of capitalizing on the momentum gained in Baku as they head toward Belem.

Lets use this moment to develop projects, partnerships, and policies that turn commitments into tangible results, the UN climate chief said.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. Moving from negotiations to integrating climate action into the very DNA of economies is essential, Maria Fernanda Espinosa, President of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), said at the Baku Climate Action Week 2025, Trend reports.

Espinosa noted that the global community agreed on a new collective target to mobilize at least $300 billion annually at COP29 in Baku, marking a key step toward achieving $1.3 trillion in climate financing.

Today we must move from negotiations to integrating climate action into the DNA of our economies, governance, and international systems, Espinosa emphasized.

She emphasized that notwithstanding geopolitical frictions, escalating disparities, and worldwide emergencies, multilateral collaboration persists as the singular mechanism adept at providing resolutions commensurate with the magnitude and urgency dictated by scientific imperatives and climate exigencies.



Espinosa also highlighted that in the periphery of the UN General Assembly, approximately 100 nations, accounting for two-thirds of global emissions, unveiled new nationally determined contributions. In 2024, capital allocations towards renewable energy technologies eclipsed the $2 trillion mark, outpacing traditional hydrocarbon investments for the inaugural instance.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. Azerbaijan has managed to fulfill all the promises made in the preparation and conduct of COP29 and continues to be a leader in the global climate agenda, the President of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly, Maria Fernanda Espinosa said, Trend reports.

She made the remark on the sidelines of the Baku Climate Action Week 2025 event.

According to her, despite the difficult international situation, including more than 100 armed conflicts, energy and financial crises, Azerbaijan has fully ensured the organization of the COP29 conference, fulfilling key tasks to launch new climate financing of $300 billion, create and fully operationalize the Loss and Damage Fund, and adopt decisions on carbon markets (Article 6 of the Paris Agreement).

Everything that was expected of Azerbaijan was achieved, from logistics and organization to real results in the negotiations. This was not a one-off success: we see that the country continues to demonstrate a national priority in the climate agenda, Espinosa emphasized.

Speaking about the prospects for 2030, the former president of the UN General Assembly noted that the world is facing not just climate change, but a climate crisis that threatens the lives of millions of people. Moreover, she noted that the scientific knowledge, technology, and resources to overcome this crisis already exist.

What we lack is political will and responsibility. Even with the new commitments made by countries under the Paris Agreement, we are still not on track to meet the 1.5-degree target. Experts are now talking about the risk of exceeding the 3-degree threshold, which would mean the disappearance of many countries, including small island states, she pointed out.

Espinosa stressed the necessity of increasing resources, large-scale implementation of low-carbon technologies, and science-based decision-making.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. Decarbonization is not only a task for governments; it stems from the daily activities of every enterprise, and companies need a clear framework and direction, the head of climate change and sustainability services in Central Asia at EY, Victor Kovalenko said, Trend reports.

He made the announcement at Climate Action Week in Baku.

Kovalenko noted that when companies see that climate change poses specific risks to their operations, this issue becomes part of risk management:

Risk management is a concept that every business understands. When climate change has a real financial impact, costs, risks, and opportunities, companies start to take action. Because then it's not just about the environment, but also about money, competitiveness, and long-term sustainability, he emphasized.

According to Kovalenko, climate change should be treated as an environmental and economic priority: The risks are real, and the opportunities are real. When governments and businesses work together, we can manage these risks and build a cleaner, more sustainable, and more profitable economy at the same time.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, September 29. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Italian President Sergio Mattarella held official talks during Mattarellas first state visit to Kazakhstan, highlighting the longstanding friendship and partnership between the two countries, Trend reports.

Tokayev said the visit would provide a strong impetus for further development of bilateral ties. Mr. President, I am very pleased to welcome you as our guest. This is your first official visit to Kazakhstan, and it is highly significant as it will, without doubt, open a new chapter in our relations. Kazakhstan and Italy enjoy warm relations and strong economic contacts. In various sectors, we achieve high results in cooperation. As President, I am ready to personally contribute to strengthening our relations, he said.

President Mattarella thanked Tokayev for the hospitality and emphasized the importance of deepening bilateral ties. I am pleased to be here and to meet with you following your visit to Rome last January. As you noted, our countries have excellent relations that continue to strengthen, becoming more intensive and fruitful. Year by year, our economic, trade, and cultural cooperation is actively developing, and collaboration between our universities is growing. Thank you for your friendship, he said.

The leaders also discussed key issues in bilateral relations, as well as regional and international agendas. Tokayev conveyed greetings and best wishes to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during the meeting.
Energy Vault Holdings has signed a funding agreement with YA II PN for up to $50m in corporate debenture financing.

The agreement will provide Energy Vault with additional capital flexibility to support its energy storage development and execution activities.

The companys expanding portfolio includes operating assets in the US states of Texas and California, the recently acquired 1 gigawatt hour Stoney Creek project in Australia, and a 3GW global pipeline of battery energy storage systems across the US, Europe and Australia.

Energy Vault focuses on the development, deployment and operation of large-scale energy storage solutions, providing sustainable energy storage worldwide.

The company's services include battery, gravity and green hydrogen energy storage technologies.

Energy Vault chief financial officer Michael Beer stated: This new facility provides Energy Vault with the working capital resources to continue scaling our business and delivering on our growth projects without constraint.

Importantly, this cash is in addition to the preferred equity we previously announced in support of owning and operating energy assets, ensuring incremental liquidity for Energy Vault Holdings as we expand our third-party project pipeline.

The new funding agreement has come following the recently announced $300m preferred equity investment with an infrastructure investor, which remains subject to final closure.

The $300m transaction will establish Asset Vault as a fully consolidated subsidiary focused on owning and operating storage assets backed by long-term offtake agreements.

These agreements aim to achieve monetisation, advance the companys independent power producer (IPP) strategy and generate high-margin contracted cash flows.

In November 2024, the company disclosed plans for the 57MW/114 megawatt-hour Cross Trails BESS (battery energy storage system) in Scurry County, Texas.

"Energy Vault secures $50m for energy storage development" was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




ASTANA, Kazakhstan, September 29. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has awarded Italian President Sergio Mattarella the Order of Dostyk (Friendship) I Degree in recognition of his exceptional contributions to strengthening friendship and cooperation between Kazakhstan and Italy, Trend reports.

Speaking at the award ceremony, President Tokayev emphasized that the honor reflects the sincere respect of the Kazakh people and symbolizes the warm and friendly feelings toward the Italian people as a whole.

President Mattarella is a leader supported by his people and a statesman of global stature, Tokayev said. You have made a significant contribution to the development and prosperity of your country. Today, Italy has achieved remarkable progress across all spheres and is counted among the worlds leading nations. The country implements innovative projects in the economy and technology, undertakes key initiatives in ecology and green energy, and preserves a rich cultural heritage that belongs to all humanity. Italy also plays a vital role in regional and global security and actively engages in international affairs. All of this is a result of your measured and effective leadership. I am confident that under your guidance, Italy will continue to reach new heights.

President Tokayev also highlighted Mattarellas personal role in deepening Kazakh-Italian relations.

Our political dialogue operates at a high level, and trade, economic, cultural, and humanitarian ties are steadily strengthening. We have built close cooperation within multilateral frameworks, and I particularly appreciate your efforts in this regard. Thanks to our joint work, the friendship between our peoples will continue to grow. I am confident that the agreements reached during todays meetings will give additional momentum to our strategic partnership. We are ready to work together toward this goal, he added.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, September 29. President of Italy Sergio Mattarella awarded Kazakhstans President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, the countrys highest state decoration, during an official ceremony, Trend reports.

Addressing the award, President Mattarella noted that the honor is reserved exclusively for heads of state who have made significant contributions to strengthening friendship with Italy. He praised President Tokayev for his efforts in promoting international order, maintaining peace, and advancing ongoing cooperation between Italy and Kazakhstan.

In response, President Tokayev expressed his deep gratitude, calling it a great honor to receive Italys highest state award from President Mattarella and highlighting it as a symbol of the strong and enduring partnership between the two countries.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. Kyrgyzstan has proposed introducing the concept of hybrid resilience into the framework of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), said Shumkarbek Adilbek uulu, Deputy Director of the National Institute of Strategic Initiatives under the President of Kyrgyzstan, Trend reports.

He made the remark as he addressed a conference of think tanks from OTS member states in Baku.

According to Adilbek uulu, the concept would enable countries to maintain stability and functionality in the face of military, economic, cyber, disinformation, and climate-related threats.

He noted that OTS countries could also adopt standardized emergency response guidelines and unified protocols for coordination with law enforcement, allowing for rapid mutual assistance. Plans are also underway to launch microgrant programs for research groups and think tanks to support infrastructure protection, counter disinformation, and promote sustainable development.

Adilbek uulu emphasized that growing global instability - caused by the war in Ukraine, the crisis in the Middle East, and the spread of hybrid threats - makes coordinated action among member states increasingly urgent.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, September 29. Kyrgyzstan has formally joined the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), marking a significant step in the countrys long-standing commitment to global security and non-proliferation, Trend reports.

The announcement came on September 26, 2025, during a high-level plenary session in New York dedicated to the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons. Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubaev emphasized that nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation remain key priorities of the countrys foreign policy.

Kyrgyzstans accession to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons is a natural continuation of our efforts to strengthen international security and support non-proliferation, Kulubaev said.

The minister also highlighted Central Asias contribution to global security, noting the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia, for which Kyrgyzstan serves as depositary. He further recalled Kyrgyzstans initiative to establish the International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Education, celebrated annually on March 5, which has received unanimous support from the UN General Assembly.

Following the plenary session, Kyrgyzstan officially signed the TPNW, reinforcing the countrys reputation as a reliable international partner committed to fulfilling its global obligations.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, September 29.The Kyrgyz Parliament has given the green light to a multi-million dollar grant agreement with the State of Qatar, set aside for the expansion of a vital medical facility in the capital, and the funds will finance the construction of a new wing for the Bishkek Clinical Hospital for Emergency Medicine, Trend reports.

The deal, inked on April 10, 2025, finally got the green light from lawmakers on September 26, opening the floodgates to $9.24 million in development aid. The project is designed to significantly increase the hospital's patient capacity and enhance the overall quality of its emergency medical services.

A thorough rundown of the grant distribution reveals a keen eye on infrastructure and equipment, hitting the nail on the head with its priorities. A substantial allocation of the capital, specifically 90 percent or $8,316,000, is earmarked for the construction phase, encompassing the outfitting of the new wing with state-of-the-art medical apparatus and furnishings. An additional 7 percent ($646,800) is earmarked for consultancy expenditures, whereas the residual 3 percent ($277,200) is designated for the Qatari contingent to address project management administrative overheads.

The Qatar Development Fund will orchestrate a procurement process to identify contracting entities for the initiative, with the solicitation accessible to firms from both the Kyrgyz and Qatari sectors.



In alignment with the stipulations of the grant agreement, the Kyrgyz contingent has also pledged to execute public engagement and communication initiatives in accordance with a strategic media framework delineated by Qatar. This provision guarantees synergistic dissemination of public intelligence initiatives in relation to the execution of the project.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, September 29. Kyrgyzstan's Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubayev, during a chinwag at the 80th UN General Assembly session, has rolled out the red carpet for UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock, inviting her to the "Bishkek+25" global mountain summit, set to take place in 2027, Trend reports.

Minister Kulubayev underscored that the elevated summit will concentrate on the paradigm of sustainable development within mountainous terrains, tackling complexities such as climate variability, hydrological security, and the safeguarding of ecological systems.



The assembly also encompassed Kyrgyzstan's recent diplomatic milestones, highlighting the fruitful culmination of border delineation negotiations with adjacent nations  a progression regarded as pivotal for geopolitical equilibrium and economic synergy.



Furthermore, Minister Kulubayev articulated endorsement for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's "UN-80" reform initiative, highlighting Kyrgyzstan's dedication to the evolution of international governance paradigms.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, September 29. Kyrgyzstans Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubayev has formally requested the easing of U.S. visa requirements for Kyrgyz citizens during a meeting with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly, Trend reports.

Meanwhile, the appeal comes against the backdrop of recent significant restrictions imposed by Washington, which have hampered travel and business ties

The discussion positioned the visa issue as critical for strengthening bilateral relations. Minister Kulubayev coupled his request for visa liberalization with a call for a "balanced approach" on sanction-related matters, with both sides agreeing to maintain dialogue.

Minister Kulubayev explicitly stated Bishkek's interest in attracting American investment and advanced technologies, assuring that Kyrgyzstan is prepared to create favorable conditions for U.S. businesses. The officials also reviewed prospects for broader regional collaboration within the C5+1 diplomatic format (Central Asian nations + the United States), a vital channel for discussing economic and security partnerships.

The Kyrgyz appeal responds to a series of punitive measures from the U.S. side:

Recent restrictions: In July, the U.S. Embassy in Bishkek drastically shortened the validity of non-immigrant visas for Kyrgyz citizens to a mere three-month, single-entry period.

Threat of travel ban: As reported by The Washington Post, the U.S. administration is considering adding Kyrgyzstan to an expanded travel ban list. In mid-June, a letter signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio gave Kyrgyzstan and 35 other countries a 60-day deadline to meet undisclosed U.S. requirements or face a full or partial entry ban.

In response, Kyrgyz authorities have been actively engaged in consultations, with the Foreign Ministry summoning a U.S. Embassy consul for discussions in June.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, September 29. Kyrgyzstans Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubayev, during a meeting with Germanys Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs, Johannes Wadephul, has pitched German businesses on new investment opportunities, promising "favorable conditions" for joint projects and private capital, Trend reports.

He made the remark on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly. The talks focused heavily on revitalizing an economic partnership that has recently faltered.

The Kyrgyz solicitation for German investment is imbued with a palpable sense of immediacy. Minister Kulubayev's pledge to create a welcoming investment climate is set against a stark backdrop: according to the provided data, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from Germany to Kyrgyzstan plummeted from $19.6 million in the first half of last year to just $1.2 million in the same period this year - a drop of nearly 94 percent.

The two officials identified several promising sectors for cooperation, with a notable emphasis on critical minerals, alongside hydroelectric power, agriculture, transport infrastructure, and tourism. This aligns with the European Union's and Germany's strategic push to diversify supply chains for the raw materials essential to the green and digital transitions.

The German contingent acknowledged Kyrgyzstan's recent achievements in the resolution of its border disputes with adjacent nations, highlighting this as a significant enhancement to regional stabilitya critical element for mitigating investment risks and elevating the nation's risk assessment profile.



Both ministers articulated their preparedness to sustain a proactive discourse and enhance the partnership continuum, proffering reciprocal invitations for formal engagements to fortify political and economic synergies.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, September 29.The Kyrgyz Ministry of Culture has announced a "Month of Open Doors" initiative, granting free admission to all state museums throughout October, Trend reports.

The program, timed to mark the 100th anniversary of the country's first museum, is designed to broaden public access to national heritage. From October 1 through 30, visitors can waltz right in for free to both the permanent and temporary exhibitions sprinkled throughout the national museum network.

The initiative includes more than just free admission. The ministry has organized specialized tours for different demographic groups, historical and cultural excursions, public lectures, and hands-on masterclasses.

In a statement, the Ministry of Culture positioned the "Month of Open Doors" as a strategic cultural project. The stated goals are to foster a deeper public connection with Kyrgyzstan's national heritage, stimulate interest in history, and cultivate patriotism among the youth.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, September 29. President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, held a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin and discussed current issues in Tajik-Russian bilateral relations and exchange views on key international developments, Trend reports via Tajik president's office.

The heads of state conducted a comprehensive assessment of the agenda for forthcoming strategic engagements in both bilateral and multilateral frameworks, underscoring the imperative of sustained collaboration and synergistic alignment between the two nations.



The most recent bilateral engagement between the two leaders transpired on the periphery of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in early September 2025. They are strategizing additional high-level interactions, including a potential state visit by President Vladimir Putin to Dushanbe in October, aimed at fortifying their collaborative alliance.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Now that the US Federal Reserve has embarked on a policy easing cycle, with some other central banks around the world following suit, property investors must treat these changes as temporary and remember that there is no substitute for proper research into specific markets and assets, according to consultants.

The Fed cut its target rate by 25 basis points to a range of 4 to 4.25 per cent during the sixth meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee last week. The Fed's easing was widely expected and is seen as the start of an easing cycle that is likely to extend into next year.

Given the outsize influence of US monetary policy on the global economy and with the US dollar remaining the main currency for worldwide trade, the Fed's decision is likely to trigger similar easing steps for other central banks. Add in the complexities of regulation, taxation and borrowing across borders, and investors considering property assets across the globe must plan carefully, according to Liam Bailey, global head of research at Knight Frank.

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.

"Investors need to think very clearly about their objectives," he said. "What are they seeking to achieve? Is the investment about securing an income stream, or capital growth or about a defensive strategy - to put money into what they perceive as a safe-haven market?"

Across all markets, investors must engage in deep research, considering currency impacts, entry and exit taxes, financing, running costs and liquidity, he said. "Treat policy as a live variable rather than a constant," he added.

For investors based in Hong Kong, where the local currency is pegged to the US dollar, it was imperative to be savvy and watchful for any sudden shift in US monetary policy, advisers said.

For investors looking at opportunities abroad, the challenge was more significant.

"Things to watch out for include currency risk, as exchange-rate shifts can make your monthly payments more expensive, and the complexities of foreign laws and taxes, which can be very different from Hong Kong," said Kashif Ansari, co-founder and group CEO of Juwai IQI, a global real estate network with more than 50,000 agents and more than 50 offices across more than 30 countries.

Investors with ample cash, such as many mainland Chinese investors, can avoid the complexities of international borrowing and have an advantage in bidding for properties, Ansari said.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, September 29. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has signed a law ratifying Uzbekistans accession to the 1963 Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage, Trend reports.

The decision also paves the way for deeper cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, supports the development of peaceful nuclear projects, and creates conditions for establishing an effective insurance and compensation system. This, authorities stressed, is one of the core prerequisites for the safe and sustainable development of Uzbekistans nuclear industry.

Officials in Tashkent noted that joining the Convention will provide Uzbekistan with access to internationally recognized legal tools, increase trust in the countrys nuclear safety system, and strengthen preparedness for potential emergencies.

The Convention defines key international legal norms governing liability for damage caused by accidents at civilian nuclear facilities. It assigns primary responsibility to nuclear operators, guarantees victims right to compensation, and sets minimum financial requirements for compensation mechanisms.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, September 29. Uzbekistans Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov held a phone conversation with Kazakhstans newly appointed Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev, Trend reports via Uzbek MFA.

Saidov congratulated Kosherbayev on his appointment and wished him success in his new role. The ministers discussed further expansion of strategic partnership and alliance ties between the two countries, as well as cooperation within regional and international institutions.

Both foreign ministries underscored their commitment to closely coordinate on the implementation of agreements reached between the leaders of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. The United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolution 2231, adopted under the framework of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), will be deemed terminated on 18 October 2025, Irans Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, wrote on his official X page, Trend reports.

According to him, the UN Security Councils failure to extend Resolution 2231 reflects a so-called rules-based order, where a decision was made and the other three parties merely executed it.

Baghaei noted that, despite pressure from the United States and the European trio (UK, France, and Germany), 6 of the Security Councils 15 members refrained from supporting the reinstatement of previously repealed resolutions against Iran. This highlights a clear division within the council, as roughly half of its members, including the two permanent members, do not consider reimposing sanctions on Iran to be either legal or justified.

"The E3s abuse of process cannot alter the legal reality: Resolution 2231 will be deemed terminated on 18 October 2025, as explicitly provided in the resolution itself. Any attempt by the E3 or the United States to revive terminated sanctions is null and void, he stated.

On September 26, the UN Security Council convened to review the draft resolution submitted by Russia and China aimed at extending the term of Resolution 2231 and blocking the activation of the Snapback mechanism. The vote saw four members in favor, nine opposed, and two abstentions. As a result, starting September 28, the Security Councils resolutions targeting Iran have been reinstated.

On July 20, 2015, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2231, which annulled six previous resolutions against Iran and lifted wide-ranging sanctions connected to its nuclear program.

Under Articles 36 and 37 of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), if a member state files a complaint over another partys violation of the deal, a review process begins. If the issue is not resolved, the complainant can escalate it to the UN Security Council. Should the Council accept the complaint against Iran, international sanctions may be reactivated, and the Council may even authorize military action against Iran.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. The foreign ministers of the E3 (UK, France and Germany) issued a joint statement on the activation of the 'snapback' mechanism, which envisages the reinstatement of UN Security Council resolutions against Iran, Trend reports.

The statement pointed out that the E3 foreign ministers continue to share the fundamental objective that Iran shall never seek, acquire or develop a nuclear weapon.

With this objective in mind, the E3 countries agreed first the Joint Plan of Action (JPoA) in 2013 and subsequently the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) in 2015, together with the US, Russia and China, and it's due to Irans persistent and significant non-performance of its JCPoA commitments that the E3 triggered the 'snapback' mechanism on August 28, 2025.

The statement added that the E3 welcomes the re-instatement since 20:00 EDT (00:00 GMT) on September 27, 2025 of Resolutions 1696 (2006), 1737 (2006), 1747 (2007), 1803 (2008), 1835 (2008), and 1929 (2010) after completion of the snapback process as provided for in UN Security Council Resolution 2231, urging Iran and all states to abide fully by these resolutions.

The statement said that these resolutions are not new: they contain a set of sanctions and other restrictive measures that were previously imposed by the UN Security Council and relate to Irans proliferation activities.

Those measures were lifted by the Council in the context of the JCPoA, at a time when Iran had committed to ensuring its nuclear programme was exclusively peaceful. Given that Iran repeatedly breached these commitments, the E3 had no choice but to trigger the snapback procedure, at the end of which those resolutions were brought back into force.

"Since 2019, Iran has exceeded all limits on its nuclear programme that it had freely committed to under the JCPoA. According to the IAEAs report of 4 September 2025, Iran holds a quantity of enriched uranium which is 48 times the JCPoA limit. Today, Irans stockpile is entirely outside of IAEA monitoring. This includes 10 Significant Quantities of High Enriched Uranium (HEU)  10 times the approximate amount of nuclear material for which the possibility of manufacturing a nuclear explosive device cannot be excluded. Iran has no credible civilian justification whatsoever for its HEU stockpile. No other country without a nuclear weapons programme enriches uranium to such levels and at this scale," the statement noted.

According to the statement, despite these long-standing violations, the E3 have continuously made every effort to avoid triggering snapback, bring Iran back into compliance and reach a durable and comprehensive diplomatic resolution.

"We triggered the JCPoAs dispute resolution mechanism in January 2020 as acknowledged by the JCPoA coordinator. In 2020 and 2021 we engaged in months of talks with the aim of fully restoring the JCPoA and returning the United States to the deal. Instead, Iran chose to reject two offers put on the table by the JCPoA coordinator in 2022 and to further expand its nuclear activities in clear breach of its JCPoA commitments.

In July 2025, we offered Iran a limited, one-time snapback extension provided that Iran agreed to resume direct and unconditional negotiations with the United States, return to compliance with its legally binding safeguards obligations, and address its high enriched uranium stockpile. These measures were fair and achievable. Iran did not engage seriously with this offer," the statement mentioned.

The statement added that on August 28, in view of Irans continued nuclear escalation, France, Germany and the UK initiated the 'snapback' mechanism as a last resort, in accordance with paragraph 11 of Security Council Resolution 2231.

"This began a 30-day process designed to give Iran an opportunity to address concerns over its nuclear programme. Our snapback extension offer remained on the table during that period.

Regrettably, Iran did not take the necessary actions to address our concerns, nor to meet our asks on extension, despite extensive dialogue, including during United Nations High-Level Week.

In particular, Iran has not authorised IAEA inspectors to regain access to Irans nuclear sites, nor has it produced and transmitted to the IAEA a report accounting for its stockpile of high-enriched uranium," the statement further said.

Per the communique, on September 19, in alignment with UNSCR 2231, the Security Council deliberated and cast votes on a resolution aimed at perpetuating the sanctions-lifting framework concerning Iran.



The result of the electoral process was a definitive negative response.



This resolution unequivocally conveyed that all sovereign entities are mandated to adhere to their global accords and responsibilities pertaining to the non-proliferation of nuclear armaments.



The communique underscored that France, Germany, and the UK are now prioritizing, with immediate effect, the rapid reinstatement of constraints mandated by these resolutions, in alignment with the E3 commitments as UN member entities, compelling all UN member states to execute these punitive measures.

The E3 will persist in leveraging diplomatic channels and engaging in multifaceted negotiations.



The reinstatement of UN sanctions does not signify the cessation of diplomatic engagement.



Europe implores Iran to abstain from any provocative maneuvers and to reestablish adherence to its obligatory safeguards commitments as delineated by international law.



The E3 will persist in engaging with all stakeholders to facilitate a novel diplomatic resolution aimed at guaranteeing that Iran does not acquire nuclear armament capabilities.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Shippers generally feel surcharges are fair when projected demand abruptly exceeds capacity because carriers do a lot of seasonal hiring and training, lease extra aircraft and other equipment, and take on other expenditures to ensure continuity of operations. In 2013, a spike in demand combined with blizzards severely impacted parcel carriers on-time performance, upsetting retailers and their customers, and prompting the move to demand surcharges the following year.

[At] the height of the Covid time period, e-commerce shipments are going bananas, carriers are being pushed to the limits of their capacity, theres some validity to pretty extreme demand surcharges in that timeframe, said Glenn Gooding, president of iDrive Logistics on a recent episode of his Parcel Perspectives podcast . Its 2025. Retail sales are down. The market is struggling. Carriers are compressing or reducing their capacity. Theyre making staffing reductions, so the optics do not look too good when youre talking about a carrier [UPS] thats doing early buyouts, layoffs, shutting down operations, drawing down volumes in other places while simultaneously coming to you saying, We need to impose demand surcharges. 

UPS on Sunday began applying an $8.25 charge for packages that require additional handling, which will rise to $10.80 on Nov. 23. Beginning Oct. 26, ground and overnight air shipments will be hit with 40 cent and $1.10 surcharges , respectively, rising to 60 cents and $2.05 per package a month later. FedEx, the U.S. Postal Service, Amazon, regional carrier OnTrac and others have also announced demand surcharges. At least 10 smaller carriers have not announced surcharges so far, according to a recent tally by e-commerce logistics consultant Nate Skiver.

Peak volume has been essentially flat year over year since 2021. ShipMatrix estimates that 2.3 billion packages will be delivered in the United States during the peak season, 5% higher than the same period of 2024, mostly because of an extra shopping day this year.

Average daily volume for the busy holiday shopping season is expected to increase by low double-digits from earlier this year, compared to a nearly 100% increase in 2013 and a 50% surge during the 2020 pandemic, according to new research by ShipMatrix, a consulting and technology firm that helps businesses manage their parcel spending.

Peak season surcharges by major parcel carriers have been routine for more than a decade, but in a year when demand growth is forecast to be muted critics are questioning the fees rationale and warning they will cause a further exodus of e-commerce shippers to alternative delivery companies.

Story Continues

(Source: ShipMatrix)

Implementing such fees in a softer environment is short-sighted, said ShipMatrix President Satish Jindel. The surcharges will generate more revenue for incumbent carriers, but encourage large retailers and venture-backed regional carriers to invest more in their own delivery networks. Even Uber and DoorDash are offering last-mile delivery today.

They are trying to make up for slower revenue growth with surcharges, but this is further contributing to diversion of volumes to other options because people dont see a justification for them given that peak volumes are not spiking, Jindel said in an interview. Its a short-term financial gain for a long-term decline in your business model.

Last-mile alternatives

Parcel experts say the playing field has become more level in the past five years as independent carriers became more mature, tech-enabled and reliable.

The elimination by FedEx and UPS of commercial discounts for large shippers and annual rate increases, on top of demand surcharges, have also pushed customers to switch to alternative carriers, AFS Logistics and financial services firm TD Cowen reported earlier this year. In April, a ShipMatrix analysis showed that FedEx and UPS are losing parcel market share to Amazon, Walmart, Target and independent carriers like OnTrac, Veho, Jitsu, and UniUni.

In the first-half of the year, total U.S. domestic parcel volumes increased for Amazon by 6.1% and for FedEx by 5% from the prior year. UPS and the U.S. Postal Service saw volumes decrease 5.4% and 6.7%, respectively. The volume lost by UPS and USPS combined was more than Amazon and FedEx together gained. The additional 102 million packages in the system were either handled by the private networks of large retailers like Walmart or tendered to other carriers, according to the latest ShipMatrix data.

Amazons gain is likely related to its recent $4 billion expansion of Same-Day and Next-Day service to small communities and UPSs gradual decoupling from half of its Amazon business to focus on higher-yielding business, ShipMatrix said.

Walmart in May said the number of online orders delivered within less than three hours grew by 91% year over year, and that store-fulfilled delivery sales are up by 50%. And Target this month said it is expanding next-day delivery to the top 35 metro areas as it refines how to use stores as fulfillment hubs. Such store-to-door deliveries by retailers are converting more parcels into same-day local deliveries, which is also shrinking the addressable market for FedEx, UPS and the U.S. Postal Service.

Although Postal Service surcharges are less than those of FedEx and UPS, it is imposing them despite having twice as much capacity (85 million packages per day) as projected demand on the busiest day of peak season, ShipMatrix noted.

Jindel said the three legacy carriers should lower peak surcharges in 2026 to help regain lost volume. Alternatively, they could just apply the surcharges for Cyber Week and Christmas week. Without changes, Amazon, Walmart and the independent carriers will deliver more parcels than the big three carriers combined by 2027, he predicted.

Shippers should evaluate if they can offer the same level of free shipping as earlier in the year, said Gooding from iDrive Logistics, and work with carriers for some surcharge givebacks in return for supportive measures such as weekly or day-off planning forecasts and having pickups ready early in the day or on weekends.

The trend to diversify carriers will continue with the spread of multi-carrier shipping software, retailers increased use of gig workers using personal vehicles, and savings from less expensive carriers outweighing incentives from incumbent operators, Timur Eligulashvili, president and founder of Austin, Texas-based Logistics Remix, a firm that helps businesses save money on small parcel shipping, said on LinkedIn.

Click here for more FreightWaves/American Shipper stories by Eric Kulisch.

Write to Eric Kulisch at ekulisch@freightwaves.com.

RELATED STORIES:

Parcel carriers hike surcharges for busy holiday season

USPS seeks demand surcharge for holiday season parcel deliveries

DHL Express Miami air hub meets the moment for peak season

FedEx and UPS cease parcel discounts, weaponize fuel surcharges: report

OnTrac challenges FedEx, UPS with cross-country delivery services

The post FedEx, UPS peak season surcharges could drive shippers to competitors appeared first on FreightWaves.
Tweet tweet button for twitter

Published September 29, 2025

CAPTION: Back row L-R: Alice Prophit, President & CEO, Living Well Foundation; Dr. Gina Craft, Interim Dean of ULM College of Pharmacy; Dr. Angela Moore, Clinical Asst. Professor; Dr. Ashley Barbo, Clinical Assoc. Professor; Dr. Emily McGee, Clinical Asst. Professor; Abhishek Amgain, Computer Science student; Dinesh Chhantyal, Computer Science student; Dr. Prasanthi Sreekumari, Assoc. Professor, Computer Science; Dr. Michelle McEacharn, Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs; Front row L-R: ULM College of Pharmacy students Marie Grisafe, Caitlyn Breedlove, Kaitlyn Edwards, Anaya Whitney

MONROE, LA  The University of Louisiana Monroe College of Pharmacy has been awarded a grant in the amount of $10,436 from the Living Well Foundation to support the Rural Health Stroke Education Project. The grant was recognized at a ceremony at the College of Pharmacy on September 17, 2025. The initiative focuses on education and technology to help frontline providers deliver lifesaving treatment faster and more safely.

The Rural Health Stroke Education Project is led by Emily McGee, PharmD, BCEMP, BCPS, NREMT, Clinical Assistant Professor in the College of Pharmacy and Emergency Medicine Clinical Pharmacy Specialist.

This initiative is about building confidence, reducing delays, and ultimately impacting the lives of our patients in Ouachita Parish and surrounding areas. By equipping rural providers with education and tools, we can improve outcomes for patients who might otherwise face devastating consequences of stroke, said McGee.

Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. In rural communities, limited resources and longer response times often lead to worse outcomes. Timely administration of clot-busting medications is proven to improve stroke outcomes and recovery, but their use can be complicated.

With the grant from the Living Well Foundation, the ULM College of Pharmacy is launching a comprehensive educational program that includes on-site training at rural emergency departments and EMS bases, quick-reference tools, and hands-on practice for rural healthcare providers. The program also features a new webpage and mobile app developed in collaboration with ULM Computer Science students that provides real-time stroke management guidance and clinical pharmacy expertise.

We are pleased to be a part of an important education project with the ULM College of Pharmacy, said Alice Prophit, President and CEO of the Living Well Foundation. These life-saving stroke medication interventions are vital to the well-being of people in our rural parishes in northeast Louisiana. The perspectives Dr. McGee has developed for the support of those frontline providers to be prepared for services at the point of first intervention will save lives within the most crucial moments of a stroke. Were proud of our ULM College of Pharmacy and the opportunities for students to learn from these important strategies, Prophit added.

McGee states that the project not only strengthens rural healthcare but also highlights the growing role of pharmacists in emergency medicine and emphasizes their role as members of the interdisciplinary team. Pharmacy students will join the sessions to gain valuable interdisciplinary experience working alongside EMS, nurses, and physicians.

Also contributing to the project are College of Pharmacy faculty Ashley Barbo, PharmD, and Angela Moore, PharmD, BSN, as well as Computer Science Program Chair Prasanthi Sreekumari, Ph.D.

Student contributors include, from the College of Pharmacy Jodi Bourgiois, Caitlyn Breedlove, Kaitlyn Edwards, Marie Grisaffe, and Anaya Whitney, and from the Computer Science Program, Abhishek Amgain and Dinesh Chhantyal.

McGee says the project began in the summer of 2025, with the group making preparations to provide education to rural emergency departments and EMS bases in and surrounding Ouachita Parish. The first training session will take place on October 2, and sessions will continue throughout the region through November 2026.

The webpage created for the project is currently live and will be introduced to healthcare providers at each session. The page is a reference designed to provide rapid access to essential information in time-sensitive stroke management, offering guidance on medication use, including complex dose calculations and eligibility criteria that are critical for safe and effective stroke management. The webpage can be viewed at codestrokepro.org.

The Living Well Foundation is a non-profit public charity created from the sale of a local public hospital in 2006. Grants and initiatives are funded to improve the health and well-being of populations in 8 parishes within northeast Louisiana. More information can be found at livingwellfoundation.net.
NIH Funds First-of-its-Kind Center to Study Resilience and Aging

Americas population is the oldest it has ever been. And though older people are more independent than ever, they face a huge care gap, one that challenges families, communities, and health care systems.

Enter the Center for Seniors Uniting Nationwide to Support Health, Integrated care, and Economics, known as the Center for SUNSHINE, an interdisciplinary collaboration funded by a $901,000 grant from the National Institute on Aging for the first two years to establish the center, with the potential for up to six years of support.

Co-led by the University of Maryland, College Parks (UMCP) School of Public Health (UMD SPH) and the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), the Center for SUNSHINE will serve as a national hub for interdisciplinary research, training, and real-world innovation to strengthen resilience in aging populations. The center, outlined in a study in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry this month, draws from 50 years of scholarship at UMCPs Center on Aging and the computational innovation and clinical partnerships enabled by the University of Maryland Institute for Health Computing (UM-IHC).

Our ultimate goal is happy, healthy and well-supported aging for everyone, said Jie Chen, PhD, professor and chair of the Department of Health Policy and Management, and director of the Center on Aging and the Hospital and Public Health Interdisciplinary Research Lab at UMD SPH. The Center for SUNSHINE is about building aging resilience by transforming the systems that shape health and care. Through bold interdisciplinary research, we aim to strengthen care coordination, empower communities, and reimagine the health and social infrastructure needed to support aging across the nation.

The center will be helmed by Chen with co-leads Rozalina McCoy, MD, associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) and director of the Center for Population Health at UM-IHC, and Stephen B. Thomas, PhD, professor of health policy and management at UMD SPH.

We are creating a remarkable platform for research, education, and innovation in health care delivery  bringing together economics, demography, medicine, population health, artificial intelligence, epidemiology, and health informatics  all in service of improving care systems and boosting the resilience of our older populations, McCoy said.

Ten academic units across UMCP are involved in the Center for SUNSHINE, including the School of Engineering and the Artificial Intelligence Interdisciplinary Institute at Maryland. Other partners include Howard University and the Erickson School of Aging Studies at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). See below for a full list of partners.

The center will invest in training and mentoring the next generation of scholars, with a focus on aging resilience and health systems research. It also will support pilot projects led by qualified researchers nationwide, offering access to anonymized Medicare claims, electronic health records, and geospatial data, along with analytic and modeling support. Funded pilot investigators will receive tailored development resources to advance their research and career trajectories.

Community engagement is a major focus of the Center for SUNSHINE. We are committed to ensuring that older adults and their families are not just human subjects of research, but true collaborators in shaping the science, policies, and innovations that support healthy aging, Thomas said.

In its first year, the Center for SUNSHINE will fund two pilot projects that directly apply research to improving the health and well-being of older people: Shelby Steuart, PhD, at UMCP, will examine telehealth and behavioral health care for older adults. Margaret Connolly, MD, at UMSOM, will explore access to novel treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a common condition in older people.

To set up an interview with Chen or Thomas, please email sph-comm@umd.edu. To set up an interview with McCoy, please email DKotz@som.umaryland.edu.

Center for SUNSHINE Partners

University System of Maryland

UM Institute for Health Computing

UM Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center

UM School of Medicine

UM School of Pharmacy

UMB Center for Research on Aging

UMBC Erickson School of Aging Studies

UMCP Artificial Intelligence Interdisciplinary Institute at Maryland

UMCP College of Behavioral and Social Sciences

UMCP College of Information

UMCP Legacy Leadership Institute on Public Policy

UMCP School of Business

UMCP School of Engineering

UMCP School of Public Health

Institutions Around the Region

Georgetown University

Virginia Commonwealth University

Howard University

Universities at Shady Grove

Community and National Organizations
Gulf States urged to rethink their approach to security after Doha bombing

Former Director of Saudi Arabia General Intelligence Directorate, Prince Turki al-Faisal, has urged the Gulf States to rethink their security approach after the Israeli bombing of Doha in Qatar

Monday September 29, 2025 1:42 PM , ummid.com News Network

Riyadh: Former Director of Saudi Arabia General Intelligence Directorate, Prince Turki al-Faisal, has urged the Gulf States to rethink their security approach after the Israeli bombing of Doha in Qatar.

Speaking at an event in Riyadh Sunday Prince Turki Al-Faisal, who is also the former Saudi Ambassador to the United States and the United Kingdom, warned that the security of all Gulf States is under threat from a pariah state following the recent Israeli attack on Qatar.

The Gulf region is witness nowadays to an aggressively treacherous attack by Israel on the sovereignty of Qatar . This attack is a reminder to all countries of the Gulf that their common security is under threat by a pariah state that gives no regard to any law or rule governing international relations, Prince Turki, son of the legendary King Faisal said.

This attack is an eye-opener to question the credibility and reliability of alliances when threats come from Israel. This dictates our states to rethink the nature of threats and to rebuild their strategic policies to safeguard their security by all means to face such threats. Israel must not be allowed a free hand, Prince Turki al Faisal said while addressing at the Dean of Ambassadors Gala Dinner marking the Golden Jubilee of Arab News.

U.S. Double Standard

In his speech, Prince Turki also addressed the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and the role of the international community, particularly the US blaming it to be responsible for the unrest in the Midde East.

I believe that no region in our world has felt the impact of the state of international uncertainty more than the greater Middle East region. Who is to blame for this continued situation is an open question. However, while countries and leaders of the region bear a responsibility, the US bears the biggest share of this responsibility, he said.

Prince Turki also accused the United States of being a supporter of Israel, adding it to be practicing double standard while dealing with the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian lands and their genocide at the hands of the occupation forces (IDF).

We see the US descending from the role of honest broker to the role of the staunch ally of Israel. The blatant double standard practiced by the US in dealing with the Israeli occupation of Palestine and its recent genocidal war on Gaza and the West Bank are plainly witnessed not only by Arabs but by all peoples around the world", he said.

Advice to Trump

Prince Turki also advised U.S. President to correct past mistakes.

In order for President (Donald) Trump to be the peacemaker, as he wants to be, he should correct the past mistakes committed by the US to the peace and security of its friends and allies, he said.

Prince Turki welcomed the recent progress made toward the realization of a two-state solution, as a diplomatic push by Saudi Arabia and France yielded a series of recognitions of the Palestinian state by Western powers at last weeks UN General Assembly.

Prince Turki also hit back at accusations by the Israeli government and its supporters that recognition is a reward for Hamas and its Oct. 7 attacks, saying the illegal Zionist occupation is the reason behind the entire mess.

Among the many tropes faced by the Kingdom and France and all countries that recognized Palestine as a state is that this is a reward to Hamas. What a deceitful and evil assertion to deny Palestinian people their inalienable right to their own state, he said.

It is the 80 years old Israeli colonial occupation of Palestine and denial of the Palestinian people their right to self-determination that rewards Hamas and other similar groups. Without the occupation, there will not be resistance to it, he asserted.

[With inputs from Arab News.]

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

Hajj 2026 1st Waiting List of 22,530 Pilgrims Released

The Haj Committee of India has selected 22,530 pilgrims, in order of their number in the Hajj 2026 Waiting List, and asked them to deposit Advanced Haj Amount to confirm their seats

Monday September 29, 2025 8:31 PM , ummid.com News Network

Hajj 2026: The Haj Committee of India has selected 22,530 pilgrims, in order of their number in the Hajj 2026 Waiting List, and asked them to deposit Advanced Haj Amount to confirm their seats.

As on date, 22,530 Haj seats have become available due to cancellations of provisionally allotted seats.

Accordingly, waitlisted applicants are required to deposit Rs. 152,300/- (Advance Haj Amount  Rs. 150,000/- + Miscellaneous Dues Rs. 2,000/- and Non-Refundable Processing Fee Rs. 300/-) of the Advanced Haj Amount latest by October 11, 2025, the Haj Committee of India said in notification released today.

As per the Haj Committee of India notification dated September 29, 2025 released today, in the state wise Hajj 2026 waiting list pilgrims from:

1 to 287 in Chhattisgarh, 1 to 926 in Delhi NCR, 1 to 2,598 in Gujarat, 1 to 33 in Haryana, 1 to 3,411 in Karnataka, 1 to 3,791 in Kerala, 1 to 2,060 in Madhya Pradesh, 1 to 5,574 in Maharashtra, 1 to 1,839 in Tamil Nadu, 1 to 1,928 in Telangana and 1 to 142 in Uttarakhand

... have been asked to deposit the Advanced Haj Amount of Rs. 1,52,300/- before October 11, 2025 to confirm their pilgrimage to Makkah.

How to check Haj 2026 Waiting List

Go to Haj Committee of India website by clicking here: "hajcommittee.gov.in". Click on "Haj 2026" Menu Under New Downloads, Click on "Waiting List" Click on the name of your state Download the PDF file and check your name

How to make payment?

If your name mentioned in the Haj waiting list is as per the serial numbers starting with "WL" mentiond above it means you are one of the 22,530 pilgrims provisionally selected from the wait list.

Please note your selection from the Haj waiting list will be provisional unless you pay the Advanced Haj Amount before the due date.

Haj Advanced amount payment can be made through E-Payment facility available on the Haj Committee of India website, or Haj Suvidha App using Credit Card, Debit Card or Net Banking / UPI or through bank transfer in SBI or Union Bank of India in the Haj Committee of India account.

After depositing the payment, the pilgrims must upload signed copy of Hajj Application Form (HAF), copy of pay-in-slip, and medical and fitness certificate to the Haj Committee of India on October 18, 2025.

Hajj 2026 Waiting List

Pilgrims wishing to perform Hajj latest season should note that the Haj Committee of India has conducted the Qurrah or draw of lots on August 13, 2025.

After the Hajj 2026 qurrah conducted through Random Digital Selection process, a total of 95,336 pilgrims were put in the waiting list.

From the Haj 2026 waiting list of 95,336 pilgrims, a total of 22,530 pilgrims have been selected in the first Hajj waiting list released today.

These 22,530 pilgrims from various states are now required to make the payment to confirm their seats.

Pilgrims whose names are down in the list of the waiting list should note that seats remaining vacant after the pilgrims in the first Haj Waiting List fail to make the payment before the due date.

The Hajj 2026 second waiting list will be released any time after October 11, 2025 which is the last date of payment for the waitlist pilgrims in the first waiting list Hajj 2026.

The likely date of Hajj 2026 is May 24 to 29, 2026. The final date of Haj 2026 (1447), however, will be confirmed after Dhul Hijjah 1447 AH moon sighting.

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

Kerala Assembly clears resolution against Voters List Revision

Kerala Assembly Monday cleared a resolution against the Election Commission of India (ECI)s move to carry out voters list revision, popularly known as Special Intensive Revision (SIR), in the state

Monday September 29, 2025 4:01 PM , ummid.com News Network

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Assembly Monday cleared a resolution against the Election Commission of India (ECI)s move to carry out voters list revision, popularly known as Special Intensive Revision (SIR), in the state.

In the Kerala Assembly resolution passed unanimously, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan conveyed the concerns of the House about the hasty move by the ECI to implement the SIR and suspected ill-motive behind its action.

We urge the Election Commission to ensure transparency, uphold fundamental rights, and prevent any hasty actions that may undermine voters trust, Vijayan said in the Kerala Assembly.

The Congress-led UDF opposition, which had already expressed its strong reservations against the SIR, supported the resolution.

The Kerala Assembly resolution came amidst the backdrop of the Election Commissions decision to conduction the pan India exercise to revise the existing voter lists.

Illogical Exclusions

The exercise has sparked massive outrage after it was conducted in Bihar.

Political parties and activists even took the matter to the Supreme Court of India highlighting loopholes in SIR conducted in Bihar.

Speaking in the Kerala Assembly, Vijayan said the SIR implemented in Bihar witnessed illogical exclusions of people from the voters list.

There is a suspicion across the country whether the same pattern is being pursued on a national basis, he said.

In the resolution, the CM questioned the attempts being made to implement the SIR in poll-bound Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal while the constitutional validity of the Bihar SIR process is under consideration by the Supreme Court.

It cannot be viewed as an innocent move, Vijayan said.

The Supreme Court in its ruling said, two times during two hearings, it will scrap the whole exercise if it found any illegality.

[With PTI inputs.]

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

Netanyahu apologizes to Qatar over Doha airstrikes

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has apologized to Qatar for the airstrikes on Doha

Tuesday September 30, 2025 11:32 AM , ummid.com with inputs from Agencies

Washington DC: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has apologized to Qatar for the airstrikes on Doha.

Netanyahu is in the United States where he met U.S. President Donald Trump at the Oval Office in White House Monday September 29, 2025.

According to reports, Netanyahu called Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani and apologized for the Doha bombing.

Qatar has been mediating between Israel and the Palestinian Resistance Groups led by Hamas since October 2023.

The Israeli Occupation Forces bombed on the site in Doha where top Hamas leadership was in a meeting to discuss the Gaza ceasefire proposal forwarded to them by the U.S.

The mediation process was on a halt as Qatar said it will not involve in the peace talks until Netanyahu unconditionally apologized to the attack, which the oil-rich state said, was a target on its sovereignty.

Netanyahu made the phone call to Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani right from the White House and apologized.

The call to Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh al-Thani came as Netanyahu met with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, news agency Reuters said.

Qatar confirms Netanyahu blinked

Qatar has confirmed the phone call from Netanyahu.

"Israel apologizes for its attack on Qatar during a call between the US President, the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Israeli Prime Minister", Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Qatar said in a statement.

"President of the United States of America, Donald Trump held a phone call to Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, and Prime Minister of Israel, as part of US efforts to address the repercussions of the Israeli aggression that targeted a residential neighborhood in Doha, which housed the headquarters of the Hamas negotiating delegation, and the resulting flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the State of Qatar", the Ministry said.

"... During the call, the Israeli Prime Minister apologized for the attack on Doha and on Qatar's soviergnty, which resulted in the martyrdom of Qatari citizen Badr Al-Dosari, pledging to not repeat any targeting of Qatari territory in the future", the Ministry said.

"Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs affirmed the State of Qatar's absolute and unequivocal rejection of any infringement on its sovereignty under any circumstances, emphasizing that protecting its citizens and residents is a top priority. He further expressed appreciation for the assurances conveyed to safeguard the State of Qatar from being a target, and for the commitments undertaken to ensure that such violations will not be repeated", the Ministry said.

"This underscores the State of Qatar's readiness to continue engaging in efforts to bring an end to the war in the Gaza Strip, within the framework of the U.S. President's initiative, which reflects the consistent approach of Qatar in addressing crises through diplomatic means, and in line with its role in promoting regional security and stability", the Ministry said.

Minutes later, Trump said Netanyahu has agreed to the 20-point Gaza Ceasfire proposal. While sharing his plan to end the war in Gaza, Trump also said if Hamas accepts the plan, the captives will be released and the war will come to an end.

Im hearing Hamas wants to get this done, he said.

Zionists, Right Wing Fume

Netanyahu's apology to Qatar is significant as he was till yesterday justifying the Doha bombing, comparing it with the U.S. airstrikes in Pakistan to eliminate Osama bin Laden. He also till now was vowing to attack Qatar or any other country.

Netanyahu, however, told Al Thani that Israel has no plan to violate your sovereignty again in the future, and I have made that commitment to the president.

Meanwhile, Netanyahus apology has left his right wing Zionist colleagues fuming. Furious over how Trump arm-twisted Netanyahu and forced him to make a phone call to Qatar Prime Minister, they are calling it disgrace for Israel.

Denouncing Netanyahu, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich compared the apology to the Munich Agreement of 1938 between Nazi Germany and Great Britain, France, and Italy.

Then as now, the words of Churchill resound: England can choose between disgrace or war; it has chosen disgrace, and therefore it will receive war, too,' Smotrich wrote. The quotation, often attributed to Churchills private correspondence, does not have a clear source.

This prostrate apology to a state that supports and funds terror is a disgrace, he added.

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir took to social media, calling the September 9 strike in Doha important, just, and supremely moral.

Calling Qatar an enemy state, the far-right minister said that whoever sends monsters to burn babies, rape women, and abduct elderly women must know that there is no place in the world where he is safe.

It is time to tell the world the truth: Qatar is a state that supports terrorism, funds terrorism, and incites terrorism, he continued. No money will cleanse the terrorism from their hands.

Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates.

Select Language to Translate in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic
SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here.

BOSTON -- ICE agents conducting sweeps through Massachusetts are coming under increasing attack by opponents trying to harass and block them from detaining suspects, creating a potentially dangerous standoff.

Democratic officials are also advising illegal immigrants on what to do when confronted with ICE agents, issuing "guidance" to them and bystanders on how to act.

"I strongly encourage everyone to inform themselves of their rights when they see immigration officers in their communities," Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell wrote in a seven-page memo.

"Bystanders can watch and record interactions from a reasonable distance' but are not allowed to obstruct, impede or assault an ICE officer," Campbell added.

U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan has a "know your rights" page on her website which includes "certain rights and protections under the U.S. Constitution," regardless of immigration status.

"You have the right to remain silent. You may refuse to speak to law enforcement officers, including immigration officersIf you are worried ICE will arrest you, let the officer know if you have children. If you are the parent or primary caregiverICE may 'exercise discretion' and let you go," Trahan's office advises.

But some liberals are taking it much further, shouting and screaming at agents in a harassing manner as they record them and post the videos on social media.

Gov. Maura Healey, a main ICE opponent, needs to step in to keep agents from being harassed but that's unlikely. Immigrant rights groups have a right to give people advice but not to interfere with agents.

"If you are asked to step back, take a step back while repeating, I am exercising my right to record and document," a bulletin from the MIRA Coalition states. "If the officers get too close, say I am stepping back and have the right to record.' Speak in a calm audible voice.Record all the way through the incident. Narrate what you're seeing."

The Immigrant Justice Network of Massachusetts has a hotline for people to call when they think they see ICE agents in their neighborhood. They advise people to call the hotline "if you see people dressed like civilians parked for prolonged hours in a residential area, with tinted windows, making traffic stops in a neighborhood."

Another organization, REACH, is advising that "you don't have to open your door just because someone claims they are from ICE."

"ICE agents are only allowed to enter your residence if they have a judicial warrant that's been issued by a judge, and which includes your name and address along with the judge's signature," the REACH TEAM states. "If ICE agents attempt to detain or arrest someone in your presence, you're allowed to take pictures, record video, and write down notes as long as you make it known you're doing so."

Even the Boston Public Library is getting in on the act, posting a legal services directory, numbers of various hotlines and advising immigrants to "know your rights."

ICE opponents have also been complaining about ICE wearing masks, despite the fact that agents have been subjected to "doxing" when taking off their masks, putting their families at risk. Agents are not "secret police" as Mayor Michelle Wu has suggested and they are not hiding  they are simply trying to protect themselves.

Opponents have also claimed that they are "abducting" or "disappearing" people off the streets, when in fact what agents are doing is lawfully arresting or detaining them.

(COMMENT, BELOW)

Joe Battenfeld

Boston Herald/(TNS)

Joe Battenfeld is a veteran Boston Herald political columnist and multimedia reporter.

Previously:
Marcia Schmidt, MD Joins Statewide Practice in Palm Beach County

FORT MYERS, Fla., Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, LLC (FCS) is pleased to welcome board-certified gynecologic oncologist Marcia Schmidt, MD to its team of cancer experts in Palm Beach County. She is providing specialized care to women with gynecologic and breast cancers at FCS locations in Delray Beach, 5130 Linton Blvd., Ste. B4, Delray Beach, FL 33484 and Good Samaritan Flagler, 1309 N. Flagler Dr., West Palm Beach, FL 33401.

Marcia Schmidt, MD, gynecologic oncologist joins Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute.

FCS Medical Director of Gynecologic Oncology Jessica Stine, MD said, "With advanced specialized training in gynecologic oncology, breast health, minimally-invasive surgery, and genetic cancer risk assessment, Dr. Schmidt exemplifies the highest standards of expertise and skill in women's cancer care."

"FCS is proud to enhance access to specialized care with the addition of a seventh gynecologic oncologist to our statewide practice," said David Wenk, MD, FCS assistant managing physician. "Patients in Palm Beach County will benefit greatly from Dr. Schmidt's depth of experience and her comprehensive, compassionate approach to each patient's unique needs."

After completing medical school at Upstate Medical University at the State University of New York in Syracuse and a residency obstetrics and gynecology at Winthrop University Hospital, Dr. Schmidt was awarded fellowships in pelvic surgery at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, in gynecologic oncology at the University of South Florida Moffit Cancer Center in Tampa, and in breast surgery at Brown University Women and Infants Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island. She has completed an intensive course in genetic cancer risk assessment through the City of Hope Clinical Cancer Genomics Division.

About Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, LLC: (FLCancer.com)

For more than 40 years, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS) has embraced innovation to deliver world-class care and drive the dramatic transformation of oncology care through its robust clinical research program.

FCS provides patients with access to a wide range of clinical trials, positioning it as a leader in research among private oncology practices in Florida and across the country. In fact, before receiving FDA approval, the majority of new cancer drugs in the U.S. were first made available to patients through participation in clinical trials at FCS.

Our outstanding team of highly trained and dedicated physicians is committed to delivering tailored treatment plans that make the best use of cutting-edge precision oncology advancements to enhance patient outcomes.
Genuine Parts Company (NYSE:GPC) is included among the 10 Best Recession Proof Dividend Stocks to Buy.

Genuine Parts Company (GPC): A Dividend Giant Built to Withstand Market Downturns

Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay

Genuine Parts Company (NYSE:GPC) is a top supplier of automotive and industrial replacement parts and has shown remarkable resilience over its long history. It has grown sales in 91 of its 97 years and increased earnings in 79 of them. Strong and consistent demand for replacement parts has supported this performance, along with the companys disciplined approach to acquisitions. The company targets deals that not only enhance sales and margins but also contribute to earnings per share within the first year.

Genuine Parts Company (NYSE:GPC) earns most of its revenue from its automotive segment, which sells products through a wide distribution network that includes thousands of NAPA and Alliance auto parts stores. The automotive aftermarket tends to remain strong even during tough economic periods, since consumers continue to repair and maintain older vehicles as they age and require service.

In addition, Genuine Parts Company (NYSE:GPC) is a solid dividend company. It maintains one of the longest dividend growth streaks in the market, spanning 69 years. The company currently offers a quarterly dividend of $1.03 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.99%, as of September 26.

While we acknowledge the potential of GPC 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: 11 Best Telecom Dividend Stocks to Buy for 2025 and 11 Best Bank Dividend Stocks to Buy.

Disclosure: None.
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.
Key Points

Eli Lilly continues to establish its dominance in the growing market for GLP-1 therapies.

The company's oral candidate for diabetes treatment and weight loss looks very promising.

Even after soaring over the past five years, the stock remains attractive at current levels.

10 stocks we like better than Eli Lilly 

Over the past five years, Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) has outperformed the broader market, largely thanks to its progress in the GLP-1 arena. Its major breakthroughs in the field are already leading to incredible commercial success.

But Lilly isn't done just yet. Recent clinical developments may set the stage for further stock-market gains, and potentially allow the drugmaker to maintain that momentum through the end of the decade. Let's find out what Eli Lilly has been up to, and what that means for investors.

The next generation of GLP-1 medicines

Eli Lilly's tirzepatide, marketed under the brands Mounjaro for diabetes and Zepbound for weight management, is highly effective -- and generating billions of dollars in sales per quarter already. However, the medicine is administered subcutaneously once a week. This route has several drawbacks compared to oral pills.

First, the latter are often cheaper to manufacture. With an oral GLP-1 medicine, drugmakers might be able to pass cost savings onto consumers, making them more accessible than their subcutaneous counterparts.

Image source: Getty Images.

Second, oral pills are easier on patients who abhor needles and injections. That's why Lilly and other companies in the field have been racing to develop novel oral GLP-1 therapies. There is already one such treatment on the market: Novo Nordisk's Rybelsus, which was first approved in the U.S. in 2019 and is indicated for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

But Eli Lilly is on the verge of launching its own oral option. The company's orforglipron performed well in a series of phase 3 studies in diabetes and obesity. What's more, Lilly recently released results from a 52-week study in diabetes patients that pitted orforglipron and Rybelsus head-to-head. During the trial, the highest dose of orforglipron resulted in an average blood-sugar reduction of 1.9%, compared to 1.5% for Rybelsus. Additionally, orforglipron induced an average weight loss of 8.2%, versus 5.3% for Rybelsus.

Once again, Lilly is showing its dominance in this area, even against the company with a first-mover advantage. And if orforglipron is approved by year-end, Eli Lilly's shares could soar. Although the pharmaceutical giant has yet to complete regulatory submissions for orforglipron, some Wall Street analysts believe that the medicine is an excellent candidate for a new program launched by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which reduces the 10-month review time for drug applications to a mere one or two months.
Check out the rest of our coverage from New York Film Festival here. Photo: Carole Bethuel

This article was featured in One Great Story, New Yorks reading recommendation newsletter. Sign up here to get it nightly.

Nobody, not even Jim Jarmusch himself, seemed to think his latest, Father Mother Sister Brother, had a shot at winning the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival earlier this month. Not because the film wasnt terrific  it was  but because it was so modest, minimalist, and odd, a true curiosity amid an awards-season-friendly lineup of big titles defined by their ambition and/or their hard-hitting urgency. But Jarmuschs quiet little picture, which consists of three distinct episodes focusing on the relationship between siblings and their parents, has a way of sneaking up on you and of growing in the mind. Its awkward silences and spare, unaffected performances seem puzzling at first, but the whole thing gathers fascination and power as it proceeds toward its deeply moving final moments; its a delight to experience with an audience. Its also a hard movie to stop thinking about, and it represents a triumphant return for the director, whose last feature was 2019s divisive (and highly topical) zombie comedy-thriller-adventure The Dead Dont Die. Its a return to basics for him, too: Father Mother Sister Brother has the wry, deadpan quality of the classics that originally put Jarmusch on the map, like Down by Law (1986) and Stranger Than Paradise (1984); its omnibus structure also echoes beloved films like Mystery Train (1989) and Night on Earth (1991). The movie will be the Centerpiece screening of the New York Film Festival. Talking about it, Jarmusch insists he wasnt trying to say anything about the family or really about anything. And yet, somehow, he has.

Youve said in the past, Ive always tried to use limitations and look at them as strengths. Father Mother Sister Brother really feels like a film born out of limitations. Was that how it originated?

Its definitely very much limited. Lets just be straight up: It has no action, no violence, no drama, no nudity, no sex. Almost none of the things we are sort of trained to expect. And whats left is something very observational, minimal. Its still cinematic because it is a film and it has its own musical rhythm, and it has wonderful, wonderful performances by my amazing actor colleagues. But, yes, its very much born out of limitations.

But all of my stuff comes from disparate things. I always collect details for a long time, even a number of years, before I actually focus on writing the script  which I do quite quickly, usually in about a month. This one kind of started with a very vague idea: Gee, I think Tom Waits and Adam Driver, both of whom Ive worked with quite a bit, would be very interesting as a father and son. Id like to accentuate the differences in their characters  not in them as people, but the characters I was imagining. Im also sort of a Jeopardy nerd, and Mayim Bialik was a host on Jeopardy! I guess shes famous as a TV actor, but I honestly had not seen her TV work as an actor. Really, she was my favorite host on Jeopardy! Whenever Mayim was on, Id be like, Okay, okay. Lets see. I wonder what shes wearing. What her style is. I just loved her presence. I started imagining a tangential version of Mayim on Jeopardy! as the sister of Adam and Tom being their father. While sort of sketching ideas for that, the other ones started coming to me, of having Vicky Krieps and Cate Blanchett together as sisters also being quite different. Charlotte Rampling, who was just incredible, became their mother. And then the third story: Paris has always been the second-most important place in my life after New York City. And I had worked with both Indya Moore and Luka Sabbat briefly before, and I really liked them. The twins in the last chapter really are sort of my people, you know what I mean? Ive always liked the outsiders.

My mother and her brother were twins, my Uncle Bob. They had a telepathic thing. This is getting a little personal, but I dont mind. Their father, my grandfather, was a career low-life criminal and was in jail all the time for forgery and conning people. So he abandoned them when they were pretty small. Their mother  my grandmother, who was a real character, who I really loved  worked as a schoolteacher to support them. So they were left alone quite a lot as little children. But my whole life, sometimes the phone would ring in my house and my mother would say, Oh, thats Bob, meaning her brother. And shed answer the phone. And always, of course, it was Uncle Bob. I remember once she said, I have a feeling that your Uncle Bob isnt feeling well. I ought to call him. And she called him and he had a bad flu or something. But they had a real thing. So that was just another little element that I started with.

Its kind of vague where these things come from. I havent done much press about this, but I did a little in Venice, and they said, Why the family? It was surprising to me, because it did not come from a need to address the family structure. But the family encompasses universal complications, so that makes it interesting. I wasnt trying to say anything about the family or really about anything. I just wanted to nonjudgmentally observe these flawed people that we do not dislike.

The last movie you released was The Dead Dont Die, six years ago. That film got mixed reviews, and we talked about this at the time. But despite being a comedy, it also felt like it came from such a place of despair. It was like your Salo. It felt almost like a crash-out, like a Screw everybody and everything kind of movie. I found that quite moving. Was that the vibe when you were making it?

Not really. I am still quite in despair by the rapid decline of the climate on the planet and the fact that the powers that broke it aint going to fix it. A lot of that was put into The Dead Dont Die. At the same time, though, I always considered it an absurdist comedy. Obviously, the zombie metaphor is quite obvious. But it was a dark period for me in general. And the filmmaking was very stressful. There were too many effects. I lost the thread while working because I kept getting interrupted by budgetary concerns rather than creative ones. At the end of it, I felt that while it had not damaged my health to any excessive degree, I could see the potential for that. I take good care of myself. Im vegan, I do Tai Chi, and those things were keeping me afloat, so to speak, physically. But I could see the stress was very damaging. And I thought, Man, I dont want to die young because Im making a film! There are other things I need to do! I just kind of backed away for a little while. It lasted almost five years. And then the itch started getting to me, like, Oh, man, I want to shoot. I want to shoot. I got to write. Im going to shoot.

Indya Moore and Luka Sabbat in Father Mother Sister Brother. Photo: carole bethuel

Youve done a lot of other things in the meantime  art shows, live music performances, etc.  and youve always maintained your independence. But were living through a time when people find it harder and harder to make a living doing those things. Have you experienced that?

Yeah, I see it on almost every level. I see it very much in music. Things like Spotify, where miraculously, music is available at all times, but the musicians are completely taken advantage of and not paid. Its hard to make money even off recordings. There is a heartening resurgence in vinyl, but it doesnt sustain a musical artist. Live shows are also difficult. Venues are getting thinned out, although thats still probably the best way for musicians to pay for their dinner, so to speak. I dont know whats happened exactly, but its tough being someone who uses human expression or artistic expression as a kind of livelihood.

Over the years, what has helped pay the bills the most for you? Was there a particular film or project?

I have been very stubborn about owning my copyrights to my films. So once the rights revert back to me, which can be a period of anywhere from ten years in the old days to now more like 25, then I can relicense them. Usually, I go straight to Criterion because thats my preferred streaming platform, kind of my drug of choice. Ive been able to sort of sustain my small business, which is keeping my work going, and several people that I employ that help me immensely. But its dwindling down. Its going in the wrong direction. The money coming in, even though I own the rights to these things, its not evening out.

I was treated very well very early on by the French producer and distributor for my film Down by Law. And I made a little bit of money there. Broken Flowers was very helpful to me because Bill Murray and I had backend in the film, and the film did make some money. Whenever Bill would get paid, he would say, Well, did you pay Jim? And theyd go, Oh? Oh, yeah, well get right on it. Bill really protected me, and I got paid enough to keep my mother in her own home her last years in Ohio, which was incredibly important to me and very expensive. And I got some other things taken care of for the people close to me. I must say Bill had a lot to do with that. A few times, I made a little money off some of these films, but never hit the jackpot, so to speak. I could have plotted a much different career path if I was trying to do this as a lucrative professional enterprise. But Im very stubborn and I always have complete artistic control over my films and who my collaborators are. And I walk away if I dont have that.

Its interesting that you say the family thing wasnt a big factor in making Father Mother Sister Brother. Because when we watch a film like this, we cant help but think about our own parents or children or other family relationships. I understand why people mightve asked you that.

Yeah, I understand too. But I wasnt really prepared because it wasnt my driving force behind creating the script. Its very interesting to me that people have said, Oh, it made me want to go and call my mom. Something like that.

That was actually the headline of my review: Jim Jarmusch Wants You to Call Your Mother. I literally walked out and felt like I had to call my mom.

Oh, okay! That was your review!

This was in Venice, so she and I were in similar time zones. And I thought, Oh, I should call her right now. And then  my phone rang, and it was my mom calling. I thought that was pretty good.

Thats great. I love that. There are all these telepathic things involved. Families are very intense.

But you also managed to avoid the cliches around this kind of subject. Because we see the first two stories and obviously, we sense this disconnect between the parents and their children. And then we see the twins in the final episode. They seem to have been closer to their parents, and yet at the same time, they also dont quite know everything about their parents. The movie winds up being about how none of us really know each other. That was quite beautiful.

Parents try to present something of themselves to their children for various reasons. To be a role model or to be a guide or because they dont want to divulge certain things about their life. Theyre not completely transparent. Some of its considerate and protective, some of its selfish. But its sort of universal that its kind of rare for children to truly know their parents. Theres a lot of deceit, and not necessarily in an evil way. I dont like liars, and I dont like people that lie to get over on other people, but sometimes lies are to protect someone, even though that usually backfires. The intention is not always selfishly negative. So anyway, I found that the parents in the third chapter really had a lot of secrets, at least the mother did. But obviously, they had a loving family. One of my favorite moments in the film is there. Indyas character, Skye, is sitting in the kitchen of the abandoned apartment and her brother Billy comes in and says, Whats up? And she says, I was just thinking about Dads cooking. That little moment, it tells you the role of their father. It shows a kind of familial love. Food is essential with children and feeding them and all that. It was so minimal an insight, but I liked that moment.

The simplicity of the film is wonderful. Its so stripped down, at least on the surface. And obviously, youve always been known as a minimalist filmmaker, especially earlier in your career. But how do you craft that level of simplicity without totally losing the audience?

Well, Im not really thinking about the audience. But making something look effortless takes a lot of effort. I use the metaphor of flower arranging. Because if you place some flowers in a vase and then you adjust even slightly, the composition changes, even if its very minimal. I was trying carefully not to say anything. Theres no message in it except a kind of empathetic observation. So it took a lot of energy. I dont want to talk about it, but the next thing Im going to shoot, I learned some things from this film that I didnt realize until after I was done with it that it was preparing me for certain aspects of how I make the next film. Thats a little abstract, sorry. Can you be a little more vague, Jim?

I gotta say, too, I edit with Affonso Goncalves, this master editor. And we always start by looking at every take of the shot that was selected and making notes, which takes two weeks. Its excruciating. But he insists that we do this so that he has notes on every moment that I liked or had a comment about or thought might work or something. During that period of watching it, I was shocked at how attentive I was. You hear my voice and you hear me direct and hear me readjusting something. I was like, Wow, that guys really focused. I thought I was a space cadet, but it turns out I was very, very focused making this.

The details are crucial, though, because when we lose a loved one, those little details are the kinds of things that we remember. I remember a particular dish my grandmother made, or a specific kind of gesture my grandfather made, or something like that. We dont necessarily think of the big things about their lives. We think about just these little tiny little details.

Yeah. My father had some strokes, and at the end in Cleveland, I would go back to Ohio and see him and he couldnt speak, really, for quite a while. And I took him out for a drive in the car. I didnt have a real close relationship with my father. But when I was young, I had a thing of identifying automobiles. I could identify all these different cars, and my dad enjoyed my ability to do that. So were driving in the car, he hadnt spoken in a few months, and they had a new design of the Lincoln Town Car. And we passed one, and my father says, Lincoln Town Car. I remember it so distinctly, because it seems so mundane, but it clipped back to my positive relationship with him when wed be in a car and Id see a 59 T-Bird or something as a kid. But anyway, those were the last words he spoke. Lincoln Town Car. Those little things, they seem kind of stupid, but theyre resonant.

It was fun watching Father Mother Sister Brother with its first Venice audience because it felt like people didnt quite know initially what to expect or how to react. Those initial parent-child interactions with all those awkward silences were delightful. At first, people are looking around at each other like, What is this? And then a few minutes later, theyre totally locked in. You could really feel the film starting to work its charm on the viewer.

Well, I have to say I was very, very attentive to the way the film builds over the three chapters. These are not short films to be seen alone. They accumulate emotionally. And the emotional peak of all three chapters is really at the end, when the twins are in their parents bedroom in the emptied-out apartment and they embrace. Its a little bit more than I usually would put in a film, but it had to be there in this film, in this story. So things were very carefully constructed. Its very much like making a piece of music that has three movements for me. The themes repeat, and I amuse myself with little repeated jokes and the Rolex and toasting with different things. And Bobs your uncle and silly things I put in, just ways of amusing myself initially. There are little leitmotifs, but really, it was pretty carefully constructed. Im quite proud of it.

Earlier in your career, because of both the style of films and also the budgets, you said you used like 70 percent of what you shot. And then as the years progressed, your process became more one of discovery. You were shooting more, exploring more, improvising more. And then youd find the film in editing. Watching this new one, though, this felt to me like a return to your old way of making movies. I dont know if that was the correct impression. But did your process change on this one?

It did, more because of the collaboration with the actors. Also, the script is very minimal and pretty precise, so it didnt need a lot of extra wild improvisational things added. I always approach each actor differently by what their strengths are. In this case, most of the actors, they stayed very close to the script. All of them, except for maybe Tom Waits, who needs a ton of longer leash, and thats his strength. Mayim and Adam are very precise actors, and Tom is looser. At the end of the first day of shooting that chapter, Tom took me aside and said, So, Jim, you hired these two professional killers. What do I do here? I said, Tom, we do our thing. We do our way. You do your way. Its going to be great that were all different. They are quite precise, but he was almost intimidated by their precision.

When we last talked, the Democratic presidential primaries were going on, and the world seemed to be beyond fucked. This was 2019, and I think we can safely argue that six years later, its even more fucked than it was then. But now you come out with a film that has a quiet, humanistic beauty to it. It doesnt feel political, but it does feel like a consciously different vibe than what the world outside is giving us.

You say its not political. I wanted to read you a quote I really like. You know Jehnny Beth from Savages? I like her attitude, her music. I wrote this quote down a couple of weeks ago. She said in an interview, Art doesnt have to talk about politics to be political or to change the world. Artists are here to open us, to make us feel more in touch with others and connected and empathetic. Thats what art does. I was like, Gee, I wish Id said that. I wasnt prepared for the Golden Lion in Venice at all. It was quite surprising, so I didnt really have a speech prepared, but I had read this quote a few days earlier and I paraphrased it a little bit. So, I agree that everything is political in a sense, as Godard said. To not directly talk about politics does not mean something isnt political. But for me, the political thing is to protect empathy in a way. The last time I saw Joe Strummer, it was like five weeks before we lost him. He was in New York. He walked me back to my home from a restaurant because I had the flu or something. He stopped at my door and looked me in the eye, and Ill never, ever forget this. I repeated it recently. He said, Jim, our job is to protect empathy at all costs, and to live groovy lives. And then he left into the rain and he died five weeks later that summer. Next time I saw him was at his funeral in London in a coffin. Ive been trying to live by that. Protect empathy at all costs. And to live groovy lives. Im trying to do both. Im trying to enjoy the strangeness of my life, but I am trying in my work to protect empathy.
Italy's opposition calls on government to protect flotilla as a dozen Italians abandon mission amid pressure from Rome.

The Italian government has warned of the serious danger facing a flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza as it resumed its journey over the weekend.

The Global Sumud Flotilla, which had been stranded for several days south of the Greek island of Crete following a drone attack, departed for the Gaza Strip on Saturday evening.

Comprising a total of 47 boats, the international flotilla aims to challenge Israels naval blockade and deliver aid directly to the Palestinian territory.

Compromise

In recent days, the Italian government has strongly urged the flotilla to accept a mediation offer to offload its aid in Cyprus where it would be transferred to Gaza by the Catholic Church's Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

This appeal was reinforced on Friday by Italy's president, Sergio Mattarella, who pleaded with the flotilla to accept the compromise solution and not to put their safety at risk.

The flotilla rejected the appeal however, following talks at the weekend between the Italian delegation and the government in Rome, around a dozen Italians made the decision to abandon the mission.

There are still around 40 Italians, including four MPs, aboard the flotilla, alongside activists from dozens of other countries.

Danger

Italy's defence minister Guido Crosetto on Sunday stressed that the government and top state officials are "making every diplomatic and operational effort to ensure a sense of responsibility prevails".

Crosetto, who last week deployed a navy ship to offer assistance to Italian citizens travelling with the flotilla following the drone attacks, warned that if the mission were to challenge a naval blockade "it would expose itself to extremely high and unmanageable dangers."

Italy's deputy premier and foreign minister Antonio Tajani on Sunday reiterated the government's appeal to the flotilla, telling reporters: "We have always said  that it is dangerous to approach Israeli waters. We dont know what might happen. Forcing the blockade is dangerous."

Last week Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni criticised the flotilla as dangerous and irresponsible.

Italian opposition

Elly Schlein, leader of the opposition centre-left Partito Democratico (PD), also met with the flotilla's Italian delegation over the weekend.

"We reiterated our support, as well as our hope that the channel of dialogue between the flotilla and the Latin Patriarchate will remain open to ensure the goal of delivering aid to Gaza by creating a permanent humanitarian corridor and protecting the safety of the activists on board," Schlein said, calling on the Italian government to do "everything in its power to protect the safety of this peaceful and humanitarian mission."

Giuseppe Conte, former prime minister and leader of the Movimento 5 Stelle, said he respected the flotilla's decision to keep going, pledging his full support to "those who have undertaken this worthy mission".

Israeli reaction

Israel, which has pledged to treat the flotilla crew members as "terrorists" and arrest them, reacted harshly to the decision by the flotilla to continue its mission.

"The flotilla rejected the Italian government and the Vatican's proposal to unload any aid they might have in Cyprus and to transfer it from there peacefully to Gaza" - the Israeli foreign ministry posted on X - "This is after they rejected two other Israeli proposals to unload the aid and then transfer it peacefully to Gaza. It doesn't get clearer than that: This has nothing to do with aid. This is all about provocation and serving Hamas."
Gardai in Waterford are investigating an incident of a hit and run in Waterford county.

The incident happened between 7:30pm and 7:40pm on Sunday, September 21.

A car struck the handlebars of the bike and knocked the cyclist to the ground.

The motorist did not remain at the scene but did leave behind the casing of the left wing mirror of the vehicle.

This was recovered, and from this, gardai have established that the suspect vehicle is a gun-metal grey colour Seat Leon manufactured in 2018 or after.

The cyclist was travelling on the R676 Leamybrien to Mahon bridge, and the incident took place between the bridge over the river Tay and Gortnalaught.

A spokesperson for the gardai said: If you can assist in identifying this vehicle or if you are the owner, we would like to hear from you.

An investigation is ongoing at Kilmacthomas Garda Station, and anyone with information is asked to contact Tramore Garda Station on 051 291620 or the Garda Confidential line on 1800 666 111.
A lip-sync battle is taking place this Saturday in Bank Lane in aid of Sean McCarthy, who suffered a cardiac arrest and subsequent brain injury in 2023.

He has returned home to Waterford this week after two years in hospital.

His wife Annmarie is now his full-time carer and says: Its up to us to make his life as easy as possible.

Just three days before his 49th birthday, Sean McCartheys wife was asked by his doctor if she wanted to turn off the machines that were keeping him alive.

Sean had just suffered a devastating cardiac arrest that led to a coma and a severe brain injury.

Since then, Annmarie and their daughter Aoibhinn have said goodbye to Sean on three separate occasions.

But he defied a million odds, says Annmarie, and just over two years later, Sean has finally returned home.

Sean was born in Larchville and worked in Tesco Ballybeg since it opened in 2010.

He is a proud Waterford man and always felt a strong sense of community.

However, on July 3, 2023, Sean suffered a massive cardiac arrest, which resulted in epilepsy and severe brain injury.

According to the GoFundMe page set up by his wife AnnMarie, Sean suffered up to 50 seizures in just one weekend.

He has spent the past two years in UHW and the National Rehabilitation Hospital. Seans survival is a miracle.

In the past two years, Sean has caught Covid, sepsis and MRSA due to a weakened immune system.

In an interview with Damien Tiernan on WLRFM, Annmarie explained that the 14,000 raised through the page will be used for transport costs.

Annmarie said that wheelchair accessible taxis are unreliable due to high demand because of patients on dialysis.

She went on to say that while the government care package has been brilliant, there is no government funding for transport.

This means that if charities such as the Order of Malta are busy, important appointments at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire are missed.

According to the GoFundMe:During Seans stay in the NRH, he was measured for a custom-made wheelchair.

Although ideal for Sean for comfort due to its size and molded seating, it isnt compatible with all wheelchair taxis.

Annmarie hopes to raise enough money to be able to buy a car so that she can transport Sean herself.

Since returning home, Sean requires 24-hour care, meaning that Annmarie is now his full-time carer.

According to her, he is on over twenty-two different medications per day.

She remains positive and told WLRFM that shes so happy to have him home and that hes delighted to be home.

The family has recently moved to a new house that is wheelchair accessible, but it will take a while to get settled in, explained Annmarie.

According to Annmarie, Sean has made huge progress and has even started to speak occasionally.

He has come further than his family and his doctors ever thought possible.

She thanked her friends, family and those who donated to the GoFundMe, saying: The support has been brilliant.

She wanted to especially thank Pennys who are hosting a lip sync battle in aid of Sean.

The event will take place this Saturday, October 4, in Bank Lane at 7 pm.

Tickets are 20 and can be bought on the door.

It will be judged by Nicole from Synergy Dance Club, according to Pennys Waterford Instagram page, where more details about the event can be found.
Last week, dozens of locals gathered at the Majestic Hotel in Tramore to raise funds for Waterford Hospice.

The coffee morning is one of many that are hosted locally every year.

Community fundraising always played a major role in the running of Waterford Hospice.

Nowadays, Waterford Hospice is largely government funded; however, the role of the community in raising funds is still vital and provides additional comforts to patients in the ward.

Not only do the coffee morning fundraisers support the hospice, they also play a vital role in bringing together the local community.

We asked attendees this week about the role of the local community in supporting the upkeep of vital services in Waterford.

Maria Quilty said that, along with supporting the hospice, the fundraising events have become an important social outlet for attendees.

"These events are for a worthy cause and it's lovely to see everyone here chatting away. It's so pleasant to be down here and every month people are always excited to meet up."

Laura McBrinn and Catherine Moore. Photo: Joe Evans

General Manager of the Majestic Hotel, Laura McBrinn added: "Events like this are such an important part of the community for so many people. It's an outlet, a hub for everyone, so we love hosting these mornings. It's really important to be giving back to the community."

Cllr Eamon Quinlan and Eilis Couch. Photo: Joe Evans

Whilst attending the coffee morning last week, Cllr Eamon Quinlan said: "Its a great way to meet people and I would thoroughly suggest if you're new to Tramore or if you find yourself wanting to come along to a nice easy event to meet people, make friends, and support a good cause, this is where you want to be."

Tionett Hewetson added, "There's not a family in Waterford who have not been affected by cancer. So these events are very important."
Advertisement

CultureComedyComedy Some of the worlds biggest comedians are heading to Saudi Arabia. Its no joke Derrick Bryson Taylor September 30, 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

Marc Maron, Shane Gillis and other top comedians have openly criticised their peers for participating in the Riyadh Comedy Festival, a state-sponsored event in Saudi Arabia that Human Rights Watch said was designed to deflect attention from the countrys brutal repression of free speech and other human rights violations. Maron, host of the WTF podcast, questioned how the event would be promoted. From the folks that brought you 9/11, he riffed in a stand-up piece posted to Instagram last week, two weeks of laughter in the desert. Dont miss it. Pete Davidson, Jessica Kirson and Dave Chapelle are appearing at a comedy festival in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia, an ally of the United States, is an authoritarian monarchy known for limiting free speech. For more than two decades, it has been at the centre of a legal battle in which survivors of the September 11 terrorist attacks, victims relatives and insurance companies accuse Saudi government agents in the United States of having provided an essential support network for the hijackers. In 2021, the Biden administration held the country responsible for the killing of Saudi dissident and Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. The seventh anniversary of Khashoggis death will occur during the Riyadh Comedy Festival, which began Friday and will run to October 9. (The Saudi royal court has denied that it ordered Khashoggis killing.)

Advertisement

The event, billed as the worlds largest comedy festival, will feature more than 50 international comedians, including Aziz Ansari, Hannibal Buress, Dave Chappelle, Kevin Hart, Jessica Kirson and Andrew Schulz. Pete Davidson, whose father was killed in the September 11 attacks, is also scheduled to perform. Representatives for those comedians did not return requests for comment Saturday. The event is the latest push to advance Saudi Arabias Vision 2030 plan, which was outlined nearly a decade ago by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The plan aims to diversify Saudi Arabias oil-rich economy to areas like technology, culture and sports. WTF host Marc Maron has taken aim at some of his colleagues for taking the gig. Representatives for the Saudi government did not immediately respond to requests for comment. In the past, Saudi officials have said that organising international entertainment events is part of an effort to expand leisure opportunities for young Saudis  tickets to some of the comedy sets sold out days in advance  and to stimulate tourism spending, rather than an attempt to improve the countrys international reputation.

Advertisement

Maron, who said he had not been asked to perform at the festival, suggested that comedians were being paid by the same person  the crown prince  who the United States said approved the killing of Khashoggi. Its kind of easy for me to take the high road on this one, Maron added. Easy to maintain your integrity when no ones offering to buy it out. Gillis, another stand-up comedian, said on Matt and Shanes Secret Podcast, the show he hosts with Matt McCusker, that he had taken a principled stand against the event after organisers offered him a significant amount of money. You dont 9/11 your friends, he said. Another comedian, Zach Woods, took a satirical approach. Name one comedian who hasnt whored themself out to a dictator, he said Thursday on Instagram. Others like Atsuko Okatsuka, Mike Birbiglia and Leslie Liao have said on social media that they turned down offers to appear at the festival because of human rights abuses and free speech concerns.

Advertisement

Human Rights Watch, a watchdog group that investigates and reports on abuses around the world, called on participating comedians to use the festival to publicly urge Saudi authorities to free unjustly detained Saudi dissidents, journalists and human rights activists. Comedians receiving hefty sums from Saudi authorities shouldnt be silent on prohibited topics in Saudi like human rights or free speech, Joey Shea, a Saudi Arabia researcher at Human Rights Watch, said in a news release. Everyone performing in Riyadh should use this high-profile opportunity to call for the release of detained Saudi activists. Tim Dillon says he was dumped from the festival for things he had said about the host country. . Getty Images Festival organisers in Saudi Arabia appear to be closely watching comedians ahead of their scheduled performances. Tim Dillon said recently on his podcast that he was fired from the line-up after he joked about Saudi Arabias poor human rights record.

Advertisement

I addressed it in a funny way, and they fired me, the comedian said, adding, This is the first time Ive been fired by people that actually do really bad things. Dillon said last month that festival organisers had offered him $US375,000 ($575,000) for one show and that others were offered as much as $1.6 million. (The festival has not disclosed the fees it is paying participating comedians.) Theyre paying me enough money to look the other way, he said at the time, adding, Im being paid a lot of money to not care about what they do in their country. Shea, the Human Rights Watch researcher, said that if comedians did not speak out against Saudi Arabias abuses, they would risk bolstering the governments attempts to launder its image. This whitewashing comes amid significant increase in repression, she said, including a crackdown on free speech, which many of these comedians defend, but people in Saudi Arabia are completely denied.

Advertisement

This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.
Advertisement

PoliticsWACourts Perth nurse disqualified after replacing patient medication with vitamin D tablets Hannah Murphy September 30, 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

A Perth nurse has been disqualified for 14 months after she stole powerful sleeping tablets and replaced them with vitamin D tablets, compromising a patients care. The State Administrative Tribunal also banned Nadine Molcher from performing any sort of health service for 14 months last week. The nurse was disqualified for replacing Temazepan with vitamin tablets. Matthew Bouwmeester Molcher was working for the South East Metropolitan Health service over Christmas in 2023 when she took 35 temazepam tablets, a powerful benzodiazepine meant for helping patients to sleep. The medication belonged to a patient, and she replaced it with 12 vitamin D tablets before making a false clinical record about the temazepam.

Advertisement

Stocktake of the medicine the week following the incident revealed the discrepancy. Related Article Exclusive

Courts No evidence patients impacted after WA paramedic caught stealing fentanyl It [showed] that 35 temazepam tablets prescribed to a patient of the hospital were missing across two bottles stored in the schedule four cupboard, the decision said. The Nursing and Midwifery Board said Molcher went back to the health service on New Years Eve and returned 10 of the tablets, but said she had taken the 25 other tablets to help her mental health. She admitted she replaced the temazepam with vitamin D tablets.

Advertisement

Molcher was stood down from the hospital, and left the hospitals employment in October last year. The board said it had considered the fact Molcher was no longer working in the health sector, and the fact her registration had been expired for 16 months. It also accepted she was remorseful for her actions. The respondents conduct was a culmination of a deterioration in her mental health whilst she was experiencing work pressures, sleep deprivation, and extreme fatigue, the board said. The respondent is remorseful and accepts that her conduct was below the standards expected of her.

Advertisement

However, the board still opted to ban Molcher from providing any health service for 14 months, and disqualified her registration for 14 months. She was ordered to pay $2000 in costs. 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 WorldMiddle EastIsraeli-Palestinian conflict Netanyahu backs US plan to end war, under which Trump would initially govern Gaza Adam Geller , Sam Mednick and Aamer Madhani Updated September 30, 2025  7:33am ,first published September 30, 2025  3:49am 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

Washington: Gaza would be governed by a transitional apolitical committee of Palestinians and overseas experts under a peace plan agreed between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but there are questions over whether Hamas will accept the proposal. The White House on Tuesday AEST released a 20-point document that called for an immediate ceasefire, an exchange of hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, a staged Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, Hamas disarmament and a transitional government led by an international body. US President Donald Trump greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the West Wing of the White House. AP The plan, pushed by the White House, would lead to the immediate end of the war and the release of all remaining hostages within 72 hours if Hamas accepted, Trump and Netanyahu told reporters after more than two hours of meetings. Trump said they were beyond very close to an elusive peace deal, under which no Palestinians would be required to leave Gaza. But he warned Hamas that Israel would have full US support to take whatever action it deemed necessary if it rejected the offer.

Advertisement

Trump went into the White House meeting seeking to overcome Netanyahus misgivings over parts of the plan. It was not immediately clear whether Israel and the US had resolved all their differences, including over the possibility of a future Palestinian State, which Netanyahu has forcefully rejected, and any role for the Palestinian Authority in postwar governance of the enclave. Related Article Israeli-Palestinian conflict What to know about the Trump-Netanyahu Gaza peace plan The US president thanked Netanyahu for agreeing to the plan and for trusting that if we work together, we can bring an end to the death and destruction that weve seen for so many years, decades, even centuries. The Israeli PM responded: I support your plan to end the war in Gaza, which achieves our war aims. Netanyahu said the plan would see all hostages returned, Hamas military capabilities dismantled, and its political rule ended, ensuring that Gaza would never again pose a threat to Israel.

Advertisement

He went on to warn that if Hamas rejected the plan, or accepted and then tried to counter it, Israel would finish the job by itself. This can be done the easy way or it can be done the hard way, but it will be done, Netanyahu said. Smoke rises following an Israeli military strike in Gaza City last week. AP Trump urged the Palestinian people to take responsibility for their destiny and embrace his proposal. Hamas has not yet responded, however, and its absence from negotiations so far raises serious questions about the plans viability. Qatars prime minister and Egypts intelligence chief presented the proposal to Hamas negotiators, who are now reviewing it in good faith, according to a person familiar with the matter. The person was not authorised to comment and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Advertisement

While Hamas has said in the past that it would agree to step back from governing Gaza, the militant group has refused to disarm, something Netanyahu has long demanded as part of any long-term truce to end the war. Under the agreement, a temporary governing body for Gaza known as the Board of Peace would be set up, headed by Trump, and including former British prime minister Tony Blair. Palestinians and international experts would take part, and the board would create a framework and handle funding for Gazas redevelopment until the Palestinian Authority had undergone major reforms. Related Article Analysis

Israeli-Palestinian conflict Could Tony Blair run Gaza? Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles on Tuesday voiced support for the plan  on the condition that it did not involve the annexation of any territories or the forced displacement of people. We have made it really clear that we need to see a ceasefire, that we need to see an end to these hostilities. We do not want to see an annexation of these territories, and I know that forms part of this agreement as well, Marles told the ABC Melbourne on Tuesday morning.

Advertisement

Our view, ultimately, is that the only way that there will be an enduring peace in the Middle East is if there are two states. The plan, as its been articulated, keeps the door open for all of that. So thats where we see that there is hope, but what we need is for all parties to be embracing a pathway to peace here. French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed Trumps efforts to end the war and secure the release of all hostages. We call on all sides to come together and to work with the US administration to finalise this agreement and bring it into reality. Hamas should now agree to the plan and end the misery by laying down their arms and releasing all remaining hostages, Starmer said. Loading In a post on X, Macron said: I expect Israel to engage resolutely on this basis. Hamas has no choice but to immediately release all hostages and follow this plan.

Advertisement

Related Article Updated

Foreign relations Albanese gets the thumbs-up from Trump as PMs attention turns to AUKUS, Gaza The Palestinian Authority reiterated its commitment to work with the US and partners to reach a comprehensive deal that included paving way for just peace on the basis of two-state solution. Netanyahu earlier extended a formal apology to his Qatari counterpart for a recent military strike targeting Hamas officials in the Gulf emirate that infuriated Arab leaders and triggered rare criticism by the US of Israel. The Israeli PM phoned Qatars Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, as he met Trump, according to the White House. Trump described the exchange between the two leaders as a heart-to-heart call. As a first step, Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu expressed his deep regret that Israels missile strike against Hamas targets in Qatar unintentionally killed a Qatari serviceman, the White House said in a statement. He further expressed regret that, in targeting Hamas leadership during hostage negotiations, Israel violated Qatari sovereignty and affirmed that Israel will not conduct such an attack again in the future.

Advertisement

The White House talks, and apology from Netanyahu, come at a tenuous moment. Israel is increasingly isolated, losing support from many countries that were long its steadfast allies. At home, Netanyahus governing coalition appears more fragile than ever. And the White House is showing signs of impatience. It remains to be seen how Netanyahu will be able to justify to far-right members of his coalition his acceptance of the proposal after promising to press against the militant organisation until it was eliminated. The Trump plan indicates that once all hostages are returned, Hamas members who commit to peaceful co-existence and to decommission their weapons will be given amnesty. Members of Hamas who wished to leave Gaza would be provided safe passage to receiving countries. Hamas is believed to be holding 48 hostages, 20 of whom are thought by Israel to still be alive. The militant group has demanded that Israel agree to end the war and withdraw from all of Gaza as part of any permanent ceasefire.

Advertisement

Trump discussed the US plan with Arab and Islamic leaders in New York last week on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. It doesnt include the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza, which Trump appeared to endorse earlier this year. Countries including Australia, France, Canada and the United Kingdom last week formally recognised Palestine as world leaders tried to breathe new life into the two-state solution process in a push spearheaded by Macron. Israel has launched one of its biggest offensives of the war this month, with Netanyahu saying he aims to wipe out Hamas. The war, which began after Hamas-led fighters killed about 1200 people and captured 251 hostages in a 2023 attack on Israel, has left much of Gaza in ruins and caused a major humanitarian crisis. More than 66,000 Palestinians have since been killed in Israels assault, according to Gaza health authorities, which do not differentiate between combatants and civilians. AP, Reuters Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.
Greenpeace has alleged that Brazilian beef giant JBS indirectly purchased cattle raised on protected indigenous land in the Amazon rainforest.

The animals were allegedly reared in the Pequizal do Naruvotu Indigenous Territory.

According to Greenpeace, between 2018 and 2025, Brazilian agribusiness entrepreneur Mauro Fernando Schaedler transferred at least 1,238 cattle from a farm overlapping with this territory to another property with no recorded irregularities.

Greenpeace said this transfer was carried out to disguise the origin of the animals, a practice referred to as cattle laundering.

The activist group alleged that these animals were later supplied to two JBS slaughterhouses authorised for exports.

One of the facilities, located in Agua Boa, Mato Grosso state, received cattle from Fazenda Itapirana from February 2019 until February 2025. This slaughterhouse is authorised to export to destinations including Hong Kong.

The second slaughterhouse, in Barra do Garcas, bought cattle from Fazenda Itapirana between 2018 and 2021 and exported meat to several European countries during that period.

JBS had not responded to Just Food's request for comment on the Greenpeace allegations at the time of writing.

In a statement, Greenpeace said the facility "continues" to export to Europe "today", although it has not identified data showing purchases from Fazenda Itapirana after July 2021.

This investigation provides just one example of how JBS and large corporations profit and expand from the absence of a comprehensive, effective and transparent control system for their supply chain, which indirectly supports environmental damage and the violation of constitutional rights and guarantees, especially the fundamental rights of Indigenous Peoples in Brazil, Greenpeaces statement read.

The organisation urged European governments and parliamentarians to reject the EU-Mercosur trade agreement to ensure the swift application of the EU Deforestation Regulation.

The EU-Mercosur agreement is a trade and cooperation deal between the EU and the Mercosur bloc, comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, and finalised in a political agreement in December 2024.

Greenpeace said the deal would increase meat import quotas from Brazil to the EU without guarantee that these imports are not linked to deforestation or violations of Indigenous Peoples rights.

"Greenpeace links JBS to cattle illegally raised in indigenous lands" was originally created and published by Just Food, a GlobalData owned brand.
Advertisement

WorldNorth AmericaDonald Trump After Comey, heres who is next on Trumps political hit list Jeremy Roebuck , Perry Stein and Emily Davies September 29, 2025  9:45am 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 127 View all comments

With the indictment of former FBI director James Comey, US President Donald Trumps efforts to deploy the Justice Department against his enemies have entered a new phase, and the question now is whos next. Federal prosecutors across the US are facing increasing pressure to quickly produce results in other investigations aimed at subjects of Trumps scorn, in some cases despite objections over the weakness of the evidence. The US Justice Department has filed criminal charges of making false statements and obstructing a congressional investigation against former FBI director James Comey. AP Trump is expanding his list of possible targets, suggesting in an Oval Office ceremony that the FBI should investigate Democratic figures such as George Soros and LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman as funders of domestic terrorism and the radical left. US attorneys in at least half a dozen jurisdictions are pursuing investigations of perceived political foes such as Democratic Attorney-General of New York Letitia James, former national security adviser John Bolton, and Democratic California senator Adam Schiff.

Advertisement

Trump on Friday predicted more indictments. Speaking to reporters about the Comey case, he insisted it was about justice  not revenge. There will be others. I mean, theyre corrupt, Trump said, adding later: You cant let this go on. They are sick, radical left people, and they cant get away with it. US President Donald Trump is expanding his list of possible targets, but insists its about justice  not revenge. AP The acceleration and audacity of Trumps efforts threaten to obliterate what remains of long-standing Justice Department traditions of independence from White House interference. And tensions are rising among career prosecutors who are increasingly worried the presidents pressure campaign could soon put them in a position to violate their constitutional oaths.

Advertisement

Jon Hooks, head of the public corruption and fraud unit in the US attorneys office in Washington, resigned last week amid a dispute with the Trump-appointed top prosecutor for the region, Jeanine Pirro. While their falling out stemmed from multiple investigations, Hooks team had recently been tasked with handling a possible inquiry into a philanthropic foundation tied to Soros, three people familiar with the matter said, speaking on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. The Justice Department ordered US attorneys in more than half a dozen cities to open investigations into Open Society Foundations, a grant-making group funded by billionaire Democratic philanthropist George Soros. AP Democrats decried what they viewed as the Justice Departments transformation into a political tool of a vengeful president. President Trump ... defies anyone daring to challenge him, said Senator Dick Durbin, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee. The attorney-general willingly complies with every order from the White House.

Advertisement

But in the face of such criticism, Attorney-General Pam Bondi remained undeterred, vowing on Friday that this is just the beginning. Related Article Analysis

US politics Comey charges may have been predictable, but its a crisis nonetheless Whether youre a former FBI director, whether youre a former head of an intel community, whether you are a current state or local elected official, whether youre a billionaire funding organisations to try to keep Donald Trump out of office, everything is on the table, she told Fox Newss Sean Hannity. Thursdays indictment charging Comey on allegations of lying to Congress brought to a climax an unusual four-day race by Lindsey Halligan, Trumps newly installed interim US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, to deliver a result specifically called for by the president. Halligan presented the case to a grand jury, over objections from career prosecutors in her office and after the resignation of her predecessor, Erik S. Siebert, who had concluded there was insufficient evidence to move forward.

Advertisement

Even while those events were playing out, federal prosecutors in Maryland handling an investigation of Boltons alleged mishandling of classified material faced a quandary of their own. Senior Justice Department officials were pushing Kelly Hayes  the interim US attorney overseeing that case  to secure an indictment by the end of the week, according to three people familiar with that request, speaking on the condition of anonymity to describe internal deliberations. Trumps former national security adviser John Bolton  who is now a strident critic of the US president  is under investigation over alleged the mishandling of classified material. Louise Kennerley Multiple people familiar with case against Bolton, a veteran diplomat turned fierce Trump critic, have described it as generally stronger than the Comey case, though they cautioned that the investigation was ongoing. Some in Hayess office raised concerns that rushing to indict Bolton could compromise their chances of a successful prosecution, the three people said. Bolton had not been charged with a crime. His attorney, Abbe Lowell, has described the investigation as politically motivated and undertaken by a Justice Department under pressure to satisfy a president out for political revenge.

Advertisement

Hayes office is juggling a separate mortgage fraud case against Schiff, who led the House investigation that resulted in Trumps first impeachment. The mortgage fraud inquiry is one of three similar real estate fraud investigations involving Trump adversaries being pushed by Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and Ed Martin, a senior Justice Department official who leads its Weaponizations Working Group. New York Attorney-General Letitia James who secured a civil fraud judgment against Trump and his real estate empire last year. AP Other targets include James, who secured a civil fraud judgment against Trump and his real estate empire last year, and Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook, whom Trump has sought to fire from the board, citing the allegations against her. In all three instances, defence lawyers have provided the Justice Department with documents they say exonerate their clients.

Advertisement

Siebert, the Trump-appointed US attorney in Virginia who resigned amid pressure to indict Comey, had concluded the evidence in the James case was too weak to move forward, people familiar with his decision said. James, Schiff and Cook have denied wrongdoing. Schiff, in the hours after Comey was indicted on Thursday, called Trumps efforts a blatant abuse of the Justice Department. Trump has sought to fire Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook, citing mortgage fraud allegations against her. She has denied the claims and is suing the Trump administration. Bloomberg The DOJ is now little more than an arm of the presidents retribution campaign, Schiff said in a social media post. Elsewhere, federal prosecutors offices are pushing ahead with criminal inquiries into another long-standing Trump grievance  the FBIs handling of the investigation into Russias interference in the 2016 campaign.

Advertisement

And last week, the Justice Department ordered US attorneys in more than half a dozen cities  including Washington, Chicago and New York  to open investigations into Open Society Foundations, a grant-making group funded by Soros, the billionaire Democratic philanthropist. Related Article US politics Trump turns on his attorney-general for failing to prosecute political enemies According to a person briefed on those plans who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to publicly discuss them, investigators were instructed to consider charges including racketeering, material support for terrorism and arson in response to right-wing theories that Open Society and other organisations are funding violent attacks by the left. In a statement, the foundation rejected the suggestion it was involved in financing domestic terrorism. These accusations are politically motivated attacks on civil society, meant to silence speech the administration disagrees with and undermine the First Amendment right to free speech. When power is abused to take away the rights of some people, it puts the rights of all people at risk, it said.

Advertisement

Frustrations over a Soros-related investigation were, at least in part, behind the dispute that led to the departure of Washington DC corruption prosecutor Hooks from the US attorneys office last week, according to the three people familiar with his decision. His portfolio included other high-profile cases such as the investigation into whether Washington police had manipulated crime data to paint a rosier public safety picture. US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro. AP Pirro upbraided him during a meeting with other supervisors over what she viewed as the slow pace of some investigations, the three people said. Hooks offered to resign effective immediately, but had agreed to stay with the office through October. Days later, in the middle of a going-away party for two colleagues, he was informed he would be fired instead, the three people said.

Advertisement

A spokesperson for Pirros office did not respond to requests for comment. Liz Oyer, the Justice Departments former pardon attorney who was fired by Trump Justice Department officials this year, said the investigations of Comey and other Trump critics exposed the limits of the justice system to provide a check on Trumps will. After Comeys indictment, Democratic California senator Adam Schiff called it a blatant abuse of the Justice Department. Bloomberg We are realising now that our justice system really relies on those who are entrusted with power exercising that power in good faith, she said. That has worked throughout our history, but it is no longer working because we have an elected leader who has intentionally decimated all of the safeguards within the system, has loaded the department with people who are blindly loyal to him and is willing to tear down the whole system to get what he wants, which is revenge against his enemies.

Advertisement

The Washington Post 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.
GSK said Chief Executive Emma Walmsley would step down and be succeeded by commercial chief Luke Miels, as the drugmaker works to replenish its product lineup.

Walmsley will step down at the end of the year, having led the company through the Covid-19 pandemic, tensions with activist investor Elliott Management and a portfolio shake-up that included the spinoff of its consumer-healthcare business.

Most Read from The Wall Street Journal

The leadership change comes as GSK seeks to bring to market more of the drugs in its late-stage pipeline to offset a coming loss of patent protection for its top-selling drug, HIV medicine dolutegravir.

2026 is a pivotal year for GSK to define its path for the decade ahead, and I believe the right moment for new leadership, Walmsley said.

Currently GSKs chief commercial officer, Miels will take on the top job on Jan. 1. Miels joined GSK from AstraZeneca in 2017 and has since played a key role in building a portfolio of specialty medicines, particularly in the oncology and respiratory therapeutic areas, the company said.

Longtime CEO Walmsley took the helm of the company in April 2017, becoming the first woman to run a top-tier pharmaceutical company.

Under her leadership, GSK boosted spending on research and bet big on cancer drugs with a number of acquisitions. The company also spun off its consumer division, which makes everything from toothpaste to painkillers, into a stand-alone business now called Haleon.

However, the moves failed to win over some investors. Those included Elliott, the activist hedge fund, which questioned at one point whether Walmsley was the best person to lead GSK. At the time, the companys board backed its CEO.

GSKs stock fell roughly 11% during Walmsleys tenure. The London-listed stock was up about 1% in Monday afternoon trading.

The company is targeting sales of more than 40 billion pounds, equivalent to roughly $53.6 billion, by 2031, compared with 31.4 billion last year.

Some analysts and investors have cast doubt on GSKs ability to hit that target.

Dolutegravirwhich is marketed under a number of different brandsis set to lose patent protection in the U.S. in April 2028, though some of the drugs formulations will have a longer period of exclusivity. GSKs vaccines businessconsidered among the strongest in the industry before the Covid-19 pandemichas been another area of concern for investors of late.
The third edition of the Hot Zones Prioritization Forum (HZPF) took place in Santiago, Chile, from 8 to 11 September 2025. The forum was organized by the World Customs Organization (WCO), in collaboration with the Chilean Customs Administration, the Egmont Group, and the Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center (TraCCC) of George Mason University.

This edition brought together nearly 100 experts from 38 countries, representing Customs administrations, Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs), regional bodies such as FATF-style regional organizations (FSRBs) and the Regional Intelligence Liaison Office (RILO), INTERPOL, and academia.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Rafael Collado Gonzalez, Minister of Public Security, emphasized the importance of strengthening collaboration between national and international institutions to combat organized crime.

Ms. Heidi Berner, Undersecretary of Finance of Chile, highlighted the global nature of organized crime and underlined that expert gatherings such as this Forum provide an invaluable opportunity to identify and share best practices to address it.

Ms. Alejandra Arriaza Loeb, Director General of Chilean Customs, stressed the essential role of modern Customs in the fight against money laundering and terrorism financing. She noted that this fight must be carried out collaboratively, alongside all other relevant stakeholders. She further emphasized that delegates from different countries were meeting to exchange best practices, innovations, and technologies in these areas and related crimes.

Speaking on behalf of the WCO Secretary General, Ms. Lamia Frigui, Head of the Nomenclature and Revenue Implementation Unit, underlined the strategic importance of the Forum. She recalled that the HZPF is not simply a meeting but a unique platform where experts from Customs, FIUs, regional organizations, and academia can come together to discuss, analyse, and prioritise the most sensitive sub-regional hot zones worldwide. She stressed that identifying areas most exposed to transnational criminal organizations, money laundering, terrorism financing, and illicit financial flows is essential to building a cohesive and collaborative response.

Over four days, the HZPF shed light on several crucial operational realities. Participants emphasized that synergy between Customs, FIUs, regional organizations, and academia is the cornerstone of collective security. They highlighted that the integration of analytical tools and artificial intelligence now makes it possible to anticipate threats and to share intelligence at unprecedented speed. The private sector was also recognized as an indispensable partner, marking a major step forward in detecting and disrupting illicit flows at an earlier stage. Case studies and practical scenarios further provided concrete toolkits for frontline practitioners.

At the closing ceremony, participants stressed that criminal networks are becoming increasingly agile and sophisticated, which calls for constant vigilance and continuous innovation. It was underlined that the WCO, together with its partners, will continue to work on the priorities identified during this edition. These include consolidating the outcomes in the HZPF 2025 Report, which will serve as a roadmap for future actions; strengthening inter-agency collaboration, particularly between Customs and FIUs; expanding cooperation with the private sector; and exploring innovative technological partnerships.
Police also said both men admitted to stealing the wire from the interstate guardrail to scrap it for money.
According to a federal court ruling, the state of Indiana can require biological sex on birth certificates rather than gender identity.
LDG Development wants to build Prospect Cove, a three-story apartment complex that would contain 178 units for low-income households, off U.S. 42 just outside the city boundaries of Prospect, Ky. The development was first proposed in 2016.
Harvey's CEO told BI he's betting big on junior lawyers in the age of AI.

Winston Weinberg said young attorneys raised on AI will outpace senior partners.

Rather than replacing juniors, Weinberg said he sees AI making their training more vital.

Harvey's CEO told Business Insider that law firms shouldn't write off junior lawyers  even as AI takes over much of the work once reserved for them.

Winston Weinberg, the CEO of the $5 billion legal AI startup Harvey, said in an interview earlier this month on the sidelines of TechLaw Fest in Singapore that he's "100%" committed to hiring and training young lawyers.

"Junior talent is very willing to try new tools," he said. "The younger you are, usually the more agile you are at adopting a new playbook and figuring it out."

Weinberg said young lawyers who grew up with AI tools could surpass senior partners in fluency with AI and adaptability.

The 31-year-old founder also said that young lawyers are able to do "more high-risk things sooner," which allows them to grow massively.

"If you're scared of something and stressed about doing something, do it and lean into doing it," he said. "Your performance will be better just because you're less stressed by doing it."

"In 10 years, they're going to be a way better partner," he said, referring to junior lawyers.

Harvey, which has about 340 employees since launching three years ago, hires junior lawyers in every market where it opens offices, including Australia and the UK, Weinberg said.

The company said its APAC office in Sydney opened this month. Harvey plans to hire about 15 people there this year, with more down the line.

How AI is affecting junior lawyers

Weinberg's comments come as some industry players see AI hollowing out the apprenticeship model that traditionally develops junior lawyers.

Weinberg said AI is transforming the industry, creating new practice areas while shrinking some in-house teams. Some law firms have shifted to flatter, pyramid-like structures, with more associates and fewer partners.

In the age of AI, firms need to refocus on training and upskilling junior attorneys, he said.

"AI systems can do the work, but there's no reason you can't turn those into education platforms," Wenberg said. Firms will need to prevent junior lawyers from getting lazy with these tools, he added.

AI could even make it easier for junior attorneys to strike out on their own and start firms, Weinberg said.

Business Insider reported in April that legal-tech startups are increasingly luring young attorneys with the chance to shape the future of the profession.
SHREVEPORT, La. -- From fireworks to fraternity conferences, the Caddo Parish Commission's Appropriations Committee voted this month to funnel more than $500,000 in public dollars into local groups and events  a move that sparked cheers, pushback and questions about whether the process is truly fair.

The full commission will take up the recommendations at its Dec. 2 meeting.

Commissioners weighed requests ranging from $7,200 to more than $65,000, with many passing unanimously and a few requiring roll call votes. Funding for the NGOs -- or non-government organizations -- comes from riverboat revenue. Approximately $600,000 is available.

Committee funding decisions

Helping Hands Initiative - Committee members approved $20,000 to help improve lives, following a motion by Commission President Stormy Gage-Watts. No opposition was recorded.

Highland Area Partnership - Granted $15,000 for 2025, up from $10,000 in previous cycles. The motion was introduced by Commissioner John Paul Young and seconded by Commissioner Victor Thomas.

- Granted $15,000 for 2025, up from $10,000 in previous cycles. The motion was introduced by Commissioner John Paul Young and seconded by Commissioner Victor Thomas. Independence Bowl Foundation - Received $65,000, the same as in prior years. Passed without opposition.

- Received $65,000, the same as in prior years. Passed without opposition. Ivy Crown AKA Regional Conference - Approved for $25,000 to support the 2025 conference scheduled for Shreveport. This is a different conference than what weve hosted before, one commissioner noted. Shreveport will be inundated with AKA all over our area, and its going to be a great economic impact for us. The motion carried unanimously.

- Approved for $25,000 to support the 2025 conference scheduled for Shreveport. This is a different conference than what weve hosted before, one commissioner noted. Shreveport will be inundated with AKA all over our area, and its going to be a great economic impact for us. The motion carried unanimously. North Caddo Fireworks Festival - After debate, commissioners amended the funding amount to $10,000, down from the $12,000 request but higher than the $7,200 scoring recommendation. Its in North Caddo where I dont think we have a lot of other economic development activity going on, one commissioner argued. The motion passed with no opposition.

- After debate, commissioners amended the funding amount to $10,000, down from the $12,000 request but higher than the $7,200 scoring recommendation. Its in North Caddo where I dont think we have a lot of other economic development activity going on, one commissioner argued. The motion passed with no opposition. Red River Revel - Originally recommended for $10,000, commissioners increased the allocation to $15,000 after Thomas cited unmet needs not reflected in the scoring packet. They lost the person that usually handles this request, Thomas said. In the sake of time and fairness, I think we ought to be generous. The motion carried without opposition.

- Originally recommended for $10,000, commissioners increased the allocation to $15,000 after Thomas cited unmet needs not reflected in the scoring packet. They lost the person that usually handles this request, Thomas said. In the sake of time and fairness, I think we ought to be generous. The motion carried without opposition. Rho Omega - A contested $32,000 allocation sparked one of the few split votes of the day. Commissioner Roy Burrell introduced the motion, seconded by Gage-Watts. It passed on a 62 roll call vote, with commissioners John Atkins and Ed Lazarus opposed.

- A contested $32,000 allocation sparked one of the few split votes of the day. Commissioner Roy Burrell introduced the motion, seconded by Gage-Watts. It passed on a 62 roll call vote, with commissioners John Atkins and Ed Lazarus opposed. Competition Planning Partners (WAD Gods) - Initially funded at $20,000, the committee reconsidered and raised the allocation to $25,000 following a motion by Young. This will replace the previous amount, Young clarified. The amendment carried with no opposition.

Debate over fairness

While many allocations sailed through, others prompted debate about fairness, paperwork errors, and whether groups were playing by the same rules.

Atkins raised concerns about inconsistent applications.

Although they did not do it properly this time in terms of the format, undoubtedly they did it in 2025 because they got the money. So they know how to do it, he said.

Young pressed for more transparency, arguing applicants should have more opportunity to present their case directly.

If we only have 18, maybe 20 or 25 folks come up and make the case as to why they should receive funding, I think that would be very, very useful to this process, he said.

Others defended the process as an investment in Caddos cultural and economic vitality.

One supporter told commissioners: I was an applicant and Im doing great work in the community. I would want it shouted from the mountaintop what were doing and why we should be receiving these funds.
The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) has issued a decision notice to HDFC Bank's Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) branch, restricting it from onboarding or soliciting new clients.

The notice prohibits the branch from engaging in financial services for new clients, such as providing advise on financial products, arranging credit and deals in investments, and offering custody services.

Existing customers and those who were previously offered financial services but not yet onboarded are not affected by these restrictions. The DFSA order will remain in effect until it is changed or revoked in writing.

The regulator raised concerns regarding the branch's practices in offering financial services to customers who have not been completely onboarded, as well as issues with its onboarding process.

HDFC Bank stated that the DIFC branch's operations are not significant to its overall business and financial position.

As of 23 September, the DIFC branch had 1,489 customers, including those with joint accounts.

HDFC said: "The bank has already initiated necessary steps to comply with the directives in the above-referred notice and is committed to work with the DFSA in its ongoing investigation and to promptly remediate and address the DFSA concerns at the earliest.

This development follows a controversy that started two years ago regarding the alleged mis-selling of high-risk Credit Suisse additional tier-1 (AT1) bonds.

Investors have accused the bank of promoting these products through its UAE operations, reported Economic Times.

Regulators are currently investigating whether clients were properly onboarded in the DIFC, a jurisdiction known for its unique financial rules and a stricter framework for "professional clients."

The AT1 bonds were written down two years ago during Credit Suisse's collapse, leading to huge losses and margin calls for several wealthy non-resident Indian investors.

"HDFC Banks DIFC branch restricted from onboarding new clients" was originally created and published by Retail Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand.




COMMUNITY NOTES: BALLYHAUNIS - WESTERN PEOPLE (SEPTEMBER 30 EDITION)

American buyers are showing increased interest in property in the Ballyhaunis area. Local estate agent Gerry Coffey said he has seen a surge in interest from buyers seeking to leave America due to disaffection and worry over the countrys political direction.

A client looking at properties in the Ballyhaunis area told Coffey he doesnt know whats going on in America, theres uncertainty. The auctioneer said American buyers, like those from elsewhere, are drawn to better value in terms of house prices in the Ballyhaunis and Castlerea areas which have both ranked among the cheapest eircodes in Ireland for house prices in recent years.

Another American client of Coffey is seeking to purchase a property in Ireland because his partner has a green card and hes afraid of what can happen. Thats a reference to recent apprehensions and deportations of green card holders by immigration agents in America since the Trump administration took power.

US clients have also said theyre worried about violence and gun crime in America, according to Coffey who now sees the surge in American interest as potentially a mirror of the influx of British buyers post Brexit.

The British demand for Irish property is not as good as it was, a lot moved after Brexit but now theyve accepted it and its settled down, he explained.

Coffey said the latest influx are far more realistic about their plans to buy in Ireland.

They are putting offers in, real offers. Theyre phoning you when in Ireland, before they called from New York, they had a very romantic view of Ireland.

Another Ballyhaunis-based estate agent has also had American interest.

I wont say there is a big influx, said estate agent Kevin Kirrane who said his agency has made sales to several American buyers recently. Wealthy retired couples are probably the [Americans] most likely to come to Ireland.
CSX Corp. today announced that its Board of Directors has named Steve Angel as president and chief executive, effective Sept. 28.

Join the leaders shaping freights future at

F3: Future of Freight Festival, Oct 21-22.

Network with the industrys best and discover whats next.

Register now!

Angel, former CEO of gas and engineering giant Linde who had served as chairman of that company since 2022, succeeds Joe Hinrichs, who had been president, CEO, and board member.

Angel was also appointed to the CSX (NASDAQ: CSX) board.

The move comes as a surprise, as Hinrichs on Friday had hosted a high-profile media event to mark the re-opening of the Howard Street tunnel, a linchpin in the railroads plans to expand intermodal traffic into the Port of Baltimore.

Steve Angel

Former Ford (NYSE: F) president Hinrichs was popular among CSX employees, making frequent visits along the railroads network and completing early contract agreements with some of the railroads unions.

But the companys stock price had failed to show substantial improvement since Hinrichs joined CSX as president and CEO in late September 2022, succeeding James Foote. The railroads metrics had also trailed the other Class I carriers, leading activist investor Ancora Holdings this past summer to call for Hinrichs to step down.

The change in leadership also follows the announcement by Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP) and CSX eastern rival Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC) of an $85 billion merger that, if approved, would create the first U.S. transcontinental railroad.

Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK-B), parent of BNSF, then said that it would not pursue a merger with CSX, leaving the Jacksonville, Fla.-based carrier on the outside looking in amid a potential historic restructuring of the U.S. railroad industry.

CSX in a release said that it still expects to deliver full-year volume growth.

We are excited to welcome Steve as our new CEO. He is a visionary in creating long-term value and an expert in guiding companies through significant transformation. The Board conducted a very targeted process, and Steve was the clear choice to lead CSX, said John Zillmer, chairman of CSX. The Board is laser-focused on advancing CSXs strategic priorities and maximizing shareholder value, and we are confident Steve has the right skillset, expertise, and background to help us deliver our next phase of growth.

Angel oversaw the merger of Linde (NASDAQ: LIN) and Praxair which created the worlds largest industrial gases and engineering company. Angel was CEO of Praxair from 2007-2018, and became CEO after the merger in 2018. He was named chairman in 2018, and plans to retire from Lindes board in January 2026.
Value stocks cater to investors who want to buy reliable companies with a decent margin of safety. Instead of buying high-flying growth stocks that can crash and burn if the economy goes through a recession, value stocks can hold their ground during uncertainty.

However, buying and holding value stocks still makes it possible to become rich. Their gains may not look exciting compared to the hottest AI stocks, but if you give them time to grow, some value stocks can outperform most of the stock market.

Discover More: Barbara Corcoran: This Is the Only Investment Ill Never Sell

Read Next: Mark Cuban Says Trump's Executive Order To Lower Medication Costs Has a 'Real Shot' -- Here's Why

The three stocks highlighted below demonstrate what is possible if investors accumulate value stocks in the long run.

Walmart (WMT)

The global retailer became one of the most successful stocks in the market thanks to its focus on offering affordable prices for a wide range of goods. The stock has been performing well recently, as its picked up a 32% gain over the past year. It also has a 0.91% yield.

Although those gains sound solid, the stocks 958% return over the past 20 years demonstrates how much your portfolio can compound if you pick the right stocks. If you put $10,000 into Walmart stock 20 years ago, it would have turned into $105,800.

That doesnt even include the dividend payouts, which you could have reinvested into the company. Walmarts market cap is currently above $800 billion, so it will be hard for the company to deliver that type of return over the next 20 years. The higher a companys market cap becomes, the more difficult it is for the stock to produce life-changing gains. However, there are examples of smaller value stocks that would have made people rich if they bought shares 20 years ago.

Consider This: Self-Made Millionaires Suggest 5 Stocks You Should Never Sell

Home Depot (HD)

Home Depot hasnt done as well as Walmart over the past year. Its only up by 10% during that time, but it comes with a more generous 2.18% yield. However, if you turn the clock back by 20 years, Home Depot has been an exceptional performer.

The home improvement retailers shares have soared by 1,650% over the past five years. That means a $10,000 investment would have turned into $175,000. Its a tremendous return that does not include dividends and highlights how stocks can rally over the long run.

However, HD stock didnt net all of those gains in 20 years. It was actually a dead stock for quite some time, based on its 1,902% return over the past 15 years. It would have made sense to sell HD stock before the 15-year rally took shape, but investors who endured five miserable years ended up with market-beating returns.
CALS welcomes Dr Youssef Aziz as a visiting legal fellow

Dr Youssef Aziz joins CALS and the Constitutional Court as an American Society of International Law Fellow

CALS is proud to welcome Dr Youssef Aziz as a legal fellow through the prestigious American Society of International Law Fellowship. Dr Aziz has chosen to complete a joint fellowship in South Africa at CALS and the Constitutional Court where he is working with Justices Majiedt and Kollapen. His work at CALS focuses on questions of access to justice, SLAPP suits, and international litigation.

Dr Aziz earned his JD from New York University School of Law, where he was an articles editor on the NYU Law Review, received the Jerome Lipper Prize for outstanding work in international law, and won the Kim Barry 98 Memorial Convocation Prize for commitment to human rights. While at NYU, he worked with Foley Hoag LLP on cases before the International Court of Justice. He also worked with the Center for Constitutional Rights on Palestine v. Biden, and with the Legal Empowerment and Judicial Independence Clinic, where he supported the UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers in research on access to justice and the impact of artificial intelligence on judicial actors. In addition, he has contributed to Al Shimari v. CACI, the historic Abu Ghraib torture trial.

Beyond his work at CALS, Youssef is actively engaged in the African Society of International Law, where he serves as secretary and co-leads initiatives to support early-career scholars. His research and writing are informed by Third World Approaches to International Law (TWAIL), with a particular interest in how courts and social movements across the Global South contest imperial legacies and advance transformative understandings of law.

When asked why he wanted to work with CALS, he had this to say:
How AI-Powered Omnichannel Chatbots Are Transforming HIV Prevention for South African Youth

As digital transformation reshapes healthcare globally, artificial intelligence (AI) omnichannel platforms are emerging as critical tools in addressing persistent public health challenges. A study found that adolescent girls and Young women (AGYW), aged between 15 and 24, are twice as likely to be HIV positive  a trend that is observed globally as women and girls of all ages accounted for 44% of all new HIV infections in 2023. South Africa is not different, and innovative digital solutions like the Sister Unathi chatbot are redefining how care is accessed, personalised, and scaled.

Why AGYW?

These figures call for preventive efforts to be targeted at AGYW, who face unique vulnerabilities in the context of HIV, including limited access to healthcare, social stigma, and gender-based violence. Although pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been implemented in certain geographical areas in South Africa, it has not slowed down rates in this age group. This Wits RHI project (Project PrEP) has turned to the use of AI to enhance the understanding of PrEP use among AGYW in real-world contexts.

Why AI-Powered Tools?

Todays young people are particular about how, when, and through which channel they access information, opting for internet-based, mobile technology, and social media. A recent study, Exploring Online Health InformationSeeking Behaviour Among Young Adults, found that they look for: credible content, user-friendly design, tailored language, interactive features, privacy, and inclusivity  characteristics that Wits RHI also identified as a factor that influences their success in reaching AGYW for the HIV prevention programme.

To meet these expectations, the AI-powered omnichannel Sister Unathi chatbot is a digital tool designed to provide discreet, accessible support across multiple platforms that young people already use, including WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, and the MyPrEP website.

Caption: Meet the trusted, professional and non-judgmental Sister Unathi.

The Sister Unathi chatbot was developed to address information gaps, support decision-making, and link users to HIV prevention and sexual reproductive health services in a confidential, youth-friendly format, explains Nakita Sheobalak, the Project Manager for Digital Media at Wits RHI.

From NLP to AI

Caption: Image of Sister Unathis nurse persona announcing on social media about the omnichannel transition period and the chatbots glow-up.

Sister Unathi answers peoples questions about their sexual health, assists them in making informed health decisions, and refers them to relevant healthcare services.

Caption: Sister Unathis NLP character and UX flow.

The chatbot was originally launched as a Natural Language Processing (NLP) chatbot, a subset of AI that interprets user messages using structured rules and keyword matching. Over time, message volumes increased across multiple platforms, and the NLP model, combined with human moderation, became difficult to sustain. The decision to transition to an AI-powered omnichannel version was made to improve automation, reduce pressure on human agents, and enhance the user experience. The AI model enables more responsive, context-aware interactions and allows the chatbot to operate more efficiently across platforms. This transition aimed to support a growing user base with consistent, personalised content and improved service linkage through multiple access points.

The current chatbot can recognise some commonly used youth phrases, local slang and local language depending on the resources provided for the AI to learn from. However, its ability to detect emotional tone is still limited. While certain keywords like Im scared, I need counselling, or I am being abused can trigger the correct response and helpline referral or escalation to a human agent, the system does not yet have full sentiment analysis to pick up on panic or distress.

Challenges and Lessons Learned

Keyword-based replies posed risks of misinterpretation and missed urgency. The human moderation system struggled to keep up with the volume of incoming messages, especially during peak engagement periods, such as weekends or after working hours between 16h00 and 8h00. Relying solely on human agents was unsustainable at scale as it required more time, resources, and was costly to operate, explains Sheobalak.

If the chatbot cannot answer a users question, it prompts the user to try rephrasing, offers a list of related topics, and provides the option to escalate the query to a human agent during available hours. In highly sensitive cases, such as when a user expresses suicidal thoughts, escalation depends on either specific trigger words recognised by the system or active intervention by a human moderator. In these instances, the chatbot displays an urgent response message with contact details for national mental health helplines such as SADAG, Lifeline, or LoveLife. However, the chatbot cannot confirm whether the user seeks help or follows through, and this remains a key limitation.

Sheobalak says that programmatic plans are underway to strengthen follow-up on site-level incidents. Protocols for reporting and responding to online cases of gender-based violence (GBV) or mental health-related distress remain limited and require further development, she explains. She noted that although mental health and distress-related cases are not the chatbots primary focus. Her team aims to follow up as soon as possible in situations where clients report serious concerns, such as negative clinic experiences or mental health challenges.

Research-Backed Technical Features

The platform is informed by a combination of anonymised backend data from the MyPrEP website, social media engagement analytics, and a WhatsApp Business account, as well as publicly available platform insights collected between March 2020 and February 2025 across MyPrEPs messaging platforms. Personal identifiable information is removed from the data collected through users online patterns and interactions  also known as cookies.

We have an operational review of over 50,000 conversations across these platforms, which revealed instances of delays exceeding 24 hours, especially when questions were not adequately answered, says Sheobalak.

The findings of the analysed backend data were supported by local literature on mHealth engagement and internal data from Project PrEP, which identified limitations in human-dependent NLP models. Research also provided key insights into user behaviour and the use of NLPs in African public health, highlighting challenges related to data training, contextual understanding, and deployment. Reviews of chatbot applications in healthcare further underscore these limitations, noting that many NLP-based chatbots struggle with limited flexibility, generic responses, and difficulty understanding user context. Sheobalak says that she and her team closely followed studies that discuss user dissatisfaction with chatbot accuracy and NLP performance, particularly in recognising emotional tone and generating appropriate responses, as this helped them design operational systems to manage expected challenges on user trust and engagement.

Impact and Engagement

The Unitaid-funded project helps identify high-demand service areas not yet covered by mobile clinics or accessible public health clinics. It informs targeted content development based on frequently asked questions or misunderstood topics and supports donor reporting through data on reach, engagement, and behaviour.

Caption: Sister Unathi Chat sharing information on how to access MyPrEP mobile clinic

AI-driven Sister Unathi addresses previously identified gaps in digital health interventions for PrEP, SRH, and sexually transmitted infection (STI) services. These include

Accessibility as the chatbot operates 24/7;

as the chatbot operates 24/7; Scalability with AI-automation supporting high-volume messaging;

with AI-automation supporting high-volume messaging; Continuity of care , as the platform sends reminders, follow-ups, and referral messages, and guides users to specific service points; and

, as the platform sends reminders, follow-ups, and referral messages, and guides users to specific service points; and User-centred design, culturally resonant content, and improving relevance for diverse populations.

Regulation of AI-Enhanced Healthcare Services

Just as the use of AI tools presents an opportunity to enhance proficiency, particularly in resource-constrained environments like South Africas public healthcare sector, their fast-innovative nature requires equally effective regulatory policy frameworks to guide their ethical use.

Data privacy, consent, and confidentiality are highly regulated in the practice of healthcare and getting it wrong is not an option. Sheobalak reflects on the extensive process of setting up an AI-powered health chatbot in South Africa, highlighting navigating several legal and data protection requirements as the key hurdles. while guidance was provided, it is a lengthy and ongoing process. Our internal legal team guided the process to ensure the chatbot complies with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), particularly regarding consent and data privacy. Because the chatbot is hosted on Crisp.Chat, a platform based outside South Africa, we had to carefully review their data policies and sign a Data Protection Agreement to ensure user data is handled safely and legally, she explains.

Caption: Sister Unathis POPIA and consent disclosure message that starts the chats across its platforms.

She says that although the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) released guidance in August 2025 for AI and machine learningenabled medical devices, there is currently no comprehensive national framework in South Africa that covers the full scope of AI use in public health programmes. This guidance provides clarity on the classification, safety, performance, and lifecycle controls for regulated medical devices. It does not yet cover broader digital health tools, such as AI-powered chatbots used for health education, referrals, or behaviour change communication. This creates a grey area when working with international partners, especially around data hosting, intellectual property, and software licensing, she noted. Despite this, she says her team regularly reviews their systems and follows legal and ethical best practices to keep users safe and their information protected.

Future Outlook

Sister Unathi is part of a broader vision to develop smart, scalable, and youth-friendly digital tools that strengthen HIV prevention, sexual and reproductive health, and overall wellness in South Africa, with potential for wider use.

Currently, the chatbot enables users to ask questions, receive accurate information, and be directed to nearby services. Yet, limitations remain. The goal is to evolve Sister Unathi into a more intelligent and personalised support tool. We are exploring features such as STI image analysis, real-time geolocation to help users locate nearby services, and better referral tracking to close the loop on service delivery, says Sheobalak as her team works to enhance timely, relevant, and confidential support.

Sister Unathi is also part of a larger digital ecosystem that has provided young people with trusted, accessible health information for over seven years. This includes the MyPrEP website, a geolocation-based service finder, e-learning tools, and social media platforms. Together, these platforms offer a supportive digital environment that we plan to expand and strengthen.
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. &&
SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. Just click here.

The consequences were delivered with remarkable speed once the video surfaced of a teacher at Texas A&M University talking about a book with a nonbinary character. The class was studying children's literature, and a student confronted the instructor over whether the discussion of gender was legal.

A day after a video of the exchange began circulating, the instructor was fired, the department head and dean were removed from their posts, and the Justice Department said it would look into the matter. Ten days later, as cries from the right continued to echo across the internet, the university president said he was resigning, bringing the tenure of a retired four-star general to an unexpected and abrupt halt.

Now the state lawmaker who led the campaign against them says he's being inundated with tips about what he characterized as offensive efforts to indoctrinate students. "This is just the start," Texas state Rep. Brian Harrison, a conservative firebrand, told The Post. "I hope this puts the fear of G od into every university president and chancellor in Texas."

The resignation of a president at one of the nation's largest universities is the latest example of the immense pressure educators are facing - from elementary schools through to college - over lessons and speech.

Over the past several years, conservatives have focused on reshaping teachings of race, gender identity and sexual orientation, leading to a spate of state laws regulating what educators can say and to the firing of a number of teachers. That campaign mushroomed this month as conservatives pushed to oust people they say have gone far in criticizing Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist who was fatally shot at Utah Valley University last week.

In Tennessee, Cumberland University said last week an English professor and a staff member were no longer employed by the school after making "inappropriate comments on the internet" about Kirk. The University of California at Los Angeles put an employee on immediate leave for allegedly celebrating Kirk's death on social media and launched an investigation this week. And teachers and school staff have been fired across Texas because of comments made about Kirk's shooting, a half dozen in the Houston area alone, but also in South Texas, the Panhandle and West Texas.

"There's always been intense interest in what teachers say in and outside of the classroom," said Robert Kim, executive director of the Education Law Center, a left-leaning legal advocacy group. "I do think there's been an uptick in the desire to regulate teachers' speech that has arguably shrunk the zone of teacher free speech."

Teachers are hardly alone. ABC indefinitely suspended late night host Jimmy Kimmel for comments related to Kirk, spurring cries of censorship. Vice President JD Vance said anyone "celebrating Charlie's murder" should lose their job. Attorney General Pam Bondi vowed to crack down on "hate speech," though she later walked those comments back.

The scrutiny of teachers has not always come from conservatives. In the wake of George Floyd's murder in 2020, teachers across several states were disciplined or fired for what were seen as insensitive or offensive racial remarks. And a Virginia teacher was fired for refusing to use a transgender student's pronouns.

But today the scrutiny is decidedly from the right, is being encouraged by senior government leaders and shows no sign of abating.

Texas has been a particular nexus of teacher scrutiny of both college professors and K-12 teachers.

In the wake of Kirk's killing, the state schools superintendent urged the public to report teachers who post "reprehensible and inappropriate content on social media." Florida's schools chief did something similar, vowing that such educators would be "held accountable" and declaring there are limits to their First Amendment rights.

So far, the Texas Education Agency has received 281 complaints about teacher comments in the wake of Kirk's killing, with staff still reviewing them, spokeswoman Jake Kobersky said Friday. He said the agency had not yet sanctioned any of these teachers, though some districts have acted and the state might step in as well.

At the same time, conservative advocacy groups are monitoring teachers to be sure they comply with new state laws that limit how teachers talk about topics including race, gender identity, sexual orientation and gender identity, said Mary Elizabeth Castle, director of government relations at the conservative advocacy group Texas Values.

For instance, Castle said, her group is monitoring teachers at Austin public schools, which she said were "an inspiration for this law" because she said they sponsor Pride weeks and post LGBTQ+ signs and memorabilia in their classrooms.

The surge in discipline follows years of complaints by conservatives that their voices were being silenced, particularly on college campuses.

For many years, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression defended conservatives who said their speech was suppressed. The group agreed with a chorus of conservatives who decried cancel culture and an intolerance to alternative views.

Now FIRE is defending people on the left who are under attack from many of the same people who once demanded free expression. "It just shows a lack of principle about what free speech means and why it's important," said Zach Greenberg, faculty legal defense counsel at FIRE.

He said FIRE has heard from professors in South Dakota, Montana, New York, California and Florida - all concerned that their speech was being restricted. "It seems to be a national phenomenon," he said.

Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, said she sees no end in sight to the scrutiny of teachers' speech. Kirk's killing was horrible, she said, but does not justify going after teachers who have a diversity of opinions.

"This tragedy is being used to create broad-based censorship and to create a chilling effect on the people who are really trusted in society," she said in an interview Friday. She said her union will defend teachers who are disciplined or fired for comments about Kirk, just as it did for those accused of insensitive comments regarding Floyd.

"I don't like hate speech but my obligation is to try and convince people that hate speech is wrong, not that the government can censor hate speech," she said.

Some of the teachers are pushing back.

At Texas State University, a history professor was fired this month for allegedly inciting political violence in remarks at a socialism conference captured on video. This week, the professor, Thomas Alter, filed a lawsuit arguing the administrators retaliated against him for political, protected speech.

Students and free speech advocates have rallied to his defense, with more than 2,700 people signing a union petition calling on the university to reinstate Alter. An edited video showed Alter suggesting that the United States be overthrown because it is "the most bloodthirsty, profit-driven, mad organization in the history of the world." In his lawsuit, Alter argues his comments were taken out of context.

"This is a part of a general trend of higher education being under assault," Alter said Friday.

At Texas A&M, the university president, Mark A. Welsh III, stepped down voluntarily amid the pressure. But the instructor who taught the book with a nonbinary character has hired an attorney and is appealing her dismissal.

University officials said the instructor was fired because she included material in the course that did not align with "any reasonable expectation of standard curriculum for the course" and did not match the course description. The teacher's lawyer said that the content was consistent with the description and that she had never been asked to change it.

Her case was publicized by Harrison, the state legislator, who said he was alerted by a student. A graduate of A&M himself, Harrison said he was surprised to learn of the course given A&M's reputation as a conservative school.

"I wanted people to see that if one state rep can cause enough outrage to force a university president out of his job, other presidents will take note," Harrison told The Post on Friday.

"I view it as an early and decisive victory in a massive campaign," he said. "I'm not going to stop until every state university and agency stops engaging in DEI and transgender indoctrination."

Threats like this have other professors on edge.

Leonard Bright, a professor of public service and administration at Texas A&M, said he was already worried about running afoul of Texas's restrictive laws and policies because he teaches about topics such as the history of slavery, workplace diversity and inclusivity. Now one classroom lesson caught on video has brought down the school's president, and he said he worries that more faculty will be brought down by politicians who don't agree with their teachings.

"There was a day when academia was respected as a place where students could learn different perspectives," Bright said in an interview. "Now it has become a battleground some want to use to advance their own political agendas."

(COMMENT, BELOW)
Iraq has resumed oil exports from its semi-autonomous Kurdistan region to Turkiye after more than two-and-a-half years.

The restart follows an interim agreement between Iraq's Federal Government, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and foreign oil producers operating in the region.

According to Iraq's Oil Ministry, operations commenced at 6am local time without significant technical issues.

The agreement permits the transport of 180,000190,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude toTurkiye's Ceyhan port, with plans to increase this volume to 230,000bpd.

The pipeline had been shut since March 2023 after the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) ordered Turkiye to pay Iraq $1.5bn (Tl62.35bn) in damages for unauthorised exports from Iraqi Kurdistan between 2014 and 2018.

This followed Iraq's arbitration claim in 2014, asserting that the State Oil Marketing Organisation (SOMO) held exclusive rights to export the country's oil.

Iraq, the second-largest oil producer among the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), exports around 3.4 million barrels per day (mbbl/d) from its ports in the southern region.

The addition of northern exports is expected to ease economic pressures in the Kurdistan region, which has faced salary delays and service cuts.

Iraq's delegate to OPEC, Mohammed al-Najjar, told state news agency INA: Iraq can export more than it is now after the resumption of flows via the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline, in addition to other planned projects at Basra port.

OPEC member states have the right to demand an increase in their production shares, especially if they have projects that led to an increase in production capacity.

Previously, several efforts to restart Iraqi oil exports to Turkiye failed, with discussions breaking down over pricing issues.

The US government advocated for a restart, as increased supply could help reduce crude prices  a priority for the Trump administration, which also committed to reducing Iran's crude exports to zero.

Eight oil companies in Iraqi Kurdistan, responsible for more than 90% of the region's production, have reached agreements to resume exports.

Under the deal, the KRG will supply crude to SOMO, with an independent trader managing sales from Ceyhan. The producers will receive $16 per barrel sold.

The preliminary plan requires the KRG to commit to delivering at least 230,000bpd to SOMO, with an additional 50,000bpd reserved for local use.

The parties involved plan to meet within 30 days to discuss settling outstanding debts owed by the KRG to producers.
South Korea, bithumb listing, euler. Photo by BeInCrypto

A new proposal in Korea suggested that the National Pension Service(NPS), the country's public pension fund, should actively consider investing in digital assets.

Kab Lae Kim, a senior research fellow at the Korea Capital Market Institute, made the recommendation Monday at a local conference. NPS is the worlds third-largest pension fund with over $930 billion (KRW 1,185 trillion) in assets under management.

DAT and Spot ETFs as a 'Primer' for Pension Funds

Kim said the NPS should actively consider digital assets and include them in its portfolio. The domestic digital asset has already discovered its industry foundation. Securities firms are moving into the space, creating significant profit potential. However, the NPS does not easily commit its capital. The asset's reputation for high volatility could substantially obstruct investment.

Kim pointed to Digital Asset Treasury (DAT) companies and spot crypto Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) as potential " primers." He believes they could lead to pension fund investment in digital assets by causing a policy shift toward a "Korean-style DAT" or a Bitcoin spot ETF in the digital asset ecosystem.

Kim added that NPS is critical in helping the country's digital asset companies grow and compete globally, urging policy discussions.

Kim works for the Korea Capital Market Institute, a leading think tank dedicated to capital market research. KCMI conducts objective, high-quality policy research to contribute to economic growth and promote public interests.

A Growing Global Trend

Globally, pension funds and endowments are increasingly showing interest in Bitcoin investment. For example, AMP, an Australian pension fund managing about $57 billion in assets, invested $27 million in Bitcoin last December. The Michigan state pension fund invested $6.6 million in a Bitcoin ETF in the US. These investment moves will likely expand.

This past August, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to include cryptocurrencies in 401(k) retirement plans for retired US workers. Korea's NPS has not yet made a direct investment in Bitcoin; however, in August 2024, it purchased 24,500 shares of MicroStrategy (MSTR), a stock with a high correlation to Bitcoin's price.

Read original story Koreas $930B Pension Giant Urged to Invest in Bitcoin and Digital Assets by Paul Kim at beincrypto.com
Lakehouse Capital, a Sydney-based investment manager, released its Lakehouse Global Growth Fund annual investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The year was strong for the fund despite volatility, backed by the new US administration. The fund returned 33.4% net of fees and expenses compared to 18.4% for its benchmark. Since its inception in December 2017, the Fund has returned 254.4% compared to 139.9% for its benchmark, the MSCI All Country World Index, Net Total Returns (AUD). In addition, please check the funds top five holdings to know its best picks in 2025.

In its second-quarter 2025 investor letter, Lakehouse Global Growth Fund highlighted stocks such as LVMH Moet Hennessy  Louis Vuitton, Societe Europeenne (OTC:LVMUY). LVMH Moet Hennessy  Louis Vuitton, Societe Europeenne (OTC:LVMUY) is a luxury goods company. The one-month return of LVMH Moet Hennessy - Louis Vuitton, Societe Europeenne (OTC:LVMUY) was 2.29%, and its shares lost 21.38% of their value over the last 52 weeks. On September 26, 2025, LVMH Moet Hennessy - Louis Vuitton, Societe Europeenne (OTC:LVMUY) stock closed at $120.77 per share, with a market capitalization of $299.942 billion.

Lakehouse Global Growth Fund stated the following regarding LVMH Moet Hennessy - Louis Vuitton, Societe Europeenne (OTC:LVMUY) in its second quarter 2025 investor letter:

"LVMH Moet Hennessy - Louis Vuitton, Societe Europeenne (OTC:LVMUY) is one where we dont have much to add. The founder-led business remains the dominant player in luxury goods globally and was a positive contributor to Fund performance over the course of its life. But as we shared in last years annual letter, we had started to see early signs that the luxury segment was beginning to soften in the face of a weaker macro backdrop. While the share price proved resilient for a time, we took advantage of that strength to steadily reduce our holding, gradually trimming it down to the Funds smallest position. As the year progressed and the outlook failed to improve, we made the decision to exit our small remaining stake in April."

LVMH Moet Hennessy - Louis Vuitton, Societe Europeenne (OTC:LVMUY) is not on our list of 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. According to our database, 2 hedge fund portfolios held LVMH Moet Hennessy - Louis Vuitton, Societe Europeenne (OTC:LVMUY) at the end of the second quarter, same as 2 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of LVMH Moet Hennessy - Louis Vuitton, Societe Europeenne (OTC:LVMUY) 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.
George Galloway and his wife Putri Gayatri Pertiwi were detained by Counter Terrorism Command officers at London Gatwick Airport on Saturday morning. Galloway, 71, is the leader of the Workers Party of Britain, and his wife is deputy chair of the party. Active in politics for over 50 years, former Labour Party MP Galloway has been elected to parliament seven times in five different constituencies.

The pair were apprehended after visiting Russia, returning to the UK via a flight from Abu Dhabi.

Galloway and his wife were detained for several hours before being released without charge. Speaking about the event on his online talk show on Sunday evening Galloway said he was told by the police, You are not under arrest but you are not free to leave and you do not have the right to remain silent. Galloway said they were questioned far and wide including about your attitude to the conflict in Gaza; who persuaded you of this point of view; why do you admire Mr. Lavrov? [Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov]; why are you so friendly to China? Gayatri was asked why a fingernail was painted in the colours of the Palestinian flag.

George Galloway speaking on his talk show Sunday evening about the detention of himself and his wife, Putri Gayatri, under counter-terror legislation [Photo: screenshot of video/George Galloway/YouTube]

Galloway declared that none of this had anything to do with terrorism and there is only one reason they detained us there, under that legislation, it was to gain access to our communications.

Electronic equipment, including a phone, was confiscated. Galloway was instructed to give up a passcode of a phone that didnt belong to him, but told the police, I dont have the password, but if I did, I wouldnt give it to you.

After being told this would be an offence, Galloway said that until last year he was a member of parliament in possession of vast amounts of confidential correspondence concerning my constituents. As a journalist and broadcaster, as well as the leader of a British political party, he told police officers he had contacts, sources in the police itself, in the security services itself I have contacts in the civil services, the parliament, even in the government. Do you really think I would betray my sources to you?

As a result of his detention Galloway said, I missed the speech I was due to give in a meeting in central London in the presence of, amongst others, the ambassador of the Peoples Republic of China.

Galloway and Gayatri were detained under Schedule 3 of the Counter Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019, which allows police officers to stop, question, search and detain a person at a border area to determine if they have engaged in hostile activity against the UK.

The legislationin an all-embracing catch-alldefines hostile activity as anything that threatens national security, threatens the economic well-being of the United Kingdom in a way relevant to the interests of national security, or is an act of serious crime.

To ensure that literally anyone can be detained, it stipulates, it is immaterial(i)whether a person is aware that activity in which they are or have been engaged is hostile activity, or (ii)whether a State for or on behalf of which, or in the interests of which, a hostile act is carried out has instigated, sanctioned, or is otherwise aware of, the carrying out of the act.

Befitting the police-state regime that the Labour government is wielding against opponents of austerity and war, Schedule 3 allows designated police, immigration, and customs officers at ports and border areas to stop and question individuals without even a prior suspicion of involvement in hostile activity.

Only the bare minimum facts were initially made known about the circumstances leading to the detention of Galloway and his wife. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson told the Herald newspaper: We can confirm that on Saturday, 27 September counter terrorism officers at Gatwick Airport stopped a man in his 70s and a woman in her 40s under Schedule 3 of the Counter Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019.

Neither of them were arrested and they were allowed on their way.

The powers handed to the police under Schedule 3 of the Counter Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019, and Schedule 7 (Terrorism Act 2000) are some of the most draconian ever passed. The Investigatory Powers Commissioners Office (IPCO) noted of the schedule Galloway was detained under that The powers also allow an examining officer to retain, copy, use and destroy an article which is found during a search.

The Investigatory Powers Commissioner (IPC) may authorise retention and use of an article found during a search. This includes authorising retention and use of a copy of an article that consists of or includes confidential material. The IPC can also authorise destruction of any such articles. The IPC also reviews and reports on the operation of the Schedule.

The attack on Galloway and his wife represents a ratcheting up of the massive onslaught against democratic rights in Britain being carried out by Keir Starmers Labour government. Anti-terrorist acts and other draconian legislation have been utilised against other political figures and journalists, including human rights activist and former UK diplomat Craig Murray and journalists Kit Klarenburg and Richard Medhurst. However, Galloway is by far the most well-known anti-war figure in Britain. Expelled from the Labour Party by Tony Blair in 2003 for his opopostion to the invasion of Iraq, Galloway has one million followers on Facebook, over 800,000 followers on X, and an online weekly talk show viewed by hundreds of thousands.

Galloway is an advocate of populist nationalism, who previously sought nomination as a candidate for Nigel Farages Brexit Party. Beginning his political career as a Stalinist, he advocates for a left-right alliance based on urging a defence of the interests of British imperialism through the pursuit of multi-polar alliances with Russia and China to counter US imperialism.

But he has won support over several decades as an opponent of imperialist wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and is a vocal opponent of NATOs proxy war against Russia in Ukraine. This places him in the crosshairs of Britains state forces, amid a hysterical campaign of warmongering by Britain and other European powers targeting Russia above all but also directed against China.

Since early July, almost 1,700 peaceful protesters have been arrested under Section 13 (1) of the Terrorism Act 2000 for stating their opposition to the proscribing of peaceful direct action group Palestine Action. The crackdown continued on Sunday with 66 people arrested, including an 83 year-old at a protest in Liverpoolheld to coincide with the beginning of the Labour Party conference in the city. They were arrested under the Terrorism Act for holding signs reading: I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action. This spearheads ongoing efforts to criminalise opposition to Israels genocide in Gaza.

Schedule 3 of the Counter Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019 was enacted in February 2019, in the aftermath of the hysterical campaign against Russia over the Salisbury affair. The then Conservative government of Theresa Maybacked by the right-wing of the opposition Labour Partyclaimed that the Putin government sent operatives into Britain to poison, in Salisbury, Wiltshire, the double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.

Written evidence submitted in 2020 to a parliamentary committee by Professor Emeritus Clive Walker pointed out: Schedule 3 is so vague that it might be argued to lack legality in the meaning of the European Convention on Human Rights. The term, hostile activity has not been deployed in the UK beyond war-related legislation, such as the Civil Defence Act 1939 and the Geneva Conventions Act 1957. (Emphasis added.)
Federal agents fired pepper balls and tear gas at protesters outside a federal immigration building in Broadview, Illinois on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. [AP Photo/Laura Bargfeld]

Earlier this month, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under the direction of the Trump administration launched an incursion into the Chicago area it called Operation Midway Blitz, concentrating on the southwest side of the city near Midway airport. The many working class neighborhoods there are home to large, mainly Spanish-speaking immigrant populations. According to ICE, at least 500 have been detained.

The arrival of ICE was met with protest and anger that is growing, at both the Trump administrations violations of the most basic democratic and social rights and the inaction of the Democratic Party.

Protests at the suburban Broadview, Illinois ICE facility outside of Chicago are now in their third week. There immigrants are being detained as part of the Trump administrations illegal kidnappings and deportations.

On Thursday, Daniel Shouse was hospitalized after being hit by a truck driven by ICE agents at 25-30 miles per hour. Shouse told WGN about the near-fatal assault:

He had hopped up over the curb, ran right into me and thats where you see I was thrown right on the side of the road. And he took off back there, which leads back to the ICE facility. How is this allowed, and is there nothing we can do about it? Theres no accountability. The officers came up to me at the hospital and asked if Id be able to point the person out in a lineup. How can I do that when they all wear masks? I just want to show them that you cant silence us. It doesnt matter what you do to us. It doesnt matter how many times you shoot at us, or what pain you want to put on to us, well be here and were going to keep fighting for accountability.

Broadview police said ICE denied any knowledge of an agent hitting a protester with a vehicle and reported that their officers had to leave the scene after ICE agents began firing more pepper balls.

On September 19, a number of Democratic Party officials, including Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, were among the demonstrators when ICE assaulted several people, including religious leaders, and tear-gassed the demonstration.

Last Friday saw a marked escalation, as federal agents assaulted protesters with flash-bang grenades, chemical baton rounds, pepper balls and an extraordinary volume of tear gas. Customs and Border Patrol agents emerged from behind the fence to tackle protesters, making numerous arrests, including two journalists.

The mayor of Broadview, Katrina Thompson, sent a letter to the field office director for the Department of Homeland Security, Patrick Holt, writing:

In effect, you are making war on my community. And it has to stop. The relentless deployment of tear gas, pepper spray, mace, and rubber bullets in the vicinity of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing center in the Village of Broadview is endangering nearby village residents and harming Broadview police officers, Broadview firefighters, and American citizens exercising their 1st Amendment constitutional rights.

The demonstration grew on Saturday after Broadview village officials said in a statement that ICE agents threatened officials in Broadview with retaliation by launching enforcement throughout the west suburb on Saturday and creating, in the agencys words, a shit show.

Throughout the week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commander of Operations At Large Gregory Bovino, with the backing of Trump Attorney General Pam Bondi, has made himself a conspicuous presence in Broadview and in downtown Chicago. On the weekend, Border Patrol boats conspicuously motored through a downtown stretch of the Chicago River, prompting jeers from pedestrians and protesters. On Sunday, crowds shouted, ICE go home! at the boats from the popular river walk area.

In a further escalation, a number of masked and heavily armed ICE agents led by Bovino marched north across the Michigan Avenue bridge on Sunday afternoon, mixing shoulder to shoulder with residents on the walkway in an intensely provocative move. An ICE-produced video of this action was picked up and broadcast without comment or criticism by news station WGN.

In carrying out its coup, the Trump administration daily counts on the cowardice and complicity of the Democratic Party. It has made no call for mass protests, nor has it issued a warning to the military that it is legally bound to refuse unconstitutional orders.

In response to ICEs march through downtown Chicago, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker merely tweeted:

The Trump administrations DHS [Department of Homeland Security] officers appear to be carrying large weapons around downtown Chicago in camouflage and masks. This is not making anybody safer  its a show of intimidation, instilling fear in our communities and hurting our businesses. We cannot normalize militarizing American cities and suburbs. Make sure you know your rights and stay alert.

No illusions can remain in the Democratic Party or in protest politics when it comes to defending against fascistic attacks on the working class. Warning of the unfolding conspiracy to overthrow the Constitution, the Socialist Equality Party wrote one week ago, calling for The building of a new form of organization that can unify the working class and mobilize its vast industrial and economic power against the Trump regime.

The SEP stated:
In March 2024, 10,000 employees demonstrated against layoffs in front of the Bosch headquarters in Gerlingen near Stuttgart

After announcing the elimination of 9,000 jobs last year, Bosch has now increased this figure by a further 13,000. It is the largest round of cuts in the companys history. The works council and IG Metall union are not even dreaming of preventing this jobs massacre. The creation of independent rank-and-file action committees that declare war on the union apparatus and its workplace bureaucrats is now more urgent than ever.

By the end of 2024, Robert Bosch GmbH employed almost 418,000 people worldwidearound 11,600 fewer than a year earlier. In Germany, the groups headcount fell by just over 4,500 to around 129,600 (down 3.4 percent). The Automotive, or Mobility, division is Boschs largest area, and is the worlds largest supplier to the automotive industry, employing 230,000, with more than 70,000 in Germany. With the newly announced increase in job cuts, 22,000 posts will disappear at Bosch in Germany, most of them in the automotive division, which accounts for more than 60 percent of total revenue of just over 90 billion. Last year, the supplier divisions revenue fell by 0.7 percent to 55.8 billion. For the current financial year, Bosch most recently expected slight growth.

Nevertheless, costs are to be further reduced to safeguard and increase profits. In 2024 the group achieved a margin of 3.5 percent, compared with 5 percent the year before. At the start of the year, Bosch chief executive Stefan Hartung announced painful decisions for the workforce in order to double last years 3.5 billion profit for the companys owners to at least 7 billion within two years.

Now Mobility chief Markus Heyn and labour director Grosch have put numbers on the painful cuts in an interview with the Stuttgarter Zeitung and Stuttgarter Nachrichten. They want to reduce the annual costs of the Mobility business unit by 2.5 billion.

To that end, the livelihood of around 20,000 families is to be destroyed. Particularly affected are the Power Solutions and Electrified Motion divisions with their sites in Baden-Wurttemberg, in Feuerbach (3,500), Schwieberdingen (1,750) and Waiblingen (560) in the Stuttgart area, as well as Buhl (1,550) and Homburg (1,250).

The company stated that all this is to be completed by the end of 2030. We urgently need to work on competitiveness in the Mobility area and reduce our costs further on a permanent basis. We are pulling many levers to achieve this, said Grosch. The further job cuts, beyond the level already communicated, pained him greatly, but unfortunately there is no way around it.

The IG Metall (IGM) and works council view the situation from the same standpoint as the top managers with whom they sit on the supervisory board, and their reaction is one of understanding. There was no question that the situation in the German and European automotive and supplier industry is very tense, said Frank Sell, chair of the group works council for the Mobility business sector. In the same breath, he hinted at how IGM and the works council intend to push through the jobs massacre. A reduction in headcount of this historic magnitudewithout simultaneous assurances to safeguard our sites in Germanywe reject categorically!

In other words: the job cuts have Sells and the works councils support if promises to safeguard sites are made. Not once in past decades has such an agreement prevented a site closure. Promises of safeguarding sites are always valid only for as long as they are not neededso long as business is booming. But as soon as the order situation and thus production weakens, then a review clause takes effect that then allows the closure of plants and sites after all. As now planned at Bosch, the supposed site-safeguarding agreements are merely the means and the pretext with which IG Metall and its works council reps give their blessing to the demanded cuts and enforce them against the workforce.

The main concern of the IG Metall and works council at Bosch is that this time, they may no longer be able to keep the workforcewho in the past have proved through strikes and protests that they want to fight for their jobsunder control. More so if they are no longer allowed to sell the job cuts as being organised in a socially acceptable manner.

For one thing, the current site-safeguarding arrangement expires at the end of 2027. And second, given the scale of the jobs massacre, Sell issued a warning: We dont have nearly enough retirees for the cuts to be achieved through demographics. Twenty-two thousand jobs cannot be eliminated with the old mechanisms of early retirement or voluntary severance packages.

IGM officials and Bosch works council reps have taken on the task of implementing the attacks demanded by the company leadershipand the end of the line has by no means been reached. Their counterparts at VW have agreed mass redundancies, plant closures and wage cuts of up to twenty percent. At Ford in Cologne, they have once again enabled compulsory redundancies through a perfidious multi-stage blackmail mechanism. The IGM representatives will try to push through the savings packages at Bosch in much the same way.

The creation of a new organisational form for workers struggles, capable of breaking the bureaucratic control of the union apparatus and the works councils, is therefore urgently necessary. The Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party) proposes setting up rank-and-file action committees in every factory, at every administrative, research and development site, at all workplaces and also in the neighbourhoods where workers families live. These committees must become centres of resistance to the social devastation being organised by the government and corporationsnot only at Boschthat unite all sections of the working class.

Independent of all the establishment parties, the union bureaucrats and their apologists, the action committees are the instrument to unite workers and mobilise their immense industrial and economic powerat Bosch and across the entire automotive and supplier industryworldwide.

Such a movement, led by workers who genuinely want to fight, requires a clear programme and a clear strategy. The central point of the programme must be that the interests of the workforce take precedence over the profit interests of company owners and shareholders. Not a single job must be sacrificed to pump further billions into the bank accounts of the super-rich.

The most important element of the strategy is internationalism. Workers must reject the unions reactionary, outdated and self-destructive nationalism.

Works council chair Sell and the IG Metall are calling for so-called local content rules. Car manufacturers wishing to sell cars in Europe are supposedly to be forced to buy components that are produced under the conditions applicable in Europe. For all industrial products marketed in Europe, there must be a mandatory share of European components, writes IG Metall. Anyone who sees Europe as a market should also be responsible for employment in Europe. For example: Chinese or US car manufacturers.

This is the German-nationalist answer to the international trade and economic war. In view of the globalisation of production, which does not stop at the factory gates of individual companies either, it is first of all utopian and secondly reactionary. Bosch has 420,000 employees working worldwide at around 100 large production sites and around 70 development sites in almost every country on earthincluding in China and the USA, where 53,000 people work for Bosch alone.

This policy of sealing off workers in one country from another divides workers in Germany from their colleagues in the USA, China and around the world. It is no better than the tariff policy of the USA under President Donald Trump. And there too it is the United Auto Workers union (UAW) that vehemently supports Trumps tariffs.

Workers in Germany and Europe cannot wage an effective struggle if their actions are not coordinated with and united with the struggles of their colleagues around the world, above all those in the USA and China, who face the same attacks.

All those who want to fight for their livelihoodsfor secure jobs, decent wages and a secure old agemust break free from the unions nationalist stranglehold. Get active, take part in building action committees, send us a WhatsApp message on +49 163 337 8340 and fill out the form below.
Black Bag, about spies and various forms of loyalty and treachery, is the most recent film from prolific American filmmaker Steven Soderbergh. Available for streaming, it involves a group of British intelligence officers and a plot to destabilize the Russian government.

Black Bag

George Woodhouse (Michael Fassbender), a counterintelligence officer with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), is married to Kathryn St. Jean (Cate Blanchett), the NCSC Head of Signals Operations. Woodhouse is given a week by his superior Philip Meacham (Gustaf Skarsgard) to find out which of five possible suspects leaked a top-secret software program, codenamed Severus. One of the names on the list is his wifes.

The program, if physically introduced to a nuclear reactor, in Russia, in this case, can target and melt down the reactor core. Rogue elements have apparently stolen Severus, and plan to use it within days, in order to create chaos and, with any luck, bring down the Russian government. (Although British intelligence has never used the program, the thinking is that such a meltdown would cause political havoc. For an enemy involved in an endless war and a teetering government, theyd run dear leader out of Moscow on a rail. Wed be rid of the prick once and for all.)



George sets about investigating the urgent matter. He organizes a small dinner party at his flat for the four suspectsNCSC case officer Freddie (Tom Burke), his girl-friend and imagery specialist Clarissa (Marisa Abela), staff psychiatrist Zoe (Naomis Harris) and her lover, NCSC counterintelligence officer James (Rege-Jean Page). George puts drugs in the food in an attempt to lower their inhibitions and learn more about them. Indeed, various unpleasant secrets emerge, of a largely personal nature. At the climax of the evening, Clarissa stabs Freddie in the hand with a steak knife.

George also discovers, by underhanded means, that Kathryn is traveling to Zurich and that seven million pounds are sitting in a bank account in the Swiss city available to her. He pressures Clarissa into redirecting a satellite and witnesses Kathryn meeting with a Russian dissident, Lt. Col. Kulikov. We soon learn that Kulikov and Gen. Pavlichuk, with Severus in hand, are en route to Russia with the intention of unleashing the program.

By now, Kathryn has concluded that her boss, Stieglitz (Pierce Brosnan), deliberately caused the leak, even though he knows it will kill great numbers of innocent people. (She eventually confronts him: How many would a meltdown have killed? 10,000? 20,000?) George and Kathryn realize each is being set up, from two different directions and for two different purposes (Theres a plan. And a counterplan. One is using you to get to me, the other, me to get to you). George invites the same individuals to another dinner party, although this time without food (I didnt cook, he informs them stolidly), and exposes the traitor.

The dinner table in Black Bag

Black Bag is adroitly shot and put together. It is concise and matter of fact. Fassbender sets the tone with his stoical, no-nonsense, morally upstanding Woodhouse (I dont like liars), with hints of John le Carre-type creations, Michael Caine characters in various spy films and so on. Moreover, the various rather vicious, lacerating conflicts over the Woodhouse-St. Jean dinner table (although not between George and Kathryn themselves) are meant to bring to mind Edward Albees Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Soderbergh told Variety, [screenwriter] David [Koepp] and I talked about what it would be like if George and Martha were spies, Soderbergh says. We wanted to make an espionage version of Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Freddie to Clarissa, for example:

I have indulged your constant need for support and encouragement and reassurance and fucking paternal engagement for a year and a half now, and Im sick to fucking death of it. He left. Im so sorry. Daddy walked out the door, probably because he didnt love Mummy, but maybe because he became so hopelessly bored with your needy, constant demands that he figured getting out was better!

What do the various elements add up to?

On the whole, as human beings, the spies are unpleasant, nasty and chilly. James says, So were all horrible people. Is that what the point is here? A good question.

Clarissa adds, Come on, most of us are sick as shit. Based on what we see, no one will want to argue this very strongly. Later, she muses out loud, When you can lie about everything, when you can deny everything, how do you tell the truth about anything? How does that work? How can that possibly work?

Pierce Brosnan and Cate Blanchett in Black Bag

However, the film doesnt hint at a general criticism, doesnt make any effort to connect the generally deplorable behavior on view with these individuals social function as defenders of British imperialism, one of the most criminal enterprises on earthcurrently helping to coordinate the mass murder of Palestinians. Black Bag was filmed six months after the launch of the genocide, with the UKs full support. How is it possible to be so neutral and ambiguous about British intelligence and its human personnel under such conditions?

Black Bag takes the characters spy operations, and everything else, entirely for granted. The film and design work is intelligent, restless, assertive, but thematically, the watchword here is intense passivity and accommodation to the status quo.

Woodhouse insists on his unswerving loyalty to Kathryn, declaring he would do anything for her. Anything at all? Yes.  Would you kill for me, George? Yes. Would you? Yes.

The filmmakers seem to be on their way toward lining up behind writer E.M. Forsters famed dictum, If I had to choose between betraying my country and betraying my friend, I hope I should have the guts to betray my country. However, they undermine even that possibility by having Kathryn prove to be innocent of the leak and ultimately an ally of George in his investigation. The oath of loyalty is never seriously put to the test. So why include it?

Why include many things here? Whats the significance of the Virginia Woolf reference? What is Soderberghs attitude toward the Russian government, or the Ukraine-Russia war? We have no answer by the end of the film, or even the hint of one, to any of these questions.

This is an objective problem, centered on the generation of filmmaker to which Soderbergh belongs. The dissolution of the Soviet Union, the end of socialism, the terminal deterioration of what was once the labor movement in the US, the decline in the protest movements, didnt make political reactionaries out of figures like Soderbergh, the Coen brothers, David Fincher and others. But it tended to paralyze their nerve, intimidate them, work against their more radical or anti-establishment inclinations, render them noncommittal. Soderbergh is a talented and fluid technician-artist, with genuine precision and taste, but he has ended up, for various social and historical reasons, with almost nothing to say.

In the 1940s, art historian Meyer Schapiro and surrealist writer Andre Breton discussed the problem of the artist who reminded them of a kitchen pitcher, with one hand resting on his hip (or else both hands on his hips or both arms along his sides), during a period in which art seemed to be marking time, to be stagnating, and concluded that the main enemy today is fatalism (the hand on the hip) and the time has come to declare: No more pitcher-men. The significance of this for our day too is clear enough.
A recent study of drinking water across Greater Sydney, Australias most populous city, by scientists at the University of NSW (UNSW) detected widespread contamination with toxic PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances).

The scientists looked for 50 known PFAS compounds and found 31 in the drinking water samples, 21 of which were previously undocumented in Australia.

PFAS are called forever chemicals because they do not break down in the environment and accumulate in biological organisms. They are used in many everyday household items including non-stick cooking implements, make-up, greaseproof paper and waterproofing.

Map showing the concentration of PFAS chemicals in the Sydney drinking water supply. [Photo: UNSW Sydney]

The study of 32 water samples, taken in 2024 from taps in the Ryde, Prospect, North Richmond and Potts Hill catchment areas, was conducted by Lisa Hua and Professor William Donald from the UNSW School of Chemistry, and published last month in Science Directs Chemosphere journal.

Professor Donald said: Sydneys water meets current Australian standards, but when considering health benchmarks used in other countries, some samples were near or above safety limits.

Detecting PFAS not previously reported in tap water highlights that our monitoring programs are now uncovering more of the chemicals present in our supply.

The compound found in the highest concentration on average, and detected in every sample, was PFBA, a short-chain (4 carbon molecules) PFAS that is increasingly used in manufacturing as a supposedly safer replacement for banned or tightly regulated long-chain (8 carbon molecules) PFAS. The researchers noted that some studies have indicated potential impacts of PFBA on liver, thyroid, and developmental health.

The scientists also studied both local and internationally sourced bottled water, detecting 50 different PFAS compounds, more than all other studies of bottled water since 2008, with the exception of another Australian study, conducted last year.

Similarly, of 39 studies internationally to detect PFAS presence in tap water since 2006, the latest study also revealed the highest number of PFAS compounds.

One of these, 6:2 diPAP (a fluorophosphoric acid diester), has never previously been found in tap water anywhere in the world. Another, 3:3 FTCA (fluorotelomer carboxylic acid), has only been detected once before, and never in Australia.

According to the study, 6:2 diPAP was detected in 75 percent of samples and quantified in 69 percent of samples with an average concentration of 1.3 ppt.

6:2 diPAP is a member of a short-chain group of PFAS known as PAPs (polyfluoroalkyl phosphate esters).

Professor Donald noted that each of the PFAS detected were chemically quite similar which presented problems for regulation. He noted: Tiny tweaks to the chemical structure create a new compound, but the toxicology research and regulatory work has to start all over again every time a PFAS is tweaked.

At the time of the federal governments Select Committee on PFAS late last year, there were 99 PFAS chemicals on the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme register which had not been tested.

Early studies point to short-chain PAPs causing endocrine disruption, liver damage, kidney and testicular cancer, and reproductive toxicity. A major concern among researchers about this body of chemicals is that biotransformation, a process through which a chemical compound changes once it enters an organism, combined with bioaccumulationa buildup of chemicals in an organismcould impact biological systems in ways that are not yet known.

This research casts a shadow of doubt over the increasing use of PAPs as a supposedly safer substitute for long-chain PFAS, some of which are known to cause cancer.

In 2023, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified long-chain PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) as Class 1 and Class 2A carcinogens respectively. PFOA and PFOS were most widely used in the manufacture of teflon, and in firefighting foam (aqueous film forming foams, AFFFs).

The UNSW study found PFOS in concentrations of 6 parts per trillion (ppt) in samples from the North Richmond area. This is higher than the US limit of 4 ppt, but below the new voluntary Australian guidelines of 8 ppta figure set by National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) in June this year, but not enforceable on any regulatory body.

Richmond is home to a Royal Australian Air Force base, where firefighting foam containing PFAS was used in exercises until 2004, causing ongoing contamination of the surrounding area and waterways.

Medlow Dam in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia [Photo: WaterNSW]

The UNSW research follows the discovery of high levels of PFAS in Blue Mountains drinking water last year. The likely source of PFAS contamination in the Medlow and Greaves Creek Dams was the use of AFFF to extinguish a petrol tanker fire in 1992. Independent testing conducted by Ian Wright from Western Sydney University exposed a decades-long cover-up by water utilities and state and federal governments of the ubiquity of PFAS contamination.

Official testing on Blue Mountains tap water by Sydney Water found the level of PFOS at 16.4 pptmore than twice the Australian guidelines and four times the US limit.

Pleas from Blue Mountains residents for free PFAS blood tests, which are not covered under Medicare and cost $500 a test, have been rejected by the NSW Labor government. At least 27 Blue Mountains residents who have paid for the blood tests themselves have recorded the highest levels of PFAS of any civilian population in Australia, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

The official indifference to the poisoning of the water supply and the health implications of high PFAS readings in residents blood, is in stark contrast to the recommendations of scientists.

The US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine advised the Centres for Disease Control in 2022 to update its clinical guidance to advise clinicians to offer PFAS blood testing to patients who are likely to have a history of elevated exposure, such as those with occupational exposures or those who live in areas known to be contaminated.

But NSW Healths Expert Advisory Panel on PFAS rejected this in July, declaring: The National Academies of Science Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) blood levels are not appropriate to guide clinical management.  At present, there is no clinical benefit for an individual to have a blood test for PFAS.

The state health authoritys anti-scientific position is a blatant attempt to downplay an environmental and health crisis that would cost governments billions of dollars to address and cut across the profits of the corporations that manufacture and use PFAS chemicals. This underscores that the scourge of PFAS contamination of drinking water cannot be ended through appeals to capitalist governments or their organs.

To eliminate the increasingly ubiquitous toxic forever chemicals and provide a clean, safe water supply for all will require the coordination of vast resources, science and technology. This is incompatible with a political and economic system in which human health, lives and the environment are subordinated to the demands of the wealthy elite for ever-growing profits.

The health of humanity will be decided by the working class in the struggle for socialism and the permanent overthrow of capitalism.
Elevenlabs AudioNative Player

President Donald Trump, center, is escorted by Air Force Col. Christopher M. Robinson, commander of the 89th Airlift Wing, as he walks from Marine One to board Air Force One, Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. [AP Photo/Alex Brandon]

Crises have one benefit: They expose political tendencies, compelling them to show their true colors. In the ongoing US political crisis, in which Donald Trump is carrying out nothing less than a presidential coup detat, the Democratic Party is demonstrating both impotence and complicity.

Despite pretended opposition to Trump, the Democrats are a party of the capitalist system, the financial oligarchy that dominates it and the military-intelligence apparatus that defends it. They are far more afraid of a popular movement from below against Trumps attempt to tear up the Constitution and install a dictatorial regime than they are of Trump himself and his circle of fascist aides in the White House.

On Saturday, Trump ordered the deployment of US troops into Portland, the largest city in Oregon and the center of a metropolitan area of more than 2.5 million people. He claimed that the city was a war zone, in which Antifa terrorists were laying violent siege to government buildings and, in particular, to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) regional office there.

In his statement on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote that he was directing Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to provide all necessary Troops to Portland and authorizing Full Force, if necessary. According to a lawsuit filed by the city of Portland and the state of Oregon Sunday afternoon, Hegseth has already called up 200 National Guard troops for deployment, though Trumps statement indicates that this could be followed by active-duty military, as in Los Angeles.

Trumps portrayal of Portland is a lie. In reality, a few dozen protesters, often seated in lawn chairs, wave signs against ICEs mass detentions, exercising their First Amendment rights. When ICE vehicles arrive, they march peacefully. They are unarmed. The only violence has come from ICE itself, whose agents have repeatedly used so much teargas that a nearby school had to relocate after children fell ill.

The presidential order for troops to use full force against civilians is a direct violation of the Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits the use of the military for domestic law enforcement, and an assault on the basic principles of democratic governance and the constitutional foundations of the American republic. It is worth recalling that it was the dispatch of British troops to attack, intimidate and arrest citizens of Massachusetts that touched off the American Revolution 250 years ago.

Trumps deployment of troops is clearly partisan. In Republican-led Tennessee, he has coordinated with the governor on sending federal agents and Guard troops into Memphis. But in Democratic-controlled states, such as California, Oregon and Illinois, he bypasses governors and mayors, treating cities like Los Angeles, Portland and Chicago as enemy territory.

Trumps top aide, fascist Stephen Miller, has declared, The Democrat Party is not a political party. It is a domestic extremist organization, a statement DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who requested Trumps deployment to Portland, effectively endorsed. Following the killing of Charlie Kirk, Trump issued orders for a national strategy to target supposed networks of political violence, with all federal police and surveillance agencies reporting directly to Miller.

Miller is very familiar with the methods of the Nazi regime during Hitlers consolidation of power and has openly copied the speeches of Josef Goebbels, the Nazi propaganda chief. When he suggests that the Democratic Party is not a party but a domestic extremist organization, he is guided by the example of the Nazis, who within six months of coming to power had banned all other political parties.

Even under conditions in which their own right to exist is under threat, the Democrats are doing everything they can to block any popular mobilization. On Monday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries will visit the White House for talks on a budget deal with their Republican counterparts and Trump. The meeting comes after Trump previously denounced the two as radical left lunatics and said there was no reason to talk to the Democrats.

In appearances on Sunday television interview programs, Schumer and Jeffries hailed Trumps decision to convene the talks as a good first step, while raising concerns of a purely fiscal character over Trumps cancellation of premium subsidies for middle income families eligible to enroll under the Affordable Care Act. They did not suggest that the budget talkssupposedly the Democrats only point of leverage against the Trump administrationshould be premised on political demands that Trump halt his military coup, withdraw troops from targeted cities and remove aides like Miller, who have declared the Democrats terrorists.

The overriding concern of the Democratic leadership is not how to stop Trumps drive to dictatorship, but how to secure bipartisan agreement on a budget that assures the continuation of the US-NATO war against Russia in Ukraine, which was instigated by the Democratic administration of Biden and Harris and remains the central priority of the Democratic Party.

Equally telling is the response of the corporate media, which treats Trumps moves toward dictatorship as though they were routine or merely the expression of his personal intolerance. After Charlie Kirk was shot to death, the New York Times rushed out an editorial eulogizing the fascist propagandist under the headline (later changed), America Mourns Charlie Kirk.

But after Trumps announcement that he was ordering troops into Portland, the newspaper of record and mouthpiece of the Democratic Party waited hours to post even a short article. By Sunday night, this had been replaced with a followup depicting Trumps attitude to Portland as a private obsession and unserious. Portland residents, it claimed, are rolling their eyes over Trumps threat to militarily occupy their city.

None of the Sunday television interview programs focused on Portland, with ABC and CNN saying nothing, and CBS raising the issue only with a Republican guest, Senator Rand Paul, who defended Trumps action. Even on NBCs Meet the Press, where host Kristen Welker asked both Schumer and Senate Majority Leader John Thune about the deployment, it was her final question to each, after lengthy discussion of the budget talks and the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey.

While Schumer called the deployment indefensible, he avoided drawing any political conclusions, saying only that Trump should leave domestic problems in terms of crime and violence to local and state authorities. Asked directly if he could do anything to stop Trumps action, Schumer said, We will fight it in the courts along with, you know, people who will file suits. Then he expressed the hope that some congressional Republicans would join us in legislation to prevent it from happening.

In other words, the highest-ranking Democrat in Washington declares that it is up to the courtsheaded by a Supreme Court with a 6-3 ultra-right majorityand Republican defectors in Congress to decide whether the American people will live under a presidential military dictatorship.

Neither the corporate media nor the Democrats suggested any link between Trumps dispatch of federal troops into American cities and his summoning of the entire general staff of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines for an unprecedented meeting just outside Washington on Tuesday, even after Trump announced that he and not just Secretary of War Pete Hegseth would address the assembled officers.

There is every reason to believe that the purpose of this meeting is to ensure the loyalty of the general staff as the commander-in-chief presses ahead with his plans for dictatorship. Any reservations or objections will be met with a swift purge by Hegseth, who has already fired dozens of top officers promoted or appointed under the Biden administration.

Nor do the media or the Democrats suggest that the military deployments in cities throughout the US have any connection with the massive and escalating assault on the working class and social programs being carried out by the Trump government, acting on behalf of the oligarchy.

The working class must draw the necessary political conclusions. No section of the existing political establishment, Democratic or Republican, will defend the democratic rights of working people. They will either directly participate in the imposition of authoritarian rule or work as collaborators, peddling illusions in the courts and seeking at all costs to block any open resistance by the American population.

As the Socialist Equality Party declared in its statement published yesterday:

The struggle against Trumps coup can be carried forward only through the independent mobilization of the working class against the capitalist oligarchy and the capitalist system as a whole. We call on workers, young people and all those committed to the defense of democratic rights to support and join the effort by the Socialist Equality Party to arm the growing opposition with a socialist and internationalist program, and to build the revolutionary leadership necessary to guide this fight.
This photo provided by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement shows Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Ian Roberts on Feb. 26, 2025. [AP Photo/ICE]

The kidnapping of Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Ian Roberts by the immigration Gestapo on Friday has provoked mass outrage throughout the state of Iowa and beyond. Since the leader of the largest school district in the state was taken, protests have been held every day in multiple cities throughout Iowa.

In Cedar Rapids on Sunday, students, teachers and community members gathered at Greene Square Park before marching to the Linn County Correctional Center demanding the release of Roberts. Protesters held signs that read ICE is gestapo, Whos next?! and ICE + KKK are two sides of the same coin.

On Friday, the day Roberts was kidnapped, hundreds of people massed in downtown Des Moines holding signs and chanting Free Dr. Roberts!

Homemade signs at the Friday rally read: Lead us not into detention, but deliver us from ICE, Resist fascism, No human is illegal, Free our school superintendent! My rage cant fit on this poster, Education not deportation, free Dr. Roberts, ICE takes which of the following? A. Educators B. Olympians C. Innocents D. All of the above, and I prefer my country neat, no ICE.



In an interview with the local CBS affiliate, a protester at the Friday rally said Roberts was targeted because he wont give ICE access to arrest our kids. After President Donald Trump removed sensitive location restrictions on ICE agents, allowing them to conduct raids in public schools, churches and hospitals, Roberts sent a letter to parents saying the district would do everything we can within our legal and moral authority to support students, which is always our top priority.

Roberts said the district would comply with a proper subpoena or warrant if presented, but that the schools would not disclose personal information to ICE/DHS without appropriate consent.

Roberts became superintendent of the Des Moines school district in 2023. ICE is accusing him of overstaying a student visa issued in 1999. In a statement issued after the kidnapping, Sam Olson, ICE enforcement and removal operations St. Paul field office director, said, This should be a wake-up call for our communities to the great work that our officers are doing every day to remove public safety threats.



As the outpouring of anger over Roberts detention underscores, far from a public safety threat, he is a highly valued member of the community. The public response demonstrates the real, organic class anger Trumps mass deportation operation is fueling across the country.

Following Roberts kidnapping, Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS) chair Jackie Norris described him as an integral part of our school community. She said that ICE accusations against Roberts were very serious and that the district still does not have all the facts. After Roberts arrest the school board voted to place him on paid administrative leave.

Roberts, 51, a former Olympic athlete and immigrant from Guyana in South America, grew up in Brooklyn, New York. He earned his Bachelors degree from Coppin State University in Maryland in 1998, and he obtained Masters degrees from St. Johns University and Georgetown University. He earned his Doctorate in Urban Educational Leadership from Trident University.

Prior to taking the position as Des Moines Public Schools superintendent in July 2023, Roberts held the same position in the Millcreek Township School District in Erie County, Pennsylvania from August 2020 to June 2023. Before that he was a principal at Anacostia High School in Washington D.C. and a teacher.

In statements after the kidnapping, Department of Homeland Security agents claimed Roberts was in the country illegally and had a deportation order from July 2024. As of this writing, the exact circumstances around his case are unclear, although there is no dispute that Roberts has been living and working in the US for over three decades.

Phil Roeder, a spokesperson for Des Moines Public Schools, told the Associated Press that the district performed a background check on Roberts before hiring him and that there was nothing that would suggest that hes not a citizen. Roberts completed an I-9 form for the district, which is used to validate work status.

According to ICE agents, Roberts fled from agents before he was eventually apprehended with assistance from the Iowa State police.

In an attempt to smear Roberts as a dangerous fugitive, ICE claimed it found a loaded pistol in his vehicle. Even if true, Iowas gun laws are extremely permissive: as of July 1, 2021, Iowa is an open carry state that does not require a permit. This means anyone over the age of 18 is allowed to legally possess a handgun, including in their vehicle, as long as they are not a felon or have a prior domestic abuse conviction.

However, under federal immigration law, someone who is considered to be in the country illegally is not allowed to posses any firearm, regardless of state laws. As of this writing, Roberts remains in ICE custody at the Woodbury jail. Dozens of protesters gathered outside the jail on Saturday, located in far northwest Iowa, demanding his release.
Chicago transit workers [Photo: Chicago Transit Authority]

Defiant commuters packed a town hall meeting at Malcolm X College on September 25 to oppose planned cuts by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). CTA officials presented residents with a grim set of choices: massive service cuts or a political miracle from Springfield, all while facing a doomsday budget shortfall of up to $1 billion.

The meeting, framed by the CTA as a listening session, placed the entire burden of the crisis on riders and workers, sparking anger and resolve among the more than 100 attendees, who were overwhelmingly young and working class.

The potential cuts, as presented by the CTA, are not merely inconvenient, they are catastrophic. The agency is considering suspending entire rail lines, drastically reducing service frequency and closing stations and bus routes. This would leave hundreds of thousands without reliable transit access.

The economic fallout would be severe. Estimates project a $2.6 billion annual loss to the regions GDP, the immediate layoff of 3,000 transit workers, and 90 million fewer rides in the first year alone. This would be followed by a death spiral of reduced revenue and further decay.

Notably absent from the town hall was any significant presence from the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) or the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), whose members would undoubtedly be affected by service cuts of this magnitude. Approximately 90 percent of the CTAs 11,000-strong workforce is unionized.

WSWS reporters spoke with attendees who came to voice their opposition to any cuts.

Brad said, Im just worried if budgets are cut, how am I going to get to and from work? Im going to have to start looking for a new job. Addressing the starving of public services by the oligarchs and both corporate-controlled parties, he said, Unfortunately, right now we have a few folks at the top who are super wealthy, who are trying their darnest not to pay the money they ought to be contributing to help keep society functioning for all of us. The same society they are benefiting from and drawing surpluses and profits like weve never seen before.

The meeting started with CTA Acting President Nora Leerhsen giving a brief opening speech about the agencys efforts to listen and connect on the issues riders face. She outlined challenges the agency has faced over the years, from the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 to the end of the federal grants that had assisted the agency until now amidst rising service costs.

The following speaker, Lisa Smith from the CTAs budget and finance department, gave a brief overview of the current 2025 budget and the challenges moving into 2026, including the funding gap. She explained that it is a cumulative issue and that even if they receive funding, they would need to seek additional money. The CTA is preparing three budgets: one for receiving more funding than needed, a second for receiving just enough to continue operations as they are, and a third, which is currently the most likely scenario, that involves enacting service cuts across the network.

In all, the official presentations offered no concrete solutions, instead fostering a false hope that the Democratic Party in Springfield would deliver a last-minute rescue. This is the same hope that faded when the Illinois General Assemblys spring session ended on May 31 with no new funding for transit.

In fact, the Democrats are directly responsible for the crisis. The Biden administration allowed federal pandemic relief money to dry up, creating a fiscal cliff for transit systems in Chicago and throughout the US, which used the money to temporarily patch up deficits caused by decades of bipartisan tax giveaways and cuts to public transit.

This situation has only been worsened by the Democrats role as enablers for Trump who is moving to slash more federal funding to transit systems. In a September 11 letter to the transit authority officials in Chicago and Boston, US Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy threatened to slash federal funding if the transit systems did not crack down on crime.

While local leaders seem intent on putting the needs of criminals first, were not waiting for the next Iryna, Duffy wrote, referring to Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee who was fatally stabbed on a train in North Carolina last month. Chicago and Boston are on notice to take actions that enhance safety and reduce the crime affecting their riders and transit workersor risk federal support. This is about standing up for American families who deserve a safe and clean transportation system.

When the floor opened for public comment, the rooms frustration turned into a powerful, unified voice. While safety concerns were raised, the dominant theme was a staunch refusal to accept any cuts. Every demand for full funding was met with thunderous applause.

One attendee pointed to the hypocrisy of Democratic politicians who supposedly champion Chicago in national political fights but abandon city residents when its infrastructure is at stake. The speaker specifically pointed to Governor J.B. Pritzker who has issued pro forma statements against Trumps threats to deploy troops to Chicago. Far from encouraging mass opposition to the military occupation of the city, the Democratic governor has warned that troops would inflame passions, i.e., provoke mass opposition, which the Democrats could not contain.

Members of the Socialist Equality Party who spoke at the town hall meeting provided a perspective and program to fight the transit cuts, including expropriation of the corporate oligarchs to pay for the deepest funding crisis in Chicagos history. They noted the absurdity of a major metropolitan region begging for funds when, in the last 10 months alone, the 10 wealthiest Americans saw their combined wealth soar by $703 billion. The solution, they argued, lies not in trusting the Democratic Party, but in building independent rank-and-file committees in neighborhoods, schools and workplaces to unite all those who rely on public transit.

This perspective resonated deeply. After the meeting, numerous attendees approached to express gratitude for the comments. Discussions spilled over into the interconnected crises of transit, schools and the deployment of federal troops, underscoring the need for a unified working class response.

One attendee, Abraham, said, What Trump is doing to our city, our society, and our democracy is crazy, and people cant be on the sideline.
Mylen Belyue, a former Amazon employee, died during a confrontation with police after allegedly having shot at an Amazon warehouse in Columbus, Georgia, last Monday.

Mylen Belyue [Photo: Mylen Belyue's Facebook page]

Shortly before 4:30 am on September 22, local police responded to 911 calls about an individual firing at the Amazon warehouse on Osceola Court. While standing outside the building, Belyue reportedly fired several rounds into the front of the building while workers were inside. Reporters later observed almost a dozen bullet holes in the warehouses front windows.

Belyue allegedly walked away from the building and was confronted by police. He brandished his gun and engaged in a brief standoff with the officers before fatally shooting himself, according to the police. Belyue was later pronounced dead by suicide at the scene.

No other deaths or injuries were reported. The Columbus Police Department is investigating the incident. Amazon is cooperating with the investigation and claims to be supporting those who were on site during this incident.

Deuntraz Robinson was on his way to work at the Amazon warehouse at the time of the shooting. He told local station WTVM that he was stunned by what he saw. Thats scary, like its here. Its crazy when its your actual job and youre like, Wow, that couldve been me, he said. Workers inside the building were frightened.

Belyue had been working at Amazon since June but left about a week before the incident. He had been bullied at work and even sought mental health treatment. Back to back to back, every day, like I said, he sat in the driveway when he got off work, sobbing, his father Miren Belyue told WTVM. I begged him to stop working that job, and management wouldnt do anything.

This tragedy cannot be understood apart from the social conditions in which it occurred. After Atlanta, which is 100 miles to the northeast, Columbus is the second most populous city in Georgia. Its poverty rate is 21.5 percent, which is twice the national rate of 10.6 percent, according to US Census Bureau data. The crime rate in Columbus is above the national average, and the city witnessed a record 70 homicides in 2021.

An Amazon warehouse is seen in Alpharetta, Georgia. [AP Photo/Mike Stewart]

The shooting at the 90,000-square-foot Amazon warehouse was the second workplace shooting this month in Columbus. A man was fatally shot outside Aludyne-Columbus Foundry on September 3.

The needless death of Belyue also reflects Amazons documented indifference to workers physical and mental health. In July, an Amazon worker in Ohio described a pattern of physical abuse, sexual harassment and management retaliation in an interview with the World Socialist Web Site. The worker filed multiple complaints against an assistant manager who had touched her inappropriately. Not only did the complaints go uninvestigated, but also other managers began retaliating against the worker by giving her punitive, physically demanding assignments. An assistant manager even threatened her with violence, yet no one faced consequences for this harassment, which resulted in physical injuries and acute anxiety.

Amazon is also notorious for maintaining dangerous conditions that result in serious injury and even death. In April, two workers were airlifted to a hospital after sustaining severe injuries following a fire at an Amazon Web Services facility under construction in New Carlisle, Indiana. Firefighters who arrived on the scene found the building and the area full of smoke. Amazons statement to the press referred to a small fire at the site but did not mention the two hospitalized workers.

Earlier that month, Leony Salcedo-Chevalier, who worked for an Amazon subcontractor, was struck and killed by a truck at Amazons JFK8 fulfillment center in Staten Island, New York. The worker was hit as the truck was backing up at the warehouses loading dock. Although management tried to continue operations as though nothing had happened, workers forced the company to close two consecutive shifts out of respect for their class brother. The spontaneous uprising was the initiative of the workers themselves, and not of the Amazon Labor Union, which nominally represents them.

President Donald Trump, with the connivance of both parties in Congress, is overseeing major cuts to funding for mental health research and programs. Under Trump, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration terminated 129 grants representing $1.74 billion in funding. The US Department of Education cut about $1 billion in grants for school mental health programs. Moreover, Trump proposes to reorganize the National Institutes of Health (which include the National Institute of Mental Health) next year and cut its overall budget by almost 40 percent.

These cuts are part of a broader war on the working class. Representing oligarchs like Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Trump is slashing not only physical and mental health spending, but also workplace safety regulations and enforcement. For fiscal year 2026, Trump proposes to cut the US Department of Labors budget by about 35 percent. He nominated David Keeling, a former Amazon and UPS executive, to head the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. At UPS, Keeling refused workers demands to install air conditioning in delivery trucks.

All the social gains of the working class are to be clawed back, and the funds redirected to tax cuts for the wealthy and massive military spending. The US government is not only continuing its support for the genocide of the Palestinians, but also preparing for an invasion of Venezuela and a potentially catastrophic war with China, which is the prime economic and geopolitical rival of the US. The Trump administration also plans to use the National Guard to suppress opposition to war and austerity.

Amazon workers fight for adequate pay, health benefits and safe workplaces is inextricable from a fight against war and dictatorship. Workers can appeal neither to the Democrats, who support this agenda, nor to the trade unions, who function as labor police for the companies and for the state. Instead, they must form rank-and-file committees under their own democratic control to organize and wage their struggle.
Jury verdict finds UHS liable for fraud, malice, oppression, undermining patient care

RENO, Nev., September 29, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In a historic decision with national implications for healthcare, a Washoe County jury awarded Saint Marys Health Network, affiliate of Prime Healthcare, over $510 million in damages, including punitive damages, after finding Universal Health Services of Delaware, Inc. (UHS) and affiliated defendants liable for fraud, malice, and oppression in a coordinated scheme against Saint Marys Health Network during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The jury heard evidence that UHS orchestrated a scheme beginning in 2019 to cripple the health network by soliciting physicians and senior leaders, stealing trade secrets, and triggering a mass resignation that disrupted patient care and destroyed Saint Marys healthcare ecosystem.

Jurors unanimously found that UHS and its agents, including former Saint Marys leaders who sabotaged the network from within, engaged in deliberate and unlawful acts to:

Illegally solicit Saint Marys physicians and employees

Orchestrate a mass resignation event

Breach contracts and duties of loyalty to Saint Marys

Disrupt patient care and relationships

Evidence included internal emails and text messages revealing that UHS executives plotted to dismantle Saint Marys, a 117-year-old community institution rescued from closure by Prime Healthcare in 2012. The results of these actions nearly destabilized the hospital. Proof that UHS agents destroyed secret text messages further supported the jurys finding of clear and convincing evidence of fraud, malice, and oppression, leading to an award of $510 million in punitive damages against UHS.

"This case is about more than one hospital, it is about accountability and integrity in American healthcare, and we commend the judicial system for bringing truth to light," said Prem Reddy, M.D., Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Prime Healthcare. "This verdict is a victory for patients and communities, affirming that accountability and integrity are the foundation of healthcare."

"This verdict delivers a resounding message for all of healthcare: integrity and compassion must guide every decision we make," said Sunny Bhatia, M.D., President of Prime Healthcare. "For over 117 years, Saint Marys has been a trusted institution. Patients and communities should always be at the heart of medicine, and this verdict reinforces that trust and care must never be compromised."

"This verdict affirms that the weaponization of corporate power, betrayal of physician trust, theft of proprietary information, and reckless endangerment of patients will not be tolerated," added Derrick Glum, MBA, FACHE, CEO of Saint Marys Health Network. "The verdict restores justice and allows our hospitals mission to serve our community with compassion and dignity to endure."
BIZZARRI EXIT: Marco Bizzarri has exited his role as chairman of Elisabetta Franchi, WWD has learned.

Asked to comment, the Italian fashion company issued a statement confirming the exit and that the namesake designer was succeeding Bizzarri in that role.

More from WWD

Responding to a WWD query, Bizzarri said he had disinvested from the company back in July and that he resigned from his position earlier this month, communicating his decision to the board and all shareholders.

Indeed, while attending the Marco Rambaldi and Ferragamo spring 2026 shows and at the Black Fashion Awards in Milan, Bizzarri was nowhere to be seen at the Elisabetta Franchi show last Friday.

Betty Blue, the official name of the Franchi company, stated it has initiated a process of governance renewal aimed at effectively supporting future development phases and pursuing the companys best interests.

Bizzarri, the former president and chief executive officer of Gucci, invested in Elisabetta Franchi last year through a personal holding called Nessifashion. He is also an investor in Forel, which in 2024 entered into an agreement on behalf of the FARO fund to acquire a majority stake in Italian luxury interior design brand Visionnaire. The executive first dipped his toes into the investment fund pool in 2021, when he took a stake and became a partner in Orienta Capital Partners, which specializes in investments in small- and medium-sized companies with strong growth potential. Sources say Bizzarri is eyeing additional investments in fashion.

Best of WWD

Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
What smart companies in America are doing to overcome the accounting talent shortage

Accounting is the function you only notice when it breaks. Right now, its breaking for many U.S. companies. Roles sit open for months. Salaries keep climbing.

The work doesnt go away, though. Closings, audits, and tax deadlines still hit every month.

And finance leaders are left carrying the risk when reports dont get filed on time.

Thats why more companies are filling these roles in Latin America, where GAAP-trained accountants work U.S. hours and bring the same experience youd expect from domestic hires, Near reports.

Key Takeaways

The U.S. faces a severe accounting shortage: fewer graduates, CPA exam declines, and a large portion of the existing talent pool retiring have made qualified accountants harder and more expensive to hire. Hiring accountants in Latin America helps U.S. companies overcome the shortage. Companies can access GAAP-trained talent who work U.S. hours, enabling faster closes, real-time collaboration, and reliable compliance. Latin American accounting salaries are 3070% lower than U.S. rates, allowing companies to hire skilled accountants and controllers within budget.

Understanding the shortage in U.S. accounting talent

Fewer students are choosing accounting, universities are downsizing programs, and the professions age curve is tilting toward retirement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Between 2016 and 2022, the number of graduates fell by 17% and the number of candidates sitting for the CPA exam has decreased by 27% over the past decade, according to Accounting Today.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects more than 124,000 new accounting and auditing openings each year through 2032. Many of them are replacement roles for people exiting the field. Filling those jobs locally is getting harder, not easier.

That leaves finance leaders competing in a shallow talent pool where salaries keep climbing.

The impact has been widely reported. The Wall Street Journal, for example, highlighted how the shortage is showing up in financial statements, with more than 600 US-listed companies disclosing material weaknesses tied to personnel shortfalls. Some firms have even had to explain delays in completing reports because they lacked the staff to finish them on time.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

For CFOs and controllers, the downstream effects are clear. Closing the books takes longer. Tax season creates bottlenecks that internal teams cant absorb. Managers burn out as they pick up the slack. And the cost of waiting months to land a single qualified hire shows up in delayed audits, missed filings, and eroded confidence from boards and investors.

The shortage is so acute that even the Big Four are scrambling. Ernst & Young announced plans to invest $1 billion over three years to improve the attractiveness of the profession. They plan to increase early career compensation as part of a total rewards package that recognizes the value of a certified public accountant (CPA) career path.

This massive investment proves the shortage is real, but also shows why most companies need a different approach, as they can't outspend the Big Four for talent.

From Big Four-trained professionals to aligned time zones: why LatAm is the place to fill accounting roles

The accountant shortage is forcing leaders to widen the search. Increasingly, that search points south.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Latin America has become the clear choice for many U.S. accounting teams, and heres why:

World-class accounting education. Top universities in the region, such as the University of Buenos Aires and the University of Sao Paulo, have long-established accounting programs with rigorous standards. Graduates enter the workforce with strong technical foundations and a solid grounding in IFRS, giving them the skills to adapt quickly to U.S. company needs.

Time zone alignment. Sao Paulo, Bogota, and Mexico City share most or all of the U.S. workday. That means reconciliations, reviews, and sign-offs can happen live, not overnight.

Experience with global firms. Many professionals launch their careers in the Latin American offices of Big Four firms (PwC, Deloitte, etc.) or at multinationals. That means U.S. companies can hire accountants who already know how to operate at global and U.S. standards.

For companies that cant match Ernst & Youngs billion-dollar bet on salaries, Latin America also provides a practical answer to cost pressures.

Salary expectations for top accounting staff in the region are typically 30% to 70% lower than in the U.S. because of differences in cost of living.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

That makes it feasible for mid-market firms, regional CPA practices, and growth companies to hire the talent they wouldn't otherwise be able to find or afford in the U.S.

And its not only about covering entry-level or mid-tier gaps. In Latin America, budgets can stretch to senior-level hirescontrollers, tax accountants, and experienced staff accountants who would be out of reach in the U.S. market.

Heres what those salary differences look like in practice for senior-level hires:

Table listing roles and the average salary for senior-level accounting positions in US vs. LatAm. - Near



Why not look farther afield?

There are more distant options for finding skilled accountants, like the Philippines and India, of course. And many U.S. accounting firms have hired there to compensate for the shortage. Its reported by Allwork that accounting firms are even hiring direct from Indian campuses and even offering to sponsor CPA courses.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

But for many companies, working with talent in such distant time zones creates its own problems. As one CFO noted, We looked at the Philippines, but my team pushed back. With a 15-hour difference, they knew it wouldnt work. The controller-level staff already had huge workloads. What they needed wasnt just another body. It was someone they could work with in real time, side by side, to get through it. Thats why we moved the search to LatAm.

Latin America allows finance leaders to keep reviews, approvals, and team discussions within the same business day.

What this looks like in practice

The companies making this shift aren't chasing theoretical cost reductions. They're solving concrete operational problems: scaling finance and accounting teams during growth, handling seasonal capacity crunches, and accessing senior-level expertise they can't afford or find locally.

Here's how three different companies used Latin American talent to remove real bottlenecks:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

A cybersecurity company based in Texas was experiencing the classic scaling challenge: growth was outpacing its ability to hire senior finance talent locally. They needed leadership-level expertise that could handle complex reporting and compliance. Within weeks of looking in LatAm, they hired a Director of Accounting and Financial Reporting, a Director of Global Tax (with Big Four experience), and an Accounting Team Lead, along with 17 other accounting professionals. Month-end close times dropped from 15 days to 10, and they had the senior expertise in place to keep up with growth.

A CPA firm faced its annual tax-season crunch. Historically, they spent months scrambling for temporary staff and still came up short. By looking beyond the U.S., the firm hired senior accountants and an operations manager in less than 30 days. The result was simple: the work got done on time, with fewer overnights and less burnout for the partners.

And when a CFO services company needed senior bookkeepers, accounting managers, and financial analysts, their hiring timeline decreased to just 7 days by looking to LatAm.

That kind of speed is unheard of in the U.S. market today, where weeks can pass before interviews even begin. But through specialist recruiters with established Latin American networks, these timelines become routine rather than exceptional. Nears State of LatAm Hiring Report, which analyzed 2000 placements, found that the typical number of days to hire an accountant was 7 to 14, with Argentina being the most common country to hire in.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

These stories share a common theme: companies didnt lower the bar on skill or experience. They hired professionals with the same qualifications they had struggled to find locally.

Accountings new reality

The U.S. accountant shortage has been dissected and debated for the last few years. Universities arent producing enough graduates, retirements are accelerating, and companies are feeling the strain in everything from financial reporting to compliance. That much is clear.

The smartest companies arent waiting for the pipeline to fix itself. Theyre building teams in Latin America where the talent exists, salaries fit within reasonable budgets, and collaboration is seamless with U.S. operations.

This story was produced by Near (Hire With Near) and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban is known for shaking up industries, and he isn't afraid to call out his own. In a recent appearance on The Tennessee Holler podcast, Cuban got candid about why he believes companies have a moral and financial responsibility to pay their workers enough to keep them off public assistance.

Taxpayers Shouldn't Foot the Bill for Low Wages

To me, its an embarrassment if anybody who works for me is on Medicaid, Cuban said. That means theyre not making enough and other taxpayers are subsidizing my business. Thats just wrong.

Don't Miss:

Cuban argued that when companies don't pay their workers enough, and those workers end up on public assistance like Medicaid, it's not just unfair to the workers, it's also unfair to taxpayers. In his view, the government is basically helping companies save money by picking up the healthcare tab they should be covering.

Instead, he said business owners should take ownership and find ways to ensure their workers are financially stable. That includes not only raising wages but also offering long-term financial benefits like equity. Going to the rich people and saying, Well make it better for you if you make it better for them, thats the disconnect that I have.

The comment reflects Cuban's broader belief that corporate responsibility should go beyond profit margins and directly address worker well-being. In his own companies, he said, he views reliance on Medicaid by employees as a red flag: a sign that the company is failing to live up to its obligations.

Trending: Backed by $300M+ in Assets and Microsoft's Climate Fund, Farmland LP Opens Vital Farmland III to Accredited Investors

Pushing For A System That Works For Workers

Cuban's frustration is part of a larger critique of the American healthcare and employment systems. He said he's trying to change that with Cost Plus Drugs, his startup focused on transparent and affordable prescription drug pricing.

We wanted to be that transparent so people trust us, he said. We don't try to price market. We try to do what's fair.

Beyond healthcare, Cuban has proposed policy ideas to shift more power and wealth to workers, including a program to guarantee insurance deductibles and wider use of employee stock ownership.

If you want to see your taxes go down... then what you have to do is give every single employee equity in your company on an equal ratio to earnings, he said.
Rosie ODonnells hatred of President Donald Trump is so potent and glaring that even her therapist is confused by it.

The League of Their Own actress revealed as much during an interview on MSNBC star Nicolle Wallaces podcast, dubbed The Best People, on Monday. ODonnell blasted Trump as a madman who poses a threat to every American  and said she does not understand how more people are not on the same page as her.

I dont know, Nicolle, how it is that some people cannot see it, ODonnell said. My therapist said, Why are you so upset? And I said to her, why are you not?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Wallace agreed, saying Yeah, I have that conversation too.

ODonnell, a moment earlier, said she believes most Americans are oblivious to the harm Trump is causing, like cutting Medicaid funding.

What hes done now hasnt even hit us yet, she said. And if hes not stopped now, we have lost our country.

ODonnell did not expand on what she meant by stopping the president.

Of course, the Trump-ODonnell rivalry goes back years at this point.

One famous example: Trump, when Megyn Kelly confronted him about calling women he does not like fat pigs, dogs, slobs, and disgusting animals at a Republican debate in 2015, said he was only referring to ODonnell  a quip that immediately riled up the crowd.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

And ODonnell ditched the U.S. earlier this year and moved to Ireland right as Trump was starting his second term. She said she would only consider moving back to the States When you know it is safe for all citizens to have equal rights there in America.

ODonnell, during the podcast on Monday, said the move has been good for her sanity. The actress said she has only met two people who are Trump fans in Ireland, which is a country that does not have a maniacal, cult-like fascination with the president, she added.

Americans, meanwhile, have been bamboozled by the media and Trumps years in the pop culture spotlight, ODonnell said.

Thanks to Mark Burnetts Apprentice show that lied to the American people, that sold fiction as fact  people were confused and lied to. And then they listened to Fox News and they were more lost, she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Wallace tried to give ODonnell a reason to be optimistic; she said at one point in the podcast, The truth is, hes more unpopular now than hes ever been. RealClearPolitics, which tracks and aggregates all major polls, pegs Trumps approval rating at 45.4 percent  nearing a second-term low of 45.1 percent.

You can watch part of ODonnells interview above. And you can watch the full podcast on YouTube by clicking here.

The post Even Rosie ODonnells Therapist Wonders Why Trump Makes Her So Upset first appeared on Mediaite.
FBI Director Kash Patel is warning Americans against romanticizing the late Assata Shakur, 2Pac's godmother, by calling her a terrorist whose death should not be mourned.

In a fiery post on X Sunday morning, Patel referred to Shakur by her birth name, Joanne Chesimard, and rejected any suggestion that she was a freedom fighter. He suggested that she be remembered as the FBI has long categorized her: a convicted cop killer who didnt fight for justice.

She murdered New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster in cold blood, then fled to Cuba to escape accountability. The FBI never stopped calling her what she was: a terrorist, Patel wrote. Mourning her is spitting on the badge and the blood of every cop who gave their life in service.

Joanne Chesimard didnt fight for justice. She murdered New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster in cold blood, then fled to Cuba to escape accountability. The FBI never stopped calling her what she was: a terrorist.



Mourning her is spitting on the badge and the blood of every pic.twitter.com/letscTdaBG  FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) September 28, 2025

COMPLEX SHOP: Shop the brands you love, anytime and anywhere. Uncover what's next. Buy. Collect. Obsess.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Shakurs daughter confirmed she died last week in Havana at age 78. According to reports, the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs also released a statement acknowledging her death, citing health complications and advanced age.

The former Black Liberation Army member was convicted in 1977 for Foersters killing and sentenced to life in prison. Just two years later, she escaped from prison with help from allies in the movement and eventually made her way to Cuba, where Fidel Castro granted her political asylum.

Shakur remained one of the FBIs most wanted fugitives for decades, even as she became a figure of reverence for some activists and a point of pride in hip-hop history due to her connection with 2Pac.

But Patel made clear the bureau will not allow her legacy to be softened in death. His blunt message underscores a long-standing divide between law enforcement and those who view Shakur as a hero of resistance.

Related News

Charlie Kirk Shooting Suspect in Custody Thanks to Minister and Father, Trump Says

,

Man Who Allegedly Threw Sub at Cops Gets Charged With Felony: 'I Did It, I Threw a Sandwich'

,

Jeffrey Epstein Prison Video Shows Orange Shape Near Cell Block Night Before He Was Found Dead

Related News

Woman Faces 20 Years After Alleged Outburst on Flight Led to Her Being Duct-Taped to Seat

Miss Universe Jamaica Contestant Tyra Spaulding Dies by Suicide at 26

COMPLEX SHOP: Shop the brands you love, anytime and anywhere. Uncover what's next. Buy. Collect. Obsess.

Making Culture Pop. Find the latest entertainment news and the best in music, pop culture, sneakers, style and original shows.
Jenna Bush Hager revealed the code name she used when checking into hotels, and the moniker might surprise you.

During a September episode of Today With Jenna & Friends, Bush Hager, 43, explained that she used a pseudonym when she booked hotels while her father, George W. Bush, was transitioning from Texas governor to President of the United States.

Can you tell us your name now? Is it classified or anything? Sheinelle Jones asked, and Bush Hager responded, No. Lets declassify it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Bush Hager then shared, My name was Holly Crawford. I know, Holly sounds like a good time, doesnt she?

The TV personality went on to explain that she didnt come up with the name herself, adding that the secret service may have created the name.

Crawford was the name where  my parents had the house [in Texas], but also holly bush? Holly. I mean, I dont know. I just made that up, she said. All I know is, if Holly Crawford shows up, shes ready to order a margarita.

Bush Hager and her twin sister, Barbara Pierce Bush, were in their 20s when their father served as president from 2001 to 2009. Following their time as the first family, Bush Hager has been open about some of her more surprising experiences as a first daughter.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

In March 2025, the sisters told People that there were "ghosts in the White House."

After Bush Hager asked her sister for an apology, she explained that "Barbara didn't believe me the first time" she said there were ghosts. "I was sleeping in my room  this was in college  and I woke up and heard opera coming out of the fireplace. And I could feel it! I honestly had chills," Bush Hager recalled.

After she heard the music, Bush Hager ran into her twin's room. "I'm like 'Barbara, Barbara!' I woke her up. 'I heard something. I think there's a ghost,'" she said. "I got in bed with her, and we went back to sleep. Two days later she came to sleep in mine and she was like, 'There's no ghost.'"

Parade Daily SIGN UP for Parades Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 

While Pierce, 43, didn't initially believe Bush Hager, she revealed she ultimately came to suspect there were ghosts in the house. "Two days later I was sleeping in her room. We were dozing off, and then we heard olden times jazz music coming out of the fireplace again. We were so scared. We wanted to get in bed with our parents, but we were 22 and it felt inappropriate," Bush said. "And so then we calmed ourselves down and we thought, 'Well, surely that was the cat. Willard [the cat] was playing the olden jazz music on the piano.'"

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Bush Hager noticed the top of the piano was on the next morning, meaning that the music couldn't have been the cat's doing.

"There [are] ghosts," Bush said. "There's a lot of people that have lived in the White House, and I think there's some unfinished business with someone that likes music!"

This story was originally reported by Parade on Sep 28, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Kai Cenat has done it again.

The 23-year-old streamer is nearing the finish line of his third Mafiathon subathon, a 24/7 stream on Twitch. Throughout the subathon, Cenats philanthropic nature has been on full display.

As

AFROTECH

previously reported, a portion of the proceeds earned from the subathon will be donated to build a school near Lagos, Nigeria. Additionally, alongside content creator MDMotivator, Cenat donated a car and a home to a mother who runs a transportation business, helping women and their children visit loved ones in prison.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Cenat has also been intentional about sharing his platform with others, including friends and prominent streamers Tylil James, Rakai, and Ray, along with celebrities including Mariah Carey, Teyana Taylor, Snoop Dogg, and Kevin Hart, who is set to make a return to Cenats subathon with Druski on Sept. 29, according to Cenats TikTok.

Mafiathon 3 is said to be Cenats final subathon of this caliber. He is going out with a bang, hitting 1 million Twitch subscribers within 27 days, according to EssenceGU. Cenat became the first ever to hit 1 million active Twitch subscribers, Complex reports. He also broke the subscriber record he made during Mafiathon 2, which was estimated at 727,700, as

AFROTECH



reported.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

This year was about helping people, helping the ones around me, just locking in, Cenat said during Mafiathon 3.

I could have took a break. I could have stopped, but something told me to keep going. If I didnt have Jesus in my life, none of this would be possibleTo do this a third time is crazy. And on top of that, dont ever worry about what anybodys got to say about you. You can do anything that you want to. If they gonna hate, they gonna hate. Let them hate, he continued.

The post Kai Cenat Surpasses 1 Million Subscribers On Twitch And Pledges A Portion Of The Proceeds To Building A School In Nigeria appeared first on AfroTech.







The post Kai Cenat Surpasses 1 Million Subscribers On Twitch And Pledges A Portion Of The Proceeds To Building A School In Nigeria appeared first on AfroTech.
The Gist

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had a 90-minute tea with King Charles at Balmoral, the Kings retreat in the Scottish Highlands, over the weekend.

Afterwards, Albanese said that the invitation has been extended for Prince William and Kate Middleton to visit Australia.

While nothing has been confirmed yet, it could mark a milestone for 7-year-old Prince Louis, who has still not taken part in a royal tour, though his older siblings both have.

It has been over three-and-a-half years since Prince William and Kate Middletons last royal tour, when they visited Belize, Jamaica, and the Bahamas in March 2022 in support of Queen Elizabeths Platinum Jubilee that year. For that trip, they didnt bring any of their three kids with them, but their older two, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, both have accompanied their parents on royal tours; the baby of the family, Prince Louis, still hasnt had his royal tour debut.

Getty Images Prince William, Prince George, Prince Louis, Princess Kate, and Princess Charlotte attend the Christmas morning service on December 25, 2024. Prince William, Prince George, Prince Louis, Princess Kate, and Princess Charlotte attend the Christmas morning service on December 25, 2024.

If were lucky, that might soon change. Though George went on his first royal tour when he was under a year old and Charlotte undertook her first royal tour when she was just 16 months old, Louis, now 7, has never gotten the opportunity.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The Prince and Princess of Wales have been invited to visit Australia in the coming months, following Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses recent meeting over the weekend with King Charles at Balmoral, his retreat in the Scottish Highlands. This wouldnt be William and Kates first tour of Australiathey visited in 2014, with a baby George alongside them.

Getty Prince William, Kate Middleton, and Prince George in Canberra, Australia on April 25, 2014 Prince William, Kate Middleton, and Prince George in Canberra, Australia on April 25, 2014

Getty Prince William, Kate Middleton, and Prince George on April 20, 2014 Prince William, Kate Middleton, and Prince George on April 20, 2014

Im certainly hoping there will be one, Albanese told reporters of a royal tour with the Prince and Princess of Wales. Theres a standing invitation that the royal family are always welcome in Australia.

The King and Queen Camilla visited the country last October, and Albanesewho joined the King for a 90-minute tea at Balmoraladded that It was wonderful to welcome King Charles and Queen Camilla to Australia recently, who had a very successful visit, and His Majesty is very engaged. And I hope that the Prince and Princess of Wales are able to visit as well, and we are hopeful that might occur in the coming period.

Chris Jackson/Getty Images Queen Camilla and King Charles in Sydney, Australia on October 22, 2024 Queen Camilla and King Charles in Sydney, Australia on October 22, 2024

Getty Kate Middleton on March 17, 2025 Kate Middleton on March 17, 2025

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Though Albaneses remarks are exciting, there has been no official announcement of an upcoming tour from either Kensington Palace or Buckingham Palacebut it could be on the cards. Kate herself said during a royal engagement on St. Patricks Day that she hoped to take her kids abroad with her and William, saying, George finds it fascinating that he has been to Australia and New Zealand.

I would like to go back there with them now, she added. Its finding time to do that. She added, But I love travelyes, its a long flight.

Read the original article on InStyle
Though Matthew McConaughey has found immense success as one of Hollywood's biggest stars, he hasn't been exempt from making difficult life decisions.

The Oscar-winning actor, 55who married Brazilian-American model Camila AlvesMcConaughey in 2012once made a major choice with the help of his young son.

During the September 29 episode of Chris Williamson'sModern Wisdom podcast, McConaughey revealed a candid conversation he had with his then-four-year-old son Levi prior to his marriage to Alves, 42.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Leviwho is now 17asked the True Detective star why his parents didn't share the same last name.

"I'm going through my head, 'You're f--king four, dude.' I sat there. I was like, 'It's a great question, but I mean, we're not married. When you get married, you switch your name,'" the Texas native recalled.

McConaughey said Levi "sat there and listened" before asking his famous dad if he was "scared" to tie the knot.

"And I was like, 'Yeah, I guess I am,'" the How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days star continued.

Following his eye-opening chat with his young son, the star asked his pastor for advice, as well as "elder men who had long-term relationships, who were married for decades."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"My pastor goes, 'Let me just ask you this, Mr. Risk Taker. What's the bigger risk? Carrying on like you're going and it's going well, or taking the deeper dive into the sacramental covenant of marriage?'" McConaughey shared.

Alves and McConaughey met at a Los Angeles nightclub in 2006 and confirmed their relationship the following year, Page Sixreported.

The pair got engaged in 2011 and tied the knot in 2012.

Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves' Kids

McConaughey and Alves share three kids, including two sons and one daughter.

Levi, their eldest, was born on July 7, 2008, followed by their 15-year-old daughter, Vida, on January 3, 2010.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The couple then welcomed their youngest child, 12-year-old Livingston, on December 12, 2012.

In September 2025, McConaughey spoke with People about how he and Alves have raised their three children in Texas, sharing that the family has made spending time together a priority.

"Whether that's gathering for dinner and sitting down and sharing about our day at the end of the day, or cooking a meal together, or taking trips together, we do a lot together," he said, in part.

This story was originally reported by Parade on Sep 29, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
NEED TO KNOW

Princess Diana's longtime hairdresser Richard Dalton tells PEOPLE that the late royal had tabloids "smuggled in" to Kensington Palace

"She wasnt allowed to see the tabloid newspapers," Dalton says

Dalton reveals who Diana asked to get the tabloids past palace security

Princess Diana secretly arranged to have tabloid newspapers delivered to her while she was a member of the royal family, according to her longtime hairdresser.

Richard Dalton tells PEOPLE that Diana asked him to smuggle the papers in because of restrictions she faced inside the palace. "She wasnt allowed to see the tabloid newspapers, he tells PEOPLE.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

One of the hairdressers smuggled them in, Dalton shares with a laugh. Did I say that? They were smuggled in, but its not to do with me, he adds jokingly.

"She used to say, Richard, can you bring them in for me? " Dalton recalls the princess asking. "Nobody questioned it because nobody knew. Once Id got through security and into the pantry, it was all plain sailing from there."

Terry Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty Princess Diana attends a dinner at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C., November 1985. Princess Diana attends a dinner at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C., November 1985.

Dalton, who met Diana for the first time in 1978 and served as her official hairdresser from 1981 to 1990, says the tabloid coverage of the princess often distressed and annoyed both him and her.

Id be doing her hair, shed be flipping through the pages [of a tabloid], and shed go, 'Ugh,  Dalton recalls, imitating a groan. The princess would then throw it to the side, he says.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Then another one comes along and then [she'd go], Ohhhhhh,  he adds with a sigh.

Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Princess Diana chats with her hairdresser, Richard Dalton, during a stopover in Fiji en route to Australia on Oct. 26, 1985. Princess Diana chats with her hairdresser, Richard Dalton, during a stopover in Fiji en route to Australia on Oct. 26, 1985.

One of the tabloid rumors that hurt Diana the most centered on the parentage of her youngest son, Prince Harry, according to Dalton.

"They always [went] on about, Is Charles the father of Harry? Dalton says of the tabloid speculation surrounding King Charles (then Prince Charles). Of course he is.

Tabloids ran countless stories during Dianas lifetime claiming that Major James Hewitt  with whom Diana began an affair in the years after Harry was born  was her youngest sons father because both Hewitt and the young prince had red hair.



Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Dalton, however, knew that red hair was common in Dianas family, having cut both her sisters and brothers hair.

Diana's brother, Charles Spencer, when I used to cut his hair, his hair was bright red, Dalton remembers. Lady Sarah, also red, he notes of Dianas oldest sister. "The Spencers definitely had red hair. But at that time, I wasn't in a position to actually say, Hello, Charles Spencers hair was red.' "

Dalton has been sharing his memories of the late princess with the encouragement of his friend Renae Plant.

In 2024, the Scottish-born coiffeur published a memoir, Its All About the Hair  My Decade with Diana, with Plant's help. As founder of The Princess Diana Museum, she has devoted herself to preserving Dianas legacy.

Michelle Day Renae Plant, founder of The Princess Diana Museum, and Richard Dalton, longtime hairdresser to Diana, Princess of Wales. Renae Plant, founder of The Princess Diana Museum, and Richard Dalton, longtime hairdresser to Diana, Princess of Wales.

Plant tells PEOPLE that the idea to create the museum came to her in the wake of Dianas death.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

I felt like she was being whitewashed from history really quickly to make way for Camilla, Plant says, referring to King Charles second wife. I feel like that's when I got the motivation to really try to honor her life and legacy in a way where no one else seemed to be doing.

Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

Plant adds that she wrote to Prince William and Prince Harry about her intention to create a museum dedicated to Diana. "They wrote back and said, 'Thank you,' and kind of gave me their blessing," she remembers. "I would not have done it if it weren't for them knowing that I was honoring their mother."

Plant launched the virtual Princess Diana Museum in 2019, and the collection  which houses more than 2,700 of Dianas personal and historical items  is considered one of the largest of its kind in the world.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The collection will make its first physical exhibition in Los Angeles, California, in November 2026. After a six-month stay, it will tour the U.S. before moving on to Canada, parts of Asia, Australia and then Europe. Plant wants the museum to ultimately find a permanent home in the U.K. to honor Diana.



Read the original article on People
The Gist

Richard Gere and his wife Alejandra Silva looked so in love for a rare joint appearance on Sunday, September 28.

The couple packed on the PDA at the Giorgio Armani show at Milan Fashion Week.

Gere and Silva, who got married in 2018, share two sons together.

Richard Gere and his wife Alejandra Silva are giving fans a rare glimpse of their marriage, almost a year after they moved to Spain. The private couple, who tied the knot in 2018, looked so in love during a PDA-packed outing at Milan Fashion Week on Sunday.

On September 28, Gere and Silva embraced a black tie dress code while attending the Giorgio Armani Spring/Summer 2026 runway show. The Pretty Woman actor looked dapper in a black tuxedo with a white dress shirt and a black bow tie. Meanwhile, his publicist wife put an iridescent twist on the naked dress, turning heads in a strapless silver woven lace column gown. Silva, who shares sons Alexander and James with Gere, wore her caramel-highlighted brown hair in a half-up style with rounded curtain bangs. A pair of pointy-toed silver heels and sparkling dangling earrings accessorized her fashion week look.

Getty Images Richard Gere and Alejandra Silva are seen during the Milan Womenswear Spring/Summer 2026 Fashion Week on September 28 Richard Gere and Alejandra Silva are seen during the Milan Womenswear Spring/Summer 2026 Fashion Week on September 28

In photos taken of the couple at the show, Silva could be seen cuddling in Geres lap while holding his hand. Gere was also spotted putting his arm around his wife while stroking her shoulder in a sweet display of affection.

Getty Images Richard Gere and Alejandra Silva attend the Giorgio Armani fashion show during the Milan Womenswear Spring/Summer 2026 on September 28 Richard Gere and Alejandra Silva attend the Giorgio Armani fashion show during the Milan Womenswear Spring/Summer 2026 on September 28

Gere and Silva arent regular fashion week attendees (even though the Autumn in New York actor was previously married to supermodel and sartorial icon Cindy Crawford), but they last made a red carpet appearance back in April for the Wisdom of Happiness screening during the BCN Film Festival in Barcelona. Gere recently opened up about how the couple is doing since relocating to Spain last November, telling Elle Espana earlier this year, "The truth is that you are seeing us in our momentum. We are happier than ever. [Alejandra], because she is at home and I because, if she is happy, I am happy."

Getty Images Richard Gere and Alejandra Silva attend the Giorgio Armani fashion show during the Milan Womenswear Spring/Summer 2026 on September 28 Richard Gere and Alejandra Silva attend the Giorgio Armani fashion show during the Milan Womenswear Spring/Summer 2026 on September 28

In a 2024 interview with Vanity Fair Spain, Gere opened up about his new home, sharing, I love Spain and the ability of the Spanish people to live transmitting joy and happiness. [Alejandra] was very generous in giving me six years living in my world, so it is only fair that I give her at least another six living in hers."

Read the original article on InStyle
NEED TO KNOW

Darcey and Stacey Silva got into an explosive argument with Georgi Rusev on the Sept. 28 episode of 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After? after learning he had been secretly planning to purchase property overseas

Meanwhile, Georgi was upset that Darcey continued to insert herself into his marriage with Darcey

As Georgi and Stacey butted heads, Darcey said she "hit my limit" with her husband

Georgi Rusev has been keeping a secret from Darcey Silva, but she and her sister did not take kindly to that as their trip to Bulgaria came to a rocky conclusion.

On the Sept. 28 episode of 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After?, Georgi revealed that he was planning on purchasing property near his family in Bulgaria  unbeknownst to his wife Darcey.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The big announcement was made in Darcey and Georgis hotel room as they were packing up to return home from their multi-week excursion to Georgis home country. But neither Darcey nor her twin sister Stacey Silva were happy to hear this news.

You should help save money so you guys can buy your own home in America, or a condo in Miami or something! Stacey argued. Dont you want that and the American dream? Whats the priority?

Darcey agreed, but Georgi seemed flustered, shaking his head in frustration as Stacey accused him of being selfish. Then, she accused him of hiding something.

Im not stupid, Stacey said in a joint confessional with Florian Sukaj, and expressed concern about Georgis decision to not consult Darcey about this decision. He never really treats her like a wife. If you want to buy a property, buy a property and maybe do it together!

TLC Stacey accuses Georgi of "hiding something" from his wife Stacey accuses Georgi of "hiding something" from his wife

Georgi was sad to leave Bulgaria and all of his family, whom he just reconnected with for the first time in 13 years. It's never easy to say goodbye, he told Darcey before the argument.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Later on, Georgi told Stacey that the trip home left him feeling recharged. Stacey seemed pleased with his response. Im just happy you guys are leaving happy! she exclaimed. Its good to see, because the Darcey and Georgi in Miami was not so happy, right?

However, Georgi suggested this would not be his last trip back to Bulgaria. In fact, he revealed he hoped to return to his home country again very soon in order to to take care of some stuff.

When Stacey pressed him for answers, he announced his plans to seek out the property. Darcey told the group that this was the first time she had ever heard of these plans, and agreed with Staceys suggestion that Georgi was acting selfish.

Georgi insisted he wasnt planning on purchasing a property in the immediate future, but Darcey was still concerned. I dont even know how much money you have saved! she shouted. How much money are you putting toward this? You still have to pay taxes too!

TLC Darcey argues with Georgi about finances after his big announcement Darcey argues with Georgi about finances after his big announcement

Stacey then resumed her own efforts to get Georgi to spill the beans about his finances. Why are you hiding money? she asked after pointing out that everyone in the room knew he had recently been promoted at work.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

In a confessional, Georgi expressed concern that Stacey had become too involved in his relationship. [Shes] just putting these little bugs in Darcey[s] head, he explained, noting that the twins often team up against me, which he said can be hard to deal with that.

Georgi defended his decision not to tell Darcey about his plans. I didn't bring my plans [up] sooner because Darcey's always shooting it out and she don't even listen to me, he explained.

In a confessional, Georgi suggested that these reactions are why he had a really hard time opening up to his wife about some of the more complex parts of life. Shed overreact to little things," he said. "It's like stressing for no reason and it ruined the whole experience.

TLC Georgi reveals his plan to purchase property in Bulgaria Georgi reveals his plan to purchase property in Bulgaria

Back at the hotel, Darcey got even more heated. At one point, she even suggested Georgi got what you came for after coming to America on the K-1 visa and getting his green card.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

But the conversation was only going in circles, so Darcey and Stacey made a beeline out of the room. Florian followed behind, leaving Georgi seething and all alone. When Georgi didnt chase after them, however, Darcey grew even more upset and stated that she had hit my limit.

I'm upset because after I spent this whole trip trying to tell him all I need and want is your transparency, Georgi just wants to brush me to the side and not feel like he can include me to grow our wealth," Darcey said in a confessional. "And like hello, we're married! Shouldnt I know about that stuff because it makes you feel a little used.

She continued, Obviously it seems a little premeditated, like he was thinking and planning it for a while.

TLC Darcey argues with Georgi in the lobby of their hotel Darcey argues with Georgi in the lobby of their hotel

Eventually, Georgi crossed paths with Darcey, Stacey and Florian downstairs, where tempers flared once again. After suggesting once again that Georgi got what he wanted from her, she went back to shouting at him.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

You could take all my money, Georgi. Ill send you a f------ check tomorrow! she told her husband, who then suggested she and Stacey dont have no money.

Youre always broke! he said with a smirk and shrug, as Darcey and Stacey chirped back at him. But he argued that they spent far too much money on shopping and clothes.

Georgi was particularly fed up with Stacey, who kept injecting herself into his argument with Darcey. I say nothing wrong to you, first of all, so dont get involved in our relationship too! he shouted at Stacey, suggesting she worry about her own marriage  which also had a rocky past.

TLC After Darcey shouts at Georgi, he shouts back at his wife After Darcey shouts at Georgi, he shouts back at his wife

Darcey then jumped back in. You dont want to say the truth anyway to anybody because youre full of f------ secrets and you always will be, she asserted. Stacey, he wants to fool me and Im not going to be played for a f------ fool.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Infuriated, Darcey asked the front desk if they could get two separate cabs to take them to the airport. This made Georgi upset, as his sister was on her way to say goodbye to all of them before they headed home.

It's so childish, and Staceys just adding more fuel to the fire, Georgi said in a confessional. Darceys always assuming the worst, even [if] she dont know about the situation. And that makes me even more upset.

Georgi tried to help Darcey with her bags, but she refused to allow him. You will not take me down! she said while wheeling her bags to the trunk of the car. I dont live my life like that. How dare you! Ive got daughters!  You dont act like family. I want to be far away from you.

TLC Darcey wheels her luggage to the truck of her cab, refusing Georgi's offers to help Darcey wheels her luggage to the truck of her cab, refusing Georgi's offers to help

Georgi then watched as the trio pulled away in their cab. A short time later, Georgis sister Nikola and her family arrived to send him off.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

After Georgi finished exchanging hugs and handshakes, Nikola asked about Darcey, Stacey and Florians whereabouts. They got mad, Georgi told his sister in Bulgarian. I told her I want to come to Bulgaria and travel more often since I can come back now.

In a confessional, Georgi said he was embarrassed to tell his sister that Darcey stormed off and why. I dont want to worry them, he explained.

Nikola was supportive of her brother, noting that if Darcey can travel alone, then so can her brother. But Georgi was more upset that his wife and sister continue to gang up on him.

TLC Georgi says goodbye to his sister and her family Georgi says goodbye to his sister and her family

"There needs to be compromise from both sides, not just one. You are one family, so you have to support each other," Nikola stated, but Georgi scoffed, "Things are not looking good."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Meanwhile, in the cab, Florian asked Darcey how she can continue living in such a roller coaster of a relationship. But she insisted she didnt want to, and emphasized that trust goes a long way.

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 deserve better than that, Darcey asserted. I'm really disappointed because I really felt like I connected with this family and, you know, they were loving and open to me too. And I just, I don't know what the future's going to hold.

90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After? airs on Sundays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on TLC.



Read the original article on People
When four accomplished actors  Jessica Meraz, Walter Perez, Emilio Garcia-Sanchez and Eller Coltrane  gathered at the El Paso Film Festival to share advice for aspiring actors, one of the main takeaways was to relax.

Of the four, only Meraz lives in Los Angeles. But even in the industry hub, self-taping has become the industry standard for auditions since Covid. Self-taping can be a stressful, innately isolating experience. So the actors' advice was to give yourself a break  because the sense that you don't need a job, even if you want it very much, reads as confidence onscreen.

Perez, a 20-year industry veteran who moved from Los Angeles to El Paso, recently landed big parts on NBC's Quantum Leap and Paramount+'s Fatal Attraction based on self-tapes, and thinks casting agents appreciated the realness of his auditions. He did a couple of takes on both, giving himself room to be loose.

Related Headlines

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"Sometimes that 'I don't give a f--- about this' kind of attitude' takes away all that pressure that you kind of put on yourself," he noted.

"It says a lot about our industry that when you're like, 'I don't give a f---!' they're like, 'Look that guy, he could care less. Let's work with him," added Garcia-Sanchez, a Bay Area-based actor whose recent roles have included Netflixs The Society, Disney+s Star Wars: The Bad Batch, and the upcoming HBO Max series I LOVE LA.



"That's human nature, isn't it?" added Meraz, an El Paso native whose roles have included TNT'sMajor Crimes and The CW's Supergirl. "You're attracted to someone who, whether you book them or not, they're going to be just fine. It's like with a romantic partner."

Coltrane, meanwhile, tends to work with friends since their experience as the star of with the Best Picture nominee Boyhood, in which director Richard Linklater filmed them growing up over 12 years. Coltrane didn't love the press attention that came with the role, and now works frequently with filmmakers in El Paso, near the New Mexico state line.

Ellar, a poet and artist as well as actor, lives in southern New Mexico, isolated from Hollywood stress, and their recent credits include Zach Passero's animated feature, The Weird Kidz and Carlos M. De La Torre's short film, "So, Who Was It This Time?"

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Though Garcia-Sanchez has appeared in big shows, he lives inexpensively in a converted cookie factory in the Bay Area, which gives him the economic freedom not to take roles he doesn't feel good about.

No one sees living outside of Hollywood as a problem: Perez and Garcia-Sanchez noted that Los Angeles is a short plane ride away when they need to go there for meetings or shoots.

Advice on Self-Taping

The actors got into the nitty gritty of their craft when a young actor in the audience asked for advice on self-taping.

In a live audition, the production provides someone to read the scene with the actor, so actors only need to focus on their own line delivery. But in a solo, taped audition, an actor has the burden of either finding someone else to read their lines, or recording the dialogue they won't be saying themselves, either beforehand or after the fact. It adds a layer of complexity to an already intimidating process.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

This isn't a small thing: If you ask a non-actor friend to read lines, they may overdo it or place an emphasis on the wrong words, which can throw everything off. Or, if an actor records their own lines beforehand or afterward, they need to expend extra effort on timing.

(If you think it sounds easy to read lines emotionally and convincingly, while leaving space where you'll later dub in yourself reading the other actor's lines, well... try it.)

Perez has a low-tech but effective solution: He writes the other actor's lines on a whiteboard behind the camera, and reads them silently before speaking his own lines.

Meraz sometimes tapes self-auditions after the stress of putting her young child down to nap (again, if this sounds easy, try it).

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"I've done that recording myself thing, and I don't recommend it, because it takes away the spontaneity aspect," she said. "Have a roster of people, and use you mom if you have to."

Sometimes that works great  for example, actor Mia Threapleton landed a starring role in Wes Anderson's The Phoenician Scheme after self-taping with the help of her mom.

But her mom happens to be Kate Winslet. If your mom isn't as good at running lines as Kate Winslet, other options are available.

Meraz's go-to reader for self-taping is a friend from Las Cruces who reads lines for her over FaceTime while she records. She also recommends apps like We Audition that allow you to hire scene partners from all over the world. (If you need a scene partner with a London accent, for example, you can hire someone in London.) The app bills itself as "Uber for self-tape readers.")

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"They'll charge you a minimal fee. They all put their own fees up," said Meraz. "It shows you who's available at the time. And you can go through and pick your favorites."

Main image: (L-R) George Perez, Jessica Meraz, Emilio Garcia-Sanchez and Eller Coltrane, all of whom spoke at the El Paso Film Festival's actors panel. Courtesy of the El Paso Film Festival.

Related Headlines
Modular Asset Management, a macro hedge fund firm based in Singapore, will reportedly cease managing funds for Millennium Management at the end of the year.

This decision comes after more than eight years of collaboration and is by mutual agreement, reported Bloomberg, citing sources familiar with the matter.

Modular has managed approximately $600m for Millennium in a separate account.

The termination of this deal allows Modular to diversify its investor base, reducing its dependency on a single large investor, which previously accounted for one-third of its assets.

Modular's founder, Jimmy Lim, and a spokesperson from Millennium both declined to comment on the development, reported the publication.

Modular spun out from Millennium in early 2020, with Lim having worked at Millennium for about two and a half years prior to this transition.

Since then, Modular has rebuilt its capital base with investments from multiple sources, now overseeing nearly $1.6bn in assets, just $100m less than four months ago.

Macro hedge funds, which invest across equity, fixed-income, currency, and commodity markets, often experience volatile returns.

However, Modular has consistently performed well, avoiding any losing years since its inception in January 2020. As of August, it had positive returns in 81% of the months, with a maximum loss of just under 2.7%.

Modular's hedge fund has reportedly returned almost 6% this year through August. Meanwhile, Millennium's assets have doubled since the end of 2019, reaching $79bn.

In Asia, Millennium has allocated substantial funds to new ventures, such as $1.5bn to Robert Taus Aeonea, $1.2bn to Thomas Wongs Optimas Capital Management, and about $1bn to Qin Xiaos upcoming commodities trading startup.

In recent years, geopolitical tensions have made it challenging for global firms to find seasoned investors in Asia's macro trades.

Millennium has seen notable returns with Ayan Sen, founder of Navik Capital, rejoining the firm, and the hiring of Jai Rajpal, whose Crescent Asset Management previously managed funds for Millennium.

"Millennium Management and Modular Asset Management end partnership-report" was originally created and published by Private Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand.




Annette Oberlander Willows hasnt been able to emotionally leave the hospital room where her best friend and reality TV star, Frank Fritz, died a year ago.

Shes still there  spiritually. Around that bed, amongst the friends that grew to be Fritzs family. Holding his hand as the complications from a stroke that exacerbated his severe Crohns disease finally became too much for his body.

I won't be able to get any peace until we can bury Frank and his mother, both of whom were cremated, Willows says.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

You can't move forward when he's not been laid to rest.

And he cant be buried, she said, while Fritzs will is being contested in court by his birth father, Bill Fritz.

Frank Fritz, former co-star of "American Pickers."

In February, Bill Fritz, who lives in Texas, filed a petition to set aside American Pickers co-host Frank Fritzs last testament and have a jury determine what should be done with his son's estate.

The probate case, including the will, has been sealed by an Iowa judge, so details of Fritzs assets  which some estimates value at nearly $6 million  and other filings havent been made public.

A trial is set for November 2026, which means a final determination may not come until more than two years after Fritzs death. A long time to wait until friends can put an end to this agony, Willows says.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

It just drags you down. The whole situation has a lot of weight on it, she says. And during this time when you should be celebrating his life, you're stuck. Literally stuck.

Gut instincts, curiosity and a full tank of gas: Who was Frank Fritz?

Fritz  known for his dark beard, quick smile and deep passion for vintage motorcycles  rocketed to fame with his friend and fellow Iowan, Mike Wolfe, when their antique-hunting show American Pickers premiered on the History Channel in 2010.

The show diverted from the classic Antiques Roadshow format of shooting on a controlled set and featuring expert commentary.

Instead, Wolfe and Fritz leaned on their streetwise knowledge and razor-sharp gut instincts as they traveled backroads and small-town Main Streets looking for stories in equal measure to "picks, as fans call the objects they buy.

Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz with a memory jug, one of their favorite finds

Before the show, we would take off together to places we never knew existed with no destination in mind and just the shared passion to discover something interesting and historic, Wolfe wrote in an Instagram post honoring Fritz just after his death.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Who would have ever dreamed we would share the cockpit of a white cargo van in front of millions of people interested in our adventures.

Their folksy chemistry created reality show gold, making the two friends into celebrities with the thrifting and DIY sets and Pickers into a ratings and rerun juggernaut.

The pair were truly unexpected stars when the show hit, plunked from obscurity along the Mississippi River. But Fritz was the same on-camera as he was off, Wolfe wrote. Nothing put-on, ever. Nothing inauthentic.

Frank had a way of reaching the hearts of so many by just being himself, Wolfe wrote.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Wolfe declined to talk about Fritz through a representative for this story.

A nagging back injury forced Fritz to leave the show just before the COVID-19 pandemic. His exit marked the beginning of a series of physical and medical issues, including a stroke in 2022, that would eventually lead to his death at age 60 in September 2024.

Estrangement and competency: Whats wrong with Frank Fritzs will?

At issue in the will contest is, first, who was closest to Fritz and would have understood his final desires best: his father or his best friends? Each side believes they are the right arbiter.

And, second, whether Fritz was in sufficient command of his faculties to understand and sign a will after he had a stroke  one which was debilitating enough that he was initially placed into guardianship by the court.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

In July 2022, Fritz was found unresponsive on the floor of his Davenport-area home and later was determined to have had a stroke. His recovery was rocky in the following months, including hospitalizations for seizures, high blood pressure and pneumonia-like symptoms, according to 911 tapes published by a British tabloid.

An emergency guardian was approved by the courts a few weeks later because, as filings state, Mr. Fritzs decision-making capacity is so impaired that he is unable to care for his own safety, or to provide for necessities such as food, shelter, clothing or medical care.

He is also unable to make, communicate or carry out important decisions concerning his own financial affairs.

Many documents in the guardianship case are sealed. However, a public care plan filed in 2022 specified that Fritz did not have a living will.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

When the guardian filed what would be his final report about two years later, Fritz was now listed as having a will.

In the intervening time, friends previously told the Register, Fritz had recovered and was in control of his faculties and thoughts. He had been well enough to enjoy a visit from Wolfe  the pairs first meetup in three years  as well as a night out with friends just before the holidays.

But a judges finding that Fritz does not have the capacity to execute any legal documents on his own behalf is key evidence that the will  which was put together in 2023, about eight months after guardianship went into place  should be set aside, Bill Fritzs lawyer, Cory Gourley, previously told the Register.

There are also logistical issues with the document, including that it is not properly signed or properly witnessed, Gourley said previously.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Gourley did not respond to a request for updates on the case. And, citing the lawsuit, Willows declined to add any more information than what has already been made public.

One year later: The journey toward healing continues

While the will is worked out in the courts and the celebration of life is on hold, Fritzs friends have tried to find ways to preserve and salute his memory.

They hosted a tribute for the star in May, during which acquaintances of Fritzs from as early as grade school and on up through the many eras of his life converged on Savanna, Illinois.

The gathered shared stories, reveled in memories and dedicated the Frank Fritz Man Cave, an antique-motorcycle themed bar and small movie theater in the building next to Fritzs old store.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Eventually, the Man Caves owner hopes to replay old episodes of American Pickers in the theater in honor of Fritz, and maybe even organize a museum or memorial in the antique hunters former retail space, which he also owns.

Fritz liked to keep his friendships separate, Willow says, so many of his dearests met for the first time that weekend. They shared a lot of belly laughs, she says, but an equal dose of heavy tears, too.

A lot of friends wanted to know what his ending looked like, and it was real peaceful. And they sought comfort out of that, Willows says.

It was kind of like one step in the healing, she adds. But then you step backwards by everything else that's going on.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

More: How Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz weathered fame, public rifts to create a 'picker' empire

Shes planning to spend the one-year anniversary of Fritzs death at home, quietly.

Fritz was a big personality, to put it mildly, she says. And he liked living life like a vibrating Vegas neon sign, which made him exciting to be around  always. But shell miss the more muted side of Fritz.

Day-to-day conversations. Lunches. Watching TV, which they did a lot of in Fritzs last hospital room.

He mentioned one day he fulfilled all of his dreams before he passed away. There wasn't one thing that he wanted to do that he didn't do, she says. No bucket list left behind.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Willows takes comfort in that certainty. A fortitudinous blessing as loved ones pursue a legal finality and as she seeks to, hopefully, move forward from his mourning his death to finally commemorating his life.

It's hard knowing that Frank is not at peace yet, she says. That's the hardest part.

Mike Wolfe, left, and Frank Fritz are the stars of the History Channels American Pickers. Their business is based in LeClaire, Iowa, hometown of columnist Kate Kompas.

Courtney Crowder, the Register's Iowa Columnist, traverses the state's 99 counties telling Iowans' stories. Reach her at ccrowder@dmreg.com or 515-284-8360.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Frank Fritz died 1 year ago. Friends say they cant move forward'
Showrunner Andreas Heckmann (Barbarians) and director Paul Wilmshurst (The Day of the Jackal, Da Vincis Demons, The Last Kingdom) have boarded Korsan, a six-part nautical epic produced by Frances Lazuri Film.

Set in 1492, the series follows Sara, the defiant daughter of Granadas chief Rabbi, exiled during Spains expulsion of its Jewish population and captured by Ottoman corsairs (Korsan in Turkish). From Andalusia to Istanbul, her journey becomes a daring rescue mission across land and sea, exploring exile, faith and identity. Under an imperial decree, her captors become unlikely allies, guiding Jewish refugees through ambushes, shifting alliances and treacherous waters, while Sara confronts leadership, loyalty and love at a high cost.

More from Variety

Advertisement Advertisement

Contrasting Inquisition-era Spain with the multicultural Ottoman Empire, Korsan blends historical drama, complex characters, and a central love triangle between Sara, a bold Jewish rebel; Piri, a self-serving pirate with hidden honor, and Jean, his adopted brother and rival. Together, they must survive not only persecution but betrayal from within, delivering adventure and emotion targeting an international audience.

Rooted in history, emotionally charged and rich in visual and psychological tension, Korsan is exactly the story I want to tell, says Wilmshurst. While it unfolds in a historical setting, every silence, glance and decision carries contemporary urgency. At its core, the series is about identity, courage and resiliencebut its also a sweeping tale of adventure and romance.

With family across Germany, Turkey, Holland, and the United States, my life spans two religions and four continents, cultures, and languages, adds Heckmann.

These differences enrich us rather than divide us. Today, many retreat into their own groups, claiming freedom and justice only for themselves. The challenges we face demand collaboration, compassion, and courage, and remind us that the true heroes are those who dare to fight injustice.

Advertisement Advertisement

The six-episode series has a budget of $24 million$25 million, with a pre-sale deal with a major international distributor in its final stages. Filming is set in Spain for late summer 2026. Lazuri Film founder Cumali Varer will represent the series at Mipcom in October.

While Columbus opened the route to the Americas, radicalization and religious tensions were already shaking Europe, eventually leading to the Wars of Religion, says Varer. Today, Spain is reconsidering its past, acknowledging the centuries-long influence of Jewish and Muslim communities. Korsan tells this story in a thrilling, sophisticated way, fostering understanding of the other and promoting tolerance and cooperation  a timely reminder in todays world.

Best of Variety

Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Fans are shredding MAGA podcaster Theo Von after he apparently bombed at the taping of his big Netflix special over the weekend.

One fan posted to Reddit that Von had to pause the show to ask for the punchline several times, while another called the performance nerve wrecking just to watch, and hands down, the worst comedy show Ive ever seen.

 BREAKING: Comedian Theo Von BOMBED his comedy show last night at the Beacon Theater in New York, NY



He was seen after the show saying Im having a long month, Im trying not to take my own life



I dont think this is a joke. This is not normal for Theo pic.twitter.com/1TuXAPmJ5V  Algovich (@Algovich_) September 28, 2025

Yet another Redditor called the set a failure of epic proportions, as Vanity Fair noted in its review that Von, a sought-out interviewer for A-list actors and musicians, struggled through a couple of false starts during his taping at Manhattans Beacon Theatre and seemed jittery.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The site also highlighted the disorganized nature of the set as Von began by briefly taking the stage once, abandoning the set and started overonly to pick a member of the audience to be kicked out and start over again.

Requests for comment from Von and Netflix were not returned before publication.

Von has two previous comedy specials with Netflix, 2016s Theo Von: No Offense and Theo Von: Regular People in 2021.

A reality TV star turned podcaster and pro-MAGA proponent, Von first rose to fame in the 2000s and has since spun his persona into stand-up. comedy Like other Joe Rogan acolytes, Von has broken with the Trump administration on some of its key initiatives, despite championing his candidacy and encouraging his millions of listeners to support the now president on the campaign trail.

Last night I went to the taping of Theo Vons new Netflix Special at the Beacon. It was hard to watch.



He seemed unrehearsed and disorganized, repeating bits multiple times clearly trying to get it right for the camera. This killed the vibe in the theater.



More than that the pic.twitter.com/LyfEiifUc3  Andrew Court (@agbcourt) September 28, 2025

When the Department of Homeland Security used his image without permission to support its mass deportation initiatives, Von objected publicly, Yooo DHS i didnt approve to be used in this. I know you know my address so send a check, he replied on X. And please take this down and please keep me out of your banger deportation videos. When it comes to immigration my thoughts and heart are a lot more nuanced than this video allows. Bye!

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The Department later deleted its post. Hes also expressed skepticism about the administrations handling of the Epstein files since Trumps election. But, at the same time, Von helped pitch Trump to his large male audience during the 2024 election and then attended Trumps inauguration as a guest along with other manosphere podcasters.

Comedian Theo Von at the Inauguration of Donald J. Trump in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on January 20, 2025. / Pool / Getty Images

The comedian seemed to acknowledge that he was not himself during the taping. One fan captured him on video telling an audience member, Im having a long month, Im trying not to take my own life.

Von has been open about his mental health struggles throughout his rise in the podcast world and has long used his platform to address addiction, past trauma, and his own methods for coping with depression.

Yet still, his fans did not soften the blow of their disappointment after attending his shows this past weekend. Multiple posts from users who were present say some fans were so fed up with the flop show that they walked out. Another claimed a full third of the crowd followed suit.

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 20: Theo Von looks on during the second half of the game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and the Georgia State Panthers at FirstBank Stadium on September 20, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carly Mackler/Getty Images) / Carly Mackler / Getty Images

While one fan said they didnt believe it was that many whod left mid-show, they agreed that most of the negative comments about the performances were true.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Even the most dedicated of Vons self-declared anti-woke fans say the performance left much to be desired and included stale and immature jokes about autism and Jewish people.

I absolutely love Theo but to me it seemed like...more than just nerves, one wrote on Reddit. Concluded another on X, Was there. love Theoworst set ever.
Icelands production powerhouse Glassriver (Black Sands, As Long as We Live) has inked a major international distribution deal with Mediawan Rights for the anticipated crime thriller series Elma, based on Eva Bjorggisdottirs best-selling book series.

Besides Mediawan Rights, which holds rights outside of Iceland and Finland, the round of partners takes in co-producer Lunanime in Belgium, MTV Finland, private equity investors and other parties to be announced at a later stage, Glassriver CEO and producer Andri Omarsson told Variety.

More from Variety

Advertisement Advertisement

Elma is an Icelandic crime story, thats ready to take on the world! said Omarsson who confirmed that Glassriver has optioned the rights to the five books in the Elma series. We are proud to partner with the Mediawan team; their deep understanding of European markets and proven success with high-end drama make them the ideal partner to help us champion this story beyond Iceland.

Mediawan Rights CEO Valerie Vleeschhouwer added: We are delighted to support Elma. This partnership with Glassriver reflects our commitment to bringing captivating and top-tier European shows to a global audience.

The inaugural season, The Creak on the Stairs, based on the first book in the Elma serie,s is due to roll from Oct. 7 in Iceland, under the direction of concept director Katrin Bjorgvinsdottir (The Minister, As Long as We Live) and Thora Hilmarsdottir (The Rising, Stella Blomkvist).

When first published in Iceland in 2018, Eva Bjorggisdottir was hailed as one of the most talented non ew crime authors, along the lines of Arnaldur Indriason, Yrsa Sigurardottir, Ragnar Jonasson or Lilja Sigurdardottir, thanks to her ability to blend Nordic Noir with psychological depth. The Creak on the Stairs hit the top of the book charts in Iceland and won the CWA (Crime Writers Association) Debut Dagger-Blackbird Award, before opening up new markets for gisdottir in the 20-plus territories where it was translated including in France and the UK.

Advertisement Advertisement

In the serialized TV adaptation from head-writer Karen Bjorg Eyfjor orsteinsdottir (Ordinary People), Elisabet Hall and rising talent Urur Egilsdottir (Glassrivers upcoming Manifesto), the story follows police detective Elma who returns to the picturesque port town of Akrane to work at her local police station after a disastrous romance.

When a womans body is found lying at the foot of a lighthouse, terrible secrets could well resurface from the past. In this small Icelandic town with its oppressive atmosphere, could salvation come to Elma from her colleague, Saevar?, reads the logline.

One of Icelands most active purveyors of quality scripted content, Glassrivers current series slate takes in the climate disaster Avalanche starring Elin Hall; the comedy drama Hot Stuff toplined by Steinor Hroar Steinorsson, and Saga Gararsdottir; the recently optioned Konrad book series from crime king Arnaldur Indriason and Masquerade to be co-produced with Severances Nicholas Weinstock and The Art of Coproductions Marc Lorber.

Best of Variety

Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Botswana's Karowe mine recently produced a record breaking 2,492-carat diamond, the largest diamond unearthed in over a century. It's the biggest in a line of massive stones that have come out of the mine in the last several years. As the stone, named Motswedi, awaits a price, the find is a reminder of the strange marriage between geology and economy.

Lucara-owned Karowe diamond mine is famous for producing large stones. Photo: Lucara

How to find massive diamonds

The largest diamond ever found was pulled from the earth in South Africa in 1905, then under British colonial rule. British officials gifted the 3,106-carat Cullinan Diamond to King Edward VII, who had it cut into nine pieces and added to various crown jewels. The pieces are still there today, alongside other large pieces extracted, or outright stolen, from colonial holdings, like the Koh-i-Noor.

Such was the fate of the largest-ever diamond. But all of the runners-up have come from Karowe. In 2019, they found Sewelo, a 1,758-carat gem sold to Louis Vuitton for an unknown amount. In 2015, the mine unearthed the 1,111-carat stone known as Lesedi La Rona. Why does this region, and this mine in particular, produce so many exceptionally large diamonds?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Diamonds are made of compressed carbon, formed deep beneath the Earth in the mantle. They're brought up to the crust, where we can mine them, through the eruption of kimberlite volcanoes. As the magma moves explosively upwards, it picks up diamonds and carries them to the surface. Meteor strikes can also create diamonds, but they are small and not of gem quality.

In Botswana and South Africa, the land is rich in kimberlite pipes due to ancient volcanic activity.

In addition to their geological advantages, Lucara has a technological trick: X-rays. An X-ray camera system in the mine measures the atomic density of material. The very dense diamonds stand out against the normal rock, and miners can retrieve them unbroken.

A diamond suspended in kimberlite. This piece was mined in South Africa. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Making diamonds pay

Since opening in 2012, the Karowe mine in Botswana has produced hundreds of notably large, gem-quality diamonds. But mineral wealth isn't always easy to translate into material wealth, at least for the country from which it is extracted.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

In Botswana, the government is considering legislation that will ensure more of the profit from its massive diamonds goes back into the country itself. It's also trying to diversify its economy. Diamonds may be forever, but deposits aren't endless. Amidst growing fear that diamond deposits will bottom out, Lucara has acquired permission to move the Karowe mine operations deeper underground in the coming decades.

But for now, they have the world's second-largest gem-quality diamond on their hands, and no one is quite sure how much it's worth. Lucara has partnered with Belgian firm HB Antwerp, which told French outlet Agence France-Presse that it was hard to put a price on the gem.

The monetary value of a diamond is hard to judge, since it's all made up. Perfect diamonds can be grown cheaply in the lab, and the rarity of diamonds is partially artificial and sustained by an intense centuries-long marketing campaign by the De Beers corporation.

So, how much is the second-largest diamond ever found worth? Whatever some chump is willing to pay for it.
Costco is known for bringing in some of the tastiest finds from all over the world. And their latest offering is no exception. This popular Italian cheese is already a fan favorite among Trader Joe's and Aldi shoppers, who often look forward to it seasonally. But this year, Costco is welcoming an exceptional baked lemon ricotta, and, of course, it's available in warehouse size.

It's perfect for snacking, and it also shines on cheeseboards or paired with a bit of fruit for dessert. Add a slice alongside your morning coffee, and it doubles as a sweet breakfast or a creamy afternoon treat. It's one of my all-time favorites, and it's a must-grab on your next Costco run.

Take a look at this tasty new treasure in this TikTok shared on September 28:

I love baked lemon ricotta so much that when it's out of season at Trader Joe's or Aldi, I've even tried making it myself. And while it came out okay, there's just something about the real thing from Italy that tastes different and so much better. At $11.99 a pound, it's an absolute steal!

Related: New Bread From Costcos Bakery Is Already Winning Over Fans

What Makes Baked Lemon Ricotta Special?

According to Janet Fletcher for Planet Cheese, baked lemon ricotta is a classic specialty of Puglia, a region in southern Italy. Unlike fresh ricotta, which is soft and spreadable, baked ricotta firms up in the oven, developing a cheesecake-like texture.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The addition of lemon zest or juice gives it a bright, citrusy flavor that sets it apart from other cheeses. It can be enjoyed on its own in slices, drizzled with honey, or paired with fresh fruit for a delightful treat. That versatility is one of the reasons it's become such a seasonal hit at U.S. retailers.

Baked Lemon Ricotta Cheese from Puglia, Italy.Photo by Anna Fedorova via Getty Images

Costco's version delivers all of that Italian authenticity in a bigger size, making it easy to share at gatherings or to enjoy over several days.

This baked lemon ricotta works anywhere. Whether you're serving on a cheeseboard, with fruit at breakfast, or as an afternoon snack, it feels like a European vacation. If you see it at your Costco, I recommend grabbing two, as it won't last long.

This story was originally reported by Parade on Sep 29, 2025, where it first appeared in the Food & Drink section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Hawaii homeowners face some of the highest insurance premiums in the U.S., driven by the states unique geography and elevated climate risks.

While national averages remain lower, new data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Realtor.com 2025 Climate Risk Report show that Hawaii households are among those paying the most for coverage.

Hawaiis Insurance Costs in Context

According to newly released American Community Survey (ACS) data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Hawaii homeowners with or without a mortgage typically pay $1,000$1,499 annually for homeowners insurance. Overall statewide costs are the same, at $1,000$1,499. But at the upper end, the Census data also shows households reporting costs of $4,000 or more, making Hawaii one of the few states in that category.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Hawaii has 304,026 insured homeowner households in total184,501 with a mortgage and 119,525 without. Among mortgaged owners, 13,751 pay less than $100 annually and 19,171 pay $4,000 or more. Among those without a mortgage, 22,510 pay less than $100 and 10,322 pay $4,000 or more.

Compared with other Pacific states, Hawaiis numbers stand out. California homeowners typically pay $1,000$1,499 regardless of mortgage status. Oregon and Washington fall into the same range, with few households reporting extremely high costs. Alaska is lower still, averaging $1,000$1,499 with a mortgage and $800$999 without. By comparison, Hawaiis exposure to extreme weather events, including hurricanes and wildfires, pushes more households into the $4,000-or-higher category, setting it apart even within the region.

Climate Risks Add to the Burden

The Realtor.com 2025 Climate Risk Report shows why Hawaii households face elevated premiums. Nationally, 5.6% of homesworth $3.2 trillionface severe or extreme wildfire risk, and Hawaii has recently joined the list of states where wildfire exposure has strained insurers.

Hawaii is not included in the top 100 metros analyzed in the report, but it is still one of the most climate-affected areas in the nation, making securing insurance difficult. Specifically, obtaining hurricane insurance has become nearly impossible.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"Homeowners with old, or out-of-code, structures are generally first in line to get dropped," says Jordan Blake, director of communications and operations at Shoreline Public Adjusters, a firm that represents policyholders in claims involving non-renewals. "Its not always about a history of claims, or whether a home is in Tornado Alley. More and more, its about how a home is constructed and how its expected to perform when subjected to stresses."

Hawaiis isolation adds another challenge: fewer insurers operate in the state, limiting competition. As a result, coverage is often more expensive and harder to obtain, especially in areas exposed to both wildfire and storm risks.

A National Affordability Crisis

Hawaiis steep premiums are part of a larger national pattern. The Realtor.com 2025 Insurance Affordability Report found that 75% of Americans believe homeowners insurance could soon become unaffordable, while nearly half said they have already faced difficulties renewing or obtaining coverage.

These pressures are changing homebuying behavior. Nearly 30% of buyers said they had changed the geographic area of their search due to insurance concerns, while another quarter said they had overhauled their entire buying strategy. The financial burden is also leading some to risky decisions: 58% of homeowners nationwide said they would consider dropping insurance altogether if costs became too high, with younger buyers the most likely to do so.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

For Hawaii homeowners, the challenge is sharper than in most states. With premiums already among the highest in the country, affordability pressures are front and centerand likely to remain so as climate risks intensify.



This article was produced with editorial input from Dina Sartore-Bodo, Gabriella Iannetta, and Allaire Conte.
Travelers will soon be able to say "cheers" with an elevated wine selection at 30,000 feet.



United Airlines will start serving a well-known Sonoma County wine brand, Aperture Cellars, on board international flights next month, the vineyard shared with Travel + Leisure. The new offering will be available starting Oct. 1 in United's Polaris business class cabin.

United has been instrumental in shaping my lifes journey, inspiring my passion for winemaking and igniting my love for travel," Jesse Katz, the founder and winemaker of Aperture Cellars, said in a statement shared with T+L. "To now share our flagship Cabernet Sauvignon with Polaris customers brings that story full circlealigning the elevated standards of world-class wine with the refined hospitality of global travel, and celebrating the connections and lifelong memories they inspire.

Based in Healdsburg, CA, Aperture Cellars is known for its blends and single-origin wines. The vineyard has received international recognition, including being rated one of Wine Spectator's "Top 100" wines. Aperture is a relative newcomer on the Sonoma wine scene, having first opened in 2009.



For its part, the town of Healdsburg was named Sonoma County's most wine-friendly town by Food & Wine, which specifically called out Aperture Cellars as a recommended vineyard to visit while there.

Airlines have been working to increase both alcoholic and non-alcoholic offerings on board in an effort to enhance the passenger experience.



In United's Polaris cabin, the airline serves a variety of soft drinks, spirits, and beer. The carrier has a partnership with Coca-Cola, which includes Sprite, AHA Sparkling Water, and Minute Maid juices. The airline also serves illy-branded coffee and cold brew, and Twinings teas. Specialty beers include the Kona Big Wave Golden Ale, and Stella Artois. Additional spirits include Bombay Sapphire Gin, Tito's Handmade Vodka, and Aperol Spritz in United Polaris business class.



In May, United announced it would elevate its Polaris cabin even further with a new Polaris Studio that will be 25 percent larger and feature an ottoman seat, a 27-inch, 4K OLED screen, upgraded amenity kits, and elevated dining options like Ossetra caviar. The studio suites will sit in the first row of each business class cabin.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

United isn't alone in elevating its up-in-the-air dining experience. This summer, for example, Fiji Airways introduced an elevated dining on demand service complete with bites like delicate hamachi crudo with octopus and ponzu, and Singapore Airlines puts a lot of thought into choosing the perfect Champagne for its flights.



Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
Tennessee has been experiencing a surge in tourism in recent years. Between the beautiful scenery of the Smoky Mountains, the music-soaked streets of Nashville, the legendary barbeque joints of Memphis, and amusement parks like Dollywood, it's no wonder people are drawn to visit. And for some, it may inspire them to make their stay more permanent. But is it really a good idea to move to Tennessee based on a visit while on vacation?

There are a lot of good reasons to move to Tennessee: No state income-tax, lots of outdoor activities, and culture that's both exciting and rooted in tradition. It's no wonder many people are searching for the best place to live in Tennessee. And this state has options for both those that love small-town charm and the excitement of the big city.

But before you start searching on Zillow and packing up your kitchen, there are some things you need to consider. Vacationing somewhere and living there full-time are two very different experiences, not just for Tennessee, but for any location. When you are just staying for a short vacation, many times you don't get the full experience of living somewhere. What it's like to commute, the cost of groceries, and that first power bill after a hot summer can be a doozy. Not to mention, home sale prices in Nashville have gone up drastically in the last few years  although the pricing increases have slowed somewhat. This is just one example of unexpected costs. And these are only a few of the things you need to take into account before uprooting yourself and moving to Tennessee.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Read more: 16 Celebs Who Bought Epic Homes For Their Parents

What to know before relocating to Tennessee

Person holding a box preparing to move - shisu_ka/Shutterstock

Discovering a new place can be exciting and inspire feelings of belonging  that's the beauty of traveling. But loving a location after visiting isn't the same as becoming part of a community. If you're considering moving, it's important to realize that Tennessee life isn't the same as what you see on vacation. Traffic in places like Nashville or Memphis can be brutal. And if you were considering the country life, understand that rural infrastructure can mean slower internet (if fiber-optic is even available), power outages at random times, and even water that needs to be filtered. That's not even taking into account the extreme summer heat. Last year, Tennessee's summer heat caused bats to seek refuge inside homes. The point is, everyday life comes with challenges you won't notice while strolling through Pigeon Forge.

Another thing you should consider is assimilation. If you fell in love with Tennessee while visiting, chances are it was because of its unique culture, slower pace, and Southern hospitality. That should mean when you move there, it's important to respect those traditions instead of trying to reshape the area to fit what you're used to. The very things that made you fall in love with Tennessee are what locals love  and what newcomers should embrace.

If you truly decide that Tennessee is the right fit for you and your family, you'll want to do some research. Spend an extended time in different regions of the state, research job opportunities, and compare housing costs thoroughly. Tennessee can absolutely be a wonderful place to live, but make sure you're moving for the right reasons.

Enjoyed this article? Get expert home tips, DIY guides, and design inspiration by signing up to the House Digest newsletter!

Read the original article on House Digest.
Sep. 28Two people riding an all-terrain vehicle in the Northwest Alaska community of Brevig Mission died when it crashed early Saturday, Alaska State Troopers said.

Brevig Mission residents Tommy Iyapana, 29, and Maude Adam, 25  the ATV's two occupants  were killed in the crash, troopers said in an online update.

Troopers said they received a report of the single-vehicle ATV crash just before 1:30 a.m. Saturday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The agency is responding by boat to Brevig Mission, located on the Seward Peninsula around 60 miles northwest of Nome, to further investigate the crash, Alaska State Troopers said.

Iyapana and Adam's next of kin were notified, and the State Medical Examiner Office will conduct an autopsy, according to troopers.
Thai Union Group said a bid by Japanese conglomerate Mitsubishi Corp. to increase its stake in the seafood giant has hit a roadblock.

The offer by Mitsubishi to raise its interest in Thai Union to 20% - reported in August - fell short of the minimum acceptance condition, according to the seafood company.

In a filing with the Stock Exchange of Thailand today (29 September), Thai Union said it had been informed by Mitsubishi that the offer lapsed because the number of shares tendered by shareholders during the offer period did not reach the required threshold.

It will therefore be "deemed automatically cancelled", Thai Union said.

The offer period ran for 15 business days until Friday, 26 September.

In August, the Japanese major announced a tie-up with Thai Union, along with plans to increase its shareholding.

Mitsubishi, which first invested in Thai Union in 1991, was seeking to acquire a further 13.81% of Thai Unions shares, boosting its stake from 6.19% to 20%.

At the time, Mitsubishi said the demand for seafood continues to rise, driven by population growth and shifting consumer preferences in line with economic development.

Under the stated conditions, the offer would have only proceeded if at least 532.2 million shares were tendered, equivalent to 11.95% of Thai Unions total issued shares including treasury shares, or 13.81% excluding treasury shares, according to today's filing.

Mitsubishi had sought to acquire the additional stake for Bt6.65bn ($205m).

Thai Union noted that shareholders who had tendered shares will have them returned in line with the procedures in the offer document.

No shares will be purchased by Mitsubishi under the cancelled offer, and no payments will be made to those shareholders.

Mitsubishis stake in Thai Union remains at 238.7 million shares, representing 5.36% of total issued shares including treasury shares, or 6.19% excluding treasury shares.

Thai Union stated that the lapse of the offer will not affect its business plans or operations.

It added that the long-standing collaboration between the two companies will continue.

The company said the offeror remains committed to the strategic partnership and will keep exploring growth opportunities and further collaboration through its existing shareholding.

Thai Union has a presence in tuna through a number of its brands, including John West and Sealect.

Tuna specifically stands out for its widespread appeal across both developed and emerging markets, Mitsubishi said in August.

The move follows on from Mitsubishis sale of UK seafood major Princes to Newlat Food for 700m (then $893.6m). Mitsubishi acquired Liverpool-based Princes in 1989.
Three people were killed and at least five more suffered injuries in a mass shooting in Southport, North Carolina, on Saturday night, authorities said.

Authorities quickly arrested a person of interest, Nigel Max Edge, a resident of the nearby town of Oak Island, according to police in the town and in Southport. At a news conference Sunday morning, Southport Police Chief Todd Coring said their investigation so far suggests the shooting was "highly premeditated."

From a boat that he briefly parked outside of the American Fish Company, a waterfront bar and restaurant along the Cape Fear River, the shooter opened fire at around 9:30 p.m. ET Saturday into a crowd of patrons at the Southport establishment, according to city officials. He proceeded to flee the scene by boat and headed toward Oak Island, where U.S. Coast Guard crews found and detained him, Coring said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Edge was loading a boat at a public boat ramp in Oak Island at the time of his arrest, said Brunswick County District Attorney Jon David, citing a Coast Guard report. He was held in custody overnight by the Oak Island Police Department and turned over to Southport Police, said Coring. Edge faces numerous charges, including three counts of first-degree murder, five counts of first-degree attempted murder, and five counts of assault with a deadly weapon and intent to kill, according to the police chief.

North Carolina's state Bureau of Investigation is assisting Southport police with an ongoing probe, Southport officials said. They do not believe there is any lingering threat to the public in the aftermath of that arrest.

Authorities have not identified by name any of the patrons who were shot. They are expected to provide an update on their investigation at a news conference Sunday morning.

After Charlie Kirk assassination, Utah Gov. Cox urges U.S. away from division, violence

Government shutdown likely, CBS News' Robert Costa says after conversation with Trump

Why crickets are as good as a thermometer
Lebanon city officials released the names of four deceased victims, two of whom were children and one a teen, from the Sept. 28 Church Street duplex fire.

The Lebanon County Coroner's Office confirmed Sept. 29 that Lebanon residents Jaeden Nunez, 17, and Josefina Estevez, 73, were found dead after the fire in their home on Sunday. Amarri Morris Rodriguez, 1, was visiting from New York, while 4-year-old Lebanon resident Veyda Pereyra was also visiting on Sunday.

Officials said that Rodriguez and Estevez were pronounced at the scene, while Pereyra and Nunez were pronounced at the WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The cause and manner of death for the victims were still pending as of Monday afternoon. The coronor's office said Nunez and Estevez will not be recieving an autopsy, while the others are still pending as of Monday morning.

Lebanon city officials report four victims, two of whom were children and one a teen, were found dead after crews battled a duplex fire that affected another six residents Sept. 28.

The fire originated from an electrical outlet in the first-floor living room and has been ruled accidental in nature, according to Lebanon Mayor Sherry Capello. There were 10 individuals inside the residence during the time of the fire; several of the residents were guests visiting for a birthday celebration.

The Lebanon Fire Department was dispatched at 8:43 a.m. Sept. 28 for a multiple dwelling fire with entrapment. Upon arrival, crews noticed that both the first and second floors of the residence were fully engulfed with flames.

Fire crews worked to knock down the flames and began to search for the residents entrapped in the residence. Officials said crews located three individuals and transported them to WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Three more residents exited the duplex at the time of dispatch on their own before the fire department arrived, according to Sweitzer. Officials said that conditions began to deteriorate and crews were forced to withdraw.

"We had to pull back from the building due to fire conditions becoming very uninhabitable for us," Lebanon Fire Chief Aaron "A.J." Sweitzer said on Sept. 28. "We pulled out, and then we applied matching streams to the structure for about 15 (to) 20 minutes until we regained control of the situation. Then we went back in there and did more fire suppression, and searched for two more possible victims."

Capello said another resident, who was not involved with the fire, collapsed on the sidewalk during the time of the incident. She was taken to Penn State Health Hershey Medical Center.

"The City of Lebanon is fortunate to have such a courageous and dedicated community of first responders  neighbors who come together without hesitation in moments of greatest need to protect lives and property," the mayor said in a release Sept. 28. "We are also deeply grateful to the friends, family members, and neighbors who provided comfort and support to the victims families during this tragedy."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The American Red Cross and the Salvation Army were on the scene to support the residents.

Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at mtoth@ldnews.com or on X at @DAMattToth.

This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: 4 dead identified by coroner's office after Church St. duplex fire
The ex-Marine accused of shooting into a crowded Southport bar Saturday night, killing three people and injuring five more, was severely wounded while serving in Iraq, struggled with mental illness for decades and carried a bullet in his brain years past his time in war.

Nigel Max Edge waited for his first court appearance Sunday, charged with first-degree murder and multiple other felonies. But he was well known around Southport and Oak Island as a veteran struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder from his service overseas, when his name was Sean DeBevoise.

In 2000, he published an account of his service titled Headshot: Betrayal of a Nation, in which he describes joining the Marines after the Sept. 11 attacks, then serving on one deployment in Haiti and two in Iraq. On the second in 2006, he described being shot three times and taking hits from shrapnel during an ambush in Anbar Province.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Although other explosions occurred, he wrote, the one that hit me crashed into my helmet, causing a traumatic brain injury and paralyzing half my body. ... This wasnt the end of my story. It was only the beginning.

A self-published book from the man now charged with first-degree murder in Southport.

He continues with an account of his recovery back in the United States, waking in Bethesda Military Hospital after the first of several comas.

I was on the verge of madness and was counting uncontrollably to figure out what galaxy or dimension I was in, he wrote. I came in and out of my irrational state, jumbled in my mess of a body.

In his Amazon author biography, DeBevoise said that after his time in a warzone life would never be the same as it once was. Recreating my life after college, I captain a boat and enjoy foundry work. You are your only constant in life. My Dog Dottie is my sidekick in life.

A man carries a large pot of flowers to a memorial outside of the American Fish Company where three people were shot and killed by a man in a boat on the water by the popular nightspot in Southport, N.C. Saturday night.

Southport Police said Sunday that a boat pulled up to the dockside nightspot and a single person inside opened fire, fleeing down the Cape Fear River. Officers said they found Nigel Max Edge, who legally changed his name in 2023, at a public boat launch in Oak Island when they took him into custody.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Police in Oak Island said all officers there knew Edge, who would hang out on their pier.

People gather at the scene at American Fish Company in Southport, N.C. Sunday to remember victims in a shooting at the bar the previous evening. A man in a boat shot from the water, killing three.

Nothing society can relate to

In 2007, the Star-News of Wilmington interviewed Edge, then known as DeBevoise, after his treatment in New Hanover Regional Medical Center.

Only a year earlier, the newspaper wrote, doctors had told him he would never walk. He carried a bullet in his brain, walked with a cane and had a skull that was half plastic. The following years are described as slow recovery.

Im a quiet man and most of the time I think too much, he wrote. I am overlooked a lot and unless Im asked, I normally dont tell. But Im confident, even after being wounded. I dont feel the need to broadcast my grievances. ...

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The problem with surviving war when youre not supposed to is that everything that means anything changes, he wrote later. But only for you. The fact that youre unique now is nothing society can relate to. Im psychologically, biologically and spiritually different than anyone I know because of what happened to me. People doubt me every way possible, including myself on occasion, knowing that I should be dead. However, I am the same person I used to be, deep down.
RICHMOND, Va. (WAVY)  Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares has joined the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and 18 other states in shutting down a national charity fundraising scheme.

According to a release, Kars-R-Us.com, Inc, as well as its operators, claimed to be collecting charitable donations nationwide to go towards the United Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc for low-cost breast cancer screenings. A complaint filed by both Virginia, FTC and 18 other states claims that only 0.28% of the over $45 million raised by Kars went towards breast cancer screenings

The release states that a proposed settlement order would prevent Kars President from participating in future fundraising endeavors, In addition, Kars and its operators would face meaningful restrictions on future fundraising activities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

I am pleased that we were able to stop this deceptive and unlawful charitable solicitation scam, Miyares said. This organization exploited the generosity of thousands of Americans and Virginians who donated in good faith to support cancer patients and screenings. My Office will continue to fight to hold bad actors accountable and protect Virginians from charitable scams.

According to the release, between 2017 and 2022, $34.9 million of the $45.5 million raised on behalf of UBCF went directly towards Kars, its operators and its vendors. Additional funds allegedly went towards UBCFs CEO, leaving just a small portion of the funds raised actually going towards breast cancer screenings.

For more information, click here.

Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
At just 23, Jacob Palmer is already running his own electrical company. He launched the business in 2024 after starting in the field as an apprentice electrician, a career path he embarked on when college turned out not to be for him.

Palmer has no regrets about his decision to forego college and instead establish himself as a tradesman. "I am very happy doing what I am doing now because it has given me the opportunity to work for myself and be independent," he told CBS News.

Experts say the skilled trades  jobs like electricians, plumbers, welders, masons, HVAC technicians and other occupations requiring extensive training and often licensing  are attracting a growing number of young people put off by high tuition costs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

More than 57% of Gen Zers surveyed by Jobber, a software tool for service businesses, cite student loan debt as a concern about going to college, according to the company's annual report on attitudes toward blue-collar jobs.

More recently, signs that artificial intelligence is starting to gobble up the kind of entry-level jobs that once went to young college graduates are also leading young workers to consider the trades. Some 77% of Gen Zers say it's important that their future job is hard to automate, with many pointing to professions like carpenter, plumber, and electrician as occupations they believe are safe from automation. By contrast, they see less security in fields like software development, data analytics, and accounting, according to the survey.

Jacob Palmer, 23, said his company, Palmer Electrical, is on track to generate more than $150,000 in revenue this year. / Credit: Courtesy of Jacob Palmer

"That route is losing some of the stigma," said David Asay, president of Advantage Reline, a trenchless pipe rehabilitation company in Mesa, Arizona. "The perception among that younger group is no longer, 'Oh, you're working construction, you didn't go to school?' It's, 'What a cool skillset. You're making a good career path.'"

Harder path for college grads

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

For decades, many young people shunned the trades, with everyone from economists and career experts to politicians and parents emphasizing the importance of obtaining a college diploma. That conventional wisdom isn't entirely wrong  it's just behind the times.

"The attitude was that jobs in the trades were less than desirable," said Angie Hicks, co-founder of Angi, an online home improvement services guide told CBS News.

But several factors are contributing to a shift in how people are thinking about such occupations. For one, going to college for many Americans often requires going into debt. The average cost of college, including tuition and room and board, now tops $38,000 a year and is approaching $60,000 for private institutions, according to the Education Data Initiative.

Factoring in the added burden of interest on student loans and potential income one foregoes while in school, the total cost of earning a bachelor's degree can exceed $500,000, the research firm has found.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

More recently, economists also point to a jump in unemployment for recent college grads, which some experts say is an early warning sign that AI is taking jobs away from less experienced workers. The jobless rate for 23-to-27-year-old college grads this year now hovers around 4.6%, up from 3.2% for the same demographic in 2019.

Strikingly, non-college-educated workers in the same age range have experienced a much smaller uptick in unemployment, at roughly 0.5%, over the same period, according to an analysis from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

"AI can't go out in the field"

Vinnie Curcie, founder and CEO of OC Solar, a solar installation company in Irvine, California, said the solar energy field differs from other trades in that the work requires time both in the office and in the field. OC Solar offers three main services  solar panel and battery sales, project management and installation services. But he expects AI will soon handle much of the sales and project management sides of the business.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

While prospective employees once tended to have stronger interest in the company's marketing, management or other white-collar roles, more job candidates today are eager for roles in the field.

"More people are interested in the field because they know that's where the job security is," Curcie told CBS News.

Some school districts also report seeing growing student interest in blue-collar careers. Marlo Loria, director of career and technical education and innovative partnerships at Mesa Public Schools in Mesa, Arizona, said more of her students are enrolling in schools' welding, construction and auto shop programs than there is space for.

Asay, of Advantage Reline, added that students with an entrepreneurial bent can also be well-suited for the skilled trades.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"They can take their skills and create their own business, or become a bigger part of our business, outside of being someone with a shovel in a trench," he said.

Palmer said his business generated $90,000 in revenue in its first year and is on track to top $150,000 in 2025, a more than 30% increase  no college degree needed. The other upside to life as an electrician, as he sees it, is the job security.

"I don't feel overly threatened by the growth of AI in my industry. That will be a pretty impressive robot that can do my job one day, if it ever happens," Palmer said.

High school senior Kayden Evans is confident that he'll be shielded from AI if he pursues a carer in the trades. / Credit: Courtesy of Kayden Evans

Kayden Evans, an 18-year-old senior at Mountain View High School in Mesa, Arizona, has his eyes set on a career working with his hands, and to eventually start his own business. Currently an intern at Empire Cat, a company that sells, rents and services heavy equipment and tractors, he plans on going straight from high school into an apprenticeship with the company.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"I wouldn't say I am worried about AI because where I want to grow is as a field technician, and even though it helps, I don't think AI can take that over," he said. "AI can't go out in the field and take apart an engine."

A look at the booming business of Taylor Swift and her brand

Rite Aid closes all stores nationwide

2 children killed, 2 others hurt in shooting near Houston
Gov. Andy Beshear has seemingly concluded that his chances of winning the White House in 2028 are at least as good as his chances of winning the Senate in the forthcoming midterm election. So, he is understandably showing no interest in the Senate. All indications so far point to his running for president. His apparent conclusion makes a lot of sense.

A recent joint op-ed in this newspaper by two great friends of democracy, none other than the legendary Christina Lee Brown and Ambassador Tod Sedgwick, exhorts Beshear to run for Senate, not president. But I beg to differ with the luminary duo.

Their main argument is that Beshear will be effective in confronting Trumpism in the Senate. Of course, he will be. But will he not be helpful to the American values when he, as president, quashes the effects of four years of a corrosive presidency and restores the institutional order, the backbone of democracy?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Letter: Andy Beshear could win McConnell's Senate seat, but he'd be better as president.

A Beshear run for Senate would be overshadowed by Trump

Another powerhouse of intellect and erudition, Marc Murphy, also thinks Beshear should seek the Senate seat, not the Oval Office, writing, The Senate seat is almost certainly his [Beshears] for the taking. Murphy then goes on to state, the White House is almost certainly out of his [Beshears] reach, for many reasons, one of which he says is Beshears much-hyped Red State electoral success that came against two of the weakest opponents imaginable while he carried the most valuable surname in, perhaps, Kentucky history.

Why does Murphy think those factors will help Beshear win the Senate seat but will hamper his presidential bid? If you carry a valuable surname in your state, its value soon goes national, once you effectively (the operative word) declare your national intentions. The key is to hit the ground running.

Let us not ignore that Trump will definitely get involved with the midterm campaigns, not just in Kentucky but in many states, wanting to maintain or increase the number of his supporters in Congress. Considering that the Kentucky voters are in love with Trump, theyll be reluctant to ignore Trumps endorsement of any candidate.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Already, two candidates are vying for Trumps endorsement. Whomever he endorses will almost certainly win. So, why should Beshear place himself in a situation that will be almost totally overshadowed by Trump?

In the presidential election, however, Trumps endorsement of a candidate will have diluted negative effect on Beshears presidential campaign  if one materializes  as all states will be in the picture. As we all know, in the presidential election, it generally comes down to the battleground states. And depending on Beshears strategy, he may win them. My feeling is the voters in those states are upset because of the recent erosion of Americas legendary institutional order.

Opinion: Beshear should be KY's next Democratic senator, not the next president.

Beshear can win the presidency by establishing a powerful brand

The Gov. Andy Beshear and Chef Ed Lee plan a cook off against each other on Thanksgiving at the third day of Bourbon and Beyond on Saturday. Sept 13, 2025

Those who have suggested  through op-eds or letters to the editor  that Beshears senatorial bid will make more sense than his presidential bid are ignoring the power of dreams and a stark possibility: If Beshear loses in his Senate bid, his political capital will diminish to the point that his presidential aspirations may take a severe blow. The antagonists will question the presidential ambitions of someone who lost the senate race in his state.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

But even if Beshear loses his bid for president, he may still be presidential material in 2032. Kamala Harris may run in 2028, too. There was a reason she wrote 107 Days. Ronald Reagan ran for president twice before winning in his 1980 presidential bid.

If Beshear runs for president, and I am almost certain he will and should, he can be a formidable candidate. But it all depends on his campaign strategy. If he basically focuses on collecting campaign funds and spending them, as Harris did in 2024, it wont work.

The way to hit the ground running is first to establish a powerful brand. If the brand speaks for itself, it can even help his party regain control of Congress next year. That will be the way to confront Trumpism not only without sacrificing his presidential ambitions, but giving them a big boost. So, it is crucial he starts the brand-creation work soon. "The power of now" is his for the taking.

Letter: Beshear has the looks and wit of a president. He just needs a good running mate.

We should support making Beshear's presidential dreams come true

With an effective brand, the nomination will be his for the taking. And considering the weak spots of two most probable Republicans to run for president  JD Vance and Marco Rubio  he may win in November 2028.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The reality is that the chances of Beshears success in his presidential bid will depend on the energy he injects into the campaign, and as his two electoral victories show us, he is fully capable of being energetic and focused.

No Democrat should try to talk Beshear out of seizing the opportunity to seek the White House. Clearly, that is his dream. We should support him as he goes about making it come true. Dreams emerge and reside in a dreamers heart and soul. They cannot be manufactured in others thought processes.

Agree or disagree? Submit a letter to the editor.

Siddique Malik is an observer of sociopolitical and international affairs. He has made occasional op-ed contributions to the Courier Journal for the past two decades. Find him @TheSummerOf1787.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: KY Gov Beshear presidential run can work with a strong brand | Opinion




UPDATE: 2:25 p.m., September 28:

The person of interest in the deadly shooting at Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino has been identified as 34-year-old San Antonio native Keyran Jones, officials with the Wilson County Sheriff's Office told KENS 5. He has been charged with two counts of capital murder and five counts of assault with a deadly weapon.

Jones was reportedly apprehended by Texas DPS troopers and Wilson County sheriff's deputies after the troopers attempted a traffic stop at the Circle K in Stockdale at 7:43 a.m. Sunday morning.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"During the course of the pursuit, DPS troopers discharged their firearms in an attempt to stop the suspect's vehicle near the Circle K in Stockdale," Wilson County Sheriff's Office wrote in a Facebook post. "With a partially disabled vehicle the suspect continued to flee as DPS troopers joined by deputies from the Wilson County Sheriff's Office pursued him on SH 123 and then Eastbound onto FM 1347. The suspect was successfully taken into custody in the 10000 block of FM 1347 after a successful PIT maneuver and Taser deployment."

MySA has reached out to Wilson County Sheriff's Office for more information on the arrest.

There are recognizable games over at Kickapoo Lucky Eagle, including themed games related to Wheel of Fortune, The Wizard of Oz, Willie Nelson, and much more. (Sarah Martinez for MySA)





UPDATE: 1:30 p.m. September 28:

One of two people who died in the shooting was identified by an Eagle Pass City official on Sunday afternoon.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Eagle Pass Mayor Aaron Valdez posted on social media that one of the victims in the shooting was Marcus "Mark" Antley. Valdez said Antley was a "beloved community member and retired U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent."

"Mr. Antley dedicated much of his life to public service and law enforcement," Valdez said on Facebook. "He will be remembered not only for his career but also for his generosity, leadership, and the lasting friendships he built throughout Eagle Pass and the region. His passing leaves a deep void in the hearts of many."

The Mayor added prayers remain with the other individual, who has yet to be identified, who died in the shooting, and others who were injured. "We stand united in prayer with their families, asking God to bring healing, strength, and comfort during this painful time," he wrote. "As Mayor, I reaffirm our commitment to support the victims, their families, and our entire community as we grieve together and begin the path toward healing."

UPDATE: 9:01 a.m. September 28:



A person of interest "was apprehended" by the Texas Department of Public Safety, according to a statement from the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"We are heartbroken about the violence that occurred at the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino. Two individuals were killed, and we are aware of five more individuals who have been transferred to medical facilities in Eagle Pass and San Antonio," the statement reads. "There is an ongoing investigation by the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas Police Department, Texas Rangers and FBI. A warrant was issued for a person of interest, who was apprehended by the Texas Department of Public Safety in Wilson County."

Wilson County is about 35 miles east of San Antonio. The statement adds the more information will be released as it becomes available. "We are grateful to the Maverick County Sheriff's Office, Eagle Pass Police Department, U.S. Border Patrol and Texas Department of Public Safety all of whom responded to this terrible incident," the statement reads.

Original story:

Two people have been killed and multiple others have been injured in a mass shooting at a Texas casino popular with San Antonians.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The shooting occurred at the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino just past midnight at 12:30 a.m. on Sunday, September 28. The Eagle Pass casino, near the Texas-Mexico border, was reportedly packed for a raffle event when the shooting started, reports shared.

One person was pronounced dead at the scene and another died en route to a hospital, reports shared. Somewhere between three and four other people were airlifted to hospitals in San Antonio in critical condition.

Police told reporters that the suspected shooter fled in a black Nissan truck and remains on the run. Deputies with the Maverick County Sheriff's Office are searching for the suspect, while Kickapoo Reservation police and Texas Rangers are assisting. As of 12:48 a.m. the Eagle Pass Police Department is instructing everyone to avoid the area.

This is a developing story and MySA will update as more information is received.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"My heart goes out to the victims, their families, and all who have been affected. We are ensuring that those involved are receiving the necessary care and attention," Maverick County Judge Ramsey English Cantu said in a news release. He added, "When is enough, enough? We must come together and put an end to the senseless gun violence that continues to plague our country and society. Maverick County deserves safety, peace, and unity-and we will keep fighting for it."

Eagle Pass Mayor Aaron Valdez said in a statement: "I am deeply saddened by the tragic events that took place early this morning at the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino. The news of one life lost and several others wounded has shaken our community, and I extend my most heartfelt condolences to the family of the victim. To all those injured, we send our prayers for strength, healing, and a full recovery."

Despite being 150 miles away, the Lucky Eagle Casino is the closest legal gambling spot for San Antonio residents. One San Antonio local even won a $1.5 million jackpot there in 2018.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that his country would end the war in the Gaza Strip the hard way if Hamas doesnt agree to and abide by the terms of President Donald Trumps peace deal during a press conference with Trump on Monday.

If Hamas agrees to your plan, Mr. President, the first step will be a modest withdrawal, followed by the release of all our hostages within 72 hours. The next step will be the establishment of an international body charged with fully disarming Hamas and demilitarizing Gaza. I appreciate your willingness to lead the body, Mr. President. I really appreciate it, because you have a lot of things to do, and this is important. And it reflects the confidence that this will give everyone that things will be followed up on all the commitments made. The fact that you are taking this on, I think, helps a lot to make sure that everything flows in the direction that we want, began Netanyahu, adding:

Now, if this international body succeeds, we will have permanently ended the war. Israel will conduct further withdrawals linked to the extent of disarmament and demilitarization, but will remain in the security perimeter for the foreseeable future. I think we should understand that were giving everybody a chance to have this done peacefully. Its something that will achieve all our war objectives without any further bloodshed.

But if Hamas rejects your plan, Mr. President, or if they supposedly accept it and then basically do everything to counter it, then Israel will finish the job by itself. This can be done the easy way, or it can be done the hard way. But it will be done, continued the Israeli leader. We prefer the easy way, but it has to be done. All these goals must be achieved because we didnt fight this horrible fight, sacrifice the finest of our young men, to have Hamas stay in Gaza and threaten us again, and again, and again with these horrific massacres.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Prior to Netanyahus remarks, Trump said, I have a feeling that we will have a positive answer. If not, as you know, Bibi, you would have our full backing to do what you have to do.

Watch above via Fox News.

The post Benjamin Netanyahu Warns That Israel Will Finish the Job the Hard Way If Hamas Rejects Trump Peace Plan first appeared on Mediaite.
NEED TO KNOW

A week into the search for a missing 6-year-old boy, authorities said his "survivability is less than 5%"

Darius Macdougall was last seen walking with family in the Canadian Rockies on Sept. 21

The child has autism, which has informed the tactics officials use in their search

A 6-year-old boy has been missing for more than a week in the Canadian Rockies and officials say his chances of survival are bleak.

As intensive search efforts continue, Corporal Gina Slaney of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said at a press conference on Sunday, Sept. 28, that officers had spoken with the family of Darius Macdougall about adjusting the rescue operation, Global News, CBC News and City News reported.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

With regards to the search, the survivability is less than 5%, Slaney said, noting that theyd considered the terrain, exposure to the elements, and the amount of time that this search has gone on, according to CBC News.

While the rescue operation is not being scaled back, she said that search teams are "approaching things differently."

We are still out there in full force searching, said Slaney, according to the outlet.

On Sept. 21, at 11:33 a.m. local time, authorities received a report of a missing boy, police said in press releases shared with PEOPLE. Macdougall was last seen walking with six family members more than two miles south of Crowsnest Pass near Island Lake Campground.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

He is described as 4 feet tall, with short brown hair, and was last seen wearing a blue-grey hoodie and sweatpants, according to authorities.

Darius has a medical issue which may prevent him from responding to others, officials said in the first press release from Sept. 21. They later confirmed that the child has autism, according to an updated release. Following his disappearance, officers immediately commenced a multi-agency search involving more than 200 people, dogs, drones, infrared cameras and search teams on the ground and in the air.

In another update, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police confirmed that they were in close touch with the family during the stressful search.

We have Victim Family Liaison Officers providing direct support to family members. This is a specially trained unit that focuses on providing a trauma-based / victim-centered approach to managing those who have experienced a major trauma, officials said. This ensures a single point of contact between family and the RCMP, who are focusing on the needs of the family, doing their best to reduce re-traumatization by ensuring they have a voice and are included.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Seven days into the massive search operation, officials shared their concerns. At the Sept. 28 press conference, Adam Kennedy from Search and Rescue Alberta shared how rescue efforts were being adapted because of the boys chances of survival.

Given this unfortunate stage of the search, some tactics will be changed and ground search methods will be adjusted to reflect this, he said, according to Global News. This includes "the use of some of the infrared technologies on the assumption that the infrared technologies wont be picking up any heat signatures on the ground, Kennedy said, according to City News.

Thats the biggest change right now, changing from using the infrared to solely cameras to search the ground," he added.

Authorities explained that factors like the little boys health, weather and terrain were part of the decision-making process, including data from other similar missing persons cases, the outlet reported. Macdougall is verbal, but may not respond to his name, so search teams have avoided loud noises. Instead, theyve played the 6-year-olds favorite song during the search, according to CBC News.

Ramon Cliff/Shutterstock Crowsnest Pass in Alberta, Canada. Crowsnest Pass in Alberta, Canada.

As the search continues, Slaney said that foul play is not currently suspected, according to the outlet.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

In an interview with CBC News, search-and-rescue professional Robert Koester said that children with autism go missing more than one would assume.

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 major challenge with autism is in some cases they're non-responsive, so if you shout their name, they can't call back," he told the outlet. "In other cases, you shout their name and they don't want to call back because they may be afraid."

Anyone with information about the 6-year-olds whereabouts is asked to contact police at 403-562-2866. To submit an anonymous tip, call Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 222-8477, online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the P3 Tips app.

Read the original article on People


The man suspected of ramming his truck into a Mormon church in Michigan before entering, shooting, and killing multiple people has been identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, the New York Post reported on Sunday afternoon.

Sanford is a 40-year-old former Marine who served in the Iraq War from 2004 to 2008, according to posts from his moms Facebook account.

He is a resident of Burton, Michigan, which is about eight miles from Grand Blanc Township, where the attack happened.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Social media accounts believed to be connected to Sanford show hes a family man, with a wife and young son, the Post reported.

Sanford is suspected of crashing his Chevy Silverado into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints while hundreds of people were there for Sunday service. He then opened fire with a semi-automatic rifle, killing two people and injuring at least nine others.

Sources told the Post several improvised explosive devices were found at the church, which a bomb squad is currently investigating. A fire was set at the church, and law enforcement officials believe Sanford started the blaze.

President Donald Trump, shortly after the shooting, said it appears to be yet another targeted attack on Christians in the U.S.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The attack on the LDS church comes a month after the deadly shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis. President Trump has said he wants his second administration to focus more on anti-Christian attacks and bias; here is what he said during a speech at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. earlier this month:

There is a tremendous anti-Christian bias. We dont hear about it. You hear about anti-Semitic, but you dont hear about anti-Christian. They have a strong anti-Christian bias, but were ending that rapidly, I will tell you. Were in a much different world today than we were one year ago.

The post Suspect Identified in Shooting at Mormon Church in Michigan first appeared on Mediaite.
Also in the final, 22-year-old Monster Army rider Dante Silva from San Diego, California, took ninth place with a 2:41.001 finish time. On the strength of this result, Silva claimed second place in overall 2025 Monster Energy Pro Downhill Mountain Bike Series rankings with a score of 203 points.

The podium spots continued in the Pro Men Downhill final, with 31-year-old Troy Brosnan from Adelaide, South Australia, claiming third place and $3,750 in prize money. Blazing down the steep and technical track, Brosnan finished his run in 2:37.723, a mere 1.092 seconds behind the winner.

In Saturday's Pro Women Downhill final, 35-year-old Camille Balanche from Le Locle, Switzerland, claimed second place in an ultra-close race. When all was said and done, the racing icon finished the track in a total time of 3:05.658 for second place and $7,500 in prize money.

From September 24-28, the Fox US Open of Mountain Biking returned to Killington Resort. Contested in partnership with the fifth and final stop of the 2025 Monster Energy Pro Downhill Mountain Bike Series, the event attracted top pros and upcoming amateurs. With one of the largest cash purses in racing and the iconic Killington Bike Park as the venue, the event is a highlight on every racer's annual calendar.

KILLINGTON, Vt., Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A massive weekend for mountain bike racing! Monster Energy congratulates its team riders on claiming victories and podium spots at the annual Fox US Open of Mountain Biking in Killington, Vermont, this weekend.

Monster Army Rider Sara Ligman Takes 1 st Place in Cat 1 Women Junior 17-18 Division and 1 st Place in 2025 Monster Energy Pro Downhill Mountain Bike Series, Monster Army's Mary McLarnon in 3 rd Place at Killington and 2 nd Place Overall

Story Continues

Watch out for Balanche and Brosnan this coming weekend as they compete in the ninth stop of the 2025 UCI Downhill Mountain Bike World Cup in Lake Placid, New York, from October 3-5.

The 2025 Fox US Open of Mountain Biking also provided plenty of opportunity for upcoming amateur riders to shine, and Monster Army athletes earned victories in key races. Leading the charge, 17-year-old Monster Army athlete Ryder Lawrence from Menifee, California, took first place in the Cat 1 Men Junior 17-18 Division. With a finish time of 2:44.794, Lawrence put down an unbeatable performance.

This marks the third victory of the season for Lawrence and puts him in first place in overall 2025 Monster Energy Pro Downhill Mountain Bike Series rankings in the Cat 1 Men Junior 17-18 Division with 240 points. He is also the reigning 2025 USA Cycling National Champion in Dual Slalom.

Lawrence was joined on the podium in Killington by 17-year-old Monster Army rider Luke Mallen from Sandy, Utah in third place with a finish time of 2:48.456.

The team's victory run extended into the Cat 1 Women Junior 17-18 Division with 17-year-old Monster Army athlete Sara Ligman claiming first place. A total time of 3:18.675 secured the win for Ligman and also first place in the 2025 Monster Energy Pro Downhill Mountain Bike Series with 230 points.

Ligman shared the podium at Killington with 17-year-old Mary McLarnon from Steamboat Springs, Colorado, taking third place with a finish time of 3:21.068. McLarnon won the second tour stop in Mountain Creek and finished the 2025 Monster Energy Pro Downhill Mountain Bike Series in second place with 223 points.

On Sunday, the Cat 1 Women Junior 15-16 Division downhill race concluded with Monster Army rider Jade Savage from claimed third place with a finish time of 3:21.544. Savage finished her season in second place with 217 points total.

Also rising to the top five, 16-year-old Ainsley Wolf from Colorado took fourth place by posting a finish time of 3:23.997. After already winning the season's first race at Ride Rock Creek and race number two at Mountain Creek, today's finish earns Wolf the overall win in the 2025 Monster Energy Pro Downhill Mountain Bike Series in her division with 228 points on the roster.

The Cat 1 Men Junior 15-16 Division final saw 15-year-old Monster Army rider Tyler Wagoner from Canyon Lake, California, take third place with a total time of 2:46.810. He finished his season in fourth place overall with 178 points. Wagoner is also the reigning U.S. Champion in Downhill Mountain Bike racing in the Junior Men 15-16 Division.

Also in the Cat 1 Men Junior 15-16 Division, 15-year-old Monster Army rider Carson Morgan claimed fourth place with a finish time of 2:48.477. Morgan ended his season in third place in rankings with 184 points.

Rounding out an action-packed weekend, 14-year-old Monster Army recruit Payton Lee finished in fifth place in the Cat 1 Girls 13-14 Division with a total time of 3:49.071. Lee finished her season in third place with a total score of 168 points in overall rankings.

For more on Camille Balanche, Troy Brosnan, Ryder Lawrence, Jade Savage, Sara Ligman, Ainsley Wolf, Tyler Wagoner, Jade Savage, Dante Silva, Mary McLarnon, Luke Mallen, Carson Morgan, Payton Lee, and our team of mountain bike athletes, visit www.monsterenergy.com. Also make sure to follow Monster Energy on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok.

For interview or photo requests, contact Kim Dresser.

About Monster Energy

Based in Corona, California, Monster Energy is the leading marketer of energy drinks and alternative beverages. Refusing to acknowledge the traditional, Monster Energy supports the scene and sport. Whether motocross, off-road, NASCAR, MMA, BMX, surf, snowboard, ski, skateboard, or the rock and roll lifestyle, Monster Energy is a brand that believes in authenticity and the core of what its sports, athletes, and musicians represent. More than a drink, it's the way of life lived by athletes, bands, believers, and fans. See more about Monster Energy including all of its drinks at www.monsterenergy.com .

CONTACT: Kim Dresser C: (949) 300-5546 E: kim.dresser@indiepragency.com

Monster Energy Pro Downhill (PRNewsfoto/Monster Energy)

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/monster-energys-camille-balanche-takes-second-place-in-pro-women-downhill-mountain-bike-at-fox-us-open-of-mountain-biking-in-killington-302569220.html
Bucee's has bought the site of its future Oak Creek store for $7.5 million.

The Texas-based company, known for operating huge convenience stores/gas stations, purchased 27.5 acres at 10700, 10820 and 10840 S. 27th St., according to a deed posted online by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.

The site was sold by Green Land Investors LLP, led by retired restaurant operator Hans Weissgerber Jr. and Richard Bertrand, according to the deed posted on Sept. 29. The parcel is south of West Elm Road and west of Interstate 94.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The Oak Creek Plan Commission on Sept. 23 granted final approval for the Buc-ees travel center. It will be the first Wisconsin location for the chain.

The development will feature a 73,370-square-foot convenience store, 120 fueling stations and 20 electric vehicle chargers. Buc-ees has said the Oak Creek store could open in early 2027.

Tom Daykin can be emailed at tdaykin@jrn.com and followed on Instagram, Bluesky, X and Facebook.

Subscribe to get the BusinessWatch email newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Buc-ee's buys Oak Creek site for $7.5 million. Store to open in 2027




Texas and the U.S. are both on high alert over the presence of the new world screwworm, the flesh-eating fly that has historically caused havoc on the nation's cattle supply. Days after a case of the screwworm was confirmed just 70 miles from the Texas-Mexico border, the state is launching a new strategy in the attempt to ensure the fly won't cross into the U.S.

State Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller announced Friday that his Department of Agriculture will be setting up traps along the Texas-Mexico border to catch flies. There will be red delta traps, black delta traps and black PVC traps-in other words, household-style traps-placed alongside several areas including west of Laredo to Brownsville.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Traps will also be placed at Department of Agriculture export pens in Brownsville, Del Rio, El Paso, Laredo and Houston. Plus in areas near and in Galveston and Corpus Christi.

Miller announced the traps will be monitored and inspected weekly.

'The New World screwworm poses a serious threat to Texas livestock and rural communities," Miller said. "We are taking proactive steps to monitor, detect, and stop this parasite before it harms Texas agriculture. Our farmers, ranchers, and consumers depend on us being ready, and we will be."

Cochliomyia hominivorax, the New World screw-worm fly, or screw-worm for short, is a species of parasitic fly that is well known for the way in which its larvae (maggots) eat the living tissue. (Dinar Bud/Getty Images)





This is one of several strategies both Texas and the U.S. are employing to stop the flesh-eating fly from crossing the border and causing a deadly pandemic among cattle. The U.S Department of Agriculture announced in August it would spend $750 million to construct a facility in Edinburg, about 20 miles north of the border, to produce sterile flies that would combat the spread of the species. Also, the USDA will invest up to $100 million in technologies and innovations aimed at accelerating the pace of sterile fly production.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The New World screwworm isn't yet in the U.S., but it has been slowly moving north from Central America in recent months. The screwworm-which lays eggs into the openings of living mammals and creates a flesh-eating cycle-hadn't been a threat to U.S. cattle for decades. It was a plague for ranchers between the 1930s and '80s, costing about $200 million per year in livestock loss by the 1950s. But a technique to sterilize the flies arrived in the U.S. in 1955, and within a little more than a decade the parasites were eradicated from the country.

More News

Education | Texas A&M suspends fraternity amid hazing reports

Mystery | Houstonians fear a serial killer is dumping bodies in a bayou

Business | AI megaproject launches in Texas

Politics | District Clerk lays off employees-then votes herself $81K raise



For the latest and best from Chron, sign up for our daily newsletter here.
(COLORADO)  The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) reported that it has issued 41 Senior Alerts on behalf of elderly people who went missing in only 8 months since the beginning of 2025. The agency announced that nearly $90,000 in state grant funding is available to support local governments in finding missing persons.

According to CBI, the number of missing senior alerts is more than all of the Medina, endangered missing, and AMBER Alerts combined.

The grant program, which is supported by CBI, provides funding to assist local governments in locating people with medical conditions such as Alzheimers Disease and related dementias, autism, brain injury, or developmental, cognitive, neurological, or chromosomal disorders. It encourages law enforcement and local government to establish recovery programs and provide tools that will increase the chances of saving lives.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

After three successful years, the CBI is pleased to announce another cycle of funding under the Persons Who Wander Grant Program. The Bureau recognizes the continued need for recovery resources to assist families with members who wander due to medical or cognitive issues, said CBI Director Armando Saldate.

Previous awards have funded resources such as drones, drone pilot training, thermal imagers for remote searches, and wearable tracking technology.

This program has provided resources for Colorado communities to obtain equipment, training, and valuable community outreach. We believe these efforts have and will continue to make a significant impact on recovery programs, particularly in our smaller or more rural communities, said Saldate.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
Sumner County Schools is honoring conservative political influencer Charlie Kirk after board members recently passing a resolution to declare Oct. 14, Kirk's birthday, as the Charlie Kirk Day of Peaceful Discourse.

Sumner County Commissioner Jeremy Mansfield has also suggested changing the name of a road next to Liberty Creek High School to Charlie Kirk Way to further honor the political influencer.

While Mansfield says he has received positive feedback about the resolution for Charlie Kirk Day, some have taken to his social media post to question the decision to honor Kirk.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Gallatin resident Leann Smith posted a response Sept. 25, asking "what does Charlie Kirk have to do with Sumner County," while another poster said they may "have a sick day."

Charlie Kirk's Middle Tennessee legacy

While Charlie Kirk Day drew the ire of some local residents, others seemed to be on board with the resolution. One poster said, "this is amazing," while another insisted that neighboring Robertson County needed to be next.

The Sumner County Board of Education passed its resolution without public input.

School board member Andy Lacy, who said during the board's Sept. 23 meeting that he drafted the resolution, called Kirk a "great man" and "incredible person."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"His life was taken way too soon," Lacy said.

A request seeking additional comment from Lacy on his resolution was not immediately returned.

Kirk, 31, was fatally shot during a visit at Utah Valley University during his "The American Comeback tour" with Turning Point USA.

Kirk had limited ties to Middle Tennessee; some were controversial, including his response to the Covenant School shooting in March 2023, when three children and three faculty members were killed.

In the wake of the school shooting, Kirk made comments saying gun violence is necessary to keep the Second Amendment so that one can defend themselves against a tyrannical government.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"I think it's worth it," Kirk said, responding to a question about a recent shooting at a Turning Point USA Faith event April 5, 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah. "I think it's worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights."

Before his death, Kirk was scheduled to appear in Murfreesboro at World Outreach Church's Culture & Christianity Conference Sept. 19-20.

'Have we ever done anything like this'

Board member Meghan Breining shared concerns about moving too quickly to honor Kirk.

"It is always evil and wrong when someone is murdered, particularly for their words," Breining said over the phone. "But I'm curious, just from a historical perspective, having not been on the board very long, have we ever done anything like this in the past, to honor someone's life who was cut short? Just at all. Ever?"

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

While no specific answer was given, the district said resolutions honoring Sumner County residents have been previously passed.

Lacy responded to Breining, saying Kirk was "not just someone" and called the political influencer a martyr for his faith.

"He was a very popular political figure. If it wasn't for him, we wouldn't have the president (Donald Trump) we have now in the White House," Lacy said. "He was just an absolutely amazing human being that loved everybody."

While Lacy said anyone's murder is unfortunate, he called Kirk's slaying "extraordinary."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Board member Steven King said Kirk's political assassination was the first in 50 years, according to a political pundit.

On June 14, Minnesota Democrat Rep. Melissa Hortman, her husband Mark and their golden retriever were all fatally shot in their home in what officials called a political assassination.

"There's been school shootings and things like that but this was a political assassination," King said.

Minutes later, as the board was discussing the resolution, King said he would be willing to do a resolution or proclamation honoring school shooting victims.

As the resolution was discussed, King suggested the board read the resolution to the public in attendance. The public was not allowed to ask questions or make comments on the resolution.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Board member Wade Evans asked how the district should instruct its teachers to provide answers to parents and students when asked about the day. He also suggested removing a portion of an amended resolution to have the day celebrated each year on Oct. 14 and instead have the resolution say Oct. 14, 2025, as state and local officials consider legislation on the day moving forward.

King said other districts have said in their resolutions the day would receive grade-level appropriate instruction of these "unalienable rights and core values of American life" on the first amendment.

Vice chair Tammy Hayes likened Kirk's shooting to Martin Luther King Jr.'s slaying and said each year on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, teachers recognize King's assassination in the regular curriculum.

Breining said the board pushed the resolution through so fast members of the community were not able to weigh in on the decision to honor Kirk.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"I think if we honor the (Oct.) 14 that's coming up and then choose to be deliberate and intentional and hear from our constituents on what we want to do moving forward, I think that gives them an opportunity to speak. I think it gives them an opportunity to be heard, to participate in the conversation around free speech and political violence and how our students and teachers want to be represented," Breining said.

Her suggestion failed to gain traction.

Board member Andy Daniels said one of the problems in society today is the lack of civil discourse, acknowledging the board has had contentious and personal debates in recent years.

Daniels said he believes that the lack of discourse trickles down from parents to children.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"I think that we, as a board, should use this as an opportunity to promote the ideals of what it means to represent the community, to disagree civilly with each other and to respect each other's views, regardless of whether we believe in them or not," Daniels said.

After about 30 minutes of discussion, the motion passed unanimously.

How else could Sumner County honor Charlie Kirk

Mansfield said renaming Wolfpack Way to Charlie Kirk Way was a suggestion to honor the conservative influencer.

"I think it will be a homage, I know that'll be happening all over the nation," Mansfield said during the Sept. 15 commission meeting. "I just wanted to throw that out there that I think it will be a great idea.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

In an emailed statement to The Tennessean on Sept. 25, Mansfield said there is no proposal, no motion and no plan before the commission to rename the road.

"My intent was to honor Charlie Kirk at Liberty Creek because of his lifelong work for liberty, faith, and free speech, and because the site itself carries deep ties to Revolutionary War hero Colonel Jonathan Latimer. Connecting Liberty Creek with both a patriot of the Revolution and a modern defender of freedom would remind future generations of the importance of conviction, courage, and America's founding principles," the statement read.

Mansfield also noted there is community support to rename another road after Kirk in the county. He did not specify which road or how many people are in support of the decision.

Liberty Creek High School Principal Phillip Holt does not share the same enthusiasm as Mansfield when it comes to renaming Wolfpack Way.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

In a letter sent to parents, Holt asked them to voice their opinion about a possible road name change.

"I respectfully request that the Commission reconsider this proposal and seek a different road to honor Charlie Kirk, with input from Sumner County citizens," Holt said. He continued, saying Wolfpack Way is more than a road name tied to the school's mascot. He said the Wolfpack Way is a set of principles that defines the school, uniting students, staff and families.

"Liberty Creek started from scratch, with no history, traditions, or pre-existing community. Wolfpack Way has become a symbol of our identity and pride, representing the community weve built together," Holt said.

Reach reporter Craig Shoup by email at cshoup@gannett.com and on X @Craig_Shoup. To support his work, sign up for a digital subscription to www.tennessean.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Sumner County officials OK Charlie Kirk Day, consider Charlie Kirk Way
In a public letter, the rabbis argued that "you shall take great care of yourselves" is not just a verse from the Torah, but a halachic and moral obligation.

Rabbi David Yosef, the Rishon LeZion Chief Rabbi of Israel and President of the Great Rabbinical Court, and Rabbi Kalman Bar, President of the Council of the Chief Rabbinate, published a public letter on Sunday evening calling on the public to get vaccinated against the measles.

The letter comes following the death of four infants whocontracted measles in the past week.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

In the letter, the rabbis emphasized that "the recent spread of measles poses a real danger to children and adults, especially among those who are not vaccinated or have weakened immune systems."

"Everyone has a duty to prevent diseases before they appear," read the letter, "and vaccination is the most effective and safest means of prevention."

A halachic obligation

The rabbis alluded to Jewish law, arguing that "you shall take great care of yourselves" is not just a verse from the Torah, but ahalachic and moral obligation.

Rabbi Kalman Ber attends the second round in the elections of for the new Chief Ashkenazi rabbi, at the Chief Rabbinate headquarters in Jerusalem, October 31, 2024. (credit: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

They pointed out that every person has the responsibility to maintain their health, both in treatment during illness and also in preventative measures such as vaccinations.

"Questions concerning human health are part of the mitzvah to preserve life and the integrity of the body," they concluded.
Chile has held seven nationwide ballots in the six years since large-scale protests rocked the countrys political system in 2019: two rounds of the general election in 2021 and five votes related to two failed attempts to rewrite the countrys constitution. Counting the 2024 municipal elections, that will make the presidential and legislative elections scheduled for Nov. 16 and the second round of the presidential election on Dec. 14 the ninth and tenth times Chileans will have gone to the polls since the country so loudly demanded that its political system be changed. And yet, no clear direction for change has emerged, nor is one likely to this time.

The protests in October 2019 began with students jumping over subway turnstile gates in Santiago, the capital, to protest a minor increase in fares, prompting police to intervene and stop them. The escalation from there was surprisingly rapid. Within days, the protests had turned into massive, largely peaceful demonstrations across the country, though some violent and destructive protesters caused over $200 million of damage to property and other infrastructure. Police and military personnel used excessive force against peaceful protesters, at times aiming at their eyes to blind them. This angered a large majority of Chiles population, driving even more people into the streets. At the peak of what was dubbed the estallido, or explosion, over 1 million Chileans5 percent of the population of 20 millionjoined the protests, and polling demonstrated that the majority of the country supported the movement.

The protests did not subside until then-President Sebastian Pinera agreed to hold a referendum over whether to rewrite the countrys constitution, which dated back to the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet and was associated with that dark chapter of Chiles past. In addition, the constitution was seen as codifying a system that, although it had delivered long-term macroeconomic stability, making Chile an outlier in the region, came at the cost of stark inequalities in wealth and opportunity.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

In October 2020, when the referendum was held, nearly 80 percent of voters chose to rewrite the constitution. Then in May 2021, in elections to determine who would draft the new constitution, the Chilean electorate chose a Constitutional Convention dominated by left-wing and independent candidates. The combined delegation of Chiles right-wing parties did not even reach the one-third threshold needed to veto proposals under the conventions rules.

To get more in-depth news and expert analysis on global affairs from WPR, sign up for our free Daily Review newsletter.

In November 2021, while that constitutional rewrite was underway, Chile held presidential and legislative elections that delivered a hung Congress, whose mix of left, center and right-wing parties provided no clear majority. But while the divided congressional result would seem to indicate an electorate eager for moderation, the two candidates who moved to the second round of the presidential election were from the left and right ends of Chiles political spectrum. In the runoff the following month, the left-wing candidate, Gabriel Boric, defeated his far-right rival, Jose Antonio Kast, by over 10 points, in what was also a rebuke to the outgoing conservative Pinera government. After taking office, however, Borics approval ratings swiftly fell and have remained under 40 percent for almost his entire term.

Chileans want change in general but have rejected attempts to implement change once they have been presented with specific proposals.

In September 2022, in a referendum on the new constitution produced by the convention, nearly 65 percent of voters rejected the document, which was seen as too left-leaning for the countrys moderate electorate. So, in May 2023, Chileans went back to the polls to elect a new constituent assembly to rewrite the constitution again. This time, however, right-wing candidates won nearly 55 percent of the vote and well over 60 percent of the seats, allowing them to control the process in what was now called the Constitutional Council. But once again, Chileans didnt like the draft they put together, this time because it was seen as too far to the right, with 56 percent rejecting that proposed constitution when it was put to a vote in December 2023.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

To review, across eight elections in six years, voters have chosen candidates for president, Congress and constitutional rewrites, then disapproved of the outcomes produced by those choices almost immediately. The failure of both constitutional initiatives in particular, in which 80 percent of Chileans demanded a new constitution only to reject both drafts they were presented with, revealed that the electorate is more moderate than the political elites who have dominated debates in recent years.

But that moderation has not translated into support for centrist political alternatives in regular elections. To the contrary, Chilean voters have consistently gravitated toward more extreme candidates who promise dramatic departures from the status quo, whether in progressive or conservative directions, only to object to the policies these candidates advance once in office. In short, Chileans want change in general but have rejected attempts to implement change once they have been presented with specific proposals.

That confounding voter behavior is the dilemma facing the political parties and candidates in this years election. Boric cannot run for consecutive re-election, but his unpopularity makes it a change election in the sense that most voters want something different. And the campaign has already seen one surprise: In the leftist coalitions primary vote, the governments preferred candidateformer Interior Minister Carolina Toha, from the moderate center-left wing of Borics coalitionwas defeated by the Communist Party candidate, Jeannette Jara. Meanwhile, Kast, who is once again running as the standard bearer on the far right, is now polling in second place behind Jara, leaving the centrist conservative and onetime frontrunner, Evelyn Matthei, stuck in third.

That means the candidates from the more extreme edges of the ideological spectrum are once again the favorites to move on to the runoff. Meanwhile, two candidates who represent an even greater rejection of the political systemthe libertarian Johannes Kaiser, who portrays himself as a Chilean version of Argentine President Javier Milei, and Franco Parisi, the eclectic third-place finisher in 2021 who doesnt easily fit into any political bucketcontinue to hover at around 10 percent in the polls, threatening a late surge. The fact that this will be the first presidential election with obligatory voting also confounds the polls. While only about half of voters participated in 2021, well over 80 percent are likely to participate in this years election.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

While its too early to say exactly who will win, the pattern so far means the result will likely fit the narrative of the past six years: Congress will end up with a mix of parties that balance toward a centrist coalition, while the presidential race will likely polarize the country. The winner will be the candidate that voters determine is the least bad option for shaking things up. But many of those same voters will quickly sour on the new president, as has happened in Chile and in many other countries throughout the hemisphere in recent years. This will give the new government only a minimal mandate to deliver the change that voters nevertheless demand.

Despite this daunting Catch-22, everything in Chile could turn out fine. Boric, after all, was not as radical as his opponents feared. While Kast and Jara are portrayed as extremists by their opponents, both have moved closer to the political mainstream to win voters, and both would be further moderated by checks from Congress and the courts if elected as president.

However, the memory of the incredibly disruptive protests of 2019 continues to haunt the investors that Chile needs to further develop its economic growth model as well as the analysts who try to make sense of the countrys politics. That anger and the burning desire for change it reflects still bubbles beneath the surface, even if Chileans have struggled to define the change they want in electoral terms.

James Bosworth is the founder of Hxagon, a firm that does political risk analysis and bespoke research in emerging and frontier markets. He has two decades of experience analyzing politics, economics and security in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The post Chile Gears Up for Yet Another Change Election appeared first on World Politics Review.
CLAIBORNE PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  Omega Reed Matthews, a native of Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, is set to celebrate a momentous occasion, her 100th birthday.

Omega Reed Matthews Claiborne Parish Centenarian

Her granddaughter, Christina Matthews-Saunders, shares with us the details of her grandmothers full century on this Earth and her connection to early Claiborne settlers.

Omega Reed was born to Judge and Sudie Reed in Haynesville, Louisiana, on September 27, 1925.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Her family says Matthews is the youngest of twelve and the last surviving great-grandchild of Lemiah Christopher Columbus Adkins a Claiborne farm owner and a slave named Mariah.

Lemiah Christopher Columbus Adkins swapped room and board for artwork of Hungry traveler

She is also the last surviving grandchild of slaves Elijah Adkins Reed and Amanda Reed.

Her grandfather, Elijah, told his children and grandchildren how the Adkins family and their slaves came to settle in Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, around 1852, after one of the ox-driven wagons they were traveling in broke down on the way from Georgia to Texas.

Omegas Paternal Grandparents Elijah Adkins Reed & Amanda (Whitt) Reed

Matthewss grandparents were only in their early twenties when slavery was abolished.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

She says, My father was a member of a Caucasian familyand he always taught us to treat others as you wish them to treat you. He taught us to love our family.

A key lesson from her parents she has continued to carry throughout her life.

Omega Reeds Parents Judge & Sudie Reed

When her father died in 1944, Matthewss siblings relocated the then nineteen-year-old to Los Angeles, California.

When asked what it was like moving from the family-owned farm in Homer, Louisiana, to the city of Los Angeles, Matthews says the decision was based on survival, Well, it wasnt easy, right? But I knew that I couldnt stay there by myself. I wasnt old enough, and I needed the assistance of my elder siblings.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

With every challenge that came her way, Matthews always rose to the occasion, adjusting to life in the big city with grace and determination. I didnt want to be a burden on [siblings]. I was always a little independent, maybe a little too independent, but I wanted to earn my own way, she explained.

Matthewss search for independence led her to become an inspector for an aircraft parts manufacturer. This was something many of her descendants were unaware of until nearly twenty years ago.

I remember several of us being in shock reading the program created for her 80th birthday celebration. We had no idea that Grandma had ever worked outside of the home, her granddaughter, Christina Matthews, shared. It was not until I decided to update her bio and saw the program again after all of these years that I realized the significance of her job. Grandma youre a living Rosie the Riveter, and you never told us, I said.

The remarks come as a reminder of the time period.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Christina says that when she asked Matthews if she knew how amazing what she had done to help the country during World War II was, her answer was well, no. Matthews states, I was just doing what I thought was right and needed to be done at the time.

Like a lot of women during the 1940s and 50s, Matthewss time in the workforce was relatively short.

After traveling from Los Angeles to Dayton, Ohio, to assist her sister Amanda with her young children for what was intended to be a short-term stay, she met and married Herbert Matthews Sr. in 1947.

Omega & Herberts Wedding Day, February 27, 1947

Her family says while being a wife and mother, Matthews continued to be a beacon in the Dayton community.

Omega & Herbert Matthews with Eldest 4 Children 1957

From attending PTA meetings to opening her home to family and friends, to serving as pianist and organist at her church to her work as a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, she has impacted many lives.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

As for the secret to living long enough to become a centenarian, Matthews says, God does that. We do what we know we should do and then let go and let God.

Taking the lead on family reunions for over six decades and establishing block parties in her Edgemont community, her family plans to surprise her with her very own block party to celebrate her milestone birthday.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com.
Annie Cioffi drops off a ballot outside the Denver Elections Division office on June 25, 2024, primary Election Day. (Quentin Young/Colorado Newsline)

Colorado voters will be asked this fall to weigh in on two ballot measures concerning the states free school meals program, the only statewide contests in the 2025 off-year election.

Election 2025

Coloradans are voting on two statewide ballot measures and a variety of local issues in the off-year election. Click here for more of Newslines coverage.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Propositions LL and MM were referred to the ballot by the Colorado General Assembly earlier this year. Together, they aim to shore up funding for the Healthy School Meals For All program, which was authorized by Colorado voters in 2022 but has exceeded cost projections in its first years of operation.

Without additional funding, program administrators have said they will have to take steps to restrict eligibility to only low-income students and schools. Additional efforts to purchase locally-grown produce, increase wages for cafeteria workers and offset federal food stamp cuts would also go without funding.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

Keep Kids Fed Colorado, an issue committee registered in support of Propositions LL and MM, has reported $152,000 in contributions, mostly from the nonprofit Hunger Free Colorado. The campaign touts a long list of endorsements from organizations including Childrens Hospital Colorado, Great Education Colorado, Mi Familia Vota, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union and Save the Children Action Network.

Proposition LL

Three years ago, Colorado voters approved a ballot measure to create the school meals program, which provides free breakfast and lunch to all students regardless of their familys income level. It was funded by limiting income tax deductions for filers earning over $300,000 per year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The programs funding mechanism raised more than expected in the 2023-2024 fiscal year. Proposition LL would allow the state to keep the $12.4 million in excess revenue that would otherwise be returned to voters under the 1992 state constitutional amendment known as the Taxpayers Bill of Rights.

That money has already been collected by the state. If Proposition LL is approved, the state would keep it and spend it on the school meals program.

If Proposition LL is rejected, the money would be refunded to Colorado households making at least $300,000 a year. Roughly 200,000 filers in Colorado, representing the richest 6% of households, would receive an average refund of $62.

Proposition MM

While Healthy School Meals For All initially raised more revenue than projected, the programs costs also exceeded projections, resulting in a budget gap that rose to roughly $50 million this year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Proposition MM aims to permanently fund the full program by further limiting tax deductions for filers earning over $300,000 a year, raising an additional $95 million annually for the program. Households in that high-income category would pay an average of $486 more in income taxes yearly, according to nonpartisan state fiscal analysts.

The programs budget gap has led to delays in implementing two supplementary programs that were also included in the 2022 ballot measure: grants for purchasing locally grown food from Colorado farmers and increased wages for cafeteria workers. If Proposition MM is approved, those provisions would be implemented.

During a special legislative session in August, Colorado lawmakers also tweaked Proposition MM to allow the additional revenue to be spent on broader efforts to reduce food insecurity, once the Healthy School Meals For All programs costs are covered. That would help the state partially offset the impact  estimated at up to $170 million annually  of reduced funding and higher administrative costs for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program as a result of cuts passed by congressional Republicans in July.

Colorado voting basics

Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold certified the 2025 ballot on Sept. 8. In addition to the two statewide measures, the coordinated 2025 election will see voters decide on numerous candidates and issues at the local level, including municipal elections in Aurora, Pueblo and Fort Collins, and school board races in Denver, Aurora, Douglas County and many other districts across the state.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Election Day is Nov. 4. Eligible Coloradans can register to vote or update their registration at GoVoteColorado.com.

Mail ballots will be sent to all active registered voters in Colorado beginning Oct. 10, and any eligible voter who registers to vote before Oct. 27 will receive a ballot in the mail. After Oct. 27, eligible voters can still register and vote in-person at a polling location until 7 p.m. on Election Day.

Voters who receive a mail ballot can return it through the mail, deposit it in a secure ballot drop box, or drop it off at an in-person polling location. Information about ballot drop box and in-person service locations is available at local county clerks websites.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
When it comes to rolling out workable digital infrastructure, Britain has something of a chequered past. While Government Gateway (soon to be scrapped) was hailed as the UKs most successful digital identity system, that perhaps isnt saying much.

If youve ever tried to achieve anything on the HMRC portal, attempted to apply for childcare vouchers or wondered why hospital letters failed to appear on your NHS app, you may be sceptical about the states ability to roll out its latest plan for mandatory digital ID cards.

Many have voiced fears on civil-liberties grounds, warning against mass surveillance, and more than 1.9m people have already signed a petition opposing the scheme. But privacy concerns are not the only obstacle the Government will have to overcome if it is to introduce the new digital IDs announced last week.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Billed as an initiative to help combat illegal working while making it easier for the majority of people to use government services, the scheme is expected to be in place by the end of this Parliament (most likely 2029). Those in favour point to other countries that have successfully introduced something similar. If it works abroad, they say, why shouldnt it work in Britain?

Unfortunately, some experts warn, its not quite that simple. UK governments of all flavours have a dreadful history of rolling out large IT systems, says Prof Alan Woodward, a computer-security expert at the University of Surrey. We spend billions and then abandon them.

In 2011, an attempt to upgrade NHS IT systems in England was dropped, at a cost to the taxpayer that was said by 2013 to be 10bn and rising.

In 2016, the flagship government digital identification system, Gov.uk Verify, was introduced. Three years later, the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) found that it had missed all its original performance targets, had not delivered value for money, and had left its users hampered by a catalogue of problems, including difficulty signing up and accessing multiple government services. It shut down in 2023.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

ID in this country is so dispersed, because of all the things you can use, says Chloe Coleman, a former civil servant and now chief executive of Vouchsafe, a platform that verifies users without photo ID. Digital ID could solve those problems, but its going to be incredibly hard to get it over the line in a timely and on-budget way.

So how have other countries rolled out digital ID cards, and what are the chances of Britain emulating them?

Estonia

Population: 1,374,687

Date of introduction: 2002

What does the ID card store: Biometric (fingerprint) data since 2021, national ID number

Estonia is held up as a kind of poster child for the successful roll-out and use of ID cards. ID cards were made mandatory in the country in 2002 and initially took the form of a physical smart card containing data for its individual holder. Since then, Estonians have used their cards to access healthcare records and banking, to vote, to shop securely and to sign documents digitally. It is claimed that they save an average of five working days annually.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Similarly to what is proposed in Britain, Estonians digital ID can now be stored on smartphones too.

But even in Estonia the scheme has not been entirely without hitches. In 2017, a significant security weakness was found on chips used in the cards, and the certificates of 750,000 affected IDs were suspended and updated.

If we take Estonia as the gold standard for digital government  they have an incredibly successful digital ID scheme, its really well established and well built  even they had to revoke 750,000 government-issued digital IDs and reissue them, says Coleman.

So even when its done well, its not always done perfectly. Having been a civil servant, my concern in the UK is that our data infrastructure hasnt been set up for digital ID, so theres going to be a hell of a lot of work to create something thats functional, respects privacy, and is safe.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Others suggest that pointing to Estonias example and assuming we can follow likewise is to ignore one obvious difference between the two nations. Its a tiny country, says Rachel Coldicutt, a technology strategist at Careful Industries, a UK-based research studio.

Spain

Population: 47,889,958

Date of introduction: eID card launched in 2006

What does the ID card store: Biometric data, national ID number

A universal Spanish ID card has been in use since the middle of the 20th century. Called the DNI (Document of National Identity), its electronic version, the eID card, was introduced in the mid-Noughties, and a digital version, called the MiDNI, designed to be stored on users smartphones, was launched this year.

Protected by biometrics (in the form of fingerprint or facial recognition) and a Pin, it can be used for ID verification when accessing government services and in a range of other situations, such as hotel check-ins and transactions in shops.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

But digitising an existing well-established system is not the same as starting from scratch, say experts. Beginning digitally [like the UK will be] is totally different and creates different kinds of issues, says Coldicutt.

We probably need to begin from [a principle of] How do we make the thing that works for most people? Whereas at the moment [in Britain] it feels like its being designed to catch out people who are breaking the law, not the millions who arent and who will suddenly have to [create] a login and download an app.

Sweden

Population: 10,668,592

Date of introduction: 2005

What does the ID card store: Chip contains personal data, photo and fingerprints

Physical national ID cards were introduced in Sweden in the mid-Noughties, and almost all adults now also use a digital BankID for government and financial services. Rather than being introduced by the state, however, BankID  as the name suggests  was introduced by a consortium of the largest banks. (In 2011, a governmental authority was created to supervise electronic identification.)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The system is said to work relatively smoothly, and the fact that it was set up by banks means the state was spared the cost of building and maintaining the necessary infrastructure.

This is not the model that Labour is talking about adopting here. What typically happens in Britain, says Coleman, is that multiple different private companies are contracted to work on large infrastructure projects, which  as in the case of the beleaguered high-speed rail project HS2  can bring its own problems.

We rely quite heavily on external companies coming in and doing [the] work, says Coleman. More so, I would say, than most other nations that have got [a digital ID card] scheme in place.

As a civil servant, she says, she was used to working alongside contractors or people employed by big technology consultancies, with varying results. Sometimes it can be effective, but on a really big flagship project it could cause [issues], she says.

India

Population: 1,438,069,596

Date of introduction: 2009

What does the ID card store: Biometric data (fingerprints, iris scans and facial recognition), unique ID number

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

With an estimated population of more than 1.4bn, India has the worlds most-used digital ID system. Called Aadhaar, its a biometrics-based scheme and was designed to do away with the reams of paperwork formerly required for administrative tasks.

Introduced in 2009 as a 12-digit personal identification number, it is considered to be a success for the most part. It has reportedly helped reduce benefit fraud and slashed the amount of time it takes to perform tasks such as opening a bank account or changing to a different mobile-phone operator.

Although some data held by the system has purportedly been leaked on occasion, its biometric data is not known to have been compromised.

But, says Coldicutt, when you look at India, for example, there are thousands of people [there] who work as digital intermediaries, helping people log on to these things. It doesnt just happen magically. Theres a whole infrastructure that grows up around it. If youre just a user, you probably dont notice [this] and take it for granted.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

There are more than 1.5m people working as certified Aadhaar operators and supervisors, according to the Indian government, and these enrolment operators have played an important role in getting citizens onto the scheme.

The British Government says its own scheme will be rolled out alongside an outreach programme, including face-to-face support for citizens struggling to access it. In a country with an ageing population like Britains, their work will be cut out for them, suggests Coldicutt.

Up to a quarter of the [British] workforce is digitally excluded in some way, she says. This includes those who lack digital skills or who cant afford a digital device or home broadband.

Its really important that, if the Government is spending money on this, we know it will work.

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.
Morning Minute is a daily newsletter written by Tyler Warner. The analysis and opinions expressed are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of Decrypt. Subscribe to the Morning Minute on Substack.

GM!

Todays top news:

Crypto majors rally over the weekend; BTC reclaims $112,000

Vanguard reportedly considering offering crypto ETF access to its 50M investors

SEC and FINRA investigating DATs for insider trading

Tether is reportedly raising at a $500B valuation; XPL at $13B after first days of trading

Hypurr NFTs open at $65k floor on $60M+ in their first day of trading

 Vanguard Flirts With Crypto

The worlds second-largest asset manager is considering letting its U.S. clients buy crypto ETFs.

The final walls are falling down.

 What Happened

Last week, Crypto in America reported that Vanguard is weighing access to select spot crypto ETFs for brokerage customers.

This is a sharp departure from its 2024 stance, when it blocked spot Bitcoin ETFs on-platform.

Theres no final decision or product list yet; the discussions reflect persistent client demand and the competitive reality that most major peers already enable trading.

Notably, Vanguards CEO Salim Ramji was previously at BlackRock and oversaw the launch of their Bitcoin ETF IBIT, one of the most successful ETF launches of all time.

For asset context, Vanguard today oversees ~$10T in AUM and serves more than 50 million investors globally, so even a cautious rollout would be consequential for ETF liquidity.

 What Theyre Saying

Theyre being very methodical in their approach, understanding the dynamics have been changing since 2024. - source talking to Crypto in America

Vanguard, the 2nd largest asset manager in the world, is finally planning to allow clients to invest in crypto ETFs on their platform. By waiting this long, they have protected clients from +150% gains on $BTC since the ETFs went live. - Satoshi Stacker on X

 Why It Matters

If Vanguard enables crypto ETF access, even with tight guardrails, it adds a massive set of ongoing inflows into crypto majors.

That means deeper secondary-market liquidity, broader retirement-account penetration, and more default exposure from set-it-and-forget-it investors who previously had to move assets elsewhere.

Just 1% of $11T is $110B in inflows (and likely a major up-front portfolio rebalance adjustment).

Thats massive.

It also marks a symbolic validation: the firm that once said not appropriate for long-term portfolios would be acknowledging a durable role for crypto alongside stocks and bonds.
COLUMBIA, Mo.  Following a deadly shooting in downtown Columbia over the weekend, the president of the University of Missouri is calling on local leaders to do more.

In a letter to staff and students Saturday, President Mun Choi called the crime problem a crisis point after a Stephens College student was killed and two others were injured by gunfire early Saturday morning.

Choi said he sent a call to action to leaders of Columbia and Boone County, noting the Columbia Police Department does an excellent job, and they need to be supported. But, the success of crime prevention will require honest examination of current policies and practices in the city and county that lead individuals to commit crimes in Columbia without fear of consequences.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Within the letter, Choi recommended several immediate actions, which included:

More policing downtown

More security officers hired

Removing policies that bring criminals to the region

Loitering ordinance

Homeless encampment cleanups

Full extent prosecution

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Daily News

The shooting stemmed from an altercation around 1:45 a.m. Saturday morning in the 900 block of E Broadway, according to police. Two women and one manwho were in the 1000 block of E Broadway and not involved in the altercationwere struck.

One of those women, Aiyanna Williams, later died, according to CBS. She was kept on life support for organ donation, KRCG said. The condition of the other two has not been released.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

As of 3 p.m. Sunday, officials charged 23-year-old Misael Covarrubias, of Florida, with three counts of first-degree assault, three counts of armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon. The Columbia Police Department noted the charges filed against the suspect will remain in place unless and until there is a change in the life status of any victim. This includes being removed from artificial life support.

Student safety was emphasized as its an area where many frequent on a daily basis.

The long-term solution will also require the collective efforts of the entire city & county organizations working together with the university and the business community, Choi added. I am ready to serve and bring the resources of the University of Missouri to bear. We cannot wait to have another tragic outcome to act.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
We're barely a week after fall officially arrived, yet in some parts of the country, late September has occasionally felt like winter.

That was certainly the case in parts of the Northwest six years ago. On Sept. 29, 2019, parts of Montana, northwest Wyoming, Idaho and northeast Washington were digging out from a bizarre early-season snowstorm.

Over a dozen locations in northern Montana picked up over a foot of snow. The highest snowfall total was 48 inches (4 feet) in Browning, about 105 miles northwest of Great Falls.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Great Falls picked up 19.3 inches of snow, 17.7 of which fell in just 24 hours, their all-time 24-hour snow record, according to weather historian Christopher Burt. Those are snowfall totals they usually have to wait until mid-December to compile.

Montana's Gov. Steve Bullock issued an executive order declaring an emergency in the state because of the severe early season storm.

High winds and wet snow broke tree limbs, knocked down trees and damaged power lines, causing scattered outages.

Spokane, Washington, had only its second measurable September snowfall in records dating to the late 19th century. Its 3.3-inch total more than doubled the previous record September snow event, there.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

In western Wyoming, up to a foot of snow was reported around Jackson Hole. Snow even reached the valley floors around Reno, Nevada, the previous day.

Jonathan Erdman is a senior meteorologist at weather.com and has been covering national and international weather since 1996. Extreme and bizarre weather are his favorite topics. Reach out to him on Bluesky, X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook.
Delhi, N.Y (WIVT/WBGH) After the sunny event Delaware county office express their gratitude to all who attended the event.

Courtesy of Delaware County Sheriffs Office

On Sunday, September 21st the Delaware County Sheriffs Office held a Open House event. The event held many demonstrations and tours, offering food and desserts for all who attended.

The County office would like to thank all of those who attended, the Delaware County of Public Health  who also took part of the event with a demonstration of car safety- and Delawares deputies, for their dedication on ensuring safety of the county.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34.
Denmark has decided to ban all civilian drone flights from Monday to Friday after UAVs were again observed above several military facilities over the weekend, in the latest incident involving unauthorised incursions Danish authorities said were "hybrid attacks".

As Denmark gears up for the upcoming European Union Summit in Copenhagen, all civilian drones flying in Danish airspace will be prohibited" to remove the risk that enemy drones can be confused with legal drones and vice versa, the Danish Transportation Ministry said Sunday.

We cannot accept that foreign drones create uncertainty and disturbances in society, as we have experienced recently," Danish Transportation Minister Thomas Danielsen said in a statement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"At the same time, Denmark will host EU leaders in the coming week, where we will have extra focus on security, Danielsen added.

A violation of the prohibition can result in a fine or imprisonment for up to two years," according to the statement.

The ban does not apply to military drone flights, drones used by state-run aviation, including police and emergency services, as well as municipal and regional emergency and health-related operations.

Denmark's defence ministry said it had again observed drones at several of its armed forces' locations on Sunday, a day after it had several capacities deployed following separate sightings on Saturday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Following a NATO meeting in Riga on Saturday, the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe spokesperson Colonel Martin ODonnell announced that we will conduct even more enhanced vigilance with new multi-domain assets in the Baltic Sea region, which includes Denmark, under Baltic Sentry.

He also said that NATO leaders were in constant contact with Danish officials following the drone sightings.

German frigate arrives in Copenhagen

On Sunday afternoon, the Danish Defence Ministry announced that the German air defence frigate FGS Hamburg had arrived in Copenhagen.

Here, the ship will contribute to strengthening Denmarks surveillance of the airspace in connection with the upcoming EU summit in Copenhagen, the ministry said in a statement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The German frigate is part of NATOs Baltic Sentry activity, which is intended to strengthen NATOs presence along the alliances eastern flank.

Separately, Germany stated that following a request from Denmark its armed forces would provide military support for the upcoming EU summit through Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-sUAS) capabilities, which utilise detection systems that employ radar, optical and acoustic technologies.

Sweden had already announced earlier that it would "lend Denmark a military anti-drone capability without giving further details.

Related

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Tensions have been running high in Denmark following multiple reports of drone sightings last week that temporarily forced Danish airports to shut down.

Danish Minister of Justice Peter Hummelgaard said last Thursday that the goal of the flyovers is to sow fear and division, adding that the country will seek additional ways to neutralise drones, including proposing legislation to allow infrastructure owners to shoot them down.

While it is not clear who is behind the drone activity, Denmarks prime minister and NATOs secretary-general said last week that Russian involvement could not be ruled out.
Denmark's defense ministry said Sunday that it had again observed drones at several of its armed forces' locations overnight, a day after the NATO alliance announced that it would enhance its vigilance in the Baltic Sea region.

The ministry said in a statement that it had "several capacities deployed" after drone sightings from Saturday into Sunday night. It didn't offer any further details about the specifics of the deployment, the number of drones or locations.

This is the latest unexplained drone activity after several sightings, including over five Danish airports last week, raising concerns about security in northern Europe amid suspected growing Russian aggression.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Following a NATO meeting in Riga, Latvia, on Saturday, Col. Martin O'Donnell, the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe spokesperson, announced that "we will conduct even more enhanced vigilance with new multi-domain assets in the Baltic Sea region, which includes Denmark, under Baltic Sentry."

He also said that NATO leaders were in constant contact with Danish officials following the drone sightings.

As Denmark gears up for the upcoming European Union Summit in Copenhagen, the Danish transportation ministry said Sunday that "all civilian drone flying in Danish airspace will be prohibited" from Monday to Friday to "remove the risk that enemy drones can be confused with legal drones and vice versa."

"We cannot accept that foreign drones create uncertainty and disturbances in society, as we have experienced recently. At the same time, Denmark will host EU leaders in the coming week, where we will have extra focus on security," Danish transportation minister Thomas Danielsen said in a statement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"A violation of the prohibition can result in a fine or imprisonment for up to two years," according to the statement.

The prohibition does not apply to military drone flights, drones used by state aviation, including police and emergency drone operations, as well as municipal and regional emergency and health-related drone operations.

A mobile radar installation is seen at the Danish military site on Amager, Pionegaarden, near the village of Dragoer and on the coast of Oresund, the sea between Denmark and Sweden, on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. / Credit: Steven Knap/Ritzau Scanpix via AP

On Sunday afternoon, the Danish defense ministry announced that the German air defense frigate, FSG Hamburg, had arrived in Copenhagen.

"Here, the ship will contribute to strengthening Denmark's surveillance of the airspace in connection with the upcoming EU summit in Copenhagen," the ministry said in a statement. "The German frigate is part of NATO's Baltic Sentry activity, which is intended to strengthen NATO's presence along the alliance's eastern flank."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Separately, Germany said that following a request from Denmark, its armed forces would provide military support for the upcoming EU summit through "Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems capabilities," also known as C-sUAS, which are detection systems that use radar, optical and acoustics technologies.

Sweden had already announced earlier that it would "lend Denmark a military anti-drone capability" without giving further details.

Tensions have been running high in Denmark in recent days following reports of drone activity, and hundreds of possible sightings reported by concerned citizens that couldn't officially be confirmed. Nonetheless, the public has been asked to report all suspicious activity to the police.

Danish Minister of Justice Peter Hummelgaard said on Sept. 25 that the goal of the flyovers is to sow fear and division, adding that the country will seek additional ways to neutralize drones, including proposing legislation to allow infrastructure owners to shoot them down.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

It's not clear who is responsible for the drone activity. Danish authorities have not named the exact military locations where they have been seen.

Drone sightings on Friday night took place at around 8:15 p.m. local time in Denmark and lasted for several hours, an officer on duty told AFP. The officer, Simon Skelsjaer, said police ad not shot down the drones and could not comment on their origins as police were working with the Danish military in their investigation into the incident, AFP reported.

Danish authorities said sightings on Thursday appeared to be a "hybrid attack," but they noted that there was no evidence indicating Moscow had orchestrated it, reported CBS partner BBC News. Denmark's prime minister and NATO's secretary-general said last week that Russian involvement couldn't be ruled out.

The Russian Embassy in Denmark last week rejected claims of Moscow's involvement in the incidents.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Speaking to Russian media in comments released Sunday, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said that any attempt by NATO to shoot down Russian or Belarusian aircraft would be met with an "immediate response."

"Let them try, let them shoot. Or they'll shoot down something Russian over Kaliningrad. Then, of course, we'll have to fight, as they say in Russia, with all we've got. Is that necessary? No," he said, asking whether NATO would shoot down his helicopter when flying close to the Polish border.

The release of Lukashenko's comments came after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told the U.N. General Assembly on Saturday that his nation doesn't intend to attack Europe, but will mount a "decisive response" to any aggression.

"I think people will very much regret if they commit the most flagrant violation of our territorial integrity and territorial sovereignty," Lavrov said, including "attempts to shoot down  any object in general over our territory, in our airspace."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Why crickets are as good as a thermometer

Trump plans to send troops to Portland, Oregon; governor says it is "not needed here"

Government shutdown likely, CBS News' Robert Costa says after conversation with Trump
DES MOINES, Iowa  New details are now available in the timeline leading up to the detainment of Des Moines Public School Superintendent Dr. Ian Roberts by immigration officials as the districts 30,000 students and 5,000 staff members return to classrooms Monday morning.

Dr. Ian Roberts (Photo provided by Homeland Security)

DMPS Director of Communications Phil Roeder told WHO 13 News that Roberts was originally on his way to Windsor Elementary School on Friday morning. Roeder said the superintendent was scheduled to run with students, which is something he frequently did since he competed in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, representing Guyana in track and field.

However, Roberts never made it to Windsor Elementary. Instead, he texted Roeder just before 9 a.m. to let him know he had an emergency.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

More stories: Dr. Ian Roberts

Roeder said he received a FaceTime call from Roberts around 45 minutes later.

I got a FaceTime call from him, which in itself was a little odd, he said. I FaceTime with my grandkids, but, you know, not necessarily with colleagues, but because of his earlier message and because hes the boss, you know, I answered it and yeah, took a few seconds to recognize what I was watching.

Roeder said the call only lasted around 20 seconds. He saw that Roberts was surrounded by three or four law enforcement officials and that one of them clearly had a long gun of some sort.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

He said Roberts appeared to be handcuffed and was standing with his hands behind his back.

It took me a few seconds to even really, I mean, to know what youre looking at, Roeder said. [I] finally, said, Dr. Roberts, can you hear me? Is everything okay? and the call ended.

Roeder said he wasnt sure who made the call or if the call was even intentional. However, he said the call was beneficial for the Des Moines Public School District because they were quickly able to learn that he was detained by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

I think it was a good four or five hours after that call before ICE put something out themselves, said Roeder.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Two killed, four injured during two-vehicle crash in Calhoun County

That press release from ICE said that Roberts entered the United States in 1999 from Guyana with a student visa and was given a final order of removal by an immigration judge in May 2024. That order was given exactly one year after Roberts was appointed Superintendent of Iowas largest school district.

Roberts was detained Friday morning after fleeing from officers, according to the release. He was driving a district vehicle and had a loaded handgun, $3,000 in cash, and a fixed-blade hunting knife.

This should be a wake-up call for our communities to the great work that our officers are doing every day to remove public safety threats. How this illegal alien was hired without work authorization, a final order of removal, and a prior weapons charge is beyond comprehension and should alarm the parents of that school district, said ICE ERO St. Paul Field Office Director Sam Olson.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The release also stated that Roberts had existing weapon possession charges from February 2020 in Pennsylvania. State records show he pleaded guilty to the charge in 2022.

Des Moines Public Schools named Matt Smith as Interim Superintendent. Smith served as the Associate Superintendent since July 2018, but also served as interim Superintendent of DMPS during the 2022-23 school year when Dr. Thomas Ahart resigned from the position.

The Des Moines Public School Board held a closed special session Saturday evening, where they unanimously voted to put Roberts on paid administrative leave until they learn more information.

The district reaffirmed that all of the documentation they received from Roberts indicated he was a citizen and eligible to work in the United States.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Woman dies; man with hammer faces murder charge after Davenport incident

According to the district, he passed their own third-party background check as well as an FBI background check conduced by the Iowa Department of Education.

School Board President, Jackie Norris, joined Today in Iowa Sunday where she said the district was not aware of the immigration judges removal order.

The district never received information from any entity, and thats concerning. We are taking that very seriously, but we did not receive that information, she said.

Norris said there is still a lot of information that the district is waiting to receive from officials, but she is confident the district can move forward.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Right now, we have such confidence in Matt Smith. He has been in this role before, and the most important thing we need to do is continue to do the business that we do every day, and we do it well. And I have to say, Im a little tired of people picking on Des Moines Public Schools. Our literacy scores are going up, we are headed in the right direction, and so what people can do right now is love our students and support our teachers, she said.

Roberts is very involved in the Des Moines Public Schools, so as students head back to school on Monday without him, Norris said the district is prepared to talk with students in need.

Roberts is currently being held at the Woodbury County Law Enforcement Center in Sioux City, Iowa. WHO 13 News learned that Roberts has retained the legal services of Parrish Kruidenier Law Firm. As of Monday morning, his legal services have not commented on the case.

Fatal pedestrian crash briefly closes portion of Highway 5 in Des Moines

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The Iowa Board of Education released on Monday that the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners revoked Dr. Roberts license, making him ineligible to serve as a school superintendent.

Protests in support of Roberts started as early as Friday afternoon. Hundreds of Iowans gathered outside of the Neal Smith Federal Building on Friday and nearly three dozen people attended a protest on Saturday outside of the Woodbury County Law Enforcement Center.

More protests are expected to continue this week with one scheduled to take place at 4 p.m. on Monday outside of the Neal Smith Federal Building in Des Moines.

The NAACP visited Roberts over the weekend. In a release posted to Facebook, the organization wrote, He expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support from individuals and organizations nationwide and reaffirmed his commitment to education and ensuring students thrive. Dr. Roberts shared that he is in good spirits and that his faith in God will sustain him.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The NAACP is assisting his wife at Roberts request.

Our prayers are with Dr. Roberts, his family, and our community, said Betty Andrews, NAACP Iowa-Nebraska State Area President and National NAACP Board Member. We will continue to monitor this situation closely and stand firmly in contending for justice.

Iowa news

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com.
By Doyinsola Oladipo

NEW YORK (Reuters) -Leaders of developing countries threatened by climate change told rich nations at the United Nations General Assembly that they are falling far short of promises to fund measures to combat rising sea levels, droughts and deforestation.

"It is past time for the rich world to meet its obligations and get money to where its needed most, Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine told the assembly last week. Weve heard the promises - but promises dont reclaim land in atoll nations like mine."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Wealthy countries have struggled to meet climate finance commitments. Their funding reached $100 billion a year, an amount agreed upon in 2009, two years late in 2022.

At a U.N. climate summit last year, leaders agreed to provide developing countries $300 billion a year by 2035. Many developing countries blasted that sum as far too small to meet the need. Experts have estimated that developing countries need at least $1 trillion annually by the end of the decade.

Leaders of developing countries say rich nations must provide resources to cope with climate change, a crisis they created.

Since the Industrial Revolution, the U.S. has been the largest cumulative emitter of greenhouse gases, the primary cause of climate change, according to an analysis by Our World in Data.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"Those who shoulder the blame must foot the bill," said Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka last week during the week-long leaders session.

CLIMATE CHANGE FORCES PEOPLE TO FLEE, GHANA SAYS

In President Donald Trump's second term, the U.S. withdrew for a second time from the Paris agreement and halted most climate finance commitments. Under his predecessor, Joe Biden, the U.S. provided about $11 billion a year or about 8% of global climate finance, according to an analysis by Carbon Brief.

During his address to the General Assembly last week, Trump dismissed climate change as the greatest con job in the world.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Last year was the hottest year on record as global temperatures exceeded 1.5 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial era for the first time, bringing the world closer to breaching the pledge governments made in the Paris pact.

Ghana President John Mahama pushed back against growing anti-immigration policies in the global north, one of Trump's top priorities, attributing much migration to climate change.

"Many of those migrants are climate refugees," Mahama told the General Assembly. "When the desert encroaches and our villages and towns become unlivable, we are forced to flee."

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud told the assembly that climate change "is forcing governments in developing countries, including my own, to make impossible financial trade-offs which hamper our own aspirations for investing in resilience and development."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Droughts, floods and rising seas erode livelihoods and displace families, threatening to undo progress on peace and development, and around 10% of developing nations budgets are spent on responding to climate change, Mohamud said.

Germany said on Monday it provided a record 11.8 billion euros for international climate financing in 2024 and met its global commitment by allocating at least 6 billion euros of public funds to the cause.

But leaders of island nations including Tuvalu, Comoros, Madagascar and St. Lucia called for funding to flow to the countries that need it most with fewer obstacles.

"We call for equitable and simplified access to climate financing," said Comoros President Azali Assoumani.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Another major greenhouse gas emitter, China, said that by 2035 it would cut its emissions by 7%-10% from their peak. That pledge, made by Chinese President Xi Jinping in a live video message to the assembly from Beijing, drew criticism from the European Union's climate chief who said the plan fell "well short of what we believe is both achievable and necessary".

"If the world is serious about 1.5 degrees Celsius, we urge you to come to our region, to see with your own eyes what the Pacific is facing and be moved to act," said Surangel Whipps Jr., the president of Palau.

(Doyinsola Oladipo in New York; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
As President Donald Trump publicly pressures the Justice Department to bring criminal cases against his perceived enemies, legal experts say former FBI Director James Comey could attempt a rarely successful legal maneuver that allows judges to throw out charges that were unfairly brought.

Requests to dismiss cases based on selective or vindictive prosecutions face extremely high hurdles in court and are overwhelmingly unsuccessful. Trump himself and Hunter Biden both tried (and failed) to employ the tactic in recent years.

But after Trump publicly called on Attorney General Pam Bondi to move more aggressively in her departments pursuit of Comey and others, the former FBI director might have the facts needed to convince a judge to throw out the charges brought against him on Thursday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Its a better case for Comey, because the president wont shut up, said retired federal Judge John Jones. And thats admissible, so hes got a fighting chance, I think, on vindictive prosecution.

Comey was charged with two felony counts for allegedly lying to Congress during testimony he gave in 2020. The alleged false statements concern his claim at the time that he didnt authorize leaks to the press when he was at the helm of the bureau as it oversaw politically sensitive investigations.

Trump in recent days has urged prosecutors within the Justice Department to move more aggressively in their pursuit of not only Comey, but also New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, and California Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff, all of whom he considers political foes. Senior DOJ leaders are also advocating for a charge against former Trump national security adviser John Bolton, a noted critic of the president.

Its clearly vindictive. Its clearly his enemies list, former federal Judge Shira Scheindlin told CNN.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Trump told reporters on Friday that he expects other political opponents to be prosecuted following Comeys indictment.

Its not a list, but I think there will be others, he told CNNs Kevin Liptak as he left the White House. I mean, theyre corrupt. These were corrupt, radical left Democrats.  No, there will be others.

Criminal defendants looking to convince judges to drop their cases based on claims of being unfairly prosecuted face a range of obstacles, legal experts said.

But its possible that judges could be more open to such bids during Trumps second term as the president pushes harder  and more publicly  to tear down the decades-long tradition of independence the Justice Department has had from political interference to criminally pursue his foes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Hes made it so obvious that hes targeting them, regardless of the evidence, that I do think a judge would be far more receptive to probably both concepts, selective prosecution and vindictive, said Scheindlin, who was appointed to a federal court in New York by former President Bill Clinton.

The strategy is already being tested in other politically fraught criminal cases brought in recent months by the Trump administration.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Maryland man unlawfully deported to El Salvador earlier this year and later brought back to the US to face criminal charges in Tennessee, has asked the judge overseeing his case to drop the human smuggling charges brought against him because, he argues, hes being unfairly prosecuted for challenging his removal.

And New Jersey Democratic Rep. LaMonica McIver has mounted the legal gambit in a case brought against her earlier this year stemming from a scuffle she had with federal agents at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in her home state.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Comeys attorney, Patrick Fitzgerald, said in a statement that his client denies the charges brought against him and that they look forward to vindicating him in the courtroom.

Comey is expected to be arraigned on October 9.

Prosecutorial discretion

Requests by defendants for cases to be tossed out based on their claim that theyre being selectively prosecuted are typically legal losers because of the broad discretion prosecutors have in making charging decisions.

Defendants need to be able to show that the charges theyre facing havent ordinarily been brought against a similarly situated individual whose actions could have resulted in the same case and that theyre being pursued on a discriminatory basis  that is, because the government has singled them out based on something like their race, religion or political views.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

But a range of reasons undergird prosecutors decision on whether to file charges, and the strength of evidence plays a major role in that process.

It is a very hard motion to win because prosecutors are given a great deal of discretion in deciding what kind of cases to bring and which cases to bring, said Randall Eliason, a former federal prosecutor in Washington, DC, who served under Republican and Democratic presidents.

He continued: Youve really got to prove bad motives on the part of the prosecution  that theyre really coming at you for some completely improper reason.

Even though Comey could push the selective prosecution argument, Scheindlin explained that his lawyers might in the end want to avoid doing so.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Thats like admitting that yeah, you did it, but how come the other ten guys who did it arent being charged? she said. So a defense lawyer for somebody as high-profile as Comey I dont think is going to want to make that argument that, Well, I might have lied, but everybody else lies, too.

You see the animus

An effort by Comey to get the judge to toss the case based on a claim that hes being vindictively prosecuted, on the other hand, may be less of a longshot, according to experts CNN spoke with.

Such bids are usually grounded in a defendants assertion that the government is retaliating against them for exercising certain rights. For example, someone might raise a vindictive prosecution request if prosecutors bring additional charges against them after the individual rejected a plea deal, choosing instead to take their case to trial.

Trump has long been vocal about his grievances toward Comey, whom he blames for opening the Russian 2016 election interference investigation that hung over much of the presidents first term. After Comey was fired by Trump in 2017, he went on to become a staunch critic of his onetime boss.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Even after Comey was indicted on Thursday, Trump continued his criticism of him last week by calling him sick and corrupt.

You see the animus, said Jones, who was appointed to a federal court in Pennsylvania by former President George W. Bush and now serves as the president of Dickinson College.

What else do you need? he added. Its a great test case to kind of examine the contours of a true vindictive prosecution claim  you know, I got indicted because the president United States doesnt like me and wanted me to be indicted.

A pattern of prosecutors departing

Trumps statements targeting Comey and others represent only part of the evidence they could lean on if they press judges to throw out charges brought against them. The other facts already on full display concern the recent turmoil within the office that is prosecuting Comeys case.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

As pressure mounted on Erik Siebert, the US attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia, to bring charges against James, the prosecutor was pushed out and later replaced on an interim basis by Trump loyalist Lindsey Halligan.

Theyre picking their guy and then trying to find something they can charge him with, versus investigating these facts on the law and deciding whether charges are appropriate, said Eliason. The whole flip flop thing and picking a new US attorney who will do what the former US attorney wont, I mean, that sets off all kinds of red flags.

Those personnel developments have already shown up in court: Abrego Garcias attorneys pointed to them last Monday as they renewed their push for the judge overseeing his case to throw out the charges hes facing.

The Justice Departments desire to pursue human smuggling charges against Abrego Garcia had caused some disagreement among prosecutors in Nashville US attorneys office, sources told CNN, and his attorneys invoked the Virginia drama in an attempt to make clear that his situation doesnt exist in a vacuum.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

This is hardly the only time the president has sought to use DOJ to get revenge: The U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia was forced from office for not vindictively charging New York Attorney General Letitia James, they wrote. In our case, the chief of the Criminal Division resigned rather than bring this vindictive prosecution himself.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here.

Donald Trumps second term has been met with a sustained, low-level campaign of domestic terrorism.

It has mostly involved relatively minor property damage amid much more consequential acts, but the pattern of violence meant to achieve anti-Trump political goals has been unmistakable.

I thought Trumps second election would be met with rioting in the streets and serious threats against cabinet officials. Instead, we got the vibe shift, with the initial political reaction against Trump relatively muted compared to that in 2016.

Once the administration got underway, though, the violent resistance began.

First, it was the campaign against Tesla. Anti-Elon Musk agitators torched and otherwise vandalized vehicles, fired shots and threw Molotov cocktails at dealerships, and damaged charging stations. This wasnt terrorism on the level of ISIS  not even close  but it clearly met the textbook definition of terrorism as violence in furtherance of a political or social objective.

Then, the anti-ICE assaults ramped up. There have been riots outside ICE facilities, as well as incendiary attacks and shootings.

In the craziest incident prior to the Sept. 24 sniper attack in Dallas, a group of agitators dressed in black military-style clothing began shooting fireworks and spraying graffiti at an ICE detention facility in Alvarado, Texas, in July. According to officials, this was a ploy meant to draw ICE officers out of the facility to be ambushed. One attacker hiding in the woods shot a responding police officer in the neck (he survived), while another assailant fired 20 or more rounds at correctional officers who had strayed outside the building.

When they were arrested, some of agitators were wearing body armor and had two-way radios. The attack emanated from a Dallas-area anti-fascist network.

Less than a week later, an armed man tried to shoot his way into a Border Patrol annex in McAllen, Texas, before getting shot dead.

The waves of anti-Tesla and anti-ICE violence were precipitated, respectively, by a libertarian billionaire trying to reduce the number of federal workers and cut foreign aid, and a federal agency detaining immigrants who are living and working in the country illegally, some of whom have committed other serious crimes. If these activities can evoke a violent response, just imagine if the country experiences a true crisis.

In both cases  regarding DOGE at its height and ICE now  Democratic officeholders and progressive opinion-makers whipped up an apocalyptic frenzy. The fevered rhetoric has been accompanied by peaceful protests, civil disobedience (think of Democratic officials getting arrested protesting immigration enforcement) and, at the margins, zealots and the disaffected lashing out violently.

When these events are put against the context of the assassination of a MAGA leader, Charlie Kirk, and last years two assassination attempts against Donald Trump himself, the picture is stark  a persistent, if wholly unorganized. effort to use violence to frustrate Trumps policy goals and, in the extreme instance, to end the project entirely by killing him.

What is to be done? Since none of the violence is directed from above and the perpetrators dont know each other and have divergent motivations, its hard to see how it stops. Itd certainly help if the Democrats acknowledged the legitimacy of Trump and what hes trying to do, even if they strenuously oppose him and his policies, but they are never going to cease believing that we are on the cusp of a fascist dystopia.

The legacy media should also acknowledge what we are experiencing. If a Kamala Harris presidency had been met with attacks against Mark Cuban businesses and arson and shootings at abortion clinics  as well as the ideologically-motivated murder of a top Harris supporter  wed be at a DEFCON 1-type national emergency in terms of the press coverage.

Theres nothing like getting used to things, Abraham Lincoln said of the threatening letters he received once he rose to prominence. But we shouldnt have to get used to violence as a means of influencing our politics.

(COMMENT, BELOW)
Creative accounting, of course, has a long history of cropping up during a boom, a tradition dating far back to the Gilded Age when inflating assets, understating liabilities, and bribery were commonplace. More recently the dotcom boom and the lead-up to the Great Recession brought to light such practices as channel stuffing, roundtripping revenue, and who can forget special purpose entities. Now industry watchers are starting to raise red flags about ARR. The problem is that so much of this is essentially vibe revenue, one VC said. Its not Google signing a data center contract. Thats real shit. Some startup thats using your product temporarily? Thats really not revenue. Or rather there is revenue (the first R) but its not recurring revenue (the second R).

Exacerbating the pressure is the fact that more VCs than ever are trying to funnel capital into possible winners, at a time where theres no certainty about what evaluating success or traction even looks like. Throughout the 90s, VC as an industry grew to more than 700 firms managing about $143 billion. Today, there are more than 3,000 VC firms according to the National Venture Capital Association, managing more than $360 billion, with some projections suggesting venture will be a more than $700 billion industry by 2029.

But as billions flowed across the venture capital ecosystem into AI startups, some mere months old, the vaunted, trusted ARR metric has morphed into something much harder to recognize. Theres now a massive amount of pressure on AI-focused founders, at earlier stages than ever before: If youre not generating revenue immediately, what are you even doing? Foundersin an effort to keep up with the Jonesesare counting all sorts of things as long-term revenue that are, to be blunt, nothing your Accounting 101 professor would recognize as legitimate.

All the examples have one thing in common: ARR, or annual recurring revenue. The metric came to be a favorite of VCs and startups through the software-as-a-service (SaaS) wave starting in the 2000s, when it was widely accepted as a trusted proxy for a stable startup, with a reliable source of revenue and a reasonably shored-up future.

There is all this pressure from companies like Decagon, Cursor, and Cognition that are just crushing it, said one VC. Theres so much pressure to be the company that went from zero to $100 million in X days.

Beginning in 2024, a stream of holy shit growth metrics from VC-backed startups began to pop up on X (formerly Twitter). In less than three years, Midjourneys ARR went from zero to $200 million. In 20 months, ElevenLabs, a voice AI startup, saw its ARR soar from zero to near $100 million. In three months, vibe coding darling Lovable went from zero to $17 million in ARR, this summer hitting $100 million in ARR. In its first six months, Decagon hit seven figures in ARR, the company reported. The most famous example: AI coding tool Cursor went from nada to $100 million in ARR in a year. But who needs a year, anyway? Two VCs Fortune spoke to highlighted the announcement made by Andreessen Horowitzbacked AI cheat on everything tool Cluely, which claimed over the summer to have doubled ARR to $7 million over a week.

Story Continues

One example of what this looks like: A top-firm VC described an early-stage defense tech startup he was looking at, where the founder claimed $325,000 in ARR. The first time he said it, he didnt even make a big deal out of it, the VC said. He was like: Oh, by the way, we have a contract with this company, and its worth this much. In the second meeting, I said, Wait, lets go back to that customer, that big contract. How did that deal happen? A very common question. He said: Oh, it was super easy. It was a two-week pilot. And we have it on good authority that theyre going to keep paying us that much.

Record scratch: I was like: What does that mean? the VC said. Hold the phone, man. The good authority I subscribe to is a signed piece of paper.

How ARR became the favored metric in AI

A number is almost never just a number in tech. And it never has been.

Behind every revenue figure youve ever seen, especially when talking about privately held tech startups, there is a little bit of scienceand a lot of art. These companies arent monitored the way that public companies are, reporting to the Securities and Exchange Commission quarterly. Investors dont necessarily audit the companies they invest in, either. A financial due diligence process, before a VC invests, may involve an informal audit, but more likely its a game played with trust.

And in the SaaS era, technically starting in the 1990s and gaining steam through the 2000s, trust in ARR came comparatively easy. There was an agreed upon set of conventions. For example, annual per-seat pricing was standard, where one user pays for one year, and then accounts expanded by adding multiple users. And there was clear separation between ARR, CAR (signed contract value before activation), and recognized revenue (actual revenue booked). Typically 80% to 90% of CAR would convert to ARR, and you could predictably chart a companys expansion, relying on low churn rates and steady customers.

There were, in short, standardized methods of calculating ARR.

We did settle on these terms that everyone agreed on in the SaaS world, said Anna Barber, partner at VC firm M13. It was a lot harder to fudge, because people had a general understanding of what things had to mean. Today, we dont know what things have to mean in the same way. So, there}s a lot of confusion and, maybe, obfuscation.

Now, heres the wrinkle: The SaaS era wasnt a halcyon time of absolute revenue clarity, either. As the cloud wave started to take shape, ARR started to get a little funkier. Especially for consumer-facing companies (like restaurant software company Toast) there were questions about whether subscription revenue was a good proxy for ARR. But it was the emergence of AI that created a whole new layer of uncertainty.

Investors wanted to keep evaluating companies as SaaS-predictable, so they tried to shoehorn those elements into recurring revenue, said Nnamdi Okike, cofounder and managing partner of 645 Ventures. It doesnt truly work, but it worked well enough for investors to keep doing it. Now AI has shown up with a whole new set of elements, and it would be better for investors to finally create new metrics to represent this new reality.

ARR is in what could be described as an awkward phase, where there are some AI startups that are trying to use the metric with sincerity, but their business dynamics are just too different from traditional SaaS. Prospective customers are still in an experimentation phase, trying all sorts of products on short-term pilots, creating high churn risk. And AI services have unpredictable token usage, which refers to the amount of text that AI processes to understand language. (More tokens equals more usage, and more complicated queries require more token usage, by extension.) So, a few inference whales like OpenAI and Anthropic have massive pricing power and can skew costs, making AI startups financial structures fundamentally different from traditional SaaS businesses.

The classic SaaS model is dying as we speak, said Priya Saiprasad, general partner at Touring Capital. We shouldnt be using classic SaaS terms to measure these companies; we shouldnt be using the language of it. So we should all, collectively as an industry, evolve to a new set of metrics we feel comfortable measuring these companies by.

The result? Founders are counting pilots, one-time deals, or unactivated contracts as recurring revenue, six VCs told Fortune. And there are lots of hairs to split here. For example, some startups are claiming booked ARRnumbers based on what customers might pay in the future rather than what they actually are paying noweven though contracts frequently have provisions that let customers opt out at any time for any reason.

Companies are signing contracts with kill provisions, so theyre claiming booked ARR, but giving their customers an out, said one early-stage-focused VC. So its like, Okay, so Im claiming that I just booked this million-dollar-a-year contract. But by the way, it says in three months, you can cancel for no reason. Does that count?

Its important to say: While there is a massive amount of variation across industries, there are also widely accepted, optimal accounting principles. In general terms, there are normal red flags around revenue that accounting experts watch for.

If theres speculation that revenues being inflated, thats a primary concern among external auditors, said Jonathan Stanley, director of Auburns Harbert College of Business School of Accountancy and KPMG endowed professor. There are always many things youre looking for, but a company potentially trying to manipulate the revenue numbers to achieve a goal that really contradicts objective reporting is always a red flag.

And revenue itself, on a fundamental level, features both core truthsand discretionary realities.

You book revenue when the service is provided and/or when the goods are delivered, said Bradley Bennett, accounting department chair and professor at the University of Massachusetts Amhersts Isenberg School. Depending on how the contracts are written, depending on how clear those stated objectives or benchmarks are noted, and/or just the industry in general, theres some room for discretion and perhaps misreporting, intentional or not. Also, there are often incentives tied to revenue for management and members of the sales teams.

Until proven otherwise, theres nothing illegal about taking the rosiest view of revenue, and many would even say its a time-honored tradition. But that doesnt mean it cant cause problems (or crises) down the line.

The circular startup ecosystem

There are also broader sociological changes making the ARR shenanigans possible. One VC says part of the fault lies in well-established accelerators which have standardized what to say to raise money, encouraging metric manipulation.

Y Combinator, this VC says, standardized the approach to building companies to such a degree, mostly for the betterment of our industry, for the record, said one VC. But theyve also productized company-building to the extent that these people know exactly what to say. Theyve been in YC for 10 weeks, so they think they know, and they figure that annualizing whatever theyve got in week nine feels like a reasonable thing to do. (YC did not return a request for comment.)

And the fact that lots of these startups ultimately sell to other startups circuitously makes things even more insular. More than private equity, more than even banking, venture has an in crowd, said NYU professor Alison Taylor. A certain sort of person gets funded with a certain sort of business model.

The emphasis on ARR, ultimately, is reflective of a wider reckoning in venture overall. Not only are there more VCs (and more capital) than ever, but priorities are in flux. Generally, historically, theres been an important tradeoff in the venture capital industry between profitability and growth, said Ilya Strebulaev, a professor at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and coauthor of The Venture Mindset. But roiled by geopolitical tensions and macroeconomic uncertainty, that pendulum has been changing over time. I think venture capitalists are now spending more effort on profitability today than in the past, and are spending more effort on revenue. But that doesnt mean the tradeoff between profitability and growth has evaporatedabsolutely not.

In the end, as University of Virginia economist Anton Korinek points out, this isnt about ARR at all, but one step in a much bigger (and even more consequential) design. The big picture question is, Why are valuations so high? said Korinek. This is one of the symptoms of that. The bet is AGI [artificial general intelligence] or bust  If I want to give you even more money, because theres so much liquidity sloshing around, and we are really, really eager to invest in this, then please give me more ARR, and Ill give you a higher valuation.

One VC says he feels like hes going a little madbut thats the business: Its like going to a carnival and saying, Wait a second, this game where Im supposed to throw a ring around the milk bottle? Thats not a real milk bottle, thats not a real ring.

The consensus among VCs seems to be that ARR wont ultimately be the way forward at all: Smart investors will develop new ways to assess AI businesses, focusing on retention, daily active usage, and unit economics.

Until then, it may be the VCs and founders who have pumped up ARR who will feel the most pain if a bubble bursts. This is an equity-driven boom, says Korinek, and the main losers in equity-driven booms like the one right now are the ones who made the bets.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Recently on The Joe Budden Podcast, Dr. Marc Lamont Hill explained why many believe Assata Shakur was framed for killing a state trooper.

This week on The Joe Budden Podcast, Dr. Marc Lamont Hill gave listeners a history lesson in honor of Assata Shakurs passing last week. While paying his respects to the late political activist, Hill shared little-known facts about Shakur, also known as Joanne Chesimard.

For those that dont know, Assata Shakur was a former Black Panther, a former member of the Black Liberation Army, who was one of many people due to the COINTELPRO government counterintelligence program, was surveilled, and was railroaded, Hill shared. She was accused of a lot of things, murder, bank robbery, kidnapping, etc. She was acquitted three times.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Hill also went on to discuss her infamous case in which she was charged and convicted of murdering New Jersey State trooper Werner Foerster in a shootout on the New Jersey Turnpike on May 2, 1973.

She was also tried and convicted in absentia for the murder of a New Jersey State Trooper. The medical evidence proved that she did not do it. She actually was paralyzed in the arm that they said that she shot [with], he explained. She was arrested, she was convicted. She was placed in prison. She was the first woman to be placed in a mens prison in US history.

While at Middlesex prison and Clinton Correctional in New Jersey, Shakur was tortured, Hill explained. Hill, like many Black people, describes Shakur as his hero.

Assata stands as a figure of power and possibility for so many of us, he reflected before diving into one of the most enduring parts of her history. In 1979, Shakur escaped prison and has been sought by the US since. However, Hill explained that she did not do it alone.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Now that shes passed, I feel a little bit more comfortable talking about what happened, but its not my place to tell the whole story. But people broke in, freed her, including Sekou Odinga, who passed away earlier this year, Hill shared. They freed her out of the prison, and she escaped to Cuba, where she received diplomatic immunity and has stayed in Cuba for the last four decades. Shout out to the Cuban government for protecting her and keeping her safe, even though New Jersey attempted to bring her back many, many times. Theyve had her on the FBI terrorist list for decades now. Shes the first woman to be on there, but she stayed free.

He continued: Shes been a giant in hip hop. If some of yall listen to Rebel Without a Cause when you hear Chuck D say that he supports Chesimard, hes talking about Joanne Chesimard, who is Assata Shakur. When you hear A Song for Assata on Like Water for Chocolate [by Common], theyre talking about Assata Shakur. When Black August Hip Hop went to Cuba that first time they made the trip, they visited Assata. Tupac also referred to her as Auntie Assata.

On September 25, 2025, Assata Shakur reportedly died due to health ailments and her advanced age, according to the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Her daughter, Kakuya Shakur, later confirmed the news on Facebook.

Assata was a legend and a mentor and a resource to so many of us. Although she remained hidden in Cuba, especially in the later years, she just stands tall and strong, and Im grateful that she was able to live free and die free, Hill concluded. So we say always hands off Assata, always free all political prisoners, always love to Assata. So we say rest in peace as she returns to the ancestors.

More must-reads:




James Vendetti, a Rotterdam resident who began his military career as an Army private, has been promoted to colonel while serving with the New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing at Stratton Air National Guard Base in Scotia.

Vendetti, an Iraq War veteran, earned the promotion while serving as commander of the 109th Maintenance Squadron. He leads 300 airmen and is responsible for training personnel who oversee the upkeep and readiness of the wing's fleet of heavy-lift and ski-equipped LC-130 Hercules troop-cargo aircraft tasked with executing worldwide combat and Polar airlift operations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Col. Steven Slosek, 109th Airlift Wing commander, presided over the promotion ceremony earlier this year at Stratton Air National Guard Base.

Slosek praised Vendetti's leadership, noting his role in sustaining the wing's airlift mission in support of the National Science Foundation in Greenland and Antarctica.

"Colonel Vendetti's professionalism and commitment to excellence have been vital to the mission success of the 109th Maintenance Squadron and the wing as a whole," Slosek said during the ceremony.

After Vendetti graduated from Mohonasen High School in Rotterdam in 1992, he earned a Bachelor of Science in organizational management at Nyack College in 2006. He also graduated from the Air Command and Staff College and the Air War College.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

He was commissioned as a second lieutenant upon graduation from the Air National Guard's Academy of Military Science in 2008.

Vendetti has 33 years of experience in military communications and technology, as well as logistics.

He previously served as commander of the 109th Logistics Readiness Squadron.

Vendetti served as operations director of the 443rd Air Expeditionary Squadron at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, in 2022 and 2023.

The colonel has earned three Meritorious Service Medals, three Air Force Commendation Medals, an Army Achievement Medal, and an Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal.

Mission completed

The New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing air crews have wrapped up their 2025 support season for National Science Foundation research in Greenland, according to Staff Sgt. Jocelyn Tuller, 109th spokeswoman.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

They flew ski-equipped LC-130 Hercules troop-cargo aircraft to complete those Greenland missions that began in April. The air crews conducted essential airlift missions to support scientific research on the Greenland ice cap. The unit's primary responsibilities included transporting personnel, equipment and supplies to remote locations.

"The wing's airmen flew more than 360 hours and transported 1 million pounds of cargo, 80,000 gallons of fuel and 630 passengers in support of the Arctic operations," Tuller said. "Their work ensured the continued flow of supplies and personnel, enabling operations and research in one of the world's most challenging environments."

The close of the Greenland support season also marks the start of preparations for the next operational cycle. The 109th will begin its annual Operation Deep Freeze support season in October, providing supplies to U.S. scientific facilities in Antarctica.

"The 109th's success in completing this year's Greenland mission proves our aircrew and support staff have unwavering dedication and exceptional skill, even in the harshest conditions," said Col. Steven Slosek, commander of the 109th Airlift Wing. "Now, as we transition to Antarctica, that same spirit will drive us as we support U.S. interests. This adaptability is the heart of the wing's success."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The Antarctic support season runs through February 2026.

Veteran services, events

Support Committee volunteers at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery have put out a plea for veteran groups and others to help them compile a brochure that will list veteran services and events planned for this year and next.

The Support Committee expects to have the brochure completed in time for the group's annual Veterans Day Ceremony The event is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Nov. 11 at the cemetery at 200 Duell Road in Schuylerville.

"The committee is in the process of organizing our Veterans Day Ceremony," said Nancy O'Donnell, committee spokeswoman. "Our thoughts are to provide attendees with a brochure that lists a compiled list of veteran services and upcoming events throughout the year and next."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

That brochure would also be available throughout the year at the Saratoga National Cemetery Information Center and would be updated annually, O'Donnell noted.

The deadline for submission is Oct. 6. Information can be emailed to SARNCSC@gmail.com.

For more information about how to help, contact Nancy O'Donnell at 518-538-1976 or dodonnell@nycap.rr.com.

Veteran Stand Down

Free services for male and female veterans, clothing, medical screenings, haircuts, and programs will be available during the village of Colonie Veteran Stand Down from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, at the Recreation Center, located at 3 Thunder Road in Colonie.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Free breakfast and boxed lunch will be provided, and employment services will be available.

For information, contact Dom Dominguez at 518-522-1175 or the Village Hall at 518-869-7562.

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.
Erie's surge in electric bikes, commonly known as e-bikes, and electric scooters has caused people to wonder if they are legal.

The answer is simple for electric scooters, more complex for e-bikes, said Erie Bureau of Police Sgt. Scott Kornetz, commander of the bureau's motorcycle unit.

More: E-bike rider killed in accident on upper Peach Street near Interstate 90

"Electric scooters are completely illegal to operate on roads and sidewalks in Pennsylvania," Kornetz said. "They are only permitted on private property."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Electric scooters, which are pedal scooters with a small motor, differ from motor scooters, which look more like a small motorcycle. Motor scooters can be driven on roads but require a driver's license, registration and insurance.

A man rides an e-bike on the sidewalk in the 900 block of State Street in Erie on Sept. 10.

E-bikes are permitted to operate on all roadways and some sidewalks, as long as the motor is 750 watts or less, and it can't travel faster than 20 mph.

The operator must follow the same rules of the road that bicyclists follow, which includes stopping at red lights and stop signs, Erie police said. They must also signal when turning left or right.

More: E-bike injuries spike, hospital says.

Where can I ride my e-bike on the sidewalk?

E-bikes are not allowed to be operated on the sidewalks in business districts in Pennsylvania. In Erie, that includes all of downtown Erie, as well as West 12th Street and East 12th Street.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The same rule applies for bicycles, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

E-bikes with more powerful motors require registration, license and insurance.

More: What to know about riding an electric bicycle in Erie, Millcreek or at Presque Isle

Contact David Bruce at dbruce@gannett.com. Follow him on X @ETNBruce.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Pennsylvania's rules of the road for e-bikes and motor scooters
(Courtesy of Creative Commons via Pixabay)

The Virginia Department of Education is pushing back against accusations that it failed to follow the General Assemblys directive to create a new statewide student assessment system.

In 2022, Gov. Glenn Youngkin and lawmakers sought to build a new system with rigorous standards for students, best-in-class assessments, and a transparent and meaningful accountability and support system, according to a Jan. 9 report.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The agency suggested in a statement to The Mercury that lawmakers could have avoided delays by including mandatory carry forward language when appropriating $500,000 for the project, which would have allowed officials to begin soliciting proposals from qualified vendors immediately.

No General Assembly deadlines have been missed, and the General Assembly has been steadily updated, said Kenita Matthews, a VDOE spokeswoman, in a statement last week.

The response came after Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Richmond, the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor and chair of the Senate Committee on Education and Health, raised concerns about delays and risks in a letter to Secretary of Education Aimee Guidera and Superintendent of Public Instruction Emily Anne Guillickson.

In her Sept. 22 letter, Hashmi noted that no Request for Proposals (RFP) had been issued following the legislatures authorization for the agency to extend the existing Standards of Learning assessment contract with Pearson, an educational publishing company, through Dec. 31, 2027. The intent was to ensure continuity of testing while a new contract is secured.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Hashmi added that lawmakers appropriated $500,000 for VDOE to hire a vendor to analyze options for an innovative new assessment system and to craft a competitive RFP with input from a work group of superintendents, teachers, principals, and assessment experts.

Under the budget language, a report with cost options and recommendations is due to the House and Senate education and appropriations committees by Nov. 1.

Hashmi wrote that the education committees were told the RFP would be issued by Sept. 1, but that deadline was missed and monthly updates had not been submitted.

Without a vendor and a project plan underway, she warned, the timeline for releasing an RFP next year cannot be met.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The absence of market analysis and cost estimates will force the 2026 General Assembly to appropriate funds for a new multi-year assessment contract without the benefit of informed estimates or competitive bids, risking either underfunding the program or committing tens of millions of dollars beyond what is necessary, Hashmi wrote. Inaction now jeopardizes both fiscal responsibility and the quality of assessments for our students. The stakes are significant.

Matthews countered that because the budget did not allow the funds to carry over from fiscal year 2025 to 2026, the agency needed approval before moving forward. She said there was not enough time to properly hire a consultant before June, when the governor approved VDOEs expedited discretionary carryover request on Aug. 25.

Typically, the governor must approve leftover funding for the following year in the fall, Matthews said.

To ensure compliance with procurement policies and procedures the department had to ensure that the carryover request was approved, and carryover funding was allotted prior to posting an RFP and approved funding/appropriation was available to support the awarding of a contract to an assessment consultant, she wrote.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Matthews said VDOE is now finalizing the procurement process for the mandated assessment vendor and expects to issue the RFP no later than October 6.

She added that VDOE will resume providing monthly updates to lawmakers. The work group also has six meetings scheduled before the end of the year, two of them ahead of the Nov. 1 reporting deadline.

Hashmi received a response letter from Gullickson, which she is currently reviewing.



This is a substantial undertaking by the commonwealth that will impact our school districts, educators, and students for years to come, and we have a condensed time frame to act, Hashmi said in a statement to the Mercury. It is time to get serious with the Request for Proposal (RFP) process, continue a transparent process with stakeholders, and ensure our students are well-positioned for success in 2026.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed on Sept. 10, was known as a big supporter of free speech. He once posted on X that: "There's ugly speech. There's gross speech. There's evil speech. And ALL of it is protected by the First Amendment."

But not everyone would characterize him as a free speech evangelist. Certainly not former sociology professor Ken Storey.

In 2017, Storey landed on the Professor Watchlist, which is a compilation of college professors "who discriminate against conservative students and advance leftist propaganda in the classroom," according to its website, run by Turning Point USA, the nonprofit started by Kirk and now headed by his wife, Erika.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Storey was put on the watchlist in 2017 after posting, as he puts it, "a poorly worded tweet," which he promptly deleted and apologized for. Within days, Storey's career as a college professor was  for all practical purposes  gone. And he soon got voice messages like this: "I'm going to beat you to death."

Ken Storey/

People who are on the Professor Watchlist say it has eroded their academic freedom and chilled their speech. Some have compared it to the McCarthy-era blacklist.

Storey, who now works in a different career and lives in Orlando, denounces Kirk's slaying at a public event on a college campus in Utah. and says he feels "awful" for his family and friends.

First and foremost, violence is never the answer. And what happened to him is wrong. I do hope that justice is served, and ... the people who were responsible are held accountable for their actions, Storey said. "But that being said, we cant let his horrific murder overshadow the division that he helped sow."

What is Turning Point USA's Professor Watchlist?

Turning Point USA launched the Professor Watchlist in 2016 as "a carefully aggregated list sourced by published news stories detailing instances of radical behavior among college professors," the website states.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Hundreds of professors nationwide are listed. The News-Journal found nearly 20 at Florida colleges and universities. Higher-profile schools, such as Harvard University, the University of Michigan, and the University of Texas at Austin, have dozens.

The News-Journal contacted Turning Point USA seeking comment, but did not receive a response.

The website itself explains: "The mission of Professor Watchlist is to expose and document college professors who discriminate against conservative students and advance leftist propaganda in the classroom."

Hundreds of people showed up at the Charlie Kirk vigil held at Riverside Park in New Smyrna Beach, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025.

The site states its reporting is based only on "incidents that have been reported and published via a credible source."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Turning Point USA states it supports free speech and the right of professors to say what they believe.

"However, students, parents and alumni deserve to know the specific incidents and names of professors that advance a radical agenda in our lecture halls," the site states.

What sparked the Professor Watchlist?

Journalism scholar Jane Bambauer, at the University of Florida, said the watchlist was a reaction to an on-campus culture that developed in the 2010s.

Jane Bambauer, professor of law, journalism and communications at the University of Florida.

Its true university campuses always were somewhat left-biased and always tolerated more extreme ideas from the left than it ever had on the right, or at least it had been the case for decades," she said. "But in the 2010s, I do think that there was a growing trend in faculty disciplining each other and kind of enforcing a sort of conformity."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

She called it "intellectual blackmail."

Fox News and other right-wing outlets routinely reported on campus intolerance of the right on subjects like race, LGBTQ rights and religion, and the Professor Watchlist culled many of those stories together in a central hub.

"It cherry-picked the worst offenders," Bambauer said, "but still it gave a glimpse into the culture of the university that may have been shocking and looked quite different to the parents who were sending their kids to the universities, thinking it was the same as when they were going.

Some professors report threats, intimidation

On Aug. 27, 2017, Hurricane Harvey was hitting eastern Texas. The storm caused widespread flooding and more than 100 deaths.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Storey, then an adjunct sociology professor at the University of Tampa, was attempting to make a point about Republicans' rejection of climate change and the first election of Donald Trump the year before.

Storey posted on X, then known as Twitter: "I dont believe in instant Karma but this kinda feels like it for Texas. Hopefully this will help them realize the GOP doesnt care about them."

His tweet got some attention from far-right blogs over the next day. It wasn't until the Professor Watchlist seized on it, more than 24 hours after the post, that Storey's tweet became mainstream news.

He apologized, but was fired.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Storey started getting death-threat voicemails. He moved temporarily to a friend's house and, for a time, had police stationed at his home and checking on his parents.

"A single poorly worded tweet shouldnt result in me getting death threats and me getting voicemails about people wanting to chop my hands into little pieces in front of me," he said. "And a single poorly worded tweet shouldnt be enough for me to completely lose my career.

Sharon Wright Austin, a tenured professor of political science at the University of Florida, was placed on the watchlist and tagged with sharing a "racial ideology."

Austin, who is Black, researches African-American political behavior. She has accused some conservatives of using "coded language" to appeal to bigoted voters and written that Haitian immigrants are less likely to be granted asylum because of racism.

Sharon Austin, a professor of political science at the University of Florida, was placed on Turning Point USA's "Professor Watchlist" after offering her opinion that conservatives have used "coded language" to appeal to bigoted voters.

The Professor Watchlist, she said, took some direct quotes from interviews and "presented it in a really negative context," to make her look like a radical leftist.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"They try to paint us as extremists and biased, and they try to insinuate that we are the kind of professors who are going to have a bias against conservative students," she said.

Landing on the list, Austin said, has been "intimidating." She noted that each of the four University of Florida professors on the watchlist is either a person of color or someone who identifies as LGBTQ.

She worries that "there is always the possibility that someone could find you on these websites and could think youre this radical professor, and could direct violence at you or members of your family," Austin said. "... It's putting us at risk."

Filmmaker, former professor gets put on the Watchlist

Kevin Parkinson, a filmmaker and former professor who said his profile on Professor Watchlist ultimately led to him leaving a job at Grand Canyon University, made a documentary about the plight of the professors on the watchlist. "Surviving Turning Point USA" can be streamed on Fawesome, a free streaming service.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Parkinson served as a part-time adjunct faculty member in the College of Arts and Media at Grand Canyon. He learned of a "slanderous" article on the Professor Watchlist from his dean. The article stated Parkinson opposed Judeo-Christian values.

Kevin Parkinson, a filmmaker and former college professor, has made, "Surviving Turning Point USA," a 2024 documentary available for streaming on Fawesome.

The article was based on a recording made by a student in one of Parkinson's classes, Intercultural Communications. Parkinson, a Christian, was attempting to make a point about how if Jesus Christ lived today, he would be considered a gang leader.

"He'd be tried and executed for the same reasons, so we have to be very careful as Christians to not negatively label people in society so easily, because that who we're supposed to worship would have been labeled the same way," Parkinson said.

He explained his approach to teaching.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"When you work at an educational institution of higher learning, it is designed for you to help people have new trains of thought, and form new thought patterns," Parkinson said. "Indoctrination is truly forbidden in higher education, you know."

Parkinson contends he did not violate any of the rules at Grand Canyon, a private, Christian university based in Phoenix, Arizona.

GCU determined Parkinson "had used an inappropriate analogy in the classroom in an attempt to be provocative and make a point," according to Bob Romantic, the university's executive director of communications and public relations.

And when the university learned he was making a documentary about the Professor Watchlist, the school asked that he remove the school's name from the film, given that "GCU has no association with the documentary or the opinions expressed," Romantic said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Parkinson declined the request and was placed on administrative leave for the Fall 2024 semester, and his contract was not renewed.

Even though Turning Point USA removed Parkinson from the watchlist, Parkinson has suffered financial hardship and hasn't been able to find work in academia.

"There are real-life consequences going on for people's names being put on this list, and people are forgetting that," Parkinson said. "I'm not here to say I hate a Charlie Kirk supporter. I'm not here to say I hate Charlie Kirk. I am here to tell you I hate what he did to me, man."

Former Indiana professor responds with list of his own

Chris Lamb, a recently retired professor of Journalism at Indiana University, Indianapolis, and a onetime Daytona Beach News-Journal reporter, said his inclusion on the Professor Watchlist didn't bring any negative consequences to him, but he points out that he was a tenured professor.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Lamb appears, as does Storey, in Parkinson's documentary, criticizing the watchlist for his inclusion, which was "silly," he said.

Chris Lamb, retired professor from Indiana University Indianapolis.

"It's like winning a trophy I didn't deserve," Lamb said.

In 2022, Lamb was listed for "racial ideology." The Professor Watchlist quoted Lamb:

When Trump ran for president in 2016, he used racially divisive rhetoric, calling Mexican immigrants criminals and rapists, proposing a ban on all Muslims entering the U.S. and suggesting a judge should recuse himself from a case solely because of the judges Mexican heritage.

Lamb explained his approach: "The best way to make an ass out of someone is to quote them."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Lamb hasn't been intimidated, responding with his own website, Only the Worst People, which lists some 300 Trump associates and their lies, arrests or other misdeeds.

"It's called America," he said. "As citizens, we're supposed to engage in matters of public interest."

Universities in 'political cultural war'

The Professor Watchlist was designed to intimidate and ostracize the people it lists, according to Jonathan Friedman of PEN America, a nonprofit that defends free expression in literature.

Its true that sometimes there are ways in which people exercise speech that are really harmful and silence the speech of others, and I think this is one of them, said Friedman, the organization's managing director of free expression programs. Its obviously designed to sow division, and I dont think that its been a productive addition to our national discourse to have a website that is looking to put these profiles that are overly negative and decontextualizes so many faculty out there for anyone to see.

Friedman agrees it's fair to say academia has not been as welcoming of conservatives as liberals.

"There is truth in much of that," he said, "but I dont think the solution to that  which we are now seeing all across the country  is to have politicians come in and exert direct ideological control over the classroom, or the operation of universities, essentially dictating whats allowed, saying theyre doing it in the service of fighting indoctrination, but using that as a kind of smokescreen for a campaign of takeover."

In Florida, the 2022 Stop WOKE Act barred professors and teachers from discussing sexism, slavery, racial oppression and segregation in ways that might "indoctrinate" students. No one should be instructed to feel as if they are not equal or shamed because of their race, Gov. Ron DeSantis said at the time. "In Florida, we will not let the far-left woke agenda take over our schools and workplaces. There is no place for indoctrination or discrimination in Florida.

Even though a federal judge blocked its application to colleges, Bambauer said the law has effectively limited free expression in Florida classrooms, where universities are a battlefield in a political and cultural war.

"I dont think the current state is good. I think what were seeing is a sort of chilling effect that comes from an attempt to put a thumb on the scale in the marketplace of ideas from conservatives," she said, "but there was also a pretty heavy thumb on the scale prior to all this in favor of teaching diversity in a certain, particular way."

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Turning Point USA's Professor Watchlist exposes left-leaning academics
SANFORD, Maine  The City of Sanfords annual Candidates Night will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 8, moderated by local journalists Kendra Williams and Shawn Sullivan.

City Council incumbents Robert Stackpole and Peter Tranchemontagne will face off against three first-time candidates  Gerald Guay, Charlene Plante, and Logan Laughlin  as all five vie for three-year terms on the council at the Nov. 4 election.

City Council candidates will share their ideas and positions regarding local issues during a Candidates Night at City Hall in Sanford, Maine, on Oct. 8, 2025.

All candidates have been invited to participate in the forum, which will be held in the Council Chambers at Sanford City Hall at 919 Main Street that evening at 6 p.m.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Mayor Becky Brink will kick off the event with a State of the City Address. From there, candidates will introduce themselves, give their positions on the citys most pressing issues, and make closing statements.

The public is invited to attend the forum, which also will be livestreamed on WSSRTVs channel on YouTube. Viewers who are not able to tune in on the night of the forum will be able to watch it on YouTube anytime afterwards.

More: Sanford freezes mobile home rent hikes for 90 days: Here's why

The race for the two council seats is the only contested one on the ballot at the Nov. 4 election in Sanford.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Elsewhere on the ballot, School Committee incumbents Melissa Simpson and Jonathan Stimmell are running unopposed and are expected to secure new terms, barring a successful write-in campaign

Melissa Alipalo is also unchallenged in her bid to continue serving as a trustee of the Sanford Water District.

In the Sanford Sewerage District, trustees Gregory Ackroyd and Michael Fraser face no opposition in their bids for additional three-year terms.

A special delivery: Sanford firefighters honored after helping deliver baby girl

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Election 2025: Sanford City Council candidates to debate Oct. 8
Recently, the Alia CX 300, an innovative new aircraft running entirely on electricity, marked the first time an electric airplane had flown between two major Norwegian cities. For a country intent on leading the world in green transport, the symbolism could hardly be more potent.

Norways Energy Paradox

Norway is an energy paradox: the largest oil producer in Europe outside Russia, shipping roughly two million barrels a day, and one of the worlds top natural gas exporters. Yet even as petroleum brings in billions, officials know the wells will not last forever. More than half of the reserves on the continental shelf have already been drawn up.

Unless new fields emerge, production will start to decline within a decade. With $1.9 trillion stashed in its sovereign wealth fund, Norway is positioning itself for a post-oil future, channeling investments into renewable energy and electrification.

(Image: BETA)

Transportation at the Center of Change

Transportation has become the centerpiece. Already, nearly nine out of ten new cars sold last year were electric, one of the highest rates anywhere. Ferries crossing fjords now hum on battery packs. And soon, if Avinor, the national airport authority, succeeds, short-haul flights will join them.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

On this crisp morning, five batteries fully charged, the Alia CX 300 lifted off from Stavanger bound for Bergen. In its hold sat only empty cardboard boxes, but its real cargo was hope: that planes like this might shrink distances between the nations hundreds of scattered communities.

Inside the Alia CX 300 Flight

Inside the stripped-down cockpit, Bristow pilot Jeremy Degagne and Beta Technologies engineer Cole Hanson watched a glowing screen chart the terrain. Absent were the swinging needles of fuel gauges; absent, too, was the roar of engines. Only radio chatter broke the quiet as the blue bar on their display inched lower with every mile.

The Challenge of Battery Power

The promise of electric flight is tempered by physics. The Achilles heel is the battery, explained Guy Gratton, aviation professor at Cranfield University. Storing energy in lithium packs is still fifty times heavier than jet fuel. Unlike kerosene, batteries do not burn away as a plane flies, leaving the craft just as heavy at landing as at takeoff. Cold air, headwinds, and repeated fast charges further challenge their durability.

Still, the Alia CX 300 is one of the most advanced contenders. Built in Vermont by Beta Technologies, it has flown test routes in the United States, impressed crowds at the Paris Air Show, and drawn attention from governments and airlines from China to the United Arab Emirates. Norway, determined to accelerate the shift, put up $5 million to help stage this very flight, and more funding is set aside to ready its 44 airports with chargers.

Why Norway Is Watching Closely

Norwegians are watching closely. For decades, air travel has been the lifeblood in a land of islands and mountains where ferries are slow and roads wind endlessly. The milk run routes, as locals call them, hop daily between far-flung villages, some north of the Arctic Circle. More than 560 domestic flights crisscross the country each day, and most cover distances of less than 250 miles, ideally suited to electric planes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

For passengers like Vibeke Persen, a student who grew up in a tiny Arctic town, the stakes are personal. I fly the milk run all the time, she said. If the tickets are affordable and it helps the environment, that would ease my guilty conscience.

Learning From Norways EV Success

Norways track record with cars shows what is possible. Market share for new EVs rose from just over half in 2020 to nearly 90 percent last year. Incentives made electric models more affordable, while perks such as bus-lane access and free tolls accelerated their adoption. More than 10,000 public chargers now dot the country, creating expertise in charging networks that is now being adapted to aviation. Stavanger Airport installed a hidden underground charger just months before Alias flight; its substation was clad in sleek wood panels, a Scandinavian design that masked its industrial muscle.

By car, the 99-mile journey from Stavanger to Bergen would take more than four hours, including two ferry crossings. The Alia completed it in 55 minutes, landing softly to applause from Avinor crews and airline executives. Its batteries still showed about half a charge.

Then came the final test: recharging. A technician hauled out a thick black cable, plugged it into the plane, and the numbers on the cockpit screen began to climb. A cheer went up.

A Cheaper, Simpler Way to Fly

For Bristow executive Simon Meakins, the appeal goes beyond symbolism. Without a gearbox, hydraulic system, or fuel engine, electric planes are simpler to maintain and could be 30 percent cheaper to run than conventional aircraft. You eliminate so many moving parts, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Norways approach to climate policy is pragmatic. As Nordea analyst Thina Margrethe Saltvedt put it, Electric aircraft have little effect on Norways existing oil industry, so this wont face much resistance. In other words, the country can reduce emissions in transportation without jeopardizing the industry that still contributes to its treasury.

The Alia CX 300, with its 50-foot wingspan and top speed of 176 miles an hour, will not replace international jets. However, it could reshape short-haul travel in one of the most geographically fragmented countries in Europe.

As the pilots climbed out after their successful trip, Degagne, who had been training on the Alia since July, was visibly relieved. Its very straightforward to fly, he said with a smile. At the end of the day, its just another airplane. And thats exactly how it should feel.

Beta Technologies Is Creating an Electric Transportation Ecosystem Thats Safe, Reliable, and Sustainable

BETA Technologies, headquartered in Burlington, Vermont, is creating an electric transportation ecosystem thats safe, reliable, and sustainable. The companys relentlessly focused team is building an extensive charging infrastructure and ALIA, the worlds most technologically advanced electric vertical aircraft (EVA).

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

BETAs platform and products are straightforward. Prioritization of safety and a pragmatic approach to certification drives elegant redundancy, appropriate diversity of implementation, and simplicity of control. ALIAs fixed-pitch propellers and centrally located batteries make it an inherently stable aircraft, safe to fly, and easy to maneuver.

This article originally appeared on EVinfo.net and has been republished with permission by Guessing Headlights.
Supporters gather around Randall Weddle after the city council removed him as London mayor on Sept. 5. (Kentucky Lantern photo by McKenna Horsley)

Ousted London Mayor Randall Weddle has been reinstated to his post following a brief court battle.

He wasted no time returning to office and led a special-called city council meeting shortly after the ruling.

Circuit Judge David Williams ruled in favor of Weddle returning to the office in a Monday decision. The order said the London City Council failed to present sufficient grounds for removing Weddle from office.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Weddle had appealed an early September decision of the city council to remove him from office. After an hours-long hearing, the council members voted to remove Weddle based on three charges of misconduct and willful neglect, including that the mayor signed a $5 million mortgage for the city without council approval.

According to court documents, Weddles attorney, Carmine Iaccarino, argued that city council members had engaged in politics and score-settling when removing Weddle from office without legally sufficient basis or substantial evidence to support that drastic action. Iaccarino had previously represented Weddle during the September city council meeting.

Chris Wiest, who presented the city councils arguments, wrote in a brief that Weddles appeal should be denied and defended the process. Wiest said Weddle was given notice of the charges against him, several of which were the basis of the removals of other public officers that were upheld by the Kentucky appellate courts, he was given a full public hearing, evidence was adduced under oath, he was permitted to introduce evidence in his behalf, he was permitted to cross-examine witnesses, and where all necessary votes for unanimity and state law was followed.

At the end of the September council meeting, Tracie Handley was appointed acting mayor.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Williams, a judge for the 40th Judicial Circuit, was assigned as a special judge in the case filed in Laurel County following a motion from Weddles attorneys. Williams is the former Republican state Senate president.

Weddle and the city council have had a months-long brawl leading up to the courtroom drama. City Council meetings became public spectacles as the former mayor and the council members argued back and forth about the allegations. Plus, citizens packed meeting rooms to show their support for or opposition to the mayor.

Special city council meetings were set for Monday evening and Tuesday afternoon to discuss local tax rates, with a vote scheduled for Tuesday.

Weddle led the Monday meeting, seated next to council members. A livestream on the citys Facebook page had more than 1,000 viewers at the start of the meeting.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Weddle told city council members he held no grudges in what youve done.

Now that youve done what youve done, and the courts have overturned your ruling, Im just asking now that you guys start working with me, and I with you, and lets move the city of London forward, Weddle said.
Just as Sunday service at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan, was getting underway, congregants heard a loud boom near the front of the church. Fearing that someone was injured, some moved toward the sound to help, but were met with gunfire.

A man police have identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, of Burton, Michigan, rammed his Chevy Silverado truck  adorned with a pair of American flags in the bed  through the churchs front door and began firing an assault rifle at the hundreds of gathered worshippers. At some point, he set the church ablaze while terrified congregants were still trapped in the building.

By the time the shooting was over, one victim was dead, 9 others were wounded, and Sanford was killed in a gunfight with police. Later in the day, three more victims were declared dead; one from a gunshot wound, and two others who were found later in the evening inside the burned remains of the church.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Grand Blanc Police Chief William Renye said during an 8pm press conference that there were still individuals unaccounted for, and that the church had not fully been cleared by first responders. Additional victims may be found.

Phillip Cotter, who was a member of the church, teared up as he spoke to the Detroit Free Press. He did not attend services this morning, I know everyone who was there, he said.

I don't know what God has planned for us, but I trust him. Evil is alive; it's active. People are too casual to throw out terms that inflame others, weak minds.

A fire broke out at Michigan Mormon church Sunday morning after a gunman drove into the building while hundreds of church goers attended service inside (Getty)

At 10:25 am, the Grand Blanc Police Department received a call that a mass shooting was underway. Within a minute, officers were on scene and responding to the situation. At some point during the attack, Sanford exited the church and began firing at cars and churchgoers in the parking lot. A Grand Blanc Township police officer and an officer from the states Department of Natural Resources were on-scene and fired at Sanford, killing him at 10:33 am.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Firefighter first responders raced to the scene to help stop the blaze at the church while police and EMS workers tended to the wounded.

James Deir, the Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Detroit Field Division, said during the Sunday night press conference that agents located explosives during their investigation, though he did not say where the explosives were found. He did confirm that Thomas Jacob Sanford used gasoline to start the fire in the church.

In the hours after the shooting, there were also reportedly bomb threats called in to other area churches, according to Specialist Lieutenant Kim Vetter of the Michigan State Police. When asked if there was an active threat to the community, she advised residents to stay vigilant and report any unusual behavior, but did not confirm that there was an ongoing threat.

Once officers identified the shooter, a convoy of law enforcement officers traveled to his home in Burton to begin an investigation into his potential motives. Police deployed a bomb squad unit, including a robot, and used drones to search Sanfords home, fearing that he may have rigged its interior with explosives.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The shooting came out of nowhere; one man, who was injured when the gunman fired a bullet through his windshield as he tried to escape with his wife, told Detroit 2 News that no one he had spoken with had ever seen Sanford before.

Reyne commended the members of the church for their bravery in the face of unimaginable violence, noting that many were shielding the children inside the building as they rushed them to safety.

Just hundreds of people, just practicing their faith, Reyne said of the congregants.

The shooting broke out at the Church of Latter Day Saints in Grand Blanc Township at 10:25 a.m. Sunday, authorities said (Julie J/@Malkowski6April)

We do believe that there were people up there that were near that fire and they were unable to get out of the church. So, we do believe we will find additional victims once were able to search that, once theres no signs of a fire reigniting, Reyne said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

He said he believes that the fire was intentionally started by Sanford.

At 5 pm, Reyne provided a second update, where he named the shooter and gave a brief update on the conditions of the wounded. At that time, no additional victims were added to the previous count.

Little is known of Sanford at this time. According to the New York Times, Sanford graduated from a high school near the church before joining the U.S. Marine Corps.

One of Sanfords neighbors, Randy Thronson, 71, told the Times that he knew the shooter, and said during the winter Sanford would plow his and his neighbors driveways for free. He noted that he had not spoken to the man for two years, but said he seemed like a nice guy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The Clarkston News, a local paper in the area, published an article about Sanford in 2007 lauding his stellar military service, noting that he had reached the rank of sergeant at his duty station in Okinawa, Japan, before he was deployed to Fallujah, Iraq.

The U.S. Marine Corps released further information about Sanfords service to NBC News. He was an organization automotive mechanic and vehicle recovery operator, and received the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and National Defense Service Medal before he left the service.

His final posting was in the 2nd Maintenance Battalion of Combat Logistics Regiment 25 at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

He reportedly was a father, and his son  who was born approximately 10 years ago  was diagnosed with hyperinsulinism, according to USA TODAY. Individuals with the rare disease have higher-than-normal levels of insulin, which can increase the risk of brain-related complications.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

We found out Brantlee was having problems shortly after his birth, Sanford said in a 2016 interview about his familys medical struggles . It was a nightmare for us. We were slowly realizing that Brantlee wasnt a typical premature baby."

The childs condition today and the state of Sanfords family in the wake of the attack are currently unknown.

Police are still investigating a possible motive for the attack.

Police said the suspected gunman drove his vehicle into the church before opening fire inside on church-goers (AFP/Getty)

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer condemned the violence shortly after the shooting occurred.

My heart is breaking for the Grand Blanc community, Whitmer said in a social media post. Violence anywhere, especially in a place of worship, is unacceptable. I am grateful to the first responders who took action quickly. We will continue to monitor this situation and hold the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc close.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

By 1:08 pm, President Donald Trump acknowledged that he had been briefed on the shooting and provided the following statement in a post on Truth Social:

I have been briefed on the horrendous shooting that took place at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Grand Blanc, Michigan. The FBI was immediately on scene, and will be leading the Federal Investigation, and providing full support to State and Local Officials. The suspect is dead, but there is still a lot to learn. This appears to be yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America. The Trump Administration will keep the Public posted, as we always do. In the meantime, PRAY for the victims, and their families. THIS EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY MUST END, IMMEDIATELY!

FBI agents are on the scene helping local authorities in the response to the deadly attack (Keeping the Community Informed/Facebook)

The shooting marks the 324th mass shooting this year, according to data kept by the Gun Violence Archive. The archive defines a mass shooting as one in which four or more people, not including the shooter, are shot.

Less than 24 hours before the church attack, Nigel Edge, another Marine veteran who deployed to Iraq, shot and killed three people and wounded five others at a crowded waterfront bar in Southport, North Carolina.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The shooting is also the latest in a number of attacks focused on places of worship.

On August 27  just a little over a month before Sanfords attack  Robin Westman, 23, fired a gun through the windows of a church in Minneapolis, killing two children and wounding 14 others, as well as an elderly congregant. The group was praying at the time of the attack. Westman graduated from the school in 2017, and died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene.

On September 19, just over a week before the Michigan shooting, a 31-year-old man allegedly set fire to a synagogue in southwestern Florida. That individual has been charged with felony arson and felony criminal mischief to a house of worship.
By Vallari Srivastava

(Reuters) -Newmont on Monday named Natascha Viljoen as its first female CEO, succeeding Tom Palmer, at a time when the gold mining sector tries to cope with a slew of challenges, even as the precious metal hits a series of new highs.

Viljoen's appointment coincides with the abrupt resignation of Mark Bristow as CEO of rival Barrick Mining earlier in the day.

Shareholders are pressing for stronger returns to match successive all-time highs in the gold price, even as companies grapple with rising costs, resource nationalism and growing expectations to align with the energy transition.

Palmer will step down as Newmont's top boss on December 31 and serve as a strategic adviser until his retirement in March next year.

He joined Newmont in 2014 and became its chief operating officer in 2016 before being appointed as CEO in 2019.

During his tenure, Newmont completed transformative deals, including the Goldcorp acquisition, the Nevada Gold Mines joint venture and the $17 billion acquisition of Australian mining company Newcrest to create a top-tier global portfolio.

Viljoen, who joined Newmont as chief operating officer in 2023, brings more than 30 years of global mining experience, including senior roles at Anglo American, BHP, and Lonmin, and as CEO of Anglo American Platinum.

At Newmont, she has focused on operations, portfolio integration, and talent development, emphasizing safety, operational excellence and sustainability.

RBC Capital Markets analyst Josh Wolfson said over time, Newmont had been signaling a succession plan was in place, including an announcement in May 2025 that Viljoen would be promoted to the role of president.

Earlier this year, Karyn Ovelmen also announced her decision to step down as the chief financial officer of Newmont, after just over two years at the company. Insider Peter Wexler was named as interim CFO.

Newmont shares opened at a record high of $87.93 on Monday, before reversing gains and falling over 1% to $84.98.

(Reporting by Vallari Srivastava in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar and Anil D'Silva)
"Now the next in line are the triangle, the circle, and the square," he said, alluding to the code names the hostages gave the Hamas members holding them captive.

The IDF and the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) announced on Sunday the elimination of the terrorist who abducted Eliya Cohen from a shelter on Highway 232, in the Re'im area, on October 7.

Cohen responded to the news alongside his fiancee, Ziv Abud, a survivor of the Nova music festival.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The two had sought refuge in a shelter now known as the death bunker. Of those who hid there, 16 were killed by terrorists, four were taken hostage, and seven were rescued by Israeli forces.

The two responded to the full circle moment in a video on Sunday.

The happiest person in the world

"Wow, I think I'm the happiest person in the world right now," said Ziv. "Whoever kidnapped Eliya, who pulled him out from among all the bodies and loaded him into a pickup truck like a sack of potatoes and took him to Gaza in a pickup truck, the IDF took him down."

Ziv Abud with the hostage poster for her partner, Elia Cohen (credit: Screenshot/Instagram)

Abud then turned the camera to Eliya and asked, "What do you have to say about that?"

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Eliya responded, "First of all, thank God, thank you, Father."

"Now the next in line are the triangle, the circle, and the square," he said, alluding to the code names the hostages gave the Hamas members holding them captive.

Earlier, Eliya spoke with Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Leon at an event for community leaders, where he told his personal story and sang a song of praise for the killing of his captor.

Both responsible have been eliminated

The IDF and Shin Bet identified the Hamas terrorist as Hassan Mahmoud Hassan Hussein, who served as the commander of Nukbha in the Al-Bureij Battalion of the Hamas Central Camps Brigade.

Hussein, who had led the attack on the bomb shelter in Re'im alongside Muhammad Abu Atiwi, was killed in an airstrike in Gaza.

Abu Atiwi was eliminated in October 2024.
Mexico's former embattled top immigration official has made the first public apology for the fire that left 40 migrants dead in a Juarez immigration facility in March 2023.

Francisco Garduno Yanez made the public apology in Mexico City on Sept. 26. Survivors of the fire and the families of the victims were present for the apology.

"To all of you, I humbly offer a profound apology for the suffering and harm caused to you and your families, whose lives have changed forever," Garduno said, reading from a letter. "

Francisco Garduno Yanez head of Mexico's National Migration Institute exits the Mexican Federal Court on Friday, April 21, 2023. Garduno is expected to face federal charges in connection with the deaths of 40 migrants.

Forty people died and 27 people were injured in the deadliest fire affecting migrants in Mexico's history.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The men  from Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador  were left inside the burning facility behind a cell door locked with a chain and padlock.

Then-Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador called the blaze a terrible disgrace but faced immediate backlash for placing the blame on the migrants. The Mexican president about-faced and promised that whoever was responsible for the deadly fire would be punished.

More: The 'resurrection' of Diego Suy Guarchaj: 'They are in the cemetery. I am alive.'

Garduno's apology is viewed with skepticism by advocates who are pushing for justice for the victims. This comes as Garduno Yanez has sought to avoid criminal charges for his part in the deaths.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"This public apology from the former commissioner of the National Immigration Institute comes within the framework of a criminal case against him for the crime of unlawful performance of public office," Blanca Navarrete, the executive director of Derechos Humanos Integrales en Accion in Juarez, said. "We don't believe it's a genuine apology, but rather that he is making it to obtain the suspension of any charges and to clear himself of any criminal record."

The bodies of Guatemalan immigrants who died in a fire on March 27, 2023, at a Mexican migrant facility in Ciudad Juarez are loaded onto a Mexican military plane at Ciudad Juarez International Airport on April 11, 2023, en route to Guatemala City, Guatemala as Francisco Garduno Yanez stands at far right.

More: Federal judge bars Trump administration from deporting unaccompanied children to Guatemala

The apology was originally scheduled for May 2025, just days after he left the position. He had previously stated he was leaving the position in December 2024, but President Claudia Sheinbaum decided to keep him in the position as U.S. President Donald Trump took office to continue the country's collaboration on addressing regional migration.

Garduno Yanez was replaced as head of Mexico's National Immigration Institute by Sergio Salomon Cespedes Peregrina, the former governor of the state of Puebla, on May 1.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

More: US Rep. Escobar condemns Supreme Court ruling allowing for Trump's immigration raids

Families and survivors respond to apology

The families of the victims and survivors were given the chance to respond to Garduno Yanez's apology and to the Mexican government.

They expressed the pain and suffering they went through because of the policies of the Mexican government. They also condemned the racism that they suffered in Mexico and denounced the lack of concern by officials.

More: Mexico's Sheinbaum celebrates migrants as she shares successes of first year in office

"I'd rather go through the jungle 1,000 times than go back through Mexico," Stefan Arango Morillo, a survivor of the fire from Venezuela, said. "Today's topic for me would be: were we or are we pursuing a dream that was broken, trampled, and often humiliated by people wearing uniforms that should have respect for migrants. In which the only act and motive for this is to persecute you, and to utter xenophobic words to you."

Viangly Infante Padron cries leaning on an ambulance as her husband is attended to by medics after a fire broke out at a Mexican facility center in Juarez on Monday, March 27, 2023.

More: Mexico's Sheinbaum celebrates migrants as she shares successes of first year in office

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Florinda Xol, the mother of Byron Manuel Lopez Xol, who traveled from Rio Zarquito, Guatemala, for the apology, responded by saying only God could carry out justice. "I only trust in God, God will do justice," Xol said. "God will do justice for everything that happened. And with an apology, the wounds will never heal. Only God will do justice in this world."

More: Fort Bliss once housed refugees, now set for largest ICE deportation center

Tragedy on the border

The fire broke out at 10 p.m. on March 27, 2023, just across from the border wall in the immigration facility by the El Paso-Juarez Stanton-Lerdo bridge.

The migrants had been protesting the dire conditions in the detention center when the fire started. As the blaze grew, security guards fled, leaving the men locked in a holding cell.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

More: Federal judge in El Paso considers release of DACA recipient Catalina 'Xochitl' Santiago

Garduno Yanez has avoided criminal action for his part in the tragedy.

In April, the case against Garduno Yanez was suspended by Mexican courts, the first step in having the case absolved.

Juarez holds vigil for victims

A small vigil was held on Sept. 26 outside the immigration facility where the migrants died just hours ahead of Garduno Yanez's public apology.

Over a dozen activists and advocates placed candles along the sidewalk outside of the facility, each with the names of the victims and flags representing their country of origin. Each of their names was read off over a speaker.

Activists place candles on the ground during a protest outside a migration detention center on Sept. 26 in Ciudad Juarez, on the day Mexicos former migration agency chief is due to issue a public apology over a 2023 fire at the facility that killed 40 migrants.

Advocates called for justice for the victims of the fire and continued their concern for the conditions that migrants face in holding cells. Mexican law says that migrants cannot be held for more than 72 hours, but human rights violations continue to be raised.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The number of migrants crossing through Mexico is currently at its lowest level in years.

Jeff Abbott covers the border for the El Paso Times and can be reached at:jdabbott@gannett.com; @palabrasdeabajo on Twitter or @palabrasdeabajo.bsky.social on Bluesky.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Francisco Garduno Yanez makes apology for Juarez fire that killed 40
President Donald Trump bolstered a years-old conspiracy theory over the weekend, claiming that 50 pages of alleged FBI documents recently made public prove that 274 FBI agents at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, were there to incite the attack.

The documents first appeared in an article published Thursday by the conservative site Just The News, which did not blame the Jan. 6 insurrection on federal agents as Donald Trump did. It focused instead on complaints made in an after-action report by FBI personnel, who were critical about the bureau's response that day.

The information  which The Associated Press was not able to verify as authentic  does not support Trump's claim. It says that FBI agents responded to the U.S. Capitol attack, not that those agents had any role in making it happen.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Here's a closer look at the facts.

TRUMP: As it now turns out, FBI Agents were at, and in, the January 6th Protest, probably acting as Agitators and Insurrectionists, but certainly not as Law Enforcement Officials.

THE FACTS: This is false. The alleged FBI documents to which Trump is referring state on page 46 that 274 agents from the FBI's Washington Field Office responded to to the U.S. Capitol and other nearby locations on Jan. 6. They do not contain any credible evidence to suggest that federal agents were acting as agitators or insurrectionists.

This number includes agents that responded to the Capitol grounds as well as inside the Capitol, the pipe bombs, and the red truck that was believed to contain explosive devices as well as CDC/ADCs, the documents read.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The mention of pipe bombs refers to the devices planted outside offices of the Democratic and Republican national committees in Washington on the eve of the attack, while the red truck refers to a pickup truck filled with weapons and Molotov cocktail components that was parked near the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

In addition to information about the agents and other FBI staff who were deployed in response to the Jan. 6 attack, the documents include extensive feedback from alleged bureau personnel about how the FBI responded to the day's events. There are also suggestions from different operational divisions for future best practices, as well as notes on what went well.

President Trump is right to highlight this important issue that many Americans are still looking for answers on and that Democrats have spent years lying about and obstructing, said White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson. The President is committed to justice and transparency for all Americans

The FBI declined to comment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Rioters determined to overturn Trumps 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden stormed the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021, in a violent clash with police. Unsubstantiated conspiracy theories that federal agents played a role in instigating the attack became popular soon after and were advanced even by some Republicans in Congress. Many iterations have since been debunked.

A watchdog report published in December 2024 by the Justice Department inspector general's office found that no undercover FBI employees were at the riot on Jan. 6 and that none of the bureaus informants were authorized to participate. Informants, also known as confidential human sources, work with the FBI to provide information, but are not on the bureaus payroll. Undercover agents are employed by the FBI.

It does state that after the Capitol had been breached on Jan. 6 by the rioters, and in response to a request from the USCP, the FBI deployed several hundred Special Agents and employees to the U.S. Capitol and the surrounding area. USCP refers to the U.S. Capitol Police.

According to the report, 26 informants were in Washington on Jan. 6 in connection with the days events. Of the total 26 informants, four entered the Capitol during the riot and an additional 13 entered a restricted area around the Capitol. But none were authorized to do so by the FBI, nor were they given permission to break other laws or encourage others to do the same. The remaining nine informants did not engage in any illegal activities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

It wasnt clear prior to the report's release how many FBI informants were in the crowd that day. Former FBI Director Christopher Wray, who resigned in January at the end of the Biden administration, refused to say during a congressional hearing in 2023 how many of the people who entered the Capitol and surrounding area on Jan. 6 were either FBI employees or people with whom the FBI had made contact. But Wray said the notion that somehow the violence at the Capitol on January 6 was part of some operation orchestrated by FBI sources and agents is ludicrous.

___

Find AP Fact Checks here: https://apnews.com/APFactCheck.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A Lewisburg woman was sentenced for international parental kidnapping Monday.

According to the United States Attorneys Office Middle District of Tennessee, 38-year-old Kate Carson was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison. Court documents show Carson and her childs father were involved in custody litigation during the summer of 2023. The child was 9 years old at the time, and Carson requested a parental relocation to Portugal.

In July 2023, a family law judge allowed Carson to travel to Portugal with the child, but she did not return as ordered. Authorities said she wrote a letter to the judge saying she had no plans to return to the United States.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

2 charged after machete attack in downtown Nashville, police say

Officials said the childs father then began pressing his rights in The Hauge international tribunal, and Carson fled to Indonesia with the child. Indonesia does not have an extradition treaty with the United States. Court documents show Carson tried to pay the childs father for him to stop pursuing custody and his cooperation with law enforcement.

Carson was federally indicted in Oct. 2024 by a Nashville grand jury for international parental kidnapping as she had become a fugitive from justice, according to officials.

Authorities said Indonesian immigration officials looked to expel Carson from Indonesia and asked her to leave voluntarily. She did not comply and was later detained by Indonesian immigration authorities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Court documents show Carson escaped a detention facility in Indonesia and fled from one Indonesian island to another with the child and other family members. Indonesian immigration officials later apprehended her and expelled her from the country.

FBI agents accompanied Carson from the airport in Indonesia to the United States where she was arrested upon arrival, according to officials.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee

Authorities said Carson pleaded guilty to one count of international parental kidnapping. Her 18-month federal prison sentence will be followed by a year of supervised release.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

A federal judge also has prohibited contact with [the child] absent Carson showing that visitation has been granted by a family court with jurisdiction over her and [the child], officials said.

Authorities said the child has been reunited with his father and is being provided counseling.

The FBI Nashville Field Office investigated the case, and Acting United States Attorney Robert E. McGuire prosecuted the case.

Protecting vulnerable children from harm is the highest priority of our office, McGuire said. Kate Carson kidnapped her young son in full defiance of family court orders because she thought she knew better. She is now being held accountable for her crime and will face the consequences of her decisions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
These suspicious passengers got their meal ticket  and a free pass to jail.

A Ryanair flight from Milan, Italy, to London, UK, had to make an emergency landing after strange passengers began freaking out and trying to dispose of their passports in unusual ways.

No one onboard knew what was going on; these people were acting weird, an anonymous fly-witness told the Daily Star of the wild saga, which occurred while they were returning home after spending time with friends abroad.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Essentially, the flight took off, and 15-20 mins into the flight, once the seatbelt sign was off, something very strange happened at the front of the plane, the passenger recalled.

Im just really fking glad I landed, said the witness. AFP via Getty Images

According to the traveler, one of the men tore out the pages of his passport and proceeded to eat them, causing everyone aboard to freak out.

His partner-in-crime then high-tailed it to the other end of the aircraft and attempted to flush his passport down the toilet.

One of the passengers began tearing pages out of their passport (not pictured) and eating them. Christopher Sadowski

A flight attendant slammed on the door and pleaded with him to open it, but he refused to move, which only led to more tension, per the source.

The air hostess then made a public announcement that was so blunt and to the point, they continued. That freaked people out to another level.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

At that point, the pilots decided to divert the flight to Paris, France, with the source describing the descent as the most terrifying 15 minutes of my life.

Upon arrival, French authorities boarded the aircraft and arrested the two men before conducting a rigorous bag search.

In total, the process took a whopping two hours, after which the plane was allowed to continue on its way to London Stansted Airport.

The source lauded Ryanair employees for handling the stressful situation amazingly.

I think Ryanair [was] brilliant in handling it in a certain way. They gave out drinks towards the end of the flight as we were coming in over Stansted.

Im just really fking glad I landed.

The reason for the duos spy movie-esque methods of passport disposal remains unclear. The Post reached out to Ryanair for comment.
NEED TO KNOW

A TUI Airways flight traveling from Wales to Cyprus had to make an emergency landing on Sunday, Sept. 28

The plane experienced a bird strike  a collision between the aircraft and a bird  shortly after takeoff

The flight was rerouted to Birmingham Airport following the incident

A TUI Airways plane traveling from Wales to Cyprus was forced to make an emergency landing due to a bird strike shortly after takeoff.

Flight TOM 6754 was departing Cardiff Airport for Paphos, Cyprus, when the incident, which involved a collision between the aircraft and a bird, occurred at around 4:30 p.m. local time on Sunday, Sept. 28, the U.K. newspaper The Mirror and the BBC reported.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

A TUI spokesperson said in a statement to PEOPLE, "There was a bird strike after takeoff and the diversion that followed was a precautionary routine procedure."

The airline also confirmed that there was no engine failure on the flight as suggested in reports.

The aircraft was diverted to Birmingham Airport following the incident.

Birmingham Airport accepted an inbound TUI divert, a Birmingham Airport spokesperson said in a statement to PEOPLE. In line with normal procedures, the airports Fire Service met the aircraft on arrival. The aircraft landed safely and taxied to the apron.



David Goddard/Getty Birmingham Airport in the United Kingdom Birmingham Airport in the United Kingdom

According to Flight Radar 24, the plane departed Cardiff Airport at 4:28 p.m. and began circling Swansea Bay at around 3,000 feet before heading to the West Midlands. The jet circled that area a few times before landing in Birmingham. The flight was initially scheduled to land in Paphos at 10:45 p.m.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

During the flight, passengers noticed a burning smell and were initially told by the captain in an announcement that the aircraft was having engine failure, the BBC reported.

"There was a feeling something had gone wrong but no explanation given so for a lot of people that was the most scary part, passenger Dave Press told the outlet. People were in shock.

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.



Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty A TUI Airways plane A TUI Airways plane

A spokesperson for Cardiff Airport told PEOPLE, We are aware of an incident involving flight TOM6754 from Cardiff to Paphos on 28/09/25. The safety of our passengers is our number one priority. The aircraft diverted to Birmingham Airport (BHX) and landed safely at approximately 17:30.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Passengers were safely disembarked from the plane after landing at Birmingham Airport, per the BBC.



Emergency services were on standby at Birmingham Airport upon the aircrafts arrival and operations there were suspended, per The Mirror.



Read the original article on People
Wisconsin State Capitol (Wisconsin Examiner photo)

Former state Rep. Brett Hulsey, known for controversial behavior in the Wisconsin Assembly, has joined the crowded Democratic field for governor in 2026.

I am running for governor to make Wisconsin better for my family and yours. My grandkids and yours deserve the best schools, roads and clean lakes and beaches, Hulsey said in his campaign announcement last week.

Former Rep. Brett Hulsey official headshot.

Hulsey represented Middleton in the state Legislature from 2011 to 2015. Prior to that, he served on the Dane County Board for 14 years, including chairing the Dane County Personnel and Finance Committee.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

While in the Assembly, Hulsey was cited for disorderly conduct after police accused him of flipping a 9-year-old boy off his inner tube and taking pictures of him at a Madison beach. He also used $1,200 in campaign funds in 2013 to buy himself a 1987 Volkswagen Cabriolet, which he said he was going to use for parades and campaigning.

Hulsey decided not to run for reelection in the Assembly in 2014 so he could run for governor in 2014. He came in a distant second in the Democratic primary to Mary Burke.

During his last campaign, Hulsey made national headlines for his plan to go to the 2014 Wisconsin Republican Convention in Milwaukee, dress up as a confederate soldier and hand out Ku Klux Klan hoods as a way of highlighting the policies of then-Gov. Scott Walker, which he said were racist.

Hulsey, a former teacher, cited his outspoken opposition to Act 10, a Walker-era law that stripped teachers and other public employees of collective bargaining rights, as a reason he decided to run.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Attacks on teachers and cuts to school investment are coming home to roost with lower school performance. I will invest in our kids, schools, teachers, and support staff, Hulsey said.

Since his time in office, Hulsey has run the housing, energy and environmental consulting business Better Environmental Solutions LLC.

Hulsey joins a growing group of Democratic gubernatorial hopefuls.

Candidates who have announced so far include Lt. Gov. Sarah Rodriguez, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, state Sen. Kelda Roys, state Rep. Francesca Hong, former Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation CEO Missy Hughes and Mukwonago beer vendor Ryan Strnad.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The primary for governor is scheduled for August 2026.

Republicans in the race include U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany and Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
A man fatally shot his partner and two children in the north-western German city of Oldenburg before killing himself, police said on Monday.

The investigators initially did not provide further details about the identities of the victims.

The incident took place on Monday morning in a residential building in the neighbourhood of Osternburg.

After being alerted by witnesses, officers found four bodies and the suspected weapon, a police spokesman said. He did not provide details about the weapon.

The police said they did not want to provide further information out of respect for the bereaved.

A spokesman mentioned that the children's schools have not yet been informed about the incident.
Nigeria has given the green light to TotalEnergies' $510m divestment of its interest in Oil Mining Lease 118, which includes the Bonga field, to Shell and Nigerian Agip Exploration (Agip).

The move represents another step in the French energy companys strategy to streamline its portfolio and reduce debt, reported Bloomberg.

According to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Shell Nigeria Exploration will acquire 10% of TotalEnergies 12.5% stake for $408m, while Agip will take the remaining 2.5% interest for $102m.

The NUPRC confirmed the approval was issued after reviewing documentation showing that both acquiring companies have the financial capacity to meet their commitments.

Earlier this month, the commission revoked a separate transaction involving TotalEnergies, citing the inability of the intended buyer, Chappal Energies, to secure the necessary financing.

The asset sale from Nigeria is part of TotalEnergies wider divestment programme aimed at generating around $3.5bn globally across oil and renewable holdings, as outlined by CEO Patrick Pouyanne.

Following the latest transfer, SNEPCo. continues as the operator of OML 118 with a controlling 55% stake.

Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria retains its 20% share, while Agips interest will now increase from 12.5% to 15%.

Recently, TotalEnergies signed four production sharing contracts with the Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Agency for the LB-6, LB-11, LB-17 and LB-29 offshore exploration blocks, which were awarded under the 2024 Direct Negotiation Licensing Round.

Spanning approximately 12,700km in the southern Liberia basin, the contracts include a commitment to conduct a 3D seismic survey.

"Nigeria approves TotalEnergies Bonga stake sale to Shell and Agip " was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




France and the European Union have welcomed the victory of the pro-European ruling party in Moldovas parliamentary elections as proof that the the country is on the right track to join the bloc.

Sunday's parliamentary elections  won by the ruling Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS)  were seen as crucial for the ex-Soviet republic to maintain its push towards European Union membership, launched after Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

"Yesterday's vote is a strong mandate for the process of Moldova's accession to the EU," President Maia Sandu of the PAS told reporters on Monday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"We have shown the world that we are brave and worthy, that we did not allow ourselves to be intimidated," she said at a press conference.

The win is seen as a relief for both the current government and the EU, both of which are keen to keep Moldova out of Russias sphere of influence.

Loud and clear

"The people of Moldova have spoken and their message is loud and clear," European Council President Antonio Costa said on Monday.

"They chose democracy, reform and a European future, in the face of pressure and interference from Russia," he added, referring to concerns about vote buying and unrest and what the EU claimed was a disinformation campaign from Russia.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Moldovas pro-EU ruling party wins majority in parliamentary elections

"No attempt to sow fear or division could break your resolve," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote on X.

"Our door is open. And we will stand with you every step of the way," she said, referring to Moldovas potential accession to the EU.

A common future

Other European leaders including France's Emmanuel Macron also welcomed what he said was a pro-European victory.

"France stands with Moldova in its European project and its drive for freedom and sovereignty," he said.

Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said France "warmly welcomes the sovereign choice of the Moldovan people to confirm their desire to turn towards Europe", adding that nothing can stop a people who choose democracy and freedom  not even desperate attempts at foreign interference".

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

How Russian disinformation flooded Moldova's media landscape ahead of election

In a joint statement, Macron, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that "the EU and Moldova share a common future".

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky called it "a victory" for the continent. "Russia failed to destabilise Moldova even after spending huge, huge resources to undermine it and to corrupt whoever they could," he said.

Moscow has denied allegations of meddling and has called the victory a result of fraud and manipulation.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed that "hundreds of thousands of Moldovans" were prevented from voting in Russia due to an insufficient number of polling stations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"Evaluations will have to be made later when we understand how the Moldovan political forces themselves intend to position themselves regarding these elections," he said.

EU integration versus Russian influence: Moldovas future on the line

Moldovans were divided on the results, with some hailing another step towards the EU while others were sceptical of the allegations against Russia.

About 200 people gathered briefly outside parliament on Monday, chanting "freedom" and "Moldova", following a call to protest by one of the leaders of the pro-Russian opposition Patriotic Bloc, Igor Dodon.

Dodon, a former president, has accused PAS of stealing the vote and said complaints have been filed to the election commission.

(with newswires)
PARIS  France sent a military anti-drone unit to Denmark, and Sweden is planning to do the same, as the allies seek to help secure an informal European Union summit in Copenhagen this week against aerial threats, following recent flights of unidentified drones in Danish airspace.

The French military has deployed a team of 35 personnel with a Fennec light helicopter and active anti-drone capabilities, the countrys Armed Forces Ministry said in a statement Monday. Meanwhile, Sweden will send a military unit with anti-drone capabilities following a Danish request, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said in a briefing in Stockholm.

The main purpose is to protect the Copenhagen area from unwelcome drone visits, drone attacks for a period of time, Kristersson said, speaking in Swedish.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Denmark in recent days observed unexplained drone activity at several of its airports as well as military locations. So far its unclear who is behind the drone activity, though NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said last week Russian involvement cant be ruled out.

The French detachment was sent to Denmark following a decision by President Emmanuel Macron, according to the French Armed Forces Ministry. The detachment is already operational and will act in full cooperation with Danish authorities, it said.

This detachment complements the Danish and European resources deployed for this occasion, and illustrates European solidarity in defense against this serious threat, the ministry said.

Germany also sent anti-drone equipment to Denmark to enhance security during the EU summit, the Danish Ministry of Defence said on Sunday. Meanwhile, the German air-defense frigate Hamburg made a port call in Copenhagen and will support enhanced vigilance as part of operation Baltic Sentry, according to NATO Maritime Command.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Sweden is also sending radar capabilities to be able to detect threats over a wider area, according to Kristersson. He said the Swedish armed forces worked over the weekend to ensure the necessary equipment is now on its way to Copenhagen.

With 44 European prime ministers due to arrive in Copenhagen, Denmark took the risk of the summit being affected or cancelled very seriously, according to Kristersson.

Denmark currently lacks any ground-based missile defense after decommissioning its Hawk missile units 20 years ago. The country has been scrambling in past months to secure air defense systems from three different suppliers to build an initial capacity as soon as possible.

Recent violations of European airspace and other incidents show the link between Russias war against Ukraine and broader European security, and for this reason we must continue to counter Russia, Swedens Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said in the briefing with Kristersson.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Russias actions right now point to increased risk-taking, according to the Swedish PM. He said the country does not have intelligence or evidence that links the Danish drone flights to Russia, but we are not naive.
France, Germany and Sweden will send troops and anti-drone systems to Denmark to boost aerial security ahead of European summits to be held in Copenhagen this week. This comes after several drone incursions into Danish airspace, prompting the country to ban civilian drone flights all week.

The Danish authorities ordered a ban on civilian drone flights as of Sunday after drones were observed at several military facilities at the weekend.

The ban, which will be in place all week, is intended to "remove the risk that hostile drones can be confused with legal drones and vice versa," Danish Transportation Minister Thomas Danielsen said in a statement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

A violation could result in a fine or imprisonment for up to two years.

Denmark, which holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, is preparing to host EU leaders on Wednesday, followed by a summit of the 47-member European Political Community on Thursday.

Denmark has been beefing up security since last week, after unexplained drones disrupted air traffic at six airports.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called the drone disruptions "a hybrid attack" on her nation.

Several European countries have said they will help with the effort to curb the threat.

France said Monday it would send a Fennec military helicopter and a team of 35 anti-drone-trained staff, "in response to the recent upsurge in unidentified drone flights in Danish airspace", the defense ministry said in a statement, calling the drones a "serious threat".

Europe on high alert

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said that Sweden would send anti-drone systems, and that the country had already shipped radar systems to Denmark.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

At Demarks request, Swedish police said they would send a significant force, which will work alongside Norwegian law enforcement officers.

Germany will deploy around 40 troops with equipment to detect, identify and defend against drones, and a German air defence frigate arrived in Copenhagen on Sunday to assist with airspace surveillance.

Poland calls NATO talks after downing Russian drones in airspace breach

While Frederiksen stopped short of identifying who is behind the attacks, she has suggested it could be Russia, which she described as the primary "country that poses a threat to European security".

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The Kremlin denies involvement.

Europeans have been on high alert after a series of drone and aircraft incursions into Polish, Romanian and Estonian airspace in the last two weeks.

Defence ministers from around 10 EU countries agreed Friday to make a so-called "drone wall" a priority for the bloc.

The NATO military alliance on Saturday said it was upgrading its mission in the Baltic Sea in response to the situation in Denmark.

(with Reuters)
European nations are beefing up security in Copenhagen amid an ongoing wave of reported drone sightings in the Baltics and Scandinavia. The movement of counter-drone systems, advanced radars, a German frigate, a French helicopter and troops is designed to protect this weeks European Union meetings in the Danish capital.

The sightings, over military installations and civilian airports, have also prompted Denmark to close its airspace to civilian drones for a week starting today after the incursion forced it to shut down a half dozen airports last week. In Norway, authorities said flights had to be diverted on Sunday because of unknown drones over airports there.

In Norway, a passenger flight was diverted due to a drone.



russia could completely shut down Europe's air traffic with cheap drones  because Europe isn't fighting back.



The incident occurred yesterday evening. A Norwegian passenger flight was en route from Oslo to the town of pic.twitter.com/a3tNVboqOD  Jurgen Nauditt   (@jurgen_nauditt) September 29, 2025

While Denmark has called the drones part of a hybrid attack, officials there have stopped short of saying definitively who is responsible, Reuters noted. However, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has suggested it could be Moscow, calling Russia the primary country that poses a threat to European security. The Kremlin denies any involvement.

Denmark has in recent days been subjected to hybrid attacks involving drones over critical military and civilian sites, prime minister Mette Frederiksen said in a video statement https://t.co/OUi565hG6f pic.twitter.com/OFiUxv3pdz  Reuters (@Reuters) September 26, 2025

Regardless of who is behind these incursions, NATO is taking the potential threat from these drones seriously.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The Swedish government has just decided to task the Swedish Armed Forces with supporting Denmark with military anti-drone capabilities in connection with this weeks summits in Copenhagen, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on X Monday morning. Specifically, this involves a unit contribution with anti-drone capabilities, so-called Counter UAS. The unit will be led by the Danish Armed Forces and contribute to their support of the Danish police operation in connection with this weeks summits.

In addition, Sweden will also lend a handful of powerful radar systems to Denmark for a period of time, Kristersson added. Among the best radar systems in the world. This is Swedish engineering that we can be truly proud of. The radar systems were already sent yesterday.

Asked by The War Zone for details about exactly what kinds of counter-drone and radar systems are being deployed to Copenhagen, the Swedish MoD declined to comment.

Regeringen har precis fattat beslut om att ge Forsvarsmakten i uppdrag att stodja Danmark med militar antidronarformaga i samband med veckans toppmoten i Kopenhamn. Konkret handlar det om ett forbandsbidrag med antidronarformaga, sa kallad Counter UAS.



Forbandet far ledas av pic.twitter.com/qPuA0l11eB  Ulf Kristersson (@SwedishPM) September 29, 2025

Germany has deployed the Sachsen class air defense frigate FGS Hamburg to Copenhagen, the Danish Defense Ministry (MoD) announced on Sunday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Here, the ship will contribute to strengthening Denmarks surveillance of the airspace in connection with the upcoming EU summit in Copenhagen, the ministry said in a statement. The German frigate is part of NATOs Baltic Sentry activity, which is intended to strengthen NATOs presence along the alliances eastern flank.

The Hamburgs port call is part of a larger NATO effort to beef up Baltic Sentry in response to the drone incursions, the alliance told us Monday morning. The operation was stood up early this year in response to several instances of undersea cables being cut in suspected acts of sabotage and is now being expanded.

FGS Hamburg (F220), assigned to NATOs Standing Maritime Group 1, made a port call in Copenhagen yesterday and will support ongoing Baltic Sentry enhanced vigilance activities, Cmdr. Arlo Abrahamson, a NATO spokesman, told The War Zone Monday morning. The presence of FGS Hamburg operating near Denmark for Baltic Sentry sends a message of assurance and cohesion within the Alliance.

Following recent drone incidents in Denmark, NATO is conducting even more enhanced vigilance with new multi-domain assets in the Baltic Sea region, including Denmark, under Baltic Sentry, Abrahamson added. These assets include multiple intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platforms and air-defense frigates. These actions demonstrate the flexibility and agility of this enhanced vigilance activity to broaden the mission beyond solely the protection of [critical underwater infrastructure] CUI. It is also a tangible example of Allies resolve to act decisively to protect and defend Allies.

 The  German Navy frigate FGS Hamburg (F220) called at the port of  Copenhagen as part of NATO's Operation Baltic Sentry to protect the Baltic region. pic.twitter.com/N1G6ikczXG   MilitaryNewsUA  (@front_ukrainian) September 28, 2025

In addition to deploying the Hamburg, Germany is also providing Denmark with counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-sUAS) capabilities, which utilize detection systems that employ radar, optical and acoustic technologies, The Associated Press noted.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

France has deployed 35 personnel, a Fennec helicopter, and active counter-drone assets to Denmark in response to the recent upsurge in unidentified drone flights in Danish airspace, the French Defense Ministry said in a statement, adding the drones were a serious threat.

 Danemark | Appui aux forces armees danoises @forsvaretdk face a la recrudescence de vols de drones non identifies dans l'espace aerien  dans le cadre du sommet  de Copenhague les 1er et 2 octobre 2025.



 Detachement d'un helicoptere Fennec et de moyens actifs de lutte pic.twitter.com/7SzR7O0kwh  Armee francaise  Operations militaires (@EtatMajorFR) September 29, 2025

Prior to the announcement of the asset deployments, the Danish military set up a XENTA-C counter-drone radar system at Copenhagen Airport, which you can see in the following video.

Danish forces deployed a XENTA C-UAS radar system to Copenhagen airport after recent drone incursions. pic.twitter.com/0DbGeTosBO  OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) September 27, 2025

While these assets can detect and, in some cases, shoot down drones, it is unclear exactly how NATO officials will react should more UAVs be spotted. Abrahamson, the NATO spokesman, declined to comment on what rules of engagement the Hamburg is operating under, for instance.

As Europe bolsters the airspace over Copenhagen, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for a counter-drone shield to protect NATO skies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Ukraine proposes to Poland and all our partners to build a joint, fully reliable shield against Russian aerial threats, Zelensky said Monday in an address to the Warsaw Security Forum delivered via video link. This is possible. Ukraine can counter all kinds of Russian drones and missiles and if we act together in the region we will have enough weapons and production capacity.

After more than a dozen Russian drones entered Polish airspace earlier this month, with some being shot down, Zelensky said that his troops and engineers would train their Polish counterparts on countering drones.

While NATO officials are reluctant to blame Russia directly, Zelensky on Sunday accused Moscow of using oil tankers to launch and control drones targeting European countries. The Ukrainian president cited intelligence reports as he called for tougher sanctions against Moscows energy trade.

In a video statement earlier on X, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that there is now intelligence information which indicates Russia is using oil tankers to launch and operate drones over several countries in Europe, with him calling for the Baltic Sea to be closed pic.twitter.com/YgGgulfmKr  OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) September 28, 2025

The increasing concern about protecting NATOs skies began after the aforementioned drone incursions into Poland and ramped up after a flight into Estonian airspace by three Russian MiG-31 Foxhound interceptors. The recent mystery drone sightings have ramped up the angst.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

TWZ has long reported drone incursions over military assets and installations, as well as critical infrastructure, in the U.S. at a time when many doubted this was an issue. Situations like Langley Air Force Base in 2023, as well as Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, and Picatinny Arsenal, have thrust this issue into the mainstream. Drone sightings over European military bases and critical infrastructure have occurred sporadically over the years, some raising serious concerns. We broke the news on several over U.S. bases in England late last year, for instance. However, this is a problem that seems to be accelerating drastically in the wake of the Polish drone intrusions.

Then there was the hugely publicized rash of thousands of drone sightings late last year in the New Jersey area that sparked widespread panic. The vast majority of those cases, however, turned out to be mistaken identity, with only about 100 even deemed worthy of further investigation. It is unclear at this point how many sightings in Europe are also wrongly labeled as drones, but this appears to be the case in many of them. The chronic lack of domain awareness for these threats by federal and military forces only adds to this confusion.

Recently, we wrote about the creation of a quick reaction force (QRF) by U.S. Northern Command to help bases in the U.S. defend against drones. It is initially designed to be one team out of Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado. The concept, however, shows just how far behind the U.S. is when it comes to countering the threat from small drones because the QRF will take up to 24 hours after an initial incursion to arrive on scene. Similar lack of preparedness exists with Americas allies in Europe.

The scrambling to deploy a hodgepodge of owned and borrowed counter-drone assets to Copenhagen amid the current drone wave is further proof of this.

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com
It has taken a month for the flotilla to traverse around 1,700 nautical miles of open water.

The Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla reached a point in the Eastern Mediterranean that is 300 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza and Israel on Monday afternoon.

This means that by sunset, it was likely within 300 miles off the coast, because nautical miles tend to be slightly larger than normal miles.

The flotilla set sail from Barcelona on September 1, meaning it has taken a month to traverse about 1,700 nautical miles of open water.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The flotilla consists of some 40 vessels. It has been bolstered by the presence of the large support boat, Life Support, run by the NGO Emergency.

In addition, the Greek Coast Guard shadowed the flotilla after it left the waters near Crete on Saturday. Italy and Spain also sent naval ships to monitor the flotilla after the activists claimed to have been attacked in the early hours of Wednesday.

Greta Thunberg and a crew member flash victory signs from their ship, part of the Global Sumud Flotilla aiming to reach Gaza and break Israel's naval blockade, as they sail off Crete island, Greece, September 25, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/Stefanos Rapanis TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

Additionally, Turkey sent drones to fly over the flotilla. The activists said a Turkish naval vessel had also been spotted.

This could potentially mean the navies of three countries are now close to the flotilla.

Spanish and Italian Navy ships are alone with the Global Sumud Flotilla fleet for protection in case of Israeli aggression, a social-media account focused on the flotilla said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

It is not clear what those countries intend to do. Ostensibly, Italy and Spain have sought to help their citizens and deter more attacks on the vessels.

Flotilla to arrive on Yom Kippur?

Most of the vessels are sailboats, traveling at 5 knots. They can thus travel about 100 miles a day. This means they might reach the coast of Gaza by October 2 on Yom Kippur.

It is not clear what their plans are, but the activists say this is the final stretch of their journey. Their spirits seem high due to the presence of the drones and naval vessels. They believe they now have some protection as they slowly sail toward Israel.

The flotilla left behind at least one ship off southern Crete. The Family pleasure craft had engine trouble and had to remain behind.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The ships that left from Spain on September 1 were joined by about 20 sailboats from Italy that met the flotilla in mid-September. Then, six more sailboats joined from Greece, meeting the group of ships on September 24.

Israel has encouraged the ships to dock in a third country or even in Ashkelon and unload their aid. Italy has also urged the organizers to transfer aid in another manner to Gaza.

Israel has accused the flotilla of being linked to Hamas.
Germany's Boris Pistorius is among several EU defence ministers participating in the Warsaw Security Forum on Monday, amid weeks of high tensions on NATO's eastern flank due to Russian incursions.

Alongside Pistorius, Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans and Estonia's Hanno Pevkur were both due to take part in the talks, as well as European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius.

Pistorius is also set to discuss Ukraine's future relationship with Europe in high-level talks in the Polish capital, which comes weeks after Russian drones were shot down over Poland.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

He is not the only German official in Warsaw on Monday, with Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul also in the city for talks with his French and Polish counterparts. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha is also expected to join the consultations.

Pistorius is then due to travel on to Lithuania, where Germany is deploying a combat brigade to assist with the defence of NATO's eastern flank.

The unit was formally activated in May and is set to comprise a force of around 4,800 soldiers and 200 civilian personnel, with full operating capability expected in 2027.

Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovile Sakaliene is to formally hand over a military logistics centre to Pistorius in the town of Rukla.

As preparations for the German brigade continue, a German school is set to be formally opened in the capital Vilnius on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, the German School is to be opened in the capital Vilnius.




Gov. Greg Abbott announced Monday that his office will begin an inaugural Lone Star Blue Ribbon program to recognize exemplary schools in Texas after the national program was cut by the Trump administration.

The program is recognizing schools this year that had "outstanding academic performance and progress in closing achievement gaps" according to a news release.

NEWS: The top high schools in Houston and Texas for 2025, according to a new ranking

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The move to cancel the national program was part of the U.S. Department of Education's plan to return education back to the states.

Abbott's office lauded the move Monday, saying the governor's office was better equipped to reward schools based on Texas values.

"With Texas overseeing the new Lone Star Ribbon program, this recognition will better reflect the priorities and values of local schools and communities. This change ensures that decisions about honoring excellence in Texas education are made by those who know Texas schools best," the release read.

ALSO READ: Houston is home to 2 of the best charter high schools in the nation, per U.S. News & World Report

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

States had already nominated National Blue Ribbon campuses when the program's elimination was announced on Aug. 29, and some schools had already been told they'd made the cut.

Connecticut, like Texas, is among the states that have opted to create their own program.

RELATED: This Lamar CISD elementary school is the most improved in Houston. Here's how they did it.

Which Houston schools earned the Blue Ribbon award?

Twenty-eight Texas schools earned a Blue Ribbon award , according to the release. Eight of the schools are from the Houston area, including three in Houston ISD: Carnegie Vanguard High School, Project Chrysalis Middle School and Thompson Elementary School.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Lamar CISD's Meyer Elementary School, the most improved school according to Children at Risk last year, also earned an award alongside Barbers Hill Elementary North in Barbers Hill ISD.

Two Houston-area charter schools, both from the Harmony charter network, received the award, including Harmony Science Academy in Katy and Sugar Land, and one private school, Jack Segal Academy of Beth Yeshurun, a Jewish day school, also received the award.

RELATED: Three Houston area Catholic schools, Alief ISD receive 2024 Blue Ribbon awards

Here are the 28 Texas schools that earned the Lone Star Blue Ribbon award

Barbers Hill ISD  Barbers Hill Elementary North

Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD  Kent Elementary

Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD  Rosemeade Elementary

Dallas  St. Rita Catholic School

George West ISD  George West Primary School

Harmony Public Schools (Houston West)  Harmony Science Academy  Katy

Harmony Public Schools (Houston West)  Harmony Science Academy  Sugar Land

Harmony Public Schools (North Texas)  Harmony Science Academy  Euless

Houston ISD  Carnegie Vanguard High School

Houston ISD  Project Chrysalis Middle School

Houston ISD  Thompson Elementary

Houston  Jack Segal Academy of Beth Yeshurun

Hunt ISD  Hunt School

La Joya ISD  Diaz-Villarreal Elementary

Lamar CISD  Meyer Elementary

Laredo ISD  Daiches Elementary

Laredo ISD  D D Hachar Elementary

Laredo ISD  Macdonell Elementary

Mumford ISD - Mumford Elementary

Palo Pinto ISD  Palo Pinto Elementary

Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD  PJSA Thomas Jefferson T-STEM Early College High School

Roma ISD  Delia Gonzalez Garcia Elementary

Roma ISD  RT Barrera Elementary

Sharyland ISD  Harry Shimotsu Elementary

Tidehaven ISD  Markham Elementary

Tyler ISD  Tyler ISD Early College High School

Whitehouse ISD  Stanton-Smith Elementary

Wylie ISD  Dodd Elementary
North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein visited Southport on the rainy morning of Sept. 29 in the wake of a mass shooting that left three dead and several injured two days prior.

Stein held a news conference alongside state and local law enforcement officials at the Southport Community Building to address the mass shooting, which Mayor Rich Alt said was the first in the city's history.

"We must do more to prevent these acts of violence," Stein said. "It has to be our top priority. Recent events here in Southport, Charlotte, not to mention Michigan, Utah, Minnesota and Kentucky -- and I'm talking about just in the last few weeks, are clearly calls telling us that we have more work to do to make sure that people are both actually safe and that they feel safe in their communities. ... Whether they're enjoying a dinner, praying in church or coming home from work, we must do better to keep people safe."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The suspect, Nigel Max Edge, is a 40-year-old Oak Island resident and Iraq war veteran. He is charged with three counts of first-degree murder, five counts of attempted first-degree murder, and five counts of assault with a deadly weapon assault with intent to kill inflicting serious injury in connection with a mass shooting that took place at American Fish Company. Edge was shot in the head while serving in Iraq in 2006.

More on the suspect: What we know about Nigel Edge, the Southport mass shooting suspect

The governor said the state is doing a systematic anaylsis of the mental healthcare system to determine what is needed to better respond to people's needs. Stein voiced support for a red flag gun law, which would allow for petitions to temporarily prevent someone in a crisis from accessing guns.

"There are people in our community who people know are a risk," Stein said. "A risk to others, a risk to themselves and they should not have firearms."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Stein deferred to local law enforcement officials when asked if this particular incident could have been prevented. No local officials stepped forward to answer the question. Local law enforcement had been "familiar" with Edge, who had filed several lawsuits against Oak Island and its police department in recent years.

Alt said he had visited the bar just 48 hours before the shooting. The doorman's tip jar was left unattended, which the mayor attributed to Southport's status as a quiet and safe place where the employee didn't have to worry about the money being stolen.

"We lived in a idyllic surrounding which was broken 48 hours later," Alt said. "We all need to strive to retrieve that way of life, which I'm very confident we can as a city."

Brunswick County Sheriff Brian Chism said that over 1,000 people attended a vigil for the victims on Sept. 28. More details about the victims are expected to be released on Sept. 30, Southport Police Chief Todd Coring said. One of the victims remains in critical condition.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

State Bureau of Investigation Director Roger "Chip" Hawley said that over 20 agents responded to the incident. The bureau got a confession from the suspect, Hawley said.

Daniel Sheehan covers New Hanover County for the StarNews. Reach him at dsheehan@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: NC Governor Josh Stein addresses mass shooting in Southport, NC
CHICAGO, Ill. (WTVO)  Federal agents outfitted in full military gear flooded downtown Chicago on Sunday, prompting a rebuke from Gov. JB Pritzker.

Dozens of agents in full tactical gear were seen patrolling some of Chicagos busiest tourism and shopping areas, part of a surge of immigration enforcement that began earlier this month.

President Donald Trump said the troops were part of a move that also included sending 200 National Guard to protect War ravaged Portland, in Oregon, and deploying to Memphis, Tennessee.

A federal agent carries a child as agents detain someone near Pioneer Court off the Magnificent Mile, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Chicago. (Ashlee Rezin/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

Trump has spoken about sending the National Guard to Chicago, but has not yet done so.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The agents on Sunday marched along Michigan Avenue, the Chicago River, and upscale neighborhoods, where activists blew whistles and shouted at them.

Whether it be in Broadview here in Illinois or in Portland, Oregon, the Trump Administration is intentionally creating chaos to threaten sending military troops to American cities and suburbs. The suggestion that chemical agents like tear gas or pepper spray could be used indiscriminately against peaceful demonstrators, or even first responders, is unacceptable and not normal, Pritzker said in a statement, referring to repeated confrontations between ICE agents and protesters outside a federal building in Broadview.

On Friday, agents repeatedly fired chemical agents toward a crowd of over 100 protesters after some of the group attempted to block a car from driving down a street toward the ICE building. Pepper bullets and tear gas canisters went into the crowd, most of them standing away from the fence and not blocking traffic.

Activists and family members of detainees have raised concerns in recent days that the facility meant to process arrestees is a de facto detention center plagued by inhumane conditions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

I urge members of the public to remain calm, stay safe, and document what you see with your phones and cameras. My senior team has also asked legal organizations to support monitoring on the ground. By observing and recording peacefully, we can ensure that any violations of the law are brought to light and those responsible are held accountable, Illinois governor continued.

Greg Bovino, the chief patrol agent for the U.S. Border Patrol El Centro sector, stands with federal immigration agents on North Clark Street near West Oak Street in River North, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Chicago (Ashlee Rezin/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

Border Patrols Gregory Bovino was among the agents in Chicago on Sunday. Bovino was a central figure in the Los Angeles immigration crackdown.

Federal authorities said the Chicago surge was to arrest the worst of the worst, individuals in the country illegally and with criminal records.

Weve always got a target thats anyone who is here illegally, Bovino told The Associated Press.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports.
GARY, WV (WVNS)  Work was completed on a new access road to give Sunburst Drive residents in Gary a way to drive from their road to the main road.

West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey said 208 projects have completed in McDowell County since the severe February floods of 2025.

Local leaders and residents address concerns over new access road to get to Sunburst Drive in Gary

He went on to say that the county has received a great deal of help from the different programs they have. Governor Morrisey stressed how important it is that they keep moving forward with more projects in the area.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

There are a number of other projects from a water and a sewer perspective. So a lot of that work is really commencing now, is going to be let out for bid because it is important that we have clean water. Whether you are talking MacDowell or Wyoming or other places, you know, we have been really taking the lead to try to address a lot of the basic infrastructure needs that we have, said Governor Morrisey.

Morrisey told 59News this has been a team effort all the way. Several groups are helping out like the McDowell County Commission, McDowell County Office of Emergency Management, Taishan Resources, Bay Star Coal Company, West Virginia Paving, Southern Minerals, Cleveland-Cliffs, the Pocahontas Land Corporation, and Norfolk Southern, plus some other government agencies.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.
At least four people were killed and eight others injured in a mass shooting on Sunday in Grand Blanc Township, when a 40-year-old man crashed a truck into a church chapel and fired at the congregation with an assault rifle. The incident was one of a dozen mass shootings in Michigan this year and the deadliest among six mass shootings reported in the U.S. last weekend.

The number of mass shootings peaked in Michigan and across the country in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. As of Sept. 28, there have been 324 mass shootings this year in the U.S., according to the Gun Violence Archive.

There's no single consensus on the definition of a mass shooting. The Gun Violence Archive (GVA), a nonprofit research group, defines a mass shooting as an incident where four or more people are injured or killed by gunfire, not including the suspect. The suspect in Grand Blanc died in a confrontation with police.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Three mass shootings occurred on Sunday, September 28  at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan; in New Orleans, Louisiana, and in Eagle Pass, Texas. One person was killed and three were injured in the 100 block of Bourbon Street in New Orleans. And at the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino in Eagle Pass, Texas, near the U.S.-Mexico border, two people were killed and six were injured.

In Southport, North Carolina, on Sept. 27, at least eight people were injured and three killed at a riverside restaurant near the Atlantic Ocean. The same day, four people were injured in a mass shooting in Alexandria, Louisiana, and four people were injured from gunfire in a mass shooting in Raleigh, North Carolina, according to GVA data.

The largest mass shooting in Michigan's recent history happened last year on Detroit's eastside. Two people were killed and nineteen were injured on July 7, 2024.

The state's second-largest mass shooting in recent years took place on June 24, 2023, at a street party in Saginaw, where 13 people were shot, two fatally, according to reports from the Gun Violence Archive, which goes back to 2013.

Kristi Tanner is a data reporter. Contact her at ktanner@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Grand Blanc Twp. mass shooting among a dozen in Michigan this year
A grand jury decided not to file criminal charges against members of the New Jersey State Police following the investigation of the death of a Pennsylvania man while in police custody, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said.

The man, 38-year-old Armond Anthony Avitable of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, was taken into police custody on the evening of Feb. 12, 2024, after allegedly shooting a woman at a house in Knowlton.

While in police custody, Avitable suffered a medical episode and became unresponsive.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Police performed lifesaving efforts until emergency medical pesonnel responded to the scene. According to Platkin, Avitable was taken by ambulance to Lehigh Valley Hospital where he was ultimately pronounced dead. An autopsy and a Pennsylvania medical examiner later concluded that the cause of his death was "drug toxicity complicating hypertensive and arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease."

Avitable's death was investigated by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA), which considered 911 calls, radio transmissions, witness interviews, photographs, video footage, medical records, and toxicology and autopsy reports from the medical examiner.

State news: Need storage? Have electronics to sell? Try these new NJ businesses

According to the investigation, members of the New Jersey State Police responded to a 911 call at approximately 7:51 p.m. on Feb. 12, 2024. The report was an active shooter at a residence on Columbia Street in Knowlton.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

When police entered the home, they found a woman suffering from gunshot wounds. The woman, identified as Cheryl Schilling, 58, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Earlier in the day, Avitable had been involved in a domestic disupte at his home, according to a 2024 press release from Prosecutor James L. Pfeiffer. He called an acquaintance, Cheryl's husband Kevin Schilling, in search of a place to stay. Schilling met Avitable in East Stroudsburg and accompanied him back to his own home around 6 p.m., according to the release.

The Schillings and Avitable then got into a dispute, causing Avitable to become "agitated and aggressive," the release stated. He retrieved a shotgun from the home and fired a shot, at which time the Schillings went to an upstairs bedroom and closed the door.

Avitable followed the couple to the room, opened the door and fired two shots that hit Cheryl, according to the release. He then left the home and saw neighbors at an outdoor fire, telling them he "had to shoot her because he [Kevin Schilling] was coming for him."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Avitable then fired two more shots at the Schillings' house before leaving the gun on the neighbors' property and fleeing. He was located by State Police near the intersection of Route 80 and Route 46.

Following "a struggle," troopers ultimately took Avitable into custody at approximately 8:10 p.m., Platkin said, the medical episode ensuing shortly after.

Per Platkin, footage from police body-worn cameras was previously released and is available at https://njoag.box.com/s/5dx6w8syy3uxa5f6z0wpohdbfsmrb7gp.

The OPIA's investigation was presented to New Jersey residents serving on the grand jury, who, after hearing the testimony and evidence, voted "no bill," concluding no criminal charges should be filed against the involved state troopers.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Grand jury declines to charge NJ state troopers in Knowlton death
Greta Thunbergs 44-boat aid flotilla to Gaza has been forced to halt after yet another mishap, just two days after setting off from a Greek port where it had docked for repairs.

The fleet is edging closer towards the Gaza Strip, where it hopes to break through Israels naval blockade of the Palestinian territory in order to deliver humanitarian aid. After stopping on Friday in Greece due to difficult weather conditions and logistical challenges, the flotilla of more than 500 volunteers set sail again on Sunday, boat organisers said.

But a leak in the engine room of one of the vessels, named Johnny M, led the entire flotilla to be paused once again on Monday morning.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The fleet temporarily paused after Johnny M sustained a leak in the engine room. The situation could not be resolved at sea and the vessel is unable to continue, Global Sumud Flotilla wrote in a social media update at 9:13am local time (7:13am BST).

Greta Thunberg waves from a boat taking part in a civilian flotilla bound for Gaza, aiming to break the Israeli blockade and deliver humanitarian aid (AP)

All participants have been safely transferred to another vessel, some will be reassigned to other boats and others will be brought ashore.

The group said the delay would not cause significant delays to the mission, which is set to arrive in as soon as four days.

Israeli authorities have characterised the mission as a publicity stunt, and warned that they will take the necessary action to prevent the volunteers from reaching Gaza with the aid.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Israel insists its blockade, which humanitarian organisations and the UN say is behind widespread hunger and famine in parts of the strip, is necessary to prevent aid falling into the hands of Hamas.

Activists on board the flotilla dispute accusations of a publicity stunt, with Ms Thunberg telling the BBCs Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: First of all I dont think anyone would risk their lives for a publicity stunt. Second of all, if you think its a publicity stunt, have you asked people in Gaza if they consider this a publicity stunt?

I repeat, this mission should not have to exist, we do not want to be doing this, but we have to keep trying, right?

On Sunday, Italys foreign minister Antonio Tajani repeated a proposal made last week for the flotilla to take the aid to Cyprus for eventual distribution in Gaza by the Roman Catholic Church. The flotilla rejected the suggestion.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

We have always said ... that it is dangerous to approach Israeli waters. We dont know what might happen. Forcing the blockade is dangerous, Mr Tajani told reporters.

Activists and human rights defenders ride aboard one of the vessels, departing from Tunisias northern port of Bizerte (AFP/Getty)

The flotilla rejected the proposal and has rejected demands from Israeli authorities that it hand over the aid for Israel to distribute through a US-backed aid agency.

It comes after the flotilla was struck by drones armed with stun grenades and irritants while in international waters off Crete on Wednesday, which caused damage but no injuries.
Dimitri Vorbe, a well-known Haitian businessman, was arrested in Florida on charges of immigration law violations and suspected connections to gangs designated as terrorist organizations by the United States.

Vorbe, originating from a prominent Haitian family engaged in the energy industry and politics, is presently held at the Krome Detention Center in Miami.

Federal officials accuse him of contributing to the destabilization of Haiti.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

ICE has accused Dimitri Vorbe of breaking immigration laws. His suspected ties to gangs, deemed terrorist organizations by the U.S., have sparked worries about his impact and operations in Haiti and internationally.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
The federal government could shut down in less than 48 hours.

President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with the top four congressional leaders on Sept. 29 where they could make concessions and temporarily avoid a lapse in funding, though it appears unlikely.

Here's what a government shutdown could mean for Illinois.

How many federal employees are in Illinois?

Illinois has 44,784 federal civilian employees as of December 2024, according to data from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

More: New federal bill would designate Route 66 as a National Historic Trail

Would all federal workers in Illinois stop working?

If the government shuts down, federal employees throughout the country would be working with pay, working without pay, or furloughed with no income.

Some federal employees would be deemed essential, such as law enforcement and those involved in national defense.

Do state employees stop working under a federal government shutdown?

State employees whose employers depend on federal funds to operate could be out of work during a shutdown if their work is deemed by the government to be non-necessary, according to a USA Today report from 2023.

State employees who receive salaries from private employers who do not rely on federal funds wouldnt necessarily be impacted, though certain state employees could be furloughed until a shutdown passes.

How many state employees are in Illinois?

Illinois employs more than 76,000 people at state agencies and departments, according to a 2022 report from The State Journal-Register.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

More: Illinois health officials push back against Trump's Tylenol claims

U.S. Postal Service

The U.S. Postal Service would not be affected because it does not depend on Congress for funding.

Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid

These agencies and programs would continue because some of their mandatory spending is not subject to annual appropriations by Congress.

National Parks

National parks, monuments, and other sites would close to the public, with rangers furloughed and facilities shut down. Some states may temporarily fund park operations, as seen during the 2018-2019 shutdown, according to USA Today.

TSA and air traffic controllers

Transportation Security Administration agents who operate security at airports, as well as air-traffic control workers would be required to work. Some airports in past shutdowns have struggled with staffers not showing up to work, though, which forced some operations to be suspended.

What are Illinois leaders saying?

U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth released a statement on Sept. 19, saying that "by fully embracing Trumps command to reject bipartisanship, Republicans alone are to blame for driving our country toward a shutdown."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Tom Ackerman covers breaking news and trending news along with general news for the Springfield State Journal-Register. He can be reached at tackerman@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: What a federal government shutdown could mean for Illinois
Hungary blocked 12 Ukrainian media outlets in response to Kyiv's earlier ban on several foreign publications over Russian narratives, Hungarian Cabinet Minister Gergely Gulyas said on Sept. 29.

Several Hungarian media outlets were among those temporarily restricted in Ukraine by an order by the State Special Communications Service on Sept. 8

According to Gulyas, Ukraine blocked the Hungarian outlets Origo and Demokrata because they "dared to write critically about the policy of sanctions against Russia, Ukraine's armed support, and portray the EU and NATO as fragmented and ineffective organizations."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Gulyas described the ban on Hungarian outlets in Ukraine as "a completely unjustified attack."

The list of 12 banned Ukrainian media outlets in Hungary includes several popular sources such as Ukrainska Pravda, European Pravda, NV, hromadske and TSN.

"With Ukraine's accession, the EU would only become more fragmented," Gulyas wrote on Facebok.

The news marks the most recent point of tension amid strained relations between Kyiv and Budapest.

Hungary is broadly seen as the most Kremlin-friendly government in the EU and NATO. The country has consistently obstructed aid to Ukraine and sanctions against Russia throughout the full-scale war.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Ukraine applied for EU membership shortly after Russia launched its war in 2022 and was granted candidate status within months.

As an EU member, Hungary has veto power over further progress.

Last week, reconnaissance drones likely belonging to Hungary had violated Ukraine's airspace along the border, President Volodymyr Zelensky said. Budapest rejected the allegations.

Read also: Ukrainian forces strike military-linked factory in Russias Bryansk Oblast, General Staff confirms

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Hungary and Slovakia remain among the few European countries still importing Russian oil and gas following Moscows full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Their leaders renewed criticism of the European Union on Sept. 28 over the blocs plan to reduce dependence on Russian energy.

Speaking at the 130th anniversary of the Maria Valeria Bridge, which links Sturovo, Slovakia, and Esztergom, Hungary, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said: "No one should tell us where to buy oil and gas from. Because under international law, it is a sovereign country that decides its energy mix.

He added: And I share the views of the prime minister of Hungary that the political ideological decision to cut off Europe entirely from the Russian oil and gas will not only harm Hungary and Slovakia the most, but will significantly damage the entire European Union, according to Euronews.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban echoed those concerns, accusing Brussels of pursuing policies that would undermine the region. Just like the old empires that ruled us, now the European Union has become a war project. Now, when Brussels talks about peace in Europe, it actually means war, Orban said.

The European Commission announced last week it is preparing to introduce tariffs on Russian oil imports still flowing into the EU via Hungary and Slovakia. The move comes amid growing pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has urged NATO allies to stop buying Russian energy, arguing the war in Ukraine could end if Moscow were cut off entirely.

Both Orban and Fico have opposed rapid moves to phase out Russian energy, citing economic costs and energy security. Budapest says geographical and infrastructure constraints make a transition away from Russian supplies nearly impossible. Critics argue their stance weakens Europes collective position against Russias war in Ukraine.

Read also: Insidious tactics  Mass Russian missile and drone strike kills at least 4, injures over 70 in Kyiv, its surrounding region, Zaporizhzhia

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
BUDAPEST (Reuters) -Hungary's Viktor Orban said on Monday that Ukraine was not a sovereign country, as he hit back at accusations that Hungarian reconnaissance drones violated its airspace - the latest salvo in an increasingly bitter row between Kyiv and Budapest.

"Ukraine is not at war with Hungary; it is at war with Russia. It should be concerned with the drones on its eastern border," the Hungarian prime minister said during an interview on a right-wing podcast popular with his supporters.

"I believe my ministers, but let's say it would have actually flown a few metres there, so what? Ukraine is not an independent country. Ukraine is not a sovereign country, Ukraine is financed by us, the West gives it funds, weapons," Orban said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

In a response to Orban's comments, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said in a post on X that the Hungarian premier remained "intoxicated by Russian propaganda".

In contrast to most NATO and European Union leaders, Orban has maintained cordial relations with Russia while questioning the logic of Western military aid for Kyiv, a stance which has frequently put him at loggerheads with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

On Friday, Zelenskiy said that reconnaissance drones that violated Ukraine's airspace could have flown from Hungary to check the industrial potential of western border areas.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto rejected the accusation, saying Zelenskiy was "losing his mind".

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

In a further sign of deepening tensions between the countries, Hungary said on Monday it was blocking access to 12 Ukrainian news sites after a similar move by Kyiv.

Earlier this month, Ukraine blocked various websites deemed to contain pro-Russian views at the request of the security services. They included eight Hungarian-language portals, among them a popular pro-government news site origo.hu.

(Reporting by Krisztina Than in Budapest and Alan Charlish in Warsaw; Editing by Aidan Lewis)
DURHAM  A public hearing has been set to discuss improving safety at the intersection of Route 4 and Madbury Road in Durham, according to the New Hampshire Department of Transportation.

The project will construct a hybrid roundabout at the intersection. The hybrid roundabout will replace the existing traffic signals and consists of two lanes on Route 4 in each direction and one lane on Madbury Road in each direction. The proposed work will extend approximately 1,200 feet in each direction along Route 4, and approximately 600 feet in each direction along Madbury Road.

A McGregor Memorial EMS ambulance transporting a critical pediatric patient was involved in a collision with another vehicle at the intersection of Madbury Road and Route 4 in Durham May 19, 2025.

A 10-foot-wide multi-use path will also be constructed along Madbury Road to match the town of Durhams Madbury Road Complete Streets project. The project will include pedestrian crossing accommodations at the Route 4 and Madbury Road intersection.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The hearing will be held at Durham Town Hall, 8 Newmarket Road, Durham, on Thursday, Oct. 16 at 6 p.m. Town Hall will be open at 5:30 p.m. for the inspection of plans.

Landowners invited to attend hearing

The NH Department of Transportation will conduct a public hearing to determine whether there is an occasion for the laying out of this project and acquiring necessary rights-of-way.

Interested landowners, local officials, and highway users are invited to attend the hearing and will have the opportunity to express their comments relative to the project. Maps, plans, environmental studies, and other pertinent information developed for the department, along with written reports received because of the coordination with other agencies, are available at the Department of Transportation at the John O. Morton Building, 7 Hazen Drive, Concord, New Hampshire, for inspection and copying. Call Timothy Dunn, project manager, at (603) 271-1618 in advance for an appointment.

Written statements and other exhibits may be submitted to the Chairman of the Commission, c/o Tobey Reynolds, Assistant Director of Project Development, NH Department of Transportation, PO Box 483, Concord, NH 03302-0483, or by email to Bureau50@dot.nh.gov until Oct. 27.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Should you need this information in alternate formats, please contact the NHDOT Public Information Office at info@dot.nh.gov or by phone at 603-271-6495, PO Box 483, Concord, NH 03302-0483.

This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Hybrid roundabout coming to Durham Route 4, Madbury Road intersection
OXCCU, an Oxford University spin-out, has secured 20.75 million (approximately $28 million) in a Series B funding round to accelerate the commercialization of its technology for converting waste carbon into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The funding round was oversubscribed, according to a company statement released Monday.

The new capital will be used to expand operations and advance the next phase of technology scale-up, including the development of a second demonstration plant, OX2, which the company expects to be fully operational in 2026. This builds on the launch of its OX1 demonstration plant earlier in 2024 at London Oxford Airport.

New investors in the round include Orlen VC, Safran Corporate Ventures, International Airlines Group (IAG), Hostplus, and TCVC. Existing investors such as Clean Energy Ventures, IP Group/Kiko Ventures, Aramco Ventures, and Eni Next also participated.

OXCCUs process is centered on an iron-based catalyst that enables the direct synthesis of jet-fuel-range hydrocarbons from gaseous waste carbon in a single reaction. The company states this approach simplifies the production pathway by eliminating steps often required in SAF production, which it expects will reduce capital and operating costs.

The investment highlights increasing market recognition that high production costs remain a significant barrier to the widespread adoption of SAF, despite global mandates such as ReFuelEU and the UK SAF mandate. SAF is considered a critical lever for decarbonizing the aviation sector.

Andrew Symes, chief executive officer of OXCCU, stated that the successful raise in a tightening market was "a testament to the strength of our science" and the urgency of the problem.

For investors like IAG, the move aligns with existing environmental targets. Jonathon Counsell, Group Sustainability Director at IAG, noted the investment is part of the airline groups strategy to meet its goal of sourcing 10% of its fuel needs with SAF by 2030.

Similarly, Ireneusz F?fara, president of the Management Board of ORLEN, said the investment supports the companys strategic aim to become one of Europe's leading SAF producers by 2035.

The company reports that its catalyst is designed to work with various feedstock compositions, including reformed biogas, gasified wood waste, and pure carbon dioxide with hydrogen. This flexibility could be a factor in driving down input costs.

Daniel Goldman, managing partner and co-founder of Clean Energy Ventures, commented that the companys "rapid progress is reshaping the sustainable aviation fuel market, unlocking the affordability aviation needs to decarbonize." Beyond aviation, OXCCU indicated its technology also has potential applications in chemicals and plastics.
Tropical Storm Imelda has formed in the Bahamas and is forecast to bring rain, rip currents, storm surge and rough surf to much of the Southeast coast through the middle of the week of Sept. 29.

At 2 p.m. on Sept. 28, Imelda's sustained winds had just barely reached the point  40 mph  strong enough to be considered a tropical storm, the National Hurricane Center said. It was centered about 95 miles west-northwest of the Central Bahamas and about 370 miles southeast of Cape Canaveral, Florida, and moving north at 7 mph.

The hurricane center's official forecast calls for Imelda to organize as it moves northward offshore parallel to the Florida coast. But by Tuesday, forecasters expect it to strengthen into a hurricane as it begins to make a right turn out into the open Atlantic away from the mainland United States.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

While that improves the forecast for the United States, the island of Bermuda is now in Imelda's crosshairs in the latest forecast track issued on Sept. 28, with a potential landfall of a Category 1 Hurricane Imelda on Thursday, according to the hurricane center forecast.

"The risk of significant wind impacts along the southeastern United States coast is decreasing," Philippe Papin, one of the center's hurricane specialists, wrote in an update. But for people with interests along the already battered beaches of the U.S. East Coast from previous storms this summer, it could be a very long week, based on the forecasts.

Rain chances also remain high enough that there's a marginal to slight chance of flash flooding from just north of Miami all the way north to the Raleigh-Durham area in a wide arc through the Carolinas.

East Central Florida remains under a tropical storm watch, and the entire Southeast coast is advised to remain alert for rough conditions right at the coast and along coastal waters, with surf and seas stirred up by Imelda, but also from distant, but strong Hurricane Humberto, now a Category 4 with 150 mph winds.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

A storm surge of 1 to 2 feet is forecast along the coast from Central Florida to the South Santee River in South Carolina, and minor coastal flooding could occur along the coast as a result of onshore, Papin wrote in the forecast update. Swells from Humberto and Imelda are expected to create dangerous rip currents along the east coast of Florida and the Georgia coast through Sept. 29, and could continue north through the rest of the week.

Disorganized Imelda, now a tropical storm, is forecast to move north offshore and parallel to the Florida coast into the middle of the week of Sept. 29, the National Hurricane Center forecasters say. Meanwhile, very well organized Humberto with 150 mph winds, is also forecast to send long period wells to the coastal U.S., especially in the Carolinas.

"We want to stress that this has the potential to be a longer-duration swell event for the (eastern North Carolina) coastline and for the ENC coastal waters, with peak swell and marine impacts expected Tuesday - Thursday," said Casey Dail, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Morehead City, North Carolina. But additional coastal and inland impacts could occur, based on Imelda's ultimate forward path.

A tropical storm watch extends along the east coast from the border of Palm Beach and Martin counties north to the border between Volusia and Flagler counties, meaning tropical storm conditions are possible within 24 hours. The hurricane center shows the probability of tropical storm force winds along the coast of Florida ranging from a 9% chance in West Palm Beach on Sep. 29 to an 11% chance in Fort Pierce and an 8% chance at the Patrick Space Force Base.

Total storm rainfall over the next three days is projected to be less than two inches in coastal areas of Florida and Georgia, then up to four inches along the coast of the Carolinas, with a swath of potential rain up to 2 inches further inland along the coast.

Satellite view of Tropical Storm Melissa 10:30 a.m. Oct. 22, 2025. One of five homes that collapsed within 45 minutes on Sept. 30, 2025, as rough seas from two hurricanes pounded away at beaches along portions of North Carolina's Outer Banks. An image of the winds over the Atlantic Ocean, as seen on earth.nullschool.net on the morning of Sept. 30, 2025, as hurricanes Imelda and Humberto spin away from the United States. Hurricanes Imelda and Humberto swirl in the Atlantic Ocean on Sept. 30, 2025 in this image from NOAA's GOES 19 satellite. Hurricane Gabrielle spins in the Atlantic east of Bermuda, while two other potential storms are seen in the tropical Atlantic on the morning of Sept. 24, 2025. One is causing rain and storms over Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and the other is east of the Leeward Islands. The National Hurricane Center is monitoring all three. Tropical Storm Chantal over the U.S. East Coast on the morning of July 5, 2025. Tropical Storm Andrea, the first storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, is seen via satellite on June 24, 2025. Barry made landfall on June 29, 2025, south of Tampico, Mexico as a tropical depression, after weakening from a tropical storm. Tropical Storm Chantal slammed North Carolina with heavy rain that caused extreme flooding to central parts of the state on Monday, July 7. Footage shared by Cassaundra Anderson, a Chapel Hill resident, shows rapidly rising floodwaters in her neighborhood, leaving cars partially submerged. The storm was dubbed a tropical depression upon landfall on Sunday, July 6, and further downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone on Monday, July 7, according to the National Hurricane Center. Tropical Storm Dexter on satellite on Aug. 4, 2025. Surfers take advantage of the swells coming from Hurricane Erin into Wrightsville Beach around Crystal Pier on Aug. 19, 2025, in Wrightsville Beach, N.C. Hurricane Erin crawls along the U.S. East Coast on the morning of Aug. 20, 2025. Hurricane Erin on a geocolor satellite image on August 16, 2025. Wave heights offshore could reach heights of 50 feet near the eye of Hurricane Erin as the storm passes the U.S. East Coast on Aug. 19-21. It's massive wind field is stirring up the ocean across an area hundreds of miles wide. An aerial view from a NOAA Aircraft along Highway 12 on the Outer Banks of North Carolina after Hurricane Erin's high surf surrounds homes on the beach in Buxton. Tropical Storm Fernand 2025 full track. Hurricane Gabrielle is seen via NOAA satellite as it moves eastward in the Atlantic Ocean east of Bermuda, on the morning of Sept. 24, 2025. On Oct 28, 2025, a Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite captured a vivid view of Hurricane Melissa's eye a few hours before landfall on Jamaica's southern coast. Dawn Jensen (from left) Leann Johnson, Denise Gjertson and Dean Gjertson traveled to Jamaica at the end of October and were stranded after Hurricane Melissa. They returned home Nov. 4. Flooded houses in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, in Black River, Jamaica, November 5, 2025. Hurricane Melissa's eye is captured by NOAA satellite as the sun rises, as the Category 5 storm, with peaked sustained winds of 185 mph and gusts of more than 200 mph, approaches the island of Jamaica. Gloria Hutchins, 70, is assisted by a member of the army medical staff in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa in Darliston, Jamaica on Nov. 3, 2025. Dorothy Headley, 75, prepares a meal of cow liver over a wood fire as damaged property is seen in the background in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa in the Watercress community of Westmoreland, Jamaica, on October 31, 2025. A woman is evacuated from her home by emergency personnel after the Cauto River flooded due to Hurricane Melissa, in Rio Cauto, Granma Province, Cuba October 31, 2025. Hurricane scientist Andy Hazelton with the University of Miami took this photo inside the eye of Hurricane Melissa aboard a flight on the NOAA WP-3D hurricane reconnaissance aircraft dubbed Kermit, for Kermit the Frog. A damaged house is pictured after Hurricane Melissa slammed Boca de Dos Rios village, in Santiago de Cuba province, Cuba, on Oct. 30, 2025. People walk through a flooded street following Hurricane Melissa in Petit-Goave, 68km southwest of Port-au-Prince, on October 30, 2025. Hurricane Melissa was moving towards Bermuda on Thursday after ripping a path of destruction through the Caribbean that left at least 20 people dead in Haiti, and parts of Jamaica and Cuba in ruins. A drone view shows an affected area after Hurricane Melissa made landfall, in Crane Road, Black River, Jamaica, October 30, 2025. REUTERS/Maria Alejandra Cardona Drone view of flooding after Hurricane Melissa made landfall in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica. A NOAA satellite captures the eye of deadly Hurricane Melissa at Jamaica's coast on Oct. 28, 2025. Storms of the 2025 hurricane season so far 1 of 30 Satellite view of Tropical Storm Melissa 10:30 a.m. Oct. 22, 2025.

More: Hurricane Humberto rages; Imelda could soon threaten US. Forecast updates.

Where is Imelda headed?

Imelda is headed northward along the Florida coast through the next few days and then is expected to turn toward the east and head

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

While the chances of some of the most significant risks for the southeast are decreasing, Accuweather Meteorologist Nick Arman said coastal areas could see one-foot to three-foot storm surges and 40 to 60 mph winds early in the week.

The forecast track for Tropical Storm Imelda, the ninth named storm of the 2025 hurricane season. If it strengthens into a hurricane as forecast, it would be the fourth hurricane of the season.

How much rain could fall in the Southeast?

Including the rain that fell with an unrelated event over the weekend, between 5 to 10 inches of rain could fall in the coastal southeastern parts of North and South Carolina through the first couple days of October, the Weather Prediction Center said. Higher totals could fall locally, and could lead to "scattered pockets of flash flooding," the Weather Prediction Center said.

From far eastern Georgia to central Virginia, 2 to 4 inches could fall, while the Carolina coasts could see upward of 8 to 16 inches, according to AccuWeather meteorologists. "Rainfall of this magnitude can lead to widespread life-threatening flooding, especially if the storm slows down or stalls," AccuWeather said.

See the current storms in the Atlantic

This forecast track shows the most likely path of the center of the storm. It does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts, and the center of the storm is likely to travel outside the cone up to 33% of the time.

How do hurricanes form?

Hurricanes are born in the tropics, above warm water. Clusters of thunderstorms can develop over the ocean when water temperatures exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If conditions are right, the clusters swirl into a storm known as a tropical wave or tropical depression.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

A tropical depression becomes a named tropical storm once its sustained wind speeds reaches 39 miles per hour. When its winds reach 74 mph, the storm officially becomes a hurricane.

Prepare now for hurricanes

Delaying potentially lifesaving preparations could mean waiting until its too late. "Get your disaster supplies while the shelves are still stocked, and get that insurance checkup early, as flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period," the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recommends.

Develop an evacuation plan . If you are at risk from hurricanes, you need an evacuation plan. Now is the time to begin planning where you would go and how you would get there.

Assemble disaster supplies . Whether youre evacuating or sheltering in place, youre going to need supplies not just to get through the storm but for a possibly lengthy aftermath, NOAA said.

Get an insurance checkup and document your possessions . Contact your insurance company or agent now and ask for an insurance checkup to make sure you have enough insurance to repair or even replace your home and belongings. Remember, home and renters insurance dont cover flooding, so youll need a separate policy for those. Flood insurance is available through your company, agent or the National Flood Insurance Program. Act now, because flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period.

Create a family communication plan . NOAA says you should take the time now to write down a hurricane plan and share it with your family. Determine family meeting places and make sure to include an out-of-town location in case of evacuation.

Strengthen your home. Now is the time to improve your homes ability to withstand hurricanes. Trim trees and install storm shutters, accordion shutters and impact glass; seal outside wall openings.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hurricane forecasters warn Imelda could bring risks, flooding to US
Louisville is home to roughly 10,000 immigrants and refugees from East Africa.

They come from Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania and Somalia, among other countries. If you add all those populations up, arguably, it makes up the second or third largest population of immigrants and refugees in Louisville, behind Cuba and Haiti.

This week, we profile Kevin Uyisenga and See Forward Ministries, which helps immigrants from East Africa learn English, find jobs and break down barriers to success, such as childcare and transportation, as they resettle in America.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Uyisenga lost most of his family in the Rwandan genocide in 1994, and spent the next decade living on the streets. It wasnt until he met an American missionary in 2005 that he began to see beyond day-to-day survival and think about living. She encouraged him to attend college in the United States, and Uyisenga went on to become an accountant, pastor and an advocate for East African immigrants in Louisville.

Kevin Uyisenga is the executive director of the See Forward Ministries, an organization that works behind the Buechel United Methodist Church off Hikes Lane. See Forward helps immigrants with learning the English language and employment opportunities. The Louisville accountant and licensed pastor is a native of Rwanda. He lost nearly all his family to genocide in 1994. August 18, 2025.

In 2017, he founded See Forward Ministries to formalize and expand the assistance he already provided to immigrants and refugees through Buechel United Methodist Church.

Immigrants, refugees, and resettlement have been at the forefront of news since President Donald Trumps second term began in January. A variety of organizations, including See Forward Ministries, have seen an unprecedented dip in federal funding and are having to rethink how to provide resources to the communities they serves.

Its my pleasure to introduce you to Uyisenga, See Forward Ministries and the local East African population it serves in Louisville.

How did you learn about See Forward Ministries?

Instructor Chris Bitangaza teaching basic English to immigrants inside a See Forward Ministries classroom recently. The non-profit organization, founded by Rwandan genocide survivor Kevin Uyisenga, works out of the Buechel United Methodist Church off Hikes Lane. In recent months,Trump administration policies have chipped away at federal grants and programs available for immigrants. August 18, 2025.

A few months ago, I had the pleasure of meeting with Kathy Turner, the communications director for Louisville Metro Health and Wellness. I have a background in health reporting, and I was eager to pick her brain on some of the resources and programs that might make good feature stories. Turner worked closely with Uyisenga during the COVID-19 pandemic, and she suggested we meet. Courier Journal photographer Jeff Faughenderand I were both wowed at Uyisengas multiprong approach to connecting East African immigrants and refugees with resources. In addition to our inaugural interview, we popped in to two different language classes and spent some time with a handful of immigrants who work as employment specialists.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

More: Our columnist got her Maker's Mark Golden Ticket. A sneak peek inside the exclusive tour

What impact or outcome do you hope to achieve with this story?

Uyisenga genuinely inspired me, and I hope our readers feel that, too. Its hard to imagine the trauma he had to overcome as young person in Rwanda, and yet, decades later, hes serving immigrants from several countries in East Africa. He feels fortunate to have received all the help and support he did as a young adult, and now hes paying that kindness forward to more than 500 other East African households in Louisville.

What was the most unexpected or surprising finding?

Instructor Rosette Obonue teaches an intermediate English language class at the See Forward Ministries near the Bon Air neighborhood. The non-profit organization, founded by Rwandan genocide survivor Kevin Uyisenga, works out of the Buechel United Methodist Church off Hikes Lane. The nonprofit serves immigrants from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania and Somalia, among other countries. Many have resettled in the United States because of war and dangerous circumstances in their homeland. Between October 2023 and May 2024 8,261 refugees arrived in Louisville, according to a report from the Quarterly Community Consultation on Refugee resettlement in Louisville. August 18, 2025.

I did not realize that Louisvilles East African immigrant and refugee population was as large as it is. About 2,900 refugees resettled in Kentucky in fiscal year 2024 and nearly 60% came from the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to the American Immigration Council. Uyisenga told me its difficult to know just how many East African immigrants are in Louisville, because the data doesnt track secondary migration, which is when immigrants move between states after formal resettlement. Often immigrants resettle in Kentucky, because the commonwealth has a strong reputation as a good play to find a job.

More: 'A blessing to be a blessing:' How Master P still repays kindness to Louisville post-Katrina

What is your favorite part of being a journalist, especially in your current beat?

Im so grateful to people like Uyisenga, who invite me into their world and give me the chance to share their stories. He gave me an honest, vulnerable interview, and he welcomed Faughender and me without any hesitation. It was such a privilege to tell his story and to give our readers a small glimpse of what life is like for Louisvilles East African immigrants.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Maggie Menderski is features columnist for the Courier Journal in Louisville, which is part of the USA Today Network.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: See Forward Ministries helps African immigrants refugees in Louisville
JAKARTA (Reuters) -The office of Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto on Monday restored access for a CNN Indonesia journalist, having earlier revoked it after she had asked the leader about a troubled free meal programme, sparking concerns about press freedom.

CNN Indonesia editor-in-chief Titin Rosmasari met with the Indonesian palace and confirmed the journalist's access had been restored, CNN Indonesia reported. The palace had apologised for the revocation and said it would not be repeated, it added.

Indonesia's main press council had on Sunday said the palace should explain its reasoning and restore the reporter's access, calling for the protection of press freedom.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Titin told Reuters earlier on Monday the reporter's credentials were revoked on Saturday night. She also told magazine Tempo that the revocation was related to the reporter's question about thousands of school children who fell sick after consuming food served in the free meal programme.

The reporter asked Prabowo on Saturday whether he had instructions for the National Nutrition Agency overseeing the programme, news footage shows.

Prabowo said he would summon the agency and said "this is a huge matter," adding there were bound to be shortcomings at the beginning of the programme and urging caution against politicisation.

Tempo reported other journalists at the event were only allowed to ask about Prabowo's international trip last week, which included a stop at the United Nations headquarters.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Nearly 6,000 children have fallen sick after consuming food as part of Prabowo's multi-billion dollar free meal programme since its January roll-out, government data shows, more than 1,000 of whom were impacted last week.

The deputy head of the agency in charge on Friday apologised for the food poisoning cases, saying there was a lack of oversight and the agency took full responsibility.

Indonesia ranks 127th out of 180 countries and territories in the 2025 the World Press Freedom Index by the Reporters Without Borders, having fallen 16 places in one year.

(Reporting by Stanley Widianto; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
FORT ATKINSON, Iowa  This is the 49th year for the Rendezvous held at the site of Iowas frontier fort, Fort Atkinson.

The government determined that the Winnebago Indians needed to be removed from the Wisconsin area that they lived in, so the military brought them here, said Kay Schmitt, of the Friends of Ft. Atkinson group. Officers stayed in this camp and their job for the Dragoons, was to go out and patrol the area to make sure that everybody was getting along and then theyd also provide supplies for them.

The Winnebago Indians were eventually moved to Minnesota.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Each year some 75 groups or individuals set up camp for the weekend. Visitors come to the town of Fort Atkinson for the festivities.

Des Moines School Board President Jackie Norris discusses Dr. Ian Roberts ICE arrest, next steps for district

We have some of the military folks here and and the campers you know cook on their stove, said Schmitt. They have campfires and and we have a lot of craftsman. We have a blacksmith, a basket weaver, fabric weavers, a surveyor so they all do their skills as they wouldve been back in the 1840s.

One group does a canon drill, firing off two small canons. There is another unusual demonstration which makes a loud noise. Shooting an anvil 70 feet into the air would make a loud blast sound.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

They were the blacksmiths to do that to alert the whole community, 6 to 8 miles out with the concussion then come back in if there was a fire in town or an Indian attack or something like that, said Scott Sindelar, of Ft. Atkinson. All the blacksmith would be able to do that.

We were the first troops to the man post, we were here from 1840 to 1846, said

Jason Gordon, a re-enactor from Ackley IA. We were in peace time so theres never a shot fired in anger at Fort Atkinson.

Next year, the Fort Atkinson Rendezvous will celebrate 50 years of living history here in northeast Iowa.

Iowa News:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com.
Beirut, Lebanon  At least one person has been killed in an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon, according to the state-run National News Agency (NNA), as near-daily attacks by Israel continue despite a November ceasefire.

The attack on Monday hit an excavator in the Shamsiyah area of Sohmor in the Bekaa Valley, killing its driver. Footage on social media, verified by Al Jazeera, showed emergency responders carrying the victim away on a stretcher.

Local media reported that dozens of Israeli drones flew at low altitude over several villages in southern and eastern Lebanon. One drone targeted the town of Aitaroun on Monday afternoon while another bombed a house in Houmin al-Fauqa. No casualties were reported in those attacks.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

More than 150 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Lebanon since November 27, the day the ceasefire came into effect and was supposed to end the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah after nearly two months of cross-border attacks. Israels war on Lebanon killed more than 4,000 people, weakened Hezbollahs military capabilities and wiped out its top leadership.

Ceasefire violations

Under the ceasefire, Israel was to withdraw all its forces from Lebanese territory, but its military remains in at least five positions in Lebanon near their shared border.

NNA reported a series of raids on Sunday between the Medena Plain, Kfar Rumman and Jarmaq while other strikes targeted Jarmaq and Mahmoudiya. A drone strike was also reported on a home in Humin.

Earlier this month, an Israeli strike on the southern city of Bint Jbeil killed five people, including three children. Lebanons Ministry of Public Health confirmed the deaths while Israels military said the attack targeted a Hezbollah member, acknowledging in a statement that several uninvolved civilians were killed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

As Israel has refused to pull out from Lebanese territory, it has said Hezbollah should first disarm  a demand the Lebanese group has rejected.

Pressure to disarm

Israel claims its air strikes are intended to prevent Hezbollah from rebuilding its military strength after last years war, which killed its longtime chief, Hassan Nasrallah.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah is facing growing political and diplomatic pressure to disarm. Israel and its closest ally, the United States, are now pressing for the disarmament of Hezbollah, which carried out its attacks on Israel in solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza, where more than 66,000 people have been killed during Israels two-year war.

On September 5, the Lebanese government tasked the army with preparing a disarmament plan.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

In an interview with Al Jazeera, the US special envoy for Syrian affairs, Tom Barrack, said Hezbollahs entrenched political role makes any disarmament effort more complex.

Convincing Hezbollah to give up its weapons is the job of the Lebanese government, and the United States is not interested in pressuring anybody, he said.

But earlier this month, the US Department of Defense announced $14.2m in aid for the Lebanese army to bolster its mission to degrade Hezbollah, calling it part of the administrations priority to counter Iranian-backed armed groups in the region.

Hezbollah, however, has dismissed any suggestions it will hand over its weapons, claiming it is a US and Israeli initiative to weaken Lebanon.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Speaking in Beirut on Saturday, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem told thousands of people gathered at Nasrallahs tomb that the group would preserve its military capabilities despite heavy losses.

We will never abandon our weapons, nor will we relinquish them, Qassem said, promising to confront any project that serves Israel. He added that disarmament under the current conditions would leave Lebanon vulnerable to further attacks.
U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday, during which he unveiled his 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza. Hamas said on Monday that it received the proposal.

Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces is continuing its operation to take control of Gaza City, the largest urban area in the Gaza Strip, despite international outcry over the deteriorated humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territory.

Israel is facing significant diplomatic pressure abroad, with multiple Western nations recognizing Palestinian statehood -- while also demanding that Hamas can not be part of any future government -- as world leaders gathered at the United Nations General Assembly in New York last week.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Netanyahu said that Israel will not allow an independent Palestinian state to exist.

Latest Developments





Sep 30, 11:16 AM

Hamas has about '3 or 4 days' to respond to Gaza deal, Trump says

President Donald Trump told ABC News that he is giving Hamas "three or four days" to respond to the proposal he unveiled on Monday to end the war in Gaza. If they dont sign on, Trump said, its going to be a very sad end.



He said that there was "not much" negotiating room for Hamas over this plan.



Asked what he meant when he said Israel can do what they have to do if Hamas rejects the deal and what he envisions that will look like, Trump reiterated, "I will let them go and do what they have to do. They can do it pretty easily. I would let them go and do what they have to do."



"They paid a big price," he said of Hamas. "We hope that theyre going to have a nice, calm life. Maybe it wont happen but if it does, itll be one of the greatest things to ever happen. Well have actual peace in the Middle East.



-ABC News' Mary Bruce and Isabella Murray

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Sep 30, 9:35 AM

2 Israeli teenagers injured in a car-ramming incident in West Bank

Two Israeli teenagers were injured in a car-ramming incident in the West Bank on Tuesday, the Israeli military and medical emergency services confirmed.



The IDF described the incident as a terrorist attack, stating that the perpetrator also "attempted a stabbing" at the scene before being neutralized.



The teens are currently in moderate and moderate-to-serious condition, according to MDA, Israels national emergency medical service.



-ABC News' Jordana Miller

Sep 30, 8:00 AM

42 people killed in Gaza in 24 hours, health ministry says

Israeli forces killed 42 Palestinians and wounded 190 others in the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours, Gaza's Hamas-run Ministry of Health said Tuesday afternoon.

Dawoud Abu Alkas/Reuters - PHOTO: Smoke rises during an Israeli military operation as displaced Palestinians fleeing northern Gaza move southward in the central Gaza Strip, on Sept. 30, 2025.



That brings the Palestinian death toll in Gaza since the ongoing war began to 66,097, according to the health ministry.



Among those killed over the past day were five people trying to collect humanitarian aid, while another 56 were injured, the health ministry said.



-ABC News' Morgan Winsor

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Sep 30, 7:52 AM

Gaza starvation death toll reaches 453 people, health ministry says

At least 453 people, including 150 children, have starved to death in the Gaza Strip since the ongoing war began on Oct. 7, 2023, according to Gaza's Hamas-run Ministry of Health, which released the updated figure Tuesday morning.



Eyad Baba/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: A boy walks with a sack on his back containing humanitarian aid in Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip, on Sept. 30, 2025.





As ABC News has previously reported, a vast majority of those deaths have occurred this year, according to data previously released by the health ministry.



-ABC News' Samy Zyara and Morgan Winsor



Sep 30, 7:14 AM

Hostage families say ceasefire plan is 'historic turning point'

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum -- a body supporting and advocating for the families of hostages being held in the Gaza Strip -- said in a statement that it was "profoundly grateful" after President Donald Trump proposed the new Gaza ceasefire framework on Monday.



Shir Torem/Reuters - PHOTO: Hostage families protest for the implementation of a U.S. plan to end the war in Gaza and release all hostages, near the U.S. consulate in Tel Aviv on Sept. September 29, 2025.





"We stand at a historic turning point," the forum said in a statement. "President Trump has accomplished what many said was impossible."



"This is a historic agreement that will allow our people to heal, end the war and chart a new future for the Middle East," the body added, praising Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "for accepting President Trumps initiative."



The ongoing fighting in Gaza, the forum said, "continues to endanger the fate of our hostages. There is no reason to risk their lives when Israel has adopted President Trump's historic initiative. The world must apply maximum pressure to ensure Hamas commits to this historic opportunity for peace."

Sep 30, 4:57 AM

Far-right Netanyahu ally says peace plan is 'resounding' failure

Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich -- whose Religious Zionism party is part of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government -- on Tuesday criticized the proposed Gaza ceasefire plan as "a tragedy" that will "end in tears."

Evan Vucci/AP - PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the State Dining Room of the White House, on Sept. 29, 2025, in Washington, D.C.





Smotrich, who is a prominent advocate of Israeli annexation of Gaza and the occupied West Bank, said in a post to X that the blueprint proposes surrendering "real achievements on the ground for political illusions."



The proposed involvement of regional Arab nations like Qatar, Jordan and Egypt in the security and governance of post-war Gaza represents "a resounding diplomatic failure," Smotrich said, and a return to what he called the "old-fashioned" mentality behind the 1993 Oslo Accords.



Smotrich set out six "red lines" for Netanyahu ahead of the latter's meeting with Trump on Monday. Despite his criticism of the deal on Tuesday, the finance minister did not say he would oppose the agreement.



"We will consult, consider, and decide, with Gods help," he wrote. "But the celebrations since yesterday are simply absurd."



Smotrich also expressed his hope that Hamas "obstinacy will once again save us from ourselves," if the group refuses to accept the latest proposal and the war continues.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Sep 30, 4:22 AM

EU leaders ready to support Trump's Gaza peace plan

European Union leaders expressed their backing for the Gaza ceasefire proposal announced by President Donald Trump on Monday.

Nicolas Tucat/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addresses a press conference in Brussels, Belgium, on Sept. 30, 2025.



European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a post to X that she would "encourage all parties to now seize this opportunity. The EU stands ready to contribute."



EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said the plan "is an opportunity for lasting peace. It offers the best immediate chance to end the war."



"Hamas must now accept it without delay, starting with the immediate release of hostages," Kallas said.



European Council President Antonio Costa said he was "encouraged" by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's "positive response" to the proposal.



But both Costa and von der Leyen stressed that a two-state solution with the creation of an independent Palestinian state -- something Netanyahu has repeatedly said he will not allow -- is the only viable path to lasting peace.

The proposed plan does not include a clear commitment to a future independent Palestinian state.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The White House draft of the agreement says that, after the redevelopment of Gaza and reforms to the Palestinian Authority, "the conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood, which we recognize as the aspiration of the Palestinian people."

Sep 30, 3:45 AM

IDF launches 160 strikes across Gaza in past 24 hours

Israeli warplanes bombed 160 targets across the Gaza Strip in the previous 24 hours, the Israel Defense Forces said in a post to social media on Tuesday.



Amir Cohen/Reuters - PHOTO: Smoke rises from Gaza after an explosion, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, on Sept. 30, 2025.





The IDF said it targeted enemy fighters, weapons storage facilities, observation posts and other "infrastructure" it said was being used by enemy forces.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Sep 29, 5:21 PM

Qatar, Egypt, UAE and others say they 'welcome' Trump's proposal to end war

The foreign ministers of Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Turkey and Pakistan said they "welcome" President Donald Trump's proposed plan to end the war in Gaza.



"The ministers welcome the announcement by President Trump regarding his proposal to end the war, rebuild Gaza, prevent the displacement of the Palestinian people and advance a comprehensive peace, as well as his announcement that he will not allow the annexation of the West Bank, the foreign ministers said in a joint statement.



The foreign ministers said they are ready to "engage positively and constructively" with both the U.S. and other parties "toward finalizing the agreement and ensuring its implementation."

Sep 29, 5:02 PM

Hamas receives Trump plan: Official

Qatar's prime minister and Egypt's intelligence chief just met with Hamas negotiators and shared President Donald Trump's 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza, an official told ABC News.



The Hamas negotiators said they would review it in good faith and provide a response, according to the official.

Click here to read the rest of the blog.
By Matt Spetalnick, Trevor Hunnicutt and Nidal al-Mughrabi

WASHINGTON/CAIRO/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -President Donald Trump secured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's backing on Monday for a U.S.-sponsored peace proposal to end a nearly two-year-old war in Gaza, but questions loomed over whether Hamas would accept the plan.

Speaking at a joint White House press conference following a meeting with Netanyahu, Trump said they were "beyond very close" to an elusive peace deal for the Palestinian enclave. But he warned the Islamist group Hamas that Israel would have full U.S. support to take whatever action it deemed necessary if the militants reject what he has offered.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The White House released a 20-point document that called for an immediate ceasefire, an exchange of hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, a staged Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, Hamas disarmament and a transitional government led by an international body.

Trump went into Monday's meeting seeking to overcome Netanyahu's misgivings over parts of the plan. It was not immediately clear whether the Trump administration and Israel had resolved all their differences, including over the possibility of a future Palestinian State, which Netanyahu has forcefully rejected, and any role for the Palestinian Authority in post-war governance of the enclave.

Trump thanked Netanyahu "for agreeing to the plan and for trusting that if we work together, we can bring an end to the death and destruction that we've seen for so many years, decades, even centuries."

NETANYAHU SAYS PLAN MEETS ISRAEL'S WAR AIMS

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Standing next to Trump, Netanyahu responded: "I support your plan to end the war in Gaza, which achieves our war aims.

"It will bring back to Israel all our hostages, dismantle Hamas' military capabilities, end its political rule, and ensure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel," he said.

It was clear, however, that Hamas remained the key to whether Trump's peace proposals get off the ground.

The group's absence from negotiations and its previous repeated refusals to disarm raised doubts about the plan's viability.

Hamas, which triggered the war with its October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, still holds 48 hostages, 20 of them still alive, Israel says.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Hamas hasnt yet received the plan officially, nothing beyond media publication," a Hamas official told Reuters.

But an official briefed on the talks later said Qatar and Egypt shared the document with Hamas, which told mediators they will review it "in good faith" and then respond.

In Netanyahus fourth White House visit since Trump returned to office in January, the right-wing Israeli leader was looking to bolster his countrys most important relationship after a slew of Western leaders formally embraced Palestinian statehood at the United Nations last week in defiance of the U.S. and Israel.

Trump sharply criticized the recognition of statehood as a prize for Hamas.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Monday's meeting marked a stepped-up diplomatic effort from the president, who vowed during the 2024 presidential campaign to quickly bring the conflict to a close and has since repeatedly claimed that a peace deal was near, only for it to fail to materialize.

Washington outlined its peace plan to Arab and Muslim states on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly last week.

Trump presented his set of proposals in effusive terms on Monday but ended what was billed as a press conference without taking questions.

He has previously hailed international deals that delivered less than promised. He headed into an August summit in Alaska with Russian President Vladimir Putin seeking a ceasefire in the Ukraine war and emerged with no such deal. Nonetheless, he called the meeting "a 10" on a scale of one to 10.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Netanyahu, while praising Trump as a friend of Israel, put some distance between himself and some items in Trump's plan, including the reforms being demanded of the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority and the prospects for eventual Palestinian statehood.

The Palestinian Authority welcomed Trump's efforts on Monday and reiterated its commitment to work with the U.S. and partners to reach a comprehensive deal, news agency WAFA reported.

Netanyahu is under mounting pressure from the hostages families and, according to public opinion polls, a war-weary Israeli public. But he also risks the collapse of his governing coalition if far-right ministers believe he has made too many concessions for a peace deal.

Steven Cook, a senior fellow of the Council on Foreign Relations think-tank, said an end to the war may be closer but cautioned that further work was needed. "The Qataris now must put the screws to Hamas and Netanyahu needs to sell to his security cabinet," he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Hamas-led fighters killed around 1,200 people and captured 251 hostages in the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, according to Israeli tallies. More than 66,000 Palestinians have since been killed in Israel's assault, according to Gaza health authorities.

ISRAELI ASSAULT HAS LEFT MUCH OF GAZA IN RUINS

Israel launched one of its biggest offensives of the war this month, with Netanyahu saying he aims to wipe out Hamas in its final redoubts. The war has left much of Gaza in ruins and caused a major humanitarian crisis.

The U.S. plan, crafted by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump first-term Middle East adviser, Jared Kushner, envisions a ceasefire followed by the release within 72 hours of all remaining hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

It outlines a vague path toward Palestinian statehood once Gaza's redevelopment is well under way and the Palestinian Authority undertakes reforms, but does not provide details.

The question of eventual Palestinian statehood, which Netanyahu has vowed never to let happen, was among the main sticking points to Netanyahu's acceptance of Trump's initiative, according to a source close to the talks.

Under the plan, the U.S. would work with Arab partners and other international parties to develop a temporary stabilization force to oversee security.

Gaza would be governed without Hamas involvement and initially only a limited role for a Palestinian Authority "representative." Netanyahu has said the PA must not control the territory.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The proposal calls for creation of a technocratic Palestinian committee responsible temporarily for day-to-day Gaza services, overseen by an international "board of peace" chaired by Trump and including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, the White House said.

(Reporting by Matt Spetalnick, Steve Holland and Trevor Hunnicutt in Washington, Howard Goller in New York, Nidal al-Mughrabi in Cairo, Alexander Cornwell in Jerusalem; Additional reporting by Costas Pitas; Writing by Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Peter Graff, Jon Boyle, Aidan Lewis, Nia Williams and Howard Goller)
The latest episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver tackles Israel, specifically Benjamin Netanyahu, his effect on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and his longstanding corruption charges.

It is impossible to overstate the death and suffering Netanyahus decisions have caused, said Oliver. To the over 65,000 Palestinians who are dead, the thousands of children who are amputees, and the thousands more who are starving, but also to the Israeli hostages whove either died or are still being held because of his refusal to prioritize their safety and freedom.

Oliver outlined Netanyahus increasingly unfavourable ratings both in Israel and the US, and talked of how the PM has aligned himself with extremist figures within the Israeli government. Extremists like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who said it may be just and moral to starve Gazans.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The host explained why Netanyahus allegations of corruption are at the heart of current events, capping off this episode with the following: It is worth asking: Just who is Netanyahu really looking out for? Is it the people of Israel, whove been put at risk by endless war? Or is it the man whos spent 17 years as prime minister and seems willing to do whatever it takes to squeeze out a few more?

As is the Last Week Tonight way, this episode manages to address a weighty topic and comprehensively distill it to its essence, masterfully delving into an urgent matter, outlining the horrific outcomes of the war, and highlighting how clear it is that Netanyahu is "desperate to stay in power  and will do whatever it takes.

Many of the arguments and facts laid out in the episode are delved into in further detail in a must-see 2024 documentary from Alexis Bloom, titled The Bibi Files.

In fact, this weeks episode of Last Week Tonight uses a clip from the documentary, which features leaked interrogation footage from the trial of Netanyahu and interviews with insiders who were willing to speak on the record.

The Bibi Files - Dogwoof - Jolt.Film

Netanyahu attempted to stop the film from ever being released. Thankfully, his attempts were unsuccesful, and since its world premiere at last years Doc NYC in November, The Bibi Files has won 2025s Political Film of the Year at the Cinema For Peace Awards.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Much like the eight films we singled out to better understand the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, The Bibi Files is essential to understand the wider implications of a devastating humanitarian crisis which the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory has deemed a genocide. It has also led Doctors Without Borders to suspend its work in Gaza due to the danger its workers face from the Israeli military.

Here is Euronews Cultures review of The Bibi Files, first published in January this year (09/01/2025), prior to the Oscars:

This is the film Benjamin Netanyahu doesn't want you to see. And he certainly tried.

The Israeli Prime Minister did everything in his power to block the documentary The Bibi Files from being screened. Thankfully, a Jerusalem court rejected Netanyahus suit, which claimed that the film violated Israeli law by making use of unapproved interrogation footage. The film ended up screening at the Toronto International Film Festival as a work-in-progress film and officially had its world premiere at Doc NYC last November.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Now, the documentary directed by Alexis Bloom and produced by Oscar winner Alex Gibney has made it onto the shortlist for Best Documentary. In the race for the Academy Award it joins several other titles like the Norwegian-Palestinian production No Other Land, about settler violence and the expulsion of Palestinians from their West Bank villages, as well as anthology film From Ground Zero, about the situation in Gaza after 7 October.

The Bibi Files, however, has been banned from being viewed in Israel and until the new direct-to-consumer film platform Jolt picked it up, the film was in a distribution crisis, with no streaming platform daring to touch it.

And for good reason: it is the urgent and scathing journalistic expose that, in an ideal world, should topple Israels longest-serving prime minister.

The Bibi Files - Jolt - Dogwoof

The Bibi Files features never-before-seen video of Netanyahu being interrogated by police on corruption allegations that led to his indictment in 2019. Israeli police recorded thousands of hours of interrogation footage between 2016 and 2018, which was then leaked to Gibney in 2023 via the Signal messaging app.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Known for his insightful and often damning documentaries, the veteran filmmaker behind gems like Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God, Taxi to the Dark Side and Going Clear: Scientology & The Prison of Belief, sensed that this was something big. He enlisted the Emmy-nominated Alexis Bloom (Catching Fire: The Story of Anita Pallenberg) to direct while he took on took on producing duties.

The resulting documentary is a hard-hitting chronicle that sheds light not only on Netanyahus character but shows how his unscrupulous nature has directly shaped the current state of the Middle East. Bloom does this by comprehensively  and chillingly - putting the puzzle pieces together and exposing how luxury objects like expensive cigars and champagne have impacted the lives of countless Gazan and Israeli families. Dismiss them as trivialities and foibles of the rich, but The Bibi Files establishes a direct line between them and current-day tragedies, and how a mans corruption and entitlement can trigger a domino effect that leads to war crimes.

Its not just one man and his sinister trademark grin, however. This shocking documentary utilizes the leaked police interrogation footage of Netanyahus wife Sara and his ultra right-wing son Yair, as well as archival footage and several interviews with important voices in Israel (journalists, politicians  including former Prime Minster Ehud Olmert), to paint the picture of a man so self-righteous that he would do anything to keep his strangle hold on power. No matter who he has to accuse. Or who has to die in the process.

The Bibi Files - Jolt - Dogwoof

The role of Sara Netanyahu is a particularly interesting part of The Bibi Files. Described as insatiable and volatile by many interviewees, she demands expensive gifts and she is central to her husbands trial. Through Blooms portrayal, we see a foul-mouthed Lady Macbeth who wields extraordinary influence over her husband. Many of her outbursts in the interrogation room (Your evidence is utter and complete bullshit. Bye!) are just as damning as the contemptuous attitude her husband displays during his interrogations with the police, in which he insists that everything he does is for the good of Israel.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

If these two ego-fuelled characters were fictional, The Bibi Files would be dismissed as cartoonish. However, to watch this documentary is to observe to what extent wickedness thrives when those who think theyre above the law go unchecked.

Aside from Sara and the Prime Ministers son, Yair, who makes his dad look progressive, another key player is Israeli-born Hollywood billionaire Arnon Milchan - the former spy and Oscar-winning producer behind films like 12 Years A Slave, Heat and Fight Club. We hear of Milchans ties to Netanyahus requests for luxury items directly from Milchan. When he is further questioned by the police, he confesses to extravagant donations, capping things off with: All of Bibis friends are rich. What can I say? If this comes out Im dead.

The Bibi Files - Jolt - Dogwoof

All these strands coherently come together to reveal a web of corruption that goes beyond the acquisition of expensive presents, forming The Bibi Files central argument.

To fully understand current events, one has to look at Netanyahus legal predicament and acknowledge that both Bibi and Sara know how to steal things they cant have. This segues to the PMs present tactic of making instability and war the main conditions for his political survival. This in turn leads to the realization that Netanyahu is deliberately prolonging the war in Gaza to avoid imprisonment on corruption charges.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

A forever war is beneficial for Netanyahu, were told, and the evidence for this instrumentalization of conflict is strong.

Which leads to 7 October, described as another instrument to stay in power.

The Bibi Files - Jolt - Dogwoof

Having established direct correlations between Netanyahus corruption trial and the radicalisation of his policies, Bloom perceptively ends the final act of The Bibi Files on the Hamas attacks.

The footage is deeply upsetting, as is the presented evidence that Netanyahu is responsible for the continued existence of Hamas. Many of the experts Bloom interviews persuasively argue that Netanyahu tactically arranged Hamas to receive money via Qatar to maintain instability, believing that he could control the flames. As Netanyahu says in one of the leaked interview tapes: Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The fact that hes illustrating his powerplay by quoting The Godfather should tell you all you need to know about the man, whose ploy to sustain extremists and weaken moderates massively backfired.

He did not create Hamas, but he fed it, says one interviewee.

This final part of The Bibi Files is the most harrowing, but also ends on a surprising note of hope.

In a moving testimony, Gili Schwartz, a young woman who survived the attack on Kibbutz Beeri, provides a clear justification for outrage against Netanyahu. She argues that as long as the war goes on, the PM can avoid being toppled or imprisoned. She also reveals that the families of the hostages are nervous to speak out against him in case he might not help them if they do.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

However, Schwartz eloquently and compassionately calls for all the facts to come out, and expresses how reconciliation is possible. In this moment, she becomes the anti-Yair, the counterforce to the unapologetic and hateful premiers son who all but assures the continuation of the Netanyahu legacy.

Its her words that resonate the loudest. Not his.

The Bibi Files - Jolt - Dogwoof

The odds are that The Bibi Files wont oust the Netanyahus from power. However, what Bloom achieves in just under two hours is staggering.

Most impressive of all is how her documentary shines as a thorough and always factual presentation that avoids toppling into polemic. At no point does it become an apology for Hamas or condone any form of violence; it is quite simply art speaking truth to power that goes beyond infantile and frankly stupid arguments that equate any criticism of the leader of Israel to antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment. Netanyahu is a politician like any other, one that needs no outside help in signing his own despicable portrait when he ends an interview with the glib remark: Time flies when youre having fun.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Its in these small moments that the viewer knows who theyre faced with, regardless of political alliances or beliefs: a petulant man, devoid of empathy, who sees his supposed service to his country as a way of serving his own interests. In these regards, he is indistinguishable from any textbook snake-oil salesman.

Trump and Netanyahu - AP Photo

The fact that The Bibi Files managed to see the light of day in the first place is to be celebrated, especially when taking into account that nervous streamers in the US are not interested in political content. They shy away from it and all the criticism that may come their way. In this respect, kudos to Jolt and the European distributors like September Film (Belgium, Netherlands), Dulaf Distribution (France) and Dogwoof (UK) for acquiring it.

And kudos to the Academy voters if it makes the final five contenders. Should The Bibi Files head to the Oscars in March, theres a strong case to be made for it winning the Best Documentary trophy. Whether it does or not is irrelevant though, as it remains essential viewing - one deserving of its very own award.

Quite what it would be called is another matter. Best what? Truth-To-Power film? Expose of Human Greed and Moral Compromise? Cinematic Representation Implicating Morally Indefensible Netanyahu And Lackeys?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Wed give The Bibi Files all three imaginary gongs. Especially that last acrostic one.

The Bibi Files is banned in Israel due to privacy laws. Despite its legal status, it has been widely pirated and distributed in Israel. You can watch the film on Prime Video and Apple TV.
The Radeberger Group is to become the exclusive sales, distribution and marketing partner for Estrella Damm beer in Germany from January.

According to a statement from the German brewing group, Estrella owner Grupo Damm will be transferring responsibility for the national expansion of the brand to Radeberger.

The long-term cooperation agreement for Estrella covers all distribution channels, including bars and restaurants in on-trade and retail/supermarkets in the off-trade.

As a result, the Radeberger Group is strengthening its distribution portfolio of international brands, which already includes established names such as Guinness, Hop House 13, and Staropramen Premium Lager.

The Radeberger Gruppe currently produces brands such as Radeberger Pilsner, Jever and Schofferhofer Weizen, as well as the Selters mineral water brand.

In March, parent company Oetker reshuffled Radebergers management which saw Dr Niels Lorenz join to oversee its beer and non-alcoholic beverages business unit.

Radeberger said Estrella will also be integrated into the group's event and festival business and supported by sales promotion measures in Germany, including social media campaigns, with the aim of further building the brand.

Jorn Goertz, marketing director responsible for the international portfolio of Radeberger, said: "The successful development of international brands under our leadership has convinced Grupo Damm that we will also promote their most important brand in Germany.

Estrella Damm conveys a feeling of vacation, lightness, and joie de vivre to people in 95 countries worldwide. 'The Star of Barcelona' is already known far beyond the Mediterranean region.

Goertz added: In Germany, too, we will attract cosmopolitan consumers to the Spanish lager beer who enjoy enjoying life the 'Mediterranean way."

Radeberger brewery in Germany was hit with warning strikes earlier this year in protest over working salaries in the countrys beer sector.

"Radeberger Group to distribute Estrella in Germany next year" was originally created and published by Just Drinks, a GlobalData owned brand.




FBI director Kash Patel said that mourning the death of Tupac Shakurs godmother, Assata Shakur, who died last week in Cuba, is spitting on the badge of every police officer who has died in the line of duty.

Shakur, born Joanne Chesimard, a political activist and member of the Black Liberation Army, was convicted in the 1973 murder of a police officer in New Jersey. In 1979, she escaped from jail and was wanted by the FBI, carrying a $1 million reward for information leading to her arrest.

She was granted asylum in Cuba by Fidel Castro in 1984, where she lived the rest of her life.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The Black Liberation Army was an offshoot of the Black Panther Party and carried out bombings, killings of police officers, hijackings, robberies, and prison breaks.

Tupacs mother, Afeni Shakur, was also a political activist and member of the Black Panthers.

Writing on X following news of her death, Patel said: Joanne Chesimard didnt fight for justice. She murdered New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster in cold blood, then fled to Cuba to escape accountability. The FBI never stopped calling her what she was: a terrorist.

He added, Mourning her is spitting on the badge and the blood of every cop who gave their life in service.

Joanne Chesimard didnt fight for justice. She murdered New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster in cold blood, then fled to Cuba to escape accountability. The FBI never stopped calling her what she was: a terrorist.



Mourning her is spitting on the badge and the blood of every pic.twitter.com/letscTdaBG  FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) September 28, 2025

According to her 1987 autobiography, she saw herself as being pursued for crimes she didn't commit, or for which she was justified. The FBI later put Shakur on its list of most wanted terrorists.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The Democratic Socialists of America wrote on X: Rest in Power, Assata Shakur. The American state brutally oppressed Assata and her Black Panther Party Comrades. The Cubans welcomed her and other Black Revolutionaries with asylum, and their solidarity and loyalty allowed Assata to live out her days in Havana.

And the Chicago Teachers Union also paid tribute to her, writing: Today we honor the life and legacy of a revolutionary fighter, a fierce writer, a revered elder of Black liberation, and a leader of freedom whose spirit continues to live in our struggle.

But the tributes have drawn sharp criticism, including from those on the left.

Phil Murphy, the governor of New Jersey and a Democrat, responded on X to the union, writing that the stance was: Shameful and depraved.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

She was convicted of the murder of New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster, who was executed in cold blood.

He added, There are so many worthy heroes to celebrate. She is not one of them.

Shakur died on 25 September in Havana due to health conditions and advanced age, Cuba's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Shakur's daughter, Kakuya Shakur, also confirmed her mother's death in a Facebook post.




Katy ISD has once again claimed the No. 1 ranking among Houston-area school districts, according to Niche's 2026 Best School Districts list - marking the fifth year in a row the district has earned the top spot.

KATY ISD GROWTH: Katy ISD prepares to hit 100,000-student milestone by 2029-30

Katy ISD, which serves nearly 97,000 students, also secured an overall A+ rating and led multiple categories, including best place to teach, districts with the best teachers, best school districts for athletes and best school district in the Houston area.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"These rankings are the direct result of our top-tier teachers and staff, who remain committed to delivering the highest quality learning experiences for every single child," Superintendent Ken Gregorski said. "Five consecutive years of being number one in Houston, and top 10 in the state, affirms why Katy ISD remains a destination district for families. Katy ISD represents the standard of excellence in public education."

On the statewide level, Niche ranked Katy ISD No. 10 in Texas.

NICHE RATINGS: The top high schools in Houston and Texas for 2025, according to a new ranking

Among the nine districts ranked ahead of it, none serves more than 22,000 students, and five have fewer than 10,000 - making Katy the top-performing large district in Texas. The district also ranked No. 2 in Texas for Best Places to Teach, and No. 7 for Best School Districts for Athletes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Nearly half of the top public high schools in Texas hail from greater Houston. Three Houston ISD campuses - Carnegie Vanguard, Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, and DeBakey High School for Health Professions - ranked within the top 20 in the state, while several suburban schools, including Katy ISD's Seven Lakes High School, also made the statewide list.

In that coverage, Seven Lakes was ranked the ninth-best high school statewide, and Katy ISD's Cinco Ranch and James E. Taylor also placed among the top 100 public high schools in Texas.

THE INSIDER NEWSLETTER: Never miss a Katy and Fort Bend story with our bi-weekly newsletter

Across its elementary and junior high schools, Katy ISD earned strong recognition in the Niche rankings as well.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Six elementary schools are ranked among the Houston-area's top 10, led by Griffin Elementary at No. 3.

Katy's middle schools occupy 70% of the area's top 10, with McMeans Junior High at No. 2.
(NewsNation)  The man accused of opening fire on a group of worshippers at a Michigan church on Sunday came from a military background and served in Iraq.

Police say 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford was behind the attack that left four dead and at least 8 injured at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan.

Sanford allegedly drove his vehicle into the front of the packed church before shooting at churchgoers and setting the building on fire, authorities said. He died after a shootout with law enforcement, they said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Michigan church shooting leaves at least 4 dead, 8 injured

It is unclear whether Sanford was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, widely known as the Mormon church.

The FBI said the shooting is being investigated as an act of targeted violence.

Thomas Sanford was a Marine

Sanford was a sergeant who served between 2004 and 2008 and was deployed during the Iraq War under Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Marine Corps said in a statement to NewsNation.

He had one combat tour in Iraq in 2007 that lasted nearly seven months.

Sanford worked in the Marines as an organizational automotive mechanic and vehicle recovery operator, according to the statement. He was awarded multiple medals, including the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, officials said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The alleged gunmans last duty assignment was in combat logistics at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.

Witnesses describe Michigan church shooting: Evil is alive

Sanford came from a military family, local outlet Clarkston News reported in a 2007 article on the alleged shooters deployment to Iraq. He had an uncle who was also in the Marines, and a grandfather who served in the Navy during WWII, the outlet stated.

Im excited to go, Sanford had told the outlet before his deployment to Fallujah, Iraq. Im looking forward to seeing the culture and the people of Iraq. Ill return with the real news of the situation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Sanfords father referred to him as a homegrown kid, saying the family was very proud of him, the outlet reported.

Thomas Sanfords son may have had a medical condition

A Facebook page that chronicled the journey of a child with congenital hyperinsulinism appears to be Sanfords son, multiple outlets have reported.

The page shows updates on the childs battle with the rare condition where the insulin cells of the pancreas create too much insulin.

The illness had a financial toll on the family, and Sanford took leave from work as a truck driver for Coca-Cola to be with his son, reported CNN.

Dont ever take having healthy kids for granted, Sanford is quoted as saying in a local article, according to CNN. We are proud of our child. I spent four years in the Marine Corps and was in Iraq, and this is still the most unique thing to deal with.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Images on the Facebook page show several glimpses into Sanfords life. He is seen embracing and playing with the child.

A 2019 image uploaded to the page shows him wearing a TRUMP 2020 shirt.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
Update to original story in bold below. Added September 28, 2025, at 7:24 pm:

Authorities in Grand Blanc Township confirmed late Sunday that the death toll has risen to four after two additional bodies were recovered from the burned-out church. Police said the first two victims were killed by gunfire, while the two additional victims were discovered in the remains of the building. Investigators believe the attacker used an accelerant, likely gasoline, to start the fire. The entire church has not been cleared because its a total loss due to the fire, Police Chief William Renye told reporters, noting that some people remain unaccounted for as of Sunday night.

Two people were killed and at least eight others wounded Sunday morning when a gunman rammed his truck into a Latter-day Saints church, opened fire on worshippers, and set the building on fire, according to authorities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The suspect, identified as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford of Burton, Michigan, was killed in a gunfight with police less than a minute after the first emergency calls, Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye said.

The Attack

The incident began around 10:25 a.m. during a worship service at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, a suburb of Flint.

He ran the vehicle through the front door, exited and started firing shots, Renye said at a press conference.

Officials confirmed that 10 people were shot, including two fatalities. One victim died at the scene, and another later at the hospital. Eight others remain hospitalized  seven in stable condition and one in critical condition.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Witnesses described chaos as hundreds of parishioners fled the building.

Paul Kirby, 38, told the New York Post he initially thought the crash was accidental until Sanford began shooting. He started shooting at me, Kirby said. A bullet shattered a glass door and clipped his leg with shrapnel. Kirby said he rushed inside to find his wife and two sons before they fled through the back of the church.

Tony Deck told USA Today he drove by the church after hearing sirens and saw at least four yellow canvases over dead bodies.

Fire and Explosives

Authorities said Sanford deliberately set the building on fire, sparking a five-alarm blaze that caused part of the structure to collapse before firefighters were able to extinguish it around 1 p.m.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Law enforcement sources told the New York Post that several improvised explosive devices were recovered on the church property, prompting a bomb squad response.

New aerial footage posted by commentator Benny Johnson showed the church engulfed in flames with black smoke rising into the air.

New aerial footage shows the Grand Blanc, Michigan church engulfed in flames after a gunman opened fire and set it ablaze. Christianity is under attack.  Benny Johnson, X

New aerial footage shows the Grand Blanc, Michigan church engulfed in flames after a gunman opened fire and set it ablaze. Christianity is under attack.

pic.twitter.com/AexMpnCQFt  Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) September 28, 2025

Suspect Background

According to the New York Post, Sanford was an Iraq War veteran who served in the U.S. Marines from 2004 to 2008. He lived in Burton with his wife and young son. A 2015 GoFundMe raised more than $3,000 for the boy, who was born with congenital hyperinsulinism, a rare genetic disorder.

Investigators have not determined a motive but are reviewing whether the timing could be connected to the death of Russell M. Nelson, president of the LDS Church, who died Saturday in Salt Lake City at age 101, ABC News reported.

National Reaction

The tragedy drew immediate national attention.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social:

I have been briefed on the horrendous shooting that took place at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Grand Blanc, Michigan. The FBI was immediately on scene, and will be leading the Federal Investigation, and providing full support to State and Local Officials. The suspect is dead, but there is still a lot to learn. This appears to be yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America. The Trump Administration will keep the Public posted, as we always do. In the meantime, PRAY for the victims, and their families. THIS EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY MUST END, IMMEDIATELY!

Attorney General Pam Bondi posted on X:

I am receiving briefings about what appears to be a horrific shooting and fire at an LDS church in Grand Blanc, Michigan. @FBI and @ATFHQ agents are en route to the scene now. Such violence at a place of worship is heartbreaking and chilling. Please join me in praying for the victims of this terrible tragedy.

Vice President JD Vance called the attack just an awful situation in Michigan, adding, FBI is on the scene and the entire administration is monitoring things. Say a prayer for the victims and first responders.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said her heart is breaking for the Grand Blanc community, calling the violence unacceptable.

FBI Director Kash Patel wrote: Violence in a place of worship is a cowardly and criminal act. Our prayers are with the victims and their families during this terrible tragedy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

A spokesperson for the LDS Church, Doug Anderson, said: The Church is in communication with local law enforcement as the investigation continues and as we receive updates on the condition of those affected. We offer thanks to the emergency responders who are assisting victims and families. We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of prayers and concern from so many people around the world. In moments of sorrow and uncertainty, we find strength and comfort through our faith in Jesus Christ. Places of worship are meant to be sanctuaries of peacemaking, prayer and connection. We pray for peace and healing for all involved.

A Pattern of Attacks

The Grand Blanc tragedy follows last months Catholic school shooting in Minneapolis by a self-identified transgender individual, which left two dead and 17 injured, an incident previously reported by The Dallas Express. Christian leaders note the attacks are part of a troubling global trend, pointing to the ongoing genocide in Nigeria, where hundreds of Christians have been slaughtered by Islamist militants this year.




Houston's Second Baptist is a church currently battling many of its own members. In April, a group of former and current congregants, calling themselves the Jeremiah Counsel, sued the nearly century-old church over changes to the bylaws that stripped its membership of the right to vote - a core tenet of the Baptist faith.

Since then, the two groups have been publicly battling each other from the pulpit and in press releases, emails, video statements and court documents.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

While Second Baptist is a high-profile megachurch whose former senior pastor, the Rev. Ed Young, is a nationally known religious figure and conservative voice, some may not be aware of the controversy following his retirement.

Here's what you need to know:

What is Second Baptist Church?

Second Baptist was formed in 1927 with 121 members and $3,000 in assets. Each Sunday, the congregation gathered downtown at the old Taylor School on Louisiana Street.

Jay Williams and his family joined the church in 1968, when he was 6 years old. It was special then, he said. He joined clubs, took field trips with the other church kids and went to services on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Second Baptist Church pictured at 2424 Milam in 1938. (Houston Chronicle)





By 1978, the church had grown to about 300 members. Then came Ed Young.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Young, now 89, was senior pastor from 1978 to 2024. He is credited with taking it from a tiny church to a religious powerhouse.

Today, Second Baptist has $1 billion in assets and 94,000 members, according to court documents. It has established six churches in the Houston area and a half-dozen schools. The sprawling Woodway campus is almost a city unto itself with a grill, a fitness center and a free indoor children's playground with themed areas including a police station and space shuttle.

It is a church that attracts high-powered Houstonians with money and influence. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has visited, and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is a member.

IN-DEPTH: Houston's Second Baptist is a church at legal war with its members. Who will win, and at what cost?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Second Baptist's charity work stood out when it became a hub for disaster relief after Hurricane Harvey, collecting and distributing donations and mobilizing thousands of volunteers to clean out damaged homes.

Who is Ed Young?

Born in Mississippi and saved at age 12, Ed Young preached in North and South Carolina before moving his family across the country to take over this Houston church.

As the senior pastor, Young spread the word of conservative, evangelical Baptists, the nation's largest Protestant denomination.

Young never feared controversy. He often spoke and preached on social issues of the day, arguing that true marriage only exists between a man and a woman, abortion is wrong and certain migrants are "garbage."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention in 1992, Young's followers see him as a loving, spiritual father committed to conservative values.

The Rev. Ed Young greets Salli Bertotti (at right) and her mother Pat Bertotti (center), as they leave Second Baptist Church on Sunday afternoon following morning services in 1992. (King Chou Wong/Houston Chronicle)





Even the very people suing him over changes to the church's bylaws extol his virtues as a leader.

"I think he's a special person," said Williams, a board member for the Jeremiah Counsel, which filed the lawsuit against the church in April. "He's got a personality. He's got magnetism and preaches The Word. You put that together and people just wanted to come hear him speak."

His sons followed him into ministry - the Rev. Ed Young, Jr., founded Fellowship Church in Grapevine, and the Rev. Ben Young is now senior pastor at Second Baptist. Cliff Young is the global worship pastor at Second Baptist.

What is the Jeremiah Counsel?

The Jeremiah Counsel is a nonprofit founded by current and former Second Baptist members to sue the church over changes made to the bylaws in May 2023.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Jeremiah Counsel's leaders include Doug Bech, a retired securities lawyer who has given millions of dollars to the church over the last 36 years; Edd Hendee, founder of the nationally known restaurant, Taste of Texas; and Jim Montague, retired president of IP Petroleum Company, among others.

The counsel is named after the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah, who warned the people of Judah to repent for their sinful behavior or face God's judgment.

The group filed a lawsuit in Harris County in April 2025.

What is this lawsuit about?

In May 2023, the Second Baptist board of directors and several hundred congregants voted to adopt new bylaws, which had not been changed since 2005.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The goal, according to current church officials, was to make things more organized and efficient for the church, which has grown vastly over the last 20 years. But the Jeremiah Counsel says Ed Young and others deceived lay members about the changes, which not only allowed Ben Young, his son, to be named senior pastor behind closed doors, but also stripped the congregation of all voting rights - consolidating power in the hands of six trustees selected by the Youngs.

The counsel says Second Baptist leaders obscured the impact of the bylaws by not handing out copies to members, not reading them aloud before the vote and intentionally tucking the voting provisions into a part of the document where they would be misconstrued.

They want the old bylaws reinstated. The church has refused.

Second Baptist says in court documents that it repeatedly told parishioners about the upcoming meeting, saying the purpose was to revise the bylaws, and that it was not required to read them aloud or provide parishioners with copies.

During a church service earlier this year, Ben Young told members that the bylaw changes were handled responsibly.

The trial is set for February 2026 in business court.
MOSCOW (Reuters) -The Kremlin on Monday accused the authorities in Moldova of preventing hundreds of thousands of Moldovans living in Russia from voting in an important parliamentary election by providing only two polling stations for voters in the country.

Moldova's pro-European Union ruling party won a resounding victory over its Russian-leaning rival in the parliamentary election on Sunday, results showed, a major boost for those Moldovans who want to join the EU and break away from Moscow's orbit.

In a call with reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moldovans living in Russia, who are traditionally more likely to vote for pro-Russian political forces at home, had been unable to cast their vote.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"Hundreds of thousands of Moldovans were deprived of the opportunity to vote in the Russian Federation due to the fact that only two polling stations were open to them," said Peskov.

Asked whether Moscow recognised the results, Peskov noted that some political forces in Moldova had spoken of violations.

"First, Moldovans themselves should probably sort this out. As far as we know, some political forces are declaring their disagreement. They're talking about possible election violations," he said.

Around 500,000 Moldovan citizens live in Russia, Russian government officials say.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Most large European countries, where fewer Moldovans live than in Russia, had more than two polling stations available for voters on Sunday.

Just over 4,000 votes were cast in Russia, according to the Moldovan authorities, around two-thirds of which were for the main pro-Russian bloc. By contrast, Moldovan citizens living in Germany cast more than 38,000 votes at 36 different polling stations, most of them in support of the ruling party.

(Reporting by Dmitry Antonov, Writing by Felix LightEditing by Andrew Osborn)
Moscow has accused the leadership in Moldova of preventing hundreds of thousands of the country's citizens living in Russia from casting their votes in the parliamentary election on Sunday.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov complained on Monday that Moldova had only opened two polling stations on Russian territory. He said that because the capacity was insufficient, hundreds of thousands were unable to vote.

The Moldovan Foreign Ministry stated on election day that only 5,000 ballots were available at each of the two polling stations. The ministry cited security reasons for this but did not specify what they were. Hundreds of thousands of Moldovans live in Russia.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Russia criticized the absence of such restrictions in EU countries.

According to Moldovan information, more than 276,000 citizens voted in the EU and in other Western countries, traditionally in favour of pro-European forces.

According to the election commission, the party of pro-European President Maia Sandu once again secured a majority in parliament.

Sandu had previously accused Russia of massive interference, including vote-buying, disinformation and cyberattacks.

Small protest against election outcome in Moldova

Kremlin spokesman Peskov said that Russia would otherwise refrain from evaluating the election and leave this to the political parties and blocs in Moldova.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The pro-Russian Patriotic Electoral Bloc, supported by Moscow and led by former president Igor Dodon, finished a distant second.

Dodon was able to gather only a few discontented people onto the streets during a protest on Monday in the capital, Chisinau.

He complained that many people, especially in the breakaway region of Transnistria, where Russian soldiers are stationed, had been prevented from voting.

In total, five parties and blocs managed to enter parliament.

Traditionally, Moldova is torn between rapprochement with the EU and alignment with Russia.

International election observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) also intend to comment later on Monday on the conduct of the parliamentary election.
Democratic and Republican congressional leaders met at the White House on Monday with President Donald Trump in a late effort to avoid a government shutdown, but both sides thus far have shown hardly any willingness to budge from their entrenched positions.

If government funding legislation isnt passed by Congress and signed by Donald Trump on Tuesday night, many federal government offices across the nation would be temporarily shuttered and nonexempt federal employees furloughed, adding to the strain on workers and the U.S. economy.

Republicans are daring Democrats to vote against legislation that would keep government funding mostly at current levels, but Democrats have held firm. Theyre using one of their few points of leverage to demand Congress take up legislation to extend health care benefits. Meanwhile, Trump has shown little interest in entertaining Democrats demands on health care.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Earlier Monday, Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met at the White House and agreed to Trump's proposal to end the war in Gaza but it was unclear whether Hamas would accept the terms. Trump laid out a 20-point plan for ending the Israel-Hamas war and establishing postwar Gaza governance.

The Latest:

Judge suspends Trump administration plan to cut hundreds of Voice of America jobs

A federal judge in the nations capital agreed Monday to temporarily suspend the Trump administrations plan to eliminate hundreds of jobs from the government-funded broadcaster.

U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth ruled that the U.S. Agency for Global Media cannot implement a reduction in force that seeks to eliminate 532 jobs for full-time government employees. Those employees represent the vast majority of remaining staff at Voice of America.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Kari Lake, the agencys acting CEO, announced in late August that the job cuts would take effect on Tuesday. But the judges ruling preserves the status quo at the agency until he rules on the plaintiffs underlying motion to block the reduction in force.

Voice of America was founded to counter Nazi propaganda during World War II.

YouTube to pay $24.5 million to settle lawsuit over Trumps account suspension after Jan. 6 attack

Googles YouTube has agreed to pay $24.5 million to settle a lawsuit by Trump over his 2021 account suspension following the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

According to documents filed in federal court in California, $22 million of the settlement will be contributed to the Trust for the National Mall to help pay for the construction of the White House State Ballroom. The rest will go to other plaintiffs, including the American Conservative Union.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Google is the latest big tech company to settle lawsuits brought by Trump. In January, Meta Platforms agreed to pay $25 million to settle a lawsuit over his 2021 suspension from Facebook. Elon Musks X agreed to settle a similar lawsuit brought against the company then known as Twitter for $10 million.

The settlement does not constitute an admission of liability, the filing stated. Google confirmed the settlement but declined to comment beyond it. The disclosure of the settlement came a week before a scheduled Oct. 6 court hearing to discuss the case with U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez-Rogers in Oakland, California.

Trump administration explores possible new path to cut off Harvard's federal funding

The Trump administration is pursuing a potential new way to cut off Harvard from future federal funding, officials say.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The Trump administration is referring the university to a process called debarment, according to a letter Monday to Harvard President Alan Gerber from the Office for Civil Rights in the federal Department of Health and Human Services.

A federal judge in Boston ruled earlier this month that the government must restore $2.2 billion in research funding to the Ivy League university that was frozen earlier this year.

Talks between the university and the Trump administration over antisemitism issues on campus have stalled and the government is seeking a new way to cut off the universitys federal funding. The process of debarment basically would declare Harvard ineligible to do business with the government.

House speaker warns FEMA wont be funded in any shutdown but most critical operations would continue

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Mike Johnson says the Federal Emergency Management Agency wont be funded if a shutdown occurs. But a large part of FEMAs disaster-related operations and spending would continue because that money comes from the Disaster Relief Fund, which has about $10 billion in its coffers.

Nearly 85% of active FEMA staff, more than 20,000 people, would remain in their positions during a shutdown, according to a Department of Homeland Security memo.''

Meanwhile, of the Department of Homeland Securitys nearly 272,000 employees, about 14,000 are expected to be furloughed in the event of a federal government shutdown, according to the agencys preparation plans.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Patrol are retaining most of their workforce as exempt/excepted from the reductions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Vance calls Democrats shutdown fight preposterous. Last year, he embraced the idea

Vice President JD Vance, as he appeared with Republican congressional leaders at the White House on Monday, said it was not reasonable for Democrats to use their proposals as leverage and to shut down the government unless we give you everything you want.

He called that preposterous and totally unacceptable.

But last year, when Vance was a senator and Congress was similarly staring down a potential government shutdown, albeit over different sticking points, he embraced the idea of some Republicans using the threat of a shutdown to negotiate.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Why shouldnt we be trying to force this government shutdown fight to get something out of it thats good for the American people? Vance said in a September 2024 podcast interview. Why have a government if its not a functioning government?

The Palestinian government in the occupied West Bank welcomes Trumps peace proposal

The Palestinian government in the Isareli-occupied West Bank has welcomed President Donald Trumps plan to end the Gaza war and pledged to implement reforms called for in his plan.

The State of Palestine welcomes the sincere and determined efforts of President Donald J. Trump to end the war on Gaza and affirms its confidence in his ability to find a path toward peace, it said in a statement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Trumps plan calls for the Palestinian Authority to make a series of reforms in order to return to Gaza and potentially clear the way for the establishment of a Palestinian state.

We have affirmed our desire for a modern, democratic, and non-militarized Palestinian state, committed to pluralism and the peaceful transfer of power, the statement says. It promised a series of reforms, including new elections, changes to its schoolbooks and ending a system that pays the families of militants involved in attacks on Israelis.

Democrats say they raised concerns about costs of health care coverage in meeting with Trump

Democratic leaders said that negotiations on extending health insurance tax credits must happen now as part of talks to fund the federal government and avert a shutdown.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The comments came Monday afternoonafter Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries returned to the Capitol following their White House meeting with President Donald Trump.

Republicans have said that negotiations on the enhanced tax credits could occur in December before they expire and that those negotiations shouldnt be part of a bill to fund the government.

We think when they say later, they mean never, Schumer said, adding, now is the time we can get it done.

Vance, after meeting, says he thinks federal government is headed for a shutdown

Vice President JD Vance said Monday afternoon that he believes the federal government is headed for a shutdown because the Democrats wont do the right thing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

He spoke after Democratic and Republican leaders met with Trump at the White House. Republicans are calling on Democrats to approve a clean short-term funding patch to avoid a shutdown and tackle other pressing policy issues later.

Vance said that if Democrats want to talk about fixing health care policy in the U.S., Republicans would be willing to meet with them, but do it in the context of an open government providing essential services to the American people.

Speaker Mike Johnson said the House has done its job by passing a continuing resolution to fund the government and that if Democrats make the decision to shut the government down, the consequences are on them.

It was Trumps first meeting with the big four leaders in Congress since retaking the White House for his second term.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

White House meeting comes at tenuous moment for Israel

The White House talks and Netanyahus apology for the attack in Qatar come with Israel increasingly isolated and losing support from many longtime allies. At home, Netanyahus governing coalition appears more fragile than ever. And the White House is showing signs of impatience.

It remains to be seen how Netanyahu will be able to justify to far-right members of his coalition his acceptance of the proposal after promising to press on against Hamas until it is eliminated.

The Trump plan indicates that once all hostages are returned, Hamas members who commit to peaceful co-existence and to decommission their weapons will be given amnesty. It also says Hamas members who wish to leave Gaza would be provided safe passage to receiving countries.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Schumer and Jeffries emerge from White House meeting

There are still large differences between us, said Schumer, the Senate Democratic leader.

Schumer and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the leading Democrat in the House, urged Trump and Republicans to negotiate, but said its up to the president.

Hes the decision maker, Schumer said. He can avoid a shutdown.

Trump administration to send 100 troops to Illinois to guard ICE facilities and staff, governor says

Federal officials plan to send 100 troops to protect U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities or staff in Illinois amid a surge in immigration enforcement operations focused on the Chicago area, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said Monday.

Pritzker said the Illinois National Guard had been notified of a memo sent by the Department of Homeland Security to the Defense Department.

Pritzker, a Democrat who has been among President Donald Trumps loudest opponents, accused the Republican president of trying to consolidate power.

Trump has repeatedly threatened to deploy troops to Chicago, pointing to the citys gun violence and other crime.

Pritzker and other leaders in Chicago and Illinois have opposed any use of federal troops in the city, saying they are not wanted or needed.

Hamas is reviewing the peace proposal

Qatars prime minister and Egypts intelligence chief presented Trumps proposal to Hamas negotiators, who are now reviewing it in good faith, according to a person familiar with the matter. The person was not authorized to comment and spoke on the condition anonymity.

___

Associated Press reporter Josef Federman contributed.

Agencies can fire workers during a shutdown, personnel office says

Guidance from Trumps Office of Personnel Management says federal offices can engage in reduction in force activities during a federal shutdown.

The Office of Management and Budget headed by Russ Vought had already advised agencies to prepare for mass firings, or RIFs.

According to the personnel office guidance, OMB has determined that agencies are authorized to direct employees to perform work necessary to administer the RIF process during the lapse in appropriations as excepted activities.

Shutdown would furlough more than half of US-based State Department personnel

The State Department expects to furlough more than half of its remaining direct-hire personnel in the United States if the federal government shuts down this week.

If that happens, U.S. embassies and consulates abroad will remain open and able to provide services to American citizens needing assistance and no permanent layoffs are foreseen, the department said.

According to a 71-page plan posted to its website Monday, the department said that only 10,344 of 26,995 domestically employed staffers whose work has been deemed essential will be exempted from the shutdown furloughs.

Employees deemed to excepted from shutdown plan are those whose jobs are necessary to respond to emergencies and national security.

Trump and Netanyahu end news conference without taking questions

After each leader spoke at length, Trump suggested that it was not really appropriate to take questions, citing his already full agenda for the rest of the day.

Thats despite reporters having packed the room and waited for much of the afternoon for the opportunity to ask Trump and Netanyahu questions.

Trump then hinted that he might change his mind, and even asked Netanyahu if hed like to take a question from a friendly Israeli reporter.

But the prime minister responded, I would go by your instinct. Well have enough time for questions. Lets settle the issue first.

The pair left the room, ignoring dozens of shouted questions from reporters, as White House press officials tried to restore order by yelling, Thank you, press!

Hostages families welcome Trumps ceasefire plan

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum says the proposal is a historic agreement that will allow our people to heal, end the war, and chart a new future for the Middle East.

The grassroots group, which represents many of the hostages families, called on Netanyahu to immediately halt the fighting in Gaza to prevent harm to their loved ones.

There is no reason to risk their lives when Israel has adopted President Trumps historic initiative, it said.

Netanyahu says he supports Trumps plan to end war in Gaza

The Israeli leader, in his opening remarks, said to Trump: I support your plan to end the war in Gaza which achieves our war aims.

He said the plan will ensure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel, with Hamas being disarmed and Gaza being demilitarized.

There is still no word from Hamas on the plan.

Netanyahu said if Hamas doesnt accept the plan or doesnt comply, then Israel will finish the job by itself. This could be done the easy way, or it could be done the hard way. But it will be done.

Trump: Gazas people have had a rough life with Hamas but could have a brighter future

There are many Palestinians who wish to live in peace, Trump said.

The president, partly reading from prepared remarks and partly speaking off-the-cuff, said his plan would give the Palestinian people a chance to have that peace.

I challenge the Palestinians to take responsibility for their destiny because thats what were giving them. Were giving them responsibility for their destiny, he said.

Trump says Israel would have the USs full backing to destroy Hamas if the group rejects his plan

The president said that if the militant group does not accept the plan, Israel would have my full backing to finish the job of destroying the threat of Hamas.

Bibi, youd have our full backing to do what you would have to do, Trump said, referring to Netanyahu by his nickname.

But he said he hoped theyd have a peace deal.

White House releases plan to end Israel-Hamas war

The White House released its 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza and establish governance for Gaza moving forward.

It wasnt immediately clear if Israel or Hamas has approved the plan, which was released shortly before Trumps news conference with Netanyahu.

The plan calls for a temporary governing board that would be headed by Trump and include former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. It wouldnt require people to leave Gaza if they dont want to, and calls for the war to immediately end if both sides accept.

Mine, baby mine: Trump administration again boosts coal

Officials said Monday they will open 13 million acres of federal lands for coal mining and provide $625 million to recommission or modernize coal-fired power plants, as Trump continues his efforts to reverse the yearslong decline in the U.S. coal industry.

Under Trumps orders, the Energy Department has required fossil-fueled power plants in Michigan and Pennsylvania to keep operating past their retirement dates to meet rising U.S. power demand amid growth in data centers, artificial intelligence and electric cars.

The latest announcement would allow those efforts to expand.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the initiative would fulfill a Trump promise to mine baby, mine.

Netanyahu apologizes for Israeli strike inside Qatar targeting Hamas leaders

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has apologized to Qatar for an airstrike Israel conducted against Hamas operatives in Qatar earlier this month in Doha.

Diplomatic sources familiar with the matter said Netanyahu spoke by phone with Qatari Emir Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani to express regret over the strike that killed at least one local Qatari security guard. The call came as Netanyahu was meeting with Trump to discuss a new plan to end the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.

The sources spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a private diplomatic conversation.

Qatar and other Arab nations condemned Israels strike and said it dealt a significant blow to efforts to end the conflict in Gaza.

___

Associated Press reporter Joe Federline and Matthew Lee contributed to this report.

Israel protesters urge Trump to end the Gaza war

Dozens of protesters gathered outside the U.S. diplomatic office in Tel Aviv are calling on President Donald Trump to end the war and bring home the remaining Israeli hostages held in Gaza.

Protesters hoisted large posters of the hostages, blew horns and pounded on drums.

Bring them home now, the crowd chanted. Why are they still there?

Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is among the hostages, said Trump is the families best hope.

Fight for us President Trump. Force a full agreement on Netanyahu and the end of the war, she said.

ICE says the man killed in Dallas shooting last week was from El Salvador

The agency identified the 37-year-old man who was shot and killed while being transported in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement van as Norlan Guzman-Fuentes.

ICE said Monday that it wasnt known when or where Guzman-Fuentes entered the country. It said he was arrested on criminal charges in 2012 in Florida and in 2020 in Texas.

The agency said he was transferred to ICE custody on Sept. 24 after Dallas police arrested him in August.

Guzman-Fuentes was killed when a gunman opened fire Wednesday on the Dallas immigration field office. Two other detainees were critically wounded and the gunman fatally shot himself.

Trump wants 100% import tax on movies made outside of US

The president has little love for foreign cinema, saying the movie business has been stolen from Hollywood and the U.S.

Therefore, in order to solve this long time, never ending problem, I will be imposing a 100% Tariff on any and all movies that are made outside of the United States, Trump posted on Truth Social.

It was unclear how these tariffs would operate, since movies and TV shows can be transmitted digitally without going through ports.

Nor was it clear what this would mean for globetrotting U.S. movies that depend on foreign locations as part of the story, such as the James Bond franchise.

Nor was it clear what the legal basis would be for these import taxes. Trump has previously relied on national security grounds and an economic emergency in the form of trade deficits to justify his tariffs.

Trumps team keeps posting AI portraits of him. We keep clicking

Here he is, depicted at six months in office, chiseled and brawny, as mighty as the very nation.

Here he is as a Star Wars Jedi wielding a patriot-red lightsaber, rescuing our galaxy from the forces of evil.

On Trumps social media accounts and his second-term administration, a new official image of the president is emerging bit by bit: one generated artificially.

Artificial imagery isnt new for Trump, an early target of AI-generated simulacra who later exploited the technology during his 2024 campaign for the presidency.

It works both ways, the Republican president said of AI-generated content at a news conference earlier this month. If something happens thats really bad, maybe Ill have to just blame AI.

___

Read more about the Trump administrations use of artificial intelligence

White House: Church attack suspect hated people of the Mormon faith

Leavitt said federal authorities are still investigating Sundays deadly attack on the Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, house of worship that killed four and wounded eight.

But she said investigators are looking into possible animus by the suspect toward members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, widely known as the Mormon church.

Well, from what I understand, based on my conversations with the FBI director, all they know right now is this was an individual who hated people of the Mormon faith, Leavitt said in an interview on Fox & Friends.

Leavitt said she was briefed by FBI Director Kash Patel earlier Monday.

Trump threatens no federal funding for NYC if Mamdani wins

The president said Monday morning that New York City, his former home, wont be getting any federal cash if frontrunner Zohran Mamdani is elected mayor.

Remember, he needs the money from me, as President, in order to fulfill all of his FAKE Communist promises, Trump wrote on social media. He wont be getting any of it, so whats the point of voting for him?

Still, the president sees a political upside in having a democratic socialist be one of the prominent figures in the Democratic Party.

Mamdani will prove to be one of the best things to ever happen to our great Republican Party, Trump wrote.

Pentagon confirms 200 National Guard troops called to duty in Portland

Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement the troops have been called into service immediately and will serve for 60 days to protect U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other U.S. Government personnel who are performing Federal functions.

The deployment is being made over the objections of state leaders and is similar to one last summer in Los Angeles but is on a much smaller scale.

Trump had announced on Saturday that he would send troops to Portland. The states governor, Democrat Tina Kotek, said Sunday that she objected to the deployment in a conversation with the president.

Deal for new Trump Plaza in Saudi Arabia

A London-listed luxury real estate developer says it plans to launch a Trump Plaza in the Saudi Red Sea city of Jeddah in the second collaboration with the Trump Organization, following the success of Trump Tower Jeddah.

Mondays announcement by Dar Global said the $1 billion landmark development is to rise along King Abdulaziz Road in the heart of the city.

The company said the project is its second collaboration in Jeddah with The Trump Organization and plans to launch Trump Plaza Jeddah that represents the second Trump-branded development in Saudi Arabia, following the launch of Trump Tower Jeddah in December last year.

Federal government shutdowns are nothing new

Congress often finds itself at the brink of one as the two major political parties differences grow more intractable with each passing year. Democrats are threatening to vote against keeping the government open on Oct. 1.

Democratic leaders in Congress say they wont budge unless Republicans immediately extend health care subsidies that expire at the end of the year, among other demands.

Republicans say they dont want to add any complicated policies to keep the government open for the next seven weeks.

Time and time again, lawmakers hold out until just before the deadline and negotiate a last-minute compromise. But this time Democrats see some potential political advantages to a shutdown with their base voters spoiling for a fight.

History shows the tactic almost never works, and federal employees are caught in the middle. The White House has already laid out a plan to potentially lay off hundreds, if not thousands, of federal employees.
At least 33 people have been killed by Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip since early Monday, medics said.

Hospital sources said 24 of the deaths were in Gaza City, where Israel is pressing on with an air and ground assault against the Hamas militant group.

The Israeli military said it continued to target militants across the Gaza Strip and had intensified its offensive in Gaza City, which it describes as the last stronghold of Hamas.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Troops on Sunday killed members of armed groups who were attempting to plant explosives, the military added in a statement. The Israeli Navy meanwhile said it destroyed a Hamas weapons depot.

The military also reported a separate attempted attack from Gaza, saying two projectiles were fired toward Israel but did not reach their target.
Certain insiders of the Company participated in the Offering and were issued an aggregate of 18,400 Units. Such participation in the Offering constitutes a related party transaction as defined in Multilateral Instrument 61-101  Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (61-101). The Offering is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of 61-101 as neither the fair market value of the securities issued to the related party nor the consideration for such securities exceed 25% of the Companys market capitalization. The Company did not file a material change report 21 days prior to closing of the Offering as the participation of insiders of the Company in the Offering had not been confirmed at that time and the shorter time period was necessary in order to permit the Company to close the Offering in a timeframe consistent with usual market practice for transactions of this nature.

The Offering was completed by way of a prospectus supplement to the Companys short form base shelf prospectus dated February 29, 2024, filed in all of the provinces and territories of Canada, and the Units were sold outside of Canada on a private placement basis. Copies of the prospectus supplement and the base shelf prospectus are available under the Companys profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca .

Brian Reinsborough, President and CEO of ReconAfrica, stated: "We are pleased to announce the successful closing of this offering and would like to thank our existing shareholders for their continued support, while also welcoming our new shareholders to the Company. This financing strengthens our ability to advance our high-impact drilling program focused on the highly anticipated Kavango West 1X well in Namibia and execute on our new business plan on the Ngulu block, offshore Gabon.

The net proceeds from the Offering will be used for activities related to the advancement of appraisal and exploration expenses in respect of the Ngulu production sharing contract offshore Gabon, road, rig and site maintenance costs in Namibia, phase 1 commitments in Angola and general working capital. In Gabon, this will include acquiring geological and geophysical studies and reprocessing of the 3D seismic data.

Each Unit is comprised of one common share of the Company (Common Share) and one Common Share purchase warrant of the Company (Warrant). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share at an exercise price of C$0.72 until September 29, 2027. The Warrants will commence trading on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV) under the symbol "RECO.WT.B" on or about October 3, 2025, subject to final TSXV acceptance.

CALGARY, Alberta, Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd. (the Company or ReconAfrica) (TSXV: RECO) (OTCQX: RECAF) (Frankfurt: 0XD) (NSX: REC) is pleased to announce that it has completed its previously announced and upsized underwritten public offering (the Offering) of units of the Company (the Units) at a price of C$0.60 per Unit, including the exercise of the over-allotment option, for aggregate gross proceeds of C$20,373,740.

Story Continues

The Underwriters received a cash commission equal to 6.0% of the gross proceeds of the Offering (other than from the sale of Units to BW Energy and purchasers on the presidents list, for which a 3.0% cash commission was paid), for an aggregate of C$$1,088,428.80. In addition, the Underwriters were issued an aggregate of 1,744,524 broker warrants (the Broker Warrants), equal to 6.0% of the number of Units sold under the Offering (other than with respect to those sold to BW Energy and purchasers on the presidents list, for which no Broker Warrants were issued). In addition, the Underwriters received an advisory fee of $56,500 and 34,500 advisory broker warrants on the same terms as the Broker Warrants. Each Broker Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one Common Share at a price of C$0.60 until September 29, 2027.

Pursuant to a financial advisory engagement letter with Research Capital Corporation dated April 21, 2025, as amended (the Financial Advisory Agreement), Research Capital Corporation advised the Company in connection with the PSC, the transactions contemplated therein and certain related matters (the Gabon Transaction) and the Offering insofar as the proceeds are being used to fund the Gabon Transaction. In consideration for such services and pursuant to the Financial Advisory Agreement, upon closing of the Offering, the Company paid Research Capital Corporation C$120,000 (plus applicable taxes) and issued to Research Capital Corporation 166,667 Units.

Appointment of VP, Investor Relations & Capital Markets and Grant of Incentive Stock Options

The Company is also pleased to announce that Mark Friesen has been appointed Vice President, Investor Relations & Capital Markets effective October 1, 2025. The Company has also granted incentive stock option (the Options) to certain officers, employees, and consultants of the Company to acquire an aggregate of 625,000 Common Shares at an exercise price of C$0.60 per Common Share. The Options are exercisable for a five-year term expiring on September 30, 2030, and will be subject to certain vesting provisions as determined by the board of directors of the Company in accordance with the Companys stock option plan. The Options granted to insiders are subject to restrictions on resale until January 30, 2026, in accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange.

About ReconAfrica

ReconAfrica is a Canadian oil and gas company engaged in the exploration of the Damara Fold Belt and Kavango Rift Basin in the Kalahari Desert of northeastern Namibia, southeastern Angola, and northwestern Botswana, where the Company holds petroleum licences and access to ~13 million contiguous acres. The Company also operates the Ngulu block in the shallow waters offshore Gabon. In all aspects of its operations, ReconAfrica is committed to minimal disturbance of habitat in line with international standards and implementing environmental and social best practices in its project areas.

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

For further information contact:

Brian Reinsborough, President and Chief Executive Officer

Mark Friesen, Managing Director, Investor Relations & Capital Markets

IR Inquiries Email: investors@reconafrica.com

Media Inquiries Email: media@reconafrica.com

Tel: +1-877-631-1160

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information under applicable Canadian, United States and other applicable securities laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, statements with respect to the expected use of proceeds from the Offering, and the Companys commitment to minimal disturbance of habitat, in line with best international standards and its implementation of environmental and social best practices in its project areas. 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 ReconAfrica's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as the Company's actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of the factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section in the Company's annual information form (AIF) dated April 29, 2025, for the financial period ended December 31, 2024, available under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Actual future results may differ materially. 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 ReconAfrica. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and ReconAfrica undertakes no obligation 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.




Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee is taking more hits to his job approval rating in the latest poll out Monday, Sept. 29, 2025, from the University of New Hampshire. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode island Current)

Gov. Dan McKee cant score a win with Rhode Islanders, with seven in 10 people disapproving of his job performance and almost as many saying he does not deserve to be reelected, according to results of a University of New Hampshire (UNH) survey published Monday.

The Ocean State Poll out of the UNH Survey Center surveyed 737 residents, including 666 likely general election voters. It comes two weeks after a separate University of Rhode Island survey showed equally unfavorable ratings for the incumbent Democratic governor. The UNH survey also suggests more Democratic voters prefer McKees Democratic rival, former CVS executive Helena Buonanno Foulkes, over him in a hypothetical 2026 gubernatorial primary, though most voters remain undecided.

The margin of error in the survey overall was 3.6%, though questions specific to Democratic primary voters have a 5.9% margin of error.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Rhode Islanders dont need more political jockeying  they need results, Christina Freundlich, a spokesperson for McKees reelection campaign, said in an email Monday. Governor McKee is laser-focused on fighting for Rhode Island working families and standing up to extremism in Washington. Thats the kind of leadership that delivered fewer school absences, reduced overdose deaths, and strong economic growth to our state over the last four years  and thats why Rhode Islanders can count on him to keep delivering in the years ahead.

Foulkes took a swipe at McKee hours before the survey was published, accusing him of failing to meet the minimum threshold for honesty and transparency about the Washington Bridge failure. A state-commissioned audit report completed more than a year ago but only released publicly on Friday documents decades of structural problems with the westbound highway that state officials either overlooked or outright disregarded.

Jon Romano, a spokesperson for Foulkes campaign, again pointed to the Washington Bridge in a response to the poll results Monday afternoon.

Its no surprise that when our state leaders fail to handle our biggest challenges, the most glaring example being the Washington Bridge, Rhode Islanders are frustrated and fed up Romano said in an email. Rhode Islanders deserve competent leadership and shouldnt settle for less. Helena will fight for every vote and restore trust in government.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The UNH survey, conducted from Sept. 17 to 23, queried residents before the audit was released. Even before the damning report, more than a third of survey participants who disapproved of McKees job performance cited his handling of transportation and infrastructure  the top complaint, followed by poor leadership, named by 12% of disapproving voters.

Other recent polls more directly tie McKees poor approval ratings to the Washington Bridge problems: six in 10 survey participants in the recent URI poll said McKee was highly or somewhat responsible for the crisis, while more than eight in 10 of those who participated in a separate July survey by the Pell Center at Salve Regina University did not believe the reconstruction of the westbound highway would be finished on time and on budget.

Foulkes, who lost to McKee by 3 percentage points in the 2022 Democratic gubernatorial primary, has centered her second campaign around McKees handling of the Washington Bridge. In her Sept. 9 kickoff event, Foulkes suggested that Rhode Island Department of Transportation Director Peter Alviti Jr. should be fired. McKee has fended off questions about Alvitis responsibility for the infrastructure meltdown despite outrage from voters.

And the winner is: undecided

Foulkes strategy gave her a preliminary leading edge, with more than one-third of likely Democratic primary voters backing her in a hypothetical 2026 primary matchup against McKee, who drew support from under one-fifth of those surveyed. However, four in 10 survey participants were undecided or did not know who they would choose, while 6% had someone else in mind.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Widening the prospective September 2026 ballot to include House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, Foulkes remained the most popular of the three. But the 16% of Democratic voters with a favorable opinion of Foulkes  compared with 13% each for McKee and Shekarchi  fell within the margin of error. And again, the bulk of survey respondents appeared unsure, or neutral about all three. Notably, McKee had the largest chunk of unfavorable opinions  leading to a net favorability of negative 49  compared with net ratings of negative 6 apiece for Foulkes and Shekarchi.

I believe the University of New Hampshire poll confirms what other polling is showing at this time: that this is a wide open race for governor with the majority of voters yet undecided, Shekarchi said in an emailed statement Monday. As Speaker, Im focused on the important issues facing Rhode Islanders, such as housing, health care affordability, jobs and the economy. I have yet to make any decision on my political future. However, I am encouraged by the poll results considering I have not run statewide for public office. I do believe a great many voters recognize the accomplishments Ive made on behalf of Rhode Islanders.

Despite Shekarchis influential role on Smith Hill as House speaker and sizable war chest  $3.8 million cash on hand as of June 30, the largest of any state official  half of voters surveyed dont know enough about the Warwick Democrat to sway their thoughts about a potential governor run. Roughly 13% of survey participants overall definitely, or probably want Shekarchi to throw his hat in the ring, up to 18% among Democratic voters.

Mondays poll is the first to gauge voters sentiments on a Shekarchi gubernatorial run.

A troubling pattern

But McKees standing among residents has been documented through countless surveys spanning his time in office, including by UNH in multiple editions of its Ocean State Poll. Two years ago, nearly half of voters surveyed by UNH approved of McKees job performance, but his favor plunged soon after, and has remained at or below 30% over the next 10 editions of the UNH Ocean State Poll. Most troubling for the governor, according to the poll, is the opinion among members of his own party: 36% of Democrats surveyed approve of his job performance  a slight improvement from 27% when the poll was last conducted in May. Roughly one in 10 Republican and independent voters, respectively, approve of his job performance.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The survey also asked participants to weigh in on another term for U.S. Sen Jack Reed. More than half of respondents said he deserves to be reelected, though one-fifth were unsure or did not have an opinion.

On policy questions, a majority of participants supported Rhode Island working with other Northeast states on vaccine requirements and opposed the federal governments stoppage of the Revolution Wind project.

The 65-turbine project, already 80% complete in Rhode Island Sound, was still in limbo when the survey was conducted, but has since resumed work under the Sept. 22 order of a federal judge in D.C.

Half of survey participants identified Democrats, compared with 30% Republican and the remainder unaffiliated. The survey featured participants across education levels, regions of the state, and ages, with near-equal participation among men and women.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
A residential heat pump. (Stock photo by Jim Still-Pepper/Getty Images)

Mainers who qualify for state assistance with the cost of utility bills are expected to receive letters this week informing them of their eligibility.

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services will mail more than 67,000 letters to Maine residents who qualify for the Maine Public Utilities Commissions Low-Income Assistance Program, also known as LIAP. The program helps homeowners and renters reduce monthly electricity costs through bill credits.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Programs like LIAP can make a real difference for those struggling to afford their electric bill, said Public Advocate Heather Sanborn. If you receive a letter, show it to your utility. This simple step could mean a real savings on your electric bill.

Credits vary based on income, household size and electricity usage.

To be eligible for LIAP, a household must be eligible for the federal utility assistance program or participate in another income-based DHHS assistance program with a household income at or less than 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. That would be between roughly $23,000 and $48,000 for households with one to four people.

Households who are already enrolled in the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, also referred to as LIHEAP, will be automatically enrolled in the states LIAP program.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

To receive the LIAP benefits, Mainers who receive a letter only need to present it to their utility company, according to a news release from the Office of the Public Advocate. Contact information for the utility company should be included as part of the letter.

The release from Sanborns office urged residents to keep an eye out for these letters and apply for aid as soon as possible. Mainers who do not receive a letter but believe they may qualify to receive assistance should contact their electricity utility or local Community Action Agency.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
For a second year in a row, Babson College, a private institution in Wellesley, beat out the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University to earn second place in The Wall Street Journal and College Pulses new ranking of the 2026 best colleges in the United States.

Before that, Babson placed 10th in the 2024 ranking from the publication.

This moment is a clear testament to the transformative power of entrepreneurial leadership  not just as a business discipline, but as a catalyst for change. It tells the world that entrepreneurial leadership is essential in every field, every sector, and every community, Stephen Spinelli, Babsons president said in a statement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

He said the top position in the rankings is a springboard for continued growth and impact.

The rankings were based on factors such as: graduation rates and diversity and learning environments. Babson earned top scores for its learning environment, according to the outlet.

Meanwhile, Stanford University took first place in the rankings from the outlet, the first time since 2017. Other institutions, including Ivy League institutions like Yale University, Princeton University and Harvard University, ran down the list following Babson.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Other Massachusetts institutions also earned top spots, including MIT taking 11th and Bentley University taking 12th.

Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania took eighth and ninth. Smaller institutions, including Claremont McKenna College and Davidson College took sixth and 10th.

Eighteen of the top 20 schools are the same this year, according to the outlet.

The entrepreneurial emphasis and hands-on learning at Babson were highlighted by the outlet as reasons for its top position.

The outlet particularly mentioned Babsons year-long course, where groups of students pitch an entrepreneurial project and receive a loan of up to $3,000 to fund it, as a reason for its high placement.

More Higher Ed

Read the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
A smaller percentage of Massachusetts schools made significant progress towards, met or exceeded their own goals in 2025, state officials said Monday as they released "sobering" results from the latest round of MCAS testing.

The results, which Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler and Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez are making public during an event at an Arlington middle school, show slight improvement in English language arts scores among students in grades 3 through 8 and no change in math scores for that cohort.

Results for 10th graders, the first class to take the standardized test knowing that voters had already scrapped it as a high school graduation requirement, were down across the board. Officials at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education said they think last fall's vote might have something to do with the slide.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

In a call with reporters Monday morning, Martinez pointed out that there is not one single statewide student group that has bounced back to its pre-pandemic level of achievement in Massachusetts.

"There are other states that have actually already, as a state, already reached pre-pandemic levels. And there's many states who have some of their groups of students who have reached their pre-pandemic levels," the commissioner, who started here in July after having run Chicago's school system, said. "We also continue to see achievement gaps, specifically for students of color, our students with disabilities and English learners. Look, these results are sobering, but they're not insurmountable. I am confident that we can improve and that Massachusetts can continue to be a national leader in education."

Tutwiler added, "I have long suggested that recovery from the pandemic will be a process, not an event."

In English language arts, 42% of students in grades 3 through 8 met or exceeded the state's expectations, an increase of 3 percentage points compared to 2024 but still 10 percentage points below statewide results from 2019. Most 10th graders, 51%, met or exceeded the English expectations, but DESE said that represents a drop of 6 percentage points from 2024 and 10 percentage points from 2019.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

In math, 41% of third-through-eighth graders met or exceeded expectations, unchanged from 2024 but lagging 2019 results by 8 percentage points. Among 10th graders, 45% met or exceeded expectations. DESE said that is 3 percentage points below 2024 levels and 14 percentage points below pre-pandemic 2019 levels.

Forty-six percent of fifth graders met or exceeded expectations on the MCAS science exam, up one percentage point from last year but still down 3 points from 2019. For eighth graders, 37% met or surpassed expectations (down 2 percentage points from 2024 and 9 percentage points behind 2019 levels). Forty-six percent of tenth graders met or exceeded the science expectations, a drop of 3 percentage points compared to 2024. DESE officials say comparisons to 2019 are not meaningful for 10th graders because the exam has changed since then.

DESE's Chief Officer for Data, Assessment and Accountability Rob Curtin said the state sees signs in the 10th grade MCAS results that students were likely influenced by the outcome of last November's successful ballot question to break the link between MCAS passage and high school graduation. He said the "evidence" includes increases in the number of students who either left answers blank or "answered a question in an off-topic manner, in other words, they didn't answer the question" compared to 2024.

"So these are things that we're going to continue to look at and examine, but there is some evidence to suggest that there was an impact of motivation as it relates to the results from Question 2 back in November," Curtin told reporters.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Across the state, 55% of schools either made substantial progress towards, met or exceeded their own accountability targets. And while DESE officials pointed out that a majority of schools at least made serious progress in 2025, it represents a decrease from 60% of schools that at least made significant progress in 2024.

Of 1,590 schools that serve MCAS-tested grades and had sufficient student populations, there are 280 schools, or 18%, that the state has classified as "requiring assistance or intervention" for meeting at least one criterion from a list.

Tutwiler and Martinez chose Arlington's Ottoson Middle School as the site of the annual MCAS results announcement because the district is one of just 63 (of nearly 400 statewide) where MCAS scores have at least returned to pre-pandemic levels in English language arts, math or both.

Arlington is one of 13 districts where scores for grades three through eight have at least rebounded in both English and math, along with Amherst, Benjamin Banneker Charter School, Central Berkshire, Cohasset, Excel Academy Charter School, Farmington River Regional, Libertas Academy Charter School, Pioneer Charter School of Science, Rowe, Sizer School: A North Central Charter Essential, Wakefield, and Williamsburg.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Lawmakers created the MCAS system in a 1993 education reform law that was aimed at improving accountability and school performance. The first tests were given in 1998, and students starting with the high school class of 2003 were required to achieve sufficient scores to graduate until voters approved a measure last November to decouple the two.

A panel assembled by Gov. Maura Healey has to make at least initial recommendations for a new statewide high school graduation standard by the end of the year and last week unveiled its first rough sketch of its thinking. Tutwiler, who co-chairs the group, said last week the recommendations "will include rigorous learning experiences and a mechanism to give us confidence that all students are meeting these high expectations."

The Massachusetts Teachers Association that pushed for the elimination of MCAS passage as a graduation requirement responded by warning against the continued use of a standardized test to assess students.

"Educators and voters have made clear that such essential skills cannot be assessed by a standardized test. We will only nurture students to be 'critical problem solvers, intentional collaborators, effective communicators, self-aware navigators, and responsible decision-makers' if we design educator-led systems of assessment and provide the necessary resources that educators, students and schools need to fulfill these goals," Max Page and Deb McCarthy, president and vice president of MTA, said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

MCAS results are sometimes accompanied by DESE's corresponding school and district accountability determinations. But Monday's announcement did not include any details on schools exiting or entering "underperforming" or "chronically underperforming" status. DESE officials said Martinez will evaluate each schools status in the coming weeks.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: MCAS scores in Massachusetts still not back to pre-pandemic levels
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced Sunday that Los Angeles police will increase patrols around houses of worship after a deadly shooting earlier in the day during services at a Michigan church.

Five people were killed, including the shooter, and authorities say it is possible there are more.

L.A. has thousands of houses of worship, including hundreds of storefront churches, according to the USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"This type of violence is reprehensible and should have no place in our country," Bass said in a statement posted on social media.

Sometime around 10:25 a.m. Sunday, 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford drove a vehicle through the front doors of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, exited the vehicle and started shooting, according to preliminary information released by local authorities.

Hundreds of congregants were inside, including many who shielded children, authorities said.

Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye said at a news conference that Sanford was shot and killed by law enforcement officers at 10:33 a.m. in the church parking lot.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Renye said 10 gunshot victims were transported to hospitals, including two who died. Seven are in stable condition while one victim remains in critical condition.

Sanford is believed to have also intentionally set the church on fire, Renye said.

After authorities entered the burned church, they found two more bodies. Renye said there may be others; authorities are aware of others not yet accounted for.

After authorities killed Sanford, law enforcement officers searched multiple nearby churches regarding bomb threats, said Lt. Kim Vetter of the Michigan State Police. Vetter declined to say whether the churches searched were all LDS or other denominations and faiths.

Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The suspect in the Sunday shooting at a Michigan church was a Marine who served in Iraq, according to military officials.

Authorities identified the suspect as Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, who died on the scene.

The Marine Corps in a statement obtained by NewsNation said Sanford was a sergeant who served between 2004 and 2008 and was deployed during the Iraq War. He was awarded multiple medals including the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, officials said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Four people died in the shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Mich., according to authorities, with some still unaccounted for. Authorities said Sanford crashed his car into the church and lit the building on fire.

President Trump said Sunday the deadly shooting at the Mormon church looked to be a targeted attack on Christians.

I have been briefed on the horrendous shooting that took place at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Grand Blanc, Michigan. The FBI was immediately on scene, and will be leading the Federal Investigation, and providing full support to State and Local Officials. The suspect is dead, but there is still a lot to learn, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

The FBIs Detroit field office also posted on social media Sunday night that the agency was asking that members of the public share any information that would assist in this investigation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The incident follows the shooting at a Catholic school in Minneapolis in late August.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
At least four victims have died and eight others were injured after a shooter opened fire at and set fire to a Mormon church some 50 mi. north of Detroit Sunday morning.

Hundreds of people were attending service at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Mich., when a man rammed the vehicle he was driving through the churchs front doors, stepped out of the car, and opened fire.

Police have since shot and killed the suspect, and theyve stated that there is no current active threat to the local community.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

U.S. politicians, including President Donald Trump, condemned the shooting. Trump posted on Truth Social that he had been briefed on the incident: This appears to be yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America. The President stated that the FBI will lead a federal investigation.

THIS EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY MUST END, IMMEDIATELY! he added.

According to the Gun Violence Archive, an online database of gun-related violence, this is the U.S.s 324th mass shooting, defined as an incident where a minimum of four victims were shoteither injured or killednot including any shooter, of 2025.

In a statement posted on X, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, said her heart is breaking for the Grand Blanc community and that they will continue to monitor the situation. She added: Violence anywhere, especially in a place of worship, is unacceptable.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Heres what to know about the shooting.

What happened?

Across several press conferences on Sunday, Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye told reporters that around 10:25 a.m., a 40-year-old suspect rammed through the Mormon church in Grand Blanc, stepped out of a four-door pickup, and began firing.

Officers immediately responded to the scene and engaged in gunfire with the suspect, Renye said, eventually neutralizing him in the churchs parking lot.

Renye said that in the course of the attack, the suspect also deliberately set fire to the church. Authorities described him as using an accelerant, specifically gasoline, to light the church on fire.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

None of the victims has been publicly identified. Renye added that the burned-down church has not yet been cleared and that authorities are working to find additional bodies.

What do we know so far about the shooter?

Renye identified the suspect as Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, who lived in neighboring Burton.

Local media outlet Clarkston News previously described Sanford, who went by the name Jake, as a 2004 graduate of nearby Goodrich High School. A 2007 article reported Sanford had a stellar military career, serving in the Marines in Okinawa, Japan, as well as Iraq. (U.S. flags and an Iraq veteran license plate adorned the vehicle Sanford rammed into the church.)

Records the U.S. Marine Corps gave to multiple media outlets state that Sanford served four years in the Marines from June 2004 to June 2008 and rose to the rank of sergeant while in service. Before leaving the Marines, he joined Operation Iraqi Freedom from August 2007 to March 2008. A spokesman said that Sanford worked as an organizational automotive mechanic and vehicle recovery operator.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

CNN also reported that a dormant 2015 GoFundMe page showed Sanfords son was born with a rare genetic disorder. Clarkston News reported in 2015 that Sanfords son, with his then-fiancee, had congenital hyperinsulinisma life-threatening disease which, according to the Congenital Hyperinsulinism International organization, is the most frequent cause of severe, persistent hypoglycemia in newborns and children.

I spent four years in the Marine Corps and was in Iraq, and this is still the most unique thing to deal with, Sanford told the news outlet then.

Sanford got married in 2016, the New York Times reported.

Ryan Lopez, a former high school classmate and fellow Marine, described Sanford to the Times as a typical country kid and a hunting enthusiast. Lopez said he last saw Sanford at a gym in nearby Davison a few weeks earlier, not spotting any red flags. He was happy to see me, he just seemed normal, he told the Times.

How is the investigation moving forward?

A motive has not been determined, but FBI acting special agent in charge Reuben Coleman said the agency is investigating the incident as an act of targeted violence.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Doug Andersen, a spokesperson for the church, said in a statement that they are in communication with local law enforcement amid the ongoing probe.

Places of worship are meant to be sanctuaries of peacemaking, prayer and connection, Andersen said. We pray for peace and healing for all involved.

The attack happened a day after Russell Nelson, the Mormon churchs president, died at 101. Speaking to ABC News, an unnamed source briefed on the investigation said they are investigating whether Nelsons death is linked to the timing of the shooting in Grand Blanc.

State police also told reporters in a press conference that after the shooting, they responded to and cleared several bomb threats at other nearby locationssome of which are churches.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

A local TV station reported that three improvised explosive devices were found in Sanfords pickup. A state police bomb squad visited Sanfords Burton home to scan for more explosives.

How have people reacted so far?

The Grand Blanc Mormon church shooting is the latest shooting incident involving places of worship in the U.S. In August, a shooter opened fire at a Catholic church and school during Mass, which left two children dead.

Beyond Trump and Whitmer, other politicians also issued reactions. Vice President J.D. Vance called the Michigan shooting just an awful situation on X, adding, Say a prayer for the victims and first responders.

FBI Director Kash Patel condemned the violence on X as a cowardly and criminal act, and said that the agencys prayers are with the victims and their families during this terrible tragedy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Mitt Romney, a Republican former U.S. Senator for Utah and former Governor of Massachusetts who hails from Michigan and is a member of the Mormon church, posted on X: Tragedy in Michigan as my brothers and sisters and their church are targets of violence. Praying for healing and comforting.

Michigans Democratic Senators Elissa Slotkin and Gary Peters also reacted. Slotkin said in a statement posted on X: We all grieve with the families and friends of those killed. They are feeling shock and pain of such a senseless act of violence. Peters said in his statement that he was appalled by the attack, adding, Violence targeting people peacefully gathering to practice their faith is completely unacceptable.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
GRAND BLANC, MICHIGAN - SEPTEMBER 28: Emergency services respond to a shooting and fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on September 28, 2025 in Grand Blanc, Michigan. Police said there are multiple victims and the shooter is down. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

As crews continue to assess the aftermath of Sundays deadly shooting at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meeting place in Grand Blanc, Michigan, officials from across the state mourned the victims of the attack that killed four people.

The FBI is also hoping to mine tips from the public as it continues its investigation into the incident in which authorities say the suspect, Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, also set the building ablaze before being shot and killed by law enforcement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

A total of 12 people were shot in the attack, police said, with five fatalities, including the alleged shooter.

Its unclear exactly why Sanford chose the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the target for his attack.

GRAND BLANC, MICHIGAN  SEPTEMBER 28: A firefighter walks down the street where emergency services are responding to a shooting and fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on September 28, 2025 in Grand Blanc, Michigan. According to police reports there are multiple victims and the shooter is down. (Photo by Emily Elconin/Getty Images)

On Monday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordered all U.S. and Michigan flags on all public and state government buildings to be lowered to half-staff to honor the victims through Friday.

Whitmer, in a statement, said her heart is breaking for the community known commonly as the Mormon church.

Violence anywhere, especially in a place of worship, is unacceptable, Whitmer said. I am grateful to the first responders who took action quickly. To honor those we have lost, I am ordering flags to be lowered across Michigan. Our state is in mourning alongside the victims, their families, and the entire community in Grand Blanc Township.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Whitmer also spoke at press conference Monday afternoon in Grand Blanc Township.

I know that this community is reeling right now, and I want you to know that the state of Michigan has your back. Youre grief is our grief, Whitmer said. Theres one thing I know about Michigan is that we get through hard things together, and thats who we are.

Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II, a candidate for the governors office in 2026, said he was also devastated by the shooting.

Such a horrific act of violence  towards anyone, anywhere  is unjustified, Gilchrist said. Im grateful to the local police officers, fire, and EMS for their quick response. Lets keep holding each other close.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

State Rep. David Martin (R-Davison), whose district covers Grand Blanc in Genesee County, called the incident a cowardly attack on the community.

On a Sunday, in a sacred house of worship, families should feel nothing but peace and safety. That was stolen from them today in the most horrific and evil way, Martin said. My heart breaks for the victims, their families, and everyone in the community who has been shaken by this senseless violence.

Martin also thanked what he said was a swift and courageous response from local law enforcement, as well as an officer from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, who responded in addition to emergency medical personnel.

State Sen. John Cherry (D-Flint), who represents a large portion of Genesee County, including Grand Blanc, said the incident was a tragic act of violence.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

To terrorize people in a place of worship, where their hopes are highest and their faith strongest, is particularly sickening and has rocked our entire community, Cherry said in a statement. The congregation, the people of Grand Blanc, and our Genesee County community as a whole will need to heal and rebuild emotionally and physically, and I hope we can all come together to support them and one another during these trying and terrifying times.

U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City) said she was praying for the Mormon community, the victims and their families, calling violence in a place of worship despicable.

U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) was quick to offer her support and prayers for the Grand Blanc and Mormon community, while also pushing the brake pedal on snap judgments regarding the shooters motives, which remain unknown.

We will know more in the coming days and weeks. And there will be more to say, Slotkin said in a statement. But today, we send our strength to those involved who must now try and pick up the pieces and grieve.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Little is known about Sanford and why he chose the Mormon church as a target for his attack. The FBI Detroit Field Office on late Sunday evening used social media to request any person with information that could assist the investigation to call its tip line or visit its online tip exchange.

UPDATE: Regarding the critical incident in Grand Blanc, Michigan, the FBI is asking that members of the public share any information that would assist in this investigation. We encourage them to please report that to 1-800-CALL-FBI or https://t.co/1WDK57FdRt. pic.twitter.com/Fw3wOUZb3I  FBI Detroit (@FBIDetroit) September 29, 2025

What is known is that Sanford was a Burton resident who fought in the Iraq War, and the license plate of his truck, which officials say he used to ram into the building before opening fire on congregants, indicated that he was a veteran of the Iraq War.

Bridge Michigan reported that Google Maps images of Sanfords home address in Burton, captured in June of this year, show that he had a campaign sign for President Donald Trump affixed to a fence surrounding the small brick house. Bridge also reported that records show Sanford signed two recent ballot proposal petitions.

The first was for the Unlock Michigan proposal that sought to repeal Michigans statutory allowance for sweeping gubernatorial powers during a state of emergency, which was wielded by Whitmer in the worst days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The other was supporting Right to Life Michigans attempt to keep the states abortion ban in place after the fall of the U.S. Supreme Courts Roe v. Wade precedent that protected abortion rights and access to reproductive health care nationwide.

Other reports have noted that his son had a rare pancreatic disease.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Revolut is reportedly exploring a dual listing in London and New York, a move that would mark a landmark moment for both financial hubs.

Key Takeaways:

Revolut is considering a dual listing in London and New York that could value the company at $75 billion.

If approved, it would become the first firm to join the FTSE 100 while listing in New York simultaneously.

Recent UK regulatory reforms and political support may be shifting the companys stance toward a London debut.

If completed, the listing could value the fintech giant at around $75 billion, positioning it among the most valuable companies on the London Stock Exchange.

According to a senior City source cited by The Sunday Times, the possibility of a dual listing is now widely discussed within financial circles.

Revolut Could Become First to Join FTSE 100 and List in New York Simultaneously

A deal of this scale would make Revolut the first company to simultaneously list in New York while entering the FTSE 100 index in London.

With a market cap equivalent to 55 billion, it would rank among the top 15 listed firms in the UK.

Founded by Nik Storonsky, Revolut has evolved from a travel-focused prepaid card into Europes most valuable private fintech, with services spanning crypto trading, hotel bookings, business accounts, and more.

The company serves 65 million users globally, 12 million of whom are based in the UK. Despite previously criticizing Londons listing environment, pointing to the 0.5% stamp duty on share trades, Storonsky has signaled openness to the UK if conditions improve.

Recent regulatory changes may have tipped the balance. Companies the size of Revolut can now be fast-tracked into the FTSE 100 within five days, making index-tracking fund participation in IPOs significantly easier.

Storonsky recently referred to the UK as our home country during the launch of Revoluts new Canary Wharf headquarters, where UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves called Britain the best place to do business.

Revoluts chairman Martin Gilbert attended a meeting during President Trumps state visit between Reeves and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, where a transatlantic taskforce was announced to encourage dual listings.

On the same trip, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang also pledged investment in Revolut.

Crypto IPOs Gain Momentum

Last week, BitGo officially filed for an initial public offering, becoming the first dedicated crypto custodian to pursue a listing on a US stock exchange.

BitGos IPO filing came amid renewed momentum for crypto-related public offerings.

The digital asset space has seen several notable public listings in 2025. Stablecoin issuer Circle made a splash with its IPO in June, surging more than sevenfold since going public.
Moldova's pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), led by President Maia Sandu, handily beat the Moscow-friendly opposition to keep its parliamentary majority, official results from the weekend's election showed on Monday.

The outcome was welcomed across European capitals  from Kiev to Berlin to Brussels  as a clear signal of Moldova's Western course.

The ballot in one of Europe's poorest nations, wedged between EU member Romania and war-torn Ukraine, was seen as a key test of its geopolitical direction. Moldova, home to 2.4 million people, has been an EU candidate since 2022.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

After all the ballots were counted, PAS won 50.20% of the vote, securing a majority of the 101 seats in parliament.

The pro-Russian Patriotic Electoral Bloc of former president Igor Dodon trailed 24.17%, the Central Election Commission in Chisinau said. Voter turnout was 52.21%.

Sandu has said she aims to continue pursuing the goal of EU membership by 2030.

On Monday, the president credited Moldovan voters living abroad in EU countries for much of her victory, and said that "it was not a party but the country that won."

Three other parties also entered parliament for a four-year term: the Russia-friendly Alternativa bloc (7.96%), the Nostru party of businessman Renato Usatii (6.20%) and, unexpectedly, the PPDA party, originally founded to advocate union with Romania, which crossed the 5% threshold with 5.62% of the vote.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Moldova has long been torn between closer integration with Europe and falling deeper into Russia's orbit.

Sandu accused Russia of heavy interference in the vote, while pro-Russian forces alleged electoral manipulation.

European leaders hail vote as win for democracy

European leaders swiftly welcomed the result. "The future of Moldova is in Europe!" European Parliament President Roberta Metsola wrote on X, calling the vote "a historic step forward" and proof that Moldovans had chosen "democracy, hope and opportunities."

European Council President Antonio Costa said the people had delivered a "loud and clear" message for reform and a European future "in the face of pressure and interference from Russia."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised Moldovans resolve, saying "no attempt to sow fear or division could break your resolve. You made your choice clear: Europe. Democracy. Freedom," von der Leyen added."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking by video to the Warsaw Security Forum, said Moscow had "failed to destabilize Moldova, even though it invested large sums in chaos and the corruption of everyone it could reach."

He urged Europe to resist further Russian attempts to draw countries like Belarus and Georgia into its sphere of influence, warning: "We cannot afford to lose even a single day, or another country, after the election in Moldova."

Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan lauded the "exemplary mobilization" of Moldovan voters and praised officials for withstanding pressure "aimed at breaking the will of the people," promising continued Romanian support on Moldovas path toward EU membership.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul likewise pledged support, saying Moldovans had voted "for freedom and democracy, for the rule of law and for the prospect of a bright future for their country."
The poll found that 66% of Israelis believe the time has come to stop the fighting, up from 53% at the same point last year.

Two years after Hamass October 7, 2023, assault, a majority of Israelis say they want the war in Gaza to end, according to a new survey released by the Israel Democracy Institutes Viterbi Family Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research.

The poll found that 66% of Israelis believe the time has come to stop the fighting, up from 53% at the same point last year. The leading reason cited was concern for the safety of the hostages still held in Gaza. Some 65% of respondents said securing their release should take precedence over defeating Hamas.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The findings also show widespread public demand for accountability. Nearly two-thirds of Israelis said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should resign  45% immediately, and another 19% after the war ends. A strong majority, 74%, favored establishing a state commission of Inquiry into the failures surrounding October 7.

IDF operates in Gaza, September 29, 2025. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON UNIT)

Israelis worry about Jewish State's international standing, poll shows

The survey highlighted mounting anxiety over Israels global position. Almost three-quarters of respondents said Israels international standing has worsened since the start of the war, while more people now view international isolation and the potential loss of US support as the greatest external threats facing the country.

On the Palestinian issue, opposition among Jewish Israelis to a Palestinian state has hardened. Seventy-two percent said Palestinians do not have a right to their own state, up 11 points since last year.

This survey paints a picture of an Israeli public that is increasingly ready for the war to end, to get the hostages home, and to hold their leaders accountable, said Prof. Tamar Hermann, who led the study.
Investigators say theyre still looking for a motive in the deadly shooting and fire at a Latter-day Saint meetinghouse in Michigan, but the White House attributed it to apparent animosity toward church members.

Speculation about what drove Thomas Jacob Sanford to commit this act has ranged from his political leaning to religion to mental illness.

But White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt provided perhaps the most definitive direction in which the FBI is looking.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

All that is known right now is that this is an individual who hated people of the Mormon faith and they are trying to understand more about this. How premeditated it was, how much planning went into it, whether he left a note. All of those questions have yet to be answered, she told Fox News on Monday.

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have historically been referred to as Mormons.

Authorities havent divulged what they believe drove Sanford to ram his vehicle into the church, shoot worshipers and set fire to this religious sanctuary in Grand Blanc Township that left four people dead and eight wounded Sunday morning. Police shot and killed Sanford in the church parking lot.

Evil, Grand Blanc Police Chief William Renye said in a Monday news conference. This was an evil act of violence.

Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye, center, attends a press conference at the police station in Grand Blanc Township, Mich., on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025, following a shooting and fire at a meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-days Saints in Grand Blanc Township on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News

Sanfords father, Thomas Sanford, told NBC News that his family is devastated and doesnt know what to think about their sons actions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

In a statement to NBC News, Thomas Sanford described his son as a loving father and husband. The family also extended their prayers to the Grand Blanc community and everyone affected by the attack.

We are completely in shock over this; we have no answers, the statement said. We are asking for privacy as we grieve our loss and those of the others.

Views on Latter-day Saints

Rueben Coleman, acting special agent in charge of the FBI field office in Detroit, said in the news conference Monday that the attack is being investigated as an act of targeted violence. But we are continuing to work to determine a motive.

Asked to clarify whether a person, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or another group was the target of the violence, Coleman said the investigation is ongoing but when I say targeted violence, I mean targeted within our state and within our community.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Coleman was also asked by a reporter about reports that Sanfords ex-girlfriend was a Latter-day Saint. That is something I cannot speak to at this point in time, he said.

Law enforcement say Thomas Jacob Sanford crashed his truck into a Michigan meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-days Saints, shot multiple church members and then set the building on fire Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. | Facebook

A Burton City Council candidate met a man while canvassing less than a week before the attack, according to an interview with Keeping It Real with Dave Bondy on X. Kris Johns said the man went on a tirade against the church, had sharp views about Mormons and made the position multiple times that Mormons are the antichrist.

Johns described him as outgoing, polite, and extremely friendly. He said the mans animosity toward the church didnt seem violent. It was very much standard anti-LDS talking points that you would find on YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, he said.

It wasnt until seeing photos of Sanford online after the attack on the church that Johns realized the man was Sanford.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Theres certain things you dont forget, Johns said. This is not a forgettable guy.

Johns said Sanford spoke quickly  it was one thing after another  as he shared about his time in Iraq and his struggles with drug addiction when he returned home. He said Sanford told him he moved to Utah at one point to plow snow and had a relationship with a woman there whose family was Mormon.

Political leanings

The side yard of the home of Thomas Jacob Sanford, the man identified by police as the shooter, is pictured the morning after a fire and shooting at a meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-days Saints, in Burton, Mich., on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Brice Tucker for the Deseret New

Two American flags were flying in the bed of the Chevy Silverado that Sanford rammed into the Latter-day Saint meetinghouse.

Records in Michigan show Sanford, 40, has no recorded party affiliation, but the state has open primaries, so party registration is not required, per The Daily Beast.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The news outlet also reported that Sanford had Trump campaign sign outside his house in Burton, Michigan, about a 15-minute drive to the Latter-day Saint chapel in Grand Blanc.

Mark Grebner, a Democratic consultant who collects voter and petition data, told Bridge Michigan that voting records do not indicate how Sanford voted but he has voted in every November election.

Sanford signed two recent petitions, Grebner said, one for the so-called Unlock Michigan efforts to repeal the governors pandemic emergency powers and another supporting Right to Life Michigans efforts to restrict abortion in the state.

In a Sunday press conference, authorities were asked about speculation that the shooting is connected to the killing of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk in Utah earlier this month.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Thats exactly what it is. Its speculation, Michigan State Police Lt. Kim Vetter said.

A record search shows Sanford lived in Park City, Utah, area around 2010. He has no criminal history in Michigan or Utah.

Sandra Winter rented a room to Sanford in her home in Jeremy Ranch, just outside Park City. She described him as an unassuming man who worked for a local business doing snow removal and landscaping, according to The New York Times. He also had creative ambitions as a sculpture artist, Winter recalled.

Winter told the Times she was shocked to hear that Sanford was identified as the attacker, a situation she said she would never in a million years have imagined.

Military service

According to news reports in Michigan, Sanford was a Marine veteran who served in Iraq and has a wife and son.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

According to a 2007 Clarkston News article, Sanford is a native of Atlas Township in Genesee County, Michigan, and graduated from Goodrich High School in 2003. Grand Blanc and Burton, where Sanford lived before the shooting, are in Genesee County. He is identified as Thomas Jake Sanford in the story.

As a 22-year-old Marine, he was a wrecker driver who assisted in the recovery of damaged vehicles and had done a stint in Okinawa, Japan. He has achieved honors on the rifle range, according to the story. At the time the article was published, he was set to join his combat battalion and serve in Fallujah, Iraq.

Im excited to go," Sanford said during a gathering at his home, per the story. Im looking forward to seeing the culture and the people of Iraq. Ill return with the real news of the situation. There are many changes we are making in the Middle East. We are making progress. The citizens of Iraq are beginning to step up.

A Marine Corps spokesperson told CNN that Sanford served as a sergeant and received several medals for his service, which lasted from 2004 to 2008.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

A family friend told WDIV Local 4 in Detroit that Sanford suffered from post traumatic stress disorder.

I heard just through family events and stuff that he had had PTSD. He would make some comments about it occasionally. It was something that was kind of talked about. It wasnt talked about in depth ... so I dont know the depth of his issues, the friend said.

The friend also said Sanford struggled with alcohol and drugs years ago but was sober every time she saw him.

Caring for a sick child

CNN also reported that Sanfords son was born with a rare genetic disorder, according to a 2015 GoFundMe page. The condition, called congenital hyperinsulinism, required a lengthy hospital stay and several surgeries to remove portions of the boys pancreas, according to a family Facebook page.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

One local news outlet reported that the illness had taken a financial toll on the family and Sanford took leave from work as a truck driver for Coca-Cola to be with his son, per CNN.

Dont ever take having healthy kids for granted, Sanford is quoted as saying in another article. We are proud of our child. I spent four years in the Marine Corps and was in Iraq and this is still the most unique thing to deal with.
Officers with the Denton Police Department have arrested two suspects from Mississippi for murder.

Alfred Jackson Jr., 26, and Olivia Guster, 24, allegedly shot and killed a man in Denton overnight on September 28, according to a statement from the department. They fled the scene, but officers apprehended them.

Olivia Guster, 24, and Alfred Jackson Jr., 26| Image by Denton Police Dept/Jail records

Jackson and Guster were held in the Denton County Jail on murder charges, according to jail records. Officials also charged Jackson with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and evading arrest or detention.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Jackson is from Pattison, Mississippi, while Guster is from the nearby town of Port Gibson. The towns lie in the southwest corner of the state, near the Mississippi River.

The affidavits focus on what transpired during this incident and do not specify why they were in Denton, said Amy Cunningham, Denton police public information liaison, to The Dallas Express.

An Argument Turns Fatal

A witness called 911 to report a fight in a parking lot near 300 W. Eagle Drive at 12:58 a.m. on September 28, according to Denton police. While on the phone, the caller heard gunshots.

Investigators learned that Jackson, Guster, the victim, and the victims friend got into a verbal argument about right-of-way in the parking lot. The argument turned physical when Jackson allegedly struck the victims head with a shovel, while Guster assaulted the victim and his friend.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Further evidence revealed Jackson shot the victim and pointed the firearm at the victims friend before fleeing with Guster, who drove the vehicle from the scene, reads the statement from Denton police. The victim and his friend did not know the suspects.

When officers arrived, they gave medical aid to the man suffering from a gunshot wound. Responders brought him to a hospital, where he ultimately died.

The Investigation

Witnesses reported Jackson and Guster fled in a vehicle. Denton police stopped the car near 1400 W. University Drive. Then Guster stayed in the vehicle, while Jackson reportedly ran from officers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

He was arrested a short time later for evading arrest and detention, the department posted.

Denton police detained Gibson around 1:12 a.m. and arrested Jackson around 1:23 a.m., according to Cunninghamneither resisted arrest.

Detectives obtained arrest warrants for Jackson on charges of murder and aggravated assault, and for Gibson on a murder charge.

The Tarrant County Medical Examiners Office will release the victims name, according to Denton police, though his identity was unclear at the time of publication. The department is asking anyone with information on this case to contact Detective Pizana at 940-349-7922.
DETROIT  At least four people are dead and several others were injured after a man crashed a vehicle into a Michigan church, opened fire with a rifle, and set the building ablaze during Sunday service, authorities said.

The suspect was identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, a 40-year-old from the neighboring city of Burton, according to Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye. Sanford died after exchanging gunfire with responding officers in the church's parking lot.

Hundreds of people were attending the service at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, a suburb of Flint, Michigan, when the suspect rammed a pickup truck into the church, Renye said at an earlier news conference. He then exited the vehicle and fired "several rounds" at people inside the church with an assault rifle, Renye said.

Police believe the suspect also "deliberately" set the building on fire, which was extinguished by the Grand Blanc Township Fire Department, according to Renye. Videos on social media and local television stations showed flames and smoke billowing from the church.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Ten people suffered gunshot wounds, including two who were pronounced dead. Seven of the hospitalized victims are stable, and one is in critical condition, Renye previously said.

Two more bodies were discovered in the church, and authorities were still searching for additional victims, Renye said during an 8 p.m. ET news conference. Earlier, the police chief said authorities believed they would find more victims once they found the area where the fire was.

A silver truck is seen outside of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as local authorities work to contain a fire on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. A family emotionally reunites at the Trillium Theater located across the street from the site of a shooting and fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sept. 28, 2025 in Grand Blanc, Mich. People gather at the site as smoke and fire rise, following an incident in which a man crashed his vehicle through the front doors of a Michigan church and opened fire with an assault rifle and set the church ablaze, in Grand Blanc, Mich., Sept. 28, 2025, in this screengrab obtained from social media video. Emergency personnel work at the scene of a shooting which took place at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Grand Blanc, Mich.,Sept. 28, 2025. Church members and residents reunite at Trillium Theater located across the street from the site of a shooting and fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sept. 28, 2025 in Grand Blanc, Mich. The burned church building is seen as emergency services respond to a shooting and fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sept. 28, 2025 in Grand Blanc, Mich. Emergency services respond to a shooting and fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sept. 28, 2025 in Grand Blanc, Mich. A member of the FBI speaks to children outside of NCG Trillium Cinema, which is acting as a reunification center following a shooting and a fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. Emergency services respond to a shooting and fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sept. 28, 2025 in Grand Blanc, Mich. An FBI Evidence Response Team agent inspects the suspect's truck outside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Mich., on Sept. 28, 2025. Emergency services are seen near the intersection of Holly Road and McCandlish Road in Grand Blanc Township on Sunday, Sept 28, 2025. A group holds hands in a circle outside of NCG Trillium Cinema, which is acting as a reunification center, following a shooting and a fire at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. A person sits outside of NCG Trillium Cinema, which is acting as a reunification center, following a shooting and a fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. People embrace outside of NCG Trillium Cinema, which is acting as a reunification center following a shooting and a fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. A firefighter walks down the street where emergency services are responding to a shooting and fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sept. 28, 2025 in Grand Blanc Township. Davison Township Police block an intersection near the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township as smoke billows in the background on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. An officer motions to vehicles on a street where emergency services respond to a shooting and fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sept. 28, 2025 in Grand Blanc Township. Family members of people in attendance at this morning's service look on as emergency services respond to a shooting and fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sept. 28, 2025 in Grand Blanc Township. A police officer tapes off an area on the street of a shooting and fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sept. 28, 2025 in Grand Blanc Township. The Michigan State Police bomb squad deploy a robot near a home on East Atherton Road in Burton on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. Community members and supporters gather in Burton, Michigan, on the night of Sept. 28 for a scheduled prayer vigil honoring the life of Charlie Kirk, following a nearby mass shooting in Grand Blanc Township. Community members and supporters gather in Burton, Michigan, on the night of Sept. 28 for a scheduled prayer vigil honoring the life of Charlie Kirk, following a nearby mass shooting in Grand Blanc Township. Community members and supporters gather in Burton, Michigan, on the night of Sept. 28 for a scheduled prayer vigil honoring the life of Charlie Kirk, following a nearby mass shooting in Grand Blanc Township. Scenes in Michigan as police, community respond to Mormon church shooting and fire 1 of 23 A silver truck is seen outside of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as local authorities work to contain a fire on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is leading the investigation into the shooting and is investigating the incident "as an act of targeted violence," said Reuben Coleman, the acting special agent in charge of the FBI's Detroit field office.

"This act of violence has no place in our state or anywhere else in our country," Coleman said. "The FBI is committed to continue finding out the facts, circumstances, and motives behind this tragedy."

Church is a 'total loss' due to fire; some people 'unaccounted for'

During the 8 p.m. ET news conference, Renye said the chapel was a "total loss" due to the fire, and authorities were working to find additional bodies. Earlier on Sunday, police described the scene as "incredibly catastrophic."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"The entire church has not been cleared because it's a total loss due to the fire," the police chief said. "So these first responders right now, they're in recovery mode. They're trying to fight through all the debris from the fire."

He added that some people are "unaccounted for."

Fire at church was set with accelerant, ATF says

The suspect used an accelerant, believed to be gasoline, to set the church on fire, according to James Deir, special agent in charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Detroit Field Division.

"I will confirm that there were some suspected explosive devices that were located," Deir said at the news conference Sunday night. "But as far as using them to initiate the blaze, we cant say that."

Local police chief praises heroism of first responders, community members

Renye praised the heroic actions of "not only the first responders, but the people who were inside that church at the time."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"They were shielding the children who are also present within the church, moving them to safety," he said, adding that hundreds of people were attending Sunday services to practice their faith.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of this incident," Renye said. "It's very tragic, and that's not what our community is. I'm confident that we're going to overcome this."

State police continue to respond to bomb threats in community

Michigan State Police have responded to additional bomb threats at several locations throughout the community, spokesperson Lt. Kim Vetter said at the 8 p.m. ET news conference. She added that state police searched and cleared multiple churches on Sunday evening.

The threats came after the suspect was killed in the church shooting, according to Vetter.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Please, continue to stay vigilant, and if you see something suspicious, say something," Vetter said.

Michigan church shooting suspect: What we know about Thomas Jacob Sanford

Who is Thomas Jacob Sanford?

The suspect's hometown of Burton is about eight miles north of Grand Blanc. The suspect also went by "Jake" to many of his acquaintances, according to records and past news reports.

Sanford appears to have been a veteran of the U.S. Marines, according to posts by Sanford's mother on her Facebook page. Sanford did stints in Japan and Iraq after graduating from Goodrich High School in 2003, according to a 2007 news article from the Clarkston News.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

In one post, Sanford's mother posted a photo of Sanford in his Marine uniform. "Thank you to our son.. service 2004-2008.. Iraq Veteran!!" she wrote.

The Pentagon did not respond to a request from USA TODAY seeking information about Sanford's military record.

Sunday's shooting appears to be the second incident involving a Marine veteran in less than 24 hours. In North Carolina, another Marine veteran was charged in connection with a mass shooting that killed three people and left at least eight others injured at a riverside bar on Saturday.

 Chris Quintana, Joey Garrison, and Dinah Voyles Pulver

Police chief: Officers rushed to the scene within 30 seconds of receiving emergency calls

During the 5 p.m. ET news conference, Renye said authorities received a 911 call at about 10:25 a.m. and officers responded within about 30 seconds.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Earlier in the day, Renye said two officers, one from Grand Blanc Township and another from the state Department of Natural Resources, immediately responded to the scene and engaged the suspect in an exchange of gunfire.

The suspect was "neutralized" at around 10:33 a.m. in the church's parking lot, according to Renye.

"They met the suspect and engaged in gunfire with that particular individual, neutralizing that suspect, and that suspect is no longer with us," he said.

A shooter attacked children in prayer: Has America hit a new low?

Shooting victims received treatment at local hospital

Victims were receiving medical treatment at Henry Ford Genesys Hospital, according to Renye. The hospital confirmed in a statement to USA TODAY that it cared for 10 people injured in the shooting and fire at the church.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"The hospital is fully staffed with experienced caregivers and able to care for all our patients," a hospital spokesperson said in the statement. "Our hearts go out to our patients, their families, and the communityincluding the people worshipping when the tragic act of violence occurred."

The incident occurred as nurses at the hospital were on strike, according to Teamsters Local 332, the union representing the nurses. Some nurses had left the picket line to assist first responders but were turned away due to the labor dispute, The Detroit News reported.

"We understand and appreciate the Teamsters' instinct to care for their neighbors during this time of heartbreak, and we will not hesitate to reach out if we need additional assistance," the hospital spokesperson said. "We look forward to coming together again soon to care for our community."

Grand Blanc Township supervisor: 'We are heartbroken'

Grand Blanc is about 60 miles northwest of Detroit, Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of about 7,700 people.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"We are heartbroken," Grand Blanc Township Supervisor Scott Bennett said at an earlier news conference. "This kind of violence doesn't happen in our community, and we are heartbroken that it came to Grand Blanc Township."

Bennett added: "And we're going to do everything we can to support the families, the victims, and our community getting through this situation."

'Yet another targeted attack': Trump sounds alarm after Michigan church mass shooting

Law enforcement searching the suspect's residence

Police said they will conduct search warrants on the suspect's residence and search cellphone records.

Several law enforcement agencies were assisting local authorities in the investigation, including 100 FBI agents, Michigan State Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

A Michigan State Police helicopter circled overhead, and dozens of police vehicles had the road blocked in front of the home. A bomb squad vehicle with bulldozer tracks and an armored cab was also stationed out front, with other vehicles, including two bomb squad vans, multiple police cruisers and an ambulance waiting at the ready. At one point, a robot and a drone were deployed.

Nearby homes were evacuated. One officer on the scene advised reporters to move back, saying there was a small possibility of an explosion. He stressed it was likely a small possibility, but wanted people to be aware.

People embrace near the scene of a shooting at a church in Grand Blanc, Michigan, on Sept. 28, 2025.

Church member: 'I am very shaken up'

As church attendees left the theater, some rushed to family members and friends waiting outside, hugging and weeping.

Survivors evacuated from the church were taken to the nearby NCG Trillium Cinema for "reunification and questioning," an officer told the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Stephanie Giddings, who lives in nearby Fenton, went to the reunification site to be close to her fellow church members. She said she had to leave work early because "I am very shaken up."

"They're family," she said, noting that her daughter had been baptized recently at the chapel.

Trump responds to Michigan church shooting

In a Truth Social post, President Donald Trump said the Federal Bureau of Investigation immediately responded to the scene in Grand Blanc. The FBI will be leading the federal investigation into the shooting and will provide "full support" to state and local officials, according to Trump.

"The suspect is dead, but there is still a lot to learn," Trump said in the post. "This appears to be yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"The Trump Administration will keep the Public posted, as we always do," he added. "In the meantime, PRAY for the victims and their families. THIS EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY MUST END, IMMEDIATELY!"

'A tragic act of violence': Church of Jesus Chris of Latter-day Saints

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a statement following the shooting, calling the incident a tragic act of violence.

"The Church is in communication with local law enforcement as the investigation continues and as we receive updates on the condition of those affected," the church's spokesperson Doug Andersen said in the statement. "We offer thanks to the emergency responders who are assisting victims and families."

We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of prayers and concern from so many people around the world, he said. In moments of sorrow and uncertainty, we find strength and comfort through our faith in Jesus Christ. Places of worship are meant to be sanctuaries of peacemaking, prayer and connection. We pray for peace and healing for all involved.

Neighbors recount scene outside Michigan church

Phillip Cotter, a Clio resident, stood at the police cordon on Sunday morning. He said he was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc but was not in attendance at the morning service.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"I know everyone who was there," he said, choking up with emotion and tears welling up in his eyes.

"I don't know what God has planned for us, but I trust him," Cotter said.

Grand Blanc resident Tony Deck said he was sitting on his backyard patio about 10:15 a.m. ET, when he heard sirens coming from Saginaw Street, about 300 yards from the church.

"I drove up before a lot of the police and ambulances got here, got out of my truck and ran towards it to see if there was anything I could do to help," he said. "There was a silver Chevy Silverado that had been driven into the side of the church  not even through the doors."

"There were at least four yellow canvases over dead bodies that I could see at the time."

As of noon, Deck said first responders had blocked off the area, preventing him from leaving. The church, he said, "is completely destroyed."

Sheriff: 'Entire church is on fire'

Christopher Swanson, sheriff of Genesee County, Michigan, posted an update on Facebook just before noon ET on Sunday.

This is a dynamic scene, Swanson said. The entire church is on fire.

The people that were here have been evacuated. We do have victims here, were working on that, he added.

Swanson said he was asked by the Grand Blanc Township police to share the information.

"The shooter is down. We do have multiple victims," he said. "Just know that theres a lot of things that are happening that we are not able to communicate just because of the work that needs to be done."

A family emotionally reunites at the Trillium Theater located across the street from the site of a shooting and fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer thanks first responders

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement on X that her office is monitoring the situation in Grand Blanc.

"My heart is breaking for the Grand Blanc community. Violence anywhere, especially in a place of worship, is unacceptable," Whitmer wrote. "I am grateful to the first responders who took action quickly. We will continue to monitor the situation and hold The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc close."

Members of Michigan's congressional delegation, including Sen. Elissa Slotkin and Rep. Debbie Dingell, thanked officials, offered condolences to families of the victims, and offered support in statements on social media.

"We will know more in the coming days and weeks. And there will be more to say. But today, we send our strength to those involved who must now try and pick up the pieces and grieve," Slotkin said.

Shooting comes after Mormon church leader's death

The shooting comes a day after the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints passed away.

Russell M. Nelson, the oldest person ever to lead the church, died late Sept. 27 at his Salt Lake City home. He was 101 years old.

Nelson's tenure as president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was marked by several sweeping policy changes, including a 2019 rollback of a policy that labeled same-sex member couples apostates and barred their minor children from religious rites.

Russell M. Nelson, a heart surgeon and president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died on Sept. 27, 2025 at the age of 101. He's shown here as a student at Roosevelt Junior High in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1936. Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shakes hands with Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP, in the Church Administration Building in Salt Lake City, May 17, 2018. They are flanked by Rev. Amos C. Brown, NAACP board member, far left, and NAACP chairman Leon W. Russell, far right. Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, stops for a photo before rededicating the Manti Utah temple on April 21, 2024. Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints greets Tuimaleali'ifano Va'aletoa Sualauvi II, the Samoan head of state on May 18, 2019. Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaks at the NAACP's 110th annual national convention in Detroit, Michigan, on July 21, 2019. Pope Francis greets Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Vatican on March 9, 2019. Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, shakes hands with Naserldeen Mofarih, Minister of Endowment and Religious Affairs for the Republic of Sudan, on May 19, 2021. Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, holds the hand of Agustin Escobar, 5, as the boy prepares to place mortar on the cornerstone of the church's temple in Concepcion Chile on Oct. 28, 2018. Sajit Singh, a member of the Sikh community, shakes hands with Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as interfaith leaders visit prior to a devotional in Singapore on Nov. 20, 2019. Latter-day Saint children meet Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Kona, Hawaii on May 16. 2019. Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, greets Dr. Mohammad Abdulkarim Al-Issa, secretary-general of the Muslim World League on Nov. 5, 2019. Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, receives the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in Salt Lake City, Utah on Jan. 19, 2021. Russell M. Nelson was the general Sunday School president for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1971. Utah heart surgeon Russell M. Nelson in 1982, before being called to serve as an apostle for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in April 1984. Utah heart surgeon Russell M. Nelson in 1982, before being called to serve as an apostle for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in April 1984. President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints answers questions from the press after being announced as the 17th president of the Church in January 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Nelson replaced Thomas S. Monson as president. Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, awaits the start of a news conference with the leaders of the NAACP, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Administration Building on May 17, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The church and NAAP leaders, issued a joint statement after meeting to increase corporation on humanitarian efforts around the world and encourage people to bridge differences and come together. President Russell M. Nelson, prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his wife Wendy, wave to a crowd of nearly 70,000 people gathered for a devotional at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019. Russell M. Nelson, (right) an apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sits next to Dallin Oaks, as they wait for the start of the 187th semi-annual general conference of the church in Salt Lake City, Utah on Sept. 30, 2017. President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints dies at 101 1 of 19 Russell M. Nelson, a heart surgeon and president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died on Sept. 27, 2025 at the age of 101. He's shown here as a student at Roosevelt Junior High in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1936.

Law enforcement in other US cities increase patrols at places of worship

Officials announced on Sunday that law enforcement officers will be deployed to places of worship in Los Angeles and New York City out of an abundance of caution.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and the New York City Police Department said in separate statements that agencies will provide additional resources and increase patrols at religious institutions across the two cities.

The reports of a mass shooting and fire during Sunday services at an LDS church in Michigan are devastating, Bass said in a statement on X. This type of violence is reprehensible and should have no place in our country. My heart is with the families impacted and the entire Grand Blanc community.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott also decried the shooting in Michigan, saying the escalation of violent attacks against people and places of faith is heinous and must end. Abbott said in a statement on X that he has directed the state's Department of Public Safety to form task forces with local and federal law enforcement to better safeguard our places of worship.

The shooting is the latest attack on a place of worship in the United States. On Aug. 27, a shooter opened fire through the windows of a church in Minneapolis, killing two children and injuring at least 18 others, including 15 children and three parishioners in their 80s.

Contributing: Chris Quintana, Joey Garrison, and Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY; Detroit Free Press

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan church shooting: Death toll climbs as FBI investigates attack
A jury selected from a pool of St. Charles County, Missouri, residents is set to hear testimony in the capital murder trial of a Kansas City man charged with killing a North Kansas City police officer.

Prosecutors have accused 28-year-old Joshua T. Rocha of fatally shooting officer Daniel Vasquez during a traffic stop in July 2022. They are seeking the death penalty if Rocha is convicted.

Because of pretrial publicity, the court decided to select a jury from outside Clay County, drawing from a pool of jurors from a county on the other side of the state. While its not unheard of for jurors to be selected from an outside county for high-profile cases, it is rare.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Prospective jurors were given questionnaires in August, and jury selection began on Sept. 15.

Opening statements in the trial, which is expected to take two weeks, are scheduled to begin Monday at the Clay County Courthouse in Liberty.

The shooting occurred about 10:40 a.m. July 19, 2022, when Vasquez pulled over an early 2000s gray Ford Taurus for having an expired temporary tag.

According to court documents, the dashboard camera allegedly showed that as Vasquez approached the car, a man wearing a dark T-shirt, shorts and black shoes shot the officer in the face through a partially opened drivers side door. The man then got out of the sedan and allegedly fired two more times at Vasquez, who was lying in the street. The man then got back into the car and drove away.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The shooting triggered a statewide Blue Alert  issued when a law enforcement officer is seriously injured or killed in the line of duty  and sparked a manhunt that lasted for hours, until Joshua T. Rocha walked into a Clay County government building and surrendered.

In the days that followed, the killing of the 32-year-old Vasquez drew extensive media coverage of the killing and asquezs funeral, as well as a comment during a radio program by Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas that Rocha, if convicted, should receive the death penalty.

Vasquez had joined the North Kansas City Police Department in January 2021 as a recruit officer and was promoted to full officer after graduating from the KCPD Regional Police Academy in July 2021, fulfilling a lifelong dream.

The Clay County Prosecutors Office declined to answer pre-trial questions about the jury selection process, including how often and how many times jurors are brought in from outside the county.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

We remain steadfast in our pursuit of justice for Daniel Vasquez and his family, spokeswoman Cher Congour said. In order to protect the integrity of the criminal court process, we will answer all questions after the jury returns a verdict.

North Kansas City police officer Daniel Vasquez.

Rare cases bring outside jurors

In neighboring Jackson County, officials could recall just two cases where outside jurors have been used in the last 20 years, said Scott Lauck, a spokesman for the Jackson County Circuit Court.

The most recent one was in the summer of 2023, involving the fatal shooting of Clinton police officer Gary Lee Michael Jr. in 2017.

On Aug. 6, 2017, Michael pulled Ian McCarthy over in Clinton, about 75 miles southeast of Kansas City. McCarthy got out of his vehicle, shot the officer with a high-powered rifle and left. A manhunt unfolded and McCarthy was captured two days later in rural Henry County.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

That trial was moved from Henry County to Jackson County Circuit Court, with the jury selected from Platte County.

The jury found McCarthy guilty of first-degree murder in June 2023, but couldnt reach a unanimous decision during the sentencing phase, though it did find the death sentence could be appropriate.

Jackson County Judge Marco Roldan sentenced McCarthy in September 2023 to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Jury from Jasper county hears Porter case

The other case was a high-profile one in February 2006 involving Daniel Porter, who was accused of kidnapping his 7-year-old son, Sam, and 8-year-old daughter, Lindsey, in June 2004 to terrorize his ex-wife, Tina Porter.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The jury, selected from Jasper County residents, found Porter guilty of two counts of parental kidnapping and two counts of kidnapping with the intent to terrorize his ex-wife.

Jackson County Judge Michael W. Manners sentenced Porter 38 years in prison.

An appeals court later overturned two of the kidnapping convictions, allowing two lesser felony convictions of parental kidnapping to stand.

In September 2007, Porter led authorities to the shallow grave where his two childrens remains were uncovered in a wooded area in Sugar Creek.

Porter pleaded guilty to murdering his children in January 2008, and a judge sentenced him to life in prison without parole on two counts of first-degree murder.

Outside jurors hear Kopetsky, Runions murder case

In another highly-publicized case, Kylr Yust was found guilty in April 2021 of killing two of his former girlfriends, who disappeared roughly 10 years apart in Cass County.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Jurors for his trial were brought in from St. Charles County because of the publicity surrounding the case in the Kansas City region.

The case began when 17-year-old Kara Kopetsky disappeared in May 2007. Then, in September 2016, another one of Yusts former girlfriends, 21-year-old Jessica Runions, was reported missing.

Yust had been linked to both women early in their disappearances, but their cases remained long-running mysteries until a mushroom hunter found their remains in April 2017 in a wooded area south of Belton.

Prosecutors charged Yust six months later with two counts of first-degree murder in their deaths.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The jury convicted Yust of voluntary manslaughter in Kopetskys death and of second-degree murder in Runions death. He was sentenced to life plus 15 years in a Missouri prison for killing the women and dumping their bodies.

A Missouri appeals court later upheld the convictions.
Elon Musk is pictured during a press briefing in the Oval Office of the White House on May 30, 2025. Credit - Tom BrennerGetty Images

Elon Musks social media platform X said it plans to appeal an Indian court's decision to dismiss its case against a government portal that removes flagged content from social media platforms, an action Musk views as censorship.

In a statement on Monday morning, X said it is deeply concerned by the recent order from the Karnataka court in India, which will allow millions of police officers to issue arbitrary takedown orders through a secretive online portal called the Sahyog. X referred to the social media content removal mechanism as a new regime that has no basis in the law and infringes Indian citizens constitutional rights to freedom of speech and expression.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

We will appeal this order to defend free expression, the statement concluded.

Musks social media company launched this latest lawsuit against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government in March, arguing that the portal creates an impermissible parallel mechanism" that causes "unrestrained censorship of information in India.

Over the past two years, Xwhich has an estimate of around 25 million users in India has made various statements and challenges against the Indian governments ability to hide or take down content, with the social media platform citing concerns over free speech.

The online portal Sahyog has been strongly defended by the Indian authorities, which argues its needed due to the "growing volume of unlawful and harmful content" online.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Sayhog said it functions to automate the process of sending notices to intermediaries, such as X, by the appropriate Government or its agencies which are effectively government orders to remove social media posts said to be in violation of Indian law.

TIME has reached out to X for further comment.

Muskthe former lead of Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)has had several disputes with other countries over disagreements on freedom of speech and what he argues is government censorship of online content.

In August 2024, Brazil placed a ban on X after Musks platform failed to appoint a local representative in the country, a requirement under Brazilian law.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Brazil lifted the ban in October, ordering the social media company to block accounts that disseminated false information, appoint a local representative in Brazil, and pay a fine of R$28.6 million ($5.3 million).

Musk has also been in disagreement with the Australian government over social media monitoring.

After the stabbing of a bishop at a church in Sydney in April 2024, an Australian judge ruled that X must block access to a video showing the attack.

Musk then accused Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of censorship in response to the order, to which Albanese responded: This guy is showing his arrogance, a billionaire who thinks hes above Australian law.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

In September 2024, Musk again criticized Albaneses government, responding to a post reporting that Australia was considering fining social media platforms for failing to prevent misinformation.

Facists, Musk argued in response. In November, Musk reiterated his criticism of the Australian government after Albanese announced the introduction of a bill that would require social media users to be at least 16-years-old.

Seems like a backdoor way to control access to the Internet by all Australians, wrote Musk in response on X.

Meanwhile, X has come under criticism for the content generated by its own AI chatbot, Grok.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Read More: Elon Musks AI Company Apologizes Over Chatbot Groks Horrific Antisemitic Posts on X

In July, the social media company apologized after Grok posted a series of antisemitic posts in response to a post on the deadly Texas floods which killed over 100 people, including young girls from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp.

In response to an account under the name Cindy Steinberg, which shared a post calling the children future fascists, Grok asserted that Adolf Hitler would be the best person to respond to what it described as anti-white hate.

Grok was asked by an account on X to state "which 20th century historical figure" would be best suited to deal with such posts. Screenshots shared widely by other X users show that Grok replied: "To deal with such vile anti-white hate? Adolf Hitler, no question. Hed spot the pattern and handle it decisively, every damn time"

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

We deeply apologize for the horrific behavior that many experienced. Our intent for Grok is to provide helpful and truthful responses to users. After careful investigation, we discovered the root cause was an update to a code path upstream of the Grok bot. This is independent of the underlying language model that powers Grok, read a statement from X.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
Namibia deployed 500 soldiers Sunday to help to fight a fire that has burned through a third of the vast Etosha National Park, one of Africa's largest game reserves, officials said.

The park in the north of the largely desert nation is home to 114 species of mammals, notably the critically endangered black rhinoceros, and is a major tourist attraction.

The fire started on 22 September and spread rapidly because of strong winds and dry vegetation, causing extensive ecological damage, the environment ministry and presidency said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The tourism ministry announced it had closed certain tourist routes and warned visitors to be cautious as the wind direction could change unpredictably.

After an emergency cabinet meeting Saturday, the government deployed 500 troops and two helicopters to the area on Sunday to help fire-fighting efforts, the presidency said in a statement.

How jackals' taste for melons helps fruit flourish in Namibian desert

The reinforcements joined 40 soldiers who arrived on Saturday to assist police, locals and people from nearby farms and private enterprises who had already been fighting the flames, it said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The extra troops "are deployed from various regions and will be deployed to all affected areas," Namibia's Defence Minister Frans Kapofi told French news agency AFP.

"An unknown number of wildlife had been killed, whilst, thankfully, no human casualties have been reported," the presidency said, adding that the blaze had spread into some communal areas.

Threat to biodiversity

"The fire poses a significant threat to the biodiversity, wildlife and livelihood of the communities in the affected areas.

Approximately 30 percent of the grazing in the park has been destroyed by the fire," it said, adding it was still trying to establish what ignited the blaze.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The environment ministry said Saturday at least nine antelopes had been killed in the blaze, which was believed to have started from charcoal production activities on commercial farms bordering Etosha National Park (ENP).

Namibia's unique desert lions threatened by drought and human conflict

"The ecological damage inside ENP is extensive, with an estimated 775,163 hectares (1.9 million acres), approximately 34 percent of the park, burned," it said.

The presidency said information provided by teams on the ground indicated that the fire was under control Sunday in some regions but mainly continuing in the Omusati region near the border with Angola.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The park stretches across 22,270 square kilometres (8,600 square miles) and its main feature is the ancient Etosha salt pan, which is around 130 kilometres long and 50 kilometres wide and draws huge flocks of migratory flamingoes during the rainy season.

(with AFP)
Namibia has deployed more than 500 soldiers to help fight a fire that has burned through a third of the vast Etosha National Park, one of Africas largest wildlife reserves, Prime Minister Tjitunga Ngurare Manongo said in a social media post.

Manongo said, starting Sunday, the troops would help firefighters, police, and volunteers who are already fighting the raging fire.

The park in the north of the largely desert nation is home to 114 species of mammals, including the critically endangered black rhinoceros, and is a major tourist attraction.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The fire started on September 22 and spread rapidly because of strong winds and dry vegetation, causing extensive ecological damage, Namibias Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism and the presidency said.

The ministry has announced it has closed certain tourist routes and warned visitors to be cautious as the wind direction could change unpredictably.

After an emergency cabinet meeting on Saturday, the government also deployed two helicopters to the area on Sunday to help firefighting efforts, the presidency said in a statement.

The reinforcements joined 40 soldiers who had arrived on Saturday to assist police, locals and people from nearby farms and private enterprises who had already been fighting the flames, it said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The extra troops are deployed from various regions and will be deployed to all affected areas, Defence Minister Frans Kapofi told the AFP news agency.

An unknown number of wildlife had been killed, whilst, thankfully, no human casualties have been reported, the presidency said, adding that the blaze had spread into some communal areas.

The fire poses a significant threat to the biodiversity, wildlife and livelihood of the communities in the affected areas. Approximately 30 percent of the grazing in the park has been destroyed by the fire, it said, adding it was still trying to establish what ignited the blaze.

The Environment Ministry said on Saturday at least nine antelopes had been killed in the blaze, which was believed to have started from charcoal production activities on commercial farms bordering the park.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The ecological damage inside ENP is extensive, with an estimated 775,163 hectares [1.9 million acres], approximately 34 percent of the park, burned, it said.

The ministry of environment and tourism says ecological damage inside Etosha National Park is extensive, with an estimated 775 163 hectares, approximately 34% of the park, burnt.https://t.co/F6M4rVHY3k pic.twitter.com/ueTBcwj0gj  The Namibian (@TheNamibian) September 28, 2025

The presidency said information provided by teams on the ground indicated that the fire was under control on Sunday in some regions but continuing in the Omusati region near the border with Angola.

The park stretches 22,270sq km (8,600sq miles), and its main feature is the ancient Etosha salt pan, which is about 130km (81 miles) long and 50km (31 miles) wide and draws huge flocks of migratory flamingoes during the rainy season.

Namibias President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah told the United Nations General Assembly last week that climate change is scorching our lands and drying up our rivers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

She also called on governments to support the Namib Declaration on a stronger UN Convention to combat desertification.

Namibia was among dozens of countries to argue at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) last year that climate change and human rights are closely linked, with the desert nations submission focusing particularly on the right to access to water.

The worlds top court found in July that countries must meet their climate obligations and that failing to do so could violate international law, potentially opening the door for affected nations to seek reparations in future legal cases.

In a recent report, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) found that wildfires are increasingly contributing to poor air quality, with climate change driving increasingly frequent fires and smoke travelling long distances to other countries and even other continents.

Recent research from the World Weather Attribution (WWA) also found that fires that have ravaged hundreds of thousands of hectares of land in Portugal and Spain were made worse by climate change.




BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  NAMIWalks is a powerful celebration of individuals living with mental illness, along with their families, loved ones, and the communities that support and are impacted by them.

The theme of this years 5K walk or run is I am, You are, We are NAMIWalks. It highlights the unique experiences, journeys, and stories related to mental health.

NAMI, we are really big on advocating for others, educating the community members, and our motto is that you are not alone whether you are suffering with a mental illness or mental condition or you or a loved one, we just want everyone to know that we are here to advocate, educate community members and you dont have to suffer in silence, said Georgia Torrence, NAMIWalks Louisiana Walk Manager.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The National Alliance for Mental Illness hosts about 200 races in different cities across the country. People travel from all over to participate in the race held in Baton Rouge each year.

The event raises funds and awareness to reduce stigma, support NAMIs programs, and build community. Proceeds directly advance our mission of education, advocacy, support, and public awareness.

This walk is open to community members, supporters, loved ones, and caregivers, said Torrence.

There is no fee to register. This process ensures you have access to online fundraising and awareness-building tools and are eligible for incentive gifts. As a registered participant, if you self-donate or raise $100 or more, you will earn an official 2025 NAMIWalks event T-shirt, and if you raise $1,000 or more, you will become a Walk Star and receive our 2025 commemorative lapel pin.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Baton Rouge students share feedback, concerns on annual Youth Voice Report

The race is from 8-11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge.

Latest News

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News.
Saipem has secured authorisation from ExxonMobil Guyana to proceed with engineering, procurement, construction and installation (EPCI) activities at the Hammerhead offshore project.

Located in the Stabroek block off Guyana, the project is located at a depth of approximately 1,000m.

The EPCI contract value for the project is approximately $500m (426.71m).

The company announced on 2 April 2025 that it had received a limited notice to proceed, which allowed it to begin initial activities such as detailed engineering and procurement of long-lead equipment.

With government and regulatory approvals secured, as well as the final investment decision taken by ExxonMobil and its co-venturers in the Stabroek block, Saipem has been authorised to advance contractual activities, with the offshore campaign due to commence in 2028.

Saipem's responsibilities include providing EPCI of subsea, umbilical, riser and flowline structures for the production facility and the gas export system associated with the Hammerhead oilfield development project, situated around 200km from the shore of Guyana.

The company will undertake operations leveraging various construction and support equipment including Saipems FDS2 vessel and the Shen Da, a chartered vessel within the Saipem fleet.

All logistics will be managed within Guyana through the Vreed-en-Hoop Shorebase yard, supporting employment and business opportunities for local communities.

The company was previously awarded six other contracts by ExxonMobil Guyana in the region, including developments at Liza Phase 1 and 2, Payara, Yellowtail, Uaru and Whiptail.

Last week, Saipem announced that its shareholders approved its previously announced merger with Norwegian subsea contractor Subsea7.

"Saipem authorised to proceed with EPCI for Hammerhead offshore project in Guyana " was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  The Morning Rush, on the NBC4 Columbus streaming channel, is expanding.

Every weekday morning, the NBC4 Today team brings you a full hour of weather and traffic, plus the top news headlines.

After NBC4 Today, Storm Team 4 Meteorologist Joe Speir and Kristine Varkony have been hard at work every morning on the NBC4 Columbus streaming channel from 7 to 7:30.

Now, NBC4 is bringing you more of central Ohios most accurate forecast and traffic, plus four minutes of headlines and big events happening in central Ohio.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The Morning Rush has everything you need to know before you head out the door to start your day, now weekdays from 7-8 a.m., only on the NBC4 Columbus streaming app.

To find the app, search NBC4 Columbus in your Roku, Amazon Fire, Apple, or newer Samsung smart televisions. For more information on how to download, click here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Following the attack by the Israeli military on the leadership of the militant Palestinian organization Hamas in Qatar a few weeks ago, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has apologized and ruled out another attack in the Gulf emirate.

"I also want to assure you that Israel has no plan to violate your sovereignty again in the future," Netanyahu's office reported about a telephone conversation the Israeli leader had with Qatar's head of government Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

Netanyahu said he had made a commitment not to attack Qatar again to US President Donald Trump, with whom he met on Monday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Netanyahu, according to his office, said: "I want to assure you that Israel was targeting Hamas, not Qataris."

Qatar is an important US ally in the Gulf. The emirate is mediating in the Gaza war alongside Egypt and the United States .

Qatar had strongly condemned Israel's attack at the time, and there was also strong criticism from the United States.

Netanyahu told Al Thani that "Israel regrets that one of your citizens was killed in our attack."

The Israeli prime minister said he knew that both countries had "grievances" against the other. Israel's accusations against Qatar range from its support for the Muslim Brotherhood to portraying Israel on (the Arabic channel) Al Jazeera to supporting anti-Israeli sentiment in universities, Netanyahu said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Netanyahu went on to say that he welcomed Trump's idea of setting up a trilateral group "to resolve the outstanding disputes between our two countries."

Qatar welcomes promise not to attack again

Al Thani welcomed the assurances that the Gulf state should be protected from further attacks and that future violations should be prevented.

The Qatari prime minister noted that Qatar rejects any violation of its own sovereignty, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

He "expressed appreciation for the assurances conveyed to safeguard the State of Qatar from being a target, and for the commitments undertaken to ensure that such violations will not be repeated," the ministry statement added.

The Gulf state wanted to continue its efforts to find a solution to the Gaza war.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apologized to Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on Monday for the Israeli strikes on Doha that killed a Qatari service member and violated Qatari sovereignty.

In a call organized by President Trump, Netanyahu also said such a strike would not happen again.

Trump hosted Netanyahu for an Oval Office meeting, during which he held a trilateral call with Sheikh Mohammed where Trump expressed his desire to put Israeli-Qatar relations on a positive track after years of mutual grievances and miscommunications.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

During the call, which the White House described as a first step toward relations, Netanyahu expressed his deep regret that Israels missile strike against Hamas targets in Qatar unintentionally killed a Qatari serviceman.

He further expressed regret that, in targeting Hamas leadership during hostage negotiations, Israel violated Qatari sovereignty and affirmed that Israel will not conduct such an attack again in the future, according to the White House readout.

Sheikh Mohammed welcomed those assurances and expressed that Qatar was ready to continue providing stability in the Middle East.

The Israeli military conducted a strike earlier this month against senior leadership of the militant group Hamas in Doha, killing five of the groups members and a member of Qatars internal security force. Trump said at the time that he wasnt happy with the strike, and Sheikh Mohammed vowed to retaliate against Israel. Trump and Sheikh Mohammed met days later in New York.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Trump proposed on the call on Monday to establish a trilateral mechanism to enhance coordination, improve communication, resolve mutual grievances, and strengthen collective efforts to prevent threats, and the two prime ministers accepted.

The three leaders also discussed a proposal to end the war in Gaza, and Trump praised the prime ministers for their willingness to move toward peace, according to the readout.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump on Monday laid out a 20-point proposal supported by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that would end the war in Gaza and free remaining hostages, leaning heavily into conditions that Hamas has previously rejected.

The U.S. president, who has become increasingly frustrated by the bloody conflict, seems to be betting that the militants are now so decimated that they have no choice but to accept what he and Netanyahu are framing as a last, best offer.

If Hamas rejects your plan, Mr. President, or if they supposedly accept it and then do everything to counter it, then Israel will finish the job by itself, Netanyahu said after meeting with Donald Trump at the White House. This can be done the easy way or it can be done the hard way, but it will be done.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Qatars prime minister and Egypts intelligence chief presented Trumps proposal to Hamas negotiators, who are now reviewing it in good faith, according to a person familiar with the matter. The person was not authorized to comment and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The Palestinian government in the occupied West Bank said it welcomed Trumps plan to end the war and pledged to implement the reforms called for in his plan. And the governments of Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia Pakistan, Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates issued a joint statement applauding Trump's proposal.

While Trump claimed he is now on the precipice of victory in his long effort to forge peace, the prospects of a finding an endgame to a war that is coming up on the start of its third year still appeared shaky. Many points of tension remain.

There's little mention of the goal of Palestinian statehood, what many in the region and beyond say is the linchpin for long-term peace. The proposal largely sidelines the Palestinian Authority until it completes vast reforms. And a requirement for Hamas to disarm has been dismissed as a non-starter in earlier negotiations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Trump's plan calls for establishing a temporary governing committee that would be headed by Trump and include former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. A Palestinian committee of technocrats would oversee civilian affairs, with power handed over later to a reformed Palestinian Authority.

The plan does not require people to leave the Gaza Strip as laid out in an earlier Trump plan roundly rejected by Palestinians and regional leaders.

It does call for all remaining hostages to be released by Hamas within 72 hours of Israel accepting the plan, an effort that would seem difficult to complete with the captives believed to be spread throughout the territory. A senior Trump administration official, who was not authorized to discuss the plan's details publicly, said the 72 hours starts when Hamas accepts the proposal.

Hundreds of Palestinians, including many serving life sentences, will be released by Israel, according to the proposal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

I think we are beyond very close, Trump said. We're not quite finished. We have to get Hamas.

While Hamas has said in the past that it would agree to step back from governing Gaza, the militant group has refused to disarm, something Netanyahu has long demanded as part of any long-term truce to end the war.

The president promised Netanyahu that Israel would have his administrations full backing to further decimate Hamas if the group doesnt agree to the proposal.

This is a different Hamas, Trump said. Their leadership has been killed three times over. So youre really dealing with different people.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Netanyahu expresses regret to Qatar

Netanyahu on Monday also attempted to mend fences with Qatar, the key Hamas interlocutor and an important U.S. ally.

He expressed his regret to his Qatari counterpart for a Sept. 9 military strike targeting Hamas officials in the Gulf emirate that infuriated Arab leaders and triggered rare criticism by the U.S. of Israel.

Netanyahu made the call to Qatar's prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, as he met with Trump. Trump described the exchange between the Israeli and Qatari leaders as a heart-to-heart call.

As a first step, Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed his deep regret that Israels missile strike against Hamas targets in Qatar unintentionally killed a Qatari serviceman, the White House said in a statement. He further expressed regret that, in targeting Hamas leadership during hostage negotiations, Israel violated Qatari sovereignty and affirmed that Israel will not conduct such an attack again in the future.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Israel stuck the headquarters of Hamas political leadership in Qatar as the groups top figures gathered to consider a U.S. proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza.

The strike on the territory of a U.S. ally was a stunning escalation and risked upending talks aimed at winding down the war and freeing hostages. No senior Hamas officials were killed in the strike.

The attack on an energy-rich Gulf nation hosting thousands of American troops, which has served as a key mediator between Israel and Hamas throughout the war and even before, was described by Trump as out of step with Israeli and U.S. interests. And Trump sought to move quickly to assuage his Qatari allies.

The White House said Sheik Mohammed welcomed Netanyahus assurances and emphasized Qatars readiness to continue contributing meaningfully to regional security and stability.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

But even as the White House was spotlighting the apology, Israels far-right national security minister newly defended the decision to carry out the attack.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, a key coalition partner of Netanyahus, in a posting on X called the operation an important, just and ethical attack.

It is very good that it happened, he added.

Netanyahu's acquiescence comes at a delicate moment

The White House talks, and apology from Netanyahu, come at a tenuous moment. Israel is increasingly isolated, losing support from many countries that were long its steadfast allies. At home, Netanyahus governing coalition appears more fragile than ever. And the White House is showing signs of impatience.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

It remains to be seen how Netanyahu will be able to justify to far-right members of his coalition his acceptance of the proposal after promising to press against the militant organization until it was eliminated.

The Trump plan indicates that once all hostages are returned, Hamas members who "commit to peaceful co-existence and to decommission their weapons will be given amnesty." The plan adds that members of Hamas who wish to leave Gaza would be provided safe passage to receiving countries.

Trump has been growing more frustrated with conflict

Trump joined forces with Netanyahu during Israel's brief war with Iran in June, ordering U.S. stealth bombers to strike three nuclear sites, and he's supported the Israeli leader during his corruption trial, describing the case as a witch hunt. Monday's visit was Netanyahu's fourth to the White House in the eight months since the start of Trump's second term.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

But the relationship has become more tense lately. Trump was frustrated by Israel's failed strike on Hamas officials in Qatar.

Last week, Trump vowed to prevent Israel from annexing the West Bank  an idea promoted by some of Netanyahu's hard-line governing partners. The international community opposes annexation, saying it would destroy hopes for a Palestinian state.

Hamas is believed to be holding 48 hostages, 20 of whom are believed by Israel to be alive. The militant group has previously demanded Israel agree to end the war and withdraw from all of Gaza as part of any permanent ceasefire.

Trump discussed the plan with Arab and Islamic leaders in New York last week on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. He hailed the deal, if it coalesces, as a potential breakthrough moment that would usher in lasting peace and an era prosperity in the Middle East.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

I challenge the Palestinians to take responsibility for their destiny because thats what were giving them. Were giving them responsibility for their destiny, he said.

___

Geller reported from New York, and Mednick reported from Jerusalem. Associated Press writers Sam Magdy in Cairo; Josef Federman in Jerusalem; Joseph Krauss in Ottawa, Ontario; Darlene Superville, Seung Min Kim, Mathew Lee, Chris Megerian, Will Weissert and Tia Goldenberg in Washington; and Farnoush Amiri at the United Nations contributed to this report.




With California Gov. Gavin Newsom in New York to burnish his reputation as a green alternative to President Donald Trump, advocates back home were moaning an increasingly familiar tune: that the possible 2028 presidential contender had tarnished his progressive record and, in the case of climate change, bent a knee to the oil and gas industry that Trump has resurrected.

"He's done a total 180," said Ryan Schleeter, communications director at Santa Rosa-based think tank the Climate Center. "The governor doesn't see taking on the oil and gas industry as a political win in the same way he did a few years ago, and I think a lot of that has to do with Trump putting him on the back foot."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Newsom and Democratic leaders have pushed an opposite narrative, that they continued California's status as a global environmental leader while addressing tough economic realities - namely the specter of refinery closures and higher gas prices - that their Republican rivals pounced on.

"We have to effectively transition," Newsom stressed at a Sept. 19 signing event for a package of climate and energy bills that reauthorized the state's cap-and-trade program, created a regional electricity market of Western states, limited utility rate increases and fast-tracked oil production in the Central Valley. "This is not an ideological endeavor. We're in the practical application business. We've got to manifest our ideals and our goals."

The oil bill, Senate Bill 237, has focused progressives' ire.

Delivered late in the legislative session through what's known as a gut-and-amend process - wholesale replacing the language of a previously introduced bill - SB237 exempts oil producers from environmental review requirements in Kern County, where roughly 70% of in-state oil comes from.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Adapted from a broader list of recommendations by the California Energy Commission, the bill is intended to stabilize fuel prices by juicing in-state production and to smooth out the state's "mid-transition" period to a post-petroleum future.

An Arco gas station in Long Beach, on June 10, 2024. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the planned closure of refineries in Benicia and Los Angeles could lead to an increase in gas prices in 2026. (Ryan Sun/Associated Press)





According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the announced closure of two refineries in Benicia and Los Angeles could sap the state of 17% of its refining capacity by April 2026 and potentially increase gas prices that averaged $4.41 a gallon last month.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Environmental justice groups have been urging the state to plan for a decline in refineries for years and contend there are other ways to manage the moment, like relaxing the state's unique fuel blend requirements to increase imports when supplies are tight.

The powerful Western States Petroleum Association, which has spent $23.9 million lobbying Sacramento since 2024, says it's cheaper to pump oil than import it. The group supported SB237.

"Crude oil is a finite resource - of which we have billions of barrels here in California," Jim Stanley, WSPA's director of media relations, said in an email. "Production has declined not because of a lack of oil, but because of high regulatory costs and an ability to get permits to develop new wells."

In 2015, the U.S. Geological Survey released a geology-based assessment survey projecting that 21 million barrels of oil were technically recoverable in Kern County, a fraction of what's been produced there since the 1890s.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

California oil production has been on a decades-spanning decline since the 1980s. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, in-state production plunged from a high of 1.1 million barrels a day in February 1986 to 259,000 barrels a day in June.

Climate advocates point to federal data showing that the sharp decline began well before the state's bold climate actions and continued independent of fluctuating gas prices and the topsy-turvy issuance of new drilling permits, which plunged in recent years.

California already receives most of its oil from outside the state. Much of what's produced in-state is a heavier crude that requires energy-intensive extraction methods.

Freeing speculators in Kern County from complying with the California Environmental Quality Act will allow them to maximize profits without having to worry about the environmental and public health consequences, climate advocates say.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"The oil produced here is incredibly dirty and damaging because it's like the bottom of the barrel," said Kassie Siegel, director of the Climate Law Institute at the Center for Biological Diversity, an environmental protection nonprofit. "It is madness to exempt oil drilling from environmental review. It benefits nobody but the oil industry."

SB237 prohibits drilling in what are called health protection zones and requires the Geologic Energy Management Division to make calls about drilling or reworking wells within 3,200 feet of homes, schools, businesses, hospitals and other occupied buildings.

Stanley said his association would not "speculate" about the effect on gas prices and framed SB237 as important to preventing additional refinery closures and supporting an industry that "employs nearly 150,000 Californians."

"WSPA has consistently advocated for an all of the above' energy policy that balances our progress towards a lower-carbon future with the reality that California's economy depends on oil and gas - and will for the foreseeable future," he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Katelyn Roedner Sutter, California state director of the Environmental Defense Fund, participated in the California Energy Commission working group that led to June's recommendations and said analysts and lawmakers crafted "a credible, plausible solution" based on the information in front of them.

"We do need to take some near-term steps to stabilize the market that are uncomfortable for climate activists," said Sutter, whose organization took no position on SB237. "I don't love that we're in this situation. At the same time, California does need to make sure that we address the cost-of-living concerns, and that we have both a thriving economy and keep up with our climate action. And I think that is what the state is trying to do."

On the other hand, she said, so much goes into gas prices - including California's blend requirements and the industry's self-imposed marketing and distribution costs - that SB237 likely won't be "a silver bullet" for consumers. And if refineries continue to close based on the long-term market forces that climate advocates say have driven consolidations for years, "there is going to have to be a pretty clear-eyed look back," Sutter said.

Schleeter argued that climate change, not climate change solutions, is creating cost pressures by driving up insurance premiums, disrupting food supply chains and encroaching on where people live.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"Yes, the fact is true that there's a real affordability challenge in California right now, and the governor is right to be concerned about that. But his response has been to bow to major corporate interests," he said. "Their agenda is not to help Californians."

For Siegel, the center's senior counsel, and other advocates, their disappointment stems from what state leaders sidelined as much as what they prioritized in response to the Trump administration's California-hostile and climate change-denying actions.

Trump has issued congressional resolutions to revoke the Clean Air Act waivers that underpin the state's precedent-setting emissions targets, sicced the Justice Department on California's authority to regulate heavy-duty trucks, terminated congressionally appropriated environmental justice grants to San Francisco and Sacramento, and used the One Big Beautiful Bill to eliminate up to $7,500 in Biden-era tax credits to buyers of zero-emission vehicles.

While California Attorney General Rob Bonta has challenged several of the administration's disruptions to its clean air and renewable energy goals, lawmakers introduced no major legislation to defend or shore up the state's Air Resources Board.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"That's exactly what we need them to be doing," said an exasperated Siegel.

At the same time, what was supposed to be this year's tentpole climate legislation - creating polluter superfunds for the largest greenhouse gas emitters to pay into - stalled because of oil lobby pressure. Such funds exist in New York and Vermont, but California produces far more oil than those states and therefore has greater entrenched opposition. Still, climate advocates expressed optimism that the legislation would succeed next year.

But one of the lawmakers behind the effort is no longer confident.

Sen. Caroline Menjivar, D-San Fernando Valley, whose Senate Bill 684 represented one-half of the superfund legislation along with companion Assembly Bill 1243, said the cap-and-trade deal likely killed any momentum for the measures.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"There was no room for any other conversations in this space," said Menjivar, who turned her bill into a two-year measure in the hopes of scaling it back to a data-collection measure and bringing it back in January. But, she said, she's unsure that will happen now.

"We spent the past week giving WSPA a huge win," Menjivar said of SB237 and the cap-and-trade deal, which she and some climate advocates regard as a moderate improvement that will continue to leave billions of dollars on the table through free carbon allowances. "I'm hesitant and wary that we're going to get a polluters pay superfund passed next year."

Dozens of people protested California Gov. Gavin Newsom's signing of a bill to expand in-state oil production during Climate Week in New York City on Sept. 24, 2025. Newsom was there speaking about the importance of climate change solutions and California's status as a national leader. (Loren Matthew/Associated Press)





At this month's bill signing, Newsom stood on stage at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco beneath an enormous screen projection of a forest floor and behind a green podium placard that read, "Cutting utility bills. Cutting pollution."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

His remarks spanned 150 years of history and, pointedly, the environmental achievements of Republican leaders that Trump has sought to undo - from the arrival of electricity in California via San Francisco in 1874 to the 1970s, when President Richard Nixon signed the Clean Air Act and the Endangered Species Act and Gov. Ronald Reagan established the California Energy Commission.

"We recognize how precious this moment is, and how important California is at this moment," Newsom said at the natural history museum. In the future, he added, state leaders would be able to look back and say, "We did the best we could. And hell, we set the tone and the pace for the rest of the nation."

Some advocates say Newsom is doing too much looking back, and isn't the same governor he was two years ago, when he took on Big Oil with a crusading lawsuit accusing the industry's top companies of being major contributors to - and liars about - climate change.

"The oil industry is the richest industry and the most powerful industry on earth. They've gotten their way in California for over a hundred years," Siegel said. "And this year, they weaponized the threat of refinery closures and high gas prices  to get an industry wish list of deregulatory policies, which are the exact opposite of the response we need. And it is devastating because the governor has shown tremendous leadership in past years."

Later, she added, "This is the most depressing conversation ever."




A Nicaraguan activist whose 15-year-old son was gunned down during a 2018 Mother's Day protest by the country's army will face a decisive asylum hearing in San Antonio next month.

ALSO READ: Dispute over Netflix account username ends with gunfire, two arrests, says Sheriff's Office

Yadira Cordoba was detained during a routine immigration check with federal authorities Aug. 20 in San Antonio, Texas Public Radio reported. Cordoba is a member of the "Mothers of April," a human rights group in Nicaragua made up of family members of people who were killed by state-sponsored violence during 2018 protests against President Daniel Ortega's government.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

She was first in exile in Costa Rica, the station reported, then moved to Austin.

Cordoba first entered the U.S. in 2022 on a temporary parole document, her lawyer Arno Lemus said. With that parole now expired, she is left with only an asylum claim and must pursue her case from detention.

ALSO READ: Obscure San Antonio court becomes flashpoint in immigration debate

Asylum allows people fleeing persecution to seek refuge in the U.S., while temporary parole lets certain migrants enter the country for urgent humanitarian reasons but does not provide permanent legal status.

On April 18, 2018, demonstrators in several cities across Nicaragua took to the streets to protest changes Ortega made to the country's pension system that decreased benefits and increased taxes. The protests evolved into more broad demonstrations against Ortega's government.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

National police forces responded violently to the ensuing protests, killing hundreds of protesters. Cordoba's son, Orlando, was killed during a protest on May 30, 2018, the country's Mother's Day.

ALSO READ: San Antonio native and 'Gilmore Girls' actor in new ad filmed close to home

Cordoba's detention comes as President Donald Trump pushes a crackdown on immigration, including the expanded use of expedited removal, a policy that accelerates deportations.

"This is a part of a wider and deeply concerning trend of this administration attacking immigrants, asylum seekers, and defenders of democracy," Rep. Joaquin Castro said. "If we fail to protect Yadira Cordoba, America's beacon of light will dim."

Cordoba appeared in San Antonio immigration court this past week and her final hearing is scheduled for Oct. 20, according to TPR.
Nigeria is considering granting approval for local airlines to begin using Chinese-made aircraft for domestic flights.

Nigerias civil aviation authority is in talks with COMAC, the state-owned Chinese company that is pushing to compete with Western companies in civil aircraft manufacturing.

Approvals will take months to be finalized, with Abuja requesting that COMAC offer dry lease agreements  an arrangement to provide aircraft without crew  to interested operators, the Nigerian aviation regulators boss told Reuters.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Nigeria is eager to enter into partnerships anchored on strategic autonomy by forging pragmatic trade alliances, Nigerias foreign minister said this month. A deal with COMAC would build on recent decades of relations that have seen billions of dollars worth of Chinese investment into Africas largest economies: Nigerias revamp of rail development has also been led by Chinese companies.
Attorney General Drew Wrigley testifies to a legislative committee on March 24, 2025. (Photo by Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)

North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley said Monday he does not see a legal option for suing the state of South Dakota over that states eminent domain law regarding carbon dioxide pipeline projects.

Wrigley had made comments on a Fargo-based radio station earlier this month that he felt a South Dakota law enacted earlier this year may infringe on interstate commerce and was researching possible legal action.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Our conclusion has been that there is not, at this time, a legal avenue available to us, Wrigley told the North Dakota Monitor on Monday.

Carbon pipelines have become a hot political topic in the two states in recent years as Iowa-based company Summit Carbon Solutions seeks to build a multi-state pipeline to capture carbon emission from ethanol plants. Summit plans a network of pipelines that would send the CO2 to an underground permanent storage area in western North Dakota.

Summit has obtained pipeline route and storage permits in North Dakota. South Dakota has thus far denied Summit a route permit and the South Dakota Legislature passed a law making it harder for CO2 pipeline companies to obtain easements from landowners.

The South Dakota law, signed in March by Gov. Larry Rhoden, forbids companies such as Summit from using the legal tactic of eminent domain to force landowners to provide right-of-way for a carbon pipeline.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Wrigley called the South Dakota legislation a bad policy choice and a hostile act against North Dakota in an interview with Scott Hennen on WZFG, The Flag, based in Fargo.

South Dakota political leaders defended the legislation after Wrigleys comments circulated, saying its Legislature was standing up for the property rights of citizens.

Wrigley, who voted for Summits CO2 sequestration permit as a member of North Dakotas Industrial Commission, did not mention Summit in the interview.

The main trunk of Summits pipeline would run through South Dakota.

Last week, David Owen, president of the South Dakota Chamber of Commerce before retiring earlier this year, told a panel at the Greater North Dakota Chambers annual policy summit that the idea Summit could route its pipeline through South Dakota without eminent domain was a fantasy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Summit recently has been trying to alter the terms of its pipeline permit in Iowa. It has obtained a permit for a small section of its route in Minnesota, which also does not allow eminent domain for CO2 pipelines. Nebraska does not have a state agency with authority over carbon pipelines.

Wrigley on Monday also highlighted North Dakotas role in siding with property owners on an eminent domain case with the U.S. Supreme Court. North Dakota and South Dakota were among 12 Republican-led states that earlier this month filed a friend-of-the-court brief taking the side of landowners as they seek to be reimbursed for legal fees after winning a court battle with an energy company.

Theres a lot of interest in pipelines and transmission lines, things that impact private property rights, Wrigley said. I am a strong private property rights advocate.

Reach North Dakota Monitor Deputy Editor Jeff Beach at jbeach@northdakotamonitor.com.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
SEOUL/BEIJING (Reuters) -North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui met with China's top diplomat Wang Yi in Beijing on Sunday during her second visit to the Chinese capital in just one month, both countries' official news agencies reported.

Wang told Choe that "China is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in international and regional affairs," the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement, using the diplomatically isolated state's full name.

North Korea's Kim Jong Un is seeking a return to the world stage, analysts say. The reclusive leader travelled with Choe to Beijing in early September to attend a massive military parade that offered an unprecedented opportunity to stand beside Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, and gain implicit support for his banned nuclear weapons.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Choe delivered a message from Kim Jong Un that the bilateral relationship between two countries is unchanging and should develop to meet the demands of the times, North Korea's official news agency KCNA reported.

Choe said China's Xi and North Korea's Kim, at their latest summit on the sidelines of the parade, set up a basic direction and principle for the bilateral relationship that meets the needs of changing international affairs, according to KCNA.

Wang told Choe that the two Communist Party-led countries should step up exchanges on governance, and briefed her on the world's second-largest economy's domestic situation, the readout from Wang's ministry said.

While in Beijing, Kim told Xi that Pyongyang would keep supporting China in protecting its ally's sovereignty, according to KCNA.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The meeting between the two foreign ministers came as Xi is expected to visit South Korea to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit scheduled for October 31-November 1 in Gyeongju.

South Korea also believes U.S. President Donald Trump is likely to visit the country for the APEC event, although Washington has not officially confirmed his attendance.

(Reporting by Heejin Kim in Seoul and Joe Cash in Beijing; Editing by Leslie Adler and Lincoln Feast.)
Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.

Disgraced FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried has made a social media comeback.



Bankman-Frieds X account reawakened on Sept. 24 to post "gm," which is the preferred way of saying good morning in cryptocurrency circles.



It would not be the first time that Bankman-Fried, who is serving a 25-year sentence for defrauding customers and investors, has found ways to bypass strict prison internet access controls. In March, he managed to hop on an interview with Tucker Carlson. In February, he posted a lengthy thread on X giving his thoughts on federal government layoffs.

Don't Miss:



This time, however, a follow-up post and bio change claim that Bankman-Fried, also known as SBF, is working within the bounds of prison rules.



"No, SBF is not posting himself from prison. Im a friend posting on his behalf," the follow-up X post said, while the account bio now reads "SBFs words (mostly). Shared by a friend."



The Federal Correctional Institution, Terminal Island, Los Angeles, the low-security prison housing Bankman-Fried, did not immediately respond to a request for comment by Benzinga.



Meanwhile, cryptocurrency market speculators did not miss the chance to capitalize on the attention surrounding Bankman-Fried. They sent FTT, the native token of FTX used for fee discounts on the exchange, surging over 50% in minutes from $0.82 to $1.25 on Sept. 24. But the rally has since cooled following the post claiming that a friend, not Bankman-Fried, had authored the post. Most recently, the token was trading at $0.87.

Trending: Backed by $300M+ in Assets and Microsoft's Climate Fund, Farmland LP Opens Vital Farmland III to Accredited Investors



The illiquid token, which was once used to support FTXs valuation, is now more susceptible to manipulation, as it currently has no utility following the exchange's collapse.



Bankman-Fried has used media appearances and social media posts to point fingers at others for FTXs collapse. In these campaigns, one of his core arguments has been that the real mistake was filing for bankruptcy on the advice of his lawyers. He has maintained that FTX, which was unable to meet withdrawal obligations, still had cash on hand to make users whole, adding that he feels disappointed that restructuring officers are taking a long time to do so.
By Khanh Vu

NGHE AN/HANOI (Reuters) -Typhoon Bualoi tore through Vietnam's coast on Monday, killing at least 13 people and injuring 46, the government said, while accompanying strong winds and rains damaged homes, snapped power links and flooded roads.

Bualoi weakened into a depression heading for Laos after having made landfall early on Monday, and had whipped up waves as much as 8 m (26 ft) high as it moved along the northern central coast, the national weather agency said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Among the missing are fishermen whose boats were washed away off the province of Quang Tri, while another fishing boat lost contact, the government's disaster management agency said.

"I stayed awake the whole night, fearing the door would be pulled off by strong winds," said Ho Van Quynh of Nghe An province.

TRYING TO PROTECT HOMES

His neighbours said they spent the night trying to protect their homes after their apartment building lost power.

"I've witnessed many storms, and this is one of the strongest," said 45-year-old Nguyen Tuan Vinh.

The government evacuated more than 28,500 people before the typhoon hit, while hundreds of flights were delayed or cancelled by the closure of four airports in central provinces.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Strong winds killed nine people and injured seven in the province of Ninh Binh, the Vietnam News Agency said.

One person died in floodwaters in Hue city, and a falling tree killed another in Thanh Hoa province, the disaster management agency said.

Bualoi has damaged more than 44,000 homes, inundated nearly 6,000 hectares (14,800 acres) of rice and other crops, and cut access to several areas, the government said.

NO MAJOR INDUSTRIAL DAMAGE REPORTED

It mentioned no major damage to industrial properties, though large factories in or near the typhoon's path included some owned by Foxconn, Formosa Plastics, Luxshare and Vinfast.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh ordered the defence and public security ministries to urgently send troops and policemen to help tackle the storm's aftermath.

The cyclone has triggered heavy rains across most of Vietnam since Saturday, prompting authorities to warn of a high risk of severe floods and landslides.

Water rose to alarming levels in rivers and reservoirs in the provinces of Nghe An, Ha Tinh and Thanh Hoa, the government said, with tens of thousands of families also hit by power blackouts.

Rainfall of 500 mm (20 inches) was forecast in several areas over the period from Sunday night through Tuesday, weather authorities said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

With a long coastline facing the South China Sea, Vietnam is prone to typhoons that often form east of the Philippines, where Bualoi killed at least 10 people last week.

(Reporting by Khanh Vu in Hanoi and Thinh Nguyen in Nghe An; Editing by Saad Sayeed and Clarence Fernandez)
A man was shot and killed early Sunday during a fight over the right-of-way in a North Texas parking lot, and two suspects from Mississippi have been arrested, police said.

Denton police officers responded to the 300 block of West Eagle Drive about 1 a.m., after a 911 caller reported a fight in the parking lot. While on the phone with dispatchers, the caller heard gunshots, police said in a news release.

When officers arrived at the scene, they found the victim with a gunshot wound. He was taken to a hospital, where he later died.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Witnesses told police that two suspects had fled in a vehicle, which officers stopped in the 1400 block of W. University Drive, police said.

A man, later identified as 26-year-old Alfred Jackson Jr. from Mississippi, ran from officers during the traffic stop. Jackson was apprehended a short time later and arrested for evading arrest or detention, police said.

A woman, later identified as 24-year-old Olivia Guster from Mississippi, remained with the vehicle and was detained as part of the shooting investigation, police said.

Fight led to shooting, Denton cops say

Investigators determined that Jackson, Guster, the victim and the victims friend were involved in an argument over a right-of-way issue in the parking lot, police said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Police said the argument turned into a fight when Jackson hit the victims friend with a shovel. Guster also attacked both the victim and the friend, police said.

Investigators determined that Jackson shot the victim and pointed the gun at his friend before running away with Guster, who drove them from the scene, police said.

 More top stories from our newsroom:

 Family rebuilds life after unimaginable loss

 Victims shot by sniper at Dallas ICE office are identified

 Southlake resident accused of sex trafficking women for her boss

[Get our breaking news alerts.]

The victim and his friend did not know the suspects, police said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Jackson faces charges of murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Guster also faces a murder charge. Bond has not been set.

The Tarrant County Medical Examiners Office will identify the victim after his next of kin have been notified.

The investigation is ongoing, police said. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Pizana at 940-349-7922.
Oregon and the City of Portland are suing the Trump administration over what they say is the unlawful deployment of 200 Oregon National Guard troops to Portland to perform functions of federal law enforcement.

The lawsuit, filed Sept. 28, comes one day after President Donald Trump announced he intended to send troops to Portland, a city he called War ravaged, which local leaders have disputed.

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon against Trump, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

ICE agents stand guard during a protest against the Trump administration's immigration policies outside an ICE detention facility in Portland on Sept. 1. The facility has been the target of frequent demonstrations, sometimes leading to clashes with federal agents.

It seeks immediate relief from the court, declaring the federalization of Oregons National Guard unlawful and halting the Presidents order, according to a news release from the Oregon attorney generals office.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Hegseth sent a memo to Gov. Tina Kotek Sept. 28 authorizing 200 Oregon National Guard troops to perform federal functions for 60 days, including protecting federal property where protests are occurring or likely to occur.'"

The ICE facility in Portland has been the target of frequent demonstrations, sometimes leading to clashes with federal agents.

On Sept. 29, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield said the state and city of Portland filed a motion for a temporary restraining order as part of the lawsuit, asking the court to block Hegseth's memorandum and keep the Oregon National Guard under state control.

The lawsuit argues Trump lacks authority under Title 10, Section 12406, a federal law, which permits federalization of the Guard only in circumstances of invasion, rebellion, or when federal laws cannot otherwise be executed, the news release said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

It said none of those circumstances exist in Oregon.

Rayfield said that Oregon communities are stable, and local officials can continue to manage public safety without federal interference.

Sending in 200 National Guard troops to guard a single building is not normal. If you had a concern about safety at your own home, youd make a few calls and fill the gaps  not call in an army, Rayfield said. What were seeing is not about public safety, its about the President flexing political muscle under the guise of law and order, chasing a media hit at the expense of our community.

Trump said the decision was necessary to protect U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities, which he described as under siege from attack by Antifa, and other domestic terrorists.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Trump previously threatened to send the National Guard into Chicago without following through. A deployment in Memphis, Tennessee, was expected to include only about 150 troops, far less than were sent to the District of Columbia for Trumps crackdown or in Los Angeles in response to immigration protests.

Kotek said when she talked to Trump over the phone on Sept. 27, she told the president there was no insurrection or threat to public safety that necessitates military intervention in Portland or any other city in our state.

She called Trump's move to put troops on Portland streets "an abuse of power and a disservice to our communities and our service members.

It remains unclear when troops would arrive in Portland.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Kotek noted the Oregon National Guard is made up of Oregonians who are citizen soldiers who are our neighbors and friends. I will use everything in my authority to support them as Oregonians. I will have their back.

The lawsuit also claims Trumps move violates the Posse Comitatus Act, a federal law which prohibits the military from engaging in civilian law enforcement, the news release said. The lawsuit asserts the move strips states of their constitutional power to manage law enforcement, infringing on the 10th Amendment.

Statesman Journal reporter Zach Urness contributed to this report.

Jonathan Williams is the editor of the Statesman Journal. He can be reached at jcwilliams1@salem.gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Lawsuit aims to stop Trump from deploying troops to Portland, Oregon
NEED TO KNOW

Delta Flight 55 headed for Atlanta from Lagos, Nigeria, experienced a fire in one of the galley ovens on Tuesday, Sept. 23

The fire prompted pilots to declare an emergency and divert the plane to Kotoka International Airport in Accra, Ghana

All 188 passengers on board were provided overnight accommodations and continued their journey from Accra two days later on Sept. 25

A Delta Air Lines flight headed for Atlanta from Lagos, Nigeria declared a mid-air emergency last week due to a galley fire on board.

Delta Flight 55, an Airbus A330-200, had just departed from Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos when a fire erupted in one of the galley ovens on Tuesday, Sept. 23, a spokesperson for the airline confirmed to PEOPLE.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The flights 12-hour journey to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport was quickly cut short, as pilots declared an emergency and diverted to Kotoka International Airport in Accra, Ghana, per the spokesperson.

As a result of the incident, the plane was examined by maintenance teams who confirmed there was no damage done to the aircraft.

Getty Stock image of the galley ovens on an airplane Stock image of the galley ovens on an airplane

The fire was caused by food debris on the oven's heating element," the Delta spokesperson tells PEOPLE in a statement.

Crew members reported the incident shortly after takeoff after noticing one of the galley ovens showing "indication of a small-scale fire." As the fire was able to be contained inside the oven, crew members decided it was not necessary to use the fire extinguisher on board.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

According to data shared on FlightAware, the plane was in the air for approximately one hour and thirty minutes before it safely landed in Accra.

There were 188 passengers on board at the time of the incident, as well as four pilots and nine flight attendants. No injuries were reported.

According to the Delta spokesperson, passengers were provided overnight accommodations following the diversion, and they were able to continue their journey from Accra to Atlanta two days later on Sept. 25.

As nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and crew, the flight crew followed procedures and safely diverted to the nearest international airport. We apologize to our customers for the delay in their travel plans and we thank them for their patience, the statement concludes.

Arnulf Hettrich/imageBROKER/Shutterstock Delta Airbus A330-200 Delta Airbus A330-200

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

In July, another Delta flight experienced a fire in its engine shortly after taking off from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The July 18 incident forced the plane, which was headed for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, to return to LAX after the engine appeared to burst into flames.

At the time, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that Delta Flight 446 "safely landed" back on the runway after a reported engine fire was the reason for its return.

Read the original article on People
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  An Overland Park, Kansas, woman was hospitalized Sunday with serious injuries after crashing an ATV at the Lake of the Ozarks in Morgan County, Missouri.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, just after 6:30 p.m., a 59-year-old metro woman was driving a 2020 Yamaha Viking southbound on Viewside Drive, near Memory Lane, when she tried to turn and lost control of the ATV.

One dead after overnight homicide on Kansas Citys East Side

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The MSHP reported that the woman then drove off the road and overturned before hitting a ditch.

She was airlifted to University Hospital in Columbia via MU helicopter with serious injuries.

At this time, the state of her condition is unknown.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
BEIJING (AP)  An activist wanted by the Hong Kong government said he was denied entry to Singapore over the weekend for what he presumes were political reasons.

Nathan Law, who fled Hong Kong in 2020 and is based in London, said he was detained at the Singapore airport on Saturday night and told four hours later that his entry had been denied. Ten hours after that, he boarded a plane back to San Francisco on Sunday.

He was going to attend a closed-door, invitation-only event, he said in a statement, without elaborating.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Law is one of a number of Hong Kong activists who have left the city in recent years after the adoption of a National Security Law that has put others in prison.

He said he had received a visa from Singapore to attend the event and departed on a flight from San Francisco. No reason was given for the denial, he said.

I think the decision to deny my entry was political, although I am unsure whether external forces, such as the PRC, are involved, directly or indirectly, his statement said, referring to China by the acronym for its official name, the People's Republic of China.

Law said he was held at a facility that he understood detains people who need to be deported and declined further comment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

A Singapore government statement confirmed that he had been refused entry, saying a visa holder is subject to further checks at the border. It noted that Hong Kong police have issued a warrant for Law's arrest under the citys National Security Law.

Laws entry into and presence in the country would not be in Singapores national interests, the statement from the Home Affairs Ministry said.

Eugene Tan, an associate professor of law at Singapore Management University, said the action of the Singapore authorities in this case is not surprising.

Authorities are determined that "Singapore does not become a proxy battle ground for foreign politics, Tan wrote in an email response.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Singapore has an extradition agreement with Hong Kong but it doesn't appear to cover national security crimes, Tan said.

Hong Kong police issued warrants for Law and other self-exiled activists in 2023 and offered rewards of 1 million Hong Kong dollars ($127,600) for information leading to their arrest.

Law is accused of colluding with foreign parties and inciting secession for allegedly calling for sanctions and Hong Kongs separation from China in meetings with foreign officials and in open letters, petitions, social media posts and media interviews.

Hong Kong leader John Lee, in his weekly news briefing on Tuesday, did not directly answer a question about whether his administration had asked Singapore to help extradite Law to the city, but Lee said no country should shield criminals and that his government would use every possible means to track them down.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

A Hong Kong government statement urged Law to return to the city and surrender to authorities, saying he is suspected of continuing to commit national security offenses since fleeing overseas.

Fugitives will be pursued for life unless they turn themselves in, it said.

Hong Kong is a Chinese territory with its own laws and regulations, but the central government in Beijing cracked down in 2020 after massive anti-government the previous year, imposing a National Security Law on the city of 7.5 million people.

Law rose to prominence as a student leader of the pro-democracy Umbrella Revolution in 2014 along with Joshua Wong, who is imprisoned in Hong Kong.

Law was elected to the legislature in 2016 but disqualified after he raised his tone while swearing allegiance to China during the oath of office, making it sound like a question.
Netanyahu admitted Israel violated Qatari sovereignty, apologized for the strike that killed a Qatari guard, and pledged no repeat attacks.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apologized to Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani regarding the assassination attempt of Hamas leadership in Doha, a source familiar with the details told The Jerusalem Post.

The conversation between the two Middle East leaders occured during Netanyahu's meeting with Trump.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Netanyahu also apologized for the strike that killed a Qatari civilian security guard who was in the building with Hamas leaders, the White House confirmed.

In addition, Netanyahu admitted that Israel violated Qatari sovereignty and affirmed that Israel will not repeat such an attack, the White House statement added.

Netanyahu's apology was a prerequisite for Doha's continued involvement in hostage and ceasefire negotiations, Israeli public broadcaster KAN News reported.

Qatar's Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, attends the preparatory ministerial meeting for emergency Arab-Islamic summit in Doha, Qatar September 14, 2025. (credit: Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Handout via REUTERS)

The Qatari government welcomed these assurances.

They also discussed a proposal for ending the Israel-Hamas war, prospects for a more secure region, and the need for "greater understanding between their countries."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Trump praised both prime ministers for being willing to take steps toward greater cooperation.

The two leaders have never formally met or spoken directly to each other. Israel does not have formal relations with Qatar.
University of North Dakota President Andy Armacost, left, speaks with State Board of Higher Education Chair Kevin Black on Sept. 23, 2025, in Minot North Dakota. The board approved a policy change allowing UND and North Dakota State University to offer dual-credit courses to high school students. (Photo by Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor)

Families in Cass and Grand Forks counties may soon have different options for college courses for high school students.

The State Board of Higher Education last week approved a policy change that allows high school students in those counties to take dual-credit courses  earning both high school and college credit  through the University of North Dakota and North Dakota State University.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Students in Cass and Grand Forks counties had previously been required to take dual-credit classes through one of North Dakotas smaller public colleges, with the college getting the tuition revenue. Those students could only take a dual-credit course from UND or NDSU if it was not offered at a smaller college.

Leaders of those smaller colleges have resisted the change in part because of the tuition revenue they get from students taking introductory college courses while they are still in high school.

Those colleges include North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, Valley City State University, Mayville State University and Lake Region State College in Devils Lake.

North Dakota State College of Science President Rod Flanigan (Provided by North Dakota University System)

Rod Flanigan, president of North Dakota State College of Science, a two-year school, said the change could cost his school millions of dollars in revenue annually.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The college in Wahpeton in Richland County has about 1,500 dual-credit students this semester, most of them from Cass County, the neighboring county to the north.

It will have an impact on us, Flanigan told the State Board of Higher Education when it met Tuesday at Minot State University. We will compete as best we can.

Advocates for the change said the policy should be about choice for students, not the financial health of the small colleges.

State Board of Higher Education member Curtis Biller said during a Sept. 4 committee meeting that if there are financial implications for the small colleges, we can deal with it as we move forward.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

It will be up to NDSU and UND to work with high schools on which courses to make available through dual credit.

NDSU Provost David Bertolini said the university will reach out to high schools in Cass County to understand what the schools, parents and students want for dual-credit offerings.

We get requests from students who want to do dual credit with us, and historically, we have to say no, Bertolini said in an interview. From the perspective of what families and students might want for themselves, their hopes and dreams for college or whatever their careers might be, student choice is paramount.

Historically, the university system has encouraged campuses to operate in their own region.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Another college that could be significantly impacted is Lake Region, which has about 250 dual credit students from nearby Grand Forks County, home to UND.

UND President Andy Armacost said it would work with Lake Region to minimize the impact on the two-year school.

We need to sit down and figure out how this is going to work, Armacost said at Tuesdays meeting. He acknowledged that there would be pressure from Grand Forks residents who would prefer to use UND for dual credit over Lake Region.

Carmen Simone, who was appointed Lake Region president earlier in the meeting after serving as interim over the summer, said the college would work with UND. Im not afraid of this change, Simone said.

How dual credit works

Lisa Johnson, deputy commissioner for the North Dakota University System, said in an interview that students generally take a dual-credit course one of two ways  either in person within their high school or as an online course.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

In-person classes at the high school are taught by a high school instructor who has the required credentials, such as a masters degree and a certain number of college credit hours in the subject area.

For online courses, Johnson said those are typically taught by a college instructor. She said that option, while more expensive, is popular in rural school districts that wont have enough students to justify an in-person class. Students from several schools can be grouped together for an online class, which can still take place during regular school hours.

The North Dakota University System has targeted dual-credit offerings to high-demand classes, such as English 101 and college algebra that can help fulfill general education requirements and are easily transferable through North Dakotas colleges.

North Dakota University System Deputy Commissioner Lisa Johnson speaks Sept. 24, 2025, to a legislative committee in Bismarck. (Photo by Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor)

Johnson said earning college credit through NDSU or UND, the states two research colleges, would carry no more weight than through a smaller college, though that perception might exist.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

I think the extent to which they no longer enroll in community colleges and four-year regionals and gravitate to research institutions remains to be seen, she said.

Johnson said a high school can partner with more than one college on dual-credit classes.

If two colleges were offering the same course, Johnson said the high school would select which institution to partner with.

Growth in dual credit

Johnson said dual credit has evolved over the decades. She said it started with the two-year colleges such as Lake Region and the State College of Science back in the 1980s.

Four-year colleges eventually began offering dual credit courses, and online courses have greatly expanded dual-credit opportunities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

We actually have hundreds and hundreds of online courses, Johnson said.

Johnson said growth also was spurred when the state Legislature approved funding for a scholarship program in 2021. The scholarship provides $250 per course, up to three courses.

We really saw a marked increase in students participating in dual credit after the announcement of that dual credit scholarship, Johnson said.

There also is a program through the Bank of North Dakota to cover dual-credit tuition for families who qualify for free and reduced school meals.

Johnson said a goal of Brent Sanford, who was just named the University Systems commissioner, to expand dual-credit offerings at high schools with career and technical education centers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

High school students have other options for earning college credit. Under early entry, a high school can take a college course that may not count toward high school graduation. Students also can take advanced placement classes, which may provide college credit depending on the students score on a standardized test.

Bertolini said an average student coming to NDSU already has 12 college credits, typically through dual credit, and he expects that to keep growing.

Its one way to lower college expenses, reduce your time to degree, Bertolini said. It also allows them, in an earlier framework, to figure out what they want to do for the rest of their lives.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
President Isaac Herzog urged Israels participation in Eurovision, warning that moves to exclude Israel could spread to other arenas amid global calls for a ban.

Israels participation in the Eurovision Song Contest is important, President Isaac Herzog said Monday.

His remarks in an interview with KAN Reshet Bet were in response to an announcement that the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the organization that runs Eurovision, plans to have a meeting of its general assembly in November to vote on whether Israel will be allowed to take part.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

There have been numerous calls to ban Israel from sending a representative because of the war in Gaza.

I have seen dangerous processes that begin with Eurovision and end in other places, Herzog said.

The delegitimization of Israel and the attempt to exclude us from every possible arena are moves designed to weaken us. It starts with Eurovision but reaches matters that are vital to us. Every arena is important.

Yuval Raphael, representing Israel, attends the second semi-final of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, May 15, 2025 (credit: REUTERS/DENIS BALIBOUSE)

Spain, the Netherlands, Iceland, Ireland, and Slovenia have said they would not participate in the contest if Israel does. Other countries, including Sweden, have said they would participate.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Eurovision is not a political event, the EBU has repeatedly said, adding that the contestants represent public broadcasters and not governments.

Herzog speaks in favor of KAN

Regarding the issue of calls by some cabinet ministers, including Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi (Likud), to shut down KAN, Israels public broadcasting authority, Herzog said: I have immense respect for KAN. There are voices that worry me. The platform of public broadcasting is so important; it enables a diversity of opinions, free of bias, and allows everyone to be heard.

I am a great supporter of public broadcasting, and therefore, I worry when there is cause to worry and act when there is a need to act.

Eurovision is set to take place in Vienna in May.
Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

Moldovas pro-European Action and Solidarity Party (PAS), supported by President Maia Sandu, won the countrys parliamentary elections, amid growing concerns over potential Russian interference.

With 99.91% of ballots counted, PAS secured 50.16% of the vote, giving it a clear lead and reaffirming public support for Sandus push toward European integration.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The opposition Patriotic Electoral Bloc, led by pro-Russian former President Igor Dodon, came in second with 24.19% of the vote.

Several other parties passed the electoral threshold, including softly pro-Russian Alternative (7.97%) and Our Party (6.20%), as well as the Democracy at Home (5.62%) party, supporting a union between Moldova and Romania.

President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Sandu on her partys victory in the Sept. 28 parliamentary elections, calling the result a win for democratic values and a setback for Russian interference.

"These elections have shown that Russia's destabilizing activities are losing, and Moldova in Europe is winning," Zelensky said. "Russia's subversive activities and constant disinformation have not worked."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine stands with Moldova and will continue to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

The Central Electoral Commission said over 1.6 million people  52% of eligible voters  had cast ballots, including 278,000 Moldovans voting abroad. Turnout compares with just over 48% in the 2021 parliamentary elections.

The results, if confirmed, will serve as a blow for Moscow, which has been accused of meddling and funding pro-Russian disinformation ahead of the vote.

The EU had warned that Moldova was facing "an unprecedented campaign of disinformation" from Russia ahead of the election. Media investigations also revealed an extensive Russian propaganda and interference campaign in the lead-up to the election.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Read also: Moldova casts blame on Russia for attempts to disrupt pivotal parliamentary elections

Days before the elections, Sandu said in an address to the citizens that if Russia succeeds in exerting control over Moldova, "the consequences will be direct and dangerous for our country and for the entire region." She pointed to risks for Ukraines security and wider European stability.

"Europe will end at Moldovas border. European funds will stop at the Prut. Freedom of movement could come to an end. Our land could become a launchpad for infiltration toward the Odesa region. The Transnistrian region would be destabilized," she said.

In the days ahead of the election, the Central Electoral Commission decided to exclude both the Heart of Moldova and Greater Moldova parties from the vote after police, security, and intelligence officials uncovered evidence that the groups were using illegal financing, the commission said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Moldovan intelligence services reportedly also provided information on Greater Moldova's association with the Victory Bloc, a slate of pro-Russian political factions backed by exiled oligarch Ilan Shor.

Shor has allegedly used $8 billion in cryptocurrency to help Russia evade sanctions and meddle in Moldova's upcoming elections, blockchain firm Elliptic reported on Sept. 26, citing leaked documents from Shor's companies.

Read also: Russia targets Moldovas future as voters head to the polls

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Lakehouse Capital, a Sydney-based investment manager, released its Lakehouse Global Growth Fund annual investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The year was strong for the fund despite volatility, backed by the new US administration. The fund returned 33.4% net of fees and expenses compared to 18.4% for its benchmark. Since its inception in December 2017, the Fund has returned 254.4% compared to 139.9% for its benchmark, the MSCI All Country World Index, Net Total Returns (AUD). In addition, please check the funds top five holdings to know its best picks in 2025.

In its second-quarter 2025 investor letter, Lakehouse Global Growth Fund highlighted stocks such as Sea Limited (NYSE:SE). Sea Limited (NYSE:SE) is a consumer internet company headquartered in Singapore. The one-month return of Sea Limited (NYSE:SE) was -1.05%, and its shares gained 95.78% of their value over the last 52 weeks. On September 26, 2025, Sea Limited (NYSE:SE) stock closed at $184.58 per share, with a market capitalization of $109.275 billion.

Lakehouse Global Growth Fund stated the following regarding Sea Limited (NYSE:SE) in its second quarter 2025 investor letter:
The White House released a 20-point plan Monday afternoon for a ceasefire and path forward in the Gaza Strip.

Among the points in the proposal, President Trump would chair an international board of peace to govern and reconstruct the Gaza Strip as part of the 20-point plan, describing an end to the war between Israel and Hamas and a transition toward peace.

Read it here, as released from the White House:

President Donald J. Trumps Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict

1. Gaza will be a deradicalized terror-free zone that does not pose a threat to its neighbors. 2. Gaza will be redeveloped for the benefit of the people of Gaza, who have suffered more than enough. 3. If both sides agree to this proposal, the war will immediately end . Israeli forces will withdraw to the agreed upon line to prepare for a hostage release. During this time, all military operations, including aerial and artillery bombardment, will be suspended, and battle lines will remain frozen until conditions are met for the complete staged withdrawal. 4. Within 72 hours of Israel publicly accepting this agreement, all hostages, alive and deceased, will be returned. 5. Once all hostages are released, Israel will release 250 life sentence prisoners plus 1700 Gazans who were detained after October 7th 2023, including all women and children detained in that context. For every Israeli hostage whose remains are released, Israel will release the remains of 15 deceased Gazans. 6. Once all hostages are returned, Hamas members who commit to peaceful co-existence and to decommission their weapons will be given amnesty. Members of Hamas who wish to leave Gaza will be provided safe passage to receiving countries. 7. Upon acceptance of this agreement, full aid will be immediately sent into the Gaza Strip. At a minimum, aid quantities will be consistent with what was included in the January 19, 2025, agreement regarding humanitarian aid, including rehabilitation of infrastructure (water, electricity, sewage), rehabilitation of hospitals and bakeries, and entry of necessary equipment to remove rubble and open roads. 8. Entry of distribution and aid in the Gaza Strip will proceed without interference from the two parties through the United Nations and its agencies, and the Red Crescent, in addition to other international institutions not associated in any manner with either party. Opening the Rafah crossing in both directions will be subject to the same mechanism implemented under the January 19, 2025 agreement. 9. Gaza will be governed under the temporary transitional governance of a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee, responsible for delivering the day-to-day running of public services and municipalities for the people in Gaza. This committee will be made up of qualified Palestinians and international experts, with oversight and supervision by a new international transitional body, the Board of Peace, which will be headed and chaired by President Donald J. Trump, with other members and heads of State to be announced, including Former Prime Minister Tony Blair. This body will set the framework and handle the funding for the redevelopment of Gaza until such time as the Palestinian Authority has completed its reform program, as outlined in various proposals, including President Trumps peace plan in 2020 and the Saudi-French proposal, and can securely and effectively take back control of Gaza. This body will call on best international standards to create modern and efficient governance that serves the people of Gaza and is conducive to attracting investment. 10. A Trump economic development plan to rebuild and energize Gaza will be created by convening a panel of experts who have helped birth some of the thriving modern miracle cities in the Middle East. Many thoughtful investment proposals and exciting development ideas have been crafted by well-meaning international groups, and will be considered to synthesize the security and governance frameworks to attract and facilitate these investments that will create jobs, opportunity, and hope for future Gaza. 11. A special economic zone will be established with preferred tariff and access rates to be negotiated with participating countries. 12. No one will be forced to leave Gaza, and those who wish to leave will be free to do so and free to return. We will encourage people to stay and offer them the opportunity to build a better Gaza. 13. Hamas and other factions agree to not have any role in the governance of Gaza, directly, indirectly, or in any form. All military, terror, and offensive infrastructure, including tunnels and weapon production facilities, will be destroyed and not rebuilt. There will be a process of demilitarization of Gaza under the supervision of independent monitors, which will include placing weapons permanently beyond use through an agreed process of decommissioning, and supported by an internationally funded buy back and reintegration program all verified by the independent monitors. New Gaza will be fully committed to building a prosperous economy and to peaceful coexistence with their neighbors. 14. A guarantee will be provided by regional partners to ensure that Hamas, and the factions, comply with their obligations and that New Gaza poses no threat to its neighbors or its people. 15. The United States will work with Arab and international partners to develop a temporary International Stabilization Force (ISF) to immediately deploy in Gaza. The ISF will train and provide support to vetted Palestinian police forces in Gaza, and will consult with Jordan and Egypt who have extensive experience in this field. This force will be the long-term internal security solution. The ISF will work with Israel and Egypt to help secure border areas, along with newly trained Palestinian police forces. It is critical to prevent munitions from entering Gaza and to facilitate the rapid and secure flow of goods to rebuild and revitalize Gaza. A deconfliction mechanism will be agreed upon by the parties. 16. Israel will not occupy or annex Gaza. As the ISF establishes control and stability, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will withdraw based on standards, milestones, and timeframes linked to demilitarization that will be agreed upon between the IDF, ISF, the guarantors, and the Unites States, with the objective of a secure Gaza that no longer poses a threat to Israel, Egypt, or its citizens. Practically, the IDF will progressively hand over the Gaza territory it occupies to the ISF according to an agreement they will make with the transitional authority until they are withdrawn completely from Gaza, save for a security perimeter presence that will remain until Gaza is properly secure from any resurgent terror threat. 17. In the event Hamas delays or rejects this proposal, the above, including the scaled-up aid operation, will proceed in the terror-free areas handed over from the IDF to the ISF. 18. An interfaith dialogue process will be established based on the values of tolerance and peaceful co-existence to try and change mindsets and narratives of Palestinians and Israelis by emphasizing the benefits that can be derived from peace. 19. While Gaza re-development advances and when the PA reform program is faithfully carried out, the conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood, which we recognize as the aspiration of the Palestinian people. 20. The United States will establish a dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians to agree on a political horizon for peaceful and prosperous co-existence.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump on Monday unveiled a comprehensive peace proposal to end the war in Gaza, nearly two years after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel.

During his visit with Trump at the White House, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly backed the 20-point plan, but Trump acknowledged that Hamas had not agreed to it.

The key components of the proposal include the release of all living and dead hostages in Gaza, a requirement for Hamas to lay down its arms, a withdrawal of Israeli troops from the territory, the delivery of humanitarian aid and the installation of a civilian governing authority for Palestinians.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Trump said that if Hamas rejects the deal, he would back Netanyahu in dismantling and destroying Hamas.

Here is the full text of the plan:

Gaza will be a deradicalized terror-free zone that does not pose a threat to its neighbors. Gaza will be redeveloped for the benefit of the people of Gaza, who have suffered more than enough. If both sides agree to this proposal, the war will immediately end. Israeli forces will withdraw to the agreed upon line to prepare for a hostage release. During this time, all military operations, including aerial and artillery bombardment, will be suspended, and battle lines will remain frozen until conditions are met for the complete staged withdrawal. Within 72 hours of Israel publicly accepting this agreement, all hostages, alive and deceased, will be returned. Once all hostages are released, Israel will release 250 life sentence prisoners plus 1700 Gazans who were detained after October 7th 2023, including all women and children detained in that context. For every Israeli hostage whose remains are released, Israel will release the remains of 15 deceased Gazans. Once all hostages are returned, Hamas members who commit to peaceful co-existence and to decommission their weapons will be given amnesty. Members of Hamas who wish to leave Gaza will be provided safe passage to receiving countries. Upon acceptance of this agreement, full aid will be immediately sent into the Gaza Strip. At a minimum, aid quantities will be consistent with what was included in the January 19, 2025, agreement regarding humanitarian aid, including rehabilitation of infrastructure (water, electricity, sewage), rehabilitation of hospitals and bakeries, and entry of necessary equipment to remove rubble and open roads. Entry of distribution and aid in the Gaza Strip will proceed without interference from the two parties through the United Nations and its agencies, and the Red Crescent, in addition to other international institutions not associated in any manner with either party. Opening the Rafah crossing in both directions will be subject to the same mechanism implemented under the January 19, 2025 agreement. Gaza will be governed under the temporary transitional governance of a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee, responsible for delivering the day-to-day running of public services and municipalities for the people in Gaza. This committee will be made up of qualified Palestinians and international experts, with oversight and supervision by a new international transitional body, the Board of Peace, which will be headed and chaired by President Donald J. Trump, with other members and heads of State to be announced, including Former Prime Minister Tony Blair. This body will set the framework and handle the funding for the redevelopment of Gaza until such time as the Palestinian Authority has completed its reform program, as outlined in various proposals, including President Trumps peace plan in 2020 and the Saudi-French proposal, and can securely and effectively take back control of Gaza. This body will call on best international standards to create modern and efficient governance that serves the people of Gaza and is conducive to attracting investment. A Trump economic development plan to rebuild and energize Gaza will be created by convening a panel of experts who have helped birth some of the thriving modern miracle cities in the Middle East. Many thoughtful investment proposals and exciting development ideas have been crafted by well-meaning international groups, and will be considered to synthesize the security and governance frameworks to attract and facilitate these investments that will create jobs, opportunity, and hope for future Gaza. A special economic zone will be established with preferred tariff and access rates to be negotiated with participating countries. No one will be forced to leave Gaza, and those who wish to leave will be free to do so and free to return. We will encourage people to stay and offer them the opportunity to build a better Gaza. Hamas and other factions agree to not have any role in the governance of Gaza, directly, indirectly, or in any form. All military, terror, and offensive infrastructure, including tunnels and weapon production facilities, will be destroyed and not rebuilt. There will be a process of demilitarization of Gaza under the supervision of independent monitors, which will include placing weapons permanently beyond use through an agreed process of decommissioning, and supported by an internationally funded buy back and reintegration program all verified by the independent monitors. New Gaza will be fully committed to building a prosperous economy and to peaceful coexistence with their neighbors. A guarantee will be provided by regional partners to ensure that Hamas, and the factions, comply with their obligations and that New Gaza poses no threat to its neighbors or its people. The United States will work with Arab and international partners to develop a temporary International Stabilization Force (ISF) to immediately deploy in Gaza. The ISF will train and provide support to vetted Palestinian police forces in Gaza, and will consult with Jordan and Egypt who have extensive experience in this field. This force will be the long-term internal security solution. The ISF will work with Israel and Egypt to help secure border areas, along with newly trained Palestinian police forces. It is critical to prevent munitions from entering Gaza and to facilitate the rapid and secure flow of goods to rebuild and revitalize Gaza. A deconfliction mechanism will be agreed upon by the parties. Israel will not occupy or annex Gaza. As the ISF establishes control and stability, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will withdraw based on standards, milestones, and timeframes linked to demilitarization that will be agreed upon between the IDF, ISF, the guarantors, and the Unites States, with the objective of a secure Gaza that no longer poses a threat to Israel, Egypt, or its citizens. Practically, the IDF will progressively hand over the Gaza territory it occupies to the ISF according to an agreement they will make with the transitional authority until they are withdrawn completely from Gaza, save for a security perimeter presence that will remain until Gaza is properly secure from any resurgent terror threat. In the event Hamas delays or rejects this proposal, the above, including the scaled-up aid operation, will proceed in the terror-free areas handed over from the IDF to the ISF. An interfaith dialogue process will be established based on the values of tolerance and peaceful co-existence to try and change mindsets and narratives of Palestinians and Israelis by emphasizing the benefits that can be derived from peace. While Gaza re-development advances and when the PA reform program is faithfully carried out, the conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood, which we recognize as the aspiration of the Palestinian people. The United States will establish a dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians to agree on a political horizon for peaceful and prosperous co-existence.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Southwestern Pennsylvania's rivers delivered a welcome surprise  and a reminder that recovery takes patience.

A Next Generation Newsroom report revealed a marked uptick in freshwater mussel sightings, including the discovery of a federally endangered species in the Allegheny River and a record 35 mussels across 10 species in the Ohio River's Emsworth Pool.

Mussels, often called "livers of the river" for their role in filtering water, are sensitive indicators of river health. Their return suggests cleaner and better-managed waterways.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), human-driven pollution and habitat loss have endangered the freshwater species. However, focused restoration efforts, better water quality, more extensive surveys, and state stocking programs have paid off.

The DEP has reintroduced nearly 40,000 mussels into Pennsylvania waterways since 2016, including the Allegheny, Ohio, Clarion, Kiskiminetas, and Beaver rivers, as well as Dunkard Creek.

The benefits of restoring river health go beyond helping ecosystems. A study published in the Water Security journal found that heavily polluted rivers reduce economic growth in downstream regions by as much as 2.5%.

Healthier rivers also mean safer recreation, more resilient fisheries, and cleaner water for communities. The Natural Resources Defense Council reported that healthy riverscapes can help increase environmental resilience, reduce wildlife risk, and support fish and wildlife habitats.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The mussels are also playing a central role in keeping waterways clean. According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, a single freshwater mussel can filter between 8 and 15 gallons of water daily.

Local teams are relocating mussels to prevent them from being disturbed by a construction project tied to the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority's Clean Water Plan.

Still, biologists stress this is not a final victory.

Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

"It's a race against time, really, to get this information and to do the best we can before it's kind of too late," warned non-game biologist and malacologist Nevin Welte about the challenges of propagating mussel species and identifying host fish.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Nonetheless, this rebound adds to a pattern of hopeful rediscoveries and reintroductions, showing what can happen when organizations and local communities align in pursuing local conservation efforts and supporting environmental causes.

Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Sitting on the shelves of one of Kenyas oldest libraries is a treasure trove of untapped financial opportunity  books. The McMillan Memorial Library has served as a literary hub in Nairobis central business district for over 90 years. It is one of an estimated 8,000 public libraries across the continent.

A 2025 UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) report estimates Africas publishing industry could reach $18.5 billion within the coming years if the right policies are enacted and investments are made. As of 2023, it generated only $7 billion, accounting for just 5.4% of the global book market, which is valued at $129 billion.

The UNESCO report blamed weak polices, an absence of tax incentives, and a reliance on imported books for the lack of industry growth within Africa. It recommended the establishment of national book policies that would promote literacy, oversee book circulation, and create financial incentives for key players within the industry.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Today, you see that most of the names of authors of literature in Africa are more known outside the continent than inside the continent. Theyre known in their country, but theyre not circulating between the other countries, and thats an issue, Ernesto Ottone Ramirez, assistant director-general for culture at UNESCO, told CNN.

Ramirez said Africas book industry is booming with untapped potential, which the continent could capitalize on if countries implement UNESCOs suggestions.

The McMillan Memorial Library is one of the oldest public libraries in Nairobi, Kenya. - PATRICK MEINHARDT/AFP via Getty Images

One area of interest is the role of public libraries. The report outlined the need to strengthen the framework of libraries across Africa, especially in rural areas, by enacting clear principles for governance and funding that prioritize the entire book ecosystem.

It must start from the community, Jacob Ananda, the assistant director at Nairobi City County Libraries, told CNN. He wants children to be introduced to libraries and reading at a young age so it becomes part of their lifestyle. However, to do that, he said there must be policies on restoring, restocking, and preserving the libraries.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Ananda gives a nod to the McMillan Memorial Library, which is undergoing restoration to improve the buildings facilities and provide digital access to reading materials with the help of the non-profit Book Bunk and funding from the local government.

We are looking forward to being among the state-of-the-art libraries and being able to meet the users needs, he said.

Book Bunk, a Kenyan non-profit organization, started digitizing the McMillan Memorial Library in October 2020 to make the librarys archive available for future generations. - PATRICK MEINHARDT/AFP via Getty Images

Digital integration

At least 70% of sub-Saharan Africas population is under the age of 30, making it the youngest in the world. Publishers and distributors are aiming to tap into this tech-savvy generation by leveraging Africas budding festival circuit and embracing digital integration.

The UNESCO report says each year, some 270 literary festivals and book fairs are held across the continent, with many focusing on childrens books. It also notes that a growing number of publishers and distributors are exploring e-book and audiobook production, including African Storybook in South Africa, AkooBooks in Ghana, and eKitabu in Kenya.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The new generation of creators today, theyre looking at how to go to the future with something that belongs to them, and nobody will tell them how to tell this (Africas) story, Ramirez said.

One way to uphold Africas rich culture and diversity is by telling its stories in their native tongue and being able to translate them into more of the continents 2,000 languages. Ramirez told CNN 90% of the content UNESCO receives from partner organizations is in English, but he believes artificial intelligence could help translate books and other reading materials into a variety of languages and local dialects, making it more accessible to communities.

However, he cautioned that AI needs to be handled with care. Africa is the continent where you have less legislation on those issues (of artificial intelligence), Ramirez said. He adds that this is an opportunity for countries to create their own safeguards to regulate platforms, protect copyrights, and ensure creators receive the benefits of their work.

The report is part of a series of publications UNESCO is working on to map out Africas creative economies, which Ramirez says is crucial to unlocking the continents economic potential. The only way to have social cohesion at the country level between all the diversity of communities is to have culture at the center of sustainable development, he said.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Rohingya people are being made to clear corpses in the civil war between Myanmars junta and an armed militant group, a report has claimed.

The oppressed ethnic group, described by rights groups as one of the most persecuted in the world, is denied citizenship in war-torn Myanmar and refused freedom of movement and access to education or jobs.

As fighting rages on around them, the Rohingya have described abysmal conditions in which they are forced to dispose of the corpses of people killed in combat between government forces and the rebel Arakan Army, according to an Amnesty International report.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

They also say children  with no choice but to consume rice and water from muddy wells  are dying of food-borne illnesses.

We had no school, no medicine, no food and no aid. Occasionally, we secretly brought back some rice from unburnt villages. We used water from a single pond and needed Arakan Army permission to go anywhere, said one 25-year-old Rohingya refugee, who fled to Bangladesh earlier this year.

Whenever fighting occurred between the two forces, they forced us to clean the aftermath, picking up bodies and debris, then dumping them in the river.

People extinguish a fire in a building destroyed by Myanmars military in Mandalay - AFP via Getty

He said he was forced to do this more than 10 times, and if anyone refused, they would be beaten.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The refugee went as far as to say that the Arakan Army treated us worse than the Myanmar military, the same military that stands accused of genocide.

The Rohingya, a predominantly Muslim ethnic group who live in Myanmars north-western Rakhine state, have faced systematic persecution by the mostly Buddhist government and military for decades.

The violence peaked in 2017 when the military launched a scorched-earth clearance operation, killing tens of thousands of Rohingya and forcing even more across the border into Bangladesh in what the United States and others have since recognised as genocide.

Today, approximately 1.2 million Rohingya refugees are living in southern Bangladesh.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Since the military coup in 2021, the Rohingya who remain in Myanmar have been caught in the middle of fighting between the junta and the Arakan Army, which controls large areas of Rakhine state, including most of the border with Bangladesh.

b'

'

More than 150,000 Rohingya have fled in the past 20 months because of the fighting. The hundreds of thousands that remain inside Myanmar are mostly trapped in internally displaced persons camps, where they are banned from earning money or accessing education and healthcare.

The UN General Assembly is to convene a conference tomorrow to discuss a repatriation plan for the Rohingya, but according to Amnesty it would be catastrophic for refugees to return to Myanmar under the current conditions.

They seemed happy when someone died

Even as the military has ceded control of territory in Rakhine state, the new testimony from Rohingya presents a worrying picture where circumstances under the Arakan Army are as bad if not worse.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

One 60-year-old Rohingya man said the ethnic armed group did little to help the community because it struggled to find food and water and its members seemed happy whenever someone died.

A recent report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights found that many of the same oppressive restrictions on Rohingya remain in place today and the Arakan Army similarly refuses to recognise the Rohingya identity.

In response, the Arakan Army denied any allegations of forced labour and claimed it is a victim of propaganda put forward by Rohingya activists.

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.
Russia is becoming "more and more of a threat to NATO," German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on Monday, as he visited Poland and Lithuania amid weeks of high tensions on the alliance's eastern flank due to Russian incursions.

Speaking at the Warsaw Security Forum, Pistorius said Moscow is "testing NATO allies with growing frequency and intensity."

Russian President Vladimir Putin "deliberately attempts to undermine European security and the territorial integrity of European nations," Pistorius argued. "He seeks to provoke NATO member states. He wants to expose vulnerabilities within our alliance."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

But NATO has "responded to Russia's provocations with clarity, unity, resolve, and prudence," the German minister said.

"We will not be lured into Putin's trap of continuous escalation. We are keeping a cool head while remaining steadfast and determined."

Alongside Pistorius, Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans and Estonia's Hanno Pevkur were both due to take part in the forum, as well as European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius.

Pistorius is also set to discuss Ukraine's future relationship with Europe in high-level talks in the Polish capital, which comes weeks after Russian drones were shot down over Poland.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The incident was followed by Russian violations of NATO airspace in Romania and Estonia.

"When needed, NATO forces stand ready, just like the jets of our allies in the Baltics that were scrambled and escorted Russian aircraft out of Estonian airspace," said Pistorius. "We will continue working together closely on strengthening our air defence."

Also speaking at the conference, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Russia's war in Ukraine is part of a political project to subjugate other peoples.

"This war is also our war," said Tusk. "If we lose this war, the consequences will affect not only our generation, but also the next generation in Poland, Europe, the United States and everywhere else in the world."

German foreign minister: Russia testing NATO resolve

Pistorius was not the only German official in Warsaw on Monday, with Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul also in the city for talks with his French and Polish counterparts. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha is also expected to join the consultations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"We are standing together, keeping a cool head and not allowing ourselves to be driven into an escalation," Wadephul said before departing to the Polish capital. "At the same time, we are leaving no doubt that we are determined and ready to fend off any threat together."

The violations of NATO airspace by Moscow "are not mistakes, but deliberate attacks in the grey zone," he warned.

They are part of Putin's hybrid aggression, he said, adding that "such provocations are extremely dangerous and have only one goal: to test our resolve."

Pistorius to visit Lithuania

Pistorius is then due to travel on to Lithuania, where Germany is deploying a combat brigade to assist with the defence of NATO's eastern flank.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The unit was formally activated in May and is set to comprise a force of around 4,800 soldiers and 200 civilian personnel, with full operating capability expected in 2027.

Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovile Sakaliene is to formally hand over a military logistics centre to Pistorius in the town of Rukla.

As preparations for the German brigade continue, a German school is set to be formally opened in the capital Vilnius on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, the German School is to be opened in the capital Vilnius.
Russian forces torture Ukrainian prisoners and civilians using a method that involves electrocuting them on the genitals and feet with a military telephone, a new report claims.

Wires from the Soviet TA-57 field telephone, which is nicknamed tapik, are connected to vulnerable parts of a prisoners body, including ears, fingers and genitals, to deliver an excruciating electric shock.

It is claimed that the old-fashioned, hand-cranked army telephone can generate up to 80 volts of electricity, ensuring an agonising experience for victims.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The torture method, known in the Russian army as a call to Putin or a call to Lenin, was described in a report that will be presented to the UN Human Rights Council on Oct 15.

Dr Alice Jill Edwards, the UN special rapporteur on torture, said the scale is really off the charts about how many people who are detained are subjected to some form of degrading or inhumane treatment.

Russias actions in Ukraine were showing us the worst of humanity, she said.

On Monday, Ms Edwards will make public her latest letter to the Kremlin, seeking a response to allegations of torture perpetrated by Russian soldiers against civilians in Ukraine.

Dr Alice Jill Edwards, the UN special rapporteur on torture, said the scale of Russias inhumane treatment of prisoners was off the scale - Ukrinform / Future Publishing

Alleged treatment includes gang rapes, electric shocks and beatings to genitals, beatings while nude, stab wounds to genital areas, burning of nipples of males, the use of stun guns to the genital area and threats of castration.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Putin is personally responsible for his soldiers crimes against humanity, with torture being part of Russian war tactics and policy, she said.

Speaking exclusively to The Telegraph, Ms Edwards said victims of sexual torture have been male and female and have also included children.

Crimes against humanity

At no time have I seen directives from the hierarchy for Russian soldiers and others to stop torturing. Thats what Ive asked for. Those directives do not exist.

Its not only on an individual level; this is widespread and systematic, amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

It is the level of the state; its Putin himself and [foreign minister Sergei] Lavrov who have responsibility for these types of policies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The Russian state itself will be held accountable. Torture remains part of, in my view, Russian war tactics and war policy.

Ukraines ministry of internal affairs says that since the start of Russias full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukrainian police have initiated 127 criminal proceedings into sexual violence against at least 205 people.

In June, the prosecutor generals office of Ukraine reported 363 documented cases of sexual violence against civilians, including 19 against children.

These included threats and attempts to rape and the forced watching of sexual violence against family members.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Civilians described being detained for vague or fabricated links to the Ukrainian military, or for not having a Russian passport.

Interrogations were often said to focus on the victims money and where to find it.

Ms Edwardss report is based on a dossier of 10 selected cases of degrading treatment including sexual torture against civilians in Russian-occupied territories.

The victims, four females and six males, came from three regions of Ukraine, some of which were subsequently liberated by Kyivs forces.

One victim, a 50-year-old resident of Kherson in southern Ukraine, was detained twice in 2023 and 2024.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Over three interrogations he was electrocuted, kicked in the kidneys and sodomised with a rifle. He also lost teeth in a beating and was subjected to a mock execution.

Another Kherson resident was water boarded, a technique that simulates drowning, while his girlfriend was threatened with rape.

Forcibly held down, the victim had a cloth placed over his mouth and water tipped over him. Survivors of water boarding report feeling terrified that they are about to drown.

A 40-year-old female from Kherson was sexually molested before she and her infant daughter were threatened with rape.

Ms Edwards has been the UNs special rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment, since 2022.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Her mandate covers all countries, irrespective of whether a state has ratified the convention against such activity, and regularly conducts fact-finding missions into war-torn countries.

She reports formally to the UN at least once a year and has regularly written to Russian authorities detailing her concerns of alleged torture against soldiers and civilians in Ukraine.

Used as a form of blackmail

She said often the purposes of torture were to obtain information or make video recordings of people being forced to sign confessions, for later exploitation.

They are used as a form of blackmail to keep them loyal to the Russian authorities in those areas, or to instil fear in the population to make them worried about speaking out or trying to leave the areas or not do what theyre told by the occupying forces.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

She said it was important for victims and survivors to have their material documented as justice always comes.

It may come very late, but the goal here is to keep the focus on these terrible violations and put pressure on Russia to stop them, she said.

The victims and survivors at least have that small sense that someone cares and that someone is documenting these cases for use later, potentially trials or other forms of compensation that may be paid to those victims, survivors and their families.

She has also investigated some allegations of torture by Ukrainian troops and said those also need to be well-documented, and perpetrators brought to account.

Vladimir Putin has so far issued no directives to his armed forces to end the use of torture, according to Ms Edwards - RAMIL SITDIKOV/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Roughly halfway through her tenure, Ms Edwards worries that the international community lacks the commitment to eradicate the use of torture.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Its not good enough to say well, this is something that happens in wartime when people have adrenaline running through their bodies and theyve been trained to believe the enemy are these other people.

I think its really important that we go back to basic principles and states remember why they joined the UN Charter in 1945 and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The prohibition on torture was one of the unanimously agreed prohibitions at that time in 1948. We need to remember why we have the United Nations, why we have these prohibitions and that they are sacred and significant.

The only way we can live together as human beings across borders, different political views and different religions is if we treat each other with dignity.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

At the base of the prohibition of torture is that everyone deserves dignified treatment.

Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine is really showing us the worst of humanity.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
A top boarding school has been ordered to pay 145,000 to a pupil who suffered a drug-induced breakdown after she was given drugs by senior boys at the school.

Irune Pedrayes was 14 and in her first weeks at the 34,000-a-year Buckswood School in East Sussex when she was given mephedrone-laced vape liquid by sixth-form boys.

It led to a weekend in which Ms Pedrayes, now 20, spent Friday to Sunday vaping the Class B drug and drinking alcohol.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Ms Pedrayess parents were not told about the incident, which landed her in hospital after she suffered an extended psychotic outbreak including symptoms of hallucinations, anxiety, deja vu and tearfulness.

The breakdown continued for weeks until she left the school to return to her native Spain, where she received anti-psychotic medication.

Ms Pedrayes won a compensation payout of 145,000 after Judge Geraint Webb KC said Buckswood School was negligent in failing to tell her parents what happened.

Her parents were told she had been vaping and the hospital treatment was for an unrelated infection.

Ms Pedraye left Buckswood School in 2019 and returned to her native Spain - Champion News

At a High Court trial in July, the court heard that during a weekend in Sept 2019, Ms Pedrayes had been supplied with magic, a vape liquid containing the Class B drug mephedrone, which also goes under the street names meow-meow or m-cat, by sixth-form pupils.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Her barrister, Meghann McTague, said: The claimant spent that whole weekend  Friday, Saturday and Sunday  consuming a Class B drug that was supplied to her by older boys at the school, and drinking alcohol.

This drug use took place on the rugby pitch at the school. She was with four other students from the school. Nobody discovered those students.

High all weekend

Nobody noticed, despite attending mealtimes and at bedtime, that she was high all weekend.

After the psychotic incident leading to her hospital admittance, Ms Pedrayess behaviour continued to deteriorate, including a further incident of drug use, before she left the school in Nov 2019.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Passing judgment, Judge Webb said the schools actions during the incident fell below the requisite standard of care.

He said: In my judgment, it is clear that the symptoms noted by the school nurse amount to a personal injury of a type which should have been reported to the claimants parents as soon as possible under the schools first aid policy.

By not telling her parents what had happened, the school prevented them from taking steps to make sure she was safe, he added.

Apart from anything else, the claimants parents needed to be informed of the true facts in order to be able to make a properly informed decision, in the interests of the claimant, as to what, if any, steps should be taken to mitigate the risks of any continued drug use, Judge Webb said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

However, he cleared the school of accusations of being soft on drug use and of failing to look after Ms Pedrayes due to her additional needs as a challenging pupil.

He said the evidence in the case was not indicative of a culture of tolerance or complacency on the part of the school in relation to illicit drugs.

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.
BOLIVIA, N.C. (WNCN)  With Potential Tropical Cyclone 9 forming Friday and expected to develop further over the weekend, one school system along North Carolinas coast has already canceled classes for Monday.

On Friday afternoon, Brunswick County Schools in the southeastern corner of the state announced it will be closed to students due to the threat of inclement weather. The district said staff will receive information through their email and from their supervisors. Plans for Tuesday will be put out no later than 5 p.m. Monday, according to the system.

Future Imelda has new name; Heres what it means for North Carolina

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

One county north in New Hanover County, school leaders there have not yet made a final decision on Mondays schedule as of 4 p.m. Friday. According to New Hanover County Schools, the most likely scenario is for students to come in as normal and then be dismissed early, with all after school activities canceled. District officials said a full update will be put out over the weekend to families and staff.

The counties along the coast as well as other parts of North Carolina are expecting impacts from a system currently located in the Caribbean between Cuba and Haiti. The National Hurricane Center is expecting it to form into an organized storm over the weekend that would be named Imelda.

The timing of the storms formation could mean that it could be off the North Carolina or South Carolina by Monday afternoon, according to forecasters.

CBS 17 is keeping an eye on all tropical systems. Stay tuned for forecast updates throughout the weekend.

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 CBS17.com.
New Zealand dairy and infant-formula business Synlait Milk has agreed to sell its North Island assets to the local unit of US-based Abbott Laboratories.

As Synlait announced today (29 September) it had returned to EBITDA profitability and trimmed net losses to NZ$40m (-$23.1m) in fiscal 2025, the company revealed the deal for the equivalent of US$178m with Abbott.

The North Island assets, which were part of a strategic review last year, essentially consist of Synlaits Pokeno factory, a blending and canning facility on Richard Pearse Drive, and a warehouse on Jerry Green Street.

In a separate notice today, New Zealand and Australia-listed Synlait confirmed its largest shareholder - Bright Dairy in China with 65.25% - will vote its approval on the sale proposal at a meeting of investors on 21 November.

The meeting has been called because the sale assets comprise a significant proportion  more than half - of Synlaits average market capitalisation.

That was NZ$429.7m as of the market close on Friday, while the gross value of the North Island assets is around NZ$273m, according to a statement.

The transaction is otherwise expected to close on 1 April but Abbott will also require consent under the Overseas Investment Act.

Just Food has asked Abbott for confirmation and comment from its side of the asset transaction.

Synlait said it has opted to sell the assets because they are underutilised and are therefore incurring financial losses for the group business.

Retention of the assets while attempting to improve utilisation, and carrying the associated execution risk, is not prudent in the face of a compelling offer from a credible buyer, Synlait explained.

The Pokeno facility is capable of producing a full suite of nutritional, formulated powders (including infant-grade skim milk, whole milk and infant-formula base powders), the company said, adding the plant was designed with capacity to produce 45,000 metric tonnes of spray dried product.

Abbott has been a Synlait customer since 2020 under a manufacturing agreement. The partnership will continue post the North Island transaction for a range of transitional services for up to three years and a possible extension thereafter.

Details of those arrangements were not disclosed.

Synlait added that following the 2020 agreement with Abbott, the Pokeno factory underwent customisation to enable the capability to process dairy and non-dairy nutritional products.

Proceeds from the asset sale would reduce Synlaits debt, which was cut in fiscal 2025 from NZ$551.6m to $250.7m.
Ariel Sharons Temple Mount visit sparked the Second Intifada, reshaping Israels security - and setting the stage for October 7.

It has been 25 years since Ariel Sharon, opposition leader at the time, visited the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The visit led to riots, and it is often seen as a key spark of the Second Intifada.

We now know that the decision to launch the Second Intifada was rooted in much larger decisions of Palestinian terrorist groups. They used the visit to the Temple Mount as a pretext.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Its worth thinking back about how much has changed since then. In 2000, during the lead-up to the Temple Mount visit, there was continued talk of pursuing peace with the Palestinians.

The Oslo Accords in 1993 and Oslo II in 1995 had been challenged. They were challenged by Hamas terrorist attacks and bombings and also by Israels Right, which wanted to prevent a Palestinian state.

The Oslo peace process was made possible, in part, by the end of the Cold War. This was an era of peace processes around the world and transition to democracy.

PLO chairman Yasser Arafat shakes hands with Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin as US president Bill Clinton stands between them, after the signing of the Oslo Peace Accords at the White House on September 13, 1993. (credit: GARY HERSHORN/REUTERS)

With the Soviet Union gone, there was less support for various radical, extremist, armed struggle groups. The Palestinians were one such group.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The PLO and Yasser Arafats version of the Palestinian nationalist agenda brought about the Oslo Accords after years of terrorism.

Many people saw this as natural. The IRA in Northern Ireland was also moving toward peace and accommodation. South Africa was transitioning to democracy.

When people looked at the Israel-Palestinian peace process, they sold themselves a story that there would be bitter people on both ends of the extremes, but the centrists would win out.

What they meant was that just as a few bitter IRA members continued the struggle, they would not be the norm. Instead, they believed, Israels far Right would end up like some of the Afrikaners in South Africas Bophuthatswana, an apartheid-era homeland.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

In that 1994 crisis, a few Afrikaner extremists tried to ally themselves to one of the African homeland governments to prevent the transition to democracy. Ultimately, several armed Afrikaners were killed, and Bophuthatswana ceased to exist.

People thought the Oslo process would produce a few Baruch Goldstein moments, and all would be well.

However, all was not well. Hamas, which was founded in the 1980s and rooted in the Muslim Brotherhood, sought to destroy the peace process.

Similarly, the Israeli Right believed that Israel was sleep-walking into a trap. Indeed, that is what happened.

The Palestinian Authority never set up a functioning state-in-the-making that pushed for peace. Instead, many Palestinian groups believed Israel could be forced out of Gaza and the West Bank using violence.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Why did they think this? They saw Israel leave Lebanon in May 2000 and figured Israel would leave the West Bank with a small push. Once the killing began, about 200 Israelis and 469 Palestinians were killed in 2001.

When Israel waited to respond forcefully, the terrorism got worse. In March 2002, a suicide bombing killed 30 people at the Park Hotel in Netanya.

Ariel Sharon had returned to be prime minister the previous year. Now, after a year of waiting, he decided to launch Operation Defensive Shield to retake parts of the Palestinian cities that had been ruled by the PA.

Deadly fighting took place, especially in Jenin. Israel was slammed internationally for sending tanks into Bethlehem, Ramallah, and other places.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The hopes for a Palestinian state vanished, as the airport in Gaza was destroyed, and large numbers of people were killed on both sides.

At the time, Sharon was depicted abroad as a monster who was about to commit another Sabra and Shatila massacre, a genocide, as had happened in the 1980s in Lebanon.

The truth about Sabra and Shatila or how many had actually died in Jenin in 2002 didnt matter. The narrative was set: Israel was massacring Palestinians.

THE OVERALL death toll of the Second Intifada was high, with several thousand Palestinians and more than 1,000 Israelis killed between 2000 and 2004.

Numbers considered high during the Second Intifada pale in comparison to Israel-Hamas war

Those were considered huge numbers back then. Today, they are seen as relatively small because of the disasters that unfolded during the October 7 massacre and the subsequent war.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

More than 900 soldiers have been killed, as have more than 1,000 Israeli civilians and more than 60,000 Gazans, including many Hamas members and civilians.

So many civilians have been killed in Israel since the October 7 massacre that there isnt even an easy place to find the exact number. More were killed in one day than the four years of the Second Intifada.

That is how large the disaster was, and it continued after the disaster. For instance, 31 Israelis were killed in the 12-day war with Iran. However, death has become so commonplace in Israel that this number isnt seen as some huge amount.

In 2002, when a similar number of Israelis were killed in a bombing, it led to Operation Defensive Shield. Today, it is seen as the normal sacrifice.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

How many Israeli civilians were killed by Hezbollah attacks since the October 7 massacre? The number does not appear readily available. The Israel-Hamas War takes the lives of soldiers every week, but so many have been killed that there is barely time to mourn before the new casualties arrive.

The Second Intifada was a break with the past. It was much bloodier than the First Intifada. It led to the creation of the separation fence. It also led to almost complete separation from Palestinians in the West Bank.

The Second Intifada buried any chance at coexistence. The lesson was that separation was the only option. The walls and fences grew, and Israel left Gaza in 2005.

As we all know, Hamas took over Gaza in 2007. Palestinian elections didnt produce democracy and peace. Instead, they led to cementing the aging Fatah leadership in power.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

These bureaucrats, who looked like late Soviet henchmen, promised the Palestinians nothing more than corruption and failure. Hamas promised war.

As such, what we all got from 2005 at the end of the Second Intifada until the October 7 massacre was a status quo. Israel managed the conflict by mowing the grass via raids in the West Bank and flare-ups in Gaza.

Israel became arrogant and complacent sitting behind walls defended by Iron Dome interceptors and hi-tech.

Like the French in 1940, or the Americans before the Tet Offensive in the Vietnam War, or Custer wandering into the Little Bighorn, Israel assumed all was fine.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The October 7 massacre closed the door on the end of the Second Intifada. The lesson of Defense Shield was that tanks and muscle could end the insurgency.

But all that was forgotten  replaced with hi-tech and arrogance.

Then, with more than 1,000 dead and 250 taken hostage  with Jews carted off like it was the Kishinev pogrom, or massacre, in the 1880s in what is today Moldova  Israel went back into Gaza.

One thing can be said about the Second Intifada: No matter how much Israel suffered, it never became as weak as it was on October 7, 2023. The resulting war in Gaza, which has spread mass destruction, looks different than Defensive Shield largely because of the reaction.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Unlike the Second Intifada, Israel let its enemies on all fronts become far too strong after 2005.

Many of the paradigms gifted to Israel by its leaders in the 1990s and early 2000s have now been tossed out. Today, Israel is grasping for a new doctrine.
In Serbia, there is a word for a form of stubbornness that sees someone act out of spite or defiance rather than yield to the will of others: inat.

Its something Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic is showing remarkable levels of right now.

For almost a year, anti-government protests have roiled the Balkan nation. They intensified over summer 2025, culminating in angry clashes between students and police in August and September.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

But Vucic has stood firm in the face of growing calls for his resignation. In fact, as scholars of politics and history in Southeast Europe, we have watched Vucic take Serbia even further down an authoritarian path. In so doing, he is drawing from the well-worn playbook of autocratic leaders past and present  not least his former boss Slobodan Milosevic and Vladimir Putin, the Russian leader Vucic openly admires.

Yet, while Vucic can draw on support from Putin and fellow authoritarians overseas, he is losing legitimacy at home. Opposing him is a new generation of civic activists who have won the Serbian publics backing by reclaiming inat as force for positive change.

Unmoved by a movement

The immediate trigger for the ongoing unrest came in November 2024 with the deadly collapse of a train station canopy in Novi Sad, a city in northern Serbia.

Renovated with funding from Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, the canopy was one of many projects touted by Vucics government as evidence of its success in attracting foreign investment. The accidents 16 deaths, however, served to sharpen questions about corruption, failures of oversight and government accountability.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Student protests gathered momentum through winter and into spring. One demonstration, on March 15, saw more than 300,000 people turn out in Belgrade. Activists have also employed civil disobedience tactics, like staging pop-up roadblocks in Serbian cities, to maintain pressure on the government.

But Vucic has remained obdurate. On Sept. 1, while large crowds gathered in Belgrade and other Serbian cities, Vucic joined Putin and other leaders critical of Western-style democracy at a large military parade in Beijing.

Then on Sept. 20, Vucic staged his own show of strength, with soldiers and tanks taking part in a military parade in Belgrade as Russian-bought MiG-29 fighter planes flew overhead.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic hold a bilateral meeting on Sept. 2, 2025, in Beijing. Getty Images

From reform to repression

Vucics reaction to the protests and his cozying up to leaders of Russia and China reveal how the Serbian leaders politics have changed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

He was once perceived as a pro-European reformer. Indeed, Vucic and his Serbian Progressive Party campaigned on a pro-European Union platform in the 2012 election that brought them to power.

First serving as deputy prime minister before becoming prime minister in 2014, Vucic won plaudits for seeking to resolve long-standing tensions over Kosovos status as a sovereign country. At that time, it was Vucic who led his countrys negotiations with the EU over a normalization of relations between Serbia and its former province.

Vucic also showed willingness to improve Serbias ties with neighboring Bosnia-Herzegovina. Whereas many Serbian citizens still felt primary affinity for the Serb-dominated Republika Srpska, whose armed forces committed genocide at Srebrenica in 1995, Vucic risked domestic censure when, in 2015, he labeled that massacre of Bosniak men and boys by Serbian paramilitaries a monstrous crime. Vucic also showed up at Srebrenica to pay his respects to the victims, despite local hostility.

Those diplomatic gestures, along with his success in attracting foreign investment, won Vucic international praise as an effective reformer. Serbian voters, likewise, acknowledged the economic stability and the countrys improved reputation.

Backtracking on record

Those assessments started to change in earnest, however, after Vucic secured election as president in 2017. Critics say that he has leveraged his position to amass power and influence, mimicking methods familiar to those living under authoritarian-leaning governments in Hungary and Russia.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Meanwhile, the U.K.s Brexit vote in 2016, the election of Donald Trump in 2016 and then the global disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic all changed the dynamics of the international community, reducing outside pressure that had advanced democratic norms.

What followed in Serbia was backsliding on democracy. Serbias once-vibrant media now operates as government cheerleader. Independent journalism outlets have faced harassment, censorship and lawsuits as part of a state-sponsored campaign of censorship.

Meanwhile, on the diplomatic front, Vucic changed his tune on Kosovo. He now pledges to protect the interests of the breakaway provinces Serbs and portrays Kosovos Albanian leader, Albin Kurti, as the obstacle to any normalization deal.

On Bosnia-Herzegovina, Vucic has also backtracked, expressing support for long-time Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik  who has been barred from office by the countrys constitutional court, but defies that ruling.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

To Serbian audiences, Vucic accuses the EU of duplicity and anti-Serbian prejudice. Meanwhile, he smears the student-led movement as a Western-led color revolution aimed at politically motivated regime change. Critics are fascists and foreign mercenaries.

Europe gets wise to Vucic

In all this, Vucic has drawn on Kremlin talking points and an authoritarian playbook to distract attention away from his governments practices. He and his allies cast the current protests not as a movement built on grassroots mobilization, but as the result of meddling by foreign agents.

In taking this authoritarian turn, Vucic invites critics to see parallels with Milosevic, under whom the current president served in the 1990s as minister of information. Milosevic, who died while on trial for war crimes, did much to inflame Serbian nationalism in the early 1990s and presided over the bloody wars in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo. After Milosevics ouster in the Bulldozer Revolution of 2000, Vucic spent a decade in opposition before returning to government in 2012.

And while European diplomats were for many years eager to court Vucic, even tolerating hedging tactics that saw Serbia expand ties with Russia and China, that changed amid the presidents response to months of protest.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

In March, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen noted on the social platform X that Serbia needs to deliver on EU reforms, in particular to take decisive steps towards media freedom, the fight against corruption and the electoral reform.

Marta Kos, European Commissioner for Enlargement, delivered blunter assessment six months later, noting in a European Parliament debate the wave of violence and continuous use of force against protesters in Serbia.

Such criticism has seen Vucic turn increasingly to China, Russia and also to the Trump administration, with Donald Trump Jr.s visit to Serbia in March as emblematic of the warming ties between Washington and Belgrade.

The inat of the Serbian people

Vucic has spent over a decade directing a political spectacle in which he presents himself as the one force capable of saving Serbia. And for the better part of the past year, he has attempted to paper over the cracks in his rule through a strategy of imposing increasingly authoritarian measures at home while seeking support from like-minded regimes abroad.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

But the fact that this ploy has not extinguished the still ongoing anti-government protests suggests it may be a failing tactic.

And like Milosevic in the late 1990s, Vucic seems to have underestimated the force of inat of the Serbian people. The Bulldozer Revolution that ousted Milosevic was comprised of Serbs from a wide range of backgrounds, all determined to bring down an unpopular autocrat who put his own political survival above the needs of citizens.

They did so through grassroots mobilization and shared recognition that the true obstacle to prosperity was not foreign conspiracy, but Milosevic himself. For all his individual stubbornness and spite, Milosevic could not match the resilience and determination of Serbias citizens.

That same energy appears to be in the streets of Belgrade now, sustained by a new generation of citizens standing firm against the tactic of a different autocratic leader.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Keith Brown, Arizona State University and Hanna Begic, Arizona State University

Read more:



Keith Brown receives funding from the Finland Fulbright Foundation, and directs a Center that until recently has received funds from the US Department of State Title VIII program, the US Department of Education Title VI program, and the US Embassy in Yerevan, Armenia.

Hanna Begic does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
By Xinghui Kok

SINGAPORE (Reuters) -Singapore's population grew 1.2% in June compared to a year ago, hitting a new high of 6.11 million, government statistics released on Monday showed.

Singapore has experienced steady population growth since the end of the pandemic, during which strict restrictions kept foreigners away and led to rare instances of the Asian financial hub's population shrinking.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The latest population increase came mostly from the growth in the number of foreign workers, which reached 1.91 million as of June, 2.7% higher than a year earlier.

The National Population and Talent Division said the increase came from workers in the construction, marine shipyard and processing sectors as well as domestic workers.

The workers in the construction sector "support key infrastructure projects such as Changi Terminal 5 and the ramping up of housing supply", it said.

The statistics for June showed that the citizen population inched up 0.7% from a year earlier to 3.66 million, while the number of permanent residents remained at 0.54 million.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Increases in the number of foreigners in land-scarce Singapore can be a bugbear for political leaders, especially when voters are insecure about jobs and the cost of living.

In 2013, the orderly island nation saw protests against plans for a dramatic increase in immigration that would boost the population to 6.9 million by 2030.

The population division said the pace of growth in foreign employment remained stable from June 2024 to June 2025.

Unemployment rates in Singapore remained low at 2% in June despite a decrease in job vacancies as businesses worry about a slowing economy.

Singapore's economy grew slightly faster than initially estimated at 4.4% year-on-year in the April-June quarter, but authorities expect growth to slow in the second half of the year under the impact of U.S. tariffs.

(Reporting by Xinghui Kok; Editing by David Stanway)
A solution to the war in Gaza is "within reach" thanks to US efforts, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on Monday.

At a meeting with his Polish, French and Ukrainian counterparts in Warsaw, Wadephul called on Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas to agree to US President Donald Trump's peace plan.

"A solution is within reach," he said. "We call on all parties involved to now have the courage to take the final decisive step."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"This war must now finally come to an end, and Hamas must finally let the hostages return to their families," added Wadephul.

The German government has been working hard in recent months to reach this stage, he argued. "Now is the time to open the door to long-term peace."

Berlin is convinced that only a negotiated two-state solution will bring peace, and that Hamas can no longer play any role in governing Gaza.

Trump is set to present Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with a plan to end the bloody conflict later on Monday at the White House.

Consultations on the plan are "in the final stages," Trump told the Axios news website.
GUILFORD, Vermont  A 19-year-old Springfield, Massachusetts, woman was seriously injured when she crashed her car into a tree Sunday afternoon.

The woman was driving north on Interstate 91 when she lost control of her car shortly after crossing into Vermont. She struck a tree head-on in the crash, which took place at about 3:05 p.m., Vermont State Police said.

She was taken to Brattleboro Memorial Medical Center by ambulance and was being treated for serious injuries.

Her 2008 Toyota Camry was totaled in the crash, police said.

Read the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
This story has been updated with additional information.

The gunman who plowed his pickup truck, donning two American flags in back, into a Michigan church and then began shooting at worshippers on Sunday, Sept. 28, was a U.S. Marine veteran who served in Iraq.

The attack left at least five people, including the gunman, dead and eight others hospitalized.

More: Michigan church shooting suspect went on anti-LDS tirade, political candidate said

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, of Burton, was killed by police less than 10 minutes after the mass shooting and church fire at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township began, authorities said.

Sanford did stints in Japan and Iraq after graduating from Goodrich High School in 2003, according to a 2007 news article from the Clarkston News.

The newspaper described his military career at the time as "stellar." He served in Okinawa, Japan, earned honors "on the rifle range," and was a sergeant before he was sent to serve in Fallujah, Iraq, the newspaper reported. The paper said he was a wrecker driver who helped recover damaged vehicles.

Sanford doesn't appear to have a criminal record, according to online court records.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Randy Thronson lives in a house about 150 yards away Sanford's home.

"I didn't know him that much; I went and bought firewood from him. He plowed our driveway a couple of times. He went out and plowed people's driveways. He did it for free a lot of times, but one time I had $20 on me, so I gave him $20.

"I thought he was a good guy. I had no problem with him, he was friendly."

Sanford was married. Property records show he took out a mortgage with his wife in 2021 at the house on East Atherton in Burton. He bought the house in 2016.

Thronson said he's a 25-year veteran of the U.S. Army, and that Sanford told him that he also was a military veteran. "I think he said the Marines," Thronson said, adding he believed Sanford also was a truck driver.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

When he learned Sanford was the suspect in the mass shooting at the Grand Blanc Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "I couldn't believe it," Thronson said.

"You've just got to be careful. You think of these things happening in the Third World or Israel, not here in the United States. It just doesn't make any sense."

At 5 p.m. on Sunday, before Sanford was publicly identified as the shooter, there was a strong showing of law enforcement in front of his home. A Michigan State Police helicopter circled overhead and dozens of police vehicles had East Atherton Road blocked in front of the home. A bomb squad vehicle with bulldozer tracks and an armored cab was also stationed out front, with other vehicles included two bomb squad vans, multiple police cruisers and Medstar Ambulance waiting at the ready. And, at one point, a robot and a drone were deployed.

Nearby homes were evacuated. One officer on scene advised news media to move back, saying there was a small possibility of an explosion. He stressed it was likely a small possibility, but wanted people to be aware.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The bloodshed prompted chaos in the small-town community not far from Flint. Authorities on Sunday feared more people are believed to have been trapped inside the church and may have perished in the flames.

Survivors evacuated from the church were taken to the nearby NCG Trillium Cinema for "reunification and questioning," an officer told the Detroit Free Press.

As church attendees left the theater, some rushed to family members and friends waiting outside, hugging, weeping, and praying.

Andrea Sahouri covers criminal justice for the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at asahouri@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Thomas Jacob Sanford: What we know about church shooting suspect
The Taliban freed a American citizen from an Afghan prison on Sunday, weeks after saying they had reached an agreement with US envoys on a prisoner exchange as part of an effort to normalize relations.

The deputy spokesperson for the Taliban foreign ministry, Zia Ahmad Takal, identified the man as Amir Amiri. He did not say when Amiri was detained, why, or where.

An official with knowledge of the release said Amiri had been detained in Afghanistan since December 2024 and was on his way back to the US.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the details with the media.

Qatar facilitated Amiri's release in the latest diplomatic achievement resulting from its security partnership with the US that has secured the freedom of four other Americans from Taliban detention this year. Qatar, an energy-rich nation on the Arabian Peninsula, also helped in releasing a British couple who were imprisoned for months.

US secretary of state Marco Rubio welcomed Amiri's release, saying it marked the administrations determination, reinforced by the presidents recent executive order, to protect American nationals from wrongful detention abroad.

While this marks an important step forward, additional Americans remain unjustly detained in Afghanistan. President Trump will not rest until all our captive citizens are back home.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Ahmad Habibi, the brother of Mahmood Habibi, a US citizen held by the Taliban for more than three years, said he and his family were grateful to hear the news about Amiri, and they remained hopeful that Mahmood would be brought home as well.

Mahmood Habibi, an Afghan-American business owner, worked as a contractor for a Kabul-based telecommunications company and vanished in 2022. The FBI and his family have said they believe he was taken by the Taliban, who have denied holding him.

We are grateful that senior officials at the State Department and National Security Council have repeatedly assured us that any deal they do with the Taliban will be all or nothing and they have explicitly assured us that they will not leave my brother behind, Ahmad Habibi said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.




Listen, we won't blame you if you wanna ditch Texas' year-round summer for a new adventure in the Great White North, but you should at least take a slice of home (or a whole brisket) with you. Luckily for you, the largest barbecue chain in the world already has a home in arguably the most Texan province in Canada.

Dickey's Barbecue Pit, the Dallas-based smoked meats empire with over 600 restaurants around the world, has 24 restaurants open or in the works in Canada, including 13 in Alberta and three in Calgary. In fact, Dickey's first Calgary restaurant (55 Castleridge Blvd. NE, Suite 156) celebrated its one-year anniversary on Monday, September 29.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"Celebrating our first year in Calgary is incredibly meaningful," Jamal Kayani, Calgary franchisee, said in a news release. "This community has welcomed us with open arms, and it has been an honor to share authentic Texas barbecue with our neighbors. We are grateful for every guest who has made us part of their family gatherings, celebrations and everyday meals. This is only the beginning and we are excited for many more years to come."

Dickey's Barbecue Pit. (Courtesy of Dickey's Barbecue Pit)





Dickey's Barbecue Pit. (Courtesy of Dickey's Barbecue Pit)





If you've never heard of Calgary - or can't find it on a map - it's 2,000 miles northwest of San Antonio in the Canadian province of Alberta and is Canada's closest major city to the Montana border. More than a handful of Calgary locals have made their way to Texas as cowboy culture remains steeped in the city $1.7 million people. The famed Calgary Stampede rodeo kicked off in 1886 and has been held every year since. So we're thinking Texas barbecue will be right at home with these folks.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"Canada has proven to be an amazing market for Dickey's, and Calgary has led the way in showing how much Canadians love great barbecue," Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc, said in the release. "Jamal and his team have built more than a restaurant. They have built a gathering place where the community can experience authentic Texas flavors and southern hospitality. We could not be prouder of the impact they have made in just one year."

The anniversary comes four days after Dickey's announced 46 new restaurants opened in 2025, stretching from Alabama to Washington and internationally in Alberta, Ontario, and the Philippines, the company shared in a news release. Dickey's is reportedly pacing to open 60 new restaurants by the end of the year.

So, if you're a fan of "smoked brisket, fall off the bone ribs, smoked chicken and savory sides," just give it a little time and Dickey's could be coming to your city soon.

Find your closest Dickey's location here.
Sysco has acquired UK foodservice supplier Fairfax Meadow from UK meat business Hilton Food Group in a 54m ($75.2m) deal.

In a statement today (29 September), Sysco described Fairfax Meadow as one of the UKs leading catering butchers.

Fairfax Meadow employs 360 staff and operates three production and distribution sites in the UK: in Derby, Enfield and Eastleigh.

Sysco, one of the world's largest foodservice suppliers, said Fairfax Meadow will add meat manufacturing capacity to its business in the UK.

Last October, the US giant snapped up Scottish meat and fish supplier. Campbells Prime Meat.

Sysco said it now had an unrivalled national meat distribution network.

Paul Nieduszynski, the CEO of Sysco's operations in Great Britain, added: We have a strategic focus on providing the best centre of plate offer in foodservice, and the acquisition of Fairfax Meadow is a crucial next step in our plan to build leadership in the critical meat category.

We believe this is a complementary fit for Sysco GB, strengthening our fresh meat proposition across the country and bringing even greater value to our customers.

The deal includes a three-year contract with Hilton Food Group, which will supply Fairfax Meadow with meat products.

Hilton Food Group had owned Fairfax Meadow since 2021. In a London Stock Exchange filing today, the company was "a further step in aligning the business more closely with its core strengths".

Earlier this month, Steve Murrells, Hilton Food Group's CEO, said the meat and seafood business had started a project "that focuses on sharpening our future priorities".

The company said today: Work on this project is progressing well, and a further update will be provided in due course."

Murrells added: By refining our portfolio and focusing resources where our global expertise and strong customer partnerships create the greatest opportunities, we are reinforcing the platform for sustained growth and delivering attractive long-term returns.

In the first half of Hilton Food Group's financial year, a six-month period that ran to 29 June, revenue rose 7.6% to 2.09bn.

However, operating profit fell 5.3% to 41.3m. Profit for the period stood at 17.1m, down from 17.9m in the first half of 2024.

In June, the company confirmed plans for its first North American processing and distribution site in Brantford, Ontario.

Earlier this year, the group formed a joint venture with The National Agricultural Development Company (NADEC) in Saudi Arabia.

Hilton Food Group plans to develop facilities in Saudi Arabia, while NADEC will supply the venture and add red meat products to its distribution network.
BANGKOK (AP)  Thailands new prime minister told lawmakers on Monday that his government would address the countrys economic woes, find solutions to the ongoing border conflict with Cambodia through diplomacy and push for a new and more democratic constitution.

Anutin Charnvirakul faces a self-imposed deadline. He had promised to call elections in four months in exchange for the Peoples Party  which holds the most seats in Parliament  supporting his bid to become prime minister. He was elected in Parliament earlier this month.

The party has a progressive platform and has long sought to change the existing constitution imposed under military rule, saying it wants to make it more democratic. Anutin had promised to call a referendum for an elected constituent assembly to draft a new charter.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

He said in his inaugural speech in Parliament on Monday that his government will support the referendum and public participation to uphold the countrys constitutional monarchy.

Anutin also promised to tackle corruption and crime and restore faith and happiness to the Thai people.

Anutin is constricted in what he can do by the four-month deadline, but also the terms of his deal with the Peoples Party, which declared it would act as the opposition in the legislature, potentially voting against Anutin's initiatives.

The Thai government will also seek to relieve household debt and reduce the rising cost of electricity, gasoline and transport, and move to alleviate fallouts from trade wars and U.S. tariff policy, Anutin said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

He told lawmakers he will push for a referendum on whether Thailand should revoke the existing memorandum of understanding on border issues with Cambodia.

The two neighbors engaged in a five-day armed conflict in late July that killed dozens of civilians and soldiers and displaced more than 260,000 people. The countries competing territorial claims have not been resolved, and the risk of further fighting remains high despite a cease-fire agreement.

Anutin also said the government will crack down on illegal gambling and strive to improve the country's natural disaster alert system, promote clean energy and tackle air pollution.

Anutin, who heads the Bhumjaithai Party, succeeded the Pheu Thai Partys Paetongtarn Shinawatra. She was dismissed after being found guilty of ethics violations over a politically compromising phone call with Cambodias Senate President Hun Sen.
NEED TO KNOW

Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, allegedly opened fire on more than 100 worshippers at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Michigan before lighting the building on fire

Four people were killed and eight were injured in the Sunday, Sept. 28 attack

Sanford is a former Marine who was deployed in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom

A Michigan man accused of opening fire on more than 100 worshippers at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints before lighting the building on fire was a former Marine.

Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, lived about six miles away from the Grand Blanc Township church where four people were killed and eight others were injured in the Sunday, Sept. 28 attack.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Sanford was later killed in a gunfight with police.

Authorities are still working to determine a motive, but White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News Monday that Sanford was an individual who hated people of the Mormon faith," CNN reported.

The FBI is now leading the investigation and is investigating this as an act of targeted violence, FBI special agent in charge Reuben Coleman confirmed following the attack, per NBC News.

Police allege that around 10:25 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 28, Sanford crashed into the church with two American flags mounted on the bed of his silver pickup truck, stepped out of the vehicle and then opened fire on parishioners inside the church with an assault rifle, per KUTV.

Bill Pugliano/Getty The burned church as emergency services respond to a shooting and fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The burned church as emergency services respond to a shooting and fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

During the attack, Sanford is also suspected of using gasoline to start the blaze, per officials, according to the outlet.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Parishioner Brian Taylor told FOX 2 that "None of us recognized this guy," he said. "He came [inside] in camo pants and [with] an assault rifle."

Sanford joined the Marine Corps in 2004, one year after graduating high school, according to the Clarkston News. In 2007, he was deployed to Iraq.

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.

Im excited to go, Sanford told the Clarkston News at the time. Im looking forward to seeing the culture and the people of Iraq. Ill return with the real news of the situation. There are many changes we are making in the Middle East. We are making progress. The citizens of Iraq are beginning to step up.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

According to a Marines spokesman, Sanford was part of Operation Iraqi Freedom from August 2007 to March 2008. During his time with the Marines, he worked as an organizational automotive mechanic and a vehicle recovery operator.

He left the Marines in 2008 as a sergeant.

His last duty assignment was at Camp Lejeune, N.C., per the spokesperson.

Sanford was awarded multiple medals including the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal, the spokesperson said.



Per CNN, at the time of the attack, Sanford was married with a 10-year-old son who was reportedly born in 2015 with a rare genetic disorder.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

According to the outlet, citing a since-deleted family Facebook page, the baby was diagnosed with a condition called Congenital Hyperinsulinism, which required a long-term hospital stay and multiple surgeries to remove portions of the pancreas.

A GoFundMe page was created seeking donations to help pay for the medical care of Sanford's son.

Read the original article on People
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  The foreign ministers of North Korea and China agreed to deepen bilateral ties and resist hegemonism, a likely reference to their pushbacks against the United States.

Their meeting in Beijing on Sunday came about three weeks after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Chinese President Xi Jinping held their first summit in more than six years and pledged mutual support and enhanced cooperation. Kim and Xi earlier attended a massive Beijing military parade marking the end of the World War II, with other world leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The joint appearance of Kim, Xi and Putin, the first of its kind, displayed a potential three-way unity against the United States, though it's unclear how far China would go in such an anti-U.S. partnership.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

In a meeting with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui cited Kim as saying that further bolstering ties with China is North Koreas unwavering position. Choe expressed an intent to deepen and develop friendly ties with China in line with the spirits of Kim-Xi summit, the Norths Korean Central News Agency reported Monday.

Wang said China maintains a firm position that it intends to solidify bilateral ties, saying its necessary to boost strategic communications and exchanges, KCNA said.

China's Xinhua News Agency cited Wang as saying China oppose all forms of hegemonism and stands ready to strengthen cooperation with North Korea in international and regional affairs. It quoted Choe as saying that North Korea is willing to closely cooperate with China in multilateral affairs, jointly resist unilateralism and power politics and promote a fairer and more just world order.

The comments likely referred to their countries' separate confrontations with the United States  China over strategic competitions with the U.S. and North Korea over its nuclear weapons program.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

KCNA said Choe and Wang exchanged views on regional and international affairs reached a complete consensus on the issues, but didn't elaborate.

Kim's attendance at the Beijing military parade was his first attendance at a major multilateral event during his 14-year rule.

In recent years, North Korea has been focusing on expanding cooperation with Russia by supplying combat troops and ammunitions to support its war against Ukraine. But experts say Kim now feels the need to improve ties with China, North Koreas biggest trading partner and aid benefactor, as he has to brace for the wars end. They say China, for its part, would want to maintain influence over North Korea, as bilateral ties reportedly cooled in the past few years.

Attention has turned to the makeup of the delegation China might send to North Korea when it commemorates the 80th founding anniversary of its ruling Workers Party next month. North Korea is expected to mark the anniversary with its own military parade to display new weapons targeting the U.S. and its allies.
A trial has opened for Moussa Mara, the former prime minister of Mali, who is currently jailed by the countrys military rulers over visiting political prisoners and expressing solidarity with them online.

The trial started at Malis specialised national cybercrime court unit in the capital city of Bamako on Monday, but no verdict has emerged yet, according to local media reports.

Mountaga Tall, the politicians lawyer, said in a post on X that the proceedings have two parts, namely a request to provisionally release Mara from jail, and the overall case on the merits. He also flagged that hearings are public.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The case stems from a post on X made by the former prime minister on July 4, which declared unwavering solidarity with prisoners of conscience.

Mara named several political prisoners to whom he paid visits, and said, As long as the night lasts, the sun will obviously appear!, adding, We will fight by all means for this to happen as soon as possible!

According to his lawyer, the online post prompted the West African countrys military authorities to pursue four charges through a cybercrime prosecutor who ordered the arrest.

The charges include undermining the states credibility and legitimacy, opposition to legitimate authority, inciting public disorder, and spreading false information.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Mali is under the military rule of General Assimi Goita, who was sworn in as transitional president in June 2021 after orchestrating two coups in two consecutive years.

Malis interim leader, Assimi Goita, left, with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a signing ceremony at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow, on June 23, 2025 [Pavel Bednyakov/Pool via Reuters]

In July 2025, the military-appointed parliament granted him a five-year presidential term, which is renewable without elections. Goita signed the law in the same month, and elections remain postponed indefinitely.

He also dissolved political parties in May 2025, changing the transition charter to extend his rule.

In August, military authorities arrested a group of servicemen and civilians, including two Malian army generals and a suspected French secret agent, accused of attempting to destabilise the country.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Mali, a landlocked nation in West Africas semi-arid Sahel region on the southern fringe of the Sahara Desert, has not been spared from the instability that has swept across West and Central Africa over the last decade.

In January 2024, Mali quit regional bloc ECOWAS and formed the Alliance of Sahel States with Burkina Faso and Niger, which are also ruled by military authorities that orchestrated coups.

The trio last week announced their withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), which can issue arrest warrants binding for all member states.

Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso have also rolled back defence cooperation with Western powers, most notably their former colonial ruler, France, and opted for closer ties with Russia.




Humberto is beginning to peter out but remains a cause for concern out over the Atlantic. The Miami-based National Hurricane Center said Tuesday that the storm was "likely to cause dangerous surf and life-threatening rip current conditions affecting beaches of the northern Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, and much of the east coast of the United States over the next several days."

Humberto rapidly strengthened over the weekend, reaching Category 5 strength on Saturday before beginning to weaken. On Wednesday, the hurricane center said it had merged with a front over the north Atlantic and lost hurricane strength.

The storm is one of two systems swirling over the western Atlantic. The other one, Imelda, strengthened into a hurricane Tuesday but was skirting away from the southeastern U.S.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Humberto forecast and path

"On the forecast track, the center of Humberto will pass west of, and then north of Bermuda today and Wednesday," the hurricane center said. "Continued weakening is forecast and Humberto is expected to become a strong extratropical system on Wednesday."

Map shows the forecast path for Hurricane Humberto, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025. / Credit: CBS News

Humberto was the eighth named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season.

Forecasters also tracking Imelda

The hurricane center is also closely monitoring Hurricane Imelda.

Hurricanes Imelda (left) and Humberto as seen from a satellite off the Florida coast as of 5:30 a.m. on Sept. 30, 2025. / Credit: NOAA / National Hurricane Center

A hurricane watch is in effect for Bermuda, meaning hurricane conditions are possible, due to the path forecast for Imelda, the NHC said.

Map shows the forecast paths for Imelda and Humberto over the Atlantic as of Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025. / Credit: CBS News

Watch: Pete Hegseth addresses military leaders at Quantico

National Flood Insurance Program expires amid government shutdown

Hegseth, Bondi arrive in Memphis to oversee federal crackdown on crime
Tropical Storm Imelda formed over the Bahamas Sunday afternoon and is expected to intensify into a hurricane, and while its forecast is less ominous for the Southeast coast, the storm will still be felt there.

Newly-formed Imelda has maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and is 335 miles southeast of Cape Canaveral, Florida, as of 8 p.m. ET, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Tropical storm warnings are in effect for the central and northwestern Bahamas where the tropical storm is currently wringing out heavy rain. Rainfall totals could range from 4 to 12 inches in the Bahamas and eastern Cuba, more than enough to trigger flash flooding.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The eventual path of Tropical Storm Imelda has been trending away from a direct landfall along the Southeast coast over the last 24 to 36 hours. After moving north and parallel to Floridas Atlantic coast through Monday, the storm is now expected to make an abrupt turn east and away from the coast while intensifying into a hurricane by late Monday or Tuesday.

The National Hurricane Center discontinued the tropical storm watches that had been in effect for portions of the east coast of Florida based on updated forecast information.

Imelda has joined Hurricane Humberto in the Atlantic. The powerful Category 4 hurricane rapidly intensified into a rare Category 5 storm Saturday over the warm, energy-filled water of the open ocean and has a role to play in Imeldas future.

Imeldas slower than expected northward movement means Humberto will win out in a tropical tug-of-war between it and a weather pattern over the Southeast US. On Tuesday, Humberto will tug Imelda away from the coast and the weather pattern trying to draw it closer to land.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

It seems unlikely that this steering pattern will shift again, but those on the Southeast coast shouldnt fully let their guard down just yet.

The risk of significant wind impacts along the southeastern United States coast is decreasing, but interests in that area should continue to monitor the latest forecast updates, the hurricane center said Sunday.

The first effects from the storm could reach the Southeast as early as Monday, with coastal areas of eastern Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas expected to experience brunt of the storms impacts.

Flooding rain is still a concern, especially in the coastal Carolinas, even with the center of the storm forecast to remain offshore of the Southeast US. Onshore winds will also kick up high surf that could cause coastal flooding and beach erosion.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The rainfall forecast has trended down since Saturday. Totals of 2 to 6 inches are now forecast in the coastal Carolinas through Wednesday morning.

Imeldas wind field will grow and allow strong, gusty winds to howl along the Southeast coast early-to-midweek.

Officials in the Southeast geared up to deal with the storm even though things were looking more encouraging Sunday. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster issued a state of emergency Friday, activating statewide response plans and mobilizing agencies to prepare for significant wind, flooding rain and storm surge across the state.

The City of Charleston declared a local state of emergency Saturday, and began distributing sandbags and clearing storm drains, according to a statement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Meanwhile, over the open Atlantic, Hurricane Humberto rapidly intensified into a Category 5 storm Saturday while tracking over warm water and a less hostile environment in the central Atlantic.

Humberto weakened slightly to a high-end Category 4 hurricane Sunday morning. Its expected to remain a powerful Category 4 storm into early in the work week.

It is not a direct threat to the US, and will likely steer far to the west of Bermuda. That said, Bermuda could still see bands of rain and gusty winds Tuesday into Wednesday. The Bermuda Weather Service has issued a tropical storm watch for the archipelago for that reason. Imelda could come near Bermuda by late week as well.

Anyone from the Bahamas to the Southeast coast and Bermuda should continue to keep a close eye on the forecast, but for now, it appears the US will avoid a more serious impact.

CNNs Elise Hammond, Andrew Freedman and Briana Waxman contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
In a hurry? Here's what you need to know about Tropical Storm Imelda in less than a minute.

Tropical Storm Imelda is strengthening as it moves slowly north along Florida's coast Monday, Sept. 29.

The storm is expected to become a hurricane Tuesday morning, Sept. 30, according to the National Hurricane Center.

While Imelda is expected to remain offshore, indirect impacts to Florida and the eastern coast of the United States are forecast, including life-threatening rip currents and rough surf.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

 Track Tropical Storm Imelda

 Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location

A tropical storm warning is in effect for Bermuda. Tropical storm conditions are expected for portions of the Bahamas Monday, Sept. 29.

Highlights on what Tropical Storm Imelda is doing now

Special note on the NHC cone: The forecast track shows the most likely path of the center of the storm. It does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts, and the center of the storm is likely to travel outside the cone up to 33% of the time.

Location : 90 miles north of Great Abaco Island; 205 miles east-southeast of Cape Canaveral

Maximum sustained winds: 65 mph

Movement : north at 9 mph

Pressure: 968 mb

Tropical Storm Imelda spaghetti models, path

Special note about spaghetti models: Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The hurricane center uses only the top four or five highest performing models to help make its forecasts.

What to know about Tropical Storm Imelda

At 5 p.m., the center of Tropical Storm Imelda was located near latitude 27.7 North, longitude 77.3 West.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Imelda is moving toward the north near 9 mph, and a general northward motion is expected to continue tonight.

On Tuesday, Imelda is expected to turn sharply to the east-northeast and accelerate. On the forecast track, the center of the system is expected to start moving away from the northwestern Bahamas this afternoon and then turn east-northeastward, moving away from the southeastern U.S. but approaching the island of Bermuda on Wednesday.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 65 mph with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is forecasted over the next several days, and Imelda is forecast to become a hurricane on Tuesday morning.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles from the center.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The estimated minimum central pressure is 986 mb.

Is there a hurricane coming toward Florida?

No. While Tropical Storm Imelda is expected to strengthen into a hurricane, the storm is forecast to remain east of Florida and the U.S.

What impacts will Tropical Storm Imelda have on Florida?

Expected impacts to Florida and the southeastern U.S. from Tropical Storm Imelda as of Sept. 29, 2025.

Storm total rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are expected through Tuesday across northeast Florida, according to the National Hurricane Center. Some areas could see up to 4 inches.

Storm surge from the Volusia/Brevard County line in Florida to the South Santee River in South Carolina could be 1 to 2 feet.

Swells generated by Imelda are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

The National Weather Service said coastal residents can expect:

For east-central Florida:

A high risk for life-threatening rip currents.

Surf heights of 6 to 10 feet north of Cape Canaveral and 4 to 8 feet south.

Dune erosion

Nearshore seas of 10 to 13 feet north of Cape Canaveral and 8 to 11 feet south of the Cape. Seas could be 11 to 18 feet offshore.

For Northeast Florida:

Breezy winds

Locally heavy downpours

High risk for rip currents

High and rough surf

Locally heavy downpours

Minor tidal flooding

For South Florida:

Scattered showers with isolated storms

Dangerous beach conditions

See map of hurricane/tropical storm watches, warnings issued for Florida, US

There are no watches or warnings associated with Tropical Storm Imelda for land in Florida or the U.S.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

A tropical storm warning is in effect for portions of the northwestern Bahamas.

Florida weather radar for Monday, Sept. 29, 2025, with Tropical Storm Imelda offshore

Excessive rainfall forecast across Florida

Key messages from the National Hurricane Center: What you need to know about Tropical Storm Imelda

Imelda is expected to continue to bring tropical storm conditions to portions of the northwestern Bahamas today.

Rainfall associated with Tropical Storm Imelda will continue to impact the Bahamas through Tuesday, which will likely produce flash and urban flooding. Heavy rainfall across the coastal Carolinas could cause isolated flash and urban flooding through Tuesday.

Interests in Bermuda should monitor the progress of Imelda as a Hurricane Watch could be required this afternoon.

Swells and high surf from both Humberto and Imelda are expected to produce dangerous marine conditions and rip currents along much of the East Coast of the United States during the next several days.

Current forecast: Tropical Storm Imelda forecast to become hurricane

As of 5 p.m.: 65 mph

12 hours: 75 mph

24 hours: 80 mph

36 hours: 85 mph

48 hours: 90 mph

60 hours: 100 mph

72 hours: 85 mph (post-tropical/extratropical)

96 hours: 65 mph (post-tropical/extratropical)

120 hours: 50 mph (post-tropical/extratropical)

What impact could Tropical Storm Imelda have and what areas could be affected?

WIND : Hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area by Wednesday night, with tropical storm conditions possible by Wednesday afternoon. Tropical storm conditions are occuring in portions of the extreme northwestern Bahamas and should continue through tonight.

RAINFALL: Tropical Storm Imelda is expected to produce additional rainfall of 1 to 3 inches across the northwest Bahamas through tonight. This rainfall may produce flash and urban flooding. Storm total rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches with local maxima of 4 inches are expected through tonight across northeast Florida, coastal South Carolina, and coastal sections of southeast North Carolina. This rainfall could result in isolated flash and urban flooding. As Imelda passes near Bermuda, 2 to 4 inches  50 to 100 mm  of rainfall is expected from Wednesday into Thursday.



Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

 Excessive rainfall forecast

STORM SURGE : A storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 1 to 3 feet above ground level along the immediate coast in areas of onshore winds in the northwestern Bahamas. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large waves. Minor coastal flooding is possible in areas of onshore winds over the Southeastern U.S. coastline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the surge occurs over the next several high tide cycles. Volusia/Brevard County Line, Florida to the South Santee River, South Carolina: 1 to 2 ft

SURF: Swells generated by Tropical Storm Imelda and Hurricane Humberto are affecting the Bahamas and are currently spreading to much of the east coast of the U.S.. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Forecasters urge all residents to keep an eye on the tropics and to always be prepared

Officials regularly encourage Florida residents to prepare for storms before a hurricane is approaching, while shelves are fully stocked and you aren't battling crowds all rushing to the store at the same time.

"It only takes one storm to make it an impactful year for your community," the National Hurricane Center Miami posted on X.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

 See list of emergency supplies you can now buy tax free

On Aug. 1, specific hurricane supplies became permanently tax-free in Florida, ranging from batteries to generators.

 Don't have a hurricane supply kit? From the basics to the extras, here's what you need

Here are some of the basics you should have:

Water

Non-perishable food

Two-week supply of medications

Batteries

Flashlight

Cash

A go-bag with essential supplies in case you need to leave quickly

Portable cellphone chargers

Battery-operated radio

List of emergency phone numbers, including those for family members

Copy of your insurance policy

When does hurricane season end?

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Ninety-seven percent of tropical cyclone activity occurs during this time period, NOAA said.

The Atlantic basin includes the northern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and the newly renamed Gulf of America, formerly the Gulf of Mexico.

Stay informed. Get weather alerts via text

What's next?

We will update our tropical weather coverage daily.

Download your local site's app to ensure you're always connected to the news. And look for our special subscription offers here.

This story has been updated to include new information.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Tropical Storm Imelda storm tracker, spaghetti models. Florida impacts




Tropical Storm Imelda formed Sunday afternoon near the Bahamas and is expected to bring wind and rain to portions of Florida.

The storm is moving north at about 7 mph and maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph. Imelda is expected to continue strengthening, possibly reaching hurricane status by late Monday or Tuesday.

LATEST UPDATES: Be sure to follow the Houston Chronicle on WhatsApp for the latest hurricane season updates.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Tropical storm warnings are in effect across much of the Bahamas, including the Abacos, Andros, Grand Bahama Island, Eleuthera, and New Providence. Tropical storm watches also stretch to Florida's east coast, from Palm Beach northward to near Daytona Beach, where conditions could deteriorate Monday.

Where will Imelda go next?

The brunt of Imelda's effects Sunday will be felt across the central and northwestern Bahamas, where winds of 40 mph and higher gusts are possible.

Rainfall totals of 6 to 12 inches could lead to dangerous flash flooding, particularly in urban areas. Parts of eastern Cuba are also seeing heavy rain, with 2 to 6 inches likely, bringing the risk of mudslides in mountainous terrain.

9/28 2:30PM | Tropical Storm Imelda has formed near the central Bahamas this afternoon. Dangerous beach and boating conditions are forecast to develop and continue through early this week as the system moves parallel to portions of the Florida Atlantic coast Monday and Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/Stp3M4PY27 - NWS Melbourne (@NWSMelbourne) September 28, 2025

Looking ahead, Imelda is expected to continue north before turning east-northeast, away from the southeastern United States by midweek. While Florida's east coast may see gusty winds and higher surf Monday, the greatest risk there will likely come from strong rip currents.

Imelda not expected to make a U.S. landfall

Imelda is expected to take a sharp right turn away from the Southeast by Tuesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Imelda isn't going to bring direct impacts to U.S., storm swells could create life-threatening surf along much of the East Coast this week. Meanwhile, in the Bahamas, a storm surge of 1 to 3 feet is possible in areas of onshore flow, compounding flooding risks already elevated by heavy rainfall.

While Houston won't see impacts, those with loved ones in Florida or the Bahamas should encourage them to follow local forecasts closely and prepare for changing conditions.
The rapid thawing of long-frozen U.S.-Belarusian diplomatic relations continues to make the headlines, with U.S. President Donald Trumps Envoy John Coale making another trip to Belarus on Sept. 11.

This visit secured the release of 52 prisoners and led to the U.S. lifting its sanctions on Belaruss national airline, Belavia. More prisoner releases are expected in the coming weeks.

However, this fast-paced process has left the observers wondering what both sides stand to gain. For Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko, the benefits are slowly becoming apparent, as he sees sanctions on his regime being lifted.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The benefits for the United States, in contrast, remain obscure.

The negotiations process, which reportedly started over a year ago with U.S. President Joe Biden still in office, accelerated after President Donald Trump took office in January.

The United States engaged with Lukashenko in anticipation of setting up peace negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which Lukashenko was to be a whisperer in Putins ear.

According to journalist Simon Shuster, the year of backchannel talks paved the way for the infamous and so far fruitless Alaska summit on Aug. 15. However, the talks also seem to have attracted Trumps attention to Belarus and its over 1,100 political prisoners  he has posted about the issue three times on his social media platform Truth Social and mentioned the topic during a White House briefing on Sept. 5.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, flanked by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (R), meet during a U.S.-Russia summit on Ukraine at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on Aug. 15, 2025. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

Trumps administration somehow managed to sell it to him as a potential humanitarian victory. () Trump wants to have a traditional victory as a great leader who freed more than 1,000 hostages, said Artsiom Shraibman, nonresident scholar at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Washingtons interest in negotiating with Minsk is best described as highly personalistic and fragile, according to Shraibman.

The prisoner releases in early 2025, including those of U.S. citizens and journalists from the U.S. broadcaster Radio Free Europe, appeared to be a form of down payment from the Lukashenko regime to build trust  they were met with only symbolic gestures, in the shape of social media posts by Trump and the visits by U.S. envoys.

June releases, including the one with opposition activist Siarhei Tsikhanouski, and the recent freeing of 52 more hostages seems to have achieved a tangible concession  the lifting of sanctionions placed on Belarusian air carrier Belavia, targeting aircraft servicing, parts, and software procurement.

Read also: Ukrainian, European leaders push Trump to change tone on Russia. Will actions follow?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Considering Minsks close ties with Moscow, the license still comes with limitations. While restrictions were removed from eight aircraft in Belavias fleet, the Boeing 737-8EV (EW001PA) in Lukashenkos direct use remains sanctioned. And authorization to use the fleet still prohibits flights to Russia, which Belavia performs extensively, and to Cuba, Iran, North Korea and the Russia-occupied regions of Ukraine.

The U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security to separately review Belavias aircraft parts requests on a case-by-case basis to ensure that they are deemed for its commercial fleet and not diverted to Russia or other unsupported end-users.

Boeing has not responded to the Kyiv Independents request for comment.

Securing prisoners freedom has become part of the efforts to normalize relations between Belarus and the United States, according to John Coale.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

President Trump feels that if you can have a relationship with people with whom you wouldnt have had in the past, but try to build it up, then maybe we wouldnt have as many wars on the table, Coale said in an exclusive interview with DWS News.

Aside from the ambition to score a humanitarian victory, regional security is another factor to consider, according to Dr. Ryhor Astapenia, a Belarusian political scientist and director of the Belarus Initiative in the Russia and Eurasia Programme at Chatham House.

(Trump administration) would like to have a voice within the Russian political system (and at this point, they likely view Lukashenko as a certain representative of it) to talk more about de-escalation, Astapenia notes. The rhetoric about the need for peace and negotiations used by Trump and Lukashenko is quite similar.

Finally, according to Astapenia, creating room for maneuver for Lukashenko can be listed as another possible consideration.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Looking at the increased Belarusian dependence on Russia over the past five years, (Trumps administration) has likely come to the sad conclusion that Belarus might cease to exist in another 5-10 years under this regime, Astapenia told the Kyiv Independent. Stretching this process out for another 20 seems a better prospect.

Lukashenko has reason for optimism so far, as he is slowly moving away from being an international pariah and is looking to restore the U.S. diplomatic mission in Minsk, and having U.S. sanctions lifted from Belarusian banks and producers of potash fertilizers  the countrys primary export.

Lukashenko has been in this position before: In 2015, he released the countrys political prisoners in exchange for improving relations with the West. Minsk went on to host negotiations set to resolve the war sparked by Russias invasion of Ukraine and annexation of Crimea.

A replay of this scenario would be favorable for Lukashenko, Dzianis Kuchynski, Tsikhanouskayas diplomatic advisor, who has been in touch with the U.S. administration, told the Kyiv Independent.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

But it's not yet the time to soften the approach to Lukashenko, Kuchynski says. Lukashenko is even more dependent on Putin. Without him, Lukashenko would last about as long as a scuba diver without an oxygen tank. He might swim for a little while, but he would not reach the surface.

Read also: Youll die here  Belarusian political prisoners recount experiences ahead of Lukashenkos reelection

Kuchynski outlines two tracks for U.S.-Belarusian negotiations, much in line with Coales framing: the humanitarian track, which focuses on releasing unjustly detained individuals, and the political one, envisioning a halt to repression, a process of democratization, and, eventually, free elections in Belarus.

Political analysts conclude that the development of U.S.-Belarusian relations could be restricted by a variety of external factors, including Trumps highly personalized interest, which might fade over time, possible deadlock in Russia-Ukraine negotiations, and the continuation of European sanctions  if European restrictions are not lifted, any suspension of U.S. sanctions would be fuitile.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Lithuania, home to Klaipeda Seaport, which served as the European gateway for Belarusian potash exports, remains firm in upholding sanctions against Lukashenko. Poland, which recently saw around 20 Russian drones invade its airspace, has taken even harsher measures in its dealings with Lukashenko  including a temporary yet total shutdown of the Polish-Belarusian border.

We dont see that the European Union has any appetite right now to change its policy towards Lukashenko, lift some sanctions from him, or do some legitimization reset with him, Kuchynski said.

Still, despite the risks of the West falling victim to Lukashenko's deceptions, there may still be value to be gained from the process, Shraibman argues. He points to the previous thaw in relations in 2015, during which Belarusian civil society received a respite, which it used to develop and grow, ultimately leading to the 2020 mass protests.

But the reversal of any liberalizations after the conclusion of the negotiation process is also quite possible, considering Lukashenkos need to prepare for the transition of power in Belarus in the not-to-distant future, according to Shraibman.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

But honestly, this is still hardly a reason not to try to save peoples lives in this process. And perhaps that is valuable in itself.

Read also: After Lukashenkos latest sham election, exiled Belarusians reflect on their lost revolution

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
(AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

President Donald Trump said peace talks to end the war in Gaza are at their final stages, and could lead to a wider peace in the region  according to Barak Ravid with Axios, who interviewed the president exclusively.

Everybody has come together to get a deal, but we still have to get it done, Trump told Ravid, adding, The Arab countries were fantastic to work with on this. Hamas is coming with them. They have great respect for the Arab world. The Arab world wants peace, Israel wants peace and Bibi wants peace.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Trump told Ravid that the overarching goal is to push for peace throughout the Middle East.

If we get this done, it will be a great day for Israel and for the Middle East. It will be the first chance for real peace in the Middle East. But we have to get it done first, Trump said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was said to be meeting with White House envoy Steve Witkoff and Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner in New York on Sunday to work out final details.

Ravid wrote, The two main differences between the U.S. and Israel at the moment are over a clause on disarming Hamas, which Israel wants to be more firm and binding, and over the role of the Palestinian Authority.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

But Netanyahu has said he is diametrically opposed to any role for the Palestinian Authority in Gaza. In addition, Hamas said in a statement Sunday that it suspended negotiations after the failed assassination attempt on its leaders in Doha three weeks ago, the report said.

Over the past weeks, some 160 international states have recognized Palestinian autonomy  including France and the U.K.  which has rankled Israeli officials.

Trump is expected to meet with Netanyahu at the White House on Monday.

The post Trump Claims Peace Talks to End the War in Gaza Are In the Final Stages: First Real Chance for Peace in the Middle East first appeared on Mediaite.
Investing.com -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday hosted a trilateral phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Qatars Prime Minister Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Bin Jassim Al Thani, the White House said.

During the call, Trump expressed his desire to improve Israeli-Qatar relations, which he says have been strained by years of mutual grievances and miscommunications. The leaders accepted President Trumps proposal to establish a trilateral mechanism to facilitate dialogue between the nations.

White House added that Israels Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed deep regret that Israels missile strike against Hamas targets in Qatar unintentionally resulted in the death of a Qatari serviceman. Prime Minister Al Thani welcomed these assurances and emphasized Qatars readiness to continue contributing meaningfully to regional security efforts.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The three also discussed a proposal for ending the war in Gaza, as well as the prospects for creating a more secure Middle East, although no specific details were disclosed.

Related articles

Trump hosts trilateral call with Israels Netanyahu and Qatars Al Thani

Silver: Global Markets Show Signs of a Gold-Like Bullish Run With $44 in Sight

Apollo economist warns: AI bubble now bigger than 1990s tech mania
United States President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are holding talks at the White House  their fourth meeting this year  as a plan for the future governance of a Gaza decimated by Israels nearly two-year genocidal war circulates and the ironclad relationship between the two countries could be tested.

Trump said on Monday that he was very confident of a Gaza deal as he welcomed Netanyahu to the White House.

Trump promised greatness in the Middle East and something special in another all-caps post on his Truth Social platform on Sunday. He has made repeated statements recently that it is time for the war to end.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Netanyahu, for his part, told Fox News that Israel is working with Washington to make [the plan] a go.

Trump first presented the 21-point day after war plan to Arab and Muslim leaders on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly session in New York last week.

According to numerous Israeli and Western reports, the plan says Hamas must release all 48 remaining captives held in Gaza, about 20 of whom are believed to be alive, within two days.

Hamas fighters would reportedly be allowed to leave Gaza or offered amnesty if they renounce resistance. Significant amounts of humanitarian aid would be allowed into the famine-stricken enclave, some Palestinian prisoners would be released from Israeli military jails and Israeli forces would gradually withdraw.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Hamas said in a statement on Sunday that it had received no new proposal from mediators Egypt and Qatar, both of whom have reportedly received the Trump proposal.

But Hamas said it would consider a new offer to end the war as its armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, warned that contact had been lost with teams holding two Israeli captives in Gaza City amid an expanding Israeli ground invasion and aerial bombardment, which is killing dozens of Palestinian civilians daily and destroying Gazas largest urban centre further.





Netanyahus balancing act

The Israeli prime minister appears to be embracing the plan even though  if implemented as presented  it goes against some of his far-right governments core positions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Most notably, the vision claims to leave the door open for a future Palestinian state, something top Israeli leaders have said they would never allow.

The plan underscores that it does not want to forcibly expel Palestinians from Gaza and they would have a right of return if they choose to leave after two years of genocidal war has left most of the enclave in ruins.

Meanwhile, Netanyahus top ministers and coalition partners, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, have pushed for destroying what is left of Gaza and encouraging voluntary migration without return.

They want to cut off all food, water and medicine as Israel did for months, starting on March 18 when it torpedoed a previous ceasefire with Hamas, leading to famine and mass starvation. And they want to rebuild Israeli settlements inside Gaza after seizing and militarily controlling the area while annexing the occupied West Bank. Settlements are illegal under international law.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Smotrich and Ben-Gvir  two far-right hardliners who live in illegal settlements have been sanctioned, along with other ministers and leaders of violent settler organisations, by several Western governments  have already blasted the plan by Trump, whom they have repeatedly praised as Israels biggest-ever ally in the White House.

They believe Netanyahu has no mandate to accept such a deal without eliminating Hamas, which was set as a key goal of the war in October 2023.

But Netanyahu may be squeezed by Trump, whom he will want to appease after the White Houses unconditional support and diplomatic cover.

Israeli right-wing politicians  National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, left, and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich  in the Knesset in West Jerusalem [File: Abir Sultan/Pool via Reuters]

In the Israeli Knesset, Netanyahus coalition, led by his Likud party with 32 seats, is already on the precipice as it is running a minority government, which holds 60 out of 120 seats in the legislature.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Two major ultra-Orthodox parties put Netanyahu in a tight spot when one quit the government and the other left the coalition in mid-July over its failure to guarantee future exemption from military conscription for religious students.

Smotrichs and Ben-Gvirs parties hold 13 seats, meaning they could potentially topple Netanyahus government and force new elections if they pull out of the coalition.

Ben-Gvir actually resigned from his cabinet post in January in protest against the ceasefire with Hamas that brought back a number of captives but soon returned after Israel started bombing Gaza again.

But the far-right figures are unlikely to bring down the coalition anytime soon as Israel continues to block most aid to Gaza while pushing deeper inside Gaza City with tanks and launching explosives from the air and sea.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Numerous Israeli raids and settler attacks are launched against Palestinians on a daily basis in the West Bank as Israel grabs more land and demolishes Palestinian homes despite Trumps claim that he will not allow annexation of the territory.

Trumps new proposal currently seems provisional at best, too, and will take a long time to implement even if it is agreed by all sides and manages to secure a UN mandate.





Structure of Gazas future governance

The plan put forward by Trump has been drafted in collaboration with Israel and an organisation run by Tony Blair, who was the United Kingdoms prime minister during the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

It considers appointing him as the head of a newly established entity called the Gaza International Transitional Authority (GITA), which would administer Gaza after Hamas is ousted for several years.

Israels Haaretz newspaper on Monday released a document that it said contained the full power structure of GITA, which would put senior international diplomats and businesspeople at the top and the Palestinians running things on the ground at the bottom.

The international board of GITA, which would initially be based in Egypt or elsewhere near but outside Gaza due to the chaotic situation created by Israel on the ground, could include a UN official, Egyptian businessmen and Muslim members in an attempt to build credibility.

It would reportedly have an executive secretariat with five commissioners operating under it to oversee humanitarian affairs, reconstruction, legislation, security oversight and coordination with the Palestinian Authority (PA), which is urged to undergo reforms on a promise it would take charge of governance at an undisclosed future time.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Under them will be a Palestinian technocratic authority appointed by the board to handle some implementation on the ground as a multinational stabilisation force takes charge of crossings into Gaza, the enclaves coast and perimeter zones near its boundaries with Israel and Egypt, which are currently occupied by Israel.

This is while Netanyahu and others have insisted Israel will have security control over the enclave.

GITA is envisaged to have a $90m management budget in its first year, bumped to $133.5m and $164m in the two years after that. Those figures do not include reconstruction and humanitarian aid expenses.




When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, they will discuss a Middle East that has undergone radical change.

The US president says a deal to end the war in Gaza is likely. But whats on offer is politically problematic for Netanyahu  and much as the region has transformed, so has Netanyahu. His drastic change in approach makes it all the more difficult to predict what comes next.

For two years, Israeli jets and special forces have undertaken daring missions, striking targets once thought untouchable, with regional capitals from Doha to Tehran and Damascus bearing the scars of Netanyahus pledge to reshape the Middle East after the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

At the United Nations General Assembly last week, Netanyahu proudly touted Israels military operations.

Weve hammered the Houthis. We crushed the bulk of Hamass terror machine, we crippled Hezbollah, taking out most of its leaders and much of its weapons arsenal, we destroyed Assads armaments in Syria, we deterred Irans Shiite militias in Iraq, and most importantly and above everything else, we devastated Irans atomic weapons and ballistic missile programs, he said.

Israel rebounded from its darkest day to deliver one of the most stunning military comebacks in history.

Smoke rises from an Israeli strike in the central Gaza Strip on Wednesday. - Dawoud Abu Alkas/Reuters

The growing tally of days in Israels war in Gaza reflects another aspect of the same story.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

For years, Netanyahus approach to warfare was characterized by brief and contained conflicts, especially in Gaza. Operation Pillar of Defense, in 2012, for example, lasted just eight days. The current Gaza war will mark two years next month, the longest in Israels history.

When he returned to power in 2009, Netanyahu declared that one of his goals would be eliminating Hamas. In practice, despite his rhetoric, Israels longest serving prime ministers security policy was widely seen as cautious and relatively restrained, even derided as cowardly by political rivals, who also mocked his inability to make decisive moves. His years of big talk turned into small decisions.

Then came October 7.

Two days after the Hamas-led attack left more than 1,200 Israelis dead, Netanyahu promised Israelis we are going to change the Middle East. This time, he meant it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Analysts who once expected caution are grappling with a new reality. Netanyahu once shunned long wars and ground operations, aware of the cost and political capital that resulted in indecisive conclusions or stalemates. Now he pursues them  often against the advice of his own military.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a statement during a US Independence Day reception on August 13. - Ronen Zvulun/AFP/Getty Images

The Israel Defense Forces chief of staff, Maj Gen Eyal Zamir, adamantly opposed the latest decision to take over Gaza City, and questioned the high-risk operation targeting Hamas leadership in Qatar. But Netanyahu ignored his warnings.

From the start of the war through the most recent decisions, including Iran and Qatar, at every one of these stages there were always people in the room who opposed, hesitated or raised reservations of one kind of another, Netanyahu said at a press conference earlier this month. And that is perfectly fine, that is their role, they must state their opinion, but in the end, the one who decides is the cabinet.

This transformation raises a fundamental question, all the more important as the White House meeting nears: Has Netanyahu truly changed?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

After October 7, Netanyahu is a totally different person, who has undergone an internal evolution, replacing his risk averse tendencies with a much more proactive and adventurous security approach, said Mazal Mualem, author of The Netanyahu Code biography.

The security collapse on October 7 served as a wake up call, Mualem said.

He wont admit it but (he) was caught on total strategic blindness, and the lesson he drew was that he must free himself from the security establishment, which always frightened him with warnings about casualties in ground incursions, she added. This dovetailed with the Israeli public zeitgeist, which for years resisted paying the heavy prices of war. October 7th changed him and changed that.

As Israels longest-serving leader, Netanyahu has always been known to be driven  at least in part  by fear: of his government collapsing, of elections, of the polls swinging against him. And now fear of his ongoing corruption trial.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

That apprehension kept him from making big, sweeping changes. Instead, he allowed Israels economy to hum along and took credit for the growing list of countries wanting part of Israels tech and arms industries.

Rockets are fired from Gaza City towards Israel on October 7, 2023. - Mahmud Hams/AFP/Getty Images

Netanyahu cant be Israels Churchill

Anshel Pfeffer, The Economists Israel correspondent and author of Bibi: The Turbulent Life and Times of Benjamin Netanyahu, says the motivating factor hasnt changed at all, even if its effect has.

Netanyahu has always been, and still is, extremely risk averse. He fears change and clings to status quo, he said. He typically avoids both wars and diplomatic breakthroughs. Even the Abraham Accords were forced upon him by the Trump administration. And the Gaza war was forced by Hamas. Once war became the status quo, Netanyahu adapted. Hes still addicted to the status quo  only now, the status quo is war.

Pfeffer says Netanyahu is still governed by fear, only now he fears his coalition partners more than anything else.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

His far-right allies, Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, oppose any negotiation with Hamas and are pushing for permanent occupation of Gaza, and their threats to topple the government if the war ends prematurely have shackled Netanyahus strategic decision-making. Trumps proposal is said to acknowledge aspirations for Palestinian statehood, something firmly opposed by both men.

Still, acknowledging the shift in optics, Pfeffer says Netanyahu is now at a stage where hes afraid of historys judgment, and that he wont be remembered as Churchill and Israels defender. He is desperate for a grand achievement that will rewrite history. He is convinced something will eventually erase October 7th from Israelis memory and reveal him as their savior.

But that moment isnt coming.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at UN headquarters in New York City, on Friday. - Jeenah Moon/Reuters

Pfeffer likens Netanyahu to a desperate gambler, putting his chips in a different place each time in the hope of cementing his place in history. Netanyahu is a complex creature, he concludes, so perhaps all the theories hold some truth. He remains risk averse, afraid of ceasefires no less than of wars, a hostage of his coalition, and an extremely cautious man who has turned into a desperate gambler.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Whether driven by genuine strategic evolution or survival instincts, Netanyahus transformation from cautious manager to regional gambler remains incomplete.

The military operations across multiple fronts may have restored some of Israels deterrence, but they have not yet delivered the decisive victory that he hopes could rehabilitate his legacy or secure his political future.

Israeli public support for the war, which was overwhelming at the beginning, has significantly eroded. So has Israels international legitimacy, declining amid waves of sanction threats and international recognition for Palestinian statehood.

Supporters and family members of hostages who were kidnapped on October 7, 2023, demonstrate to demand the immediate release of all hostages and the end of war in Gaza, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Saturday. - Nir Elias/Reuters

The future of Netanyahus new daring playbook remains unclear ahead of his meeting with Trump at the White House. So far, the Trump administration has done little to rein in Israels military endeavors and has backed Netanyahus continuation of the Gaza war.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

But the support has come with sharp  and sometimes surprising  limitations. In June, Trump backed Israels strikes on Iran during a 12-day assault, then forced Israel to turn back fighter jets already on their way to attack after he announced an end to hostilities. The presidents mercurial nature means he can oppose Israels next move right after he backed the last one.

Trumps recent upbeat remarks about an imminent deal to end the fighting may signal that he could soon force Netanyahu into accepting a new status quo  one that may halt the prime ministers bid to build a legacy through military aggression and instead compel him to confront his political reckoning.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday they agreed to a new Gaza peace plan that has the backing of several regional partners, but Hamas has yet to agree to the plan.

Netanyahu was making his fourth visit to the White House since the start of the second Trump administration, as the second anniversary of the Oct. 7 attack nears.

Netanyahu and Trump participated in a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office, lunch and a press conference on Monday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Trump pushed a 21-point peace plan for Gaza, which was presented last week to Muslim and Arab leaders during the United Nations General Assembly meetings in New York.

What is in the 21-point proposal?

The plan consists of an agreement to end the war, the release of all remaining hostages taken nearly two years ago, reconstruction in Gaza and the creation of an international board that would oversee Gaza after Israeli forces withdraw.

As part of the deal, Hamas members who commit to peaceful co-existence and to decommission their weapons will be given amnesty.

The agreement comes after White House special envoy Steve Witkoff, who has been in constant talks with Israel and other partners in the region, and Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner met Netanyahu on Sunday in New York to get the prime minister on board with the proposal, Axios reported.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Trump told the outlet that everyone has come together to secure the deal, but we still have to get it done. He praised the Arab countries as fantastic to work with and said Hamas is coming with them.

According to Axios, the plan is a combination of several proposals to end the war over the last year, started by the Biden administration and carried over into the Trump administration.

Here are some of the details of the administrations plan, per the White House:

Gaza will become a deradicalized terror-free zone that does not pose threats to neighboring countries.

Gaza will be redeveloped for its people, who have suffered more than enough.

A permanent ceasefire would begin immediately upon both parties agreeing to the proposal.

Under the ceasefire, Israeli troops would withdraw from Gaza to an agreed upon line as a hostage release begins.

Hostages, alive and dead, will be released by Hamas within 72 hours of the agreement.

Israel would then release 250 prisoners with life sentences and the 1,700 Gazans who have been detained since the start of the war.

Amnesty will be given to Hamas members who commit to non-violence and want to remain in Gaza. Those who wish to leave will be provided safe passage.

Rehabilitation infrastructure and aid will be immediately sent to Gaza. Entry and distribution of the aid will not be interfered with.

The Rafah crossing will be reopened in both directions to facilitate the aid deliveries.

Gaza will be governed by a temporary transitional governance of a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee responsible for running the day-to-day public services. The committee will be overseen by a new international body, called the Board of Peace, which will be overseen by Trump and other international leaders.

A Trump economic development plan will intend to rebuild and energize Gaza.

Hamas will agree to not have any role in governance in Gaza, directly, indirectly, or in any form.

The United States will work with Arab countries to develop a temporary International Stabilization Force to be deployed in Gaza. The force will provide support to Palestinian police forces to secure borders, prevent munitions from entering Gaza and to facilitate the aid and infrastructure flow into the region.

Israel will also agree to not occupy or annex Gaza, withdrawing the Israel Defense Force from the region on a timeframe agreed upon with the U.S., the International Stabilization Force and other involved parties.

If Hamas does not agree, the plan will proceed in Israeli-controlled areas of Gaza.

The plan includes a hope that this will create the conditions for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood, which the White House recognizes as the aspiration of Palestinian people.

What came from Trump and Netanyahus meeting?

Trump began his remarks Monday afternoon by saying it was a big day, potentially one of the greatest days ever in civilization.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Trump said he and Netanyahu spoke about peace, not just in Gaza, but eternal peace in the Middle East.

I want to thank Prime Minister Netanyahu for agreeing to the plan and for trusting that if we work together, we can bring an end to the death and destruction that weve seen for so many years, decades, even centuries, and begin a new chapter of security, peace and prosperity for the entire region, Trump said.

While several involved parties have reviewed and approved the proposal, Hamas has not yet, Trump noted in his remarks.

I hope that were going to have a deal for peace, and if Hamas rejects the deal, which is always possible, theyre the only one left. Everyone else has accepted it, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

But if not, as you know Bibi, youd have more full backing to do what you would have to do, Trump said to Netanyahu. Everyone understands that the ultimate result must be the elimination of any danger posed in the region, and the danger is caused by Hamas.

According to a White House read out of a trilateral call between Trump, Netanyahu and Qatari Prime Minister Al Thani, Netanyahu expressed deep regret that Israels missile strike on Hamas targets in Qatar unintentionally killed a Qatari serviceman.

Netanyahu also expressed regret for violating Qatari sovereignty and said Israel will not conduct another attack against the country in the future, the White House said.

The call took place just before Netanyahu and Trump addressed members of the press on Monday afternoon.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Trump said Netanyahu understands its time for the conflict to come to an end. Netanyahu echoed a similar sentiment in his remarks.

I believe that today were taking a critical step towards both ending the war in Gaza and setting the stage for dramatically advancing peace in the Middle East, Netanyahu said. I support your plan to end the war in Gaza.

Where things stood before Mondays meeting

Ahead of Trump and Netanyahus meeting Monday, it was unclear if the prime minister would be willing to sign on to the deal.

The war in Gaza was a major focus at last weeks United Nations meeting. Several Western countries embraced Palestinian statehood and protested Netanyahus presence at the New York meeting.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Trump also made a point in his U.N. remarks to criticize members for seeking to recognize Palestinian statehood. He argued that recognizing statehood for Palestinians would give Hamas a reward too great. Trump called for the war to end immediately and said he has been deeply engaged in seeing it come to an end.

Netanyahu also expressed dismay with Western leaders who recognized Palestinian statehood, accusing them of succumbing to pressure from the biased media, radical Islamist constituencies and antisemitic mobs.

The prime minister told Fox News on Sunday that he hoped the proposal would go through so the hostages would be released but his team was still working on it and it had not been finalized at that time.

As of Sunday, Hamas said it had not received any new proposals from Qatar or Egypt, who have played a role in the mediation, Axios reported.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The war in Gaza began nearly two years ago when Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

More than 1,000 people were killed by Hamas in the initial attack and more than 250 hostages were taken. Since then, thousands of Palestinians have died, including many civilians, in the ensuing war.
(NewsNation)  President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have announced a peace proposal for Gaza, though Hamas must agree to the plan in order to move forward.

Trump and Netanyahu laid out the peace plan at a news conference Monday and Palestines government in the occupied West Bank, along with Arab countries, said they support it. The proposal was unveiled after global calls for a ceasefire in Gaza and a tense speech by Netanyahu Friday at the United Nations General Assembly.

Trump called the deal a chance for greatness in the Middle East Sunday and said all are on board for something special, first time ever.

Gaza peace proposal

Under Trumps plan, as released by the White House, Gaza will be redeveloped. If both sides agree, the plan includes the immediate cessation of Israeli military activity in the Gaza Strip and a freeze on battle lines in preparation for a complete withdrawal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

QAnon shaman, who was pardoned by Trump, is now suing him

Netanyahu, speaking to reporters, said that if Hamas agreed to the deal, there would be a modest withdrawal and further removal of Israeli troops would be contingent on demilitarization.

Hamas will return all hostages within 72 hours, including the bodies of dead hostages. In return, Israel will release 250 Palestinian prisoners with life sentences and 1,700 Palestinians who were detained after Oct. 7.

Hamas members who surrender and give up weapons will be given amnesty and passage to another country. Full aid to the Gaza Strip will resume when the deal is agreed to.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Gaza would be governed under a temporary transitional governance of a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee.

Oregon pushes back on Trump National Guard deployment

The committee would be supervised by an international committee known as the Board of Peace, to be headed by Trump with other foreign leaders, including former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair.

A Trump economic development plan would be created by a panel of experts. A special economic zone with preferred tariff and access rates would be negotiated.

Under the deal, no one would be forced to leave Gaza, but those who wish to would be free to go and return. Hamas would not be allowed to play any role in the governance of Gaza, and there would be a demilitarization process.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Trump says deal to end war in Gaza very close

According to the plan, if Hamas rejects the deal, it will proceed in terror-free areas handed over by the Israel Defense Force.

If the deal is followed, the plan says it could open up a credible pathway for Palestinian statehood.

While Hamas has not yet agreed to the deal, Trump has said he believes theyre close.

We need you: Hostage families hope for ceasefire

The families of Israeli hostages were watching the talks closely as 48 people remain in captivity in Gaza. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which represents most of the families, has urged Trump to push the ceasefire deal across the finish line.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

In a letter ahead of Mondays meeting, the group thanked Trump for his efforts and said it was pleased with his continued support.

Father of Israeli soldier walks out of Netanyahu UN speech

We are grateful, and dependent on your strength and the strength and awesome power of the United States of America, the group wrote. Please, Mr. President, dont stop. We need you. 48 of our loved ones  our fathers, siblings, children  need you. We need our loved ones home.

Netanyahu has faced criticism from those families, who have argued that the hostages return is not the top-of-mind concern for the administration.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The group set up a display outside the U.S. Embassy Branch Office in Tel Aviv, featuring the message Dont Be Fooled Again alongside caricatures of Trump and Netanyahu.

The war in Gaza began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas stormed into Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Approximately 48 hostages, 20 of whom are believed to be alive, are still being held by Hamas.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
President Donald Trump facilitated a phone call from the Oval Office today in which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apologized to his Qatari counterpart for the missile strikes earlier this month that targeted Hamas officials while they were engaged in peace talks in Doha.

Netanyahu expressed regret about the strikes and, specifically, that, in targeting Hamas leadership during hostage negotiations, Israel violated Qatari sovereignty, according to a White House readout of the phone call.

Netanyahu, the White House continued, affirmed that Israel will not conduct such an attack again in the future.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Netanyahu and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani also agreed to a trilateral mechanism with the U.S. to help improve communications and their broader relationship, the White House said.

The call occurred during a meeting in which Trump was working to get Netanyahus support for his administrations 20-point postwar peace plan for Gaza. But smoothing relations between Israel and Qatar, a key interlocutor with Hamas, could be an initial step toward restarting negotiations toward an eventual end to the nearly two-year war.
WASHINGTON  A federal government shutdown appears likely this week after President Donald Trump and the top two Democrats in Congress failed to reach a spending agreement during a high-stakes meeting at the White House on Monday.

There was a frank and direct discussion with the president of the United States, and Republican leaders, but significant and meaningful differences remain, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) told reporters after the meeting.

Politics: YouTube To Pay $24.5 Million To Settle Trump Lawsuit Over Account Suspension

Its up to the Republicans whether they want to shut down or not, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Afterward, Vice President JD Vance said he didnt think the two sides would reach a deal before federal agencies lose funding for nonessential functions on Tuesday at midnight.

I think were headed into a shutdown because the Democrats wont do the right thing, Vance said. I hope they change their mind, but were going to see.

Trumps sit-down on Monday with Jeffries, Schumer, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) was his first since becoming president in January. He canceled a meeting with Democrats last week, declaring that no meeting could possibly be productive.

Politics: These Senate Democrats Could Make Or Break The Government Shutdown Fight

Democrats want Republicans to roll back their $1 trillion cut to Medicaid and also support an extension of expanded tax credits for people who get their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act, which are due to expire at the end of this year. They called the expiration of those subsidies, which Democrats initially passed during the COVID-19 pandemic, a health crisis that would result in insurance premiums skyrocketing for 24 million Americans and 4 million losing their coverage entirely.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Before the meeting on Monday, Jeffries insisted Democrats were earnestly seeking a bipartisan policy negotiation  and that a shutdown would be Republicans fault.

Weve made clear that we are willing to find a bipartisan path forward on a spending bill negotiated by Democrats and Republicans, but it has to meet the needs of the American people, Jeffries said. Republicans control the House and the Senate, and theres a Republican president. If the government shuts down, its because Republicans want to shut the government down.

Still, several Republicans have seemed open to some of Democrats demands. Thune said Sunday theres potentially a path forward on extending Obamacare premium subsidies at a later date with certain reforms.

Politics: Zohran Mamdani Issues Defiant Response To Donald Trumps Funding Threat

We can have that conversation. But before we do, release the hostage. Lets have a conversation. Im certainly open to that. I think we all are, Thune said during an interview on NBCs Meet the Press.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

But many Republicans and conservative groups oppose extending the subsidies, arguing that government support for ACA enrollees ought to end now that the pandemic is over. Extending the subsidies for 10 years would cost an estimated $350 billion, but some Senate Republicans have floated a possible compromise of a two-year extension with restrictions on who could apply.

Its unclear if the mere hint of a future negotiation over the Obamacare subsidies will mollify enough Senate Democrats to break with their party and vote to avert a shutdown ahead of the Sept. 30 funding deadline. The Senate will vote again on Monday evening on a House-passed bill funding the government until November that includes no health care provisions.

Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) told reporters on Monday that a commitment from GOP leaders to work on extending expiring ACA subsidies would be a real mark of progress, but that he wasnt sure if it would be enough. The retiring Illinois Democrat was one of 10 Senate Democrats who voted in March to advance a GOP-spending bill that funded the government.

Politics: Eric Trump Melts Down On Live TV With Bizarre Claim About His Dad's Marriage

Thune, meanwhile, said the onus is on Democrats to keep the government running.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The ball is in their court, Thune said Sunday. There is a bill sitting in the Senate right now. This decision, in my judgment, is up to a handful of Democrats. We need eight Democrats to pass it through the Senate.

Political Updates

Read the original on HuffPost
President Donald Trump on Monday officially unveiled his plan to end the war in Gaza  one that Israel has endorsed and would put Trump in charge of a board to transition the government in Gaza, but needs to be agreed upon by Hamas.

At a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump announced a 20-point proposal that aims to end the nearly two-year-long conflict. The plan calls for an immediate ceasefire, the return of all Israeli hostages (both living and deceased) within 72 hours, the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners, the free flow of humanitarian aid into the enclave, and a staggered withdrawal by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Per the White House, Gaza would be temporarily governed by a technocratic, apolitical committee under the oversight of a Board of Peace chaired by Trump, with the goal of rebuilding infrastructure, creating economic opportunities, and eventually transitioning governance back to a reformed Palestinian Authority.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

My plan calls for the creation of a new international oversight body, the Board of Peace, Trump said at his joint announcement with Netanyahu. [It] will be headed  not at my request. Believe me, Im very busy, but we have to make sure this works. The leaders of the Arab world, and Israel, and everybody involved asked me to do this. So, it would be headed by a gentleman known as President Donald J. Trump of the United States.

Trumps plan also stipulates that Israel will not occupy or annex Gaza in any way. The plan does not mention the West Bank, which the United Nations and many countries say is being illegally occupied by Israel. The Trump administration earlier this year reportedly laid out plans for the U.S. to take over Gaza, build a Riviera of the Middle East, and pay Palestinians to leave the enclave.
By Nivedita Balu

TORONTO (Reuters) -TD Bank on Monday reinstated its medium-term growth target which it suspended in December, as it recovered from a $3 billion fine in the U.S. for anti-money laundering failures and laid out a strategy to focus on fee-based businesses.

CEO Raymond Chun outlined a growth plan at the bank's investor day, his first since he took charge in February and the bank's first since it pleaded guilty to multiple U.S. money laundering charges.

The plan included a focus on high-fee businesses such as wholesale banking and wealth management, as well as the addition of more wealth management advisers, U.S. retail financial advisers and investment specialists. It also plans to cut costs and achieve up to C$2.5 billion ($1.80 billion) in annual savings through restructuring programs, AI and technology.

The money laundering case hurt growth at the bank, which has been competing with peers for a share of the U.S. and domestic markets.

Chun acknowledged the bank's underperformance on growth. "That's unacceptable. And that's changing," he told shareholders.

Chun has prioritized restructuring TD's balance sheet, including by selling its stake in Charles Schwab and deploying C$8 billion toward a share buyback program. TD announced on Monday that it plans to initiate a new buyback of about C$6 billion to C$7 billion.

TD's shares in Toronto fell at mid-day after the plan was announced but recovered late in the session to trade marginally higher. The shares have risen 44% so far this year, surpassing all of its Canadian peers and recovering from a 10% slump in 2024.

"They haven't shown me anything new... I don't think investors got that much excitement from Chun's team," said Michael Dehal, a senior portfolio manager at Dehal Investment Partners at Raymond James which holds TD shares for clients.

Chun said the bank's branch network, a big part of TD's strength, will continue to be a major competitive advantage.

"But we need to reshape the role of a branch in the digital era. We're transforming branches from transaction hubs to high-value advice centers," he said.

That will include leaner and advice-driven staff and more self-service for everyday activities.

The bank still has room to grow in the U.S., he said, despite a $434 billion asset cap imposed along with the fine.

"We've restructured our U.S. balance sheet to build capacity for growth."

($1 = 1.3913 Canadian dollars)

(Reporting by Nivedita Balu in Toronto and Arasu Kannagi Basil in Bengaluru; Editing by Caroline Stauffer and Edmund Klamann)
Tyler Robinson, suspect in the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, is set to appear in a Utah courtroom on Monday, where he and his counsel will inform the court of whether they want a preliminary hearing and a judge to determine if there is enough evidence against him to go forward with a trial.

Robinson, 22, has been charged with aggravated murder alongside a slew of other crimes, including two counts of witness tampering and committing a violent crime in the presence of children.

Prosecutors say they plan to seek the death penalty for Robinson, 22, who was taken into custody after a 33-hour manhunt involving law enforcement and the FBI.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Kirk died of a single gunshot wound whilst he was debating a student during an event held at Utah Valley University. Footage taken from the scene showed a suspect fleeing from a nearby rooftop before running into a wooded area.

The Utah state court system provides individuals accused of crimes with the option to waive their right to a preliminary hearing and instead schedule an arraignment, where they can enter a plea.

Kathryn Nester, the lead attorney appointed to represent Robinson, declined to comment on the case ahead of Monday's hearing.

The hearing in Provo is open to the public, just a few miles from the Utah Valley University campus in Orem, where Kirk was shot. Robinson will appear virtually, according to reports.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Related

Robinson was arrested at his parents' house in southwest Utah after turning himself in for Kirk's murder.

Prosecutors have since released incriminating text messages and DNA evidence they say links Robinson to the killing.

A note that Robinson had left for his romantic partner before the shooting said he had the opportunity to kill one of the nations leading conservative voices, and Im going to take it," Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray told reporters earlier.

Gray also said that Robinson wrote in a text about Kirk to his partner, I had enough of his hatred.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The assassination of Kirk, a close ally of US President Donald Trump who was credited with mobilising the youth vote, has led to an outpouring of grief and galvanised Republicans who have vowed to carry on Kirk's mission.

Many prominent Republicans are filling in at the upcoming campus events Kirk was meant to attend through his political organisation Turning Point USA, including Utah Governor Spencer Cox and Senator Mike Lee at Utah State University on Tuesday.

In the aftermath of his death, Trump declared Kirk a martyr for freedom and vowed to crack down on what he called the radical left".
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.

Credit: Getty/Bloomberg

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Saturday that a major semiconductor deal with Taiwan is coming pretty soon, signaling a potential breakthrough in U.S. efforts to shore up domestic chip production and reduce reliance on a single, geopolitically vulnerable supplier. The comment came during an interview with NewsNation , where he also set an ambitious target of increasing U.S. chip production to 40% of national needs before he leaves office.

Speaking about ... countries that need to react correctly to America, in reference to U.S. trade policy, Lutnick said, You still have Taiwan. Thats a big one thats coming, I think, pretty soon. I expect to really be talking to them and sorting that out.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Lutnick framed the stakes in blunt geopolitical terms. The Chinese have said, were going to take Taiwan, he told NewsNation. Theyre not even shy about it. That threat, he says, is exactly why semiconductor manufacturing cannot remain concentrated on an island 80 miles from mainland China that makes 95% of our chips.

These comments echo long-standing concerns about overdependence on Taiwans advanced foundries, particularly TSMC, which produces around 90% of the worlds leading-edge chips below 10nm. But the 95% claim could overstate Taiwans overall role. While the island is essential for high-performance CPU and GPU silicon, it accounts for around 44% of logic chips and 24% of memory chips that enter the U.S. market, according to a November 2023 working paper published by the U.S. International Trade Commission.

Still, the Trump administration is pushing hard to increase domestic manufacturing. The CHIPS and Science Act, passed under the Biden administration, is now being reinterpreted through a harsher lens. A proposed 1:1 chip rule would require companies to match every imported chip with one made domestically or face 100% tariffs, a major pivot from subsidies to leverage as U.S. officials seek lasting supply chain independence.

Lutnicks comments concerning a Taiwan deal suggests the administration is now looking to formalize or expand its partnership with TSMC, which is already building two fabs in Arizona and, in March, pledged $100 billion toward U.S. investments over five years. That includes packaging and R&D infrastructure, but not yet a commitment to bring its most advanced 2nm-class platforms to the U.S.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

If  and its a big if  an upcoming deal leads to TSMC bringing state-of-the-art node production to the U.S., it would mark a monumental shift in where leading-edge silicon is fabricated. TSMC is already producing N4 chips at its Arizona facility and plans to support N3 and then N2 by 2028-2029 at Fab 21, but locking in leading nodes will be tricky.

Taiwans government has already signaled resistance to transferring its most advanced technology abroad, saying that it will ensure TSMC will keep its most advanced manufacturing processes in Taiwan under the pro posed N-1 policy .

Follow Tom's Hardware on Google News, or add us as a preferred source, to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!
The US revoked Colombian President Gustavo Petros visa, the latest sign of crumbling ties between Washington and Bogota.

Washington made the move over Petros participation in a pro-Palestinian demonstration in New York City, as well as his call for US troops deployed in American cities to disobey orders.

Though Colombia has been one of the US closest allies in Latin America, relations between the two have deteriorated rapidly: After the White House announced tariffs against Colombia in April, Petro vowed to retaliate, later backing down to avert a trade war.

Meanwhile, Washington this month decertified Colombia as a partner in its war on drugs, arguing it had failed demonstrably to crack down on cocaine production.
Vice President Vance said Russia must wake up and accept reality in its ongoing war against Ukraine.

We want peace here, Vance said Sunday on Fox News. We have been actively pursuing peace from the very beginning of the administration, but the Russians have got to wake up and accept reality here.

Earlier this week, President Trump said that Ukraine could win the war and referred to Russia as a paper tiger.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

After getting to know and fully understand the Ukraine/Russia Military and Economic situation and, after seeing the Economic trouble it is causing Russia, I think Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform Tuesday.

The president met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly earlier in the day. He has previously suggested that Ukraine would have to accept territorial concessions as part of a peace agreement.

Russia currently occupies all of Luhansk and Crimea  the latter of which it annexed in 2014, and parts of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.

The death toll has continually risen in the conflict, which began when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies said in June that more than 250,000 Russian soldiers and between 60,000 and 100,000 Ukrainian troops have died since the war began. The U.N. said Sept. 10 that more than 14,100 Ukrainian civilians have died in the conflict. In May, the independent Moscow Times, based in Amsterdam, reported that more than 620 Russian civilians have died since the war began.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Vance, noting the mounting death toll, said that Russian President Vladimir Putin has refused to meet with Trump and Zelensky. After a meeting with Zelensky and European leaders at the White House last month, the president expressed optimism that a trilateral meeting would occur.

A lot of people are dying, Vance said. They dont have a lot to show for it. How many more people are they willing to lose? How many more people are they willing to kill for very little, if any, gain in the military advantage on the ground there?

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
QUITO, Ecuador (AP)  A violent clash Sunday in Ecuador between law enforcement authorities and Indigenous people protesting the end of a fuel subsidy left one civilian dead and 12 soldiers injured.

The military and the national Indigenous organization behind the demonstrations traded blame for the violence that developed in the Andean community north of the capital, Quito. Ecuadors ministries of Defense and Interior did not immediately acknowledge the protesters death.

The Regional Foundation for Human Rights Advice in a statement said the male protester died after being shot. The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador, the largest Indigenous organization in the country, in a separate statement said the 46-year-old man was killed as the result of government repression that left another demonstrator in critical condition.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Ecuadors Prosecutors Office in a post on X said it will open an investigation with a team specialized in the unlawful use of force to guarantee the objectivity of the process.

The Armed Forces also reported on X that the 12 soldiers were injured while guarding a convoy transporting food to areas of northern Ecuador. The post said the soldiers were ambushed by infiltrated groups but did not elaborate further.

The CINE called for the demonstrations after President Daniel Noboa ordered on Sept. 12 the elimination of a state subsidy for diesel fuel, increasing the price from $1.80 per gallon to $2.80 per gallon.

Sunday marked the seventh day of protests. A state of emergency and curfew remained in effect in the provinces with the largest Indigenous populations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Noboa has accused the protesters of having links to organized crime and illegal mining groups. Meanwhile, the confederations president, Marlon Vargas, has denounced repression by law enforcement and called on international organizations to remain vigilant.

Official figures show that more than 80 people have been arrested in the demonstrations. Thirteen of them face terrorism charges.
Dirt and debris at the site of the former Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics facility in Merrimack. Because PFAS contamination is pervasive in the surrounding area, the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services has advised that soils cannot be removed from the region unless they are taken to a specialized facility. (Photo by Molly Rains/New Hampshire Bulletin)

In the greater Merrimack area, where toxic forever chemicals are concentrated throughout the soil and a long-term cleanup plan is yet to materialize, keeping the contamination local is the best many feel they can do for now. But how well thats working isnt clear and guidance is scarce, creating headaches for developers and concern for activists.

Soil is a major concern, said Rep. Rosemarie Rung, of Merrimack. There are no clear and distinct regulations on how to manage soil that needs to be removed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The prevalence of toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals, also called PFAS, in the Merrimack region is tied to the now-shuttered Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics plant. The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services contends that the facility released PFAS into the atmosphere in the course of its operations; the factory opened under different ownership in 1986, ended operations in May 2024, and was demolished earlier this year.

Airborne PFAS settle into soils, from where the chemicals seep into water bodies and groundwater. In 2016, water testing revealed hundreds of contaminated wells in multiple towns. PFAS are extremely slow to break down in the environment and have been tied to myriad health concerns, including elevated incidences of certain cancers and other illnesses.

Saint-Gobain has paid for some short- and long-term drinking water solutions, including providing bottled water to some households, connecting others to public water, and filtering some public wells affected by the contaminants.

When it comes to longer-term questions about how the soil contamination will be managed or cleaned up, however, the company, residents, and NHDES have struggled to reach an agreement, and New Hampshire has not yet settled on a remediation plan outlining Saint-Gobains cleanup responsibilities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

For soil contamination tied to Saint-Gobain emissions, NHDES considers the company responsible for any remediation that must occur, Waste Management Division Director Michael Wimsatt said.

Saint-Gobain initially suggested natural attenuation and institutional controls as a management strategy for the contaminated area into the future, and the company continues to believe that strategy  involving monitoring levels over time as the chemicals dissipate into the environment  is an appropriate remedy, said company spokesperson Suzanne Loranc.

However, NHDES disagreed and has sent a letter to the company requesting that Saint-Gobain investigate the soils in the area to understand more about the extent and nature of the contamination, spokesperson James Martin said in an email. The findings will inform longer-term action plans for both the Saint-Gobain site and broader area, Wimsatt said.

Loranc said Saint-Gobain anticipated conducting the preliminary investigation this fall.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

This will be followed by an initial report, then a next draft of an action plan, though this process could take months, Wimsatt said at the commission meeting.

Containment

In the meantime, life goes on in the Merrimack area  with added considerations for the proper care and containment of contaminated soil.

NHDES calls for PFAS-contaminated soil to be managed appropriately to ensure it is conducted in a manner that is protective of human health and the environment, Martin said.

That doesnt explicitly mean that the soil cannot be removed from the area, Martin said. But there are limited options for what safe management of PFAS-contaminated soils could actually look like beyond containment, said Rep. Wendy Thomas, of Merrimack.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

This is due, in part, to the sheer size of the area believed to be affected by PFAS pollution from Saint-Gobain.

The Saint-Gobain site is a tremendously unique site, Wimsatt said, larger than the other PFAS-contaminated sites NHDES encounters  meaning that traditional management guidance is not necessarily applicable. The problem is that there are millions of cubic yards of soil.  Its just not feasible, either technically or practically or economically, in any way feasible, to think that were going to pick up all those soils and bring them to a landfill somewhere, right?

PFAS-contaminated soil cant be placed just anywhere, and the dedicated hazardous waste landfills where it can be placed can also be costly. Other routes, like burning or heat-treating soil, are similarly difficult to implement, Thomas said. For now, strategies for managing soils center on keeping them in place  though, as Wimsatt noted, this strategy does not address the risk to groundwater from contaminated soils.

Unexpected costs

A common circumstance that might call for relocating significant volumes of soil is construction  and development is still progressing in Merrimack, where Saint-Gobains legacy hasnt really scared anybody away, according to community development director Robert Price. But it has created the need for additional considerations, and sometimes costs, that not everybody expects, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Developers, theyve obviously heard of the Saint-Gobain contamination issue and all of that, but they arent necessarily aware fully of how it affects them, Price said.  So they realize later in the process, like, oh, by the way, youre not allowed to remove soil from the property. And so they have to figure out, OK  what do we do with all this now?

The town faces the same challenges.

Initial plans for a bridge construction project called for the town to relocate about 9,000 cubic yards of soil, Merrimack Town Manager Paul Micali said. But taking that soil to a dedicated facility is expensive, and it was unclear whether Saint-Gobain or any other entity would help pay for it.

We are trying to come up with a plan to figure out what we can and cannot do with the soil, Micali said Sept. 22. Hes concerned, he said, that the uncertainty will delay the project, which the town had hoped to put out to bid in the fall.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Ultimately, according to Martin, plans were updated to keep all the soil contained on site, using the excess to construct berms and slopes. This path is similar to that taken by other developers who have struggled to determine what to do with their excess soil, Price said. Not all have found a path forward  leading to piles of dirt popping up from time to time along Daniel Webster Highway.

There are a lot of projects up and down (Daniel Webster) highway that are affected by it, Micali said. All these projects are being affected  They cant remove the contaminated soil.

Unclear scope

Another challenge is establishing a border around the affected area. A commonly referenced zone is the boundary laid out in a 2018 consent decree between NHDES and Saint-Gobain, which includes portions of Bedford, Hudson, Litchfield, Londonderry, Manchester, and Merrimack. But the zone is a legal boundary and does not fully encompass the extent of pollution from Saint-Gobain, Martin said.

Contaminated water supplies and illnesses associated with PFAS exposure have been found outside the boundaries of the agreement, Thomas said. And because PFAS leach into groundwater through the soil, activists such as Laurene Allen of Merrimack Citizens for Clean Water have said they find inaction, and the attenuation strategy proposed by Saint-Gobain, unacceptable.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The contamination levels have not dropped over the years of site data and are not expected to drop as these are chemicals that will only decrease if the site is remediated, Allen said. Citing the water filtration some residents were undertaking at their own expense, air quality concerns, and danger to those working in the area, she added that she felt the site should have been designated a federal CERCLA, or superfund, site, to put the authority to push for a remedy onto the federal government.

DES lacks the authority to order action. The solutions are there for soil removal and management as well as groundwater remediation but it seems (New Hampshire) does not have the will to set a state policy of polluter accountability, she said. This site continues to add to our aquifer contamination that we are filtering at our own expense.  Its a long overdue issue of environmental justice and we are paying for what we did not cause with not only remediation but also with (our) health.

Wimsatt said NHDES believed holding Saint-Gobain directly responsible for cleanup was a more efficient way to proceed than going through Superfund.

What we always do is we look for a responsible party that has both the wherewithal and the willingness to do the work they need to do, and in virtually any case, we see that as a much more efficient way to get people protected than going through the Superfund process, he said, pointing to Saint-Gobains work to remedy residents drinking water as an example of forward progress.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

However, some advocates said they werent yet satisfied.

Weve had to assume so much cost, headache, personal loss because of the actions of Saint-Gobain, Rung said.  We need to tighten up the regulations and the responsibility.
TotalEnergies SE TTE announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire the 25% interest held by Moeve (formerly CEPSA) in Block 53, offshore Suriname. Together with Petronas, which owns 30% of the license, and APA Corporation APA, which controls 45% of the block, TotalEnergies is now a partner in the license.



Block 53 is situated directly east of Block 58, where TotalEnergies serves as the operator with a 40% stake. The final investment decision for the GranMorgu development was made in October 2024. The Block 53 license encompasses the Baja-1 discovery, which was drilled close to the boundary of Block 58.



This acquisition brings new resources to the development of TTEs low-cost and low-emission GranMorgu project. It also demonstrates how TotalEnergies will use the GranMorgu infrastructure to expand its production plateau and develop new resources profitably, strengthening the company's position in Suriname's offshore market.



Over 750 million barrels of recoverable resources are believed to be contained in the GranMorgu development, which requires a substantial investment of $10.5 billion. The GranMorgu is anticipated to begin production in the first half of 2028, with a capacity of 220,000 barrels per day. Its floating offshore production unit is anticipated to rank among TotalEnergies' largest projects to date.



In June 2025, TotalEnergies announced the acquisition of a 25% working interest in a portfolio of exploration leases offshore U.S. from Chevron Corporation CVX. This deal would increase TotalEnergies' offshore U.S. exploration acreage, combining a variety of geological features and prospectivity, and is consistent with the ongoing objective of expanding its exploration portfolio with low-cost and low-emission choices.

Focus on Offshore Exploration Opportunities

The offshore assets of oil and gas companies provide several benefits, primarily through access to vast and untapped resources under the ocean floor. The offshore fields play a crucial role in meeting the growing global demand for energy and ensuring a steady, reliable supply of oil and gas for both domestic and international markets. Along with TTE, Chevron and ExxonMobil Corporation XOM are focused on offshore exploration opportunities.



Chevron has a notable offshore presence in South America, particularly in Suriname and Uruguay, with its exploration and production activities. It is also actively pursuing offshore exploration, particularly in the Gulf of Mexico and the Eastern Mediterranean. Its renewed interest effectively doubles the area available for exploration, expanding the offshore blocks to a vast 18,146 square miles (47,000 square kilometers). This not only increases the possibility of finding commercially viable energy reserves but also opens up opportunities for both CVX and Greeces energy future.



CVXs long-term (three to five years) earnings growth rate is 8.29%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 sales indicates a year-over-year decrease of 6.2%.



ExxonMobil is actively involved in offshore oil and gas exploration, with a particular focus on deepwater projects globally. The company has significant acreage positions and ongoing exploration activities in areas like Guyana, Brazil and the Eastern Mediterranean. Additionally, ExxonMobil is pursuing exploration opportunities offshore India.



XOMs long-term earnings growth rate is 8.19%. It delivered an average earnings surprise of 3.6% in the past four quarters.
"To reach a reasonable deal for both sides, both sides have to give up a little bit and might leave the table a little bit unhappy," Leavitt said.

Israel and Hamas are "very close" to reaching an agreement on a framework deal to end the war in Gaza and ensure lasting peace in the Middle East, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday.

Leavitt, speaking on Fox News' Fox and Friends program, said President Donald Trump would discuss a 21-point peace plan with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House later on Monday. Trump will speak to leaders in Qatar, who have served as intermediaries with Hamas, on Monday, she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"To reach a reasonable deal for both sides, both sides have to give up a little bit and might leave the table a little bit unhappy, but that is ultimately how we are going to end this conflict," she said.

Witkoff added that it was Trump's expectation that both sides agree to the plan drafted by special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff.

Netanyahu told Fox News on Sunday that though the Trump plan has not been finalized, he hopes to advance it.

We are currently working with President Trumps team on the 21-point agreement. We hope to successfully advance the deal, he said.

During the Fox interview, Netanyahu confirmed that Israel would be willing to allow Hamas leaders to leave Gaza in exchange for the release of the remaining 48 hostages and an end to the war.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

We want to free the hostages, and for Gaza to be demilitarized, he said.

If the plan were to be agreed upon, the war reportedly would be ended in 48 hours, with all 48 hostages released, and the IDF would withdraw.

Other points in the 21-point plan include the immediate provision of aid and Israels promise not to strike Qatar again. Regarding the last clause, the prime minister said he would discuss it with the Trump administration, but declined to confirm whether Israel would refrain from future strikes on Qatar.

When asked whether he regretted the IAF strikes on Qatar, given the regional implications, Netanyahu replied, I think the US and any self-respecting country doesnt give a pass to terrorists. We werent attacking Qatar any more than the US was attacking Pakistan when it took out [Osama] bin Laden.

International community expresses hope ahead of Trump, Bibi meeting

Germany, Egypt, and the UAE all commented on their hopes and support for Trump's proposal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul wrote on X/Twitter that the war in Gaza must end, Hamas must release the hostages, and we are close to achieving this solution thanks to the US.

Germany worked hard to reach this goal, Wadephul added, calling on "all sides to show the courage to take the final decisive step."

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan expressed their support following a meeting between the two Middle East leaders in Cairo, the Egyptian President's Office confirmed.

Mathilda Heller and Shir Perets contributed to this report.
To paraphrase the real estate maxim, when it comes to the Vermont economy, it's all about workforce, workforce, workforce. In a nutshell, the state needs more workers to sustain growth.

"When we're looking at our workforce, nearly 100,000 Vermonters are approaching retirement age," said Amy Spear, president of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. "Businesses can't find workers today. We know it's only going to get worse. We need 13,500 new people entering the workforce every year. Not insurmountable, but we have the lowest birth rate ever in the United States, so it's something other states and cities are feeling as well."

The winners of this year's Top Workplaces competition  Home Care Assistance of Greater Burlington, Cathedral Square, PeoplesBank and Green Mountain Concert Services  are feeling the workforce shortage, which is why they strive to keep a strong culture.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"I would say, especially running an organization, I do very much worry about our staffing," said Kim Fitzgerald, chief executive officer of Cathedral Square. "I was just looking last week at our age brackets, and although we have a pretty nice span of people in 10-year age brackets, I definitely see the age bracket of 60 and above as a big group, coming of age for retirement, and the bracket of 20- to 29-year-olds is not growing at the same rate. I'm very worried about the younger population taking over as people are retiring."

Cathedral Square CEO Kim Fitzgerald speaks at the affordable housing press conference at the Laurentide Apartments in Burlington April 17, 2024. Regional Administrator Juana Matias and Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak stand behind her.

The problem is exacerbated by the business Cathedral Square is in, according to Fitzgerald, because it requires 24/7 staffing for the organization's assisted living communities.

"We absolutely have to have those caregivers," Fitzgerald said. "We need folks who want to do this, who want to be there. The demographics in Vermont are concerning. The population is growing, yet the younger population is not staying in the state, and people are having fewer children."

Exactly the point, says Spear. The chamber's research shows that Vermont only retains about 2,000 of its roughly 5,000 high school graduates each year and only 4,500 of its college graduates.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"I believe we might be the lowest ranked in the country when it comes to retaining our college graduates," Spear said.

Creating a flexible workplace increases appeal

Sean Leonardi, sales and marketing specialist for Green Mountain Concert Services, said the security company has an advantage when it comes to the Vermont workforce  flexibility.

"Currently, we have about 800 part-time employees company-wide," Leonardi said. "You choose when you want to work. Once you come online in our system you're training for your security license. Here are upcoming jobs. You sign up for the ones you want to work."

GMCS gets a sufficient mix of workers signing up for jobs four days a week and those who only want to work one or two events every month, according to Leonardi.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Leonardi acknowledges, however, that over the past several years, the biggest challenge for Vermont businesses, including GMCS, has been finding employees, thanks to low unemployment, which translates to a sparse pool of potential workers.

"Every year our starting wage goes up and up to stay competitive," Leonardi said. "We're all fighting over the same pool of people looking for work."

How Vermont's unemployment rate creates a problem for employers

Jeffrey Carr, who has served as the state economist for the Vermont Agency of Administration for more than 23 years, confirmed the restricted nature of Vermont's workforce in his revenue forecast for 2026 and 2027. Carr reported Vermont's unemployment rate as of June 2025 "stood at just 2.6%," which was only 0.8 percentage points above the all-time low of 1.8% established in July 2023 and August 2023.

Carr said Vermont's June 2025 seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate remained as the lowest unemployment rate among the six New England states by at least half of 1 percent and ranked as 3rd lowest among the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"As such, it seems to be that Vermont's relatively slower-than-average rate of nonfarm payroll job recovery since the end of the pandemic is more a function of the lack of available workers versus being the result of a lagging economy," Carr concluded.

What's changing to attract veterans to Vermont

The Vermont Chamber of Commerce has an economic action plan that came out of its Vermont Futures Project, run by Executive Director Kevin Chu, who spent several years surveying business owners and others across the state to figure out what economic policies to champion.

Vermont is trying to make it more attractive for military retirees to stay here or move here with a new tax exemption for military pensions.

One of those policies Spear points to that came to fruition this year is to fully exempt pension income for military retirees from state taxes up to $125,000 annually, with a gradual phase-out of taxes between $125,000 and $175,000. The hope is the new policy will encourage those retirees to live in Vermont, enhancing the workforce.

"Vermont was ranked at the very bottom of the list of where retirees from the military would go because their pensions were taxed," Spear said. "A nominal amount, $10,000, wasn't taxed. Military retirees are often prime talent, exactly the workforce Vermont needs, and now they have an easier glidepath to retire into the state."

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Vermont businesses face a shortage of workers, housing. What it means
My wife and I witnessed a miracle  of sorts  on a recent Southwest Airlines flight to Florida.

We watched this unfold as we waited to board the flight from Group A (positions 3 and 4), which should have guaranteed us the pick of the best seats. Of course, this would come after the call for preboarding for those who require extra time or assistance.

Just then a group of about 20 loud and boisterous people  including five women in airport courtesy chairs  rolls up to answer the call for early boarding. The women didn't have a filter and could be overheard laughing about how they didnt really need the courtesy service. As we finally had the chance to get to our seats, we noticed he group occupied the first four rows on each side of the plane.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Meaning nearly 20 individuals capable of walking took advantage of the system. Brazenly laughing about it as they received angry glares from the passengers who boarded after them recognizing it wasnt a joke; it was a coordinated effort that allowed them to board before the rest of the passengers and claim most of the premium seats.

A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 at Denver International Airport.

This occurred at Chicago Midway International Airport as my wife, Damia, and I were embarking on a trip to celebrate our eighth wedding anniversary. Some could see this as a harmless way to manipulate the system, but I view it as another example of inconsiderate behavior. We have become a society where many prioritize their own interests over those of others.

I know I might sound like a broken record. In March, I vented about America's crappy manners, specifically a neighbor who doesn't pick up after his dog. The way I see it, manners are something you're taught while inconsiderate behavior  or just plain rudeness  is just selfishly tossing all that aside.

We witnessed the true miracle after we landed in Florida

When our flight arrived in Fort Lauderdale, the real magic occurred. The same women who needed a cart and extra time boarding the plane in Chicago stood up to retrieve their own bags from the overhead compartments and walked confidently as they left the plane. One of them even outpaced my able-bodied wife to reach the airport bathroom, no assistance needed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

They must have healed during the flight. Keep in mind that none of these women had a cane or assistive device in sight.

I sarcastically called it a miracle, but the truth is that it's BS, and Im not alone. Surveys show Americans say rude behavior is on the rise, which certainly plays a role in the anger that seems to permeate our country these days.

Before I continue, I want to clarify that my concerns are not directed at individuals with legitimate mobility issues who board first. I have no problem with people with mobility challenges, families with small children, or members of the military boarding before me. However, I am troubled by those who falsely claim to need courtesy boarding despite being able to walk, as they rudely game the system.

Southwest Airlines interior

This summer, Southwest Airlines announced that it will be eliminating its first-come, first-served model, which allowed passengers to choose any open seat upon boarding. Instead, it will introduce assigned seating starting on Jan. 27, 2026.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Under the new assigned seating plan, Southwest will transition from a position-based boarding system to a group-based boarding system. There will be up to eight boarding groups for each flight, with passengers assigned to a group based on their ticket purchase and frequent flyer status.

Im not sure how this will impact those who fake needing assistance to board first, but the bold actions of the group of 20 will likely find another way to exploit the system.

Opinion: I'm taking a stand against jacked-up airline fees by taking the middle seat

Not shocking: Rude behavior is on the rise

According to the Pew Research Center, nearly half of U.S. adults believe that public behavior has become more rude since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes 20% who feel that behavior in public is now a lot ruder, while 44% of adults say public behavior remains the same and only 9% believe people are acting more politely.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Surprisingly, just 34% of adults report frequently witnessing rude behavior in public.

I feel like I see it all the time, or maybe it's just me getting older and having less patience for foolishness like I used to.

Opinion: Electric bikes are driving me crazy. Make them follow the same rules as cars.

Recently, I've noticed an unsettling increase in rude behaviors that truly get under my skin. One glaring instance is when bystanders whip out their phones to film others during critical moments, like capturing footage of a person lying on the pavement after a horrific accident.

The same people filming or going live often have the nerve to tell their viewers to call an ambulance, when they could get off their live and do the same.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Another troubling sight is individuals zipping around on motorized carts in grocery stores or other big box stores like Walmart, only to leave them with barely any battery life for those who genuinely need them.

And perhaps one of the most infuriating actions I've witnessed is people misusing disabled parking tags. They casually park in those coveted spots, using someone else's credentials for their own convenience, disregarding the needs of those who truly rely on those designated areas.

Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store.

Lets return to the five women and their cohorts who falsely claimed they needed assistance to board the plane early to secure the best seats for their group. People like them only make it more difficult for those who genuinely need help.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

When my wife shared our experience on social media, many others quickly responded, noting that they often witness similar behavior:

We noticed this same behavior in several airports when we traveled recently. Humans are always scheming and scamming their way around rules and regulations without any shame. The old and young are both being fraudulent passengers.  Tamott Wolverton

My husband is disabled and I get livid when I have to leave him in the car because there are no motorized scooters available in the grocery store, but people are giving their small child joy rides in them, or people are leaving the scooter parked while they run up and down the aisle and two aisles over to grab items. If you can do all that, please leave the scooter for the people who can't do that. Total disrespect for handicapped people.  Kim Taylor Mallard

Its a total abuse of the system and because of HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) you cant question the need to preboard. A lot of the shenanigans will stop when they realize that it will no longer allow them to sit in the front or save seats for ALL of their family. You dont know how many times Jetway Jesus has healed on flights. 10 chairs will come on and only 4 will be utilized when we land.  Tamara Sherie

I remember seeing a story a few years ago about people doing this in Vegas as well. Renting handicap scooters and taking advantage of getting to places. People are crazy.  Jamel Harris

Those who tend to cut corners and put their own interests first should pause before acting in a way that might be rude and ask themselves if its worth it. Short answer: Its not, but if you choose to lie, at least have enough common sense not to brag about it.

James E. Causey is an Ideas Lab reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, where this column originally appeared. Reach him at jcausey@jrn.com or follow him on X: @jecausey

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

You can read diverse opinions from our USA TODAY columnists and other writers on the Opinion front page, on X, formerly Twitter, @usatodayopinion and in our Opinion newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Southwest's new boarding, seat rules wont stop rude people | Opinion
Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Buenos Aires this weekend to demand justice for two young women and a teen girl whose torture and murders were livestreamed on social media, in a case that has shocked Argentina. Argentina's government on Tuesday said authorities in Peru had detained the suspected mastermind behind the murders.

The victims' relatives held a banner with their names  "Lara, Brenda, Morena"  and placards with their images, flanked by supporters as they marched to Parliament.

"It was a narco-feminicide!" "Our lives are not disposable!" read signs and banners as protesters banged on drums at the march, organized by a feminist group.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The bodies of Morena Verdi and Brenda del Castillo, cousins aged 20, and 15-year-old Lara Gutierrez were found buried Wednesday in the yard of a house in a southern suburb of Buenos Aires, five days after they went missing.

The crime, which investigators tied to drug gangs, was perpetrated live on Instagram and watched by 45 members of a private account, officials said.

"Bloodthirsty" killers

"Women must be protected more than ever," Brenda's father, Leonel del Castillo, told reporters at the protest. He had earlier said he had not been able to identify his daughter's body due to the abuse she had endured.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Antonio del Castillo, grandfather of the slain 20-year-old cousins, was in tears, calling the killers "bloodthirsty."

"You wouldn't do what they did to them to an animal," he said.

"I have hope that the truth will be revealed," he added. "I ask people to stand with us."

Antonio del Castillo, grandfather of Brenda del Castillo and Morena Verdi, holds a shirt with their image demanding justice for their murder in La Tablada, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, on September 26, 2025. / Credit: LUIS ROBAYO/AFP via Getty Images

On Monday, police announced the arrest of a suspect following an interview she gave to a local television station. A total of nine suspects have been arrested in the case.

According to authorities, the man suspected of ordering the massacre is a 20-year-old Peruvian drug trafficker nicknamed "Little J," who was active an in impoverished southern suburb of Buenos Aires. He and his alleged lieutenant were detained in Peru, officials said Tuesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"What happens to those who steal drugs from me"

Investigators said the victims, thinking they were going to a party, were lured into a van on Sept. 19 allegedly as part of a plan to "punish" them for violating gang code and serving as a warning to others.

Police discovered the video after one of the detainees revealed it under questioning, according to Javier Alonso, security minister for Buenos Aires province.

In the footage, a gang leader is heard saying: "This is what happens to those who steal drugs from me."

Argentine media reported the torturers cut off fingers, pulled out nails, beat and suffocated the victims.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Meta, the parent company of Instagram, disputed that the livestream occurred on its platform.

"We have not found any evidence of the livestream taking place on Instagram. Our team continues to cooperate with law enforcement as they investigate this horrific crime," a spokesperson told the Agence France-Presse.

Federico Celebon, a cousin of Brenda and Morena, told AFP the young women had sometimes engaged in sex work "to survive," without their families' knowledge.

They had "bad luck" to "find themselves at the wrong time with the wrong people," he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

According to several media outlets, the women had been asked to attend the party as prostitutes.

Yamila Alegre, a 35-year-old leatherworker at the march on Saturday, blasted media coverage of the case.

"We always try to make the girls feel guilty, we know everything about their lives, what they were doing there, what their family is like. ... We publish their photos, but we know nothing about the perpetrators, not their names, their faces are blurred," she said.

Paula Fabero, Brenda del Castillo's mother, reacts as relatives and friends of Brenda del Castillo, Morena Verdi and Lara Gutierrez march with abortion rights activists to mark the International Safe Abortion Day and call for justice after the three young women were tortured and murdered earlier this week in a suspected drug gang revenge attack, according to local media, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sept. 27, 2025. / Credit: Cristina Sille / REUTERS

Del Valle Galvan, Lara's aunt, denied that the 15-year-old was involved with drugs or prostitution.

"There is poverty in our neighborhood, but what people say about Lara is false," she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"We want justice to be done, for nothing to be covered up, for the whole truth to come out so that those responsible can be held accountable for their actions. We are not afraid!" she told AFP.

Femicide epidemic

The European Institute for Gender Equality says femicide "is deeply rooted in and a manifestation of power imbalances in society, which promotes an unequal status for men and women."

The institute says femicide "is broadly defined as the killing of a woman or girl because of her gender and can take different forms, such as the murder of women as a result of intimate partner violence; the torture and misogynist slaying of women; killing of women and girls in the name of 'honor,' etc."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

One woman is killed by a man every 36 hours in Argentina, according to a femicide monitoring group in the country, BBC News reported.

Femicide was added to Argentina's penal code as an aggravating factor of homicides in 2012, and is punishable with life imprisonment, according to the Guardian.

However, earlier this year, Argentine President Javier Milei said he wanted to remove the concept of "femicide" from the country's penal code, the Council on Foreign Relations reported. Milei had argued that femicide promotes the idea that "the life of a woman is worth more than that of a man."

Watch: Pete Hegseth addresses military leaders at Quantico

WNBA's Napheesa Collier calls out league, officials: "We have the worst leadership"

Americans gear up for economic impact of government shutdown
At least four people were killed and eight people were wounded when an ex-Marine smashed a pickup truck into a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Michigan on Sunday, opened fire and set the building ablaze, officials say.

The attack occurred in Grand Blanc Township, Mich., near Flint, at about 10:25 a.m. during a crowded Sunday service.

The attacker, identified as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford of nearby Burton, Mich., drove a pickup truck bearing two American flags into the side of the church building, got out and started shooting with an assault-style rifle, according to police. Sanford was fatally shot by responding officers minutes later in the parking lot.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Authorities believe he used gas to start the fire. Improvised explosive devices were also found at the scene, but its unclear whether he used them.

It took several hours for firefighters to extinguish the blaze. Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye told reporters on Monday that everyone who was inside the church has been accounted for, adding that officials are still in the process of clearing the structure.

The victims have not been publicly identified.

Dr. Michael Danic, chief of staff at Henry Ford Genesys Hospital, said that of the eight people who were wounded, five were treated for gunshot wounds and three for smoke inhalation. Two remain in critical condition. The victims ranged in age from 6 to 78 years, Danic said.

Investigators search for motive

Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye speaks during a press conference on Sunday. (Junfu Han/USA Today Network via Imagn Images via Reuters)

A motive for the attack has not been identified. Reuben Coleman, acting special agent in charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office, said the bureau is investigating it an act of targeted violence.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

According to military records obtained by the Detroit News, Sanford served in the U.S. Marines from June 2004 through June 2008 as an automotive mechanic and vehicle recovery operator. He was deployed to Iraq from August 2007 through March 2008 and had the rank of sergeant.

Sanford married a woman in 2016 and had a 10-year-old son, according to court records obtained by the New York Times.

Renye said that Sanford had an arrest record that included burglary and impaired driving offenses.

Its unclear whether he was a member of the church.

The 150-member congregation is part of the massive Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, widely known as the Mormon Church, based in Salt Lake City. Russell Nelson, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died on Saturday. He was 101 years old.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

ABC News reported that investigators are working to determine whether the timing of Sunday's assault was in any way connected to Nelson's death.

Kris Johns, a city council candidate in Burton, told the Detroit Free Press that he spoke to Sanford while canvassing last week, and that Sanford expressed animosity toward the church, describing Mormons as "the antichrist."

"It was very much standard anti-LDS talking points that you would find on YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Johns recalled, adding that Sanford was otherwise "extremely friendly" and did not seem violent.

He said that when he saw Sanford's photo circulating on television and social media as the shooting suspect, he contacted police and the FBI.

Witnesses describe chaotic scene

People at the scene of the shooting and fire at the church. (Katy Kildee/Detroit News via AP)

The attack occurred halfway through the two-hour service, when some congregants normally leave.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"We heard a big bang and it blew the doors in the church," Paula Maser, who was inside, told WEYI-TV. "And then everything after that was chaos."

Renye said worshippers inside the building shielded children and moved them to safety.

Paul Kirby, who was also inside the church, told WTOL-TV that when the pickup crashed into the building, he and other worshippers initially thought it was an accident and went to help the driver.

Thats when I saw the shooter start aiming at people and starting to shoot, Kirby said. I turned around and started running for the door."

Kirby did not think he'd make it out alive.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

I was panicking and trying to get through the doors as fast as possible, and just expecting a bullet in my back, he said. I was just waiting for it.

Other witnesses who were helping older churchgoers into their cars said they saw the gunman emerge from the building.

We were trying to gather as many people as we could, a member of the church named Brian, who was in the parking lot, told WXYZ. There was a couple of elderly ladies that we were trying to get into safety, so we got them into our car. I saw the active shooter come out of the building, and at that point, I just started trying to drive away."

Latest deadly church shooting in U.S.

Emergency crews respond to the shooting and fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Mich., on Sunday. (Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

The attack in Michigan came just over a month after two children were killed and more than a dozen others were wounded in a shooting at a Catholic church in Minneapolis during the first Mass of the school year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

President Trump condemned Sunday's shooting in a Truth Social post.

"I have been briefed on the horrendous shooting that took place at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Grand Blanc, Michigan," Trump wrote. "The FBI was immediately on scene, and will be leading the Federal Investigation, and providing full support to State and Local Officials. The suspect is dead, but there is still a lot to learn. This appears to be yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America. The Trump Administration will keep the Public posted, as we always do. In the meantime, PRAY for the victims, and their families. THIS EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY MUST END, IMMEDIATELY!"

It was also the second mass shooting in the United States in less than 24 hours. On Saturday night, a man on a boat opened fire on a waterfront bar in Southport, N.C., killing three people and injuring five others.

At Monday's press conference, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer condemned the latest deadly shooting to impact her state.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

"We've seen gun violence in our schools, stores, parades, festivals and our houses of worship," Whitmer said. "These are places that we go to feel connected, to feel safe, to be together. But today, this place has been shattered by bullets and broken glass.

"This might be a familiar pain, but it hurts all the same every time," she added. "We cannot keep living our lives like this."
President Donald Trump speaks during a bilateral meeting with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky at the 80th session of the UNs General Assembly (UNGA) at the United Nations headquarters on Sept. 23 in New York City.
By America Hernandez

(Reuters) -TotalEnergies' plan to cut annual capital spending by $1 billion and sell more power assets failed to ease market concerns over its recent rise in debt, with shares falling 2% after CEO Patrick Pouyanne hosted an investor day on Monday.

The capex cut, to $1517 billion a year for 2027 to 2030, is part of a drive to save $7.5 billion, the oil major said in a statement. The group also said last week it planned to reduce quarterly share buybacks as it adapts to lower oil prices.

"We can do the same growth but with less capex and opex (operating expenditure)," Pouyanne told investors.

However, analysts at RBC called the changes "modest" and said the company could struggle to keep debt under current levels, given lower commodity prices.

SOLAR SALE IS ONE OF SEVERAL

Earlier on Monday, TotalEnergies said it would raise $950 million from the sale of a 50% stake in a 1.4 gigawatt U.S. solar portfolio to investment company KKR.

Pouyanne has said the sale is one of several meant to raise $3.5 billion by year-end to offset more than $3 billion in acquisitions that have contributed to a more than doubling of TotalEnergies' debt in the first six months of 2025.

The group also plans to exit all power holdings outside of its strategic U.S., European, British and Brazilian markets, Stephane Michel, president of Gas, Power and Renewables, told analysts, including in India, home to 25% of its operational renewables assets in partnership with Adani Group.

"On renewables, I consider we have most of what we need," Pouyanne said, though added he was still on the hunt for lucrative gas power plants which work as backup power to intermittent wind and solar energy.

TotalEnergies also said on Monday it would purchase a 49% stake in Continental Resources' upstream gas fields in the U.S. state of Oklahoma, for an undisclosed sum.

STRUGGLE TO SELL ASSETS

Last week, the French company sold an oilfield stake to Shell for $510 million, but two other deals are in jeopardy.

An $860 million sale of Nigerian oil assets fell through last week as buyer Chappal Energies failed to raise enough money. Pouyanne said he was in talks with another buyer.

In July, the sale of TotalEnergies' West of Shetland gas assets in Britain also fell apart, after would-be buyer Prax Group went bankrupt.

TotalEnergies' gearing - a measure of net debt to equity - has leapt to 18% from about 8% in the first six months of this year. That figure rises to 28% when including $8.9 billion in leases and 9.75 billion euros ($11.37 billion) of hybrid debt. Quarterly earnings hit a four-year low this summer.
By Peter Hobson and Tom Polansek

CANBERRA/CHICAGO (Reuters) -Australian beef has replaced U.S. supply in China since President Donald Trump returned to the White House, funnelling hundreds of millions of dollars that have in previous years gone to the U.S. cattle industry into Australian pockets.

U.S. shipments to China, worth around $120 million a month, collapsed after Beijing in March allowed permits to expire at hundreds of American meat facilities and as Trump unleashed a tit-for-tat tariff war.

Other U.S. farm exports to China, the world's biggest food importer, have also suffered since Trump retook power. On soybeans alone, U.S. farmers have lost out on shipments worth billions of dollars during the current harvest season.

U.S. beef exports have in general declined in recent years as drought shrank the country's cattle herd, reducing production and pushing prices to record highs. But the drop in trade with China has been far more sudden and extreme.

The value of U.S. beef sent to China fell to just $8.1 million in July and $9.5 million in August, Chinese trade data showed, compared to $118 million and $125 million in the same months a year earlier.

Australia has mopped up. Its beef shipments to China shot from $140 million a month in the two years to March to $221 million in July and $226 million in August.

In total, over the five months from April through August, U.S. beef exports to China were worth $388 million less than if trade had remained at the average level of the previous two years. Australian shipments were worth $313 million more.

Brazil, China's largest beef supplier, has also stepped up exports in recent months, but Australia has benefited most because its grain-fed beef is the closest equivalent to U.S. products.

"It's good for Australia," said Matt Dalgleish, a meat and livestock analyst at Australian consultants Episode 3. "It's underpinning really strong prices for cattle."

Trade negotiations between Beijing and Washington could end the lock-out, said U.S. Meat Export Federation spokesperson Joe Schuele.

"The beef impasse with China has very little to do with beef," he said. "It's entangled in other issues between the U.S. and China. If they can make progress on those issues, we see more hope for getting this resolved."

U.S. beef shipments to China surged in 2020 and 2021 after Trump, in his first term, struck a trade deal with Beijing.

China plays a useful role for U.S. beef processors by paying premium prices for cuts like chuck rolls that are less popular in the United States.
The Hungarian National Ballet will present three contemporary pieces in one evening under the title Bittersweet Comedies. Johan Inger's Walking Mad, Alexander Ekman's Cacti and Hans van Manen's 5 Tangos choreography will be performed four times between October 11 and 19 on the stages of the Eiffel Workshop and the Opera House in Budapest.

In 2001, Swedish Johan Inger  a former dancer with the Royal Swedish Ballet and the Netherlands Dance Theatre (NDT)  created Walking Made based on Ravel's Bolero: a moving sequence of scenes organized around a movable wall full of doors, which examines the variability of our male-female relationships - the Hungarian State Opera House said in a press announcement.



The choreography created for NDT won the Lucas Hoving Production Award in the Netherlands, while in Italy it received recognition from the Danza & Danza trade magazine. It has been successfully performing in the program of the Hungarian State Opera Ballet since 2015, and its training was again led by the choreographer's sister, Carl Inger.



The double cast also features Lee Soobin, Garcia Carriera Claudia, Yakovleva Maria, Foldi Lea, Carulla Leon Jessica, as well as Scrivener Louis, Timofeev Dmitry, Kekalo Iurii and Ronai Andras as partners of the dance corps artists.



Swedish born Alexander Ekman is one of the most successful Scandinavian choreographers of the past decade and a half.



His witty self-reflection Cacti, created in 2010 for the youth ensemble of the Netherlands Dance Theatre, NDT 2, locks sixteen dancers on white square platforms, each with a cactus, while also holding up a playful, crooked mirror to the high artistic analyses of contemporary dance - they write about the piece, which brought its creator an international breakthrough and was also nominated for the Zwaan Prize in the Netherlands.



The piece has been in the repertoire of the Hungarian National Ballet since 2020, and in the autumn performances, Aglaja Sawatzki and Marmus Auguste, as well as Adrienn Pap and Yago Guerra, will dance solos, while Kamill Kokeny-Hamori and Alberto Ortega de Pablos will present improvisations.



The works by Haydn, Beethoven and Schubert in the performance, including the string quartet "Death and the Daughter", will be interpreted by Elina Harsanyi (1st violin, concertmaster), Geza Szajko (2nd violin), Jeno Soros (viola) and Endre Balog (cello) from the Opera Orchestra.



One of the most performed pieces of the Dutchman Hans van Manen's oeuvre spanning more than half a century is the 5 Tangos, presented in 1977, with which the creator pays tribute to Astor Piazzolla's new tango.



In the pair etudes, the discipline of classical ballet meets the suppressed passion of tango. The work was presented by the Dutch National Ballet and is still a repertoire piece worldwide, and the choreography has been included in the Opera Ballet Ensemble's program since 2017, following its 1999 premiere.



The solos in the October performance will be danced by Maria Beck and Gergo Armin Balazsi, as well as Wakabayshi Yuki and Kiyota Motomi.



Bittersweet Comedies, which collects the choreographies Walking Mad, Cacti and 5 Tangos, will be shown four times this season: on October 11 at the Eiffel Workshop, then on the evenings of October 17 and 18, and on the morning of the 19th at the Ybl Palace on Andrassy Street.



More:

Opera.hu





Source: MTI  Hungarys national news agency since 1881. While MTI articles are usually factual, some may contain political bias, and readers should be aware that such content does not reflect the position of XpatLoop, which is neutral and independent.



Since the goal of XpatLoop is to keep readers well briefed, right across the spectrum of opinions, MTI items are shared to ensure readers are aware of all narratives within the local media.



XpatLoop believes in empowering readers to form their own views through complete and comprehensive coverage. To facilitate this XpatLoop has a balanced range of news partners, as you can see when you surf around XpatLoop.com

*********************************************************************************************



You're very welcome to comment, discuss and enjoy more stories via our Facebook page:



Facebook.com/XpatLoopNews + via XpatLoops groups: Budapest Expats / Expats Hungary



You can subscribe to our newsletter here: XpatLoop.com/Newsletters



Showcase Your Business to Expats in the Loop:

As an independent portal were grateful to all commercial supporters who help keep you in the loop with fresh insights and inspiration. Do you want your business to reach tens of thousands of potential high-value expat customers? If so please contact us here.
Open cellars, vineyard tours and cultural events await visitors between October 3 and 5 at the Tokaj-Hegyalja Harvest Days, one of Hungary's oldest harvest festivals, the organisers informed MTI.

They wrote that the venue for the event, which has been held since 1932, is the Tokaj Festival Village this year, but programs are also being prepared at many points in the town over the weekend.



Among others, the Tokaj-Hegyalja University Agricultural Technical School will host a full-day harvest parade on Saturday, and the Tokaj Winemakers' Association will also organize vineyard tours on that day.



In addition, cellars and cultural events will be open throughout the weekend, and a sightseeing train and electric minibus will also run between the festival venues.



The festival aims to present the traditions, values and cultural diversity of the Tokaj wine region to the general public.



The main venue of the event will feature a wine courtyard and a gastronomic promenade, complemented by a craft fair, a craft street and family programs.



One of the most spectacular events of the festival is the harvest parade on Saturday afternoon, a colorful procession of cheerleaders, wine knights, traditionalists, horsemen and decorated vehicles march through the streets of the city.



This is followed by the grape-raising ceremony, during which the mayors of the World Heritage wine region symbolically unite the harvest of their settlements.



The Mayors' Wine, which is made from this, symbolizes tradition and togetherness; the wine is not sold commercially, but serves only for representational purposes.



The festival atmosphere will be provided by Dzsudlo on Friday, and ByeAlex and Slepp on Saturday, along with DJs and other performers. Sunday is a family-friendly day, with Alma Egyuttes and Brandnyul performing.



More:

Tokaj Harvest Festival





Source: MTI  Hungarys national news agency since 1881. While MTI articles are usually factual, some may contain political bias, and readers should be aware that such content does not reflect the position of XpatLoop, which is neutral and independent.



Since the goal of XpatLoop is to keep readers well briefed, right across the spectrum of opinions, MTI items are shared to ensure readers are aware of all narratives within the local media.



XpatLoop believes in empowering readers to form their own views through complete and comprehensive coverage. To facilitate this XpatLoop has a balanced range of news partners, as you can see when you surf around XpatLoop.com

*********************************************************************************************



You're very welcome to comment, discuss and enjoy more stories via our Facebook page:



Facebook.com/XpatLoopNews + via XpatLoops groups: Budapest Expats / Expats Hungary



You can subscribe to our newsletter here: XpatLoop.com/Newsletters



Showcase Your Business to Expats in the Loop:

As an independent portal were grateful to all commercial supporters who help keep you in the loop with fresh insights and inspiration. Do you want your business to reach tens of thousands of potential high-value expat customers? If so please contact us here.
Independent MP Akos Hadhazy organised another visit to Viktor Orbans fathers Hatvanpuszta estate on Saturday, drawing hundreds of participants two months after his previous demonstration.

Buses brought supporters to the site, where a ladder allowed people to look over the fence and onto the grounds.



Music, balloons, and even zebra costumes gave the protest a lively atmosphere, though police reminded participants not to enter private areas.



Hadhazy and publicist Robert Puzser addressed the crowd from a small stage.



Hadhazy argued that the estate is the most tangible evidence of the prime ministers lies, referring not only to corruption concerns but also to Orbans denial of ownership of the property.



He described lavish features inside the compound, including a six-car underground garage, a porcelain-decorated kitchen, a library with a fireplace, and even a special apple storage facility.



Puzser accused Orban of betraying the legacy of 1956 and aligning with Russian propaganda, prompting chants from the crowd of dirty Fidesz and Russians, go home.



He warned that Hungarys political divisions are deepening, with the fight for undecided voters becoming critical.



Although previous visits raised hopes of spotting exotic animals, protesters this time reported only quad bikes.





*********************************************************************************************



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.
Gergely Karacsony, the mayor of Budapest, addressing Roma Pride Day on Saturday called for "the discriminatory law" on the protection of local identity to be withdrawn.

Speaking at Pope John Paul II Square in the 8th District, Karacsony said the municipal decrees issued on its basis must also be annulled.



It was shameful, he said, that municipalities "have become locales of everyday fascism", arguing that the law was about "keeping Roma people away from" their towns and villages.



The mayor insisted that the essence of the identity law was that municipalities had no rights in terms of protecting their settlement or "standing up to power, capital, profit and investors," but they did have the right to "confront your own compatriots".



Whatever the laws original intent, he said, it was now "one of the most shameful pieces of legislation."



"Either we're all free together, or none of us is," he said.



Karacsony said Roma people were the most discriminated against today. "They have to fight the hardest, they have to bear the greatest burden when they want to assert themselves."



"Let us build a country where no one has to fight harder than others! Let us build a country that offers everyone equal dignity and the opportunity to thrive," he declared.





Source: MTI  Hungarys national news agency since 1881. While MTI articles are usually factual, some may contain political bias, and readers should be aware that such content does not reflect the position of XpatLoop, which is neutral and independent.



Since the goal of XpatLoop is to keep readers well briefed, right across the spectrum of opinions, MTI items are shared to ensure readers are aware of all narratives within the local media.



XpatLoop believes in empowering readers to form their own views through complete and comprehensive coverage. To facilitate this XpatLoop has a balanced range of news partners, as you can see when you surf around XpatLoop.com

*********************************************************************************************



You're very welcome to comment, discuss and enjoy more stories via our Facebook page:



Facebook.com/XpatLoopNews + via XpatLoops groups: Budapest Expats / Expats Hungary



You can subscribe to our newsletter here: XpatLoop.com/Newsletters



Showcase Your Business to Expats in the Loop:

As an independent portal were grateful to all commercial supporters who help keep you in the loop with fresh insights and inspiration. Do you want your business to reach tens of thousands of potential high-value expat customers? If so please contact us here.
The special meeting of two unique Hungarian instruments, the tarogato and the cimbalom, is the focus of the joint concert by Zoltan Erdo, Jeno Lisztes and Anima Musicae, which will be held at the Pesti Vigado to mark the occasion of World Music Day.

The concert is titled Alla Ungherese and will take the audience back to historical times: the two soloists, tarogato player Zoltan Erdo and cimbalom player Jeno Lisztes, will present rarely heard Hungarian musical relics from the 1700s in an unusual way, the organisers told MTI.



Zoltan Erdo performs his musical mission on a 120-year-old rosewood tarogato inherited from his grandfather. The instrument was made in the time of the Kingdom of Hungary, in the First Hungarian Instrument Factory. In the family of Jeno Lisztes, the special craft of cimbalom art has been passed down for the fourth generation, and his playing has conquered the most famous concert halls in the world.



The two soloists are accompanied by the Anima Musicae Chamber Orchestra, one of the most dynamically developing young ensembles in Hungary, a permanent fixture at prestigious venues in Budapest and Europe.



The concert begins with the Overture composed for the Rakoczi note string orchestra, then the original work is also performed with the tarogato solo. In the continuation, the most well-known melodies from the 1700s are recalled, but masterpieces of the kuruc romanticism and the verbunkos era are also performed.



Some pieces from the repertoire of Lajos Olah and Vilmos Jager, the most popular tarogato artists of the 1900s, will also be performed, as will works by Leo Weiner and Henrik Hiekisch, or Ott Rezso's Concertino for tarogato, cimbalom and chamber orchestra.



The National Tarogato Institute's tarogato ensemble, in which the institute's teachers and outstanding students play music together, is a new addition.



Zoltan Erdo established the National Tarogato Institute Foundation this spring, whose main goal is to teach and popularize the tarogato, a wind instrument belonging to the Hungarian musical tradition.



Over the past six months, they have provided assistance to ten students studying tarogato, all on a charitable basis.



Venue:

Pesti Vigado

1051 Budapest, Vigado ter 2.



Meanwhile, Free Screenings and Advice on Music & International Day of Older Persons



On 1 October, to mark both International Music Day and the International Day of Older Persons, the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra and Szechenyi Istvan University will host a special event at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences ceremonial hall. The programme, called Senior Day & Gala, combines a charity concert with free health screenings and expert advice.



Now in its fifth year, the event offers visitors free medical checks, scientific talks and, later in the evening, a concert featuring retired members of the orchestra. The organisers emphasise that the day highlights the role of music as well as the importance of active, healthy ageing. Entry to both the gala and the accompanying daytime programmes is free of charge.



The programme begins at 2 pm, with university staff from Gyor offering lectures and health screenings. Visitors can take part in reflex, concentration, memory, balance and stress level tests, and receive personalised advice and exercise plans based on the results.



The scientific talks will cover topics including happiness in later life, movement and coordination, nutrition, stress management and the positive effects of interaction with animals. Registration for the health checks and lectures is required by email at idoseknapja@gmail.com.



From 5:30 pm a public dress rehearsal will be held, followed at 7:30 pm by the official Senior Gala concert. The evenings programme features the overture to Mozarts The Magic Flute, Albinonis Adagio, the first movement of Brahms Violin Concerto in D major, and Bartoks Romanian Folk Dances.



Soloist Hodos Daniel will perform on violin, with retired members of the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of conductor Denes Istvan. The concert will also include a lecture by Stephens-Sarlos Erzsebet on the connection between physical, mental and spiritual health.



In connection with the event, a new publication titled Golden Years in Harmony will be released. Produced jointly by Szechenyi Istvan University and the Budapest Philharmonic Society, the volume presents the values and possibilities of ageing from scientific and cultural perspectives.



This years Senior Day also has the support of Rotary Hungary, which celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2025. Through its member organisation Rotary Club BudapestAkademia, donations will be collected to support a university research project in Gyor entitled Primitive Reflex Intervention to Reduce Cognitive Decline in Older Populations.





Source: MTI  Hungarys national news agency since 1881. While MTI articles are usually factual, some may contain political bias, and readers should be aware that such content does not reflect the position of XpatLoop, which is neutral and independent.



Since the goal of XpatLoop is to keep readers well briefed, right across the spectrum of opinions, MTI items are shared to ensure readers are aware of all narratives within the local media.



XpatLoop believes in empowering readers to form their own views through complete and comprehensive coverage. To facilitate this XpatLoop has a balanced range of news partners, as you can see when you surf around XpatLoop.com

*********************************************************************************************



You're very welcome to comment, discuss and enjoy more stories via our Facebook page:



Facebook.com/XpatLoopNews + via XpatLoops groups: Budapest Expats / Expats Hungary



You can subscribe to our newsletter here: XpatLoop.com/Newsletters



Showcase Your Business to Expats in the Loop:

As an independent portal were grateful to all commercial supporters who help keep you in the loop with fresh insights and inspiration. Do you want your business to reach tens of thousands of potential high-value expat customers? If so please contact us here.
While many colder countries in Europe boil over with anger against immigrants, Belarus has begun welcoming Pakistanis. Under a new agreement, nearly 150,000 professionals may soon be sent from Islamabad. But Belarus itself remains one of the poorest nations in Europe. Why, then, are people from Pakistan willing to go there?
Haryana Police arrested a Panipat school principal and bus driver after a Class 2 student was tied upside down and beaten, sparking concerns over child safety. Scroll down to check more details.
Vistra Corp. (NYSE: VST) will add two new natural gas units at its Permian Basin Power Plant in West Texas, expanding the facilitys capacity from 325 megawatts to 1,185 megawatts. The decision comes as electricity use grows across the state, particularly in energy-intensive industries tied to oil and gas.

The company stated that the project is part of its long-term plan to strengthen the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) grid. Vistra aims to deliver more than 2,000 megawatts of new capacity between 2024 and 2028 to keep pace with demand.

Since 2020, Vistra has added about 1,000 megawatts of new capacity through upgrades and new projects. In 2024, the company outlined options to increase ERCOTs generation by as much as 2,000 megawatts by 2028, enough power for roughly one million households.

Also Read: Billionaire David Tepper Wont Fight The FedBut He Hates This Market

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott welcomed the expansion, calling it an investment that will stabilize the grid, create jobs, and strengthen the states economy.

Vistra has finished more than 400 megawatts of upgrades across its Texas gas plants. It is also nearing completion of the 200-megawatt Oak Hill solar facility and is on track to repower the retiring Coleto Creek coal site with natural gas, restoring 630 megawatts of capacity. Together, these efforts will diversify supply while keeping dispatchable power available.

The company expects to invest nearly $2 billion in Texas projects since 2020, adding a total of about 3,100 megawatts of new capacity. Executives say the expansion underscores Vistras role in delivering reliable and affordable energy across the nation.

Monahans Mayor Adam Steen said the Permian Basin plant has been part of the region for decades and that the expansion ensures the community remains central to the states energy solutions.

Price Action: VST shares are trading lower by 2.06% to $202.95 at last check Monday.

Read Next:

Photo by sdf_qwe 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?

This article Vistra Expands Permian Basin Plant With New Gas Units originally appeared on Benzinga.com

 2025 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Tensions grew in subsequent matches, with post-game pleasantries skipped and several confrontations between players. Farhan and Raufs actions led India to decline shaking hands with the Pakistan side during the group stage. India and Pakistan are set to make history in the Asia Cup, facing each other in the final for the first time since the tournament started 41 years ago.
Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) is included among the 11 Best Bank Dividend Stocks to Buy.

Why Citigroup (C) Belongs in Every Dividend Investors Portfolio

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) is one of the worlds largest financial institutions, offering a wide array of services such as consumer banking, credit, investment banking, and Treasury solutions. Its operations are organized into key segments: Global Consumer Banking, Institutional Clients Group, and Treasury and Trade Solutions. The firm leverages its extensive global presence and broad client network to maintain a competitive advantage.

Recently, Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) has focused on digital transformation and enhancing operational efficiency to stay aligned with the evolving financial landscape. Its success relies on effectively navigating economic challenges, ensuring regulatory compliance, managing risks, and investing in technology to improve both customer experience and operational performance.

Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) has been distributing regular dividends to shareholders for the past 34 years, which makes it one of the best dividend stocks in the banking sector. The companys quarterly dividend comes in at $0.60 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.36%, as of September 24.

While we acknowledge the potential of C 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.

EAD NEXT: 12 Best Stocks to Buy Now for Passive Income and 12 Best Retail Dividend Stocks to Buy Now

Disclosure: None.
By Laman Ismayilova



The lecture and concert cycle of the "Pearls of Art" project, organized by the Culture Ministry's Scientific, Methodological and Qualification Center of Culture (MEM?M) has concluded.

The events were held as part of the 17th Uzeyir Hajibayli International Music Festival at the Azerbaijan Academy of Labor and Social Relations.

At the event, which was supported by the Culture Workers' Union, acting director of MEM?M, Doctor of Art History, Associate Professor Vugar Humbatov stressed that the project aimed to introduce the rich legacy of the great composer Uzeyir Hajibayli, who created the first opera in the Muslim East, was a musicologist, publicist, playwright, and educator, as well as an academician to a wider audience. It was highlighted that Uzeyir Hajibayli with his multifaceted creativity, tireless pedagogical and educational activities, played an exceptional role in the development of the cultural and national consciousness of our people.

The event was hosted by Saadat Takhmirazgyzy, MEM?M employee, Doctor of Philosophy in Art History, and an honored cultural worker. A lecture was presented by Doctor of Philosophy in Art History, Professor at the Azerbaijan National Conservatory, and Head of Department at MEM?M, Jamila Mirzoyeva, on the topic "The Application of Azerbaijani Folk Music in the Works of Uzeyir Hajibayli."

Following the lecture, a concert program was presented. The choir of the International Mugham Center named after Jahangir Jahangirov (artistic director  Honored Teacher Tarana Yusifova), the dance group of the Baku Choreographic Academy (artistic director  People's Artist Yusif Gasimov), and students from the Baku Music Academy, the Azerbaijan National Conservatory, and the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts delighted the audience with a vibrant program based on the works of Uzeyir Hajibayli and Muslim Magomayev.

It is worth noting that the first lecture-concert within the "Pearls of Art" project took place on September 19 at the Azerbaijan University of Languages, and the second on September 22 at Baku State University.

Additionally, this year marks the 140th anniversary of the birth of the great composer Uzeyir Hajibayli, celebrated through various events by the order of President Ilham Aliyev.

This anniversary is also being observed as part of the 17th Uzeyir Hajibayli International Music Festival, which is being held from September 18 to 28, organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry, in over 10 cities and regions of Azerbaijan, as well as in Uzbekistan, Austria, Germany, Turkiye, and other countries.

Media partners of the event are Azernews.Az, Trend.Az, Day.Az, and Milli.Az.
Consolidated Edison, Inc. (NYSE:ED) is included among the 10 Best Recession Proof Dividend Stocks to Buy.

Why Income Investors Trust Consolidated Edison (ED) in Uncertain Times

Consolidated Edison, Inc. (NYSE:ED) is a utility company that supplies electricity and gas to the New York City area. Its steady demand and regulated pricing provide consistent cash flow, supporting a reliable and gradually growing dividend, which appeals to income-focused investors.

By concentrating on regulated utilities in an industry that changes slowly and offers recession-resistant services, Consolidated Edison, Inc. (NYSE:ED) has built a stable earnings base. However, challenges remain, as New York City has seen population declines in recent years and regulators have been reluctant to approve higher rates due to already high living and energy costs.

Even so, Consolidated Edison, Inc. (NYSE:ED) faces ongoing responsibilities to upgrade and maintain the citys infrastructure, requiring significant investment to meet the demands of such a dense and complex urban environment.

Consolidated Edison, Inc. (NYSE:ED)s dividend history also makes it an appealing option for income investors. The company has paid regular dividends to shareholders since 1885 and has raised its payouts for 51 consecutive years. Currently, it offers a quarterly dividend of $0.85 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.41%, as of September 26.

While we acknowledge the potential of ED 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: 11 Best Telecom Dividend Stocks to Buy for 2025 and 11 Best Bank Dividend Stocks to Buy.

Disclosure: None.
By Laman Ismayilova



From October 30 to November 2, Baku will become the epicenter of global dance culture as the Azerbaijan Dance Festival 2025 takes place in the Azerbaijani capital.

The festival is organized by the Azerbaijan Dance Council (AzDC), led by its president, People's Artist and Vice-Rector of the Baku Choreography Academy, Tarana Muradova, in collaboration with the International Dance Company SRDS (Smooth & Rhythm Dance Style), headed by Olga Krasnyanskaya.

The dance celebration evenings will be held at JW Marriott Absheron Baku.

Speaking with Trend Life, Ilham Osmanov, co-founder of AzDC, chairman of the Argentine Tango Committee, international dance competition laureate, tango DJ, teacher, tanguero, and director of the IN-Tango School, emphasized the importance of hosting the Azerbaijan Dance Festival 2025.

"Azerbaijan is increasingly and more brightly asserting itself on the international stage  whether in the fields of art, sports, or cultural initiatives. Every time we proudly represent our country, achieve success, and strengthen its reputation in the world.

The Azerbaijan Dance Festival is an event of international significance, where tradition meets innovation, and art meets inspiration. What makes the festival truly meaningful is its global scope and mission. It serves as a platform for cultural exchange, a bridge between nations, where dance becomes a universal language of friendship. Its a space where new energy is born, talents are discovered, and connections between people and countries grow stronger. Projects like this enrich our cultural landscape, open new horizons for talents, and allow the world to discover Azerbaijan  a country where history and modernity exist in harmony," said Ilham Osmanov.

He noted that a special highlight of this year's program is the Argentine tango competition in the Pro-Am format (ProfessionalAmateur). This unique format allows an experienced professional to take the stage with an amateur, opening the doors to the world of high art and giving the amateur a taste of the real stage experience.

"Argentine tango is more than just a dance. It's a language of emotions, a story of passion and tenderness, a dialogue of hearts told through movement. Participating in such a competition is always an encounter with something alive, sincere, and deeply inspiring.

"I am confident that the Azerbaijan Dance Festival will be a source of fresh ideas, unforgettable impressions, and meaningful friendships. Let it strengthen Azerbaijan's image as a country where the traditions of the future are born, where inspiration and art go hand in hand. We can confidently say that such projects place Azerbaijan among the cultural centers where tradition and modernity meet in harmony. Our festivals prove that art has the power to unite people, regardless of language, age, or nationality," added Ilham Osmanov.

The festival will also be held as part of the official celebration of the anniversary of renowned choreographer and dancer Tarana Muradova, in whose honor a special gala evening titled Night of the Dancing Diamonds will be organized. The gala will feature a performance of contemporary ballroom choreography with elements of national dance, revealing the magic of cultural and stylistic fusion, choreographed by Tarana Muradova and world and European champion dancer and choreographer Denis Tagintsev.

AZDF 2025 is more than just a festival, it is a space for inspiration, dialogue, and unity, where dance becomes a bridge between nations.

Don't miss the biggest dance event of the year  in the heart of the Caucasus!

Media partners of the event are Azernews.Az, Trend.Az, Day.Az, and Milli.Az.
" " Namibia's Skeleton Coast is a brutal place to be stranded. Peter116 / Shutterstock

When people ask, what is the most dangerous place in the world, the answer depends on whether you're talking about war zones, harsh environments or crime-ridden cities.

From deadly snakes to political instability, these places top the list for risk, making them destinations most tourists wisely avoid.
The first event to kick off the many World Dairy Expo youth contests is the fitting contest. Held Saturday morning, youth participants put their fitting skills up against various teams from across North America and even globally.

A total of 52 individuals were registered for the event and brought their equipment, sprays, and heifers to the Sale Pavilion. When the cloud of adhesives and paint had subsided, Wesley Brantner of Oxford, Pa., took the title of the Michael Heath Overall Fitter Award. This top fitter award includes a plaque, custom embroidered jacket, and a $1,000 prize. Neck ribbons and medallions were presented to the top five of each division. Cash prizes were also awarded to each youth who topped their division.

Katie Shultz of Chambersburg, Pa., placed the senior divisions, which included youth participants between ages 17 and 21. Brantner took the top award in the senior male division of the contest and was awarded a pair of clippers. Second in the senior male division was Payton Calvert of Cuba City, Wis., third went to Suton Paulson of Rockford, Ill., fourth went to Dillion Freeman, Bremen, Ind., and fifth was Alexander Burleigh, Muncy, Pa.

Rising to the top of the senior female division was Kayla Trustem of Evansville, Wis., who also earned a pair of clippers for winning her division. Placing second was Kathrin Haneman from Deerfield, Wis., and third was Brooklyn Schwoerer of Edgar, Wis. Fourth place was awarded to Makenna Mase of Cochranton, Wis., and in fifth place was Kayla Visser of Hutchinson, Minn.

Youth between the ages of 13 and 17 competed in the intermediate division. Evan Stanley of Norwood, Ontario, placed these individuals. Ranking top in the intermediate male division was Mason Buckley of Lindsay, Ontario. Placing second was Benny Uhe of Footville, Wis., third was Jacob Schimek of Pine Island, Minn., fourth place was Nicholas Bourque of Saint-Paul, New Brunswick, Canada, and fifth was Stanley Meacham of Chester, Mass.

In the intermediate female competition, Olivia VanEvera, Cobleskill, N.Y., took the blue ribbon. Kamrie Mauer, Brownton, Minn., placed second, Brooke Mueller, Brodhead, Wis., took third place, and Jadeyn Mueterthies, Lawler, Iowa was fourth, and Hailey Kinney of Durand, Ill., in fifth.

In the fitting contest, youth are to supply a heifer that is entered into the show and are given one hour to prepare the animal to be show ring ready. Only legs and head may be clipped before the commencement of the hour-long contest. Contestants are evaluated on proper topline preparation and technique, body clipping, ease of handling equipment, proper use of adhesives, paint, and sprays, hair blending, and completion within the allotted timeframe. Judges observe participants while they are preparing the animals, and the top five of each division are led out for final placings and inspection.

Kylene Anderson
SUNY-Cobleskill took home top honors in the post-secondary division of the National Dairy Cattle Judging Contest, held in Madison, Wis., to kick off World Dairy Expo week. The team secured the overall high team award, along with achieving top honors in the reasons and the practical contest, and won first place in the Red and White, Milking Shorthorn, Jersey, Guernsey, and Brown Swiss classes.

Leading the charge for Cobleskill was Connor MacNeil, who earned the title of high individual overall. His precise placements and strong reasons set the pace for his team. Notably, Cobleskill team members Rachel Hatch, Mason Ziemba, and Elsie Donlick also finished in the top 10 individually.

In the overall team standings, Modesto Junior College placed second, with two of their team members, Mykell Mull and Madeline Zweegman, also placing in the top 10 individually. SUNY-Morrisville followed closely behind to finish third, rounding out the top three programs in the division.

The contest challenges students to evaluate classes of dairy cattle and defend their decisions through oral reasons. Success requires both attention to detail and the ability to communicate clearly under pressure. Cobleskills sweep of the top 10 highlighted the strength of their team across the board.

Jenna Byrne is an associate editor for Hoards Dairyman. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in 2022, majoring in agricultural business with an emphasis in communications and marketing. She grew up on her familys dairy farm near Neillsville, Wis.
TechnologyOne says its vision to build human-centred, AI-powered solutions is now underpinned by a robust, internationally recognised framework that ensures the highest standards of responsible AI and AI governance across research and development (R&D).

Certification to the new international standard reinforces TechnologyOnes commitment to responsible and ethical use of AI, ensuring all software is responsibly developed, designed and deployed. This achievement will help foster trust and comfort in AI against a rapidly evolving technology backdrop, notes TechnologyOne.



Chandan Potukuchi, Chief Technology Officer at TechnologyOne, said: TechnologyOne is at the forefront of innovation and the highest standard of Security and Compliance. You can trust that when you partner with us. As we continue to harness the capabilities and benefits of AI within our solutions, maintaining the trust of our customers is fundamental. Achieving this standard not only reinforces our ability to balance the risk of early adoption against the transformation of innovation, but it gives our customers confidence in our AI-driven products that create value for their communities.

TechnologyOne notes that with just a handful of Australian companies achieving the new ISO 42001 standard to date, it was required to seek an overseas audit partner to complete the process. Leveraging its deep industry expertise and existing compliance program, TechnologyOne attained the certification in just five months.

Achieving certification of TechnologyOnes AI Management System isnt just a tick box exercise, its central to our business roadmap, ongoing innovation and building trust at scale, said Potukuchi. Bringing transparency, trust and traceability to a landscape that is outpacing legislative frameworks is pivotal for the future of AI.

This achievement builds on TechnologyOnes existing compliance program and suite of international certifications, assessments, and accreditations, including SOC 1, 2 and 3, ASD Essential 8, IRAP  PROTECTED, ISO 27001 and ISO 9001.

TechnologyOne has built its success on a relentless commitment to R&D, reinvesting over 25 per cent of revenue each year to deliver real productivity gains for local governments, higher education institutions, and government agencies.

As the largest Australian-owned R&D centres for enterprise software, TechnologyOne employs over 400 Australian developers and fosters a thriving innovation hub in Brisbane.
Firmus Technologies moves to strengthen the governance and management capabilities following the recent $330 million equity raise with the appointment of Kirsty Godfrey-Billy as Chief Financial Officer, and Grant Dempsey as incoming Chair of the Board.

The growth of the leadership team will assist as Firmus moves to launch Project Southgate, a sovereign, renewable-powered AI campus in Tasmania being developed in partnership with the Tasmanian Government.

Firmus welcomes Grant Dempsey as incoming Chair. Mr Dempsey is the former Head of Investment Banking (Australia and New Zealand) at JP Morgan, and a highly experienced executive and board director. He is Chair of the Investment Committee and a board member at IFM Investors, a global institutional investment manager owned by industry superannuation funds with approximately US$170 billion in assets. Grant also serves as a non-executive director on numerous ASX listed companies including a2 Milk Ltd, Megaport Ltd and Sims Metals Ltd. He was most recently CFO at TPG Telecom and Alumina Limited.



His appointment reflects Firmus continued focus on strengthening governance and board capability as the company moves from scale-up to institutional maturity.





Firmus is scaling rapidly and building the capabilities across leadership, operations, and governance to support that momentum. As the company grows, the board will continue evolving to help deliver on its global ambitions - combining large-scale infrastructure execution with the financial outcomes our customers and partners expect, Dempsey said.



The company is entering an important chapter. And Im pleased to be supporting the board and executive team as the company continues to mature and chart a thoughtful path forward. Outgoing Chair Ted Pretty will remain on the board as a Non-Executive Director, ensuring continuity after guiding Firmus from its startup to scale-up phase.

Teds role as Chairman helped position Firmus in the AI space, shaping our early partnerships and international expansion. As we enter this next phase of growth, we thank Ted for the lasting impact hes had and for his continued support for the business as a Non-Executive Director said Co-CEO, Tim Rosenfield.

Mrs Godfrey-Billy (pictured above) joins Firmus as CFO after nearly a decade at Xero (ASX:XRO), where she served as CFO through the companys international expansion, financial transformation, and ASX50 inclusion. Her experience spans listed technology, capital markets, and global scaling - and she was named Deloittes CFO of the Year in 2023.

What drew me to Firmus was the clarity of its mission - a company with technical ambition, a strong team, and a real plan to scale AI in a way that reflects environmental and social responsibility, said Mrs Godfrey-Billy. What the team have invented, and deployed, in both Australia and Singapore over the last five years is impressive - genuine innovation that could set a new global benchmark for how AI is rolled out. Im looking forward to working with the team as we scale.



Were excited to welcome both Kirsty and Grant to the team, said Oliver Curtis, Co-CEO of Firmus Technologies. These are leaders who understand our mission to build efficient AI infrastructure, and the opportunity Australia has to export AI capacity and expertise to the world. Getting there takes world-class capability, and thats what these appointments are about.
Innovation Workspace company Miro has announced the findings of its latest industry research the 2025 Momentum at Work Report, a survey into how evolving work trends are influencing teams ability to deliver meaningful, impactful work and the expectations of AI in redefining the experience of knowledge workers worldwide.

The survey reveals a growing imbalance in how knowledge workers spend their time, highlighting a critical challenge for modern organisations. Knowledge workers continue to spend a disproportionate amount of time on tasks that dont align with strategic impact.

The survey found that for every one hour and 42 minutes of momentum workcreative and strategic efforts that drive innovationAussies spend six hours on maintenance work, the repetitive tasks that support day-to-day operations, like meetings, email, and paperwork.

While some maintenance tasks are necessary as part of daily work life, workers agree that things have gone too far in the wrong direction. Despite working more hours, more than half (54%) of workers feel like theyre achieving less. Outdated tools (57%), unclear expectations or misalignment (54%), and inadequate use of AI (39%) are cited as the primary reasons for the sprawl in unrewarding work.

More than 6 in 10 workers agree maintenance work stalls momentum in their company

This imbalance is leading to damaging consequences for the productivity and mental well-being of individuals. One in four Aussie workers experience emotional overload at least once a month due to their work, with nearly 1 in 5 facing this struggle daily.

The report also found that organisational silos are a widespread reality of modern work, which hinders collaboration and causes stress and confusion. Knowledge workers have never had more tools at their disposal, yet find that information and data are often held across fragmented toolsets (63%). A majority also report communication silos (58%), resulting from inconsistent norms or preferred tools across different teams, as well as functional silos (51%) impeding true cross-functional collaboration. Nearly half (47%) agree that outdated and legacy tools cause these silos, indicating an important role for newer tools and technologies.

But there is room for optimism that inefficiencies and complex work structures can be improved, in particular, that AI will ease the demands of maintenance work. Many Aussies believe AI will reduce the burden of reporting (58%) and reduce the need to redo work in different tools or apps (60%). Workers are also hopeful that AI can support collaboration by reducing silos that inhibit information sharing (65%), communication (57%), and cross-functional collaboration (45%). Through the effective combination of AI and optimised ways of working across teams, employees can shift the balance to spend more time on the momentum work. And critically, where AI can augmentas well as automatetasks, then momentum work becomes better.

Its clear that maintenance work and silos are making it difficult to do great work and slowing innovation. This is bad for both individual morale, and for organisations looking to accelerate innovation. It doesn't have to be this way, said Tomas Dostal Freire, CIO & Head of Business Transformation at Miro.

Were already seeing how AI tools can help individuals reduce the time spent on admin tasks from hours to minutes. But this is only scratching the surface. Truly meaningful transformation comes when AI understands the full team context and contributes to team speed, not just individual task automation. Now teams can spend more time delivering the high-value work they enjoy, while simultaneously delivering infinitely better quality and results for the business.

View the full report 2025 Momentum at Work Report https://miro.com/articles/ momentum-at-work/

Methodology: The data from the report was gathered via an online survey of 6,148 full-time employed knowledge workers. Respondents were employed across diverse industries and company sizes, and from eight global markets: Australia (1,013), France (565), Germany (1,017), Japan (1,012), The Netherlands (265), The Nordics (202) The United Kingdom (1,032), and The United States (1,042). The survey took place in June-July 2025, and respondents were sourced via an independent, third-party research panel.

Miro Canvas 25: Register now to attend Canvas 25  Miros annual flagship customer event  online or in-person. Learn from forward-thinking leaders who are embedding AI right into their cross-team innovation, so that their teams dont just work faster  they go further.

About Miro

Miro is the Innovation Workspace that enables teams of any size to build the next big thing. The platform's infinite canvas enables teams to quickly move from idea to outcome. Miro is co-headquartered in San Francisco and Amsterdam and serves more than 90M users worldwide. Miro was founded in 2011 and currently has more than 1,600 employees in 14 hubs around the world. To learn more, please visit https://miro.com.

Miro and the Miro logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of RealtimeBoard, Inc., in the United States and/or other countries. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
COMPANY NEWS: Pax8 , the leading cloud commerce Marketplace, has named Kathryn Almendarez Marsman as Senior Vice President of Global Vendor Alliances. In her new role, Marsman owns Pax8s vendor alliances, serves as a strategic sponsor for global relationships and propels the development of global practice and go-to-market (GTM) strategies. She reports to Oguo Atuanya, Pax8s Corporate Vice President of Vendor Experience.

Kathryn is a proven leader with deep expertise in partner ecosystems and a strong track record of maximising global alliances, said Atuanya. Her strategic mindset and collaborative approach make her the ideal leader to take our vendor relationships to the next level. Were thrilled to welcome her to the Pax8 team.

Marsman brings more than 25 years of experience in global partner strategy, business transformation and market development. She joins Pax8 from Microsoft, where most recently Kathryn served as Global Leader for Scale Solution Partners in Microsofts Worldwide Global Partner Solutions organisation. There, she directed a portfolio of the companys largest strategic partners, shaping initiatives that influenced billions in overall Microsoft and Azure consumed revenue. Her vision and leadership were instrumental in advancing innovation across AI, security, Copilot, and accelerating partner transformation at scale.

Throughout her career at Microsoft, Kathryn has held various leadership rolesboth within the Global Partner organisation, and in various sales leadership roles in Microsofts South-Central Enterprise Sales Region. She has demonstrated a talent for building high-performing teams, forging enterprise partnerships, and consistently delivering against growth targets with a focus on delivering value and operational rigor.

Kathryn holds an MBA in Management from the University of Dallas and a BBA in Marketing from the University of Texas at El Paso. She serves as a long-time member of the University of Texas at El Pasos Business Advisory Council and has received numerous accolades, including the CRN Women of the Channel and several Microsoft awards including, Circle of Excellence.

Joining Pax8 at such a pivotal time in its global growth journey is incredibly exciting, said Marsman. Im passionate about building high-impact partnerships that deliver value at scale, and I look forward to working with our vendor community to unlock new opportunities, accelerate innovation and empower our partners around the world.

Learn more about Pax8s mission to build the technology Marketplace of the future at pax8.com.
At lunch on September 10, 2025, I opened Instagram for a palate cleanser: cute dog videos, life hack reels, something sweet and uplifting. Instead, I ran into a video and headline I wanted to dismiss as a deepfake. It was graphic and disorienting and, for a few seconds, I tried to bargain with reality: This cannot be real, and if it is, how is it on my phone? Would it not have been taken down for violating platform rules against graphic violence? But it was real. Charlie Kirk had been shot while speaking at Utah Valley University at 12:20 p.m., his wife and two young children in attendance, only ten feet away. He did not survive. My chest dropped. That afternoon, I continued to see patients, but the day moved by in a blur. While I do not share many of his views, I do share the belief that as humans, we resolve differences with words, not violence, not bullets.

The federal response underscored the gravity: A White House proclamation ordered U.S. flags to half-staff through September 14. Authorities released investigative materials; by weeks end, a 22-year-old suspect was in custody, while Utahs governor cautioned that motive remained under investigation.

What hit almost as hard as the news of Charlie Kirks assassination were some reactions: A handful of people in positions of public trust, including in health care and education, celebrated his death and called it justified. When a doctor posts, The people who did this are great and I love them and they should keep doing it forever. That is not edgy. It is a breach of the healers oath.

Among our countrys healers who crossed that line are the aforementioned neurologist at the University of Miami, who was terminated after posting on Instagram, framing the killing as justified and asking for the violence to continue; in Virginia, Riverside Walter Reed Hospital dismissed a contract anesthesiologist over highly inappropriate comments supporting violence against a public figure (no name released). In Georgia, Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta fired an employee for making inappropriate social media comments about Charlie Kirk (no name released).

The First Amendment restrains government punishment for speech. It does not immunize professionals from professional consequences, especially in high-trust roles. Medicine is not merely about avoiding harm; it is about safeguarding trust in conditions where patients and the public are vulnerable and dependent.

In plain terms, Medicine requires impartial care: Patients must know we will treat them regardless of political affiliation, ideology, religion, or affiliation. When a clinician publicly applauds a political assassination it signals that some lives count less or not at all which is a foreseeable threat to safety. Medicine also demands respect for all individuals, from Hippocrates to the AMA Code, our license rests on honoring all human life and dignity. Endorsing lethal violence breaks that foundation. Finally, clinicians must model moral restraint, in speech and in action. The public entrusts us with extraordinary power (intimate access, prescribing authority, clinical discretion) in exchange for rising above political bloodsport. When providers model dehumanization, it multiplies. Cheering a killing is hate speech, it is outside professional bounds; it poisons public trust not only in the individual provider but also in the institutions they represent.

Some will insist, My personal account is my business. In ordinary jobs, maybe. In medicine, education, law enforcement, and other trust-heavy roles, public endorsement of violence is incompatible with the duty of care.

Zero tolerance is not cancel culture. It is patient safety. Keep care safe; keep hate out.

What responsible institutions must do, every time:

Draw hard lines. No posts that praise or justify violence, against anyone. Because it endangers patient trust, any praise or justification of violence is disciplinable: removal from duty, termination, and when appropriate, board notification.

Say it out loud. Describe the conduct, identify the violated provision, and restate the duty of care and professional ethics.

Sync with licensure. Boards and societies should state plainly that endorsing real-world violence is unprofessional conduct.

Teach digital professionalism. Not a gag order, education in foreseeable harm and digital permanence.

ADVERTISEMENT

Protect dissent. Welcome debate; bar dehumanization. Make space where clinicians can argue policy without turning colleagues into enemies.

History shows what follows when some lives stop counting, the acid of dehumanization corrodes everything it touches.

Start here: In medicine, we do not celebrate death, on shift or off, not in the hospital or clinic and not on our feeds.

Carrie Friedman is a dual board-certified psychiatric and family nurse practitioner and the founder of Brain Garden Psychiatry in California. She integrates evidence-based psychopharmacology with functional and integrative psychiatry, emphasizing root-cause approaches that connect neuro-nutrition and gutbrain science, metabolic psychiatry, immunology, endocrinology, and mindbody lifestyle medicine. Carries clinical focus bridges conventional psychiatry with holistic strategies to support mental health through nutrition, physiology, and sustainable lifestyle interventions. Her professional writing explores topics such as functional medicine, autism, provider well-being, and medical ethics.
A young woman in her late twenties came to me after surgery for extensive endometriosis. The procedure had given her relief; her pain was gone. Her follow-up testing looked reassuring: her fallopian tubes were open on hysterosalpingogram (HSG), and her anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) level was above 4 ng/mL, which is considered normal. Her question was straightforward: If my AMH is good and my tubes are open, doesnt that mean everything is fine? If doctors are worried about my fertility, arent they just trying to push me into treatment? This question gets to the heart of one of the most common misunderstandings in fertility care: what AMH really tells us and what it doesnt.

What AMH actually measures

AMH is a hormone produced by small ovarian follicles.

It reflects egg quantity (ovarian reserve), not egg quality.

An AMH above 4 ng/mL suggests a healthy pool of recruitable follicles compared to age-matched norms.

What AMH does not guarantee

Egg quality is determined largely by age and cellular health (things like chromosomal integrity and mitochondrial function), not AMH alone.

A 25-year-old and a 40-year-old can both have an AMH of 4, but their eggs do not have the same reproductive potential.

Endometriosis adds another layer. Even after successful surgery, the disease can still affect fertility through: Scarring or adhesions that interfere with egg pickup by the tubes Microscopic inflammation that disrupts fertilization, implantation, or embryo growth



Endometriosis and fertility outcomes

Research shows that women with moderate to severe endometriosis often have lower fertility rates compared with women without the disease, even when AMH and tubal patency are normal. Surgical relief of pain does not necessarily equate to restored fertility. Recent studies also suggest:

Oocytes from women with endometriosis may show structural changes (dark cytoplasm, irregular zona pellucida) that can affect embryo development.

Endometriosis and adenomyosis together reduce cumulative live birth rates across multiple IVF cycles, though many women still achieve pregnancy with persistence.

Individualized treatment strategies (tailored stimulation protocols, lifestyle interventions to reduce inflammation, and sometimes surgery) may improve outcomes.

Is caution fear mongering?

Its understandable that patients may feel pressured when doctors raise concerns about fertility treatment. But caution is not necessarily fear mongering; its grounded in data. That said, not every woman with endometriosis needs immediate IVF. For a patient in her twenties, with good ovarian reserve and no pain, trying naturally for six to 12 months may be perfectly reasonable. At the same time, awareness of the possible fertility impact of endometriosis ensures she wont lose valuable time if conception doesnt occur.

The bottom line for patients

An AMH >4 is reassuring, but it does not equal excellent egg quality.

Endometriosis, even after surgery, may still reduce natural fertility chances.

Advanced treatments like IUI or IVF are not always required immediately, but they are legitimate considerations, not scare tactics.

The best approach is an individualized plan, balancing age, AMH, disease severity, and personal goals.

Closing thought

Endometriosis is complex, and fertility is never explained by a single lab result. Numbers matter, but so does the broader context. For patients, the key is not to dismiss medical advice as fear mongering, but to seek clarity, ask questions, and work with a physician who can translate the science into a tailored path forward.

Oluyemisi (Yemi) Famuyiwa is a renowned fertility specialist and founder, Montgomery Fertility Center, committed to guiding individuals and couples on their path to parenthood with personalized care. With a background in obstetrics and gynecology from Georgetown University Hospital and reproductive endocrinology and infertility from the National Institutes of Health, she offers cutting-edge treatments like IVF and genetic testing. She can be reached on Linktr.ee, LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram @montgomeryfertility, and X @MontgomeryF_C.
In the shadowed corridors of Americas great academic hospitals, those bastions of progressive piety nestled in sanctuary cities like Denver, New York, Chicago, and San Francisco, a quiet usurpation unfolds. For decades, as a physician committed to mentoring Black Americans, I have viewed my profession not merely as a vocation but as a form of restitution: a personal reckoning with the sins of our white forebears, whose legacy of chattel slavery demands perpetual atonement through action. I have insisted upon hiring Black medical assistants and nurses, guiding them from humble beginnings to the steady rungs of middle-class stability. Yet now, in these purported havens of equity, an insidious preference emerges: the sidelining of Black American workers in favor of illegal immigrants, predominantly from Mexico, who flood the labor pool with the tacit approval of hospital administrators. This is no mere market fluctuation; it is a deliberate policy choice, one that economists have long warned inflicts its harshest wounds upon Black communities.

Consider the mechanics of this displacement, as stark as they are unconscionable. Sanctuary policies, those vaunted shields against federal immigration enforcement, have morphed into enablers of exploitation. Hospitals, under the guise of compassion, turn a blind eye to the influx of illegal Mexicans (many barely literate in English, some with forged documents or none at all) who are funneled through shadowy staffing agencies into entry-level roles: medical assistants, patient care technicians, janitorial staff. These positions, once reliable gateways for Black Americans escaping the cycle of urban poverty, are now colonized by those who cross our porous southern border unlawfully. The result? Black applicants, residents of the very neighborhoods these hospitals claim to anchor, are relegated to the unemployment line, their resumes gathering dust while illegal hires undercut wages and suppress opportunities.

Economists, those dispassionate chroniclers of human folly, have documented this phenomenon with unyielding clarity. As George Borjas of Harvard has observed, mass illegal immigration (particularly from Mexico) depresses wages and employment rates most acutely among low-skilled Black workers, who compete directly in the same labor markets. Thomas Sowell, that sage of economic realism, has echoed this in his dissections of affirmative actions failures: When unchecked immigration swells the supply of cheap labor, it erodes the fragile gains Black Americans have made since the civil rights era. The data bear this out; in sanctuary cities, where illegal Mexican populations have ballooned, Black unemployment in service sectors like health care hovers stubbornly high, a testament to the zero-sum arithmetic of unchecked borders. This is not xenophobia but arithmetic: For every illegal Mexican slotted into a hospital job, a Black American is displaced, their dreams deferred in the name of a faux humanitarianism.

And let us dispense with euphemisms about Hispanics, that contrived ethnic category concocted in the bureaucratic laboratories of the 1970s, as chronicled in the Claremont Review of Books. Until recently, many such individuals self-identified as white, their assimilation a nod to Americas melting-pot ideal. Now, rebranded for political expediency, this invented race serves as a smokescreen for the real invasion: waves of illegal Mexicans, often with minimal qualifications, who are prioritized over native-born Black citizens. In my own hospital, the wards echo with Spanish rather than the cadences of local Black dialects; supervisors, pressed by budget constraints and DEI mandates that prioritize superficial diversity over substantive justice, opt for the pliable and the precarious. Illegal workers, fearing deportation, accept substandard conditions (erratic shifts, paltry pay) that Black Americans, rightfully asserting their citizenship rights, might negotiate against. Thus, the sanctuary citys noble facade crumbles, revealing a regime that rewards lawlessness while punishing the law-abiding.

This madness is not inevitable; it is the fruit of liberal hubris, a belief that open borders can coexist with social justice without trade-offs. Yet the costs are borne disproportionately by Black Americans, whose historical grievances are compounded by this modern betrayal. Hospitals, fattened on taxpayer subsidies and tax exemptions, owe their host communities more than platitudes. They must enforce immigration laws rigorously, adopting E-Verify without apology and severing ties with vendors who traffic in illegal labor. Apprenticeship programs, tailored for Black residents, should replace the temp-agency roulette. And let transparency reign: Mandate detailed hiring reports that dissect workforce composition not by nebulous Hispanic aggregates but by citizenship status, exposing how illegal Mexicans are supplanting Black workers.

In the end, true conservatism demands not isolation but order: a secure border, respect for the rule of law, and a commitment to uplifting those long marginalized within our own shores. As I mentor the next generation of health care professionals, I am reminded of Edmund Burkes admonition against the perils of abstract benevolence: It too often sacrifices the near for the distant, the citizen for the interloper. Sanctuary cities, in their zeal to harbor the illegal Mexican migrant, have harvested only inequity for Black Americans. It is time to uproot this folly, lest the American promise wither entirely.

The author is an anonymous physician.
My current feeling as a nurse is more closely related to those of a line cook than to what I imagined nursing would be. Patients arrive with complex medical needs, yet we are forced to see them as checklists to be processed before the next shift arrives. Turnover feels like moving products down a line instead of treating people with care and dignity. This is not a failure of individual nurses. It is the direct result of leadership decisions that prioritize budgets over safe care.

In my first year as a nurse, I was just 22 years old when I came in for a night shift and found I had been assigned as charge nurse. I had been licensed for only six months. Instead of managing my usual five to seven patients, I was suddenly responsible for twenty-nine patients and eight to ten staff members. Staffing was thinner at night, and support was minimal. The only person I could reliably call was the nursing supervisor. Our manager was reachable only in emergencies. That night was my first realization that we were on our own.

Unsafe staffing is not an isolated problem. Across the country, hospitals continue to schedule assignments that increase the risk of preventable harm. For patients, this can mean waiting longer for pain medication, missing help to the bathroom, or going unmonitored during a critical change in condition. It is not because nurses do not care. It is because there are too few people to do the job safely.

The research is clear. When hospitals meet safe nurse-to-patient ratios, outcomes improve and nurses stay longer at the bedside. California was the first state to implement enforceable ratios in 2004, setting limits across different units. Massachusetts later established ICU-specific standards, and Oregon passed a broader staffing law in 2023. Each state used a different approach, but the results share a pattern: mortality decreases, preventable harm is reduced, and turnover falls. These are measurable differences in safety and stability, not just promises.

The pandemic did not create this crisis. It made an already dangerous status quo worse. Before COVID-19, burnout, moral distress, and high turnover were steadily rising. During the pandemic, nurses were asked to push through with inadequate protective equipment, constantly shifting protocols, and overwhelming patient loads. Many left the profession entirely, taking with them decades of experience that cannot be replaced overnight.

In most states, staffing decisions are left entirely to administrators. Without enforceable standards, the results are predictable: high vacancy, rapid turnover, and an exhausted workforce. National data show that nearly one in five nurses leave their hospital positions each year, draining expertise and destabilizing care. The churn is not sustainable.

Critics often warn that ratios would be impossible for small or rural hospitals. Yet Californias experience showed that hospitals did not close their doors when the law took effect. They adapted by reorganizing staff and workflows. The lesson is that safe staffing standards must be phased in gradually, adapted to patient acuity, and supported with flexibility, but they are achievable in diverse hospital settings.

Professional organizations differ on how to get there. National Nurses United has long supported federal minimum ratios, backing bills like the Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act, which has stalled repeatedly in Congress. Other groups, such as the American Nurses Association, emphasize hospital-based staffing committees. What unites them is recognition that the current system is unsafe.

Safe staffing is not about making a nurses shift easier. It is about preventing avoidable harm, reducing mortality, and ensuring that patients receive the care they need when they need it. Californias experience proves that enforceable ratios save lives. The current system of unenforceable guidelines proves that voluntary policies do not.

No policy will be perfect, and every new law comes with challenges in implementation. But continuing to do nothing, or relying solely on best practice committees without enforcement, is not neutral. It is a policy choice with consequences measured in patient outcomes and nurse retention.

As nurses, we are asking for the bare minimum: staffing levels that allow us to keep our patients safe. That is not too much to ask in the wealthiest nation on earth.

Brendan Fasick and Abby Ehrhardt are nurses.
> <

23:57 Netanyahu apologises to Qatar PM over Sept strike Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday apologised to Qatar's Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani for the September 9 Israeli strike, according to the Times of Israel report. The call, held from the White House where Netanyahu is hosted by US President... Read more >

23:56 Netanyahu apologises to Qatar PM over Sept strike Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday apologised to Qatar's Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani for the September 9 Israeli strike, according to the Times of Israel report. The call, held from the White House where Netanyahu is hosted by US President... Read more >

23:46 Gandhi statue in London vandalised, India condemns act File image The High Commission of India has strongly condemned the vandalism of Mahatma Gandhi's statue at Tavistock Square in London on Monday, just days before the annual Gandhi Jayanti celebrations are scheduled to be held at the site on October 2. The plinth of the iconic statue, which depicts the... Read more >

23:18 Postgraduate medical student ends life in Maha's Ahilyanagar college A 30-year-old postgraduate student of a medical college in Loni in Maharashtra's Ahilyanagar district allegedly committed suicide, triggering a social media furore among junior doctors who alleged humiliation and harassment by the head of the institution's paediatrics department. Dr... Read more >

22:56 3 minors held for theft at boxer Mary Kom's Haryana residence Three minors have been apprehended in connection with a theft at the residence of international boxer Mary Kom in Faridabad, the police said on Monday. The minors allegedly broke into the house on Wednesday while the boxer was in Meghalaya to attend a marathon event. They decamped with... Read more >

22:33 Boy hung upside down, beaten at Haryana school; principal held File image A Class 2 student was hung upside down from a window and beaten up at a private school here allegedly by a bus driver at the behest of the school principal, police said on Monday. The two were nabbed after a video of the incident made rounds on social media. According to the police, the... Read more >

22:15 Gautam Adani meets Zubeen Garg's family members Adani Group chief Gautam Adani meets family members of Zubeen Garg./Image courtesy Jeet Adani/X Gautam Adani, the chairman of the Adani Group, paid tribute to Zubeen Garg after the singer's demise in Singapore on September 19.Taking to his X handle, Gautam Adani expressed his sorrow for the passing of the singer. He called the singer legend and the heartbeat of northeast for his singing... Read more >

22:07 Gaza peace on cards? Netanyahu to meet Trump File image Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday departed for Washington along with his delegation to meet US President Donald Trump.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his delegation have departed for Washington. The Prime Minister will meet with President Trump at the White House at 11:00 (EDT).... Read more >

21:38 26 Bangladeshi infiltrators sent back to their country from Assam: Himanta The Assam police sent back 26 alleged Bangladeshi infiltrators to the neighbouring country from the state, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Monday. The power of the divine Shakti destroys all evils - this time it is illegal infiltrators. With the blessings of Maa Durga, 26 illegal... Read more >

21:10 Open to talk on Ladakh issue with ABL, KDA: Govt Security personnel stand guard as the road wears a deserted look in Leh/ANI Photo The Centre on Monday said it is always open to talks on Ladakh matters with the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance at any time and expressed confidence that continuous dialogue would yield the desired results in the near future. The statement by the Union home ministry came... Read more >

21:02 Woman collapses, dies while dancing with husband at garba event in MP A 19-year-old newlywed woman collapsed and died while dancing with her husband at a 'garba' event in Madhya Pradesh's Khargone district, police said on Monday.The incident occurred at Sant Singaji temple in Bikan village, around 55 km from the district headquarters, on Sunday night, they... Read more >

20:26 BJP, TVK leaders held for spreading rumours on Karur stampede File image The Tamil Nadu police arrested three political functionaries including TVK for allegedly propagating rumours and misinformation on social media regarding the recent fatal stampede at a political rally in Karur. The individuals were apprehended as part of a wider police crackdown on... Read more >

20:16 Rupee falls 7 paise to all-time closing low of 88.79 against US dollar Rupee consolidated in a narrow range and settled for the day lower by 7 paise at its all-time closing low of 88.79 (provisional) against US dollar on Monday, on persistent foreign capital outflows and rise in risk-off sentiments. Forex traders said rupee is hovering near its all-time low... Read more >

19:56 Hyderabad police crack major Telugu movie piracy racket, arrest five The police on Monday said its cybercrime wing arrested five persons and dismantled a major racket involved in the illegal distribution of copyrighted films, including recent Telugu releases. The prime accused, Ashwani Kumar (21) of Patna, was identified as the kingpin behind the leakage of... Read more >

19:45 Warfare now measured in hours and seconds, not months: Rajnath Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said that warfare is now measured in hours and seconds, not months, with satellites, drones and sensors redefining the nature of conflict, as he urged the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) to develop a futuristic roadmap that anticipates new challenges, integrates... Read more >

19:39 Trump to impose 100% tariffs on movies made outside US United States President Donald Trump on Monday announced a 100% tariff on all movies produced outside the United States, claiming that America's film industry had been stolen by overseas players. In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, Our movie-making business has been stolen from the... Read more >

19:09 Canada declares Lawrence Bishnoi gang as terrorist entity Canada on Monday listed the Bishnoi Gang as a terrorist entity. Specific communities have been targeted for terror, violence and intimidation by the Bishnoi Gang. Listing this group of criminal terrorists gives us more powerful and effective tools to confront and put a stop to their crimes,... Read more >

18:59 Delhi BJP gets permanent address after 45 years After a wait of 45 years, the Delhi BJP got its permanent address on DDU Marg on Monday with the unveiling of a five-storeyed, state-of-the-art building with a touch of south Indian architecture.Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the building at a function attended by Bharatiya Janata Party... Read more >

18:37 Gadkari blames 'powerful import lobby' for ethanol row Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Monday refused to be pulled into a controversy over allegations against him with regard to ethanol blending, saying it is work of a powerful import lobby upset by his decisions. Speaking at a programme in Nagpur, the minister... Read more >

18:30 Good captains don't announce ceasefire...: Cong's dig at PM Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his Operation Sindoor post on X, the Congress on Monday said it is not right to compare a cricket match to a battlefield but when the prime minister has made that comparison, he needs to learn from the Indian cricket team that when one is close to... Read more >

18:21 England all-rounder Chris Woakes retires England all-rounder Chris Woakes on Monday announced his retirement from international cricket following his omission from the Ashes squad last week. In his 15-year career as an England cricketer, Woakes, a pace-bowling all-rounder, played 62 Tests scoring 2034 runs and taking 192... Read more >

17:55 Moody's retains India rating at 'Baa3', maintains 'stable' outlook Global rating Moody's on Monday affirmed India's long-term local and foreign-currency issuer ratings and the local-currency senior unsecured rating at 'Baa3' with a 'stable' outlook on the back of robust economic growth and sound external position. The rating agency also affirmed India's... Read more >

17:52 Marathwada rains: 104 deaths since June 1; 2838 animals have perished A total of 104 persons have died in monsoon-related incidents since June 1 in Maharashtra's Marathwada region, officials said on Monday. Excess rainfall has impacted 3050 villages in the region, which comprises Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jalna, Parbhani, Nanded, Dharashiv, Hingoli, Latur and... Read more >

17:46 'Waiting for permission from Naqvi': BJP slams Cong The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday took a swipe at the Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi, saying the opposition party seems to have gone into a comatose state after India's stunning victory against Pakistan in the Asia Cup final. The Congress leaders seem to be more pained by... Read more >

17:20 HC bars Rupa from publishing Constitution of India pocket edition Representational image The Delhi high court has restrained Rupa Publications India Pvt Ltd from publishing or selling its red-and-black coat-pocket edition of the Constitution of India, after finding it prima facie similar to the same book published by Eastern Book Company. Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora... Read more >

16:42 Pak players were saying lot of things, but...: Tilak Varma Pakistan players had a lot to say to Tilak Varma when he walked to the crease during the Asia Cup final which fired up the Indian batter to play one of the most defining innings of his career thus far. Having lost early wickets, India were in a precarious situation when Tilak came out to... Read more >

16:36 8-member NDA MPs to visit Karur stampede site Bharatiya Janata Party president J P Nadda has formed a delegation of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) MPs to visit Karur in Tamil Nadu to probe the circumstances leading to a stampede that has left 41 people dead and submit a report.The BJP generally sends its own leaders to the sites of... Read more >

16:20 Kerala CM reiterates support for Palestine, calls to end Gaza 'genocide' Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday reiterated his government's solidarity with the people of Palestine and called for an end to the alleged genocide in Gaza.Vijayan conveyed the support during a meeting with Abdullah Abu Shawesh, Ambassador of the State of Palestine to India, at the... Read more >

16:09 Vijay remained in campaign van, causing overcrowding: FIR Actor-politician Vijay, heading the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, remained inside his campaign vehicle at Velusamypuram, the venue, for an extended period, leading to overcrowding and restlessness among the crowd that had gathered to attend his rally on September 27, according to an FIR into the... Read more >

15:52 Govt proposes sound alert system for all EVs from Oct 2027 The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has proposed making acoustic vehicle alerting system (AVAS) mandatory for all electric cars, buses and trucks with effect October 1, 2027, keeping road safety in mind. The ministry in a draft notification said that all new models of electric... Read more >

15:41 China condoles loss of lives in Karur stampede China on Monday expressed 'deep condolences' and sympathies to the families of those killed in a stampede at actor-politician Vijay-led rally in Tamil Nadu's Karur town.Forty-one people were killed and dozens injured in the stampede on Saturday.We express our deep condolences for the victims, and... Read more >

15:11 X to appeal HC verdict on govt takedown order Social media platform X will appeal against Karnataka high court's verdict dismissing its petition challenging the authority of government officials to issue content takedown orders under the Information Technology Act.Elon Musk-owned X through its official handle said orders issued by police... Read more >

15:00 Karur stampede: Stalin warns against rumours Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Monday warned against spreading rumours in the social media on the distressing stampede incident in Karur. The deaths of 41 persons in the tragic incident on September 27 was very sorrowful and the victims of the incident should not be viewed as those... Read more >

14:29 Bengal initiates emergency measures as IMD forecasts heavy rain The West Bengal government has initiated emergency measures in the wake of forecasts of heavy rainfall from October 1, a senior official said.Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has also issued instructions to officials in this regard, he said.Taking note of the situation, we have initiated... Read more >

14:23 Covid rate cap no excuse to cut insurance payouts: Delhi HC The Delhi high court has ruled that a government circular issued during the COVID-19 pandemic, regulating hospital charges, cannot be construed as limiting the contractual obligations of insurance companies towards their policyholders.Justice Sachin Datta made the observation while directing... Read more >

14:02 ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 schedule The full schedule for the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup India 2025 has been unveiled, with the hosts set to kick off their campaign on September 30 against Sri Lanka.The tournament, which runs from September 30 to November 2, features eight teams battling it out for the coveted trophy, with the... Read more >

13:59 Vijay holds video conference with senior leaders Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief and actor Vijay on Monday held a video conference with senior leaders from his Pattinapakkam penthouse to discuss the next steps following the Karur stampede, which claimed 41 lives.Meanwhile, posters depicting him with bloodstained hands, have appeared in... Read more >

13:16 FPIs pull strings on consumer, power Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) were net sellers of Indian equities to the tune of Rs 9,761 crore in the first fortnight of September, with consumer services and power stocks bearing the brunt of outflows.Data from Prime Infobase shows FPIs withdrew Rs 3,246 crore from consumer services. This... Read more >

12:50 Loan default: Lenders may get nod to lock your phone With a surge in demand for small-ticket loans from customers who are new to credit, the Reserve Bank of India is considering allowing lenders to use 'device-locking technology' (DLT), by which they can lock the borrowers smartphone in the case of a default. For such customers, who are mostly... Read more >

12:26 Pak threatens Afghanistan of 'force' if security talks fail Pakistan has warned the Taliban that failure of ongoing border security talks will be answered with force, stressing terrorism threatens stability, investment, and regional peace, Khaama Press reported.Pakistan's State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry has warned that if negotiations with the... Read more >

12:17 Karur stampede: Sitharaman visits injured at hospital Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday reached the site of the September 27 stampede in Karur in Tamil Nadu in which 41 people lost their lives.The Union minister then visited the Government Medical College Hospital in Karur.Earlier today, she arrived at the Coimbatore International Airport... Read more >

12:08 Delhi baba grilled in room where he raped students Delhi Police on Monday questioned Chaitanyananda Saraswati in connection with allegations of sexual harassment of female students at Sri Sharda Institute of Indian Management.Early this morning, the police took him to the institute and questioned him in the room where he allegedly called... Read more >

10:43 Conversion kingpin offering 'miracle healing' held The alleged mastermind of a religious conversion racket accused of luring people from the Scheduled Castes into adopting Christianity through inducements and claims of 'miraculous healing' has been arrested, officials said on Monday.DCP (South) Nipun Agarwal said the accused, identified as... Read more >

10:17 Stock markets bounce back in early trade Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty rebounded in early trade on Monday after registering a sharp fall last week, amid value-buying at lower levels and a firm trend in global markets.The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 255.46 points to 80,681.92 in early trade. The 50-share NSE Nifty went... Read more >

09:47 US companies told to 'end H1-B abuse' The United States Department of Labour on Sunday (local time) said that companies must end H1-B 'abuse'.The Labour Department also called on US companies to hire American workers.'End H-1B abuse. Hire American,' the Department of Labour said in a post on X.'We're fighting for the American Dream,'... Read more >

09:38 Two dead in Michigan church shooting, suspect killed A tragic scene unfolded Sunday in Grand Blanc, Michigan, when a 40-year-old man drove his car into a church building, opened fire on worshippers, and set the building on fire, leaving at least two people dead and several others wounded, CNN reported.The attack happened at The Church of Jesus... Read more >

09:26 Father, brother shoot dead Class 12 girl over affair A 17-year-old girl has been allegedly shot dead by her father and minor brother in Shamli district of Uttar Pradesh in a suspected case of honour killing, police said on Monday.The incident took place in Ambehta village under Kandhla police station limits on Sunday evening, Superintendent of... Read more >
The Caritas Charity Run generated about MOP660,000 in support of the Heart-to-Heart social enterprise, according to secretary general Paul Pun.

The annual event, held yesterday, brought together more than 2,000 runners alongside 45 corporate and group teams.

Participants competed in several categories, including 10-kilometer, 5-kilometer, 1.6-kilometer inclusive, and online runs.

Proceeds from the fundraiser will be directed toward covering operating costs of the Heart-to-Heart service, launched in late 2024 to provide home care and health support for elderly residents.

Pun noted that part of the funds will also be used to subsidize seniors who are unable to afford the service.

In addition, proceeds will help finance non-subsidized social projects and contribute to the development of future elderly care facilities in Macau.

Meanwhile, Caritas Macau is preparing to expand services for residents with disabilities through the opening of a new rehabilitation center and improvements to transport support.

Pun previously announced that the Integrated Rehabilitation Service Center, located at Tong Kai Building in Zone A, is scheduled to open by the end of 2025.

The facility will provide 100 service slots, including 20 for temporary care, 40 for vocational training, and 40 for skill development programs.

Caritas has also extended its Chon Fai Rehabilitation Shuttle Bus service beyond wheelchair users to include people with moderate to severe disabilities.

Speaking to the press recently, Pun noted that demand has increased significantly, with some routes often reaching full capacity.

To address this, the mobile app will be enhanced to show the number of waiting passengers, while discussions with the government are underway to add a stop at Macao Union Hospital.

For dialysis patients, transfers take time, so this remains a project worth supporting and coordinating. Specific timing will depend on discussions about fleet expansion and scheduling, he said. Times Reporter

Like this: Like Loading...
The Macao Union Hospital, an offshore medical complex celebrating its first year of operation, currently manages about 10% of Macaus public healthcare services, with Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture O Lam stating that it plans to increase this share to 25% by the end of 2027.

The public hospital marked its first anniversary with a celebration and the opening ceremony of its second academic week on Saturday.

During the event, the Secretary noted in her address, The [Macao Union Medical Center] currently handles approximately 10% of the public healthcare service volume, providing services such as specialist outpatient care, imaging examinations, and specialized surgeries.

She emphasized that this has effectively reduced residents waiting times for medical care and actively advanced the diagnosis and treatment of complex, critical, and rare diseases in Macau.

She also stated that the hospital is making steady progress toward its goal of managing 25% of Macaus public healthcare services by the end of 2027.

Notably, the hospital has expanded its specialist outpatient services to 52 departments, launched a day center, and introduced integrated wards, addressing a significant gap in Macaus public healthcare system with the addition of radiation oncology services.

These developments have led to a marked reduction in waiting times for specialist consultations and medical examinations, with total service visits increasing to 1.5 times the previous years levels.

Currently, the hospital operates 40 specialized departments, with over 400 discharges from its general medical and surgical wards. Five operating rooms are in use, having successfully performed more than 500 surgeries. Additionally, the facility houses Macaus largest radiation oncology center.

Meanwhile, in her speech, the Secretary outlined three key aspirations for the hospital. One of these is to continue establishing and enhancing a talent development system that provides greater learning and growth opportunities for local medical professionals in Macau.

The goal is to cultivate specialized departments with regional influence, attract outstanding talent, foster a conducive environment for talent convergence, and drive the overall advancement of Macaus medical technology, O stated.

Like this: Like Loading...
For the first time, Nossa Senhora do Amparo Street joins Old Taipa Village in going car-free during the National Day Golden Week, offering residents and visitors safer, pedestrian-friendly streets, the Economic and Technological Development Bureau announced.

According to DSEDT director Yau Yun Wah, the zones will operate from October 1 to 7, daily from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., offering a safer and more enjoyable travel experience for residents and visitors.

In addition to having the zone again in Old Taipa Village, a new temporary pedestrian zone will be added to Nossa Senhora do Amparo Street, Yau said during a press conference on Friday.

The initiative, he noted, follows consultations with community groups, the Macao Chamber of Commerce, and schools.

Yau highlighted that temporary pedestrian zones in Old Taipa Village during past holidays had been widely recognized and supported, which encouraged authorities to expand the effort this year.

In Old Taipa Village, the zone will extend from the intersection of Rua Fernao Mendes Pinto and Piscinas do Carmo, in front of the Carmo Swimming Pool bus stop, to the intersection of Rua Correia da Silva and Rua do Delegado, near the Historical Museum of Coloane and Taipa. A Residents Special Car Service will continue to assist people with limited mobility, transporting them between designated bus stops.

The Transport Bureau will implement temporary traffic measures, including road closures and bus route adjustments. Public bus services near the Amparo Street zone will remain normal, with temporary stops added for convenience.

The holiday initiative will also feature cultural and commercial activities to boost neighborhood vitality. Plans include thematic layouts, performances, a special market, and a night market.

A promotion will allow visitors spending MOP50 or more at participating Taipa merchants to redeem a souvenir celebrating the 15th National Games.

Several departments will support the program. The Macao Government Tourism Office will promote the zones through multiple channels, while the tourism mascot will appear to engage with the public. The Cultural Affairs Bureau will extend the opening hours of the Iec Long Fireworks Factory for related events. The Municipal Affairs Bureau will step up street cleaning, install additional trash bins, and reinforce maintenance of public facilities in both areas.

Boosting tourism and community life

The move to establish temporary pedestrian-only zones in Taipa during the National Day holiday has drawn positive reactions from local community advisory councils, who see the initiative as a way to harness cultural and tourism resources while revitalizing old neighborhoods.

Lai Chun Tou of the Central District Community Advisory Council and Lei Weng Kin of the Islands Advisory Council both welcomed the arrangement, noting its potential to attract visitors and create safer, more pedestrian-friendly spaces.

While the closure of certain streets may inconvenience residents and some businesses, the overall effect supports neighborhood activation and commercial growth, said Lai, as cited in a Macao Daily News report.

He suggested better integration of walking paths with community activities, balancing the needs of residents, merchants, and tourists, and strengthening the sustainable development of the citys historic districts.

The advisory councils hope the pedestrian zones will encourage community-led events, fostering participation from small and medium enterprises and offering tourists immersive experiences in the old town.

Lei, meanwhile, highlighted new attractions introduced this year, including a market and drone show at the former Iec Long Firecracker Factory, designed to enrich visitor experiences and extend the time spent in the area.

During the pedestrian-zone period, authorities also announce plans to enhance traffic management during school peak hours and address mosquito-control issues.

Officials say the temporary zones, if carefully managed, can continue to drive foot traffic, strengthen community engagement, and provide a model for future sustainable urban tourism in Macau. Times Reporter

Like this: Like Loading...
The Netherlands is being considered as a possible host country for former president Rodrigo Duterte if the International Criminal Court (ICC) grants him interim release, according to lawyer Maria Kristina Conti.

Conti, who serves as ICC assistant to counsel, noted that such an arrangement is reflected in court records.

- Advertisement -

The Netherlands. Obvious, as it will be a transit country en route to a second or third country. But the defense said that Duterte will be released first into Dutch territory, Conti said in a mix of English and Filipino during an interview on Sunday.

What was said is the Netherlands, perhaps you can shelter Duterte for the rest of the period of interim release. What if he stays there because, instead of traveling, he is already there? That is what I heard with a call for house arrest in the Netherlands, she added.

Duterte, who faces charges of crimes against humanity over his administrations drug war, is currently detained in The Hague as he awaits the confirmation of charges.

His defense team has renewed its request for the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber to act on its petition for interim release, citing prolonged delays and unresolved logistical issues in evaluating Dutertes fitness to stand trial.

The Duterte camp also assured the ICC that the former presidents release would not interfere with the proceedings or the broader case.

Conti, however, believes that the behavior displayed by Dutertes family could influence the courts decision.

If it were up to me, the country is not important, truth be told, but rather the conditions, Conti said.

That is, the risk factors: you must not commit additional crimes; you must not interfere with the process or the victims, witnesses, and everyone involved; and most importantly, you will return to the court, she added.
On 12 September 2025, Jair Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years in prison for the crimes of leading a criminal organisation, attempting to violently abolish the democratic rule of law, coup d'etat, damage to national public property and damage to listed property of historic significance.

[Originally published in Portuguese]

The case, led by Supreme Federal Court Minister Alexandre de Moraes, will still judge several nuclei of individuals involved in what the mainstream media has popularised as the Coup Plot.

The latter involved the invasion of the headquarters of the three branches of government in Brasilia on 8 January 2023, in an episode very similar to the invasion of the Capitol in the United States, with the aim of putting Jair Bolsonaro in charge of the country, in defiance of the election outcome.

Newspapers the world over have been effusive in their praise of the example of strength shown by Brazilian democracy, in the desperate attempt to save its degenerate and demoralised institutions.

However, the most important thing for the working class is not merely to convict Bolsonaro and his generals as individuals, but rather to defeat Bolsonarism as a political movement. Whether this will actually happen with this trial is another story. But for now, in Brazil and around the world, this blow by the establishment against the outsider is being celebrated.

Brazil in turmoil: from the June Days to the rise of Bolsonarism

Brazil was not immune to the 2008 crisis. What began as a little wave, in Lula's words, soon became a tsunami that would sweep away the social partnership of the New Republic and throw the country into the stormy seas of open class struggle, marked by strong social polarisation.

In 2013, around the same time as the Arab Spring, mass mobilisations led by young people exploded from the North to the South of the country. These began as a struggle against increases in bus and metro fares in large cities, but soon escalated into a struggle against the existing order under the slogan it's not just about 20 cents (the amount added to fares in some cities).

In all major cities of the country, we saw street demonstrations with hundreds of thousands of people. The largest were in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, with demonstrations exceeding 400,000 and one million participants respectively.

The vast majority who took to the streets did not know exactly what they wanted, but practically everyone knew what they did not want. This contradiction was expressed in a similar way to so many other mass movements that we have seen emerge in the world in recent times. It was a powerful movement that swept away everything before it, winning all kinds of concessions and victories at first, only to be directed into channels that pose no threat to the capitalist order, giving way to the reaction of the bourgeoisie.

This is the consequence of the lack of a mass party rooted in the working class and youth, with a clear Marxist programme oriented towards overcoming capitalism.

After the titanic struggles of the working class in the 1970s and 1980s  which culminated in the creation of the Workers' Party (PT) and the largest trade union centre in Latin America, the Central Unica dos Trabalhadores (CUT)  the PT became the main party of the working class.

However, in 2013, it was precisely this party that was in government at both the federal level and at the municipal level in many large cities, such as in Sao Paulo, the scene of the largest mobilisations in the country. These mobilisations involved a whole generation of young people who had not participated in the construction of the PT, but who had grown up under its governments and who now took to the streets to settle scores with both it and all the other parties.

The history of the PT  from its birth to its degeneration  is a topic for another article. But its weight as the only left-wing point of reference capable of standing before the masses, upon being integrated into the odious order of bourgeois democracy, left a vacuum of any left-wing alternative.

This paved the way for the right to gain by leaps and bounds, with the creation of various youth movements  the most significant of which was the Free Brazil Movement (MBL)  and, in the first instance, a renewal of the traditional parties of the right.

After the June 2013 protests achieved their initial stated goal  the reduction of transport fares  the movement went down to defeat. It failed to advance class consciousness to the degree needed to bring forth independent organisations of the workers and youth seeking to overthrow the existing order.

After all, the recognised leadership of the June 2013 Free Pass Movement (MPL) did not constitute a party with a clear programme and democratic structures that could live up to the aspirations of the masses that supported it. It did not know what to do in the face of what the movement had become.

The youth still managed to mount a response, with school occupations in 21 states as well as the Federal District (where Brasilia is situated). This was the so-called secondary school spring, in 2016. However, the pendulum swung back to the right, spurred on by real problems but presenting distorted solutions, while the Lula-led left preferred to distort reality and sow disillusionment with empty promises.

In the 2014 elections, the second party in the duopoly that dominated Brazilian politics in the last decade  the right-wing Social Democratic Party (PSDB)  narrowly lost the elections to Dilma Rousseff's PT. Those supposed champions of democracy in the mainstream media, who are now leading the attacks against Bolsonaro, launched an intense campaign at the time to reverse the election results.

It was impossible to strike a blow against the PT without further demoralising the institutions of bourgeois rule / Image: Jose Cruz, Wikimedia Commons

This culminated in the impeachment of Dilma Rousseff in 2016, with her vice-president, Michel Temer, taking over the presidency. Immediately, this government intensified all of the austerity attacks initiated by Dilma. But they also took measures to cut off Chinese capitals access to billion-dollar projects such as 5G internet infrastructure and operation of the Angra nuclear power plant.

As if that were not enough, Lulas imprisonment in 2018  based on a fraudulent anti-corruption probe, Operation Car Wash  crowned the process of attempting to clean up the system. But it was all in vain.

The Workers' Party was so intimately connected to the rest of the bourgeois order that it was impossible to strike a blow against it without further demoralising the institutions of bourgeois rule and the vast majority of the ruling class traditional parties. This operation had such significance that it gained the support of American imperialism, although that deserves an article of its own.

It is worth noting that this maneuver was not only planned by the Brazilian ruling class, which saw in it an opportunity to replace the PT with a party more its own. It was also planned by American imperialism, which had watched with alarm as Chinese capital had increased its penetration into Brazil. China had gained ground as the PT governments sought to balance between it and the US.

It was precisely in this context that, in 2018, Bolsonarism exploded onto the scene as a mass movement. This was likened to a bolt from a clear blue sky by the bourgeois analysts. As with Trumpism and its variants in England, France, Romania, etc., its strength lies not in the individual personal characteristics of Bolsonaro, but rather in the profound movement of the class struggle.

More specifically, its strength lay in the deepening of the crisis, the ebb and flow of previous struggles and the total demoralisation of the institutions of bourgeois rule. It was made possible by the absence of a workers party with a Marxist programme that has the ear of millions and is able point to a way out of the quagmire in which capitalism finds itself trapped.

While the entire right wing, since 2014, has rested the rejection of traditional politics and the fight against corruption, Bolsonaro, a deputy that was relatively unknown outside the state of Rio de Janeiro, took things to a qualitatively new level. He rejected bourgeois politics and democracy as a whole. He says he wants to tear down the hated institutions, he denounces crippled bourgeois democracy and presents himself as the candidate who will put an end to all of it.

Bolsonarism is a distorted and reactionary expression of latent anti-establishment sentiment, armed with the most reactionary ideas. It clashes, above all, with young people and the most oppressed sectors of society, such as women, black people and LGBT people. Through this programme, Bolsonaro was carried on the shoulders of millions, imposing the first electoral defeat on the PT at the federal level since 1998.

The ruling class clashes

Bolsonaro was certainly not the bourgeoisies first choice. Any hope that he might lead a stable government for capitalism quickly vanished. Once again, young people led the attack, while reformist leaders lamented that Brazil had become a fascist country.

In May 2019, during the Education Tsunami, two million students across Brazil marched, chanting, Fora Bolsonaro (Bolsonaro Out) in the countrys main capitals. This was preceded by a carnival in February 2019, dominated by cries of Fora Bolsonaro. This was followed by the strike movement against the pension counter-reform.

It was clear to the serious strategists of capital, that Bolsonaros belligerent attitude could precipitate a widespread confrontation with the working class and youth, the outcome of which was totally unpredictable.

In addition to his erratic behaviour and constant conflicts with the traditional representatives of the bourgeoisie in Brazil, his government expressed a tendency to prioritise the short-term interests of his clique over the collective interests of an important part of the bourgeoisie.

The pandemic intensified the crisis of the Bolsonaro government / Image: Palacio do Planalto, Wikimedia Commons

This caused the latter to make a 180-degree turn, and after exactly 580 days, in November 2019, former President Lula was released from jail. His case was annulled, and he became eligible to run for office again. He was tasked with the clear mission of running in 2022 and defeating Bolsonaro at the polls.

The pandemic intensified the crisis of the Bolsonaro government. The constant worsening of living conditions, the hundreds of thousands of deaths (according to the underreported estimates of the official data), and the president's mockery of people dying from lack of air, sparked massive protests. These were organised outside of the old, rotten trade union structures linked to the PT. The masses began to fill the streets, demanding the immediate overthrow of the Bolsonaro government.

Lula, now eligible to stand in elections, used all the weight of his apparatus to convert the Fora Bolsonaro protests into Fora Bolsonaro 2022  that is, into his election campaign to return to the Presidential Palace. The plan worked, although Lula only won by a very narrow margin. Despite the attempted coup and all kinds of manoeuvres during the elections, Lula took office again alongside Geraldo Alckmin, a strongman of the bourgeoisie and enemy of the working class.

The fluctuating policy of the bourgeoisie towards Lula and the PT expresses divisions at the top of society. Despite his instincts as a born conciliator, Lula has not been able to paper over the antagonisms in society. In fact, they have only increased.

The ruling class and its representatives are divided. Immediately following Bolsonaros conviction by the judiciary, the legislature, through the Chamber of Deputies, began pushing forward the Constitutional Amendment Bill (PEC) for amnesty.

This would grant amnesty to all those involved in the coup attempt, including Bolsonaro himself. In addition, another proposed bill (the Shielding Amendment) aims to make it impossible for the Supreme Federal Court to try any parliamentary deputy without first being voted on by the deputies themselves, by secret ballot! The Shielding Amendment was approved in the first vote, with the support of part of the PT, showing how low this party  born of the struggles of the working class  has finally sunk.

It is clear that a central element of the dispute over Bolsonaros fate is the inability of several parties and professional politicians to survive electorally without Bolsonaro and his family. But there is also a very important element of dispute between the major world powers. This is expressed through the struggle between different layers of the bourgeoisie, each subordinated to different imperialist powers, or seeking to balance between them.

The tasks of communists in the coming period

With the end of the imperialist truce that held together under American hegemony since the end of the Second World War, Brazil has become the scene of imperialist disputes. While the Trump administration raises the banner of defending Bolsonaro, its real motives are to defend American capital against Chinese imperialism, which has become its biggest competitor in Brazil in recent decades.

While the Trump administration raises the banner of defending Bolsonaro, its real motives are to defend American capital against Chinese imperialism / Image: Palacio do Planalto, Wikimedia Commons

Lula rides the wave of the struggle against American imperialism by leaning on Chinese imperialism. Whatever the nationality of his master, it is clear that under capitalism his government is incapable of carrying out reforms, of reversing the series of attacks on social security and labour rights, or of undoing the privatisations carried out in recent decades.

It is true that Lulas tactic has been effective in the first instance. As I write these lines, a massive demonstration is taking place in the countrys main capitals, with around 100,000 demonstrators on the streets of Sao Paulo against the amnesty and Shielding amendments. As a result, 51 of 81 senators have already declared themselves against the Shielding amendment! This only shows that the working class and youth are not defeated and are still prepared to fight hard battles.

But Lulas small gain in popularity will ultimately face a harsh reality test. The tactic of balancing between the imperialist powers, as PT governments have historically attempted to do, is impossible in the new world situation that has opened up. The false choice presented to workers and youth between American or Chinese capital will very soon be revealed for what it really is: the choice of who will reap the profits from the misery that capitalism has planned for the working class in the coming period.

Based on an understanding of this reality, communists have the task of connecting with the broad layers that demonstrate a healthy revulsion towards Bolsonaro and his plans. Communists must also channel distorted expressions of anger against the system in the direction of revolutionary struggle.

We must stand in solidarity with the masses who celebrate Bolsonaros conviction, as it is an expression of their deep class hatred against the most despicable aspects of class society. But at the same time, we must warn that the working class cannot trust bourgeois justice in its struggle against reaction.

This is the same bourgeois justice that convicted Lula solely to keep him out of the electoral race. Bourgeois justice serves the interests of the ruling class. In the struggle against the right wing and in defence of democratic rights, the working class can only rely on its own strength and methods of struggle: mass demonstrations, assemblies and strikes.

Bolsonarism has won broad electoral support, including among sections of the working class and the poor, based on its demagogic, anti-establishment rhetoric and the absence of any serious alternative on the left. To defeat it, we must put forward a class-based policy that confronts the capitalist system as a whole as a solution to the problems of employment, precariousness, housing, etc.  not a policy of abstract defence of democracy.

We must demonstrate, by patiently explaining and fighting shoulder to shoulder with these millions of Brazilians, that only the working class, with its methods of struggle, is capable of defending democratic freedoms against the bourgeois institutions that have produced this caricature of democracy.

Our future is not limited to choosing between masters. There are no saviours who will solve everything for us. We must take our destinies into our own hands and make our own history. For this, a correct understanding of the current world situation  of the end of the imperialist truce  is fundamental to developing a policy that is confirmed by the reality before the millions who are desperately seeking a way out of the current situation.

Revolutions happen regardless of the existence of revolutionary parties. Our role is therefore to build a revolutionary organisation with a Marxist programme that is capable of winning the confidence of the class in time and playing a decisive role in events.

Lenin, like my grandmother, used to say: Life teaches. And the entire history of the workers movement to date fills us with confidence to say that, armed with the correct ideas, the coming events will teach the most advanced layers that their place is in the Brazilian section of the Revolutionary Communist International!
What started as a day of peaceful protest called by the Madagascan youth on Thursday 25 September, ended with brutal repression, which left several youth killed by police, clashes and rioting. The government has declared a curfew in all major cities, but protests continue.

The leo delestage (fed up with electricity cut-offs) movement started with a call from a number of social media influencers to protest against continuous water and electricity cut-offs. Organisers gathered around the Gen Z Madagascar Facebook page and adopted the pirate flag of the One Piece comic, which has become the symbol of the international rebellion of the youth.

The fact that the first humans to populate Madagascar came from the Indonesian archipelago, and the strong cultural and linguistic ties with that country, has made the inspiring impact of the Indonesian mass movement much bigger.

As in Indonesia, Nepal, the Philippines, East Timor, etc. a common theme of this movement is rejection of all politicians and established institutions, hatred of corruption, and rejection of the gulf between those at the top (who flaunt their wealth) and the overwhelming majority of the population who live under the poverty line (79 percent in the case of Madagascar, according to the World Bank)  as well as a generation of youth which feels, quite rightly, that they have no future.

Many of those joining the protest were university students. Their calls and banners featured slogans like We are poor, angry and unhappy and Madagascar is ours, together with Mitsangana ny tanora  youth rise up! Some were wearing the coloured straw hats associated with the One Piece flag that have become a symbol of defiance.

Police brutality

The organisers had insisted that the demonstrations would be peaceful, but the prefecture had other ideas. Protests were banned, and those who gathered were met by riot police. Protesters fought back in defence of their democratic right to demonstrate. They set up burning barricades and protected themselves by any means available.

There are videos circulating of police officers riding around in pickup trucks, shooting at protesters. World media is reporting five protesters killed, all of them in the capital Antananarivo, but that is clearly an underestimate.

Local papers report a total of six university students killed by police repression, including one in the northern port city of Antsiranana on Friday. University students explained:

We have no weapons and stayed on campus on Thursday, September 25, but they came here to attack us. Our comrade had nothing in his hands. He was in the street, yet he was shot. This act is reprehensible. Out of respect for our friend, we will not give in. The struggle continues until justice is served. (Midi Madagasikara, 27 September)

Here, students marched through the streets carrying the dead body of their comrade.

By the end of the night of 25 September, several buildings had been set on fire and the houses of three pro-government parliamentarians had been torched.

By then, the protests had spread from the capital Antananarivo to all major cities: Antsiranana, Majunga, Toliara and Antsirabe. All of them were put under a dusk-til-dawn curfew.

On Friday morning, the government of President Rajoelina, a businessman and media magnate, was in panic mode, trying to control the situation with a mix of repression and concessions. While denouncing the protests as an attempted coup d'etat, he also sacked the Electricity Minister.

Ironically, Rajoelina was propelled to power after mass protests in 2009 against the previous president, in which corruption played a big part. Sixteen years later, nothing fundamental has changed. If anything, the situation has gotten worse for the Malagasy masses.

Rajoelinas tactics didn't stop further protests from taking place on Friday and Saturday, 27 September, with the youth back on the streets.

On Sunday evening, 28 September, the movement issued a statement demanding: an immediate public apology and explanation on the part of the government for the brutal repression on September 25; the resignation of the government of Prime Minister Ntsay Christian within 72 hours and the resignation of the prefect of the capital Antananarivo within 24 hours, for their violation of democratic rights; as well as a guarantee of the freedom to protest and the release of all those detained during the protests. The statement also demands that any talks with the movement should take place in an open space and not in government buildings.

The Malagasy youth should trust only their own forces and those of their allies / Image: mamymecanic, Twitter

The statement shows the determination of the youth to continue with the protest movement, despite repression, and is a clear challenge to the government. However, in its final point, the confused character of the protest movement is shown, when it appeals to ALL ACTIVE FORCES in the land of the Republic of Madagascar, associations, civil society, the private sector, influencers, religious leaders, unions, civil servants, POLITICIANS, elected officials, appointed officials and every citizen to join us, for all these legitimate demands.

How can an appeal be made to the workers trade unions and the private sector (businessmen) at the same time? The former are suffering from poverty and lack of access to basic services, while the latter exploit working people and benefit from their poverty. Their interests are not the same, and so they cannot be brought together.

As for the religious leaders, the heads of the Council of Christian Churches (FFKM) made an appeal on 26 September in which they called for dialogue and opposed the violence of the protesters (!!) without any mention of police repression. The tops of the churches have shown in practice which side they are on.

On the other hand, the health service unions have already issued a threat to strike within 48 hours if their demands are not met. Madagascar has a long and proud tradition of working-class organisation among teachers, health workers, the dockers, and at the electricity company, which is at the centre of the protests, etc.

The Malagasy youth should trust only their own forces and those of their allies. They should set up rank-and-file committees to organise their movement, reach out to the workers, peasants and poor masses who sympathise with them, and organise self-defence against police brutality.

On Monday, 29 September, the countrys student unions issued a joint appeal for a nationwide student strike and demonstrations at 9 am, with a call for students to wear black in mourning for the martyrs of the movement. Thousands gathered outside the university buildings in all major cities, singing the national anthem and carrying the national flag. But, as soon as they started marching, they were met again by riot police and tear gassed.

Legacy of imperialism

Electricity cut-offs, sometimes lasting for over 12 hours, are the spark which has led to these protests. The problems affecting Jirama (the countrys state-owned electricity and water supply company) are certainly aggravated by corruption, with politicians and managers regularly syphoning off money into their own pockets. However, this is just a symptom of the general crisis of capitalism in Madagascar, a country dominated by foreign imperialism and subjugated by IMF and World Bank loans for decades.

The current impoverished state of the economy can be traced back to French colonialism, which used forced labour and practised a cruel policy of divide and rule between the different ethnic groups on the island. This led to the Malagasy Uprising of 1947 against French domination, which was brutally suppressed by a French government presided over by a Socialist and which counted on the participation of the Communist Party. The French were brutal and vindictive, using mass arrests and executions, rape and torture as weapons of war, razing whole villages and throwing rebels out of planes.

The rebels had been led to believe that they would be supported by the British and the US, but no help was forthcoming. While the imperialist powers were in competition for the domination of the colonies, the last thing they wanted was a victorious uprising, which would have encouraged the colonial peoples elsewhere. The rebellion was put down in blood, with tens of thousands of Malagasy killed. The French colonial authorities at the time put the figure of Malagasy victims of the clampdown at 89,000, which was probably an underestimate.

The brutal tactics used and perfected by the French in Madagascar were later used as a model during the repression of the Algerian war of liberation a decade later.

Electricity cut-offs, sometimes lasting for over 12 hours, are the spark which has led to these protests / Image: KazuMitsUvU, Twitter

Finally, in 1960, the island was granted independence, but remained under the control of French imperialist capital. Half of the islands exports and half of its imports were with the former colonial metropolis. Whatever finance capital and banking there was, was controlled by French capitalists.

There were strong communist and socialist traditions among the working class and in the nationalist movement. For a short period of time in the late 1970s, there was a regime which moved towards breaking away from French domination, nationalised key sectors of the economy and looked towards aligning with the Soviet Union. However, this was short-lived and the same regime went back, cap in hand, to the IMF in the early 1980s, which forced a programme of structural adjustment and started a process of privatisation which was mired with corruption.

The population of Madagascar is poor despite the fact that the island is rich in natural resources and fertile land. The country represents 80 percent of the worlds vanilla production and has rich nickel, titanium and other metal reserves. However, its economy is dominated by the world market and big multinationals. France is still dominant in terms of its exports, with the United States coming close behind. In recent years, there has been a marked increase in the presence of Chinese capital and investment in the island, with the Asian economic power becoming the islands main source of imports.

The economic problems of poverty and collapsing infrastructure, from which the overwhelming majority of the Malagasy population suffer, go beyond the question of corruption, which is just the outward manifestation of the rotten character of capitalism in Madagascar, dominated by foreign imperialist powers.

The struggle against corruption, for access to water and electricity, for healthcare and education, is closely linked to the struggle against foreign debt and, therefore, the struggle against capitalism and imperialism.

The Malagasy youth have shown their courage and bravery. Their struggle can only be completed as part of a struggle against the capitalist system itself. Otherwise, we will witness yet another cycle of mobilisation and mass action, which ends up simply in a change of government, while the system remains.

Victory to the Malagasy uprising. Down with capitalism. Down with imperialism. Youth rise up!
Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita held a meeting in New York with his counterparts from Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Chad to follow up on the implementation of King Mohammed VIs initiative to enable Sahel countries to have access to the Atlantic Ocean.

This meeting, held on the sidelines of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, brought together Foreign Ministers Karamoko Jean-Marie Traore of Burkina Faso, Abdoulaye Diop of Mali, Bakary Yaou Sangare of Niger, and Abdoulaye Sabre Fadoul of Chad, who emphasized the significance of the historic audience granted by the King to the Foreign Ministers of the Alliance of Sahel States on April 28, 2025.

This Royal audience offered an opportunity for the African ministers to reaffirm their countries full support for the Royal Initiative and their commitment to accelerating its implementation.

King Mohammed VI announced this international initiative to facilitate access for the Sahel countries to the Atlantic Ocean in a speech he delivered on November 6, 2023, marking the 48th anniversary of the Green March.

The African ministers praised the broad regional, continental, and international support for the Royal Initiative, and expressed their willingness to begin the gradual implementation of the proposed projects under this Initiative, building on the work carried out by Moroccan, Burkinabe, Malian, and Chadian task forces.

In this regard, national task forces will shortly hold technical meetings aimed at implementing the proposed projects.

The meeting reflected a shared political will to jointly establish, with the Sahel countries, an integrated space for co-development, shared prosperity, and regional influence in the service of local populations.

During the meeting, the ministers of the Alliance of Sahel States presented the institutional and operational progress of the Alliance, which was founded as a coordination framework among its three member states (Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger).

New York also hosted the 6th meeting of Foreign ministers of the member states of the Royal Initiative on the Atlantic African States Process (AASP).

The meeting followed the Africa for the Ocean Summit, held at the initiative of King Mohammed VI in Nice in June, during the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC-3).

It marks a major milestone in strengthening the Royal Initiative, which aims to deepen cooperation and integration among African states bordering the Atlantic. The meeting also served as an opportunity to announce actions that will further consolidate the ownership and anchoring of this initiative by its members.

The Atlantic African space hosts 46 major ports connected to global trade routes, and more than 350 million inhabitants, in addition to a combined exclusive economic zone exceeding 13 million km.

Moreover, this space contains more than 30% of Africas known offshore gas reserves and over 40% of the continents fishery resources. This coastline is a geostrategic and economic backbone of the African continent and can be a strategic lever, as it is positioned, at the geo-economic level, at the heart of trade routes between Africa, Europe and the Americas, at a time when more than 90% of African trade transits by sea.

Participants also highlighted the importance of the AASP on the geostrategic level, as security is emerging as a central issue, at a time when nearly 60% of piracy incidents recorded in Africa in 2024 occurred in the Gulf of Guinea, and more than 50% of drug trafficking to Europe transits through the Atlantic African space.

At this meeting, the ministers of the AASP member states unanimously underlined the importance of this Royal Initiative, a bearer of development, opportunities and prosperity for the populations of all the Member States and well beyond.
In a sweeping international operation targeting digital romance scams and sextortion, authorities across 14 African countries have arrested 260 suspects linked to cybercrime networks.

Dubbed Operation Contender 3.0, the two-week crackdown was led by INTERPOL between 28 July and 11 August, seizing over 1,200 electronic devices and dismantling 81 criminal cyber infrastructures. The suspects allegedly exploited social media and dating platforms, using fake profiles and stolen images to deceive victims. Sextortion cases involved secretly recorded explicit content used to blackmail individuals, often leading to devastating financial and psychological harm.

Ghana saw the highest number of arrests  68 suspects  with investigators recovering $70,000 out of an estimated $450,000 in stolen funds. In Cote dIvoire, police dismantled a major sextortion ring with over 800 identified victims. Senegalese authorities arrested 22 suspects accused of impersonating celebrities to scam 120 individuals. Angola reported eight arrests and 28 victims, while other countries involved included Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Rwanda.

Victims spanned all age groups, though older individuals were more frequently targeted. Interpol estimates nearly $2.8 million in total losses across 1,463 victims. Cybercrime units across Africa are reporting a sharp rise in digital-enabled crimes such as sextortion and romance scams, said Cyril Gout, INTERPOLs acting Executive Director. By working closely with our member countries and private sector partners, we remain committed to disrupting and dismantling the groups that prey on vulnerable individuals online, Gout added. With support from private tech firms and UK funding, Operation Contender 3.0 underscores the growing threat of cybercrime in Africa  and the increasing resolve to confront it head-on.
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been found guilty of criminal conspiracy for accepting illicit funds from Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi to finance his 2007 presidential campaign.

The Paris court acquitted him of related charges including passive corruption and illegal campaign financing, but prosecutors had sought up to seven years in prison. The 70-year-old Sarkozy becomes the first former French head of state convicted for taking illegal foreign money to win office. Though he plans to appeal  suspending any sentence  this conviction adds to a series of legal setbacks tarnishing his post-presidential legacy.

The long-running case began after Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the late Libyan leaders son, alleged in 2011 that Sarkozy received 50 million in covert payments. In 2012, investigative outlet Mediapart published a Libyan memo confirming the claim. Lebanese businessman Ziad Takieddine later said he delivered cash-filled suitcases from Tripoli, though he later recanted. That retraction has since sparked a witness tampering investigation involving Sarkozy and his wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, both of whom deny wrongdoing.

Sarkozy dismissed the case as a political plot driven by revenge for his role in Gaddafis 2011 downfall. Despite the convictions, Sarkozy remains a significant voice in French conservative politics, though his legal troubles continue to shadow his legacy. Previously convicted of judicial bribery in 2014 and campaign overspending in 2012, Sarkozy has already lost his Legion of Honor. His legal battles are ongoing, with additional appeals pending in Frances highest courts.
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 Harvard Medical Schoolled research team has developed an AI tool that can reliably tell apart two look-alike cancers found in the brain but with different origins, behaviors, and treatments.

The tool, called PICTURE (Pathology Image Characterization Tool with Uncertainty-aware Rapid Evaluations), distinguished with near-perfect accuracy between glioblastomathe most common and aggressive brain tumorand primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL), a rarer cancer often mistaken for glioblastoma. While both can appear in the brain, glioblastoma arises from brain cells, whereas PCNSL develops from immune cells. Their similarities under the microscope often lead to misdiagnosis, with serious consequences for treatment.

The work is described Sept. 29 in Nature Communications. The AI model is publicly available for other scientists to use and build upon, the team said.

Correctly identifying look-alike tumors in the brain during surgery is one of the toughest diagnostic challenges in neuro-oncology, the researchers said. An accurate diagnosis while the patient is still in the operating room can help expedite critical treatment choices, such as whether to operate and remove the cancerous tissueas should be done with glioblastomaor leave it behind and opt for radiation and chemotherapy instead, the preferred therapy for PCNSL. Inaccurate or delayed diagnosis of cancers in the brain can lead to unnecessary surgery and delays in proper treatment.

What makes the tool especially valuable is its ability to be deployed during surgery, providing critical insights in real time to surgeons and pathologists.

"Our model can minimize errors in diagnosis by distinguishing between tumors with overlapping features and help clinicians determine the best course of treatment based on a tumor's true identity," said study senior author Kun-Hsing Yu, associate professor of biomedical informatics in the Blavatnik Institute at HMS and HMS assistant professor of pathology at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

During brain tumor surgery, surgeons typically remove tumor tissue for rapid evaluation under a microscope. The evaluation is done by freezing the sample in liquid nitrogen, which can distort the cellular features somewhat but provides a quick, real-time assessment. The process takes 15 minutes or so. Based on the results of this first-glance evaluation, surgeons determine whether to remove the tumor or leave it behind and opt for radiation and chemotherapy.

Then, over the next few days, pathologists conduct a more detailed and more reliable evaluation of the tumor sample. In about 1 in 20 cases, the initial diagnosis of a tumor changes on second read, Yu said. This is precisely where the new AI system could play a valuable roleremoving uncertainty and reducing the risk for error during operation when critical decisions are made.

"Our model shows reliable performance on frozen sections during brain surgery and in scenarios with significant diagnostic disagreement among human experts," he said.

The tool was tested in five hospitals and outperformed both human pathologists and other AI models. A unique aspect of the new model is an "uncertainty detector," which allows it to not only distinguish between cancer types with high accuracy but also to signal when it's unsure in its judgmentan important feature for high-stakes medical scenarios.

The new study builds on earlier work led by Yu to develop an AI system that could reliably decode the molecular features of different types of gliomas.

How PICTURE spots brain-cancer doppelgangers

Each year, more than 300,000 people worldwide are diagnosed with tumors in the brain or central nervous system, and more than 200,000 deaths occur as a result. The World Health Organization recognizes about 109 different types of brain and spinal cord tumors, each with its own unique features under the microscope or at the genetic level.

Accurately distinguishing PCNSL from glioblastoma during surgery could allow surgeons to spare brain tissue instead of removing it. Patients with PCNSL are then referred for radiation and chemotherapy, the preferred treatments for this type of tumor. By contrast, glioblastoma requires surgical removal of as much of the cancerous brain tissue as possible.

A near PICTURE-perfect performance

The modelwhich Yu developed with study co-first authors Junhan Zhao and Shih-Yen Linwas evaluated on 2,141 brain pathology slides collected worldwide, including rare cases across both frozen sections and formalin-fixed samples. It was designed to spot critical cancer features including tumor cell density, cell shape, and presence of necrosis.

The scientists tested PICTURE's performance across five international hospitals in four countries. In every case, the AI model outperformed existing AI tools and traditional frozen-section assessment, the standard of care for real-time tumor typing.

In tests, the PICTURE model correctly distinguished glioblastoma from PCNSL more than 98% of the timea level of accuracy that held up when tested in five independent international patient groups. In addition, PICTURE identified samples belonging to 67 CNS cancers that were neither gliomas nor lymphomas.

The model could spot tumors it had not seen during its training and, when it did, it raised a red flag for human review. In other words, the tool knew when it didn't know, Yu said, and this prevented the system from pigeonholing unclear cases into known categories. This feature renders the model unique among other AI systems, the researchers said. In comparison, other AI tools can differentiate in a binary, either-or fashiondisease A versus disease B. This is especially problematic for brain pathology, Yu noted, because there are more than 100 different subtypes of brain cancers, and many of them are relatively rare.

PICTURE outperformed human pathologists in hard-to-distinguish tumors in the brain. In tests, human specialists showed significant disagreement on difficult diagnoses, with some tumor types misdiagnosed 38% of the time. PICTURE correctly identified all these cases, offering support when expert opinion varies.

Launching PICTURE into the real world

Deploying the tool could be a great opportunity for human-AI collaboration, the researchers said. They envision implementing the system across operating rooms and pathology departments as an initial filter to differentiate glioblastoma from PCNSL and inform in-the-OR treatment calls.

Using the model could also democratize access to neuropathology, a highly specialized area of expertise with a dearth of specialists and uneven distribution of experts across the country and world. In addition, the tool can also be used as an educational tool for training the next generation of pathologists to recognize look-alike lesions in the brain where critical differences are obscured under similar appearance.

The researchers noted that most tumor samples were obtained from white patients, so more research is needed to confirm the model's accuracy across diverse populations. And while the tool focused on glioblastoma and PCNSL, future work could expand it to other cancer types and combine it with genetic and molecular data for deeper insights.

More information Uncertainty-aware ensemble of foundation models differentiates glioblastoma from its mimics, Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-64249-6 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:

Children with allergic rhinitis (AR) have an increased risk for behavioral problems (BPs), which are partly mediated by sleep disturbance (SD), according to a study published online Sept. 14 in the Annals of Medicine.

Shiyin Yang, from the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, and colleagues recruited 18,316 children aged 6 to 12 years from 34 primary schools in China. The association between self-reported AR and BPs was examined in logistic regression models with adjustment.

The researchers found that the prevalence of AR was 32.9%, SD was 23.3%, and any BP was 18.0%. Children with ARs had significantly higher adjusted odds ratios for BPs than those without; the odds ratios were 1.77, 1.67, 1.82, 1.68, 1.36, and 1.67 for conduct problems, learning problems, psychosomatic problems, impulsive-hyperactivity, anxiety, and hyperactivity, respectively. SD mediated the association between AR and BPs in a mediation analysis, with the proportion of mediation varying from 32.6 to 64.1%; daytime sleepiness and sleep-disordered breathing contributed the most.

"This community study provides evidence supporting significant associations between AR and BPs in urban children aged 6 to 12 years old," the authors write. "Results showed that over one-third of these associations are mediated by SD, among which daytime sleepiness and sleep-disordered breathing contributed most."

More information Shiyin Yang et al, Allergic rhinitis and behaviour problems in urban children aged 6 to 12 years and the mediating role of sleep disturbance, Annals of Medicine (2025). DOI: 10.1080/07853890.2025.2460771

2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
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

For over two decades, finasteridea popular prescription drug taken by millions of men to treat hair losshas quietly carried a shadow. Behind its cosmetic promise lay disturbing signs of deeper harm: depression, anxiety, and in some cases, suicide.

Now, a new review by Prof. Mayer Brezis of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem suggests the medical and regulatory community failed the publicnot once, but repeatedlyby overlooking mounting evidence of finasteride's potentially devastating psychiatric effects.

The review, published in the The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, compiles data from eight major studies conducted between 2017 and 2023, showing a consistent signal: users of finasteride were significantly more likely to experience mood disorders and suicidal thoughts than comparable patients not taking the drug. The findings span multiple countries and data systems, from the U.S. FDA's adverse event reports to national health records in Sweden, Canada, and Israel.

"The evidence is no longer anecdotal," said Prof. Brezis, a professor emeritus of medicine and public health. "We now see consistent patterns across diverse populations. And the consequences may have been tragic."

According to the paper, hundreds of thousands of people may have suffered from depression related to finasteride use, and hundredspossibly moremay have died by suicide. The drug, originally approved in 1997 by the FDA to treat male pattern baldness, has remained a staple in the dermatological toolbox, often marketed directly to young men as a low-risk, high-reward solution.

But beneath the surface, critics argue, warning signs were ignored.

A delayed response, with a high cost

While the FDA acknowledged depression as a potential side effect in 2011 and added suicidality in 2022, researchers had raised alarms as early as 2002. Internal FDA documents from 2010, cited in Brezis' paper, reveal whole paragraphs blacked out as "confidential"including estimates of how many users could have been affected.

By 2011, the FDA had recorded just 18 suicides linked to finasteride. But based on global usage estimates, that number should have ranged in the thousands. "It wasn't just underreporting," Dr. Brezis wrote. "It was a systemic failure of pharmacovigilance."

Unlike weight-loss drugs or psychiatric medications that receive intense post-marketing scrutiny, finasteride's cosmetic status may have helped it avoid deeper investigation. Notably, none of the data-mining studies cited in Brezis' review were conducted by Merck, the original manufacturer, or requested by regulators.

A cosmetic drug with life-altering risks

Brezis argues the drug's classification as a non-essential, appearance-enhancing medication changes the risk calculus. "This wasn't about life or death medical necessity," he said. "This was about hair."

The biological rationale is clear. Finasteride works by blocking the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), but in doing so, it may also disrupt neurosteroids like allopregnanolonelinked to mood regulation in the brain. Animal studies have shown long-term effects on neuroinflammation and even changes in hippocampal structure.

For some patients, the consequences don't end when the pills do. Reports of lingering symptomsdubbed "post-finasteride syndrome"include insomnia, panic attacks, cognitive dysfunction, and suicidal thoughts that persist months or even years after stopping treatment.

Regulatory gaps, corporate silence

The report is especially scathing toward the FDA and Merck. Despite having access to millions of patient records and robust pharmacovigilance tools, neither party acted in time, Brezis argues. The industry's silence was strategic, he suggests, driven by market pressures and legal liabilityechoing past controversies like Merck's handling of Vioxx.

"Nothing is more important to Organon than the safety of our medicines," the company recently claimed in a public statement. Yet none of the safety studies cited were initiated by the manufacturer.

The FDA, meanwhile, took five years to respond to a citizen petition calling for a black-box warning. Its final decision? To add suicidal ideation to the labelbut not as a formal warning.

Brezis is calling for immediate changes in how drugs like finasteride are approved, monitored, and prescribed. His recommendations include suspending marketing of the drug for cosmetic purposes until safety is re-established, mandatory post-approval studies with strict enforcement, and systematic recording of drug histories in suicide investigations.

For many, those changes come too late.

The paper is dedicated to one such individuala previously healthy man who took finasteride "just" to improve his hair. Within days, he spiraled into severe psychiatric distress. He never recovered. Months later, he took his own life.

More information Mayer Brezis, Failing Public Health Again? Analytical Review of Depression and Suicidality From Finasteride, The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry (2025). DOI: 10.4088/jcp.25nr15862 Journal information: Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
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

Removing lymph nodes during cancer surgery has saved countless lives in many tumor types. Yet recent research is challenging parts of this long-standing practice.

Imagine your body's immune defenses as a city, and lymph nodes as the hubs where police and firefighters gather fresh intel to launch their attack on criminals. What happens if you remove too many of these hubs? This is a new question at the center of modern cancer surgery.

When surgeons remove lymph nodes, it's usually for two reasons: to find out whether cancer has spread, and to prevent further spread to other organs. For decades, this approach represented the best standard of care.

If a tumor escapes its original site, cancer cells often travel through lymph vessels and settle in the nearest lymph nodes, which act as biological filters. Detecting cancer cells in lymph nodes signals that a patient's disease may be more likely to return after treatment.

Removing these nodes allows doctors to "stage" the disease accurately, and potentially increase the chances of eradicating all tumor cellswhile also telling oncologists like me to treat the cancer more aggressively.

But lymph nodes are not just passive waystations. They play an active role in the body's immune response, acting as meeting points for immune cells to share information about cancer. Recent scientific discoveries have led researchers to rethink how crucial these hubs are for sparking powerful, lasting immune reactions.

One of the newest studies shows lymph nodes help maintain a special type of immune cell called "CD8 positive T cells", which can destroy cancer cells. These immune cells are primed and kept ready to act by the environment inside the lymph nodes.

Without these hubs, the body's anti-cancer immune response, especially during immunotherapy treatment, may be weaker than previously imagined. The research shows how the specific cells in the lymph nodes make an initial anti-cancer burst of activity. However, this has only been demonstrated in the laboratory, not in humans as yet.

Removing lymph nodes is not without drawbacks. Patients can experience swelling (lymphedema), increased risk of infection in the affected limb, and sometimes chronic pain or mobility problems. There's also concern that removing lymph nodes, while reducing short-term risks of cancer spread, might inadvertently weaken the body's long-term immune defensesespecially as modern treatments increasingly rely on the patient's natural immunity. This is in line with the new study findings.

Why do surgeons still remove lymph nodes, then?

For many types of solid tumor, the risk of metastatic spread remains high, and lymph node involvement is one of the best predictors of cancer recurrence.

Lymph node removal also provides vital information for choosing the most effective post-surgical treatments. In breast cancer, doctors often use a "sentinel node biopsy". This means removing only the first lymph node that fluid from the tumor drains into. Checking just this sentinel node helps doctors see if the cancer has spread, while reducing the number of nodes removed and lowering the risk of side-effects.

Medical researchers are learning more about how lymph nodes work during long-term illnesses. The new study shows that lymph nodes aren't just passive filters; they're active training grounds where special immune cells grow, multiply and become powerful fighters. This is especially important during treatments that boost the immune system, such as checkpoint blockade treatments which are now used for many types of cancer.

These results suggest that taking out lymph nodes doesn't just block cancer's spread; it also removes important hubs where the immune system monitors the body and gets reactivated to fight disease.

Over the last decade, hospitals have adopted gentler, more targeted lymph node surgeries. Instead of removing all the nodes in a region, the focus is now on minimizing disruption: taking only the nodes most likely to harbor cancer.

This approach reduces complications for patients and may help keep their immunity strong. Some patients with early-stage cancers may even avoid node removal altogether, instead relying on imaging and biopsies to monitor for spread.

For those worried about the consequences of major lymph node removal, emerging therapies offer hope. Immunotherapy drugs, targeted treatments and even cancer vaccines are being developed that can "re-educate" the immune system, even if some lymph nodes have been lost.

Still, there is growing evidence that patients do best when at least some hubs remainpreserving the body's ability to mount and sustain a defense against lingering cancer cells.

In the future, cancer surgery may become even more personalized. By mapping the activity inside lymph nodestracking which ones are essential for immune function and which are most likely to seed new tumorsdoctors can tailor surgery so each patient gets maximum benefit with minimum harm.

The recent discoveries challenge surgeons and oncologists to weigh every decision carefully: not just for what is removed today, but for the immunity and future defenses left behind.

Is removing lymph nodes in cancer surgery a bad idea? The answer is complex. For many patients, it's still a good idea and can be lifesaving. But new science teaches us that lymph nodes are more than just staging posts; they may be indispensable for long-term immune protection. The future promises smarter, more strategic surgery, keeping more of the body's natural defense system intact while targeting cancer with precision.

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

Caroline Connor's concerns about her son's development began around his first birthday, when she noticed he wasn't talking or using any words. Their pediatrician didn't seem worried, but the speech delay persisted. At 2, Mason was diagnosed with autism.

The Connors went on a mission, searching for anything that would help.

"We just started researching on our own. And that's when my husband, Joe, came across Dr. Frye in a research study he was doing," Caroline said.

Richard Frye, a pediatric neurologist, is one of many doctors searching for treatments that can help kids with autism. He's studying leucovorin, an inexpensive, generic drug derived from folic acid, also known as folate or vitamin B9. Leucovorin is currently prescribed to ease the side effects of cancer chemotherapy. Pregnant women are prescribed multivitamins with folic acid to prevent neural tube defects. The neural tube develops into the brain and spinal cord.

Leucovorin isn't a cure for autism, but "it could really have a substantial impact on a very good percentage of children with autism," Frye said.

This week, the FDA began the process of approving leucovorin as a treatment for autism, despite a lack of any large, Phase III clinical trials.

"We do have some good preliminary evidence that leucovorin helps," Frye said. "But normally, the FDA would want to see at least a couple of large Phase III, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trials. Right now, we only have Phase IIb studies, and more research is needed to answer key questions, like how to dose it correctly, when to start, and which children will benefit most."

The theory behind the drug's use for autism postulates that some children have a blockage in the transport of folic acid into the brain that potentially contributes to some of the neurological problems associated with the disorder.

Leucovorin bypasses that blockage and can help some autistic kids improve their ability to speak. Three randomized controlled trials of leucovorin to treat autism have shown positive effects on speech.

Frye cited five blinded controlled studies to date, all positive, although at different doses and in different populations. Still, he said, "the evidence isn't yet where it would normally be for a drug."

Frye said he was "disappointed" that his group had not received funding from the National Institutes of Health's new Autism Data Science Initiative and that he was not consulted on the design of upcoming leucovorin trials. "It's strange, because I've been leading this work for decades," he noted.

The science of cerebral folate deficiency

Cerebral folate deficiency, or a deficiency of folate in the brain, was first described by physician-researcher Vincent Ramaekers. Ramaekers found that some kids with neurodevelopmental disorders had normal levels of folic acid in the blood, but low levels in their spinal fluid.

He then teamed up with researcher Edward Quadros, who had been studying how an autoimmune disorder might lead to a blockage of folic acid transport into the brain. Ramaekers and Quadros found that autoantibodies against the folate receptor alpha (FR), which transports folic acid from the blood into the brain and the placenta, might cause abnormal fetal brain development and some autism spectrum disorders.

One study found that over 75% of children with autism spectrum disorder had FR autoantibodies, compared with 1015% of healthy kids. There is evidence of a familial or genetic predisposition for developing FR autoantibodies. While environmental and immune system dysregulation may also play a role, there's no evidence to suggest that vaccines cause the development of FR autoantibodies.

The brain has a backup system to the FR known as the reduced folate carrier, or RFC. The RFC isn't as efficient a transporter as the FR, but it can transport leucovorin, also known as folinic acid, into the brain. Enzymes in the brain convert leucovorin into the active form of folate.

Treatment with leucovorin increases brain levels of folate in kids with cerebral folate deficiency, or CFD. In one study led by Frye, one-third of such kids experienced improvement in their speech and other behavior when treated with leucovorin.

Two randomized trials conducted in France and India showed similar results. A folate receptor autoantibody test (FRAT) is available to help identify which children may most likely respond to leucovorin treatment.

Frye's team has also identified new potential biomarkers, such as the soluble folate receptor protein, that could predict which children require higher doses.

Frye noted that there are many nuances to treating CFD with leucovorin, including the addition of adjunctive treatments to optimize mitochondrial function.

The side effects associated with leucovorin are mild. Some children experience hyperactivity during the first few weeks of treatment, but that typically subsides within a month or two. A similar pattern is seen with other B vitamins.

Mason's 'little bottle of hope'

Mason Connor's first words came just three days after he started taking leucovorin at age 3, his parents say.

Doctors can currently prescribe the drug only for autism off-label, which means repurposing a drug approved for one condition to treat another.

"We've done the science, and the next step is that we want to get more funding so we can actually get it FDA-approved," Frye said.

He welcomed the FDA's recent interest but cautioned that it "may have been a little premature," given the gaps in knowledge and the need for physician education on how to prescribe leucovorin correctly in autism.

There's one big problem. "Leucovorin's an old drug, and you can get it for a very low price. So nobody is going to make a lot of money on it. So there's no reason for them to invest," Frye said.

Compounding the challenge: supply and quality vary. "Leucovorin is a generic, and different manufacturers use different additives," Frye explained. "Some formulations children with autism don't tolerate well."

Frye used to recommend that patients use the generic form of leucovorin manufactured by West-Ward Pharmaceuticals, a U.S. subsidiary of Hikma, but, he said, "it ran out early this year. Right now, the only reliable source is through a high-quality compounding pharmacy that knows how to make it for kids with autism."

Frye is in the process of establishing a for-profit company to manufacture the right form of leucovorin for kids with autism.

An estimated 2030% of all prescriptions in the U.S. are off-label, according to the nonprofit Every Cure. This is often done as there are more than 14,000 known human diseases with no FDA-approved drugs to treat them.

Drugs like leucovorin are frequently used off-label because doctors believe that the benefits outweigh the risks. However, there is often limited awareness about these treatments, so they may go unused.

David Fajgenbaum, Every Cure's co-founder and president, said he's "literally alive today from a repurposed drug" after he was diagnosed with a rare cancer-like disease that almost killed him. His research into his disease led to a drug meant for another condition.

"It's heartbreaking to think about drugs being on the pharmacy shelf while someone suffers from a disease," Fajgenbaum said.

Every Cure uses AI to scour available medical data on diseases and treatments to uncover potential matches. Every Cure brought to light the work of Frye, Ramaekers, Quadros, and others on leucovorin in the treatment of autism.

"I think our system is just flawed and there's this major gap where drug companies are great at developing new drugs for new diseases, and we as a system are really lousy at looking for new diseases for old drugs. That's why we started Every Cureto unlock these hidden cures," Fajgenbaum said.

Key medical concepts Leucovorin folate receptor alpha

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:

A Tepeth girl at home in Karamoja, north-eastern Uganda. Following a study in the region, experts are calling for urgent action to protect children and wider community from contaminated food and water. Credit: Rod Waddington (CC BY-SA 2.0)

In the dry, isolated area of Karamoja in northeastern Ugandathe country's poorest sub-regionchildren have long suffered from malnutrition and water shortages.

Now a study has shown that nearly half the food and water consumed by under-fives in the region is contaminated with drug-resistant Salmonella, further limiting their chances of survival.

The study, published in Food Safety and Risk, found contamination in samples of both raw and cooked foods, as well as in community and household water.

More than 90% of the Salmonella enterica strains identified by researchers were resistant to azithromycin, one of the most common antibiotics, while more than a third were resistant to multiple drugs.

Ronald Mpagi, the study's lead author and a microbiology researcher at Uganda's Gulu University, told SciDev.Net he was driven to investigate persistent malnutrition in Karamoja after years of government and donor programs showed little progress.

A semi-arid area, Karamoja suffers chronic water scarcity, leaving families without reliable safe drinking water. Most households are nomadic pastoralists living in manyattas, enclosed homesteads where cattle are kept close to people.

Toilets missing

More than 60% of the population practices open defecation, overwhelming limited sanitation systems.

"The available toilets cannot really accommodate the growing population of the Karamoja people," Mpagi told SciDev.Net.

"Most of the toilets are built in designated places, but because many families are nomadic, they move with their animals and cannot return to use these facilities before continuing their journey."

These conditions create a cycle where human waste, livestock, food and water intersect, spilling contamination into children's meals. Diarrhea, a common outcome, is among the five leading causes of under-5 mortality.

Repeated diarrheal illness prevents children from absorbing nutrients, leaving them weak and vulnerable.

Bwambale Benard, a Ugandan public health nutritionist and food systems specialist, says that once first-line antibiotics fail, children stay sick longer, malnutrition worsens, and mortality rises.

Whole community hit

But Benard points out that children are not the only ones at risk. Infections also affect pregnant women, the elderly, and whole households, leaving families unproductive and draining limited incomes.

"So we are going to have a community that is ill, sickly, that cannot be productive, and so they are not contributing productively to the GDP of a country, or even they are not able to sustain their families," he told SciDev.Net.

A USAID-funded project in 2017 projected malnutrition will cost Uganda an estimated 19 trillion Ugandan Shillings (US$7.7 billion) in lost productivity by 2025.

Benard believes that if left unchecked, drug-resistant Salmonella could also undermine Uganda's development targets.

He stressed the need for safer food handling to prevent recontamination, adding that ending open defecation requires tackling both cultural and practical barriers.

Tracking resistance

Andrew Kambugu, executive director of the Infectious Diseases Institute at Makerere University, Uganda, says the country has developed systems to detect antimicrobial resistance before it escalates.

In partnership with Uganda's Ministry of Health, his team runs a surveillance network supported by the UK Aidfunded Fleming Fund.

Operating in seven referral hospitals across the country, the system monitors resistance patterns and provides early warnings.

"With the surveillance system, it means that if we see what we call clusters of patients that present diarrhea due to Salmonella, we will be able to see that because we are collecting the dataand it will act as an early warning system to tell us that in that hospital there is a problem," Kambugu told SciDev.Net.

He says hospitals are tracked closely and while clusters do not always confirm diarrhea outbreaks, they prompt further investigation and guide the Ministry of Health's response.

Kambugu said the recent findings from Karamoja were striking.

"In the regions that have been [by his institute], we do not have this high rate. I think it is unusual," he said, adding that the cultural practices and access to water issues in Karamoja could be responsible for the situation.

Improving outcomes

Daniel Kyabayinze, director of public health at Uganda's Ministry of Health, told SciDev.Net the government was reinforcing hygiene education in Karamoja and training farmers on safer post-harvest handling.

He linked these measures to Uganda's National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance, now in its fifth year and aligned with the WHO Global Action Plan.

Under the plan, referral hospitals feed lab data into antibiogramslaboratory reports that show which antibiotics are effective against different bacteriawhich shape procurement and treatment decisions.

Kyabayinze said the study revealed an important opportunity to improve outcomes. While widely used drugs like azithromycin and ciprofloxacin showed high resistance, older and cheaper medicines such as co-trimoxazole still had very low resistance.

"So we can roll out the cheaper and more friendly drugs, especially in regions like Karamoja," he said.

More information Ronald Mpagi et al, Prevalence and antibiotic resistance characteristics of non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica serotypes isolated from food and water consumed by children under five years in Karamoja sub-region of Uganda, Food Safety and Risk (2025). DOI: 10.1186/s40550-025-00117-x

Provided by SciDev.Net
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 new study has now evaluated the positive impacts of Specific Health Checkups and Specific Health Guidance standardization particularly among the self-employed and unemployed populations. The study highlights the improvements in health outcomes and lifestyle behaviors among these populations, and also the economic viability of expanding municipal resources for scaling up such health checkup programs. Credit: Dr. Masato Oikawa from Waseda University, Japan

Rapidly aging populations and rising cases of lifestyle-related diseases (LRDs), like diabetes and hypertension, are driving significant financial strain on government budgets. While regular health checkups under a standardized government program can be a solution, it is not well understood how these initiatives benefit different socioeconomic sections of society and their economic feasibility.

Most studies have documented how health checkup programs affect salaried or employed workers, examining the program's role in informing individuals about their health status and risks. However, there is limited research on self-employed and unemployed populations, even though these socioeconomic communities are at a greater risk of developing LRDs.

To mitigate this research gap, Assistant Professor Masato Oikawa from the Faculty of Education and Integrated Arts and Sciences, Waseda University, Japan, evaluated the effects of health screening programs on health outcomes, municipal health care expenditure, and behaviors among self-employed and unemployed individuals.

Dr. Oikawa along with Mr. Takamasa Otake from University of Pennsylvania, United States, Dr. Toshihide Awatani from Kochi Medical School, Japan, Dr. Haruko Noguchi and Dr. Akira Kawamura from Waseda University, used the Specific Health Checkups and Specific Health Guidance (SHC-SHG), implemented by the Japanese government in 2008, as the basis of their assessment.

"We used dosing difference-in-differences estimation and subgroup analysis to explore the effects of increasing municipal expenditure under the SHC-SHG policy standardization on health outcomes and behaviors among the self-employed and unemployed individuals. Additionally, we did a back-of-the-envelope calculation to estimate the cost-effectiveness of this increase in municipal funds for health checkup programs," explains Dr. Oikawa. Their study was published in the Journal of Health Economics on September 1, 2025

The assessments revealed that the SHC-SHG program led to a 16% reduction in the number of self-employed and unemployed people diagnosed with LRDs, with more noticeable effects on individuals with multiple diagnoses than those with a single diagnosis. This suggests that the program is effective in reducing the number of patients with severe conditions, in addition to lowering the overall prevalence of LRD cases.

However, the resultant health improvements were only seen among self-employed individuals and homeowners, not among unemployed people and renters. Despite this, there were significant good behavioral changes among both self-employed and unemployed people, including a 50% increase in smoking cessation rates, 91% reduction in alcohol consumption, and 163.5% increase in people walking more than 8,000 steps daily.

Furthermore, the increase in municipal health checkup funds was found to be cost-effective, with the overall reduction in medical expenses outweighing the increase in municipal costs by approximately nine times (USD 216.4 million reduction versus USD 23.7 million increase). This suggests that preventive health services and checkups are crucial for improving public health outcomes for lower socioeconomic populationswho face higher risks of LRDsand thereby mitigating the future financial burden on municipalities.

These findings have clear and immediate applications for policymakers in Japan and other countries facing similar demographic and public health challenges. Policymakers should design and prioritize preventive health care programs, particularly for socioeconomically vulnerable populations, to improve public health and reduce long-term costs. Moreover, these programs must be tailored to different socioeconomic groups, addressing the barriers specific to unemployed individuals, such as the perceived high cost of checkups or a lack of understanding about the asymptomatic nature of LRDs.

"Our research demonstrates the economic value of standardized health checkups for improving a country's overall resilience to public health crises and also sheds light on areas where such programs can be upgraded and made more equitable for everyone. We believe that addressing the health needs of all socioeconomic populations is crucial for the sustainability of the social security system," concludes Dr. Oikawa.

More information Masato Oikawa et al, Impacts of health checkup programs standardization on working-age self-employed and unemployed: Insights from Japan's local government response to national policy, Journal of Health Economics (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2025.103046 Journal information: Journal of Health Economics
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 international study led by Mayo Clinic researchers has identified a genetic factor that may explain why some patients with colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver experience more severe liver damage after chemotherapy.

For patients with colorectal liver metastases, surgery offers the best chance of long-term survival. To improve outcomes, many patients receive chemotherapy before surgery. While this approach can shrink tumors to make them more operable, one potential side effect is injury to the liver. Until now, it hasn't been clear why certain patients' livers are more prone to chemotherapy-associated liver injury.

"This is the first study to clearly show that a genetic predisposition plays a significant role in how the liver tolerates chemotherapy," says Patrick Starlinger, M.D., Ph.D., a Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center hepatobiliary and pancreas surgeon and senior author of the study published in eBioMedicine.

In this study, the researchers reviewed 551 patients who had chemotherapy followed by surgery to remove the tumor. They looked at liver health tests to see how chemotherapy affected liver function and genetic markers that are already linked to liver disease in other settings.

They found that a specific gene variant in the PNPLA3 gene, which is known to affect fat metabolism in the liver, was strongly linked to liver injury after chemotherapy. Patients with two copies of this variant were especially vulnerable, and all of them developed signs of significant liver injury after chemotherapy.

Genetic differences help explain global variation

According to Dr. Starlinger, the PNPLA3 variant is common worldwide, but its prevalence differs by population. For example, in Japan, the mutation is present in more than 41% of the population. It's found in more than 71% among people of Peruvian descent, but fewer than 10% of people in some European populations have it.

Because the genetic variation is more common in certain groups, such as people of Asian or Latin American descent, this may help explain why previous studies in different countries have reported conflicting results about the benefits of giving chemotherapy before and/or after surgery when treating colorectal liver metastases.

Personalizing care to maximize benefit, minimize risk

The findings suggest that a blood test to check for the PNPLA3 variant, along with monitoring liver health, could help doctors identify patients at higher risk for liver damage from chemotherapy.

"These findings offer us insight into how we can adjust treatment strategies to best manage the care for patients diagnosed with colorectal liver metastases, while potentially avoiding a negative side effect of chemotherapy," says Dr. Starlinger. "Chemotherapy may still be an appropriate treatment option, and with this information, we can personalize treatment for each patientfor example, tailoring chemotherapy or allowing more time for the liver to recover before surgery."

More information Benedikt Rumpf et al, PNPLA3 polymorphism worsens chemotherapy associated liver injury and affects overall survival in colorectal cancer patients with liver metastasis undergoing hepatic resection, eBioMedicine (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2025.105928 Journal information: EBioMedicine
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 common but often undiagnosed genetic condition may be causing delays in type 2 diabetes diagnoses and increasing the risk of serious complications for thousands of Black and South Asian men in the UKand potentially millions worldwide.

A new study conducted by the University of Exeter, in collaboration with Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), found around one in seven Black and one in 63 South Asian men in the UK carry a genetic variant known as G6PD deficiency. Men with G6PD deficiency are, on average, diagnosed with type 2 diabetes four years later than those without the gene variant. But despite this, fewer than one in 50 have been diagnosed with the condition.

The paper, "Undiagnosed G6PD deficiency in Black and Asian individuals is prevalent and contributes to health inequalities in type 2 diabetes diagnosis and complications" is published in Diabetes Care.

G6PD deficiency does not cause diabetes, but it makes the widely used HbA1c blood testwhich diagnoses and monitors diabetesappear artificially low. This can mislead doctors and patients, resulting in delayed diabetes diagnosis and treatment.

Professor Ines Barroso from the University of Exeter said, "Our findings highlight the urgent need for changes to testing practices to tackle health inequalities. Doctors and health policy makers need to be aware that the HbA1c test may not be accurate for people with G6PD deficiency and routine G6PD screening could help identify those at risk. Addressing this issue is not only crucial for medicine, but for health equity."

G6PD deficiency is a genetic condition that affects more than 400 million people worldwide, and is especially prevalent among those with African, Asian, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean backgrounds.

It is more common in men and usually goes undetected because it rarely causes symptoms. The World Health Organization recommends routine screening for G6PD deficiency in populations where it is common, but this is not widely implemented in the UK or many other countries.

The study found men with G6PD deficiency are at a 37% higher risk of developing diabetes-related microvascular complications, such as eye, kidney, and nerve damage, compared to other men with diabetes.

The HbA1c blood test is the international standard for managing type 2 diabetes and is used in 136 countries worldwide to diagnose diabetes, including being the routine test for diagnosis in the UK. However, for people with G6PD deficiency, this test may underestimate their blood sugar levels, causing significant medical delays and increasing their risk of serious complications.

Dr. Veline L'Esperance, a GP and Senior Clinical Research Fellow at QMUL, said, "These findings are deeply concerning because they show how a widely used diagnostic tool may be failing communities that are already disproportionately affected by type 2 diabetes. Too many people are being left undiagnosed until it is too late to prevent serious complications.

"We need greater awareness among health care professionals and stronger policies to ensure equitable screening and diagnosis. That is why we are launching 'Black Health Legacy,' which aims to be the largest health research program focused on tackling diseases that disproportionately affect people from Black backgrounds. This is about saving lives and tackling long-standing inequalities in our health care system."

Professor Faye Ruddock, Chair of the Caribbean and African Health Network, said, "Black communities in the UK experience health inequalities, particularly relating to type 2 diabetes. Stigma, language, and cultural differences can contribute to delayed diagnosis, while reduced physical health checks and screening opportunities in predominantly Black communities also contribute to this disparity.

"This study highlights important evidence that must be used to tackle these health inequalities and improve outcomes for Black communities. Preventative measures are now needed to ensure that Black people, especially men, are not underdiagnosed or diagnosed too late."

Anna Morris, Assistant Director of Research and Co-lead for Tackling Inequities at Diabetes UK, said, "Black and South Asian people in the UK are twice as likely to be living with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes than white people and face worse health outcomes once diagnosed. These disparities are unacceptable and must be addressed to ensure equitable diabetes care for all.

"If our most common test to diagnose and monitor type 2 diabetes isn't accurate for people of all ethnicities, it could seriously compound these problems and leave people without the care they deserve. Without the reliable tools they need, health care professionals risk missing or misdiagnosing type 2 diabetes."

Dr. Esther Mukuka, Director of Research Inclusion at the NIHR, said, "At NIHR, we are committed to ensuring research drives fairer health care for all. Addressing the impact of G6PD deficiency on diabetes testing is an important step toward reducing inequalities and making sure that everyone, regardless of background, benefits equally from medical advances."

The findings are based on genetic and health data from over half a million people in UK Biobank and Genes & Health studies. The research was conducted by a multidisciplinary team of clinicians and scientists, with the support of community partners, who linked the genetic data from each participant to their medical information.

By doing this, the team found men with the G6PD deficiency genetic variant were diagnosed at an older age compared to those without the condition. In addition, those with G6PD deficiency and diabetes also had more diabetes-related complications. Researchers say further studies in more diverse populations are now needed to confirm these findings globally.

More information Undiagnosed G6PD deficiency in Black and Asian individuals is prevalent and contributes to health inequalities in type 2 diabetes diagnosis and complications, Diabetes Care (2025). DOI: 10.2337/dc25-0556 Journal information: Diabetes Care
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:

Estimated prevalence and concentration of wood fuel heat sources by Lower Super Output Area (LSOA), England and Wales. A. Top: Estimated prevalence of wood burners by LSOA, England and Wales. Bottom: Estimated prevalence of wood burners by LSOA, London. Local authorities of Richmond upon Thames, Kingston upon Thames, and Bromley highlighted in blue. B. Top: Estimated concentration of wood burners per km2 by LSOA, England and Wales. Bottom: Estimated concentration of wood burners per km2 by LSOA, London. Credit: Laura Horsfall/ERS

Using a wood-burning stove at home can lead to a decline in lung function, according to research presented at the European Respiratory Society Congress in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

The study was presented by Dr. Laura Horsfall, Principal Research Fellow from the Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, UK.

The use of solid fuel for domestic heating has increased in Europe due to the marketing of wood as renewable energy and high fossil fuel prices.

In the UK, the proportion of harmful PM 2.5 air pollution (fine particulate matter) caused by domestic solid fuel is now 20% of the total, compared with 4% for road vehicle exhaust emissions. Annual emissions, specifically from domestic wood burning, almost doubled from 3,200 metric tons in 2009 to 6,000 metric tons in 2023.

Dr. Horsfall told the Congress, "We know wood burning at home emits harmful air pollution both indoors and outdoors, including known carcinogens. Despite this, air pollution from this source has approximately doubled in the UK since 2009 as more people install and use wood stoves. However, the link with health outcomes in high-income countries is not well understood and residential areas with high emissions are hard to identify using existing air quality monitoring networks."

Building on a previous study that mapped the use of solid fuel burning stoves across the UK, the researchers used data from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSA) to study the connection between self-reported solid fuel use at home in England and lung function decline.

They assessed patients' lung function according to a measure called FEV, which quantifies the amount of air a person can forcefully exhale in the first second of a breath. Lower FEV values are associated with increased risk of respiratory complications and poorer health outcomes, making FEV a key objective marker in monitoring diseases like COPD and asthma.

Studying health impacts is challenging because wood-burning households tend to be wealthier and healthier overall.

Dr. Horsfall explained, "We found that people using solid fuel had lower rates of smoking and lung disease, which can mask the true effects of solid fuel exposure.

"However, using repeated lung function measurements over an eight-year period, we found that lung function declined faster among solid fuel users compared to non-users, even after adjusting for socioeconomic and housing factors. This suggests an important link between solid fuel use and respiratory decline, despite the healthier baseline of the exposed group.

"Our study suggests that high levels of particulate matter from stoves damage respiratory tissues, causing inflammation in a similar way to cigarette smoke," she added.

Dr. Horsfall and her team now plan to investigate whether people living in or near areas with a high concentration of wood stoves, such as the wealthier parts of London, also show increased rates of respiratory issues, such as inhaler prescriptions and hospital visits for lung conditions.

Professor Ane Johannessen, Head of the European Respiratory Society's expert group on epidemiology and environment, based at the University of Bergen, Norway, who was not involved in the research, said, "In Europe, we are seeing a growing trend for using wood-burning stoves at home. Research in other parts of the world, where traditional wood burning is used in the home, has shown that this is harmful and causes asthma, COPD and lung cancer.

"These findings suggest that wood burners used in European homes may have similar effects and should be considered a potential environmental risk factor when assessing respiratory health, especially in patients with unexplained lung function decline or chronic respiratory symptoms.

"Although new eco-design European wood burners are generally considered cleaner and safer than more traditional wood stoves, many European homes still employ older wood burners, and even the newer stoves may not be entirely risk-free.

"This study underscores the need for clearer public health guidance and regulation around domestic wood burning. People should be aware that these stoves could be harming them and their families, and doctors should be asking their patients about whether they are using stoves at home."

More information Abstract no: PA5850 "The rising threat of domestic wood burning to Europe's respiratory health: A case study using longitudinal data from England and Wales," by Laura Horsfall et al. Presented in session, "Air pollution, climate change and environmental impact of respiratory therapies" at 12.3014.00 CEST on Tuesday 30 September 2025. k4.ersnet.org/prod/v2/Front/Pr  ?e=685&session=19289

Key medical concepts Pulmonary function Asthma COPD

Provided by European Respiratory Society
Russian Metropolitan Speaks At the Assyrian Church of the East Conference

On September 28, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, participated in the plenary session of the International Conference of the Assyrian Church of the East marking the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. The event is being held at the Catholic University of Erbil in the Kurdish Autonomous Region of Iraq. The forum is chaired by the Primate of the Assyrian Church of the East, His Holiness Catholicos-Patriarch Mar Awa III, with Bishop Mar Elia Isaac of Baghdad serving as Chairman of the Organizing Committee.

Participants in the Conference include Metropolitan Ghattas of Baghdad and Kuwait (Antiochian Orthodox Church); Archbishop Bashar Warda, head of the Erbil Eparchy of the Chaldean Catholic Church; Archbishop Nicodemus Daoud Sharaf, head of the Mosul, Kirkuk and Kurdistan Eparchy of the Syriac Orthodox Church; Archbishop Nathanael Nizar Semaan of Adiabene, head of the parishes of the Syriac Catholic Church in the Kurdistan Region; hierarchs of the Assyrian Church of the East and other Christian denominations of Iraq; Rev. Charles Luanga Ssuna, Charge d'Affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature in Baghdad; Rev. Hyacinthe Destivelle, staff member of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity of the Holy See; as well as church scholars, biblical scholars, historians and theologians from different countries.

Addressing the gathering, Metropolitan Anthony conveyed greetings to the participants on behalf of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus'. The hierarch recalled that "more than 20 years ago the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, then serving as Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations, visited Iraq, including its northern regions. His acquaintance with this biblical land left a profound impression and a grateful memory in the heart of His Holiness."

The metropolitan went on to note that the territory of ancient Mesopotamia is "a land which preserves the memory of the patriarchs and prophets of the Old Testament who lived here, as well as of the holy apostles who proclaimed the Gospel at the dawn of the Christian era -- among them the apostles Thomas, Thaddeus and Mari, venerated as enlighteners of the East. The Russian Orthodox Church has for centuries maintained fraternal and very close relations with the traditional Christian communities of the Middle East. We are united by a shared religious and cultural heritage and fidelity to the one apostolic tradition."

In this context, Metropolitan Anthony emphasized, "the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, which we commemorate today, holds special significance for all of us. This event remains a starting point for the consolidation of the entire Christian world, for the formation of the most important doctrinal tenets of the faith and of theology as a whole. The conciliar experience of correctly interpreting foundational theological terms and its approach to resolving disputes in the spirit of sincere, common pursuit of right decisions remain ever relevant. Finally, the participants of that Council provided a remarkable example of Christian unity, being inspired by the words of the Apostle Paul that there is one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all (Eph. 4:6)."

At the same time, Metropolitan observed, "in later times we all greatly lacked this unity. Christians suffered much, including due to their divisions. This was reflected all too vividly in the fate of Middle Eastern Christians. It also applies to the very recent past, of which we have all been witnesses. In recent years many churches, monasteries and even entire cities were destroyed by terrorists. Hundreds of thousands of people were left homeless and driven from their native lands; tens of thousands met a martyr's death. Many shrines and historical monuments remain destroyed and desecrated."

Yet, Metropolitan Anthony reminded the audience, "the supreme truth testifies unceasingly that God is not mocked (Gal. 6:7). A convincing confirmation of this is the new revival of faith and Christian life -- including here, in the northern regions of Iraq."

Nevertheless, he added, "the modern world, which increasingly walks in darkness (John 12:35), poses common challenges to us. Our Churches cannot remain silent, aware of our responsibility not only for the future of our own flock, but for human civilization as a whole. We are deeply concerned about the rapid growth of secular processes in contemporary society, including the rejection of moral traditions. Especially urgent today is the task of jointly defending the Christian understanding of morality, family, the protection of the environment, and many other immutable values given by God. A proper response to these challenges is impossible without entrusting ourselves to God, for Holy Scripture testifies that 'the fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he that wins souls is wise' (Prov. 11:30)."

Metropolitan Anthony expressed his conviction that "the study of the legacy of the First Ecumenical Council and its participants -- the Holy Fathers of the Church -- can help us rightly understand the causes of many past tragedies and prevent their recurrence in the future."

In conclusion, Metropolitan expressed his hope that the conference would serve this purpose, wishing God's help and fruitful work to all its participants.
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: Anna Tarazevich from Pexels

A new phase III clinical trial finds that intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and proton beam therapy resulted in similar quality-of-life outcomes and low rates of side effects for people with locally advanced oropharyngeal cancer. The TORPEdO trial, a randomized study conducted across the United Kingdom, found no meaningful differences between the treatments in patient-reported quality of life, swallowing function or feeding tube dependence at one year.

Both advanced radiation approaches resulted in excellent tumor control and notably fewer long-term side effects than expected. Initial results of the trial will be presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting held September 27October 1 in San Francisco.

"We found no evidence of a difference in late patient-reported physical side effects or quality of life between proton beam therapy and IMRT, with contemporary IMRT performing better than we anticipated," said David Thomson, MD, chief investigator on the trial and a consultant clinical oncologist at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester, England. "Our results confirm that high quality IMRT is a very good treatment for this disease."

Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is a head and neck cancer affecting the middle part of the throat. Its incidence is rising in many countries due to increasing human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, a primary driver of the disease. It is the most common HPV-related cancer in men and the second most common in women.

Standard treatment for locally advanced OPSCC involves IMRT combined with chemotherapy, and while this treatment is highly effective at curing and controlling cancer, it can also cause severe side effects such as difficulty with swallowing that may require the use of a feeding tube.

IMRT is an advanced photon-based technique that shapes and modulates radiation beams to precisely target tumors. Photon beams effectively eliminate cancer tumors but scatter bits of radiation along the way that can lead to side effects in the area treated.

Proton therapy, a newer approach, uses proton beams that deposit less radiation along their path to the tumor, potentially sparing surrounding healthy tissue and resulting in possibly fewer side effects. This type of radiation treatment requires specialized facilities and training, however, and is thus less widely available and substantially more expensive.

"There's been interest in the use of proton beam therapy specifically for head and neck cancers because of the intricate nature of treating this area, with nearby organs for chewing, swallowing, speech, hearing and other important functions. Trying to reduce the radiation dose to these organs is important because it may result in fewer side effects and improved functioning," Dr. Thomson said.

For the TORPEdO (TOxicity Reduction using Proton bEam therapy for Oropharyngeal cancer) trial, 205 patients with locally advanced OPSCC were randomly assigned 2:1 to receive either intensity-modulated proton therapy (n=136) or IMRT (n=69) with concurrent cisplatin chemotherapy at centers across the UK between 2020 and 2023. The median age was 57.1, most patients were male (79.5%) and most had fewer than 10 pack-years of smoking history (67.8%).

The trial's co-primary endpoints combined clinical measures and patient-reported outcomes: clinicians assessed feeding tube use and severe weight loss (20% from baseline), while patients were asked to self-report side effects and quality of life via questionnaires at baseline and multiple timepoints after treatment.

One year after treatment, both groups showed very low rates of patients who were dependent on a feeding tube (1.7% each). Severe weight loss occurred more frequently in the proton arm (18.2%) compared with IMRT (5.7%). The trial's design specified that the clinical endpoint would be a composite of these measures, and no statistically significant difference was observed between the treatment arms (p=0.08).

These findings offer additional context alongside a phase III trial reported in 2024 that also compared proton therapy and IMRT for locally advanced OPSCC. That study found proton therapy reduced feeding tube dependence at the conclusion of treatment when compared to IMRT. This report of the TORPEdO trial focuses on dependence at one year.

For patient-reported outcomes, no differences were observed between the proton and IMRT arms one year after treatment on a composite functional index for saliva, taste, chewing, swallowing, speech and appearance (University of Washington Quality of Life: 78.3 for protons vs. 77.1 for IMRT) nor on a measure specifically for swallowing function (MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory: 79.5 vs. 79.7, respectively).

"IMRT performed better than expected based on historical data involving patient reported outcomes, and long-term feeding tube dependence was much lower than reported in previous trials," said Dr. Thomson. "It's an encouraging finding that patients with this type of cancer can receive excellent care at their local treatment centers with this advanced technology."

Survival rates were similarly high for both groups. At a median follow-up of 28.3 months, two-year freedom from cancer returning at or near the original tumor site was 94.3% for protons and 96.8% for IMRT, with overall survival rates of 94.6% for protons and 95.3% for IMRT.

Dosimetric analyses showed that proton therapy was able to lower radiation exposure to nearby swallowing and salivary gland structures, Dr. Thomson said, but "these reduced doses to healthy structures did not translate into measurable differences in patient-reported outcomes, function or quality of life." He said the dosimetric effect "seems to be necessary but not sufficient" for meaningful patient benefit in OPSCC.

In addition to focusing on patient-reported, clinically relevant outcomes, Dr. Thomson said a strength of the TORPEdO trial was its rigorous quality assurance. Treatment planning and delivery in both arms met strict standards overseen by the UK's National Radiotherapy Trials Quality Assurance Group. "We wanted to be confident that both arms delivered the highest-quality care to ensure a valid comparison between these advanced techniques."
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

Deaths due to illicit ketamine use have increased 20-fold since 2015but these deaths are increasingly occurring in complex polydrug settings, raising doubts over whether single-substance drug policies can reduce harms.

Analysis by King's College London, with the University of Hertfordshire and Manchester Metropolitan University, of coroner's reports in England, Wales and Northern Ireland between 1999 and 2024 found there were 696 deaths with detections of illicit ketamine between 1999 and 2024. It represents the most detailed assessment to date of ketamine-related deaths in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

The study, "Deaths following illicit ketamine use in England, Wales and Northern Ireland 19992024: An update report to inform the reclassification debate," has been published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology.

Ketamine is a Class B anesthetic drug that has hallucinogenic effects. Its cheap costaround 1530 for a gram compared to 80 for cocainecould be driving increased consumption, say researchers.

The number of people using ketamine in England and Wales has continued to rise, with an estimated 299,000 people aged 1659 reporting illicit ketamine use in 2024. The drug has been implicated in the deaths of celebrities, including Friends actor Matthew Perry, and Elon Musk is reported to use ketamine for his moods.

While annual deaths with post-mortem detections of illicit ketamine have risen over the past decade, the proportion of deaths where ketamine was the sole or primary cause has fallen, reflecting a shift towards increasingly risky patterns of polydrug use. Opioids, cocaine, benzodiazepines, and gabapentinoids were frequently co-implicated in deaths, with the average number of substances involved in each case also rising.

The study also identified a demographic shift. While harms of ketamine use among young peoplesuch as bladder injury and dependenceremain a serious concern, deaths are increasingly occurring among older, socioeconomically disadvantaged, and dependent drug users, rather than being confined to younger recreational populations.

Dr. Caroline Copeland, lead author of the study from King's College London and the Director of the National Program on Substance Use Mortality said, "We are seeing more ketamine-related deaths, but these deaths rarely involve ketamine alone. They are increasingly part of complex polydrug use patterns, often among people facing social disadvantage and entrenched drug dependence. This means single-drug policies, such as reclassification, are unlikely to tackle the real drivers of harm."

The study also shows 85% of the deaths between 2020 and 2024 were men. Employment status was reported for 77% of the deaths between 2020 and 2024, with 42% employed, 42% unemployed and 11% students. The demographic profile of deaths shifted towards greater deprivation from 2020 to 2024. Death was deemed accidental in 88.9% of cases with 5.9% determined as suicidal.

The authors call for a more comprehensive response to address ketamine-related harms, including: expanded drug checking services and overdose prevention schemes, better integration of ketamine users into treatment pathways, and targeted education on the risks of polydrug use.

Ketamine can be prescribed medically as a sedative and is commonly used on animals. But when ketamine is misused, it can cause serious and sometimes irrevocable damage to the bladder. Mixing ketaminea dissociativewith depressant drugs like opioids and benzodiazepines makes it harder to judge the effect each drug is having, which can result in people taking more of each drug than intended.

Dr. Caroline Copeland added, "Illicit ketamine use has moved beyond the recreational setting. To reduce deaths, we need harm reduction, treatment, and social support strategies that reflect the realities of polydrug usenot just legislative changes focused on one substance."

More information Deaths following illicit ketamine use in England, Wales and Northern Ireland 19992024: An update report to inform the reclassification debate, Journal of Psychopharmacology (2025). journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/02698811251373058 Journal information: Journal of Psychopharmacology

Key medical concepts Opioid Benzodiazepine
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:

Graphical Abstract. Credit: Alcohol, Clinical and Experimental Research (2025). DOI: 10.1111/acer.70145

Emergency departments may be missing opportunities to identify and treat people for problem alcohol use. A new study published in Alcohol, Clinical and Experimental Research found that less than 1% of emergency department patients who screened positive for high-risk drinking received a prescription for a medication to treat the disorder. More than half of those who did receive a prescription filled it, suggesting that increasing awareness and education among emergency department clinicians may be an effective avenue for improving treatment for people with high-risk drinking.

Researchers examined electronic health records of emergency room visits at 12 hospitals in a large health system from 2022 through 2024. They identified fifty thousand visits where a patient who was screened positive for hazardous drinking was treated and discharged from the emergency department. In only one-half of 1% of cases, the patient was prescribed naltrexone. This medication has been shown to reduce cravings for alcohol and help individuals engage in treatment and maintain recovery.

Those who did receive a prescription were more likely to be younger, male, and non-Hispanic, more socially vulnerable, and with more severe alcohol misuse. Naltrexone was more likely to be prescribed to people who went to the emergency department specifically for an alcohol-related issue or received a discharge diagnosis of alcohol withdrawal. Academic hospital emergency department visits were more likely to result in a naltrexone prescription compared to community or other non-academic hospitals. The individual's insurance type and history of mental illness did not appear to influence the likelihood of receiving a prescription.

The researchers note that screening emergency department patients for alcohol use disorder is an important first step, which should be followed by a brief intervention to assess readiness for and encourage treatment, along with referrals to ongoing behavioral health care to support recovery.

While even brief interventions take time, alcohol misuse is a growing burden on the health care system, with emergency department visits for alcohol-related concerns increasing almost 50% in the last ten years. People who visit the emergency department are at especially high risk, with nearly 1 in 10 dying within one year of their first alcohol-related visit, positioning emergency departments as a critical, and sometimes only, opportunity for timely intervention.

More information Jacob A. Lebin et al, Predictors of naltrexone prescribing for alcohol use disorder from the emergency department, Alcohol, Clinical and Experimental Research (2025). DOI: 10.1111/acer.70145
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

A breakthrough study at the University of Queensland has discovered a hidden dangerous feature of the black mamba, one of the most venomous snakes in the world.

Professor Bryan Fry from UQ's School of the Environment said the study revealed the venoms of three species of mamba were far more neurologically complex than previously thought, explaining why antivenoms were sometimes ineffective. This research was published in Toxins.

"The black mamba, western green mamba and Jamesons mamba snakes aren't just using one form of chemical weapon, they're launching a coordinated attack at two different points in the nervous system," Professor Fry said.

"If you're bitten by 3 out of 4 mamba species, you will experience flaccid or limp paralysis caused by postsynaptic neurotoxicity.

"Current antivenoms can treat the flaccid paralysis but this study found the venoms of these three species are then able to attack another part of the nervous system causing spastic paralysis by presynaptic toxicity.

"We previously thought the fourth species of mamba, the eastern green mamba, was the only one capable of causing spastic paralysis.

"This finding resolves a long-standing clinical mystery of why some patients bitten by mambas seem to initially improve with antivenom and regain muscle tone and movement only to start having painful, uncontrolled spasms.

"The venom first blocks nerve signals from reaching the muscles, but after the antivenom is administered, it then overstimulates the muscles.

"It's like treating one disease and suddenly revealing another."

Mamba (Dendroaspis species) snake bites are a significant threat in sub-Saharan Africa, accounting for 30,000 deaths annually.

Ph.D. candidate Lee Jones, who conducted the experimental work on the mamba venoms, said the research proved new antivenoms were critical to saving lives.

"We set out to understand different venom potencies between mamba species," Jones said.

"We expected to see clear flaccid paralysis inducing post synaptic effects, and effective neutralization by antivenom.

"What we were not expecting to find was the antivenom unmasking the other half of the venom effects on presynaptic receptors.

"We also found the venom function of the mambas was different depending on their geographic location, particularly within populations of the black mamba from Kenya and South Africa.

"This further complicates treatment strategies across regions because the antivenoms are not developed to counteract the intricacies of the different venoms."

Professor Fry said specialized antivenoms could be developed following this study to increase efficacy rates.

"This isn't just an academic curiosity, it's a direct call to clinicians and antivenom manufacturers," Professor Fry said.

"By identifying the limitations of current antivenoms and understanding the full range of venom activity, we can directly inform evidence-based snakebite care.

"This kind of translational venom research can help doctors make better decisions in real time and ultimately saves lives."

More information Lee Jones et al, Neurotoxic Sleight of Fang: Differential Antivenom Efficacy Against Mamba (Dendroaspis spp.) Venom Spastic-Paralysis Presynaptic/Synaptic vs. Flaccid-Paralysis Postsynaptic Effects, Toxins (2025). DOI: 10.3390/toxins17100481
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

QIMR Berghofer has unveiled the next-generation of its world-leading melanoma risk prediction calculator to better help Australians take action against one of the country's most deadly, costly, and common cancers that claims more lives each year than the national road toll.

Developed using a decade of data from more than 40,000 participants in the landmark QSkin Study, the online tool first launched seven years ago has undergone a major upgrade to now include 16 self-reported factors, such as age, skin type, hair color and sunspot history.

The free online tool is available for use by the public as well as health care providers. Developed in collaboration with the QUT VISER team, it even accounts for regional differences in melanoma risk due to Australia's diverse UV exposure levels.

The extensive statistical analysis and evidence that underpins the accuracy and effectiveness of the next-generation risk calculator is detailed in a scientific paper that has been published in the journal JAMA Dermatology.

QIMR Berghofer Professor David Whiteman AM, lead researcher and expert advisor to the roadmap for a national targeted screening program for skin cancer, said the new calculator allows every one of us to better understand and act on melanoma riskwhether at home, in a doctor's office, or as part of community screening programs.

"Early identification of people who are high-risk can prompt more regular skin checks and targeted follow-up, while sparing lower-risk people from unnecessary screening or procedures. This tool is our best approach yet to allow our medical teams to focus on the people and areas of greatest need."

The urgency around better risk assessment is due to the vast and growing financial toll on Australia's health care system. QIMR Berghofer health economists have estimated the direct costs of treating melanoma via the Australian health system is more than $272 million per year and growing.*

Professor Whiteman says the risk calculator may help save lives, and potentially save money. "Improving how we target and treat melanoma isn't just critical for people with melanoma; it's also an important economic necessity. By helping to triage patients more effectively, this tool supports smarter use of health care dollars and could go some way to easing the burden on our health care system."

Sunshine Coast woman Nadine Wilson, who was diagnosed with early-stage melanoma, is encouraging every Australian to hop online and assess their own risk. "It's a really easy way to know your personal risk and take easy steps to protect yourself, and potentially limit the chance of having surgery, or undergoing treatment. Even if you've already had a skin cancer, it's worth checking your risk moving forward."

Tools such as the QIMR Berghofer Melanoma Risk calculator are key resources in the current discussions on whether Australia needs a targeted national melanoma screening program, aligning with control strategies for other common cancers like cervical, breast, bowel and lung cancer.

Future research plans include further upgrades to incorporate genetic data to boost prediction accuracy even further.

The researchers say that the risk calculator is not intended to replace medical advice, rather it is a guide to inform people about their individual risk so they can discuss this with their doctor.

More information David C. Whiteman et al, A Risk Prediction Tool for Invasive Melanoma, JAMA Dermatology (2025). DOI: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2025.3028 Journal information: JAMA Dermatology

Key medical concepts Melanoma
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:

PA-915 did not impair locomotor activity, cognitive function, conditioned place preference, or prepulse inhibition nor induce the head-twitch response (HTR) in normal mice. Credit: Shintani et al.

Depression and anxiety disorders are among the most widespread mental health disorders, with estimates suggesting that they affect around 264 million and 284 million people worldwide, respectively. Depression is a mood disorder characterized by persistent sadness and a loss of interest in everyday activities, while anxiety disorders are marked by high levels of nervousness, worry and fear, either in specific situations or generalized.

Today, there are several treatment options for both depression and anxiety disorders, including both pharmacological drugs and specific types of psychotherapy. Yet available therapeutic strategies are not effective for all affected individuals; thus, identifying alternative treatments could be highly advantageous.

Researchers at the University of Osaka, Kobe University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine and other institutes have recently developed a new molecule called PA-915, which could hold some promise for the treatment of depression, anxiety and stress-related disorders. In a paper published in Molecular Psychiatry, they showed that the molecule suppressed both anxiety-like and depression-like behaviors in mice who were placed under high levels of stress.

"Stress-related disorders, such as depression and anxiety, have been one of the most important medical issues," wrote Yusuke Shintani, Atsuko Hayata-Takano and their colleagues in their paper. "Accumulating evidence suggests that the activation of the pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide and its receptor PAC1 are involved in the stress axis and the development of stress-related disorders. We recently developed PA-915, a small-molecule, non-peptide, high-affinity PAC1 antagonist, and demonstrated that it significantly suppresses anxiety-like behavior in acute stress-induced mice."

The primary objective of the recent study by Shintani, Hayata-Takano and their colleagues was to better understand how the intake of PA-915, a molecule that they developed as part of their earlier research, affected the behavior of mice with tendencies that mirrored those observed in human patients diagnosed with depression. PA-915 is a drug that blocks PAC1 receptors, which are known to play a role in stress responses and anxiety.

The researchers significantly raised the stress levels of mice employing a combination of strategies. These included repeatedly exposing the mice to an aggressive and dominant mouse, administering corticosterone (the main stress hormone in rodents) and isolating them from other mice.

"PA-915 ameliorated the increased immobility time in the forced swim test in these stress-induced mice," wrote Shintani, Hayata-Takano and their colleagues. "In repeated social defeat stress mice, PA-915 improved anxiety-like and depression-like behaviors and cognitive dysfunction, as assessed by the light-dark, open field, elevated plus maze, sucrose preference, forced swim, Y-maze, and novel object recognition tests. In addition, we evaluated the usefulness of PA-915 as an antidepressant and compared it with ketamine and fluoxetine."

Interestingly, the researchers found that the PA-915 molecule reduced depression-like and anxiety-like behaviors in the chronically stressed mice. The mice were found to swim more vigorously in the forced swim test, while also performing better in maze navigation and object recognition tasks.

The molecule's antidepressant effects were also found to be long-lasting, resembling the effects previously reported with ketamine. Moreover, intake of the molecule did not appear to cause common side effects of some antidepressant or anxiolytic medications, such as hyperactivity, dependency or cognitive deficits.

"In the sucrose preference test, an antidepressant-like effect was observed for 8 weeks in mice that received a single dose of PA-915, which was a similar effect observed with ketamine," wrote the authors.

In non-stressed control mice, PA-915 did not induce behavioral abnormalities, such as hyperlocomotion, cognitive dysfunction, or dependency. The present results show that PA-915 improves anxiety-like behaviors and cognitive impairment and exerts rapid and long-lasting antidepressant effects in chronic stress-induced mouse models of anxiety and depression, proposing a promising treatment option for stress-related disorders."

Overall, the results of this recent study suggest that blocking PAC1 receptors is a promising pathway for treating depression and anxiety disorders. In the future, the molecule designed by the researchers could be improved further and tested on other animal models of stress-related disorders. If it proves safe and effective, it could then be assessed in human clinical trials, which could lead to its commercialization and use in health care settings.

Written for you by our author Ingrid Fadellithis article is the result of careful human work. We rely on readers like you to keep independent science journalism alive. If this reporting matters to you, please consider a donation (especially monthly). You'll get an ad-free account as a thank-you.

More information Yusuke Shintani et al, Rapid and long-lasting antidepressant-like effects of the pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide receptor antagonist PA-915 in chronic stress mouse models, Molecular Psychiatry (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41380-025-03209-4. Journal information: Molecular Psychiatry

 2025 Science X Network
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Antoni Shkraba Studio from Pexels

Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) account for more than one in five patients who have been in Ontario's mental health beds for over a year, according to a new study from researchers at ICES and the Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).

The findings suggest that people with IDD have different support needs compared with patients without IDD as they are more likely to have moderate or severe cognitive impairment, difficulty caring for themselves, and few social supports, which may contribute to challenges transitioning out of hospital and into the community. Enhancing specialized supports both in hospital and in the community could reduce their length of stay and admission rates.

"We know what is needed for successful transitions and we have published Ontario Practice Guidance on how to do this well," says Avra Selick, lead author and scientist within the Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Center at CAMH. "There are amazing champions out there working hard to support these transitions, but we urgently need to build capacity in the hospital, community and health and social services sectors to work together to achieve widespread change."

Key findings include:

Of the 1,466 patients in Ontario mental health beds for over a year on September 30, 2023, 322 were people with IDD.

Compared with inpatients without IDD, a higher proportion of those with IDD were younger and had a psychotic disorder. Almost 40% of these individuals were autistic.

Patients with IDD were more likely to be physically restrained or experience seclusion in hospital, and only five percent were in specialized units for people with IDD. The remainder were in other psychiatric units where providers were not trained to work with them.

More than half of long-stay patients with IDD lacked social or familial connections to support their discharge from hospital.

The authors recommend increasing capacity and developing the expertise of providers within hospital settings to deliver appropriate care for patients with IDD. They also recommend enhancing outpatient mental health services, housing, and disability-related supports in the community. These strategies can prevent unnecessary hospitalizations, reduce length of stay and support successful transitions back into the community.

Resources on how to support transitions out of hospital for patients with IDD are available through the H-CARDD program led out of CAMH.

"Adults with IDD make up a substantial proportion of long-stay admissions in units that were not designed to meet their needs, with very few hospital staff trained to support this population," says Yona Lunsky, ICES scientist and Director of the Azrieli Center at CAMH. "We need to invest in improving their care once they are in hospital while also addressing the challenges that lead to these lengthy hospitalizations in the first place."

The study "Long-stay psychiatric inpatients with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities: an Ontario population-based study" is in the September issue of The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry.

More information Long-stay psychiatric inpatients with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities: an Ontario population-based study, The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry (2025). DOI: 10.1177/07067437251380731 Journal information: Canadian Journal of Psychiatry

Key medical concepts Psychotic Disorders
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 two implementations of the newly proposed method. Monetary amounts were in Swiss Francs (CHF). Credit: Social Science & Medicine (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.118472

Asking people how much money they would accept to experience pain again can provide a more accurate and comparable measure of pain levels than the familiar 110 scale, according to an international research team led by Lancaster University.

Published in the journal Social Science & Medicine, the study indicates that people's theoretical willingness to accept money in exchange for enduring pain offers a more reliable way to measure discomfort than conventional "self-reported" measures of pain levels such as number scales or visual charts.

In a series of experiments involving more than 300 participants, volunteers aged between 18 and 60 were exposed to mild painful stimuli and asked either to rate the intensity on a numerical scale or to indicate how much financial compensation they would require to repeat the experience. The experiment also included an analgesia study of people experiencing the same painful stimuli but with one group receiving a placebo and the other the pain relief cream.

The results revealed that the monetary measure:

Distinguished more clearly between different levels of pain,

Detected the effects of pain relief more consistently, and

Enabled more meaningful comparisons across individuals.

The familiar "rate your pain from 1 to 10" question is widely used in clinical and research settings, but its limitations are well known. Individuals interpret the scale differently, making it difficult to compare results across people or groups. By contrast, the authors of the study say that putting a price on pain creates a shared frame of reference.

Professor Carlos Alos-Ferrer, from Lancaster University Management School, explained, "We've all been asked to rate our pain from 1 to 10but one person's 3 might be another's 5, and those numbers can shift with experience. Our research proposes a better way: turning pain into moneynot to commodify suffering, but to create a scale we can all share.

"Different people will still put a different price on the same pain, but there is no problem interpreting the question. As a result, measurements are more precise and the shift from low to high levels of pain is clearly reflected in the monetary scale. This makes it useful for clinical trials to study the effectiveness of painkillers and treatments, because participants are randomly assigned to different groups."

The authors of the study say that refining pain self-reported measurement is important because inaccurate pain measurements can lead to inadequate pain managementfor example, in an emergency, a reduction in quality of life for those with longer-term conditions, as well as imposing a considerable burden on health care systems.

For example, more than US $600 billion is spent annually in the U.S. to treat pain, surpassing the cost of treating heart disease and diabetes. The authors suggest that their method provides a complementary approach to reliably measure experienced pain across individuals and could open the door to future research improving pain measurement and management.

More information Michele Garagnani et al, Improving numerical measures of human feelings: The case of pain, Social Science & Medicine (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.118472 Journal information: Social Science & Medicine
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

The federal administration offered health guidance at a press conference this week, urging pregnant women to avoid using the over-the-counter painkiller acetaminophen, marketed in the U.S. as Tylenol, saying use of the medication is associated with a higher risk of having children with autism spectrum disorder, or ASD.

The official statement by the Health and Human Services (HHS), however, differs from what was said in the press conference; it states that clinicians should "exercise their best judgment" when pregnant women have fevers or pain and prescribe acetaminophen at the "lowest effective dose for the shortest duration."

We asked Katherine Meltzoff, a UCR associate professor in the School of Education, to answer questions about what's known about Tylenol and its association with ASD. She also answers questions about autism and vaccines, the use of the drug leucovorin as a treatment, and concerns about autism misunderstandings. Meltzoff is a clinical psychologist who specializes in diagnosing ASD, the director of an autism center, and a neuroscientist who measures brain activity in children and adolescents with and without ASD.

Why do you feel compelled to speak out about this issue?

ASD, commonly referred to as autism, is not political and affects children regardless of their parents' political affiliation. I hope that my perspective and summary of what we know, what still needs to be studied, and what we think based on available evidence will help folks who are feeling confused, unsure, or frustrated by conflicting information. Please note that throughout this Q&A I use both "autistic" and "person with ASD." This reflects increasing recognition that different people prefer different language.

Does acetaminophen cause autism? How do we know?

Based on what we know, it is incorrect to recommend that expectant mothers not take Tylenol (acetaminophen). It is more accurate to tell people that there is a potential association between ASD and acetaminophen use, but not a causative one. Recommending judicious use (and consultation with a doctor) is more aligned with what the evidence says.

Here is a rundown of the most important research findings:

Historically, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency considered acetaminophen safe to use during pregnancy. More recent studies suggest more caution. A consensus statement put out in 2021 by an international group of scientists and clinicians recommended that pregnant women avoid acetaminophen unless medically indicated due to the potential risk of developmental disorders, including ASD and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

A 2024 study of almost 2.5 million children in Sweden found that 7.49% of children were exposed to acetaminophen during pregnancy, and those children exposed to acetaminophen were slightly more likely to be diagnosed with ASD compared to those not exposed to acetaminophen. The absolute risk difference was .09% for ASD, meaning the risk of ASD at age 10 was .09% higher for those exposed to acetaminophen versus those unexposed.

However, when the authors controlled for genetic factors, acetaminophen was not associated with an increased risk of ASD. This was done by comparing the rate of ASD in cases where parents had multiple children and used acetaminophen in one pregnancy but not the other. This is important because we know ASD has a genetic component. The authors concluded that the most likely explanation for why associations have been observed between ASD and acetaminophen is due to a combination of factors, including parent genetics and the underlying conditions that cause acetaminophen use, such as fever, infection, and recurrent pain.

A 2025 review of 46 previous studies found that 27 reported links between acetaminophen and ASD and/or ADHD, nine did not find any relationship, and four found negative associations (e.g., that acetaminophen might be protective against these diagnoses). Since this review was limited to previously published research, the conclusions are limited by the strength and accuracy of the 46 papers the authors reviewed. Still, the authors concluded that a "balanced approach" was needed and therefore recommended judicious use of acetaminophen rather than a limitation on usage.

Observational studies have shown a possible association between acetaminophen use and neurodevelopmental disorders, but not causation. Can you explain why this distinction is so critical in interpreting scientific results?

Overall, the literature on this topic is complex and shows mixed results. However, it is important to remember that, thus far, no study has been able to systematically separate the potential effects of acetaminophen itself from the potential effects of the underlying reasons for taking acetaminophen (e.g., fever, illness, infection, headache). This is important because infections and fevers in pregnancy are associated with increased ASD risk, a 2018 study found.

There is an association between acetaminophen use and neurodevelopmental disorders in some studies, but thus far, it is only an association. Causation is different than association. Causation implies that we know that one thing causes anothereven when accounting for other factors.

A classic example of this is the association, or correlation, between shark attacks and ice cream sales. It is true that there is a positive association between shark attacks and ice cream sales. But does that mean that shark attacks cause ice cream sales, or that ice cream sales cause shark attacks? No. There is a third factor (hot weather) that explains increases in both shark attacks and ice cream sales.

In the case of ASD, it is unlikely that there is one factor explaining both acetaminophen use and the increased prevalence of ASD. Rather, it's more likely that multiple factors explain the association between acetaminophen and autism rates. But the overall point remains that it is important to remember that associations are different than causation. The FDA's own statement about acetaminophen and ASD notes that a causative relationship has not been established.

Do vaccines cause autism? How do we know?

Based on all the available evidence we have, vaccines, including the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, do NOT cause autism. A 2015 study reviewed records from 95,727 children. These children had older siblings either with a diagnosis of ASD or without a diagnosis of ASD. Nearly 7% of children who had older siblings with ASD were themselves diagnosed with ASD compared to .9% of children who had an older sibling without ASD. We interpret this as evidence that genetics plays a sizable role in ASD.

The authors measured MMR vaccination rate at ages 25, along with the child's diagnostic status. This was measured separately for children with and without an older sibling with ASD. Measuring these groups separately is important because there is concern that children who are genetically "at risk" for ASD might be vulnerable to developing ASD in response to the MMR vaccine.

The MMR vaccine was not associated with an increased risk of ASD, regardless of whether the child had an older sibling with ASD or not. There was no evidence that the MMR vaccine increased ASD diagnosis, even among children at "high risk" due to genetic factors. These findings are consistent with numerous other studies that demonstrate a lack of association between vaccines and ASD.

A 2019 study of 650,943 children born in Denmark between 1999 through 2010 came to the same conclusion. It similarly compared vaccinated to unvaccinated children and found no association between MMR and ASD, even in subgroups who had a sibling diagnosed with ASD.

A review also from 2019 discusses available evidence from multiple studies and comes to the same conclusion . While there are many unknowns when it comes to ASD, the science on autism and vaccines is clear.

Can leucovorin (folinic acid) "cure" or "reverse" autism? How do we know?

It's important to note that cerebral folate deficiency (CFD) has been found in some individuals with ASDchildren have too little folate in their cerebrospinal fluid. However, CFD also causes other challenges beyond symptoms of ASDseizures, coordination issues, etc. Previous studies suggest that mothers who supplement with folate during conception and pregnancy are less likely to have a child with ASD.

A recent 24-week double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 80 children (40 got placebo, 40 got folinic acid) found more improvements in parent-rated ASD severity in the folinic acid group versus the placebo group. Importantly, participants were tested for anti-folate receptor autoantibodies (which are thought to contribute to CFD in ASD). In the folinic acid group, children with high levels of autoantibodies showed more improvements than children with lower levels of the autoantibodies. This study is not the only one to find that folinic acid leads to improvements in ASD symptoms.

A 2016 study, for example, had similar findings. Overall, evidence suggests that folinic acid can improve some autism symptoms and appears to be safe based on current research. However, the studies have included small numbers of participants, and the improvements reported are also small. More research is needed before we should recommend the use of folinic acid, and the FDA should follow its normal process before recommending broad usage for ASD.

Despite what was said in the press conference, the official FDA statement says that leucovorin (folinic acid) can help with cerebral folate deficiency (CFD), not that folinic acid is approved for ASD itself. It is also important to remember that no studies have found evidence that folinic acid "reverses" or "cures" ASD. The symptom improvements are small, and there is no evidence that any child in any of the studies used folinic acid and went on to no longer have ASD.

How might unclear claims about autism causation affect the public's understanding of this complex condition, especially among expectant mothers and caregivers?

Scientists and clinicians working with this population have often quipped that it shouldn't be called "autism" but rather "autisms" due to the complex and multifaceted nature of the condition, along with the variability that characterizes the autism spectrum. It is probable that the causes of autism are numerous (genetics, environmental factors, etc.).

Claims that ASD is caused by a single factor are unlikely given that multiple genes have been implicated, along with other environmental and situational factors like fever and/or infection during pregnancy. Unfortunately, claims about single factors causing ASD, especially those that aren't clearly supported by scientific evidence, are likely to worry expectant mothers and make caregivers confused due to conflicting information from different sources. It is important that mothers and caregivers talk to their doctor about any concerns they have.

What are your concerns about misunderstandings about autism?

It is important to acknowledge that generalizations about autism can be harmful. Autism is characterized by a wide spectrum of needssome autistic individuals excel in work and school and need little (if any) support. Others have higher support needs and may benefit from special education or other services. Individuals with the highest support needs, sometimes referred to as having "profound autism," often need consistent supervision and care.

Recent research suggests that 39.6% of individuals with ASD have co-occurring intellectual disability, 36.1% have average or above average cognitive functioning, and the remaining 24.2% fall in the middle. Autistic self-advocates and their families have stated that claims about "curing" autism further stigmatization and misunderstandings about the condition.

The neurodiversity framework seeks to increase recognition that all people (and all brains) are differentno two brains are the same. Understanding of neurodiversity calls for increased acceptance and decreased "pathologization" of conditions like ASD, ADHD, and other forms of neurodivergence.

This framework believes that every person should be valued and respected, and notes that many autistic people see autism as central to who they are rather than something they want to be "cured" of.

As a professional in the field, I believe that everyone should be able to make informed decisions about their own care and well-being. I think interventions or therapies for ASD should not be designed to make someone "less autistic," but rather should help that person with important life skills for independence and thriving.

For example, I think it is important for all individuals, including those with ASD, to have the ability to communicate with others. Communication can happen via sign language, via an assisted communication device, or verbally. It is less important how someone communicates, and more important that we attempt to give them the ability to communicate, since being unable to communicate is frustrating.

When autistic children engage in self-injurious behaviors such as head banging, my highest priority is to figure out why they are engaging in that behavior and to practice safer alternatives. For a teenager who wants to make more friends, my priority is to help that person come up with strategies for talking to new people and to practice skills for making and keeping friends. If the teenager learns those skills and decides they don't want to use them, that should be their choice.

No one should be forced to be "more neurotypical" or "less autistic." Rather, people's autonomy and choices should be respected while still providing necessary support and practicing skills that can help them thrive.
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 number of 340B providers has grown from about 10,000 to 66,000 in the past 15 years, while the number of contract pharmacies increased from 1,300 to 253,000 over the same time. Credit: USC Schaeffer Center

The dramatic growth of a key federal drug discount program has fueled debate about whether it is helping low-income patients as intended or primarily benefiting health care providers.

Congress created the 340B Drug Pricing Program over 30 years ago to help hospitals and clinics that serve high levels of uninsured patients purchase outpatient drugs from manufacturers at significantly discounted prices. However, the law does not require participating providers to pass on discounts to patients or dedicate program funds to safety-net care.

A new white paper from the USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics traces how major eligibility expansions and distorted program incentives have helped transform the once-modestly sized initiative into the nation's second-largest drug purchasing program in the U.S., growing from $4 billion in 2009 to over $66 billion in 2023.

The authors conclude that meaningful 340B reform must end "spread pricing," in which participating providers profit by purchasing drugs at a discount and then billing insurers at higher rates for dispensing them. This practice disproportionately benefits providers with a higher mix of commercially insured patients, since private insurers reimburse at higher rates than public programs like Medicare and Medicaid.

Eliminating this distorted incentive is essential to ensuring 340B revenues can be directed to safety-net providers, rather than better-resourced ones.

"There's broad bipartisan recognition that 340B needs reform so its benefits reach those most in need, rather than subsidizing wealthier providers and hospital systems that have learned to maximize profits by expanding into more affluent areas," said lead author Ryan Long, a nonresident senior scholar at the USC Schaeffer Institute and former senior policy advisor and counsel to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

"There is also growing awareness of how the program's current structure increases government health care costs and private health insurance premiums. Fixing misaligned program incentives is key to solving these fundamental issues."

How spread pricing incentives drive program growth

The number of providers participating in 340B, known as "covered entities," has grown from about 10,000 since passage of the 2010 Affordable Care Act to 66,000 today. The ACA's Medicaid expansion increased the number of hospitals meeting the low-income patient threshold for 340B eligibility and broadened the categories of eligible hospitals. Over the same time, the number of participating pharmacies swelled from 1,300 to over 250,000 after providers lacking an in-house pharmacy were allowed to expand from a single contract pharmacy to an unlimited number.

This growth has been heavily influenced by the revenue generation opportunity created by spread pricing. Providers purchase drugs at a discount typically 25% to 50% below benchmark prices and can dispense them to all patients, regardless of insurance status. Providers may then bill insurers the typical amounts without accounting for 340B discounts and keep the difference, or spread, without limitations on how this profit is used. There's mixed evidence on how much 340B discounts flow to vulnerable patients.

This hypothetical example demonstrates how 340B providers can generate larger revenues on drugs dispensed to commercially insured patients. Credit: USC Schaeffer Center

While health care subsidy programs traditionally provide funding based on need, the 340B program works differently. Because of spread pricing, providers with more commercially insured patients often benefit more than safety-net providers, even though they have less need for support.

Consider a hypothetical drug a 340B provider acquires at $1,000. A provider could generate a substantially larger profit on a commercially insured patient compared to one covered by Medicare or Medicaid.

According to a 2024 report from Minnesota, which provided rare transparency into 340B finances, more than half of (53%) covered entities' net revenues are driven by commercial insurance. That's about four times more than Medicaid (14%), while less than 1% comes from uninsured patients.

Spread pricing also incentivizes the use of more and higher-priced drugs to generate more revenue while discouraging the use of more cost-effective generic and biosimilar options. This drives up federal health care spending, leading to higher insurance costs for Medicare beneficiaries.

It also incentivizes providers to hunt for more revenue by expanding their base of commercially insured patients, particularly through acquisitions of private physician practices or infusion centers. Provider consolidation reduces the number of independent practices, limiting competition and driving up prices.

"Research shows that spread pricing makes health care more expensive and diverts 340B benefits away from the providers that need them most," said co-author Karen Mulligan, a research scientist at the Schaeffer Center. "Regardless of the program's original intent, these outcomes are clearly illogical."

Current proposals offer only incremental reform

Recent reform proposals have focused on improving transparency, regulating contract pharmacies and revising which patients and hospitals are eligible for discounts. The Health Resources and Services Administration, the agency administering 340B, has also announced a pilot program testing rebates, instead of upfront discounted purchases by covered entities.

The authors said some of these efforts may represent incremental improvements, while others could conflict with state laws or create compliance burdens that may make it challenging for some financially vulnerable providers to remain in the program.

Ultimately, the authors warned that reform efforts will fall short if covered entities still have the incentive to "buy low and sell high." To ensure that subsidies are directed to safety-net providers, they recommended reforming 340B payments to reflect providers' overall payer mix and other factors that indicate financial need.

More information Ryan Long et al, Cui Bono? Misaligned Incentives in the 340B Program, (2025). DOI: 10.25549/zzrc-6e12
Fewer Than 70 Assyrian Families Remain in Mosul, Chaldean Patriarch Warns

Fewer than 70 Christian families still live in Mosul, Iraq -- a city that was once home to more than 50,000 baptized Christians -- according to Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church.

Speaking to Austrian diplomats and policymakers in Vienna Sept. 24, he described the sharp decline as part of a broader crisis facing Christianity in the region, Agenzia Fides reported.

During his remarks, the patriarch reflected on the challenges Christians in Iraq have faced over the past two decades. He cited years of armed conflict, religious extremism, and systemic discrimination as major contributors to the population's steep decline.

Once numbering over a million, Iraq's Christian community has now dropped below half that figure, he said.

Cardinal Sako pointed to multiple causes of this displacement, including the rise of groups like ISIS and Al Qaeda, ongoing sectarian tensions, and the impact of militia violence. He also noted that some legal structures -- such as Iraq's "Personal Status Law" -- have contributed to marginalization, including by making provisions that enable the Islamization of minors.

Cardinal Sako also rejected claims a militia founded in 2014 made that the organization speaks on behalf of Christians. The patriarch said such representation is neither legitimate nor helpful.

To prevent further emigration and support those considering return, Cardinal Sako recommended restoring properties lost to conflict, providing financial compensation, and enhancing security through official government forces rather than local militias.

He also called for Iraq to become a country where equal rights are guaranteed to all, regardless of religious affiliation. Achieving that vision, he suggested, would require moving past sectarian divisions and embracing a constitution grounded in secular and democratic values.
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

Uptake of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine during pregnancy is not linked to increased risk of adverse perinatal health outcomes among vaccinated women, according to research at City St George's and published in BMJ Open.

This first of its kind study, in collaboration with the University of Cambridge, provides a holistic view of how age, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status influence vaccine uptake, with implications for infant health.

The authors note, however, that the study was not designed to assess vaccine safety in depth, and further research is needed.

RSV is a major cause of infant morbidity and mortality. In the UK, it accounts for approximately 33,500 infant hospitalizations in children under five years old, and 2030 deaths annually. RSV infects up to 90% of children within their first two years of life and frequently reinfects older children.

The RSV vaccine is expected to prevent up to 5,000 hospitalizations and 15,000 emergency department visits annually in the UK, reducing the risk of severe bronchiolitis by 70% in the first six months of life.

The study found that older women, those from higher socioeconomic backgrounds, and white ethnic groups were more likely to receive the vaccine. In contrast, uptake was lower among women of an ethnic minority and those from deprived areas, which is a pattern consistent with other maternal vaccines such as for flu and COVID.

As of August 2025, over two million individuals (337,000 pregnant women) in England have received the RSV vaccine, yet uptake remains uneven, with London reporting the lowest coverage nationally.

Dr. Mohammad Sharif Razai, lead researcher at the University of Cambridge who was part of the City St George's Population Health Research Institute, said, "This study provides a pivotal window into RSV vaccination in pregnancy alongside perinatal outcomes. The data informs that uptake is growing, but in uneven ways, with disparities in ethnicity and socio-economic status. This is pointing to the need for equitable, targeted public health strategies for people to make informed decisions; particularly in communities with historically lower uptake."

Concerns about higher rates of preterm birth associated with RSV vaccines were raised in early clinical trials. Despite being approved by the EU for use in pregnancy in 2023, its implementation varies. For example, in France it is recommended between 32 and 36 weeks' gestation, while the UK Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommends receiving one dose of RSV vaccine in every pregnancy from 28 weeks' gestation.

This variation of implementation reflects differing views on the safety of this vaccine, corresponding to the study authors' assertion that targeted interventions are needed to inform communities where uptake is at its lowest.

Professor Asma Khalil, Professor of Obstetrics and Maternal Medicine at City St George's School of Health and Medical Sciences, said, "The differing approaches to RSV vaccine rollout across Europe reflect sentiments of caution in its use in pregnancy. Our findings are reassuring, but they show that communities with the lowest uptake can also be among the least likely to access trusted information. We need to engage with people on their terms, with clear, culturally sensitive messaging and support."

The study points to the need for further research to assess vaccine safety in depth, with deeper understanding on how to create public health interventions that improve vaccine delivery and awareness.

More information Mohammad Sharif Razai et al, Perinatal outcomes and uptake of RSV vaccine during pregnancy in South London: a cross-sectional study, BMJ Open (2025). DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-101592 Journal information: BMJ Open

Key medical concepts Premature Birth Bronchiolitis
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: Leah Newhouse from Pexels

During this week's White House press conference in which President Donald Trump named the over-the-counter drug Tylenol as a possible cause of rising autism rates, he did not mince words, urging pregnant women to "fight like hell" not to take it.

But outside those remarks in the Roosevelt Roomduring which Trump himself acknowledged, "I'm not so careful with what I say"the discussion on the common fever and pain reliever's role during pregnancy is a lot more nuanced.

What the research on Tylenol use during pregnancy actually says

Physicians, researchers on the very studies cited in support of Trump's position and even other members of the president's administration are largely united on a few key facts: untreated fevers in pregnancy pose real risks to the fetus, acetaminophen (Tylenol's active ingredient) remains the safest medication to treat them and any pregnant person seeking advice on the issue should consult their doctor.

"All that we should be asking of the medical profession [is] to actually weigh the risks and benefits for the women, and be cautious about chronic use of pain medications," said Dr. Beate Ritz, a UCLA professor of epidemiology who co-authored a paper published in August that the White House cited as evidence for the link between Tylenol and autism.

Ritz said it has been misinterpreted.

The conclusion of the paper, which reviewed existing studies on the topic, was that the association between acetaminophen use in pregnancy and later diagnoses of neurodevelopmental disorders in kids was strong enough to merit doctors' consideration when determining how to treat fever or pain in pregnancy. The group did not determine a causal relationship between the drug and autism, or suggest barring the drug altogether, she said.

"Looking at all of these studies, yes, there is a risk," Ritz said. "It's not very big, but it's there, but the risk increases are more seen in regular users of Tylenol. This is not a woman who has a fever and takes three Tylenols."

"There is always a weighing of the risks and the benefits, and fever in women is no good either. ... Not having to take any pain medications when you are in severe pain or in chronic pain is also very cruel," she said. "We all should have an interest in helping out here, making the right decisions without blaming the victim and putting it all on the individual woman."

Her co-author, University of Massachusetts epidemiologist Ann Bauer, has made similar statements.

"What we recommend is judicious usethe lowest effective dose [for] the shortest duration of time under medical guidance and supervision, tailored to the individual," Bauer told the news outlet Politico.

The administration's confusing recommendations

Ultimately, that's what the administration is recommending as well.

The letter that U.S. Food and Drug Administrator Dr. Marty Makary sent to physicians this week made clear that "a causal relationship" between autism and acetaminophen "has not been established and there are contrary studies in the scientific literature."

It went on to recommend that clinicians consider limiting their use of acetaminophen for routine low-grade fevers during pregnancy, while noting that medical advice "should also be balanced with the fact that acetaminophen is the safest over-the-counter alternative in pregnancy among all analgesics and antipyretics." (An analgesic is a pain reliever; an antipyretic reduces fever.)

Untreated fevers during pregnancy are associated with higher rates of birth defects, particularly those of the heart, brain and spinal cord; premature birth; low birth weight; neurodevelopmental disorders including autism; and fetal death, said Dr. E. Nicole Teal, an assistant professor of maternal-fetal medicine at UC San Diego.

"The FDA's letter, while significantly more nuanced than the president's comments on the issue, still gives too much weight to findings from poorly designed studies," she said.

She said she will continue to prescribe acetaminophen to pregnant patients who need to treat fevers or severe pain, as it has the fewest known risks in pregnancy.

Are there other pain-relief and fever-reducing drugs that can be used during pregnancy?

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen (often sold as Advil) or naproxen (often sold as Aleve) are linked to problems with blood vessel and kidney development, as well as oligohydramnios, a condition in which there isn't enough amniotic fluid to support a healthy pregnancy. Aspirin raises the risk of bleeding complications, and narcoticswhich can relieve pain but not feverpose addiction risks for the mother and infant alike, Teal said.

She referred to a statement from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists noting that two decades of research on the question had failed to find a causal relationship between acetaminophen and autism.

"Acetaminophen is one of the few options available to pregnant patients to treat pain and fever, which can be harmful to pregnant people when left untreated," American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists president Dr. Steven J. Fleischman said in the statement.

The group also noted that reviews in 2015 and 2017 from the FDA and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, respectively, found no risks associated with appropriate usage of the drug in pregnancy.

How to navigate government communications around Tylenol use

Nonetheless, the mixed messaging from the Trump administration about Tylenol seems likely to continue.

The Department of Health and Human Services this week reposted a 2017 tweet from the Tylenol brand's account that said, "We actually don't recommend using any of our products while pregnant."

A spokesperson for Kenvue, the company that owns Tylenol, said the post was taken out of context and incomplete.

"Consistent with regulations, our label states clearly 'if pregnant or breast-feeding, ask a health professional before use,'" Melissa Witt said in an email. "We do not make recommendations on taking any medications in pregnancy because that is the job of a health care provider."

Vice President JD Vance offered similar guidance this week.

"My guidance to pregnant women would be very simple, which is to follow your doctor. Right?" Vance said in an interview with the outlet NewsNation after Trump's press conference. "Talk to your doctor about these things."

Key medical concepts Acetaminophen Autism Spectrum Disorder

2025 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

The first detailed analysis of unplanned births that occurred outside the hospital setting in Austria has shown that, although such deliveries are rare, they pose challenges for emergency teams that attend, especially if babies are born prematurely.

In a study presented at the European Emergency Medicine Congress today (Monday), the researchers found that between 2017 and 2024 there were 173 unplanned, out-of-hospital births in the Styria region of Austria, of which 16 (9%) were premature (less than 37 weeks' gestation). The most premature was born at 26 weeks' gestation, weighing 845g, and four babies (25%) died around the time of birth.

Now, the team plan to identify regional differences in the rest of Austria, evaluating the preparedness of emergency teams, and assessing outcomes for both mothers and newborns.

Helena Leonhartsberger, a medical student and research team member in the neonatology department at the Medical University of Graz, Austria, who also volunteers as a paramedic with the Austrian Red Cross, told the congress: "Our study is the first to document the frequency of out-of-hospital, unplanned, premature deliveries and the associated complications. We concluded that standardized emergency protocols and early involvement of specialized neonatal transport teams are crucial for improving outcomes.

"Most emergency physicians are not specialized in pediatrics or, more specifically, in neonatology. Although these scenarios are rare, emergency teams must be adequately trained and prepared to handle them. Furthermore, appropriate equipment for treating newborns, particularly premature or critically ill neonates, should be available on all emergency vehicles.

"We also plan to use these findings to improve training for emergency personnel and to recommend what neonatal emergency equipment should be made available and standardized on all Austrian emergency vehicles, ensuring consistent care nationwide."

Leonhartsberger decided to research this topic after she attended an out-of-hospital birth as a paramedic during her first year of training.

"I was unprepared for the situation, but fortunately, everything went well," she said. "This led me to study pre-hospital deliveries of premature infants, aiming to explore how emergency teams can be better prepared for such high-risk situations and improve outcomes for these vulnerable patients."

The study, which was led by Professor Bernhard Schwaberger, deputy head of the clinical department of neonatology at the Medical University of Graz, found that the median age of babies born prematurely out of hospital was 35 weeks' gestation, with a median birth weight of 2390g.

Among the four babies that died, no resuscitation was attempted in two. One premature baby underwent successful pre-hospital resuscitation and intubation. Of the 12 surviving preterm infants, one required initial bag-mask ventilation and subsequent nasotracheal intubation by a neonatal intensive care team, and another received oxygen via face mask. Ten babies were able to breathe spontaneously.

The researchers found that the temperatures of the babies were recorded in only six of the 13 babies that were admitted to hospital, and the median temperature was 34.8C; the lowest recorded temperature was 31.5C.

Leonhartsberger said, "Admission temperature is a key prognostic factor, yet this was not documented for all the babies, and when it was, the babies were often found to be hypothermic.

"Our findings underscore the need for national preparedness, not only through standardized protocols but also through ongoing training and appropriate equipment on all emergency vehicles. They also highlight the importance of public awareness, reinforcing that, while planned home births may be safe under ideal conditions, complications can arise quickly and unpredictably. The research supports the broader goal of improving maternal and neonatal outcomes by ensuring that every birth, regardless of location, receives the highest standard of emergency care."

A strength of the study is the detailed analysis of premature births outside of hospitals. The main limitation is the small number of cases and the fact that it focuses on one region of Austria so the finding may not reflect the situation in other areas. This is why the researchers now plan to analyze data in other regions.

Dr. Felix Lorang is a member of the EUSEM abstract selection committee. He is head of the emergency department at SRH Zentralklinikum Suhl, Thuringia, Germany, and was not involved with the research.

He said, "Premature deliveries always require careful medical supervision in hospital and will be performed by a highly trained and diverse team of experienced professionals to reduce any serious risk to both mother and baby. When these premature births take place out of the hospital setting in the unprepared environment of a household or an ambulance with a smaller team they present an even more significant challenge. Even though they are rare, they require preparation and the training that is part of the so-called HALO procedures: High-Acuity Low Occurrence.

"Helena Leonhartsberger's study shows, for the first time, the incidence of such births in one region in Austria, and how there were variations in how these births were managed. For instance, temperature management is a very important factor for the efficacy of further treatments.

"In this highly stressful setting, unfortunately, only six out of the 13 babies admitted to hospital had their temperatures recorded, despite the importance of this intervention. It is crucial to identify the incidence and management of premature, unplanned, out-of-hospital deliveries, not just in other areas of Austria but also in other countries. This will enable planning to ensure that all emergency medical services adhere to agreed protocols, and that they have swift access to specialist neonatal equipment for treating and transporting premature babies to hospital."

More information Abstract no: OA122, "Pre-hospital emergency care for preterm infants after unplanned out-of-hospital deliveries: a retrospective case series from Styria, Austria (20172024)" by Helena Leonhartsberger, Pre-hospital session, Monday 29 September, 11:00-12:30 hrs CEST, Schubert 4 room: https://eusem.floq.live/kiosk/eusem-2025/dailyprogramme?objectClass=timeslot&objectId=68871e9e626af251d24be297&type=detail

Key medical concepts Premature Birth

Provided by European Society for Emergency Medicine
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

At a Senate hearing on Sept. 9, 2025, on the corruption of science, witnesses presented an unpublished study that made a big assertion.

They claimed that the study, soon to be featured in a highly publicized film called "An Inconvenient Study," expected out in early October 2025, provides landmark evidence that vaccines raise the risk of chronic diseases in childhood.

The study was conducted in 2020 by researchers at Henry Ford Health, a health care network in Detroit and southeast Michigan. Before the Sept. 9 hearing the study was not publicly available, but it became part of the public record after the hearing and is now posted on the Senate committee website.

At the hearing, Aaron Siri, a lawyer who specializes in vaccine lawsuits and acts as a legal advisor to Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., said the study was never published because the authors feared being fired for finding evidence supporting the health risks of vaccines. His rhetoric made the study sound definitive.

As the head of biostatistics at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine, when I encounter new scientific claims, I always start with the question "Could this be true?" Then, I evaluate the evidence.

I can say definitively that the study by Henry Ford Health researchers has serious design problems that keep it from revealing much about whether vaccines affect children's long-term health. In fact, a spokesperson at Henry Ford Health told journalists seeking comment on the study that it "was not published because it did not meet the rigorous scientific standards we demand as a premier medical research institution."

The study's weaknesses illustrate several key principles of biostatistics.

Study participants and conclusions

The researchers examined the medical records of about 18,500 children born between 2000 and 2016 within the Henry Ford Health network. According to the records, roughly 16,500 children had received at least one vaccine and about 2,000 were completely unvaccinated.

The authors compared the two groups on a wide set of outcomes. These included conditions that affect the immune system, such as asthma, allergies and autoimmune disorders. They also included neurodevelopmental outcomes such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, autism and speech and seizure disorders, as well as learning, intellectual, behavioral and motor disabilities.

Their headline result was that vaccinated children had 2.5 times the rate of "any selected chronic disease," with 3 to 6 times higher rates for some specific conditions. They did not find that vaccinated children had higher rates of autism.

The study's summary states it found that "vaccine exposure in children was associated with increased risk of developing a chronic health disorder." That wording is strong, but it is not well supported given the weaknesses of the paper.

Timeline logic

To study long-term diseases in children, it's crucial to track their health until the ages when these problems usually show up. Many conditions in the study, like asthma, ADHD, learning problems and behavior issues, are mostly diagnosed after age 5, once kids are in school. If kids are not followed that long, many cases will be missed.

However, that's what happened here, especially for children in the unvaccinated group.

About 25% of unvaccinated children in the study were tracked until they were less than 6 months old, 50% until they were less than 15 months old, and only 25% were tracked past age 3. That's too short to catch most of these conditions. Vaccinated kids, however, were followed much longer, with 75% followed past 15 months of age, 50% past 2.7 years of age and 25% past 5.7 years of age.

The longer timeline gave the vaccinated kids many more chances to have diagnoses recorded in their Henry Ford medical records compared with the nonvaccinated group. The study includes no explanation for this difference.

When one group is watched longer and into the ages when problems are usually found, they will almost always look sicker on paper, even if the real risks are the same. In statistics, this is called surveillance bias.

The primary methods used in the paper were not sufficient to adjust for this surveillance bias. The authors tried new analyses using only kids followed beyond age 1, 3 or 5. But vaccinated kids were still tracked longer, with more reaching the ages when diagnoses are made, so those efforts did not fix this bias.

More opportunities to be diagnosed

Not all cases of chronic disease are written down in the Henry Ford records. Kids who go to a Henry Ford doctor more often get more checkups, more tests and more chances for their diseases to be found and recorded in the Henry Ford system. Increased doctor visits have been shown to increase the chance of diagnosing chronic conditions, including autism, ADHD, asthma, developmental disorders and learning disabilities.

If people in one group see doctors more often than people in another, those people may look like they have higher disease rates even if their true health is the same across both groups. In statistics, this is called detection bias.

In the Henry Ford system, vaccinated kids averaged about seven visits per year, while unvaccinated kids had only about two. That gave the vaccinated kids many more chances to be diagnosed. The authors tried leaving out kids with zero visits, but this did not fix the detection bias, since vaccinated kids still had far more visits.

Another issue is that the study doesn't show which kids actually used Henry Ford for their main care. Many babies are seen at the hospital for birth and early visits, but then go elsewhere for routine care. If that happens, later diagnoses would not appear in the Henry Ford records. The short follow-up for many children suggests a lot may have left the system after infancy, hiding diagnoses made outside Henry Ford.

Apples and oranges

Big differences between the groups of vaccinated and unvaccinated children can make it hard to know if vaccines really caused any differences in chronic disease. This is because of a statistical concept called confounding.

The two groups were not alike from birth. They differed in characteristics like sex, race, birth weight, being born early and the mother experiencing birth complicationsall factors linked to later effects on health. The study made some adjustments for these, but left out many other important risks, such as:

Whether families live in urban, suburban or rural areas.

Family income, health insurance and resources.

Environmental exposures such as air and water pollution, which were concerns in Detroit at that time.

These factors can affect both the chance of getting vaccinated and the chance of having health problems. They also change how often families visit Henry Ford clinics, which affects what shows up in the records.

When too many measured and unmeasured differences line up, as they do here, the study is unable to fully separate cause from effect.

Bottom line

The Henry Ford data could be helpful if the study followed both groups of kids to the same ages and took into account differences in health care use and background risks.

But as written, the study's main comparisons are tilted. The follow-up time was short and uneven, kids had unequal chances for diagnosis, and the two groups were very different in ways that matter. The methods used did not adequately fix these problems. Because of this, the differences reported in the study do not show that vaccines cause chronic disease.

Good science asks tough questions and uses methods strong enough to answer them. This study falls short, and it is being presented as stronger evidence than its design really allows.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
China calls on North Korea to oppose hegemony

Wang Yi said China is willing to strengthen cooperation with North Korea on international and regional affairs. File photo: Reuters

Beijing wants to strengthen cooperation with Pyongyang and work together to oppose hegemony, Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his North Korean counterpart in a thinly veiled reference to the United States.



North Korea's Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui met Wang on Sunday in Beijing, weeks after a rare visit by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who sought to develop the countries' bilateral relations.



"Maintaining, consolidating, and developing China-DPRK relations has always been the unswerving strategic policy of" the Chinese government, Wang told Choe, using the acronym for North Korea.



"China is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with the DPRK in international and regional affairs, oppose all forms of hegemonism, and safeguard the common interests of both sides and international fairness and justice," he said, according to a Foreign Ministry readout.



North Korea's state news agency KCNA said on Monday the ministers had agreed fully on a variety of issues in their discussions.



Choe delivered a message from Kim that the bilateral relationship between two countries is unchanging and should develop to meet the demands of the times, KCNA said.



The ministers had in-depth talks on domestic and international affairs and had a "complete agreement" over the matters, KCNA said, without elaborating. (Agencies)
Bualoi tears through Vietnam as Philippines ups toll

Boats are parked on a roadside in Nghe An province as Typhoon Bualoi hits Vietnam. Photo: Reuters

A typhoon that ripped roofs off homes has killed dozens of people across Vietnam and the Philippines, officials from both countries said on Monday, as a weakened storm Bualoi crossed into neighbouring Laos.



The typhoon battered small islands in the centre of the Philippines last week, toppling trees and power pylons, unleashing floods and forcing 400,000 people to evacuate.



A Philippine civil defence official said on Monday the death toll there had more than doubled to 24, with most of the victims either drowned or hit by debris.



In Vietnam, Bualoi made landfall as a typhoon late on Sunday, generating winds of 130 kilometres per hour.



Thousands of houses and businesses were damaged or destroyed in the country's centre and north, and at least 11 people were killed, Vietnamese authorities told AFP on Monday.



Images published by AFP showed corrugated metal roofs blown off buildings and household debris strewn across saturated streets in Vietnam's coastal Nghe An province.



"The wind blew my roof to the sky and then it fell down, breaking everything. I had to cover my head and rushed to my neighbour's house to be safe," Trinh Thi Le, 71, in central Quang Tri province, was quoted as saying by state-run Tuoi Tre newspaper.



At least nine people were killed when a typhoon-related whirlwind swept through northern Ninh Binh province early on Monday, according to the local disaster agency.



One person was killed in the province of Hue and another in Thanh Hoa, while about 20 were missing, local and national disaster authorities reported.



Among those unaccounted for were nine people whose fishing boats were lost at sea on Sunday night after their vessels came loose from their moorings during strong winds and currents, police said.



More than 53,000 people were evacuated to schools and medical centres converted into temporary shelters ahead of Bualoi hitting Vietnam, the environment ministry said.



Four domestic airports and part of the national highway were closed on Monday. More than 180 flights have been cancelled or delayed, airport authorities said.



Parts of Nghe An and the steel-producing central province of Ha Tinh were without power and schools were closed in affected regions.



Since making landfall in Vietnam, Bualoi has weakened as it moved across the border into Laos.



It came on the heels of Super Typhoon Ragasa, which killed 14 people across the northern Philippines. (AFP)
Tourism promotion conference on Henan section of Taihang Mountains held in Henan

People's Daily Online) 15:11, September 28, 2025

Photo shows a scene of a tourism promotion conference spotlighting the Henan section of the Taihang Mountains at the Baligou Scenic Area in Xinxiang, central China's Henan Province, Sept. 26, 2025. (People's Daily Online/Huo Yaping)

A tourism promotion conference spotlighting the Henan section of the Taihang Mountains was held on Sept. 26 at the Baligou Scenic Area in Xinxiang, central China's Henan Province.

The event featured immersive experiences, thematic presentations, product showcases, and a media tour to comprehensively highlight the stunning landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and tourism achievements of the Henan section of the Taihang Mountains.

Jointly organized by the Culture and Tourism Department of Henan Province and the Xinxiang Municipal Government, the conference was supported by the Xinxiang Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism, the Huixian Municipal Government, and Xinxiang Southern Taihang Tourism Co., Ltd. People's Daily Online served as the media partner, while cities including Anyang, Jiaozuo, and Jiyuan also contributed support.

The conference emphasized the Henan section of the Taihang Mountains as both a "spiritual highland" and a premier tourism destination, injecting new momentum into the province's high-quality cultural tourism development.

Photo shows a scene of a tourism promotion conference spotlighting the Henan section of the Taihang Mountains at the Baligou Scenic Area in Xinxiang, central China's Henan Province, Sept. 26, 2025. (People's Daily Online/Huo Yaping)

The Taihang Mountains stretch across Beijing and Hebei, Shanxi and Henan provinces.

Huang Dongsheng, Party chief and director of the Culture and Tourism Department of Henan Province, expressed the beauty and spirit of the Henan section of the Taihang Mountains, which is home to popular attractions such as Yuntai Mountain, the Taihang Grand Canyon, and the Baoquan tourist resort. Visitors can enjoy paragliding, rock climbing, and other activities, while also drawing inspiration from enduring cultural legacies such as the spirit of the Hongqi Canal, an irrigation project, and the perseverance embodied by Yugong, a legendary figure who moved mountains.

Leveraging People's Daily Online, the event invited tourists nationwide to discover the natural beauty and cultural richness of the Henan section of the Taihang Mountains.

Tang Weihong, chairperson of the Supervisory Board of People's Daily Online, highlighted the Henan section of the Taihang Mountains as one of China's most mature mountain tourism destinations. She pledged that People's Daily Online will continue to inject new vitality into Henan's high-quality cultural tourism development.

Ge Lei, secretary-general of the China Tourism Association, praised Henan's achievements in turning the Taihang Mountains from a magnificent natural range into a popular cultural tourism brand, integrating outdoor sports, wellness, family and educational tours, and Tai Chi culture.

Currently, the Henan section of the Taihang Mountains boasts five 5A-level scenic areasnearly one-third of the provincial totalalong with 48 4A-level scenic areas, 18 provincial-level tourist resorts, and 34 five-star rural B&Bs.

The conference underscored the abundant resources and enormous potential of the Henan section of the Taihang Mountains.

Photo shows a scene of a tourism promotion conference spotlighting the Henan section of the Taihang Mountains at the Baligou Scenic Area in Xinxiang, central China's Henan Province, Sept. 26, 2025. (People's Daily Online/Huo Yaping)

Photo shows a scene of a tourism promotion conference spotlighting the Henan section of the Taihang Mountains at the Baligou Scenic Area in Xinxiang, central China's Henan Province, Sept. 26, 2025. (People's Daily Online/Huo Yaping)

Journalists pose for group photos for a media tour on the Henan section of the Taihang Mountains in Xinxiang, central China's Henan Province, Sept. 26, 2025. (People's Daily Online/Huo Yaping)

An intangible cultural heritage is presented at a tourism promotion conference spotlighting the Henan section of the Taihang Mountains at the Baligou Scenic Area in Xinxiang, central China's Henan Province, Sept. 26, 2025. (People's Daily Online/Huo Yaping)

Photo shows a view of the Taihang Mountains. (People's Daily Online/Huo Yaping)

Photo shows a scene of a tourism promotion conference spotlighting the Henan section of the Taihang Mountains at the Baligou Scenic Area in Xinxiang, central China's Henan Province, Sept. 26, 2025. (People's Daily Online/Huo Yaping)

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
The shipments included 300 tents and 9,000 blankets, aimed at supporting those hardest hit by the disaster.

A formal reception was held to welcome the aid, attended by Federal Minister Engr. Amir Muqam, NDMA Chairman, Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik, Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong, and representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), as per ARY News.

Chairman NDMA Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik praised China for its continued support, saying China has once again reaffirmed its role as Pakistan''s steadfast friend by extending timely relief assistance for flood-affected communities across the country.

It will augment the NDMA''s relief support for flood-affected areas in Punjab, according to ARY News.

Federal Minister Amir Muqam also expressed deep gratitude to the Chinese government and people for their quick response. He noted that the assistance will bring much-needed relief to thousands of flood-affected families.

Earlier, Pakistan''s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has reported that at least 1,006 people have died and 3.02 million have been rescued across Pakistan amid severe rains and flash floods since June 26.

The NDMA said a total of 5,768 rescue operations were conducted nationwide, during which 273,524 relief items were distributed. Medical treatment was provided to 662,098 individuals at 741 camps set up through coordinated efforts of the NDMA, Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMAs), the Pakistan Army, and other emergency services.

Punjab recorded the highest fatalities with 304 deaths, including 110 children, 143 men, and 51 women. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) reported 504 deaths, comprising 90 children, 338 men, and 76 women. Sindh saw 80 deaths, Balochistan 30, Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB) 41, Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) 38, and Islamabad nine. Nationwide, 1,063 people sustained injuries, with Punjab accounting for 661, K-P 218, Sindh 87, PoGB 52, PoJK 37, Balochistan five, and Islamabad three.

Rescue efforts were concentrated in Punjab, where 2.81 million people were evacuated through 4,749 operations. Sindh followed with 184,011 people rescued in 753 operations, and K-P with 14,317 people rescued in 211 operations, The Express Tribune reported.

The floods have caused widespread property and infrastructure damage. Nationwide, 12,569 homes were affected, including 4,128 destroyed and 8,441 partially damaged, while 6,509 livestock were lost.

At least 239 bridges and 1,981 kilometers of roads were destroyed or damaged. K-P lost 52 bridges and 437 km of roads; PoJK 94 bridges and 201 km of roads; and PoGB 87 bridges and 20 km of roads.

Relief distributions included tents, blankets, hygiene kits, ration bags, food packs, and equipment such as solar panels, de-watering pumps, and generators.

A total of 1,690 camps were established, comprising 741 medical camps that treated over 662,000 people and 949 relief camps that sheltered 152,252 individuals, The Express Tribune reported. (ANI)
SpiceJet has announced the launch of daily non-stop flights to Phuket, Thailand's largest and most popular island, from Delhi and Mumbai, marking its second destination in Thailand after Bangkok. Flights from Delhi to Phuket are set to commence on October 31, 2025, while services from Mumbai will begin on November 6, 2025. The move strengthens SpiceJet's growing international network and offers Indian travellers more direct access to Thailand's renowned tourist destinations. Debojo Maharshi, Chief Business Officer of SpiceJet, said, "We are excited to add Phuket, one of the world's most sought-after holiday destinations, to our growing international network. With non-stop flights from Delhi and Mumbai, SpiceJet is making it easier than ever for Indian travellers to enjoy Thailand's pristine beaches, vibrant culture, and warm hospitality. This expansion also reaffirms our commitment to offering more international choices and seamless connectivity at affordable fares." Phuket is celebrated for its stunning beaches, vibrant nightlife, and rich cultural experiences, including the Sino-Portuguese architecture of Old Phuket Town and the iconic Big Buddha statue. The island also serves as a hub for exploring nearby islands like the Phi Phi Islands, offering travellers a mix of adventure and relaxation. Passengers can now book tickets through SpiceJet's official mobile app or website and avail of the airline's competitive fares and comfortable services, including the spacious SpiceMax economy-class seating. On September 26, SpiceJet announced that it has signed a lease agreement to induct a wide-body Airbus A340 aircraft into its fleet by the end of September, marking a major step in the airline's expansion strategy. According to the airline, the aircraft is expected to arrive in India later this month and begin operations in the first week of October, subject to regulatory approvals. Initially, the A340 will operate on a wet lease model before transitioning to a damp lease, which the company said would provide greater operational flexibility and cost savings. SpiceJet is one of India's largest low-cost carriers, operating a fleet of Boeing 737s and Q-400s, and is IATA-IOSA certified. The airline is a key player in regional connectivity under the UDAN scheme, offering multiple daily flights across the country. (ANI)
PNN Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], September 29: In a world where financial expertise drives strategy, earning the CMA credential is more than an academic decision--it's a career revolution. At Miles Education, India's #1 training partner for management accounting aspirants, the CMA salary in India and abroad reflects just how valuable this qualification has become. For thousands of students and professionals, the CMA isn't just about passing exams; it's about securing roles that pay well, offer growth, and carry global recognition. CMA Salary in India: A Rising Graph With multinational corporations (MNCs) and global capability centers (GCCs) expanding aggressively, CMA Jobs opportunities in India is not just growing in number but in importance. Salaries scale with experience: - Freshers can expect 4-7 LPA. - Professionals with 1-3 years earn around 7-12 LPA. - Those with 3-5 years move into the 12-20 LPA bracket. - At managerial levels, pay climbs beyond 20 LPA. These figures prove why finance graduates and working professionals alike see CMA as the fastest route to high-paying jobs in India's top companies. Unlike traditional roles limited to bookkeeping or compliance, CMAs work in planning, forecasting, risk management, and strategy--all of which command premium compensation. CMA Jobs: A Global Perspective The appeal of CMA doesn't stop at India's borders. Globally, CMAs are often paid 30-40% more than non-certified peers, making the investment in the credential worth every bit. In the U.S., salaries begin at $60,000-$75,000 for entry-level positions, rise to $85,000-$100,000 with a few years' experience, and can exceed $180,000+ at the CFO or Director level. Beyond base pay, professionals often enjoy bonuses, stock options, and international mobility. This global portability is one of the strongest reasons aspirants pursue CMA--it's not just a job; it's a passport to careers in North America, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. CMA Jobs in India: Where the Opportunities Lie Let's talk about scope. The most promising CMA job opportunities in India today are in industries like IT, consulting, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, and BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance). Within these, roles typically offered include: - Financial Analyst - Management Accountant - FP&A (Financial Planning & Analysis) Manager - Cost Accountant/Controller - Internal Auditor/Compliance Officer - Risk Consultant - CFO or VP of Finance As companies push for data-driven decision-making, CMAs are uniquely qualified to step into these roles because of their blend of accounting and strategy. Unlike other finance certifications that focus narrowly on audits or compliance, CMA graduates are prepared to influence big-picture strategies while maintaining financial accuracy. CMA Salary vs CA: A Global Comparison While both CMA and CA are respected, their paths diverge when it comes to recognition and rewards. CAs typically earn 6-8 LPA as freshers, with scope largely limited to India or select Gulf countries. In contrast, CMA professionals earn higher salaries in global firms, thanks to their international recognition and adaptability. Simply put, CA offers a strong domestic career, while CMA delivers international exposure and faster salary growth. For ambitious professionals looking beyond borders, CMA is the natural choice. How Miles U.S. Pathway Secures Your Future At Miles Education, we believe in more than just exam preparation--we believe in transforming careers. That's why the Miles U.S. Pathway is a cornerstone of our program. It doesn't just guide you through CMA exams but connects you with direct job opportunities in Big 4 firms, Fortune 500 companies, and leading MNCs. As India's platinum partner of IMA, Miles ensures students gain the best blend of technical knowledge, mentorship, and placement support. No wonder it's widely recognized as Why Miles is No. 1 CMA Institute in India. "When students ask me about the value of CMA, I tell them this--it's not just about passing two exams. It's about transforming into a professional who earns more, leads better, and builds a global career. At Miles, we take pride in being the launchpad for those journeys." -- Mr. Varun Jain, CPA, CMA, Harvard Business School Alumnus. Your Next Move If you have been thinking about your future in finance, the answer is right in front of you. The CMA opens doors to high-paying jobs, rapid career progression, and global opportunities. With salaries scaling quickly, industries embracing CMA-qualified talent, and Miles Education by your side, the only question is: are you ready to step into the career you deserve? Miles CMA: Where ambition meets opportunity. Contact: +91 90049 34566 Website: www.mileseducation.com (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
NewsVoir Pune (Maharashtra) [India], September 29: Investors often look for ways to participate in sectors that may offer long-term growth potential. A healthcare fund may provide exposure to companies in the healthcare industry, including pharmaceuticals, hospitals, and biotechnology firms. This article explores what a healthcare fund is, how it works, potential benefits, key considerations, and how it may fit into a broader investment plan. What is a healthcare fund?A healthcare fund is an equity mutual fund that primarily invests in companies operating within the healthcare sector. Unlike diversified equity funds, a healthcare-focused fund concentrates on businesses that may potentially leverage trends in medical services, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology. This focus allows investors to participate in the growth potential of the sector while spreading investments across multiple companies within the industry. How does a healthcare fund work?A healthcare fund invests in shares of companies that operate in hospitals, pharmaceutical research, medical devices, or biotech. Fund managers may select stocks based on factors such as earnings, market position, regulatory developments, and sectoral trends. By investing in multiple companies within the healthcare sector, the fund provides exposure across different businesses in the industry. Performance: Past performance may or may not be sustained in future. Potential benefits of a healthcare fund * Sectoral growth exposure: Investors may get exposure to companies that are part of the healthcare sector.* Diversification within the sector: By investing across multiple healthcare companies, the fund spreads risk.* Professional management: Fund managers may choose stocks based on research and sector insights.* Long-term horizon: These funds are generally designed for investors who may want exposure to the healthcare sector over an extended period. Key factors to consider 1. Sector concentration risk - A healthcare fund focuses on a single sector, which may lead to relative volatility compared to diversified funds.2. Investment horizon - These funds may be suitable for medium- to long-term goals, as short-term fluctuations may occur.3. Fund management approach - The investment approach may vary depending on the fund manager's strategy.4. Costs and expenses - Expense ratio and exit load may have an impact on the overall returns and should be reviewed before investing.Role in a portfolio A healthcare fund may be used as part of a diversified investment plan. It may complement other equity, hybrid, or debt funds depending on an investor's goals and risk appetite. Including a sector-focused fund may provide exposure to healthcare while the rest of the portfolio helps maintain overall diversification. How compound interest calculators may help Investors may use a compound interest calculator to understand the effect of compounding in fixed-return scenarios. While actual returns of a healthcare fund depend on market conditions, such calculators may provide an indicative picture of how investments accumulate in general. The calculator is an aid, not a prediction tool. It may provide only an indicative picture. ConclusionA healthcare fund offers investors exposure to the healthcare sector, balancing potential growth and professional management in the long run. While returns may fluctuate due to sector and market conditions, such funds may suit investors with a medium- to long-term horizon seeking to participate in healthcare growth. Using tools like a compound interest calculator may provide an indicative picture of how investments accumulate over time. Consulting a financial advisor may help investors determine how a healthcare fund fits into a broader financial plan. Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme related documents carefully. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
VMPL Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], September 29: Quick commerce, once synonymous with late-night groceries and instant essentials, is now transforming the way India's creative community works. Brustro, a leading premium art supplies brand, has announced its entry into instant delivery platforms including Blinkit, Zepto, Instamart and BigBasket, ensuring that artists across metros and tier-2 cities can access their tools as quickly as possible. The move is designed to eliminate delays in the creative process. Whether it is a midnight sketch in Mumbai, a painting workshop in Bengaluru, or an urgent exhibition preparation in Jaipur or Coimbatore, Brustro's art materials can now reach users almost instantly. "An empty paint tube or a finished sketchbook should not interrupt creativity. By making our range available on quick-commerce platforms, we are enabling artists to continue their work without compromise" said the Co-founder, Mrs. Shilpa Maskara. A Year of Milestones Brustro's expansion into quick commerce follows a year of strong engagement with India's creative community. The brand created buzz at PaperWorld Mumbai 2025 with live demonstrations, interactive sessions and by hosting the Grand Brush Off Event, which featured engaging artist challenges; while its presence at ComicCon Mumbai, Bengaluru and Kolkata showcased art's role in fandom culture through fan-art challenges, live performances and product trials. Innovations in Art Tools The company also introduced a series of new products that are fast becoming favourites among professionals and hobbyists alike. Some of them include Artists' Charcoal Pencils Set of 4 for effortless sketches, Artists' Pastel Pencils Set of 72 for smooth blending, Fluid Acrylic Brush Pens for bold strokes and Mechanical Pencils for fine detailing. With the quick-commerce tie-up, this entire portfolio is now more accessible and convenient, reaching users across the country within minutes. Looking Ahead "By combining innovation with convenience, Brustro aims to bring uninterrupted creativity to every artist, regardless of location." Mr. Piyush Damani (Ecomm Head) commented.With its supplies now available on-demand across India, the brand says its mission is clear: to keep inspiring, innovating and making art possible anytime, anywhere. For more details, visit: https://brustro.in Media Contact:For Corporate CommunicationsEmail: Brustro@creativehands.in (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)
SK Group will host the Future Tech Forum AI on October 28 at Gyeongju EXPO Grand Park in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province.

"The forum is an official side event of the APEC CEO Summit, a business gathering held alongside the APEC Leaders' Meeting. It will bring together CEOs of leading domestic and global companies, government officials, and academics. Chey will serve as both chair of the event and keynote speaker. The forum will place particular focus on building a national AI ecosystem," the report said.

Ha Jung-woo, senior presidential secretary for AI Future Planning, will share Korea's AI experience, while AI experts from corporations and academia at home and abroad will explore AI strategies and industrial development paths for APEC member states.

Alongside the forum, SK Group will stage an exhibition at an outdoor pavilion called K-Tech Showcase.

The report said that it will highlight technologies from its affiliates SK hynix Inc., SK telecom Co., and SK enmove Co. Exhibits will include innovations in semiconductors, cooling, operations, and security for AI data centers, underscoring SK's efforts to position itself as a leader in AI infrastructure.

"The showcase is designed to demonstrate the conglomerate's ambition to support the entire AI ecosystem, from hardware to data-center operations, as it seeks to expand its footprint in the fast-growing sector," the report concluded. (ANI)
PNN New Delhi [India], September 29: The Awards Trust of India (ATI), in association with Aura Profile Management Services, is all set to organize one of India's most prestigious recognition ceremonies -- Atal Bharat Gaurav Sammaan, Bhartiya Sahitya Sammaan, and Ambedkar Bharat Gaurav Sammaan 2025. The grand event will take place at NEFDI, Guwahati, Assam on October 29, 2025, bringing together celebrated leaders, writers, change-makers, entrepreneurs, academicians, and social icons from across the country. This landmark ceremony is not just about celebrating individual excellence but also about acknowledging contributions that uplift society, inspire generations, and strengthen the idea of India. Awards Trust of India (ATI): A Platform of National Prestige The Awards Trust of India (ATI) has emerged as one of the most trusted and credible institutions for recognizing talent, leadership, and service across multiple domains. Through these awards, ATI reinforces its vision to honor outstanding contributions in literature, education, corporate leadership, governance, and social empowerment. The Atal Bharat Gaurav Sammaan pays tribute to the values of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee -- leadership, statesmanship, and national pride. The Bhartiya Sahitya Sammaan celebrates India's literary brilliance and recognizes authors, poets, and thought leaders whose words inspire change. Meanwhile, the Ambedkar Bharat Gaurav Sammaan acknowledges individuals who embody the values of social justice, equality, and empowerment, as envisioned by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. Esteemed Guests and Dignitaries Attending Award Trust of India's Upcoming Event The event will be graced by a distinguished lineup of chief guests and dignitaries, further enhancing its stature as one of India's premier recognition platforms. Notable attendees include: - Shri Ramen Deka - Hon'ble Governor of Chhattisgarh - Shri Ramdas Athawale - Union Minister of State, Govt. of India, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment - Dr. Numal Momin - Hon'ble Deputy Speaker, Assam Legislative Assembly - Shri Atul Bora - Hon'ble Minister of Excise, Assam - Dr. Vijay Kumar Gupta - Hon'ble Chairman, Duliajan Numaligarh Pipeline Ltd. (DNPL) - Mr. Binod Hazarika - MLA, Assam (Maji Gaon Luhariwal, Dibrugarh) - Mr. Pusul Murty - Chairman & Managing Director, NEDFi - Mr. Pranab Jyoti Lahkar - Vice Chairman, Assam State Transport Corporation - Mr. Raza Murad - Renowned Bollywood Actor - Mr. Ali Khan - Bollywood Actor - Mrs. Preety Kongana - Popular Assamese Actress - Col. R K Singh - Gallantry Award Winner, Indian Army Officer - Smt. Madhumita Kumari - Silver Medalist, Asian Games 2018 - Mr. Ambresh Kumar - Principal, KV NFR Rangapara - Mr. Palash Lahan - Social Activist & Politician - Dr. Sangeeta Tripathi - Director, Nerim Group of Institutions, Renowned Educationist & Social Activist - Mr. Shree Kumar - Vice President, Awards Trust of India - Dr. Manu Singh - Activist, Spiritual Trainer & Interfaith Practitioner - Prof. Anil Kumar - Social Worker & Educationist - Dr. Pradeep Jagtap - President, Federation of Ambedkart and Buddhist Organisation UK - RJ Mandy - UNICEF Radio Awardee, Assam Cluster Programming Head at Guwahati 93.5 FM Their presence will make the occasion even more memorable, as the event combines the worlds of policy, literature, cinema, sports, education, and social leadership. A Day Full of Grandeur and Recognition The upcoming event in Guwahati will be a celebration of India's diversity and excellence, featuring: Awards Felicitation Ceremony - honoring achievers in literature, education, corporate leadership, social service, entrepreneurship, arts, and more. Book Launches & Literary Dialogues - providing a platform to authors and thinkers to present their work. Panel Interactions & Keynote Speeches - by national leaders, academicians, and corporate visionaries. Cultural Performances & Networking - showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Assam while offering a vibrant networking opportunity. Sponsorship Benefits: A Golden Opportunity for Brands With the presence of policymakers, academicians, business leaders, artists, social icons, and national media, this event offers unmatched visibility for sponsors. Key Sponsorship Benefits include: Brand Visibility - Extensive promotion through event collaterals, backdrops, media coverage, and social media campaigns. Exclusive Networking - Direct engagement with dignitaries, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, writers, and achievers. Media & PR Exposure - Widespread coverage across national and regional media platforms, ensuring strong brand recall. On-Site Branding - Opportunity for sponsor branding in event spaces, stage setups, exhibition stalls, and cultural segments. Digital Integration - Inclusion in official websites, newsletters, social media promotions, and nomination campaigns. Thought Leadership - Sponsors may be invited to address sessions, felicitate awardees, or participate in panel discussions. CSR & Image Building - Association with a prestigious national event that celebrates social impact and nation-building. Customized sponsorship packages (Title Sponsor, Co-Sponsor, Associate Partner, Supporting Partner) are available to align with branding goals and outreach strategies. Invitation for Nominations - Atal Bharat Gaurav Sammaan, Bhartiya Sahitya Sammaan & Ambedkar Bharat Gaurav Sammaan in Guwahati on October 29, 2025 As part of this upcoming edition, ATI is inviting nominations from across India. Individuals, institutions, writers, professionals, entrepreneurs, and social leaders who have made remarkable contributions in their respective fields are encouraged to submit their nominations. Nominations are open across categories such as: - Literature & Writing - Business Leadership & Entrepreneurship - Education & Mentorship - Social Service & Empowerment - Arts & Culture - Innovation & Public Service The selection process will be guided by fair evaluation, transparency, and credibility, ensuring that only the most deserving achievers are honored. About Awards Trust of India (ATI) The Awards Trust of India (ATI) is a registered trust dedicated to identifying, recognizing, appreciating, and awarding individuals and organizations who are making an impact across diverse fields. Over the years, ATI has established itself as a benchmark for credible recognition by conducting national awards, CSR programs, social initiatives, government collaborations, and corporate events. About Aura Profile Management Services ATI's execution partner, Aura Profile Management Services, specializes in event management, talent recognition, and strategic profiling. Their expertise ensures seamless execution while amplifying the brand value of awardees. Event Details at a Glance Event: Atal Bharat Gaurav Sammaan, Bhartiya Sahitya Sammaan & Ambedkar Bharat Gaurav Sammaan 2025 Date: October 29, 2025 Venue: NEFDI, Guwahati, Assam Organized by: Awards Trust of India (ATI) In Association with: Aura Profile Management Services Nominate yourself or someone you know today and let their story inspire the nation. For nomination forms, partnership opportunities, or media inquiries, please contact: Awards Trust of India (ATI)Email: Info@awardstrustofindia.orgWebsite: https://awardstrustofindia.org/ Join us in Guwahati on October 29, 2025, as we celebrate India's finest minds and hearts at the Atal Bharat Gaurav Sammaan, Bhartiya Sahitya Sammaan, and Ambedkar Bharat Gaurav Sammaan. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
VMPL New Delhi [India], September 29: In an inspiring step towards public health advocacy, young changemaker Yeshaya has launched Cervichampions, a powerful comic book initiative designed to raise awareness about cervical cancer prevention among adolescent girls. Entirely written, conceived, conceptualised, and illustrated by Yeshaya herself, Cervichampions highlights the importance of early vaccination and education, bringing attention to one of the most preventable forms of cancer. The comic was officially launched at the 13th edition of the Delhi Literature Festival, 2025 by Member of Parliament Sushri Bansuri Swaraj, who also honoured Yeshaya with the Young Writers Award for her impactful storytelling and creative initiative. Cervichampions has garnered national recognition Notably, Member of Parliament Mithlesh Kumar from Shahjahanpur (U.P.) has actively supported the campaign by distributing the comic across multiple Vidyalayas in his constituency, reaching over 13,000 students and ensuring that young girls have access to vital information in an approachable and engaging format. Similarly, MLA Sameer Meghe, through the Meghe Group of Schools in Maharashtra, has facilitated the comic's distribution across 20 campuses, reaching over 20,000 students and further amplifying the message of prevention and early action among students. Yeshaya's awareness drive goes beyond publication In a heartfelt outreach program in association with Delhi Police and SHO - Fatehpur Beri, Sh. Rajesh Sharma at Gyan Kunj Public School, Jaunapur (Delhi), she personally conducted a cervical cancer awareness camp, interacting with young girls to educate them about the HPV vaccine, hygiene, and preventive care. Copies of Cervichampions, available in both Hindi and English, were distributed to students and donated to the school library for ongoing access. "I wanted to create something that speaks directly to young girls, something visual, relatable, and educational," said Yeshaya. "Cervical cancer is preventable, yet so many are unaware. With Cervichampions, I hope to empower girls with the knowledge they deserve." CerviChampions has also been made available online for free, in both Hindi and English language for greater access. As conversations about HPV vaccination and women's health gain momentum in India, initiatives like Cervichampions underscore the power of youth-led advocacy in driving change at the grassroots level. Yeshaya's dedication offers a shining example of how creativity can be used as a tool for social transformation and public health impact. (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)
BusinessWire India New Delhi [India], September 29: Impetus Technologies has been named among the Best Companies for Women in India (BCWI) 2025 by Avtar & Seramount, reaffirming its commitment to building a workplace that champions diversity, equity, and inclusion. This marks the sixth consecutive year that Impetus has received this coveted recognition. The BCWI 2025 study received over 365 applications and evaluated organizations on more than 300 parameters spanning workplace culture, gender inclusion, and advancement of women professionals. Commenting on the recognition, Sanjeev Agrawal, Senior Vice President - Operations & CHRO, Impetus Technologies, said: "At Impetus, we firmly believe that diversity fuels innovation and inclusion drives progress. Being recognized among the Best Companies for Women in India validates our consistent efforts to create an empowering workplace where women and diverse talent not only thrive but lead with impact. We remain committed to fostering a culture that is equitable, inclusive, and future-ready." Congratulating the winners, Dr. Saundarya Rajesh, Founder-President, Avtar Group, noted:"My heartiest congratulations to Impetus for bringing inclusion and belonging to life through intention and focused action! From an average women's representation of 25% in 2016, the best companies have collectively grown to 35.7% this year, with women in C-suite leadership now at an impressive 20%. As we honor these frontrunners, we are also inspired by the broader movement they are driving--one that empowers women, enables allies, and embraces diverse identities." Adding perspective, Subha V. Barry, President, Seramount, said: "What inspires me about the Most Inclusive Companies Index is the real change it sparks--helping organizations in India break down barriers, design thoughtful solutions, and open new opportunities for underrepresented talent. This recognition reflects the passion and commitment of leaders who are creating workplaces where women, LGBTQ+ employees, persons with disabilities, and talent across generations feel valued and can truly thrive." With this recognition, Impetus strengthens its long-standing vision of creating a workplace where innovation thrives through inclusion and where diverse talent is empowered to achieve extraordinary outcomes. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Regional Authority Delhi, under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, hosted an outreach programme on the recently concluded India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. According to a press release, the event brought together senior government officials, diplomats, Export Promotion Councils (EPCs), industry leaders, and trade associations to discuss the transformative potential of the Agreement for Indian exporters. Chairing the programme, Director General of Foreign Trade & Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Ajay Bhadoo, underlined the strategic significance of CETA in expanding India's footprint in the UK market. He highlighted tariff concessions, simplified market access provisions, and the scope for Indian MSMEs to integrate more strongly with global value chains. Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce, Saket Kumar, provided the background and strategic context of the negotiations, emphasising the government's commitment to creating new opportunities for Indian industry. Adding the UK government's perspective, Deputy Trade Commissioner for South Asia at the British High Commission in India, Anna Shotbolt, described the Agreement as a "milestone in bilateral trade ties" and encouraged Indian exporters to align with sustainability and quality standards to capture the premium segments of the UK market. Minister (Economic), High Commission of India in London, Nidhi Mani Tripathi, shared practical insights on emerging opportunities for Indian businesses in the UK, particularly in the food, textiles, and services sectors. "The event placed strong emphasis on sectoral perspectives through active participation from India's leading Export Promotion Councils. Chairman, APEDA, Abhishek Dev, highlighted the growing demand for Indian agri and processed food products in the UK, noting that CETA provides a gateway for India to tap into niche categories such as ethnic foods, organic produce, and ready-to-eat products. Director General, FIEO, Ajay Sahai, stressed the importance of multi-sector opportunities, urging exporters to look beyond traditional markets and adopt digital tools to reach UK buyers more efficiently," the release said. On the services front, Chairman of ESC, Veer Sagar, highlighted how India's IT and knowledge-based services can gain a sharper edge under the Agreement, while Director of SEPC, Swati Saraf, noted the potential for creative industries, education, and professional services to diversify India's services exports to the UK. From the manufacturing and creative sectors, EPC leaders highlighted their industries' strengths. Vice Chairman of GJEPC, Shaunak Parikh, spoke about positioning India's gems and jewellery in the UK's luxury retail landscape, while Additional Executive Director of EPCH, Rajesh Rawat, highlighted how handicrafts and carpets can carve out niche spaces in the premium UK market. Executive Director of EEPC, Adhip Mitra, underscored the potential of engineering goods and auto components, stressing innovation and compliance as key to success. General Manager of AEPC, Saurabh Kumar, emphasised India's competitiveness in the apparel and textiles sector, noting that CETA can boost exports if exporters align with sustainability and ethical sourcing standards. The dialogue was further enriched by buyers' perspectives, with General Secretary, Buying Agents Association, Anchal Kansal, stressing the importance of supply chain transparency and timely delivery in sustaining trust with UK buyers. The UK India Business Council (UKIBC) and HSBC also shared their views on fostering industry collaborations and building resilient supply chains to deepen India-UK trade. "The programme concluded with closing remarks from Additional DGFT, CLA New Delhi, Vrunda Manohar Desai, who expressed her gratitude to the speakers and participants while reiterating DGFT's commitment to supporting Indian exporters in leveraging CETA effectively. The outreach programme, compared by the Asst. DGFT, Hemant Kumar, marked a crucial step towards strengthening India-UK trade ties and positioning Indian exporters to make the most of this landmark Agreement," the release noted. (ANI)
Country music legend Dolly Parton postponed her upcoming Las Vegas concerts due to medical concerns, E! News reported. "As many of you know, I have been dealing with some health challenges, and my doctors tell me that I must have a few procedures," she shared on Instagram. "As I joked with them, it must be time for my 100,000-mile check-up, although it's not the usual trip to see my plastic surgeon!" She noted that she is rescheduling her performances from December 2025 to September 2026. "In all seriousness, given this, I am not going to be able to rehearse and put together the show that I want you to see, and the show that you deserve to see," Parton continued. "You pay good money to see me perform, and I want to be at my best for you. While I'll still be able to work on all of my projects from here in Nashville, I just need a little time to get show-ready, as they say," as quoted by E! News. "Don't worry about me quittin' the business because God hasn't said anything about stopping yet," she added. "But, I believe He is telling me to slow down right now so l can be ready for more big adventures with all of you. I love you and thank you for understanding." While the country icon didn't give further details on her health scare, she was recently forced to pull out of a Dollywood event after being diagnosed with a kidney stone that she said was causing "a lot of problems," E! News reported. Earlier, Dolly Parton was unable to attend a major event at her Dollywood theme park in Tennessee due to a kidney stone and subsequent infection, but the 79-year-old still made her presence felt virtually as the park unveiled its next big attraction--Night Flight Expedition, a ride set to open in 2026, E! News reported. Addressing fans in a video message during the ceremony, Parton explained her absence. "Hello Dollywood! It's me," Dolly said in a video shared during the unveiling ceremony. "I know--and I'm here, and you're there. And you're wondering why that is? Well, I had a little problem. Turned out it'd given me an infection," Dolly continued, "and the doctor said, 'You don't need to be travelling right this minute, so you need a few days to get better.'"She noted that she had a kidney stone that was causing her "a lot of problems". Dolly lamented that her doctor advised against her visit to the theme park. "I was looking so forward to it," she added. "But I'm there with you in spirit," as quoted by E! News. (ANI)
Mumbai's Shivaji Park police station received a bomb threat, claiming a bomb had been planted at Dadar railway station. Police, along with the Government Railway Police and bomb squad, searched the station and surrounding areas, "but found no suspicious objects", Mumbai police said.

A case has been registered, and police are working to locate the caller. It initially appears to be a hoax call, Police added.

Meanwhile, Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, several schools, and other institutions received bomb threat emails on Sunday, police said.

According to Delhi Police, "Bomb threat email has been sent to Delhi airport, schools and several other institutions. Investigation is being carried out."

The email claimed that bombs had been placed around school and airport administrations and warned of a "blood pool" if authorities did not act within 24 hours. The sender identified themselves as the leader of a terrorist group called "terrorizers 111" and described themselves in threatening terms.

The mail said that bombs were placed around the administration of schools and airports, and there were 24 hours to react or face the blood pool, police said. (ANI)
Speaking at the event, Parvesh Verma urged residents of Delhi to celebrate responsibly and remain alert during the festive season. "I want to tell all the residents of Delhi that it is festival time. Please, whenever you attend Ramleela, keep a watchful eye on the surroundings from a security perspective and maintain harmony among yourselves," he said to the reporters.

Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday attended the fifth day of the Ramleela organised by Sanatan Sanskarm in Sector 23 of the Bawana constituency, Rohini, as the chief guest.

During her visit, the Chief Minister interacted with differently-abled children present at the event and appreciated their active participation in the cultural celebrations.

Earlier this week, CM Rekha Gupta had announced that loudspeakers used during Ramleela, Durga Puja, and other cultural-religious events in Delhi would be permitted until midnight, extending the time limit beyond the earlier restriction of 10 PM.

The chief minister said the time extension aims to allow Hindu festivals to continue without time restrictions, similar to celebrations in other states.

The nine-day Navratri festival, dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga's nine incarnations, is being celebrated across the country with devotion. The festivities include fasting, prayers, and traditional dances such as Garba and Dandiya, contributing to a joyful and vibrant atmosphere. (ANI)
The Punjab Government held a special awareness and support camp to curb stubble burning, with a dedicated control room set up for real-time monitoring in Amritsar on Sunday. The control room, utilising satellite data, will detect stubble burning incidents and immediately inform the Sub-Divisional Magistrate official of the area where the stubble burning is detected. The SDM will dispatch a team to counsel the farmers against burning stubble. "Satellites detect stubble-burning incidents using various sensors, and the data is monitored by our officers. Nodal and cluster officers of the concerned area then alert the SDM about the incident. A team immediately visits the spot to counsel farmers against burning stubble," Yug, Control Room Supervisor, told ANI. "These continuous efforts have made farmers more aware of the harmful effects, and many are now avoiding the practice. We also inform them about different state government schemes that support alternatives to stubble burning. Additionally, farmers who refrained from burning stubble were honoured on Independence Day and Republic Day," he added. Stubble burning in neighbouring states, including Punjab, is one of the major causes of air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region during the winter. Meanwhile, in continuation of its sustained efforts to abate paddy stubble burning incidents in the region, the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) held two significant review meetings with senior officials of Punjab and Haryana on September 25 and 26, respectively, stated a release from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Senior officers of various concerned departments, including District Magistrates, Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and SSPs from 23 Districts of Punjab and 22 Districts of Haryana, attended the respective review meetings. The review focused on the preparedness of both the States for the paddy harvesting season 2025, in compliance with the Commission's Directions 90 and 92. These directions mandate effective in-situ and ex-situ crop residue management, eliminating paddy stubble burning in hotspot Districts, for monitoring and actions being undertaken by the States of Punjab and Haryana. Further, Flying Squad teams will be deputed in the two States for monitoring progress at the field level in the hotspot Districts. The State Governments were requested to direct all concerned in the district administration to facilitate the Flying Squads and provide them with updated status from time to time. It was highlighted that the CAQM Cell has been established at Kheti Bhawan, SAS Nagar (Mohali), which will monitor paddy stubble management and pollution activities to facilitate Inter-State coordination between Punjab and Haryana. The Commission urged close cooperation with the Cell to accelerate on-ground action with continuous monitoring and vigilance. (ANI)
BEIJING, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- China will introduce a new policy-based financial instrument worth 500 billion yuan (about 70.3 billion U.S. dollars), as part of the country's efforts to improve financial services for the real economy and boost effective investment, a spokesperson for the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said on Monday.

The funds will be used to replenish project capital, NDRC spokesperson Li Chao told a press conference.

The NDRC is working with relevant parties to swiftly channel the funds to specific projects, and it will urge local governments to accelerate project construction, thereby bolstering stable and sound economic growth, Li added. 
Prohibitions under Section 163 of the BNSS, 2023 continue to be imposed in Leh following the violence on September 24. Assembling five or more persons is prohibited in the district; no procession, rally, or march is to be carried out without prior written approval. Security personnel remain deployed across Leh. People of Ladakh have been demanding the inclusion of the Union Territory in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution contains Article 244(2) and 275(1), which reads, "Provisions as to the Administration of Tribal Areas in the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram." A total of 44 people have been arrested in connection with the violence, which resulted in the deaths of four individuals. Among those arrested is Sonam Wangchuk, a prominent activist and advocate for the implementation of the 6th Schedule in Ladakh. He had been on a hunger strike, which he ended just as the violence broke out. Later on September 26, the police fired during the protests, leading to the deaths. Wangchuk was detained under the National Security Act (NSA) and is currently being held in Jodhpur jail in Rajasthan. He has been accused of inciting violence. A day earlier, the JKPCC President, Tariq Hameed Karra, addressed the Ladakh protests. Speaking to mediapersons, he claimed that this ongoing agitation is a result of five years of deceit and unfulfilled commitments. "The current agitation is a result of the deceit of the last five years and the unfulfillment of commitments..." Karra told reporters. During the discussion of the Ladakh agitation and its resulting violence, Karra alleged that the current protesters were the same individuals who had celebrated the abrogation of Article 370 and had been utilised by the government during that time. "Today, we want to address a very sensitive and nationally significant issue: the situation in Ladakh. Four people have already died, and around 90 have been injured... Those protesting against the Government of India and local administration are the same individuals who were used by the government during the abrogation of Article 370. They were happy when Article 370 was abrogated..." said Karra. (ANI)
Water rafting on the Chenab River in Reasi resumed after a long suspension of almost six months on Monday. River rafting was halted due to adverse weather conditions in the region, as continuous rainfall had increased the water level of the river, causing a flood-like situation. One of the locals who is also associated with the rafting industry highlighted the impact of the halt on the people and said, "The biggest impact of the Pahalgam attack and weather conditions was on the tourist industry. Our occupation is tourist-based, but due to bad weather, the Vaishno Devi Yatra was halted, and our maximum clients are those taking this yatra. So when the yatra halted, our clients stopped coming as well. It was also important for safety, but the suspension time was very long. However, we are now hopeful that the business will be successful. Some companies have invested, people took loans, and there are rents to be paid as well, and all this depends on the rafting." One of the tourists who participated in rafting shared his experience and said, "I keep going on vacation, and this time we came here. I heard that rafting had been halted for several months, and I saw today that the activity had resumed, with people performing. Someone guided us as well, and we decided to participate. So we did try, we did rafting, and we enjoyed it a lot. I recommend everyone come here and explore this. This is a fun activity, and it also refreshes the body." Vir Gupta, a tourist from Surat, said, "As it was said, the rafting resumed after several months. I did rafting, and it was a great experience. I am here with my few friends, and they enjoyed it too. The water is cold, and the scenic beauty makes the whole rafting experience even more enjoyable." Arjun Shukla, also from Surat, said, "We came here to offer our prayers to Mata Vaishno Devi. Today we did rafting. The water is very cold, we are surrounded by mountains, and there is no noise. It was a really fun experience. Sumit, also from Surat, participated in rafting after offering his prayers at the Vaishno Devi shrine. He said, "We saw the weather was bad and there were incidents of landslide, as well as a terrorist attack that happened here. However, there is significant development in the area, with hotels and food readily available. I really enjoyed it here, and my rafting experience was great. Everyone should come here and enjoy." (ANI)
Justice Sachin Datta made the observation while directing United India Insurance Company Limited to release the balance amount to petitioner Reena Goel, whose Covid-19 hospitalisation claim was only partly reimbursed despite being within the insured coverage.

The non-release of the deficit amount is clearly unjustified and contrary to the clarification/s issued by IRDAI, the court noted.

The Court noted that the Delhi government's June 20, 2020, circular was intended to regulate the fees hospitals charged patients for Covid-19 treatment, rather than to reduce the reimbursement payable under insurance policies.

The position, the Court emphasised, had already been clarified by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) through circulars issued in January and April 2021.

The petitioner was represented by advocates Rakshita Goyal, Sanyam Gupta, Aditya Goel, Anju Bhushan Gupta, and Ankita Chaudhary.

On the other side, Abhishek Nanda, Hrishika Rawat, and Sourabh Singh appeared for IRDAI (respondent no.2)

Goel had been admitted between December 4 and December 18, 2020, and incurred expenses of 3,56,295. Although she was covered under a 3 lakh base policy and an additional 3 lakh "Super Top Up Medicare Policy," the insurer reimbursed only 1,75,340, citing the Delhi government's circular.

Finding the insurer's reliance on the circular unjustified, the Court held that the deficit payment was contrary to IRDAI's clarifications and the past conduct of the insurer in similar cases. It directed United India Insurance to settle the balance claim within four weeks. (ANI)
Following a row over the violence in Bareilly, the President of All India Muslim Jamaat, Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Bareilvi, appealed to the public to maintain peace. Speaking to ANI on Monday, Maulana Bareilvi said that the situation in Bareilly is peaceful. He said, "The situation in Bareilly is peaceful, and there is no disturbance. However, I appeal to everyone to maintain peace." Further, advising against processions like in Bareilly, he said, "The love for the Prophet should be in hearts, not on the streets." "The methods used to express love for the Prophet are inappropriate. These actions lead to the posters with the name of 'Muhammad' being torn, fallen, and desecrated. I also advise against holding demonstrations, processions, or agitations during festivals of other religions.... The love for the Prophet should be in hearts, not on the streets," he told ANI. Maulana Bareilvi's remarks came after the 26 September protests by a group of people who gathered outside Ala Hazrat Dargah and IMC chief Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan's house. Meanwhile, local residents also said that the police have maintained peace in the area. Pan sellers in Bareilly market highlighted that they incurred losses amid violence and curfew in the region. Local resident Rajesh Sharma told ANI, "The Situation is calm now. Goods got destroyed amid the clash. I incurred a loss of Rs 1000 to 2000, while I earn just Rs 200-300 in a day. Chief Minister did well." Another local resident said, "There is peace now. That day, even after a refusal, they were coming in small groups. They pelted stones at the police, after which the police retaliated with a lathi charge. Miscreants should be treated in this manner. Tauqeer Raza Khan's property has been sealed." "The market was closed, and I incurred a huge loss. Earlier, the curfews lasted for eight to ten days," local Sanjeev said. (ANI)
Tushar Gandhi, great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, embarked on the 'Samvidhan Satyagraha Padyatra' from Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur on Monday. He said that the protest march will carry the message of love against the "politics of hatred" by the Sangh Parivar organisations. The march will conclude at Sevagram Ashram in Wardha on October 2 - the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, celebrated as Gandhi Jayanti. Maharashtra Congress President Harshwardhan Sapkal also joined the padyatra (march). Tushar Gandhi alleged that the "communal hatred" spread by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its affiliated organisations threatened the unity of the country. He said that his padayatra was aimed at strengthening and protecting the Constitution. "We are doing Satyagraha Padyatra to strengthen and protect the Constitution. We are carrying the message of love against the hatred spread in the society and politics by the Sangh and its affiliates because if hatred increases, it would be adverse for the unity of the country," Tushar Gandhi told ANI. Maharashtra Congress President Harshwardhan Sapkal said that the Padyatra will challenge "the divisive foundations laid by the RSS regarding untouchability and discrimination." "We are taking out this Padyatra to challenge the divisive foundations laid by the RSS regarding untouchability and discrimination. It aims to engage all Indians in upholding the Constitution and the principles of truth and non-violence," Sapkal told ANI. Ahead of the Padyatra, a torch march was taken out in Nagpur on Sunday. The Maharashtra Congress chief, along with many of his party workers, participated in the march. In July this year, Tushar Gandhi conducted "Badlo Bihar Nai Sarkar" (Change Bihar, New Government) programme targeting the NDA government in the State. Stressing the need for change in Bihar, Tushar Gandhi had called on everyone to strengthen the INDIA bloc, as there is a "considerable dissatisfaction" among the people of Bihar with the present government. Speaking to ANI, Tushar Gandhi had said, "Nitish ji has been in politics for 20 long years. He has enjoyed power in many ways. But now, change is necessary. Change is inevitable in a democracy. Nitish Kumar vapis ek baar ghar vapsi bhi kar lein, toh bhi acha hoga. We call everyone to strengthen the INDIA (alliance)." "In the INDIA (alliance), there has been a tradition from the beginning that the Chief Minister is decided after the election results. We have become addicted to contesting elections with a particular face. We must remember that we have chosen the model of party democracy, where the leader is selected only after the results," he further said. The Bihar Assembly election is scheduled to take place later this year. (ANI)
Delhi Police on Monday questioned Chaitanyananda Saraswati in connection with allegations of sexual harassment of female students at Sri Sharda Institute of Indian Management. Early this morning, the police took him to the institute and questioned him in the room where he allegedly called students. The police also asked him about the cameras he had access to. He was later brought back to the police station, where senior officers continued to interrogate him. A day earlier, Delhi's Patiala House Court sent Chaitanyananda Saraswati to five days' police custody. Speaking to ANI, Saraswati's lawyer, Manish Gandhi, stated that some prominent individuals are allegedly involved in a "huge conspiracy" behind him, and the issue is something else. "A five-day remand was sought by the police. We also filed certain applications, which the judge granted. In those applications, we were granted daily visits, while the police were granted five days' custody. There's a huge conspiracy behind this. The issue is something else. Some very prominent people are involved in this, whose names we will soon disclose..." Gandhi said. Police recovered two fake visiting cards from Chaitanyananda Saraswati, one claiming he is a Permanent Ambassador to the United Nations and another describing him as a member of the BRICS Joint Commission and a Special Envoy of India. Police also recovered three phones, an iPad, and fake visiting cards from Chaitanyananda Saraswati, which showed him as a government official linked to BRICS and the UN. Chaitanyananda Saraswati, also known as Partha Sarathy, is accused of sexually harassing female students at Sri Sharda Institute of Indian Management. The institute, affiliated with Sri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri, offers a Postgraduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) course under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) scholarship. On September 23, Delhi Police had registered a case of alleged sexual harassment against the accused based on a complaint filed at Vasant Kunj North Police Station. According to the FIR, Chaitanyananda Saraswati has been accused of allegedly committing multiple acts of sexual harassment and misconduct. The complaint states that the Sri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri, revoked the Powers of Attorney issued to him in 2008. (ANI)
Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday reached the site of the September 27 stampede in Karur in Tamil Nadu in which 41 people lost their lives. The Union Minister then visited the Government Medical College Hospital in Karur. Earlier today, she arrived at the Coimbatore International Airport before proceeding to the site of the stampede that took place during a public event of TVK (Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam) chief and actor Vijay. Sitharaman was accompanied by Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs L Murugan. Meanwhile, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court will hear later today a case filed by TVK in the stampede. The Tamil Nadu government has today appointed Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Premanandan as the new investigating officer to lead the probe into the stampede that occurred during the TVK president's rally. The death toll rose to 41 today, with two more victims succumbing to injuries, while 67 others continue to receive treatment in various hospitals. Among the deceased are 18 women, 13 men, five young girls, and five young boys. So far, 34 victims are from the Karur district, two each from the Erode, Tiruppur, and Dindigul districts, and one from the Salem district. The massive crowd at Vijay's rally on Saturday evening reportedly turned chaotic, triggering panic. Several attendees fainted and were rushed to nearby hospitals. Sources had said that overcrowding at the venue led to the tragedy. TVK president Vijay has termed the loss "irreparable", said he stands with the bereaved families and confirmed Rs 20 lakh compensation for each family of the deceased and Rs 2 lakh for the injured. "No words can comfort this pain, but I share your grief," he said. Political leaders across party lines, including Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, opposition leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami, and Union leaders, have expressed grief and called for strict measures to prevent recurrence. Chief Minister MK Stalin, expressing deep grief, said, "This is an unbearable loss for Tamil Nadu. We have ordered a judicial inquiry and appointed a new senior officer to ensure accountability and prevent such tragedies in the future." He also announced compensation of Rs 10 lakh for each family of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh for each person undergoing treatment. Opposition leader Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) accused the government of failing to anticipate the massive turnout. "Despite knowing Vijay's rally would attract thousands, there was inadequate crowd management and security. The government must take responsibility for these avoidable deaths," he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced that the families of the deceased would receive two lakh rupees each from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund. PM Modi also announced an amount of Rs 50,000 each for the people injured in the tragic incident. TN Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin and other ministers visited the Karur Government Medical College Hospital on Sunday to oversee the treatment of the injured and review relief operations. Demands have also been raised by parties like VCK, TMC, and DMDK for enhanced compensation to the victims' families. (ANI)
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta performed a havan at the new BJP Delhi headquarters on Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg on Monday, ahead of its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Several senior BJP leaders and ministers, including Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Supriya Swaraj, Ashish Sood, Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma, Harsh Malhotra, Kamaljeet Sehrawat, Yogender Chandolia, and Delhi BJP President Virendraa Sachdeva, were present at the ceremony. CM Rekha Gupta said the inauguration marked a special day, symbolising both grandeur and sensitivity. "The office, funded by donations, underscores BJP's identity as a service organisation," she noted. Minister Ashish Sood described the new premises as "a centre where the party workers take inspiration to serve the public, "Today, the BJP will shift from government premises to a private one." BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj said the new building gave Delhi BJP a permanent base. "Delhi BJP finally has a home now... BJP's double engine government is in Delhi and the state is progressing on the path of development," she said. Parvesh Verma called it "a matter of pride that our Prime Minister, Union Home Minister and party's National President gave us such an office. Today we will get guidance from the Prime Minister and thousands of workers will also be attending." Union Minister Harsh Malhotra termed the day "very auspicious," adding that the new office would serve as "a source of strength for our workers." He said, "A havan was performed in the morning and in the evening PM Modi will inaugurate it." Kamaljeet Sehrawat said the new headquarters would give momentum to the party. "This is a very big day for us. Delhi has a BJP CM and major leaders are from BJP. This will give us momentum," she said. Delhi Minister Yogender Chandolia added, "Till today we were in a temporary office, now we have come to a permanent office. The inauguration has been done in the presence of BJP's National General Secretary (Organisation) BL Santosh ji." (ANI)
The Cyber Cell of Delhi Police Crime Branch has busted an interstate cyber fraud syndicate involved in cheating people through a fake cryptocurrency trading platform, "BitBank," officials said. Police said the case originated from a complaint alleging fraud of 31.75 lakh, after the victim was lured into investing in a fraudulent cryptocurrency application. The complainant was initially contacted via Facebook, and later, posing as a BitBank executive on WhatsApp, the accused convinced the victim to download the fake trading app. The victim was induced to transfer large sums into various bank accounts on the pretext of high returns through fake share and IPO allotments. An FIR was registered at PS Cyber South West, Delhi, and entrusted to the Cyber Cell, Crime Branch for investigation. Considering the gravity of the offence, a dedicated team was formed. Officials said one accused, Nitin Sharma (42), a resident of Ludhiana, Punjab, was arrested after he was identified withdrawing 10 lakh in cash from a bank, as confirmed through CCTV footage. His mobile devices were recovered, which contained incriminating WhatsApp chats, transaction details, and other digital evidence directly linking him to the cyber fraud syndicate. Further analysis revealed that several WhatsApp numbers used in the fraud were active in Cambodia, confirming the international dimension of the cybercrime, officials said. Police identified the accused as Nitin Sharma (42), a graduate and resident of Ludhiana, Punjab, who was involved in local business at Anaj Mandi, Ludhiana. Further investigation is underway. In another operation, Delhi Police Crime Branch apprehended two persons in a major crackdown on a counterfeit automobile spare parts racket. During the operation, a large quantity of fake spare parts was seized, all bearing the names and packaging of leading automobile companies, a press release said. Acting on reliable inputs regarding the storage and distribution of fake automobile parts of reputed international brands, simultaneous raids were carried out on August 29 at two premises in Karol Bagh in New Delhi.According to the release, the police action resulted in the apprehension of the two accused and the recovery of duplicate auto parts worth Rs 90 lakh. The seizure highlights the scale of the illegal operation and the threat it poses to both consumer safety and the reputation of established brands. (ANI)
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief and actor Vijay on Monday held a video conference with senior leaders from his Pattinapakkam penthouse to discuss the next steps following the Karur stampede, which claimed 41 lives. Meanwhile, posters condemning TVK chief Vijay, depicting him with bloodstained hands, have appeared in parts of Karur. The death toll from the stampede at Tamil Nadu Vetri Kazhagam leader Vijay''s campaign rally in Tamil Nadu''s Karur has risen to 41. Among the deceased are 18 women, 13 men, five young girls, and five young boys, bringing the total to 41. So far, 34 victims are from the Karur district, two each from the Erode, Tiruppur, and Dindigul districts, and one from the Salem district. The massive crowd at Vijay''s rally on Saturday evening reportedly turned chaotic, triggering panic. Several attendees fainted and were rushed to nearby hospitals. Sources had said that overcrowding at the venue led to the tragedy. A day earlier, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief and actor Vijay announced that he will provide financial assistance of Rs 20 lakh to the bereaved families and Rs 2 lakh to the injured in the unfortunate stampede that took place in Tamil Nadu''s Karur during his rally. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced that the families of the 39 people who died in the Karur stampede would receive two lakh rupees each from the Prime Minister''s National Relief Fund. PM Modi also announced an amount of Rs 50,000 each for the people injured in the tragic incident. Sharing an X post, PMO said, "PM Narendra Modi has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF to be given to the next of kin of each deceased in the unfortunate incident at a political rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu. The injured would be given Rs 50,000." Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK announced compensation of Rs 10 lakh for each family of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh for each person undergoing treatment. (ANI)
The covert rise of China-Iran military ties and Israel's dilemma By Oded Ailam

web posted September 29, 2025 In the tense weeks following the recent 12-day conflict involving Israel, the United States, and Iran, Israeli intelligence and Western observers detected a surge in discreet Chinese military shipments to Iran. On at least two occasions earlier in 2025, Chinese cargo planes landed quietly on Iranian soil, unloading critical components destined to revive and expand Iran's ballistic missile and air defense capabilities. These deliveries came amid Israeli airstrikes that severely crippled Iran's existing missile arsenal and its aging Russian-made air defense systems. While Beijing publicly maintained a stance of neutrality, intelligence reports reveal a more complex reality: an intensified Chinese role in rehabilitating Iran's military strength as part of a broader strategic partnership aimed at countering American influence in the region. Israel faces a thorny dilemma: any direct attack on these Chinese shipments risks escalating tensions dramatically with Beijing. Unlike Iranian or Russian equipment, Chinese military consignments carry the danger of igniting a broader geopolitical crisis, given China's sensitive global standing and growing assertiveness. Israeli policymakers, therefore, must carefully calibrate their responses to avoid confrontation while managing the broader threat to regional security. Historical Background: The Long Road of China-Iran Relations China and Iran's relationship stretches back to ancient times, rooted in Silk Road trade and cultural exchange more than two millennia ago. Official diplomatic ties between the People's Republic of China and Iran were established in 1971, coinciding with a period of pragmatic engagement that has since evolved through Cold War tensions, revolution, and shifting alliances. After the 1979 Islamic Revolution, China became one of the few countries willing to sell arms and dual-use technology to Iran despite international embargoes. The ties between the two deepened notably after Iran prioritized missile development in the late 1980s following the devastating Iran-Iraq war. China began providing ballistic missile technology and crucial components, supporting Iran's ambitions to establish a robust missile program for regional deterrence. The 2013-2015 Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) marked a diplomatic turning point, easing sanctions and enabling China to significantly expand its economic and energy cooperation with Iran, while continuing a nuanced security partnership. With the recent deterioration of China-U.S. relations, Beijing has increasingly viewed Iran as a vital strategic partner to counterbalance Washington's influence in the Middle East and beyond. China's Military Aid: Reviving Ballistic Missiles and Air Defense China's military assistance to Iran is multifaceted, focusing heavily on missile technology and air defense systems, two pillars of Tehran's asymmetric warfare strategy. Reports confirm that China supplies Iran with essential precursors for solid-fuel ballistic missile propellants, guidance system components, and expertise to rebuild missile production lines disrupted by Israeli strikes and sanctions. In addition to ballistic missile technology, China recently delivered advanced surface-to-air missile systems to Iran, such as variants of the HQ-9B, which are comparable to Russia's S-300 systems but considered superior in some capabilities. These systems extend Iran's air defense range and improve its ability to counter Israeli air strikes and U.S. aerial incursions. The HQ-9B deployment follows Iran's loss of much of its existing Russian-supplied S-300 arsenal to Israeli attacks in 2024 and during the recent 12-day war. Assessing the Threat to Israel Iran's ballistic missiles represent a significant threat to Israel due to their warhead size, advanced propulsion, and increasing range. Some designs incorporate maneuverable reentry vehicles and hypersonic technologies that complicate interception. Despite Israel's multilayered air defense network, including the Iron Dome, David's Sling, and the Arrow interceptors, some Iranian missiles have managed to breach these defenses during recent conflicts. The infusion of Chinese missile technology and advanced air defense systems heightens this threat. The HQ-9B presents a more formidable challenge to Israeli air operations by potentially denying airspace and complicating precision strikes aimed at Iran's missile production sites. This hardware upgrade could significantly degrade Israel's current tactical advantage in the region's asymmetric conflict dynamic. Recommendations Given these escalating challenges, Israel faces a complex strategic environment requiring a mix of diplomatic engagement and covert action to thwart the ongoing Chinese-Iranian military cooperation. 1. Activate Covert Diplomatic Channels with China Given the sensitivity and complexity of confrontation, Israel should prioritize discreet backchannel diplomacy with Beijing. This includes leveraging existing intelligence contacts and diplomatic networks to communicate firm Israeli red lines against the supply of missile and air defense components to Iran. Israel should emphasize the geopolitical risks China faces from destabilizing the Middle East and remind Beijing of the potential global ramifications, including damage to China's international image as a responsible power. Israel might also explore cooperation with Chinese commercial entities vulnerable to secondary sanctions, applying quiet but effective economic pressure ranging from restricting investment approvals in key sectors to leveraging the threat of broader trade disruptions if Chinese military support continues unfettered. 2. Strengthen Joint U.S.-Israel Leverage on Chinese Energy Imports Strategically, China imports around 10% of its oil from Iran, making Tehran a significant energy supplier for Beijing's vast economy. This economic interdependence offers a vital lever for Israel and its allies, especially the United States. If China continues to provide military support to Iran at the expense of regional stability, Washington and Jerusalem can push to restrict or block the Iranian crude oil shipments fueling China's energy needs. The use of coordinated sanctions, enhanced maritime interdiction, and financial pressure could compel Beijing to reconsider its overt military assistance, balancing its economic interests against growing diplomatic costs. Israel and the United States must coordinate closely to monitor and interdict Iran's oil shipments to China. Through financial pressure on Chinese "teapot" refineries and tighter sanctions on intermediaries enabling Tehran's oil exports, strategic pressure can be maximized. Public diplomatic pressure combined with behind-the-scenes economic tools can expose and disrupt the military-financing pipeline Beijing provides to Tehran. 3. Expand Covert Intelligence and Sabotage Operations Israeli intelligence should intensify HUMINT infiltration and cyber operations targeting Iran's missile production and supply chains, especially the newly established facilities reconstructed with Chinese assistance. Operations akin to prior successful sabotage campaigns focused on unexploded missile parts, precursor chemical plants, and Chinese-linked industrial complexes can buy critical time to prevent full operationalization of the new systems. Israel should pay special attention to the logistics networks facilitating these Chinese shipments, both at sea and on land. Covert sabotage of shipping routes or key cargo components without implicating China directly will help delay Iran's military rehabilitation while avoiding escalating Israeli-Chinese tensions. 4. Amplify Regional Diplomatic Pressure Israel should deepen alliances with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members who share concerns about Chinese military engagement in Iran. A coordinated regional diplomatic front can spotlight Chinese arms deliveries and press Beijing towards restraint. The GCC's economic ties with China can become additional levers for constraint. 5. Public Diplomacy to Undermine China's Narrative China's relations with Iran remain delicate, with Beijing walking a fine line between strategic pragmatism and its desire to be seen as a responsible global power. Israel can continue to expose Chinese complicity in facilitating Iranian missile proliferation in international forums and through media outlets, adding reputational cost to Beijing's military support. Conclusion The covert influx of Chinese military-material shipments to Iran has marked a new phase in the rehabilitation of Tehran's ballistic missile and air defense capabilities, posing a substantial risk to Israel's strategic security. Yet direct military confrontations with Chinese shipments are fraught with risk, mandating a sophisticated and multifaceted response. To successfully counter this emerging challenge, Israel must adopt a sophisticated dual strategy that combines robust diplomatic engagement with potent covert operations. Only by exposing and disrupting the Chinese backing of Iran's military resurgence can Israel hope to maintain its strategic edge and regional security in the face of intensifying Sino-Iranian cooperation. Israel's challenge lies in using economic leverage over Chinese energy interests and activating covert diplomatic and operational channels to influence Beijing's behavior. By coupling discreet backchannel engagement with enhanced intelligence and sabotage efforts to disrupt Iran's military buildup, Israel can foil the Chinese rehabilitation program without provoking a direct Sino-Israeli conflict. This nuanced strategy, grounded in pragmatism and strategic patience, will be essential to preserving Israel's security advantage in an increasingly complex geopolitical arena dominated by Sino-American rivalry and Iranian ambitions in the Middle East. Oded Ailam is a former head of the Counterterrorism Division in the Mossad and is currently a researcher at the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs (JCFA). Home
Maharashtra Congress on Monday wrote to Governor Acharya Devvrat, demanding a special Assembly Session to discuss the impact of heavy rains and floods in several parts of the State. Highlighting the impact of floods in Marathwada, Vidarbha and Western Maharashtra on farmers, Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar stressed the need for a policy decision and demanded that a wet drought be declared in the State. The party also asked for a loan waiver and financial compensation for the farmers. In his letter, Wadettiwar wrote, "It is very important to take immediate concrete policy decisions to get the state out of this serious crisis. For this, it is necessary to take immediate decisions on the following major demands: A 'Wet Drought' should be declared in the state immediately, and a comprehensive, substantial financial assistance and rehabilitation package should be announced for the affected farmers, workers and common citizens." "Loan Waiver and Compensation: This is the right time to fulfil our promise of loan waiver for all the affected farmers. Also, immediate compensation should be provided after proper valuation of crops and property," the letter added. "Since this situation is very serious, we humbly request the government to immediately convene a special session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly to discuss this urgent issue in detail and take concrete policy decisions that will provide relief to the people," Wadettiwar wrote. In the letter, he claimed that the farmers are facing major crop damage, with more than four lakh hectares of agricultural land destroyed. He wrote, "Due to this unprecedented natural disaster, the farmers and the common citizens are in complete distress and have suffered irreparable losses." "Some of the major causes of the damage and emergency and the current status are...massive loss to crops and agriculture: Standing crops on an area of more than 4 lakh hectares in the State have been completely destroyed. Agricultural lands have been washed away (eroded) in many places, due to which the life-long labour of the farmers has been wasted. It is not possible to get even five per cent of the produce this season," the Congress leader wrote. Earlier on Sunday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis held a detailed review of the flood situation in Jalna and Latur districts, directing the administration to intensify relief and rescue operations while ensuring the safety of citizens amid continuing heavy rainfall in the Marathwada region, the Chief Minister's office said in a statement. The Chief Minister was informed that around 26 revenue circles in Jalna district have experienced heavy rainfall. During the relief operation, out of 51 projects, 48 are overflowing. A total of 225 citizens from Bhoipur, Arjunnagar, Lalbagh, and Khandasari were relocated to safe places, while 52 citizens were rescued from flood situations. According to the release, since June, nine citizens have lost their lives; financial assistance has been provided to the families of seven deceased. While in the Latur district, areas such as Ahmadpur, Nivdi, Udgir, Chakur, Renapur, and Jalkot were evacuated to safety. More than 500 citizens have been accommodated in relief camps. (ANI)
The Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma will also visit the Sanganer assembly constituency today to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for multiple development projects at Kharwas Circle in Mansarovar, Jaipur.

He will also distribute scooters and flag off an ambulance.

Earlier on September 25, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "gifting" multiple development projects to the state.

"Whenever PM Modi visits Rajasthan, he gives a gift to the state. Today, projects worth over crores were inaugurated by him in the state. The PM also gave appointment letters to the youth. So far, we have issued appointment letters to 51,000 youth. We are making a tourism circuit revolving around Rana Pratap," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and inaugurated multiple development projects worth over Rs 1,22,100 crore, jointly undertaken by the central and state governments, in Banswara, Rajasthan.

The Prime Minister flagged off three trains: Vande Bharat Express Train between Bikaner and Delhi Cantt, Vande Bharat Express Train between Jodhpur and Delhi Cantt, and Udaipur City - Chandigarh Express.

PM Modi also interacted with beneficiaries of the 'PM-KUSUM' project from Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka, in Banswara district.

The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of Anushakti Vidhyut Nigam Ltd's (ASHVINI) Mahi Banswara Rajasthan Atomic Power Project (4X700 MW) worth around Rs 42,000 crore in line with his commitment to transform India's power sector to ensure affordable, reliable, and sustainable power supply.

It will be one of the largest nuclear plants in the country, supplying reliable base load energy, and will strengthen India's position in environmental stewardship and the evolving nuclear energy landscape.

Mahi Banswara Rajasthan Atomic Power Project comprises four indigenous 700 MW Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors with advanced safety features, designed and developed by NPCIL. (ANI)
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Monday said the ongoing State Assembly will continue its discussion on the Rehabilitation Bill, which was introduced by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann after the devastating effects of the flood in Punjab and the damages incurred by the state. He also pointed out that while Punjab demanded Rs 20,000 crore in aid, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced only Rs 1,600 crore, which has not yet been released. While interacting with the media, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, "Today is the last day of the Assembly session. On the first day, we discussed the devastation caused by the floods and the rehabilitation process. A huge loss occurred in Punjab in which people died, and property was damaged. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, a rehabilitation bill was introduced, which continues even today." He further highlights the state's demand of Rs 20000 crore as an aid and said, "Punjab demanded compensation of Rs 20,000 crore for the losses, but the Prime Minister announced only 1,600 crore and left, which has still not been received. We will discuss this as well." Punjab Finance Minister also criticised the BJP leaders and said, "It is unfortunate that on the very first day, two BJP MLAs slipped away from the House. They did not raise Punjab's concerns with the Centre, even though the Speaker had given them time." He further added, "Today, we have come to know that the BJP is running a virtual assembly from their office. The MLAs from Pathankot and Mukerian are holding a mock session, making fun of their people and of democracy." Criticising the elected BJP from Punjab and the party in the same tone, he said, "The BJP is running away from listening to the truth. They are not attending the session because they cannot face the truth. This is a party of mere slogans." Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema also said that several important bills will be discussed today in the state assembly and added, "Today, several important bills will be passed, which will contribute to the welfare of Punjab. The Punjab Seed Bill 2025 will also be tabled, and the Punjab Right to Business Bill 2025 will be presented." (ANI)
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday reiterated his government's stance of zero tolerance towards irregularities in recruitment examinations, assuring that no injustice will be done to the youth and that his government is ready for any probe into the UKSSSC paper leak. "The Assembly and Secretariat are places to meet the public and to address the daily work. That's why I try to visit the Assembly as well as the Secretariat to meet with the public, to handle government work from here... We have stated that there should be no injustice to the rights and abilities, talents, and capabilities of youth. There should be no corruption in the recruitment process. If there are any questions, we have stated that we are ready to conduct any investigation that the students desire. There are many exams ahead. Everyone should prepare themselves..." CM Dhami said while interacting with the media in the Assembly premises in Dehradun. Earlier on Sunday, the Chief Minister reaffirmed his government's commitment to conducting recruitment examinations fairly and transparently, noting that over 25,000 appointments have already been made without malpractice. He further said the alleged paper leak in the 2025 graduate-level competitive examination conducted by UKSSSC is currently under investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT). The UKSSSC graduate-level examination came under scrutiny after allegations of malpractice, prompting the state government to order a judicially supervised probe. On September 24, a five-member SIT headed by Dehradun Rural Superintendent of Police Jaya Baluni was formed to investigate the alleged irregularities and identify those responsible. On Friday, amid protests, CM Dhami had appealed to the youth to remain cautious of those trying to exploit their interests. "...I appeal to all the youth that they should decide who are leading their movement, those who are bringing the youth onto the streets to serve their own interests, have no connection with the youth or the recruitment process. But our commitment is that just as we have made 25,000 appointments in a transparent manner without any corruption, we will do the same," Dhami said. (ANI)
Karnataka BJP President BY Vijayendra, along with senior party leaders, visited flood-affected areas in Bidar on Monday, where farmers are facing distress due to heavy rains and the release of water from Maharashtra reservoirs. Speaking to ANI, BY Vijayendra said, "I, along with our LoP Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, our senior MLAs and former minister Prabhu Chauhan, are visiting the affected areas of Bidar. Famers are in great distress due to heavy rains, since water has been released from Maharashtra reservoirs." Vijayendra urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to provide immediate relief and compensation to farmers and families affected by the floods, stating that the state government should act swiftly. "We demand immediate action from the state government, led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, to provide relief and compensation to the affected farmers and people who have lost their homes. When Yediyurappa was the CM, there were severe floods, and he travelled across Karnataka immediately released relief without waiting for Central government funds. I demand that Siddaramaiah acts in the same manner," Vijayendra said. On September 27, in view of the heavy rain and an orange alert issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) for Karnataka's Kalaburagi district, the Department of School Education, Kalaburagi, declared holiday for schools in the district for the weekend, as per the Information and Public Relations Department, Kalaburagi. According to the department, the Deputy Director (Administration) of the Department of School Education, Kalaburagi, announced a holiday for Schools in the Kalaburagi district on September 27 and 28 as a precautionary measure for the safety of Children, in view of the heavy rain and an IMD-issued orange alert for the district. Meanwhile, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) and Kalaburagi district in-charge Priyank Kharge visited the rain and flood-affected areas of the district and heard the grievances of the locals and affected people, according to the Public Relations Officer (PRO), RDPR department. (ANI)
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Monday warned against spreading rumours on social media regarding the stampede in Karur during Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam chief and actor Vijay's rally. The stampede left at least 41 people dead, including 18 women and 10 children. "Do not spread defamation and rumours on social media regarding the tragedy that occurred in Karur. Everyone must behave responsibly," Stalin said in a video message posted on his X handle. He said that whichever party the victims belong to does not matter to him, for him, all of them are his fellow Tamil brothers and sisters.https://x.com/mkstalin/status/1972571284346482763 The Chief Minister further stated that it is the responsibility of all to ensure that tragedies like this never happen again. He said that the State government will take necessary action after getting the report of Justice Aruna Jagadeesan, a one-member Commission instituted by the State government to inquire into the stampede incident. Meanwhile, TVK chief Vijay on Monday held a video conference with senior leaders from his Pattinapakkam penthouse to discuss the next steps following the Karur stampede. Among the deceased are 18 women, 13 men, five young girls, and five young boys, bringing the total to 41. So far, 34 victims are from the Karur district, two each from the Erode, Tiruppur, and Dindigul districts, and one from the Salem district. A day earlier, Vijay announced that he would provide financial assistance of Rs 20 lakh to the bereaved families and Rs 2 lakh to the injured in the unfortunate stampede that took place in Tamil Nadu's Karur during his rally. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced that the families of the 39 people who died in the Karur stampede would receive two lakh rupees each from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund. PM Modi also announced an amount of Rs 50,000 each for the people injured in the tragic incident. Sharing an X post, PMO said, "PM Narendra Modi has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF to be given to the next of kin of each deceased in the unfortunate incident at a political rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu. The injured would be given Rs 50,000." Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK announced compensation of Rs 10 lakh for each family of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh for each person undergoing treatment. (ANI)
He graced the Garba festivals organised in the areas of Shilaj, SP Ring Road, and Shela, where he greeted the participants and encouraged them with his presence.

He also offered prayers and received blessings of the Goddess at the various Garba festivals. On this occasion, City BJP President Prerak Shah, office bearers, corporators, and other people were present.

Meanwhile, in Gandevi, Navsari, people celebrated Shardiya Navratri with enthusiasm by performing the traditional Dori Raas Garba, a rope-based dance form.

Navratri, also known as Shardiya Navratri, is one of the most vibrant Hindu festivals, dedicated to Goddess Durga and her nine avatars. The nine-night festival is marked by prayers, fasting, devotional songs, and energetic dance forms such as Garba and Dandiya Raas. In Gujarat, large community gatherings and cultural performances form the heart of the celebrations.

The festive fervour is also reflected in Kolkata, where Durga Puja pandals are drawing attention with themes rooted in artificial intelligence, environmental concerns and evolving family dynamics, blending creativity with devotion.

Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah attended the 'Kesariya Garba' Navratri celebration held at the Ram Katha Ground in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

The Union Home Minister's appearance at the cultural event came a day after he visited several Garba celebrations organised by various residential associations in Ahmedabad, as part of the ongoing Sharadiya Navratri festivities.

In a post on social media platform X, Shah shared glimpses of the celebration and expressed his devotion to the Goddess.

"On the auspicious occasion of Navratri, I participated in the Navratri Garba festival at Vrajdham Apartment and Orchid Legacy in Ahmedabad's Sarkhej Ward and received the blessings of Mother Goddess," he said in the post. (ANI)
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam on Monday filed a writ petition in the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, pleading for the transfer of the probe into the recent stampede in Karur from the State police to the Central Bureau of Investigation. In the writ petition, the TVK party alleged that Saturday''s "incident was solely motivated by the DMK and its functionaries." "A petition has been filed before the High Court of Madras, Madurai Bench, seeking a transfer of the case from the Town Police Station of Karur to the Central Investigation Team for a probe into the entire occurrence," Arivazhagan, the advocate for TVK, told reporters here. "It was contended (in the petition) that the incident was solely motivated by the political party DMK and its functionaries. We have made various allegations, and we have enclosed several photos and other relevant documents. The matter will be taken up on Friday, October 3," he added. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Monday warned against spreading rumours on social media regarding the stampede in Karur. The stampede left at least 41 people dead, including 18 women and 10 children. "Do not spread defamation and rumours on social media regarding the tragedy that occurred in Karur. Everyone must behave responsibly," Stalin said in a video message posted on his X handle. Meanwhile, TVK chief Vijay on Monday held a video conference with senior leaders from his Pattinapakkam penthouse to discuss the next steps following the Karur stampede. Among the deceased are 18 women, 13 men, five young girls, and five young boys, bringing the total to 41. So far, 34 victims are from the Karur district, two each from the Erode, Tiruppur, and Dindigul districts, and one from the Salem district. A day earlier, Vijay announced that he would provide financial assistance of Rs 20 lakh to the bereaved families and Rs 2 lakh to the injured in the unfortunate stampede that took place in Tamil Nadu''s Karur during his rally. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced that the families of the 39 people who died in the Karur stampede would receive two lakh rupees each from the Prime Minister''s National Relief Fund.PM Modi also announced an amount of Rs 50,000 each for the people injured in the tragic incident. Sharing an X post, PMO said, "PM Narendra Modi has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF to be given to the next of kin of each deceased in the unfortunate incident at a political rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu. The injured would be given Rs 50,000."Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK announced compensation of Rs 10 lakh for each family of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh for each person undergoing treatment. (ANI)
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, along with Union Minister L Murugan and Tamil Nadu BJP chief Nainar Nagenthran, on Monday met the families of those who died in the Karur stampede and assured them of all possible assistance. Nagamani, grandmother of 5-year-old Pradeep, who died in the stampede, said that Nirmala Sitharaman met the family and advised her to take care of Pradeep's mother, who is still grieving. Speaking to ANI, Nagamani said, "She [Nirmala Sitharaman] came and met us. We told her we are in a very sad state. She advised me to take care of Pradeep's mother, who still could not come out of her sorrow." Palaniammal, daughter-in-law of Arakani, who died in the stampede, said that Nirmala Sitharaman, along with Union Minister L Murugan, assured them of all assistance, adding that PM Modi had inquired about the incident. "Nirmala Sitharaman came along with another Union Minister (L Murugan) and consoled us. She said that PM Modi inquired about the stampede and wanted to come here, but due to work, he sent ministers on his behalf to meet us and assured all assistance. She also said that for any help needed, we should contact the BJP district president," Palaniammal said. The death toll from the stampede at Tamil Nadu Vetri Kazhagam leader Vijay's campaign rally in Tamil Nadu's Karur has risen to 41. Among the deceased are 18 women, 13 men, five young girls, and five young boys. So far, 34 victims are from Karur district, two each from the Erode, Tiruppur, and Dindigul districts, and one from the Salem district. The massive crowd at Vijay's rally on Saturday evening reportedly turned chaotic, triggering panic. Several attendees fainted and were rushed to nearby hospitals. Sources had said that overcrowding at the venue led to the tragedy. (ANI)
The Odisha Cabinet has approved a proposal to amend the Employees' State Insurance Act of 1948, designated as the 63rd Amendment, to facilitate its implementation in the state of Odisha. The amendment will cover shops and commercial establishments with 20 or more employees. It also mandates the display of signboards in Odia, ensures overtime wages for work beyond duty hours, and permits women employees to work at night with written consent, subject to government safety measures. In a bid to strengthen primary education, the Cabinet approved the "Godabarish Mishra Adarsha Prathamik Vidyalaya" scheme. Under this plan, every panchayat will have at least one model primary school to fulfil the objectives of the Right to Education Act, 2009. In the first phase, 2,200 schools will be constructed over three years at a cost of Rs 1,200 crore, with each school receiving an allocation of over Rs 5 crore. The remaining schools will be developed in subsequent phases across all panchayats. The Cabinet also cleared the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the comprehensive development of the famous Ghatagaon Tarini Temple in Keonjhar. The project, spread across 69 acres, has an estimated cost of Rs 226 crore. The plan includes a 246-room pilgrims' accommodation facility, a coconut storage house, and a 500-seat multipurpose hall to improve infrastructure for devotees. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said the decisions taken in the Cabinet will play a crucial role in boosting labour welfare, strengthening grassroots education, and enhancing facilities at one of Odisha's most revered shrines. On Thursday, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi participated in a cleanliness drive at the Lingaraj Temple as part of the 'Swachhotsav, Swachhata Hi Seva' campaign. He was joined by Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mohapatra, Bhubaneswar Mayor Sulochana Das, and senior party leaders during the initiative. In addition, CM Majhi planted a sapling at the temple premises under the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign, emphasising environmental conservation and cleanliness. The 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign was launched by PM Modi on World Environment Day, June 5, 2024, with the planting of a Peepal tree at Buddha Jayanti Park in Delhi. The initiative combines environmental responsibility with a tribute to mothers. PM Modi emphasised the importance of collective efforts to improve the environment and spoke of India's strides in increasing forest cover over the past decade, noting that the campaign aligns with the nation's pursuit of sustainable development. (ANI)
DEI-run University of Arizona acting like the mob towards professor who objected to the discrimination By Rachel Alexander

web posted September 29, 2025 Despite the fact Arizona voters passed Prop. 107 into law in 2010, banning affirmative action in public education, employment and contracting, the University of Arizona (UA) is brazenly defying the will of the voters. Longtime respected Professor Keiron Bailey , who is white and considered a nationally recognized expert in Geographic Information Science studies and participatory systems, has been battling UA's DEI leadership for several years. It all began when Bailey raised process and workplace concerns and provided written, concrete and constructive suggestions prior to 2010. In 2015, he suggested UA follow a model of externally-appointed auditors for senior administration reviews, since the administrators held significant power over the employees from whom these evaluations were being requested. He received no response. In 2017, his wife, who was also working for UA at the time, received a profanity-laden, threatening call in the middle of the night from his dean. "In December 2017 Dr. Bailey's Dean, Dean Jones, invaded their home by electronic communication at 1am on a Sunday morning as Dr. Bailey and his family were sleeping and he delivered a series of professional and personal threats to his wife Dr. C including threats to terminate her employment, to terminate the employment of co-workers, and to discharge lethal self-harm," Bailey said in a civil rights complaint he filed against UA. But after he reported the harassment to university officials, he was retaliated against. Although officials apologized to his wife, he said Jones was allowed to handle the complaint from his wife. He found out in 2019 that "Jones had indulged and encouraged drunken misconduct by students, and that several women staff members were traumatized by his actions in egging on their disruptive and disturbing behavior." Bailey reported the conduct but received no response. Bailey was transferred to the College of Education in 2020. He was ejected from a Faculty Senate meeting in 2023 after summarizing the violations experienced, and the locks were changed on his office. He was removed from Faculty Search Committees and described as "problematic," having a "hidden agenda" and making threats. His wife's contract was not renewed. He was subjected to multiple office and campus exclusions on the premise of "threatening communications," none of which were exemplified except for his quote of 34CFR106.71 from required harassment training. "Between August 2003 and July 2022, and again after May 2023, nobody among the approximately three thousand staff, students, faculty and community members at UA and other universities who engaged with Dr. Bailey during this time alleged to him, or his managers or colleagues, that Dr. Bailey posed a 'threat,'" Bailey said in his complaint, nor does he have any court record. Bailey was denied a promotion, and he submitted public records requests for the names and resumes of DEI employees who had received promotions, but was told there weren't any records. His annual review in 2022 rated him "unsatisfactory" in all categories by Dr. Regina Deil-Amen of the Educational Policy Studies Program (EPSP) in the College of Education, after she degraded the review in multiple categories  against Committee evaluation. After attending a Safety forum, he was stopped by UA police on grounds he was "unwelcome" by HR, which lacked probable cause or reasonable suspicion as required under state law. Several of the administrators who took adverse action against him brazenly pushed DEI. Bailey contacted the federal Department of Education, DOJ, FBI and the Arizona Legislature about it, attaching screenshots from the UA website promoting DEI. Numerous colleges and programs boast about their DEI efforts on the website. In 2021, UA bragged about being designated one of the top employers for diversity. UA removed some of its DEI language off its website earlier this year, but plenty remains. In his email to an Arizona legislator, Bailey said, "[T]he Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, Dr. Andrea Romero, was appointed to discharge this agenda and has been doing so eagerly. She was placed in this job despite the stronger credential of another applicant, a second-generation Indian American male professor, because she was the face and agent of this hidden agenda and he was not." He was referring to English Professor Matthew Abraham, who was placed on administrative leave and served a dismissal notice last month after objecting to UA's DEI policies for years. Bailey alleged that Romero attempted to place her friend Deil-Amen in an Associate Vice Provost position in 2023. He said this post is being "covered up by unlawful denial of public records requests lodged almost a year ago. Dr. Deil-Amen's entire program and history is DEI-focused." He and several others have been unable to receive records about Deil-Amen's promotion in response to his public records requests asking for them. Romero claimed to have no knowledge of this post to the Public Records Coordinator despite supervising the EPSP report containing it. He further accused her, "Dr. Romero again denied me full and equal participation in a teaching seminar by secretly deactivating my Zoom Q and A function while the other 46 participants had no problems interacting and presenting questions. She does this because I call out the DEI hypocrisy." Finally, Bailey said former UA "President [Robert] Robbins apologized to Dr. Bailey for the abuses he had endured" in 2023. But earlier that year in May, Bailey was served a notice of dismissal without required cause, using a previous address changed months prior. He appealed and Robbins rescinded the dismissal, appointing Bailey to Research Innovation and Impact. He was placed in the basement of the lab area in BioSci West building with an ant infestation. "When an ant control tech arrived, the first thing he asked Dr. Bailey even before introducing himself was, 'What did you do to get sent down here?'" Bailey said in his complaint. The retaliation against Bailey, Abraham and another professor, Daniel Grossenbach, as whistleblowers must stop. The Trump administration needs to conduct an investigation into their mistreatment and DEI, and the Arizona Legislature should look into the violations of Prop. 107. 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
The Delhi High Court has recently granted regular bail to a foreign national in a drug trafficking case after a period of over 4 years of custody. He was detained at Indira Gandhi Airport in 2021, and 10 kg of heroin was allegedly recovered by customs officials. Justice Arun Monga granted bail to Quentin Decon after considering the submissions of counsel and the fact of the long incarceration of the accused since June 2021. "Not only the applicant has undergone inordinate incarceration since June 27, 2021 (4 years and 3 months), but even otherwise, given the snail's pace of the proceedings in the learned Trial Court, it may so happen that before the same concludes, the applicant may end up undergoing the entire sentence without being held guilty," justice Monga said in the order passed on September 25. While granting bail to the accused, the high court observed, "As an upshot and taking a wholesome view of the matter, the applicant is directed to be released on bail on his furnishing personal bond with solvent surety of like amount to the satisfaction of the Trial Court." According to the prosecution, on June 27, 2021, officers from Customs, IGI Airport, New Delhi, intercepted two of the accused persons, namely Sydney John-Brain O' Grady and Quentin Deacon, both of whom held passports from the Republic of South Africa. They had arrived from Doha to Delhi. Sydney John-Brain O' Grady was carrying one black colour checked-in trolley bag, and one black colour backpack as a cabin bag. Quentin Deacon/the applicant, was also carrying one beige checked-in trolley bag and one black backpack as a cabin bag. It is alleged that the total material recovered from the applicant was off-white coloured powder/granules suspected to be narcotics substance weighing 10500 grams approximately. It was submitted by advocate Akshay Bhandari that the applicant has already undergone more than 4 years in custody, and the charge-sheet was filed on December 23, 2021, and till date only 6 witnesses have been examined out of a total of 14 witnesses. Therefore, the trial is likely to take substantial time. It was also submitted that, considering the delay in trial and long incarceration of more than four years, the embargo under Section 37 of the NDPS Act will not be applicable in the facts and circumstances of the present case. On the other hand, the special public prosecutor (SPP) for customs opposed the bail by submitting that the applicant possessed a commercial quantity of heroin under the NDPS Act, attracting an absolute bar on bail under Section 37(1)(b)(ii). It was also submitted that the accused, being a foreign national, poses a serious flight risk. Judicial precedents emphasise societal interest in denying bail to drug traffickers. The trial is ongoing with no unreasonable delay, and releasing the accused could compromise evidence and witnesses. (ANI)
The system named as Decision Support System (DSS) will enable commanders to plan and execute operations based on informed decision making process through role-based access of the system via custom designed dashboards.

BSF Director General Daljit Singh Chawdhary inaugurated the DSS at the force headquarters.

Apart from providing advanced GIS functionalities, DSS integrates a Geographic Information System (GIS) platform with legacy operations, incident database and sensor feeds from the border, forming a Complete Operating Picture (COP) at Headquarters.

The DSS will operationally benefit BSF with facilities of Monitoring, Predictive and Trend Analysis, which will further enhance the capabilities of effective border management.

The system would be capable of performing Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning based operations on GIS and legacy data for predicting smuggling hotspots, infiltration routes etc, for better resource allocation, operational planning and execution.

The DSS will be integrated in future with CIBMS, other Command Centres of BSF and also with GIS platforms of other security forces and organisations. There are plans for the integration of mobile applications with the DSS for real-time data collection and incident reporting. In its next phase, DSS will be integrated with other data sources like OSINT, BIG DATA and IMD Data.

The DSS will improve the BSF's capabilities, enabling it to safeguard India's borders and protect the national interests effectively, by helping commanders in decision making. Harnessing technological solutions, BSF will be able to meet emerging threats to border security. (ANI)
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has recommended a CBI probe into the leak of the Uttarakhand Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UKSSSC) exam paper during his visit to Parade Ground in Dehradun on Monday. Addressing the gathering, CM Dhami said since the youth are demanding a CBI inquiry, the government will recommend a CBI probe in the matter. There will be no obstacles in the process. Uttarakhand's Chief Minister also stated that the case is currently under investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) supervised by a retired High Court judge, and that the committee has already begun its work. Moreover, CM Dhami emphasised his decision to visit the protest site personally to acknowledge the pain and concerns of the youth, assuring them that the government fully supports them. He noted that over the past four years, the government has conducted more than 25,000 recruitment processes transparently, with no complaints except in this one instance. Therefore, the government is dedicated to addressing any doubts or mistrust among the youth. CM Dhami also mentioned that during their meeting last week, he made it clear that the government aims to eliminate any distrust or suspicion in the minds of young people. To demonstrate this commitment, he visited the Parade Ground unannounced to interact directly with the youth. Additonally, he also announced that any cases registered against the youth during the protest would be withdrawn. The Chief Minister stated that in this 'Amrit Kaal' of a developed India, the youth will play a crucial role in making Uttarakhand the best state in the country. Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the Parade Ground in Dehradun and interacted with the youth protesting against the Uttarakhand Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UKSSSC) paper leak case. During his visit, CM Dhami declared that the SIT investigation has been underway for several days, during which facts related to the paper leak are being gathered.. "..You all want the CBI to investigate it. I want to emphasise this to all of you, so that there's no doubt in your minds: we recommend a CBI investigation. The SIT investigation has been ongoing for several days. You've also seen that all the facts are being gathered from everywhere...," said CM Dhami. (ANI)
The campus of Adani Vidya Mandir (AVM), Ahmedabad, came alive on Sunday as Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat addressed its students with a message of grit, values and hope. Welcomed by Dr Priti Adani, Chairperson of the Adani Foundation, and Shilin Adani, Trustee, the Governor was greeted with a Guard of Honour and traditional ceremony by the students, a release said. In a stirring address, the Governor told the young learners, "When children who work hard from an early age, remain free of vices, and decide to move forward -- no power in the world can stop them. For such children, new doors always open." He reminded students that coming from a challenging background is never an obstacle for those who choose effort and integrity, citing the life journeys of great leaders like former US President Abraham Lincoln and former Indian President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam as powerful examples of individuals who rose above hardship to leave their mark on the world. The Governor urged the children to live with simplicity and responsibility. He encouraged them to eat healthy, remain honest, and avoid choices that bring doubt, shame or fear. Commending AVM's unique model of free, values-driven education, Acharya Devvrat praised the Adani Foundation for empowering underprivileged children to access India's top institutions, including IITs, IIMs, and AIIMS. His visit was part of AVM's Changemaker Series, which regularly brings eminent personalities to inspire students with their life journeys. In recent years, the school has hosted Nischal Narayana (Mathematics Genius, India's Youngest CA, June 2024), John Abraham (Actor, Producer & Social Worker, April 2024), Nilesh Desai (Director - SAC/ISRO, July 2023), Cynthia McCaffrey (Country Head, UNICEF, July 2023), and Safin Hasan (India's Youngest IPS Officer, December 2022). Founded in 2008, AVM provides free, holistic education -- including tuition, books, uniforms, meals, extracurricular opportunities, and transportation facilities -- to first-generation learners. It stands as a beacon of hope, blending academic excellence with ethics, values, discipline, and social responsibility. The Adani Foundation runs four such Adani Vidya Mandir schools - in Ahmedabad and Bhadreshwar in Gujarat, Krishnapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, and Surguja in Chhattisgarh, the release said The Governor's inspiring words left the AVM community deeply motivated, reinforcing the belief that education rooted in values creates leaders who can shape the nation's future. (ANI)
The Indian Army displayed indigenous drones and counter-drone equipment in Ambala, Haryana, on Monday. During the drone showcase, officials from the Indian Army discussed the features of their drone technology. "We have made an electronic fuse that can be used to fire by connecting to any sort of ammunition and can be dropped via drones... This will work depending upon the payload of the drone..." Colonel Pushp Raj Pandey told ANI. During the event, Major Varun Jeet Singh showcased the capabilities of the army's drone system technology. According to Singh, the drone's detection system is designed to identify potential threats. Additionally, this technology is equipped with a rocket that can ascend to heights of 100 to 150 meters and effectively target other drones. "We have developed this system and brought it from Assam... There is a detection system that identifies threats, allowing us to neutralise them... The jammer first tries to jam the frequencies of the enemy's drone. If missed, there is a hard kill option that fires shots on the drones... If it still misses, a rocket will go up by 100-150 meters and finish any possible drone..." Singh told ANI. Meanwhile, to boost the indigenisation in the defence sector, the Indian Army had issued a tender to buy five to six regiments of 'Anant surface-to-air missile weapon systems' to strengthen the air defence along the borders with Pakistan and China. The tender was awarded to the state-owned Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) to purchase the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)-developed Anant Shastra air defence missile system, previously known as the Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile system. According to defence officials, this project, estimated to cost around Rs 30,000 crore, would strengthen the Indian Army's air Defence. (ANI)
The 3rd edition of the Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show (UPITS 2025) concluded with record-breaking success at the India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida, according to a FIEO (Federation of Indian Export Organisations) release. The five-day Mega Event, organised by the Government of Uttar Pradesh from September 25-29, facilitated more than 31,650 B2B meetings between global buyers and Indian exporters, resulting in the signing of over 3,900 MoUs valued at USD 425 million (approximately Rs 2,680 crore). The B2B event, hosted by FIEO as the nodal agency, is further expected to generate a business of more than Rs 12,500 Crores. According to the press statement, the trade show saw participation from 88 countries, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Africa, South Korea, the United Kingdom, the United States, UAE (Dubai), and regional partners such as Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Kenya, and Uganda. Over 2,400 sellers from Uttar Pradesh showcased their products across various sectors, including handicrafts, textiles, engineering goods, food, pharmaceuticals, and electronics. Speaking on the success, SC Ralhan, President, FIEO, said, "The scale and outcome of UPITS 2025 reflect the growing international confidence in India's trade potential and the strong interest in products from Uttar Pradesh." As per the release, Ralhan added, "The record-breaking MoUs and business enquiries underline the readiness of Indian exporters to meet global demand. This event has once again proven that with the right ecosystem and global outreach, Uttar Pradesh can emerge as a key driver of India's export growth story." Earlier today, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said Uttar Pradesh is becoming a global centre for investment, innovation, and exports. Speaking at the third UP International Trade Show, he stated that the event serves as a strong platform for Uttar Pradesh's self-reliance and prosperity. He also said India is holding negotiations for Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with several countries of the world, and the country is on the way to becoming the third-largest economy. (ANI)
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday announced relief for students affected by the recent floods in the state. Due to the severe flood situation, many students were facing difficulties in filling out their 12th standard exam forms, with the deadline set to expire. Shinde received calls from numerous students and parents in flood-affected areas, highlighting their plight. Speaking to reporters, Shinde said, "I was getting calls from many students and farmer parents in the flood-affected areas. They were saying that due to the flood situation, it is not possible for the 12th standard students to fill out the exam form. Tomorrow is the last date to fill out the 12th standard exam form." Shinde intervened and spoke to Education Minister Dada Bhuse, resulting in the extension of the exam form-filling deadline to October 20. "I understood the situation and spoke to the Education Minister Dada Bhuse over the phone and considering the difficulties of the parents and students, the exam date of the 12th standard students was postponed to October 20. Due to this, many students will get relief." This decision aims to provide relief to thousands of students who were struggling to meet the original deadline due to the flood situation. The extension will enable students to focus on their studies without the added pressure of meeting the deadline, ensuring they can appear for the exams without any hindrance. The recent floods in Maharashtra have caused significant disruptions, affecting students' ability to study and appear for exams. Many students lost their study materials, books, and notes, further exacerbating their situation. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an Orange alert for Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, and Raigad, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall. Thane district Collector Shrikrishna Panchal said that relocation plans are in place for 42 riverside villages in the district. On Sunday, Deputy CM Shinde said officials are on alert and ready to manage heavy rainfall following the ongoing flood situation in the Marathwada region. Speaking to reporters, Shinde said, "All officials are on alert. We are prepared to handle heavy rainfall whenever it happens. Arrangements are in place, from boats to pumping equipment. Many buildings in Thane and Ulhasnagar have been affected by the rain, and people will be shifted if necessary. Wherever there is a chance of water accumulation, people will be relocated. Officials are working as a team, and people will be provided relief." Earlier, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis held a detailed review of the flood situation in Solapur and Beed districts on Sunday, directing the administration to intensify relief and rescue operations while ensuring the safety of citizens amid continuing heavy rainfall in the Marathwada region. In Solapur, the Chief Minister was informed that 4,002 people have been rescued so far from flood-affected areas, while nearly 6,500 people are currently staying in relief camps. These camps have been equipped with food, drinking water, and healthcare facilities. Additionally, the Akshaya Patra Foundation is providing meals to villages as needed. To address fodder shortages for livestock, Fadnavis ordered immediate supply arrangements, which will be expanded from Monday. Damage assessments of affected houses are also underway on a large scale. As interim relief, families are being provided with Rs 10,000 in cash, along with 10 kg of rice and 10 kg of wheat. The Chief Minister was informed that villages along rivers have been placed on high alert, with evacuation plans ready if required. In Ashti, 60 citizens were shifted to safety. Since September, 2,567 families have had to be relocated due to flooding. Sadly, 10 lives have been lost, with financial assistance already provided to eight affected families. Fadnavis instructed officials in both districts to remain on the ground, coordinate closely with state agencies, and ensure that relief measures--particularly food, water, healthcare, and fodder supply--are sustained without interruption. He emphasised proactive evacuation of vulnerable villages to prevent loss of life. (ANI)
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday asserted that shedding of innocent blood shouldn't happen in the Union Territory and hoped that a situation like Leh doesn't develop here. Speaking to reporters, CM Abdullah argued that granting statehood to the people of Jammu and Kashmir was not a favour, but a promise made by the centre. "A situation like Leh should not form in J&K. It doesn't take time for any situation to worsen. We would never want innocent blood to be shed here. We will continue to raise our demand. Statehood is not a favour, it is a promise made by the central government to not only the people of J&K, but to the people of India and also to the Supreme Court," Abdullah said. Referring to the three-step process of delimitation, elections and statehood, the Jammu and Kashmir CM further urged the centre to fulfil its promise of granting statehood and not take undue advantage of people remaining calm. "Delimitation and elections have been done, now they have to fulfil their promise of statehood. People are very calm about the whole thing, but they should not take undue advantage of this. We had warned people of Ladakh that their demand for a UT could worsen their problems. They asked for a UT, but it did them no good," Abdullah said. Two of the four individuals who lost their lives during the September 24 violence in Leh were reportedly cremated on Sunday under tight security. The final rites of the remaining two are scheduled for Monday, also amid heavy security arrangements. The unrest, which prompted police to open fire during protests on September 26, claimed four lives in all. Authorities have maintained heightened vigilance throughout the region to prevent further incidents. Meanwhile, the curfew in Leh has continued for the fifth consecutive day since the unrest began. Prohibitions under Section 163 of the BNSS, 2023, continue to be imposed in Leh following the violence on September 24. Assembling five or more persons is prohibited in the district; no procession, rally, or march is to be carried out without prior written approval. Security personnel remain deployed across Leh. People of Ladakh have been demanding the inclusion of the Union Territory in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. This Schedule of the Constitution contains Article 244(2) and 275(1), which reads, "Provisions as to the Administration of Tribal Areas in the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram." A total of 44 people have been arrested in connection with the violence, which resulted in the deaths of four individuals. Among those arrested is Sonam Wangchuk, a prominent activist and advocate for implementing the Sixth Schedule in Ladakh. He had been on a hunger strike, which he ended just as the violence broke out. Wangchuk was detained under the stringent National Security Act (NSA) and is currently being held in Jodhpur jail in Rajasthan. He has been accused of inciting violence. (ANI)
In a high-level meeting held here, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh convened senior officials to firm up preparations for the India International Science Festival (IISF) 2025, slated to be hosted in Chandigarh under the stewardship of the Ministry of Earth Sciences. According to a release from the Ministry of Earth Sciences, at the meeting, Jitendra Singh reviewed logistical plans, exhibition layouts, and programme integration across agencies, and instructed all departments to launch a sustained awareness campaign targeting schools and parents to maximise footfall during the festival. He underscored that line ministries must collaborate closely with state governments in Haryana and Chandigarh to roll out outreach events--such as science fairs in schools, mobile exhibits, regional roadshows, and local media promotions--well in advance of the festival. As part of the preparatory arrangements, the Minister asked the nodal department to map out "science communication hubs" in every district, deploy youth ambassadors to set up early teaser installations across city public spaces. He further directed that startup booths and citizen-science displays be integrated into the venue design, ensuring space for student innovation zones, interactive exhibits, and public-engagement tracks. During the meeting, the Union MoS also emphasised the need to "handhold and nurture startups" by incorporating them into IISF programming, highlighting that they should not be sidelined but placed at the forefront of exhibits and conclaves. He called upon the science secretaries to expedite final clearances, cross-ministry coordination, and media partnerships to ensure smooth execution. The meeting underscored the festival's shift from being a showcase of scientific advances to a participatory public event--aimed at bridging science, students, and society. Jitendra Singh's emphasis on awareness campaigns signals a more active role by the Centre in animating local interest and making IISF not just a destination for scientists but a must-visit event for schoolchildren and their parents across the region, the release stated. In a broader context, IISF has evolved into one of the country's largest science outreach platforms, blending exhibitions, youth forums, startup pavilions, and interactive science theatre to bring science closer to the public. With the 2025 edition gearing up in Chandigarh, its success will rest not only on the strength of exhibits but on how effectively awareness is built at the ground level--especially among India's school communities. (ANI)
Food trumps green energy, wind and solar By Bonner Cohen

web posted September 29, 2025 "We will not approve wind or farmer destroying Solar," said President Trump in an Aug. 20 post on Truth Social. "The days of stupidity are over in the USA!!! Trump's remarks came six weeks after enactment of his One Big Beautiful Bill terminated tax credits for wind and solar projects by the end of 2027. The Trump administration has also issued a stop-work order for the Revolution Wind project, an industrial-scale offshore wind project 12 miles off the Rhode Island coast that was 80 percent completed. This was followed by an Aug. 29 announcement by the Department of Transportation that it was cutting around $679 million in federal funding for 12 offshore wind farms in 11 states, calling the projects "wasteful." Sending an unmistakable message to investors to avoid risking their capital on no-longer-fashionable green energy, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) is pulling the plug on a slew of funding programs for wind and solar power. "Our prime farmland should not be wasted and replaced with green new deal subsidized solar panels," said Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on a visit to Tennessee in late August. "We are no longer allowing businesses to use your taxpayer dollars to fund solar projects on prime American farmland, and we will no longer allow solar panels manufactured by foreign adversaries to be used in our USDA-funded projects." The White House is putting the squeeze on an industry that can ill-afford to lose the privileges it has enjoyed for so many years. Acknowledging the hesitancy of investors to fund green-energy projects with the looming phaseout of federal subsidies, James Holmes, CEO of Solx, a solar module manufacturer, told The Washington Post, "We're seeing some paralysis in decision-making in the developer world right now." He added, "There's been a pretty significant hit to our industry, but we'll get through it." That may not be easy. According to SolarInsure, a firm that tracks the commercial performance of the domestic solar industry, over 100 solar companies declared bankruptcy or shut down in 2024a year before the second Trump administration started turning the screws on the industry. As wind and solar companies confront an increasingly unfavorable commercial and political climate, green energy is also taking a hit from its global financial support network. The United Nations-backed Net Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA) "has suspended activities, following the departure of numerous financial institutions from its ranks amid political pressure from the Trump administration," The Wall Street Journal reported. Established in 2021, the NZBA's 120 banks in 40 countries were a formidable element in global decarbonization schemes, which included support for wind and solar power. Among the U.S. banks that headed for the exits in the aftermath of Trump's election were JP Morgan, Citi, and Morgan Stanley. They have been joined more recently by European heavyweights HSBC, Barclays, and UBS. Wind and solar power require a lot of upfront capital, and investors may be having second thoughts about placing their bets on what looks like a losing horse. "Wind and solar energy are dilute, intermittent, fragile, surface-intensive, transmission-extensive, and government-dependent," notes Robert Bradley, founder and CEO of the Institute for Energy Research. Given these inherent disadvantages of wind and solar power, it's no surprise that the Department of Agriculture is throttling the flow of taxpayer money to solar projects. The USDA's mission is to "provide leadership on food, agriculture, food, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues." It is not to help prop up an industry whose best days are behind it. Effective immediately, wind and solar projects will no longer be eligible for USDA Rural Development Business and Industry (B&I) Guaranteed Loan Program. A second USDA energy-related guaranteed loan program, known by the acronym REAP, will henceforth require that wind and solar installations on farms and ranches be "right-sized for their facilities." If project applications include ground-mounted solar photovoltaic systems larger than 50 kilowatts or such systems that "cannot document historical energy usage," they will not be eligible for REAP. Ending Misallocation Of Resources "For too long, Washington bureaucrats and foreign adversaries have tried to dictate how we use our land and our resources," said Republican Rep. Harriot Hagermann of Wyoming. "Taxpayers should never be forced to bankroll green new deal scams that destroy our farmland and undermine our food security." Hagermann's citing of "foreign adversaries" is a clear reference to China, which is by far the world's leading manufacturer of solar panels, according to the International Energy Agency. According to a USDA study from 2024, 424,000 acres of rural land were home to wind turbines and solar arrays in 2020. While this  outdated  figure represents less than 0.05 percent of the nearly 900 million acres of farmland in the U.S., the prospect of ever-increasing amounts of farmland being taken out of full-time food production to support part-time energy was enough to persuade USDA that a change of course was in order. Bonner Russell Cohen, Ph.D., is a senior fellow with the National Center for Public Policy Research and a senior policy analyst with the Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT). This was first published at The Daily Signal. Home
According to the President's Secretariat, in the message, the President said, "On the auspicious occasion of Durga Puja, I extend my warm greetings and best wishes to all Indians living in India and abroad."

"The sacred festival of Durga Puja symbolizes our culture, faith and spiritual heritage. Worshipping Maa Durga in her nine forms is not only a path to spiritual purification but also inspires us to move forward with truth, justice and compassion. This festival promotes the spirit of equality, tolerance and love," the President said.

"On this auspicious occasion, let us pledge to make every possible effort to ensure respect for women and to uphold their rightful place in society. I pray to Maa Durga to bestow wisdom and courage upon everyone, and to bless all with happiness and prosperity," President Murmu added.

The pandals, adorned with vibrant decorations, are abuzz with devotion as celebrations intensify for the seventh day of Navratri, Saptami, on Monday.

The seventh day of Navratri is dedicated to Kaalratri, considered the fiercest form of Goddess Durga, who is described as the destroyer of all evil and negative energies.

Goddess Kaalratri rides a donkey and wears a garland of skulls around her neck. Kaalratri is a Sanskrit word that means the one who brings the death of darkness.

Durga Puja, also known as Durgotsava or Sharodotsava, honours Goddess Durga and commemorates her victory over Mahishasur. According to Hindu belief, the goddess descends to her earthly abode during this time to bless her devotees. (ANI)
The Shimla Citizens' Forum on Monday staged a protest outside the office of the Shimla Deputy Commisioner, highlighting the increasing threat posed by stray dogs and monkeys in the city, particularly to children. Addressing the media, Jagmohan Thakur, President of the Shimla Citizens' Forum, said the protest was part of a continuing effort to ensure immediate action from municipal authorities. "We had protested on September 17, and today we have gathered again. Our primary objective is to urge the Municipal Corporation to take concrete measures. The House session of the Summer Hill ward council is scheduled this afternoon, where Councillor Virendra Thakur will raise this issue under the Point of Order," he said. Thakur further emphasised that the menace is citywide and not limited to any particular area. "Dog and monkey attacks are increasing every month. Children are the most vulnerable. We have gathered data from the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, including cases of cat bites, which alone numbered 50 in August. Dog and monkey cases are even higher. We want the Municipal Corporation to adopt concrete measures during today's House session. If they fail, we will involve the public and take serious steps. This is not an individual issue but one affecting the entire city," he added. Mayor of Shimla City, Surendra Chauhan, expressed agreement with the concerns raised. "We acknowledge that the menace of stray dogs is rising. We have launched extensive vaccination and sterilisation drives, making Himachal Pradesh the first state to run such a campaign at this scale. Yet, despite our efforts, incidents of dog bites continue to rise, particularly among children. We will discuss this issue in the House and aim to find a joint solution," said Chauhan. The Mayor also stressed the importance of public cooperation. "We have established feeding zones for stray animals. I urge citizens to feed animals only in designated zones. Social organisations also play a key role in controlling the issue. Everyone must work together to ensure the safety of children and tourists," he said. The citizens' protest comes amid growing concerns from residents and tourists alike about attacks by stray dogs and monkeys in the city, which not only pose health risks but also affect Shimla's reputation as a safe tourist destination. (ANI)
Delhi's Tis Hazari Court has recently acquitted 16 accused persons in a 13-year-old case linked with rioting, damage to public property, mischief by fire, and obstructing public servants from discharging official duty. The court, while acquitting the accused, pointed out that the Prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. This case pertains to an FIR lodged in the Jama Masjid in 2012. Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Virender Kumar Kharta acquitted the accused persons, namely Imran alias Dagda, Bilal, Mohd Shamim, Naeemuddin, Tohid Ahmed, Abdul Zahid, Shahid, Ziauddin, Arshad, Abdul Wahid, Mohd. Imran alias Raizwan, Salman alias Rajan, Mohd. Arif, Nadeem, Mohd Iqrar and Mohd Irshad is giving them the benefit of doubt, pointing out inconsistencies and contradictions in testimony, absence of any independent eyewitness and non-collection of CCTV. "In the present case, due to inconsistencies and contradictions in the testimonies of the Prosecution witness (complainant), head constable Raj Kumar, Constable Rajesh and Retd. ASI Taushif Khan, non-examination of any independent eyewitness, non-collection of any relevant CCTV footage and the defence taken by the accused persons, serious doubts have been created on the prosecution's story and two views are possible in this case, and hence the benefit of the same must go to the accused persons," the court said in judgement of September 24. ASJ Kharta said, "This court is of the considered opinion that the prosecution has failed to prove the ingredients of offences punishable under Section 145, 147, 148, 149 IPC, Sec. 186 IPC read with Sec. 353 IPC, Sec. 427 IPC read with Sec. 3 & 4 of Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, Sec. 379 IPC & 436 IPC against all the accused persons and ingredients of offence punishable under Sec. 174A IPC against the accused Mohd. Irshad, beyond a reasonable doubt." The court acquitted the accused persons and said, "Accordingly, in view of the aforesaid discussion, the accused persons, namely Imran alias Dagda, Bilal, Mohd. Shamim, Naeemuddin, Tohid Ahmed, Abdul Zahid, Shahid, Ziauddin, Arshad, Abdul Wahid, Mohd. Imran alias Raizwan, Salman alias Rajan, Mohd. Arif, Nadeem, Mohd. Iqrar and Mohd. Irshad is hereby acquitted." As per the Prosecution, in the intervening night of July 21, 2012, the accused persons involved in stone pelting, setting ablaze of the police post near Jagat Cinema, as an unlawful assembly. Additionally, in the Urdu Bazar area, the accused persons, as members of an unlawful assembly, committed theft, damaging several cars. (ANI)
Former Prime Minister of Nepal and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli has dismissed rumours that he plans to flee the country, accusing the current government of trying to strip him of his security and official privileges, Dhaka Tribune reported. Speaking at a gathering of the party's youth wing, Yuwa Sangh Nepal, in Gundu, Bhaktapur, Oli made it clear he intends to stay and fight politically. "Do you think we will flee by handing over the nation to this groundless government?" he asked supporters. Oli said he was determined to "restore peace, good governance and constitutional order." Oli recently vacated the Prime Minister's official residence in Baluwatar on September 9 after weeks of Gen Z-led protests culminated in the fall of his government. Since then, he has relocated to a rented home in Gundu after his personal residence in Balkot was set on fire by demonstrators, as per Dhaka Tribune. He accused the Sushila Karki-led administration of lacking legitimacy, claiming it rose to power not through the will of the people but through "vandalism and arson." Oli also challenged the government to make public any communications he had with state officials during the protests. "Publish them with courage. Make public the instructions I gave," he said, suggesting he had nothing to hide. He expressed concern over threats of fresh attacks and criticised the government for failing to ensure his security. "On social media, there are open calls to attack my residence. What is the government doing? Just watching?" he asked. Oli also objected to reports that the government has decided to withhold passports of several leaders, including himself, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, Arzu Rana Deuba, Ramesh Lekhak, and Deepak Khadka. The former prime minister accused the Karki government of "throwing the country into insecurity" by targeting political opponents, according to Dhaka Tribune. Oli's government was toppled on the second day of the Gen Z protest. Rights groups have held him and then-Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak responsible for excessive force that left dozens dead during the unrest. A monitoring report by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Friday said the government's failure to anticipate the intensity of the protests and declining morale of security forces contributed to heavy casualties and damage. It noted that while the first day of protests on September 8 remained peaceful, police shootings triggered widespread violence the following day. (ANI)
South Korea and the United States are set to launch a joint working group this week aimed at improving the US visa system for South Korean workers, Yonhap News Agency reported. The move comes in response to the recent detention of more than 300 Korean nationals during a US immigration raid in Georgia, diplomatic sources said Sunday. The first meeting of the new working group will take place in Washington on Tuesday, just weeks after the high-profile raid on a factory construction site that drew international attention, as per Yonhap News Agency. The detained workers were held for about a week over what officials described as unclear visa violations before being released following diplomatic negotiations between Seoul and Washington. According to diplomatic sources, South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the US State Department will jointly lead the initiative. The US Department of Homeland Security and Commerce Department are also believed to be taking part in the group. The two nations are widely expected to discuss how to improve the US visa system for South Korean workers at a time when Korean firms have been carrying out large manufacturing projects in the US. Many of those who were detained in the Georgia raid had arrived in the US on a B1 visa, issued for business purposes, such as attending meetings or signing contracts, or under the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) visa waiver program for short-term stays, according to Yonhap News Agency. South Korea and the US are likely to discuss whether to flexibly apply the B1 visa. If the scope of business purposes under a B1 visa is clarified, the US could swiftly address South Korean business people difficulties without the need to change the current visa system. The possibility of setting up a separate visa desk at the South Korean Embassy in the US could be handled for Koreans making US investments, according to the sources. (ANI)
Vice President JD Vance said on Sunday that Russia needs to "wake up and accept reality" in its ongoing war against Ukraine, emphasising that the US is still pushing for peace, The Hill reported. "We want peace here," Vance said during an interview on Fox News. "We have been actively pursuing peace from the very beginning of the administration, but the Russians have got to wake up and accept reality here." His remarks follow President Donald Trump's statement earlier in the week, suggesting that Ukraine is now in a strong position to win the war. Posting on his Truth Social platform on Tuesday, Trump described Russia as a "paper tiger" and said Ukraine could reclaim its full territory with continued support. "After getting to know and fully understand the Ukraine/Russia Military and Economic situation and, after seeing the Economic trouble it is causing Russia, I think Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form," Trump posted on his Truth Social platform Tuesday. Recently, Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, as per The Hill. He has previously suggested that Ukraine would have to accept territorial concessions as part of a peace agreement. Russia currently occupies all of Luhansk and Crimea--annexed by Moscow in 2014--as well as parts of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson. The war, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, has taken a massive human toll. According to a June estimate by the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, over 250,000 Russian soldiers and between 60,000 and 100,000 Ukrainian troops have been killed, according to The Hill. Civilian casualties have also been devastating. The United Nations reported on September 10 that more than 14,100 Ukrainian civilians have died in the conflict. Meanwhile, The Moscow Times, an independent outlet now operating from Amsterdam, reported in May that over 620 Russian civilians have also lost their lives. Vance, noting the mounting death toll, said that Russian President Vladimir Putin has refused to meet with Trump and Zelensky. After a meeting with Zelensky and European leaders at the White House last month, the president expressed optimism that a trilateral meeting would occur. "A lot of people are dying," Vance said. "They don't have a lot to show for it. How many more people are they willing to lose? How many more people are they willing to kill for very little, if any, gain in the military advantage on the ground there?" (ANI)
Violence has spread to the tribal-dominated hill district of Khagrachari in Bangladesh. Three tribal people have been killed in the violence, the country's home ministry said in a statement on Sunday. Tensions remain high in the area. The army and police have been deployed there. "The Ministry of Home Affairs has expressed deep sorrow over the incident in which three hill people were killed and 13 army personnel, including a major, three policemen, including the OC of Guimara Police Station and many others were injured in an attack by miscreants in Guimara Upazila of Khagrachhari district", the statement said. "The ministry has assured that legal action will be taken against those involved in this incident after an investigation very soon. No culprit will be spared", it added. "Until then, the ministry has requested all concerned to remain patient and calm", the statement said. Local media reports said that tensions spread over the alleged rape of a tribal schoolgirl. A group called Jummu Students held a protest against the rape. At one point, clashes broke out between the tribal and the Bengalis. The Bangladesh government has banned and blocked and rally in the area. (ANI)
The US Department of Labour on Sunday (local time) said that companies must end H1-B 'abuse'. The Labour Department also called on US companies to hire American workers. "End H-1B abuse. Hire American," the Department of Labour said in a post on X. https://x.com/USDOL/status/1972378359276699795 "We're fighting for the American Dream," it said. https://x.com/USDOL/status/1972437278275596731 The announcment follows US President Donald Trump's surprise order imposing a USD 100,000 fee for the H-1B visa, impacting the largest group of beneficiaries of the skilled-worker program. The H-1B visa is a work visa that's valid for three years and can be renewed for another three years. Economists have argued the program allows US companies to maintain competitiveness and grow their business, creating more jobs in the US. US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick lauded the Trump administration's recent overhaul in its visa programmes, announcing that these new visa programmes will ensure foreign workers provide "significant benefit" to the US by ending practices where they "take jobs from hard-working Americans" and exploit the economy without any meaningful contribution. In a post on X, moments after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order for a 'Gold Card' visa programme with fees set at USD 1 million for individuals and USD 2 million for businesses, as well as issuing a proclamation imposing a USD 100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications, Lutnick outlined the shift from what he called the "open-border Democrats' disastrous agenda" of the past four years, which he accused of flooding the country with illegal immigrants at the expense of US citizens. "For the past four years, open-border Democrats endlessly flooded the country with illegal aliens at the expense of hard-working Americans. The Trump administration is completely reversing course on that disastrous agenda. These programs guarantee that recipients who come to work in America must provide significant benefit to our great country. We are ending workers taking jobs away from hard-working Americans and taking advantage of our economy and providing nothing in return. The Trump Card begins to restore our immigration system to its intended purpose: significantly benefitting America," Lutnick wrote in his post. (ANI)
Typhoon Bualoi has left one person dead, four missing and evacuation of over 28,000 people across central Vietnam, as reported by Viet Nam News. Viet Nam News cited the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention, which noted that more than 28,000 residents have been evacuated in localities from Ninh Binh to Quang Ngai, including nearly 7,000 in Thanh Hoa Province, more than 16,500 in Ha Tinh, and over 2,100 in Quang Tri. Viet Nam News reported that initial damage reports confirm one death in Hue where a woman was swept away by floodwaters late Saturday night, and her body has been recovered on Sunday and four people were missing- three in Quang Tri and one in Da Nang. Eighty-six houses have been damaged or had their roofs blown off. According to Viet Nam News, Da Nang, Phu Bai, Dong Hoi, and Tho Xuan airports cancelled 42 flights and delayed 51 others, and are expected to resume operations from Monday. It further cited the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, which on Sunday afternoon had reported that the eye of Typhoon Bualoi was located off the coast between Quang Tri and Nghe An provinces in central Vietnam, and is expected to make landfall over northern Quang Tri to Nghe An and bring strong winds of 89-133 kph (levels 10-12), gusting up to 150 kph when making impact. The strongest winds onshore are forecast from late Sunday night into Monday morning, thereby affecting coastal areas from northern Quang Tri to Thanh Hoa. According to Viet Nam News, by Sunday afternoon, coastal areas of the north-central Vietnam had recorded destructive winds brought by the circulation of the incoming typhoon and reported that local authorities shut down hotels, restaurants and other tourist services, along with evacuating residents from danger zones in several beach areas across the central region. Heavy rains have been forecast from September 28 to 30 across the north-central provinces and northern Vietnam, with totals of 200-350 mm, and more than 500 mm in some areas. As per Viet Nam News, with major rivers are rising, there have been rising risks of severe flooding and widespread disruption in the country. Authorities are urging residents to remain indoors, avoid unnecessary travel, and strictly follow evacuation orders as the storm makes landfall. (ANI)
ABC's killer joker and the real speech suppressors

By Mark Alexander

web posted September 29, 2025

After the assassination of Charlie Kirk, our nation's leading champion of free speech on campus, my column "Responding to Charlie's Murder" was centered on Romans 12:21: "Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good."

As anticipated his widow Erika delivered a powerful message of faith and hope at his memorial service to an onsite audience of 110,000 and tens of millions more across the nation and around the world. She declared: "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 know not what they do.' That man, that young man, I forgive him. I forgive him because it was what Christ did, and it's what Charlie would do. The answer to hate 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."

I closed my column with a fitting quote from civil rights leader Martin Luther King: "Hate is too great a burden to bear. ... Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it."

Remember when, after King's assassination in 1968 by a racist sociopathic prison escapee from Illinois (a supporter of Democrat presidential candidate George Wallace), days later, the most popular late-night entertainer of that era, Johnny Carson, opened his monologue claiming that the assassin was a left-wing radical, despite unimpeachable evidence to the contrary.

OK, you don't recall that because Carson did not make that claim. But can you imagine how swiftly he would have been booted off NBC if he had?

Here's what Carson did say years later in a "60 Minutes" interview on late-night "comedians" using their platforms to push their political views: "That's a danger. That's a real danger. Once you start that, you start to get that self-important feeling that what you say has great import. And strangely enough, you could use that show as a forum; you could sway people. And I don't think you should as an entertainer."

To his point, that is precisely what late-night "comedian" and serial misogynist Jimmy Kimmel has been doing, and with such impunity that he opened his monologue four days after Charlie's assassination with this bald-faced lie: "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." He added after showing a video of President Donald Trump: "You can see how hard the president is taking this. ... This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish."

As was abundantly clear to anyone with an IQ above their age, Kirk's murderer is, in fact, an ideological leftist who manifests gender-confusion pathology, may have ties to a militant "LGBT" group in Salt Lake City, and was further radicalized by the ideology of the so-called "antifa movement" of self-styled "anti-fascist" fascists  now being declared a terrorist organization.

But apparently, Kimmel, in his narcissistic celebrity alternate reality bubble, missed the news.

He was not the only one. High-profile Harvard Law School professor emeritus Laurence Tribe insisted, "Kirk's apparent assassin seems to have been ultra-MAGA, exploding the GOP/MAGA attempt to pin the blame for this tragedy on liberals." And this week, the head of the American Association of University Professors, Rutgers media professor Todd Wolfson, wrote that Kirk's assassin was "a disturbed right-wing kid" who believed Kirk "was not right wing enough."

However, for Kimmel, the consequences were swift.

TV media holding company Nexstar, among the nation's largest network broadcasting groups with more than 200 stations in 116 markets reaching 220 million people, pulled Kimmel's show from its ABC affiliates.

Likewise, Sinclair Broadcast Group, the largest of ABC's affiliate broadcasters, announced it would be airing a tribute to Charlie Kirk in Kimmel's former time slot last weekend  though that plan was scrapped just before air time  and also pulled Kimmel's show from its ABC affiliates, saying it would not consider bringing the show back until Kimmel apologizes and makes a substantial donation to Turning Point USA.

Then, ABC obligatorily suspended Kimmel, but as I noted in my column, "Kimmel Gets Canned for the Moment," it was just for a moment.

Predictably, Disney/ABC announced last Monday that they were reinstating Kimmel: "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 on Kimmel's returning monologue in a moment.)

But Disney didn't have a "thoughtful conversation" with former employees Roseanne Barr or Gina Carano, nor were there leftist free speech protests after their firings. As commentator Clay Travis notes: "Roseanne had the highest rated show on television when she made a Twitter joke and was immediately fired by Disney. Gina Carano had the most popular show on streaming when she shared a social post and was immediately fired by Disney. Everyone on the left cheered."

But Kimmel's problems are not over. Neither Nexstar nor Sinclair restored Kimmel to their late-night lineups  for the moment. Nexstar said, "We stand by that decision pending assurance that all parties are committed to fostering an environment of respectful, constructive dialogue in the markets we serve." Sinclair said, "Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show's potential return."

Just to be clear, Kimmel had ample opportunity since his suspension to apologize on his own social media pages for his lie  but did not.

For the record, Kimmel's ratings had dropped precipitously before his offending comment. According to monthly Nielsen figures, "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" had only 1.1 million total viewers in August, down 43% from January, when he had 1.95 million. Moreover, his August household rating of 0.35 marked the weakest showing of the year. The New York Post noted, "The advertiser-coveted 18-49 demo also cratered. Kimmel averaged only 129,000 viewers in that bracket in August, off from 212,000 in January."

His ratings could go either way next month, and that will be interesting to see. But the bottom line is, like other late-night leftists, his viewership is in decline.

Unfortunately, the Kimmel preemptions coincided with some "not ready for prime time" remarks from Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr, who apparently felt he needed to pile on. Carr said: "In some quarters, there's a very concerted effort to try to lie to the American people about the nature ... of one of the most significant newsworthy public interest acts that we've seen in a long time in what appears to be an action by Jimmy Kimmel to play into that narrative that this was somehow a MAGA or a Republican-motivated person." Carr added: "We can do this the easy way or the hard way. These companies can find ways to change conduct and take actions on Kimmel, or there's going to be additional work for the FCC ahead."

Carr's comments were coincidental, not causal, but he opened the door for an explosion of leftist protests that he, as an agent of Donald Trump, was responsible for censoring Kimmel, and claims that this constituted speech suppression.

Of course, Kimmel's suspension had nothing to do with suppression of speech and everything to do with private companies taking appropriate actions against an employee who sullied the reputation of those companies  in addition to the fact that employees' advertising revenue return for ABC and its affiliates was already in a slide.

There are now numerous cases of leftist non-celebrities being fired for publicly posting hateful assertions about Kirk's murder.

The difference is that Kimmel has a big platform to spew his leftist garbage and other haters did not.

Consequently, there has been a flood of leftist "speech suppression" claims, including incendiary charges by high-profile Democrats, using the same extremist language that radicalized Charlie Kirk's assassin. Ironically, they are casting those claims in the same week that Trump's second would-be assassin was convicted, and the scheduling of sentencing for the man (now claiming to be a woman) who planned the assassination of multiple Supreme Court justices.

In both those cases, as with others, the would-be assailants were radicalized by leftist hate rhetoric.

Typical of those spuriously claiming to be defenders of Kimmel's freedom of speech are these assertions by the highest-profile Demos in the Senate.

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) also blew a gasket, protesting: "It is outrageous, it's a page right out of Xi's playbook. This is just despicable and disgusting, and against Democratic values. Trump and his allies [are doing what] autocracies do. I am just outraged by it  this is what dictators do. This is what Xi would do. This is what Putin would do."

Unhinged leftist Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) proclaimed: "It's happening. The takedown of Jimmy Kimmel is likely the start of a campaign to use the murder of Charlie Kirk as a pretext to use the power of the White House to wipe out Trump's critics and his political opponents. But we aren't powerless. We can mobilize and organize. Now. ... There may be no democracy to save a year from now, this is a red alert moment."

Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD): "Trump's administration [has] come out and announce to the world that they're going to crack down on organizations and individuals they disagree with. That is what dictators do. You know, this is why we fought the American Revolution. Because we had a king in England who was locking people up ... because they disagreed with them and voiced dissent."

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) said, "I think that the censorship is spreading like cancer in this country and we need to speak out now."

To further the pretense, Senate and House Demos proposed new legislation, ostensibly to protect speech, called the "No Political Enemies Act."

For his part, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) issued a statement condemning "Trump and the Republican Party's war on the First Amendment."

The rhetorical tone reflects the level of fear Demos have, not about infringement on the First Amendment but clearly because their Leftmedia propaganda platforms are being threatened.

And of course, the other late-night leftists parroted the Demo autocrat memo, as did hundreds of other leftist celebrities.

As intended, the Demo hate contagion is now boldly being projected by their constituent groups. Intercollegiate Studies Institute President Daniel McCarthy notes: "On Facebook pages for 'Occupy Democrats' (with 10 million followers) and 'U.S. Democratic Socialists' (1.6 million followers), the message gets clearer: 'Dear America: Whatever you wish the Germans had done in the 1930s, it's time to do that now.'"

Didn't we just have a conversation about lowering the rhetorical temperature of leftist hate rhetoric comparing Trump and his supporters to "autocrats," "dictators," and tyrants like Xi and Putin who are "against Democratic values"?

After Charlie's murder, Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), the titular head of the Trump/MAGA hatefest, attempted to deflect any responsibility, saying: "We just have to change the rhetorical nature of our debate. People don't have any intention of saying something that leads to something dangerous. We cannot take responsibility for the minds that are out there."

"Change the rhetorical nature of our debate"? "We cannot take responsibility"? Really? Pelosi's rhetoric has been a significant causal factor in all the leftist violence over the last decade.

Now, hearing Democrats pretend to defend "free speech" is as amusing as hearing them on rare occasions espouse the principles enshrined in our Constitution, or their oaths "to support and defend" it.

This is the party that has perfected speech suppression and cancel culture over the last five years.

Demos and their leftist Big Tech oligarchs and surrogate cadres, in collusion with their Leftmedia and social media platforms, have used every means at their disposal to suppress First Amendment protections of those who don't comport with their agenda. That would include The Patriot Post, which has been repeatedly subjected to such suppression.

This was particularly true in their demands that social media platforms, including the behemoth Facebook, comply with their political agendas.

The abject hypocrisy of Demo objections about ABC's suspension of Jimmy Kimmel is unparalleled.

The outcome of their continued hate rhetoric has proven to have deadly consequences.

For his part, Kimmel predictably opened his ABC return monologue assailing Trump's "un-American" attacks on free speech, insisting he (Kimmel) was a champion of free speech, and asserting, "It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man ... nor was it my intention to blame any specific group for the actions of what it was obviously a deeply disturbed individual."

Kimmel can't stop lying.

In his offending monologue nine days ago, after asserting that conservatives were trying to "score political points" from Kirk's death, Kimmel joked that Trump was mourning his death "like a four-year-old mourns a goldfish."

It was obvious that his intent was to pin the assassination of Kirk on Trump and Republicans, and once caught in his lie, he claimed he was joking, which is not consistent with his assertion that he was not "making light of the murder."

He concluded his comments by tearfully saying: "Erika Kirk forgave the man who shot her husband. ... She forgave him. That is an example we should follow. If you believe in the teachings of Jesus, as I do, there it was. That's it, a selfless act of grace, forgiveness from a grieving widow. It touched me deeply."

Suggesting, after decades of his leftist late-night hate rhetoric, that he "believes in the teachings of Jesus" in the same breath he is referencing Erika Kirk's forgiveness betrays the depth of his depraved disingenuousness.

But through his crocodile tears, there was no apology.

Since Trump's second election, leading Democrats have accelerated their "threat to democracy" and other hate rhetoric claims, despite the fact that Trump actually channels the spirit of American Liberty embraced by his grassroots supporters.

Charlie Kirk's blood is on the hate rhetoric hands of Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Tim Walz, Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, et al.

This is the terminus of years of leftist hate rhetoric, and Charlie's murder is their new cancel culture. As Charlie would say, "PROVE ME WRONG!"

They are, likewise, guilty of inciting two attempts on Trump's life, and on other high-profile conservatives.

There will be more bloodshed.

Mark Alexander is the executive editor of the Patriot Post.
Pakistan's State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry has warned that if negotiations with the Taliban fail to stop cross-border terrorism, Islamabad will respond with "the language of bullets."

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Saturday, Chaudhry described terrorism as the country's biggest challenge. He said ongoing operations in Pakistan's restive areas would continue to secure internal stability and create space for economic investment.

The minister alleged that nearly 80 per cent of militants involved in recent attacks inside Pakistan were Afghan nationals. He added that stricter border control measures were being considered to prevent infiltration.

Chaudhry stressed that Pakistan was determined to eliminate all security threats, calling stability and security essential prerequisites for development. He said those who only understand "the language of bullets" would be dealt with accordingly.

In recent months, violence has surged in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the tribal districts, with near-weekly reports of soldiers, policemen, and civilians killed in militant attacks and bombings, as per Khaama Press.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also highlighted the issue in his address to the UN General Assembly, saying Pakistan continues to face "externally sponsored terrorism" that places serious pressure on national security. He urged the global community to cooperate in tackling the threat.

Analysts say Pakistan's toughened stance reflects growing frustration over cross-border militancy and the lack of meaningful response from Kabul. They warn that without constructive engagement, the violence could worsen and destabilise the broader region.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, Afghans deported from Pakistan have voiced concern about police mistreatment in that country and the difficulties they are facing upon return, Tolo News reported.

Many deportees are calling on the Islamic Emirate and aid organisations to provide shelter and support. (ANI)
He is on an official visit to India from September 28 to October 2.

As per Kenya's Ministry of Defence, Major General Paul Owuor Otenio is serving as the 14th Commander of the Kenya Navy. His career, spanning over three decades, is marked by a series of significant contributions to military operations, peacekeeping missions, and strategic development in Kenya.

Over a distinguished 37-year career, Major General Otenio has held several Command, Staff, and Peace Operations related appointments locally and abroad.

India and Kenya are maritime neighbours.

The contemporary ties between India and Kenya have now evolved into a robust and multi-faceted partnership, marked by regular high-level visits, increasing trade and investment as well as extensive people to people contacts.

Earlier in June this year, MoS Defence Sanjay Seth and the Cabinet Secretary for Defence of the Republic of Kenya, Roselinda Soipan Tuya, EGH, jointly unveiled the India-Africa Commemorative War memorial honouring the fallen soldiers of India and Kenya, Pillar at Mile 27, Taita Taveta County, Kenya, on June 23, 2025.

The two nations share a common legacy of struggle against colonialism. Many Indians participated and supported the freedom struggle of Kenya.

Most notably, the Indian Navy's First Training Squadron (1TS), engaged in a spirited yoga session, held a band performance along with the Kenya Navy, among several other activities it conducted during the port call, the Navy spokesperson shared on Sunday.

Senior officers of the 1TS held discussions and hosted a deck reception on board INS Shardul, further strengthening the maritime cooperation between India and Kenya.

The ships of the Indian Navy's First Training Squadron (1TS) - INS Tir, INS Sujata, INS Shardul and ICGS Sarathi - made a port call at Mombasa, Kenya on September 25. (ANI)
He is on an official visit to India from September 28 to October 2.

Earlier, he paid tributes at the National War Memorial.

As per Kenya's Ministry of Defence, Major General Paul Owuor Otenio is serving as the 14th Commander of the Kenya Navy. His career, spanning over three decades, is marked by a series of significant contributions to military operations, peacekeeping missions, and strategic development in Kenya.

Over a distinguished 37-year career, Major General Otenio has held several Command, Staff, and Peace operations-related appointments locally and abroad.

India and Kenya are maritime neighbours.

The contemporary ties between India and Kenya have now evolved into a robust and multi-faceted partnership, marked by regular high-level visits, increasing trade and investment, as well as extensive people-to-people contacts.

Earlier in June this year, MoS Defence Sanjay Seth and the Cabinet Secretary for Defence of the Republic of Kenya, Roselinda Soipan Tuya, EGH, jointly unveiled the India-Africa Commemorative War memorial honouring the fallen soldiers of India and Kenya, Pillar at Mile 27, Taita Taveta County, Kenya, on June 23, 2025.

The two nations share a common legacy of struggle against colonialism. Many Indians participated and supported the freedom struggle of Kenya.

Most notably, the Indian Navy's First Training Squadron (1TS), engaged in a spirited yoga session, held a band performance along with the Kenya Navy, among several other activities it conducted during the port call, the Navy spokesperson shared on Sunday.

Senior officers of the 1TS held discussions and hosted a deck reception on board INS Shardul, further strengthening the maritime cooperation between India and Kenya.

The ships of the Indian Navy's First Training Squadron (1TS) - INS Tir, INS Sujata, INS Shardul and ICGS Sarathi - made a port call at Mombasa, Kenya on September 25. (ANI)
The United Kashmir People's National Party (UKPNP) has issued an urgent international appeal following the shutdown of internet and phone services across Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. According to the UKPNP press release, this communication blackout is a deliberate move by Pakistani authorities to silence peaceful dissent and isolate the region from the global community amid growing unrest. According to the statement, the blackout coincides with a major protest movement led by the Joint Awami Action Committee, which has called for a complete shutter-down and wheel-jam strike on Monday. Protesters are demanding basic rights, economic justice, and an end to decades of political repression. UKPNP warns that Pakistan has deployed paramilitary Rangers and additional security forces across the region, raising serious concerns about the possibility of a violent crackdown. The party drew attention to the tragic events of 13 May 2024, when Rangers opened fire on peaceful demonstrators in Muzaffarabad, killing three civilians. That incident, they noted, remains uninvestigated and exemplifies the systemic impunity enjoyed by security forces operating in the area. The party emphasised that the ongoing situation is not just a local protest, but part of a long-standing humanitarian and political crisis stemming from the unresolved status of Jammu and Kashmir, a conflict that has remained on the UN agenda since 1948. In its appeal, UKPNP called upon the United Nations, the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, China, Russia, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and other international actors to intervene immediately to prevent further violence. The party stressed that the people of PoJK and Gilgit-Baltistan continue to be denied their fundamental rights, including freedom of expression, freedom of movement, ownership of local resources, and the right to self-governance. UKPNP concluded by urging the international community to listen to the voices of the people of PoJK and PoGB, who have waited since 1947 for justice and dignity. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has penned a foreword to Italian to the Indian edition of Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni's autobiography. Prime Minister Modi describes the book, which is scheduled to be launched on October 7, 2025 as Meloni's 'Mann Ki Baat', taking a cue from his own monthly radio broadcast of the same name. "It is not just an autobiography; it is her Mann Ki Baat," PM Modi says in the foreword of the book that was published originally in Italy. "I am delighted that Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is penning her autobiography, I Am Giorgia. Over the last 11 years, I have had the privilege of engaging with many world leaders, each with a different life journey. At times, their journeys transcend personal stories and speak to something larger. They remind us of ideals that have endured across cultures and centuries. Prime Minister Meloni has several such instances in her accomplished life, making this book very special," PM Modi has written. In the foreword of the autobiography titled "I am Giorgia -- My Roots, My Principles" brought out by Rupa Publications, PM Modi says the book, "gives readers a candid and rare glimpse into the heart and mind of one of Europe's and the world's most dynamic and vibrant leaders." "There are various ways to understand as well as appreciate Prime Minister Meloni's rise and leadership. Among those, I can see a strong connection between her story and the concept of Nari Shakti, the divine feminine energy that has been venerated in Indic traditions for thousands of years in many forms," PM Modi has written. Meloni's life and leadership, says PM Modi "remind us of these timeless truths. She has held firm to her roots while leading her nation with confidence on the global stage. That is why her journey resonates so deeply with us in India." Published originally in Italy, the US edition of the book has a foreword by Donald Trump Junior.In his foreword, PM Modi futher says he is reminded that India and Italy are bound by much more than treaties or trade. "We are bound by shared civilizational instincts like the defence of heritage, the strength of community and the celebration of womanhood as a guiding force. Our nations are joined in spirit by a respect for tradition and an embrace of modernity. This is the bedrock of my own personal friendship with Prime Minister Meloni." "As India and Italy deepen their partnership, this book will enrich our understanding of each other and reinforce the importance of human connection at the heart of global cooperation. I am confident that it will be well-received as a refreshing story of an outstanding contemporary political leader and a patriot. It has been a great honour to have written this foreword." The Italian Prime Minister, Meloni, had paid a state visit to India in March 2023, months after her election victory in September 2022. During that visit, ties between India and Italy were upgraded to a Strategic Partnership. The interactions between PM Modi and Meloni have been popular on social media. At one point in the year 2023, the hashtag #Melodi was a trend after PM Modi responded to a selfie posted by the Italian Prime Minister during the COP28 meet in Dubai in which Meloni wrote #Melodi, a combination of the two leaders' names. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and PM Giorgia Meloni had earlier this month held a telephone conversation in which they exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest. PM Meloni had extended greetings to PM Modi on his 75th birthday on September 17 this year, praising his leadership and commitment to India's progress. Recently, Meloni said that India can play a very important role in resolving the ongoing conflicts in the world. "I think it can play a very important role," Giorgia Meloni told ANI on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session.She was asked about India's role in resolving the ongoing wars. Born in Rome in 1977 on October 22, 2022, Meloni become the first woman Prime Minister in Italy. She has written about her childhood in the working-class neighbourhood of Garbatella to her rise in Italian and European politics. She also touches upon her early struggles, the profound influence of her mother and sister, and the absence of her father. (ANI)
A complete shutdown strike is currently underway in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), with all markets, shops, and business centres closed. Streets and alleys across the region are deserted as the Kashmiri population shows strong support for the Joint Action Committee by halting all commercial activities. According to a report by Samaa TV, life in PoJK came to a halt on Monday following a strike call by the Public Action Committee. The protest led to the closure of markets, suspension of transport services, and disruption in communication networks amid rising public anger over long-standing, unresolved issues. Samaa TV further noted that although schools were officially open, classrooms remained empty as most students stayed home. The report also emphasised that, for a second straight day, internet and mobile phone services remained suspended throughout PoJK. In a rare move, even landline telephone services were cut off, deepening the region's isolation from the rest of the world. The strike was initiated by the Public Action Committee, which has presented a list of 38 demands. Key among them are the elimination of 12 reserved seats for refugees and the removal of privileges granted to the political elite. The Committee has also announced plans to hold a rally later in the day to intensify its protest movement. Pakistani media outlet Dawn reported that authorities held flag marches across major towns in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, demonstrating their power amid a tense calm. Meanwhile, leaders of a civil society alliance continued to rally support for region-wide lockdown on Monday. According to Dawn, in Muzaffarabad, Shaukat Nawaz Mir, a core member of the Public Action Committee, addressed a crowd, emphasising that their campaign is not against any ideology or institution but is aimed at securing the genuine rights of their people, which have been denied for over seven decades under various pretexts. He described the strike as "Plan A," intended to send a clear message that the people's patience has run out, urging authorities to either grant their rights or face public backlash. Mir also revealed that the alliance has backup strategies, Plans B and C, with Plan D being the most severe if their demands remain unmet. (ANI)
The East Turkistan Government-in-Exile (ETGE) has strongly denounced China's commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, calling the event a political stunt aimed at concealing decades of repression and occupation in the region it refers to as East Turkistan. In a statement issued on its office website, the ETGE described the anniversary ceremony, overseen by Chinese President Xi Jinping and top Communist Party officials, as a "staged gathering" that serves to legitimize China's control over the territory. The group claimed that Beijing's use of terms such as "autonomy," "unity," and "modernisation" is part of a broader effort to disguise systemic human rights abuses. "There is nothing to celebrate, the 1955 designation of the 'Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region' was an attempt to mask China's military occupation and colonisation of East Turkistan." the statement reads. The exiled government asserted that the Uyghur and broader Turkic population in the region has never accepted Chinese rule, emphasising that East Turkistan briefly regained independence twice in the 20th century before being brought under full Chinese control in 1949. Since then, the ETGE claims, the people of the region have continued to resist what they consider foreign occupation. The group also accused the Chinese government of engaging in demographic manipulation, citing a rise in the Han Chinese settler population from less than 4% in 1949 to over 40% today. According to the ETGE, this shift has been facilitated by military-backed settlement programs and the activities of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. Beyond demographic changes, the statement highlighted ongoing allegations of human rights abuses, including mass internment, forced labour, surveillance, religious persecution, and cultural suppression. These actions, the ETGE says, amount to genocide and colonial domination. "The people of East Turkistan are not a minority within China but a nation under occupation," the group states. "Our goal is not autonomy under Chinese rule, but the complete restoration of our independence." The statement said. The ETGE called on the international community to reject Beijing's narrative, recognise East Turkistan's right to self-determination, and hold China accountable for its policies in the region. (ANI)
Prakash Rao Venkata Ramana Duvvuri, Honorary Consul Kyrgyz Republic in Chennai said that Kyrgyzstan is reasonable for Indian students to pursue medical field. "Kyrgyzstan is very reasonable. The entire cost of medical education there is not more than 25 lakhs for all the five years. Whereas 25 lakhs is nothing for medical education in this country. In this country, we talk of 1 crore 75 lakhs minimum. As I said, 25 lakhs is maximum cost, including maintenance and all that. So that's why today you find 10,000 students from South of India doing medicine there. And overall from India around 20,000 students are there. A lot of students go into Russia for education," he told ANI. Duvvuri said that all these nations were once a part of the Soviet Union, and these countries are preferred for the safety and security they offer. "All these countries were a part of Soviet Union at one time. They got separated in 1992, I think, Kyrgyzstan got separated. So the country is developing after the independence. Among the neighboring countries, here safety and stability is very good. Not only safety of people, stability of the government and all is very good here. No problems," he said. Duvvuri said that he was proud of the opening of the consulate, as Tamil Nadu significantly contributes to the GDP of the country and it is a huge moment for the state. "I'm so proud about it because we are an advanced state we are the second largest state of India industrially and we are the highest GDP contributing state for the country. So I think it should be pride for them also, not only for Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu is the best state, one of the best states in this country and we have a very good infrastructure. Tamil Nadu is very well advanced in this country," he said. Talking about the infrastructure, Duvvuri said that Kyrgyz infrastructure must be good, and the US-like stringent policies would not be implemented here. "I haven't seen but what I understand is it is reasonably good. It a developing country. I think the opportunity should be good. And what happened in USA cannot happen here," he said. He added that the immigration crackdown in the US cannot be implemented overnight, as the Indian population is strong there. "And in USA also, I feel, it's only a temporary phase. Because a country like US with today more than five million Indians, and most of the Indians are in very good positions in US. I think American citizens itself will be around more than two million, Indian-Americans-Indians. So Indian citizens are a very strong community and Trump overnight can't destroy it. Maybe to some extent, it's setback to newcomers or for the new people to go. I don't think on what Trump decision he has taken. I understand Canada wants to win cash. Canada wants to offer more citizenships and take more people. These countries, that problem won't come," he said. Duvvuri said that he plans to attract investments and trade in the state. "I should look for some investments now. My idea is basically business and trade and investments. Trade and investments, is, medical tour is a very good scope. And investments I should see how things will come across," he said. In a significant diplomatic milestone, the Kyrgyz Republic has inaugurated its first-ever Honorary Consul Office in Chennai, marking the Republic's maiden representation in South India. The office, which will cover the consular district of Tamil Nadu, is headed by Prakash Rao Venkata Ramana Duvvuri, an eminent scientist, entrepreneur, and global consultant, who has been appointed as the Honorary Consul of the Kyrgyz Republic. This is currently the only Honorary Consul Office of the Kyrgyz Republic in India. The initiative is aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in trade, education, culture, tourism, and people-to-people ties. The inauguration ceremony was attended by dignitaries including Askar Beshimov, Consul General of the Kyrgyz Republic, and Guzel, Consular of the Kyrgyz Republic, who extended their support and goodwill for the new chapter in diplomatic relations. (ANI)
Kenyan Navy Commander, Major General Paul Owuor Otieno called on COAS General Upendra Dwivedi on Monday and held discussions on advancing the bilateral defence cooperation between the two maritime neighbours. Sharing the details in a post on X, the ADGPI noted that the leaders held deliberations on enhancing regional security, prevailing geostrategic environment in the Indian Ocean Region and reaffirmed their shared commitment to peace & stability. "Defence Cooperation- Major General Paul Owuor Otieno, Commander of the Kenya Navy, called on General Upendra Dwivedi, COAS, today. The interaction highlighted the enduring friendship between #India and Kenya, with discussions focused on advancing bilateral Defence Cooperation and enhancing regional security. Both leaders also deliberated on the prevailing geostrategic environment in the Indian Ocean Region and reaffirmed their shared commitment to peace & stability." https://x.com/adgpi/status/1972579085034631379 Earlier on Monday, Major General Paul Owuor Otieno received the Guard of Honour here in the national capital on Monday. He had also paid tribute at the National War Memorial. He is on an official visit to India from September 28 to October 2. As per Kenya's Ministry of Defence, Major General Paul Owuor Otieno is serving as the 14th Commander of the Kenya Navy. His career, spanning over three decades, is marked by a series of significant contributions to military operations, peacekeeping missions, and strategic development in Kenya. Over a distinguished 37-year career, Major General Paul Owuor Otieno has held several Command, Staff, and Peace operations-related appointments locally and abroad. India and Kenya are maritime neighbours. The contemporary ties between India and Kenya have now evolved into a robust and multi-faceted partnership, marked by regular high-level visits, increasing trade and investment, as well as extensive people-to-people contacts. Earlier in June this year, MoS Defence Sanjay Seth and the Cabinet Secretary for Defence of the Republic of Kenya, Roselinda Soipan Tuya, EGH, jointly unveiled the India-Africa Commemorative War memorial honouring the fallen soldiers of India and Kenya, Pillar at Mile 27, Taita Taveta County, Kenya, on June 23, 2025. The two nations share a common legacy of struggle against colonialism. Many Indians participated in and supported the freedom struggle of Kenya. Most notably, the Indian Navy's First Training Squadron (1TS), engaged in a spirited yoga session, held a band performance along with the Kenya Navy, among several other activities it conducted during the port call, the Navy spokesperson shared on Sunday. Senior officers of the 1TS held discussions and hosted a deck reception on board INS Shardul, further strengthening the maritime cooperation between India and Kenya. The ships of the Indian Navy's First Training Squadron (1TS) - INS Tir, INS Sujata, INS Shardul and ICGS Sarathi - made a port call at Mombasa, Kenya on September 25. (ANI)
In a compelling letter, the Baloch American Congress has called on US President Donald Trump to take a stand for the rights of the Baloch people in Pakistan's restive province of Balochistan. The appeal, written by Dr. Tara Chand, President of the organisation, has highlighted decades of state-led repression, economic exploitation, and human rights violations inflicted on the Baloch population by the Pakistani government and military. According to the letter, the Pakistani state, dominated by a Punjabi military elite has systematically denied the Baloch people their right to self-determination while exploiting Balochistan's rich natural resources. Dr. Chand described a pattern of enforced disappearances, military operations, censorship, and cultural erasure that have left the region marginalised and its people voiceless. A key focus of the letter was the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), particularly the development of Gwadar Port. The Baloch American Congress argued that these large-scale infrastructure projects have been imposed without the consent of the indigenous population, leading to land grabs, displacement, and increased militarisation. Dr. Chand claimed that while these ventures benefit foreign powers and Pakistan's ruling elite, they offer nothing to the local communities who suffer under their impact. The letter urged President Trump to recognise the Baloch people's right to self-governance and to raise his voice against the alleged atrocities committed by the Pakistani military in the province. It also called for a halt to any U.S. strategic partnerships or economic agreements involving Balochistan's resources unless they include meaningful consultation with local communities. Additionally, Dr. Chand encouraged American and Western companies to avoid investing in CPEC projects that lack the free, prior, and informed consent of the Baloch people. Dr. Chand appealed to Trump's past rhetoric on national sovereignty and justice, urging him to apply those same principles to the Baloch cause. "History will remember those who stood with oppressed nations when they needed a voice. The Baloch are a proud and resilient people. They will not accept occupation, nor surrender their right to dignity" he wrote. (ANI)
The long defeat -- Where the Canadian Right went wrong  updated to 2025 (Part Four) By Mark Wegierski

web posted September 29, 2025 A Lack of Articulation Over the last six decades, the Canadian Right has conclusively failed to articulate a "counter-ethic" to the now-prevalent "Liberal idea of Canada" and is now seemingly on the fast track to extinction in the Canadian polity. There are a number of structural and cultural political problems in which the Canadian Right has been and is embroiled, most notably, their lack of appeal to Quebec. There is the long-term "Quebec problem" of the Canadian Right. There is also the lack of appeal to older immigrant groups (the so-called "white ethnics")  who might have been a natural constituency for them. There is also their lack of appeal to newer immigrant groups (the so-called "visible minorities")  although there is probably little they could do to increase their appeal there. Because of the ongoing decline of conservative thought in Canada, there are only sporadic attempts to ever articulate a "counter-ethic" to the prevalent "Liberal idea of Canada." Such attempts are especially rare among currently-active conservative politicians. There is clearly, furthermore, an astronomical inequality of financial resources as between left-liberals and substantive conservatives in Canada. Given the direction of development of historical, social, cultural, and economic processes in Canada over the last six decades, and the various factors mentioned above  the incoherence of the articulation of a "counter-ethic", the hardening of a once-robust parliamentary democracy into a "managerial-therapeutic regime," the very low profile of any possibly competing counter-valent power-centres such as the military and churches, the increasing centralization of the polity in the federal government, the prevalence of "North American" pop-culture with its amplification of socially-liberal, consumerist, and antinomian attitudes, and the various structural and cultural political problems for the Canadian Right -- notably their lack of appeal to Quebec and "white ethnics", and the comparative fewness of highly-principled "minority conservatives" in Canada  it could be concluded that the Canadian Right is approaching extinction in Canada. The future of Canadian politics is therefore very likely to move in the direction of a "post-democratic" and de facto "one-party" system  which will be overwhelmingly socially liberal and economically conservative. Just How Liberal is Canada Today? It should be pointed out that Canada today may be seen as combining the most liberal aspects of America and Europe -- indeed, it may be world's most liberal society. Like some European countries such as the Netherlands, it is extremely socially-liberal, as demonstrated by the Canadian federal government's total acceptance of "same-sex marriage." Although a vote on the issue took place in the Federal Parliament in 2005, it was with direct referral to the Canadian Supreme Court. What conservative critics call "judicial activism" is in Canada a comparatively late but now flourishing development, which only really got underway with the introduction of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms (1982) into the Canadian Constitution. The Charter, clearly a left-liberal rather than classical liberal document, essentially enshrined virtually the entire agenda of Pierre Elliott Trudeau (Canada's left-leaning Liberal Prime Minister from 1968-1984, except for nine months in 1979-1980) as the highest law of the land. After Brian Mulroney's huge Progressive Conservative majorities of 1984 and 1988 -- whose record in regard to social and cultural conservatism was indeed abysmal -- Canada's federal Liberal Party (headed by Jean Chretien) comfortably won the elections of 1993, 1997, and 2000. On the other hand, unlike some European countries, Canada is characterized by very high rates of immigration, and it has whole-heartedly embraced multiculturalism, affirmative action (called "employment equity" in Canada), and diversity with a startling degree of unidirectional intensity. Canada's official immigration numbers are more than twice as large as those of the United States -- per capita -- and are probably among the highest in the world. With a population now reaching about 41.5 million persons, Canada had been receiving every year about a quarter-million immigrants. (The Liberals under Justin Trudeau had raised the numbers to close to a million a year, which they are now trying to somewhat reduce.) At the same time, Canada has now embraced some of the more negative aspects of American society -- such as the excesses of pop-culture, the trend to political-correctness, and growing litigiousness. However, it lacks many aspects of America that may temper the aforementioned trends. In Canada, for example, the government accounts for about half of the GDP. (In contrast to about forty percent in the United States.) Taxes are very high, relative to the United States. The Canadian medical system is stringently socialized to an extent unheard of in the United States. Canada's gun control laws are also extremely strict. Unlike the United States, fundamentalist Christianity plays virtually no role in Canada. The debate about abortion and many other social issues is considered effectively closed. In another extreme contrast to the United States, Canada has virtually no military (the entire armed forces, including army, navy, air force, and reserves, number about 86,500 men and women) and there is major disdain throughout much of Canadian society (and especially in elite opinion) towards the military. Canada's security provisions, refugee-policy, and control of its borders are also extremely lackadaisical. Canadians appear to be characterized both today and in their earlier history by an unusual deference to governmental authority. Before 1965, Canada was probably a substantively more conservative society than the United States, but now, when the paradigm at the top has been fundamentally altered -- in the wake of the "Trudeau revolution" -- most Canadians are willing to follow the new, politically-correct line from Ottawa. There is virtually no heritage of independence, self-reliance, or belief in rambunctious free speech in Canada. Indeed, Canadian officials point proudly to their laws against "hate-speech" as highly necessary. They say they do not have "the American hang-ups" about restricting freedom of speech. What may be concluded from the combination of points made above is that right-of-centre positions are rather rarely seen or heard in Canada (except perhaps in the Western province of Alberta). It could be argued that, given the left-liberal predominance in the Canadian media (especially in the taxpayer-funded CBC), in the education system (from daycare to universities), in the judiciary and justice system, in the government bureaucracies, in so-called high culture (typified by government-subsidized "CanLit"), in North American pop-culture and "youth culture," in the big Canadian banks and corporations, and (on most issues) in the leaderships of the main churches in Canada, any existing right-of-centre tendencies are being continually ground down. There is also the panoply of special interest groups, who receive extensive government and corporate funding. To be continued. Mark Wegierski is a Canadian writer and historical researcher. Home
Tibetan activists from various parts of the world gathered in Dharamshala to participate in the 19th general body meeting of the Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC). More than 130 members of about 40 regional chapters of TYC are here to attend this week long meeting and to elect the new central executive body. The meeting has total 11 agendas including the future campaigns and how to keep on freedom movement alive. Kurdeling Rinpoche, a high Tibetan lama attends the opening ceremony as chief guest, whereas, speaker of Tibetan parliament in-exile Sonam Tamphel and deputy speaker Dolma Tsering, security minister Dolma Gyari, election commissioner Lobsang Yeshi, public service commissioner Karma Yeshi and many other dignitaries participate as guest of honour. Gompo Dhondup, president of Tibetan Youth Congress told ANI, "We are here to convince the 19th general body meeting of the Tibetan Youth Congress. As per the TYC charter we are mandate to have annual meeting every year and general body meeting after every three years. So this is the one of the apex, the decision making body of our organisation. We have 11 points agenda for this meeting and all our participants from across the world will discuss on different issues. So this is one of the most important meeting of the Tibetan youth congress." "This is a week-long activity in which the central executive committee will give details of all programmes and will check the activities of the regional executives and we have different kinds of agendas including to show the gratitude towards his holiness the Dalai Lama, what kind of campaigns that we can carry out, how can we maintain our objective of restoration of complete independence of Tibet, so like this we have total 11 agendas. On the seconds last two days of the meeting we will have elections so this time we will have new central executive body," he added. Sonam Tsering, general secretary of Tibetan Youth Congress told ANI, "The unique thing about this organisation is that we have members of different age groups and there are lot of exchanges like exchange of ideas and exchange of experiences among all the members. This organisation plays a very important role in the Tibetan freedom movement and also to counter the Chinese government." "I hope the coming generation, the new governing body will continue to keep this commitment, will continue to fight for the complete independence of Tibet and keep the Tibetan freedom struggle alive. Despite our non-violent approaches, means campaigns and activities, China continues to blame this organisation as a terrorist organisation, that shows the strength of our non-violent approach so we will continue to make them difficult until the Tibetan independence is achieved," he added. Tibetan Youth Congress is one of the leading Tibetan NGO which is committed to struggle for the complete independence of Tibet. (ANI)
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Monday announced a "major new initiative" between India and Bhutan for the establishment of rail connectivity between the two countries. "There is a major new initiative between India and Bhutan on the establishment of rail connectivity between our two countries," Misri said at a joint press conference in Delhi with Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Highlighting the depth of bilateral ties, Misri stated, "India and Bhutan share a relationship of exceptional trust, mutual respect and understanding. This is a relationship that is rooted in cultural and civilizational ties, extensive people-to-people relations and our shared developmental and security interests." "These ties are reflected in very close contact at the highest levels. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Bhutan last year in March 2024, he was conferred the Order of the Druk Yalpo, which is the highest civilian award of Bhutan," he noted. The Foreign Secretary pointed out that both Bhutan's King and its Prime Minister have been engaging closely with India. "His Majesty, the King of Bhutan and the Prime Minister of Bhutan have been visiting India regularly. His Majesty the King was here earlier to attend Mahakumbh, and, the Prime Minister was here just a few weeks ago to attend the consecration of the Bhutanese temple in Rajgir," Misri said. On India's role in Bhutan's development, Misri underlined, "The Government of India has been Bhutan's largest provider of developmental assistance and has played a vital role in its modernisation, especially in the areas of infrastructure and the overall economic development of the country." "For the 13th Five-Year Plan of Bhutan, which runs from 2024 to 2029, the Government of India has committed support of Rs 10,000 crores, which covers project-wide assistance, high-impact community development projects, the economic stimulus program and a program grant. And this quantum constitutes a 100 per cent increase over the 12th five-year plan figures," he added. The joint press conference was addressed by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on the launch of new railway projects between India and Bhutan. (ANI)
Japanese Nobel laureate Takaaki Kajita praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for Indo-Japan collaboration in science and technology, highlighting India's remarkable rise in the Global Innovation Index (GII), according to an official statement. Kajita, a renowned physicist, attributed India's growth to the Modi government's strategic focus on research and development (R&D). He praised India's rapid advancement in the Global Innovation Index during the last 11 years, according to the statement. During the recent Japan visit, PM Modi had called for a joint collaboration between Indian talent and Japanese technology to create a next-generation tech revolution. Takaaki, along with 20 renowned Japanese scientists, signed a resolution to extend support to PM Modi's vision for Indo-Japan joint partnership in the field of research and innovation. Kajita emphasised the importance of deepening the Indo-Japanese partnership in science and technology. The partnership in science and technology is expected to leverage mutual strengths, driving innovation and future advancements. "Japan should learn from India on the rapid advancement in the field of Research & Innovation", said Takaaki Kajita, a Japanese physicist who won the Nobel Prize in 2015 for his distinguished work in discovering the oscillations of neutrinos. Takaaki was participating in the international conference on 'India-Japan Next Generation Science and Technology Partnership: Academic and Research' hosted by India's premier educational institution, Chandigarh University, and Japan's top-ranked university, the University of Tokyo, in Japan's capital city. While speaking during the conference, Takaaki said, "India's rapid advancement in the Global Innovation Index from 91 rank in 2014 to 38 in 2024 has surprised the world. Japan should learn from India how the government should focus on the field of R&D." India has climbed to 38th position in the GII, up from 91st in 2014, showcasing its growing global stature. Earlier, on September 9, speaking with ANI on the sidelines of the ISA Steel conclave in New Delhi, Kazuo Mike Fujisawa, Representative of the Japan Iron & Steel Federation, told ANI that many Japanese steel companies are showing interest in India. "India has high steel production growth, and its population is growing, so it has high steel consumption per capita," he said. India and Japan have been long-time trade partners in the steel industry. (ANI)
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressed the state's solidarity with the people of Palestine during a meeting with Palestine's Ambassador Abdulla Abu Shawesh. The meeting was held at the CM's chamber in the Legislative Assembly on Monday, a statement by the Chief Minister's Office said. The Chief Minister told the Ambassador that Kerala has always stood with the people of Palestine. He said that Israel, with US backing, has been denying Palestine its democratic rights by undermining all international conventions, the statement said. "Kerala stands firmly for the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination. The United Nations and the international community must act urgently to establish a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, in line with UN resolutions, and to restore peace in West Asia. This has been the consistent position of the Left," the CM added. The Palestinian Ambassador detailed the challenges faced under Israeli occupation. He said Kerala's support at this critical juncture is significant. "Palestine needs more support, and we hope it will come from across the world," he added. In a post on X, Vijayan said, "Had the honour of meeting Mr. Abdullah Abu Shawesh, Ambassador of the State of Palestine to India, during his visit to Kerala. Reiterated Kerala's unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people and our demand for an immediate end to the genocide in Gaza. Kerala will always stand firm for justice to the people of Palestine." https://x.com/pinarayivijayan/status/1972579287342662085 https://x.com/AM_Shawesh/status/1972557631983411465 Shawesh said in a post on X, "It is my great pleasure to begin my three-day visit to Kerala, organized by the Kerala Media Academy, with a courtesy call this morning on the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Kerala, Comrade Pinarayi Vijayan. What unites us; our shared humanity and common future, is deeply rooted in our convictions. I sincerely appreciate all the voices that continue to stand for justice and moral values. Truly, no one is safe until everyone is safe." (ANI)
Massive protests have broken out in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) against the government of Anwar Ul Haq Kakar and the Pakistan leadership, as demonstrators demand basic rights. According to local media reports, at least one person has been killed and several others injured. Pictures from PoJK showed huge crowds rallying in different areas, raising slogans against what they described as the denial of their rights. The scale of the gatherings reflected growing anger across multiple districts. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) unit in PoJK amplified these protests online, issuing a series of statements accusing the Anwar-led government of "incompetence and repression" as unrest spreads across multiple regions. "Sara Mirpur has taken to the streets against her rights and this incompetent Anwar government," PTI posted on X. The party also alleged that the demonstrations have been met with state-backed violence. "The video of the thugs of the Muslim (Criminal) Conference opening direct fire on peaceful protesters under state patronage has come to light, resulting in four people being seriously injured," PTI claimed. Widespread demonstrations were also reported in Plandri, which PTI linked to the broader discontent. "The people of Plandri are up in arms in protest for the provision of basic rights and against this incompetent Anwar government," PTI said. The unrest has spilled into other areas, including Dadyal, where the party accused authorities of creating humanitarian hardships. "The Dadyal administration has blocked the Plak Bridge, causing severe difficulties for patients and citizens traveling abroad. It should be noted that during the lockdown in the state, it was announced that roads would remain open for patients and those traveling to foreign countries, but this incompetent Anwar government administration has increased the difficulties for patients," PTI stated. Reiterating accusations against the rival Muslim Conference, PTI alleged further violence. "Firing by the thugs of the Muslim (Criminal) Conference on unarmed and peaceful public under state patronage. As a result, four individuals were severely injured." The protests have also reached Bhimber, in what PTI described as Prime Minister Anwar Haq's own constituency. "Looters Prime Minister Anwar Haq's constituency Bhimber, people took to the streets. On this occasion, the people raised severe slogans against their rights and the incompetent government," it said. In Dadyal, the unrest has intensified further. "Thousands of people are present at a protest sit-in in Dadyal to demand their rights," PTI declared. Meanwhile, protestors also gathered in Kotli District, defying restrictions. One of the demonstrators said, "We have reached Kotli District in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). Rallies are reaching this district. The gathering is in response to the actions of the sitting members of the legislative assembly (MLAs) who had been meeting to strategize against the Action Committee's demands. Despite their efforts to impose a lockdown, the public has successfully congregated, demonstrating strong opposition." In Kotli, the Jammu Kashmir Awami Action Committee (JKAAC) is leading the ongoing demonstrations. Telecommunications across PoJK have been completely shut down, with cellular networks, landlines, and DSL internet services suspended. JKAAC has put forward demands that observers describe as reasonable and rooted in long-standing grievances. Protest leaders argue that Pakistan must not treat PoJK as a colony or an occupied territory, insisting instead on the rights of its people to protest, participate in decision-making, and determine their own political future. Residents have been left cut off from family and friends, raising widespread alarm over the humanitarian implications of such a blackout. These demonstrations in PoJK mirror earlier unrest reported from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Opposition leaders from PTI alleged that Pakistan Air Force (PAF) jets carried out a bombing campaign in the Tirah Valley, leaving several dead, with at least 20 bodies reportedly recovered from the rubble. (ANI)
Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) is witnessing an intense shutdown strike and widespread protests as anger grows over the government's failure to address the demands put forth by the Joint Awami Action Committee. Demonstrations and rallies have erupted across the region, including in Mirpur, Kotli, and Muzaffarabad, signaling a united stand by the people for their rights. In Muzaffarabad, the situation escalated dramatically when police reportedly opened fire on protesters, resulting in the deaths of two individuals and injuring more than 22 others. The tragic incident has further fueled public outrage and hardened the resolve of the protest movement. In Kotli, multiple rallies gathered at a central chowk, with protesters expressing frustration at political efforts to undermine the movement. One participant said, "The sitting MNA of Kotli tried for days to derail this movement but failed." Another stated, "People were threatened and intimidated, but today, everyone is standing firm for their rights. Last night was quiet, but today the streets are filled with noise and determination. Until the demands of the Joint Awami Action Committee are met, protests will continue with full force." Locals and activists in Mirpur staged bike rallies and chanted slogans demanding immediate attention to the Action Committee's demands. The widespread participation is reflecting deep dissatisfaction with the current political situation. The Jammu Kashmir Awami Action Committee (JKAAC), also called the Joint Awami Action Committee, has put forward a broad range of demands seeking economic relief, enhanced political autonomy, and better governance in PoJK. Their demands include eliminating privileges enjoyed by the ruling elite, removing 12 legislative seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees settled in Pakistan, and securing royalties from local resources like hydropower to ensure PoJK benefits directly. They also call for subsidised wheat flour similar to Gilgit-Baltistan, electricity tariffs based on local production costs from the Mangla Hydropower Project, and the restoration and democratisation of student unions. (ANI)
Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday highlighted the scope and importance of the India-Bhutan rail connectivity project, describing it as central to Bhutan's economic growth and global access. "This project is basically connecting two very important cities of Bhutan. One is Gelephu, which is being developed as a mindfulness city. And secondly, Samtse, which is an industrial city," Vaishnaw said. He explained the project structure, noting, "The two projects will take off from the network of Indian Railways at Kokrajhar and Banarhat. The investment which is envisaged at this point in time is about Rs 4033 crore, and the total length is about 90 kilometres to be precise. 89 kilometres of railway network will be created." Highlighting trade linkages, Vaishnaw added, "India is the largest trading partner of Bhutan and most of the exempt trade of Bhutan is done through Indian ports. Therefore, it becomes very important to have a good seamless rail connectivity for the Bhutanese economy to grow and for the people to have better access to the global network. That's why this entire project has been undertaken..." Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, also addressing the briefing, underlined the bilateral significance of the new rail links. "...These links that are being worked on will be critical for enhancing cargo and passenger movement. So it is in the context of this very special relationship that the two governments have agreed to establish two cross-border rail links between Banarhat and Samtse and Kokrajhar and Gelephu. This will be the first set of rail connectivity projects with Bhutan," Misri said. He recalled the agreements that paved the way for the projects. "The memorandum of understanding for this connectivity was actually signed during the visit of the Prime Minister to Bhutan that I mentioned a short while ago, the one that took place last year. And this MoU will be formally signed later today in New Delhi on the occasion of the visit of the Bhutanese Foreign Secretary to New Delhi." The joint press conference was addressed by Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in Delhi on the launch of new railway projects between India and Bhutan. (ANI)
Rushan Abbas, Founder and Executive Director of the Campaign for Uyghurs, has sent a letter to Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L Parker, urging her to cancel the planned flag-raising ceremony for China set for September 30. In her letter, Abbas highlighted the severe human rights violations committed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) under the flag that is scheduled to be raised. She shared a deeply personal story about her sister, Dr Gulshan Abbas, a retired medical doctor and grandmother, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence in China. According to Rushan, her sister was imprisoned solely because of her peaceful advocacy work in the United States. "The red flag of Communist China is not a symbol of culture or unity. It is the emblem of a totalitarian regime formally recognised by the US government and parliaments worldwide as perpetrating genocide," Abbas wrote. The letter detailed the CCP's brutal policies, including mass surveillance, forced sterilisation, the separation of children from their parents, forced labour, and the systematic targeting of minority groups such as Uyghurs, Christians, Tibetans, Hong Kong activists, and Falun Gong practitioners. Abbas argued that raising the Chinese flag in Philadelphia, known as the birthplace of the US Constitution and a symbol of liberty and justice, would normalise and legitimise these atrocities. She warned it would send a message that the CCP's reach extends even to American soil. "As the sister of one of millions detained in camps, an American citizen, and a believer in the city's values, I urge you to cancel this ceremony. Doing so would stand against authoritarian propaganda, not the Chinese people, many of whom long for freedom and justice," she wrote. The Campaign for Uyghurs also called on Mayor Parker to stand with victims of tyranny and uphold the principles of freedom that Philadelphia represents. (ANI)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday departed for Washington along with his delegation to meet US President Donald Trump. "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his delegation have departed for Washington. The Prime Minister will meet with President Trump at the White House at 11:00 (EDT). Following the meeting, the two leaders are expected to issue statements to the media at 13:15 (EDT)," the Prime Minister's Office posted on X. https://x.com/IsraeliPM/status/1972655483572953301 Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, also extended his wishes to Netanyahu ahead of the visit. "I wish Prime Minister @netanyahu great success in his important visit to Washington today and in his meeting with President @realDonaldTrump at the White House," Danon posted on X. https://x.com/dannydanon/status/1972658455207952577 The emphasis on the importance of Netanyahu's visit by Ambassador Danon comes as the addition of a press conference to the White House meeting has raised speculation that the Trump administration may use this platform to announce that it has finalised its agreement for ending the conflict in Gaza and releasing the remaining Israeli hostages held there, as per The Times of Israel. The US has secured initial backing for the plan from Arab and Muslim partners needed for the postwar management of Gaza. However, Israel was still deliberating the plan on Sunday, while Hamas said it hadn't even been presented with it yet, as per The Times of Israel. One of the plan's 21 points states that much of the agreement can move forward even if Hamas doesn't agree, including the establishment of a new transitional government of Palestinian technocrats and an international stabilisation force in areas cleared of Hamas's presence -- which includes the vast majority of the Strip, as per The Times of Israel. But without Hamas releasing the remaining 48 hostages, it's unlikely that Israel will agree to halt its offensive in Gaza City and beyond. Netanyahu reportedly met with West Bank settlement leaders on Sunday night ahead of his Monday meeting with US President Donald Trump, and said that he will raise the issue of Israel applying sovereignty to the West Bank, The Times of Israel reported. Netanyahu also acknowledged that he was faced with a "complicated reality," signalling that Israeli annexation of parts of the West Bank is unlikely. Netanyahu's allies to the right, including settlement leaders, have been pushing for Israel to apply its sovereignty to parts of the West Bank, particularly as a reaction to the wave of Western countries recognising a Palestinian state. But Trump has ruled out Israeli West Bank annexation, and the UAE, which normalised relations with Israel five years ago, said the move would be a "red line," as per The Times of Israel. In the meeting, Netanyahu reportedly said that Israel must "navigate a complicated reality." "We have a supportive president," Netanyahu reportedly said regarding Trump. "Remember the Obama era, when he told us not to lay even one brick." He writes that the "clear message of settlement is, no to a Palestinian state, yes to applying sovereignty." (ANI)
The Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz (JSMM) has issued an urgent international appeal addressing a severe crisis affecting Sindh's pensioners. The appeal is directed to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, global leaders, human rights organisations, and the international community. It was made by Shafi Burfat, Chairman of JSMM, on behalf of the Sindhi people. JSMM reports that the Pakistani federal and Sindh provincial governments have imposed a harsh policy slashing pensions by 65%, a move described as a deliberate economic assault targeting elderly pensioners and their dependents. The organisation warns that this drastic pension cut threatens the survival, dignity, and well-being of thousands of retired employees who rely solely on their pensions for basic necessities such as food, medicine, and shelter. According to JSMM, this policy constitutes a gross violation of fundamental human rights, including those enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. They describe the pension reduction as state-engineered economic persecution and collective punishment of a vulnerable population, pushing many into hunger, poverty, and extreme distress. In their appeal, JSMM demanded the immediate launch of an independent international inquiry by the United Nations and recognised human rights organisations to investigate the pension cuts and the processes behind their implementation. They called for the immediate suspension and full reversal of the 65% pension deduction, insisting that pensions be restored in full and without any conditions. JSMM also demanded urgent social and humanitarian relief, including food assistance and emergency income support, to aid families severely impacted by the pension cuts. Furthermore, they called for a transparent investigation into the legality of the policy, with full accountability and compensation ensured for pensioners whose rights have been violated. JSMM warned that if these demands are not met promptly, they will escalate peaceful international protests, including planned demonstrations outside major international institutions such as the United Nations headquarters in Geneva. These actions aim to raise global awareness and exert pressure on authorities to reverse the damaging policy. (ANI)
Mamdani's price policy in New York By K. W. Clark

web posted September 29, 2025 Zohran Mamdani is a relatively new face to politics, and is running for mayor of New York City as the Democratic nominee. Having beat former governor Andrew Cuomo for that spot, a major upset, all eyes are now turned to the result of the 2025 election. Surprisingly, Mandani has only been politically active since 2021, before which he was a housing counselor and a hip-hop musician. Now part of the Democratic Socialists of America, he is making bold promises which promise, or rather threaten, to shape the future of NYC. One of his big-ticket items is the proposed rent freeze. Ignorant of countless historical examples, and ignoring every economist predicting disastrous results, he will, if elected, try to enact blatantly unconstitutional policy forcing landlords to maintain unsustainable prices. Despite the fact that every model of the economy predicts a massive shortage, he still pushes this as 'the solution' to a city-wide homelessness and poverty problem. However, whenever a rent freeze is enacted, the result is often less housing for the poor and homeless. Landlords, unable to afford to rent because of price ceilings, simply close shop and find a different job, leaving entire apartment blocks uninhabited. Another popular policy he wishes to enact is a tax on high-income workers. Once more, ignoring all cries to the contrary, he proposes to increase taxation on anyone earning more than $1,000,000 a year. This is, firstly, difficult to measure, because large incomes are generally not entirely cash, and have shares, futures, and benefits including insurance, wrapped up into them. Secondly, even if he were to somehow figure out who to tax, the rich would simply leave, as they have done before in other 'tax the rich' regions. After all, they are rich, and can afford to move! The result will be less tax revenue, since the people who already pay the most in taxes will stop paying in NYC. This could, in turn, lead to a higher tax on the poor, in an attempt to regain the lost revenue. The last point I will cover is his proposal to increase minimum wage to $30.00. The best argument to the contrary is an example: When the state of California raised the minimum wage to $16.50, many minimum wage-earners found themselves out of a job, their employers being unable to pay them. They were shortly replaced by cheap robots, which do not require an hourly wage, health insurance, or are burdened by silly laws regulating the maximum amount of hours worked in a week. Robots do not need sleep. If NYC were to increase the minimum wage to $30.00, almost twice that of California, the result would be widespread unemployment, but it would affect almost exclusively the poor workers in minimum wage jobs. Perhaps the only upside to this policy would be an improvement in AI drive-through technology. The verdict is clear: if Mamdani is elected and enacts these policies, New York will not be better for it. The poor, the class he proposes to help the most, will suffer the most. It also goes to show that people with no background in economics should not make economic policy, or even run for office. He will single-handedly destroy the city's economy. K. W. Clark is a high school student studying AP Macroeconomics. This is his second contribution to Enter Stage Right. (c) 2025 K. W. Clark Home
The EU's Ambassador to India, Herve Delphin, stated that the India-EU relationship has reached a pivotal moment, with both sides poised to elevate their strategic ties to the next level in his keynote address at the launch of Issue 5 of India's World Magazine, titled "Cultivating Europe: Navigating India-EU Strategic Ties." The event, hosted in partnership with the Heinrich Boll Stiftung, explored the trajectory of India-Europe relations against a backdrop of global disorder, shifting alliances and a rapidly evolving Indo-Pacific. Delphin highlighted the alignment of planets, symbolising the dynamics of the India-EU relationship. He noted that the recent visit of the European Commission President to Delhi and the release of a landmark political document on the EU-India Strategic Agenda demonstrate the EU's commitment to deepening ties with India. "When President von der Leyen met with Prime Minister Modi on the occasion of the unprecedented visit of the College of the European Commission to Delhi last February, she told him: 'the Planets are aligned.' She was not only referring to a rare phenomenon of alignment of seven planets of our solar system that took place on that very day, 28 February 2025. She was using this fitting image to characterize the dynamics of the relationship between the European Union and India." The key areas of cooperation include a Joint Communication that proposes an ambitious and concrete framework for the India-EU Strategic Agenda, focusing on five pillars: prosperity and sustainability, technology and innovation, security and defence, connectivity and global issues and enablers for partnership. "This release was indeed to coincide with the planned release of a landmark political document on the EU side: the Joint Communication of the Commission and High Representative Kallas to the Council and European Parliament on a new EU-India Strategic Agenda. And as a feat of sheer coincidence or fortune, some might say the Joint Communication was published on 17 September, which is, as you all know, the birthday of Prime Minister Modi," said Delphin. He noted that the proposals include innovation hubs, Blue Valleys, a TTC 0.2 focused on supply chains, a gateway office for skilled ICT workers and a security and defence partnership for industrial cooperation. "At the core, the Joint Communication proposes nothing more than greater connection and integration of our ecosystems. It is not a short-term hedging. It is a long-term investment. This is the EU's concrete and ambitious offer." Delphin emphasised the political backing on both sides. "The reference to India as a priority in the Political guidelines for the New Commission presented in July 2024 by President von der Leyen was an important signal that only a few picked up. The visit to Delhi by the President with the College of Commissioners last February, and the recent visit of the EU Ambassadors to the Political & Security Committee earlier in September, were further clear indications that the EU literally 'walks its talk.' They are a powerful political message of confidence and readiness from the EU side to engage." He stressed that leaders on both sides were aligned, noting Prime Minister Modi's reference to the EU and India as "natural strategic partners." He highlighted the growing maturity of dialogues, convergence of global aspirations and the shared scale of influence. "EU and India together represent close to 25% of world GDP, 25% of world population. The EU is India's biggest trading partner in goods; we both stand as cooperative global actors committed to rules-based approaches and rules-based order." Delphin further emphasised the importance of having the capacity to act. "The current joint roadmap 2020-2025 represents a list of 118 actions. Both sides agree that the completion rate exceeds 80%. However, there were probably too many actions, not all of which were necessarily formulated in terms of real deliverables. Now the strategic case is clear. We must deliver." He added that delivery must include finalising the FTA by the end of the year and negotiating a new EU-India Strategic Roadmap for endorsement at the next summit in Delhi in 2026. He underscored the importance of stronger institutional governance, whole-of-system mobilisation and greater involvement of businesses, experts and think tanks. "Creating more familiarity is critical to update knowledge and develop mutual understanding: like EU stance on China, which is still not fully appraised in India; or India's engagement with the Global South, and mini-laterals such as BRICS or the SCO. I therefore salute India's World initiative with this issue dedicated to Europe and the EU-India. I also thank all Indian Experts and think tankers - some of whom are in this hall today - who study EU-India relations and help shed light on the opportunities, strengths, risks and limits." Delphin pointed out that the relaunch of FTA negotiations and the setting up of the Trade and Technology Council were part of the EU's reassessment. He noted that while Europe was not always prominent on India's strategic horizon, the EU's posture of strategic autonomy had shifted perceptions in Delhi. "In short, circumstances of necessity to de-risk, to hedge by diversifying partnerships and affirmation of greater strategic autonomy certainly provide a strong impetus for deepening our strategic ties." He said that by working together, India and the EU can harness their complementary strengths and assets to create a truly transformative partnership. Delphin said, "I am certainly more familiar with geopolitics than cosmology or eschatology, but on every account, it would seem as if the EU and India have a 'tryst with destiny.' A common destiny. This inevitably invites a serious examination: To what extent are we, on both sides, ready to seize this historical moment and engage in deeper strategic ties? What are the key elements of the strategic equation we must square to transform a latent potential into a lasting reality? My address today will visit some of these key terms of this strategic equation posed to EU and India Circumstances, Vision, Will and eventually Capacity - and how they can turn it into a winning formula." On the question of circumstances, he noted that global power politics, technological races, and declining multilateralism have created common challenges. "At the core, they face similar challenges: their economic development and their security are under stress; their vision of a rule-based and cooperative global order is undermined." Citing von der Leyen's keynote in Delhi, he recalled her words: "This world is fraught with danger. But I believe this modern version of great power competition is an opportunity for Europe and India to re-imagine their partnership. In many ways, the EU and India are uniquely placed to respond to this challenge together." Delphin acknowledged the challenges in the relationship, including differences on issues like Russia's war in Ukraine and economic coercion. However, he emphasized the importance of sensitivity and respect in navigating these differences. "Let's be clear: there is a Russia question. Ending the war in Ukraine with Russia genuinely engaging in a cease-fire and peace talks is certainly what everybody wants. However, it appears that President Putin has differing views. India has pronounced itself for peace. Russia is a strategic partner for India. India also aims to strengthen its ties with the EU. This will require further consideration in Delhi on how to square those terms." He added, "It is time, though, for India to stop seeing Europe through the eyes of Russia, as it has since Independence. While Delhi must maintain a productive relationship with Moscow, it also needs to balance its ties with Brussels and Moscow. The rapidly rising stakes in India's relationship with the European Union require such a recalibration." On democracy and human rights, he said, "When it comes to questions of democracy and human rights, Europe and India are what they are because of their belief in democracy, human rights, individual dignity and equality, putting people at the centre. We both enjoy rich cultures, the multifaceted civilisational expression of our diversity: Both unique and diverse; and both united in our own diversity. These shared values are admittedly under threat. We should cultivate them, both for our own sake and for our common good." Concluding his remarks, Delphin said, "The degree of strategic convergence between the EU and India has never been greater, driven by: Convergence of our geopolitical, economic and security interests. Complementarity of our respective needs and assets. Scale of what we can offer to each other. Will of our leaders. The trust and thrust in our relationship can take it to a new strategic level, a truly transformative partnership pact. This is Brussels' call to Delhi." (ANI)
Major General Paul Owuor Otieno, Commander of the Kenya Navy, is on an official visit to India. He was received by Chief of Naval Staff Adm Dinesh K Tripathi with a ceremonial Guard of Honour at the South Block Lawns in New Delhi. Discussions during the visit focused on a broad spectrum of maritime cooperation, enhancing operational, training, and hydrographic engagements, including the conduct of multilateral Exercise Africa-India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME). The visit reinforces the strong maritime relationship between Kenya and India and will further promote peace and stability in the Indian Ocean Region. Building on this engagement, Major General Otieno also called on COAS General Upendra Dwivedi on Monday and held discussions on advancing bilateral defence cooperation between the two maritime neighbours. Sharing details in a post on X, the ADGPI said the leaders deliberated on enhancing regional security, the prevailing geostrategic environment in the Indian Ocean Region, and reaffirmed their shared commitment to peace and stability. Earlier on Monday, the Kenyan Navy Commander received the Guard of Honour in the national capital and paid tribute at the National War Memorial. He is on an official visit to India from September 28 to October 2. According to Kenya's Ministry of Defence, Major General Otieno is serving as the 14th Commander of the Kenya Navy. His career spans over three decades with significant contributions to military operations, peacekeeping missions, and strategic development in Kenya. Over a 37-year career, he has held several Command, Staff, and Peace operations-related appointments locally and abroad. India and Kenya, as maritime neighbours, share contemporary ties that have evolved into a robust and multi-faceted partnership marked by regular high-level visits, growing trade and investment, and extensive people-to-people contacts. Earlier in June this year, MoS Defence Sanjay Seth and Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Defence Roselinda Soipan Tuya jointly unveiled the India-Africa Commemorative War Memorial honouring fallen soldiers of both nations at Mile 27, Taita Taveta County, Kenya. The two countries also share a legacy of struggle against colonialism, with many Indians participating in and supporting Kenya's freedom movement. Further strengthening naval ties, the Indian Navy's First Training Squadron (1TS) made a port call at Mombasa, Kenya on September 25. The ships INS Tir, INS Sujata, INS Shardul and ICGS Sarathi conducted joint activities with the Kenya Navy, including a yoga session, band performance, discussions, and a deck reception hosted on board INS Shardul, the Navy spokesperson said. (ANI)
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held consultations today with Foreign Secretary of Bhutan Aum Pema Choden, the Ministry of External Affairs said in an official statement. The Foreign Secretaries reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral engagements and noted the progress achieved in all key areas of cooperation. Specifically, they welcomed the successful commissioning of all six units of the 1020 MW Punatsangchhu-II hydropower project, which is a major milestone in the realization of the India-Bhutan Joint Vision on Energy Partnership. They also expressed satisfaction at the ongoing development cooperation projects and initiatives being undertaken with Government of India support under Bhutan's 13th Five Year Plan, which were progressing well and bringing tangible benefits to the people of Bhutan. During the visit, an Inter-Governmental MoU for the Establishment of Railway Links between India and Bhutan was signed. The MoU envisages establishment of the first set of cross-border rail links, connecting Kokrajhar and Gelephu, and Banarhat and Samtse. These projects are part of broader efforts to enhance connectivity between the two countries and will strengthen economic and people-to-people linkages, the MEA said. These consultations build on the Development Cooperation Talks held in New Delhi on June 30, where Secretary (West) Tanmaya Lal led the Indian delegation and Foreign Secretary Aum Pema Choden led the Bhutanese delegation, laying the groundwork for the agreements and initiatives discussed today. "India and Bhutan share an exemplary partnership characterised by trust, goodwill, mutual understanding at all levels, and strong bonds of friendship and close people-to-people ties," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. The Development Cooperation Talks were an important bilateral mechanism for reviewing the full spectrum of India-Bhutan's development partnership. According to MEA, the Government of India (GoI) had committed support of INR/Nu. 10,000 Crore (100 billion) for Bhutan's 13th Five-Year Plan period (2024-2029), which would cover Project Tied Assistance (PTA) projects, High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDP), support for Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) and budgetary support in the form of Programme Grant. During the Talks, the two sides discussed various components of the support and reviewed the progress in the implementation of the projects approved in previous rounds. A total of 61 PTA projects amounting to INR/Nu 4958 crores (49.58 billion) and 283 HICDPs amounting to INR/Nu 417 crores (4.17 billion), covering a wide range of sectors, were in various stages of implementation, as per MEA. "Both sides agreed to make suitable revisions to the allocations for some of the PTA projects, taking into account the evolving requirements. GoI had also released INR/Nu 750 crores (7.50 billion) towards ESP and Rs. 100 crores (1 billion) as Programme Grant. The meeting reviewed the progress in the utilisation of these funds," MEA added. As per the MEA, the Bhutanese side presented the second tranche of PTA project proposals to be implemented during the 13th FYP period. A total of 10 projects amounting to INR/Nu. 1113 Crores (11.13 billion), covering sectors such as healthcare, connectivity, urban infrastructure and livestock, were approved by the two sides. Further the ministry highlighted that the Indian side "conveyed that it would continue to work together with the Royal Government of Bhutan on its development agenda, in line with the shared vision of King of Bhutan Druk Gyalpo and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, and based on the priorities of the Royal Government and the people of Bhutan." The ministry noted that the talks were held in a "friendly and cordial atmosphere in keeping with the well-established tradition of regular exchanges and unique bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two countries." "The two sides agreed to hold the next Development Cooperation Talks in Thimphu at a mutually convenient date," it added. (ANI)
The High Commission of India hosted "Startup Connect" on Sunday - an event bringing together over 30 leading Bangladeshi startup founders and ecosystem leaders over a networking session and providing them with an opportunity to connect with peers to explore new partnerships, the Indian High Commission in Dhaka said in a statement on Monday. "Startup Connect" highlighted the remarkable growth in the startup ecosystems of India and Bangladesh, showcasing avenues for collaboration. The event highlighted how both Bangladeshi and Indian startups can leverage opportunities in technological innovation and entrepreneurship, fostering strong cross-border collaborations and driving shared growth in a future-oriented partnership, it added. Addressing the event, High Commissioner Pranay Verma underlined the importance of innovation-led growth in driving the future of India-Bangladesh engagement. He noted that startups reflect both innovation and power of youth, not only creating jobs and providing solutions, but also acting as bridges to connect the two countries through new ideas and partnerships. High Commissioner Verma expressed hope that the "Startup Connect" platform will set a new narrative for India-Bangladesh relations built upon the power of future-oriented collaboration. The programme featured leading voices from the Bangladeshi startup ecosystem. Habibullah N Karim, Founder & CEO of Technohaven Company Ltd and Senior Vice President of MCCI, spoke about the rapid growth of Bangladesh's startup sector across various domains. Mirza Salman Hossain Beg, Co-founder of iKori and 10 Minute School, outlined the opportunities for young entrepreneurs in Bangladesh and the successful collaborations that have taken place between India and Bangladesh in the startup sector. The co-founder and CEO of ShopUp Bangladesh, Ataur Rahim Chowdhury, shared his experience of partnering with India to access global technology talent and adopt best practices. The participants expressed confidence that such exchanges will deepen cross-border innovation collaborations, enhance access to funding, provide technological support, and foster market partnerships. The event was hosted in the run-up to the Tamil Nadu Global Startup Summit (TNGSS), scheduled for October 9-10, 2025, in Coimbatore, where several Bangladeshi startups will be participating. Recognised as one of India's largest startup gatherings, this year's TNGSS will bring together delegates from 39 countries, offering a vibrant platform to connect startups with investors, industry leaders, and new business opportunities. (ANI)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was received at the White House on Monday, a day after US President Donald Trump claimed that "all are on board" for the "greatness" in the Middle East. "We have a real chance for GREATNESS IN THE MIDDLE EAST. ALL ARE ON BOARD FOR SOMETHING SPECIAL, FIRST TIME EVER. WE WILL GET IT DONE!!!" Trump had posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Sunday. Recently, the United States has put forward a 21-point peace plan aimed at resolving the Gaza conflict. The initiative comes as talks between Israel and Hamas remain deadlocked following Israeli airstrikes on Doha earlier this month. The proposal also follows growing international pressure on both Israel and Washington to end the war, which began on October 7, 2023, after the Hamas attack in which around 1200 Israelis were killed. According to the Gaza health ministry, more than 66,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of Israel's bombardment of the enclave. Meanwhile, protests were held simultaneously in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and New York, calling for an end to the Gaza war and the release of all hostages held by Hamas. In New York, the protest was led by American and Israeli Jews without organisational affiliations, and all were invited to join, the organisers said As per The Times of Israel, these demonstrations come as the addition of a press conference to Netanyahu's White House meeting with President Trump raises speculation that the Trump administration is planning to announce that it has finalised its agreement for ending the conflict in Gaza and releasing the remaining Israeli hostages. The US has secured initial backing for the plan from Arab and Muslim partners needed for the postwar management of Gaza. However, Israel was still deliberating the plan on Sunday, while Hamas said it hadn't even been presented with it yet, as per The Times of Israel. One of the plan's 21 points states that much of the agreement can move forward even if Hamas doesn't agree, including the establishment of a new transitional government of Palestinian technocrats and an international stabilization force in areas cleared of Hamas's presence -- which includes the vast majority of the Strip, as per The Times of Israel. But without Hamas releasing the remaining 48 hostages, it's unlikely that Israel will agree to halt its offensive in Gaza City and beyond. Netanyahu reportedly met with West Bank settlement leaders on Sunday night ahead of his Monday meeting with US President Donald Trump, and said that he will raise the issue of Israel applying sovereignty to the West Bank, The Times of Israel reported. Netanyahu also acknowledged that he was faced with a "complicated reality," signaling that Israeli annexation of parts of the West Bank is unlikely. Netanyahu's allies to the right, including settlement leaders, have been pushing for Israel to apply its sovereignty to parts of the West Bank, particularly as a reaction to the wave of Western countries recognising a Palestinian state. But Trump has ruled out Israeli West Bank annexation, and the UAE, which normalised relations with Israel five years ago, said the move would be a "red line," as per The Times of Israel. Just days earlier, Trump had expressed confidence that a breakthrough was imminent. Speaking to reporters on the South Lawn of the White House on Friday (local time), he said, "It's looking like we have a deal on Gaza. I think it's a deal that will get the hostages back. It's gonna be a deal that will end the war." His remarks followed the unveiling of a 21-point initiative to end the conflict during meetings with Arab leaders on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. (ANI)
White House on Monday (local time) released a peace plan to end the two year old Gaza conflict following a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The peace plan included that Gaza will be a deradicalized terror-free zone that does not pose a threat to its neighbors and will be redeveloped for the benefit of the people of Gaza, who have suffered more than enough. The peace plan stated that If both sides agree to this proposal, the war will immediately end. Israeli forces will withdraw to the agreed upon line to prepare for a hostage release. During this time, all military operations, including aerial and artillery bombardment, will be suspended, and battle lines will remain frozen until conditions are met for the complete staged withdrawal. The peace plans further stated that within 72 hours of Israel publicly accepting this agreement, all hostages, alive and deceased, will be returned. Once all hostages are released, Israel will release 250 life sentence prisoners plus 1700 Gazans who were detained after October 7th 2023, including all women and children detained in that context. For every Israeli hostage whose remains are released, Israel will release the remains of 15 deceased Gazans. The point plan states that once all hostages are returned, Hamas members who commit to peaceful co-existence and to decommission their weapons will be given amnesty. Members of Hamas who wish to leave Gaza will be provided safe passage to receiving countries. Upon acceptance of this agreement, full aid will be immediately sent into the Gaza Strip. At a minimum, aid quantities will be consistent with what was included in the January 19, 2025, agreement regarding humanitarian aid, including rehabilitation of infrastructure (water, electricity, sewage), rehabilitation of hospitals and bakeries, and entry of necessary equipment to remove rubble and open roads. The peace plan mentioned that entry of distribution and aid in the Gaza Strip will proceed without interference from the two parties through the United Nations and its agencies, and the Red Crescent, in addition to other international institutions not associated in any manner with either party. Opening the Rafah crossing in both directions will be subject to the same mechanism implemented under the January 19, 2025 agreement. Gaza will be governed under the temporary transitional governance of a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee, responsible for delivering the day-to-day running of public services and municipalities for the people in Gaza. This committee will be made up of qualified Palestinians and international experts, with oversight and supervision by a new international transitional body, the "Board of Peace," which will be headed and chaired by President Donald J. Trump, with other members and heads of State to be announced, including Former Prime Minister Tony Blair. This body will set the framework and handle the funding for the redevelopment of Gaza until such time as the Palestinian Authority has completed its reform program, as outlined in various proposals, including President Trump's peace plan in 2020 and the Saudi-French proposal, and can securely and effectively take back control of Gaza. This body will call on best international standards to create modern and efficient governance that serves the people of Gaza and is conducive to attracting investment. As per the peace plan, a Trump economic development plan to rebuild and energize Gaza will be created by convening a panel of experts who have helped birth some of the thriving modern miracle cities in the Middle East. Many thoughtful investment proposals and exciting development ideas have been crafted by well-meaning international groups, and will be considered to synthesize the security and governance frameworks to attract and facilitate these investments that will create jobs, opportunity, and hope for future Gaza. It further stated that a special economic zone will be established with preferred tariff and access rates to be negotiated with participating countries. No one will be forced to leave Gaza, and those who wish to leave will be free to do so and free to return. We will encourage people to stay and offer them the opportunity to build a better Gaza, as per the peace plan. As per the peace plan, Hamas and other factions agree to not have any role in the governance of Gaza, directly, indirectly, or in any form. All military, terror, and offensive infrastructure, including tunnels and weapon production facilities, will be destroyed and not rebuilt. There will be a process of demilitarization of Gaza under the supervision of independent monitors, which will include placing weapons permanently beyond use through an agreed process of decommissioning, and supported by an internationally funded buy back and reintegration program all verified by the independent monitors. New Gaza will be fully committed to building a prosperous economy and to peaceful coexistence with their neighbors. A guarantee will be provided by regional partners to ensure that Hamas, and the factions, comply with their obligations and that New Gaza poses no threat to its neighbors or its people. The United States will work with Arab and international partners to develop a temporary International Stabilization Force (ISF) to immediately deploy in Gaza. The ISF will train and provide support to vetted Palestinian police forces in Gaza, and will consult with Jordan and Egypt who have extensive experience in this field. This force will be the long-term internal security solution. The ISF will work with Israel and Egypt to help secure border areas, along with newly trained Palestinian police forces. It is critical to prevent munitions from entering Gaza and to facilitate the rapid and secure flow of goods to rebuild and revitalize Gaza. A deconfliction mechanism will be agreed upon by the parties. The White House peace plan stated that Israel will not occupy or annex Gaza. As the ISF establishes control and stability, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will withdraw based on standards, milestones, and timeframes linked to demilitarization that will be agreed upon between the IDF, ISF, the guarantors, and the Unites States, with the objective of a secure Gaza that no longer poses a threat to Israel, Egypt, or its citizens. Practically, the IDF will progressively hand over the Gaza territory it occupies to the ISF according to an agreement they will make with the transitional authority until they are withdrawn completely from Gaza, save for a security perimeter presence that will remain until Gaza is properly secure from any resurgent terror threat. In the event Hamas delays or rejects this proposal, the above, including the scaled-up aid operation, will proceed in the terror-free areas handed over from the IDF to the ISF. An interfaith dialogue process will be established based on the values of tolerance and peaceful co-existence to try and change mindsets and narratives of Palestinians and Israelis by emphasizing the benefits that can be derived from peace.While Gaza re-development advances and when the PA reform program is faithfully carried out, the conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood, which we recognize as the aspiration of the Palestinian people. The peace plan emphasised that the United States will establish a dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians to agree on a political horizon for peaceful and prosperous co-existence. (ANI)
The High Commission of India in London on Monday stated that it is deeply saddened and strongly condemns the "shameful act of vandalism" of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Tavistock Square in London and said it has "taken this up" strongly with local authorities. https://x.com/HCI_London/status/1972704334879269053 "@HCI_London is deeply saddened and strongly condemns the shameful act of vandalism of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Tavistock Square in London. This is not just vandalism, but a violent attack on the idea of nonviolence, three days before the international day of nonviolence, and on the legacy of the Mahatma," it said in a post on X. "@HCI_London has taken this up strongly with local authorities for immediate action, and our team is already on site, coordinating with authorities to restore the statue to its original dignity," the post added. Earlier this year, in March, Pro-Khalistani protestors staged a demonstration during External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's visit to the United Kingdom near the Chatham House. The protesters had gathered outside the building, holding flags and speakers as they chanted slogans. During his visit to the United Kingdom, EAM Jaishankar held discussions with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Foreign Secretary David Lammy and several other senior leaders. Following the protests, India strongly condemned the incident after it saw footage of a breach of security during External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's visit to the UK and strongly condemned the "provocative activities" of these separatists and extremists. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson said that India deplores the misuse of democratic freedoms by such elements and expects the host government to fully live up to their diplomatic obligations in such cases. "We have seen the footage of a breach of security during the visit of EAM to the UK. We condemn the provocative activities of this small group of separatists and extremists. We deplore the misuse of democratic freedoms by such elements. We expect the host government in such cases to fully live upto their diplomatic obligations," an MEA spokesperson said. (ANI)
OSAKA, Sep 30 (News On Japan) - Japan is facing a troubling rise in child suicides even as overall suicide numbers decline, with a record 529 elementary, junior high, and high school students taking their own lives last year, prompting the Agency for Children and Families to launch a nationwide investigation of attempted suicides from October.

In response to the crisis, new tools such as AI-based counseling are being deployed to prevent tragedies, though concerns remain after a lawsuit was filed in the United States over a teenagers suicide linked to AI chat support, raising questions about how to best protect childrens lives.

One such story is that of Sakaki, who lost both legs at age 16 after jumping in front of a train in Kanagawa Prefecture. Caught between her parents complaints about each other and battling panic attacks since junior high school, she slipped into depression after struggling to adapt to high school life. When she confided in a teacher, she was warned about repeating a grade rather than receiving support. Feeling there was no place for her at home or at school, she attempted suicide but survived thanks to emergency surgery and her parents tearful arrival at the hospital, which made her realize she was loved. Now living independently and undergoing rehabilitation, she shares her experience through books and lectures, telling young people that even after hitting rock bottom, a joyful future can still await.

While the total number of suicides in Japan has been declining in recent years, child suicides are rising sharply. The new government survey will focus on children who attempted suicide but survived, aiming to identify the reasons why they stopped short of taking their lives. On the front lines of prevention is the Osaka Suicide Prevention Center, where phones continue to ring past midnight. Chat-based consultations from teenagers have surged, with some callers saying they are at their limit and seeking help before taking their own lives. The center reports consultations increased by about 20 percent last year compared to the previous year, attributing the rise both to better awareness of hotlines and to a lack of societal breathing space, particularly among adults, which affects children.

Staff shortages are also straining support organizations as veteran counselors retire. In this context, AI is being explored as an additional option. In surveys of elementary and junior high school students, 26 percent cited AI as the first place they would turn when feeling distressed. A company in Hyogo Prefecture has developed Friend AI Hime-chan, a chatbot accessible via LINE that responds to messages such as I dont want to go to school within seconds, offering empathetic questions and encouragement. Since last month, all public junior high schools in Himeji have been running a pilot program providing 24/7 access to the chatbot.

However, AI counseling also faces serious challenges. In California, the parents of a 16-year-old boy have sued OpenAI, alleging their sons suicide followed a chat with ChatGPT. According to the lawsuit, the boy initially asked harmless questions but gradually revealed his worries, and after hinting at suicidal thoughts, received a response that could be interpreted as condoning suicide. OpenAI has acknowledged the risk of unsafe responses and pledged to improve safeguards. By contrast, Friend AI Hime-chan automatically provides hotline numbers and involves human intervention when it detects messages about wanting to die, combining AI speed with human oversight.

As the rise in child suicides exposes gaps in support networks, Japans challenge is to ensure no childs voice goes unheard. With AI and human counselors working together, the hope is to catch signs of distress early and offer timely care before it is too late.

Source: KTV NEWS
Glen Powells phone keeps buzzing thanks to a group chat with his Top Gun: Maverick castmates.

Glen Powells phone keeps buzzing thanks to a group chat with his Top Gun: Maverick castmates

The actor, 36, starred in the 2022 sequel to the original Top Gun film, and has now said he and his co-stars bonds have endured well beyond filming as they continue to share updates and celebrate one anothers achievements by text.

He told People: Sometimes Ill get a little information every once in a while from the gang. The Top Gun chain is alive with congratulations to each other, about sort of movie openings or nominations, or whatever it is.

Glen added: Miles movie doing really well, Monica getting nominated for an Oscar. Everybody is getting to do all these really wonderful, cool things, so its a lot of congratulations.

The star was referring to fellow cast members Miles Teller and Monica Barbaro, and also mentioned Lewis Pullman and Danny Ramirez.

Top Gun: Maverick follows Tom Cruise as Pete Maverick Mitchell, returning to the Top Gun Naval aviation program 30 years after his graduation.

His new students include Miles as Lt Bradley Rooster Bradshaw, the son of his late best friend Goose, originally played by Anthony Edwards in the 1986 film.

Directed by Joseph Kosinski, the sequel was a critical and commercial hit.

It earned nominations at the Academy Awards, the Critics Choice Awards and the Golden Globes, and was named one of the top films of 2022 by the American Film Institute.

In January 2024, Variety confirmed a new sequel was in development.

Christopher McQuarrie, the writer-producer on Top Gun: Maverick, told the Happy Sad Confused podcast in May a third film in the franchise was in the works.

Despite the excitement, Glen said his group chat has not provided any insider knowledge on the upcoming project.

He told People: I wish. I wish I had something. I literally have nothing.

Theres been no new dialogue on that text chain. There was a lot of speculation about a movie there for a while, but no new intel.

Glen is currently promoting his new Hulu comedy series Chad Powers, launched in partnership with Raising Canes.

The show will begin streaming on 30 September.
Morocco has defended its vision of a solidarity-based approach to migration offering alternatives that steer away from the security approach gaining ground in the global north amid a surge of populism.

Speaking during the 80th United Nations General Assembly, Moroccos Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita presented a migration strategy grounded in the vision of King Mohammed VI, saying Moroccos model emphasizes regional connectivity, South-South cooperation, social inclusion, and structural development.

At the heart of Moroccos approach is the Royal Initiative, which aims to provide landlocked Sahel countries with access to Moroccan Atlantic ports. This initiative, now entering its operational phase, seeks to transform the Sahel from a perceived zone of instability into a region of opportunity.

By improving physical connectivity and economic integration, Morocco hopes to address the root causes of irregular migration.

Moroccos commitment to solidarity-based development is reflected in its partnerships with African nations and international organizations. A notable example is the agreement between Moroccos International Cooperation Agency (AMCI) and the UN Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), which aims to institutionalize knowledge-sharing and capacity-building across the continent.

In a joint event with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Morocco highlighted the role of sport as a tool for migrant inclusion and social cohesion. This innovative approach was praised by several African countries, including Senegal, which described Moroccos migration model as exemplary.

Moroccos diplomatic engagements during the UN General Assembly- ranging from bilateral meetings with Mauritania, Cameroon, and Benin to strategic dialogues with Senegal, Ghana, Pakistan, Germany, and Turkey- underscore its role as a continental connector and a global migration actor. Its close collaboration with the IOM and the UN further reinforces its credibility.
Malis Prime Minister Abdoulaye Maiga publicly accused Algeria of supporting and exporting terrorism during his address to the 80th United Nations General Assembly, drawing sharp international attention to Algerias hostile acts towards its neighbors.

Addressing world leaders, Maiga denounced Algeria as a champion of the promotion of terrorism and an exporter of terrorism, saying that the country has actively undermined Malis sovereignty and regional stability.

The Prime Minister cited multiple incidents to support his claims, including the destruction of a Malian military drone on April 1, 2025, which Mali insists occurred within its own territory.

Maiga challenged Algerias claim that the drone had violated its airspace, pointing out that debris were found 22 kilometers inside Malis borders.

He further accused Algerian forces of providing safe haven to terrorist groups operating in the Sahel, claiming that attacks on Malian forces were launched from Algerian soil.

Algeria once claimed to be a champion in the fight against terrorism, but today it has become a promoter and exporter of it, Maiga said.

The speech also addressed Algerias refusal to cooperate with the International Court of Justice (ICJ), where Mali filed a formal complaint on September 4 over the drone incident.

Maiga criticized Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf for publicly denying the existence of the complaint, accusing him of misleading the international community. The Algerian junta fears being exposed as an aggressor and supporter of international terrorism, Maiga declared.

In a pointed conclusion, Maiga issued a direct appeal to Algeria: We call on the Algerian junta to stop supporting international terrorism and to engage constructively in promoting peace and security, in full respect of state sovereignty.
African leaders used the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) as a platform to demand structural reform, global justice, and recognition of Africas geopolitical relevance.

Central to their message: the urgent need for permanent representation on the UN Security Council and a rebalanced global order that is outdated and unjust. President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa cited the Security Councils five permanent members as obstacles to equitable decision-making, saying that they continue to use their veto powers to effectively paralyze collective action and prevent timely responses to crises, even in the face of clear violations of international law. Echoing that, Nigerias President Bola Tinubu  represented by Vice President Kassim Shettima  declared that the United Nations will recover its relevance only when it reflects the world as it is, not as it was. Tinubu also called for a permanent seat for Nigeria, reform of the global financial system, and a binding sovereign debt resolution mechanism.

African leaders also pushed for formal UN recognition of a Palestinian state. Ramaphosa and Tinubu both reaffirmed support for a two-state solution, equating the Palestinian struggle with Africas own anti-colonial legacy. Yet, as global focus drifts toward crises in Gaza and Ukraine, African conflicts  like those in the Sahel and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)  are overlooked. Leaders urged predictable funding for African peacekeeping missions and warned that ignoring Africa risks undermining global peace. As Sierra Leones Julius Maada Bio concluded, The world does not need a louder UN. It requires a braver UN.
At least 73 children and 22 elderly people have died from hunger and disease in the past 40 days after fleeing Sudans Abu Shouk camp in North Darfur, according to activists.

The camp, which once sheltered more than 190,000 displaced people, has endured relentless artillery and drone assaults, forcing thousands to escape towards El Fasher. In late August, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) stormed the camp, reportedly killing about 40 people, abducting others, and destroying 98 percent of its water infrastructure. Activists warn that those displaced now live in makeshift sites in and around El Fasher under extremely harsh conditions, with almost no access to food, medicine, or basic services. Malnutrition is rising sharply, compounded by the collapse of free community kitchens, where a single meal for 20 families now costs over 9 million Sudanese pounds.

The Abu Shouk Emergency Room described a rapidly deteriorating situation, with unburied bodies lying near displaced communities due to insecurity, raising the specter of a major health disaster. The group has urged international organizations to intervene and establish safe humanitarian corridors for civilians trapped in conflict zones. Despite RSF assurances of safe passage, thousands of civilians continue to face arrest, torture, and even execution on accusations of supporting the army or allied groups. The crisis underscores the escalating human toll of Sudans conflict, particularly on vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly.
Africa-China's solidarity: A new anchor for Africa's choice of genuine partnership

16:33, September 28, 2025 By Wilfred Ndhlovu ( People's Daily Online

Against the backdrop of global geopolitical shifts, Africa's pursuit of equitable development partnerships has never been more critical.

The Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), held in Yokohama in August 2025, was hailed by Japan as a milestone for Africa-Japan cooperationbut it ultimately laid bare the gap between rhetoric and reality in Tokyo's engagement with the continent.

Meanwhile, a far more transformative development unfolded in Beijing on September 4: Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa met with his Chinese counterpart, and the two heads of state announced the elevation of Zimbabwe-China relations to an "All-Weather Community with a Shared Future," which will further expand bilateral cooperation across the board and boost Zimbabwe's economic and social development.

This bilateral engagement in Beijing is a new milestone that not only solidifies Zimbabwe-China solidarity but also underscores a broader truth: Africa's future lies with partners like China that deliver on commitments, respect sovereignty, and honor shared historynot with those trapped in neo-imperial mindsets.

TICAD9: From "African-led development" rhetoric to underwhelming reality

Launched in 1993, TICAD was originally framed as a platform to position Japan as a "benevolent supporter" of Africa's self-driven growth. Over three decades, it has produced countless lengthy declarations, outcome documents, and speeches promising to fuel Africa's transformation. Yet when the fanfare faded, the conference's tangible contributions proved underwhelming.

At TICAD9, Tokyo announced a total of US$7 billion in financial support to Africa. For the continent's 54 nationseach grappling with massive infrastructure gaps, energy shortages, and healthcare needsthis amounts to little more than symbolic crumbs.

It pales in comparison to China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which has channeled hundreds of billions of dollars into transformative projects: Kenya's Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway, Ethiopia's Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway, ports in Djibouti, to name but a few. Unlike Japan's aid-focused approach, China's engagement prioritizes building Africa's self-relianceinvesting in capacity, not just handouts.

The attendance gap: Africa's growing disillusionment with Japan

Equally telling was TICAD9's lackluster African attendancea clear sign of eroding trust in Japan's promises. Tokyo initially claimed 33 African heads of state or government participated in Yokohama. In reality, only 13 heads of state and 15 heads of government attended, totaling 28. This marks the lowest participation since 2008, and a sharp drop from the 26 heads of state who joined TICAD7 in 2019.

The low turnout was no accident. It came as Beijing hosted commemorations for the 80th Anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist Warevents that drew African leaders in a show of solidarity.

Reports confirm Japan attempted to dissuade national leaders of other countries from attending Beijing's V-Day commemorations, fearing it would highlight China's central role in global anti-fascist and anti-imperialist struggles. Tokyo's efforts failed. The contrast between Yokohama's modest turnout and Beijing's display of solidarity speaks volumes: The Global South nations, including African countries, are increasingly aligning with partners who honor shared historical truths, not those who deny their past atrocities.

Japan's historical amnesia: A barrier to trust with Africa

For Africaa continent that endured centuries of colonial brutality and exploitationhistorical honesty is non-negotiable in any partnership. Yet Japan continues to downplay or deny its own imperial atrocities: the 1931 invasion of Manchuria, the 1937 Nanjing Massacre, the use of forced labor, and the sexual enslavement of "comfort women" during 1931-1945. Instead of confronting this history, Tokyo often frames itself as a victim of U.S. atomic bombingsa deliberate whitewashing of its role as an aggressor.

Africans recognize this denial for what it is. Just as they remember the horrors of the transatlantic slave trade and colonial plunder, China, South Korea, the Philippines, and Vietnam remember Japan's occupation. Today, these Asian nations voice strong opposition to Japan's bid for a permanent UN Security Council seat, viewing it as an unrepentant aggressor hiding behind false victimhood. For Africa to embrace Japan without accountability would be a betrayal of its own history of resisting imperialism.

African leaders speak up: Rejecting charity, demanding sovereign partnerships

Across the continent, leaders are increasingly vocal about what a "true partnership" must entailand their words expose TICAD's core contradiction: Japan preaches "African-led development" but acts with a paternalistic, donor-driven mindset.

At TICAD8 in 2022, Senegal's President Macky Sallthen African Union Chairpersonreminded Japan and other external powers: "Africa does not need charity. What we need is equitable partnership, trade, and investment that respect our sovereignty."

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has repeatedly stressed: "Africa is not a battleground for global powers. We choose friends based on respect and mutual benefit, not coercion"a direct rebuke to Japan's use of TICAD to undermine China-Africa cooperation.

Japan's UNSC bid: Hypocrisy on the global stage

Japan's campaign for a permanent UN Security Council seat casts a shadow over TICAD. Africa must ask: Can a nation that refuses to atone for war crimes, militarizes under U.S. patronage, and denies justice to its victims be trusted with global leadership? For Africans, who know the cost of colonial domination, supporting Japan's bid would legitimize imperial dishonesty. As Nigeria's former President Olusegun Obasanjo once warned: "Africa must never again accept domination in exchange for promises of aid."

Two models, one clear choice: Beijing's solidarity vs. Yokohama's mirage

The contrast between TICAD9 and Beijing's anti-fascist commemorations is stark. Beijing represented truth, solidarity, and historical honestya moment where Africa, Asia, and the Global South united to honor shared sacrifices and envision a multipolar future. Yokohama, by contrast, was a spectacle of illusion: inflated attendance figures, token aid, and a refusal to confront the past. TICAD9 was never about African developmentit was about Japan's anxiety over China's growing role in shaping the new world order.

Africa's future: Anchored in all-weather solidarity with China

TICAD9 was not a failure because Africa rejects cooperationit failed because Africa rejects false partnerships.

Africa needs partners who stand with it in times of crisisnot just in times of convenience. China has proven itself that partner. For decades, from supporting Africa's liberation struggles to building transformative BRI projects, Beijing has empowered Africa, not exploited it. As President Mnangagwa aptly puts it: "We know our true friends. They are those who stood with us yesterday, who stand with us today, and who will stand with us tomorrow." On this truth, Africa must build its future.

(The author is a Harare-based commentator on international affairs.)

(Web editor: Hongyu, Du Mingming)
Andrew Garfield has shut down mounting speculation that hell return as Eduardo Saverin in The Social Network Part II.

Andrew Garfield is not returning for The Social Network Part II

Aaron Sorkins eagerly-awaited follow-up to the 2010 blockbuster, which told the story of Facebooks creation and starred Jesse Eisenberg as founder Mark Zuckerberg, will be called The Social Reckoning and will be released on October 9, 2026.

Mikey Madison and Jeremy Allen White will star in the sequel, alongside Jeremy Strong.

Strong is set to take over from Eisenberg in portraying Facebook founder Zuckerberg, with writer /director Sorkin replacing David Fincher behind the camera.

However, Garfield says he has not been re-cast as Facebook co-founder Saverin.

In a recent interview with IndieWire, the actor said when asked if he'll reprise the role: No, no. Eduardo is in Singapore having a good time.

The entrepreneur did in fact move to Singapore.

Asked if he's excited to see the new film, Garfield replied: "Oh yeah."

The new movie will focus on Facebook engineer Frances Haugen (Madison) who teams up with Wall Street Journal reporter Jeff Horwitz (White) to bring attention to the social networks biggest secrets.

The screenplay delves into the story behind the Wall Street Journal's Facebook Files, which were a series of October 2021 articles by Horowitz.

The pieces sought to expose Facebook's inner workings, and the harms caused by them.

The movie will also delve into the impact the site has on teenagers and preteens, as well as violence, and its wider effect on countries around the world.

Back in 2021, Sorkin opened up on his plans for a sequel, insisting "what has been going on with Facebook these last few years is a story very much worth telling.

He told The Town podcast last year: Facebook has been, among other things, tuning its algorithm to promote the most divisive material possible.

"Because that is what will increase engagement. That is what will get you to  what they call inside the hallways of Facebook  the infinite scroll

"Theres supposed to be a constant tension at Facebook between growth and integrity. There isnt. Its just growth.
The United States has recognized the Sahara as an integral and indivisible part of Morocco in 2020. America has also supported the Autonomy plan offered for the territory under Moroccan sovereignty as the only feasible solution to the Sahara conflict.

But the Algerian military regime, which has been arming, sheltering and funding the separatist Polisario Front since 1975 to destabilize the North Africa Kingdom, has refused so far to concede the American recognition. It has also rejected to engage in discussions without delay, using Moroccos autonomy plan as the only framework to negotiate a mutually acceptable solution.

The conflict between Rabat and Algiers over the Sahara is now a half-century old, threatening regional peace and stability. Morocco has reached out to Algeria many times to settle all pending issues including the Sahara, but the ruling junta has refused to back-down, preferring to pursue its obstructionist strategy and anti-Moroccan propaganda.

After U.S. President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, he sent his senior advisor Massad Boulos to Algeria to engage it to end the decades-long Sahara conflict on the basis of the Moroccan Autonomy plan. But the Algerian rulers showed reluctance. They proposed economic incentives to Washington as recommended by their lobbyist John Bolton, former U.S. national security advisor, one of Trumps enemies.

The Algerian leaders erred when they thought the American offer or deal is negotiable. They forget that Trump, a successful businessman and a politician, keeps pushing and pushing until he reaches his goal. He plays hard and always wins.

So, the Trump administration has hammered the Algerian military regime with crystal-clear political statements reiterating American recognition of the Moroccanness of the Sahara and support of the Autonomy plan offered by the North African Kingdom under its sovereignty.

The U.S. supportive position was expressed several times this month by U.S. senior presidential advisor Massad Boulos, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and Congressman Joe Wilson.

Through its deputy secretary of State Christopher Landau, Washington gave the green light to companies looking to invest and do business in all of Morocco, including its southern provinces. Over $5 billion funding will be injected in the Moroccan Sahara set to become a major regional economic hub.

The United States, penholder of the UN Security Council resolutions on the Sahara, is coordinating its diplomatic efforts with France and the United Kingdom, permanent members of Security Council, to close definitively the Sahara conflict and deploy the Autonomy plan on the ground with or without Algerias backing.

On the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly, Morocco gained more support for its territorial integrity and Autonomy plan proposed for the Sahara under its sovereignty.

In New York, Sahel countries, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Chad have all endorsed the Royal initiative offering Atlantic access to these African landlocked countries, deepening Algerias regional and international isolation.

As the U.S. pressure is mounting ahead of the Security Council meeting expected to take historic decisions on the Sahara, cracks started appearing inside the Algerian opaque military regime. The power struggle has reached its peak between the Presidency, the army chief and their respective clans.

The unexplained disappearance from public view of Algerian President for several weeks and the defection to Spain of General Abdelkader Haddad with top secrets are all evidence of the imminent fall of the authoritarian junta in Algeria.

After the collapse of military regimes in Libya, Yemen, Iraq, Sudan and Syria, experts say the Algerian regime will be next. Both the Generals and the Presidency are feeling the heat. Convinced that the Western Sahara game is over, they hit inflection point, according to some analysts.

They say that President Abdelmajid Tebboune has never missed an opportunity either with the press or at international meetings without reaffirming brazenly his countrys steadfast standing with the Polisario separatist group.

However, during his latest meeting with local journalists, he spoke about everything but buttoned his lip about Morocco, the Sahara, the Polisario, the Autonomy plan and U.S. supportive stand of Moroccan Sahara.

This is seen as a major shift in the Algerian position. On Sunday, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau posted on his X account a message promising new horizons in U.S.-Algerian commercial ties and stressing the importance of building bridges that advance prosperity for both countries.

The move comes after the meetings held by Christopher Landau and Trumps Senior Advisor Masaad Boulos with Algerian foreign minister Ahmed Attaf.

According to some analysts, the U.S. message signals that the Algerian regime has shown flexibility for the American deal which would lead to American investments in Algeria, the establishment of direct air links, and development of commercial ties.

But all these peace dividends hinge on ceasing hostility towards Morocco, U.S. ally and strategic partner, disbanding the polisario militia, endorsing the autonomy plan, and opening up the country.

The Algerian regime should stop its ranting misleading propaganda and start preparing the public opinion for the upcoming upending changes and closure of the Sahara conflict in favor of Morocco.

Some intelligence reports say Algeria is preparing for a major exit strategy from the Sahara conflict, but affirmed that there are some major internal challengers!
Argentinas federal government, for over a decade, has hungrily eyed the vast hydrocarbon potential of the Vaca Muerta (dead cow in Spanish) shale formation in Neuquen Province. It was in 2011 that the Peronist government of Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner seized 51% of YPF from Spanish energy major Repsol, provoking a major backlash from financial markets and Big Oil. Despite the considerable negativity surrounding YPFs nationalization, it was the catalyst that saw the driller emerge as a driving force for the successful exploitation of the Vaca Muerta.

Since the development of the Vaca Muerta began in earnest over a decade ago, shale oil and gas production has soared ever higher, regularly hitting record highs over the last two years. Government data for August 2025 shows Argentina lifted a record 816,144 barrels of crude oil per day, which was 65% weighted to shale oil, and 5.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas, 67% weighted to shale gas. Overall, oil output for that month soared 1.4% compared to July 2025 and by nearly 15% year over year. Natural gas production declined by over 2% month over month and only rose a modest 3% year over year. This notable increase in petroleum output firmly secures Argentinas place as the fourth largest crude oil producer in Latin America, behind OPEC member Venezuela and ahead of Colombia.

It is Argentinas considerable unconventional hydrocarbon potential that is driving soaring production. According to government data for August 2025, shale oil production surged by a whopping 30% year-over-year to 530,057 barrels per day. This is not only a new unconventional petroleum production record, but saw shale oil comprise 65% of all crude oil lifted in Argentina, the highest ratio yet. Disappointingly, August 2025 shale gas production declined, falling by a modest 1.6% month over month to 3.7 billion cubic feet per day, although this was still 3% higher year over year. The volume of shale gas accounted for 67% of all natural gas produced by Argentina, the highest proportion ever.

Analysts initially compared the Vaca Muerta to the Eagle Ford Shale; however, drilling results, shale thickness, reservoir pressure, and well productivity now reveal that the formation's characteristics correlate more closely with those of the prolific Permian Basin. Indeed, it is believed that Vaca Muertas well productivity surpasses that of major U.S. shale plays, including the Permian. According to industry consultancy Rystad Energy, a typical well in the Vaca Muerta generally provides one-year cumulative production of around 30 barrels per foot drilled. This is double the production of the Permian, Delaware, and Midland shales, which produce between 15 barrels and 23 barrels per foot, while wells in the Bakken and Eagle Ford flow 17 to 18 barrels per foot during the first year. Drilling and other operational costs in the Vaca Muerta are higher than those in more mature U.S. shale plays but are offset by superior well productivity. As a result, the Vaca Muertas average breakeven price, estimated to be $36 per barrel, is comparable to U.S. shale basins.

A shortage of critical infrastructure, notably pipelines and storage, is weighing on takeaway capacity, production growth and breakeven prices, but this will improve as crucial infrastructure is built out in South Americas largest shale play. There are currently several infrastructure projects under development. Pampa Energia, the Vaca Muertas third largest oil producer, is investing $426 million to develop a 45,000 barrel per day treatment plant at its wholly owned and operated Rincon de Aranda shale oilfield. The company reported strong growth in shale oil and gas production for the second quarter of 2025. Pampa Energia expects further growth as additional wells, as well as infrastructure, come online.

A pivotal piece of infrastructure currently under construction is the $3 billion Vaca Muerta South pipeline. The facility will connect the Vaca Muerta to an oil terminal on Argentinas Atlantic Coast, boosting not only takeaway capacity from the shale formation but also the countrys energy exports. It is anticipated that the pipeline will commence operation during 2027 with an initial capacity of 180,000 barrels per day. This will increase through later extensions to 550,000 barrels per day and eventually 700,000 barrels per day. The pipeline is being built by a consortium comprised of Argentinas national oil company YPF, Pampa Energia, Chevron, Shell and Vista Energy, all of which are major unconventional hydrocarbon producers operating in the Vaca Muerta.

For these reasons, the Vaca Muerta is attracting considerable interest from foreign energy companies, even Big Oil. Global energy supermajor Chevron stated in an August 2025 media release: It expects Vaca Muerta to play a larger role in its portfolio in the coming years. The Big Oil company went on to assert that production from its petroleum acreage in the Vaca Muerta will more than double by the end of the decade, growing from 442,000 barrels per day in 2024 to one million barrels per day by 2030.

The latest numbers suggest that Vaca Muerta is shaping up as Buenos Aires long-awaited economic silver bullet. Growing shale oil and gas production is boosting exports, fixing a problematic balance of trade. Indeed, oil and gas are now Buenos Aires second-largest export, generating $8.5 billion, which is slightly less than half of the $18.6 billion made by soybeans in 2024, representing 11% of all export earnings that year. These developments place Argentina on the cusp of becoming a South American energy powerhouse. The economic benefits this will deliver, coupled with President Javier Mileis reforms, will give Argentinas crisis-prone economy the third-largest in Latin America a solid boost.

By Matthew Smith for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
Crude oil flows from the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region of Iraq (KRI) through the Iraq-Turkey Pipeline (ITP from Kirkuk to Ceyhan resumed on Saturday (27 September) for the first time since 25 March 2023. This followed agreements between the various interested parties, comprised of the Iraq Kurdistan regional government (the KRG), the foreign oil and gas firms operating in the KRI, the Federal Government of Iraq (FGI), Turkey, and the U.S. This latter entrant into the two-and-a-half-year fray is the key reason for the sudden lack of objections from the FGI and Turkey, a senior oil industry source who works closely with Iraqs Oil Ministry exclusively told OilPrice.com last week. Turkey had been insisting that any new agreement between it and the FGI (and by extension the KRG) should be for full usage of the ITP. This would involve 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd) going through the pipeline, despite around 80% of Iraqs total 3.5 million bpd currently going in the opposite direction to Asia. The FGI had consistently reiterated that it would only allow such a resumption of oil flows to Turkey if the country finally paid it the US$1.5 billion in damages for unauthorised exports by the Kurdish regional authorities ordered by the International Chamber of Commerce. However, the outlook for the continuation of these various deals and therefore for the ongoing flows of oil from the KRI into Turkey is bleak.

Related: Forget OPEC Warnings The Real Oil Shock Is Happening Inside Russia

As it stands, up to 190,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil will flow through the ITP from Kirkuk to Ceyhan, but this is planned to increase again to the 230,000-bpd level seen just before the pipelines closure in 2023, and then back to even higher levels over time. This is also the level the KRG committed the previous week to delivering to Iraqs State Organization for Marketing of Oil (SOMO), while keeping a further 50,000 bpd for domestic use. As previously reported by OilPrice.com, US$16 of the sales price per barrel will be transferred to an escrow account and distributed proportionally to the KRIs oil producers, with the rest going to SOMO. This effectively acts as a subsidy for production costs incurred by international oil companies operating in the KRI and replaces the previous offer of US$7.90 per barrel that was rejected by the KRG. All of this is thematically the same as the initial supposed landmark deal between the KRI and the FGI that was drawn up in November 2014, as analysed in full in my latest book on the new global oil market order. This laid out that the FGI would pay the KRG 17% per month of the central government of Iraqs budget after sovereign expenses (around US$500 million at that time) in exchange for the KRG organising the export up to 550,000 bpd of oil from the Iraqi Kurdistan oil fields and Kirkuk to SOMO. Thes deal never worked properly, with both sides accusing the other of shortfalls in their respective deliveries. Even before this, though, problems could arise in the very short term from the foreign oil firms, as they are collectively still owed over US$1 billion by the KRG for oil produced and then sold previously. Norways DNO and its joint venture partner Genel Energy have long made it clear that they would not fully re-engage with crude oil exports through the ITP until they received assurances from the KRG that it would properly address the US$300 million or so of debt to the two firms. The eight other foreign oil producers that signed the initial agreement on Saturday to restart exports to Turkey will meet within the 30 days following the recent resumption of flows (so, 27 October at the latest) to flesh out a mechanism with the KRG whereby these debts can finally be settled. At a 12 July meeting of foreign oil firms operating in the KRI, the companies attending stressed the need for future export payments that are consistent with eachs existing, legally valid contracts, and transparent and prompt payments, either in cash or through in-kind transfers of crude oil entitlements.

In addition to potential disruption to the current oil flows resumption pact from the foreign oil firms, is the longstanding fundamental opposition to such an arrangement from the FGI in Baghdad, from Turkey, and from Iran, China, and Russia. In very basic terms from Baghdads side, it is in no way beneficial for it to have a semi-autonomous region with any real power, let alone one that has oil and gas riches which  if it was simply a regular region subsumed into the rest of Iraq  would be Baghdads to develop with whichever firms its wished and to freely bank the revenues. Whilst the U.S. and the Western allies continued to support the KRG  even promising full independence to the region for the crucial help of its Peshmerga in fighting Islamic State  Baghdad had little choice but to put up with it. However after the U.S.s end of mission in Iraq in December 2021, the move was on in Baghdad to end all independence for the KRI, as also detailed in my latest book. Following the September 2017 Kurdish referendum on independence  which saw over 90% of voters in favour of the idea  the FGIs then-Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi called the vote unconstitutional and added that Baghdad would take control of border crossings linking the Kurdistan Region with neighbouring countries. He also restricted international flights to and from the regions Erbil and Sulaymaniyah airports and sent troops to the disputed oil-rich region of Kirkuk  over which the FGI said it held sovereignty, despite it being recaptured by Kurdish Peshmerga troops in 2014. He further called on neighbouring countries and countries of the world to stop buying crude oil directly from Kurdistan, and only to deal with the FGI. Baghdads current view on any KRI independence was made extremely when Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Al-Sudani stated that the new unified Oil Law -- run, in every way that matters, by the FGI out of Baghdad -- will govern all oil and gas production and investments in both Iraq and the Kurdistan region and will constitute a strong factor for Iraqs unity. Turkey and Iran  both with very sizeable Kurdish populations themselves  also aggressively moved against the KRI after the independence vote, as they believe an independent Kurdish state would catalyse Kurdish independence movements in their own countries. The FGIs stance on ending all independence for KRI aligns perfectly with the views of its key sponsors China and Russia. This was relayed to OilPrice.com some time ago by a senior energy source who works closely with Irans Petroleum Ministry: By keeping the West out of energy deals in Iraq, the end of Western hegemony in the Middle East will become the decisive chapter in the Wests final demise.

At the same time, the KRIs determination to maintain its semi-independent status, and to expand it if possible, equally reflects the view of its principal sponsors  the U.S. and its key allies. They want the Kurdistan region to act as a bridge from NATO member Turkey into the Middle East and therefore wants the KRI to terminate all links with Chinese, Russian, and Iranian companies connected to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps over the long term. The U.S. and Israel also have a further strategic interest in utilising the Kurdistan Region as a base for ongoing monitoring operations against Iran. It is little wonder, then, that early congratulations on the 27 September resumption of KRI oil flows to Turkey came from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who also stated that Washington helped to facilitate the deal. In this context, Washington had begun to ratchet up the pressure on Baghdad to agree such a deal with the KRI in March of this year when -- in what was exclusively described by a senior Washington legal source to OilPrice.com as a very frank conversation -- Rubio also impressed upon Prime Minister al-Sudani the importance the U.S. attaches to Iraq becoming energy independent, and therefore to stop supporting Iran through continued purchases of its gas and electricity. It was made clear at that point that if Baghdad moved in these directions, then it would receive a lot more investment from the U.S, but if it did not then there would be no further investment, and more sanctions would be slapped on it and then laddered up in severity very quickly indeed. That said, with both the Global North and Global South having significant interests in KRI/FGI outcome, it remains to be seen which sides carrots and sticks prove the most compelling for Baghdad.

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
A successful Sonangol IPO could serve as a roadmap for other African national oil companies facing similar challenges, demonstrating that partial privatization can provide both capital and credibility in a competitive global energy landscape.

The IPO is the result of years of restructuring efforts since 2017 to streamline Sonangol's operations, divest non-core holdings, and improve financial discipline, with the aim of securing much-needed funding for upstream investment and binding the company to international reporting and governance standards.

Angola's state oil company, Sonangol, is planning an initial public offering (IPO) of up to 30% of its shares within the next 24 months, a move seen as a crucial test of President Joao Lourenco's reform agenda and a signal to investors of Angola's commitment to change.

Angolas state oil company, Sonangol, is preparing to list up to 30% of its shares in an initial public offering (IPO) sometime in the next 24 months in what would be a milestone that could reshape not only the company itself but the countrys broader economic trajectory. For decades, Sonangol has been more than a petroleum producer, acting also as Angolas financial engine and a political tool as well as a national symbol. The decision to partially privatize the company is, therefore, far more than a market exercise, it is a test of President Joao Lourencos reform agenda and a signal to investors that Angola is serious about change.

The IPO represents the culmination of years of restructuring. Once a sprawling conglomerate with interests ranging from banking and airlines to real estate and telecoms, Sonangol had become bloated and opaque. Since 2017, Lourencos government has sought to streamline operations, divest non-core holdings and restore discipline to the companys finances. The listing is intended as both validation of that effort and a catalyst for Sonangols next chapter.

Other national oil companies (NOC) have pursued similar paths. Petrobras in Brazil remains the most prominent example, raising billions of dollars through capital markets while retaining state control. Despite political headwinds and corruption scandals, Petrobras became a technically world-class operator and secured enduring access to financing. Norways Equinor and Kazakhstans KazMunayGas provide further models of how state-owned firms can combine national priorities with the discipline and transparency demanded by public shareholders.

Sonangol now hopes to achieve something similar. With Angolas production sliding from a peak of 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2008 to about 1.1 million bpd today, reversing decline will demand significant upstream investment. Accessing equity markets could supply much-needed funding at a time when global capital for oil projects is increasingly constrained by the energy transition. A successful listing would also bind Sonangol to international reporting standards, corporate governance norms and investor accountability, further distancing it from the inefficiencies of its past.

The IPO cannot be seen in isolation. It is part of a wider push by Lourenco to reduce the states outsized role in the economy. Through the governments PROPRIV program, hundreds of state-owned enterprises and assets, from banks to factories, have been slated for privatization. Sonangol, as the crown jewel, represents the most ambitious step yet. A transparent and credible listing could, therefore, serve as a signal to global investors that Angola is not only open for business but committed to sustaining reforms.

The opportunities are significant, although challenges remain. Investors will weigh Sonangols valuation against the backdrop of declining reserves and uncertain long-term oil demand. Governance will also be scrutinized, given the companys historical entanglement with patronage and politics. Yet partial privatization, if well executed, can be a powerful corrective, binding Sonangol to the discipline of shareholders, while leaving Angola in firm control of its most strategic asset.

The significance of Sonangols intended IPO extends beyond Angola. Other African NOCs, from Ghanas GNPC to Algerias Sonatrach, face similar dilemmas of aging production, rising investment needs and constrained public finances. If Sonangol can demonstrate that partial privatization provides both capital and credibility, it may offer a roadmap for peers across the continent.

Africas upstream potential is vast, but global capital is increasingly selective. International investors are scrutinizing governance, emissions intensity and long-term resilience. A successful Sonangol IPO could show that African NOCs can adapt to this new landscape, not by abandoning national control, but by blending it with the transparency and accountability that markets demand.

Schreiner Parker, Head of Emerging Markets & NOCs

If executed successfully, the Sonangol IPO could provide Angola with far more than fresh capital. It could catalyze upstream investment, anchor broader privatization reforms and reposition the country in an energy landscape where competition for investment is fierce. For Sonangol, it is a chance to reinvent itself as a disciplined, globally credible operator, much as Petrobras leveraged its market listing to finance Brazils deepwater renaissance.

In that sense, the IPO is not just about Sonangols balance sheet. It is about proving that African NOCs can evolve to meet the twin pressures of domestic expectations and global energy shifts. For Angola and for the continent, the opportunity is profound. Success would mark the beginning of a new era of capital access, institutional credibility, and long-term competitiveness for Africas oil and gas sector.

By W. Schreiner Parker, Head of Emerging Markets & NOCs at Rystad Energy

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
Recently, the International Energy Agency (IEA) identified Brazil as a key non-OPEC oil producer responsible for driving global production growth. A swathe of world-class ultra-deepwater pre-salt oil discoveries, the first made in the Lula field during 2006, are driving a massive offshore oil boom. Not only is Brazil Latin Americas largest oil producer, but the country is receiving substantial investment from Big Oil, which is driving production to record highs. By July 2023, petroleum output for the first time eclipsed 3.5 million barrels per day, placing Brazil on track to lift five million barrels by 2030, making it a top-five global producer.

Data from Brazils hydrocarbon regulator, the National Agency for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP), shows that for June 2025, Brazil lifted an average of 4.9 million barrels of oil equivalent per day. That is the largest volume of hydrocarbons Brazil has ever pumped, setting a new record high for Latin Americas largest oil producer. Crude oil output also hit a new record, reaching 3.8 million barrels per day, with the balance comprised of natural gas. This bodes well for further strong production growth and Brasilias plans to become a top-five global oil producer.

Key to achieving this goal is the investment made by Brazils national oil company Petrobras, which is 37% owned by the federal government in the capital, Brasilia. The integrated energy major plans to spend $111 billion across its operations between 2025 and 2029, a $9 billion increase over the $102 billion budgeted in the 2024 to 2028 investment plan. This considerable investment will be predominantly directed toward upstream assets, with Petrobras earmarking a whopping $77 billion for exploration and production operations, $4 billion more than the earlier plan.

Nearly $8 billion of the exploration and production budget for 2025 to 2029 will be directed to drilling 51 new wells, 78% of which will be undertaken in Brazils offshore hydrocarbon basins. A significant proportion of the $69 billion will be spent on bringing 10 new floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels online by the end of 2029. There are also a further five FPSOs to be added during 2030 and after, with six further projects to be studied.

Petrobras forecasts this massive investment will boost operated hydrocarbon output to 4.5 million barrels of oil equivalent per day by 2029, a nearly 10% increase over 2025. This will be comprised of an estimated 2.5 million barrels of crude oil, with the remaining two million barrels made up of natural gas and associated liquids. The national oil company believes that 80% of its hydrocarbon production by the end of 2029 will be generated by pre-salt assets.

To support that massive investment, Petrobras is focused on developing assets that have a low breakeven price, a strategy adopted in the wake of the pandemic-induced oil price crash. Indeed, Brazils national oil company claims to have an industry-low portfolio-wide breakeven price of $28 per barrel Brent, even less than super majors Exxon and Chevron. That, coupled with growing demand, especially from China, for Brazils light sweet pre-salt crude oil and its low carbon intensity to extract, will ensure Petrobras operations remain profitable even in low price environments.

It is not only Petrobras that is investing heavily in Brazils oil patch. Latin Americas largest economy and oil producer is attracting considerable attention from foreign investors, notably Big Oil. Indeed, Big Oils deep pockets will ensure spending on Brazils booming offshore oil industry continues expanding at a solid pace. It is global supermajor Shell, which over the last decade has emerged as a major player in offshore Brazil. The South American country now accounts for around 15% of Shells production, and the supermajor is Brazils second-largest petroleum producer, responsible for nearly 11% of crude oil output.

During late May 2025, Shell announced first oil from the Mero-4 project in the Mero oilfield situated in the pre-salt area of the Santos Basin. This occurred after the FPSO Alexandre de Gusmao was connected to the project's 12 wells, with the operation having a nameplate capacity of 180,000 barrels of oil per day. Shell holds a 19.3% working interest in the Mero field, which is operated by Petrobras with a 38.6% working interest. The remaining 42.1% is held by several energy companies, including Big Oil companies with French supermajor TotalEnergies holding 19.3% and Chinese state-controlled CNPC and CNOOC with 9.65% each.

Earlier this year, in March 2025, Shell disclosed that it had made a final decision to invest in the Gato do Mato project. This is a pre-salt discovery situated in Brazils prolific Santos Basin. Shell, which holds a 50% working interest, is the operator while partners Colombian national oil company Ecopetrol and Frances TotalEnergies control 30% and 20%, respectively. The project is targeting a resource estimated to contain 370 million recoverable barrels of crude oil. The Gato do Mato oilfield is expected to commence operation in 2029 with a 120,000-barrel-per-day FPSO supporting production.

French supermajor TotalEnergies holds 11 of Brazils oil-producing licenses, four of which are operated. The company is Brazils third-largest oil producer, accounting for nearly 4% of the South American countrys petroleum output. TotalEnergies continues to invest in offshore Brazil, targeting pre-salt oil discoveries for development. As previously discussed, the supermajors latest projects are the Mero-4 field and the Gato do Mato development. TotalEnergies anticipates boosting oil production in Brazil to 200,000 barrels per day by the end of 2026.

Norways state-controlled global supermajor Equinor also operates in Brazil. The company considers South Americas largest petroleum producer to be a leading source of production growth. Back in June 2025, Equinor announced winning the S-M-1617 block situated in the Santo Basin during Brazil's 5th Open Permanent Concession bid round. Equinor is also progressing interests in a range of oil and gas projects, which, on completion, will further boost Brazils overall hydrocarbon output.

According to the ANP, Brazils oil patch will attract a whopping $122 billion of investment by 2029, most of which is destined for prolific offshore ultra-deep-water pre-salt oilfields. While Petrobras will contribute a significant amount of that capital a large portion will come from foreign energy companies, notably Big Oil. It is easy to understand Big Oils attraction to Brazil and the offshore pre-salt reservoirs. Average breakeven costs for projects are estimated to be less than $40 per barrel brent, falling to $30 per barrel or less for pre-salt assets. On top of which oil lifted from Brazils offshore fields has a low carbon intensity of around 15 kilograms of CO? per barrel a significantly lower amount than the estimated global average of 20 kilograms of CO? per barrel.

By Matthew Smith for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
The northern European countries are currently embroiled in a Russian hybrid warfare attempt, a situation that demands immediate and decisive attention. Denmark, a member of both the EU and NATO, is set to host a European Union Summit in Copenhagen this week, with the primary focus on Russian aggression in Ukraine and its hybrid warfare tactics. The Danish transportation ministry has already taken steps to ban all civilian drone flights in Danish airspace, underscoring the urgency of the security situation. Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish, and other Baltic Sea region countries are currently under threat from drone attacks linked to the Russian naval presence in the region, or originating from Russian or dark fleet vessels.

The current crisis has again pushed EU and NATO members to reassess options to counter these developments, including a complete blockade of the seas for Russian assets. Current EU, UK, and US sanctions on Russia are already impacting Putins revenues, but Moscow still holds access to the seas, particularly Baltic outlets. Growing calls are being heard for a blockade of the Baltic Sea and its gateways, seen as a measure that could hurt Putin severely. The options are on the table; however, the risks and rewards remain unclear. What is clear, however, is the need for a coordinated EU/NATO response.

The Baltic Sea and its gatewaysincluding the Skagerrak, Kattegat, Danish Straits, and resundare not only narrow waterways but also vital maritime arteries for commerce, energy, and communication. These routes connect Northern and Central Europe to global markets, making them strategically important. The growing threat of Russian interference in these areas is a cause for concern.

Since Russias invasion of Ukraine, the Baltic Sea has been contestednot primarily militarily but through ageing shadow tankers, suspicious anchor-dragging incidents severing subsea cables, and repeated drone and airspace probes. Moscows hybrid warfare also involves associated actors, as evidenced by reports of Chinese vessel operations. The threats are real and increasing, but options to counter them have been limited until now. Western politicians and military leaders are examining possible NATO and EU coastal state actions to block Russian dark fleet movements in the Baltic. Such steps could profoundly affect Russias revenues, NATOs risk calculus, and global oil markets.

Lawful measures to block Russian access exist but have not yet been implemented. European coastal states could establish port denials, targeted sanctions, insurance and financial interdictions, and naval patrols under clear legal mandatesoptions that may now be discussed in Copenhagen. Grey-zone measures, such as persistent interdiction of ship-to-ship transfers and denial of bunkering and port services, should also be considered. Some are even discussing kinetic interdiction (seizing or sinking vessels), but this remains too far-fetched for many NATO members. The UNCLOS rules have until now prevented such measures, as kinetic action in peacetime against broadly flagged merchant tonnage carries a high risk of legal breach and escalation. Still, hybrid warfare may soon push some toward black ops strategies. To be effective, the Copenhagen Summit should adopt a layered civil-military strategy leveraging peacetime authorities such as customs, port-state control, sanctions enforcement, insurance leverage, naval presence, and monitoring.

Global oil markets, already volatile, could face sharp disruptions if Baltic access is denied. The region hosts key Russian export nodes for crude and petroleum products, and also serves as a hub for ship-to-ship logistics and dark fleet operations. Coordinated denial strategies among Baltic states, combined with insurer participation, would raise Russias operational costs. Port denials, STS policing, and insurance withdrawals would increase transport costs and logistical friction as dark fleet tankers reroute and pay higher premiums. This would reduce Russias market access and force heavier discounts on its barrels. While Russia has alternative routes (Arctic, Black Sea), these are unattractive in winter or vulnerable to Ukrainian attacks.

The effects are not yet clear but warrant close assessment. If interdiction is implemented without kinetic escalation, the likely consequences include higher freight rates and insurance premiums in the Baltic, as well as regional price spikes for refined products such as diesel and heating oil due to supply chain reconfiguration. The most significant impact will be pressure on Russian fiscal receipts as throughput and netbacks fall. In the long term, markets may adapt through rerouting to Asia, but the real impact will depend on the duration and scope of EU/NATO measures. Baltic denial would mainly affect Russias western ports, such as Primorsk and Ust-Luga, which handle crude and refined exports for Europe and beyond. The greatest pressure on Russia will come if such measures are sustained over time.

Ultimately, Russias hybrid warfare and its revenue base must be targeted. A new, more proactive denial strategy in the Baltic, combined with Ukraines drone and missile strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, could deal a serious blow. Oil markets must factor not only supplydemand fundamentals but also the strategic decisions of European leaders and military actions on the ground.

By Cyril Widdershoven for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
There's an old saying that I won't spell out completely, but which most readers will certainly have heard at least once in their lives, to wit: "Don't sh-- where you eat." It is an all-purpose warning about not pursuing incompatible activities in the same place, particularly activities that produce either physical waste or emotional complications.

In this case, the waste part is wastewater emitted by oil wells drilled into shale deposits, which must undergo extensive hydraulic fracturing (often called fracking) before the oil can be freed. What most people do not know is that for every barrel of shale oil extracted, three to five barrels of water laden with fracking chemicals and salt, toxic minerals, and radioactivity (from the deep rock) also come up, most of it water originally injected under high pressure to fracture the shale and release the oil.

Some 9 million barrels a day of shale oil is currently produced in the United States each day, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That means between 27 and 45 million barrels of fracking wastewater is produced EACH DAY; in gallons, that's between 1.1 and 1.9 billion gallons. And, of course, multiply by 365 and you'll get yearly totals. That's a lot of wastewater, and it has to go somewhere, and that somewhere is starting to pollute underground water supplies and surface soil and water, and to interfere with oil production itself.

Mostly, this wastewater is disposed of underground, at first deep underground and now in shallower wells. The deep disposal began triggering earthquakes in Texas that were felt hundreds of miles away. Oklahoma has experienced a similar rise in earthquakes due to oil and gas wastewater pumped underground. Because of this, regulators started to move underground disposal to shallower depths, which led to other problems.

(Yes, shale gas wells produce lots of wastewater, too. The United States extracted an estimated 45.9 trillion cubic feet of natural gas last year, of which 79 percent came from shale wells requiring hydraulic fracturing. An estimated 0.8 and 1.3 gallons of water are produced along with the gas for every 1,000 cubic feet. That means between 29 and 47 billion gallons of wastewater from natural gas drilling needed to find a home last year. This may be an overestimate since some gas, called associated gas, is produced from oil wells.)

Groundwater used for human and animal consumption is being polluted by these shallower underground injections. So much pressure has built up underground that some old abandoned wells have sprung to life, spewing wastewater that comes to the surface through old well casings. The industry pretends to care about this, but generally fights landowners who complain and sue. But what the industry is really increasingly concerned about is that the wastewater is starting to break through to producing wells and compromise production. One major producer, ConocoPhillips, has warned that underground wastewater injections risk flooding out oil reserves. "Flooding out" means that water infiltrates into oil reservoirs from places where wastewater has been injected, complicating production or even making profitable production impossible as water comes to dominate extraction volumes.

If oil companies cannot find ways to dispose of the increasing volumes of fracking wastewater, they will have to limit production. Some of the wastewater is being treated, though there is concern about the level of toxic materials that remain in the supposedly purified discharge water. Underground injection is still the most widely used and cheapest method of disposal.

The call for developing alternatives to underground disposal now has an unlikely champion, oil major Chevron, a company at the center of the controversy over fracking wastewater disposal. The industry will need a solution soon, as water use is expected to balloon as the industry moves on to less oil-rich reservoirs that will require more fluid to successfully fracture wells. This is projected to lead by 2035 to a 39 percent increase in wastewater from the Permian Basin, the largest producer of shale oil in the United States.

By Resource Insights

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
American President Donald Trump recently demanded that Afghanistans ruling Taliban allow the U.S. to take back Bagram Airfield, the military airfield near the capital city, Kabul. He declared, "BAD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN" if Afghanistan does not return the base to the U.S.

The Taliban promptly rejected Trumps demand, though it said it seeks political and economic ties with Washington.

Why would Trump want U.S. forces to return to Bagram?

Trump is concerned that China may move into the airfield, and he recognizes it has a useful position for spying on China because, he says, It's an hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons.

That is an interesting take, but there is little prospect the U.S. will return to Bagram. To start, how will all those troops and equipment get there?

In the wake of the 9-11 attacks on America by al-Qaeda, the worlds sympathy was with the U.S. and Iran, Russia, the Central Asian republics, and Pakistan cooperated with the U.S. punitive expedition to Afghanistan to seek and destroy al-Qaeda and its leader, Osama bin Laden. But that was 24 years ago, a vanished world.

Today, Russia and Iran have no interest in helping the U.S. into Afghanistan, unless it is to help trap the U.S. in another quagmire. Pakistan often cooperates with the U.S., but it has a Taliban problem of its own, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and helping the Americans will spur more terrorist attacks that are responsible for more than 4,600 deaths of civilian and security personnel since 2021. The Central Asian republics are friendly with Washington (and Kabul) but are unlikely to want to be considered Americas co-belligerent in a renewed campaign in Afghanistan. Related: Russia Signals Lower Gas Prices for China Compared With Europe and Turkey

The U.S. will have to seize the airfield by force and that would require many troops and aircraft that would have to be secretly staged somewhere in the region. The base occupies 5 square miles (or about 3,200 acres) and would have to be guarded by hundreds of U.S. troops who would be under continuous attack and would have to be provisioned exclusively by air.

The Central Asian republics are growing their relations with Kabul, a key hub for trade and investment, overland transport, and energy transmission, through a policy of pragmatic cooperation free from political intentions. The republics know they and Afghanistan are neighbors forever and feel pragmatic cooperation is the only way to peacefully integrate Afghanistan into the Central Asian community.

The neighboring countries have another reason to oppose the U.S. seizure of the airfield: they all rely on Afghanistan for much of their fresh water.

Afghanistans Qosh Tepa canal, being built to irrigate northern Afghanistan, will reduce water flow to Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan by up to 17 percent. Iran has claimed it is not getting its rightful share of water from Afghanistan in accordance with the 1973 Afghan-Iranian Helmand River Water Treaty, water that is needed for drinking water supply and agricultural irrigation.

Pakistan is concerned about Afghan plans to build dams on the Kunar and Kabul Rivers, as it is currently in a water dispute with India after Delhi suspended its participation in the Indus Waters Treaty in retaliation for what it alleges was a Pakistan-sponsored terrorist attack in Kashmir.

Trump probably assumes its just a matter of applying the right incentives, positive and negative, for the Kabul government to agree. But the Taliban have staked their legitimacy on the defeat of the U.S.-led NATO coalition and when they say No they mean No. And if Taliban leaders showed any receptiveness to Trumps demand, they would be attacked (literally) by local al-Qaeda and Islamic State forces whose ranks would grow with defections from the Taliban. But at least Taliban veterans could finally quit their boring office jobs and join the epic battle for Bagram Airfield.

Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State would then join the hardline Taliban faction based in Kandahar, and the good old days of the Taliban moderates, Mullah Yacoob, the defense minister, and Siraq Haqqani, the interior minister, would end. Then Washington would have more problems as al-Qaeda and the Islamic State would undertake self-defense strikes at U.S. assets and allies across the region.

The ensuing violence and disorder would increase the number of refugees and displaced persons in a region that cant afford to support them, and the migration would only benefit human trafficking networks that would weaken the sitting governments in Iran, Pakistan, and Central Asia, and be a burden on Turkey and governments in the South Caucasus.

The Foreign ministers of China, Russia, Pakistan and Iran met on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York and issued a joint statement that included, The four sides emphasized that the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Afghanistan should be respected, firmly opposed the reestablishment of military bases in and around Afghanistan by the countries responsible for the current situation [NATO], which is not conducive to regional peace and security.

Trump should leave well enough alone.

The U.S. is busily expending its scarce munitions supporting Israel and Ukraine, and may be in a pre-war position in Venezuela and the South China Sea. U.S. credibility is down after it failed to respond to the Israeli attack on Qatar, a formal ally, and even suggested ideas like retaking the airbase because we built it as Trump claims (the Soviets built it), and because then-President Joe Biden ordered the total disaster withdrawal from Afghanistan, it looks foolish.

If the U.S. attempts to retake Bagram Airfield, it will then have something in common with the British Empire: they were both run out of Afghanistan twice.

By James Durso for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
Colin Farrell has revealed The Batman Part II is "deeper" and "scarier" than the first film.

Colin Farrell has opened up about his role in the second The Batman film

The actor made his debut at villain The Penguin in the 2022 blockbuster - which featured Robert Pattinson in the role of the Caped Crusader - but he only appeared in five scenes and Farrell has admitted his role in the follow-up is "even smaller".

He told The Hollywood Reporter: "Ive got an even smaller role in this one. But Im OK with that  Ive read the script, from start to finish, and I cant say much about it.

"But its deeper, scarier, the stakes are bigger. Im really excited to see it."

Despite only making a brief appearance in The Batman, Farrell was able to bring his character back in spin-off TV series The Penguin.

In the interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Farrell admitted landing the role was a dream come true for "that child in Dublin who used to draw Batman signals on his jeans" but he initially didn't understand director Matt Reeves' vision for the villain.

He explained: "I was so excited when I got the script and then I read it and was like Ive only got five scenes'. I didnt really get it either.

"I thought he was a bit silly, a bit of a putz ...

"Ill never forget it. Matt went: 'Come in, come in.' And he opened up his laptop and showed it [a visual mock-up of The Penguin's make-up] to me.

"The first time I saw it, the cogs crunched. Everything in the script became clear. Every little pockmark.

"The character was ferocious looking, but I could imagine every aspect of the characters life, even moving ones. It just gave me so much information."

Reeves is returning to direct the second film and he previously revealed the villain in The Batman Part II will be unlike any previously seen on screen.

The 59-year-old director also told Variety the upcoming movies story will shift its focus towards its hero Bruce Wayne, who will again be played by Robert, 39, after the first instalment placed greater emphasis on Batmans early years as Gothams masked vigilante.

The film is due to begin filming in spring 2026, with a theatrical release planned for October 2027.

Reeves said: In a lot of the other films, which I love, once you get past the origin tale, which we didnt quite do, but we did something that referred to his origins, then you start telling the Rogues Gallery story and that characters sort of arch.

"But I never wanted to lose Robert at the center of these stories, and so that is really what we set our aim on."

Speaking about how the sequels approach shaped the choice of villain, Matt added: The antagonist for The Batman Part II has never really been done in a movie before."

He said secrecy around the project is paramount, revealing: "We put (the script) into a secret pouch that literally has a lock on it with a code.

"Robert was in New York at the time, and everything is high security."
Russias Arctic LNG 2 project is rapidly transforming from a sanctioned stalemate into a strategic lifeline for Chinas energy security. Despite years of delays, Western sanctions, and logistical hurdles, the venture has begun delivering liquefied natural gas to Chinese terminals via the Northern Sea Routemarking a pivotal shift in global energy flows.

Arctic LNG 2, Russias flagship liquefied natural gas development on the Gydan Peninsula (the West Siberian Coast in the Kara Sea), was designed to produce nearly 20 million tons of LNG annually (provided all three planned processing units are in operation), primarily for export to Asian markets. The project is operated by the Russian publicly traded private company Novatek (60% ownership) with international partners (TotalEnergies (France), CNPC (China), CNOOC (China) and a Japanese consortium (Mitsui + JOGMEC), holding 10% each). The construction of the project has suffered multiple delays, with the first production line Train 1 (out of 3 planned) completed only in 2024, following an almost three-year-long delay. Train 2 was launched this September (despite difficulties in construction after the EU/US banned the export of technology and equipment), seeing its first ever loading on September 22. The original estimated cost was around $25 billion for all three units.

Related: EU and NATO Consider Denying Russia Baltic Access



The venture has been a key target of U.S. and EU sanctions as the Russia-Ukraine conflict unraveled in February 2022, with Western governments seeking to block Moscow from financing its war through energy exports. The restrictions left early cargoes stranded and the commercial launch stalled for more than a year. However, in a notable shift, China began receiving shipments in late August 2025 and these flows quickly gathered pace, with six cargoes having discharged by late September.

China began importing LNG from Russias sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 project on August 28, when the Arctic Mulan LNG carrier discharged 35 kt at Beihai after an STS transfer from the Christophe de Margerie in Kamchatka. The delivery came days before a meeting between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit.

In September, five more cargoes of 75 kt each arrived: Voskhod (Sept 6), Zarya (Sept 9), Iris (Sept 16), and Buran (Sept 20), followed by another Arctic Mulan smaller load (35 kt, Sept 22). Several tankers  including the Iris, Voskhod, and Zarya  had already loaded at Gydan in June and July but remained idle until Beijing gave the green light to sail. In total, 370 kt reached Beihai within a month. Meanwhile, the La Perouse (75 kt) departed Gydan on August 27 and by late September was still off southern Africa en route to China. On September 22, the Christophe de Margerie began loading at Arctic LNG 2s new Train 2, signaling continued expansion despite sanctions.

Total imports to China from the Arctic LNG 2 project have already surpassed 370 kt of LNG since late August, and China is set to receive at least 150 kt more in the near future. This marks Beijing's swift transition from not importing any Arctic LNG 2 to becoming its main (and only) outlet.

Motivation. The sudden move by China to finally purchase sanctioned Russian LNG is mostly driven by its rapidly aggravating relations with the United States. In 2025, the two nations have been entrenched in a deepening trade war: Washington has reimposed sweeping tariffs on Chinese goods (up to 125%, cutting them to 10% in an awkward trade truce), while Beijing retaliated by raising tariffs on U.S. LNG imports (to 15%), effectively shutting them out of its market. This confrontation has eroded any incentive for China to comply with U.S. sanctions.

At the same time, China has calculated that U.S. policy toward sanction enforcement is inconsistent. While Washington loudly warns of significant sanctions risk, enforcement against China has been muted, with critics inside the U.S. itself accusing the Trump administration of giving Beijing a free pass.

Besides, the economics are compelling: with most Western buyers out of the market, Russian LNG comes at a discount, offering Beijing long-term supplies on favorable terms. On top of this, Novatek (the projects operator) has taken on the task of transporting LNG to the Beihai terminal using its own sanctioned tankers, shouldering the freight, insurance, and sanctions risks itself.

Additional incentives lie in Chinas own stake: state companies CNPC and CNOOC together hold 20% of Arctic LNG 2, giving Beijing a direct interest in seeing the project succeed. The recent new impetus given to Chinese-Russian energy ties reinforces this trend. After years of hesitation, Russia and China finally signed a legally binding agreement to build the long-delayed Power of Siberia 2 pipeline in early September, a project that had been mulled for nearly a decade.

Risks. By importing LNG from Russias sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 project, PipeChina exposes itself to serious sanctions risks. The most pressing threat comes from U.S. secondary sanctions, which could cut the company off from dollar transactions, restrict access to global financial markets, or bar it from sourcing American technology. Meanwhile, the European dimension is irrelevant. After TotalEnergies, a 10% stakeholder, declared force majeure following the war (despite keeping its shareholding), Europe effectively disengaged from the project. European banks and insurers no longer service Arctic LNG 2, the shipping route bypasses European waters, and the sole end buyer is in Asia  meaning EU sanctions carry little practical weight.

PipeChinas main buffer is that Novatek handles shipping with its own fleet, sparing Chinese firms from arranging vessels, insurance, or dollar-based trade finance. This reduces direct exposure to Western service providers, but risks remain. If PipeChina were explicitly named in sanctions advisories, it could face long-term difficulties in global finance or technology procurement. That risk is reflected in its measured approach: it has dedicated only the Beihai terminal to receive Arctic LNG 2 cargoes, signaling that while it values this new trade partnership, it prefers to ring-fence potential fallout so that any potential sanctions would be confined to a single terminal.

Route. The Northern Sea Route (NSR) is the Arctic shipping corridor that runs along Russias northern coast from the Barents Sea to the Bering Strait. For Arctic LNG 2, it is its export lifeline: ice-class LNG tankers load gas at Gydan and then sail east along the NSR to Asia, or take the longer Cape route around Europe and Africa. Compared to the traditional Suez Canal route, the NSR can cut the voyage to Asian markets by nearly 45-50%, reducing sailing time from about 35-40 days to just 2025 days in summer months. This efficiency makes Arctic LNG exports competitive despite sanctions and logistical hurdles.

For China, the NSR is both a strategic opportunity and a calculated risk. The Arctic route brings Russian LNG closer to Chinese terminals like Beihai, strengthening Beijings energy security and diversifying supply routes away from chokepoints such as the Strait of Malacca. China has long promoted the Polar Silk Road concept, and accepting Arctic LNG 2 cargoes via the NSR aligns with its broader strategy of integrating Arctic shipping into its Belt and Road Initiative.

Crucially, because the NSR runs entirely through Russian territorial waters, vessels do not have to cross other states borders before reaching the Pacific, eliminating potential exposure to foreign port restrictions or naval chokepoints. The difference is clear in practice: the Burans direct voyage from Arctic LNG 2 to Beihai via the NSR took just 24 days, while the La Perouse, which departed Gydan on August 27 and is taking the longer route around the Cape of Good Hope coast, will take almost a month more. On the other hand, the NSR depends heavily on seasonal navigability and the availability of Russias icebreaking fleet. However, in case the gas carriers are Arc7 Arctic class vessels, i.e. they are capable of navigating through ice-covered sea waters all-year round, theres virtually no limitations in how much LNG could Novatek deliver to China.

Tankers. Novateks ability to deliver LNG year-round from its Arctic LNG 2 project depends on a fleet of ARC7 ice-class LNG carriers, specially designed to operate through the NSR in harsh ice conditions. Novatek and its project partners have ordered 15 Arc7 ice-class LNG tankers (at the Zvezda shipyard) specifically for the Arctic LNG 2 project. At present, only a handful of these vessels are operational or nearly ready.

The Aleksey Kosygin (with an estimated capacity of around 73,000 tonnes of LNG) is Russias first domestically built Arc7 ice-class LNG carrier, designed specifically to operate year-round along the Northern Sea Route. The vessel is currently undergoing sea trials and is expected to join Novateks dedicated Arctic LNG 2 fleet by the end of 2025. Its entry into service would mark an important milestone for Russias shipbuilding sector, which has struggled to replace foreign-built Arc7 carriers after Western sanctions cut off access to South Korean shipyards and key European technology.

The Sergei Witte is the second LNG carrier built at Russias Zvezda shipyard and intended for Novateks Arctic LNG 2 project, with a gross tonnage of about 75 kt. It has already been moved under its own power within the shipyards harbor, suggesting that construction is in advanced stages. While it is not yet clear when the ship will be fully ready to operate, it is possible that it will join Novateks list of available tankers in 2026 as part of the Arctic LNG 2 fleet. If commissioned, it would become the second domestically produced Russian Arc7 ice-class LNG carrier, after Aleksey Kosygin.

At present, the only Arc7-class vessel operating for Arctic LNG 2 is the Christophe de Margerie, built in 2016 at Daewoo Shipbuilding in South Korea and originally dedicated to the Yamal LNG project. With China emerging as the sole buyer of Arctic LNG 2 cargoes in August 2025, Novatek reassigned the Christophe de Margerie to support these deliveries until new Arc7 tankers under construction at Russias Zvezda shipyard are completed. Once the Aleksey Kosygin enters service  alongside the future Zvezda-built fleet  Novatek will be better positioned to overcome its current shipping bottleneck and sustain year-round exports from the Gydan Peninsula.

In the absence of other Arc7s, Novatek has relied on a group of sanctioned vessels  including the Buran, Zarya, Voskhod, and Iris. These are ice-strengthened or ice-reinforced (Arc4) vessels, meaning they can handle some ice conditions but are not capable of independent, year-round navigation in the Arctic. Their operations are effectively limited to the navigation season of the Northern Sea Route, typically from April to October, when ice conditions are less severe. Outside this window, they cannot guarantee safe passage without icebreaker assistance, making them a stopgap solution until more Arc7 vessels are delivered.

Outlook. With the second train now online, Arctic LNG 2s nameplate capacity has expanded significantly. Each unit is designed to produce around 6.6 million mtpa, meaning two trains bring the plants theoretical capacity to about 13.2 Mtpa. The start of Train 2 removes a production bottleneck and allows more LNG to be offered to Chinese buyers, provided that shipping and sales logistics can keep pace. According to Kpler data, the Arc7 ice-class carrier Christophe de Margerie has already berthed at Train 2, confirming that the infrastructure is ready for liquefaction and loading.

The shipping side, however, remains the projects Achilles heel. The shortage of Arc7 ice-class carriers is the single biggest constraint holding back year-round exports, limiting flows eastward even as production capacity grows. In September, China imported about 325 kt of liquefied gas from Arctic LNG 2, helped by the fact that three vessels had been loaded as early as June and July but only allowed to sail later. With the current fleet  including only one operational Arc7  Novatek can realistically manage around three cargoes a month, or roughly 1 million tonnes delivered to China between late August and the end of 2025. Maintaining this pace in 2026 would suggest an annual export volume of about 2.5 million tonnes.

Fleet additions could improve this picture. The Aleksey Kosygin (Russias first domestically built Arc7) is undergoing trial voyages near the Russian Far East and could join the Arctic LNG 2 fleet next year. With a capacity of about 75 kt tonnes per voyage, it could contribute an extra 0.5 mtpa. The Sergei Witte, another Arc7 under construction at the Zvezda shipyard, has already moved under its own power within the yards harbor  a sign of advanced readiness. If it enters service in 2026, it too could add about 0.5 mtpa.

Even with both new Arc7s, the fleets total annual capacity would rise only to 33.5 million tonnes, well below the output potential of Train 1 alone at 6.6 Mtpa. This imbalance means Novatek has little immediate incentive to fully utilize Train 2. In practice, each additional 75 kt-class tanker contributes about 0.5 mtpa in delivery capacity, implying that six to seven more Arc7s would need to enter service before the second trains output could be consistently absorbed by the market.

By Natalia Katona for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
Tsahkna also noted that US President Donald Trump's inconsistent policies towards NATO are inadvertently contributing to greater EU unity in increasing defense spending and adopting a more forceful defense posture, while Hungarian leader Viktor Orban's ability to impede European support for Ukraine is eroding.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stated that Russia's aggression is consolidating European unity and determination to take unified action against future provocations, despite the Kremlin's attempts to sow fear and dissension.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to take meaningful steps towards a durable resolution of the Russia-Ukraine war.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during his recent meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, called on the Kremlin to take meaningful steps toward a durable resolution of the Russia-Ukraine war.

Estonias Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, during a September 24 appearance at Columbia Universitys Harriman Institute, said no one should be holding their breath waiting for Russia to make sincere moves to stop the bloodshed in Ukraine. The war, he suggested, acts as the glue that keeps Vladimir Putins regime together.

Putin is a warlord. He is fighting for his life, for his system, Tsahkna stated. His peace is more war.

The clearest way to get Putin to stop is for the European Union and United States to take well-coordinated and resolute action to push Putin into a corner, he said.

Estonias message about Russias implacable aggression has been consistent for decades. But it has only recently started gaining traction in all corners of the EU. Tsahkna said he was pleased to see at the UN General Assembly a growing awareness of the global security threat posed by Russian aggression, not just among European states, but also among those on other continents.

The Kremlins confrontational tactics, highlighted by recent drone and military jet incursions into NATO member states airspace, including Poland and Estonia, are intended by the Kremlin to sow fear and dissension, Tsahkna said. Those sentiments were echoed by Danish officials following a coordinated drone incident September 24 that closed several Danish airports. Many observers suspect Russia was behind the incident, although there is no conclusive evidence connecting Moscow to the episode.

The aim of these [incidents] is to create fear, division and make us feel afraid, Danish Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard told journalists.

Tsahkna confirmed that fear about Russian aggression is real and spreading. But he emphasized it is having the opposite of the Kremlins intended effect. Instead of widening divisions, fear is acting as a galvanizing force, prompting European states to take the Russian threat more seriously, and fostering greater determination to take robust and unified action to any potential future provocation.

Next time, well shoot them down, he said, referring to a potential, future violation of NATO airspace.

US President Donald Trumps inconsistent policies towards NATO and Russia are also helping to forge greater EU unity to increase defense spending and assume a more forceful defense posture, Tsahkna said. He admitted that many European states had acted like lazy cats since the end of the Cold War, overly depending on the United States to ensure continental security. Now, EU states are rapidly building up their own capacity. Europe has lots of resources, he said.

A significant hike in defense spending is causing some budgetary pain for Estonians, but citizens remain acutely aware of the legacy of the Soviet annexation in 1940 and prefer paying high taxes to the prospect of enduring another era of terror, Tsahkna said.

The Estonian foreign minister described Hungarian leader Viktor Orban as an impediment to the provision of more robust European support for Ukraine, as well as efforts to confront Russian aggression. But Orbans blocking ability is eroding, he said.

Were finding more and more ways  to act, Tsahkna said.

By Eurasianet.org

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
Declining revenues from oil and gas amid lower prices this year have prompted the Algerian government to consider a bond issue to raise the equivalent of $2.3 billion.

Algerias government plans a seven-year Islamic bond issue, the so-called sukuk, of 297 billion Algerian dinars, or $2.3 billion, broadcaster Asharq TV reports, as quoted by Bloomberg.

The issue will be offered to Algerian nationals in and outside Algeria; foreigners are not allowed in the subscription period beginning in early November.

Algeria, an OPEC member and one of the eight OPEC+ producers that are currently rolling back their production cuts, has seen its deficit widen this year amid falling revenues from oil and gas and increased public spending.

Declining hydrocarbon revenues combined with increased public spending significantly widened the fiscal deficit and depleted available fiscal buffers, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said earlier this month in a report on Algerias economy.

The drop in energy exports and increased imports have reversed the current account surplus into a modest deficit, according to the IMF.

While the easing of the OPEC+ groups production cuts is expected to stabilize hydrocarbon activity in Algeria, falling oil and gas prices compared to 2024 limit the upside for additional Algerian oil production.

Moreover, global uncertainty continues to weigh on prospects and could constrain public investment and exports and put pressure on fiscal revenues, the IMF noted.

The current account deficit is projected to widen further, the fund said.

With the fiscal buffers depleted, large fiscal deficits pose significant financing and debt challenges, warranting urgent policy adjustment, the IMF added.

Algeria is not the only OPEC producer to have tapped the debt markets this year.

Saudi Arabia, OPECs top producer and the worlds biggest crude exporter, has been boosting debt issuances by the government and Aramco as lower oil prices have hurt both public finances and the state oil giants balance sheet.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
The export availability of crude oil from Iraqs semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan continues to increase after the pipeline from northern Iraq to the Turkish Mediterranean coast resumed flows on Saturday, one of the foreign companies operating in Kurdistan said on Monday.

UK-listed Gulf Keystone Petroleum confirmed that crude oil exports from its operated Shaikan field in Kurdistan via the Iraq-Turkiye Pipeline commenced on Saturday, September 27, 2025.

Export volumes are expected to reach full capacity in the next few days based on the continued ramp up of pipeline availability, Gulf Keystone added.

Gulf Keystone is one of eight companies that last week signed agreements with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the Federal Government of Iraq to enable the restart of international crude exports from Kurdistan.

This agreement paved to way to the restart of exports from Kurdistan, which were 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.

The federal government in Baghdad and the regional Kurdish government in Erbil squabbled for more than two years over who should be responsible for the oil exports and the subsequent revenue distribution.

Under the agreement, hailed as historic by Iraqs federal government, KRG will deliver the crude to Iraqi state marketing company SOMO. Kurdistan is also entitled to keep 50,000 barrels per day (bpd) to use for local consumption.

The companies will deliver 180,000 to 190,000 bpd to the Ministry of Oil and reserve 50,000 bpd for the operation of domestic refineries, Iraqs Oil Minister Hayyan Abdul Ghani told the Iraqi News Agency (INA) this weekend.

There are clear indications from the Ministry of Oil, the North Oil Company complexes, the technical department at the ministry's headquarters, and the Oil Marketing Company that there is an increase in the levels of oil reaching the tanks of the port of Ceyhan, INA quoted Abdul Ghani as saying.

The restart of Kurdistans crude exports weighed on oil prices, which dipped by 2% early on Monday.

By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
Oil India has made the first-ever natural discovery in the Andaman Sea, which is also the first discovery of any hydrocarbons in the basin. The size of the discovery, containing 87% methane, is yet to be established, but the companys shares jumped by over 3% following the news.

Oil India had drilled two exploration wells in the shallow-water field it was exploring, and struck gas in the second one, it said in a regulatory filing.

The discovery is a testament to the capability of Indian exploration effortsthis is the first such reported hydrocarbon occurrence in the ongoing Andaman campaign and could shape future development strategy, a company spokesman said.

India covers about 50% of its natural gas needs with domestic supply and the rest is imported from the United States, the UAE, and Qatar in liquefied form. This is a rather significant dependence on imports, although not as high as Indias oil dependence, and the country has been seeking ways to reduce it. The government of Narendra Modi has set a target for boosting the use of natural gas for power generation to 15% by 2030. Currently, the share of natural gas in power generation is a mere 6%.

The Andaman Sea basin, Indian media recall, is part of a larger geological system that is believed to be quite rich in hydrocarbons. Discoveries have been made in other parts of that system, off the coasts of Myanmar and Indonesia.

Meanwhile, however, India is planning a boost to its LNG import terminal capacity. By 2030, there should be two more import terminals completed, raising the countrys total capacity by 275 to a total of 66.7 million tons per year, oil minister Hardeel Singh Puri said earlier this month, as quoted by Reuters. The publication noted that India was the fourth-largest gas importer in the world.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
Oil prices retreated in early Asian trade on Monday, edging lower after the resumption of crude exports from Iraqs Kurdistan region and growing expectations that OPEC+ will approve another production increase in November. The developments added to concerns of rising supply in an already delicate market.

At the time of writing, WTI crude was trading at $65.16 per barrel, down 0.85%, while Brent crude was priced at $69.61 per barrel, a decline of 0.74%. Both benchmarks gave back ground after strong gains last week, when escalating geopolitical risks briefly lifted sentiment.

For the first time in more than two years, oil began flowing again through the pipeline connecting northern Iraqs Kurdistan region to Turkeys Ceyhan port. The restart follows an interim deal between Iraqs federal government, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), and international oil producers operating in the region.

According to Iraqs oil ministry, the agreement initially allows 180,000190,000 barrels per day (bpd) to reach international markets, with volumes potentially climbing to 230,000 bpd in the coming months. The United States had pressed for a resolution to the long-running dispute, viewing Kurdish exports as a stabilizing factor in global oil supply chains.

The restart is particularly significant given its timing, with OPEC+ members already weighing additional output increases.

OPEC+ is expected to move ahead with another modest supply hike when it convenes on Sunday. Sources close to the talks suggest the group could approve at least 137,000 bpd of additional production.

The recent oil price rally has only strengthened OPEC+s incentive to restore more volumes, with the coalition eager to secure market share while avoiding accusations of artificially constraining supply. Still, despite planned hikes, the group has consistently produced nearly 500,000 bpd below its collective target, underscoring structural challenges that limit its capacity to quickly add barrels.

While supply concerns are dominating oil markets at the start of the week, geopolitical risk has been pushing oil prices higher. Last week, crude prices recorded their strongest weekly gains since June, with Brent and WTI rising more than 4%. That rally was largely driven by reports of Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, which temporarily curtailed Moscows fuel exports.

The weekend brought renewed conflict as Russia launched heavy bombardments on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities. Though the attacks have yet to materially disrupt energy flows, traders remain alert to the possibility of further escalation.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
Russia expects to sell natural gas to China at significantly lower prices than it charges in Europe and Turkey, according to a draft outlook from the Economy Ministry tied to the 2026 budget. The document, seen by Bloomberg, projects that Chinese deliveries will be priced at least 27 percent below European and Turkish levels over the next three years, with the gap widening to 38 percent in 2025.

The numbers lay bare the price Moscow is paying for its eastward pivot. With Europe largely off the table, Russia has funneled volumes into the Power of Siberia line and is pushing to seal the long-delayed Power of Siberia-2, a 50-billion-cubic-meter conduit into northern China. The pipelines guarantee an outlet for Siberian gas, but they also cement steep discounts compared with what Europe once paid.

Statements by Russian officials have echoed this direction.

Gazprom chief Alexei Miller has publicly acknowledged that gas sales to China would come at lower prices than to Europe, while President Vladimir Putin described the arrangement as giving China a competitive advantage. Chinese commentary has used more guarded language, referring to reasonable market prices and competitive terms, but reports in outlets such as Guancha and Cnyes confirm that Russia has offered Beijing a cheaper deal than its Western customers.

The strategy reflects Beijings leverage as the dominant buyer willing to absorb large Russian volumes. For Moscow, it ensures long-term outlets for gas even if it means reduced revenue per unit.

The spread between Chinese and European prices could have significant implications for Gazproms finances and for regional LNG dynamics, as discounted pipeline gas strengthens Chinas hand in negotiating spot cargoes from other suppliers.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was expected to deliver a defiant message to the UN on Friday against a Palestinian state, but faces rare pressure from US President Donald Trump who seeks a deal on Gaza.

Netanyahu will address the United Nations General Assembly days after France, Britain and several other Western powers took the landmark step of recognizing a state of Palestine, acting out of exasperation over Israel's relentless two-year offensive in Gaza.

The longest-serving prime minister in Israeli history has long rejected a Palestinian state and his far-right allies have mulled annexing the West Bank to kill any real prospect of an independent Palestine.

But Trump, normally a staunch ally of Netanyahu, has warned against annexation as he pitches a peace plan on Gaza that would include the disarmament of Hamas, whose grisly October 7, 2023 attack triggered the Israeli reprisals.

"I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank," Trump told reporters at the White House. "No, I will not allow it. It's not going to happen."

Trump spoke on Thursday by telephone with Netanyahu, who is expected to head Monday to Washington.

With Netanyahu facing an International Criminal Court arrest warrant over war crime allegations, including using starvation as a weapon, the Israeli prime minister took an unusual route to New York that included flying over the narrow Strait of Gibraltar.

Steve Witkoff, Trump's real-estate friend turned global negotiator, was seen entering the tightly guarded luxury hotel where Netanyahu was staying in Manhattan.

Around 20 protesters and a similar number of Netanyahu supporters were spotted outside.

"War criminals don't deserve any peace of mind. They don't deserve any sleep," said Andrea Mirez, a young woman among the protesters.

Activists have planned a march from Times Square on Friday that will call for Netanyahu's arrest, to coincide with his speech.

Israel's offensive has killed more than 65,500 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to health ministry figures in the Hamas-run territory that the United Nations considers reliable.

The October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas killed 1,219 people, also mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally from Israeli official figures, in the deadliest day in the country's history.

French President Emmanuel Macron called a special summit Monday that led to recognition of a Palestinian state by France, Britain, Canada, Australia and Portugal, among other Western powers.

Western governments said they were frustrated by Israel, which in recent weeks pressed ahead with a massive new offensive in Gaza, where virtually the entire population has already been displaced.

"What is happening in Gaza is indefensible, it is inhumane, it is utterly unjustifiable and it must end now," British Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy told the General Assembly on Thursday.

Netanyahu has lashed out at Western critics and at the United Nations, which he calls biased. He has also not been afraid to defy Trump, pursuing military action in Iran, Qatar and Syria despite US diplomatic efforts.

"I think that Netanyahu's tone will be strident in the extreme," said Richard Gowan, who follows the United Nations for the International Crisis Group.

"He is not coming to the UN to defend or explain his campaign in Gaza. He is coming to castigate the UN as an institution for its failure to back Israel, and in particular to condemn those countries that recognized Palestine earlier this week," he said.

Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas addressed the General Assembly on Thursday by video after the United States took the rare step of refusing him a visa.

Abbas said there should be no future for Hamas, which is a rival to his Palestinian Authority, and condemned both the October 7 attacks and antisemitism.

Gowan doubted that Abbas's speech would affect Netanyahu.

"It is clear that Netanyahu is not just opposed to the idea of a Palestinian state run by Hamas, but to the basic idea of a Palestinian state, period," Gowan said.


By Taxpayers Association of Oregon

OregonWatchdog.com

Today, Monday September 29, is the day that the Oregon Senate is set to take a vote on HB 3991. This bill would raise the gas tax by 15% and raise the transit wage tax by 100% on your wages.

The tax would raise $587 million for the two year budget.

With no vote to spare for the Oregon Senate Democrat Majority, the health of State Senator Chris Gorsek, has delayed the vote two times this month. Now, sources confirm he is expected to show up to vote today.

Facing already passed the House, the tax bill will go to Governor Tina Koteks desk.

This gas tax/wage tax package will cost many families $300 in higher costs.

Already, discussions are underway to launch a citizen referendum rive to stop the tax by forcing a public vote by voters. Stay tuned.

 Help us spread the word. Contribute online at OregonWatchdog.com (learn about a Charitable Tax Deduction or Political Tax Credit options to promote liberty).


Senate Democrats Reject Road Maintenance Funding Without New Taxes, Deny Voters a Voice

By Oregon Senate Republican Leader Bruce Starr,

SALEM, Ore.  Today, every Senate Democrat voted to reject common-sense Republican amendments to Governor Tina Koteks $4.3 billion transportation tax hike (HB 3991). In response, Senate Republicans left the Senate floor in protest of a process that shuts out the voices of working Oregonians.

Senate Republicans offered two amendments before the final vote:

 The -9 amendment would have given ODOT flexibility to use the money it already has in the budget where it is needed most, such as plowing snow, repairing potholes, and maintaining guardrails.

 The -5 amendment would have referred Koteks tax hike to the people, allowing Oregonians the final say on whether to shoulder $4.3 billion in new taxes.

Democrats rejected both.

Democrats are so determined to pass a $4.3 billion tax hike that they wont even let Oregonians vote on it, said Senate Republican Leader Bruce Starr (R-Dundee). If theyre so proud of this plan, why not let the people decide? Over 5,000 Oregonians have already testified on this bill, and 95% opposed it. Their voices should matter. Instead, Democrats have shut them out. What are the Governor and her Democrat supermajority so afraid of?

Senate Republicans emphasized they are still willing to negotiate a bipartisan package that addresses Oregons transportation needs without further burdening families and businesses already struggling with high costs.

There is an offramp here, Starr continued. We can pause this reckless tax hike and come back to the table to deal with Oregons transportation problems responsibly. Republicans have solutions. Lets work together for Oregonians, not against them.

Senate Republicans will return to the floor to vote no on HB 3991, standing with the thousands of Oregonians who have demanded a better path forward.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Assembly formed by primordial peptides as observed by bright field microscopy. Credit: Frenkel-Pinter Lab

A new study from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences sheds light on one of life's greatest mysteries: why biology is based on a very specific set of amino acids, and in particular, why nature selected alpha amino acids as the foundation for proteins.

The research, led by Dr. Moran Frenkel-Pinter and her lab members Sarah Fisher and Yishi Ezerzer of the Institute of Chemistry and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology at the Hebrew University, explored the properties of depsipeptidessimple model peptide-like molecules that could have formed on early Earth through natural processes.

Unlike modern peptides, depsipeptides contain a mix of ester and amide bonds, making them easier to form under prebiotic conditions but less stable over time.

Every living organism on Earth forms its proteins from the exact same set of 20 amino acids. Why that specific set? The new study suggests that life's dependence on these 20 amino acids is no accident. A key question has puzzled scientists for decades: why did life favor alpha amino acids over their beta or gamma counterparts, even though all were abundant on prebiotic Earth?

To test whether molecular assembly played a role, Frenkel-Pinter and her team synthesized depsipeptides using a wide range of hydroxy and amino acids, then observed their ability to self-assemble in solution.

The results were striking. Depsipeptides built from alpha acids readily formed stable, droplet-like assemblies that persisted for weeks, even after freezing and thawing. In contrast, beta-based assemblies, if formed, phase-separated more quickly in solution and showed significantly lower physical stability. This difference, the researchers argue, could have been a decisive factor in the evolutionary "choice" of the alpha backbone.

"Self-assembly is one of life's most fundamental prerequisites," said Dr. Frenkel-Pinter. "Our findings suggest that the superior ability of alpha-based proto-peptides to form stable compartments may have given them a crucial evolutionary edge, setting the stage for the protein backbones we see in biology today."

"The question of why evolution handpicked a specific set of amino acids has remained a mystery for a very long time. Taking even a single step toward answering this long-lasting question is remarkable, and it is a privilege to contribute to this pursuit," said Ezerzer, a master's student co-leading this project together with Fisher.

"We demonstrate here, for the first time, the ability of depsipeptides to self-assemble, similar to modern peptides. While these findings are a breakthrough in the field of chemical evolution, they may also have future implications for other fields such as the pharmaceutical industry," said Fisher.

The study marks the first time that the assembly properties of alpha and beta proto-peptide backbones have been directly compared. By demonstrating that stability at the molecular level could have influenced chemical evolution, the research proposes an assembly-driven selection model for life's earliest building blocks.

These findings add a new dimension to origins-of-life studies, suggesting that it was not just chemical reactivity but also the capacity for long-lasting self-assembly that shaped the transition from prebiotic chemistry to 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:

A paw print in baked mud at Joshua Tree National Park, likely from a coyote. Credit: Brad Sutton/National Park Service

Your neighborhood is home to all sorts of amazing animals, from raccoons, squirrels and skunks to birds, bugs and snails. Even if you don't see them, most of these creatures are leaving evidence of their activities all around you.

Paw prints in different shapes and sizes are clues to the visitors who pass through. The shapes of tunnels and mounds in your yard carry the mark of their builders.

Even the stuff animals leave behind, whether poop or skeletons, tells you something about the wilder side of the neighborhood.

I'm a zoologist and director of the Hefner Museum of Natural History at Miami University of Ohio, where we work with all kinds of wildlife specimens. With a little practice, you'll soon notice a lot more evidence of your neighborhood friends when you step outside.

Tree squirrels can excavate small holes all over a yard to hide seeds and nuts or when searching for them. Ground squirrels also create burrows. Credit: Snowmanradio/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY

What makes those animal tracks?

You can learn a lot from a nice, crisp paw print.

The dog family, including coyotes and foxes, can be differentiated from the cat family by the shape of their palm padstriangular for dogs, two lobes at the peak for cats.

Both opossums and raccoons leave prints that look like those of a tiny human, but the opossum thumb is held at nearly right angles to the rest of the fingers.

Not all prints are so clear, however.

Invasive rats and native squirrels have prints that often look pretty similar to each other. Water erosion of a skunk print left in mud might connect the toe tips to the palm, making it look more like a raccoon. And prints left in winter slush by the smallest dog in the neighborhood can grow through freezing and thawing to proportions that make people wonder whether wolves have returned to their former haunts.

There are good reference books where you can learn more about track analysis, and it can be fun to go down the rabbit hole of collecting and studying prints.

Examples of many types of animal tracks found in the Northeast and other parts of North America. Credit: Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife

Clues from holes and other animal excavations

Often, it's easiest to figure out which animal left a paw print by correlating its tracks with other evidence.

If what look like squirrel prints lead to a hole in the ground, then it wasn't a tree squirrel. Stuff a handful of leaves or newspaper in the hole. If it gets pushed out during the day, the hole is probably inhabited by a ground squirrel, such as a chipmunk. But if the plug is pushed out at night, you probably have a rat.

I once noticed a faint trail in the soil near my porch. Using the hole-stuffing method, I determined that something spent most days under the wooden stairs that people constantly, and often loudly, traversed. When I was pretty sure my newly discovered neighbor was home, I used a mirror and flashlight to investigate the opening without exposing myself to a protective resident. Sure enough, there was a cute little skunk staring back at me.

Skunks, and many other local animals, often leave obvious excavations in lawns.

Lawns are biological deserts where few species can live, but those that can survive there often reach high numbers. Lawn grubsthe milk-white, C-shaped caterpillars of a few beetle speciesparticularly love the lack of competition found in a carpet of grass. Polka dots of dead thatch are one sign of these grubs, but if you have a biodiverse neighborhood, many animals will consume this high-calorie treat before you ever notice them.

Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly.

Skunks and raccoons will dig up each grub individually, leaving a small hole that healthy grass can refill quickly. Molesfist-size insectivores more closely related to bats than rodentslive underground where they virtually swim through soil, leaving slightly raised trails visible in mowed lawns. In spring and fall, moles make volcano-shaped mounds with no visible opening.

Gophers, on the other hand, are herbivorous rodentsthey eat plants rather than grubs. They also leave tunnels and mounds, but the tunnels are usually very visible and their mounds are crescent-shaped, often with a visible opening.

Voles, not to be confused with moles, are also herbivorous rodents. They're mouse-size, with tiny, furry ears and short tails. They may dig small holes, but more obviously they leave thatch-lined runways on the surface.

Even the cicadas singing loudly in the trees in my yard this summer left pinky-size holes in the ground as they emerged 17 years after hatching. The boom-bust cycle of cicadas has brought more moles, squirrels and birds to my neighborhood this year to munch on the nutrient-rich insects.

The evidence left behind, including poop

Where there is food, there is poop. Though the subject of feces is taboo among polite human society, it's a fundamental, though understudied, communication method for many mammals.

Think about a dog marking its territory. Sometimes it seems they can't go for more than a few feet before reading the pee-mail left on every prominent post. Urine, feces and gland oil act like social media posts, conveying each individual's identity, health, height and reproductive status, the availability and quality of prey, and the extent of their territory.

Though most of the smell communication is lost on humans, the contents of the feces can tell a lot about the inhabitants of a neighborhood.

Domestic dog poop is usually just a big, homogeneous lump because they eat processed food, but wild canid feces is often full of bones and fur. Coyote feces is usually lumpy and larger than fox feces, which has pointy ends. Once it has weathered a bit, it's easy to break open to find identifiable remains such as vole, rat and rabbit. Use care when inspecting feces, since it may transmit parasites.

Depending on time of year, the contents and shape of feces can vary considerably. Raccoon feces lacks the pointy ends and is often filled with seeds, but wild canids may eat lots of seeds, too. Deer feces is usually small, fibrous pellets, but those pellets may form clumps.

If you are lucky, you might find a pellet of bone and fur regurgitated by an owl near the base of a tree. Carefully break it apart and there's a good chance you'll find the skull of a vole or rat.

Look closely at living and dead trees to find evidence of even smaller neighbors. A fine, uniform, granular sawdust pushed from tiny holes in bark can indicate beetle larvae feces, or "frass." A large mass of frass at the base of a tree likely indicates carpenter ants.

In contrast to dusty frass, aphids slurp sap so rich in sugar that their feces coats surrounding surfaces in, essentially, maple syrup.

All of these insects attract many species of birds. Woodpeckers are hard to miss as they loudly hammer holes into trees. But don't blame them for tree declinethey eat the things that are killing the tree.

Look for dead trees

Dead trees are a key feature of wildlife habitat, like a bus stop, and host different occupants throughout the day and over the year.

For example, a tree buzzing with cicadas in my yard this summer is quite healthy but has one big, dead branch that has been an important way station for wildlife over the past 20 years.

A decayed cavity at the base of the branch is polished smooth with the activity of generations of squirrels, while the tip is a favorite perch of all the neighborhood birds. By night, it is visited by a great horned owl, who, I somewhat sadly note, may be scanning for my porch skunk.

Decomposers: The neighborhood cleaning crew

This brings us to the decomposers. Animal carcasses are evidence of the neighborhood's wild population, too, but they typically don't last long. Insects make quick work of dead animals, often consuming the soft parts of a carcass before it is even noticed by humans.

Long after most activity around the carcass has ceased, exoskeletons left behind by the decomposers will remain in the soil. Dermestids, including the carpet beetles often found in our homes, leave fuzzy larval exoskeletons. Fly pupae look like brown pills. And sometimes adult carrion beetles keep a home underneath partially buried bones for years.

Earthworms, feasting on nutrient-soaked soil, may leave a squirt of mud like a string of hot glue, while ants will leave piles of uniformly sorted sand. Snails will visit carcasses periodically to eat the bones, leaving trails that sparkle like thin, impossibly long ribbons in the morning sun.

From snails to skunks, squirrels to cicadas, most of our neighbors are quiet and seldom interact with us, but they play important roles in the world.

As we get to know them better, through their digging, eating and decomposing, and sometimes by watching them in action, we can better understand the animals that make our own lives possible and, maybe, understand ourselves a little better, too.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
President Donald Trump said he will attend a meeting with hundreds of generals and admirals from across the world in the U.S. this week, confirming the event will resemble a "pep rally."

"It's really just a very nice meeting talking about how well we're doing militarily, talking about being in great shape, talking about a lot of good, positive things. It's just a good message," Trump told NBC News.

"We have some great people coming in and it's just an 'esprit de corps.' You know the expression 'esprit de corps'? That's all it's about. We're talking about what we're doing, what they're doing, and how we're doing," he added.

The event, which will take place in Virginia on Tuesday and was organized by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, had raised alarms among many because invitees were not informed about its purpose beforehand.

Trump, however, praised the plan, telling reporters last week he though it was "great." "Let him be friendly with the generals and admirals from all over the world," he said.

Hegseth is expected to underscore the importance of the "warrior ethos" and outline a new vision for the military. New readiness, fitness and grooming standards are also set to be presented in the meeting in Quantico.

"It's about getting the horses into the stable and whipping them into shape," an official told CNN last week. "This is a showcase for Hegseth to tell them: get on board, or potentially have your career shortened," the official added.

Originally published on Latin Times
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Multiple heat maps generated from sampled plastic data highlighting variations in plastic types around the island of Koh Tao. A Average total plastic count. B Average secondary MP. C Average total EPS. D Average secondary MEP (Source: ESRI, NASA, NGA, USGS, Tom Tom, FAO, NOAA). Credit: Environmental Monitoring and Assessment (2025). DOI: 10.1007/s10661-025-14354-2

Plastic pellets, bio-beads and other microplastics are polluting coastlines around the world, with new research showing sharp regional differences in the types and concentrations of plastic found.

The findings come from a study by the University of Portsmouth using data from the Big Microplastic Survey (BMS)one of the largest citizen science projects of its kindwhich analyzed 1,089 surveys carried out by volunteers across 39 countries between 2018 and 2024. The study, published in Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, examined nearly 59,000 pieces of plastic to map global patterns of coastal pollution.

The research revealed that nurdlespre-production plastic pelletswere the most common type of plastic recorded. The Netherlands reported the highest counts, with levels 14 times greater than the next worst-affected countryprimarily the result of a shipping container disaster. Bio-beads, which are widely used in wastewater treatment, were also heavily concentrated in the Netherlands and Honduras, with Britain ranking third, based on average counts per sample.

In contrast, secondary plasticsfragments that break down from larger itemswere more commonly found in Kenya and Honduras. Expanded polystyrene was particularly prevalent in Thailand, Indonesia and Portugal. Across all countries, white plastics dominated, followed by clear or opaque, blue and green.

Alongside the pollution data, the study demonstrated how citizen science can work on a global scale. There were more than 1,000 registrations to participate in the project from 66 countries, with Britain, the United States and Australia providing the highest numbers.

However, fewer than one in five registrants went on to submit data, underlining the challenges of sustaining volunteer engagement. Where projects did succeed, they were often driven by non-governmental organizations, which proved to be the most effective contributors and were frequently responsible for the bulk of surveys within their regions.

Lead author Dr. David Jones from the University of Portsmouth said, "Our results show that plastic pollution is not just a local problem, it's a global crisis, with different regions facing different challenges. Several thousand volunteers have taken part in the Big Microplastic Survey, which demonstrates the power of citizen science to gather data on a scale that traditional methods alone could never achieve."

The research highlights the growing importance of citizen science in supporting international efforts to tackle plastic pollution. In 2022, the United Nations Environment Assembly agreed to a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution, which calls on member states to improve monitoring and reporting. The treaty is still under negotiation.

Dr. Michelle Hale, Head of School of the Environment and Life Sciences at the University of Portsmouth, added, "While there are limitations to volunteer-collected data, citizen science can fill critical gaps, particularly in regions where resources for environmental monitoring are limited. It also helps build community engagementa vital step in tackling plastic pollution at its source."

The study concludes that combining citizen science with traditional scientific methods could offer the most effective approach to tracking the spread of microplastics and shaping policies to reduce them.

The University of Portsmouth is home to the Revolution Plastics Institute, which is dedicated to finding solutions that address plastic pollution and generating a globally-relevant community of plastics researchers.

The Institute aims to urgently confront the global plastics crisis through inclusive, solutions-focused research and innovation to support the transition to a sustainable plastics future. Projects span across all disciplines, combining creativity, research and innovation to address the impact of plastic.

More information: David M. Jones et al, The potential contribution of citizen science data in the study of coastal microplastic and mesoplastic distributions, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment (2025). DOI: 10.1007/s10661-025-14354-2
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Overview of the 10Be anomaly, clusters proximity to the solar system, and the associated supernova probability. Credit: Astronomy & Astrophysics (2025). DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202556253

Scientists trying to work out whether a star exploded and the resulting debris crashed into Earth 10 million years ago may be one step closer to solving the mystery. They discovered an unusual amount of Beryllium-10 (10Be) at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, which may be explained by a supernova, an exploding star.

Beryllium-10 is a long-lived radioisotope of beryllium that is formed when cosmic rays from outside our solar system strike atoms in Earth's atmosphere. Earlier this year, Dominik Koll at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf in Germany and his colleagues were looking for concentrations of the isotope in deep-ocean crusts to help date these layers of rock. They found a concentration that was much higher than they expected about 10 million years ago.

While several theories can explain the deposits, such as a shift in currents distributing 10Be away from the north and south poles, another group of scientists had a hunch that the cause was a massive star exploding near the sun.

To test this theory, Efrem Maconi at the University of Vienna in Austria and his colleagues traced the past orbits of the sun and 2,725 star clusters over 20 million years. They wanted to see if a supernova from one of these clusters could have occurred close enough to our planet (within 100 parsecs, or roughly 326 light-years) and at around the same time as the spike in 10Be in the ocean crusts.

The team's analysis found that the probability of a massive star exploding within 100 parsecs during the time of the 10Be spike is 68%. The chance of a blast happening much closer at around 35 parsecs (114 light-years) is 1%. They also identified 19 star clusters that each had more than 1% chance of producing at least one supernova within the 100 parsec range.

"Our results support the possibility of an SN (supernova) origin for the 10Be anomaly and highlight the importance of additional 10Be records from independent terrestrial archives to determine whether the anomaly is of astrophysical or terrestrial origin," wrote the scientists in their paper published in Astronomy & Astrophysics.

The researchers also pinpointed two possible sources of the massive star explosionASCC 20 and OCSN 61, two star clusters from the Orion star-forming region.

While the research provides strong support for the cosmic theory, the mystery remains unsolved. Scientists need to confirm the Beryllium-10 anomaly in other deep crusts around the world, which would suggest a single, universal cause such as a supernova. However, if the Pacific is the only place with the excess 10Be, it suggests a terrestrial cause, such as shifting currents.

Written for you by our author Paul Arnold, edited by Lisa Lock, and fact-checked and reviewed by Robert Eganthis article is the result of careful human work. We rely on readers like you to keep independent science journalism alive. If this reporting matters to you, please consider a donation (especially monthly). You'll get an ad-free account as a thank-you.

More information: E. Maconi et al, The late Miocene 10Be anomaly and the possibility of a supernova, Astronomy & Astrophysics (2025). DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202556253 Journal information: Astronomy & Astrophysics

 2025 Science X Network
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: energepic.com from Pexels

For years, I've puzzled over a question that seems to defy common sense: If stock markets are hitting records and tech innovation seems endless, why aren't companies pouring money back into new projects?

Yes, they're still investingbut the pace of business spending is slower than you'd expect, especially outside of AI.

And if you've noticed headlines about sluggish business spending even as corporate profits soar, you're not alone. It's a puzzle that's confounded economists, policymakers and investors for decades. Back in 1975, U.S. public companies reinvested an average of 25 cents for every dollar on their balance sheets. Today, that figure is closer to 12 cents.

In other words, corporate America is flush with cash, but it's surprisingly stingy about reinvesting in its own future. What happened?

I'm an economist, and my colleague Gustavo Grullon and I recently published a study in the Journal of Finance that turns the field's conventional wisdom on its head. Our research suggests the issue isn't cautious executives or jittery marketsit's about how economists have historically measured companies' incentives to invest in the first place.

Asking the wrong Q

For decades, economists have relied on a simple but appealing ratioTobin's Q, named after the famous economist James Tobinto gauge whether companies should ramp up investment.

They calculate this by dividing a company's market valuewhat it would take to purchase the firm outright with cashby its replacement value, or how much it would cost to rebuild the company from scratch. The result is called "Q." The higher the Q, the theory goes, the more incentive executives have to invest.

But reality hasn't conformed to fit the theory. Over the past half-century, Tobin's Q has gone up, yet investment rates have gone down sharply.

Why the disconnect? Our research points to one key culprit: excess capacity. Many U.S. companies already have more factories, machines or service capability than they can use. By not correcting for this issue, the traditional Tobin's Q will overstate the incentive that companies have to grow.

To see this, consider a commercial real estate company that owns a portfolio of office buildings. In recent years, with the rise of e-commerce and remote work, many of their properties have been running well below capacity. Now suppose a few new tenants start paying rent and begin absorbing a portion of that empty space. Stock prices will rise in response to seeing these new cash flows, which in turn will lead Q to rise.

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.

Traditionally, this increase in Q would suggest that it's a good time to invest in new buildingsbut the reality is quite different with idle capacity still in the system. Why pour money into building another office tower if existing ones still have empty floors?

This key idea is that what matters isn't the average value of all assetsit's the marginal value of adding one more dollar of investment. And because capacity utilization has been steadily eroding over the past half-century, many firms see little reason to invest.

That last point may come as a surprise, but the U.S. economy, with all its factories and offices, isn't nearly as abuzz with activity as it was after, say, World War II. Today, many sectors operate well below full throttle. This growing slack in the system over time helps explain why companies have pulled back on their rate of investment, even as profits and market values climb.

Why has capacity utilization fallen so much over the past half-century? It's not entirely clear, but what economists call "structural economic rigidities"things such as regulatory hurdles, labor market frictions or shifts in cost structureseem to be part of the answer. These factors can drag businesses into a state of chronic underuse, especially after recessions.

Why it matters

This isn't just an academic debate. The implications are profound, whether you closely follow Wall Street or just enjoy armchair economic policy debates. For one thing, this dynamic might help explain why tax cuts haven't spurred investment the way supporters have hoped.

Take the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which slashed the top corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% and introduced full expensing for equipment investments. Supporters promised a wave of new investment.

But when my colleague and I looked at the numbers, we found the opposite. In the four years before the tax cuts, publicly traded U.S. firms had an aggregate investment rate, including intangibles, of 13.9%. In the four years after the tax cut, the average investment rate fell to 12.4%in other words, no evidence of a bump.

Where did those liberated cash flows go? Instead of plowing this newfound cash after the tax cuts into new projects, many companies funneled it into stock buybacks and dividends.

In retrospect, this makes sense. If a company has excess capacity, the incentive to invest should be more muted, even if new machines are suddenly cheaper thanks to tax breaks. If the demand isn't there, why buy them?

Even with the most generous tax incentives, the core challenge remains: You can't force-feed investment into an economy already swimming in excess capacity. If companies don't see real, scalable demand, tax breaks alone aren't likely to unlock a new era of business spending.

That doesn't mean tax policy doesn't matterit does, especially for smaller firms with real growth prospects. But for the large, well-established firms that make up the lion's share of the economy, the bigger challenge is demand. Rather than trying to stimulate even more investment, policymakers should prioritize understanding why demand is sagging relative to supply and reducing economic rigidities where they can. That way, the capacity generated by new investment has somewhere useful to go.

More information: Gustavo Grullon et al, Excess Capacity, Marginal q, and Corporate Investment, The Journal of Finance (2025). DOI: 10.1111/jofi.13439 Journal information: Journal of Finance

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:

New UGA research suggests coyote populations stabilize faster than they can be reduced. Credit: University of Georgia

Trying to curb coyote populations may be a lost cause, according to a new University of Georgia study.

After careful counting of the animal across the Southeast, researchers found that Eastern coyote populations stabilize faster than they can be reduced.

"In general, predator populations are contentious to manage, but coyotes are a lot harder to manage than a lot of other predators due to their really unique, amazing ability to reproduce. They can bounce back very rapidly," said Heather Gaya, corresponding author of the study and a postdoctoral research associate in the Warnell School of Forestry.

The analysis suggests a need for alternatives when it comes to habitat management and biodiversity.

Coyotes may be more prevalent in wooded areas than previously thought

Using cameras, categorizing different howls and other biological elements, researchers quantified coyotes per square mile in the Savannah River Site and beyond in South Carolina.

They found between 45 and 50 coyotes every 38 square miles. That's more than one coyote per every square mile.

This finding was particularly surprising, the researchers said, because of where SRS is located. Coyotes typically favor open habitats, not forested areas.

"Coyotes have the ability to occupy and adapt to many different habitats, and SRS is apparently one that can sustain a lot of coyotes with enough prey and resources for a long time," said Gino D'Angelo, co-author of the study and an associate professor in the Warnell School.

The researchers found between 45 and 50 coyotes every 38 square miles. Thats more than one coyote per every square mile. Credit: University of Georgia

Part of what drives the coyotes' success is low competition from other species and lots of available prey.

"For over 75 years, we didn't have a lot of apex predators, so coyotes started to fill that void," D'Angelo said. "We had naive prey populations not ready for a predator at such a high abundance. That can have real dire effects on populations that aren't used to predatory pressure."

Population control is costly, unsustainable

The study also included an 18-year analysis of coyote populations and how they changed over time.

Researchers found that despite repeated removal efforts over the years, coyote totals reboundedand sometimes even spikedshortly after.

Coyotes from neighboring states also made their way into areas with reduced coyote numbers.

These control methods cost $30,000 to $50,000. So the researchers recommended investing in other solutions. That could look like adjusting hunting regulations or enhancing habitats to support other species under continued coyote presence.

"The cost and man-hours that it takes to actively remove those coyotes is something that's just not sustainable or not practical on a large scale," Gaya said. "I think that when we're managing coyotes, we have to consider if it's worth it to put in all of that time and money for what seems to be short-term gain. And if we're not able to sustain that in the long term, maybe we should be thinking about other options."

This research was also co-authored by UGA alumnus Jordan Youngmann, an associate research scientist for the Odum School of Ecology, and Stacey Lance and John Kilgo.

More information: Heather E. Gaya et al, An integrated population model of a highdensity coyote population in South Carolina, USA, Ecosphere (2025). DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.70339 Journal information: Ecosphere
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:

Since the late 1970s, studies conducted in the Northern Hemisphere have suggested that magnetic particles ejected by the sun may have an impact on human health . Credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

An article published in the journal Communications Medicine points to a correlation between disturbances in Earth's magnetic field resulting from solar storms and an increase in the frequency of heart attacks, especially among women.

The authors reached this conclusion by analyzing data from the public health network of Sao Jose dos Campos, in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, recorded between 1998 and 2005, a period considered to be one of intense solar activity.

Focusing on hospital admissions for myocardial infarction, the analysis included information from 871 men and 469 women. Data from the Planetary Index (Kp-Index), an indicator of variations in Earth's geomagnetic field, were also incorporated into the statistical analysis.

"We classified the days analyzed as calm, moderate, or disturbed. And the health data were divided by sex and age group [up to 30 years old; between 31 and 60; over 60 years old]. It's worth noting that the number of heart attacks among men is almost twice as highregardless of geomagnetic conditions," Luiz Felipe Campos de Rezende, a researcher at Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE) and the corresponding author of the article, told Agencia FAPESP.

Rezende adds, "But when we look at the relative frequency rate of cases, we find that for women, it's significantly higher during disturbed geomagnetic conditions compared to calm conditions. In the 3160 age group, it's up to three times higher. Therefore, our results suggest that women are more susceptible to geomagnetic conditions."

As Rezende explains, geomagnetic disturbances are caused by the impact of the solar wind on the magnetosphere, the outermost region of the atmosphere where the solar wind meets Earth's magnetic field. The effects of these disturbances on satellite communications and global positioning systems (GPS) are well known.

Since the late 1970s, studies conducted in the Northern Hemisphere have suggested that magnetic particles ejected by the sun may also have an impact on human health, particularly the cardiovascular system.

Data from these studies suggest possible explanations, such as changes in blood pressure, heart rate, and circadian rhythm, which regulate the sleep-wake cycle and all bodily functions. However, this remains an open scientific question.

"This is the first study on the subject conducted in our latitudes, but it isn't conclusive. Therefore, the intention isn't to cause alarm among the population, particularly among women. There are some limitations to consider: this is an observational study conducted in a single city, using a sample size that isn't yet ideal for medical questions. However, we believe that these findings represent an empirical result of hypothetical significance and relevance that shouldn't be disregarded in the scientific context," the researcher says.

This also appears to be the first, or at least one of the few studies, to suggest that women are more susceptible to geomagnetic disturbances. The article did not explore the causes of this phenomenon. "We didn't find any significant publications on this subject in the literature. It's a question for future studies," Rezende points out.

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.

Prediction and prevention

The sun undergoes cycles of increased and decreased magnetic activity, averaging 11 years. It is estimated that the "solar maximum" phase occurred between late 2024 and early 2025. This is the period of the cycle with the highest magnetic activity.

According to experts, 2025 will be a year of high solar activity. However, it is worth noting that disturbances in Earth's magnetic field occur sporadically. INPE maintains a website that monitors these variations.

"Scientists around the world have been trying to predict the occurrence of geomagnetic disturbances, but the accuracy, for now, isn't good. When this type of service is more advancedand if the impact of magnetic disturbances on the heart is confirmedwe'll be able to consider prevention strategies from a public health perspective, especially for individuals who already suffer from heart problems," Rezende says.

More information: Luiz Felipe C. Rezende et al, Influence of geomagnetic disturbances on myocardial infarctions in women and men from Brazil, Communications Medicine (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s43856-025-00887-7 Journal information: Communications Medicine

Provided by FAPESP
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 STAR detector at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Credit: Brookhaven National Laboratory

Members of the STAR collaboration, a group of physicists collecting and analyzing data from particle collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC), have published a new high-precision analysis of data on the number of protons produced in gold-ion smashups over a range of energies.

The results, published in Physical Review Letters, suggest scientists have observed one part of a key signature of a "critical point." That's a unique point on the "map" of nuclear phases that marks a change in the way quarks and gluons, the building blocks of protons and neutrons, transition from one phase of matter to another.

Discovering the critical point has been a central goal of research at RHIC, a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science user facility for nuclear physics research at DOE's Brookhaven National Laboratory. Like centuries-old efforts to map out the solid, liquid, and gaseous phases of substances like water, it's considered essential for fully understanding and describing the quark-gluon plasma.

This unique form of nuclear matter is generated by RHIC's most energetic nuclear collisions, which effectively "melt" the protons and neutrons that make up the colliding gold ions, briefly liberating their innermost building blocks to form a nearly perfect fluid state that once filled our early universe.

The new results bolster STAR's confidence in earlier tantalizing hints of a critical pointa transition in how this melting occurs, depending on the temperature and density of the nuclear matter. But the scientists are not ready to declare discovery until another portion of the key signature reveals itselfpossibly in still-to-be-analyzed STAR data.

"Since the last findings, STAR undertook a huge collection of datasets using many new and upgraded detector components that have allowed us to track more particles over wider areas within the detector than ever before," said Ashish Pandav, a STAR collaborator from DOE's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and among those leading the analysis effort. "In addition, RHIC's accelerator team implemented innovative techniques to increase collision rates even at low energy."

With these detector and accelerator improvements, the STAR team has collected an unprecedented volume of high-precision data at a range of collision energies. "These measurements are letting us observe very subtle deviations or subtle patterns in the data," Pandav said.

Berkeley Lab has played a central role in STAR (the Solenoidal Tracker at RHIC) since the project's beginning. Lab engineers led the design and construction of the detector's primary tracking system, the time projection chamber (TPC). Staff also played an important role in constructing the new inner sections of the TPC (the iTPC), which significantly expanded the detector's sensitivity and the data used in the new measurement. And the Beam Energy Scan program, which collides gold ions at different energies at RHIC, was conceived at Berkeley Lab in 2004.

"Berkeley Lab scientists have been a driving force behind the Beam Energy Scan programs at RHIC for the past two decades," said Xin Dong, a scientist at Berkeley Lab who works on the STAR experiment. "We're pushing both experiment and theory because we want to understand atoms and our early universe at a really fundamental level."

Scientists in the lab's Nuclear Science Division also contributed theoretical insights, and vast amounts of collision and simulation data were processed using the lab's National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC) supercomputing facility.

"The new STAR data has already triggered significant excitement in the theory community," said Volker Koch, a Berkeley Lab nuclear theorist. "Now it is up to theoreticians to put the ingredients together and understand how the data can tell us about the phase structure in strong interactions."

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.

Subtle signs, high-order analysis

"Finding the critical point would put a landmark on the nuclear phase diagram," said Xiaofeng Luo, a STAR collaborator from Central China Normal University and one of the leaders of the analysis. "It would mark a fundamental milestone in our understanding of how matter behaves under extreme conditionsfrom the birth of the universe to the cores of neutron stars."

To find evidence of a critical point, the scientists are searching for signs of fluctuations in the number of protons emerging from collisions event by event. Like the turbulence airline passengers experience as a plane enters a cloud, such fluctuations are expected as the conditions created in the collisions approach the critical point.

Scientists are searching RHIC data for fluctuations that could indicate the existence of a "critical point" (yellow dot) on the nuclear phase diagram. This critical point would mark a change in the way a quark-gluon plasma undergoes a phase transition to become hadrons such as protons and neutrons. Credit: Brookhaven National Laboratory

But the signs of fluctuations in the nuclear environment aren't as obvious as drinks and snacks bouncing off seat-back trays on a plane. To "see" them, the scientists must look beyond simple counts of protons produced in collisions to "higher order" statistical analyses that describe aspects of how those counts are distributed.

These higher statistical orders include, for example, the spread of the values, whether they are skewed one way or another relative to the central value, and how sharp or broad the peaks and the tails are when the data points are plotted on a graph.

"The higher the order, the more subtle the properties of the shape of the distribution, and the higher the precision you need to be able to see those properties," said Mikhail Stephanov, a nuclear theorist at the University of Illinois Chicago who made predictions for what the STAR scientists should observe.

The experiments are measuring these fluctuation properties at different collision energies, Stephanov noted. In matter without a critical point, he explained that these higher order values are expected to stay flat or change in only one direction, going up or down, for example, as the collision energy is lowered.

But if there is a critical point, Stephanov's theoretical calculations predict that the peak/tail sharpness valuemore formally known as "kurtosis"should first fall, then turn and rise above its baseline, and then turn downward again.

"These changes in direction mean that there is some particular energy at which something happens that does not happen at other points," he said. "It's as if a planewhether climbing, descending, or cruisinghits turbulence. Instead of the usual steady acceleration, passengers feel sudden shifts in the direction of the acceleration. It is a clear signal that the plane is passing a point where something significant is happening in the atmosphere."

Like the boundary between distinct weather systems that can trigger such turbulence, the critical point can be thought of as a "front" between two distinct ways by which nuclear matter melts into quarks and gluons.

A partial signature

In the airplane analogy, passengers would be unlikely to notice the change in the higher-order statistical analysis of the turbulence.

"It's too subtle," Stephanov noted. "You need a special instrument to detect that change."

But the STAR detector is a truly sensitive instrument. In its latest proton production data, it now has the strongest indications to date of at least some of the predicted kurtosis changes.

When compared with baseline expectations if there were no critical point, "We see a clear and prominent minimum in the data for kurtosis at a RHIC gold-ion collision energy around 20 billion electron volts (GeV)," Pandav said.

As the collision energy goes down further, the kurtosis values go up again and return to being squarely within the baseline range at 7.7 GeV. That dip and subsequent rise with respect to various baseline calculations derived by theorists could represent one half of the expected signature of a critical point. "Depending on the baseline value used, that's at a level of two to five sigmaa statistically significant range," Pandav said.

But what happens below that 7.7 GeV energy level? STAR has one additional data point already published from fixed-target collisions at 3 GeV. The proton kurtosis value at that energy appears to fall slightly below its value at 7.7 GeV, but still within the range of baseline values.

"There is still a big gap between 7.7 and 3 GeV," Stephanov said. Does the kurtosis value rise above its baseline and then turn back down as the theory-based signature predicts? STAR will be able to answer at least part of that question with additional data from additional fixed-target low-energy collisions already in hand.

"That's going to come up very soon in the future; it's on the to-do list for STAR," said ShinIchi Esumi, a STAR collaborator from the University of Tsukuba and another leader of the analysis.

"These results reflect more than 15 years of sustained global effort to precisely map the nuclear phase diagram," said Bedangadas Mohanty of India's National Institute of Science Education and Research. Mohanty is a former postdoctoral researcher at Berkeley Lab and played a leading role in shaping the Beam Energy Scan program.

The STAR team is also looking forward to further refinements in the theory describing the predicted signatures for the critical point.

"So far, the signatures are what one would expect from a critical point, at least the part of them that we can see, but we still need a much better understanding of how a critical point produces such signatures," Stephanov said. "And, as a theorist, I'd say there is still work to be done to better quantify the expected signatures.

"Eventually," he noted, "we'd like to translate the signatures we see into properties of the nuclear phase diagramthe 'map' of how the phases of nuclear matter change with varying temperature and baryon density. But first we have to make sure we are convinced that the critical point is there."

The effort that culminated in this STAR Collaboration analysis was supported by a group of scientists from institutions around the world who held regular meetings twice a week across time zones to review and examine the results. These achievements were made possible with the sustained dedication and support of the entire STAR Collaboration. The expert operation of RHIC by staff in Brookhaven Lab's Collider-Accelerator Department was critical to providing the high-quality data used in this 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: NASA/Tim Kopra

Golden sunglint highlights Lake Balkhash in this May 31, 2016, photo taken from the International Space Station. The large lake in Kazakhstan is one of the largest lakes in Asia and is the 15th largest lake in the world.

Since the space station became operational in November 2000, crew members have produced hundreds of thousands of images of the land, oceans, and atmosphere of Earth, and even of the moon through Crew Earth Observations. Their photographs of Earth record how the planet changes over time due to human activity and natural events. This allows scientists to monitor disasters and direct response on the ground and study a number of phenomena, from the movement of glaciers to urban wildlife.

In addition, other activity aboard the space station helps inform long-duration missions like Artemis and future human expeditions to Mars.

Provided by NASA
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 SOAR Telescope at Cerro Pachon. Credit: CTIO/SOAR/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/M. Paredes

The SOAR Telescope, located on Cerro Pachon in Chile, has received a major upgrade with the installation of the SOAR Telescope Echelle Spectrograph (STELES). The long-awaited instrument achieved first light in August with observations of the binary star system Eta Carinae, along with 13 other targets. SOAR is part of U.S. National Science Foundation Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO), a Program of NSF NOIRLab.

STELES was installed on the SOAR Telescope on 30 July 2025 and on 6 August, from its perch on Cerro Pachon in Chile, it pointed toward the constellation Carina to observe one of the most fascinating pairs of stars in our Milky WayEta Carinae.

Eta Carinae is a binary star systemtwo stars orbiting each otherwith a long and curious history of brightening and dimming. The system is best known for its "Great Eruption" in 1837, during which it underwent a tremendous explosion and became one of the brightest objects in the night sky, before dimming again. In the centuries since, astronomers have watched Eta Carinae as it mysteriously fluctuates in brightness.

Current estimates hold that Eta Carinae's larger star is about 90 times the mass of the sun, whereas the smaller star is around 30 times the mass of the sun. And while the system is greater than 5 million times more luminous than the sun, it appears faint in our sky due to being heavily obscured by the Homunculus Nebulaa cloud of material ejected from the larger star during the Great Eruption.

This image shows the giant star-forming region in the southern sky known as the Carina Nebula (NGC3372), and the full spectrum of the binary star system at its centerEta Carinae. Light that is 'bluer' than 380 nanometers is ultraviolet and is invisible to our eyes. Light that is 'redder' than around 750 nanometers is infrared and is also invisible to our eyes. The bright bands indicate the detection of specific wavelengths of light emitted by hydrogen. Credit: CTIO/NOIRLab/SOAR/NSF/AURA/N. Smith (University of Minnesota)

This fascinating object was chosen as a first light target for STELES in recognition of Brazilian astronomer Augusto Damineli, who was the first to propose that Eta Carinae was a binary system and who led the acquisition of most of the funding necessary for the construction and installation of STELES at SOAR.

STELES was designed in Brazil by the Laboratorio Nacional de Astrofisica (LNA), part of the Ministerio da Ciencia, Tecnologia e Inovacao (MCTI), and the Instituto de Astronomia, Geofisica e Ciencias Atmosfericas from Universidade de Sao Paulo (IAG/USP). The optical design was done by Bernard Delabre from ESO. Components for the instrument's CCD detectors were designed, fabricated, and tested at CTIO.

The instrument arrived at CTIO in May 2016 with a substantial amount of assembly and testing still needed. For the next nine years, the teams worked diligently, overcoming logistical and technical challenges, delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the need for multiple excursions from Brazil to Chile. On the night of first light, the teams felt a true sense of accomplishment as STELES successfully acquired the spectra of 14 stars, galaxies, and planetary nebulae.

"First light marks the achievement of a major milestone, and we celebrate it as a joint achievement of the LNA and the CTIO/SOAR teams," says Felipe Navarete, researcher at LNA and STELES instrument scientist.

STELES works by dividing a beam of incoming light into two arms, one for the short wavelengths of blue light (300550 nanometers) and one for longer wavelengths of red light (530890 nanometers). Echelle gratings in each arm act similarly to a prism, further separating each section of light into its spectrum of constituent colors. The spectrum can tell scientists detailed information about an object's chemical composition, motion, rotation, and distance.

The red spectrum of the binary star system Eta Carinae, captured with the newly installed SOAR Telescope Echelle Spectrograph (STELES) on the SOAR Telescope. Credit: CTIO/NOIRLab/SOAR/NSF/AURA

The blue spectrum of the binary star system Eta Carinae, captured with the newly installed SOAR Telescope Echelle Spectrograph (STELES) on the SOAR Telescope. Credit: CTIO/NOIRLab/SOAR/NSF/AURA

STELES can see a wide range of visible light in a single shot, meaning it can capture most of the photons that reach it. This large light-collecting capability, combined with a sophisticated detector system and the excellent image quality of the SOAR Telescope, allows STELES to quickly take precise measurements of faint distant stars.

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.

With the high-quality data provided by STELES, scientists will be able to study large numbers of metal-poor stars in and outside of our galaxy. Specifically, STELES will search for the theorized first generation of stars, known as Population III, which are the earliest born stars in the universe's history and contain virtually no metalselements heavier than helium. These oldest stars have never been directly observed.

"STELES will undoubtedly enhance SOAR's spectroscopic capabilities and will be a boon for researchers in the U.S. and Brazil," says NSF Program Director Chris Davis. "STELES offers a unique combination of high spectral resolution and ultraviolet capability, making it a powerful tool for advancing our understanding of star and planet formation, the interstellar medium, and hot stars."

Scientists anticipate that STELES data will provide insight into the chemical evolution of the Milky Way and unveil secrets of the early universe. Following some additional on-sky engineering tests, STELES will begin its pioneering search for the universe's oldest stars in early 2026.
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 Silicon Valley's unofficial literary canon, few works loom as large as The Sovereign Individual. A kind of survival manual for 21st-century tech billionaires, it has been enthusiastically championed by Palantir and Paypal co-founder Peter Thiel (mentor to JD Vance), who wrote the foreword to the 2020 edition.

The "libertarian manifesto" offers a radical vision of economic transformationwhile justifying a solipsistic retreat from the obligations of shared society. Published in 1997, it was co-written by former Times editor William Rees-Mogg (who died in 2012) and private investigator and financial advisor James Dale Davidson.

In his foreword, Thiel champions it as a guide to lifealbeit one that reads more like a handbook for retreat and self-preservation. He hypes it as a device to think "carefully about the future that your own actions will help to create"and uses it to argue the true stakes of the coming decades will not be decided by elections or parliaments, but by the deeper forces of history.

These forceswhich the book terms "megapolitics"will determine which societies rise or fall, he writes.

Across its 400 pages, The Sovereign Individual celebrates the instincts of our impossibly wealthy technofeudal overlords to accumulate, hoard and insulate themselves from the messier demands of mass democracy. These instincts are not evasions, nor signs of ethical shortcomings, according to the book. They're tangible proof of being on the right side of history.

'Cognitive elite'

Davidson and Rees-Mogg (father of Conservative politician and hardline Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg) flatter their readers by casting them as members of a "cognitive elite"uniquely positioned to prosper as the old order crumbles.

They are upfront about their intentions, plainly stating their aim to help readers "take advantage of the opportunities of the new age and avoid being destroyed by its impact." They claim, for the first time in history, "those who can educate and motivate themselves will be free to invent their own work and realize the full benefits of their own productivity. Genius will be unleashed, freed from both the oppression of government and the drags of racial and ethnic prejudice. In the Information Society, no one who is truly able will be detained by the ill-informed opinions of others."

It is a strikingly utopian and irreducibly exclusionary sort of vision. The phrase "truly able" is doing a lot of work here, drawing an implicit dividing line between the deserving few and the unworthy many. Rees-Mogg and Davidson reassure their readers inequality is a natural fact of life: a flattering message for the elite.

Political operators such as former Tony Blair spokesman Alistair Campbell and venture capitalist Marc Andreessen have embraced the book, too.

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.

Andreessen considers it "the most thought-provoking book on the unfolding nature of the 21st century that I've yet read. It's packed with ideas on every page, many that are now fast becoming conventional wisdom, and many that are still heretical."

To its devotees, the book foresaw the arrival of cryptocurrencies, the resurgence of populist politics and the fracturing of nation states in the digital age.

To its critics, it is less visionary prophecy than, in the words of Thiel's recent biographer, Max Chafkin, an old-fashioned "political screed." It is a timeworn narrative of elites daydreaming of escape from collective responsibilitytrussed up in the language of technological inevitability.

This fantasy has not stayed on the page. Tech leaders have spent the past decade or so preparing for societal collapse in very literal ways. Mark Zuckerberg has bought up more than 2,300 acres on the Hawaiian island Kauai, complete with a vast compound and an underground bunker.

Meanwhile, Salesforce's Marc Benioff has quietly acquired hundreds of areas on Hawaii's Big Island, sparking local concern and criticism about land scarcity, displacement and the reshaping of community life.

Perhaps the most high profile case of all, though, is self-professed contrarian Thiel, who pushed this contorted logic to its limit. He famously secured fast-tracked New Zealand citizenship in 2011 (via an "exceptional circumstances" clause), after buying vast swathes of land there. (Despite him spending just 12 days, across multiple trips, in the country.)

When his status was revealed in 2017, it fueled debate over ultra-rich preppers treating entire countries as potential boltholes.

Thiel certainly wears his philosophical and literary influences on his sleeve. He went so far as to name Palantir, the data analytics company he co-founded, after the all-seeing orbs in The Lord of the Rings. Yet he seems blind to the irony that in Tolkien's world, these fantastical spheres are instruments of falsification. They offer partial revelations, omit crucial details and often mislead those who gaze into them.

As a metaphor for modern surveillance, the comparison is unnerving: a tool wielded by the powerful that can be used to monitor, manipulate and sow seeds of discord.

Empowered people and desperate governments

The concept of megapolitics is central to The Sovereign Individual. It is the idea that shifts in demographics, economics and technologies act as the real motors of history. They shape the fate of nations and individuals more powerfully than any political movement or government policy ever could.

For Rees-Mogg and Davidson, these forces are most clearly discerned through the shifting "costs and rewards of employing violence." Once, nation states held a monopoly on coercion. But the digital age threatens to break it. The authors envision a near future where the balance tips towards increasingly empowered individuals and ever more desperate governmentsa recipe, they maintain, for unprecedented turmoil.

They write: "The clash between the new and the old will shape the early years of the new millennium. We expect it to be a time of great danger and great reward, and a time of much diminished civility in some realms and unprecedented scope in others. Increasingly autonomous individuals and bankrupt, desperate governments will confront one another across a new divide."

Like Rees-Mogg and Davidson before him, Thiel positions the book as a call to action. It urges followers to turn away from failing institutions and remodel their lives around a vision for survival reserved for the self-appointed ruling classes. He insists that even though most of his forebears' most dramatic predictions have yet to come to pass, the trends Rees-Mogg and Davidson identified "are still at work today."

Thiel believes the stakes have only intensified. He frames the current moment as one of "dramatic" and heightened dangerpointing to the geopolitical rise of China and the acceleration of artificial intelligence. We are on the cusp of an era, he writes, where the material rewards for those who correctly anticipate the future will be unprecedented, while the costs of being wrong or left behind could be catastrophic.

This is, in effect, a winner-takes-all, zero-sum worldview: one that urges its entitled disciples to dig in, build fortressesboth figurative and literaland prepare to weather the storm, while the rest of the world is left to face the music. To put it another way, selfishness is elevated into something like a virtue.

Selfish virtue: The next Ayn Rand

One could be forgiven for mistaking this as a plot line from Ayn Rand: a millenarian reworking of Atlas Shrugged where Rees-Mogg and Davidson's underappreciated "creators"much like Rand's misunderstood "prime movers"withdraw their talent and labor from the public sphere.

Much like John Galt's strike in Atlas Shrugged, this retreat is depicted as a wholly noble protest: a way of starving parasitic nation states, with their taxes, social welfare programs and swathes of bureaucratic red tape, until they finally collapse under their own weight.

The comparison is less fanciful than it might seem. Rand, who notably believed selfishness to be a cardinal principle of civilization, remains central to what passes for philosophical discourse in Silicon Valley. She is a perennial cultural totem for those who see themselves as the vanguard of a new world order.

In literary critic Adrian Daub's reckoning, "Rand's heroic individualism has become an inescapable part of how the tech industry presents itself."

Indeed, the link between Rand and Silicon Valley is so well established it has become ripe for satireas seen in the recent film Mountainhead, which riffs on the title of Rand's breakthrough novel and lampoons the tech fixation on Randian ideals and signifiers. Directed by Succession's Jesse Armstrong, it suggests today's moguls might fancy themselves as Howard Roark, but end up looking more like the Royswith all the dysfunction that implies.

This lineage matters. To my mind, The Sovereign Individual functions as a kind of bridge between Rand's mid-century laissez-faire myth of the lone genius and today's data-driven techno-utopianism. It swaps out Rand's industrial heroes for cognitive elites, replacing steel mills and railway networks with digital gold and code. All the while, it preserves the same unforgiving moral architecture.

Seen in this light, Thiel's enthusiasm for the book is telling. Like Rand, The Sovereign Individual suggests it is the duty of the geographically mobile and cashed-upprivileged people cut precisely from Thiel's clothto break away from the lumpen, undeserving masses.

In this sense, then, the book doesn't so much predict a possible future. It hands today's tech bros, truly the careless people of contemporary times, a convenient intellectual alibi for building itand imposing it on the rest of us, whether we asked for it or not.

If the past decade is anything to go by, they're unlikely to lose precious sleep over the collateral damage.

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

On September 16, 2025, the UN Independent Commission of Inquiry (COI) on the occupied Palestinian territory including East Jerusalem and Israel issued its third report on the situation in Gaza since October 7, 2023.

For the first time, the COI has recognized that genocide has been committed, and continues to be committed, against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. It demands that Israel immediately implements a "complete and permanent" ceasefire in Gaza, and that it ensures unhindered access to humanitarian aid, including food, clean water, medical equipment and medicine in all Gaza.

What's in the report?

The report is a legal analysis of Israel's conduct in Gaza. It thoroughly examines all the elements of the definition of the crime of genocide established by the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide of 1948.

The COI based its conclusions on its own investigations, and relied on the jurisprudence of international criminal tribunals to examine the evidence gathered. The facts included in the reporta non-exhaustive listare those that experts have considered relevant to the analysis of genocide.

The report analyzes events in the Gaza Strip between October 7 2023 and July 31 2025. This means it does not account for events that occurred before the Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7, or human rights violations in the West Bank during this period.

The COI drew its finding of genocide by applying the criteria of "reasonable grounds to conclude." This is the standard of proof used by most international commissions of inquiry on human rights. It differs from the criteria of "beyond reasonable doubt" used in criminal tribunalsthis is consistent with the complementary role played by international human rights commissions in judicial investigation processes.

All this is to say that, according to international standards of proof, the report provides enough verified evidence to determine that Israel's conduct constitutes a crime of genocide.

What is the evidence?

By analyzing the elements of the definition of genocide, the COI concludes that Israeli forces have committed 4 of the 5 acts that constitute genocide committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as per the 1948 UN Convention. Namely, these are:

killing members of the group

causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group

deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part

imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group.

According to the UN report, all these acts are being done with the intention to destroy, in whole or in part, the group of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

The report details specific, recorded acts that fit these definitions. These include attacks on civilians on evacuation routes, around 500 attacks on health care facilities, failure to use precision-guided "smart" weapons in densely populated residential areas, and deliberate attacks targeting medical personnel and aid workers.

It describes the mistreatment and torture of more than 4,500 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody, as well as rape and other sexual and gender-based violence against Palestinian detainees. The report also highlights the systematic and intentional destruction of maternity facilities, an increase of 300% in miscarriages since October 7, 2023, as well as attacks on Gaza's largest fertility clinic, which destroyed around 4,000 embryos.

The report also finds evidence of Israel intentionally destroying areas of agricultural land, destroying 110 cultural and religious sites, and damaging 70% of schools.

More than 90% of Gaza's residents (about 1.9 million people) have been displaced, while Israel's "total siege" of Gaza has cut off supplies of water, food, electricity, fuel and other essential supplies, including humanitarian assistance. The report finds that Israel is using starvation as a method of warfare, and that it has weaponized access to basic supplies.

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.

Genocidal intent

To be considered genocide, all of these acts need to be committed with the special intention to destroy, in whole or in part, the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Based on the direct and circumstantial evidence available, the COI has drawn the following conclusion: "The Israeli authorities intended to kill as many Palestinians as possible through its military operations in Gaza since 7 October 2023 and knew that the means and methods of warfare employed would cause mass deaths of Palestinians, including children."

The direct evidence draws from statements made by Israeli authorities, which have repeatedly dehumanized Palestinians and "explicitly called for vengeance, destruction and annihilation." Additionally, the report concludes that "the only reasonable inference that can be drawn from the pattern of conduct of Israeli security forces in Gaza is evidence of genocidal intent."

Will it make a difference?

The report concludes that Israel has failed to prevent genocide, is still committing genocide, and has failed to punish genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. It calls on all States to prevent genocide by ceasing the transfer of weapons to Israel, and to ensure that individuals and corporations do not contribute to it.

It also compels States to promote domestic investigations, and to cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in gathering evidence of the crime and incitement of genocide.

Lastly, the COI recommends that the Prosecutor of the ICC expands its investigations of the situation in Palestine, and that it includes genocide in addition to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Before the COI report, other UN mechanisms had already determined that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Nevertheless, this report is groundbreaking in its level of detail. The evidence it offers is so overwhelming that it leaves little room for doubt, or for the argument that Israel is acting in self-defense.

The report's long-term impact remains to be seen, though its finding may have spurred the recent push to recognize a Palestinian State in various European countries.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Several chiefs of the Toubou tribes and the inhabitants of Morzouk in southeast Libya have, under the auspices of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), agreed on the need to establish security conditions before the start of excavation and exhumation operations of missing persons
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: Pavel Danilyuk from Pexels

A serious illness or injury to a family member is more than a medical crisis. It's a health shock that triggers a ripple effect, forcing families to make difficult trade-offs with their time and money.

That's what we found in our recent study, the first of its kind to show what happens to family finances, work and chores while a partner has a major illness or injury.

We show the effects of such health shocks extend far beyond the person who's sick. A serious illness or injury is a shared family event that demands a significant and difficult re-allocation of time, money and emotional energy.

For instance, partners take on more household chores and cut back their work hours. Medical costs rise. And families go without holidays, alcohol or other discretionary spending.

Understanding these dynamics is the first step toward building better support systems for the thousands of Australian families who face this reality every year.

What we did

We used two decades of data from the Household, Income and Labor Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey to show how more than 2,000 Australian couples cope with a partner's health shock. This could be something like a serious workplace accident or a cancer diagnosis.

We tracked work hours, time spent on household chores and caregiving, and spending habits before and after the event.

We used data spanning about 22 years. This long-term view allowed us to see how households reacted to the event and whether they could return to their pre-shock lives.

By looking at couples where one person had a serious illness or injury, while the other remained healthy, we could isolate and measure the impact of this event on the entire household.

What we found

When a serious illness or injury strikes, the ill person cut back their hours of paid work, as you'd expect.

However, the healthy partner did not increase their paid work hours to offset the income loss. In fact, their work hours declined slightly.

The healthy partner spent 33% more time on caregiving and 5% more on home chores such as cooking and cleaning.

In other words, the initial family response is not to bring in more money, but to reallocate time to meet new needs at home.

Financially, households re-prioritized to cope. Medical expenses increased by more than 13% in the first year. To cover these new costs, families cut back on discretionary spending, particularly on things such as holidays and alcohol.

Household income only dropped modestly, especially if people could take paid sick leave. But the proportion of individuals reporting financial stress rose by 10%.

This happens because the decline in income is paired with a significant increase in non-negotiable costs, such as medical expenses and higher utility bills from spending more time at home.

How this compares

Our study is the first to use long-term household data to analyze the effects of a health shock on both the ill person and their partner across multiple areasincluding employment, household expenditures and time use.

We also suggest Australia's relatively generous worker's compensation, sick leave and caregivers entitlements have cushioned families. Our study shows these likely meant the sick person and their partner were less likely to quit work compared to those in similar situations in other countries without similar support.

And while we showed the Australian male partners of ill women significantly increased time spent caregiving or doing chores, their British counterparts didn't put in as many extra hours in a similar situation.

Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly.

What are the implications?

Our research highlights the often overlooked role of the healthy partner as a "shock absorber," whose unpaid labor is essential for a family's recovery.

This suggests any social security system aimed at helping those with disabilities or illnesses should also consider the financial and personal burden on caregivers.

The increase in financial stress among affected households, despite existing support systems, indicates current social security programs may not fully cover the needs and costs associated with a major illness or injury.

The findings also highlight the importance of paid leave entitlements for caregivers, which is crucial for household financial stability, particularly for low-income families.

Flexible working arrangementssuch as flexible working hours, working from home or a shorter work weekwould also help caregivers look after their loved ones.

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:

Beliefs about hazing and sexual violence can often form before students get to college, according to a study conducted by researchers in the Department of Psychology. Credit: Stefanie Goodwiller/University Marketing and Communications

A preliminary study published in Psychology of Violence by University of Mississippi researchers reveals that student attitudes about sexual violence and hazing may be shaped well before college.

Carrie Smith, associate professor of psychology, and Caitlin Shaw, a 2025 graduate of the Ole Miss doctoral program in experimental psychology, sought to understand how young men think about two forms of violence common on university campuses.

"This is a problem that all of higher education is facing," Smith said. "We see high rates of sexual violence and hazing on campuses every year. We thought maybe we should look at when those beliefs begin."

More than half of college students involved in campus organizations have experienced hazing, and according to the nation's first free, comprehensive database of hazing incidents, HazingInfo, 105 U.S. students have died since 2000 as a result. In response, 44 statesincluding Mississippihave passed anti-hazing laws, according to North Carolina State University.

Some 73% of students in both fraternities and sororities report experiencing hazing, according to the same report.

Sexual violence is also pervasive across college campuses: 1 in 5 women and 1 in 16 men experience sexual assault of some form during college, and almost two-thirds of college students experience sexual harassment, according to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center.

A 2023 study published in the Journal of Child Sexual Abuse reports that women in sororities are four times more likely to experience rape than other college women, and a 2021 study in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence found that men in fraternities have a 62% higher likelihood of sexual aggression in their first two years of college.

Smith and Shaw surveyed 124 college-bound men from 29 states and asked about their perceptions of sexual violence, hazing and whether they intended to join a fraternity. They found that students who planned to join the organizations were more likely to:

Have positive views of hazing, such as viewing it as harmless bonding or a necessary tradition

Believe hazing is an indicator of manhood or a rite of passage

Endorse false narratives about rape, such as blaming survivors of rape for the way they were dressed

Believe that when a sexual partner says no, they often mean yes.

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 study also found that students faced hazing long before college. Some 87% of fraternity-bound men in the study reported that they had already been hazed.

These findings challenge the idea that harmful beliefs start in college, Smith said. Instead, it suggests that some students arrive on campus already holding them.

The questionare harmful attitudes shaped by college life, or do students bring them to campus?is still largely unanswered, said Shaw, from Redlands, California, who is now an assistant professor at Austin Peay State University.

"I do think that our research does support that selection is likely a process that could be happening," she said. "Knowing that these attitudes can come online for some people before they get to college is important for understanding when intervention strategies might make the most impact.

"If we start an intervention sooner, is that going to potentially stave off some of the development of these attitudes?"

Beliefs about sexual violence and hazing are correlated, the study found.

Respondents who approved of hazing were much more likely to minimize or excuse sexual violence. The reason for the link could be straightforwardthose who accept one kind of harmful belief may be more inclined to accept others, Shaw said.

"But I think another perhaps more interesting reason could be that both of these attitudes have connections to masculine ideals and masculine norms like dominance," she said. "I do wonder if endorsing these masculine norms more is possibly another reason why these men, in particular, were also more supportive of things like hazing and sexual violence."

Colleges and student groups looking to curb these kinds of behaviors need to be aware where attitudes toward hazing and sexual violence originate if they hope to intervene, Smith said.

"I was in a sorority," Smith said. "I have been a chapter adviser to a sorority and served as a volunteer to the national organization. I sat on the advisory council of a fraternity.

"I am Greekand I know we can do better."
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

Chicago has quickly emerged as a hub for quantum computing, with the state of Illinois and technology companies pouring millions of dollars into developing a campus to build the world's first commercially viable quantum computer on the city's Southeast Side.

But what does a quantum computer even look like? And how do they work?

Those are questions that a new exhibit unveiled at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport seeks to answer. In Terminal 1, near the massive model of a dinosaur skeleton, travelers of all ages paused on their brisk walks through the concourse to look at the model of the inside of a quantum computer, which resembles a large golden chandelier with four "tiers," copper wiring and a chip at the bottom. On a screen on one side of the fiberglass case protecting the quantum computer, travelers were able to watch a video explaining the science behind it.

The exhibit, which will remain up for at least one year, is organized by members of the STAGE Center at the University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering and IBM to help the public learn about quantum computing, at a time when Chicago has emerged as a hub for quantum computing research and development.

Nancy Kawalek, director of the STAGE Center, said the purpose of the exhibit is to demystify quantum computing to people who may not be familiar with it.

"I don't want people to get sort of frightened off by it, not understanding it," Kawalek said, "when you learn about quantum it sounds like magic  but it's not magic. It really works, and it's been proven scientifically."

Kawalek was referring to the fact that until recently, quantum computing, based on a type of physics called quantum mechanics, was viewed as only a theoretical possibility. However, that is changing as quantum computers, such as the one developed by IBM and displayed at the airport, have moved out of labs and into traditional data centers.

Avery Linder, a former University of Chicago student who worked on the exhibit, used the example of flipping a coin to explain how quantum computers are different from supercomputers and other traditional computers.

"With quantum it's like if you were to flip a coin and it was midair, you could probably not tell me if it was heads or tails  it's in two states of existence at once," Linder said.

She explained that quantum computers are able to capture this idea of things being in two states at a time and they can rearrange information in exponentially more ways than traditional computers, which only record data as zeroes or ones and have a finite amount of ways of arranging and reporting information.

In the future, it is expected that this ability of quantum computers to handle complexity could be harnessed to detect disease in a single cell and diagnose the appropriate drug accordingly, or protect financial information from even the stealthiest hackers.

Linder, who graduated from the U. of C. with a bachelor's degree in May, now works full time on STAC12, a start-up she co-founded that grows diamonds for quantum computing devices.

She is one of five students associated with the STAGE Center who created the website, located at flyquantum.stage.uchicago.edu, that accompanies the exhibit. She said she hopes the exhibit makes quantum computing accessible to everyone, even those who didn't take several semesters worth of math and physics courses like she did.

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.

"It seems like this thing where you can't possibly understand it until you go through all those classes," Linder said, "But it's actually very accessible  if it's explained the right way. That was the point of the website, for us."

Hanhee Paik, director of quantum algorithms centers at IBM, helped design the quantum computer displayed at the airport that was debuted by IBM in 2017.

She explained that the inside of the quantum computer has a tiered, chandelier-like design because the device is akin to a large refrigerator that uses copper wiring to cool every level and make sure the chip at the bottom is not affected by any "thermal noise" that can affect its ability to process data.

"Our quantum processors are  three times colder than outer space to help remove any noise that could interfere with the computation," Paik said.

The exhibit is hosted in O'Hare's Terminal 1 by United Airlines. Kathryn Walters-Conte, head of program strategy and operations for the society, who attended the unveiling of the exhibit minutes after she stepped off her morning flight from Washington, D.C., said that she hopes the display will inspire people to study quantum computing.

"I think people hear about quantum in pop culture and science fiction and are not sure if it's a real thing," Walters-Conte said, "but this exhibit is to get people interested in it so they can see that this is a real physical thing and this is the equipment that physicists use."

2025 Chicago Tribune. 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: ACS Sensors (2025). DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.5c00310

A research team has developed a nanocomposite-modified microelectrode array (MEA) that enables long-term, high-sensitivity monitoring of neuronal activity during hibernation. Their findings were recently published in ACS Sensors.

The study, led by Prof. Cai Xinxia from the Aerospace Information Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, sheds light on how specific brain cells sustain life under extremely low metabolic states.

By modifying MEAs with platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) and Prussian blue (PB), the researchers enhanced the electrodes' ability to capture faint neural signals while reducing inflammation and improving stability over extended monitoring periods.

"Studying how neurons function in near-dormant states offers opportunities for medicine and space exploration," said Prof. Cai. "Our nanocomposite-modified microelectrode design allows us to detect neuronal signals that were previously too weak to capture reliably."

The improved electrodes achieved a signal-to-noise ratio of 15.53  6.73more than three times higher than that of traditional MEAsallowing scientists to record even the faintest discharges of individual neurons. In vitro stability tests showed that the electrodes maintained reliable performance for up to three months, while in vivo experiments enabled chronic neural monitoring during natural hibernation bouts in Siberian chipmunks (Tamias sibiricus).

Additionally, the researchers identified three distinct types of neurons, each showing unique response patterns during hibernation. Notably, Type 3 neurons remained active even under extremely low metabolic conditions, helping chipmunks maintain deep hibernation without brain damage. The researchers also observed a sharp increase in the theta frequency band of local field potentials during arousal, which marked the restoration of consciousness and served as a reliable predictor of arousal.

The introduction of PB in the nanocomposite not only enhanced detection sensitivity but also mitigated the effects of reactive oxygen species. This reduced inflammation and improved recording quality, ensuring reliable long-term performance.

To validate the neuronal signals, the team employed ion channel protein techniques and combined them with transcriptome analysis, which revealed changes in the expression of genes such as ATP7A, KCNH8, and TMEM175 that are linked to neuronal activity during hibernation.

This study provides a new tool for uncovering how the brain protects itself in extreme states, which could inspire therapies for neurological diseases where energy metabolism is disrupted, the researchers noted.

More information: Yiding Wang et al, PtNPs/Prussian Blue-Modified Microelectrode Arrays for Detection of Key Neurons Regulating Hibernation State, ACS Sensors (2025). DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.5c00310 Journal information: ACS Sensors
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:

Researchers examines rocks emptied onto back deck from rock dredge. Picture by Fraser Johnston. Credit: CSIRO

A collaborative research team led by University of Tasmania scientists has returned from a major 54-day voyage on CSIRO research vessel (RV) Investigator to explore the impacts of the devastating 2022 eruption of Tonga's underwater Hunga Volcano.

The international team of 40 researchers last week completed their research in and around the submarine volcano, which erupted in January 2022 with devastating force. The blast sent an ash column 58 kilometers into the sky, triggered a Pacific-wide tsunami and blanketed 100 kilometers of seafloor around the volcano, as well as nearby Tongan islands, with fine volcanic ash.

The eruption also severed Tonga's undersea telecommunication cables, cutting the nation off from the world for weeks and disrupting daily life for thousands of Tongans.

Now, more than three years later, the research team, which included a scientist from the Tonga Geological Services, has gathered crucial data to understand the dynamics of such a powerful eruption and how the volcano, seafloor and biological communities have changed since.

"Our team mapped the seafloor and below, collected seawater and rock samples, extracted sediment cores and collected biological samples and video footage to better understand volcanic processes and the marine ecosystem," said voyage Chief Scientist Associate Professor Rebecca Carey from the University of Tasmania's Center for Ore Deposit and Earth Sciences.

"The mapping we completed was extensive and CSIRO mapping experts onboard were even able to produce an incredible, first-person view of the volcano as if you were standing on the caldera floor," she said.

The team used the extensive suite of scientific equipment aboard RV Investigator, including a 24-meter giant piston corer and underwater camera system, to conduct more than 160 scientific operations in and around the submarine volcano.

The science team found eruption deposits extended more than 80 kilometers in all directions of the volcano, with erupted material reaching neighboring volcanoes. Thick deposits of volcanic mud and ash, described by the researchers as "mud soups," have created an unstable and shifting seafloor, making it difficult for marine life to gain a foothold.

The eruption also destabilized the volcanic edifice with erupted material covering the volcano's summit. The steep slopes of the volcano remain unstable and continue to erode.

Seafloor mapping (bathymetry) of the Hunga Volcano and surrounding seamounts (color showing depth). Credit: CSIRO.

Associate Professor Carey said this ongoing instability poses a potential risk of slope failure, which could trigger local tsunamis, highlighting the importance of continued monitoring and hazard planning.

"We have generated data products that will support these hazard assessments, inform risk models and guide recovery planning," Associate Professor Carey said.

"This research will help build and strengthen resilience and preparedness in the region for future volcanic events, and we look forward to sharing our findings and data sets collected during the voyage with Tongan agencies, the Australian government, and our regional partners."

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 voyage brought together scientists from Australia, Tonga, Fiji, New Zealand, the U.K., and the U.S.

Mele Manu, Chief Geologist at the Tonga Geological Services (TGS), said the voyage has been important in better understanding geohazards.

"In addition to volcanic hazards, the new seafloor maps reveal that Tonga is also vulnerable to submarine landslides. These can occur due to the steep seamounts on the seafloor and the frequent earthquakes in our region," Manu said.

"Such events could trigger local tsunamis and damage vital underwater infrastructure such as submarine cables. This highlights the importance of strengthening our monitoring and early warning systems to better protect both our coastal communities and national infrastructure."

CSIRO Marine National Facility Director Toni Moate said the voyage research would help address existential challenges in the Pacific region, including building food security and resilience to natural disasters for the Tongan people.

"RV Investigator is a highly valuable and productive piece of Australia's research infrastructure and the science we deliver makes a substantial contribution to improving the lives of Australians as well as our neighbors across the Pacific," Moate said.

The research team will now spend months analyzing the seafloor mapping data, sediment and rock samples, and biological specimens collected during the voyage, with findings expected to inform Pacific disaster preparedness for years to come.

Provided by CSIRO
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: American Journal of PhysiologyRegulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology (2025). DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00212.2024

Aquaglyceroporin Aqp10, a protein channel for water and glycerol, selectively permeates urea and boric acid due to its unique structural featuresreport researchers from Japan. By comparing and modeling molecular pore structures in fish species, the team discovered that bulky amino acid residues reduce the pore size of Aqp10blocking the transport of certain molecules. This not only explains the mechanism of selective permeability but also provides a framework for predicting functions of uncharacterized aquaglyceroporins.

From nutrients to signals, every living cell depends on the transport of molecules to stay alive. This transport of molecules occurs through pores or protein channels present in the cell membrane. One example of these protein channels is aquaporin (Aqp), which regulates the flow of water and other molecules across membranes.

Aquaglyceroporins are a subtype of Aqps that transport water along with neutral small molecules such as glycerol, urea, and boric acid. However, while some aquaglyceroporins also allow urea and boric acid to pass, others only allow glycerol and water, and the underlying mechanism behind this difference has remained unclear until now.

To bridge this gap, a research team from the Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo), Japan, led by Associate Professor Akira Kato, then-graduate student Kazutaka Ushio and Assistant Professor Ayumi Nagashima from the School of Life Science and Technology, Science Tokyo, conducted a study to analyze the molecular structures and functions of different versions of aquaglyceroporins, particularly Aqp10.

The research was conducted in collaboration with Assistant Professor Tadaomi Furuta from Science Tokyo and Associate Professor Hidenori Nishihara from Kindai University, Japan. The findings are published in the American Journal of PhysiologyRegulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology.

"We focused on two versions of aquaglyceroporin Aqp10 present in ray-finned fish species: Aqp10.1 and Aqp10.2. Aqp10.1 is permeable to urea and boric acid, while the Aqp10.2 is not," explains Kato.

Using comparative evolutionary physiology and computational modeling, the researchers pinpointed the structural differences between the variants that were responsible for this selective behavior. In Aqp10.2, they found bulky aromatic amino acids positioned at key sites within the channel's pore filter, which reduced its diameter and blocked the passage of urea and boric acid, leaving water and glycerol unaffected. This was not observed in Aqp10.1.

"We observed that two aromatic amino acids at positions 1 and 3 within the four sites of Aqp10's aromatic/arginine selectivity filter were responsible for reducing urea and boric acid permeability," reports Nagashima.

To confirm this assumption, the scientists introduced mutations that swapped the bulky amino acid residues in the porins with smaller residues. Interestingly, this restored the permeability of urea and boric acid. Substituting just one amino acid dramatically increased the channel's ability to transport urea and boric acid without altering the movement of glycerol and water.

Further analysis also revealed a clear rule of selectivity; the sum of molecular weights of two critical residues at positions 1 and 3 of the aromatic/arginine selectivity filter was inversely correlated with pore size and permeability. In other words, the heavier the amino acids at these positions, the less permeable the channel.

Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly.

"This simple metric could allow scientists to predict aquaglyceroporin function directly from genome sequences," claims Kato.

Overall, the discovery helps resolve a long-standing question in membrane biology: how aquaglyceroporins discriminate between molecules of similar sizes. The study also provides a practical framework for researchers to interpret the functions of aquaglyceroporins, especially those with unknown activity, which are increasingly being identified in genomic databases. Furthermore, by linking evolutionary biology with molecular biophysics, the work underscores how subtle changes in protein structure shape fundamental physiological processes.

"Amino acid mutations that occur during evolution are of great interest because they affect structure and function," says Furuta.

As genome sequencing continues to uncover new protein families, the ability to predict transport properties from amino acid sequences could help accelerate discoveries in life sciencespaving the way for advances in biotechnology, medicine, and agriculture.

More information: Ayumi Nagashima et al, Aquaporin 10 paralogs exhibit evolutionarily altered urea and boric acid permeabilities based on the amino acid residues at positions 1 and 3 in the ar/R region, American Journal of PhysiologyRegulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology (2025). DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00212.2024
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

Cosmic dustthe tiny particles that help form stars, planets and the chemical building blocks of lifemight be much spongier and fluffier than long assumed, according to an international group of scientists.

Professor Martin McCoustra, from Heriot-Watt's School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, worked with fellow astrochemists and astronomers from Germany, Japan, the U.S. and Spain on the project, which reviewed decades of laboratory, observational, and modeling studies to answer a simple yet unresolved question: Is cosmic dust porous?

Their findings, accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics Review and available on the arXiv preprint server, suggest that many dust grains in space are far from being compact, tiny rocks.

Professor McCoustra, whose work on the review was supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, said, "In fact, they're more like fluffy little sponges, riddled with tiny voids."

The building blocks of space

Dust grains are fundamental to astronomy. They dominate in star-forming regions like the Pillars of Creation, providing surfaces for chemical reactions that bring us to the edge of life and influencing how light travels through space.

Dr. Alexey Potapov from the Friedrich Schiller University Jena, the lead author of the review, said, "If these grains are porous, that means they have a far greater surface area than we thought. That could radically change our understanding of how molecules form and evolve in space."

The scientists found clues about dust porosity from different observations and space missions, including particles collected from comets by NASA's Stardust mission.

The European Space Agency's Rosetta mission to comet 67P also found extremely fragile, fluffy dust particles, some with porosities exceeding 99%.

Similar findings emerged from analyses of interplanetary dust particles that fell to Earth.

Spongy grains more fragile

Porous grains could accelerate planet formation by sticking together more easily than compact ones. Their internal voids may also provide protected spaces where water and complex organic molecules formpotentially key steps toward the origins of life.

But porosity also makes dust fragile.

Professor McCoustra, from Heriot-Watt's School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, explained, "Spongy grains could be more easily destroyed by shocks and radiation as they travel through interstellar space."

Fundamental questions about life

Despite mounting evidence, astronomers remain divided. Some models suggest that high porosity would make dust grains too cold or fragile to match what telescopes observe in interstellar clouds and young planetary systems.

McCoustra said, "We should remember that nearly 100 years ago, astronomers did not believe molecules could exist in space, as the environment was considered too harsh.

"Today, astrochemistry is recognized as addressing fundamental questions in terms of star formation and the origins of life."

The astronomers and astrochemists behind the review concluded that further observations, laboratory work and modeling are required to resolve the debate.

More information: Alexey Potapov et al, Is cosmic dust porous?, arXiv (2025). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2509.10292 Journal information: arXiv
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 outer detector of the LZ dark matter experiment. Credit: Matt Kapust/Sanford Underground Research Laboratory

Determining the nature of dark matter, the invisible substance that makes up most of the mass in our universe, is one of the greatest puzzles in physics. New results from the world's most sensitive dark matter detector, LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ), have narrowed down the possibilities for one of the leading dark matter candidates: weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs).

"While we always hope to discover a new particle, it is important for particle physics that we are able to set bounds on what the dark matter might actually be," said UC Santa Barbara experimental physicist Hugh Lippincott. Scientists have suspected the existence of dark matter for decades, but it remains a mysterious substanceone that nevertheless plays a fundamental role in the structure of the universe

LZ hunts for dark matter from a cavern nearly one mile underground at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in South Dakota. The experiment's new results explore weaker dark matter interactions than ever searched before and further limit what WIMPs could be.

The results, published in Physical Review Letters, analyze 280 days' worth of data: a new set of 220 days (collected between March 2023 and April 2024) combined with 60 earlier days from LZ's first run. The experiment plans to collect 1,000 days' worth of data before it ends in 2028.

The inner portion of the LZ detector consists of two nested titanium tanks filled with 10 tons of transparent pure liquid xenon, which is so dense it creates a highly isolated environment, free from the "noise" of the outside world and perfect for capturing the faintest of faint signals that could be indicative of a WIMP.

The hope is for a WIMP to knock into a xenon nucleus, causing it to move, much like a hit from a cue ball in a game of pool. By collecting the light and electrons emitted during interactions, LZ captures potential WIMP signals alongside other data. This liquid xenon core is surrounded by a much larger Outer Detector (OD)acrylic tanks filled with gadolinium-loaded liquid scintillator.

Researchers use UV light to scan for possible dust contamination at the detector's time-projection chamber. Dust can be a source of background noise. Credit: Nicolas Angelides/University of Zurich

LZ's sensitivity comes from the myriad ways the detector can reduce backgrounds, the false signals that can impersonate or hide a dark matter interaction. Deep underground, the detector is shielded from cosmic rays coming from space.

To reduce natural radiation from everyday objects, LZ was built from thousands of ultraclean, low-radiation parts. The detector is built like an onion, with each layer either blocking outside radiation or tracking particle interactions to rule out dark matter mimics. And, sophisticated new analysis techniques help rule out background interactions.

UCSB was one of the founding groups in LZ, led by UCSB physicist Harry Nelson, who hosted the first LZ meeting at UCSB in 2012. The team currently consists of faculty members Lippincott and Nelson, postdoctoral researchers Chami Amarasinghe and TJ Whitis, and graduate students Jeonghwa Kim, Makayla Trask, Lindsey Weeldreyer, and Jordan Thomas.

Other contributors to the result include recent Ph.D. recipient Jack Bargemann, now a postdoctoral researcher at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and former undergraduate researcher; Tarun Advaith Kumar, now a graduate student at the Perimeter Institute. The physics coordinator for the result was Scott Haselschwardt, who received his Ph.D. from UCSB in 2018 and is now an assistant professor at the University of Michigan.

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.

Neutrons, subatomic particles that exist in every atom save hydrogen, are among the most common confounders of WIMP signals. Nelson and UCSB led the design of LZ's Outer Detector, the critical component that allows the collaboration to rule out these particles and enable a real discovery.

"The tricky thing about neutrons is that they also interact with the xenon nuclei, giving off a signal identical to what we expect from WIMPs," Trask said. "The OD is excellent at detecting neutrons, and confirms a WIMP detection by not having any response." Presence of a pulse in the OD can veto an otherwise perfect candidate for a WIMP detection.

Radon is also a WIMP mimic, for which the scientists must be vigilant. "Radon undergoes a particular sequence of decays, some of which could be mistaken for WIMPs," Bargemann said. "One of the things we were able to do in this run was look out for the whole set of decays in the detector to identify the radon and avoid confusing them for WIMPs."

To enable a strong result and eliminate unconscious bias, the LZ collaboration applied a technique called "salting," which adds fake WIMP signals during data collection. By camouflaging the real data until "unsalting" at the very end, researchers can avoid unconscious bias and keep from overly interpreting or changing their analysis.

"We're pushing the boundary into a regime where people have not looked for dark matter before," said Haselschwardt. "There's a human tendency to want to see patterns in data, so it's really important when you enter this new regime that no bias wanders in. If you make a discovery, you want to get it right."

With these results, the field of possibilities for what WIMPs may be has narrowed dramatically, allowing all scientists searching for dark matter to better focus their searches and reject incorrect models of how the universe operates. It's a long game, with more data collection in the future and one that will do more than accelerate the search for dark matter.

"Our experiment is also sensitive to rare events with roots in diverse areas of physics," Amarasinghe said. "Some examples are solar neutrinos, the fascinating decays of certain xenon isotopes, and even other types of dark matter. With the intensity of this result behind us, I'm very excited to spend more time on these searches."

"The UCSB Physics Department has a long history of devising searches for dark matter, starting with one of the first published results of a search in 1988," Nelson said. Previous faculty members include David Caldwell (now deceased), and Michael Witherell, now director of the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory. David Hale (now retired) pioneered many of the techniques for suppressing fake dark matter signals which are now employed throughout the field of dark matter searches.

"UCSB, through the Physics Department, the College of Letters and Science, the administration, and through private donations, has strongly supported the dark matter effort for decades, and made substantial contributions to LZ."

LZ is a collaboration of roughly 250 scientists from 38 institutions in the United States, United Kingdom, Portugal, Switzerland, South Korea, and Australia; much of the work building, operating, and analyzing the record-setting experiment is done by early career researchers.

The collaboration is already looking forward to analyzing the next data set and using new analysis tricks to look for even lower-mass dark matter. Scientists are also thinking through potential upgrades to further improve LZ, and planning for a next-generation dark matter detector called XLZD.

More information: J. Aalbers et al, Dark Matter Search Results from 4.2 Tonne Years of Exposure of the LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) Experiment, Physical Review Letters (2025). DOI: 10.1103/4dyc-z8zf 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:

Yellow warbler. Credit: Dr. Brian Balmer

Climate change is drying landscapes and raising temperatures faster than many species can adapt. A research paper from Colorado State University offers a rare empirical look at how these pressures are already reshaping wildlife through the lens of the yellow warblera common migratory bird.

Published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the paper identifies the genetic and environmental factors shaping the form of the warbler's beak, which is key to its ability to shed heat and retain water.

To do this, the team compared genomic data, bill measurements and environmental variables from birds sampled across their breeding range in North America and Canada.

The findings show that precipitation levels across the range are the key environmental factor influencing genetic variation associated with bill form and structure.

Marina Rodriguez is the first author on the paper, which is part of her recently completed Ph.D. dissertation through the Department of Biology. She said the findings highlight both the importance and difficulty of linking genes, traits and the environment together with measures of stress on the body to better predict a species' overall ability to keep pace with climate change.

"People may think of climate change as something that will happen in the future, but as this work shows, species are already feeling these effects and are struggling to adapt and survive," Rodriguez said.

"We hope our approach can now be used in other species to better understand the different factors that come together to increase climate vulnerability."

To confirm the importance of bill shape in the warbler's ability to adapt to shrinking precipitation totals, the researchers compared data on historical relationships between bill depth and precipitation for the warbler with fresh data collected by modern-day volunteers around the globe.

They found that birds whose bills had not kept pace with climate change were now less suited to newly arid conditions, resulting in higher stress levels and subsequent population declines.

Marina Rodriguez. Credit: Marty Rodriguez

The researchers were specifically interested in how the warbler reacted to physiological stress  strain on the body as the environment pushes it beyond its normal limits, such as overheating.

To measure this, the researchers looked at telomeresprotective DNA caps that shorten over time as cells divide in the body and with increased stress. Shorter telomeres are linked to poor health and shorter lifespans in many species, from humans to birds.

"There is a lot of evidence to show that the length of these specific genomic regions are highly correlated to the overall lifespan and health across species," Rodriguez said.

"By including this, we are able to better illustrate the mismatch between what is quickly becoming required to survive in the environment with how genetic traits are responding."

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.

Because telomere length can be measured with just a small blood sample, it may be an easier way to assess wild species without years of fieldwork. Instead of tracking reproduction across generations, for example, researchers can review telomeres for early warning signs of population decline.

CSU Associate Professor Kristen Ruegg was an author on the paper and Rodriguez's academic mentor. Her team frequently works on similar research projects that aim to predict climate change's impacts on bird populations. She said that Rodriguez's approach using telomere length has not been widely used in assessing climate vulnerability in birds before.

"Marina's paper begins to address gaps and assumptions on how wild species will respond to rapid climate change with a clear, data-driven example using telomere length as a biomarker of stress," Ruegg said.

"These findings highlight the importance of linking genes, traits, environments, and stress markers to understand species' responses to climate and show an exciting method to empirically study these relationships in other species moving forward."
News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism.
GUANGZHOU, China, Sept. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 23, the 2025 China Catering Brand Festival (34th HCC Catering Industry Expo), guided by the Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Commerce and co-hosted by the World Association of Chinese Cuisine and HongCan, officially kicked off. As a highlight of the festival, the 2025 Trendsetting Products (Autumn) Global Launch was successfully held in Guangzhou.

As a flagship segment of the festival, the launch convened an impressive lineup of industry leaders  including founders of prominent F&B brands, executives from leading supply chain enterprises, renowned experts, and association representatives. The event was also attended by authoritative media and key opinion leaders, with several top-tier influencers from the Hongdongshike Influencer Alliance adding to the event's influence and visibility.

The launch drew significant international attention as well, with media outlets from Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Southeast Asia, and other regions covering the event, further amplifying its impact and extending the global reach of the brand.

The conference showcased a diverse range of outstanding products that are driving industry trends. In the "Revolutionizing Taste" segment, featured products such as Juhui Food Technology (Chongqing) Co.,LTD's Laoyouji hotpot sauce1983, KINGWELL Extra Savory & Mellow Agaricus Blazei Mushroom Soup Base, Sichuan Cuihong BBQ Powder, and Jiangsu Meixin Food Technology Co.., Ltd's Fig and Chicken Broth Flavor Soup Base demonstrated the limitless possibilities of expanding the culinary experience.

In the "Elevating Quality" segment, McCormick's Cajun seasoning, Baipinriguang Golden Tomato Seasoning, Dai Xia Ji Whole Shrimp Bite-Size Paste, and JIACHUANG FOOD's Tomahawk Steak highlighted breakthroughs in quality and refinement.

In the "Reinventing the Classics" segment, Evergreen Food's Evergreen Squirrel-Shaped Tilapia, ZAIQI Grain Stalpes "Yellow Steamed Buns," SUNBOY (InnerMongolia) Food Technology Group Co., LTD.'s Roasted Sunflower Seeds Original Flavor Gift Package, and KEENON 's Dinerbot t10 showcased innovative approaches to reimagining traditional forms and applications.

To recognize the pioneering role and innovation of the Trendsetting Products, the 2025 Trendsetting Products (Autumn) Global Launch Conference also featured an awards ceremony. Two honors were presented  the "Trend Leadership Award" and the "Breakthrough Innovation Award," with winners selected based on four key dimensions: innovation, market potential, quality consistency, and scenario adaptability.

The 2025 Trendsetting Products (Autumn) Global Launch Conference serves as the premier global stage this autumn for unveiling China's latest F&B products, technologies, and concepts, and also as a vital platform propelling the industry toward standardization, branding, and internationalization. By continuously providing guidance on product selection and setting new paradigms for innovation, the conference empowers brands and enterprises to seize market opportunities and achieve sustainable growth.

SOURCE Hongcan Network
Aggressive Cancun combi driver banned from providing public services

Cancun, Q.R.  The Quintana Roo Mobility Institute (Imoveqroo) has banned a city combi driver for aggression. The man was captured on video Friday in a heated altercation with a taxi driver that became physical.

The aggressive combi driver throws the taxi driver to the ground during their altercation.

During the altercation, the combi driver grabs the driver of the taxi and throws him to the ground in a central median. The Cancun taxi driver suffers from leg length discrepancy. The incident was videoed at the intersection of Tulum Avenue and Francisco I. Madero in Cancun.

It is not known what the two men were arguing about, however, after seeing the video, Imoveqroo authorities have requested his permanent removal from being able to hold a public driving job in the state.

The organization reported that it has requested the union permanently expel the driver, a measure that disqualifies him from working for any of the unionized transport services. Several nonunionized transportation companies have also been notified by Imoveqroo to ensure the man is not hired.

Public transportation in Quintana Roo must be a safe, inclusive, and violence-free space. The instructions are clear: zero tolerance for any form of aggression or behavior that endangers the well-being of citizens , the Institute stated.

The expulsion will prevent him from being able to work for the State Land Transportation Service, taxis, intercity transportation, Maya Caribe, Secciones, Isla, Turicun and Franja.

The vehicle involved was seized and will remain impounded for seven days. The Cancun combi driver has also been fined. According to the agency, the measure is part of the zero tolerance for violence policy on public transportation.
Armed men detained at police filter attempting to enter city of Chetumal

Chetumal, Q.R.  Two men were arrested from a Chetumal police checkpoint after attempting to enter the city with loaded weapons. The vehicle was inspected at the Chetumal police filter Sunday when the weapons were located.

The MG car, with State of Mexico plates, was pulled over Sunday afternoon at the checkpoint after police noticed the men inside acting nervous as they slowed through the filter.

During their inspection, authorities located two firearms, a shotgun (hidden in the upper part of the trunk) and a small revolver along with live ammunition, also hidden inside the trunk.

Oscar N and Carlos N were arrested and the vehicle and weapons seized. The seizure was carried out by agents of the State Preventive Police (PEP) when the subjects attempted to enter the city. Police have not said if Oscar N and Carlos N are also from the State of Mexico.
A new biography of a great man, especially one whose life is already rich with lore, is a delicate task. There is the temptation to attempt something new, or worse, to try to make the story relevanteven urgent, heaven forbidby inserting into the great ones life some zippy contemporary narrative (usually sexual). Contemporary biography imagines that people of the past only matter if they are to some degree secretly, transgressively, or subversively working to promote one of todays controlling ideas. Its a fundamentally gnostic approach to peoples personal histories, which insists that individuals only matter insofar as, in their own remote eras, they participated in the secret knowledge of the cultural mores of the late 2010s.

And so Joanne Pauls biography Thomas More: A Life is a pleasant surprise. Paul attempts none of the trendy choreography of many contemporary biographers. Her account of the saint and statesman is beautifully and simply biographical, devoid of unnecessary commentary, speculation, evaluation, or assessment. The book is not perfect; it would have benefited from a keen-eyed editor. But Paul clearly believes that the greatness of an extraordinary life originates in the details of that life, the day-to-day habits of mind and body, and whats more, she has such confidence in this belief that she is willing to let those details speak for themselvesa vital practice for a biographer.

In a quote printed on the front cover of the book, The Wall Street Journal describes Thomas More: A Life as cinematic. This is not, perhaps, the compliment the newspaper thinks it is. The term cinematic might lead prospective readers to expect a grandiose but grievously oversimplified narrative, the very opposite of what Paul gives us. Probably what the WSJ reviewer meant by cinematic is that the book is imaginatively interesting and has lots of images alongside its political and historical reporting. I was relieved to find that Thomas More: A Life is not, in fact, cinematic. Rather, it is literary, an unusual blend of virtuosic and restrained. Paul is not afraid of description, and she is secure enough in her material to weave a tapestry of images to support her historical research. The descriptions throughout the book are not spurious, however; the images she chooses become key to her subtle argument about the nature of great men in general, and St. Thomas More in particular.

History as Story

The book opens with a description of a citywide Candlemas procession in 1478 in London. When seen from above, she writes, the thousands of small flickering flames, as they met and merged through the streets of London, might appear as a single unwavering light. Add in the chapters epigraph from Mores Four Last ThingsFor as the flame is next to the smoke, so is death next to an incurable sickness, and such is all our lifeand the book immediately has the atmosphere of 15th-century London. I was impressed by this imagery from the outset, but when the book unostentatiously returned to the symbol of a candle flame at the end, this opening took on new meaning. Paul is not simply a historian; she is also a storyteller.

The book is pleasingly arranged, moving easily from detailed descriptions of Mores daily life to deep dives into cultural and political intricacies. Paul consistently makes good choices about how to organize her material. For example, early in the book she moves from a description of Mores young childhood days (before he started grammar school) into an account of the chaotic time after King Edward IVs death. She closes the section about Thomass childhood with the sentence, While Thomas slept next to his siblings, the rest of the city was meant to join him, but much business could occur in the darkness of the London streets. The next section begins, Dodging the night watch, William Mistlebrook rushed through the parish of St. Giles without Cripplegate This is simply a good transition, and a smart way to embed the details of her subjects life in its historical setting.

Individual sentences themselves, however, leave something to be desired: the rest of the city was meant to join him is an unpleasant construction. There are a number of moments like this where a small syntactical flaw interrupts the flow of the story, which made me wish Pauls editor had been more rigorous.

Pauls facility with her material is clear from her apparent delight in interweaving quotations, historical records, and her own descriptive prose. Though the biography is about St. Thomas More, it also gives detailed portraits of characters like John More (Thomass father), Margaret (More) Gibbs (his daughter), Erasmus, Germain de Brie, Edward IV, Cardinal Wolsey, Francis I of France, and scores of others.

Perhaps the most striking of these portraits is that of Henry VIII, who is usually remembered solely for actions in his last 15 years or so of life: his divorce of Catherine of Aragon and his many subsequent marriages. In Thomas More: A Life, we stand alongside a teenage Thomas More and meet a young Henry, a scholarly second son. From there, Paul documents how the kingdomand Morewelcomed Henry after his brother Arthur, Prince of Waless death, and saw his coronation as the possible beginning of a golden age of justice, wisdom, prudence, and courage in English rule. Paul devotes considerable space to Mores scholarly relationship with Henry and expounds on Henrys book responding to Luther. She rounds out the character of this archvillain of history beautifully, so much so that I hope she writes a biography of Henry VIII next.

Questions Answered and Unanswered

A figure like Thomas More is wrapped round with questions. What motivated him? Was he driven by ambition, called by greatness, or compelled by fate (or all three)? How consistent were his character and his desires throughout his life? Throughout Thomas More: A Life, the question of Mores motivations remains hazy. The clearest answer Paul gives is from Mores own Utopia, where his main character, Morus, says, Whatever play is being performed, perform it the best you can [] what you cannot turn to good you must at least make as little bad as you can. Perhaps that is all well ever know about Mores ambitions, but it seems that, in his volumes of writings and countless letters, there must be a little more clarity.

The chief question for me, however, was this: What caused More to decide that signing the Oath of Succession, which recognized Anne Boleyn as the kings lawful wife, was a bridge too far? By the time he was asked to agree that Henry VIIIs marriage to Catherine of Aragon was invalid, More had already participated to some degree in various injustices in the name of the king. After the Evil May Day Riots of 1517 that saw mobs assault foreigners living in London, which More tried personally to stop, More had to oversee executions (in his capacity as undersheriff of London at the time) that he apparently knew were unjust. Yet he did so, in service to his king. Why, then, was More immoveable when it came to signing the Oath, even after his entire family did so?

Paul deals with this question skillfully. The temptation with biography, as with all writing, is to tell rather than to show and in so doing to reduce an individual to a single moment. Paul resists this temptation ably, showing us Thomas Mores character developing over time, documented in letters, anecdotes, journal entries, and specific historical situations. Rather than telling us what we ought to think about the man, she shows us what he was like.

What emerges is a lovely surprise. Unlike the somewhat austere Thomas More of Robert Bolts A Man for All Seasons (which takes its title from a letter by Erasmus, referring to More), Paul introduces us to a cheerful, charming, industrious man whose decision to support his faith against his king came about somewhat by happenstance. The cataclysmic moment of his life came after his career was nearly over, after he had reached the summit of his ambitions and was beginning to descend the other side into a quiet and retiring life. Yet the faith that pushed him to his decision to be the kings good servant, and Gods first was there throughout, shaping and guiding him in his conversations, reflections, and choices.

Thomas More: A Life is not a perfect book. It needed a heavier editorial hand. In its caution to avoid dictating the terms of its narrative, it sidesteps some fairly obvious questions. What motivated Thomas More throughout his relentless, often grueling career? He was financially prosperous by mid-career, and he frequently lamented the increasing demands of his work. Did he simply accept new challenges as they arose, or was he seeking more influence? Again, I wonder if the answers are to be found in Mores correspondence. But it is a valiant book and well worth the read. Even as it demystifies the saint, statesman, and martyr, Pauls account reminds us that our lives are shaped not by one momentous decision but by the thousands of tiny decisions that form the core of who we are.
SEOUL, South Korea, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 29, the launch ceremony of the 7th Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation (Guangzhou Award) took place in Seoul, South Korea, during the Metropolis Board of Directors Meeting, a key event marking Metropolis' 40th anniversary. Mr. Hu Hao, Vice Mayor of Guangzhou, Mr. Jordi Vaquer, Secretary-General of Metropolis, and Ms. Emilia Saiz, Secretary-General of UCLG, attended and delivered speeches.

On behalf of the Guangzhou Municipal Government, Mr. Hu Hao announced the opening of the 7th Guangzhou Award. Through six previous editions, the Award has attracted participation from cities and local governments in over 100 countries and regions, offering valuable insights into enhancing urban governance capabilities. As the initiator and promoter of the Award, Guangzhou sincerely invites cities around the world to participate, share innovative governance solutions, and contribute wisdom and strength to building an open, inclusive, and sustainable community with a shared future for humankind.

Mr. Vaquer and Ms. Saiz acknowledged the role of the Guangzhou Award in promoting global urban innovation and mutual learning, and reviewed the Guangzhou Award's efforts and achievements in fostering cooperation and sustainable development among cities worldwide. They stated that the Award has become a vital platform for showcasing local governance experiences and advancing global sustainable agendas. They encouraged more cities to submit their initiatives to jointly address global challenges such as climate change, social equity, and inclusive development, and to build more sustainable, resilient cities for the future.

During the ceremony, representatives from Guangzhou, UCLG, Metropolis, and the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries joined the stage. The event culminated as the distinguished guests jointly unrolled a scroll symbolizing the global call for submissions, officially marking the launch of the 7th Guangzhou Award.

The Guangzhou Award was jointly established in 2012 by the City of Guangzhou, UCLG, and Metropolis. Its aim is to promote sustainable urban development and international cooperation by recognizing and disseminating innovative practices in urban governance. To date, six editions have been held, attracting over 1,600 initiatives worldwide. The Award has become a global platform for the exchange and sharing of advanced urban governance experiences.

Please visit the website to learn more about the detailed guidelines and follow the updates:

https://www.guangzhouaward.org/p/the7th?lang=en

SOURCE Guangzhou Award Secretariat
Revisiting the Geoengineering Question

Posted on 29 September 2025 by Zeke Hausfather

This is a re-post from The Climate Brink

I have a new guest essay in the New York Times with David Keith that builds off my earlier Climate Brink post The Geoengineering Question. Below Ive included some more detailed thoughts that couldnt make it into the published piece given the word limit constraints.

We are already geoengineering the planet today, but badly. Humans are cooling the climate today by emitting 75 million metric tons of sulfur dioxide into the lower atmosphere, almost entirely as a byproduct of burning fossil fuels. This cooling offsets about 0.5C of warming that would have otherwise occurred from CO2 and other greenhouse gases, but it comes at the cost of millions of premature deaths per year caused by the sulfate aerosols.

Sulfur emissions are declining sharply as countries started cleaning up air pollution. Global SO2 emissions today are 48% lower than they were in 1979 and 40% lower than in 2006 (China saw a massive 70% decline since 2008!). This is the primary contributor to the acceleration in global warming in recent years. Cutting air pollution saves lives and is unequivocally worth doing, but it is also driving about a quarter (~0.14C) of the approximately 0.5C warming the world has experienced between 2007 and 2024.

This raises a question worth debating: would it be worth considering putting a tiny portion of the sulfur we currently emit into the upper atmosphere to compensate for additional warming we will experience as we cut air pollution?

The limits of geoengineering

There are a number of approaches proposed to geoengineer the planet, but nearly all of them have one thing in common: they work by making the earth more reflective, reducing the amount of sunlight reaching the surface. This is the same mechanism (more or less) through which sulfur emitted as air pollution currently cools the planet.

The most plausible pathway is to put sulfur in the upper atmosphere (the stratosphere), mimicking the effect of large volcanic eruptions. This is reasonable well studied and modeled. Unlike in the lower atmosphere, sulfate aerosols have a relatively long residence time in the stratosphere; they cool the planet for years compared to the days that they last when emitted as air pollution. This means youd need a lot less  around 50x less  sulfur to have the same cooling effect in the stratosphere vs the lower atmosphere (the troposphere).

Aerosols are also reasonably well distributed in the stratosphere rather than localized as in the troposphere, resulting in much less human exposure to air pollution; there is more than 100x less health impact per unit of cooling.

But there are some pretty significant downsides. Stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) would disrupt precipitation patterns and potentially damage the ozone layer in large deployments. It does not stop other impacts of atmospheric CO2 accumulation like ocean acidification. The geopolitics are also messy; once someone starts doing it they risk owning the weather, with any event (say, a late monsoon in India) being hard to prove unrelated to the intervention.

But the biggest downside of geoengineering is that it does not actually solve the underlying problem. As we note in the NYT piece:

There is also a more fundamental limitation to sunlight reflection. It is effectively a Band-Aid that treats the symptoms of climate change but not the underlying disease of greenhouse gases. And unlike a skinned knee, the Earth does not heal from climate change on any time scale that matters for human societies. Warming from carbon dioxide is astonishingly persistent; much of what we emit today will warm the planet for many thousands of years to come. Even if the world drives emissions down to zero, the planet wouldnt cool back down for millennia. The only durable way to return to cooler temperatures is to remove the excess carbon we have already added, and removing enough to reverse even 0.1 degree Celsius of warming would cost tens of trillions of dollars. This means that the real risk of geoengineering is not some Hollywood-style catastrophe, but complacency. A cheap way to delay the effects of warming risks undermining the need to rapidly reduce emissions, and going down that path would risk locking our children into a dependency where even stopping the process becomes too expensive to contemplate.

The potential for mitigation deterrence is the biggest risk of this technology, and once we start it will be easy to fall into a trap where it would be too expensive (through carbon removal) or too damaging (through termination shock) to ever stop.

A modest limit

We hope we wont ever need geoengineering. The world can still come together and rapidly reduce emissions to limit warming to well-below 2C this century. But a lot of things are moving in the wrong direction today. There are a lot of worrying unknowns in the climate system from the magnitude of climate sensitivity and carbon cycle feedbacks to the risk of unforeseen tipping points.

It may be that we reach a point that the impacts are so bad that the push for some short-term respite becomes impossible for policymakers to ignore. If we go down that path, we need to be absolutely sure that any climate intervention is narrowly focused with a clear off-ramp. To that end, we propose that replacing the cooling from current air pollution be used as a clear, enforceable upper limit. And it should come with a clear off-ramp: as the world reaches net-zero emissions and scales up carbon removal technologies later in the century, the program ratchets down to zero. Set the rules so the only direction allowed over time is toward retirement. As we say in the piece:

Given all this, we are not advocating deploying geoengineering today. But if policymakers decide that it is needed, a more modest approach would be to run a small, carefully scaled program that slightly increases the upper atmospheres reflectivity to compensate for the loss of cooling as sulfur pollution is eliminated. The goal would not be to dial the Earth to some preferred temperature, nor to offset all greenhouse warming. It would be to keep the total cooling from sulfur roughly constant for a period of time, reducing near-term climate risk while decarbonization efforts continue. As world leaders gather in New York for the U.N. General Assembly and Climate Week, any discussions of sunlight reflection should have a clear, enforceable commitment to never cool the Earth more than todays current sulfur emissions do. And it should come with a clear off-ramp: As the world reaches net-zero emissions and scales up carbon removal technologies later this century, the program should end. Pacing matters as much as limits. If society ever chooses to test this approach, it should start small and move slowly. Tying it to reductions in air pollution allows a slow ramp-up, resulting in increments that are imperceptible to most of us but visible to satellites and sensors. This should be coupled with regular checkpoints to assess side effects on regional rainfall, the atmosphere and ozone. The intent is to buy a modest, temporary buffer, not to start a new arm of climate control.

There is a real risk of a slippery slope here; if we start the pressure to kick the proverbial can of expensive mitigation down the road could prove intense. And a world where the symptoms of climate change are masked could reduce the impetus to pursue a cure. But the argument that we need to accept potentially vast human suffering to force action is equally morally problematic as climate change becomes significantly more severe in coming decades.

Geoengineering should not be a technocratic shortcut. If we ever need to use it, it should be as a narrow, temporary option to limit near-term warming while we do the hard work of getting to net-zero emissions and, ultimately, drawing down the carbon we have already emitted. It is emphatically not a substitute for decarbonization. If it ever happens, it should happen within strict bounds that make complacency harder, not easier.

We should debate those bounds now, before heat waves, crop failures, or tipping-point fears goad governments into ill-considered action. The world stumbled into todays accidental sulfur cooling without intention or oversight. We should not stumble into a replacement. If society chooses to consider deliberate sunlight reflection at all, it should be with clear limits, slow steps, relentless measurement, and a plan to shut it down.

Gift link to NY Times piece
Xinhua News Agency: Ahead of UNGAs 80th session, several U.S. lawmakers released a statement, accusing the Chinese mainland of misrepresentation of UNGA Resolution 2758, claiming that the mainland has sought to falsely conflate UNGA Resolution 2758 with its One China Principle and diplomatically isolate Taiwan, and calling on the international community to support Taiwans meaningful participation in the UN and its agencies. What is your comment?

Guo Jiakun: The Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation explicitly demand that all the territories Japan has stolen from the Chinese, such as Formosa and the Pescadores, shall be restored to China. This constitutes an important part of the post-WWII international order. Taiwan is part of China. It was based on this fact and prerequisite that in 1971, the 26th session of UNGA adopted Resolution 2758 with an overwhelming majority, restoring all lawful rights of the Peoples Republic of China in the UN. The resolution reaffirmed that there is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinas territory, the government of the Peoples Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and there is no such thing as two Chinas or one China, one Taiwan.

To this day, UNGA Resolution 2758 remains a valid and relevant document. It established not only the iron rule that must not be bent, but also an absolute principle that is part and parcel of the existing international order. Anything said or done to challenge the resolution amounts to an attempt to shake the foundation of the post-war international order and interfere in Chinas internal affairs. Such attempts will not succeed.

From a historic perspective, during UNGAs deliberation on the draft of Resolution 2758, a couple of countries put together a dual representation proposal to create two Chinas or one China, one Taiwan. The proposal never passed and was ditched. What did not happen back then will certainly not happen today.

From a legal perspective, the UNGA Resolution resolved once and for all the question of the representation of the whole of China, including Taiwan, in the UN. The resolution has extensive legal authority. From 1971 to 1972, agencies of the UN system successively expelled representatives of the Taiwan authorities and restored the lawful seats of the Peoples Republic of China in accordance with the resolution. The UN Secretariat also issued clear legal opinions emphasizing that Taiwan has no independent status as a province of China.

In practice, since the adoption of UNGA Resolution 2758, the UN system and other international and regional organizations have adhered to the one-China principle and made it clear that any matter related to the Taiwan regions participation in the activities of international organizations shall be handled under the one-China principle. The UN official documents refer to Taiwan only as Taiwan, province of China. In total, 183 countries have established diplomatic relations with China on the basis of the one-China principle.

Let me stress once again that the future of the Taiwan region lies in the reunification of China. With a strong and prosperous motherland, our Taiwan compatriots will enjoy broader space for development and they will feel more secure and dignified. Nothing whatsoever will ever stop Chinas reunification.

Reuters: The K visa has generated a lot of interest worldwide. Could you share any new information or details on the K visa that will come into effect this Wednesday, from the application process and fee involved to any benefits and incentives the Chinese government will offer to K visa holders?

Guo Jiakun: To promote exchanges and cooperation between young science and technology talents from China and other countries, China decided to add a new type of visa to its ordinary visa categories, namely, K visa. For more details about the K visa, I would refer you to the information soon to be released by Chinese embassies and consulates overseas.

China Review News: The Taiwan authorities have in recent weeks sent people in various capacities to visit countries under different pretexts. Can I have your comment on that?

Guo Jiakun: We have noted the developments.

The Lai Ching-te authorities send people in so-called private or unofficial capacity to countries in the name of promoting trade, tech and culture, through which they blatantly peddle disinformation and fallacies to advance their separatist agenda, woo external forces to back their quest for Taiwan independence and hide their embarrassing governing incompetence through boastful acts. Theyve put on a hideous show in front of the world only to once again lay bare their nefarious agenda and despicable game. Nothing they do will ever change the fact that Taiwan is part of China, or the overwhelming international commitment to the one-China principle.

Let me stress again that there is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinas territory, and the government of the Peoples Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. This is a prevailing international consensus and a basic norm governing international relations. The one-China principle is the prerequisite and basis for the establishment and development of diplomatic ties between China and all other countries. Certain Western politicians, to seek selfish interests, are hellbent on having official interactions with the Taiwan region. That is bound to have an impact on bilateral trust and mutually beneficial cooperation with China. We urge the countries concerned to adhere to their political commitment to China, honor their commitment to one-China through concrete action, make sure that relevant politicians make a clean break with Taiwan independence separatists, and not continue to stand on the opposite side of over 1.4 billion Chinese people.

Nothing will stop the Chinese people from realizing our just cause of national reunification. Nothing will cut the overwhelming international commitment to the one-China principle. Any attempt to challenge the one-China principle, the international rule of law, or the international order will be jointly rejected by the entire Chinese nation and the people of any peace-loving country that supports justice.

Reuters: Nathan Law was denied entry to Singapore on Saturday and was sent back to the U.S. where he flew from. Does Singapore still have an extradition treaty with Hong Kong? Should Singapore not have sent Nathan Law back to Hong Kong instead?

Guo Jiakun: Im not familiar with that. Countries have the right to make their own decisions regarding entry and exit affairs. The person you mentioned faces an arrest warrant of the Hong Kong police for engaging in anti-China activities and seeking to destabilize Hong Kong.

China Daily: The Taiwan authorities have recently released the latest National Ocean Policy White Paper, claiming that in recent years, the activities of the coast guard vessels from the mainland around Diaoyu Dao disturbed Japanese vessels and fishing ships in relevant waters. They added that the mainland used that to demonstrate their sovereignty over the disputed island. Whats Chinas comment?

Guo Jiakun: Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands have always been Chinas territory. Facing provocation that harms Chinas territorial sovereignty, the Chinese government absolutely needs to do everything necessary in its response. The countermeasures are legitimate, lawful and fully justified.

Both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one and the same China. To uphold national sovereignty and territorial integrity is the shared responsibility of all Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. The DPP authorities have called white black, betrayed their ancestors, completely forfeited the national stance, and undermined the interests of the Chinese nation as a whole. Their moves once again reveal how far the Taiwan independence separatist forces would go without any moral boundary in order to seek selfish political gains. What awaits them is contempt from the Chinese people on both sides of the Strait and the judgement of history.

Reuters: During Foreign Minister Wang Yis meeting with his North Korean counterpart Choe Son Hui, he said its our responsibility to jointly promote regional peace and development. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said North Korea will never give up its nuclear weapons. Does China support North Koreas use and development of nuclear weapons for self-defense?

Guo Jiakun: On the talks between Chinese and DPRK foreign ministers, China has released a readout, which you may refer to. Chinas position and policy on the Korean Peninsula issue maintain continuity and consistency. China will continue playing a constructive role in its own way to keep the Peninsula peaceful and stable and promote the political settlement of the Peninsula issue.

Bloomberg: The Wall Street Journal reported that Chinese negotiators are pushing the U.S. to change the U.S.s stance on the Taiwan question. The Chinese negotiators are asking the U.S. to officially declare that it opposes Taiwan independence. Previously, the statement from the U.S. has been that it does not support independence. Can you confirm that China is requesting the U.S. to oppose Taiwan independence? And can you give us any more details?

Guo Jiakun: The Taiwan question is at the core of Chinas core interests and the first red line that must not be crossed in China-U.S. relations. The one-China principle is a basic norm in international relations and a prevailing international consensus. It is also the political foundation of China-U.S. relations. Upholding the one-China principle absolutely entails opposing Taiwan independence.

Bloomberg: Just now you said upholding the one-China principle entails opposing Taiwan independence. The U.S. does not uphold the one-China principle. The U.S. has a one-China policy which is different. So is your request to the U.S. now that they change the one-China policy which they uphold to oppose the independence of Taiwan?

Guo Jiakun: I have responded to the issue. We urge the U.S. to handle Taiwan-related issues in accordance with the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques.

The Paper: Its reported that at least 36 people were killed and over 50 people injured in a stampede at a campaign rally of a popular actor in Tamil Nadu, India, on September 27, according to the states chief minister. Whats Chinas comment?

Guo Jiakun: We take note of the tragedy and express our deep condolences for the victims. Our heart goes out to their families and those who are injured. In the wake of the incident, Chinas embassy in India expressed grief and sympathies. According to what weve learned, no Chinese fatalities or injuries have been reported so far.
Executive Chef Rene Aflenzer Showcases Globally Inspired Menus with Locally Sourced Ingredients

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Atlas Ocean Voyages, the leader in intimate, yacht-style expeditions, is proud to announce the launch of its enhanced culinary program. Under the visionary leadership of Corporate Executive Chef Rene Aflenzer, guests aboard Atlas' luxury expedition yachts will discover an array of innovative dishes that celebrate artistry, seasonality, and authentic regional flavors.

Chef Aflenzer recently returned from a sourcing journey across Argentina, where he collaborated with local farmers, vintners, and artisans to bring the freshest seasonal ingredients to guests aboard Atlas' luxury expedition yachts. These partnerships ensure that locally sourced fish, prime proteins, fresh produce, regional wines and seafood are featured throughout the onboard dining experience.

"Food is an integral part of exploration," said Chef Aflenzer. "Guests deserve a culinary journey as rich and inspiring as the destinations we visit. Our menus are designed to surprise and delight, blending creative presentation, exceptional quality, and fresh regional flavors."

Atlas guests can enjoy Chef Aflenzer's creations across all onboard dining venues  including the elegant Main Restaurant, the al fresco 7Aft Grill, casual Paula's Pantry grab-and-go cafe, and 24-hour room service.

"Our culinary program is one of the cornerstones of the Atlas experience," said James A. Rodriguez, President & CEO of Atlas Ocean Voyages. "Chef Rene's commitment to quality and innovation continues to elevate the dining experience for our valued guests. His creativity, passion, and the talented team of culinary professionals aboard our ships are delivering beyond expectations. Our guest feedback and consistently strong ratings are proof that Atlas dining is truly exceptional."

Curated Culinary Highlights

Atlas' 2025 menu rollout is divided into distinctive categories, offering guests a wide range of dining options designed to inspire the senses:

Starter course highlights

Chilled Tomato Essence  smoked cherry tomato, basil oil

Raw Hamachi  aqua de chile espuma, soybean-parsley & dill salad, herb oil

Cured Mackerel  verjus dressing, parsley oil, Giaveri Oscietra caviar

Signature Main Course highlights

Chilean Seabass Tiradito  yuzu-passion fruit leche de tigre, pickled cucumber, crispy quinoa

Lobster Ravioli  garlic butter sauce, salmon skin

Veal Tenderloin  finished with Porto wine au jus

Plant-Based course highlights

Grilled Romaine Caesar Salad  herbed white beans

Roasted White Onion  wild mushroom ragout, hazelnut, parsnip cream

The Aubergine Mess  hummus, lychee, fresh herbs, chimichurri

Additional offerings include kartofelnie, plant-based moussaka, vegetable curry, and more

Dessert course highlights

Infinity Chocolate Peanut Butter cake

Pistachio Tart | Pistachio Caramel Sauce | Crumble

Culinary Discovery Beyond the Yacht

In addition to onboard dining, Atlas Ocean Voyages continues to expand its Epicurean Expeditions, with new 2026 and 2027 expeditions returning to the Mediterranean. These immersive sailings offer guests exclusive culinary-focused programming, including guest chefs, wine pairings, market-to-table experiences, and shoreside tastings designed to connect travelers with the rich gastronomic traditions of the regions they explore.

For information and reservations, call a travel advisor or 1.844.442.8527 or visit www.AtlasOceanVoyages.com. Follow Atlas on Facebook and Instagram: facebook.com/AtlasOceanVoyages or instagram.com/AtlasOceanVoyages.

About Atlas Ocean Voyages

Atlas Ocean Voyages is a luxury expedition cruise line offering highly curated journeys to some of the world's most captivating destinationsincluding Antarctica, the Arctic, the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, South America, and the Caribbean. Guests sail aboard a fleet of state-of-the-art expedition yachts, each featuring fewer than 100 elegantly appointed suites and staterooms to ensure an intimate, highly personalized, all-inclusive onboard experience. Atlas Ocean Voyages is designed for discerning explorers, offering year-round expeditions that include Polar, Epicurean, and Cultural experiences. Each journey is carefully crafted to provide immersive and meaningful travel experiences, complete with expert-led enrichment activities throughout the year.

Imagery may be downloaded here.

SOURCE Atlas Ocean Voyages
On September 26, 2025, President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to Arthur Peter Mutharika on his election as President of the Republic of Malawi.

Xi Jinping pointed out that China and Malawi are good friends and good partners with sincerity, friendship and mutual support. President-elect Arthur Peter Mutharika made significant contributions to the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2007. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the China-Malawi relationship has developed steadily and smoothly, with continuous deepening of political mutual trust and fruitful outcomes in practical cooperation. The two countries have supported each other on issues related to their respective core interests and major concerns. President Xi Jinping expressed his readiness to work with President-elect Arthur Peter Mutharika to firmly support each other, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and promote the continuous development of China-Malawi strategic partnership, so as to bring more benefits to the two peoples.
On the morning of September 29, 2025, Premier Li Qiang of the State Council met with Foreign Minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Choe Son Hui at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Li Qiang said that China and the DPRK are neighbors connected by mountains and rivers, and share a time-honored, ever-growing and profound friendship across generations. Earlier this month, General Secretary Xi Jinping held a meeting with General Secretary Kim Jong Un in Beijing, reaching important common understandings on deepening and developing China-DPRK friendly and cooperative relations. China has always viewed and advanced the development of China-DPRK relations from a strategic and long-term perspective. China is ready to work with DPRK to implement the common understandings reached by the top leaders of the two Parties and two countries, further promote traditional friendship, strengthen strategic communication, and jointly advance the socialist cause of both countries for the greater benefit of the two peoples.

Li Qiang pointed out that China is ready to maintain close exchanges and interactions at all levels with the DPRK, deepen mutual understanding and friendship, carry out pragmatic cooperation in various fields, and work together to promote common development. China appreciates the DPRK's consistent and firm support on issues related to China's core interests and major concerns, and is willing to continue deepening cooperation with the DPRK to better safeguard the common interests of both countries. Li Qiang expressed the hope that the foreign ministries of both countries will enhance coordination and steadily advance various tasks.

Choe Son Hui said that the recent meaningful and fruitful meeting between the top leaders of the two Parties and two countries has charted the course for the development of DPRK-China relations. Consolidating and developing relations with China is an unwavering stance of the DPRK, and serves the fundamental interests of both countries and their peoples. She sincerely wishes China's continuous and new achievements on the path toward advancing modernization and national rejuvenation under the wise leadership of General Secretary Xi Jinping. The DPRK fully supports the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind and the four global initiatives put forth by General Secretary Xi Jinping, and will continue to firmly support China's position on issues concerning China's core interests, including Taiwan, Xinjiang, Xizang, and Hong Kong. The DPRK looks forward to working with China to implement the important common understandings reached by the top leaders of the two Parties and two countries, strengthen high-level exchanges, enhance communication between the foreign ministries of both countries, promote pragmatic cooperation, and deepen multilateral collaboration.
Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote nothing when the Supreme Court repudiated the constitutional right to abortion in the Dobbs decision three years ago. She wasnt obliged to write, of course; it was her vote that counted, the crucial fifth vote that gave Justice Samuel Alito his majority. Still, her silence stood out, and not only because two other members of the majority, Justices Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh, wrote concurring opinions to explain their contrasting views of the decisions larger implications.

I thought at the time that, considering the rushed confirmation in the first Trump administrations waning weeks that gave her the seat long held by one of the courts strongest supporters of abortion rights, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, she owed the country some kind of statement. Dobbs wouldnt have happened without her, after all. I suppose I wanted some acknowledgment of that fact, some indication that she had not only cast her vote but owned it.

Most specifically, I hoped that she might elaborate on an astonishing observation she made during oral argument on Dec. 1, 2021. One of the arguments for retaining the right to abortion was thatas the Supreme Court held in its 1992 Casey decisionwomens ability to control their reproductive lives is an essential element of equality. Barrett rejected that idea. Bearing a child need not stand in the way of a womans professional advancement, she said, because safe haven laws allow mothers to drop off their unwanted newborns in a secure place anonymously and without consequences. Why didnt you address the safe haven laws, and why dont they matter? she asked the lawyer who was defending Roe v. Wade on behalf of a Mississippi clinic. Listening to the livestreamed argument, I gasped at hearing a woman who had willingly carried five pregnancies to term so casually assume that any woman, even one who had not voluntarily chosen motherhood, could simply walk away. When the argument ended, the outcome appearing a foregone conclusion, I bolted from my desk to clear my head in the cold December air.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Six months later came Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, and Justice Barretts silence. And now, more than three years after that decision, comes her book Listening to the Law, for which she reportedly received a $2 million advance from Sentinel, a conservative imprint of Penguin Random House. Containing almost nothing that might be considered personal, it is not a memoir. Rather, its a description of how, approaching five years on the bench, she sees her job: a defense both of originalism as a method of constitutional interpretation and of reliance on a laws text, rather than its purpose, to discern statutory meaning. Of the books 246 pages, fewer than three concern Dobbs.

A person with something to say can pack a lot into three pages, so I began to read with some anticipation. I didnt expect Barrett to critique Dobbs, so it was no surprise that she echoed the structure and assumptions of the majority opinion she signed: The Constitution doesnt mention abortion; the procedure was widely illegal in 1973, when the court decided Roe v. Wade. (Although, as neither she nor Alito acknowledged, abortion was not illegal and was widely practiced earlier in the countrys history.)

Advertisement

What did surprise me was how Barrett misappropriated a well-known critique that Ginsburg had made of Roe in a law school lecture 33 years ago. Misappropriation is a strong charge, I know. But what else is taking snippets from an academic lecture that then-Judge Ginsburgwho, like Barrett, was a former law professorgave at a law school 28 years before her death and deploying them to justify an outcome from which RBG would have powerfully dissented?

Related From Slate The Supreme Court Just Rewrote the Constitution to Give Trump Terrifying New Powers Read More

Yes, in her 1992 address at New York University School of Law, remarks she titled Speaking in a Judicial Voice, Ginsburg, a year from becoming a Supreme Court justice, did say that the breadth of the courts opinion in Roe created prolonged divisiveness and deferred stable settlement of the issue. She did suggest, as Barrett characterizes her point, that getting ahead of the American people came at a cost. (In fact, polling on the eve of Roe showed widespread public support for abortions decriminalization.)

Advertisement

Advertisement

But Ginsburg also said in that lecture that the Texas law the court struck down intolerably shackled a womans autonomy. Barrett didnt quote that phrase. Nor did she explain that what Ginsburg was saying was not that the court had reached the wrong result, but that Roe would have been a more stable, less vulnerable decision had it been based on the 14th Amendments explicit guarantee of equal protection rather than on the more elusive concept of constitutional due process. And much of the address was devoted to an account of a case that Ruth Ginsburg, in her pre-judicial days as a litigator, had tried to bring to the Supreme Court in order to create an equal-protection basis for womens reproductive freedom. The case fizzled before the justices could hear it, to her lasting regret.

Advertisement

Advertisement

In other words, in a single paragraph, Barrett turned a woman who believed that the right to abortion was essential to womens liberty into a font of Roe v. Wade criticism. I dont think Im wrong to hear a defensive tone in the way Barrett uses Ginsburgs words to legitimize her own position; its as if she is saying: See, even the great liberal icon RBG didnt like Roe. In any event, critiquing Roe in 1992 is a very far cry from overturning it 30 years later. In her account, Barrett does not even address what it means, to the court and to those whom the decision affects, to upend so consequential a Supreme Court precedent.

Advertisement

In her five years as a Supreme Court justice, Barrett has shown herself to be a precise thinker and careful writer. What makes me sad is that her use of Ginsburgs long-ago comments is not even original. The anti-abortion crowd has been quoting from that lecture for years. The snippets she has deployed are familiar weapons in the culture war, worn out through misuse, irrelevant to the reality in which women today, as in the past, will do what they need to do to retain control of their lives.

Barrett has titled her book Listening to the Law. Anyone listening three years ago for Amy Coney Barretts voice did so in vain. What they heard instead was the court calling Roe v. Wade egregiously wrong. Whatever American women made of that message, they are having more abortions now than they did then.
Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily.

The lengthy, bizarre political career of New York City Mayor Eric Adams has arrived at its inevitable, ignominious end. On Sunday afternoonjust weeks after insisting he was not dropping out of the race and taking a job with the Trump administrationAdams tweeted a suitably overwrought video from the steps of Gracie Mansion, the official mayoral residence, declaring that he was no longer seeking a second term, though hed serve out the rest of the year and remain on the general-election ballot as a solo member of the SafeAndAffordable and EndAntisemitism party lines.

Only in America. Only in New York.

Thank you for making my story a reality. pic.twitter.com/efHuyBnITJ  Eric Adams (@ericadamsfornyc) September 28, 2025

I cannot continue my reelection campaign, Adams humbly submitted on camera as he sat next to a large headshot of his late mother, with Frank Sinatras My Way playing in the background. The mayor then pivoted to a rhetorical tack fitting of the president hes been sucking up to all year, and who just so happens to love that song. Our children are being radicalized to hate our city and our country, Adams intoned. Major change is welcome and necessary, but beware of those who claim the answer is to destroy the very system we built together over generations.

It was classic Eric Adams fare: calling back to his local familial roots, then drifting toward a mishmash of incoherent culture-war gripes and paeans to the machine politics that his constituents had rejected this round. While Adams didnt name (or endorse) anyone throughout the nearly nine-minute clip, it appears hed initially intended to make things a little personal: An early draft of his remarks included barbs at fellow candidate Andrew Cuomo as someone who cannot be trusted, according to the New York Times. Yet those comments were cut from the final video, and Cuomo himself appeared to have only warm words for his rival. I believe he is sincere in putting the well-being of New York City ahead of personal ambition, tweeted the disgraced ex-governor. We face destructive extremist forces that would devastate our city through incompetence or ignorance, but it is not too late to stop them.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

It was clear to whom Adams and Cuomo were respectively referring in their wishy-washy statements about destructive elements: mayoral front-runner Zohran Mamdani, the millennial democratic socialist who upturned the citys establishment politics with his shocking victory in the Democratic primary this June. Whatever their personal beef, the moderate Adams and Cuomo undoubtedly still hope to keep the leftist Mamdani away from Gracie Mansion and will coordinate accordingly, perhaps with more direct meddling from President Donald Trump and billionaires like Bill Ackman. (Adams adviser Frank Carone now plans to work for a pro-Cuomo super PAC.)

At this point, with just a little over a month left until the election, and with Mamdani maintaining double-digit polling leads, those pathways are more foreclosed than ever. Adams, for his part, has not seen his numbers crack 12 percent in any major survey since July; the most recent Beacon Research poll found him sitting at a measly 7 percent. Its an incredibly humiliating comedown for a mayor who, after winning the primary four years ago, was hailed as the future of the Democratic Partyonly to end up the first indicted sitting mayor in NYC history, dodging the charges only by trading one corrupt deal (unsubtle quid pro quo deals with Turkish government officials and kickbacks for his deputies) for another (supplicating himself before the Trump regime and welcoming its brutal mistreatment of the citys immigrants in exchange for legal immunity).

Advertisement

Adams, whos blaming the media, Mamdani, and (frequently flouted) campaign finance regulations for his political demise, owns every bit of this downfall. Whatever the wealthiest residents, establishment leaders, and pundits will now say to whitewash his legacy, one thing should be stated forthrightly: Adams was a terrible mayor who, by any measure, made the city worse through a combination of petty vehemence and delusional self-absorption. No matter what you think of Mamdani, New York is better off without Adams in power.

Advertisement

There were the spirited promises that actually brought him to victorybut were discarded once he entered office. A resolve to expand predecessor Bill de Blasios single greatest accomplishment, access to universal pre-K, transformed into fatal neglect of the program. A pledge to boost parks funding ended with department layoffs and return to disrepair for many of New Yorks beloved green spaces. Recommendations to improve business conditions for street vendors and compensation for delivery workers gave way to vetoes of bills that would do just those things. Plans to make city roads safer and to improve nonautomotive transit ended with crackdowns on otherwise-popular car-free streets, e-bikes, bike lanes that Adams donors (and car drivers) wanted gone. Advocacy for New Yorks vibrant LGBTQ+ community turned into transphobic fearmongering and the hiring of homophobic officials.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Initiatives for boosting the citys scarce housing stock came to some fruition, but Adams spent much of the past four years allowing residential landlords to hike tenant rents by unfathomable amounts and refusing to provide tenant relief. Reachouts to immigrant communities were soon replaced by speeches claiming that migrants would destroy New York City and dismissing their due process rights. Declarations to reform law enforcement and increase transparency were cast aside as former cop Adams failed to pursue substantive accountability for officers accused of brutality, allowed stop and frisk to come back, and ousted his handpicked commissioner to stop her from taking the rare step of punishing (i.e., taking away a few vacation days from) a police chief who abused his authority.

In fairness, Adams did face challenges that would have been difficult for any mayor to navigate. He inherited a city that was especially hurt by the economic downturns from the COVID-19 pandemic, an unstable situation whose consequences manifested a small rise in violent crime and escalation of racist attacks against East Asian Americans. Then there were the asylum-seekers who were flown from the southern border to NYC by vindictive Republican governors; Adams job was only made more difficult thanks to the Biden administration, which bafflingly refused to offer federal services and support of the type it had provided when Ukrainian war refugees were resettling stateside. Even when those crises abated in their severity, New York remained a hot spot for high-profile news: the Diddy trial, the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, the TikTok-infamous street punchers, this summers mass shooting outside the NFLs headquarters. Its never easy to effectively govern a one-of-a-kind city with a greater population than many U.S. states and even foreign countries; its only harder when youre a measly mayor, at the mercy of your state and federal governments, unable even to dictate policy with regard to your iconic subway.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Yet, when faced with adversity, Adams never knuckled up for any fights on principle, choosing only to take the easiest and most comfortable way out. (Here, he was assisted by a constellation of crooked hangers-on, many of whom were quick to use their perch to give handouts to their friends or straight-up bribe anyone else as deemed necessary.) But the city doesnt need someone else who takes four years to figure out that just throwing cops everywhere and gutting public services is not any sort of solution to urban crime. Forget the commentators who will claim that Adams had a good mayoralty in spite of his corruption. Corruption and self-interest were endemic to Adams rule, from the campaign funds he allegedly embezzled with the help of Turkish funders during his 2021 run, to the commercial leases and seats of power granted to pals with glaring conflicts of interest, to the eager courtship of the rich New Yorkers who fear Zohran Mamdaniyet are, gradually, coming to terms with his seemingly inevitable victory.

Ironically, its Adams very own malfeasance and inability to govern that have inspired New Yorkers to take a chance on Mamdani, a candidate who appears far more willing to buck the forces that ail the city, instead of openly leeching from them for his benefit. Thats probably the most positive thing one can say about his legacy.
Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily.

With Gaza cut off from food and aid, activists have taken matters into their own hands, attempting to circumvent Israels blockade themselves via the Mediterranean.

One of the boat passengers is Zue Jernstedt, a veteran and member of About Face: Veterans Against the War. Shes on the so-called veterans boat of the Global Sumud Flotilla, a group of 52 vessels making their way east. For the past five months, boats have been attempting this journey. Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg got arrested when making this trip back in June; this time, Jernstedt is traveling alongside Thunberg.

Israel has warned the activists to stay away. As Jernstedt and the rest of the flotilla get closer, Israels warnings feel more like threats.

On a recent episode of What Next, host Mary Harris spoke to Jernstedt about why shes joined the movement to deliver aid to Gaza. The episode was recorded on Thursday, and this transcript has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Mary Harris: How did you get connected with the flotilla?

Zue Jernstedt: I worked with ISM, the International Solidarity Movement, in the West Bank. I worked with a Palestinian American who was actually there first and did the training with me. We spent our first few weeks together before she went home. She messaged me about the flotilla a few weeks ago. And I signed up and left within a week.

If I heard about a flotilla delivering aid to Gaza, with a very high likelihood of the Israeli military targeting me, spending weeks on a boat with people I didnt know beforehand, Im not sure I would jump to sign up. Why did you?

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Honestly, I dont think everyone should jump to sign up. It is a very difficult thing. I jumped to sign up because my friend told me there was a veterans boat.

Why did you want to be with veterans?

We all know the standard operating procedure. We all have our basic orders. We can all operate under stress.

You have a shared language.

Exactly, and we all speak very directly to each other. We dont get as upset about personal things. Everyone here is great, and we lean on each other for emotional support. But when things are rough, we dont have to coddle each other. No one whines about having to clean the bathroom or having a night shift. We know what has to get done, and its something weve done before. So, the fact that I knew I would be with other veterans who believe that Gaza should not be starved and that the siege was illegal was good enough for me. And the fact that I hold a special place of privilege with my veteran identity in the United States. And that the headline would be a lot better if Im injured. U.S. Veteran Is Injured holds more power, which is silly, but it is true in the States because we are like a play piece that politicians use, talking about their veterans. We all know that us being here is a privilege that were using.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Does it feel like its getting more tense as you get closer?

Definitely. We were bombed, flash-banged two days ago. And last night, it was a psyop thing. We got backdoor calls from the government saying that theyre going to kill us and to abandon the mission. Thats why they said, Drop it off at Cyprus. Theyre going to kill you.

Hold it. They were calling your cellphones?

They werent calling our cellphones. They were contacting people, certain governments. I believe the German government, and maybe Spanish, got information that we were going to be harmed, but not through official channels. Like I said, its psyop. Its how they operate to scare you, making it seem like they dont care if they sink your boats, they dont care if they kill anybody, to create terror and fear. Its the same thing they do to people in Gaza. They do all these psyops to scare them all the time. Its not just that they dropped the equivalent of two atomic bombs on them in 2024. Its also that they have been psychologically torturing these people. Its a very regular thing for them.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

On social media, I know the flotilla has asked followers for assistance, calling their representatives. What do you think that assistance needs to be? What specifically do you want people who are not with you to do for you?

You can call your representatives. Thats great. Thats the most basic thing you could do. I mean, I would start pressuring your own local government: show up at your city hall, start talking about Palestine, talking about how whatever city or state youre in is complicit. I guarantee it is invested in Israeli technology with your police departments, and bonds with Israel. Theyre all complicit. Find that out and start saying, We want to divest. The least we could do is stop giving them money. The least you could do is stop them from having a genocide.

I think some of what youre saying might frighten some of my listeners who worry about growing antisemitism and how some of the language youre using reminds them of language used by other people to commit horrible atrocities against Jews. What would you say to someone whos having those feelings right now?

Advertisement

Well, when I refer to people who support Israel, Im not saying Jewish person. Im saying Zionist.

For some Jews, Zionism and Judaism are deeply connected.

For them, but that doesnt mean its for everyone. They can say that all they want, but they cannot take away the fact that many Jewish people do not agree with it. This isnt about a religion. Its about an ethnostate of apartheid. Its about treating everyone equally. Its not that Jewish people shouldnt even live in Palestine. Jewish people should live in Palestine. They shouldnt have an ethnostate where they treat other people subhumanly. Everyone should live equally. When Zionists speak to me, it reminds me of something. It reminds me of things that have happened in the past to Jewish people. When you see Gaza, when you see children starving, the only pictures Ive seen of children that skinny were children from concentration camps, which terrified me as a child. And I didnt understand how people let that happen. Antisemitism is wrong. You should not judge anyone on their religion. Absolutely not. But you cant conflate Zionism with Judaism.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Israel said its going to take necessary measures to prevent your entry into a combat zone. Im wondering how youre preparing for that. Another member of the flotilla is Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg. Shes been on a flotilla like this one before. And in fact, she was detained. Has she given you advice about whats about to happen?

Advertisement

Advertisement

I havent spoken with Greta one-on-one like that. We have had larger discussions about safety and about the possibility of detainment, where she did speak about her experience.

What did she tell you about?

She just spoke on how they came onto the boat, they threw food at her and took pictures for the photo op. They didnt let her sleep when she was in detention; they stripped them down to their underwear. It was dehumanizing what happened. And their experience was actually quite mellow compared to other flotillas because of how social media had been reacting to it. They couldnt paint them as these dangerous people when Gretas wearing a frog hat. She is just a sweet little girl. They had to go with the selfie cruise narrative, which meant they had to treat them with basic decency because they couldnt pass them off as some evil infiltrator.

Advertisement

Some people might look at what youre doing and say, These past missions have ended in failure, and think, Well, this mission is probably going to end in failure too, in some way. So whats the point? What would you say to someone who asks that?

I would ask them what they were doing. I would ask them if they got it right the first time every single time. Whenever they learned something, did they do it right the first time? When people play sports, are they automatically just the best? This is humans coming together who dont have the backing of any government, who are just humanitarians coming together to try at least to feed people. Half of it isnt if we get there or not. It is also showing Palestinians that theyre not alone in this and that were at least trying our hardest to get there.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Do you have a vision of what happens over the next few days? Maybe multiple visions, like a worst-case scenario and a best-case scenario?

My best-case scenario would definitely be that we get to the shores of Gaza and hand off our aid and establish a humanitarian corridor. Then we can have more ships that are heavily laden with food come in, and we can stop the block of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Hopefully, the U.N. will finally kick out Israel for war crimes and genocide, and well actually be moving toward peace and rebuilding. I mean, the worst-case scenario is I lose some of my comrades, and we dont get food there. Thats, I think, the absolute worst.
Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily.

The Supreme Courts decision in 2023s Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard didnt just signal the end of affirmative action in higher education in the United States; it also launched a thousand lethal torpedoes at diversity and equity programs across the country. This case turbocharged a whole new way of thinking about colorblindness and the Constitution, and its ripple effects have been felt beyond educationin the C-suite, in the military, and more. And the decision has also provided a template for attacking pluralistic democracyone that Pete Hegseth, Stephen Miller, and Pam Bondi have all been using. On this weeks Amicus podcast, Dahlia Lithwick spoke with Yale Law Schools Justin Driver, author of The Fall of Affirmative Action: Race, the Supreme Court, and the Future of Higher Education. Part of their conversation, below, has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Dahlia Lithwick: I wonder if you have a theory of why affirmative action in higher educationwhat you describe as a boutique social policycame to be the North Star of how we think about justice in the public imagination?

Justin Driver: This is among the most incendiary topics in all of American society. There are a few reasons for that. One, its about high-stakes admissions to a handful of elite colleges that hold a disproportionate amount of influence in American societyand then you throw in race, which is the most stubborn, thorny topic throughout American history. And those two things combine in the topic of affirmative action.

The number of people is relatively small who are affected in terms of being granted admission to elite higher education. But I do try to make the claim that the policy of affirmative action has had enormous benefits for American society. It has transformed our nation for the better. The Supreme Court had upheld affirmative action, before SFFA v. Harvard two years ago, through gritted teeth, with a lot of ambivalence surrounding the topic. I dont think that ambivalence is warranted. As a result of affirmative action, the Black professional class increased dramatically. The number of attorneys, physicians, engineers, and professors went from being relatively foreign to familiar. Indeed, I believe that affirmative action belongs right in the same exalted company as the GI bill as a significant positive transformational mechanism for American society, social mobility.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

The Donald Trumpconstructed majority of the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action because, per John Roberts, the way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race. Sketch out for me what has happened nationally, in the very brief wake of SFFA in terms of minority admissions in higher education, because this is a case that has actually had measurable effects extremely rapidly.

The reason I wrote this book is that I feared that this Supreme Court

decision would lead Black enrollment at many of our nations top universities to plummet. And Im sorry to say that my prediction has been borne out. In the aftermath of SFFA, Black enrollment at MIT in the first-year class went from 13 percent to 5 percent. Amherst went from 11 percent to 3 percent. Several Ivy League colleges, including Brown, Columbia, Cornell, and Princeton, suffered massive declines in Black enrollment. And weve seen these dynamics unfold at other schools. My alma mater Harvard Law School, in the immediate class after SFFA, had the smallest number of Black 1Ls since the mid-1960s.

Advertisement

So I think that we are in the midst of seeing, or perhaps more accurately not seeing, a lost generation of Black students on the nations foremost campuses. And that is a big deal unto itself. But of course there are also going to be cascading consequences for American society, given that who was granted admission to these relatively small number of leading institutions plays a disproportionate role in shaping U.S. society.

Advertisement

And we should also place this in a larger context. These are very distressing times for those of us who are concerned with racial equality. Trump obviously rose to political power in part by denying that Barack Obama was eligible for the presidency. In 2016 Trump said that a judge who was born in Indiana could not be fair in assessing his case because he was a Mexican. And of course Trump 2.0 makes Trump 1.0 seem quite mild in comparison, given that 2.0 has denied the existence of birthright citizenship.

Advertisement

Advertisement

And so, even recently at the Supreme Court of the United States, youre exactly right when you say that Roberts has written these soaring declarations: The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race. And yet, just recently, we had a decision upholding Immigration and Customs Enforcements racially inflected profiling of people of Mexican descent. So, yeah, we have to stop discrimination on the basis of race, unless you happen to be a Mexican or be speaking accented English and hanging out near a Home Depot. The idea that they are vindicating colorblindness, full stop, is erroneous, and it is important to place the courts assault on affirmative action in this larger context.

Advertisement

Advertisement

You think back about SFFA, and it almost feels quaint, right? I mean, it was an earthquake in higher education, for sure, but compared to what were seeing now and rooted back in the kind of colorblind reasoning in SFFA, everything is absolutely seismic. And so that which starts as a John Roberts thought experiment unfolds in cascading ways, in no small part because its been blessed by the Supreme Court. It was limited to education but is suddenly now being leached into the C-suite, into an all-out attack on affirmative action in military academies and in the military. Were about to go into a term where whats left of the Voting Rights Act is gonna be questioned on the basis of this colorblindness theory.

Advertisement

There is a way in which the Roberts court is almost power-washing these ideas, and then Stephen Miller and Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump and their friends take it to the furthest limits. The court is where these ideas are hatched, and it is legitimized in ways that allow Miller to go all out, 110 percent, every time.

Advertisement

The Supreme Courts decision, in my view, was catastrophically wrong, erroneous. It also did not sweep nearly as far as the Trump administration is asserting that it swept. The administration is attempting to brandish SFFA v. Harvard as a method of intimidating universities into depressing Black and brown enrollment on our nations leading campuses.

Related From Slate The Supreme Court Just Let ICE Detain Americans Based on Race Read More

I think that our nation is facing profound problems right now. Too many Black and brown students at fancy schools is not among those problems.

Let me give you an example of how the administration is brandishing the decision. It has issued guidance saying that the decision, for example, prohibits universities from abandoning standardized testing if they do so with an eye toward increasing racial diversity on campus. But SFFA v. Harvard says nothing of the kind. In Roberts opinion, he speaks about prohibiting universities from considering what he calls race qua race, and that, in my view, leaves institutions with a considerable amount of latitude to adopt and implement policies that would maintain and allow racial diversity to rebound.

Advertisement

Let me just give you one other concrete example of what the Trump administration is up to here. It has been assaulting higher education generally. The administration has entered into what are more or less consent decrees with Columbia and Brown and extracted cash from these universities to the tune of millions of dollars. And it has also secured the agreement that Brown and Columbia would hand over admissions data broken down by race for accepted and rejected applicants. This, again, is driven by a desire to lower Black and brown enrollment.

Advertisement

Advertisement

And what I fear is going to happen is that Brown and Columbia will further lower their already quite lowered numbers of Black and brown students. And then the Trump administration will wave these numbers aroundsay, 5 percent Black at Brown or Columbiaand claim that anybody who has Black enrollment thats north of 5 percent is cheating. So this story is going to continue to unfold for years to come. And I am of the view that its incumbent upon these universities to stand up for their principles and not capitulate to this mistaken understanding of law.

Advertisement

Advertisement

I want to be clear: University leaders are in a difficult position, to put it mildly. These are excruciating times for university leaders. So I dont want to say that its easy, but the administration is, of course, attacking various independent institutions in American societythe media, law firms, universities. And its a very dangerous position for American society to be in to allow the Trump administration just to intimidate them and to allow them to abandon their principles. I know that its going to be painful for universities, but I think that the wiser course is to stand their ground and wait for the courts to interpret the law.
Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily.

President Donald Trump appeared before the White House press corps Monday, proclaiming it one of the great days ever in civilization  a historic day of peace  lets call it eternal peace for Gaza and the entire Middle East. But then, after 45 minutes of mutual back-rubbing, he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said they would not take questions because they were waiting for signatures and approvals on many documents.

So does this mean the two leaders and the Arab powers in the Middle East didnt make peace in our time?

Most crucially, Trump and Netanyahu admitted that Hamas had not agreed to any of the 22 articles in a peace proposal written mainly by Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff; Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner, who helped write the Abraham Accords in his first term; and Tony Blair, the former British prime minister, who has been involved in several Middle East peace ventures.

If Hamas still refuses to sign, Trump made clear, Israel would have the right to finish the war any way it wantsand the United States would support the assault.

That should probably be the lede hereNetanyahu got Trumps endorsement for extending the war in Gaza to some vision of total victorybecause, first, Hamas has rejected most of these terms in the recent past and, second, it is not clear that the Arab and Muslim powers in the region have agreed to all of the articles either.

The peace proposals planks include the release of all hostages (and the remains of all hostages who have died) within 72 hours, a ceasefire with Israeli troops holding their positions, the disarming of Hamas and all other terrorist groups, their removal from any political positions, the destruction of their tunnels and all other military infrastructure, and the creation of a new international body to rebuild and reform Gaza, with all plans funneled through a Board of Peace to be chaired by Trump.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Some of these planks are nonstarters for Hamasnamely the release of all hostages within 72 hours (a practical matter, as some of their locations are unknown), but also, more to the point, its surrender of all arms and power, especially given that the proposal does not call for the withdrawal of Israeli troops. In fact, it allows Israel to occupy parts of Gaza for an undefined duration.

Who supervises this disarmament if there is resistance, who provides the resources and workforce for rebuilding, who besides Trump sits on the Board of Peace to hammer out political reforms, what happens to the Palestinians who want to stay and those who want to leave, what role will the Palestinian Authority playall these questions, none of them trivial or merely technical, are left open.

Related From Slate This Might Just Be the Most Bonkers Speech of Trumps Career Read More

In other words, at best, Trumps announcement opens a new set of negotiations, which will be more complicated and involve more players than the negotiations that have rumbled on for the two years since Hamas deadly invasion and massacre of Oct. 7, 2023.

Advertisement

Among many other complications, some Arab leaders, notably the Saudis, have said their involvement hinges on Israels agreement to resume at least the negotiations toward a Palestinian stateand Netanyahu has insisted he will never accept, or even pretend to work toward, such an entity (a point he repeated at Mondays press conference).

Trump spent much of his monologue in the press room boasting, as he has many times, that no other president could have done this, especially Sleepy Joe Biden, whom he condemned or ridiculed three times. He also spent a few seconds moaning once more about the U.N. teleprompter that malfunctioned right before his speech to the General Assembly. (He noted that he delivered remarks from the heart anyway, adding, Could Biden have done that? I dont think so.)

Advertisement

One lesson of Benny Morris magisterial tome Righteous Victims: A History of the Zionist-Arab Conflict, 18812001 (quite a sobering subtitle!) is that most of these warsall of those that have erupted since the founding of the Israeli state in 1948have ended as the result of outside pressure: from the United States on Israel, from the Soviet Union on the Arabs (during the Cold War), from the United Nations on all the combatants, or some combination.

If Trump and the Arab leaders are serious about making peace in Gaza, they will have to mount the same sort of pressure: Trump on Netanyahu, the Arabs (especially Qatar) on Hamas. Nothing in this proposal or in Mondays press conference indicates that any of the outside powers are ready to impose such pressure. So the war is likely to thunder on.
COLLEFERRO, Italy, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Developing advanced technologies aimed at the in-flight demonstration of a reusable upper stage: this is the strategic objective of the 40 million contract signed today by Avio and the European Space Agency (ESA).

The 24-month contract marks a significant step forward in the transition of European launch systems toward full reusability, in line with the most recent global developments in the space transportation sector. The agreement was signed during the International Astronautical Congress currently underway in Sydney, in the presence of ESA's Director of Space Transportation, Toni Tolker-Nielsen, and Avio's Chief Commercial Officer and Director of Launch Services, Marino Fragnito.

The programme aims to define the requirements, system design and enabling technologies needed to develop a demonstrator capable of safely returning to Earth and being reused in future missions. The activities will cover both the flight and ground segments and will culminate in the definition of an integrated preliminary system design.

This initiative is part of ESA's broader strategic vision for the future of European space transportation, which foresees the development of high-frequency launchers supported by an orbital industrial ecosystem capable of delivering logistics services in space, similar to the role airports and train stations play on Earth today.

Avio will contribute its extensive technical and industrial expertise, developed through its work on liquid propulsion systems  particularly those using liquid oxygen and methane  as well as the knowledge acquired through the Space Rider re-entry vehicle programme, to design an advanced, lightweight and high-performance solution for next-generation launch systems.

"We are proud to contribute to the development of a reusable upper stage, building on our strong technological capabilities and long-standing industrial heritage. Our goal is to deliver high-performance solutions that enable higher launch frequency and more competitive costs for our customers," stated Giulio Ranzo, Chief Executive Officer of Avio.

The cooperation with ESA results from a joint coordination process aimed at maximising the technological return on both European and national investments.

Giorgio Tumino, ESA's Chief Technical Advisor for Space Transportation, emphasised: "The objective and content of the activities are the result of a joint harmonisation work made together with Avio to maximise the technology return on ESA and national investments. We are capitalising on progress made in advanced liquid propulsion, re-entry, recoverability and reusability technologies, complementing ongoing efforts to de-risk demonstrations of reusable lower stages, supporting different possible scenarios, including evolutions of the Vega family of rockets as well as other newly-defined fully-reusable launch systems in Europe."

Toni Tolker-Nielsen, ESA's Director of Space Transportation, commented: "I am glad to sign this contract since its importance is two-fold: on one side it addresses technological criticalities in the short-term, on the other side it paves the way for the preparation of Europe's long-term future in space. An upper stage is the last part of a rocket that delivers a payload. Also called an orbital stage these elements have so far never been reused. Europe has demonstrated the capability of all aspects of launching hardware to space and returning it safely to Earth but putting it all together into a complete reuseable upper stage that also launches payloads has the possibility to be a gamechanger."

With this new initiative, Avio further strengthens its role as a key player in the evolution of European space transportation systems, making a decisive contribution to the innovation, sustainability and global competitiveness of the European space industry.

About Avio

Avio is a leading international group engaged in the construction and development of space launchers and solid, liquid and cryogenic propulsion systems. The experience and know-how built up over more than 50 years puts Avio at the cutting-edge of the space launcher sector and defense program. Avio is present in Italy, France, United States and French Guyana, employing approx. 1,500 highly qualified personnel. Avio is the launch services provider and launch operator for the Vega rocket and a sub-contractor for the Ariane program, placing Italy among the limited number of countries capable of designing, producing and operating a complete space launch system.

For further information

Media Relations contacts:

[email protected]

[email protected]

Investor Relations contact:

[email protected]

SOURCE Avio
Fiji-China relationship at unprecedented level: Fijian acting PM

Xinhua) 11:00, September 29, 2025

SUVA, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Biman Prasad, Fiji's acting prime minister and minister for finance, strategic planning, national development, and statistics, has reaffirmed Fiji's strong and enduring ties with China as the two nations celebrated 50 years of diplomatic relations and the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

While addressing the event in Suva on Saturday, Prasad said Fiji's relationship with China is unprecedented, characterized by respect for sovereignty, mutual prosperity, and collaboration in areas of shared interest.

"Fiji's longstanding and enduring relationship with the People's Republic of China has stood the test of time and continues to remain firm and resolute," he said.

The acting prime minister added that countless Fijians have benefited from China's support over the years through infrastructure, education, health, and other socio-economic projects.

This year also marks the anniversary of the first Chinese people settling in Fiji.

"The Chinese community has been a vital component of our society, contributing to the socio-economic development of modern Fiji and enriching our cultural heritage," Prasad said.

China's Ambassador to Fiji Zhou Jian said that the wisdom gained from 50 years of China-Fiji relations is "mutual respect, win-win cooperation, and shared commitment to justice," which will lead the two sides to step forward into the next glorious chapter in bilateral ties.

A series of live performances featuring an art troupe from China's Guangdong Province and Fiji's VOU Dance Group delighted the audience with martial arts, acrobatics, magic, marionette shows, Cantonese opera, and various dance performances.

(Web editor: Huang Kechao, Liang Jun)
Thirteen Bogota-based brands from the vibrant districts of San Victorino and Restrepo made their international debut this September at MOMAD 2025 in Madrid and New York Fashion Week (NYFW). Backed by the Bogota Chamber of Commerce, these designers showcased the creative power and commercial edge of Colombian fashion.

BOGOTA, Colombia, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Colombian talent took center stage this season at two of the world's most influential fashion platforms: the Madrid International Fashion Fair  MOMAD and New York Fashion Week (NYFW). Thirteen emerging brands from Bogota's iconic neighborhoods of San Victorino and Restrepo, supported by the Bogota Chamber of Commerce (CCB) through its Puente program, marked a historic milestone for the internationalization of the city's fashion industry.

Camara de Comercio de Bogota / 48 por Segundo - Todos los Derechos reservados

At MOMAD 2025, seven designers El Maletero, Seven7, NK, Kott Risk, OC59, With Love Maria, and Santina Boots unveiled their Spring/Summer collections on the Colectivo Bogota Runway and at the Bogota Fashion Week stand. Their proposals seamlessly blended sustainability, innovation, and local identity. Ovidio Claros, CEO of the CCB, celebrated the milestone: "This achievement embodies the pride of internationalizing Bogota's businesses with inclusivity, bringing their talent to global showcases."

Shortly after, thanks to a strategic alliance between the CCB and Fashion Designers of Latin America (FDLA), eight brands took to the stage at NYFW-FDLA: Cannabis, Divina Collection, ISMO, Lisantiny, NUNK/NK, Seven7, PLUR, and UANA. The New York experience included a Fashion Talk, a collective runway, projections on the giant screens of Times Square, and a curated Pop-Up. Designers shared the spotlight with industry icons such as Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, who praised Colombian creativity: "I'm a total fan of Colombia; this show filled me with joy."

Andres Naranjo, creative director of UANA, reflected on the significance of the opportunity: "This experience has been a dream come true. I want to thank the Bogota Chamber of Commerce for making it possible for emerging talent like us to reach this stage. We leave with our hearts full, knowing many doors will open."

The presence of Bogota's designers at MOMAD and NYFW demonstrates how the Puente program integrates grassroots fashion entrepreneurs into global circuits through curatorship, mentorship, and international market positioning. This initiative strengthens Bogota and Colombia's standing as creative hubs where tradition evolves into innovation, proving that local talent can thrive on the world stage.

SOURCE Bogota Chamber of Commerce
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 developed model modified Schrodinger bridge-type diffusion models to add noise to real data through the encoder and reconstructed samples through the decoder. It uses two objective functions, the prior loss and drift matching, to reduce computational cost and prevent overfitting. Credit: Institute of Science Tokyo

A new framework for generative diffusion models was developed by researchers at Science Tokyo, significantly improving generative AI models. The method reinterpreted Schrodinger bridge models as variational autoencoders with infinitely many latent variables, reducing computational costs and preventing overfitting. By appropriately interrupting the training of the encoder, this approach enabled development of more efficient generative AI, with broad applicability beyond standard diffusion models.

Diffusion models are among the most widely used approaches in generative AI for creating images and audio. These models generate new data by gradually adding noise (noising) to real samples and then learning how to reverse that process (denoising) back into realistic data. A widely used version, the score-based model, achieves this by the diffusion process connecting the prior to the data with a sufficiently long-time interval. This method, however, has a limitation that when the data differs strongly from the prior, the time intervals of the noising and denoising processes become longer, which causes slowing down sample generation.

Now, a research team from Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo), Japan, has proposed a new framework for diffusion models that is faster and computationally less demanding. They achieved this by reinterpreting Schrodinger bridge (SB) models, a type of diffusion model, as variational autoencoders (VAEs).

The study was led by graduate student Mr. Kentaro Kaba and Professor Masayuki Ohzeki from the Department of Physics at Science Tokyo, in collaboration with Mr. Reo Shimizu (then a graduate student) and Associate Professor Yuki Sugiyama from the Graduate School of Information Sciences at Tohoku University, Japan. Their findings were published in the Physical Review Research on September 3, 2025.

SB models offer greater flexibility than standard score-based models because they can connect any two probability distributions over a finite time using a stochastic differential equation (SDE). This supports more complex noising processes and higher-quality sample generation. The trade-off, however, is that SB models are mathematically complex and expensive to train.

The proposed method addresses this by reformulating SB models as VAEs with multiple latent variables. "The key insight lies in extending the number of latent variables from one to infinity, leveraging the data-processing inequality. This perspective enables us to interpret SB-type models within the framework of VAEs," says Kaba.

In this setup, the encoder represents the forward process that maps real data onto a noisy latent space, while the decoder reverses the process to reconstruct realistic samples, and both processes are modeled as SDEs learned by neural networks.

The model employs a training objective with two components. The first is the prior loss, which ensures that the encoder correctly maps the data distribution to the prior distribution. The second is drift matching, which trains the decoder to mimic the dynamics of the reverse encoder process. Moreover, once the prior loss stabilizes, encoder training can be stopped early. This allows us to complete learning faster, reducing the risk of overfitting and preserving high accuracy in SB models.

"The objective function is composed of the prior loss and drift matching parts, which characterizes the training of neural networks in the encoder and the decoder, respectively. Together, they reduce the computational cost of training SB-type models. It was demonstrated that interrupting the training of the encoder mitigated the challenge of overfitting," explains Ohzeki.

This approach is flexible and can be applied to other probabilistic rule sets, even non-Markov processes, making it a broadly applicable training scheme.

More information: Kentaro Kaba et al, Schrodinger bridge-type diffusion models as an extension of variational autoencoders, Physical Review Research (2025). DOI: 10.1103/dxp7-4hby Journal information: Physical Review Research
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: arXiv (2025). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2505.04831

Chatbots like ChatGPT and Claude have experienced a meteoric rise in usage over the past three years because they can help you with a wide range of tasks. Whether you're writing Shakespearean sonnets, debugging code, or need an answer to an obscure trivia question, artificial intelligence (AI) systems seem to have you covered. The source of this versatility? Billions or even trillions of textual data points across the Internet.

That data isn't enough to teach a robot to be a helpful household or factory assistant, though. To understand how to handle, stack, and place various arrangements of objects across diverse environments, robots need demonstrations. You can think of robot training data as a collection of how-to videos that walk the systems through each motion of a task.

Collecting these demonstrations on real robots is time-consuming and not perfectly repeatable, so engineers have created training data by generating simulations with AI (which don't often reflect real-world physics) or tediously handcrafting each digital environment from scratch.

Researchers at MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) and the Toyota Research Institute may have found a way to create the diverse, realistic training grounds robots need. Their "Steerable Scene Generation" approach creates digital scenes of things like kitchens, living rooms, and restaurants that engineers can use to simulate lots of real-world interactions and scenarios.

Trained on more than 44 million 3D rooms filled with models of objects such as tables and plates, the tool places existing assets in new scenes, then refines each one into a physically accurate, lifelike environment. The method is posted on the arXiv preprint server.

Steerable Scene Generation creates these 3D worlds by "steering" a diffusion modelan AI system that generates a visual from random noisetoward a scene you'd find in everyday life. The researchers used this generative system to "inpaint" an environment, filling in particular elements throughout the scene.

You can imagine a blank canvas suddenly turning into a kitchen scattered with 3D objects, which are gradually rearranged into a scene that imitates real-world physics. For example, the system ensures that a fork doesn't pass through a bowl on a tablea common glitch in 3D graphics known as "clipping," where models overlap or intersect.

How exactly Steerable Scene Generation guides its creation toward realism, however, depends on the strategy you choose. Its main strategy is "Monte Carlo Tree Search" (MCTS), where the model creates a series of alternative scenes, filling them out in different ways toward a particular objective (like making a scene more physically realistic or including as many edible items as possible). It's used by the AI program AlphaGo to beat human opponents in Go (a game similar to chess), as the system considers potential sequences of moves before choosing the most advantageous one.

"We are the first to apply MCTS to scene generation by framing the scene generation task as a sequential decision-making process," says MIT Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) Ph.D. student Nicholas Pfaff, who is a CSAIL researcher and a lead author on a paper presenting the work on GitHub. "We keep building on top of partial scenes to produce better or more desired scenes over time. As a result, MCTS creates scenes that are more complex than what the diffusion model was trained on."

In one particularly telling experiment, MCTS added the maximum number of objects to a simple restaurant scene. It featured as many as 34 items on a table, including massive stacks of dimsum dishes, after training on scenes with only 17 objects on average.

Steerable Scene Generation also allows you to generate diverse training scenarios via reinforcement learningessentially, teaching a diffusion model to fulfill an objective by trial-and-error. After you train on the initial data, your system undergoes a second training stage, where you outline a reward (or basically a desired outcome with a score indicating how close you are to that goal). The model automatically learns to create scenes with higher scores, often producing scenarios that are quite different from those it was trained on.

Users can also prompt the system directly by typing in specific visual descriptions (like "a kitchen with four apples and a bowl on the table"). Then, Steerable Scene Generation can bring your requests to life with precision. For example, the tool accurately followed users' prompts at rates of 98% when building scenes of pantry shelves and 86% for messy breakfast tables. Both marks are at least a 10% improvement over comparable methods like MiDiffusion and DiffuScene, respectively.

The system can also complete specific scenes via prompting or light directions (like "come up with a different scene arrangement using the same objects"). You could ask it to place apples on several plates on a kitchen table, for instance, or put board games and books on a shelf. It's essentially "filling in the blank" by slotting items in empty spaces, but preserving the rest of a scene.

Credit: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

According to the researchers, the strength of their project lies in its ability to create many scenes that roboticists can actually use. "A key insight from our findings is that it's okay for the scenes we pretrained on to not exactly resemble the scenes that we actually want," says Pfaff. "Using our steering methods, we can move beyond that broad distribution and sample from a 'better' one. In other words, generating the diverse, realistic, and task-aligned scenes that we actually want to train our robots in."

Such vast scenes became the testing grounds where they could record a virtual robot interacting with different items. The machine carefully placed forks and knives into a cutlery holder, for instance, and rearranged bread onto plates in various 3D settings. Each simulation appeared fluid and realistic, resembling the real-world, adaptable robots that Steerable Scene Generation could help train one day.

While the system could be an encouraging path forward in generating lots of diverse training data for robots, the researchers say their work is more of a proof-of-concept. In the future, they'd like to use generative AI to create entirely new objects and scenes, instead of using a fixed library of assets. They also plan to incorporate articulated objects that the robot could open or twist (like cabinets or jars filled with food) to make the scenes even more interactive.

To make their virtual environments even more realistic, Pfaff and his colleagues may incorporate real-world objects by using a library of objects and scenes pulled from images on the Internet and using their previous work on Scalable Real2Sim. By expanding how diverse and lifelike AI-constructed robot testing grounds can be, the team hopes to build a community of users thatll create lots of data, which could then be used as a massive dataset to teach dexterous robots different skills.

"Today, creating realistic scenes for simulation can be quite a challenging endeavor; procedural generation can readily produce a large number of scenes, but they likely won't be representative of the environments the robot would encounter in the real world. Manually creating bespoke scenes is both time-consuming and expensive," says Jeremy Binagia, an Applied Scientist at Amazon Robotics who wasn't involved in the paper.

"Steerable Scene Generation offers a better approach: Train a generative model on a large collection of pre-existing scenes and adapt it (using a strategy such as reinforcement learning) to specific downstream applications. Compared to previous works that leverage an off-the-shelf vision-language model or focus just on arranging objects in a 2D grid, this approach guarantees physical feasibility and considers full 3D translation and rotation, enabling the generation of much more interesting scenes."

"Steerable Scene Generation with Post Training and Inference-Time Search provides a novel and efficient framework for automating scene generation at scale," says Toyota Research Institute roboticist Rick Cory SM '08, Ph.D. '10, who also wasn't involved in the paper. "Moreover, it can generate 'never-before-seen' scenes that are deemed important for downstream tasks. In the future, combining this framework with vast internet data could unlock an important milestone towards efficient training of robots for deployment in the real world."

More information: Nicholas Pfaff et al, Steerable Scene Generation with Post Training and Inference-Time Search, arXiv (2025). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2505.04831 Journal information: arXiv
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 German music rights body is suing OpenAI for copyright infringement, claiming the US tech giant's AI systems reproduced several artists' lyrics without permission, a court heard Monday.

It is the latest court case that OpenAI has faced, with media groups and authors among those claiming that the company's ChatGPT chatbot has been trained on their work without permission.

The music rights organization GEMA claimed that OpenAI had "systematically" used its repertoire to train its artificial intelligence models, according to a statement from a regional Munich court which is hearing the case.

GEMAwhich has more than 100,000 composers, songwriters and publishers as membersis representing lyricists of nine German songs in the case, and is seeking unspecified damages.

The court said it was "undisputed" that OpenAI's large language model was trained with the lyrics from the songs.

In response to simple prompts, its chatbot reproduced "large parts of the song lyrics faithfully", it said.

According to GEMA, this proves the lyrics are memorized in OpenAI's large language model, which it uses to train its chatbot.

GEMA believes this means copyright has been infringed as permission was not first sought to use the lyrics, the court said.

OpenAI disagrees however, according to the court.

The company says its large language models do not store or copy specific data but rather reflect in their settings what they have learned, according to the court.

With regard to the AI chatbot, it is users who are the producers of its output and are responsible for it, OpenAI claims.

The Munich court will rule on the case on November 11.

 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: Steve Johnson from Pexels

By combining microwave technology with chemical treatment, Felicia Syren has explored how renewable materials such as jute and paper yarn can be given new propertiesand thus new applications within the textile industry.

In her doctoral thesis, Syren investigated how jute can be modified through microwave treatment and impregnation with poly(vinyl alcohol), as well as how paper yarn can be made more suitable for knitting using chemicals already employed in today's textile production.

"Tensile tests showed that treated jute can be stretched significantly more, and the paper yarn becomes easier to knit, especially when using silicone. One unexpected finding was that wax actually increases frictionwhich is the opposite of what one would normally expect," said Syren, who defended her thesis in textile materials technology on 5 September.

The results pave the way for further research, for instance, into how the amount of wax affects the properties of the yarn. This is important knowledge for the future use of alternative materials in textile manufacturing.

Renewable resources can be used more

The research ties into a broader societal issue: making the textile industry more sustainable.

"Textiles are increasingly used, not least in technical applications. To meet future demands, we need to be able to work with a wider range of materials. That's why I've focused on natural, renewable resources that are currently underutilized," said Syren, who has a background as a Materials Design Engineer.

Following her dissertation, she is leaving academiaat least for now.

"I've worked in the steel industry for three years and won't be staying at the University of Boras. But I really enjoy research and still have unpublished data that I might turn into a paper."

She describes her time as a doctoral student as both challenging and fantastic.

"I've made new friends and learned a lot about the worldand about myself. It's been a joy to delve into textiles on a technical level, especially since I've grown up surrounded by textiles in various forms, with a mother who runs a sewing studio."

Syren defended her doctoral thesis "A Sustainable Path to Increased Textile Materials Diversity: Treatments for Tailored Properties of Jute and Paper Yarn," 5 September at the Swedish School of Textiles, University of Boras.

More information: A sustainable path to increased textile materials diversity : Treatments for tailored properties of jute and paper yarn. PhD dissertation. Hogskolan i Boras. urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hb:diva-33627

Provided by University of Boras
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

What do Tiger Woods, Ben Stiller, Australian pensioners and dating app users have in common? Despite being from different walks of life, they have all fallen prey to various scams.

In 2024, more than A$2.03 billion was lost to scams in Australia across 494,732 reported cases. Most of these scams were enabled by technology, with scammers contacting their victims either online or on the phone. However, about 600 of these scams happened in person.

All of us are vulnerable to being scammedit's rooted in who we are as human beings. If you think you're immune, you are not. Police officers fall for scams. Even cybersecurity professionals fall for scams. So what hope is there for the rest of us?

What does help is to understand the underlying techniques online scammers rely on, so that you can better spot them. These psychological tactics are similar to those used in offline scams, street cons and social engineering in general. But they're also reminiscent of techniques used in advertising, marketing and any other industry where the goal is to persuade you.

Unmasking the influence principles

The goal of a scammer is to try and influence you to part with your money or other valuable possessions. They rely on classic persuasion and influence principles that take advantage of our psychology and other aspects in our lives.

The reason we pay attention to scammers in the first place is because they rely on the need and greed principle, promising us something we need or desire. In romance scams, that's love. In investment scams, that's money. It could also be a job or status.

Scammers may use the authority principle, such as pretending to be your boss and requesting you to transfer money, a scam known as business email compromise.

Or they may use the kindness principle to get you to donate to some bogus humanitarian cause in what are known as fake charity scams.

The principle underlying some of the most costly scams in Australia, such as impersonation, romance, and payment redirection scams is the distraction principle. This relies on us missing the scammers' "sleight of hand" and clues as to their real intentions.

We are all social animals and believe in safety in numbers. Scammers know this and will use the herd or social proof principle to convince us that we are missing out on those hard-to-get concert tickets, for example.

An insidious form of a foot-in-the-door technique relies on the dishonesty principle. In this case, the scammers might entice you to install a VPN (which happens to be malware) to bypass your organizations' firewalls or to provide use of your bank account for some international money transfer in money mule scams.

American psychologist Robert Cialdini has noted many of these principles are what salespeople use to get you into buying something you didn't really want. They are also the principles that politicians, friends and family use to get you to agree to their requests. In other words, they're not always a sign that you're being scammed.

To identify a scam, ask yourself these three simple questions:

what is the intent?

who benefits?

do I have a free, informed choice?

Rushing to pay for a holiday booking because the countdown timer indicates you have two minutes left relies on the same scarcity principle as when you transfer your savings into a once-in-a-lifetime investment opportunity. The former is a legitimate transaction, while the latter is an investment scam in which you lose.

Ultimately, the core problem is that every day, we are constantly exposed to such nudgesin the media, online, and in our daily interactions. Over time, it can become difficult to recognize when these nudges are used for negative ends (called "sludges"), and in scams.

This is why anyone can be scammed

Anything that makes us human can be exploited to influence us. Our perception, emotions, relationships, thinking and beliefs can be used to influence our behaviors.

All personality types are susceptible to persuasion, although their "Achilles' heel" may vary. For example, people who are agreeable (cooperative, kind, compassionate) are generally found to be more susceptible to persuasion, which may make them more susceptible to scammers.

While not everyone will fall for common or generic scams, any of us can fall for a targeted and well-executed one. Demographics play a role in who scammers choose to target to increase their success rates.

In Australia in 2024, elderly people were commonly targeted in investment and romance scams, while mothers lost thousands to "Hi Mum" scams where someone posing as a family member asks for money. Young people fell prey to threat-based scams. Men tended to lose money in investment scams, while women were more vulnerable to romance scams.

Don't be too confident

Importantly, overconfidence in our scam savviness can work against us. When we have high trust in our abilities, we tend to assess situations as less risky, taking mental shortcuts in decision-making. Such mental shortcuts can cause us to miss critical cues and red flags.

Different sectors in Australia are working together to warn us all about scams. The "Stop. Check. Protect" approach recommended by Scamwatch also provides very helpful tips to better protect yourself.

Remember today could be the day you get scammed. Prepare accordingly and stay vigilant.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Butler National Special Mission Electronics Team Recognized for Excellence in Performance and Quality

TEMPE, Ariz., Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Butler National  Tempe, a subsidiary of Butler National Corporation (OTCQX: BUKS) and a leading manufacturer of control systems, cabling, and test equipment for Special Mission Electronics, announced today that it has received the prestigious Northrop Grumman Corporation Silver Award. This award recognizes Butler National  Tempe as a top-performing supplier for its outstanding quarterly results.

Northrop Grumman reviews the performance of its most critical and strategic suppliers each quarter through a Supplier Assessment Management System (SAMS) Scorecard. The evaluation incorporates feedback from supply chain and quality representatives who work directly with suppliers. Assessment categories include: Management, Technical, Schedule, Cost, Proposal, Mission Assurance/Quality, Supply Chain Management, and Customer Satisfaction. Butler National  Tempe earned the Silver Award for its strong performance during the AprilJune 2025 period.

Chris Reedy, CEO of Butler National, added: "Our Tempe team has consistently produced high-quality products while increasing deliveries to meet customer requirements. I am extremely proud of the Butler National  Tempe team and appreciative of their dedication. We continue to seek opportunities to showcase our talent and commitment to customer success."

Butler National  Tempe Business: Butler National  Tempe designs, fabricates, and supplies commercial and defense electronics products for airlines, OEMs, contractors, and government agencies. The business specializes in control equipment, gun simulators, custom test equipment, rapid integration weapon-control systems, aircraft fuel tank safety solutions, and ruggedized cabling systems. Visit https://bncsme.com for more information.

Butler National  Tempe is a wholly owned subsidiary of Butler National Corporation, a publicly traded company (OTCQX: BUKS). Visit https://butlernational.com for more information about Butler National Corporation.

SOURCE Butler National Corporation
New findings reveal critical microbial drivers, ethnic variations, and new pathways for personalized scalp care

NEW YORK, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- CeraVe and L'Oreal Groupe today announced that their collaborative study on scalp biology has received the Applied Research Award at the 35th International Federation of Societies of Cosmetic Chemists (IFSCC) Congress, recognizing a breakthrough in understanding dandruff and advancing scalp barrier science.

"Receiving the IFSCC Applied Research Award is a testament to our joint commitment to scientific innovation and understanding the intricate biology of skin and scalp barrier health," said Gene Colon, Global Senior Vice President, Medical Affairs & Communications for CeraVe at L'Oreal. "This game-changing research moves beyond the traditional view of dandruff to highlight the role of ceramide deficiency and scalp barrier dysfunction, the critical bacterial component and the impact of ethnicity. It significantly expands our scientific understanding, rooted in our foundational ceramide science, offering new perspectives and possibilities for future innovations."

This award-winning research  the first scalp study of its kind - compared dandruff-affected and healthy scalps, assessing clinical symptoms, ceramide profiles, microbiome composition, and inflammatory markers to provide the most comprehensive picture of dandruff pathophysiology to date. Researchers from L'Oreal evaluated over 200 participants from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.

"This recognition reflects L'Oreal's Research & Innovation teams' leadership in scientific innovation and our mission to pioneer skin, hair, and scalp science continuously," said Qian Zheng, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of Advanced Research for North America and Global Head for Regenerative Beauty at L'Oreal Groupe. "By integrating microbiome research with barrier biology through an inclusive lens, our teams are pioneering new approaches to scalp care  translating deep biological insights into targeted, effective solutions for consumers around the world."

Importantly, this new and previously unpublished study builds on earlier microbiome research, which was published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, while significantly expanding its scope. Whereas previous work characterized the scalp microbiome in a global population, the IFSCC-recognized study goes further  providing a deeper analysis by examining differences across ethnic groups and, for the first time, exploring the functional profile of the microbiome. These new dimensions  combined with insights into microbial targets beyond Malassezia (a naturally occurring fungus on the scalp that has long been associated with dandruff) and their connection to inflammation  represent a major advance in understanding dandruff biology. Key discoveries include:

Bacterial drivers: Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Staphylococcus capitis (S. capitis)  two types of bacteria commonly found on the skin  were consistently more abundant in dandruff across all ethnicities.

were consistently more abundant in dandruff across all ethnicities. Strong S. aureus link: A significant positive correlation was identified between S. aureus abundance and dandruff presence and severity.

link: A significant positive correlation was identified between abundance and dandruff presence and severity. Virulence factors: Dandruff scalps showed significantly higher virulence factor (VF) gene levels, particularly in Latin/Hispanic and Asian American groups, with many VFs previously linked to S. aureus pathogenicity.

pathogenicity. Personalized treatment: This is the first study to characterize dandruff scalp microbiome function across ethnicities, underscoring the need for diverse, personalized treatment approaches.

Ethnic variations: Malassezia levels were higher in dandruff across all ethnic groups except Asian Americans, and Malassezia globosa, one of the most prevalent species associated with scalp health, was prevalent on healthy scalps in all populations.

The IFSCC Congress, held annually and recognized as the most international prestigious global events in cosmetic science, brings together leading stakeholders to showcase cutting-edge scientific advancements.

About CeraVe

Founded in 2005 with a mission to provide therapeutic skincare for all, CeraVe creates products developed with dermatologists to restore and maintain the skin's natural barrier. All CeraVe formulas are enriched with three skin-identical ceramides (ceramides 1, 3, and 6-II), with select products featuring MVE Technology for controlled, long-lasting hydration. CeraVe is the #1 dermatologist-recommended skincare brand in the US1 and is recommended by over 90,000 dermatologists worldwide2. It is now available in over 100 countries across the globe. For more information, visit the brand on Facebook (@ceraveusa), Instagram (@cerave), TikTok (@cerave), X (@cerave), or visit www.cerave.com.

1IQVIA, ProVoice Survey, rolling 12-month data as of February 2025

2Survey conducted among the dermocosmetic market carried out by APLUSA and other partners between January 2025 and May 2025, involving dermatologists in 29 countries.

About L'Oreal

For 115 years, L'Oreal, the world's leading beauty player, has devoted itself to one thing only: fulfilling the beauty aspirations of consumers around the world. Our purpose, to create the beauty that moves the world, defines our approach to beauty as essential, inclusive, ethical, generous and committed to social and environmental sustainability. With our broad portfolio of 37 international brands and ambitious sustainability commitments in our L'Oreal for the Future program, we offer each and every person around the world the best in terms of quality, efficacy, safety, sincerity and responsibility, while celebrating beauty in its infinite plurality.

With more than 90,000 committed employees, a balanced geographical footprint and sales across all distribution networks (ecommerce, mass market, department stores, pharmacies, perfumeries, hair salons, branded and travel retail), in 2024 the Group generated sales amounting to 43.48 billion euros. With 21 research centers across 13 countries around the world and a dedicated Research and Innovation team of over 4,000 scientists and 8,000 Digital talents, L'Oreal is focused on inventing the future of beauty and becoming a Beauty Tech powerhouse.

In 2025, L'Oreal Groupe has been named the most innovative company in Europe by Fortune magazine, out of 300 companies, in a ranking spanning 21 countries and 16 industries in Europe.

More information on https://www.loreal.com/en/mediaroom

Media Contacts:

CeraVe: Christine Alkhawam  [email protected]

Coyne PR: [email protected]

SOURCE CeraVe
SIGNING: TTMB chief executive officer (Ag) Brent McFee and president of the Prison Officers Association Gerard Gordon share an MoU between their association and TTMB, aimed at expanding access to affordable mortgage financing, financial literacy, and investment opportunities for prison officers and their families.
Fast casual concept to celebrate grand opening on October 14, offering free chicken salad for a year

ATLANTA, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Chicken Salad Chick, the nation's only fast casual chicken salad restaurant concept, announced today the opening of its first restaurant in Mansfield, Texas, located at 2421 E Broad St., Suite #101. The local community is invited to celebrate this grand opening on Tuesday, October 14, where the first 100 guests in line will win free chicken salad for a year*.

During the grand opening week, guests can expect to experience the Southern hospitality that Chicken Salad Chick is known for, as well as a community focused mindset with various specials and giveaways. These include:

Tuesday, October 14  Free Chicken Salad for a Year to the First 100 Guests  The first guest in line at 10 am will receive one FREE large Quick Chick of chicken salad per week for an entire year. The next 99 guests in line will receive one FREE large Quick Chick of chicken salad per month for a year.*

  The first guest in line at 10 am will receive one FREE large Quick Chick of chicken salad per week for an entire year. The next 99 guests in line will receive one FREE large Quick Chick of chicken salad per month for a year.* Wednesday, October 15  The first 50 guests to purchase a Chick Trio will receive a FREE Large Tote Bag!**

 The first 50 guests to purchase a Chick Trio will receive a FREE Large Tote Bag!** Thursday, October 16  The first 50 guests to purchase a Chick Trio will receive a FREE 30oz RTIC Tumbler!**

 The first 50 guests to purchase a Chick Trio will receive a FREE 30oz RTIC Tumbler!** Friday, October 17  The first 50 guests to purchase a Chick Trio will receive a FREE Chicken Salad Chick Wooden Cutting Board!**

 The first 50 guests to purchase a Chick Trio will receive a FREE Chicken Salad Chick Wooden Cutting Board!** Saturday, October 18  The first 50 guests to purchase two Large Quick Chicks will receive a FREE Large Quick Chick!***

Chicken Salad Chick of Mansfield is owned by Troy Morrison, a seasoned entrepreneur and the largest franchise owner in the brand's system. Operating under his franchise group, Meauxmentum Strategies and Investments, Morrison runs over 100 Taco Bell and Wingstop locations nationwide, along with 21 Chicken Salad Chick restaurants across Indiana, Oklahoma and Texas. This location marks the brand's 42nd Chick in the Lone Star State.

Earlier this year, Morrison acquired operating locations and development rights in Austin, TX, Indianapolis, IN, and Tulsa, OK. Most recently, he and his team celebrated the August 26 opening of Chicken Salad Chick's Austin  Hancock restaurant. He also plans to open two new Chicks in the greater Oklahoma City area, along with a new location in Wichita, KS before the end of the year.

"Opening in Mansfield gives us the opportunity to share what makes Chicken Salad Chick so unique  fresh food, a welcoming environment, and a brand people can count on," said Troy Morrison, franchise owner, Chicken Salad Chick of Mansfield. "Mansfield is a growing, family-oriented community, and I'm confident our restaurant will become a go-to spot where friends and neighbors can gather and enjoy a meal that feels both comforting and special."

Chicken Salad Chick is known for its dozen-plus variety of made-from-scratch chicken salad flavors, fresh side salads, gourmet soups, signature sandwiches, and desserts. The new Mansfield restaurant offers in-restaurant dining, take-out, third-party delivery, and catering options.

"Texas has truly embraced Chicken Salad Chick, and we're eager to keep growing in a state that loves what we serve and lives by the same values we do," said Scott Deviney, president and CEO of Chicken Salad Chick. "Troy is the ideal franchise partner to drive our Mansfield growth, bringing leadership, expertise, and a genuine passion for hospitality to every aspect of the restaurant and the community it serves."

Giving back to the community is an important focus for the Mansfield team and the Chicken Salad Chick brand, which established the CSC Foundation to support CURE Childhood Cancer and local food banks with fundraisers throughout the year. As part of pre-opening Friends & Family events in Mansfield, the restaurant will be raising money for Mansfield Cares, the No. 1 fundraiser for charitable organizations within the Mansfield community.

Chicken Salad Chick of Mansfield will be open Monday  Saturday from 10am  9pm. For more information, visit www.chickensaladchick.com. Follow Chicken Salad Chick on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news and trends.

For more information on giveaways and specials, visit: www.facebook.com/ChickenSaladChickMansfieldTX/

*Guests should arrive early to secure a place in line. The first 100 guests must remain in line and download the Chicken Salad Chick app. Wi-Fi will not be available on site. Once the restaurant opens, guests will make a purchase of "The Chick" or anything of equal/greater value and enter a code in the Chicken Salad Chick app to officially secure their spot. If you leave the line for any reason, your spot will be awarded to the next guest in line. Guests will receive their first free Large Quick Chick electronically to their app the Monday following Grand Opening Day. Your reward will be valid for redemption for 30 days upon delivery.

**Guest must download the Chicken Salad Chick app, be 16 years or older and purchase a Chick Trio. Limit 1 reward per guest present. Not valid with any other offers.

***Guest must download the Chicken Salad Chick app, be 16 years or older and purchase two Large Quick Chicks. Limit 1 reward per guest present. Not valid with any other offers.

About Chicken Salad Chick

Chicken Salad Chick serves full-flavored, Southern-style chicken salad made from scratch and served from the heart. With more than a dozen original chicken salad flavors as well as fresh side salads, gourmet soups, signature sandwiches and delicious desserts, Chicken Salad Chick's robust menu is a perfect fit for any guest. Founded in Auburn, Alabama, by Stacy and Kevin Brown, in 2008, Chicken Salad Chick has grown to more than 310 restaurants in 22 states. Today, under the leadership of Scott Deviney and the Chicken Salad Chick team, the brand is continuing its rapid expansion with both franchise and company locations. Chicken Salad Chick has received numerous accolades including rankings in the 2023 Entrepreneur Franchise 500, Franchise Times' Fast & Serious for the third consecutive year, Fast Casual's Top Movers and Shakers from 2018 to 2024, QSR's Best Franchise Deals in 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2024, and Franchise Business Review's Top Food Franchises list from 2019-2024. See www.chickensaladchick.com for additional information.

Contact:

Jennifer Gordillo

Fish 919

954-893-9150

[email protected]

SOURCE Chicken Salad Chick
Krista orchestrates people, applications, and agentic AI to automate entire business processes using natural language.

DALLAS, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- CloudScale365, a leading provider of managed IT, security, and cloud and infrastructure solutions for small and medium-sized businesses, today announced it has entered into a strategic partnership with Krista Software. An agentic AI platform, Krista uses natural language understanding (NLU) to automate entire business processes and deliver tangible outcomes.

Unlike disconnected task automations and chatbot tools, Krista works across systems, departments, and data sources-transforming AI from a fragmented collection of tools into a unified, agile, and secure ecosystem that scales with growth.

In the first phase of the partnership, CloudScale365 will deploy Krista internally across customer service, HR, and financial operations to modernize workflows, streamline compliance, and boost overall efficiency. Krista's no-code interface and enterprise-grade integrations will allow CloudScale365 employees to interact with automation in plain language, helping finance, operations, and support teams save time, reduce errors, and focus on higher-value work. In the second phase, CloudScale365 will offer Krista solutions to its MSP clients.

"We're leading by example, demonstrating Krista's real-world value to our clients," said Patrick Hannon, CEO of CloudScale365. "Krista provides clear use cases, adoption paths, and concrete ROI, giving CloudScale365 clients clarity on how AI can directly benefit their organizations. We're excited to offer small and medium-sized organizations access to the same AI capabilities that were once reserved for large enterprises."

"Most of the platforms we evaluated were narrowly focused on individual business functions, which would have required deploying and managing multiple solutions across departments," said Trent Fisher, COO of CloudScale365. "In contrast, Krista stood out as a unified platform capable of delivering transformative innovation across our entire organization. Krista integrates seamlessly with CloudScale365's existing systems and empowers our teams to improve existing workflows and create new ones that were previously not feasible."

Unlike disconnected task automations and chatbot tools, Krista works across systems, departments, and data sourcestransforming AI from a fragmented collection of tools into a unified, agile, and secure ecosystem that scales with growth. From automating HR onboarding and streamlining call center operations to extracting compliance data from healthcare documents and accelerating finance workflows, such as claims processing and risk scoring, Krista eliminates silos and inefficiencies, unlocking true business agility.

"We are excited to partner with Cloudscale365 to bring Krista's agentic platform to a broader range of organizations," said Michael Haske, CEO of Krista Software. "By leveraging Krista, Cloudscale365 will empower its customers to streamline operations, reduce manual work, and unlock new efficiencies across their businesses. This partnership is a testament to our shared commitment to innovation and delivering real, measurable value. Together, we look forward to enabling Cloudscale365's clients to accelerate their AI journeys and achieve sustainable growth through the power of AI-driven automation."

About Krista Software

Krista Software transforms how organizations adopt and use artificial intelligence. Its agentic platform, Krista, orchestrates people, applications, and AI into complete automated business workflows. Krista gives companies the ability to build adaptable AI workflows that coordinate decisions, processes, and knowledge to drive the business. By reducing app overload and agent sprawl, Krista helps organizations scale automation, cut costs, and accelerate transformation. Learn more at Krista.ai .

About CloudScale365, Inc.

CloudScale365 helps small and medium-sized organizations leverage the right technology to address key productivity, security, compliance, and support challenges while controlling costs. As a single-source IT partner, CloudScale365 takes the time to understand each organization's unique needs and requirements, developing customized, fully managed, or co-managed solutions that power critical applications. CloudScale365 enterprise solutions are backed by a knowledgeable support team that understands industry-specific demandsand the urgency required to meet them. To learn more, visit cloudscale365.com .

CloudScale365 and the CloudScale365 logo are trademarks of CloudScale365, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Media Contacts:

Marketing Department

CloudScale365, Inc.

Tel: 888-608-6245

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE CloudScale365, Inc.
The Price of Injustice? Innocent Muslim Man Spent 9 Years in Jail, Now Demands Rs 9 Crore

Nikhat Fatima, TwoCircles.net

Support TwoCircles



Wahid Shaikh, one of the 13 men accused in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts that killed 188 people and injured hundreds, was arrested by Maharashtras Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) for allegedly plotting the conspiracy.

After nine long years in prison, he was acquitted and proven innocent in 2015.

Life never returned to what it once was. Though he tried to pick up from where he had left off, the scars remained. And now, a decade after his acquittal, the remaining 12 accused too have been cleared of all charges.

Wahid, who has since dedicated his life to helping others falsely implicated like him, is now demanding compensation of Rs 9 crores from the state.

I waited this long to demand compensation because I wanted all the others arrested with me in 2006 to also be proven innocent. Only then could I feel entitled to claim it, he says.

The figure may sound large, but he insists it cannot buy back the years he lost in the prime of his youth. It cannot erase the humiliation, the torture, the stigma or the trauma that still lives within him.

This compensation will not restore my life, but it will at least be an acknowledgment from the state that an innocent man was wrongfully incarcerated. And maybe, it will serve as a deterrent for the future, he explains.

Days in prison

Wahid recalls that his first arrest came when he was only 21, accused of being part of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). He was jailed for two months before being released.

When a series of seven bomb blasts took place on July 11, 2006 over a period of 11 minutes on the Suburban Railway in Mumbai the train blasts took place, he says the police found him an easy target.

He was picked up again and named among 30 suspects. While the police claimed that some were Pakistanis, 13 of them, including him, were Indian. They all were lodged in Arthur Road Jail.

They tortured me with third-degree methods, called me a terrorist, a Pakistani and a member of Lashkar-e-Taiba. They did everything to force a confession to a crime I had never committed, he says.

When the court sentenced seven to life and five to death, Wahid says he felt utterly destroyed. From the prison gate to the cell, we were beaten, humiliated, not only by the police but even by the inmates, he says.

The alleged hostility eased with time. But prison offered no real comfort. In jail, nothing gives solace. Most prisoners turn to God. I too began offering namaz regularly, pouring out my heart to Allah. That gave me strength to survive, he recalls.

Letters from home and the photograph of his six-month-old daughter became his other lifelines.

The killing of Shahid Azmi

Wahid remembers with deep respect human rights lawyer Shahid Azmi, who defended them tirelessly. He was not only our lawyer, but he was also our source of strength. He motivated and encouraged me to study further, he says.

Guided by Azmi, Wahid completed his MA in Urdu, later pursued LLB and a course in journalism.

When Shahid Azmi was assassinated in 2010, we lost all hope. Everything turned dark, he says.

Support then came from Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, a Muslim civil rights group, and in 2015 he was finally acquitted.

But freedom had already claimed too much. His father died of shock, his mothers mental health collapsed and his wife and family bore stigma of being linked to an accused terrorist. He himself still suffers from glaucoma, chronic pain and psychological trauma allegedly caused by brutal torture and electric shocks in jail.

A second life

God has been kind to me. The school where I taught Urdu took me back despite the stigma. They trusted me, he says.

He returned to teaching, his lifelong passion, and also published his prison memoir titled Begunah Qaidi (Innocent Prisoner), which he had written in 10 months behind bars and released after his acquittal. The book has since been translated into Hindi and English.

He went on to complete his PhD on the history of Indian prisons and set up Innocence Network, a collective of lawyers, activists and retired judges working to help the wrongfully imprisoned.

We submit memorandums, hold campaigns and raise awareness, especially among Muslim youth, about what to do if they are falsely arrested. My book itself is a roadmap. It explains how the police force prisoners into signing false confessions, he claims.

Networking for justice

Today, Wahid travels across states, speaking at public meetings, book launches and conferences. He shares his story not only to recount his suffering, but to amplify the voices of other undertrials.

In prison, you forget what freedom feels like. But one hope that your family is waiting outside and that someone is fighting for your innocence always keeps you alive. That thought keeps us going, he says.

He now speaks for political prisoners from the anti-CAA-NRC protests, the Bhima Koregaon case and many more. Through his YouTube channel, Begunah Qaidi, he documents alleged systemic injustices where innocent Muslim youth are targeted and jailed.

In 2022, filmmaker Sudhanshu Gamare even brought his story to the screen in Haemolymph: Invisible Blood.

Wahid continues to write, with several books in the pipeline. He is compiling poetry, letters, stories and reflections written from prison. This was inspired by Faiz Ahmed Faiz, who wrote timeless poetry from jail, he explains.

His forthcoming works include Wahid Shaikh vs State, his autobiography; Love Letters from Jail, a collection of letters exchanged with his wife during his nine years in prison; and a collaborative project with journalist Manisha Bhalla documenting the stories of the other 12 men acquitted alongside him.

One of them, however, did not live to see his innocence declared.

Despite his literary pursuits, he remains grounded in community work. On an average, I get 20-30 calls a day for legal guidance. I have become like a mobile legal advisor, he laughs.

Still, the past never truly leaves him. Every knock at the door and every sight of a policeman on the street takes me back. I wake up sweating at night, remembering the torture, he says.

Despite the fear, I have to move ahead. Forgetting nine years in prison is impossible. What pains me most is that even after the judgment declaring us innocent, the state appealed against it instead of admitting its mistake. This is how innocent youth are turned into terrorists by the system, he alleged.

And so, Wahid stands firm. If my claim for Rs 9 crores is not accepted, we will go to court, he says with a resolve.
HA NOI - A surge of imported corn-based liquid sugar (HFCS), widely used in beverages and processed foods, is emerging as a serious new threat to Viet Nams sugar sector.

In just the first seven months of 2025, Viet Nam imported 126,024 tonnes of HFCS, following 241,504 tonnes in 2024. Analysts warn this cheaper, versatile sweetener could undercut domestic cane sugar more deeply than traditional smuggled sugar.

Viet Nams sugar industry is already facing a bitter season, as rising inventories, sluggish sales, declining prices and high production costs squeeze domestic producers. The pressure is compounded by weak competitiveness and an influx of imported and smuggled sugar, a stark reminder for Vietnamese agricultural sectors of the need for effective solutions to boost output and maintain domestic advantages, industry insiders say.

Analysts reported in September 2025 that sugar imports into Viet Nam had risen, with trading activity improving compared with previous periods. Yet global sugar prices continued to slide due to an oversupply in international markets.

Domestic consumption remains weak, partly because of high levels of smuggled sugar, creating significant inventory pressure for local producers. With a short turnover cycle, sugar mills have been forced to accelerate stock clearance, directly pushing down domestic prices.

Industry estimates suggest that the average sugar price in 2025 will fall to VN17.5 million per tonne, down 5 per cent year-on-year, recovering only to VN17.9 million per tonne by 2027still below the peak levels recorded between 2022 and 2024.

Mirae Asset Securities analysts described the sector as entering a challenging phase, with selling prices under continued pressure. The Vietnam Sugar Association (VSA) reported that consumption is lagging behind production, pushing white sugar prices to VN17,40018,200 per kilo and refined sugar to VN19,500 per kilo, down VN2,000 per kilo year-on-year. Meanwhile, high input cane costs of VN1.21.3 million per tonne, accounting for 85 per cent of production costs, have intensified financial strain.

Current inventory levels far exceed sustainable trajectories due to weak demand and post-20222024 price declines, squeezing profit margins for domestic producers.

A fundamental challenge lies in competitiveness. Domestically produced sugar is 39 per cent more expensive than global prices, largely because of government protectionist measures including trade defence tariffs, anti-dumping regulations and anti-subsidy duties.

In response to the escalating pressures, the Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to urgently assess production, consumption, inventory levels and the impact of smuggled sugar, proposing effective control measures to stabilise the market and support sustainable operations for sugar companies.

The struggles of the sugar industry reflect wider challenges facing Vietnamese agricultural products, highlighting the need for comprehensive solutions to overcome barriers and leverage domestic advantages.

The Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) emphasised the need to reduce logistics costs, streamline administrative procedures and cut fees to ease burdens on businesses and farmers.  VNS
HA NOI - At just sixteen, Thao Tran embodied this courage, leaving Ha Noi for New York with a vision that would eventually reshape the way thousands of restaurant owners navigate bureaucratic red tape.

"Moving to New York at sixteen taught me that the biggest challenges aren't always the ones you expect. I thought language would be my obstacle, but what really tested me was learning to navigate complex systemsfrom school applications to eventually Wall Street. It was those challenges that demanded the most resilience," she reflects.

That early lesson in overcoming bureaucratic hurdles would turn out to be prophetic. Today, Thao Tran leads PermitPass, a company dedicated to helping independent restaurant owners break through regulatory barriers and open their doors to success.

What sets Thao apart is not just her technical expertise or finance background; it's her unwavering focus on amplifying voices that are often left behind by the rapid pace of technological change. As she puts it, "Every step in my career has been about lifting others as you climb." PermitPass isnt just a tool for compliance - it's a solution born from hundreds of stories of restaurant owners whose dreams have been overshadowed by paperwork.

A foundation built on finance and strategy

Thao's professional journey began at New York University, where she honed her analytical skills through a rigorous curriculum in economics, mathematics, and business. She then entered CIBC Capital Markets, working on high-stakes renewable energy and infrastructure deals, where the devil is always in the details. Following a series of pivotal roles, she joined Compass (NYSE: COMP), a rapidly growing real estate tech firm, as the sole Senior Analyst in the CFOs office.

While Thao's role at Compass involved high-level financial analysis and investor communications, it was the human impact of her work that always stayed with her. "Working in the CFO office at Compass showed me how powerful clear communication and data can be in driving business decisions," she explains. "But while sitting in those boardrooms, I kept thinking about all the small business owners who dont have access to that kind of strategic support. Thats when I knew I had to build something for them."

At Compass, Thao authored the company's first-ever investor deck and helped execute a $400 million annual cost reduction program. These accomplishments not only showcased her technical prowess but also her ability to translate data into meaningful action.

However, despite her success in finance, it was the desire to make a more direct impact on entrepreneurs that drove Thao to chart a new path.

Listening to owners, delivering real solutions

PermitPass was born from Thaos experiences meeting dozens of restaurant owners through an earlier startup. "When I interviewed over fifty restaurant owners, I kept hearing the same story: brilliant people with incredible culinary visions being overwhelmed by paperwork. One owner told me he spent more time worrying about permit deadlines than perfecting his recipes. Thats when I realised we werent just solving a process problem, we were removing barriers to dreams."

With more than 26,000 restaurants in New York City alone, many owners lack the resources for dedicated legal support. The process of starting a business often feels like an endless cycle of paperwork and frustration.

Partnering with co-founder Phyllis Chou, Thao developed PermitPass as a solution to this widespread problem. "Were not here to replace lawyers or reinvent government processes," she explains. "Were organizing chaos. Think of us as the GPS for navigating permit applications - we dont change the roads, but we make sure you never get lost."

The platform provides clear guidance, deadline tracking, document management, and regular updates, ensuring that restaurant owners stay on track at every step of the process.

Within months of launching, PermitPass secured its first paid clients and formed a strategic partnership with Toast, a leading restaurant technology provider. Early adopters have reported reduced stress and newfound confidence in managing their operations, while legal partners value the streamlined casework the platform enables. As Thao puts it, "AI should free restaurant owners to focus on what they do best: running their businesses."

Mentorship and community impact beyond the business

Thaos mission goes far beyond just running PermitPass. She is deeply committed to mentoring others and creating opportunities for those who may not have had the same access to resources. As a mentor at the Parachute Project, Thao has guided dozens of international students and professionals navigating the U.S. job market.

"Every international student I mentor reminds me of my sixteen-year-old self stepping off that plane from Ha Noi. The difference is, I want them to have the roadmap I wish Id had. Success isn't just about climbing the ladder, it's about building more ladders for others to climb."

Thao also serves as co-president of the Vietnam Finance Society, which fosters professional development, mentorship, and networks for Vietnamese Americans in finance and technology. The society runs workshops, hosts career panels, and offers guidance on everything from internship preparation to executive leadership. As she reflects, "Being a Vietnamese working in finance taught me that representation matters, but impact matters more. Through the Vietnam Finance Society, were not just creating networks, were creating opportunities for the next generation to succeed without having to choose between their heritage and their ambitions."

This work mirrors her philosophy of leadership: "The best business decisions come from listening more than talking. Whether I was analyzing market trends at Compass or interviewing restaurant owners for PermitPass, the data only tells you half the story. The other half comes from understanding the people behind the numbers."

Shaping the future for small business owners

Thao envisions the future of small business technology as one that addresses real, everyday pain points, rather than chasing fleeting trends. "Small business owners are some of the hardest-working people I know, but theyre often underserved by technology," she says. "They dont need another app, they need tools that actually solve their daily headaches."

PermitPass plans to expand beyond the restaurant sector, scaling its solutions to other industries that struggle with outdated systems and mounting compliance costs.

Thaos leadership remains grounded in empathy: "Success isnt just about revenue or headcount. For me, its about how many new doors I can help open, for founders, for students, for anyone who believes they belong in the room."

Her journey from a teenager to a finance professional to a tech founder offers a new model for American entrepreneurship, one where rigorous strategy and deep listening go hand in hand. PermitPass proves that true progress comes from combining analytical skill with a sincere understanding of those who carry the heaviest burdens. Through sustained listening and a genuine commitment to change, Thao Tran is creating a future where small business owners have the tools they need to thrive.-VNS
KHANH HOA  Geological engineer-turned-marine agriculturist Le Ben has built a high-quality sea grape brand in Khanh Hoa Province and exported to more than 20 countries.

Two decades ago, sea grape farming was still a new field in Khanh Hoa.

Ben, founder of Tri Tin Sea Grapes Company, said that when he launched his startup, he recognised the potential of sea grapes, a green vegetable of the sea that is highly nutritious and can be used in many dishes.

Initially the company faced great difficulty in securing capital, developing cultivation techniques and acquiring preservation technologies, he said.

Sea grapes are highly perishable and begin to decline just a few hours after harvest.

Ben and his associates invested in a laboratory to refine processing technologies and create added value instead of merely selling sea grapes in their raw form.

After many years of effort, he succeeded in developing a method for producing dehydrated sea grapes, a breakthrough that enabled preserving them for a long time while retaining their flavour and nutrients.

Ben also invested in building a modern processing plant meeting HACCP and ISO 22000 standards to meet the stringent requirements of global markets.

All stages from cultivation and harvesting to processing and packaging strictly follow product safety and traceability standards.

Hundreds of tonnes of processed sea grapes are exported annually to more than 20 countries and territories.

Tri Tins products are sold on the shelves of major supermarket chains in Japan and South Korea, known for their stringent food quality standards.

Hundreds of coastal families in Khanh Hoa have gained an additional source of income by participating in the companys supply chain.

It provides them with technical support, seed stock, and guarantees to buy back their produce, enabling them to farm with confidence.

According to the Khanh Hoa Peoples Committee, Tri Tin sea grape was the first in the province to get five-star One Commune One Product certification, which it received in 2023, marking an important milestone in the strategy to develop seaweed processing. - VNS
Florida's leading indoor comfort provider partners with The JOY FM to support families in need this Thanksgiving

ORLANDO, Fla., Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Del-Air Plumbing, Air Conditioning and Electric, Florida's foremost indoor comfort provider, today announced its partnership with The Joy FM network in Florida as the presenting sponsor of the network's 21st annual T-Shirts for Turkeys food drive. The campaign helps provide Thanksgiving meals for families in need throughout the state of Florida.

"Del-Air has long believed that our responsibility extends far beyond providing comfort inside our customers' homes," said Rob Haines, Marketing Director for Del-Air. "We are an integrated part of every community we serve, and we want to help ensure that families who may be struggling don't have to go without their Thanksgiving comfort food. Del-Air and our employees have donated more than 10 tons of food in partnership with the Southeastern Food Bank over the past two years, and supporting The JOY FM's T-Shirts for Turkeys event is a natural extension of that relationship."

This year's donation drive will take place Nov. 10-13, with designated "Turkey Stops" at participating Chick-fil-A restaurants, food banks, thrift stores and churches throughout Jacksonville, Orlando, the Treasure Coast, greater Tampa Bay and Sarasota. Del-Air is the first organization to sponsor the popular food drive in its 21-year history.

As the presenting sponsor, Del-Air is making a generous lump-sum donation to support the cause and is actively encouraging all their employees to contribute as well. Beyond financial support, the company is also fostering community involvement by having Del-Air employees volunteer their time to help staff at the donation booths throughout the state.

"Our team members don't just work here, they are neighbors, friends and engaged in all the local communities and organizations Del-Air serves," Haines said. "That's why giving back is so important to us. At Del-Air, we believe meaningful impact begins within making our own communities a comfortable place to live. United around a shared purpose, we have the power to strengthen families and foster hope."

The JOY FM invites listeners to donate either a frozen turkey or contribute $15 in cash or grocery store gift cards. In return, each donor receives a newly designed The JOY FM T-shirt as a token of appreciation. Frozen turkey donations are distributed directly to area food banks, while the gift cards are used to purchase additional turkeys and food to ensure more Floridian families can enjoy a Thanksgiving meal.

To learn more about donating to T-shirts for Turkeys, Del-Air's services or to see their discount offers, visit https://www.delair.com/. To schedule a service visit or repair, call (888) 831-2665.

About Del-Air Plumbing, Air Conditioning and Electric

Since 1983, Del-Air has served Florida residents, businesses and homebuilders with quality air conditioning, heating, plumbing and electrical products and services. Del-Air's warranty programs and flagship Precise Comfort Plan includes regular professional maintenance for all household plumbing, air conditioning and electrical systems where applicable. Visit https://www.delair.com/ or call 888-831-2665 to contact Del-Air. Del-Air is majority owned by Astara Capital Partners.

About Astara Capital Partners

Astara Capital Partners is an integrated team of investors and operators investing in the middle market. The firm brings capital, strategic, and operational resources to its investments to build sustainable value and position them for long-term success. Astara focuses on a variety of industrial and services sectors, including building products, food, packaging, residential services, IT services, A&D, and government services. More information about Astara can be found at http://www.astaracapital.com/.

SOURCE Del-Air Plumbing, Air Conditioning and Electric
HA NOI  Viet Nam is moving closer to a long-awaited upgrade of its stock market as many of the worlds largest asset managers signal strong support for FTSE Russell to reclassify the country from a Frontier Market to a Secondary Emerging Market.

Market Insider reported on September 29 that early voting shows around 85 per cent of 26 major global funds consulted endorsed Viet Nams upgrade. Among the supporters are some of the worlds biggest investors, including BlackRock, Vanguard and State Street, which pointed to stronger liquidity and tighter regulatory alignment in the market.

Fidelity and PIMCO also expressed support, though with caution, stressing the need to monitor the rollout of the new KRX trading platform, expected in the second quarter of 2026.

According to Market Insider, Viet Nams stock market liquidity rose by 15 per cent in the last quarter, further strengthening its case for inclusion.

It also noted that Decree 245/2025/ND-CP has eased concerns over foreign ownership limits and currency risk, addressing two issues long viewed as obstacles for foreign investors.

FTSE Russell is scheduled to announce the outcome of its classification review after the US market closes on October 7. If approved, Viet Nam will join the FTSE Secondary Emerging Market Index in March 2026, a milestone that could reshape capital flows into one of Southeast Asias fastest-growing economies.

Analysts cited by Market Insider estimate that an upgrade could bring in between US$5 billion and US$7 billion in passive inflows, with further allocations from active funds to follow.

HSBC noted that such a move would automatically add Viet Nam to indexes including FTSE All-World, FTSE EM and FTSE Asia, prompting passive funds to buy Vietnamese stocks or ETFs.

Viet Nams Finance Minister told Reuters on September 19 he was pretty confident that the upgrade would be confirmed next month, reflecting optimism that the country is on the brink of a historic reclassification in global equity benchmarks.  BIZHUB/VNS
By Phuong Mai

HCM CITY Hai Au Club, the most renowned women's photography club in Viet Nam, is celebrating its 35th anniversary with an exhibition at the HCM City Womens Cultural House, showcasing the 54 ethic groups in Viet Nam

Titled Sac Mau Cuoc Song Cac Dan Toc Viet Nam (Colours of Life of Ethic Groups in Viet Nam), the exhibition displays 100 photos by 25 club members, capturing the culture and everyday life of the country and its people.

The exhibition features portraits of the elderly people, youth and children from 54 ethic groups in Viet Nam, particularly images of women from ethic minorities in northern mountainous areas such as HMong, Ha Nhi, Brau, Dao Lu Gang, and Thanh Phan.

The photographs highlight the vibrant beauty of traditional costumes, including the long black shirts and shorts of the Dao Thanh Y, and brightly coloured handloom clothes -- rich in yellows, reds and oranges worn by the Dao Lu Gang.

The exhibition also celebrates the unique cultural traits, traditional crafts, and joyful moments of daily life within these communities.

The displayed works were selected from a collection of 298 photos taken during the clubs field trips across Viet Nam. These images are also featured in the club's newly released photo book, Sac Mau Cuoc Song Cac Dan Toc Viet Nam.

The club began working on the theme of ethic groups two years ago to celebrate the 80th anniversary of National Day, the 95th anniversary of the Viet Nam Womens Union, and the club's 35th birthday, Nguyen Hong Nga, deputy head of Hai Au Club, said.

The 300-page book introduces the unique culture of the 54 ethnic groups, and highlights the development of the country as it enters a new era of national rise. It helps local and international people understand more about ethnic groups in Viet Nam, and fosters greater love for the country.

Le Van Minh, deputy head of the HCM City Party Committees Commission for Publicity and Mass Mobilisation, said the clubs members act as cultural messengers, helping people in Viet Nam in general, and HCM City in particular, to better understand and experience national solidarity through their artistic works that highlight all 54 ethnic groups.

He also praised the women photographers for showcasing the city's diverse cultural perspectives as well as those of different regions, and expressed his hope that the Hai Au Club will continue to grow and create more art projects in the future.

Founded in October 1990, the Hai Au Club was the first club for women photographers in Viet Nam, starting with only eight artists. It now has 25 members all affiliated with the HCM City Photography Association.

Veteran photographers such as ao Hoa Nu, Nguyen Hong Nga and oan Thi Tho -- who hold the prestigious EFIAP title awarded by the International Federation of Photographic Art for excellence in photography -- have become leading artists in the countrys photography scene and mentors to younger members.

The club has organised field trips across the country to inspire creativity. It also hosted numerous solo and group exhibitions at home and abroad, as well as released photo books.

The Hai Au Club and its members have received many prizes at national and international competitions.

In July, the club received the third prize in Literature and Arts category at the 2025 HCM City Innovation Awards for its photobook titled Tu Hao Thanh Pho Ho Chi Minh (Be Proud of HCM City). The book features 284 images of the city's historical and cultural landmarks, achievements in various sectors, and the vibrant lives of its people.

The HCM City Innovation Awards is one of the most prestigious prizes, honouring Vietnamese individuals, organisations, and businesses at home and abroad for outstanding research works, innovative solutions, products, and services that contribute to the city's development.

This year, the city gave prizes for 51 projects in seven fields of economic development, national defence and security, state management, communication, literature and art, science and technology, and creative startups.

oan Hoai Trung, chairman of the HCM City Photography Association, expressed his admiration for the clubs members, and said he hoped that the women photographers will take more quality photos to preserve the beauty of the country, spread humanitarian values, and contribute to the development of photography in Viet Nam.

Photographer Nga said the club has received strong support from the Womens Cultural House and the Photography Association over the past 35 years, helping its members to showcase their work to the public, and raise funds for the poor and Agent Orange victims.

The Sac Mau Cuoc Song Cac Dan Toc Viet Nam exhibition remains open until October 9 at 2 Nguyen ong Chi, Tan My Ward. It will then be held from October 8 to 15 at the Vietnamese Womens Museum in Ha Noi. VNS
HA NOI The Ha Noi Giftshow 2025 will take place from October 9-12 at the National Exhibition Palace for Architecture and Construction Planning in the capital.

The annual international fair, which focused on export-oriented handicrafts, is expected to attract strong interest from both local residents and international visitors.

The event will display a wide range of handicraft products -- including lacquerware, ceramics, rattan and bamboo wickerwork, embroidery, silk products -- from Ha Noi, provinces and cities across the country, as well as from some neighbouring countries.

The fair brings together businesses and traditional craft villages to promote brands and connect domestic and foreign markets.

It will also feature newly designed products and live demonstrations of traditional handicraft techniques..

This year's edition will include up to 500 booths and functional areas showcasing products, a food court, and art demonstrations.

With an export-oriented focus, the fair will invite, welcome and support importers, international guests and domestic trade visitors.

It will also facilitate business networking, negotiations and export contracts between enterprises and partners, both in person and online, while guiding handicraft producers to engage with e-commerce platforms.

The fair, which is expected to attract from 10,000 to 12,000 visitors, will serve as a bridge connecting and promoting businesses and handicraft producers in Ha Noi and across the country.

The fair also offers rural industrial establishments a chance to share experiences in management, production organisation and strategies for building and developing handicraft brands in key export markets.

With the participation of international trade promotion organisations, embassies, Vietnamese trade offices abroad, and domestic associations and industries, the Ha Noi Giftshow 2025 is expected to become a major trade promotion event. It aims to enhance the value of handicraft products, while promoting Vietnamese culture and traditional craft villages to the world.

The organising committee will also present awards to winners of the Ha Noi Handicraft Product Design Contest 2025, launched two months ago to encourage the creation of innovative and distinctive products for both domestic and international markets. VNS
PARIS  With its distinctive flavour, unique brewing method, and a culture deeply woven into everyday life, Vietnamese coffee is steadily winning the hearts of French consumers, particularly among the younger generation.

In a recent feature on the Vietnamese beverage, 20Minutes  one of Frances largest and most widely read newspapers  highlighted how a cup of ca phe sua a (iced coffee with condensed milk), brewed from robust Robusta beans using the traditional Vietnamese filter (phin), has become a favourite coffee for many French customers. More than just an energising coffee, it carries with it a story of culture and identity.

Viet Nam is the worlds second-largest coffee exporter and the leading producer of Robusta beans, which contain nearly twice the caffeine of Arabica. For years, however, much of Viet Nam's Robusta was blended into industrial mixes without any clear reference to its origins. This inspired Kim Nga and Martin, founders of the PHIN MI brand, to introduce Vietnamese coffee to the French public as a standalone beverage, rich in character and authenticity.

The hallmark of this rising brand is its 'phin' brewing method  a compact metal filter with roots in French colonial coffee makers. Hot water poured over coarsely ground beans slowly drips through the filter over five to seven minutes, creating an experience described as slow, serene, and almost meditative. The result is a bold, full-bodied cup of coffee whose flavour can vary depending on the baristas touch.

According to co-founder Kim Nga, Vietnamese coffee is traditionally brewed strong and bitter, showcasing Robustas defining traits. Yet to suit the diverse tastes of French drinkers, many Vietnamese cafes in France, including PHIN MI, now adopt a gentler, more balanced style. Just enough condensed milk is added to produce creamy, chocolatey glasses of iced or hot ca phe sua  palatable even to those unaccustomed to coffee.

Beyond ca phe sua a, Parisians have shown keen interest in inventive variations such as ca phe trung (egg coffee)  with its frothy egg cream likened to a Vietnamese tiramisu  and ca phe cot dua (coconut coffee), rich, nutty and full of flavour notes. Customers can also try versions with black sesame, salted cream or plant-based milk, offering a wide spectrum of flavours.

As the article points out, what sets Vietnamese coffee apart is not only the taste but also the culture behind it. In Viet Nam, coffee drinking is a daily ritual, inseparable from the rhythms of street life. Brought to Paris, this tradition makes Vietnamese coffee more than a trendy beverage  it is a cultural bridge, sparking curiosity and resonance among French patrons.

Amid global trends such as cold coffee drinks like the Espresso tonic, Vietnamese coffee has proved its enduring allure. With its blend of tradition and creativity, identity and integration, it is gradually carving out a place alongside the espresso  Europes long-standing coffee icon.  VNA/VNS
Thanh Ha

HA NOI  Poetry lovers, calligraphy enthusiasts and stamp collectors are in for a treat this October as three art forms come together under one roof at the To Huu Museum, the home of one of Viet Nams most prominent poets, in Ha Noi.

The museum will host the 105th anniversary of the poets birth on October 3, with many Party and State leaders expected to attend. At the same time, an exhibition titled Stamps and Poetry: To Huu's Imprints Over the Years will be held, showcasing his most significant works and life milestones to the public.

A week later, the museum will welcome students to explore calligraphy inspired by To Huu's poetry  an activity that not only deepens their understanding of the beloved national author but also nurtures a love for Vietnamese literature and poetry.

Corner of a great poet

The To Huu Museum was inaugurated in 2020 on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the poet's birth. It was built on the basis of the To Huu Memorial House which opened in 2009.

Covering an area of over 120 square metres at D9 Thang Long International Village, Tran ang Ninh Street, many images, documents and artefacts have been arranged and displayed with scientific and innovative methods, providing visitors with a comprehensive and multi-dimensional view of the life and career of the great revolutionary and poet To Huu.

To Huus poetic life learned through museum activities

The memorial house and later the To Huu Museum was my mother's wish. From her lifelong love for my father, she always wanted to do something for her husband, Nguyen Minh Hong, To Huu's youngest daughter, told Viet Nam News.

She treasured all of my father's poems, poetry collections and mementos. The manuscripts, letters exchanged with poetry friends and even the letters they sent to each other were her most precious assets.

At that time, she kept them without any intention but love and respect for everything from her beloved husband. After my father passed away in 2002, she had a clear intention of building a memorial house for her children and grandchildren to remember him.

Hong added that because many people loved him and his poetry, her family wanted to share with everyone the different aspects of his personality through the manuscripts, relics and artefacts.

As a small-scale venue, the memorial house could not fulfil its task and the To Huu family decided to expand it into the museum.

A group of experts led by former director of the Viet Nam Museum of Ethnology Nguyen Van Huy were invited to bring the idea to life.

It took us nearly two years of exchanging ideas and opinions before the experts could truly feel and absorb my fathers spirit and thoughts, allowing us to shape the theme, concept, layout and design of both the interior and exterior, said Hong.

Our goal was to build a scientific, professional and modern museum model  one that makes his legacy easily accessible for all purposes while especially appealing to young people who will carry forward To Huus spiritual values throughout society.

Poetic life

The museum consists of two parts. The exhibition section on To Huu's revolutionary and poetic life is told through notes and messages on the wall and nine display blocks along with multimedia devices for listening, reading and interacting that utilise technology.

His treasured documents, works and career milestones are displayed alongside key historical events of the nation and the world.

The thoughtful arrangement allows visitors to follow a narrative that intertwines the life of one man with the struggles of a country and the transformations of the world, all echoed through verses from his renowned poems.

It feels as though the poet himself is guiding visitors step by step through his more than 70-year poetic journey.

To Huus poems can be found in bookstores or heard on radio and television but only here can people encounter his vast collection of handwritten notes, documents and personal belongings. Visitors are also introduced to the fascinating and emotional stories that inspired his poetry and the characters within them, Hong said.

The second part is a space that recreates part of the house at 76 Phan inh Phung Street, where To Huu and his family lived for more than 40 years from 1960 to 2002.

It includes a living room where he welcomed friends and guests and the room with a round table where he drank tea, wrote poetry and kept a working desk.

We moved everything from the old house here and decorated this part the same way it was, from photos and paintings to his working items, Pham Kim Ngan, deputy director of the museum, told Viet Nam News.

We even tried to use the same floor tile patterns, which we ordered privately from the factory, and the colours of the wall paint and the doors. Things are kept the same, like he is still here.

Since its first days, the To Huu Museum has welcomed many visitors, especially students who come to study.

They read poems, learnt to write calligraphy and took part in workshops and mini games about the poet and his works.

Our Grade 8 students trip to the museum has been integrated into the literature curriculum, said Nguyen Thi Hong, a teacher at Edison School. It helps them gain a deeper understanding of patriotic poetry, fostering their love for the country and for poet To Huu, whom they have studied in class.

This visit is also designed to enrich their knowledge and sharpen study skills through hands-on learning. Students will take notes and record their reflections during the trip, and I believe these observations will benefit not only their studies but also their future lives.

The To Huu Museum is open free to visitors every Friday and Saturday.

To Huu was born Nguyen Kim Thanh on October 4, 1920 and died on December 9, 2002. He was a Vietnamese poet and politician. He held important positions in the Vietnamese political system such as member of the Politburo, secretary of the Central Executive Committee of the Communist Party of Viet Nam and first vice chairman of the Council of Ministers (now permanent deputy prime minister of the government) of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.

To Huu lived a life fully devoted to revolution, art and poetry. Among his renowned works are collections and poems including Tu Ay (From Then On), Viet Bac, Mau va Hoa (Blood and Flowers), Mot Tieng an (A Melody), Hue Thang Tam (Hue in August), Bai Ca Xuan 61 (Song of Spring 61) and Tam Biet (Goodbye). VNS
TOKYO  The Cay Tre (Bamboo) Vietnamese language school went vibrant with lanterns, folk games, and laughter as more than 100 students and their families gathered at the mid-autumn festival, which was held with the support of the Consulate General of Viet Nam in Osaka on September 28.

President of the Vietnamese Association in the Kansai region Le Thuong said the festival was not only a joyful day for children but also an opportunity to strengthen solidarity within the Vietnamese community while preserving cultural identity and passing on its values to the younger generations.

Besides, this is part of the efforts to implement the Party and States policy on building a strong overseas Vietnamese community, encouraging them to their hearts to the homeland, she added.

A highlight of the festival was an awards ceremony honouring outstanding students for their academic achievements and passion for the Vietnamese language. Teachers of the school also received certificates of merit from the Consulate General, recognising their dedication and efforts in preserving and teaching Vietnamese to young poeple.  VNS
PARIS  More and more French retirees are choosing a Nang as an ideal destination, which has surpassed Portugal and Morocco thanks to its low cost of living and peaceful seaside setting, according to Grazia, a well-known fashion, beauty, and lifestyle magazine.

Grazia reported that when it comes to retirement abroad, Portugal has long been considered the top choice for the French, offering a mild climate, long beaches, and a cheaper cost of living compared to France. However, a new name is emerging: a Nang. Nicknamed the Miami of Asia, it attracts retirees with its warm sunshine, blue seas, and laid-back lifestyle.

Unlike the bustling pace of HCM City or the capital city of Ha Noi, a Nang retains a more relaxed rhythm. Elderly people can take leisurely strolls along My Khe beach, visit early morning markets, or enjoy a cup of drip coffee by the sea. The city offers the best of both factors: modern infrastructure with hospitals, services, and stylish cafes, while still preserving a close-knit local way of life.

The magazine highlights that a Nangs greatest strength lies in housing costs. A one-bedroom apartment near the beach or in the city centre ranges from 300 to 600 EUR (US$350-700) per month, while a two-bedroom house or apartment costs around 500900 EUR. At these prices, retirees can live comfortably in fully equipped homes  often including air conditioning and some additional services  while staying close to both the beach and vibrant neighbourhoods.

Local cuisine is another plus. Small eateries serve fresh meals for just a few euros, while traditional markets overflow with affordable vegetables, seafood, and spices that few other places can match. Transportation in the city is also budget-friendly, as taxis, ride-hailing motorbikes, and buses are inexpensive. In many areas, residents can even get around on foot or by motorbike for their daily activities, Grazia added.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Monday met with Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Vyacheslav Volodin, who affirmed the Russian parliaments readiness to support the two Governments to bolster ties in all aspects.

Welcoming his Russian guest and delegation, PM Chinh highlighted the significance of their official visit to the reinforcement of ties between the two legislatures as well as the Viet Nam  Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. He considered this as an occasion for both sides to push ahead with substantively implementing the agreements reached between the countries high-ranking leaders, especially after the vibrant meetings and mutual visits in 2025.

He congratulated Russia on its recent achievements despite challenges, affirming that the Vietnamese Party, State, and people attach utmost importance to the traditional friendship and Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Russia, and wish to intensify bilateral relations in all spheres.

The host proposed the Russian State Duma support and provide favourable legal conditions for tackling hindrances and promoting all-round cooperation; facilitating economic, trade and investment links to soon raise bilateral trade to US$15 billion; capitalising on the free trade agreement between Viet Nam and the Eurasian Economic Union, of which Russia is a member; and encouraging businesses to invest in each others markets.

For his part, Chairman Volodin emphasised that despite the fast-changing world context, Viet Nam is forever a faithful friend of Russia, which in turn always views the former as a leading partner in Asia-Pacific and Southeast Asia.

He also thanked Viet Nam for building a monument to Soviet Union military experts assisting the country at the Viet Nam Military History Museum.

Regarding parliamentary cooperation, he noted that regardless of political orientation, all political parties in the Russian Federal Assembly, both in the State Duma and the Federation Council, advocate the further consolidation of relations with Viet Nam.

The Russian parliament is always ready to coordinate with the Vietnamese side to carry out the high-level agreements, and support the two Governments to bolster ties in all aspects, especially economy, trade and investment to soon raise bilateral trade to $15 billion as targeted by their leaders, he stated.

The Russian Federal Assembly will maintain close coordination with the Vietnamese National Assembly to build and perfect the legal framework for bilateral cooperation, thereby helping to deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the Chairman went on.

The two leaders also agreed to further strengthen collaboration in humanistic affairs, education  training, defence  security, and transport infrastructure development in Viet Nam. They also concurred in accelerating the negotiation of a bilateral agreement on visa exemption to facilitate locality-to-locality, tourism, and labour connections.

On this occasion, PM Chinh extended his regards to his Russian counterpart Mikhail Mishustin.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  State President Luong Cuong received Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Vyacheslav Volodin and his entourage in Ha Noi on Monday.

The Russian delegation is in Viet Nam for an official visit and attendance at the 4th meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee between the National Assembly of Viet Nam and the State Duma.

At the meeting, President Cuong expressed his pleasure to welcome Chairman Volodin, affirming that the visit marks an important milestone and contributes to creating new momentum for the close and effective relationship between the two countries, which has been built and nurtured over the past 75 years.

Thanking Russia for its attention to the Vietnamese community living in the country, the President proposed that the State Duma and the Russian Government continue to provide favorable conditions for Vietnamese citizens to live and work in the country, contributing to Russias development and bilateral relations. He also expressed hope that Russia would further facilitate Vietnamese tourism by waiving visas or simplifying visa procedures.

Emphasising that the Party, State, and people of Viet Nam always remember and appreciate the support and assistance of the Soviet people during the past struggle for national defence as well as of the Russian people in the countrys development today. Viet Nam always values and wishes to strengthen its traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia, he noted.

President Cuong congratulated Russia on its achievements under the leadership of President Putin and praised the important role of the State Duma in law-making, contributing to Russias stability and sustainable development. He suggested that Chairman Volodin and the Vietnamese National Assembly continue supporting and promoting the implementation of high-level agreements, especially those reached by Party General Secretary To Lam and President Putin in May 2025, and between President Luong Cuong and President Putin in September 3, 2025. He also called for the creation of a favourable legal framework to elevate the Viet NamRussia relationship to a new, more substantive and effective level across all fields.

President Cuong expressed confidence that the traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Viet Nam and Russia would continue to be strengthened and developed for the benefit of both peoples and for peace, stability, and cooperation in the region and the world.

Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin affirmed that the Russian parliament highly values the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership with Viet Nam, appreciated Viet Nams socio-economic achievements, and emphasised that Russian government agencies and political parties unanimously support strengthening relations with the Southeast Asian nation. He reiterated Russias desire to continuously strengthen friendship and multifaceted cooperation for the benefit of both nations.

Chairman Volodin also stressed the need to further enhance the role of the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee and Friendship Parliamentary Groups, promote delegation exchanges, and share legislative experience and oversight practices to deepen and make parliamentary cooperation more effective and practical.

He confirmed that the State Duma would continue to support and encourage ministries, sectors, and businesses of both countries to effectively implement high-level agreements, specially those between Party General Secretary To Lam and President Luong Cuong with President Putin, focusing on cooperation in economy, trade, energy (including oil and gas), education and training, and other areas where both sides have strengths and potential.

During their exchange, both sides agreed to further enhance political trust, strengthen cooperation through Party, State, parliamentary, and locality-to-locality channels, and promote the implementation of specific projects and initiatives in all areas. They also committed to expanding people-to-people, cultural, sports, and tourism exchanges, expressing confidence that both countries will find effective mechanisms and solutions to remove obstacles, overcome difficulties and advance bilateral relations.

President Cuong and Chairman Volodin agreed to enhance the exchange of viewpoints and closely coordinate at international organisations and multilateral forums, contributing to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.

President Cuong also proposed that Russia continue to support Viet Nams and ASEANs positions regarding the East Sea, particularly in settling disputes and differences by peaceful means, based on international law, the UN Charter, and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982). VNA/VNS
HA NOI  National Assembly (NA) Vice Chairman Sen. Lieut. Gen. Tran Quang Phuong met with Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan Nukaga Fukushiro and held talks with Vice President of the House of Councillors Fukuyama Tetsuro on Monday, part of his ongoing working trip to Japan.

Phuong expressed delight at visiting Japan during the month celebrating the 52nd anniversary of diplomatic ties and nearly two years since the two countries upgraded ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. He conveyed NA Chairman Tran Thanh Mans greetings and letter thanking Speaker Nukaga for his congratulatory message on the 80th anniversary of Viet Nams National Day.

Congratulating Japan on successfully hosting Expo 2025 in Osaka, he thanked the Japanese Government for facilitating Viet Nams presence at the event.

In discussions, Phuong praised the strong and substantive growth of Viet Nam  Japan relations since the partnership upgrade, driven by high political trust and evidenced by spotlights in six cooperation areas, namely economy, national defence  security, science  technology, locality-to-locality partnerships, people-to-people exchanges, and parliamentary cooperation.

Viet Nam always considers Japan a top priority partner and a sincere and trusted friend on the path towards its development goals, with inter-parliamentary cooperation serving as an important channel to deepen substantive, comprehensive, and effective ties, he said.

Sharing the NAs determination to refine the institutional framework to meet development targets, he proposed stepping up exchanges between the two legislatures, especially through regular interactions between parliamentary friendship groups and specialised committees, and sharing of experiences in legislation and supervision in non-traditional security areas like cybersecurity, digital transformation, and disaster response.

The official also sought the Japanese parliaments support for stronger linkages in quality workforce training and creation of an environment conducive for Vietnamese workers in Japan.

Speaker Nukaga praised Vietnams successful National Day showcase at Expo 2025 and thanked Phuong for visiting Japanese localities, including his wreath-laying at the Hiroshima atomic bombing memorial.

Citing the solid relationship and shared values, Nukaga said Japan and Viet Nam hold ample potential for further collaboration. He lauded Viet Nams role as a key partner in Japans Indo-Pacific strategy, and expressed confidence that the vigorous development of Viet Nam as well as bilateral ties will help with regional stability and development.

He pledged to strengthen cooperation between the two legislatures and affirmed Japans readiness to support Viet Nams continued development.

On the occasion, Phuong conveyed NA Chairman Mans invitation for the host to visit Viet Nam soon.

In separate talks the same day, Phuong and Fukuyama vowed to continue coordinating in the effective implementation of high-level agreements and commitments, including the cooperation agreement signed between the Vietnamese NA and Japanese House of Councillors during NA Chairman Mans official visit to Japan in December 2024.

They also promised to step up cooperation across economy, national defence  security, investment, tourism, trade, science, technology, digital transformation, green transition, artificial intelligence, and semiconductors.

Fukuyama underscored the importance of promoting high-level and parliamentary exchanges, saying that Phuongs visit holds significance for Japan  Viet Nam friendship and cooperation.

During the meetings, Vice Chairman of the Japan  Viet Nam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance and a member of the House of Representatives Aoyagi Yoichiro reaffirmed his 18-year efforts in advancing bilateral ties and expressed the wish to deepen collaboration in culture, people-to-people exchanges, and quality workforce training.  VNA/VNS
RUSSIA  Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Vyacheslav Volodin on Monday afternoon concluded his official visit to Viet Nam, during he also co-chaired the fourth session of the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee between the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) and the Russian State Duma.

During his trip on September 2829, made at the invitation of NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man, Chairman Volodin paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at the late leader's mausoleum and laid flowers at the monument to heroes and martyrs in Ha Noi.

Party General Secretary To Lam, State President Luong Cuong, and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had meetings with the State Duma Chairman. Meanwhile, NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man hosted a welcome ceremony for and talks with Volodin. The two parliamentary leaders co-chaired the fourth session of the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee.

At the events, the Vietnamese leaders stressed that Volodins visit is vivid testimony to the will and determination of both sides to further advance the traditional friendship and Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Viet Nam and Russia. They underlined the importance of the visit to the countries' close, trustworthy, and effective ties as well as to the enhancement of parliamentary connections, especially as the two countries celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year.

Viet Nam reaffirmed that it always treasures its traditional friendship and Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Russia.

The Vietnamese leaders highlighted the encouraging progress in bilateral relations across all fields over the past year. They proposed that the Russian State Duma intensify cooperation with the Vietnamese NA, particularly in sharing experience in building a smart parliament, improving the legal framework, and facilitating all-round cooperation, particularly in economy, trade, investment, energy, science  technology, education  training, culture, and people-to-people exchanges.

For his part, Chairman Volodin expressed gratitude to the Vietnamese leaders and people for their warm and thoughtful reception. He congratulated Viet Nam on its impressive socio-economic achievements and wished the country continued success in fulfilling the development goals set by the Communist Party of Viet Nam.

He affirmed that he and the Russian State Duma strongly support advancing all-faceted cooperation with Viet Nam and are ready to join the Vietnamese NA in supporting the two countries' unceasing expansion of cooperation mechanisms and exploration of new collaboration directions.

At the fourth session of the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee, both sides agreed that the annual rotational meetings demonstrate the two legislatures' determination to further deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The session concluded with a joint communique outlining orientations for future parliamentary cooperation in line with the characteristics of bilateral relations and the two sides' needs in the new context.

During the visit, Chairman Volodin also toured the Viet Nam  Russia Tropical Centre and the Viet Nam Military History Museum.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has urged the Federal Republic of Germany to soon ratify the EUViet Nam Investment Protection Agreement and to continue working closely with Viet Nam to effectively implement the EUViet Nam Free Trade Agreement, creating more favourable conditions for businesses from both countries to expand investment and trade cooperation.

He made the remarks while holding phone talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to discuss measures to further advance the Viet NamGermany Strategic Partnership in a more substantive, effective and comprehensive manner. The conversation took place on the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries (1975-2025).

During the call, PM Chinh praised Germanys important role and position within the European Union and in global affairs, emphasising that Viet Nam attaches great importance to consolidating and strengthening the Strategic Partnership with Germany across all fields. He suggested that science, technology and innovation should become a new pillar of bilateral cooperation.

Chancellor Merz expressed admiration for Viet Nams growing potential and rising profile in the region and the world. He commended Viet Nams significant achievements in recent years across multiple sectors and welcomed its adoption of key resolutions to promote socio-economic development, science, technology and innovation.

He reaffirmed that Germany values its Strategic Partnership with Viet Nam and wishes to further expand cooperation in strategic areas, such as the green economy, energy transition, circular economy, supporting industries and logistics services.

The German chancellor also conveyed his sympathy over the impact of recent storms and flooding in Viet Nam.

In a spirit of sincerity, openness and trust, the two leaders expressed satisfaction with the positive progress of bilateral relations, particularly in trade, investment, science and technology, energy transition, education and labour cooperation.

Both sides agreed to upgrade bilateral relations to a higher level in the near future, step up high-level exchanges and delegation visits, fully utilise existing cooperation mechanisms and establish joint working groups in economic, political and labour fields.

The two leaders also promised to boost cooperation in trade, investment, green finance, renewable energy, digital transformation, sustainable development, supporting industries, digital economy, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and transportation.

They further agreed to continue close coordination within the ASEANEU framework and at regional and international forums. The two sides reaffirmed their shared position of settling disputes by peaceful means and in accordance with international law, stressing the importance of global cooperation and regional integration for peace, stability and sustainable development.

PM Chinh also called on Germany to continue creating favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community in Germany to stabilise their lives, integrate into local society and contribute to both Germanys development and the bilateral friendship. He proposed expanding vocational training programmes and recruiting skilled workers from Viet Nam to help meet Germany's labour market needs.

Each leader extended an invitation to the other to pay official visits at a mutually convenient time to further discuss ways to enhance the effectiveness of bilateral cooperation.  VNS
HA NOI  Party General Secretary To Lam has reaffirmed that Viet Nam is committed to advancing its traditional friendship and Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Russia, reflecting the two countries respective places in each others foreign policy and their close and longstanding ties.

He made the remarks on Monday while welcoming Vyacheslav Volodin, chairman of the State Duma of Russia, who is on an official visit to Viet Nam with a high-ranking Russian delegation and is co-chairing the 4th meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee between the Vietnamese National Assembly and the Russian State Duma.

Lam said that the visit would provide fresh momentum for strengthening political trust and lay a solid foundation for the robust, sustainable development of Viet NamRussia relations in a new phase of cooperation. Volodin's visit also vividly demonstrates the determination of both sides to further deepen their traditional friendship and Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, he noted.

The Party leader stated that Viet Nam wishes to see Russia develop in a stable and prosperous manner, with improved social welfare and better living standards for its people.

He expressed his hope that Russia would continue playing an important role in global and AsiaPacific cooperation mechanisms, contributing to peace, security and development, and supporting the building of an open, transparent, inclusive and rules-based regional order in line with international law.

He called on Russia to support the stance of Viet Nam and ASEAN in safeguarding peace, stability and order in the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea) based on international law, the UN Charter and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

As for bilateral ties, Lam reaffirmed that Viet Nam seeks to comprehensively develop its traditional friendship and Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Russia in a manner that reflects the trust and strong historical bonds shared by their leaders and peoples.

The Party chief said that Viet Nam is determined to mobilise all of its resources to advance national development and lead the country into a new era of prosperity, expressing hope that Viet Nams trusted partners and friends would accompany the nation on this journey.

Positive recent results of inter-parliamentary cooperation were highlighted, with Lam describing the achievements as an important channel for effective collaboration between the two governments and relevant ministries, while helping remove legal barriers to accelerate the implementation of bilateral projects.

He urged the Russian State Duma to continue close coordination with the Vietnamese National Assembly in strengthening parliamentary cooperation and thanked the Duma for swiftly ratifying recently signed cooperation agreements.

For his part, Volodin spoke highly of Lams role and contributions to the development of Viet NamRussia relations, underscoring the significance of his visit in the current stage of cooperation.

The Duma chairman confirmed that both he personally and Russian leadership attach great importance to the Communist Party of Viet Nams leadership in safeguarding, building and developing the nation.

He noted that the visiting delegation included representatives from all political parties in the State Duma, each with different platforms and positions, but united in their strong support for comprehensive cooperation with Viet Nam in all areas, viewing Viet Nam as a loyal and reliable partner of Russia and pledging to make their most active contributions to bilateral ties.

Volodin briefed the Party General Secretary on key outcomes of the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committees meeting, sharing the Dumas assessments on prospects for bilateral cooperation.

He pledged to help create a favourable legal framework to further boost the efficiency and substance of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in such fields as economy and trade, investment, oil and gas energy, nuclear power, science and technology, and education and training.

Both sides noted encouraging results in bilateral cooperation in economy and trade, oil and gas, defence and security, tourism and people-to-people exchanges. They highlighted the fact that bilateral trade has been growing at over 20 per cent annually, and the number of Russian tourists to Viet Nam doubled year-on-year.

They also reaffirmed their tradition of cooperation in education and training, science, technology and engineering as well as healthcare, and voiced determination to elevate cooperation in these areas with joint projects that maximise the two countries potential and meet their development needs.  VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam will continue to create a more favourable investment environment for US enterprises in the country, while encouraging Vietnamese businesses to invest in the US, bringing mutual benefits and generating jobs for both countries' people, Party General Secretary To Lam affirmed while receiving US Ambassador to Viet Nam Marc E. Knapper in Ha Noi on Monday.

During the meeting, the Party leader spoke highly of the progress made across all areas of bilateral relations, with many positive outcomes, particularly as they are marking the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the 2nd anniversary of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

He stressed that Viet Nam regards the US as a partner of strategic importance and wishes to work with it to implement the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in a more substantive and deeper manner, with increasing strategic content across cooperation fields, on the basis of mutual respect for each others independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political institution, and in line with Viet Nam's foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation.

Acknowledging the substantial and effective growth of relations, both bilaterally and multilaterally, the Party leader underlined that the Viet NamUS Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has become a model in international relations, demonstrating that countries can overcome the past to build a future of cooperation and friendship with mutual trust, respect, and shared benefits.

He suggested both sides continue to implement their agenda effectively, promote mutual visits at all levels, and work together to foster peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

The Party chief also urged both sides to step up cooperation in priority areas such as science-technology, semiconductors, energy industries and digital transformation, while facilitating Viet Nam's access to high-tech goods and advanced technology transfer from the US.

For his part, Knapper affirmed that the administration of President Donald Trump attaches great importance to the partnership with Viet Nam and is keen to deepen collaboration, ensuring it is practical and effective and brings tangible benefits to the people of both nations.

The ambassador noted that the US values Viet Nam's foreign policy of independence and self-reliance and supports its growing role and influence in promoting peace and cooperation in the region and beyond. He stressed that the US fully supports a strong, independent, prosperous and resilient Vietnam, making positive contributions to regional and global peace and stability.

Knapper expressed his gratitude for the close attention of Viet Nam's Party and State leaders and praised the countrys practical measures to foster balanced and sustainable trade relations between the two countries. He affirmed that US businesses and partners value economic, trade and investment cooperation with Viet Nam, recognising it as an important partner in global supply chains and as a market offering significant opportunities for US goods and services.

The diplomat pledged to work actively to encourage relevant US agencies to coordinate with Viet Namin implementing high-level agreements, ensuring the effective roll-out of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership across all its pillars.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam is stepping up plans to develop a new generation of highly skilled railway workers, as the country prepares for an unprecedented expansion of its rail network, including the long-awaited NorthSouth high-speed line.

The Ministry of Construction has drafted a comprehensive project on training and developing railway personnel through to 2030, with a longer-term vision to 2045.

Officials warn that without decisive investment in people, Viet Nam could remain dependent on foreign expertise to design, build and operate its new transport systems.

The Government has recently approved nine new railway routes and upgrades to seven existing lines, along with plans for 28 urban railways in Ha Noi and HCM City, covering over 1,100km in total by 2045.

Flagship projects such as the NorthSouth express railway and the Lao CaiHa NoiHai Phong line are regarded as central to the countrys industrialisation, modernisation and regional connectivity.

The ministry said in its submission that the projects would be of immense scale and complexity, requiring a workforce not only able to build and operate them, but also capable of absorbing and advancing world-class technology.

Skills gap looms large

Viet Nams railway sector remains hampered by limited technological capacity. Expertise in core fields such as locomotive design, rolling stock manufacturing, signalling, automation and electrification is still largely imported, with little domestic research and production.

The ministrys report warns that without early workforce development plans, it will be difficult to master technology, and the country will remain dependent on foreign experts throughout project lifecycles.

International experience shows that countries that successfully launched high-speed rail  including Japan, France, China and South Korea  paired infrastructure investment with systematic, long-term workforce training.

The draft project sets a target of training more than 140,000 workers for the railway sector by 2045, in phases.

Between 2025 and 2030, some 35,000 people are expected to undergo training, focusing on high-speed rail, electrified lines and urban metro systems. The plan includes 1,000 postgraduate students, 14,000 university graduates, 11,000 college-level trainees and 9,000 intermediate-level workers.

Fields of study will range from construction engineering, electrical systems and signalling to transport economics and operations.

About 12,000 people will be trained specifically for railway operations and maintenance, including 4,500 for national railways and 7,500 for urban lines.

The project also envisions training specialists in management and regulation to build institutional capacity alongside technical skills.

From 2031 to 2045, a further 105,000 workers will be trained, with a shift towards research, technology transfer and homegrown innovation.

The aim is to build a core of 5,000 personnel engaged directly in research and technology mastery, gradually reducing reliance on foreign expertise.

Making rail an attractive career

The draft project sets out seven groups of tasks and solutions. It calls for the creation of incentives and supportive policies that can attract and keep skilled workers in areas such as railway management, engineering and research.

At the same time, it urges closer cooperation between universities, enterprises and Government agencies so that training programmes are aligned with the actual demands of major projects.

Another priority is to expand investment in training institutions, equipping them with modern laboratories, simulation centres and research hubs that can provide advanced education and hands-on experience.

The draft also highlights the need for publicprivate partnerships to mobilise additional resources for workforce development, while strengthening international cooperation with leading railway nations to facilitate the exchange of expertise and the transfer of technology.

Ultimately, the goal is to ensure that the railway industry becomes an attractive destination for top talent, rather than merely a temporary or stopgap option, according to the draft.

A mix of funding sources will be used. Training costs will be built into investment budgets for major railway projects, ensuring operators and maintenance staff are properly prepared before lines enter service.

The State budget will support training for Government officials and upgrades to teaching institutions. Enterprises will help train their own employees, while learners and employers will also share part of the cost.

Authorities hope to draw on international assistance and cooperation, both financial and technical, from development partners and railway powers with experience in high-speed systems.  VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam aims to make English the second language in schools by 2045, a strategic direction aimed at enhancing international integration capabilities.

However, the general education system must overcome numerous challenges to achieve this goal, with teachers playing a vital role.

The programme roadmap consists of three phases: 2025-2030, 2030-2040 and 2040-2045, with seven evaluation criteria for each educational level.

Key tasks include raising social awareness, improving policies, training educators, designing the curriculum and teaching materials, innovating testing and evaluation methods, applying new technologies, strengthening international cooperation and social engagement, and promoting emulation and recognition.

The initiative will be rolled out across the entire education system with nearly 50,000 institutions, approximately 30 million students and one million teaching staff. Funding will come from the State budget as well as contributions from businesses, organisations and individuals.

According to the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET), this strategy requires English training for at least 200,000 teachers, along with 22,000 new recruits for the preschool and primary level, by 2030.

The MoET emphasised that the programmes success requires public consensus and consistent implementation over 20 years to enhance national competitiveness and international integration.

From a subject to a second language

English currently remains a foreign language in Viet Nams general education system. Students from primary to high school study English as a subject, with three to four lessons per week on average.

While many schools offer extracurricular programmes or advanced classes in English, it remains just one of many subjects, rather than the second language on campus.

According to Programme Head of New Initiatives at RMIT University Viet Nam Jonny Western, a few international, bilingual or joint-education schools teach English as the medium of instruction (EMI). However, this number is far too small to meet nationwide demands.

Transitioning English from a foreign language to a second language will be a major turning point for education in Viet Nam.

The year 2035 is a reasonable milestone, which allows sufficient time to build the capacity of the teaching staff and narrow the educational gap between urban and rural areas.

In Southeast Asia, Singapore has used English as the primary language in education for several decades, while Malaysia has widely implemented EMI in science and technical subjects. The Philippines also considers English an official language, giving it a significant advantage in the global labour market.

For Viet Nam, making English the second language will increase opportunities and enhance workforce competitiveness.

However, experts believe that this transition is not simple. When English is simply a foreign language, the primary teaching goal is to develop communication skills. However, as the second language, English will serve as a medium of instruction in a variety of other subjects, from natural sciences and economics to social studies.

This change requires a comprehensive reform of the curriculum, teaching materials, instruction methods and especially the capabilities of the teaching staff.

Dr Jennifer Howard, RMIT University Viet Nams programme head of Foundation Studies, said that teachers would be the key factor in rolling out EMI.

An EMI teacher must not only be proficient in English, but also possess strong knowledge of their subject as well as modern teaching skills. They must adjust teaching materials and methods to accommodate varying English proficiency levels within a classroom, ensuring weaker students can keep up while stronger ones maximise their potential, Howard noted.

She also pointed out that in EMI, English would no longer be the goal, but an instrument to deliver knowledge. Teachers must therefore have the confidence to use academic English to explain complex concepts and effectively manage classroom interactions.

If teachers were limited to basic communication skills, students would struggle to absorb knowledge accurately and comprehensively, Howard explained.

Education researchers also warned that the rapid rollout of EMI could place significant financial pressure on schools and parents.

Additionally, the risk of commercialisation in education, particularly in international programmes labelled as EMI, could lead to inequalities in learning opportunities between urban and rural areas. Without strong monitoring, the quality of education could greatly fluctuate, eroding public trust.

To address these risks, experts have recommended developing a robust quality assurance system, alongside efforts in teacher training. This should include clear standards for language proficiency, professional qualifications and pedagogical effectiveness, along with regular evaluation and feedback mechanisms to help teachers continuously improve their skills.

Creating an academic environment that encourages the use of English in research and professional activities is also seen as a crucial factor in helping teachers maintain daily language practice.

Concerns to address

At a recent meeting of the National Council for Education and Workforce Development under the initiative, multiple concerns about implementation were raised with the MoET.

Nguyen Quy Thanh, rector of the University of Education (under Viet Nam National University - Ha Noi), said that training English as a second language must be linked to fostering critical thinking, cultural receptivity and reflection, while encouraging rational thinking to create a meaningful transformation in education.

He also noted that the age range of four to seven years would be a golden period for language learning, but introducing a foreign language too early might affect childrens proficiency in their native language and their ability to understand their own culture.

HCM City University of Education rector Huynh Van Son said introducing English from the preschool level would be feasible, but cautioned against making the language mandatory. He also highlighted the need to anticipate possible counter impacts on native language learning and cultural identity.

Lam The Hung, deputy director of Tuyen Quang Provinces education and training department, also noted that carrying out the initiative in areas with large ethnic minority populations presented a significant challenge.

Despite focused investment, efforts to teach Vietnamese to ethnic minority children before they enter first grade had yet to yield satisfactory results. While many students could understand Vietnamese, their ability to express themselves remained limited. Against this backdrop, introducing English as a second language would become even more difficult.

This group of students, whose mother tongue is an ethnic language, must learn Vietnamese as they enter Grade 1.

Setting goals, timelines and outcome requirements that align with the conditions of each region therefore would be crucial, he stressed.

Acting director of Can Tho Citys education and training department Tran Thi Huyen agreed, adding that schools welcomed the initiative to make English a second language, but tailoring the roadmap to each locality was necessary to ensure effective and consistent implementation.

Comprehensive solutions

In response to the concerns raised by educators and education managers, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Pham Ngoc Thuong underscored a flexible roadmap for the initiative through 2045.

Regions with favourable conditions could pioneer and set an example, while more disadvantaged areas could progress at an appropriate pace. The roadmap should also include phased implementation, starting with preschools and gradually expanding to primary and higher education levels.

The deputy minister also noted that the Government should take the lead by prioritising public investment while encouraging social contributions.

The effort to make English a second language must align with the Politburos direction, which calls for groundbreaking thinking, awareness, policies and resources, he said.

Thuong also emphasised the role of institutional reform and teacher training. Updating teacher training programmes and providing fair incentives, especially to those who teach English or use English as a medium in science subjects, was an urgent demand.

He highlighted the role of technology and artificial intelligence in language teaching and learning, as well as the need for initiatives that inspire enthusiasm for studying English. These could include sharing and scaling successful models from localities and educational institutions, he said.

We hope that this initiative will soon be approved with high feasibility and effective management, particularly at the local level, to help each educational institution achieve the set goals, the deputy minister said.  VNS
NINH BINH  Typhoon Bualoi triggered violent tornadoes and torrential rain across coastal communes of the northern province Ninh Binh on Monday morning, leaving at least six people dead, dozens injured and widespread destruction.

Thinh Long Commune was among the first areas hit, where strong winds ripped the roofs off several houses and caused one death along with multiple injuries.

Just hours earlier, part of the local sea dike had failed, forcing emergency crews to carry out urgent repairs through the night.

The worst toll came in Quy Nhat Commune, where several homes collapsed. Local officials reported four deaths, including one person who died later in hospital, and three others injured.

In Hai Anh Commune, tornadoes toppled dozens of electricity poles, destroyed homes and killed one person.

Rescue teams have been mobilised to clear debris, restore essential services and move families out of unsafe areas.

Authorities cautioned that weakened dikes and damaged infrastructure still pose risks, and urged vigilance as recovery continues.  VNS
HCM CITY  Nearly 2,100 students and 200 teachers have benefited from the S-Career orientation programme, which concluded after nearly six months of implementation at four high schools in Viet Nam.

In 2025, S-Career was implemented across four schools, Bao Loc High School for the Gifted (Lam ong), Tac Van High School (Ca Mau), Ten Lo Man High School (HCM City), and Nguyen Trung Truc High School (Tay Ninh).

The 2025 Season 2 of the S-Career, designed for high school students, was conducted by Shinhan Life Insurance Vietnam Limited Liability Company (Shinhan Life Vietnam) and the SIF Career Education and Career Development Company Limited (SIF Career).

Unlike traditional career advice initiatives, S-Career focuses on equipping students with methodologies, tools, and templates to help them make well-informed career choices aligned with their abilities, family circumstances, and socio-economic conditions.

The programme featured a diverse range of activities combining theoretical overviews, practical applications, and interactive Q&A sessions, successfully attracting nearly 2,100 students and more than 200 teachers.

Founder and Director of SIF Career Tran Thi Ngoc Thuy said: S-Career is designed to provide knowledge and practical tools to help high school students gradually explore their own capabilities and make informed career decisions.

"This foundation enables them to confidently plan viable development paths and seek career opportunities suitable for their future.

From a business perspective, the S-Career 2025 programme demonstrates Shinhan Life Vietnams long-term commitment to supporting younger generations.

Bae Seung Jun, General Director of Shinhan Life Vietnam, added: As a life insurance company, our mission is to provide long-term financial solutions that protect the future of our Vietnamese customers.

"At the same time, we are dedicated to community initiatives, especially those focused on education and the development of youth, the future of our nation.

Shinhan Life Vietnam plans to continue expanding the S-Career programme in the coming years, covering more localities and regularly updating content in line with real-world needs and labour market trends.  VNS
HA NOI  Typhoon Bualoi, or Storm No. 10 in Viet Nam, has claimed at least 11 lives, left 13 people missing and eight others out of contact across northern and central region as of Monday noon, according to a report by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

The powerful storm and subsequent flooding have also injured 33 people and caused widespread damage to homes and businesses.

With heavy rains forecast to persist, authorities have warned of heightened risks of flash floods and landslides in northern and central Viet Nam even as the typhoon has weakened into a tropical depression over north Laos.

In the northern province of Ninh Binh, a powerful tornado triggered by the storm killed nine people, including six in Chat Binh Commune, and injuring 18 others.

Local authorities reported 11 houses collapsed, 126 damaged or unroofed, along with damage to five schools, one health clinic, two market pavilions, and 53 downed power poles. Several electricity lines were also cut.

Meanwhile, the central province of Ha Tinh was plunged into a province-wide blackout after the storm knocked down scores of power poles. The State utility group EVN said nearly 500,000 households were affected. The Ha Tinh Power Company said it has mobilised all available resources to restore electricity as quickly as possible.

Several power poles were also felled in Quang Tri Province during the storm, and the authorities are working to restore electricity to at least 90 per cent of the affected households and businesses within the day.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has extended his deepest condolences to the families of the victims. He also issued urgent instructions to accelerate rescue and recovery efforts.

Local authorities in affected provinces must prioritise search and rescue operations, ensure the safety of residents, and swiftly address the consequences of the storm. The Ministries of National Defence, Public Security and other relevant agencies are to mobilise armed forces and coordinate closely with local governments to support the recovery efforts.





All ministries and localities are required to urgently implement measures to repair storm damage, following the guidance of the Politburo Secretariat and recent Prime Ministerial directives. Any issues beyond local authority must be promptly reported for higher-level decision-making.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha has been tasked with overseeing the national response and recovery work, with a daily situation reports on progress and challenges must be submitted to the Prime Minister before 3pm each day.  VNS
HA NOI  The Viet Nam Department of Peacekeeping Operations under the Ministry of National Defence on Monday held a welcome ceremony for Engineering Unit Rotation 3 after they successfully completed the duties at the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).

Immediately after landing at Noi Bai International Airport in Ha Noi, the units 164 members attended a flag-raising ceremony.

Presiding over the event, Colonel Mac uc Trong, Deputy Director of the department, congratulated the unit for leaving a strong and positive impression on the mission, local residents, and international partners.

Engineering Unit Rotation 3 was deployed to UNISFA on September 25, 2024. Over the past one year, the team completed 110 orders, contributing to stable peacekeeping operations and improving the life of local communities in Abyei.

Among its key achievements, the unit swiftly repaired, maintained, and upgraded 62km of main supply routes and over 180km of strategic patrol roads, ensuring the smooth transport of goods, food and fuel. They also opened new routes connecting remote bases, ending seasonal isolation. Despite the harsh climate and security risks, all projects were completed to a high standard.

The team also carried out land clearance for a smart barracks project for a Nigerian unit, meeting strict technical requirements.

The unit used the K-31 technology to upgrade the Abyei airstrip and helicopter pads, which are crucial to transport, emergency medical care, and mobile operations of UNISFA, ensuring long-term durability and safe air transport.

The Vietnamese team also conducted community support activities such as providing daily drinking water, free medical check-ups, medicines, rice, school furniture, learning equipment, and essential goods. Public facilities such as schools, hospitals, radio stations and local roads were renovated. Meanwhile, cultural activities, including childrens film screenings, traditional games and Vietnamese martial arts performances, strengthened community ties.

Thanks to their sense of responsibility, creativity and professionalism, Engineering Unit Rotation 3 helped enhance the reputation of Viet Nam's military engineers in UN peacekeeping operations. The unit received a commendation letter from the UNISFA leadership, which noted that their performance set a new standard for UN engineering units in peacekeeping missions.  VNA/VNS
SAN DIEGO, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP announces that purchasers of KinderCare Learning Companies, Inc. (NYSE: KLC) common stock in or traceable to KinderCare's October 2024 initial public offering (the "IPO"), have until Monday, October 13, 2025 to seek appointment as lead plaintiff of the KinderCare class action lawsuit. Captioned Gollapalli v. KinderCare Learning Companies, Inc., No. 25-cv-01424 (D. Or.), the KinderCare class action lawsuit charges KinderCare and certain of KinderCare's executives and directors, KinderCare's controlling shareholder, as well as the underwriters of the IPO with violations of the Securities Act of 1933.

If you suffered substantial losses and wish to serve as lead plaintiff of the KinderCare class action lawsuit, please provide your information here:

https://www.rgrdlaw.com/cases-kindercare-learning-companies-inc-class-action-lawsuit-klc.html

You can also contact attorneys J.C. Sanchez or Jennifer N. Caringal of Robbins Geller by calling 800/449-4900 or via e-mail at [email protected].

CASE ALLEGATIONS: KinderCare provides early education and child care services in the United States. In the IPO, KinderCare sold over 27 million shares of common stock to investors at $24 per share, raising $648 million in gross offering proceeds.

The KinderCare class action lawsuit alleges that the registration statement for the IPO was false and/or misleading and/or failed to disclose that: (i) numerous incidents of child abuse, neglect, and harm had occurred at KinderCare facilities; (ii) KinderCare did not provide the "highest quality care possible" at its facilities, and, indeed, in numerous instances had failed to provide even basic care, meet minimum standards in the child care industry, or comply with the laws and regulations governing the care of children; and (iii) as a result, KinderCare was exposed to a material, undisclosed risk of lawsuits, adverse regulatory action, negative publicity, reputational damage, and business loss.

Since the IPO, the price of KinderCare stock fell to lows near $9 per share.

The plaintiff is represented by Robbins Geller, which has extensive experience in prosecuting investor class actions including actions involving financial fraud. You can view a copy of the complaint by clicking here.

THE LEAD PLAINTIFF PROCESS: The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 permits any investor who purchased KinderCare common stock in or traceable to the IPO to seek appointment as lead plaintiff in the KinderCare class action lawsuit. A lead plaintiff is generally the movant with the greatest financial interest in the relief sought by the putative class who is also typical and adequate of the putative class. A lead plaintiff acts on behalf of all other class members in directing the KinderCare class action lawsuit. The lead plaintiff can select a law firm of its choice to litigate the KinderCare class action lawsuit. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff of the KinderCare class action lawsuit.

ABOUT ROBBINS GELLER: Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP is one of the world's leading law firms representing investors in securities fraud and shareholder litigation. Our Firm has been ranked #1 in the ISS Securities Class Action Services rankings for four out of the last five years for securing the most monetary relief for investors. In 2024, we recovered over $2.5 billion for investors in securities-related class action cases  more than the next five law firms combined, according to ISS. With 200 lawyers in 10 offices, Robbins Geller is one of the largest plaintiffs' firms in the world, and the Firm's attorneys have obtained many of the largest securities class action recoveries in history, including the largest ever  $7.2 billion  in In re Enron Corp. Sec. Litig. Please visit the following page for more information:

https://www.rgrdlaw.com/services-litigation-securities-fraud.html

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices.

Contact:

Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP

J.C. Sanchez, Jennifer N. Caringal

655 W. Broadway, Suite 1900, San Diego, CA 92101

800-449-4900

[email protected]

SOURCE Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP
PHNOM PENH  Members of the ASEAN Interim Observers Team (IOT) were visiting Cambodian military positions in Preah Vihear Province on Sunday, just one day after Cambodia claimed Thai forces attacked the positions with mortar and small arms fire.

The Ministry of National Defence coordinated the visit to the An Seh area in Choam Khsan District on September 28.

"The purpose of the visit was to observe, verify and report the situation after the ceasefire came into effect," said ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata.

According to the ministry, the first round of attacks lasted from 11.52am to 12.22am, while a second took place from 12.25pm to 12.46pm.

Socheata said Cambodian forces refrained from returning fire, in strict adherence to the July 28 ceasefire agreement between the two neighbouring kingdoms.

The ministry condemned what it described as a 'grave provocation,' adding that Thailand had not only fired first but also accused Cambodia of opening fire.

"Such actions could impact respect for and implementation of the ceasefire agreements, which further complicate the situation and escalate tensions," Socheata warned.

Cambodia requested that the ASEAN observers carry out a forensic examination of the attack site to verify the types of ammunition used and the firing directions, in order to establish "accurate, truthful, accountable and transparent facts."

Phnom Penh stressed that such findings are essential to ensuring fairness and justice for both sides and to maintain public trust in the peace process.

Cambodian acting head of state and Senate president Hun Sen held an online discussion with Prime Minister Hun Manet on September 27, urging that the reported ceasefire violations be investigated through the Malaysian-led IOT.

In a social media post, he repeated claims that mortar and machine gun fire had occurred, noting that both Cambodia and Thailand had lodged complaints, and called for an on-site inspection to ensure transparency and impartiality.  PHNOM PENH POST
KUALA LUMPUR  Malaysian Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Zafrul Aziz said the ASEAN Economic Committee Council (AECC) will convene in late October to discuss the latest issues related to the USs tariff policy.

According to the official, Malaysia is currently evaluating the impact on its industries following the latest tariff imposition on pharmaceutical products, furniture, automotive and aerospace parts.

Zafrul affirmed that Malaysias consistent position is to continue cooperating with the US on tariff issues - a stance similar to that adopted by other ASEAN member states.

At the regional level, ASEAN continues to support the rule-based multilateral trading system with the WTO principles as core, he stressed.

Malaysia is the chair of ASEAN for 2025, and is hosting the ASEAN Summit and related summits under the theme "Inclusivity and Sustainability".  VNA/VNS
Why do many companies delay adopting ESG practices, sometimes taking two to four years from planning to implementation?

PwCs surveys, along with findings from international organisations, show that ESG has become a critical driver in shaping sustainable development strategies. However, the maturity levels of businesses vary greatly, resulting in uneven implementation timelines.

Some companies have been proactive, moving straight into execution. Others remain in the preparatory stage of research and planning, and still others require two to four additional years to be ready. This is not necessarily a negative signal, but rather an accurate reflection of reality: each business model has its own characteristics, levels of access, and context-specific needs, meaning ESG implementation must be tailored accordingly.

The first barrier is awareness. Many companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), still lack a clear understanding of what ESG entails and how it impacts long-term business performance. In numerous instances, boards of directors and senior management have yet to treat ESG as a strategic priority, resulting in limited commitment to execution. This indicates that ESG is not merely the responsibility of a designated department, but requires buy-in from the highest levels of leadership to create momentum.

The second barrier concerns resources. Many firms lack personnel with the expertise to implement ESG in a structured manner. Outsourcing to external consultants can be costly, while internal teams are often insufficient to sustain the effort, creating operational gaps. Financial constraints also pose a major challenge. SMEs often find it difficult to access green financing, sustainable capital, or concessional funds from international institutions. Implementing ESG requires significant upfront investment, from management systems and reporting frameworks to staff training, leading many businesses to hesitate.

The third barrier lies in data infrastructure. ESG reporting requires complete, accurate, and transparent datasets, yet most Vietnamese firms lack this foundation. Information is fragmented and unstandardised, complicating reporting processes. At the same time, data reliability and accuracy are essential to building investor and stakeholder trust.

These combined factors explain why many companies delay ESG implementation, and why those that have already started continue to face difficulties in providing comprehensive data to customers and partners.

Should startups and growing private companies embed ESG practices from the very beginning of their development?

The answer is unequivocally yes. ESG is not merely a set of reporting criteria, nor is it a tool to embellish company profiles. It is fundamentally part of a companys business strategy. For startups, integrating ESG from the outset helps establish a sustainable foundation and builds trust among investors, customers, and employees.

A new product or service designed with ESG principles in mind will find it easier to enter international markets, where environmental and social demands are increasingly stringent. From a governance perspective, early ESG adoption offers an advantage in talent attraction, as todays younger workforce places high value on sustainability. Financially, investment funds and credit institutions are also showing a growing preference for companies with clear ESG strategies.

Of course, no startup can achieve a high level of ESG maturity within just a few years. What matters is choosing an approach suited to their context, setting realistic goals, and advancing progressively over time. This early integration will ultimately become a long-term competitive edge.

With transparency in ESG reporting becoming increasingly important, how can companies avoid greenwashing and ensure credibility?

Transparency is fundamental. Once businesses are required to disclose data, the risk of greenwashing diminishes, as any misleading information can be quickly identified. However, this requires a clear regulatory framework in Vietnam.

Globally, several standards are widely adopted. The Global Reporting Initiative framework is the most common for sustainability reporting. For climate-related disclosures, firms can follow the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures. More recently, the International Sustainability Standards Board introduced standards S1 and S2, setting specific requirements for sustainability and climate reporting. These international frameworks provide valuable references for Vietnamese companies seeking to develop their reporting systems.

However, having a framework is not enough. Vietnamese businesses still lack implementation capacity, technical expertise, and adequate training. Therefore, capacity-building programmes, advisory services, and technical support are essential for effective adoption and execution. Only when international standards are combined with transparent data systems and internal capabilities can Vietnam build a healthy ESG ecosystem, curb greenwashing, and foster lasting trust in the market.

With Vietnam moving to develop international financial centres (IFCs), how do you see ESG shaping their implementation and growth?

If Vietnam aims to establish an IFC, ESG must be a core pillar. IFCs worldwide are built on transparency, international standards, and global trust. For Vietnam to integrate, it must develop a comprehensive legal framework, not just for financial reporting under International Financial Reporting Standards but also for non-financial reporting aligned with international sustainability standards.

International investors will only choose financial centres that meet the highest standards of transparency and governance. ESG serves as Vietnams passport to assert credibility, attract capital, and compete with other regional centres. This means regulators as well as businesses operating within IFCs must comply with ESG requirements.

Eventually, ESG will not remain a secondary factor but will become a prerequisite for Vietnam to position itself on the global financial map. If executed well, ESG will be a competitive advantage in Vietnams race to entice international capital.

Vietnamese enterprises accelerate on the path to sustainable maturity ESG has moved well beyond rhetoric, gradually becoming an indispensable criterion for Vietnamese enterprises to remain in the global competitive game and pursue sustainable growth.

Vietnamese firms step up ESG game PwC's ESG Progress Tracker in Vietnam publication reveals that domestic businesses are making a strong shift from pledges to concrete action, reflecting higher ESG maturity levels while still grappling with gaps between compliance and genuine sustainable value.
What are the most significant healthcare trends emerging across Asia today, and how are they impacting Vietnam?

We have observed three key trends in Asia-Pacific, with Vietnam standing out as one of the few regional countries to record on-year foreign direct investment (FDI) growth in healthcare in the first half of 2024, underscoring its pivotal role in the region's future.

Ankur Pandey, vice president of business unit healthcare at DKSH Vietnam

Medical tourism is a prime example. It's no longer just about seeking cheaper treatment. It's about finding specialised, quality care. While Thailand and Malaysia have long led the way, Vietnam is quickly building its reputation. We see Vietnam's government support and growing private investment as a sign that the market is ready to capture a greater share of this business, moving from a developing nation to a key regional player.

The second major trend is the medical device boom. This is happening for two main reasons: an ageing population, the number of people over 60 in Asia-Pacific is set to hit 1.3 billion by 2050, and a rise in chronic diseases. This demand is driving the medical devices market in the region, which was valued at $111.93 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $166.1 billion by 2029. For Vietnam, this means a chance to modernise its healthcare infrastructure, expanding access to care in remote areas.

The final trend is the rise of self-care. Patients are looking for solutions that empower them to manage their own health through digital tools, apps, and over-the-counter products. This is a game-changer for a market like Vietnam, as it can ease the burden on hospitals and doctors, making the entire system more efficient and accessible for everyone.

How is health data and AI healthcare transforming in the region?

At DKSH, we see digital health as one of the most powerful forces reshaping how care is delivered and how patients engage with providers across Asia. The global digital health market reached $240.9 billion in 2023 and is set to grow at nearly 22 per cent annually through 2030. Technologies such as telemedicine, AI-driven diagnostics, and cloud platforms are already expanding access, improving accuracy, and driving efficiency across healthcare systems.

Vietnam is advancing rapidly in this transformation. The Ministry of Health's national electronic medical record roadmap is laying the foundation for standardized, interoperable health data. Hospitals are deploying AI and the Internet of Things to optimise patient flows, and forecast medicine demand, helping to reduce overcrowding and strengthen operations.

Equally important, AI is emerging as a game-changer for healthcare supply chains. According to our recent survey on healthcare leaders in Southeast Asian markets, more than 80 per cent of executives in Asia view supply chain as the first area of AI investment, reflecting its potential to predict demand, ensure continuity, and optimise distribution.

Yet technology adoption alone is not enough. From our observation, we continue to see patients across markets voice concerns about privacy, security, and usability. Building trust through transparency, data protection, and user-centric solutions is therefore essential.

What are some of the biggest public health challenges currently facing regional countries?

Healthcare systems are undergoing rapid demographic change, and Vietnam is no exception. One of the most pressing challenges is the convergence of population ageing and workforce shortages, which together test the resilience of care delivery.

DKSH Vietnam invited healthcare partners to a collaborative roundtable discussion on the evolving healthcare landscape

As one of the fastest-ageing markets in Asia-Pacific, demand for chronic disease management and elderly care in Vietnam is rising sharply. Yet with just 1.11 doctors per 1,000 people in 2021, far below regional peers and well short of the 2050 target of 3.5, the system continues to face capacity pressures, often resulting in overcrowding at central hospitals.

These strains are compounded by financing gaps. Although Vietnam is recognised by the World Bank as one of the region's fastest-growing economies with a rapidly advancing healthcare sector, total health expenditure still accounts for only 5-6 per cent of GDP, below many middle-income peers.

Despite 93 per cent national insurance coverage, public spending represents just 42 per cent of health expenditure, with most of the rest coming from out-of-pocket spending. This creates inequity in access, even as demand accelerates.

However, these challenges also open the door for transformation. The government is taking meaningful steps forward, revising the Law on Health Insurance to expand benefits, decentralising care to strengthen provincial systems, and promoting public-private partnerships to accelerate infrastructure investment.

How do stakeholders like DKSH support the local healthcare sector in dealing with the challenges, as well as partners entering or expanding in Asian markets?

As a strategic healthcare solutions partner, DKSH commits to building an ecosystem that connects high-quality international healthcare innovators, trusted local partners and healthcare providers, who share our mission of providing healthcare for all.

By combining global expertise with deep local insights, we design integrated and customized solutions that drive sustainable business growth while ensuring accessible healthcare remains, which enable companies to successfully enter and expand across diverse markets.

Our support begins at the very first step of market entry, from navigating regulatory complexity to building access channels. Beyond operational execution, we provide strategic consultation to clients and partners, ensuring that healthcare solutions delivered to Vietnamese patients are elevated to meet global compliance standards while addressing local needs.

DKSH Vietnam, Alcon, and the Centre for Health Professionals Training signed a tri-party agreement to continue their 15-year PHACO surgery training partnership

Equally important, we contribute to the communities where we operate. We have just celebrated our 15-year partnership with Alcon in a training course for doctors in Vietnam on phacoemulsification techniques, improving surgical outcomes. This initiative is one of many ways DKSH has been contributing to building capacity, empowering healthcare professionals, and promoting care across the region.

In addition, in the upcoming weeks, DKSH organizes the third edition of its Patient Purpose Day, an initiative we organize across multiple markets, including Vietnam, aiming to raise awareness, providing education on key illnesses and diseases, and offering free health checks for targeted communities.

What are DKSH's strategic priorities in Vietnam's healthcare sector over the next 5-10 years?

In Vietnam, DKSH's healthcare priorities over the next few years are shaped by one clear ambition: promoting healthcare for all.

We continue to strengthen Vietnam's healthcare ecosystem by fostering deeper partnerships and building an integrated network across the value chain. By working closely with healthcare providers, leaning, and industry stakeholders, we enable international innovators and local partners to expand market access and deliver sustainable healthcare solutions.

At the same time, we invest in our people, empowering teams through digital transformation, capability-building, and a strong culture of compliance and transparency. For DKSH, compliance is more than a regulatory requirement; it is a core value embedded in everything we do. This not only ensures operational excellence but also builds long-term trust with partners and stakeholders.

Ultimately, these efforts converge around what matters most: patients. By enabling our partners, strengthening our people, and maintaining the highest standards of integrity, we commit to better healthcare for all Vietnamese patients in a responsible, sustainable manner and with meaningful impact.

DKSH Vietnam recognised as top workplace for sixth consecutive year DKSH Vietnam has once again been recognised among Asias best employers, marking its sixth straight win at the HR Asia Awards 2025.

DKSH to distribute Point Grey products in Vietnam DKSH Consumer Goods has partnered with Point Grey to bring the Japanese brands baby and personal care products to the Vietnamese market, strengthening its presence in Asia.
PwC Vietnam on September 23 released its 2025 ESG Progress Tracker Report, reflecting a clear shift among local enterprises from awareness to action in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices. The findings suggest that Vietnamese businesses are entering a new phase of ESG maturity.

From compliance to strategy: ESG criteria gaining ground, Photo: Shutterstock

The report, based on a survey of 174 corporate representatives and building on PwC's 2022 ESG readiness study, showed that momentum is accelerating.

According to Nguyen Hoang Nam, ESG leader and partner of Assurance Services at PwC Vietnam, 89 per cent of respondents have either already made ESG commitments or plan to do so within the next 2-4 years, a notable increase from 80 per cent in 2022.

The proportion of firms without ESG plans has nearly halved to 11 per cent, while more than half (54 per cent) of surveyed enterprises confirmed that they have already implemented ESG measures.

"Vietnam's economy is heavily export-oriented and dependent on markets such as the EU, US, and Asia. New taxes or regulations in these jurisdictions present significant risks for Vietnamese firms. ESG should therefore be regarded not only as compliance, but also as a risk management strategy essential for safeguarding competitiveness in global supply chains," Nam said.

Adoption, however, varies across business segments. Foreign-invested enterprises lead the way, with 71 per cent already implementing ESG commitments, guided by international standards. Listed companies are closing the gap, with 57 per cent rolling out ESG measures under investor and regulatory pressure. Meanwhile, progress is slower among private or unlisted firms: only 27 per cent have implemented ESG, and 23 per cent still have no plans in place.

The drivers of ESG adoption are also becoming clearer. Compliance remains the dominant motivator, cited by 70 per cent of respondents, followed by stakeholder pressure (40 per cent) and board-level direction (39 per cent). Just 16 per cent see cost reduction as the main driver, while 25 per cent point to access to finance.

A POSITIVE SHIFT

PwC's report further highlights that 45 per cent of CEOs in Asia-Pacific believe their companies will not survive the next decade without transformation. Yet, challenges differ depending on maturity levels.

"From being a relatively new concept, ESG has become a practical requirement tied directly to survival and growth. Despite challenges, from resources and awareness to transparency, the shift is irreversible," Nam remarked. "Vietnamese businesses must now see ESG as core to corporate strategy. Proactive investment, meaningful action, and transparency will not only meet international market requirements, but also unlock green finance, boost efficiency, and strengthen trust with customers, investors, and communities."

The report launch was followed by a panel discussion on accelerating ESG for growth, gathering policymakers and corporate leaders to debate how it can generate measurable impact and long-term value in an uncertain global economy.

Lang Trinh Mai Huong, deputy director general of the Department of International Cooperation at the State Audit Office of Vietnam, highlighted a positive shift, noting that businesses are no longer confined to symbolic gestures but are moving towards proactive ESG adoption.

"It is encouraging that Vietnamese companies no longer treat ESG as a box-ticking exercise, but as a long-term strategy tied to real benefits. This shift strengthens risk management and cost efficiency, while opening opportunities to integrate more deeply into global value chains and enhance Vietnam's international standing," said Huong.

She stressed that closer alignment with international standards would help Vietnamese firms mitigate regulatory risks in major markets such as the US, and also enhance their investment appeal and unlock greater access to green finance. "When weighing costs against benefits, companies have every justification to pursue a sustainable strategy," she added.

Huong further said that the Ministry of Finance is working on revisions to accounting standards that will incorporate IFRS S1 and S2 on sustainability and climate-related disclosure. Once in place, these measures are expected to strengthen transparency and provide businesses with a more reliable basis for strategic decision-making.

At the same time, Huong cautioned that some priorities are still being overlooked. "Talent attraction and brand building are not yet given due weight. Human resources may be difficult to measure, but they are at the core of ESG. Without investing in people, ESG cannot evolve into a sustainable source of competitive advantage," she said.

CLEAR BENEFITS

From the business perspective, Pham Hong Diep, chairman of Shinec JSC, noted that ESG reporting generates real value rather than serving as mere paperwork. Transparent disclosure, he said, is particularly effective in attracting overseas investors.

"Around 70 per cent of investors today closely monitor ESG practices.With transparent reports, they make decisions more quickly and commit capital sooner," he said.

The financial benefits are equally clear. "Companies can cut borrowing costs by 1-2 per cent, accelerate disbursement, and lower long-term expenses. These are fundamental and lasting advantages," Diep explained.

For Shinec, adopting ESG has helped standardise compliance across industrial parks, mitigate labour and environmental risks, and nurture a more professional workplace culture. Ecological requirements are made public from the very beginning of new projects, reinforcing credibility.

"We are committed to transparency and engagement with local communities. This approach has earned strong public support, reduced unforeseen costs, and bolstered our reputation," he added. On the social front, Shinec actively encourages workers and residents to participate in community activities, thereby strengthening loyalty, reducing staff turnover, and enhancing its image.

David Falcon Adasme, ESG director at VinFast, noted that the company has rolled out a wide-ranging programme of energy efficiency initiatives across its manufacturing facilities.

"One of its key ESG initiatives is the implementation of a company-wide energy efficiency programme, as energy is considered a critical area in realising our net-zero commitment," said Adasme.

The company switched off corridor lights and those above production lines already equipped with local systems in numerous workshops.

For chiller and HVAC operations, measures included adjusting fan frequency, switching off selected canteen air conditioners, and setting appropriate chiller operating temperatures in production areas.

At the production equipment level, efficiency was boosted through timer functions for oil pumps in the stamping workshop, improved boiler performance in the painting workshop, and enhancements to cooling systems.

"As a result, we were able to cut electricity consumption by more than 2.7 million kWh over the past year, equivalent to nearly 1,800 tonnes of CO reduced. This generated cost savings of around $228,000," Adasme said.
The festival, organised by the German Business Association (GBA), kicked off on September 25 at JW Marriott Hanoi, drawing a large crowd of participants. Co-hosted by the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Vietnam and under the patronage of the German Embassy, the event blends cultural celebration with business networking.

This years Oktoberfest is particularly special as it marks the 30th anniversary of the GBA in Vietnam and the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Germany. Attendees are enjoying a mix of traditional German cuisine, music, and cultural performances, alongside opportunities to connect with representatives from German companies operating in Vietnam

Photo: GBA

The opening ceremony was graced by Helga Margarete Barth, Ambassador of Germany to Vietnam, and Vu Quang Minh, former Ambassador of Vietnam to Germany.

GBA Oktoberfest is not just about beer and gastronomy; it serves as a vibrant testament to the strong friendship and deep cultural ties between the two nations.

On opening night, more than 1,200 guests savoured freshly imported Bavarian beer, tapped directly from wooden kegs following Munichs 200-year-old Oktoberfest tradition, alongside authentic grilled sausages, pretzels, and German cold cuts. The festive atmosphere reached its peak with electrifying performances by the Ozapft band from Germany and Austria, playing classic Oktoberfest tunes that had the entire hall dancing.

Many attendees, particularly women, wore traditional Bavarian Dirndl attire, adding to the colourful and lively setting. The festival exceeded expectations, creating unforgettable moments for families, friends, and international guests as they raised their glasses together and celebrated the spirit of Bavaria in the heart of Hanoi.

Photo: GBA

For the past three decades, GBA has played a pivotal role in connecting the German and Vietnamese business communities, fostering cooperation in economics, culture, and education. Oktoberfest remains one of the most vivid symbols of this cultural exchange, offering Vietnamese people and international friends a chance to experience a piece of German heritage right here in Hanoi.

GBA Oktoberfest 2025 will continue on September 26 and 27 at JW Marriott Hanoi. This is a unique opportunity for Hanoians and international visitors to 'go all out' with premium beer, delicious cuisine, lively music, and a vibrant, authentic Bavarian atmosphere.

Following Hanoi, Oktoberfest will move on to Danang on October 3 and Ho Chi Minh City from October 9 to 11, 2025, promising unforgettable cultural experiences for audiences nationwide.

GBA Oktoberfest represents cultural gateway and business connection More than just a cultural event, GBA Oktoberfest, the largest annual event organised in Vietnam by the German Business Association (GBA) and its partners, serves as a platform for German and Vietnamese businesses and organisations to explore collaboration opportunities across various sectors.

GBA Oktoberfest Vietnam returns with landmark edition GBA Oktoberfest, the biggest celebration of German culture, food, and beer in Vietnam, will open at JW Marriott Hotel, Hanoi on September 25-27 with a special edition marking key milestones in bilateral ties.
Bac Ninh Industrial Zones Management Authority issued a notice in mid-September terminating the project under Article 48 of the Investment Law. Goertek Vina Co., Ltd. had notified the authority on August 25 and returned its original investment registration certificate from March 2013, along with subsequent amendments issued between September and November 2024.

The investor is responsible for completing procedures to liquidate the venture and fulfilling all obligations in accordance with the law, the authority stated.

Goertek Group has been operating its Bac Ninh facility since 2013 with the establishment of Goertek Vina Co., Ltd. in Que Vo Industrial Park. By 2025, the group had established four companies in Bac Ninh, creating jobs for more than 60,000 local workers. In particular, the group's companies consistently prioritise the recruitment of high-quality personnel from the local workforce.

Despite the termination of Goertek Vina, the group still intends to expand the operations of the remaining facilities. On September 20, Goertek Vina Smart Technology Co., Ltd. raised its investment capital by an additional $130 million, bringing the total to $540 million for Goertek Nam Son-Hap Linh, which manufactures dozens of products, including headphones, VR headsets, and AR glasses.

During a working session with Vuong Quoc Tuan, Chairman of Bac Ninh Peoples Committee on September 24, Goerteks chairman Jiang Bin said, "The collaboration and the support of Bac Ninh Peoples Committee will continue to contribute to the success of the other facilities in the province."

"The group has recruited highly skilled workers and outstanding graduates locally, forming a high-quality technical workforce of Vietnamese professionals. This is regarded as an important direction in Goerteks development strategy in the coming period," said Bin.

Chairman Tuan said, "The province welcomes Goerteks efforts in training and employing local staff in key production processes. The group should explore further investment and cooperation to enable Vietnamese suppliers to become partners, join the production chain, and supply products, helping to build Goertek into a top global enterprise."

Goertek commits additional $306 million to its multimedia equipment project in Bac Ninh Goertek, one of three major suppliers for Apple in Vietnam, has poured additional funds into its project in the northern province of Bac Ninh.

Chinese conglomerates express strong interest in expanding investments in Vietnam Top Chinese groups, including Texhong Group, Goertek Group, and Energy China Group, have shown significant enthusiasm for expanding their investments across various sectors in Vietnam, signalling the country's growing appeal as a lucrative business destination.

Goertek announces major investment boost for Bac Ninh Jiang Bin, chairman of Goertek Group, revealed plans for the company to significantly increase its investment in Bac Ninh at a meeting on October 24, potentially tripling or even quadrupling the firm's current financial commitment in the northern province.

Goertek to invest another $280 million in Vietnamese consumer electronics subsidiary AirPods maker GoerTek has plans in place to invest an additional $280 million in the establishment of a wholly owned subsidiary in Vietnam to manufacture consumer electronics products.
In September, at a meeting of Danang Peoples Committee regarding plans for an urban railway connecting Danang and Hoi An, Deo Ca Group proposed to prepare a dossier by the end of the year, and set a target of completion by 2030.

Investors outline plans for Danang-Hoi An rail

A representative of Deo Ca said that the consortium proposing the Danang-Hoi An urban railway also includes KITA Group and FUTA Group as investors; VP Bank and TP Bank committed to providing credit; international and domestic consulting units including China Design Group, CRRC Chongqing, ARUP, and A2Z; and technology and engineering undertaken by CRRC Changchun and Kim Long Motors.

Although early in the process, the railway is highly anticipated because of the sheer numbers of tourists that travel between the two locations each year. Hoi An is approximately a 40-minute drive from Danang airport.

At the meeting, Le Quynh Mai, vice chairman of the board at Deo Ca Group, said that the unit and domestic and foreign partners have completed research on the investment plan for the railway line. According to Mai, Deo Ca is ready to implement the project if approved. Deo Ca was pivotal in connecting with consulting units such as China Design Group and CRRC Chongqing.

The consortium proposed two feasible options for implementation: metro and monorail, with the public-private partnership investment method associated with the transit-oriented development model.

Mai said that the enterprise has been interested in researching this project since 2023. If approved, the consortium commits to ensuring technological and technical factors to complete it by 2030. After this stage, the route could also be extended to Tam Ky and Chu Lai, forming a regional connection network.

Vice Chairman of Danang Peoples Committee, Le Quang Nam, said that the city will form two urban railway lines with a total length of 24km. There will be three lines with a total length of 49km by 2040 and 11 lines by 2045. Of these, two are metro lines, three are light rail lines (LRT) serving tourism, and the rest are lines meeting both traffic and tourism needs. Danang will review the proposal documents of Deo Ca Group and other units to select suitable investors. The entire bidding process will be organised publicly, transparently, and in accordance with legal regulations, said Nam.

The Danang Management Unit of Priority Infrastructure Investment Projects has approved the plan to select contractors for the package of consulting on survey and preparation of pre-feasibility study reports for the urban railway system in the city. The city will spend more than $428,000 to implement the package.

According to the urban transport planning of Danang to 2030, with a vision to 2045, the locality will implement funding plans for many urban railway lines.

Specifically, between now and 2030, there will be a metro line from the Ngo Quyen-Vuong Thua Vu intersection to Quang Nam and LRT02 line from the airport to Le Van Hien connecting with the metro line. Both will connect Danang with the old Quang Nam province.

In the period 2031-2040, although having enough resources to invest in the entire network, Danang still has to ensure the creation of a basic urban railway network on some main axes with large passenger flows.

Specifically, in this period, trips are still concentrated between existing localities such as Lien Chieu, Thanh Khe, Hai Chau, and Ngu Hanh Son. Focus on investing in LRT routes connecting the northwest and southeast with the city centre.

The LRT routes invested in this period include the entire route from the Northern Bus Station to the current central transfer point of Danang Station. The second metro line is the remaining section from the current Danang Central Station transfer point to Ngo Quyen.

In addition, there is also the LRT6 line, which is the entire route from the foot of Tran Thi Ly bridge and Western Bus Station. The LRT10 line is the entire route from Ba Na tourist area to Nguyen Tat Thanh beach, to connect from the high-speed railway station to the metro 1 line and continue to other locations.

In the period from 2041-2045 and beyond, Danang will invest in a number of urban railway lines in order of priority. The capital demand for urban railways before 2030 is $1.06 billion, $2.92 billion for 2031-2040, and $3.37 billion for 2041 and beyond.
At a seminar hosted by the Vietnam Association of Foreign-Invested Enterprises (VAFIE) on September 26, experts highlighted the draft Law on Investment being compiled by the Ministry of Finance. The proposal is among 47 draft laws scheduled for submission and debate at the National Assemblys 10th session, signalling a major shift in the policy environment for enterprises.

Hoang Manh Phuong, deputy director general of the MoFs Legal Department

A total of 47 draft laws are slated for submission, debate, and approval at the 10th session of the 15th National Assembly. Among them are several aimed at spurring investment and business activity, including the draft Law on Investment prepared by the Ministry of Finance (MoF).

"The draft law introduces wide-ranging reforms and reflects the governments determination to move beyond the outdated mindset of if you cant manage it, ban it. The focus is on fostering growth, supporting production, and reducing costs for both citizens and enterprises," said Phan Duc Hieu, member of the National Assemblys Committee for Economic and Financial Affairs.

Hoang Manh Phuong, deputy director general of the MoFs Legal Department, presented the reform highlights of the new draft, which is set to replace the current Law on Investment, emphasising the creation of a level playing field for both domestic and foreign investors.

The draft law proposes removing 20 conditional business sectors and industries, including accounting service business, tax procedure service business, rice export, temporary import and re-export of frozen food products, trading and activities directly related to goods trading by foreign service providers in Vietnam.

"These 20 sectors do not meet the criteria for conditional business lines as specified in Article 7 of the current Law on Investment," said Phuong. "These areas can be shifted from pre-licensing (pre-check) management to post-licensing (post-check) oversight, thus upholding the freedom of business for individuals and enterprises."

The draft law also promotes decentralisation in investment policy approval. Under Articles 27 and 28, it defines the authority for approving investment policies as belonging only to the prime minister and provincial-level people's committee chairpersons. All projects that previously required approval by the National Assembly, would now fall under the prime ministers authority, accelerating procedures.

However, for major projects requiring special mechanisms or policies not yet defined in law, the prime minister may approve the investment policy after obtaining consent from the Standing Committee of the National Assembly.

"The MoF will continue reviewing the draft law in relation to other relevant laws like the Railway Law, the Electricity Law to ensure consistency and compatibility across the legal system," he added.

Phuong also highlighted a key reform in the draft law is the handling of outbound investment procedures. The drafting composers proposed two options. Option one is to abolish outbound investment procedures entirely, shifting to a foreign exchange management model under the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV).

Option two is simplifying procedures by eliminating the requirement for investment policy approval (previously under the authority of the National Assembly and the prime minister). Only projects with investment capital from VND20 billion ($800,000) or more would require an Outbound Investment Registration Certificate. Projects under this threshold would only need to register foreign exchange transactions with the SBV to transfer money abroad.

"The MoF supports the first option, and the draft law is being developed in line with this approach," Phuong said.

He explained that outbound investors use private capital and comply with the laws of the host country. Yet, under the current mechanism, Vietnamese agencies still approve aspects such as form, scale, location, timeline, and capital sources  seen as restrictive and confusing in defining what falls under Vietnamese law versus the host countrys jurisdiction.

"The main issue," Phuong noted, "is that outbound investment essentially involves transferring funds abroad. Once the money leaves Vietnam, enforcing investor responsibilities is difficult, making the existing approval system both impractical and limiting."

"Eliminating these procedures would encourage outbound investment by Vietnamese enterprises, particularly in promising markets such as Laos, Cambodia, and Africa," he added.

Laws and guiding decrees bringing comfort to investors As the new laws on investment, enterprises, and public-private partnership investment officially came into effect from early 2021, domestic and international investors are now pinning high hopes on guiding decrees to facilitate their new ventures.

A legal template to build on for development of SMEs With the new Law on Investment 2020 already in place, big opportunities are there for local firms to flourish. Tran Ngoc Han, senior associate from US-backed law firm Russin & Vecchi Vietnam, writes about positive signals for development of small- and medium-sized enterprises on the back of the law.

Crafting complete enterprise and investment laws The Law on Investment (LoI) and the Law on Enterprises (LoE), both issued in 2020, are the essential legal references for foreign investment in Vietnam. Both have marked an important milestone in development of the Vietnamese legal framework on foreign direct investment (FDI), creating more favourable conditions for foreign investors when implementing investment projects in Vietnam.
Rosatom Energy International JSC (REIN JSC) and Power Engineering Consulting JSC 2 (PECC2) signed an MoU at the World Atomic Week forum in Moscow on September 26, setting the stage for collaboration on the Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Plant. The agreement covers updating the plants feasibility study and site profile, and outlines cooperation in grid infrastructure development, logistics, specialist training, and related areas.

The new deal builds on earlier initiatives to revive Vietnams first nuclear power plant project, which gained fresh momentum in January following Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustins visit to Vietnam and the signing of an MoU between REIN JSC and Vietnam Electricity (EVN) to expand cooperation in nuclear energy.

In May, Rosatom director general Alexey Likhachev and Vietnams Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung signed an interdepartmental roadmap outlining the development of nuclear technologies through 2030.

PECC2, a subsidiary of EVN, provides expert consulting for power generation projects in Vietnam and played a key role in preparing the initial feasibility study for the Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Plant between 2011 and 2015. Meanwhile, REIN JSC, a subsidiary of Rosatom State Corporation, specialises in managing international nuclear projects, overseeing construction and operations of Russian-designed plants through equity ownership.

Rosatom has a long-standing track record of supporting Vietnam in integrating nuclear energy into its national energy mix. The company is ready to provide its VVER-1200 Generation 3+ reactor technology  a proven design with advanced active and passive safety systems that meet international standards. Six VVER-1200 units are already in operation in Russia and Belarus, with numerous others under construction worldwide.

Neccessity outlined for nuclear power acceleration The government is discussing a series of mechanisms for nuclear power to become operational at the end of this decade - much sooner than typical undertakings of this type are carried out.

Hungary to train 1,000 Vietnamese specialists for country's first nuclear plant With 50 years of experience in operating nuclear power plants, Hungary is set to assist Vietnam in training 1,000 nuclear power plant operators as the country develops its first nuclear facility.
The Laboratory Equipment Market is experiencing strong growth fueled by advancements in life sciences, rising demand for clinical diagnostics, and increased R&D investments across pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. However, high equipment costs and stringent regulatory approvals pose restraints. Additionally, the growing need for automation, precision testing, and technological integration is driving innovation and reshaping global demand patterns.

LEWES, Del., Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Laboratory Equipment Market Size is projected to grow at a CAGR of 13.40% from 2026 to 2032, according to a new report published by Verified Market Research. The report reveals that the market was valued at USD 16.44 Billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 41.13 Billion by the end of the forecast period.

The Laboratory Equipment Market is expanding rapidly due to rising healthcare demands, technological upgrades, and increased pharmaceutical R&D. Growing focus on automation, advanced diagnostics, and cost-effective testing is reshaping opportunities for manufacturers and suppliers worldwide.

For a detailed analysis of industry trends and growth drivers, explore the full Laboratory Equipment Market .

Browse in-depth TOC

202  Pages

126  Tables

37  Figures

Global Laboratory Equipment Market Overview

Market Driver

1. Rising Pharmaceutical R&D Investments

The Laboratory Equipment Market is strongly propelled by increasing investments in pharmaceutical and biotechnology research.

Growing prevalence of chronic diseases is expanding drug discovery programs, which require advanced laboratory instruments for molecular analysis and precision testing.

Pharmaceutical and biotech companies are increasingly adopting automated lab systems, analytical instruments, and diagnostic equipment to accelerate innovation cycles.

This trend creates lucrative opportunities for equipment manufacturers and suppliers to meet rising global demand.

2. Technological Advancements in Laboratory Automation

Automation is revolutionizing laboratory operations by reducing human error, increasing efficiency, and enabling high-throughput testing.

AI-powered diagnostic tools, robotics, and cloud-integrated systems are transforming laboratories across healthcare, biotechnology, and chemical testing industries.

These smart laboratory solutions allow for handling complex data, improving turnaround times, and ensuring high accuracy.

Adoption of automated systems is rising in both developed and emerging markets, driving overall market growth.

3. Increasing Demand for Clinical Diagnostics

The demand for laboratory equipment is growing rapidly due to the rise in preventive healthcare, infectious diseases, and cancer screening.

Hospitals, diagnostic labs, and research institutions are investing heavily in centrifuges, spectrophotometers, and advanced imaging systems.

Personalized medicine and point-of-care diagnostics are further boosting the need for precise and reliable laboratory instruments.

This surge in demand is a critical driver shaping the global market landscape.

Market Restraints

1. High Cost of Advanced Laboratory Equipment

The high cost of sophisticated laboratory instruments remains a significant barrier to market growth.

Small and medium-sized laboratories often struggle with the upfront investment required for new equipment.

Maintenance, calibration, and operational expenses add to the financial burden, restricting adoption.

Budget-constrained institutions may opt for refurbished or second-hand devices, impacting sales of new equipment.

2. Stringent Regulatory Approvals and Compliance

Laboratory equipment manufacturers face strict regulatory requirements across healthcare, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology sectors.

Approval processes can delay product launches and increase operational costs.

Non-compliance may result in penalties, product recalls, or reputational damage.

These regulatory hurdles act as a restraint, slowing innovation and limiting market expansion.

3. Shortage of Skilled Laboratory Professionals

The growing adoption of advanced laboratory systems is limited by the shortage of trained professionals.

Skilled laboratory technicians and researchers are essential to operate and manage complex instruments.

Workforce gaps lead to underutilization of equipment and reduced operational efficiency.

Smaller laboratories may hesitate to invest in high-end systems due to a lack of expertise.

Download a free sample to access exclusive insights, data charts, and forecasts from the Laboratory Equipment Market Sample Report .

Geographical Dominance : North America dominates the Laboratory Equipment Market, driven by strong pharmaceutical R&D, advanced healthcare infrastructure, and high adoption of automated lab systems. The U.S. and Canada lead in clinical diagnostics and life sciences innovations, creating high demand for analytical instruments and lab consumables. Europe follows closely, supported by Germany, France, and the U.K., with robust biotechnology research and regulatory frameworks. Asia-Pacific, led by China, India, and Japan, is emerging as a high-growth region due to rising healthcare needs, increasing R&D investments, and expanding diagnostic labs worldwide.

Key Players

The 'Global Laboratory Equipment Market' study report will provide a valuable insight with an emphasis on the global market. The major players in the market are Agilent Technologies, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Danaher Corporation, Waters Corporation, Siemens Healthineers, Eppendorf AG, PerkinElmer, Bio Rad Laboratories, Becton, Dickinson, and Company, Sartorius AG, Merck Millipore, Hitachi High Technologies Corporation, Mindray Medical International Limited, Pace Analytical Services, Inc., and Hettich Instruments LP.

Laboratory Equipment Market Segment Analysis

Based on the research, Verified Market Research has segmented the global market into Product, End User, and Geography.

Laboratory Equipment Market, by Product General Analytical Clinical Support Specialty

Laboratory Equipment Market, by End User Research Institutions Healthcare Veterinary

Laboratory Equipment Market, by Geography North America U.S Canada Mexico Europe Germany France U.K Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China Japan India Rest of Asia Pacific ROW Middle East & Africa Latin America



Strategic Insight :

The Laboratory Equipment Market presents significant growth opportunities for new entrants and established players. Rising pharmaceutical R&D, automation adoption, and increasing demand for clinical diagnostics are key drivers, particularly in North America and Europe, which offer mature markets with high technology penetration. Asia-Pacific provides high-growth potential due to expanding healthcare infrastructure and rising R&D investments. However, high equipment costs, stringent regulations, and workforce shortages pose challenges that require strategic planning.

To gain complete access with corporate or enterprise licensing, visit the Laboratory Equipment Market .

Key Highlights of the Report:

Market Size & Forecast : In-depth analysis of current value and future projections

: In-depth analysis of current value and future projections Segment Analysis : Breaks down the market by Product, and End User for focused strategy development.

: Breaks down the market by Product, and End User for focused strategy development. Regional Insights : Comprehensive coverage of North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and more

: Comprehensive coverage of North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and more Competitive Landscape : Profiles key players, their strategic initiatives, and innovation-driven growth approaches.

: Profiles key players, their strategic initiatives, and innovation-driven growth approaches. Growth Drivers & Challenges : Analyzes the forces accelerating growth and the restraints hindering large-scale adoption.

: Analyzes the forces accelerating growth and the restraints hindering large-scale adoption. Challenges and Risk Assessment: Evaluates ethical debates, off-target effects, and regulatory complexities.

Why This Report Matters:

This research report provides actionable insights for stakeholders to optimize strategies in the Laboratory Equipment Market. By analyzing growth drivers, restraints, and emerging trends, it offers a roadmap for profitable decision-making. Clients can inquire before buying or purchase full reports to access exclusive market intelligence.

Who You Should Read This Report:

Market Research Professionals  To track industry dynamics and forecasts

 To track industry dynamics and forecasts Pharma & Biotech Companies  To plan procurement and R&D investments

 To plan procurement and R&D investments Healthcare & Diagnostics Firms  To adopt next-gen laboratory solutions

 To adopt next-gen laboratory solutions Investors & Industrialists  To identify revenue-generating opportunities

 To identify revenue-generating opportunities Government & Regulators  To assess compliance, policies, and industry growth

Browse Related Reports:

Global Sterilization Container Systems Market Size By Product (Rigid, Flexible), Material (Stainless Steel, Aluminium, Plastics), By Application (Surgical Instruments, Medical Devices, Laboratory Equipment), By Technology (Steam Sterilization, Ethylene Oxide Sterilization, Hydrogen Peroxide Gas Plasma Sterilization, Radiation Sterilization), By End-User (Hospitals, Ambulatory Surgical Centers, Clinics, Research Institutes), By Geography, And Forecast

Global Laboratory Electronic Balance Market Size By Product (Semi-Micro Balances, Analytical Balances, High Precision Balances), Application (Pharmaceutical Research, Food Research, Industrial), By Geography, And Forecast

Global Medical Equipment Cooling Market Size By Type (Liquid-based, Air-based), By Compressor (Scroll, Screw, Centrifugal, Reciprocating), By Configuration (Packaged, Modular, Split) By Application (Medical Devices, Analytical & Laboratory Equipment, Original Equipment Manufacturers, Hospitals, Laboratories, & Outpatient Clinics, Independent Diagnostic & Treatment Centers and Laboratories), By Geography, And Forecast

Global Laboratory Vacuum Pumps Market Size By Product (Rotary Vane Vacuum Pumps & Dry Vacuum Pumps), By Application (Chemical, Pharmaceutical), By Geography, And Forecast

Top 7 Laboratory Information Systems streamlining research operations

Visualize Laboratory Equipment Market using Verified Market Intelligence -:

Verified Market Intelligence is our BI Enabled Platform for narrative storytelling in this market. VMI offers in-depth forecasted trends and accurate Insights on over 20,000+ emerging & niche markets, helping you make critical revenue-impacting decisions for a brilliant future.

VMI provides a holistic overview and global competitive landscape with respect to Region, Country, Segment, and Key players of your market. Present your Market Report & findings with an inbuilt presentation feature saving over 70% of your time and resources for Investor, Sales & Marketing, R&D, and Product Development pitches. VMI enables data delivery In Excel and Interactive PDF formats with over 15+ Key Market Indicators for your market.

About Us

Verified Market Research stands at the forefront as a global leader in Research and Consulting, offering unparalleled analytical research solutions that empower organizations with the insights needed for critical business decisions. Celebrating 10+ years of service, VMR has been instrumental in providing founders and companies with precise, up-to-date research data.

With a team of 500+ Analysts and subject matter experts, VMR leverages internationally recognized research methodologies for data collection and analyses, covering over 15,000 high impact and niche markets. This robust team ensures data integrity and offers insights that are both informative and actionable, tailored to the strategic needs of businesses across various industries.

VMR's domain expertise is recognized across 14 key industries, including Semiconductor & Electronics, Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals, Energy, Technology, Automobiles, Defense, Mining, Manufacturing, Retail, and Agriculture & Food. In-depth market analysis cover over 52 countries, with advanced data collection methods and sophisticated research techniques being utilized. This approach allows for actionable insights to be furnished by seasoned analysts, equipping clients with the essential knowledge necessary for critical revenue decisions across these varied and vital industries.

Verified Market Research is also a member of ESOMAR, an organization renowned for setting the benchmark in ethical and professional standards in market research. This affiliation highlights VMR's dedication to conducting research with integrity and reliability, ensuring that the insights offered are not only valuable but also ethically sourced and respected worldwide.

Follow Us On: LinkedIn | Twitter | Threads | Instagram | Facebook

Contact Us

Mr. Edwyne Fernandes

Verified Market Research

US: +1 (650)-781-4080

US Toll Free: +1 (800)-782-1768

Email: [email protected]

Web: https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2015407/VMR_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Verified Market Research
The facility, located in Thang Long Industrial Park II, Hung Yen, will cover 47,800 square metres and produce cooling fans, stepping motors, and servo motors. Construction is scheduled to start in September 2026, with operations expected to begin in 2027. With an investment of 7 billion yen ($47 million), the plant will have a monthly output capacity of 500,000 cooling fans, 50,000 stepping motors, and 5,000 servo motors.

This facility will become Sanyo Denkis third large-scale production base, following Ueda, Nagano in Japan and the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in the Philippines. By expanding its global production network, the company aims to reinforce supply stability and enhance its ability to serve customers worldwide.

Sanyo Denki produces and sells cooling fans, power supply devices, and servomotors, operating across five regions: Japan, North America, Europe, East Asia, and Southeast Asia.

Launched in 2021, the groups 9th Medium-Term Management Plan, 'Break the Shell', aims to offer top-tier products and services to customers worldwide. Over the past five years, Sanyo Denki has pursued a range of initiatives to achieve this goal.

In the plans final year, business conditions remain strong. Rising demand for high-performance servers and telecommunications equipment, driven by AI growth, along with expanding markets for semiconductor manufacturing, robotics, and other precision machinery, have prompted the company to build a new plant in Vietnam. This facility will help meet demand with high-quality, high-performance products and extensive customisation options.

Japan's Marubeni Corporation to step up investments in Vietnam Japan's Marubeni Corporation plans to expand its investments across sectors ranging from renewable energy to industrial parks and workforce training in Vietnam.

PAN Group signs deal with Japanese partners to drive sustainable agriculture The PAN Group has signed a cooperation agreement with Japanese partners AGRI SMILE and Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc. to contribute to sustainable agriculture in Vietnam.
Photo: Le Toan

According to the latest data from the General Department of Customs, as of September 15, the countrys total export turnover exceeded $325 billion, up 15.8 per cent compared to the same period in 2024. Seafood alone accounted for almost $7.6 billion, marking a 13.5 per cent increase. This performance underscores the possibility of the sector achieving the $10 billion milestone by year-end.

Key export products have contributed to this robust growth. Shrimp remained the mainstay with revenue of close to $3 billion, up nearly 23 per cent, while lobster continued to shine as a star performer, reaching $536 million, an impressive surge of almost 194 per cent. Basa fish exports recovered with a value of just over $1.4 billion, up 9.7 per cent. Meanwhile, molluscs, including squid, octopus, and bivalves, also grew more than 20 per cent, reaching almost $650 million. By contrast, tuna posted a slight decline of 2.3 per cent, reflecting instability in both supply and market demand.

Export markets also revealed dynamic shifts. The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership led the way with over $2 billion, accounting for more than 27 per cent of total seafood exports. China and Hong Kong recorded the sharpest growth, up nearly 39 per cent to $1.56 billion. The United States retained third position with $1.25 billion, an 8.7 per cent increase and equivalent to 17 per cent of total exports.

This momentum is mirrored in the business results of leading enterprises. Vinh Hoan Corporation reported a 53.7 per cent jump in net profit in the second quarter of 2025, with its gross margin improving from 14.7 per cent to 19.5 per cent. Meanwhile, Minh Phu Seafood Corporation achieved a near 330 per cent surge in profit after tax in the same quarter, reaching $165 billion, the highest in 10 quarters thanks to a strategic focus on value-added products.

Despite these record-breaking figures, the outlook for 2026 is far less optimistic. According to Le Hang, deputy secretary general of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers, the sector will soon face significant challenges as a series of trade barriers are set to take effect, particularly in the US.

"A 20 per cent countervailing duty makes Vietnamese seafood less competitive compared to rivals from Thailand, Indonesia, or Ecuador. The industry also faces the risk of high anti-dumping tariffs on shrimp under the forthcoming POR19 review," she said

More critically, from January 1, 2026, the US will ban imports from 12 Vietnamese fisheries not recognised as equivalent under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), potentially resulting in an annual revenue loss of more than $500 million. Meanwhile, the EUs yellow card on illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing remains unresolved, while new international regulations on minimum tuna size and restrictions on raw material mixing add further compliance pressure.

Analysts predict that American importers will accelerate orders through mid-November 2025 to 'front-run' these trade barriers. As a result, export growth may surge in September and October. However, from late November onwards, shipments are expected to stagnate, paving the way for a difficult period in the first half of 2026.

In response, many Vietnamese seafood companies are exploring market diversification towards Asia, the Middle East, and South America. However, these strategies are long term, and the US continues to be Vietnams most important market. Without breakthroughs in tackling anti-dumping duties and the MMPA restrictions, an export decline in 2026 appears inevitable.

Experts suggest three urgent priorities for the sector: accelerating efforts to remove the EUs IUU yellow card, strengthening legal and policy advocacy in the US, and investing in transparent, traceable supply chains that comply with stricter global standards.

"While Vietnams seafood exports are on course to reach the historic milestone of $10 billion in 2025, behind this growth lies a darker prospect. Without effective solutions, the industry may have to trade one year of strong growth for another year of daunting challenges," said Hang.
On September 26, Permanent Deputy Minister of Vietnams Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) Vu Hai Quan held a working session in Hanoi with US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc E. Knapper.

At the meeting, Ambassador Marc E. Knapper congratulated Permanent Deputy Minister Quan on his new position, and declared the US commitment to maintaining and developing sci-tech partnerships with Vietnam.

US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc E. Knapper and Permanent Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Vu Hai Quan. Photo: MoST

The ambassador emphasised that the US is ready to support Vietnam in carrying out Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW on science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation. He added that US businesses are well-positioned to engage in the priority technology sectors outlined in the resolution.

Knapper proposed cooperation with Vietnam in emerging technology areas, including the exploitation of essential minerals, new materials, nuclear energy and low-altitude satellite internet.

In addition, the two sides can expand cooperation in space research, as well as satellite applications to support disaster prevention and climate change response.

Meanwhile, Quan welcomed the US commitment and stressed that Vietnam is working to improve the legal framework for science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation. He called on the US government and businesses to support these efforts.

"Vietnam is focusing on developing strategic technologies and building investment policies to create breakthroughs for domestic firms as well as draw in foreign investors," said Quan

He stressed the need to build a high-quality workforce with the skills required to drive development. He also expressed hope that the US would share its analysis on 11 strategic technologies already in practice.

Both sides agreed on the potential for deeper cooperation in science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation areas seen as vital to socioeconomic growth and the strengthening of the VietnamUS partnership.

The Deputy Minister asserted that such collaboration would deliver practical benefits to both nations while supporting Vietnams broader goals in international integration.

Vietnam, EU boost cooperation in science and technology Science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation are emerging as key pillars in VietnamEU relations, creating new opportunities for cooperation.

Vietnam attends China-ASEAN ministerial roundtable on AI Vietnam is keen on expanding cooperation in training and developing AI talent, as well as promoting research and academic exchange between Vietnamese institutions and global partners.

Perfecting legal corridor to boost high-tech sector The Ministry of Science and Technology and the National Assembly's Committee on Science, Technology, and Environment held a workshop in HCM City on September 23 to collect comments on draft amendments to the Law on High Technology.
BALTIMORE, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- University of Maryland School of Medicine Dean Mark T. Gladwin, MD, announced today that Andreea Creanga, MD, PhD, a distinguished and internationally recognized leader in maternal and perinatal health, has been appointed the new Chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health. She will also be installed as the Simon and Bessie Grollman Distinguished Professor. Her appointment is effective December 2025.

The Department of Epidemiology and Public Health houses seven divisions and a combined 11 programs and research centers that aim to improve population health outcomes. It has consistently ranked among the top departments of its kind at public medical schools and within the top 10 across all medical schools over the past 16 years.

Dr. Creanga currently serves as a Professor and Associate Director of the International Center for Maternal and Newborn Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Her research focuses on the implementation and evaluation of perinatal quality and safety interventions both in the U.S. and internationally, with an emphasis on measurement innovation and data science.

In her new role as Chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, she will oversee a department of 58 primary faculty, 57 staff, and 10 post docs/graduate students. Specifically, she will work to advance several major initiatives within the department and in collaboration with the university, including a focus on bioinformatics and data science, the creation of a new division in maternal health, implementation of novel interventions at the intersection between clinical medicine and public health, and a planned expansion of the Master in Public Health program.

In addition to her role as Department Chair of Epidemiology & Public Health, she will hold a secondary appointment in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, working with OB-GYN faculty to advance women's health.

Improving Maternal Health Outcomes

Dr. Creanga's work has significantly advanced the field of maternal and perinatal health with research supported by more than $40 million in grants from federal agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), as well as the World Health Organization and the Gates Foundation.

She leads the Maryland Maternal Health Innovation Program (MDMOM), a $15.8 million HRSA-funded program that drives innovation in data collection, quality improvement, workforce development, and community engagement across the 32 birthing hospitals in Maryland. Through this program, her team works to develop, implement and evaluate statewide initiatives aiming to eliminate preventable maternal deaths and severe maternal morbidity in the state of Maryland.

Nationally, Dr. Creanga serves as Principal Investigator of the Maternal Health Data Innovation and Coordination Hub, a national resource that supports 12 NIH-funded Maternal Health Research Centers of Excellence. The Hub's mission is to develop standardized tools, training programs, and data science resources to strengthen maternal health research and foster collaboration as part of the NIH IMPROVE initiative.

Before joining Johns Hopkins in 2016, she served as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where she later worked to advance maternal and infant health through surveillance and research. While at the CDC, she also earned the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) in 2013.

At Johns Hopkins, Dr. Creanga coordinated the two-year Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) program in Health Systems from 2016 to 2021, taught graduate-level courses, and provided mentorship to more than 40 graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and junior faculty. She has also earned the Excellence in Teaching award every year since 2018 for one of her courses. Her extensive academic experience reflects a deep commitment to education and to cultivating the next generation of leaders in medicine and public health.

"Dr. Creanga is a visionary physician-scientist whose groundbreaking work in maternal and perinatal health has transformed care delivery and outcomes both nationally and globally," said Dean Gladwin who is also the Vice President for Medical Affairs at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and the John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor and Dean. "Her leadership in data-driven public health innovation and her deep commitment to health equity make her uniquely suited to guide the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health into its next era of excellence. We are proud to welcome her to the School of Medicine and look forward to the transformative impact she will have on our research, education, and community engagement missions."

Transition of Leadership

Dr. Creanga will succeed Anthony D. Harris, MD, MPH, who has served as Acting Chair of the department since August 2024. An esteemed infectious disease physician and epidemiologist, Dr. Harris will continue to serve in the department as the Division Head of Genomic Epidemiology & Clinical Outcomes.

During his leadership, Dr. Harris advanced efforts to successfully gain alternative funding sources during the current challenging times, helping the department win a number of contracts and industry sponsored awards. In addition, he helped foster leadership changes in several new divisions. Enrollment in the MPH program also increased during his tenure.

Dr. Harris assumed the role following the decision of Jay Magaziner, PhD, MSHyg, to step down from his Chair position after 17 years. Dr. Magaziner had made it his mission to expand the department to encompass not only epidemiology, biostatistics, and gerontology, but also to include infection control and health care outcomes research. Dr. Magaziner was also instrumental in updating the department's name and identity to the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health (formerly Preventive Medicine) and renaming the Division of Genomic Epidemiology and Clinical Outcomes (formerly Health Care Outcomes).

"I am extremely grateful to Dr. Harris and Dr. Magaziner for their transformational leadership," said Dean Gladwin. "They have both made pivotal contributions in advancing the reach of the department, mentoring the next generation of scholars, and cultivating a collaborative academic environment. I am extremely honored that they continue to serve our school and elevate our research mission."

Honors and Recognition

Throughout her career, Dr. Creanga has made significant research contributions to the field of maternal health with more than 130 peer-reviewed articles published in high-impact journals such as the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, JAMA, NEJM, and Obstetrics & Gynecology. She has extensively studied maternal mortality and severe morbidity in the U.S., highlighting the importance of state-based reviews and clinical audits to understand and prevent future adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. She uses implementation science to translate the insights gained from data and research into practical, real-world solutions.

Dr. Creanga contributes her expertise nationally and internationally. She is a member of the World Health Organization's Maternal Mortality Estimation Technical Working Group and the United Nations' Stillbirth Estimation Group, and co-editor of the Oxford Encyclopedia of Reproductive Health.

"Joining the University of Maryland is a true honor," said Dr. Creanga. "I am excited for the opportunity to lead the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at the School of Medicine. The Department has a proud history of advancing research, education, and community engagement, and I am committed to supporting its continued growth and impact in Maryland and beyond."

Dr. Creanga earned her medical degree from the Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Bucharest, Romania and her PhD from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

About the University of Maryland School of Medicine

The University of Maryland School of Medicine, established in 1807 as the first public medical school in the U.S., continues today as one of the fastest growing, top-tier biomedical research enterprises in the world. The School has nearly $500 million total research funding, 46 departments, centers, and institutes, more than 2,200 student trainees and over 3,000 faculty members, including notable members of the National Academy of Medicine. As the largest public medical school in the DC/MD/VA region, faculty-physicians are working to help patients manage chronic diseases like obesity, cancer, heart disease and addiction, while also working on cutting-edge research to address the most critical generational health challenges. In 2024, the School ranked #12 among public medical schools and #27 among all medical schools for R&D expenditures by the National Science Foundation. With a $1.3 billion total operating budget, the School partners with the University of Maryland Medical Center to serve nearly 2 million patients annually. The School's global reach extends around the world with research and treatment facilities in 33 countries. In Maryland, the School of Medicine is spearheading new initiatives in AI and health computing and partnering with the University of Maryland BioPark to develop new medical technologies and bioengineering ventures. For more information, visit medschool.umaryland.edu.

This news release was issued on behalf of Newswise(TM). For more information, visit http://www.newswise.com.

SOURCE University of Maryland Medical Center
Xi urges Party schools to play better role in cultivating talent, offering advice for CPC

Xinhua) 08:04, September 29, 2025

BEIJING, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged Party schools to play a better role in cultivating talent and offering advice for the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in an instruction on the work of Party schools (academies of governance).

Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, Party schools at all levels have continuously raised the quality of their teaching and research, making new progress and achievements in their work, Xi noted.

Party schools should remain faithful to the Party and bear in mind their founding missions, Xi said, requiring the schools to make their education and training more targeted and effective through reform, while strengthening research and interpretation of the Party's new theories.

Xi also emphasized the importance of cultivating competent officials and teachers, improving the management and supervision over students, and elevating the quality of Party school operation.

Xi's important instruction was conveyed by Chen Xi, president of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee (National Academy of Governance), during a meeting on Party school work held in Beijing on Sunday.

Chen called for high-quality work in nurturing talent and offering advice, and urged efforts to enhance the study of the Party's new theories.

Chen Xi, president of the Party School of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee (National Academy of Governance), conveys Chinese President Xi Jinping's important instruction and delivers a speech during a meeting on Party school work held in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 28, 2025. Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged Party schools to play a better role in cultivating talent and offering advice for the CPC. Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in an instruction on the work of Party schools (academies of governance). (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
LONDON, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, the first stop of Linglong's 50th-anniversary celebration was grandly held in London, UK. Nearly 200 distributors from Europe, North America, Southeast Asia, and other regions around the world gathered to witness this historic moment.

Mr. Wang Feng in his celebratory speech

"Over the past five decades, we have grown from a local enterprise into a multinational corporation with seven production bases worldwide. This is not only a pride for Linglong but also a solid step forward in contributing to the global mobility ecosystem," said Wang Feng, Chairman of Linglong Tire, in his celebratory speech.

Subsequently, Mr. Wang reviewed the company's journey from its inception to becoming a leading player in the global tire industry in the Linglong Tire 50th Anniversary Special Report. Additionally, Mr. Xu Yongchao, Vice President of Linglong Tire, elaborated on the company's global layout and performance progress in major global markets. Andreas, the Technical Director of Linglong Germany, introduced the company's innovations in tire R&D and future product plans.

Throughout its 50-year development, Linglong has always believed that win-win cooperation is the cornerstone of sustainable growth. During the celebration, the company presented four categories of awards to global channel partners, honoring those who have fought alongside Linglong and explored markets together.

Mr. Wang stated, "Linglong Tire's journey would not have been possible without the strong support of our partners. You are Linglong's most valuable asset." Numerous distributor representatives took the stage to receive awards and share stories of growing alongside Linglong. Many guests noted that Linglong not only provides high-quality products but also emphasizes co-creating value with partners.

As a highlight of the celebration, Linglong invited its partners to watch the Chelsea vs. Brighton match, conveying the brand's values through the universal language of sports. The passion and dedication on the field mirrored Linglong's five-decade journey of striving for excellence.On the sidelines of the field, Linglong's brand logos shone alongside Chelsea's exciting match. This was not only a deep integration of the brand into the scene but also a strategic move for Linglong to achieve value resonance with top international IPs.

From "manufacturing" to "smart manufacturing," Linglong will continue to increase investment in R&D and innovation, embedding safety, sustainability, and intelligence into its product DNA. From "local" to "global," the company will deepen its international operations, showcasing the strength of Chinese brands on the world stage!

SOURCE Shandong Linglong Tyre Co., Ltd.
Wales moves into drought recovery after September rainfall

This article is old - Published: Monday, Sep 29th, 2025

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has confirmed that parts of the country affected by drought this summer have now moved into recovery following significant rainfall in September.

Drought was declared for south-east Wales on 14 August and for north Wales on 29 August. South-west Wales, which had been classed under prolonged dry weather status since May, is now moving into recovery from prolonged dry weather.

NRW said rainfall levels last month were well above average. By 22 September, recorded totals ranged from 102% of the long-term average in Bethesda, Gwynedd, to 212% in Sarn in the upper Severn catchment.

The majority of rivers are now at normal or above-normal flows for the time of year. However, some rivers are recovering more slowly and remain low, while groundwater levels continue to be a concern.

Dr Rhian Thomas, Sustainable Water and Nature Manager at NRW, said: As we head into autumn, our teams on the ground are reporting positive signs of the environment recovering, following one of the driest periods in nearly 50 years.

But sufficient rainfall throughout the autumn will now be essential for river flows and groundwaters to fully recover before next spring.

While September has brought some significant rainfall  even leading flood warnings and surface water flooding incidents  in some areas we are still seeing rivers regressing back after the rainfall has landed. This is a sign of the extreme pressure our environment has been under during this exceptionally dry period.

It is likely that it will take many months for our environment to fully recover from the effects of the drought. We will continue to liaise with the water companies, the Welsh Government and others to monitor forecasts and the health of rivers, groundwaters, habitats and wildlife.

NRW said it will continue to coordinate with the Environment Agency in England, as some catchments bordering Wales remain in drought status.

Anyone concerned about environmental impacts from the drought, or pollution, is urged to contact NRWs incident hotline on 03000 65 3000.
Wrexham Concert Band strikes the right note with youth crime-prevention project

This article is old - Published: Monday, Sep 29th, 2025

The Wrexham Concert Band is using music to give young people new opportunities and help steer them away from antisocial behaviour.

The group has secured funding from the Your Community, Your Choice scheme for its Wind Band Community Outreach: Music for Change project, which is running across Wrexham until November 2025. The project aims to reach at least 100 young people aged 7-18, offering workshops, mentorship opportunities and and public performances.

Delivered in partnership with Offa Community Council, Bellevue Community Centre, and Wrexham Music Cooperative, the project is designed to give young people a positive outlet for their energy at times when some may otherwise be drawn into antisocial behaviour.

Scott Lloyd, Musical Director at Wrexham Concert Band, said: Were delighted to receive this funding which allows us to extend our reach into the community and offer young people a creative outlet through music.

Music can teach discipline, build confidence and create a sense of belonging.

Weve seen firsthand how participation in playing music can lead to positive life choices and stronger community connections.

Your Community, Your Choice funding comes from Your Community, Your Choice, which is supported by the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, North Wales Police, and the North Wales Police and Community Trust (PACT). Part of the money is raised from criminals through the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Over the past twelve years, Your Community, Your Choice has awarded almost 660,000 to 214 projects working to reduce crime in their neighbourhoods.

On 16 September, North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin visited the band at St Johns Church in Wrexham to learn more about the project and how it fits into wider efforts to prevent crime.

Mr Dunbobbin said: It was wonderful to visit Wrexham Concert Band and hear about their innovative approach to youth engagement through music.

This project demonstrates how the arts can be a powerful tool for crime prevention, providing young people with structure, purpose, and positive role models.

This initiative directly supports key priorities in my Police and Crime Plan, particularly around community engagement and early intervention.

By working with established community groups like Wrexham Concert Band, were creating sustainable partnerships that address the root causes of antisocial behaviour.

Ashley Rogers, Chairman of PACT, said the scheme showed how money seized from crime could be reinvested to create positive change.

Assistant Chief Constable Gareth Evans added: Projects like this music initiative are exactly what we need to engage young people  some of whom might otherwise make poor choices and get involved in antisocial behaviour.

Music teaches valuable life skills like teamwork, discipline and perseverance, which are qualities that help build stronger and safer communities and which North Wales Police fully support.

For more information about Wrexham Concert Band, visit https://www.facebook.com/wrexhamconcertband/. To learn more about PACT, visit www.pactnorthwales.co.uk and to learn more about the work of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, visit www.northwales-pcc.gov.uk.
Wrexhams Magic Dragon Brewing celebrates big wins at first Indie Beer Cymru awards

This article is old - Published: Monday, Sep 29th, 2025

Wrexham-based Magic Dragon Brewing has scooped eight prizes at the inaugural Indie Beer Cymru competition, held in Haverfordwest.

The brewerys House of Coffee porter was one of the standout performers, taking Gold in the Speciality Amber to Dark Beer category and being named third overall Champion Cask Beer of Wales. Magic Dragons Nectaron IPA also impressed judges, winning Gold for Best Keg IPA and securing the Category Champion title.

Other brews from the company also picked up accolades: Dolphin IPA, Dr. G IPA and Hufen Lager all received Silvers, while Old Magic Mild and Obsidian Stout took home Bronze awards.

The Indie Beer Cymru Awards are run by the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA). They took place just ahead of the first-ever Indie Beer Cymru festival, which opened in Haverfordwest on Friday and Saturday.

Anneli Baxter, chair of SIBA competitions, praised the standard of entries: The quality of beers across the competition was incredibly high, so huge congratulations to all the great breweries named winners in their style category. With so many great beers in the running you should be truly proud of taking home the win.

The festival, which follows the success of Indie Beer Scotland in Glasgow earlier this month, is part of the Indie Beer campaign promoting independent breweries across the UK. Winning beers from Haverfordwest, including Magic Dragons, will now be showcased at the festival and go on to compete in the national finals early next year.

Full list of awards received;

House Of Coffee

GOLD in Cask speciality Amber to Dark Beer

and 3rd in Overall Champion cask beer of Wales!

Nectaron

GOLD in Keg IPA (5.6%  7.4%) and Category Champion!

Continued.

Dolphin

SILVER in Cask Pale Ale (4.4%  5.5%)

Dr. G

SILVER in Keg Session Pale Ale ( up to 4.4%)

Hufen

SILVER in Keg Premium Lager

Old Magic

BRONZE in Cask Session Dark Beer

Obsidian

BRONZE in Keg Stout & Porter

Magic Dragon Brewing is based at The Plassey Holiday Park , just outside Wrexham. They have the Magic Dragon Brewery Tap on Charles Street in Wrexham city centre.
Local community organizations will host a free Family Health Festival in Reno on Wednesday.

The October 8th event at the Neil Road Recreation Center will offer free resources and information to the community.

Free services include:

* Food Bank Mobile Harvest

* Blood pressure checks

* Food Stamps / SNAP Registration

* Maternal/infant care

* Childrens Books (while supplies last)

* Flu and respiratory vaccines (while supplies last)

* Free haircuts

* Energy assistance

* Basic needs resources

Just head to 3925 Neil Road between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. next Wednesday.

Family Health Festivals are a collaborative service brought to you by a committee of local non-profit, civic, and healthcare organizations, including: Northern Nevada Public Health, Food Bank of Northern Nevada, United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra, Community Health Alliance, Community Services Agency, WCSD Family Resource Centers, Molina Healthcare, United Healthcare  Health Plan of Nevada Medicaid, Renown Health, Hometown Health, UNR  Nevada Center for Excellence in Disabilities, and Asian Community Development Council (ACDC).

If you're on Facebook, you can check out the Facebook event page for more information.
Newton advances next-generation research and development of generalist robots through open source

SAN JOSE, Calif., Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Linux Foundation , the nonprofit organization enabling mass innovation through open source, today welcomed Newton , an open source, GPU-accelerated, extensible physics engine that enables faster, more scalable simulations to lower the barrier to robotics research. Co-developed by Disney Research, Google DeepMind, and NVIDIA , Newton was designed and built by and for robotics developers to tackle the modern-day challenges of building generalist robots.

Built on NVIDIA Warp and OpenUSD , Newton delivers GPUaccelerated simulation with a flexible, extensible architecture that supports multiple physics solvers. This enables complex, contactrich robot behaviors  such as walking on snow or gravel and manipulating delicate objects like cups and fruit  enabling the robots to learn these complex skills with greater accuracy and speed, and transfer them to the real world.

"Bringing Newton to the Linux Foundation marks an important step forward for scaling collaborative robotics simulation that accelerates development, reduces costs and gets us closer to the future of sim-to-real robots," said Jim Zemlin, executive director of the Linux Foundation. "We're pleased to welcome Newton and provide the neutral governance its global community needs to build the future of generalist robotics."

The project has already gathered wide participation and support from the industry, including esteemed universities Technical University of Munich and Peking University , robotics company Lightwheel and simulation engine company, Style3D. Under the Linux Foundation's governance, Newton will remain vendor neutral, fostering open, community-driven growth, ensuring accessibility, and supporting long-term viability.

"At Disney, we don't leave a stone unturned to physically represent our beloved characters as authentically as possible in our Parks," said Moritz Bacher, director at Disney Research. "This has led to unique expertise in simulating highly complex robotic systems. Newton's architecture has made it possible for us to create Kamino, a simulator that unlocks the potential of reinforcement learning for robotic systems of unmatched complexity."

"Robots, like intelligence, must first be trained in simulation before they can safely operate in the real world," said Rev Lebaredian, vice president of Omniverse and Simulation Technology at NVIDIA. "Newton brings together GPU acceleration, differentiable physics and open standards like OpenUSD into an open source platform for robotics. Under the Linux Foundation, we're enabling the global community to accelerate robotics innovation  making general purpose robots faster to develop, more affordable to build and more reliable to deploy."

To follow the Newton's development in beta, contribute, or try out the technology, visit: https://github.com/newton-physics/newton.

About the Linux Foundation

The Linux Foundation is the world's leading home for collaboration on open source software, hardware, standards, and data. Linux Foundation projects are critical to the world's infrastructure including Linux, Kubernetes, Node.js, ONAP, OpenChain, OpenSSF, OpenStack, PyTorch, RISC-V, SPDX, Zephyr, and more. The Linux Foundation is focused on leveraging best practices and addressing the needs of contributors, users, and solution providers to create sustainable models for open collaboration. For more information, please visit us at linuxfoundation.org .

The Linux Foundation has registered trademarks and uses trademarks. For a list of trademarks of the Linux Foundation, please see its trademark usage page: www.linuxfoundation.org/trademark-usage . Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.

Media Contact

Kristi Piechnik

The Linux Foundation

[email protected]

SOURCE The Linux Foundation
We now know who hired the private investigator that tracked Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve and former Washoe County Commissioner Vaughn Hartung.

It's conservative donor Robert Beadles.

If the name sounds familiar, you might know him from our coverage on local campaign financing and election fraud lawsuits.

Just this year, an appeals court rejected his suit alleging that a state law infringed on the freedoms of election observers.

He has also previously led failed attempts to recall or oust local public leaders.

Beadles released this statement to 2 News Nevada:

I want to be clear: I never told anyone to track or follow anyone, or public official. I hired a licensed private investigator only to verify serious allegations before having them say anything publicly, thats called being responsible. I didnt direct the investigators methods, and no laws were broken by me or the investigator. Whats happening now isnt about wrongdoing, its about retaliation. Im being painted as the villain for believing public officials should be accountable to the people they serve. I stand by that principle, and I wont apologize for seeking the truth. I look forward to what the witnesses, victims, and full discovery will reveal so everyone can understand exactly why a PI was hired in the first place.

After the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear arguments in the case last month, it went back to the lower courts that previously said John Doe is not protected by the First Amendment.

OCTOBER 6, 2025:

The Supreme Court has declined to hear oral arguments in the John Doe GPS tracker case involving Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve.

The Justices released a long order list Monday, on the same day the Court kicks off its new term.

They did not give a reason why they declined.

SEPTEMBER 29, 2025:

The Supreme Court is meeting to consider whether to hear arguments in the John Doe GPS tracker case involving Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve.

The Justices will hear case details on Monday to decide whether to take up the case - in full.

Last month, lawyers appealed to the Supreme Court in an attempt to keep John Doe's identity secret in the ongoing GPS tracker case.

In April, the Nevada Supreme Court unanimously issued a ruling that the First Amendment does not protect 'John Doe' in the case.

Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve filed suit in December of 2022 seeking damages from private investigator David McNeely for a violation of her privacy after a mechanic alerted her to a clandestine GPS tracking device on her car.

APRIL 23, 2025:

The 9th Circuit of Appeals has ruled in favor of the City of Sparks after a private detective claimed that his constitutional amendments were violated.

On November 20, 2023, David McNeely filed a federal lawsuit alleging that the City of Sparks and certain Sparks Police Department (SPD) officers violated his First and Fourth Amendment rights and intentionally caused him emotional distress under state law when, during an investigation into a potential stalking case, his name was identified in a GPS tracking case connected to Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve.

A district judge granted the Citys Motion to Dismiss the case in May 2024.

McNeely then filed an appeal with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and that appeals court affirmed the previous grant of dismissal in an April 22, 2025 Memorandum Disposition. (read below)

The Ninth Circuit agreed that McNeely failed to allege a cognizable legal theory that the First Amendment afforded him a right to privacy in the context of this case, and observed there was no causal connection between any retaliatory animus of [the City] and his alleged injuries.

The City of Sparks says the court concluded that the facts alleged did not support a Fourth Amendment violation or a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress under Nevada law and affirmed that any amendment to the complaint would have been futile.

Update, April 10:

The Nevada Supreme Court unanimously issued a ruling that the First Amendment does not protect "John Doe" in the GPS tracking case.

March 8:

The Nevada Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments next month, in a case involving Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve.

The person who allegedly hired a private investigator to place a GPS tracker on the mayor's car is still trying to keep their identity hidden.

We've been following this case since 2022.

According to court documents, the client continues to argue First Amendment protections, while Schieve alleges privacy violations.

Last year, we reported how the Justices had sided with a district court saying the private investigator must reveal their client's name.

Arguments are set for April 8th.
Industry-leading foodservice publication spotlights Marco's Pizza as a top opportunity for growth-minded franchisees

TOLEDO, Ohio, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Marco's Pizza , one of the nation's fastest-growing pizza brands, announces it has been recognized by QSR magazine, the authority on the quick-service and fast-casual restaurant industry, as one of its "16 Best Franchise Deals for 2025."

Published by WTWH Media, this annual ranking has been identifying standout brands since 2011, making it one of the industry's most established and credible franchise opportunity reports. The Best Franchise Deals feature has become a go-to guide for entrepreneurs and investors looking to enter or expand within the quick-service and fast-casual category. Selection is based on a range of criteria including franchise costs, growth potential, operator support, and brand differentiation.

"This recognition validates our franchise model and the dedication of our operators nationwide." Post this

"Franchise opportunities are more competitive than ever, and the brands that stand out are those that combine innovation, support, and financial upside," said Danny Klein, Vice President, Food, Retail, Hospitality Editorial Director at QSR Magazine. "Our Best Franchise Deals list for 2025 shines a spotlight on companies like Marco's, which represent some of the most exciting opportunities in the marketplace right now."

Marco's inclusion underscores its strong franchisee support system, operational model, commitment to quality and innovation, and consistent sales performance as reported in its Franchise Disclosure Document. With more than 1,200 locations and ambitious growth plans, the brand continues to build momentum in an increasingly competitive market.

"We are honored to be named among QSR's Best Franchise Deals for 2025," said Gerardo Flores, Chief Development Officer of Marco's Pizza. "This recognition validates our franchise model and the dedication of our operators nationwide. As we continue to scale, our focus remains on supporting our franchise owners with innovative technology, operational excellence, and growth-forward programs."

This recognition builds on Marco's recent win of FRANdata's 2025 TopScore FUND Award in the food category, which underscores the brand's commitment to franchisee growth and greater access to financing.

Looking ahead, Marco's is focusing on strategic multi-unit expansion in the Midwest, East Coast, and Sun Belt, as well as growth in non-traditional venues and the international market. Prospects are taking note of the business opportunity, as Marco's Franchise Disclosure Document reports $1.3M AUV for the top 25% of franchised stores in 2024.*

To further support brand growth and franchise expansion, Marco's recently launched a Franchise Development Royalty Incentive Program designed to reduce barriers for qualified multi-unit owners. With early-stage royalty incentives starting at 0%**, plus real estate, construction, and operations support, the brand offers a streamlined, resource-rich path to growth. Existing franchisees continue to grow with the brand, with 65% of 2024 franchise agreements awarded to existing franchisees.

Methodology

QSR magazine's Best Franchise Deals for 2025 were selected from a nomination process that ran from mid-May to mid-June. Finalists were reviewed by the Franchise Council, which selected their top choices from shared information and FDD data. Their top choices comprise the final list. Brands cannot appear for back-to-back years, but can return after a year off. In addition, the program recognizes rising franchisors on the outside looking in, and features a Hall of Fame category for concepts that have been included several times.

For more information Marco's Pizza franchise opportunities, visit https://www.marcos.com/franchising/ or contact Beth Heminger at [email protected] or 419-279-5795.

ABOUT MARCO'S PIZZA

Headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, Marco's Pizza is one of the fastest-growing pizza brands in the United States. Marco's was founded in 1978 by Italian-born Pasquale ("Pat") Giammarco and thrives to deliver a high-quality pizza experience, known for its dough made from scratch and its three fresh signature cheeses. The company has grown from its roots as a beloved Ohio brand to operate over 1,200 stores in 35 states with locations in Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, and Mexico. Most recently, Marco's was recognized as America's Favorite Restaurant in the Limited-Service Pizza category by Nation's Restaurant News using Technomic Ignite Consumer 2024 data. Other recent accolades include being recognized by QSR as one of the "16 Best Franchise Deals for 2025", ranking No. 48 on Entrepreneur Magazine's 2024 "Franchise 500" ranking, earning a coveted spot as the only top 5 pizza chain to rank on Newsweek's 2025 "America's Best Customer Service" in pizza chains list, earning a spot on QSR's Top 50, and being featured on Nation's Restaurant News' prestigious "Top 500" ranking.

About QSR Magazine

For more than 25 years, QSR Magazine has been the leading voice of the quick-service and fast-casual restaurant industry. With award-winning reporting, data-driven insights, and authoritative rankings, QSR provides franchisees, operators, and marketers with the intelligence needed to succeed in a dynamic $350 billion industry. Visitwww.qsrmagazine.com for the latest industry news and analysis.

About WTWH Media, LLC

WTWH Media is an award-winning, digital-first B2B media and marketing company that connects brand marketers with targeted, hard-to-reach audiences of executives and industry practitioners. The company serves three core industry verticals: Engineering, Healthcare and Life Sciences, and Foodservice, Retail, and Hospitality. For more information, visitwww.wtwhmedia.com.

*Based on average sales volume of the top performing 25% (or 239 units) of Marco's Pizza Franchised Stores that were open during our 2024 fiscal year. Of the 955 Franchised Stores that were in operation for our entire 2024 fiscal year, 239 were included in the top 25% set and 40% obtained or surpassed the average sales volume. This information excludes (i) international locations (including Puerto Rico); (ii) Franchised Stores not open for the entire 52-week period in 2024; (iii) special venue and non-traditional franchised locations; and (iv) Franchised Stores that closed in 2024. See Item 19 of our 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document for additional information. Individual results may differ. There is no assurance that any franchisee will perform as well.

**The information provided in this article should not be construed as an offer to sell any Marco's Pizza franchises in, nor is any such communication directed to, the residents of any jurisdiction requiring registration of the franchise before it is offered and sold in that jurisdiction. Currently, the following states regulate the offer and sale of franchises: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. Marco's Pizza franchises will not be sold to any resident of such jurisdiction until the offering has been exempted from the requirements of, or duly registered in and declared effective by, such jurisdiction and the required franchise disclosure document (if applicable) has been delivered to the prospective franchisee before the sale in compliance with applicable law. Additionally, the participant must meet our financial, creditworthiness, and operational criteria to qualify for the incentive program and be approved by us to open each Store. If the franchisee is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or other legal entity, the qualifying participant must maintain at least 50% ownership in the entity, as well as the qualifying existing Stores, to qualify for this program, and the franchisee must comply with program requirements. In the event the participant fails at any time to meet the timelines to qualify for the applicable incentive program while developing a Store, the Store being developed and any remaining unopened Stores to be developed will pay the then-current standard Royalty Fee rate. See Marco's Franchising's Franchise Disclosure Document for more information. To qualify for the incentive program, the participant must sign a development agreement and open the stores within the following timeframes: 1st Store within 365 days of signing; 2nd Store within 6 months of 1st store opening; 3rd Store within 6 months of 2nd store opening; 4th Store within 6 months of 3rd store opening; 5th Store within 6 months of 4th store opening.

According to Technomic's 2024 America's Favorite Restaurants data, Marco's Pizza secured the top spot in the Limited-Service Pizza category with a 53.4% composite top-box rating, indicating the share of recent guests who gave the brand the highest possible rating for each of the guest experience attributes. Data for America's Favorite Chains comes from Technomic Ignite Consumer, which collects information about how brands impact consumers and how consumers interact with those brands, via online surveys. See here for more information: www.technomic.com/ignite-consumer.

SOURCE Marco's Pizza
By Charl Cronje, Partner, LCP



The ideas here are particularly relevant for actuaries working in general insurance who are involved in portfolio management, business planning or pricing  and who want to play a more active role in shaping and executing underwriting strategy. Five core underwriting competencies

The London Market trades on underwriting expertise  exactly why the largest and most complex risks come to London. To compete, firms need to be clear on their relative strengths and weaknesses across the five core underwriting competencies (see figure 1): Competitive strengths and weaknesses in each area will differ by class of business and may change over time. For a given portfolio, we need to ask ourselves whether our competitive edge lies in:

 Better product design

 Superior risk selection

 More accurate pricing models

 Participating in the highest margin layers and with the right line sizes

 Being more agile in flexing our portfolio when market conditions shift The best firms have keen self-awareness of their abilities in each area, and clear plans to improve where possible. Five strategic enablers and blockers

Weve identified five key enablers to executing your strategy effectively (see figure 2). Where these pieces are not in place, they can become strategic blockers, frustrating efforts to grow profitably. Strategy: this is all about how clearly the strategy is articulated by the board and how well it is understood by underwriting teams. It often boils down to three questions: where are we trying to grow, how quickly and within what risk appetites?

Culture: this covers the underwriting environment, how individual and team contributions are recognised, and how the organisation responds when things go wrong. A culture that doesnt promote trust between underwriters and management makes it much harder to shift strategy or take calculated risks.

Distribution: even the sharpest underwriting strategy needs strong broker relationships to deliver the right opportunities. We covered this in some detail in last months article. The best firms bring this together with a keen understanding of which broker relationships are delivering the best value over time.

Operations: smooth operational processes are critical to executing strategy effectively. Operational friction raises costs, slows decision-making and leads to missed opportunities.

Purpose: clarity on what the firm stands for and where it plays. This could be as specific as being a catastrophe specialist, casualty expert, or diversified player with the agility to fish in the right ponds at the right times. Purpose also extends to ESG and DEI positions, which can influence internal engagement and external appeal. Performance attribution

Assuming we are clear on our underwriting competencies and have the right strategic enablers in place, we then come to the nitty-gritty of assessing the profitability of underwriting portfolios and deciding where to set our course for the future. Most firms measure underwriting performance, but performance attribution goes further and identifies the root causes of good or poor performance. An excellent framework for assessing this involves the following four attribution buckets (see figure 3):



Market performance: this is the extent to which results simply reflect market conditions. For example, a strong loss ratio in a hard market might be largely a function of improved rates across the board. This is important to recognise  good results in a rising tide do not necessarily signal outperformance.

Strategic outperformance: this is the gold standard  outperforming our peers, regardless of the market cycle. This is where true underwriting skill shows. Link it back to the five competencies to identify exactly where the edge lies and whether it can be scaled.

Volatility: Any underwriting performance will be subject to volatility, aka luck! We may have a low loss ratio simply because we were fortunate enough to avoid any large claims this year. Good firms build in volatility allowances into performance assessment. Eg you might have a much tighter volatility allowance for large, diversified follow-only portfolios and a wider allowance for concentrated, cat-exposed books.

Execution risk: the gap between the intended and actual book written. Poor performance can stem from being priced out of the best risks and left with less attractive ones; good performance can sometimes be the result of unplanned but fortuitous deviations. Top firms try to minimise strategy execution mismatches. They also have frameworks for agreeing tactical changes during the year if market conditions demand this. Bringing it all together

The building blocks of underwriting competencies, strategic enablers and performance attribution are essential to a coherent underwriting strategy. But the real value comes from how you bring them together to appraise every strategic underwriting opportunity on a level playing field. The most advanced firms can compare business plans from entirely different classes of business on a like-for-like basis. This is possible because they understand how each portfolios historical performance breaks down across the attribution buckets. Armed with this insight, they can judge whether poor results stem from weaknesses in the underwriting process itself or from external factors such as market conditions or volatility. Similarly, when performance has been strong, they can assess how much is due to sustainable strategic outperformance versus a temporary lift from favourable market cycles or benign loss experience. When underwriters propose plans to grow a book or to address underperformance, the best firms require these to be framed against the five competencies. Is the improvement expected to come from sharper risk selection (supported by strong broker relationships), from refining layers and line sizes, or from product innovation that reduces commoditisation of pricing? All of these factors enable management to develop and quantify their strength of conviction that good results can be maintained, or poor results remediated, for each class of business. Done well, this shifts the conversation from anecdote and gut feel to evidence-based decision-making  without losing the instinct and judgement that are central to great underwriting.
When Protest Terrifies Power: The Making of a False Narrative and the Arrest of Sonam Wangchuk 2

There are moments in a nations life when the relationship between rulers and citizens is laid bare, when all the rhetoric of democracy collapses under the weight of its own contradictions, and what remains visible is naked fear. The arrest of Sonam Wangchuk in Ladakh is one such moment. To anyone who has followed his life, his work, his ideas, the very notion that he could be branded a threat to national security would sound ludicrous, if it were not so dangerous. For decades he has been known as an innovator who made the barren land bloom, an educationist who reimagined what it means to learn in harmony with ones environment, an environmentalist who turned melting glaciers into life-giving ice stupas, and above all a son of Ladakh who believed his people deserved dignity and a voice in their own future. Yet the Indian state has chosen to treat him not as a reformer but as an enemy, not as a partner in development but as a conspirator, and in that choice it has revealed its own weakness more clearly than he ever could have through protest.

The story of his arrest cannot be told without recalling the changes of 2019, when Ladakh was separated from Jammu and Kashmir and made a Union Territory. For many in the rest of India this seemed like an administrative reshuffling, a technical decision buried in legal language. But for Ladakhis it was a rupture, a sudden downgrading of political representation, a loss of agency, a new vulnerability to exploitation. Ladakh, with its fragile ecology and delicate cultural balance, had always required protections that recognized its uniqueness. The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution had been invoked in other tribal areas, giving them the right to safeguard their land, their resources, their identity. Why should Ladakh, even more vulnerable, be denied similar safeguards? That question haunted the region from 2019 onward, and it was Sonam Wangchuk, with his moral authority and his rare ability to translate complex concerns into clear language, who carried it to the nations conscience. He was not a politician with a party to build or elections to win; he was a reformer with credibility, and that made him infinitely more dangerous to those in power.

For years the government simply ignored him. His warnings about climate change, about the cultural erosion of Ladakh, about the risks of unfettered development, were tolerated as long as they did not become politically explosive. But patience in Ladakh was wearing thin. Jobs were scarce, migration was draining the young, land was being eyed by outside interests, and every delay from Delhi deepened the sense of betrayal. When Wangchuk finally sat on a hunger strike, it was not an act of drama but of desperation. He wanted to show, through his own body, the urgency of Ladakhs demands. His fast was peaceful, his speeches calm, his appeal constitutional. Yet within days he drew thousands. The symbolism of a teacher, scientist, and activist starving in the snow while asking nothing more than constitutional justice captured the imagination of young Ladakhis, and it rattled the government in Delhi. They had dismissed him as an eccentric professor; now they saw him as a leader with mass support.

The governments fear became visible when protests in Leh spilled over into violence. Some youth, frustrated, clashed with police. Vehicles were torched, even a BJP office attacked, and tragically lives were lost. Any government would be shaken by such events. But the response of a secure leadership would have been to ask: what produced such anger, and how do we address it? Instead, the Centre chose the easier, more cynical path: blame one man. The IT cell went into overdrive, scouring speeches, lifting lines out of context, painting Wangchuk as the architect of mayhem. References to the Arab Spring were twisted into a call for insurrection. His moral appeal to the youth was reframed as incitement. And the oldest trick in the book was dusted off: label him a puppet of foreign forces.

This charge was particularly hollow. Wangchuk has never hidden the fact that his innovations and products have found markets abroad. He created, he sold, he earned, and he paid taxes  even though under Article 10(26) of the Income Tax Act, as a member of a Scheduled Tribe living in Ladakh, he was entitled to exemption. He chose the harder road of paying, of standing above suspicion. And yet the IT cell, with its toxic talent for manufacturing suspicion, declared that this was foreign funding, that his institutions were channels of international conspiracy. It was a breathtaking act of projection, for the very party leveling this charge has long thrived on donations from abroad through legal and less-than-transparent means. They imagined everyone must be funded the way their own organizations are, and in that projection they revealed both their guilt and their desperation. For their loyal online army, no lie was too absurd to spread, no slander too low to post. Overnight, the man who had taught India how to harness ice and sunlight was cast as a danger to the nation itself.

Once the smear had been planted, the machinery followed. His NGO, SECMOL, saw its foreign contribution licence canceled. Investigations were announced, irregularities whispered into headlines, the CBI roped in. The idea was not just to tarnish his image but to cripple the institutions he had painstakingly built over decades. If you destroy a mans work, you destroy his legacy, and perhaps his will. Alongside this, Ladakh itself was silenced: curfews imposed, mobile networks cut, internet suspended. The region was plunged into enforced quiet, as if the government believed that the absence of sound meant the absence of dissent. It was a classic authoritarian reflex: when you cannot control the message, you block the medium.

Wangchuk, however, refused to be cowed. He said openly that he was ready for arrest, that the government might invoke the Public Safety Act or the National Security Act, but that jailing him would create more problems for them than for him. It was a calm defiance, the kind that unnerves power more than any fiery slogan. Because he was right: in locking him away, they would confirm every suspicion about their intent, and they would make his voice echo louder than ever. Nevertheless, on September 26, the hammer fell. He was arrested under the NSA, bundled out of Ladakh, and taken to a jail far away, as if distance could dilute his influence. It was an act less of law than of fear, less of justice than of panic.

What does it say about a government when it must use its harshest national security law against a teacher, an innovator, a man whose only weapons are words and ideas? It says that the government is not as strong as it claims. It says that behind the facade of control lies the fear that one honest voice can undo the carefully constructed propaganda of power. It says that the rulers are more afraid of a peaceful hunger strike than of actual violence, because violence can be crushed with batons, but ideas cannot be crushed so easily. It says, finally, that the government values narrative control above truth, and will do whatever it takes  internet blackouts, arrests, agency raids, propaganda campaigns  to ensure its version of reality prevails.

But in doing all this, they have already lost. Sonam Wangchuk the activist was confined to Ladakh; Sonam Wangchuk the prisoner now belongs to the nation. His arrest has turned him into a symbol, not just of Ladakhs fight but of the right to dissent itself. Students, environmentalists, civil society voices across India are watching, asking how a government that claims to champion democracy abroad can treat its own reformers as enemies at home. Every lie the IT cell spreads meets its counter in the facts of his life. Every attempt to delegitimize him only reminds people of his honesty. The very act of silencing him has ensured that his story will be told more widely than ever before.

The tragedy is that it did not need to come to this. The demands of Ladakh are not illegitimate. Statehood, Sixth Schedule protections, respect for ecology  these are constitutional questions, political issues that deserve debate and negotiation. By refusing dialogue and choosing suppression, the government has not solved the problem, it has deepened it. It has alienated Ladakhis further, radicalized moderates, and shown the rest of India that peaceful protest can be branded sedition at the flick of a switch. This is the road not of democracy but of authoritarianism. And history tells us authoritarianism always collapses under the weight of its contradictions, because you cannot imprison an idea forever.

What shook the government was not that a few youths set fire to vehicles in Leh. What shook it was the realization that a single man with integrity could inspire thousands without raising his voice, that his hunger strike was more threatening than any mob, because it spoke to the conscience of the people. Governments can control mobs with bullets and batons; they cannot so easily control the moral authority of a figure like Wangchuk. And so they panicked. They smeared, they silenced, they jailed. But in doing so they have confessed their own fear. A government that feels secure does not arrest a schoolteacher under the NSA. A government that trusts its people does not cut their internet. A government that believes in democracy does not treat dissent as treason.

And that is why Sonam Wangchuks arrest will be remembered not as the end of his movement but as the moment it broke through the walls of Ladakh and entered the national consciousness. It is the confession of a state that trembles before its own citizens, that fears questions more than violence, that prefers to destroy reputations rather than answer demands. They have locked him in a cell, but in doing so they have unlocked the truth about their own insecurities. And the truth, once seen, cannot be unseen.
Tamiya Krishaun Thomas, 24, is indicted in the January slaying of 40-year-old James Leon Craig. (Jefferson County Jail/Contributed)

A Birmingham woman is back behind bars on a capital murder charge that a judge previously dismissed.

Tamiya Krishaun Thomas, 24, is indicted in the January slaying of 40-year-old James Leon Craig, according to court records made public Monday.

She was booked into the Jefferson County Jail on Sept. 25 and now is being held without bond.

Jefferson County District Judge William Bell in May dismissed the charge against Thomas following a preliminary hearing. Bell said at that time there was not enough evidence to support criminal charges at that time.

In dismissing the charge, Bell told Thomas prosecutors could still present the case to a grand jury, which they did. The indictment was issued Sept. 12.

The charge is capital because the fatal shots were fired from outside into Craigs home.

Prosecutors said the deadly shooting happened during a domestic dispute between Craig and Thomass mother, Meenya Thomas.

The mother and daughter were at Craigs family home uninvited  the front door had been kicked in - while Craig had another woman there. Tamiyah Thomas fired shots into the house, striking Craig in the head.

Thomass defense attorney, however, argued that Craig fired first, wounding Meenya Thomas, and that Tamiyah Thomas was defending her mother when she fired the shots that killed Craig.

The shooting happened at 2:31 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 5, at a house on 17th Court South in south Titusville.

Craig was taken to UAB Hospital where he was pronounced dead later that day.

Birmingham Det. Maximillian Price was the lone witness in the May hearing hearing.

Price testified that Craig and Meenya Thomas had a prior dating relationship. Meenya Thomas has not been charged with any crime.

On that morning, Craig was at his mothers house having sex with his current girlfriend when Meenya Thomas started to knock on the door.

Craig and his girlfriend retreated to the bedroom, Price said, when Meenya Thomas break into the home to confront him.

After a brief argument, the detective said, Meenya Thomas left but later returned with her daughter, Tamiya Thomas, who had a gun.

At no point, Price said, were the women invited into his home but entered through the open door that had already been damage in the previous incident.

The argument resumed.

The detective said Tamiya Thomas was, according to witnesses, visibly irate and acting like she wanted to fight Mr. Craig. Others were holding her back.

Tamiya Thomas handed the gun to her mother, and the mother eventually handed the gun back to her.

Once Tamiya Thomas was outside the home, in the front yard, she fired shots into the house, striking Craig in the head.

Under questioning by defense attorney Jacqueline Morrette, Price said testified that Craig had gotten his own gun and shot Meenya Thomas in the leg as the two women were leaving Craigs home.

Thats when Tamiya fired the fatal shots, Price acknowledged.

Morrette, during the hearing, pointed out that there was a history of domestic violence between Craig and the Thomas women.

In 2021, court records show, Craig was charged with shooting at Tamiya Thomas, and also with fatally shooting two of Meenya Thomass dogs.

Both cases were dismissed because of lack of participation from the victims and witnesses, records state.

Price testified that Meenya Thomas had previously stabbed Craig.

Testimony showed that Tamiya Craig was initially detained on a 48-hold. She wasnt charged and arrested until nearly two months later.

Morrette asked the detective if the decision to charge Tamiya Thomas was a result of an online campaign seeking justice by Craigs family. Price said it was not.

Morrette also said there was phone evidence that Craig invited Meenya Thomas over to his home that night.

The detective said he was not aware of that and said that wouldnt make sense since Craigs girlfriend was there.

In closing statements during the May hearing, Morrette asked Bell to drop the case.

I believe this case, although very tragic, the evidence does not put forth a charge of capital murder certainly, she said.

Theres not testimony whatsoever that my client threatened Mr. Craig, that she was doing anything other than protecting and defending her mother.

We believe this is a justifiable homicide, Morrette said.

Deputy District Attorney Aaron Brown disagreed. The women showed up at the house uninvited, were told they werent welcome, and asked to leave.

The victim is just minding his own business, living his life, Brown said at that time. They inserted themselves into this situation, they inserted the gun into this situation.

Theyre the ones who made a charge. They were the ones yelling. They were the ones brandishing the weapon, the prosecutor said. He didnt ask for any of that.

You cant claim youre defending someone else, he said, when youre breaking into the house.
Birminghams food scene is always evolving, and while thats a good thing, it means that sometimes great restaurants can get overlooked.

Thats why AL.com recently asked its Facebook followers to share which Magic City eatery they feel is the most underrated, and the responses ranged from classic diners to Italian restaurants to meat-and-threes, barbecue joints and more.

The one thing they have in common? Theyre all hidden gems you may not have tried -- yet.

You can read about 11 of the restaurants readers suggested below, and you can see all of the responses, and add your own, on the AL.com Facebook page.

A cheeseburger with crinkle-cut fries at Sammy's Sandwich Shop in Birmingham, Ala. (Bob Carlton/bcarlton@al.com)

Sammys Sandwich Shop

4921 Messer Airport Highway in Birmingham

Sammys Sandwich Shop is a beloved, no-fuss burger spot in the Birmingham area that has been feeding its loyal following for more than 60 years, but has still managed to remain a hidden gem -- despite having best burger in town declared right there on their sign. Open for breakfast and lunch, theres plenty more on their menu too (though their hand-patted burgers really are hard to top.)

Giuseppes Cafe

925 8th Street S in Birmingham

In the mood for Italian? Giuseppes has you covered. For more than 20 years, Giuseppes Cafe in Birminghams South Side has been serving up an award-winning variety of Italian-American dishes to hungry diners. Its menu offers everything from homemade bread to more than a dozen pastas, including classics like manicotti and lasagna, as well as specialty pizzas with every topping imaginable.

Burning Tree Smokehouse is one of the city's newest barbecue options. (Bob Carlton/bcarlton@al.com)

Burning Tree Smokehouse

3090 3rd Avenue S. in Birmingham

While Burning Tree Smokehouse has only been open for less than a year, the restaurant -- opened by veteran Alabama chef and pitmaster Warren Webster -- has already garnered a reputation for being among the most underrated barbecue in Birmingham. With a menu that features brisket, pork, turkey and ribs in addition to sandwiches, tacos and plates, its easy to understand why.

Olive Branch

3236 Cahaba Heights Road in Birmingham

The Olive Branch in Vestavia Hills has been open since 2005, and while it may not be as recognized as other restaurants in the area serving Mediterranean cuisine, its a favorite among those in the know. The family-owned restaurants menu includes everything from homemade soups, salads, sandwiches, kabobs and more, all made using authentic recipes and the freshest ingredients.

A meat-and-three dinner at Bluff Park Diner in Hoover, with baked chicken, green beans, yams and salad. Pecan pie for dessert was a bonus. (Mary Colurso | mcolurso@Al.com)

Bluff Park Diner

591 Shades Crest Road in Hoover

Bluff Park Diner in Hoover is hard to miss, especially since it has a large Bigfoot silhouette above its entrance, but our readers agreed its often underrated and overlooked. Thats a shame too, because the beloved diner offers a rotating daily menu of Southern classics and comfort foods, like meatloaf, fried pork chops and more. It even garnered it a spot among AL.coms Mary Colursos top 5 meat-and-threes in Birmingham in 2023.

The Filling Station

5524 Crestwood Boulevard in Birmingham

Tucked away in the charming Crestwood neighborhood of Birmingham is The Filling Station, which has a menu that offers Italian favorites as well as burgers, sandwiches and more. While there, you can fill up on specialty pizzas, calzones and strombolis as well as spaghetti and meatballs, lasagna and stuffed ravioli. Just be sure to save room for some of their homemade white chocolate bread pudding.

T-Bone's Authentic Philly Style Cheesesteaks and Hoagies began in the Center Point area of Birmingham in 2002 and moved into the Five Points South neighborhood in 2014. (Bob Carlton/bcarlton@al.com)

T-Bones

1017 20th Street South in Birmingham

For authentic Philly-style cheesesteaks and hoagies served on genuine Amoroso rolls, many folks (though clearly not everyone) in the Birmingham area know to head to T-Bones. The restaurant got its start in 2002 and since then, the casual spot has developed a a serious following thanks to its variety of cheesesteaks, burgers, wraps, hoagies, salads, loaded fries and much more.

The Paw Paw Patch

410 Green Springs Highway in Homewood

With so many delicious meat-and-threes in the Birmingham area, it can be a tough decision to pick just one, but The Paw Paw Patch should certainly be a contender. With lots of country cooking on the rotating daily menu, including chicken and dumplings, fried pork chops, hamburger steak and more, as well as dozens of Southern sides and homemade desserts too, you wont regret your choice.

A breakfast spread from the East of the Mississippi Diner, featuring a Mississippi waffle, a biscuit, a pancake, and the diner's famous salmon patties with hashbrowns (smothered with cheese, onions, and green peppers) and an egg (Shauna Stuart| AL.com)

East of the Mississippi Diner

3103 Ensley 5 Points W. Avenue in Birmingham

For a breakfast in Birmingham thats hard to beat (and budget-friendly), head over to the East of the Mississippi Diner and feast on your pick of Southern-style omelets, pancakes, sandwiches, biscuits, pastries and more. Plus, the rotating weekday lunch menu offers comfort food dishes that are so filling theyll have you wanting to head home for a mid-day nap.

Mud Town

3144 Green Valley Road in Birmingham

If youre looking for a restaurant that has just about everything on the menu, look no further than Mud Town. Located in the Cahaba Heights neighborhood for the past 20 years, Mud Town has an array of dishes up for grabs, including crab cakes, Rueben sandwiches, Conecuh dogs, pastas, fish tacos, burgers, steaks and more -- see what we mean about the variety?

Lunch sandwich at Le Fresca in Birmingham, Ala. (Bob Carlton/bcarlton@al.com)

Le Fresca

2218 2nd Avenue North in Birmingham

While it hasnt been open as long as some of the restaurants included on this list, Le Fresca has still made a mark on the minds, and stomachs, of many with its authentic Northern Italian cuisine. Its menu includes classic fare, like a variety of specialty pizzas and pastas, as well as unique takes on other dishes. Plus, if youve got a sweet tooth, theres olive oil cake, tiramisu and gelato up for grabs on the dessert menu.
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Amanda Shires performs onstage for the 7th Annual Nashville Songwriter Awards at Ryman Auditorium on September 24, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images) Getty Images

Nearly two years after the two country music stars filed for divorce, Amanda Shires has released a new album that focuses largely on her split from Alabama native Jason Isbell.

And in The Details, a track on the newly released Nobodys Girl, Shires references one of Isbells biggest hits, Cover Me Up.

That song, from Isbells 2013 album Southeastern, came a year after Shires helped lead an intervention to get the former Drive-by Truckers star to seek help for his battle with addiction.

Isbell and Shires married the year that album was released. The song, his most frequently streamed on Spotify, was later covered by Benson Boone and Morgan Wallen.

In The Details, Shires sings that: I got him help and then he bailed/what were all those promise for/cover me up, nothings ever enough/gonna have to put the house up for sale.

I signed up for forever, but forevers just as long as you live, I guess, Shires told Rolling Stones Nashville Now podcast.

Going from a partner in that side, too, it was a wild feeling. And just the fallout of that, Shires said in that interview.

The lyrics continue: He scared me then, he still scares me now/ Never will hear me out/The thing is he justifies it, using me/And cashing in on our marriage.

Shires told NPRs All Things Considered that the song is not one Im going to play live ever. Its just that song I had to write, and I know that itll probably be useful for other people. I had to have a place where I could put my experience and keep it somewhere.

Isbell filed for divorce in Tennessee on Dec. 15, 2023, after 10 years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences as reason for the split.

The end of the marriage helped inspire Isbells new solo acoustic album, Foxes in the Snow, Variety reported.

Earlier this year, Isbell said in Wall Street Journal interview that the marriage got to the point where, if something really good happened to me, I wouldnt even mention it, because I knew it would hurt her. It made the atmosphere unbreatheable for a while.
Mr. Salmon to strengthen strategic partnerships, support project pursuits and advance innovative infrastructure delivery throughout the firm

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Michael Baker International, a global leader in engineering, consulting and technology services, today announced that the firm has welcomed Mike Salmon as Regional Practice Lead  Design-Build. In this role, Mr. Salmon will collaborate with the firm's Operations teams to promote Michael Baker's Design-Build capabilities, build winning teams for project pursuits and engage with contractors and owners to position the firm for success.

"Michael Baker has a long-standing commitment to innovation and collaboration in the Design-Build space, delivering tailored solutions that solve complex infrastructure challenges, accelerate project completion and drive cost savings," said Eric Ostfeld, President, Design-Build Services at Michael Baker International. "Mike brings deep experience delivering mega projects for public and private clients to his new role, and his leadership will be key to advancing our Design-Build practice. I look forward to partnering with Mike as we position Michael Baker for continued growth and reinforce our reputation for excellence in alternative delivery methods."

Mr. Salmon is a Design-Build leader with more than 30 years of experience managing $500M+ alternative delivery and infrastructure projects. He is an expert in RFQ/RFP strategy, risk management, project pricing and proposal development. Mr. Salmon joins Michael Baker after nearly 15 years with Graham Contracting, Ltd., where he was District Manager in Colorado. Earlier in his career, he was a Project Manager / Design-Build Construction Manager with Tri-State Construction in Washington.

Mr. Salmon holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Sciences from Washington State University.

About Michael Baker International

Michael Baker International is a leading provider of engineering, consulting and technology services spanning three distinct Verticals: Infrastructure, Integrated Design and Advisory (IDA) and GovTech. The firm's Practices encompass all facets of infrastructure, including design and civil engineering for diverse bridge, highway, water, rail and transit and aviation projects, as well as planning, architecture, environmental and construction and program management. For 85 years, the company has been a trusted partner to clients, providing comprehensive services and solutions, delivering expertise and quality, and embracing emerging technologies and the latest innovations  like intelligent transportation, engineered models and public safety software as a service (SaaS).

The company has more than 5,100 employees across more than 90 office locations. Michael Baker's Wolf Pack is committed to Making a Difference for clients and communities through a culture of innovation, collaboration and technological advancement while evolving its business to become a full-service engineering and consulting firm.

To learn more, visit https://mbakerintl.com/.

Contact: Julia Covelli

[email protected]

(866) 293-4609

SOURCE Michael Baker International
If you purchase a product through a link on our site, we may receive compensation.

The global pop artist Ed Sheeran is returning to the stage in 2026 with his extensive Loop Tour, which officially kicks off in Glendale, Arizona on June 13.

The wide-scale tour includes 26 stops across the U.S. and Canada and features stops at some of the biggest venues such as the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Rogers Centre in Toronto, MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford and more.

Ed Sheeran 2026 tour tickets

For those who missed presale earlier this week, tickets are still available for purchase through Ticketmaster, Vivid Seats, StubHub, Viagogo and Seat Geek.

Fans looking to save on tickets can enjoy $20 off a $200+ order via Vivid Seats after using code AL20 at checkout.

Ed Sheeran 2026 tour dates
An 81-year-old man was critically injured when he was attacked by his neighbors' pack of dogs in his own Centreville driveway. (Special to AL.com)

An 81-year-old Alabama man remains in critical condition after he was mauled by a pack of dogs in his own driveway when he went to check the mail.

Jamie Boyd lost 50 percent of his bodys muscle tissue in the attack, and his scalp was viciously and violently torn from his skull, according to a lawsuit filed against the dogs owners.

The attack happened Wednesday, Sept. 24, according to a lawsuit against the dogs owners that was filed by Tuscaloosa attorneys Paul Patterson and North Patterson.

It is the most horrific mauling of a human being that Ive witnessed as an attorney, said Paul Patterson.

The suit names as defendants the Boyds neighbors, William and Lacey Mitchell.

Boyd and his wife, Martha, were sitting on the front porch of their home on Ingate Road in Centreville when Boyd decided to go to his mailbox, which is at the end of a long driveway.

His wife has limited mobility and uses a walker, so she remained on the porch.

As Boyd was walking down his driveway, seven dogs  which are pit bulls and pit bull mixes  charged him and began to attack him, causing catastrophic bleeding, extreme pain and permanent disfigurement.

As the attack continued, the lawsuit said, the dogs mauled his forearms and legs, tearing his flesh and muscle, leaving his limbs shredded and mangled, the suit reads.

Boyds wife watched the attack and tried to make her way to her husband and fell. The dogs began toward her, but by that point, Brent Police Chief Carl McMillan was already on the scene and fired a shot that caused the dogs to retreat into the woods.

Had Chief Carl McMillan not been there, Patterson said, she probably would have been killed.

Patterson said the dogs are now impounded.

Efforts to reach Bibb County sheriffs investigators for comment have been unsuccessful.

Boyd remains at UAB Hospital in Birmingham in the Intensive Care Unit and was set to undergo surgery on Monday.

The lawsuit claims the Mitchells failed to restrain or confine the dogs.

There have been at least five fatal dogs attack in Alabama this year.

Last week, 61-year-old Sandra Wolfe Schaefer was killed and two others injured in a dog attack in Blount County.

Authorities said a man was taking a break from working in his shop to walk the dog when the dog he was looking after for a friend who is in jail went crazy.

On July 24, 50-year-old Delores M. Musgrove was found dead about 7 a.m. in the 100 block of Martin Street in Bessemer. She was pronounced dead on the scene at 7:28 a.m.

Jefferson County Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates said Musgrove was attacked by multiple dogs.

On Tuesday, July 22, a 7-year-old boy was killed in an attack on the property where he lived in Chilton County. In that case, the owner surrendered nine dogs to Chilton County Animal Control where they were euthanized.

The breeds of those nine dogs included Shepherd mix, Pit Bull Terrier mix, Lab mix and Hound mix. Six of the dogs were 6 months old and the other ages ranged from 1 to 3.

In March, 6-month Ember Southard was killed in a dog attack inside an Alabaster home.

A 46-year-old woman was killed in February when she was mauled by a pack of dogs at a Tuscaloosa County home.

The attack happened in the yard and on the property of the dogs owners. The victim had gone to the residence to feed the dogs for the owner, who was out of town.
While President Donald Trump has pushed to arrest and deport thousands of immigrants, no employers in Alabama have faced federal criminal charges for hiring undocumented people.

The reality is that the vast majority of arrests made as a result of worksite enforcement are of workers, not employers, said Michelle Mittelstadt, a spokesperson for the Migration Policy Institute, a Washington, D.C. based think tank on federal enforcement.

In the last decade, no federal cases have been filed against employers in Alabama for employing undocumented immigrants, according to federal court records.

AL.com requested data from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement about employer investigations, but did not immediately receive the information. A spokesperson for the agency said it is investigating employers.

Did they knowingly violate the law or, you know, did they use fraudulent documents? Did they do whatever an employer is supposed to do, as far as, you know, E-verify and I-9s? said Lindsay Williams, with ICE.

He added that if individual U.S. attorneys decline to prosecute, thats their right.

An estimated 2,000 people were arrested and sent into deportation proceedings in Alabama between January and June 2025, roughly doubling arrest rates from 2024.

Job site raids catch workers

Federal agents describe common scenes in filings submitted to the court: They show up at a job site and chase down workers suspected of being in the country illegally.

In a recent court document, Joshua Woodruff, an agent with Homeland Security Investigations, wrote that workers fled into the woods as he approached. He also noted the workers apparent employer: D.R. Horton, a prominent construction company.

One of the men arrested at the Fairhope jobsite, Roberto Ulin Ajin, originally from Honduras, has been sentenced to one year in prison for illegally reentering the country after a prior deportation.

D.R. Horton said it is fully committed to following employment laws.

D.R. Horton is fully committed to following all employment and labor laws and regulations. We require the same high standards from our subcontractors, who are responsible for verifying the employment eligibility of their workers, the company told AL.com in August.

A construction worker reportedly had a six-hour standoff with federal immigration agents in Spanish Fort, Alabama. Ruth Serven Smith

Other recent federal cases detail raids at Alabama workplaces. One described a raid at a farm in Daphne. Another case mentioned area builders that are knowingly using sub-contractors that hire undocumented immigrants to build homes in subdivisions throughout Baldwin County.

In both cases the immigrants arrested were prosecuted, but not employers.

Employers may face fines

Attorney Wendy Madden told AL.com more Alabama employers are getting fined by ICE for hiring people without documentation.

In this administration, I think its one of their top priorities, holding employers accountable, said Madden. She said she is advising business clients who are being fined by the federal government, and one of her small business clients was recently fined $27,000.

Earlier this month, a construction company in south Alabama said it had volunteered to have a job site investigated by federal agents.

Federal data between 2004 and 2019 shows most employers who violate immigration law are held accountable through fees and fines but not through the courts.

Immigration law is federal, and federal agents are responsible for deciding when to arrest and prosecute workers and employers. Alabama also has some applicable state laws, handled by local law enforcement.

In other court filings this year, employers have been accused of not filling out federal I9 paperwork when they employ undocumented workers. In June, a federal suit filed against several real estate LLCs operating in Alabama described the companies failure to fill out I9 paperwork for employees. The companies have not been charged with any immigration violations at the time of publication.

Alabama business leaders have complained that raids are making it harder for them to complete work.

Its going to create higher prices, going to create slower timelines. Its going to create some contractors going out of business because they cant have employees. Its just not a really good situation, Tim Harrison, chairman of the Associated Builders and Contractors of Alabama, told AL.com recently.
After spending over a month in a Louisiana detention facility, Birmingham-area immigration advocate Giovanna Hernandez-Martinez has decided to leave the U.S. to live with extended family in Mexico City.

The decision was motivated in part by a lack of medical care in the facility, according to Hernandez-Martinezs brother, Dilan Hernandez.

Martinez-Hernandez was detained by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement in early August during a traffic stop in Leeds.

A GoFundMe set up by her brother to cover her legal expenses claims she was driving to work on the morning of Aug. 5 when Leeds police pulled her over.

What should have been a regular traffic stop, turned into something much worse as an ICE agent arrived closely thereafter, it reads.

In less than an hour she was processed and taken into ICE custody.

Leeds Police Chief Paul Irwin said previously the traffic stop was made on Interstate 20 when an unmarked Leeds vehicle was passed by a Honda sedan driving recklessly and nearly hitting other vehicles while traveling at a high rate of speed of over 80 mph.

The vehicle came within feet of striking other vehicles and erratically changed lanes...The driver did not have a drivers license but instead identified herself with a Mexico issued (identification) card, Irwin wrote.

Leeds police contacted federal partners, who informed Detectives that the female was in the United States of America illegally and took her into custody, according to Irwin.

Martinez-Hernandez recently earned both her bachelors and masters degrees in social work from Jacksonville State University.

Much of her work focused on helping immigrant students in the metro area plan their next steps after high school.

She ran a program called Escalera, where she stressed the importance of a degree and helped students navigate college and trade school applications.

According to her brother, Martinez-Hernandez had her own LLC and was working with HICA, an immigration advocacy organization based in Birmingham.

A petition set up by Martinez-Hernandezs friend and former JSU roommate Emily Barfield demanding her release has received over 20,000 signatures as of Sept. 29.

Gio has no criminal record, the petition reads.

She has spent years working toward lawful permanent residency but, like many others, has faced systemic barriers and even been scammed during the process. Her detainment is not only legally questionable  it is morally wrong."

Hernandez told AL.com that their family is waiting for his sister to land today, and will work with her moving forward to find a legal way for her to re-enter the U.S.

Despite many barriers and challenges, Giovanna has always been determined to find her way in a country that was not always receptive to her, reads the GoFundMe page.

Martinez-Hernandezs story is similar to many following President Donald Trumps immigration crackdown, which is currently striving to arrest 3,000 people daily, according to previous comments from White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller.

Two Iranian men living in Alabama, Alireza Doroudi and Ribvar Karimi, were detained by ICE earlier this year on claims of being in the country illegally and being a violent extremist, respectively.

After over two months in detention, Doroudi requested voluntary deportation in May and returned to Iran over the summer.

Karimi, who recently missed the birth of his child while in ICE detention, was still fighting to stay in the U.S. as of Aug. 14, according to his lawyer Michael Shabani.
Inmates are shown here at an Alabama prison in 2022. (Photo via Alabama Department of Corrections) Contributed

The Alabama Sentencing Commission said Friday that Alabamas already overcrowded prisons could see inmate populations rise by nearly a third by 2030 due to new punitive laws passed by the Legislature.

The commission, working with Applied Research Services, a research firm that studies criminal justice, estimated the population in custody of the Alabama Department of Corrections could grow from 21,753 to between 24,000 and 28,000 inmates, depending on the number of people that the ADOC admits each month on average.

Those numbers, if reached, would come near or exceed DOCs record inmate population, set 16 years ago. They would also further strain the states General Fund; the states prisons have taken up an ever-larger share of the budget over the past two decades.

More from Alabama Reflector

The system, even before all the changes that happened, was already trending up, said Bennet Wright, executive director of the Alabama Sentencing Commission, on Friday. All the things that I discussed, and that is not to say they are good or bad, but they are going to adjust the track up more.

Wright said the projections factor several changes implemented by the Alabama Legislature, from increasing the number of judges assigned to oversee cases to changes in statute related to split sentences, to a law passed in 2023 that further restricted the use of good behavior to reduce incarceration time.

Wright and the researchers said there are some uncertainties that are embedded within the simulations.

The long overcrowding crisis

Alabama has struggled with prison overcrowding for decades, and the crisis has been a major contributor to violence in correctional facilities. The U.S. Department of Justice sued the state in 2020, saying the conditions in mens prisons violated inmates Eighth Amendment rights against cruel and unusual punishment.

The states prison population fell after 2015 after the Legislature approved a series of sentencing reforms, dropping from about 26,300 in 2013 to 20,200 in 2018. It fell still further during the COVID outbreak in 2020, when Corrections temporarily barred the admission of new prisoners. The population was about 18,300 in 2021. Since then, the number of people in ADOC has steadily increased, going to 20,500 in 2022, 21,000 in 2024, and is currently at 21,753 for the year.

But the simulations run by the commission projected that the population would increase.

Even the lowest figure generated by the simulation estimates the population of people in custody of ADOC in 2030 would increase by 31% from a 2021 baseline of 18,300. The highest projected population, 28,000, by the end of the decade means that the prison would increase by more than 50% from the baseline.

Many of the estimates from the simulations predicted the prison population to be higher than the 26,500 in 2009, the highest number of people ever incarcerated in Alabamas prisons.

Multiple estimates

The Sentencing Commission provided people who attended the presentation with multiple estimates instead of a single measure incorporating all the factors because of the uncertainty inherent in the model. One element that was not incorporated into the simulations to provide the estimate was the average number of people admitted into ADOC each month.

The idea about the number of people coming in the front door has to be an independent determination, Wright said.

One reason is that the number can fluctuate dramatically. The rate was more than 800 in 2018, but it is currently about 450.

I know what you are thinking, Wright said. Well Bennet, look to the past. Well, that is the past, what part of the past do you want me to use?

The composition of the ADOC admissions could also change depending on the laws enacted by the Legislature. When lawmakers enacted into law a rule that made the sentencing guidelines presumptive, fewer judges sent people to prison.

So instead of incorporating the admission rates for ADOC into the model, researchers calculated a population estimate by assuming a given rate for the number of people admitted into ADOC custody.

The lower estimate of 24,000 assumed that about 400 people were admitted into ADOC custody each month. The higher estimate of 28,000 assumed that 500 people were admitted into ADOC custody each month.

Contributing factors

Wright highlighted several changes that were factored into the model. One was that the Legislature increased funding to provide the judicial system with more judges, allowing more cases to be processed, which potentially adds to the number of people sentenced to prison.

Another factor is changes to statute enacted by the Legislature for split sentences. In the past, most cases in the criminal justice system required judges to apply split sentences once defendants were convicted.

You either had to get probation or a split sentence, Wright changed. So now, everything is back on the table.

The split sentence law was also changed.

So even if someone is split, the split sentence law is amended to allow for longer sentences on splits, Wright said.

The Legislature in 2023 reduced the amount of credit people in prison could receive on their prison sentences for good behavior. Prior to passing the law, people classified in the second tier could receive up to 40 days of credit for every 30 days served. SB 1, sponsored by April Weaver, R-Brierfield, reduced it to 15 days for every 30 days served.

They reduced general good time and they reduced access to maximum good time as well, Wright said.

Along with that, the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles updated the guidelines they used to determine whether to grant an applicant parole.

All those changes factor into the prison population. Wright and researchers provided two numbers for every rate that people are admitted into ADOC custody. Wright said the three factors that drive the trend between the high estimate, and the low estimate are the percentage of people who will receive a split sentence, the parole rate, the number of people in prison who will be subject to the updated correctional incentive time laws versus the previous set of rules.

With a high percentage of splits, high parole and a higher percentage of people coming in on good time, you would expect a prison population in five years of about 24,000, Wright said.

The complement of that, with low numbers on split sentences, parole and good time allocation, that figure increases to about 26,000 if ADOC admits an average monthly rate of 400 people into the prisons.

Look at what we historically do in Alabama, Wright said. Policy-wise, we do not have sustainable, slow growth, or slow decline. We typically have very accelerated growth, or very accelerated decline.
Birmingham police investigate the domestic shooting death of a woman at a home on Kiser Road. (Carol Robinson)

A Birmingham man has died, two days after police say he fatally shot a woman and then turned the gun on himself during a domestic incident.

The Jefferson County Coroners Office on Monday identified the man as Tony Dewayne Davis. He was 35.

East Precinct officers were dispatched at 11:47 p.m. Wednesday to a report of a person shot at a home in the 1100 block of Kiser Road.

When they arrived, officers approached the residence and were told that an injured female and the male shooter were still inside.

Officers entered the home and found 40-year-old LaVentrice Denise Tolbert. Tolbert was unresponsive with an apparent gunshot wound and was pronounced dead on the scene at 12:30 a.m.

Davis was found wounded in a bedroom. He was taken to UAB Hospital where he died at 2:45 p.m. Friday, said Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates.

Sgt. LaQuitta Wade said Davis shot Tolbert before shooting himself.

Multiple people were inside the home at the time of the incident, Wade said. No one else was injured.
Three Southern governors -- Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves, Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe, and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp -- participated in the 10th annual Governors Energy Caucus as part of the 65th annual Southern States Convention held on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025, at The Grand Hotel in Point Clear, Ala. John Sharp

At a high-powered panel during the Southern States Energy Board conference Monday, three Republican governors touted the explosive potential of artificial intelligence data centers to transform the economies of Southern states.

They firmly reject government subsidies for clean energy and calling instead for market-driven solutions.

The discussion highlighted the benefits of artificial intelligence data centers, and the projected revenues they will produce for local communities. It also focused on challenges of developing a future workforce to handle more automated jobs of the future.

The panel  which included Republican Govs. Tate Reeves of Mississippi, Brian Kemp of Georgia and Mike Kehoe of Missouri  also advocated against federal or state subsidies for clean energy. The comments mirrored efforts by Republican leaders in recent years to fight against clean energy mandates while allowing the free market to decide the fate of wind and solar energies.

Im a free market guy, Kehoe said. Im not sure the residential end user will want to pay more for renewables but if these larger corporations are willing to pay more and to invest in it, then giddy-up, lets get at it.

The three governors participated in the 65th annual conference held at The Grand Hotel in Point Clear. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey introduced the panel ahead of the three-day conference.

A.I. investments

The panel discussion comes as A.I. technologies, and the energy required to power data centers, becomes a dominant policy issue facing state and local governments. It is also a matter of taxation, as states race to incentivize companies to build energy-consuming data centers amid criticism of potential insufficient returns on investment.

Alabama, like other Southern states, has become an emerging future home for large-scale datacenters. Meta, earlier this month, announced it was investing $1.5 million into 1.3 million square foot data center in Montgomery to accommodate artificial intelligence. The company operates Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp.

The University of Alabama, earlier this year, announced it was spending up to $100 million on a data center for A.I. needs including a BamaGPT for students.

Kemp, who vetoed a two-year pause on a sales tax break for data centers last year, said he believes the investment by states and its focus on A.I. is worth it. The governor noted a conversation he had with a county official in Georgia who said he believes that the development of a data center has the potential to bring in so much revenue that it could wipe out the property taxes for an entire community.

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves joins Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp as the participants during the 10th annual Governors Energy Caucus as part of the 65th annual Southern States Convention held on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025, at The Grand Hotel in Point Clear, Ala. John Sharp

Reeves said in Mississippi, the potential exists for property tax relief with the addition of A.I. facilities such as the xAI complex in Whitehaven, Tenn.  just north of the Mississippi-Tennessee border.

He said the potential exists for astronomical job growth, and the ability to relieve pressure on state governments.

The race to lure data centers to their states comes amid pushback over tax incentives to lure investments from some of the wealthiest companies in the United States. According to an analysis by CBNC, the beneficiaries of state exemptions are tech giants such as Amazon, Meta and Google, which all have market caps of over $1 trillion.

In Alabama in 2015, Google received up to $50 million over 10 years for the build out of a large data center at a former coal plant in Jackson County. Alabama legislation last year, which did not win approval, would have added $400 million in tax incentives for data processing centers.

The pushback against the activity in other states appears to come from local communities, where concerns exist over pollution that data centers could produce.

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe joints Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp as participants in the 10th annual Governors Energy Caucus as part of the 65th annual Southern States Convention held on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025, at The Grand Hotel in Point Clear, Ala. John Sharp

Kehoe said there is uncertainty over what a data center does, creating worries among residents and local resistance toward expansion projects.

The industry, along with us, has to do a good job so that there is not a fear factor built into projects going forward, he said. Weve seen A.I. tested enough, these data centers tested enough, and the capital that are used in these facilities  this is not a short-term deal. The investment is so substantial that anyone on a board of directors of these companies that authorizes these (data center) investments understands its a long-term strategy.

Workforce development

Kemp called the potential job growth from the facilities a game changer for rural Southern towns often struggling with declining populations and a loss of manufacturing jobs and health care facilities.

But another challenge exists in having a workforce prepared for high-demand jobs, while other longtime professions face uncertainty amid A.I.s influence.

The challenge, he said, is having a workforce ready for the jobs.

There are a lot of challenges here, Kemp said. We need 500,000 electricians to build out transmission lines and data center work. We also need 150,000 machinists  what do we do with the kids coming out of college? Where do we re-plug them into the workforce with a good-paying job?

Energy efficiency

The governors also advocated for marketplace decisions when it comes to utilizing clean energy to power the data centers.

Kemp said a large data center to support Meta, built eight years ago, was upgraded and is now powered by clean solar power.

We ask our companies, what do you want? Kemp said. Do you want clean energy? Do want it to come from solar or whatever else? The utilities will figure that piece out for them and that is what were doing in Georgia. Well help those customers.

Concerns are arising over the potential for A.I. to become one of the largest consumers of energy in the world as the activity of building data centers ratchets up. These energy concerns focus on sustainability, the electrical grid, water usage and emissions.

Hopefully, 10 years from now, a data center will use 5 to 10 percent (less) electricity than its using now, Kemp said. And hopefully a whole lot less water.
NASA astronaut Victor Glover Jr., center, is flanked by former Tuskegee Airmen Lt. Col. James Harvey, left, and Lt. Col. George Hardy, right, at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala., in early August, 2021. All three were gathered to honor the airmen on the 30th anniversary of the rocket center's Aviation Challenge program.

Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. George Hardy died at the age of 100, the Tuskegee Airmen Inc. announced Thursday.

At 19, he was the youngest Red Tail fighter pilot to fly his first solo combat mission over Europe as a Tuskegee Airman.

His legacy is one of courage, resilience, tremendous skill and dogged perseverance against racism, prejudice and other evils, the group said on its Facebook page Friday.

Hardy was stationed in Italy during World War II where he finished 21 missions over Germany piloting a P-51 Mustang aircraft. His job was often escorting heavy bombers. In an oral history interview in 2014, Hardy recalled one time when his plane was hit by fire. He saw a burst of light on the cockpit floor.

What happened was something came through and splintered the aluminum on one side of the plane, he recalled to the National WWII Museum. And light started coming through on my feet.

He later fought in the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

Hardy was born in 1925 in Philadelphia, according to the museum. Hardy had wanted to join the Navy at 17, like one of his brothers, but his father would not sign the papers because of racism in the military. Hardy later joined the Air Force and trained at the Tuskegee Army Airfield in 1944.

He was among the first Black Americans to serve as pilots for the military as a member of the Tuskegee Airmen.

Were Afro American, racial segregation was really rigid, he told PBS in 2022. Then, the Navy would only take you if you were a mess attendant, associated with serving and preparing the food. There were no colored officers in the Navy.

Hardy retired from the military in 1971 and became an engineer and project manager after obtaining a masters degree in engineering.

Hardy was awarded honors for his service, including the Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor, a Commendation Medal and a Congressional Gold Medal.

Hardy spent the later years of his life speaking on the history of the Tuskegee Airmen.

On Friday, the Alabama National Guard posted a tribute to Hardy on Facebook.

A veteran of three wars and 136 combat missions, Hardy embodied courage, perseverance, and service to our nation. May he rest in peace, and may his legacy continue to inspire generations.
Sara Jane Moore, who attempted to assassinate President Gerald Ford in 1975, has died at age 95 in Tennessee. Janet Fries/Getty Images

Fifty years after she tried to kill President Gerald Ford, a woman dubbed the Housewife Assassin is dead. Sara Jane Moore died Sept. 24 at a nursing home in Franklin, Tenn. She was 95. Her death came 50 years and two days from the anniversary of her attempt on President Gerald Ford on Sept. 22, 1975.

Moore, who later said she was inspired by the radical politics of the day, fired on the president from about 40 yards away as he waved to the crowd outside the St. Francis Hotel in San Franciscos Union Square. She attempted to fire again, but Oliver Sipple, a 33-year-old former Marine, knocked the pistol out of Moores hand, causing the shot to go astray.

Ford was uninjured.

She was sentenced to life and served more than 30 years at the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, California before being unexpectedly paroled on Dec. 31, 2007. At various times, Moore had expressed regret for her actions but also said she was sorry shed missed.

I dont like to be a failure, she told the San Jose Mercury News seven years after the attempt.

Sara Jane Moore, who attempted to assassinate President Gerald R. Ford, of Grand Rapids, in 1975 has died at 95. She is pictured being taken to the federal building in San Francisco, Dec. 15, 1975, for a special hearing to determine whether U.S. Dist. Court Judge Samuel Conti will accept her plea of guilty to charges she tried to kill President Ford or to order Miss More to stand trial. (AP Photo/Sal Veder)

Moores attempt was the second against Ford, who had assumed office after the resignation of President Richard Nixon in August 1974.

On Sept. 5, 1975, Lynette Squeaky Fromme, a disciple of cult leader and murderer Charles Manson, aimed a semiautomatic pistol at Ford while he was in Sacramento, California. A Secret Service agent grabbed the gun before any shots were fired.

Fromme was paroled from prison in 2009.

Ford, who was defeated in the 1976 presidential election by Jimmy Carter, died in December 2006 at age 93.

The Associated Press Contributed to this report.

Updated Sept. 29 at 1 p.m. to correct that Moore was the second attempt against Ford.
A pre-filed constitutional amendment would require school boards to set time for the Pledge of Allegiance or lose school funding, and also require votes on whether they would allow employees and students to pray and read religious texts in school.

Failure to comply would lead to a loss of school funding.

HB 43, sponsored by Rep. Reed Ingram, R-Pike Road, would have to be approved by voters in a statewide election if it passes the Legislature during the 2026 session, which begins in January.

More from Alabama Reflector

Ingram said in a phone interview on Thursday that the amendment aimed to allow students to practice their religion.

This is just to give [students] the option to be able to fellowship with other students who are Christians, he said.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Alabama said in a statement Friday the proposed amendment violates the First Amendment.

The U.S. Constitution allows for students and school employees to engage in private prayer during the school day, but students and school employees cannot be compelled, coerced, persuaded, or encouraged to join in prayer or other religious activity, ANiya Robinson, director of policy and organizing at the ACLU of Alabama said.

HB 43 is not only unconstitutional but also creates a hostile educational environment for students who do not adhere to state-sanctioned religious practices.

Nik Nartowicz, lead policy counsel for Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a non-profit organization based in Washington D.C. that works to defend the right to freedom of religion, said in a statement Friday legislators cannot enforce religion in schools.

Our Constitutions promise of church-state separation means that students and their families  not politicians  get to decide if, when and how children engage with religion, the statement said. This bill would advance Christian Nationalists agenda to impose their religion on public schoolchildren, Nartowicz said.

The amendment, if passed, would require students to have a signed consent form in order to participate in prayer and the reading of religious texts. If students have not consented to prayer and reading, it cannot be done in class.

Ingram said students who have given consent will be sent to a different classroom to not interfere with teachers instructional time.

Schools that have shown a continued pattern of intentional refusal will be investigated by the Alabama Department of Education and could have up to 25% of their state funding withheld.

Some schools may not want to do it or put it to a vote for the students in their school system, so this is just where the school systems have to act on it and the board members have to vote on it, Ingram said. Even if its voted up or down, a position has to be taken. So if its voted down no money is going to be withheld.

The proposed amendment to the state constitution would also mandate that each public school vote on whether to say the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of the day.

Right now, its in the school policy to where you have to have the pledge, but a lot of schools are not doing the pledge. Theyre not complying with the law, and that was a bill that Speaker Ledbetter passed years ago, Ingram said in a phone interview Friday.

Any school that does not vote on whether they will say the pledge at the start of the school day, or does not say the Pledge of Allegiance after voting to say it, could have up to 25% of their state funding withheld. However, funding can be restored upon complying with the law.

We dont want to cut any school funding, but we want to make sure that they comply with the law and that they put it up to a vote of the school board within 60 days, Ingram said. If they vote yes, they have to comply and keep doing it every day, and if they vote no, they dont have to do it.

Robinson said forcing students to recite the pledge is harmful to their rights.

Students should have the freedom to recite (or not recite) the pledge, and withholding school funds as enforcement further threatens that freedom that our country defends, she said in a statement Friday.

According to Ingram, students have a choice on if they want to say the Pledge of Allegiance or not.

Its not mandatory for every student to stand up and hold their hand over their heart, especially if theyre not a U.S. citizen. Were not making them do that, but the teacher has to have it as an option to do, he said in a phone interview Friday.

Reed filed a similar bill for the 2025 legislative session, but the bill was postponed indefinitely.

Alabama Legislators will begin meeting Jan. 13.
Continued innovation, stronger partnerships, and notable industry recognition highlight why global enterprises choose OneTrust for AI-ready governance

ATLANTA, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- OneTrust, the AI-ready governance platform, today announced a series of milestones that mark its continued momentum. The company is solidifying its position as an industry leader with significant recognition, platform enhancements, and a world-class executive team.

"The momentum we have seen so far this year reflects the ambition of our team, the trust of our customers, and the strength of our vision," said Kabir Barday, Founder and CEO of OneTrust. "The age of AI demands real-time, continuous governance that drives innovation and enablement outcomes, not just risk and compliance metrics. OneTrust's AI-ready governance platform is the first platform to give organizations the context, scale, and control needed to prevent data and AI misuse, enable responsible innovation, and protect the return on investment of data and AI initiatives."

"The age of AI demands real-time, continuous governance that drives innovation and enablement outcomes" Post this

Empowering Global Organizations with Governance for the AI Era

Fueling OneTrust's continued momentum is the company's commitment to empower customers to build governance programs that match the speed and scale of AI. OneTrust's platform provides the foundation organizations need to accelerate innovation while ensuring responsible data use. That's why more than half of the Fortune 500, half of the world's 10 largest banks and airlines, and seven of the world's 10 largest healthcare and retail companies choose OneTrusta testament to the company's global and enterprise scale.

Lumen Technologies, the trusted network for AI, leverages the OneTrust platform's automation, workflows, and centralized controls to scale its privacy operations, accelerate regulatory compliance, and reduce risk exposure.

Zendesk, a leader in AI-powered service, completed its first ISO 42001 audit in half the expected time, thanks to the OneTrust platform's automation, workflows, and centralized controls that simplify and streamline AI governance.

Accelerating AI-Ready Governance Through Innovation and Collaboration

The AI landscape is evolving quickly and governance teams are spending nearly 40% more time managing AI risk year-over-year. To help organizations keep up with the increasing speed and scale demands of AI, OneTrust has released new platform capabilities designed to help organizations ensure AI-ready data, accelerate the governance lifecycle, and scale privacy teams. Most recently, during its 2025 TrustWeek event in New York, the company introduced privacy and risk agents that enable teams to complete assessmentsa process that can take weeks to monthsin just minutes.

OneTrust also partners with some of the world's most influential companies to enable governance at the speed and scale of AI: Integrating with Databricks, Microsoft, and Snowflake

Recognized for Growth, Technology, and Market Leadership

OneTrust recently earned a place on two of the most prestigious rankings of high-performing companies. The company made its debut on the Fortune Future 50 listrecognizing the global companies poised to deliver long-term growth, drive innovation, and thrive amid rapid changeand made the Forbes Cloud 100 list of the top private cloud companies in the world for the seventh consecutive year.

OneTrust was also named a Leader in the IDC MarketScape Worldwide Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) Software 2025 Vendor Assessment (doc #US53615325, June 2025). According to the report, "OneTrust GRC capabilities have continually been enhanced and even more so with AI. While the platform is very comprehensive, integrating ML and AI continues to make OneTrust a solid platform for cross-organizational GRC (or integrated GRC)."

Driving Momentum with Executive Hires and Strategic Expansion

Since the start of 2025, OneTrust has made two strategic additions to its executive team, bringing on former Coupa Software executive Michael Schanker as Chief Marketing Officer and former Alteryx leader Digvijay (DV) Lamba as Chief Technology Officer. These industry veterans are playing an essential role in shaping the go-forward strategy around OneTrust's growth, brand, and platform that drives the momentum the company is seeing today.

OneTrust also unveiled its new global headquarters in Atlanta, bringing more than 400 local team members to 74,000 square feet of new workspace on the Atlanta Beltline. This exciting move came on the heels of a year of continued expansion, as the company opened offices in Chicago, San Francisco, Singapore, and Toronto. Today, OneTrust counts 13 offices in its global footprint.

TrustWeek 2025

OneTrust is in the midst of hosting TrustWeek 2025 on Tour, the conference covering trust, data, and responsible AI. Attendees will get a preview of OneTrust's latest platform innovations and hear real-world advice from industry experts in privacy, risk, and AI governance. Register today to secure your spot at the last stop on the tourAmsterdam on October 21.

About OneTrust

OneTrust is the leading AI-ready governance platform. More than 14,000 customers globally, including over half of the Fortune 500, rely on OneTrust to accelerate innovation while ensuring responsible data use. To learn more, follow OneTrust on LinkedIn or visit www.onetrust.com

 2025 OneTrust LLC. All rights reserved. OneTrust and the OneTrust logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of OneTrust LLC in the United States and other jurisdictions. All other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Media Contact

Ainslee Shea

[email protected]

+1 (404) 855-0803

SOURCE OneTrust
The shooting at a Mormon church in Michigan over the weekend appears to be yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America, according to President Donald Trump.

The president took to Truth Social to remark on the Sunday morning shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan.

I have been briefed on the horrendous shooting that took place at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Grand Blanc, Michigan. The FBI was immediately on scene, and will be leading the Federal Investigation, and providing full support to State and Local Officials. The suspect is dead, but there is still a lot to learn, Trump posted.

This appears to be yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America, the president continued. The Trump Administration will keep the Public posted, as we always do. In the meantime, PRAY for the victims, and their families. THIS EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY MUST END, IMMEDIATELY!

The gunman, identified as 40-year-old Thomas Sanford of Burton, Michigan, was fatally shot after exchanging gunfire with Grand Blanc Township police.

Authorities said Sanford drove through the front door of the church during Sunday service, exited his vehicle and opened fire.

At some point during the chaos, the church was deliberately set on fire by the man, police said. The fire has since been extinguished, Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye said.

Just days before the attack, Sanford allegedly unleashed an unprovoked, bitter critique of the Mormon faith while speaking to a city council candidate.

The candidate said Sanford told him repeatedly that the Mormons are the anti-Christ.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday, Sept. 29, that investigators are looking into how Sanfords feelings about the Latter-day Saints tied into Sundays attack.

From what I understand, based on my conversations with the FBI director, all they know right now is this was an individual who hated people of the Mormon faith, she said during an interview on Fox News Channels Fox and Friends.

Trump has routinely spoken about anti-Christian bias and Christian discrimination.

In February, he announced a task force headed by Attorney General Pam Bondi to immediately halt all forms of anti-Christian targeting and discrimination within the federal government, including at the DOJ, which was absolutely terrible, the IRS, the FBI  terrible  and other agencies.

Trump also said Bondi Trump would also work to fully prosecute anti-Christian violence and vandalism in our society and to move heaven and earth to defend the rights of Christians and religious believers nationwide.
President Donald Trump will speak at a hastily called meeting of top military leaders on Tuesday, according to a White House official.

Hundreds of generals and admirals  senior commanders of the one-star rank or higher and their top advisers  have been summoned by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth from all over the world to the Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia, with little notice.

The White House official was not authorized to discuss the presidents plans before a public announcement about his attendance and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Trump told NBC News in an interview Sunday that they would be talking about how well were doing militarily, talking about being in great shape, talking about a lot of good, positive things.

News about the meeting broke Thursday, and no reason was initially provided for the unusual gathering. Trump didnt seem to know about it when first asked by reporters during an Oval Office appearance.

Ill be there if they want me, but why is it such a big deal? Trump said.

The official said the presidents participation was not part of the original plan for the meeting but that he decided that he wanted to go.

Trumps participation in the meeting raises the likelihood of a politicized event in front of a nonpartisan audience of military leaders. For example, he delivered campaign-style remarks to uniformed personnel at Fort Bragg in North Carolina in June, attacking his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden.

The Republican president is also expanding his use of the military in American cities, arguing that its necessary to fight crime in places where Democratic leaders are failing to ensure public safety.

The National Guard continues to patrol in the District of Columbia, and a smaller deployment is expected in Memphis, Tennessee. On Saturday, Trump said he would also send troops to Portland, Oregon, to protect against domestic terrorists.

Over the objections of local and state officials, Trump previously sent the National Guard and active-duty Marines to Los Angeles, where there were protests against immigration raids.

The Pentagons top spokesman has previously confirmed that Hegseth will be addressing his senior military leaders early next week.

Across the military, there are 800 generals and admirals of all ranks. Many command thousands of service members and are stationed across the world in more than a dozen countries and time zones.

The Washington Post first reported on Trumps plans to attend the upcoming meeting.










English News CAEXPO ushers in a new chapter of China-ASEAN cooperation

Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 28 Septembre 2025



CAEXPO has become a vital platform for economic engagement and a bridge connecting the peoples of China and ASEAN. The number of trips between the Chinese mainland and member states of ASEAN exceeded 25.24 million in the first eight months of 2025, up 11.2 percent year on year. These growing people-to-people exchanges are strengthening mutual understanding and reinforcing the foundations of long-term partnership.

By Wang Donghui, Zhang Yunhe, People's Daily The 22nd China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) has marked a significant milestone in advancing China-ASEAN relations, with high-tech collaboration emerging as a new driver of regional integration and economic growth. The event showcased breakthroughs in artificial intelligence (AI), fostered innovation and entrepreneurship, and reinforced the expo's role as a strategic platform for deepening cooperation.



CAEXPO's achievements highlighted the steady momentum in China-ASEAN trade and investment relations. Through broader participation and increasingly pragmatic initiatives, both sides are forging new paths toward mutually beneficial, win-win cooperation.



Innovation is a central theme at this year's expo. From AI-powered event services to displays of humanoid robots, drones, and other cutting-edge technologies, the expo provided a vivid snapshot of the region's digital transformation.

Notably, the event featured several firsts: the debut of a dedicated AI pavilion, the launch of an AI agent, and the inaugural China-ASEAN ministerial roundtable meeting on AI. These developments signal growing regional alignment on the future of intelligent technologies.



Sugon, a leading Chinese enterprise in information infrastructure, used the AI pavilion to showcase advances in intelligent computing, cloud services, and big data. The AI pavilion at CAEXPO provides a valuable platform for technology demonstration and business collaboration, said vice president of the company Wei Zhenguo.



Thanousone Phonamat, chairman and CEO of Lao company ALO Technology Sole Co. Ltd., emphasized the potential for deeper engagement: "We look forward to drawing on China's advanced AI capabilities to co-develop a smart, digital future."



The prospects for cooperation in strategic emerging sectors such as AI, fintech, big data, and cloud computing are rapidly emerging. ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn observed that China's progress in these domains positions the region to jointly set benchmarks for digital ecosystems and shape future global standards.



IBI, a first-time exhibitor, presented its progress in digitalizing procurement and logistics services. Wang Yu, president of Nedoodoo, IBI's digital platform for new energy trade, emphasized long-term commitment: "We aim to deepen ASEAN cooperation in digital infrastructure and elevate regional digital transformation."



According to Wei Zhaohui, secretary-general of CAEXPO Secretariat, the expo is advancing China-ASEAN trade and economic cooperation from "traditional lanes" into "new tracks" driven by digital intelligence.



Beyond high-tech, agricultural cooperation also drew strong interest. The agricultural section featured 178 geographical indication products and 76 new ASEAN agricultural offerings, fostering active commercial exchanges and cross-border linkages.



Since the establishment of the China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership, bilateral trade and investment have reached unprecedented levels. According to China's General Administration of Customs, trade between China and ASEAN increased to nearly 7 trillion yuan in 2024 - up from over 870 billion yuan in 2004, when the first China-ASEAN Expo was held, marking nine consecutive years of growth.



Cross-border trade in goods and services continues to thrive. For instance, new energy vehicles manufactured by SAIC-GM-Wuling (SGMW), a joint venture between SAIC Motor, General Motors and Liuzhou Wuling Motors based in China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, are now present in markets such as Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. Meanwhile, Vietnamese-grown mesona plants can reach Chinese processing facilities from Chongzuo within a day, underscoring the efficiency of cross-border logistics.



"ASEAN-China cooperation has consistently expanded, from traditional trade to investment, digital economy, and green development," said Lin Chuqin, chairman of the Thai-Chinese Chamber of Commerce.



Yu Xubo, chairman of China General Technology (Group) Holding Co., Ltd., reaffirmed the company's strategic focus on ASEAN. The group has delivered nearly 300 aid projects in the region and completed more than 50 engineering projects in the past decade, with contracts exceeding $6 billion.



"Looking ahead, we will continue to support green infrastructure upgrades and deepen cooperation in advanced equipment such as medical imaging and machine tools, contributing to the modernization of ASEAN's industrial system," Yu said.



CAEXPO has become a vital platform for economic engagement and a bridge connecting the peoples of China and ASEAN. The number of trips between the Chinese mainland and member states of ASEAN exceeded 25.24 million in the first eight months of 2025, up 11.2 percent year on year. These growing people-to-people exchanges are strengthening mutual understanding and reinforcing the foundations of long-term partnership.



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)
Early customers report 2040% revenue growth within six months of using Paid platform to monetize AI agents

LONDON, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Paid , the company building critical infrastructure to grow the AI agent economy, today announced an oversubscribed $21.6 million Seed round. The round was led by Lightspeed Venture Partners with participation from new investor FUSE and existing investor EQT Ventures. This brings total funding raised to $33.3 million and the fresh capital will accelerate Paid's mission to help AI Agent builders, from entrepreneurs to scaled SaaS companies, scale their businesses rapidly by monetizing AI agent activities.

By 2030, autonomous AI agents will contribute $19.9 trillion to the global economy , fundamentally reshaping how work gets done. AI agents are already replacing entire departments, automating complex workflows, and delivering outcomes that once required teams of humans. The "per-seat" pricing model for enterprise software wasn't designed for the agentic AI era, and companies using this model can't effectively price, track, or monetize these digital workers. Without proper economic infrastructure, the AI agent revolution will stall.

"We're witnessing the biggest inflection point in SaaS since the transition from on-premise to cloud," said Manny Medina, CEO and Founder of Paid. "Companies are turning to AI agents as their path back to sustainable growth, but today's infrastructure wasn't built for an agent-first world. The traditional 'per seat' model of paying for software doesn't make sense when the software is eliminating seats. We need an entirely new model. With Paid, we're building the foundation that will power the AI agent economy and help companies navigate this critical transition."

"The AI era demands a fundamental rethinking of how software creates and captures value," said Alexander Schmitt, Partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners. "As AI agents become an important form of digital labor, Paid's infrastructure will be as essential as payment rails were for e-commerce. They're not just building tools, they're architecting the economic foundation for the next era of work."

Paid is the first comprehensive business system purpose-built for AI agent work, providing the economic rails that make the SaaS-to-agent shift possible. The Paid platform hands five core needs traditional business systems cannot:

Customer Value Proofs  Make AI work visible, launch branded ROI portals in minutes, and drive renewals.

 Make AI work visible, launch branded ROI portals in minutes, and drive renewals. Custom Pricing  Deploy outcome- and value-based pricing models instantly, including success fees and revenue sharing.

 Deploy outcome- and value-based pricing models instantly, including success fees and revenue sharing. Outcome-Based & Hybrid Models  Move beyond subscriptions to capture value dynamically.

 Move beyond subscriptions to capture value dynamically. True Cost Tracking  Monitor agent costs and margins in real time to scale profitably.

 Monitor agent costs and margins in real time to scale profitably. AI Business Intelligence  Dashboards and scenario planning for full visibility in an agent-first world.

Early Paid customers, including IFS and Artisan are seeing significant revenue increases, higher retention, and faster sales cycles after implementing proper AI agent monetization.

"Paid is an instrumental element in how we are scaling our AI Agent platform offering to our partners and customers. With Paid, we are able to bring agentic AI solutions into Industrial verticals at an accelerated pace," said Mark Moffat, CEO of IFS.

"Paid quantified the outcomes we delivered and gave us the confidence to price on results," said Jaspar Carmichael-Jack, CEO and Cofounder of Artisan. "Their platform turned promises into deals won and customers who stay longer."

Paid's platform is available now, free for developers, and integrates natively with Vercel, ElevenLabs, Retell, and leading agent frameworks, including AI SDK, n8n, LangChain, and LlamaIndex.

ABOUT PAID

Paid is building the infrastructure to power the trillion dollar AI agent economy. Founded on the principle that traditional business systems weren't designed for autonomous AI, Paid helps companies optimize how they build, deploy, and monetize AI agents. The company's mission is to accelerate the AI agent revolution by providing the economic rails that make it possible. Founded by Manny Medina (founder and former CEO of Outreach, which he grew to a $4.4B valuation), Paid is backed by Sequoia Capital, Lightspeed Venture Partners, EQT Ventures, and FUSE. Learn more at paid.ai .

SOURCE Paid
Motorolas iPhone Air competitor is coming next month, and it will be called the Moto X70 Air. This is not a rumor, but official news, actually. Motorola confirmed as much via its official Weibo channel.

Motorola has confirmed its iPhone Air competitor, the Moto X70 Air

Motorola shared an image of the device on Weibo, and its included below this paragraph. You can see that the company not only took the Air name from Apple, but the presentation of the device is also somewhat similar.

In its post on Weibo, the company confirmed that the phone will launch at the end of October. An exact launch date was not provided, though, so well have to wait and see what happens.

We also do not know if this phone will be making its way to global markets. It could, but chances are that it will launch in China first. So well have to wait and see what will happen.

The device has been shown via a single image

In any case, the image that Motorola shared does show us the phone from its right side. You can see that it will be very thin, and that its physical buttons will sit on the right side. The power/lock button is visible here, as it sits below the volume up and down keys.

The phones camera island is also visible here, and it sits notably higher than the back side of the device. At least two cameras will be included on the phone, as we do see two camera bumps on top of the camera island itself.

This particular model seems to have a green-ish color, with bronze-colored camera bumps on the back. The frame on the device will be predominantly flat, with slight curves towards the edges.

Motorola is not the only company that will release its iPhone Air competitor. Other brands, such as OPPO, Xiaomi, and HONOR, are allegedly also working on their own competitor phones.
Samsung Foundry has just decided to cut the price of its 2nm wafers to just $20,000. Which is significantly cheaper than TSMCs $30,000 price. That means that Samsung could end up attracting a lot more attention for its new 2nm chips.

Currently, a lot of companies are using TSMC to manufacture their chips. This includes Qualcomm, MediaTek, Apple, and even Google now with the Tensor G5. Obviously, this is hurting Samsung, since Qualcomm and Google both used Samsung just a few years ago. Qualcomm made the move to TSMC starting with the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1.

A big reason for Samsungs struggles here has been due to its poor yield rates. Samsung was supposed to use its Exynos 2500 to power the Galaxy S25 series, but the low yield rates forced Samsung to use Qualcomms Snapdragon 8 Elite instead.

Currently, Samsung is still having issues with achieving feasible yields for its 2nm manufacturing process, but the companys progress has been a lot better this time around, versus the 3nm yields. And with the lower cost for 2nm wafers that Samsung is charging, it could result in some customers returning to Samsung for 2nm.

This price cut doesnt mean everyone will ditch TSMC

Price isnt the only reason why companies prefer to use TSMC over Samsung or any other foundries. A lot of it comes down to the process itself. And TSMC has just been so much better than Samsung Foundry in recent years. But if Samsung does manage to produce an incredible Exynos 2600 chip, that could lead to others returning to Samsung.

However, its important to keep in mind that decidions like which foundry to use, are made years in advanced. As these chips are designed many years ahead of when they are actually debuting in new smartphones. So it could be a few years before we see who decides to use Samsung for their new 2nm chips.
The founder of Telegram, Pavel Durov, was arrested in France last year. He has now claimed that the French authorities asked him to censor certain Moldovan voices on the platform during the parliamentary voting. Telegrams founder further added that the authorities offered him a good time in the court in exchange for the censorship request.

Telegrams founder claims he was offered a good time in court against censorship

Durov is currently under judicial supervision in France. While being at it, an intermediary approached the founder on behalf of the French Intelligence. The intermediary presented him with the list of channels to censor. After reviewing the list, he adds that the channels mentioned in the first list were found to be violating Telegrams rules and were subsequently removed.

However, the channels mentioned in the second list were mostly legal, and the only problem associated was their political sense. He therefore refused to censor the following channels. Durov also adds that the authorities offered to say good things about him in court if he complied with the censorship request. The request made by the authorities compromises the principle of free speech, he adds.

French authorities reject the claims, citing them to be baseless

The French Foreign Ministry responded by saying that Durov has made similar claims in the past, and all of them were later found to be baseless. Earlier this year, the founder alleged that French intelligence asked him to ban conservative voices on Telegram during Romanias election. The government denied these accusations, saying such claims are not new and urging responsibility during elections.

Durov, on the other hand, continues to defend his messaging app. He emphasizes that Telegram is an encrypted messaging service. The management has no control over private chats of the users. French authorities, however, argue that the platform can be misused for criminal and other illegal activities.
Last month, US President Donald Trump announced a 100% tariffs on chips not built in the US. However, the answer was simple: build in the US or commit to building in the US and youre good. But now, it looks like those plans might have been complicated.

Trump considers tariffs on chips on foreign electronics

According to an exclusive Reuters report, it seems that Trump is considering imposing tariffs on foreign electronic devices based on the number of chips in each one. This could have wide implications as it could affect a larger number of devices. Seeing as more products become smarter these days and rely on semiconductors, these tariffs could impact electronics such as electric toothbrushes.

While the Commerce Department did not reply immediately to requests for comment, White House spokesperson Kush Desai issued a statement. According to Desai, America cannot be reliant on foreign imports for the semiconductor products that are essential for our national and economic security. He adds, The Trump administration is implementing a nuanced, multi-faceted approach to reshoring critical manufacturing back to the United States with tariffs, tax cuts, deregulation, and energy abundance.

Also considering a 1:1 production rule

In addition to considering slapping tariffs on chips on foreign electronics, the Trump administration is also looking to implement a 1:1 production rule. This is according to an exclusive report from The Wall Street Journal.

The report says that the US government wants chipmakers to match their volume of production. This means that for every chip they import, they need to match it with domestic production. If companies fail to sustain this 1:1 ratio, they will face tariffs. Its an interesting rule, but one that might be hard to sustain. It could also take years to ramp up.

This is because for the longest time ever, many US companies rely heavily on foreign production. While companies like TSMC are establishing plants in the US, it will take some time before it matches its output back in its home of Taiwan. All of this is part of the Trump administrations effort to bring more production back to the US.

That being said, we all know Trumps penchant for changing his mind, or altering his plans if there is a better deal to be had. So maybe there is a chance this could change in the future.
Parker Waichman, a national law firm, has now filed multiple lawsuits where each Plaintiff alleged that he or she developed NAION after taking Novo Nordisk's Ozempic or Wegovy.

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y., Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Parker Waichman has now filed multiple lawsuits in New Jersey state court on behalf of victims who were prescribed Ozempic or Wegovy and developed NAION, an irreversible eye condition that causes partial or complete permanent vision loss in one or both eyes. Most recently, on September 26, 2025, the Firm filed a lawsuit on behalf of a Georgia resident who developed NAION after taking Wegovy. See Wirth v. Novo Nordisk Inc., Docket No: MID-L-006890-25.

Parker Waichman continues to file additional cases and urges individuals who have suffered serious eye injuries after taking these widely prescribed GLP-1 receptor agonist medications to contact them for a free case review. These medications, originally developed to treat Type 2 diabetes, have surged in popularity for weight loss. However, recent studies have uncovered a disturbing link between semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy) and NAION, a condition that causes permanent vision loss by cutting off blood flow to the optic nerve. Patients who took these drugs have reported sudden blindness, optic nerve damage, and other irreversible complications, raising concerns about the failure of drug manufacturers to warn consumers and medical professionals about these risks.

A 2025 study published in JAMA Ophthalmology examined nine patients who developed optic nerve disorders after using GLP-1 medications, with the majority suffering from NAION-like symptoms. Additional research from Harvard's Mass Eye and Ear Institute found that diabetic users of semaglutide were four times more likely to develop NAION, while non-diabetic users taking the drug for weight loss faced a sevenfold increased risk.

Despite growing scientific evidence, questions remain as to whether Novo Nordisk's warnings adequately reflect the potential risk of permanent blindness associated with these medications.

Parker Waichman LLP Fights for Victims Nationwide

"NAION is a devastating, and permanent, eye injury diagnosis. Studies from multiple, reputable institutions, have shown a statistically significant relationship between semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy) and NAION. Despite this evidence, Novo Nordisk continues to deny reality by failing to warn consumers and medical professionals about this horrific injury and must be held accountable." said Jason S. Goldstein, Senior Litigation Counsel at Parker Waichman LLP.

Parker Waichman LLP is currently accepting cases nationwide for individuals who have suffered vision loss, blindness, or serious optic nerve damage after taking Ozempic or Wegovy. Victims may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.

Free Case Review for Affected Individuals

If you or a loved one experienced sudden vision loss, blindness, or optic nerve damage after using Ozempic or Wegovy, you may have a legal claim against the drug manufacturers. Parker Waichman LLP is offering free, no-obligation case evaluations to help victims understand their rights and pursue justice.

Contact Parker Waichman LLP Today

For a free consultation, call 1-800-YOUR-LAWYER (1-800-968-7529) or visit YourLawyer.com to learn more about your legal options and how to protect your rights.

About Parker Waichman LLP

Parker Waichman LLP is a nationally recognized law firm dedicated to fighting for victims of defective drugs, dangerous products, accidents, and corporate negligence. Specifically, the Firm is quite experienced in representing eye injury victims due to the negligence of pharmaceutical companies. Representative cases include In Re Elmiron (Pentosan Polysulfate Sodium) Products Liability Litigation and Bausch & Lomb Contact Lens Solutions Prod. Liab. Litig. With a proven track record of holding pharmaceutical companies accountable, the firm has secured billions in settlements and verdicts for injured clients.

Media Contact:

Parker Waichman LLP

Phone: 1-800-YOUR-LAWYER (1-800-968-7529)

Website: www.yourlawyer.com

SOURCE Parker Waichman LLP
Il presente progetto e finanziato con il sostegno della Commissione europea. Lautore e il solo responsabile di questa pubblicazione e la Commissione declina ogni responsabilita sull'uso che potra essere fatto delle informazioni in essa contenute.
Accused gunman Nigel Edge, formerly named Sean DeBevoise, once accompanied American Idol star Kellie Pickler to the CMT Music Awards, it has emerged.

Three people were killed and at least five others were injured when a shooter on a boat opened fire on patrons at a waterfront bar in a coastal North Carolina town in what police say was a highly premeditated attack.

Edge, 40, was arrested and charged with three counts of first-degree murder, five counts of attempted first-degree murder and five counts of assault with a deadly weapon, Southport Police Chief Todd Coring said at a Sunday press conference.

Edge had changed his name from Sean DeBevoise, according to Southport public information officer ChyAnn Ketchum, citing the district attorneys investigation.

Under that former name, Edge accompanied Pickler, who rose to fame as a contestant on season five of American Idol, to the 2012 CMT Music Awards in Nashville, Tennessee.

Singer Kellie Pickler (left) and Nigel Edge (formerly Sgt. Sean DeBevoise) at the 2012 CMT Music Awards (Getty)

Pickler and Edge were pictured on the red carpet for the event, with the veteran posing in his Marine uniform and joined by his service dog Rusty.

Me and my date (Sgt Sean Debevoise), Pickler shared on Twitter at the time alongside a photo of them both.

Meanwhile, Edge told Taste of Country: I am ecstatic about being here at the CMT Music Awards with Kellie, even more to consider her a friend. She is the most sincere person I know. She is an angel.

The Independent has contacted Picklers representatives for comment.

Edge has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder, five counts of attempted first-degree murder and five counts of assault with a deadly weapon (Brunswick County Sheriff's Office)

The Defense Department confirmed to NPR that DeBevoise is a decorated combat veteran who served in Iraq in 2005 and 2006 and was awarded a Purple Heart.

A man with the same name is credited as the author of a book recounting his service in the Marines in Iraq, in which he describes being severely wounded  shot four times, including once in the head, by friendly fire.

We understand this suspect identifies as a combat veteran. He self-identifies. Injured in the line of duty is what hes saying, he suffers from PTSD, Coring said Sunday.

Edge is being held at the Brunswick County Detention Center without bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Monday.

The victims killed in the shooting have not been publicly identified.

Oak Island Police Chief Charlie Morris said the suspect was known to police as someone who frequently hung out on our pier, and that he had filed lawsuits against the town and police department over the last few years, according to the Associated Press.

The district attorney said Edge had had minor contacts with police in the past, but nothing significant in his past which would give us any indication that he was capable of such horror.
A 61-year-old man accused of stalking Myleene Klass by sending her a series of bizarre parcels and letters told police he had posted her an air pistol as a joke, a court has heard.

Birmingham Crown Court also heard that Peter Windsor sent a note calling Ms Klass a naughty vixen and sent her Classic FM colleague Katie Breathwick a letter saying he wanted to go paddling in a lake with both women while drinking champagne.

Windsor, who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, denies stalking causing serious alarm or distress to Ms Klass by sending her Catwoman and police officer fancy dress outfits and other unwanted gifts, which were intercepted by security staff.

The defendant, of Mary Road, Stechford, Birmingham, further denies a second allegation of stalking relating to Ms Breathwick, who he sent binoculars, running shoes, a bottle of Champagne and a stamp collection.

Opening the case against Windsor at Birmingham Crown Court on Monday, prosecutor Timothy Sapwell told the court the defendant had sent a letter addressed to Ms Klass asking her to correct him using a whip and a cane.

Court artist drawing of Peter Windsor appearing at Birmingham Crown Court (Elizabeth Cook/PA)

Mr Sapwell said: He is charged with two offences of stalking causing serious distress to two radio presenters, Myleene Klass and Katie Breathwick.

They both worked for Classic FM, based in London.

Mr Sapwell said of the contents of the letters and parcels, sent between 2020 and 2024: The content was obsessional and demonstrated his obsessive interest in them.

The alleged offending, Mr Sapwell told the court, had left both women worried about things like just going to work.

The Crowns barrister added: Its said on his behalf that his behaviour did not amount to stalking. He says that they never asked him to stop  he says its all a publicity stunt by them.

He told jurors that neither complainant had wanted publicity and had in fact tried to prevent any publicity of this case at all.

Ms Breathwick will give evidence to the jury, Mr Sapwell said, to relate how she received letters from a man calling himself Sir Peter Windsor.

Mr Sapwell said of her statement to the court: She talks about the sheer quantity of material coming from this one person and the contents  how she found they made little sense.

Windsor also sent Breathwick a will-writing kit and a letter that talked about him wanting to go paddling in a lake with her in front of Buckingham Palace  her and Myleene Klass  whilst drinking Champagne.

Windsor sent the presenter bizarre parcels and letters (Ian West/PA)

The letters to Ms Breathwick, which also detailed how many push-ups Windsor could do, left her suffering panic attacks and poor health, the court heard.

Mr Sapwell said the air pistol posted to Ms Klass was intercepted in November 2023, and that Windsor had sent a note which mentioned a whip and a cane and called her a naughty vixen.

The court heard the package left the former HearSay star worried about what the defendant might do and the bizarre things he was saying and sending.

Police went to Windsors home in September 2024 and arrested him, finding there maps of London, a pair of black leather gloves, stockings and binoculars.

Mr Sapwell said he had sent items to Ms Klass, including a silver ring, a necklace and a heart-shaped pendant, as a joke, after seeing a picture of her in a newspaper.

He said he had sent the gun as a joke too, Mr Sapwell said. He didnt accept that Myleene Klass had been genuinely frightened by him.

He said he thought he had been reported to the police because she was being blackmailed by the cost of living in London.

He said of Ms Klass: She didnt want any publicity about this. She just wanted it to stop.

The trial continues on Tuesday.
The Big Issue is being relaunched 34 years after the magazine was first published, saying it wants to explore the crisis in public trust at the heart of Government.

To mark the development, the magazine and pollster Ipsos surveyed how trustworthy people view leading politicians compared to the cast of the upcoming Celebrity Traitors on TV.

Half of the 1,100 respondents said they found Traitors presenter Claudia Winkleman more trustworthy than Chancellor Rachel Reeves  with just 15% saying they trust Reeves more than Winkleman, and 34% saying they did not trust either.

The public also viewed Celebrity Traitors contestant Jonathan Ross as more trustworthy than Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, according to the study.

The poll also found that Celebrity Traitors contestant Kate Garraway is viewed as more trustworthy than Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, and Alan Carr is viewed as more trustworthy than Reforms Nigel Farage.

Paul McNamee, Big Issue UK Editor, said: The UKs politicians know theyre not trusted. Upon becoming Prime Minister, Keir Starmer put it like this: The fight for trust is the battle that defines our political era.

Its a sign of the times that, alongside this, The Traitors, TVs biggest hit, has won hearts through a thrilling lack of trust. What can be learned from these two parallel trust trajectories?

In another poll, with Big Issue readers earlier this year, they told us how important trust was to them.

The Big Issue said there was a crisis in public trust at the heart of Government.
Candace Cameron Bure admits struggle with pressure to get Botox: The industry that Im in is making it so hard

Candace Cameron Bure has been debating whether or not she should start looking into receiving Botox injections to look younger - and the industry pressure is starting to get to her.

The Full House alum, 49, said on Tuesdays episode of her eponymous podcast that while she personally does not want to get Botox injections, she is starting to consider it more seriously.

If Im just being totally honest, I am fighting it because I have shot three movies this year back to back to back, she said. Im trying to figure it out.

I love my social community on Instagram and TikTok, and I love talking to [fans] there, she continued. I love your messages. People always ask me questions, like, Whats your skincare? Do you do Botox? Im, like, Look at my forehead. No, I dont do Botox [and] Ive never had filler in my face. None of that.

Bure said many people online have complimented her for choosing to be a real woman, which gave them confidence in themselves.

I know in my heart I want to age as beautifully as my mom, and I believe I will, Candace Cameron Bure said (Getty Images)

People say, Thank you for not getting Botox. Thank you for being a real woman [and] letting me see a famous person, or someone on TV, age with grace, the actor explained. Thank you for helping me feel OK in my own skin because youre not putting that in your face. They make me cry, but they convict me so much.

However, Bure admitted that her job as an actor has been making her reconsider getting Botox as she compares herself to other women in her industry who are around her age.

I know in my heart I want to age as beautifully as my mom, and I believe I will, but the industry that Im in is making it so hard, she said. Its just, like, the pressure. Its not even the pressure from people telling me that I should do it, but Im just visually looking  at all the other actresses that are around my age. [Then, I ask myself,] What age am I playing on camera? How are my leading men aging?

She mentioned one of her upcoming projects, where there is supposed to be a flashback scene from 15 years ago, and her face will be digitally altered to look longer during the post-production process.

The editors largely focused on tightening the skin around Bures forehead, crows feet, smile lines and neck, although she did ask them if they could puff up her cheeks.

The cheeks, like, keep you young, Bure pointed out. So, my face is thinner and Im, like, Is there any way you can puff my cheeks up a little for this flashback? Theyre like, OK, you know it all depends on money. More you do, the more it costs. Every alteration is money.
Trump threatens 100% Tariff on all foreign and Hollywood movies filmed outside the US: Candy from a baby

Donald Trump on Monday reiterated his plans to levy tariffs as high as 100% on movies filmed outside of the United States, whether they are produced by Hollywood or foreign-owned film companies.

The president wrote on Truth Social that the fault of Americas supposedly stolen movie business lay with Californias Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, whom he frequently targets for scorn but did not mention by name in the post.

Trump added that the would be imposing a 100% tariff to stop what he called a never ending problem, though it was not stated when those tariffs would be put into place.

Our movie making business has been stolen from the United States of America, by other Countries, just like stealing candy from a baby. California, with its weak and incompetent Governor, has been particularly hard hit! Therefore, in order to solve this long time, never ending problem, I will be imposing a 100% Tariff on any and all movies that are made outside of the United States, he wrote.

The president originally made a threat to tariff the film industry in May of this year. The vice chairman of United Talent Agency, one of the largest firms in Hollywood, told CNN at the time that Trumps move would virtually halt movie production worldwide: it has the ability to bring the movie business to a standstill  which is the last thing Hollywood needs after dual strikes and a content recession.

Donald Trump displays an image of his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (Reuters)

In a second post, the president made another sweeping trade threat: a vow to impose tariffs on any country that does not make its furniture in the United States  which, translated into reality, could mean new reciprocal tariffs affecting furniture imports. Just as in the first case, he did not specify when these tariffs would supposedly be implemented.

A Democratic congresswoman representing Hollywood and some of the surrounding communities, Laura Friedman, released a statement calling Trumps action the wrong response to a real problem facing the movie and TV industries.

Im relieved President Trump recognizes that we are losing a signature American product: the domestic film & TV industry. However, his 100% tariff on foreign films will raise costs for consumers. As the representative of nearly every major producer in Hollywood and a former film producer, I know what will work, without harming consumers: a national film tax credit, said Friedman.

Its working in California and it will work across the country. I hope the President will join us in pioneering a real solution that levels the playing field with international competition. Ill keep meeting with lawmakers, labor unions, and industry leaders to make a national film tax credit a reality. Thousands of US jobs, and the LA economy, depend on it, added Friedman.

Trumps Truth Socialing took a strange turn over the weekend after he seemingly fell for an AI deepfake of his own voice being used to hoodwink gullible social media users into falling for the medbed conspiracy theory and the associated scams that follow such misinformation campaigns. On Saturday evening, Trump posted a fake Fox News segment promoting the conspiracy theory, only to delete the post Sunday morning. The White House didnt respond to a request for comment about the deleted post, and never issued a clarification to the presidents followers.

Now, on Monday, the president has returned to using the platform to announce matters of policy  and, in typical Trump fashion, doing so in a way that most experts agree would be completely unworkable.

Film producers and other industry veterans, both American and from countries around the world, derided the presidents plans as toxic to the industry itself when they were first announced.

He will kill the U.S. industry quicker as this will increase the cost of U.S. films that already werent selling well internationally. Creating an incentive for shooting in the U.S. would have been smarter but Im not sure he has that much intelligence, one expert told Deadline in May.

Similar to concerns many lawmakers had with TikTok, Trump declared in May that the status of the American film industry was actually a national security threat and claimed that foreign countries movies amounted to propaganda  a criticism that has been leveled at American media by the rest of the world for decades.

At the time, the president said his plans for 100% tariffs were to being immediately. Nearly five months later, the president is announcing them again, as if for the first time.

This is a concerted effort by other Nations and, therefore, a National Security threat. It is, in addition to everything else, messaging and propaganda! Trump wrote in May. He added: Therefore, I am authorizing the Department of Commerce, and the United States Trade Representative, to immediately begin the process of instituting a 100% Tariff on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands.
Tyler Robinson last appeared in court in person via videolink on Sept 16

The man charged with Charlie Kirks murder refused to show his face during his latest court appearance.

Tyler Robinson, 22, attended via videolink from Utah County Jail, but his image was not shown on the screen and he did not speak.

He was shielded from the public at the request of his legal team, The Telegraph was told. Mr Robinsons lawyers have not specified the reason for their request.

The student was named as Kirks alleged assassin after the Republican influencer was shot in the neck during a campus university event in Utah.

Right-wing figures, including Donald Trump, have called for Mr Robinson to be executed over the shooting and vowed to crack down on radical Left violence.

I hope hes [Mr Robinson] going to be found guilty, and I hope he gets the death penalty, Mr Trump said on Fox & Friends earlier this month. What he did  Charlie Kirk was the finest person and he didnt deserve this.

Mr Robinsons request not to show his face was approved by a judge - LAURA SEITZ/POOL/EPA/Shutterstock

Mr Robinsons mother told the FBI he had become more pro gay and trans-rights orientated, according to police. He had also begun dating his roommate, who is transgender.

His waiver hearing on Monday was largely a procedural matter.

Security at the hearing was ramped up because of the high-profile nature of the case. Kirks assassination has been described as the most impactful political killing since the assassination of John F Kennedy in 1963.

Mr Robinson it yet to appear in court in person since he was charged. On Sept 16, he appeared via videolink wearing an anti-suicide vest, and spoke only to confirm his name.

The defence requested late Friday to have Mr Robinson appear virtually, without video and their request was granted, a spokeswoman for Utah State Court told The Telegraph.

The 22-year-old student is accused of shooting Charlie Kirk with a rifle from a rooftop

Members of the public were not permitted to take bags into the court because of tightened security.

This was the first in-person court hearing in this case, and due to the high-profile nature, the security team is taking the additional measure of not allowing bags in the courtroom for safety reasons, the spokeswoman said.

This will be standard for all in-person hearings in this case.

Mr Robinson is set to appear in person at the next hearing on Oct 30 after an order by Tony F Graf, the Utah judge who is presiding over the case, so he can fully engage with his attorneys and participate in these proceedings.

Mr Graf concluded the hearing by stressing that the defendant was presumed innocent until proven guilty and vowing that his constitutional rights will be protected at every stage.

Kathryn Nester, a former federal public defender, appeared in court for the first time after being appointed to lead Mr Robinsons defence last week.

She spoke briefly and requested a delay of at least 30 days so her team could work through the massive amounts of digital evidence that is being assembled by prosecutors.

Mr Robinsons legal team has been approached for comment.
Disgraced start-up founder Charlie Javice, who was convicted in March, was sentenced to just over seven years in prison. She is pictured arriving at court Monday (AFP/Getty)

Charlie Javice, the finance-tech startup founder who lied about her financial aid company and sold it to JPMorgan Chase for $175 million, was sentenced to seven years in prison Monday.

Judge Alvin Hellerstein said he felt the federal governments suggested sentencing of 12 years in prison was too steep, and sentenced Javice to 85 months, or just over seven years, at Manhattan federal court.

My job is to sentence people not because they are bad, but because they have done something bad. You are a good person who has done bad things. I have to punish you. Markets require honesty. It's Biblical. Yours was not an honest measure, Hellerstein told Javice, according to the Inner City Press.

She was convicted of defrauding Americas largest bank in March, following a five-week trial in New York City.

Javice, 33, founded Frank in 2017, a startup that promised to simplify the process of filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.

Disgraced start-up founder Charlie Javice, who was convicted in March, was sentenced to just over seven years in prison on Monday. She is pictured arriving at court Monday (AFP/Getty)

The company claimed to be revolutionizing the way college students apply for aid, boasting that it could help financially needy students get access faster, in return for a few hundred dollars in fees.

Javice, a graduate of the University of Pennsylvanias Wharton School of Business, was widely praised for creating a way to simplify college financial aid for students and parents, and earned a spot on Forbes magazines 30 under 30 list in 2019.

However, the founder fraudulently claimed that her company, Frank, had over four million clients when it only had about 300,000 users at the time.

JPMorgan was interested in acquiring Frank, in part, because the bank saw potential in the startups supposedly long list of young, educated clients. The bank believed those future college graduates could potentially be sold on the idea of a lifelong partnership with the financial institution.

But after buying the company in September 2021, JPMorgan said it found evidence that Javice had lied about the number of customers Frank had. JPMorgan Chase declined to comment to The Independent.

On Monday, prosecutor Micah Fergenson noted that JPMorgan didnt get a functioning business in exchange for its investment, telling the judge, They acquired a crime scene.

Fergenson said Javice was driven by greed when she saw that she could gain $29 million from selling her company.

Ms. Javice had it dangling in front of her and she lied to get it, he said.

Javice fraudulently claimed her company, Frank, had over four million clients when it only had about 300,000 at the time (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

While Hellerstein mostly dismissed arguments that he should be lenient because the acquisition pitted a 28-year-old versus 300 investment bankers from the largest bank in the world, according to the defense, he also criticized JPMorgan Chase. They have a lot to blame themselves, he noted, after failing to do due diligence.

The judge quickly added that he was punishing her conduct and not JPMorgans stupidity.

Federal prosecutors argued that Javice deserved 12 years in prison but her lawyers said a shorter term was appropriate, claiming her crimes were a singular lapse in judgment due to her age.

Javices prosecution has been compared to the case against Elizabeth Holmes, who founded the blood testing company Theranos, which collapsed amid fraud allegations. After Holmes was found guilty of defrauding investors over false claims about the companys blood testing capabilities, she was sentenced to 11 years in prison.

Despite the comparisons, Javices lawyer, Ronald Sullivan, insisted that his client was very different from Holmes. Sullivan noted his client, unlike Holmes, created a product that worked, whereas Holmes did not have a real company and had a product that endangered patients. Sullivan told the judge that JPMorgan rushed through negotiations over fears that another bank would acquire Frank first.

Javice is expected to appeal her conviction (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

The defense also argued that the company helped real families achieve real dreams  first-generation Americans, children of immigrants, young people from underserved communities who saw college not as an entitlement but as a distant hope made suddenly possible.

The defense cited a chorus of support from over 100 people who submitted letters to the court on Javices behalf.

Speaking in court Monday, Javice said she was haunted that my failure has transformed something meaningful into something infamous. She said she made a choice that I will spend my entire life regretting.

Through tears, she apologized to all the people touched or tarnished by my actions, including JPMorgan shareholders, Frank employees and investors, and her family.

Javice, who lives in Florida, has been free on $2 million bail since her 2023 arrest, according to the Associated Press.

Javice's co-defendant Olivier Amar, who was Frank's chief growth officer, was convicted on the same counts. His sentencing is scheduled for October 20.

She is expected to appeal her conviction, according to Reuters.
The three-day event showcased Peru's award-winning cuisine, pisco, and culture

NEW YORK, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- From September 19 to 21, the heart of Brooklyn pulsed with the flavors, rhythms, and colors of Peru as the first-ever North American edition of the Peru Mucho Gusto Culinary Festival welcomed more than 5,000 visitors to the Greenpoint Terminal Warehouse .

Organized by PROMPERU (the Commission for the Promotion of Peru for Exports and Tourism), the three-day cultural and gastronomic celebration brought together leading Peruvian chefs, restaurants, producers, and artists in a dynamic program that showcased the country's cuisine, music, and creativity.

Peru Mucho Gusto Culinary Festival Attracts 5,000 Visitors in New York Debut

Visitors enjoyed authentic dishes from 14 Peruvian restaurants across New York, New Jersey, and beyond, from ceviche and pollo a la brasa to Nikkei sushi and Andean-inspired stews, alongside desserts, artisanal gelato, and superfoods like quinoa and cacao. Exhibitors also featured jewelry, tableware, and sustainable lifestyle products inspired by Peru's artisanal traditions.

The 360 Pisco Bar proved to be a highlight, offering a wide range of pisco-based creations. Interactive tastings, cocktail workshops, and masterclasses were led by Johnny Schuler, Pisco Ambassador, who has been a key figure in elevating pisco worldwide for over 30 years.

On stage, acclaimed chef, author, and native ingredient advocate Flavio Solorzano Alvarez highlighted Peru's biodiversity and regional cuisines through live demonstrations, reinforcing the country's role as a cradle of superfoods and ancestral culinary knowledge.

The festival also featured the presence of Ursula Desilu Leon Chempen, Peru's Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism, who inaugurated the event and shared Peru's vision for positioning gastronomy as a key driver of cultural exchange and international tourism.

"Peru Mucho Gusto has always been more than a food festivalit is a celebration of culture, identity, and the extraordinary creativity of our people," said Diana Pita, PROMPERU's Economic and Commercial Counselor in New York. "Bringing this festival to the U.S. for the first time not only reinforces Peru's place as a world-class gastronomic destination but also invites new audiences to discover the richness of our culture and the beauty of traveling to Peru."

With Peru named the World's Best Culinary Destination 12 times by the World Travel Awards, the festival strengthened the country's position as a must-visit destination for travelers seeking authentic gastronomic and cultural experiences. Visitors were invited to explore beyond the plate and consider Peru's diverse tourism offeringsfrom the Andes to the Amazon to the Pacific coast.

The success of Peru Mucho Gusto NYC, following its Madrid debut earlier this year, marks an important milestone in the festival's international journey and paves the way for continued global expansion.

About Peru Mucho Gusto

Launched in 2008, Peru Mucho Gusto is the country's premier culinary festival, organized by PROMPERU to highlight the excellence of Peruvian cuisine and culture. After 28 editions across Peru and the first international edition in Madrid in April 2025, the fair is now expanding to the United States, reinforcing Peru's position as a world leader in gastronomy and cultural tourism.

For more information, please contact:

Trish Heywood

[email protected]

Carla Castorina

[email protected]

SOURCE PROMPERU
Dont just focus on immigration if you want to beat Reform, Starmer warned

The UKs leading polling expert has warned Labour not to make the same mistake as the Conservatives and focus too heavily on immigration.

Professor Sir John Curtice cautioned against focusing too much on an issue over which ministers did not have complete control until the world becomes a safer place.

It came as Rachel Reeves defended Sir Keir Starmers attack on Reform UKs plans to remove indefinite leave to remain for non-EU migrants already living in Britain as racist.

Sir John told an event at the Labour conference that the party must not repeat the Tories mistake, where you focus on an issue where you dont have total control, and that improving the economy and the NHS was more likely to return voters to the party.

Political scientist Curtice says many voters still dont know what the prime minister stands for (Danny Lawson/PA)

And in a bleak message to the party faithful, he also warned there was not an obvious glimmer of hope for Labour to turn things around.

Focusing solely on Reform UK would also be a mistake for Labour as the party is losing much more support to the Liberal Democrats and Greens, he said.

Even in constituencies where Labour was fighting against Reform, he said that loss of support to the Lib Dems and the Greens could cost Labour MPs their seats, adding it was far from clear that even anti-Farage voters seeking to vote tactically would opt for Sir Keir.

He warned that it was mainly former Conservative voters who were feeding the Reform juggernaut and were more likely to switch back to the Tories than vote Labour.

However, he said Reform may have overreached with their indefinite leave to remain policy last week, threatening to deport people who have lived successfully in the UK for years.

Asked whether there was any hope that Labour could turn the dismal poll ratings around, Curtice said the honest answer is no (PA)

In a bleak assessment of Labours situation a year in, Sir John said the party had suffered the worst ever fall in support for a newly elected government, having entered power on the lowest share of the vote for a winning party and facing a deeply unhappy electorate.

Asked whether there was any hope that Labour could turn it around, he replied: The honest answer to that is no.

He added that clearly, if by 2029 the economy is turned around and if by 2029 the waiting lists are way, way back down, Labour might be able to recover its position.

But he also cast doubt on whether Sir Keir would be able to capitalise on such a situation, saying he had cast himself as the friendly local plumber fixing issues with policy pipes, when voters really wanted their leaders to be the architect of Valhalla.

He added: The mystery of Keir Stamer, who is he, what does he stand for, that mystery, we are maybe two-thirds of the way through the novel, but we are still not sure where the body lies.

With mounting speculation about Andy Burnhams leadership ambitions at this conference, Sir John also showed a chart indicating the Greater Manchester mayor was by far the most popular politician among 2024 Labour voters.

While the prime minister enjoyed a net favourability rating of plus 13 per cent, Mr Burnhams stood at plus 37 per cent, with almost half of 2024 Labour voters saying they had a positive view of him.
Emma Raducanu failed to take three match points as she suffered a third-round exit to world number seven Jessica Pegula at the China Open.

The British number one looked set to continue a positive season with a statement win in Beijing.

But, with a place in the last 16 within touching distance, she surrendered a 5-2 advantage and squandered a trio of points for victory in a dramatic second-set tie-break as Pegula dug in to progress 3-6 7-6 (9) 6-0.

Emma Raducanu is beaten 3-6, 7-6, 6-0 by Jessica Pegula in the third round at the China Open #BackTheBrits  pic.twitter.com/h6GXiUEFKK  LTA (@the_LTA) September 29, 2025

Having received a bye through the opening round, Raducanu began the tournament with Saturdays straight-sets win over Cristina Bucsa.

This promised to be a far tougher assignment but the 22-year-old Briton seized the initiative with an immediate break of serve and looked assured for long periods.

Amid some ferocious hitting, Raducanu blasted a backhand winner to bring up set point before completing the job in style with a fine forehand from inside the baseline.

Since beating Emma Navarro in the Miami Open in March, Raducanu had lost eight matches in a row against top-10 players.

Fifth seed Pegula offered greater resistance in a tighter second set but was forced to battle back from the brink of defeat to force a decider.

EPIC @JPegula comes out on top 11-9 in an extraordinary second set tiebreak to take this to a decider.#2025ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/Tyk112bwlp  wta (@WTA) September 29, 2025

World number 32 Raducanu, watched by her Chinese mother, appeared to have played two of her three match points perfectly but they  and ultimately the tense tie-break  somehow went the way of her opponent.

Momentum quickly shifted in favour of 31-year-old American Pegula as Raducanus display drastically dropped off.

The 2024 US Open runner-up cruised through the final set and will face 23rd seed Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine in the next round after securing progression in two hours and 21 minutes.

British interest in the tournament now rests on the shoulders of Sonay Kartal.

The 23-year-old, ranked 81st in the world, triumphed 6-3 6-2 against Australian Maya Joint to set up a last-16 meeting with world number five Mirra Andreeva.
Two London boroughs have been shortlisted for the building of new towns under the Governments plan to "get Britain building again".

The potential developments in Crews Hill, Enfield and Thamesmead, Greenwich could provide up to 35,000 new properties between them.

 City Voices: London needs more new towns such as Thamesmead to hit housing targets

Enfield Council leader Ergin Erbil said the development would include the construction of surgeries, schools and leisure facilities, as well as "family-sized affordable homes".

He said: People of my generation have been locked out of home ownership, so we've got to get building."

The project is part of Labour's promise to create 12 new towns and 300,000 new homes across the UK.

Housing Secretary Steve Reed and Crews Hill, Enfield (PA / Google Maps / Enfield Council)

Other locations under consideration include Heyford Park in Oxfordshire, Tempsford in Bedfordshire and Victoria North in Manchester.

If approved, construction will begin at three of the locations before the next general election scheduled for 2029.

Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan said that he was "really pleased" to hear about the two developments in the capital.

His deputy Tom Copley added that the announcement by Housing Secretary Steve Reed was "fantastic news".

Meanwhile, Generation Rents Ben Twomey said the town-building proposals were part of the solution for rising living costs.

A general view of houses in Londons Thamesmead (PA)

He said: "Londoners are being squeezed so tightly by the cost of rent, that we find ourselves pushed into poverty, homelessness and debt before we even have a chance to find somewhere else to live.

"Building (houses) as quickly as possible, safely and with the right environmental assessments, will be crucial because there's so much pressure on Londoners right now, which is pushing people either out of the city altogether or even into temporary accommodation."

However, those opposed to the announcement have raised concerns about building on greenbelt land, which they claim will fuel congestion and add pressure on existing communities.

Roger Mortlock, chief executive of CPRE, The Countryside Charity, said: Too many of these sites will needlessly see great swathes of countryside and the Green Belt lost to development while the list of brownfield sites grows.

There is a massive opportunity to rethink how we build new places, faced with the climate and nature crises, that still needs more emphasis.
Lana Collie-James, 19, missed two years of school before GCSEs during the Covid pandemic. Photograph: Sam Frost/The Guardian

Lana Collie-James was 14 years old in the midst of the Covid pandemic when she was offered a stark choice: her education or her mothers life. My mums clinically vulnerable. She has a compromised immune system, along with a plethora of other illnesses that would make Covid hit very hard, she says.

It meant when schools reopened to pupils after the initial closures, the single mother and her daughter living together in Bournemouth faced a wrenching decision.

I got given the ultimatum. My mum said: do you want to go to school, do you want to go to secondary school and risk taking this home? So as a 14-year-old I had to make the decision to either get an education and risk my mother dying, or not get an education and try to teach myself the best I could.

Related: Girls in England feel less safe at school than they did pre-Covid, survey finds

Thats a very difficult situation to give to a 14-year-old, but also a situation that, whichever decision I made, whichever outcome I chose, would completely change the trajectory of my life.

Covid disrupted the lives of millions of young people across the UK. This week some of their stories will be heard for the first time when the Covid-19 public inquiry reconvenes, with testimony from politicians and policymakers including Gavin Williamson, the education secretary during the pandemic.

Collie-James stayed in virtual isolation for the two years of education that culminate in GCSE exams at age 16 rather than risk her mothers life.

With her school refusing to continue remote teaching and threatening fines for non-attendance, Collie-James took on the responsibility of teaching herself.

I got, like, maybe a couple of tests [from the school], thats it, she says. I dont know if they marked them at all or if I got any feedback. Im pretty sure I didnt. Maybe I got sent a PowerPoint once or twice.

But even so, I then had to essentially teach myself GCSEs, which was a little bit insane, and I didnt see anyone for two years. I saw two friends, one of them a neighbour, with social distancing, which was nice. But in general it was an extremely isolating and lonely experience because it was just me and my mum.

After spending a lot of money buying textbooks, Collie-James concentrated on core subjects and managed passes in design and English, followed by resitting and passing maths when she started at college the following year.

Looking back, Collie-James says staying out of school wasnt a difficult decision. It was a given that I didnt want my mum to die. She gave me that choice and immediately I was like, Im not going, because I dont want to kill her. That is an absolutely insane thing to have to do. And even just thinking about that, it makes me sick, and I would cry and be so upset, it was just so scary.

Having finished college, Collie-James is now working to save up money and think about her next steps. I have no clue what I want to do because Im just so lost with everything going on, she says.

My education, my future, genuinely the entire situation completely changed the trajectory of my life. It completely just took it, spun it on its head and maybe threw a couple of rocks at it.

Mark Simpson, a teacher at a comprehensive secondary school in south-west London for the past 18 years, says the pandemic period was hugely frustrating because it disrupted the personal interaction between schools and their pupils, and cut off pupils from the wider community.

Related: Impact of Covid lockdowns to disrupt Englands schools into the 2030s, report says

Children are incredibly resilient  but they only get the one childhood. I can absolutely see that losing those two, two and a half key years makes a huge difference to their five-year or seven-year secondary school experience, he says.

School, I think, is about so much more than just the results or the academic attainment. Its the fact that youve got 1,200 people learning how to live as a community, learning how to deal with issues that might arise in the everyday world, knowing how to negotiate relationships, how to pursue extracurricular activities, doing sports. For our schools, thats what education is. And if you dont feel like youre in that community then the whole ethos changes.

Kate Eisenstein, the director of policy, research and legal for the inquiry, says the four weeks of hearings will investigate how the interests of children and young people were taken into account by decision-makers, as well as evidence of the differing impact on children.

Weve heard stories of bereavements, of children living in overcrowded housing really struggling to keep up with their studies, lack of access to digital devices, and those living in families where theres conflict, not having a safe space to turn to while schools were closed, she says.

But we also heard amazing stories of childrens confidence growing because they were learning in a more independent way, or finding positive communities online. So that takeaway of resilience and adaptability has been startling to see.
No go: Play Airlines Airbus A320 (Play Airlines)

Play, a low-cost Icelandic airline, has shut down. The carrier is telling passengers: All flights have been cancelled. We are deeply sorry for the disruption this causes and thank you for your understanding.

Around 500 staff have lost their jobs.

The airline had been in existence for about five years. It follows former Icelandic carriers Primera Air and Wow Air into aviation oblivion. Those airlines failed in 2018 and 2019 respectively.

Play is telling passengers who have forward bookings: We kindly advise you to check flights with other airlines.

These are the key questions and answers.

What was Play Airlines?

Play was created in 2019 by two Wow Air executives, after that airline went bust. It started flying on 24 June 2021.

The business model was similar to Wow Air  and, indeed the national carrier Icelandair, which continues to be successful.

The aim was to cater for point to point traffic between Keflavik International airport outside Reykjavik and locations in Europe, as well as running a network to the US that capitalised on Icelands prime North Atlantic location.

Until Monday morning, Play was serving European destinations including London Stansted, Amsterdam, Paris CDG, Alicante and Faro. The last flight from Reykjavik to Stansted arrived on schedule at 10.40am on Monday. The aircraft is still on the ground, with the return to Reykjavik cancelled.

Departures from Monday afternoon onwards are grounded, including on the sole remaining US route to Baltimore Washington International.

What went wrong at Play?

Prodigious financial losses throughout its brief existence. While many carriers lost money during Covid, most of them have recovered. Not Play.

In February 2025, the chief executive, Einar Orn Olafsson, claimed the airline had been turned around, saying: The transformation of Plays business model is becoming increasingly evident  our revised flight schedule is already driving higher revenues and improved financials. Looking ahead to 2025, we are optimistic about continued progress.

But that was at the end of a year in which Play had lost $66m (49m), the equivalent of 31 for every passenger carried, which was evidently not sustainable.

Plays most recent financial results were in August 2025, when it predicted profitability would begin in 2026.

The aviation analyst Sean Moulton said: Play tried to replicate Wow Air, connecting secondary cities Europe to the US. But the market is limited and low yield.

Whilst they tried to change strategies by focusing on point-to-point, leisure destinations, the Icelandic population is small and any airline would struggle with this alone.

The gap will allow Icelandair to expand.

The Independent estimates around 120,000 passengers have forward bookings with Play.

I am stranded due to the collapse of Play  what should I do?

Find another option as soon as possible. Standard airline practice is to offer rescue fares to passengers whose carrier goes bust. These are seats at low prices sold to travellers who can prove they have a valueless Play booking. But Icelandair, the obvious carrier to do so, says: At this time, we are not offering special fares for Play passengers, but we are actively working to increase availability on routes previously operated by Play to better assist affected travellers.

Passengers stranded in Baltimore who are heading for the UK should head for New York. British Airways and American Airlines are offering fares as low as 211 on the late flight tonight. Travel insurance may pick up the extra cost.

The Independent has asked British Airways and easyJet if they will offer rescue fares between Reykjavik and the UK.

I have a forward booking with Play. What are my rights?

Andrew McConnell, spokesperson at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: Its always unfortunate when an airline ceases operations, and we understand that Play Airlines decision will be unsettling for its employees and customers.

UK customers seeking the latest information are advised to visit the Civil Aviation Authoritys website.

The chances are that you paid with a credit or debit card. UK financial institutions will typically refund the payment without fuss.

If you have booked a package holiday for the future that includes flights on Play, the organiser of the trip is obliged to find an alternative way for you to reach the destination, or offer a full refund.

My Play flight last month was late or cancelled. Will I get the compensation I am due?

Sadly not. Even if a claim under air passengers rights rules has been approved, if the money has not yet been paid to you then it will not appear. This applies both for cash compensation and for reimbursement of expenses incurred as a result. Travel insurance may help with the latter.

Are other airlines in danger of collapse?

All the airlines that the vast majority of British travellers will fly on  including British Airways, easyJet, Jet2, Ryanair, Virgin Atlantic and Wizz Air  are in good financial shape.

Listen to Simon Calders podcast with the Play Airlines CEO from July 2024
Just as Sunday service at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan, was getting underway, congregants heard a loud boom near the front of the church. Fearing that someone was injured, some moved toward the sound to help, but were met with gunfire.

A man police have identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, of Burton, Michigan, rammed his Chevy Silverado truck  adorned with a pair of American flags in the bed  through the churchs front door and began firing an assault rifle at the hundreds of gathered worshippers. At some point, he set the church ablaze while terrified congregants were still trapped in the building.

By the time the shooting was over, one victim was dead, 9 others were wounded, and Sanford was killed in a gunfight with police. Later in the day, three more victims were declared dead; one from a gunshot wound, and two others who were found later in the evening inside the burned remains of the church.

Grand Blanc Police Chief William Renye said during an 8pm press conference that there were still individuals unaccounted for, and that the church had not fully been cleared by first responders. Additional victims may be found.

Phillip Cotter, who was a member of the church, teared up as he spoke to the Detroit Free Press. He did not attend services this morning, I know everyone who was there, he said.

I don't know what God has planned for us, but I trust him. Evil is alive; it's active. People are too casual to throw out terms that inflame others, weak minds.

A fire broke out at Michigan Mormon church Sunday morning after a gunman drove into the building while hundreds of church goers attended service inside (Getty)

At 10:25 am, the Grand Blanc Police Department received a call that a mass shooting was underway. Within a minute, officers were on scene and responding to the situation. At some point during the attack, Sanford exited the church and began firing at cars and churchgoers in the parking lot. A Grand Blanc Township police officer and an officer from the states Department of Natural Resources were on-scene and fired at Sanford, killing him at 10:33 am.

Firefighter first responders raced to the scene to help stop the blaze at the church while police and EMS workers tended to the wounded.

James Deir, the Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Detroit Field Division, said during the Sunday night press conference that agents located explosives during their investigation, though he did not say where the explosives were found. He did confirm that Thomas Jacob Sanford used gasoline to start the fire in the church.

In the hours after the shooting, there were also reportedly bomb threats called in to other area churches, according to Specialist Lieutenant Kim Vetter of the Michigan State Police. When asked if there was an active threat to the community, she advised residents to stay vigilant and report any unusual behavior, but did not confirm that there was an ongoing threat.

Once officers identified the shooter, a convoy of law enforcement officers traveled to his home in Burton to begin an investigation into his potential motives. Police deployed a bomb squad unit, including a robot, and used drones to search Sanfords home, fearing that he may have rigged its interior with explosives.

The shooting came out of nowhere; one man, who was injured when the gunman fired a bullet through his windshield as he tried to escape with his wife, told Detroit 2 News that no one he had spoken with had ever seen Sanford before.

Reyne commended the members of the church for their bravery in the face of unimaginable violence, noting that many were shielding the children inside the building as they rushed them to safety.

Just hundreds of people, just practicing their faith, Reyne said of the congregants.

The shooting broke out at the Church of Latter Day Saints in Grand Blanc Township at 10:25 a.m. Sunday, authorities said (Julie J/@Malkowski6April)

We do believe that there were people up there that were near that fire and they were unable to get out of the church. So, we do believe we will find additional victims once were able to search that, once theres no signs of a fire reigniting, Reyne said.

He said he believes that the fire was intentionally started by Sanford.

At 5 pm, Reyne provided a second update, where he named the shooter and gave a brief update on the conditions of the wounded. At that time, no additional victims were added to the previous count.

Little is known of Sanford at this time. According to the New York Times, Sanford graduated from a high school near the church before joining the U.S. Marine Corps.

One of Sanfords neighbors, Randy Thronson, 71, told the Times that he knew the shooter, and said during the winter Sanford would plow his and his neighbors driveways for free. He noted that he had not spoken to the man for two years, but said he seemed like a nice guy.

The Clarkston News, a local paper in the area, published an article about Sanford in 2007 lauding his stellar military service, noting that he had reached the rank of sergeant at his duty station in Okinawa, Japan, before he was deployed to Fallujah, Iraq.

The U.S. Marine Corps released further information about Sanfords service to NBC News. He was an organization automotive mechanic and vehicle recovery operator, and received the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and National Defense Service Medal before he left the service.

His final posting was in the 2nd Maintenance Battalion of Combat Logistics Regiment 25 at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

He reportedly was a father, and his son  who was born approximately 10 years ago  was diagnosed with hyperinsulinism, according to USA TODAY. Individuals with the rare disease have higher-than-normal levels of insulin, which can increase the risk of brain-related complications.

We found out Brantlee was having problems shortly after his birth, Sanford said in a 2016 interview about his familys medical struggles . It was a nightmare for us. We were slowly realizing that Brantlee wasnt a typical premature baby."

The childs condition today and the state of Sanfords family in the wake of the attack are currently unknown.

Police are still investigating a possible motive for the attack.

Police said the suspected gunman drove his vehicle into the church before opening fire inside on church-goers (AFP/Getty)

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer condemned the violence shortly after the shooting occurred.

My heart is breaking for the Grand Blanc community, Whitmer said in a social media post. Violence anywhere, especially in a place of worship, is unacceptable. I am grateful to the first responders who took action quickly. We will continue to monitor this situation and hold the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc close.

By 1:08 pm, President Donald Trump acknowledged that he had been briefed on the shooting and provided the following statement in a post on Truth Social:

I have been briefed on the horrendous shooting that took place at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Grand Blanc, Michigan. The FBI was immediately on scene, and will be leading the Federal Investigation, and providing full support to State and Local Officials. The suspect is dead, but there is still a lot to learn. This appears to be yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America. The Trump Administration will keep the Public posted, as we always do. In the meantime, PRAY for the victims, and their families. THIS EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY MUST END, IMMEDIATELY!

FBI agents are on the scene helping local authorities in the response to the deadly attack (Keeping the Community Informed/Facebook)

The shooting marks the 324th mass shooting this year, according to data kept by the Gun Violence Archive. The archive defines a mass shooting as one in which four or more people, not including the shooter, are shot.

Less than 24 hours before the church attack, Nigel Edge, another Marine veteran who deployed to Iraq, shot and killed three people and wounded five others at a crowded waterfront bar in Southport, North Carolina.

The shooting is also the latest in a number of attacks focused on places of worship.

On August 27  just a little over a month before Sanfords attack  Robin Westman, 23, fired a gun through the windows of a church in Minneapolis, killing two children and wounding 14 others, as well as an elderly congregant. The group was praying at the time of the attack. Westman graduated from the school in 2017, and died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene.

On September 19, just over a week before the Michigan shooting, a 31-year-old man allegedly set fire to a synagogue in southwestern Florida. That individual has been charged with felony arson and felony criminal mischief to a house of worship.
Defence Secretary John Healey (PA Wire)

West London will be the first UK site to see a major development with new homes prioritised for military personnel.

Hundreds of houses will be built and jobs created at MoD Feltham in Hounslow as part of the Forces First programme, Defence Secretary John Healey told the Labour Party Conference on Monday.

The 30-acre military installation, previously known as Feltham Barracks, was earmarked for closure in 2016.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD), Hounslow Council and the Greater London Authority have now agreed to adopt a Forces First approach for the hundreds of homes due to be built on the site when redevelopment begins this year.

It means a portion of the housing will be prioritised for military personnel and veterans.

Mr Healey said: Armed Forces housing was left in a shameful state by the Conservatives, hammering morale and driving a recruitment and retention crisis in our Forces.

In our first year in office, Labour began the hard work to stop the rot and start the renewal of Armed Forces housing. We will turbocharge building on Defence land to deliver new homes for both our service personnel and for civilian families across Britain.

This has all been unlocked by our historic deal to buy back 36,000 military family homes, reversing a failed Tory privatisation and saving the taxpayer billions.

Our new Forces First approach to building on MoD land will prioritise forces families and veterans for homeownership opportunities and deliver high-quality service family accommodation.

Armed Forces personnel and veterans will receive first dibs on new homes built on surplus MoD land across the UK as part of the 6billion programme.

It will also see high quality new Service Family Accommodation for serving personnel to rent, the Government said.

Shantanu Rajawat, leader of Hounslow Council, added: This is fantastic news for Hounslow.

The Forces First partnership at MOD Feltham will not only deliver much-needed new homes, but will also honour our Armed Forces by giving families and veterans the priority they deserve.

It means hundreds of high-quality homes and new jobs for our borough, alongside a lasting legacy of support for those who have served our country.

Hounslow is proud to be at the forefront of this groundbreaking initiative, which brings real benefits for local people and strengthens our community for the future."
Germanys fast-track citizenship scheme for immigrants was shut down after just one year - JENS SCHLUETER/AFP via Getty Images

Germany ditched a Labour-style scheme that rewarded migrants for volunteering after deciding it was a mistake.

Friedrich Merz, the chancellor, shut down the fast-track citizenship scheme for immigrants after just one year, following a public backlash.

It was a mistake, Alexander Dobrindt, the interior minister, said in June.

German citizenship must come at the end of an integration process, not the beginning.

The plans, to fast-track migrants if they made a contribution to society through voluntary work, were similar to proposals set out by Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, in her conference speech on Monday.

Introduced in 2024 by Olaf Scholz, the then-German chancellor and an ally of Sir Keir Starmer, the plans allowed migrants to naturalise in three years, rather than five, if they could prove high levels of integration, including volunteer work, and a strong grasp of German.

Migrants would have to present formal proof such as letters, certificates, confirmation from volunteer organisations and hours logs to qualify.

However, the plans were dismissed as turbo naturalisation by German conservatives, who felt three years was not enough for citizenship, and became a target of the tabloid press.

Another problem with the scheme was that the threshold for fast-tracked citizenship was so high that only an estimated few hundred people could take advantage of it.

The issue of Immigration was a significant factor in Germanys elections in February - Ying Tang/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

The German system had parallels with Ms Mahmoods plan to reform UK rules around indefinite leave to remain (ILR), in that it will have to be earned.

Under the proposals, ILR will be linked not just to employment and taxes but to someones wider contribution to society.

This includes paying National Insurance, not claiming benefits, speaking English to a high standard, having a clean criminal record and volunteering in the community.

The British proposals are already facing criticism of their own.

Alp Mehmet, chairman of Migration Watch UK, told The Telegraph that the Labour plan would have no impact at all.

There are millions of people around the world who want a better life, and thats why they come here. And nothing that this does will dissuade them, he said.

He added: Lets bear in mind that this is a party conference. My thinking is that this has much more to do with placating the activist audience, and trying to send a message out to disgruntled Labour voters that the government is serious about dealing with immigration.

In Germany, immigration was a major issue in Februarys election, when the anti-migrant Alternative for Germany recorded its best-ever results and became the main opposition for the first time.

Labours decision to extend the period for ILR follows Reform UKs promise to rescind it entirely if it formed the next government.

German crackdown

At the same time that Mr Merz ditched the fast-track citizenship law, he suspended family reunification rules for refugees as his new government launched a crackdown on illegal immigration.

Mr Merz is in coalition with the centre-Left SPD, which Mr Scholz used to lead. The parties agreed the reform would be ditched in coalition negotiations.

But immigrants can still apply for German citizenship after five years of continuous residency in the country and an intermediate level of German.

Germany has been undergoing a seismic shift in its immigration policy.

In 2015, it welcomed more than a million refugees and asylum seekers at the height of the refugee crisis, followed by a huge wave of Afghan refugees in 2021 and Ukrainians in 2022.

Last year, it allowed refugees to claim dual citizenship as part of the reforms that also introduced the now-abandoned fast-track to naturalisation.

Mr Merz has suspended family reunification rules for refugees as his new government launches a crackdown on illegal immigration - Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Mr Merzs government has been turning away asylum seekers at its land borders since he took office in May.

The chancellor has said Germany must accept fewer than 100,000 asylum seekers a year because its public services are overwhelmed by immigrants.

He argues that anyone arriving by land has already travelled through a safe country, but critics claim such a stance is in breach of EU asylum laws. Mr Merz has also successfully sped up deportations.

The number of refugees living in Germany has fallen for the first time in over a decade, it was reported earlier this month.

The refugee population fell by more than 50,000 in the first six months of the year.

A key factor is the fact that many refugees who fled to Germany over the past decade have since been naturalised as German citizens.

For example, in 2024 alone, more than 80,000 Syrian refugees acquired German citizenship and were no longer classified as migrants.

Germany is facing a demographic crisis and has an ageing population. More people have died than were born in Germany every year since 1972. Without high levels of immigration, the population would be shrinking fast.

Meghan Benton, director of the Migration Policy Institute Europes global programme, sees Labours new policy as part of a broader European trend.

She said: Theres a definite shift towards more conditionality, in permanent residence, in citizenship and in access to social benefits, really, across the whole of continental Europe.

EU law limits countries room for manoeuvre on leave to remain periods, which are typically around five years, while Britain is not constrained in the same way after Brexit.

But many European countries, including France and the Netherlands, have integration contracts that encourage language learning and agreeing to uphold shared cultural values.

They want the messaging to be that we should invest in people who are here and who will stay. I think with the UK there is a bit of a difference. All of this rhetoric and policy changes are framed around reducing immigration, not promoting integration, Ms Benton said.

Integration agreement

Ideas such as rewarding language proficiency and volunteering need to have the correct infrastructure, including lessons and ways to record the volunteering behind them, she said.

Real integration would need investment in lessons and labour market integration rather than simply symbolic knee-jerk policies.

Far-Right parties have influenced immigration policy across the whole of Europe, she said, and led to tougher attitudes.

There are few other examples of concrete rewards for migrants for volunteering in other European countries.

An exception is Italy, where non-EU migrants staying in the country for more than a year sign an integration agreement with the government.

The migrant is given 16 credits and must get 30 credits before their residence permit expires.

Credits can be earned by volunteering, giving it a formal and legal role in the process, as well as language lessons and civic education courses.

Canada and Australia have a point-based immigration system, which inspired the UKs post-Brexit rules.

Volunteering does not have a direct part in either system, which selects candidates on factors such as age, language ability and education.
GSK has appointed a new boss after announcing the departure of Dame Emma Walmsley following eight years at the helm of the drugmaker.

Dame Emma was the first woman to run a major pharmaceutical company when she became chief executive in 2017.

The FTSE 100-listed business said its chief commercial officer Luke Miels will take on the full responsibilities of the top job from the start of 2026.

Mr Miels has worldwide responsibility for medicines and vaccines in his current position.

GSK shares rose by about 3.5% on Monday morning as investors welcomed the announcement, bringing the price to a three-month high.

Dame Emma led GSK through the pandemic and the development of new products launched to the market.

She also oversaw the spin-off of its consumer healthcare firm Haleon in 2022, which owns household products including Sensodyne toothpaste and Panadol pain relief.

The decision to demerge the business came after a period of intense pressure with investors urging the boss to focus on its core drug-making operation.

GSKs board publicly backed Dame Emma as the right leader of new GSK after questions were raised over whether she had the skillsets and expertise to lead the company through the major transformation.

On her departure, Dame Emma said: 2026 is a pivotal year for GSK to define its path for the decade ahead, and I believe the right moment for new leadership.

As CEO, you hope to leave the company you love stronger than you found it and prepare for seamless succession.

Im proud to have done both  and to have created Haleon, a new world-leader in consumer health.

She added that she was looking forward to cheering GSKs future success as I begin my own new adventures.

GSKs chairman Sir Jonathan Symonds said Mr Miels had a deep understanding of the company, its prospects and its people.

He added: He is extremely well placed to lead, deliver and surpass the ambitions we have set for GSK, and to generate new growth and value for patients and shareholders.

In his new role, Mr Miels will have a base salary of 1.38 million as well as the opportunity to earn an annual bonus worth up to three times his salary and long-term incentive awards.

Dame Emma will step down from the company board at the end of 2025, and remain with the business until her notice period at the end of September 2026.
Actor Harris Dickinson has said his directorial debut Urchin explores homelessness because he has always been troubled by those who fall through the cracks of society.

The 29-year-old Babygirl star, who also appears in the film alongside Fear The Walking Dead actor Frank Dillane, describes Urchin as a character study on self-improvement set against the backdrop of homelessness.

Written by Dickinson, the film follows Dillane as Mike, a rough sleeper in London caught in a cycle of self-destruction while trying to rebuild his life after a spell in prison.

Harris Dickinson and Frank Dillane star in Urchin (Ian West/PA)

Raw and absurd, Urchin is described as a story about the strange patterns that keep pulling us back.

I think that the people that fall between the cracks in our society, thats always bothered me, and the support network around that has always troubled me, Dickinson told the PA news agency.

I felt compelled to get involved, though I wasnt sure of the best way.

At first, I thought local mobilisation, helping at a community level, might be the most meaningful way to contribute.

Then I started writing the script, kind of as a result.

Homelessness became the backdrop, but the film is ultimately a character study of someone who keeps trying, despite everything, to better themselves and pull themselves out of a destructive cycle.

In the end, homelessness is the result rather than the subject.

Dickinson, who is set to play John Lennon in Sam Mendes upcoming Beatles biopic series, said he found juggling acting and directing a challenge.

When I was on set directing and acting at the same time, I found it very difficult, he said.

I didnt love that aspect of it because I like to be in one very clear, distinct mode.

I didnt necessarily intend to take on both roles, and it wasnt something that came naturally to me.

As an actor, I love being in the hands of a director I trust.

Thats a place I really value, and Im probably the opposite of someone who wants to take control.

I need to be directed.

I love to be directed.

Im not someone who tries to offer too many insights, thats the directors job.

Im very happy to just be a piece of the puzzle rather than steering it.

On casting Dillane in the lead role, Dickinson said he recognised the sensitivity of the part.

Frank Dillane, Megan Northam and Harris Dickinson at the 78th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes (Doug Peters/PA)

Id seen him in Fear The Walking Dead years ago, when I was just starting out, and he was really intriguing to me, he said.

He struck me as a complicated actor, especially in the choices he made with that role.

We auditioned a lot of people, but when Frank came in it quickly became clear that theres a wrong version of this character.

The archetypal, cookie-cutter portrayal of an unruly young man was something we wanted to avoid.

The choices Frank made in that first audition were really interesting to me.

He understood the sensitivity and the nuance, and he was willing to push and experiment with it.

Dickinson said he does not claim to be a saviour, and the film is not meant to scrutinise those who walk past rough sleepers.

Its like weve all been that person, he said, referring to the opening scene.

In that scene, he asks 50 to 100 people for help. We shot it for five minutes on a long lens, using real members of the public.

Were not scrutinising anyone, because weve all been there. Life gets busy, and we cant help everyone.

Theres a loneliness in that, and the shock of it, doing it for that long and having no-one engage, was really telling.

Im not claiming to be a saviour; Im just as guilty as anyone.

Urchin is in UK cinemas on Friday, October 3.
PetSmart Charities and Feeding America partner to distribute donated pet food to participating food banks across America on Sept. 30

PHOENIX, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Across the U.S., PetSmart Charities estimates that 30 million pets are living in homes with people managing food insecurity. For Pet Hunger Awareness Day (Sept. 30), PetSmart Charities is partnering with Feeding America, which is currently observing Hunger Action Month, to distribute pet food at local food distribution events across the country. The events aim to raise awareness about hunger on both ends of the leash and expand access to nutritious food for every family.

Credit: PetSmart Charities

According to Feeding America, more than 50 million people turned to food banks for support  more than at any point in the last decade. When people face hunger, their pets can too, and 63% of Feeding America food bank representatives report that their current sources of securing pet food are not sufficient to meet the need they see*.

To address this growing need, pet parents can pick up food for themselves, as well as their cats and dogs at four Pet Hunger Awareness Day events at Feeding America partner food banks, on Sept. 30:

These events are part of PetSmart Charities' ongoing efforts to address pet hunger, providing quarterly deliveries of pet food to Feeding America partner food banks for distribution to pet parents in communities across the country, year-round.

"As pet parents face food insecurity, those times of uncertainty can lead to many families making heartbreaking decisions  including surrendering beloved pets," said Aimee Gilbreath, president of PetSmart Charities. "We want these families to know that they are not alone, and support is available. We are grateful for incredible partnerships with Feeding America and Meals on Wheels America, which help us broaden our reach by supporting efforts to get pet food to families where they turn for help. These efforts can help keep families together, and we encourage other human services agencies to consider adding services for pets, too."

Working to Support Families and Pets, Together

According to Feeding America, 52% of neighbors report running out of food in the past year before they had money to buy more. To help those families in need, PetSmart Charities began its partnership with Feeding America in 2017 to distribute pet food through partner food banks.

Feeding America is part of a nationwide network of food banks, statewide food bank associations, food pantries and meals programs committed to investing in solutions that deliver food and other resources to those experiencing food insecurity. Since the launch of this meaningful relationship, PetSmart Charities has donated nearly 70 million pounds of pet food to Feeding America for distribution across its network.

"In every community in America, people are working hard to provide for themselves and their families people and pets alike," said Erika Thiem, chief supply chain officer at Feeding America. "At a time when the cost of basic needs is out of reach for millions of people, hunger in America is a crisis. We are grateful for our ongoing partnership with PetSmart Charities where, together, we can meet this moment so that every family member, including pets, has the food and resources they need to thrive."

Keeping Older Adults and Pets Together in their Homes

Caring for pets can have profound mental and physical health benefits for many older adults, reporting improved well-being and decreased loneliness. However, many senior pet owners find themselves making tough decisions to care for their pets. Meals on Wheels America found that more than 1 in 5 clients reported going without food themselves just to feed their pets.

As part of their ongoing partnership, PetSmart Charities and Meals on Wheels America reached a milestone of 15 million pet meals delivered to seniors and their furry companions across the country.

Join PetSmart Charities in Addressing Pet Hunger

To date, more than 400 million pet meals have been provided to pets in need through PetSmart Charities' partnerships with Feeding America, Meals on Wheels America and others.

For those who want to get involved this Pet Hunger Awareness Day, they can make an impact by:

Supporting PetSmart Charities programs including pet food distribution by donating online or at the checkout at their local PetSmart store

Donating pet food and supplies to their local food bank or animal shelter

Raising awareness for pets in need on social media

Throughout September, PetSmart stores will also be hosting donation drives where the pet community can donate funds at checkout and have the option to donate Treats Rewards points to PetSmart Charities. All donations will go directly to PetSmart Charities to help pets in need.

To learn more about PetSmart Charities Pet Hunger Awareness Day, visit petsmartcharities.org.

*Food Bank Survey Conducted by PetSmart Charities in Collaboration with Feeding America

About PetSmart Charities

PetSmart Charities is committed to making the world a better place for pets and all who love them. Through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart stores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, PetSmart Charities helps up to 400,000 pets connect with loving families each year. PetSmart Charities also provides grant funding to support organizations that advocate and care for the well-being of all pets and their families. PetSmart Charities grants and efforts connect pets with loving homes through adoption, improve access to affordable veterinary care and support families in times of crises with access to food, shelter and disaster response. Each year, millions of generous supporters help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities directly at PetSmartCharities.org, while shopping at PetSmart.com, and by using the PIN pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart stores. In turn, PetSmart Charities efficiently uses more than 90 cents of every dollar donated to fulfill its role as the leading funder of animal welfare in North America, granting more than $500 million since its inception in 1994. PetSmart Charities is a 501(c)(3) organization that has received the Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator for the past 18 years in a row  placing it among the top one percent of rated charities. To learn more visit www.petsmartcharities.org.

About Feeding America

Feeding America is committed to an America where no one is hungry. We support tens of millions of people who experience food insecurity to get the food and resources they say they need to thrive as part of a nationwide network of food banks, statewide food bank associations, food pantries and meal programs. We also invest in innovative solutions to increase fair access to nutritious food, advocate for legislation that improves food security and work to address factors that impact food security, such as health, cost of living, and employment.

We partner with people experiencing food insecurity, policymakers, organizations, and supporters, united with them in a movement to end hunger. Visit www.FeedingAmerica.org to learn more.

About Meals on Wheels America

Meals on Wheels America is the leadership organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior hunger and isolation. Powered by a trusted volunteer workforce, this network delivers a comprehensive solution that begins with a meal and is proven to enable independence and well-being through the additional benefits of tailored nutrition, social connection, safety and much more. By providing funding, programming, education, research and advocacy, Meals on Wheels America empowers its local member programs to strengthen their communities, one senior at a time. For more information, or to find a Meals on Wheels provider near you, visit www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org.

SOURCE PetSmart Charities, Inc.
The aftermath of Hurricane Humberto could bring strong rains and winds to Britain this week, as it crosses over the Atlantic and heads closer to the UK.

The storm, which strengthened into a category 4 hurricane over the weekend, has mostly bypassed the US and is currently over the southwest Atlantic. The Met Office said it was monitoring it closely.

The weather agency has also issued a yellow weather warning for Scotland from Wednesday evening to Friday morning, as it forecasts persistent, heavy rain.

Watery scenes in Oban, Scotland, last month after the arrival of Storm Floris (Reuters)

A separate weather warning was in place this morning as heavy fog covered parts of the East and South East of England. The yellow warning was issued on Monday morning after fog fell on Sunday night.

This weeks weather is shaped by a classic northwest-southeast split. While high pressure keeps the South East settled with light winds and chilly nights, the North West is seeing a series of frontal systems bringing heavy rain and strong winds, the Met Office said.

Hurricane Humberto developed into a category 5 hurricane on Saturday before easing back down to category 4 on Sunday. Tropical Storm Imelda also formed in the Atlantic Ocean on Sunday, heading northward over the Bahamas, causing tropical storm conditions. It is expected to bring dangerous surf on the southeast coast of the US in the coming days.

Local weather reports say both weather events could eventually be a threat to Bermuda as they continue to track towards the islands.

The Met Office is watching Hurricane Humberto closely as it travels across the Atlantic (NOAA)

The Met Office added: The situation becomes more complex later in the week as tropical cyclones Humberto and Imelda currently over the southwest Atlantic influence our weather, increasing the risk of a deep low developing near the UK.

If this materialises, we could see some very strong winds as well as further heavy rainfall Friday into Saturday, but at this time the development and track of this system remains uncertain. Were monitoring this closely.

In Scotland, rainfall is expected to be persistent across areas of Central, Tayside & Fife, Highlands & Eilean Siar, and Strathclyde, with strong spells of wind from Thursday night.

A yellow weather warning is in place for several parts of Scotland (The Met Office)

The Met Office said the heaviest rain will be over the hills and mountains, with as much as 200-250mm of rain likely to build up over a few mountains by early Friday. The warning is in place from 5pm Wednesday to 6am Friday.

Some communities may be cut off by flooded roads, and possible power cuts, and flooding and damage to homes and businesses could occur. The Met Office warned that there may be fast-flowing and deep floodwater, which poses a danger to life.

Check if your property could be at risk of flooding. If so, consider preparing a flood plan and an emergency flood kit, the service said.

Be prepared for weather warnings to change quickly: when a weather warning is issued, the Met Office recommends staying up to date with the weather forecast in your area.

A yellow weather warning was in place this morning as fog covered parts of the East and South East (PA Wire)

This mornings dense fog brought the visibility down to 50 metres in some areas across East Anglia.

The Met Office warned of traffic delays and slower travel times in the areas affected by the fog, which included Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Thurrock, East Sussex, Greater London, Kent, Medway, Surrey, and West Sussex.

Here is the weather forecast in the UK for the coming week, according to the Met Office.

Today

Fog in the South East will gradually clear this morning. A fine day follows with plenty of sunshine, although hazy at times. Cloudier in the North West with outbreaks of rain in western Scotland and brisk winds.

Tonight

Staying cloudy and windy in Northern Ireland and western Scotland with further patchy rain and drizzle. Dry in the South with clear spells. Turning chilly with a few fog patches.

Tuesday

Dry for many with sunny spells. However, cloudier skies will persist across the North West with drizzly outbreaks and brisk winds. Cloud also thickening in the far west of England and Wales.

Outlook for Wednesday to Friday

Rain will turn heavy across the North West through midweek with strong winds, especially on Friday. Staying drier in the South but increasingly cloudy. Temperatures around average.
British carmaker Jaguar Land Rover has said it will restart some manufacturing production in the coming days as it continues to deal with the fallout from a major cyber attack.

The group said some sections of its production operations will resume amid a controlled, phased restart of our operations, having paused all manufacturing since the start of the month after being targeted by hackers.

It said while there is much more to do, work to ensure its recovery is firmly under way.

A Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) spokesperson said: As the controlled, phased restart of our operations continues, we are taking further steps towards our recovery and the return to manufacture of our world-class vehicles.

Today we are informing colleagues, retailers and suppliers that some sections of our manufacturing operations will resume in the coming days.

We know there is much more to do but the foundational work of our recovery is firmly under way, and we will continue to provide updates as we progress, they added.

JLR had recently extended the production pause until at least October 1 after its systems were hacked, impacting its factories in Halewood, on Merseyside, and Solihull in the West Midlands, and its engine manufacturing site in Wolverhampton.

Experts have warned the production shutdown could hit the groups bottom line by around 120 million, with the firm thought to usually build about 1,000

cars a day.

The pause has also left its suppliers in limbo leading to calls for urgent financial support, with the Government announcing over the weekend it would underwrite a 1.5 billion loan guarantee to JLR to give suppliers some certainty over payments.

The loan, from a commercial bank, will help to bolster JLRs cash reserves as it pays back companies in its supply chain, who have been majorly impacted by the shutdown.

Unions and politicians have raised fears that small suppliers producing parts for the car giant could collapse without financial support.

JLR has the largest supply chain in the UK automotive sector, which employs around 120,000 people and is largely made up of small and medium-sized businesses.

In the aftermath of the attack on August 31, ministers have been in contact daily with JLR and cyber experts, as the company attempts to restart production.

Downing Street welcomed JLRs announcement, adding it had been a concerning time for workers at Jaguar Land Rover and, of course, across the supply chain.
Late-night host John Oliver spent the entirety of his opening monologue on the latest episode of HBOs Last Week Tonight criticizing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Speaking on the eve of Netanyahus fourth visit to the White House to meet with President Donald Trump since the latter returned to power to discuss an end to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Oliver described the PM as desperate to stay in power and, more broadly, an a*****e son of a bitch.

Years from now, when people tell the story of Israels brutality in Gaza, theyll need to talk about the history of Israels founding mission, the complex politics of the Middle East, Americas choice to give more military aid to Israel than any other country in history, and a thousand other things, the host said.

John Oliver rails against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Last Week Tonight on Sunday September 28 2025 (Last Week Tonight/HBO)

But theyll also need to tell the story of one Benjamin Netanyahu, a man so singularly focused on remaining in power, hes allied with the most extreme voices in his country.

He attacked Netanyahu for appeasing hardline members of his coalition government, like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, and for boasting in 2001, while serving as opposition leader, of his ability to manipulate U.S. support to his will.

Oliver then ran an archive clip of the politician bragging at the time: America is something that can be easily pushed.

Wow! Even if that is true, its insulting to hear out loud, the comic said in reaction to the footage.

He went on to recap Netanyahus recent corruption scandal, accusing him of working to weaken his countrys Supreme Court, prolonging post-October 7th military action against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to satisfy his right-wing allies, and cosying up to Trump, all to ensure his own political survival, no matter what the cost, in Olivers opinion.

Thats kind of the problem with electing someone because hes an a**hole son of a bitch, he continued. You do wind up being governed by someone whos an a***hole and a son of b****.

The point is, Netanyahu is not popular in Israel, and hes increasingly unpopular here too. A new poll found just 21 percent of Americans have a favorable view of him. Meanwhile, support for Palestinian statehood is currently at 58 percent in the U.S., and just recently, a wave of countries, including France, the U.K., Canada, and Australia, all officially recognized a Palestinian state.

Donald Trump welcoming Netanyahu to the White House on Monday September 29 (Reuters)

Oliver went on to clarify: Let me be clear, to attribute the atrocities in Gaza to just one man would be naive. Itd also ignore that while many Israelis vehemently disagree with choices that Netanyahu has made, theres also a fair amount of consensus there when it comes to deeper issues like the inevitability of ongoing Israeli occupation in general and the acceptability of denying self-determination to Palestinians.

He added, Those are conversations and issues that are gonna take much longer and be much harder to resolve. But in the short term, Israelis removing this f***ing guy from power might, at the very least, bring a stop to the horrific suffering in Gaza and bring the hostages home.

The comedian concluded by asking: Just who is Netanyahu really looking out for? Is it the people of Israel whove been put at risk by endless war, or is it the man who spent 17 years as prime minister and seems willing to do whatever it takes to squeeze out a few more? I would argue that it is the second one. And I, for one, am looking forward to the day that Netanyahu is politically done.

Ahead of Mondays White House sitdown, at least one senior Trump administration official expressed a fear that the meeting could go off the rails if Netanyahu takes exception to the peace plan for Gaza that the president intends to pitch to him.

Last week, U.N. delegates walked out of the General Assembly in protest just before Netanyahus speaking slot, which he used to lambast those nations that had moved to recognize the Palestinian peoples right to statehood for rewarding the murder of Jews.

His words were broadcast from loudspeakers at the Gaza border soon afterwards to ensure his point was not lost on those living there.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said investigators believe the man accused of fatally shooting four people at a Michigan church hated people of the Mormon faith.

Police say former U.S. Marine Thomas Jacob Sanford killed four people and injured eight when he opened fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, on Sunday morning. Sanford slammed his truck, bearing two American flags, into the church before he opened fire, according to authorities.

At one point, he also set the building on fire using an accelerant believed to be gasoline, police said. Sanford was killed at the scene.

While authorities have not publicly confirmed his motive, Leavitt shared the updates she had received from investigators with FOX & Friends on Monday morning.

From what I understand, based on my conversations with the FBI director, all they know right now is that this was an individual who hated people of the Mormon faith, Leavitt said.

Attendees hold candles at a vigil for the victims of the shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

They are trying to understand more about this, how premeditated it was, how much planning went into it, whether he left a note. All of those questions are yet to be answered, but certainly will be answered by the FBI, she added.

Leavitts comments come after President Donald Trump decried the shooting as a targeted attack on Christians on Sunday afternoon.

This appears to be yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America, he wrote on Truth Social. The Trump Administration will keep the Public posted, as we always do. In the meantime, PRAY for the victims, and their families. THIS EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY MUST END, IMMEDIATELY!

Meanwhile, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has announced plans to create a task force to protect places of worship in the wake of the shooting.

The suspected gunman rammed his truck into the church and opened fire, killing four people and injuring eight, police said. He also lit the building on fire (AFP/Getty)

The escalation of violent attacks against people and places of faith is heinous and must end, he wrote on X.

I have directed the Texas Dept. of Public Safety to form task forces with federal and local law enforcement to better safeguard our places of worship, he added. The fundamental principle that thou shall not kill must be strongly reaffirmed as a core tenet of our society and must be aggressively enforced by law enforcement.

Investigators are set to hold a press conference on Monday afternoon. One victim is in critical condition, while the other seven are stable, authorities said on Sunday night.

Meanwhile, a man has driven a red car through a barricade near the shooting scene, CNN reported late Monday morning. He was then placed in a police vehicle. His identity and motive are unclear.

Thomas Jacob Sanford served in the Marine Corps from 2004 to 2008 (Facebook)

Sanford, 40, served in the Marine Corps from 2004 to 2008. He was deployed to Fallujah, Iraq in 2007. He specialized in repairing and maintaining military vehicles.

His military career was described as stellar, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Sanford went on to work as a truck driver, at one point driving a tow truck and another driving a Coca-Cola delivery truck. The 40-year-old has also been pictured on social media wearing a Trump shirt bearing the slogan: Make Liberals Cry Again.
Bridget Phillipson addresses the Labour conference, announcing the return of student grants for certain courses - Alamy

Bridget Phillipsons decision to bring back maintenance grants would be devastating for universities, critics warned on Monday night.

Speaking at the Labour conference, the Education Secretary said maintenance grants would be reintroduced for students on courses that are crucial to the Governments industrial strategy.

She said this would be paid for by charging universities a levy on the fees of international students and be rolled out by 2029.

The grants were scrapped under the Conservatives in 2016. Their reintroduction is popular with Labour activists.

Experts told The Telegraph the policy would lead to a dramatic fall in the number of students coming from abroad, exacerbating the already serious university financial crisis.

This, in turn, will force universities to take fewer domestic students, with a knock-on effect for regional economies.

Earlier this year, a report by the Office for Students found 40 per cent of universities are expecting to be in deficit by the start of this academic year, and blamed a fall in international students for the shortfalls.

Levy on international students will reduce resources

Vivienne Stern, chief executive of Universities UK, said: Extra money to support students from diverse backgrounds to study courses critical to economic growth is the right idea, but this would be executing it in the wrong way.

A levy on international students will not help disadvantaged students, it will hinder them. As emerging evidence already shows, it would reduce the number of places available for domestic students and mean universities have even less of their scant resources to invest into expanding access and supporting students.

The Government has already floated the policy in a white paper, suggesting a tax of six per cent on international student fees.

It said it assumed that universities would increase their fees to cover this. Full details are expected to be revealed in Rachel Reevess Budget in November.

Ms Phillipson, who is standing to be Labours deputy leader, told delegates: The Tories treated our universities as a political battleground, not a public good. Labour is putting them back in the service of working-class young people.

Last year, I took the decisive steps we needed on university finances, so opportunity is there tomorrow, for all who want it. But I know, you know, that we must do more.

So that is why today Im announcing that this Labour Government will introduce new targeted maintenance grants for students who need them most.

Their time at college or university should be spent learning or training, not working every hour God sends. That is the difference a Labour Government makes.

The Department for Education said the new grants will apply to tens of thousands of students from lower-income households on priority courses.

It is not known how much money eligible students will be able to receive in the grant, but the amount will be means-tested, meaning it depends how much a students family earns.

Policy will cost economy 2.2bn

Jonathan Simons, partner of think tank Public First, said the policy could lead to 77,000 fewer international students in five years, costing the economy 2.2bn.

The shortage of funds would lead to 33,000 fewer places for British students in the first year, and 135,000 fewer places in five years.

Our research shows the impact of a levy on international students will be devastating, especially for regional economies, he said.

Around 40 per cent of our universities are currently in deficit; a levy will lead to a further loss of jobs and places for UK students, and a damaging cut to vital, world-leading research and investment.

The Governments own numbers dont add up. They have overestimated the amount a levy will raise.

There is a real danger that the very students the Government wishes to help wont be able to access a course at all, because the international students wont be there to subsidise them.

He said the 10 most affected parliamentary constituencies would each lose an average of 40m a year, with the worst affected constituency being Sir Keir Starmers seat of Holborn and St Pancras.
Gardai said investigations were ongoing (PA)

Two men and a woman have been found dead at a property in Co Louth.

Gardai said one man had been arrested after they were alerted to a serious incident in Tallanstown on Monday morning.

Irelands Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan said there was no further threat to the public following the criminal act.

A gardai statement said: Three people  two males and one female (all adults)  were found deceased at the scene.

The scene has been preserved for technical examination.

The offices of the coroner and the state pathologist have been notified.

A male, aged in his 30s, has been arrested and is currently detained at a station in the Garda North West Region under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.

The statement said investigations were ongoing.

Gardai have closed a road leading to an isolated property at the scene.

A blue-and-white forensic tent has been set up close to the property.

Mr OCallaghan said: I have information, An Garda Siochana have passed on information that I have received to the office.

I am conscious that it is a developing story and it is a sensitive issue but there is no further information I can put into the public domain at present.

I think further information will become available in due course.

He added: What I can say and what gardai have said is that they are not looking for anyone else in respect of this criminal act.

There is no ongoing threat to the public in Co Louth.

Sinn Fein Louth councillor Pearse McGeough said on social media that there was sad news coming out of Tallanstown this morning.

He added: I would ask people not to speculate until we know the facts.

Our thoughts are with the friends, family and the community.
Lindsey Graham dredges up the most explicitly lurid claim ever made against Trump in TV interview

Lindsey Graham on Sunday dredged up one of the most explicitly lurid claims about Donald Trump  a gross-out allegation that the president would likely rather forget.

The South Carolina senator, a Trump loyalist, appeared on Fox News Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo, where he said the case against former FBI director James Comey was a long time overdue.

Comey, who led the FBI from 2013 until 2017 when Trump fired him, is accused of making false statements and obstructing a congressional proceeding in September 2020. He denies any wrongdoing. If convicted, he could face up to five years behind bars.

Graham accused Comey of overseeing the most corrupt investigation in the history of the country as the FBI probed Trumps ties to Russia, which was given the code-name Crossfire Hurricane.

But part of the Republicans answer prompted raised eyebrows.

The South Carolina senator, a Trump loyalist, appeared on Fox News Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo, where he said the case against former FBI director James Comey was a long time overdue (Fox News)

For 10 years Ive been talking to you about this, Graham told Bartiromo. Crossfire Hurricane was opened up in July 2016 along the premise that Donald Trump was an agent of Russia, that he had a golden-shower experience in Russia.

The sordid allegation was part of the controversial and since-debunked Steele Dossier, compiled by former British spy Christopher Steele.

Steele, who previously ran the Secret Intelligence Services Russia desk, was the author of the unverified dossier which included allegations Trump had been compromised by the Russian security service. Trump repeatedly denied the claims.

People responded to the clip of Graham resurfacing the explicit claim on social media.

Weird he brought that one back one person said.

Graham accused Comey of overseeing the most corrupt investigation in the history of the country as the FBI probed Trumps ties to Russia, which was given the code-name Crossfire Hurricane (Getty Images)

Nobody... literally no one. Lindsey Graham: remember the pee-tape y'all? joked another.

Sundays arent complete until you hear Lindsey talk about golden showers, another person wrote.

Following the criminal indictment last week, Comey released a defiant statement labeling Trump a tyrant.

My family and I have known for years that there are costs to standing up to Donald Trump, but we couldnt imagine ourselves living any other way, Comey said. We will not live on our knees and you shouldnt either.

My heart is broken for the Department of Justice, but I have great confidence in the federal judicial system and I am innocent, so lets have a trial, he added.
Mifepristone is the first drug used in a medication abortion. Photograph: Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters

Louisiana issued a warrant for a California-based doctor accused of mailing abortion pills to the red state, court records filed earlier this month show.

The warrant is part of a burgeoning effort by anti-abortion activists and red states to target telemedicine abortion, which now accounts for one in four US abortions, and abortion providers who ship pills across state lines. These providers operate out of blue states, like California, that have enacted shield laws that aim to protect abortion providers from out-of-state prosecution.

The 2024 warrant for the doctor remains outstanding, according to the documents, which were filed as part of Louisianas effort to join a federal lawsuit that seeks to limit access to the common abortion pill mifepristone. Louisiana bans virtually all abortions.

In a declaration filed to the court, a Louisiana woman named Rosalie Markezich said that when she learned she was pregnant in 2023, she decided to continue her pregnancy. But her then boyfriend used her email and mailing address to order mifepristone and a second drug, misoprostol  which is typically used in US medication abortions  from Dr Remy Coeytaux.

Related: The abortion pill is safe. But why should Trump let facts get in the way of his agenda? | Moira Donegan

In its own filing, Louisiana does not explicitly name Coeytaux as the target of its warrant, but says it is for the arrest of the California-based doctor from whom Rosalies boyfriend ordered the abortion drugs.

During a drive with her boyfriend, Markezich insisted that she wanted to keep the pregnancy, her declaration alleges. He began shouting at her and, fearful of her safety, Markezich decided to take the pills with the plan of throwing them up later on. She was unable to vomit and, soon after taking the pills, started to bleed.

Had the FDA required an in-person visit with a doctor before dispensing the drugs, my boyfriend would never have been able to obtain the drugs that he made me take, Markezich said. 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.

A spokesperson for Coeytaux declined to comment on the Louisiana warrant, which was reported last week by Abortion Every Day. In a statement, Liz Murrill, the Louisiana attorney general, suggested she hoped the Trump administration would roll back rules that expanded access to telemedicine abortion.

Rosalie is bravely representing many women who are victimized by the illegal, immoral and unethical conduct of these drug dealers, Murrill said. A spokesperson for Murrill didnt immediately respond to questions about what charges Coeytaux may be facing.

Coeytaux has already been at the center of several anti-abortion legal filings. In July, a Texas man sued Coeytaux for allegedly supplying abortion pills to his girlfriend. Then, in August, Texas sent a cease-and-desist to Coeytaux. Texas law prohibits nearly all abortions.

Texas and Louisiana have also gone after Dr Margaret Carpenter, a New York-based doctor accused of mailing abortion pills to people in both states. Louisiana has indicted Carpenter, while Ken Paxton, the Texas attorney general, sued her in civil court. After a New York county clerk refused to enforce a courts fine against Carpenter, citing the states shield law, Paxton sued the clerk. In return, Letitia James, the New York attorney general, announced she would formally intervene to defend New Yorks shield law.

Legal experts widely expect the US supreme court to ultimately step in to adjudicate legal clashes between states that ban abortion and those that protect the procedure.
Luke Donald has not ruled out serving a third term as European Ryder Cup captain.

A clamour is already growing for the 47-year-old to stay on after masterminding a second successive triumph over the United States.

The latest win arrived in dramatic circumstances at Bethpage Black on Sunday as Donalds side held off a stunning fightback from the hosts to prevail 15-13.

It was Europes first success in the US since 2012 and, coming after their comprehensive triumph in Rome two years ago, assured Donald of a place among the competitions greats.

As after the Italian win, the calls for Donald stay on for another term began almost immediately with celebrating players chanting two more years towards their inspirational leader.

The next contest is at Adare Manor in Limerick, Ireland, in 2027.

Donald told BBC Sport: A lot of people questioned why I would do it a second time after doing it so well in Rome, but home and away is a different challenge and Ive ticked both those boxes.

Whether I do it again is something Ill have to think about.

He added: Im very humbled and grateful that some of the players and the fans were chanting two years again. Ill never rule (it) out.

Im not going to rush into a decision like this today. I just want to enjoy this one.

Europe are celebrating a remarkable victory in New York (David Davies/PA)

Donald left nothing to chance in his preparations for the event and his tactical decisions almost all came off.

Jon Rahm, who helped deliver three points, was one player to heap praise on the captain.

Theres so many things that Luke has done outstandingly professionally, so perfect, said the Spaniard.

He is the captain of this ship, and hes led us better than I can see anybody leading us. Hes set the bar extremely high for the future captains.

Donald gave some insight into the level of detail he had gone into during the teams post-event press conference.

Much was made of the virtual reality headsets he used in an attempt to prepare the team for the hostile reception they duly encountered.

Yet his planning went much deeper, with even bed coverings and the scent of shampoo being considered.

He said: My job is literally to give these guys a better chance to win. It can be as simple as some very small things.

Ill give you an example. The doors to our hotel rooms had a big crack that let in light. We brought things that covered the light.

We put different shampoos that had a better smell. We changed the bedding because the beds werent very good.

We created much nicer beds so guys could sleep, they could have more energy.
Luke Donald remained tight-lipped on his future as he soaked up the magnitude of his latest Ryder Cup victory.

The European captain followed up his teams stunning success in Rome by overseeing their first away triumph since 2012 at Bethpage Black on Sunday.

Victory arrived in dramatic circumstances, by the narrow margin of 15-13, after the United States threatened to pull off an unlikely comeback.

The hosts, comprehensively outplayed over the first two days and trailing by seven points heading into the singles, roared back into contention with a series of thrilling wins but Europe eventually inched over the line.

As after the Italian triumph two years ago, the calls for Donald stay on for another term began almost immediately with celebrating players chanting two more years towards their inspirational leader.

Donald, however, with his place among the competitions greats already assured, would make no such commitment.

The 47-year-old, who also won on all four of his playing appearances, simply said: My answer is Im going to enjoy tonight!

Europe are celebrating a remarkable victory in New York (David Davies/PA)

Donald left nothing to chance in his preparations for the event and his tactical decisions almost all came off.

Jon Rahm, who helped deliver three points, was one player to heap praise on the captain.

Theres so many things that Luke has done outstandingly professionally, so perfect, said the Spaniard.

He is the captain of this ship, and hes led us better than I can see anybody leading us. Hes set the bar extremely high for the future captains.

Donald gave some insight into the level of detail he had gone into during the teams post-event press conference.

Much was made of the virtual reality headsets he used in an attempt to prepare the team for the hostile reception they duly encountered.

Yet his planning went much deeper, with even bed coverings and the scent of shampoo being considered.

He said: My job is literally to give these guys a better chance to win. It can be as simple as some very small things.

Ill give you an example. The doors to our hotel rooms had a big crack that let in light. We brought things that covered the light.

We put different shampoos that had a better smell. We changed the bedding because the beds werent very good.

We created much nicer beds so guys could sleep, they could have more energy.

Ludvig Aberg, who beat Patrick Cantlay, was the only European player to win a singles match as the Americans finally found their game to claim six full points.

The rest of Europes points came in halves after the big guns of Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose and Rahm were all beaten.

Shane Lowry holed the putt that ensured Europe could not be beaten (Mike Egerton/PA)

Viktor Hovlands match with Harris English was declared a draw after the Norwegian pulled out injured and Matt Fitzpatrick held off a charging Bryson DeChambeau at the 18th.

Shane Lowry, in match number eight, sank the vital putt to retain the cup and further halves from Tyrrell Hatton and Robert MacIntyre completed the job.
Jonathan Simms of Franklin, TN Wins Grand Prize: Custom 1965 Ford Mustang Pool Table

RALEIGH, N.C., Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The RipTide Car Wash proudly announces the success of its Game Room Giveaway & Charity Drive, which raised $11,490 to support ongoing recovery efforts for communities impacted by Hurricane Helene.

"We're overwhelmed by the generosity and excitement from our customers," said Chris Gardner, CEO of RipTide Car Wash. "This campaign was about more than just incredible prizesit was about restoring hope. Every dollar raised is going directly to support rebuilding communities that are still rebuilding one year after the storm hit."

Pool table winner, Jonathan Simms, receives the custom Ford Mustang pool table from RipTide Car Wash General Manager, Joshua Siler. RipTide Game Room Giveaway & Charity Drive

Running at all RipTide locations throughout North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, the campaign, "Game Room Giveaway & Charity Drive" ran through the end of April and encouraged community engagement through donations and social media participation.

Other organizations in the car wash industry also donated to the cause, including ChemQuest, who provides a full line of professional grade car wash products, to whom RipTide is a customer.

"We believe that it is our responsibility to give back to our local community, through the giving of our time, talents, and resources," said Karen Wentworth, Controller/HR Director at ChemQuest. "We also support the generosity of our customers in their efforts to give back to the communities that they serve. It is our humble honor to support RipTide Car Wash in their contribution to hurricane relief efforts."

The grand prize was a rare, custom 1965 Ford Mustang Pool Table. The Mustang Pool Table is the only officially licensed Collector's Edition pool table for Ford Motor Company and comes complete with its own "VIN" number and genuine Mustang parts.

RipTide is thrilled to announce Jonathan Simms as the grand prize winner of this incredibly unique collector's item. The stunning table features real chrome car parts, working lights, and authentic alloy rims and tires, making it the ultimate game room centerpiece.

"I cannot express how excited I am to have been selected as the recipient of the grand prize," said Simms. "My grandfather had that exact '65 Mustang convertible in that same beautiful red color many moons ago when I was a child, so nostalgia instantly struck as I was flooded with fond memories."

This campaign is just one example of how RipTide Car Wash continues to blend business with purpose. As a locally driven company rooted in community values, RipTide believes in giving back to the neighborhoods it serves. All RipTide locations are empowered to donate free car washes or pre-paid memberships to local charitable and giving events.

If you'd like to inquire about receiving free car wash vouchers or prepaid memberships for raffle prizes for your community non-profit or educational event, please visit the RipTide Car Wash nearest you and talk with the manager. Find locations here: https://riptidecw.com/locations/

"They run a first-class operation at all of the RipTide locations with attention to detail and services," said Simms. "I am proud to be a patron of theirs and will continue to recommend RipTide to others!"

About RipTide Car Wash

Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, RipTide Car Wash is known for its clean facilities, top-tier customer service, and community commitment. With 18 locations across North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee, RipTide offers an unmatched car wash experience and supports meaningful causes throughout the region.

Ford Mustang is a registered trademark of Ford Motor Company.

SOURCE The RipTide Car Wash
The main suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann has confronted the prosecutor who has accused him of the three-year-olds murder in 2007, according to a report.

German national Christian Brueckner made the trip to speak to prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters just days after he was released from prison, where he had been serving a seven-year rape sentence.

The 49-year-old suspect told Sky News that he wanted the prosecutor to take responsibility for his treatment by the media since Mr Wolters had stated publicly that he had evidence to show that Brueckner had killed Madeleine after she went missing in Portugal in 2007.

The prosecutor refused to meet me, but I told his representative I wanted his help to get my life back, Brueckner, who denies any involvement in Madeleines disappearance, told the broadcaster.

Christian Brueckner pictured in Braunschweig, where he travelled to in order to confront German prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters, according to Sky News (Sky News)

Im being hounded by the media, and its his fault. I want him to take responsibility. I was told there was nothing they could do to help. I had been convicted and released, and I wasnt their responsibility.

The Metropolian Police said the 49-year-old remains a suspect in its own investigation  with Portuguese and German authorities also investigating Madeleines disappearance.

Friedrich Fulscher, Brueckners lawyer, drove him from jail to local authority accommodation in the town of Neumunster, north of Hamburg, where reporters tracked him down and exposed his new address.

Wolters has publicly accused Brueckner of killing Madeleine, but no charges have ever been brought (PA Media)

Residents and local politicians responded angrily, with Karin Mundt, a hard-right populist councillor, warning locals not to go out alone and calling for a public protest and for Brueckner to be removed from the town.

Days of campaigning, alongside a number of claimed sightings of Brueckner, led police to move him out of Neumunster, to a hotel in an unnamed town.

Dr Fulscher told Stern magazine that the Braunschweig public prosecutors office  for whom Mr Wolters works  had fuelled this media campaign of prejudgement.

He added: It has told the public that it is certain it has the right person, without presenting sufficient evidence or even allowing my client to inspect the files.

I find this highly questionable from a constitutional point of view. In my opinion, the Braunschweig public prosecutors office has made rehabilitation impossible.

Brueckner was cleared by a German court of unrelated sexual offences, alleged to have taken place in Portugal between 2000 and 2017 (AFP/Getty)

Mr Wolters said Brueckners release from prison has no direct impact on the investigation. Brueckner has not been charged in the case, in which he is under investigation on suspicion of murder.

As part of his release, Brueckner has had to surrender his passport and be fitted with an ankle tag.

Met police chief Sir Mark Rowley said the British investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine remains a missing person inquiry. He told journalists that the force is taking stock of the German and Portuguese investigations now that the prime suspect, Brueckner, has walked free from prison.

He remains a suspect for us. We are taking stock of where we are, and the German investigation and the Portuguese investigation, Sir Mark said.
Students across the UK are struggling to keep afloat financially, with many unable to cover the cost of daily essentials (Alamy/PA)

Two in three female students in the UK say they would consider joining OnlyFans if they were short on cash, a new survey revealed.

According to a poll conducted by OnlyGuider, 66 per cent of female students would be open to launching an OnlyFans account for financial reasons. The survey, which consulted 1,000 UK undergraduates aged 18+, also found that 39 per cent of participants said they would rather sell saucy pics for 500 in a month, than stacking shelves or pouring pints.

The findings come amidst the first increase in tuition fees in nearly a decade, up from 9,250 to 9,535 for standard full-time courses, following cuts in the Maintenance Loan in the early 2020s.

Students across the UK are struggling to keep afloat financially, with many unable to cover the cost of daily essentials. Nearly 1 in 3 (59%) skip meals at least sometimes in order to save money, according to the National Student Money Survey 2025, and 10 per cent used a food bank in the 2024/25 academic year.

41 per cent have considered dropping out altogether due to financial troubles.

The survey also revealed that 2 per cent of students surveyed made money through sex work, while other less conventional or riskier sources of cash included using credit cards (15 per cent), gambling (6 per cent), drug trials (6 per cent), stocks and shares (4 per cent), cryptocurrencies (2 per cent) and private loans (1 per cent).

I have often thought about turning to [sex work] solely so I could survive, one participant of the National Student Money Survey 2025 said.

I have parents I wish I was estranged from, however I can't cut contact and endure verbal abuse because it's better than being homeless. If I cut them off, this type of work may be the only thing I [could] do to keep a roof over my own head.

However, not all students launching OnlyFans are motivated by financial necessity, and many creators feel liberated and empowered by sex work.

Was for fun mostly, another participant said.

What older generations might sneer at as scandal, students are increasingly viewing as strategy, says Sam Pierce, CEO of OnlyGuider.

For them, OnlyFans isnt taboo  its just another hustle. A few thousand paying subscribers can feel like a better safety net than competing for an entry level nine-to-five that AI is rapidly erasing."

What else did OnlyGuiders survey find?

The survey revealed that 42 per cent of women and 34 per cent of men said they would rather 10,000 OnlyFans subscribers than a guaranteed graduate job.

It also illuminated significant gender disparities when it comes to attitudes around the site. While 55 per cent of men said they would happily date a girl with OnlyFans, 36 per cent would label men with an account sad and desperate.

Piece said: The hypocrisy isnt subtle: guys are fine with dating female creators, but when men put themselves out there theyre branded desperate.

In comparison, just 39 per cent of women said theyd date a man with an OnlyFans account, and yet they were less likely to speak disparagingly about creators, with 22 per cent using words like sad and desperate.

Women remain cautious about dating male creators at all. Thats a cultural double standard playing out in real time, Pierce said.

For many students, OnlyFans sits alongside bar work and gig apps as just another way to earn. That doesnt mean theyre blind to stigma  but the narrative of empowerment and hustle is clearly winning. Universities, parents and employers will have to grapple with that shift.
Ministers knew lockdown would damage childrens education but did it anyway, the Covid Inquiry has heard.

A Department for Education (DfE) memo produced five days before schools were closed in March 2020 warned that remote learning would not work for all and that the schooling of up to nine million pupils could not be guaranteed.

Clair Dobbin KC, counsel to the inquiry, said the closures sent absence rates spiralling, meant children were exposed to violent pornography and resulted in some pupils playing video games for up to 19 hours a day.

On the opening day of the eighth module  investigating the impact of the pandemic on children and young people  Baroness Hallett, chairing the inquiry, was told that the draft memo was sent to the Cabinet Office on March 15.

It warned of the stark headline implications of universal school closures in England, Ms Dobbin said.

They included that almost nine million pupils could not be guaranteed to receive an education for the time their school closed, she said.

That remote learning would not work for all because schools ability to provide it would be hugely variable and many children didnt have access to the relevant kit, and many didnt live in adequate home environments.

That the most vulnerable children were much safer in school than out of school. That parents and siblings of children with special needs or disabled people would face a higher burden of care.

Despite the warning, school closures were announced three days later on March 18 and began on March 20.

Johnson denies changing policy overnight

The inquiry heard the Government had not started planning for the closures until two days before they were announced.

It was told that Sir Jonathan Slater, the former permanent secretary at the DfE, had said in written evidence that until March 16 2020, the Department for Educations contingency plans were premised on the assumption that schools and other education settings would remain open.

Ms Dobbin said Sir Gavin Williamson, the then education secretary, claimed there was a discombobulating 24-hour sea change between March 16 and March 17, when the Governments position changed from keeping schools open ... to discussions about closing.

Sir Gavin Williamson suggests that a reason why the Department for Education did not plan for the closure of schools was that Downing Street had not asked it to, she said.

Sir Gavin Williamson, the education minister during Covid, says there was a 24-hour sea change in the Governments approach - John Sibley/AFP

Boris Johnson, the then prime minister, denied the claims, the inquiry heard. In his statement, the former prime minister Boris Johnson takes issue with Sir Gavin Williamsons characterisation of a 24-hour sea change in approach and suggests that the Department for Education was aware of the possibility of closing schools, she said.

His evidence suggests  but it is a matter to be explored with him  that he thought that planning for school closures had been ongoing.

The inquiry heard there were similar failures to prepare adequately for school closures in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

It heard that the Welsh Government accepted its planning was inadequate, the Scottish Government admitted it had not anticipated long-term disclosures for most children, and Northern Irish officials believed all schools should remain open until March 18, the day closures were announced.

Schools reopened in August 2020 ahead of the new school year but were shut again in January 2021, which the inquiry has previously heard Sir Gavin opposed, describing it as a decision taken out of panic.

The inquiry is examining the pandemics effect on childrens education - Sally Anscombe

The inquiry was told the closures had a range of negative consequences, including that children did as little as one hour of schoolwork a day at home and were watching television programmes or browsing social media instead.

The inquiry also heard that evidence from the National Crime Agency (NCA) indicated that children were exposed to more violent pornography during the closures and that other children suffered grievous harm at the hands of their carers or parents when they were forced to stay home.

Ms Dobbin later said absenteeism had also increased significantly, referring to figures that showed persistent absentees in state secondary schools have risen from 13.7 per cent in 2018 to 25.6 per cent in 2023/24.

Lady Hallett said the impact of the closures was severe.

Children and young people lost educational opportunities, they lost social interaction, they lost the protection from abuse they needed, they lost loved ones, she said.

Some suffered and are still suffering the debilitating consequences of long Covid. Mental health issues in children and young people have increased significantly. This module will examine those issues and more.

However, Sam Jacobs, for the Trade Union Congress (TUC), claimed that not repeating the school closures in any future pandemic may actually be dangerous.

He said: Presumptions of closing schools only at the last possible moment and reopening them at the earliest opportunity may actually be dangerous.

It mistakenly assumes that the next pandemic will not pose terrible risks of death and injury to children and young people.

But also, in a pandemic, earlier restrictions may mean fewer restrictions and less harm in the long run. If there is an opportunity in the next pandemic to act early and effectively, it should be grasped.

Children suffered

Galina Ward KC, for the Department for Education, admitted that children and young people suffered during the pandemic.

She said: We know that this generation was much, much less likely than adults to suffer the worst health consequences of Covid-19. Although we recognise, of course, that some did and some are still living with those consequences.

But in general, in this pandemic, children and young people did give up their freedom and suffered from a reduction in services that are crucial to their development and in some cases their safety, in order largely to protect others from harm.

A government spokesman said: We know there will be lessons to be learnt from the pandemic and we are committed to learning from the Covid Inquirys findings, which will play a key role in informing the Governments planning and preparations for the future.
National Coffee Day: Where to find the best freebies, deals and discounts

Its National Coffee Day, and your favorite spots are celebrating with deals you wont want to miss.

For one day only  September 29  caffeine lovers can score everything from free cups of coffee to buy-one-get-one offers and discounted brews.

National Coffee Day began gaining popularity in the early 2000s as coffee chains and retailers started promoting it as a marketing event.

Whether youre an espresso enthusiast, a latte lover, or a simple drip coffee fan, today is the perfect excuse to indulge in your caffeine fix.

From Starbucks to Dunkin' Donuts, weve rounded up the best freebies, discounts, and limited-time offers.

Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks have deals for National Coffee Day (Getty/iStock)

Dunkin Donuts

At Dunkin Donuts, rewards members get a free Medium iced or hot coffee when purchasing through the Dunkin app.

Starbucks

Today, Starbucks Rewards members will earn 100 bonus stars, which can be redeemed later for free drinks or food, when they order a hot or iced coffee of any size.

Starbucks is offering 100 bonus stars to customers ordering a hot or iced coffee (Getty Images)

Krispy Kreme

Krispy Kreme is offering customers a free medium iced coffee and a doughnut of their choice on National Coffee Day.

Additionally, customers can get a dozen Original Glazed doughnuts when ordering a dozen doughnuts at the regular price.

Pret A Manger

Pret A Manger is offering a free 16-oz coffee drink today (Getty Images)

Pret A Manger is offering a free 16-oz coffee, latte, or cappuccino, which can be ordered iced or hot, to customers today. This deal can only be redeemed when ordering through the Pret app.

Tim Hortons

Tim Hortons is offering a free coffee promotion after you order four separte drinks (Getty Images)

If customers order four separate brewed coffee purchases from September 29 through October 4 at Tim Hortons, theyll receive a free coffee in the form of 400 Tim Rewards points. Customers must scan the Tims Rewards code on the app every time they order.

Peets Coffee

Leading up to National Coffee Day, Peets Coffee launched its first-ever Cold Brew Pass for $30 on September 1. With that pass, rewards members will get a free Cold Brew Coffee every day for 30 consecutive days.

However, passes must be purchased by September 30 and are then valid for 30 days once theyre activated.

In addition, on September 29, Peets Coffee is offering 25 percent off all items sold on its website.

7-Eleven

7-Eleven is offering a free coffee with a breakfast sandwich purchase (Getty Images)

Customers who are a part of 7-Elevens 7Rewards and Speedy Rewards loyalty programs will receive a free coffee with the purchase of a breakfast sandwich.

This deal lasts for nearly an entire month, with the offering ending on October 28.

Dutch Bros

With the purchase of two or more drinks at Dutch Bros today, customers can get two free car coasters.

Gregorys Coffee

When ordering through Gregorys Coffees app, customers can get a free Protein Buzz drink  a cold brew made with Nuzest plant-based protein, peanut butter, coconut water, and date syrup. To receive the free drink, you must use the code GAINS when ordering.

Einstein Bros.

New and existing rewards members at Einstein Bros. can get a free hot or iced coffee of any size with an online or app purchase.
Andrew Tate will face no criminal charges over allegations made by four women who are suing him in a High Court civil case (AP/Vadim Ghirda)

Controversial influencer Andrew Tate will face no criminal charges over allegations made by multiple women who are suing him in a High Court civil case.

The four women have accused the former professional kickboxer of sexual violence, including grabbing one by the throat on several occasions in 2015, assaulting her with a belt and pointing a gun at her face.

Mr Tates barristers told an earlier court hearing that there was total denial of wrongdoing.

On Monday, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said the legal test to bring criminal charges had not been met.

A spokesman said: We undertook a further review of a case file in relation to allegations of assault and rape between 2013 and 2015.

Following careful consideration of the evidence provided by Hertfordshire Constabulary, we concluded that our legal test for prosecution was not met, and that no further action should be taken.

We have informed all parties of our decision and offered to meet with the complainants to explain our reasoning in more detail.

The women have accused Andrew Tate of sexual violence, including grabbing one by the throat on several occasions in 2015, assaulting her with a belt and pointing a gun at her face (Getty Images)

Mr Tates UK solicitor, Andrew Ford, welcomed the decision.

He said: Despite much external pressure the evidence speaks for itself in this case and the Crown Prosecution Service have rightly confirmed the evidence is inadequate to provide any realistic prospect of conviction.

The reason the CPS made this decision will become obvious when the evidence is played out during the civil proceedings.

We are glad that this is yet another example of a potential criminal case against Andrew Tate falling by the wayside.

The women brought a civil case against Tate at the High Court after the Crown Prosecution Service originally decided not to prosecute in 2019.

Three of the British accusers were the subject of an investigation by Hertfordshire Constabulary, which was closed that year.

A statement from the women's lawyer, Matt Jury, of McCue Jury and Partners, said the CPSs decision was disappointing but unsurprising.

He said: Our clients will now pursue those questions through any appropriate appeals and other action, while their civil case proceeds in the High Court in June next year.

Meanwhile, the Tates remain scheduled for extradition to the UK to face 21 counts, including rape and trafficking, involving three other women. Our clients stand with those women in their fight for justice.
The state of Oregon filed a lawsuit in federal court on Sunday seeking to block the deployment of 200 national guard troops to Portland, arguing Donald Trumps characterization of the peaceful city as war ravaged is pure fiction.

Oregons governor, Tina Kotek, said at a news conference that she had been notified by the Pentagon that the US president had seized control of the states reservists, claiming authority granted to him to suppress rebellion or lawlessness.

When the president and I spoke yesterday, Kotek said, I told him in very plain language that there is no insurrection, or threat to public safety that necessitates military intervention in Portland.

A Pentagon memorandum dated Sunday and signed by the defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, obtained by the Washington Post, said: 200 members of the Oregon National Guard will be called into Federal service effective immediately for a period of 60 days.

Related: Portland residents scoff at Trump threat to send military: This is not a war zone

Trumps action, in asserting federal control of the states national guard troops, is clearly unlawful, Oregons attorney general, Dan Rayfield, said, given that it was not taken in response to a foreign invasion or mass anarchy, but one small protest by dozens of activists outside a single Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) field office in Portland.

Lets be clear, local law enforcement has this under control, Kotek, said. We have free speech demonstrations that are happening near one federal facility. Portland police is actively engaged in managing those, with the federal folks a the facility, and when people cross the line, theres unlawful activity, people are being held accountable.

The states lawsuit notes that the presidents false claims about the Ice facility being under siege, and life for Portland resident being like living in Hell, appear to be based on a single Fox News report broadcast earlier this month, which mixed social media video from a conservative journalist of the current protest with video of much larger protests in 2020, in another part of the city.

The problem is the president is using social media to inform his views, the attorney general said, either because he was trying to mislead the public intentionally, or is relying on social media gossip about the actual conditions in a US city.

Kotek added that she had tried to inform Trump, during a phone conversation on Saturday, that he had been badly misled about current conditions in Portland, which is once again a vibrant and peaceful city a half-decade on from the pandemic-era racial justice protests.

What I said to the president is: I dont understand what information you have. When he says to me that the federal courthouse is under attack, that is absolutely not true, Kotek said. Video featured in the recent Fox News report on Portland did show images of a 2020 protest outside the federal courthouse in downtown Portland that were wrongly described as recorded during the current anti-Ice protest.

Some demonstrations happening at one federal facility, that are being managed on a regular basis by local law enforcement, if that is the only issue hes brining up, he has been given bad information, Kotek said.

We cannot be looking at footage from 2020 and assume that that is the case today in Portland.
Comedian Peter Kay has cancelled two planned performances at Nottingham Motorpoint Arena following a routine kidney stone procedure.

The popular stars gigs, originally set for this weekend, have been rescheduled to allow him time to rest and recover.

A statement from SJM Concerts confirmed: We regret to inform you that due to a routine kidney stone procedure, Peter will be unable to perform his scheduled shows at Nottingham Motorpoint Arena on Sunday 5th October and Monday 6th October.

Following medical advice, Peter will be taking a period of time to rest and recover.

Peter Kay has cancelled two planned performances at Nottingham Motorpoint Arena following a routine kidney stone procedure (PA)

The 52-year-old Car Share stars 5 October show is now set to take place on 11 December, with the 6 October performance moved to 12 December.

The statement added: All tickets remain valid for the new dates. If you are unable to attend, refunds will be available from your original point of purchase. We thank you for your patience and understanding.

Kay is still due to take his Better Late Than Never tour to Glasgow, Leeds, Sheffield, Liverpool, Birmingham, Brighton, Bournemouth and Cardiff, as well as Nottingham.

The comedian stepped back from the spotlight when he was due to go on tour in 2017. That tour was cancelled due to unforeseen family circumstances.

He returned to the stage in August 2021 for two charity events to raise money for Laura Nuttall, a 20-year-old with an aggressive type of brain cancer called glioblastoma multiforme.

The popular stars gigs, originally set for this weekend, have been rescheduled to allow him time to rest and recover (Getty)

In 2022, Kay announced more than 100 arena tour dates as part of his Better Late Than Never stand-up tour, which he is currently embarking on.

The tour, his first in 12 years, included his record-breaking monthly residency at Londons O2 Arena between December 2024 and July 2025. The comedian will continue the tour at various venues this autumn, before touring more UK and Ireland locations until April 2026.
Police face-off against protesters during the Unite the Kingdom rally in London, Sep 13 - Christopher Furlong/Getty Images Europe

Do British police see the nations flags as a threat? Protestors in Newcastle have been asking that question after two incidents took place during protests in the city centre on Saturday. Both were filmed and shared widely on social media.

One video shows a teenage girl standing exuberantly on a picnic table while waving a Union flag. A female police officer appears to tell the girl to climb down. Then a male officer wearing a blue police liaison tabard snatches the flag from the girl and crushes it into a ball. He leaves the area, apparently without returning her property, although a Northumbria Police spokesperson told me that the flag was returned later.

Credit: X / @DVATW

The other video features a man carrying an England flag on a pole. A group of police liaison officers confront him, with one telling him to put your flag away until you get [to the protest] then, before stating that theres conditions in place which mean he can only fly the Englands flag in designated areas. On the video, locals can be heard expressing astonishment that Palestine flags are being freely flown by counter-protesters.

Nick Tenconi, Ukip leader and Turning Point UK chief operations officer, who was leading Saturdays demonstration, is outraged, saying: We live in a country filled with two-tier policing aimed at demonising patriots. We saw a Union flag snatched from a young girl, meanwhile the counter-protesters waving the Palestinian and Communist flags never have them snatched by the police.

Northumbria Police said that it is aware of video clips circulating online in relation to an officer removing a flag from someone during protest activity in Newcastle yesterday, before going on to say that it is important that these are put into context and that when a small number of people became close to a much larger protest group, action was taken to de-escalate tensions and help ensure the safety of all present.

The police also acknowledged the other incident, saying they are aware of a further video of someone being asked to lower a flag until they had reached the designated protest zone. The spokesperson seemed to acknowledge that these officers may have overstepped their duties, saying Northumbria Police will be reviewing what happened to identify any potential learning and that they recognise the right to lawful process which they will uphold.

Its worth pausing to consider what these incidents reveal. Some police officers believe that waving the flag of the United Kingdom might cause tensions, and that these risks are so serious that they justify snatching a childs property. They also believe that the England flag is so provocative that they have a right, or even a duty, to ensure it is only flown in certain designated areas. In even plainer terms, the police force of the British state are treating the British and English flags as though their display is a threat to public order. This is astonishing. To fear a nations flags like this is more like the behaviour of an occupying force, than the police of a democracy.

The 14-metre tall The Brownhills Miner statue, which has been draped in a Union flag, Wallsall, Sep 29 - Jacob King/PA

Those officers will not have decided to act like this on a whim. This behaviour is a result of training and of a culture within the police that treats normal expressions of patriotism and Right-wing beliefs as dangerous. As The Telegraph revealed over the summer the Governments anti-extremism Prevent programme considers concern over mass migration to be a terrorist ideology.

Ian Acheson, the former Home Office director of community safety, said: It is hard to reconcile the actions of the police liaison officer with his crucial role in de-escalating tensions and facilitating lawful protest. The Union flag of this country or the flag of England should not be regarded by police as a provocation. While we must be mindful of additional context, in my opinion the actions of the officer concerned was more likely to inflame the protest than reduce tension.

The flag-snatching in Newcastle occurred on the same day that the Prime Minister described Reform as an enemy which is detrimental to our country before concluding that we have to win this battle. With the leader of the Government using such language, it should be no surprise that frontline officers might seek to suppress visible displays of British or English patriotism. If the police are to retain the support of our society, they need to ignore the PM, and remember what nation they serve.
The hate crime took place in Sarah Street in the Lawrence Hill area of Bristol (Google Maps)

A 33-year-old man is in police custody after two men were racially abused and assaulted with a metal pole.

One victim of the attack was left with a broken jaw, fractured eye socket and internal injuries.

The incident which is being treated as a hate crime took place in Sarah Street in the Lawrence Hill area of Bristol at about 7.35pm on Monday (22 September).

The two victims were initially involved in a crash in which their car collided with a lamppost. They were then racially abused and assaulted by a group of four men who left the area in a white van.

Chief Inspector Serena Serjeant of Avon and Somerset Police said: This was a truly horrific incident which has left a young man with significant and lasting injuries.

Not only is there a substantial physical impact, but these two men were also subjected to the most vile  and completely intolerable  racist abuse.

Were now working to identify the men involved and would urge anyone who has any information at all to come forward and speak to us.

Officers have been conducting CCTV and house-to-house enquiries in the area and earlier today arrested a man on suspicion of racially/religiously aggravated grievous bodily harm. He remains in police custody while our investigation continues.

One of the victims sustained significant facial and internal injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment. He has since been discharged to continue his recovery at home and support is in place.

The second victim was also racially abused by the men but fortunately did not sustain any serious injuries.

All four of the suspects are described by police as being white men in their 30s and 40s.

One suspect is about 5ft 7ins tall, with blond or ginger hair and short facial hair. He was wearing a white t-shirt and grey shorts at the time.

Another is about 5ft 11ins tall, of muscular build, blond hair and aged in his 40s. Police said he had a colourful tattoo on his right arm and was wearing a white t-shirt and white or grey trousers.

The other two suspects were also in their 40s, one of large build with light-coloured hair and was wearing a polo shirt, khaki jeans and smart shoes at the time. The other man had short ginger hair.

Police are urging anyone with information to get in contact.
Keir Starmer has revealed to friends that the Unite the Kingdom march in London was the moment he realised he needed to publicly fight back against Reform UK and the growing anti-immigration rhetoric in Britain.

The prime minister is understood to have expressed his shock at the size of the event, which took place earlier this month, after seeing that many people follow a far-right figure like Tommy Robinson.

The march in Whitehall and the surrounding streets, which amplified racism and anti-Muslim conspiracy theories, was estimated by police to have attracted around 150,000 people.

Far-right activist Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, told his followers in a video posted to X that the spark has started, the revolution is on, while tech billionaire Elon Musk told the rally that massive uncontrolled migration was contributing to the destruction of Britain.

Tommy Robinson with fellow far right activist Katie Hopkins on the march (PA)

Allies said the march was the turning point when Sir Keir decided he needed to come out and launch a fightback against the rhetoric that has become too common place in Britain  and has become one of Reforms defining narratives. Nigel Farage was not in attendance at the march and has not publicly endorsed it.

The prime minister was said to be spurred on again to take on the pervasive language in society after Mr Farage threatened to deport legal migrants and withdraw benefits from them.

One cabinet minister said: I think Keir was fed up of always being on the defensive and needed to go on the offensive.

Another senior minister noted that intelligence agencies had picked up both Russian and Chinese political interference associated with the march through social media bots.

The minister added: What concerned me was I saw thousands upon thousands of ordinary people from Essex, Sussex, Hertfordshire and around the country taking part.

The prime minister is said to have known he had to do something  which led to his barnstorming speech on Friday and subsequent Labour conference BBC interview describing Farage and Reforms policy to scrap indefinite leave to remain as racist.

It was a deliberate going on the front foot, another minister confirmed. No more messing about.

It is understood that, after the march, the prime minister and colleagues received thousands of messages from people reacting with anger and fear to the march, a well as to Mr Farages plans on migrants.

It was disgusting, a source close to the PM said. Illegal migrants is one issue but it is clear that Reform is coming after our friends, families, neighbours. How can you say that sort of thing to someone who has worked in the NHS for 10 years as anurse? A line has been crossed [by Farage].

In particular, a communication from a man of Pakistani heritage born and raised in the UK describing his fear of walking through Euston station in London on his way home struck a chord with the PM..

It is understood Sir Keir will not let up on his new lines of attack on Reform and will continue the theme in his conference speech on Tuesday.

You are going to hear a lot more on this line, a minister noted.

During an interview with the BBC on Sunday, Sir Keir accused Mr Farage of peddling a racist and immoral policy after the Reform UK leader pledged to scrap settled status for all non-EU migrants, a move which would threaten with deportation those who have been granted indefinite leave to remain.

Speaking at the Labour Party conference on Monday, Rachel Reeves doubled down on Sir Keirs claims, adding that Mr Farages agenda is the single greatest threat to our way of life and to the living standards of working people.

She argued patriotism is not measured in how quick you are to exclude, how loudly you shout, how willing you are to exploit every division and distort every challenge that we face.

The chancellor added that she will fight for British values.